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MON AM News: State is on the verge of a grim milestone with 998 COVID-19 deaths; Roasters saw rise in online whole bean coffee sales during pandemic
— During the height of the shutdown, coffee shops across Wisconsin had to shut their doors or drastically reduce hours while offering curbside pickup. Consumers took to the internet to purchase their favorite beans and the correct machines to craft their own brew.
Two Wisconsin coffee roasters who operate shops, Colectivo and Barriques, both saw a rise in online whole bean coffee sales.
In April 2020, Madison-based Barriques' web sales exploded, up 1,500 percent compared to April 2019. According to Co-owner Matt Weygandt, online business replaced what they lost from in-store purchases and then some.
"There was a large transition to people making coffee in their home," Weygandt said. "All of our Chemex and AeroPress and so forth, they all basically sold out within the first three weeks of everything shutting down. Now, we're seeing follow-up orders from the same people for coffee filters and replacement parts for their brewing apparatus."
Colectivo not only saw an uptick in their web sales for whole bean coffee, but also through its wholesale grocery channel.
"We very quickly introduced the 5-pound bag format for at-home use, as opposed to being a traditional wholesale format only. Customers really responded to this," said Scott Schwebel, marketing director at Colectivo.
Read the full story at WisBusiness.com: https://www.wisbusiness.com/?p=1454168
— Health officials say a general relaxation of vigilance against the coronavirus is one reason the state is on the verge of a grim milestone — 1,000 COVID-19 deaths.
The state has recently experienced death counts averaging between eight and 12 per day reflecting the spread of COVID-19 that occurred four to six weeks ago, several Wisconsin health leaders and officials told WisBusiness.com.
The first half of July averaged under five deaths-per-day, according to data on the Department of Health Services' coronavirus dashboard.
"The death rate in Wisconsin was relatively steady from March through May, and dipped in June and early July," said Medical College of Wisconsin President Dr. John Raymond. "Although it is difficult to ascribe cause and effect to a single intervention, it seems likely that the dip in deaths was a positive result of the Safer at Home order."
Death rates have been rising over the past few weeks to the same levels the state experienced in May. Raymond attributed the trend to many factors including the lifting of the extended Safer at Home on May 13, Memorial Day celebrations, the Fourth of July holiday, protests, family summer gatherings and overall "generally relaxed vigilance."
Gov. Tony Evers' statewide order limiting activities, shopping and socializing was in effect from March 25 to May 13, 13 days before it was set to expire.
The Badger State is doing better than its neighbors at 17 deaths per 100,000 residents according to the CDC. Michigan is at 65 deaths followed by Illinois (62), Minnesota (30) and Iowa (29). But DHS has recently reported high COVID-19 activity in 66 of Wisconsin's 72 counties and medium levels of activity in the other six counties. No Wisconsin counties report low COVID-19.
"The increase in deaths reflects the increase in transmission that we've been seeing over the past month," said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases.
— The federal Health Resources & Services Administration has ranked Wisconsin's critical access hospitals — lower-volume, rural health care facilities — third best in the nation for health care quality reporting and improvement measures.
CAHs are key health care safety-net providers in Wisconsin's rural areas. There are 58 statewide. HRSA annually recognizes top performing states that achieve the highest quality-related reporting rates and levels of quality improvement over the previous 12-month period.
"Critical access hospitals in Wisconsin have been leaders in voluntarily reporting quality data," said Beth Dibbert chief quality officer at Wisconsin Hospital Association. "Our CAHs perform better than the state and national scores in important areas such as patient satisfaction and infection rates."
WHA President Eric Borgerding said that the announcement affirms what WHA already knows: " "whether you live in rural or urban Wisconsin, patients can receive some of the best health care in the country right in their own community."
Wisconsin came in behind just Virginia and South Carolina.
See the announcement here: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/rural-hospitals/mbqip?utm_campaign=enews20200806&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
— From the pandemic-ravaged ruins of Milwaukee's hopes for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, calls are emerging to bring the quadrennial gathering back in 2024.
It's not an organized movement, and even those who back the idea are far from unified about how to pursue it. But they are united in their desire to salvage some of the effort and the spirit that went into attracting Milwaukee's first major-party national political convention, only to see the city's moment in the spotlight snatched away by the relentless realities of the coronavirus.
Once expected to attract 50,000 people and generate about $200 million in economic impact, Milwaukee now won't even see former Vice President Joe Biden accept the nomination.
"We worked so hard to get it here," says Khary Penebaker, a Democratic National Committee member from Waukesha County. Losing practically all of the event to the virus is "not our fault" and "something we shouldn't be punished for," he adds.
As the pandemic forced increasing restrictions on travel, gathering and dining, Democrats first rescheduled the convention from July to August, then shifted most events online and told delegates to stay home, to the chagrin of local businesses that had been counting on the convention's economic benefits. The final blow came Wednesday, when the party announced that neither Biden nor any other convention speakers would travel to Milwaukee.
Pabst Theater Group CEO Gary Witt was the first and most outspoken advocate for a do-over, tweeting on April 18, "The DNC in MKE should be 100% canceled. DNC should commit that the convention will happen in MKE in 2024. Anything else will be a crushing blow to MKE. Cancel and rebook." He followed up with an April 20 guest opinion column in the Milwaukee Business Journal, arguing, "For the next six months, we should be focusing all of our attention on our recovery from the virus and not on putting on a scaled down convention."
Read the full story at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/200807report/
#TOP STORIES#
# Trump takes executive action on economic relief
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/08/trump-takes-executive-action-on-economic-relief.html
# Some Milwaukee businesses want to 'repatriate' donations to DNC as event shrinks
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/some-milwaukee-businesses-want-to-repatriate-don.html
# Epic Systems Delays Mandatory Return To In-Person Work
https://www.wpr.org/epic-systems-delays-mandatory-return-person-work
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– How Wisconsin Food Plants And The Government Failed To Protect Workers https://www.wpr.org/how-wisconsin-food-plants-and-government-failed-protect-workers
– Workers, advocates say Strauss fired meatpacking workers after COVID-19 safety complaints https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/08/09/strauss-accused-firing-workers-after-covid-19-safety-complaints/3327237001/
– Social media pictures might send the wrong farm safety message https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/social-media-pictures-might-send-the-wrong-farm-safety-message/
– State Fair Cream Puffs Traveling Around Wisconsin This Week https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/08/09/state-fair-cream-puffs-traveling-around-wisconsin-this-week/
– Rented Land Fetches Roughly $150 Per Acre https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/08/07/rented-land-fetches-roughly-150-per-acre/
# ECONOMY
– Wisconsin's arts and culture industry among the hardest hit sectors by COVID-19, report says https://biztimes.com/wisconsins-arts-and-culture-industry-among-the-hardest-hit-sectors-by-covid-19-report-says/
– In these neighborhoods, the jobless rate may top 30% https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/in-these-neighborhoods-the-jobless-rate.html
– The Economic Impact Of Lapsed Unemployment Benefits In Wisconsin https://www.wpr.org/economic-impact-lapsed-unemployment-benefits-wisconsin
# EDUCATION
– College pledges come with a twist as schools struggle to contain students, Covid-19 https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/college-pledges-students-covid-19.html
# FINANCIAL SERVICES
– Here's where the city of Milwaukee sent its restart program grants https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/heres-where-the-city-of-milwaukee-sent-its-restar.html
# FOXCONN REPORTS
– Foxconn views Mount Pleasant as base to take over U.S. data server market https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/foxconn-views-mount-pleasant-as-base.html
# HEALTH CARE
– Drug And Alcohol Use Up During Coronavirus Pandemic, DHS Data Suggests https://www.wpr.org/drug-and-alcohol-use-during-coronavirus-pandemic-dhs-data-suggests
– Wisconsin reaches 5,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations since pandemic began https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-reaches-5-000-covid-19-hospitalizations-since-pandemic-began/article_15d92e27-cb45-57fa-a5b4-236830443ba7.html
# INSURANCE
– Northwestern Mutual commits $2 million to Milwaukee neighborhood organizations https://biztimes.com/northwestern-mutual-commits-2-million-to-milwaukee-neighborhood-organizations/
# MANUFACTURING
– Wisconsin exports on pace for $2.45 billion drop this year https://biztimes.com/wisconsin-exports-on-pace-for-2-45-billion-drop-this-year/
– Inpro's culture fosters healthy employee environment, customer demand in times of pandemic https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/inpro-corps-healthy-culture-fosters-employ.html
# REAL ESTATE
– Twin Disc considering consolidation of Racine facilities https://biztimes.com/twin-disc-considering-consolidation-of-racine-facilities/
# REGULATION
– Trump reinstates tariff on Canadian aluminum https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/trump-reinstates-tariff-on-canadian-aluminum.html
# RETAIL
– 'Foot traffic just isn't there': How Milwaukee-area malls are changing to survive https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/2020/08/07/shopping-malls-mayfair-brookfield-square-the-corners-southridge-adjust-life-coronavirus-pandemic/5572065002/
# SMALL BUSINESS
– Small-business owners are wary as relief program ends https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/small-business-owners-wary-as-relief-program-ends.html
# SPORTS
– Green Bay Packers to go without fans for first two games of season https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/packers-to-go-without-fans-for-first-two-games.html
– ESPN: Big Ten close to postponing or canceling football, fall sports https://madison.com/wsj/sports/college/football/espn-big-ten-close-to-postponing-or-canceling-football-fall-sports/article_11ba9ddd-590c-53a6-8564-97f98f5cfe14.html
# TECHNOLOGY
– Milwaukee's Sift Healthcare raises $2.8M to expand AI-based payment platform https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/milwaukee-sift-healthcare-raises-2-8-m-to-expand.html
– Three firms give face to Covid-19 testing https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/three-firms-give-face-to-covid-19-testing.html
# TOURISM
– Viewers being installed around city give look into Milwaukee's past https://biztimes.com/viewers-being-installed-around-downtown-give-look-into-milwaukees-past/
– Milwaukee hotel occupancy levels off as Covid-19 pandemic continues https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/milwaukee-hotel-occupancy-levels-off-during-the-co.html
– Milwaukee DNC convention discloses three Covid-19 positive tests https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/08/07/milwaukee-dnc-convention-discloses-three-covid-19.html
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 </i>
– Wisconsin Hospital Association: State's critical access hospitals ranked third best nationally for quality efforts https://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/wisconsin-hospital-association-states-critical-access-hospitals-ranked-third-best-nationally-for-quality-efforts/
FRI AM News: Economist discusses global outlook for possible recession; WisBusiness: the Podcast with Tom Still, Wisconsin Technology Council
THU AM News: WMC survey finds support for reducing individual income tax; Revitalize Milwaukee expanding services
WED AM News: Inflation causing bank deposits to slow; Molson Coors, Urban League launching new entrepreneurship program


