How Agencies Should Prep for Artificial Intelligence – The Center for Organizational Excellence, Inc.
Here are the opportunities and requirements for success.
Artificial intelligence refers to the ability of computers systems to perform tasks that normally require human intellect and judgment. Also called machine learning, these systems take in data that is structured or unstructured producing algorithms, finding patterns, and continually learning and refining its capacity over time to make decisions, guide behavior, offer solutions, or act. AI is now moving rapidly into "deep learning" which looks not just at the face value of data but draws meaning and representations from initial and cumulative data accelerating its learning and capacity as it grows. IBM's Watson is probably the most commonly know system exercising deep learning.
Although the term was first coined in the mid 1950s, we are beginning to see their use in everyday life with self-driving cars, airplane autopilot systems, automatically controlling traffic lights based on flow and density, mobile check deposits deciphering handwriting, detecting human emotion to target advertising, and analyzing electronic trails to learn and exploit human behavior patterns.
Government is taking a strong look at using AI to help strengthen its decision making and creating operational efficiencies. For example, Governing reported the Las Vegas Health Department uses AI to scan social media for incidents of food poisoning, using that data to identify food establishments to be inspected. The Defense Department uses AI on drones to assess battlefield conditions and call for appropriate resources. Imagine using AI to calculate prescription drug type and dosage based your symptoms and body composition for more accuracy or trolling computer systems to find hackers. When trained, AI can think and act faster, and more accurately than humans.
AI can also be used to select top candidates from a pool and conduct employee interviews and make unbiased recommendations based on candidate moods, skills, exaggerations, intelligence levels, and more by combining and analyzing video, written, social media and other data sets. AI can optimize the size and scope of your workforce, detect spending patterns, and optimize procurement contracts. AI could analyze the Federal Viewpoint Survey combined with other data sets to identify specific stressful workplaces. It can determine and request optimal resource allocations to disaster sites. AI can detect and tell a call center worker when it is time for a break, detecting a shift in their customer orientation. The list is endless.
While opportunity exists, data capacity in government has a long way to go to facilitate machine learning. Data across agencies is not standardized and is housed in many locations. A lot of unbiased judgment is necessary to be able to truly leverage the data, at least initially. Visionaries are needed to identify beneficial data and AI opportunities for government.
Because data has many uses, we must focus on what is important in each area. For example, data can be used to measure performance, conduct if/then analysis, and speed up processing of certain functions. Within these broad applications, AI system designers must try to eliminate unneeded data, improper data, and issues associated with not having enough data. The ability to game the system by inputting erroneous data or not reporting less than stellar performance outcomes to limit accountability challenges is possible. In other words, garbage in-garbage out.
Technology must not drive every decision to expend resources, act, or apply risk factors. For example, winning a war takes time and progress is not always evident right away. The impact of major legislation on our economy may require a long view and result in short-term strains. While these patterns should be captured so that the system can "learn them," rush to judgment may need to be tempered.
There are many potential applications of AI, as well as potential pitfalls. Pitfalls or risks should be addressed now as AI is being considered and moves more powerfully into government. Troves of data are critical to a successful AI system, some which are available, more is needed, and even more that is system generated. In an AI system, the data needs to be tagged and trained to perform as planned, and its performance needs to be verified and validated.
Determining valid purposes. A charter should define what constitutes proper use of AI systems for our government. For example, as we all know AI could change behavior for nefarious purposes or infiltrate our election system to change the outcomes.
Securing data. In an AI system, data will grow exponentially and the definition of personally identifiable information or national security data can and will change dramatically. This needs to be addressed to ensure its ethical and secure use. For example, we think of PII today as social security, address, medical information, but under AI applications it can grow to include behavioral profiles, spending habits, social habits, and much more.
Establishing ethical use of AI. Ethics experts should be educated and used in the development of AI. They should be part of the governing process and the development of laws, regulations, and policy.
Agreeing on the impact of technology on society and our willingness to have the critical discussion. How will AI impact people's ability to earn a living, contribute to society, or generate revenue for our government. As populations grow, will we have the opportunity for a decent and contributing life?
Changing our definition of data is critical to success. Today we capture and report on many data elements, but we must learn how to combine structured and unstructured data from many sources to tell a story or make decisions. Data as we know it will evolve and we need strong, capable thinkers to support this. In many places in government, this is still in its infancy.
The government needs to address these through a strong advanced computing oversight board to ensure systems are built, deployed, and exploited appropriately, consistent with needs, values, and laws. Government also needs to hire exemplary data and AI experts to guide the use of advanced technologies for both proper use and the development of efficient and effective applications.
Strong debates and decisions are needed at the highest policy levels of government to determine how AI will best be used for our country and the efficiency and effectiveness of government as well as society and world competitiveness. Its impact on our society must be ascertained (and perhaps controlled). Changes in philosophy and purpose of government will be necessary to, for example, redirect human resources toward mission accomplishment, and less on back office or decide the appropriate footprint of government.
You can view the original version of this article at Nextgov.com.
Do Your Programs Still Fit?


Globe Lighting Led Exit Light with Emergency Backup Lighting Combo, Wet Location. Globe Lighting Led Exit Sign with Emergency Backup Lighting Combo for Wet Location.
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Our history and feedback speaks for itself but in the rare case of a problem with your order please reach out to us, we will do whatever we can to make it right. The item "Globe Lighting Led Exit Light with Emergency Backup Lighting Combo, Wet Location" is in sale since Tuesday, May 16, 2017. This item is in the category "Business & Industrial\Facility Maintenance & Safety\Safety Signs & Traffic Control\Exit Signs". The seller is "merlintradingllc" and is located in Pompano Beach, Florida. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Dominican republic, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Viet nam.


text:
@interface PodsDummy_Pods_PKCAlertView_Example : NSObject
@end
@implementation PodsDummy_Pods_PKCAlertView_Example
@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


MG Sports & Fitness, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, is the area's leading gym serving Bedford county since 2010. We offer personal training, nutritional consultation, child care and more. For all your fitness needs, contact MG Sports & Fitness in Shelbyville.
Established in 2010. MG Sports & Fitness is proud to serve our local area which includes Bedford County.
We specialize in Fitness Facility, Open 24/7, and We Offer Child Care (Unsupervised; we provide books, tv's, free wifi, toys, bean bags, etc.) since 2010.


Staying at the Trailhead is like having friends who live at Tahoe in a really nice house and have an extra room for you when you come to visit. The staff is knowledgeable about the recreation opportunities nearby, and the rooms are spacious with new beds. All of the rooms have a refrigerator and microwave, and some have Jacuzzi spas. The property also offers free WiFi and continental breakfast. The Trailhead is on Lake Tahoe Boulevard near the intersection with Pioneer Trail, so it offers quick and easy access to get on the road to whatever activity happens to be on your agenda.


