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Running the Show
Photo credit: David Gazzo
Matthew Corozine
Matthew Corozine is celebrating 20 Years of creating Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre Inc. (MCS). With a vision for an artistic community for artists to build their craft with honor and integrity, Matthew has become one of New York City's leading Meisner based acting coaches. The space created by Corozine within his studio community, inspires and encourages students to get out of their way to build a meaningful life with art.
From acting careers on national television and Broadway to producing to writing original work for theatre and film to using their art as activism, Matthew's students have taken the transformational MCS work to become leaders across all artistic platforms.
Matthew was officially nominated for a 2015 and 2018 EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE EDUCATION TONY AWARD®. He has a BA in Theatre Arts (concentration in Acting and Directing) from SUNY at New Paltz, and continued his training in the Meisner Technique with the late great, Robert X. Modica at Carnegie Hall Studios in NYC. As an actor, he has appeared in commercials, NYC theatre productions, national tours, and independent films.
In addition to coaching at MCS, Matthew has coached on MTV's Emmy Award Winning "Made," taught acting at American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) and acting and improvisation at SUNY Purchase. He has been a guest artist teaching master classes in Meisner at SoHo House New York, SAG-AFTRA, The King's College (NYC), Texarts (Austin, Texas), Hudson Valley Improv, Actors Connection, The Network (NYC), Northwestern College (Iowa) and currently teaches ongoing monthly Masterclasses with actors in Washington D.C. (MCS-DC).
Some of Matthew's favorite directing credits include FringeNYC (THE BOYS UPSTAIRS and MISS KIM) the NYC and LA premieres Susan E. Isaac's ANGRY CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD, based on her spiritual memoir, and Terria Joseph's original one-woman show GOING THROUGH LIFE WITH NO DIRECTION (produced by Alicia Keys at 54 Below). Some of Matthew's favorite producing credits include the NYC premiere of Halley Feiffer's ITS JUST WEIRD NOW and Lia Romeo's GREEN WHALES, as well as MCS co-productions of ALMOST MAINE, THE WAY WE GET BY, DOG SEES GOD, and The Shrill Collective's productions of DRY LAND, and the original piece, "FIRSTS."
Matthew has recently published his first book: "If You Survived 7th Grade, You Can Be an Actor: Applying the Meisner Technique to Get Outta Your Head in Acting and in Life".
Matthew Corozine currently resides in Hell's Kitchen with his partner, Alain, and miniature pinscher and MCS mascot, Mimmo.
matthew@matthewcorozinestudio.com
Ryan Tofil
Ryan has trained and has been working with MCS since 2001. He has assisted on many MCS studio projects and shows and eventually started teaching the MCS' Meisner method with Matthew in 2003. Former classes taught at MCS include a preteen class as well as a writer's workshop. Ryan has also taught and directed preteens at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) and also teaches Special Education in the NYC public school system.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre at the New School University. He has a Master's in Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir at CUNY's Graduate Center. Many of his poems and theatrical works have been work-shopped and performed at MCS. Ryan co-wrote and performed in the critically acclaimed MISS KIM, THE PLAY which was produced through MCS and fringeNYC in 2010 and was reprised 2012 at 45th Theatre.
RyanTofilMCS@gmail.com
Cooper Grodin
Cooper Grodin is an actor, singer, musician, composer and and long time MCS'er! Born and raised in New York City, he received his Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Title role in Phantom Of The Opera National Tour, Les Miserables National Tour, The Bands Visit Lab directed by Hal Prince, Shakespeare In The Parks Into The Woods, Annie at Papermill Playhouse, Carbonell nominated Best Actor in the Carbonell winning Best Musical Sunday In The Park With George, Drama Desk Nominated The Golden Land, Henry Award winning Best Musical Oklahoma! at the Denver Performing Arts Center, ABC's Deception. Cooper's Original album "It's The Little Things" is available on iTunes.
@CooperGrodinOfficial
Madison Edwards
Madison Edwards is from Shreveport, LA, with a BFA in Acting from the University of Oklahoma. Assisting Matt in his classes, Madison hopes to learn firsthand how to organize and start his own studio one day. Madison is excited to be a larger part of the studio as well as a student. Putting his degree to work means the world to him, and seeing the breakthroughs people have in each class motivate him to not only play a bigger game and take risks in his own work, but to find material that challenges or relates to every single student being coached.
Isaac Byrne
Isaac has been awarded the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Direction twice and productions he has directed have been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, an Off Broadway Alliance award, 29 NYIT awards, and 6 Planet Connection Awards. NYC Credits: Other Mozart (NYIT Outstanding Solo Performance), In Vestments (NYIT Outstanding Premier of a New Play), To Nineveh (NYIT Outstanding Production), Tar Baby (DR2, PS122), 52 Man Pick Up (Ars Nova, Edinburgh Fringe), AMP (NYIT Nominated for Outstanding Performance Art), I Used to Write on Walls, and Rusalka. He has taught acting at the University of the Arts, the New York Film Academy, and the Matthew Corozine Studio.
Trevor Markanovic
Studio Administrator &
Assistant to Mr. Corozine
Born and raised in northeast Ohio, Trevor fled to New York City to pursue a career in acting and writing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from John Carroll University and has studied at MCS since July 2018. He is also an active member of the MCS Writers' Block writing group through which he has completed several projects. Trevor is excited to give back to the studio that gave him his start in the world of acting.
Melissa Mattos
Programs Director
Born and raised in Brazil, but based in Brooklyn, Melissa is a multi-faceted artist. Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dance, Melissa has an extensive dance career in and out of U.S. Melissa has also been producing and acting for 10 years, having Matthew Corozine as her current acting coach. With a vast musical theatre background, some of her favorite New York credits include Carla (In The Heights), Rent (Mimi), Cabaret (Helga), Eurydice (The Nasty Man), Urinetown (Dance Captain).
Justin Schaffner is a New York native Actor, Singer, Dancer and Voiceover Artist who has trained at MCS for a few years now. Some of his most recent credits include Bobby in 'A Chorus Line', Male Swing/Mike Teavee and Augustus Gloop Understudy on the National Tour of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', Radames' Understudy in 'Aida', Dancer in 'Sway: A Dance Trilogy' starring the Chmerkovskiy Brothers and other dancers and celebrities from 'Dancing with the Stars' and much more.
@JustinWSchaffner
Justin William
Studio Assistant
Born and raised in Brazil, Mariana Bravo started her career as a singer at the Brazilian Idols, following with Musical Theatre classes, a childhood passion. She moved to NYC in 2013 to further pursue her studies and career in the field. Some of her credits since then are Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof) and Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut (Avenue Q).
Mariana Bravo
Conor is an actor/singer/musician (among many other hats) who holds a BFA in theatre from The Hartt School in Hartford, CT. He has been a proud member of the Matthew Corozine Studio since 2017.
Conor Hamill
Ali is from Scranton, PA. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Scranton with a degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in theatre. She discovered her love for the theatre after dancing for many years and hasn't looked back since. Ali is excited to be part of this team and help spread the word about MCS! Favorite school roles include The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily Cardew), Leveling Up (Jeannie), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Schwartzy).
social@matthewcorozinestudio.com
Ali Basalyga
Luke Gilmore (he/him/his) is the Social Media Manager for the Matthew Corozine Studio. Luke is a senior Music Theatre student at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, OK. He is thrilled to use his performance and arts promotional experiences as the Social Media Manager for MCS! Luke currently resides in Oklahoma City, OK, and is originally from Parsons, KS.
Luke Gilmore


