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NRC and the nuclear industry to continue dialogue on Japan Task Force recommendations
The NRC has spent several weeks laying the groundwork for carrying out several recommendations of the agency's Japan Near-Term Task Force, which looked at issues raised by the Fukushima nuclear accident in March. We've reached the point where we're ready to start discussions with industry representatives and the public on how to best implement each of the recommendations.
The staff will hold its first implementation meeting this Thursday, Dec. 1, to discuss the recommendations that were subsequently categorized as "Tier 1," or those to be implemented without unnecessary delay. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in Room T2B3 of the Two White Flint North building at 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. Visitors must use the NRC's main entrance in the One White Flint North Building at 11555 Rockville Pike.
The staff and industry representatives will discuss the general approach to implementing the "Tier 1" recommendations. The public will have the opportunity to ask the NRC staff questions about the process during the meeting, which will be webcast. You can also participate by phone — call 888-469-1349 and use passcode 2977606.
The NRC will hold more meetings to lay out initial schedules and milestones for specific recommendations. The first few of these meetings have tentatively been scheduled at NRC Headquarters for Dec. 15; Jan. 5 and 19, 2012; and Feb. 2, 2012. Notices for these meetings will be posted on the NRC's public meeting schedule.
The task force issued its report and recommendations on July 12. The Commission directed the staff to identify which recommendations could be implemented without unnecessary delay, and the staff responded with a proposal Sept. 9. The Commission provided direction to the staff on Oct. 18 on how to carry out the proposal.
Scott Burnell
Public Affairs Officer
Author ModeratorPosted on November 29, 2011 Categories Operating ReactorsTags nuclear
6 thoughts on "NRC and the nuclear industry to continue dialogue on Japan Task Force recommendations"
Wasserfilter says:
Hope the discussion will help to find a way to provide us with safe and reliable and payable energy …
Thanks for the link. Will be watching
Fukushima Daiichi is dark point on the history of mankind. Government should take proper steps to ensure it do not happen again.
The meeting will be webcast and archived. http://video.nrc.gov/
Aladar Stolmar says:
Severe accident response for water cooled water moderated reactors
Aladar Stolmar 11-14-24-2011
Considering the TMI-2, Fukushima Daiichi 1, 2 and 3 reactor severe accidents and the Paks-2 fuel washing vessel incident, also the SFD and other related nuclear reactor fuel severe damage experiments it is evident that the ignition and firestorm of the Zirconium-steam reaction occurs several hours after the severe reduction in cooling capability arises. This solution utilizes this time gap and proposes the equipment and response modifications aiming the elimination of ignition of Zirconium-steam reaction in PWR and BWR reactors. Also the solution deals with the results of such ignition and Zirconium-steam reaction in the maximum extent, in case the ignition despite the efforts occurs.
Aiming the public safety in presence of nuclear power plant two questions have to be answered: Do You prevent the ignition of Zirconium in the steam? And Do You protect the surrounding of the plant from radioactive releases in case the entire Zirconium inventory burned in a firestorm? The presented here solution gives positive answers to both questions.
The key element of this solution is the rapid reactor depressurization using a top vent from the reactor head. The same will provide a controlled routing for the Hydrogen generated in case the ignition of Zirconium-steam reaction still occurs.
Recognizing the need for response
It is very important to recognize that the condition for a severe accident response developed. The key characteristic for such a condition is the loss of reactor fuel cooling capability. The best demonstration of this is provided by the Paks refueling pond fuel washing vessel incident. The turning off the circulating pump required the switching on the natural circulation by removing the vessel head. Failure in the removing the washing vessel head after turning off the pump equals to loss of cooling capability. In TMI-2 the loss of cooling capability was caused by the loss of primary system coolant and hence the interruption of circulation through the core. The indicators were the temperature measurements from the core exit, – unfortunately ignored by the operators. In Fukushima Daiichi the loss of outside heat sink connection and continued heat transfer to the torus in form of exhaust from the turbine driven pumps caused overheating of water reserves and cavitations of the pumps and failure of coolant supply into the reactors. (In this later case the venting of exhaust from the turbine pump drives outside the torus also would increase the time, but there are reports of control failures as well due to loss of battery power.)
It is necessary to develop a plant specific list of critical indicators, the detection of which will require to initiate the severe accident response.
The guideline for developing such plant specific severe accident response trigger indicator list should start from inability to detect the reactor condition, go through the reactor circulation interruption and end with the loss of connection to the heat sink. Any of these should require immediate activation of Severe Accident Response.
The means of Severe Accident Response
It is a very simple high pressure vent line from the top of the reactor vessel to the outside environment, to the top of the vent stack or other high point. It must be equipped with a primary or inside the containment valve, which is locked open for the reactor operation and closed only for the reactor head removal and vent line disassembly during refueling operations; a Severe Accident Response Valve, which is in normal operating condition the only closing element between the top of the reactor and the environment and opened in response to the severe accident trigger indicator; a low pressure burst disc or blow away cap protecting the internal volume of vent pipe from the environment on the top end and a separator vessel with a float type condensate drain. The high pressure separator vessel should have a volume at least 10 times the internal volume of vent line and the incoming line should be the half diameter of the exhaust vent line, for example 100 mm reactor side and 200 mm vent stack side OD lines (also 100 mm OD separator drain) would be sufficient for a 500 MWe reactor system, 125 and 250 mm OD for 1000-1500 MWe.
The location of the Severe Accident Response Valve should be close to a continuously manned operator workstation and the operators should be trained to open the Severe Accident Response Valve immediately, when instructed by the Unit Chief Shift Operator to do so. At the fill-up and pressurization (or cold shutdown depressurization) of reactor a manual 12 mm OD air-vent bypass line should be operated to assure the fill-up and drainage of the vent line before the Severe Accident Response Valve. The vent line between the reactor and Severe Accident Response Valve should drain back to reactor and drain to the separator after that.
Borated water reserve and passive injection system is a standard element of nuclear power reactors, but a review of its operability in case of Severe Accident Response Valve activation and reactor system full depressurization should be mandated. The guideline for the acceptability of the system would be that a reactor from full power should be brought to cold shutdown using only these reserves as passive injection after opening the Severe Accident Response Valve. It is likely that addition of atmospheric pressure reserves located at higher elevations will be required in most of the NPPs.
Normal response and recovery
In case of the Severe Accident Response Valve activation even from a full power initial condition the reactor system would reach atmospheric pressure and the core would be continuously flooded by borated water, no extensive stagnant steam bubble formation in the core volume and ignition of Zirconium-steam reaction is expected. When the normal cooling and circulation is restored the Severe Accident Response Valve could be closed and after a detailed review the normal operation could be resumed. In case that an elevated coolant activity indicates some fuel cladding damage, the refueling and detailed fuel condition check should be performed before the normal operation recovery.
Severe fuel damage and response
In case the same severe fuel damage as in Fukushima Daiichi 1, 2 and 3 or TMI-2, – the ignition and firestorm of the Zirconium-steam reaction, – occurs the already open or subsequent opening of Severe Accident Response Valve will provide a vent line for the generated Hydrogen, where it most certainly will ignite and burn off. (Igniters could be provided to assure this.) The possibility to close the Severe Accident Response Valve after radioactivity detected in the vent line separator will allow a reduction of the radioactive releases into the environment. Periodic opening and closing of the Severe Accident Response Valve will provide means to reduce the containment pressure to safe levels for the expense of controlled radioactive releases.
Additional safety concerns
The routing of primary system outside the containment to the Severe Accident Response Valve could be viewed as a violation of the safety concept that the entire primary system should be enclosed in the containment. Providing an additional volume enclosing the vent line in a secure and controlled manner, which may include addition of isolator valves before and after the Severe Accident Response Valve will allow the sealing of primary system from the environment in case of leakages through Severe Accident Response Valve and a sealed volume connected to or separate from the containment will be formed what would resolve this concern. Indeed, this line should be treated as the most vital pipeline in the reactor system and should be provided with all the necessary anti-earthquake and other protections, most particularly freeze protection for the gas venting possibility. The operation of the reactor system could be allowed only when this system is fully operational, all isolator valves locked open. The sizing of this line should be based on water plug jets driven under the pressure difference from an explosive ignition and firestorm of the Zirconium-steam reaction.
Civil defense and Severe Accident Response Team
The actuation of Severe Accident Response Valve should be a trigger for the civil defense evacuation order in a predetermined extent and sequence, considering the downwind direction. The operators automatically become Severe Accident Response Team with a dedicated Recovery Outfit. In case the lost cooling capability and circulation through the core is verifiably restored, the head of the Severe Accident Response Team may order to close the Severe Accident Response Valve, which automatically switches the operation to a normal cold shutdown. The activated civil defense evacuation could be interrupted or ceased only based on the radioactive releases.
Periodic tests
The Severe Accident Response tests should be provided at least yearly for the operators and for the civil defense personal as mock tests, but a real test from 50% power also should be performed on each reactor after a full core reload and restart every 5 years. In order not to endanger the fuel integrity, the interruption of cooling is not required for the opening of Severe Accident Response Valve, only when the changing conditions in the reactor system require that. However, if elevated radioactivity of coolant would indicate fuel damage even in these conditions, a review of operating license is warranted. After the live tests the burst disks or blow away caps on the top of the vent pipe should be replaced!
Rational of the severe accident response proposal
The proposed manual valve operation in case of danger of severe accident in the nuclear power reactor system may be questioned based on the fact that we are deliberately venting into the air radioactive primary coolant or even fuel fragments containing Hydrogen reaction product in case the severity of the accident reaches the ignition of the fuel cladding and fuel bundle material, Zirconium ignition and complete burn off.
The rational of the proposed response is based on the fact that in TMI-2 accident as well as in Chernobyl-4 and Fukushima Daiichi 1,2 and 3 reactor accidents the burn off of the Zircalloy was very extensive and the produced Hydrogen in TMI-2 did not cause the demolition of the containment, but in other two nuclear power plants – four reactors! – the uncontrolled evacuation of Hydrogen and detonation of Hydrogen-air mixture destroyed the reactor buildings, making very difficult the localization and recovery. A timely opening of the manual response valve and fast depressurization of reactor system has a good chance to prevent of the ignition of Zirconium in the steam at all. Also the possibility of closing the same valve in case the radioactivity release detected provides new means of reducing the environmental releases, prevents the building demolition by allowing the lowering of pressure, venting the generated hydrogen. In short the rational is in the localization of consequences of the severe accident by preserving the integrity of reactor containment and preventing the severe accident at all by the actions of operators and for the expense of limited radioactive releases.
