Omega—3 fatty acids are important for a number of different functions in the body… but can they also have anti-cancer effects?
A recent study out of Illinois is showing that certain molecules that form when the body breaks down omega-3s can inhibit cancer's growth and spread. The molecules are called endocannabinoids… they're made naturally by the body and are similar to cannabinoids found in marijuana, but without the psychotropic effects. The study showed these molecules slowed the growth of tumors and blood vessels in mice with bone cancer.
The leader of the study said that dietary consumption of omega-3s can help… but a cancer patient may need something more concentrate and fast acting… which needs more research to find a compound and dose that might be beneficial.
We know what an apple a day is supposed to do… but what about eating an orange a day?
Research out of Australia is showing it may help with your eyesight. The research included more than 2 thousand Australians who were over 50 years old and followed over a 15 year period. The research showed people who ate at least one serving of oranges every day… had a more than 60 percent reduced risk of developing late macular degeneration 15 years later.
The data seemed to show the flavonoids… which are powerful antioxidants… seemed to be what helped protect against the disease.
Speaking of antioxidants… an interesting study out of Columbia University seems to show a link between sleep and oxidative stress in the body.
The study… which was done on a short sleeping variety of fruit fly… found that sleep can defend against oxidative stress and can work as an antioxidant. But they also learned that oxidative stress also helps to induce sleep. This work is relevant because sleep disorders are linked to many diseases that are also associated with oxidative stress… like Alzheimer's and Parkinsons. Sleep loss could make individuals more sensitive to oxidative stress and then disease as well.
That's what's making headlines in natural health this week… make sure to go to iHealthTube.com and sign up for our free email newsletter to stay connected to the latest in natural health.
Can omega-3 fatty acids help battle cancer? Find out about some of the exciting new research that's been published. Also, you know what an apple a day can do, but what about an orange a day? And find out another benefit of sleep and what it is doing to your body!


text:
Biddle, George (1885–1973)
Artists > George Biddle
In the Breakers
Street Shoppers, Charleston, South Carolina
In his 1939 autobiography entitled An American Artist's Story, George Biddle wrote that art "is a re-creation, a reaction to, a critique of life, expressed subconsciously in a given medium with a certain rhythm." Over the course of a fifty-year career that spanned continents, media, and aesthetic schools, Biddle created works that gave expressive form to his own experiences and to the changing face of twentieth-century life.
Born to a prominent Philadelphia family, Biddle was educated in places of privilege, including Groton, Harvard, and Harvard Law School. His family's social expectations contradicted his own creative instincts, a tension at the root of two youthful emotional breakdowns. By 1911, the artist had discovered his own voice and enrolled at the Académie Julian in Paris. The following year, he furthered his studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Throughout his life, Biddle was an inveterate traveler who absorbed lessons while working in Europe, Tahiti, South America, Africa, and Asia.
Living abroad in the early decades of the twentieth century, Biddle developed relationships with a wide swath of artists whose work shaped his own development, including Fred Frieseke, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Jules Pascin. Following service as an infantry officer on the French front from 1917–1919, Biddle emerged from the Great War "with a clearly defined orientation and a desperate need to make up for lost time." For two years, he lived in a Polynesian village before establishing a studio in New York, a decision that did little to dampen his enthusiasm for world travel. In 1928, Biddle accompanied the muralist Diego Rivera on a sketching trip in Mexico, an experience that would inform his own highly successful career as a social realist focused on contemporary America.
Rivera's influence and Regionalist painting trends in the United States—such as strongly demarcated facial features and exaggerated physical forms—can be seen in Biddle's mature oeuvre, including In the Breakers and Street Shoppers, Charleston, South Carolina. At the invitation of DuBose Heyward, author of Porgy, and the composer George Gershwin, Biddle visited Charleston, South Carolina, in 1930. For two months, he sketched genre scenes and figure studies, many of which were later developed into finished studio canvases. A selection of his illustrations were ultimately published in Gershwin's original 1935 libretto to Porgy and Bess.
During the Depression, Biddle drew on his childhood connection with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to champion the development of the Federal Arts Project of the Works Progress Administration. Active as a painter, teacher, and writer throughout his later years, Biddle's drawings, prints, paintings, and sculptures have been featured in over one hundred solo exhibitions, and were also represented in important group shows. His work is represented in the collections of such prestigious institutions as the Art Institute of Chicago, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Art, Boston, Museum of Modern Art, and Whitney Museum of Fine Art, among others.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Oatmeal season is here and I'm loving every minute. A hot, creamy bowl of oats is one of the most comforting, cosy breakfasts in the world they never get old. I'm snuggling up with a bowl and giant cup of coffee every morning. As apple season is in full swing, it seemed only right to create an Autumnal twist on my porridge with this classic, spiced apple pie oats!
Thick, creamy and warming, this cinnamon infused porridge is getting whipped up almost daily. If you're lucky enough to have an apple tree or know somebody with one, stock up on as many as you can and make some homemade apple sauce to use in this dish (check notes below for the recipe).
My neighbour has a huge apple tree and doesn't use any of them at all. I can't bear waste so quickly filled up a big box and rushed back home to make apple sauce. It takes literally minutes to prepare and the taste is so much better than shop bought. You can use any apples you like, I used a mix of my neighbour's cooking apples and eating apples from my little tree for sweet and sharp flavours.
I've blended these oats to make for a smooth, super creamy texture, but you can skip this step if you like. The base consists of oats and Provamel Almond Unsweetened drink. This tasty drink is organic, sugars free and low in saturated fat The almonds used in the drink are also sourced from Europe, which is really important to me as I like to make sure anything I buy hasn't travelled too far to get to me. Another great reason for using apples from my neighbour!
I added chia seeds in here too – which I almost always add to oats. Not only are they a wonderful way to thicken oatmeal, but they provide fibre and omega 3 fatty acids. I have to be in the mood for chia pudding, so using them like this and blending with oats is a great way to enjoy all the benefits without that distinctive chia pudding texture.
You can make this oatmeal as overnight oats and blend in the morning to save time if you prefer, or don't blend them and just grab and go!
I topped this oatmeal with quick sautéed apple, crunchy homemade granola and maple syrup. This simple mix is a moreish combination of textures and flavours which balance out perfectly with every spoonful!
Of course, oatmeal is endlessly versatile, so feel free to add your own twist with your favourite spices and fruits. Raisins are always a welcome addition, especially if you're soaking these overnight, as they're all plump and juicy in the morning.
I hope you enjoy this recipe, friends! If you make it, or have any comments at all, I'd love to hear from you below! If you fancy taking a snap of your creation, please upload it to Instagram and tag me @bos.kitchen.
This post is sponsored by Provamel, all opinions are my own.
Add all oatmeal ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn down to a gentle simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes, until thick. *If you are preparing the night before, add ingredients to a large jar or bowl and set aside in the fridge. Cook in the morning, or enjoy cold.
To prepare sautéed apples, add apples, cinnamon and water to a small frying pan. Heat over a low heat for 5 minutes, stirring gently.
Remove star anise and add oatmeal to a blender and process for 1 minute until smooth. Top with granola, sautéed apples and maple syrup.
