The Grand Hall is stale with the colors of white and grey. It's missing its chandelier. A microwavable feast is laid out in front of us on the plastic see-through table, hot and ready for my father's arrival. I know the drill, so I bring the checkers, chess, and playing cards from the desk along the wall. Behind it stands a tall and burly blonde haired woman whose face is wrinkled by what seems to be a lifetime of discontent. Next to her stands an equally menacing-looking male counterpart. Both wear shades, I think to protect me from the power of their gaze. I know it's rude to stare, but I can't stop looking, trying to see behind their reflective lenses.
I refuse to be a prisoner.
My father emerges from a room hidden in plain sight, the door camouflaged against the white wall with no frame. His uniform is different from mine. I wear a white button up with a clip-on tie and corduroys, a black belt and black shoes. His looks a lot like the janitor's at my school. He wears a jumpsuit, but instead of dark blue, my father's is light brown and, instead of a name-tag he has numbers sewn to his jumpsuit.
A paralyzing fear blocks the signals traveling through my spine every time I think of college for this exact reason. Why would someone voluntarily live in a place like this? Why would anyone want to go to college if this is what it's like here? I mean, with the scary security guards, all the security checks and the restrictions! So many restrictions…And every student looks so sad all the time. They also look much older than what I thought college people were supposed to look like. And why are there only men at this college? I thought women were allowed to go to college, too. I guess the fact that women aren't allowed to study here explains why my mom doesn't go to college. Still, she's always stressing its importance, telling me and my sister that we have to go one day, too. I wonder if Vanessa is as freaked out about this as I am. I wonder if she'll ever go; I know for a fact that if my mother did study here she would certainly put potted plants around the room to add some life to the the Grand Hall.
After all the fear and questions settle, I feel a blinding sadness at the thought that my father would prefer to stay here rather than come home with us. I look around at his classmates and see men crippled by age, glaring into the faces of their beloveds trying to look present. Sometimes I catch the same expression on my father's face when I talk to him. His eyes are fixed on me the whole time, but it's hard to tell where his mind has wandered. I like to think it's because he notices how much I've changed since he's last seen me in person. I mean I'm practically almost 8 now, and it's been awhile since my last visit. College takes a long time, I guess. This must be hard on him too. I look up to him for having the strength to pursue his dreams even though it means being so far from his family. I hope I have that kind of strength one day, too.
No, I refuse to be a prisoner.
My father and I have a game of chess. To my surprise, I beat him. The next game he beats me in less than 10 moves. He explains that a foolish man will show all his cards the first time around, and a patient man will exploit them the next time around... Since when are cards used in chess? This must be the type of things he learns in here; I'm starting to see why my ma says school is so important now. Anyway,I refuse to be the foolish man when we play again. I'll be smart, too, I think, like my dad.
Roll Call! My father lines up with the rest of his classmates. One by one their names are called. They walk up to the desk along the wall; , each walk is different. Some are fast; some are slow; my father's is proud, at least, it seems to be. I always heard he had difficulty expressing any emotions other than pride and anger, both of which he expressed very well. "You are a Gonzalez," his voice echoes in the farthest corner of my mind whenever I feel scared. He recites his numbers to the scary blond woman and walks back to us. If you're proud, no one can take anything away from you, my father has shown me.
Everyone is tired. The conversations hold little volume. He must have seen our expressions of defeat as we tried to come up with things to share with him. He tells us it's time to go and not to let too much time pass before our next visit. He turns to me and says, "Take care of your mother and sister. Daddy has to go now." I know I should do what he says, but I start to panic.
"Why?" I explosively whine. "Why can't you just come with us? It's only school; you can take a few days off."
"Hijo, cuando tu creces entiendaras porque es que no me puedo ir contigo, yo solamente espero que no me odies.".
I just don't understand why he's saying these words. I'm proud of my father; why would he think I will hate him one day?
He says his goodbyes and takes his slow, proud trek back to the door hidden in plain sight, looking back at us every few steps. His face looks more agonized than the last time. I look up to see my mother and sister's eyes pink with the pain of absence. I rarely see them cry. We rarely ever see him. That's when they cry, when we see him. But I try not to cry. Dad never cries.
He's waiting outside the camouflaged door leading to places unknown to me. We're waiting near it, about 50 feet away, leading to the brisk air of higher altitudes, when I'm blinded by watery sadness; I can't help it. I can't remember much of the time we had before the Grand Hall days, but this unshakable sense of attachment has its white-knuckled grip around my father and me. My throat swells and my legs fill with restlessness. His door opens and it's time for him to go back to class, I know. I know I have to let him go, but I can't. I just can't. I run to him, showing him I'm not ready to be the man of the house yet; I'm not ready to take care of my mom and sister like he said. I run, showing my father that I am not ready to leave without him, not ready to do the things he needs me to do. I crash, into his chest where underneath I hear lungs searching for the brisk air. I crash, into his arms where strength meets tenderness. I crash, into a broken man embracing his broken son.
But then he says I have to go. Have to be strong and proud. I have to be a Gonzalez.
We are finally past the last security checkpoint. My head hangs low as we reach the final door leading outside. My legs feel heavy, and the square, rubber-interlaced mat on the floor right in front of the door slows them down before it brings them to a complete halt. This is always the first mat that greets me when I come and the last to say goodbye when I leave, yet this time, it looks different. I guess I was never smart enough to notice it before. Well, I'm a lot wiser now, like I said, I'm almost 8 and I know how to read now, so I take a second to absorb the letters. I see a black border and inside, the color grey takes up most of the mat. A bald eagle spreads its wings in the middle; it holds a stem in one talon and a scroll in the other; a crest surrounds it and on the bottom are the letters. I sound out, "Fed---"Fed---Federal Correct—Correct. Correctional Facility," I somehow figure out. I'm not quite sure what that is, but somehow, I know it's not school. Somehow, I suddenly know that my entire life has been a lie. I crash, onto my knees—onto the words, onto the mat filled with the knowledge that everything. Everything has been a lie.
"SCHOOL? This isn't a school!" I yell, as I'm dragged out by my arm and into the brisk air of freedom. In the parking lot, I keep screaming.
I run passed the Mandarin Oriental on my way to my first day at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and see a man emerge from a door camouflaged as a wall. He's taking a cigarette break, and he looks both proud and bleak, but he is not my father.
I walk into the school, no mat on the floor to slow down my pace, which is good, since I'm late, and I approach the security desk to explain that I don't have an ID yet. She is nice; there is no menacing blond demanding my identification number or grilling me though her shades, like I'd always imagine there would be.
I refuse to be my father.


text:
September 18, 2013 - 2:11 pm	| by	Bill Hunt
Magnolia Entertainment has set the Danish thriller A Hijacking for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/15.
Buena Vista has set Neighbors: The Complete First Season for DVD only release on 9/24.
One Village and RLJ Entertainment will release Dark Girls on DVD only on 9/24 as well.
Millennium Entertainment has set When Calls the Heart for DVD only release exclusively at Wal-Mart on 10/15, then it goes into wide retail release on 12/31.
PBS is releasing a pair of documentary programs on DVD on 10/15 – Last Will & Testament and Superheroes: A Never Ending Battle.
First Run Features has set A Fierce Green Fire and With Love... from the Age of Reason for DVD release on 10/1.
And History Channel's Counting Cars: Season 2 – Volume 1 arrives on DVD on 10/15 from Lionsgate.
Finally, in news from around the Net this afternoon, the folks at AD2000 are holding a worldwide "Day of Dredd" promotion today to try and get fans behind the making of a sequel to the recent Dredd. Star Karl Urban apparently backs the effort. The idea is to try and get fans to buy or rent the film today (if you haven't already) to show your support to the studio (Lionsgate) that could fund the sequel. You can also sign up to support the effort via this website. Here's a link to our own review of the title on Blu-ray 3D, and here's Amazon.com purchase links for the title on Blu-ray 3D Combo and DVD. Give it a spin and we think you'll really enjoy it...
And as you can see, we also included the Blu-ray cover art for Scream's Night of the Comet.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Do you suffer from indigestion, heart burn or stomach pains? You could have a stomach ulcer.
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) is a major cause of stomach ulcers. The infection occurs in both adults and children and once diagnosed can be treated successfully with a combination of antibiotics and other drugs.
H pylori infection can weaken the protective coating of your stomach and intestines exposing the sensitive tissues to stomach acid increasing the risk of both ulcers and cancer.
This test is a quick, simple, sensitive and reliable indicator of infection with H. pylori. All you need is a finger prick blood drop and you will have a result within 30 minutes.
H pylori is a bacterium that plays a major role in the cause of peptic ulcers and inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). H pylori is found in the stomach wall where it is protected from the stomach acid. In developed countries infection rate ranges from 20 to 50% and is usually acquired during childhood and persists for life unless treated. H pylori, if left untreated, can be the trigger of gastritis, peptic ulcers in the stomach and small intestine and stomach cancer.
Will my medication interfere with the test result?
No. Antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Losec) and antacids will not interfere with the test result.
The most common problem with H pylori infection is irritation and swelling of the stomach lining but is unlikely to cause symptoms and many people live without any knowledge that they have an infection.
Only around 15% of people infected with H pylori develop an ulcer in the small intestine but nearly everyone with an ulcer of the small intestine has an infection with H pylori. Appropriate treatment to eliminate the infection heals the ulcer and prevents the ulcer from returning. Ulcers of the small intestine are two to three times more common than stomach ulcers.
Stomach ulcers frequently cause a burning pain which may be relieved by treatment with antacids.
According to Cancer Research UK, April 2011, stomach cancer accounts for around 2% of all cancers in the UK. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between long term H pylori infection and stomach cancer.
Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infections can be diagnosed by a number of techniques. The simplest is a blood test to detect antibodies. These tests are sensitive and specific. However, antibody levels can remain high for years after successful treatment. The antibodies can be found in saliva as well as blood but the saliva tests are not as reliable.
It is currently recommended that all patients with ulcers of the stomach or small intestine should be treated to remove H pylori infection. Standard treatment is successful in 9 out of 10 patients with very low re-infection rates.
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text:
Ray Anderson's Predictions For the Future: Where Are We Now?
By: John A. Lanier
In an award acceptance speech in 2010, Ray Anderson made some interesting predictions about the future. Twelve years later, we realize that he "nailed it" in so many ways.
In 2010 Ray C. Anderson was honored to be inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (IGIHOF). He delivered one of his last award acceptance speeches virtually to their membership, and per the request of IGIHOF Founder Sam Geil, he made a few predictions about what he believed the future held for advancement of the sustainability movement.
Twelve years later, as we were preparing some "Ray moments" to share at RayDay 2022, we discovered this gem, and realized just how many of his predictions are coming true through the Foundation's key funding initiatives.
Ray's words speak for themselves. Watch the video below.
John Anderson Lanier Executive Director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, and one of Ray's five grandchildren.
View John's Bio
Stay up-to-date with the latest from Ecocentricity.
The Problem of Biodiversity Loss: How It Relates to Climate, and What the Countries of the World are Doing About It
How Climate Change Might Impact Cold Weather Events
Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays!
Understanding 1.5°C, and Why We Can't Treat It as a Make-or-Break Goal
In Thanksgiving for the People of Interface
Stay connected with us to receive the latest news.
1180 West Peachtree Street, NW Suite 1975 Atlanta, GA 30309 Phone: 404.477.1461 info@raycandersonfoundation.org
©2023, Ray C. Anderson Foundation. All rights reserved.


