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Economist Armen Grigoryan
Armenia & KarabakhinflationRussian invasion of Ukraine 2022
Inflation Continues to Increase in Armenia
Gevorg Gyulumyan
YEREVAN — After the Russian-Ukrainian war, a large influx of tourists to Armenia began due in part to the restrictions of European countries. While Armenia might be able to use the opportunity to develop and stabilize its weak economy to some extent, as last week showed, everything in Armenia also became more expensive during the influx of Russians, and this created additional problems for ordinary Armenian consumers. In particular, the prices of sugar, oil, bread and other important products have risen.
Inflation has increased in unbelievable proportions in the Armenian real estate market. For example, there are already houses in Yerevan for which the owner demands $6,500 in monthly rent.
Economist Armen Grigoryan told the Armenian Mirror-Spectator that what is happening is not normal and can have bad consequences. He declared: "Yes, it is good that there is commerce, but everything is excessive and the ordinary citizen suffers from it. I think the state should somehow deal with all this and regulate it, because this can also drive away tourists."
The Russian tourists we met on the street appeared sincere. They think that Armenia is a very good country, but everything is very expensive. Ivan Tomachkov said, "Your country is unique, to be honest, but I do not understand why everything is so expensive."
Anna Bunina, who came here with her family, said she was most surprised by the thousands of fountains, which flowed 24 hours non-stop. Despite this admiration, she also complained about the high price of food.
"But," she exclaimed, "what the devil! What extreme prices there are for everything here! It's the end of the world."
Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan assesses the situation differently. On his Facebook page, he called on citizens not to panic, declaring:
"I am notifying [you], in connection with the information disseminated in the Russian and Armenian media over the last two days, according to which it is planned to restrict the export of a number of food products from Russia to the EEU [Eurasian Economic Union] countries, that the food security issues of Armenia are under the direct control of the Armenian government. So far, the Russian government has not approved a decision to ban the export of food products, so the import of goods to Armenia is carried out normally.
"There is currently no projected deficit in the Republic of Armenia in terms of products included in the minimum food basket. We are in touch with our Russian partners and even in the event of a decision by the Russian government on possible export restrictions, the Republic of Armenia has all the necessary resources to ensure the food security of the population. The grain self-sufficiency of the Russian Federation is at about 150 percent, which means that Russia has sufficient resources for domestic consumption and export. We call on citizens not to cause panic and not to make unnecessary purchases."
It should be noted that the price of flour has already risen in Armenia, as a result of which pastry and pasta products have also increased in price.
Economist Arthur Tovmasyan writes: "Wheat has risen in price by 20-30 drams. A 50-kilogram bag of flour increased from 12,600 drams to 13,400 drams, which is an increase of about 6-7 percent. All bakery products will in increase in price due to the rise in these prices. The annual demand for grain in Armenia is about 980 thousand tons. The demand for wheat alone is about 460 thousand tons, of which about 80-85 thousand tons were produced annually by Artsakh. Armenia and Artsakh together produced about 600,000 tons of grain (about 57 percent of the total demand), and imports from abroad amounted to about 450,000 tons (43 percent). Our country and people may be facing a serious crisis and the elected prime minister and his woeful government are silent, or say, what next, we will not deviate from our path. They were saying, 'If Artsakh did not exist, you would live well. How is it now? Are you living well? Is there a future, dear people?'."
Topics: inflation, Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022
People: Armen Grigoryan, Artur Tovmasyan, Vahan Kerobyan
Previous Israeli Photojournalist Documents Artsakh During War and Peace in New Book
Next European Parliament Adopts Resolution Chiding Azerbaijan for Destroying Armenian Heritage in Artsakh
ArmeniaRussia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Juba, July 25, 2018 – South Sudan's Ministry of Petroleum announces that it has formally terminated negotiations with French international oil company Total for exploration and production sharing agreements (EPSA) for oil licenses B1 and B2.
Prior to South Sudan's independence in 2011, Total held a petroleum agreement for the 120,000-square kilometer Block B, but ceased activities in the area in 1985. In 2012 the government of South Sudan split the area into three licenses: B1, B2 and B3. Alongside Tullow Oil and the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), Total has been negotiating with the Ministry of Petroleum for a new EPSA since February 2013. In 2017, the Ministry of Petroleum awarded the EPSA for Block B3 to Oranto Petroleum, as talks continued with Total and partners on blocks B1 and B2.
Under Section 100 of the Petroleum Act of 2012, the Ministry of Petroleum is permitted to enter new petroleum contracts, at its discretion, with contractors that had concluded an EPSA with Sudan before secession. However, after more than five years of negotiations, the parties have now reached an impasse. The Ministry of Petroleum of South Sudan has stated its willingness to proceed with the signing of a draft EPSA, but Total has insisted on a long exploration period and on economic terms that the government says are not viable.
The Minister of Petroleum will speak at the Africa Oil & Power conference in Cape Town on September 5-7. Following this event, potential investors are invited to attend the South Sudan Oil & Power 2018 conference in Juba on November 21-22.


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until TUE 10:00 AM EST, Habersham County, Stephens County, Franklin County, Hart County, Elbert County
GOP presses Planned Parenthood aid ban, faces long odds
By ALAN FRAM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republicans pressed their fight Wednesday to bar federal aid to Planned Parenthood, but likely opposition from at least one GOP senator highlighted the long odds they face to prevail.
With a showdown Senate vote planned for early next week, Democrats stepped up their defense of the beleaguered organization, focusing on the health-care services the group provides for millions of women.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the administration strongly disagrees with the bill, adding, "We support them getting the types of services and health care they need."
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a long-time moderate, said she would oppose the proposal because it would immediately end the federal aid, "and I don't know how all the patients of Planned Parenthood could be absorbed" by other health care providers. She said such action should await an investigation into Planned Parenthood's practices.
Republicans want to block the money because of videos secretly recorded by an anti-abortion group showed Planned Parenthood officials describing their procedures for providing tissue from aborted fetuses for research.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, the bill's sponsor, said Planned Parenthood's role in obtaining fetal organs "is morally reprehensible and wrong." The bill would block federal funds for Planned Parenthood and transfer the money to community health centers and other providers.
Abortion foes say Planned Parenthood shouldn't provide the organs and have accused the group of profiting from it, which would be illegal. Planned Parenthood officials say they've done nothing wrong.
Republicans have 54 Senate seats but will need 60 votes to keep the bill alive.
The dispute spilled over onto the Democratic presidential campaign trail as well.
Front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton told the New Hampshire Union Leader on Tuesday that the videos were "disturbing," but also said Planned Parenthood "for more than a century has done a lot of really good work for women." She said questions "about the whole process" should be addressed broadly, not aimed solely at Planned Parenthood.
Another Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, said attacks on Planned Parenthood were "part of a long-term smear campaign by people who want to deny women in this country the right to control their own bodies."
App users click here for more images and video
Teen girl injured in Atlanta shootout after she was caught breaking into car, police say
Driver found shot behind the wheel in Decatur car crash
Buying a home is now more affordable than renting in these 5 US cities


Click on https://vimeo.com/228220949 for a look at the Hiawatha.
We are also pleased to announce that Lookout Pass is the first ski resort in the nation to register a Bike Patrol with the newly formed Bike Division of the National Ski Patrol. Our initial membership includes 32 Ski Patrol members from the Inland Northwest who will supplement our staff on the Route of the Hiawatha in aiding our guests and providing information and assistance on the trail.


BLUMENAU - The Czechs took the gold in the men's and women's competitions at the 21st World University Handball Championship in Blumenau (SC), Brazil.
In the men's final, the Czech Republic played against Portugal and won 34:24. Being the favorites from the start, the Czechs did well, got hold of the Portuguese, and will return home with the gold medal. With this result, Portugal has established itself as the WUC runner-up taking home the silver.
Brazil and Poland battled for the bronze. The brass went to the Brazilians who won by a score 33:29.
Turkey and Chinese Taipei disputed the fifth and sixth spot. Turkey won by a score 33:29.
Korea and Kuwait played for the seventh and eighth places. The game's final score was 49:30 in favor of Kuwait.
Chile and Mexico played for ninth and tenth with a score of 36:25 in favor of Chile.
The Romanians began their gold game with great determination and willingness to take on the invincible Czech opponent, but the Czechs proved their mastery ending the game 32:18 in their favor.
Brazil and Poland played for the bronze. The Brazilian team lost to Poland with a 15 point difference, resulting in a score of 26:41.
Uruguay and Chile played for the last two spots with Uruguay winning 28:20.
The 21st World University Handball is a realization of the International Federation of University Sports (FISU), the Brazilian Confederation of University Sports (CBDU), and the Brazilian Federal Government under the sponsorship of: the Municipal Sports Blumenau (FMD), Department of State Tourism, Culture and Sport and the State of Santa Catarina, and support of the Federation of University Sports Hall of Blumenau and Blumenau.


