text:
Posted on November 27, 2017 by Lee Jay
Terrorists, Victims, or Both? The Children of ISIS Return
by Abigail R. Esman
Special to IPT News
They learn to count by attending public lashings. By the age of 9, they know how to use a gun, make a bomb, and torture prisoners. They have been raised to know that Allah hates the infidel, and rewards those who kill unbelievers, the men and women living in the West. They are the children of ISIS. And now Europe prepares for their arrival.
With the fall of the Islamic State, countries across the globe anticipate the return of so-called "foreign fighters," those who joined ISIS and its jihad from outside its strongholds in Syria and Iraq – about 6,000 of them from Europe, America, Australia, and elsewhere in the West, according to 2015 figures. And among them are an unknown number of young children, some of whom traveled there with their parents, others who were born there.
Because the Islamic State prohibits birth control, and because birth certificates issued there are not recognized in the rest of the world, it is impossible to know how many children might now try to enter European and other countries, and whether they are legitimate citizens by birth. The first task, then, will be for governments to do DNA testing to ensure that these children are in fact the progeny of the men and women who travel with them. Only then will the children be allowed entry.
This, however, is the easy part. The bigger question is, what happens next?
No one seems to know. Across Europe, officials and child care workers debate the best options for handling children who have been traumatized by war, children who may have committed acts of war themselves. Should they be punished as hardened terrorists, or counseled, as the victims of trauma? These are children who have witnessed beheadings, and have even taken part in them. They have watched men and women die, and they have killed them. Their friends may have blown themselves up, child suicide bombers for Allah. Girls may have been raped; in the Caliphate, 9-year-old girls are considered ready to marry, and can therefore be forced into marriages to much older men.
How difficult their transition will be can be found even in their drawings and their dreams, as reporters for RTL France discovered. One child RTL interviewed described one of his drawings: "someone who slaughters a Daesh [Islamic State] man, but also an Islamic State fighter who beheads someone and then crucifies him. A helicopter with the Syrian flag flies over the war scene." The boy then added, "I dream of decapitated people."
Hence many Europeans argue that most, if not all, of these young children are terrorists. Others insist they are merely victims. In truth, like other child soldiers, they essentially are both. But unlike other child soldiers, they enter a world that they have been trained to see as not as home, but as their enemy. They are the injured animals in the wild, needing care and nurturing, but dangerous and capable of attack.
Most of the adults returning from the Islamic State to Western countries are arrested at the border, leaving many of the children without a parent who can provide the nurturing or discipline they need. Government officials hope extended family members will take in these children.
But what if nobody is willing? Already, they have been taught that Westerners are the embodiment of evil. Now Western adults have taken away their mothers, their fathers, leaving them abandoned.
Psychiatrists generally agree that the sense of rejection this induces can increase a child's likelihood of aggression. Moreover, according to a Dutch government report "these minors have undergone a program of deliberate desensitization to atrocities…. As a result, [they] may be more willing to engage in violence."
One Belgian mother who returned from Syria with her child told RTL France: "These children are no longer children. They have lost their innocence. In their eyes, they have only hate."
Yet Omar Ramadan, director of the Dutch Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN), and a consultant to the European Commission, cautioned in a recent e-mail, "There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this complex issue. We have to be flexible and adapt our approach depending on the situation." While some of these children may have committed terrorist acts, others simply were born to parents who were members of ISIS themselves. In those cases, he said, "we must acknowledge that children cannot be held accountable for the crimes of their parents."
While some, like Daniel Koehler, a family counselor in Stuttgart who serves on the George Washington University Program on Extremism, call for gentle treatment of these youth through social work interventions and deradicalization programs, others, such as Belgian Minister of Justice Koen Geens, view them as a danger to be dealt with forcefully by law. "Minors who decided on their own to fight in Syria and Iraq will be treated as terror suspects on their return," he told the Belgian press. "Children who went with their mothers and are not radicalized will be seen as minors in danger." But 60 percent of the Belgian children in the Caliphate were born there. And these, he said, represent a danger to the state, "for they have been indoctrinated with the ISIS doctrine."
But the parents, Ramadan told Dutch NOS TV, are not capable of properly raising these children. That means the Dutch government should intervene, even if the parents are not imprisoned. Children should then be placed in therapy and deradicalization programs as needed, thereby potentially heading off their further radicalization. Such a solution, he warned, would neither be easy nor foolproof. "But is there an alternative?" he said. "Not really."
Some question whether it will succeed at all. A recent report from the Soufan Center, which advises governments on intelligence and security issues, suggests serious challenges, particularly in the case of "rehabilitation and reintegration" programs, since "most returnees were never integrated in the first place… and the majority of early efforts have stuttered or come to a halt." Working with these children is likely to run into similar, if not more difficult challenges: many do not speak the language of their parents' home countries. According to the values with which they have been raised, women walking the streets without a full veil must face beatings.
Moreover, none of this addresses the future potential threat of children who do not return (or enter) through official channels, or who may try to reach Europe later, once the focus has waned and governments are no longer as attentive. "Not arranging the return and re-socialization of [these] kids now may mean that they return unnoticed in due time," Ramadan warned. He fears that there will be no way to monitor and deradicalize them once they do. They ultimately could forge the greatest terror threat Europe has ever faced.
Consequently, "this is something that needs to be addressed now, immediately," Ramadan said. But the West seems only to be stumbling through the dark. It is, after all, a situation we have never seen before. There are no templates. There is no history. We can only search for answers somewhere in a place between compassion and fear, lost in the haze of all we do not know. And time is running out.
Abigail R. Esman, the author, most recently, of Radical State: How Jihad Is Winning Over Democracy in the West (Praeger, 2010), is a freelance writer based in New York and the Netherlands. Follow her at @radicalstates.
https://twitter.com/TheIPT Investigative Project on Terrorism twitter account
https://www.investigativeproject.org/6949/terrorists-victims-or-both-the-children-of-isis
Europe, Geopolitics, Middle East, Terrorism
Tagged Abigail R. Esman, child fighters, Daniel Koehler, Dutch Radicalization Awareness Network, European terror threats, foreign fighters, Investigative Project on Terrorism, ISIS, Koen Geens, Omar Ramadan, psychological trauma, treatment vs. punishment


We've had the privilege of designing a Royal Marine Wives & Girlfriends Calendar to raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.
They wanted to do something to cheer the boys up and so thought what better than a cheeky photo to remind them of what they were missing at home – it was here that the calendar was born!
For the 2013 calendar we've also been involved in the design and print of Business Cards, Po-up Banner design, Letterhead design and Poster design to advertise the calendars.
Please keep visiting the website www.rmctf.org.uk/ for all the updated calendar news. You can also find them on Facebook (search Royal Marines WAGs Calendar 2012) and Twitter @RMWagsCalendar.
To date the Royal Marines Wives and Girlfriends Calendars has raised over £9,000 for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.


Especially keep a look out for SUVs and Minivans with dark window tint. They may be lazy parents hiding a child in there.
And if you are one of those crazy freerangers who does @#$% like this on purpose and you are going to argue with me on this (and Arlington County) have the balls to include your name, license plate number and kids ages.


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Q: Is it valid to bind non-const lvalue-references to rvalues in C++ 11?(modified) I know in c++03, an an non-const reference cannot be bound to rvalues.
T& t = getT(); is invalid, and in c++11, we can do this: T&& t = getT();  but what about the above code, should that work in c++11?
I tested the codes below with vs11:
 Foo getFoo() {
  return Foo();
}

void fz(Foo& f) {
}

int getInt() {
  return int();
}

void iz(int& i) {
}

int main() {
  {
    Foo& z = getFoo(); //ok
    fz(getFoo()); //ok

    int& z2 = getInt(); //error: initial value of reference to non-const must be an lvalue
    iz(getInt()); //same as above
  }
}

Foo is a custom class, I don't understand why the first two line compiles.The temporary referenced by z is destructed at the end of the inner scope of main. Does the standard say anything about this?
class Foo {
public:
  Foo() {
    std::cout << "constructed\n";
  }
  ~Foo() {
    std::cout << "destructed\n";
  }
};

I just saw a similar question: One VS2010 bug ? Allowing binding non-const reference to rvalue WITHOUT EVEN a warning?

A:
should that work in c++11?

No, it should not.

Foo is a custom class, I don't understand why the first two line compiles

It compiles only with MSVC. MSVC has an (arguably useful) compiler extension that allows binding lvalues of user-defined types to rvalues, but the Standard itself forbids this. See, for instance, this live example where GCC 4.7.2 refuses to compile your code.

Does the standard say anything about this?

