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text:
Eñaut Zubikarai Goñi (born 26 February 1984) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently goalkeeping coach of New Zealand club Auckland City FC.

Club career

Real Sociedad
Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Zubikarai joined Real Sociedad in 2003 at age 19, being assigned to the B team in Segunda División B. For the 2005–06 season he was loaned to Basque neighbours SD Eibar, but appeared in only one game after suffering a shoulder injury (he suffered another after having returned to his parent club) and also suffered relegation from Segunda División, which triggered thoughts of an early retirement.

After Asier Riesgo moved to Recreativo de Huelva, Zubikarai was definitely promoted to the main squad but, after the former returned from his loan, both battled for second-choice status during the 2009–10 campaign. The latter contributed 12 matches as the Txuriurdin returned to La Liga after a three-year absence.

Zubikarai made his debut in the top flight on 10 April 2012 at the age of 28, in a 1–1 home draw against Real Betis. He continued to act as understudy to Claudio Bravo for the duration of his spell, but was Real Sociedad's goalkeeper in the Copa del Rey, notably helping to a semi-final run in 2013–14.

After the Chilean's departure to FC Barcelona in summer 2014, Zubikarai became the starter. However, shortly after conceding four goals in an away fixture against Villarreal CF in December, he lost his position to Gerónimo Rulli.

Zubikarai was released by Real Sociedad on 30 June 2015, after the expiration of his contract. On 20 January of the following year, after several months without a club, he signed a five-month deal with C.D. Tondela from Portugal.

Auckland City
In September 2016, free agent Zubikarai joined Auckland City FC. As part of a stellar defence which saw the team only allow 12 goals during the 2017–18 season as they won the New Zealand Football Championship title, he went 1,404 minutes or 15 games without conceding a goal in all competitions, beginning in the 70th minute of a 1–1 home draw against Southern United FC on 13 January 2018 and ending in the 37th minute of a 2–2 draw to Team Wellington on 29 April in the semi-finals of the OFC Champions League. This exploit constituted the third-longest streak of its kind of all time – behind Mazarópi and Thabet El-Batal – as well as the longest of the 21st century, and of any European goalkeeper.

Zubikarai became head goalkeeper coach on 5 October 2020, following the retirement of incumbent Simone Naddi.

Personal life
In the summer of 2011, Hércules CF was on the verge of signing Zubikarai on loan, but pulled out, officially on financial grounds. However, the club reportedly feared public reaction to the signing of a player whose father, Cándido, was affiliated with terrorist organisation ETA, and was sentenced to thirty years in 1989 for the murder of two civil guards.

