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Will Kris Dielman's injury lead to increased NFL oversight?
In retrospect, it will be one of the most analyzed plays of the 2011 season, although few people noticed it at the time.
It was a seemingly innocent block early in the fourth quarter of a game on October 23. A Pro Bowl guard fell to the ground after a block of Jets linebacker Calvin Pace. He staggered to his feet as CBS' Jim Nantz told viewers that the player was "a little shaky and wobbly." He appeared to wave off the umpire as if to say he was able to continue playing, and he remained in the game.
So why has the play and the television footage of it now been scrutinized by the NFL, the NFL Players Association, doctors representing the union and the league, and media all over the country?
Hours after the game ended, on the team's flight home to San Diego, Chargers left guard Kris Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure.
Dielman was reportedly hospitalized overnight and later released. He has continued to experience lingering effects of the concussion, so the Chargers placed him on injured reserve. Fortunately though, his tests were said to be normal. Doctors have told him that that he should fully recover without complications. He is expected to return to play next season.
Now as scary as a season-ending concussion and seizure are, that isn't the aspect of this incident that has drawn so much attention. The evaluation of Dielman's concussion, or apparent lack thereof, has drawn criticism from many observers.
Much of the outrage stems from the fact that television cameras showed Dielman visibly stumbling. Footage also seemed to show umpire Terry Michalek witnessing Dielman as he struggled to get off the ground. He supposedly started to whistle an injury time out, but the player waved him off.
The Chargers doctors and trainers did not pull Dielman out of the game. Reportedly their view of the play was obstructed, and they were tending to another injured player. Doctors did not diagnose Dielman's concussion until after the game. ESPN's Chris Mortensen even reported that the team wasn't alerted to the injury until a teammate brought it to their attention.
I am not at all criticizing the Chargers' doctors because I don't know what they saw in that last 12:30 of the game or in the locker room. It is very possible that with as many players, coaches, staff, and television personnel on the sidelines, the doctors could not see Dielman's loss of balance and coordination. And it is football, so the medical staff is often very busy evaluating and treating many players.
This event highlights one of the problems with concussions, though. Players are simply not reliable for pulling themselves out of a game. They understandably want to play, and they likely will downplay their symptoms to stay on the field.
The NFL responded by trying to educate game officials on the signs of concussions. While critics argue that officials are not doctors, I would argue that few additional pairs of eyes to see what doctors on the sidelines might not has to be a step in the right direction. Instead of being waved off by players intent on playing through a concussion, officials could simply alert the medical staff.
But I expect that educating officials is only the beginning. NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer wants a medical observer in the NFL command center, where all games are viewed on big-screen monitors, to look out for players exhibiting signs of concussions. The NFL is said to favor placing an independent neurologist on the sidelines of each game. Other ideas that are being debated include mandating that any player who suffers a concussion undergo a CT scan the same day and creating guidelines to determine if players are allowed to fly home with the team.
I've always admired professional athletes for their determination to play, often despite tremendous pain. But as this incident demonstrates, physicians, trainers, coaches, officials, and the league must be able to protect the players from themselves when necessary. Hopefully Kris Dielman's injury sparks changes that prevent future concussions from having even more catastrophic consequences.
Do you think the NFL does enough to decrease concussions? What can the league and its players and doctors do better? Share your thoughts!
Note: The following post appears in my sports medicine column in the November 23, 2011 issue of The Post and Courier.
Posted in Analysis, Famous Athletes, Football
Episode 13: What are the different career options in sports medicine?
My favorite Thanksgiving sports memory
Does fear of getting benched keep players from reporting concussions?
Heartbreaking end to stellar college career
It's time to change players' attitudes toward injuries


Curmudgeonly & Skeptical presents Boned Jello: Jeanine Pirro's Right – Sharia Law Incompatible With U.S. Constitution.
Jeanine Pirro's Right – Sharia Law Incompatible With U.S. Constitution.
Sharia Law may become the third rail of America politics if one is to judge by the suspension/cancellation for at least one episode of Judge Jeanine's weekend Fox News show "Justice with Judge Jeanine. A cowardly Fox News has extended the protective canopy of political correctness apparently barring its hosts from asking the tough and obvious questions about a doctrine few non-Muslims are aware of and few Americans understand.
I read yesterday that the FOX News "producer" who ousted the judge on a two-week suspension is herself Muslim. Big surprise...I don't bother with FOX any more; they've been turning toward the MSNBC model of late.
MAX, Murdoch said he's building a "New Fox". Someone should mention the words "New Coke" to him.


This model called KP105 in the ME area, everybody love it, they call it the 99 Dirhams phone, around 25 USD, great value for money.
I have been using LG mobiles for 2,5 years now with no problems at all, i think the key for there succes is quality, eventhough this model is manifactured in China, most of LG mobiles made in S. Korea and they have strict quality standards there.
i've gifted this phone to many of my family members.. all are happy..
Anonymous, 14 Oct 2009ppl are biased- yesEverybody knows that Lg and other firms like our money but it is a mutual relation and it is arbitrary.
We pay money and earn products and enjoy them?
Is it an annoying issue for you?
By the way I know that lg is not as good as se nokia or other great manufactures but Lg phones are cheaper.nowadays Lg offers every kind of phone for every kind of taste so I think Lg gradually overtakes nokia and se and other great companies.
in my opinion 1100(in my eyes it ws a mini sonim almost unbrekbl) ruled da market lik da ps2 did in its time n ther record cnt be brokn by any1 s thy r da sole king of ther segmnt!!!!!!!!
If its a matter of chasing numbers, let LG offer the Chocolate for the price of a KP 100.
People are biased because LG phones are rubbish. I like their TV's though!
The Lg kp 100 series is a nice size for a phone and easy to carry around in the pocket.I would like it if LG start producing these with 3.5mm audio jacks even if it only has a radio. These phones have 60% of the functionality of Iphones and BlacBerries at 5% of the price. LG came out of nowhere to overtake SE and Motorola in market share they obviously know what they are doing.
Eddie, 14 Oct 2009lg kp100 has no fm radioOne of KP100 seires named as KP108 has FM radio functionality.
Seems there are so many people with branding biased.
Anonymous, 14 Oct 2009lg doesnt love you. they love your money however.What business doesn't like your money?
majid, 13 Oct 2009I love lg.lg doesnt love you. they love your money however.
I´ve got a KP105 as a bonus on a buy, like " buy this and win a phone"... I gave it to my made, she was very happy about it :) It is very small and light and feel good in the hand. bye.


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HomeArchiveIsrael Readies for Iran Attack
Israel Readies for Iran Attack
By Keith Johnson –
A Sept. 23 report by Newsweek journalist Eli Lake reveals that Barack Obama secretly approved the transfer of 55 high-tech bunkerbusting bombs to Israel during the early days of his administration. Although this disclosure should come as no surprise, it does demonstrate that tensions between Obama and the Israeli government are nowhere near as bad as some claim, and that military cooperation between the two countries is as strong as it's ever been.
Lake's latest piece raises more questions than it answers. Particularly, why did the U.S. shroud this latest deal in such secrecy when previous transfers of the same weapon were transacted conspicuously?
The bombs identified by Lake are GBU-28 hard target penetrators— deadly projectiles that can be launched from Israel's F-15 fighter jets and are capable of destroying heavily fortified targets beneath 100 feet of earth or 20 feet of concrete. They were initially deployed by the U.S. for Operation Desert Storm, but used more extensively in the Battle of Tora Bora on caves during the bombardment of Afghanistan and western Pakistan in 2001 and 2002.
Delivery of at least some of those weapons was confirmed in July 26, 2006 when The Telegraph reported: "Britain has been used as a staging post for major shipments of bunker-busting bombs from America to Israel. The Israelis want the 5,000-pound smart bombs to attack the bunkers being used by Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon."
The article went on to cite defense sources who confirmed: "Two chartered Airbus A310 cargo planes filled with GBU 28 laser-guided bombs landed at Prestwick Airport, near Glasgow, for refueling and crew rests after flying across the Atlantic."
Since the transactions were conducted in such secrecy, some are wondering whether Obama had actually approved delivery of a new, more advanced bomb that exceeds that weapon's capabilities?
A nuclear variant of the GBU-28 is the B61-11, which can also be deployed from Israel's existing delivery systems, and—according to the June 1997 edition of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists—is capable of "destroying the deepest and most hardened of underground bunkers, which the conventional warheads are not capable of doing."
In an April 6, 2006 article for The New Yorker, Seymour Hersh reported that the Pentagon presented plans to the Bush White House for the deployment of the B61-11 to strike Iran's underground nuclear facilities at Natanz.
There is no doubt that Israel would love to get its hands on such a weapon, though they would not be able to negotiate openly for its procurement. Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and keeps its nuclear arsenal largely under wraps. Any deal would have to be transacted in the strictest confidence, as would the delivery of such a weapon.
So far, neither Newsweek nor any other source has nailed down exactly when the delivery of bombs to Israel occurred. However, one clue is contained in a November 2009 U.S. cable released by Wikileaks, which reads, "The transfer should be handled quietly to avoid any allegations that the U.S. government is helping Israel prepare for a strike against Iran."
Four months later, on March 15, 2010, The Scotland Herald reported: "Hundreds of powerful U.S. bunkerbuster bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran."
