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Can climate catastrophe be stopped?
by Brian Durrans
As socialists, we are committed to saving the planet from environmental disaster. Humanity has 11 years in which to do that: just over a decade to start getting global warming under control. Would socialism make the job easier? Undoubtedly. But since capitalism is unlikely to be eradicated on that timescale, there is no alternative for socialists but to work within it while trying to gather support for a socialist alternative. Could people mobilised across the country for, and ideally in, a programme of sustainable reconstruction be won for socialist values and help win or consolidate working class power? Certainly, if it were done right and the proper arguments made.
IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING
From the late 1940s to the early 1990s, frustrating capitalism's inherent drive to war by blocking a nuclear holocaust created opportunities for socialist advance, even if, in the advanced capitalist countries, the left was too divided to take them. But, aside from losing the socialist bloc that once kept imperialism in check, there are two very important differences between the Cold War and now. First, if a nuclear holocaust was and still is a potential catastrophe waiting to happen, global warming, according to the great consensus of scientific opinion, is a catastrophe already underway, which only swift, radical and practicable measures can arrest or reverse. Second, since the end of the Cold War millions of people have now experienced the warmongering, austerity and polarisation of neoliberalism and, at least in the UK and to some degree in the US, there are welcome signs of greater unity, confidence and engagement on the centre-left.
In October 2018, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN's highest-level body for assessing the science related to climate change, presented evidence justifying a new target for mitigating the rise of ground-temperature from 2⁰ to 1.5⁰C above pre-industrial levels and revised its policy recommendations accordingly. (1) The difference of 0.5⁰C between the previous target and the new one represents a huge challenge but with solid justification. It represents, for example, the difference between retaining at least some coral reefs and losing them all; or between moderate and substantial migrations of species.
IPCC recommendations already take account of practicability, so for governments or other interested parties to ignore them or try to amend them to make implementation easier, affronts both reason and humanity. Whatever the target, for every country, sector of the economy, transnational corporation or private company that fails to meet that target in its own operations, others will need to do even more to compensate if the global goal is to be met. The moral argument is unassailable, and socialists must be to the fore in making it.
There is no guarantee, however, that most of the main players (nation-states, corporations) will willingly or even unwillingly do what is needed, however obviously it is in their own short- or longer-term interests. Some fractions of the ruling class in the US or Brazil (for example) appear indifferent to the longer-term consequences of withdrawal from climate-change consultation (Trump) or of accelerating the destruction of the Amazonian rainforest (Bolsonaro). We are encouraged to focus on individual or elite transgressions rather than on the unsustainable global neoliberalism they are locked into. Only powerful movements capable of deploying both at local and international levels, and very soon, might hope to bring neoliberalism to heel.
One grassroots option is to push the issue to the top of the agenda in any organisation by treating climate change as an emergency requiring special powers at the highest level – an explicit recognition that it is too serious for 'business as usual'. (2) The downside of merely bandying-about terms like 'emergency' is that the declaration ends up as an alternative, rather than a prompt, to what needs doing. Once such a declaration is made, which itself should involve mobilising opinion, those responsible must be held to account for acting on it.
Another option is to apply pressure wherever votes can be cast, in debates, for motions, in elections, so that people who are concerned about this set of issues can make a difference, whether in trade unions, co-ops, political parties, community groups, etc. One person might, for example, care most about air pollution, another about food quality, a third about housing or jobs. Provided campaigning is to the fore, the crisis encourages people to widen their knowledge of less familiar aspects of the global problem, grasp the logic of short-term profiteering and public austerity which connects them all together, and quickly appreciate why collective action is better than private moaning. No-one learns faster than an activist.
The best available campaigning tool for tackling the climate emergency is the Green New Deal, which links policies together so they can be easily understood. Labour is pledged to ensure all its manifesto commitments meet the climate change mitigation targets it would work towards in government and aims for more ambitious outcomes wherever practicable. For example, it is now looking to decarbonise the power sector by the early 2030s, nearly two decades sooner than the previous target date of 2050.
How this will be done, how our homes and other buildings will be heated and sustainable and carbon-neutral transport systems put in place are being planned in detail by specialists in the shadow environment and climate change team, working closely with expert advisors inside and outside the Labour Movement. That much might be expected, but lessons are also being learned from elsewhere, including the US where the Green New Deal has quickly turned into a mainstream issue for debate and activism, (3) and France, where the Gilets Jaunes are a reminder that the cost of shifting from fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives cannot be borne by those least able to afford it. Importantly, the working class and others hard-hit by neoliberalism are vital allies in the fight for a green economy, provided the government is on their side.
Labour's Green New Deal is (optimistically) one general election away from becoming government policy, an ambition for other countries to share. It joins the party's domestic strategy with addressing global climate justice by fixing a broken economy for sustainable jobs, fairness, security and a shared sense of purpose: for the many, not the few, across the world and yet unborn.
In order to meet its deadline, neither the US nor the UK version of the Green New Deal can be a socialist programme. It is nonetheless an implicit rejection of a politics of greed and indifference, and if it can muster the support it deserves, above all from the working class and its allies, who knows where it might point us? But first, we have a planet to save.
https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf.
https://labourlist.org/2019/05/why-labour-has-pushed-the-government-to-declare-a-climate-emergency/
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/691997301/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-releases-green-new-deal-outline?t=1562232470653.


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Via Bradley, I read this article in Inside Higher Ed yesterday about a bit of a clash between the teaching assistants and the faculty in the English Department of Iowa State. Here's the short version--grad students make a video mocking, satirically, the amount of work they have to do as grad students, along with the quality of their students' work. Nothing particularly original in the concept, and as the article points out, probably the sort of thing that pops up in a grad student review at a faculty holiday party. (Do those sorts of things still go on? I finished grad school 5 years ago and we didn't have one of them.)
But as with seemingly everything else these days, this was done on video and wound up on YouTube, and thus the controversy, because a marketing official noticed, and s/he alerted the Arts and Sciences Dean's office who notified the Chair of the department. Here's where being moderate starts to get challenging.
The Department Chair, along with some of the senior faculty, called in the director of the film and "asked" him to take it down. Why do I use the scare quotes? Because there's no question that this was more than a simple request. There's no way it could be less than a demand. The power differential is too great.
When you're a TA, whether at the Masters or the PhD level, you have to do what your professors want you to do, short of sexual harassment. That's the nature of the relationship. You need them to sign off on theses or dissertations. You need them to write letters of recommendation for jobs, or for other programs if you're planning on continuing your work. You may need them to agree to do independent study with you. In short, it is nearly impossible to defy the people who hold your future in their hands, and while in a perfect world, senior faculty would all be eminently reasonable, fair-minded, liberal people, the sad truth is that they're pretty much a cross-section of humanity, which means there's some petty, jealous, power-hungry types in there as well. Which is not to pass judgment on the faculty at Iowa State--I don't know them, and all I have to go on is this article--but let's not pretend that this request was anything less than a demand.
However, I think that the demand was a reasonable one. I didn't, and then I talked to Amy about this story, which is always a wise thing to do before I blog, and she pointed out that, fair or not, the public reaction to the idea that universities use graduate students as teachers is a negative one. Parents have, in the past, raised holy hell about the money they spend or the debt they incur going to programs where their students are not taught by regular faculty, and they might not grasp the satire in moments like this:
In a few clips, the grad students pass the bounds of what some would consider good taste, with one scene showing a TA lifting an old typewriter as if to smash it down on a student, or another in which a TA says that his goal when evaluating a paper is to ask: "What can I write that will drive this kid to suicide?"
It's no great surprise to me that the initial complaint came from the marketing department of the university--it's their job to make the school seem as positive as possible, and their senses of humor don't tend toward the edgy, in my experience. And I think the Department Chair recognized the public relations mess this could be and felt impelled to act.
And so here we are--a Chair brings inordinate power to bear on a grad student, and there's a backlash. The student who made the video wouldn't be interviewed for the piece--I don't blame him. He probably figures he's already jeopardized his future by making the video in the first place. Would it have been better for the Chair to handle it one-on-one, explaining the public relations issues? I think so, but I have no way of knowing how that student would react--maybe the Chair felt the show of force was required to get the point across.
However, I do know this--the Chair tried a little too hard to justify his actions:
"The video denigrated students who the TA's are entrusted to teach," he said. "These attempts at satire are not funny or instructive," he said, adding that they were "offensive" and "undermine the credibility of instruction."
Further, he added that the references to violence were cause for concern. "In a post-Virginia Tech world, in my minds that's very disturbing." He also noted the line about suicide.
The first point, I might be convinced about--it's a stretch, but I might buy it. But the second? Invoking Virginia Tech? No--that's offensive. That's the same sort of argument used by Republicans who, in 2002, morphed Max Cleland into Osama Bin Laden in ads for Saxby Chambliss in Georgia. That's fear-mongering, plain and simple. One of the other members of the faculty used a different example:
As for concerns that the videos might somehow be too violent or offensive to students in the wake of Virginia Tech, [Neal] Bowers said this argument amounts to "bringing the Patriot Act mentality to Iowa State" and he joked — noting that he was engaged in satire — that the university probably wanted to ship the offending graduate students to Guantanamo.
On a more serious note, he said that Iowa State was sending a terrible message. Whether university officials like a video (or article) or not, or find it funny or not, it's not the role of a public university to try to keep people from seeing a satire, he said.
And that's true. There should always be a tension between the administration of a university, who wants to sell the university and make everything as positive as possible, and the faculty, who should be pushing their students to explore and challenge and debate conventional wisdom, and Department Chairs are often caught in the middle of that tension. I don't envy them their jobs.
But I think there is room for a middle course here. It's easy to forget, when you're in a position of power, what it means to be powerless, so practice some empathy. In this case, maybe the one-on-one with the student would have allowed both sides to see into the mind of the other, and then if that hadn't worked, the Chair could have stepped up the pressure a bit. As it stands, the Chair comes off as a closed-minded censor who's toadying up to the administration, and the student as someone who caved rather than fighting for his right to free speech. And Iowa State looks like a humorless institution for complaining in the first place. No winners.
Labels: Iowa State University, power differentials, satire

