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"The Ballot or The Bullet," Malcolm X and Joyce Kaufman
After Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other people were shot on January 8, a lot of (liberal) people argued that the political vitriol of the past few years was to blame. Joyce Kaufman, a conservative radio host, emerged as a prime example of this trend because last summer, she told a Tea Party rally:
"I am convinced that the most important thing the founding fathers did to ensure me my First Amendment rights was they gave me a Second Amendment. And if ballots don't work, bullets will. I've never in my life thought that the day would come where I would tell individual citizens that you are responsible for being the militia that the founding fathers designed – they were very specific. You need to be prepared to fight tyranny."
When I heard that, my mind went back forty-seven years to Malcolm X's speech "The Ballot or the Bullet." Speaking in Cleveland in April 1964, Malcolm X used the conveniently alliterative juxtaposition of "ballot" and "bullet" to argue that African-Americans needed to turn to black nationalism to strengthen their communities politically and economically. Specifically, they had to use their voting power to elect candidates who would represent their needs. His anger that day focused on politicians – especially in the Democratic party – who failed to recognize Black voting power, protect Blacks' voting rights, and represent the African-Americans who voted for them. As he told his audience, speaking of Lyndon Johnson and Congressional Democrats, "they have got a con game going on, a political con game, and you and I are in the middle."
Of course, he had more radical demands than for Blacks to exercise their voting power. He also argued that all members of Congress elected "from a state or a district where the voting rights of the people are violated," who were therefore elected by constituencies that excluded Blacks, "should be expelled from Congress." Because Blacks made up numerical majorities in many of these districts, he insisted that when free and fair elections were finally held, Black candidates would win these seats.
First and foremost, then, he argued that Blacks should use all available power to attain representation in the government and to strengthen their communities from within. But then he got to the bullets, saying that "if we don't cast a ballot, it's going to end up in a situation where we're going to have to cast a bullet." If Blacks were not able to gain full political representation appropriate to their numbers, they would have to take more dramatic steps to ensure that representation.
Probably the most controversial thing he said was: "We will work with anybody, anywhere, at any time, who is genuinely interested in tackling the problem head-on, nonviolently as long as the enemy is nonviolent, but violent when the enemy gets violent….[W]here the government has proven itself either unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes, it's time for Negroes to defend themselves. Article number two of the constitutional amendments provides you and me the right to own a rifle or a shotgun. It is constitutionally legal to own a shotgun or a rifle."
This recommendation, of course, terrified many whites, both liberal and conservative, and infuriated many black civil rights leaders working in the nonviolent tradition. The FBI's file documenting its investigation into Malcolm X (not solely related to this speech, of course) amounted to over 4,000 pages. Malcolm X never turned violent himself, although he did die from an assassin's bullet less thab a year after giving this speech.
I've been mulling over the two speeches since the Giffords shooting but still can't decide what I think about the relationship between political speech and political violence, which is why I haven't written about this sooner. The first thing that struck me is the similarity in message: both asserted their ultimate Constitutional right, enshrined in the 2nd Amendment, to defend themselves from tyranny when their government failed to provide protection. But we interpret these speeches very differently, based primarily on our own political persuasions and our understandings of the contexts in which Malcolm X and Kaufman spoke.
My strongest feeling is that words have consequences – but they have many consequences, to many people, and their meanings are not always so obvious. A group of scholars called Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" the 7th most important American speech in the 20th century. I'm fairly confident that no one will give a similar honor to Joyce Kaufman, which I think testifies to the fact that we have to interpret political speech not only by the words it contains but also by the context in which it is contained. The words "ballot" and "bullet" meant very different things to Malcolm X and Joyce Kaufman, and they used those words in totally disparate contexts. I don't think either speech directly caused any violence, but I do think they both reflected and contributed to political climates in which deep tensions in the American political system exploded into violence, both literal and figurative. Let's just hope that the wave of assassinations of the mid- to late-1960s has no parallels in the next few years.