The Edge is driven by billions of remote nodes, sensors. Each sensor can have their own compute power and interact with the environment around them. They can perform analytics and can learn from other connected devices, this can all be done locally. Following YottaStor's Patented Edge Process, analytical results can be sent back to the cloud for further processing with new insights being sent back out to the sensors, machine-to-machine learning & artificial intelligence.
The Internet of things utilizes Edge architectures to enable distributed instantaneous interaction creating new business opportunities.
Enterprises can cut WAN cost by 50% by utilizing Edge topologies while improving the user experience & reliability.
As billions of sensors create more and more data at the Edge we begin to run into the limits of physics, the speed of light. The Edge allows the Enterprise to expand its reach by providing Cloud based applications the ability to integrate with Edge Cloud devices enabling new possibilities.
Applications are Moving to the Edge at a Rapid Pace, the Cloud can Not Meet the Demands.
Edge computing does not compete with the cloud, it completes it. The decentralized Edge works in conjunction with the centralized Cloud or Enterprise. Utilizing YottaStor's Patented Edge Process, data can be created, stored, analyzed at the edge with insights being sent back to the Enterprise or Cloud for further processing. Data learned from the centralized site can be sent back out to the Edge for further learning.


text:
Find Old Buddies
I want to win AFCON with Black Stars - Alexander Djiku
Tue, 20 Oct 2020 Source: Football Ghana
Black Stars defender, Alexander Djiku, has said that he wants to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.
Djiku was given his debut by Charles Akonnor during the 3-0 defeat to Mali. He also featured in the 5-1 win against Qatar.
The 26-year-old told the French media about his desire to win the AFCON trophy with the country, a trophy that has eluded the Black Stars since 1982.
"First, it will obviously be necessary to qualify for the CAN in 2022, and then, why not win it? The Black Stars are often placed but they never won a trophy (note: they won four CAN but the last time was in 1982). They were semi-finalists (2012, 2013, 2017), in the final (2010, 2015), so it's a major objective."
"Afterwards, we will also have to think about the World Cup in 2022. I remember their saga in South Africa in 2010 when they reached the quarter-finals ... Why not do the same type of course again?"
Source: Football Ghana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package org.apache.flink.runtime.jobgraph;

import org.apache.flink.api.common.io.FinalizeOnMaster;
import org.apache.flink.api.common.io.GenericInputFormat;
import org.apache.flink.api.common.io.InitializeOnMaster;
import org.apache.flink.api.common.io.OutputFormat;
import org.apache.flink.api.java.io.DiscardingOutputFormat;
import org.apache.flink.configuration.Configuration;
import org.apache.flink.core.io.GenericInputSplit;
import org.apache.flink.core.io.InputSplit;
import org.apache.flink.runtime.executiongraph.SimpleInitializeOnMasterContext;
import org.apache.flink.runtime.io.network.partition.ResultPartitionType;
import org.apache.flink.runtime.operators.util.TaskConfig;
import org.apache.flink.testutils.junit.SharedObjectsExtension;
import org.apache.flink.testutils.junit.SharedReference;
import org.apache.flink.util.InstantiationUtil;

import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.extension.RegisterExtension;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.URLClassLoader;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;

import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;

@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class JobTaskVertexTest {

    @RegisterExtension final SharedObjectsExtension sharedObjects = SharedObjectsExtension.create();

    @Test
    void testMultipleConsumersVertices() {
        JobVertex producer = new JobVertex("producer");
        JobVertex consumer1 = new JobVertex("consumer1");
        JobVertex consumer2 = new JobVertex("consumer2");

        IntermediateDataSetID dataSetId = new IntermediateDataSetID();
        consumer1.connectNewDataSetAsInput(
                producer,
                DistributionPattern.ALL_TO_ALL,
                ResultPartitionType.BLOCKING,
                dataSetId,
                false);
        consumer2.connectNewDataSetAsInput(
                producer,
                DistributionPattern.ALL_TO_ALL,
                ResultPartitionType.BLOCKING,
                dataSetId,
                false);

        JobVertex consumer3 = new JobVertex("consumer3");
        consumer3.connectNewDataSetAsInput(
                producer, DistributionPattern.ALL_TO_ALL, ResultPartitionType.BLOCKING);

        assertThat(producer.getProducedDataSets()).hasSize(2);

        IntermediateDataSet dataSet = producer.getProducedDataSets().get(0);
        assertThat(dataSet.getId()).isEqualTo(dataSetId);

        List<JobEdge> consumers1 = dataSet.getConsumers();
        assertThat(consumers1).hasSize(2);
        assertThat(consumers1.get(0).getTarget().getID()).isEqualTo(consumer1.getID());
        assertThat(consumers1.get(1).getTarget().getID()).isEqualTo(consumer2.getID());

        List<JobEdge> consumers2 = producer.getProducedDataSets().get(1).getConsumers();
        assertThat(consumers2).hasSize(1);
        assertThat(consumers2.get(0).getTarget().getID()).isEqualTo(consumer3.getID());
    }

    @Test
    void testConnectDirectly() {
        JobVertex source = new JobVertex("source");
        JobVertex target = new JobVertex("target");
        target.connectNewDataSetAsInput(
                source, DistributionPattern.POINTWISE, ResultPartitionType.PIPELINED);

        assertThat(source.isInputVertex()).isTrue();
        assertThat(source.isOutputVertex()).isFalse();
        assertThat(target.isInputVertex()).isFalse();
        assertThat(target.isOutputVertex()).isTrue();

        assertThat(source.getNumberOfProducedIntermediateDataSets()).isEqualTo(1);
        assertThat(target.getNumberOfInputs()).isEqualTo(1);

        assertThat(source.getProducedDataSets().get(0))
                .isEqualTo(target.getInputs().get(0).getSource());

        assertThat(source.getProducedDataSets().get(0).getConsumers().get(0).getTarget())
                .isEqualTo(target);
    }

    @Test
    void testOutputFormat() throws Exception {
        final InputOutputFormatVertex vertex = new InputOutputFormatVertex("Name");

        OperatorID operatorID = new OperatorID();
        Configuration parameters = new Configuration();
        parameters.setString("test_key", "test_value");
        new InputOutputFormatContainer(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader())
                .addOutputFormat(operatorID, new TestingOutputFormat(parameters))
                .addParameters(operatorID, parameters)
                .write(new TaskConfig(vertex.getConfiguration()));

        final ClassLoader cl = new TestClassLoader();

        assertThatThrownBy(
                        () ->
                                vertex.initializeOnMaster(
                                        new SimpleInitializeOnMasterContext(
                                                cl, vertex.getParallelism())))
                .isInstanceOf(TestException.class);

        InputOutputFormatVertex copy = InstantiationUtil.clone(vertex);
        ClassLoader ctxCl = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
        assertThatThrownBy(
                        () ->
                                copy.initializeOnMaster(
                                        new SimpleInitializeOnMasterContext(
                                                cl, copy.getParallelism())))
                .isInstanceOf(TestException.class);

        assertThat(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader())
                .as("Previous classloader was not restored.")
                .isEqualTo(ctxCl);

        assertThatThrownBy(
                        () ->
                                copy.finalizeOnMaster(
                                        new SimpleInitializeOnMasterContext(
                                                cl, copy.getParallelism())))
                .isInstanceOf(TestException.class);
        assertThat(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader())
                .as("Previous classloader was not restored.")
                .isEqualTo(ctxCl);
    }

    @Test
    void testInputFormat() throws Exception {
        final InputOutputFormatVertex vertex = new InputOutputFormatVertex("Name");

        OperatorID operatorID = new OperatorID();
        Configuration parameters = new Configuration();
        parameters.setString("test_key", "test_value");
        new InputOutputFormatContainer(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader())
                .addInputFormat(operatorID, new TestInputFormat(parameters))
                .addParameters(operatorID, "test_key", "test_value")
                .write(new TaskConfig(vertex.getConfiguration()));

        final ClassLoader cl = new TestClassLoader();

        vertex.initializeOnMaster(new SimpleInitializeOnMasterContext(cl, vertex.getParallelism()));
        InputSplit[] splits = vertex.getInputSplitSource().createInputSplits(77);

        assertThat(splits).isNotNull();
        assertThat(splits).hasSize(1);
        assertThat(splits[0].getClass()).isEqualTo(TestSplit.class);
    }

