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An Inside Look at How Pro-Russia Trolls Got the SPLC to Censor a Commie
By: Charles DavisApril 3, 2018
"An Orwellian destruction of meaning and words — so many absurdities; absurdities stacked on absurdities," Alexander Reid Ross told me. Fox News had just declared him the leader of a nasty smear campaign, aided by the "far-left Southern Poverty Law Center," that aimed to make television personality Tucker Carlson and his guests out to be "fascists." So far, so normal, but it was the specific charge that shocked and awed the communist author who once lived in Russia: "McCarthyism," with white nationalists' favorite host, and those who come on his show to agree with him, the victims.
Ross's ironic sin, which he spoke to me about in an hour-long phone call, was writing a series of articles about a topic he wrote the book on: fascist entryism, or efforts to normalize far-right politics and infiltrate left-wing discourse. In particular, he noted the shared affinity for the Kremlin and its talking points among the fringe right and a subsection of leftists, and he detailed how Russian state media was facilitating a popular, "anti-establishment" front against the foreign and domestic enemies of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad, platforming right-wing nationalists alongside those who self-identify as progressive internationalists.
Max Blumenthal is a fixture in this, found almost every week defending Russian foreign policy on platforms such as RT and Sputnik, a track record detailed in Ross' last article. The son of Hillary Clinton confidant Sidney Blumenthal, he has admitted to accepting a free trip to Moscow, where he attended the same RT anniversary party in 2015 as U.S. General Michael Flynn — Trump's former national security advisor is under investigation, in part, for failing to disclose he was paid $45,000 for his appearance . In Moscow, Blumenthal spoke on a panel, "InfoWar: Will there be a winner?" with Charles Bausman, editor of the website Russia Insider and the author of articles such as, "It's Time to Drop the Jew Taboo."
Blumenthal has also been a repeat guest on Tucker Carlson's Fox News broadcast, where he functions as the network's useful leftist, defending President Trump from claims he colluded with Russia or benefited from its interventions in the 2016 election. His last appearance was to defend RT from the charge that it's Kremlin propaganda.
I don't know Blumenthal well, but we have met before: six years ago at a bar in downtown Brooklyn where a single, square artisanal ice cube displaced what ought to have been $6 of gin in my $12 cocktail. It was a birthday party for a mutual friend who I no longer follow on Twitter.
It was with some surprise, then, that I received a call on March 13 from the SPLC's bemused general counsel, Jim Knoepp, regarding a peculiar legal threat Blumenthal had sent to the civil rights organization. That threat named me as a "shadow author" of an article I did not write by a man I did not know on topics we had never discussed.
Blumenthal would repeat this claim in an interview with Ed Schultz, an RT anchor who enjoyed previous stints as a conservative on talk radio and a liberal on MSNBC. "It's very clear," Blumenthal asserted. "This wasn't by one writer. This was by a cabal of people who have been trying to suppress dissent."
It only took $20, Blumenthal added, to pay for the threat of litigation that got the article by Ross pulled by the SPLC, the civil rights group apologizing for hurt feelings but not actually conceding any error in fact. The piece is now hosted elsewhere.
"I don't think it was even being read," Ross said when I spoke to him. What was being read were the claims being made about it. The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald, for instance, alleged that the SPLC had "published an article claiming that anti-war activists in the left were in an alliance, and were basically the same as, neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers."
This viral mischaracterization was why the SPLC retracted the piece. In its apology, the group said that some of those named in the article had protested that they had been "falsely described… as white supremacists, fascists, and/or anti-Semites." It continued: "Because neither we nor the article's author intended to make any such accusations, we took it down while we re-examined its contents."
Ross, himself a seasoned anti-war activist, hadn't called anyone names, but rather detailed how some who purport to be his comrades had begun echoing, and sharing platforms with, far-right extremists. A secessionist conference in Moscow, for example, saw activists such as Joe Lombardo, of the United National Antiwar Coalition, declaring opposition to the "destructive manifestations of the 'new world order'" in a statement cosigned by Andrey Kovalenko, leader of the Eurasian Youth Union, a wing of Aleksandr Dugin's "National Bolshevik" movement — basically Russian nationalism fused with German fascism — and Yana Lantratova, head of Putin's Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. A UNAC write-up of the conference highlighted the presence of "a leading anti-Zionist writer," Israel Shamir, a Holocaust denier and associate of WikiLeaks.
Ross told me it was the convergence of left and right rhetoric on the war in Syria, especially, that led him to begin investigating the origin and spread of pro-Russia talking points on opposite poles of the political spectrum. "Something in my stomach churned," he said. The conspiracy theories about first responders and child refugees — the former "terrorists," and the latter "PsyOps" — were "getting so far fetched, and then I realized that's part of the issue." Debunked as fast as a new theory is spawned, these insta-conspiracy theories mirror Moscow's strategy of muddying the waters rather than trying to come up with a logical and internally consistent counter-narrative.
"The networks that are denying it are just making it confusing," Ross observed. "But there's nothing really that confusing here."
Though I did not write Ross' article, a month before I had written an exposé for The Daily Beast on "Redfish", a new "grassroots" media company, led by an associate of the Voltaire Network, a far-right conspiracy website that the company's chief credited with informing her Syria reporting. The company is almost completely staffed by known agents of Moscow's propaganda apparatus.
Blumenthal had appeared on Redfish, interviewed by his friend and Redfish employee, Rania Khalek, and was unpleased when this platform was revealed to be a "wholly owned subsidiary of Ruptly," itself a subsidiary of the Kremlin. He has since gone on to help produce features for RT; Khalek has also gone on to openly work for the Kremlin-backed network and its affiliates. (The Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics says reporters should, "Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived"; "Refuse gifts," including "free travel"; and, "Disclose unavoidable conflicts.")
Why an unrelated journalist's name might show up in a threat of litigation over someone else's article makes a little more sense if one accepts that Blumenthal is in the business of selling state-sponsored conspiracies to a diminishing audience of cranks. It's also vital, for understanding, to know that this sort of propagandist is unconcerned with making their counter-narrative coherent or even internally consistent; it often just feels like trolling — like Blumenthal rebutting claims of a left-right-Kremlin axis by turning to Bill Moran, a former editor at Sputnik turned lawyer for the dregs of the reactionary left and right. Indeed, Blumenthal's attorney previously represented "alt-right" e-celebrity Cassandra Fairbanks, the Bernie Sanders supporter turned "alt-right" Trump voter who Moran worked under at the Russian state outlet (employees there were instructed to promote "false flag" conspiracies about the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons).
The SPLC would not provide me a copy of the legal threat that Moran sent to them, their general counsel instead reading me the parts that, flatteringly, detailed my extravagant role in a conspiracy theory. But I did receive a copy of a separate legal document demanding the preservation of all my "potentially relevant" web history.
Stating as fact that an author is a fraud who outsources their writing to a freelance journalist is defamatory, but that's one of the lesser ironies here. Blumenthal's record of slandering those less fortunate than him speaks for itself, and here I do not mean slander of journalists, who should accept that as the cost of doing journalism. No, it's Blumenthal's record of pushing conspiracy theories about children and rescue workers and others living in the worst war zones the 21st century has yet seen — eagerly picked up by Russian state media; always debunked and unceremoniously discarded — that is the scandal that can't be purged.
When a UN aid convoy was bombed on its way to what was then rebel-held Aleppo, Blumenthal was quick to suggest the account of the first responders was unreliable. In an October 2, 2016 piece, he implied the White Helmets, a favorite target of Russian missiles and conspiratorial defamation, were part of a false-flag conspiracy, having "pinned blame squarely on the Syrian and Russian governments. In fact, a White Helmets member was among the first civilians to appear on camera at the scene of the attack, declaring in English that 'the regime helicopters targeted this place with four barrel [bombs].'"
"This account," he added, "remains unconfirmed by both the UN and SARC, and no evidence of barrel bombs has been produced."
The White Helmets are a featured target of 21st Century Wire, an alternative-to-news site founded by an editor of Infowars, the far-right conspiracy website. Their writer, Vanessa Beeley, has frequently accused those who rescue survivors of airstrikes of being an arm of al-Qaeda, staging incidents to spur Western intervention against Assad.
Blumenthal's work on the topic has revealed nothing that couldn't have been found, earlier, in her archives; a year before his first piece on the White Helmets, Beeley told Sputnik that the "Soros-sponsored" group "demonizes the Assad government and encourages direct foreign intervention." Much is made of the fact that a volunteer rescue organization filling the void left by a state only operates in areas where there is no state; where there is no state, there are extremists, ergo those who dig out children from bombed buildings are extremists too.
That these rescue workers have been the target of a concerted propaganda campaign is not news; that discrediting them serves the interests of those bombing them is not either; and that those who volunteer for the White Helmets, and survive, risk arrest and torture, like Abdulhadi Kamel — Amnesty International notes he was forced to record a "confession" that aired on Russian media claiming he was an actor paid by Turkey, Europe and Saudi Arabia — is not in dispute. Words have consequences, and they are weaponized in areas of conflict, but some who purport to do journalism, not propaganda, are blithely unconcerned about the impact of the false things they have claimed, never bothering to correct them.
Contra notions of a false flag, for example, the United Nations soon confirmed that the aid convoy to Aleppo was, as that volunteer said in English, hit by barrel bombs dropped from a Syrian regime helicopter. The attack, according to the UN, was "meticulously planned" and "ruthlessly carried out." There was no equivocation, but Blumenthal neither updated his piece nor acknowledged the finding elsewhere. Why bother? By that point, weeks later, no one remembers any details — it's the broader narrative that sticks.
Blumenthal is prolific when it comes to inverting victims and perpetrators of war crimes. In January 2017, for example, he was quick to blame the contamination of Damascus' water supply on anti-regime militants in the Wadi Barada valley — and to attack the mainstream media for not saying that. "The Guardian," he complained, "can't bring itself to name Al Qaeda in Syria, waits til the last line to mention it poisoned Damascus water supply with diesel."
A UN report on the incident did not mince words, and Blumenthal was proven wrong again. "Syria's air force deliberately bombed water sources in December [2016], a war crime that cut off water 5.5 million people in and around the capital Damascus," the UN found, as Reuters reported.
Blumenthal never got around to correcting the record.
History would soon repeat, again. When the Syrian regime once again used the nerve agent sarin against a civilian population, Blumenthal once again turned his sights to the Guardian, mocking the "pro-rebel" correspondent who had reported on the chemical weapon massacre from the site itself, Khan Sheikhun.
In a July 7, 2017 article for his self-funded Grayzone Project, Blumenthal and his associate Benjamin Norton likewise cast doubt on the guilt of the only party known to have possessed and used sarin in the Syrian conflict. "More than 30 people were killed in that attack under circumstances that were shrouded in mystery," they wrote, citing a report from Sy Hersh that claimed sarin wasn't used at all.