Posted by PastForwardPolitico at 6:05 PM
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Companies selected for global sports accelerator programme held at Loughborough University London
15 May 2019 SportSport BusinessLondonInnovation and EntrepreneurshipBusiness
Sports start-ups from around the country took part in a two day bootcamp to be selected for the SPIN Accelerator 12-week programme hosted at Loughborough University London
Eighteen start-ups attended the two-day bootcamp with their propositions, research and business plans being put through their paces by a series of interventions and interactions with academics, investors and sporting experts. This included pitching in front of a panel of experts from across the sporting and investor worlds including; Decathlon, The Bakery and Leyton Orient FC.
The SPIN Accelerator is designed to support the rapid acceleration of each of the businesses through a tailored programme of academic interventions, business support and introductions.
Of the eighteen companies who attended the two-day bootcamp, nine companies were selected to participate in the SPIN Accelerator programme:
Deuce is a tennis club for non-club members. Facilitated by tech, they have teamed up with Andy Murray to fulfil their passion and ambition of using their expertise to grow a welcoming, playing community who feel they belong within an individual sport, first in GB and then across the globe.
HEAVY KINEMATIC MACHINES
Heavy Kinematic Machines are developing high-tech sensors mounted on equipment and software, collecting in real-time the essential information about training and enabling its further usage. The sensors collect: the number of repetitions, the number of series, the weight and the dynamics. The SOLO embedded device sends the collected data to the cloud where it is stored and prepared to use for fitness applications & fitness software systems via the provided API.
IMAGINACTIVE
Imaginactive aims to make being physically active fun by combining exercise with entertainment. Their first product is an audio fitness adventure app called Apocalypse Survival Training, an ongoing comedy adventure in which every episode is a workout.
OLIVER (SPORTS DATA INNOVATION)
Oliver is a platform that uses a smart shin guard to collect data and processes it with AI algorithms to deliver football-focused insights to players & coaches via a mobile app. They aim to solve the problem of +400 million amateur football players around the world who lack access to important data that can help them improve their game in terms of football skills, athletics & health performance.
ORB is a hardware enabled sports analytics company who created a smart mouthguard which tracks athletes' fitness, fatigue and effort. This information is then presented live to coaches - giving them real-time overview of both players' health and performance.
ORPIX
Orpix produces brand exposure measurement data for sports broadcasts. This data is purchased by sports market research firms like Kantar Sports, and is also valuable to brands, teams, stadiums. Their computer vision and AI technology combined with a web application targeted specifically for creating exposure reports allows us to offer the best quality measurement data.
Sak creates tailor-made sports protection gear, from 3D body scans and AI, that perfectly fit the athlete's body. Military-grade materials minimize the impact energy and the optimized 3D shape uniformly disperses it, significantly reducing the risk of serious injuries.
STATATHLON
Statathlon provides sports data analytics services to sports clubs, leagues, and the media, helping them understand, interpret and utilize their data. More specifically, Statathlon provides a unique Decision Management Tool that creates the 360-degree view of an athlete's profile, that showcases what their body can do (Bio-athletic data), what their heart and mind can provide and uplift (Psychometric), and what they deliver on the football pitch or the basketball court (In-game performance).
WALLJAM
Walljam is an interactive sports challenge wall which combines the physical aspect of playing ball sports with digital performance outputs. Targets measure speed, power and accuracy of a ball strike with an app to track gameplay, capture/present results on a real time leader board.
The successful start-ups will now undertake a 12-week programme of workshops, mentoring and introductions designed specifically to support sport technology companies to develop and grow.
Associate Dean for Research at Loughborough University London, Professor Jo Tacchi, said about the programme:
"We get the opportunity to bring some potential collaborators onto campus and have an immediate impact on their business through connecting them with our expert researchers. The businesses then in turn seek collaborations with us. From data sets for our modules, to placements, internships and jobs for our students and graduates – it opens up the possibility to create real value and impact."