It's reasonable to speculate that the shipment contained munitions that were later transported from this transfer point to Israel via ship or submarine. It would have also been an ideal time to do so. Just days earlier, Vice President Joe Biden had been in Israel urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease construction of illegal settlements in Jerusalem, and the world perceived that the relationship between the two nations was at an all-time low.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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THE FED TAKES A LOOK BEYOND U.S. DATA / THE FINANCIAL TIMES COMMENT & ANALYSIS
| Etiquetas: Economics, Interest Rates, Monetary Policy, The Fed, World Economic And Political
The Fed takes a look beyond US data
Gillian Tett
The central bank's equations have tended to ignore events beyond America's borders
In recent years, critics of the US Federal Reserve have grumbled that there have been (at least) two shortcomings in how central bank officials analyse the world. Firstly, the Fed's econometric models have tended to downplay the role of money — and the ability of capricious markets to hurt the "real" economy. Second, those economic equations also tended to ignore the economy beyond America's borders, since the Fed board has historically watched domestic data when setting interest rates.
Now, however, there are some intriguing hints of a change — in the Fed's rate-setting perspective, if not those pesky models. Earlier this year, Janet Yellen, Fed chair, surprised investors by suggesting that turmoil in the Chinese financial markets was one factor why the Fed committee decided not to increase interest rates a second time (after raising them 25 basis points late last year).
This month it seems that a second non-American market issue could shape Fed debate again — this time in relation to Brexit. Last week Jerome Powell, a member of the Fed's board of governors, suggested that the board might display "caution" about raising rates at its next meeting on June 15, because of the British referendum on June 23 on whether to leave the EU.
Separately, Dennis Lockhart, president of the Atlanta Fed, has noted that Brexit is a "real consideration" in determining whether it will raise rates in June. And while Ms Yellen has hitherto (wisely) stayed silent on the risks of a Leave vote, other Fed officials, including Daniel Tarullo, share Mr Lockhart and Mr Powell's view that jumping ahead of the poll with a rate rise might be risky.
From a narrow macroeconomic perspective, this seems odd. After all, if you look at recent US data, there seems to be little reason to leave rates at the current negative real levels.
Unemployment has now dropped to 5 per cent, in line with the Fed target, and inflation is 1.1 per cent. And while growth softened at the start of this year, it seems to be rebounding: this week's consumer data showed its strongest reading for seven years.
Given that, a Brexit vote seems unlikely to dent the "real" US economy, even if the UK voted to leave the EU and this sparked a recession. After all, US exports to the whole of Europe — never mind Britain — are a mere 2 per cent of gross domestic product.
But what really worries some Fed officials is not the trade data, but the slippery matter of market psychology. If the UK voted to leave the EU, this could unleash profound investor uncertainty; indeed, if this leads to a wider break-up of the bloc it would be a "systemic" shock, in Fed parlance. Fed officials learnt the hard way in 2008 that in today's tightly entwined global markets, market shocks have a habit of unleashing contagion in unexpected ways. They do not want to repeat the experience.
So the argument being batted around in some Fed circles is that the "cost" of delaying an interest rate rise from June to July (or the next Fed meeting) is much less significant than the risks of moving early. After all, a six-week delay is tiny compared to the length of time that rates have already been at rock-bottom. And a hasty move could be costly since it might signal to investors that the Fed was overly eager (or desperate) to raise rates, irrespective of market risks; or so the argument goes.
Is this a sensible stance? I would argue so. Waiting longer to raise rates certainly creates some risks: it leaves the US economy with an excessively loose monetary policy for longer; it may also create the impression that the Fed is becoming a hostage to global events, which could in turn create even more investor anxiety. But Brexit is a slightly unusual global event in the sense that it is binary, and pinned to a specific date. And given that the Fed has tended to pay too little attention to global market linkages in the past — rather than too much — the fact that it is becoming aware of these dangers seems laudable, not reprehensible.
Indeed, in my view the Fed should now go even further and use the Brexit issue to spell out how it intends to incorporate an analysis of those "market" and "non-American" issues into its broader analysis in the future. That would not be easy to define. But in a world of tightly entwined global markets, it is a fallacy to think anyone can run monetary policy on the basis of domestic real economy data alone. Just look at the past decade's credit bubble and bust for evidence of that.
Or, to put it another way, the really big policy issue that Brexit has raised for the Fed will last far longer than the vote on June 23. For the time being, though, all eyes are on Ms Yellen — and that British polling data.
THE ECB: HOW IT IS PLAYING FOR TIME / THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
| Etiquetas: ECB, Europe Economic and Political
The ECB: How It Is Playing for Time
The ECB's latest inflation forecasts show the central bank remains very cautious
European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt. Photo: Bloomberg News
Markets sometimes seem to believe Mario Draghi can almost walk on water. Just a few words from him can change the outlook drastically. Thursday's appearance from the European Central Bank president was more a case of treading water.
The main challenge for Mr. Draghi, in the absence of any exciting new policy announcements, was to avoid spooking markets. He succeeded in the short term—moves in the euro, stocks and bonds were muted as he spoke. But there are still puzzles for investors to figure out.
The biggest surrounds the ECB's forecasts for inflation. There had been an expectation that these forecasts would be shifted higher, in part because of the sharp increase in oil prices in recent months and because policy was loosened in March.
In the end, the forecast for 2016 was lifted marginally to 0.2% from 0.1%, while the 2017 and 2018 forecasts were left unchanged at 1.3% and 1.6%, respectively. A generous reading would be that at least the forecasts have stopped sliding; but they still signal that the ECB is falling short of its objective of returning inflation to close to 2%. They also show that underlying inflationary forces remain weak. Mr. Draghi in particular cited the absence of wage pressures.
The implication is either that the forecasts will need to be revised later this year—perhaps with the benefit of more evidence on the effect of the ECB's expanded stimulus measures—or the central bank might yet need to deliver even more stimulus. That is even though Mr. Draghi was eager to argue that current policy and measures yet to be implemented, such as corporate bond purchases and a new bank lending program that start in June, are having an important effect.

September now looks like a key meeting. It will mark the publication of another set of forecasts and comes six months before the end date announced for asset purchases. Mr. Draghi underlined again that these purchases could be extended if necessary. With just six months of the program left, markets will be eager to know how long an extension might be.
The ECB looks to be playing a long game. Mr. Draghi at one point waxed near-philosophical on the ECB's policy settings. "For interest rates to be higher tomorrow, they have to be low today," he said.
At the moment, tomorrow looks a very long way off.
FREE SPEACH: UNDER ATTACK / THE ECONOMIST
| Etiquetas: Freedom of Speach
Curbs on free speech are growing tighter. It is time to speak out
IN A sense, this is a golden age for free speech. Your smartphone can call up newspapers from the other side of world in seconds. More than a billion tweets, Facebook posts and blog updates are published every single day. Anyone with access to the internet can be a publisher, and anyone who can reach Wikipedia enters a digital haven where America's First Amendment reigns.
However, watchdogs report that speaking out is becoming more dangerous—and they are right. As our report shows, curbs on free speech have grown tighter. Without the contest of ideas, the world is timid and ignorant.
Free speech is under attack in three ways. First, repression by governments has increased.
Several countries have reimposed cold-war controls or introduced new ones. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia enjoyed a free-for-all of vigorous debate. Under Vladimir Putin, the muzzle has tightened again. All the main television-news outlets are now controlled by the state or by Mr Putin's cronies. Journalists who ask awkward questions are no longer likely to be sent to labour camps, but several have been murdered.
China's leader, Xi Jinping, ordered a crackdown after he took over in 2012, toughening up censorship of social media, arresting hundreds of dissidents and replacing liberal debate in universities with extra Marxism. In the Middle East the overthrow of despots during the Arab spring let people speak freely for the first time in generations. This has lasted in Tunisia, but Syria and Libya are more dangerous for journalists than they were before the uprisings; and Egypt is ruled by a man who says, with a straight face: "Don't listen to anyone but me."
Words, sticks and stones
Second, a worrying number of non-state actors are enforcing censorship by assassination. Reporters in Mexico who investigate crime or corruption are often murdered, and sometimes tortured first. Jihadists slaughter those they think have insulted their faith. When authors and artists say anything that might be deemed disrespectful of Islam, they take risks. Secular bloggers in Bangladesh are hacked to death in the street; French cartoonists are gunned down in their offices. The jihadists hurt Muslims more than any others, not least by making it harder for them to have an honest discussion about how to organise their societies.
Third, the idea has spread that people and groups have a right not to be offended. This may sound innocuous. Politeness is a virtue, after all. But if I have a right not to be offended, that means someone must police what you say about me, or about the things I hold dear, such as my ethnic group, religion, or even political beliefs. Since offence is subjective, the power to police it is both vast and arbitrary.
Nevertheless, many students in America and Europe believe that someone should exercise it.
Some retreat into the absolutism of identity politics, arguing that men have no right to speak about feminism nor whites to speak about slavery. Others have blocked thoughtful, well-known speakers, such as Condoleezza Rice and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, from being heard on campus.
Concern for the victims of discrimination is laudable. And student protest is often, in itself, an act of free speech. But university is a place where students are supposed to learn how to think.
That mission is impossible if uncomfortable ideas are off-limits. And protest can easily stray into preciousness: the University of California, for example, suggests that it is a racist "micro-aggression" to say that "America is a land of opportunity", because it could be taken to imply that those who do not succeed have only themselves to blame.
Intolerance among Western liberals also has wholly unintended consequences. Even despots know that locking up mouthy but non-violent dissidents is disreputable. Nearly all countries have laws that protect freedom of speech. So authoritarians are always looking out for respectable-sounding excuses to trample on it. National security is one. Russia recently sentenced Vadim Tyumentsev, a blogger, to five years in prison for promoting "extremism", after he criticised Russian policy in Ukraine. "Hate speech" is another. China locks up campaigners for Tibetan independence for "inciting ethnic hatred"; Saudi Arabia flogs blasphemers; Indians can be jailed for up to three years for promoting disharmony "on grounds of religion, race...caste...or any other ground whatsoever".
