text:
namespace flutter {

ImageDecoder::ImageDecoder(
    TaskRunners runners,
    std::shared_ptr<fml::ConcurrentTaskRunner> concurrent_task_runner,
    fml::WeakPtr<IOManager> io_manager)
    : runners_(std::move(runners)),
      concurrent_task_runner_(std::move(concurrent_task_runner)),
      io_manager_(std::move(io_manager)),
      weak_factory_(this) {
  FML_DCHECK(runners_.IsValid());
  FML_DCHECK(runners_.GetUITaskRunner()->RunsTasksOnCurrentThread())
      << "The image decoder must be created & collected on the UI thread.";
}

ImageDecoder::~ImageDecoder() = default;

static sk_sp<SkImage> ResizeRasterImage(sk_sp<SkImage> image,
                                        const SkISize& resized_dimensions,
                                        const fml::tracing::TraceFlow& flow) {
  FML_DCHECK(!image->isTextureBacked());

  TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", __FUNCTION__);
  flow.Step(__FUNCTION__);

  if (resized_dimensions.isEmpty()) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not resize to empty dimensions.";
    return nullptr;
  }

  if (image->dimensions() == resized_dimensions) {
    return image->makeRasterImage();
  }

  const auto scaled_image_info =
      image->imageInfo().makeDimensions(resized_dimensions);

  SkBitmap scaled_bitmap;
  if (!scaled_bitmap.tryAllocPixels(scaled_image_info)) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Failed to allocate memory for bitmap of size "
                   << scaled_image_info.computeMinByteSize() << "B";
    return nullptr;
  }

  if (!image->scalePixels(scaled_bitmap.pixmap(), kLow_SkFilterQuality,
                          SkImage::kDisallow_CachingHint)) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not scale pixels";
    return nullptr;
  }

  // Marking this as immutable makes the MakeFromBitmap call share the pixels
  // instead of copying.
  scaled_bitmap.setImmutable();

  auto scaled_image = SkImage::MakeFromBitmap(scaled_bitmap);
  if (!scaled_image) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not create a scaled image from a scaled bitmap.";
    return nullptr;
  }

  return scaled_image;
}

static sk_sp<SkImage> ImageFromDecompressedData(
    fml::RefPtr<ImageDescriptor> descriptor,
    uint32_t target_width,
    uint32_t target_height,
    const fml::tracing::TraceFlow& flow) {
  TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", __FUNCTION__);
  flow.Step(__FUNCTION__);
  auto image = SkImage::MakeRasterData(
      descriptor->image_info(), descriptor->data(), descriptor->row_bytes());

  if (!image) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not create image from decompressed bytes.";
    return nullptr;
  }

  if (!target_width && !target_height) {
    // No resizing requested. Just rasterize the image.
    return image->makeRasterImage();
  }

  return ResizeRasterImage(std::move(image),
                           SkISize::Make(target_width, target_height), flow);
}

sk_sp<SkImage> ImageFromCompressedData(fml::RefPtr<ImageDescriptor> descriptor,
                                       uint32_t target_width,
                                       uint32_t target_height,
                                       const fml::tracing::TraceFlow& flow) {
  TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", __FUNCTION__);
  flow.Step(__FUNCTION__);

  if (!descriptor->should_resize(target_width, target_height)) {
    // No resizing requested. Just decode & rasterize the image.
    return SkImage::MakeFromEncoded(descriptor->data())->makeRasterImage();
  }

  const SkISize source_dimensions = descriptor->image_info().dimensions();
  const SkISize resized_dimensions = {static_cast<int32_t>(target_width),
                                      static_cast<int32_t>(target_height)};

  auto decode_dimensions = descriptor->get_scaled_dimensions(
      std::max(static_cast<double>(resized_dimensions.width()) /
                   source_dimensions.width(),
               static_cast<double>(resized_dimensions.height()) /
                   source_dimensions.height()));

  // If the codec supports efficient sub-pixel decoding, decoded at a resolution
  // close to the target resolution before resizing.
  if (decode_dimensions != source_dimensions) {
    auto scaled_image_info =
        descriptor->image_info().makeDimensions(decode_dimensions);

    SkBitmap scaled_bitmap;
    if (!scaled_bitmap.tryAllocPixels(scaled_image_info)) {
      FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Failed to allocate memory for bitmap of size "
                     << scaled_image_info.computeMinByteSize() << "B";
      return nullptr;
    }

    const auto& pixmap = scaled_bitmap.pixmap();
    if (descriptor->get_pixels(pixmap)) {
      // Marking this as immutable makes the MakeFromBitmap call share
      // the pixels instead of copying.
      scaled_bitmap.setImmutable();

      auto decoded_image = SkImage::MakeFromBitmap(scaled_bitmap);
      FML_DCHECK(decoded_image);
      if (!decoded_image) {
        FML_LOG(ERROR)
            << "Could not create a scaled image from a scaled bitmap.";
        return nullptr;
      }
      return ResizeRasterImage(std::move(decoded_image), resized_dimensions,
                               flow);
    }
  }

  auto image = SkImage::MakeFromEncoded(descriptor->data());
  if (!image) {
    return nullptr;
  }

  return ResizeRasterImage(std::move(image), resized_dimensions, flow);
}

static SkiaGPUObject<SkImage> UploadRasterImage(
    sk_sp<SkImage> image,
    fml::WeakPtr<IOManager> io_manager,
    const fml::tracing::TraceFlow& flow) {
  TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", __FUNCTION__);
  flow.Step(__FUNCTION__);

  // Should not already be a texture image because that is the entire point of
  // the this method.
  FML_DCHECK(!image->isTextureBacked());

  if (!io_manager->GetResourceContext() || !io_manager->GetSkiaUnrefQueue()) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR)
        << "Could not acquire context of release queue for texture upload.";
    return {};
  }

  SkPixmap pixmap;
  if (!image->peekPixels(&pixmap)) {
    FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not peek pixels of image for texture upload.";
    return {};
  }

  SkiaGPUObject<SkImage> result;
  io_manager->GetIsGpuDisabledSyncSwitch()->Execute(
      fml::SyncSwitch::Handlers()
          .SetIfTrue([&result, &pixmap, &image] {
            SkSafeRef(image.get());
            sk_sp<SkImage> texture_image = SkImage::MakeFromRaster(
                pixmap,
                [](const void* pixels, SkImage::ReleaseContext context) {
                  SkSafeUnref(static_cast<SkImage*>(context));
                },
                image.get());
            result = {std::move(texture_image), nullptr};
          })
          .SetIfFalse([&result, context = io_manager->GetResourceContext(),
                       &pixmap, queue = io_manager->GetSkiaUnrefQueue()] {
            TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", "MakeCrossContextImageFromPixmap");
            sk_sp<SkImage> texture_image = SkImage::MakeCrossContextFromPixmap(
                context.get(),  // context
                pixmap,         // pixmap
                true,           // buildMips,
                true            // limitToMaxTextureSize
            );
            if (!texture_image) {
              FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not make x-context image.";
              result = {};
            } else {
              result = {std::move(texture_image), queue};
            }
          }));

  return result;
}

void ImageDecoder::Decode(fml::RefPtr<ImageDescriptor> descriptor,
                          uint32_t target_width,
                          uint32_t target_height,
                          const ImageResult& callback) {
  TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", __FUNCTION__);
  fml::tracing::TraceFlow flow(__FUNCTION__);

  FML_DCHECK(callback);
  FML_DCHECK(runners_.GetUITaskRunner()->RunsTasksOnCurrentThread());