Indeed it does. Per paragraph 8.5.3/5 of the C++11 Standard:

A reference to type "cv1 T1" is initialized by an expression of type "cv2 T2" as follows:
— If the reference is an lvalue reference and the initializer expression

— is an lvalue (but is not a bit-field), and "cv1 T1" is reference-compatible with "cv2 T2," or
— has a class type (i.e., T2 is a class type), where T1 is not reference-related to T2, and can be
    implicitly converted to an lvalue of type "cv3 T3," where "cv1 T1" is reference-compatible with "cv3
    T3" [...],

then the reference is bound to the initializer expression lvalue in the first case and to the lvalue result
  of the conversion in the second case (or, in either case, to the appropriate base class subobject of
  the object). [...]
[ ...]
— Otherwise, the reference shall be an lvalue reference to a non-volatile const type (i.e., cv1 shall be
  const), or the reference shall be an rvalue reference. [ Example:
double& rd2 = 2.0; // error: not an lvalue and reference not const
int i = 2;
double& rd3 = i; // error: type mismatch and reference not const

—end example ]

A: No you can't bind a temporary to a non-const lvalue reference.
T f();

T& t1 = f(); // won't compile
const T& t2 = f(); // OK
T&& t3 = f(); // OK

This is a safety feature.  Mutating a temporary by an lvalue that is about to die anyway is most likely a logic error, so it isn't allowed by the language.
Note that due to the RVO than in practice:
T&& t3 = f();

and
T t3 = f();

are equivilent.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: Memory use increasing without any process I am having some issues with my memory usage since a few days (maybe since the last Windows update I did if I remember correctly) where my memory slowly fill up to the 16 GB capacity over the course of the day.
It starts normally using around 1.5GB / 16GB and then increases by like 1GB per hour to get some abnormal stuff like 14GB used after a day, at which point I have to reboot to "clear" the memory.
I already tried a few things to try to find the issue but I can't seem to be able to find what causes this, here is more information:
Poolmoon which seems to show that the "Tag" responsible for the memory usage increase is Toke and Proc (MmSt and CM31 staying around 2GB all day):

RamMap memory usage:

Task manager Processes tab:

Task manager Memory tab:

A: The memory usage doesn't come from a too large pool usage (althoug 800 is still a bit to high). It comes from 1.6GB of Page Table and a bit to high NTFS metadata.
This is hard to debug. I tried it last year, but it never shows good result. You have to stop some tools until you find the one that causes it.
The Proc tag is used by RzSurround (sound driver?) and the CM31 to load registry hives.

A: The "Toke" tag is the Intel Wi-fi driver, ensure you have the latest driver from the vendor.
To find the culprit driver that is leaking non paged pool memory, open cmd.exe and navigate to c:\windows\system32\drivers and run:
findstr /m /l /s Proc *.sys

Which will probably output too many results as proc is a common driver pe phrase,
You could try a WPT trace as seen in: Windows 8 out of memory over time: Toke Paged consuming over 5GB

A: Actually fixed the issue by simply uninstalling the Razer surround process (Sound driver) after seeing RzSurroundVADStreaming.dll in the WPT Graph.
Memory is stable after a 20 hours uptime around 2GB used.


Eventually, all home owners will experience an issue with pests. Some common issues found in Mission Viejo are beetles, ticks, cockroaches, and bed bugs. If you're in need of assistance in dealing with these sorts of problems, we are here to help!
Family safety is the primary goal as a top notch pest control service. We desire to keep your family completely safe and protected while we treat the problem.
Of all pests, bed bugs are becoming a dominant problem in the Mission Viejo area. If you travel on a regular basis, or if you purchased furniture that is used, you should definitely have your home inspected regularly to stop a bed bug problem before it gets out of hand.
Call Our Mission Viejo Exterminator Experts Today!
As a home owner, it is wise to look into preventative maintenance on pest control in order to keep problems in check. Call us at 949-421-0135 to get more information as to how we can service your property or to gain information about a specific pest. We look forward to your call!


Lock and Key Expert is the fastest auto locksmith in Lenexa you can depend on when your car key is damaged, broken, misplaced or inside your vehicle while you're locked outside. We have the technology and manpower resources to get your car back on the road quickly.
Mishaps with car keys are more common than you may imagine. Although it is natural for panic to set in when you realize you need a new key or some way to start and secure your vehicle ASAP, we advise you to relax, call us and have our mobile locksmith service solve your problem in no time at all.
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The programming differs based on car make and model. As such, only trained locksmiths are experienced in cutting and programming car keys or handling a car's computer system correctly.
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Do you really need an auto locksmith service, Lenexa ?
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For a majority of vehicle owners, mobile auto locksmiths Lenexa is often preferable to local dealerships.
Equipment: While dealerships have the equipment and diagnostic tools to make specialty keys or address a computer system issue in your car, locksmiths are not far behind. In fact, mobile locksmith vans are fully decked out with equipment to repair or replace car keys and ignition switches. In this case, the tools come to you rather than you having to make the trip. Sure, some locksmiths may not offer many services, but some – like Lock and Key Expert – have both the tools and knowledge to cut keys and unlock remote key systems.
This is not to say that you won't receive satisfactory service at a dealership. A trusted local dealership will provide you top-notch service but it will come at a cost. Mobile locksmith services are there for a reason: they address the shortcomings of dealerships and are a disruptive force in today's rapidly changing world where immediacy, cost, and customization are essential to customer satisfaction.
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We are a licensed and bonded company. Our technicians are well-trained and have undergone a stringent background check. They answer your queries patiently and complete every job thoroughly. Our customer-first attitude has earned us many referrals and a reputation for making good on our promises.
Our vans come to your home or office premises to diagnose and fix your car key issue. As our vans are equipped with GPS, we can serve you quicker and better. We ensure that you never have to wait longer than what the job calls for. In the rare event that the problem is complex and requires more time, we let you know the facts and inform you about the next steps.
Contact us today to get your car back on the road swiftly, conveniently and economically. The representatives at our Lenexa office are also happy to answer any questions you may have about our auto locksmith services.


If you're the kind of millennial that can barely make it to 12pm without three double-shot lattes, then we have good news for you.
Two independent studies have just found a connection between coffee and a reduced risk of liver disease, circulatory issues and diseases associated with the digestive system!
More specifically, it's the antioxidant plant compounds in coffee that are believed to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.
One of the studies tracked 520,000 over-35-year-olds in 10 countries for over 16 years, and found the male participants who drank three cups of coffee a day 18% less likely to die over that period, while the females who drank three cups a day were 8% less likely to die.
The study's leader Dr Marc Gunter said researchers aren't at a stage where they can recommend people consume more or less coffee, but we're taking this as a green light to fix our 3pm slump with a nice, strong brew.
Get Your Caffeine Fix With These Insta-Worthy 'Meringue Coffees'!


With the SM7 line, there are six different grinds to choose from: the L, M, S, F, and K grinds, along with the brand new D Grind. The D Grind is a high-bounce wedge that offers a crescent-shaped sole that will promote versatility. It will be a great option for players who have steeper angles of attack but who require more shot-making ability than many high-bounce wedges offer. The L Grind was... Titleist Vokey SM7 Tour Chrome F Grind Wedge Sand Wedge 56 Degree golf clubs. GlobalGolf.com golf store offers superior selection, service, and quality for your new, closeout, and used golf club equipment needs.
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SM6 Grinds Offer The Ultimate In Shot Versatility. Five Tour-Proven grinds provide every player the ultimate in shot versatility. A properly fit grind and bounce combination will improve turf interaction and can help lower your scores.
I have the 54 s grind and Im going to get a 58 m grind. It's all about feel for me. Im kinda new to selecting clubs and picked out what felt good/had the same bounce. It's all about feel for me. Im kinda new to selecting clubs and picked out what felt good/had the same bounce.


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Q: "Cannot Implicitly convert type 'float' to 'int'" even when I'm not using any ints Here's my code:
float SmoothNoise(float x, float y)
{
    float fractX = x - (int)x;
    float fractY = y - (int)y;

    float x1 = ((int)x + noiseWidth) % noiseWidth;
    float y1 = ((int)y + noiseHeight) % noiseHeight;

    float x2 = ((int)x + noiseWidth - 1f) % noiseWidth;
    float y2 = ((int)y + noiseHeight - 1f) % noiseHeight;

    float value = 0f;

    value += fractX * fractY * noise[x1, y1];
    value += fractX * (1f - fractY) * noise[x1, y2];
    value += (1f - fractX) * fractY * noise[x2, y1];
    value += (1f - fractX) * (1f - fractY) * noise[x2, y2];

    return value;
}

The errors occur on these four lines:
value += fractX * fractY * noise[x1, y1];
value += fractX * (1f - fractY) * noise[x1, y2];
value += (1f - fractX) * fractY * noise[x2, y1];
value += (1f - fractX) * (1f - fractY) * noise[x2, y2];

As you can see, the only ints I use are explicitly casted, so I'm just really confused as to where it thinks I'm trying to implicitly convert anything to an int.
I should mention there are 8 identical errors of this kind, 2 for each of the four lines. It boggles my mind.
noise is an array of type float[,]

A: You're trying to use float values as array indexer in the code fragments like: noise[x1, y1].
Array indexers can be only integers in .NET, but you've declared them as float x1, y1.