References

External links

1984 births
Living people
People from Ondarroa
Sportspeople from Biscay
Spanish footballers
Footballers from the Basque Country (autonomous community)
Association football goalkeepers
La Liga players
Segunda División players
Segunda División B players
Real Sociedad B footballers
SD Eibar footballers
Real Sociedad footballers
Primeira Liga players
C.D. Tondela players
New Zealand Football Championship players
Auckland City FC players
Basque Country international footballers
Spanish expatriate footballers
Expatriate footballers in Portugal
Expatriate association footballers in New Zealand
Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Spanish expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Topic: What Movies I Been Watching
Author Topic: What Movies I Been Watching (Read 227838 times)
Re: What Movies I Been Watching
Lucy (2014/France)
IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Luc Besson
Writing: Luc Besson (Writer)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Spanish: DTS: 5.1, French: DTS: 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Scarlett Johansson as Lucy
Morgan Freeman as Professor Norman
Choi Min-sik as Mr. Jang
Amr Waked as Pierre Del Rio
Julian Rhind-Tutt as The Limey
From the visionary director of La Femme Nikita and The Professional, starring SCARLETT JOHANSSON and Academy Award® winner** MORGAN FREEMAN, comes an action-thriller about a woman accidentally caught in a dark deal who turns the tables on her captors. Altered by a dangerous new drug allowing her to use 100% of her brain capacity, Lucy transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
**2004, Best Supporting Actor, Million Dollar Baby.
BD-Live
I remember seeing the trailer for this one when it first came out. I have wanted to see it every since. After seeing the film I had a mixed reaction to it. Mainly because this movie was not what I was expecting when I saw the trailer. But at the same time I really did enjoy it. Part of me felt a little disappointed because I didn't get what I was expecting when we popped in the disc...but yet another part of me was fixated on the film. I thought Scarlett Johansson was great in the title role. I would definitely recommend this film but if possible do not watch the trailer beforehand... or at least do not go into it with expectations from the trailer.
I thought Luc Besson still got it as a stylish action director and enjoyed LUCY quite a lot; except the ending, those last few minutes were just too crazy...
Creed (2015/United States)
Warner Home Video (United States)
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writing: Ryan Coogler (Screenwriter), Aaron Covington (Screenwriter), Ryan Coogler (Story By)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, Audio Descriptive: DTS: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
Tessa Thompson as Bianca
Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed
Andre Ward as Danny 'Stuntman' Wheeler
Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), son of deceased world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, has boxing in his blood. Looking to win his own title, Adonis heads to Philadelphia and convinces his father's rival-turned-friend, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), to train him – even as Rocky battles his own deadly opponent outside the ring. Now Adonis has a shot, but first he must develop the heart of a true fighter in this new chapter of the Rocky story from critically acclaimed director Ryan Cougler.
Includes music from Creed: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack featuring Future, Meek Mill and Tessa Thompson.
I must say I loved this film. It is a great continuation of the Rocky franchise. But it is more then that... this film is both a continuation and a remake at the same time. With Rocky taking over the role of Mickey training Apollo Creed's son. I went out of this one wanting to see at least one more installment into the franchise. This film is defintely worth the time put in to watch it....highly recommended!
Daylight (1996/United States)
Director: Rob Cohen
Writing: Leslie Bohem (Writer)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, French: DTS: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Sylvester Stallone as Kit Latura
Amy Brenneman as Madelyne Thompson
Viggo Mortensen as Roy Nord
Dan Hedaya as Frank Kraft
Jay O. Sanders as Steven Crighton
Brace yourself for nonstop action and suspense! When an explosion seals off a commuter tunnel 100 feet below the Hudson River, the survivors are faced with toxic fumes, fires and the impending collapse of the tunnel. Their only hope lies in the hands of a former emergency medical services chief Kit Latura (Sylvester Stallone). As the walls cave in and the tunnel fills up with water, Latura risks his own life to save others and prevent the disaster from escalating into an even greater catastrophe. Filled with spectacular special effects and heart-pounding intensity, director Rob Cohen's (The Fast and the Furious) Daylight will have you holding your breath from start to finish.
pocket Blu App
D-BOX Motion Code
This is a film I have liked since the first time I seen it. One of those type of films you just leave your brain at the door and just enjoy the disaster and action. I liked the Madelyne character a lot... as well as of course Stallone's character. While I can see how this film is not for everyone... I can't help but to recommend it for a lazy brain-dead type of day. It's a fun flick if you let it be and not try to over-think everything.
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003/United States)
Director: Curt Geda
Writing: Bob Kane (Original Characters By), Alan Burnett (Story By), Michael Reaves (Writer)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Kevin Conroy as Batman
Kimberly Brooks as Kathy Duquesne
Kelly Ripa as Rocky
Elisa Gabrielli as Sonia
Kyra Sedgwick as Batwoman
The Penguin and Rupert Thorn are criminal cohorts with a scheme to sell illegal weapons. But there's a new super hero in Gotham City who has other plans for the evil entrepreneurs: Batwoman! With high-tech gadgets and powerful punches, Batwoman proves to be a formidable crime fighter. The only problem is that the Batman doesn't know who she is! And when Batwoman crosses the criminal line, the Dark Knight must identify whether or not this new player is really an ally. Join the world's greatest detective in this exciting adventure that will keep you guessing until the mask is pulled off!
Animated Short (Chase Me)
I enjoyed this animated adventure quite a bit. I like how they did the mystery of who Batwoman is. The story itself keeps your interest with ease. Recommended for anyone that enjoys animated superhero films.
Authors Anonymous (2014/United States)
IMDb |Trailer |Wikipedia |
Screen Media Films (United States)
Director: Ellie Kanner
Writing: David Congalton (Writer)
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Kaley Cuoco as Hannah Rinaldi
Chris Klein as Henry Obert
Teri Polo as Colette Mooney
Dylan Walsh as Alan Mooney
Dennis Farina as John K. Butzin
After a dysfunctional group of unpublished writers with the motto "all for one" accept Hannah (Kaley Cuoco of 'Big Bang Theory') the last thing they expect is her overnight success — but that's exactly what they get. While her career takes off with a book and movie deal, her eccentric and envious colleagues struggle to find their own paths to publishing fame and fortune. With an A-List cast, Author's Anonymous, is a riotous look at friendship and success!
This is an entertaining film. Though I will say it did not grab me from the start. But the story line did pull me in. I liked most the characters... especially Hannah and Henry. Suprisingly this one didn't end in the way I expected it too. Which is a good thing even if I am not particularly thrilled with the way they chose to end it. I have seen better... but I definitely found it to be worth the time put in to watch it.
San Andreas (2015/United States)
Writing: Carlton Cuse (Screenwriter), Andre Fabrizio (Story By), Jeremy Passmore (Story By)
Audio: English: Dolby TrueHD: 7.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Dwayne Johnson as Ray
Carla Gugino as Emma
Alexandra Daddario as Blake
Ioan Gruffudd as Daniel Riddick
Archie Panjabi as Serena
After the infamous San Andreas Fault gives, triggering a magnitude 9-plus earthquake in California, a search and rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) make their way together from Los Angeles to San Francisco to save their only daughter.
But their treacherous journey north is only the beginning. And when they think the worst may be over...it's just getting started.
I have always liked these natural disaster films. And this one is no exception. I liked the characters...I liked the story... and I liked the effects/visuals.This, in my opinion, is definitely worth the time put in to watch it.
Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015/United States)
Wikipedia |IMDb |Trailer |
Director: Sam Liu
Writing: Alan Burnett (Story By), Bruce Timm (Story By), Alan Burnett (Screenwriter), Bob Kane (Original Characters By), William Moulton Marston (Original Characters By), Jerry Siegel (Original Characters By), Joe Shuster (Original Characters By), John Ostrander (Original Characters By), John Byrne (Original Characters By), Marv Wolfman (Original Characters By), Jerry Ordway (Original Characters By), Louise Simonson (Original Characters By), Jon Bogdanove (Original Characters By), Bob Rozakis (Original Characters By), Jose Delbo (Original Characters By), Neal Adams (Original Characters By), Jack Kirby (Original Characters By), Gardner Fox (Original Characters By), George Perez (Original Characters By)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, German: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish
Benjamin Bratt as Superman
Michael C. Hall as Batman
Tamara Taylor as Wonder Woman
Paget Brewster as Lois Lane
C. Thomas Howell as Will Magnus
From animation legend Bruce Timm comes an all-new original movie. A seemingly familiar skyline reveals itself, though upon closer inspection this is not the Metropolis we know. Journey to an alternate universe where the Justice League is now a trio of unchecked power. Employing methods of intimidation and fear, this Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman deal justice with brute force. And when a group of famed scientists experience a series of deadly "accidents," a government task force follows the trail of clues to the Tower of Justice. It's a high-stakes game of intrigue, mystery and action that asks the question: How do you serve justice to those above the law?
From the DC Comics Vault - 2 Bonus Cartoons
I enjoyed this one... but was kinda weird watching it since I never read the comics I was completely lost going into it...but I did get into the story and found myself enjoying a whole new version of the characters I like to much. I recommend giving this one a chance. It is worth the time put in to watch it.
Space Cowboys (2000/United States)
Writing: Ken Kaufman (Writer), Howard Klausner (Writer)
Subtitles: English, French
Clint Eastwood as Frank Corvin
Tommy Lee Jones as Hawk Hawkins
Donald Sutherland as Jerry O'Neill
James Garner as Tank Sullivan
James Cromwell (1940) as Bob Gerson
They trained body and mind for America's leap into space. When the moment came, the brash flyboys of Team Daedalus were replaced. Now, 40 years later, another moment has come. And this time, it's all theirs.
Directing for the 22nd time and starring for the 42nd, Clint Eastwood leads a stellar cast into orbit in this exhilarating high-tech adventure. Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner join him as old-school test pilots whose grasp of outdated technology makes them the only ones able to repair a primitive, deorbiting Russian satellite that imperils Earth. Strap in for "some of the rightest stuff around" (The Wall Street Journal). With an irresistible payload of heart, humor and heroics, Space Cowboys is all-systems-go.
This is a film I enjoyed quite a bit. It was very well done and has an all star cast that just work great together.While it is a longer then average film, it is so interesting it just don't feel that way. I found all the characters to be appropriately likable... and even if the story is a bit far fetched they somehow make it believable at the same time. If you never seen it... this is one I definitely recommending seeing.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice: Ultimate Edition (2016/United States)