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Railbird Festival 2023 lineup: Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, more
Railbird Fest happens June 3 & 4 in Lexington, KY and Weezer, Nathaniel Rateliff, Sheryl Crow, Charley Crockett, Jenny Lewis, The Head & The Heart, Nickel Creek, and more are also performing.
Amy Geiger
Ohana Fest announces second weekend with Eddie Vedder, Alanis, Black Keys, HAIM & more
The Eddie Vedder-curated festival's second weekend goes down October 8-9 in Dana Point, CA.
BottleRock 2022 lineup (Metallica, P!nk, Spoon, Snoop Dogg/Ice Cube/etc & more)
The lineup also features Pitbull, CHVRCHES, Bleachers, Alessia Cara, SAINt JHN, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Silversun Pickups, The Wailers ft. Julian Marley, and more...
Stevie Nicks, The Killers, Kurt Vile & more celebrating Tom Petty's birthday with a virtual fest
Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder, Margo Price, The Raconteurs, The Flaming Lips, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Beck, Brandi Carlile and many more will help celebrate what would've been Petty's 70th birthday.
Erin Christie
Nine-day Jerry Garcia celebration livestream happening in August w/ live performances, storytelling, more
Daze Between happens in August, celebrating both Jerry Garcia's birthday and marking the 25th anniversary of his passing.
The Roots streaming benefit for Philly, Questlove potluck & more
The Roots have been keeping busy throughout the coronavirus pandemic with regular new stuff on their YouTube page and beyond, and there's more to come.
Listen to new songs by The Front Bottoms, Saintseneca, Mykki Blanco, Caroline Polachek, King Princess, Ioanna Gika, Willie Nelson (covering Tom Petty), Say Hi, and more.
tours announced: Cigarettes After Sex, Pinegrove, Roy Orbison/Buddy Holly holograms, more
Plus: Hot Chip, Drive-By Truckers, White Denim, Black Label Society/Black Dahlia Murder, Los Lobos, Toro y Moi, yMusic, and more tour news.
Bruce Hornsby shares song ft. Bon Iver, touring, playing National Sawdust
Hornsby's new album also features yMusic, Brad Cook, S. Carey, The Staves, Blake Mills, and more, and his tour includes shows with S. Carey, Sam Amidon, and Amos Lee.
XPoNential Fest 2017 adds Pinegrove, Foxygen & more (updated lineup)
They join Wilco, Spoon, Conor Oberst, Angel Olsen, and others on the lineup of the Camden, NJ fest which happens at the end of July.


"An early election can only be manouvered by the government and they have no incentive to do so. A snap election would put dozens of Tory MPs in peril and risk handing power to a socialist whose agenda they genuinely fear."
Inevitably, the speculation has begun. With Theresa May's Brexit plan going nowhere as she struggles to square circles between Cabinet, Parliament and country, The Sunday Times reports that Tory MPs are gearing up for a election this autumn. The odds about 2018 have halved in our Year of Next Election market but, at odds of [8.0], Betfair traders remain sceptical.
We have of course been here before in 2017, when very few predicted May's intentions. There was no significant gamble to indicate a snap poll until the April morning she announced it. Such are the perils of this particular political market - which ultimately involves reading somebody else's mind.
Well, there are a couple of reasons. Many read the recent local election results as evidence that Corbynism has already peaked. There is certainly no psephological evidence that Labour are on course for a majority and his approval ratings are shocking - 10% worse than the unpopular May.
Second, Tories may hope that the endgame of Brexit will flush out Labour's position and split the Left. Most Labour members and supporters are strongly Remain and in favour of another referendum on the final deal. If Corbyn is forced under pressure to stop shadowing opportunistic - or cakeist - Tory positions, Labour become very vulnerable in their Brexit-voting heartlands. May targeted them with minimal success last year but will fancy another crack.
It is hard to overstate just how risky such assumptions are. Propelled by Momentum, a mass membership and online activists, Labour ran perhaps the most effective campaign in history. It was spontaneous and decentralised, having been given very short notice. Next time, it will be better targeted and liable to grab more among the lower turnout groups.
Consider the latest Opinium poll and the astonishing disparity between young and old. The latter are much more reliable voters compared to younger groups. It was Corbyn's ability to reach the under 45s that blindsided the polls last time. While we can't be sure of similar enthusiasm, Labour have greater scope to overperform and the right set of targeting tools.
Politics may have indeed become unpredictable but, however volatile the electorate may be, the fundamental motives of politicians hasn't changed. An early election can only be engineered by the government and they have no incentive to do so. A snap election would put dozens of Tory MPs in peril and risk handing power to a socialist whose agenda they genuinely fear.
If parliamentary and Tory divisions over Brexit situation make the prospect seem inevitable, MPs would surely prefer less risky options. Brexiters would be happy to ditch the leader who failed last time, knowing one of them would replace her, while Remainers' best hope would be taking their chances in a second referendum. An election in which the Tories were bitterly divided would serve neither side.
If it were to happen, all current signals point to another hung parliament. Our Most Seats market currently rates them virtually tied, with the Conservatives [1.91] compared to Labour's [2.18]. The odds about No Overall Majority would collapse from the current [2.56].
UK politics may be inevitably headed towards chaos. Projections following the locals estimated the Tories losing 20-odd seats, but remain the largest party. If that proves accurate, I reckon Labour will be the only party capable of forming a workable government, via a fragile deal with several smaller parties. Despite his party winning fewer seats, Corbyn would become PM. Every Tory MP is aware of such calculations and that is precisely why I'm still backing them to play the long game and wait for 2022.


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Sim Leisure Leverages on Established Reputation in Theme Park Business
Sim Leisure Group Ltd
SINGAPORE, April 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sim Leisure Group Ltd ("Sim Leisure" or the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is pleased to announce the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (the "Agreement") with China-based Guangzhou Daxin Water Park Equipment Co. Ltd ("Guangzhou Daxin"), which marks a significant development of the Group's history that will see the Company monetizing its renowned name in the theme park industry through a partnership with Guangzhou Daxin.
Mr. Sim Choo Kheng (Founder & CEO of the Group)
Pictured left to right: Mr. Wilson Wu (CEO of Guangzhou Daxin), Mr. Sim Choo Kheng (Founder & CEO of the Group), Mr. Wesley Rae (Director of Sim Leisure Creative) and Mr. Tian Gaoqi (Chairman of Guangzhou Daxin Group)
La Mer Water Park, Dubai
Egypt Zone at Universal Studios, Singapore
Ski Egypt, Cairo
Legoland Hotel, Malaysia
Motiongate Park, Dubai
The Agreement will grant Guangzhou Daxin the right to use "Sim Leisure" as the name to secure theme park design and building contracts within China and the ASEAN region in return for a 5% royalty payment to the Company's 60%-owned subsidiary, Sim Leisure Creative Pte Ltd ("Sim Leisure Creative"). The remaining 40% shareholding interests in Sim Leisure Creative are held by (i) Mr. Wesley James Rae (30%), the former non-executive non-independent director of Sim Leisure; and (ii) Ms. Josie Booth (10%), who was a senior manager with the Company prior to its listing since 2013.
Founder Sim Choo Kheng of the "Sim Leisure" brand built his career in the theme park management consultant industry in 1993 before moving into design and contracting. Over the years, he propagated the "Sim Leisure" name through his involvement in over 100 major projects worldwide, including Lost Paradise of Dilmun in Bahrain, Ski Egypt in Cairo, Legoland in Denmark & Malaysia, Universal Studios in Singapore, Aquapolis in Bulgaria, Motiongate Park in Dubai and Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Sim's forays in the international arena have established "Sim Leisure'"s brand as a renowned theme park design and contracting company with a long track record of performance and excellence.
Guangzhou Daxin is one of the biggest waterpark designers, equipment suppliers and contractors in China with a turnover of USD50 million at its peak in 2016. Founded in 2000 by Mr. Tian Gaoqi, it has a 100,000m2 manufacturing facility in the Guangzhou Qingyuan Industrial Zone, China.
The potential in China is considerable based on statistics in 2017 that indicated over half a billion Chinese visited an amusement park. Amusement park spending in China is forecast to surpass US$6 billion by 2019. This makes China the world's fastest growing market.[1] A research report on Chinese theme parks stated that 64 new parks were expected to be established between 2015 and 2020, with a total investment of about US$24 billion.[2] This construction trend is set to continue as a wealth of opportunities for domestic amusement park markets are available. Domestic tourism continues to become more popular in China, as it serves as a symbol of national urban development for many Chinese cities.
The signing of the Agreement represents the synergy between the international experience in designing & building theme parks by Mr. Sim via the "Sim Leisure" brand and Guangzhou Daxin's manufacturing capacity & local knowledge of the Chinese and ASEAN markets. It will also allow the "Sim Leisure" brand to leverage on its solid reputation to earn a steady recurring income from goodwill built over the years of etching its name in the industry.
Mr. Sim said "I have put in blood, sweat and tears over the decades to build this business to the point of being recognized as the only renowned theme park design & contractor from Asia. I have waited for the right moment to enter China and the ASEAN market. We are ready for the next stage of growth with our new partner Guangzhou Daxin Group, capitalizing on our common business philosophy of providing Asian business economics with a global approach in our creativity."
Wilson Wu, CEO of Guangzhou Daxin, said, "We see an increasing demand for world-class design and execution of theme parks in China, which in the past had to rely on foreign expertise. Teaming up with Sim Leisure Group means Guangzhou Daxin is now an international theme park solution provider operating locally, which gives us a tremendous competitive edge. We are very excited to tap into this booming market."
[1]Daxue Consulting, 13 November 2018 (https://daxueconsulting.com/china-worlds-largest-amusement-park-industry/)
[2]China Daily, 29 December 2016 (https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-12/29/content_27810155.htm)
About Sim Leisure Group Ltd
Singapore-listed Sim Leisure Group is a well-established developer and operator of theme parks based in Penang, Malaysia. The Group's founder, Sim Choo Kheng, has more than 30 years of experience in the theme park industry, having built and managed theme parks across the globe. Mr Sim's successful development footprint spans the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and includes The Lost Paradise of Dilmun in Bahrain, Bollywood Theme Park in Dubai, Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt in Cairo, Ski Dubai, the Motiongate Theme Park in Dubai, Aquapolis in Bulgaria, Ulynovsk Park in Russia, and the Egypt and Jurassic Park zones of Universal Studios Singapore.
The Group started investing and building the ESCAPE brand (www.escape.my) in Penang, and is establishing another showcase indoor theme park known as ESCAPE Challenge in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. This 'low tech-high fun' blueprint has contributed to the current 7-year profit track record. The winning formula will be replicated in big population demographics across Asia as part of Sim Leisure's growth strategy.
The ESCAPE Park in Penang holds the current Guinness World Records' longest inner tube water slide at 1,111 metres and has also been ranked no. 1 theme park in Malaysia by TripAdvisor since 2015. ESCAPE Penang was the Winner of the 20th Malaysia Tourism Awards for 2016/2017 in the category of Best Tourist Attraction (Man-Made Attraction/Theme Park).
The Group's innovative business model disrupts the longstanding industry practice of mismatching ticket prices to local purchasing power, huge capital expenditure and exorbitant royalties. Sim Leisure Group believes strongly in socially responsible investing and is changing the game through partnering with real estate developers or local governments to not only deliver results but also positively enhance the local economy.
Sim Leisure Group's success can be seen with the ESCAPE brand, which provides quality outdoor fun to the masses with a rapid return on investment.
This press release has been prepared by Sim Leisure Group Ltd. (the "Company") and its contents have been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, ZICO Capital Pte. Ltd. (the "Sponsor"), in accordance with Rule 226(2)(b) of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST") Listing Manual Section B: Rules of Catalist.
This press release has not been examined or approved by the SGX-ST and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this press release including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this press release.
The contact person for the Sponsor is Ms. Alice Ng, Director of Continuing Sponsorship, ZICO Capital Pte. Ltd. at 8 Robinson Road, #09-00 ASO Building, Singapore 048544, telephone (65) 6636 4201.
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-a?lang=0
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-b?lang=0
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-c?lang=0
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-d?lang=0
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-e?lang=0
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-f?lang=0
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1-g?lang=0
Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200417/2779792-1LOGO?lang=0
Source: Sim Leisure Group Ltd
https://www.simleisure.com/
Keywords: Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions Banking/Financial Service Entertainment Travel
Global Times: Xi's footprints convey China's contribution, injecting stability to a turbulent world
ctnews: "Finest Cultural Gifts from China" Cultural and Tourism Trade Promotion Campaign (Session on New Business Forms of Culture and Entertainment)
SM invests in growth through expansion to reach more communities
The Westin Surabaya and Four Points Pakuwon Surabaya Rejoice as Lunar New Year Festivities Return
MINISO Group Announces Management and Board Changes
Global New Material International to Acquire CQV to Accelerate Penetration in the Global Markets