Amongst the 2019 SPIN Accelerator cohort is Loughborough University Alumnus Rob Paterson and his performance tracking company Orb. Rob said:
"My journey with Orb started whilst I was a student at Loughborough University. I was supported through what is now the Loughborough Enterprise Network, winning competitions and getting support through programmes in Loughborough and in London. I'm now employing another Loughborough University graduate and have a research partnership with the University to develop my product. Getting onto the SPIN Accelerator is a real testament to how far I've come – and how much support there is for start-ups at Loughborough"
In partnership with leading sports research institutions in Italy, Sweden and Australia, Loughborough University London is hosting the UK leg of the programme alongside the Hype Foundation.
The selection bootcamp took place 12-13 April at Loughborough University London. There will be a midpoint meetup at Loughborough University on 21-22 May and the final demo day in London on 28 June.
For more information about the SPIN Accelerator Programme, please contact Ben Cole by emailing B.P.Cole@lboro.ac.uk.
Loughborough is one of the country's leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education's 'table of tables' and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
Specialising exclusively in postgraduate-level study, Loughborough University London is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers cutting-edge master's and PhD degrees, as well as business collaboration, research and enterprise opportunities.
The seven specialist institutes at Loughborough University London include: Design Innovation, Digital Technologies, Diplomacy and International Governance, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Management, Media and Creative Industries, and Sport Business. Close industry partnerships with a wealth of leading businesses and creative organisations means teaching and learning is informed by real-life challenges and driven by true industry pressures.
Guided campus tour See what Loughborough University London has to offer by booking onto a guided campus tour.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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You are here: Home » SPORT » Razija Mujanovic officially being honored with FIBA Hall of Fame 2017
Razija Mujanovic officially being honored with FIBA Hall of Fame 2017
Bosnia and Herzegovina legend Razija Mujanovic, a dominant force whenever she was on the court, is being honored with induction to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Mujanovic, who gained significant recognition for her international exploits, is among six former players being enshrined into the Hall of Fame, alongside Shaquille O'Neal (United States), Toni Kukoc (Croatia), Mickey Berkowitz (Israel), Pero Cameron (New Zealand) and Valdis Valters (Latvia). Joining them is coaching great Dusan Ivkovic (Serbia) and the Dream Team, arguably the greatest international team of all time. They were selected from a list of more than 150 candidates.
The 2.02m center is revered in her homeland having initially been a standout figure with Yugoslavia, before proudly leading Bosnia and Herzegovina at their first-ever EuroBasket Women Final Round appearance in 1997.
She also gained significant recognition for her success at club level in EuroLeague Women, while also breaking new ground by stepping out in the WNBA.
Mujanovic first rose to prominence when she appeared in the Final of EuroBasket Women 1987 and even more so as she then helped Yugoslavia to an Olympic silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Games.
A third Final appearance came at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 1990 in Malaysia, when she confirmed her status as one of the top performers on the planet by averaging more than 23 points per game.
Her national team successes in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur had also come either side of one of her defining career highlights, after the Celic native was crowned EuroLeague Women champion for the first time. It was made particularly special since it came with the Bosnia and Herzegovina based club, KK Jedinstvo Tusla.
Mujanovic would stand on the top of the EuroLeague Women podium again in 1992 with CB Godella, prior to scooping consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995 with Societa Ginnastica.
Her silver medal haul with Yugoslavia was also extended with another Final appearance at EuroBasket Women 1991. Then, exactly two decades ago, she finally realized her dream of taking Bosnia and Herzegovina into a major tournament when she led them in their EuroBasket Women debut.
Two years later and Bosnia and Herzegovina made a return, only this time it was without Mujanovic, who was enhancing her already glittering resume with WNBA minutes at Detroit Shock.
She would return to play for her country again and eventually hung up her shoes in 2007, having cemented her place as the best female player to ever come out of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mujanovic also proved herself as one of the best players of her generation, as evidenced by the fact she was voted as European Player of the Year on three separate occasions.
Tags: #basketball #BiH #FIBA #halloffame #razijamujanovic


U.S. consumers expect mortgage rates to keep rising, but that prediction may be based on what behavioral economists called "The Hot Hand Fallacy"; What mortgage rates are doing today for conforming, FHA, VA, and USDA loans; How zero-closing cost mortgages work, and how to get them from your lender.
