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YMMV / The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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Peter Jackson Film
Accidental Innuendo: This line from Sméagol definitely counts.
"Give it to us raaaw and wriggling!"
Alternative Character Interpretation: Wormtongue is shown shedding a tear as Saruman addresses his assembled army before it marches against Helm's Deep. Is he overwhelmed at its size, or is he regretful that he may have doomed his people to slaughter?
Award Snub:
The film was the most neglected of the original trilogy at the Academy Awards, getting only six nominations (winning Best Visual Effects and Sound Editing), half of the eleven of The Fellowship of the Ring and the least of the five up for Best Picture - which went to Chicago, which while well regarded is nowhere as popular as The Lord of the Rings. The biggest outrage was for both Peter Jackson being passed over for Best Director, and ignoring Andy Serkis' mesmerizing work as Gollum, with his chances almost certainly being hurt by motion capture bias from the Academy.
Initially, Howard Shore's score was deemed ineligible for the Academy Awards because of a new rule which stated that scores featuring themes used in a previous movie were not eligible for submission. This rule was very unpopular, and was quickly abandoned. The score became eligible again, though it did not receive a nomination.
"Gollum's Song" wasn't nominated for Best Song.
"Common Knowledge": The line "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!" is often held up by fans as a glaring example of Artistic License – History, under the reasoning that orcs in a medieval high fantasy world shouldn't know what restaurants are. In actuality, restaurants have been around for far longer — the earliest record of one dates back to 512 BC in ancient Egypt, and they were indeed present in medieval Europe in the form of inns and taverns.
Crosses the Line Twice: The Uruk ring-leader decapitates a hungry orc who tries to eat Merry and Pippin. That's quite frightening, until he yells "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!" and the other orcs and uruks starts ripping the corpse apart within seconds.
Even Better Sequel: The first movie was already a Genre Turning Point, and took everything that worked in the original film and cranked it way up. Many find it the best in the trilogy, and it's indeed the highest rated on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fan Nickname: Fans of the novels who were furious with Faramir's Adaptational Villainy in this movie call him "Filmamir" or "Farfromthebookamir."
Fridge Logic: The sequence where Wormtongue is Instantly Proven Wrong when he proclaims, on the tower of Isengard, that there is no force large enough to take Helm's Deep really makes no sense in hindsight. He's last seen running away from Theoden's wrath, so he presumably traveled to Saruman at least partly on horseback (let's face it: he ain't exactly the world's running champion). What were the tens of thousands of uruk-hai doing for him to have been so caught by surprise at their presence at Isengard? Playing hide and seek in perfect silence?
Harsher in Hindsight: When Aragorn introduces himself and his companions to Eomer, he mentions both his father and Gimli's, but only refers to Legolas as being from the woodland realm. After seeing what Thranduil was like in The Hobbit trilogy, it's entirely possible that Legolas might not want to be associated with his father.
Hilarious in Hindsight:
Legolas riding the Uruk-hai shield like a surfboard becomes a lot funnier when you learn that Tolkien originally intended for Bilbo to kill Smaug in the earliest drafts of The Hobbit. How? Bilbo would have infiltrated Smaug's lair, then stabbed him through the bare spot in his chest with Sting (which went so deep it vanished completely), and then ride a golden bowl like a surfboard on the massive amount of blood pouring out of Smaug's belly before triumphantly exiting the mountain.
Peter Jackson joking about giving Treebeard his own spin-off detective show in the commentary ("He solves crimes!... Very slowly".) Then in The Hobbit trilogy Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch from Sherlock were both cast. So alternate universe Bilbo and Smaug have three seasons of a detective show!
Treebeard commenting that Saruman now has a mind of metal. Christopher Lee would later work with metal bands like Rhapsody of Fire and Manowar, as well as release two Concept Albums of his own: Charlemagne.
When Legolas is talking to Aragorn before the Battle of Helm's Deep, he refers to three hundred against ten thousand. It is a reference to Thermopolyae, where three hundred Spartans killed ten thousand Persians. David Wenham appeared in 300.
Like You Would Really Do It: Show of hands for anyone, even if you know nothing about the books, who actually bought that Aragorn would be randomly killed off halfway through this film. Especially since we hadn't yet seen the dramatic shot of him pushing open the doors that was in all the ads.
Memetic Badass:
Eowyn's stew. It's said that the One Ring could have been destroyed if it was dropped into it.
The Uruk-Hai who blows up the walls of Helms Deep. He's notably the only orc in the trilogy who Legolas does not kill with one shot.
Misaimed Fandom: Theoden's line, "You have no power here!" has become a memetic way to mock someone's real or perceived powerlessness, ignoring what happened next in the movie.
Narm Charm: "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!"note This is a bit of an odd one as the line was perfectly fine in the book, but then the film failed to make clear that there was some question of whether the orcs were going to Isengard or Mordor, making it seem like just another one of Legolas's Captain Obvious moments.
Older Than They Think: Combining Warrior Prince Éomer with Erkenbrand, the Rohan captain who leads The Cavalry at Helm's Deep (actually infantry) in the books, was first done in the Ralph Bakshi film.
One-Scene Wonder: The Easterlings. In an army comprised mostly of ragged orcs, these highly disciplined, heavily armored human warriors marching to aid Sauron would certainly stand out. Unfortunately, this is the only scene where they receive any prominence; they are Demoted to Extra and given a few Freeze-Frame Bonus moments in the next film. Justified since most of them would be fighting the northern theater of the War of the Ring (i.e. the Battle of Dale).
Special Effect Failure: These start to pop up to the trained eye after repeated viewings:
While Gollum looks good, he is often poorly composited against the ground he is on, particularly during the final scene or when he is curled up after Faramir's rangers beat him.
The epic final charge out of Helm's Deep loses a bit of gravitas when one realizes that the horses are poorly composited onto a background that is visibly pixelated.
Values Dissonance: At the Battle of Helm's Deep, Théoden sends the women and children to hide in the caves... well, most of the children, at any rate. All boys able to bear a sword are conscripted for what is sure to be a suicide mission. At the opposite end of the spectrum, very elderly and feeble men are also drafted, per Théoden's orders, and one of them starts the battle early when, unable to hold his bow steady, he accidentally shoots an Uruk Hai warrior. Unsurprisingly, the boys and old men are implicitly slaughtered, while the able-bodied women of soldiering age, who, though also untrained, would at least stand a better chance of not being instantly killed, cower in the caves, completely unutilized. Aside from the fact that most modern audiences associate child soldiers with terrorists and warlords like Joseph Kony, were it not for the assistance of the Elven reinforcements and the eleventh hour arrival of Gandalf with Éomer and the Rohirrim, every last person at Helm's Deep would have been killed. And, with a niece like Éowyn, it's not like the idea of a sword-wielding woman is completely alien to him.
Viewer Gender Confusion: The kid whom Aragorn gives a pep talk to before the battle of Helm's Deep is a boy, but he looks like a girl and has a very high voice.
Vindicated by History: For many years, it was regarded as the poster boy for Middle Child Syndrome in film trilogies, and as an excellent film by any standards, but one that mostly served as a link between the two better-regarded films either side of it. Since then, an increasing section of the fandom has begun to regard this as the The Empire Strikes Back of the series — something which embodies all the best aspects of the films, without being as rough around the edges as the first film, and without suffering some of the contested plot elements that were used to wrap up the overall storyline in the third film. It's probably never going to be universally regarded as an Even Better Sequel in the way that Empire is, but there are now a good number of fans who'll make the case for it being the best entry in the series, something that would have been once unthinkable.
2002 Video Game
No Problem with Licensed Games: While it wasn't the first video game based on the Peter Jackson films, it is done quite right.