text:
A retired CIA agent threatens to publish an embarrassing book of memoirs about his colleagues.
Ronald Neame
Seab Worthy
Antony Carrick
Yolanda King
Hopscotch (1980) -- (Movie Clip) The Other Figaro
Hopscotch (1980) -- (Movie Clip) Have Any Sausage?
Hopscotch (1980) -- (Movie Clip) Russian Intelligence
The CIA and the KGB work together to sabatoge the literary ambitions of a fired CIA agent who has decided to get even with the organization by publishing a book which outlines years of dirty secrets.
Christopher Driscoll
Susan Mcshayne
Allan Cuthbertson
Larry C Larson
Lucy Saroyan
George Baker
Debra Hook
Joanna Mccallum
Mike Gwilym
Jeremy Young
Joe Dorsey
Severn Darden
Susan Engel
Michael Cronin
Candice Howard
Douglas Dirkson
David Matthau
Roy Sampson
Terry Beaver
Roland Frolich
Laura White
Sally Nesbitt
Danny Covington
Philip Voss
Ivor Roberts
Anne Haney
Randal Patrick
Osman Ragheb
Shan Wilson
Ray Charleson
Jacquelyn Hyde
George Pravda
Eric Allwright
M C Ayers
Derek Ball
Charles C Bennett
John Bernstein
Brian Bilgorri
Rosemary Burrows
Costume Supervisor
Chris Carreras
Patrick Clayton
Roy Downey
John Dustin
Ian Fraser
Source Material (From Novel)
Tito Gobbi
Song Performer
Joseph Harris
William Hassell
Arthur Ibbetson
Gene Kearney
Ronnie Kramer
Carl Kress
Edie Landau
Ely Landau
Stratton Leopold
Maurice Marks
Jim Mccoy
Oliver Moss
Mark Nerini
Carol A. O'connell
Barrie Payne
Kieron Phipps
Otto Plaschkes
Tom Raeburn
Laci Ronay
Elaine Schreyeck
John Stears
Penny Steyne
Robert Tofel
Jesse Wayne
Steve Wever
William W Wilson
Hopscotch (1980) -- (Movie Clip) Have Any Sausage? In Salzburg, semi-fugitive CIA officer Kendig (Walter Matthau) meets Isobel (Glenda Jackson), whom we soon learn is an ex-lover, returning to her villa, in Ronald Neame's spy-comedy Hopscotch, 1980.
Hopscotch (1980) -- (Movie Clip) Russian Intelligence Opening scenes, CIA man Kendig (Walter Matthau) at a Munich biergarten, tracking adversaries including Yaskov (Herbert Lom, Inspector Clouseau's boss), in director Ronald Neame's Hopscotch, 1980.
Hopscotch (1980) -- (Movie Clip) The Other Figaro Writing his threatened memoirs in Austria, renegade CIA man Kendig (Walter Matthau) shocks lover Isobel (Glenda Jackson), whereupon his boss (Ned Beatty) and ex-colleague (Sam Waterston) consult, in director Ronald Neame's Hopscotch, 1980.
Walter Matthau was considered a major star in 1980 when he was approached to make Hopscotch, a comic spy adventure tailored to his talents. Matthau had been a recognizable character actor for two decades, often playing heavies, before partnering with Jack Lemmon in The Fortune Cookie (1966) and The Odd Couple (1968) in the mid-1960s. The success of these comedies turned Matthau into a leading man with a shaggy dog persona who could squeeze the last bit of humor out of a line of dialogue and mug with the best of them. As a leading man, he starred in the best films of his career during the 1960s and 1970s, with his roles declining in quality and quantity as he aged in the 1980s. By the 1990s, he had returned to character and secondary roles, typical for an actor of his years. Hopscotch could be considered the end of a long career peak or the beginning of his slide downhill, depending on the viewpoint.
Hopscotch was loosely based on Brian Garfield's award-winning novel. Garfield was best known for writing the novel Death Wish, which became the basis for an action vehicle for Charles Bronson. Hoping to maintain more control over the film adaptation of Hopscotch than he had over Death Wish, Garfield negotiated to write the screenplay and serve as associate producer. Ironically, his position as writer-producer did little to prevent the film version of Hopscotch from turning into something completely different from the novel.
Garfield cowrote the adaptation with director Bryan Forbes, who dropped out of the project because of another commitment. Producers Ely and Edie Landau asked Ronald Neame to step in, but the veteran English director did not like the Garfield-Forbes version of the script, which retained the book's serious tone. The Landaus countered with an offer to have the script rewritten by Garfield, but Neame refused it a second time. Ely Landau asked him to reconsider, baiting him with the idea that Walter Matthau might take on the role of the protagonist. Landau and Matthau were friends, and the producer had been urging the comic actor to participate in the film. Neame reread the novel with Matthau in mind as the protagonist, but he still didn't think it would make a good film narrative, so he turned the project down a third time.
Finally, Landau requested that Neame and Matthau, who also had qualms about the serious tone of the material, meet face to face. Both agreed to make the film, but only if the script was rewritten as a dry comedy tailored for Matthau's star image. During preproduction, Garfield rewrote the script under Neame's guidance and with contributions by Matthau. Neame provided the continuity so that the narrative hung together; he also shaped certain scenes by suggesting key locations, sly situations, and character details. Matthau provided insight into his character, often writing his own dialogue. Neame and Garfield had approval over Matthau's contributions, which were accepted or discarded at their discretion. In the process of rewriting, the film was turned from a serious drama into a comedy showcase for Matthau's wry, unpretentious screen presence.
In Hopscotch, Murnau plays CIA agent Miles Kendig, a veteran operative who has been chasing down Soviet agents and communist plots for decades. His old-school methods depend on honing keen instincts, constructing aliases, developing long-term professional relationships in the field, and then exploiting those relationships for information. When Myerson, a new bureaucrat who represents a younger generation of agents trained in dirty tricks, discovers that Kendig intentionally did not arrest a high-ranking KGB agent during an operation, he demotes him to office work. Kendig quits, shreds his personal files, and leaves for Europe, where he rekindles a relationship with his long-lost love Isobel, played by Glenda Jackson. Kendig decides to write his memoirs, exposing the long-held secrets and internal operations of international espionage. He mails each chapter to the world's major agencies, which embarrasses the CIA and enrages his former colleagues, particularly Myerson, played as an unscrupulous bureaucrat by Ned Beatty. Kendig is tracked by spies from both sides of the Iron Curtain, but none are as dogged in their pursuit as Myerson, who enlists the aid of a young agent named Cutter, played by Sam Waterston. Kendig's experience and expertise at his craft not only allows him to stay one step ahead of his pursuers but also leads to further embarrassment for the espionage community.
The character of Miles Kendig was completely altered to take advantage of Walter Matthau's strengths as a comic actor. Matthau's rumpled appearance, which is made more obvious by his lanky frame and sloped shoulders, suggest Kendig's relaxed, down-to-earth approach to espionage in contrast to Myerson's tailored suits, rigid posture, and uptight personality. Myerson, like many of Kendig's enemies, are outfoxed by the veteran spy in part because they continually underestimate him, assuming that his hang-dog appearance and casual air are indicators of sloppiness, old-fashioned methods, or inferior intelligence. Likewise, Matthau's ability to tweak, twist, and squeeze his lines for comic effect, or to use his expressive face to react with bemusement, gave the character a playfulness that contrasts nicely with Beatty's tightly wired bureaucrat or Jackson's proper British lady.
Matthau was a major music enthusiast, and he loved the work of Mozart. Neame decided that Kendig should be a classic music aficionado and asked arranger Ian Fraser to select certain music by Mozart to help establish Matthau's character and to support the film's light-hearted tone. Except for an occasional snatch of Puccini or Rossini, Fraser based the entire score on Mozart. During the chase sequence, for example, the Post Horn Serenade as recorded by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, adds a lightness to the action, implying that any gunplay or car crashes will not end in tragedy. In another scene, Kendig sings an aria from Rossini's Barber of Seville while crossing the Swiss border, baffling the poor border guard but endearing Miles to the audience.
While the novel version of Hopscotch served as a serious examination and critique of the espionage industry, the film is a vehicle to showcase the strengths of Hollywood filmmaking, that is, charismatic stars delivering sophisticated dialogue in colorful locations. In that regard, the scenes of literate dialogue between Matthau and his costars are more important than details of the plot--something that Neame and Matthau emphasized to Garfield while he was writing the final version of the script. In the scene in which Kendig and Isobel meet for the first time in years, Garfield's original script consisted of a plot-heavy description explaining why the two had been apart. Matthau found the scene dull and the plot detail unnecessary, so he rewrote their meeting, using wine as a metaphor. The relationship is established and explained as the former lovers banter about wine, with each line exposing something about their romance. She asks, "Do you prefer a young or an old wine?," and he responds, "As a general rule, the older wines are better." The conversation continues about wine as they move in closer, and then finally embrace. Matthau and Jackson had costarred two years earlier in the successful comedy House Calls (1978), which revealed a surprising chemistry between the scruffy American and the prim Englishwoman. Matthau suggested Jackson to Neame, and the two reignited their spark.
Later, Kendig looks over Isobel's enormous estate, which she inherited when her wealthy husband died. "How many hectares do you have?", he deadpans, and she replies, "Two." A hectare is a metric unit of measurement equivalent to 10,000 square meters, something many people would not know. It is also a funny-sounding word, especially as spoken by Matthau, who draws out his pronunciation. But, Isobel is not bested by his acerbic use of "hectare," and their exchange speaks to their intellectual compatibility as a couple.
In a bit of self-reflexive humor undoubtedly added by Matthau, the female pilot who flies Kendig to his last adventure remarks at the end of their flight, "You remind me of my father." The actress portraying the role is Lucy Saroyan, Matthau's real-life stepdaughter. Saroyan landed the part at her stepfather's insistence, after he had negotiated with Neame to cast his son, David, as a CIA agent named Ross.
For a spy adventure, Hopscotch relies little on fast-paced action, exciting car chases, or graphic violence. Instead, the measured pace reflects the casual manner of its main character, Miles Kendig. Large-scale sequences such as the Oktoberfest celebration shot in Salzberg, Germany, were choreographed to reflect the spectacle of the event, which is a characteristic lost on the small screens of the home-viewing experience. The deliberate craftsmanship, the presentation of old-fashioned spectacle, and an understanding of a star's persona and charisma are hallmarks of director Ronald Neame, who began his film career with the legendary Arthur Rank in England during World War II. There he met David Lean, which led to a creative partnership in a company called Cineguild that also included producer Anthony Havelock-Allan and writer Noel Coward. During the 1950s, Cineguild produced films with some of England's most talented actors, including Alec Guinness, John Mills, Celia Johnson, and Kay Walsh. Years later, Neame was recruited by Hollywood, where he experienced his greatest success with the star-studded disaster drama The Poseidon Adventure (1972).