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Night Mission Pinball
eppy2000 - 26/10/2014
It is certainly one of finest stand-alone pinball games made for the Atari. One neat thing that I liked was the "tilt" feature -- an important feature for any pinball enthusiast! It came in handy if the ball got stuck (you did this by tapping the "T" key).
The very first time I played this I was very startled to hear the sound effects coming out of my Atari 800's internal speaker. I had no idea it was capable of making those kinds of sounds (and at that kind of volume, too!). I had expected to hear traditional musical pings and chimes from the POKEY chip. The only thing I had heard through the internal speaker until that time was simple popping and buzzing sounds (i.e., when you hit the system reset button). Still, I thought it was a very cool thing to hear. It's one of those games that loses some of the coolness factor when played on a XL/XE (and emulator!) because the sound comes out through the TV rather than the dedicated speaker of the 400/800 line.
http://gwobby.webs.com/ - 20/06/2010
Possibly the best pinball for the Atari! still fun especially multi-player, almost made me think about sticking a set of paddles to the dining table and sawing two legs off it :-D
Jim Kuchera - 16/12/2006
This was an odd game, but I bought it because I love pinball, and there were no other titles available for the Atari 800 at the time. The sound effects were delivered through the small speaker in the 800. I have no idea why the Pokey chip was not used. Ball action was bizarre and unnatural, but extremely fast. The playfield was very original with lots and lots of bumpers, spinners, ball locks, etc. I was so very pleased when David's Midnight Magic was released. It was clearly superior with great arcade ball action, sound effects, and other surprises. Simple playfield did not distract.
Genre Pinball - Standard Table Year 1982
Language Machine Language Publisher SubLOGIC
Controls Joystick Developer
Artwick, Bruce
Cover Artist(s) Serial AT-PB1
Thanks to Jon Bowers for the scans.


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Metta World Peace Says He Will Leave The NBA… But The Knicks Might Get Him Anyway
By Tommy Rothman
ESPN sources quoted Metta World Peace as saying that he is not considering playing in the NBA next season. The recently amnestied Metta World Peace had said he was considering going to play for Yao Ming in China, or coaching somewhere, or even playing arena football. He talked about how he is too old to stay in the NBA, and he mentioned how his dream of playing with the Knicks has faded away over the years along with his youth. So the Knicks are no longer a possible destination for Metta, right? Wrong.
First of all, Metta World Peace is on waivers right now. Every team under the cap can bid on him until Sunday night, and World Peace does not want to be claimed by a rebuilding team. He could be doing this to scare away teams he does not want to play for. His interest in the Knicks, however, has been reported in recent days. If he clears waivers, he would be free to sign with the Knicks. Metta knows this, and he could just be trying to stop other teams from keeping him out of the Garden.
Second of all, Metta is a jokester, and nothing he says should be taken seriously. Earlier today, he was tweeting about retiring to play hockey… and in the process of doing so, he even dropped subtle hints about playing for the New York Knicks.
Never take anything Metta World Peace says at face value. Stay tuned. The former Ron Artest could still be headed to New York.
This entry was posted in Articles and tagged KNICKS, Knicks news, knicks rumors, metta world peace, metta world peace knicks, ron artest, ron artest knicks, tommy rothman knicks on July 12, 2013 by Tommy Rothman.
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else is at all interested.
> and very few use smartcards.
certs depends on passwords that are probably easily guessed in many instances.
looking companies are using PKI there are a lot more that aren't.
not even over SSL it seems ?).
> feasible and easier to manage.
still hoping) someone would point out how that hole is not there.
10 years is not such a long time, after all).
Next message: Steve Parker: "RE: Re: Password change via HTTP"
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Maybe in reply to: Phillip Hallam-Baker: "Re: Re: Password change via HTTP"
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You will find official resources relating to foreign policy as it relates to multinational operations, and U.S. national security issues in this curated collection.
Find out more about terrorism, building peaceful alliances with world partners, U.S. defense policy, especially communicating weapon deterrence, such as the use of nuclear and radiological warfare, and protecting human rights. These are examples of multinational operations that are key to the success of our nation and survival in this geopolitical world that can be found within the next few pages.
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GOP looks to maintain gains in recent elections
Dems hope to break supermajority
Tom LoBianco Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Republican Party's extensive work to establish its dominance over the last 10 years faces a key test today when voters head to the polls after a largely sleepy campaign season.
With no races for governor or U.S. Senate, the ballot is topped by three statewide offices held by Republicans — auditor, treasurer and secretary of state.
Republicans appear poised to retain the auditor and treasurer offices, although Democrat Beth White, the Marion County clerk, has a fair shot at unseating Secretary of State Connie Lawson. Democrats are also hopeful that they will make enough gains to break a GOP supermajority that has allowed House Republicans to conduct business without them.
"Right now, one party controlling everything means a lot of people don't have a voice," said Jen Wagner, former spokeswoman for the Indiana Democratic Party.
It wasn't long ago that Republicans and Democrats split their hold on Indiana's political seats.
During four of his eight years in office, former Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels had to deal with a House of Representatives controlled by Democrats. But Republicans whittled away at that slim margin in successive elections, drawing on Daniels' fundraising prowess and the deep pockets of conservative education groups to target key state House races.
After Republicans regained control of the House in 2011, they were able to redraw legislative districts to give them a powerful supermajority in 2012. House Speaker Brian Bosma and the House Republicans' campaign committee spent tens of thousands of dollars in targeted House races trying to defend that supermajority this year.
Today, schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz is the lone Democrat holding statewide office in Gov. Mike Pence's Republican administration.
Jen Hallowell, a veteran Republican campaign staffer now working as Lawson's campaign manager, said the GOP's statewide strength "certainly didn't happen overnight."
Instead, it's the result of establishing a unified message and strategy and targeting races one by one, she said.
"How we got there was by building on upon success in multiple elections at different levels," Hallowell said.
Having a popular governor as the public face of the party helped, as did winning control of the redistricting process. Daniels and an army of young staffers and veteran fundraisers led rebuilding efforts in the party, starting with Daniels' decisive victory over former Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan in 2004.
Democrats have seen a few glimmers of hope recently, most stemming from widespread anger over education overhauls driven by conservatives. Ritz, who shocked many in 2012 when she upset Republican schools chief Tony Bennett, has been a fixture on the campaign trail throughout the year.
The Indiana State Teachers Association — the state's largest teachers union — poured close to $1 million into House races over a six-month period, according to the most recent campaign-finance reports. To break the GOP supermajority, the Democrats would have to net three seats — taking the margin from 69-31 to at least 66-34.
In northwest Indiana, Democrats are fielding strong challenges against Rep. Harold Slager, R-Schererville, and Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso. Democrats also see chances to unseat Rep. Jack Lutz, R-Anderson, Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, R-Indianapolis and Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne.
But they appear likely to lose the southwest Indiana seat formerly held by Rep. Kreg Battles, D-Vincennes, and Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Hammond, also faces a tough re-election bid.
Republicans appear likely to keep the seven congressional seats they currently hold. Just four years ago, Democrats held a 5-4 edge in the state's delegation. Now, after two successful federal election cycles and a Republican redrawing of congressional districts, the GOP holds a 7-2 edge.
Voters who had just cast ballots Monday at the Marion County Clerk's office said they were largely focused on local issues, ranging from a judge's retention vote to whether Indianapolis should be building a new jail. But some said they would also like to see a better balance of power between Democrats and Republicans.
Merle Thomas, 69, of Indianapolis, a retired salesman, said he voted straight-ticket for Democrats, largely because he sees Republicans trying to block the function of government.
"The Republicans have just been ridiculous. They're almost anti-American to me," he said. "Republicans seem to be obstructionists, not wanting to get anything done. That's why I say it's almost un-American."