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Nigel TAYLOR
Boohoo ups ethical stance, Leveson to head its 'Agenda for Change' programme
Boohoo's well-publicised bid to clean up its ethical act has intensified with the appointment of a serious heavyweight to oversee its 'Agenda for Change' programme, announced in September.
The fast-fashion online retailer has appointed former judge Sir Brian Leveson to "provide independent oversight" of the programme in order to "deliver long-lasting and meaningful change to the group's supply chain and its business practices".
Meanwhile, the group has also appointed accounting specialist KPMG to assist with the programme, "bringing additional resource, expertise and independence to the process".
Boohoo's in-depth review follows allegations that one of its UK suppliers was paying workers less than the minimum wage. It was also alleged the supplier failed to protect workers against Covid-19.
Sir Brian's appointment will give Boohoo's bid to shine a bright light on its ethical practices some credence. He is best known for chairing the public probe into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press in 2011/12, prompted by the News of the World phone-hacking affair.
Sir Brian will report directly to the board and his reports will be published, "thereby bringing both transparency and further independence to the process".
He has also appointed both legal, and independent enquiry and enforcement specialists "to supplement the Agenda for Change programme to ensure that everyone associated with the group's supply chain is treated fully in accordance with the law and the principles of ethical trading".
Meanwhile, KPMG will work with the group's "growing responsible sourcing and compliance team", and existing supply chain auditors Bureau Veritas and Verisio, Boohoo said.
Sir Brian said: "Boohoo has recognised that it must institute and embed change so that everyone involved in the group's supply chain is treated fully in accordance with the law and the principles of ethical trading.
"I look forward to providing independent oversight of the Agenda for Change programme and to working with the Boohoo team, KPMG and the other independent experts to achieve this, while, at the same time, providing publicly available progress reports".
Group executive chairman Mahmud Kamani added: "I am encouraged by the progress that has been made to date by our teams since setting out our Agenda for Change programme in September.
Roland Armbruster is the new managing director of Manor


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Why make a documentary about nicotine?
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Where/when will the documentary be released?
The documentary will be premiere in Fall 2020 (delayed because of COVID-19 outbreak) and will be released on an accessible platform in the following months.
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Home Solutions Carbon Pricing 5 Reasons A Climate Tax Is Not Enough
5 Reasons A Climate Tax Is Not Enough
The call for a price on carbon as the key policy driver for reducing our carbon footprint is heard far and wide. My co-editor at Below2°C and I actually met several years ago while lobbying the federal government for a carbon fee and dividend as proposed by Citizens Climate Lobby. However, it's time for sober second thought on the issue of pricing carbon. A Climate Tax is simply not enough.
Image: Renfrew Community Arena, text added by Below2°C
Liberal Carbon Tax Plan A Mixed Blessing
While there was a fat chance of achieving a carbon tax or fee under the Harper regime, the Liberals actually did act on the carbon tax issue. But it's been a bit of a mixed blessing.
Although the Liberal carbon tax will price carbon and send an important signal, the Liberal plan doesn't start until 2018, it starts at only $10/tonne of carbon dioxide, and only increases to $50/tonne by 2022.
Lets look at it's potential impact on transportation, given it's one of the big three for carbon reduction. A $50 a tonne tax is equivalent to an additional 11.63 cents per litre of gasoline. How strong a signal that sends motorists to drive less or buy more efficient vehicles is up for debate — it will take 5 years to ramp up to the 11.63 cents and it's about the amount the oil industry shamelessly increases gas prices right now before many a Canadian summer weekend.
In 1995, the Liberal government implemented an excise tax of 10 cents per litre on gasoline and collects about $5 billion per year in excise taxes on gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. The Liberals could have increased the excise tax on gasoline by an additional 10 cents per litre in 2016 (shortly after gas prices at the pump had been much higher, so minimal sticker shock) and had equivalent impact as the 2022 carbon price, with the additional funds available to jump start transition to a low-carbon future years earlier.
The implementation of the carbon tax has also been used as a sort of implied Liberal rationale or license for then approving new fossil fuel infrastructure – Line 9 and the Kinder Morgan pipelines and the Lulu Island LNG plant. This is happening at a time when we already have enough fossil fuel infrastructure in place to take us past 2 degrees Celsius of warming. As Oil Change International points out, when you're in a hole, stop digging.
A Climate Tax Is Not Enough
In June, 2016 Ontario's 5-Year Climate Change Action Plan was announced. The Globe and Mail responded with an editorial entitled Ontario is fighting climate change the wrong way. The editorial questioned why the Ontario government didn't just stop at a carbon tax rather than "dream up what threatens to become a megaproject of micromanagement."
Brendan Haley, a PhD candidate at Carleton University's School of Public Policy and Administration and a member of the Broadbent Institute (a Canadian think tank) wrote a concise and insightful response to the Globe and Mail editorial.
In turn, David Roberts wrote a piece entitled "5 reasons there's more to climate policy than a price on carbon", liberally quoting from Haley's response.
Roberts made the following five points:
1) Carbon pricing is politically constrained
Carbon pricing is politically constrained. "Climate policy does not take place in an economics graduate seminar; it takes place in a real world of powerful incumbents and conflicting interests," says Roberts.
Smart policy aims not just to reduce carbon but to build constituencies for future policy. "Carbon pricing is particularly bad at creating supportive political coalitions because the benefits are widely diffused across the population, while the powerful groups that bear costs mobilize against the policy," says Haley.
2) Getting the cheapest carbon reductions first is not necessarily the best long-term strategy
For example, Ontario's displacement of coal with natural gas for electricity generation was low hanging fruit with important positive health and carbon impacts. But to meet our long-term carbon reduction goals, we also have to get off natural gas.
3) Unpriced carbon emissions are not the only barrier to clean technology
Hayley suggests that "Pricing strategies are also insufficient because even cost competitive low-carbon technologies are prevented from making their full contribution because of structural barriers such as regulatory rules, legacy infrastructures, and undeveloped complementary technologies (e.g. renewables require grids that are flexible, with rules that facilitate interconnection)." (David Roberts)
4) Minimal government ≠ maximal choice
Government needs to support the development of low-carbon infrastructure; if low-carbon infrastructure does not exist, low-carbon choices may not be available no matter what the price of carbon.
5) Market mechanisms are good servants but poor masters
Roberts argues that "The transition to a low-carbon economy is going to have profound implications for our cultures, economies, institutions, tools, and day-to-day lives. What sort of society do we want? What kinds of technological and governance systems do we want? How do we want to live? These questions involve core concerns (equity, fairness, happiness) that are often absent from, or simply orthogonal to, market transactions."
Let's Dispel the Myth of the Market Alone
I leave you with Brendan Haley's conclusion: "The sooner we dispel ourselves from the myth that the market alone will solve the climate change problem, the sooner we can start to ensure more technology and sector specific policy approaches are implemented effectively and democratically."
The sooner we dispel ourselves from the myth that the market alone will solve the climate change problem, the sooner we can start to ensure more technology and sector specific policy approaches are implemented effectively and democratically.
Climate Plan
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Ken Johnson @Below2C_
This Is A Very Good Deal For The Climate
Citizens Need To Take the Jump On Climate
Colette November 3, 2017 At 5:56 am
This is a timely piece Ken. While the fledgling support for carbon taxing and greener energy production is admirable in theory, it is at best 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.'
Even if Canada were to become the leader in world movement to sorting out the heating climate, it is likely too little, too late. Latest reports in from a variety of studies in the last six months indicate a much higher than 2°C warming in only a few years…much less to time than previously thought.
https://www.popsci.com/three-years-to-act-on-climate-change
This would take a strong worldwide concerted effort to abandon fossil fuels now….not 40 to 50 years down the road (which is where most governments have reluctantly set their targets toward).
Quite honestly, we might win a few battles…but we have already lost the war!


