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Bombing victim 8 loved playing with siblings friends
On - August 19, 2019
No related posts. BOSTON, Massachusetts – The text messages, too horrible to believe, came as Christina and James Keefe sat with their grown sons at a restaurant in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. The young men had just run in the Boston Marathon, and were shaken but relieved to have escaped a horrific double-bombing.Sneaking glances under the table, James Keefe read the desperate, curt missives from friends and neighbors: Eight-year-old Martin Richard, son of their neighbors and friends, Bill and Denise Richard, had been killed by the bomb that detonated near the marathon's finish line.His mother and his younger sister, Jane, were also seriously hurt.Local news reports said Denise underwent emergency surgery, and Jane – who friends said is 6 or 7 years old – suffered a grievous injury to her leg.In a statement Tuesday, Bill Richard said: "My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries. We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin. We also ask for your patience and for privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover."Christina Keefe described her family as friendly with the Richard family, who live near them in the Ashmont section of Dorchester."He was so polite, composed, older than his years really," Christina Keefe said of Martin on Tuesday morning. "I can see him now, holding his mom's arm as she took them on their walks around the neighborhood."The Dorchester Reporter, a community paper, said Martin's parents "are known and respected as civic leaders. … The family is deeply involved in all facets of life in Dorchester, from little league baseball and soccer to their church, St. Ann's parish in Neponset."Bill Richard is vice president of an environmental testing company called EST Associates. He also volunteered extensively in the St. Mark's Area Main Street group, a community effort to restore the main street businesses of Peabody Square.Both Denise and Bill Richard are runners, but contrary to initial reports, Bill Richard did not run in the marathon on Monday. Instead, the family went to the finish line to watch together, as they had done for the last several years, friends said. In addition to Martin and Jane, the couple has an older son, Henry, friends said.The Ashmont neighborhood is one of restored Victorians, mostly younger families and leafy backyards. "Every Friday night, one of those backyards would be hosting an impromptu neighborhood party, with all the children running in the back," Christina Keefe said.Family friends who live near the Richard family told stories of singing Irish songs with them in their kitchen late into the night, of the entire family pitching in for every volunteer effort: decorating the float for the Dorchester Day Parade, helping at the neighborhood chili cook-off, and collecting trash in the annual Boston Shines cleanup project."You have family you are born with. And these are the family you chose," said one friend who asked not to be named. "What can I say? Everything about them is kindness … and life."Keefe described Denise as a devoted mom, frequently walking with her children through the neighborhood. She has a happy, full-throated laugh that often alerted neighbors she was nearby. Martin, she said, was regularly seen throwing a ball in his family's yard on Carruth Street, or a friends' yard nearby, or playing with his siblings."The neighborhood is reeling," Keefe said, imagining the scene just before the bombing as Martin, Henry and Jane cheered on marathon runners, a rite of passage for generations of Boston children."Knowing Denise, she probably had some posters for them to hold up" as runners came by, Keefe said. "It's all just so awful."© The Washington Post, 2013	Facebook Comments read more
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More than 200 celebrities artists poets and academics announce support for Villaltas
Musicians, television personalities, and public intellectuals voiced their backing for progressive candidate José María Villalta as Costa Rica's next president.Approximately 20 of these supporters joined the Broad Front Party candidate at his San José office on Monday morning. A party representative read the list of 200 names. The freshly announced backers said their support stemmed from a desire to see broad social change in the country.Guanacaste singer-songwriter Guadalupe Urbina said Villalta's candidacy offered the best chance to transform positive aspirations into tangible changes."More than belonging to a political party or belonging to a set political strategy, I belong to a country that is moving towards reform," Urbina said.An author and University of Costa Rica (UCR) philosopher, Arnoldo Mora, urged the crowd to support Villalta as part of the country's growing social change."It's the beginning of a new age," Mora said. "We need to transform our Costa Rica. It's a defeated country now."Mora also served as culture minister during Rafael Ángel Calderón's presidency from 1990-1994. José Figueres Olsen's presidency from 1994-1998. [Updated Jan. 22]On the back of staunchly progressive rhetoric, Villalta has seen his political fortunes and those of his party grow during the campaign. Villalta's platform has included advocacy for same-sex civil unions and broader distribution of wealth.While the party won less than 1 percent in the previous presidential election, recent polls have Villalta either tied for the lead with former frontrunner Johnny Araya, of the ruling National Liberation Party, or in second place.Villalta has repeatedly singled out neoliberalism – free trade, privatization and deregulation – as having caused Costa Rica's economic woes."This is a party of the new majority," Villalta said on Monday. "This new majority does not want neoliberalism."Critics and political opponents have characterized Villalta as extremely leftist or as inexperienced. This critique did not hold weight with his new supporters, such as former television star Leonardo Perucci. The native Chilean said the currents of change in Costa Rica reminded him of Chile."The youth lead the way on change," Perucci said after the Monday conference. "For me, [Villalta's inexperience] is a virtue."	Facebook Comments Related posts:Villalta calls budget deficit focus 'alarmist' CID-Gallup poll shows Araya might avoid presidential election runoff Libertarian candidate Otto Guevara could become Costa Rica's next president Villalta's rise and Araya's fall could upset 50 years of political dominance in Costa Rica read more
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Isla del Coco gets a new radar station to fight drug traffickers
Second in a three-part series. Read the first story here.ISLA DEL COCO, Puntarenas –Guards at Isla del Coco National Park tell stories about the boats they've spotted during night patrols that transport fuel throughout the area. There likely is only one use for the fuel: to support drug traffickers.Their stories are confirmed by Costa Rican Coast Guard officials, who say that the famous island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 365 miles off Costa Rica's Pacific coast, sits right in the middle of what is known as the "corredor narco," or narco-corridor.The drug-trafficking route begins at the Colombian port of Buenaventura, winds through Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, passes Costa Rica's Isla del Coco and then continues on to Mexico's Pacific coast."[Cocos] Island and the area around it could easily be used by drug and fuel traffickers. One reason is because it's not hard to spot fishing boats that are frequently allowed to leave port with extra fuel," Miguel Chaves, captain of the coast guard ship Santamaría, told The Tico Times during a recent patrol. A Colombian Navy boat patrols the Cajambre River, near the port of Buenaventura, Colombia, on May 29, 2012. The port is the beginning of a marine corridor for narcotics trafficking that passes Costa Rica's Isla del Coco before continuing north to Mexico. Felipe Caicedo/AFPJorge Alvarado, one of Isla del Coco's most experienced park guards, said that a few years ago, guards found a go-fast boat, which is frequently used to haul this type of cargo, but it was empty and adrift.A few months ago, during a patrol at one of the highest points on the island, park guards photographed a go-fast boat maneuvering in broad daylight close to land. On other occasions, they've found fuel containers close to the beach."Here we don't have real weapons. If illegal fishermen ignore us, do you think we can do anything to stop the drug traffickers?" Alvardo asked. "We can only follow protocol and alert the coast guard, which in the best-case scenario couldn't reach us for 24 hours."Hydroelectric plantIn January, the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) began building a hydroelectric plant at the island's Chatham Bay, on the river of the same name.The plant will generate energy to power a new radar station and surveillance center that the Public Security Ministry will use to counter drug trafficking and illegal fishing in Isla del Coco, and several kilometers around it.In Chatham Bay, a large quantity of building material arrived last week that would be hauled by foot for nearly a kilometer from the coast to the site of the hydroelectric plant.Alejandro Araya, a CNFL project supervisor, said that 36 workers are building the dam according to strict protocols to minimize environmental impact, because the area is protected by a Ramsar wetlands convention and by UNESCO. Workers carry construction material more than one kilometer to the site of a new hydroelectric dam on Isla del Coco's Chatham River. The Tico TimesImmediate detection Public Security Minister Mario Zamora said the new radar on Isla del Coca is part of a larger system that will be installed along Costa Rica's Pacific coast to fight drug trafficking. The island's radar station was made possible through funding assistance from nongovernmental groups like Conservation International and Forever Costa Rica.Getting the radar up and running has been a three-year process, and the project has faced several setbacks and delays. Nevertheless, conservation groups and law enforcement are excited to finally have tools in place to fight illegal activity in the region.For Zamora, Isla del Coco is a strategic point, as many drug-trafficking boats in the area usually operate undetected. Currently, the only way to spot them, he said, is during joint patrols with the United States."This is a very important investment, because the Pacific Ocean is one of the most popular routes for drug traffickers," Zamora said.The Isla del Coco radar will be up and running by early May and will join a system of 16 radars along the coast.Next in the series, how protecting Isla del Coco from illegal fishing can help draw tourism dollars.	Facebook Comments Related posts:Drug traffickers lure Costa Rica's struggling coastal fishermen with offers of easy money Protecting indigenous land rights could help deter drug trafficking in Central America, says new report Dutch seize huge cocaine shipment hidden in cassava roots from Costa Rica US seizes $12 million of drugs in Caribbean read more
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Film explores young Guatemalans who turn to breakdancing to escape gang life
Related posts:In Guatemala City's Zone 4, a new effort at urban renewal 16 killed in Guatemala prison fight, official says Why Guatemala's Pérez Molina turns a deaf ear to widespread calls for his resignation Unanimous: Guatemalan Congress strips President Pérez Molina's immunity GUATEMALA CITY – Guatemala City's ghettos are renowned for their gangs, drugs and violence. But when U.S.-born director Coury Deeb stayed in one, he saw a different side to life in the slums – one of people trying to escape their surroundings through dance."We met with some B-Boys and learned that though they look like gangsters, many of them are not gangsters or involved in criminal activities. Yet they live next door to gangsters who often pursue them to join their gangs," Deeb said."What we saw with the B-Boys was a group whose desire was to be part of something good, to express themselves through art, through B-Boying," Deeb added.Deeb's film production company, Nadus Films, believes in using what people are good at to serve and empower.Shining a light on the breakdancing subculture of Guatemala City, "BBoy for Life" showcases how Cheez, Gato and Leidy defy death and escape the pressure and violence of gangs through dancing.Cheez, 22, is one of the best B-Boys in Central America and forms part of the dance group Poker Crew. He taught himself to breakdance in 2008 and has since gone on to perform for the Guatemalan president and represent his country at international B-Boy competitions in France and El Salvador. He sees breakdancing as a way to reduce crime, and a few months ago started a dance movement called Urban Attack. However, he wasn't always so focused."When I was little I was surrounded by people in gangs that mugged and stole. I was used when I was little, they would tell me, 'Stay here and if the police come, let us know.' I would stand there and they would go on a bus and start robbing. I agreed because I was young, and when you're a kid, you're looking for examples of who to follow." "BBoy for Life" showcases how a group of young men and women defy death and escape the pressure and violence of gangs through dance. Pictured here, Cheez and Gato. (Courtesy of Nadus Films)Cheez, whose real name is Walfer Lossi, said his life changed when he started dancing. He learned to turn down destructive things like drugs and crime. But the change has its consequences."I've had trouble with people who don't like what I do. They've hurt and threatened me because of what I do," he said.Being a B-Boy in Guatemala City carries a burden and a risk due to the plague of gangs throughout the ghettos. Gang members always are looking for new recruits. According to a 2012 report by Human Rights Watch, Guatemala has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the region, which is mainly the product of armed groups and criminal gangs who exert a similar level of power to that of terrorist groups in other countries.Leidy Estrada was originally hired to provide security during the documentary's production, but she quickly emerged as one of the story's main characters."What's interesting about Leidy is that she was in prison and was an active gangster. When we landed for the first production trip she was only three days out of prison. Our partners on the ground thought 'what better person to watch for dangerous activity than someone who knows the streets very well,'" Deeb said."Learning about us, Native Films, learning about why we do what we do, learning about our characters and meeting the B-Boys, [Leidy] was turned on to a world of opportunity, redemption and information. She became the bridge between good and evil," he added.Originally imprisoned for extortion, Leidy's life changed dramatically when she met the B-Boy community. She recently graduated as valedictorian and now manages finances for a nongovernmental organization, as well as giving talks to youths on the reality of being in a gang."When I got out of prison I left the gang. It was a hard decision because I was worried they'd harm my family, my children or myself. They don't let you go easily. But thank God we're still here without problems," she said."My purpose [in the film] was to help a lot of youths and tell them not to fall into the path I fell into, to talk about how my story has changed. I hope it helps a lot of children to change their minds about gangs and to think about them," she added.A story of hope, struggle and redemption, "BBoy for Life" exposes not only the threat Guatemalans face on a daily basis, but also the journey many of those who are surrounded by violence seek towards a life where peace and hope shine more brightly."'BBoy for Life' shows that there's beauty in the mix of one of Guatemala City's darkest neighborhoods," Deeb said."BBoy for Life" was screened at the United Nations last month and will be available worldwide On-Demand starting May 15.For more information, click here.	Facebook Comments read more