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HP laptop reviews
HP Envy 14 Spectre
Ian Morris | 23 April 2012
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Price when reviewed: £1,200
This is, without doubt, one of the most stylish laptops we've seen. While it might technically qualify as an Ultrabook, we don't really see it in that category. What it is on the other hand, is a brilliant laptop that we'd love to own. It's powerful, has some pretty epic battery life and has that beautiful, high-resolution screen. Ultrabook it may not be, but desirable laptop, it is.
Great keyboard and trackpad
Powerful sound
Glass makes it heavy
Beats is a bit overrated
No discrete graphics option
A bit pricey
What's in a name? In the case of the HP Envy 14 Spectre, a lot of really confusing nonsense. Of course, it's better than the model numbers you get with TVs, but even so it's very hard to work out what Spectre really has to do with anything - although we do understand why HP called it the Envy, because it will create some of that.
Technically, the Envy 14 is an Ultrabook, although we argue slightly on that point, becuase it's both thick and heavy. If it falls within the Intel spec for Ultrabooks, that's fine, but we still think if you buy it looking for a thin-and-light laptop, you'll be a bit disappointed. But we need to explain that in more detail, and we're certainly not trying to say the Envy isn't lovely, because it really is.
Utterly stunning design
From the first second you see the Envy, we think you'll struggle not to love it. For a start, it's unique. The body features quite a lot of glass - one of the reasons it weighs a little more than other Ultrabooks - which gives it an enormously funky exterior. We love the way the black body is given a new depth by the clear glass surface.
Of course, we don't love the way it gathers fingerprints, but even so we think it looks incredibly cool as a surface, although we're worried about how long it will last, and how durable it is. While it may not be any less tough than a normal laptop, it will look a lot worse once it gets banged around a bit. And if you do manage to crack the glass, it will look really dreadful. Still, most people are careful with their laptops, so that's unlikely to be a problem, and HP also includes a neoprene travel wallet in the box.
Also included is a travel-sized power adaptor. This might not be quite as small and chic as Apple's charging solution - Magsafe is incredibly useful - but it is a compact unit that is easy to carry around.
The keyboard is the now ubiquitous island-style affair. It's very good and although the keys don't have a lot of travel to them, they are quite large, and as such typing is very easy indeed. The keyboard is also backlit, which, while hardly new, does make using the machine in subdued lighting much more pleasant.
The trackpad deserves a mention too. It doesn't have a glass cover - presumably Apple has a patent that prevents anyone else doing that - but the surface of the pad is very low resistance. That means scrolling with it is very easy indeed, and we loved using it. Easily one of the best trackpads we've used on a laptop in a long time.
Connectivity is good, but not amazing. There are two USB sockets, one of which is 3.0 capable. For your display needs, there is both DisplayPort and HDMI, which strikes us as a bit of a waste of space, given that 99 per cent of people are going to just stick with HDMI.
There is also a red headphone socket, which is part of the Beats Audio branding and you'll find Ethernet here too, with a compact socket, which pulls down slightly to allow a network jack. An SD and MMC card reader finishes off the sockets, and does so in a useful way. We struggle with laptops that don't have an SD card reader included these days. To complement the Beats headphone jack, there is a volume wheel, this is small and recessed into the body of the laptop. It is, however, easy to adjust. There is also a dedicated mute control, and a button which loads the special Beats control panel. It is here that you can adjust the sound of the laptop in quite some detail.
It might be a pointless little effect, but we also love the glowing HP logo. Not just because it glows, but because when it's not glowing, the logo looks silver. We just think that's quite clever, because the logo looks good when the machine is off, as well as when it's on.
The only thing we don't like, design-wise, is the way the laptop is festooned with various logos. The red Beats "b" is to be found in three places, with a fourth instance of the full "beats audio" trademark on the top left of the screen. When you add these to the HP logos and the names of the product, which are scattered here and there, it's quite a busy machine for logos and such.
We have honestly never seen a drive set-up as complicated as the one provided in the Envy. At the most basic level, there are two separate drives here. One for your system, the boot drive, and a second for your data - which is named as such.
The boot drive is then split into a hidden system partition - standard in Windows 7 - the 100GB boot drive, which houses Windows, and all your programs. Then there's the inevitable recovery partition, which eats 15GB but will allow you to restore Windows should anything go wrong.
And to finish off, there are two more partitions for HP Tools and the hibernation area, where your in-progress work is kept when the machine is sleeping.
Most of these partitions won't trouble you, and most aren't actually visible, but it does seem like a very complicated set up, and one that uses a lot of disk space that you could be using for other things. Having said that, it's Microsoft's annoying lack of Internet install that means recovery has to be done from a hard drive. Apple has the right idea here; we'll just have to hope Windows 8 allows for cloud restore.
One nice touch is the inclusion of a wireless audio system, which allows you to stream music wirelessly. There isn't really, as yet, a standard for music streaming about the home. HP here is using a system called "KleerNet". There seems to be quite limited harware available, but it would be nice to see more devices offering a way to send music around the home.
Of course, Apple has this licked with Airplay on its devices, and that functionality also works on PCs, via iTunes, or other more hacky methods.
Big round of applause for HP here for including a 1600 x 900 resolution screen in the Envy. This extra resolution gives everything a boost, and makes you feel like you're looking at a very high-end machine - which it is, of course.
The screen has a reflective cover. Given the glass used all over the case of this machine, to have a matte screen would have been outright weird. But, outside, in bright sunlight, the reflections become bothersome. You have to boost the backlight to see anything at all, and that means your power consumption is going to go through the roof.
Still, for most things, that built-in screen is gorgeous.
We certainly have no complaints with the Core i5 processor or the 4GB of included memory. This isn't a top-end spec, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's certainly a decent enough machine for day-to-day computing.
We check the UK and US websites for the Envy, and it seems our US cousins have better configuration options than we do. Ideed, the second drive we mentioned earlier doesn't appear on the UK site, leaving us to wonder if we have a US spec laptop. This sometimes happens with review samples, and we have asked HP to clarify for us.
However, the machine is powerful enough to cope with everything except games. Sadly, the lack of discrete graphics means this isn't a laptop for the Battlefield 3 lovers of the world.
We did check 1080p video playback from our Plex media server, and we're most pleased by the results. It's best to put the laptop in the high-performance power profile first, but with this done playback was flawless with almost incredible amounts of detail in the images. This is no doubt thanks to that epic screen, which we love.
It's nearly impossible to give an accurate picture of battery life because it depends so much on the profile you use, the brightness of the screen, and what you're doing.
HP claims there's as much as nine hours of battery life to be squeezed from the Envy. While we're a little wary of that claim, we have to say that we really did find the battery in the machine pretty epic. Five hours is easily achievable, depending on what you're doing. We found that the energy-saving profiles slowed the machine down to the point where it was just useful for writing. But for a lot of people, that's what they want to do.
If you are like us, then you'll likely leave the laptop on, while you do other thngs. It is here that you'll see good savings, as the machine is pretty clever about turning the screen off to save juice. It uses a special motion detection sensor to tell when you're in front of the laptop, and when you've gone to the fridge to scoff a bit of cheese - it's a working from home thing.
Praise the lord, HP has finally managed to strike a balance between providing useful software and annoying nonsense that fills up your hard drive. Here you get two full years of Norton internet security, which is well worth having, even if Microsoft's free service is just as good. You also get Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements thrown in, for good measure.
We honestly wish all laptops had such good bundled software, and the HP should get some credit for providing things that people will actually use.
What HP seems to have done here is make a terrific laptop that plays by its own rules. It's too big and heavy to really be called an Ultrabook and it's really expensive too, especially considering how much cheaper the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Series 5 Ultrabooks are. But the HP has something that most laptops don't have these days: it has the appeal of premium features, and interesting design.
We love the display, and seeing higher resolutions on laptops has to be applauded in the wake of the iPad 3. The keyboard and trackpad are both excellent, and make using the machine a pleasure. Audio too, is pretty impressive, it's certainly loud and very, very clear from the built-in speakers. Beats, at least in this area, makes a difference worth having. We aren't so sure when it comes to headphones though - both sets we tried sounded empty and lacked much range.
Honestly, it's a lot of money to spend on a laptop, but HP has sweetened the deal with Beats Audio, the impressive screen and epic battery life. Connectivity is a little average for a normal laptop, but good for an Ultrabook and there's everything here you could need, including Ethernet and HDMI.
In terms of cool, it's a toss-up between this and the Dell XPS 13. Of course, they're both useful in different ways, but it's hard to decide which machine we'd rather spend our grand-and-a-bit on.
Sections HP Laptops

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Are you in need of a new roof? A new roof can update the look of your property while also providing you with safety and shelter from all of Australia's harsh elements. Slate is an especially great option for your roof, as it is both good-looking and durable, providing you with both style and functionality. But slate can be tricky to install, especially if your roof has an unusual shape or other special needs.
Luckily, there's Trinity Roofing, a group of experienced roofing professionals who specialise in slate roofing in Hunters Hill, Drummoyne, Five Dock, Strathfield, and Ashfield. With over thirty years combined experience in the business and a range of projects under their belts, Trinity Roofing's staff are experienced in slate roofing and will take on any project, no matter how challenging it might seem at first. They provide both an extensive range of beautiful slate products and friendly installation and repair services. For your slate roofing in Drummoyne, Five Dock, Strathfield, Ashfield, and Hunters Hill, Trinity Roofing has you covered.
Slate is an attractive and sturdy choice for your roof that will protect you for years to come. Trinity Roofing carries a large supply of slate roofing in a wide range of choices so you can achieve the perfect aesthetic for your property. Some of their offerings include genuine Canadian Glendyne slate, Penrhyn slate from Wales, and even high-quality secondhand Welsh slate. They also carry a range of accessories for your slate roofing from copper clouts to slate tools to decorative finials, and much more.
Trinity Roofing specialises in slate products and slate installations, making them leading professionals when it comes to slate roofing in Five Dock, Strathfield, Ashfield, Hunters Hill, and Drummoyne. If you want to start from scratch, they can replace your existing roof with a beautiful, brand new slate one. Or if your existing slate roof needs a little maintenance, they can easily fill it in with their slate products to maximise functionality and give you a more finished look. They can even complement your non-slate roof with slate accents to give you a unique and modern look. Whatever you need when it comes to slate, Trinity Roofing can take care of your slate roofing in Strathfield, Ashfield, Hunters Hill, Drummoyne, and Five Dock.
Trinity Roofing has installed slate roofing on buildings from homes to government buildings. They even installed slate roofing on the University of Sydney's campus. Trinity Roofing has experience installing slate roofing on buildings of any shape and size, meaning there's no installation they can't complete. Their installation service is always quick, professional, and within your budget, so you get the best quality all around.
Additionally, they provide maintenance and repair services to keep your slate roofing in Ashfield, Hunters Hill, Drummoyne, Five Dock, and Strathfield looking great and functioning well. Repair services include valley and broken slate replacements, remixing slipped slates, and rebidding ridge cappings. No matter what you need, Trinity Roofing provides experienced and qualified slate roofing professionals.


The dogs listed here are dogs who are in need of a new home but are not actually available for adoption through Family Dogs New Life shelter. These dogs belong to individuals who are no longer able to keep them.
This is just our way of helping dogs find their way to a new life when we are not able to take them into our care. These dogs have not been evaluated by Family Dogs staff.
If you are interested in adopting one of the dogs listed here please contact their person directly.
If you have a dog that you are looking to re-home and you would like us to place them on our website please send us an email.