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River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (Paperback)
By Peter Hessler
A New York Times Notable Book
Winner of the Kiriyama Book Prize
In the heart of China's Sichuan province, amid the terraced hills of the Yangtze River valley, lies the remote town of Fuling. Like many other small cities in this ever-evolving country, Fuling is heading down a new path of change and growth, which came into remarkably sharp focus when Peter Hessler arrived as a Peace Corps volunteer, marking the first time in more than half a century that the city had an American resident. Hessler taught English and American literature at the local college, but it was his students who taught him about the complex processes of understanding that take place when one is immersed in a radically different society.
Poignant, thoughtful, funny, and enormously compelling, River Town is an unforgettable portrait of a city that is seeking to understand both what it was and what it someday will be.
Peter Hessler is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he served as the Beijing correspondent from 2000 to 2007, and is also a contributing writer for National Geographic. He is the author of River Town, which won the Kiriyama Prize; Oracle Bones, which was a finalist for the National Book Award; and, most recently, Country Driving. He won the 2008 National Magazine Award for excellence in reporting, and he was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2011. He lives in Cairo.
History / Asia / China
History / Historical Geography
Travel / Asia / East / China
Travel / Essays & Travelogues
Art / Study & Teaching
Political Science / World / Asian
Comics & Graphic Novels / Nonfiction
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Series: P.S.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Marketing The Unmentionable: How To Market Taboo Products
By Ally Burnie
Did you miss B&T's latest print edition? Make sure you don't miss the next one by subscribing here. The below article appeared in our March issue and is an example of some of the cracking content you'll find in the B&T magazine.
At this year's 92nd Academy Awards, there was glitz, there was glam, and there was a banned postpartum advert. The Academy and ABC – official broadcaster of the show – banned a postpartum ad from a US hygiene products for mothers of newborns company because it was deemed "too graphic". The 60 second spot depicts a mother trying to use the toilet after giving birth, while also having difficulty with traditional postpartum sanitary products.
The Academy told the company – Frida Mom – the ad was "too graphic with partial nudity and product demonstration". Consumers were quick to weigh in on the issue. The ban caught the ire of plenty of mothers and non-mothers alike.
Even prominent US actress and talk show host Busy Philipps took to Instagram to air her frustrations to her 2 million followers. And now, at the time of writing, the ad has 1.5 million views on YouTube. While it appears some consumers are ready for more real and authentic adverts, is everyone ready? Not so much.
Last year Asaleo Care, which makes Libra period pads, ran a campaign that featured about the different ways women experience their periods. Some of the scenes included a young girl removing a blood-stained pad from her underwear, and a close-up shot of a woman in the shower with blood running down her leg. While to many the campaign was a step in the right direction towards normalising periods, a large number of people took umbrage with the ad, with more than 600 objections to Ad Standards.
Some people wrote to Ad Standards and said showing period blood was "disgusting". Other complaints about the ad included that it was "distasteful", "unnecessary", "offensive and inappropriate", "disturbing" and "not appropriate for children". Others were outraged the ad was shown on TV early in the evening, complaining children might see it and ask their parents about periods. Ad Standards dismissed all the complaints, noting the advertisement was part of a campaign designed to normalise periods, and remove any stigma of shame or embarrassment.
Australian-owned menstrual underwear brand Modibodi knows all about the public not being ready for a particular conversation. Modibodi marketing and customer experience director Liana Lorenzato says when she first started at Modibodi over four years ago as its first employee, for the first two years there were more 'no's' than 'yes's' when it came to media, approaching stockists and consumers.
Period cup brand Lunette has had a similar experience. Director Carol Morris says when Lunette first went to market, it would "get a mixture between terrified, shocking and 'I want to run away'".
She says, "But we just rolled with it because we understood Australians weren't educated about the cup. To them it's just very alien. It's nothing like anyone had heard about, so we needed to build the education side."
Morris says what helped start to change the conversation were education pieces around the cup, adding that when people understood how it actually worked, they became much more accepting of it.
She also says it does somewhat come down to the general public discourse and what people collectively are ready to discuss.
"The biggest movement we've seen has probably been in the past three years with this whole pro-period power movement. In our messaging we say, 'there will be blood' and it's natural – get over it!
Putting that sort of spin on it, that if you are grossed out and think your own blood is disgusting, then you're a dated creature. That angle has made people keep their mouth shut about the 'gross' angle and actually get their head around the concept of how it works."
So, what do all these aforementioned products have in common? What do all these products have in common? They're considered taboo. Unmentionable. Downright awkward.
Why? Because they're the answer to very normal, very human bodily functions? Apparently so.
So what's a brand or marketer to do when they have the simple answer to common human matters, but consumers are too embarrassed to talk about it in public – or even see an ad about it?
A Booming Industry No One Wants to Talk About
Humans have sex. A good chunk of the population bleeds every month. Sometimes, humans develop head lice. Some go bald. All humans empty their bowels. And yet, when we hear, watch or read ads on such topics, many of us avert our eyes.
We cover our ears. We blush. Why? Probably because from a young age we're taught to cover up the fact we have bodily functions, or that it's personal and unsavoury to talk about them in public.
So, when it comes to marketing unmentionable products, how do brands and marketers handle the stigma and 'social awkwardness'? How do marketers go about engaging consumers in a conversation they might not feel comfortable having? It's a challenge plenty of brands in Australia are embracing.
Take period cups, for example. Though to some people it might seem unsavoury, it's a booming product. In a recent report by QY Research, in the past several years, the global market of menstrual
cups has gained some decent traction.
In 2018, global revenue of menstrual cups was at US$523 million (AUD$782 million). It's a big market with lucrative earnings… if brands play their marketing strategy right. At Lunette, Morris says one misstep, especially at the start, can have detrimental consequences.
"With a taboo product, sometimes it doesn't pay to be out there advertising across all platforms. It pays to hold back a bit because otherwise you could be shot down from the market from the word go, and then no-one's going to want that product again because you've frightened them from the start."
Another feminine hygiene product that's taken off recently is menstrual underwear. According to 360 Research Reports, menstrual underwear is expected to grow 29.4 per cent over the next five years, from USD$79 million (AUD$118 million) to USD$370 million (AUD$552 million) in 2024. And, underwear brand Modibodi is certainly capitalising on the trend.
Lorenzato says launching Modibodi didn't exactly go smoothly, and sometimes, it still struggles when going to market. "Mainstream media would tell us 'it's not for us' or 'it wouldn't resonate with our audience'. We have even been censored in the past.
"Even in 2020, we've had agencies, media channels and even creative suppliers decline to work with us due to how open we are about breaking taboos and stigmas around periods, incontinence and sweat."
So, how do brands cut through the veil of what's socially palatable? It's all about knowing your why, your unique voice, and what resonates with your consumers.
But let's start at the beginning – the creative process.
What goes into the creative process? First of all, both Lunette and Modibodi have in-house marketing and creative teams.
Says Lorenzato, "All Modibodi's strategy and creative elements are produced by our in-house marketing and creative teams in Sydney. We do have a global 'village' of agencies and creative partners that we work with on special projects when we require them.
And, as a global business, it has marketing plans for each market, as well as a product release calendar, which Lorenzato says is crucial when it comes to planning campaigns and in market execution.
When it comes to media, Modbodi has a media agency who works in partnership with the brand on digital performance and some above-the-line activity."We find having a village approach provides us with flexibility, great ideas and access to specialists for different campaigns," says Lorenzato.
Over at Lunette, marketing is also done internally. Meanwhile, the media planning and buying is handled by Ruby Agency.
And what about messaging and brand voice? When it comes to the message and angle, Morris says for Lunette, it continues to change depending on the market.
"When we started, our marketing team found all the pads and the tampons companies were taking the approach of secrecy, and how you can almost forget about your period. So, the team tried concentrating on that angle, but this was 15 years ago.
"Then under a new marketing manager, we decided to do a bit more of an edgier thing, which is something the other tampon and pad companies hadn't done. It was tongue-in-cheek things, like 'much easier than your other cup size', 'go green when you see red', 'your periods are red not blue'. It was really a bit of a dig at the pads and tampon companies."
Lunette also takes cues from cultural trends at the time. Originally, messaging and campaigns were all about how to use a menstrual cup and educational pieces.
"Then, the market went buzzing with the green, clean and the vegan movement," says Morris. "Lunette cups are vegan, so we focus a lot of our campaigns on letting people know we're green and vegan."
Morris also says she finds it useful to look at what's popular on the internet at the time, adding Lunette derives much of its creative concepts from memes.
"We look at memes and capitalise off that. Seeing what's popular amongst social media is helpful. It's why we decided to make the brand witty and take a different angle from our competitors, because memes are hilarious and resonate with our target market."
For Modibodi, Lorenzato says it's all about having a bank of creative ideas, while also believing in what you're selling.
"If you have a bank of messages and creative on hand, you are ready to knock down doors with creative ideas and innovation. I also believe it's important that the team you have working with you, internal and external, believe in the brand, business and mission and support your brand essence," she says.
Change the Conversation
When it comes to marketing unmentionable products, it's all about changing the conversation. According to influencer marketing platform TRIBE founder Jules Lund, the trick to marketing taboo products is to "tackle the awkwardness head on".
"If you think about something that's 'taboo' – say sex toys, taking a number two in a public bathroom, periods or whatever else it may be – the way to break that awkwardness is to start the conversation. The more people that hear and see 'taboo' things, the less taboo it becomes.
"Breaking the stigma is all about not giving a shit and marketing it as if it were any other product."
TRIBE has worked on a number of unmentionable products, such as Pure Sensitive Viva La Vulva campaign, an Ann Summers vibrator and masturbation campaign and VIPoo Airwick, which openly promoted doing a number two in a public place.
Lund says the more it's spoken about, the more accepted it becomes, while also noting that influencer marketing is a particularly effective way to do this because it's real people promoting products they believe in, with followers who trust them. He also says controversy often works when trying to change the conversation.
"The more risqué… the more compelling. People are drawn to controversy. Many of these topics aren't dangerous at all. They're safe, but they are perceived to be dangerous, so the brand who plays with that earns the reward."
An example in the US where a risqué move paid off for a brand is when the NYC subway wouldn't run THINX, a period underwear company, ads on the subways. However, THINX wouldn't back down.
City officials called the ads, which showed a halved grapefruit with the tagline "Underwear for Women With Periods," offensive and suggestive. But the resistance to the ads made THINX's campaign stronger albeit via social. As the ad started to generate buzz, THINX fought back with creativity.
The new ad copy read: "For People With Periods" and featured a trans man using their product.
THINX ultimately won and got its ads up in NYC subways. The support on social media reached massive levels of visibility and helped create brand loyalty.
What helped THINX win was that someone in marketing took a risk, while the team stood behind the product and company mission.
The key takeaway? Changing the conversation, coupled with frank and honest presentation of difficult topics can pay off. And, if you get pushback, social media can help amplify your voice and mission.
Out of Ideas? Try the Funny Bone
Humour goes a long way when marketing awkward products. Just look at Poo-Pourri, or Aussie brand Who Gives A Crap. Poo-Pourri – an odour masking toilet spray – uses humour to engage consumers, and it works.
With campaign names such as "Being A Party Pooper Doesn't Have to Stink", "Make Your Dingleberries Smell Like Jingleberries" and owning the hashtag #GirlsDoPoop, Poo-Pourri has effectively sparked conversation around a very intimate action and opened up a dialogue around it.
Australian sustainable toilet paper brand Who Gives A Crap also uses humour to their advantage. With a slogan like "Nice bum" – and even a rather cheeky brand name – Who Gives A Crap makes emptying your bowels a topic of conversation in a light-hearted and very non-awkward way.
Lunette's creative also relies on humour. Sometimes, however, it's important to be aware of what your target market is, or isn't, ready for.
For Lunette, which is globally headquartered in Finland, there will sometimes be creative concepts that come through which Morris and her business partner believe Australia "isn't ready for".
"In Europe, they are quite big into the sex movement. Sex sells over there. A few years ago, they had a campaign promoting the fact you can still have oral sex with your cup. They had a t-shirt saying: Lunette, your partner will lick this a lot.
"And we said Australia is not ready for that. If we had brought that to the Australian market it would have caused quite a stir, and probably not a good one.
"So yes, humour is a good way to crack into the market, but you also need to know how far you can go."
Lund also says humour "always works", especially when using influencers as the mouthpiece.
"Giving influencers the creative freedom to express the message in their own tone works. Taking it one step further and giving them artistic freedom to interpret the themes with illustration, typography or stop motion takes it to another level. Everyone seems to win when it's playful."
B&T Magazine marketing unmentionables