Welcome to my rants page! You can contact me by e-mail: bob@goodsells.net. Links to other blogs and more can be found here.
I've gone down to join the picket line several times. Last night about 5:30 there were some 75 people in the picket line, and a similar number this afternoon at 1. Help support the workers by not shopping at Borders, Amazon, or Waldenbooks until the strike is resolved--in the workers' favor!
Several Black Hawk helicopters flew in Iraq today which didn't crash and kill a dozen soldiers while wounding nine more.
Right. The US invades Iraq. The US appoints a "governing council," which is not exactly representative or devoted to its work (read Michelle's post about this). A year later, the US will pretend to let governing council govern, and their first act will be to invite the invaders who have been occupying the country for 15 months by then.
Yeah, Chalabi, you giant embezzling fraud. That's going to make both the council AND the US troops instantly popular. Are you on Ambien too?
"And that includes finding those two?" the reporters asked, referring to Mr. Hussein and Osama bin Laden.
"Yes, that's part of it," [Bush] said. "But an even bigger is a free and democratic society. That is the mission."
So capturing Saddam is necessary but not sufficient for leaving Iraq. The nearly impossible is also required. This is very bad news for everyone currently in Iraq, Iraqis and occupiers alike. The only silver lining is that it may well lead to regime change in the US, which will finally offer some hope--a year from now. The truth is, I'm afraid, that aWol has no intention of ever really withdrawing from Iraq.
They may be fundraisers for Republican conventions. Seriously.
It is an unusual charity brochure: a 13-page document, complete with pictures of fireworks and a golf course, that invites potential donors to give as much as $500,000 to spend time with Tom DeLay during the Republican convention in New York City next summer � and to have part of the money go to help abused and neglected children.
Representative DeLay, who has both done work for troubled children and drawn criticism for his aggressive political fund-raising in his career in Congress, said through his staff that the entire effort was fundamentally intended to help children. But aides to Mr. DeLay, the House majority leader from Texas, acknowledged that part of the money would go to pay for late-night convention parties, a luxury suite during President Bush's speech at Madison Square Garden and yacht cruises.
Is this an exit strategy or a no-exit strategy?
Does this suggest that they're planning on announcing the death or capture of Saddam soon, declaring victory and coming home? Or is this just a ploy to buy time for their neocon vision of controlling world oil prices while preparing for the next attacks on Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia?
My personal axis of evil. Cyndy directed me to this video about this key element of what BartCop calls the BFEE (Bush Family Evil Empire). She also points out that Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Russian oil billionaire recently arrested by Putin, is a Carlyle adviser. The thit plockens.
On the nature of the Iraqi resistance.
Though the Bush administration consistently characterizes the nature of the enemy in Iraq as "terrorist," and identifies the leading culprits as "foreign fighters," the notion of Al Qaeda or Al Ansar al Islam using Baghdad (or any urban area in Iraq) as an independent base of operations is far-fetched. To the extent that foreigners appear at all in Baghdad, it is likely only under the careful control of the pro-Hussein resistance, and even then, only to be used as an expendable weapon in the same way one would use a rocket-propelled grenade or IED.
For political reasons, the Bush administration and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) haven't honestly confronted this reality for fear of admitting that they totally bungled their prewar assessments about what conditions they would face in postwar occupied Iraq.
The failure to realistically assess the anti-American resistance in Iraq means that "solutions" the US and CPA develop have minimal chance of success because they're derived from an inaccurate identification of the problem.
A Democrat on the panel who has criticized the accord, former Representative Timothy J. Roemer of Indiana, said in an interview that he believed that the panel had agreed to terms that would let the White House edit the reports to remove the contexts in which the intelligence was presented and to hide any "smoking guns."
"The President's Daily Brief can run 9 to 12 pages long," Mr. Roemer said. "But under this agreement, the commission will be allowed to see only specific articles or paragraphs within the P.D.B.'s. Our members may see only two or three paragraphs out of a nine-page report."
He said the commission should have insisted on access to the full reports, because "you need the context of how the P.D.B. was presented to the president in order to determine whether or not there were smoking guns."
The other Democratic critic on the panel, former Senator Max Cleland of Georgia, has described the agreement as unconscionable.
They've clearly got something to hide, probably something absolutely awful. September 11 has been their excuse for their whole miserable "war on terrorism," but we still don't know what really happened. The most depressing thing in the world is that there are still so many Americans who defend our criminal pResident.
plus an American civilian contractor and a whole mess of Iraqis. From AP.
Of course, our un-elected misleader has squads of brownshirts dedicated to keeping this from happening to him, whether in London, Asia, or Columbus.
I wonder if we've been looking at the "free-speech zone" issue the wrong way. That's where the cops direct protesters to little traffic islands or whatever half a mile or more from where aWol is being bribed. Maybe we need to station our protesters everywhere in town not specifically banned by the cops, thereby making the point that the only place in town which isn't a "free-speech zone" is the place where a bunch of Republitrons have paid $2000 each to hear a bad speech.
For the record, my personal experiences with "free-speech zones" haven't been so onerous. I went to protest a Bush fund-raiser in July in Dearborn, and our "free-speech" zone was right across the driveway from where aWol was speaking. We of course didn't see the horrible man directly, but his slimy supporters had to walk right by us to go into the hall. And when I went to protest Ashcroft at Cobo Hall in Detroit, we were right outside the entrance.
I posted that cartoon because of all of the cartoonists I regularly review at Slate's political cartoon review, Asay is probably the most obnoxious Bush lover. He constantly attacks liberal straw men for hypocrisy, ignoring the flagrant hypocrisy of the Republicans. Until now, that is! If Asay is running an anti-Republican cartoon, the Repugs are in trouble. I hope, anyway!
Gore Vidal: All of this is in the USA PATRIOT Act. The Founding Fathers would have found this to be despotism in spades. And they would have hanged anybody who tried to get this through the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Hanged.
Marc Cooper: So if George W. Bush or John Ashcroft had been around in the early days of the republic, they would have been indicted and then hanged by the Founders?
Gore Vidal: No. It would have been better and worse. [Laughs.] Bush and Ashcroft would have been considered so disreputable as to not belong in this country at all. They might be invited to go down to Bolivia or Paraguay and take part in the military administration of some Spanish colony, where they would feel so much more at home. They would not be called Americans � most Americans would not think of them as citizens. -- LA Weekly, via Blah3.
Ambien's common side effects include daytime drowsiness, dizziness, and changes in thinking and behavior. Less common but reported side effects include confusion, emotional instability, and an exaggerated feeling of well-being.
Ambien addiction is also more likely among people who have been dependent on alcohol and can cause amnesia.
Gee. Sound like anybody we know?
And can you freakin' imagine the firestorm if somebody in the Clinton administration had gushed about a drug like this in the middle of a war?
BTW: This Modern World is a cool blog when cartoonist Tom Tomorrow is writing it. It is an absolutely AWESOME blog when his friend Bob Harris takes over for awhile, like he's doing right now.
Not sticking yet, but starting to come down pretty good. Actually, it's going largely sideways due to the high winds. Parts of Ann Arbor were blacked out last evening, which cancelled my indoor soccer.
[Update--Fifteen Minutes Later] Stopped snowing. Sun's out. Welcome to Michigan!
[Update--Nine Minutes Later] Sun gone. Snowing again.
Screw it. Make up your own headline.
He was brought into the US at age four by his parents. While this story just screams hypocrisy on the part of the government, I know I'd much rather go to Mexico than Iraq right now. But his home is in Seattle; he should be able to return there when his army tour is over, hopefully alive and intact.
"It's been a violent country for a long time and it very likely will be for a long time. Certainly people need to participate there with their eyes open," he told reporters Thursday while travelling during a flight to Guam. -- AFP.
Sure sounds like he's optimistic about Iraq's future, doesn't it? Rummy and Wolfowitz are misguided and insane, but they don't seem to be consistent liars like Bush and Cheney. Their bits of truth-telling may be the greatest threat to the Bushies; I suggest that somebody get them drunk and roll the cameras.
"The destruction of this structure will deny enemy forces any use of it in the future," a written statement put out by the 1st Armored Division said. "The facility is a known meeting, planning, storage, and rendezvous point for belligerent elements currently conducting attacks on coalition forces and infrastructure."
Destroy the village in order to save it. Then pay Bechtel billions to rebuild it.
Planet Earth: The central front in the war on Republicanism.
Wal-Mart Posts $2.03 Billion Earnings in 3rd Quarter. When you've got people working for $2 a day, it's easy to make money.
Commission officials said that under the accord two members of the 10-member commission would have access to the full library of daily briefings prepared in the Bush and Clinton administrations and that two other members would be allowed to read just the copies of the briefings that the White House deemed relevant to the inquiry.
Although the agreement appeared to have the support of most of the commissioners, it was denounced by a Democrat on the panel, former Representative Timothy J. Roemer of Indiana. Mr. Roemer said in an interview that the White House was continuing to place unacceptable limits on access to the briefings.
"In paraphrasing Churchill, never have so few commissioners reviewed such important documents with so many restrictions," said Mr. Roemer, who was a member of the joint Congressional committee that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks. "I am not happy with this agreement, and I will not support it."
The accord was also criticized by family members of victims of the attacks. The relatives have said all 10 commissioners should have access to the intelligence reports.
"Our understanding is that this is an unacceptable agreement," said Kristen Breitweiser, whose husband was killed in the attacks and who is now a spokeswoman for the Family Steering Committee, which represents many of the victims' families. "The details haven't been shared with us. But we understand that this access will be highly limited."
The White House...had originally wanted to determine which commissioners would conduct the review.
It looks to me like the White House is trying to avoid even the appearance of innocence on this. The only conceivable reason for doing it this way is just to stall further. Fewer eyes reading the documents means it will take longer to find the smoking gun. And since the documents will remain classified, we, the supposed owners of this corrupt government, still won't know what Bush knew. If it ever does make it to the papers, you can be sure that it will be relegated to the back pages by either W's re-election or the war in Syria.
But most people, if they notice at all, will just notice the headlines saying that the White House is letting the commission see the papers.
At least the reporter comes down pretty clearly on the side of VFP and VVAW. But jeez! This used to be America, even in Florida!
Obviously, both types of groups are active in Iraq. The insurgents are clearly the American-led "coalition": I mean what is regime change if it isn't an uprising against the government or ruler of a country? The Iraqis attacking US soldiers are clearly a "resistance," since they are fighting an occupying power.
The CIA and AP still have the terminology right, at least as far as the resistance goes; but NBC and CNN have followed the lead of the LA Times and started calling the resistance "insurgents" or "militants," in addition to the all-purpose "terrorists." Tom Brokaw must have said "insurgents" ten times tonight. The term grants illegitimate authority to the invaders.
Senate majority leader Frist wants to know: Should the President's nominees to the federal bench be allowed an up or down vote on confirmation as specified in the Constitution? (Hint--that's not what's specified in the constitution. Hint 2: The correct answer is NO) Vote!
[Update] Once the voting started going our way, Dr. Frist started screwing with the poll, changing the wording, and even the general meaning of "Yes" and "No". Atrios is following this closely.
CNN wants to know if Paul Bremer is doing a good job in Iraq. Your answer will depend on your feelings about death, destruction, and mayhem, I guess. Vote!
U.S. Forces Launch Operation in Central Baghdad: U.S.-led coalition forces launched a military operation in Baghdad late Wednesday, setting off a series of explosions that rumbled through the center of the Iraqi capital. In Washington, a Pentagon official confirmed the operation but gave no details about exact location or reason. Up to a dozen detonations were heard about 9:15 p.m., apparently centered away from the heart of the city.
The US supported Saddam Hussein for a dozen years of so, not counting US support which helped the Baath party come into power in the first place.
We supported Noriega in Panama for several years before turning on him.
July: Iraqi Governing Council appointed.
Of course, he was lucky (The council member escaped injury but his driver was hurt). On Sunday, US forces killed a US-appointed local leader in Iraq.
The Stop The War Coalition said yesterday that it had been told by the police that it would not be allowed to demonstrate in Parliament Square and Whitehall next Thursday - a ban it said it was determined to resist. The coalition says that it has also been told by British officials that American officials want a distance kept between Mr Bush and protesters, for security reasons and to prevent their appearance in the same television shots.
Imagine the nerve of those uppity colonists across the pond, daring to show disrespect to the idiot emperor.
It is reported that Mr Bush's entourage will number around 500 with up to 200 members of the security service. The Americans are also said to be bringing a US Marine Corps Sea King helicopter, a Black Hawk helicopter and 15 sniffer dogs.
Maybe he should go to Rome, instead. They've got to love him there after today's truck bombing in Nasiriya that killed at least 15 Italians. He might not be too welcome back here, either--two more soldiers were killed today, bringing the total, I believe, to 400.
How about exile on Elba?
From a protest of an aWol fundraiser in Oregon. Thanks, Michelle!
My mind remains boggled that Bush got away with that callous, near-treasonous remark.
When I was a teenager, I used to drive to downtown Ann Arbor to buy books that I could not get at home. There was no Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. Nowadays the retail book environment is extremely competitive. Customers are very price conscious and expect discounts. Borders's net income is only 3.2 percent of sales and was only 2.6 percent the year before.
Employees should realize that a union cannot negotiate away competitive realities. If Borders were to let its cost structure get out of line with its industry they will become uncompetitive and eventually fail. We have all watched favorite independent stores evaporate. They disappeared because you and I preferred the discounts the larger chains and online sellers were able to offer. It is our buying habits that decide which stores survive and which do not. These are market realities that every retail company must face or they must die. The cost of labor is one of those realities.
Frankly, I have done work with Borders and know for a fact that it is most concerned with giving a voice to their employees. I know it has worked very hard to learn what matters most to every employee and to create a compensation package and a work environment that is optimal for the employees within the competitive realities of the marketplace. Borders works to continue to improve its offering.
We should all want to keep this great Ann Arbor institution competitive and growing.
Rob questions the provenance of the letter writer, thinking it may be a Borders management plant. I think it is more important to focus on the highlighted paragraph (my highlighting). This is a clear example of the thinking of what Conceptual Guerilla calls "cheap-labor conservatives." The argument is that if workers refuse to continually bend over and take it, there will be no more business. My concern is that in today's America, many (most?) people accept the highlighted argument as correct. Stores MUST screw their employees, or die. It's the race to the bottom, and all workers everywhere are now in competition with each other. I don't know the answer, but I know that the answer in the letter means that not only retail companies, but real people, will die if we don't change the current system. Extending the living wage requirements to all companies doing business in Ann Arbor would be a start. We really should fix this before the US is just one more dirt-poor third-world country.
U.S. military officials said three or four mortars hit Tuesday night within the Iraqi capital's "Green Zone," the center of most of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority's activities.
The administration and their faithful admirers frequently suggest that it will take time for the grand and glorious democratic free-market everybody-happy Iraq to emerge, even though they were pretty optimistic about quick change just a few months ago (Billmon's got a list of quotes). So, even if you're willing to ignore all indications to the contrary and believe that the Bushies are making progress in Iraq, how do you explain Afghanistan after two years?
I'll stand by a statement that I've made before: George W. Bush has done absolutely NOTHING right since being appointed president (or before, for that matter). It's one of the reasons I'm not a Howard Dean fan--he still gives Bush credit for the stupid and pointless war in Afghanistan. I don't think Bush has either an honest or a competent bone in his body, and with the help of the ideological nutcases surrounding him, he's destroying the world. George Soros is right (see below).
Well, not really. But we've got a billionaire on our side, George Soros, who just gave $5 million to MoveOn.org.
George Soros, one of the world's richest men, has given away nearly $5 billion to promote democracy in the former Soviet bloc, Africa and Asia. Now he has a new project: defeating President Bush.
You can join Soros in donating to MoveOn here. I've had my complaints about MoveOn, but they're doing a great job of drawing attention to the many failings of aWol, and now they're doing a great job of fundraising as well.
Linsey is attempting to represent the cleaning workers, many allegedly illegal immigrants, in filing the class-action lawsuit. By taking on Wal-Mart, he's representing many more "of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world" as well.
Homer: Ya know Mr. Burns, you're the richest guy I know - way richer than Lenny.
Mr. Burns: Yes, but I'd trade it all for a little more.
From soldiers killed in Iraq, in today's NY Times.
Join the growing list of Borders Workers' Solidarity Bloggers by sending an e-mail to Rob Goodspeed.
I've added Goodspeed Update to the blogroll. Rob does a great job of tracking local Ann Arbor issues, including the Borders strike, affordable housing, police issues, and others. Non-Ann Arborites should find it interesting as well.
Trade war expected with Europe. Apparently the "free-traders" in Washington gave Europe just enough power in the WTO, in order to get them to go along with it, that they can actually stand up to the US. The poorer countries of the world stood up to the US at Cancun. Hopefully the whole thing collapses into a fetid heap.
Is the multinational corporations. According to the Financial Times, many are getting very worried.
Rabih Haddad is the Ann Arbor Islamic cleric who was arrested in December 2001 and held, without charges, until July 2003, when he was deported to Lebanon. His wife and children have joined him, and they are now living happily in Beirut. The treatment of these fine people by the Bush administration was completely shameful.
CNN asks "Should U.S. courts be able to intervene in U.S. military detentions on foreign soil?"
In other words, should the "detainees" at Guantanamo Bay have any rights at all? I think "YES" is the proper answer, but "NO" currently leads 57% to 43%.
Many of us felt there had to be something there ... If this had been another country, one would have written a convincing analysis that this guy is lying through his teeth, that there are no weapons in Iraq. But people thought, the President can't say he knows something if he doesn't. That was persuasive, in a way.
Don't worry, son. After this, you'll have plenty of company.
It makes no more sense to launch an assault on our civil liberties as the best way to get at terrorists than it did to launch an invasion of Iraq as the best way to get at Osama bin Laden. Or to concede an election that you won, for that matter. But that's all raging, destructive, genocidal water under the bridge at this point.
Gore said the Bush administration has sought "to rule by secrecy and unquestioned authority," and he accused Republicans in Congress of aiding the White House by threatening to shut down investigations over political disputes.
"They have taken us much farther down the road toward an intrusive, Big Brother-style government -- toward the dangers prophesied by George Orwell in his book '1984' -- than anyone ever thought would be possible in the United States of America," Gore said.
You're not giving Karl Rove and John Ashcroft enough credit there, Al.
Paul Krugman is coming to town!
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7 pm, Ann Arbor District Library.
Unlike the bar code, however, the EPC (electronic product code) goes beyond identifying product categories--it actually assigns a unique number to every single item that rolls off a manufacturing line. 8 For example, each pack of cigarettes, individual can of soda, light bulb or package of razor blades produced would be uniquely identifiable through its own EPC number.
So, if you buy a pen or a paperback novel or a sweater at Wal-Mart and charge it to your credit card, that item will be linked to you. Conceivably, you could then be identified wherever you went just by the items on your back or in your pockets. Venture into the airport, the drug store, or another Wal-Mart, and they'll know who you are (By they, I mean Admiral Poindexter and John Ashcroft). Big Brother on steroids.
Lt. Michael Logghe said that the police department is aware of the concerns about the intersection, but that police have not seen a disproportionate number of accidents there.
That people have been literally running for their lives doesn't seem to matter until one or two of them fail. There are only two reasons that there aren't even more pedestrians and cyclists killed on our roads: Most Americans won't even risk walking or riding anymore, and those of us that do proceed with the heightened awareness of an Army patrol in Fallujah. And don't forget that the death toll on our highways EVERY MONTH exceeds that of 9/11.
In my review of last night's TV movie below, I failed to mention the pukiest moment. When the Rangers finally found Jessica, they told her "We're American soldiers!" She replied "I'm an American soldier, too!" And the Ranger said "Yes you are" (or something similar) in his best tuck-the-three-year-old-into-bed voice. I wonder if Jessica remembers it that way.
Interestingly enough, Lynch -- who was never more than a passive participant in her capture and rescue -- suddenly has taken an active role in that bigger story. In her interview with Sawyer, Lynch supposedly says she believes she was manipulated and exploited by the military to build support for the war.
This immediately poses a problem for the people who did the manipulating and the exploiting -- and for the people who believed them. Having a pretty blonde soldier (GI Barbie) to dress up as a war hero is one thing. But having a talking Barbie, and one that doesn't just repeat the little catch phrases burned onto her chip, is another.
One guy just called in and said "Lynch is a disgrace and proof that women shouldn't be in the military."
Caller just said "She ain't no hero."
Time to send in the Liberal Rangers to save her, I guess!
Billmon has more on the Freeway Blogger.
I'll confess, I watched NBC's docudrama last night. I haven't followed all of the twists and turns of the story, so I can't pretend to vouch for its veracity. Of the stories that have already been discredited by Lynch or others, the only one that I noticed that actually made it into the movie was the one about her being slapped while in the hospital. Even then, they only showed one slap, and did nothing to suggest that she was being regularly abused or tortured.
They tried to bring as much drama as they could to what turns out to be a pretty boring story, focusing on the Iraqi lawyer who told the Americans where Lynch was being held. Other than that, the story is: Due to a truck getting caught in a sinkhole, several supply vehicles are left behind by a large convoy. After extracting the truck, they try to catch up but get lost. The CO makes a terrible decision to go into Nasiriya (sp?) before it has been conquered by other US troops. Since they were a maintenance/supply unit, their only weaponry was their rifles. Once in Nasiriya ("so much for cheering crowds," says Jessica as they enter the town to sullen looks), they get trapped by roadblocks and fired on with guns and RPG's. While Lynch helps to keep other soldiers in the back of her vehicle supplied with ammo, she doesn't fire her rifle. Eventually, in the panic and confusion, her friend Lori Piestawa rear-ends the truck in front of them, killing several in the vehicle and wounding the rest, including Lynch. Clearly outnumbered and running out of ammo, the surviving Americans surrender.
The rescue mission was portrayed as neither heroic or botched. The hospital had no armed defense; according to the film "Fedayeen" fighters had left the building shortly before to take part in a near-by battle. They found Jessica, put her on a chopper, and then found the graves of the Americans, including Piestawa, who didn't survive. Frankly, the overall story was pretty boring, lacking much in the way of drama. It certainly didn't glamorize the war, and didn't really glamorize Jessica or the rescue, either. Apparently there really never was a lot of a story here, and NBC showed that last night. Chances are the film will rarely get shown again.
There's a good article in today's NY Times about a huge aircraft maintenance facility built for United in Indianapolis, using $320 million of state and local tax money, which now stands empty, providing neither jobs nor tax revenues for the area. There was a similar article in Mother Jones a couple of years ago about a shipyard renovated in Philadelphia for a Norwegian shipbuilder, at a cost of $429 million to the taxpayers. Alabama has offered $126 million in incentives to Hyundai to build cars in Montgomery.
I was going to write a long rant on this, but I already did, back in May. I'll just update a little: the Borders strike and the Wal-Mart issues and the war are all part of the same struggle to get money and power out of the hands of people and into the hands of corporations.
The Congress shall have Power ...To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States.
That Congress has allowed this unbridled ruinous competition between states to go on for decades, destroying communities, unions and the environment, when they have full constitutional authority to regulate or even stop it altogether, is one of the clearest signs of who they actually work for (hint--if you're not a millionaire, it's not you).
Atrios asks why the cities and states don't have smart lawyers who require the corporations to assume more of the risk when they receive this corporate welfare? Short answer, IMHO: There's always another state, or country, willing to offer them the same deal with making them assume the risk.
Borders employees here in Ann Arbor are striking against the store. I just came back from joining the picketers for an hour. Please help them by not shopping at Borders, Amazon.com, or Waldenbooks until the strike is settled and the workers get the benefits they deserve.