For the most part, critical reaction to Hopscotch is dependent on the age of the reviewer. Established critics understand the context of Hopscotch, including its value as a vehicle for Matthau, the appeal of a literate script, and the craftsmanship behind Neame's measured style. Contemporary reviewers, accustomed to the violence of spy dramas and the fast pace of action films, tend to be critical of its fluffy plot, dry humor, and lack of action scenes.
Executive Producer: Otto Plaschkes
Producers: Edie Landau and Ely Landau with Jonathan Bernstein and Brian Garfield
Director: Ronald Neame
Screenplay: Brian Garfield and Bryan Forbes based on the novel by Brian Garfield
Cinematography: Arthur Ibbetson
Editor: Carl Kress
Production Designer: William Creber
Music: Ian Fraser
Cast: Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau), Isobel von Schmidt (Glenda Jackson), Cutter (Sam Waterston), Myerson (Ned Beatty), Mikhail Yaskov (Herbert Lom), Ross (David Matthau), Westlake (George Baker), Ludlum (Ivor Roberts), Carla the Pilot (Lucy Saroyan), Maddox (Severn Darden), Saint Breheret (George Pravda), Realtor (Jacquelyn Hyde).
c-107M.
by Susan Doll
Walter Matthau was considered a major star in 1980 when he was approached to make Hopscotch, a comic spy adventure tailored to his talents. Matthau had been a recognizable character actor for two decades, often playing heavies, before partnering with Jack Lemmon in The Fortune Cookie (1966) and The Odd Couple (1968) in the mid-1960s. The success of these comedies turned Matthau into a leading man with a shaggy dog persona who could squeeze the last bit of humor out of a line of dialogue and mug with the best of them. As a leading man, he starred in the best films of his career during the 1960s and 1970s, with his roles declining in quality and quantity as he aged in the 1980s. By the 1990s, he had returned to character and secondary roles, typical for an actor of his years. Hopscotch could be considered the end of a long career peak or the beginning of his slide downhill, depending on the viewpoint. Hopscotch was loosely based on Brian Garfield's award-winning novel. Garfield was best known for writing the novel Death Wish, which became the basis for an action vehicle for Charles Bronson. Hoping to maintain more control over the film adaptation of Hopscotch than he had over Death Wish, Garfield negotiated to write the screenplay and serve as associate producer. Ironically, his position as writer-producer did little to prevent the film version of Hopscotch from turning into something completely different from the novel. Garfield cowrote the adaptation with director Bryan Forbes, who dropped out of the project because of another commitment. Producers Ely and Edie Landau asked Ronald Neame to step in, but the veteran English director did not like the Garfield-Forbes version of the script, which retained the book's serious tone. The Landaus countered with an offer to have the script rewritten by Garfield, but Neame refused it a second time. Ely Landau asked him to reconsider, baiting him with the idea that Walter Matthau might take on the role of the protagonist. Landau and Matthau were friends, and the producer had been urging the comic actor to participate in the film. Neame reread the novel with Matthau in mind as the protagonist, but he still didn't think it would make a good film narrative, so he turned the project down a third time. Finally, Landau requested that Neame and Matthau, who also had qualms about the serious tone of the material, meet face to face. Both agreed to make the film, but only if the script was rewritten as a dry comedy tailored for Matthau's star image. During preproduction, Garfield rewrote the script under Neame's guidance and with contributions by Matthau. Neame provided the continuity so that the narrative hung together; he also shaped certain scenes by suggesting key locations, sly situations, and character details. Matthau provided insight into his character, often writing his own dialogue. Neame and Garfield had approval over Matthau's contributions, which were accepted or discarded at their discretion. In the process of rewriting, the film was turned from a serious drama into a comedy showcase for Matthau's wry, unpretentious screen presence. In Hopscotch, Murnau plays CIA agent Miles Kendig, a veteran operative who has been chasing down Soviet agents and communist plots for decades. His old-school methods depend on honing keen instincts, constructing aliases, developing long-term professional relationships in the field, and then exploiting those relationships for information. When Myerson, a new bureaucrat who represents a younger generation of agents trained in dirty tricks, discovers that Kendig intentionally did not arrest a high-ranking KGB agent during an operation, he demotes him to office work. Kendig quits, shreds his personal files, and leaves for Europe, where he rekindles a relationship with his long-lost love Isobel, played by Glenda Jackson. Kendig decides to write his memoirs, exposing the long-held secrets and internal operations of international espionage. He mails each chapter to the world's major agencies, which embarrasses the CIA and enrages his former colleagues, particularly Myerson, played as an unscrupulous bureaucrat by Ned Beatty. Kendig is tracked by spies from both sides of the Iron Curtain, but none are as dogged in their pursuit as Myerson, who enlists the aid of a young agent named Cutter, played by Sam Waterston. Kendig's experience and expertise at his craft not only allows him to stay one step ahead of his pursuers but also leads to further embarrassment for the espionage community. The character of Miles Kendig was completely altered to take advantage of Walter Matthau's strengths as a comic actor. Matthau's rumpled appearance, which is made more obvious by his lanky frame and sloped shoulders, suggest Kendig's relaxed, down-to-earth approach to espionage in contrast to Myerson's tailored suits, rigid posture, and uptight personality. Myerson, like many of Kendig's enemies, are outfoxed by the veteran spy in part because they continually underestimate him, assuming that his hang-dog appearance and casual air are indicators of sloppiness, old-fashioned methods, or inferior intelligence. Likewise, Matthau's ability to tweak, twist, and squeeze his lines for comic effect, or to use his expressive face to react with bemusement, gave the character a playfulness that contrasts nicely with Beatty's tightly wired bureaucrat or Jackson's proper British lady. Matthau was a major music enthusiast, and he loved the work of Mozart. Neame decided that Kendig should be a classic music aficionado and asked arranger Ian Fraser to select certain music by Mozart to help establish Matthau's character and to support the film's light-hearted tone. Except for an occasional snatch of Puccini or Rossini, Fraser based the entire score on Mozart. During the chase sequence, for example, the Post Horn Serenade as recorded by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, adds a lightness to the action, implying that any gunplay or car crashes will not end in tragedy. In another scene, Kendig sings an aria from Rossini's Barber of Seville while crossing the Swiss border, baffling the poor border guard but endearing Miles to the audience. While the novel version of Hopscotch served as a serious examination and critique of the espionage industry, the film is a vehicle to showcase the strengths of Hollywood filmmaking, that is, charismatic stars delivering sophisticated dialogue in colorful locations. In that regard, the scenes of literate dialogue between Matthau and his costars are more important than details of the plot--something that Neame and Matthau emphasized to Garfield while he was writing the final version of the script. In the scene in which Kendig and Isobel meet for the first time in years, Garfield's original script consisted of a plot-heavy description explaining why the two had been apart. Matthau found the scene dull and the plot detail unnecessary, so he rewrote their meeting, using wine as a metaphor. The relationship is established and explained as the former lovers banter about wine, with each line exposing something about their romance. She asks, "Do you prefer a young or an old wine?," and he responds, "As a general rule, the older wines are better." The conversation continues about wine as they move in closer, and then finally embrace. Matthau and Jackson had costarred two years earlier in the successful comedy House Calls (1978), which revealed a surprising chemistry between the scruffy American and the prim Englishwoman. Matthau suggested Jackson to Neame, and the two reignited their spark. Later, Kendig looks over Isobel's enormous estate, which she inherited when her wealthy husband died. "How many hectares do you have?", he deadpans, and she replies, "Two." A hectare is a metric unit of measurement equivalent to 10,000 square meters, something many people would not know. It is also a funny-sounding word, especially as spoken by Matthau, who draws out his pronunciation. But, Isobel is not bested by his acerbic use of "hectare," and their exchange speaks to their intellectual compatibility as a couple. In a bit of self-reflexive humor undoubtedly added by Matthau, the female pilot who flies Kendig to his last adventure remarks at the end of their flight, "You remind me of my father." The actress portraying the role is Lucy Saroyan, Matthau's real-life stepdaughter. Saroyan landed the part at her stepfather's insistence, after he had negotiated with Neame to cast his son, David, as a CIA agent named Ross. For a spy adventure, Hopscotch relies little on fast-paced action, exciting car chases, or graphic violence. Instead, the measured pace reflects the casual manner of its main character, Miles Kendig. Large-scale sequences such as the Oktoberfest celebration shot in Salzberg, Germany, were choreographed to reflect the spectacle of the event, which is a characteristic lost on the small screens of the home-viewing experience. The deliberate craftsmanship, the presentation of old-fashioned spectacle, and an understanding of a star's persona and charisma are hallmarks of director Ronald Neame, who began his film career with the legendary Arthur Rank in England during World War II. There he met David Lean, which led to a creative partnership in a company called Cineguild that also included producer Anthony Havelock-Allan and writer Noel Coward. During the 1950s, Cineguild produced films with some of England's most talented actors, including Alec Guinness, John Mills, Celia Johnson, and Kay Walsh. Years later, Neame was recruited by Hollywood, where he experienced his greatest success with the star-studded disaster drama The Poseidon Adventure (1972). For the most part, critical reaction to Hopscotch is dependent on the age of the reviewer. Established critics understand the context of Hopscotch, including its value as a vehicle for Matthau, the appeal of a literate script, and the craftsmanship behind Neame's measured style. Contemporary reviewers, accustomed to the violence of spy dramas and the fast pace of action films, tend to be critical of its fluffy plot, dry humor, and lack of action scenes. Executive Producer: Otto Plaschkes Producers: Edie Landau and Ely Landau with Jonathan Bernstein and Brian Garfield Director: Ronald Neame Screenplay: Brian Garfield and Bryan Forbes based on the novel by Brian Garfield Cinematography: Arthur Ibbetson Editor: Carl Kress Production Designer: William Creber Music: Ian Fraser Cast: Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau), Isobel von Schmidt (Glenda Jackson), Cutter (Sam Waterston), Myerson (Ned Beatty), Mikhail Yaskov (Herbert Lom), Ross (David Matthau), Westlake (George Baker), Ludlum (Ivor Roberts), Carla the Pilot (Lucy Saroyan), Maddox (Severn Darden), Saint Breheret (George Pravda), Realtor (Jacquelyn Hyde). c-107M. by Susan Doll
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1980
Released in United States July 1980
Released in USA on video.