Writing: Bob Kane (Original Characters By), Bill Finger (Original Characters By), Jerry Siegel (Original Characters By), Joe Shuster (Original Characters By), Chris Terrio (Writer), David S. Goyer (Writer)
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman
Amy Adams as Lois
Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor
Diane Lane as Martha Kent
Fearing the actions of a godlike super hero left unchecked, Gotham City's formidable vigilante, Batman (Ben Affleck), takes on Metropolis' revered savior, Superman (Henry Cavill), while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs.
I have heard mixed reviews of this one... so didn't know what to expect going in. I did find it to be a little darker then I was expecting. But at the same time I enjoyed every minute of it. While I might not be thrilled with the ending...it does have me anxious for the next installment. The storyline kept my attention with ease... the 3hrs went by very fast. I was actually surprised it was over already. I liked the entire cast... thoguht they did a great job casting Wonder Woman. And I loved the little sneak peaks of Aquaman and Cyborg. Definitely one I would recommend... especially if you are already a fan of superhero movies.
Batman: The Killing Joke: Limited Edition Gift Set (2016/United States)
Mark Hamill as The Joker
Tara Strong as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl
Ray Wise as Commissioner Gordon
John DiMaggio as Francesco
From executive producer Bruce Timm and based on the acclaimed DC Comics graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke is a journey into the dark psycho of the Clown Prince of Crime. Follow his humble beginnings as a struggling comic to the fateful encounter with the Dark Knight that changed everything. Now escaped from Arkham Asylum, The Joker sets out to prove that one bad day can make anyone just as insane as he is. With The Joker's sights set on Commissioner Gordon, can Batman stop the demented plan in time? Featuring a gripping prologue spotlighting Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and featuring the return of Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker and Tara Strong as Batgirl, witness the birth of a super villain, the fortitude of a hero and the punchline that will leave you speechless!
2 Bonus Cartoons
First let me state that I never read the comic... so I can not compare the two. I have been told various things about the comic so do know the differences here... but that is about it. When watching I was a little surprised that you don't even see the Joker till half way through the film. While I enjoyed the film... I definitely seen better Batman animated movies. I think this one could have been hyped a little too much for me before seeing it. What happened between Batgirl and Batman at the beginning of the movie seemed a bit on the weird side to me... but didn't bother me as much as some people. Over all a decent watch... worth the time... but don't get your hopes up too much for it.
The Incredibles (2004/United States)
Buena Vista Home Entertainment (United States)
Writing: Brad Bird (Writer)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital EX: 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Spanish: Dolby Digital EX: 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Spanish: Dolby Digital EX: 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Spanish: Dolby Digital EX: 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Commentary
Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible
Holly Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirl
Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best / Frozone
Jason Lee as Buddy Pine / Syndrome
Dominique Louis as Bomb Voyage
From the creative minds behind the Toy Story films and Ratatouille comes this hilarious, action-packed animated adventure about a seemingly ordinary family with an incredible secret.
Known to the world as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, Bob Parr and his wife Helen were among the world's greatest crime fighters, saving lives and battling evil on a daily basis. Fifteen years later, they have been forced to adopt civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs to live "normal" lives with their three kids, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack. Itching to get back into action, Bob gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island for a top secret assignment. He soon discovers that it will take a super family effort to rescue the world from total destruction.
Exploding with fun, The Incredibles is edge-of-your-seat entertainment for everyone!
3 short films
I seen this one several times over the years... but it has been a very long time since I seen it. And is the first time I seen it since upgrading it to Blu-ray. The animation is done very well and where I am a big fan of Superhero movies... I felt the storyline was great too. Not to mention a good cast. Definitely one I would highly recommend for anyone who has never seen it. One that is good for the younger and older crowd alike.
Yogi Bear (2010/United States)
Trailer |IMDb |Wikipedia |
Director: Eric Brevig
Writing: Jeffrey Ventimilia (Writer), Joshua Sternin (Writer), Brad Copeland (Writer)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Dan Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
Justin Timberlake as Boo Boo
Anna Faris as Rachel
Tom Cavanagh as Ranger Smith
T.J. Miller as Ranger Jones
Everyone's favorite pic-a-nic basket-stealing bear beings his meal-mooching ways to movies in this live-action/CG-animated adventure starring Dan Aykroyd as the voice of Yogi Bear and Justin Timberlake as the voice of Yogi's faithful pal Boo Boo. Anna Faris, Tom Cavanagh, T.J. Miller and Andrew Daly costar in this wonderful new incarnation of Hanna-Barbera's classic cartoon.
I used to watch the cartoon as a kid all the time... so this one did bring back some nostalgic memories.Sure its a rather silly film. But it is good to have such a l"leave your brain at the door" silly film in your collection for when the mood hits. Another plus here is that it has Anna Faris in it... who I have grown to like quite a bit. Not to mention Tom Cavanagh who plays Ranger Smith... who went on to currently be playing Dr. Wells in the new Flash series. I would say this one is more for the fans of the cartoon for a little nostalgia and the kiddies.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2016, 06:03:59 PM by addicted2dvd »
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010/United States)
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States)
Director: Chris Columbus
Writing: Rick Riordan (Original Material By), Craig Titley (Screenwriter)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Audio Descriptive: DTS: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: Chinese, English, Portuguese, Spanish
Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson
Brandon T. Jackson as Grover
Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth
Jake Abel as Luke
Sean Bean as Zeus
MODERN AND MYTHICAL WORLDS COLLIDE in this thunderous fantasy-adventure starring Pierce Brosnan, Kevin McKidd and Uma Thurman! Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager...he's just learned he's the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt - the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible journey to prove his innocence and prevent a war amongst the gods that could destroy our world!
I knew very little of these films before watching this today. And I can not compare this film with the book... but I must say I was pleasantly surprised after watching this one. It really does remind me of the Harry Potter franchise... except this one deals with the Greek mythos...having Gods and Demi-Gods instead of wizards. The story easily kept my attention through-out the film and I liked all the characters. And there was some recognizable faces that appear in small parts of the film such as Uma Thurman as Medusa. I seen some bad reviews of this film... sure there film is no acadamy award winner... but I recommend checking this one out. I found it to be a good pop-corn flick... just leaveyour brain at the door and enjoy. I know I am Looking forward to the next film.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013/United States)
Director: Thor Freudenthal
Writing: Marc Guggenheim (Screenwriter), Rick Riordan (Story By)
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Dutch: DTS: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Russian: DTS: 5.1, Other: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: Chinese, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Other
Douglas Smith (1985) as Tyson
Leven Rambin as Clarisse
The magical, mythical adventrues of teenager Percy Jackson — son of the Greek god Poseidon — continue in this heroic, action-packed thrill ride!
Out to prove he's not just a "one-quest wonder," Percy and his demigod friends embark on an epic. cross-country journey into the treacherous Sea of Monsters, where they battle terrifying creatures, an army of zombies, and the ultimate evil. With time running out, Percy must find and bring home the fabled Golden Fleece, which has the power to save his world...and save us all!
Tyson Motion Comic
While I still enjoyed the film... I found I didn't care for it as much as the first one. First of all I didn;t care for the addition of Tyson... I just couldn't warm up to the character. I just didn't feel like I cared about him much at all. I did however like where the storyline went... though disappointed it was left open for a third one... a third one we will likely never get. But over all... worth the time put in to watch it. But be sure to watch them in order... as it really is a continuing storyline much like the Harry Potter films.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Westward Fire in Banning 90% contained; size holds at 160 acres
City News Service
A brush fire that erupted on Wednesday in a field near a campground and school in Banning has been 90% contained, Cal Fire said Thursday night.
The fire has scorched about 160 acres, injuring one firefighter and prompting evacuations and the closure of Highway 243 as crews worked to encircle the blaze. Initially, Cal Fire had estimated the blaze at 200 acres.
The Westward Fire was reported at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Westward Avenue, near San Gorgonio Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Aircraft were called in to help firefighters on the ground battle the blaze.
One firefighter suffered a "minor burn injury" and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, Cal Fire spokesperson Tawny Cabral said in a live feed from the fire.
The agency said 22 engine crews and four hand crews from the county and neighboring Calimesa Fire Department were sent to the blaze and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate toward the KOA Campground, just west of Banning High School.
The school and campground were promptly evacuated. An evacuation warning was issued for residents in the area between Highway 243 on the south and Charles Street on the north, between South Hathaway Street and San Gorgonio Avenue. That was later lifted.
Highway 243 was closed in Banning, from Smith Creek to Twin Pines roads, due to the fire, Caltrans said.
Banning police officers closed Westward between 12th Street and San Gorgonio for public safety.
The fire was not immediately threatening homes in the area, according to reports from the scene.
The fire was not far from a Riverside County Sheriff's Department jail, the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility.
Department spokesperson Deanna Pecoraro said around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: "We are aware and at this time there is no fire threat to the Smith Correctional Facility. We are actively monitoring this fire and working closely with Calfire for any updates. We will advise if anything is to change."
Cal Fire water-dropping helicopters were sent to make runs on the brusher, but most air tankers were diverted to a much larger wildfire burning to the northwest, around Lytle Creek, in San Bernardino County.
The cause of the blaze was not known.
Desert Sun reporters Sherry Barkas and Christopher Damien contributed to this report.


