text:
author: Jehan Perera
If The 13th Amendment Is Next In Line For Change
By Jehan Perera –
Jehan Perera
The primary justification for the government's campaign to replace the 19th Amendment with the 20th has been the need to strengthen the president's hand to govern the country in the aftermath of the misgovernance that took place under the former amendment. The argument that the strengthening of the presidency is needed for decisive action to be taken on behalf of the country spills over into other areas of governance. As presently formulated the 20th Amendment seeks to weaken institutions at the level of the central government itself to the extent they will find it difficult to check and balance the presidency. This includes weakening parliament and the cabinet and also institutions such as the judiciary, public services and the auditor general.
As the 20th Amendment will give the president the power to sack any minister at will, it is no cause for wonder that dissent from within the government ranks is mute. It has been left to those outside the government to make their objections known. The state auditors and the bar association have made strong arguments against the weakening of the audit function and the lack of accountability of the president that has been proposed. The framers of the 20th Amendment have sought to capitalize on the high level of trust placed in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the general population. As he is new to politics and not tainted by having been a politician but respected for being a public official as defense secretary the general population does not seem to be unduly troubled by the 20th Amendment and its potential for misuse.
Accompanying the attempt to weaken other institutions and to strengthen the presidency beyond the point of reasonableness is a parallel bid by nationalist and anti-minority sections of the polity to seek to weaken the institutions of devolved power, most notably the provincial council system. There are calls from within and outside parliament to abolish the 13th Amendment which the majority of the population may be prepared to go along with. Despite the benefits to the people of having devolved government and having their problems settled within the province, the provincial council system has not delivered on its potential and has been depicted as a white elephant. The problem with the 13th Amendment is its origins in the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord which the then government accepted due to the force of circumstance in 1987. This has made it susceptible to criticism on account of being a foreign imposition.
Indian Pressure
The provincial council system is the nearest that the country has come to resolving the longstanding ethnic conflict between the state and the Tamil people on the issue of ethnic majority-minority power sharing. Prior to 1987, there had been several indigenous attempts to find a solution to the problem commencing with the Bandaranaike-Chelvanyakam Pact of 1957. But they failed to be implemented due to lack of support. The 13th Amendment has been the most lasting legacy of the Indo Lanka Accord that sought to put an end to the internal war that had been gathering in intensity for a decade at that time. It comprised three main features, to disarm the LTTE, to ensure that Sri Lanka's foreign policy was cognizant of India's security and a framework for political power sharing that provided for limited Tamil self-rule in those parts of the country they were in a majority.
So far the government has made no official pronouncement regarding its intentions regarding the 13th Amendment. At the recent virtual summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan position was carefully articulated without any direct mention of the 13th Amendment. This has increased speculation that the government is contemplating doing away with the provincial council system, at least as it exists at present. In the joint statement put out at the end of the meeting, it was recorded that "Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed the confidence that Sri Lanka will work towards realizing the expectations of all ethnic groups, including Tamils, by achieving reconciliation nurtured as per the mandate of the people of Sri Lanka and implementation of the Constitutional provisions."
However, in a separate statement put out by the Indian side, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reported as having told Sri Lanka's Prime Minister that implementation of the 13th Amendment was essential. "He emphasized that implementation of the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution is essential for carrying forward the process of peace and reconciliation," said an official Indian press release. This Indian position needs to be seen in the light of India's concerns to meet the expectations of its own Tamil population in the state of Tamil Nadu and its interest in maintaining its credibility with the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Indian state is also conscious that over a thousand Indian soldiers died in Sri Lanka on account of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord which the LTTE refused to accept.
Well Entrenched
In this context, the government would be aware that any decision to repeal or downgrade the 13th Amendment would have major domestic and foreign policy implications. Within the country, the Tamil polity in Sri Lanka has been demanding self-rule in the areas in which they are a majority that includes both the Northern and Eastern provinces from the mid-1950s. All Tamil parties are united on the issue of Tamil self-rule although they differ as to the quantum of power that they wish to have devolved. Even the government's main Tamil ally, Douglas Devananda of the EPDP, who enjoys ministerial status within the government, has been consistent in calling for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment as the way forward.
In addition, the provincial council system is now well entrenched in Sri Lanka. The government may find it useful to utilize them to groom up and coming politicians from its own ranks who could not find places in parliament. This may be why the government is talking about provincial council elections in the near future. Interestingly, ruling party parliamentarian Akila Saliya Ellawala seconding a motion in parliament said, "Provincial councils were beneficial to fulfill the specific needs of people living in those areas and to carry out economic development projects. The Provincial Councils were able to provide specified and customized service to people. Most of the recurrent expenditure of Provincial Councils is salaries for employees. Even if these employees are absorbed into the Government, the same payments should be made. So, abolishing PCs to cut costs is not a valid argument."
Recent actions of the government, such as the ties it is seeking to rebuild with the Muslim political parties, indicates that it seeks to follow an inclusive and pragmatic strategy with the intention of securing a 2/3 majority in parliament to ensure the success of the 20th Amendment. Similarly, it can be expected that the government would not wish to alienate the Tamil political parties, but would instead prefer to obtain their support to govern the country according to its vision. A reduction in powers to the presidentially appointed governors would facilitate more to be done for people by the provincial councils. There is no need for the central authorities to look into education, agriculture, health for instance as they are devolved. Land and police powers to the provincial councils have still not been devolved even after the passage of 33 years. Such changes to the provincial council system will need to be done in consultation with the ethnic minority parties who are key stakeholders.
AG Snubs CJ's Request: Refuses To Give Copy Of Written Submissions To Counsel For Petitioners In 20A Hearing
The GR Recipe For Revolution
Ad / October 6, 2020
It is then paving way for a referendum from north and east whether to detach from south as they did not vote for GR to power.
GATAM / October 6, 2020
Not just north and east. Tamils in other parts of SL must also fully relocate to north and east for the creation of Tamil Elam nation and a Sinhala only nation. One island two nations, perfect. Muslims should be allowed to decide what they want.
rj1952 / October 6, 2020
Gatam –
In 1956 till the Banda led SLFP swept into power Ceylon was well-liked and known as the granary or rice bowl of the east.
Am I right or wrong.?
Ever since that fateful year, Ceylon, as it was then known, went downhill and is now today in 2020 is the leading beggar nation in the colony of the beggars.
Who's responsible for this downfall.?
It's none other than the petty-minded racist Yakkos who by their brainless inefficiency and criminal actions have brought the once rich wealthy decent isle into one of corrupted criminal begging on their knees colony.?
As professed by you wherever the Tamil's go the Muslims will tag along.
What on earth will happen to the economy of the Kota uda cursed nation.?
You should think before you write my friend – think.
soma / October 7, 2020
GATAM
Muslims are Tamils practising Islam as their religon.
They should go with the Tamils.
Native Vedda / October 7, 2020
All those bigoted Sinhala/Buddhist leaders and their b***s carriers hid themselves behind various camouflages when their going got tough, for example
Sinhala Only,
Chapter II of the constitution,
University Entrance,
PTA,
War,
LTTE,
Sinhala/Buddhist country,
Saffron Brigade,
Import control,
Sovereignty (whatever that is),
Unitary state,
Nationalisation,
National Security,
Sinhala Siri (ශ්‍රී)
Being Anti Indian
Gota has Suddenly discovered the usefulness of another camouflage "INDIAN OCEAN ZONE OF PEACE" or Nuclear-Free-Zone.
Like the failed weeping widow Gota too has taken up these unattainable goals, thinking he could fool the people that he is smart, with greater vision.
Why don't you strip him naked and give him a good honest bath, tell him off?
Eagle Eye / October 6, 2020
Ad,
How dare these descendants of Dravidians brought to Sinhale by Portuguese to work in their tobacco plantations talk about a referendum to detach North and East of the country from South. North and East of the country is where Sinhala Buddhist civilization flourished under Sinhala Kingdoms Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Descendants of Dravidians are occupying land belong to Native Sinhalayo thanks to colonial rulers. Please vacate Sinhala land and hand over the land to rightful owners.
Jeeves / October 7, 2020
Good jokes…
jokes aside, nowadays, even the "Aryans" of India are trying to disown the Aryan – Dravidian theory which makes them the invaders of the peaceful Dravidian India. because the origin of the Indo-European languages is not in India and Dravidian languages are indigenous to India and are only found in the Indian sub continent which obviously includes Ilankai.
only the "Kalu-Aryans" of srilanka are very adamant in still believing what some 19th century westerner proposed and have moved on. sometime back an Indian "Aryan" friend of mine, while watching cricket, couldn't tell who was "Aryan" and who was Dravidian between Murali and Sanath. ( I hope you don't try to disown Sanath )
old codger / October 10, 2020
"How dare these descendants of Dravidians brought to Sinhale by Portuguese to work in their tobacco plantations"
Ah yes, these guys are Dalit Sinhalayo now, including your relatives from Ambalangoda.
I fully agree with you.
PIRABAKARAN / October 8, 2020
Idiot Eagle
You are right , You Sinhala kallathonis must go back to Bangladesh after handing over the Land to the rightful owners the Tamils.
Mallaiyuran / October 8, 2020
"North and East of the country is where Sinhala Buddhist civilization flourished under "
Eagle,
Small correction;I don't think you would object it.
"North East of the country is where Buddhist civilization flourished under the teaching of Manimehala." That's it, Nothing more. Thank you!
N. Perera / October 8, 2020
Our Mission & Vision very clear wiped out and clear North & East from Terrorists Oriented leaders and people. Take a little bit of time the same as how LTTE and LTTE leadership wiped out from North & East. How king DUTUGAMU did for HELADIVA. The Buddhist Sinhalese Aryans country will flourish again in the world
R Kaz / October 9, 2020
"Buddhist Sinhalese Aryans" ??
The 'frog-in-the-well' thinking of some Sinhalese is shocking! Look around, just about every aspect of the Sinhala Buddhist culture is borrowed from South India. Are South Indians Aryans or Dravidians??
leelagemalli / October 9, 2020
N Perera@
what kind of MISSION AND VISION are you bubbling ?
Not only Northerners, but since the war is no longer there, bitch s sons went on continuing their high crimes up to 2015. Ironically, the very same stupid people got caught by the tricks being played by the criminals and let them lead this nation again.
Today the situation is, we the sinhalayas should be ashamed to be born to this race.
Not even a tiny issue such as KEEPING ONE PRICE FOR COCONUT, which is the fat provider to the nation, is out of control by the rascals today. Reason has been their so called VISION is hidden in their backsides.
Defeat of LTTE was a collective act. Not RAJALKSHES but collectivity defeated them. But the credit was grabed by the medamulana musalayas, . as they it with poor man s gold – which is the UNIVERSAL franchise.
By today, Bitch s sons have failed it also in COVID containtment process.
Dude, you are so good at making up things, you should go work for the Trump administration!
Ajith / October 6, 2020
"Recent actions of the government, such as the ties it is seeking to rebuild with the Muslim political parties, indicates that it seeks to follow an inclusive and pragmatic strategy with the intention of securing a 2/3 majority in parliament to ensure the success of the 20th Amendment."
My dear Sinhala Buddhist Brothers and Sisters,
The above statement is a clear example of Srilankan opportunistic politics. Opportunitism plays in all political parties whether it is UNP or SLPP or SLFP or Muslim and Tamil political parties. There is no difference between them and their claim as they are the patriots and savers of the country and Buddhism. Before elections there was massive propaganda against Muslim politicians like Rishard Badujudeen, his brother, western politics including MCC agreement. It is now evident that MCC is coming back, Rishard and his brother is free from terrorism. You may have forgotten, it is the same Muslim politicians gave two third majority for 18th amendment and now for 20th amendment. similarly Karuna and Pilliyan of LTTE. During the 2018 October Constitutional plot, Viylanthiran was bought by Mahinda and now he is a minister. You all trusted their claim and you will forget about what they told at that time.
Even after 33 long years the various Indian governments have not been able to get the govt in sad sorry Lanka to be gentlemen and implement the promised by them 13th amendment.
Now that the rajapukas are hell-bent on implementing the draconian 20th amendment the PM of India should have the impetus to use all the powers at his beck and call to force the hands of the truant vagrant Lankan hoodwinking deliberately rulers to honor their commitments.
If military muscles need be used to resolve this vexing issue may it be used.
An air/sea blockade to economically weaken the already brittle shit of an economy is recommended by me.
In 1987 when the blockade of the East and the North was being enforced by the autocratic racist Yakkos. India despatched an aircraft which did a few airdrops of much needed food and threatened further action.
Immediately the president of Lanka JRJ pleaded with the then Indian PM the late RAjiv Gandhi that he would be willing to do anything to appease the legitimate rights of the much maligned suffering since 1956 minority races of this sad shitty island.
rj1952,
Only uncivilized people with tribal mentality interfere in internal affairs of other countries.
Ari / October 7, 2020
Remember that Vijaya your antecedent, who was chased away for being uncivilised in a boat?
Ari,
Based on latest findings of Archeologists on pre-history of Sinhale, the Vijaya connection has been discarded and removed from history books. Sinhalayo lived in Sinhale at the time Vijaya came. According to history of Bengal, Vijoy Singh landed in the island called Seehol Deep.
Is this latest finding like the bogus edited DNA findings you keep talking about?
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / October 7, 2020
Mahindapala, why are you repeating your trash. I told you before that 2500 years ago a bunch of 500 uncivilized people led by a convicted criminal interfered in internal affairs of country of Kuveni. Since then history has repeated itself and will continue to do so, whether you like it or not. Ask your veerayas Sarath Weerasekera and Mahinda Rajapakse what was told to them, which had silenced them and made them to sing a new tune.
With Rajiv Gandhi and JR, the 13A amendment also buried more than now 30 years, and India learned a good lesson from the LTTE suicide bomber and Sinhalese sailor who gave the world's best guard of honor to Rajiv Gandhi due to his double standard. After the killing of Rajiv Gandhi entire India's politics also changed and BJP came to power also. Sinhalese Aryans country Heladiva (Sri Lanka) never ever bow down to India or Indian leaders.
SAM / October 6, 2020
13A and provincial council system needs to be done away,
1. It creates ethnic enclaves
2. its the pre-cursor to creating of separate autonomous states and thereafter separate new countries, look at what happened to Kosovo – which went this road.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/world/europe/how-the-saudis-turned-kosovo-into-fertile-ground-for-isis.html
3. Sri Lanka is smaller than some of the states in India but India wants to create sub-political areas.
4. will 13A if implemented allow provinces police power and ability to borrow abroad?
5. what is more name boards are coming with Arabic names
6. More funds from ME to build only certain ethnic people in that province?
7. how many layers of politicians does the island nation have? provincial council ministers, municipal council MEMBERS , RW went to increase that number by another 6000 saying a hybrid first past the post + pref system due to being scared of his minority vote WHAT A MASSIVE COST TO THE COUNTRY…
SUCH A WAST OF TIME AND MONEY – TAX PAYER CASH AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO GET PAID BY SOLEHIME AND ALL PUSHING THIS AGENDA?
If you really worked and got paid for effort, they you would understand the feeling of uselessness when u pay tax and they spend cash of 350,000 worth chairs to sit on!!..
http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Death-row-inmate-seeks-permission-to-attend-Pradeshiya-Sabha-session/108-197335
Mafia Boss goes to parliament, Lieutenant goes to PC , and the Sargent will go to municipality council and Jehan will go to Norway to collection his pension… :)
our children will suffer.. Jehan's kids will be citizens in Norway or UK doing post-graduate studies in conflict management and come to make up the new constitution for the 2 new UN recognized countries..
I hope you know what you are talking about.
You should review your typing then come back and tell us why you are wrong in the first place.
The way the successive stupid racist governments and state treat people it looks like and sound like and indeed they are building an ethnic enclaves, Gota now calls it a Sinhala/Buddhist country (meaning a racist enclave). This is what the saffron brigade, crooked war criminals, and the crooked politician overtly desire.
This island should and will remain a multi linguistic, multi ethnic, multi religious, liberal …………. country. If you don't like it please go back to your ancestral homeland in Southern India. When you go please take Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Sangili Karuppan Weerawansa, Sarath Fonseka, Sarath Weerasekera, Gota, …… and your fellow bigots with you.