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Q: How can I change MenuItem's title programatically inside NavigationView? I successfully implemented in my app a "side menu" with NavigationView and creating a custom ActionBar, following the instructions within this tutorial. It looks like this:

That's great, it works... it opens by "hamburger" button in ActionBar and by sliding finger left to right; I can attach functionality to those options. But, I'd like to change options title dinamically, by Java. About that, I found some other StackOverflow question and tried implementing the solution in the answer. The result was... unexpected, but curious:
I override onPrepareOptionsMenu in MainActivity:
@Override
public boolean onPrepareOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    menu.clear();
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main_menu, menu);
    MenuItem option3 = menu.findItem(R.id.nav_option3);
    option3.setTitle("Option3 -> " + option3_cnt + " elements");
    MenuItem option4 = menu.findItem(R.id.nav_option4);
    option4.setTitle("Option4 -> " + option4_cnt + " elements");

    return super.onPrepareOptionsMenu(menu);
}

What this actually did, was creating a copy of the NavigationView menu, but in a "three-dot button" at the right side of ActionBar (that button wasn't there before implementing onPrepareOptionsMenu, BTW). And yes, it shows the counters; but the idea was doing exactly that thing, but with the "side menu" of the NavigationView, instead of that old-fashioned "options menu". How can I achieve that?
By the way, MenuItems have a XML structure like this within main_menu.xml:
<item
    android:id="@+id/nav_option3"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher_foreground"
    android:title="Option3" />
<item
    android:id="@+id/nav_option4"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher_foreground"
    android:title="Option4" />

I'd like, perhaps, to add more elements to the MenuItems themselves; so I could place the counter in some kind of "custom layout" attached to the MenuItem or something like that... but for now, I conform with attaching the count to the title itself.

A: You can just get the menu from NavigationView & do the findItem to get access to MenuItem which then you can use to setTitle.
Example:
    // your navigationView
    NavigationView navigationView = findViewById(R.id.navigation_view);

    // item you want to change, choose your id here
    MenuItem menuItem = navigationView.getMenu().findItem(R.id.nav_gallery);
    menuItem.setTitle("Changed at runtime");

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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They had created a classic Winter Wonderland theme for their special day, taking inspiration for the season with a delicate colour palette of crisp white and silver. We love the attention to detail, from the Christmas Carol table names to the fir come place names, Christmas arrived early here at The Nottinghamshire!


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Q: Determine the general solution of the differential equation $y''+2y'+5y=17 \sin(2x)+x^2$ As a starter: the auxiliary equation is given by $t^2+2t+5=0$ so $t=-1-2i$, $t=-1+2i$, so you can use this to determine the complementary function.
The next step is determining the particular integral. How would you approach this?

A: We need to distinguish between private and homogeneous responses to the differential equation. The homogeneous answer can be found solving below algebraic equation:$$\lambda^2+2\lambda+5=0$$$$\to \lambda=-1\pm 2i$$ which gives us the following answer:$$y_h=e^{-t}(A\cos2t+B\sin2t)$$
The private answer has been obtained from response of the equation to two functions $x^2$ and $17\sin2t$. The response due to $x^2$ must be to the form $ax^2+bx+c$ that by substituting gives us:
$$a=1 \\ b=-\frac{4}{5} \\ c=-\frac{2}{25}$$ and the response due to $17\sin 2x$ must be of form $d\sin2x+e\cos2x$ which similarly gives us:
$$d=1 \\ e=-4$$
Then by summing both private and homogeneous responses we conclude that:
$$y_g=y_h+y_p=e^{-t}(A\cos2t+B\sin2t)+x^2-\frac{4}{5}x+\frac{2}{25}+\sin2x-4\cos 2x$$

A: Well, you already have the solution to the homogeneous associate equation:
$$y_h=c_1e^{-t}\cos 2t+c_2e^{-1}\sin2t$$
and now find by cases a particular solution to each of the following diff. eq.'s:
$$(I)\;\;\;y''+2y'+5y=17\sin2x\implies y(t)=A\sin2x+B\cos2x\implies$$
$$\begin{cases}y'=2A\cos2x-2B\sin2x\\{}\\y''=-4A\sin2x-4B\cos2x\end{cases}$$
so
$$y''+2y'+5y=-4A\sin2x-4B\cos2x+4A\cos2x-4B\sin2x+5A\sin2x+5B\cos2x$$
$$\implies (A-4B)\sin2x+(B+4A)\cos2x=17\sin2x\implies\begin{cases}A-4B=17\\{}\\4A+B=0\end{cases}\implies$$
$$17A=17\implies A=1\;,\;\;B=-4\implies y_{P_1}=\sin2x-4\cos2x$$
and now the dif. eq.:
$$(II)\;\;\;y''+2y'+5y=x^2\implies y(t)=ax^2+bx+c\implies\begin{cases}y'=2ax+b\\{}\\y''=2a\end{cases}\implies$$
$$y''+2y'+5y=2a+4ax+2b+5ax^2+5bx+5c\stackrel?=x^2\implies$$
$$5ax^2+(4a+5b)x+(2a+2b+5c)=x^2\implies\begin{cases}5a=1\implies a=\frac15\\{}\\4a+5b=0\implies5b=-\frac45\implies b=-\frac4{25}\\{}\\2a+2b+5c=0\implies5c=-\frac25+\frac5{25}=-\frac15\implies c=-\frac1{25}\end{cases}$$
and from here
$$y_{p_2}=\frac1{25}\left(5x^2-4x-1\right)$$
Finally, check that $\;y_{p_1}+y_{p_2}\;$ is a particular solution to the dif. eq. (the actual one, meaning: not the homogeneous case!)
And at the end you get the general solution $\;y_h+y_{p_1}+y_{p_2}\;$
Disclaimer: Check the above carefully; sign and/or other little mistakes could have sneaked. I'm not too careful with these annoying things...but students most be!). Anyway, the general way to the solution you have it above.