  // Always service the callback on the UI thread.
  auto result = [callback, ui_runner = runners_.GetUITaskRunner()](
                    SkiaGPUObject<SkImage> image,
                    fml::tracing::TraceFlow flow) {
    ui_runner->PostTask(fml::MakeCopyable(
        [callback, image = std::move(image), flow = std::move(flow)]() mutable {
          // We are going to terminate the trace flow here. Flows cannot
          // terminate without a base trace. Add one explicitly.
          TRACE_EVENT0("flutter", "ImageDecodeCallback");
          flow.End();
          callback(std::move(image));
        }));
  };

  if (!descriptor->data() || descriptor->data()->size() == 0) {
    result({}, std::move(flow));
    return;
  }

  concurrent_task_runner_->PostTask(
      fml::MakeCopyable([descriptor,                              //
                         io_manager = io_manager_,                //
                         io_runner = runners_.GetIOTaskRunner(),  //
                         result,                                  //
                         target_width = target_width,             //
                         target_height = target_height,           //
                         flow = std::move(flow)                   //
  ]() mutable {
        // Step 1: Decompress the image.
        // On Worker.

        auto decompressed =
            descriptor->is_compressed()
                ? ImageFromCompressedData(std::move(descriptor),  //
                                          target_width,           //
                                          target_height,          //
                                          flow)
                : ImageFromDecompressedData(std::move(descriptor),  //
                                            target_width,           //
                                            target_height,          //
                                            flow);

        if (!decompressed) {
          FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not decompress image.";
          result({}, std::move(flow));
          return;
        }

        // Step 2: Update the image to the GPU.
        // On IO Thread.

        io_runner->PostTask(fml::MakeCopyable([io_manager, decompressed, result,
                                               flow =
                                                   std::move(flow)]() mutable {
          if (!io_manager) {
            FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not acquire IO manager.";
            return result({}, std::move(flow));
          }

          // If the IO manager does not have a resource context, the caller
          // might not have set one or a software backend could be in use.
          // Either way, just return the image as-is.
          if (!io_manager->GetResourceContext()) {
            result({std::move(decompressed), io_manager->GetSkiaUnrefQueue()},
                   std::move(flow));
            return;
          }

          auto uploaded =
              UploadRasterImage(std::move(decompressed), io_manager, flow);

          if (!uploaded.get()) {
            FML_LOG(ERROR) << "Could not upload image to the GPU.";
            result({}, std::move(flow));
            return;
          }

          // Finally, all done.
          result(std::move(uploaded), std::move(flow));
        }));
      }));
}

fml::WeakPtr<ImageDecoder> ImageDecoder::GetWeakPtr() const {
  return weak_factory_.GetWeakPtr();
}

}  // namespace flutter


text:
Police raids strike at epicenter of Canada's contraband cigarette market
Last month, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau pulled off a major bust, following a two-year investigation. Investigators managed to shut down an illegal manufacturing network distributing contraband tobacco and illicit drugs across Canada. Through collaborative efforts, multiple law enforcement agencies and Special Forces seized illegal tobacco, cannabis products, and other narcotics.
Throughout the course of the operation, code-named "Project Cairnes," investigators acted on 13 search warrants across Canada—in Ontario, Montreal, Richmond, and Vancouver. They found that products were being trafficked across Canada, including to Quebec and British Columbia, where they were sold openly on the streets.
The investigation came to a head on June 1, 2020, with the successful raid of a manufacturing facility located in Six Nations Territory, southwestern Ontario. Ten people were arrested, and the seized goods included:
- 11.5 million contraband cigarettes
- 1,714 pounds of cannabis
- A cocaine press
- 1.14 kilograms of cocaine
- 10.2 kilograms of piperidone
- 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl
- $236,750 in cash
- Three handguns
- Seven vehicles
Collectively, the street value of the products equated to more than $5 million. The contraband cigarettes alone were estimated to have incurred a tax loss of more than $3.3 million. This is based on the contraband cigarettes that were seized throughout the investigation. Notably, this tax hit is only a small proportion of the $750 million Ontario loses in provincial excise tax annually to contraband cigarettes, according to an Ernst and Young (EY) report in 2018.
Southwestern Ontario's entrenched illegal cigarette problem
Ron Bell, the law enforcement adviser for the National Coalition against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT), has described southwestern Ontario as the "epicenter of contraband tobacco in Canada." The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have estimated that one in three cigarettes sold in the region are illicit. Criminal groups are believed to use over 50 illegal manufacturing plants, the majority of which are located in the Ontario area.
The work of Project Cairnes represents a huge development in the fight against contraband cigarettes in southwestern Ontario. However, the scale of the issue is vast, with the RCMP finding that over 175 organized crime groups in Ontario are involved in the illicit trade. Law enforcement agencies cannot afford to lose momentum after this progress.
Millions of illegal cigarettes are estimated to be manufactured on a daily basis in Ontario. Lawmakers have struggled to tackle those who have "acted with near impunity for decades, selling contraband tobacco and making millions of dollars off its illicit trade." Fake cigarettes are transported to all parts of the country by criminal groups. But tobacco is not the only product these criminals trade—criminal networks are also involved in the sale and distribution of illegal drugs and human trafficking.
Throughout the investigation, 16 people were arrested—many of whom were associated with more serious criminal groups. Authorities uncovered drug trafficking networks, in addition to the production and trafficking of contraband tobacco. These networks were responsible for weekly shipments of illicit cannabis from British Columbia to Ontario. Seven of those arrested were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The investigation clearly demonstrates that illegal tobacco continues to be a major driver for organized crime.
Collaboration between law enforcement agencies
Project Cairnes brought together multiple law enforcement agencies. Whilst the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau led the investigation, it was supported by various other agencies, including the CTET and Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, Ministry of Finance in Ontario and British Columbia, and FINTRAC.
The police involved in Project Cairnes were not only successful in taking down contraband tobacco. They managed to uncover these drug trafficking networks that were responsible for large shipments of illicit cannabis. It is evident from the investigation that the threat of contraband cigarettes to southwestern Ontario stretches way beyond the tobacco industry. The trade helps to fuel all areas of organized crime in the region.
The police were widely commended in Canada for their hard work throughout Project Cairnes. The collaborative approach taken is no doubt part of the reason the investigation was effective. Through effective cooperation, investigators were able to reduce the threat to the local and national community by taking down a significant part of Ontario's substantial contraband cigarette network.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home » News » University Collaboration Advances Cleaner Energy Technology
NETL's world-renowned computer modeling capabilities are front and center in a pivotal collaboration with West Virginia University (WVU). Computational modeling is a critical tool in technology development, and the forward-looking efforts by the NETL-WVU research team are improving the accuracy of fossil-fuel energy systems models — work that will ultimately help provide the nation with cost-effective, sustainable and efficient clean energy.
The NETL-led team is investigating gasification, a promising technology that can convert fossil fuels like coal into a highly useful mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide called synthesis gas or syngas. Because it can be used directly as fuel and as a precursor to an array of chemicals and products, syngas could become a major game changer in the fossil fuel industry. The NETL-WVU team is seeking to understand how to optimize gasification and syngas production.
As part of the project, NETL is validating its open-source, internationally-used Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFiX) computer modeling suite. WVU is providing high-quality data from its bench-scale fluidized-bed gasifier, which researchers use to study fluidization and gasification fundamentals. The University's experimental data is collected under well-controlled conditions, providing critical information on the parameters that control process efficiency and gas output composition.
MFIX is a critical tool in the design, analysis and optimization of novel gasifiers and associated devices. NETL researchers have used MFiX to successfully model complex energy systems for many years, and this new data is helping them better understand flow dynamics and their effect on the complex reaction chemistry of gasification inside of a fluidized-bed reactor.
"The collaborative approach of this project where physical and mathematical modelers work as a team has proven quite valuable," Bill Rogers, Ph.D., said. "Our WVU colleagues are providing critical experimental data that we can use to help validate our models and help to further refine our capabilities to accurately model gasifiers at pilot and industrial scales."
Valuable collaborations like this allow the Lab to continually sharpen its tools and ensure that, as the nation's preeminent fossil-energy science and engineering resource, it continues to discover, integrate and mature technology solutions to enhance the nation's energy foundation and protect the environment for future generations.
Article originally published at https://www.netl.doe.gov/node/8696