The argument that by adding such a response valve and its tests endanger the closure of radioactivity within the fuel bundles have to be rejected based on the requirement to the fuel cladding. It has to withstand such loads. And it has to be periodically demonstrated, as proposed. If there is damage to the fuel as a result of the periodic tests, the fuel supplier has to be responsible.
An obvious question that since we are adding new means, a new vent line from the reactor why not equip this line with all the necessary filtration for the worst case scenario? For new plant design such a consideration is valid, however this solution is general, for existing plants as well and the cost implications for a 5 or 10 year remaining life of a plant does not necessarily justify such expenses for a system, which will never be used, except the test.
Periodic test
After the first time the 50% of power achieved on a new or fully reloaded reactor a full scale test of the Severe Accident Response have to be performed, including the Civil Defense evacuation procedure. It is necessary to demonstrate that the reactor, the plant personnel and the public are capable to handle the most severe conditions possible and the severity for the environment is under control. This test is performed with manual reactor shut down (SCRAM) and Severe Accident Response Valve opening. The test is successful if the atmospheric pressure is achieved in the reactor and the atmospheric borated water injection starts. At that point the Severe Accident Response Valve could be closed, the normal operation of the reactor resumed after the blow away cap or burst disc replaced on the vent line. During the test the normal pressure relief and make-up and drain lines could be operated to speed-up the pressure reduction and cool down, and this is a test of all emergency cooling systems as well.
Inability to detect the reactor condition
An unlikely condition when the information from the reactor telemetry is lost or corrupted. The response is performed with manual reactor shut down (SCRAM) and Severe Accident Response Valve opening and Civil Defense alarm. The Severe Accident Response can be interrupted after the reactor condition detection is restored and the circulation through the reactor core is verified or the cold shutdown is achieved. The rational to use the Severe Accident Response Valve to control the reactor is the fact that the opening of the Severe Accident Response Valve reduces the pressure inside the reactor core which causes the boiling of the cooling water and the steam replacing the water within the core reduces the energy loss of neutrons, therefore reducing the reactivity on the thermal neutrons and shuts down the chain reaction, even if the SCRAM would fail for any reason in the PWR and BWR reactors. Also the opening of the Severe Accident Response Valve and venting the steam from the top of the reactor vessel organizes a flow stream through the core from the bottom to the top, mimicking the circulation in normal cooling condition, even if that circulation is interrupted. The differential evaporation of boric acid assures a safe shutdown on its own, but the quick reduction of pressure to the actuation of accumulators with elevated Boron concentration finishes the shutdown of chain reaction by flooding the core with cold borated coolant. A prolonged cooling of the core is assured by the atmospheric borated emergency coolant reserves injection into the core under the gravity.
Reactor circulation interruption
In the event the forced circulation through the core is lost a stagnant steam bubble can form in the core and lead to the Zirconium ignition and complete burn off. The response is performed with manual reactor shut down (SCRAM) and Severe Accident Response Valve opening and Civil Defense alarm. The Severe Accident Response can be interrupted after the circulation through the reactor core is verified or the cold shutdown is achieved. The rational to use the Severe Accident Response Valve to control the cooling of the reactor is the fact that the opening of the Severe Accident Response Valve vents the forming steam and reduces the pressure inside the reactor core which causes the boiling of the cooling water and the steam replacing the water within the core reduces the energy loss of neutrons, therefore reducing the reactivity on the thermal neutrons and shuts down the chain reaction, even if the SCRAM would fail for any reason in the PWR and BWR reactors. Also the opening of the Severe Accident Response Valve and venting the steam from the top of the reactor vessel organizes a flow stream through the core from the bottom to the top, mimicking the circulation in normal cooling condition, even if that circulation is interrupted. The differential evaporation of boric acid assures a safe shutdown on its own, but the quick reduction of pressure to the actuation of accumulators with elevated Boron concentration finishes the shutdown of chain reaction by flooding the core with cold borated coolant. A prolonged cooling of the core is assured by the atmospheric borated emergency coolant reserves injection into the core under the gravity.
Loss of connection to the heat sink
As a lesson learned from the loss of Fukushima Daiichi 1, 2 and 3 reactors an event when the cooling with an outside heat sink is ceased to function is considered. The response after the reactor is shut down is performed with manual Severe Accident Response Valve opening and Civil Defense alarm. The Severe Accident Response can be interrupted after the connection to the outside heat sink is restored and the circulation through the reactor core is verified or the cold shutdown is achieved. The rational to use the Severe Accident Response Valve to control the cooling of the reactor is the fact that the opening of the Severe Accident Response Valve vents the forming steam from the top of the reactor vessel and organizes a flow stream through the core from the bottom to the top, mimicking the circulation in normal cooling condition, even if that circulation is interrupted. The differential evaporation of boric acid assures a safe shutdown on its own, but the quick reduction of pressure to the actuation of accumulators with elevated Boron concentration finishes the shutdown of chain reaction by flooding the core with cold borated coolant. A prolonged cooling of the core is assured by the atmospheric borated emergency coolant reserves injection into the core under the gravity.
Alise Keough says:
"The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in Room T2B3 of the Two White Flint North building at 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. Visitors must use the NRC's main entrance in the One White Flint North Building at 11555 Rockville Pike."
Will this meeting be televised or shown on the web? Or even recorded? Just curious, it seems like this would be vital information, especially for those of us that live in the Pacific Northwest.
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Muccino calls "Padri e figlie" his "most complete movie"
(AGI) Rome, Sept 24 - Gabriele Muccino has returned toHollywood with his most intimate and personal film, "Padri efiglie" ("Fathers and Daughters"), which stars movie icons suchas Russell Crowe, Jane Fonda, Amanda Seyfried, andOscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer. The film, produced byCrowe, will premiere in Italy on October 1 and be distributedby 01 Distribution. "It is my most complete movie, because ithas a sophisticated but linear composition," Muccino toldreporters at a press conference in Rome on Thursday. "A moviethat tells many stories without giving the impression of doingso. There are five
(AGI) Rome, Sept 24 - Gabriele Muccino has returned toHollywood with his most intimate and personal film, "Padri efiglie" ("Fathers and Daughters"), which stars movie icons suchas Russell Crowe, Jane Fonda, Amanda Seyfried, andOscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer. The film, produced byCrowe, will premiere in Italy on October 1 and be distributedby 01 Distribution. "It is my most complete movie, because ithas a sophisticated but linear composition," Muccino toldreporters at a press conference in Rome on Thursday. "A moviethat tells many stories without giving the impression of doingso. There are five or six plots to follow," Muccino explained."The main ones are about the love between father and daughter,an artist who falls into a crisis after receiving negativereviews [Russel Crowe's line "Why did God create cockroachesand critics?" was written by screenwriter Brad Desch, Muccinoassured - Ed.], an orphan girl who establishes a loving bondwith her caseworker, and a legal custody battle between achild's relatives and the natural father." "Fathers andDaughters" recounts the struggle of a Pulitzer Prize winner(Russel Crowe) who wishes to stay close to his 8-year-olddaughter (Kylie Rogers) after his wife dies in a car accident.The woman's sister (Diane Kruger), married to a millionairelawyer (Aaron Paul) who boasts being "richer than God",considers her brother-in-law responsible for her sister's deathand wants custody over her niece. She exploits his medicalcondition to commence with a legal battle, as the man stillsuffers from epileptic-type fits despite spending seven monthsin a psychiatric hospital. In the meantime, he publishes a newbook, but it is destroyed by critics. The dramatic storybetween father and daughter is revealed as a long flashback,and 25 years later she is now a grown woman (Amanda Seyfried)with a degree in psychology and a job as a caseworker, butincapable of love. "The father leaves a hole in her life thatcannot be filled, and she begins an inner journey in an effortto fill this emptiness," Muccino said. "She is afraid to lovebecause she knows it can also mean abandonment, deceit,mourning, separation, and conflict. All because hersubconscious has been programmed that way by her experiencewith her father. What we go through till the age of six orseven goes on to influence our subconscious and guide us asadults. She will try to overcome what her subconsciouscommands, which is not to love.". .
Orango ruba saponetta e si lava come un uomo
Automotoretrò, il restauro delle auto senza tempo
Cognac per Fido, il primo bar per cani apre a Lille in Francia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Christina Russell, Managing Director at Policy Studies Associates, describes how school systems are creating practices that develop and strengthen students' 21st-century competencies. Looking at three school systems in the Center for Global Education at Asia Society's Global Cities Education Network, Russell explains how what these systems are learning will shape approaches to 21st-century competency development as well as the process for future system-improvement efforts in each city.
Twenty-first century competencies (21CC), broadly speaking, are the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that students need to succeed in school, work, and life. But what practices set the stage for students to develop these competencies? City teams in Asia Society's Global Cities Education Network have been applying improvement science principles from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to test and refine innovative practices as they grapple with that question.
Teachers are leaders in system change. "Teachers are key to change," reflected Hangzhou researchers. Improvement starts with teachers experimenting with innovative approaches. But teachers need to first see the value of change and become confident in their ability to implement new practices. A Hiroshima administrator noted, "Changing mindsets of teachers is the most difficult thing. Education is a powerful tool: students change easily. But we have to change teachers' attitudes." Denver is working to shift from a perception of system leaders as "experts" providing answers, to instead creating an environment where teachers have a "willingness to fail forward without looking to perfection … but to be willing to try and learn and grow."
System leaders are key learning partners. System leaders can provide resources to support the innovation occurring at the classroom level. For instance, Hangzhou researchers have provided expertise in data analysis to assess the ways in which tested approaches are having an impact on student mindset and are exploring the relationship between student confidence in decision-making and the extent to which interests are matched to strengths. Denver and Hiroshima leaders are offering new resources and professional development to respond to teacher needs.
Start small to get to system change. Innovation takes time and iteration, a challenge in systems under pressure to improve quickly. According to a leader in Denver, "There is tremendous pressure to innovate and change and to be very outcome focused—and to move things districtwide." With guidance from Asia Society—and aligned with the Carnegie improvement principles—the city teams have each shifted over time to focus on piloting new practices in fewer schools and classrooms to "go deeper" on learning about the impact, and to refine practices before they are scaled to the entire system.
A version of this article was originally published on Education Week's Global Learning blog.
Learn more about the Global Cities Education Network.
Educators around the world are rethinking the ways in which they prepare students for learning, work, and citizenship in a global society.