*To make apple sauce, chop 4-5 large apples and add to a saucepan with the juice of a lemon and 4 tbsp of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until thick and pulpy. I prefer my apple sauce chunky, but if you'd like it smooth pulse in a blender for 30 seconds. Keep in a clean, sterilised jar in the fridge for up to a week.


Stramontisola is organised by Italian Athletic Federation/AICS in collaboration with ASD Rosa Running Team under the auspices of the Municipality of Monte Isola.
A 9,400 km fast course on the perimeter road of the isle, completely blocked and attended and protected by many volunteers. An unique race, in a stunning paradise, where you'll find the pleasure to run surrounded by the beauty of nature, suggestive hamlets and the blue of the Iseo Lake by your side.
Participation is open to all who are 18 years old and above on the race day and must be affiliated to his National Federation.
He must complete the health form ( click here to download it ) essential for the registration's acceptance.
RUNCARD: In compliance with the Italian law for safety in sports, athletes who do not hold a IAAF membership in their country, can participate with the Runcard which is the Fidal card that includes an insurance policy against injuries (which is compulsory in Italy). It's valid for 12 months and it costs €15. Together with the medical certification, the card allows you to participate in competitive running events in Italy without any kind of membership from a IAAF-licensed club.
SULZANO is the Village Location to get the bib number and the t-shirt. It's located at the Sulzano's Lido (front of Gelateria Pistakkio) .
From the village we will go to the VECCHIO IMBARCADERO , Luigi Cadorna street. From 7:15 a.m. until 9:20 a.m. the boat service free for athletes.
RETURN TO SULZANO: the boat leaves from 11.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m.
Km 9.400 on the perimeter road of the island, unique and spectacular. Enjoy the island… run, walk and take it easy!
Km 15 off road! Subscribe to MONTISOLA TRAIL to discover the island's heart.
An emotion you can share with your friends and family!


Grass Roots Inc. offers local snow removal in our Danbury, Ridgefield, and New Fairfield CT service area. We are well known for our commercial landscaping services in western CT. You can trust Grass Roots for plowing your parking lots, clearing icy slush and snow from your walkways and sidewalks. We manage residential and commercial property, residential housing, office buildings, and private companies. We offer cold weather grounds upkeep, storm cleanup, snow removal, snow plowing, tree pruning, shrub care, and more. Trust our professionals to tackle any job on your grounds, all year long.
As we focus on service excellence, the Grass Roots Inc team is your best choice for year round grounds maintenance. As a full-service landscaping company, we serve both commercial and residential properties in New Fairfield, Danbury and all of Western Connecticut. Our grounds maintenance programs are built around the requirements of our clients. Thus, no job is too large or too small. When you need snow removal from your business complexes, shopping centers, home owner associations, apartment buildings, hospitals, churches, malls, or industrial parks call (203) 746-6638.
Snow Removal | Danbury CT, Ridgefield CT, New Fairfield CT | Grass Roots Inc.


text:
Tuesday 25 Sep 2018
Venue Spotlight: Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
This week, we find out more about the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.
We spoke to Victoria Power, Head of Marketing & Communications, who tells us all about the venue's upcoming events, panto season, and their Wedgwood-inspired dome...
See full listings for the Regent Theatre >>
Regent Theatre, 35-37 Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1AP
Established: 1920s
Tell us about the venue and your role there?
We can hold just over 1,600 people and my role is Head of Marketing & Communications.
When was the venue first established?
The venue as originally built in the 1920s as a cinema.
Has the venue gone through any major changes since it opened (location, renovation etc)?
Yes – when Ambassador Theatre Group took over the venue in 1999, it went through a major refurbishment, being fully restored to its previously elegant art deco style.
How many events do you host on an average week (including matinees and workshops)?
Normally, a touring show will have around eight performances in the venue per week, plus touch tours for our Access patrons and workshops from our Creative Learning department.
Has there been any recent standout shows that you can recommend people to keep an eye on?
This season we have a fantastic mix of top-name shows, including Blood Brothers and Dirty Dancing, plus the UK tour of Nativity!
Blood Brothers and Dirty Dancing have both achieved cult status with their respective fan bases and Nativity! is the perfect family Christmas treat!
Panto is always a year-round project that keeps the whole team busy (and this year is no exception), with a brand-new title for us – Robin Hood. Plus we're already looking ahead to next season which will feature Kinky Boots and War Horse as some of our highlights!
(Benidorm - Live! is currently on at the theatre until Saturday. Get tickets here >>)
If you could change one thing about the live entertainment industry, what would it be?
I'd want to change the perception it has that it's elitist and unaffordable. It's true that some shows come with a certain price tag – putting on a show and touring it around the UK isn't a cheap project – but tickets for the vast majority of our shows start from around £12.50.
I always feel most proud when I see people visit for the very first time, whether that's customers, producers or guests – and watch them gaze upward to our beautiful Wedgwood-inspired dome.
The theatre was opened by Sir Derek Jacobi in 1999 – and shortly after officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen!
Track the Regent Theatre here to keep up to date with all forthcoming events. You can also catch them on their official website, Facebook page, and Twitter, account.


text:
CHANGING COURSE, PART 6: FAQ, CONTINUED
On April 29, 2012 By MikeIn Big East, conference talk, navy football
There's still a lot of ground left to cover, so let's get to it.
How will Big East membership change NAAA's financial picture?
Both VADM Miller and Chet Gladchuk have been very clear about their concern for college football's future and why they feel that Navy needs to join the Big East. There are other implications of Big East membership that haven't really been addressed, though, with the most notable being how it affects NAAA's financial outlook. There are a couple of reasons for this, I think. One, until the new TV contract is actually signed, there aren't any details to talk about. Two, any time you talk about money, it brings out the cynics who believe that athletic departments can instead be funded by platitudes and pep talks. For PR's sake it probably makes more sense to focus on other things.
In a way, the financial impact of joining the Big East has been addressed, just in different terms. When we talk about remaining in the top tier, we're really just talking about money. The divide in college football that many fear is around the corner will be based on finances, separating big-money athletic departments from those with smaller budgets for competitive and legislative purposes. If remaining in the top tier of college football is the goal, then NAAA's financial health must be addressed.
Along those lines, joining the Big East accomplishes a few things. Obviously it means more money, although how much more depends on what the television contract ultimately looks like. If it's anywhere close to what the Big East hopes it will be it'll be a lot more, but we'll have to wait and see. More money is only part of the story, though. Just as important to the story is how joining the Big East means more stable money for the athletic department. Right now, NAAA depends on a few main pillars for income: donations & corporate sponsorship, football games (which includes ticket sales, parking, program sales, etc.), and television, the two largest components being the rights to the Army and Notre Dame games. As things stand now, each of these faces an uncertain future.
Anyone who cares about Navy athletics has to be disturbed by trends in Army-Navy and Notre Dame football. Ratings for both have been in decline. Army-Navy ratings have stabilized a bit now that the game once again has a Saturday to itself, but this is the end of the line. If there are any more changes in college football that encroach on the game's spotlight, there's nowhere else for it to go. What if championship games move back a week? What if an expanded playoff begins that weekend? The game will be televised no matter when it's played, but the only way it can maintain its current value is if it has no competition. Similarly, as Notre Dame's ratings on NBC go down, so does the asking price for Navy-Notre Dame games when Navy is the home team. If NAAA can't be certain that these games will continue to bring in the revenue it needs, it has to find other funding sources if it wants to continue maintaining its 30 sports at the same levels they currently enjoy.