    @Test
    void testOutputFormatUsesCorrectParallelism() throws Exception {
        final InputOutputFormatVertex vertex = new InputOutputFormatVertex("Name");
        int initialParallelism = 1;
        vertex.setParallelism(initialParallelism);

        OperatorID operatorID = new OperatorID();
        // just a mutable container for integer
        SharedReference<AtomicInteger> globalParallelism = sharedObjects.add(new AtomicInteger());
        new InputOutputFormatContainer(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader())
                .addOutputFormat(operatorID, new TestInitializeOutputFormat(globalParallelism))
                .write(new TaskConfig(vertex.getConfiguration()));

        int executionParallelism = initialParallelism + 3;
        try (final TestClassLoader cl = new TestClassLoader()) {
            vertex.initializeOnMaster(
                    new SimpleInitializeOnMasterContext(cl, executionParallelism));
            assertThat(globalParallelism.get().get()).isEqualTo(executionParallelism);
        }
    }

    // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    private static final class TestInitializeOutputFormat
            implements OutputFormat<Object>, InitializeOnMaster {

        private final SharedReference<AtomicInteger> globalParallelism;

        private TestInitializeOutputFormat(SharedReference<AtomicInteger> globalParallelism) {
            this.globalParallelism = globalParallelism;
        }

        @Override
        public void configure(Configuration parameters) {}

        @Override
        public void open(int taskNumber, int numTasks) throws IOException {}

        @Override
        public void writeRecord(Object record) throws IOException {}

        @Override
        public void close() throws IOException {}

        @Override
        public void initializeGlobal(int parallelism) throws IOException {
            globalParallelism.get().set(parallelism);
        }
    }

    private static final class TestException extends IOException {}

    private static final class TestSplit extends GenericInputSplit {

        public TestSplit(int partitionNumber, int totalNumberOfPartitions) {
            super(partitionNumber, totalNumberOfPartitions);
        }
    }

    private static final class TestInputFormat extends GenericInputFormat<Object> {

        private boolean isConfigured = false;

        private final Configuration expectedParameters;

        public TestInputFormat(Configuration expectedParameters) {
            this.expectedParameters = expectedParameters;
        }

        @Override
        public boolean reachedEnd() {
            return false;
        }

        @Override
        public Object nextRecord(Object reuse) {
            return null;
        }

        @Override
        public GenericInputSplit[] createInputSplits(int numSplits) {
            if (!isConfigured) {
                throw new IllegalStateException(
                        "InputFormat was not configured before createInputSplits was called.");
            }
            return new GenericInputSplit[] {new TestSplit(0, 1)};
        }

        @Override
        public void configure(Configuration parameters) {
            if (isConfigured) {
                throw new IllegalStateException("InputFormat is already configured.");
            }
            if (!(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader() instanceof TestClassLoader)) {
                throw new IllegalStateException("Context ClassLoader was not correctly switched.");
            }
            for (String key : expectedParameters.keySet()) {
                assertThat(parameters.getString(key, null))
                        .isEqualTo(expectedParameters.getString(key, null));
            }
            isConfigured = true;
        }
    }

    private static final class TestingOutputFormat extends DiscardingOutputFormat<Object>
            implements InitializeOnMaster, FinalizeOnMaster {

        private boolean isConfigured = false;

        private final Configuration expectedParameters;

        public TestingOutputFormat(Configuration expectedParameters) {
            this.expectedParameters = expectedParameters;
        }

        @Override
        public void initializeGlobal(int parallelism) throws IOException {
            if (!isConfigured) {
                throw new IllegalStateException(
                        "OutputFormat was not configured before initializeGlobal was called.");
            }
            if (!(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader() instanceof TestClassLoader)) {
                throw new IllegalStateException("Context ClassLoader was not correctly switched.");
            }
            // notify we have been here.
            throw new TestException();
        }

        @Override
        public void finalizeGlobal(int parallelism) throws IOException {
            if (!isConfigured) {
                throw new IllegalStateException(
                        "OutputFormat was not configured before finalizeGlobal was called.");
            }
            if (!(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader() instanceof TestClassLoader)) {
                throw new IllegalStateException("Context ClassLoader was not correctly switched.");
            }
            // notify we have been here.
            throw new TestException();
        }

        @Override
        public void configure(Configuration parameters) {
            if (isConfigured) {
                throw new IllegalStateException("OutputFormat is already configured.");
            }
            if (!(Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader() instanceof TestClassLoader)) {
                throw new IllegalStateException("Context ClassLoader was not correctly switched.");
            }
            for (String key : expectedParameters.keySet()) {
                assertThat(parameters.getString(key, null))
                        .isEqualTo(expectedParameters.getString(key, null));
            }
            isConfigured = true;
        }
    }

    private static class TestClassLoader extends URLClassLoader {
        public TestClassLoader() {
            super(new URL[0], Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader());
        }
    }
}


Sitting at the ophthalmologist waiting for my turn, I tell myself that I just should not launch off on that endless rant about how the last few trips to Madras became ones filled with way too many doctor appointments. Yes, I am grateful for the fact that these were all only for routine check-ups, speech therapy sessions and some dental procedures including surgical tooth removals. But I hate the fact that I have to wait for that trip to India to get everything from a routine eye check-up to a dental filling done. I see a lot of NRIs have all these eye doctor and dentist appointments as part of their India trip itinerary. No, I am not launching off on another rant about my preference for India or Madras. But all I crave for right now is for at least the next trip being one just for spending full-time with my parents and sister with no doctor visits or interruptions whatsoever. Maybe next year, just for that I should book a ticket at a short notice and come and enjoy for at least a week.
This entry was posted in Life's Like That, Madras on December 19, 2017 by admin.
Most NRI's I know who visit India, are so tired by the time they return that they want another vacation after they go back. I keep telling my sister-in-law who does that, that she needs to come one time by herself, without telling any of the friends and relatives, and just hang around in my house in secret and chill out, rather than gallivanting all over town, visiting people, shopping like there's no tomorrow, and of course, the doctor appointments.


The family Asteraceae or Compositae (known as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family) is the largest family of flowering plants, in terms of number of species. They are distinguished by having flower heads (capitula) which are made of hundreds or thousands of tiny individual flowers. This is a pseudanthium ("false flower"). It is also known as the Cosmos flower.
Wikispecies has information on: Asteraceae.


text:
Aubrey R. Turner
Aubrey Turner graduated from UNCG in 1996 with a B.S. in Biology. While at UNCG, he worked as a student intern in the lab of Dr. Vince Henrich, where he learned how to do RFLP mapping of the ECD gene in Drosophila. That experience prepared him well for his first job after graduation, as a lab technician at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. During two years at WFUSM, he refined a method to detect and quantify parvovirus based on a unique DNA signature; his data fit within a larger project looking at the effects of parvovirus at different timepoints in pregnancy. He then pursued an M.S. in Genetic Counseling at the University of South Carolina, where he was trained to provide risk assessment and counseling services to patients in a variety of clinical settings. His Master's thesis compared visual versus numeric methods to communicate risk information to patients. After graduating from U of SC in 2000, he was hired as a clinical genetic counselor at WFUSM, where he has remained for 13 years. After spending his first year working primarily in prenatal and pediatric clinics, he gradually migrated into a research role within the Center for Human Genomics. He has coordinated many studies of prostate cancer genetics, and has also done some work in other common cancers such as breast, colon, and lung. Aubrey has done everything from recruiting patients via mail and phone, to data analysis, to writing grant applications and manuscripts. He has been a co-author on manuscripts published in NEJM, Nature Genetics, and JNCI. His current project has returned him to his genetic counseling roots, by providing results of a prostate cancer genetic test to at-risk men, and assessing changes in anxiety levels, risk perception, and cancer screening behaviors. While continuing to work, Aubrey also been pursuing his PhD at WFUSM, and hopes to be finishing up his degree in about a year. So far Aubrey's career has been interesting and he could have never imagined how it would all play out. He remains truly thankful for the opportunity to build a strong foundation during his years at UNCG.
The Department of Biology
By Phone: 8am-5pm
Virtual: by appointment
312 Eberhart Building
321 McIver Street
Email: bio@uncg.edu
Give to the Department