Added new stats dropdown feature when spectating!
Fixed Glimpse affecting Warlock's Golem and Spirit Bear.
Fixed Warlock's Shadow Word refreshing its debuff version when stolen and cast as a buff.
Fixed Dazzle's Weave refreshing its debuff version when stolen and cast as a buff.
Fixed restealing an ability (stealing another ability in-between) not restting its cooldown.
Fixed Curse of the Silent affecting Warlock's Golem and Spirit Bear.
Fixed Static Remnant blocking Creep camps.
Fixed a case where early game Zombies could sometimes get stuck with an earlier or invalid level of Deathlust into the late game.
Fixed Zombies being controllable when their target goes invisible.
Fixed Diffusal Blade stopping Force Staff movement.
Fixed Templar Assassin's Refraction and Pipe causing Blink Dagger to not get disabled.
Fixed illusion item locations not matching the source hero.
The Director will now acknowledge all Ultimate usages not just the ones that damage, so you can no longer pretend that Echo Slam in the jungle by yourself didn't happen.
Tweaks to Directed camera framing and movement.
Players that have not purchased a Tournament Pass will no longer be able to watch that Tournament's replays.
Sellback times no longer expire when moving items to the courier.
Commendations are now only allowed from within games.
Commendation totals are not incremented until the game is finished.
Commendation totals are not incremented if the game was less than 10 minutes long.
Fixed item stocks not restoring correctly when multiple items are sold back within the sellback time.
Added a message when a player destroys the Aegis.
Added confirmation dialog before starting a Tournament game with one or more teams not specified.
cl_dota_speech_spec_towerattack, cl_dota_speech_spec_towerfalls, cl_dota_speech_spec_barracksattack, cl_dota_speech_spec_barracksfalls, cl_dota_speech_spec_ancientattack, cl_dota_speech_spec_enemybasefalls, cl_dota_speech_spec_idles .
Set any of them to '0' to prevent that line from playing. (Broadcasters will almost always want to set cl_dota_speech_spec_idles 0 ).
Multiple players who have the same announcer equipped in the same game should now hear the same line being spoken.
Enabled AFK and leaver penalties for co-op bot matches.
Re-enabled rewards for co-op bot matches.- Added new stats dropdown feature when spectating!
New Spectator UI style (semi-transparent).
Updated the Thunder Lizard texture.