text:
Generosity Radiates
Support Students Today
Policy Register
CH 1: Definitions
CH 2: Governance
CH 3: Teaching
CH 4: University Life
CH 5: Administration
CH 6: Personnel
CH 7: Finance
CH 8: Regionals
CH 9: Technology
Ch 10: Research & Sponsored Programs
Administrative policy regarding research involving human subjects
Purpose. The university, in the course of carrying out its teaching, research, and service missions, engages in research involving the use of human subjects across a wide array of academic disciplines and administrative functions. In order to protect the rights, well-being, and personal privacy of individuals, to assure a favorable climate for the conduct of scientific inquiry, and to protect the interests of the university, the policies and procedures described in this policy have been established for the conduct of investigations and educational projects involving human subjects.
Scope. This policy shall apply to all activities conducted by, or under the auspices of the university, irrespective of the funding source, that meet the criteria for:
A "clinical investigation" involving "human subjects" or "subjects," as defined in U.S. food and drug administration (FDA) regulations in CFR Title 21, as such regulations may be amended. This includes graduate theses or dissertations.
"Research" involving "human subjects," as defined in the department of health and human service (DHHS) regulations 45 CFR pt. 46 as such regulations may be amended, and/or
All members of the university community, including all faculty, staff, and students engaged in research recognize and share in the responsibility for protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects.
No research involving human subjects shall be initiated until approval or exemption has been granted by the institutional review board (IRB).
Under the approved federal-wide assurance (FWA) provided by the university to DHHS, all research involving human subjects, and the oversight of such research shall be guided by the ethical principles set forth in the "Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research," and performed in compliance with the regulations set forth by DHHS.
For clinical investigations involving drugs, biologics, medical devices, and other test articles, the university shall comply with human subjects research regulations established by the FDA for clinical investigations.
The university shall conform with other applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations germane to human subjects research.
Investigations conducted by university students in connection with academic work must be supervised by a faculty member, who will refer such proposals to the IRB for review. For student research, the faculty advisor is assumed the principal investigator in regards to IRB applications.
Authority and responsibility.
The IRBs designated under the university's FWA are the principal mechanism by which the university reviews proposed research to ensure that it is planned and conducted in a manner consistent with applicable law and policy, and that the rights and welfare of human research participants are adequately protected. The responsibilities of the IRB include, but are not limited to:
Reviewing, approving, exempting, requesting modifications to, or denying proposed research involving human subjects to ensure that it is planned and conducted in a manner consistent with applicable law and policy, and that the rights and welfare of human subjects are adequately protected. Notwithstanding the preceding, research that has been approved by the IRB may be subject to further review and approval or disapproval by the provost or the provost's designee. No university official, however, may approve research that has not been approved by the IRB.
Conducting continuing review of research approved by the IRB, at intervals not less than once per year, including as necessary, observing, or having a third party observe, the consent process and investigational activity; or requesting and inspecting information related to human participant research activity.
Suspending or terminating approval of research activity that is not being conducted in accordance with the requirements established by the IRB for a particular research activity, has been associated with serious harm to research participants, or that is not otherwise in accordance with federal human subject research regulations or university policy.
Reporting to appropriate university and federal officials, and as applicable, any department or agency head:
Unanticipated problems involving risks to research participants or others and serious or continuing noncompliance with this policy or the requirements or determinations of the IRB.
Any suspension or termination of IRB approval.
Contributing to the development and implementation of administrative policies and procedures consistent with federal regulations and best practices.
Sponsored projects involving human subjects are subject to rule 3342-3-04.1 of the Administrative Code.
The institutional official, by appointment from the provost, shall represent the university in providing assurance to the federal government that the university will comply with federal human subject research regulations, and shall be responsible for ensuring that all regulatory and programmatic requirements for the conduct of human participant research at the university are met.
This policy formerly number 3342-3-03.2.
Policy Effective Date:
Policy Prior Effective Dates:
11/4/1977, 3/11/1982, 7/19/1985, 5/5/1995, 12/20/2004, 6/1/2007, 9/1/2014, 3/1/2015
Executive Offices, Second Floor, Library, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242
330-672-2982 legal@kent.edu


Some months back I said that it is quite possible that very soon a post like this one would be available.
Here it is and in my usual style -- it's a no holes barred post.
Yesterday, as I prepared to go shopping for a gift to take to a Diwali feast and dance that a couple of my boys were hosting, I realized that I was driving around for almost two months with an unlicensed car.
It was Sunday and I had several places to go but knowing that my car was illegal I was in extreme panic. Instead of heading back into my apartment, I called this giant of a man who loves me to the ground that I walk on and who has become like a brother I never had.
I screeched at him "I need to find a registry! Do you know any that's open on a Sunday?"
The long and short of this story is that he found one and directed me to it and my car is now licensed until 2008. It was something this Caucasian man said to me though that has stuck in my head. "Honey, you know it's dangerous to be Driving While Black!"
Dating over the last few months has been as and in some cases more dangerous than DWB. In fact, Dating Over Forty (DOF) can be emotionally lethal especially if one's self esteem is not firmly intact.
Several months after 'the break up', I finally acquiesced to my friends', particularly Lance, and my daughter's insistence that I get out and get a life. Regular readers will remember that post about my first date – it's one I will never forget, all 15-minutes of it!
One thing I deliberately did not specify, at least not here on Comforting Words, was the fact that this and my subsequent dates were with men. Yes, men.
Those closest to me knew. And those closest to me understood why it had to be that way.
Backtrack just for a moment. In the heights of the drama of the 'break up', a dear and long-time woman-friend from Jamaica, who now resides in Toronto, in a telephone conversation with me reminded me of a piece of profundity I said to her some 10-12 years ago. It was not her intention to throw it back in my face nor was she trying to make me feel stupid. She was doing what friends especially those who know you well do - giving me a reality check.
What I felt was like telling her what a b…h she was for reminding me of how stupid "being in love" makes you. My profound wisdom had come from being in relationship with my now ex for about two or three years and in all honesty while I can now say that pain is pain no matter the gender dishing it out, my experiences with men up to that time had left me extremely wary.
Well gentle people, the last few months have not changed that feeling. No, this is not a womanist lesbian treatise against men. I love the animal. Over the last few months, however, I have met a cross-section of that kingdom that has confirmed my inner knowing that that world is not for me.
All the stories your mother has told you or not told you because she was/is too embarrassed to admit that her life is not what she pretends it to be or r stories she prayed you would never hear or experience are still true.
It gets worse when you are woman DOF – just as bad as DWB.
Just to interject here though – before anyone thinks I am saying this about men only - being a woman DOF and a person of colour, especially 'black' in a white majority city, town or country is close to a death penalty period.
I have made speeches at conferences and presentations at workshops on this issue over the last couple years – the discrimination and racism that is rampant in the LGBTQ community. My most recent experiences confirmed my suspicion and the real life stories I have heard about the reality of inter-racial and inter-cultural dating – that it is hard as hell still in this day and age.
Hold it though … please do not believe the lie that a 'brother' will be more sensitive or it would be easier dating your own kind! Been there, done that and it's a myth!
1. You drink a hell of a lot of coffee. Most first meetings take place at a coffee shop and if you are like me who have had 3-4 cups by 7:00 a.m., this can be hard on your bladder.
2. You must read with uttermost caution their profiles if you are doing internet dating. What a lot of them write is about the 'person they would like to be when they grow up' not who they are right now. And guess what – most of them will never grow up.
3. Truth is a novel concept for many - something they really don't understand or believe is a possibility. If you really like someone and want to 'get to know them' – well don't tell the truth about anything. Most cannot seem to believe truth even if she came and kissed them. The better you are at story-telling and myth-creating the better chance you will have at a second or even third date.
5. The most popular line is "I am looking for friends." Unfortunately, most who write or say that has a different understanding of 'friendship' than say I do. If you are into head games, one or two night stands, jumping though hoops to prove you are not after their family heirloom, not quite happy with what you have managed to earn through sweat equity, pretending to be what you are not, love to meet for coffee morning, noon or night, cannot hold your knife and fork properly (that's a pet peeve or mine thanks to my ex) then you are "friend" material.
I could go on and maybe I will someday, however, this should give those of you who are DOF a fair picture of what you are in for. And like I said before – this goes for both genders. Yes, Miss Y in Toronto, a woman can and in fact will hurt (and play games with you) as much as a man can…I am eating crow's pie.
Am I put off from the dating scene? Am I now planning to enter a convent? Or remain celibate for the rest of my life, dying of old age with my dog Angello by my side? (Incidentally, Angello, the love of my life, was seriously ill a few weeks ago – I thought he was a goner. But after much tests and hundreds of dollars in the vet's pocket, he was diagnosed with kidney disease and is being treated. Thank God for small mercies).
No, I am not done dating, nor am I going to join a convent no matter how enticing the thought or rushing to a relationship with anyone. And my humble advice to anyone recently out of a long standing relationship -- it's true that you need at least one month for each year to feel the power of healing. It's been 13 months for me now and boy does it feels good!
I am just far more aware, clear that the man scene is not for me. They make great friends, my gentle giant is one such, but my soul - which is what I want to share - belongs to a woman "somewhere out there," who is self-possessed, "in touch with her feelings", totally inter-cultural, smart, sassy, well-educated and open to the 'joys' of DOF. (Seems like a tall order, ah well).
When I meet her, you will be the first to know.