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15-foot cyclone sculpture created by FHSU faculty dedicated to Codell
HAYS, Kan. – Toby Flores, associate professor of art and design at Fort Hays State University, and Danielle Robinson, adjunct art faculty, were chosen by Codell to design and fabricate a 15-foot cyclone sculpture in honor of "Cyclone Day."
"Danielle and I felt honored to be selected by the city of Codell," said Flores. "We instantly connected with the people in charge of the project. They were easy to get along with and we were all passionate about the strange history of this event."
For three consecutive years, in 1916, 1917 and 1918, Codell was struck by tornadoes on May 20, which community residents have now labeled "Cyclone Day."
Codell, in Rooks County about 34 miles northeast of Hays, now has less than 100 residents.
The steel sculpture was dedicated on May 20.
"The dedication was awesome," said Flores. "It really was a great feeling to have the project finished and to celebrate it with our families and the people of Codell."
"It was also very emotional because this is a part of their families' history. They lost family and friends on this day and we were also there to remember them," he said.
About 150 people attended the dedication, which included a band, speeches by Merril Teller and Joel Russell and a cookout. People brought newspaper clippings and old photographs from the time of the original cyclones.
"It felt good to have the support of the people who live in that community or once lived there," said Flores. "It was a great day."
Flores and Robinson have created four local public sculptures together, including St. Nicholas at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, the golfers at the Smoky Hill Country Club and the historical door stops at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau building.
"All of these projects have special meaning, but this one was my favorite," he said. "The people of Codell made it a very special project from beginning to end."
"It takes a certain amount of bravery to erect a public piece of art anywhere, but especially in a small western Kansas town."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"How do I remove all of these dead burnt azealeas without renting any sort of tractor. I want it cut back to the 3 pines?"
Although you may have the greatest neighbor, who happens to have all the gardening tools you could ever dream of, and he will offer not only that you borrow the tools, but that he will come over and help... Still, if you don't know how to operate these tools, and running mechanical tools without experience is not only dangerous for you, it's also dangerous for the tools (!!) you're taking a chance that you'll end up damaging the tools, as well as your relationship with your neighbor.
1 pair of loppers. If the bush is totally dead and has no green branches on it, use Anvil loppers.
Think about it as if your about to cut down a tree with a huge canopy. If you just cut down the main trunk, the whole thing will fall down to the ground. It's exactly the same idea here - the mess you see in front of you is actually lots of branches, like spaghetti, that are hiding the mother stems. All of these branches are growing out of just a few mother stems, and those are the stems you want to get to.
Your mission is to get inside the center of the shrub, find the main stems and cut them back as close as you can to the ground. Once that's done, you've won the battle. You don't have to cut all the branches around the bush, you don't have to trim the entire shrub to the ground. All you have to do is disconnect the shrub from it's base.
Start by cutting a path towards the center of the bush, and cut the main stems. Next just drag chunks of the dead branches chunk aside (you might want to get that friendly neighbor to help with this part) and you were done.
Important - this shrub removal method suites most bushes, but before you start working please make sure that the size of whatever you're about to cut can be easily dragged away. Though yes, you can always cut the cuttings into smaller more manageable pieces.
Also, if you have plans to save the roots for future planting, it would be wise to leave one stem with 10-15 inches above the ground, so you have something to hold onto as you're pulling it out later.
I have no idea what your plans are once you have removed the shrub, but if you're about to plant a new lawn, here's what you should do: Before you start, know that you won't be able to remove all of the roots, and there is really no need to do so. Some of the roots will simply run too deep, but then, they also have no effect what-so-ever on the grass roots, which only go 3 or so inches deep.
Start by watering the soil. 15-20 minutes twice a day, at approx. the same time. First cycle 07:00 am, second cycle 07:00 pm. If you're using sprinklers or a hose make sure to cover the entire area with the same amount of water.
After 3 days the soil will be soft and easy to work with.
Rake the entire area - aim to make it as flat as you can.
As you rake through I recommend you add a compost or a slow-release fertilizer - it's good to mix it in with the soil at this stage, and will help later.
After you finish raking the ground get sharp bypass pruners and cut all the roots you can - at ground level. Most of the roots will be soft, so don't use anvil pruners or loppers.
Rake through again to collect all root cuttings.
Rake one last time, this time to create fine slopes from the highest point to lowest . This is important but not a must.
Cut again and remove the small roots that have popped up above ground level.
Hope that helped, and if you wish to learn how to deal with other shrub removal and root cutting challenges, you are more then welcome to visit the following page.


Beautiful glass hearts in assorted colors and sizes. Please specify. Large is 4 1/2 inches. Medium is 3 inches, small is 2 1/2 inches. Looks beautiful hanging in a grouping. Can also be purchased in a set.
Comes to you gift wrapped in brown paper & twine.


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Exploring the davidson seamount: Combining science, public outreach, and resource management,
Scientific information is often interpreted to the public long after it has been discovered. NOAA programs and private organizations are interested in more immediate sharing of information with the public so that it can be more effectively used in resource management. The Davidson Seamount is an underwater volcano off the coast of Central California, and recent advances in technology provide the opportunity to explore and characterize the biology of this deep-sea habitat. With an interdisciplinary team of scientists, outreach specialists, and resource managers, this exploration was presented to the public as it was happening with daily updates on a web site. The public also interacted by e-mail with the explorers during the expedition. Huge corals and sponges, deep-water fishes, and the technology needed to study this deep, dark habitat particularly engaged the public, resource managers, and scientists alike. Following the cruise there was national media interest in discoveries from the expedition, not only because the findings were spectacular, but because significant efforts were made to provide the media with access to the explorers and images of the findings. Resource managers are already using summary information from the cruise in processes that may potentially protect Davidson Seamount habitats. Even before the scientific data has been completely analyzed, the public and resource managers have been engaged in a healthy process of information sharing. In characterizing the biology of Davidson Seamount, we found that this model of an interdisciplinary expedition effectively integrated new scientific information into public understanding and management options for a unique area., , ,
DeVogelaere, Kochevar, Tamburri, Cailliet, Burton, Benson, Douros
Explorating the Davidson Seamount: combining science, public outreach, and resource management
DeVogelaere, Kochevar, Tamburri, Cailliet, Burton, Benson, Douros, Magoon, Converse, Baird, Jines, Miller-Henson
Morphological, molecular, and in situ behavioral observations of the rare deep-sea anglerfish Chaunacops coloratus (Garman, 1899), order Lophiiformes, in the eastern North Pacific
In situ observations and collections of Chaunacops coloratus (Garman, 1899) from seamounts in the eastern North Pacific Ocean lend new behavioral, morphological and molecular data to an under-sampled, deep-sea group of fishes in the order Lophiiformes. Seven observations were made at Davidson Seamount, 130. km southwest of Monterey, CA, and from the Taney Seamount chain, 290. km west of Moss Landing, CA, from depths ranging from 2313 to 3297. m. Specimens were collected at both locations. Morphometric and meristic analyses were performed to identify individuals to the species level. These observations of C. coloratus provide greater latitude and depth distributions in the eastern North Pacific Ocean than previously known. Detailed habitat information indicated the fish occurred near manganese-encrusted volcanic talus slopes, a highly rugose habitat. Video observations revealed possible ontogenetic color changes in which small fish were blue and large fish were red. Video recorded rapid, vertical swimming as an escape response and maneuvering, or walking, with pectoral and pelvic fins and esca deployment. Phylogenetic analyses used here verify what has been known since Garman first described C. coloratus in 1899, that Chaunax and Chaunacops are closely related; molecular tools complement previous knowledge and genetic information created has been submitted to GenBank for further use by the scientific community. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
Lundsten, Johnson, Cailliet, DeVogelaere, Clague
Ichthyofauna on three seamounts off southern and central California USA,
In many regions of the world, commercial fisheries for seamount-aggregating species have collapsed. Most are trawl fisheries, which have been implicated in the destruction and loss of fragile coral and sponge habitat and potentially endemic seamount species. Even with the intense fishing effort over seamounts, our understanding of processes regulating the distribution and abundance of seamount fish assemblages, which is vital to conservation policy, is weak. Here, we describe the abundance and distribution of demersal fishes found on 3 seamounts off central and southern California. Video observations were taken during 27 dives of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and were annotated in detail using the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's (MBARI) Video Annotation Reference System (VARS). Video analysis yielded 2151 observations of 36 identified taxa. No aggregations of fishes were observed during the surveys. Video transects were analyzed to quantify organism density. Similarity among seamounts was compared using Bray-Curtis similarity estimates. Our results indicate high similarity among seamount faunas at similar depths, a shift from provincial to abyssal/cosmopolitan species with increased depth, and no evidence of seamount endemism., Cited By (since 1996):7, CODEN: MESED, ,
Lundsten, McClain, Barry, Cailliet, Clague, DeVogelaere
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"Almost half14 of global opium is legally produced for processing into various opiate based medicines. Any country can formally apply to the UN's Commission on Narcotic Drugs to cultivate, produce and trade in licit opium, under the auspices of the UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961 and under the supervision and guidance of the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB). As of 2001 there were eighteen countries that do, including Australia, Turkey, India, China and the UK."
Transform Drug Policy Foundation, "After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation," (Bristol, United Kingdom: September 2009), p. 32.


1368.00 sqft. - 2528.00 sqft.
Settled close to nature, Cosmo City beckons you to explore the mysteries of nature. This project has all the desired features you would want in your dream home. From beautifully designed apartments to fully equipped gymnasiums, this project has it all. Now you can enjoy the comfort of your home which is embedded with all modern features and when you step out a sea of comfort and luxury awaits you. Swimming pool and dedicated spaces for different sports and much more are here in this complex. Your day to day hassle reduces and you get to spend quality time with your family and friends with resort like beauty and facilities. You will get to see the difference from the moment you lay your eyes on Cosmo City.
Saleable Area : 1368.00 sqft.