PUNE: All food outlets operated by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) at stations across the country could be transferred to the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC), said sources in the railways.
With the IRSDC handling the re-development plan as well as facility management at stations across the country, sources told TOI that the railway board was seriously considering the transfer in order to streamline and organize things further. Sources added that the plan is to ensure all aspects related to stations and passengers remains with one body so that passengers get quality food.
"Yes, discussions pertaining to the same are on at a higher level right now. If the decision of a change comes, things will follow accordingly," Pune divisional railway manager Milind Deouskar, said during an earlier conversation.
In the Pune railway division, 10 outlets, including food stalls and plazas are under IRCTC as of now. Five of 10 outlets, which includes a food plaza, Jan Aahar and some stalls, are at the Pune railway station.
"The IRSDC is looking after the stations under the centre's Station Redevelopment Plan. Recently, Central Railway handed IRSDC the job of facility management at the Pune railway station. The IRSDC has further leased the work to Pune-based BVG Group. We feel that the quality of food will improve if it goes under the IRSDC. Though we are not stating that the IRCTC provides bad quality of food, the IRSDC is expected to further lease the food outlets to private professional and expert bodies, who can bring diversity when it comes to food. We are waiting for a final decision. The quality of food is a concern and still there are a lot of complaints from passengers," said an official at the division.
An IRCTC source said that they too were awaiting a decision. "We will have to abide by the decision but I can say that our food quality is good as those involved in its preparation are professionals and mostly graduates from different hotel management institutes. Moreover, now there is a 'live kitchen' viewing system too and passengers can actually see their food being cooked in the kitchens of the IRCTC," the official said.
"The railways is closely monitoring whatever work the IRSDC is doing. The IRCTC were selling food in stalls and in trains as per rates fixed by the railways. Even if a change happens, we don't think the cost of food will increase. Moreover the IRCTC is also sells tickets online. If one looks at the figures, on an average, they are booking 7,200 tickets each minute. So their hands are quite full," another railway official said.


Were The 80s The Greatest Decade Of Music?
Some would say YES! You don't have to personally be a fan of 80s music but if you take an objective look at it you would be hard pressed not to agree. Sirius channel 22 is dedicated to the best in alternative rock from the 1980s. Music from ground-breaking artists like The Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Depeche Mode, The Cure and countless others are what you'll hear when you tune your Sirius Satellite Radio receiver to channel 22, First Wave.


text:
/**
 * @fileoverview This file implements the `amp check-renovate-config` task,
 * which validates the Renovate configuration file using Renovate's provided
 * config validator. The output of this built-in validator is shown below.
 *
 * Output on success:
 * ````
 * Validating .renovaterc.json
 * Validating config.js
 * OK
 * ````
 *
 * Output on invalid file (ex. invalid JSON):
 * ````
 * Validating .renovaterc.json
 * .renovaterc.json is not valid Renovate config
 * Validating config.js
 * ````
 *
 * Example output on invalid configuration (ex. illegal option):
 * ````
 * Validating .renovaterc.json
 * .renovaterc.json contains errors:
 *
 * [
 *   {
 *     "depName": "Configuration Error",
 *     "message": "Invalid configuration option: dependencies"
 *   }
 * ]
 * ````
 */

'use strict';

const {cyan, red, green} = require('kleur/colors');
const {getOutput} = require('../common/exec');
const {log} = require('../common/logging');

/**
 * Checks Renovate config for correctness using the validator provided by the
 * `renovate` package.
 * The cumulative result is returned to the `amp` process via process.exitCode
 * so that all OWNERS files can be checked / fixed.
 */
async function checkRenovateConfig() {
  const {status, stdout} = getOutput(
    'npx -q -p renovate renovate-config-validator'
  );
  const [configFile] = stdout.match(/(?<=Validating )\S+/);

  if (status === 0) {
    // Handle valid configuration.
    log(green('SUCCESS:'), 'No errors in', cyan(configFile));
    return;
  }

  process.exitCode = 1;
  if (stdout.search('is not valid Renovate config') > -1) {
    // Handle invalid configuration file.
    log(
      red('FAILURE'),
      'Configuration file',
      cyan(configFile),
      'cannot be read'
    );
  } else {
    // Handle valid file with configuration errors.
    const [errorInfo] = stdout.match(
      /(?<=contains errors:\s*)[\s\S]*(?=Validating config)/
    );

    try {
      JSON.parse(errorInfo).forEach(({depName, message}) => {
        log(red(`${depName}:`), message);
      });
    } catch {
      log(red('Configuration Error:'), errorInfo.trim());
    }
  }
}

module.exports = {
  checkRenovateConfig,
};

checkRenovateConfig.description =
  'Checks the Renovate config file for correctness';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


GP Presents "A Tribute to Jerry Garcia" at Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA—Friday, June 10—Win Tickets!
GP Presents "A Tribute to the Life of Owsley 'Bear' Stanley and the Musical Spirit of Jerry Garcia" at the 33rd Annual Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA—Friday, June 10—Win Tickets!
In nearly seven years of GP Presents events, we've done all-star tributes to Grant Green, Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix, but we've waited patiently until the right circumstances arose to tackle the Bay Area's most famous 6-string ambassador. It's high time GP Presents paid respects to Jerry Garcia, and there's no better place to do it than at the 33rd annual Harmony Festival.
With headliners including Michael Franti & Spearhead, the Flaming Lips, and Primus, Harmony 2011 is poised to be the best ever. And with performances by Steve Kimock, Jesse McReynolds, Moonalice, the David Nelson Band and members of Railroad Earth, this Garcia tribute will reinforce the fact that there was a lot more to Jerry Garcia than hippie hype—the cat could play. Garcia's stylistic influence is as strong (or stronger) than that of any classic rocker, and is evidenced in legions of today's players, especially those in the thriving jam band scene that he helped spawn.
This is a special Harmony "After Dark" show at 10pm in Harmony Hall on the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA, on Friday June 10th. The Harmony Festival has lots of different ticket packages available here.
Make a commitment to represent your love for the King of the Haight now, and tell all your Dead-loving friends that all fine details are posted here and here.
GP Presents is sponsored by D'Addario and Planet Waves.
Contest Details For a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, click HERE and put "Garcia" in the subject of your email. Phone contact appreciated for confirmation. Winner must provide own transportation to the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA, and have his or her own accommodations in the Bay Area on June 10.


2018: Started all 17 games ... Had 34 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers ... Served as a team captain along with Colleen Fleming, Aliza Jordan and Hala Van Nostrand ... Had an assist in the season opener against the University of New England (3/3/18) ... Picked up a season-high six ground balls against UMaine Farmington (3/21/18) ... Had a season-high three caused turnovers on two occasions.
2017: Appeared in 15 games ... Had 13 ground balls and caused seven opponent turnovers ... Scooped up a season-high four ground balls against Salem State (4/5/17).


* How do u improve on mcq for day 1 FIP & diagnosis?
Does anyone have any advice on how to improve on day 1 mcqs for FIP and diagnosis? The real exam is harder than the uworld FIP and the questions are longer on the real exam for day one.
Are there any books or other qbanks that you would recommend that would help me score better on FIP and diagnosis type questions? That is my weakest area. I'm not referring to the biostats or abstracts and drug ads. Just trying to figure out how to improve my score and pass this exam. Any advice would be appreciated.
Personally I think there are things on day 1 that you just aren't meant to know. Even the people who get 250+ on step 1 and step 2 usually do not get this same score on step 3, and I think this is largely because some questions on day 1 are too random, subjective, vague, or just not from any typical medical resource.
My advice is don't worry about day 1 beyond what you're capable of. Use the materials that everyone uses, review your high-yield info from Step 2 CK, and go over some key points that you remember from Step 1 being important or easy to remember with mnemonics. Apart from that, just worry about day 2 and the clinical cases section.
You just have to pass and if you spend a lot of time trying to learn minor facts I think it'll just hurt you more than actually help you.
Thanks for the advice @the28shogun.


