text:
"""
This module implements the central object of MoviePy, the Clip, and
all the methods that are common to the two subclasses of Clip, VideoClip
and AudioClip.
"""

from copy import copy

import numpy as np
import proglog

from moviepy.decorators import (
    apply_to_audio,
    apply_to_mask,
    convert_parameter_to_seconds,
    outplace,
    requires_duration,
    use_clip_fps_by_default,
)

class Clip:

    """

    Base class of all clips (VideoClips and AudioClips).

    Attributes
    -----------

    start:
      When the clip is included in a composition, time of the
      composition at which the clip starts playing (in seconds).

    end:
      When the clip is included in a composition, time of the
      composition at which the clip stops playing (in seconds).

    duration:
      Duration of the clip (in seconds). Some clips are infinite, in
      this case their duration will be ``None``.

    """

    # prefix for all temporary video and audio files.
    # You can overwrite it with
    # >>> Clip._TEMP_FILES_PREFIX = "temp_"

    _TEMP_FILES_PREFIX = "TEMP_MPY_"

    def __init__(self):

        self.start = 0
        self.end = None
        self.duration = None

        self.memoize = False
        self.memoized_t = None
        self.memoized_frame = None

    def copy(self):
        """Shallow copy of the clip.

        Returns a shallow copy of the clip whose mask and audio will
        be shallow copies of the clip's mask and audio if they exist.

        This method is intensively used to produce new clips every time
        there is an outplace transformation of the clip (clip.resize,
        clip.subclip, etc.)
        """

        new_clip = copy(self)
        if hasattr(self, "audio"):
            new_clip.audio = copy(self.audio)
        if hasattr(self, "mask"):
            new_clip.mask = copy(self.mask)

        return new_clip

    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["t"])
    def get_frame(self, t):
        """
        Gets a numpy array representing the RGB picture of the clip at time t
        or (mono or stereo) value for a sound clip
        """
        # Coming soon: smart error handling for debugging at this point
        if self.memoize:
            if t == self.memoized_t:
                return self.memoized_frame
            else:
                frame = self.make_frame(t)
                self.memoized_t = t
                self.memoized_frame = frame
                return frame
        else:
            # print(t)
            return self.make_frame(t)

    def transform(self, func, apply_to=None, keep_duration=True):
        """General processing of a clip.

        Returns a new Clip whose frames are a transformation
        (through function ``func``) of the frames of the current clip.

        Parameters
        -----------

        func
          A function with signature (gf,t -> frame) where ``gf`` will
          represent the current clip's ``get_frame`` method,
          i.e. ``gf`` is a function (t->image). Parameter `t` is a time
          in seconds, `frame` is a picture (=Numpy array) which will be
          returned by the transformed clip (see examples below).

        apply_to
          Can be either ``'mask'``, or ``'audio'``, or
          ``['mask','audio']``.
          Specifies if the filter should also be applied to the
          audio or the mask of the clip, if any.

        keep_duration
          Set to True if the transformation does not change the
          ``duration`` of the clip.

        Examples
        --------

        In the following ``new_clip`` a 100 pixels-high clip whose video
        content scrolls from the top to the bottom of the frames of
        ``clip`` at 50 pixels per second.

        >>> filter = lambda get_frame,t : get_frame(t)[int(t):int(t)+50, :]
        >>> new_clip = clip.transform(filter, apply_to='mask')

        """
        if apply_to is None:
            apply_to = []

        # mf = copy(self.make_frame)
        new_clip = self.with_make_frame(lambda t: func(self.get_frame, t))

        if not keep_duration:
            new_clip.duration = None
            new_clip.end = None

        if isinstance(apply_to, str):
            apply_to = [apply_to]

        for attribute in apply_to:
            attribute_value = getattr(new_clip, attribute, None)
            if attribute_value is not None:
                new_attribute_value = attribute_value.transform(
                    func, keep_duration=keep_duration
                )
                setattr(new_clip, attribute, new_attribute_value)

        return new_clip

    def time_transform(self, time_func, apply_to=None, keep_duration=False):
        """
        Returns a Clip instance playing the content of the current clip
        but with a modified timeline, time ``t`` being replaced by another
        time `time_func(t)`.

        Parameters
        -----------

        time_func:
          A function ``t -> new_t``

        apply_to:
          Can be either 'mask', or 'audio', or ['mask','audio'].
          Specifies if the filter ``transform`` should also be applied to the
          audio or the mask of the clip, if any.

        keep_duration:
          ``False`` (default) if the transformation modifies the
          ``duration`` of the clip.

        Examples
        --------

        >>> # plays the clip (and its mask and sound) twice faster
        >>> new_clip = clip.time_transform(lambda: 2*t, apply_to=['mask', 'audio'])
        >>>
        >>> # plays the clip starting at t=3, and backwards:
        >>> new_clip = clip.time_transform(lambda: 3-t)

        """
        if apply_to is None:
            apply_to = []

        return self.transform(
            lambda get_frame, t: get_frame(time_func(t)),
            apply_to,
            keep_duration=keep_duration,
        )

    def fx(self, func, *args, **kwargs):
        """

        Returns the result of ``func(self, *args, **kwargs)``.
        for instance

        >>> new_clip = clip.fx(resize, 0.2, method="bilinear")

        is equivalent to

        >>> new_clip = resize(clip, 0.2, method="bilinear")

        The motivation of fx is to keep the name of the effect near its
        parameters when the effects are chained:

        >>> from moviepy.video.fx import volumex, resize, mirrorx
        >>> clip.fx(volumex, 0.5).fx(resize, 0.3).fx(mirrorx)
        >>> # Is equivalent, but clearer than
        >>> mirrorx(resize(volumex(clip, 0.5), 0.3))
        """

        return func(self, *args, **kwargs)

    @apply_to_mask
    @apply_to_audio
    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["t"])
    @outplace
    def with_start(self, t, change_end=True):
        """
        Returns a copy of the clip, with the ``start`` attribute set
        to ``t``, which can be expressed in seconds (15.35), in (min, sec),
        in (hour, min, sec), or as a string: '01:03:05.35'.

        If ``change_end=True`` and the clip has a ``duration`` attribute,
        the ``end`` atrribute of the clip will be updated to
        ``start+duration``.

        If ``change_end=False`` and the clip has a ``end`` attribute,
        the ``duration`` attribute of the clip will be updated to
        ``end-start``

        These changes are also applied to the ``audio`` and ``mask``
        clips of the current clip, if they exist.
        """

        self.start = t
        if (self.duration is not None) and change_end:
            self.end = t + self.duration
        elif self.end is not None:
            self.duration = self.end - self.start

    @apply_to_mask
    @apply_to_audio
    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["t"])
    @outplace
    def with_end(self, t):
        """
        Returns a copy of the clip, with the ``end`` attribute set to
        ``t``, which can be expressed in seconds (15.35), in (min, sec),
        in (hour, min, sec), or as a string: '01:03:05.35'.
        Also sets the duration of the mask and audio, if any,
        of the returned clip.
        """
        self.end = t
        if self.end is None:
            return
        if self.start is None:
            if self.duration is not None:
                self.start = max(0, t - self.duration)
        else:
            self.duration = self.end - self.start

    @apply_to_mask
    @apply_to_audio
    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["t"])
    @outplace
    def with_duration(self, duration, change_end=True):
        """
        Returns a copy of the clip, with the  ``duration`` attribute
        set to ``t``, which can be expressed in seconds (15.35), in (min, sec),
        in (hour, min, sec), or as a string: '01:03:05.35'.
        Also sets the duration of the mask and audio, if any, of the
        returned clip.
        If change_end is False, the start attribute of the clip will
        be modified in function of the duration and the preset end
        of the clip.
        """
        self.duration = duration

        if change_end:
            self.end = None if (duration is None) else (self.start + duration)
        else:
            if self.duration is None:
                raise Exception("Cannot change clip start when new" "duration is None")
            self.start = self.end - duration

    @outplace
    def with_make_frame(self, make_frame):
        """
        Sets a ``make_frame`` attribute for the clip. Useful for setting
        arbitrary/complicated videoclips.
        """
        self.make_frame = make_frame

    def with_fps(self, fps, change_duration=False):
        """Returns a copy of the clip with a new default fps for functions like
        write_videofile, iterframe, etc.
        If ``change_duration=True``, then the video speed will change to match the
        new fps (conserving all frames 1:1). For example, if the fps is
        halved in this mode, the duration will be doubled."""

        if change_duration:
            from moviepy.video.fx.speedx import speedx

            newclip = speedx(self, fps / self.fps)
        else:
            newclip = self.copy()

        newclip.fps = fps
        return newclip

    @outplace
    def with_is_mask(self, is_mask):
        """ Says wheter the clip is a mask or not (is_mask is a boolean)"""
        self.is_mask = is_mask