Donations, sponsorship, and ticket sales would face similar problems if Navy ends up on the wrong side of the haves/have-nots divide. A drop in status, whether formal or perceived, inevitably leads to a drop in visibility and enthusiasm. Less visibility means less benefit to corporate sponsors. Less enthusiasm leads to fewer private donations and tickets sold, especially considering the enormous competition that Navy football has in the area. The effect on NAAA would be crippling. Joining the Big East and its television contract reduces NAAA's dependence on declining assets.
Like I said in an earlier post, a lot of this depends on the idea that a Division I split is on the way, whether formal or de facto. If you don't think that a split is inevitable, you probably won't agree with joining a conference. Keep in mind, though: the idea of a split isn't some crackpot theory. It's a very real possibility, and recent events certainly haven't done anything to suggest that it won't happen. Joining the Big East allows NAAA to become less dependent on funding from sources with uncertain futures.
OK, but why now? Why not wait until it's clearly necessary?
The Big East needs to have its membership finalized so television broadcasters know what they're bidding on. Navy has a certain national appeal, plus annual games against Army and Notre Dame, that make it a valuable addition to the conference (maybe even the most valuable) from a television standpoint. It makes more sense to join now so TV suitors can take that value into account. There are also on-field benefits for the Navy program when it comes to recruiting. Joining now gives recruits a sense of stability in that they know the direction of the program and where it will be in the future. Nothing is worse for recruiting than uncertainty. Well, other than maybe what Penn State has to deal with.
What does it mean for the Big East now that it looks like BCS AQs are going away?
The BCS was groundbreaking because the combination of all the major bowl games into one television package allowed for unprecedented payouts to member conferences. They still pay well, and the value of the BCS television contract will only get bigger as the format shifts to a 4-team playoff. How the revenue distribution is set up under the new contract will obviously be important to watch. However, the BCS isn't the exclusive source of windfall revenue that it used to be now that individual conference television rights are bringing in billions of dollars. Whether the BCS remains exclusive or even exists at all isn't as important as it once was because conferences are making huge money on their own.
People need to stop thinking in terms of BCS access. What happens on the field isn't what is driving conference realignment. Money is. That's why articles like this are so absurd. San Diego State and Boise State aren't going back to a conference that is sitting in ruins with almost no television coverage just because there's no automatic ticket for conference champions anymore. The only people suggesting such things are those who have an interest in trying to preserve the Mountain West or those who have an interest in seeing the Big East fail (like ESPN).
If you think about it, the biggest loser once the AQ rules go away isn't the Big East. It's the non-BCS conferences. The rules for automatic qualification were what made it possible for their champions to force their way into games they otherwise had no shot at being invited to. Do you think Hawaii is ever going to play in the Sugar Bowl again? Do you think the champion of the Mountain West will ever play in the Rose Bowl again? Probably not.
Is Navy going to stop playing Air Force?
EYES ROLLED
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Coach Niumatalolo was asked about the future of Navy's rivalry games following the announcement that his program would be joining the Big East. It's a legitimate question, considering how shifting conference affiliations have already ended some long-standing rivalries (Pitt-Penn State, Nebraska-Oklahoma, etc.) and are threatening to end others (BYU-Utah, Texas-Texas A&M, Kansas-Missouri). Coach Niumat answered that if he was forced to choose, he'd play Army and Notre Dame. He also included his rationale:
"Air Force — we play them in different sports and they're a major rival for us but if we get to that point, for me, keeping Notre Dame on our schedule is such a huge recruiting tool for us," Niumatalolo said. "When you think of college football, every kid thinks about the lure and mystique of Notre Dame. We can tell kids every other year you're going to South Bend."
That's not a battle Niumatalolo expects to win. But he says that the move to the Big East is going to require creativity.
"We're going to have to think out of the box a little bit. There might be some alumni that get mad, but I'm looking toward the future for us to compete in the Big East," he said.
"Notre Dame is a big part of keeping our program vital. It allows us to recruit people that otherwise might not look at us. They're a powerful institution. For our program, now that we're in the league, in my mind that becomes our No. 1 goal.
Makes sense from a coaching perspective, doesn't it? The biggest criticism that people have about Navy's move to the Big East is that the Mids will have a hard time competing against conference teams that have recruiting advantages over a service academy. Coach Niumat understands this better than anyone, which is why he wants to keep Notre Dame on the schedule. Recruits grow up wanting to play against Notre Dame, and they like knowing that they'll be playing on that stage every year. Losing that as a selling point would be a huge blow to a football coach that needs every recruiting advantage he can get– now more than ever. Playing Notre Dame makes Navy a better program. Nobody grows up dreaming of playing against Air Force.
Naturally, some people– mostly Air Force fans and trolling columnists that must have attended schools where ethics is an elective– chose to ignore the purely hypothetical nature of Niumat's comments, as well as his deference to the superintendent and athletic director. Instead, they chose to twist Niumat's words and imply that OMG he's scared of Air Force. Even Troy Calhoun decided to get in on the action:
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun was skeptical that Air Force's service academy games would go away anytime soon.
"I don't think so," Calhoun said.
Calhoun then seemed to challenge Navy and Niumatalolo in a subtle way, pointing out what Air Force has done through the years playing in a conference (and note in the quote that he points out the "six best leagues" while referring to Air Force's affiliation with the Mountain West, which would apparently put the Big East in seventh place).
"To be in one of the six best leagues in all of college football, and to still play Tennessee, Michigan, Notre Dame and still play your service academy games, and to be able to go through an academy, it's the greatest test in college sports period," Calhoun said, rattling off some of Air Force's most recent non-conference opponents. "It's the ultimate rigor and the ultimate mettle building process. But it can be done."
Pretty big words from someone who just had to endure the "rigor" and "mettle building" of playing two I-AA teams in order to have a winning season. Of course, Niumat's comments had nothing to do with how tough his schedule will be. Even if they did, it would build a lot more mettle to play Notre Dame instead of Air Force, wouldn't it? That's the funniest part Calhoun's comments. It would be easier for Navy to play Air Force instead of Notre Dame. Apparently the blowhards have checked their common sense at the door. Even Schwab betrays his own logic in that blog post when he points out that "one of the main benefits of service academy football [games] is exposure." Between Army, Notre Dame, and Air Force, which games do you think give Navy the best exposure?
(By the way, Calhoun knows nothing about playing in "one of the six best leagues." No top-six conference has UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, and New Mexico in it. Mountain West people like to ignore the fact that the bottom half of their conference exists. When half of your conference is terrible in any given year, of course you don't worry as much about your OOC schedule. No matter how good the one or two elite teams in the league might be, you know you have other wins built in. You can't say that about the new Big East other than Memphis, and they will probably be in the western division anyway.)
All of this is moot, because the Big East has already granted Navy scheduling priority for Army, Notre Dame, and Air Force. The game isn't going anywhere. If a few Air Force fans want to get their feelings hurt because they don't like being third on Navy's tradition hierarchy, they can climb that molehill all they want. This is a non-issue.
Doesn't joining the Big East make it harder to play a national schedule?