13 boy great dive tackle.
How they use diving in Football and Rugby League!!!
Credit to RugbyPass for footage.
There's finishing, and then there's finishing in style, check out these incredible tries. Follow World Rugby on social media:Official Website!
Jacob harris shows how to dive & score a rugby try!
An emphatic finish to a good try by Union Titans HS 7's team.


text:
Police say they did not receive reports of threats to Everton's directors | Everton
Merseyside police have said they did not receive reports of the threats that kept Everton's board of directors away from Goodison Park on Saturday.
The chairman, Bill Kenwright, chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance officer, Grant Ingles, and non-executive director Graeme Sharp were instructed by Everton's security advisers not to attend the 2-1 defeat by Southampton because of what the club described as "a real and credible threat to their safety and security".
Police have confirmed they are liaising with Everton over the alleged threats and that none were reported before the club announced that the directors would not be in attendance on Saturday. A few thousand Everton fans staged a sit-in demonstration against the board after the game.
A police statement read: "We can confirm that Merseyside police is liaising with Everton Football Club following alleged threats towards directors ahead of the Premier League fixture against Southampton on Saturday 14 January.
"No threats or incidents were reported to police prior to the game, but we are in communication with the club to establish if any offenses have taken place, and to ensure that any future reports are received through existing channels. Any threats reported to Merseyside Police would be assessed and investigated as a matter of course, and any appropriate safety measures implemented.
"We are also aware of videos in circulation of fans approaching players' cars as they made their way from Goodison Park after the match. At this stage no offenses have been reported."
Everton have said they are reviewing all matchday and non-matchday security arrangements following the Southampton game and that "enhanced security procedures are being put in place" due to incidents on Saturday and at previous matches. Their next home fixture, against Arsenal on 4 February, has been categorized as high risk.
Everton, meanwhile, are interested in a loan deal for Rennes' winger Kamaldeen Sulemana. The Ghana international, 20, is also a target for Bournemouth.
Cardiff City 1-1 Wigan Athletic: Keane earns last-gasp point for Latics
Bolton Wanderers players scored out of 10 in win against Portsmouth
Anthony Gordon: Newcastle hold talks with Everton as winger returns to training on Thursday after two-day absence | Transfer Center News
Everton setback as Bielsa has doubts and Spurs hijack Danjuma move | Everton
England Six Nations squad: Billy Vunipola, Jonny May & Jack Nowell left out by Steve Borthwick
Arsenal vs Man Utd: Erik ten Hag reminds Gunners that his side beat them without Casemiro | Soccer News


IBTS measures disaster recovery success by speed, effectiveness, and efficiency helping disaster victims and their communities.
Following a natural disaster, communities can easily find themselves overwhelmed. In addition to trying to re-establish all standard services to citizens, communities must also manage the enormous task recovery efforts, often with staff members and departments that have been adversely impacted as well.
Even after the initial recovery process has ended, communities may feel abandoned once initial support providers leave and volunteer efforts subside, especially if they are still facing months or even years of long-term disaster recovery.
Our Disaster Recovery services provide communities with the assistance they need to navigate the process, removing roadblocks that can prevent them from maximizing their long-term recovery options.
Our goal is to become a partner with your community, fulfilling our mission to strengthen communities and make a meaningful difference to citizens. With IBTS onboard to help identify and maximize resources, your community can rebuild and recover faster and stronger.


text:
Rubric for Highly Functioning Campuses for English Language Learners
The Central Texas ELL Collaborative Rubric on Highly Functioning Campuses for English Language Learners was created to support continuous performance improvement for ELL students.
One in six students in Texas is an English language learners (ELL). This is the fastest growing population in Central Texas with ELL student enrollment doubling over the last decade. Unfortunately, the achievement gap in average student performance scores on state assessments have barely improved over that decade. By high school the performance gap has widened. Only 8% of ELL students graduating college ready, compared with 58% of all Central Texas students. The rapid growth of students who have traditionally struggled most in our schools could be seen as a deficit for our region. Instead, we see a unique opportunity: if we can change the system and services to build on the strength of multiple languages, and build a truly bilingual, multicultural, academically prepared student population, we can have a workforce that creates a true competitive advantage for our region in a 21st century global economy.
The ELL Rubric is not to be used as a compliance tool. It has been designed to integrate the CIP, committee structures, and campus goals so that they yield a complementary focus on ELL academic achievement. The Central Texas ELL Collaborative developed the Rubric on Highly Functioning Campuses for ELLs as a tool to enable conversation among district leaders, principals, and school faculty around what a high functioning campus for ELLs should look and feel like in order to promote academic growth.
The ELL Rubric is a tool for communicating and deliberating expectations, identifying opportunities for growth, and informing professional development criteria for your campus in service to the
fastest-growing student population in Central Texas.
The ELL Rubric is a research-based tool originally developed in fall of 2009 and piloted in spring 2010 by members of the Central Texas ELL Collaborative (listed below). It has been updated to include promising practices supporting academic growth identified in the spring of 2013 through research conducted in the Bright Spots Study for English Language Learners. Perhaps the most important finding of this research is that principal instructional leadership is key to building structures and practices that support ELL students. Therefore, this is the driving feature of the updated ELL Rubric.
The ELL Rubric is comprised of four categories, which are: Instructional Leadership, Teacher Effectiveness, Community Engagement, and School Climate. For each category, there are concrete examples and descriptions of the evidence needed to show that a school:
• is excellent in their service to ELLs;
• is good in their service to ELLs; or
• needs additional support, knowledge and resources to serve ELLs.
Future iterations will include a Sheltered Instruction Framework, a walk-through checklist aligned with the ELL Rubric, and specific strategies and best practices suggested by the members of the Collaborative.
Click on link to view:
E3 ExcELL – ELL Rubric
News Release: Central Texas Education Stimulus Collaborative Agreement Signing
In the News: Central Texas College Access Group Wins $113K
Slide of the Month – July 2019
Presentation Reports / Documents Video
Community Conversations to Explore – Pathways to Prosperity: What is needed for a successful career?


text:
Euphomet: Somewhere
This video was uploaded to the YouTube channel Planet Weird in June 2019.
Ryan Sprague poses the question, "what's out there?" and speaks to Brian Sprague, a playwright podcaster and author who has devoted his adult life to the study of UFOs and collecting stories from the phenomenons experiencers. Today however, he's sharing his story, one that begins with the merging of two obsessions - theatre and the study of UFOs.
Brian says, "there is some weird stuff, like I've seen stuff here that I can't explain. And I'm no aviation expert but I mean the things I saw were."
Brian had a sighting about three years ago while he was walking home from work. He remembers, "I look up a few times a night like, we're all caught on our phones at a constant rate but I happened to look up at that one moment and I saw like just a little light up there you know."
He continues, "I look up and it's kind of travelling really slowly, really steady, no lights blinking no pulsation - nothing like that it was just a constant light that's interesting moving very slowly going in the same direction and then immediately I clicked... I'm like it's a satellite."
But then all of a sudden, as he was about to give up and go in to his apartment the satellite, or whatever it
was, shot up into the air and disappeared. He said, "so, either the satellite got like blown to hell in that moment I was looking at it or it wasn't a satellite."
Brian added, "I couldn't explain it. I kind of brushed it off like maybe I saw something wrong, but it was my first time in New York City where I could legitimately say I saw UFO."
About Planet Weird
Planet Weird is the hub for some of the most groundbreaking projects in the realm of the paranormal. For nearly two decades, Greg and Dana have traversed North America on hundreds of paranormal adventures in search of everything from legendary monsters to mind bending psychic phenomena, covering everything in between. They've come face-to-face with Bigfoot deep in the hills of West Virginia, successfully instigated an alien abduction on North Carolina's mysterious Brown Mountain, and grappled with angry ghosts in a violently-cursed town in rural Pennsylvania, to name just a few adventures.
Planet Weird was created out of a combined 30+ years of these extraordinary investigations and their desire to share those experiences across a variety of formats.
Watch more from Planet Weird on YouTube
planet weirdparanormalunexplainedufos