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4 unbelievable aerial photos of Costa Ricas Poás Volcano
Related posts:Increased phreatic activity reported at Costa Rica's Rincón de la Vieja Volcano TIMELINE: A recent volcanic history of Costa Rica Man throws religious icons into Costa Rica's Poás Volcano 3 US Coast Guard officers injured in lightning strike at Costa Rica's Poás Volcano Costa Rica's National Seismological Network sent a photographer in a plane over Poás National Park, northwest of the capital, to capture these images of the contrast of vegetation inside and outside the volcano crater's boundaries. Trees stop growing near the acidic crater lake of Poás Volcano. (Courtesy of Raúl Mora and the National Seismological Network) Gas rises from the crater lake at Poás Volcano. (Courtesy of Raúl Mora and the National Seismological Network) A close-up of Poás Volcano's acidic crater lake. (Courtesy of Raúl Mora and the National Seismological Network)	Facebook Comments read more
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Solís signs tuna fishing decree but will it help Costa Ricas oceans
President Luis Guillermo Solís signed a decree Tuesday restricting industrial tuna fishing in Costa Rican waters. The decree is one of the first attempts to establish fishing zones in Costa Rica's massive ocean territory and regulate the international super fleets that currently pull in the vast majority of the country's tuna catch. But despite the decree's intentions, many environmentalists say it will do little to curb unsustainable fishing practices in Costa Rican waters.According to a 10-year study by the Costa Rican Fishing Federation (FECOP), foreign-flagged purse seine ships captured 90 percent of the tuna caught in Costa Rican waters between 2002 and 2011. The giant ships are able to scoop up entire schools of tuna at once by sending out small go-fast boats to encircle tuna schools with nets and haul the fish aboard with cranes. Under current fishing regulations licensed purse seine boats are permitted to fish in all but the first 12 miles of Costa Rica's unprotected ocean territory, a system that the decree's proponents say cripples Costa Rica's smaller-scale fishermen."The country is losing the economic rewards that tuna provides by giving it away to international boats," said Enrique Ramírez, executive director of FECOP, which helped draft the initial decree. "Small national boats can fish sustainably, get a better price for high-quality tuna and all of that money will stay within Costa Rica instead of the profits ending up in some other country."(Disclosure: Tico Times reporter Lindsay Fendt worked as a freelance translator for FECOP in 2013.)FECOP, a sportfishing and environmental interest group, and groups of local longline fishermen spearheaded the decree's creation during the administration of former President Laura Chinchilla (2010-2014). Before leaving office in May, Chinchilla signed a tuna zoning bill that restricted purse seine fishing in the first 60 miles of Costa Rica's Pacific coastline, but she failed to order its publication in the official government newspaper, La Gaceta, which would put the law into effect. The decree's fate then fell to Solís' new government, which took several months to analyze it before drafting a new one.The new regulations ban purse seine fishing in the first 45 nautical miles off the Pacific coastline as well as in a section of Costa Rican waters bordering Ecuador's ocean territory. They will also restrict large-scale longline fishing in the first 12 miles off the coast. The decree was reached as a compromise between executives at the national tuna cannery, who oppose any tuna fishing restrictions, and national fishermen, who oppose all purse seine competition. Despite the move by the Solís administration to limit purse seine fishing, some environmental groups have criticized the decree, contending that it will do little to slow the negative environmental effects of the tuna fishing industry.Big tuna's beef with the decreeThe Costa Rican tuna-canning giant, Sardimar, has opposed the decree from the beginning. Current fishing licensing laws allow international purse seiners to renew their licenses for free if they sell a month's worth of cargo (a 300-ton minimum) to Costa Rican canneries. The regulation allows Sardimar — under the parent company Alimentos Prosalud, which owns every cannery in the country — to purchase tuna at below-market prices. The advantage has turned Sardimar into the region's dominant cannery, commanding 70 percent of the Central American tuna market."Changes to the system could cause us to lose our competitive edge in an extremely competitive industry," Asdrubal Vásquez, the president of the Costa Rican Tuna Industry Chamber (CATUN), told The Tico Times in June. "We are worried that restricting where boats can fish will mean international boats won't want to come to Costa Rica and we will not be able to get the raw materials we need."CATUN members were so concerned that they threatened to pull Sardimar out of Costa Rica if the decree was signed, eliminating 1,500 jobs in the Pacific province of Puntarenas. In order to appease the cannery, the decree includes an article that would permit purse seine ships to enter the restricted zone if Sardimar can demonstrate a lack of tuna. It remains to be seen if Sardimar will follow through on its threat now that the decree has been passed, but the cannery is unlikely to find a steady stream of subsidized tuna elsewhere.Equal competition?According to Gustavo Meneses, director of the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA), the old decree was lopsided, restricting purse seine fishing while leaving large-scale longline fishing unregulated."We wanted to create a more equal decree," said Meneses. "The old regulations didn't resolve the problem with unfair competition, it just tilted the scales to give the longline and sportfishing sectors an advantage."The new decree bans longline fishing in the first 12 nautical miles off the coast, leaving that section for smaller and more sustainable fishing methods. Still, commercial fishing operations argue that Costa Rica's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — the first 200 miles within a country's coast, in which that country has exclusive economic rights — should be reserved for Costa Ricans."This was a compromise," said Mauricio González, executive director of a Pacific organization that represents the country's longline fishermen. "If it was up to us, there would be no purse seine fishing in the entire EEZ."Environmental issuesProtecting dolphins is the main environmental motivation behind restricting purse seine fishing. Because pods of dolphins often travel with schools of tuna, industrial tuna boats frequently snare dolphins when they cast their nets. According to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, 68 percent of purse seine nets cast in Costa Rican waters are thrown over dolphin pods. This fishing practice has killed between 5 and 7 million dolphins since 1950 worldwide, environmental groups estimate.The lack of tuna fishing regulations in Costa Rica has long spurred disdain from dolphin conservation groups, and in June the California-based nonprofit group Earth Island Institute said they would pull their "dolphin-safe" labels from cans of Costa Rican tuna if the tuna zoning decree was not passed."At this point it is mostly for dolphins," Ramírez said. "You still have a lot of other environmental problems, but this will help avoid damage to more dolphins."But beyond saving dolphins, environmentalists say the decree will do very little for Costa Rica's overfishing and bycatch problems. Though longline boats catch far fewer fish than purse seine ships, they still unintentionally pull in large amounts of other sea creatures. In 2013, longline fishing was the likely killer of hundreds of sea turtles in Costa Rica alone.The sportfishing sector, which has suffered from competing with purse seiners, also stands to gain from the decree. Despite Meneses claims that the current decree is more balanced, environmentalists say that it simply shifts the advantages from one industry to another."It's like taking from Peter to give to Paul," said Randall Arauz, whose conservation group, Pretoma, was consulted by INCOPESCA during the decree's revision.Marco Quesada with Conservation International agreed."The decree makes no real changes. Even the restrictions it makes on purse seiners come with an out if the industry gets angry," Quesada said. "I don't think this decree has any teeth, and I don't see anything changing."The futureMeneses is not deaf to the complaints from environmental groups. With the passage of the decree, Meneses also announced INCOPESCA's plans to create a more comprehensive fishing plan for the country, promising an integrated management plan for the country's fisheries within the year. Though the specifics of this plan have yet to be announced, Meneses told The Tico Times during an interview in July that the institute is considering plans for more zoning, establishing fishing seasons and cracking down on bycatch violations."To the environmentalists who are upset, all I can say is that we are working on it," he told The Tico Times.Since its creation, INCOPESCA has been considered a do-nothing organization by most marine conservationists. With a board of directors loaded with industry insiders, the fishing management institution has been accused of serious conflicts of interest. But Meneses hopes to change that reputation in his four-year term."Right now there is just not an integrated plan for our marine resources," Meneses told The Tico Times. "It's no small task, but ideally I will leave INCOPESCA in four years having left beyond a roadmap to sustainable management in our oceans." Related posts:Tuna company, fishermen and environmental groups squabble over unpublished fishing decree Costa Rica's dolphin-safe tuna designation under scrutiny Stop giving away free tuna fishing licenses, says NGO Costa Rica Ombudsman's Office pushes for better marine conservation Facebook Comments read more
Going for Gold La Sele unveils special Gold Cup uniforms
Facebook Comments Related posts:No Navas as Costa Rica names roster for Peru friendly Costa Rica's La Sele throttles Jamaica 3-0 'La Sele' draws Nicaragua, Haiti and Bermuda in Gold Cup group Costa Rica announces provisional 40-man roster for Gold Cup Costa Rica's men's national soccer team will have a new look during the 2019 Gold Cup.La Sele unveiled a special black-and-gold kit it will wear during the biennial tournament.#LaSele utilizará un uniforme cautivador y elegante en la @GoldCup 2019. Nota: https://t.co/RFewWx7q3j pic.twitter.com/S83EwjIovs— FEDEFUTBOL Costa Rica (@fedefutbolcrc) May 14, 2019"For quite some time, we have talked about participating in the Gold Cup with a different design," said Rodolfo Villalobos, President of the Costa Rican Soccer Federation. "For the first time in history, we will wear a black shirt with gold."While the design is unique, longtime Costa Rica soccer fans may remember when La Sele rocked a black-and-white kit during the 1990 World Cup in Italy. (Costa Rica also sported black, white and gold in a more recent throwback to that team.)"With the black we look for inspiration, the fight and strength of that great team of Italy 90 that for the first time led us to fulfill a great goal in our footballing history," Villalobos said. "With the gold, we want to highlight the energy and brightness that we carry inside, that makes us succeed internationally and put on high the name of our country."The 2019 Gold Cup begins June 15 to determine the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Soccer Associations (CONCACAF) champion.For the first time in the tournament's history, a Central American country will host a Gold Cup match when Costa Rica welcomes Nicaragua on June 16 at the National Stadium in La Sabana.The Ticos will also face Bermuda and Haiti as part of Group B play. Those matches, as well as all knockout stages, will be played in the United States.Fans hoping to purchase the new kit should act quickly, and the purchase won't come cheap. New Balance made just 9,500 shirts, and they retail for 49,900 colones (about $84) at PLS and New Balance stores. read more
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Britain bedeviled by binge drinking
Associated PressLONDON (AP) – The girls slumped in wheelchairs look barely conscious, their blond heads lolling above the plastic vomit bags tied like bibs around their necks.It's an hour to midnight on Friday, and the two girls, who look no older than 18, are being wheeled from an ambulance to a clinic set up discreetly in a dark alley in London's Soho entertainment district.They're the first of many to be picked up on this night by the ambulance, known as a "booze bus," and carried to the clinic _ both government services dedicated to keeping drunk people out of trouble, and out of emergency rooms. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements Meghan McCain to release audiobook on conservatism, family Binge drinking has reached crisis levels in Britain, health experts say, costing the cash-strapped National Health Service 2.7 billion pounds (US$4.4 billion) a year, including the cost of hospital admissions related to booze-fueled violence and longer-term health problems. Unlike all other major health threats, liver disease is on the rise in Britain, increasing by 25 percent in the last decade and causing a record level of deaths, according to recent government figures.Doctors believe rising obesity is combining with heavy drinking to fuel the spike in liver disease, which is hitting more young people than ever."Undoubtedly professionals are seeing more (patients) in their late-20s to mid-30s, which would have been unusual 20 years ago," said Chris Day, a liver disease specialist at Newcastle University.On the streets of Soho, most people are too busy drinking to notice passed-out partyers. The streets, lined with pubs and nightclubs, are just beginning to get rowdy: Men chasing each other and shrieking like teenagers; women stumbling and falling over in their too-short skirts and high heels. Soon the sidewalks are littered with empty beer bottles and reeking puddles. New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths Sponsored Stories Think Tank analyzes the second round of Democratic debates Comments Share Quick workouts for men Such public displays of extreme drunkenness are inexplicable and shocking to many foreigners living in Britain, even those who hail from heavy drinking cultures."