text:
Posted by Jeff of Earth-J on September 6, 2020 at 6:27pm in General Comics Discussions
I decided to move these posts over from "What Comics Have You Read Today?" and make a discussion out of it.
GREEN LANTERN: I started re-reading Archive volume one today (August 23), which comprises Showcase #22-24 and Green Lantern #1-5.
GREEN LANTERN ARCHIVES, v2 (#6-13): I have already mentioned elsewhere that Tracy finds that Hal Jordan's parents did not give him an alliterative name as they did their other two boys to be completely unbelievable. Political correctness aside, "Pieface" is a stupid nickname. (I rank it right up there with "King Faraday" and "Tom, Dick & Harriet.) Personally, I find the term "little Eskimo grease monkey" (which Broome uses at least once each issue) to be even more offensive. The covers of each of these issues stands out in my memory, but the splash pages are quite distinctive and memorable as well. I have learned to skip all of the footnotes (as well as the oath) in order to avoid repetition.
GREEN LANTERN ARCHIVES v3 (#14-21): Up until this point, all stories had been by John Broome and Gil Kane, but in this volume, Gardner Fox writes one story (of two in each issue) in #16, 17 and #21. Also, in #18, Mike Sekowsky pencils six pages (over Gil Kane layouts). The Gardner Fox story in #16, "Earth's First Green Lantern," is remarkable in that it answers the question, given that a Green Lantern can fly through space via his or her power ring alone, why was Abin Sur travelling in a spaceship in Showcase #22? Fox provides a convoluted explanation regarding energy creatures called Larifars and the theft of "I-factors" from victim races.
What makes this story remarkable is that Alan Moore provided a completely different explanation in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (1986). As I recalled these two contradictory stories, I preferred the one by Alan Moore... until I re-read them both in the course of this project. Whereas both stories use the explanation that Abin Sur is using a spaceship because he's worried about his ring losing its charge, in the Fox story, he does so as a ruse so (for convoluted reasons, as I mentioned) Larifars do not see him recharge his ring' "Earth's First Green Lantern" knows his ring will remain charged until the time limit is up. Alan Moore's story, as entertaining as it is otherwise, does not account for this fact, so I must change my favorite to the earlier Gardner Fox story.
GREEN LANTERN ARCHIVES v4 (#22-29): Within these eight issues, John Broome wrote five stories, Gardner Fox wrote ten. The comics themselves were published without credits, but that information is provided in the table of contents. It's fun to guess which stories were written by witch writer. [HINT: The distinctive way Fox uses nouns as verbs is a dead giveaway, as is his use of the term "star-sun." He also tends to throw in more theoretical physics.) Also this volume includes: the third appearance of Hector Hammond (#22), the first appearance of the Tattooed Man (#23), the first two appearances of the Shark (#24 & #28), [arguably] the first appearance of Mogo (#24), the return of Sonar (#25), the return of Star Sapphire (#26), the first appearance of Black Hand (#29), a cameo appearance by the Justice League of America, and more. The first solo Green Lantern story I ever read ("The House that Fought Green Lantern" reprinted in a 100-Pager in 1974) originally appeared in #28. Tracy finds it even more implausible that Hal wasn't given an alliterative name after the introduction of Judge Jeremiah Jordan. No "weenie-ization" of Hal Jordan yet.
Permalink Reply by ClarkKent_DC on October 13, 2020 at 4:22pm
The way these people are posed makes me think this is a parody of an image from somewhere, but I can't put my finger on it.
The Baron said:
I'm fairly sure this is a parody of some Green Lantern drawing or other. (Sorry, I couldn't find a better image.) It's set in 1972, and depicts Bleeding Heart and Radioactive Man meeting the Black Partridge.
Permalink Reply by Commander Benson on October 13, 2020 at 4:37pm
Richard Willis said:
In-story, did other worlds have back-up GLs?
Until this story, no space sector had a back-up Green Lantern, not even Earth's. Denny O'Neil made up the idea out of whole cloth, creating the factoid (in the true meaning of the word) that Guy Gardner was Hal Jordan's understudy.
"Earth's Other Green Lantern", from G.L. # 59 (Mar., 1968), introduced Guy Gardner, but the story was explicit on the point that Gardner's only connexion to the Green Lantern Corps was that he was one of the two possible candidates located by Abin Sur's power ring to replace the stricken alien after he died. (Hal Jordan was closer, so the ring snatched him up.)
At the end of the story, Jordan strikes up an acquaintance with Gardner, and they get along famously. But at no time does Gardner become aware of Hal's identity as Green Lantern. In fact, Hal specifically thinks, "I wish I could tell Guy how close he became to becoming Green Lantern---but I can't!" So, Guy was not established as Hal's back-up G.L.
Mr. O'Neil either misremembered the events of G.L. # 59, or didn't care about them. And, yes, I know there are a number of "Well, maybes" that could cover that circumstance, but it was sloppy of O'Neil not to include one in "Beware My Power".
Permalink Reply by Richard Willis on October 13, 2020 at 7:05pm
Mr. O'Neil either misremembered the events of G.L. # 59, or didn't care about them.
He had a NEAT IDEA.
ClarkKent_DC said:
Same here. Especially the posture of Bleeding Heart reminds me of a Neal Adams cover but I haven't been able to find it.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
Green Lantern #86, page 5!
No... that's not it ...
Permalink Reply by Jeff of Earth-J on October 14, 2020 at 11:37am
"No... that's not it ..."
It certainly contains a significant element of it.
"Mr. O'Neil either misremembered the events of G.L. # 59, or didn't care about them."
I've been thinking about this and I disagree. I think he (or editor Julius Schwartz) did care. else why bother to include Guy Gardner at all? Here's the way I see it: Denny O'Neil wanted to write a story which included a black, back-up Green Lantern. Then somebody thought, "What about Guy Gardner? If anyone were to be a back-up GL it would be Guy Gardner." So the scene of Guy Gardner being injured was inserted, out of a respect for continuity as I see it, to explain why it's not Guy Gardner.
There is a scene in one of the earliest of John Byrne's "Superman" stories in which Lois Lane's internal monologue reveals that her father ifs a general (apparently something that had not been established pre-Crisis). I read that thought balloon and it registered as" "Lois Lane's father is a general." Shortly thereafter, however, a fan wrote in to say, very condescendingly, "John, you've got to tell us these things!" (I don't recall if that was a printed letter, or if it was an anecdote Byrne related in a letter to "Oh, So?" or one of his "A Flame About This High" columns.) My point, is, that thought balloon was his way of telling the audience that Lois Lane's father was a general. Similarly, Green Lantern #87 was Denny O'Neil's way of telling readers that there was a back-up Green Lantern.
For me, that concept had been "grandsoned in" (to coin a phrase), anyway. As I mentioned, I read JLA #110 first; years later I read Green Lantern #87; later still I read Green Lantern #59. Had there been other appearances of Guy Gardner between #59 and #87? I didn't know at the time and it really didn't make any difference to me. As it turned out, there had not, but it really didn't matter; #87 told me all I needed to know. there are innumerable examples in the comic book medium in which readers are required to fill in the blanks. that's just the nature of the beast. Don't fight it. Embrace it. YMMV.
Permalink Reply by Peter Wrexham on October 14, 2020 at 12:46pm
I read both GL #59 (introducing Guy Gardner) and GL #87 (introducing John Stewart) at about the times that they first came out. It seemed to make sense that there should be a backup GL, so I was quite happy to go along with the idea that Guy's injury made it necessary to replace him with John. I did wonder why Guy had never (as far as I knew - I hadn't read every intervening issue) been told about his role, whereas John was told straight away, and immediately put into training. I probably decided that the Guardians must have updated their procedures in the interim.
Permalink Reply by doc photo on October 14, 2020 at 1:34pm
Looks a lot like this one.
I read GL #59 when it first came out. At this point I only have the GL Archives, which end at #57. I remember that Guy Gardner not only had no idea that he was considered for the role of Green Lantern, but (in story) he wasn't an arrogant jerk. The cover of #59 (below) presents him as an arrogant jerk, which probably inspired the writers when they fleshed out his character. As for training, the only training IIRC that Hal Jordan had was a recording from Abin Sur and whatever the ring itself had to tell him. When he finally got a ring, did Gardner get any training?
Peter Wrexham said:
Permalink Reply by Peter Wrexham on October 14, 2020 at 8:59pm
Yes, the cover of GL #59 is seriously misleading. Guy only becomes GL in a projected alternate history where Abin Sur picks him instead of Hal. When Hal meets the real-world Guy, they like each other and become friends. Despite that, I don't think Guy appears again until GL #87, when he gets injured to make way for John Stewart.
After that, he disappears again until GL #116, in which he's recovered from his injury. In that issue, he, rather than John, actually acts as Hal's backup. Presumably this means that he's finally been told about his status, and maybe even given some training! With his usual luck, things go horribly wrong on Guy's mission, and he gets put into a coma.
In the next issue, Hal meets Kari Limbo, a psychic who is Guy's fiancée. There is a whirlwind romance, and she proposes to him in GL #121. They don't hang about, and the wedding is set for the next issue, but it is called off when Kari gets a vision of Guy in what turns out to be the Phantom Zone.
When Guy eventually returns as a regular character with his own power ring, in GL #195, he has his new "jerk" personality. His change of character may be put down at least in part to brain damage from the coma. However, it can't have been helped by Hal's romancing of Kari.
Permalink Reply by Captain Comics on October 14, 2020 at 10:27pm
I agree, Baron -- I remember those poses and that blocking, but I can't put my finger on where. The closest I can find is this:
I don't think that's actually it, but Thor is doing a good impression.It may be an internal drawing instead of a cover, maybe with the central figure being Lorelei or Polaris (X-Men), Black Canary (GA/GL) or perhaps someone who glows, since the figure on the left could be shielding their eyes.
As to the effects around the central character, everyone's already brought up the "Hey! A Steranko Effect!" bit that Adams did, that was subsequently homaged a few times. But there's also the lighting effect, which comes from Green Lantern #87, as someone has mentioned. Here's the scene:
Permalink Reply by Jeff of Earth-J on October 15, 2020 at 9:22am
It's like a Roy Lichtenstein, swiping elements from a variety of sources and combining them to create something "new."