Thanks to all the people who made me feel wonderful at the #ManhattanNight premiere & the @nbc super shindig.
Meet the Wrens, a family that will never be the same. See @AdrienBrody & @JenniferBeals in #ManhattanNight May 20th.
Give @Target CEO #BrianCornell & 4 standing up 4 #transgender rights. TY 2 @Target…and 407 other companies.
This bag can help 62 million girls out of school.
This photo made me think of my mom. I loved the sound of my mother's sewing machine. It sounded like love.


text:
Toronto abdominoplasty Tummy tuck Toronto toronto abdominoplasty Tummy tuck
Technology Entrepreneurship
Managing Innovation
Open Source Business
Upcoming Themes
Indexes and Databases
SERS Project
The Sharing Economy and the Future of Personal Mobility: New Models Based on Car Sharing
Olga Novikova
Download this article as a PDF
You cannot separate the buildings out from the infrastructure of cities and the mobility of transit.
The Rt Hon. The Lord Foster of Thames Bank, OM
The sharing economy is an emerging phenomenon that shapes the cultural, economic, and social landscape of our modern world. With variations of the concept of the sharing economy emerging in so many fields, the area of shared mobility – the shared use of a motor vehicle, bicycle, or other mode that enables travellers to gain short-term access to transportation modes on an on-demand basis – has developed as the forerunner of the transformation to be expected in other areas. This article examines how the sphere of personal mobility has been affected by the growth of sharing economy. It contributes to the growing body of shared mobility literature by uncovering innovative mobility-based models that represent solutions on the intersection of shared mobility, physical infrastructure, and integrated-mobility schemes.
During the last decade, the concept of the sharing economy has entered various industries and has altered numerous aspects of daily life. The general notion of sharing within the society is not new (Belk, 2007, 2010, 2014), however, the evolution of the Internet has enabled sharing to spread beyond the local interaction and facilitated connection between vast amounts of individuals (Belk, 2014; Botsman & Rogers, 2010; Hamari et al., 2016).
Various definitions of the sharing economy have been put forward in recent years, however, no single description has been widely accepted by research and practitioner communities (Botsman, 2013). For example, Botsman and Rogers (2010) broadly define the sharing economy or collaborative consumption as "traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, renting, gifting, and swapping, redefined through technology and peer communities".
Applications of the sharing economy concept have found their way into various areas. In the area of production, the sharing economy is manifested in the design, production, and distribution of goods through collaborative networks, with examples including the TechShop workshop and fabrication studio and the Quirky invention platform (Bauwens et al., 2012; Botsman, 2013). In consumption, it means maximizing the utilization of assets through efficient models of redistribution and shared access, as seen with the Zipcar car-sharing service, Airbnb's accommodation marketplace, and the Lyft transportation network (Botsman, 2013). In finance, the collaborative economy means person-to-person banking and crowd-driven investment models that decentralize finance, with examples including the Zopa peer-to-peer lending platform and the Kickstarter funding platform for creative projects (Botsman, 2013; Owyang & Samuel, 2015). In education, the collaborative economy implies open education and person-to-person learning models that democratize education, with examples including the Coursera online course platform and the Skillshare online learning community (Bauwens et al., 2012; Botsman, 2014).
With variations of the concept of the sharing economy emerging in so many fields, the area of shared mobility – the shared use of a motor vehicle, bicycle, or other mode that enables travellers to gain short-term access to transportation modes on an on-demand basis – has developed as the forerunner of the transformation to be expected in other areas (Le Vine & Pollak, 2015; Shaheen & Chan, 2016). Thus, there has been a growing interest in the topic among researchers of mobility in recent years. Researchers have focused their attention on the evolution of car sharing (Shaheen et al., 2015), the technological aspects of the car-sharing market (Zoepf & Keith, 2016), the behaviours and motivations of carpooling service users (Shaheen et al., 2016), mobility business models for the sharing economy (Cohen & Kietzman, 2014), and the concept of mobility as a service (Expósito-Izquierdo et al., 2017), among other topics.
Whereas research to date has focused on the existing characteristics of shared mobility, there is lack of understanding of what kind of new mobility models emerge with the advance of the sharing economy. It is also unclear what solutions appear on the intersection of shared mobility, physical infrastructure, and integrated-mobility schemes. This study attempts to uncover the emerging innovative mobility models, based on the interviews collected with mobility experts, business owners of car-sharing companies, and users of shared mobility solutions.
This article is structured as follows. First, it gives an account of research on car-sharing, ride-sharing, and other shared mobility modes. Then, based on the data collected for this study, it showcases new models emerging on the intersection of the sharing economy and the traditional economy. Finally, it offers a model illustrating an integrated mobility solution.
Mobility in the Sharing Economy
One of the perhaps most recognized and widespread applications of the sharing economy has emerged in the area of personal mobility through car sharing (Botsman & Rogers, 2010; Cohen & Kietzman, 2014). As with sharing itself, car sharing is not a new phenomenon. Car sharing emerged in the 1950s when membership was primarily motivated by economics (Shaheen et al., 1998), and it has since continued its worldwide growth (Shaheen & Cohen, 2007). With car sharing, individuals gain the benefits of using private cars without the costs and responsibilities of car ownership (Shaheen et al., 1998). Thus, instead of owning one or more vehicles, a household accesses a fleet of vehicles on an as-needed basis. Car sharing may be thought of as organized recurring short-term car rental. Individuals gain access to a car-sharing service by joining organizations that maintain a fleet of cars in a network of vehicle locations. Generally, participants pay a modest fixed charge plus a usage fee each time they use a vehicle (Shaheen et al, 1998; Shaheen & Cohen, 2013). The impacts of car sharing can be categorized as environmental, land use, social effects, and transportation (Shaheen & Cohen, 2013).
Several possible typologies of car sharing have been identified (Bauwens et al., 2012; Cohen & Kietzman, 2014; Shaheen et al., 1998). For example, Bauwens (2012) differentiates between peer-to-peer car sharing, business-to-consumer car sharing, and non-profit cooperatives. Peer-to-peer (or consumer-to-consumer) car sharing implies that the fleet of cars is owned by a community. The marketplace then matches cars that are available by the owners with the prospective drivers willing to rent them. Companies such as Turo (formerly RelayRides), Getaround, and JustShareIt offer examples of peer-to-peer car sharing. Business-to-consumer car sharing means that a company owns a fleet of cars and facilitates the sharing among members. Auto manufacturers (e.g., BMW, Peugeot, Daimler), rental brands (e.g., Hertz, WeCar), and car-sharing brands (e.g., Zipcar, StattAuto, GoGet) offer examples of business-to-consumer car sharing. Nonprofit cooperatives (or public initiatives) involve a local organization or community that facilitates car sharing with the goal of changing driving habits over making a profit. Organizations such as City Car Share, PhillyCarShare, and Autolib are examples of such initiatives.
Another case of sharing economy that shapes the personal mobility space is ride sharing (or ride hailing – vehicle owners allowing other passengers to ride in the same vehicle to and from the same or similar destinations), with Uber being the most prominent example of a platform enabling peer-to-peer transactions (Cohen & Kietzmann, 2014). Similarly, various dynamic ride-share systems aim to bring together travellers with similar schedules and itineraries on short notice. As Agatz and colleagues (2012) note, new dynamic ride-sharing systems have the potential to provide significant societal and environmental benefits by reducing the number of cars used for personal travel and improving the utilization of available seat capacity.
Overall, three factors seem to contribute to the ongoing worldwide growth in shared-use vehicle membership: i) cost savings; ii) convenience of locations, use, and access; and iii) environmental awareness (Shaheen & Cohen (2013).
The author studied sharing mobility solutions as part of a larger project examining an emerging electric vehicle ecosystem in Finland. In the first stage, the author collected documents and media material to identify the actors involved in shared mobility and to understand their roles.
In the second stage (March 2012 – August 2013), the author conducted 32 open-ended interviews with a car-sharing organization and actors that were the most relevant with regard to the shared mobility solutions, including car-sharing service users, business owners, and mobility experts. In the third stage (March 2012 – May 2014), the author assessed additional documents and media reports to ensure continuous support for ideas development.
The qualitative nature of the study implies its limitations in scope, scale, and replicability. However, it helps shed light on the emerging and previously not captured phenomena in the fast developing field of the sharing economy. Despite its relative maturity, the collected data is still relevant as it projects the anticipated future mobility models.
As typical in qualitative research, the data analysis consisted of multiple iterative and overlapping phases (Yin, 1994). In the first phase, open coding of the interviews was carried out in order to identify important issues relating to mobility solutions in the sharing economy. This helped to identify the new emerging models and a version of an integrated mobility solution after coding more systematically in phase two.
Findings and Discussion
The present study has identified several innovative models in the space of shared mobility. They combine existing actors in the sharing mobility space and the traditional economy in a novel manner and present an attractive opportunity for future service providers. The findings are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1. New models based on sharing
Lease-to-share model
"'Lease to share' as a car-sharing model is based on leasing. It is you and me leasing the car and subletting unused capacity. We are driving new cars, but we are getting them at a much more attractive rate. You are not responsible to carry the full depreciation load yourself, but you are sharing it with the group of people who are sharing cars. It makes a lot of sense, because we are getting out of an ownership model that has implications for leasing as you can be more flexible with a leasing contract than with owning a car."
Car-sharing business model for car manufacturers
"The dynamics are different – big players such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW... Fiat is planning their own car, VW launched their own car – it is an industry for car manufacturers, and will be through electric cars. The key word is 'car sharing' – they will provide car sharing in different cities and different countries, car sharing with electric cars. And car sharing will be the first point for the consumer to get to know the product, and later buy one if needed."
Collaboration of car-sharing companies and real-estate developers
"For the premise owners, big office buildings, there is a constraint of parking space, so with a sharing scheme, they can offer mobility to the tenants and it adds more value to the premise itself."
"It is a new model. When you buy or rent in a house, there is a service fee, which you have anyway, but in this service fee it is included that there is an electric car in the basement that can be used via shared calendar with other inhabitants. So you know that you don't necessarily need your own car, or you at least don't need a second car."
Self-driving car – an end to classic car sharing or peer-to-peer sharing
"Starting with a long-term vision: the self-driving car, to some extent it is an end to classic car sharing and the modern way of peer-to-peer car sharing that has come up now. Self-driving car means that you can just hire a car, with your cellphone, just like you hire a taxi. It will come, and it will be electrically powered. It will come, pick you up, drop you off somewhere. If you need to go somewhere else, another car will come, pick you up, drop you off. So it is a very fluent public transport system, that is individual enough so that you can sit there only with your friends, only by yourself, but it is also public enough so that you can access it from everywhere."
New mobility schemes
"In the medium term, car manufacturers will benefit from the emerging markets, but there will be a change in the car industry. The car is losing its status symbol in some parts of the world, and it is becoming means of transportation. Now the industry is turning into selling mobility schemes instead of cars, and the impact of e-mobility is one of the components of the whole industry-wide change."
Future integrated mobility model
"In the future, car ownership and public transportation are maybe not so separated. The talk is about the travel chain, which means: range of cars, different sizes, maybe also big trains where one can drive small cars. So transportation is becoming flexible."
For existing car manufacturers, the sharing economy space offers interesting solutions, such as "lease-to-share" model, whereby a system is created for a leased vehicle to be seamlessly integrated into a shared mobility mechanism. Also, the car-sharing business model for car-manufacturers offers an attractive intermediate solution to address a growing trend of not owning a car. Another noteworthy model emphasizes collaboration between mobility providers with actors in a non-mobility space, such as real-estate developers, whereby the shared mobility solutions are taken into consideration before constructing commercial or residential properties. New technological advances, such as self-driving cars will bring about flexibility, or, as one of the interviewees put it "fluidity" in the mobility system, whereby the new system will be private in terms of user experience and public in terms of system access. Finally, the industry will see a change toward offering integrated mobility schemes and systems versus current individual mobility solutions.
Based on the interviews, three factors appeared to be crucial in affecting the choice of mobility solution:
Time: defined as total time taken to accomplish a trip
Cost: defined as total cost of a trip
Convenience: defined as a perceived convenience of a trip
An integrated mobility solution provides an on-demand single-point-of-purchase tool that will enable a user to reach a desired destination by using any combination of transportation modes, such as public, private, and shared vehicles. The architecture will take into account a user's preferences in terms of time, cost, and perceived convenience of the trip. Furthermore, the variety of payment systems (for example, pre-paid or pay-as-you-go) can be integrated to serve the needs of individual users.
New technological mobility systems may provide significant societal and environmental benefits by reducing the number of cars used for personal travel and improving the utilization of available seat capacity. Technology will play a major role in matching needs and requirements of drivers and riders in real time (Agatz et al., 2012). It will also play a major role in providing a seamless solution for a traveller who would be able to choose a trip based on their preferences regarding time, cost, and convenience while integrating public, private, and shared modes of transportation.
The sharing economy has been affecting various spheres of our daily lives, and it has made notable progress in the field of mobility services. This article contributes to the growing body of shared mobility literature by uncovering innovative mobility-based models that represent solutions on the intersection of shared mobility, physical infrastructure, and integrated-mobility schemes. Furthermore, an outline of an integrated mobility solution where three factors influencing a user's choice of mobility mode – time, cost, and perceived convenience of the trip – are incorporated into a scheme with public, private, and shared modes of transportation, is presented as a technological answer to the future transportation challenges.
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Keywords: integrated solution, mobility modes, shared mobility, sharing economy
The TIM Review received partial funding from FedDev Ontario's Investing in Regional Diversification initiative.
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Novikova, O. 2017. The Sharing Economy and the Future of Personal Mobility: New Models Based on Car Sharing. Technology Innovation Management Review, 7(8): 27-31. http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1097
Olga Novikova is a researcher and PhD candidate at Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki, Finland. Previously, she has worked on a variety of research projects from electric mobility to business model innovation. Her current research interests are the emergence and implications of the sharing economy. She has also co-founded Experience Living, a hospitality company in the sharing-economy space. Most recently, she has co-founded Good TV, a global mobile channel with a focus on inspiring, educational, and entertaining content.
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This article investigates sharing economy as a path to welfare innovation. It is based on a case where a digital platform is activated in order to support sharing among citizens with lung disease, and thereby increase health and well-being. The case exemplifies how sharing economy currently is taken up by public actors in the attempt to prolong the goals of the public sector beyond itself....
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To obtain access to goods or services between people or stakeholders, some collaboration between actors is a necessary component. Sharing and a sharing economy is closely related to trust. Within the context of 'the' sharing economy, especially digital trust is assumed to play a crucial role. Access to information is a crucial digital cue which can lead to trust yet, sharing...
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>> when they became members.
>> you intended, despite your efforts to keep the original goals mostly intact.
> I _hate_ it when that happens.
enough time lately on process-related issues.
> to ameliorate the person's problems with fulfilling their commitment.
for people who wanted to join.
> ... I believe that the "I don't care what the founders intended"
role in getting the group vision revised.
> I hope some of this is helpful!
Yes, it has been very helpful!  Thanks for the feedback!