    @outplace
    def with_memoize(self, memoize):
        """ Sets wheter the clip should keep the last frame read in memory """
        self.memoize = memoize

    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["t"])
    def is_playing(self, t):
        """
        If t is a time, returns true if t is between the start and
        the end of the clip. t can be expressed in seconds (15.35),
        in (min, sec), in (hour, min, sec), or as a string: '01:03:05.35'.
        If t is a numpy array, returns False if none of the t is in
        theclip, else returns a vector [b_1, b_2, b_3...] where b_i
        is true iff tti is in the clip.
        """

        if isinstance(t, np.ndarray):
            # is the whole list of t outside the clip ?
            tmin, tmax = t.min(), t.max()

            if (self.end is not None) and (tmin >= self.end):
                return False

            if tmax < self.start:
                return False

            # If we arrive here, a part of t falls in the clip
            result = 1 * (t >= self.start)
            if self.end is not None:
                result *= t <= self.end
            return result

        else:

            return (t >= self.start) and ((self.end is None) or (t < self.end))

    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["start_time", "end_time"])
    @apply_to_mask
    @apply_to_audio
    def subclip(self, start_time=0, end_time=None):
        """
        Returns a clip playing the content of the current clip
        between times ``start_time`` and ``end_time``, which can be expressed
        in seconds (15.35), in (min, sec), in (hour, min, sec), or as a
        string: '01:03:05.35'.
        If ``end_time`` is not provided, it is assumed to be the duration
        of the clip (potentially infinite).
        If ``end_time`` is a negative value, it is reset to
        ``clip.duration + end_time. ``. For instance: ::

            >>> # cut the last two seconds of the clip:
            >>> new_clip = clip.subclip(0,-2)

        If ``end_time`` is provided or if the clip has a duration attribute,
        the duration of the returned clip is set automatically.

        The ``mask`` and ``audio`` of the resulting subclip will be
        subclips of ``mask`` and ``audio`` the original clip, if
        they exist.
        """

        if start_time < 0:
            # Make this more Python-like, a negative value means to move
            # backward from the end of the clip
            start_time = self.duration + start_time  # Remember start_time is negative

        if (self.duration is not None) and (start_time > self.duration):
            raise ValueError(
                "start_time (%.02f) " % start_time
                + "should be smaller than the clip's "
                + "duration (%.02f)." % self.duration
            )

        new_clip = self.time_transform(lambda t: t + start_time, apply_to=[])

        if (end_time is None) and (self.duration is not None):

            end_time = self.duration

        elif (end_time is not None) and (end_time < 0):

            if self.duration is None:

                print(
                    "Error: subclip with negative times (here %s)"
                    % (str((start_time, end_time)))
                    + " can only be extracted from clips with a ``duration``"
                )

            else:

                end_time = self.duration + end_time

        if end_time is not None:

            new_clip.duration = end_time - start_time
            new_clip.end = new_clip.start + new_clip.duration

        return new_clip

    @apply_to_mask
    @apply_to_audio
    @convert_parameter_to_seconds(["start_time", "end_time"])
    def cutout(self, start_time, end_time):
        """
        Returns a clip playing the content of the current clip but
        skips the extract between ``start_time`` and ``end_time``, which can be
        expressed in seconds (15.35), in (min, sec), in (hour, min, sec),
        or as a string: '01:03:05.35'.
        If the original clip has a ``duration`` attribute set,
        the duration of the returned clip  is automatically computed as
        `` duration - (end_time - start_time)``.

        The resulting clip's ``audio`` and ``mask`` will also be cutout
        if they exist.
        """

        new_clip = self.time_transform(
            lambda t: t + (t >= start_time) * (end_time - start_time)
        )

        if self.duration is not None:

            return new_clip.with_duration(self.duration - (end_time - start_time))

        else:

            return new_clip

    @requires_duration
    @use_clip_fps_by_default
    def iter_frames(self, fps=None, with_times=False, logger=None, dtype=None):
        """Iterates over all the frames of the clip.

        Returns each frame of the clip as a HxWxN np.array,
        where N=1 for mask clips and N=3 for RGB clips.

        This function is not really meant for video editing.
        It provides an easy way to do frame-by-frame treatment of
        a video, for fields like science, computer vision...

        The ``fps`` (frames per second) parameter is optional if the
        clip already has a ``fps`` attribute.

        Use dtype="uint8" when using the pictures to write video, images...

        Examples
        ---------

        >>> # prints the maximum of red that is contained
        >>> # on the first line of each frame of the clip.
        >>> from moviepy.editor import VideoFileClip
        >>> myclip = VideoFileClip('myvideo.mp4')
        >>> print ( [frame[0,:,0].max()
                     for frame in myclip.iter_frames()])
        """
        logger = proglog.default_bar_logger(logger)
        for frame_index in logger.iter_bar(t=np.arange(0, int(self.duration * fps))):
            # int is used to ensure that floating point errors are rounded
            # down to the nearest integer
            t = frame_index / fps

            frame = self.get_frame(t)
            if (dtype is not None) and (frame.dtype != dtype):
                frame = frame.astype(dtype)
            if with_times:
                yield t, frame
            else:
                yield frame

    def close(self):
        """
        Release any resources that are in use.
        """

        #    Implementation note for subclasses:
        #
        #    * Memory-based resources can be left to the garbage-collector.
        #    * However, any open files should be closed, and subprocesses
        #      should be terminated.
        #    * Be wary that shallow copies are frequently used.
        #      Closing a Clip may affect its copies.
        #    * Therefore, should NOT be called by __del__().
        pass

    def __eq__(self, other):
        if not isinstance(other, Clip):
            return NotImplemented

        # Make sure that the total number of frames is the same
        self_length = self.duration * self.fps
        other_length = other.duration * other.fps
        if self_length != other_length:
            return False

        # Make sure that each frame is the same
        for frame1, frame2 in zip(self.iter_frames(), other.iter_frames()):
            if not np.array_equal(frame1, frame2):
                return False