Joseph Durcan smiles after collecting his $1.15 million Lotto 47 jackpot.
A Port Huron man credits his late father for helping him win a $1.15 million Lotto 47 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.
Joseph Durcan, 45, matched the six Lotto 47 numbers drawn on Feb. 27 – 11-25-28-32-34-46 – to win the game's $1.15 million jackpot. He bought his winning ticket at the Sunrise Store, located at 2627 Gratiot Boulevard in Marysville.
Durcan visited Lottery headquarters in Lansing today to collect his prize. He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $730,000 rather than an annuity.
Joseph Durcan's winning Lotto 47 ticket.
With his winnings, Durcan plans to pay off his debt, buy a new truck, buy a vehicle for his mother, and invest the remainder.


We are glad to present Iris Group of Companies – one of the biggest Russian enterprises in property and facilities management business. Almost 20 years we are invariable leaders in our field.
It is safe to assume that IRIS Group of Companies is a successful and stable company with an energetic management. Our team work is based on trust, fairness and attention to each opinion. We apply the same principles to relations with each Client. We see our mission in ensuring the quality of integrated property services in compliance with European standards.


Staff Reporter Windhoek-MTC yesterday confirmed it will give each of its 2.47 million customers 300MB free data to apologise for any inconvenience customers may have experienced during the company's recent system enhancement. The free data will be available for use on both pre-paid and post-paid service plans commencing this morning, Wednesday, September 20, as from 8h00 until Friday. All pre-paid customers will have 48 hours to use the free data whilst post-paid customers will have validity until their next bill cycle. All Turbo boost customers will receive a free turbo boost bundle commensurate to their turbo boost plan. Chief human capital and corporate affairs officer at MTC Tim Ekandjo said the free data is a token of MTC's appreciation to all customers for their loyalty, continued support, and to extend an apology for any inconvenience they might have endured during the recent MTC's system enhancements. "We are not a perfect company and we are never too big to say sorry to our customers," he said. Ekandjo also confirmed that all customers who were negatively affected during the system enhancement process have already been duly refunded. And the 300MB free data will be additional to the refunds already effected. In total, 335,000 customers were refunded. "Once again we would like to thank all those customers for their indulgence, I can now confirm that the refund process involving 335,000 customers has now successfully been completed", Ekandjo said. "With this token, we wish to demonstrate our unconditional love and support to all our customers, letting them know that we do not take them for granted and appreciate their business," Ekandjo concluded.


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text:
Irregularity rife in Hulaki Rajmarg construction
Published On: January 14, 2018 10:06 AM NPT By: Nirmal Ghimire
Mayor of Gularia Municipality, Muktinath Yadav (right), at the project site. Photo: Nirmal Ghimire/Republica
BARDIYA, Jan 14: Irregularities have been found, including use of low-standard material, in the construction of the 18-kilometer section of Hulak Rajmarg, connecting Madhuvan Municipality Ward 8 of Bardiya to Murtiha along Nepal-India border.
"Witnessing the construction process, one can easily see how unacceptable is the quality of materials being used for construction of the road," said Muktinath Yadav, mayor of Gulariya Municipality, following a technical assessment of the road. Yadav said he had told the project chief to upgrade the quality of the road and to speed up work to complete the project on time.
It has been found that rocks as big as 5 and 20 kilograms big were used during the construction of the road although the size of rocks was not supposed to exceed 70 millimeters. Similarly, 50 percent soil was being used instead of the ideal 15 to 20 percent soil as per government standards, according to municipality technician Ramesh Gautam.
Although the locals were hopeful of timely completion of the road when erstwhile Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak inaugurated the construction a year ago in all the three sections of the road, they have been disappointed by the way the progress is being made.
The Government of India had shown interest towards the project by initiating surveys back in 2004. But later Government of Nepal had issued a tender for the postal road project.
While the locals are unhappy with the government's dependence on foreign aid for construction of the road, which is causing delay in the project, the contractors have also been unable to make any progress even after 30 months of getting the contract. The road shall act as a bridge between districts of the hilly and tarai regions, directly benefiting the locals in the long run.
Locals anticipate robust growth of trade and economy with the completion of the postal road.
The construction officials say that the irregular proportion of stone and soil is due to the machine separating soil and stone and the proportion is being regulated as per government regulations.
Road construction at the hands of petty contractors
The three stages of road construction in Bardiya are being carried out by petty contractors. The contractors Sharma, Pappu, and Ashish, were responsible for the construction. However, the work is being conducted by petty contractors. The work is currently being carried out by Ganapati and Honest Constructions. Although the contractors claim that their work is flawless, the project officials say that due to lack of communication between original contractor and the petty contractor, work often goes wrong. "No one can do perfect work. We had problems due to technical reasons that we are trying to rectify," said Deep Narayan Shah of Ganapati Constructions.
Demands to not compromise on quality
The locals of Gulariya and Madhuban municipalities have cautioned the authorities against compromising the quality of the road, insisting that the construction work as of now is below standards.
Local bodies, people's representatives, police and other stakeholders have raised concern over the quality of construction material of the road.
Mayor Yadav pointed out the mistakes during the construction process and asked concerned authorities to look into the matter to maintain standards.
irregularity
rife
hulaki
rajmarg
Hulaki Highway construction in limbo
BARDIYA, July 7: Krishna Sigdel of Madhuwan Municipality was going back home from the district headquarters, Gulariya, on Wednesday evening. His...
Construction of Upper Trishuli - III A hydropower project likely to resume soon
KATHMANDU, Nov 25: The reconstruction of the upper Trishuli -III A hydropower project that has been halted since the Gorkha...
Lawmaker bristles at construction of substandard road
KAPILVASTU, July 17: Lawmaker Narsingh Chaudhary has said the road construction under Constituency Infrastructure Development Special Program (CIDSP) at various...