(At home) it's embarrassing to be drunk. Here it's kind of something you brag about," said Kaisa Toroskainen, a Finnish graduate student in London having a beer with her friends.The headline-grabbing figures about ever-younger liver disease victims may seem to suggest that Britain has quite recently turned into a nation of raging alcoholics. But it's not news that the British like their tipple. This is, after all, a nation known around the world for its ales and its pubs, the default venue for any British social gathering from a quiet date to after-work networking.Despite that, most experts agree that Britons, on the whole, don't drink more than other Europeans _ in fact, overall alcohol consumption levels here have come down since the mid 2000s.But that's the average. The problem seems to lie with a minority of hard-core drinkers who tend to down a huge amount in a short time."The key point is the ways in which we behave when we're drinking _ it involves very public displays of reckless drunkenness," said Jamie Bartlett, a researcher at the London-based think tank Demos who has written about alcohol abuse. Cut-price booze has been blamed for the increasingly popular practice of "pre-loading," where drinkers indulge in shop-bought drink at home before they head out to bars and pubs, where the drinks are much more expensive.Prime Minister David Cameron has declared binge drinking a national "scandal," and the government is seeking to curb the excess by introducing a minimum price for each unit of alcohol sold. Scotland, which has long struggled with a dire alcohol abuse problem, announced Monday it wants to set a minimum price of 50 pence (80 U.S. cents) per unit _ which would mean an average bottle of wine could cost no less than about 4.70 pounds ($7.55).The proposals have sparked lively debate _ not least because of the unusually interventionist stance taken by the Conservatives. More to the point are questions about whether higher prices will actually cut excessive indulgence.Simon Antrobus at the drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction is hopeful that the proposals will increase public awareness."We're beginning to see people thinking, `I have to do something about this,'" he said. "The challenging bit is getting people to understand the potential harmful consequences of alcohol. People need to know their limits." Top Stories "It's not an issue of consumption. It's an issue of behavior."Anyone who's gone out on a Friday night in any of Britain's larger towns and cities will be familiar with boozed out groups of people shouting, brawling and causing a scene as they spill out of bars and pubs. Commuters aren't immune to the antics _ especially on evenings when soccer matches are on."We are the whites, we are we are the whites!" one clearly intoxicated young man was heard relentlessly singing on a train carriage on a recent night, urging wary strangers to join in.The problem isn't confined to a particular class, and even members of the social elite can be caught in embarrassing drink-fueled trouble. In 2000, the teenage son of then Prime Minister Tony Blair was arrested for being "drunk and incapable" when he was found semiconscious and vomiting on the sidewalk in London's Leicester Square.The event was remarkable only because of his father's prominence.The legal drinking age in Britain is 18, compared to 21 in the U.S., but many drinkers start younger. Social workers say lax control of retail sales and cheap alcohol _ commonly available for less than 70 pence ($1.10) a can in supermarkets and liquor stores _ makes it easy for young people to experiment with liquor. 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Police investigating fires near Jerusalem
Top Stories Meghan McCain to release audiobook on conservatism, family 5 things to look for when selecting an ophthalmologist Think Tank analyzes the second round of Democratic debates Jerusalem police chief Niso Shaham said the fire was probably set deliberately. Several arrests were made over the past few weeks in series of suspicious fires that caused damage in Jerusalem, he said.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements JERUSALEM (AP) – Two large forest fires on the outskirts of Jerusalem sent smoke wafting across the city and temporarily closed the main highway to Tel Aviv.Police say several people were treated for smoke inhalation, and an unknown number of people were evacuated from the affected area before the blaze was brought under control Tuesday.Traffic on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, one of the nation's busiest, was backed up for about 50 kilometers (30 miles). Sponsored Stories Natural spring cleaning tips and tricks for your home Comments Share New Year's resolution: don't spend another year in a kitchen you don't like read more
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Gazalinked Egypt attack hurts Hamas border bid
Meghan McCain to release audiobook on conservatism, family Arizona families, Arizona farms: A legacy of tradition embracing animal care and comfort through modern technology Think Tank analyzes the second round of Democratic debates 4 sleep positions for men and what they mean Hamas, itself a fundamentalist Islamic militant group, appears to be losing control over some of the Islamist militants operating from its territory.In recent years, followers of a fundamentalist stream of Islam, known as Salafis, have formed a number of cells in Gaza, some of them inspired by al-Qaida, but without central organization. They have claimed responsibility for several attacks on Israel.A senior Hamas official on Monday described the Salafi cells as "ticking bombs that threaten not only the Gaza government." He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss intelligence assessments with reporters. Hamas has arrested suspected Salafis in the past, even clashing with them in shootouts on some occasions.A former Israeli deputy military chief, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, did not expect Hamas to go after militant groups. "They condemn it, but they don't do enough to control those extremist movements and terror organizations," he said.___Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah contributed reporting.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) In a meeting with Hamas officials from Gaza last month, Morsi appeared sympathetic to their demands to lift restrictions on travel out of Gaza, though he was noncommittal about opening the border to trade as well.In return, Morsi asked Hamas to crack down on militants moving in and out of Gaza through the tunnels, according to an official close to the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the content of closed-door discussions with reporters.Morsi told Hamas his leadership would be tested by how he deals with Islamic militants in Sinai and asked Hamas to help make his first term a success, the official said.The bloody attack on the border that left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead threw the implied agreements into disarray. It also left Hamas in a damage-control mode, with few options beyond pleading for a fair inquiry.The Hamas government condemned the attack as an "awful crime" and promised to help Egypt find the culprits, but also denied Gaza militants were involved. "We reject using the name of Gaza (in the context of the attack) without investigation and without finding out who is standing behind it," said Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Awad. Top Stories Associated PressGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – The weekend's deadly attack on the Egypt-Israel border by Islamic militants with purported ties to Gaza spells trouble for the territory's Hamas rulers.Hamas had lobbied Egypt's new president, who like the group has roots in the region-wide Muslim Brotherhood, to end Gaza's 5-year-long border blockade by throwing open a shared border crossing that is the territory's only gate to the world. More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths Check your body, save your life Instead, one of the first steps President Mohammed Morsi took after Sunday's attack was to slam the Gaza border crossing shut indefinitely.Egypt's military said the attackers had the help of Palestinian militants, saying "elements from the Gaza Strip" aided them by shelling the Egyptian-Israeli border crossing with mortars as the attack was taking place.An Egyptian government official charged anonymously that at least some of the attackers came from Gaza, infiltrating through smuggling tunnels under the border.Hundreds of tunnels run under the 15-kilometer (9-mile) Gaza-Egypt border, dug over the years to evade border restrictions and move contraband, including weapons and militants.Hamas announced it closed the tunnels temporarily following the attack that left 16 Egyptian border troops dead. Egypt indicated it would crack down from its side after mostly ignoring the underground passages for years.Morsi pledged that now, Egypt's military will go after the militants in the Sinai, a move that could reinforce Gaza's isolation.After Morsi's election victory earlier this summer, Hamas had been hopeful that the Gaza border blockade _ imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas overran the territory in 2007 _ was coming to an end. Comments Share A senior Egyptian official alleged that Hamas has failed to prevent militants from slipping in and out of the Sinai desert through the tunnels. "After Egyptian blood was spilled, we will not accept words of condemnation, denials or failing to take responsibility," the official said of Hamas, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss internal government deliberations with reporters.In a first sign of tension between Morsi's' government and Hamas, the movement's deputy leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, wrote on his Facebook page that closing the Rafah crossing amounted to collective punishment.Since taking office, Morsi has been careful to avoid the impression that he puts the interests of fellow Islamists, including Hamas, above those of Egypt. After Sunday's attack, he is under even greater pressure to clamp down on Islamic militants seen as a threat to his country's national interests."Hamas will be the first to pay the price of this attack, and I think the ones who carried it out meant to embarrass Hamas," said Abdel Majed Swailem, a West Bank analyst. "Egypt is going to be very tough on the borders and that will harm Hamas' standing. The first target for Egypt now will be the tunnels, the main artery for Hamas." Sponsored Stories read more
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Arts & Culture » Arts Stories & Interviews
Digital vsionaries
by Tim Cavanaugh
In the past decade, the "digital revolution" went from overhyped pipe dream to inescapable annoyance to cultural watershed. From there, it was a few short steps to financial powerhouse, genuine social tumult and, finally, economic Superfund site. In the process, virtually every aspect of our social, cultural and political landscape -- personal communication, financial planning, watching the news, making a phone call -- was transformed to the point that it is now hard to remember how things used to be. And harder to remember how visionary and out-there the digital transformation used to seem. Here's a reminder: When a handful of California computer geeks and crypto-libertarians wanted to announce its onset, their first instinct wasn't to start a new tech firm or do a mass e-mailing, but to start an old-fashioned (well, actually, pretty newfangled) magazine out of ink and paper.
Gary Wolf builds his history of the rise and sale of Wired magazine on two literary conceits. One is that the story of Wired is essentially a romance, a tale of wild adventures in war and love. The other is that the narrative of a market boom is itself built on the steady conversion of skeptics into believers. "Only when the story's truth is more or less universally acknowledged," he writes, "do prices plateau and then plummet. Skepticism, a key ingredient, has run out."
Wolf writes about Wired with such grace and high spirits that I find it hard to imagine any fair-minded reader coming away unpersuaded that in its heyday the magazine -- a visionary monthly that promoted digital technology not merely as a technical marvel but as a genuine social, political and even spiritual revolution -- was a vastly important publishing phenomenon.
Launched in 1993 by Louis Rossetto and his partner Jane Metcalfe, Wired helped create the tech bubble that took off in earnest in 1995 -- even though the magazine's founders never finally figured out how to profit from the run on Internet investment for itself. In one of many small absurdities that make up the saga, the magazine was the first web publishing enterprise to put together an initial public offering -- and never got it off the ground.
In telling the story, Wolf simultaneously recognizes the absurdity of the wild claims that Rossetto and company made for themselves and their magazine and still, at some level, takes those claims seriously. Wired's techno-optimistic vision could be inspiring, utopian, ludicrous or all three at once. Wolf is able to take the vision seriously while mocking the execution.
I worked as the editor of a former Wired property, the late satirical webzine Suck.com, after Wired had sold it off to Lycos. I know many of the book's dramatis personae; Wolf performs tiny miracles of pith and observation. His portraits are devastating not because they're spiteful, but because they're unfailingly empathetic. Consider the elegance of this passage describing the pre-success itinerancy of Rossetto and Metcalfe: "Each move from here would be dependent on the charity of friends, which they were often forced to stretch beyond the limits of good manners. But their faith in the coming change, which they carried with them like a blessing, served to justify the hospitality they sought and took." Or the aphoristic deftness of this introduction to Carl Steadman, the brilliant and tormented co-founder of Suck: "A rural youth of extreme intelligence is almost certain to be unhappy."
In doing justice to his subject, the author must capture the perverse excitement of the 1990s for future generations. He must track Wired's curious financial history, one ironically out of step with the dot-com boom's overall trend. (Wired Ventures' fiscal fortunes tanked in 1996, during a now-forgotten market crash that turned out to be a mere hiccup on the way to that great hotdog-eating contest that was the tech sector of 1998 and '99.) He must explain how Rossetto and Metcalfe cashed out with a cool $30 million payday, and why even that was a fraction of what they deserved.
Wolf pulls all of this off; more impressively, he supports some of the magazine's epochal claims. Wired inspired in its detractors a knee-jerk skepticism that was as silly as the magazine's own relentless optimism. Large numbers of otherwise reasonable people still have nothing but harsh words for the magazine. If your mind is made up one way or the other, nothing I say will change it. Here goes anyway: The early Wired -- both the magazine and the libertarian, cyber-utopian milieu from which it sprang -- was as important to American culture as the early Time, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone or any other culture-making magazine of the 20th century.
In telling the story, Wolf's account is an unqualified success. When it comes to tracing the magazine's convoluted relationship with the last decade's tech hype, however, the genre of a romance -- which exalts narrative over analysis -- is a liability. Wolf poses but never answers a crucial question about Rossetto: "His success coincided with a great stock-market bubble. How much was he to blame for the larger mayhem in which he took part?"
Some of the best romances of modern times -- "Lawrence of Arabia," most of Tom Wolfe's nonfiction, or Warren Hinckle's "If You Have a Lemon, Make Lemonade," a memoir of Ramparts (another epochal San Francisco magazine) -- have explored this very question: the symbiosis between hype and actual history, the way media representation creates reality and vice versa. Wired's history is ripe for this kind of exploration. The magazine's transfigured, oracular tone, as much as its celebrated design and conceptual breakthroughs, blew air into the New Economy balloon. But on the big story, Wired was uncannily, maddeningly right: There really was a fundamental shift, partly or mostly technological, affecting the farthest reaches of civilization. There still is.
Those who cite the relative misery of the 21st century's first few years in order to scoff at that promise of transformation do so at their own risk. The romance of Wired took place in a world that now seems as remote as Cymbeline's or Yoda's. Gary Wolf's book rescues the myth and brings it back as vibrant, crucial history.
(This article appears courtesy of Featurewell.com)
Arts Stories & Interviews Culture