The threat to free speech on Western campuses is very different from that faced by atheists in Afghanistan or democrats in China. But when progressive thinkers agree that offensive words should be censored, it helps authoritarian regimes to justify their own much harsher restrictions and intolerant religious groups their violence. When human-rights campaigners object to what is happening under oppressive regimes, despots can point out that liberal democracies such as France and Spain also criminalise those who "glorify" or "defend" terrorism, and that many Western countries make it a crime to insult a religion or to incite racial hatred.
One strongman who has enjoyed tweaking the West for hypocrisy is Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey. At home, he will tolerate no insults to his person, faith or policies. Abroad, he demands the same courtesy—and in Germany he has found it. In March a German comedian recited a satirical poem about him "shagging goats and oppressing minorities" (only the more serious charge is true). Mr Erdogan invoked an old, neglected German law against insulting foreign heads of state.
Amazingly, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has let the prosecution proceed. Even more amazingly, nine other European countries still have similar laws, and 13 bar insults against their own head of state.
Opinion polls reveal that in many countries support for free speech is lukewarm and conditional. If words are upsetting, people would rather the government or some other authority made the speaker shut up. A group of Islamic countries are lobbying to make insulting religion a crime under international law. They have every reason to expect that they will succeed.
So it is worth spelling out why free expression is the bedrock of all liberties. Free speech is the best defence against bad government. Politicians who err (that is, all of them) should be subjected to unfettered criticism. Those who hear it may respond to it; those who silence it may never find out how their policies misfired. As Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate, has pointed out, no democracy with a free press ever endured famine.
In all areas of life, free debate sorts good ideas from bad ones. Science cannot develop unless old certainties are queried. Taboos are the enemy of understanding. When China's government orders economists to offer optimistic forecasts, it guarantees that its own policymaking will be ill-informed.
When American social-science faculties hire only left-wing professors, their research deserves to be taken less seriously.
The law should recognise the right to free speech as nearly absolute. Exceptions should be rare. Child pornography should be banned, since its production involves harm to children. States need to keep some things secret: free speech does not mean the right to publish nuclear launch codes. But in most areas where campaigners are calling for enforced civility (or worse, deference) they should be resisted.
Blasphemy laws are an anachronism. A religion should be open to debate. Laws against hate speech are unworkably subjective and widely abused. Banning words or arguments which one group finds offensive does not lead to social harmony. On the contrary, it gives everyone an incentive to take offence—a fact that opportunistic politicians with ethnic-based support are quick to exploit.
Incitement to violence should be banned. However, it should be narrowly defined as instances when the speaker intends to goad those who agree with him to commit violence, and when his words are likely to have an immediate effect. Shouting "Let's kill the Jews" to an angry mob outside a synagogue qualifies. Drunkenly posting "I wish all the Jews were dead" on an obscure Facebook page probably does not. Saying something offensive about a group whose members then start a riot certainly does not count. They should have responded with words, or by ignoring the fool who insulted them.
In volatile countries, such as Rwanda and Burundi, words that incite violence will differ from those that would do so in a stable democracy. But the principles remain the same. The police should deal with serious and imminent threats, not arrest every bigot with a laptop or a megaphone. (The governments of Rwanda and Burundi, alas, show no such restraint.)
Areopagitica online
Facebook, Twitter and other digital giants should, as private organisations, be free to decide what they allow to be published on their platforms. By the same logic, a private university should be free, as far as the law is concerned, to enforce a speech code on its students. If you don't like a Christian college's rules against swearing, pornography and expressing disbelief in God, you can go somewhere else. However, any public college, and any college that aspires to help students grow intellectually, should aim to expose them to challenging ideas. The world outside campus will often offend them; they must learn to fight back using peaceful protests, rhetoric and reason.
These are good rules for everyone. Never try to silence views with which you disagree. Answer objectionable speech with more speech. Win the argument without resorting to force. And grow a tougher hide.
THE SECRET OF PUTIN´S SURVIVAL / PROJECT SYNDICATE
| Etiquetas: Russia, Vladimir Putin
The Secret of Putin's Survival
Andrei Kolesnikov
MOSCOW – Two years ago, a long process of growing authoritarianism and isolationism under President Vladimir Putin culminated in Russia's annexation of Crimea. But even as much of the international community condemned the move, Russians seemed to welcome it.
Indeed, the peninsula's "return" to Russian control had a profound effect on public sentiment – one that seems to have strengthened Putin's grip on power, even as Russia faces deepening political and economic challenges.
In March 2016, 83% of Russians supported the annexation of Crimea, while only 13% opposed it. Even progressives – including some who protested against the regime in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square in 2011-2013 – have found in Crimea a reason to support Putin, albeit with some reservations.
Indeed, Putin now enjoys an 80% approval rating, reflecting how closely he and Crimea are linked in Russians' minds.
The reason why the annexation has attracted such wide support is simple. For most Russians, Crimea remains part of the "empire," both culturally and geographically. To be sure, Russia does not possess the power and resources to recreate an empire, even within the confines of the abstract "Russian world." But by focusing on Crimea, Putin's regime was able to create a sense of restored historical justice and revive expectations of a return to "great power" status.
Of course, not everyone in Russia supports the annexation. And, in fact, opponents of the move are intractable, describing Crimea as occupied territory. Nonetheless, they comprise just a small minority and lack any real influence (the regime has seen to that). They are literally surrounded by people who unquestioningly support the authorities – and especially Putin.
That response may be surprising, given the tangible consequences of the annexation – in particular, the economic impact of Western sanctions, the effects of which have been compounded by plummeting oil prices since June 2014. The emotional element certainly plays a role. But this is not simply a matter of manipulation by propaganda.
In fact, the main reason the majority of Russians support the annexation of Crimea seems to be precisely that: the majority of Russians support it. For the average post-Soviet Russian, who regained Crimea from their couch, remote control in hand, falling into line with the majority is far more appealing than rocking the boat – so much so that Russians are outright refusing to think critically about what is happening. It is typical crowd psychology.
This unflinching support has carried over to the "just," "defensive," and "preventive" military operations that Crimea catalyzed, from Donbas to Syria, and even the trade war with Turkey.
Despite the obvious risks associated with such moves, Russians have accepted the narrative that they are necessary to preserve stability, not to mention Russia's newly reacquired status as a "great power."
As if that were not counter-intuitive enough, Russians also seem to be supporting the Putin regime's economic mismanagement precisely because their economic situation is so dire. The average Russian has been quick to revert to habits associated with the culture of scarcity of the recent past. Their attention is focused on obtaining basic necessities like food and clothing; few are interested in analyzing the causes of their declining living standards.
And who can blame them? After all, those Russians who do consider the political context are immediately confronted with grim reality: The regime has gutted all opposition, not least by stoking fear of being labeled an "extremist." More than one vocal critic of the regime has met an untimely end.
That is why even demonstrations opposing some government policy or outcome are not so much "protests against" as "appeals to" the regime. Without fundamental change in the political system, it is unlikely that such demonstrations, even if they become more frequent, will become overtly oppositional. And, without oppositional protest, systemic change seems unlikely.
In the absence of open political competition, Putin has built a system of checks and balances within the elite. A group of loyalist liberals hold key financial and economic posts, balancing the hawks in the military and special services, including structures like the Security Council, which frequently serves as an incubator for elegant conspiracy theories about Western plots. Of course, all members of the elite must continuously demonstrate their loyalty to Putin.
This system keeps Russia's elites from pushing for change (unlike in the past, when those elites did attempt to initiate reforms), as it precludes the possibility of anti-Putin intrigue. And the regime does seem relatively stable, at least for now. Indeed, it has only gained strength since 2012, and now, with post-Crimea popular support having bought it some time, the regime is trying to adapt to the protracted economic, political, and social malaise Russia is facing.
But that time is, of course, limited. That is why, in advance of the September parliamentary elections, the regime is increasingly directing citizens' attention toward internal "threats" – that is, political opponents and supposed "traitors." One prominent example is former Yukos Oil Company Chairman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whose expressions of doubt about Putin's leadership landed him in jail and, later, exile.
In 1970, the Soviet dissident Andrei Amalrik asked, in a prophetic essay, "Will the Soviet Union Survive Until 1984?" We must now ask how long Putin's regime will survive. It seems likely that it will last until the next presidential election, in 2018. Whether it will endure through the subsequent election, in 2024, is a question that Kremlinologists – a quickly recovering species – will soon be debating.
http://prosyn.org/Yjk5FYL
GOLD FEVER / SEEKING ALPHA
Gold Fever
by: Markos Kaminis
- Gold fever caught fire on Friday as weak monthly jobs data raised the specter of economic deterioration and put out nascent dollar strength.
- Expectations for the Fed's near-term monetary policy plans were also shaken, likewise serving gold.
- Yet, I am still suggesting gold be avoided, and even sold on strength that could take the precious metal higher over the very short term.
- The reason is that I see the latest jobs data as a remnant of the weakness we saw in Q1.
- Data for Q2 have been mixed, but with consumer relative data in retail sales, consumer spending and home sales showing strength, I see the economic situation improving.
Gold fever is a certain mania that strikes gold prospectors and causes them to act irrationally and to build up great hope where it may not be appropriate. Gold fever does not take much to strike, and in this case, it got quite the kick start with the apparent economic change on Friday.
Gold gained thanks to the poor nonfarm payroll data reported for May. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:GLD) was up $3.19, to $118.86, or 2.8% for a nice day's gain. It benefited from severe dollar weakness on the bad economic data and expected change to the Fed's plans. Gold prices could even touch new highs on the fever if Janet Yellen doesn't serve a dose of medicine on Monday in Philadelphia.
Nevertheless, I still say avoid gold and here is why.