        return True

    # Support the Context Manager protocol, to ensure that resources are cleaned up.

    def __enter__(self):
        return self

    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, traceback):
        self.close()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The outbreak of armed conflict in Homs between Syrian security forces and armed members of the opposition on Monday September 26, marks the first large-scale battle between the opposition and the government since the start of the Syrian revolution over six months ago. While the opposition has not officially announced its intent to take up arms and many argue fervently against such a move, the momentum unleashed by the opposition's use of violence will be difficult to control. This development threatens to push the country into the throes of civil war whilst also fueling the government's claim that it is fighting armed groups, not unarmed civilians. Nonviolent opposition rarely succeeds in the face of security forces willing to take up arms against civilians, however, thus rendering alternatives to insurrection increasingly unacceptable to those confronting violent security crackdowns out on the streets.
On Sunday, tanks were reportedly deployed to the central town of Rastan in Homs province, as well as in surrounding areas. The deployments came in response to continued unrest in the area, where according to a broad number of sources, activists have increasingly taken up arms in response to violent security crackdowns. Three civilians were injured during the incursion. The same reported indicate that 12 people were killed in Qusseir, another town in Homs province that day.
The military incursion in Rastan continued on throughout the week, with reports of heavy gunfire and explosions heard day and night around the town. Videos suggest that protestors were still taking to the streets in the area, regardless of the crack down.
International reportage on Wednesday indicated that, "At least 1,000 deserters and armed villagers have been fighting tank- and helicopter-backed forces trying to regain control" of Rastan. A number of buildings in the town had reportedly caught fire in what foreign journalists are terming the government's "first major battle with defecting soldiers" since the revolution began over six months ago.
Reports of casualties have not yet been issued.
The numbers of protestors out on the streets rallying arguably reached its peak in July, with millions demonstrating in country-wide protests and areas such as Hama and Deir ez-Zor temporarily falling outside of government control. The month of Ramadan ushered in the unprecedented use of violence against suspected and actual civilian dissidents, with an end result of thousands more arrested and killed. By early September, the number of demonstrators taking to the streets had notably dwindled. This trend continues as the month of October approaches.
Nevertheless, while fewer revolutionaries are taking to the streets, the death toll continues its rapid rise as security and military forces continue in an aggressive campaign to crush the uprising. Activists and analysts are increasingly stating that Syrian revolutionaries have not given up the fight and that while fewer are taking to the streets, more are willing to consider taking up arms to protect the revolution.
This news is not surprising; history suggests that peaceful resistance only succeeds when members of the security and military forces find themselves increasingly unwilling to shoot peaceful revolutionaries. In Syria's case, those forces have instead demonstrated fierce loyalty to the current government and willingness to fight for it - irregardless of the civilian nature of the opposition.
It seems the Syrian revolution is entering a new phase - likely a war of attrition led by some members of the opposition, whilst others continue to organize peaceful resistance. At present, areas central to the former component of the revolution include Homs and Idlib, where large numbers of military deserters and armed members of the opposition have reportedly taken hold of certain neighborhoods and small towns. As the revolution moves forward, these regions in particular, will test the strength and cohesiveness of the Syrian military.
Middle East expert Vali Nasr of The Fletcher School explained, "The opposition to the government is gradually transforming into more of an armed resistance. The brutality of the regime has become enormous and there is increasing pressure on people to defend their families and their villages. They clearly have won a moral argument against the government, but physically it doesn't protect them." Nasr continued, "The argument for arming yourself is very strong, whether you think Assad is going to survive or fall. People are becoming increasingly unconvinced a peaceful transition is in the cards. So either the regime will survive with enormous brutality or it will fall to chaos and violence. Either way, people are taking to arms."
However, many activists are deeply opposed to the revolution adopting militant methods. In a statement a month ago, the Local Coordination Committees asserted that, "While we understand the motivation to take up arms or call for military intervention, we specifically reject this position. Militarization would ... erode the moral superiority that has characterized the revolution since its beginning."
A group of defectors from the Syrian army have reportedly joined forces to begin organizing armed opposition to the Syrian government. At present, it is difficult for journalists to ascertain the scope of the group's organization - termed the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Group members claim they number around 10,000 - though many analysts believe the number to be smaller. Regardless, by most accounts the number of army defections has increased considerably in recent weeks.
According to The Washington Post, diplomatic sources maintain that while the FSA is far from posing a real threat to the current government, it does maintain a challenging presence in Jabal Zawiya along the country's border with Turkey, in the central city of Homs and in Deir ez-Zor in the east. At the same time, the FSA is reportedly expanding its operations, announcing just last week the formation of 12 new battalions in locales around the country and setting up defensive units in neighborhoods particularly rocked by security crackdowns.
According to the FSA, the group is armed with antiaircraft guns, Kalashnikovs, and rocket-propelled grenades. Such pronouncements are indeed consistent with international reportage in recent months, indicating a stark increase in the volume of weapons and artillery smuggled into the country.
The issue of army defections raises sectarian concerns as the majority of the Syrian army's low-ranking conscripts are Sunnis whilst the upper echelons of the military are nearly all comprised of Alawis who are and likely will remain loyal to the current government. While this "sectarian imbalance" with time would likely play in favor of the opposition, it could also result in broad scale sectarian conflict.
On September 13, one month after she reportedly disappeared after leaving her family home to buy groceries, 18-year-old Zainab al-Husni was discovered by her mother in a morgue in Homs. Zainab had been beheaded and dismembered. Her mother had travelled to the morgue to identify her son Mohammed's body, when she found Zainab. Medics has informed her of another unclaimed body in the morgue bearing her daughter's name.
Zainab's brother Mohammed had been a prominent member of the opposition and it is reported that Zainab was taken into custody as a means of threatening her bother and persuading him to turn himself over to the police. This particular approach to threatening activists is increasingly employed by security forces. Mohammed was killed on September 10, when security forces opened fire on protestors in Homs.
It is not yet confirmed that Zainab died whilst in police custody. If this indeed proves to be the case, hers will become one of the most disturbing of the hundreds of cases allegedly government-sanctioned torture and killing since the revolution began over six months ago. Zainab's case has rippled across international media. For more reportage, click here (CNN), here (BBC), here (Amnesty International), here (The New York Times), here (The National) and here (Iloubnan).
Amnesty International: "Arrests and Death Threats Silence Syrian Activists"
A new report issued by Amnesty International on September 27, "Arrests and Death Threats Silence Syrian Activists", indicates that Syrian security forces have adopted a new approach to quelling the unrest that seems to have contributed to a significant reduction in protestor numbers. Security forces have taken to targeting protest organizers, disappearing them and all those associated with them. Those left behind are confronted with threats from security to disappear and torture friends and family members. Growing numbers of dissidents and those suspected of such activities are never seen again - or turn up days and in some cases weeks later, dead.
A group of researchers from Pepperdine University conducted an in-country survey of 551 Syrian nationals over the course of the summer, to find out about their political views, sentiments about the current Syrian government and those protesting against it, as well as their overall perspective of the country's future. While the poll's methodology and results analyses have a number of issues (small sample size, gender, educational, technological and subject selection biases), it nevertheless makes for an interesting read. For a recap of the results by Foreign Policy, click here. For the full report entitled, "Survey FIndings: Syria 2011 Public Opinion Survey," click here.
US Ambassador Ford - "time is not on the side of the [Syrian] government"
In an interview with Reuters on Thursday September 22, US Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford asserted that the intensification of government crackdowns against members of the Syrian opposition only risked pushing the country farther down the road to full-on sectarian conflict and civil war. According to Ford, "The government violence is actually creating retaliation and creating even more violence in our analysis, and it is also increasing the risk of sectarian conflict." Most of the violence "is coming from the government and its security forces," said Ford. "That can either be shooting at peaceful protests or funeral processions or when government forces go into homes. We have had recently a number of deaths in custody, or extra-judicial killings," he continued.
On the issue of the Syrian opposition and its questionable cohesiveness, Ford stated that "The other part of the protest movement is to have a genuine frame for a democratic transition. I think that this is something which different elements of the Syrian opposition are trying to organize. It probably has two elements. One element is to have some agreed principles about how a reformed Syrian state would look and how it would operate, and another element would be how would a Syrian transition be arranged."
"I don't think that the Syrian government today, September 22, is close to collapse. I think time is against the regime because the economy is going into a more difficult situation, the protest movement is continuing and little by little groups that used to support the government are beginning to change," Ford said.
Ford sees the Syrian army as strong and cohesive, but believes that "time is not on the side of the government" due to increasing reports in September of army desertions.
On September 23, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey had seized a Syrian-flagged ship in Marmara. No further details on the location of the ship or its contents were disclosed.
In response to the move, Erdogan stated that, "We have already made a decision to stop and prevent any vehicle carrying any type of weapon to Syria. We told them our decision as well as shared it with neighboring countries. As you recall, we had previously made an interception to a ship in Marmara. If there are planes carrying weapons, or such shipments by land, then we would stop and confiscate them as in the past."
Earlier in the week, Turkish authorities has announced that Ankara was officially suspending its talks with Damascus and that it was considering imposing sanctions agains the Syrian government.
On Friday September 23, the European Union imposed another round of sanctions against the Syrian government, this time targeting foreign investment in the country's oil industry. The sanctions prohibit European investment in Syrian ventures "engaged in exploration, production and refining crude oil, both in their country and abroad". The sanctions were imposed due to "the continuing brutal campaign" against Syrian civilians and members of the opposition.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan on Syrian government - "You can never remain in power through cruelty"
In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Saturday September 24, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said of the Syrian government, "You can never remain in power through cruelty. You can never stand before the will of the people. This process might be extended a little bit more but sooner or later in Syria, if people take a different decision, that decision is going to be catered to. Such as in Egypt, such as in Tunisia, such as in Libya. People want to be free."
On his relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Erdogan stated that, "If you're going to act against the fundamental rights, liberties and the law, you will lose your position in my heart as my brother and my friend," Erdogan said. "I was very patient. Patience, patience, patience. And then I cracked."
On Saturday September 24, the French Ambassador to Syria Eric Chevallier was attacked by pro-government crowds in Damascus's old city. The ambassador had reportedly just met with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignace IV when he was attacked by young people throwing eggs and stones. The ambassador was not seriously injured.
UK Ambassador to Syria blogs - "The Truth Is What Big Brother Says It Is"
"Even so, brave individuals continue to find ways through to get out video clips that show Syrian security forces firing into crowds of unarmed protesters, or abusing detainees ...Regime attempts to dismiss most of this as the fabrications of a foreign conspiracy are absurd.