A week earlier, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had already confirmed "that people were exposed to sarin, a chemical weapon." A subsequent report from UN investigators squarely blamed the regime.
There is no mystery around what happened next: nothing.
Blumenthal also attacks children in Syria with the zeal of an Infowars reporter going after survivors of a school shooting.
"Bana Alabed [and] the White Helmets build on a grand tradition of pro-war psy-ops," Blumenthal has written, referring to an 8-year-old girl who once lived in the besieged, eastern half of Aleppo (his colleague, Rania Khalek, once even doubted that). Bana's mother, Fatemah, created a Twitter account for her daughter to publicize their plight — and that child has since joined a long line of children who survived atrocities only to have their experience, and even their existence, called into question. Blumenthal's friend and collaborator, RT's Dan Cohen, has also taken the fight to besieged teenagers in Eastern Ghouta.
Blumenthal refuses to cast the plight of children outside the narrative that the U.S. is itching for regime change in Damascus, after seven years of allegedly trying. The implicit premise is that there is a dearth of victims in Syria, so P.R. firms must create them. To bolster this claim, Blumenthal has promoted the work of Caitlin Johnstone, an Australian astrologer who advocates a left-right, anti-establishment alliance "against the deep state" with the likes of Mike Cernovich, a "pick-up artist" turned contributor to Infowars (he was also no fan of the SPLC article).
But these targets of slanderous conspiracy theories are safely foreign and distant. And unlike American bloggers, dead Syrians don't have lawyers.
When I spoke to Ross, he was somewhat befuddled — he, the anti-fascist author of a censored article on the threat of far-right entryism, was the one guilty of modern-day McCarthyism. This, by virtue of the fact he detailed the media platforms that right-wing, authoritarian state generously provides to outright fascists and some on the left who share their positions on the world outside of the U.S.
In its report on the controversy, Fox News only added to the confusion. "A source close to Blumenthal mocked the [SPLC] article, pointing out that it attempts to portray an appearance on [Tucker] Carlson's show as a negative, despite the fact that it's among the most popular cable programs in the country."
It's a "'disgusting, backhanded McCarthyite smear' against Fox News," the source stated, according to the report.
"I've been called a neoconservative, McCarthyist liberal enemy of Fox News — we're talking about Fox News here, which has relentlessly attacked left-wing journalists," Ross told me. "Fox News bleating about McCarthyists from the left is the height of absurdity."
As for the Fox News regulars who have piled on, from the left, Ross notes the bitter irony. "They've been content just to label me — to namecall, to use their platforms and influences to silence me," he said. "It doesn't seem very journalistic."
He thinks there needs to be a conversation, and that there needs to be accountability, noting those who want neither were also, "from June 2016 to the elections, constantly calling any attempts to talk about Russia 'McCarthyism' or the 'new red scare' or the 'new cold war.'"
These were some of the same people who miscast Ross' piece and were uncritical at best when it was removed. Like Greenwald, for instance, the journalist best known for publishing NSA documents leaked by Edward Snowden. A Pulitzer Prize winner, what he says still carries weight on the left, and what he suggested was that the SPLC article engaged in a vulgar conflation; that it said "anti-war activists in the left" were "basically the same" as Nazis on the right. But this was the danger that Ross was illuminating — the conflation of those who are supportive of Russian and Syrian government war efforts with the anti-war left. And rather than say leftists and fascists were the same, he detailed when and where a few who claim those labels say the same thing.
When a white supremacist killed a left-wing protester in Charlottesville, North Carolina, Greenwald composed a principled defense of free speech. But when an anti-fascist communist has his journalism purged after conspiratorial legal threats from an alt-right champion's lawyer, no principled defense of speech can be found but a meek suggestion that there must have been something to it.
On another occasion, when a college pro-Palestine group chose to not to invite Rania Khalek to speak at their event, Greenwald, Blumenthal and Noam Chomsky alike all signed an open letter proclaiming it a threat to discourse. "It runs contrary to the possibility of people learning from one another, changing their minds, and educating one another," the letter stated.
No one purged her work, even when it was flawed.
Where, then, is the defense of unpopular speech — and on the left, Ross' position is a dissenting one — in the face of an organization buckling to the pressure of online mobs and the threat of pending litigation? "I find that the people behind these lawsuits are truly so odious and repugnant, that creates its own motivation for me," Greenwald once said of civil rights activists seeking to hold a neo-Nazi responsible for inciting violence; he was motivated to provide the defendant counsel, to which all are entitled and which lawyers of principle have long provided, however unsavory the client. But where's the defense, on principle, of civil speech, published by civil rights organization, that its harshest critics are fully entitled to counter on platforms that are readily available to them?
Where's the left, in general? Missing in action, perhaps, because the subject is unsettling: these fascists are not your friends, but some of your friends may have partied with them. But even those don't buy the thesis, yet — that the Russian government pursues its interests abroad; those interests are pursued with the help of the media properties it owns; the left should be wary of those who say those interests are its own — should absolutely reject attempts to shut down the conversation with appeals to the state.
Consider also that the right, historically, has been the perpetrator of McCarthyism, not its victim. Misuse of the term to silence left-wing dissent, however, has a long tradition: Murray Bookchin, a socialist writer, called it "McCarthyism in reverse" — and it was used then as now by reactionary elements looking to silence their critics to the left. In practice, "McCarthyism" today means "shut the fuck up," and it is being used by those who invoke its specter to deplatform and censor others.
Posted April 3, 2018 Civil Liberties/Repression, Syria, United States by Jason Schulman
Charles Davis is a writer and producer who lives in Los Angeles, California.
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The Problem of Addiction
Of the many types of addiction that exist today, recognising that you have a problem is the first crucial step to overcoming addiction
By Celebrity Angels	 On Dec 3, 2015
An estimated 2 million people in the UK are fighting an addiction. When we think of addiction we usually think of so-called 'drug addicts' who have an addiction to cannabis or a class A drug such as heroin. However, the list of things we can become addicted to is a very long one and includes not only tobacco and alcohol, but also sugar and over eating—the latter two can be deemed serious in some instances because there is a danger that these excesses can lead to the development of the disease Diabetes type-2.
Addiction goes beyond substance dependence and includes addiction to shopping, exercise, sex and gambling to name a few. Today gambling is the fastest growing addiction problem in the UK. There may be as many as 593,000 problem gamblers in Great Britain, says the National Health Service. The anticipation and thrill of gambling creates a natural high that can become addictive. The internet has made gambling more accessible, allowing more and more people to gamble from home, causing many gambling addicts to suffer from low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression.
See also: Are Video Games Luring Kids into Betting?
Action on Addiction, whose patron is the Duchess of Cambridge, defines addiction as being 'an all-consuming relationship with a substance or behaviour that is driven by a conscious or unconscious desire to feel something different, which results in a range of harmful consequences.'
Recognising you have a problem is the first step to recovery. If left untreated, almost any form of addiction can be destructive—to the addict's family and friends as well as to the addict—destroying families, as well as the addict's self-esteem and career prospects. For these reasons it's important firstly to recognise and accept that an addiction exists and, secondly, to get counseling and treatment for the addiction.
Defeating an addiction requires a strong desire by the addict to overcome the problem. Sometimes, self-motivation can be enough, especially where, for example, pregnant women are urged to give up smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy for the protection of their unborn baby (and to ensure the good health of newborns and infants).
The NHS advises that drinking heavily (more than six units a day) throughout pregnancy can cause your baby to develop a serious condition called foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children with FAS have:
facial abnormalities
learning and behavioural problems
Drinking less heavily, and even drinking heavily on single occasions, may be associated with lesser forms of FAS. The risk is likely to be greater the more you drink.
Treatments vary widely, depending on the addiction. For smokers struggling to give up, for example, there have been many cases where both hypnotherapy and acupuncture have been successful treatments.
For those who want to be rid of any one of the many addictions, the first action should be making an appointment to discuss the problem with your GP. A GP can refer an addicted person at any stage, not just when they're willing to stop. GPs can also give advice about sensible drinking and use their own surgery's resources, such as nurses or counsellors.
Dr Gillian Tober, consultant psychologist and former president of the Society for the Study of Addiction, advises that 'Treatment is adapted to suit the individual. There are several treatments that are proven to work. These mainly combine talking therapies with medication. Cognitive behavioural treatments are typically used because they work very well with addiction problems.'
Treatment usually starts with getting the person with the problem to think about how they want to change. 'It's important to avoid condemning them. They need to believe they can do it and their life will be better as a result, says Dr Tober, adding, 'Professionals will discuss how the addicted person sees their life in the future, what obstacles they feel they face in changing, and what will help them deal with those obstacles. Then they can identify the situations the addicted person will find difficult and make plans to deal with those situations. Through this process they can set the target, which is ultimately abstinence.'
Once you've identified the target and what the person needs to do to reach it, Dr Tober advises, '… you set up all the resources available. Family and friends are an important resource. You want people who won't encourage the person to "just have one drink because it won't matter", but instead offer to take them to the cinema, for example.'
Some self-help groups are deemed to be extremely useful because they provide a network, often in the absence of family and friends. Groups are very useful for giving support during aftercare. Residential rehabilitation helps many people overcome the initial phases of withdrawal and start to make lifestyle changes that will allow them to continue onward to full recovery.
Outside the NHS, there are many voluntary sector and private drug and alcohol treatment organisations that can provide help with the problem of addiction. As well as residential rehab centres, community services of various types are provided by voluntary organisations. These include structured day programmes, outreach and harm reduction services, counselling services, aftercare and housing support services.
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Ulica Jana Pawła Woronicza w Warszawie
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The 7 Guys You Date Before You Get Married is one woman's hilarious look into dating and modern day relationships. While some people have to kiss a few frogs, Nicole has ravaged an entire koi pond. This is not just about a revolving door of men, but the lessons we learn through each relationship. Sometimes we learn to stop being so superficial...other times we learn it's not okay to date guys named Tweeter. Nicole takes present day mating rituals and adds a side-splitting laugh track to it.