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The former contributing editor at JUNO magazine, Lucy is the founder of Womancraft Publishing, which publishes life-changing, paradigm-shifting books by women, for women. Their first book, The Heart of the Labyrinth, went straight to #1 in its genre on Amazon, and was shared by Paulo Coelho on all his social media channels. Lucy is passionate about helping to midwife creativity, and offers mentoring and editorial services at Lucentword.com.
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text:
GOSSIPONTHIS.COM Crime Aaron Hernandez Indicted for Two Murders in 2012 Boston Drive-By Shooting
Aaron Hernandez Indicted for Two Murders in 2012 Boston Drive-By Shooting
GOT Sports
Updated May 18th, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Things have gotten a bit more complicated for accused murder Aaron Hernandez, who is currently sitting behind bars at Massachusetts's Bristol County Jail for allegedly orchestrating the killing of his friend Odin Lloyd.
Hernandez was indicted by a grand jury Thursday (May 15) on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with a drive-by shooting in Boston that happened in 2012.
According to officials, 28-year-old Daniel Abreu and 29-year-old Safiro Furtado, along with three other friends, had a "chance encounter" with Hernandez in the club.
Abreu, Furtado and their friends left in a BMW, ahen they stopped at a red light around 2 a.m. another car pulled up beside them and fired into the vehicle, killing Abreu and Furtado.
For a while, the deaths went unsolved, but Hernandez came out as a possible suspect last summer after a security guard told police he had overheard the killings were related Odin Lloyd's 2013 murder.
From the Boston Globe:
Investigators knew that Hernandez, 24, had been at Cure on July 16, 2012, but initially did not pursue him as a suspect because he had left about an hour before the victims.
But when news broke about the Lloyd slaying, Boston detectives took a closer look at Hernandez's moves that night. They studied earlier surveillance camera footage at the club and on the streets.
According to documents filed in a Connecticut court, video from inside and outside the nightclub shows Hernandez and an acquaintance entering directly behind Abreu and Furtado.
Shortly afterward, Hernandez and the other man, identified in court documents as Alexander Bradley, are seen leaving and getting into a silver sport utility vehicle.
Abreu and Furtado and three of their friends left the club around 2:10 a.m., and video shows Hernandez's silver SUV circling the block as the victims go to their BMW.
Conley said Hernandez pulled up to the car and began firing a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson at the car, striking Abreu, who was driving, in the chest and hitting Furtado in the head.
A third man, who was in the back seat, was shot in the arm but survived. The other two friends jumped out of the car. Bradley has not faced charges for having a role in the slayings.
For what it's worth, the man who was in the backseat told police he actually saw Hernandez pull the trigger, so … at this point, it looks like the ex-NFL player will be possibly beating up more inmates and definitely having a few more Thanksgiving meals, courtesy of the Bristol County House Of Correction and Jail's kitchen.
Hernandez' lawyers believe prosecutors are trying to nail their client simply because of his celebrity.
"It is one thing to make allegations at a press conference, and another thing to prove them in a courtroom. Unlike the District Attorney, we are not going to try this case in the media. Under our system of justice, Aaron Hernandez is innocent of these charges and he looks forward to his day in court."
Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said the fact that Hernandez is a celebrity has nothing to do with the charges he's facing: two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and weapons possession.
"This was about two victims who were stalked, ambushed and senselessly murdered," Conly said, adding, "Neither of them were involved in gangs, guns or violent crimes at any time."
Published May 17th, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Bristol County Jail
drive-bys
indicted
well damn
Ohio Teen Murdered in Front of Friends During Girls' Night: "The Dude Just Came in & Shot Her"
Wannabe Instagram Star Stabbed Her Mom & Cut Her Heart Out While She Was Still Alive, Then Showered & Went Out on a Date...
Master P & Baron Davis in Talks to Buy Reebok From Adidas for $2.4 Billion
Florida Gators Star Keyontae Johnson in Critical But Stable Condition After Collapsing During Game
Shaq Shoots His Shot at Megan Thee Stallion on Instagram Live
Former NFL Player Titus Davis Dies at 27 After Battling Rare Cancer
The Weekend to Headline 2021 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Tampa Bay
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It's About Damn Time: Donald Trump Permanently Banned From Twitter
They Got Her! SoHo Karen Arrested for Assaulting Black Teen & Falsely Accusing Him of Stealing Her iPhone