text:
Q: A program that calculate salaries in python value_ = float(input("Value: "))
values = [0.0, 0.4, 0.6]
for value in values:
    g_value = 0.6 + 0.1
    values.append(g_value)
while value_ not in values:
    print("This value are never used")
    value_ = float(input("Value: "))
performance = ''
Raise = 2400
if value_ == 0.0:
    performance = 'Unacceptable performance'
    Raise = Raise * value_
elif value_ == 0.4:
    performance = 'Acceptable performance'
    Raise = Raise * value_
elif value_ >= 0.6:
    performance = 'Meritorious performance'
    Raise = Raise * value_
print('Performance: ', performance, '\n', 'Raise: ', Raise, '$')

I had tried this code and it works but without this for loop
for value in values:
    g_value = 0.6 + 0.1
    values.append(g_value)

I meant by this loop any number greater than 0.6
Any thoughts how to solve it!!!!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


For preparing gobi manjurian indo chinese, first soak the cauliflower in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and keep it in a bowl.
Add little salt and corn flour. Mix well.
Deep fry it in oil and keep in a tissue paper.
Heat oil, add ginger garlic crushed, onion and capsicum.
Combine all the sauces in a bowl with vinegar.
Pour the sauce into pan and fry it.
Saute well. Add the cauliflower and mix well. Add little water.
Add the corn starch and make the thickness according to taste.
Add pepper on top, give a toss and serve hot.
Gobi manjurian indo chineese is ready.