text:
Home Second-Round Showdown: Game 2
Second-Round Showdown: Game 2
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
DaVion Lee
MAY 4| TUES |ROUND 2, GAME 2| (5) Jazz vs. (1) Lakers : LAL lead 1-0
Kobe Bryant showed why he is still the NBA's best finisher in Sunday's win against the Utah Jazz.
But the Lakers are looking for a more consistent effort to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Follow: TwitterCast: @LakersNation |Watch On: FSN West & TNT @ 7:30p PT/10:30p ET | Radio: 710AM ESPN, 1330AM ESPN Deportes
L.A. looked like they were in cruise control for much of the game, pulling to a 14-point lead in the 1st quarter.
But Utah stayed the course. They took advantage of Kobe's foul induced absence to cut the deficit and even take the lead late in the fourth quarter, 93-89 with 4 minutes left in the game.
As Bryant returned, the Mamba's late-game heroics were in effect.
Kobe scored 11 of the Lakers' 15 points to win 104-99. He finished with a game high 31 points.
Deron Williams tried to keep the game in reach for Utah with 24 points. but was only 2-7 in the second half.
The Lakers were great defensively. Forced some very tough shots for the Jazz, despite a few of them falling in.
The bench unfortunately couldn't produce to amount of energy the starters for L.A. intiated. And gave up the 11-point lead in the fourth.
KEYS FOR THE GAME:
Stopping Williams
Deron Williams has frankly been considered the best point guard in the league right now. He's too fast for Derek Fisher to take head on. The Lakers may put Bryant on him if needed.
Twin Tower Dominance
Even if Bynum isn't at full strength, his length will be too much for the Jazz to handle. Pau Gasol will also be able to match with Carlos Boozer, whom he's had past success against on both offense and defense.
L.A. has had home-court advantage against the Jazz in most of their postseason matchups. The Lakers have been successful at home and will look to continue the trend tonight and go up 2-0.
Spreading the Wealth
The Lakers weren't that efficient as a whole. The clutch players for L.A. provided the spark.
Lamar Odom & Co.
Odom and the bench don't need to score a ton of points to be productive. But that can go a long way with the Jazz reserve unit holding Paul Milsap, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie PriceWith the scoring potential they possess, the Lakers' bench will have to be attentive on both ends of the floor.
Limiting D-Will-Boozer Connection.
Williams thrives off getting guys in transition and creating shots for his teammates. L.A. will have to keep their attention on who is prefering to. In many cases, the duo of him and Boozer will be the default. Gasol and Odom usually do a good job defensively on Boozer, so its to be expected that they'll continue this.
PROJECTED STARTERS:
LAKERS:
(C) A. Bynum
(PF) P. Gasol
(SF) R. Artest
(SG) K. Bryant
(PG) D. Fisher
X-Factor: Lamar Odom and bench play. Frontcourt.
(C) K. Fesenko
(PF) C. Boozer
(SF) C. Miles
(SG) W. Matthews
(PG) D. Williams
X-Factor: Paul Milsap & Wesley Matthews.
[phpbay]Los Angeles Lakers, 8, "", ""[/phpbay]
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Trevor Lane


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Q: How to get byte[] from a file in vertx I am trying to extract byte[] from a file which I will receive in form-data in a post call. However, i didn't find any useful code snippet that can help me to get the byte[]. Below is the code that i am trying
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Application Deadline March 1, 2019. Interviews for selected candidates will be on March 24, 2019 in Los Angeles during UC Berkeley spring break (we strongly recommend interviewing in person). If you have questions please contact Carl at: cdjinla013@gmail.com.
Please select a reference who has seen you act as a leader and can speak to your contributions. The reference may be a professor, an employer, a leader in an organization you are involved in (i.e. church leader). Instruct your reference to describe how you have demonstrated leadership and would continue to do so. Please do not use family or friends as a reference.