Google unveiled its flagship Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones during its annual Made By Google hardware event earlier this week. Pre-orders for the new handsets are available now, with the first units shipping November 1, 2018.
Given this smartphone is brand spanking-new, we wouldn't expect much in the way of stellar deals or discounts out of the gate. However, the TechRadar team has managed to sniff-out an exceptional Google Pixel 3 deal which we have listed below.
The Pixel 3 pre-order deal comes courtesy of Mobile Phones Direct and offers unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 100GB of mobile data. And best of all, there's absolutely nothing to pay upfront.
The monthly cost is £45 – which isn't shabby for a flagship smartphone that hasn't even hit high street stores yet. The deal is on O2's mobile network and comes with all the usual bells and whistles, including access to Priority rewards, which bundles free coffees and first dibs on gig tickets. Click here to go straight to the deal.
If you'd rather opt for the 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL, there is an exclusive deal for you, too. There's still no upfront fee for the brand-new handset, and the same unlimited minutes and texts. The deal, which also includes 50GB of mobile data, will set you back £58 a month and can be purchased by clicking here.
Both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL boast bigger displays and smaller bezels than their predecessors, improved Portrait Mode, and a wide-angle front-facing camera, so you never need use a selfie stick ever again.
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL also feature a redesigned HDR+ shooting technology to enhance photos taken in low-light conditions. There's also an AI-powered Top Shot function that takes a series of pictures in the background every time you press the shutter button and suggests the best-looking snap. Google says the feature should put an end to those unsalvageable shots where one of your group is blinking.
Both flagship handsets will ship with the latest version of Google's mobile OS, Android 9.0 Pie, as well as IPX8 dust and water protection.
T3 got our hands on the Pixel 3 during the launch event this week, and you can read our unadulterated thoughts on the new handset in our Pixel 3 review.


We are citizens of the greatest nation the world has ever known. Some are jealous of our greatness, others are thankful for it. But what made America rise above every other county in history in greatness?
Was it our vast reserve of natural resources? No, Africa has far more natural resources than we do yet it is a desperately poor continent. Is it our form of government? No, numerous countries have instituted our form of government and yet failed to prosper as we have. Is it free enterprise? No, numerous Eastern European countries have tried free enterprise and have not excelled. So just what has made America the greatest nation on earth?
In a word, God. Liberals would have us believe that America was founded to be "God-neutral" and a multi-cultural society. They teach that America wasn't founded by Christians, but by "faith neutral" deists. This simply isn't true. But, rather than claim America was founded on the Bible by Christians, this booklet reviews the very words of the Founding Fathers themselves.


Deon Simon Week 21 projected points and position rank. Standard scoring defined as: Tackles + Sacks * 2 + Interceptions * 2 + Fumbles Forced * 2 + Fumbles Recovered * 2 + TD Returns * 6 + Safeties * 2 + Passes Defended. Subscribe to see projections for all players!
Deon Simon week 21 fantasy football projections. Assisted tackles counted as 0.5. Subscribe to see projections for all players!
Deon Simon of the Green Bay Packers is ranked # in our 2018 rest of season rankings.
The bye week for Deon Simon and the Green Bay Packers in 2018 is Week 7.
Deon Simon stats and fantasy value. Standard scoring defined as: Tackles + Sacks * 2 + Interceptions * 2 + Fumbles Forced * 2 + Fumbles Recovered * 2 + TD Returns * 6 + Safeties * 2 + Passes Defended.


Why use promotional flags for business?
Why use promotional flags for business and what are the key benefits or drawbacks?
Promotional flags have grown in popularity over the last 10 years, especially in the retail, public service, charity and event sectors. This article explores why the demand for promotional flags continues to grow and the key benefits or drawbacks of introducing them into a business.


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Tag: 800m
Can Italy do it?
Francescsa Schiavone is representing Italy in the Olympics as London 2012 finally starts to get in it's stride. As proud Italians, we're keen to see where else we can excel – it may well be that we are all celebrating with Francesca and her Olympic team-mates when the runners come around the final bend of the 800m…
Women's 800m
Janeth Jepkosgei may no longer have it in her legs to sustain her bold front-running style that won her the 2007 world title, while young Kenyan pretender Winny Chebet has much work to do if she is to translate her Nairobi high altitude form to the chill of Europe at sea level.
Pamela Jelimo, the Olympic champion and world indoor champion, dominates the rankings with her 1min 56.76sec clocking in earlier this month, which she backs up with the 1:58.48 that she ran to win the Kenyan title from Chebet and Jepkosgei. Continue


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Rep. Hunter Asks President Trump to Intervene in Court-Martialed SEAL's 'Irrationally Harsh' Prison Conditions
U.S. Navy prosecutors accuse the decorated Navy SEAL of premeditated murder for the stabbing death of an injured ISIS fighter who they estimate was about 15 years old. He has denied the charges
By Christina Bravo and Bridget Naso	• Published January 9, 2019 • Updated on January 14, 2019 at 8:41 am
San Diego Rep. Duncan Hunter wants President Donald Trump to intervene in the prison conditions of a decorated Navy SEAL who faces court-martial on charges in connection with the death of a young ISIS fighter in Iraq.
Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher is being held at Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar on charges of premeditated murder for the May 2017 stabbing death in Mosul, Iraq of an injured ISIS fighter who they estimate was about 15 years old. He is also charged with aggravated assault for shooting Iraqi civilians.
Gallagher pleaded not guilty to all charges on Friday.
The special-ops chief has been held in the Miramar Brig since Sept. 11, when he was arrested at the Camp Pendleton Intrepid Spirit Center, but Hunter says his pre-trial confinement conditions are not appropriate for "an American war hero who has served 19 years."
In a letter to President Trump, Hunter claims that Gallagher's prison conditions are "irregularly harsh" and are affecting his right to legal representation.
"Chief Gallagher has been forced into general population which consists mostly of convicted sex offenders and pedophiles," Hunter wrote in his letter.
A spokesperson for Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar said there is no evidence that any of Gallagher's court proceedings have been delayed due to his confinement.
He said for all of the claims raised in Hunter's letter, the brig has been in compliance with their policies and national standards.
Per Navy policy, Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar is used by all four branches of the armed services and the Coast Guard as a confinement and correctional facility for both pre-trial and post-trial prisoners, the spokesperson said.
san diego rain 2 hours ago
Hunter also claimed Gallagher and his lawyer "are forced to speak with their client in rooms that allegedly have cameras, guards and most likely microphones."
A spokesperson for Navy Consolidated Brig Miramar denied Hunter's claim.
"There are no cameras or listening devices (i.e., microphones) in the attorney - client rooms. The attorney visit; however, may be observed by a correctional specialist from outside the room," the spokesperson said.
Read Hunter's full letter below:
Gallagher's attorneys have argued that the Naval chief should await trial at home but a judge ruled on Thursday Gallagher will not be released to await trial.
Hunter has strongly defended Gallagher and last week said the chief's case should be dismissed. He said in a statement that "no credible evidence has been provided that this ISIS fighter was murdered as opposed to dying from his terrorist actions."
The Navy has previously outlined its evidence, including cellphone photos that show Gallagher holding up the head of the deceased fighter during a reenlistment ceremony.
Prosecutors also presented evidence that they say shows Gallagher tried to bribe fellow SEALs to not talk about the incident to NCIS investigators.
The defense argues Gallagher was turned in by his subordinates because he was too tough on them.
Gallagher has served 19 years in the U.S. Navy and more than 14 years as a Navy SEAL, his attorney said.
In 2017, Gallagher was ranked as the top SEAL chief, and his platoon was ranked as the top SEAL platoon, the website said.
During his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal twice, an Army Commendation Medal, and nearly a dozen other decorations.
If convicted on the most serious charge, Gallagher could face life in prison.
San DiegoAttorneyheadspokespersonIraq


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Export milestone for UK's only espresso machine manufacturer Fracino
LONDON, UK – Birmingham espresso coffee machine manufacturer Fracino is poised to further expand its global reach after securing UL certification to meet stringent...
New initiative set to boost Jamaican coffee exports to EU, spur growth
Desk3 - February 8, 2022
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A new initiative to help boost Jamaican coffee exports to the European Union (EU) was launched at a high-level event, which...
Caffè Vergnano presents City Line, a new range of products for the retail market
TURIN, Italy — Caffè Vergnano presented a new range of products dedicated to the retail export segment: the City Line. The City Line includes...
Colombian coffee production rises 2.5% in first two months of the year
BOGOTA, Colombia – In the first two months of the year, Colombian coffee production reached 2.4 million bags, 2.5% up from the 2.3 million...
Usda Gain Report pegs Brazilian crop for 2018/19 at 63.4 million bags
SÃO PAULO, Brazil – USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - ATO/São Paulo revised production upward five percent from the record Brazilian coffee crop for Marketing...
Colombian coffee production down 2.8% in August, says National Federation
According to the National Federation of Coffee Growers, Colombian coffee production reached 1.3 million bags of 60 kilos in August, or a 2.8% decrease...
Usda Gain Report lowers estimate for Vietnam's 2017/18 coffee crop
FAS/Vietnam estimates Vietnam's marketing year (MY) 2017/18 coffee production at 29.3 million bags, about 600,000 bags lower than the USDA estimate of 29.9 million...
Coffee exports from Uganda down 9.3 percent during the month of April
Coffee shipments from Uganda, Africa biggest exporter of the commodity, fell by 9.3% on year during the month of April to 295,194 60-kilo bags,...
Uganda's coffee industry is trying to increase its share in the world market
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Yemen's national emblem depicts a relief of the Marib Dam, Yemen's greatest manmade feature—and a coffee plant, Yemen's most storied natural resource. This is...