Let the Hindians do the worrying about this island is being partitioned into two countries. As you it is the Hindians who have been keeping this island in one piece.
What are you ranting about from 3 to 7?
Sugandh / October 8, 2020
Dear NV:
You call it out right.
I have noted elsewhere too someone, possibly the same commenter, peddling the idea that "ethnic enclaves" should not be permitted in SriLanka, and, at times, using the term "ghettos" to refer to the supposed "ethnic enclaves". No doubt that these folk mean to say that minority ethnic concentrations are ghettos.
Such folks are peddling forced integration. In other words, dilution of the 'minority' ethnic voter base in the North and East for obvious gains to their majoritarian nationalist agenda. These folks want to see more state-run settlements of Sinhalese citizens from the South into the North and East.
While I am all for everybody living together harmoniously as neighbours, it is incredibly stupid for anyone to peddle forced integration even for that reason. And I don't believe for a moment that ethnic harmony is the intention of the particular commenter.
Also, important to note that no ethnic group is restricted from living in any part of the country. The reality is that some of us are fearful of even visiting certain areas of the country to this day.
Peddling or not – that is the strategic answer to keep this island nation intact. DS started it in 1950's with Gal Oya transfers and JR+ Gamini did it with Mahaweli A-D zones in 1980's –
You need to do these kind of projects and remove the "Ethnic enclaves" being built which is a risk to the sovereign state. :))
The hypocrisy of those who rant against 'ethnic enclaves' but yet want to call the whole country 'Sinhala Buddhist' is shocking. They are too foolish to notice the irony.
Getting rid of 13A is a good thing. Even those who oppose 20A support removing 13A.
13A failed to deliver anything. It certainly did not stop the war.
Devolution of power is not suitable for a tiny island the size of SL.
GATAM,
Can you tell me whether Unitary system bring peace and economic development or unity of the people? Fundamental problem is Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism. It didn't allow any system to work. Devolution worked many countries, even countries smaller than Sri Lanka.
Well SL is still a unitary country! (according to the constitution and 13A!)
Federal is good for large countries. If SL becomes a federal country it will be the smallest of them all.
I support Tamil Elam and a Sinhala Only nation in the island equitably split. Certainly not a federal joke.
So according to you Belgium and Switzerland should be large countries, they are well advanced compared to Sri Lanka, based on any indicators of development! What is it that you are scared of in federal governance?
Ajith,
Fundamental problem is racist separatist mentality of the descendants of Dravidians brought to Sinhale by Portuguese to work in their tobacco plantations. Native Sinhalayo gave citizenship to these Dravidians when they were abandoned by colonial parasites assuming that they will become loyal citizens of Sinhale/Sri Lanka but instead of being grateful to Native Sinhalayo for giving the opportunity to these 'Para' people to live in this 'Paradise Island', they started to slaughter Native Sinhalayo to grab a part of their country to create a separate State.
It is high time at least now these Dravidians realize the political realities within this Island nation and learn to co-exist with native Sinhalese without continuing to be a painful thorn in their eyes.
Eagle Brain Dead Blind Eye
Who exactly were/are these Native Sinhalayo?
Are they the same Sinhala/Buddhist Kallathonie converts from Southern India?
Jack / October 6, 2020
Only benefit of 13th amendment is creating an income for another set of corrupt politicians and helped major parties to create some positions for their ranks who could not get in to the parliament.
And an income source for MPs' wives, kids and relatives.
They at the PC collude with their relative in parliament and this was how most frauds are done without a trace.
13A is such an unfortunate amendment that must be removed and not replaced.
No 13A. No 20A.
Revert to pre 1972 constitution and there would be no need for any such amendments!
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 6, 2020
Since the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was signed by two heads of Governments, it cannot be abrogated unilaterally. The Peace Accord was signed because it was essential for regional cooperation and to check Wahabbist terrorism in the East which had been a threat to India. Accordingly North and East Provinces were merged which stood as a check mate for the for the growth of Islamic terrorism and this was not realized by stupid R.Premadasa. Moreover, India was always for a united Sri Lanka and for federalism. Separation for Tamils in the North & East is dangerous. It is suicidal if the 13th Amendment is removed for the Tamils as it is only a guarantee for the Tamils. The Sinhalese are under the false impression that if separated Tamil Nadu will join it. There two Tamil regions in India – viz Tamil Nadu State & Pondicherry Union Territory. The leaders of Tamil Organizations failed to come at a concrete decision at the Thimpu Talks & the LTTE never participated in it. When two heads of Governments sign an Accord, there is no need for the LTTE to participate in it. Sri Lankan leaders only thought of the benefits of the Tamils but not of the entire country.
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
Should get rid of 13th Amendment and Draft a new constitution safeguarding the interests of Native Sinhalayo and their aspirations. Why should Sinhalayo give guarantees to 'Para' Dravidians (aka Tamils) who slaughtered them to grab their land to create a separate State for the descendants of slaves brought from Hindusthan by colonial parasites. 20th Amendment is meant to give powers to the President to save Native Sinhalayo from 'Para' Demala and 'Para' Muslim terrorists, extremists and separatists.
"It is suicidal if the 13th Amendment is removed for the Tamils as it is only a guarantee for the Tamils."
RBH59 / October 6, 2020
Both sides expressed satisfaction over several high-level exchanges and interactions
and Indian offering millions of loan in millions in exchange what will sri lanka offer a authority position in the light of India's concerns
Sampanthan, says "Government cannot escape Indian pressure".
President should remind him and his separatist colleagues of the Terrorist National Alliance that they have violated the Constitution of Sri Lanka by promoting separatism and the punishment for that crime is stripping Civil Rights and confiscating movable and immovable property.
srikrish / October 6, 2020
The bulk of the expenditure by the Provincial Councils is payment of salaries for employee.
Who are these employees?
They are the Principals and teachers, Doctors and nurses, Engineers and Accountants, officers in the Departments of Agriculture, AP&H, Irrigation, Roads, Co-operatives. Indigenous medicine, Local Government employees, Rural Development, Sports and many others..
Even if the Provincial Councils are abolished, these staff will be continued to be paid this time by the center. There are hardly any savings.
The claim that Provincial Councils are white elephant is nonsense.
SJ / October 7, 2020
There was no separatist clamour in the Soviet Union (which had federated states and autonomy for minorities within each federation) until after its fall.
Separatism in China (which recognizes over 50 nationalities and grants them autonomy of various forms) is not because of autonomy but because minor grievances of communities are exploited by external agencies. There is still no move to weaken autonomy.
Nicaragua devolved power to tiny minorities as well following the Sandinista revolution.
Nepal took a bold step towards devolution of power to all ethnic groups three years ago.
I can pile examples of how devolution of power has united countries and their people.
What is needed is trust among ethnic groups. Without it nothing will work.
Unity cannot be imposed from above. We live in a land badly divided by chauvinism and narrow nationalism. Can we seek solutions based on either?
What we need is recognition of Muslims and Hill Country Tamils as nationalities and grant them too autonomous units. We should also respect the right of small national minorities to their identity and cultural uniqueness.
As a people we should rise above pettiness arising from our narrow outlooks.
Well Said SJ,
Thanks for taking examples from then communist countries like China and Soviet Union, but countries like Nicaragua and Nepal. also.
India is another example, Except in Kashmir, India has a series of autonomous and semi-autonomous regions with different degree of autonomy, in the Northeast regions.
When there is a will, there is a way!
Celebrate diversity, it is your strength
srikrish
SJ types:
This man completely forgotten attempted "Russification" of entire "Soviet Union".
Former SOVIET UNION was an Industrialised Russian Empire with the same ideology of " autocracy, orthodoxy and 'Russian-ness".
The party leaders were and are unaccountable to the people although present day Russia is portrayed being a democratic country which periodically exercise adult franchise.
SJ enjoys typing his own weird sense of history, what else can one expect from a person who justified the ideology and practices of Stalin, Mao, SiriMao, Pol Pot, Abimael Guzman and it took him many many years to mildly criticise LTTE.
Some people believe leaders are justified irrespective of whatever atrocities they commit on the basis of their claim to being socialist/communists/Maoist/Stalinists,… . For him and people who profess to be Maoist, Stalinists, Siri Maoist atrocities never took place in Soviet Union, China, ….. Sri Lanka, …. Cambodia, ….
As far as our own Maoists are concerned nothing progressive or good come out of India.
There is no trust among ethnic groups. End of story.
There were many separatist movements within the Soviet Union. For instance Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine always wanted to leave it. There were military clashes just before the collapse of the SU. Military might kept the federal nation together. British India was a federal country. It separated into 3 nations!
Devolution of power is useless for a tiny island like SL. Sinhala Only nation and Tamil Elam is a better option than devolution. Let's split the island equitably and peacefully into mono-linguistic nations. There will be permanent peace. No trust is required. No agreement is needed. Thereafter if Tamil Elam wants federalism, they can have it. Sinhala Only nation will be a unitary nation. Happy?
You are mistaken as regards British India, it was not a country but a dominion of the British Empire!
Yes Yes we can have a long long list but in communist countries majority do not have autonomy, so minorities enjoy that. Some commentators think all the readers are Kenaiyals or Modayas.
Lanka Canuck / October 8, 2020
This is what late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore said about us in 1998.
'We have got to live with the consequences of our actions and we are responsible for our own people and we take the right decisions for them.' When 1 went to Colombo for the first time in 1956 it was a better city than Singapore and they had sterling reserves. They had two Universities with a thick layer of educated talent. So if you believe what American liberals or British liberals used to say, then it ought to have flourished. But it didn't.
One-man one-vote led to the domination of the Sinhalese majority over the minority Tamils who were the active and intelligent fellows who worked hard and got themselves penalised. And English was out. They were educated in English. Sinhalese was in. They got quotas in two universities and now they have become fanatical Tigers.
This is what Mahathir Mohamad the Prime Minister of Malaysia said when he visited us,
In multi-ethnic societies/countries like Sri Lanka where the ethnic differences is usually enough to create tension in the relation between races, if one race GRABS all the political or economic power for itself just because it is a majority, there will definitely be strong antagonism from other races, which causes political instability and violent confrontations as we see today.
Continued from above…
In such situations, no economic growth or development takes place, and therefore, the race which takes all for itself will find that it would be owning all of nothing of the country that is politically unstable and with an economy that not only fail to grow but would actually be shrinking, in the end, the race which grabs everything will find that it has nothing.
On the other hand, if the races decide to share political power and economic wealth under a federal (decentralized) system within a united country, the chances are the country would be stable and the economy would grow, each race will get less than 100% of the political power or economic wealth but the growth of the country in both spheres will ensure that the portion that each race gets would actually be bigger than the 100% of the original political power and economic wealth.
If I put in simple terms, it is better to own a slice of the political or economic cake which grows healthily than to own the whole of the cake that shrinks and disappears. That is, the races share political power and strive to redistribute wealth from the growing economic cake so as to ensure that every race has a fair share.
The national question is complex. It entered the political scene after the nation state arrived with the dawn of capitalism.
National oppression is partly historical, partly outcome of colonial and imperialist aggression.
Lenin first proposed the right to self determination, which had no 'agenda' but enable nations (now extendable to nationalities) to co-exist. Woodrow Wilson's (a few years after) arose out differences among colonialists and imperialists. It was hypocritical, as the US while preaching self determination to Europe gathered colonies in its backyard. It did not stop the US from carving up China.
One of the best definitions of nation was by Stalin, but needed to be restructured in the post-colonial context. Whatever said, the USSR was a good model to address complex national questions.
Race and ethnicity are not identical; and race does not coincide with nationality. (Telugu-speakers of India could not co-exist as a singled state. The Punjabis of India defined themselves as three nationalities based on religion.)
I cannot comment in detail about your analysis of the national question.
All I can say is that electoral politics of the kind we know in capitalist democracies in ex-colonies is divisive, based on any feasible identity.
Nathan / October 7, 2020
The problem is that our country is not pulling together in unison. 13A is a way forward. If implemented in earnest that may draw in input of the Tamils as well.
Modi may come, Modi may go, but India is going nowhere.
MR uses Douglas Devananda to create an appearance that there is Tamil participation in the country's affairs. But, DD is virtually silent with MR on 13A.
deepthi silva / October 7, 2020
a small lobby group through LTTE violence promoted the 13 amendment. This cursed provincial governments have destroyed the country, bred corruption and allowed unsuitable rascals to become provincial councillors.
Today we all suffer due to the provincial councils.
deepthi silva
"a small lobby group through LTTE violence promoted the 13 amendment."
Are saying a small lobby group was so powerful it persuaded Hindians to send their Air Force, Navy, Army, …. to this little island and occupy it for just over 3 years and suffered losses.
"This cursed provincial governments have destroyed the country, bred corruption and allowed unsuitable rascals to become provincial councillors."
The provincial councils were set up after 1989. What did happen between 1948 and 1988? Didn't we have any bigoted, racist, corrupt, politicians, functionaries, armed forces, .. .. human rights abusers, crooks, …. ? You should check your knowledge or ignorance of this island's past.
Didn't the ordinary people suffer between 1948 and 1988?
Hello deepthi silva, I thought that 13A was an answer JR formulated with India. Was it not SL violence that drew India in?
Deepthi, LTTE promoted independence not 13th amendment through violence. That is why they fought IPKF who had come to disarm them and implement it. The provisions in the 13th amendment were inadequate even for Tamil moderates. (see TULF rejoinder of 1987 and report by Varatharajaperumal of 1980 ). India diluted powers as well territory on the request of JR, who unconditionally surrendered and agreed to co-operate fully with India. Do not blame provincial council for corruption. Bribery was rampant in 1970 to 1977 which was one of the cause of downfall of those rulers. Commission taking was in existence for a long time, but large scale corruption began after 1977 when liberal economic policies were implemented. All these were before provincial councils were established. Corruption is more rampant in government than in these councils. Except a few, the rest of Sinhalese do not want to share power or territory in fair manner with Tamils and are giving lame excuses to sabotage it.
Moderate – No 13A. No 20A.
Sinhala racist – No 13A. Yes 20A.
Tamil racist – Yes 13A. No 20A.
Slave – Yes 13A. Yes 20A.
Moderates would prefer Westminster style parliamentary governance that existed pre- 1972!
Good Sense / October 7, 2020
The main reason for The Provincial Councils, to survive, is the politicians of the major parties themselves, because an abolition of it would reduce the opportunities to be an "elected representative" thus committing political suicide in disabling themselves for car permits and other perks, both legal and extra legal. In that context the fears expressed by the author for doing away with the 13th amendment is premature. It needs to be restructured so that its need and usefulness must be felt by the public. The author linking a devolved structure based on areas to solve an ethno-religious issue is a non-event because more than 50% of so-called minorities (To me they are equal citizens of the country) live outside the claimed "homeland", and the rumblings would therefore still continue. One of the problems of the thirteenth amendment is the copying word for word from the Indian Constitution. But say an Indian Administrative Services officer working for a State Government in India is looked after by the Central Government in every respect. Similarly, our public services must be protected with independence free from political interference whether it is from the centre or province.
Government can negotiate with India to get rid of 13A in return for an Indian military base and ammunition depot in Nallur and allowing 1,000 Indian fishermen a day to the sea off Jaffna for fishing. India has no need of 13A.
vipuli / October 7, 2020
13th Amendment was the "POISSON-PILL" given to then government of Sri Lanka. Objective was to destroy Sri Lanka forever. If implemented fully, there will never be a Sovereign and Unitary state in the neighbourhood of the "biggest beggar bully" in Asia. NGO ravens or crows in the country living among us and the LTTE remnants are allied with the regional bully. Regional Bully has attempted more than 5000 years to subjugate us and destroy, but every attempt failed. Those naive fellows born in recent years should realized, before the introduction of the 13th amendment, the bully north to us established Five Tamil Terrorist Training camps in Southern India. The objective was to to prepare the ground for introducing a "Poisson Pill" one day to destroy Sri Lanka forever.