The Read On Wisconsin Literacy Advisory Committee has developed sample discussion questions for all the Read On Wisconsin titles from September – May of each year. These discussion starters can be used to encourage children and teens to think more deeply about Read On Wisconsin books. We bet readers and listeners will have plenty of insights and observations to share! The books and questions are listed in chronological order (September – May) for each group.
The Discussion Questions for the Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers books include a mix of questions and suggestions for other ways to interact with young children while sharing the books. Activities that are directed toward the adult are prefaced by the word "Adult" in parentheses (Adult). Not every question or suggestion will be suitable for all children—use what makes sense based on the age(s) of the child or children you are with.
How can you tell when Daisy is happy? Sad? Curious?
Daisy feels happy when she has her ball. What is something that makes you feel happy?
What would you do to get ready for the first day of school?
What do you think school will be like?
(Adult) Share a memory of a first day of school.
What color is each machine?
What other colors can you find?
Is there a special thing you/your family do on the same day every week?
How does Loon Baby feel when he thinks his mother isn't coming back?
What does Loon Baby learn how to do?
Loon Baby and his mother have a "soft, warm nest." What is soft and comfortable for you? What do you snuggle with?
Who are some people who make you happy?
What are some things that you are thankful for?
Draw a picture of something that makes you happy or thankful.
Let's do all the things that babies in the pictures are doing (yawn, peek, etc.).
(Adult) Invite child to turn the pages as you read. Point to each of the words as you read it.
What are some things that might be happening while you are sleeping?
(Adult) Show where you live on the map on the book's endpapers.
What is different about each girl? What is the same?
Let's trace some of these spirals in the book with our fingers (a pre-writing skill).
Let's look for a spiral somewhere in this room/house/outside. Can we find other shapes?
(Adult) Have a group of children hold hands and create a spiral.
The story begins, "A star is how you know it's almost night." What are some other ways you can tell when it's almost night?
(Adult) Give shakers and streamers or ribbons to create a (supervised) fiesta.
What are some things you like to do when you are happy?
What are some of the things the people in Anna's family do when they are happy?
Anna lives with her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Who do you live with? Who else is in your family?
The first caterpillar in the story "crawled," the second one "climbed," and the third one "wriggled." Pretend to be each one of those caterpillars. Is there a difference between crawling, climbing and wriggling?
Can you think of/show other ways a caterpillar might move?
Let's count the caterpillars at the book's end together. What numbers would come next after ten?
Compare the colors at the end of the book to the beginning. Have they changed? If so, how and why?
What do you think you might hear if you put your ear to the ground in the spring? What else might you hear if you listen closely to outdoor sounds in the spring? How about summer, fall and winter?
(Adult) With children, plant seeds indoors in cups. Send home after plants have sprouted.
What are some things in nature we can see (any time of year) . . . Let's choose one to look at more closely . . . Now what do you see?
Let's go outside and find an insect to watch. (spring/summer). . . What do you notice about it?
If you were an insect detective, is there a bug you would want to look for?
(Adult) Tap out the rhythm of a nursery rhyme on a table or chair while reading it aloud. Encourage children to clap the rhythm of rhymes they know well.
(Adult) For ELL families—Through an interpreter (if needed), encourage adult family members to share any rhymes or poems from their own childhoods/native language with their children.
Pretend you're the rain: what sounds do you make? How do you move?
Pretend you're a train. Now what sounds do you make? How do you move?
What do you think you could do when you were a new baby? Could you stand? Could you run? Could you cry? Do you think you were hungry a lot?
Have you ever seen any animal babies? What were they like?
How many babies can you find on each page?
What do you do when it's time for a bath? Time to eat? Time to sleep?
Is there one of these animals you wish you could be? Which one? Why?
How did the characters in each book show that they were friends?
How are the friends in each book the same and different?
How are you the same as or different from your friends?
What will the Lion always remember about the Mouse? What will the Mouse remember about the Lion?
Have you ever helped someone bigger than you? How?
Which illustration did you like the best and what did you like about it?
Does your family have any favorite foods that you make?
What did the child need to make soup?
A simile is a comparison using the words "like" or "as". (For example: an onion yellow as the dawn). Can you find more similes in this story?
How did people try to save the dog?
What are the ways that Baltic might be feeling along the journey?
The Author's Note says no one knows where the dog came from. Where do you think Baltic came from and how did he get trapped on the ice?
What do the boys in each book learn from their grandfathers?
What celebrations are important in your family?
How are the grandsons' lives in each book different from their grandfathers' lives? How are they the same?
A dilemma is a situation that has good parts and bad parts. What were the good parts about having a little sister? What were the bad parts?
Are you more like Jess or Emma?
Each poem tells about a small moment in Jess and Emma's lives. Together, the poems tell a story. Share something you remember from this story.
What ways can you keep in touch with people you love when you can't be near them?
How would you help the girl in this book if she started coming to your school?
Why do you think people choose to move to other countries?
Name some of the places where water is found.
Are there places that don't have enough water?
How can we be careful not to waste water?
Anna is about your age. How is she the same as kids you know? How is she different?
What did you know about Africa before you read this book?
What do you know about Africa now?
What stories do these characters come from?
How would the story change if it was told from Muffy's perspective?
If you wrote this story, who would you make the hero and who would be the villain?
When was a time when you felt bad? How did you deal with it?
Which character did you relate to most? Why?
Has a friend ever been on an opposing team? How did you handle that?
What was important to Mexican artist Diego Rivera and how did it appear in his art?
How has your childhood been similar to Guadalupe's? What picture would your Mom and Dad draw about you?
If you could paint a mural, what everyday activity would you recreate?
Have you been to a thrift shop or rummage sale? What treasure(s) have you found?
What is the difference between "wants" and "needs"? What characters have needs and what characters have wants?
If you had to write a personal experience poem, what would you write about?
Which of your teachers or older relatives do you think would be willing to travel over the falls in a barrel? Would you?
How would this story be different if it happened today?
Have you heard or seen anyone performing an unbelievable feat? Why do you think people take those risks?
What did you learn about World War II that you didn't know before?
How did Voytek win over people's hearts and minds? Why do you think so many people find animals so appealing?
What animal would you train to help you? Why?
Have you ever left something behind? How would you get it back?
Who do you think was the demon and were you surprised at the end?
How do the photographs help tell the story? Have you told a story with photographs?
How did these poems surprise you?
Which type of poem would you prefer to write? Why?
What word would you use to create your own poem squeezed from a single word?
What does Poppy learn about her uncle?
What do you think would be the hardest part about spending time away from home?
The title of the book is "Hidden." What kinds of things are hidden in this story?
How does the weight of their shared secret affect Wren's and Darra's relationship?
How are Wren and Darra able to understand each other's point of view?
How do Travis ("Bluefish") and Velveeta feel about the nicknames they've been given?
Travis is unable to read at the beginning of this story. Why do you think he keeps this a secret instead of asking for help?
Why do you think Travis, Velveeta, and Bradley get along so well?
What does this book say about the power of bystanders to make a difference?
In which situations would you want to be invisible and when is it better to be invincible?
Star Trek, Star Wars, or Batman? Discuss.
If you were a Leopard Person, what would your juju be?
How does Sunny's sense of identity change throughout the book?
Which do you think is more important to the story — the power of friendship or the power of magic? Why?
How did the format of the book help you understand Allen Say's story?
Allen Say gave up everything to pursue his passion for drawing. What is your passion?
What teacher has been most influential in your life and why?
Why do you think we know so much about Amelia Earhart, but so little about the Mercury 13?
Was Amelia Earhart a good role model? Why or why not?
How might history be different if the women had been first in space?
Why is it so hard for Connor to sort out what is real and what isn't real?
How do the illustrations affect your understanding of the story?
Why is telling the truth so difficult for Connor? How or when is it difficult for you?
What are ways you tell this book is set in the 1960s rather than today?
Jack reads history to escape his boredom. What do you do?
Why do Jack and Miss Volker make a good team?
What makes newcomers an easy target for bullies?
What did Ha miss most about Vietnam? What do you think you would you miss if you moved to another country?
In what ways is Ha's sense of herself different from how others view her?
Why was Joe Louis such a powerful figure for the African American community?
The radio was an important way to build community in this story. How do today's technologies both build community and isolate us from one another?
What do you think happened to the characters after the story ended?
Is this a good title for the novel? Why or why not?
If your life was limited, what would you do over the next year to avoid having regrets?
How did being in a cancer support group affect the dynamics of the characters' relationships?
Anya's family routine is shown several times (e.g. kitchen meals). Show your routine in words and pictures.
If you had Anya's ghost, what would you have it do at home and at school? What harm or good would that cause?
The ghost isn't the only manipulator in the story. Describe instances of manipulation and what motivated it.
Whether or not you've read To Kill a Mockingbird, what did you learn about the impact of that novel reading this biography of its author?
This book explores Harper Lee's private and public lives. How do you describe your public and private lives?
Throughout history, people have sought refuge in other countries. For what reasons might people leave their homeland?
This book provides a window into current events in Zimbabwe. What struck you about life in this country?
The cover shows a soccer ball and barbed wire. How do these images reflect the boys' journey?
How do the names "Blink" and "Caution" reflect the identities of the two main characters? Do you have a nickname that authentically describes you?
How does the relationship between Blink and Caution change over the course of the book? Why does it change?
Blink, Caution, and Jack Niven are all trying to keep a secret. What are those secrets and how are they resolved?
As a reader, how many red flags can you identify as Abby is "groomed" by Luke?
What is the effect of having different perspectives in Parts 1, 2, and 3? How did this work for you as a reader?
The characters in the book reference guidelines they were given about online safety. How would you teach online safety to younger kids?
What is this book making fun of?
What stereotypes are broken down or reinforced in this novel (e.g. stereotypes of the states)?
Who would you cast as the characters if this were a movie and why?
Which character were you the most drawn to and why?
How does knowing the ending of this story affect you as you read?
What did you learn about the Titanic that you didn't know before?
This book was written with each author adding to the sequence of stories. In what way(s) were you surprised by something revealed in a later story about a character or characters introduced in a previous story?
Do you know much about basketball? How do you think your knowledge/lack of knowledge about basketball affected your response to the stories?
Choose a character you would like to be friends with. Why?