Absorbed dose (also known as total ionizing dose, TID) is a measure of the energy deposited in a medium by ionizing radiation. It is equal to the energy deposited per unit mass of medium, and so has the unit J/kg, which is given the special name gray (Gy).
Note that the absorbed dose is not a good indicator of the likely biological effect. 1 Gy of alpha radiation would be much more biologically damaging than 1 Gy of photon radiation for example. Appropriate weighting factors can be applied reflecting the different relative biological effects to find the equivalent dose.
The risk of stochastic effects due to radiation exposure can be quantified using the effective dose, which is a weighted average of the equivalent dose to each organ depending upon its radiosensitivity.
When ionising radiation is used to treat cancer, the doctor will usually prescribe the radiotherapy treatment in Gy. When risk from ionising radiation is being discussed, a related unit, the sievert is used.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Absorbed_dose". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.


text:
Nav1.7
Sodium channel, voltage-gated, type IX, alpha subunit
PDB rendering based on 1byy.
Available structures
Ortholog search: RCSB
1byy
SCN9A Gene
• sodium ion binding
• voltage-gated sodium channel complex
• behavioral response to pain
Sources: QuickGO
Orthologs
Nav1.7 is a sodium ion channel that in humans is encoded by the SCN9A gene.[1][2][3] It is usually expressed at high levels in two types of neurons, the nociceptive (pain) neurons at dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglion, and sympathetic ganglion neurons, which are part of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system.[4][5]
2 Clinical significance
2.1 Animal studies
2.2 Primary erythromelalgia
2.3 Insensitivity to pain
2.4 Therapeutic applications
Nav1.7 is a voltage-gated sodium channel and plays a critical role in the generation and conduction of action potentials and is thus important for electrical signaling by most excitable cells. Nav1.7 is present at the endings of pain-sensing nerves, the nociceptors, close to region where the impulse is initiated. Stimulation of the nociceptor nerve endings produces "generator potentials", which is small changes in the voltage across the neuronal membranes. The Nav1.7 channel amplifies these membrane depolarizations, and when the membrane potential difference reaches a specific threshold, the neuron fires. In sensory neurons, multiple voltage-dependent sodium currents can be differentiated by their voltage dependence and by sensitivity to the voltage-gated sodium-channel blocker tetrodotoxin. The Nav1.7 channel produces a rapidly activating and inactivating current which is sensitive to level of tetrodotoxin.[6] Nav1.7 is important in early phases of neuronal electrogenesis. Nav1.7 is described by slow transition of the channel into an inactive state when it is depolarized, even to a minor degree. This property that allows these channels to remain available for activation with even small or slowly developing depolarizations. Stimulation of the nociceptor nerve endings produces "generator potentials", which is small changes in the voltage across the neuronal membranes. This brings neurons to certain voltage that stimulate Nav1.8, which has a more depolarized activation threshold that produces most of the transmembrane current responsible for the depolarizing phase of action potentials.
Clinical significance
Animal studies
The critical role of Nav1.7 in nociception and pain was originally shown using Cre-Lox recombination tissue specific knockout mice. These transgenic mice specifically lack Nav1.7 in Nav1.8 positive nociceptors and showed reduced behavioural responses, specifically to acute mechanical and inflammatory pain assays. At the same time, behavioural responses to acute thermal and neuropathic pain assays remained intact.[7] However, the expression of Nav1.7 is not restricted to Nav1.8 positive DRG neurons. Further work examining the behavioural response of two other transgenic mouse strains; one lacking Nav1.7 in all DRG neurons and the another lacking Nav1.7 in all DRG neurons as well as all sympathetic neurons, has revealed distinct sets of modality specific peripheral neurons.[8] Therefore Nav1.7 expressed in Nav1.8 positive DRG neurons is critical for normal responses to acute mechanical and inflammatory pain assays. Whilst Nav1.7 expressed in Nav1.8 negative DRG neurons is critical for normal responses to acute thermal pain assays. Finally, Nav1.7 expressed in sympathetic neurons is critical for normal behavioural responses to neuropathic pain assays.
Primary erythromelalgia
Mutation in Nav1.7 may result in primary erythromelalgia (PE), an autosomal dominant, inherited disorder which is characterized by attacks or episodes of symmetrical burning pain of the feet, lower legs, and sometimes hands, elevated skin temperature of affected areas, and reddened extremities. The mutation causes excessive channel activity which suggests that Nav1.7 sets the gain on pain signaling in humans. It was observed that a missense mutation in the SCN9A gene affected conserved residues in the pore-forming α subunit of the Nav1.7 channel. Many studies have found a dozen SCN9A mutations in multiple families as causing erythromelagia. All of the observed erythromelalgia mutations that are observed are missense mutations that change important and highly conserved amino acid residues of the Nav1.7 protein. The majority of mutations that cause PE are located in cytoplasmic linkers of the Nav1.7 channel, however some mutations are present in transmembrane domains of the channel. The PE mutations cause a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of channel activation, which allows the channel to be activated by smaller than normal depolarizations, thus enhancing the activity of Nav1.7. Moreover, the majority of the PE mutations also slow deactivation, thus keeping the channel open longer once it is activated.[9] In addition, in response to a slow, depolarizing stimulus, most mutant channels will generate a larger than normal sodium current. Each of these alterations in activation and deactivation can contribute to the hyperexcitability of pain-signaling DRG neurons expressing these mutant channels, thus causing extreme sensitivity to pain hyperalgesia. While the expression of PE Nav1.7 mutations produces hyperexcitability in DRG neurons, studies on cultured rat in sympathetic ganglion neurons indicate that expression of these same PE mutations results in reduction of excitability of these cells. This occurs because Nav1.8 channels, which are selectively expressed in addition to Nav1.7 in DRG neurons, are not present within sympathetic ganglion neurons. Thus lack of Nav1.7 results in inactivation of the sodium channels results in reduced excitability. Thus physiological interaction of Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 can explain the reason that PE presents with pain due to hyperexcitability of nociceptors and with sympathetic dysfunction that is most likely due to hypoexcitability of sympathetic ganglion neurons.[5] Recent studies have associated a defect in SCN9A with congenital insensitivity to pain.[10]
Insensitivity to pain
Individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain have painless injuries beginning in infancy but otherwise normal sensory responses upon examination. Patients frequently have bruises and cuts, and are often only diagnosed because of limping or lack of use of a limb. Individuals have been reported to be able to walk over burning coals and to insert knives and drive spikes through their arms. It has been observed that the insensitivity to pain does not appear to be due to axonal degeneration.
A mutation that caused loss of Nav1.7 function has been detected in three consanguineous families from northern Pakistan. All mutation observed were nonsense mutation with majority of affected patients having homozygous mutation in the SCN9A gene. Their observation linked loss of Nav1.7 function with incapability to experience pain. The result was in contrast with the genetic basis of primary erythromelalgia in which the disorder results from gain-of-function mutations.[10]
The association of pain insensitivity with the loss of function of a certain sodium channel may have therapeutic applications. Since Nav1.7 is not present in cardiac muscle or neurons in the central nervous system, blockers of Nav1.7 will not have direct action on these cells and thus can have less side effects than current pain medications.[11][12]
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on SCN9A-Related Inherited Erythromelalgia
Membrane transport protein: ion channels (TC 1A)
Ca2+: Calcium channel
Ligand-gated
Inositol trisphosphate receptor (1, 2, 3) · Ryanodine receptor (1, 2, 3)
Voltage-gated
L-type/Cavα (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) · N-type/Cavα2.2 · P-type/Cavα(2.1) · Q-type/Cavα2.1 · R-type/Cavα2.3 · T-type/Cavα(3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
α2δ-subunits (1, 2) · β-subunits (β1, β2, β3, β4) · γ-subunits (γ1, γ2, γ3, γ4)
Cation channels of sperm (1, 2, 3, 4) · Two-pore channel (1, 2)
Na+: Sodium channel
Constitutively active
Epithelial sodium channel (α, β, γ, δ)
Proton-gated
Amiloride-sensitive cation channel (1, 2, 3, 4)
Navα (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 7A) · Navβ (1, 2, 3, 4)
K+: Potassium channel
Calcium-activated
BK channel (α1, β1, β2, β3, β4) · SK channel (SK1, SK2, SK3) · IK channel (IK1) · KCa (1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1)
Inward-rectifier
KATP · Kir (1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6) · GIRK/Kir (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) · Kir (4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1)
Tandem pore domain
K2P (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Kvα1-6 (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8) · (2.1, 2.2) · (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) · (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) · (5.1) · (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4)
Kvα7-12 (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5) · (8.1, 8.2) · (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) · (10.1, 10.2) · (11.1/hERG, 11.2, 11.3) · (12.1, 12.2, 12.3)
Kvβ (1, 2, 3) · KCNIP (1, 2, 3, 4) · minK/ISK · minK/ISK-like · MiRP (1, 2, 3) · Shaker gene
Cl-: Chloride channel
ANO1 · Bestrophin (1, 2) · CFTR · CLCA (1, 2, 3, 4) · CLCN (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, KA, KB) · CLIC (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, L1) · CLNS (1A, 1B)
H+: Proton channel
HVCN1
M+: CNG cation channel
α (1, 2, 3, 4) · β (1, 2, 3) · HCN (FC, 1, 2, 3, 4)
M+: TRP cation channel
TRPA (1) · TRPC (1, 2, 3, 4, 4AP, 5, 6, 7) · TRPM (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) · TRPML (1, 2, 3) · TRPN · TRPP (1, 2) · TRPV (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
H2O (+ solutes): Porin
Aquaporin (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) · Voltage-dependent anion channel (1, 2, 3) · General bacterial porin family
Cytoplasm: Gap junction
Connexin: A (GJA1, GJA3, GJA4, GJA5, GJA8, GJA9, GJA10) · B (GJB1, GJB2, GJB3, GJB4, GJB5, GJB6, GJB7) · C (GJC1, GJC2, GJC3) · D (GJD2, GJD3, GJD4))
Innexin
By gating mechanism
Ion channel class
Ligand-gated · Light-gated · Voltage-gated · Stretch-activated
see also disorders
Template:Biochemistry membrane navs
Cre-Lox recombination
Genetic recombination, DuPont, Cre recombinase, Site-specific recombinase technology, Chromosomal translocation
Sympathetic nervous system, Long QT syndrome, Sodium channel, University of Cambridge, Brugada syndrome
Channelopathy, Sodium, Epilepsy, Water, Classical mechanics
Small fiber peripheral neuropathy
Amyloidosis, Autonomic nervous system, ICD-10, Medical Subject Headings, Diabetes