text:
Smart on Crime
To encourage informed public discussion on criminal justice issues
About Kim Workman
Th BPS Reducing Crime and Reoffending Plan: Pt Two - The Reducing Reoffending Statistic
by Kim Workman
The Reducing Reoffending Statistic - Pushing the Boat Out
"He Who Pushes Boat Out Too Far Will End Up Trimming Sails"
Ancient Proverb
Nigel Latta – Behind Bars
Last Tuesday night's TVOne documentary, 'Nigel Latta –Behind Bars' , should be gift wrapped and presented to all current and future parliamentarians. I can't recall any documentary about prisons and the criminal justice system, which assembled such a range of 'talking heads' – criminal justice professionals, academics, ex-prisoners and prison officers, - presenting an array of many-faceted conversations about the merits or otherwise, of prison. Each conversation had the potential to trigger public discussion and dialogue.
My attention however, was drawn to a short conversation between Nigel Latta and Corrections CEO, Ray Smith, in which Ray spoke about the work transition, vocational training, and rehabilitation programmes currently operating within the prison system, how the reoffending rate had reduced by 12.5%, and was targeted toward a 25% reduction by 2017.
'Pushing the Boat Out'
Ray told Nigel Latta, that he had received advice that it was difficult to reduce reoffending beyond about 5%. He had decided to 'push the boat out' and aim for a reduction of 25% by 2017. Rethinking understands there was a push from senior government advisers to go for 'big, audacious goals', rather than goals which could be supported by existing evidence. Some senior Corrections managers were strongly opposed to the idea, and resigned.
My own experience, overseas contacts and everything I had read, suggested that attaining a goal of that magnitude had never been achieved anywhere in the world, and the most one could hope for was a 5% reduction over two to three years. While I admired the Minister's courage in aiming for the goal, I wondered how it could be achieved. When Corrections reported an 11% reduction in reoffending in the fiscal year to June 2013, I commented on it in an October 2013 newsletter article "The Reducing Crime Rate –It's Not All Smoke and Mirrors", I had this to say:
"There is one other figure that is mystifying people familiar with crime statistics; the reduction of reoffending by 11% in the fiscal year to June 2013. No one can recall ever seeing a reduction of that magnitude in a 12 month period. It means 1,947 fewer offenders returning against a target of 4,600 fewer by 2017. The official explanation is that this significant drop is due to the Policing Excellence programme, with its emphasis on alternative resolutions, and the Department of Corrections' investment in enhancing rehabilitation services across the offender population, (although it notes that the roll-out of rehabilitation measures on re-offending will not become evident in the next two years). Whatever it is, it is likely to attract international attention if it tracks toward a 25% reduction by 2017."
At the time, I was unable to reconcile the progress reports from the Better Public Service (BPS) Reducing Crime and Reoffending strategy with other information we had about the reoffending rate. In April 2014 I pointed out that Salvation Army's State of the Nation report presented a different view.
My public concern was sufficient to prompt an invitation from the Department of Corrections to myself and colleagues to visit, and have the statistics explained. I suffer from a major block wherever numbers and statistics are concerned, and had difficulty understanding what was happening. Not so my colleagues, some of whom made a second trip, and were then able to advise me how this significant reduction was achieved.
Prior to the meeting, we assumed that the BPS approach was to measure all people with a previous conviction, and report annually on any reduction in the reoffending rate. It was not unreasonable, as the network survey referred to in Part One of this blog showed that 80% of all respondents believed the same thing. We subsequently discovered that the reoffending rate related only to offenders currently being managed by the Department of Corrections.
Achieving a 12.5% Reduction in Re-offending - How it is Done
The methodology used to arrive at the 12.5% reduction in reoffending is set out below. The figures below may not be precisely accurate; but the methodology works like this:
Step One: Establish a Baseline
1. The base line was established in June 2011
· 2033 of the 7502 prisoners released the previous year, went back to prison, giving a base re-imprisonment rate of 27.1%;
· 16,190 of those 53,246 starting a community sentence were reconvicted, giving a base re-conviction rate of 30.4%
· The two figures were combined, giving a total number of offenders of 18223.
2. The decision was made to reduce the 18,223 by 25% and round it off to 4,600 fewer offenders.
Step Two: Results by October 2013
3. There were 1981 less ex-prisoners re-imprisoned ; 52 less than the June 2011 baseline of 2033. That is a reduction of 2.56% in re-imprisoned offenders.
4. There were 14,166 community sentenced offenders, 2024 less than the June 2011 baseline of 16,190. That is a reduction of 12.5% in re-convicted community based offenders.
Step Three: Calculate the Reduction in Reoffending
5. If there was a 2.56% reduction in prisoner reoffending, over two years, and a 12.5% reduction in reoffending by community based offenders, where did the 11.28% overall reduction come from? Simple. The department added the 52 prisoners and the 2024 community based offenders together, a total of 2076, and came up with a combined weighted average reduction of 11.28%.
Step Four: Results in 2014
6. There were 1921 less ex-prisoners re-imprisoned ; 112 less than the June 2011 baseline of 2033. That is a reduction of 5.51% in re-imprisoned offenders.
7. In October 2013 there were 14,060 community sentenced offenders, 2130 less than the June 2011 baseline of 16,190. That is a reduction of 12.5% in re-convicted community based offenders. That is a reduction of 13.16% of the June 11 baseline.
Step Five: Latest Calculation
8. Corrections added the 112 prisoners and the 2130 community based offenders together, a total of 2242, and came up with a combined weighted average reduction of 12.3%
In simple terms, it means that:
The percentage of ex-prisoners who re-offended, reduced by 5.51% over 3 years or 1.8% per year
The percentage of offenders on community service who reoffended, reduced by 13.6% or 4.5% per year
Weighted together overall offending reduced by 12.3%
The Public Have Been Misled
A reduction of 1.8 % per year over three years, for prisoners is a positive outcome; and in line with what one could expect from a Corrections organisation committed to reducing reoffending. But a reduction of 5.5% over three years in reoffending by ex-prisoners is not a reduction of 12.5%
Unfortunately, the way the information has been presented to the public through progress reports and media releases, is misleading. The media spin has left the public with the distinct impression that there has been a 12.5% reduction in reoffending, due to efforts in prison rehabilitation
On 2 April, in the Prime Minister's address to the North Harbour Club he credited the prisons with achieving the 12.6% reduction on their own.
"In prisons, for example, we have focused very strongly on literacy and numeracy, skills training, treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, working prisons and reintegration of ex-prisoners into the community. That is giving offenders the opportunity to turn their lives around and stay away from crime. Already this approach has reduced reoffending by 12.6 per cent, which is halfway to the target we've set ourselves of a 25 per cent drop."
A month earlier, Minister Anne Tolley while according Community Probation a passing nod, described a range of prison based programmes and initiatives which she credited with impacting on the reoffending rate. Here are some of the highlights:
Reoffending has fallen by 12.6 per cent against the June 2011 benchmark, resulting in 2,319 fewer offenders and 9,276 fewer victims of crime each year.
"There have been unprecedented increases in prisoner and community offender rehabilitation under this Government, which are already paying dividends.
"Our focus on education, skills training, addiction treatment, working prisons and reintegration is giving offenders the opportunity to turn their lives around and stay away from crime.
There has been a 1500 per cent increase in places on drug and alcohol treatment programmes for prisoners since 2008.
At the same time, there has been a 155 per cent increase in the number of prisoners starting literacy and numeracy programmes, and an 830 per cent jump in the number of prisoners gaining qualifications.
We are determined to reach our target of a 25 per cent reduction in reoffending by 2017, which will result in huge benefits for communities and taxpayers.
It will mean safer streets, with 18,500 fewer victims of crime each year, as well as 4,000 fewer community offenders and 600 less prisoners in jails."
Documentaries like 'Nigel Latta: Locked Up' and the 29 June Marae Programme "Working Toward Freedom" featured Corrections officials talking about a 12.5% reduction, and doing so within a prison setting.
What About the Reduction in Offending by Community Sentenced Offenders?
As at June 2011, there were only 7,502 prisoners released, and a whopping 53,246 offenders who started a community based sentence.
At first glance, Corrections would seem to have been much more successful in its efforts to reduce reoffending by community –based offenders. An annual average reduction of 4.5% and an impressive 13.6% reduction in reoffending is not to be sniffed at. Why wasn't there significant publicity about this result?
Most people who know, suggest that the reduction in community-based reoffending had very little to do with Corrections. The view currently held is that two things have happened. First, there has been a significant drop in the number of community-based offenders who are being charged with offences against justice , which includes breaches of a sentence or court order (e.g. periodic detention, supervision, community service, parole, bail, and non-molestation orders). The numbers of offenders charged with these offences have reduced from 55,681 in 2010/11 to 47,345 in 2012/13. Second, community-based offenders who commit other minor offences, are more likely to be dealt with by the Police through alternative dispositions e.g. warnings, counselling, than by way of prosecution. This is a positive move, as the great majority of this group offend at the lower end of the spectrum, and are likely to respond positively to being offered alternatives. But it may also explain why the reoffending rate by community offenders has plummetted
Building Trust in Government - Dealing with the Democratic Deficit
It will be critical to review the way the Justice Sector and its responsible Minsters inform the public about the BPS Reducing Crime and Reoffending Strategy beyond 2014. There is growing suspicion about the results –any ongoing spin needs to stop.
The offending statistics are already the subject of scepticism and speculation. In October 2013, ,
in the article "It's Not All Smoke and Mirrors" we also raised concern about the reported drop in the number of people charged with a violent offence, (a 19% percent reduction over the previous five years).
"A change in the way statistics are gathered, no longer makes it possible to distinguish between family violence and other violence. Increasingly, those in the domestic violence sector are reporting fewer prosecutions, more diversions for what they consider to be serious offences, a trend toward not charging offenders and a greater reliance on the victim being the evidence provider. It is a regression to the policies of the 1960's. We are concerned that despite their experience of levels of family violence remaining steady, if not increasing, Police statistics are showing that offences are falling."