text:
Chungnam+National+University+Hospital
by recently order by view order
Blood-Based Multiplexed Diagnostic Sensor Helps to Accurately Detect Alzheimer's Disease A research team at KAIST reported clinically accurate multiplexed electrical biosensor for detecting Alzheimer's disease by measuring its core biomarkers using densely aligned carbon nanotubes. Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, affecting one in ten aged over 65 years. Early diagnosis can reduce the risk of suffering the disease by one-third, according to recent reports. However, its early diagnosis remains challenging due to the low accuracy but high cost of diagnosis. Research team led by Professors Chan Beum Park and Steve Park described an ultrasensitive detection of multiple Alzheimer's disease core biomarker in human plasma. The team have designed the sensor array by employing a densely aligned single-walled carbon nanotube thin films as a transducer. The representative biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease are beta-amyloid42, beta-amyloid40, total tau protein, phosphorylated tau protein and the concentrations of these biomarkers in human plasma are directly correlated with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. The research team developed a highly sensitive resistive biosensor based on densely aligned carbon nanotubes fabricated by Langmuir-Blodgett method with a low manufacturing cost. Aligned carbon nanotubes with high density minimizes the tube-to-tube junction resistance compared with randomly distributed carbon nanotubes, which leads to the improvement of sensor sensitivity. To be more specific, this resistive sensor with densely aligned carbon nanotubes exhibits a sensitivity over 100 times higher than that of conventional carbon nanotube-based biosensors. By measuring the concentrations of four Alzheimer's disease biomarkers simultaneously Alzheimer patients can be discriminated from health controls with an average sensitivity of 90.0%, a selectivity of 90.0% and an average accuracy of 88.6%. This work, titled "Clinically accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease via multiplexed sensing of core biomarkers in human plasma", were published in Nature Communications on January 8th 2020. The authors include PhD candidate Kayoung Kim and MS candidate Min-Ji Kim. Professor Steve Park said, "This study was conducted on patients who are already confirmed with Alzheimer's Disease. For further use in practical setting, it is necessary to test the patients with mild cognitive impairment." He also emphasized that, "It is essential to establish a nationwide infrastructure, such as mild cognitive impairment cohort study and a dementia cohort study. This would enable the establishment of world-wide research network, and will help various private and public institutions." This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Human Resource Bank of Chungnam National University Hospital and Chungbuk National University Hospital. < A schematic diagram of a high-density aligned carbon nanotube-based resistive sensor that distinguishes patients with Alzheimer's Disease by measuring the concentration of four biomarkers in the blood. > Profile: Professor Steve Park stevepark@kaist.ac.kr Department of Materials Science and Engineering http://steveparklab.kaist.ac.kr/ KAIST Profile: Professor Chan Beum Park parkcb at kaist.ac.kr Department of Materials Science and Engineering http://biomaterials.kaist.ac.kr/ KAIST
2020.02.07 View 4143
MOU among KAIST, Chungnam National University, and Chungnam National University Hospital for "Fusion Medical Science Research" KAIST, Chungnam National University, and Chungnam National University Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with attendees including KAIST President Steve Kang, Chungnam National University President Sang-Chul Jung, and the President of Chungnam National University Hospital, Bong-Ok Kim on June 3 at KAIST. With the MOU, KAIST expects to continue the development of outstanding individuals in the medical science field, advance global research in biosciences, and establish Chungnam National University Hospital and KAIST Fusion Medical School in Sejong City. The details of the MOU include educational collaborations such as course development and a combined registration system, cooperation on basic and clinical research, shared use of research facilities and equipment, and active collaboration for professional personnel for education, research, and treatment. The three parties agreed to form a joint council to pursue the specifications. President Steve Kang said, "Medical science and medical engineering, which can elevate the quality of human life, are the key disciplines which universities are targeting for the future. KAIST will prepare for Korea's future by developing elite professionals and performing world-renowned research in the merged fields of science and medicine."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Cory Monteith's death from heroin use is not an accident.
Getting sober means changing people, places and things. But Monteith did not honor one of the basic rules for getting and staying sober: changing friends. His old friends need to be investigated. Sure, he is responsible for using, but someone had to get the heroin to him, and this someone should be held responsible for Cory Monteith's death.
Why did he want the heroin? Why does an alcoholic want a drink? It is not the substance that is the problem. It is the thinking that leads to the drinking or using. Monteith had recently completed his second stint in rehab. His sobriety was fragile. He needed to be surrounded by sober people. Obviously he was not. ALL these people he had seen in Vancouver should be investigated for substance abuse. Killing a celebrity by selling him heroin is not an accident. Someone gave or sold the heroin to Monteith.
How do I know about substance abuse? I am a recovering alcoholic/addict and have not had a drink or a drug for 32 years. Whoopee, you say. How can I relate to someone newly sober? Sobriety truly is a day at a time. Recently I had major surgery and could have loaded up on painkillers such as vicodin. I did not. I have new friends today.
In 1980, I was living in Hollywood and had to change friends like underwear. I am addressing "people." Also the trendy restaurants such as Elaine's in NYC and Morton's in L.A. were replaced by coffee shops and the company of sober friends, usually after a meeting. I am addressing "places." Yes, I made mistakes in sobriety, but I smiled on.
Cory Monteith sold his story about overcoming substance abuse in 2011 to Parade magazine not long after becoming sober, which was too soon. He could not stay sober and should not have revealed his problem with drugs with so little sobriety. I, too, sold my story to Parade in 1987, but I had eight years of sobriety to back it up.
Fame and publicity are tough for recovering addicts to endure. And that is just what fame is about — endurance. A test of the ego juxtaposed against the self-loathing which is the core of addiction. The clash of ego and self-loathing can lead to a desire to use.
Robert Downey Jr. is a triumph of living a sober life under the microscope of fame.
Did I ever use heroin? In 1979, I was offered it at a party. A hip, slick rock 'n' roll dude was following me at a party and offered it to a beautiful blonde actress and me. I rejected his offer. As drunk as I was, I still remember his pushing H with the goal of hooking a stunning blonde and me. I could feel his need to hook us and carve some notch in his status of pusher in the subterfuge of the smarmy but social drug world.
It is still unclear what happened to Monteith in the hours leading up to his death. According to authorities, he and three unidentified people left his hotel room on Friday night, and the actor returned alone at around 2:15 a.m. Hotel staff found his body shortly after noon, when Monteith failed to check out.
I implore the Vancouver police to find these three unidentified people and their friends. Investigate Cory Monteith's unnecessary death.


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« Paranormal Investigators Series Comes To Syfy
This Week On Survivors – 03 – 20 -10 »
The Syfy Channel's 2010 Upfront Event In Photos
ON March 16th, 2010, some of the Syfy Channel's brightest stars joined network executives and invited guests for Syfy's Upfront Event at New York's Museum of Modern Art to help the channel celebrate its ratings success as well as promote several upcoming projects for the 2010-2011 broadcast season. Below are some photo highlights from the gathering. Enjoy!
Warehouse 13's Eddie McClintock and Joanne Kelly. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Sanctuary's Amanda Tapping. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Eureka's Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Colin Ferguson. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Destination Truth's Josh Gates and Eureka's Colin Ferguson. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Stargate Universe's David Blue and Ming-Na. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Ghost Hunters' Amy Bruni and Kris Williams with Destination Truth's Josh Gates. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Caprica co-creators/executive producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Caprica's Magda Apanowicz, Sashi Roiz, Alessandra Torresani and Esai Morales. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Stargate Universe's Ming-Na and Sanctuary's Amanda Tapping. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Haven's Emily Rose and Stargate Universe's David Blue. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Caprica's Esai Morales and Sasha Roiz. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Destination Truth's Josh Gates, Sanctuary's Amanda Tapping and David Howe, President, Syfy. Photo by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel
As noted above, all photos by Jason DeCrow and copyright of the Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Alessandra Torresani, Amanda Tapping, Amy Bruni, Colin Ferguson, David Blue, David Eick, David Howe, Eddie McClintock, Emily Rose, Entertainment, Esai Morales, Joanne Kelly, Josh Gates, Kris Williams, Magda Apanowicz, Ming-Na, Ronald D. Moore, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Sasha Roiz, The Syfy Channel, TV
This entry was posted on March 20, 2010 at 1:01 am and is filed under Uncategorized.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
3 Responses to "The Syfy Channel's 2010 Upfront Event In Photos"
morjana Says:
Thank you very much, Steven, for sharing the lovely photos! Best wishes.
very cool pictures THANKS!
Thank you so much for these pictures !! Amanda looks amazing on it, just like everybody does !! 😀


Hello and welcome to another Pinterest party post! This Pinterest party I'd been anticipating and was feeling excited for all month because of the theme and it's also been a bit since I last hosted a Pinterest party in California. It's still a struggle to get people to attend and I wish I knew how to solve that problem. I mean, it's free to come! You get to make cute stuff! All I ask is that people bring a food and I provide some as well, + crafts. I don't think it really gets easier than that. I'm still thinking about changing my strategy in the future. Anyways..keep reading to see what we made and ate!
Three people came to the party but only a couple overlapped.
Annette brought a delicious salad which I will get pinned once she gives me the recipe.
We also had lime sherbert cactus ice cream cones. Inspiration here.
Wendy brought a fruit bowl and green goodness drink from Bolthouse Farms.
black spikes to glue on.
I got one layer on my cactus and left it at that for now.
Maggi did the one on the right and painted the cutest face. Turned out nice! I think each one has some great personality to it.
I ordered thimbles from Amazon and got pasta noodles at Kmart that was closing and we used gold rocks I already had on hand to make these cactus fridge magnets. Inspired here.
Okay, this yarn cactus really didn't turn out like the picture but it was fun to try.
We used this fun pom pom maker I got at Creativation earlier this year.
All in all it was a good time and we made some fun crafts.
Stay tuned for a September Pinterest party - we will be doing Halloween crafts!