Three Monticello athletes qualified for the 5A state track meet with their performances at the Union Bank Seark Relays held April 24 at Monticello High School.
Ashton Pennywell qualified in two events with a 51' 9" toss in the shot put and a 162' 2" throw of the discus.
Joe Carmical bested Pennywell's mark in the shot put with a throw of 54' 3", which also qualified him for state.
Freshman Karyss Coleman earned a spot at the state meet with a win in the 100-meter dash. Her time was 12.74 seconds. She also finished third behind two seniors in the triple jump and ran the second leg of a second place finish for Monticello in the 4x100 meter relay.
Monticello had a strong meet in addition to its state qualifiers.
Senior Ben Alexander was a force in the long distance events, winning the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:56.03 and the 3,200-meter run with the only time under 11 minutes. He also helped Monticello post a second place finish in the 4x800 meter relay.
Other members of the relay team were: Kirk Banks, who also finished second in the 400-meter dash; Martinez Miller, who took fourth in the 1,600-meter run and Cody Jaggers, who placed sixth in the 1,600-meter run.
Sophomore Reggie Rayford won the long jump at 19' 10", took third place in the triple jump at 41' 10" and was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.89 seconds.
Reshanae Crift joined Coleman in Monticello's second place finish in the 4x100 meter relay. The sophomore ran the last leg of the 4x100 relay and the first leg of a third place finish in the 4x400 meter relay. She also took second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.31 seconds.
Tanesha Gillette was a part of both relay teams. Kalene Simpson ran the second leg of the 4x400 relay and the last leg of a third place finish in the 4x800 meter relay.
Natalie Skinner ran the first leg of the 4x100 meter relay and finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles.
Ellen Chisom participated in both the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays.
Kelsey Bryant was on the third place 4x800 meter relay team. She also took third in the 1,600-meter run.
Meredith Grubbs participated in the 4x800 meter relay team.


Golden Boy Promotions, one of the preeiminent US boxing companies, sought a way to extend the live, ringside boxing experience from viewership on PPV and in restaurants and bars to a multimedia mega experience in theaters.
In 2009, Fathom met Golden Boy's challenge of finding new ways to distribute its product and a long-term relationship was formed to bring the best in live world championship boxing events to theaters across the country. Fathom's live boxing events now deliver a communal spectator experience where fans can get lost inside the size, quality and sound of the event to the point where they feel like they're sitting in ringside seats.
Since the broadcast in 2009, Fathom Events and Golden Boy Promotions have worked alongside HBO and Showtime to offer boxing fans an alternative viewing experience for some of the highest profile fights. World-renowned boxer Floyd Mayweather, one of the most dynamic athletes in the world, has gone toe to toe with competitors on the big screen in eight live fight broadcasts, including the final fight of his storied 19-year career, High Stakes: Mayweather vs. Berto in September 2015. Five additional fights have also been presented during this partnership.
As a presenting sponsor, O'Reilly Auto Parts provides significant awareness for the in-theater events with promotions in more than 3,600 store locations nationwide and over $500,000 in radio media buys.
With more than 3 billion PR impressions, these live broadcasts have received coverage in major media outlets from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal and all major boxing outlets. The success of the events is marked by nearly $5 million in revenue and nearly 300,000 attendees for the Mayweather events alone.
"with this being Mayweather's last fight, what better place for those fans to witness this historic bout than up on the big screen..."


text:
Port Chester schools: a breath of fresh air
Sen. Gillibrand commends PCSD, announces funds to create asthma management plans
Standing in the Port Chester Middle School library on Monday, Jan. 11, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announces federal funding for schools to implement asthma management plans. Gillibrand is joined by Port Chester eighth graders Jonathan Cisneros and Mariana Gudino, who both have asthma, Dr. Allen Dozor from Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Superintendent Dr. Edward Kliszus, Jr.
Claire K. Racine|Westmore News
By Claire K. Racine
When touting new federal funding for schools to implement asthma management plans, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand did not set up her podium and microphone in a district that desperately needs the money to develop policies and procedures. Instead, the senator announced the $1.65 billion in federal aid in a district others should seek to emulate: the Port Chester School District.
"I know exactly what it feels like to get that phone call that your son can't breathe," Gillibrand said standing in the Port Chester Middle School library on Monday, Jan. 11.
The senator's son Theo has asthma and she had to go through that specific parent nightmare as recently as last year.
"There was no one at his school that understood what kind of medicine a child needs during an attack," she said.
Theo ended up in the emergency room, something that should not be required in today's day and age as long as schools have a plan in place to handle similar situations, the senator explained. Many school districts, however, do not have the resources to develop those policies, hence the need for federal funding like the money for the School Asthma Management Plan Act set aside in the national education bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the president.
In New York, "nearly one in 11 children suffer from asthma," Gillibrand said, adding that it is more common in low-income communities.
"Fifty years ago asthma was rare. Now it's an epidemic," said Dr. Allen Dozor.
Dozor, who appeared with Gillibrand, serves as the chief of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Sleep Medicine and as the director of the American Lung Association-supported Asthma Clinical Research Center at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. At any given time, there are about a dozen children hospitalized at Maria Fareri for asthma. "When I left there, there were four children in the emergency room gasping for breath," he said.
Since asthma is often triggered in school, teaching staff and school nurses how to handle the situation is essential, the doctor added.
Emulating Port Chester
About eight years ago, the Port Chester schools got the opportunity to put an asthma management plan in place just like the onesGillibrand hopes other districts will implement.
Port Chester receives federal funds for its school-based health centers run by Open Door Family Medical Centers. When the American Lung Association's Hudson Valley Asthma Coalition offered to fund the development of an asthma management plan, the school district and Open Door quickly agreed. They piloted the program at the middle school before expanding throughout the district. Since its implementation in 2008, student absences due to asthma have declined significantly, as have acute care visits.
"Effectively managing student health has helped our students dramatically in improving their school attendance and achievement," said Port Chester Superintendent Dr. Edward Kliszus, Jr. "Working with Open Door medical centers, we have been able to mitigate a significant barrier to student success. Wraparound services that include medical support are key to a true community school model that we have adopted here in Port Chester."
Without Port Chester's initial partnership with Open Door, the asthma plan would never have had a chance in the district. U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who also attended the press conference, was instrumental in establishing the school-based health centers and creating community schools in the district.
"It was a major fight," Lowey said, but "the community service school program is still alive and well."
Students see results
The congresswoman threw her support behind the School Asthma Management Plan Act. "No student should have to worry that an asthma attack will lessen their school days or lower their ability to participate," Lowey said.
"It's really important to have those resources in school," agreed Lindsay Farrell, the president and CEO of Open Door. The difference is evident in the Port Chester School District since they put in place the management plan. "Port Chester has lower hospitalization rates than other very affluent communities," she added.
Eighth grader Jonathan Cisneros often had to visit the hospital for his asthma as a child, but he has not had to go to the emergency room in about five years and credits the assistance Open Door has given him. "I feel almost as if I don't have asthma," he said.
Cisneros' fellow eighth grader Mariana Gudino also has asthma. Even when their asthma doesn't flare up, Open Door still calls them in to the school-based health center once a month to touch base. The nurse has their medicine filled and ready just in case they do ever need it at school. This means they do not have to worry about it, Gudino said.
Other schools can put in place similar programs through the funding in the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. Of the $1.65 billion, about $125 million has been set aside for New York schools.