This concern was justified, when in July 2014, new figures issued by the Family Violence Clearinghouse at Auckland University showed that charges for male assaults against female, applications for protection orders and prosecutions for breaches of protection orders all increased up to 2009-10, but had all fallen since then by between 14 per cent and 29 per cent. The number of police investigations into family violence incidents kept on climbing from 86,800 in 2010 to 95,100 incidents last year. But the number of investigations that led to an offence being recorded dropped from 45,500 to 37,900 - from 52 per cent of all incidents investigated in 2010 to 40 per cent last year.
A more recent example, is the Minster of Corrections claim that 28% of prisoners are gang members. Gang Expert Dr Jarrod Gilbert in an opinion piece to the NZ Herald corrected the issue, and subsequently went to bat with blogster DavidFarrar on the issue.
The new government must consult the public about future plans to reduce crime and re-offending. We have arrived at a point where the public will forgive almost anything, provided the government of the day is truthful and straightforward.
Dealing with the Unintended Consequences – The Bigger Picture
Rethinking's concern is not only with issues of transparency and accountability. It has as much to do with the extent to which this misinformation might guide policy decisions now and in the future. The false belief that prisons are making a significant impact on reducing reoffending, could have serious implications downstream, as government decides where and how to invest its resources. We have identified the following issues.
Prisons Don't Work
The Salvation Army's Pre-Election Campaign video on Crime and Justice , put the facts bluntly. Of the 9,000 prisoners released annually, 4000 commit another crime within 12 months, and 3000 return to prison within 2 years. Prison's Don't Work.
But that is not the message that the Department of Corrections is sending. Constant publicity about the success of prisons in reducing reoffending (by 12.5%!) misleads the public, and could result in the misguided belief that prison based rehabilitation is highly successful. There is no compelling evidence for that. A recent report from the Washington State Institute of Public Policy, a world leader in assessing the cost/benefit of correctional programmes, found that while imprisoning high-risk offenders provides a marginally positive return, imprisoning low- and medium-risk people provides a negative benefit-cost ratio.[1] In the Department's own publication [2] it examines reviews and meta analysis and confirms the view that community-based programmes generate better outcomes than custodial programmes, with community programmes generating effect sizes approximately double those of institutional programmes.[3] [4] [5]
Over-hyping prisons as an ideal place to conduct rehabilitation, can result in a culture developing, in which prison staff and indeed politicians, persuade themselves that 'prisons work'. Take one example.
A recent Corrections pamphlet on treating young offenders, includes the following claim:
"Spending time in prison can open up a new world of opportunities for those young people who may have missed out on schooling or never had a job."[6]
Promoting prison as a positive experience for young offenders ignores the fact that 89% of youth prisoners have previously been in the care or supervision of Child, Youth and Family. If the state is competent to provide a sound education and transition to work, it would have done so when they were under CYF supervision or care. They have failed young offenders miserably, and the Corrections record is no better - reoffending statistics show that around 80% will reoffend after leaving prison.
This reasoning also flies in the face of the existing evidence about the effect of incarceration on young offenders. New Zealander's Ian Lambie and Isabel Randell's recent research shows that:
Incarcerating youth in prison has little positive impact in reducing crime.
The literature highlights this problem, particularly in adult facilities.
There are many negative effects from incarcerating young people in prisons.
Incarceration fails to address both the young person's developmental and criminogenic needs.[7]
Reinvestment within and beyond the Justice Sector
Publicity that over-sells the effectiveness of prisons, could well result in the government over-investing in prison-based programmes, and under-investing in community based rehabilitation, either within Corrections, or elsewhere.
There is a growing concern within the community sector for example, that the 1500% increase in drug treatment programmes within the prisons, has not been matched by government investment in community based drug and alcohol facilities. On the contrary, the number of community residential drug treatment facilities have reduced in the last five years, with many offenders assessed for treatment, waiting 2 – 3 months to get access to a programme. The Auckland Drug Courts have been highly successful, but are experiencing the same problem. In the view of some, the judiciary have been sentencing some offenders to prison, to ensure treatment – adequate community based treatment could obviate that decision.
The pre-election video released by the Salvation Army on 'Crime and Punishment', makes the point well.
The District courts are packed with young offenders struggling with drug and alcohol and mental health issues. Many will appear repeatedly before the Court, without access to community based treatment, until they are finally sent to prison – where possibly for the first time, treatment is available.
Four of the six action plans identified in the BPS Reducing Crime and Reoffending Strategy relate to issues raised by the Salvation Army:
· Improve assessment and interventions for youth
· Reduce availability of alcohol
· Increase alcohol and drug treatment in the community
· Strengthen rehabilitation and re-integration services to prepare and support people to live law-abiding lives
An Increase in the Prison Population
In the light of the government's success in reducing crime and reoffending, one would have expected the prison population to decline. Minister Anne Tolley, in her March media release, promised that there would be 600 less prisoners by 2017. Roger Brooking has commented on this issue. The alarming news is that the current prison population stands at 8,754 as at 28 Aug, an increase of 119 prisoners on the 8,535 that were in prison 12 months ago.
The reason for this increase is straightforward. The government do not have, within its BPS Reducing Crime and Reoffending Plan, a goal or a strategy to reduce imprisonment - despite the Hon Bill English's 2009 declaration that 'prisons are a fiscal and moral failure'.
The Way Forward – Being Smart on Crime
Rethinking's view is clear. The Justice Sector and its responsible Minsters need to re-group post-election, and together with the State Services Commission and other agencies, review the current BPS Reducing Crime and Reoffending Action Plan. In our view, the meeting agenda should include the following items:
1. Review the Communication Strategy
For all the reasons set out above, the BPS Strategy must find ways of reducing the 'democratic deficit'. The general public are tired of spin, and want to join with government in
reducing crime and reoffending. Ideally, the strategy should include a public consultation process of the kind implemented when Ministers Power and Sharples launched the initial Ministerial Meeting for the 'Drivers of Crime' strategy – an initiative which sadly, has lost its way.
2. Review the Goals
There are two things that need to happen. First, goals that are hugely aspirational are fine, but they deserve to be based on evidence based research, rather than media hype. Incentivisation is a double edged sword. On the one hand it can encourage the development of a highly motivated work culture. On the other, it can encourage a culture of duplicity and deceit; a workplace where the end justifies rather naughty means.
Second, take the time to consider whether there are not more effective means of achieving the desired results. New goals may be required. For example, there is no goal for reducing imprisonment levels. Often, the current penchant is for measures which focus on monitoring and control; often the least effective in reducing crime. I have already argued that the offender's register, (a monitoring device) is ineffective, and a strategy which aims at 'outing' unknown child sex offenders, and encouraging them to seek treatment, would produce a better result. The $35.5 million Cabinet has agreed will be spent over the next ten years, would be far better invested in a community prevention strategy.
3. Conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis
Closely aligned with goal review, is the challenge to focus on programmes and initiatives
which provide a cost benefit. Again, the movement from expensive monitoring and control measures to prevention programmes usually produce superior results. The prestigious Washington State Institute of Public Policy, a world leader in cost-benefit analysis, rate the use of extended supervision orders for released sex offenders as the least cost effective intervention in the corrections arsenal – a return of 9c for every dollar spent. On the other hand, Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) for released sex offenders, have been proven highly effective, but have received almost no funding over the last eight years.
4. Establish Independent Evaluation of Justice Programmes and Initiatives
At present, there is a high reliance on government agencies to report on their own success. There is a growing (but unproven) concern that reported results are inevitably positive, and that some results are out of kilter with comparative programmes conducted overseas. If New Zealand is to preserve its reputation, it is important that there is a higher level of external audit and evaluation around programme design and implementation.
5. Consider Justice Reinvestment
It is equally important to consider not only which programmes work best, but where. There may need to be a reinvestment of Corrections funding for rehabilitation programmes from the prisons into community probation. The Health sector needs to be engaged in a higher level of investment in community based drug and alcohol treatment programmes, and mental health initiatives.
It could also result in a re-appraisal of the role of Community Probation, in reducing reoffending. Recent and emerging research shows that a greater investment in staff development around relationship skills, problem-solving, and structuring interviews, the introduction of the 'good lives' model, and desistance theory have all served to lower the recidivism rate of offenders supervised by probation officers, in comparison to control groups that did not receive training.[8] There is also strong evidence that while families, whanau and communities can be the sites or sources of pressure to offend, they also play a vital role in the reduction of offending. While there is already a positive turnaround occurring within Probation, the question arises as to whether there should not be greater investment in that part of the system.
Significantly, there is emerging strong evidence for a more holistic approach, which maximises the use of community resources, including volunteers, - a little-studied, but valued resource for rehabilitation and reintegration. In terms of the prevailing risk, needs, responsivity model, it calls for less emphasis on risk, and more emphasis on responsivity. [9]
6. Acknowledge that Prison Doesn't Work
Underpinning a review of the BPS Reducing Crime and Reoffending Strategy, must lie the assumption that prison doesn't work. Everything we read, watch, and research, tells us the same thing.