The Cell Surgical Network is proud to have published one of the largest safety data paper on the use of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) to date, including intravenous infusions. This paper comes from the work of many of our founding members, their dedication to our institutional review board approved processes, and their work in tracking patient outcomes through our network wide database. While the Cell Surgical Network aims to provide our patients the most personalized cellular medical care available, we needed to demonstrate that the surgery we practice is first and foremost safe. We continue to make many advances in our investigational work, aggregating patient data and outcomes network-wide, consistently advancing cellular medicine along the way.


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Lonni Sue Johnson's Story Of Amnesia, Memory, And Love
WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Joe Donahue
Published March 7, 2017 at 10:34 AM EST
Lonni Sue Johnson was a renowned artist who regularly produced covers for The New Yorker, a gifted musician, a skilled amateur pilot, and a joyful presence to all who knew her. But in late 2007, she contracted encephalitis. The disease burned through her hippocampus like wildfire, leaving her severely amnesic, living in a present that rarely progresses beyond ten to fifteen minutes.
Remarkably, she still retains much of the intellect and artistic skills from her previous life, but it's not at all clear how closely her consciousness resembles yours or mine. In The Perpetual Now: A Story of Amnesia, Memory, and Love, award-winning science journalist Michael D. Lemonick uses the unique drama of Lonni Sue Johnson's day-to-day life to give us a nuanced and intimate understanding of the science that lies at the very heart of human nature.
Michael D. Lemonick is the Opinion Editor at Scientific American. He has written more than 50 Time magazine cover stories on science, and has written for National Geographic, The New Yorker and other publications.
The Roundtable sciencebrainmemoryhuman naturebehavioramnesialonni sue johnsonmichael d. lemonick
Joe Donahue
Joe talks to people on the radio for a living. In addition to countless impressive human "gets" - he has talked to a lot of Muppets. Joe grew up in Philadelphia, has been on the area airwaves for more than 25 years and currently lives in Washington County, NY with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Brady. And yes, he reads every single book.
See stories by Joe Donahue
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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*Please note: simple assembly is required. For best results with Cattail Cutter Pro, it is recommended to do an early spring cutting as well as a late fall cutting. This combined with freezing can eliminate cattails almost completely.