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Sahara Steve's desert quest
by Stephen Slominski • February 26, 2012
Horton Heath resident, Steve Searle, is to bravely embark on an 8 day trek across the Sahara Desert, with the aim of raising over £2,500 for the charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The quest to North Africa will begin in October and will cover in excess of 100 kilometers taking Steve through a diverse harsh landscape from…
Local Guide on 'trip of a lifetime'
A Girlguiding UK member and leader of the 5th Chandlers Ford Rainbows is getting ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime later this year when she travels to Latvia to take part in an exciting community development project. Travelling alongside five other Girlguiding UK members, Lucy Summers from Eastleigh will participate in the…
Places available on disabled gardening project
by Ray Turner • February 14, 2012
A community allotment project is hoping to help more disabled people benefit from growing their own fruit and vegetables. Thrive is a small national charity which offers training and practical solutions, so that anyone with a disability can take part in, benefit from and enjoy gardening. Their Growing 4 Life project aims to cater for people…
Flybe proud of its Valentines
Figures just released by Flybe, with Valentines Day firmly in mind, show that 6% of its workforce admit to being in a relationship with a work colleague That statistic includes more than 30 couples who are working together as cabin crew and flight deck staff. Exeter based Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline and the UK's…
Former Councillor dies
by Stephen Slominski • January 6, 2012
Bill Luffman, one of Eastleigh's longest serving Labour Party stalwarts and a former councillor has died. Eastleigh Labour party has released the following statement: Eastleigh Labour Party is sad to announce that former Eastleigh Borough Councillor, Bishopstoke Parish Councillor and active Trade Unionist Bill Luffman passed away this morning. Bill was a Labour Party member…
Eastleigh Firefighter honoured
An Eastleigh Firefighter has been awarded a 'top gong' in the New Years Honours List. Peter Crook has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal in the New Year's Honours list, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to international search and rescue during his 32 year career with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. The Queen's…
Christmas in Botley Square
by Ray Turner • December 18, 2011
The community spirit that makes the village of Botley special was on full view this afternoon. Hundreds of Botley residents packed Botley Square to sing Christmas Carols around their Christmas tree. The community carol singing was led by the Reverend Ruth Schofield, curate of All Saints Church in Botley. Children from Botley School opened the singing,…
Cross-words at Village Hall…
Professional musicians and their gathering audience were treated to a lively warm-up act at Hedge End's Village Hall earlier this week. Preparations for a performance of "All on a Winters Night", a feast of songs, carols, stories and folklore by Johnny Coppin, Paul Burgess and Mick Dolan, were disrupted by a dispute over the use…
Homebase help for Teen Cancer Trust
by Stephen Slominski • December 12, 2011
Staff at the Homebase store on Chesnut Avenue got into the Christmas Spirit over the weekend in order to raise hundreds of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Homebase sales colleagues donned their Santa hats and tinsel to hand out stickers and mince pies in return for donations in-store and were joined by Mrs Southampton…
Cheryl gets top award
by Stephen Slominski • November 17, 2011
Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Cheryl Gosling has been presented with a prestigious award by the Hampshire Association of local Councils – fending off competition from clerks in 250 parish and town councils in Hampshire. The Chairman of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak Local Area Committee Roger Smith –himself a Fair Oak Parish Councillor – presented Cheryl…
Healthcare Reservist of the Year
by Ray Turner • November 13, 2011
A health worker from Hedge End has been named as Healthcare Reservist of the Year in the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards. Major Robert Dawes was honoured for introducing the Blizzard Heat pack on front-line operations in Afghanistan, a new device that keeps patients warm and prevents bleeding from their injuries, as well as new airway equipment…
Chandlers Ford businessman honoured by charity
A Chandlers Ford businessman is to be honoured for his commitment to charity. Tim Bond is the founder of 'Upfront and Personnel', world-leading construction staffing specialists based in Chandlers Ford Precinct. Tim is also the regional representative and corporate fundraiser for The Encephalitis Society which raises awareness and funds to improve the quality of life…
Eastleigh Blogger in St Pauls protest camp
by Stephen Slominski • November 8, 2011
A blogger from Eastleigh is currently in the thick of the controversial 'Occupy London' protest at St Pauls Cathedral. Matthew Myatt – a professional photo- journalist who contributes regularly to Eastleigh News went to report on the protest and ended up working there as the official photographer for Occupied Times – a weekly newspaper printed…
Eastleigh mum wins Top Blog award
by Stephen Slominski • October 11, 2011
Eastleigh mum-of-two, Amy Lane, has scooped a top prize in a prestigious national blogging award. The MAD (Mum and Dad) Blog Awards celebrate everything that is great about the UK's parent blogging community. Amy, 32, won the Best Food Blog at a glitzy gala ceremony in London. While being interviewed BBC Radio Solent's Katie Martin…
Blogger vows to topple Lib Dem leader
by Hedge Ender • October 8, 2011
A local blogger has vowed he will "end Liberal Democrat dominance within Eastleigh" by standing for election as an Independent and by launching an online campaign. The blogger, Hedge End resident Ray Turner, has started an e-petition which aims to "Prevent Councillors from serving on several Councils". If successful, the e-petition could eventually reduce the number of roles…


Lansing, MI-The Michigan Department of Civil Rights today announced the Relentless Tour - a first-of-its-kind anti-bullying initiative - will visit Olivet on Wednesday, March 13.
Motivational speaker Anthony Ianni, a member of Michigan State University's 2010 and 2012 Big Ten Champion and Tournament Championship teams and the 2010 Final Four team, will speak on Wednesday, March 13 to students at Olivet Middle School, 255 1st Street, at 8:30 a.m.
Since The Relentless Tour launched on Oct. 17, 2013, Ianni has reached tens of thousands of students, educators and leaders across Michigan and the nation.
In addition to MSU Basketball Coach Tom Izzo, the Relentless Tour has generated the support of Detroit Red Wing Niklas Kronwall and former Detroit Lion Nate Burleson, all of whom are working to spread the anti-bullying message.
To learn more, or to request a speaking engagement with Ianni, visit http://relentlesstour.com.


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ROAD TEST: 2021 Hyundai Kona N review
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By Stephen Ottley
Friday 3rd December, 2021 - 7:20am
2021 Hyundai Kona N
The first combination of a hot hatch and SUV, we've had plenty of performance SUVs from the likes of Audi, BMW and even Lamborghini, but there's not been a mainstream model like this before.
Volkswagen has dabbled with the Tiguan 162 TSI R-Line, but the Hyundai Kona N is the first compact SUV to get the same treatment as a hot hatch. And when I say the 'same' I mean it, this is packing the same running gear as the i30 N. That means the same turbocharged engine, same dual-clutch transmission and the same track-tuned suspension as the South Korean brand's acclaimed hot hatch.
ROAD TEST: 2021 Hyundai i30 N review
Having finally landed in Australia we're able to take it for an extended road drive to find out if this is going to be a new trendsetter or just another genre-blurring bust.
Does it have any racing pedigree?
The South Korean brand is keen to stress the connection between its motorsport and road car programs and while it's unlikely we'll see a Kona in TCR or WRC anytime soon it's clear that this is an SUV built with the racetrack in mind.
The Hyundai i30 N TCR car
Given it shares much of its mechanical DNA with the i30 N, it's likely that Hyundai has been able to transfer some of the same knowledge between the i30 N road and race car.
What's under the bonnet?
As mentioned earlier, it gets the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the i30 N. This is an updated version of what was in the original i30 N, so lessons learnt on that first performance car for the brand have been applied to this.
Specifically that means what Hyundai calls its "flat-power tune" which has been designed to deliver the performance across a broader rev range. It means that the 206kW of power hits between 5000-6000rpm and the 392Nm of torque is available from 2100-4700rpm.
The engine is paired to the new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that debuted in the facelifted i30 N (branded as N-DCT); the six-speed manual from the hatch isn't offered in the Kona N. The introduction of the new transmission is a big deal for Hyundai because it opens up the market for these types of cars in Australia to a much broader audience.
While it's the same gearbox found in other Hyundai models, such as the Sonata N-Line, for the Kona N (and i30 N) it features three unique modes – N Grin Shift, N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift.
N Grin Shift increases torque by allowing the turbocharger to overboost for a short burst (roughly 20 seconds); N Power Shift provides faster shifts on track; and N Track Sense Shift is effectively a sports mode for the transmission, allowing it to hold gears and be more aggressive when conditions suit.
And if all that is too confusing, you can simply slot the gear lever into manual mode and use the paddles on the back of the steering wheel.
While the Kona is available with all-wheel drive in other models, the N version sends its power to the front wheels only, through an electronically-controlled mechanical limited slip differential (e-LSD), which has two settings (Normal and Sport).
Not surprisingly then the Kona N feels just as rapid on the road as the i30 N, with the same punch out of corners. The new flat-tune was a noticeable improvement in the i30 N and it embunes the Kona N with a strong mid-range that helps it feel strong corner to corner.
How does it handle?
Even though it has similar underpinnings to the i30 N it has a noticeably different character on the road. It's an obvious statement, but the Kona N feels so much taller than a traditional hot hatch from the moment you get in.
This is because Hyundai's N division made a clear decision to retain the extra ride height of the Kona, instead of lowering and stiffening the suspension too much, even if it meant sacrificing performance because they wanted to retain the high-riding appeal of an SUV.
While it means the Kona N doesn't feel quite as sharp on the road as the i30 N, it still feels tuned for performance and, just as importantly, has its own unique personality to create a point-of-difference between the two otherwise similar models.
Given its extra height it does lean a lot more in corners than the i30, which takes some getting used to, but once you do you're pleasantly surprised to find that it hangs on well in the bends.
Combined with direct and responsive steering and strong brakes, the Kona N manages to pack genuine hot hatch thrills into an SUV body.
Where would you most like to drive it?
A racetrack seems the obvious answer, given Hyundai's confidence in its performance. While we were fortunate enough to take the Kona N to Wakefield Park for some track laps, we'll publish a separate Track Test in the near future.
Instead, the Kona N feels like it was built for weekend road trips across the twisty roads that litter Australia's regional areas. It would feel at home in the Victorian High Country or the Great Ocean Road.
What's the interior like?
It looks like just what you'd expect to find in a high-quality hot hatch. There's sports seats with dark trim and contrasting 'Performance Blue' stitching, a sports steering wheel and other sporty touches.
There are some other nice touches, like the blue highlights in the air-con vents and the blue stitching throughout the cabin. The biggest giveaway that you're in the most potent Kona though is the steering wheel, which has two blue 'N' programmable buttons and a bright red one for the 'N Grin Shift' feature.
In terms of space, the Kona N isn't much larger than the i30 N in practical terms, but it offers reasonable room front and rear for adults.
Is it good value for money?
Hyundai is offering two different versions of the Kona N – standard and Premium. The range begins at $47,500 (plus on-road costs) for the standard model, while the Kona N Premium starts at $50,500.
The car is well-equipped with all the performance extras plus loads of active safety equipment as well as goodies such as navigation, digital radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a Harman Kardon sound system. Stepping up to the Premium model adds some luxuries like suede and leather interior trim, a sunroof, heated and ventilated seats and a head-up display.
Given it has no obvious rivals at the moment it's hard to put its value into context, but with so many shared elements with the i30 N – which is priced from $47,500 for its N-DCT equipped version – you're not actually paying an extra to get the SUV body.
Would I buy one?
So I asked at the start if the Kona N is the sign of things to come or a step too far for SUVs? The answer is it looks like the former, with would-be rivals set to emerge in the coming years. Volkswagen will launch the T-Roc R and Tiguan R in 2022 and will introduce the Spanish Cupra brand with the Formentor and Ateca hi-po high-riders.
In the meantime, Hyundai has the market to itself and the Kona N should certainly have plenty of appeal. It manages to combine the seemingly opposite traits of hot hatch performance and SUV practicality into not only a cohesive package, but an engaging one.
2021 Hyundai Kona N price and specifications
Price: From $47,500 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 206kW at 5500-6000rpm
Torque: 392Nm at 2100-4700rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto, front-wheel drive
Fuel use: 9.0L/100km
Wheels: 19-inch alloys
Tyres: 235/40 R19
0-100km/h: 5.5 seconds (claimed)
Torquecafe.com has been established to provide a daily performance motoring news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
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This gents Calvin Klein City watch is made from stainless steel and is powered by a chronograph quartz movement. It is fastened with a silver metal bracelet and has a silver dial. The watch has a date function.