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text:
Business briefly: Stocks notch solid gains as…
Business briefly: Stocks notch solid gains as China stabilizes currency
Trader Michael Milano works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Stock markets turned higher on Tuesday as China stabilized its currency after allowing it to depreciate against the dollar in response to President Donald Trump's decision to put more tariffs on Chinese goods. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
By News service reports | |
PUBLISHED: August 6, 2019 at 3:44 pm | UPDATED: August 6, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Stocks closed broadly higher Tuesday as Wall Street regained its footing a day after the market had its biggest decline in a year.
The bounce pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 300 points higher and snapped a six-day losing streak for the market, though the benchmark S&P 500 recouped only a little more than a third of the losses from Monday.
China's decision to stabilize its currency put investors in a buying mood Tuesday. News that China allowed its currency to depreciate against the dollar to its lowest level in 11 years sparked Monday's steep stock market sell-off.
The S&P 500 index rose 37.03 points, or 1.3%, to 2,881.77. The index dropped 3% on Monday, its worst loss since December.
The Dow climbed 311.78 points, or 1.2%, to 26,029.52. The Nasdaq composite gained 107.23 points, or 1.4%, to 7,833.27. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies picked up 14.67 points, or 1%, to 1,502.09.
A government report suggesting a cooling U.S. job market kept bond yields in check after an early gain. The yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly rose to 1.77%, but then declined to 1.72%, down from 1.73% late Monday.
Technology stocks, which bore the brunt of Monday's sell-off, accounted for a big share of the market's gains Tuesday.
Apple and Microsoft rose 1.9%. The companies get significant revenue from China and have been highly sensitive to swings in the ongoing trade dispute.
Retailers, communications services companies and industrial stocks also notched solid gains. Foot Locker rose 3.4%, Facebook added 1.5%. Aircraft components maker TransDigm jumped 13.7% after raising its profit forecast and delivering solid quarterly earnings.
Benchmark crude oil fell $1.06 to settle at $53.63 a barrel. Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell 87 cents to close at $58.94 a barrel.
Barneys seeks bankruptcy protection, closes most stores
Barneys New York is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the latest retailer to buckle as shoppers move online.
The iconic clothier founded almost a century ago will keep the doors open at its 10-story Madison Avenue store, but it has secured $75 million in financing to pay employees and vendors as it seeks a buyer.
Stores in Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle will close along with 12 concept and warehouse locations.
Stores in Beverly Hills, California, San Francisco and in Boston will remain open, as well as two warehouse locations in New York and California. However, the company said Tuesday it's reviewing all store leases.
Barneys, controlled by New York hedge fund Perry Capital, listed more than $100 million in debt and more than $100 million in assets in its bankruptcy filing in the Southern District of New York.
The picture for most traditional retailers grows worse by the year.
The number of retail stores closed in the U.S. this year has already surpassed last year's total, according to Coresight Research, which expects 12,000 will be shuttered in 2019. Coresight said 7,567 retail stores have closed so far this year, compared with 5,864 in all of 2018.
The escalating trade war between China and the U.S. has intensified that pressure, leaving clothing companies scrambling to find new routes and suppliers. Over the past year, the retail sector has consistently bled jobs.
A final toast to 58 years: Nino's Italian Restaurant in Bixby Knolls to close
Long Beach man convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 2015 stabbing near city park
Longtime Long Beach activist Zoe Nicholson trekked to Richmond as Virginia became 38th state to ratify ERA
Double murder trial in Long Beach continues with evidence from Whittier slaying
A longtime lifeguarding event's name changes, along with the times
News service reports


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text:
Zaz — дебютный студийный альбом французской певицы Zaz, выпущенный 10 мая 2010 года во Франции на лейбле Play On. Дистрибьютором альбома в остальных странах выступила компания Sony.

Три композиции альбома написаны Рафаэлем Арошем (Raphaël Haroche).

Альбом поднялся на первое место во Франции и получил статус золотого в июне 2010 года, а осенью возглавил хит-парады Бельгии, Швейцарии и Австрии.

Сингл «Je veux» (Kerredine Soltani, Tryss), текст которого выражает презрение к обществу потребления, был выбран телеканалом TF1 в качестве главного летнего хита, а видеоклип демонстрировался в течение лета 2010 года на TF1 и других музыкальных каналах.

Список композиций

Участники записи
 Дино Сирон
 Жак Датен
 Изабель Жеффруа
 Mickaël Geraw
 Рафаэль Арош
 Керредин Солтани
 Tryas

Чарты и сертификация

Чарты

Годовые чарты

Сертификации

Примечания

Ссылки

 Тексты песен альбома

Дебютные альбомы 2010 года
Альбомы Zaz
Золотые альбомы
Альбомы на французском языке

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Gather everyone in a roughly semi-circle, with an opening near the front for people to add Post-Its to a wall at the front of the room.
Do the introductions exercise (below).
Read the opening statement and rules of the game (below).
Do the "What if?" exercise together for each of the themes.
Leaders record everyone's shared possibilities, and publish them online.
It's important to begin to know some of the people in our community. Each person introduce themselves and answer the following questions about themselves.
Use a timer to help people keep their intros under 15 seconds.
Welcome to a Somos Pasco conversation. This is a fun, interactive way for us to envision the future community we want.
We all can sense it: Pasco is emerging into its future as we speak. But the future shouldn't be something that just happens to us.
What if we could harness the best of our community's possibility, identify leaders, and work together to bring the best version of our future into existence?
We believe it's up to us to create the community we want to be part of.
We believe the voice and definition of our our community should come first and foremost from residents—from all who want to participate in a conversation about the future.
We believe we need a model for conversations about Pasco which provides an open opportunity for participation.
It's easy for people to feel apathetic about the future of our community when it feels out of our own control. But people who feel heard do not feel apathy. So be heard! That's what this conversation is all about.
We have a few ground rules that I want to share with you as we get started.
This is a conversation about possibility and not problems.
Focusing on problems divides us, gets us looking for blame, and keeps us focused on the past and present. Possibilities unite us, and get us thinking about the future we want to create together.
In order to keep us focused on possibility and not problems, every sentence should start with "What if...?"
We believe that we can do great things here in Pasco. There is a place for discussing what things from outside the area that it would be nice to have here.
Begging for imports is disempowering to our community and keeps us focused on thinking that we need permission from people outside our area to make our area better.
What if we finally got a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods?
What if our community could build a public market?
What if we could find a better way to make Pasco appealing to outside retailers?
We are following "improv rules" here, which means we don't say "No" or disagree or argue about why it's not a good idea. We say, "Yes, and..."
Within the constraints of the very basic ground rules we have, there are no wrong answers or ideas. There's no need to disagree or argue against anything you hear because these are all baby ideas. They shouldn't make us feel defensive.
What if we had a bridge over the Columbia between Edison in Kennewick and Road 68 in Pasco?
That's the wrong place for a bridge. It should be to North Richland.
Yes, and another place worth considering would be to Richland.
We don't need another bridge! That's a waste of money.