text:
Fadette
The line of customers at the counter is the usual crowd. Lanky men with burnt skin and greasy shirts. One man orders three chili dogs. Three.
Things move slow in Fadette, Alabama. This rural community is a fleck of ketchup on the map. Trees. Fields. Farmhouses. Masey Ferguson 8600's.
I could die happy in Fadette.
The Fadette Convenience Store sits smack-dab on the main drag, between here and nowhere. It's a Marathon gas station, a country store, and an eatery.
Today, it's hot as twelve hells outside. A boy is shelling peas out front. Inside the store, there are typical things. Beer coolers, beef jerky, Marlboros, Red Man, five-gallon buckets of heavy-equipment hydraulic fluid.
In the back: a one-room restaurant. The kitchen serves food good enough to make grown men blush. Catfish, ribs, smoked chicken, slaw, hush puppies, and Grandmama's signature chili dogs.
I order a little of everything.
I sit next to a woman and her son. Her husband is a tractor mechanic, her son raises show cattle.
"We come here to eat all the time," she says. "Best food around."
It's more than that. This is the best food within
ten thousand country miles. And it's perfect.
"When we started this place," says owner, Ronald Brannon. "My grandmama cooked. She told me, 'You make MY chili the way I show you, people will come from miles just to eat it.' And boy, lemme tell you, they sure do.'"
God rest her soul.
Ronald began this place fifteen years ago. Before that, he worked every job in the book.
"I was a cable installer, a landscaper, a paramedic, a farmer," he says. "I done it all."
The old building sat vacant for years before he bought it.
I meet Don, who works in concrete. Billy, who repairs small engines. Steve, who is still looking for work since he quit truck driving. Cassie, who studies stage-acting in Atlanta and works for local newspapers.
The rural South looks good at six in the evening. The sun is low. The peanut fields are so green they're blue. The grain silos are rusty.
We drive through Slocomb, home of the Tomato Festival. We pass through Tabernacle. I'll bet they don't get too worked up in Tabernacle.
And we arrive in Hartford. They tell me this is quite a town. The small community sits in the middle of the Fruited Plains, and it is quintessential Little America.
Nice-looking homes. Old churches. A boy walks on a sidewalk. His dog follows, off-leash.
The public library is a brick building which also serves as courthouse, community center, historical museum, and a reception hall for wedding parties.
I'm in town tonight to speak. I play guitar in a room that's roughly the size of a baptismal tank. I tell a few stories on a microphone.
I have no earthly idea what I'm doing.
Afterward, I am fortunate enough to shake hands with God's finest people. They are walking-talking masterpieces from Ozark, Wicksburg, Clayhatchee, High Bluff, Bellwood, Earlytown,
Dundee, Malvern, Taylor, Circle City, Slocomb, and Fadette.
I meet a tomato farmer, a cotton farmer, a watermelon farmer, a corn farmer, a goat farmer, an ostrich farmer, a cattle farmer, a tractor mechanic, an twelve-year-old girl who raises show hogs and is strong enough to arm wrestle an adult male.
There is a woman with a walker. She is ninety, with flour-white hair. Martha Green is her name. She has large eyes that sparkle. She eats a cookie and tells me what FSU was like before it turned co-ed.
J.C. shakes my hand. He is a big man with mitts like frying pans, who shares my affection for poundcake.
There is Mandie: five-foot-tall, sweet, gives good hugs, doesn't know strangers. And former Miss Slocomb gives me a full basket of tomatoes.
If I can find a saltshaker, these tomatoes won't last ten…
His father was a good man. The kind who had no extra time between mill-whistles. Thursday night Scout meetings were impossible. He drove long commutes, worked overtime, his hateful boss ran him raw. He barely found time for supper.
The early sixties. An era of thick-rimmed glasses, beehive hair-dos, Andy Griffith episodes, and too much eye-makeup.
The sixth-graders made fun of Greg Ford. Nobody could even tell you why. Maybe because he was a soft-spoken kid.
Maybe because kids will be kids.
Greg lived with his father on the poor side of town. His mother left them long ago. Nobody heard from her again.
Young Greg talked about her sometimes, but he was only repeating stories he'd heard from his father. He couldn't remember her.
He wore a key on a shoestring around his neck. The key to his front door. The other children teased him about that.
Like I said. Kids.
A teacher made him wear the key around his neck after he lost it once. The last thing Greg Ford needed was to wait on a porch-step until dark for his father to get home from the mill.
Anyway, the story here isn't about keys, or childhood bullies. It's about the day Greg found a copy of the Boy Scout Manual on the school
bus. He took it home and read it cover to cover.
He asked his father if he could join the Scouts. His father told Greg it wasn't in the cards.
Thus, Greg carried the Scout Manual with him. He read it often. He learned about campfire safety, water safety, identifying bear tracks, and how to handle the American flag.
"He never put the manual down," one classmate remembers. "Was like his security blanket, he really wanted to be a Scout."
Which broke his teacher's heart. She looked into taking Greg to meetings herself, but she had a busy family life. Meeting times couldn't have…
On my drive home that evening, I rode the beach route. I pulled over and walked the shoreline. The moon and stars were putting on quite a show. I looked for major constellations, but I'm no good with astronomy.
A few years ago—I played music in a rundown bar on my late father's birthday. It was a slow night—which felt a lot like singing to a roomful of house cats.
The crowd fizzled. The bartender was reading Cosmo magazine.
On break, an older man offered to buy me a drink. He was droopy-eyed and long-faced. He told me his son had just ended his own life, days earlier.
He drained his bottle, then made small-talk with a thick tongue. I don't know how our conversation drifted. But conversations involving beer often do.
He said he didn't believe in God. After his son's death he came to believe God was nothing but a cruel joke.
He fell from his barstool. I helped him off the ground.
He started crying. "Jeezus," he said. "You look like my son."
All I could think to do was hug him.
A cab arrived to carry him home. He tipped the band fifty bucks before he left.
On my drive home that evening,
I rode the beach route. I pulled over and walked the shoreline. The moon and stars were putting on quite a show. I looked for major constellations, but I'm no good with astronomy.
So I thought about the man at the bar.
I reasoned that, if the Almighty were indeed real, He might have sent that poor man to that particular joint. And if that were true, maybe I was supposed to say something to him.
Something like: "Buck up, Daddy Warbucks, the sun'll come out tomorrow."
Gag.
God knows, that's the sort of thing everyone said to me after Daddy ended his own life.
Anyway, that night I listened to the Gulf water. The sound was hypnotizing. It made…
...When I started writing this column—if that's what you'd call it—I wanted to meet new people like you. Writing is decidedly more fun than, say, taking knitting classes, or playing rummy with the Junior League.
You're an idiot and I'm sick of your storytime bull $@%+, you don't know half as much about life as you think you do… And it pisses me off when you go off giving advice to people.
You're too young, why don't you just shut up until you've lived a little?
I AM UNFRIENDING YOU
DEAR UNFRIENDING:
Thank you for your words. I sincerely mean that. Even though they weren't exactly the prettiest sentences I've ever read, I'm grateful for them. Sort of.
Because when I started writing this column—if that's what you'd call it—I wanted to meet new people like you. Writing is decidedly more fun than, say, taking knitting classes, or playing rummy with the Junior League.
Anyway, I'd like to go back to seventh grade for a moment. The year my father swallowed the barrel of a hunting rifle. I lost a lot of good things that year.
I grew up rural. I did not attend high school. I worked.
My first job was at age fourteen, hanging drywall.
My peers attended proms and picked out colleges; I smiled and congratulated them from the sidelines.
The word "outsider" comes to mind.
I visited the library a lot. Once per week, Miss Terri, a short white-haired lady, hand-picked stacks of books for me.
She chose subjects like: chemistry, botany, ornithology, American history, agriculture, wood joinery, classic literature, and Western novels.
I read until my eyes went blurry.
When I hit my mid-twenties, I met an older man on a construction jobsite who had his masters degree. He was swinging a hammer just like me.
I clocked off work early and rode to the local community college. I walked inside and told the…
"My job is to help people make peace, or relax when they're scared. I try to tell them it's never too late to forgive. I'm living proof."
He will be seventy-eight this fall. He looks good. He blames his strong health on poor diet and Coca-Cola.
His father was a Pentecostal preacher. As a boy, he grew up underneath a microscope. He was a good kid. He did things all good preacher's kids do. He sang in church, attended Wednesday services, youth groups, Saturday prayers, and marathon Sundays.
Until age eighteen.
"My girlfriend got pregnant," he said. "It was hard. People were so judgmental."
His father kicked him out. The eighteen-year-old gathered his clothes and stayed at a friend's house.
"All happened so fast," he said. "One minute I was a straight-A student, the next second I was homeless."
He and his girlfriend left town. He took a low-paying job. A full two years went by. He called his father and arranged a visit.
He appeared at the church office. He and the preacher spoke for ten minutes before tempers flared.
Old wounds ran deep.
He had a tantrum. He kicked
a hole in his father's office door, and for almost two decades he and his father had nothing to do with each other. Nothing.
On his forty-sixth birthday, his mother called. It was bad news. His father was sick, they expected him to pass at any moment.
He made an all-night drive to a familiar town. He pulled his car into a familiar driveway. He walked through a familiar front door, into a home he still knew by heart.
"The house was smaller than I remembered," he said.
His father sat in a recliner. They held one another. They cried. Apologies came easy.
Father and son stayed awake half the night, sipping coffee, telling stories. They laughed. They shed tears enough to fill gallon jugs. One…
I don't know who you are or what you're going through today. But I know life is hard. Damn hard. I know that it breaks you, then mails you a bill.
Somewhere outside Montgomery, Alabama—a gas station. A young girl stands in line. She has long woven hair. In her hands: a soda bottle and a bag of chips.
In front of her is an older gentleman. He has weathered skin, ratty clothes, and work boots.
He tells the cashier he wants twenty-dollars worth of gas. He hands his cash over.
"This ain't twenty," says the cashier. "It's only fourteen bucks."
The girl steps forward. "Here," she says, laying a five on the counter.
The man tells the girl he can't accept money from a little kid.
The girl ignores him.
The cashier rings him up, the girl returns her soda and chips to the shelf. Before the girl leaves, she high fives the man.
He smiles and almost ruptures a cheek.
"God bless you," he says.
Alpharetta, Georgia—his wife cheated on him and ended up pregnant. She left him and moved in with her lover.
Her lover turned out to be a piece of work—he ditched her. She had her baby alone.
A few hours after she gave birth, the girl called her parents. They
refused her—for religious reasons. A few of her friends did the same.
So, she called her ex-husband. He answered his phone. She expected him to hang up. He didn't.
In fact, before they finished talking, he had already piled into his car and pointed it toward the hospital.
He held her new baby, he kissed it. And years later, that kid still calls him "Daddy."
Mobile, Alabama—her father committed suicide when she was sixteen. She had three brothers, and a mother who was mentally ill.
And a mortgage.
She got a job to support the family. She worked long hours, then came home to cook suppers. She was a child-mother.
Long after the girl's brothers left home, she cared for her elderly mother until she died. The girl never married.
She made it to eighty.…


North Face athlete Jez Bragg has been competing in Ultras for seven years with an enviable record of success despite an unusual background in rugby! A winning performance in his first ever event was followed by three more wins and a course record in his first season. He has continued to build on this with significant victories each year culminating in the 2010 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. This epic race comprised of a start in horrendous conditions, a cancellation and a restart on a shortened course. All very challenging for the competitors and some notable contenders fell by the wayside as Jez ran away to the biggest win of his career. (The ladies race was won by fellow North Face athlete Lizzy Hawker for her 3rd UTMB win). Illness put paid to Jez's chances in 2011 but watch this space for the 2012 race...2.5 hours until 2300 runners set out from Chamonix.


text:
magneticJuggler
===============


text:
Q: What does the month "MA" stand for? I have a box of chocolates that has a best before date of: "2015 MA 12".
What does "MA" stand for?
May? Or March? Which one?