The model completion projects aim to estimate an entire anatomical structure when only partial knowledge is available. The model completion projects aim to estimate an entire anatomical structure when only partial knowledge is available.
Leave-one-out analysis has shown that skull and mandible surfaces may be extrapolated to within 1.5 mm (RMS surface distance) when over 50% of the structure is unknown. For the orthopedic cases, leave-one-out analysis shows that an entire pelvis surface may be estimated to within 2.5 mm (RMS surface distance) when the partial CT consists of only the acetabular joint region and the superior 5% of the iliac crest. Leave-one-out analysis has shown that skull and mandible surfaces may be extrapolated to within 1.5 mm (RMS surface distance) when over 50% of the structure is unknown. For the orthopedic cases, leave-one-out analysis shows that an entire pelvis surface may be estimated to within 2.5 mm (RMS surface distance) when the partial CT consists of only the acetabular joint region and the superior 5% of the iliac crest.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Would you spend a Shabbos morning with a cleaning lady?
If you feel like answering that question at all (and who could blame you if you didn't?) I suppose you would say it depends on the cleaning lady. But then you might not be acquainted with the cleaning ladies at my Yeshiva. None of them was what you'd call ordinary, and some of them could have given shi'urim in their spare time. Once one of them did give me a shi'ur (in Novi), and it was pretty good too. Maybe she should have been mopping up the hall instead, but look, everybody's back gets tired sometimes, doesn't it?
Miriam was special even among this rather elite group. I had noticed her giving tochachah to the body about this and that, and always had to admit that she was right. Usually she gave mar'ei m'komos, too. Still, as a rule, one doesn't think of the cleaning staff as people, so I was a little surprised at the invitation to have the morning seudah at her apartment. But one learns quickly that in Yerushalayim anything can happen, so I recovered and said, ?Thank you.?
The quiet comment, ?I always invite a few boys for Shabbos morning,? didn't even surprise me. In Yerushalayim you keep your knees loose; anybody could be anything, if only you knew, and especially on Shabbos. For example, late one Shabbos morning I was coming back from the Yeshiva to my apartment for a snooze, and an old man stopped me and asked, ?Did you eat cholent this morning??
I said, rather surprised, that I certainly had, and after his resounding ?Good!?, went along. But I couldn't forget it; something about the man's manner, intense with love, made such an impression as couldn't be forgotten. So later I asked around and found out that this man davens early every Shabbos and then spends the whole morning combing the streets for anyone who hasn't eaten. His wife cooks up a gigantic pot of cholent every erev Shabbos, and when he's done searching for hungry Jews, they all sit down together to a hearty meal.
Even on weekdays, people in Yerushalayim manage to be unique; strong personalities flourish there. What about the old man with the brush and dustpan? I would see him every few days outside my apartment. He would sweep up the dirt in the street for a while, then carry it off. That's something you don't see every day, so eventually I got around to asking, who was he and why did he do that? He didn't look like a municipal worker. The answer was both stunning and typical, a favorite combination in Yerushalayim. This man (I've forgotten his name) had been in the concentration camps, and he'd gotten to the point where he knew he couldn't live anymore. He wanted to make teshuva before he died, but even more, he wanted to make teshuva and live. So he raised his eyes to Heaven and said, ?Ribbono shel Olom! For what are You killing me? Is it because of my gaavah? Is it because I love gashmius too much? I will make teshuva for both of them! If You let me live, I will go to the Holy City, Yerushalayim and I will sweep its streets every day for the rest of my life.?
What can I tell you? He lived. And every day, no matter what, he went out and swept a street of the Holy City.
Another time I was helping out Mr. Goldin with the ?two‑day boys? ? the American boys who might not settle in the Holy Land and therefore observed two days of Yom Tov. It was Sukkos, and the Goldins were at their best: a minyan with a Sefer Torah, seudos for all and sundry and then some, and, of course, a sukkah. How do you fit forty‑five hungry bochrim into one Yerushalmi sukkah porch? I don't know, but miracles occur on demand in Eretz Yisrael, and everybody got in somehow. Of course, the helpers got supper too, even though it was only lowly Chol HaMoed for us. The only problem was how to get into the sukkah to eat in it. Maybe Moshe and I were just low on emunah; maybe if we had tried, we would have fit too; thinking back, it seems quite possible. Whatever the case, at the time, we couldn't even begin to imagine wedging ourselves into that sukkah (which just then would have turned a sardine‑packer green with envy), so what should we do? Moshe, an outgoing sort, suggested knocking on some neighbor's door, an idea that made me feel weak in my (rather retiring) knees, but on the other hand, we were hungry, so propriety went by the board. We knocked.
?Well, we have our own food; we're helping by Reb Menachem across the alley ??
?Oh, don't worry about that, I'll get you something good.?
?No, but really, Reb Menachem has our plates all ready.?
?Well, all the same I'll get you something.?
No use arguing. We went across to get our plates and wash; and there were two places already set, and a couple of rolls to make a motzi. By the time we had gotten a ca‑zayis down, our host had told us two chiddushim and brought some potato‑and‑onion (it doesn't taste like much, but in Yerushalayim in the old days you were happy if you had anything to eat at all, and potato‑and‑onion was high living). I was blushing furiously; American propriety just doesn't approve of this sort of thing, especially as our host looked like the sort that has about two cents a year to live on. But he just sat there with his shining face and beaming smile, overjoyed to have gotten ?noch a mitzvah.?
But I was going to tell you about Miriam, the cleaning lady.
Three other boys came along, too, that Shabbos morning: two Sephardim, one Teimani, and me, the token Litvak. One of them knew the way to where Miriam lived, not far from the Yeshiva. Where does a cleaning lady live? Have you ever wondered? In a broom closet, maybe? Or behind a door under the staircase? It turned out to be a regular apartment, immaculately clean (of course!) and pleasantly sunny. A bit of a surprise, as I say, but the big surprise was Miriam herself. The little old, dried‑up and wrinkled cleaning lady was suddenly revealed as a reigning queen. There's no telling how; she just looked like a queen, and beyond that, she gave off an aura of quiet majesty. This must be how she had been meant to look, until poverty and misfortune wrought their changes.
You never know about old women in Yerushalayim. Everyone notices the old men, with their sweeping beards and faces full of a Divine light, but who notices the women? Not that they ask to be noticed. Not only don't they think of such a thing, they would no doubt be horrified by a program of systematically noticing them. HaKodosh Baruch Hu told Chava to be modest, and these, her daughters, haven't forgotten it. But sometimes one can't help noticing, despite the women's best efforts at being inconspicuous. There was that old lady in the Bucharian Quarter who didn't have anyone to make kiddush and havdolah for her, so one of the bochrim decided to make it his mitzvah. He kept a bottle of grape juice and some crackers in her room, and came by with a friend on erev Shabbos and Motzaei Shabbos. I went once, because my friend Leib told me about what he had seen: ?She looked like she was about a hundred years old, and when we came in she put her hands up and said, 'Baruch HaShem! Baruch HaShem!' Then she called from the door, 'Imma! They're here!' and I thought, What? Her mother is still alive? But Shimon had told me that the Bucharian women call each other Imma as a sign of kavod.? (As a matter of fact, it's mentioned in the Mishnah.) ?So this other old woman came in, and we made havdolah, and they both held up their arms and rocked back and forth and closed their eyes and said 'Amen' ? and I tell you, they were beautiful! Yeah, I know they were a hundred years old and all dried up and wrinkled ? but they were beautiful.? And Sarah Imeinu was beautiful, too, and so was Esther, even when they were old. Holiness is a beautiful thing.?
But I was trying to tell you about that Shabbos morning.
Kiddush is kiddush anywhere; one of us made it, on wine that Miriam had made herself. HaMotzi was on ?eish tanur,? also homemade, with homemade chilbeh to dip it in. Teimanim know how to make everything delicious, and on Shabbos it all tastes even better. But it wasn't just the delicious food, or even the devotion that had obviously gone into making it all by herself. It was the atmosphere of quiet grandeur and silent joy, that could never be set down in words if one tried to do so for a million years. The Teimanische bochur knew how to sing a few of the traditional zemiros, which were startlingly lovely, and then Miriam translated a couple into Hebrew (they were written in Teimanith, a dialect composed of Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic). The poetry was exquisite, but even more moving was the spirit and hashkafah they expressed ? why don't people talk about things like that nowadays? The writers of those piyutim were living way above where we are today. No doubt we can't get to where they were, but it's nice to pay a visit, so to speak.
Then the stories: Miriam turned out to be a master storyteller, and filled with material. There was her father, one of the chachomim of the town. The Beis Din assigned him a job; every day he was to find out who was in need of tzedakah and how much, and then to distribute it ? all without anyone's knowing a thing about it, so they wouldn't be embarrassed when they met their benefactor. No, I'm not kidding; that was his job and those were the conditions. I can't say that I'd care to tackle a job like that myself, but he managed. It was simple, in fact. He began to take morning walks, and when asked why, he said it was for his health (nu, the neshamah has to be healthy, too!). So everybody got used to Mori Yihyeh's taking a walk every morning all around town, and nobody thought anything of it. He never stopped for more than a few moments; he never looked at anyone; he only spoke about Torah, never about his real purpose, but when his walk was over, he had noticed what he needed to, and overheard what he needed to, and sensed what he needed to. He knew who needed how much. Of course, it can't be done. Didn't I say so? But somebody really sensitive and really caring, with plenty of bitachon that HaShem would help him ? maybe he could.
The second walk people didn't know about. Every night, after Tikun Chatzos, Mori Yihyeh would make up little parcels of money. I don't suppose it was very much; who wasn't poor in Teiman? But it usually meant the difference between eating and not eating, and that's a lot. Then he would silently go out and walk around town again, pushing in a bag at this door and a bag at that window; and in the morning the poor people would see that the angels had visited them in the night and saved them from shame. I wonder sometimes what that man's Olam HaBa must be like.
This story went, I think, with the herby stew that was the main course. There was some beef in it. ?There's one butcher that I know personally, so that I can trust him,? Miriam explained. But her father had never eaten red meat after they came to Eretz Yisrael. ?We couldn't afford to buy an animal, and when he saw what kind of people were here, he wouldn't trust anyone but himself [to do the shechitah], so we made do with chickens.?? And a long sigh. How much history of suffering and injustice lay behind that sigh, I didn't care to think. It was Shabbos, after all.
Another zemer after this, one whose like I'd never heard. Since we had been talking about shechitah, the Teimanische bochur had turned to a piyut by Mori Shalom Shabazi. This proved to be a poetical review of Hilchos Shechitah in exquisite verse. Miriam told how in their town one could hear this piyut coming from every house the morning of Erev Shabbos. Most people there knew how to shecht, but meat was usually affordable only for Shabbos, and the men would review each halakha by singing this song as they checked their knives and prepared to shecht their animal. I wondered a bit. Sometimes our world seems a bit grey. Yet the Torah is called ?shirah,? and the Netziv MiVolozhin says that it's meant to be seen as one great poem. Shouldn't our Torah be more like a song of joy and praise? How did it happen that the poetry of holiness has seeped out of our lives?
It was a bit difficult getting back to the Yeshiva; one tended to waddle more than walk. But I made it out the door, and, it seemed, out of a wonderful dream, and back into a not very pleasant world. A dream? Well, not exactly; what I had been hearing about, and feeling, and sensing, was quite real. You wouldn't find it anywhere today, but it's really the same, for the reality of Torah is independent of what people do. Is our life a dream, then? That sounds nice and poetic, but if it's so, then I can do without dreams like this, and besides, it's not so: today is just as real as yesterday, for better or for worse. What had happened, then? Just this ? I had spent Shabbos morning with a cleaning lady, and I was walking back to the Yeshiva now, down the streets of Yerushalayim, and the sun was shining.
Yaakov Lavon lives in Yeroham, Israel.
Bitachon: Faith, trust in G‑d.
Ca‑zayis: Literally, ?like an olive.? The minimum quantity required to be eaten to fulfill various mitzvot.
Chiddushim: Literally, ?New things,? used to refer to new ideas about learning.
Eish tanur: A type of Yemenite bread.
HaKodosh Baruch Hu: The A‑mighty.
Hilchos Shechitah: The laws of ritual slaughter.
Motzi: The blessing over bread.
Noch a mitzvah: Literally, ?Another mitzvah.?
Olam HaBa: The world to come.
Piyutim: Short sayings or prayers, usually implying from Psalms.
Ribbono shel Olom: ?G‑d of the Universe.?
Seudah? (Seudos): A meal or meals.
Shi'ur (Shi'urim) : A class.
Zemer: Song, but more in the way of a hymn.


text:
Northgate Junior – Senior High School is a public high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, serving Northgate School District. It is located in Bellevue, a borough of Allegheny County. The school district is relatively small, consisting of only two elementary schools, one in Avalon, and one in Bellevue. The school combines grades 7-12 into one Junior-Senior High School.