CHIPPEWA TWP. --�To Darlene Martin of Chippewa Township, the little book of Polish prayers tells a heartwarming story about her father, Frank Opalinsky. Even if she can�t read a word of it.
During the week, Frank�s hands made steel at the Crucible plant in Midland. On Sunday mornings, he led the family in a rigid routine. Mass at 9:30 a.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Beaver. Same pew. With Frank wearing the same blue suit jacket.
Like the rest of the parishioners, he stood and knelt on cue. But while everyone else recited the requisite readings from the missal, Frank reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out his Polish-language prayer book and gently cradled it in his rugged, calloused hands. Then he read softly aloud from its yellowed pages.
Darlene, who spoke only English, watched in wonderment.
Titled �Raj Duszy� � meaning Paradise of the Soul � the book is a collection of prayers written by Biernat, a Polish poet and physician. Originally published in about 1510, it�s one of the first to be printed in the Polish language by perhaps Poland�s first known author.
About the size of your average smartphone, Frank�s version � printed in 1946 in the U.S. by Catholic Book Publishing � remains in good shape despite years of page-turning. Stuffed inside are colorful remembrance cards from funerals he attended over the years.
�I like to think he prayed for each of those people at every church service,� Darlene said.
One of those remembrance cards reads, �In Loving Memory of Frank Opalinsky,� who died at the age of 75 in 1992, when Darlene was 26.
When Frank died, Darlene and her four siblings had a big decision to make. Of course, they knew their father had to be laid to rest in his blue suit jacket. But would they reach into the pocket and save the prayer book from becoming a buried treasure?
Today, Frank�s little book of Polish prayers has a fitting, final resting place in Darlene�s jewelry box. She still can�t read a word of it, and neither can her husband and their two kids. But it sure tells them a heartwarming story about Darlene�s father.
If you have a personal memento that you would like Tim Wesley to feature in this column, email a photo and a brief description of its personal significance to Community Editor Tom Bickert at Tbickert@timesonline.com. Please include a phone number.


Burnley is a thriving market town surrounded on all side by breath-taking Pennine countryside. Isn't it time you took another look?
Many places claim to be just moments from the countryside, but in Burnley that statement is true, within five minutes of the town centre you will find yourselves surrounded by our glorious moorland countryside with panoramic views and gallons of fresh air.
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» Why are Comments from Achieve, Inc. all over Arizona's Redline version of the ELA and Math Standards?
Why are Comments from Achieve, Inc. all over Arizona's Redline version of the ELA and Math Standards?
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas, whose campaign promise was to "eliminate the Common Core standards," issued a Dec. 19, 2016 Press Release to the public stating, "These new standards represent the final step in the repeal and replacement of Common Core in Arizona and they reflect the thoughts and recommendations of thousands of Arizona citizens."
Nowhere does she mention the role that Achieve, Inc. played in reviewing and commenting on Arizona's "Redline" versions of the English/Language Arts (ELA) standards, the K-5 Math Standards, and the 6-8 and High School Math Standards. You will find literally hundreds of comments from this organization, more than from anyone else.
The "Redline" versions immediately preceded the December 2016 Final Drafts that were approved by the Arizona State Board of Education on Dec. 19. See Arizona State Board Approves Rebrand of Common Core Standards and State Board of Education Ignores Governor, Parents, and Own Policy; Rubber Stamps Common Core for Another 7 Years.
Achieve, Inc. had no problem recognizing and commenting on Arizona's so-called "replacement," standards, because they were virtually identical to the Common Core standards that Achieve, Inc. helped write back in 2009/2010. For those who aren't familiar with Achieve, this is the Washington, D.C. group that, in 2009, partnered with the National Governors Association (NGA) and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to develop the Common Core State Standards. A number of Achieve staff and consultants served on the writing and review teams.
Common Core standards were never tested in real schools anywhere, and were written mostly by academics and assessment experts—many with ties to testing companies. Achieve was a major beneficiary of the Gates Foundation and not only oversaw the writing of the Common Core State Standards, but also formed one of the two consortia of states that crafted standardized tests aligned to the Common Core. See What is Achieve, Inc., and Why Should you Care"? and History of AZMerit.
Should you want to review and compare the old Common Core with the Redline and Final versions, they are pretty easy to follow, because the coding is identical throughout. For example, in the Kindergarten English/Language Arts (ELA) standards, K.RL.1 = K.RL.1; K.SL.1 = K.SL.1; K.W.6 = K.W.6, etc. Here are the original Common Core ELA Standards, which Gov. Jan Brewer renamed without any changes, to Arizona's College and Career Ready Standards. Here is the Redline version. Here is the "Final" version of Arizona's ELA Standards.
In your opinion, were the "new" standards written by Arizonans? Were the Common Core standards repealed and replaced? Have you compared any of the old standards with the new? If yes, do you see anything substantive, or do you think they've been "tweaked"? Is Superintendent Douglas telling the truth?
Arizona Math and English Language Arts Standards
Who wrote the Common Core Standards? The Common Core 24
Duke Pesta on Common Core: Six Years Later
Opt Out AZ! Empowering Parents to Opt Out of AZMerit
Opt Out AZ! Facebook


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Восточная тиркушка (Glareola maldivarum) — вид птиц семейства тиркушковых.

Вид распространён в Южной и Восточной Азии. Ареал вида простирается от Северного Пакистана на западе и российского Забайкалья на севере до Индонезии. Зимует в тропической Азии, Новой Гвинеи, Австралии, Новой Зеландии и некоторых островах Океании (Палау, Соломоновы острова, Вануату, Новая Каледония). Залётные птицы наблюдались в Европе, Африке, на Аляске и Дальнем Востоке.

Впервые данный вид описал немецкий путешественник, ботаник и зоолог Иоганн Форстер в 1795 году. Второе описание принадлежит Радде Г. И., который нашёл гнездование тиркушек в 1856 году в Приаргунье, в 26 километрах от Абагайтуя, и этот факт послужил основанием для внесения тиркушки восточной в каталог птиц России.

В русской орнитологической литературе достоверные упоминания об этой птице встречаются дважды: в 1856 (обнаружена гнездовая колония в Забайкалье) и 1947 году — одиночная птица была встречена в Приморском крае в районе залива Посьет, позднее были зарегистрированы встречи с отдельными особями в середине и конце XX века.

Тело длиной 23—25 см, размах крыльев 58—64 см, масса 59—95 г. Редко встречающаяся в России, иногда гнездящаяся птица. Внешне похожа на степную тиркушку. Отличается чёрными кроющими перьями крыльев второго порядка и каштановой нижней стороной крыльев, более мелкая, короткий (короче, чем у луговой) и менее вырезанный хвост. Совместно с луговой тиркушкой не встречается.

Живёт на открытых территориях, таких как луга, пастбища, поля, и водно-болотных угодьях (болота, реки, озёра, солончаки, затоплены рисовые поля). Питается насекомыми и различными беспозвоночными. Размножение происходит с апреля по июнь. Гнездо представляет собой неглубокую ямку на земле. В кладке 2 или 3 яйца. Период инкубации длится 17—19 дней.

Занесена в Красную книгу России. От сходного вида — тиркушки луговой отличается тем, что тело у этой птички мельче, окрас перьев темнее, второстепенные маховые перья не имеют белого окраса, хвост менее вырезан и короче, чем у родственных видов.

Относится в России к крайне редкому залётному виду, встречается редко и нерегулярно в Южном Забайкалье, как правило, это встречи с одной или двумя птицами, крайне редко наблюдались небольшие группы. Имели место случаи залёта птиц в Южное Приморье.

По новым данным на северо-востоке Приморья птица зарегистрирована в 1969 году (бухта Благодатная). Встречались, как правило, одиночные особи, реже — две или три птицы в Читинской области, в разных регионах Южного Приморья, на Камчатке.

В октябре 1987 года состоялось Третье Всесоюзное совещание по куликам с созданием Рабочей группы по куликам (РГК), было сформировано Бюро и организовано ежегодное издание в связи с ошибками и большим количеством публикаций сомнительных материалов, в которых сообщалось об обнаружении того или иного вида в России. Сообщения базировались на визуальных наблюдениях, а не на коллекционных экземплярах. Фаунистическая комиссия обобщила результаты научных сведений за последние восемь лет и пришла к выводу, что «уникальная находка» восточной тиркушки в Узбекистане на озере Каракыр не может приниматься в научном мире, так как не оформлена документально и не подтверждена фактическим материалом, поэтому могла стать ошибкой, поскольку визуальное наблюдение может представлять собой вид обычной степной тиркушки, присутствующей в данном регионе.