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Predator HuntingArticlesVideosGalleriesNewsBlogs
Peeping Tom Mountain Lion Buys The Farm
The lion was spotted by deer hunters on Nov. 12, the opening day of deer hunting season, lying near Helen Komes' house on a ranch east of Sturgis. Komes said she has been living there since 1946 and that was the first mountain lion that she had seen near the house.
The lion was spotted on the north side of the house and the family watched it walk around to the southeast side of the house and look into their window.
"We have no idea how long it had been there," Komes said. "It was evidently settled down for the day."
Komes said that there were people in and out of the yard all day and the lion didn't seem bothered by them at all.
"But despite all the morning activity, the lion didn't seem a bit scared of the people and vehicles going in and out of the yard," she said.
A game warden dispatched to their home was able to approach the mountain lion, according to Mike Kintigh, a regional supervisor for South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department.
"A lion that doesn't want to leave when it is approached, that is a little unusual," Kintigh said. "There was something about the lion's behavior that wasn't normal."
The lion was shot and brought into the lab for examination. Kintigh said they are still studying the animal in order to understand its behavior.
For the full story, visit http://rapidcityjournal.com
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TK, a 52 year old sales manager at a car dealership in Burlington, MA, was charged with Larceny By Check Over $250 back in 2001 in Woburn District Court. The charge arose out of a series of bad checks that TK had written in 2001. The checks were written on a business account that TK had. The account had virtually no money in it. TK simply walked away from the case and a warrant for his arrest was issued. For some reason the Registry of Motor Vehicles did not pick up on the warrant until 2017 at which time the Registry revoked TK's license. TK needed the license to work at the car dealership. TK contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover, MA.
Attorney Lewin went over to Woburn District Court and obtained copies of all the relevant court papers and police reports. From the police report Attorney Lewin was able to determine that the bank which was victimized in the case was no longer in business. Attorney Lewin approached the Assistant District Attorney in Woburn District Court and was able to furnish the Assistant District Attorney with evidence that the State (the Commonwealth) could not at this time successfully prosecute the case: the bank was no longer in business; it would be virtually impossible to find the witnesses (16 years later); and no one could identify TK as the person who wrote the bad checks.
On July 31, 2017 TK and Attorney Lewin appeared in Woburn District Court. The case was called and the Assistant District Attorney stood up and told the Judge that the Commonwealth could not go forward with the case. The Judge looked over at Attorney Lewin and Attorney Lewin then moved (asked) for the warrant to be recalled and the case dismissed. The Judge granted Attorney Lewin's motion (request). The warrant was recalled (cancelled) and the charges against TK were dismissed.
TK was then able to go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and get his license reinstated.
TK left the Courthouse very relieved.