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Q: custom loss function for multiple outputs throws error x = sliced_model.output
outputMap = Convolution2D(1, (1, 1), activation='sigmoid')(x)
x = Flatten()(outputMap)
binaryOutput = Dense(1, activation='sigmoid')(x)
ourModel = Model(inputs=sliced_model.input, outputs=[outputMap,
binaryOutput])

def customloss(y_true, y_pred):
    map_true, binary_true = y_true
    map_pred, binary_pred = y_pred
    landa = 0.5
    binaryOutput_loss = k.losses.binary_crossentropy(binary_true, binary_pred)
    binaryMap_loss = k.mean(keras.losses.binary_crossentropy(map_true, map_pred))
    return binaryOutput_loss * landa + (1-landa) * binaryMap_loss
ourModel.compile(loss=customloss, optimizer='adam', metrics=['accuracy'])

TypeError: Tensor objects are only iterable when eager execution is enabled. To iterate over this tensor use tf.map_fn.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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They are also found in mangrove areas, moving in and out with the tide and even in fresh water near the sea. They occur singly or in small groups. Adults often aggregate in reef channels at low tide. This is one of the three most common reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific, the two others are the grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos and whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus.
The menu is designed around healthy Mediterranean diet of southern Europe. The "no butter policy" takes top precedence as the extra virgin olive oil has completely substituted butter and other unhealthy fats in the kitchen. In addition, Reef's priority is that fish, shellfish, meats and other ingredients are always fresh and of the highest quality. Dishes are prepared with healthy Mediterranean portions in mind, with quality and taste as priorities and always light enough to leave room for desserts.
Typically a solitary animal, juvenile blacktip reef sharks will commonly conjugate in shallow regions during high tide. Vulnerable to larger predators, they will reside in shallower areas until larger in size. Blacktip reef sharks tend to be more active during dawn and dusk, but like most sharks they are opportunistic feeders. Their diet consists of crustaceans, squid, octopus, and bony fish.
The Caribbean Reef Shark, also called the Carcharhinus Perezi in the scientific community, is a member of the requiem shark species. They are mostly found on the East coast of America (Atlantic coast) and southwards. The structure of this shark is streamlined and robust and can be easily confused with other sharks in its family. When you look up close, they have an extra rear tip on the second dorsal fin. The first dorsal fin is slightly angled or curved and the gills slits are also longer than most other varieties of sharks.
Reef's® 30-year heritage was born out of an idea by Fernando and Santiago Aguerre, entrepreneur brothers from South America with a love of surf and beach culture, to create a high-quality active lifestyle sandal. To bring their vision to life, the brothers moved to Southern California to manage the Reef brand, and they set up production in Sao Paulo Brazil in 1984, where they first produced the iconic sandal that made Reef the leader in open-toe footwear.
Measuring up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long, the Caribbean reef shark is one of the largest apex predators in the reef ecosystem, feeding on a variety of fishes and cephalopods. They have been documented resting motionless on the sea bottom or inside caves, unusual behavior for an active-swimming shark. If threatened, it may perform a threat display in which it frequently changes direction and dips its pectoral fins. Like other requiem sharks, it is viviparous with females giving birth to 4–6 young every other year. Caribbean reef sharks are of some importance to fisheries as a source of meat, leather, liver oil, and fishmeal, but recently they have become more valuable as an ecotourist attraction. In the Bahamas and elsewhere, bait is used to attract them to groups of divers in controversial "shark feedings". This species is responsible for a small number of attacks on humans. The shark attacks usually happen in spring and summer.


A group of US lawmakers urged members of a UNESCO panel to vote against a resolution Wednesday that ignores Jewish and Christian ties to the Temple Mount.
The United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution similar to the one ratified last week by the body's executive board. The resolution raised hackles in Israel and among Jewish groups for excluding references to Jewish and Christian ties to Jerusalem's holy sites, and was criticized by UN Chief Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
"The upcoming resolution at the World Heritage Committee is every bit as divisive as the Executive Board resolution, despite Jerusalem's inscription as a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam on UNESCO's World Heritage list," the letter, which was signed by 10 lawmakers including Cruz and Ros-Lehtinen, read.
"America should be rallying our friends and allies to oppose these insidious UNESCO resolutions that attempt to undermine the historic connection of the Israeli people with all of their country, including their capital, Jerusalem," Cruz wrote.
The other signatories to the letter are by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.); and Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), and Ed Royce (R-Calif.).
A draft of the resolution set to go before the World Heritage Committee obtained by The Times of Israel once again refers to the Temple Mount compound solely by its Muslim names, "Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif," and defines it only as "a Muslim holy site of worship." As the site of the Biblical temples, the mount is the holiest place in Judaism.
Last week's resolution was approved at the UNESCO committee stage on October 13 with 24 "yes" votes, six "no" votes and 26 abstentions, and then formally confirmed by UNESCO's executive on October 18, sparking vociferous condemnation in Israel, as well as from UNESCO's own director and several foreign leaders. A chorus of Israeli politicians, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but including left-wing lawmakers, slammed the decision as absurd and UNESCO as detached from reality.
Shama-Hacohen added that an ambassador from a leading Arab state had told him he did not understand what the Palestinians were trying to accomplish with their resolutions, but that political pressures meant his government was forced to toe the Palestinian line.