Примечания

Животные, описанные в 1795 году
Тиркушковые
Птицы Азии

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #379: Taylor Everett 0
Taylor Everett - Louisville, KY, Independent Mayoral Candidate, 2022
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, and a Louisville Resident Since 2011, Taylor moved to Pittsburgh, PA, at the age of 4 and lived there through high school. He graduated From the University of Louisville with a bachelor's in Marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship. Taylor believes his life has presented him with challenges that many Louisville residents face daily, which uniquely qualifies him to relate to their concerns and motivates him to fix them. With first-hand experience of chronic health issues with his wife and daughter, as a very young parent, losing a parent due to alcohol, and divorced parents, who personally have been on government-sponsored programs WIC and CCCC, Taylor started a division of a business that focuses specifically on how the government buys goods and services. I hope to continue making Louisville a place where businesses and residents thrive!
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #378: Bill Dieruf 0
Bill Dieruf - Louisville, KY, Republican Mayoral Candidate, 2022
Mayor Bill Dieruf is in his 12th year as Mayor of the City of Jeffersontown, where he has overseen a police department, public works, an economic development authority, parks and recreation, and all other city services. He instituted the WOW customer service approach to city operations that he used during 35 years operating Dieruf Hardware, the longest-operating family-owned business in Jeffersontown.
Mayor Dieruf has had many accomplishments during his three terms as Mayor. He used his business acumen as an accountant to eliminate Jeffersontown's $17 million debt.
He renegotiated the debt, paid it off 11 years early, saved $1 million in interest, and did not raise taxes to do it.
Mayor Dieruf served as president of the Kentucky League of Cities for two years, including during the pandemic in 2020.
That year he visited almost 200 cities across the state, helping his fellow mayors navigate the complicated process of filing for CARES Act funding that kept those communities financially sound.
Before he served at KLC, Mayor Dieruf was president of the Jefferson County League of Cities for five years and remained immediate past president.
In addition, he serves on the Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency board and is the organization's past chairman.
For 12 years, he has been a board member of GLI and the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce and has served on the Campbellsville University Visitors Board of Directors since 2011.
Mayor Dieruf was a member of Leadership Louisville's 2020 Bingham Fellows class that studied the Digital Divide, concluding it is imperative that affordable Internet access, training, and hardware be available to all Louisville households so all residents can thrive.
A native of Louisville, Mayor Dieruf was raised in the Hikes Point neighborhood and graduated from St. Xavier High School.
He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky.
Mayor Dieruf and his wife, Jody, reside in Plainview. They have a daughter, Jennifer, son-in-law Ben, and two grandsons.
Mayor Dieruf says his grandsons are one of the reasons he chose to run for Louisville Mayor because he wants to make sure our city is where they will be proud to call their home.
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #377: Craig Greenberg 0
Craig Greenberg - Louisville, KY, Democratic Mayor Candidate, 2022
Craig is a proud Louisvillian, husband, father, entrepreneur, and community leader who believes in thinking big, working hard, and making things happen.
Craig has spent his career turning dreams into realities and will bring that energy to building a Louisville that works for every family.
Craig, an attorney by training who went from Jefferson County Public Schools to Harvard Law School, helped start and build a Louisville-based company, 21c Museum Hotels, which grew to more than 1,100 team members. 21c received international recognition and helped revive Main Street in Louisville and other urban neighborhoods across the country.
Craig has also led other transformative, historic preservation projects that have driven Louisville's downtown revitalization, including 111 Whiskey Row, which was nearly destroyed by fire.
No matter how great, the desire to solve problems will be at the core of Craig's effort to build a stronger Louisville.
Craig has leadership experience enacting reforms for good government and transparency.
As a member of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees, Craig led the effort to hold the former University President accountable for inappropriate financial dealings.
While on the University Board of Trustees, Craig also spearheaded a successful effort to stop a proposed 5% tuition increase for students.
Craig has also served as the Chairman of the March of Dimes' March for Babies and on the boards of Metro United Way and the Louisville Jewish Community Center.
Moxie Moments #35: Mary Haynes - Best Advice 0
MoxieMoments brings you Mary Haynes', President and CEO, Nazareth Home, the best piece of advice.
Moxie Moments #34: Joe Heron - Defining Moment 0
MoxieMoments brings you Joe Heron, Co-Founder-Copper & Kings American Brandy Company, explaining his defining moment.
Moxie Moments #33: Delanor Manson - Defining Moment 0
MoxieMoments brings you Delanor Manson, CEO-Kentucky Nurses Assoc., Retired U.S. Navy Captain & Owner, Koi Gallery, telling us about her most defining moment.
Moxie Moments #32: Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr - Feeling Misunderstood 0
MoxieMoments brings you Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, to discuss being misunderstood.
Moxie Moments #31: Summer Auerbach - Best Advice 0
MoxieMoments brings you Summer Auerbach, Second Generation Owner, Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods, giving her best piece of advice and her thoughts on leadership.
Moxie Moments #30: Caleb Kilburn - Defining Moments 0
MoxieMoments brings you Caleb Kilburn, Master Distiller, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., explaining his defining moments of adulthood.
Moxie Moments #29: Angela Burton - Contributions to Humanity 0
MoxieMoments brings you Angela Burton, Founder of Feet-to-the-Fire Writer's Workshops, on her contributions to humanity.
Moxie Moments #28: Governor Steven L. Beshear - Unforeseen Leadership 0
MoxieMoments brings you Governor Steven L. Beshear, 61st Governor, Commonwealth of Kentucky (2007-2015), providing insight into unforeseen leadership challenges as a governor.
Moxie Moments #27: Nina Moseley - Leadership Philosophy 0
MoxieMoments brings you Nina Moseley, Chief Operating Officer, Wayside Christian Mission, informing us her leadership philosophy.
Moxie Moments #26: Steve Cunanan - Driving Force 0
MoxieMoments brings you Steve Cunanan, Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross – Kentucky Region, explaining his driving force.
Moxie Moments #25: Angela Leet - Best Advice 0
MoxieMoments brings you Angela Leet, CEO at QSR Automations & Metro Council Member 2014-2018, who chats about her best piece of advice.
Moxie Moments #24: John Asher - On Churchill Downs 0
MoxieMoments brings you the late John Asher, Former-Vice President of Racing Communications, Churchill Downs, telling us about the allure of Churchill Downs.
Moxie Moments #23: Ingrid Hernandez - Defining Moment 0
MoxieMoments brings you Ingrid Hernandez, President & Creative Director, Ingrid Design, telling us about her defining moment.
Moxie Moments #22: Jeff Walz - Best Advice 0
MoxieMoments brings you Jeff Walz, Head Coach, University of Louisville Women's Basketball, and his best piece of advice.
Moxie Moments #21: Heather Howell - Biggest Triumph 0
MoxieMoments brings you Heather Howell, Director of Global Innovation & Trademark, Jack Daniel's Family of Brands, telling us about her biggest triumph and best piece of advice.
At the time of our taping, Heather was Director of Innovation, Brown-Forman Corporation.
Moxie Moments #20: Paul Hornung - Life Influences 0
MoxieMoments brings you Paul Hornung, 1956 Heisman Trophy Winner and former Green Bay Packer, chatting about the biggest influences in his life.
Moxie Moments #19: Whitney Austin - Redefining Failure 0
MoxieMoments brings you Whitney Austin, Director & Co-Founder of the Whitney/Strong Organization, telling us how she redefines failure.
Moxie Moments #18: Greg Galiette - Biggest Triumph 0
MoxieMoments brings you Greg Galiette, President of Louisville Bats Baseball Club, Inc., telling us about his biggest triumph.
Since Sept. 1984, Greg has served 35+ years with the Louisville Redbirds, Louisville RiverBats, and now Louisville Bats. He has held roles as diverse as now Senior Vice President, Assistant General Manager, Marketing Director, Sponsorship Sales Director, Promotions Director, Sales Manager, Group Sales Manager, Redbirds Ticket Manager, Redbirds Public Address Announcer & Director of the 1991 & 2008 AAA All-Star Games held in Louisville.
During this time frame, Greg even did a stint as the Louisville Riverfrogs Hockey Club's Assistant General Manager & owner from May 1995 to May 1997. Before his career in professional sports, he was an Account Executive with the Xerox Corporation from 1983-1984.
In 1983, Greg received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Louisville, with a major in Marketing, is a 1978 graduate of Eastern High School in Middletown, KY.
Greg is married to his lovely high-school sweetheart Kelly, & they have two beautiful twin children, Erika & Anthony; & as of this interview, Erika is with the Cincinnati Reds, & Anthony is with HUMANA working as a Cyber Security Analyst.
Moxie Moments #17: Robbie Bartlett - Life Influences 0
MoxieMoments brings you Robbie Bartlett, Band Leader of the Robbie Bartlett Band, talks about the greatest influence in her life.
Moxie Moments #16: Tom Jurich - What Drives You 0
MoxieMoments brings you Tom Jurich, Former-Vice President and Director of Athletics, the University of Louisville, on what drives him.
Tom Jurich cites his motivation to do things right and see results as he leads athletic programs at the University of Louisville.
Since 1997, Tom has made a permanent mark at the University of Louisville by leading an athletic department that has enjoyed tremendous athletic and academic accomplishments. In 2003, Tom began his run as vice president at U of L.
Under Tom Jurich, the Cardinal athletic teams have produced unparalleled success in multiple sports. Louisville's 2012 – 2013 year marked the first time any university has ever won a BCS level bowl game, placed both its men's and women's basketball teams in the NCAA Final 4, and reached the baseball College World Series in the same season.
CBS Sports ranked Cardinals Athletics among the top three nationally for the past three years. Tom and his wife share U of L's prestigious Hickman-Camp Award and he was named Louisville magazine's Person of the Year in 2007.
He resides in Louisville with his wife, Terrilynn. They have four children and several grandchildren.
EFFECTIVE OCT. 2017, Tom Jurich was relieved of his duties as the Athletic Director of University of Louisville Athletics
Moxie Moments #15: Summer Dickerson - Stand For 0
MoxieMoments brings you Summer Dickerson, Founder of Women of the Well Ministry, discussing what she stands for.
Summer Dickerson was a victim of child abuse, sexual abuse & a victim of human trafficking which led to pain, gang violence, sexual torture, drug addiction, mental health illness including PTSD. She was even buried alive and pistol-whipped. While living with and in constant fear for her life, not to mention unrelenting anxiety, Summer was, in her words, delivered through a relationship with Christ.
Now it is her calling to work with women that are in similar situations and lifestyles. So much so, she has now founded a Ministry called Women of the Well Ministries which has a Residential Program to help women change their lives so they can walk in the destiny God created for them.
She is also the business owner of a company called Esther's Soap Company which allows women in her Ministry learn a new trade on how to make all-natural goat milk soap. All proceeds go back to the ministry.
She has a documentary out & is working on a book.
Moxie Moments #14: Tawanda Chitapa - Influencers 0
MoxieMoments brings you Tawanda Chitapa,, Zimbabwean Immigrant & American Healthcare I.T. Expert, Mentor, and Soccer Fanatic, telling us about their perception of influencers.
Tawanda is the System Director Business Intelligence, Clinical Value & Healthcare Analytics at Norton Healthcare, with oversight of a team of analysts that use business data, computer techniques & statistical methods to provide insight into business performance & suggested areas of & ways of improving operations. Tawanda joined Norton Healthcare in 2015. Before joining Norton healthcare, he helped implement the Epic EMR (electronic medical record) systems in consultant roles for numerous healthcare organizations, including Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, Sutter Health in Sacramento, California, the Univ. of Miami in Miami, Florida, Lahey Health System in Boston, MA, Inova Health in Virginia, Premier Health in Dayton Ohio, & San Diego Children's Hospital in San Diego, CA. He began his career as an Implementation Specialist at Epic Systems in Madison, WI. Tawanda is a highly active member of the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Louisville YMCA, is a Board Member for Volunteers of America Mid-states & a Board of Trustees for the Speed Art Museum. Tawanda Chitapa holds a bachelor's degree & an MHA, BOTH from W. KY. Univ. Tawanda enjoys watching soccer, exploring sights around the city, and indulging in every foodie experience he can find around Louisville. He lives in Louisville with his son Isaiah and is a native of Zimbabwe, but today an American immigrant success story!