The high profile murder case that found Douglas Prade, a former Akron police captain, guilty of murdering his former wife, Margo Prade, has been re-examined in light of the results of a recent DNA test.
The 1998 murder case hinged on bite marks on Margo Prade's lab coat, said to be left by the killer. A successful Akron doctor, Prade was shot to death in her van the parking lot of her office.
At the time of the trial, an expert said that the bite mark matched Prade's teeth, but in 1998, DNA testing was not reliable enough to be entered into evidence and was not used. However, one expert at the time testified that there would be DNA evidence on the coat in the future.
He first requested that a DNA test be run in 2004, the year Ohio law granted the right to DNA testing to the state's inmates. The ensuing legal battle over approval of his request left him sitting in prison for eight more years.
Finally, in 2010, Judge Judy Hunter, Summit County Court of Common Pleas, heard the case and granted the testing, which excluded Prade as the source. Later, the State's crime lab provided further evidence of his innocence by ruling him out as the source of male DNA found under the victim's fingernails or on any other evidence at the crime scene.
A hearing is scheduled August 21, 2012 to deal with a petition filed for "post-conviction relief or a new trial." The Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, including many students, has worked on the case since 2004.


King size bed with drawers underneath are a versatile style of bedroom furniture. Even the earliest date to the ancient Egyptians, who used simple platforms to raise their mattresses from the ground, European and Asian-influenced have become increasingly popular in the United States.
Some include a headboard and / or footboard, while the others use just one platform. The headboard and footboard can be purely decorative or bed can be used as a bookcase headboard for extra storage. Some come with built-in king size bed with drawers underneath, while others allow for optional storage containers or accessories under. Some are very low, with the mattress only a few inches from the floor, while others raised enough to accommodate two rows of drawers underneath.
Because king size bed with drawers underneath do not require a box spring, using a bed can save money by allowing the owner to buy just a mattress. This bed especially children's beds, often with extra storage space, such as a bookcase headboard and storage boxes, which can eliminate the need to take up room with a separate agency. King size with storage drawers underneath can also eliminate the need to vacuum under the bed, making cleaning easier.


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Kirk Badii: $3 Million Complaint Against Badii Group Advisor
Southlake, Texas financial advisor Kirk Badii (CRD# 5829768) recently received an investor complaint alleging his advice led to millions of dollars in damages. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is a broker and an investment advisor registered with Independent Financial Group, doing business as Badii Group Private Wealth Management.
Mr. Badii's BrokerCheck report discloses multiple investor complaints. The most recent, filed in December 2021, alleges that as a representative of UBS Financial Services, he mismanaged the accounts of "an elderly homemaker… by recommending alternative investments that were unsuitable." The complaint goes on to allege that he did not fully explain the investments' risks, that he established credit lines to qualify the customer for alternative investment purchases, that he established accounts containing "concentrated unsuitable investments," and that he engaged in unapproved discretionary trading. The pending complaint alleges damages of $3 million.
In a statement regarding the pending complaint, Mr. Badii defended himself against the allegations, describing the claimant as a "Sophisticated and accredited investor whose previous claim has already been denied individually and is now submitting a duplicate claim through one of her entities." He asserted further that "The account and all transactions were invested precisely as discussed and signed by the Client and fit directly within the UBS guidelines for an appropriate asset allocation of an ultra-high net worth investor," adding that he disclosed "all of the risks" and that the client "expressly acknowledged and accepted the illiquidity of these investments before they were allowed to make any investment."
An earlier investor complaint, filed in 2019, alleged that Mr. Badii recommended unsuitable and illiquid investments while a UBS representative. In 2020 the complaint reached a settlement of $475,000.
Mr. Badii's BrokerCheck report additionally discloses his 2018 firing from UBS Financial Services. According to the disclosure, he was terminated following a firm review that found he violated the firm's social media and know-your-customer/anti-money laundering policies.
According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Kirk Badii holds 10 years of securities industry experience. Based in Southlake, Texas has been a broker and an investment advisor with Independent Financial Group since 2020, doing business as Badii Group Private Wealth Management. His past registrations include Cantella & Company (Los Angeles, California; 2018-2020), Raymond James Financial Services (Torrance, California; 2018), UBS Financial Services (Los Angeles, California; 2012-2018), and Credit Suisse Securities (Los Angeles, California; 2011-2012). His credentials include the passage of three securities industry qualifying examinations: the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, or Series 66; the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7; and the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE. He holds 21 state licenses. (Information current as of August 7, 2022.)
By Chase Carlson | Posted on August 8, 2022


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Empowering hydrogen storage properties of haeckelite monolayers via metal atom functionalization
Title Empowering hydrogen storage properties of haeckelite monolayers via metal atom functionalization
Authors Z. Liu, T. Hussain, A. Karton, S. Er
Journal Applied Surface Science
Using hydrogen as an energy carrier requires new technological solutions for its onboard storage. The exploration of two-dimensional (2D) materials for hydrogen storage technologies has been motivated by their open structures, which facilitates fast hydrogen kinetics. Herein, the hydrogen storage properties of lightweight metal functionalized r57 haeckelite sheets are studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. H2 molecules are adsorbed on pristine r57 via physisorption. The hydrogen storage capacity of r57 is improved by decorating it with alkali and alkaline-earth metals. In addition, the in-plane substitution of r57 carbons with boron atoms (B@r57) both prevents the clustering of metals on the surface of 2D material and increases the hydrogen storage capacity by improving the adsorption thermodynamics of hydrogen molecules. Among the studied compounds, B@r57-Li4, with its 10.0 wt% H2 content and 0.16 eV/H2 hydrogen binding energy, is a promising candidate for hydrogen storage applications. A further investigation, as based on the calculated electron localization functions, atomic charges, and electronic density of states, confirm the electrostatic nature of interactions between the H2 molecules and the protruding metal atoms on 2D haeckelite sheets. All in all, this work contributes to a better understanding of pure carbon and B-doped haeckelites for hydrogen storage.
DOI 10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.149709
MaSF
PID 9064af536958047712b4cc004b5501d8
Alternate Title Appl. Surf. Sci.


Barcelona had one of the most important Jewish communities in Europe. Its relationship with the city was of great importance to the city's history, but its relationship with the Christians was always tense. The 1391 events made them begin their exile, and with the Inquisition they disappeared entirely.
While we walk around their old Quarter, called "Call", we will discover their customs, why they weren't understood and what happened in 1391. We will see what were once their houses, some of them with the mezuzah mark on the door, the purification baths, the recently discovered Major Synagogue, the biggest of the 5 synagogues that the city had, and the Call Interpretation Centre (a research centre about Jewish heritage in Barcelona).
Our entire visit is focused on the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.
– the old Jewish Quarter (el "Call"), where the old Jewish community was settled.
– the Major Synagogue: the oldest one in Europe.
• The ENTRANCES are not included but I will BOOK them in advance.
Walking through the Old Town.
I will DROP YOU OFF wherever you want: hotel, cruise ship terminal, etc. An option is to stay in the Old town, where I will suggest you some restaurants to you (it can be a kosher restaurants) or some place to visit by your own.
AVAILABILITY: it is not possible to do this tour on Saturday because the Synagogue is closed. The "Call Interpretation Centre" is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (but it doesn't prevent us to do the tour these days).
DISABILITY: Unfortunately this tour can't be done by people who use wheelchair.
If you are interested in the Jewish heritage, maybe you will appreciate to visit Girona city, with the best preserved Jewish heritage in Spain; and Besalú, a town close to Girona where Jewish had an important activity.


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Top Scoring Sara Earns Training Contract
Law firm Burnetts welcomes a new trainee solicitor to the Cumbria practice this month with the arrival of former QEGs student Sara Worsick.
Law firm Burnetts welcomes a new trainee solicitor to the practice this month with the arrival of former QEGs student Sara Worsick.
Sara (22) lives near Calthwaite, Penrith and went to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith, before studying Law at Newcastle University and completing (with Distinction) her Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University.
As a trainee solicitor, Sara will work in four different areas of Burnetts over a two year period whilst attending Northumbria University to complete her Professional Skills Course. She aims to qualify as a solicitor in July 2016.
Throughout her studies, Sara worked part-time at Park Foot Caravan Park at Pooley Bridge as well as managing to maintain her programme of sporting activities including squash, hockey, crossfit, cricket and water-skiing. She has also been a regular on Burnetts' work experience programme since the age of 16.
Sara said, "My first seat is within dispute resolution which is a very interesting place to start since disputes can cover such a wide range – everything from libel to debt recovery. It is very difficult to find training contracts nowadays so I am really pleased to be at Burnetts and so close to home : many of the people I studied with either have no contract or have had to move away."
Tom Leach, Managing Partner - Operations at Burnetts said, "Sara was one of more than 100 applicants for this year's intake of trainee solicitors. As well as showing a commitment to Burnetts over a long period, she was the top scorer in our aptitude test and her volunteer work with LegaCare (a charity offering free legal advice to the terminally ill) really made her stand out from other candidates."
The training of solicitors is regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Burnetts is an Authorised Training Provider.
Published: Monday 15th September 2014
Categorised: Practice News


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By Daisuke Moriyama. America in the Roaring 20s. On the surface, it's a positive, peaceful time after the violence of the Great War. But lurking in the shadows is a dark element ready to snatch that peace away. Sister Rosette Christopher, an exorcist working as a part of the Magdala Order, has a duty to fight the demons which appear and cause destruction. But along with her companion Chrono, she usually ends up causing more destruction than the demons themselves! On one particular mission, they meet a young girl with a beautiful voice named Azmaria, who is being targeted by her own stepfather. As Rosette and Chrno work to save her, more is revealed about the relationship between them. There is more to these two than meets the eye. SC, 5x8, 200pg, b&w
Availability: In-Stock.
MAR042150 Regular price: $9.99 Fusion Price:


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Best open source and Linux games this year on Opensource.com
Remarkable open source and Linux games in 2014
27 Dec 2014 Robin Muilwijk Feed
Hello, open gaming fans! In this week's edition we look back at all of the news and stories in 2014 that we covered for open source and Linux games!
We've covered quite a bit on this topic in 2014. We started the year with OpenPandora, which further opened its hardware by releasing its designs. We looked at the Oculus VR, who acquired and open sourced their networking engine, and later in the year they released a software development kit. The Raspberry Pi is on the list, with emulating retro OSs. And we covered a few controllers, like the one from Steam, the Microduino-Joypad, and Gamebuino: an 8-bit 'maker movement' Arduino console.
Open source and Linux games
We continued to see an increase of games available on Linux, especially on Steam, but also by other distributors and native Linux games.
Once in a while, we stumbled upon true open source games. The first one we covered was Open source OpenXcom v1.0. And of course, we can't leave out the FOSS ChuChu Rocket clone we've all been waiting for. And, Google released the free and open source game Pie Noon to the Google Play Store in order to highlight multiplayer-gaming for the Nexus Player, an Android TV device.
Start your open gaming engines!
Games need an engine to run on, and this year we saw a few of them released. The first one was Game Develop, the easy-to-use, no-programming game engine, which failed to fund its Indiegogo campaign back in May, and is now open source. Unity, another well-known engine in the gaming world, opened up and released its source code. We also looked at Chukong Technologies who launched Coco2d-x game engine.
Platforms: Ouya and Valve, Steam
OUYA, an open source gaming console, was in the news a few times this year. We covered OUYA asking its players to become makers, and OUYA had hit 1000 games and counting in November in 2014. Steam celebrated its second birthday on Linux and made the news again just recently, with Valve taking on Twitch with Steam Broadcasting. Steam Broadcasting makes it possible to live stream your games.
Other remarkable gaming news
Just because it was fun, interesting or even remarkable, we covered some other gaming news. The first was DARPA who created games to aid open source software testing. "One of the games, Circuit Bot, lets players create robots to run missions in space." And Konami Code Necklaces for sale on Etsy! Plus, Minecraft's intention of open sourcing the game but selling it instead to Microsoft. We also covered a story on Youth Digital, a group who teaches kids how to make games with open source tools and MIT who offers a MOOC on game design.
Thanks for joining us this year for our new open source and Linux weekly roundup. We look forward to continuing to bring it to you in 2015!
Best of Opensource.com
Robin Muilwijk - Former Opensource.com and Open Organization moderator/ambassador. Robin writes and is active on social media to promote and advocate for open source in our businesses and lives.Follow him on Twitter @i_robin or on LinkedIn.
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US stock markets on Wednesday faced their worst sell-off since February.
Traders are paying close attention to key technical levels, and right now the 200-day moving average is in focus.
The S&P 500's 200-day moving average has been tested three times this year, and has so far managed to hold.
The Nasdaq has already plunged below the technical level for first time since June 2016.
US stock markets witnessed their heaviest selling since February on Wednesday, with all of the major averages tumbling to their lowest levels in three months.
Amid the recent selling, the Cboe Volatility Index, which measures market volatility and is commonly referred to as its "fear gauge," has more than doubled in the past week. It jumped another 6% early Thursday as fears of a major market correction remain at the forefront of investors' minds.
And one place investors are paying close attention to for clues to if this sell-off has further room to go is the 200-day moving average, a key technical level. Simply put, the 200-day is an indicator traders use to determine the overall trend of the market. The market is in an uptrend as long as it's above its 200-day, and it's in a downtrend if it's below the measure.
"The S&P 500 is testing the 200 day moving average," said Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at FXTM, an online forex trading broker.
So what happens if the market falls below the 200-day moving average and stays there? We can look to the last time that happened – from August 2015 to February 2016 – for some clues.
In August 2015, the US stock market suffered a shock amid the fallout from Greece's default on an IMF loan payment and China's "Black Monday", the day the country's benchmark Shanghai Composite index fell more than 8%.
The S&P 500 quickly tumbled into a correction, down more than 10% from its recent high, after sliding below its 200-day moving average. Shares would make back nearly all of their losses before taking out those lows a few months later. The drop extended to a total of more than 15% by February. The benchmark index wouldn't make a new high until June, just after the UK's Brexit vote.
Before that, the previous time the S&P 500 spent an extended period of time below its 200-day was during the summer of 2011, when it plunged into a brief bear market following the US losing its "AAA" rating at the ratings agency Standard & Poors. It wouldn't make new highs until February 2012.
He better start paying attention.


Indonesia is the world's large archipelago consist of the 17.000 islands which has 1.948.700 square Km and has 1.531 species of birds with 381 endemics birds species.
The western part of the country comprising Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Bali, lying on the Sunda shelf and known as the Greater Sunda Island was once linked to Asian mainland as result some large Asian land animal and rich species of Birds, including elephant, tigers, rhinoceros, leopard, tropical birds, still survive and the dense rain forest and abundant flora of Asia are in evidence.
Ujung Kulon National Park is the famous last home of the Javan Rhinoceros and leopard, its beautiful and unique National park situated at the extreme west point of java, the reserve comprises expanses of flat swampy forest with 2 small mountain of excellent evergreen rain forest, some opened grazing ground, beaches, cliffs and several offshore island. 220 pecies of birds has been recorded . the park offer excellent birdwatching in all habitant. Ujung kulon national park birding spot: Handeleum island - cigenter river - Grazing groune - Cikabembem - Jamang Tanjung alang alang - Nyiur - Cidaon - Peucang island - cibom - ciramea - tanjung layar - karang rajang - kalejetan.
Gunung Gede - Pangrango National park & Gunung Halimun – Salak National Park is easily reached from Bogor to the Puncak pass, the headquarters is at the famous Cibodas Botanical garden at chilly 1200 m, and the park rice to 3026 m at Pangrango Peak in a mossy elfin forest with alpine meadows. Most of the 140 km2 park is composed of evergreen sub-montane forests. Gales have damage many large trees but otherwise the forest are lush and grand. the forest is tall, dense, dark, and often rain. The wild life is also very diverse in the park and some species are rare and protected, some of the major endangered mammals are the javan gibbon javan leopard, the silver leave monkey. 244 species of birds have been recorded with 32 are endemic of java species such as the javan hawk-eagle. mount/gunung gede birding spot : Cibodas botanical garden - golf coures are - telag biru - water fall cibereum - spring water air panas - kadang badak - up to the top mount special for javan cochoa and Volcano swiftlet.
another bird watching spot in java, carita forest, Pulau Dua, Pulau Rambut, Muara Angke, Pamanukan Pondok bali, Bogor botanical garden, Prambanan temple (central java) and Mt. Ijen forest (east java).
West Bali / Bali Barat National Park is a beautiful large wild area at extreme end of bali with total area 777 km2, forest range from montane to dry monsoonal with moist forests in shelter gulleys and most of the park is savanna. The various environment and animal include monkey, deer, wild pig, iguana. The park famous as the only wild home of endemic White Bali Myna or Bali Starling.
another birding spot in bali: Nusa Dua Pound, Benoa harbour and Bedegul.
Mount Kerinci-seblat is another very large park about 15.000 sq km, Mt. Krinci (3085 m) known as Rafflesia, the park includes a full range of continuous forest from lowlands to mountain it is wild area where rhinoceros and tapir still roam, the best place from which to explore bird watching is in the town of Kersik Tuo Kayu Aro / Muara Sako, Tapan Road and Sungai Penu in the Krinci valley.
Bukit Barisan National Park in southern Sumatra is difficult to reach but containing varied flora from coastal to rain forest and large mammal species including tigers, elephants, and tapirs. The best place from which to explore in the town of Liwa, the bird watching/ birding spot Way Titias and Danau Ranau. Waytitias special for Tokhtor (Sumatra Ground-Cuckoo) and Danau Ranau for Poksay Haji (Sumatra Laughingthrush). The current list 121 species of birds.
Way Kambas National Park in lampung province is noted for the elephant which are protected in the park but also exploited ia a elephant training show and Sumatra Rhinoceros Sanctuary. Its large oastal reserve 0f 1235 sq km and contain of non-peaty swam forest, costal forest, and patches of original lowland rain forest. This mosaic very rich for bird and over 230 species have been recorded. way kanan - Way Kambas birding spot : start from the gate of waykambas on the roda to waykanan, boat trip way kanan river - rawa gajah - kali biru.
Karaenta, Lore Lindu National Park, Bogani Nani National Park, Tangkoko and Warta Bone National park / Dumoga bone National Park.
Halmahera, Tanah Batu Putih, tobelo, Labi Labi and sidangoli.


text:
easyJet pilots vote to accept company offer on pilot fatigue issue
In a ballot that closed today, easyJet pilots have voted by 68% to 32% to accept the latest proposal put forward by the company, therefore bringing to an end the potential for industrial action.
Earlier this year, members of the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) in easyJet were asked to vote on potential industrial action over pilot fatigue concerns within the airline.
In September, a majority of members voted for industrial action. However, following this easyJet came back with an improved offer that has now been accepted.
BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said:
"This is a positive outcome for BALPA and easyJet and the fact we have managed to reach a deal that satisfies most of our members is testament to BALPA's ethos of 'professional engagement'.
"BALPA will now be working closely with easyJet to ensure this agreement delivers real improvements to pilots' lifestyles."