Why eat me : I am a flavourful Asian favourite without the grease and MSG.
Hormone-free chicken is used in this dish. Organic red rice cooked in a selection of herbs takes the place of white rice cooked in chicken fat. Tempeh is used in our sauce for some extra protein boost and flavour.


text:
Conflict Resolution11
Democratization[remove]9
War9
Development6
Afghanistan12
Iraq[remove]9
Policy Brief[remove]9
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research13
United States Institute of Peace[remove]9
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy4
Foreign Policy In Focus1
International Crisis Group1
within 10 Years3
within 25 Years[remove]9
You searched for: Content Type Policy Brief Remove constraint Content Type: Policy Brief Publishing Institution United States Institute of Peace Remove constraint Publishing Institution: United States Institute of Peace Political Geography Iraq Remove constraint Political Geography: Iraq Publication Year within 25 Years Remove constraint Publication Year: within 25 Years Topic Democratization Remove constraint Topic: Democratization
1. Traveling toward the Rule of Law in the Middle East and North Africa: Avenues and Obstacles
Author: Jason Gluck, Scott Worden, Colette Rausch, Vivienne O'Connor
Institution: United States Institute of Peace
Abstract: Popular uprisings throughout the Middle East and North Africa are demanding justice, security, and accountability— defining features of the rule of law. Constitutional reform is a priority, but it must be done by legitimate representatives of the people, not hangovers from the past. Principles of inclusivity, transparency, and participation must be at the heart of the process.
Topic: Democratization, Law
Political Geography: Iraq, Middle East, Kosovo, Nepal, North Africa
2. Iraqi Voices Entering 2010
Author: Rusty Barber, William B. Taylor
Abstract: Successful attacks on key government buildings underscore worries about whether Iraqis can manage their own security. They mask, however, something new in Iraqi society: an emerging vox populi that found potent expression in provincial elections last January, despite the odds. As national elections approach in March, political leaders are realizing that they ignore this growing voice at their peril. Aware that American attention is shifting towards other problems at home and abroad, Iraqis are nervously contemplating how much U.S. support they can expect going forward in their fragile experiment in democratic governance. The U.S. role in helping Iraqis prepare for national elections has been crucial and largely welcome—it should continue through the transition to a new government. Successful complete withdrawal by 2012 depends on an Iraqi government that is responsive to its people's basic needs and capable of evolving peacefully via fair elections. Longer term, there are several critical areas on which a distracted and resource stretched America should focus. These include intensifying efforts to help Arabs and Kurds resolve disputes and forestall the need for an extended U.S. military presence in northern Iraq. Helping Iraq protect its borders – a vulnerability highlighted by Iran's recent incursion—and nudging the Gulf Arab states to more actively engage Iraq as an emerging partner in regional security and economic structures will also be key to stability inside and beyond Iraq's borders. If water is the "new oil" in terms of its resource value and potential to create conflict, that future is now playing out in Iraq. Shortages and poor quality are already causing serious health and economic problems, displacement and raising tensions with Iraq's neighbors. The U.S. can help here on both the diplomatic and technical sides of the issue.
Topic: Democratization, Development
Political Geography: United States, Iraq, Middle East, Arabia
3. Iraq is Spinning Its Wheels, But in the Right Direction
Author: Daniel Serwer
Abstract: The political situation in Baghdad is still blocked almost four months after the national elections signaled change while denying any one of the four main coalitions a clear mandate to govern. The complications are real, but so too is a political culture that is increasingly appealing to democratic norms and factors to sort out the difficulties.
Topic: Democratization, Development, Politics
Political Geography: Iraq
4. Maliki's Iraq between Two Elections
Author: Daniel Serwer, Sam Parker
Abstract: In meetings conducted in Baghdad in May 2009, senior Iraqi leaders indicated how they interpret January's provincial election results, expressed concerns about the recent downturn in security, lamented the tremendous financial pressure the government is feeling due to the decline in oil prices, and projected their hopes for national elections slated for 30 January 2010. The Iraq is, numbering about 20, represented the highest level of nearly all of the main Iraqi political factions, including leaders in the Council of Representatives (COR), members of the presidency, and top officials in the government.
Topic: Democratization
Political Geography: Iraq, Middle East, Baghdad, Arabia
5. Iraq's Interior Ministry: Frustrating Reform
Author: Robert M. Perito
Abstract: In December 2006, the Iraq Study Group reported that the Iraqi Interior Ministry (MOI) was confronted by corruption, infiltrated by militia and unable to control the Iraqi police. In July 2007, the Los Angeles Times reported that Iraq's MOI had become a "federation of oligarchs" where various floors of the building were controlled by rival militia groups and organized criminal gangs. The report described the MOI as an eleven-story powder keg of factions where power struggles were settled by assassinations in the parking lot. In its September 2007 report, the congressionally mandated Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq described Iraq's MOI as a ministry in name only, dysfunctional, sectarian and suffering from ineffective leadership. Even Iraq's Interior Minister, Jawad al-Boulani, has called for the comprehensive reform of his ministry.
Political Geography: United States, Iraq, Middle East
6. Iraq: Politics Unfrozen, Direction Still Unclear
Author: Daniel Serwer, Rend Al-Rahim Francke
Abstract: In meetings conducted in Beirut and Baghdad in mid-January 2008, a high-ranking and broad cross-section of the Iraqi political spectrum expressed views on the current political situation, main priorities for the next year, prospects for moving forward on key issues, and the American military presence in Iraq. The Iraqis, numbering about 40, included parliamentary leaders, members of the presidency and their staffs, top government officials and leaders in both the Anbar and Baghdad "Awakenings" (tribal groups prepared to fight Al Qaeda and guard their own neighborhoods.
Topic: Security, Democratization, Treaties and Agreements
Political Geography: Iraq, Middle East
7. Constitutional Reform in Iraq: Improving Prospects, Political Decisions Needed
Author: Neil Kritz
Abstract: U.S. and Iraqi politicians and analysts consistently agree on one central point concerning Iraq: serious political reconciliation amongst Iraqi groups is needed to reduce the violence and create a viable government. Centrifugal forces fueled by armed conflict, competition for power and resources, and the intervention of foreign powers and neighbors has stalemated the political process in Baghdad for months.
Topic: Democratization, Political Economy
8. Iraq: Time for a Change
Abstract: War in Iraq has lasted more than four years. It has required far greater resources than anticipated. The longer-term goals are still far from realization. The price the United States and Iraq are paying in blood and treasure continues to mount. The time has come to chart a clearer path forward, taking into account the regional and global contexts. Americans want an approach that protects U.S. vital interests and can therefore be supported across a wide range of the political spectrum. As Washington prepares for a critical debate in Congress this fall on what should be done in Iraq, the United States Institute of Peace convened over the summer a group of experts with many different political affiliations to consider next steps over a three-year time horizon. This USIPeace Briefing, prepared by Daniel Serwer, USIP vice president for peace and stability operations, describes their main conclusions. Areas of serious disagreement are noted. Those participants in the discussions wishing to be identified are listed at the end. This USIPeace Briefing does not represent the views of the United States Institute of Peace, which does not take positions on policy issues.
9. Iraq before the Election: Constructing a National Narrative
Author: Courtney Rusin
Abstract: Iraq will elect a new parliament on December 15th. The new government—whatever its composition—will then be in a race to build a democratic order before the insurgency creates enough chaos to break it down. Whether or not the government succeeds depends on how political events of the past two years have set the stage for the December elections—and on the prospects of creating a national narrative that encompasses all of Iraq's main political and ethno-sectarian groups.


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It added that, while trace levels of lead and mercury had initially spiked, they had since fallen to normal counts. Arsenic -- another impurity often found in iron ore waste -- was not a problem, according to the tests.
Almost all of the dead and missing were workers at the mine, many buried by the sludge as they were having lunch in the facility's on-site cafeteria.
Many residents accuse the mining giant of putting profits over lives. Graffiti saying "Vale, murderer" has been scrawled on several walls in Brumadinho, and in mud at Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.
"We are all shaken. This should never have happened. There was a lot of recklessness. Today all of Brumadinho is in mourning," said Gustavo Franca, a 25-year-old real estate agent who lost many friends.
Authorities have frozen $3 billion of Vale's assets to pay for damages from the latest disaster. Lawsuits are bound to follow.
For the mining company, the world's third-biggest, the blows are harsh. But with 2017 revenues of $34 billion yielding profits of $5.5 billion, Vale will survive.