The hardest thing to predict is the future, but that's not going to stop people from trying.
According to government-backed Fannie Mae's most recent National Housing Survey, a survey of 1,000 people nationwide, today's consumers pretty much guarantee that mortgage rates won't fall this year.
But should we believe them? No. No, we pretty much shouldn't.
The track record for consumers predicting the future of U.S. mortgage rates is terrible.
And, there's a reason why. It's a behavioral economics theory known as the Hot Hand Fallacy.
The Hot Hand Fallacy is when a person thinks whatever is happening right now is going to continue into the future.
In gambling, it's when you win randomly a few hands in a row and attribute that to a hot streak.
Logically, there's no such thing and the same is true for mortgage rates. Just because rates are up this year doesn't mean they'll continue that way forever.
It's just as likely that mortgage rates drop and whether rates are up or down for you on the day you need to lock is a just a matter of luck.
Don't try to make predictions about the future of U.S. rates. If a rate looks good today, go ahead and lock it.
Tomorrow, it might be gone.
Mortgage rates hit the floor today and next thing you know, mortgage rates got low low low low low low low low.
For conforming loans, FHA loans, USDA and VA loans, mortgage rates are down today, marking the third straight day of improvements.
Rates have been bouncing within a tight range for the last three weeks and quote you get from your lender will be based on your loan size, where you live, and how you're doing with your credit.
The way you structure your closing costs will matter, too.
Talk to two or more lenders and find the mortgage loan options that work best for you.
You can pick your friends and you can pick your mortgage rates, but you can't pick your friends' mortgage rates.
And you can't pick whether they pay closing costs or not, either, but if you could, you could affect the rate quotes they get from their mortgage lender.
It's because closing costs and mortgage rates are related inversely. As one goes up, the other goes down.
It's why paying one discount point to your lender will generally get you access to mortgage rates discounts of about an eighth of a percentage point off your original rate quote, and why choosing to pay no fees whatsoever will usually raise your rate by about that same eighth.
This second type of setup is what's known as a zero-closing cost mortgage and you pay none of your own costs when your loan's set up in this way.
Your lender pays them for you.
And, yes, you're going have a higher monthly payment for the right to go zero-cost, but you do get to save your upfront cash for something more pressing.
So, which closing cost scenario is right for you? Talk to your lender and ask for help with the math.


This mug features Beatrice from phrase. "Ain't That Just the Way," the animated series, Over the Garden Wall.
This mug features Beatrice from phrase. "Ain't That Just the Way," the animated series, Over the Garden Wall. This white ceramic mug holds 20 ounces of your favorite hot or cold beverage and is microwave and dishwasher safe.


Long time, no type. (Does that work?) Anyway, I am participating in a sleep study and I was able to take a few shots of myself "all wired up." My wife says, "How can you sleep with all that on you?" Well let me tell you that nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can interfere with my sleep! :) I once slept through an earthquake! (Ok, it was a little one.) Talk to you later.


Lupe Fiasco has not been the type of rapper to hold his tongue on Twitter. We found that out twice over the weekend after Lupe got into it with Azealia Banks and Kid Cudi following Kendrick Lamar's comments on Ferguson. But there have been other rappers in the crosshairs of the Chicago native, who has also duked it out with the likes of Chief Keef, Childish Gambino, and Freddie Gibbs online.
While Lupe recently announced he would be quitting Twitter altogether following the release of his fifth studio album, Tetsuo & Youth, we're not so sure he'll keep his word considering this is the second time he's made such a claim. If he does, it would be a shame, because he's certainly been a beacon of knowledge and inspiration on the Twittersphere, as well as entertaining in the shade department. Here's A Look at Lupe Fiasco's Recent Twitter Beefs.


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Zinke gives $11K in campaign cash to foundation he started
MATT VOLZ Associated Press
Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has closed his congressional campaign account and given nearly all of the fundraising cash that was left to a charitable foundation he started and his wife now runs.
Federal Election Commission reports show that Zinke, a former Republican U.S. representative from Montana, terminated his House campaign fundraising account earlier this month.