text:
Coffs candidates ballot draw
Van crashes with a semi-trailer
Kris Meeke crashes out
Ulong needs a doctor
Rescue helicopter bike ride
heart attack help
crowd at 2017 Carlton Draught Coffs Harbour Gold Cup
High Court hears gay marriage postal vote debate
High Court hears same sex postal vote may be invalid
by Shannon Deery, The Herald Sun
5th Sep 2017 1:53 PM
THE 'urgent need' required to allow $122m to be spent on the same-sex marriage vote has been called into question, with the High Court told the only urgency was the government's own deadline.
The full bench of the High Court this morning began hearing arguments about the legitimacy of the government's same-sex marriage postal survey, in front of a packed courtroom in Melbourne.
Marriage equality lobbyists are fighting to block the controversial survey, saying the government doesn't have the power to fund the vote and that they bypassed parliament.
They are also arguing the Australian Bureau of Statistics, tasked with conducting the vote, do not have the power to do so.
The plaintiffs say the government has no authority to spend $122m to fund the vote, and the ABS has no authority to run it.
This morning the court was told "urgent" meant the government could not wait for funds through the normal budget process.
Ron Merkel QC, representing Andrew Wilkie MP and two other plaintiffs, said the urgency in this case was the government's own November 15 deadline.
"You will look in vain for any circumstance that explains urgency outside of the government policy implementation. A date of 15 November is preferred but no reason is made for why that date should not be a month earlier or a month later," he said.
Co-Chair of Australian Marriage Equality Alex Greenwich, Director of Legal Advocacy, Human Rights Law Centre Anna Brown, Public Interest Advocacy Centre Chief Executive Officer Jonathon Hunyor and Director of Rainbow Families Victoria Felicity Marlowe outside the High Court this morning. AAP Image/James Ross
Mr Merkel said like Mr Wilkie, Felicity Marlowe, a mother in a same-sex relationship who has three young children, also has a sufficient interest to bring the case before the High Court.
He said it was not just an emotional concern.
"Her concern is put at the objective level of out there in the public domain, the Australian electors are being asked to express an opinion on her suitability and the legitimacy of her and her partner for having a family in a married or unmarried situation."
He said the High Court has five questions to answer in determining the case.
Among them are whether the federal government was authorised to direct an additional $122m to fund the survey.
He also wants the High Court to rule whether the Australian Bureau of Statistics can run the vote.
The plaintiff will make their case today, before lawyers representing the government will respond tomorrow.
Mr Merkel first addressed Mr Wilkie's standing to appear before the court in the matter.
He told the court apart from Wilkie's standing as a federal MP, he also had an interest because he is also an elector.
Justice Virginia Bell pointed out that was "a special interest that he shares with 16 million other Australians."
Of second plaintiff Felicity Marlowe, Mr Merkel said she had an interest in the case because voters had been asked to have an opinion on the suitability of her "family unit".
Much of the morning has so far been taken up with submissions concerning the government's appropriation of $122m to fund the vote.
Mr Merkel said there had been a "misdirection of law" in relation to the appropriation, saying there was a requirement that an "urgent need" exist for a parliamentary appropriation.
A large crowd has arrived at the Commonwealth Law Courts building in Melbourne where the
High Court is sitting this week.
An overflow room has been set up, with the court so full only standing room remained.
A full bench of the court will hear the challenge over two days.
The voluntary survey was Plan B after the Senate blocked the compulsory plebiscite promised by the coalition at the 2016 election.
The government found the $122 million needed to run the survey by making an advance payment to the finance minister in circumstances.
The payment can be lawfully made where there is an urgent need for spending and the situation was unforeseen.
But challengers to the vote argue the spending does not fit the category of either "urgent" or "unforeseen".
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, one of the challengers, said today he was confident about the challenge.
"The government is exceeding its power by trying to conduct the postal vote, exceeding its power by trying to spend $122 million without parliamentary approval," he told ABC radio.
"If there is a postal vote, I'll be voting 'yes' and I'll be urging others to vote 'yes' but today and tomorrow in the High Court is very much about the law."
If the survey is found to be unconstitutional, the prime minister will face a choice of trying to fix the problem with legislation and going ahead with the survey; allowing a private member's bill to go to parliament; having another shot at passing the compulsory plebiscite bill; or doing nothing this term.
However Mr Turnbull has repeatedly promised not to change marriage laws without the Australian people having a say and could face the ire of coalition conservatives if he departs from that.
The ABS has committed not to send any survey forms until the judgement is known.
- with AAP
constitution editors picks gay marriage high court postal vote same sex marriage


With 1.4 seconds remaining on the clock, #14 Virginia Commonwealth's Treveon Graham buried a 3 pointer to lift the Rams 59-56 over #25 Virginia.
With 1.4 seconds remaining on the clock, #14 Virginia Commonwealth's Treveon Graham buried a 3 pointer to lift the Rams 59-56 over #25 Virginia.
The Cavaliers fall to 1-1 on the season while VCU improves to 2-0.
The Wahoos hit 18-46 field goals (39.1%), went 19-33 (57.6%) from the foul line and struggled beyond the arc shooting 1-8 (12/5%).
Graham led the Rams with 22 points and three rebounds while the Cavaliers Joe Harris led the 'Hoos with 18 points and five rebounds.
The Cavaliers bettered VCU in rebounds, 41-28.
Virginia continues action Thursday as they travel to Davidson at 12 p.m.


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AUSC shares Latest Opportunities for Africans. September 16th , 2017, Kigali-Rwanda.
Investec Tertiary Bursary Programme 2018 for Young South Africans.
Allan Gray Orbis Foundation High School Scholarships 2018 for Entrepreneurially Minded Youths.
2017 Professional Vacancies at International Labour Organization offices around the world.
Swedish Institute's She Entrepreneurs 2018 leadership programme for female social entrepreneurs.
TSL 2018 International Schools Essay Competition and Debate for Primary & Secondary Students.
Alliance Française Kenya Smartphone Film Competition 2017 for young Kenyans.
There are several scholarships open in Canada and students must not miss the chance.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2017.
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You may also apply for a post-graduation work permit to continue working in Canada after you graduate from an eligible institution.
For more details, see Work Permits for Students.
If you need any help then contact us at help@scholarship-positions.com.
The Concept Paper for the first ALL-AFRIKANA FIRST YOUTH CONGRESS (1st AAFYC 2017) in Kigali-Rwanda, October 14th to 18th, 2017.From AUSC President and Founder's Office in Kigali-Rwanda. Wednesday September 13th, 2017.