"That's where I hope to come into the picture. As far as I'm concerned this blog will be worth it if it helps to get a discussion going – on this page, with your friends, or even just inside your head – about what's happening, why it's happening, and why it matters…"
Mark C. Toner, deputy spokesman for the US Department of State issued a number of significant statements on the Syria issue during a daily press briefing in Washington on Monday September 26. Asked to give a general update in the situation in Syria, Toner stated that, "In general terms, we've seen continued oppression by the Syrian government, including credible reports that Syrian intelligence services are imprisoning and torturing and killing relatives of dissidents inside Syria as a means of forcing activists to give themselves up. We've seen increased violence over the weekend in other parts of Syria, and we just reiterate our call for the Syrian government to stop the violence."
On the issue of army defections and reports of the opposition shifting toward armed resistance, Toner said "I think it's not surprising, given the level of violence over the past months, that we're now seeing …members of the opposition begin to turn violent, or, rather, begin to use violence against the military as an act of self-preservation. I would say that the opposition's shown extraordinary restraint in the face of the regime's brutality and demanding their rights through peaceful unarmed demonstrations." Toner continued, "It goes without saying that the longer the regime continues to repress, kill, and jail these peaceful activists, the more likely that this peaceful movement's going to become violent. And we would – the onus for this remains on the Syrian government and the Syrian regime that continues to use violence against innocent civilians."
On whether or not the US should encourage a shift toward militance by the opposition, Toner replied "It's not really for us, frankly, to urge the opposition to do anything. They are – clearly, it's a matter of self-defense. Again…what we've seen so far in the struggle, this largely nonviolent struggle, is extraordinary restraint on the part of the opposition."
Pressed farther on whether or not the US condones the opposition's use of violence against Syrian military and security forces, Toner replied "…the government's continued use of violence against innocent civilians, I think, is engendering the opposition to use violence back at the Syrian authorities." He continued, "I just think that it is a dynamic that has been borne of this ongoing repression and violence against them. It's a matter of self-defense."
On Tuesday September 27 in an address to the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced growing claims that Russia and its allies in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc, are implementing an obstructionist policy to counter UN efforts to move forward with a stronger response to Syria's political and humanitarian crisis.
"BRICS does not aim at confrontation with anyone," Lavrov told the Assembly. "Its goal is to enhance productive multilateral collaboration to address the urgent problems of the contemporary world,"
On the issue of Syria, Lavrov stated that, "As for Syria, it is inadmissible to boycott proposals on a national dialogue, stir up confrontation and provoke violence, while neglecting, albeit late, but still achievable reforms proposed by President Bashar al-Assad."
On Thursday September 22, the Syrian government imposed a ban against imports of nearly all foreign goods with a tariff of more than five percent - except for grains and raw materials. The move is reportedly aimed at preserving the country's foreign currency reserves as the country falls under deepening pressure from international sanctions. At the start of the year, foreign currency reserves stood at an estimated USD 18 billion.
Items now banned from importation include cars and electrical goods as well as luxury items. There are some 51 exceptions to the ban, most of which include medical supplies and certain types of food. For more information, click here.
The move has reportedly already sent shock waves through the country's economy, with most anticipating a worsening of both inflationary pressures and investor confidence. Prices of affected items have already skyrocketed - in some cases increasing by 40 percent. At the same time, many expect illicit trade to flourish as a consequence of the decision. Further, while the government maintains that such a move is also intended to benefit local industries, as the move is also termed a temporary one, it is unlikely that Syrian manufactures and businesses will invest in expanding their operations when the ban could be lifted at any moment.
On September 26, international media reported that the Syrian government had officially requested that foreign oil companies operating in the country cut back on oil production. The government has been unable to find buyers for its oil outside of the European Union - which previously purchased some 95 percent of the country's oil exports. Though the government is attempting to attract buyers by offering oil at discounted rates, it has yet to find any buyers. There is now a considerable backlog in the country's supplies with storage facilities now filling up. Foreign producers have been asked to scale back production by as much as 40 percent. Some fear that the current drop in production will last long after producers find buyers for their product.
The sanctions have had a broader impact that expected by EU officials, as banks are now increasingly resistant to opening letters of credits with Syrian ventures - even if the products will not be shipped to the EU. At the same time, tankers are wary of sending vessels to Syrian ports given the country's security crisis.
For more related articles, click here (Reuters) and here (The New York Times).
"There are also local self-defence militias and armed civilians throughout various villages and slums. Though many are socially and religiously conservative, they do not appear to consider themselves mujahedin or otherwise fit the stereotype of Islamic extremists. Accordingly, individuals have told me that Islam does provide them with inspiration and strength but they do not fight for Islam and their goals are generally secular."
"Armed Defenders of Syria's Revolution" - Al Jazeera - The second installment of Nir Rosen's reportage on the arming of the Syrian revolution. This article details known clashes between security and military forces and defectors. As Rosen writes, "For the most part, unarmed opposition activists seeking the overthrow of the regime have used demonstrations as their guerrilla tactic. The regime has succeeded in containing or suppressing the opposition, limiting the times and places they can demonstrate. The opposition has failed to expand its constituency outside the Sunni majority or even to win over the Sunni bourgeois of Damascus and Aleppo. Sectarian hatred grows on both sides, leading to early signs of communal violence. At the same time, a more professional and organised armed opposition movement has emerged." Among such groups, is the Khalid bin al Walid Brigade in Homs - a group of several hundred defected soldiers who have taken up the defense of the areas protestors.
On the scale and methods of the attacks waged by armed elements of the opposition, Rosen writes: "The effectiveness of such small scale hit-and-run attacks is not clear. Opposition members feel they have been pushed to violence by a brutal regime that shows itself incapable of or unwilling to fulfill its promises of reform. However, this level of opposition violence cannot overthrow the regime." He continues, "It does allow the regime to justify its narrative of fighting armed groups. In addition, it allows foreign backers of the regime, such as Russia, to justify their intransigent support for it. Insiders in the Russian foreign ministry maintain that Syria is in a civil war, with two sides fighting, and not just a government killing unarmed demonstrators. Instead the Russians maintain that both sides provoke each other and respond with violence."
"Syria: New Report Indicates Over 5,000 Deaths Since March" - Spero News - An article detailing the reasons for the sudden near doubling of the revolution's death toll. While some 3,004 names have been triple-checked by researchers and activists, another 2,356 names had been registered as dead, but had not been officially verified. The article details the complexity of tracking such statistics in Syria as well as allegations of the government's 'shoot to kill' policy - which are supported by the reality that 60 percent of those civilians verified as killed, suffered from gunshot wounds in the upper portions of their bodies - including the chest, neck and head. The article also discusses the killing of Syrian children - 148 of whom, according to rights group Avaaz, have been killed since the revolution began. According to the same group, 16 of those children were tortured to death whilst in police custody.
"BBC Syria - Inside the Secret Revolution Panorama" - BBC - A well-done documentary on the start of the Syrian revolution in Daraa. Just under 30 minutes long.
"Fearing Change, Syria's Christians Back Assad" - The New York Times - Syrian Christians, about ten percent of the country's population, are increasingly criticized for continuing to back the current government. While some have been active members of the opposition and indeed two key opposition figures, Michel Kilo and Fayez Saram are both Christians, fears of the unknown and the possibility of repression under a new government keep many from throwing their full weight behind the opposition. Such concerns are shared across the region: "The plight of Christians in Syria has resonated among religious minorities across the Middle East, many of whom see themselves as facing a shared destiny. In Iraq, the number of Christians had dwindled to insignificance since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, driven away by bloodshed and chauvinism. Christians in Egypt worry about the ascent of Islamists. Christians in Lebanon, representing the largest minority by share in the Arab world, worry about their own future, in a country where they emerged as the distinct losers of a 15-year civil war." Yet, as the author writes, "The formula often offered of the Syrian divide — religious minorities on Mr. Assad's side, the Sunni Muslim majority aligned against him — never captured the nuance of a struggle that may define Syria for generations…But while the promise of the Arab revolts is a new order, shorn of repression and inequality, worries linger that Islamists, the single most organized force in the region, will gain greater influence and that societies will become more conservative and perhaps intolerant."
"The 'Fake' Cities of Syria's Unrest" - The Atlantic - An article on allegations by Addounia TV that Al Jazeera's video and film footage of the unrest in Syria is actually staged in replicas of Syrian cities. According to Addounia (which is owned by Mohamed Hamsho, brother-in-law of Maher al-Assad, commander of Syria's Republican Guard and the brother of President Assad), the news is staged by actors with help from French and American directors. As author Nate Berg sardonically notes: "…if such a monumental building project were to take place, a pretty surreal alternate reality could be created. Maybe the Syrian government could even follow its own line of reasoning and build some fake cities to counter the fake cities … they could film a smoothly-functioning government that respects the will of its people. In Syria right now, a film set in a fake city might be the only place to find such a thing." To view a YouTube video of Addounia's original broadcast titled "Addounia TV hitting the crack pipe, 9 Sept. 2011" by its uploader, click here.
"Robert Ford: Families of Syrian-American Protesters Being Tortured by Regime" - Foreign Policy - US Ambassador Ford confirmed to sources at Foreign Policy that a number of Syrian-Americans who have spoken out against the current Syria government have seen their family members back in Syria subsequently arrested, beaten and in some cases, tortured.
"A Week in Syria" - The Year of Change (Blogspot) - A short but good post by blogger Arabista about her recent trip to Damascus and the contrast between seemingly ordinary life in central Damascus and the military incursion underway in Harasta.
"Harvard Website Hacked by Syria Protesters" - BBC - On Monday September 26, the official website of Harvard University was hacked by supporters of the Syrian government. The article details the attack - and the growing number of related events in recent months.
"Analysis: Iraqi Shi'ites Fear Fallout of Syria Turbulence" - Reuters - Rania El Gamal explores concerns among Iraqi Shi'ites of the fallout from the collapse of the current Syrian government. Principal among them, are fears of a reigniting of sectarian conflict as fighting in Syria inevitably pours into neighboring Iraq. Proxy wars between Iran and Saudi Arabia are also of particular concern. A good backgrounder for those looking to better understand sectarian dynamics in the region.
"Razan Zeitouneh, la frondeuse de Damas" - Madame Le Figaro - An interview (in French) with Razan Zeitouneh, a 34-year-old human rights lawyer who has been in hiding since the Syrian government accused her of working as a foreign spy. Both her brother and husband have been arrested.
"Averting a Civil War in Syria" - The Washington Post - The Washington Post Editorial Board issues its latest advice for US policymakers on how to respond to the worsening crisis in Syria. Acknowledging the existence of an armed Syrian opposition, the Board notes that the US should not support the use of violence in Syria by any side, and that while the US government has ruled out the possibility of intervention, it can still "drop its back-seat approach and lead a more aggressive effort to raise the pressure on Mr. Assad." The Board continues, "The [US] administration can press Russia, China and the Arab League to endorse tougher sanctions, and urge Turkey to break with the regime and provide protection for refugees. It would be far easier for the United States to act energetically now than to deal with the crisis that a real civil war would create."