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Adut Akech: 'The word family has evolved'
This fashion month, model Adut Akech is CNN Style's 10th guest editor. She's commissioned a series of features around the theme of family. I don't remember much about my earliest years, but certain vivid memories linger: the scorching yet still comforting heat of the African sun, the rich brown color of Kenyan land, adults from backgrounds different than mine helping others with daily needs, and most of all, the carefree laughter and pitter-pattering footsteps from children like myself, never ceasing as we danced in our own little universes.That was life at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where I spent the majority of my first eight years on earth.There, I not only developed close bonds with my closest relatives — my mother and siblings — but I also had a larger group of people to connect with on a daily basis. They either shared my experiences or empathized with them, and as I ran through the grounds of the camp day after day, I remember being met with smile after smile.I didn't know it back then, but these people were only the second family I would have in a line of many, many more to come.Eight years into my life, a new journey and more family awaited me on the other side of the world. A long plane ride landed us in southern Australia, where my aunt, who painstakingly petitioned for our future in this new home called Adelaide, welcomed us with open arms. And so began our new life in an unfamiliar but generous community, as well as bigger and bigger reunions with relatives from all branches of my family tree. I continue to call many of those in my generation "brothers" and "sisters," even if they are cousins in reality. Our bonds have developed strength beyond mere dictionary definitions.Another eight years pass, and a new chapter begins — this time in the world of fashion. My career as a model makes me a nomad by default. My home is now in multiple places around the world, my life is an arrow constantly pointing forward. Adut Akech at her agency in New York. Credit: Kyleen James / The Society Management The fashion industry is a huge, creative family who have been supportive beyond my imagination. It's a community driven by artistry and synergy with one another; every photo, every film, every collection is the result of different relationships bound together and inspiring each other. Kerby Jean-Raymond, who is one of the contributors for this project, is a brilliant part of this family network, and someone who expresses his own idea of family through his designs. His artistic vision reflects the stories from his community: a "people's project."Even with the privilege of an amazing career and the chance to travel globally, I've found another kind of family and foundation in New York City, now my second home. After all, it's necessary to have those you can depend on and trust, even when you are away for weeks at a time. My friends Adot Gak and Aicha Bassoum, as well as my New York manager Cheri Bowen represent people in my life who want me in theirs, who accept me unconditionally the way a family member would. When work becomes stressful or when trips become lonely, I know that there will be voices on the other side of the phone cheering for me. They remind me that family is a support system, made up of sturdy arms that lift up my spirits.Adut stands (top far right) alongside fellow models including Naomi Campbell (center) during Valentino's couture show in Paris. Credit: Courtesy ValentinoIn this day and age, "family" has become such a beautiful and versatile word. Traditionally, it represents the deep relationships we develop with those who actually share our DNA, but as the world becomes more and more connected, and as more of us start to move away permanently, often farther and farther from our place of birth, we begin to create the same kind of bonds wherever we land. Your trusted friends are family, those who share your ethnic background are family, your local community is your family.At home, the idea of family is also constantly evolving. I have friends who were raised by parents in the LGBTQI community, and many other friends who identify as LGBTQI and intend to start their own beautiful families. This is not yet the case in the entire world, but I hope everyone will have that chance to fulfill the dream of family soon.For my editorship, I wanted to explore how the definition of the word family has evolved, and how it has come to represent something even deeper than immediate blood ties. Though my own life begun with displacement, different forms of family surrounded me and supported me throughout the years. Even those who didn't know me personally but still supported my own and many others' existence as refugees represent the most loving of family members. If you are one of them, thank you for being family to me.I may always remain close with my mother and siblings the most, but my heart is open to the world as much as it has opened itself to me. My wish is to use my voice and experiences to show that yes, despite all our differences and disagreements, we can be family to each other.See more from Adut Akech's guest editorship here.
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Media Release From:
THE PRO-LIFE ALLIANCE
OF GAYS AND LESBIANS
Internet: PlagalOne@aol.com
http://www.plagal.org
MARCH FOR LIFE LEADER
THREATENS ARREST OF PRO-LIFE GAYS
WASHINGTON, DC. January 21, 2000. Detective Pristoop of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department informed the officers of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians (PLAGAL) that the police had been given orders by Miss Nellie Gray, President and holder of the parade permit for the March for Life, to arrest any member or friend of PLAGAL who openly attempts to march, participate, or otherwise demonstrate against the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade at the March for Life.
According to Detective Pristoop, Miss Gray is citing the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Group, as the basis for her authority to ban the open participation of lesbians and gays in Monday's events. Detective Pristoop told the officers of PLAGAL that the March for Life is targeting only lesbians and gays for removal from the March.
"This is truly a sad day in the history of the pro-life movement," said Cecilia Brown, PLAGAL Vice-President. "Miss Gray is telling us either to shut-up and march anonymously or face arrest if we bring our banner. All we are asking is that Miss Gray set aside her personal sentiments against gays and lesbians and allow us to participate as pro-lifers who openly seek to be a part of the pro-life movement. By threatening to arrest us because of our peaceful participation, Miss Gray will move the focus of the March away from the protection of the unborn to the participation of lesbians and gays."
Moses Remedios, President of PLAGAL, asked, "How can Miss Gray claim to stand for the dignity of all human life while at the same time denying gays and lesbians our dignity in openly defending the rights of all human beings to life. We have heard that Miss Gray is having substantial trouble finding other pro-life leaders who are willing to join her in the exclusion of PLAGAL."
Officers of PLAGAL will be available at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 22, 2000, at 721 Eighth Street, Southeast, Washington, DC, to discuss further the objectives of PLAGAL, the denial of equal rights by the March leader, and their plans for Monday's March. Members of PLAGAL will gather at 15th and Constitution at Noon on Monday, January 24, 2000.