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I strongly believe our life is an ocean and of course we all are really nice drops of ocean water. So just look at this drop which is in front of you now. Can you see it is filled with all the rainbow colors of really positive energy? Also I can add it is filled with all the shine of honesty and tenderness. Frankly speaking I have already added there all the pink aromas of the morning dews. My dear if you ever have a chance to look into my soul you will see it is covered with one million of colored butterflies. You see those things are seconds of our life which will be filled only with deep trust and respect, also I can see there lots of passion and love. You see I still believe such a nice drop can become our own passionate ocean of love. What do you think?))) Of course I am a family oriented person whose family and life values are really strong. Also I am a friendly and sociable person who is here in order to find a real knight of my heart.
I would like to meet a man who will share with me happy and sad moments of live, who will be caring, supporting, understanding and faithful, who will respect high morals, sincerity and trust.


Gossamer Glowies are hand sculpted One of a Kind, Glow in the Dark, Faerie Guardians.
Photos are actual. No digital enhancements. Gossamer Glowies glow brightly and will watch over you in the night.
Length of glow will vary depending upon the light source to which they are exposed and the length of exposure time.
Gossamer Glowies range in height from 1.75"(4.5 cm) to 2.5"(6.5 cm), seated.
from tip of cap to seat.
wisp hanging down. Measures 2.5"
(6.5 cm) from tip of cap to seat.
Sits flat. But enjoys living on the edge!
3.5"(9 cm), point to point.