References

Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Education in Pittsburgh area
Public high schools in Pennsylvania
Public middle schools in Pennsylvania

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You are here: Home / KB: Help Center / Do People Come Alone?
Almost all our guests arrived at Action Point independently. Because many people are so friendly, welcoming and warm, it's an easy task to meet new people and also have a great time together. We get many couples who book retreats together also.


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The Small Business Expo Upcoming Events!
The day-long conference and trade show, travels the country's top cities for small business bringing together industry thought leaders and experts in a hands-on environment that features more than 20+ free workshops and programs along with 100+ interactive booths, demos and brand exhibits.
Start-ups and business owners can take advantage of free admission and educational workshops covering online/social media marketing, employee benefit plans, credit and financing, strategies for increasing revenue and team productivity, mentoring, cloud technologies, retirement plans and much more.
Small Business Expo expects to have more than 4,500+ registered attendees from across the Miami metropolitan area shopping for business resources, developing business leads, gaining new insights and networking with peers. "Experts tell us that more and more Miami residents are wanting to take the entrepreneurial leap," says event founder Zachary Lezberg, "but that the biggest barrier to starting a new business is that people don't think they can" he adds, "With the program we've put together, we believe our attendees will feel more empowered by the end of the day."
See the complete list of events below:
Click here for links, registration information, and more!
FOX Nation's 4th Annual Patriot Awards Ceremony Benefitting the American Red Cross is Tonight
AdvocatesEventsGovernment
By Kellie Speed
FOX Nation is hosting its fourth annual Patriot Awards at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, tonight. You can catch the patriotic show live at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Nation, and it will also be offered in a repeat presentation on FOX News Channel on Sunday, November 27, at 10 p.m. ET.
Each year, the awards show honors standout Americans who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in support of this great nation. The event gives true American heroes the recognition they deserve.
"It is the awards show that America needs and that America deserves," said FOX & Friends Weekend co-host and Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Pete Hegseth, who will return for his fourth year as the emcee.
Hegseth will join FOX News Media personalities Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld, Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, Brian Kilmeade, Judge Jeanine Pirro, the cast of The Five, Harris Faulkner, Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy, Dan Bongino, John Rich, Mike Rowe, Nancy Grace, Lawrence Jones, Johnny Joey Jones and Abby Hornacek.
This year's Patriot Awards include the Most Valuable Patriot Award, Heroism Award, Service to Veterans Award and Back the Blue Award. Additionally, The Five (weekdays, 5 p.m. ET), Tucker Carlson Tonight (weekdays, 8 p.m. ET) and Gutfeld! (weekdays, 11 p.m. ET) will present live shows at the venue.
Last year's Patriot Award recipients included "Most Valuable Patriot" Olympic Gold Medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock; Award for Heroism recipient Lt. Col. (Ret.), Former Green Beret Scott Mann for his work in Afghanistan with Task Force Pineapple; "Modern Warrior" recipient Army Sergeant First Class John Goudie, and the "Courage" award recipient posthumously awarded to Todd Beamer in United Airlines Flight 93 (accepted by his parents David and Peggy Beamer).
They also paid a humbling tribute to the nation's 13 fallen heroes killed on August 26, 2021, during the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan – Marine Corps Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza, Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, Army Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss, Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui, Marine Corps Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Marine Corps Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz, Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak and Marine Corps Corporal Daegan W. Page.
Keep an eye out in the next issue of U.S. Veterans Magazine for a full feature on the event.
For more information, be sure to visit nation.foxnews.com
The NMSDC Equity Honors 2023–Applications Now Open
BusinessEvents
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Equity Honors awards are presented to corporate chief officers who have been recognized by their peers as the true leaders at the vanguard of economic equity and minority business integration.
Submit an application for your CEO, COO, CFO, CIO, CMO, CDO, and CPO of the Year. All applications* must be started** by Dec. 20 to be considered.
Submit Application Here!
*Qualified applications submitted for The Equity Honors in 2022 have been cloned for consideration for the 2023 Equity Honors. Simply log into the NMSDC Awards Portal and update your application, then submit. Previous winners of The Equity Honors are ineligible to apply again for a minimum of 3 years.
**We will reopen the applications in March of 2023 to collect 2022 comparative data that will complete the application. All applications that have been started by Dec. 20 will constitute The Equity Honors Nominees for 2023 with nominees highlighted on the Forum website and invited to the 2023 Minority Business Economic Forum.
For more information about NMSDC visit, nmsdc.org
Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference: Elevates Entrepreneurs
The Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference is embedded as an annual entrepreneur ecosystem event for transitioning veterans, disabled veterans, National Guard, active and reserve component members and military spouses who are interested in growing the U.S. economy and its employment base while adding value to the communities in which they live and serve.
The October 5‑7 three-day hybrid experience hosted more than 200 attendees from 15 states at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel in Arlington, Texas. This year's conference included an exclusive and in-depth two-day pre-conference financial statement workshop facilitated by Steve Lefever, founder of ProfitMastery, for 20 selected military-connected business owners. Kimberly Henry, who attended the pre-conference workshop, stated, "the content was challenging, but I have a better understanding of how I need to manage and present my business financials to lenders and pitch competition judges."
More than 30 conference speakers shared information to increase awareness of entrepreneurial resources, facilitate access to SBA resource partners and access to capital partners, and deliver a memorable experience. Dynamic speakers included SBA Associate Administrator Larry Stubblefield; Andy Williams, former HGTV Flip or Flop Fort Worth star and founder of Rehab Warriors; a lineup of SBA resources partners, including leaders from the Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, the Veterans Business Outreach Center Program and the Women's Business Center. Existing veteran business owners shared their paths to success through panel discussions. "I attended BBBC19 and learned about franchise opportunities, and now I own two franchises," said PK Kelley, who presented as part of the franchise panel.
In addition to the NFL Thursday Night Football watch party at TexasLive, the 2022 conference highlights included Melissa Washington presenting a check for $3,500 to Jaquelyn Garrick, who won the Women Veterans Giving Entrepreneur of the Year Award. BidExecs Franchising, LLC (BidExecs), the first and only franchise supporting government contractors to grow their business through robust business development, capture support and proposal solutions partnered with Business Beyond the Battlefield to identify highly qualified veterans to join their network. As such, Archie Smith was awarded a $30,000 BidExecs franchise. "Archie's knowledge, experience and deep-rooted commitment to serving his local community businesses directly align with BidExecs' servant leader values," said Reena Bhatia, CEO of BidExecs, who sat down for a fireside chat at the conference.
"I love the conference. I was able to come in here and [receive] a variety of information about franchising, government contracting, how to get capital…," said one attendee. Another attendee said, "If you're just starting out and you want to know how to operate a business, this is the place to be…" Like the attendees, Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference founder Patrick E. Alcorn said, "It was a great experience, and I can't wait until next October."
Check out the BBBC22 highlight video!
To find out more, visit bbbc.uta.edu/.
Veterans Day Freebies & Discounts for 2022!
In honor of Veterans Day, several businesses and organizations have come together to offer their best deals to military personnel and their families.
Take a look at some of the best deals you could use this month!
Unless otherwise stated all discounts will:
Apply to military veterans and active-duty servicemembers
Be obtainable on November 11th
Need a valid military ID or a Veterans Advantage card to obtain
Applebee's: Free meal from a select menu and a $5 Bounce Back Card to be used for a future visit
Big Boy Restaurants: Free meal voucher for a future meal
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse:Free meal from a select menu when you dine-in
Bob Evans:Free meal from a select menu
Bombshells Restaurant & Bar: Offering free entrees for veterans at all 12 company-owned and franchised locations in Texas on Nov. 11. Other items will be discounted at 20%, and accompanying families will receive a 20% discount on entrees and other items. Note: This free meal doesn't apply to active duty; but active duty will get a 20% discount. All other days of the year, active duty and other veterans can receive a 20% discount.. Check beforehand what identification can be used for the discount.
California Pizza Kitchen: Offering a free nonalcoholic beverage and choice of one entree from a special menu, to active duty and other veterans, on Nov. 11.
Chop House: 50% off entrees
Coco's Bakery and Restaurant: Free slice of pie and BOGO free entrée
Dunkin' Donuts: Free donut
Golden Corral: Free meal from 5pm to close on November 14th
Hawaiian Bros: Free plate lunch from 11am to 11pm. Also applicable to military families and friends.
IHOP: Offering free red, white and blueberry pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 to active duty and other veterans. Proof of service required.
Insomnia Cookies: Free six-pack of cookies with any in-store purchase
Krispy Kreme: Offering a free doughnut and a small brewed coffee to active duty and other veterans, on Nov. 11.
Little Caesars: Offering free lunch combo at participating locations while supplies last, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Nov. 11, to active duty and other veterans. Features four-slice deep dish pizza with pepperoni, and a 20-ounce Pepsi product. Military ID or DD214 required.
McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurants: 50% off entrees on November 13th. Also applicable to Gold Star parents and Gold Star spouses.
Peet's Coffee: Free drip coffee or tea. Also applicable to military spouses.
Red Lobster: Free Shrimp, fries, coleslaw, and other select items for dine-in and to-go orders placed between 11:00am-4:00pm
Red Robin: Free Red's Tavern Double Burger for dine-in
Smashburger: One free burger or sandwich
Starbucks: Free tall hot brewed or iced coffee. Also applies to military spouses
TGI Friday's: Free lunch for dine-in on November 11th from 11am-2pm from a select menu.
Tuscan Brands Restaurants: Offering a free family style meal to veterans and their guest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 11, at their locations in Boston, Burlington and Newburyport, Massachusetts; and Salem and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. RSVP by calling the restaurant or online at tuscanbrands.com/veteransday. The restaurants include Tuscan Kitchen, Tuscan Sea Grill & Bar and Toscana Italian Chop House & Wine Bar.
Wendy's: Free Breakfast combo order
White Castle: Free Combo Meal or Breakfast Combo Meal for dine-in
Yard House: Free appetizer when you dine-in
Alpine Swiss: 15% off Men's and Women's Collections
Army & Air Force Exchange Service: Multiple discounts available for Military star cardholders. Discounts include gasoline, restaurants, and shopping
Bed, Bath, and Beyond: 25% off. Also applies to military spouses
Devil-Dog Dungarees: 50% off through November 13th
Dollar General: 20% off in-store purchases through November 13th. Also applicable to immediate family members
Food Lion: 10% off before taxes
GameStop: 10% off
Hello Fresh: 50% off your first box and 10% off every box for a year
Kohl's: 30% off in-store purchases from November 11-November 13. Also applicable to immediate family members
Lovesac: 25% off
Office Depot/ Office Max: 20% off
Pottery Barn: 15% off
Publix: 10% off
Staples: 25% off valid through November 12th. Also applicable to immediate family members
Target: 10% off through November 12th. Also applicable to immediate family members.
Under Armour: 20% off. Also applicable to military family members
Vitamin Shopee: 25% off through November 13th
Crunch Fitness: Free seven-day trial from November 7-13th and discounted membership rates. Also applies to first responders. Free trial also eligible to military families. Other