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Melvins to Cover Rolling Stones on Career-Spanning Acoustic Album
Melvins have announced a newly recorded career-spanning, four-LP acoustic album titled Five Legged Dog, which arrives on Oct. 21.
The 36-song set includes acoustic renditions of the sludge-metal trio's most popular songs, including "Honey Bucket" and "Revolve," along with a diverse array of rock 'n' roll covers, such as the Rolling Stones' "Sway" and Alice Cooper's "Halo of Flies."
Commenting on the size of the hefty career retrospective, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne said in a press release, "One acoustic record seems like a joke and two is pretty normal, but doing four?!? That's like going to war against an army of gorillas on LSD."
An acoustic album may seem incongruous with Melvins' grungy, sludgy hybrid of metal and alt-rock, but a press release promises the performances on Five Legged Dog are not "soft" in the conventional sense of the word. Instead, fans can expect "delta variants, weighty, plangent, cavernous and often brutal renditions" of Melvins songs. "I used brush sticks on every track," drummer Dale Crover said. "What a pain in the ass!"
You can hear the album's brooding new version of the Houdini track "Night Goat" below.
Osbourne has released two acoustic albums in recent years, 2014's solo This Machine Kills Artists and 2020's Gift of Sacrifice, which also featured bassist Trevor Dunn.
The acoustic format also puts emphasis on the vocal interplay between Osborne and Melvins bassist Steven McDonald, a cofounder of the power-pop group Redd Kross, whose song "Charlie" appears on Five Legged Dog. McDonald said he was skeptical of making an acoustic record at first, "but once I got into the concept, I was hooked to the eyeballs. I think this came out really great! It's some of my best bass playing and singing. I got to sing 'Sway' by the Stones, and they even wanted to do a cover of 'Charlie' by my main band."
Five Legged Dog arrives less than eight months after Melvins' last studio album, Working With God. It will be available as a two-CD or four-LP set. You can see the track listing below.
Melvins, 'Five Legged Dog' Track Listing (with original album and cover info)
1. "Edgar The Elephant" (from 2017's A Walk With Love & Death)
2. "Up The Dumper" (from 1999's The Bootlicker)
3. "Hung Bunny"/ "Roman Dog Bird" (from 1992's Lysol)
4. "Hooch" (from 1993's Houdini)
5. "Billy Fish" (from 2008's Nude With Boots)
6. "Shevil" (from 1994's Stoner Witch)
7. "Charlie" (Redd Kross cover from "Escape From LA" single)
8. "A Growing Disgust" (from 2012's Freak Puke)
9. "Eye Flys"/ "Woman" (from 1987's Gluey Porch Treatments – "Woman" is a Free cover)
10. "Pitfalls In Serving Warrants" (From 1997's Honky)
11. "Outside Chance" (The Turtles cover, from "Slithering Slaughter" single)
12. "Evil New War God" (from 2010's The Bride Screamed Murder)
13. "The Bloated Pope" (from 2004's Pigs of the Roman Empire)
14. "Bad Move" (from Dale Crover's solo album, The Fickle Finger of Fate)
15. "With Teeth" (from Lysol)
16. "Halo of Flies" (Alice Cooper cover from 2005's Sieg Howdy!)
17. "Oven" (from 1989's Ozma)
18. "Sway" (Rolling Stones cover – previously unrecorded by the Melvins)
19. "Anaconda" (from 1991's Bullhead)
20. "Lovely Butterfly" (Honky)
21. "Boris" (Bullhead)
22. "It's Shoved" (Bullhead)
23. "Honey Bucket" (Houdini)
24. "We Are Doomed" (from 2012's The Bulls & The Bees)
25. "Flypaper" (Brainiac cover – previously unrecorded by the Melvins)
26. "Let God Be Your Gardener" (Ozma)
27. "At The Stake" (from 1994's Stoner Witch)
28. "Night Goat" (Houdini)
29. "Queen" (Stoner Witch)
30. "Everybody's Talking" (Fred Neil cover – previously unrecorded by the Melvins)
31. "Revolve" (Stoner Witch)
32. "Suicide In Progress" (Nude With Boots)
33. "Prig" (The Bootlicker)
34. "The Bit" (from 1996's Stag)
35. "Civilized Worm" (from 2006's (A) Senile Animal)
36. "Don't Forget to Breathe" (from 2018's Pinkus Abortion Technician)
20 Best Albums of 2021 (So Far)
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Q: In mongoDB, how to work with two collection from different databases and query conditions? I have one collection in database DB1 and another one is in database DB2.
There is a collection "a" in database DB1 and collection "b" in database DB2.
collection a:
Data:
collection b:
Data:
I want to filter rows in collection "a" based on "user_id" column in collection "b".
And I need output like this,
After that, I want information like,
How many Jhon are there in data and among all Jhon, how many from USA?
Common Condition would be like,

*

*select count(*), name from TABLE_NAME where name='Jhon'

*select count(*), name from TABLE_NAME where name='Jhon' and country='USA'

So, what could be the mongoDB query to get information like this?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


From French politics being a source of tremendous inspiration three months ago, as millions joined the inventive and powerful battles against a vicious labour law, it has now become a source of anger and incomprehension around the world.
Photos of armed French police ordering a French Muslim woman to remove her clothing on a Mediterranean beach caused shock waves internationally, and several protest rallies against the bans on Muslim full body swimsuits (so-called burkinis) were held at French embassies. How did we get to this low point in France and what sort of fightback is likely?
Mayors of two dozen towns have now passed local by-laws restricting what clothes may be worn on the beach. They are aimed at Muslim women, though do not have the honesty to say so. Typical is the by-law in Cannes, which states that "access to the beach and the sea is forbidden to anyone not wearing proper clothing which respects good manners and secularism as well as hygiene and security rules".
In a preamble, a confused political reason is given: "beachwear which shows ostentatiously religious affiliation, at a time when France and places of worship are being targeted by terrorists, risks causing disturbances of law and order, which must be prevented".
Muslim women, whether on the beach or elsewhere, report increased discrimination in the Islamophobic atmosphere encouraged by these decrees. One Muslim woman interviewed in the press, who asked to remain anonymous, explained: "I won't be going to the beach this year with my daughter. I haven't got the strength to put up with the funny looks and mocking comments … I wear a hijab, and I'm a feminist, even if some people don't like my version of feminism. What's important is women's freedom … to take clothes off, or to keep them on if we choose".
The initial town decrees were dishonest and opportunistic. There have been no public order problems previously concerning any sort of swimwear. The aim, for rather pathetic right wing mayors, was to make the newspapers and shore up the Islamophobic vote.
In most countries, the manoeuvre would have remained a small-scale racist farce. Not here. There is a solid tradition on the left, including the revolutionary left, of refusing to fight against Islamophobia. The right and the neoliberal Socialist government can be sure that if they loudly attack Muslims, the left will be deeply divided and confused, and the measures will be effective in weakening the working class.
The practical political benefit, of course, goes to those who are less divided and confused on the issue: the fascists of Marine Le Pen's National Front.
The Socialist Party prime minister Manuel Valls expressed his support for the mayors who had enacted the swimwear bans. "Faced with provocations, the republic must defend itself", he insisted, and claimed these swimsuits were part of "the enslavement of women".
That Conservative and social-liberal politicians should use racism to divide and rule is unsurprising, but what is horrific about the present situation is the support for discrimination coming from forces much further left. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, fiery orator and no doubt the best hope for a popular, combative class struggle candidate for president next year, denounced the "burkini" as "communitarianist instrumentalisation of women's bodies" and as a "sign of militancy" and a "provocation". He did not support the ban, but he repeated this nonsense about the meaning of the full body swimsuit.
Over recent years, Mélenchon has wavered on Islamophobia: sometimes insisting on the need to defend Muslims against prejudice, at other times making declarations about republican values under threat. The party he is a member of (the left reformist Parti de Gauche) denounced both the bans and the (in fact imaginary) fundamentalist campaign behind the swimwear. It claimed in a press release: "the burkini is the result of a Salafist religious offensive … [which] proposes a kind of clothing completely opposed to the ideas of emancipation and feminism which we defend".
Looking further left, there is some hope of a fight back against Islamophobia, but it is an uphill struggle. The tradition of blinkered secularism (or just hating believers) and the insidious remains of French colonial attitudes weigh heavily on the French left. There are no significant organisations that consistently fight Islamophobia. Any demonstration specifically against attacks on Muslims is 90 percent Muslim with a handful of non-Muslim left activists.
Determined work by a small number of comrades over the last 20 years has meant that tiny anti-Islamophobia minorities in left organisations have become significant minorities, but minorities nevertheless. This important progress has been helped by small but growing protest movements by Muslim groups or other single issue campaigns with a base among the victims of racism. This was shown, for example, in an important anti-racist march and meeting in the second half of 2015, which involved many Muslims and provoked polemical debates across the whole of the political spectrum.
One of the more important far left organisations, the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA), condemned the discrimination in a press release. In addition, since it was having a summer school (coincidentally) in a seaside town that has banned the burkini, it held a demonstration at the beach, which got into the press. Hopefully, there will be more actions in September, but there is no guarantee: the NPA remains divided on Islamophobia. Nevertheless, this demo, attended by half those present at the summer school, is an important step forward for an organisation which, a few years ago, referred to women who wear the niqab as "birds of death" on the front page of its newspaper.
Ensemble (my organisation) is similarly divided. Its press release was good, explaining that the new restrictions "had obviously nothing to do with the defence of secularism or of women' rights" and defending the right to show one's religious affiliations in public: "No, Muslims should not have to be 'discreet' in public in order to avoid being victims of Islamophobia. They are at home here in France. Such talk reminds us of the discriminatory practices against Jews, gypsies and foreigners at the darkest times in history".
But the need to fight against Islamophobia is not a focus of our summer school, and it will be tough to organise action to match the words of the press release. On a more positive point, the (small) youth sections of Ensemble and of the NPA are significantly better on the issue than are the oldies.
Among other political forces, two of the most well-known feminist groups have published press releases, after remaining silent for a week. One of them, les Effrontées (Insolent Women) denounced the beachwear decrees, but reaffirmed its support for Islamophobic laws banning the niqab in the streets and the hijab in schools, and took the disastrous position of denouncing both the bans and the supposed submission of women behind the swimsuits.
The other, Osez le féminisme (Dare be a feminist!) denounced "a double manipulation which stigmatises veiled women. First of all a manipulation by the clothes manufacturers who make these 'modest' swimsuits and by those who think women should be obliged to wear a veil. But at the same time a manipulation by these local chieftains who … choose to attack a particular group of women and deliver them over to racist harassment".
The political confusion is immense.
A number of people on the left have taken the disastrous position that discrimination should be extended to regulate the dress of Catholic and Jewish women. The mayor of Cannes said that Catholic nuns in their habits are not welcome on the beaches. The main aim of the decrees is Islamophobic, but anti-capitalists must be opposed to banning symbols of any religion. The expression of religious beliefs in public is specifically defended by article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In France, people who claim to be left wing or even revolutionaries are not prepared to defend even the rights that are theoretically guaranteed by bourgeois law!
It is striking how many of the positions are based on crass ignorance. The burkini is attacked as a symbol of Muslim fundamentalism, whereas in fact the tiny number of strict Muslim fundamentalists in France would be completely opposed to such a body-hugging outfit being worn by women in public!
The French league for human rights, Amnesty International and several of the French national newspapers have come out against the bans. The Conseil d'Etat, the highest appeals court in the country, has suspended the ban in one town. The judges stated that the by-law "has dealt a serious and clearly illegal blow to fundamental liberties such as the freedom of movement, freedom of conscience and personal liberty".
This decision is likely to have an effect on the other bans. Some of the mayors have already declared that they will ignore the court ruling, and significant sections of the political right are demanding a national law against burkinis. Whatever the future of such demands, it is crucial to remember that the bans had little to do with the small number of burkinis to be found in France, and everything to do with dividing the left and dividing the working class.
Other so-called debates (about pork-free menus at school dinners or about the wearing of the hijab) are likely to be whipped up in coming months unless there is a campaign against Islamophobia far bigger than what has occurred so far.
The tremendous uprising to defend workers' rights in May and June may well not be over: new demonstrations and strikes have been called for 15 September. It is no accident that in the face of such a powerful movement, elites are hoping to concentrate everyone's attention on Muslim swimwear and to whip up Islamophobia, hoping it will be the main focus of the 2017 presidential elections.
Those on the left who refuse to confront Islamophobia head on are making a grave error. This new crisis must lead to a reorientation of the French left on this issue, or the price to pay in division of our organisations and our class will be terrible.
John Mullen is an activist in the anti-capitalist group Ensemble and lives in the Paris region. He blogs at www.johnmullenagen.blogspot.fr.