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Metroblades is a not-for-profit, volunteer-operated club. In keeping with our goals, we strive to keep our membership fees at an affordable level.
Our club membership fees are $450 per year or $50 per month for short-term membership (2019-2020). Our fees include access to all practice locations and group classes (except beginners and intermediate classes). Club fees are due each January 1st of each year.
For those who have no fencing experience, we require that you take a beginner's class, either at Metro Blades or another club, prior to joining as a member at our club.
Visiting fencers from other clubs are always welcome to join us on any practice night.
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If you have a limited amount of experience, or haven't fenced for a long time and wonder if you should take the beginner class as a refresher course, please contact us for an assessment.


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PM Lee's Comments on Arms Race in Asia: An Exercise in Tryhard Preaching?
It is well known that during his lifetime, Lee Kuan Yew was seen as an esteemed elder statesman in international politics. He was never short on providing candid and incisive perspectives to any interviewer or audience that sought his opinions on geopolitical matters.
It seems that his son, current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong is trying to emulate his father's footsteps, though with much more mixed results.
At a recent international conference held in Japan, PM Lee opined that US treaty allies South Korea and Japan should be cautious with their domestic societal and political discussions on allowing the basing of US nuclear weapons on their territories, or possibly even going further in developing their own indigenous nuclear weapons systems for their national defence purpose.
In his comments, PM Lee worried that regional security in Asia would be negatively impacted by countries looking out for their own security interests first, and subsequent pursuits of military capabilities might precipitate a regional arms race.
Lived Realities Trump Outsider Perspectives
Reading about PM Lee's comments on the evolution of defence and security interests in North East Asia as described, one wonders how much of Singapore's own defence history does Lee Jr actually know and understand.
Surely as the leader of Singapore and the son of its founding prime minister, Lee Jr should know better than any other national leader just how important territorial defence capabilities are in securing a country's national interests and sovereignty in international politics.
Talks of advancing and pursuing further military capabilities by South Korea and Japan are nothing new; both countries are major US allies and hence aligned with US defence postures of having power projection abilities with advanced offensive weaponry, and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War has given new impetus to the concerns of both countries about potential Chinese territorial conflicts with them, or copycat military adventurism in North East Asia to invade and reconquer Taiwan back into Mainland Chinese control.
To talk of how potential choices by South Korea and Japan to allow for US nuclear weapons basing on their territories or even pursuing nuclear weapons themselves might trigger an arms race in North East Asia and the greater Asian region as a whole is to ignore entirely the reality on the ground.
"Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum."
The reality is that South Korea and Japan already face clear and present dangers to their national sovereignties and interests by their neighbouring countries, North Korea and China respectively. Both North Korea and China have not in recent years been acting with overt defensive-minded restraint in their public displays of military power and pursuit of offensive capabilities.
North Korea regularly conducts aggressive missile tests specifically aimed as a threat to South Korea alongside its insistence of pursuing and refining its already-established nuclear weapons capability, and China has regularly been conducting aggressive military exercises, aerial overflights with nuclear-capable bombers, and openly pursuing advanced hypersonic and nuclear missile technologies that pose a threat to both South Korea and Japan as first-line US allies in North East Asia, just as much as to the US itself.
Ukraine: A Case Study of Why Nukes Are Necessary?
The Russo-Ukrainian War has not only fuelled a resurgent interest in countries worldwide on buttressing their territorial defence capabilities, but also provided the strongest case study for why possessing nuclear weapons makes for a very compelling tool in a country's defence capability.
Ukraine used to possess ex-Soviet nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR in 1991. However, as part of a "grand bargain" deal struck between the US, UK, Russia and three ex-Soviet republics (Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan) in Budapest, in 1994 Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons and returned them to Russia in exchange for security "guarantees" from the other three nuclear great powers to not threaten, use military force, or economically coerce the ex-Soviet republics for their own national interests.
This "Budapest Memorandum" failed to stop Russia in subsequent decades from subsuming two of the three signatory ex-Soviet republics (Belarus, Kazakhstan) into its sphere of influence, and was ultimately violated and destroyed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
It is thus a very powerful and emotive argument that being a nuclear power goes a long way in securing a country's national interests and defending against potential aggressors who have to now consider nuclear retaliation in their offensive calculations against such countries.
It is highly debatable if Russia would have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had it continued to possess nuclear weapons of its own capable of devastating Russian cities.
Pot Calling the Kettle Black…
Finally, it is interesting how PM Lee talks about fears of a new, potentially nuclear arms race in North East Asia should South Korea and Japan increase their efforts at enhancing their militaries' offensive capabilities to potentially include nuclear weaponry, when he is the leader of a country which has not been shy nor secretive with being the first in buying or developing advanced military assets and capabilities for its own national defence against regional countries far less aggressive and volatile than China and North Korea.
If one looks at the qualitative evolution and growth of South East Asian militaries over the past decades, it is abundantly clear that much of the impetus for modernisation and purchasing of increasingly advanced and deadly weaponry by ASEAN countries have been driven by Singapore's own pursuit of such capabilities for its own defence interests.
Singapore was the first country in South East Asia to possess tanks back in 1969, owns the single largest and most Westernised air force of all ASEAN countries (with at least 100 US-made fighter jets), and the first to introduce advanced attack helicopters to the region (US-made Apache Longbows were purchased in 1999; Singapore owns 20 of them).
Singapore's pursuit of armored warfare capabilities with modern tanks created an armor arms race between itself and its neighbours.
Malaysia's purchasing of its first modern main battle tanks from Poland in 2010 (having never owned tanks beforehand), and the decision by Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago country to purchase German Leopard 2 main battle tanks back in 2012, were both arguably tied directly to Singapore's own purchase of the same Leopard 2 tanks back in 2006.
PM Lee was already prime minister of Singapore for 3 years then; he is clearly comfortable with arms races as long as it's his country starting it and staying on top of possible competitors.
Get Your Own House in Order, PM Lee.
A famous Latin adage states that "if you seek peace, prepare for war". PM Lee's comments about arms race fears in North East Asia from South Korea and Japan seeking military parity against their nuclear-armed and aggressive neighbours arguably came from a desire to look neutral to China and the US, and hopes that Asian nonalignment can still be achieved as relations worsen between the two superpowers.
However, his comments come off as high-handed preaching about security issues and interests he and Singapore have no direct stake in, nor direct experience of.
Nuclear proliferation into South Korea or Japan would be about redressing the military imbalance in North East Asia more than starting a new arms race. It's easy for PM Lee to fret about potential arms races and conflicts breaking out when it's not Singapore's survival being directly threatened.
Given the litany of domestic bread and butter issues that need resolving in Singapore, such spouting of unsolicited holier-than-thou geopolitical "statesmanship" wisdoms to other countries in his attempts to look like his father on the world stage just makes PM Lee and Singapore look bad.
Let each country make their own decisions on their own affairs; it's not as if Singapore does not have enough to deal with domestically.
bilateral issues
Lee Hsien Loong
Mr Lee Kuan Yew
Gilbert Goh: Activists Must Always Be Prepared To Go To Prison
He Filmed Me During Sex Without My Consent, His Scholarship Asked Me To Forgive Him
PAP Went AWOL, Not Opposition!
Treat 377A Repeal as What It Is – Don't Politicise It


My primary research interest is using the concept of carbohydrate and water supply and demand balance, and the techniques for gas exchange, water and other bio index monitoring, and computer modeling, to intergrate whole tree physiology in fruit crops. Currently I am working on Asian pears and grapes.
USA Cornell University Horticultural Sciences Ph.D.


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Tuesday, Aug 8, 2006, 09:10
Erste's successful takeover of Banca Comerciala Romana
Romania's Competition Council approved Erste Bank AG's takeover of Banca Comerciala Romana SA, the country's biggest lender, pending final ratification of the transaction by parliament. Erste Bank, Austria's second-biggest lender, in December agreed to pay € 3.75 billion ($4.82 billion) for 61.9% of the Romanian lender that's also known as BCR, beating a rival bid from Banco Comercial Portugues SA. That stake includes the 25% plus one share held jointly in the lender by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corp. "The majority stake was sold to the investor that offered the highest price." Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said last month that the government and Erste Bank agreed upon a Sept. 21 deadline to complete the sale of BCR. The council yesterday also approved a July 26 decision by the government to limit damages deriving from would-be claims on BCR linked to the 1999-takeover of Romania's bankrupt bank Bancorex SA. Authorities determined at the time that Bancorex had accumulated losses totaling $2 billion from bad or preferential loans. Vladescu said last month that the government adopted a decision limiting would-damage payments to no more than half of the € 3.75 billion Erste agreed to pay for BCR. Any claims should be filed no later than Dec. 31, 2013, according to the decision. (Bloomberg)
Next year's F1 Hungarian Grand Prix set for July 31
Budapest Festivals | Dec 16, 2021, 11:20
Hungary presents 2022 Giro d'Italia Grand Start
Budapest Festivals | Nov 6, 2021, 11:20
Festival revenues to fall 50-60% this year
Budapest Festivals | Jul 28, 2021, 10:10


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Greenpeace: Yeah, we misled, but we needed the emotionalism!
Ed MorrisseyPosted at 8:47 am on August 20, 2009
Phelim McAleer, the co-director of Not Evil, Just Wrong, catches the BBC in an act of journalism when interviewing Greenpeace leader Gerd Leipold. The activist organization insisted in a July 15th press release that all of the Arctic ice would disappear by 2030, a claim which reporter Stephen Sackur finds ridiculous — and for good reason. Watch Leipold backpedal in this 98-second clip from the interview (full interview here):
The BBC, later in the interview, gets to the heart of Greenpeace's agenda:
Although he admitted Greenpeace had released inaccurate but alarming information, Leipold defended the organization's practice of "emotionalizing issues" in order to bring the public around to its way of thinking and alter public opinion.
Leipold said later in the BBC interview that there is an urgent need for the suppression of economic growth in the United States and around the world. He said annual growth rates of 3 percent to 8 percent cannot continue without serious consequences for the climate.
"We will definitely have to move to a different concept of growth. … The lifestyle of the rich in the world is not a sustainable model," Leipold said. "If you take the lifestyle, its cost on the environment, and you multiply it with the billions of people and an increasing world population, you come up with numbers which are truly scary."
The global-warming movement isn't really about climate. It's about stunting the economic growth of the West. That's why groups like Greenpeace like to "emotionalize" rather than conduct and promote actual science. They're interested in specific outcomes, not scientific truth, and that specific outcome is statist control over energy production and economic activity to redistribute wealth.
Be sure to watch my interview with Phelim and his co-director and wife Ann McElhinney from last weekend, and to participate in the worldwide premier of Not Evil, Just Wrong.