Let Professor Emeritus Andrew Coyle, former Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies, Kings College and a former Prison Governor of many years' experience, have the last word. In a foreword to the 'The Effects of Imprisonment'[10] he summed it up neatly:
"It seems to me that there is also another dangerous influence at work and that is the proposition advanced by some people who work in and around the prison system that good can come out of imprisonment; that it can be an important method of changing the behaviour and attitude of those who are sent there, so that they will come out better people and much less likely to commit crime as a result of their experiences in prison. This is what Nils Christie has called the denial of existence strategy';
"Study after study has shown how penal measures and long-term incarceration have been made more acceptable to society if they were disguised as treatment, training, or pure help to suffering individuals in need of such measures."[11]
As a result, in England and Wales, many prisoners are now required to undergo 'programmes' in an attempt to change their behaviour, the number of women in prison has increased four times within a very short period; in some parts of the country drug addicts can get better treatment than in the community,; and it is now claimed that some difficult children are better of in prison service custody than in a welfare environment. Duguid [12]' has characterised this phenomenon, which of course is not new, as treating the prisoners as 'object rather than subject' someone whose only role is to co-operate with decisions made by others, rather than someone to be encouraged to take control of his or her own life."
7. Review the Purpose of Prisons
The larger question that government and government officials must then grapple with is this: What should prisons do?
Andrew Coyle, [13]in the same Foreword, addresses that very question:
"During all the years that I worked in prisons I never ceased to ask myself why I did so. This was not because of obsessive uncertainty about my chosen career. Rather, it came from a desire never to lose sight of the reality of what I was doing. Shorn of all subtleties and rationalisations, my task was to deprive other human beings of their liberty. I tried to ensure that I did so in the most decent and humane way possible. I attempted to reduce the pain of imprisonment for those men who were under my care. I did my best to provide them with opportunities to make positive use of their enforced time in captivity. But in doing all those things it was important always to remember that prison is by its very nature a debilitating experience. That is why in any decent and democratic society the imposition of imprisonment should always be an instrument of last resort, only to be used when there is no other option."
Recent Developments - Report on the visit of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to New Zealand
Today, I received a copy of the Report on the visit of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to New Zealand (CAT/OP/NZL/ 1) , formulated following a visit to New Zealand in April and May 2013.
It effectively answers the question, as to what prison priorities must be. The report is highly critical of the New Zealand's overuse of imprisonment, the New Zealand prison system, and its treatment of prisoners. For example:
· It recommends an overhaul of the classification system; prisoners belonging to different categories were often subjected to the same rules in terms of hours of lock-down, food, exercise etc. Prolonged exposure to inappropriate regime conditions, such as those which it observed for remand prisoners and youth, constitute ill-treatment;
· Remand prisoners were routinely locked-down for up to 19 hours per day while awaiting trial, in addition to a lack of appropriate facilities for exercise and delays in access to medical assistance. Periods of "out of cell time" were, in practice, significantly shorter than was claimed;
· Youth detainees were de facto penalized by the system, despite their vulnerability, since they were subject to 19 hours lock-downs, whereas convicted and sentenced adult prisoners in other wings of the same prison were subject to a more favourable regime;
· While it is necessary to have completed a number of training and rehabilitation programmes before parole can be granted, there was a shortage of places on such programmes, especially in womens' prisons. The practical difficulties of managing prisoners' movements in accordance with the classification system had the effect of impeding some detainees to attend courses and thus prevented them from being released on parole to which they would otherwise have been eligible;
· Significant declines in the overall numbers of recorded offences and prosecutions has not led to a reduction in the prison population. More needs to be done if the ambitious governmental plan to reduce reoffending by 25 % by 2017 is to be achieved. There must be a great focus on programmes of social reintegration, as well as more active involvement with the Māori community, including strengthening indigenous initiatives and developing community-based Māori specific programmes focusing on prevention of reoffending';
· The department needs to consider the causes of increased prison violence and that its response should take account of both staff and prisoner's safety, promote a positive prison culture, and include improved communication between staff and prisoners;
· The government needs to do more to intensify its efforts to tackle inter-prisoner violence by addressing its causes, including problems arising from gang cultures, the lack of purposeful activities, substance abuse, restricted out of cell time, as well as through staff training;
· The threshold for admitting detainees with mental health needs to a local hospital is extremely high, partly because of long waiting lists and delays in admissions for those outside the prison system. As a result, detainees who have made multiple suicide attempts as well as those with acute or chronic mental health conditions were not being transferred to appropriate psychiatric facilities and were being held in "at risk units", often for prolonged periods of time and in conditions akin to that of a disciplinary regime. The denial of qualified psychiatric assistance under such circumstances and in such conditions amounts to ill-treatment;
· Prisoners are often still in their cells until 8.30am and locked up well before 4.30pm , meaning that, in reality, many detainees are in their cells for 18-19 hours per day, and even longer at weekends. There are harmful effects to being held in so strict a regime for many years, especially those held at the Maximum Security facilities in Auckland. Cells were comparatively small (for example, a block of Hastings prison where cells were approximately 2,25 x 2.85 square meters). When combined with the lack of access to an adequate range of activities, such prolonged periods of incarceration in comparatively small cells constitute ill-treatment;
· The meals provided in prison were of low nutritional value, and monotonous. Dinner was served around 15.30, leaving detainees without food until at least 8.30 am of the next day. Priosners complained about the list of items that could be purchased, in particular regarding prices, limited choice and unhealthy items which failed to compensate for the paucity and monotony of the food provided.
· The management cells and yards (for managing prisoners who breach discipline) at Mount Eden prison were in a deplorable hygienic state. The newly built management cells at the Auckland Maximum Security prison (where persons were held in solitary confinement) were extremely small, were under constant video surveillance, afforded little room for internal movement or activity and can best be likened to a tin-can. The so-called 'exercise yard' was a small cage situated immediately across the corridor from the cell and afforded no opportunity for 'exercise' at all. One person was detained in such a cell for what appears to be an unspecified and open-ended period of time, for security reasons.
· The Committee has grave doubts as to the efficacy of the complaint and appeal mechanisms surrounding the use of these cells. It considered considers the use of these cells for any prolonged period to amount to ill-treatment and wonders whether their use under any circumstances can be other than inhuman or degrading.
· The lack of exposure to sunlight in some cell blocks, meant that prisoners had to be issued with Vitamin D tablets.
Rethinking's view is that the focus must now be on restoring New Zealand's former reputation as a nation that treated it's prisoners humanely, and with respect.
Concluding Comment
Florence Nightingale famously argued that the first principle of the hospital should be to do the sick no harm.[14] A recent history of prison standards begins by arguing that Nightingale undoubtedly would have expressed a similar principle for prisons.[15] It seems she actually did – or at least argued that we should do more research into whether or not prisons caused harm. In a letter to the Manchester Guardian in 1890, Nightingale laments the fact that 'criminology is much less studied than insectology' and argues that: 'It would be of immense importance if the public had kept before them the statistics, well worked out, of the influence of punishment on crime or of reformatories and industrial schools on juvenile offenders." Armed with such knowledge, she believed, no rational society would support a system of reformation that made its subjects more likely to offend upon their release than they were prior to admittance.
Let's run a system that does the sick no harm.
[1] Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 'Prison, Police, and Programs – Evidence-based Options that Reduce Crime and Save Money', (Nov 13)
[2] Department of Corrections, 'What Works Now? A review and update of research evidence relevant to offender rehabilitation practices within the Department of Corrections, December 2009, p.47
[3] Andrews, D. & Bonta, J. (2006) The psychology of criminal conduct, 4th Edition. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing Co.
[4] Parhar, K., Wormith, J., Derkzen, D. & Beauregard, A. (2008). Offender coercion in treatment: A meta-analysis of effectiveness, Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 35.9, 1109-1135.
[5] Tong, L. & Farrington, D. (2006). How effective is the "Reasoning and Rehabilitation" programme in reducing re-offending? A meta-analysis of evaluations in four countries, Psychology, Crime & Law, 12.1, 3-24.
[6] Department of Corrections, 'Young People Who Offend' - http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/756566/YoungPeople.pdf
[7] Lambie, Ian and Isabel Randell, 'The Impact of Incarceration on Juvenile Offenders' Clinical Psychology Review, Vol 32, Issue No 1, February 2013 448-459
[8] McNeill, F.P.RAynor and C. Trotter (2010) 'Conclusion: Where are we now' in F. McNeill, P.Raynor and C. Trotter (ed) Offender Supervision: New Directions and Theory, Research and Practice, Willan Publishing: Oxford, p.537
[9] McNeill, P.538
[10]Coyle, Andrew (2005) Foreword in A.Liebling and S. Maruna (ed.) 'The Effects of Imprisonment' Willan Publishing: Devon, p.xx
[11] Christie, N. (1978) 'Prisons in Society or Society in Prison', in J. Freeman (ed.) Prisons, Past and Future. London: Heinemann.
[12] Duguid, S. (2000)Can Priosns Work, The Prisoner as Object and subject in modern corrections. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p.230
[13] Coyle, Andrew (2005) Foreword, p.xix
[14] Nightingale, F. (1859) Notes on Hospitals. London: Parker and Son
[15] Keve, P.W. (1996) Measuring Excellence: The History of Correctional Standards and Accreditation. Lanham, MD; American Correctional Association.
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