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Research Fellowships hiked by more than 50%
Harini Barath
Posted on Dec 24, 2014 in Policy, Funding and Research
Thousands of researchers have joined hands online and on the ground to secure a large increase in stipend. Students welcome the news, even as the negotiations continue…
Poster representing the HIKE Fellowship movement
The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced a 55% hike in fellowships for 15 schemes in the first week of December 2014. The UGC is the second body to increase fellowships — the Department of Science and Technology (DST) increased stipends for young scientists by roughly 60% this October. These fellowship hikes have been granted after a year long, concerted campaign by research scholars across the country, who connected and collaborated largely through social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
"Hundreds of research students across India have put their efforts into the movement to make it a success. In the beginning, we were not sure of the outcome, but we believed that the Government would listen if substantial number of students actively joined hands," said Anindita Brahma, a graduate student from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. The numbers are indeed substantial — more than 27,000 people have extended their support to the cause via Facebook and Twitter. The organizers effectively used these platforms not only to keep the momentum going, but also to connect and actively follow up with funding agency representatives and Ministers from concerned Departments, thus hastening the process.
The students welcomed the announcements from DST& UGC. "It is a reasonable increase. Even though it is less that what we demanded, it is higher than what many expected," said Pankaj Jain, the academic secretary of the IISc Student Council, which has spearheaded the campaign. PhD students funded through DST will now receive Rs 25,000 per month, up from Rs 16,000, and research associates and postdocs will now be paid Rs 40,000 per month, an increase of Rs 16,000. "This is a good move for science. Higher salaries will enable us to retain more people who are interested in science and not lose them to more economically attractive jobs," said Sarita Gupta, Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, MS University of Baroda.
What remains a sore point however, according to Jain, is the date of implementation. While the DST stipends will come into effect retrospectively from October 1, UGC is yet to confirm the date of implementation. Previous increases (the last one was four years ago) have been granted retrospectively from April of the corresponding year, and many students, especially senior PhD students expect the same this time around. Intense negotiations are on to sort the matter out.
Meanwhile, researchers now hopefully await similar news from other departments and funding bodies including the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and others, which fund large numbers of research scholars across the country. They also await clarity on several fellowships for minorities, and fellowships for IITs, NITs, IISc and IISERs. Efforts are also on to negotiate an annual increase in pay. "There is no point of a one-time increase, until the next protest," said Supriya Khedkar, a PhD student at the National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore.
Physicist turned science writer. I enjoy writing about interdisciplinary research and interviewing scientists about science and careers in science.
Unaddressed demands remain after research fellowship hike
Anjali Vaidya on Apr 15, 2015
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With a maximum horizontal reach of 21' and vertical reach of 22'6", the 2160 outperforms conventional ditchbank mowers, and is ideal for mowing pond embankments, levee or drainage ditches, or cutting overhanging limbs on fence rows. The 2160 is available as a 540 or 1000 RPM. It features a 60" cutting swath and 1/2" x 4" updraft blades for a clean cut. Hydraulic breakaway, plus a reinforced boom and mower head, and a 60 gallon oil capacity for cooler operating temperatures help assure optimum performance and reduced downtime.
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*A Protective Cage is required for use on non-cab tractor applications and may require some tractor modifications.
Gearbox ratings based on field performance.


Send yellow mokara to fill your loved ones day with the sunshine! These stunning bright mokara mean joy, friendship, gladness, and delight. Bright yellow mokara in a vase is formed a lively bouquet. We select 12 stem mokara to create this long lasting bouquet.


text:
Q: Apply regular expressions on a specific column in Pandas I have a dataset with columns tweetID, tweet-text, RegExp1, RegExp2, RegExp3, RegExp4 and a list of 4 regular expressions.
I want to apply regular expressions one by one on tweet-text column, if tweet-text satisfy the regular expression then I want to set value to 1 in corresponding RegExp column, and if it does not satisfy then I want to set it to 0.
For example, suppose tweet-text satisfy regular expression number 1 then I want to set corresponding RegExp1 columns's value to 1, and does not satisfy regular expression 2 then I want to set corresponding RegExp2 column's value to 0 and so on. I tried the code given at the end, but it didn't worked for me.
My dataset look like
tweetID | tweet-text         | RegExp1 | RexExp2 | RegExp3 | RexExp4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
10001   | to get it or?      |         |         |         |
10333   | I just wonder :)   |         |         |         |
10933   | is it possible dude|         |         |         |
14633   | he is good at      |         |         |         |

code:
 `regexes = [
    re.compile('i asked .* said'),
    re.compile('you asked me what .*'),
    re.compile('(to get|to see|to look|is it true|is it possible) .*'),
    re.compile('I .* wonder .*')
]
for regex, i in zip(regexes, range(4)):
    columnName = "RegExp"+str(i+1)
    for row in df['tweet-text']:
      if(regex.search(row) != None):
        df[columnName] = 1
      else:
        df[columnName] = 0`

(use of pandas will be preferred)thanks

A: You can use str.contains inside a loop. You'll need to pass the regex pattern (not a compiled regex object).
This is what I'm starting with:
In [1062]: df.head()
Out[1062]:
   tweetID            tweet-text    RegExp1    RegExp2    RegExp3 RegExp4
0    10001   to get it or?
1    10333   I just wonder :)
2    10933   is it possible dude
3    14633   he is good at

In [1063]: regexes = [
      ...:     'i asked .* said',
      ...:     'you asked me what .*',
      ...:     '(?:to get|to see|to look|is it true|is it possible) .*',
      ...:     'I .* wonder .*'
      ...: ]

Next, run a loop for each regex pattern. Call str.contains and assign the result to each column in turn:
In [1090]: for i, r in enumerate(regexes):
      ...:     df['RegExp%d' %(i + 1)] = df['tweet-text'].str.contains(r).astype(int)
      ...:

In [1091]: df.head()
Out[1091]:
   tweetID            tweet-text  RegExp1  RegExp2  RegExp3  RegExp4
0    10001   to get it or?              0        0        1        0
1    10333   I just wonder :)           0        0        0        1
2    10933   is it possible dude        0        0        1        0
3    14633   he is good at              0        0        0        0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


For most of my life, I have struggled with getting enough sleep. When I tell people how little I sleep, they are complimentary. They generally see that it is the reason I am able to be a CEO and still read so many books. I consider myself a high-functioning insomniac because most people are not able to tell when I am tired.
There are numerous ways to improve your sleep habits, but recognizing whether you have a sleep issue is the first step.
That's quite a list. And you could easily add more in the comments.
So how about you? Do you sleep well or struggle? Do you think it is a leadership and performance issue?
So, what to do? There are numerous ways to get more sleep. I have plenty of experience with most of them. Before I share my list, I wanted to learn from you. Help me out. Share your tips on how to get a good night's rest in the comments or send me an email, tweet, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn comment.


text:
Daniel Attias (Los Angeles, 4 de dezembro de 1951) é um diretor de cinema e de televisão americano que dirigiu filmes e seriados como Miami Vice, Silver Bullet, Beverly Hills 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos, Alias, CSI: Miami, The O.C., Lost, House e Heroes.