The last transaction is a Dec. 8 payment of $11,594 to the Great Northern Foundation.
Zinke founded that nonprofit organization to maintain a park in Whitefish, Montana, his hometown. He is no longer on the foundation's board, but his wife Lola is the president of the foundation, previously known as the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation.
Zinke told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Monday that it was time to close the fundraising account, that not a lot of money was left in it and it was "absolutely appropriate" to give the fundraising cash to an organization his family runs.
"I'm not worried about appearances because you do right and fear no one," he said. "I can't think of a better place for it to go than a place I helped found where kids can go and sled."
Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Center said campaigns can give money to charities as long as the funds don't provide any benefit to the candidate or his family.
"If neither Zinke or his wife are getting a salary or financial benefits, it's probably permissable," Fischer said.
Zinke said his family are the only donors to the foundation, which maintains the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park. The money would likely go toward those operations, he said.
Politico first reported the Zinke campaign's donation to the foundation.
The Great Northern Foundation is the same organization involved in a land deal in 2018 with the chairman of Halliburton, an energy services company that did business with Interior when Zinke was secretary.
The foundation allowed Chairman David Lesar to use land for a commercial development adjacent to the park.
That prompted an inquiry by the Interior Department's inspector general. Zinke said there was nothing illegal or inappropriate about the deal and the news media twisted an agreement to provide better access to sledding into "an illicit oil deal."
Construction on Lesar's commercial development has not begun.
Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation
David Lesar
Sheriff's Office: Deputies fatally shoot gun-wielding man
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Woman pleads guilty to delivering children to rapist
A Helena woman plead guilty to delivering a young child to a known child rapist in 2017. As a result, the woman is facing a prison sentence of 25 to life.
Bighorn sheep return to Nevada lake after nearly 100 years
PYRAMID LAKE, Nev. (AP) — Nevada state wildlife officials and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe teamed up this week to release 20 bighorn sheep in…
US attorney: Agencies aim up to curb Vegas child sex traffic
Updated 16 hrs ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Several agencies are aiming to curb child prostitution in Las Vegas, where 14 child sex trafficking victims were found when t…
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Thirty-year-old construction worker Jesse Speights walked into the Reno DMV on Monday, not knowing if he was even registered to vote.
Helena man convicted of taking $390k stolen from armored car
A Helena man has been convicted of taking $390,000 that was stolen from an armored truck and spending it on gambling, day trading, and travel.


Fact: The flu vaccine reduces the risk of contracting and spreading the disease by up to 60 percent, according to the CDC. The vaccine's effectiveness depends on multiple factors – including the amount of time between vaccination and exposure to the disease, your age and health status – yet studies show the flu vaccination benefits public health, especially when the vaccine is well matched to that year's circulating viruses.
Myth: I exercise and eat healthily, so I don't need to get vaccinated.
Fact: The CDC reports that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications each year, while 36,000 die from it. Reducing the risk of flu is especially important for people who have certain medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or chronic lung disease; and for pregnant women, young children, and people 65 and older. Even for people without those complications, flu symptoms can disrupt work, school or social life for several weeks or more.
Now is the time to get a flu vaccine, which is considered preventive and in most cases is covered through employer-sponsored, individual, and Medicare and Medicaid health plans. Vaccines are available through primary care physicians and convenience care clinics. Visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/flu to search for a nearby care provider based on your ZIP code.


Last weekend's Las Vegas Nationals was a chance for Las Vegas' own Duane Shields to score a big win in his hometown known for high stakes and good luck. Traditionally, Shields has not had the best of luck at his home track while doing remarkably well at other venues around the country.
Sadly for Shields, luck wasn't on the side of the Shortline Express team this past weekend either. "It's disappointing as the conditions were good but we had our slowest qualifying position all year, and it happened at our home track. We have a bug some place as we are off on the fuel curve" Shields said. Shields "slow" qualifying time was a 5.55 at 247 MPH, good for 14th in the 16 car Top Alcohol Dragster field.