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Facebook removes anti-vaccine 'fake news' in Israel, government says
Social media giant takes down four groups at the weekend that had disseminated texts, photographs and videos with 'deliberately mendacious content designed to mislead about coronavirus vaccines'
Facebook has taken down content that spread lies in Israel against coronavirus vaccinations as the government seeks to drum up support for the program, the Justice Ministry said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday became the first person to be vaccinated in Israel. Opinion polls show some two-thirds of the public want to follow suit.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
The Justice Ministry said that, at its request, Facebook took down four groups at the weekend that had disseminated texts, photographs and videos with "deliberately mendacious content designed to mislead about coronavirus vaccines".
Such "fake news" included arguments that vaccines would be used to plant government tracking chips in recipients' bodies, to poison them and thus cull the population or to subject them to medical experimentation, the ministry said in a statement.
A Facebook spokeswoman confirmed that four Hebrew-language groups had been taken down as part of the company's policy against "spreading misinformation regarding the vaccines".
Israeli officials say the country has enough vaccines on order by year's end to protect the most vulnerable 20% of the population and then lift some coronavirus curbs, but worry that turnout might be dampened if people get false information about the inoculations.
Staffer at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon gets vaccinated for COVID-19
Israel began administering vaccines to medical staff on Sunday. At Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, dozens of doctors and nurses danced as they prepared to receive their injections.
Next in line are elderly Israelis or those in high-risk groups. The wider adult population is slated to get shots in early 2021.
With a population of 9 million, Israel has logged 373,368 coronavirus cases and 3,074 deaths. It has imposed two national lockdowns and is mulling new curbs on high-contagion areas.


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HomeHolidaysCity breaksLondonThings to do
6 Things to do in London
Here's our guide to the best things to do in London, a vibrant city packed full of historic sights, cultural attractions and world-class entertainment. Whether your idea of the perfect break involves browsing the city's museums, eating out or shopping until you drop; London has something for everyone.
One of the best ways to experience the city's cultural scene is to head for the theatres of the West End and catch a show. These change regularly, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on listings, as you'll find everything from musicals to dance spectaculars and opera. Ticket prices are competitive too, and if you attend a matinee, you'll often find your seats are upgraded free of charge.
Where better to take in the London skyline after dusk than on the London Eye? This should be at the top of any list when it comes to London holidays. From your pod set 135m metres above the city, you'll have spectacular views of London landmarks like St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Shard. Enjoy a 30-minute rotation, with some of the best views of the city; you can see for 25 miles in all directions.
When it comes to things to do in London, there's so much to choose from and often you can fit many attractions into one day of sightseeing due the London's Tube network. However, nowhere is more popular than Madame Tussauds. London's famous wax museum is where you can rub shoulders with (realistic wax) celebrities from Brad Pitt to Barack Obama, as well as film characters like Darth Vader and The Incredible Hulk. The wax works are incredibly lifelike, so expect a few scares on your way around the museum. Also don't miss the Sherlock Holmes Experience; a live, walkthrough adventure that all ages will love.
London trips aren't complete without a spot of shopping, and if it's designer labels you're looking for, you'll be spoilt for choice here. Keep up with the fashionistas on bustling Oxford Street, shop for vintage and indie fashion in artsy Shoreditch or head for Westfield London in White City, the largest shopping centre in the UK (and Europe).
When it comes to dining, London has something to offer all tastes and budgets, whether your idea of the perfect meal involves fine dining or fast food. Head to Chinatown for the tastiest Asian offerings in the city, check out the 'Curry Mile' on Brick Lane in Shoreditch for authentic Indian food at affordable prices, or enjoy fine dining at one of London's Michelin Star restaurants. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester holds three Michelin Stars and is considered one of the best places to dine in the city. It's frequented by celebrities and incredibly popular, so you'll need to book well in advance if you want a table, this is a London attraction not to be missed.
There's so much to see and do here that it's impossible to be bored, and London holidays are always fun-filled, packed with activities for all ages.
Walk through more than 70,000 exhibits as you pay a visit to one of the best museum's in the world, the British Museum, with artefacts spanning an incredible two million years of history.
Make your way to London's most famous alternative shopping district and spend a few hours browsing the stalls at Camden Market, which has more than 200 vendors.
Get up close and personal with your favourite celebrities and pay a visit to the iconic Madame Tussauds in London. Rub shoulders with stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, Adele and David Beckham.
Tate Modern Gallery
While in the capital, make sure you go and see the world famous artwork on display at the Tate Modern. As you walk across the Millennium Bridge, you'll be greeted by the huge gallery building.
Take in views of the capital with a ride on the iconic London Eye. Standing high at 135m, you'll enjoy a panorama right across the city as you move around the wheel in a glass-walled pod.
Visit the most important religious building in London, Westminster Abbey, and discover the tombs of royals and literary greats through the ages.


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Jakub Fryderyk Eisenlohr (ur. 23 listopada 1805 w Lörrach, zm. 27 lutego 1854 w Karlsruhe) – niemiecki architekt, pionier architektury dworców kolejowych.

Życiorys
W latach 1821–1824 odbył studia architektoniczne u Christopha Arnolda we Fryburgu Bryzgowijskim. Od 1824 do 1826 kształcił się u Friedricha Weinbrennera w Karlsruhe. W 1826–1828 pojechał w podróż studyjna do Włoch. Po powrocie złożył państwowy egzamin na architekta w 1830, od 1832 pracował jako nauczyciel a od 1839 jako profesor na politechnice w Karlsruhe. W 1853 został dyrektorem szkoły budowlanej przy politechnice w Karlsruhe. Uznanie zdobył jako pionier architektury dworców kolejowych.

Działalność
Założyciel razem z Heinrichem Hübschem szkoły romantycznej w architekturze badeńskiej. Jego zainteresowania skupiały się na architekturze sakralnej. Zwolennik architektury gotyckiej, która jego zdaniem wyrażała niemieckiego ducha narodowego (niem. Volksgeist). Z początku jednak preferował styl romański w którym wzniósł dworce kolejowe w Karlsruhe, Fryburgu Bryzgowijskim i Heidelbergu. W stylu gotyckim zbudował kościoły ewangelickie w Baden-Baden i Offenburgu. W latach 1838–1843 odbudował w stylu neogotyku angielskiego zamek Ortenberg w badeńskim Ortenbergu.

Wybrane prace
 1846–1854 – Kunst- und Festhalle we Fryburgu Bryzgowijskim
 1851–1852 – pijalnia wód i dom zdrojowy w Badenweiler
 Dworce główne:
 1850 – w Bruchsal (nieistniejący)
 1846 – w Heidelbergu (nieistniejący)
 1846 – we Fryburgu Bryzgowijskim (nieistniejący)
 1840 – w Mannheim (nieistniejący)
 Stacje kolejowe w Lahr, Kenzingen, Emmendingen, Orschweier – obecnej dzielnicy Mahlberga, Friesenheim i Denzlingen – zachowane

Wybrane publikacje
 Ornamentik in ihrer Anwendung aufs Baugewerbe, 1849
 Mittelalterliche Bauwerke im südwestlichen Deutschland und am Rhein, Karlsruhe, 1853–1857
 Holzbauten des Schwarzwaldes, Karlsruhe, 1853
 Entwürfe zu Gebäuden verschiedener Gattung, Karlsruhe, 1852–1859
 Sammlung von Hochbauten der Großherzoglich Badischen Eisenbahn, enthaltend Bahnhöfe, Stationen und Bahnwartshäuser, Ansichten, Schnitte und Grundrisse. Bd. 1–3, Karlsruhe, 1865–1873
 Bauverzierungen in Holz, Karlsruhe, 1868–1870

Przypisy

Bibliografia

Niemieccy architekci
Urodzeni w 1805
Zmarli w 1854

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The celebration of mass on Christmas Eve is often given various origins. There are three that are most common.
The first comes from a legend according to which a cockerel was the first animal in the stable to announce the birth of Jesus with its crowing, so everyone knew.
Another says that in Jerusalem the custom was to have midnight mass followed by a procession to the most important temple in the city, where they celebrated a final mass, coinciding with the cockerel's crow.
Yet another goes back to 5th century Rome, where Pope Sixtus III established the habit of holding a vigil at midnight on Christmas "after the cockerel crows". This came from the fact the Romans called the start of the day the "cockcrow", an expression also inherited in English.
Whatever the origin, as it's a festive celebration, it is also traditional to offer the congregation hot chocolate or mulled wine and pastries.
The Missa del Gall is celebrated in all Andorra's parishes.