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Columbine boys basketball earns share of 5A Jeffco League title
Dennis Pleuss February 16, 2018, 10:39 PM
Boys Basketball0 Comments 0
LITTLETON — Columbine junior Cameron Dean admitted he made the biggest 3-pointers of his life Friday night.
Dean, who had only scored double-digit points once this season, poured in a dozen points that included a pair of 3-pointers in the final quarter as the Rebels pulled away for a 64-48 home victory over rival Chatfield.
"Those looked amazing," Columbine sophomore Justin Lohrenz said of Dean's 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter that pushed the Rebels to a double-digit lead. "Right when they left his fingers I knew they were going in."
The victory gave Columbine its first Class 5A Jeffco League boys basketball title since the 2011-12 season.
Andrew Lauritzen (2) came off the bench to help Columbine dominate the inside. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
"It's great. This was the goal these guys have set," Columbine coach Clay Thielking said. "They fought through a lot of adversity all year long. It's such a resilient group of guys. I'm just really, really happy for them."
The Rebels started the season 1-4 and even got off to a 1-2 conference mark before winning 9-of-11 to close the regular season as the hottest team in 5A Jeffco.
"It feels amazing. It feels just great," Lohrenz said as the Rebels cut down the nets to celebrate the league title.
Columbine (13-10, 10-4 in 5A Jeffco) are co-league champs with Arvada West (15-8, 10-4). However, the Rebels will officially go in as the automatic qualifier for the 48-team 5A state tournament that begins next week.
"We will definitely be an underdog," Dean said about the playoffs. "We are just going to go, fight and play our best."
Columbine won the tiebreaker of point differential between the Rebels and Wildcats over their two head-to-head meetings. Columbine is guaranteed a top-32 seed and first-round home game for the state tournament.
Chatfield's Isaiah Reed (3) soars to the basket for a layup. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
There was no guarantee for the Rebels when they took the court against Chatfield (11-12, 7-7). The Chargers defeated the Rebels in their first meeting.
The rivals were tied at 41-41 early in the fourth quarter, but Columbine outscored Chatfield 23-9 in the final quarter to win going away. Sophomore Luke O'Brien (13 points) was held under his season average, but Lohrenz (14 points) and sophomore Andrew Lauritzen had a monster game off the bench for 12 points.
"I thought their role players really stepped up and played great," Chatfield coach Stephen Schimpeler said after the Chargers' third straight loss.
Chatfield senior Liam Mann led the way for the Chargers with 12 points. The loss officially ended Chatfield remarkable run of back-to-back conference titles that included a 30-game league winning streak over that period.
"Chatfield has had a really great run. That's a really great team with a very good coach that we have a lot of respect for," Thielking said. "We try not to make this game bigger than it really is, but games against your rivals are more meaningful. When you throw a league title in there it's a pretty special night."
Chatfield and Columbine will both have to wait until Sunday, Feb. 18, for the 5A state brackets to be released on CHSAANow.com to see who their first-round opponents will be.
While 5A Jeffco is looked at for having a down year on the state level, anything is possible in the postseason. Columbine is a good example of how to battle through the tough times to make the best of an opportunity.
"That's just Columbine, we are resilient," Dean said. "We have been through so much, but we stick together. It's a brotherhood. I love this group of guys."
Columbine's Justin Lohrenz, middle, is double-teamed by Chatfield's Keland Rumsey (4) and Liam Mann. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
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Dennis Pleuss is a Communication Specialist for Jeffco Public Schools with a focus on athletics and activities. He has covered prep sports for a variety of media outlets in Jefferson County since 1997. He is a graduate of Lakewood High School and Colorado State University.
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Long: BLDP (Industrial sector diversified Industrials) BLDP has formed a double bottom Bullish Engulf with follow-through off of the 50 SMA closing yesterday above the T-Line and the 20 SMA. If you look at the daily chart, you should be able to see the stair-step to profits starting in mid-May, and I see the possibility of a 30% to 40% move in BLDP.
My entry plan idea: (Currently already own) A buy or an add-to under $4.50 and over $4.05 would get you in the coil of BLDP.
DANG Long: (Consumer Cyclical Sector Specialty Retail) DANG has formed a double bottom on the 50 SMA and 200 SMA, closing yesterday with a Bullish Engulf after a multiple-bar pullback. With bullish follow-through and fairly decent market conditions, I'm looking for a 15% to 25% target.
AAPL Long: (Technology Sector Consumer Electronics) Yesterday AAPL broke out of the recent high forming a bullish J-Hook pattern or a continuation pattern. On June 25 a Doji was formed followed by a classic bullish rally, three days last week walking or consolidating to the right, and then yesterday gapping and closing bullishly forming the J-Hook pattern or the continuation pattern. Remember that targets are just merely a direction. Be a profit trader and monitor APPL on the way to $100.00 then $104.00 and possibly higher reevaluating along the way.
ZGNX Long: (Healthcare sector – Drug Manufacturer) ZGNX produced a Bullish Kicker Signal yesterday closing the 50-day simple moving average creating a Hit-And-Run Candlestick Rounded Bottom Breakout. With 25% from yesterday's close to the 200 sma and about 40% to the 200 sma on PBO entry near the 50sma.
CERS Long: (Healthcare sector – biotechnology) CERS Has been forming a base from early may and has attempted to breakout over the big 3 two other times. Recently CERS has painted a double bottom with a piercing candle and follow through that closed over the big three yesterday, and with 32% to the 200 day simple moving average, and what could be the completion of a cup I think CERS is worth considering.