GLD Chart at Seeking Alpha
The SPDR Gold Trust opened gap-higher Friday thanks to the premarket release of the Employment Situation Report for May. The data showed only 38K nonfarm payrolls added in May, versus economists' consensus expectations for 158K. The news was so poor, stocks opened significantly lower along with the U.S. dollar.
Chart of the UUP at Seeking Alpha
The chart here is of the PowerShares DB US Dollar (NYSEARCA:UUP), which is a layman's means of investing in the dollar. It tracks the value of the U.S. Dollar Index, which was off 1.8% on Friday.
That is a big move for the dollar.
The dollar was down for two important reasons that also matter for gold. The first is the implication the weak job growth figure has for the state of the U.S. economy, and the second is the implication it has for the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy plans. If the jobs data are truly reflective of a deteriorating economic situation, then the dollar should depreciate in value.
And if the Federal Reserve will hold off tightening monetary policy or if it might even ease policy because of the economy, then the dollar value again likely depreciates. In both cases, gold prices would rise.
The story of relative economic strength and dollar appreciation have been what have weighed against gold prices, especially since the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes, which indicated the Fed was about ready to raise interest rates. If that story has changed, then gold should see the pressure that has stood against it relieved. But has it?
The reason I am still suggesting investors avoid gold is that I believe the economy is not in bad shape. We have received mixed data over the last few weeks. Just this past week, Personal Income & Outlays data showed a 1.0% pickup in consumer spending in May. Both new and existing home sales rose to extraordinarily strong levels of annual pace at last report. May motor vehicle sales came in a little light, but I think I've shown that was for anomalous reason.
The Chicago PMI was also weak, but I believe that is a regional issue tied to the ailing energy sector. These are, in my opinion, the remnants of the poor first quarter.
I expect that as more data flows, it will make a case for an improving economy in Q2, and clarify that this employment deterioration is lagging from Q1, when a negative feedback loop plagued economic data. I expect this will at least help to rebuild a case for a Fed rate action by its July meeting, and maybe even for June still. If my presumptions are correct, then the dollar should rebuild its strength and gold should give back these gains.
But the U.S. economic outlook is not the only factor weighing in the dollar's favor and against gold for American investors. The specter of Brexit and a still vulnerable and suspect euro-zone area economy also weigh in the dollar's favor. Likewise, the possibility of further terrorism for Europe and the weight of its refugee crisis pose economic threat to that region more so than to the U.S.
Precious Metal Securities 06-03-16
SPDR Gold Trust +2.8%
iShares Gold Trust (NYSE: IAU) +2.7%
iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV) +2.6%
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 3X (NYSE: NUGT) +33%
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bearish 3X (NYSE: DUST) -33%
Market Vectors Gold Miners (NYSE: GDX) +11.2%
Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners (NYSE: GDXJ) +12.3%
Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) +7.7%
Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM) +9.4%
Randgold Resources (NASDAQ: GOLD) +8.4%
Barrick Resources (NYSE: ABX) +13%
Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY) +14%
Gold Fields Ltd. (NYSE: GFI) +13%
Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW) +8.9%
Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE) +12%
Thus, given my view that Friday was not indicative of the current situation for the U.S. economy or for the Fed outlook, and my scenario for pressure against the euro, the dollar should recover and strengthen. In that environment, gold must give way. Friday's data and their impact to the dollar and to gold could strike up gold fever for the very short-term, but I still believe it's a mistake to buy gold now.
The precious metals sector is one that sometimes draws emotionally charged opinions. Investors should know that I share many of the general opinions they do for the very long-term, and that I have always suggested investors maintain stakes in the physical commodity for asset diversification and wealth protection purposes. Still, that does not affect my analysis of the current situation and relevant expectations for gold prices and relative securities. I want investors to know that I am unbiased and had a long view and positions in gold relative securities this year from January into mid-February, before altering my view in mid-February on the changing environment and after gold's extreme gains.
Also, gold was my only long position and recommendation during the financial crisis. All that said, I suggest current avoidance of long positions in gold relative securities, including in gold miners and relative ETFs. Aggressive and speculative investors may even consider taking short positions against gold strength using derivative securities or relative ETFs for the possibility that the economic and Fed outlook I expect play out.
CHINA AND MSCI: INDEX INCLUSION CREATES ILLUSION OF GRANDEUR / THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
| Etiquetas: China, Investment Strategies, MSCI
China and MSCI: Index Inclusion Creates Illusion of Grandeur
The odds are tilting toward MSCI including Chinese domestic shares in its indexes but investors should be wary of the hype
By Jacky Wong
MSCI is expected to make a decision later this month on whether to include shares listed on China's domestic exchanges. Above, the Pudong financial district skyline from the historic Bund in Shanghai. Photo: Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Passive investing means investors don't need to worry about picking stocks. But MSCI, one of the biggest index compilers, is considering a big stock pick that should make investors tracking its indexes nervous.
MSCI is expected to make a decision later this month on whether to include shares listed on China's domestic exchanges, also known as A shares. The inclusion was widely expected one year ago and MSCI's surprise decision to put the matter on hold partially precipitated last summer's market meltdown.
In theory, being accepted into MSCI's exclusive club would mean more institutional investors in China's notoriously retail-driven markets. It would also mean billions of dollars flowing to China's markets from funds benchmarked to MSCI indexes. China's A shares would make up of a fifth of the MSCI Emerging Markets index in a full inclusion. Goldman Sachs GS 0.31 % estimates around $1.5 trillion of assets, both active and passive, are tracking the index.
So China has been working hard over the past year to iron out concerns raised by MSCI. It made its market more accessible to foreign investors in February by expanding investment quotas and easing capital restrictions.
Last Friday, China's two domestic exchanges published guidelines to regulate trading halts in the markets. At the peak of the market crash last summer, over half of the stocks in the Shenzhen and Shanghai bourses were suspended. This spectacular episode has caused worries that investors may not be able to cash out of the markets when they want to.

The latest attempt to appease MSCI before its verdict seems to have convinced some that an inclusion could happen. Goldman Sachs raised the probability of an inclusion to 70% from 50% estimated in April. Money is flowing into A-share exchange-traded funds and Chinese markets had their biggest jump in nearly three months Tuesday, partially on hopes for inclusion.
Investors should be wary of the hype. The initial impact would be very small even if MSCI decided to pull the trigger. Inclusion would still be a year away and even then, initially the weighting would only be 5% of a full inclusion. Estimated inflow linked to the initial inclusion will be less than one day of average turnover.
And then there's the issue of what investors would be getting themselves into. China's A shares trade at a 35% premium to their Hong Kong-listed shares for dual-listed companies. China's biggest oil firm, PetroChina, for example, is 63% more expensive in Shanghai than in Hong Kong. Hong Kong and U.S.-listed Chinese stocks are already included in MSCI indexes.
It also doesn't take into account China's checkered regulatory record, highlighted last summer by a bumbling market intervention. That episode revealed that, deep down, many of China's economic leaders hold a shallow level of trust in investors, let alone liquid markets in general.
China may get into this coveted club, but that doesn't mean everyone else should want to play along.
THE FED TAKES A LOOK BEYOND U.S. DATA / THE FINANC...
THE ECB: HOW IT IS PLAYING FOR TIME / THE WALL STR...
THE SECRET OF PUTIN´S SURVIVAL / PROJECT SYNDICATE...
CHINA AND MSCI: INDEX INCLUSION CREATES ILLUSION O...


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Regional Overview: Southeast Asia
Posted: 19 November 2020| Region: East Asia Pacific | Category: Regional Overviews
Last week in Southeast Asia, the number of clashes between the military and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) remained low in Myanmar as the country held general elections on 8 November. Nonetheless, civilian casualties from explosives continue to be reported in Rakhine state. In the Philippines, fighting between Islamist groups and state forces continued alongside an uptick in drug-related violence. Meanwhile, demonstration activity decreased in Thailand and Indonesia. Anti-government protests persisted in Thailand, albeit at a lower frequency. Meanwhile, the number of royalist demonstrations increased. In Indonesia, demonstrations against both the omnibus law on job creation and the French President's "anti-Islam" comments dwindled this week.
In Myanmar, the number of clashes remained low for a second week in a row following the 8 November general election. As was widely anticipated, the election saw the incumbent National League for Democracy (NLD) winning a landslide victory, securing even more parliamentary seats than it did when it first came to power in 2015 (Myanmar Times, 15 November 2020). Dissatisfied with the results of the polls, the main opposition party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), called for the elections to be held again. The military-backed USDP demanded that the electoral commission cooperate with the military to secure "a free, unbiased and disciplined vote" (Irrawaddy, 11 November 2020). USDP and United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters echoed these demands during a protest at the Union Election Commission's office in the capital Nay Pyi Taw last week.
Meanwhile, the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) also called for "by-elections" to be held in constituencies in Rakhine state where elections were cancelled due to security concerns (for more on this, see this recent ACLED CDT spotlight). More than a million voters from Rakhine state were disenfranchised because of the cancelation of polls by the electoral commission (RFA, 11 November 2020). While the military has distanced itself from the USDP's demands for a rerun of the election, it has welcomed the ULA/AA's request (Irrawaddy, 16 November 2020; Eleven Media Group, 13 November 2020). This comes on the heels of a 9 November announcement by the military that it has established a committee to work on a nationwide ceasefire with all EAOs, including those that have not signed the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (Irrawaddy, 10 November 2020). Meanwhile, the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the ULA/AA, renewed its calls for the government to remove it from the list of terrorist groups. The alliance also extended its unilateral ceasefire – originally due to expire after the elections – until the end of the year (Development Media Group, 12 November 2020).