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Tramadol Side Effects
How Tramadol Works
Tramadol Withdrawal Symptoms
Is Tramadol Addictive?
When it comes to treating pain, there are many different prescription medications a doctor could choose. Among these are opiates and narcotics, which depending on the medication can produce similar results. However, one drug in particular that has been proven effective and relatively safe for treating moderate to moderately severe pain, as well as other health issues, is Tramadol. Although this medication provides narcotic-like relief, it is an opiate. To explain what this means and answer the question, "Is Tramadol addictive", we felt it important to offer helpful insight.
Overview of Tramadol
For starters, we wanted to go over some of the key components of Tramadol. This drug is a "centrally acting analgesic", which is comprised of opioid agonist properties. While oral medication in the form of tablets, capsules, and pills is the most common delivery system, Tramadol can also be administered intramuscular, rectally, and intravenously. As mentioned, the effects are "narcotic-like" and in fact, Tramadol compares to morphine and hydrocodone. Tramadol has also been shown to be equivalent in potency to mesperidine and one-firth as potent as nalbuphine.
Now, when given in the form of an IV at a dose of 50 to 150 milligrams, Tramadol has the analgesic efficacy equivalent to Morphine when administered post-surgery. In comparison, the potency when administered via an epidural is just one-thirtieth. While there are times when a delivery system other than oral is used, studies show when administered orally Tramadol is the most effective.
The benefits of Tramadol over other types of medication is that it works both short- and long-term, it is well-tolerated by people of all ages, again, there are multiple delivery systems, and because it is not a narcotic, it does not need to be monitored or regulated by the United States Federal Government.
Addictive Properties
For most people, Tramadol remains highly effective for up to six months on average. At that point, efficacy levels begin to taper off, which is when the danger of addiction sets in. Even though this is a non-narcotic medication, the problem is that once effectiveness begins to decline an individual can get caught up in a cycle of taking more to get the same level of relief. At the point when Tramadol no longer works as it did initially, it would be essential for a doctor to consider other options for medication.
The misconception is that because Tramadol is a non-narcotic drug, it is non-addictive. Although the risk of addiction is much lower with Tramadol over other pain medications, the truth is that any type of drug can be misused and abused, which is why learning the facts is so critical. With this particular medication, the longer a person takes it the greater risk for dependency and addiction. Remember, Tramadol is a synthetic opiate (opioid), with effects that are very similar to morphine and hydrocodone. What happens is that opiate receptors in the brain are bound, which in turn helps block pain signals sent from the central and reflex sympathetic nervous systems.
As stated, one of the issues with Tramadol is that over time, effectiveness decreases. To compensate for this, the dosage is often increased, as opposed to changing the prescription to another drug for treatment. This means that Tramadol can eventually serve as a gateway for a person to take even harder opiates and in some cases, narcotics.
Interestingly, some people have used Tramadol as a recreational drug instead of medication to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. Recreational drug users have turned to crushing and snorting Tramadol but just as someone who uses this drug for pain but has experienced diminished relief, more and more of the drug is needed to get the same effect. For the most part, there is low risk for becoming addicted to Tramadol but if signs of addiction are not heeded or if the drug is outright abused, there is potential for danger.
Tips for Avoiding Risk of Addiction
For many people, the signs of dependency and addiction are slow occurring and thereby easy to miss. If someone on this medication begins to notice one or more of the following, it would be imperative to speak to the prescribing doctor right away.
Anxiety or fear of stopping the medication
Concern over withdrawal symptoms
Physical discomfort after not taking Tramadol
Noted mood swings
Taking a higher dose than prescribed or doctor-shopping to stay on Tramadol longer than necessary
Preoccupation in getting the drug
Ongoing use even though family members and friends have stated concern
It is important to understand that when Tramadol is misused or abused there are negative effects. For instance, a person would experience nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, constipation, drowsiness, and sometimes shallow breathing. Remember, compared to other prescription medications used to treat pain among other things, Tramadol is one of the drugs with low risk for addiction but in saying this, it is still a drug that must be respected and taken according to a doctor's orders.
Causes of Tramadol Addiction
Risk of Tramadol Addiction
Dangers of Tramadol Abuse (Including Narcotic/Recreational Use)
Is Tramadol A Narcotic?
Side Effects Of Tramadol
Alternate Pain Relief Medications Compared to Tramadol
Frequently Asked Questions About Tramadol
Tramadol Withdrawal in Neonates (Babies)
Pros and Cons of Tramadol
Tramadol and Alcohol
Tramadol and Pregnancy
Tramadol and Breastfeeding
Applications of Tramadol (Other Than Pain)
Serotonin Syndrome Caused By Tramadol
Tramadol Compared To Other Pain Medication
Tramadol and Ibuprofen Comparison
Tramadol and Vicodin Comparison
Bans on Tramadol
Responses to Drug Reactions
Risks of Seizures with Tramadol
Tramadol Dosage
Oral vs Intravenous (IV) Delivery
Tramadol and Arthritis
Tramadol and Pets
Tramadol on Wikipedia
Wikipedia - Analgesic
Emedtv
What is Ultram?
© 2020 tramadolfacts.com - All rights reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Man indecently assaulted official on day he was released from prison, court hears
Leon Lovell is alleged to have gone behind the woman, grabbed her around the waist, and thrust himself upon her
Jez Hemming
Mold Crown Court
A man indecently assaulted an official who was visiting him on the day he was released from prison, a court heard.
MoldCrown Court heard Leon Lovell, 34, of Percy Road, Wrexham, denies indecent assault at an address belonging to his aunt in Wrexham last year.
Lovell is alleged to have gone behind the woman, grabbed her around the waist, and thrust himself upon her.
He had been released from prison on licence on the day of the alleged assault, the court heard.
Giving evidence, the complainant said: "I had my back to the defendant. He jumped on my back from behind, wrapped me around the waist and thrust himself into my backside.
"I reared up and told him to get off me. I told him to sit there and behave and it wasn't acceptable what he had done."
The woman said that, before the incident, when she had needed Lovell's signature, he asked if he could write "with love".
She also claimed that he asked if he could sign his name with "I love you", and that he later asked her for a date.
"I said you can write whatever you want as long as I get the signature," she said.
The complainant said she was "almost robotic" after the alleged assault.
When she left the property, she called a superior, who insisted she call the police, the court heard.
She had initially been reluctant, fearing she wouldn't be taken seriously, but became upset after she had written a report and saw what had happened "in black and white", the court heard.
When arrested, Lovell gave North Wales Police a written note saying he'd had no physical contact with the woman before giving a no comment interview.
Henry Hills, defending, suggested the complainant was deliberately trying to "make things difficult" for his client, but she replied: "No."
When Mr Hills mentioned that she didn't leave, the complainant said: "I have asked myself this question over and over and over again, why I did not leave, and I cannot answer that question.
"I did tell him to get off."
Giving evidence in his defence, Lovell refuted the woman's version of events and said she was lying.
He said she appeared "upset, like something wasn't quite right" when she arrived at the property, but was in a good mood and had even hugged him when she left.
Lovell said that, while the woman was in the property, he may have "just got her out of the way so I could get past her".
Under cross-examination from prosecutor Matthew Curtis, the defendant denied doing anything of a "sexual nature" to the woman, but claimed he "jumped over her" and "moved her out of the way".
Mr Curtis said that, during his interview, Lovell had told police "at no time did I grab her". He suggested Lovell had changed his story to give him a "way out".
Lovell said: "I don't want a way out. I just want justice because I didn't do anything."
The trial continues.
Wales Air AmbulanceEx-footballer hails Wales Air Ambulance 'our lifeline' after mum is saved by helicopter crewRob Davies played for Wrexham, West Bromwich Albion and the Wales Under-21s and is now set to take on a new challenge
Flintshire CouncilTribunal hears of council bosses' nights in Manchester hotels with his married PACllr Aaron Shotton denies knowing a hire car used for the trip was paid for using council funds
UK NewsEuroMillions LIVE lottery draw for Tuesday, 28 January 2020The National Lottery Thunderball draw is also taking place tonight
Wales Air AmbulanceEx-footballer hails Wales Air Ambulance 'our lifeline' after mum is saved by helicopter crew
Rob Davies played for Wrexham, West Bromwich Albion and the Wales Under-21s and is now set to take on a new challenge
Bryn TerfelOpera star Sir Bryn Terfel forced to cancel concert after 'fall'
The baritone had to pull out of his performance in The Flying Dutchman at Spain's Bilbao Opera House
CaernarfonCaernarfon's £135m bypass project gives 'unique' opportunity to geology expertsNorth Wales Geology Association were invited to the site of the Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass
PrestatynPolice identify body found off North Wales coast road
North Wales Police made the discovery off the A548 between Prestatyn and Gronant