text:
WW2Wrecks.com
Like World War II Wrecks? You've come to the right place. https://www.ww2wrecks.com A variety of wrecks -ships, aircraft, submarines and vehicles, battlefield archaeology, interviews and first-hand accounts – Enjoy!
WW2 in Greece
WW2 Pacific Treasures
Bunker Archaeology: The German WW2 "Hohlgangsanlage" bunkers of Aegina island, Greece, by Konstantinos Kirimis
Interviews, Then and Now, WW2 in Greece
By Pierre Kosmidis
Research and photos by Konstantinos Kirimis, submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission
Among the various bunkers and fortifications built by the German occupation forces all over Greece during World War 2, this specific "cave-shelter" (Hohlgangsanlage, according to the German technical terminology of the time) is located in the Northern Fortress of Aegina (see Note 1, below).
The first entrance of the underground Hohlgangsanlage
Apart from its size, it stands out for a number of other reasons:
First, due to its special construction style (a mix of carved portico and classic shelter).
Second, because it is one of the few German shelters, which still remains largely intact, including the authentic steel door of that time.
The shelter is probably the work of Marine-Festungs-Pionier-Bataillon 330 (see Note 2, below).
The carved tunnel, with a height of approx. 4 metres.
Respected researcher and acclaimed author Mr. Konstantinos Kirimis shares with www.ww2wrecks.com his findings:
A drawing of the complex by Konstantinos Kirimis
We could divide this shelter into two distinct parts that are joined together.
The first is a typical German shelter, made of reinforced concrete.
The second, consists of a set of tunnels, carved into the ground.
The carved tunnels are very spacious, with a width of 2-3 meters and a height of 3-4 meters.
Their total length is about 50 meters.
The tunnels, which run for approx. 50 metres undergroud, lead to the bunker.
At one point, there are holes in the walls, suggesting the use of dynamite for a further opening of the galleries, which was never completed.
It is not clear whether all the galleries were intended for future concrete cladding.
Along the galleries, in some places on the ground, there are small (wooden or metal) piles, sunk into the ground.
They are hardly discernible. They may have been used to trap (with explosives) the area, after the departure of the Germans.
The second entrance. Note the thickness of the concrete walls.
The main shelter (concrete section), consists of a central chamber (3×9 meters) and a small vestibule (1×3 meters). Its roof is semicircular and the height is close to 3 meters.
On the sides of the walls there are traces of folding metal beds.
So we are quite confident in concluding that it was probably a staff shelter.
This hypothesis is reinforced by the existence of a large calibre artillery position at a short distance. Most likely this shelter was specifically built for the gun crews.
Konstantinos Kirimis stands inside the tunnel on one of the concrete staircases, covered with dry pine needles. Its roof allows for a better distribution of weight.
There are 3 entrances. The first is at the beginning of the tunnel.
The other two are lined with concrete, have a semicircular roof, 15 meters long and consist of concrete stairs that lead 10 meters below the surface.
They are located at both ends of the concrete part of the shelter.
At their ends, one can see the great thickness of the concrete, to understand how these structures are maintained in such good condition, 70+ years after their original construction.
According to Konstantinos Kirimis, this is one of the few German steel doors in WW2 shelters explored in Attica, Greece.
At the point where the main shelter joins the portico, it is protected by a steel door, which was sealed at 8 points.
It did not have an observation hole ("eye") while in the center there was a small metal handle.
It is also interesting that it opened on the opposite way, compared to the Greek ones of the period.
Specifically, the Greek steel doors opened towards the exit of the shelter, whereas this specific German one opened towards the inside of the shelter.
The main shelter is approx. 25 sq.mt.
In the vestibule, there are also traces of plumbing. The area of the shelter is about 200 square meters.
The shelter is in moderate condition.
From a structural point of view, there are no particular signs of stress. Inside the built-up section there are a few rubble and some items such as a bucket, a rusty construction trolley, wood, etc.
Remains of steel beds lead Konstantinos Kirimis to believe that this shelter was used by the gun crews.
Inside the tunnels, there are some points with large stones, apparently due to the partial collapse of the roof.
One of the two concrete staircases is in a very bad condition and since the stairs have been corroded, the movement must be done with extreme caution.
The movement at this point is even more difficult, due to the concentration of dry pine needles, which form a kind of "slippery carpet".
Note the 8 hinge locks of the steel door
Surprisingly, there is still a metal door to the shelter.
In fact, this is a very rare case of an intact authentic steel door in a German shelter in Attica.
Nowadays, the shelter hosts a large colony of bats, which did not seem to be particularly excited by our visit to the site.
A bat colony welcomed Konstantinos Kirimis
1: North Fortress of Aegina , in the area of Tourlos. It was built by the Greek Navy (1936-1940) with the aim of controlling the sea lanes to Attica. After the capitulation of the country, it came under German occupation.
2: "Marine-Festungs-Pionier-Bataillon 330" ("330 Engineer Battalion – Naval fortifications"). The battalion was established in June 1942 in Greece, with the aim of building naval fortifications. Most of his squads undertook projects in the Athens-Piraeus area, while others were sent to Thessaloniki, Milos island and Heraklion, Crete. The unit retired from Greece in 1944.
The research team consisted of the following persons:
Konstantinos Kirimis, Giannis Arseniadis, Thomas Kinalis, Telis Zervoudis.
The approximate size of the tunnels and underground shelter, by Konstantinos Kirimis
Konstantinos Kirimis wishes to thank the following:
• National Fleet Fund, for the entry permit.
• Etiquette and Public Relations Department of the General Staff of the Navy (GEN / DEDIS), for the entry permit.
• Naval Detachment of Aegina (Nikos Pantazis and Kyriakos Klonos) for their assistance.
The third entrance, leading 15 metres under the surface.
FOUND! The F6F 3-Hellcat lost in January 1943
Thursday 14 November 1940: The day the Greek counter-offensive against the Italians started


text:
Felicia Paik
Updated Aug. 21, 1998 1:14 am ET
Skibo South
Peter de Savary, a British luxury-club owner who made his name catering to the European jet set, is trying his hand at Southern hospitality. Best known as proprietor of Skibo Castle, a chic hotel in northern Scotland, Mr. de Savary recently paid $13 million for a plantation near Charleston, S.C., which he wants to convert into a high-end vacation club. The 3,727-acre property, named Cherokee Plantation, was originally put on the market a year ago with an asking price of $15 million. The previous owners were money manager Jay Randolph Updyke and his wife, Carol, who bred Peruvian Paso horses there.


text:
— японская конькобежка, чемпионка мира в командной гонке (2015). Участница зимних Олимпийских игр 2014 и чемпионка зимних Олимпийских игр 2018 года. Многократная чемпионка Японии на отдельных дистанциях и в многоборье.

Биография
Аяка Кикути начала кататься на коньках в возрасте 3-х лет под влиянием её сестёр. В семье Кикути пять сестёр, её старшая сестра работает парикмахером, Сумирэ выступает в конькобежном спорте, а две другие сестры: Юки и Моэми занимаются шорт-треком.  В старших классах она ездила на спортивном велосипеде в школу 3 с половиной часа туда и обратно. После окончания средней школы Саку Нагасей Аяка присоединилась к команде "Fuji Express Co., Ltd" в 2006 году.

В возрасте 14 лет она заняла 3-е место на 22-м чемпионате средней школы. В 2010 году Аяка впервые выиграла чемпионат Японии в классическом многоборье и попала в национальную сборную. В сезоне 2010/11 дебютировала на Кубке мира и в январе 2011 года заняла 3-е место на дистанции 3000 м, 5000 м и в многоборье на чемпионате Азии в Харбине. На чемпионате мира в классическом многоборье заняла 22-е место.

В 2012 году она стала 2-й в многоборье на чемпионате Азии в Астане и финишировала 19-й на чемпионате мира в Москве. Аяка прошла олимпийский отбор на дистанции 1500 м и квалифицировалась на олимпиаду. В феврале 2014 года на зимних Олимпийских играх в Сочи заняла 31-е место на дистанции 1500 м и 4-е в командной гонке.

В 2015 году Аяка Кикути выиграла командную гонку вместе с партнёршами на чемпионате мира на отдельных дистанциях в Херенвене, впервые выиграв золотую медаль чемпионата мира, она также заняла 12-е места на дистанциях 1500 м и 3000 м. В марте на чемпионате мира в Астане заняла 16-е место в спринтерском многоборье, и 13-е место на чемпионате мира в Калгари.

В 2016 году она в очередной раз выиграла чемпионат Японии в классическом многоборье, после чего заняла 16-е места в забегах на 1000 и 1500 м на чемпионате мира в Коломне и 8-е в многоборье на чемпионате мира в Берлине. В мае 2016 года она получила тяжёлую травму правой ноги и пропустила почти весь сезон 2016/17.

В феврале 2018 года Аяка участвовала на своих вторых зимних Олимпийских играх в Пхёнчхане и 21 февраля в составе Михо Такаги, Наны Такаги и Аяно Сато завоевала золотую медаль в командной гонке преследования с олимпийским рекордом 2:53,89 секунды. Раннее на дистанции 1500 м заняла 16-е место и на 3000 м заняла 19-е место.

После игр заняла 7-е место в классическом многоборье на чемпионате мира в Амстердаме. В апреле 2018 года она объявила о завершении карьеры.

Карьера тренера
26 апреля на Совете директоров Федерации конькобежного спорта Японии была утверждена на должность помощника тренера Национальной сборной по конькобежному спорту. После ухода из спорта она работала тренером в Федерации фигурного катания Японии и конькобежном клубе Fujikyu, а также комментатором на Олимпийских играх 2022 года в Пекине.