Ligações Externas

Cineastas dos Estados Unidos
Naturais de Los Angeles


I am very happy to announce pre-conference sessions for SQL Saturday Chicago 2018. We were fortunate to receive many submissions, and after careful deliberation the following were selected.
Pre-conference sessions will take place on Friday, 16 March 2018. You can find out more about the sessions, pricing, and register using the above links.
If you haven't already registered for SQL Saturday, taking place on Saturday, 17 March 2018, registration is also open for that, however we are currently filling a wait list. Registering for a pre-conference session will allow you to bypass the waiting list.
Stay tuned for more SQL Saturday Chicago updates, and I hope to see you there!
SQL Saturday Returning to Chicago in 2018!
I'm very happy to announce that registration is now open for SQL Saturday Chicago 2018! This year we have a new and larger location! Our event will take place at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL on Saturday, March 17, 2018.
If you're not familiar with SQL Saturday, it's a free day of training for data professionals, covering a wide variety of topics relating to database administration, database development, business intelligence, and professional development. It's also a wonderful opportunity to network. Registration for the event itself is free, with an optional lunch provided for $15.
Our call for speakers is also open – please submit your session(s) by 25 January 2018! We are always looking for new presenters. One of the founding principles of SQL Saturday is to develop new community speakers, so if you've ever wanted to present at an event like this, please consider submitting!
Our call for pre-conference sessions is also open! If you are interested in delivering a pre-con, please email abstracts directly to sqlsaturday719@sqlsaturday.com. Pre-conference session abstracts will be accepted until Friday 22 December 2017 at 5:00pm CST.
I hope to see you all in March!
We also were the first SQL Saturday to use the new logo, which is just one part of the major rebranding project undertaken by PASS last year.
At PASS Summit 2016, PASS announced several new logos as part of it's rebranding campaign. There were new logos for PASS as a whole, SQL Saturday, 24 Hours of PASS, PASS Summit, and Business Analytics. In general they're not terrible. I actually really like the new PASS logo. The old one just never made sense to me. Was it a St. Andrew's Cross spider on top of a storm warning flag? (Since Sharknado was a hit, a movie about a hurricane full of spiders is a guaranteed blockbuster, right?) If there was any symbolism behind that old PASS logo, I've never heard it.
The new PASS logo, on the other hand, has a nifty story behind it. It's all the different facets that make up PASS coming together into one. I like that.
But then there's the new SQL Saturday logo.
SQL Saturday's new logo is much more refined than it's predecessor, and it's very evident that a lot of effort went into these new logos and this rebranding as a whole. That being said, I think the new logo falls short in a few key areas.
Second, the typeface used in the new logo is much more modern, and the letters are significantly thinner than the old one. It looks great on a computer screen or when printed on paper, but think about what SQL Saturday logos are used for. In a lot of cases they are embroidered on things like shirts or jackets. Did whoever designed this logo know that? Once again I'll assume they didn't, otherwise they probably would have accounted for that.
The smaller a detail is, the more difficult/expensive it becomes to embroider, and this logo definitely qualifies. Just look at the PASS logo located inside the SQL Saturday logo. It's microscopic. We had to use a bolder typeface for the speaker jackets we gave out in Chicago this year; it just didn't look good otherwise. We also had to make it single-color, and remove the gradients. But by making all those changes, we technically changed the logo, which has become a big no-no in recent years. The SQL Saturday Wiki states: "Per the SQL Saturday license, the event logos provided to you by PASS are not to be altered in any way." So if changes are necessary to be able to embroider this logo, but it can't be altered in any way, does that mean organizers will have to run afowl of the license agreement? Or just do away with speaker shirts altogether? I don't know, and I'm not sure there's any way to tell.
Presenting at SQL Saturday Madison 2017!
Spring is upon us! It's slowly getting warmer outside (with a few final insults of snow and freezing temperatures mixed in) and that can only mean one thing: SQL Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin is fast approaching – it's actually this Saturday! I'm very proud to once again be on the schedule to present at one of my favorite SQL Saturdays. Not only is it relatively close to home for me, but the University of Wisconsin-Madison makes for a wonderful venue!
My presentation is entitled "Supercharging Your Backups and Restores For Fun and Profit", and covers the various methods that can be used to increase the speed of SQL Server database backups. You may be familiar with query tuning, but did you know that backups and restores can be tuned in a similar way? This demo-intensive session will discuss the different phases of the backup and restore processes, how to determine which of them are the slowest, and which are the easiest to speed up. Cutting backup and restore times by 75% or more is entirely possible by using the methods covered in this session.
SQL Saturday Chicago 2017 Schedule Posted!
SQL Saturday Chicago 2017 is fast approaching!
After receiving a total of 131 abstracts submitted by 64 speakers, we're pleased to announce our schedule for the day. Thank you to all who submitted! Building a schedule like this is not easy, especially given the number and quality of abstracts received.
Join our waiting list for a chance at a spot. As the event nears, LOTS of people find they are unable to attend and cancel their registration. As this happens, we pull from our waiting list in the order that people signed up for it. REGISTER HERE for our waiting list – the sooner you do, the greater your chance of getting a spot!


text:
15 January 2019 - 11.01 AM
Budapest Airport closes another record year in 2018
New terminal among plans
Double-digit passenger traffic growth in 2018 saw some 14.9 million passengers at Budapest Airport, making it the fastest-growing airport in the Central Eastern European region. Solid growth is the basis of the airport's long-term development plans, which envisage investment of EUR 700 million in infrastructure in coming years, including a new terminal building.
Ferenc Liszt International Airport handled 14.867.491 arriving and departing passengers last year, almost 1.8 million more than in 2017, up 13.5 per cent. Air traffic increased in 2018 by 12 per cent to an annual 115,028 take-offs and landings, thanks to better utilisation of aircraft with higher load factors.
The airport offered 134 destinations in 121 cities in 48 countries by 45 airlines in 2018. The aviation connectivity of Hungary has never been so extensive. Last summer was special in that for the first time four direct trans-Atlantic routes were available, with LOT Polish Airlines flying to New York and Chicago, Air Canada connecting to Toronto, and American Airlines offering daily flights to Philadelphia. While LOT continues to fly during winter, Air Canada and American Airlines will return in summer 2019 with daily flights.
Not only long-haul routes exceeded expectations but all segments of aviation performed well. Qatar Airways introduced a daily flight with a wide-body Airbus A330 on the Doha-Budapest route, and added two narrow-body connections a day through Qatar during the summer peak season. Wizz Air and Ryanair also grew their networks significantly; the two airlines carried almost 49% of the airport's total traffic in 2018. EasyJet, Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines also had more passengers.
In 2019 the number of new destinations is expected to grow further. LOT will open daily two flights to London City Airport in February, Transavia will fly to Nantes, Ryanair will have Cork, Cagliari (Sardinia), Bari and Seville in the summer and China Eastern is expected to confirm a new flight from Shanghai to Budapest from June.
The share of non-Schengen traffic grew from 35 per cent to 37 per cent in 2018 in Budapest, so the opening of Pier B serving these flights was a timely investment.
The new Cargo City, a 20,000-square-metre warehouse area, will be handed over this year.
Budapest Airport CEO Jost Lammers said: "Our infrastructure investments go hand-in-hand with the growth of both passenger traffic and cargo volumes. The new 10 000-square-metre Pier B handed over last year has largely increased the comfort of our passengers flying to and from the non-Schengen destinations."
"We are planning a whole new series of investments into the airport infrastructure by the year 2024 ranging up to EUR 700 million, including the design and construction of a brand-new terminal building next to the existing Terminal 2. This year we will hand over the new Cargo City of 20,000-square-metre warehouse area that will better serve the needs of the Hungarian export-oriented economy and the logistics companies behind them."
Budapest Airport has already launched a program of internal improvements at both Terminals 2A and 2B in the last two years to increase passenger comfort. In the first half of this year two more world-class passenger security lanes will be installed; washrooms, lounges and passenger waiting areas will be refurbished, enlarged or their capacity increased.
The airport invested more than HUF 145 billion into developing and modernising in the last 12 years. The flagship project was the construction of a new central terminal building called SkyCourt connecting Terminal 2A and 2B with state-of-the-art passenger security control and baggage systems.
City 'destruction would end'
How Austria-Hungary contributed to the dream factory


Sami appeared on the world radar thanks to impressives video part with the Pirates. As the perfect punk skater kid from Finland, Sami is always sending it no matter how big and scary the spot.Even if he mostly rides rails, Sami isn't an exclusive urban rider. His skills on jumps combine with a fearless state of mind to make him a worldwide well respected euro ripper.


Pro Qen Albania is an Austrian Society, helping primary the stray dogs (and cats) in Shkodra.
JETA Tier und Mensch, a Swiss association that helps stray dogs in Durrës and Fieri / Albania.
Hotel Graçanica - Swiss Hospitality, Comfort and Design, 20 minutes from the center of Prishtina.