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UCD AFC awarded place in next season's UEFA Europa League
There was huge excitement this week in UCD following the announcement that Ireland received an extra Europa League place through UEFA's Respect Fair Play rankings and that UCD would capitalize on this place.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the Fair Play Award, how it is assessed and how UCD have claimed this spot it is relatively straightforward and a great achievment.
UEFA award extra places to one team from the top three countries in their rankings and Ireland finished third in their chart behind Holland and England. Excitingly, West Ham currently is in pole position to claim the Premier League's spot.
The Fair Play assessments are drawn from the conduct of teams in UEFA competitions in both the club and international sphere; which means that the disciplinary record of Martin O'Neill's Irish side and their underage counterparts counted towards the result.
In addition to the tally of yellow and red cards, UEFA delegates can also add marks under categories such as positive play, respect for the opposition, respect for the referee and the behaviour of the crowd.
UEFA decree that the FAI put forward the club that finished top of their domestic fair play chart for the additional spot. League winners Dundalk, followed by runners-up Cork both had qualified for European competition already meaning third placed UCD gets the spot!
Our very own Collie O'Neill was naturally delighted with the announcement but the UCD gaffer revealed that he hopes that a draw with a team close to home could go his way!
"With my wife due her third baby four days before the first European game, I hope it's not too far away!"
"The news only broke this morning but we've known a bit about it in the background because we've had a lot of paperwork to fill in lately just in case it did come about, so we knew there was something brewing," added O'Neill. "But you still have to wait for the official confirmation. We didn't want to say anything to the players in order to let them concentrate on our main job of getting back up to the Premier Division.
"It's great, it's great for the club. It'll give the place such a boost and financially as well the reward out of it will help us to add to the infrastructure that we have already in place."
With the hard work of qualifying done, unfortunately officially competing is subject to licensing and the process of acquiring a UEFA license to compete is now underway. O'Neill – himself a holder of a UEFA A license coaching badge – is however confident that there will be no problems in this regard.
"There's a precedent in place for where non-league teams or teams from a lower division win a cup competition and then through that qualify into Europe," said O'Neill. "So there is a precedent there where the manager doesn't need a Pro Badge and you work off a lower criteria. That's the route we'll be looking to take.
"It's another little thing to plan, it's a nice little thing to look forward to. Still, even though it's a nice little thing, our main priority is still to try and get back to that Premier Division. That is the key."
Still as Collie says "It's not bad in your first season to make Europe, is it? Manager of the year already!"
UCD's goalkeeper Niall Corbet spoke to Midlands Sport Radio about the excitement among the camp and the current league form.
So It will be the third time that UCD have competed in Europe. In 1984, the FAI Cup holders famously pushed Everton all the way in a 1-0 defeat over two legs in the Cup Winners Cup.
For the home fixture, a crowd of 9,750 packed into Tolka Park to see the game.
UCD coach Theo Dunne had paid a visit to Liverpool to watch Everton in action and the team was well prepared! UCD were as one would imagine under a lot of pressure, but over ninety minutes and stoppage time, the team did everyone connected with the club, the university and the entire game in this country proud. It remains to this date the finest performance against English opposition by an Irish team in Europe. Oh and by the way we are the only League of Ireland team unbeaten at home in European competition. Here's how the two teams lined up.
UCD:- Alan O'Neill; Robbie Lavvlor , Ken O'Doherty, Paddy Dunning, Martin Moran; Robbie Gaffney, Keith Dignam, Paul Roche, John Cullen; Donal Murphy, Joe Hanrahan
Everton :- Neville Southall; Gary Stevens, John Bailey , Kevin Ratcliffe, Derek Mountfield, Peter Reid, Trevor Steven, Paul Bracewell, Adrian Heath, Graham Sharp, Kevin Sheedy
Everton hosted UCD in the second leg of their European Cup Winner's Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg tie at Goodison Park and the score was 0-0 on aggregate. Everton scored in the first half through Graham Sharp. But the expected extra goals never happened in fact a late UCD effort by Joe Hanrahan came off the woodwork and Everton survived to reach the next round.
This Everton squad bolstered by the signing of defender Pat Van Den Hauwe, eventually went on to win the European Cup Winner's Cup that season beating Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and ended up facing Rapid Vienna in the final. They won the game 3-1. They also won the League Championship for the first time since 1970 in what you would now call the English Premier League.
EVERTON:- Neville Southall; Gary Stevens, Kevin Ratcliffe, Derek Mountfield, John Bailey; Terry Curran, Paul Bracewell, Peter Reid, Trevor Steven; Adrian Heath, Graham Sharp SUB Rob Wakenshaw for Heath
UCD :- Alan O'Neill; Robbie Lawlor, Paddy Dunning, Ken O'Doherty, Martin Moran; Robbie Gaffney, Paul Roche, John Cullen, Keith Dignam, Joe Hanrahan; Donal Murphy SUB Paul Caffrey for Roche
UCD left back at the time, Martin Moran, who is now considered a UCD great having played and managed the club, in fact managing the club when the team when they met FC Velbahzd in 2000, looks back fondly at the 1984 Cup victory and European Cup Winners' Cup but Moran admits that he was most delighted for manager, the late Dr Tony O'Neill.
''I can honestly say, I am now more delighted for Tony. As a player it passes you by but, having been a manager myself, I know you think a lot more about it and I know how much it must have meant to him.''
In 2000, UCD exited the Intertoto Cup on the away goals rule following a 3-3 draw with Bulgarian outfit FC Velbahzd.
At the home draw in Belfield, it was a dream start for College but the lead only lasted five minutes. Poor defending allowed Velko Hristev to pull the ball back for Ivan Stoychev to fire home the equaliser.
Three minutes before half-time a slick one-two between Milhail Mihaylov and Stoychev caught out Eamonn McLoughlin down the right and Mihaylov cut inside Delaney before beating Ryan with a low drive.
UCD were clearly suffering in temperatures that reaching into the high 70s and had a major let-off when Borislav Pavlov hit the post after another defensive error.
One man who seemed to be thriving in the heat was central-defender McAuley and on the hour mark he scored the goal of the game. Picking the ball up in his own half, McAuley surged forward, played a one-two with Kavanagh, and then cracked a rising shot past the 'keeper from just inside the box.
That goal lifted UCD but they were brought back down to earth three minutes later after more poor defending. They got caught with too many players up the field for a free-kick and when the Bulgarians broke with numbers Alan McMahon pulled down Asen Stoyanov inside the box. Substitute Boyko Velichkov coolly converted the spot-kick.
It looked all over at this stage but drawing on their last drops of fitness, UCD kept going forward and deservedly got their reward in the 76th minute from another set-piece as Eoin Bennis teed up substitute Ciaran Martyn for the equaliser.
UCD - Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, Mahon; Dunne, Kavanagh, Martin (Timmons 89), O'Donnell (Martyn 67), Bennis (Kilmurray 77), O'Byrne.
VELBAZHD - Petkov; Kolev, Goshev, Kotev; Pavlov (R Petrov 70), Stoyanov, G Petrov, Litera (Velichkov 58), Hristev; Stoychev, Mihaylov (Metouched 79). Booked: G Petrov (50), Goshev (75), Kotev (88).
UCD traveled to Bulgaria the following week for the away tie. The Students fought bravely and were bitterly disappointed at the end of a gruelling 90 minutes played in 30 degree heat and sapping humidity. UCD finished strongly but could never mount a serious assault on the Velbazhd goal as the Bulgarians held on for the draw.
UCD: Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, Mahon; Martin, Kavanagh, Martyn, Dunne; O'Byrne, Bennis. Subs: Kilmurray for Bennis (74 mins), O'Donnell for Martin (82 mins.).
So this years draw…who could it be? West Ham, Everton, Dundee, Aberdeen, The New Saints or further afield to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Iceland? Either way, we shall find out on the 22nd of June in Nyon, Switzerland!


PSU Dance Marathon was nominated for a Shorty Award!
THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world! It's a year-long effort that raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. The year culminates in a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon affectionately know as THON. The money raised benefits The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hersey Medical Center. The Fund helps to offset medical costs not covered by insurance for ANY child diagnosed with cancer at Hershey. Whether it's an MRI, meal tickets, music therapy, or a child life specialists, The Fund provides for the children and families anyway that it can.
Tyler Raup I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because...everything is FTK!
Rob Graboski I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because we do it all for the kids!
Ashley Rickenbach I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because it's #ForTheKids For The Cure!
Amanda Barrett @THON is nominated for a #shortyaward in the #charity category! Tune in at http://bit.ly/MJX1... at 7p to watch the show!
Frank Jones I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because what other student-run organization could raise $9.5 million.
Chip Ray I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because...#Thon is more than a charity, #Thon is a family.
Mairead Hanna Do Jekyll and Hyde's #2birds1stone RT @THON: We're in NYC for the Shorty Awards Monday. Anyone have tips on the city? Good food or good fun?
Caitlin Rush #NYCshawty #funFunFUN RT @THON: We're in NYC for the Shorty Awards Monday. Anyone have tips on the city? Good food or good fun?
Sarah Trentacoste I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because...there are 9.5 million reasons why WE ARE fighting cancer FTK.
Beth Kocher Gormley I endorse @THON in the Shorty ctgry #charity b/c it's an amazing charity event orgnzd by students and always growing!
Alfonso W I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because...raising over $9 millon as students is unbelievable.
Courtney Bradley I endorse @THON in the Shorty category #charity because we just raised $9.5 million dollars for pediatric cancer.
To spread awareness about THON events and pediatric cancer.
Thanks. Everyone deserves a full "Thank you!" and not something shorter.
Anyone tweeting about the fight to end pediatric cancer!
Because we're the largest student-run philanthropy in the world! We're working year round to aid The Four Diamonds fund and eradicate cancer.
We try and stay positive, use creative hashtags, and share the stories that inspire us.
The children, families, researchers, and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund. They serve as our inspiration every single day for all that we do.
Tweet what matters to you, and tweet for yourself. Pretty soon, you'll find a whole world of new twitter friends.
What does your charity do? Our raises money to combat pediatric cancer and help The Four Diamonds Fund at the Hershey Medical Center.
@abolishcancer. Darah's idea of using twitter-thon's to raise money to fight cancer is truly unique and admirable.
Because we are fighting the battle against pediatric cancer, and we want you to join the fight!
Whatever we feel best perpetuates the mission of THON, and whatever will brighten our followers day.
To help get the word out about THON, spread awareness about the fight against pediatric cancer, and help out The Four Diamonds Fund.
No, but we're hoping our use can have a positive affect on the lives of others.
Hopefully free of pediatric cancer, and all other types for that matter!