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HOW TO REACH OUR ANDAMANS ?
Airport Name: Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair.
The Veer Savarkar Airport, an International Airport is located in the capital town of Port Blair, the gateway to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair, is connected with Chennai (MAA), Kolkata (CCU), Vizag (VTZ), New Delhi (DEL) and Bhubaneswar (BBI) by air. Foreign chartered flights are also permitted to land at Port Blair subject to the fulfillment of guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Following flights operate on regular basis to Port Blair from mainland India on all days.
From Chennai, Delhi, Vizag, Bhubaneswar To Port Blair.
From Delhi, Kolkata To Port Blair.
From Kolkata, Mumbai Via Chennai, Delhi Via Kolkata To Port Blair.
From Kolkata, Chennai To Port Blair.
From Delhi Via Kolkata, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad Via Chennai To Port Blair.
From Delhi Via Kolkata, Kolkata, Chennai To Port Blair.
From Kolkata To Port Blair.
From Delhi / Delhi Via Kolkata / Chennai To Port Blair.
Regular passenger steamer ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam and back. There are three to four sailings every month from Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is only one sailing for Visakhapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 50 to 60 hours during fair weather. These ships are run by The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) of Andaman & Nicobar Administration and SCI (The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.), GoI. The ships plying on these routes are namely, M.V. Swarajdweep, M.V. Nancowry, M.V. Nicobar, M.V. Campbell Bay, M.V. Harshavardhana & M.V. Akbar.
The Directorate of Shipping Services, A & N Administration operates regular ferry services from Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair in the inter-island and foreshore sectors connecting all populated island/tourist places. The Directorate also operates vehicle ferries to important locations and several Harbour ferries. Tickets are issued through the 'STARS' counters located at Phoenix Bay Jetty, managed by the Directorate of Shipping Services.For tourists, private boats are operated from Aberdeen Jetty (Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex), Port Blair to nearby tourist places like Ross Island, Viper Island, North Bay, Harbour Cruise etc. Private tourist boats are also available at Wandoor (Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park) for journey to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands.
Private luxury tourist boats like MV Makruzz, MV Makruzz Gold, MV Coastal Cruise, MV Green Ocean- 1 are operating from Phoenix bay jetty, Port Blair to Havelock & Neil and back everyday, cutting down travel time considerably with comfort & ease.
The Directorate of Civil Aviation, Andaman and Nicobar Administration has introduced Sea-plane services (CLOSED TILL FURTHER NOTICE) to tourist places like Havelock, Diglipur and Hut Bay. In addition, daily helicopter services operated by Pawan Hans Helicopter Services are also available from Port Blair to other inter-island tourist destinations, such as Neil, Havelock, Diglipur, Hutbay etc. daily.
Taxis, autos, buses, minibuses are the mode of local transport in Port Blair and other tourist places. Two wheelers are available for hire in most of the places for sightseeing. In small islands like Havelock and Neil, cycles are advisable for exploring places of interest.
One can book airport taxis / cab rentals for personal transport option for travelling in and out of city an also for outstation trips and tours. It can be pre- booked with us as per the prevalent rates or fares. You can get back to us for booking a transfer and pick ups / drops in Andamans.
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Vernon Hershberger
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The Hershberger's
Interesting Farm Events
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Aajonus
Vernon is just no longer our farmer, he is America's farmer. Here we will try to keep you up to date with all the latest news and updates.
If you want to help the Hershberger's with their tribulations you can donate here. All monies donated at this website go 100% directly to the Hershberger's.
Vernon Hershberger Trial from the Lens of The Derrick J
More Battling Than Policy Changes Mark 2014 State Raw-Milk Action
BY DAN FLYNN | APRIL 14, 2014There are still multiple endings that could be put on the raw-milk story told during the 2014 state legislative season.
One popular theory is that the foodies and libertarians have joined hands in a great coalition to pass bills to legalize unpasteurized milk across the land. These theorists point to 40 bills introduced in 23 statehouses during the current legislative season. Another possibility is that not all that much has changed in 2014 except for the fact that raw milk advocates are now more visibly split in their ranks on the direction their movement should take.
After Wisconsin's "raw milk outlaw" Vernon Hershberger was found not guilty of operating without various licenses at the infamous Baraboo trial last year, his vocal opposition to GOP state Sen. Glenn Grothman's bill to make licensed raw milk sales legal in Wisconsin became symbolic of the split.
All states are equal, but not when it comes to raw milk. Wisconsin is America's dairy state, with around $30 billion of pasteurized milk sales. After Hershberger came out against Grothman's bill for raw milk sales that involved some licensing and regulation, the bill went nowhere and is now officially dead.
Before the 2010 elections, the Wisconsin Legislature did make raw milk sales legal. However, Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed the bill and Grothman has since failed to get another raw milk bill passed.
And the fact is the 2014 legislative season is already over in 19 states that either do not usually meet in election years or that have already adjourned. Another seven states join that list in just a few days. Except for the half-dozen states with year-round legislative bodies, most of the rest are shut down by mid-May.
It is unlikely there will be any addition to the handful of states that permit raw milk to be sold at retail. The fights are mostly over regulatory tweaks and policies on farm sales and so-called cow-share schemes.
With raw milk bills like these going back and forth, the tightening versus liberalization battle is more like the trench warfare of World War 1. When every legislative season is over, there are usually some slight changes back and forth, but not much in the way of wholesale changes.
The two sides have their lines of debate down pat. Opponents tell how time and transportation of raw milk raise the risks that the harmful bacteria contained in unpasteurized milk pose real dangers to consumers, especially children. They have data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and horror stories on videotape told by raw milk victims and their grieving parents.
Advocates of raw milk talk about "food freedom" and do not lack for testimonials from folks who drank raw milk all their lives and offer theories about how pasteurization kills bacteria in milk, but also ................continue reading
Never a Doormat
Vernon Hershberger was awarded the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund "Never a Doormat" award for 2013 by FTCLDF President Pete Kennedy, Esq..at the annual Weston A. Price Foundation fundraiser in Atlanta, Georgia.
You can see Vernon accept the award in the video below around the 29 minute mark.
Congratulations Vernon, Erma, and crew!!!
Vernon Hershberger: Passage of raw milk bill would make me a criminal (again)
Jessica Van Egeren Capital Newspapers
Loganville farmer Vernon Hershberger went to court and beat criminal charges for selling unpasteurized, raw milk and other farm-fresh goods directly to customers without proper state licenses.
But he's not in favor of a bill that would legalize raw milk sales in Wisconsin. If the bill passes, he would be turned into a criminal, Hershberger said Thursday.
"The jury in Baraboo acquitted me of the charges," Hershberger said. "If I'm allowed to do it (sell unpasteurized diary without a permit), all other farmers should be allowed to do it as well. I will be another criminal because the jury freed me of having to have a license to do what I'm doing."
Hershberger, who testified against the bill during a public hearing Wednesday, sells unpasteurized dairy and other food products from his farm through a program known as a buyer's club.
A buyer's club, known in other parts of the country as a cow-sharing or a herd-leasing program, allows farmers to enter into private contracts with consumers to essentially co-own animals on the farm. The consumer then has access to the milk or meat produced by the animal.
The raw milk bill, sponsored by Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, and Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, would require farmers who sell raw milk to meet or exceed Grade A standards just like farmers who sell to dairy processing plants. Hershberger did not renew his Grade A license three years ago when he made the decision to quit selling his milk to a dairy processing plant and instead sell raw milk through a buyer's club business model.
Hershberger said the jury made it clear it was his right to sell raw milk without a license, without having to register with the state and without having to meet standards.
"I'm allowed to do what I do without a license," Hershberger said. "And those with a Grade A license are not allowed to do what I do."
Another public hearing on the raw milk bill will be held in La Crosse on Monday. Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, will testify at that hearing. Another co-sponsor of the raw milk bill, Clark said he plans to speak about a separate bill that would remove any ambiguity over the legality of buyer's clubs.
Because the charges against Hershberger were criminal and not civil, the not-guilty verdict applies only to him. That leaves a gray area over whether other farmers would be charged for operating buyer's clubs.
"My bill is more narrowly crafted and would legalize buyer's clubs," Clark said at the Capitol, outside the raw milk hearing Wednesday.
In contrast, the raw milk bill would allow for farmers to sell directly to consumers if certain criteria are met. Clark's bill legalizes an alternate business model for raw milk to be sold.
Under Clark's draft bill, farmers who operate a buyer's club would not need to get a Grade A license from the state, just a buyer's club permit.
"We are replicating California standards for unpasteurized raw milk sales," Clark said. "We are not letting (the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) write the rules."
One difference is that California allows for the retail sale of raw milk. Clark's bill would not.
The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection had been promoting the creation of the buyer's clubs as a means for farmers to earn additional income.
But that changed in May of 2010 when former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle abruptly changed course and vetoed a bill that would have legalized raw milk sales. A month later Hershberger's farm was raided by DATCP officials accompanied by local law enforcement officers.
Hershberger said he and his attorney, Elizabeth Rich of Plymouth, have talked with Clark about his bill. Hershberger said Thursday that "depending on how things go, we might work with him some more."
"What he is trying to do is get a statute into law that correlates to my trial," Hershberger said, meaning no need for a permit or license to operate a buyer's club that sells unpasteurized dairy products.
Rich said she appreciates Clark's efforts to support farmers like Hershberger.
"I think the bill as proposed includes extensive involvement by DATCP in the buyers club. And that's the area that needs some work," Rich said. "Neither party wants extensive involvement by the state."
Wisconsin raw milk farmer invites jurors to ice cream social
With Appeal Underway, Hershberger Rallies Supporters
By Rick Barrett of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 14, 2013 12:20 p.m.
Jury Foreman and Vernon after the sentencing
It's rare — or maybe it has never happened — that someone found guilty of a crime would invite the jurors who convicted him, and the officials who prosecuted him, to an ice cream social.
But on Saturday, raw milk dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is throwing a party to thank his friends and to raise money to rebuild two of his farm buildings, and he says five jurors from his trial last spring are likely to be there, along with about 100 other supporters.
Hershberger was convicted in May of one misdemeanor related to the sale of raw milk products in his farm store. He was acquitted of three other criminal charges in the case, which stemmed from a June 2010 government raid on his Grazin' Acres farm in Sauk County.
He plans to appeal the conviction for violating a hold order placed on the products in his store. He'll hold a news conference about the appeal at Saturday's social.
Some of the jurors have since become friends with the Loganville dairy farmer and have joined his buyers club, which sells raw, unpasteurized milk and other products to members.
After the trial, four jurors asked Sauk County Circuit Judge Guy Reynolds to be lenient. Reynolds fined the farmer $1,500, including court costs.
Hershberger also has sent ice cream social invitations to officials from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection who tried to shut down his operation and send him to jail for operating a retail store, dairy farm and dairy processing facility without licenses.
"I would like to improve our communication with DATCP. This might be a good way to start," Hershberger said.
State officials say they're not likely to attend.
For the most part, raw milk sales to the public are illegal in Wisconsin.
During the trial, which put Wisconsin in the center of the national raw milk controversy, officials alleged that Hershberger used the farm's buyers club as a way to run an unlicensed retail operation. They did not accuse him specifically of violating raw milk regulations.
But the farmer's attorneys, paid from the national Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, have said he was unfairly targeted for prosecution because he sold unpasteurized milk to members of the buyers club.
The raw milk issue has pitted people who believe unpasteurized milk straight from the farm has beneficial properties against state agriculture and public health officials who say it can cause food-borne illnesses.
Hershberger's supporters say his case could set a precedent for other farmers wanting to establish private buyers clubs as a way to sell unpasteurized dairy products.
Since the trial, there's been more interest in the buyers clubs, said Hershberger's attorney, Elizabeth Rich, who has asked for a three-judge panel to hear the appeal because she says it has statewide importance.
"The Legal Defense Fund is putting together documents to help set up a club that would conform with the Hershberger verdict and, we believe, would conform with Wisconsin law," Rich said.
State Department of Justice officials say they don't see the acquittals from the Hershberger case, or any outcome from the appeal, as setting a statewide precedent.
"This appeal involves a specific set of facts and a specific individual. We believe it can be, and should be, decided on that basis," said Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck.
Rich said there will be raw milk and raw-milk ice cream available at Saturday's gathering, but it will be for members of the farm's buyers club. Everyone else gets pasteurized dairy products.
The event is not meant to annoy state officials, according to Rich. "We have always said the door is open to have a dialogue," she said.
The primary purpose of the ice cream social is to raise money for Hershberger to rebuild a barn and machine shed destroyed by a fire sparked by heating lamps in the barn in April. "That is where the proceeds are going," Rich said.
Legislative effort revivedThere have been several attempts in the state Legislature to legalize the sale of raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products direct from the farm, including a recent bill from Sen. Glenn Grothman.
The West Bend Republican's proposal would allow limited continue reading
Jurors in Recent Raw Milk Trial to Hold Press Conference
Wisconsin Ag News Headlines
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 08/13/2013