HomeMediaNewsA 15-year-old girl suffocated to death after she was made to sleep in a shed because she was menstruating.
A 15-year-old girl has died in 's western Achram district after she was banished to a shed because she was menstruating, under an ancient Hindu practice that has been banned for more than a decade, police said.
Local media identified the girl as Roshani Tiruwa. Some Hindus view menstruating women as impure and in parts of they are forced to remain in a hut or cowshed for days, a practice known as chhaupadi.
"Then we saw her dead body," he said. According to the newspaper, Truwa was a ninth grader at Rastara Bhasah Secondary School and was undergoing the third day of menstruation at the time of her death.
Mohna Ansari of 's National Human Rights Commission said local leaders must do more to enforce the ban.


text:
by Dominic Chiarelli
Suggesting an Approach to Assent that Keeps the Child in Mind
Institution Bulletin
Institution Bulletin vol 5, issue 2
Research involving children is essential to improving childhood health. Without it, un-validated practices persist and new breakthrough treatments lag.[1] Advancements in pediatric care, however, have been slow due to a hesitancy to include children in research. This hesitancy stems in part from the belief that children are a vulnerable population deserving of special protections. Although this is true, and certain types of research should not be done in children, children do deserve the opportunity to take part in research. This choice, if presented, is called assent.
Institutional Review Boards ("IRBs"), like Quorum, are responsible for determining that a research plan makes adequate provisions for obtaining the assent of child participants.[2] This determination is highly context specific and depends on the circumstances of the research and the children involved. Appropriately, the federal regulations afford quite a bit of flexibility for whether [ad id="13996″ align="right"]assent should be required, what it should entail, and how it should be documented. The key to taking advantage of this flexibility and constructing a respectful and effective assent plan is to understand both the ethical underpinnings and the regulatory framework of assent. This article aims to get you started.
Why seek assent?
Respect for the individual autonomy of all persons is a central tenant of human subjects research.[3] In the context of children, this desire is complicated as often children lack the necessary capability, legally or morally, to make health care decisions for themselves. In fact, in the rare circumstance where children do have the necessary capability, they often still cannot understand the important, yet subtle, distinctions between clinical practice and research. The solution from an ethical standpoint has been to only require a child's agreement to the extent they are capable providing it, either as a group or as an individual, and to seek the permission of the child's parents or guardian according to the standards of informed consent.[4] Taken together, this process is considered the equal of informed consent and it ties a child's sense of autonomy to the choices they are capable of making.
Who is a child?
The regulations define a child as any person, under the applicable law, who has not attained the legal age of majority or otherwise does not have the legal ability to consent to the treatments or procedures involved in the research.[5] The applicable law is always the law of state in which the research occurs. The laws between states vary, sometimes significantly. For example, in California, the legal age of majority is eighteen, but children aged seven and older must provide assent for research involving an experimental drug.[6] In Alabama, the legal age of majority is nineteen and there is no requirement that children assent to research involving experimental products.[7] A child may attain the ability to consent based on reaching the age of majority, emancipation, self-sufficiency, marriage, or for specific types of medical care (i.e., sexual transmitted diseases, pregnancy, or drug addiction). The question of who is a minor according to state law can be complex and may require legal counsel.
What is assent?
Assent is a child's affirmative agreement to participate in research.[8] It requires action, a willingness to partake, and is not the mere failure to object. This willingness is demonstrated by a child's action or words and it must be present throughout the research. If a child who has provided assent resists a certain procedure, this dissent should be respected except when the procedure is necessary to assure the safety of the participant.[9]
Assent does not mean a complete understanding of the research and the rights of research participants.[10] A child only needs to understand what they are being asked to do and that they have a choice in determining whether this happens.[11] This means assent can be less than what is required for informed consent. The most important aspect of the assent process is that the information provided be meaningful to the participant and help them to make their decision. Depending on the circumstances, this means the assent process may need to go beyond a formal discussion with investigators and include special measures like videotapes/photographs of research procedures, pre-visits to the site to see the equipment and staff, or putting families in touch with other families who have participated in research.[12]
When is assent necessary?
Assent must be obtained whenever required by an IRB. Generally, an IRB will only require assent from children who have the capability to make an informed decision based on their age, maturity, and psychological state.[13] The most common standard is that children cognitively aged seven and above have the capability to make some form of decisions about themselves and are thereby able to provide assent.[14] This assessment usually happens for the research population as a whole, but it may also occur on a case-by-case basis or by procedure.
On the other hand, an IRB may determine that assent is not necessary for research participation, regardless of capability, if the intervention or procedure holds out a prospect of direct benefit that is important to the health or well-being of the child and this benefit is only available in the context of the research.[15] This exception to assent generally applies to any clinical investigation involving a drug, device, or other therapy that is not otherwise available to the potential participants. The concept of respect for individual autonomy nonetheless suggests that, in these cases, researchers should still consider whether to seek assent from participants with the requisite age, maturity, and psychological state to make such decisions. Data has suggested that for most children this capability is present by the time they reach the cognitive age of fourteen, and the practice of always seeking assent from these children has been adopted by many pediatric institutions.[16],[17] It is important to remember, however, that if an IRB requires assent it must be obtained before proceeding with the intervention.
An IRB may also waive the assent requirement under the same circumstances as a waiver of informed consent.[18] A waiver may be appropriate if the research is minimal risk, it offers no prospect of direct benefit, and having to obtain assent could make the research impracticable. Some examples include a study regarding a method to improve classroom dynamics or a post-marketing surveillance study of an approved device for a rare indication. In both cases, maximum participation is required in order for the research to meet its objectives; and assent, which may place the research's success at the whims of children, may not be practicable. It is also interesting to note that the FDA regulations recognize waivers in the context of assent, but not consent.[19]
How is assent obtained?
When an IRB determines that assent is required, it must also determine whether and how it is documented.[20] The regulations make no attempt to define when written assent should be required. In practice, this determination usually depends on the capability of the children and the context of the research. For example, children under age seven may lack sufficient reading comprehension skills for an assent form to be meaningful; or, an assent form may not improve the assent process for an observational minimal risk study in which parental permission has been waived.
[ad id="14000″ align="right"]If an IRB determines verbal assent is appropriate, the assent process should be fully described in the protocol and assent noted in the research record once obtained.[21] Researchers may also find it helpful in this circumstance to use an assent script when presenting the research.
If an IRB determines written assent is appropriate, a standalone assent form should be developed that is child-centric and cognitively appropriate. A child-centric form may include pictures or other graphics that help to explain difficult concepts. A cognitively appropriate form uses a reading level appropriate to the youngest child who is expected to use the form. The reading level can and should be lowered as much as possible by simplifying the terms and the sentence structure. This is often easier said than done. Please see our download for examples of simplified descriptions for common medical terms. Depending on the age range of participants and the complexity of the research, it may even be necessary to create more than one assent form that spans two distinct age groups. Alternatively, the assent form could also be modified to include a prompt to request the parental permission form if the reader desires more detailed information.
An assent form does not need to include all the elements of informed consent or even a signature. It should instead focus on the purpose of the research, the procedures and their risks, and the ability to stop participating at any time. A child's decision is most influenced by feeling they understand the information presented and that their participation may be helpful, or even necessary, to completing the research.[22] Somewhat surprisingly, many children appear comfortable making decisions regarding their participation independent of their parents.[23] All this emphasizes that every effort should be made to ensure the information presented is meaningful to the child and makes them feel a part of the decision making process. For example, a child's decision to participate is more likely influenced by the particulars of a tanner stages puberty assessment than the steps taken to ensure the privacy of their data.[24]
Does assent need repeating?
Assent is an ongoing process and may need to be repeated or supplemented. A child who reaches the legal age of majority while actively participating in research must be re-approached and their informed consent obtained prior to any further research interventions.[25] A child who reaches a cognitive age while in the research in which a more complete assent form is available should also be re-approached and given the opportunity to more completely consider their continued participation. This is usually not specifically addressed in the research plan or the IRB approval, but it is considered most respectful to participants.
How to design your own assent plan
By understanding the purpose of assent and the flexibility available, researchers can provide the most appropriate and respectful plan for IRB review and approval. All assent plans should carefully consider whether assent should be required, what assent should entail, and how it should be documented. Assent is a unique space in human subjects protections in that it allows researchers real creativity in how they fulfill the intentions of the regulations. Researchers should take advantage of this flexibility and design assent processes that move beyond the confines of informed consent and that provide children the most appropriate information in the most meaningful fashion.
Quorum fully supports these efforts and looks forward to continuing our work with researchers on developing meaningful and impactful assent plans for including children in research.
Special thanks to Jennifer Kogut, CIP and Emily Schauer of Quorum's Consent Form Development team for key contributions to this article and their development of the Simplified Assent-Form Language Toolkit.
[1] Protections for Children in Research, A Report to Congress in Accord with Section 1003 of P.L. 106-310, Children's Health Act of 2000, available at: http://archive.hhs.gov/ohrp/reports/ohrp502.pdf
[2] 21 CFR 50.55(a); 45 CFR 46.408(a)
[3] The Belmont Report, Part A (April 18, 1979), available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.html
[4] 21 CFR 50.55(a) & 21 CFR 50.55(f); 45 CFR 46.408(a) & 45 CFR 46.408(b)
[5] 21 CFR 50.3(o); 45 CFR 46.402(a)
[6] California Health and Saf. Code §111530 & §24170-241795
[7] Alabama Code 1975 §26-1-1
[8] 21 CFR 50.3(n); 45 CFR 46.402(b)
[9] Informed Consent, Parental Permission, and Assent in Pediatric Practice, Committee on Bioethics, Pediatrics 1995;95;314 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/95/2/314.full.pdf
[10] Informed Consent Information Sheet, Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors (DRAFT), Section F, July 2014, available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM405006.pdf
[12] Children's Hospital Boston, Informed Consent/Permission/Assent Process, CIPP 071.001.01 (2012), available at: http://www.childrenshospital.org/~/media/research-and-innovation/office-of-clinical-investigation/cipp_071_001_01_informed_consent_process_policy.ashx?la=en
[13] 21 CFR 50.55(a); 45 CFR 46.408(a)
[14] Reports and Recommendations, Research Involving Children, The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Recommendation #7, September 6, 1977, available at: http://videocast.nih.gov/pdf/ohrp_research_involving_children.pdf
[16] Assent in pediatric research: theoretical and practical considerations, DS Weller, J Med Ethics 2006; 32:229–234.
[17] Seattle Children's Research Institute, Parental Permission and Child Assent, IRB-020 (2013), available at: http://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/IRB-020/
[18] 21 CFR 50.55(d); 45 CFR 46.408(a)
[19] 21 CFR 50.55(d)
[20] 21 CFR 50.55(g); 45 CFR 46.408(e)
[21] Informed Consent Information Sheet, Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors (DRAFT), Section F, July 2014
[22] A questionnaire on factors influencing children's assent and dissent to non-therapeutic research, J Med Ethics. 2006 May; 32(5): 292-297, available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2649075/
[25] Informed Consent Information Sheet, Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors (DRAFT), Section F, July 2014; OHPR FAQ What Happens if a child reaches the legal age of consent while enrolled in a study?, available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/policy/faq/children-research/child-reaches-consent-during-study.html
Tags: Assent, Child Assent, Parental Consent