Several years ago, Air Force was one of a few schools exploring the possibility of playing a basketball game in Jacksonville on the deck of an aircraft carrier. In the discussion over why they'd want to do such a thing, one of their associate ADs said something that has always stuck with me:
"More than anything, it's about the nation being exposed to the Air Force Academy, not just the basketball program," Saks said. "I think people tend to forget on the East Coast that the Air Force Academy exists.
It was a revealing comment about the dangers of conference membership for a service academy. If the purpose of the athletic department is to serve as the school's "front porch" and provide visibility to potential candidates for admission, there was at least one person at the Air Force Academy who felt that their program wasn't meeting that objective. It's not hard to see why; they play in a regional conference of lower-profile schools and lack an annual national showcase like Army-Navy or Navy-Notre Dame. Conversely, football independence has allowed Navy the flexibility to play at least one school from every Division I-A conference over the last decade in addition to those two high-visibility games. The needs of national programs like the service academies aren't served very well by playing in regional conferences. So wouldn't joining the Big East kill Navy's ability to continue playing a national schedule?
Frankly, yes. The scheduling variety that Navy enjoyed in the past will disappear once they're in the Big East. The league is attempting to redefine itself as a national conference, which helps, but only a little; Navy will still play games from coast to coast, but it's debatable whether playing in the same dozen or so conference locations is truly "national" for visibility purposes. However, the need to play games around the country isn't what it used to be, either.
Playing a national schedule was more important back when fewer games were on television and local newspapers were the only source of information for most people. That isn't the case anymore, with the internet, satellite TV, and dozens of sports channels. The media environment is changing rapidly, even in the relatively short nine years since that comment by the Air Force athletics official was made. Positioning yourself in the modern media environment is far more important than playing around the country if your goal is to be as visible as possible. Joining the Big East helps Navy in that regard, and will even more so if there is a Division I split.
How does Navy joining the Big East affect bowl games?
One of the many benefits that Navy receives as an independent is the ability to secure their own bowl arrangements years in advance. Two bowl games (the Poinsettia and Congressional/EagleBank/Military Bowls) were actually created with Navy in mind. In addition to those two, other past and future bowl destinations include Charlotte, San Francisco, Houston, and Ft. Worth. Navy fans have enjoyed both the security of ongoing bowl partnerships and the variety of new and exciting venues. It has been the best of both worlds.
Unfortunately, like everything else in college football, that won't last forever. There is a growing sentiment to increase the number of wins for bowl eligibility from six to seven. If that happens, the number of bowl games will have to decrease; there just won't be enough eligible teams. The bowls that would likely be on the chopping block include some of the same games that have made arrangements with Navy over the years. With fewer bowls available, it would be more difficult for Navy to carve out bowl arrangements on their own– a problem that goes away once they're in the Big East fold. On top of that, if controllership of the bowl system passes from the NCAA to the conferences, it certainly wouldn't be a good idea to not be in a conference if you're looking to secure bowl berths.
(Scheduling as an independent would also become that much harder if seven wins becomes the standard for bowl eligibility. Teams will be even less likely to want to schedule anyone that can beat them.)
It can't all be good news, right? What are some of the Big East's potential weaknesses?
Conferences have traditionally been made up of like-minded institutions from within a particular area. Sure, you sometimes have a Northwestern or Vanderbilt that seems out-of-place, but most conferences were formed around schools that at the time had similar academics, enrollment, and geography. The rules weren't very well-defined in the early days of college athletics. Universities with comparable profiles were able to find agreement on eligibility issues and other matters more easily, allowing them to establish a championship under a common set of rules. And since most travel was done by train, college athletics were primarily a regional affair.
One look at the new Big East, and it's clear that it doesn't fit the traditional conference archetype. It's very factionalized. There's the geographic divide between east and west. There are basketball schools, football schools, and others that play in the conference for both. There are public schools and private schools, which for the most part mirrors the football vs. non-football split with the exception of SMU. And then there's the Naval Academy, which is completely different from everyone. Each of these different groups could potentially have its own set of concerns and ideas for the direction of the league. Common sense would seem to tell us that it's hard to develop any sort of cohesion within a conference when its members have such fundamental differences.
That said, I don't know how much that old common sense applies anymore. The modern role of conferences has changed, shifting away from being based on geography and similar institutions and more toward joint marketing and television appeal. The new Big East might be the most far-flung of the major conferences, but it isn't the only one branching out from tradition. Nebraska and Penn State aren't exactly regional rivals. The ACC has expanded north from Bojangles territory into the land of Dunkin Donuts, and contains a mix of public and private schools. The Southeastern Conference has expanded into the Midwest. The Pac 12 expanded east of the Rocky Mountains and tried their hardest to move into Texas and Oklahoma. The Big 12 now stretches from Lubbock to Morgantown and added a second private school in TCU. As odd as some of those moves might seem, each of them were done for the sake of securing more television money. That's what matters to conferences now, and money can be a mighty powerful adhesive to keep schools together. The Big East is no exception.
It's possible that the basketball schools will still want to break away; as football grows in importance, they might feel that their influence on conference matters is diminished. Besides, an 18-team hoops league can be a bit unruly. But would they be willing to leave UConn, Cincinnati, and Louisville– three of the most prominent basketball programs in the conference– behind? Even if the basketball schools feel like they aren't running the show anymore, they surely also realize that they would be less valuable on their own without those big names. And this is before you consider the additions of Temple and Memphis, two more excellent basketball programs. Whatever motivation the basketball schools might have to split, there's just as much compelling them to stay together.
There's also the chance that the Big East could get raided again, but you can say that about pretty much every conference other than the Big Ten, Pac 12, and SEC. That's just life in college athletics now.
The Big East might defy conventional wisdom, but the bottom line is that conferences are increasingly becoming marriages of convenience. These programs need each other. That's enough to make it work.
Are they really going to expand Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium?
Tucked into the end of the teleconference announcing Navy's acceptance into the Big East was this little bombshell:
Don Markus (Baltimore Sun): Chet, are there any plans or has it been discussed about expanding the stadium, the size of the stadium?
Gladchuk: Actually, there has been, Don. We have had some dialog with the Admiral and we have talked about it to some degree with the city of Annapolis. But one thing we are very careful about is the aesthetic character of what we call a memorial that happens to be a football stadium. We never want to lose that and also the accommodating infrastructure in the surrounding community is something we are sensitive too. Specific to your question, we have a vision for what we call Phase IV of Navy-Marine Corps, which will include expanded seating, additional hospitality areas, locker rooms will be upgraded and some other amenities that will put us competitively in-line with other BIG EAST institutions as they pertain to recruiting and fan accommodations.
Markus: Do you see these plans coming to fruition in the next few years as you join the league?
Gladchuk: Don, I'm going to start the moment we hang up this telephone.
That was the one thing about the Big East move that caught me by surprise. While expanded seating was just one item mentioned as part of a list of potential stadium improvements, it's definitely the most eye-catching. I'm not sure how I feel about it. The stadium always felt like the perfect size to me. Does joining the Big East really make it necessary to expand?