A: A Google search for "MA March or May" returns several results stating that in two-letter abbreviations for best before dates, MR stands for March and MA stands for May.
From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
The bilingual symbols for the months in the durable life date are as follows [B.01.007(5), FDR]:
JA for JANUARY
FE for FEBRUARY
MR for MARCH
AL for APRIL
MA for MAY
JN for JUNE
JL for JULY
AU for AUGUST
SE for SEPTEMBER
OC for OCTOBER
NO for NOVEMBER
DE for DECEMBER

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
The Financial Mail
"Architecture in South Africa is not often celebrated. As a society we appear to prefer our buildings much like our cars - quick, bling, imported and energy inefficient. With rapidly urbanising centres, increasing peripheral sprawl, and a growing low-cost housing backlog, the skilled urban visionary is often excluded, misunderstood and squeezed into narrow fee margins, leaving little room for serious creative thought. The truth of the matter is that a relationship between the architect and the general public doesn't exist. Neither speaks the same language nor understands why the other "doesn't just do what I tell him". The result of this disjuncture is a complete lack of engagement in any greater architectural conversation by the public, and a mediocre building from the architect – uninspired and content.
The struggling South African architectural context is of no real surprise - architecture has seldom functioned as a key component of South Africa's cultural identity and debate. The very idea of engaging an architect on a project of any scale is often questioned. After all, the expensive professional merely produces a set of drawings, while whinging about the client's lack of conceptual comprehension. The dreary building goes up and our urban centres become further scarred, fragmented and unfriendly - the disengaged public becoming further disillusioned and disconnected.
The architect is also at fault here. Self criticism is the first step in the production of a great building – every architect should question their decisions, assessing the design's urban relevance, pedestrian friendliness, materiality, social, environmental and ecological impact among other important factors. The architect cannot be content with mere mediocrity, for the city becomes their canvas. The backdrops to our lives should be determined only by the most astute, engaged brains. The design, problem solving abilities, system and management skills, inherent in a well rounded architect, are intrinsic to a successful metropolis, bustling with activity, investment and leisure.
A number of architects and academics, fed up with the fragile state of the profession, and the significant public disconnect, have spoken and published widely on their concerns. One such individual is the architect Sarah Calburn, who often vociferously objects to the laissez faire attitudes of the apathetic practitioner and in 2009 set up masterclasses by top architects to enhance the skills and refresh the tired minds of willing professionals.
Calburn, an electric, indomitable and talented architect was one of the initial voices calling for a greater debate on South African architecture - essentially a forum to reinvigorate the conversation, re-inspire architects and to further engage the South African context with international precedent and thinking, while maintaining a persistent eye to the local. Together with other leading architectural figures and the South African Institute for Architects, Calburn was involved in the initial conceptualisation of a large scale architectural festival, a celebration of architecture, design and theory and its forms, all engaged and rooted in the city - much like the Rotterdam, São Paulo and Venice Biennales. The event was branded Architecture.ZA 2010 (AZA).
Newtown was chosen as the greater setting for the week-long event. An architectural festival in Johannesburg's cultural capital would finally fuse architecture into the domain of public thinking often dominated by music, art, dance and literature.
The venue – in true urban architectural style, was the colossal, unused Potato Shed directly behind Museum Africa. The decaying steel structure, uneven concrete floor and patchwork roof, described by festival organiser Eben Koen as "our beautiful monster", felt appropriately inner-city and appropriately Johannesburg – immense, rough, yet proudly defiant.
Within hours of the first event opening – a debate on Housing in South Africa headed by Kieno Kammies, large drapes were being hung to mask off the – perhaps too urban – aspects of the sheds, while a strong, seasonal wind howled through the exhibition stands recoating all in a ubiquitous dust. The Boekehuis bookstand, inspired by the city skyline and designed by architect Alex Opper, was alive with staff wiping down glossy hardcovers, while other exhibitors escaped the elements in preparation for the anticipated barrage of architects and students at the formal opening the following morning.
The conference component of the Festival got off to a suitably encouraging start with revered, yet locally unknown Tenerife based architect Fernando Menis. With an island attitude, dark hair and Spanish lisp he excited the audience with his curvaceous concrete forms – and an ingenious floating swimming pool designed with Berlin artist Susanne Lorenz for the Spree river.
The real draw card of the first talks was however Lindsay Bremner. A professor of architecture, and previously the chair of architecture at Temple University's School of Architecture, and the Wits School of Architecture and Planning before that, Bremner is revered by fellow architects and academics. An accomplished author, Bremner maintains a keen eye on Johannesburg, capturing its idiosyncrasies, moods and changing identities in her numerous books and papers, the most notable including Johannesburg: One City Colliding Worlds (STE Publishers 2004), and most recently, Writing the City Into Being, Essays on Johannesburg 1998-2008 (Fourthwall Books 2010).
Bremner's latest research and the topic of her talk was the Indian Ocean. An architect researching an ocean, you might ask? Bremner was quick to explain how the study and understanding of information flows, networks, geopolitics, spatial contestation, and economic migration, particularly between cities on the Indian Ocean was intrinsically architectural. Bremner took the audience on an extremely insightful journey, investigating the cities, economies and scales of trade of this massive global region. She, in a decidedly Murder She Wrote investigative determination decoded the Bangladeshi ship scrapping beaches, and investigated the geopolitical stresses placed on an island, between India and Bangladesh, which has peculiarly since disappeared. The research was sharp and relevant.
The conference continued with key note addresses from the renowned Iranian born, French architect Nasrine Seraji, who introduced us to a reactionary attitude in architecture. Then South African born, Wits undergraduate and Rotterdam based architect Duzan Doepel presented his work centred on sustainable structures and entire networks that integrate buildings into an ecology of systems. New York based architectural academic superstar, Michael Sorkin wowed the audience with future visions for integrated, sustainable and planted cities. And the conference concluded with a slick presentation from the Spanish architecture power duo, Antón García-Abril and Débora Mesa from Ensamble Studio.
A series of masterclasses, headed by a number of key speakers followed the main conference. Architects and students were able to question their understanding of Johannesburg through a varied number of lenses. Duzan Doepel and Lindsay Bremner hosted a masterclass which interrogated the vast southern mining belt of Johannesburg along Main Reef Road. The area was divided into portions and each student was asked to design an ecologically sound, future city in their strip responding to the current needs and complexities of the city. Thought provoking designs included a city of salt, a city based on high pressure water stored in disused mineshafts, a city-scale greenhouse for food production and a historical city, where old mineshafts form the backbone to large, complex communities. The M2 freeway, crossing through all the proposed cities became a major transport spine and a long, raised linear park. The final work was exhibited at Main Street Life in downtown Johannesburg, the new residential/mixed use partner of the successful Arts on Main development and urban regeneration scheme.
The festival also celebrated architecture in many other forms too. A beguiling event, aptly named "Peepdance" had architects swirling around a set of large screens punctured by small portholes eager to catch a glimpse of the action inside, right in the middle of Mary Fitzgerald Square. Each screen masked a performer, dancing a choreographed piece. The peculiar format of the show allowed the audience to get up close to the performer, while peering at their movements through a peephole, Talia Freed, of the Israel based Tami Dance Company and choreographer of the piece described it as a comment on a society of social "peepers" - think who, while spying on each other are under the surveillance of the omnipresent security camera.
AZA was a celebration of a South African, and particularly Johannesburg, urban culture. An eclectic, vibrant, gritty, energised culture of raw attitude, sophisticated ingenuity and hard-edged creativity. This was brought home at the closing party, aptly named Jozi Night, where an array of urban performers (Sappeurs, Oswenkas, Smarteez) strutted their fashions beside possibly our most impressive urban space, the vast graffiti'ed cathedral of pillars under the M1 highway. A World Class African City? How banal to brand a city as diverse and energised as Johannesburg as a single whole.
This festival of architecture firmly placed architectural theory and debate squarely in the context of South African culture. Hopefully an important catalyst, architects and the involved public have a strong, inspired point of reference in designing our futures. AZA is a milestone - the architectural fraternity came together and organised an event on a significant scale, and common purpose. Long may it continue, motivate and generate a serious, engaged and representative architectural and cultural dialogue."


text:
Delhi Riots: JNU Scholar Sharjeel Imam Sent To 4-Day Police Custody
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar Sharjeel Imam to four-day police custody in connection with the February Delhi riots case. On Tuesday, the Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested Imam in connection with the riots under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He was brought back to the […]
Published: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Sharjeel-Imam
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar Sharjeel Imam to four-day police custody in connection with the February Delhi riots case.
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested Imam in connection with the riots under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He was brought back to the capital from Assam two days earlier on a production warrant.
The Delhi Police had moved an application for five-day remand of Imam.
Additional Session Judge Amitabh Rawat allowed an application moved by Imam's counsel for two legal interviews with him in a period of five days, away from the hearing range of police officials.
During the court proceedings, Imam's lawyer Surbhi Dhar opposed the five-day custody sought and requested court to grant it for a shorter time.
"The accused was in judicial custody for one month before the Delhi riots. Accordingly, there is limited information which can be sought from him; so five days in custody is not required."
Imam had come into the limelight for his speech in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens on December 13 last year and subsequently on January 16 at the Aligarh Muslim University, where he allegedly threatened to "cut off" Assam and the rest of the northeast from the country.
The Delhi Police had on July 25 filed a charge sheet against Imam in connection with a case related to his alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against the CAA at several places.
The 600-page charge sheet was filed under Sections 124A (sedition), 153(A) (promoting enmity), 153 (assertion prejudicial to national integration) (promoting enmity, hatred between different communities, 505 (spreading rumours) of the IPC and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in Delhi's Patiala House court.
JNU Scholar Sharjeel Imam Arrested For Delhi Riots
Delhi Riots: Ex-AAP Leader Tahir Hussain Confesses Of Being Mastermind
Sharjeel Imam
UAPA