Last night on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, the show's late night host had plenty of juicy material to talk about. As many were made aware, Special Counsel Robert Mueller had concluded his probe of Russian meddling the 2016 U.S. election and submitted his report to Attorney General William Barr.
Given that bit of information, Maher opened his monologue by noting that Mueller's submission "is like Christmas" for liberals, "if it was based on real events." He then criticised the television news media for its repetitive and underwhelming analysis of the headline, reminding his viewers that "no one knows what's in the report" yet everyone wants to give their opinion.
He then referenced the 34 indictments tied to the Russian scandal and the Trump administration, noting "that's a lot of witches," calling the president himself a "whiny little witch." His point being that it's difficult to imagine that Mueller's report will be deemed inconclusive in regards to the president.
Maher then blasted the president for tweeting about John McCain, who's been dead for nearly 7 months, blaming him for the Russia investigation and for people having bad healthcare.
"Today, Trump asked his Russian hookers to pee on McCain's grave," Maher quipped, before clarifying to his studio audience that he was just "testing [their] sensitivity" on the subject.
You can check out the clip above and catch new episodes of Real Time With Bill Maher on Fridays at 10PM EST.


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Considering how little she works, the manager probably didn't notice. My job idea looks better by the minute.
I got both also in the mail, started with Litten. I really love the games too. They really help me cope with the loss of my dog Martin. That and the Finding Dory movie.
I got both too! :D Started with Moon though... But yeah, I'm a really slow gamer. On the upside I guess we get to get to enjoy games longer!
@Oly-RRR: I started with Sun and I actually just completed my Pokedex a couple hours ago! Gonna start playing Moon soon.


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Home Female Culinary Stars: Chef Veronica Lopez
Female Culinary Stars: Chef Veronica Lopez
Veronica Lopez
Editor's Note: This is the third in a series about female chefs making their mark in the world of Mexican/Latin cuisine. Click here to read the first story in this series and click here to read the second story in the series.
By Kathleen Furore
Veronica Lopez quite clearly remembers the first time she tried to bake a cake as a child in Queretero, her hometown near Mexico City.
"I saw how my mother's great-aunt made delicious things, and I tried to do it at home. My mother let me do it…obviously with other results. One day I made a cake that looked delicious, but I forgot to put sugar in it," Lopez laughs.
It's the story she tells when asked when she knew she wanted to become a chef.
But that childhood dream wasn't one she would realize without challenges. Her gender was one of them.
As she recently told The Grunion Gazetter (a publication in Long Beach, California), one comment in particular stung as she was just starting her culinary career: "You will never be a chef, just a housewife" she was told.
The naysayers were wrong.
Today, Lopez runs the kitchen at Next Door by Agaves, a contemporary Mexican restaurant that opened in late spring next to the popular Agaves Ultra Lounge (where Lopez once helmed the kitchen, too) in Long Beach, Calif.
Determination Fuels the Drive
Determined to prove 'housewife' would not to be her destiny, Lopez headed to the Instituto Gastronomico de Estudios Superiores Mexico, where she earned a bachelor's degree in culinary studies.
It was there that she perfected her cooking skills and learned more about the history of Mexican food—two things that ultimately fueled her culinary journey.
"I think the most important [things in cooking] are the basics, and the school where I studied involved me in the love for my Mexican cuisine," Lopez says. Those four years in academia, "…gave me the opportunity to live with people and communities that allowed me to be part of the documentation and rescue of old recipes, supporting teachers in writing research books," Lopez says.
Post-graduation, she worked as a chef in Mexico and in England before a restaurant in America beckoned.
"It was a restaurant in Louisiana that had nothing to do with Mexican cuisine, but that I knew would lead the way," Lopez recalls. "I remember very well that my bosses loved me to make them carnitas and Mexican rice."
But her goal was to introduce the food of her homeland to restaurant diners—a goal she realized when she came to Long Beach and Agaves Ultra Lounge.
"I have six years working for the company," says Lopez, who notes that the company "just took a turn" when it moved the kitchen from the lounge space to create Next Door by Agaves. "…as in any business you always have to try to be better."
Keeping Tradition Alive
Lopez's goal at Agaves Next door is to create recipes that recall the flavors and traditions of her homeland —just as she tried to do in a small way when she baked that cake in her mother's kitchen so many years ago.
"I want that people who come to eat know that they will receive, apart from the best service, dishes with a lot of flavor, reminiscent of what grandma's rice tastes [like], the taste of mama's pozole, roasted meat with nopales," Lopez explains. "What did you eat when you came home to eat with the family? Those flavors that remind you of what has already been lost, the family life, comfort…and it is delicious!"
Those dishes include carne asada, carnitas and chile verde, plus specialties like Pollo Enchipotlado—roasted chicken served over chipotle sauce with garlic and epazote and served with roasted potatoes and tortillas.
And so, in some ways, this accomplished chef—who was once told she would be relegated to a home kitchen in Mexico—has come full circle. She surmounted the obstacles she faced as a female in a male-dominated profession, and now is creating modern translations of the kind of "comfort food" she ate in Mexican kitchens as a child.
Things, she says, are changing—in Mexico and the U.S.
"It is a matter of evolution and culture," Lopez says of female finally being accepted as equals in the kitchen. "I think it is not [about] success, but about work and leadership. Demonstrate with facts that you know what you are doing… it is not easy because you are also [going to be] wrong [at times]…you simply learn how babies do it—if you fall you get up!"
Her advice to women coming up in the industry?
Be humble, put forth your best effort and, Lopez concludes, "Your work will speak for you."
Kathleen Furore is the editor of el Restaurante.
chef Veronica Lopez
New Latin Foodservice Products
Copyright 2019 Maiden Name Press


White paper on crime 2004 Part2/Chapter4/Section3/7.
Support and cooperation from volunteers outside,including volunteer visitors for inmates and prison chaplains,play an important role in the operations of penal institutions,in particular,for educational activities.
Voluntary visits for inmates enable inmates to receive guidance and advice from private volunteers based on their professional knowledge and experiences.Volunteer visitors are qualified or experienced individuals,religious persons,persons concerned with rehabilitation services,who are recommended by the wardens of correctional institutions and commissioned by the Superintendents of Regional Correction Headquarters.
Contents of guidance and advice include expanding inmates'culture,improving their aptitudes in their hobbies,enhancing their skills,addressing their mental worries,and providing support for issues related to their families,jobs,and future life plans.
As of December31,2003,there were1,140volunteer visitors,191of which specialized in literary arts,196in education,158in religion,129in rehabilitation services,86in law(legal profession),66in commerce and industry,and27in social welfare etc.In2003,a total of14,473voluntary visits were made,4,848of which were concerned with culture,3,238with hobbies,and1,384with mental worries(Source:Data by Correction Bureau,Ministry of Justice).
To enhance voluntary visit activities,the National Federation of Volunteer Visitors for Inmates has been established.
Religious instructions are given,at the request of inmates,by religious volunteers called"prison chaplains".They include religious lectures,religious rites and reading of sutras etc.and are aimed at providing inmates with opportunities to satisfy their religious needs while ensuring their religious freedom.
As of December31,2003,there were1,517prison chaplains,and they gave religious services9,068times to groups and7,172times individually(Source:Data by Correction Bureau,Ministry of Justice).
The National Federation of Prison Chaplains has been established as a national organization of prison chaplains.