Notwithstanding hopes for a new peace deal as a result of these developments, alongside muted fighting over the last two weeks, civilian casualties in Rakhine state continue to be reported (for more on this, see this recent piece). Last week, shelling by the military and bombs left behind by armed groups killed at least one civilian and injured at least six others in Myebon and Ann townships. Meanwhile, villagers in Kyaukpyu district continue to flee from their homes amid increased military presence and arrests of civilians accused of having connections to the ULA/AA (Narinjara News, 11 November 2020).
In the Philippines, state forces continue to engage in deadly clashes with Islamist groups. Last week, at least six members of Dawlah Islamiyah were killed while fighting with police in South Cotabato. Fighting broke out when police attempted to serve an arrest warrant to a Dawlah Islamiyah member whom they suspected killed a police officer earlier this year. The suspect was killed in the shootout. The clash was notable in that it involved a faction of the Islamist group that allegedly has close ties with both the Islamic State and Ansar al-Khilafah.
Elsewhere in the Philippines, there was an uptick in drug-related violence, with at least seven drug suspects killed by both vigilantes and state forces. Separately, a journalist was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his home. While a motive for the attack has yet to be established, he was known for his critical stance against local politicians allegedly involved in illegal gambling. A first attempt on his life was made in 2016, and his assailants tried to frame him as a drug suspect after the attack (Kodao, 10 November 2020). The increase in violence linked to the drug war comes as President Rodrigo Duterte appointed a new chief of the Philippine National Police on 9 November. Debold Sinas' appointment as the new chief of police was met with strong negative reactions, especially from human rights groups such as Karapatan and Amnesty International, which issued statements voicing concern about Sinas' record. They also stated that human rights violations in the country will likely increase during Sinas' tenure (Rappler, 9 November 2020). As a first order, Duterte has tasked Sinas with intensifying the crackdown on drugs (ABS-CBN, 11 November 2020).
Meanwhile, in Thailand, the number of anti-government demonstrations continued to decline, with last week exhibiting one of the lowest numbers of weekly demonstrations recorded since the movement started in July of this year. The decrease in events comes after a mass rally held on 8 November, during which thousands of demonstrators marched to submit letters to the king (CNA, 8 November 2020). Demonstrators called for the king to heed their calls for monarchy reform and to support their demand that the military be removed from Thai politics. Brief scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators when police used water cannons to disperse the march, resulting in injuries on both sides. As anti-government demonstrators marched to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, royalists protested nearby to express their support for the king and to call for a coup (Khaosod, 12 November 2020).
The number of royalist demonstrations increased last week, marking the first week during which the number of royalist demonstrations surpassed that of anti-government demonstrations this year. The increase in support from royalists comes amidst more frequent public appearances by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which have attracted large crowds of supporters (Reuters, 11 November 2020; Bangkok Post, 14 November 2020). This is in stark contrast to his rare participation in public events in past years. His increased intimacy with the people is viewed by some anti-government demonstrators as a bid to galvanize support for the monarchy, which could in turn lead to increased tensions between the royalist and anti-government camps.
In Indonesia last week, the number of demonstrations dwindled. This decrease follows weeks of ongoing demonstrations primarily against the controversial omnibus law on job creation, but more recently also against French President Emmanuel Macron's "anti-Islam" remarks. The demonstrations calling for the revocation of the omnibus law — which critics say is detrimental to worker rights and environmental protection — have recently been accompanied by calls for the government to increase the minimum wage next year. The protest movement against the law has been driven primarily by students. However, unlike in previous weeks, students did not feature prominently in last week's demonstrations as the focus of the movement shifts more towards the minimum wage issue. Rather, most protests were attended solely by workers or labor groups.
Meanwhile, the controversial founder and leader of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, returned to Indonesia on 10 November after spending three years in self-exile in Saudi Arabia (Benar News, 10 November 2020). His return — which was met with overwhelming support (The Diplomat, 11 November 2020) — amid the wave of anti-omnibus law and anti-Macron demonstrations, is viewed by some as a politically opportunistic move that could potentially reinvigorate the FPI and cause further unrest in the country (Benar News, 11 November 2020). The FPI, known for its penchant to harass and assault religious minorities (SCMP, 10 November 2020), was the main group responsible for the ousting of the ethnically Chinese and Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, in 2016 (New Mandala, 16 November 2016). More recently, they participated in and led a number of demonstrations denouncing both the omnibus law — accompanied by calls for President Joko Widodo's resignation — and French President Macron (The Jakarta Post, 13 October 2020).
Fiona Wong
Fiona Wong is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since August 2019, starting as an East Asia Researcher. In her current role, she coordinates the development and upkeep of methodology guidelines. She holds an MA in Human Rights and Democratization. Fiona has experience working with public policy think tanks and international human rights organizations.
Category: Regional Overviews 19 November 2020
Tags: IndonesiaMyanmarPhilippinesThailand
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All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Noblest of the Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
I have read the article published by Kuwaiti Al-Mujtam` magazine, issue no. 162, on 6 Rajab, 1393 under the title "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." The article states that the contract of establishing the Arab Film Company for Production and Distribution had been signed in the past days by representatives of governments of Libya, Kuwait, Morocco and Bahrain. This company signed a contract with director Mustafa `Aqqad to produce a movie about the Prophet (peace be upon him), his life, and his teachings in cinemascope and colors. The length of the film is about three hours and it will be presented in twenty international languages, including Arabic.
The story of the film was approved by Al-Azhar and the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, and written by Tawfiq Al-Hakim, `Abdul-Hamid Judah Al-Sahhar and `Abdul-Rahman Al-Sharqawy. We believe that this matter is unacceptable and dangerous. It entails great harm and belittles the Prophet (peace be upon him). This also exposes his noble character to ridicule and mockery. Therefore, I wanted to take part in condemning this evil and request the four countries, which agreed to produce this film, to stop doing that out of venerating and respecting the Prophet (peace be upon him) as well as keeping his noble character away from disparagement, belittlement, and mockery.
Clearly, it is better for a man to return to truth than persist in falsehood, and this issue was submitted to the Constitutional Council of the Muslim World League in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and concluded that it is prohibited to produce a film about the Prophet (peace be upon him) or personalize the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
1- The Constitutional Council unanimously agrees on the prohibition of producing the film "Muhammad, Messenger of Allah." In doing so, they will personalize the Prophet (peace be upon him) in order to present him, his location, movements and all affairs of his life in details as well as portray some of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them) in several situations. All these things are prohibited according to Ijma` (consensus of scholars).
2- The Council recommends that the general secretariat of the Muslim World League convey this resolution to all Muslim countries and organizations, religious associations in the Arab and Muslim countries, ministries of information, administration of Al-Azhar, Islamic Research Academy affiliated to Al-Azhar, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Cairo, the press and the media in the Muslim world.
3- The Council recommends the general secretariat of the Muslim World league to convey this resolution to the director of the film in response to his last request to show the film, and to warn him that the general secretariat of the Muslim World League will take legal actions against whoever tries to violate the sanctity of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the sanctity of his honorable Companions in any part of the world.
4- The Council recommends the general secretariat of the Muslim World League to release a statement on the prohibition of producing a film about the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The statement should include what the general secretariat of the Muslim World League undertook in this regard, the decisions taken by the Constitutional Council of the League and the rest of Islamic organizations and the relevant decisions and Fatwas issued by the Muslim countries in general. All these should be published and circulated to educate, enlighten, and warn people in the Muslim countries against doing this.
5- The Council applauds the general secretariat of the Muslim World League for the successful efforts they made in this serious issue.
All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Noblest of the messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, his family, Companions, Tabi`un (Followers, the generation after the Companions of the Prophet) and those who followed them in piety and righteousness until the Day of Resurrection.
1- Allah (Glorified be He) has praised and set clear the high status of the Sahabah. Therefore, personalizing any of them on stage or on the screen is contrary to this Divine praise and is detrimental to the high status and honor which Allah has bestowed upon them.
2- Personalizing any of them in this way exposes them to mockery and ridicule. Actors are usually people who have no room for righteousness, piety, or Islamic morals in their lives.
Moreover, those involved in this industry aim to earn money. Regardless of attempts of reservations, they will involve some lying and backbiting. Representing the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) has an effect on their status in the hearts and minds of the Muslims, and paves the way for Muslims to doubt their religion and dispute over the personalities of the Sahabah. It also necessarily implies that one of the actors will play the role of Abu Jahl and other disbelievers. In this case, he will have to utter words insulting Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the message of Islam that he brought. Undoubtedly, this is a great evil. This act may be targeted to confuse the Muslims about their creed, the Book of Allah and Sunnah of their Prophet (peace be upon him).
3- If it is claimed that this serves the interest of calling people to Islam and spreading noble Islamic morals and etiquettes through showing exact biographies of those Sahabah, it is simply an assumption and wishful thinking. Whoever knows the real nature and aims of the actors will realize that this kind of acting is in sharp contrast to the real nature of the movie stars and their lives, and behaviors.
4- It is basically stated in the principles of Shari`ah (Islamic law) that if a certain matter is absolutely or considerably harmful, it is forbidden. Personalizing the Sahabah may serve some interests but the harm done by this is far greater than any good that might be achieved. Accordingly, to protect those interests and ward off harm, and to preserve the honorable status of the Sahabah of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), we must not allow it. The Council noticed what Talal said that Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his rightly-guided caliphs are greatly above being represented in characters in this film. This assures that the actors' bold initiative to portray Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) and other Companions emanates from the false belief that Bilal and such Companions are of low status and not of the same level of superiority of the four rightly-guided caliphs. According to the actors, they do not have such a great asset or prestige that disallows portraying and exposing them to mockery and ridicule. This is totally incorrect. Every Companion has his own great virtue, and all of them enjoy the virtue of being Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) though their status varies in the sight of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). However, the virtue of being the Prophet's Companions that they all share is sufficient to prevent ridiculing them. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
Therefore, I severely condemn the production of that film due to the previous reasons and the potential ridicule of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Also, the production of such a film make the biography and actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) subject to manipulation by the actors and cinema traders to make money. Such mockery and ridicule befalling the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and hurting Muslim's emotions make me repeat my vehement denunciation of producing such a film.