Other schools in the conference with smaller stadiums seem to think so. Boise State is expanding to 53,000 (!) seats. Cincinnati is in the "early stages" of expansion and raising money for the project. SMU hasn't announced any plans, but as they have pursued membership in a BCS conference, their AD has spoken publicly about their ability to expand to 40,000-plus. Houston is building a whole new stadium. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean that Navy has to follow suit, does it? After all, you don't have to go very far to see cautionary tales of floundering expansion projects at Rutgers and Maryland. The answer is that it all depends on the market and how the expansion is carried out. What is Navy's place in the market, and how does joining the Big East affect that? That might make a good topic for a separate post…
That wraps up the Changing Course series on Navy football joining the Big East. I know not everyone is going to be convinced that it's the right move; I support the decision, but that doesn't mean I'm not just as nervous as everyone else. Even if you disagree with it, hopefully you at least have an appreciation for how complex the situation is and why the decision was made.
If you need to take solace in something, remember this: there are plenty of schools right now that would love to be in Navy's shoes as a future Big East member. There is a reason for that. Change is on the horizon, and some schools are going to be left out. The Naval Academy has taken steps to ensure that it isn't one of them. Joining the Big East is a strategic move to protect the school's most visible and valuable recruiting asset against a long-term future of college football that is uncertain at best, and catastrophic at worst.
CHANGING COURSE, PART 5: TELEVISION AND THE TOP TIER
THE DRAFT POST
32 thoughts on "CHANGING COURSE, PART 6: FAQ, CONTINUED"
Adam Nettina
"there are plenty of schools right now that would love to be in Navy's shoes as a future Big East member"
I think that's the most telling thing you've written in the whole series, and the reason why I'm feeling so uneasy with what is going down in my alma mater's soon to be dead conference.
biscuitville>>>>>bojangles
Yeah, but Bojangles is more ubiquitous. If I was going for quality I would've said Cook Out.
usna86
Mmmmm….Cook Out.
Cheerwine floats are no joke.
Gazette Reader
You link this article on the colorado springs gazette while accusing their writer of being a troll. What a cringe worthy joke you are.
Are you really complaining about Frank Schwab writing a piece entitled "WOULD NAVY DUMP AIR FIRCE OFF THEIR SCHEDULE? SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY" ?
Schwab isn't the troll I was referring to.
Your article is the 6th part of a cowardly apology for Navy "changing course" from its long tradition of independence. It would have been brave to write this whole thing 3 years ago when Navy was dominating as an Independent. It is cowardly because it is written after the fact as you try to piece together decades old stuff from Army and new news from the mountain west as if you always knew this was a good idea.
It wasn't a good idea 3 years ago.
Also you say "Troy Calhoun decided to get in on the action". So when Troy Calhoun answers a reporter's questions, he is "deciding to get into the action"? Let's also not forget that when asked if he thought Navy would drop the series, Calhoun's short answer was "I don't think so."
But the Navy coach's comments were in response to a reasonable question and you can put together such a great "long answer" for how his comments were justifiable and a "non-issue". Good thing it doesn't take any journalistic integrity to run a Navy blog.
Calhoun misrepresented Niumatalolo's comments as being about schedule strength. They weren't. That's the "getting in on the action."
You are right that I'm not a journalist, though.
Lets also look at something else Schwab wrote in that piece "Niumatalolo, who didn't respond to a text message, said he was speaking on his behalf and he had not discussed the matter with Navy's athletic director or superintendent. That, along with a rational look at the issue, will lead one to believe that Niumatalolo's comments probably won't amount to anything."
So the imminently defensible Niumatalolo doesn't respond to a reporter's question during the off season. The reporter still writes that Niumatalolo's comments are OK, but according to you the reporter is the one with questionable ethics? I think it is clear you're the one with the slanderous ethics. Good day Sir.
Once again, I wasn't referring to Schwab. Good day to you too.
Schwab isn't the troll you were referring to? "mostly Air Force fans and trolling columnists that must have attended SCHOOLS where ethics is an elective" You linked to Frank's story, leaving the clear impression you were referring to him and to other Air Force fans. Were you referring to Air Force Academy graduates or just other columnists who happen to work at the Colorado Spring Gazette? You used the plural "schools" so it you must have been talking about multiple trolls. Save your revisionist history.
Schwab isn't a columnist. Hopefully you've figured it out by now.
Angry Air Force fan is angry.
I'm starting the paperwork to the Vatican for your canonization. Your restraint from reaching through the intraweb and throttling this schmuck; is of certain heroic virtue. It gives the faithful a holy life by which to pattern their own. Plus, I've been to MIDnight Mass there and the Cardinal I received communion from may have been Ratzinger; so you should be a shoe-in.
DotBone
This guy is Navy's version of a saint? "The Bird Dog" puts a link to this article on a Schwab story at the Colorado Springs newspaper's website. He slanders the ethics of "Air Force fans and trolling columnists", in the very same paragraph where he says "THEY chose to twist Niumat's words" and links to a Schwab piece and quotes it.
Then he defends himself by saying "I wasn't referring to Schwab," but he won't name who "they" are—the "fans" and "columnists" (note he used the plural on both). You're confusing restraint with an indefensible position.
saltysam98
HOW DARES YOU QUESTION THEE INTEGRITAS OF THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE???
Yes clever. Make fun of grammatical mistakes on a response I cannot edit. But the guy who wrote this piece had all the time in the world to edit and to picky his words carefully before he posted it. He linked this article to the Air Force Academy's hometown newspaper, probably hoping Air Force fans would come here and comment. But the portion challenging Air Force was so poorly written he is now left with saying things like "I'm not a journalist" and being congratulated on his restraint.
He linked this article to the Air Force Academy's hometown newspaper, probably hoping Air Force fans would come here and comment.
No, I didn't. Learn what a "pingback" is.
Ha, I meant "to pick his words", obviously not "picky"
OK, If you're really a "Gazette Reader" then you should have figured out long ago exactly who and what I'm referring to. Someone doth protest too much. Come back when you've put it all together.
I will concede that my post was poorly written; next time I won't assume that people know what a columnist is.
How to edit on the internet: Read your work before you turn it in (hit the enter button). If you notice a mistake, correct it. (Something my third grade teacher taught me in 1955.)
DaveC67
In the ever changing realm of collegiate big-time football & basketball conditions Navy has a forward thinking, exceptionally smart, and ethical Director of Athletics providing sage counsel to the Superintendent. Navy is proving itself a superb example of solid analytical research and all-around strategic and tactical planning to provide the Naval Academy, all its student athletes (32 varsity and numerous club sports all depending on the football income stream), the Brigade and its alumni base with a path forward that will in the end prove to be the right one for the future.
tphuey
Maybe Angry AF Fan is angry; not because of TBD's blog article, but because his school's AD isn't forward-thnking and proactive like Navy's. TBD is just an easy target for him to vent on. Too bad his argument was repetitive and tired after his second post. The next six are just whining. And that isn't what Mike was talking about when he mentioned Cheerwine.
Masterful, Mike. Thank you.
Mike, I happen to agree on the stadium expansion. We already pack in 30,000+ every game in a 34,000 person stadium. I think if we start playing some of the bigger teams then we will see more people coming to the games. I think 38,000-40,000 is the right number. However, I don't know why Houston decided to up theirs. Who knows how good they will be without keenum.
Side note: Think we can continue with the traditional Navy half-time / 2nd half where fans leave and re-enter?
I'm not necessarily against stadium expansion. I'm just setting up a later post about the subject.