Goodyear Tire: Free inspections on tires, brakes, and batteries. 10% off tires and services. Appointments must be made between November 10th-14th and services can be redeemed through November 17th. Also applicable to first responders.
Great Clips: Free haircut or a free haircut card for a future visit. Non-military members who visit on November 11th will be given a free haircut card to give to a veteran or servicemember in their life. These cards must be redeemed before December 9th
Hertz: 20% off base rental rate when you book between November 7th-November 11th
Jefferson Lines: Free tickets for travel. Must be obtained by November 11th and redeemed by November 23rd.
Just Tires: Free inspections on tires, brakes, and batteries. 10% off tires and services. Appointments must be made between November 10th-14th and services can be redeemed through November 17th.
La Quinta: 12% off best available rate. 1000 bonus points will be given for stays booked by December 11th and completed by December 12th
Magnolia Wash Holdings: Free Car Wash at Magnolia Wash Holdings, Whistle Express, Camel Premium Express, and The Wave Carwash locations
Red Roof: 15% off bookings from November 1st to December 30th. Must use code: VP 623095
Sports Clips: Free haircut
Super 8: 15% off best available rate. 1000 bonus points will be given for stays booked by December 11th and completed by December 12th
Aquarium of the Pacific: Free admission
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Free admission, also applies for three guests of the servicemember
Knott's Berry Farm: Discounted admission for themselves and five guests from November 1st-November 17th and November 18th– December 15th
Lindbald Expeditions: 20% off select itineraries for select departures. Bookings must be made by November 30th.
Mount Vernon: Free admission
National Parks: Free admission
Pro Football Hall of Fame: Free admission and parking for the Veterans Day Event and Expo, 20% off for the Hall of Fame store
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Free Park admission, parking, meal voucher, and swag items on Veteran's Day. Four family members of the servicemembers are eligible for discounted tickets of $19.99
True REST Float Spa: Free 60-minute float therapy session. Available on the 11th of every month. All locations will be exclusively serving service members on Veteran's Day
Winchester Mystery House: 30% off from November 11th – December 31st. Also available to family members
World of Coca-Cola: Free admission through November 13th. 50% off 4 additional tickets for friends and family members
Zoos: Many Zoos are offering free or heavily discounted admission, including rates for immediate family members. Inquire with your local zoo for details.
Navy Gold Coast Conference 2022 – Event Wrap Up
BusinessCareerEducationEventsGovernmentmilitaryResources
This year's Annual Department of the Navy Gold Coast Conference, held September 6-8, 2022, focused on "Thriving as a Department of the Navy Small Business in a World of Global Challenges."
In its 34th year, the Navy Gold Coast Conference is the nation's premier Navy-centered small business procurement event and the only procurement event co-sponsored by the Department of the Navy's (DON) Office of Small Business Programs. The Navy's primary purpose in co-sponsoring the event with the San Diego Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is to educate, guide and assist businesses in providing vital goods and services to meet government needs, particularly in the Navy and Department of Defense.
This year's Navy Gold Coast Conference attracted over 1,700 defense industrial base attendees, and almost 250 booths lined the exhibit hall with representatives from government acquisition offices and small, medium and large businesses. Many of these are owned and operated by service-disabled veterans (SDVOSBs) or participants in the federal government's 8(a) Business Development Program. The federal government's goal is to award at least 3 percent of all federal contracting dollars to SDVOSBs and 5 percent to disadvantaged businesses each year, and the Navy Gold Coast Conference
This year's Navy Gold Coast Conference sponsors included Bank of America (Platinum), Unanet and Deltek (Diamond), Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, L3 Harris, BAE Systems, Raytheon Technologies (Gold) and over 40 small business sponsors.
navyNavyThe Keynote presentation was from the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Hon. Carlos Del Toro. Additional presentations included a discussion on Small Business and the Future by the Hon. Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); a briefing on Getting Started in Government Contracting from Mr. Michael Sabellico, Senior Procurement Advisor of the San Diego Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC); and a round table discussion on DON Supply Chain Readiness including Mr. Jimmy Smith (SES), Director, DON Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and RADM Peter Stamatopoulous, Commander of Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP).
In addition to professional networking and small business matchmaking, a wide variety of issues affecting small business federal contracting were covered, including Exporting, Accounting Requirements, Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), Mentor Protégé Programs, Racial Equality and Support for Underserved Communities, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and How to do Business with the DON and Other Government Agencies
Navy Gold Coast Conference is also the venue for the NDIA San Diego Chapter's "Twice a Citizen Award." This award is given to Reserve Service or National Guard members from the San Diego Area. Nominees demonstrate leadership, self-sacrifice, commitment to service and outstanding overall performance. Nominees must also have provided exceptional professional performance while participating in contingency/support activities outside drill weekends. This year's winners are Chief Petty Officer Joshua R. Berman, Chief Petty Officer Joseph A. Pisano, Chief Melanie A. Maldonado and Commander Ron Giusso.
Next year's Gold Coast is scheduled for 26-28 July 2023 in San Diego.
Multiple Hire GI Hiring Events During July!
Check out these multiple hiring events throughout the year, and the United States, that are connecting veterans with military friendly employers!
"Mission To Change The World, One Veteran At A Time".
Our mission is to serve those who have served our country by assisting with the transition from military service to civilian employment. We help service members and military spouses become successful in the workforce. Our services are geared towards two types of candidates: those who are looking to join a top-tier company and those who are looking to start their own business.
Click here to view all events!
Veteran Kayla Blood Takes on Monster Jam World Finals® in Soldier Fortune®
EventsLifestyle
A mom, Monster Jam® driver and military veteran, Kayla Blood is a force to be reckoned with. She proudly served in the Louisiana Army National Guard for six years and now brings her tenacity to the dirt, competing in Monster Jam competitions around the world.
Kayla competes in Soldier Fortune®, a camo-clad, tank-inspired Monster Jam truck dedicated to the thousands of men and women in the U.S. Military around the world. During her six years of service in the Louisiana National Guard, Kayla served full-time in Force Protection. Just as her unit received word of deployment to Afghanistan, Kayla learned she was pregnant with her son and had to stay home in Louisiana. While she wanted to serve overseas, her son is her greatest blessing, and the Guard helped lead her to so many great experiences.
Kayla is also the first female National Guard veteran driver for Monster Jam, crashing through glass ceilings as she competes in a male-dominated sport. Kayla never turns down a competition, and her signature move if an attempt goes awry? Military pushups on the wreckage.
"I want to win fair and square," says Kayla on competing against men. "I love being able to show little girls watching that they can do whatever they set out to do and to never back down from a challenge."
Kayla Blood took her fiercely competitive talents to Monster Jam World Finals®, the series marquee event, which took place in Orlando May 21-22, 2022. Each year, Monster Jam World Finals highlights the best of the best in Skills, Racing, High Jump and Freestyle competitions. Drivers pull out their best moves and risk it all for the championship title.
"It's truly an honor to drive Soldier Fortune in competitions around the world and to have done so at Monster Jam World Finals," says Kayla. "Representing the brave men and women who have served the United States is a something I take great pride in doing."
For more information on Monster Jam World Finals and Kayla Blood, visit MonsterJam.com/WorldFinals.
Retired Army captain runs 44 miles in effort to raise awareness for veterans' mental health
EventsGovernmentHealth
By Bradley Bennett, Cincinnati News
In Pasadena, Maryland, Retired Army Capt. Kyle Butters could be seen running and carrying an American flag for an important cause last weekend. "This flag has been everywhere from Afghanistan (to) Kuwait (to) Turkey," Butters said.
More than just sentimental value, the flag he carries is the symbol of freedom and sacrifice. Butters ran 44 miles total.
It's all to raise awareness about mental health issues facing veterans." It's affected me personally.
I was medically retired from the Army due to mental health issues. I've also lost soldiers to suicide throughout my time in the Army (and) even since I've been out of the Army," Butters said. Starting in his own Pasadena neighborhood, Butters ran 4 miles every four hours for a total of 22 miles a day to represent the estimated 22 veterans who commit suicide every day.
"They think that during the COVID pandemic, that (it has) gone up by as much as 20%," Butters said. "I chose to use running as my platform because not every veteran has the physical ability to do what I do, and people pay attention when you do big distances. "He's raising money with the run — more than $12,000 — to support the Infinite Hero Organization. "They provide grants to veterans and also to research causes, whether it's brain injury, PTSD, even physical disabilities," Butters said. Butters said he'll be back at it again next year and hopes this is something that can spread to other states with the ultimate goal of normalizing tough conversations that could save lives.
Read the complete article here.
Park Police to resume escorts for Honor Flight visits around Washington, D.C.
EventsGovernment
By Leo Shane III, Air Force Times
U.S. Park Police officials have agreed to resume escorts for Honor Flight events around the nation's capital, continuing a tradition that had been interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The news came just one day before the group's celebration on the National Mall of the 250,000th veteran transported through the program. Since 2005, officials have helped veterans from across the country visit Washington, D.C. for an opportunity to tour the war memorials and national landmarks there.
Max Lonzanida
In many cases, the veterans are elderly and in poor health, and are able to make the trip only because of the special medical and financial assistance provided by the group.
In the past, the U.S. Park Police provided escorts to tour buses filled with veterans visiting areas of the National Mall with limited parking, such as the World War II memorial and Vietnam War Memorial Wall. Honor Flight officials reimbursed the agency for the costs of the escorts.
Honor Flight activities were largely shuttered by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but resumed last fall. However, Park Police officials in recent months have told organizers they could no longer assist with the events because of bureaucratic issues with the Department of Interior.
On Monday, officials said those problems have been resolved. Escorts will resume starting June 1.
In a joint statement, officials from the Park Police, the National Mall and Memorial Parks agency and Honor Flight said they have met in recent weeks "to discuss our shared commitment to continuing to work together and the best way to safely support hosted visits while also ensuring USPP can meet its primary law enforcement and public safety mission."
Click here to read the full article on Yahoo News.
Honor Flight Network Celebrates Milestone of Bringing 250,000 Veterans to Nation's Capital on May 3 Event
To kick off Military Appreciation Month, hundreds of dignitaries, veterans, volunteers, supporters and leadership of the Honor Flight Network will gather at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the organization's milestone of bringing 250,000 veterans to our Nation's Capitol to visit the memorials that honor their service and sacrifice on May 3rd.
Event to commemorate the 250,000th participant in the Honor Flight Network program.
– The 250,000th Commemorative Honor Flight participant and hundreds of veterans
– Volunteers, supporters and leadership of the Honor Flight Network
– The Honorable Elizabeth Dole, Event Chairperson
– Speakers include Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Donald M. Remy, Senator Jerry Moran and Congressman Mark Takano
To celebrate Honor Flight Network's past while charting its course for the future in serving veterans from more recent eras.
Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 2 p.m.- 3 p.m.
World War II Memorial, 17th Street NW
Between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW.
The event includes distinguished speakers and guests, military band, Honor Guard and hundreds of seated veterans, volunteers and supporters, set against the backdrop of the World War II Memorial.
For more information visit, Honor Flight Network.