Shields raced Mark Taliaferro in round one. Taliaferro got out of the gate first with a 0.058 to Shields' 0.076. At the finish line it was Taliaferro getting the win light with a 5.47 at 263 MPH to Shields' 5.54 at 242 MPH. "We dropped three cylinders and you can't win the race if you are only running on five cylinders" Shields observed.
The good news for Shields and his Shortline crew is that they have another shot at the Las Vegas track when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series rolls into town, November 5-7. "We are working on the problem and hopefully we will have it fixed for this weekend's race" Shields said.
Race fans in the Las Vegas area can experience Saturday's qualifying for free by stopping at any Shortline Express store where they can receive free admission tickets.
Reynolds GA - Duane Shields driving the Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragster competed at the final NHRA Lucas Oil Southeast Divisional event of the year held at Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, GA. Shields was hoping to finish the NHRA Divisional series on a high note after clinching the Division 2 title prior to the Reynolds event. In qualifying, Shields nailed down the number three position with a respectable 5.33 at 269 MPH.
In round one, Shields faced a familiar opponent, Dan Fiorelli who Shields had raced several times this season. Fiorelli got out of the gate first with a 0.126 to Shields' 0.155. Fiorelli compounded his lead as Shields' dragster was laboring off the starting line and was not gaining much momentum down the track. Fiorelli began to have some trouble of his own and began losing cylinders which opened the door for Shields. But, Fiorelli was still able to maintain his lead even though Shields narrowed the gap considerably. At the stripe it was Fiorelli taking the upset win with a 6.13 @ 210 MPH to Shields' close 6.17 at 242 MPH. "We win as a team and lose as a team. We made a critical error while preparing for the run and that cost us the race" Shields explained.
The loss took Shields out of the National Championship hunt but as painful as the loss was, Shields was gracious towards his opponent. "Because Don (Fiorelli) beat me, he was able to finish second in the Division so I'm happy for him. Don really put out a lot of effort this year and it was nice to see him do well" Shields said.
The Shortline Express team thanks Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs for their support this season.
Reading PA - It was one of those bitter sweet weekend for the Shortline Express team as they had a good weekend but not the kind that delivers the gold at the end of the race. Duane Shields qualified in the top half of the field with a 5.33 to end up in the number five spot which would set up a first round pairing with local racer Rich McPhillips of Audubon, PA.
At the light, it was McPhillips out first with a 0.066 to Shields' 0.082. But, It was all over at that time as McPhillips shook the tires and Shields was off to the races in one of the best runs for the round as Shields ran a sizzling 5.28 at 272 MPH. The conditions were great in the early morning hours which allowed for a good run. "We knew the conditions would be great in the first round so we stayed conservative on the tune up" Shields said.
In the second round Shields took on John Finke in what turned out to be one of the best races of the day. Shields was out of the gate first with an 0.081 but Finke was close behind with an 0.085. Finke was able to get ahead of Shields by a nose and by the time the cars made it to the finish line it was Finke taking the stripe with a 5.36 at 263 MPH to Shields' close 5.38 at 268 MPH. "I'm tired of these close losses but John won the round fair and square and it was a very good race. The conditions changed since the first round and we didn't compensate for the warmer weather. We stayed conservative and didn't give it all we could have, we needed to give it a little more Mojo" Shields observed.
Shields isn't taking the loss too hard as he's already looking forward to returning to Georgia for the next NHRA Divisional event this coming weekend in Reynolds. The Shortline Express team thanks their sponsors NGK Spark Plugs and Hussey Copper.
Charlotte NC - Duane Shields qualified on top at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shields stopped the clocks with a 5.34 at 267 MPH for the top seed. The popular Nevada based racer needed his qualifying success to lead him all the way to the final round to regain some momentum towards the World Champio nship. But sadly for Shields, he came up a little short in North Carolina and lost in the second round.
In the first round, Shields took on Don Fiorelli for the second straight week. Fiorelli jumped the gun and left before the tree was activated which gave the win to Shields who recorded a 5.41 at 266 MPH. "We had the car set up soft on that run as we didn't want to take any chances" Shields said.