Chet has confirmed that when we play a BCS opponent (doesn't matter their won-loss record) we sell-out, and go to the SRO…we've been up over 38,000+ inside the fnece and the Fire Marshall is not happy. Many other games are sell-outs also (Homecoming) and games where there are multiple class reunions/Midn 2/c weekend. 40,000 seems to be the right size for Navy (an aside…Chet relates this story: when delicately bringing up the stadium expansion to the Mayor of Annapolis, the mayor quickly asked – you are going to 50,000, right? )
what happened to Bill Wagner's Navy Sports Blog? I hope he hasn't moved on to something else….
The Capital just revamped its website, including Wags' blog. Once his new home is set up, he'll be back.


Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Melissa Rycroft became widely known after competing on the 13th season of ABC's The Bachelor and going on to two seasons of Dancing With the Stars. She qualifies as a celebrity. And yet, after finding fame and fortune outside of Dallas, she has jumped at the chance to return to her hometown.
Rycroft began dancing at a young age at the urging of her mother. She attended Newman Smith High School in Carrollton and graduated with a bachelor's in marketing from the University of North Texas.
Today she's the host of CW's new local morning show, the Morning Dose. She's also a recurring judge on CMT's show about her former team, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.
The Dallas Observer recently emailed with Rycroft about growing up in DFW, and balancing her weird new work schedule with motherhood.
I know you were born and raised in the Dallas area. Can you tell us a little about your experiences as a true native?
Dallas is my home. I have had opportunities to relocate for work, and we tried on several occasions. Dallas has always been home to me and my husband, Tye. His parents and mine also live in the area. Being elsewhere we felt something was always missing and we found ourselves continually coming back.
How did you get your start dancing?
My mother always wanted to be a dancer and never got the opportunity to fulfill that dream. So, she put me in dance classes at a very young age. I am one of those individuals living out their parent's dreams. Over time I fell in love with dance, and it was a natural fit because it allows me to express myself. My career in dance started off with my mother encouraging me to pursue it, but it turned out to be something that I wanted to continue to do.
Can you share with us a memorable experience you had as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
Being able to set foot on the football field for the very first time in uniform. It is such a process to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, from the audition to the three-month training camp. There are so many elements you have — the crowd, techno, pyro — and you have the players behind you. Overall it is an exciting experience.
You have been a part of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team on CMT. How different is the process compared to what we see on television?
Television has opened audience eyes around the world that this team is not just pretty dancers. They are put through a rigorous schedule and must be well rounded. As much as the show offers some insight into the program, having to participate in the process is a lot more difficult. The participants are in their late teens and early 20s and have never experienced anything like this. A lot of them have relocated from their homes and you are tackling employment, school and practice. It is a demanding schedule and can get overwhelming at times, and I feel the show has done a great job of showcasing it. However, there really is no way to capture what the struggle is like trying to make the team. Those three months are very crucial and can be brutal.
How do you balance your family life with your career as a host of the CW's Morning Dose?
My life is constantly changing, and we are always trying to incorporate a new balance. Just when I feel that things are starting to become routine, life throws you a curveball. At this point of my life, I feel the stars have aligned and everything is functioning perfectly. My current work schedule might not be suitable for everyone. I am up at 3 a.m. every morning and arrive at work by 3:30. The great point about it for me is I am done by 8 am. So, I can come home and be around my children all day. In terms of me getting the opportunity to do something that I enjoy for work and not missing any family time, this is a schedule that works for me and is something I did not know existed until now.
How did you become a contestant on Dancing with the Stars?
That was honestly completely by accident. My season on the Bachelor had just finished airing on ABC. The way the schedule works on ABC, once the The Bachelor concludes, the following week is usually the premiere of Dancing with the Stars. During that week, one of the contestants developed an injury and they needed a last-minute replacement. So, with the controversy that came from the season finale of The Bachelor, ABC wanted to build on that momentum on the new season of Dancing with the Stars. They called me and the rest is history, but if the timing had been different things would be very different.
What was it like to go through all the elimination rounds?
Completely nerve racking. And for television, of course, they need dramatics — but for us, it is the exact opposite. When the lights go down and you are in the red lights it's hard because you are trying to figure out if you will be going home. Being able to participate on Dancing with the Stars was a great opportunity and a terrific experience. This was something that I never thought I would be a part of, and I did not want to be eliminated.
As the winner of season 15 of Dancing with the Stars have you thought about opening your own dance studio?
I have thought about it, but with the schedule I'm currently on, the timing is not right. It is something that I would love to explore, as I grew up in a dance studio. If the opportunity presented itself I would, but time-wise it is just not feasible.
You wrote your first book in 2012. Do you plan on writing another one?
I would love to write another book. My first book ended at the birth of my daughter and that was six years ago. I think it would be great from a different perspective, especially now because back then I was single with no kids. Now I am married with a career and three kids. So, absolutely I would be interested in writing another book.
What else are you doing this year?
Right now, it's The Morning Dose and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.


text:
« Script day: persistent memoize in bash
מתכון: קציצות עוף וסלרי ברוטב סלרי חמצמץ »
Googlephobia Paints The World Red Saturday, June 4th, 2016
This is an open letter to Chris Fisher from Jupiter Broadcasting (and friends) regarding the recent tirade against Google "winning" the court battle against Oracle for the use of the Java APIs.
A short summary for the uninitiated:
After Oracle bought Sun including their Java implementation, they sued Google who implemented (some of) the Java APIs for use in the Android operating system, for copyright infringement in some source code, copyright infringement on the API definitions themselves and a couple of software patents they held about how to implement some Java behavior. Round one: Some source code was ruled infringing, APIs were found non-copyrightable and patents were found not-infringing. Round two: A federal court (that normally rules on patent issues) held the ruling of copying (for Oracle) and patents (for Google) but ruled APIs copyrightable and Google infringing on that. Third round: a jury found that Google's use of the Java APIs was fair-use and no damages should be awarded.
After the last jury decision, there was a lot of back and forth on the internet, notably one Ars Technica article ("op-ed"), by an Oracle lawyer claimed that the result boils down to nullifying any and all open source licenses:
if you offer your software on an open and free basis, any use is fair use.
Then we come to Chris Fisher – as the host of his Linux Action Show podcast, he has spoke out against Google many times in the past, but this tirade in the discussion of the Oracle vs. Google action in the most recent Linux Action Show #419, really demonstrates well the extents of his Googlephobia (LAS #419, 0:46:42):
How many times am I gonna take it up the ass from Google? How many times? Is it when they compromise with the carriers on updates and customizability so that way they can compete with the iPhone? Is it when they stoled [sic] from Sun because they knew Sun was a weak company and that Sun couldn't defend themselves and they could roll them? Is it how they continued to screw consumers and haven't gotten Android and the massive fragmentation and the update problem under control? Is it how they steal all of our information when we don't give it to them voluntarily and when we do give it to them they absorb absolutely everything they can and build profiles around us?
(I can debunk every one of these points, but I don't think I have to – I believe this message speaks against itself well enough.)
I think that the fact that Chris Fisher, one of the most staunch supporters of free and open source software is buying the stupid Oracle position that copying API definitions is tantamount to copying software source code, especially knowing what he knows about how Oracle conducts itself (having covered many of their stunts on The Linux Action Show and TechSNAP podcasts), is just sad. I kind of stopped listening after that bunch of vitriol, so some of the points I make below may have been covered later in that LAS episode – I'll have to sit and bear through the rest of it later.