I have being delaying my first post, being the weather in Venice not that great over the last couple of weeks; I really wanted to go out and be able to take inspiring photos for my first post and take advantage of the sun and of that great light that you somehow get in Venice especially in autumn (I think Manet knew one or two things about this…). But then I decided to wear my wellies, challenge the rain and take some black and white photos. So there you go, first post, the first couple of photos.
A small corte overlooking a canal, behind San Barnaba.
What do you think of this B&W version of Venice? There will definitely be more photos, luckily coloured ones, so stay tuned and check out the upcoming posts.


The calorie counters on the machines I've used tell me that rowing burns the most calories, then the stair climber, then the treadmill, then the eliptical, and then the stationary bike (if those calorie counters are accurate). How many calories do I burn swimming compared to those other activities? A coach I know told me that swimming doesn't burn very many calories because the cool water prevents the body from heating up the way it does with other activities, is he right?


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Dark Side Last Updated: Jan 14, 2020 - 2:17:53 PM
Turkey: Still among the World's Worst Jailers of Journalists
By Uzay Bulut, Gatestone, January 14, 2020
"Scores of journalists remain behind bars or under travel bans as a consequence of an extended, politically motivated crackdown against the media." � "Turkey's Journalists in the Dock: The Judicial Silencing of the Fourth Estate", September 13, 2019.
"A subsequent wide-ranging capture of the judiciary has progressively and severely damaged the rule of law and the public's right to access information..." � "Turkey's Journalists in the Dock: The Judicial Silencing of the Fourth Estate", September 13, 2019.
"Pre-trial detention for hundreds of journalists has lasted for months and sometimes years before investigations are completed and the trials can begin." � "Turkey's Journalists in the Dock: The Judicial Silencing of the Fourth Estate", September 13, 2019.
According to the latest report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Turkey fell below its ranking as the world's worst jailer of journalists for the first time in four years -- dropping behind even China. That rating is not exactly indicative of an improvement in Ankara's stance towards the media. On the contrary, as CPJ revealed on December 11:
"[T]he fall to 47 journalists in jail from 68 [in 2018] reflects the successful efforts by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to stamp out independent reporting and criticism by closing down more than 100 news outlets and lodging terror-related charges against many of their staff."
CPJ also pointed out that Ankara's October 24 legislative package -- granting certain convicted journalists the right to re-appeal their cases, and others a shorter pre-trial detention period � has not alleviated the situation of the "scores of journalists in exile, jobless, or cowed into self-censorship."
In addition, CPJ exposed,
"Dozens of journalists not currently jailed in Turkey are still facing trial or appeal and could yet be sentenced to prison, while others have been sentenced in absentia and face arrest if they return to the country."
The above findings echo those of a report -- "Turkey's Journalists in the Dock: The Judicial Silencing of the Fourth Estate" -- released jointly by CPJ, the International Press Institute, ARTICLE 19, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Reporters without Borders, the European Federation of Journalists, Norwegian PEN and PEN International.
According to that report, the fruit of a two-day fact-finding mission to Turkey in September:
"The press freedom environment in the country has not improved since the lifting of the state of emergency in July 2018. Scores of journalists remain behind bars or under travel bans as a consequence of an extended, politically motivated crackdown against the media.
"A subsequent wide-ranging capture of the judiciary has progressively and severely damaged the rule of law and the public's right to access information...
"In the months following the failed military coup of July 2016 and the launch of the state of emergency the crackdown against journalists and media was widespread and merciless. Within weeks over 160 journalists were behind bars, hundreds more facing prosecution, over 170 media had been closed and over 3,000 journalists were out of work...
"Pre-trial detention for hundreds of journalists has lasted for months and sometimes years before investigations are completed and the trials can begin. The state of emergency enabled judges to hold defendants without sufficient justification. The appeals process for individual cases has been exceedingly slow, with the Constitutional Court taking years to eventually take up and rule on individual cases...
"Anti-terrorism legislation is for the most part poorly defined, leaving room for prosecutors to conflate criticism of government with terrorist propaganda. Moreover, there is no defined threshold of evidence that needs to be obtained in order for the courts to first launch prosecutions and then for judges to assess when a terrorist act has been committed. Evidence presented in journalist cases has invariably been based on the defendants' professional work, revealing perhaps inadvertently the desire to silence journalism as the true motivation for the prosecution..."
Putting Ankara's persecution of the press in a wider context, Scott Griffen, deputy director of the International Press Institute, stated:
"The plight of Turkey's journalists is but the tip of the iceberg of a much broader issue of systemic human rights abuse. European institutions must insist on substantial reform and not allow the Turkish authorities to gloss over the abuse with promises of superficial change while hundreds continue to pay the price of this abuse with the loss of their liberty."
Source:Ocnus.net 2020
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Moldova Faces �Existential� Population Crisis
All Gulnara�s Things: Karimov�s Daughter Again on Trial
New IDF Intel Assessment: Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for Nuke by Spring
Before the U.S. Bombed Soleimani�s Terrorists, It Bribed Them