In the second round, Shields faced John Finke. At the green Finke left first with a 0.098 to Shields 0.102. Shields then smoked the tires and Finke was long gone scoring a 5.77. Shields contributed the loss to trying a few new things that just didn't work. "I have the tendency to try new ideas and I have to stop doing that" Shields said. He then went on to explain that he will be going back to his old set up after a break next week. "This loss hurt our shot at the Championship but we still have a chance. Now, our destiny also depends on how others do. Regardless, we're just going to have fun at the remaining races and try to score another win or two."
Shields and the Shortline Express team thanks their sponsors NGK Spark Plugs and Hussey Copper.
Atlanta GA - Duane Shields and the Shortline Express Team made yet another final round appearance this season but were stopped for the second race in a row by Marty Thacker who traveled from the Midwest to compete at the Southeast Division race. "He beat me again!" Shields exclaimed and then explained that Thacker likes the long tow to Atlanta as he usually has good luck there.
Shields took the express route to the final round by first qualifying in the top position with a stout 5.33 at 264 MPH. This lead to a first round match up with Palm Bay Florida's Don Fiorelli. Fiorelli, rolled thought the lights in staging which gave the win to Shields. "I took my time leaving the starting line as I didn't want to jeopardize the win after knowing what had just happened to Fiorelli" said Shields. Still, Shields ran a 5.44 at 266 MPH.
In the second round, Shields raced unopposed and decided to try a more aggressive tune up. "We went more aggressive and it only ran a 5.43 so we put Saturday's tune up back in it for the final round" Shields remarked.
In the final round it was a re-match from the US Nationals as Shields took on the newly crowned Indy Champ. At the hit it was Thacker out of the gate first with an 0.040 to Shields 0.060 but the race ended right there as Shields blew the tires off the line. "I have no idea where that came from as we haven't blew the tires off since Dallas. Thacker was on his way down the track so I let up and idled the car down to the finish line. Sure, we were disappointed as we were thrown a curve ball and had no indication this would even happen but that's all part of racing" Shields said.
Shortline Express team thanks their sponsors NGK Spark Plugs and Hussey Copper for all of their great support this year.
Indianapolis, Sept. 5, 2010 - The NHRA US Nationals is drag racing's crown jewel. And every racer that enters the Labor Day classic brings their "A game" as well as plenty of parts in the trailer. One of NHRA's best teams in the Top Alcohol Dragster division is arguably the Shortline Express team of Duane Shields.
Shields brought his "A game" to Indy but knew this wasn't just another drag race. "We came into Indy on top of our game but so did everyone else. There are no easy opponents filling out the rest of the field. It's competitive from top to bottom" Shields said. Just to drive home his point, twentyfour cars competed for just sixteen spots with a competitive 5.42 being the bump spot. Shields qualified in the top half of the field with a 5.31 at 265 MPH which was good for the seventh qualifying position.
In the first round Shields faced Marty Thacker of Robinson, Ill. Thacker, qualified his blown alcohol dragster in the tenth position with a respectable 5.34 at 268 MPH. With Thacker racing a blown alcohol entry vs. Shields' naturally aspirated nitro burning car, it was sure to be an exciting match up as many of the fans favor one type of car over the other up in the grandstands.
As both cars launched off the starting line, it was Thacker out of the gate first with a 0.029 to Shields' 0.042 but that would be the only difference in the race. Both cars were side by side until Shields' lost a cylinder at 5.01 seconds into the run and the engine lost some of its momentum. Meanwhile, Thacker crossed the finished line first by a whisker as both drivers had identical 5.377 elapsed times and both posted the same 265 MPH speeds! "I knew it would be a very close race going in and it was. He was right there. I hate losing close races, but it's Indy and Marty's a good racer and deserved to go on and win the event" said Shields.
While Shields' lost the battle, he still enjoys the Indy experience. "We have a lot of friends and fans in Indianapolis and most of them stopped by. I also got the chance to sign a lot of pictures and had fun doing it so it was still a pretty good weekend. Shields thanks Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs for their continued support this season.