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NHM Announces First Fridays 2014: L.A. Stories
Posted by News Service | Nov 26, 2013 | Headlines | 0 |
Series featuring live music, discussions, and tours kicks off Friday, January 10with
L.A. bands Conway and Youngblood Hawke; L.A. authors Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers
First Fridays @ Natural History Museum with Youngblood Hawke
November 25, 2013—This year, to celebrate NHM's new permanent exhibit Becoming Los Angeles and the opening of its Nature Lab and Nature Gardens, the nighttime series First Fridays goes in search of a new kind of L.A. narrative. Join the Museum as it explores our city's natural history, its wildlife, the ecology of urban habitats, and how, as citizen scientists, we can contribute the next chapter in this true and ever-evolving L.A. story.
Each discussion forum will be moderated by Michael W. Quick, Ph.D. (Department of Biological Sciences and Executive Vice Provost, University of Southern California).
First Fridays 2014 Dates:
January 10, 2014* (not technically a "first" Friday, due to New Year's holidays)
January 10, 2014 Lineup:
TOURS — 5:00 pm, 5:30 pm, 6:00 pm:
"Tracking and Trapping L.A.'s Wildlife" with Miguel Ordenana
On a typical day in L.A., Museum biologists engage in not-so-typical approaches to study the city's incredible and ever-changing biodiversity. Camera traps in Griffith Park are photographing mountain lions and coyotes. Local residents are photo-documenting native and introduced reptiles. Volunteers are sifting through asphalt from the La Brea Tar Pits, discovering the diversity of our region's recent past. This tour will explore the myriad ways NHM and staff are tracking Los Angeles wildlife, and what we can do with the data we collect.
DISCUSSION — 6:30 pm:
"What Dinosaur Cancer, Drunken Stallions, and Obese Dragonflies Can Teach Us About Being Human" with Kathryn Bowers and Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz
From "Jurassic cancer" to "diseases of civilization," animals and humans face many of the same health challenges. Yet their doctors—physicians and veterinarians—rarely communicate with one another, and they often treat similar conditions in vastly different ways. What does breast cancer in jaguars and beluga whales, for example, tell us about breast cancer in women? How can psychiatrists find new ways to help patients with eating disorders and anxiety by learning about social fear responses in pigs and elk? Waxwing birds, wallabies, and cocker spaniels can abuse intoxicating substances—even stallions can have sexual dysfunction. How would our physical and mental health improve if the two disciplines shared new discoveries and tools? Drawing on the latest in medical and veterinary science—as well as dynamic new findings in evolutionary biology—we'll explore how animal and human commonality can be used to diagnose, treat, and heal patients of all species.
5:30 pm – 10:00 pm: DJ Lounge with KCRW's Anthony Valadez and Jeremy Sole
8:00 pm: Conway
9:15 pm: Youngblood Hawke
Panelist Bios:
Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz
For over 20 years, cardiologist Natterson-Horowitz has treated human patients at the UCLA Medical Center, developed imaging techniques and lectured to thousands of medical students, residents, fellows, colleagues, and community members. Currently, she is a cardiac consultant for the Los Angeles Zoo and a member of the Zoo's Medical Advisory Board as well as Director of Imaging at the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center.
Kathryn Bowers
Bowers has written and edited fiction and nonfiction books and articles and taught writing at UCLA. She began her career in journalism as a staff editor of the Atlantic Monthly and worked for James Fallows, the Washington Editor of the Atlantic, and for CNN-International in London. Bowers later served as an assistant press attaché at the United States Embassy in Moscow, where she received a State Department Meritorious Honor Award for her service.
DJ Bios:
Anthony Valadez
Resident DJ Valadez is a Los Angeles based DJ/producer and visual artist with residencies at Little Temple, Zanzibar and previously at the legendary Temple Bar prior to its closing. His latest musical projects include remixes for David Bowie and Ozomatli. He has released two full length albums on indie label Recordbreakin. He is a resident DJ at Dublab.com and has a regular program on 89.9 FM KCRW & KCRW.com where he mixes future beats, soulful keys and tomorrow's samples and sounds.
Jeremy Sole
Sole's upbringing was seeped in the rich Chicago history of blues, jazz, disco, salsa and soul — and he reveled in that space where they all blend together. As a teenager, he threw loft parties that were a culture clash during the birth of Hip Hop and House music. His obsession grew to include music from every corner of the world and, in 2001, Sole moved to L.A. With a broad musical palette, he felt right at home in the spiciest melting pot in the country and can now be heard on KCRW's airwaves in the early hours of Thursday morning from midnight to 3 am.
Opening Act Bio:
Conway is a singer, writer and a sayer of things that are on her mind and stuck in her side. Her energetic live performances, bold personality, and distinctive sound have already impressed audiences in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Brooklyn, while her debut Big Talk EP continues to give fans an opportunity to take that experience home. Conway wants to tell you what she sees and how she sees it. She hopes you talk back.
Headline Act Bio:
Sometimes, you'll shine the brightest during your darkest hour. That's exactly what longtime friends multi-instrumentalist Simon Katz and singer Sam Martin came to realize when they commenced writing songs for what would become Youngblood Hawke's self-titled debut EP. Katz and Martin had seen critical acclaim and worldwide success as founding members of Iglu & Hartly. However, after a rousing performance at Coachella 2010, the group dissolved due to a creative clash. "We went from massive success to nothing over the course of two years," recalls Katz. "We didn't like the direction the band was going in, and we wanted to do something closer to our hearts. We had to start over. The only thing you have in times like that is hope."
The duo began feverishly penning songs in Katz's Los Angeles studio that summer. Galvanized and reinvigorated, they emerged from that sweaty, air conditioner-less room with over one-hundred ideas and a fresh perspective altogether. Martin admits, "We didn't begin by saying, 'We're going to start a new band'. It was more of an outlet to express ourselves. It was the most natural thing I've ever done. There was no plan."
Advance tickets go on sale on December 2, 2013 at nhm.org/firstfridays. It is recommended that tickets are purchased in advance as capacity for the evening is limited and often sells out early. There will be a limited number of tickets sold onsite the evening of the event. However, once onsite tickets are sold out, admission to the Museum and/or concert may not be available. For more information, visit www.nhm.org/firstfridays, call (213) 763-DINO, or e-mail performances@nhm.org.
Concert Ticket + Museum Admission ($18) / Museum Admission ($12).
Guided tours and discussions are available on a first come, first served basis to all ticket-holders. For more information, visit www.nhm.org/firstfridays or call (213) 763-DINO. You can also e-mail performances@nhm.org.
About NHM
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) is located at 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90007.We recommend visitors take Metro's Expo Line, and exit the Expo/Vermont stop. Parking in the NHM Car Park is $10. When that fills up, parking in Lot 3 across the street is available for $10 (though Lot 3 is not owned or operated by NHM, and prices are subject to change).
KCRW 89.9FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is National Public Radio's flagship station for Southern California. The Los Angeles-based nonprofit represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura Counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW's programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide via KCRW.com, including three streaming channels, 27 podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances. Hear KCRW music online, all the time, on the ALL music stream Eclectic24.
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Chiz won't run for VP if Grace does


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Litoria ewingii са вид жаби от семейство Дървесници (Hylidae). Първоначално са разпространени в Югоизточна Австралия, включително в Тасмания, където са най-често срещаният вид жаби. Видът е интродуциран и в Нова Зеландия.

Източници

Австралийски дървесници

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Since Marika has the Space Yacht Club as her crew, what else could go wrong?
Don't press that button! That launches the low orbit ion canon!
Well, a lot goes wrong since the girls lack experience. To make it worse, no one has any idea how to control the pirate ship. Now that is a great way to start because the girls do the unthinkable. They decide to touch the instruments without knowing what it does, which is a big no-no. If you do that, especially with any type of technology, you might mess it up. As shown when Haramaki fired the lasers, I facepalmed since it's a very stupid mistake that could catch the authorities' attention.
The fail was so big that one facepalm isn't enough.
Considering that the Bentenmaru is heavily customized, it makes me wonder why the crew never written a manual in the first place? Yeah, getting infected with a rare disease from some lab experiment is an extraordinary event. However, having a contingency plan in place is a good idea so that the Bentenmaru could continue pirating even though most of the crew is out. Thankfully, they wrote up and sent the manual just in time so the girls can get the ship moving. Also, Marika manages a successful FTL jump without any help, which is amazing in my opinion.
Lastly, there is one instance where I almost got a nosebleed. This happened when the princesses brought out the sweets. Chiaki's reaction to it was so endearing that it tops all the previous expressions she made in the whole show.
Yeah, I think it definitely true. In this semester, I took Information Systems management and a lot of the stuff aren't predominantly used. Sure, Mainframes still exist, but they are mostly used as a legacy system. Not only that, less people are learning Cobol, which there is still a demand for, but not many are willing to learn it because Java and other languages are commonly used.
But yes, this is a pretty interesting aspect and shows how old the Bentenmaru is really is.
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Perno is a smart study of function and counterpoised rotation achieved with weight and balance. Its two arms provide extended reach, with a counterweighted arm directing light where needed. The orbital theme of the arms is echoed by Perno's circular base and drum shade. Trim lines and refined forms make the Perno collection a contemporary classic.