The case regarding a Loganville dairy farmer who was acquitted on three of four criminal charges of food distribution in Sauk County this spring does not appear to have an ending yet. The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund announced on Monday that it is organizing a press conference this weekend to talk about the trial.
The event will include certain members of the jury, as well as Vernon Hershberger himself. Others who plan to make statements include Author David Gumpert; Max Kane, who is the founder of FarmMatch.com; and Attorney Elizabeth Rich, the group's vice president.
The forum will take place August 17 at Grazin' Acres, continue reading
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund Files Appeal in Wisconsin Raw Milk Case
By Dr. Mercola
The state of Wisconsin is one of a handful of states that is aggressively targeting raw-milk farmers, seeking to criminalize their methods of food production.
Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger was among the latest targets, charged with four criminal misdemeanors for supplying a private buying club with raw milk and other fresh produce.
He was acquitted of three of the four charges, and now the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is appealing the jury verdict of the fourth charge…
Was This Wisconsin Raw Milk Farmer Unfairly Charged?After Hershberger was acquitted of three of the four charges, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion to revoke Hershberger's bail and instead send him to jail for a fourth charge of violating a holding order.
This required that he not sell any food or milk from his store as a condition of his bail. Hershberger openly admitted that he had violated the order and broke seals to get into his coolers, in part to retrieve food to feed his own family.
As a result, jurors had no choice but to find him guilty of this charge, and he was sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine plus $513 in court costs. Hershberger avoided jail time and the maximum possible fine of $10,000, but several of the jurors noted that state prosecutors and the county judge withheld key information that would have exonerated him of even the hold-order charge.
According to FTCLDF, the jury received a heavily redacted hold order, which stated Hershberger's food was "misbranded or adulterated" when in fact the food was neither.
Attorneys for the case believe this missing piece of information would have been enough for the jury to clear Hershberger on all charges. According to attorney Elizabeth Rich:
"Had the jury been given enough information to understand the totality of the circumstances, we believe they wouldn't have convicted Vernon of violating the holding order. His conviction was not consistent with the jury's acquittal on the other three count."
Jurors Angered Over Blatant InjusticesSeveral of the jurors were so moved by the case that they now want to join Hershberger's buying club to be able to access raw milk for their families, noting that this is an issue of food freedom. Not only does it seem a precious waste of state resources to target a man supplying wholesome food to informed and willing buyers, several of the jurors stated they felt the trial, and specifically the holding order charge, was unjust.
Specifically, the jury only determined whether Hershberger had violated the hold order… not whether the holding order was valid. Since he had been acquitted of the charges that led to the holding order being placed, it means that the state had no right to be barring Hershberger from accessing his food in the first place.Baraboo News Republic reported:1
" '… we weren't allowed to judge whether the holding order was valid,' [juror Michele] Bollfrass-Hopp said. She added that since Hershberger was acquitted of the other charges that the state used as its basis for placing the holding order, the order itself should have been a moot point. 'You have to have common sense when you apply the law.'"
With FTCLDF's appeal, it's possible that Hershberger may still be cleared on allcharges and receive the justice he deserves.
Raw Milk Continues to be Unfairly Targeted While Other Foods Are Making People SickOne of the most significant potential 'threats' from raw milk is listeria; this is the disease the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) often uses as its 'poster child' in its warnings against drinking raw milk. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 2,500 Americans become seriously ill from listeria each year and, among these, 500 will die.
While listeriosis is generally a mild illness in healthy people, causing few or no symptoms, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women are at more serious risk. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, premature delivery, infection or death to the newborn. But how many cases of the 2,500 a year actually come from raw milk?
According to the FDA and the CDC, from 1998 to May 2005 there were 45 outbreaks of food-borne illness that implicated unpasteurized milk, or cheese made from unpasteurized milk. These outbreaks accounted for 1,007 illnesses, 104 hospitalizations, and two deaths.2 This works out to 144 cases a year. And that is assuming that EVERY person who got sick from raw milk that year got sick from listeria, which is highly unlikely.
So it is likely far fewer than 144 people a year who have gotten listeriosis from raw milk. The remainder of the 2,500 illnesses a year are then coming from, as the report noted, primarily deli meats.
Hot dogs, refrigerated pre-prepared meat spreads, pasteurized cheeses and pre-made meat and seafood salads have also been implicated in listeria outbreaks. Just this month, for instance, three types of Crave Brothers cheese were recently removed from store shelves because of possible listeria contamination – and these cheeses are made from pasteurized milk!
Is Milk Even a 'Necessary' Food?The war against raw milk is clearly an issue of government and big business trying to interfere with your right to access pure food from the producers of your choice. Another issue entirely is whether milk of any kind is actually the healthful food it's made out to be. Personally, I don't drink much milk, raw or otherwise (although I do currently use about one pound of raw butter a week).
But many view milk as a dietary staple, essential for adding calcium and fat to their diets, especially for kids. Several US government agencies even recommend the consumption of three cups daily of reduced-fat milk for most age groups. But a recent article in JAMA Pediatrics3 questions the scientific rationale for promoting milk consumption for both children and adults, and reconsiders the role of cow's milk in human nutrition.
The authors state:
"Humans have no nutritional requirement for animal milk, an evolutionarily recent addition to diet. Anatomically modern humans presumably achieved adequate nutrition for millennia before domestication of dairy animals, and many populations throughout the world today consume little or no milk for biological reasons (lactase deficiency), lack of availability, or cultural preferences. Adequate dietary calcium for bone health, often cited as the primary rationale for high intakes of milk, can be obtained from other sources."
Far from being healthful, the researchers suggest that the consumption of reduced-fat milk, which is high in milk sugar, may instead be contributing to the obesity epidemic (one cup of 2 percent milk contains more than 12 grams of sugar – nearly as much as a chocolate chip cookie). But whether or not you choose to drink milk, most would still agree that attempting to criminalize a raw-milk farmer for supplying this food to private buyers is a dangerous assault on food freedom.
Small Heritage-Breed Pig Farmers Are Also Being TargetedIt's not only raw-milk farmers who are facing the 'food police.' Small farmers raising heritage-breed hogs are also being targeted, particularly in the state of Michigan where the Invasive Species Order (ISO) went into effect last year.
The ISO prohibits anyone in the state from possessing what they define as "invasive species of swine," which the state says are carriers of many parasites and disease, and a major source of damage to forests, agricultural lands and water resources. While the dictionary definition of "feral" refers to an animal running wild, Michigan authorities have taken it a step further and extended the definition to include enclosed private hunting preserves and small farms that are raising heritage-breed pigs.
There is no genetic test to determine whether the species on these farms are truly invasive, so authorities are basing their cases against these farmers solely on visual observations and characteristics so vague that virtually any pig other than the familiar pink domestic breed raised on CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) could potentially be deemed "feral."
Any farmer or other individual found to be in possession of such a hog could be charged with a felony and subjected to up to two years in jail and fines of up to $10,000 per violation. In one case against farmer Mark Baker of Baker's Green Acres, who raises Mangalitsa "wooly" hogs, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through the Michigan Attorney General, is asking the judge to impose fines of $700,000 for his 70 "illegal" pigs. Baker, however, is fighting back and has filed suit against the state of Michigan for loss of livelihood due to the ISO. He told FTCLDF:4
"Because of the ISO, I have not been able to process or sell any pork in Michigan since April 2012 or sell the live pigs. This threatens the viability of my farm, my income and the health and well-being of my family. The ISO is a threat to genetic diversity and freedom of choice as well as the ability of small farms to make a living. This order denies consumers their rights to access foods of their choice and violates property rights and the right to make a living. Farmers and other hog owners in Michigan must either get rid of their now 'prohibited' property or become felons."
Are You Willing to Fight for Your Food Freedom?The fight for food freedom isn't just for those who love raw milk – it's for everyone who wants to be able to obtain the food of their choice from the source of their choice. Now heritage-breed pigs are being targeted and there's no telling what other small-farm, niche foods may be next. So please, get involved! I urge you to embrace the following action plan to protect your right to choose your own foods:
Get informed: Visit www.farmtoconsumer.org or click here to sign up for action alerts.
Join the fight for your rights: The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is the only organization of its kind. This 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization provides a legal defense for farmers who are being pursued by the government for distributing foods directly to consumers. Your donations, although not tax deductible, will be used to support the litigation, legislative, and lobbying efforts of the FTCLDF. For a summary of FTCLDF's activities in 2012, see this link.
Support your local farmers: Buy from local farmers, not the industry that is working with the government to take away your freedoms.
Wisconsin Raw Dairyman Plans to Appeal His Verdict
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund to Persevere to Fully Vindicate Private Buying Club
Falls Church, VA, July 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The absolute right to private, unregulated, direct trade with a local raw milk producer is being fully tested in the heart of "America's Dairyland". The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund plans to appeal the jury verdict of farmer Vernon Hershberger in the recent case, State of Wisconsin (Plaintiff) vs. Vernon Hershberger (Defendant). The appeal will be presented in Wisconsin appellate court district IV. Likely, the case will be reviewed by a 3 judge panel.
Hershberger was found guilty on only one of four criminal counts, the violation of a hold order.
Hershberger owns and operates a privately held dairy farm, Grazin' Acres, in Loganville, Wisconsin. Over 200 investors in his farm enable Hershberger to operate a non-retail farm store for member investors only.
At issue in this case, was whether or not Hershberger needed retail license, dairy plant license, and milk producers license from the state to operate such a business. A jury of his peers found that Vernon was not breaking licensing laws, exonerating him of the three counts of operating without licenses.
The jury was also charged with determining whether or not a hold order was issued, and whether or not Hershberger had violated the order. The hold order was placed on Hershberger's dairy cases in the farm store in by the Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) on June 2, 2010.
During his trial, a heavily redacted hold order was submitted to the jury for review. In court, Hershberger had admitted he opened the state seal on his dairy refrigerators to allow his members access to their property.
"For Vernon, this was an act of civil disobedience. He believed the state was exceeding its authority, and that, as owners, his members had every right to the dairy products from their own cows," explains Elizabeth Rich, Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund attorney.
A team of attorneys hired by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is filing the appeal. Elizabeth Rich, Glenn Reynolds, Amy Salberg took the original case to court on May 20-24, 2012, and will stay on the case. They have 20 days from the June 13th sentencing to file their appeal, the deadline is July 3.
The law in the state of Wisconsin allows owners of cows to drink their cow's milk without licenses.
"Had the jury understood the totality of the circumstances, they wouldn't have convicted him of violating the holding order. Vernon's conviction was not consistent with the jury's finding that members of Grazin' Acres were owners of the dairy farm, this is why we are appealing," says Rich.
Attorneys handling the case also believe the jury would have cleared the owner of Grazin' Acres of all charges had they seen the full hold order. The redacted portion of the order said the food was "misbranded or adulterated." Attorneys believe Hershberger would have presented a convincing argument that the food was neither adulterated, nor misbranded.
For the one count Hershberger was found guilty of, the potential fine was in excess of $10,000. The judge showed leniency. Hershberger was given a sentence of no jail, no probation, just a $1000 fine, plus mandatory court assessments. The total damages of $1513.00 were paid by the members of Vernon's farm immediately after the sentencing.
Since the acquittals and fine resolved the criminal case, Vernon Hershberger and his Grazin' Acres members can continue to operate unimpeded.
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund defends the rights and broadens the freedoms of family farms and artisan food producers while protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods. Those concerned can support the FTCLDF, a U.S. based 501(c)(4) nonprofit, by joining or donating online at www.farmtoconsumer.org or by calling 703-208-FARM (3276).
CONTACT: Kimberly Hartke, Publicist 703-860-2711 kim.hartke@gmail.com
Podcast with host Kimberly Hartke
Episode 9 of the Food Rights Hour podcast is about the case of Amish dairy farmer, Vernon Hershberger. During this episode, host Kimberly Hartke talks to a few of Vernon's club members, folks who know firsthand the value of the farm-to-consumer relationship. We also hear from FTCLDF President, Pete Kennedy, about the case and from Co-Founder of Farm Food Freedom Coalition, Liz Reitzig, about the events surrounding the upcoming trial that begins on May 20th.
Why is this court case significant for not only Grazin' Acres but for all access to raw milk in all states around the country? What does Pete Kennedy think will happen if Wisconsin legalizes the sale of raw milk? Why are Grazin' Acres club members such strong supporters of Vernon Hershberger and his food buying club? What events are planned to show support for Vernon Hershberger in Baraboo around the time of the trial?
Listen to the podcast to find out!
Kimberly Hartke interviews food club members Jennifer Morrison, Joy Martinson, and Pierre Pipper who were in varying degrees of poor health or disease before joining the Right to Choose Healthy Food buyers club.
Administration provided by FoodFreedomUSA.org
Corey Kealiher
David Gumpert
Elizabeth Rich
Ftcldf
Judge Guy Reynolds
Kimberly Hartke
Liz Reitzig
  Food Freedom Fundraiser
This website paid for and maintained by concerned Wisconsin citizens.