The White House launched US Ignite in June, a U.S. government-backed effort to spur development of advanced broadband applications. Here's a look at how the initiative got started, where high-speed fiber networks are rolling out, and what's next for the cities involved.
The White House launched US Ignite -- a government-backed effort to spur development of advanced broadband applications -- with much fanfare at the beginning of summer. But what was promoted as a linchpin broadband initiative quickly came under fire from some influential technology reporters for its lack of attention to last-mile Internet access issues. Because of very real disagreement about broadband access policy, and the complicated context surrounding US Ignite, there continues to be debate and confusion around the program's aims. According to officials, however, its premise is hardly controversial. US Ignite wants to encourage the development and testing of new broadband applications. Its goal is to help drive nationwide adoption of new high-speed network technology.
We need more advanced networking capabilities and higher bandwidth in the hands of more people as fast as possible because that is what's going to drive whether or not the United States is on top of the next iteration of the Internet... We have to have the applications, and they have to come from here, and that's what we believe.
As a non-profit public/private partnership, US Ignite is answerable to a large number of stakeholders, including research universities, large private enterprises, and dozens of communities that have invested in their own local network infrastructure. The organization is also charting new territory, and relying on a strategically lean leadership team. All of these factors create potential hurdles to success; the possibility that US Ignite will become mired in bureaucracy, distracted by policy debates, and hamstrung by a lack of dedicated human resources necessary to execute on the program's ambitious goals.
Success, however, may be all about how you define it. US Ignite doesn't have to succeed on every front. It's creating a laboratory environment, and for every experiment that fails, there's the hope that participants will nonetheless make valuable discoveries. Out of the entire initiative, if a few critical applications emerge to improve medical care, or enable cleaner energy, or drive advancements in emergency preparedness, then arguably US Ignite will have proven its worth. It has the potential to be a foundation for widespread innovation, and to create a major impact on broadband in America.
US Ignite began in part as an outgrowth of the Global Environment for Network Innovation (GENI) program. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), GENI includes both physically connected high-speed broadband pipes, and OpenFlow-enabled, virtualized networks. Computer scientists use GENI to test different types of network configurations that are optimized for different types of online activity. In some ways, the standard Internet defaults to a lowest-common-denominator setting so that the largest number of devices and applications can make use of it. However, by creating contained, virtualized environments, users can customize network settings -- like security and latency -- for different scenarios as needed. Those customizations enable significantly higher performance, and in some cases, entirely new network applications.
While the NSF supports GENI research and development, it isn't set up to fund the exploration of practical, real-world application deployments. For that reason, the NSF and White House administration officials decided to encourage the creation of US Ignite as an independent organization. US Ignite partners not only with the NSF, but also companies like Cisco and Verizon, and communities that have a track record of investing in telecommunications infrastructure. The structure is designed to combine financial subsidies with motivated experts committed to commercializing new applications. Commercialization means ensuring that applications not only work in a small controlled environment, but also that they scale to deliver financial profits and/or contribute to the social good.
For now, most of the US Ignite partners are only associated with each other very loosely. But US Ignite plans to pair up resources across the partner spectrum so that companies and communities come together in ways that accelerate application development. Out of today's isolated pockets of research and network expansion, US Ignite intends to create a GENI-enabled nationwide testbed for next-generation Internet applications.
The pilot partners for US Ignite include 25 cities, and 15 commercial entities. Through these partners, US Ignite is dedicated to "fostering the creation" of 60 new applications that take advantage of ultra-fast broadband. Some of the participating partners have a head start on development, but others are only beginning to contemplate how they will contribute to the US Ignite mission.
Chattanooga, Tennessee already has a gigabit network in place , and smart grid technologies that leverage its high-speed connectivity. Lafayette, Louisiana has committed to creating a Living Lab for Health Innovation based on the efforts of local organizations that have already begun experimenting with the community's fiber infrastructure. On the other hand, Urbana, Illinois is still in the early stages of high-speed network deployment through an initiative called Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband (UC2B). Urbana has significant resources at its disposal, including a well-established local talent pool fed by the region's universities, and one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, Blue Waters, which is scheduled to come online in 2012. But UC2B has only started the process of prioritizing efforts around US Ignite.
Jon Gant, part of UC2B's executive leadership, and a University of Illinois professor, says the Urbana region suggests a tale of two cities. There is the university community, including his school's prestigious and nationally renowned engineering department. On the other hand, there are also areas in Urbana with some of the nation's highest poverty and unemployment rates. To address this issue, at least in part, a consortium of regional institutions applied for and received government funding in 2010 to extend the area's broadband infrastructure. UC2B is now putting that money to work across a nine-by-nine mile grid of land. It has a goal of passing roughly 4,700 homes with high-speed Internet service.
At the heart of Urbana's new network are seven basic fiber rings, which are now almost complete. From those rings, UC2B is running gigabit fiber service out to a host of community anchor facilities. The plan is to have those connections fully deployed by mid-November, and then from those anchor facilities, UC2B will extend further infrastructure out to residential locations.
The combination of residential and university-centered infrastructure means that UC2B can not only provide broadband service to new customers, it can also set up its own local research environment for testing high-speed applications in a real-world setting. However, while Gant is enthusiastic about the local network, he also points out the need to reach a larger audience when conducting research. In other words, he says UC2B needs a national testing ground, just what US Ignite promises to provide.
With US Ignite, we're able to connect to a whole network of communities, a network of users, so instead of having an opportunity to have access to, let's say, 2,500 households, and two and three hundred community anchor institutions, now all of a sudden you've got not only our 2,500, but you've got the group out in Cleveland... or you'll have the Chattanooga folks... In terms of trying to test out new ideas, or the applications, you've got a larger cross-section of people that voluntarily can try out these new applications, and I think that makes a huge difference.
Gant stresses the importance of both the technical and social components of a nationwide network testbed. As complex as some of the broadband issues may be, there are equally challenging hurdles in determining how to drive application adoption, find economic models that work, and build a foundation of trust with consumers. These social issues can't be overlooked.
As for what types of applications might originate out of Urbana, Gant says there is a broad range of possibilities. Locally-headquartered manufacturing companies like Caterpillar and John Deere would likely be interested in applying large-scale analytics to optimize equipment design and customer service models. Researchers using the Blue Waters supercomputer will be testing out new computing programs and types of algorithmic analysis. And citizen scientists are already looking into problems like how to use big data to understand why the number of beehives in the region is decreasing, and what can be done about it.
While network deployment in Urbana isn't finished yet, Gant already has the next phases of UC2B's partnership with US Ignite in mind. UC2B will host meetings in the late summer and early fall to start defining its application priorities. At the same time, the organization will start matching up research ideas with potential industry sponsors. Finally, UC2B will open up a proposal submission process and begin reviewing concrete plans to implement projects through US Ignite. Gant believes the first two years with US Ignite will entail a lot of basic research. After that, the program should start producing results that make a difference to the public at large.
Urbana is only one example of a partner community preparing to get started with US Ignite. But while it has its own unique challenges and opportunities, it's also similar to its fellows in that it will have to find a way to connect local, applied research with broader nationwide efforts. The goal of US Ignite, after all, is to link high-speed communities together, but for now, there's no roadmap to follow.
Kochan of US Ignite describes a two-pronged approach for developing a nationwide broadband testbed. First there is the technical strategy for connecting participating US Ignite communities. And second there is the administrative strategy for establishing research launch plans and common operating procedures.
On the technical front, the first step is getting communities GENI-enabled. That means installing GENI racks locally so that US Ignite communities can take advantage of new software-defined networks for application development efforts. After that, communities have to be connected up to the national GENI network backbone in order to communicate with other regional partners. Some regions have already gone through both phases. Kochan references the city of Cleveland, Ohio, and Merit Network in Michigan as already being hooked up to GENI nationally.
Harder than the technical work for US Ignite is developing a successful administrative strategy. The core team in the organization will start manually working with some of the US Ignite partner communities to find out what areas they're interested in. Then they'll determine where financial resources exist, and help communities create a plan of action. Ultimately US Ignite wants to be a kind of clearinghouse of tools and processes for connecting high-speed communities together and bringing new applications to light. But between now and then, there's a lot of work to do.
Early items on the US Ignite docket include community assessment meetings, coordination with enterprise partners, and various application development competitions including Mozilla Ignite, an open innovation challenge run by the Mozilla Foundation and funded by the NSF. These activities are all getting started now, but just how long they'll take, or how productive they'll be is still a big unknown.
This is going to be a little bit manual, until it's not. And we're hoping that that period of time is short, but you know it's also going to be a valuable period of time because that's how we're going to learn what the best way is to get this done.
US Ignite aims to have 60 next-generation applications developed within the next five years, but its milestone targets between now and then are fluid. The organization also hasn't codified yet how it will report progress, but Kochan notes that the launch event in June was so popular that US Ignite is thinking about hosting a public event once a year. Maybe next summer the public will get a chance to see some of the early US Ignite applications in action. That could help temper criticism of the program and demonstrate the value of application development as a complement to continued last-mile connectivity efforts .
US Ignite won't solve the broadband problem in America on its own. But if all goes according to plan, it should produce the kinds of life-changing applications that inspire individuals, communities, and businesses to make better broadband a reality in the future. That's a solid step in the right direction.