We also got this from Michael Dominick, the co-host of another Jupiter Broadcasting show – Coder Radio (#207 0:40:32):
And they admitted to copying the code, I mean they admit to literally copying and pasting.
Which they did not! Its just the Googlephobia speaking out and makes these people say the most horrible things without any basis1
What bothers me the most is that basically all the commentators buy into the Oracle viewpoint of "copying APIs"=="copying software" which is annoyingly incorrect – copying large creative works such as a software program is one thing, and taking simple lists of function names and argument types and reimplementing them with different software code, for compatibility, is something completely different. And while the former one is obviously bad, the latter is a practice that accepted in the industry for basically as long as there was an industry.
The huge elephant in the room, which for some reason no one (I heard talking about it) sees, is that copying API definitions is exactly what several of the most common software suites we use every day do, for example Wine and Mono. Wine is using a direct copy of all the Microsoft Win32 and Win64 APIs. If you harp on Google for copying the Java APIs, what is stopping Microsoft from suing all the small businesses that work on Wine into oblivion? Worse than that – so many open source software that we take for granted today have started as alternatives for a commercial product – Open/Libre Office (which implement the Microsoft Office document APIs), KDE (implements the look and feel of the MS-Windows UI), PostgreSQL (basically a copy of Ingres, a dual licensed commercial database) and many many others. If you are saying that what Google is doing is wrong, you are basically negating a huge portion of the open source ecosystem.
Lets stick to the facts, for a moment, shall we?
Contrary to Oracle's claim that Google "copied thousands of lines of Oracle's computer code", Google was ruled to only copy 9 lines of source code, and mainly because there was no way to prove that its just a matter of reimplementation of the same trivial functionality (as I discuss below), and being that the damages of conceding that point is are so small, Google have just let it go.
No one argues that Google have copied some API definitions (37 according to Oracle) from the Java language specification, which is an open specification that grants automatic license to be implemented without limitation – as long as the implementation is "complaint" and "complete".
There were some discussions within Google – as has come out during the trial – that some people have thought that in order to "play nice" with Sun it may be advisable to get a Sun license for Google's use of the Java language specification, especially given that Google's implementation is likely not going to be considered "complete" or "complain" by the owner of Java.
Its that last point, I believe, is where most people get stuck about and inflate it into "Google has illegally copied Java" and "Allowing the copying of the Java APIs is like undoing all copyleft licenses into basically public domain" (if they even consider the facts at all, and not just their personal vendettas). Which is taking it just a bit out of proportion.
There was no way Android (inc, and later Google) could have fit the entire Java API into a mobile operating system at a time (and make it to market at any reasonable time line and price point), given at how enormous the full spec is.
Most of Android Java code originated from the (now defunct) Apache Harmony project, that while it did not pass (and could not have passed) the complaincy tests for Java, was none-the-less blessed by many proponents of Java such as IBM, and was not treated adversely by Sun.
API re-implementations without licensing with the original API creator are very common in the industry2, especially if you consider file formats as an API (which Oracle does, speaking about the Java class binary format) where you have many many programs that load proprietary formats created by others without licensing (commercial or otherwise).
The Legal consensus, as can be seen in both copyright laws (such as the DMCA) as well as opinions by courts and advocate organizations is that reverse engineering for the purpose of interoperability and compatibility is allowed.
Then Google's decision, after failing to negotiate a license for their use of the API, and seeing that even Sun executives did not think that Google need a license, make a lot of sense and looks entirely unlike "stealing from Sun" as Chris Fisher puts it.
One can take Oracle's view that re-implementing part of the Java language specification is a violation of the Java language specification "open and free license" and allowing Google to get away with it under the fair use doctoring opens all "open and free licenses" to such, and worse, abuse; or one can understand that re-implementing APIs is a time honored and fair use practice and not to confuse the two distinct issues of re-implementing APIs and copying software source code.
In Oracle's world, Android is a crime against open source(techcrunch.com)
Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Oracle-Google Copyright Case(sci-tech-today.com)
The Oracle-Google Case Will Decide the Future of Software(cacm.acm.org)
Oracle denies buying Sun to sue Google over Java(venturebeat.com)
23/Oct/2011Android, iOS – who stole from who? (1)
I understand where Michael Dominick is coming from – In regard to the only implementation source code copyright claim that reached trial: the array range check function, which is 9 rather trivial lines of code, and which Google initially claimed wasn't copied but after being ruled against switch to claiming that it was exempt because it was such a small piece – likely for judicial technical reasons, Joshua Block, the engineer who wrote the code in question, after being hammered in court about it for several hours was quoted to say: "I think the similarity of the signature, the fact that, you know, the three arguments are in the same order and have the same name, you know, is a strong indication that it is likely that I did [copy]". But given that the concept of array range checks is almost as old as programing, that Joshua Bloch was also the same person who wrote that code in Sun's implantation while he was being employed by Sun, and that the Judge in the 1st and 3rd cases has taught himself Java to see if that code is rather trivial and then said that there are not many other ways to implement the same function – given all that, I believe that its a case of just the same person, implementing the same requirements under the same constraints, even several years apart, if the task is small enough he is very likely to write it the exact same way. [↩]
I've already discussed a couple of them, but here are a few more: Amazon Aurora and MariaDB are reimplementation of the MySQL API; Google Chrome and many other browsers reimplement the Netscape plugin API; Media players often reimplement the WinAMP plugin API, e.g. MediaMonkey, XMMS; ReactOS, like Wine mentioned below, reimplements all of Microsoft OS APIs; Apache HTTPd's mod_isapi reimplements the Microsoft IIS API; Many graphics packages implement the Photoshop plugin API, e.g. Paint Shop Pro, GIMP and many others [↩]
This entry was posted on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at 21:28	and is filed under Articles, Evangelism, Software, Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can
2 Responses to "Googlephobia Paints The World Red"
June 5th, 2016 at 08:36	 Oded :
Continuing to listen to Chris's rant, I have more comments:
1. He definitely did buy the Oracle narrative, hook line and sinker, to the point that he says "I wish Oracle would win", and damn the implications to free reimplantations. This issue is not about dual licensing – is just what Oracle would like you to think.
2. What does the GPL gave to do with anything? The license in question is the non-software license of the Java spec. The only thing that is GPL in the whole damn thing is the OpenJDK distribution, which didn't exist when Google did what it was accused of doing, and that Google switched to last year (under full compliance).
3. Google should have taken a license to get security updates for zero day vulnerabilities. Seriously ?!? What part of "reimplantation" did you bit understand? Different code, different vulnerabilities. The rest of that argument details into fantasyland about some Java CVE that supposedly needed a patch in Android.