Sara is putting together a freestyle routine with Zayna. She decided to practice one of the moves with Q.
Q is learning to catch food!
Q's Recall is Coming Along!
Q being a silly pig and offering behaviors I'm not asking for. Love him!!


text:
Q: tf.losses.log_loss for multiply classes I have tested tf.losses.log_loss with binary classification problem comparing with numpy implementation and sklearn implementation, it looks good:
# Array of samples
y_pred_arr = np.array([0.6,0.3,0.9], np.float32)
y_true_arr = np.array([1,0,1], np.float32)

print('y_pred_arr.shape', y_pred_arr.shape)
print('y_true_arr.shape', y_true_arr.shape)

# 1 : Implemented in numpy
def cross_entropy_loss(y_pred_arr, y_true_arr, eps=1e-6):
    p_arr = np.clip(y_pred_arr, eps, 1 - eps)
    n_samples = p_arr.shape[0]
    loss_arr = np.zeros((n_samples,), np.float32)
    for i in range(n_samples):
        if y_true_arr[i] == 1:
            loss_arr[i] = -np.log(p_arr[i])
        else:
            loss_arr[i] = -np.log(1 - p_arr[i])
    loss = np.mean(loss_arr)
    return loss
loss = cross_entropy_loss(y_pred_arr, y_true_arr)
print(loss)

# 2 : Implemented in sklearn
from sklearn.metrics import log_loss
loss = log_loss(y_true_arr, y_pred_arr, labels=[0,1], eps=1e-6)
print(loss)

# 3 : Impemented in tensorflow using tf.losses.log_loss
y_pred_tf = tf.convert_to_tensor(y_pred_arr, np.float32)
y_true_tf = tf.convert_to_tensor(y_true_arr, np.float32)
loss_tf = tf.losses.log_loss(labels=y_true_tf, predictions=y_pred_tf, epsilon=1e-6)
with tf.Session() as sess:
    loss = sess.run(loss_tf)
    print(loss)

Output:
y_pred_arr.shape (3,)
y_true_arr.shape (3,)
0.32428703
0.3242870296041171
0.32428563

But for multiclass problem results are different:
# Array of samples
y_pred_arr = np.array([[0.4,0.3,0.3], [1.0,0.0,0.0], [0.0,0.0,1.0]], np.float32)
y_true_arr = np.array([[1,0,0], [1,0,0], [0,0,1]], np.float32)

print('y_pred_arr.shape', y_pred_arr.shape)
print('y_true_arr.shape', y_true_arr.shape)

# 1 : Implemented in numpy
def cross_entropy_loss(y_pred_arr, y_true_arr, eps=1e-6):
    p_arr = np.clip(y_pred_arr, eps, 1 - eps)
    n_samples = p_arr.shape[0]
    n_classes = p_arr.shape[1]
    loss_arr = np.zeros((n_samples,), np.float32)
    for i in range(n_samples):
        for c in range(n_classes):
            loss_arr[i] += -y_true_arr[i][c] * np.log(p_arr[i][c])
    loss = np.mean(loss_arr)
    return loss
loss = cross_entropy_loss(y_pred_arr, y_true_arr)
print(loss)

# 2 : Implemented in sklearn
from sklearn.metrics import log_loss
loss = log_loss(np.argmax(y_true_arr,axis=1), y_pred_arr, labels=[0,1,2], eps=1e-6)
print(loss)

# 3 : Impemented in tensorflow using tf.losses.log_loss
y_pred_tf = tf.convert_to_tensor(y_pred_arr, np.float32)
y_true_tf = tf.convert_to_tensor(y_true_arr, np.float32)
loss_tf = tf.losses.log_loss(labels=y_true_tf, predictions=y_pred_tf, epsilon=1e-6)
with tf.Session() as sess:
    loss = sess.run(loss_tf)
    print(loss)

Output:
y_pred_arr.shape (3, 3)
y_true_arr.shape (3, 3)
0.30543092
0.30543154478209544
0.18106996

A: tf.losses.log_loss only works for binary classes. For multiclass loss, you need to compute manually,
like:
cliped_y_pref_tf = tf.clip_by_value(y_pred_tf, eps, 1-eps)
loss_tf = tf.reduce_sum(tf.multiply(-y_true_tf,tf.log(cliped_y_pref_tf )))/len(y_pred_arr)

A: Like @functor mentioned tf.losses.log_loss is for binary crossentropy, you can check source code here:
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/r1.1/tensorflow/python/ops/losses/losses_impl.py#L309
Also https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/issues/2462
Here is example:
# Array of samples
y_pred_arr = np.array([[0.4,0.3,0.3], [1.0,0.0,0.0], [0.0,0.0,1.0]], np.float32)
y_true_arr = np.array([[1,0,0], [1,0,0], [0,0,1]], np.float32)

print('y_pred_arr.shape', y_pred_arr.shape)
print('y_true_arr.shape', y_true_arr.shape)

# 1 : Implemented in numpy
def cross_entropy_loss(y_pred_arr, y_true_arr, eps=1e-6):
    p_arr = np.clip(y_pred_arr, eps, 1 - eps)
    n_samples = p_arr.shape[0]
    n_classes = p_arr.shape[1]
    loss_arr = np.zeros((n_samples,), np.float32)
    for i in range(n_samples):
        for c in range(n_classes):
            loss_arr[i] += -y_true_arr[i][c] * np.log(p_arr[i][c])
    loss = np.mean(loss_arr)
    return loss
loss = cross_entropy_loss(y_pred_arr, y_true_arr)
print(loss)

# 2 : Implemented in sklearn
from sklearn.metrics import log_loss
loss = log_loss(np.argmax(y_true_arr,axis=1), y_pred_arr, labels=[0,1,2], eps=1e-6)
print(loss)

# 3 : Implemented in tensorflow
y_pred_tf = tf.convert_to_tensor(y_pred_arr, np.float32)
y_true_tf = tf.convert_to_tensor(y_true_arr, np.float32)
eps = 1e-6
cliped_y_pref_tf = tf.clip_by_value(y_pred_tf, eps, 1-eps)
loss_tf = tf.reduce_mean(-tf.reduce_sum(y_true_tf * tf.log(cliped_y_pref_tf), axis=1))
with tf.Session() as sess:
    loss = sess.run(loss_tf)
    print(loss)

Output:
y_pred_arr.shape (3, 3)
y_true_arr.shape (3, 3)
0.30543092
0.30543154478209544
0.30543092

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Instant Glam by Fernando bezels are easy to work in. Fernando has showcased two fast and fun techniques in this photo.
Two Swarovski crystal rock appliques can be cut and combined in one bezel to create a gorgeous dual toned pendant. These exclusive shapes were designed to work in the bezels.
Seed beads can be glued or embedded in resin to create a similar look. Smaller pieces of a crystal applique can be applied over the seed beads for a dimensional look.