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« Derrick Carter Campaigns Against EDM
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Mata Hari 'Hated Bankers'
Published May 1, 2014 | By skrufff
Documents released by Britain's secret police force MI5 this week have revealed that iconic burlesque dance and World War 1 double agent Mata Hari was unrepentant about her bohemian lifestyle as she faced execution by firing squad.
Nowadays widely recognized as 'an enduring archetype of the femme fatale' (wiki), she struggled to make a living as an exotic dancer and courtesan of French industrialists at the beginning of the 20th century and was shot to death by firing squad after being exposed as a double agent working for the Germans in 1917.
In MI5's previously 'top secret' files, she remained characteristically defiant during her last interrogation, Fox News reported.
"When faced with her acquaintances with officers of all ranks and all nations, she replied that she loved all officers, and would rather have as her lover a poor officer than a rich banker."
Cannibals in New Guinea in the 1960s demonstrated similar good taste, a report on Yahoo News revealed this week, which examined fresh claims that banker scion Michael Rockefeller was chopped up and eaten by the locals when he set off on an exhibition to Guinea looking for 'Primitive art' to bring back to New York in 1961.
According to Carl Hoffman's new book 'Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art', the super-rich banking heir was 'speared in the chest' before being served up as the main course for a local tribal BBQ.
"Pieces of meat were placed in the fire to roast," Asmat tribemen reportedly recounted to the writer, "they pulled the charred legs and arms out of the fire, tore the meat off the bones and mixed it with crumbly, whitish grey sago into long sticks for everyone to eat."
In more bizarre banker news, the Guardian revealed this week that former Goldman Sachs guru Jim O'Neill, who previously coined the term BRIC for emerging market countries Brazil, Russia, Indian and China, is hoping to rename Manchester and Liverpool 'Manpool' in a bizarre attempt to merge the two neighbouring Northern towns.
"As head of the City Growth Commission, he believes that both cities – and the UK – would be stronger if they combined their populations and resources to become a super-city," the Guardian explained.
Jonty Skrufff: https://twitter.com/djjontyskrufff
Posted in NEWS STORIES | Tagged banker, cannibal, execution, Goldman Sachs, inequality, manpool, mata hari, merchant banker


text:
JMK back in New Zealand
American unlimited hydroplane driver J Michael Kelly arrived for the first round in Tauranga and drove Peter Knight senior's boat, The Boss, which has not been on the grand prix racing scene for three years. Used to the bigger, more powerful unlimited hydroplanes where he has set 19 world records in the past four years, Kelly (127 points) has not taken long to adapt to the smaller grand prix hydroplane. And, since flying back to New Zealand on Thursday he has made some changes to have the boat ready for tomorrow's finals.
Big boys and toys to roar at Karapiro >>
WAIKAITO TIMES
Watch JMK race live in the UIM World GP Championships


We apply a decomposition lemma of Uchiyama and results of the author to obtain good weighted Littlewood-Paley estimates for linear sums of functions satisfying reasonable decay, smoothness, and cancellation conditions. The heart of our application is a combinatorial trick treating m-fold dilates of dyadic cubes. We use our estimates to obtain new weighted inequalities for Bergman-type spaces defined on upper half-spaces in one and two parameters, extending earlier work of R. L. Wheeden and the author.
Department of Mathematics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, U.S.A.


text:
Q: MATLAB: misaligned boxes in plotyy after saving as fig I use plotyy to put two plots in one graph:
f = figure('Color','white');
[ax,p1,p2] = plotyy(xx, yy1, xx, yy2);
ylabel(ax(1),'Phase','FontSize',18);
ylabel(ax(2),'Spectrum','FontSize',18);
set(ax,{'ycolor'},{'k';'k'});
set(p1,'LineWidth',2,'Color',[0.4940,0.1840,0.5560]);
set(p2,'LineWidth',2,'Color','red');
xlabel(ax(1),['Frequency [THz]'],'FontSize',18);
set(ax,'FontSize',14)

Figure is displayed perfectly, but when I try to save it as fig something like misaligned boxes appears.

I tried to use linkaxes, but with no result.

A: plotyy has been one of my favorite MATLAB functions to love to hate. It's a really useful function that I always seem to run into bugs with, to the point where I've completely stopped using it in favor of just stacking two (or more) axes objects and plotting to them separately. You can then set the Position property of the 'sub' axes to the same as your primary axes and they will stack nicely.
A functional example:
xx = linspace(-15,15,100);
yy1 = sin(xx);
yy2 = cos(xx);
f = figure('Color','white');

ax(1) = axes('Parent', f);
ax(2) = axes('Parent', f, 'Color', 'none', 'XTick', [], 'YAxisLocation', 'right');

p1 = plot(ax(1), xx, yy1);
hold(ax(2), 'on'); % Hold to preserve our axes properties set above
p2 = plot(ax(2), xx, yy2);
hold(ax(2), 'off');

ylabel(ax(1),'Phase','FontSize',18);
ylabel(ax(2),'Spectrum','FontSize',18);
set(ax,{'ycolor'},{'k';'k'});
set(p1,'LineWidth',2,'Color',[0.4940,0.1840,0.5560]);
set(p2,'LineWidth',2,'Color','red');
xlabel(ax(1),'Frequency [THz]','FontSize',18);
set(ax,'FontSize',14)

set(ax, 'ActivePositionProperty', 'position'); % Resize based on position rather than outerposition
set(ax(2), 'Position', get(ax(1), 'Position')); % Set last to account for any annotation changes

Along with stacking the axes you will also note that I have set the ActivePositionProperty to position (rather than outerposition). MATLAB resizes axes automatically when the Units property is set to Normalized, and it seems like this is the main spot where the issue is arising. On resizing, MATLAB also modifies the OuterPosition value for the second axes, causing it to resize the plot portion. The difference is small, [0 0 1 1] vs. [0 0.0371 1.0000 0.9599] in my case, but the effect is obviously very pronounced. You can use get and set to fix this, but you'll have to do it on every resize which is fairly annoying. The alternative is to resize based on the Position, which seems to alleviate the issue and is a tweak present in the R2015b implementation of plotyy. This also fixes plotyy except for cases where the window is very small, so I have left my answer with the more generic approach.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Seraph Black used to think that she was prepared for anything. She could last days without eating and she always walked away from the violent altercations with her father relatively unharmed. She survived working at the club and the drive to school every day in her mother's rust-bucket of a car… but it all changed when Noah and Cabe came bulldozing into her life, careless of the precious secrets they picked apart in their quest to take over her world. She was even less prepared for the mysterious Miro and Silas, and nothing could have prepared her for the bond. The connection. The reason for it all.
So, the beginning of this book, where you find out about Seraph's horrid home life, had me instantly hooked and connected to this poor girl. It made her real and made me feel for her. I thought she and the other characters were really well written. The story flowed well in general, though it could get a tad wordy and windy in a few places. In general, I thought that it was really well done.
I actually enjoyed the love… pentagon? LOL. Normally a girl torn between multiple guys drives me nuts, but I didn't mind it in this book so much.
I always love some fantasy and romance, and for me, this delivered in full. There is a cliffhanger, since those seem to bother some people so much lately, but I don't mind it, and I'll be getting the second book soon.


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