When the valey was deep in the fall and mountains in real winter conditions and I was already thinking about skiing, my guest Miran called me wishing to go climbing Kugy's route in Jof di Montasio.
The route goes steeply on the north wall of the mountain. Partly it is free climbing (III+) and partly it is still secured by almost a 100 year old bolts.
We ran into real winter conditions. Temperature around -3 degrees Celsius, upper 200 m were covered with thick snow. Thus this tour grew up to a serious climbing with bad protection. However Miran has done the tour with exellence.


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Equity Firms Take On KPN
News Analysis Ray Le Maistre, Editor-in-Chief 8/4/2006
Private equity firms Cinven Ltd. and Warburg Pincus are creating a Dutch cable powerhouse with the acquisition of Essent Kabelcom BV from utility firm Essent for €2.6 billion (US$3.3 billion). (See Kabelcom Acquired.)
The equity firms will add Kabelcom to their existing cable assets -- Casema NV , which they agreed to buy in July for €2.1 billion ($2.7 billion), and N.V. Multikabel , which Warburg Pincus acquired in December 2005 for €515 million ($659 million). (See Dutch Cable Carriers Merge.)
In a prepared statement, Cinven said that once the acquisition deals have closed, "Kabelcom, Casema and Multikabel will co-operate in providing cable services to the Dutch market," including TV, telephony, and broadband services that are sold to business as well as residential users. Together, the three operators have about 3.3 million customers, of which 1.14 million are broadband customers, and annual revenues (estimated for 2005) of €870 million ($1.1 billion). That will make it the biggest cable operator in the Netherlands.
Its chief rivals will be Dutch national operator KPN Telecom NV (NYSE: KPN) and Liberty Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LBTY), the pan-European cable operator that was also interested in buying Kabelcom, but which pulled out at the late stages of the bidding process.
Liberty Global's UPC Netherlands operation has just over 2.2 million customers (as of March 31), including just over 500,000 broadband customers. KPN has about 4.5 million residential customers, including nearly 2 million broadband users, and a further 1.8 million business customers.
KPN has launched IPTV and VOIP services to help combat the competitive threat from the cable operators, and is migrating to an all IP network to increase efficiencies and reduce costs. The incumbent recently announced second-quarter results that were slightly better than expected due to the strength of its mobile operations, and it raised its outlook for the year as cost savings are realized. (See KPN Reports Q2, KPN Launches IPTV, KPN Goes National With VOIP, and KPN Lays Out IP Migration Plan.)
Cinven, meanwhile, has also been acquiring cable assets in France. Earlier this year it bought Liberty Global's UPC France business for €1.25 billion ($1.6 billion), adding to its French and Belgian cable operations. (See Liberty Bails Out of France.)
— Ray Le Maistre, International News Editor, Light Reading
digits 12/5/2012 | 3:45:57 AM
re: Equity Firms Take On KPN So, private equity is about to dominate Dutch cable, has been buying up French assets too, now owns Danish incumbent TDC and is about to take ownership of Ireland's national operator Eircom as well.
Why ROADMs are an Essential Fiber Optic Technology
Centralized Monitoring: Ensuring a Healthy Network and Enhanced Customer Experiences
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Whitepaper - Omdia: 2020 Optical Network Hardware Vendor Scorecard Excerpts
Video: Manage, Control and Plan Domain Controller
Video: WaveLogic 5 Extreme
Building More Scalable and Programmable Networks with WaveLogic 5 Extreme


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Ford News
Ford Study Finds 42 Percent of Americans Think Electric Cars Still Need Gasoline
That's now how any of this works.
byJames Gilboy| UPDATED Sep 5, 2019 12:44 PM
James GilboyView james gilboy's Articles
_JamesGilboy
jamesgilboy
It'll probably come as no surprise to most folks that the general public doesn't know much about electric cars. In fact, the large majority are still trying to figure out what a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid even is. As a result, Ford Motor Company knows that if people don't understand EVs they will be considerably less to likely to consider one as their next car. For reasons obvious, this worries the automaker, especially as it wants upcoming electric models like the battery-powered F-150 to be welcomed and not shunned.
To find out how tall of a mountain it has to climb, Ford surveyed people across the world's biggest car markets about the perceived capabilities and limitations of EVs, and published the results via Medium. Unfortunately, the results were disheartening to both automakers and Americans alike. Ford found that an embarrassing 42 percent of Americans believe electric cars, in spite of their name, still need to be filled up with gasoline to run—outside of the occasional prank.
An even larger proportion of Americans—67 percent—think that EVs can't tow to save their life, despite years of evidence to the contrary. The Tesla Model X, for example, has a 5,000-pound tow capacity, but has been used in PR stunts to tow loads as large as 143-ton Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Ford's own electric F-150 prototype tugged 10 railroad cars loaded with 42 F-150s together weighing around 625 tons, for nearly a quarter of a mile as part of a test you can watch in the video below.
Ford also found that 65 percent of people in the market for an all-wheel-drive car wouldn't consider an electric model, and that's in part because a good 80 percent of Americans think EVs don't work in extreme heat or cold. Most modern EVs, of course, feature battery conditioning systems that keep them in the right temperature range for maximum range or power, the latter of which is another point of ignorance for consumers. It even brings up sales data from Norway, where EVs make up the majority of new car sales despite their sub-zero weather.
Up to 90 percent of people think that electric cars are doomed to be as slow as their economy hybrid relatives like the Toyota Prius. Those who pay attention to the racing world, however, know that electric power is making something of a splash, with all-electric Formula E swelling in popularity, and the Volkswagen ID.R seizing course records almost everywhere it goes.
There's more to be said about what the public doesn't know about electric cars, but if you want to get ahead of the game, give our EV glossary a read.
Car TechElectric VehiclesFord NewsNews by Brand