Jack Metcalfe, one of the leading experts in reproduction Chippendale Furniturewill offer a talk focussing on the tools, techniques and timbers Chippendale used to produce his exquisite works.
Yorkshire-born Jack Metcalfe fell in love with marquetry following early retirement in 1990, and his passion led him to being the leading expert in the reproduction of Chippendale furniture, even to the extent of using the same tools that Chippendale would have. His talk, Chippendale Marquetry Revealed, will focus on the tools, techniques and timbers he used to build these timeless pieces.


text:
Q: Jquery find+length/size returns 0 I have some divs created dynamically this way:
 //here goes some loop, and everything works fine
 $("#result_main_search").append('

 '
  + SightsList[i]+ '  –  ' +
'
');

After that loop, I try to set href attribute for each link:
$('.singleresult_main_search').each(function() {
  $.get("_ajax_get_sight_link.php", {'id':$("img", this).attr('rel')},
   function(data) {
     alert($(this).find('.linktosight').length);
     $(this).find('a').attr('href', data);
     alert(data);
   });
})

_ajax_get_sight_data.php accepts id, returns link ( alert(data) works fine) .
But alert which tells how much .linktosight elements are in current div always gives 0 (by saying always I mean everytime it finds one of my generated divs). I've tried .size(), $(this).find('a') with the same result. So, how am I to set it to work?

A: this inside the callback will point to the jqXHR-object and not to the looped elements.
You may create a closure:
$('.singleresult_main_search').each(function() {
var $this=$(this);
//.....
});

..and use it inside the callback:
function(data) {
     alert($this.find('.linktosight').length);
   });

$.proxy() may also be an option like suggested by  Jack Franklin


text:
Obsessive Gruber Syndrome: Fox News Suffers From Its Own Manic Spin Cycle
Posted by Mark NC on November 18, 2014 at 4:43 pm. NO Comments :
A week after some stale and unfortunate comments by M.I.T. professor Jonathan Gruber were revealed, the conservative media circus have drenched themselves in it. And leading the way, of course, is Fox News where there isn't an hour that goes by without some new and highly hyperbolized reference to Gruber's remarks.
An analysis by PolitiFact found that mentions of the Gruber affair occurred 779 times on Fox News since November 10th. That's once every fifteen minutes, 24 hours a day, for eight straight days. It suggests an editorial obsession that exceeds anything they have exhibited for other current news events, including immigration, Ebola, and the battle against ISIL who just executed another American hostage. By comparison MSNBC mentioned Gruber only 79 times and CNN had 27 mentions. Of course, Fox News believes that the rest of the media are inappropriately ignoring the story, but the truth is that there is no news here other than a single person who is not a legislator or White House staffer saying things that no one else has corroborated.
Implicit in the incessant rash of criticism of Gruber, and by extension, the President, is the assertion that supporters of the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) have lied about its contents. But if you're interested in an assemblage of ObamaCare lies you need to look at the Republicans and their mouthpieces on Fox News.
Rarely mentioned is the fact that the substance of what Gruber said is not representative of anything but his own opinion. President Obama has dismissed him as a consultant and repudiated his insult to American voters. It has also been noted that ObamaCare is one of the most thoroughly debated pieces of legislation that has ever trudged through the Congress. So Gruber's flippant references to a lack of transparency simply make no sense at all.
What's more, it is pointless to reach back in time to a remark about ObamaCare when the bill has already been implemented and the results can be seen in action. There are more than ten million people who have insurance coverage now than did before the bill had passed. Those who have signed up are overwhelmingly satisfied with the coverage and the cost. And there haven't been any disasters erupting from alleged secrets tucked into the bill.
The portion of Gruber's remarks that has received the most attention is where he alluded to "the stupidity of the American people." Right-wingers have never been shy about calling voters stupid in the past, particularly when discussing those who support Democrats. But in this case they are exploiting the gaffe in order to bash ObamaCare and the President. However, if you edit slightly Gruber's wording you can arrive at an observation that is unarguably true. And that is that a certain segment of the American electorate is very noticeably stupid: Fox News viewers. They have been conned by the network's relentless assault on ObamaCare. The current fixation on Gruber is simply a reaction to their inability to criticize the program on substance.
If, however, you are determined to look back to find something relevant to the current health care debate, you might want to check out Mitt Romney's speech in April of 2006 when he signed the Massachusetts health care bill that was the model for ObamaCare. Romney took time to thank those he relied on to draft and implement his plan. And one of those people was Jonathan Gruber, about whom Romney said…
"I want to thank the many, many people in this room who were critical to crafting and coaxing the bold health care initiative that I'm about to sign. […] Jonathan Gruber at MIT devoted hours and hours to an essential econometric model."
For an interesting Gruber reference you won't see on Fox News, here is a clip from the Lawrence O'Donnell show on MSNBC in October of 2011 that identifies Gruber as a "Romney health care consultant." It will be interesting to see if the Republicans who are hammering Obama for his association with Gruber will cast the same measure of scorn on Romney.
Get Fox Nation vs. Reality. Available now at Amazon.
[Addendum] Fox Nation is already beating on another video where Obama is quoted as saying "I have stolen ideas from [Gruber]." But in this case the video is from April of 2006, when Obama was a senator, and his remarks were about the launch of The Hamilton Project, an economic think tank from the centrist Brookings Institute. So it was before he was president and had nothing to do with health care. But Fox's deceitful reporting never mentioned any of that.
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Browse: Home » 2012 » April » 24 » Intuitive Eating, part 1.
To start with, if you're not familiar with the concept of intuitive eating, go check out http://www.fatnutritionist.com/index.php/what-is-normal-eating/.  I'll be here when you get back.
…Back? Okay. So. How this works for me.
When I get hungry, a lot of times I'm on auto-pilot. I want to go to the fridge/local food place and eat something and be done with it. Because of this I have a range of foods I eat fairly often, and if I just get a hunger signal with no accompanying information, I will pick one of those items or meals. They are foods I know I find non-triggering with regards to my eating disorders (ED-NOS and Orthorexia), easy to digest, and fuelling. That's sort of stage 1 of intuitive eating.
If $thing is not what I want, the next thing I do is ask myself what about $thing brought it to mind. I am trying at this point to separate emotional cues from body cues. If what brought it to mind was that I'm having an emotional need for something filled by a food, I need to separate those things and deal with the emotions independent of what I eat. Often, to reset to neutral, I will eat something to take the hunger edge off like a cracker or two because they have no emotional value to me, and then I'll try to get at the emotion.
If $thing is not what I want, and the cue is not emotional but body hunger, I will try to figure out what part of $thing I am hungry for. I will start by thinking of a food or two that is similar, and work on narrowing it down. One of these that tends to be common in my life is sour cream and onion potato chips. There is something about that combination of salts and fats that brings them up as a craving any time my body wants salt or fat for any reason, even if I don't actually want the chips. (I've learned by trial and error of eating it and being dissatisfied when the hunger for chips actually isn't a hunger for chips.) Usually what that craving means is that my body wants some kind of dairy like a cheese or a yoghurt or a sour cream, and something salty.
These are some pretty advanced intuitive eating practices, IMHO. One of the important things for me about this deductive process is that I am consciously giving myself permission to mess it up. If I get it wrong, that's okay. No one is going to die, no one is a bad person, I'm not going to Hades. I was wrong about what I wanted to eat, and next time the feeling comes up, I'll do the process again. If I keep getting it wrong over and over, then what that flags for me is not that I'm a bad person, but that I probably have some baggage over a food item or an emotional cue that I need to deal with before I can deal with the part of the process I'm messing up.