text:
Square's Bitcoin Revenue Increases by $6 Million in Q3, Profits Top $500,000
Jack Dorsey's payment network Square continues expanding its Bitcoin popularity since it was introduced in February.
U.S. financial services company Square revealed it generated $43 million in Bitcoin (BTC) revenue for Q3 2018 in its most recent shareholder letter Nov. 8.
Presenting a digest of its total earnings and financial activities, Square, which introduced Bitcoin support in its Square Cash payment app earlier this year, saw cryptocurrency revenue grow by a total of $6 million compared to Q2.
"Total net revenue was $882 million in the third quarter of 2018, up 51% year over year. This includes $43 million of bitcoin revenue," the letter confirms, stating:
"Excluding bitcoin revenue, total net revenue was $839 million, up 43% year over year."
The statistics come at a stirring time for Square, which this week also saw its market cap surpass that of Twitter, the stalwart social media platform which shares Jack Dorsey as CEO.
Bitcoin remains a niche for the company meanwhile, with revenues resulting in only slender profits of around $500,000 after taking into account Bitcoin purchasing costs.
Expansion of its interaction with the cryptocurrency nonetheless continues, with Square open sourcing its cold storage setup in October and steadily expanding its offering to new jurisdictions.
The newly-launched Square Terminal, allowing merchants to take credit and debit card payments, has also sparked rumors about a possible merchant integration of Bitcoin, with no official signs appearing from the company as yet.


text:
Q: Rails CanCan hash of conditions access denied I'm having an issue setting up an ability that looks like this:
can :read, Project, :allocate_to => user.id

The problem is
ability.can?(:read, my_project)

returns false even though
Project.accessible_by(ability)

returns just the projects for that user as expected.
I've tried cancan 1.6.10 and cancancan 1.9.2 on rails 3.2.19 with ruby 1.9.3-p547
Is this a bug with cancancan or my code? How do I find out why ability.can?(:read, my_project) is failing?
Also posted as an issue

A: I've run into issues using the hash notation in cancan with abilities like this one.  Have you tried:
can :read, Project do |project|
  project.allocate_to == user.id
end

I'm not sure why this is the case, but this has worked for me from time to time.


2019 will be a year full of success, camaderie, and meaningful memories! Karma promises to bring our members the best year yet. Members will connect with new and veteran members from all chapters at our Seventh Annual Karma Summit. Karma will be announcing new and exciting information that we have in store for all of our members in the new year.


Ashley Furniture Brandon Aspiration HomeStore 33 Photos 47 Reviews Stores 2615 Along With 13 | Olivierblondel.com ashley furniture brandon fl. ashley furniture brandon corporate office. ashley furniture brandon mb.


A comprehensive computational model for the design of methane catalytic partial oxidation monolith reactors for hydrogen production has been developed and tested with respect to available experimental data. Allowing a simplified description of the heat release mechanism associated with the reforming process, the model represents a useful tool to address performances and durability issues in the design process of full scale catalytic reformers. The characteristic temperature peak along the catalyst channels, which is experimentally observed as a result of the competitive action of fuel complete oxidation and steam reforming is, in fact, a fundamental parameter to be controlled during the design process and is a complex function of catalyst formulation, mixture composition, and actual operating conditions. To address this issue in the present paper the heat release law mechanism has been studied with a new approach named heat release curves model (HRCM), which decouples the thermofluid dynamic analysis of real geometries from the modeling of heterogeneous chemistry. The model uses heat release curves extrapolated from detailed heterogeneous chemistry calculation or experimental measurements as the basis of a simplified, although still predictive, evaluation of the heat released, which allows a substantial reduction in computational costs. Validation of HRCM model (including heat release profiles approximation) with respect to more detailed simulations and available experimental data shows very good predictive capabilities with a maximum error lower than the 4% over a wide number of analyzed cases (accounting for several O/C ratios, inlet velocities, channel dimensions, and mean temperatures). Although presented for natural gas reforming the present model may be easily extended to different fuels.
Zhu, Q., Zhao, X., and Deng, Y., 2004, "Advances in the Partial Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas," J. Nat. Gas Chem., 13 , pp. 191–203.
Incropera, F. P., and De Witt, D. P., 2001, "Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer", Wiley-Interscience, New York.
Appel, C., Mantzaras, J., Schaeren, R., Bombach, R., Inauen, A., Tylli, N., Wolf, M., Griffin, T., Winkler, D., and Carroni, R., 2005, "Partial Catalytic Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas Over Rhodium: In Situ Raman Experiments and Detailed Simulations," "Proceedings of the Combustion Institute", Paper No. 30 2509-2517.
Deutschmann, O., Schwiedernoch, R., Maier, L., and Chatterjee, D., 2001, "Natural Gas Conversion VI", Vol. 136 , p. 215, Elsevier, New York.
Cordiner, S., and Mulone, V., 2007, "3D Unsteady Modelling of the Loading Process in a Diesel Engine PM-Filter," SAE Technical Paper No. 2007-01-1132.
Deutschmann, O., 2001, "Interactions Between Transport and Chemistry in Catalytic Reactors," Habilitation thesis, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, Germany.
Kee, R. J., Coltrin, M. E., and Glarborg, P., 2003, "Chemically Reacting Flow Theory & Practice", Wiley-Interscience, New York.
Cordiner SS, de Simone GG. A New Approach for Modeling the Thermal Behavior of Methane Catalytic Partial Oxidation Monolith Reactors. ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. 2009;7(1):011020-011020-11. doi:10.1115/1.3120272.


Salone del Mobile 2018 Spotlight. Pictured here: Gufram's cabinet and melting mirrored disco ball for the Disco collection (Courtesy Gufram).
Laufen, the Swiss bathroom outfitter, collaborated with Italian furniture purveyor Kartell on a conceptual collection of colorful washbasins, taps and fittings, storage units, shower bases, bathtubs, lights, and accessories. The result is a study of form and silhouette with brightly saturated accents of translucent acrylic, a material for which Kartell is famous.


To be creative is to produce or grow new ideas, items or actions by thinking in new ways. A creativity intense culture is rich with optimism, imagination and enthusiasm. Such a place enables the development of novel ideas through experimentation. This environment would support the sparks of creativity that first imagined a refrigerator, a solar panel, a space craft and an iPod. These supportive cultures embrace mistakes and failures as opportunities for better understanding.
Wagner recommends organizing the learning culture of a school around "thoughtful risk-taking, trial and error, creating, intrinsic motivation: play, passion, and purpose" (Wagner, 2012, p.200). With a goal of creating rather than consuming knowledge our schools must offer rich learning environments that promote a student centered, student led approach to teaching. Constructivists Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Montessori and Dewey all argued that through play in environments that are varied, rich in color, textures, and sounds, learners will construct for themselves an understanding of their world. They encouraged first hand activities such as exploring, building, taking apart and designing. For Dewey (1938), the role of the educator in these environments is to prepare situations where questions would develop from the experiences being had and would, for each learner, meet them at the edge of their current state of understanding and arouse "in the learner an active quest for information and for production of new ideas" (Dewey, 1938, p. 79).


Lovelace easily wins, but is all "Cool it, dude. Download Clarissa, Or, The History of a Young Lady Kindle. According to some estimates, Lovelace as a character is brighter than Clarissa. How will you reconcile this to..
In a modern observationally-based ECS estimate the F value would typically be three times as large. Nature Climate Change, 6(4 386. However, as they admit, this is based on the perfect-model framework, which assumes that the models as..
of smooth, creamy milk chocolate on factory assembly lines. Chocolate in general most of the existing supply is chocolate bars or chocolate blocks and there are 2 types of divided, namely:. It is used to give body, smoothness, and taste for chocolate. This step is crucial, as the fermentation process mellows the flavor of the beans and imparts the fruity undertones of the pulp. All Answers ltd, 'Chocolate: History and Benefits' (m, October 2018) p?vref1 accessed Reference Copied to Clipboard. The modern chocolate easter egg owes its progression to the two greatest developments in the history how to write an introduction comparative essay of chocolate. This pulp is sometimes used to make drinks or desserts, as it has a pleasant fruity taste with subtle chocolate flavor. Today, the average American consumes 12 lbs. Findings published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, the chocolate was beneficial to health is dark brown.
It also most chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, the combination of chocolate with sugar. The nibs, which contain an average of 53 cocoa butter, and then ground, producing enough heat to melt the cocoa butter and cocoa liquor to produce. So, please just make chocolate as health care, balanced diet, he said. throughout history, chocolate has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, and in recent years, multiple studies have found that chocolate can have positive health effects, providing evidence to a centuries-long. So although both saturated fat but the effect was produced different cholesterol. Prevent the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer Brown has the ability to inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and improve immune function, thus preventing the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer. By controlling the physical activity undertaken, smoking, and eating habits found that those who like to eat sweets / chocolates age older than one year are not eating. Print, reference this, published: Thu, chocolate. Creative Chocolate, history of Chocolate, christopher Columbus is believed the first European to discover chocolate. Diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks that we do have ahead of time., Says Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at orson scott card essay obama the British Heart Foundation. 1817 domenico ghirardelli is born in rapallo, italy, to an exotic foods importer and his wife at a young age, domenico is introduced to the chocolate and confectionary trade when he apprentices with a local candy maker. The history of chocolate began with the mayans and aztecs the history of chocolate is a delicious tale of discovery, invention and exploration.