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The Gentleman's Alliance Cross
Haine Otomiya is a 15-year-old students at the elite private Imperial Academy. She was apparently sold to the Otomiya family by her father, Kazuhito Kamiya, for 50 million yen. Feeling confused and unwanted, Haine becomes a gang member. She continues down a bad path until she meets Shizumasa Tougu, who made Haine see that she didn't have to lead that kind of life if she didn't want to. When she realises this, Haine also recognises Shizumasa as the author of a treasured picture book that her father once gave to her. Now determined to win Shizumasa's love, Haine reforms herself and enters the Imperial Academy that he attends as a Bronze level student.
Shizumasa is the Koutei (the 'Emporer') of the school, the sole Gold level student and the admired President of the Student Council. Throught no fault of her own, Haine is tricked into becoming Shizumasa's bodyguard and her initial Bronze rank is upped to the special rank of Platinum, and this designates her as the Koutei's companion. She is delighted to have the chance to be close to the person that she loves, but Shizumasa is cold to her, and claims not to know her. Disappointed, but still determined to win his love, Haine eventually discovers that the Koutei is not Shizumasa as she first expected, but his twin brother Takanari.
During childhood, Shizumasa won the right to become the heir of prestigious Tougu family, which left Takanari to effectively become his brother's 'shadow', and his existence was erased. Shizumasa's ill-health means that Takanari regularly has to fill in for him as Koutei, and his time with Haine has caused him to reluctantly fall in love with her. Haine must work out which twin she really loves: Shizumasa, whose words saved her during her darkest times; or Takanari, who she discovers is the real author of her cherished story book.
Another gorgeously-drawn manga by Arina Tanemura. The Gentleman's Alliance Cross has a cast of characters that are colourful on the service but conflicted and complex underneath it all. What we see at the start of this manga is a group of privileged students at an expensive school, but they all have their own problems hidden under their typical teenage appearances. Haine appears to be the happiest and most upbeat one of them all, but she is just as damaged as everyone else. True, the love triangle between her and the twins first looked like a superficial teenage drama, but as the story unfolds the reader realises that Haine was in love with the idea of a person she thought she knew. She is an incredibly loyal person and only succeeded in becoming confused with the words and actions of the twins. The two most important events in her life starred not just one person, but two. In actual fact, Haine has to really consider which twin helped her the most, and is torn between two precious memories.
Haine herself is a great character. It's not often that we see a female lead in a shoujo manga that is so strong both emotionally (and physically – she looked awesome as her yankee alias Seashore Cinderella) but yet is so sensitive and vulnerable at times. She has been through a lot of traumatic events with her family, but remains positive and upbeat and arguably keeps the other characters smiling amidst all their problems. She sees the best in everyone and even convinces the reader that the deceptive Tougo twins are good, kind people and shouldn't be judged too harshly for the actions of their wealthy, elitist parents.
As always, the artwork here is simply spectacular. The detail Tanemura puts into clothes, eyes and hair (and this isn't just the girls – the boys look stunning too). It makes you look at every panel a little longer to take in those intricate details. You can see the subtle changes in the drawings of Haine from when she was Seashore Cinderella and as the Koutei's Platinum. It adds an extra facet to each character that you don't expect, and makes you appreciate the effort that went into creating this manga. I admit, I always look forward to reading a manga drawn by Arina Tanemura because of the little extra that you get along with a good story.
The Gentleman's Alliance Cross was a great read. I found myself flying through the tankobon volumes at record speed. It was such an intricate and fascinating work – a really great shoujo manga that contained all the quintessential elements but played them in such a unique way that made this story really stand on its own. The characters were beautiful, unique and complex (just the way I like 'em) with an interesting concept and an ending that didn't disappoint. It's difficult to arrive at an impressive ending in a shoujo manga – particularly when a story is mainly about the journey rather than the destination – but I always remain hopeful that these stories don't just fizzle out and fade away. In this regard (and in most) The Gentleman's Alliance Cross really made an impact.
Tribe Cool Crew – Season 1


Group of people in Spain learning Spanish. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
Going to graduate school can enrich your education and create great job prospects in the future, but not all opportunities are created equal. Within any field of study there is a lot of variance in the characteristics of each program. Applicants need to consider the cost of a program, the quality of the education, the location where you will be living and the post-graduate job opportunities that will be available to you.
That's a lot of information to wade through, even with most students looking only at domestic programs when narrowing down their options. That's a mistake, though, because a lot of schools in foreign countries have respectable programs with a lot to offer to students coming from the United States. This is particularly true if you are interested in getting a degree but are concerned about the cost. But that's not the only benefit to going overseas to get a graduate degree. Here are some reasons why you should expand your search to the international scene.
Undergraduates are drawn to study abroad programs because they provide the opportunity to travel while still allowing those students to continue their pursuit of a degree. Similar benefits are offered through a graduate study program, with some differences. For one, many graduate students are able to complete their entire course load at an international destination, in the process earning a degree from a foreign institution. And unlike undergraduate programs, graduate programs often challenge students while abroad, although there's still plenty of time to enjoy the foreign setting.
Living and studying in a foreign country gives you the chance to see the world from a different perspective. In some cases, this can directly benefit your educational pursuits, particularly if your studies revolve around social issues, politics or international business, among others. But even if your degree program doesn't directly benefit from an international setting, you still gain the personal life enrichment of these travels. This can help you in your professional and personal life, not just now, but for years to come.
If money talks, then it's precisely what might get some prospective graduate students to listen. Studying overseas can offer a much more financially viable alternative to domestic studies for a few key reasons. For one, many programs in Europe and around the world condense studies into less time than what is required in American schools, shortening your student time — and tuition costs — while getting you out into the work force faster. Depending on your circumstances, you might still quality for U.S. financial aid even while studying overseas.
Some of the costs associated with overseas travel might also be much less than what you might expect. Application fees are less common with international graduate programs, and student health insurance plans offer a cost-effective solution to purchasing health care when in a different country. These savings can easily tip the scale in favor of overseas studies when viewed strictly from a financial standpoint.
Ultimately, the best college match for you depends on a number of factors, including your comfort with the program's coursework. A graduate degree is a valuable investment and an asset you'll carry with you for the rest of your life. But if you want to maximize your value by saving money and enriching your experience, then an international program might be your best choice.
Lindsey is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area and she writes on education and social media. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master's degree.


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Report on Makushin (United States) — 17 June-23 June 2020
Makushin
Global Volcanism Program, 2020. Report on Makushin (United States). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 June-23 June 2020. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
53.891°N, 166.923°W; summit elev. 1800 m
AVO reported that numerous smaller earthquakes in an area about 12 km SE of Makushin's summit were recorded after two events greater than M 4 occurred on 15 June. The earthquake activity continued during 16-23 June, though at a declining rate and magnitudes. No surficial activity was visible in satellite or webcam images; only typical minor steaming from summit fumaroles was visible. The Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level remained at Yellow and Advisory, respectively.
Geological Summary. The ice-covered Makushin volcano on northern Unalaska Island is capped by a 2.5 km caldera. Its broad, dome-like structure contrasts with the steep-sided profiles of most other Aleutian stratovolcanoes. Much of the edifice was formed during the Pleistocene, but the caldera (which formed about 8,000 years ago), Sugarloaf cone on the ENE flank, and a cluster of about a dozen explosion pits and cinder cones at Point Kadin on the WNW flank, are of Holocene age. A broad band of NE-SW-trending vents cuts across the volcano. The composite Pakushin cone, with multiple summit craters, lies 8 km SW. Table Top (Pleistocene, 68 +/- 14 ka) and Wide Bay (Holocene) cinder cones are about 20 km ENE on the peninsula across the bay from the City of Unalaska. Frequent explosive eruptions have occurred during the past 4,000 years, sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and surges. Geothermal areas are found in the summit caldera and on the SE and E flanks. Small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since 1786.
Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)