The Canadian government proclaimed 2015 to be The Year of Sport in Canada, stating that "sport plays a powerful role in enhancing the lives of Canadians of all ages" (Government of Canada, 2014). That same year, the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto were promoted as "a once in a lifetime opportunity to positively affect a community, leave a legacy and grow in the process" (Toronto2015, 2015). In turn, the current Canadian Sport Policy states that sport is "a tool for social and economic development and the promotion of positive values at home and abroad" (Sport Canada, 2012, p. 8).
Simon C. Darnell is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. His research focuses primarily on the relationship between sport and international development and peace building efforts, the development implications of sports mega-events, and the place of social activism in the culture of sport. He is the author of Sport for Development and Peace: A Critical Sociology (Bloomsbury Academic) and co-editor of Race and Sport in Canada: Intersecting Inequalities (Canadian Scholars' Press).
Daniel Eisenkraft Klein is a Master's student in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the policies and politics of youth sport provision in Toronto.
Robyn Smith is a Master's student in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. Her thesis project examines the place of sport and leisure within settlement services for Canadian newcomers.
Greg Yerashotis is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. He examines youth sport in Toronto through the lenses of critical criminology and critical pedagogy.


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the innocence deception of death penalty opponents New Mexico
To: New Mexico – Governor Bill Richardson , the Legislature, prosecutors and
media throughout the state
Re: fact checking issues, on innocence and the death penalty. (See extensive fact checking material, below)
From: Dudley Sharp, contact info below
Viki Elkey, coordinator, New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty says:
". . . more than 130 death row inmates have been exonerated nationwide since 1976." "The problem is, we never know if we have the right person." (1)
What nonsense.
It is very important to take note that the 130 exonerated from death row is a blatant scam, easily uncovered by fact checking.
The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) has been responsible for some of the most serious deceptions by the anti death penalty side, inclusive of this 130 exonerated and innocence scam.
Richard Dieter, head of DPIC, has produced the claims regarding the exonerated and innocents released from death row list. The scam is that DPIC just decided to redefine what exonerated and innocence mean according to their own perverse definitions.
Richard Dieter, head of the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC): defining what "exonerated" or "innocent" means.
". . . (DPIC) makes no distinction between legal and factual innocence. " 'They're innocent in the eyes of the law,' Dieter says. 'That's the only objective standard we have.' "
That is untrue, of course. We are all aware of the differences between legal guilt and actual guilt and legal innocence (not guilty) and actual innocence, just as the courts are.
Furthermore, there is no finding of actual innocence, but it is "not guilty". Dieter knows that we are all speaking of actual innocence, those cases that have no connection to the murder(s). He takes advantage of that by redefining exonerated and innocence.
Dieter "clarifies" the three ways that former death row inmates get onto their "exonerated" by "innocence" list.
Dieter: "A defendant whose conviction is overturned by a judge must be further exonerated in one of three ways: he must be acquitted at a new trial, or the prosecutor must drop the charges against him, or a governor must grant an absolute pardon."
None establishes actual innocence.
DPIC has " . . . included supposedly innocent defendants who were still culpable as accomplices to the actual triggerman."
DPIC: "There may be guilty persons among the innocents, but that includes all of us."
Good grief. DPIC wishes to apply collective guilt of capital murder to all of us.
Dieter states: "I don't think anybody can know about a person's absolute innocence." (Green). Dieter said he could not pinpoint how many are "actually innocent" — only the defendants themselves truly know that, he said." (Erickson)
Or Dieter won't assert actual innocence in 1, 102 or 350 cases. He doesn't want to clarify a real number with proof of actual innocence, that would blow his entire deception.
Or, Dieter declare all innocent: "If you are not proven guilty in a court of law, you're innocent." (Green)
By that standard, Dieter would call Hitler and Stalin innocent.
And that is the credibility of the DPIC.
For fact checking.
1. "Case Histories: A Review of 24 Individuals Released from Death Row", Florida Commission on Capital Cases, 6/20/02, Revised 9/10/02 at http://www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us/Publications/innocentsproject.pdf
83% error rate in "innocent" claims.
2. "Is 'the innocence list' an appropriate name?", 1/19/03
FRANK GREEN, TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
http://www.stopcapitalpunishment.org/coverage/106.html
Dieter admits they don't discern between legal innocence and actual innocence. One of Dieter's funnier quotes;"The prosecutor, perhaps, or Dudley Sharp, perhaps, thinks they're still guilty because there was evidence of their guilt, but that's a subjective judgment." Yep, "EVIDENCE OF GUILT", can't you see why Dieter would think they were innocent? And that's how the DPIC works.
3. The Death of Innocents: A Reasonable Doubt,
New York Times Book Review, p 29, 1/23/05, Adam Liptak,
national legal correspondent for The NY Times
"To be sure, 30 or 40 categorically innocent people have been released from death row . . . ".
That is out of the DPIC claimed 119 "exonerated", at that time, for a 75% error rate.
NOTE: It's hard to understand how an absolute can have a differential of 33%. I suggest the "to be sure" is, now, closer to 25.
4. CRITIQUE OF DPIC LIST ("INNOCENCE:FREED FROM DEATH ROW"), Ward Campbell, http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/DPIC.htm
5. "The Death Penalty Debate in Illinois", JJKinsella,6/2000, http://www.dcba.org/brief/junissue/2000/art010600.htm
6.THE DEATH PENALTY – ALL INNOCENCE ISSUES, Dudley Sharp
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2006/03/20/all-innocence-issues–the-death-penalty.aspx
Origins of "innocence" fraud, and review of many innocence issues
7. "Bad List", Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 9/16/02
www.nationalreview.com/advance/advance091602.asp#title5
How bad is DPIC?
8. "Not so Innocent", By Ramesh Ponnuru,National Review, 10/1/02
www.nationalreview.com/ponnuru/ponnuru100102.asp
DPIC from bad to worse.
Dudley Sharp, Justice Matters
e-mail sharpjfa@aol.com, 713-622-5491,
Mr. Sharp has appeared on ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX, NBC, NPR, PBS , VOA and many other TV and radio networks, on such programs as Nightline, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O'Reilly Factor, etc., has been quoted in newspapers throughout the world and is a published author.
A former opponent of capital punishment, he has written and granted interviews about, testified on and debated the subject of the death penalty, extensively and internationally.
FOOTNOTE: (1)The End of the Death Penalty? A bill to repeal capital punishment in New Mexico breathes new life into a fierce debate By Simon McCormack. The Alibi
http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=26571&scn=news
Dudley Sharp January 31, 2009 Death Penalty, Dudley Sharp - Justice Matters, New Mexico 3 Comments
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Last week, we looked at what the electoral impact of new election-law changes would be in 2014. Would stricter photo ID requirements or curtailed early voting influence the outcome of November races in the states that had passed such legislation? Ultimately, we concluded any affect would be limited.
Several states where election-law changes are being held up in the courts are highly competitive electorally.
In both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, voter ID laws are being held up in the courts. The laws were passed by Republican legislatures and signed by Republican governors, but both of these states are politically competitive. If either law is ultimately enacted, numerous competitive races could be affected in future electoral cycles.
Several states that have recently tightened voter ID laws are likely to be presidential battlegrounds for 2016.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin certainly fit this category. So does North Carolina, which is going to see most of the key provisions hitting in 2016. And Ohio and Virginia, both of which have new laws on the books, have been key presidential battlegrounds in recent years.
The passage of voter ID laws may energize Democratic voters and hurt the Republican "brand."
Democrats are trying to channel voter concern about election-law changes in Texas. And it's at least as big a deal in North Carolina if not more so.
In North Carolina, the Republican legislature and Republican governor passed a far-reaching election law in 2013. The biggest provisions will hit in 2016, which is both a presidential year and the major election year for statewide positions. The North Carolina bill -- one of many hardline conservative bills to be passed by the newly empowered GOP majority in 2013 -- became a focus for protests at the state capitol known as the Moral Monday movement.
The question, said one political observer in the state, is whether the Moral Monday movement "can go from holding protests to moving people to the polls. Since we don't really have a strong Democratic Party in this state, Moral Monday might provide boots on the ground. Whether that will actually happen is a huge open question."
The wave of election-law changes isn't over; many other states are still considering changes.
Since 2013, at least 12 states have taken up new voter ID laws, seven have considered proposals to strengthen existing photo ID laws and 11 have weighed other changes to existing photo ID laws. Meanwhile, eight states have considered bills to limit opportunities for registration, two have considered rollbacks in early voting and five have weighed stricter limits on mail voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.
Such efforts received a boost in June, when the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case Shelby County v. Holder, effectively ended federal preclearance requirements for electoral changes under the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. "No longer subject to the federal scrutiny the VRA provided, states like North Carolina have already begun passing laws that could have a disastrous impact on minority turnout," wrote the authors of a briefing paper by Project Vote, an advocacy group on voting rights. North Carolina's new law, which Project Vote calls "notorious," encompasses "the worst of modern-day voter suppression measures: requiring voter ID, restricting early voting, repealing same-day registration, and revoking policies that increase the participation of younger voters."
In a number of states, the push to restrict voting rights has prompted a push-pull struggle.
In Montana, for instance, Republican legislative majorities passed a law to end same-day registration, which had been on the books since 2005. The state's Democratic governor, Steve Bullock, vetoed it, but the legislature passed a measure to place it on the ballot for voter approval this fall. The reason for the struggle? "Democrats kill Republicans on getting people to the polls to register on Election Day," said one political observer in the state.
A second measure to be presented to Montana voters this fall dictates that the top two vote-getters in the primary election advance to the general election ballot, regardless of party. "This is an attempt by Republicans to eliminate Libertarians from the general election ballot," the Montana political observer said. Making it significantly harder for Libertarian candidates to make the general election ballot could boost Republicans by removing a small but consistent drain on conservative votes.
The push to limit voting rights has inspired efforts, often in more favorable political territory, to expand access to the ballot box.
In the current legislative cycle, at least 190 bills have been offered in 31 states that would increase access to voting, with 12 measures securing hearings, committee activity or votes, according to the Brennan Center.
For instance, bills have been introduced in 18 states to upgrade or expand voter registration processes, including same-day registration, while 13 have introduced bills to initiate or expand early voting and 11 have offered bills to pre-register students under the age of 18 to vote. Other measures being considered include restoration of felon voting rights, improvements in allocation of poll workers to crowded precincts, better voting opportunities for military voters, and expansion of mail voting.
One proposal that has attracted wide interest is online voter registration. More than a dozen states have considered this option in the current legislative session, in addition to 19 states that already had such a policy in place, says Wendy Underhill, a program manager at the National Conference of State Legislatures.
This is one idea that is relatively nonpartisan, she says. "This isn't about making it easier or harder to vote. It's an administrative choice appropriate to the era in which we live."
Indeed, those who seek to broaden voting access hold out hope that the backlash against the recent string of limitations will pave the way for more accessible voting.
"We're overdue for a serious conversation about whether we accept voting as a fundamental individual right," says Rob Richie, executive director of FairVote, a pro-election-reform group. "Too many do not treat it that way."