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Tag Archives: crypto news
Russian Smelting Giant Nornickel to Launch Digital Trading Platform by End of 2019
Russian mining and smelting giant Nornickel is planning to roll out a digital platform for metals trading by the end of 2019, local news outlet TASS reported on July 9. The vice-president of Nornickel, Andrey Bugrov told TASS that "the preparation process was quite lengthy, but nevertheless, we plan to bring this product [digitization of metal trading] to…
9 hours ago July 16, 2019 in Cryptocurrency.
Chinese Authorities Confiscate Thousands of Illegal Mining Units from Nearly Two Dozen Suspects
The Police in China on July 12 announced that it has confiscated 4000 cryptocurrency mining units that were deployed at nine factories across the country, without proper documentation from relevant authorities, which later resulted in the arrest of more than 21 suspects that have a direct or indirect link with the illegal mining activities. Illegal Mining The…
15 hours ago July 16, 2019 in Cryptocurrency.
Props Announces First SEC-Approved Consumer-Facing Blockchain Token
Delaware-based blockchain organization Props PBC has released a token approved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation A+, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph on June 11. According to the company, this is "the first consumer facing crypto token qualified by the SEC" via Reg A+. As previously reported, Reg A+ is an alternative…
1 day ago July 15, 2019 in Blockchain.
Spanish Police: Bitcoin ATMs a Blind Spot for Money Laundering Laws
Spanish law enforcement pointed out that Bitcoin (BTC) automated teller machines (ATMs) show a gap in European Union's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, Bloomberg reports on July 11. Per the report, Spanish police uncovered a local gang that used Bitcoin ATMs to transfer more than 9 million euros ($10 million) for drug traffickers in Colombia and other countries. Bloomberg cites anonymous representatives…
2 days ago July 15, 2019 in Cryptocurrency.
Circle CEO Views Libra As Having "Massive" Impact On Crypto Awareness
CEO of Circle, Jeremy Allaire discussed the current activity taking place within the crypto sphere, with news outlet, Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal and Romaine Bostick on Friday, July 5, 2019. Some of the topics that the discussion was founded on include Facebook's endeavor, Libra, how Libra is one of two different types of stablecoins and how Facebook's move could potentially lead…
Federal Judge Sentences Cryptocurrency Scammer to 86 Months in Prison
A scammer has been sentenced to 86 months in prison for running a cryptocurrency-related scheme, the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) reports on July 1 In addition to the 86-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein ordered 44-year old New Jersey resident Blake Kantor to pay a total restitution of $806,405 distributed to the victims who invested in…
Tether (USDT) Remains King Of Stablecoins Still
Tether, the controversial stable coin has somehow learned the art of survival, especially at times when most of the community is betting against it. The stable coin has been at the center of numerous controversies right from the time of its inception. First, it was the dubious claims over its US dollar reserves, then the…
Philippines' Central Bank Abandons Plans of Launching Own Cryptocurrency
Philippines' Central Bank is reportedly ready to halt its planned launch of a digital currency and wait for at least five years. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, according to Phillstar Global, a local news outlet, is rethinking issuing its own digital currency as it monitors the global crypto space. Benjamin Diokno, the bank's governor, spoke about…
Dan Dolev Is Bullish On Jack Dorsey's Undervalued Square Cash Payment App
It is rare when analysts that are used to watching Wall Street business appreciate crypto-based businesses. But we'll take it when it comes. Dan Dolev of Instinet recently had some good words in favor of Jack Dorsey's Square. Square markets several software and hardware payments products and has expanded into small business services. The company was founded in 2009…
Gab's Crowdfunding Campaign Hopes to Raise $10M to Use Bitcoin and 'Decentralize Dissent'
The free-speech maximalist website is decentralizing. In fact, it has just placed a bid to amass $10 million in crowdfunding. The platform aspires to get the entire amount in a Series A crowdfunding round in an attempt to decentralize its framework and fully leverage Lightning Network in its operations. The platform first hopes to revolutionize its current…
1 week ago July 9, 2019 in Cryptocurrency.


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A Conversation with Juan Guaidó
Sarah Galbenski
Covid-19 Venezuela
Crisis Venezuela
Operation Gideon
On May 20, 2020, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted a wide-ranging conversation with Juan Guaidó, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly. Guaidó is recognized by over 50 countries as Interim President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This conversation was moderated by Laura Chinchilla, former president of Costa Rica and co-chair of the Dialogue's Board of Directors. Chinchilla additionally leads the Dialogue's Venezuelan Working Group alongside former US ambassador Donna Hrinak. Michael Shifter, president of the Dialogue, delivered the opening remarks.
Shifter began the conversation by addressing the unprecedented nature of Venezuela's humanitarian crisis in the hemisphere as well as its aggravation due to the outbreak of Covid-19. He asserted that "the resolution of this crisis has been and continues to be the most urgent priority of the Dialogue." To this end, Guaidó stressed the necessity of forcing a negotiation with the Maduro regime since it has not voluntarily demonstrated any form of generosity towards the Venezuelan people. The regime has not permitted any humanitarian assistance to enter the country, nor has it allowed for the registry of NGOs, ultimately preventing the United Nations from channeling aid through local implementors.
As a result, 92 percent of homes currently lack running water, 84 percent of homes suffer from daily or weekly power outages, and 32 percent of the population must resort to cooking with firewood. The public health system is equipped with a meager 84 ventilators, and the private health system is not much better off with 300. Guaidó emphasized that the humanitarian crisis that Venezuela is living is not the result of a natural disaster or a traditional war but rather a consequence of the regime's disregard for its own citizens and the rule of law. While Guaidó has put forward a proposal for a national emergency government specifically targeted at the public health system and aid delivery, it has gone unsupported by the regime.
In addition to the heightened humanitarian crisis, Guaidó discussed other recent developments including the failed Operation Gideon and the imminent arrival of five Iranian oil tankers on Venezuelan shores. In regard to Operation Gideon, Guaidó denied any participation in the unsuccessful incursion. He claimed that "it has only benefited the Maduro regime as they have been able to utilize the operation as fodder for propaganda on the international stage as well as an opportunity to send a message of continued persecution to the democratic opposition." Furthermore, in response to Chinchilla's question as to whether this incident has led him to reconsider the use of force as a possible mechanism to resolve Venezuela's political situation, Guaidó affirmed his belief that the best mechanism towards a democratic transition is international, diplomatic, and civic pressure.
With respect to the pending provision of 1.5 million barrels of Iranian oil to Venezuela, Guaidó declared that this exchange ought to alarm Latin America. He indicated that the regime carried out this deal without the approval of the National Assembly, and it is his assumption that they will pay for the fuel with illegally extracted gold from the southern jungles of Venezuela. Guaidó refers to this medium of exchange as "blood gold" since miners committed both ecocide and ethnocide by decimating the natural landscape and eliminating the indigenous populations in order to extract it. Moreover, he disclosed that Venezuela's refining network has the capacity to produce 1.3 million barrels of oil a day, underscoring the regime's mismanagement of the country's own oil industry and its ironic need to import fuel.
Looking ahead to the Venezuelan parliamentary election of December 2020, Guaidó expressed, "Participation in a free and fair election is the central element to this conflict's resolution." While his primary objective in the coming months is to recover Venezuelan citizens' legitimate right to vote, Guaidó and the democratic opposition are ultimately striving towards a cessation of Maduro's usurpation of power, a transitional government, and a restored democracy achieved by means of elections.
To conclude the session, Guaidó answered questions sent in by audience members, addressing topics such as the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, the role of the Lima Group, and the World Food Program's intervention in Venezuela. Finally, during her closing remarks, Chinchilla affirmed, "We believe that Venezuela can conclude 2020 by organizing an election with the necessary conditions that will guarantee a transition to democracy."
Press Coverage:
Venezuela's Military to Escort Iranian Fuel Tankers: Defense Minister (May 20, 2020 – New York Times)
Guaidó asegura que presencia de Irán en Venezuela es motivo de alarma para la región (May 20, 2020 – América Digital)
Watch the full recording of this event here (Spanish only):


text:
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Iran's Rouhani welcomes Japan opt-out of U.S.-led naval mission in Gulf
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday welcomed Japan's decision not to join a U.S.-led naval mission in the Gulf and said he had discussions on ways of "breaking" U.S. sanctions on a trip to Tokyo. Friction between Tehran and Washington has increased since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy. Washington proposed the naval mission after several attacks in May and June on international merchant vessels, including Saudi tankers, in Gulf waters which the United States blamed on Iran.
from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://news.yahoo.com/rouhani-says-iran-welcomes-japan-144813161.html
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text:
Terra Terra Terra
Mind Like A Man, Soul Like A Child
Written by: DR on 06/07/2009 21:20:22
You ever hear a song which you have serious trouble lumping into a specific genre? Well, throughout all ten "Mind Like A Man, Soul Like A Child" tracks you'll hear elements of pop punk, pop, indie, rock and alternative; and no doubt you'll pick up on elements and influences of plenty of other bands, but tying Terra Terra Terra down to just one genre is quite problematic. Still, what do genres really matter anyway?
This Floridian quartet have clearly set out with the objective of breaking in to the mainstream with their pleasant, incredibly radio-friendly sound fitted with sing-along choruses, but it's all a bit too...nice. The disturbing lack of bass adds to the fact this band have neither bark nor bite, and the vocals are - despite the allure of Loren's soft and gentle croons - too safe and not once over-stretched. The musicianship is simple and not particularly ambitious, moreover it lacks any real drive or edge - but you get the impression that's the point. This band isn't looking to whip you into a heady mosh-frenzy, they want to lodge their sweet sound firmly in your brain so that every time you hear "Transmission Lost" on the radio a smile can't help but flourish across your face.
The ironic thing is, one of the best moments comes in the form of "The Coast is Clear", when the band stop drop their entirely blissful sound and allow Loren to let his vocal abilities loose; from Jesse Lacey style whispers "I'm not leaving 'cause I have to, but I want to/is that ok with you?/don't forgive me in case I have to run back to you" to the soaring "and the coast is clear/we can come out hiding from our sheet/I've been lying for years, shaking hands with the demons beside me and/all we fear is alive." It's invigorating and compelling, it's downright glorious.
The affair as a whole though just seems too tepid. It's too dependable and too cautious, the band need to step out of their comfort zone more often and be much more ambitious if they're to really make a name for themselves and stand out from the crowd. Keep one eye on this space however, and don't be surprised if these guys make the big time once they decide to let themselves loose, even just a little.
Download: Transmission Lost, This Is My Associate Cornelius, The Coast Is Clear
For Fans of: Jonezetta, Manchester Orchestra, Search The City, Sullivan
Round Kid Records


text:
«What Time Is It?» — открывающий музыкальный номер и первый сингл из фильма Disney Channel «Классный мюзикл: Каникулы». Песня также была включена в саундтрек фильма под первым номером.