I also ask all Muslims in the world to denounce it. I hope all Muslim governments and officials will do their best to prevent the production of this film and to highlight the biographies of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the ways the Muslims used to adopt from the time of the Prophet until now. This will be effective and good enough instead of producing a film.
I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to guide all Muslims and their governments to what leads to their goodness in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. I ask Him to guide them to do what pays the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) their proper veneration approved by the Shari`ah and avoid all that leads to belittling or mocking them. Indeed, Allah is Most Generous. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon His servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions.
Source: www.alifta.net – Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 1.


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If you want to plan a route, or work out how far you ran, or the best way to get from A to B, our Route Tool is just what you need.
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How do I install new firmware for my Legend system using FlashMaster?
Click on the firmware download above and save. Normally, the default Save location is onto your Desktop folder. If the computer you are downloading from is not the same computer that is attached to your laser system you may want to save this download file to a different location than your Desktop; such as a floppy disk or other portable media. This download file is just like any other file that you use (such as a Corel file), and can be moved easily from one computer to another.
Once you have the downloaded file saved on the appropriate computer, simply double click on the file to extract it. You will be asked to save the extracted file to a new location. Select the location you want to save this file to and proceed.
Note: When the file is extracted, it expands to many times its original size and will no longer fit on a floppy disk – keep this in mind if you need to move the download from computer to computer. Also, extracting the file changes it from an .exe format to a .hex format. It is the .hex format file that you will use to upgrade.
Once the file has been extracted, open FlashMaster, and then use Pick File to select the .hex file that you just extracted. After picking the .hex file, define your Target: and click on the Go button.
Note: If you are using LPT1 as your parallel connection, you do not need to specify the Target –just click Go. If you are using LPT2 or any other parallel port, you will need to type LPT2 (or other number) and use that as your Target. If you are using the Ethernet connection, type in the IP Address of the laser (for example, 192.168.3.4) and then press Go!


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Enjoy French Fare and Dine Out for Life
Posted Apr 21, 2017 in: Latest News
Excited for Dining Out for Life on April 27th? Read about one of the event's participants, BECU member and local French restaurateur, Jim Drohman.
Jim Drohman wants to dispel a myth. "Most people think French food involves a white tablecloth, fancy waiter and things pushed in little rings," says the Seattle native. Wait – it's not? Nope. According to Drohman, "95% of the food French people eat is simple, heartfelt, traditional country food." And of course, delicious.
So delicious that Drohman felt compelled to bring it to his native city, opening Le Pichet with his business partner, Joanne Herron, in 2000. Le Pichet is a small, high quality, family-run restaurant serving French country fare in its Pike Place neighborhood. Its success sparked a similar restaurant, Cafe Presse, opened by Drohman and Herron in 2007. Located near Seattle University, it, too, is devoted to the French café concept and has a steady crowd of diners equally enamored with French cuisine.
While one could be overwhelmed running two successful restaurants, Drohman is not. He and Herron stay true to two mandates. One, uphold a French saying: "The rapport must match between price and quality." Drohman strongly believes his customers are happy when the meal they've purchased is equal in value. In fact, Drohman cites BECU's values as those similar to his own operating philosophy. "It's the rapport between cost and quality," Drohman says. "Quality is good, costs are low, so what could be better?"
The second mandate is consistency. He and Herron work daily to stay consistent, remaining hands-on in the kitchens and dining rooms, sourcing local food, hiring excellent staff, and limiting their empire to just two establishments.
Le Pichet and Cafe Presse are consistent in their philanthropy, too. The restaurants have been long-time supporters of Dining Out for Life, returning for its 24th year on April 27. Hosted by the Seattle-based non-profit, Lifelong, and sponsored by BECU, participating restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to individuals facing serious illness and poverty. "It's an easy way for people to support a great cause," says Drohman. "I hope people get out, grab some friends and have a great time."
Find the list of participating restaurants – including Le Pichet and Café Presse – here.
Don't forget to post your photos with #DOFLSeattle on social: We'll be out and about, surprising members!


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Kevin Maggliardi, Levi Cranston's (The Magic Video Game) friend, and Kevin's girlfriend, Shanti Lee, decided to spend a quiet evening at Kevin's Cambridge apartment. No one else was home. Kevin had spent the afternoon with Jing Hao, Mike Wong, Levi, Jack Andrews, and Asad Prejesh. They went into downtown Boston to try an Italian restaurant that they had never been to before.
That evening, Jing, Mike, Jack, and Asad were going to some bars. Levi and his girlfriend, Mackenzie, spent an evening together at their apartment in Allston.
Kevin and Shanti decided to put on some goofy adult cartoons for a bit, while feasting on Indian food. Kevin was on the outer end of the couch, sitting sideways, while Shanti was nestled between him and where the pillows meet on the couch.
Her head was on his shoulder, and his head lay on top of her head. He took a deep breath, and Shanti wrapped her left arm around his chest. Then, she put her ear between his left armpit and his left breast. While she could hear his deep breathing, she could also hear his quiet heartbeat. She looked up, and Kevin's eyes were closed. He must have been a little too tired of watching cartoons for over two hours.
Shanti got up and turned off the TV and returned to her place on the couch.
"Hey, Kevin?" Shanti asked.
"Yeah?" Kevin responded sleepily.
"Can I hear your heartbeat?"
Without hesitation, Kevin pulled up his shirt up to his collarbone. Shanti could see his ribs every time he took a breath, and she also thought she could see his heart beating through his skin. His belly button was exposed, and she wanted to poke it with a q-tip. Her ear was pressed firmly on the lower part of his left breast, and she just paid attention to the intense whooshing of blood through his mitral valve.
"Your heart is so loud, fast, and strong. Are you nervous?" Shanti asked.
"No," Kevin replied quietly with a soft smile.
He took a very deep breath, and Shanti noticed a couple skips in his heartbeat. She thought that was super cute.
"What is your heart rate, if you don't mind my asking?" Shanti questioned.
Kevin checked his watch, which has that feature.
"122," Kevin stated.
"Sounds way faster than that," Shanti said. "I'm gonna get it to pound really hard for me. So get ready."
Shanti was wearing a white floral button-down shirt. She unbuttoned the top three buttons, so the top part of her chest and part of her bra were exposed. Her ear was still on his chest. She heard even louder and deeper heartbeats inside Kevin's chest. He must have been getting really excited, so he checked his watch again.
"134," Kevin replied.
"Good!" Shanti exclaimed.
Kevin's left arm was wrapped around Shanti. She took his right hand and placed it on the top part of her chest, so that he could feel her fast and strong heartbeat as well. He placed his left hand over Shanti's left ear, so his heartbeat was all she could hear. He was starting to breathe really hard, as he was so excited.
They were super happy with doing nothing other than this for at least ten minutes.
"Shanti?" Kevin got his girlfriend's attention, with his hand still on her chest.
"Yeah?" Shanti replied.
"You ready to find out how fast my heart is beating?"
"Oh my God! You have a shit ton of adrenaline flowing through you."
Kevin let out a soft smile and then was quiet. His eyes were closed again, and Shanti thought he made a soft and cute noise through his mouth. His breathing was steady. His heart was racing, and chances were that it wouldn't slow down any time soon.
Jack Andrews, Levi Cranston (The Magic Video Game), Asad Prejesh, Jing Hao, Kevin Maggliardi, and Mike Wong all ventured out to downtown Boston to hang out for a few hours. Levi's girlfriend, Mackenzie Burbanks, was having a girls' day in with a couple of her friends to watch movies.
The six boys were at their favorite coffee shop during the middle of the day. They all went out for pizza, and now they felt like getting themselves a cup of coffee. It was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and all six boys were sitting inside the coffee shop talking about nothing other than tennis.
Jack looked over at Kevin and realized that he wasn't nearly as talkative as he normally is. Kevin had dark spots under his eyes, which Jack noticed earlier today, but now he didn't look well at all. His nose was very red now.
"You alright, Kevin?" Jack questioned.
"Yeah, I've got a really bad cold. I thought I could do more than what I really could do," Kevin replied.
"Yeah, take it easy."
"I think I'm gonna head back to Cambridge soon."
"Yeah, you probably should," Jack said.
"I'm like really tired all of a sudden," Kevin responded.
"Alright. Let us know when you get back."
"I will. I just started getting a pounding headache. Didn't hit me in the chest like it usually does."
"Well, that's good."
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna head out now. I really don't feel well at all."
Kevin picked up his backpack off the floor and said goodbye to everyone. He headed toward the door toward the common, where he was going to pick up the red line to take him back to his apartment in Cambridge. Once he got back home, he was very likely going to fall asleep as soon as he could.
The other five boys were going to stay out until about 5 or 6 in the evening, and then they were all going to get ready for the week ahead of them.
"Kevin's been really sick for the past couple days," Jing said.
"He sounded really stuffed up when we all met," Jack replied.
"Yeah, he has a bad cold. He told me that he might take tomorrow off from work to recover."
"Yeah, hopefully he will consider that."
"The only other time I saw him really sick was when he had the flu in college. Then, he got me sick with it," Jing remarked.
"That's nice of him to give you the flu!" Jack chuckled.
"I mean, I've seen him when he's had a cold, but it didn't hit him as hard as this one has. Or I might be wrong."
"Colds suck."