Participants: The application is open to graduate students and postdocs. International candidates are also eligible to apply.
Description: Rossbypalooza is a two-week long project-oriented summer school for people from a broad field of atmospheric, oceanic and planetary sciences. The goal is to provide a platform for interactions among students and faculty to understand the climate of Earth and other planets via simplified models. The school will consist of lectures and projects where participants will work in groups to address a question of their choice, mentored by one of the faculty members.
Rossbypalooza is a bi-annual student-led summer school at the University of Chicago. It is named after the Swedish meteorologist Carl Gustav Rossby and Lollapalooza, the annual music festival of Chicago. Carl Gustav Rossby was the head of the department of meteorology in the University of Chicago when he did his pioneering work on the Rossby waves of Earth's atmosphere. In the spirit of celebrating climate science with fun, Rossbypalooza brings together people from different fields to understand the climate of Earth and other planets. Check out the first Rossbypalooza (2016) here!
This year's topic is "Understanding climate through simple models". Numerical models play prominent roles in today's climate research. With the advances in computational ability, climate models are run at increasingly high resolutions, combining different elements of the Earth system. While all this makes the models more realistic, it also tends to create a gap between 'understanding' and 'simulation'. In other words, more realistic models do not necessarily mean enhanced understanding of climate. A model should be reasonably simple, or idealized, for satisfactory understanding.
The summer school will consist of lecture series by faculty in the first week, introducing their experience of tackling climate-related problems with simple models. However, the focus of the program is a hackathon, where participants will work in groups throughout the two weeks to solve problems with simple models in consultation with the faculty members. At the end of program, participants will present their results and get feedbacks from the faculty.
This school is open to 30 external graduate students and postdocs working in atmospheric, oceanic, sea ice, glacier, and (exo)planetary sciences. People interested in climate research with applied math or physics background are also encouraged to apply. Please contact us at rossbypalooza@gmail.com for further details.
My research goal is to advance fundamental understanding of fluid dynamical processes that drive variabilities in the large-scale atmospheric circulation. I strive to mesh data and theory by improving diagnostic framework. I've had some success in quantifying the roles of mixing, transport and wave-mean flow interaction in atmospheric variabilities with reanalysis products as well as model simulations. I'm finding that the same mathematical framework is also useful for deriving simple predictive theories of large wave events such as atmospheric blocking and sudden stratospheric warming. In my pastime I also design tank experiments of various sorts to communicate basic ideas to broad audience.
My research explores the physics of the atmospheric circulation from the equator to the pole and the surface to the stratosphere. My approach combines observational data analysis, theory and numerical modeling. My goal is to develop physical explanations for emergent observational and model behavior. For example, why do storm systems migrate northward seasonally in the Northern Hemisphere but not in the Southern Hemisphere? My research employs analytical models and numerical models across the model hierarchy (2D quasi-geostrophic, dry dynamical core model, gray radiation, prescribed SST aquaplanet, slab-ocean aquaplanet, atmospheric general circulation model and coupled climate model).
I have an undergraduate degree in physics (2004, Harvard) and a PhD in applied math (2008, Harvard). I came to the The University of Chicago as a Chamberlin Fellow and stayed on as a faculty member. I use mathematical and computational models to understand and explain fundamental problems in Earth and Planetary Sciences. I have worked on problems related to climate, paleoclimate, the cryosphere, planetary habitability, and exoplanets, but I'm always excited to think about new things. Recently I've been focusing a lot of effort on terrestrial exoplanets and habitability.
I am a planetary geoscientist who studies the evolution of rocky and icy planets. I use models and geologic data analysis to solve problems relevant to long-term environmental evolution. Motivating questions: can we identify simple rules for planetary evolution? How do planets stay habitable? What are the modes of planetary surface-interior exchange? What does sedimentary-deposit accumulation on Mars record, and how can we read that record? Recently, I have built simple models to study long-term climate evolution on Mars and exoplanets. For more information and pdfs of publications, see sseh.uchicago.edu.
I'm an applied mathematician whose research expertise is in nonlinear dynamics. I'm interested in mathematical mechanisms behind abrupt, irreversible changes in system behavior, such as those caused by bifurcations as parameters drift, or those triggered by noise in a bistable system. Much of my research has also focused on pattern forming systems, with recent investigations of large scale spatial patterns of vegetation in dryland ecosystems. For example, in certain hot, flat, dry regions of the globe, vegetation forms in bands that alternate, approximately periodically, with bare ground; this is an example of spontaneous self-organization in response to the stress of aridity. Our studies have used both simple conceptual models of water-biomass feedbacks, and satellite image processing for regions in the Horn of Africa and Western Australia, where this phenomena is fairly pervasive. One question driving this research is whether these striking patterns, readily monitored by satellite, might tell us something about the vulnerability of these drylands to climate change or other mechanisms of desertification, such as shifts in human land use.
1. Curriculum Vitae: Please make it no more than 2 pages. Accepted formats: doc/docx/pdf.
2. Research statement: Please describe your research for scientists outside of your field within 300 words.
3. Statement of purpose: Please describe how you will benefit from Rossbypalooza within 200 words.
4. You will also be asked in the application form if you would like to work on a research idea of your own for the group project (not required). If you do, please also prepare a paragraph of idea description.
Rossbypalooza is free for all participants. This includes tuition, housing in Hyde Park, breakfast, and lunch. Funding for travel reimbursements is available for some applicants, especially for groups underrepresented in climate sciences (e.g., women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ scientists/students). Please indicate your membership in any of these groups, as well as your desire for travel reimbursement, in the application form.
Rossbypalooza will be held on The University of Chicago campus in Chicago's historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Midway Airport is connected directly to Hyde Park by the #55 bus. For those flying into O'Hare, take the Blue line to downtown Chicago, and then transfer to the # 2 / #6 bus, which go to Hyde Park. Uber and Lyft also serve the city of Chicago, between airports and the campus.
All students will be housed in single rooms in the Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons building (6031 South Ellis Ave. Chicago, IL 60637) on the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park. Rooms are fully furnished, each with an extra-long twin bed, desk, chair, dresser, bookshelves, and wardrobe, and share a common floor bathroom. If you have any questions or special housing needs, please contact us directly at rossbypalooza@gmail.com.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided in the university cafeteria, each weekday. A welcome dinner will be provided on Monday the 11th, and a celebratory dinner will be held on the last night, Friday the 22nd. On all other nights, participants are responsible for their own dinner. Hyde Park has many wonderful restaurants, including Seoul Corea, the Nile, Yusho, Maravilla's, Snail Thai, Rajun Cajun, Noodles, Etc. and the one and only Medici's. For late-nighters, there's a 24-hour diner, Clarke's.
Rossbypalooza is dedicated to providing a harassment-free workshop experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of workshop participants in any form. Workshop participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the workshop at the discretion of the workshop organizers. Read the full code of conduct here.