text:
package org.apache.drill.exec.server.rest;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.LinkedList;
import java.util.List;

import javax.annotation.security.PermitAll;
import javax.annotation.security.RolesAllowed;
import javax.inject.Inject;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.ws.rs.Consumes;
import javax.ws.rs.FormParam;
import javax.ws.rs.GET;
import javax.ws.rs.POST;
import javax.ws.rs.Path;
import javax.ws.rs.Produces;
import javax.ws.rs.core.Context;
import javax.ws.rs.core.MediaType;
import javax.ws.rs.core.SecurityContext;
import javax.ws.rs.core.UriInfo;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlRootElement;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonProperty;
import org.apache.commons.lang3.tuple.ImmutablePair;
import org.apache.commons.lang3.tuple.Pair;
import org.apache.drill.exec.ExecConstants;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.options.OptionList;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.options.OptionManager;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.options.OptionValue;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.options.OptionValue.Kind;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.options.SystemOptionManager;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.rest.DrillRestServer.UserAuthEnabled;
import org.apache.drill.exec.server.rest.auth.DrillUserPrincipal;
import org.apache.drill.exec.work.WorkManager;
import org.glassfish.jersey.server.mvc.Viewable;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonCreator;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonIgnore;

@Path("/")
@PermitAll
public class StatusResources {
  static final org.slf4j.Logger logger = org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger(StatusResources.class);

  public static final String REST_API_SUFFIX = ".json";
  public static final String PATH_STATUS_JSON = "/status" + REST_API_SUFFIX;
  public static final String PATH_STATUS = "/status";
  public static final String PATH_OPTIONS_JSON = "/options" + REST_API_SUFFIX;
  public static final String PATH_INTERNAL_OPTIONS_JSON = "/internal_options" + REST_API_SUFFIX;
  public static final String PATH_OPTIONS = "/options";
  public static final String PATH_INTERNAL_OPTIONS = "/internal_options";
  //Used to access current filter state in WebUI
  private static final String CURRENT_FILTER_PARAM = "filter";

  @Inject
  UserAuthEnabled authEnabled;

  @Inject
  WorkManager work;

  @Inject
  SecurityContext sc;

  @Inject
  HttpServletRequest request;

  @GET
  @Path(StatusResources.PATH_STATUS_JSON)
  @Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
  public Pair<String, String> getStatusJSON() {
    return new ImmutablePair<>("status", "Running!");
  }

  @GET
  @Path(StatusResources.PATH_STATUS)
  @Produces(MediaType.TEXT_HTML)
  public Viewable getStatus() {
    return ViewableWithPermissions.create(authEnabled.get(), "/rest/status.ftl", sc, getStatusJSON());
  }

  private List<OptionWrapper> getSystemOptionsJSONHelper(boolean internal)
  {
    List<OptionWrapper> options = new LinkedList<>();
    OptionManager optionManager = work.getContext().getOptionManager();
    OptionList optionList = internal ? optionManager.getInternalOptionList(): optionManager.getPublicOptionList();

    for (OptionValue option : optionList) {
      options.add(new OptionWrapper(option.name, option.getValue(), optionManager.getDefault(option.name).getValue().toString(), option.accessibleScopes, option.kind, option.scope));
    }

    Collections.sort(options, new Comparator<OptionWrapper>() {
      @Override
      public int compare(OptionWrapper o1, OptionWrapper o2) {
         return o1.name.compareTo(o2.name);
      }
    });
    return options;
  }

  @GET
  @Path(StatusResources.PATH_OPTIONS_JSON)
  @RolesAllowed(DrillUserPrincipal.AUTHENTICATED_ROLE)
  @Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
  public List<OptionWrapper> getSystemPublicOptionsJSON() {
    return getSystemOptionsJSONHelper(false);
  }

  @GET
  @Path(StatusResources.PATH_INTERNAL_OPTIONS_JSON)
  @RolesAllowed(DrillUserPrincipal.AUTHENTICATED_ROLE)
  @Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
  public List<OptionWrapper> getSystemInternalOptionsJSON() {
    return getSystemOptionsJSONHelper(true);
  }

  //Generate model-view for WebUI (PATH_OPTIONS and PATH_INTERNAL_OPTIONS)
  private Viewable getSystemOptionsHelper(boolean internal, UriInfo uriInfo) {
    List<OptionWrapper> options = getSystemOptionsJSONHelper(internal);
    List<String> fltrList = new ArrayList<>(work.getContext().getConfig().getStringList(ExecConstants.HTTP_WEB_OPTIONS_FILTERS));
    String currFilter = (uriInfo != null) ? uriInfo.getQueryParameters().getFirst(CURRENT_FILTER_PARAM) : null;
    if (currFilter == null) {
      currFilter = "";
    }

    return ViewableWithPermissions.create(authEnabled.get(),
      "/rest/options.ftl",
      sc,
      new OptionsListing(options, fltrList, currFilter, request));
  }

  @GET
  @Path(StatusResources.PATH_OPTIONS)
  @RolesAllowed(DrillUserPrincipal.AUTHENTICATED_ROLE)
  @Produces(MediaType.TEXT_HTML)
  public Viewable getSystemPublicOptions(@Context UriInfo uriInfo) {
    return getSystemOptionsHelper(false, uriInfo);
  }

  @GET
  @Path(StatusResources.PATH_INTERNAL_OPTIONS)
  @RolesAllowed(DrillUserPrincipal.AUTHENTICATED_ROLE)
  @Produces(MediaType.TEXT_HTML)
  public Viewable getSystemInternalOptions(@Context UriInfo uriInfo) {
    return getSystemOptionsHelper(true, uriInfo);
  }

  @POST
  @Path("option/{optionName}")
  @RolesAllowed(DrillUserPrincipal.ADMIN_ROLE)
  @Consumes("application/x-www-form-urlencoded")
  @Produces(MediaType.TEXT_HTML)
  public Viewable updateSystemOption(@FormParam("name") String name,
                                   @FormParam("value") String value,
                                   @FormParam("kind") String kind) {
    SystemOptionManager optionManager = work.getContext()
      .getOptionManager();

    try {
      optionManager.setLocalOption(OptionValue.Kind.valueOf(kind), name, value);
    } catch (Exception e) {
      logger.debug("Could not update.", e);
    }

    if (optionManager.getOptionDefinition(name).getMetaData().isInternal()) {
      return getSystemInternalOptions(null);
    } else {
      return getSystemPublicOptions(null);
    }
  }

  /**
   * Data Model for rendering /options on webUI
   */
  public static class OptionsListing {
    private final List<OptionWrapper> options;
    private final List<String> filters;
    private final String dynamicFilter;
    private final String csrfToken;

    public OptionsListing(List<OptionWrapper> optList, List<String> fltrList, String currFilter, HttpServletRequest request) {
      this.options = optList;
      this.filters = fltrList;
      this.dynamicFilter = currFilter;
      csrfToken = WebUtils.getCsrfTokenFromHttpRequest(request);
    }

    public List<OptionWrapper> getOptions() {
      return options;
    }

    public List<String> getFilters() {
      return filters;
    }

    public String getDynamicFilter() {
      return dynamicFilter;
    }

    public String getCsrfToken() {
      return csrfToken;
    }
  }

  @XmlRootElement
  public static class OptionWrapper {

    private String name;
    private Object value;
    private String defaultValue;
    private OptionValue.AccessibleScopes accessibleScopes;
    private String kind;
    private String optionScope;

    @JsonCreator
    public OptionWrapper(@JsonProperty("name") String name,
                         @JsonProperty("value") Object value,
                         @JsonProperty("defaultValue") String defaultValue,
                         @JsonProperty("accessibleScopes") OptionValue.AccessibleScopes type,
                         @JsonProperty("kind") Kind kind,
                         @JsonProperty("optionScope") OptionValue.OptionScope scope) {
      this.name = name;
      this.value = value;
      this.defaultValue = defaultValue;
      this.accessibleScopes = type;
      this.kind = kind.name();
      this.optionScope = scope.name();
    }

    public String getName() {
      return name;
    }

    @JsonIgnore
    public String getValueAsString() {
      return value.toString();
    }

    public Object getValue() {
      return value;
    }

    public String getDefaultValue() {
      return defaultValue;
    }

    public OptionValue.AccessibleScopes getAccessibleScopes() {
      return accessibleScopes;
    }

    public String getKind() {
      return kind;
    }

    public String getOptionScope() {
      return optionScope;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
      return "OptionWrapper{" + "name='" + name + '\'' + ", value=" + value + ", default=" + defaultValue + ", accessibleScopes=" + accessibleScopes + ", kind='" + kind + '\'' + ", scope='" + optionScope + '\'' +'}';
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


GHG emissions from the cement plant will be reduced by converting the clinker manufacturing process from wet type to dry type, and by introducing the advanced energy conserving technologies shown in yellow boxes in the below chart covering the entire cement manufacturing process.
78,000tCO2/yr of emission reductions are expected, by converting clinker manufacturing process from wet type to dry type (at 180,000t/yr production).
Further additional emission reductions will be possible due to the introduction of advanced energy efficiency technologies/equipment.
The cement plant is located in Darkhan, 200km north of Ulanbaatar.
Based on "CSI Protocol" as a GHG MRV methodology proposed by CSI (Cement Sustainable Initiative under WBCSD (World Business Counsel for Sustainable Development), a JCM methodology applicable to the proposed project will be developed according to the Japan-Mongolia JCM Guidelines for Developing Proposed Methodology.