"Okay, nothing to see here, move on", you might say.
But what makes Pounamu Wharehinga different is that at just 13 she's going to be among the youngest competitors at the entire event.
Pounamu lacks the size of the rest of the 12-man double hull Puhimanawahine from Horouta Waka Hoe she paddles alongside in the 500-metre sprint.
But she makes up for this with "sheer stubbornness" according to her Dad, Te Mana Whakahaere member Josh Wharehinga.
"She is really determined and really stubborn," he said.
Pounamu, who is also known as the singer "Miss Pou" and attends Te Kura Kaupapa o Horouta Wānanga, has been making waves since she first started paddling waka ama just over a year ago.
She was in a winning Horouta team last year and again medalled at this year's national sprints held at Lake Karapiro.
"Because I had never been involved in waka ama before I didn't realise it wasn't common for your child to medal in their first year. I was told it usually takes a little while, but she is really determined and has a great team," said Josh.
Josh admits his preference was for his daughter to continue another of her passions, touch.
"She loves playing touch and if I had it my way it would be touch because she is amazing at it," he said.


text:
Beloved crossing guard wins CPS 'Crossing Guard of the Year'
By Meghan Kluth
CHICAGO (WLS) -- After 51 years Roxie Calhoun is hanging up her white gloves and neon vest, and retiring with a send off. But before she goes she is honored with "Crossing Guard of the Year" by Chicago Public Schools.
Timmy Lynch a student at St. Benedict, was one of the hundreds of students cheering for Roxie Friday on her last day.
"So a couple of days ago we made these posters that said, 'Go Roxie,'" Lynch said.
On her last day as the cross walk guard at St. Benedict Preparatory and Coonley Elementary in Lakeview, she was presented with the city of Chicago's prestigious Crossing Guard of the Year award.
This is the second year the city has presented the honor to a cross walk guard.
"This is my family. We are all going to be missing each other," said Roxie.
It's clear she'll be missed by the students and their parents.
"She welcomes every child, every parent, she talks to every body. She's just the warmest, nicest person and she does her job very enthusiastically. We're really lucky to have her," said Julia Lynch, a parent at St. Benedict
After joyfully manning her post at Irving Park and Leavitt, she'll get some well deserved down time.
"I am happy. Yes, and I'm sad in a way, but I'm happy to retire though," Roxie said.
After all these years her biggest piece of advice is to love what you do.
community & eventschicagolakeviewcrossing guardchicago public schoolsaward


text:
Q: are 12 different rotation matrix the same? If I want to rotate a vector $V$ from coordinate system $A$ to $B$, I could use the rotation matrix by $V_B=R\cdot V_A$, where $R$ is the rotation matrix. There are many rotation sequences for $R$, such as $xyz$ and $yzy$. But after constructing those matrices, I found that different rotation sequence are not the same, e.q. $R_{xyz}V_A$ does not equal $R_{yay}V_B$, why is that? I thought if the Eulerian angles are the same, so the rotation matrix, no matter what rotation sequence it takes, should be the same. I know there is something wrong, could you please tell me where? Thanks!

A: You can rotate $(1,0,0)$ to $(0,1,0)$ by rotating a quarter-turn counterclockwise around the $z$-axis, or by rotating $(1,0,0)$ around the $y$-axis up to $(0,0,1)$ and then down around the $x$-axis to $(0,1,0)$. The first way, $(0,1,0)$ winds up at $(-1,0,0)$; the second way, it winds up at $(0,0,-1)$. So just knowing where one vector goes doesn't tell you where other vectors go.

A: Without seeing what the problem is, no, I can't tell you what it is.  It is true that the rotation matrix from one coordinate system to another should be independent of how you describe the rotations.  If you give the specifics of the rotation sequences we might be able to help.

A: $3$D rotations do not commute in general.  Look up phenomena like Gimbal lock to see what can happen with Euler angles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal_lock#Gimbal_lock_in_applied_mathematics
Also consider switching to representing your rotations by unit quaternions, you remove all the problems you get using Euler angles and they are very tidy.


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Michael Colacino Leaving Savills Studley, Mitch Rudin to Replace as President
By Rey Mashayekhi	September 10, 2018 6:25 pm
Michael Colacino.	Photo: Michael Nagle/for Commercial Observer
Savills Studley President Michael Colacino is stepping down from his role after 27 years with the commercial real estate brokerage, which has tapped Mitchell Rudin—a former executive at CBRE, Brookfield Property Partners and, most recently, Mack-Cali Realty Corp.—to succeed Colacino.
SEE ALSO: DC Developer Douglas Jemal Pardoned by President Trump
Colacino will depart the firm, where he has worked since 1991 and served as president since 2002, at the end of this year, Savills Studley announced today. Rudin is set to join the brokerage at the start of October before assuming the role of president on Jan. 1, 2019.
Along with Savills Studley Chairman and CEO Mitchell Steir, Colacino led an internal management takeover of the firm (then called Julien J. Studley Inc.) in 2002 that saw 45 Studley brokers buy out the founder, Julien Studley, and his partners. Colacino was subsequently appointed the president and for the past 16 years has overseen the day-to-day operations of Savills Studley, which changed its name after being acquired by London-based Savills for $260 million in 2014.
While he has spent most of his career on the brokerage side of the commercial real estate business, the 61-year-old Colacino—who for the first 10 years of his professional life worked as a systems designer—said he now plans to pivot into the realm of real estate technology and start his own proptech software firm.
"I've spent the last 30 years advocating for the application of software and analytics to real estate," Colacino said in a statement. He added that it is "exciting to see those ideas acquiring enormous momentum in the industry" as proptech has assumed increased importance in the commercial real estate sector in recent years, and that he is "eager to combine my background in software with my experience managing broker operations to change and improve our industry."
Steir described Colacino as "a fantastic partner in helping me acquire, lead and ultimately merge this outstanding organization," and said Savills Studley's success and growth over the past two decades "would not have been possible without his dedication, intellect and unwavering commitment to the firm and our clients."
Steir added that he is "confident that in Mitch Rudin we have found the best possible candidate to replace Michael as president."
Rudin spent more than two decades at CBRE and served as the CEO and president of the brokerage's tri-state region from 2006 to 2011, when he left to become the CEO and president of U.S. commercial operations for Brookfield Office Properties (now Brookfield Property Partners)—a role he held until departing Brookfield in 2014.
In 2015, he was appointed CEO of New Jersey-based real estate investment trust Mack-Cali. Alongside then-President and COO Michael DeMarco, who joined Mack-Cali at the same time as Rudin, he was charged with revitalizing the suburban office-focused REIT's fortunes after the departure of longtime president and CEO Mitchell Hersh. But Rudin and DeMarco did not see eye-to-eye on the company's direction, and DeMarco was elevated to the role of CEO in 2017 while Rudin was made Mack-Cali's vice chairman.
The 65-year-old Rudin stepped down from his position at Mack-Cali this June and is now returning to his brokerage roots as president of Savills Studley, which specializes in tenant representation and has 31 offices across the U.S. and Canada.
"I am thrilled to join the talented team at Savills Studley at this exciting stage in its evolution," Rudin said in a statement. "Over the years, the firm has invested heavily in forward-thinking technology and has strengthened its professional teams both in the C-suite and across the country."
Rudin also thanked Colacino "for his impressive service and immense contributions to the firm," adding that he "look[s] forward to building upon the company's achievements thus far in partnership with Mitch Steir and our board of directors."
Keywords: brookfield office properties, Brookfield Property Partners, CBRE, Julien Studley, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, Michael Colacino, Michael DeMarco, Mitch Rudin, Mitch Steir, Mitchell Steir, Savills, Savills Studley
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This is the surplus file for Jazz Consumer Guide #27. These are short reviews of records that for one reason or another have been dropped from active consideration while working on this column. These reviews will be published in the blog when the column comes out.
The following were briefly sampled from download sources (e.g., Rhapsody). They may be revisited if/when I get real copies: noted [**].