I could tell you but then I would have to kill you.
Very hard to do MJ when we have all worked full time plus managing family/home. I think we all struggle to say 'no'! Clear goals and agreed expectations in the work place is the key.
Flying around like an idiot and being surgically attached to my phone. I can do anything in the car park at football training!
Flexibility goes both ways if you have to put in extra time on days off ensure you are remunerated. The employer needs to be flexible in allowing this type of employee slack to attend to other commitments, change days while being able to manage clients and customers in a way that is real given part-time status. It has to be OK to tell clients someone is working part time and discuss how a matter can be managed in that time frame. Set very clear boundaries. When I'm with my child I'll do my best, but may need to negotiate a different time frame or assign the task to someone else. The type of work is important - discuss what types of work have longer or more flexible timeframes and give this work to part-time employees. Support systems, technology and staff need to be set up to assist part-time and flexible workers. Support staff need training on how to support part-time workers and the broader team. Value value value - ensure the genuine attitude is 'we're lucky to have you' not that 'we are doing you a favour'. The supervisor needs to express openly appreciation encouragement and support and ensure promotions, pay increases and training opportunities are dealt with in the same way as with other staff. These things have been critical to me working part time for the last 10 years - I hope it's helpful.
Indeed it was, as it refelcted my own views of how flexible work must work.
Most importantly, communication is key.
The last week has seen quite a bit of news about flexibility.
First of all, in world news, we found out that German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel is adopting a flexible work arrangement taking a half day every Wednesday afternoon to collect his two year old daughter from school. Astonishing. Don't get me wrong I am all for male champions of change and Herr Sigmar is setting a wunderbar example of how men can be real role models and mentors . And I note that he is taking no prisoners in his response to not being 100% committed to his VIJ (very important job). Something every woman with a VIJ and children has to put up with at some time or another.
When I first read this I was disappointed and more than a little bit cynical – disappointed that in 2014, a man in Germany makes the world news for taking time off to care for a child. Imagine the newsprint that would be used up every time a woman with a VIJ gave up time at work to pick up a child from day care. On the other hand, I think it is wonderful that such a man is taking fatherhood (or should I say parenthood) seriously (at least the second time around) and not sacrificing himself completely to his work with such a young child. He admits it is his 'turn' to collect their child from nursery school, and would be working from home, managing his time to be able to do so.
Herr Gabriel also tweeted a photo of himself, in front of his computer at home checking his emails, having picked up his daughter, and made a coffee. Something a small army of women do every day.
On balance, of course it is a great thing and we need more of it, if not for women to be able to participate in their careers more fully with a partner who is a true partner, but because it is better for children and families, to have both parents, of whatever gender, involved in the care of children. Historically, in families with both parents involved in parenting, it is the mother who is more likely to work part time, and more likely to be the primary care-giver. For women with children to be able to participate more fully in their careers, they need a partner who will do more of the 'heavy lifting' that goes with parenthood. And housework.
The article about Herr Gabriel, became even more important in light of what came out later in the week. A study covering 35000 Australian families, conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, has found what they called the 'tipping point' of work/life balance - that for women (my emphasis) with careers they should work 2-3 days a week. You can read the news report on the research here.
The senior researcher said that in doing so women (my emphasis) were more able to fit their work around their caring responsibilities and that if they worked longer than that women (my emphasis) risked creating an unhappy home, as they rushed family time and missed key family events.
First, how awful for those who have no choice financially but to work full time to have more guilt heaped on them by this research.
Secondly, this is once again about women being solely responsible for working and creating a happy home. Enough of these stereotypes. Herr Gabriel, I take my hat off to you. Hut ab vor ihm!
This post was first published by Diversity Partners.
I am often approached by people seeking advice on obtaining approval for a flexible work arrangement and also advice on the best way to make it work.
My advice is very simple – treat this as you would a project for a client. Say, for example, you were assisting the client to produce a tender to win some government work. The client needs to convince the procurement officer they have the best tender to win the work. Your supervisor or team leader is, in effect, the procurement officer.
Read the policies and procedures back to front. It is vital that you understand the rules – read the firm policy, what type of flexible work is possible under the policy, and how the policy works in practice. Find out how others have made it work. Make sure the flexible work arrangement you are proposing fits within the terms of the policy. If it doesn't, for example you may be seeking a combination of part time and work from home but the policy only allows for one or the other, be pro-active and suggest amendments to the policy, but in the meantime ensure your proposal fits the policy.
Be very clear about what sort of flexible work you are seeking – being vague or proposing a number of options does not give the person making the decision clarity about the decision they have to make.
Prepare a business case – treat your proposal as a business document. Set out clearly the benefits, both for you and the firm, address how colleagues, clients or suppliers will be affected and how you will deal with that, include communication strategies that will need to be put in place, other support you may need (eg technology). The Victorian women Lawyers' association has an excellent suite of protocols dealing with the various flexible working arrangements, which are useful guides in preparing your business case, whether you work within the legal profession or not.
Prepare for objections – answer any anticipated objections or questions in your proposal. Try and think of every possible problem or question that may be asked and make a pre-emptive strike in your proposal. If for example, there is a regular team meeting on a day it is proposed you are not going to be in the office, and for whatever reason it cannot be changed, can you be available to attend by phone or by skype?
Make sure your expectations around career development are clearly enunciated - cover off expectations you may have in relation to career development opportunities (eg education and training, salary reviews).
Build in review/allow for change – if you are working in a team or group that has not addressed this before, or your supervisor is perceived as being potentially unsupportive, suggest a review period (eg three months), and allow for change. Make sure that the proposal covers off situations where you are unable to alter your arrangement – eg child or eldercare commitments if you are working flexibly for family reasons, exam time and study block if you are working flexibly for study reasons.
Discuss with team members confidentially - seek out team members you trust and seek their input into the proposal and if appropriate and with their permission, put their support, or the fact that you have addressed their concerns, into the submission.
Assuming you are successful in your quest, how do you make it work?
Seek out a mentor – find someone who has successfully made this work as a mentor. Better still, start up a peer mentoring group, if none exists, for those working flexibly. Become a leader for those people.
Reciprocity - I am a big believer in reciprocity. If you are successful in achieving your goal of working flexibly, make sure you are prepared to give back some flexibility. If possible, help out others in the team. If someone is for example answering phones late in the day because you're leaving early, offer to do the same if that person needs to go to a medical appointment during the day. Always look for ways you can give back.
Over communicate – Always let people in your team know when you are unavailable and make sure you ask for feedback as to how it is working and address any concerns directly. And say thank you to those who are helping you to make it work.
"Margaret is an invaluable resource: as coach, advisor and mentor. She has a pragmatic approach based on strong core values which will achieve a commercial outcome for your business while retaining a respectful and empathetic approach to your employees, no matter how difficult the message which must be delivered. I have no hesitation in recommending her."