Disclaimer: For purposes of vocal health screening only. Regardless of any score obtained on this VFI-10, any signs/symptoms/concerns regarding vocal health should be promptly reviewed by a physician.
A total score above 15 may indicate the presence of a voice problem requiring medical review and professional voice evaluation.
For further information, call 207-338-9349 or email speech@wcgh.org.
Rosen, C, Lee A, Osborne J, Zullo T, Murray T. Development and Validation of the Voice Handicap Index-10. Laryngoscope 114: September 2004. pp 1549-1556.


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Leanne Wood demands "Four Countries approach" to Brexit negotiations
Posted on September 07 2016, 9:26 AM
Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood will lead a party delegation to Brussels to discuss the impending negotiations on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
The Plaid Cymru Leader will say that there should be a "Four Countries" approach to Brexit talks that would involve the heads of the four governments of the UK overseeing negotiations, rather than solely the UK Cabinet.
Ms Wood will also reaffirm her view that any final Brexit deal should require the approval of all four UK legislatures before being ratified.
Ahead of meetings with EU missions from countries of importance to Wales, the Plaid Cymru Leader will also set out her view that Wales must retain the right to keep building good relationships with EU countries. She will also warn that the future of the UK remains in doubt if the needs of the different UK countries are not accommodated.
Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood said:
"At this crucial time for Wales, it is vital that we in Plaid Cymru continue to engage with the EU institutions in Brussels. It is in the Welsh national interest to communicate with EU partners because Wales still needs a trading and cultural relationship with other countries in Europe.
"The relationships that have been built up between our countries must survive Brexit.
"Plaid Cymru's membership of the European Free Alliance since the 1980s has been valuable to us as a party. It has also helped to increase the profile of Wales. We will continue to strengthen these cultural and political ties whatever changes Brexit brings.
"Plaid Cymru advocates a Four Countries approach to the process of the UK withdrawing from the EU.
"Each nation has its own specific needs and priorities, different economies and different demographics and these have to all be recognised and accommodated rather than ignored.
"The UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, has signalled that she will include the devolved governments, but is yet to outline what format that will take. The UK's future as a state will be in doubt if the people and the politics of Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland are not considered and accommodated.
"A Four Countries approach would signal a new and inclusive way of doing business."
A check-up on mental health
Welsh in Education


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"I get lots of roles the American stars don't want to do. American stars don't want to kill the baby. I'll kill the baby. I'll kill any baby for a good part." -Terence Stamp
Mark (eventually nicknamed Chopper) Read (Eric Bana) dreams of making a name for himself as a legendary crime figure. His journey is brutal and bizarre, as he tries in vain to capture that elusive Al Capone quality, having to settle, instead, for a Fawlty Towers version of a standover man. This does not preclude him being violent and sadistic, but it does prevent him reaching the dark heights he seeks to attain. In and out of jail, Chopper is always on edge, and sometimes he can even see the joke himself. But the fact that he is a better selling autobiographical author than crim (and proud of it) is testament to his absurdity.
"A story from life that jumps up to be told, a well honed script and a natural filmmaking talent combine to make Chopper one of the standouts of Australian filmmaking in early 2000. (But note the advance disclaimer: this is not a factual biopic.) Writer/director Andrew Dominik fuses cinematic style with strong story telling skills to create a vibrant snapshot of a criminal and manages to do his subject and society justice: we can never sympathise with Chopper, nor condone his actions, yet we can relate to him as a human being. This is a major achievement. The film snaps with energy and pace, the style of shot angles and colour filters creates an edgy mood and the casting is inspired. Dominik is at once specific yet metaphoric in his approach to creating atmosphere and social ambience, so that we are drawn in but also prompted to observe. There are no characters that engage us by association (I speak for my boring self, of course) or generate sympathy by their generous natures: we are instead engaged by the veracity and dynamic of his central character, Mark Chopper Read, one of Australia's most inane, colourful, brutal and enigmatic crims. And Eric Bana is magnificent; he is a genuine revelation, as explosive and disturbing in his likeable but offensive way as was Robert De Niro's Travis in Taxi Driver. As executive producer Al Clark might say, after you've seen this film, you know you've seen something."
Andrew L. Urban
"Violent and disturbing, Chopper is a gripping and chilling insight into a life so outrageous, that we can hardly believe it is based on fact. For 94 unrelenting minutes, Andrew Dominik's hard-hitting screenplay introduces us to a demon of a man, whose unpredictable barbarous behaviour not only shocks, but grabs us in a headlock, twists us inside out, and startles with wry, sardonic humour. Monster? or man suffering from compulsive fits of rage and paranoia? We witness bizarre scenes when Chopper (pathetically remorseful after committing an atrocity), actually drives his victim to the nearest hospital. A total enigma, here is a man who lives in a perverse world of his own, desperate for notoriety and recognition. The realisation of this story to film, is a remarkable achievement; from the striking performances to the stark production design and tormenting score by Mick Harvey. Eric Bana's performance is devastating: he is imposing, repulsive, terrifying and overwhelmingly complex. The entire cast is strong, with Simon Lyndon almost unrecognisable after his pin-up role in Sample People. This is definitely not a comfortable film to watch � I had to shut my eyes several times as the violence became unbearable. While we don't like any of the characters, we are totally engaged and mesmerised by them � with all their incongruities, paradoxes and dilemmas. If you have a strong stomach or alternatively if strong stories fascinate you, you will be super-glued to your seat, as you amaze at the incredible complexities of human nature. A myriad of thoughts exploded in my head, as we are told at the end of the film that the real Chopper Read is now living on a farm in Tasmania."
Louise Keller
"Chopper's a pro - that we know, blow by blow. From the opening scene when Eric Bana proudly spits out the words 'humanity doesn't like me...I'm a freak show', Chopper announces itself as a film with a mission of intensity and makes good on the promise. The masterstroke of writer/director Andrew Dominik's pulsating debut is its ability to shock us with the appalling details of Choppers deeds and in the same breath elicit high comedy from the lowest depths. By his own admission Chopper Read might be an 'animal' but he's also a genuinely entertaining and witty raconteur who'd command big money on the after dinner speaking circuit if grisly tales of underworld murders, drug dealing and self mutilation ever became popular topics. As repulsive as the details are (the ear slashing scene renders the Reservoir Dogs equivalent inconsequential) Chopper also has some of the most
devastating black humour you're likely to witness. Try not to respond to Chopper's peculiar code which allows him to shoot a mate then drive him to the hospital or brush off the multiple stab wounds he suffered in a murder attempt as 'water under the bridge'. How much is fact and how much is fiction we can only guess, especially after the clear statement on the opening titles that reads 'this is not a biography'. What should be fact at the next AFIs is Eric Bana's award for Best Actor. Looking the part with a Merv Hughes moustache, a stare which could sharpen blunt knives and the most startling metal teeth since Jaws from the James Bond films, Bana oozes menace and grotesque charm at every turn. His performance needs to be totally compelling and it is. There are also fine contributions from Simon Lyndon as Jimmy Loughnan and Vince Colosimo as Neville but this is Bana's show all the way and he's brilliant. Chopper has a ferocity and a refusal to compromise or judge its central character which earns it the right not to be dismissed. For this reviewer it also has the power to never be forgotten."
Richard Kuipers
Andrew L. Urban goes
CHOPPER: THE INSIDE STORY
SOUNDTRACK REVIEW
CHOPPER (R)
(Aust)
CAST: Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, Vince Colosimo, David Field, Dan Wyllie, Bill Young, Kenny Graham, Kate Beahan
PRODUCERS: Michele Bennett
SCRIPT: Andrew Dominik (based on Chopper Read's books)
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Kevin Hayward, Geoffrey Hall
EDITOR: Ken Sallows
MUSIC: Mick Harvey
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Paddy Reardon
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Palace/Fox
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: August 3, 2000