Мировая премьера «What Time Is It?» состоялась на Radio Disney 25 мая 2007 года в качестве эпизода программы Planet Premiere. 8 июня примерно в одно и то же время компания Disney представила на суд зрителей многих стран музыкальный клип песни в качестве предварительного ознакомления. Собственно сингл был выпущен 16 июля 2007 в мировом масштабе и 17 июля 2007 в США.

Песня была спета Сиднеем Харбором во время новогоднего салюта 31 декабря 2007.

Клип

Клип и эпизод в фильме начинаются с показа команды «Дикие коты» в классе. На классной доске висит фото с Шарпей и Райаном, исполняющими «Bop to the Top», рядом с надписью «School's Out!» (). В помещении также можно рассмотреть постер East High Winter Musical «Twinkle Town» с Троем Болтоном (Зак Эфрон) и Габриэллой Монтес (Ванесса Хадженс). Когда часы показывают 10 секунд до звонка, класс начинает скандировать «лето!» всё громче и громче, пока не зазвенит звонок, после которого начинается песня. Клип непосредственно состоит из эпизодов фильма. Он был выпущен 31 июля 2007 года на iTunes Store. Клип был также выпущен на Disney Channel.

Другие версии
 В ноябре 2007 года актёры исполнили рождественскую версию «What Time Is It?» (то есть «What time is it? Christmastime!») в Диснейлэнде для телетрансляции Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, хотя на мероприятии и отсутствовали Зак с Лукасом. Телепередача вышла в эфир на канале ABC в Рождество (25 декабря).
 В Токийском диснейленде на параде Jubilation! часть песни (с исправленными словами) можно было услышать на английском во время представления.
 Испанская певица Эдурне записала кавер-версию песни на альбоме 2008 года Premiere.

Форматы
 CD-Extra

iTunes цифровой трек-лист

Чарты

 What Time Is It? — это самый успешная песня из «Классного мюзикла» на сегодняшний момент, попав на 19 строку в UK Singles Chart, это первая песня Disney Channel, основанная на материале, вошедшая в топ-20.

Пародии
28 августа 2007 в эфире телепередачи «Позднее шоу с Дэвидом Леттерманом» прозвучала пародия с новыми словами. Пародия была представлена в виде вымышленного сюжета канала Al Jazeera, названного «Al-Qaeda Musical Jihad 2».

Примечания

Песни из «Классного мюзикла»
Песни Ванессы Хадженс


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text:
Bourdonnay (Duits: Bortenach)  is een gemeente in het Franse departement Moselle (regio Grand Est) en telt 239 inwoners (1999).

De gemeente maakt deel uit van het arrondissement Château-Salins en sinds 22 maart 2015 van het kanton Le Saulnois, toen het kanton Vic-sur-Seille, waar de gemeenten daarvoor onder viel, erin opging.

Het dorp werd als eerste in 1256 genoemd in het Cartularium van de Sint-Eustasiusabdij in  Vergaville / Widersdorf.

Geografie
De oppervlakte van Bourdonnay bedraagt 17,9 km², de bevolkingsdichtheid is 13,4 inwoners per km².

Demografie
Onderstaande figuur toont het verloop van het inwonertal (bron: INSEE-tellingen).

Externe links

Gemeente in Moselle


text:
Fracking health study provides numbers for the debate
By Kevin Begos
PITTSBURGH — A project examining the local health effects from natural gas drilling is providing some of the first preliminary numbers about people who may be affected, and the results challenge the industry position that no one suffers but also suggest that the problems may not be as widespread as some critics claim.
The Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project has been trying to help people who feel they've been sickened by natural gas drilling or processing for about 18 months in one county south of Pittsburgh.
The work is potentially important because it's one of the first long-term attempts to monitor drilling-related health effects, and it could help other groups identify possible symptoms.
The project found 27 cases where people in Washington County believe they were hurt by nearby drilling — seven cases of skin rashes, four of eye irritation, 13 of breathing problems and three of headaches and dizziness. The skin exposures were from water and the other cases were from air. The numbers don't represent a full survey of the area, just cases with plausible exposures.
The EHP group is trying to help people who have been exposed to drilling-related air or water pollution, toxicologist David Brown told the Associated Press, adding that they're finding "an array of symptoms" in some people who live close to wells or processing stations.
There were some surprises: Air pollution seems to be more of a threat than tainted water, and the huge processing stations that push gas into national pipelines may be more of a problem than the drilling sites themselves. The processing stations can handle large volumes of gas from hundreds of wells.
Washington County has a population of about 200,000, and about 700 natural gas wells have been drilled there in the past six years. It's also home to large gas processing operations.
Some experts not involved with the findings praised the general program, but said the debate over fracking and health often neglects a crucial point. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique in which water is mixed with sand and chemicals and injected into rock formations to break them up and free trapped gases.
"There's a strong case that people in the U.S. are already leading longer lives as a consequence of the fracking revolution," said Michael Greenstone, a professor of environmental economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That's because many power plants have stopped burning coal and switched to natural gas, which emits far less fine soot, nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide.
"Obviously, that has to be counterbalanced against the local effects of the drilling," and that makes for a complicated decision, said Greenstone, formerly one of President Obama's chief economic advisers. Obama has expressed strong support for the natural gas drilling boom, and has said it can be done safely.
Greenstone said more work needs to be done to confirm that Washington County residents were affected by natural gas activity and not by other factors, but he called the project an "important start."
The EHP group only counted cases where symptoms began after natural gas activity started, where there was a plausible source of exposure and where the individual didn't have an underlying medical condition that was likely to have caused the symptoms.
Brown said the project team is aware that more work needs to be done on links between natural gas activities and their effects on health. He said the work has been "a lot harder than I thought it was going to be," but substantial progress has been made.
Brown said one of the most worrying findings was the extremely high levels of air pollution found inside two homes that are about 1,000 feet from a gas processing station. Western Pennsylvania tends to have high levels of air pollution, but the levels found in the two homes were up to four times higher than the local average.
Brown said the group is collecting more data and pushing ahead to refine ways to advise people who are worried about nearby natural gas activity.
— Associated Press


text:
The sociological theory of diffusion is the study of the diffusion of innovations throughout social groups and organizations.  The topic has seen rapid growth since the 1990s, reflecting curiosity about the process of social change and "fueled by interest in institutional arguments and in network and dynamic analysis."  The theory uses a case study of the growth of business computing to explain different mechanisms of diffusion.

Origins of the sociological theory of diffusion
Diffusion emerged as a subfield in early 20th century rural sociology. Bryce Ryan and Neal Gross were influential in laying the initial groundwork on diffusion in sociology. Early studies explained how corn farmers adopted new variants of corn through social diffusion processes rather than economic ones.

The concept of diffusion

In the 1962 book, Diffusion of Innovations, Everett Rogers defines sociological diffusion of innovation as a process in a social system where an innovative idea or concept is spread by members of the social group through certain channels. He identifies four elements that influence how and how quickly a new idea spreads:
 The innovation itself
 The types of communication channels used
 The amount of time the social group is exposed to the innovation
 The nature of the social group
In a study by Surry and Farquhar, researchers explain that the theory of diffusion is used in occupations ranging from marketing to agriculture in order to ensure that new products, ideas, and techniques are well adopted by the social group.   The concept of diffusion is of particular interest in the marketing field, as this concept affects the success or failure of new ads or products. Understanding this theory helps marketers influence the way the public will perceive each innovation.

The speed at which an innovation spreads through a mass of people depends on how favorably an idea is perceived by the audience. Innovations that are ill matched with existing techniques are not as well accepted and diffused through the group. Social structures are naturally designed in a hierarchy; thus, different ideas follow different routes or courses in the hierarchy, depending on the type and source of an innovation.

The study of the diffusion of innovations has led to advancements in awareness of three important aspects of social change: the qualities of an innovation which lead to successful diffusion, the effect of peer networking and conversations when it comes to spreading ideas, and the importance of various "user segments" (Robinson). The theory of diffusion of innovations differs from other theories about the processes of change since most changes are improvements, or "reinventions", of a previously existing product or technique. These changes are generally favorably perceived by the members of the group because they usually are more in line with the values and needs of the group.