Awsome quality as usual from TM. Has about the same range as stock AEG if not quite so accurate. Getting only one shell is slightly annoying as you realy do need more but thats easily fixed (if you can find any). The build quality is excellent with no creaks or flex. Theres good weight to it without it being to heavy and the mechanism is very solid but not too hard. My only grumble is the fixed hop which limits your options slightly. This is one quality peice of kit.
Ace shotgun from TM. While it might not have the best range or accuracy those are qualitys not really looked for in shotguns. It tough, easy to use, and feels great in your hands. It makes a perfect back up or even a main for CQB use and the ability to "pumpfire" it makes it easy to blast everything that gets in your way. This seems to be one of those guns that turns heads and get you more attention than normal too.
The system time now is 11:53:28.


MANCHESTER — The family of a man who was fatally shot during a standoff with police in 2016 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming that law enforcement used excessive force.
The lawsuit comes despite the officers being cleared by the Attorney General's Office, which said the officers were justified in using force that killed 27-year-old Michael Laniado.
Police were called to Laniado's home just after midnight on Feb. 6, 2016, to arrest his girlfriend on a child support warrant.
Authorities say Laniado took his girlfriend hostage at knifepoint. The standoff lasted for several hours, ultimately ending in Laniado being fatally killed after they say he charged at officers after they had fired warning shots.
But his family says that officers escalated the situation because they did not know how to deal with suspects suffering from mental illness, according to the lawsuit, which was filed this month in federal court.
The deadly incident was not the first time that police had been called to Laniado's home, according to the lawsuit. They had been there just the night before for a disagreement between Laniado and his neighbors. The lawsuit claims the Manchester Police Department was "aware" that Laniado suffered from mental illness and had a history of "hostility toward law enforcement officers."
The lawsuit faults police for not contacting Laniado's father "despite the knowledge that [Laniado] suffered from a mental illness and that his father had assisted the police in the past."
Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department were the first to arrive on the scene that night before the Ocean County Regional SWAT team was called. The lawsuit claims Laniado was "suffering from a psychiatric crisis" but still tried to comply with officers on the scene.
"The situation was unnecessarily escalated due to the defendants' actions, as defendants did not have proper training in dealing with suspects suffering from mental illness," the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit says the standoff lasted for nearly four hours before officers fatally shot Laniado. It claims his death was "an abuse of process, an abuse of power and authority, violative of proper police procedure, custom, practice and policy and constituted the use of unnecessary and unjustified force."
A June 2016 report by the Attorney General's Office, which is tasked with investigating shootings that involve county-level police officers, tells a different story.
The report said when police came to the house, Laniado did not allow his girlfriend to surrender and remained locked in the house. Officers said they were unsuccessful trying to communicate with Laniado during the standoff, and saw him holding a knife and watched him throw several items, including a "makeshift spear," at the officers.
The state report says officers were eventually able to communicate with Laniado through an broken window, but the couple did not leave the home until SWAT members used tear gas to force them out. The investigation report said tear gas was used because Laniado "was becoming increasingly combative and would not voluntarily surrender."
The report said the couple went back into the home after the gas had cleared. They eventually came back from the house with Laniado holding his girlfriend with one hand and a knife with the other. Laniado eventually threw the knife away "after spinning the knife in his hand several times" when directed to drop it by police, the report said.
Investigators said Laniado had a second knife that officers had seen on his belt earlier in the standoff. He pulled the second knife after throwing the first one away, at which point one of the officers fired "multiple less lethal rounds."
Investigators said Laniado appeared angered by the rounds and "charged the SWAT members." The report said two officers shot Laniado while he was charging the responding officers.
The officer who fired the non-lethal rounds told investigators he recalled an incident in 2014 where Laniado had called the police department and said "I'm going to be famous ... I'm going to get a cop to shoot me." That same officer said he remembered another incident where Laniado had crashed into his gas meter, and was also aware of the events of the night prior to the standoff. The officer said because of Laniado's prior interactions with police, he was concerned about the safety of himself, Laniado's girlfriend and the other officers at the scene.
Laniado was taken to Community Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The state's report said there is footage from one of the police cars on the scene that backed up the statements made by the officers involved.
A resident who witnessed the incident told NJ.com that officers had attempted to talk to Laniado and that "they didn't want to shoot him." The witness also told the publication that officers gave Laniado "every opportunity to surrender, he just wasn't receptive to it."
Laniado's attorney, Robert F. Varady, did not return a request for comment.


GPL (General Public License) is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works. We do not offer technical support at these links. To review the. 28 Jun There is no "I accept" button on the GPL, thus no contract. In legal . The Linksys product included both the Linux kernel and other GPL code. So, naturally curious, I wanted to find out what Linksys had to do to get Zebra running on this hardware. I stopped by the Linksys "GPL Code Center", and.
8 Jun jap writes "According to this post on LKML, Linksys is shipping firmware for (at least their) g access-points based on Linux - without any. 12 Dec Most of these programs are licensed under the GNU General Public License ( GPL), and the rest are under the GNU Lesser General Public. Free Software Foundation, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc. was a lawsuit initiated by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) against Cisco Systems on December 11, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The FSF claimed that various products sold by Cisco under the Linksys "Cisco sued by FSF over GPL violation".
30 Sep To Linux Developers Concerned about the Linksys/Cisco GPL Violations: We are in ongoing negotiating with Linksys/Cisco about this issue. 10 Jun Awhile ago, I mentioned that the Linksys WRT54G wireless access point used several GPL projects in its firmware, but did not seem to have. 8 Nov But ultimately, under outside pressure to deliver on their legal obligation under the GPL, Linksys open sourced the WRT54G firmware in July. I am considering buying a WRT54G since the option exists to run the little router with linux, GPL code as the linksys folks call it. Anyways. The WRT54G is a home router manufactured by Linksys; the contractor used some code released under the GPL licence.


text:
Q: How to strip symbol version information from the symbol dependency table of a shared library in Linux? I need a way to strip (or change, if stripping is not possible) the symbol version information from the symbol dependency table of a shared library in Linux, so I can work around the memcpy@GLIBC_2.14 disaster, so I can make my binaries work on Linuxes with glibc older than 2.14 again.
Is there any tool for that?
Note: The __asm__('.symver') directive doesn't work for me because the problem is not that my library uses memcpy, but that my library uses something from libgcc and that uses memcpy@GLIBC_2.14, which is why I need a tool to change that after compilation.
Thanks.

A:
I need a way to strip (or change, if stripping is not possible) the symbol version information from the symbol dependency table of a shared library in Linux, so I can work around the memcpy@GLIBC_2.14 disaster,

Stripping symbol version info

*

*is not possible without rebuilding a lot of internal ELF structures inside the linked binary (i.e. impossible in practice) and

*(even if you succeeded) will not produce a binary that will work on older GLIBC.

so I can make my binaries work on Linuxes with glibc older than 2.14 again.