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When The S*** Hits the Fan
#Bayer's Acquisition Offer Could Literally Make #Monsanto Disappear
May 20, 2016 by claire bernish
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(ANTIMEDIA) United States — Bayer has now confirmed a buyout bid for agrichemical giant, Monsanto — the maker of Agent Orange, RoundUp, and genetically-modified crops — otherwise known as one of the most hated companies on the planet.
In a statement, Monsanto said Morgan Stanley & Co. is advising the company financially in the "potential acquisition," but didn't comment beyond basic information about what the deal might entail. The merger would combine Bayer and Monsanto into the largest agricultural supplier in the world.
Monsanto has experienced declining sales, particularly of its genetically-modified corn and soybean seeds, arguably as a result of customer backlash over RoundUp being designated a "probable carcinogen" by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer last year. GM corn, soy, cotton, and other RoundUp Ready crops rely on heavy dousings of the glyphosate-based herbicide to control weeds — but farmers have also admitted to using RoundUp to assist in the drying process prior to harvest.
On Tuesday, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine declared genetically engineered crops 'safe' for human consumption after a multi-year study, but still noted the benefits of labeling foods containing them. However, one day prior to its declaration, a report cited by EcoWatch revealed extensive connections between the National Academies and biotech companies like Monsanto — which donated millions to the division responsible for the study on the safety of GM food.
Further contaminating Monsanto's already severely tarnished record of unsafe products, RoundUp has been specifically named the cause of four Nebraska farm workers' non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a lawsuit announced this week. In that case and several others, inert ingredients — and not just glyphosate — appear to have contributed to the development of cancer.
According to lawsuit cited by The Intercept, John Sanders, a farm worker from California suing the company for damages after he developed cancer, Monsanto "knew or should have known that RoundUp is more toxic than glyphosate alone and that safety studies of RoundUp, RoundUp's adjuvants and 'inert' ingredients" were necessary.
Monsanto's notoriety doesn't end with shady agrichemicals — not by far. In March, the Portland, Oregon, city council voted unanimously to allow the city's attorney to proceed with a lawsuit against the behemoth company for the contamination of various bodies of water with toxic PCBs. Seattle, Spokane, Berkeley, Oakland, San Diego, and San Jose have similar litigation pending for PCB contamination.
Though the potential buyout of Monsanto by Bayer comes amidst a number of other mergers of chemical industry corporations, it appears to be a move to save the former from its poor performance in the marketplace.
"Monsanto has struggled in recent quarters to deal with slumping corn prices in the U.S., which have reduced demand for its best-selling product: genetically-enhanced corn seeds," ABC News reported in January. "Farmers are shifting more acres to other crops after surpluses of corn and other crops, including wheat, have squashed commodity prices."
People have moved away from food potentially chemically soaked with RoundUp, making the world's bestselling chemical herbicide's future more uncertain by the day — and the merger with Bayer, which has its own questionable history, a possible business-saving proposition.
It's likely that if the acquisition is successful, Bayer will completely drop the Monsanto name from its products to get away from the stigma the company has accumulated over the years. This would render it invisible to concerned consumers while retaining its products under a new name.
An entire protest movement called the March Against Monsanto has been built up around the company, with the latest incarnation taking place tomorrow.
This article (Bayer's Acquisition Offer Could Literally Make Monsanto Disappear) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Claire Bernish and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, email edits@theantimedia.org.
From theantimedia.org Team
Filed Under: Biotechnology Tagged With: bayer, Biotechnology, Business, Corporatocracy, Environment, Genetically engineered food, gm, GMO, GMOs, Monsanto, News, Science, Technology, United States, World
US Government Green Lights Experiments to #Reanimate the #Brain Dead
May 5, 2016 by jake anderson
(ANTIMEDIA) — It sounds like the logline from the recent sci-fi horror movie, The Lazarus Effect. But the story coming out of Bioquark Inc. is real. The biotechnology company is moving ahead with a groundbreaking experiment to reanimate the nervous systems of 20 clinically brain-dead patients.
With approval from the Institutional Review Board at the United States National Institutes of Health in the U.S., the ReAnima Project will begin recruiting patients who are all but clinically dead due to traumatic brain injury. With cooperation from their families, these patients will be kept alive by machines and administered a series of procedures meant to kickstart cellular regeneration.
CEO, Dr. Ira Pastor, hopes to prove the cells of human brains are as adaptable as those of salamanders, which can regrow limbs.
"This represents the first trial of its kind and another step towards the eventual reversal of death in our lifetime," Pastor said. "To undertake such a complex initiative, we are combining biologic regenerative medicine tools with other existing medical devices typically used for stimulation of the central nervous system, in patients with other severe disorders of consciousness."
Phase 1 of the project is a proof-of-concept study called "First In Human Neuro-Regeneration & Neuro-Reanimation." For a six-week period in Anupam Hospital in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand India, scientists will administer peptides into the patients' spinal cords. The next treatment will involve injecting stem cells into the brain. Then Bioquark will use transcranial laser therapy and nerve stimulation.
Researchers hope this combination of treatments will trigger cell regeneration in brains that have otherwise shut down all functioning.
But not everyone is convinced the treatment will work — or that it is even possible to regenerate dead brains. Dr. Dean Burnett, a neuroscientist at Cardiff University's Centre for Medical Education, made the following comment:
"While there have been numerous demonstrations in recent years that the human brain and nervous system may not be as fixed and irreparable as is typically assumed, the idea that brain death could be easily reversed seems very far-fetched, given our current abilities and understanding of neuroscience. Saving individual parts might be helpful but it's a long way from resurrecting a whole working brain, in a functional, undamaged state."
However, even if the treatment fails, researchers believe their findings will provide valuable knowledge. According to Dr. Sergei Paylian, founder, president, and Chief Science Officer of Bioquark Inc.:
"Through our study, we will gain unique insights into the state of human brain death, which will have important connections to future therapeutic development for other severe disorders of consciousness, such as coma, and the vegetative and minimally conscious states, as well as a range of degenerative CNS conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease."
This article (US Government Green Lights Experiments to Reanimate the Brain Dead) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Jake Anderson and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, email edits@theantimedia.org.
Filed Under: Biotechnology Tagged With: Biotechnology, Culture, Human Development, News, ReAnima Project, Science, Technology
The iPhone Is Just the Beginning: FBI Already Accessing Your DNA
March 9, 2016 by jake anderson
(ANTIMEDIA) Private genetic databases like 23andMe and Ancestry.com are increasingly used by people for genealogy tracing and medical diagnostic tests. With a million customers each, the two companies receive a great deal of attention from privacy advocates, who for years warned the government would eventually seek access to citizens' DNA in order to assist with law enforcement.
They were right, and yet another conspiracy theory becomes conspiracy fact…
It turns out both the FBI and local law enforcement departments routinely seek DNA samples from these companies for familial DNA searches. In fact, according to Ancestry.com's recently released transparency report, the company received 14 law enforcement requests in 2015. They provided customers' genetic information in 13 of those cases.
A similar, recently released report by 23andMe discloses there were four law enforcement requests to the company in 2015.
The issue has received increased attention in part because of a frightening article by Wired. The story recounted the legal imbroglio filmmaker Michael Usry endured after Idaho Falls police "matched 34 of 35 alleles" from a crime scene to Usry's father's DNA.
Years earlier, his father had donated some DNA to a genealogy project funded by his Mormon church. Ancestry.com purchased the project and made the database of samples publicly available. Though Idaho Falls police ultimately concluded Usry was not involved in the murder of Angie Dodge, they had been able to obtain a search warrant for Michael's cheek cells based on the sample they found online.
Ancestry.com didn't realize police would be able to use their information to conduct genetic searches, but as they would soon learn, law enforcement authorities around the country are looking to expand their ability to conduct DNA searches beyond the FBI's current national genetic database.
Anti-Media reached out to Ancestry.com for more information regarding how the company responds to national security requests. They referred to their transparency report, which states:
"As of December 31, 2015, Ancestry has never received a classified request pursuant to the national security laws of the United States or any other country. In other words, Ancestry has not received a National Security Letter or a request under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."
Could this change in the wake of a terrorist attack? In the midst of the increasingly rancorous debate over civil liberties and national defense — epitomized by the FBI's court case against Apple — it doesn't seem like too big of a stretch, given the right political climate, to imagine private DNA databases being turned over to Homeland Security.
In Kuwait, citizens must submit their DNA to a government database to assist with criminal cases. Some actually argue the United States should have a similar mandatory DNA database, though this seems unlikely to gain widespread support given the backlash over electronic privacy violations in the aftermath of controversial NSA surveillance programs.
For now, the debate revolves around whether the United States government and local law enforcement should have the legal authority to access private DNA databases while investigating crimes. There hasn't been a major Supreme Court ruling on this issue, so for the time being, companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com will have to deal with police requests on a case-by-case basis.
As 23andMe's first privacy officer Kate Black has stated:
"In the event we are required by law to make a disclosure, we will notify the affected customer through the contact information provided to us, unless doing so would violate the law or a court order."
This article (The iPhone Is Just the Beginning: FBI Already Accessing Your DNA) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Jake Anderson and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. Image credit: thierry ehrmann. If you spot a typo, email edits@theantimedia.org.
Filed Under: Biotechnology Tagged With: ancestry.com 23andMe, Biotechnology, Business, Civil Liberties, Corporatocracy, DNA, dna database, fbi, forensic, Freedom, genealogy, Justice, News, Police State, Politics, Science, Surveillance State, Technology, United States
Study: FDA Allows Glyphosate in Your Food Based on Monsanto's Faulty Research
February 24, 2016 by claire bernish
Claire Bernish
(ANTIMEDIA) Despite the World Health Organization's classification of glyphosate — the main ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup — as a probable carcinogen for humans last year, the product remains the top-selling herbicide worldwide. Though the agrichemical behemoth vociferously disputes the findings, researchers recently found Monsanto's claims are based on outdated and inadequate science.
Enough glyphosate, Truthout noted, "is now used to cover nearly every acre of cultivated cropland in the U.S.," leading to widespread glyphosate tolerance, including reports of "superweeds" that are virtually immune to repeated drenchings. Use of the dangerous weedkiller has increased by more than 100 times since it first came to market in 1974.
Filed Under: Biotechnology Tagged With: Biotechnology, Business, cancer, carcinogens, Corporatocracy, Environment, Food Safety, Glyphosate, Health, Monsanto, News, roundup, Science, study, Technology, United States, world health organization
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Ignorance is not bliss – it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion September 26, 2016
DM: "unrest continued after fatal shooting of black man" in Charlotte, NC September 22, 2016
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Trump: I think that her bodyguards should drop all weapons. They should disarm, right? Take their guns away, she doesn't want guns. September 17, 2016
#Apple hit with $15 billion tax bill, #EU socks it to the #poor August 30, 2016
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me August 19, 2016
Shocking Slap In The Face: Hillary Clinton JUST HIRED Wasserman Schultz As Campaign Head! July 25, 2016
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#Anonymous Declares War on Mainstream Media: Attacks Fox, #CNN, NBC and More June 3, 2016
Mourn the Death of the #UnitedStates: "Soon We Will Be Ripe For Internal #Collapse… Or A Large War" June 1, 2016
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Elite #SpecialForces Insider Warns Of Serious Civil #Unrest This Summer: "Everything Is Right For Things To Go Very Wrong" May 31, 2016
Shock Report: Secret Law Will Give #FBI Full Access To Your #Email Without A Warrant: "Massive Expansion of Government Surveillance Authority" May 31, 2016


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slug: allure
name: Allure
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