There are five important qualities that factor into the success or failure of innovations. First, the relative advantage; that is, whether the new innovation surpasses similar existing ideas in terms of satisfaction and convenience. Second, the compatibility of the new idea with the needs and practices of the group members. Third, the simplicity of the innovation: usually, the simpler the innovation, the more quickly the concept is adopted. Fourth, the "trialability" of an innovation; that is, whether it can be tested without commitment for a period of time. An innovation that has an available trial period provides less uncertainty to the group member who will be trying it. Lastly, whether there are observable results with use of the innovation. The more positive and visible results, the higher the likelihood it gets adopted as a permanent idea for the group.

Why diffusion happens
Sociological diffusion occurs when a social group or organization develops an innovation: a new idea or behavior. Diffusion, in the context of corporations and businesses, is a way for an idea to be fleshed out. The diffusion of innovations provides insights into the process of social change: one can observe the qualities that make an innovation successfully spread and the importance of communication and networks. According to Rogers, a new idea is diffused through a decision-making process with five steps:

Knowledge - An individual first becomes aware of the new innovation, but lacks information and inspiration
Persuasion - The individual's interest in the innovation spikes, and he or she begins research
Decision - The individual weighs the positive and negative results of changing to the new idea
Implementation - The individual adds the innovation into the system. At this stage, he or she also begins to determine the innovation's usefulness.
Confirmation - The individual decides to continue with the new innovation.

The key part of the five stages is the decision; this is the main reason why diffusion exists. The decision to either adopt or reject the idea is vitally important. Those responsible for evaluating innovations either determine that the new concept is likely to provide future success, and adopt it, or determine that it is likely to be a failure, and continue to move forward in search of other ideas. It is counterproductive for an organization to invest time, energy, and in most cases money, into a poorly developed or bad idea.

An important aspect of the diffusion and decision process is communication. As an idea further develops and spreads, it flows and moves through an organization by communication. Communication is a necessary condition for an idea to take hold. The innovation depends on a communication network within the organization in order to take root. In Emanuel Rosen's book The Anatomy of Buzz, Rosen points out the importance of communication networks in the spread and development of an idea within an organizational system. (Dobson)

Studies of the diffusion of innovation have shown that new ideas must fit with already established system in order for changes not only to occur, but also to occur easily. (Pinard) An innovation faced with structural or ideological barriers cannot diffuse. On the other hand, if a new idea or innovation has few obstacles and acknowledges places where change is logical, movement to it will occur. (Freeman)

Networks and environment
A firm's interaction with other players, along with its environment and organizational culture, are key in the social theory of diffusion.

The use of networks
The effects of networks and institutional environment on adoption of innovations can be explained using a social network theory model. In such a model, nodes represent agents (e.g. companies or organizations) and ties represent a connection between two entities (e.g. a company-client relationship or competitive relationship). Diffusion occurs when a novel idea, product, or process is implemented by an agent and permeates through these ties to others.

Internal and external diffusion
Diffusion of information and ideas has been categorized into two modes:

Internal diffusion is the spread of information and innovations within a network, flowing within a single adopting population a given industry or geographical network. Internal diffusion dynamics require that innovative and early adopter firms introduce new ideas into a network, which are then picked up by the majority of firms and laggard firms. DiMaggio and Powell (1983)  argue that firms search for the best ideas and practices and mimic new ideas that prove to work. This phenomenon is known as mimetic isomorphism, and ironically may lead to clustering of firm structure and practices. Additionally, firms are often forced to adopt new ideas as they are constantly competing with other firms; that is, firms want to seem modernized and seek legitimacy in implementing innovative practices.

External diffusion refers to the introduction of ideas to a network from outside actors: firms or other agents on the edge of the network. Outside actors include the mass media and "change agents." Mass media can amplify trends and movements that occur in the marketplace, introducing new innovations to network members, exposing "best-practice" ideas, and conveying new principles. Change agents are usually business professionals (such as lawyers, consultants, bankers, or politicians) who spread new practices or aid in promoting new ideas.  These individuals often introduce business models, legal strategies, or investment techniques that are picked up by several entities within a network and continue to diffuse. Often, such external diffusion leads to conformity of a set of corporate strategies or structures, a phenomenon DiMaggio and Powell called "normative isomorphism".

Environmental and cultural factors of diffusion
An agent's environmental and cultural makeup influence the decision to adopt an idea diffusing through a network. Some of the major characteristics of firms that influence their decision to innovate are clustering, weak ties, and firm size.

Clustering', the existence of a group of tightly connected agents, is a frequent concept in network theory. It includes, for example, similar firms locating themselves in close proximity to each other (Silicon Valley for technology firms; New York for banking services). Such clustering and close proximity increases the diffusion rate of ideas for firms within a cluster, as other firms are more likely to adopt an idea if another firm has adopted it within its cluster.

An agent with weak ties has a connection to two or more clusters. These agents are integral in connecting groups, as they provide communication between large clusters. Firms with weak ties can be isolated firms, firms with business in two or more spaces, or those which are external change agents. Firms with weak ties introduce clusters to new, proven methods.

Firm size has been shown to have an influence on the rate of diffusion. Strang and Soule (1998) have shown that large, technical, and specialized organizations with informal cultures tend to innovate much faster than other firms. Smaller and more rigid firms attempt to mimic these "early adopters" in attempt to keep up with competition.

Mathematical treatment

Mathematical models can be used to study the spread of technological innovations among individuals connected to each other by a network of peer-to-peer influences, such as in a physical community or neighborhood.

Complex system (particularly complex network) models can be used to represent a system of individuals as nodes'' in a network (or Graph (discrete mathematics)). The interactions that link these individuals are represented by the edges of the network and can be based on the probability or strength of social connections.  In the dynamics of such models, each node is assigned a current state, indicating whether or not the individual has adopted the innovation, and model equations are used to describe the evolution of these states over time.

In threshold models the uptake of technologies is determined by the balance of two factors: the (perceived) usefulness (sometimes called utility) of the innovation to the individual as well as barriers to adoption, such as cost. The multiple parameters that influence decisions to adopt, both individual and socially motivated, can be represented by such mathematical models.

Computer models have been developed to investigate the balance between the social aspects of diffusion and perceived intrinsic benefit to the individuals. When the effect of each individual node was analyzed along with its influence over the entire network, the expected level of adoption was seen to depend on the number of initial adopters and the structure and properties of the network. Two factors in particular emerged as important to successful spread of the innovation: The number of connections of nodes with their neighbors, and the presence of a high degree of common connections in the network (quantified by the clustering coefficient).

Case study: Diffusion of business computing in organizations

To illustrate how different diffusion mechanisms can have varying effects in individual cases, consider the example of business computing. The 1980s and 1990s saw a rapid paradigm shift in the way many organizations operated; specifically, the rise of computers and related technologies saw organizations adopt these innovations to help run their business (Attewell 1992:1). Thus, the diffusion of business computing through organizations during this time period provides an informative case study through which to examine different mechanisms of diffusion and their respective roles.

Networks
The roles of communication networks, as described by traditional theories of diffusion, have been to facilitate information flow about a new innovation and thus remove one of the major barriers to adoption. In this model, those closest to the initial champions of a new innovation are quicker to respond and adopt, while those farther away will take more time to respond (Rogers 1983; Strang and Soule 1998:272). This theory about the roles of networks in diffusion, while widely applicable, requires modification in this particular case, among others. Attewell (1992) argues that in this case, knowledge of the existence of computers and their business applications far preceded their eventual adoption. The main barrier to adoption was not awareness, but technical knowledge: knowledge of how to effectively integrate computing into the workplace. Thus, the most relevant networks to the diffusion of business computing were those networks that transmitted the technical knowledge required to utilize the innovation, not those that simply transmitted awareness of the idea behind the innovation.

Institutions
New institutions, in particular those which acted as educators or consultants, also played an important role in the diffusion of business computing. In order to adapt to evolving trends in business computing, organizations first needed to gain the technical knowledge necessary to operate the technology (Attewell 1992:3-6). The "knowledge barrier" could be reduced or partially circumvented, however, by the formation of new institutions. The new institutions that formed during this time period such as service bureaus, consultants, and companies creating simplifications of the technology lowered the knowledge barrier and allow for more rapid diffusion of the ideas and technology behind business computing. This explains the phenomenon in which, at first, many organizations obtained business computing as an out-sourced service. However, after these service institutions effectively lowered the barrier to adoption, many organizations became capable of bringing business computing in-house (Attewell 1992:7-8).

Innovation decisions
Rogers (1983) notes two important ways in which innovations are adopted by organizations: collective innovation decisions, and authority innovation decisions. "Collective innovation decisions" are best defined as a decision that occurs as the result of a broad consensus for change within an organization. "Authority innovation decisions", on the other hand, need only the consensus of a few individuals with large amounts of power within the organization. In the case of organizations adopting business computing, authority decisions were largely impossible. As J.D. Eveland and L. Tornatzky (1990)  explain, when dealing with advanced technical systems such as those involved with business computing, "decisions are often many (and reversed), and technologies are often too big and complex to be grasped by a single person's cognitive power or usually, to be acquired or deployed within the discretionary authority of  any single organizational participant." Therefore, a much broader consensus within an organization was required to reach the critical mass of technical knowledge and authority necessary to adapt to business computing. This provided an opportunity for collective innovation decisions within the organization.

See also
Network theory
 Diffusion of innovations

References

Social networks