You can find approaches to "build on newer system, run on older one" here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Where the world talks security
Rebecca Beard
Global Senior Privacy Manager, Dropbox
Rebecca Beard is currently a Senior Manager of Privacy Program at Dropbox.com where she focuses on scaling and automating various privacy work streams. Prior to that Beard worked at Gilead Sciences, Inc., where she managed a cross-functional global team and oversaw the implementation of a comprehensive global privacy program. She has over a decade of experience working at Am Law 100 firms in privacy and information governance roles. Beard earned an MBA in information systems from San Francisco State University and a BA from Humboldt State University. She also earned an EMBA certificate from the Yale School of Management. Beard is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-beard-mba-90770210/
Session ID 19247
The CCPA Is Here: What's Changed and What You Need to Know for Compliance
Natasha Amlani, Kabir Barday, Rebecca Beard and Rahul Tanwar
While California's Consumer Privacy Act became law on Jan. 1 2020, many key amendments only just passed—meaning security and privacy pros may still be scrambling to build CCPA-compliant programs. This session will bring together the top CCPA experts to detail the latest on the law, including key amendments, share case studies and research on CCPA preparedness, and give a roadmap for compliance.
Pre-Requisites: Attendees should have an intermediate understanding of the privacy landscape today and it's impact on day-to-day business operations.
View Session
« View all experts


text:
Q: How to change google translator select language text in coding I am using the google translator in my website, I want to change the select language text in the drop down. Anyone suggest for this.
Here is my code;
function googleTranslateElementInit() {
       new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en', includedLanguages: 'ar', layout: google.translate.TranslateElement.InlineLayout.SIMPLE}, 'google_translate_element');
}

Thanks in advance.

A: According to this question you can modify the element as you want.
Like this:

http://output.jsbin.com/jucoba

A: I spent a lot of time trying to get rid of "RangeError: Maximum call stack size exceeded." error.
Here is the solution I came up with.
Just assign a new value to yourContent variable and you are ready to go.
Hope someone will find this helpful.
    var targetElement = document.getElementById("google_translate_element");
    var yourContent = "Your text or
 HTML element"
    targetElement.addEventListener("DOMNodeInserted", () => {
      $(".goog-te-menu-value span:first").each(function (i, obj) {
        if (obj.childNodes[0] && obj.childNodes[0].textContent == "Select Language") {
          $(obj).html(yourContent);
        }
      });
    });

Also, if you want to add image instead of text, you will need to add the following css to clean up unnecessary borders:
.goog-te-menu-value span:nth-child(3),
.goog-te-menu-value span:nth-child(5),
.goog-te-gadget-icon,
.goog-te-banner-frame.skiptranslate {
    display:none !important;
  }

div#google_translate_element div.goog-te-gadget-simple {
    border: none;
    background-color: transparent;
}


text:
NaturallySpeaking dictates performance
By Carlos A. Soto
Software developers for decades have been trying to convert speech reliably into computer commands. Despite the progress they've made, all such programs do require some training.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7 strikes a good balance between accuracy and ease of use.
My past experiences with dictation software haven't been good. I've seen such programs freeze, conflict with other apps, or demand a large chunk of processor speed and memory.
That wasn't the case with NaturallySpeaking 7. Multitasking with it was effortless on a Pentium III notebook PC with 128M of RAM.
But dictation software tends to be a space hog, and this one was no exception. It occupied a whopping 273M of the notebook hard drive.
Installation was straightforward and took about four minutes. More difficult was the training, which required me to construct a profile and give the software lots of experience at interpreting my voice in that profile.
Dragon can accept multiple profiles so several impaired users can access different machines. But the multiple training sessions tend to take a long time, depending on the users' voices.
I trained NaturallySpeaking by reading a series of program-selected passages for about 20 minutes until it recognized me with almost 85 percent accuracy, which a few years ago would have been amazing. The last package I tested gave only about 65 percent accuracy after two hours of training.
Users with impaired vision need help during the enrollment and training. There are hotkey shortcuts that let a visually impaired user navigate the enrollment, but support is still necessary.
A good microphone is essential. I used a high-end Universal Serial Bus headset from Logitech Inc. of Fremont, Calif., to reduce ambient noise. Many users are tempted to try a free-standing microphone, but I don't recommend it. Headsets give better results and are more comfortable.
Once enrolled with a good microphone, I could do things'for instance, navigate around the desktop interface'that I've never been able to do with other dictation software.
On my first attempt to press the hotkey that initiates the microphone and software, I said, 'Open Microsoft Word' and it immediately opened.
Dictation in Word gave me a little trouble at first but became easier as I learned when to pause and how to give commands.
For example, I first dictated, 'I work at Government Computer News.' I couldn't manage to capitalize 'computer' until I found the command, 'Cap that.'
Likewise, I had to remember that when giving the computer a command for which I would normally use the mouse, I had to start the command with 'Click' followed by 'Close' or 'Maximize.'


The Dizzy Feet Foundation will still honor Shirley MacLaine and Henry T. Segerstrom at its second annual gala on Saturday evening, but the foundation will be without expected host Katie Holmes.
The Dizzy Feet board member was expected to make her first public appearance since splitting from Tom Cruise this weekend, but her rep has confirmed she will not be in attendance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Fellow board members Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman are still expected to be on hand as 89-year-old Orange County philanthropist Segerstrom receives a DFF Impact Award for his support of the arts. The Haute 100 member is a major patron of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, which features a world-class dance program.
Meanwhile, MacLaine will be honored with a DFF Inspiration Award, while music and dance director Damian Woetzel will receive the foundation's inaugural Gene Kelly Legacy Award.
Performers at the Celebration of Dance gala this Saturday will include Maria Menounos, Derek Hough, Ryan Guzman, Misha Gabriel, tWitch and Kathryn McCormack. Presenters at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will include actress and model Carmen Electra, "Glee" stars Chord Overstreet and Harry Shum, Jr., and TV host Ricki Lake.
The Dizzy Feet Foundation helps young people realize their dream of becoming professional dancers by supporting, improving and increasing access to dance education in the U.S. The nonprofit also sponsors community-based dance programs in underserved communities.


Half of low-income families are still struggling with the cost of keeping their homes warm, according to new research.
Research by Turn2us, a charity that helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, found that one in two low-income families are struggling to stay warm, despite being in work.
Nearly half of those surveyed have been battling with extortionate energy costs for over a year, while 33% have even been forced to skip meals.
21% have experienced stress and mental health issues and 37% say energy bills are likely to cause further stress this winter.
The research also found that 71% will cut back spending on heating their homes, or not use the heating at all. Nearly half (44%) will cut back on food to keep the heating on.
However, the research also found that many families are not aware of the support available. Three quarters haven't sought advice or information on benefits they may be eligible to claim.
Only 12% have informed their energy supplier about their financial situation, and only 5% have approached advice organisations.
A massive 83% were unaware that energy suppliers and charities may have schemes and information available to help people struggling with heating costs.
Fuel poverty was until recently defined as a household which needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel. However, the UK Government adopted a new definition for England in 2013.
Simon Hopkins, Chief Executive of Turn2us said: "Our research paints a startling picture, revealing the extent to which households are struggling to heat their homes, even though they're in work.
"It is clear that more needs to be done to help raise awareness of the financial support and other help available to people on low incomes to help them manage their energy costs.
"We know that this is an issue that affects a wide range of people, and, alongside working households, many others will suffer this winter.
The charity's findings were published as Trussell Trust released new figures showing record levels of hunger in the UK, and warned that further welfare cuts could lead to a "substantial rise in food bank use".
David McAuley, Chief Executive of The Trussell Trust said: "This important research from Turn2us reinforces what we see on the ground day-in day-out at foodbanks.
"During winter we meet families who are all sleeping together in one room to share warmth, who cannot afford to heat the home and have no money for food.
"There are too many people struggling to afford fuel and food in the UK, and winter is the hardest time of year for many people in poverty.


Skardu Fort or Kharpocho means The king of Forts is a fort in Skardu city in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Australian mountaineer and film maker Greg Child writes that the fort is "perched above the junction of the rivers" and overlooks the Rock of Skardu.
The fort was originally the residence of the Rajas of Skardu who find their descent from a fakir. The fort was built by the king Ali Sher in the end of the sixteenth century. General Zorawar Singh of the Dogra Rajput clan working under Maharaja Gulab Singh realized the importance of the fort's location in the town and so he occupied the fort. It was part of his many military campaigns to annex the areas of Baltistan to the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The fort was razed to the ground in 1857 under the guidance of Ranbir Singh. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb also tried to occupy the fort, which went in vain.
During the First Indo-Pakistani War, Pakistani platoons were deployed inside the fort to protect the local people. The Gilgit Scouts laid siege to the fort to force a garrison stationed there to enter the conflict. On 11 February 1948, Indian forces battled with the Skardu garrison of the fort. After a six-hour-long battle between the two the attackers retreated. They came again on 14th February directing "harassing fire into the fort".
American mountaineers Robert Bates and Charles Houston writes that they were "lavishly entertained" as they visited the fort.