M'Baku grows up learning the ways of the Jabari from his father, but not all the lessons are simple.
With a tip of the hat in thanks to Morbane, who helped turn this into a much better story than it would have been!
When he was very, very small, his father took him to the top of the highest mountain. It was very cold, but his father's arms were warm, and he delighted in watching as the ice crystals formed in his father's dark beard. Night had fallen in full by the time they reached their destination. Above their heads, the stars burned bright and sharp.
"We came from the stars, my son," his father told him, in the way he would learn meant Father was reciting something from long ago. "Our bodies grew on Earth but our souls descended from light." He touched his son in the center of his chest, which tickled. "You are made of light."
"Yes, Father," he said with a giggle.
"You will be called M'Baku."
He tried out the word in his own mouth. "M'Baku." He giggled again.
Father smiled, and the recitation was over. "Children are given their names when we know who they are. If your mother and I named you when you were born, your name would be simply an expression of our joy at your birth. But I know who you are now, my son, and this is a good name."
M'Baku laughed again, and looked up at the stars, filled with their light.
M'Baku caught his first sight of a flying ship when he was five years old. He had seen the Wakandan ships from very far off before this, but those had been dots like birds in the distant sky. This one had come close enough for him to make out the elegant shape of the hull. His heart filled with longing and joy as it flew by the mountain. He wanted to jump astride it, ride the wheeling, bright thing into adventures he could only imagine.
"I saw a flying ship!" he said as soon as he came inside. "Father, did you see?"
Father was busy at his work, but he paused and offered a smile as he always did when M'Baku came to him with some new discovery. This smile was less kind than most. "It is just a ship, M'Baku."
M'Baku recognized the tone, but his heart was too full of wonder to hold back. "Why don't we have flying ships? The Jabari are brave and intelligent. We could make our own ships." He pictured this: carved wood, air-tight and sap-smelling, chasing the metal craft through the skies.
"We have no need of flying ships. Anywhere we wish to go, we can use our own legs or a cart, and we are stronger for the journey."
"We can't go into the sky."
"There is nothing in the sky we need. Clouds bring rain and snow as they will," he made a different face. "At least until climate change stops them." Father said 'climate change' a lot. He and M'Baku's mother had tracked the weather patterns in Wakanda as recorded over the last five hundred years, and they didn't like the trend they saw. It was another jagged piece of the outer world encroaching, and they did not like it one bit.
M'Baku ignored his father's old worry and sat beside him at the table, putting his face in his hands. "I would like to fly. I think it would be fun." He looked slyly over at Father. "We could ask the other tribes to borrow one. Just to see."
Father set his ledger aside with a sigh. M'Baku knew the face he was making. "We are not going to ask the other tribes. We are separate from them for many good reasons."
"But just one flying ship?"
They lit their torches, one by one. Mother's oldest friend had died in the night, and the Jabari were gathered to give him a proper send-off. M'Baku had practiced the chant this morning. "Up through your feet, up through your stomach, and out," Father told him. "Let Hanuman move inside your spirit."
"Hanuman is a story," he told his father, trembling in the awe of his own disbelief. "He isn't real."
Father sat down in a chair and bade him sit opposite. "You've been reading again."
M'Baku liked to read the books they kept in the deep library, safe from heat and cold and wet. Jabari from long ago had written their thoughts and beliefs of Hanuman. A few, a rare few, had traveled outside Wakanda and returned bearing strange tales of other lands, including lands that worshiped him, not as the Great Gorilla but as a trickster. Comparative mythology was not a large section of their library. M'Baku had memorized every book they owned on the matter.
"But it's true," he said. "Why do we worship a god who is not real?"
Father took a long breath. "M'Baku, today is not the day. Today, your mother needs us beside her to help through her loss. Hanuman is a strength and a comfort."
He wouldn't be moved. "So is a doll."
His father looked at him a long time. "We choose who we want to be. The other tribes chose Bast. We chose Hanuman. It tells us each not what is real here," he said, touching his shirt, "but what is real here." He touched M'Baku's chest over his heart, the same place he had touched long ago when they stood on the mountaintop.
M'Baku felt the light inside himself. He also felt a bit of stubbornness. "Does it matter which god we honor if none of them are real except in our hearts?"
"Of course. Tell me about Hanuman. Our Hanuman, not the one in your books."
"He is the Great Gorilla. He is mighty and strong, like the Jabari."
"Yes. We call on him to make his strength our strength. But far more important than that, we choose the Great Gorilla because gorillas have wisdom. They are strong, yes, but they only fight at need. They love their families fiercely and do not idly hurt them or any other save when they are in danger. They live in harmony with the world, not taking more than they can return. We choose the Great Gorilla because he is intelligent. That is who the Jabari are."
M'Baku had read more books than that. He knew the history of their country, and he still longed for a flying ship. "But the rest of Wakanda worships Bast."
Father smiled, and his eyes twinkled. "A cat. Yes. Cats are sleek and beautiful, and excellent hunters, but they are also lazy and inconstant, and some are cruel. A cat will play with his enemy, or kill it, or eat it, all for sport. A cat will lounge in the sunlight and find easy ways to get what he wants, using magic metal to make flying ships instead of walking on his own feet." He leaned in with a whimsical whisper, "Besides, cats lick their own behinds. You would never catch Hanuman doing that."
M'Baku reached the Throne Room behind many others. As the Prince, he could move his way to the front and stand beside his father's chair, earning only the briefest glance from Father at his tardiness. The rest of his attention was on the young man standing before him.
He looked to be a few years older then M'Baku, and wore the garments common to the Border Tribe. Beside him stood two guards. The youth put on a pretense of calm, but his nervousness shone through.
Father said, "We don't often find spies from the other tribes in our lands. What does T'Chaka want?"
A spy? From the back of the room, M'Baku heard muttering. Someone said the word 'execute.' Father ignored them, focusing his gaze on the interloper.
"I'm not a spy." He became even more agitated. "I was hunting. I didn't realize I was following the track onto Jabari land." That was a lie. The border was clearly marked. Stay away, it said without words.
"Did you succeed in your hunt?"
"No. The guards came and frightened the animal away. That was how I discovered where I was."
"I didn't know there is famine in the rest of Wakanda. Our harvest has been good this season." He raised his hand, and a platter was brought in, filled with piping hot roasted vegetables. "Please, if you are starving, don't fall on ceremony. You're welcome to eat."
The youth took in the meal, which looked like it would be tonight's supper after this was finished. M'Baku had been very tardy coming home. "I'm not starving. Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness." The platter was removed.
"I see. You trespass on our lands to hunt our animals, and you don't even have the excuse that you are hungry?"
"Tell me, have T'Chaka and his scientists conquered death itself with their vibranium trinkets? Had you succeeded in your hunt, could you have given the animal its life back?"
He looked startled and confused. "No. Of course not."
Father shook his head again. He turned away, looking outside for a while and deliberating. M'Baku could read no emotion on his face, but for a moment in profile, he saw age. His father was growing older.
"Take him to the border. Take all the possessions he has on him, including his clothes, then set him free." He gave a sharp look to the guards. They had heard the mutterings, too. "He is not to be harmed or abused in any way."
The guards nodded, and half-led, half-shoved the young man away.
The spectacle over, the Throne Room cleared out, with the low muttering still in the background. M'Baku stayed where he was, a bit amused at the thought of the young man sent naked back home, and a bit perturbed.
When they were alone, he said to his father, "He was a spy."
"I doubt it. T'Chaka is smarter than that."
"What if he is clever enough to cut himself, sending a fool to make us complacent? You should have ordered him to be executed."
Father blinked at M'Baku. "Why?"
M'Baku stared back, but he didn't have an answer. His own youth burned inside him, telling him alternately to fight or run or find the nearest warm body and rut. He wasn't able to do any of the three, and that hurt worse. "To show the others we are strong."
"Then I have had two foolish young men in my Throne Room today." Father sighed. "There are two very good reasons to let him live. The first is that T'Chaka would feel obliged to respond if the Jabari killed one of his people for no reason. That would escalate into a fight none of us wants. If the Jabari send a foolish boy back home looking like an even greater fool, his friends will laugh at him, and he will try to forget he ever came to the mountains." He smiled at his son. "Anyone can fight. It is a more satisfying victory to allow your foe to choke on his own foolishness."
M'Baku shrugged. He saw the wisdom. He did not have to like it.
"And the other reason to let him live?"
Father turned back to the snowy view. "We do not take what we cannot return. We never take what we cannot return." He indicated the fine decorations in the room. "We build with wood because we plant wood to grow again." He touched the furs around M'Baku's shoulders. "We take only the furs of creatures that have died, or those we defended ourselves against." He looked at M'Baku's face. "If you took his life, could you give it back to him?"
"The Jabari are not murderers. We only kill when we must. We do not hunt for sport or pleasure, and we have food enough not to steal the life of an animal to eat. A man's life is worth no less than that. Tell me you understand."
M'Baku nodded his head. "I do."
"I hope so. You will be leader after me. The Jabari are the greatest tribe of all the people on the Earth, and they deserve only the best leader. Every day, I try to live up to that responsibility. Some days I fail. Today was a good day."
"I will try to be a good leader, Father."
Unexpectedly, Father reached out and touched M'Baku's chest over his heart. "I know you will succeed."
T'Challa sprawled in M'Baku's bed, lounging then twisting against the deep cushion in an effort to get comfortable. M'Baku watched him, chuckling at the sight. Amusing as he found T'Challa's contortions, though, they were enough to make him think the two of them were due for another round if T'Challa didn't fall into a nap instead like he usually did after they finished.
"What is it?" T'Challa asked him, one eye open and the other hidden by a blanket.
T'Challa rolled his eyes. He was more like his sister than he wanted to admit, but his sister wasn't the one here tonight. "Yes," he said patiently. "That's what a panther is."
"I know." M'Baku placed a hand against T'Challa's hip, enjoying the warmth. Cool bedrooms were good for sleeping, and even better for huddling together with another to get warm again. "That's why you worship Bast."
"Because cats are quick and sleek and attractive." He grinned at M'Baku, and yes, they were definitely due another round.
"And lazy, and impulsive, and inconstant as a cloud. You let your technology do your work for you, and you're always running off to save the world."
T'Challa sat up, bringing his face closer to M'Baku's. "You think I am inconstant." M'Baku didn't answer. T'Challa took his hand and placed it against his chest. M'Baku could feel his heart beating. "I am as constant as the stars. I am here as long as you are."
It was impossible to feel light. M'Baku knew this. He was no longer a small child. But he wanted to believe he felt the starlight inside T'Challa, warming through his arm and into him. They'd come together to bind the tribes, the Jabari and the rest of Wakanda at last rejoined. That was politics. This was more. M'Baku had the terrible feeling he was falling in love with this man.
"I am here as long as you," he said back to T'Challa, and he meant it. "But you are still a cat and you will lick your own behind."
"I am not that flexible. But if you ask me nicely, I might lick yours."
M'Baku met his smile with another. "Then I will ask you very nicely."
Their son was tiny, but big enough to walk. T'Challa fretted about the cold. M'Baku assured him it would be fine.
"You should worry about your own traditions and let me tend to mine."
"My traditions said he should have had a name when he was born."
"Yes," M'Baku said, "and that is very silly. Now we know who he is. He will have a good name for himself."
They quarreled like this often when they were alone, gentle pokes with no barb. In public, they spoke with one voice, and Ramonda gave her grandson a name to use during official appearances. They called him 'darling child' and 'sweet boy', and he knew only smiles.
"We could take my ship," T'Challa tried one last time. "We could fly there in less than a minute. It would keep him safe from the cold."
M'Baku thought of the steep mountain, and the cold snow, and the hard climb with a little boy. "No. Some things he must learn to do the slow way. The best things should be done slowly." Then he kissed his husband, promising with his lips the warm, slow time they could share after he returned.
By the time M'Baku reached the highest part of the mountain, the cold was deep in his bones. He wrapped his child more warmly in his arms, and knew he had made the right choice.
"We came from the stars, my son," M'Baku told him. "Our bodies grew on Earth, but our souls descended from light." He pressed his lips against the boy's hair, and touched his fingers to where his little heart beat against the cold and the dark, burning like a distant sun. "You are made of light."
The boy laughed as he looked up at the dazzling stars. M'Baku told him his name.