text:
BJP making poll process in Tripura a farce: TPCC
News AlertREGIONAL
Cong writes to CEC to take steps for free, fair elections
By Special Correspondent On Mar 31, 2019
GUWAHATI: Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee has urged the Election Commission of India to take all necessary measures to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections in the state.
In a letter to the CEC, TPCC vice president, Tapas Dey alleged that the ruling party leaders were resorting to illegal activities to "avoid inevitable defeat of BJP, thereby making the poll process a farce".
"The chief minister and other leaders including both the candidates of BJP have openly said that human barricades would be formed on the day of election to resist electors from approaching the polling booths and identification of those electors has started. These leaders have also instructed the BJP hooligans to ensure that no polling agents of Congress or any other political party turn up on the day of poll," the letter to the CEC read.
The TPCC vice president stated in the letter that there were many officials in the administration on whom it was keeping a close watch because of their partisan activities and those names shall be brought to the CEC's knowledge in due course.
In view of the prevailing scenario, TPCC has urged the CEC to declare all polling booths in Tripura as hypersensitive.
Dey further stated that polling booths needed to be video-graphed under the direct surveillance of the Election Commission.
"Since there is every likelihood of absence of polling agents of the opposition parties and to ensure no false voting takes place, the central paramilitary forces standing outside the door of the polling booths need to be entrusted with the task of matching the identity cards of the electors as it is done in all the airports of India. Also, the fingers of all electors taking entry needs to be checked," the letter read.
"Constant patrolling of all the villages need to be ensured by the central paramilitary forces to restore the confidence of electors to turn up for voting," it read.
"The chief electoral officer/district electoral officers need to be given strict warning from your end to perform their duties as per election manual," TPCC vice president wrote in the letter to the CEC.
Dey further stated that ever since the date of the parliamentary elections was announced, a reign of terror has been let loose by the party in power to induce a fear psychosis amongst the electors and rig the election process.
Modi's return dangerous for country, says Cong
WGH RO clarifies on allegation against SDO
Assam flood toll mounts to 39
Himanta serves specific instruction for relief ops
SC agrees to reconstitute bench on Manipur killings
ADB to provide Rs 1,540 crore for Tripura power projects


text:
U.S., Rest Of World Can Learn From Rwanda's Success In Developing Its Health System
"Amidst the barrage of stories about failing states and civil wars that characterize the dour American media coverage of the developing world, the reinvention of Rwanda offers hope," Chicago-based writer Neal Emery states in an opinion piece in the Atlantic, adding, "Over the last 10 years, Rwanda's health system development has led to the most dramatic improvements of health in history." He writes, "Since the genocide with which its name is still synonymous in the United States, Rwanda has doubled its life expectancy and now offers a replicable model for delivery of high quality health care with limited resources." He continues, "The rest of the world, wealthy countries as well as poor, can learn from Rwanda's rapid rise," adding, "Rwanda achieves exceptional results not from how much money they spend on health, but from how they spend it."
Emery cites a recent article in BMJ in which "the authors identified a series of interconnected factors that contributed to the country's turnaround." According to Emery, these include the development of Vision 2020, a centralized government plan "to develop economically into a middle-income country over the next two decades"; coordination between government sectors; good use of foreign aid "to build a robust system of primary care"; and the provision of universal health insurance, among other factors. "While the United States still exceeds Rwanda in most traditional health metrics (such as life expectancy), and its hospitals and medical care surpass those in Rwanda, U.S. health outcomes still falter because too many patients fall through the cracks," he writes, concluding, "Innovations in resource-squeezed places like Rwanda give hope that health care can be both equitable and affordable" (2/20).
Health System Performance
Opinion Piece Outlines 3 Ways U.S. CDC Can Restore Its Reputation, Regain Public's Trust
Americans Believe In Global Cooperation, So Should U.S. Foreign Policy, Former World Bank President Writes In Opinion Piece
Editorial, Opinion Pieces Discuss Various Aspects Of COVID-19 Pandemic, Including Role Of Journalism; Lessons From Developing Countries; U.S., U.K., Israel Responses


text:
https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/27/demarre-carroll-wonders-if-avery-bradley-would-get-a-lakers-ring/
DeMarre Carroll wonders if Avery Bradley would get a Lakers ring
Photo by Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
September 27, 2020 7:38 pm CT
[jwplayer 0GM2eROE-z6KDnl0B]
With Saturday's victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals over Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers are now in the NBA Finals and just four wins from their first title since 2010. They should be heavy favorites in the Finals over either the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat.
As with the Houston Rockets in the second round, the Lakers dispatched the Nuggets with relative ease in another series decided by a 4-1 margin.
Should LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers do as expected and claim the league's 2020 crown, it's worth remembering that their consistent dominance comes despite the unexpected loss of a starter.
Best known for his defense, veteran guard Avery Bradley started 44 of 49 games played for the Lakers this season. He averaged 8.6 points in 24.2 minutes per game, including 36.4% on 3-pointers.
But citing family reasons amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradley chose not to report when the 2019-20 season was restarted at the league's Disney World "bubble" in July. After Saturday's Game 5, veteran forward DeMarre Carroll — who played sparingly for Houston in the 2020 playoffs — asked on Twitter whether Bradley would get a championship ring.
Do Avery Bradley get a ring if the Lakers win the finals??!? Curious…
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) September 27, 2020
The answer: Probably. According to a July story from Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka already told the 29-year-old that they would give him a ring, should they win the 2020 title.
However, Bradley told Haynes that he wasn't sure if he's accept it.
Will I accept the ring? I'm neither here nor there about it. I am 10 years in this league. The physical possession of a ring doesn't make me feel like more or less of a person.
I play basketball strictly for enjoyment and to add to the support of my family. Supporting them is exactly what I'm doing right now.
Bradley was one of the only players from a perceived championship contender who chose not to report to Florida.
Nonetheless, Bradley's family rationale is very understandable (he has a 6-year-old son with a history of struggling to recover from respiratory issues), and he was a valued contributor to a team that was 49-14 before the hiatus — meaning they already had the West's No. 1 seed on virtual lock. It's only natural for the organization to seek to reward him, should they accomplish their ultimate goal in the 2020 NBA Finals.
As for the 34-year-old Carroll, he's set to enter free agency this fall after failing to find a consistent role in Houston. (The Rockets signed him in February after a contract buyout from San Antonio.) Given his age and relative lack of impact, it would be a mild surprise if he returns.
As Rockets mull rotation, DeMarre Carroll focused on defense
Yahoo Sources: Los Angeles Lakers plan to reward Avery Bradley with a ring if they win the championship: "It's a very kind gesture on their part. Will I accept it? I'm neither here nor there about it." https://t.co/ALLQGzbqSz pic.twitter.com/AnGn6wnLxi
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 8, 2020


The minimization problem for propositional formulas is an important optimization problem in the second level of the polynomial hierarchy. In general, the problem is Sigma-2-complete under Turing reductions, but restricted versions are tractable. We study the complexity of minimization for formulas in two established frameworks for restricted propositional logic: The Post framework allowing arbitrarily nested formulas over a set of Boolean connectors, and the constraint setting, allowing generalizations of CNF formulas. In the Post case, we obtain a dichotomy result: Minimization is solvable in polynomial time or coNP-hard. This result also applies to Boolean circuits. For CNF formulas, we obtain new minimization algorithms for a large class of formulas, and give strong evidence that we have covered all polynomial-time cases.


text:
West Bengal COVID-19 death toll crosses 300-mark with 7 more fatalities; total cases 4,813
West Bengal reported seven more COVID-19 fatalities on Friday, pushing the death toll due to the disease in the state beyond the 300-mark, while 277 new cases were registered during the day, according to a health department bulletin.
New Delhi Published on: May 30, 2020 8:07 IST
West Bengal reported seven more COVID-19 fatalities on Friday, pushing the death toll due to the disease in the state beyond the 300-mark, while 277 new cases were registered during the day, according to a health department bulletin. Of the total 302 deaths, 72 were due to comorbidities and the novel coronavirus was "incidental" in these cases, it said.
Since Thursday, two deaths each were reported from Kolkata and its neighbouring Howrah district. One fatality each was registered in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts, the bulletin said. West Bengal has a total of 4,813 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, of which 2,736 are active.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the rise in the number of cases on the influx of migrant labourers from COVID-19 hotspot states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, four persons at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital -- two in the gynaecology ward and two in the medicine ward -- tested positive for the virus, sources said.
Around 10 personnel from the Kolkata Police combat force also tested positive for the infection, they added. Since Thursday afternoon, 9,282 samples were tested in the state, and the total rose to 1,85,051, the bulletin said. Kolkata accounted for the maximum number of fresh cases at 71, followed by 54 from North 24 Parganas district. Twenty-nine cases were reported from Howrah and 23 from North Dinajpur districts, it said.
Twenty-one people from Birbhum tested positive for COVID-19 infection, East Burdwan accounted for 19 cases, Nadia 18, South 24 Parganas 13, East Medinipore six, West Burdwan five, Alipurduar four and two each from Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri, Hooghly and Bankura districts, the bulletin said.
Six new cases of COVID-19 infection were also found among people from other states, it added.
The districts of North Dinajpur, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas have been witnessing a massive influx of migrants labourers. "We were successful in controlling the spread of COVID in last two months, but now it is increasing as a lot of people are coming from outside. Railways are sending migrants in jam-packed compartments. In one seat, three-four persons are travelling. The railways in the name of Shramik Special trains are running 'corona express'," the fiesty TMC boss said.
Meanwhile, over a hundred people were discharged from a hospital in West Bengal's Howrah district on Friday after they recovered from COVID-19.
Day after arresting railway engineers in bribery case, CBI recovers Rs 2.39 crore


There are a variety of services, activities, information and grants available to people with disabilities in Newark and Sherwood.
If you are disabled or infirm, grants are available to adapt your home to help make it safer and more easily accessible.
All our leisure centres are IFI (inclusive Fitness Initiative) accredited. This means that all our centres and the equipment in the centres are suitable to be used by everyone. Our fitness staff are also trained to meet the needs of disabled people.