No one enjoys an unnecessarily loud automobile. Noisy exhausts, squeaky doors, and loud engines keep you from enjoying your time on the road. They may even become distractions or overpower the car speakers. While these noises are annoying, loud wipers can be just as troublesome.
What is the advantage of having silent wipers? Late at night or early in the morning, squeaky wipers can echo through a quiet neighborhood. When driving, loud wipers may cause a continuous disturbance that keeps you from giving the road your full attention.
Besides these issues, you may simply want to create the quietest ride possible. Luckily, there are many whisper-quiet wipers to choose from along with DIY tips for keeping wipers from grinding across the windshield.
You first need to ensure that you find blades that are compatible with your vehicle. The two details to consider are the blade length and latching mechanism. To find these details, check the owner's manual in your glove compartment.
Most vehicles use 22-inch to 26-inch blades but the sizes can vary. The latching mechanism comes in three standard styles: J-hook, bayonet, and side post. The installation depends on the mechanism.
The next consideration is the blade style. The main three options include frame-style, winter blade, and beam-style wipers.
The frame style is the most common type of blade. It features a metal frame that holds the actual wiper, which is a strip of rubber with metal backing. These are the most affordable option.
Frame-style blades typically feature rubber squeegees that can be replaced without replacing the blade. However, this has become less common in recent years.
Replacing the rubber insert is a frustrating task as it can bunch up while you feed it into the blade. Most people simply replace the entire blade, which has led to a decrease in options for replacing the insert.
The winter blades are designed for use in areas that receive snow and ice during the winter months. They are similar to the frame-style blades but with a rubber shell over the entire blade. The blade is protected against the weather, helping to prevent wear and tear.
The premium beam-style windshield wipers are the most expensive option. Instead of a separate frame and rubber blade, the beam-style wipers are made with one-piece construction. They also feature a spring-steel band that allows the blade to conform to the curve of the windshield.
As you'll likely need to replace the entire blade, the type of material used for the squeegee becomes one of the most important factors.
Unwanted noise from your wipers is often the result of worn squeegees or damaged wiper arms. The arms may become bent from sitting in the same position all the time. The rubber squeegee that wipes your windshield clean may slowly deteriorate and become less effective.
If you want a quiet wiper, search for wipers with durable materials, especially the material used for the squeegee component. The most durable options include hardened rubber and silicone.
The drawback to hardened rubber is that it can remain stiff, which can cause the wipers to squeak as they move across the windshield. Standard rubber blades do not have the same problem but they also deteriorate more quickly. Silicone is built to last. It is also heat-resistant so it doesn't warp or wear due to sun exposure.
For the quietest operation at an affordable price, the best options tend to be winter blades, which are also sometimes called all-season blades. They are often made with durable materials for the squeegee part, reducing the risk of issues that commonly cause unwanted wiper noise.
The premium beam-style wipers made with silicone are also great choices but they tend to cost a little more. Remember these details as you compare the top windshield wipers for whisper-quiet operation. Consider the length of the blade, blade style, and squeegee material.
These all-season blades are designed to last longer even in extreme conditions. They are made with a durable polymer material that keeps the frame from warping or bending over time.
The exterior of the blade features a silicone rubber strip, which helps create silent wiping action. This silicone material is naturally resistant to wear and corrosion while the exterior material protects the blade from exposure to the elements.
One of the best features of this quiet set of wipers is the latching mechanism. It includes a universal mechanism that works with over 99% of vehicles.
The ANCO blades are another set of winter blades. Instead of silicone, they feature a rubber compound that wraps around the blade frame and provides a streak-free wipe. The thick rubber material should offer a longer service life compared to some of the cheaper blades.
The 22-inch set is not the only size. The options range from 11 inches to 24 inches. You can also choose between individual packs or five-packs of wipers. A five-pack set is an interesting number of blades but at least you'll have a few spares.
The latching component works with pin-style or J-hook mechanisms. This should suit a wide variety of makes and models.
With the Bosch Aerotwin Wiper Blades, you get beam-style wipers made with aerodynamic all-steel frames. These durable frames also include a fully enclosed metal tension spring to ensure that the wiping edge has a snug fit against the windshield.
The squeegee is made from precision-cut natural rubber. It is not the most durable material but it is flexible, which helps cut down on the screeching sound of stiff blades grinding on the windshield.
The blades are available in a variety of sizes to suit most vehicles. The locking mechanism options include top lock, side lock, and pinch tab.
Most people recognize Safelite as the windshield replacement company. They also produce quality beam-style blades.
These wipers are made with steel blades for added durability. They also have side mount couplers that are designed to reduce wind lift, keeping the wipers firmly on the windshield and reducing chattering.
The blades are available in sizes ranging between 13 inches and 28 inches. With the Easy Connection Technology used on the locking mechanism, they should fit most cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Rain-X is a trusted brand that produces some of the best windshield wipers. In fact, this wiper blade won the 2017 Product of the Year award in the Car Care Category.
These are beam-style blades. The blade contours to the windshield and includes a high-quality tension spring for the perfect fit. It also features a universal adapter for simple installation on almost any make and model of vehicle.
The wiping edge is made from synthetic rubber that is designed to last through multiple winter seasons. While these are among the top-rated blades, they are still reasonably priced. For less than $20, you get a single blade that should offer whisper-quiet operation.
Overall, the Rain-X is the top choice, thanks to the advanced features. The synthetic rubber is highly durable while the aerodynamic spoiler reduces wind lift, which are both features that help reduce noise levels.
If you are a first-time car owner, there are certain maintenance tasks that you may have never dealt with. This includes learning how to replace windshield wiper blades.
Luckily, replacing the wipers is a simple task. You don't need a mechanic to help with this. In fact, you don't even need any tools.
After obtaining your new wipers, double-check to ensure that you got the right size. The wipers should have the length listed on the packaging or imprinted on the wipers themselves.
Turn off your vehicle and keep it in park.
Find the unlatching mechanism for the wipers (some have a button or a latch).
Unlatch the wiper blades (you may need to jiggle the blades a little).
Remove any protective plastic from the new wipers.
Latch the new wipers into place.
Turn on your vehicle and test the wipers.
Replacing the wipers is easy but if you run into any problems, there is a chance that the wiper blades are not compatible with the latching mechanism on the wiper assemblies.
Besides replacing your wipers, there are a few ways to make your existing wipers operate a little more quietly. These tips are often effective when something is keeping your wipers from running smoothly.
First, you should understand that wipers are not made to last forever. The rubber blade that wipes your windshield clean slowly deteriorates. It may even start to rub against the windshield, creating an unpleasant noise.
You may also notice that the blades skip over parts of the windshield. This is often caused by the blades slowly curving due to a lack of use.
If you detect these signs, replace your blades. If the wipers are not worn and continue to squeak, there are several steps that you can take to maintain your windshield wipers and prevent unwanted noise.
The squeaking may be caused by debris stuck to the wipers. Use a wet towel or rag with rubbing alcohol or soapy water to wipe the blades clean.
If the wipers continue to squeak, clean the windshield. Use glass cleaner to wipe the windshield clean and remove any obstacles that are keeping the wipers from working properly. For incredibly dirty windshields, use baking soda to help loosen debris.
In some cases, the wipers may start to squeak because the windshield is too dry. Never run the wipers on a dry windshield as this wears the rubber squeegee and causes streaking and squeaking.
Check the windshield wiper fluid. Top it off if it's low and always use fluid when using the wipers to clean the windshield.
Another option for dealing with squeaky wipers is to wipe them down with oil. Use WD-40 and an old rag to wipe the blades, including the rubber or silicone strip and the arm.
If the blades are squeaking near the wiper assemblies instead of against the windshield, you may need to loosen the fasteners. Most wiper assemblies feature a small plastic cover that can be popped open with a flathead screwdriver. Use a wrench to slightly loosen the fasteners. Close the cap and test the wipers to see if the sound went away.
These steps should help keep your windshield squeaky clean without needing to listen to squeaky wipers.
Windshield wipers are designed to keep the windshield clear so that you can keep your eyes on the road. When the wipers start to grind or squeak as they wipe across the surface of the windshield, you may get distracted or struggle to see through a dirty windshield.
The best way to avoid this problem is to maintain your wipers. Check them regularly for signs of deterioration as this is often the cause of the squeaking.
If the wipers are worn, replace them. The best options include winter blades made with toughened rubber or the premium beam-style wipers made with silicone. These blades last longer, helping to delay the inevitable noises as the worn wiper streaks across the windshield.


Probably asked a thousand times but can't find the relevant info in this ginormous discussion. What is the experience with customs and taxes for massdrop users in the European Union. What final price should I expect ? Any time delay in delivery ? Thanks.
You can get a rough estimate, but expect it to be higher. If they charge you for a service, it will go up.