There have been a lot of reasons to find SDNY Judge Jed S. Rakoff interesting.
has now fixed the menu, leaving this court with nothing but sour grapes.
Put another way, it is the prosecutor, not the judge, who effectively exercises the sentencing power, albeit cloaked as a charging decision.
The best available evidence indicates that, on the one hand, innocent people are sentenced to death with materially greater frequency than was previously supposed and that, on the other hand, convincing proof of their innocence often does not emerge until long after their convictions. It is therefore fully foreseeable that in enforcing the death penalty a meaningful number of innocent people will be executed who otherwise would eventually be able to prove their innocence. It follows that implementation of the Federal Death Penalty Act not only deprives innocent people of a significant opportunity to prove their innocence, and thereby violates procedural due process, but also creates an undue risk of executing innocent people, and thereby violates substantive due process.
Most recently, though, Judge Rakoff took a very public step to call out the Department of Justice's continued lip service to (rather than efforts to reform) Brady.
He had been appointed to a federal commission (the National Commission on Forensic Science) that was to determine standards for forensic science during trials. Apparently, he tried to have the Commission address the issue of pretrial forensic discovery—that is, when forensic results and testing information should be disclosed to the defense.
DOJ blocked the Commission from doing so, claiming that the topic was beyond the commission's scope.
I have never before felt the need to resign from any of the many committees on which I have served over the years; but given what I believe is the unsupportable position now taken by the Department of Justice, I feel I have no choice.
It is hard to escape the conclusion, therefore, that the Department's determination that pre-trial discovery relating to forensic expert testimony is beyond the "scope" of the Commission is chiefly designed to preserve a courtroom advantage by avoiding even the possibility that Commission discussion might expose it as unfair.
Judge Rakoff also made the eminently fair point that the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure do not provide the same level of pretrial disclosure about experts as do the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
These days, when juries expect a full CSI experience in criminal trials, forensic experts are often the heart of the government's case. The defense should have every opportunity to understand the basis of the forensic expert's testimony and to develop a method to attack it.
The whole email, in all its glory, is here.
I am grateful to Deputy Attorney General Yates for reconsidering and reversing the department's prior position, so that the commission can now give full consideration to forensic discovery issues and recommendations.
Many won't agree with Judge Rakoff but, most of the time, I do. He's one of the few judges who is thinking critically about how our criminal justice system works. He's also evaluating his own role as a federal judge in that system, and pondering ways for judges to improve the system.
He is also only 71 years old, so we have a long time to watch what he does next. I have a feeling he's going to stick it out on the bench for a while.
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The Gentleman (2020) - Guy Ritchie
Scented with a sense of smug satisfaction, The Gentlemen is a brass, juvenile film which sees Guy Ritchie return to his comfort zone, delivering a peculiar british gangster flick in which indulgences for stylish sensibilities obfuscate rather than strengthen or support any semblance of storytelling rooted in curiosity or intrigue. With The Gentlemen, escapist mayhem takes center stage, and while the film features moments of jubilation, these moments are ultimately short-lived when viewed in the scope of the film as a whole which is lacking in any form of emotional or intellectual substance.


Renfrewshire's employability programmes have been rated the best performing in Scotland in a new national report benchmarking the performance of all Scottish Councils.
The latest Local Government Benchmarking Framework Indicator Profile ranks the Council's jobs and training programme as No.1 nationally in assisting people into work.
Renfrewshire has improved in more than 60 per cent of the 64 performance indicators in the 2016/17 report and is ranked in the top eight local authorities for 16 of these.
It reports Renfrewshire school attainment levels up across the board, with more pupils gaining five or more National 5 and Higher awards.
And it highlights strong customer satisfaction in Renfrewshire for schools and local leisure facilities.
85% of adults are satisfied with local schools, placing Renfrewshire sixth best in Scotland.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson has welcomed the steady improvements in performance.
Councillor Nicolson said: "This is a positive report which highlights a number of areas where investment has made a real difference to the lives of communities across Renfrewshire.
"We can be very proud in particular of the continuous improvements being achieved in our schools, giving children in Renfrewshire every opportunity to achieve their potential no matter their background.
The report also raises a number of areas for improvement, including customer satisfaction with street cleaning and maintaining Renfrewshire roads.
Renfrewshire's 2018 Budget confirmed an additional £2.5million to improve the local environment over the next five years and a single-year £7.2million in 2018/19 to improve Renfrewshire roads and footpaths.
The benchmarking report builds on the positive findings of the Account's Commission Best Value report in 2017 which praised the Council for improving its services and recognised the effective financial management and medium term strategies in place.
Sandra Black, Renfrewshire Council Chief Executive said: "The data presented in this report is an important tool in monitoring and comparing our progress and enables local authorities to share best practice with one another for the benefit of local communities.
Findings from the Local Government Benchmarking Framework Indicator Profile will be considered by councillors in a report to the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board on Monday 19 March 2018.
The post Council benchmarking report hails Renfrewshire's jobs programmes appeared first on Paisley Scotland. Visit the Paisley website by going to www.paisley.org.uk or by following us on Facebook or Twitter.


If student loan debt of $1.5 trillion is a national crisis, the $20 trillion national debt must be a crisis of unimaginable proportions.
The total of all student loan debt just hit $1.5 trillion, so prepare for a slew of stories telling you how student loan debt is out-of-control and we must reform the program to avoid a crisis. Ignore the hype. The reality is that most borrowers are using student loans responsibly, graduate with a perfectly reasonable amount of debt, and are making a smart investment. Given the excellent return on investment from college educations, why is society acting like student loan debt is a problem? Instead we should be glad so many people are acting in a way that will make the country better off in the long run.
Since the start of the 2007-2009 recession, the federal government has run enormous budget deficits. While the value of this borrowing and the accompanying spending has been of questionable value, many economists on the left have stressed how smart such behavior is. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers penned a great example of the genre back in 2012, encouraging countries with access to low-cost money to borrow heavily and long-term for a variety of uses. Anything with a rate of return or reduction in costs greater than the cost of funds should be pursued using borrowed funds.
A college education is considered one of the best investments a person can make. As reported last week by Kaitlin Mulhere in Time, national data collected by PayScale shows that, after accounting for financial aid, tuition and other costs of attendance, and the four-year delay in starting full-time work, the average college pays off in $280,000 in higher earnings over the twenty years after graduation. Given that college costs are accounted for and that $280,000 is the average net gain, it is clear that the return on investing in a college education is quite large.
If we apply the same logic to college attendance as to government deficit spending, people borrowing at low rates to obtain a college degree are making a smart investment. Why are liberals so obsessed with forgiving student loan debt, making college free going forward, and other policies that reduce the cost of higher education for its beneficiaries? After all, the students borrowing (at government-subsidized rates) to invest in a better future are simply following the identical strategy those same liberals insist is smart when the government follows it.
The problem surely isn't the responsibility of the borrowers involved. The federal government has run up a national debt equal to roughly $60,000 per person, while the average student loan borrower graduating in 2017 only owes $39,000. Further the median debt value is much lower and borrowers from earlier years owe less than more recent graduates. The average student loan payment is less than the average car payment. Considering that cars depreciate rather quickly while education will deliver higher earnings for one's entire lifetime, why is there a crisis caused by people making smart, responsible, and rational decisions?
A small number of students do borrow more money than the degrees they pursue are likely to allow them to pay off. There are real concerns over students who borrow and do not complete their degrees or attend certain for-profit schools that more or less exist to collect student loan-funded tuition and do not provide much useful education in exchange. Yet, these are small and manageable problems that should be addressed with reform, not a reason to condemn the total amount of student loan borrowing.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. If borrowing money is smart when the rate of return is higher than the cost of the funds when the federal government does it, it is smart when ordinary Americans do it to obtain a college education. Liberals cannot have it both ways. If student loan debt of $1.5 trillion is a national crisis, the $20 trillion national debt must be a crisis of unimaginable proportions.