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HomeElection WatchSierra Leone NEC electoral fraud – Is the NEC playing by APC rules?
Sierra Leone NEC electoral fraud – Is the NEC playing by APC rules?
April 10, 2012 Abdul Rashid Thomas Election Watch 0
Alpha Kargbo
Sierra Leone Telegraph: 10 April 2012
The fourth phase of the biometric voter registration for the forthcoming presidential and general elections in Sierra Leone, which is slated for November 2012, officially closed on the 25th of March 2012. There are massive discrepancies in the figures, raising suspicion of fraud.
The total number of registered voters accounted for by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) stands at 2,701,299 – a massive 791,214 voters (21.62%) short of the total number registered for the 2007 elections.
Is the ruling APC planning to rig the elections by bribing the NEC to compromise the voter registration process?
At the start of the voter registration campaign, NEC projected an overall increase of 10% in the 2012 voter registration over that of 2007. But the figures revealed by the NEC shows an almost 22% decrease, for reasons yet to be convincingly explained to the people of Sierra Leone.
Although on average the figures tend to portray the general demographic dynamics of the country, the specific details of the current voter registration reveal a regular pattern of behavior that is inconsistent with normal population dynamics.
Could the voter registration anomaly be part of a grand design by the NEC to ensure a landslide victory for the ruling APC (All People's Congress) party in November 2012, or is it entirely influenced by various natural factors?
The NEC is yet to clarify in no uncertain terms, the observed irregularities in the voter registration to the people of Sierra Leone.
Although the actual voter registration numbers for 2007 are hard to come by, one can still easily work this out from the 2007 vote count and percent turnout tallied by the NEC (National Electoral Commission) Progressive Election Results (NEC-PER) available at http://www.nec-sierraleone.org/.
What is clear from available statistics is that 45.16% of the registered voters in 2007 were in the SLPP (Sierra Leone People's Party) strongholds of the Eastern and Southern Provinces; 30.95% in the APC stronghold of the Northern Province and 23.87% in the Western Area.
Now in 2012, the total registered voters in the SLPP strongholds have dropped by 4.52 percentage point from 45.16% to 40.64%, while the total number of registered voters in APC stronghold has actually risen by 3.44 percentage points – from 30.95% to 34.39%.
Also, the total number of registered voters in the Western Area marginally rose by 1.08 percentage point from 23.89% to 24.97%.
While the first two highest drop in voter registration are in Urban West (23.61%) and Kenema District (16.16%), the first two highest rise in voter registration are in the Rural West (1.99%) and Koinadugu District (0.85%).
Although one should expect high population regions like the Urban West to have significant population changes, this trend is not consistent when compared to the 2007 voter registration.
For instance, one may wonder why Kailahun ranks the third highest in district voter registration reduction, even though it ranks the sixth highest in districts registered voter population in 2007.
It is also justifiable to ask why Koinadugu district has the second highest rise in voter registration in 2012, even though it had the third lowest registered voter population in 2007.
Although this analysis can also be repeated for several other districts (all with trends against SLPP strongholds), the entire picture becomes even much clearer at the provincial level.
Based on the 2007 figures, the Northern Province has the highest registered voters. This is followed by the Eastern Province, Western Area and then the Southern Province.
However, in terms of percentage reduction in registered voters from 2007 to 2012, the most significant decline is in the Eastern Province, followed by the Southern Province and the Western Area.
Despite being the region with the highest registered voters in 2007 (and of course in 2012), the Northern Province has the least reduction in registered voters in the country.
To clarify even further this murky situation, 61.59% of the voter registration loss in the country is in the SLPP-stronghold of the Eastern and Southern Provinces. The Western Area has 21.62% – the second highest loss.
Only 16.79% of the voter registration loss across the country is in the APC-strong Northern Province.
Analysis of the 2012 voter registration statistics must compel every concerned Sierra Leonean to enquire, as to exactly what the figures are saying, in the face of the unconstitutional moves by the Koroma-led APC Government to win re-election in Sierra Leone by all means necessary.
Has the APC already rigged the elections by bribing NEC to compromise the voter registration process?
As non-insiders of NEC, however, we could only guess that the increase in voter registration in the Rural West, could have been spurred by the people's enthusiasm for Kadi Sesay – who actually hails from that area.
So it is possible that the people in that area could have chosen to come out in full force to support their own daughter of the land. But what then can one say about the voter surge in the political hyper-active Northern Province?
Could it have been due to voter importation from Guinea, massive under-aged voter registration or a massive increase in the proportion of the under-aged population who actually met the minimum voting age?
What can we draw from the massive registered voter reductions in the SLPP-strongholds of Eastern and Southern Provinces?
Could the numbers have been compromised in these regions by NEC or could the APC-perpetrated violence in these regions – during the voter registration period, have deterred the people from registration?
The lingering doubts about this 2012 voter registration exercise are just endless. One would in fact ask why the overall massive registered voter reduction in the country.
Given that it was the very NEC headed by the same Christiana A. M. Thorpe that conducted the elections in 2007, why then did NEC fail to predict the voter reduction and on the contrary – predicted a significant increase in the number of registered voters across the country?
Could it be that the 2007 voter registration was grossly flawed? If so, could we then call on Ernest Bai Koroma to immediately step down? If not, then what plausible explanation does the NEC has at hand for the voter misprojection and massive voter anomalies?
Has the coalition of opposition parties seen what we have depicted and has it raised any concerns with NEC regarding the voter anomalies?
Despite the hard work of the SLPP leadership and management thus far, we frankly had expected the party to reach out to the other smaller parties to investigate and petition the NEC and the Koroma-led corrupt APC Government.
To our surprise, however, the SLPP secretariat and management have seemingly become overly complacent.
The management is a little too indulgent in the fact that SLPP is the oldest political party in Sierra Leone, and as such, wishfully thinks that the party enjoys an unwavering broad-based support across the country – irrespective of any prevailing political circumstance.
In this electronic age, any such wishful thinking is dangerously deceptive and only leaves the party and the people to undue exploitation by the ruthless APC political machinery.
It seems like everyone with influence in the SLPP party, has a hidden egoist agenda of self-first.
There also seems to be a growing trend of unhealthy rivalry among the influential followers of SLPP for recognition by the Bio / Sesay leadership, rather than a committed focus on an all-win election strategy for the party.
Given especially the current political atmosphere, such deceptive self-first attitudes are only bound to cause doom to the SLPP party and all its good-wishers at home and abroad.
For that purpose, a radical administrative and political overhaul is required wherein the cabal of lazy, cash-consuming sycophancy that now hedges around the Bio / Sesay leadership can be disbanded.
As a matter of urgency therefore, we urge the Bio / Sesay leadership and the entire SLPP management to swiftly begin to re-organize the rank and file of the entire SLPP party from the perspective of an all-win election strategy for the November 2012 elections.
The SLPP leadership must know that the stakes are overwhelmingly high, for the people of Sierra Leone to concede another election defeat to APC – for the second time in a row.
So all who are in the current leadership and management of SLPP must put aside this gimmicky self-first stuff (at least for the time being) and concentrate on mapping and implementing a solid all-win strategy for the presidential and general elections in November 2012.
We say to you SLPP influentials to stop playing this politics of self-first (the very stuff we have become sick and tired of under APC) and be more nationalistic, by putting national interests above all else.
As a matter of urgency, the SLPP leadership, which is the voice of the people, must investigate and compile every bit of compelling story into formidable petitions of electoral fraud against NEC and the APC Government for reference of the international community.
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