Личная жизнь
Аяка Кикути 23 октября 2018 года вышла замуж за Кэйитиро Нагасиму, олимпийского чемпиона по конькобежному спорту. Она любит слушать музыку, играть в гольф. Её мать, Хацуэ Кикути, также участвовала в национальном соревнования по конькобежному спорту в средней школе, а отец Такехико был мэром Маэмуры.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Ayaka Kikuchi - профиль на сайте eurosport.com
  — профиль на сайте Международного союза конькобежцев
  — Статистика на сайте the-sports.org
  — профиль на сайте live.isuresults.eu
  — данные на сайте joc.or.jp

Конькобежцы Японии
Олимпийские чемпионы от Японии
Олимпийские чемпионы по конькобежному спорту
Чемпионы зимних Олимпийских игр 2018 года
Конькобежцы на зимних Олимпийских играх 2014 года
Конькобежцы на зимних Олимпийских играх 2018 года
Чемпионы мира по конькобежному спорту


text:
Трофим Павлович Кудряшов - советский хозяйственный, государственный и политический деятель.

Биография
Родился в 1891 году в деревне Радчино. Член ВКП(б) с 1918 года.

С 1915 года - на хозяйственной, общественной и политической работе. В 1915-1938 гг. — участник Первой мировой войны, военком Рудневской волости, участник Гражданской войны, член коллегии Наро-Фоминского уездного экономического отдела, заведующий Наро-Фоминским уездным коммунальным отделом, мастер, секретарь фабрично-заводского комитета, заведующий лесными складами деревообделочного завода «Мосдрев», заместитель директора 2-го деревообделочного завода, директор Костеревской катушечно-челночной фабрики, инструктор Кардолента по качеству деревянных изделий, директор деревообделочного завода «Мосстроя», управляющий «Дальстройтрестом», заведующий меблировкой строительства Дворца Советов, начальник Сектора капитального строительства «Союзмебели», директор Красносельской мебельной фабрики, управляющий «Фанеротрестом», народный комиссар лесной промышленности РСФСР.

Избирался депутатом Верховного Совета РСФСР 1-го созыва.

Умер в Москве в 1939 году.

Ссылки
 Кудряшов

Народные комиссары и министры РСФСР
Депутаты Верховного Совета РСФСР 1-го созыва


Have you ever wanted to try screen printing? Or use natural materials to create your own printing inks?
This exciting workshops offers the opportunity to learn a simple recipe for creating screen printing inks from natural resources.
You'll develop your own paste and explore colour mixing and printing through a screen onto fabrics and papers using your own unique designs.
You'll be encouraged to explore a variety of mark making options whilst working on your textile art.
This is a fun filled and mindful way to spend your day, ensuring that the work you do is environmentally friendly and supports our planet.
A seasonal discount has been applied to this workshop from January to April 2019.
We'll start at 10.30 and finish at 3.30.
Please email for further enquires and if you have any dietary needs.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using Windows.Foundation;
using Windows.Foundation.Collections;
using Windows.UI.Xaml;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Data;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Input;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Media;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Navigation;

// "空白页"项模板在 http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=234238 上有介绍

namespace Map_ZoomDuration_test
{
    /// <summary>
    /// 可用于自身或导航至 Frame 内部的空白页。
    /// </summary>
    public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            this.InitializeComponent();
            MyMap.ZoomDuration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(3);
            //控制缩放框,true显示缩放框,false不显示
            MyMap.ZoomEffectEnabled = true;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// 在此页将要在 Frame 中显示时进行调用。
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="e">描述如何访问此页的事件数据。Parameter
        /// 属性通常用于配置页。</param>
        protected override void OnNavigatedTo(NavigationEventArgs e)
        {
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Mycopreneur
Shane Norte: #MEDZZZTOOSTRONG
Season 1, Ep. 23
Today we have the absolute privilege of hosting the Founder of the Church of the People For Creator and Mother Earth -- Shane Norte
Shane is a member of the Morongo Band Native American Tribe and he is also a National Board Member for the Decriminalize Nature organization
Today we talk about his work facilitating healing ceremonies on tribal land using psilocybin mushrooms, and doing so free of charge for the members of his church.
We touch upon what ceremony means from an indigenous, ancestral perspective -- we talk about land autonomy and what the 'land back' movement looks like in the context of the 21st Century billion dollar tribe -- we talk about the American Indian Religious Freedom Act passed in 1978 that recognizes Shane's and other indigenous healers legal right to continue the sacred ceremonies and practices they have employed for thousands of years before the occupation of their lands by the United States government --
And we're talking' bout macro dose mushroom experiences! So buckle in and let's get down to business !
Benjamin Daniel: Pacific Substrates
Benjamin Daniel is the Founder of Pacific Substrates, based in Oakland, California. Pac Subs is one of the premiere substrate and growth media suppliers for mushroom cultivators, and they are rapidly scaling towards becoming the biggest provider in North America thanks to their established distribution channels and the entrepreneurial acumen present in their leadership team. In this episode we chart Ben's path from his relatively sheltered upbringing in Utah up through his current position running a high volume mycopreneurial venture that recently sponsored both the Psilocybin Cup and Meet Delic.Ben walks us through the philosophy, strategy, and execution of guiding principles behind the magic dirt - and also tells us what's in it and why it matters. I had a chance to meet Ben and the Pacific Substrates team at this year's Meet Delic conference, where the Pac Subs squad was rolling deep with around 12 people in attendance - Pacific Substrates even provided yours truly with VIP Access to the Las Vegas event. It's awesome to witness the rise of this young company in real time, and we look forward to more quality hang time with them. Pleas rate and review the episode if you're stoked on it -
Sophie Strand: Fungi Storytelling
Sophie Strand is an intersectional eco-storyteller based in the Hudson Valley, New York.Today on the pod, we dive into the fungal experiences that helped shape her worldview and that continue to color her craft.Sophie walks us through her upbringing among the vibrant ecosystems of upstate New York, where mycorrhizal fungi and bird song helped frame her thinking about humanity's place in the living, breathing world of nature. We talk about her forthcoming debut novel "The Flowering Wand: Rewilding The Sacred Masculine" due in Fall 2022 from Inner Traditions, as well as other burgeoning projects she's investing her time and talent in. We also dive into her relationship with psilocybin mushrooms and the epiphany about the nature of time that her first mushroom experience helped incubate in her. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy this episode!
Jeff Chilton: International Man of Mushrooms
Jeff Chilton is a pioneer in the international medicinal mushroom industry. His career as a commercial cultivator is in it's 6th decade, and he's devoted and inspired as ever to continue his life's work with the fungi.In this episode we discuss Jeff's initial discoveries of the magical world of fungi, which included a year and a half stint living in Oaxaca, Mexico, during the early 70's while searching for his "Don Juan".We trace Jeff's journey from his high school days smoking weed in 1964 (before it was a cultural phenomenon), through his university days studying Anthropology and Mycology on and on to his first commercial cultivation position in the Pacific Northwest in 1973, on through his arrival in China in 1989 and the subsequent founding of international wholesale medicinal mushroom powerhouse NAMMEX, up through the status quo of his mycopreneurial interests and pursuits - I also share my story of staying with Maria Sabina's surviving family for 3 days back in 2010, including my participation in a traditional Mazatec 'Velada' mushroom ritual with her son - a story I have not previously share on the podcast.Please rate and review the podcast and thanks for joining us!
Copyright Dennis Walker


I'll follow Elton's lead – but how did I end up here?
IF YOU have just surfaced from the New Year festivities you may have missed my appointment as chairman of Watford.
Not for the first time I am asking myself just what the heck am I doing.
It may be a form of madness but my affection for this club started in June 1977 when, under Elton John's chairmanship, we moved from the old Fourth Division to runners-up in the old First Division in five seasons.
I remained for a further five seasons, playing in the UEFA Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and never finishing lower than 12th in a 22-club First Division.
In my second spell we had successive promotions from League One and the Championship for our first crack at the Premier League, which lasted just the one year. Things had changed.
Now here I am in Elton's place all these years later. How? Why?
Well, a year ago I agreed to sit on the Watford board as a non-executive director. I now find myself in the chair following the resignation of the club's executive chairman and vice-chairman before the start of the annual meeting in mid-December, when I was asked to act as interim chairman so the meeting could go ahead.
Now I've accepted the position until June 30, the end of the club's financial year. We have tough times ahead.
None of what I have written about my times at Watford is intended to sound like boasting. They are just plain facts. But I have to say that my first 10-year spell was the happiest time of my career, as we over-achieved and reached a height way above Watford's natural level.
Recently, under manager Aidy Boothroyd, promotion was once more gained to the top flight, and again it lasted just the one season. Like many former Premier League clubs, once the two-year parachute money following relegation has gone, times became tough.
I may be chairman but I'm not a financial expert. However, I do know if you spend more money than you have coming in you will end up in trouble sooner or later, and that is exactly what has happened to Watford.
With the January transfer window we have to be very cute in any possible transfer dealings, as there is usually a fee attached to any loan signing or extension of a player's loan period.
At the same time we owe it to our supporters to provide a competitive and confident team to represent them on the pitch. Everything must be geared to doing the utmost within our means to being as successful as we possibly can on the pitch.
Will I be an interfering chairman bearing in mind my managerial experience? Definitely not. Elton was a first-class chairman. In my first spell at the club we had a management team of four. A chief executive, a marketing manager, my assistant – Bertie Mee, the former Arsenal manager – and myself.
Together, Bertie and I ran the club as Elton and the directors held the view that that was what we were paid to do – with board meetings held every six weeks.
My experience has shown me that football on the park is a simple game made difficult by players, managers and coaches.
And off the pitch there are too many busybodies who think they know it all and love the so-called celebrity angle of being involved in the game.
I have been player, manager and now chairman. I need to learn about the role, but what I do not want to do is place any unnecessary pressure on manager Malky Mackay and his staff.
At the start of this season we made more than a dozen people redundant. The recent threat of going into administration left our non-playing staff extremely worried about their futures.
I now hope we can all settle down and start to believe in ourselves and get some smiles on our faces and who knows, perhaps a third promotion to the Premier League, sometime in the future, may end up lasting longer than the first two. We must never lose ambition.