"The flu sucks worse."
Jack was at their table with Mike and Jing. Kevin had made it home, and by the time he took off his shoes and lay on his bed, he was passed out. Chances were pretty good that once Jing came home, Kevin would still be sleeping. Their two other roommates went to New York City for the weekend, and they were likely not coming back until at least 9 pm tonight.
Levi and Asad were at the counter looking at what desserts to get. Asad wasn't sure what he was going to get, but Levi wanted to get something for Mackenzie.
"I'm thinking about getting Mackenzie the fruit tart. What do you think?" Levi asked Asad.
"She like strawberries, doesn't she?" Asad responded.
"Yes, that's her favorite fruit."
"Are you getting sick, too? You sound really stuffed up."
"I think so. I hope Kevin didn't give me his cooties," Levi said.
"He probably did," Asad remarked.
"I took a sick day on Friday because I was really not feeling well. I feel better now, but I hate my nose right now."
"Understandable."
"Get Mackenzie the fruit tart!" Mike greeted Asad and Levi.
"That's what I'm thinking about getting her!" Levi exclaimed.
"What do you guys want to do after this?"
"Cambridge?"
From The Crazy Chicken Escapade
After everyone got acquainted with each other, Kaloi took everyone home in his vehicle, which greatly resembled a mini-van, but could fit as many people as a bus. They drove back to Kaloi's house, which looked more futuristic than anything else. The three boys were definitely in awe of the house's aesthetics.
The house did not look quite like a spaceship. However, one could possibly mistake it for one. On the outside, the house looked as if it was built with newer bricks and siding. But, the boys figured that it would look completely renovated on the inside. And they were going to figure it all out for themselves.
Kaloi walked up to the front door and firmly gripped the knob. The entire posse watched as he was trying to dramatically open the door and let them all inside. It was starting to work because the kooky forensics expert just stood by the door and held the knob in his left hand, and the boys especially figured that nothing was going to happen yet. He was just going to stand and hold the door knob and confuse everyone. It was working at the moment.
"So, yes. Welcome to our humble abode, everyone! Since you are our guests, I will make all of us some strawberry smoothies!" Kaloi announced.
"THEY ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD!" Cosmo spoke hysterically.
"I like strawberries," Jefferson said randomly.
After the introductions, Kaloi made strawberry smoothies for everyone, except for Jack McFrost and Jefferson, who preferred French vanilla coffee over anything else. After they all consumed this heavenly goodness, Marty and Kaloi decided to show David, Andrew, and Levi around Kaloi's humble abode. Sporto and Cosmo accompanied them. Jack McFrost and Jefferson drank some French vanilla coffee while conversing about cats, pizza, and crow bars.
Wachnuka Kaloi and Marty showed the three boys around the place, while Sporto and Cosmo were making up random inside jokes during the tour. The two creatures showed the boys the common area, the game room, the kitchen and dining room, the forensics lab, another game room, the tennis courts (the boys' favorite hot spot), the indoor pool, and the bedrooms, among other rooms inside the house.
Overall, the tour took an hour, as there were many rooms to be shown. However, the bedrooms, or quarters, were unlike the typical bedrooms. These "quarters" were those typically found in spaceships, or in many European college dorm rooms. There was a long wall of doors that led into each quarter, with a screen attached to each door, in order to ensure maximum privacy. Underneath each quarter was a medium-sized cubby, where one could put his or her clothes, toiletries, and other personal belongings.
As a matter of fact, the quarters looked like spaceships. There was a small ladder that led from the door of the quarter to the floor, one that could resemble several spaceships or space vehicles. David, Andrew, and Levi were astonished at the quarters, and they all wanted to go into their assigned quarters and see what it was like inside.
"So, this is where you will sleep while you're here," Kaloi said to the three boys.
"They look extremely comfortable," Levi remarked half-heartedly.
"Trust me. They are," Marty replied.
"SLEEPING IN THE QUARTER IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SLEEPING ON A CLOUD!" Cosmo shouted hysterically.
"I believe I could live here," Andrew said, also half-heartedly.
"I can't decide which is better. The tennis courts or the quarters," Sporto replied.
"Oh. That's a hard question," David said, not at all half-heartedly.
No one said anything for a few minutes. The three boys were trying to absorb all of the information that they had grasped and obtained in an hour. They all knew that it was going to take some time to get used to being in Wakahakai. However, Levi was more familiar with the area than the two other boys.
"What are our plans for tomorrow?" Andrew questioned everyone with utmost curiosity.
A few moments of silence. No one was really sure how exactly to answer that particular question. Marty had made it clear to the boys that he did not want them to know all of their plans because he wanted to make them a surprise. However, the polar bear thought that he should give in just this once.
"What are our plans for tomorrow? Hmmmm….let's see. What are our plans for tomorrow? Well…." Marty questioned slowly.
"Well?" Andrew asked.
Well, never mind. Marty did not give in to the young boy's inquiry. As curious as Andrew is, Marty did not think that it would be a good idea to say what exactly their plans entailed. With this in mind, the boys would just have to wait and see what they were going to do. At least they knew that they were spending a great amount of time in Wakahakai. Then, they were going to visit Galavanti Island, and last but not least, Texamilio.
Hopefully those two places were relatively close to Wakahakai.
Thirty minutes later, the entire posse was really hungry, and no one felt like cooking tonight. As a result, Kaloi decided that it would be in everyone's best interest to have Chinese food tonight. He decided to call Po Yum Chinese Take-Out, which was right up the street from the house.
"Hello, Po Yum's Chinese Take-Out. My name is Mi," said a Chinese lady on the other end of the line.
"Hello, Mi. I would like to order Chinese food," said Kaloi.
"I get the idea. We sell nothing more and nothing less than Chinese food."
"I would like beef lo mein, steamed white rice, beef on a stick, fried donuts, and ya di ya da."
"What is ya di ya da?" Mi asked.
"Trying to decide what else to get," Kaloi remarked.
"Okay. Take your time, bub."
"Ah. So ya di ya da includes orange chicken, pineapple chicken, and crab rangoon. That should be it."
"Okay. That amounts to $30.30."
"Okay. Sounds good."
It took exactly thirty minutes and thirty seconds for Mi and her husband, Yu, to arrive at Kaloi's house and give him the delicious Chinese food. Marty, Sporto, Cosmo, Jack McFrost, Jefferson, Kaloi, David, Andrew, and Levi were so hungry that they decided to eat all the Chinese food. No one said much until they all finished eating. After everyone cleaned up the dining room table, Marty and Kaloi decided to enter the science lab and look at microscopic slides of red blood cells. Sporto and Cosmo went for a swim in the indoor pool. And Jack McFrost and Jefferson played video games on an older game console.
David, Andrew, and Levi were playing table tennis and video games in the huge game room for quite some time. For two hours, because of how many games there were and also because of how much fun they were having. Then, they all sat at one of the round tables in the same room and decided to take some time to get to know each other.
"How many siblings do you have?" David asked everyone.
"I have four siblings: I will be 15. Caleb will be 13. Adam will be 11, and so will Cameron. And Alyssa is 6," Andrew answered.
"I have five sisters altogether. Four are older, and one is younger," Levi said.
"Are you all full-blood siblings?" Andrew asked.
"No. Louise and Elizabeth have a different dad. Victoria, Olivia, and I are full-blood siblings. And Evelyn Maeve is adopted," said Levi.
"What is Louise and Elizabeth's surname?" David asked.
"Baranovsky," Levi answered, half-heartedly, "And Evelyn Maeve was adopted from Ireland. Her last name was Loden before she became a Cranston. She was adopted when she was a few months old."
"Is she a redhead?" Andrew asked.
"No. She's a brunette and very pretty. We're like best friends," Levi answered.
David, Andrew, and Levi sat quietly in the room, without saying much to each other. David and Levi have known each other for quite a while. Andrew just now started getting to know the other two boys. Chances are that Andrew has seen David and Levi around some time, but even though this may have been the case, he never had the chance to get to know them very well. When Levi lived in Crown Point, he and David were both in soccer club. Andrew was in some soccer club since he lived in Lowell, but he might have seen David and Levi at some of their small competitions. All three boys live in around the same area, but the only difference is that Levi lives in Porter County, and David and Andrew live in Lake County. But they all live within a thirty-mile radius.
It's a very small world, isn't it? The world is only going to get smaller in a matter of time.
"How old are your sisters, Levi?" David asked.
"Louise is 26. Elizabeth is 25. Victoria is 18. Olivia is 16. Evelyn Maeve is 6."
"And you, David. How many siblings do you have?" Andrew asked David.
"Two older brothers, one younger brother, and an adopted younger brother: Dawson is 21. Brett is 16, and Brody is 13. Toby is 10," David answered.
"Oh wow. I can't believe we have so much in common! Where's your younger brother adopted from?" Levi asked.
"Luxembourg. His last name was Schwann before he was adopted as a baby," said David.
"Did you know that I'm Jewish?" Levi asked.
"No! Are you strictly Jewish?"
"Yes and no. We're Jewish on my mom's side, but we also celebrate Christmas because my dad was born Methodist. When it comes to Thanksgiving, on the actual day, we celebrate the traditional way on my mom's side. However, on my dad's side, since he is part Italian, we all go over to his parents' house and eat Italian food, and this is the next day."
"We celebrate the exact same way! My dad is also part Italian."
"No way! We're so similar."
The three boys stayed up for a while longer. They were not at all tired. As a matter of fact, they were all full of energy, and they were fired up for the adventure that they knew they were going on. Today, David, Andrew, and Levi met Marty, Sporto, Cosmo, Jack McFrost, Jefferson, and Wachnuka Kaloi.
What nice guys.