4. Google destroyed net neutrality by working with Verizon? Can you possibly be more disconnected from reality? Google kick-started the whole net neutrality thing by competing against Verizon on the network block allocation thereby forcing the FCC to define wiress networks as open networks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_spectrum_auction#Google_involvement
5. The thing with the Google engineers emails that is being repeated over and over is blown way out of proportions. As a software engineer, I've done IP compliance for several companies (some of which easily as large as Google) and I learned 2 things: (a) engineers either worry too much about licensing or don't care at all, they rarely understand the concepts and when a license is actually needed, especially when we go into those murky "free" and "open" waters; and (b) that executives often understand even less and always prefer to over-license. The fact that some people, even top executives, in the company discussed licensing and thought that they'd need to pay some money to make everyone feel better, is not a proof that a license is actually required. If Oracle can produce an email from a lawyer that says something like "after analyzing the situation I think we need to get a license" (discussions of the likes I have been involved as part of my work), *only then* it would mean anything.
For a rather long summary of all the email discovery in favor of Oracle, see Florian Mueller's FOSS Patents blog , though do note – while Florian Mueller says that his blog is "not affiliated with any party in any way whatsoever", he was a paid consultant for Oracle at the time.
After hearing the rest of the Coder Radio discussion, I have these additional comments:
1. Again regarding the email, I think it bears to be very clear on this: the fact that some engineers or executives thought that it is a good idea to get a license, or even required to get a license, does not mean that it is *actually* required to get a license – and the court definitely agreed.
Compare for example, a "pay as much as you want" sale (there is stuff like this, also with real world products), and you thought "Hmm.. maybe I'll pay them some money", but then decided not to – even if you sent your original thought in an email to the entire world, that by itself does not make you a criminal if you eventually decided *not* to pay for something was offered for free.
2. IPs copyrightable, licensed, or not – they keep going back to it, and I'll keep asserting that it doesn't matter: reverse engineering APIs is a time honored practice, and it is usually left to the court to decide if its OK or not on a per-implementation basis, where the court sometimes favors the original owner and sometimes the reimplementation. In the US the consensus is that it is fair use to reverse engineer APIs, except if an EULA forbids it – which isn't the case here, so it should be allowed. Hey, and what do you know – the court agrees.


text:
Five facts about the German Shorthaired Pointer that won Westminster's Best in Show
By Nicole Lyn Pesce
A German Shorthaired Pointer named 'CJ' won Best in Show at Westminster on Tuesday. (JUSTIN LANE/EPA)
This top dog is a great sport.
The German Shorthaired Pointer named Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night is friendly, smart and willing to please - not to mention doggone adorable.
But you'd better have access to a park or a pretty big dog run, because this pedigree prowler is engineered to bring down deer.
Here's five things to know about the noble blue ribbon breed courtesy of the American Kennel Club.
CJ the German Shorthaired Pointer wins Westminster Kennel Club dog show
1. It's a most fetching breed.
The quintessential field dog was bred in Germany through a "judicious crossing" of old Spanish Pointer, English Foxhound and local tracking hounds in the late 19th and early 20th century to be a versatile hunter and all-purpose gun dog. He's got a nose for trailing, retrieving and pointing out game such as pheasant, quail, coons, possum - and even deer.
2. It fits many apartments.
The quintessential field dog is aristocratic and agile - but will require tons of exercise. (MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS)
This athletic dog stands in the middle of the pack. Males are between 23 and 25 inches tall at the shoulder, and can weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. Females are slightly smaller at 21 to 23 inches high, and 45 to 60 pounds. "The overall picture which is created in the observer's eye is that of an aristocratic, well balanced, symmetrical animal with conformation indicating power, endurance and agility and a look of intelligence and animation," according to the American Kennel Club standard.
3. It's easy on the eyes.
The coat is generally a solid reddish brown (called "liver" in showdog parlance) or liver and white in distinctive patterns that are sometimes confused with Dalmatians. Although some sport areas of black, red, orange, lemon or tan, those dogs - or any dogs with a solid white coat - are disqualified during dog show judging.
4. It's a popular pet.
The pedigree was added to the American Kennel Club roster in March 1930, and is the 12th most popular breed thanks to its great temperment and solid work ethic. Some 96% of owners say the German Shorthaired Pointer is great with kids and other pets, and responds well to training. You'll need to keep this dog company, though, as only 36% say it's OK to leave this pup on its own.
5. It'll give you a workout!
The German Shorthaired Pointer, which lives for 11 to 13 years, is a moderate-maintenance pooch. The short, sleek coat calls for just regular weekly grooming with a short brush and a hound glove, but it will shed a lot. This energetic breed requires consistent exercise, though, like running, swimming and organized dog sports. A simple walk before and after work won't burn up its boundless energy.


While wandering through overgrown sections of Richmond/Henrico County, Virginia's East End Cemetery, I found the grave of an African American veteran, Charles Watkins, beneath a bonnet of ivy. Just yards away, Erin and other volunteers were finding long-obscured graves beneath vines and leaves and brambles—Glenn Nelson Jones, June Anderson, and others. Volunteer coordinator John Shuck estimates that the East End cleanup effort has revealed over 800 graves—and that they've beat back the forest from 15 percent of what was once one of Richmond's most prominent burial grounds for black folk. This means that there are likely thousands more graves waiting to be stumbled over and upon.
This is a series of still photos of Erin and Justin clearing English ivy and vines from the headstone of Ryland and Sarah Lewis at East End Cemetery. Ryland was a "head waiter," according to his death certificate. He died at 57. Sarah, listed as a "domestic" on her death certificate, passed away twelve years after Ryland, at age 64. Their plot is one among thousands at the abandoned African American cemetery in Henrico County and the City of Richmond that volunteers are reclaiming from nature. Slowly, but surely.


Yard sales are an integral part of the American way of life. To organize a stress free yard sale and smile after the sale is over, go over these pointers before you start planning one.
Time your sale closer to general payday. Don't plan the sale on a long holiday weekend where people can be away.
Let people know. Advertise in the local daily, on school/supermarket boards, in the community newsletter, online on the internet and also put boards carrying arrows around the neighbourhood. Be aware of the local jurisdiction laws as regards notice placement, timings, etc.
If a friend wants to participate in the sale, welcome him/her and share the cost and workload. One more pair of hands can help in keeping an eye on unwelcome visitors, on the cash received, on packing and also provide support with animated sales talk.
Start collecting things for your sale much ahead of time and keep them separately. Anything that has not been used in the last one year can be the ideal article for the sale; or anything that is not needed, loved or earning money has to go! Clean out all pockets and for all the items, ensure that the owner is agreeable to part with them, as 'sold by mistake' ads the week following could otherwise be an unhappy outcome.
Clean everything as far as possible and display neatly on tables to increase their appeal - dusty dishes and dirty clothes will put the buyers off other items too! Have soft music playing through the sale as it will put buyers at ease and will also keep them there longer - a crowd begets a bigger crowd.
Cluster items according to type. Clothes in one area, books in another, will help the buyer zero in on articles of his/her interest. Bundle together small items which may not sell on their own to create a package sale, for example, 3-4 small toys sold together, etc.
All items should carry a price, on the top - 1/3rd or 1/4th of the original being a general guideline. Garments move only at very low prices but any items with original packaging and manuals can be priced higher. Try to do some background checks at local stores and other sales before pricing and then display your price - regular stickers for small items and big tags for the bigger items.
Keep ready change. It speeds up the process and reduces stress. Have a calculator handy for much the same reason.
At last, when your sale is done, pack all unsold items in boxes to give to charity, remove all the yard sale signs and sit back to enjoy a job well done. With these helpful pointers, you are now well-prepared to host your first yard sale. happy selling!!