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Home The Sims: Bustin' Out (Greatest Hits) - PlayStation 2 (PS2) Game
The Sims: Bustin' Out (Greatest Hits) - PlayStation 2 (PS2) Game
The Sims are making a big return to the console and this time they are bustin' out of the house and exploring all-new locations around town. In The Sims Bustin' Out, players can choose from a variety of new career paths. Along the way, players can unlock and collect over a hundred of new objects and social moves exclusive to the console. Play, work, and socialize with a cast of over 25 new outrageous characters and climb through a dozen new careers. The Sims Bustin' Out also features new integrated two-player gameplay and memory card support, for those players who like to take their Sims over to a friend's house and show them off.
Fight Night Round 3 (Greatest Hits) - PlayStation 2 (PS2) Game
Fight Night Round 3 (PS2 - Greatest Hits)
One of the Best Video Games ever!!!!


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2009 Mazda6 to debut soon; here are some preliminary details
Thread: 2009 Mazda6 to debut soon; here are some preliminary details
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today confirmed that its all-new MAZDA6 sports sedan will launch later this year, with an expected on-sale date in late summer, 2008. The highly anticipated 2009 MAZDA6 is the first of Mazda?s ?Zoom-Zoom Evolution? second-generation vehicles, building on a heritage of sports sedans and sports cars that no other manufacturer can boast, and bringing a combination of sports sedan, sophistication, build quality and product insight not currently found in the market.
?This is the most important new vehicle Mazda has launched in a decade,? said Jim O?Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO, from Denver, where the car was unveiled to Mazda dealers a day earlier at the company?s North American Dealer Meeting. ?The midsize sedan segment ? where MAZDA6 competes ? is a real battleground, with some of the best vehicles in the industry going toe-to-toe for sales. This new MAZDA6 was designed and engineered specifically for the North American market ? the third Mazda in a row to be so ? and will take on the very best cars from Asia, Europe and the U.S.?
Following on the heels of the CX-7 and CX-9 crossover SUVs, the 2009 MAZDA6 was designed and engineered for the needs, wants and desires of the North American customer. As it has been since the first MAZDA6 launched in 2002, all North American MAZDA6s will continue to be built at AutoAlliance International, in Flat Rock, Mich, a joint venture with partner Ford Motor Company.
The North American MAZDA6 differs from the similarly named car sold in the rest of the world in many ways: larger interior and exterior size, more powerful engines and unique styling. What it retains, however, is something that earned the first MAZDA6 more than 130 international awards and accolades: it delivers Zoom-Zoom, and in large doses.
Power for the 2009 MAZDA6 will be available from an all-new Mazda-designed and developed MZR 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.7-liter V6 as used in the 2008 CX-9, Motor Trend?s 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year and the 2008 North American Truck of the Year. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or five-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (2.5-liter engine) or a six-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (3.7-liter V6).
Suspension will be all-independent, with four-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS and dynamic stability control. As on every Mazda, balance, dynamics and on-road feel ? coupled with unparalleled reductions in road noise and vibrations ? will set the MAZDA6 apart from its competition.
The 2009 MAZDA6 will be available only as a four-door sedan, and in three trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, with varying levels of standard and optional equipment.
More information on the all-new 2009 MAZDA6 sports sedan will be available closer to launch, including specifics on engine output, trim levels, equipment and pricing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers.Operations in Canada are managed byMazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; in Mexico byMazdaMotor de Mexico in MexicoCity; and in Puerto Rico by Mazda de Puerto Rico in San Juan.
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