Urbani's porcini mushrooms are still dried in the old traditional italian way. Packed in an elegant bag you can first appreciate the size and quality of these mushrooms and later appreciate their unique flavor in cooking.
The mushrooms should be rinsed and cleaned of any dirt before use. To bring out the aroma of the porcini mushrooms, you need only to soak them in a mixture of milk and warm water.
Excellent for risotto or pan-fried, they are great combined with prestigious white Alba truffle.
Ingredients: Dried Porcini mushrooms (Boletus edulis).


History. John A. Toro established Toro Law Offices in 1995 after spending time with one of the largest personal injury law firms in southern New England.
is a law firm specializing in Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury and Social Security in the State of Rhode Island and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
We pride ourselves on a relationship with our clients unlike any other law firm. First and foremost, all our clients receive the respect they deserve when entrusting their legal matters to us.
Our Firm's environment is designed to be client friendly with the understanding that their interest and awareness of the legal process are our most important considerations. From the first meeting to the conclusion of their case we never lose sight of the fact that pursing a legal matter can be time consuming, confusing and very frustrating. To ease the burden we consistently communicate with our client to ensure that they never feel the pressure of pursuing their personal injury, workers' compensation or social security claim.
Once your case is accepted, you become part of our firm. We will work together so that your legal experience with our law firm is an enjoyable one. If you have a matter that we are unable to handle, we will refer you to a firm that we believe can best assist you.
John A. Toro Bio. Mr. Toro specializes in personal injury cases, workers' compensation and social security claims. He has 20 years experience handling personal injury cases in the Superior Court, worker's compensation court and before the social security administration. He is admitted to practice in the State of Rhode Island, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States Supreme Court, and the 1st circuit Federal Court. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Kent County Bar Association, Fall River Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.
Mr. Toro is a graduate from Syracuse University College of Law in 1989 and the University of Rhode Island in 1986.


Display Your Image! With 24″ to 80″ LCD, LED & Plasma TV and display rentals from NextArts.
These high quality TVs and monitors offer audience engagement in HD! All TV and display rentals support a variety of input connections including: DVD, laptop, video game console and more. All rental displays and monitors are cleaned & tested before shipping. For important meetings or the big game, a NextArts large screen will fit your budget and make an awesome impact.


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Acer Releasing Ultrabook, Aims for Sales Rebound
By Melanie Pinola
Acer will launch its own Ultrabook in the fourth quarter, in the hopes of overcoming foundering laptop sales and increasing competition from tablets and smartphones. Acer has been struggling with declining profits, and the company cut its first-quarter PC revenue outlook this year.
Acer's rival, Asus, displayed its UX21, the first Ultrabook announced, at the Computex trade show on Tuesday. Asus chairman Jonney Shih said in the Intel press release for the Ultrabook: "Customers are demanding an uncompromised computing experience in a lightweight, highly portable design that responds to their needs quickly. Transforming the PC into an ultra-thin, ultra-responsive device will change the way people interact with their PC."
Acer president Jim Wong said he believes "the Ultrabook can help to revive the notebook market." And Intel is optimistic of Ultrabooks in general, predicting that 40 percent of laptops sold by the end of next year will be Ultrabooks.
There's no word yet on Acer's Ultrabook specs, but if it follows Intel's design suggestions, the planned laptop will be 20 millimeters or thinner and start at under $1,000. A long-life battery and "instant on" functionality are other common features we may expect.
Both the Asus UX21 and the Acer Ultrabook should arrive around the same time this year - just in time for holiday shopping. It may be a race to see who comes out of the gate first, and there's little doubt other manufacturers will join the Ultrabook competition as well.
Whichever rival comes out on top, hopefully this marriage of tablet-like features in an ultraportable form really will rejuvenate the PC market.
Follow Melanie Pinola (@melaniepinola) and Today@PCWorld on Twitter


The city of York has waned in recent years in terms of prominence but nobody will ever be able to take away the historical significance that York has maintained for countless centuries. York sits in a particularly fruitful location at the confluence of two of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers in England: The Rivers Foss and Ouse. York also enjoys yet another lucky placement in the fact that it is just about at the halfway point in between London and Edinburgh. This has allowed the city to grow into its own thanks to the fact that the transportation between the two metropolises ensured that York would always be an important hub no matter which form of transportation ruled the roost. To be sure, York's convenient location has played a part in its sizable and significant growth ever since it came into being after the Romans created it and gave it the much less enjoyable name of Eboracum. Try eating a peppermint patty named after that!
All joking aside, the name of York actually is a translation from the Latin Eboracum and many people believe that Eboracum wasn't Roman in origin but in fact a Gaelic or Scottish term. Either way, York was the site of some of the most important historical events to plague or enlighten England for better or worse. It was of course subject to the typical warfare that went on between Saxon tribes and Roman soldiers and all that mess that made up the better part of the first ten centuries of the years after the death of Christ. One of the earliest trials that York faced, as far as the more recent history books are concerned, took place around the 1100s when a mob attacked a crowd of Jewish inhabitants for supposedly no reason. The famous Clifford's Tower became a hiding place for the Jewish victims and they hid there for over a week in the fortified tower in an attempt to flee the angry citizens hell-bent on destroying them. One must remember that this was a period of time which saw much strife between the various sons of Abraham and sadly the Jews were killed when the tower was set afire.
During the English Civil War York was once again displayed in a negative light when the world-famous Guy Fawkes was found to have been raised in York. Aside from that upstart it seems that York was a particularly favorable target for the Parliamentarians as the city was nearly razed to the ground with some of the most destructive attacks of that particular war. York has seen its share of trials and tribulations but it must be reiterated that the city still stands and it stands proudly to this day. This is the nature of many of the cities of the United Kingdom and it is important to keep this in mind when talking about the various ailments that befell these cities. England, Ireland, and Scotland are home to some of the oldest civilized towns on Earth and many of these cities have seen everything from the Black Plague to two World Wars and yet they still function proudly. York is no exception and one can still walk around the town to this day and take in the awe and grandeur of the city without once thinking of anything that may have befell it in its past.


Bald Girls Do Lunch received three Gold Triangle Awards from the American Academy of Dermatology.
Read our 5-star reviews here.
Five Spot: New Yorker Thea Chassin is founder of Bald Girls Do Lunch, a nonprofit for women with baldness caused by alopecia areata.
Bald Group to Guys: Make Room. In 2009 the Bald is Beautiful Club has Women, too.


River Haven Lodge affords access to over thirty rivers by car and another twenty by helicopter.
The guides, combined with luxurious accommodation and wonderful food and wine, make it a very popular destination for international trout anglers.
The River Haven Lodge is all inclusive with a full breakfast and three course dinners served in the main lodge and a delicious healthy picnic lunch served on the river. River Haven Lodge is owned and operated by Scott 'The Trout' Murray and his wife Leya. Scott has over 25 years' experience as a guide in the area.
The fishing in this region involves walking and wading upstream and fishing for sighted brown trout in gin clear water. The trout are well spread out and lie deceptively deep, and this is where the experience of your guide, and access to his flybox, will come into play!
There is a wide range of rivers available and, in addition to road access, River Haven Lodge works with four helicopter companies who will land metres from your cabin and fly you to rivers that are world class and often produce double figure trout.
The lodge can also provide all the gear you require at no additional cost.


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New York Cosmos become Coney Island's newest sports team
Posted 8:58 PM, March 6, 2017, by Alyssa Zauderer, Updated at 09:54PM, March 6, 2017
Players of New York Cosmos celebrate after scoring the victory goal during the 2015 Lunar New Year Cup match. (Victor Fraile/Getty Images)
CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn — Professional soccer team the New York Cosmos is the newest sports team to call Brooklyn home.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance for Coney Island hosted hundreds of people at Gargiulo's Restaurant to welcome the team to Coney Island.
They are the current champions of the North American Soccer League.
Cosmos captain Carlos Mendes shared his excitement about the new chapter for the team and how passionate Brooklyn soccer fans are.
"I'm excited to play in a community like Brooklyn where people appreciate the game and really know the game and love the game," said Mendes.
Mendes grew up in Mineola, calling Long Island a "hot bed for soccer."
"A lot of talent comes out of here," said Mendes. "I was lucky to be born and raised here."
The team was purchased by Rocco Commisso and will play at MCU Park along Coney Island's iconic boardwalk.
It won't just be the Cosmos coming to Brooklyn; the team will bring more foot traffic to local businesses and jobs.
"It's more than just about soccer and about fans and about people coming to Coney Island, which is great, it's about economic development," said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Andrew Hoan.
Bringing the Cosmos to Coney Island will call for an increase of jobs, such as concessions and in the stands. Local businesses will also benefit with the crowds coming to see the Cosmos.
"The restaurants and the different places in Coney Island are going to be seeing visitors," said Hoan.
Hoan says hundreds of jobs will be available to Coney Island residents to help with the boost in tourism.
The Cosmos will have their first home game on April 1 against Miami FC.
Fans can score tickets by calling 855-712-6766.
Filed in: Brooklyn, Sports
Topics: new york cosmos
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