text:
Humanity and Culture
Things That Matter. Pass 'Em On. Upworthy supports Climate Summit 2014
He invited drug users into his lab. What he discovered is changing what we know about addiction.
A comedian went on TV and viciously insulted a fellow comedian. Here's her eloquent response.
Here are a few brilliant ways cats are secretly helping their owners live healthier lives.
Let's dig in to some truly eyebrow-raising theories about aliens.
Curator: Mrill Ingram
He offers an incredibly refreshing take — because he works from experience that few other scientists have.
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What were you taught about drugs?
GIF via Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
Remember hearing about how even just trying an addictive drug once would mean you were hooked for good?
GIF via The Meth Project.
Well that's what Columbia University professor Carl Hart learned in school too.
So imagine his surprise when his own research into drug addiction revealed something very, very different.
Working with others, Hart revisited some long-standing research on lab rats that showed that rats would self-administer drugs until death. He learned that rats that live in sterile cages with nothing else to do chose to take drugs until they effectively committed suicide. But those offered alternatives to drugs — like sweets or some hanky-panky — often chose the alternatives. In other words, the addictive behavior was caused by the environment, not some attribute of the drug itself.
Then Hart did something unusual. He invited human drug users into his lab. He set up an experiment where he offered regular meth users a choice between drugs or money.
When presented with an attractive alternative ($20), even people who regularly use a drug like meth still chose the alternative.
GIF by jgmarcelino/Flickr.
Clearly, we need to change how we think about what drugs do to our brains.
Most drug users are not addicts, Hart says. Not even close.
So, why do people keep taking drugs, even when side effects are so damaging?
It's how people end up with lives of crime and poverty, right? Wrong.
Hart grew up in Miami, in a neighborhood where he saw and experienced a lot of drug use and crime. He went to school in order to understand drug addiction and to try to stop the crisis of drugs driving people into a life of crime and poverty. But now he believes most users are not addicts; they are recreational users. He's also shown that if people have good alternatives to drugs, they will choose the alternatives most of the time. So the "cycle" of drugs, crime, and poverty isn't really a cycle.
Drugs are a symptom of a society where people don't feel they have good options, Hart theorizes. They aren't the cause.
"What I now know is that the drugs themselves are not the real problem. The real problems are: poverty, unemployment, selective drug law enforcement, ignorance, and the dismissal of science surrounding these drugs." — Carl Hart
The real injustice here, Hart wants us to understand, is that even though most users are white, over 80% of people convicted of drug crimes are black. 1 in 3 black males can expect to spend time in prison. Whites? 1 in 20.
This issue is of paramount importance to Hart. He's personally invested as a scientist, but also as a father. Hart knows his two sons are especially vulnerable in a society where black people are targeted by police in the enforcement of drug laws and where drug policies severely punish even occasional users as if they were serious criminals.
This is the kind of thinking — and science — that U.S. drug policy really needs.
He shares lots more good ideas in this talk at TEDMED.
Let's quit abusing drug users
Carl Hart, TEDMED 2014
There are some things you should know about me. I grew up in the hood in Miami. I came from a poor family, from a community where drug use was prevalent. I kept a gun in my car, engaged in petty crimes, used and sold drugs. But, I also stand before you today a professor at Columbia University who studies drug addiction.
So I know what you're wondering. How in the world did I get from there, to here?
The fact is...on the streets of South Florida, where my family lived…on the wrong side of the tracks, the wrong side of the poverty line, and sometimes on the wrong side of the law...I should have been dead or in jail before my 17th birthday.
Fortunately, a few key decisions changed my life course. After high school, I join the Air force. Joining the Air Force started me on the path to higher education and I ultimately earned my PhD in Neuroscience.
I decided to study Neuroscience specifically because I wanted to fix the drug addiction problem. You see, I fully believed that the poverty and crime that my community faced was a direct result of crack cocaine. So, I reasoned, if I could cure drug addiction, I could fix the poverty and crime in my community.
We were told, and I fully believed, that crack cocaine was so addictive that a user only needed one hit and they were hooked. So, in 1986, when congress passed laws punishing crack cocaine 100 times more harshly than powder cocaine, I thought that was quite appropriate. After all, 16 of 20 congressional black caucus members voted for this legislation! I thought it sent a clear message to crack dealers and users in places like my old neighborhood – we won't tolerate you destroying our community!
But, I was unprepared for what I would learn as I made my own contribution to understanding the neuroscience of drug addiction. And, what that meant for how I viewed the role of drugs in the poverty-and-crime cycle.
I first began to question my thinking when I discovered that drugs like crack cocaine are not as addictive as I had been told. There is no drug in which one hit will make you an addict. The data clearly show, 80-90% of people who use drugs do not have a 'drug problem'! They are responsible members of our society. They are employed; they pay taxes; they take care of their families. And in some cases, they even become President of the United States (show photo of last three U.S. Presidents). All three of these men reported using illegal drugs when they were younger. The point is not to tarnish the reputations of these men -- they all served their country. My point is that their drug use did not result in an inevitable downward spiral leading to debauchery and addiction. And the experience of these men is the rule, not the exception -- the overwhelming majority of drug users are not derelict addicts.
The basis for the "one hit and you are hooked" idea comes from experiments done in the 1960s and 70s. Laboratory animals - when allowed unlimited access to drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine – will press a lever repeatedly to receive intravenous injections until it kills them. These early experiments confirm drug-seeking-until-death. But, that is not the whole story.
The cages of these animals, in the experiments I just mentioned, only contained a lever that led to intravenous drug injections – nothing else. The most interesting part to me, however, was what happened when the animals were presented with a choice between the drug lever and non-drug alternatives such as toys, sexually receptive mates, or sweet treats. When given any other option, animals do not self-administer drugs until death. In fact, animals will often choose non-drug alternatives over drugs!
In my own lab, I followed up on these findings using human participants. We recruited 'crack addicts' from the streets of NYC. By the way, my use of the term addict conforms to the DSM definition of substance use disorder. And, importantly, we met all necessary human subjects and regulatory requirements before initiating these experiments.
We brought crack users into the lab and offered them $5 cash or a hit of crack worth more than $5. We repeated this many times with each person over several days in the lab. The drug users chose the drug about half of the time, and the $5 the other half. Even a nominal amount of money was enough to deter them from taking the drug at least half of the time. Not exactly the insane, "anything for a hit" behavior that I had been taught crack addicts would display.
Then, we recruited methamphetamine users and conducted the same experiment. The MA users also chose drug about half of the time and $5 about half of the time. Next, we raised the cash reward to $20. When $20 was the alternative to MA, the users never took the drug. They always chose money. Just like the animals – when given an attractive alternative, even people diagnosed with drug addiction did not choose drugs. Stated another way, attractive alternatives decrease drug use! This is definitely not the result I expected when I set out to 'solve the drug addiction problem'.
Since my time in the hood, I had always viewed the plight of my family and community through the lens of "those bad drugs". I perpetuated the narrative that drugs were the problem. So you can imagine my shock and confusion as I started to uncover evidence that crime and poverty are mostly independent of drug use. Crime was present in poor communities well before crack cocaine hit the streets. And, annual FBI crime statistics show that the overwhelming majority of prisoners are not intoxicated or addicted during the time of their crime.
As I think back over my family situation growing up – it is clear that my family was poor before drugs ever entered the picture. And I certainly engaged in petty crime but it had nothing to do with drug addiction –it was about money and status. In other words, if you take drug use out of the equation, crime and poverty still exist.
It is not drug addiction driving people to commit crimes; it is other factors.
To make matters worse, drug laws are not uniformly enforced across all parts of our society – and this perpetuates the cycle of poverty and crime. The popular view is that people in poor, black communities use crack cocaine, while powder cocaine tends to be used in white communities with more resources. Federal laws passed in 1986 & 1988 established punishments for crack cocaine possession 100 times more harshly than powder cocaine. Scientifically, this makes no sense. Crack and powder cocaine are the same drug; and they both have predictable pharmacological effects -- as the dose of either is increased, so are the effects on blood pressure, heart rate, euphoria, addictive potential, you name it. It is true that the effects of smoking crack cocaine tend to be more intense than swallowing or snorting powder cocaine– but that increased intensity is due to route of administration, not the drug itself. Injecting powder cocaine dissolved in water produces nearly identical intense effects as smoking crack cocaine.
And, those same laws require a minimum prison sentence of at least 5 years for people caught with even small amounts of crack, but not so with powder cocaine. But here is the injustice -- 80% of the people convicted under these laws were black, despite the fact that most users of all forms of cocaine are white. This kind of selective targeting and racial discrimination contributes to the horrifying statistic that one in three black boys born today is projected to spend time in prison. The same number for white boys is about one in 20.
So, what do we do about this? We can do at least three things that will have an immediate positive impact. First, my research shows that attractive alternatives can decrease drug use. Because meaningful employment is one of the most attractive alternative reinforcers, providing viable economic opportunities will go a long way in decreasing drug abuse.
Second, I believe we should decriminalize all drug possession offenses. This means treating drug possession like a traffic violation. One might be required to pay a fine if caught with illegal drugs, but would not be subject to criminal prosecution. When you consider that each year we arrest 1.5 million people for drug law violations, and 80% of these arrests are for simple possession – decriminalization of possession would have a huge effect.
Countries, such as Portugal and the Czech Republic, have already decriminalized drugs. Rates of drug use in those countries are similar or better than their EU neighbors. But under decriminalization, significant portions of their citizens are not stigmatized, marginalized, and unfairly incarcerated.
If our goal in the US is to have a fair and just legal system that treats all portions of our society equally, then we must change the criminalization and selective enforcement of drug laws.
Third, I believe science should be driving our drug policies, even if it makes us feel uncomfortable. The first step is being honest about drug use. We can dramatically decrease the number of people who die from recreational drug use. How? Better education. Real education campaigns that teach people how to prevent drug overdoses instead of histrionic and inaccurate "This is your brain on drugs" images.
Here's one simple example: 75% of heroin-related deaths occur because heroin was combined with another sedative such as alcohol or a benzo. Educational/Public Health message – IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE HEROIN DON'T COMBINE IT WITH A SEDATIVE!!
People have always used drugs and will continue to use drugs. We need to learn to live with this fact. Our society already takes this approach with other potentially dangerous activities such as sex and alcohol and even driving.
I've come a long way from the mean streets of Miami. And I've come an equally long way from that starry-eyed young man who wanted to eradicate drugs as the best way to solve crime and poverty.
Today, I no longer want to eliminate drugs – that would be naïve.
Please don't misunderstand me; I still want to help people with drug problems. Equally important, I also want to keep safe recreational users who don't have a problem because they make up the majority of drug users.
What I now know, however, is that the drugs themselves are not the problem.
The real problems are poverty, unemployment, selective drug law enforcement, ignorance and the dismissal of science that surrounds these drugs. As a scientist, I am doing my best to lessen the ignorance by disseminating the science. I hope you will join me.
There may be small errors in this transcript.
Carl Hart presented this talk at TEDMED. Thumbnail by Psychonaught/Wikimedia Commons.
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