And, eventually, the three boys were going to meet a robot named Rockybado, who hails from Texamilio, and they were also going to meet Dacston, a t-rex, Jokie, a brachiosaurus, Valpatic, a velociraptor, and Sammy, a stegosaurus, who gleefully reside in Galavanti Island.
Everything that David, Andrew, and Levi were hoping for in an adventure. Right now, however, they were all focused on the games they were playing, as well as getting to know each other better. The three boys continued to play video games with each other for a few more hours.
"What time is it?" Andrew asked.
"Two o'clock in the morning. Why?" Levi replied.
"I think I'm going to fall asleep right here."
"You know what? I am feeling the exact same way," David remarked.
"Aw, you guys are no fun!" Levi exclaimed sarcastically.
"What time should we all wake up, though? Did Marty say something about nine or ten o'clock in the morning?"
"Nah! I think whenever is okay."
"I think I'm going to my quarter anyway. You guys can have more fun playing video games, but I think I will fall asleep right here if I don't go to my quarter soon," Andrew said.
"I'm with you!" David nearly shouted.
"Okay. I'm going to stay up a little longer and see if I can beat my high score. Good night, guys!" Levi remarked.
"Good night!" David replied.
"Good night!" Andrew replied.
Andrew and David entered their own quarters and fell asleep. Levi decided to play games for another hour, and then he also grew exhausted from this long day. He entered his quarters and did not quickly fall asleep. But, after a few minutes of thinking about absolutely nothing, he was somehow able to go to sleep.
It was then the next morning, and all three boys were still sleeping soundly in their quarters. Marty walked over to the quarters at 9:30 that morning, carrying a vuvuzela with him, so that he could wake up David, Andrew, and Levi.
Sporto accompanied him. Cosmo had volunteered to accompany him, but Marty wanted someone who was not as loud, hyper, and hysterical (oh my). While Marty and Sporto would attempt to wake up the boys, Cosmo, Jack McFrost, Jefferson, and Kaloi sat at the dining room table, drinking coffee with hazelnut cream and eating apple turnovers.
A perfect way to start the day.
From the kitchen to the boys' quarters, the two walked for a few minutes. Due to how spread out the place was, Marty and Sporto had quite a ways to walk.
While the two were walking toward the boys' quarters….
"So, you're using a vuvuzela to wake up the boys?" Sporto questioned his polar bear friend.
"Indeed," Marty replied with a toothy grin.
"That will get them very excited for today."
"I know! That's why I'm using the old fashioned method."
"What will that prove?" Sporto felt compelled to ask.
"Well, the boys will wake up on the right side of the bed, and they will get excited about this joyous day! We have a lot of things planned," Marty replied, sounding a little stupidly optimistic.
"I don't know about that. Do you remember Levi being a non-morning person?"
"Nonsense. I'm sure those boys went to bed at a decent hour. They were all so tired when they arrived in Wakahakai."
"I thought I heard noise coming from their quarters last night."
"Well, I didn't."
End of conversation.
Marty and Sporto finally arrived at the boys' quarters after five minutes of all that walking. A few seconds later, Marty drew the neon green vuvuzela to his mouth, and with pride and dignity, he blew very hard into the plastic instrument. Out of all three boys in their quarters, Andrew was the only one who heard Marty gleefully play the vuvuzela.
A few moments later, Andrew slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on his stomach. On top of the comforter. It was way too hot to sleep inside it. The boy had a rough night. The journey to Wakahakai might have been a little much for him, especially since the boys did not go to bed until after 2:30 in the morning. They were all up at that hour, getting an opportunity to reconnect with each other by playing video games.
The boy was awake, but he was not out of bed yet. He still lay on his stomach while fighting to go back to sleep. His eyes were closed, but, once he was awake, he was awake. The troubles of being a light sleeper.
Time to get up.
Andrew sluggishly got out of his quarter, found his clothes in the cubby beneath the quarter, and decided to get ready for the day. It was going to be long, but hopefully fun. He had a chance to really get to know the two other boys and everyone else last night.
Meanwhile, back in the dining room, where Marty and Sporto returned to their friends, coffee with hazelnut cream, and apple turnovers….
"Good job, Marty. You only woke up one boy," Sporto said.
"At least I tried," Marty replied.
"Who was the boy that you woke up?"
"I believe that was Andrew. They all look the same to me."
"You think?" Sporto asked.
"Their hair color, how they keep their hair, you know?" Marty replied.
"I don't think they look that much alike. Maybe to a degree. David and Andrew especially."
"Well, what I do know is that they all have a lot in common."
"They all play tennis. They all play video games. They all like Chinese food. Stuff like that."
Marty decided against returning to the boys' quarters. He started to feel very bad for trying to rouse the boys out of bed. Andrew, of course, could not go back to sleep. And Marty realized that it would be extremely futile to use the vuvuzela again, in an attempt to wake up the two other boys. It was so obvious that David and Levi would sleep through the "alarm." With that in mind, Marty stayed in the dining room with the rest of his friends.
"Kids these days," Marty said, afterwards shaking his head.
"What happened?" Jefferson asked, thinking of nothing else to say.
"Kids need their sleep."
"Did you use your vuvuzela again?" Jack McFrost asked his polar bear friend, afterwards shaking his head in disagreement.
"Let's just say that I made an honest attempt," Marty replied, half-heartedly.
Like around June 2018
Levi Cranston (The Magic Video Game) and his girlfriend, Mackenzie Burbanks, were out and about on the mean streets of Boston. Jack Andrews and Asad Prejesh were in their apartment playing video games for the evening. Their new friends, Jing Hao and Kevin Maggliardi, invited them all to play video games, but everyone else declined. Especially since Levi and Mackenzie had a date, and Jack and Asad just simply did not feel like playing tennis.
It was around 6 pm, and Jing and Kevin walked over to the nearby tennis courts, where they all practice. They were planning to stay for at least three to four hours.
"Should we run around the track first?" Jing asked.
"We always do, so I think that answers your question," Kevin replied.
"Okay, so let's do it."
"We need to leave around 9:30, because Levi wanted to chat around that time."
"I think we'll be done by then," Jing said.
"Usually, we are," Kevin remarked.
"When is Sheridan coming to the States?"
"Next week. He is stopping in Dublin first."
"To do what?"
"To party there, I think."
Sheridan is Kevin's oldest brother, who is 32 years old and lives in London to pursue his doctorate degree in biomedical engineering. He has another brother, Graham, who is 29, and lives in New York City for work, as he works in IT. His only sister, Addison, is going to be 27 years old in a couple weeks, and she lives in Chicago for graduate school. Kevin just turned 25 years old, and Jack, Asad, and Levi view him as their little brother. Kevin is originally from Cranston, Rhode Island, pretty close to Levi's motherland.
Levi and Kevin met at their tennis coaching job. Levi works in IT for one company in Boston, and Kevin works in IT for another company in the same building, so they very often commute to work together.
Levi, Mackenzie, Jack, and Asad share an apartment in the Allston neighborhood, while Jing and Kevin have a place in Cambridge. It is either a fifteen minute commute by bus, or a thirty minute commute by foot.
Jing is from Garden City, a suburb of New York City. He is 25 years old, and has a younger sister, Amanda, who is 23 years old. He and Kevin met when they went to college in Boston. Jing also works in IT, and he is looking to go into grad school pretty soon.
"This weather is pretty nice," Jing remarked after a couple laps around the track.
"Yes, it is," Kevin responded. "What time is it?"
"Time for you to get a watch."
"I have never heard that one before!"
"No?" Jing asked, taking things a bit literally.
"Nope," Kevin rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Time for tennis?"
"Time for tennis. We have a few hours."
"We agreed 9:30, right?"
Tennis practice was a complete blur. By the time they got on the tennis courts, it was already 7 o'clock in the evening. They had a couple hours before they'd have their phone chat with Levi, Jack, Mackenzie, and Asad later tonight.
A couple hours later, Jing and Kevin were really tired, sore, and sweaty. They headed back to their apartment in Cambridge, where they would get ready for the night. It was Thursday evening, so one more day before the weekend.
That's why they all needed to chat.
When they got into the apartment, Jing beat Kevin to the shower, kinda pissing Kevin off.
Kevin used this time to lie on his bed to stretch his back out a little, and to throw a tennis ball against the ceiling. He decided that now was a good time to call Levi, and so he did.
"Hey Kevin, I have you on speaker," Levi answered on his end. He and everyone else must have been out in the common area.
"Hey, how's it going?" Kevin asked.
"Well, Mackenzie and I are back from our little date. We ventured out on the harbor walk and the North End."
"Very nice. We're all gonna check out the harbor walk again this weekend, right?"
"I wouldn't mind doing that. We could also go out to Cambridge, whatever works for you," Levi said.
"Well, I'm totally open. Jing is taking his sweet little time in the shower," Kevin replied.
"I figured as much."
"What is everyone else doing?"
"Well, Mackenzie is in our room. I think she's on a phone chat with her family. Jack and Asad are in the kitchen heating up some leftovers from the night before."
"That's great."
Jack and Asad had some Indian food from last night that they decided to heat up now, after spending at least two hours playing video games. They were being summoned into the living room to come up with some plans to hang out that weekend with Jing and Kevin.
"Hi Kevin," Jack responded once he and Asad walked into the common area.
"Hey guys," Kevin responded back.
"How was tennis?"
"It was pretty great. I beat Jing on all matches, so that was nice."
"I wish we were there to witness it," Jack said.
"I know! You missed out on a great evening," Kevin exclaimed.
"Well, we were playing tennis on TV."
"Not as fun."
"Next time, we'll play all of you."
"Sounds like a plan. Well, Jing came in, and I'm going to shower. I'm disgusting."
"Okay, you do you."