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A Shot in the Gut
By Nathan Meunier Legacy Author May 6, 2008
Hardcore gamers are notoriously fickle creatures, but it's hard to imagine that anyone who can survive for days on end busting virtual caps in monsters, robots and myriad other opponents wouldn't enjoy immersing themselves even deeper into the first-person shooter experience. They thirst for any opportunity to make their preferred brand of fantastic violence even more realistic, short of jumping through the screen and personally facing off against a two-headed zombie minotaur wielding an axe made of human bones.
But this time, a 46-year-old vascular surgeon from Redmond, WA has the answer to their prayers.
When he's not scrubbing for surgery or otherwise busy with his private medical practice, Dr. Mark Ombrellaro heads up a company that's paving the way for a generation of players to experience gaming in a whole new way. In 2006, he formed TN Games – the gaming branch of Touch Networks, which he founded in 2000 – in order to launch a series of cutting-edge videogame accessories that stimulate the player's sense of touch.
The company's first product is turning more than a few heads in the industry. The 3rd Space Vest made its debut during the 2007 holiday season and is steadily building a dedicated user base. The 3rd Space Vest gives players a taste of what it's like to be punched, stabbed, shot or blown apart – without the unfortunate fatal side-effects associated with the real deal – inside their favorite first-person shooter. Using a series of strategically-placed pneumatic cells located over vital organs, the vest responds to the action on-screen by delivering a swift jab to a player's corresponding anatomy whenever he's hit. It doesn't dish out actual pain, per se, but you'll certainly feel it every time foes land a blow.
From Health to "Hell Yeah"
Oddly enough, the vest was originally designed for use in the medical field. In the early 1990s, Ombrellaro was involved in a telehealth project designed to provide healthcare to inmates in a Texas prison via a long-distance AV conferencing system. Despite the use of high-tech equipment, the assistance of an on-site nurse located in the patient's cell was required. The doctor could see and hear the patient, but they still couldn't rely on physical touch to help make his diagnosis.
"The nurse would sit with the prisoner and do the physical part, but you're still one step removed from them," says Ombrellaro. "That still remains a problem with telehealth. With a remote environment type of interaction you can see and talk to someone, but you can't do a hands-on exam."
Ombrellaro came up with the idea of using a wearable interface on the patient's side that would communicate with a tactile hand controlled by the doctor remotely. The garment would allow the physician to remotely apply pressure to the patient's body while simultaneously reading the counter resistance to assist with diagnoses, he says. A few sketch designs on the concept and several years of technological advances later, the time was right to put his idea into motion.
Ombrellaro formed a team of friends, family and engineers to work on the project, and everyone agreed the device seemed buildable and workable. He obtained the necessary patents, and the team got together after hours and on weekends to chip away at building the unit. "As we're talking about it, originally it was for healthcare," he says. "At the same time I'm telling my wife and kids, and talking to these guys, everybody uniquely said, 'Well, what about gaming?'"
It's a cool concept, but a little hard to get one's head around, he recalls. The team decided to focus first on building the medical device – the more complicated of the two ideas – to make sure it worked. Ombrellaro and his team began working on the project in 2000 and had the medical vest prototype up and running by the end of 2005. Almost immediately afterward, they began developing a gaming prototype.
"Around July of 2006 I got a phone call from one of my engineers who goes, 'You're not going to believe this … get up here.' So I came up to the office and there's this thing that looks like a vest, but it kind of has a Borg look to it with hoses and wires added on," recalls Ombrellaro. After suiting up, he tested the Borg-like vest using an open-source FPS called Cube and was completely floored when he felt the unit respond when he was hit.
He looked around the room; everyone was laughing. "Is this what I think it is?" he asked. The signals causing the vest to react were coming from within the game.
"It was one of those moments where I just knew that this is like … amazing. For the first few times I was playing it, I was so caught up on what this new information I was getting was that I forgot about concentrating and got killed in the game," he says. "Then I started figuring out what the cues mean and how they can help me. I began to play the game a lot faster, more aggressively and actually trying to dodge and get away from things."
It only took a short time playing with the gaming prototype for Ombrellaro to realize he had something with immense potential on his hands.
Fast forward to the present. After a soft launch in November 2007 and a full-package release earlier this year bundled with copies of TN Games' own Incursion and Activision's Call of Duty 2 for $169, the 3rd Space Vest has enjoyed healthy sales in the U.S. and abroad. Ombrellaro expects sales to continue picking up as distribution expands through newly inked arrangements with several major online retailers. Both pack-in titles were designed with the 3rd Space technology in mind, but the vest also works with a growing number of other games thanks to mods and the downloadable 3rd Space Driver software. At present, the vest driver supports Unreal Tournament 3, Crysis, Clive Barker's Jericho, Half-Life 2: Episodes One and Two, Medal of Honor: Airborne, F.E.A.R., Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Quake 4 and Doom 3.
TN Games is working with developers to expand the number of upcoming titles that feature the integrated 3rd Space coding and other games that support use of the driver. "Our goal is to have more titles with direct integration for the deeper experience, as our company continues to add to the driver to pick up the tail end of things," he says.
Target: Anatomy
"It doesn't rumble; it gives you an impact," Ombrellaro is quick to point out about the 3rd Space Vest. The word resonates with a tone that's equally ominous and enticing.
The device looks akin to a military-style flak jacket; it's sexy in an "I'm about to get my guts pummeled" sort of way. Jungle camouflage and bright pink versions of the vest are also available for those who want to get pounded in style. Then there are the umbilical cords that power the thing. One cable runs out from the vest into your PC's USB port, and another connects the vest to an air compressor that plugs into the wall. A total of eight active pneumatic zones, four on the front and four on the back, react when information is sent to the vest from the game. The vest also differentiates between knife stabs, punches, single shots and automatic weapon fire, explosions and other impacts.
Designing the gaming version of the vest, the team put some serious thought into which areas of the body would be targeted if someone were trying to shoot you. The vest's active zones are located over the heart, lungs, kidney, liver and intestines: all the bad zones where the organs are.
Stuck Like A Guinea Pig
The first time I took a hit with the vest on was a jarring experience. After slipping on the device, my immediate inclination was to take one for the team as quickly as possible to see what it was like, and running head-first into the gun barrels of some pissed-off mutant cyborg warriors in Incursion seemed as good a place to start as any. They were quick to oblige.
The few initial pot shots that struck my nameless, faceless virtual self manifested physically as a forceful poke in the front and back of the lower left region of my gut (presumably to replicate the lovely feeling of the bullets entering in one direction and exiting out the other). It's an odd sensation that – under more intense gaming circumstances – could prove rather startling if you didn't expect it. Within seconds I was getting hit all over. I even tolerated being punched repeatedly by a daft beast simply because it provided a slightly different impact.
After dying a few times at the hands of my quasi-robotic adversaries, I turned my attention to a series of explosive barrels. Why hadn't I noticed them sooner? A few quick prods from my laser rifle elicited the response I was looking for: self-immolation. The screen was engulfed in a concussive, fiery explosion, and it felt like my entire body was being kneaded like dough.
The range of sensations continued to vary as I picked up additional armaments. My torso thumped from the recoil of higher caliber weaponry, and the kickback from a giant rocket launcher was extremely satisfying. But the best was firing a Gatling gun. My chest thundered mechanically as I sprayed a room's inhabitants with lead.
Re-sensitizing The Desensitized
Feedback on the 3rd Space Vest continues to be encouraging, says Ombrellaro. Everyone involved in TN Games plays videogames of one sort or another, and this made it easier to design the product around gamers' needs. "We started with what we want, and it's resonating with everybody else," he says, adding the real magic comes from watching hardcore gamers and new players alike enjoying the vest. "Everybody's been really excited about it."
Though the overall response to the vest has been positive, the product hasn't escaped criticism completely. Some say a gaming vest that simulates being shot or wounded takes things a bit too far in a time when violent games are already extremely realistic to begin with. Others feel bloody FPS games already desensitize youth enough; they're not terribly keen on the idea of a vest that makes the gameplay more lifelike.
Ombrellaro argues the gaming vest has a different effect on players.
The content of violent games is two dimensional, he says. Players are watching and listening to what they're doing on-screen, but there's a disconnect between their physical selves and the game environments. The vest changes this by re-introducing sensation into the gameplay. When a player is hit in the game, the vest will poke them as a consequence.
"It re-sensitizes you by making the reaction you get not just an artificial thing that means nothing to you. It puts a consequence back into the action," he says. The team has watched thousands of people play FPS games using the vest in different scenarios, ranging from a casual office setting to the home. "When you're watching people and actually taking a step back to observe how they react, their body is moving to avoid the action as they're getting hit. They're behaving subconsciously while playing this game, just like they would in real life: duck and cover. Their brain is getting the message, whether the gamer consciously recognizes it or not."
On the far opposite end of the spectrum from opponents of the vest reside the masochists. Indeed, some hardcore players who've tested the vest feel the impact is not hard enough. In response, TN Games plans to offer an upgrade pack for the air compressor that will deliver a heftier blow.
Into The Future We Roam
PC gamers can gloat for the time being, but it may not be long before the 3rd Space technology makes the jump to consoles. The vest is already console-ready, according to Ombrellaro, and the product will become available once they complete a bundle deal for a console game. He notes the console version of the vest will have wireless aspects to it.
Getting blasted in the gut isn't the only unusual experience in store for gamers in the coming year. Aside from the FPS vest, TN Games is also working on vests geared toward racing games, RPGs and other genres. The vests themselves are an impressive accomplishment, but TN Games strives to release a handful of other product variations by the end of 2008. A helmet prototype is complete and planned for release later this year as part of the extreme HXT (head and extremities) line. With the prevalence of headshots in the online multiplayer FPS gaming community, clocking noggins is bound to get a lot more exciting when the victims feel it.
The vest is the core concept for the technology, and the helmet is a fun addition, but the whole idea is to build a full suit, says Ombrellaro.
"It's just a matter of what the consumer wants, how it's going to fit into the game and trying to make it complementing as possible for as reasonable a price as we can make it," he says. "We've got a few decades of fun stuff to roll out."
Nathan Meunier is a freelance contributor to The Escapist.
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