text:
claytoonz
Nationally Syndicated Editorial Cartoonist
Claytoonz Merch
Commissioned Cartoons
Signed Prints
Tales From The Trumpster Fire
What Editors Are Saying
Who's That Man?
Impeachment Civil War
Donald Trump is losing his mind. He's screaming at reporters, embarrassing us in front of visiting foreign leaders, lying, spreading conspiracy theories, encouraging his supporters to engage in violence, and promising not to accomplish anything with Congress (like you were totally expecting action on gun violence). OK, that sounds like a typical Wednesday for Trump, but the stress is still showing.
Trump has been on edge more than usual lately. Wednesday was filled with rage tweets and unhinged press meetings. The impeachment inquiry over his dirty dealings with Ukraine and abusing his office by withholding foreign aid unless that nation helps him destroy a political rival is unraveling Donald Trump.
He has accused House Intel Chairman Adam Schiff of "fraudulently fabricating a statement of the President of the United States," and of committing treason. It's a good thing for Trump that lying to the public isn't treason or even illegal (his boy Corey Lewandowski brags about it). He also said Schiff should resign and that "he's sick." He ranted to the press that "Shifty Schiff" couldn't carry Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's "blank" strap. He said, "I won't say it because they'll say it was terrible to say. But that guy couldn't carry his 'blank' strap." Donald Trump wouldn't say it because he believes "jockstrap" is a dirty word, but he tweeted out "bullshit." Trump also misses that "couldn't carry his jockstrap" is a term normally used in sports, and doesn't fit in this context unless Mike Pompeo is required to wear an actual jockstrap (which I trust no one wants to carry).
Trump screamed that the "transcript" of his call with Ukraine's president was "exact" and "word-for-word," it wasn't. It was a summary with a warning at the top that it was NOT a "transcript" meaning it's not "exact" or "word-for-word." In fact, it's estimated that the summary only covers ten minutes of a 30-minute phone conversation.
Holding an article that actually was in The Times reporting Schiff learned about the outlines of the whistleblower's concerns days before the complaint was filed, Trump said that was a scandal and Schiff "probably helped write it." Never mind the fact that the White House also knew of the complaint and tried to bury it before it was filed. Afterward, he again called himself a "very stable genius."
He rage tweeted at The Washington Post for reporting that he wanted a "moot" filled with snakes and alligators at the border wall (it was actually The New York Times that reported the story). Everyone assumes he meant "moat."
He cried about the stock market being driven down because of impeachment talk, and that being exactly what the "Democrats want to do." He tweeted, "They are willing to hurt the Country, with only the 2020 Election in mind." On that subject, the S&P 500 gained 27% between Clinton's impeachment inquiry and his acquittal. The stock market did drop during Nixon's Watergate drama, but stocks were in a bear market, the nation was in a recession, and in an oil crisis.
Trump retweeted a meme inaccurately showing the counties he won reading, "Impeach this." He even sent out an inaccurate tweet of the 2016 electoral score (it seems like he'd know since he was there). He's argued his electoral victory is too big for him to be impeached and other Republicans have accused the Democrats of overturning an election. They forget that the election they're overturning was won with help from Russian interference, Trump didn't win the popular vote, and that Nixon was facing impeachment after an electoral victory much larger than Trump's (Trump won 304 electoral votes. Nixon won 520. In case you're a Republican, 520 is greater than 304). It doesn't matter if it's geographical, weather, or electoral, or a placemat you color in at Bob's Big Boy, Trump is really bad with maps.
At a press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Trump berated and bullied Reuters reporter Jeff Mason for asking what he hoped Ukraine's president would do about Joe and Hunter Biden. Trump did a DeNiro and screamed, "Are you talking to me? Listen…We have the president of Finland. Ask him a question. Trump said the reporter was being rude for not asking the Finnish president a question, but when he did, Trump interrupted and answered for him. I think Mason should have said, "OK then. President Niinistö, what do you think Trump wanted Ukraine's president to do about Joe and Hunter Biden?"
While screaming at Mason, Trump said the impeachment was based on a hoax, the media was "playing into the hoax," called the press "fake news" and in "many cases, the corrupt media."
Trump has demanded to interview the whistleblower saying he deserves to confront his accuser (he doesn't). He's accused the whistleblower of being a "partisan hack" and of committing treason along with those in the White House who have helped him. He has insinuated the whistleblower and those who have helped him should be put to death. He's warned of a Civil War if he's impeached.
Donald Trump doesn't care if the nation burns if it saves his hide, or at least gets him good ratings. He's never shown more concern for anything over himself. If he riles up Nazis, Klansmen, Fox News hosts, and MAGA-hat wearing gun nuts, so be it.
Finland's president was asked by a Finnish reporter, not about raking leaves to prevent forest fires, but if he could detail what kind of favors Trump had asked him. As reports are coming in that Trump has asked leaders of Ukraine, Australia, Italy, and now England, to work as opposition researchers for his 2020 campaign, it was a fair question. A question Trump interrupted by rambling about how he's been praised by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.
The Helsinki Times (in case you're a Republican, Helsinki is the capital of Finland), published an article this morning with the headline, "Did Trump tweet throughout his entire meeting with Niinistö." It's a fair question since Trump tweeted ten times about impeachment during the two hours when he was meeting with Niinistö. For Niinistö's sake, I hope the meeting wasn't in the bathroom since the tweets were indicative of his poop tweets. That guy will never come back to America.
President Niinistö enjoyed visiting many sites while in Washington. Perhaps he got to see the U.S. Constitution, Lincoln's stovepipe hat, or Mike Pompeo's jockstrap. At the press conference, Niinistö may have even enjoyed throwing a little shade at Trump during his opening statement. He said, "Mr. President (sic), you have a great democracy. Keep it going on." Unfortunately, Donald Trump is too slow to detect this sort of burn. He'll notice it Sunday.
But about Niinistö's statement on our democracy; there really is only one way to keep our democracy "going on." Since Trump has delusions of being an authoritarian leader, attacks the rule of law constantly, is recruiting foreign nations to help his 2020 campaign after one helped his in 2016 (and Vladimir Putin "joked" about helping again in 2020 yesterday), and is encouraging his supporters to start a "civil war" if he's impeached, the only way to keep it going on is to impeach Trump.
Let's keep it going on.
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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Cartoons, Civil War, Clay Jones, claytoonz, Editorial cartoons, Guns, Impeach, Political Cartoons, Trump, Trump Meltdown, Universal Background checks, Whistleblower on October 3, 2019 by clayjonz. 5 Comments
General Papa John Kelly
It seems so long ago that we had high hopes for General John Kelly and the influence he would command in the Oval Office.
The first publicly-known term for Kelly to take the job as the Chief-of-Staff was for Trump to get rid of Anthony Scaramucci. It gave us the impression he wouldn't tolerate any nonsense, and when Scaramucci was fired we believed he had considerable influence on Donald Trump.
There were reports Kelly was running a tight ship. Staffers couldn't just pop into the Oval Office anymore to share with the president the latest conspiracy theory they gleaned off InfoWars. People, even Jared and Ivanka, would need an appointment to meet with the president. Trump would also become more presidential, and we'd see fewer tweets from the First Toilet.
We all felt Kelly took the job out of an obligation to save the world from Trump. He would spare us from a nuclear Armageddon over an insult from North Korea, like "dotard."
With General Kelly at the helm, we could sleep at nights.
Then, Trump said there were good people marching with Nazis. As the stupidity spilled from Trump's mouth, Kelly was looking down at his shoes as though he was in serious anguish over the racist comments. We thought he was wondering what he "signed up for," and how he could repair the problem in the White House.
As Trump spoke at the United Nations and referred to Kim Jong Un as "Little Rocket Man" and threatened to destroy him, Kelly sat in his chair nearly putting his head between his knees. We all assumed he was recoiling from the immature rant on an international stage. As it turns out, he was probably just suffering from dining on 7-11 breakfast burritos, and he was bargaining with God for the consequences to happen at any time, but not at that time.
Hope in Kelly started to dim as the tweets continued. Where was Kelly's influence of being calm, reasonable, or at the very least, not acting like a man-baby with a full diaper?
Then, Kelly attacked a black Democratic Congresswoman. He accused her of politicizing the death of a slain soldier, even though Donald Trump had started it and even brought the death of the General's son into the discussion. Kelly didn't take down Trump's lie that he's the only president who ever called Gold Star families.
Kelly then told a lie about the congresswoman and called her an "empty barrel." After footage of the event in question proved Kelly was a liar, the White House Spokesgoon, Sarah Huckabee Sanders told us that we shouldn't "debate a four-star general." To make matters worse, Kelly never apologized for using a racist insult, or for lying.
This week, Kelly defended white-people heritage by saying Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. He told us the Civil War was started by a "lack of ability to compromise," ignoring the fact the root cause of the war was slavery. Duh!!! He claimed that people were more loyal to states than country back in the 1860s.
By now, the general's credibility is on the same level as Papa John.
Papa John, the man who started a pizza company in a closet and now lives in a Kentucky castle told us that the anthem protests in the NFL are responsible for his decreased profits. Papa likes to say "better ingredients. Better pizza," but what he's really about is bigger bullshit.
John Schnatter, the CEO and founder of Papa John's lost $70 million within hours after releasing its third-quarter financial report on Tuesday afternoon. After the report's estimates on earnings and revenue hit Wall Street, the stock dropped 11% by 12:30 PM the next day.
Schnatter has criticized Obamacare in the past and used it to deny hours to his employees. He's hosted fundraisers and contributed to the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and Donald Trump. Schnatter is becoming a hero to the far-right, the alt-right, the alt-white, and conservative goons in general. His pizza is probably now the favorite pizza for creepy icky people.
Thus, proving Republicans can swallow all sorts of disgusting bullshit.
I want to thank everyone who has donated in the past. Your support helps me continue creating cartoons and columns with a little less stress in my life. Between competing syndicates with much larger resources, timid editors, and Trump supporters who attempt to intimidate the editors who do publish anything that criticizes their idol, it's a challenge to make a career out of this. So your support (if you can) is appreciated. Want to help me continue to create cartoons and keep doing what I'm doing (pissing off conservatives)? Look to the right of this page and make a donation through PayPal. Every $40 donation will receive a signed print. All donations will receive my eternal gratitude.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Cartoons, Civil War, Clay Jones, claytoonz, Editorial cartoons, General John Kelly, John Kelly, Kelly, Papa Johns, Papa Johns Pizza, Political Cartoons, Trump on November 3, 2017 by clayjonz. 4 Comments
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