Brainerd MN - After taking a planned break away from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Duane Shields was back in the driver's seat and wasted little time making it to a final round. Shields scored a runner up finish at the NHRA Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd and was glad to be back after sitting out much of June and July. "It felt good to take a break but I'm glad to be back" Shields said.
Shields, driving his familiar blue and orange Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragster qualified fifth with a 5.40 at 265 MPH. "We came into this race utilizing a different fuel pump and it might have hurt us a little bit as the car has been dropping cylinders. But, we were still very competitive and will be going into Indy" Shields pointed out.
In the first round, Shields met up with Darren Nicholson who qualified eighth with a 5.51. At the light, it was Ni cholson out first with an 0.046 to Shields' 0.097. It was a close side-by-side race all the way to the finish line with Shields taking the stripe with a 5.35 at 265 MPH to Nicholson's 5.43 at 256 MPH. Only twelve feet separated the two cars.
In the second round, Shields took on part-time Top Fuel pilot Scott Palmer now behind the wheel of an A/Fuel Dragster. "Palmer has been impressive all weekend and took out the Champ in the first round so I knew I needed to be on my game to get by him" Shields explained. This time, Shields took care of both ends of the race track as he had an 0.074 reaction time to Palmer's 0.086 and blasted down the track with the best ET of the round, a blistering 5.29 at 265 MPH to Palmer's 5.36 at 252 MPH.
Shields received a well deserved bye-run in the semi finals but still charged to a 5.38 at 262 MPH. "We tried some different things in the semis but went back to the clutch set up we had that produced the 5.29 in the second round" Shields said.
Shields' final round opponent turned out be California's Chris Demke. Demke was running on par with Shields so it promised to be a close race. At the hit, Shields left first with 0.041 reaction time to Demke's 0.071. Demke then passed Shields before Shields regained the lead and maintained it until dropping some cylinders at 1000 feet. It was then that Demke took over the lead and held on for the win. Then, just past the finish line Shields' engine expired and kicked out some rods.
Even though Shields lost the race and an engine in the process he looked at the whole event optimistically. I can't complain, it was a close back and forth race that could have been a 42 point swing for us. But, we're in good shape as we still have a lot of races left in the season. As for the engine, It's worth noting that this was the first engine we have lost in over three years" Shields observed. The Shortline Express team would like to once again thank NGK and Hussey Copper for their support this season.
Chicago - Duane Shields once again qualified on top for the second race in a row. This week he was the top seed at the 13th Annual United Association Route 66 Nationals presented by Miller Welders held in Joliet Ill. Shields, who was under the weather with the flu all week, took the top position with a 5.33 blast down the Route 66 track at 268 MPH.
At the same event Shields represented Division 2 in the JEGS Allstars race. Shields got by John Finke from Division 1 in the first round with a 5.39 to Finke's 5.78. In round two Shields lost to Shawn Cowie, representing Division 6 in a close race. Cowie ran a 5.42 to Shields' 5.40 in a hole shot.
On Sunday, eliminations were contested for the Route 66 Nationals title. In round one, Shields took on Brian Mans. At the light, Mans left first with an 0.017 reaction time to Shields 0.110. At the finish line it was Shields with the win as he stopped the clocks with a 5.41 at 269 MPH to Mans' 5.61 at 246 MPH.
By the second round, Shields was feeling worse but tried to do the best he could under the circumstances. After all, he was in the middle of a marquee match up with the defending Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Bill Reichert, one of his closest challengers. When Shields staged the car, it moved forward causing him to deep stage. He then had just hit the brake lever, preventing him from red lighting as the tree came down. At the green, Reichert got out ahead of Shields with a 0.106 reaction time to Shields' 0.324. Reichert was able to hold his lead and win the round with a 5.30 to Shields' 5.36 at 269 MPH.
Shields later regretted not giving the fans a closer race. "Reichert and I probably ran about the same actual ET based on the deep staging process, so I wish people would have been able to see a good side by side race, but we'll rebound. We are running very strong and will go into our summer break with our attitude strong, and enjoy the time off" Shields said.
Reading, PA May 28, 2010 - Fresh from winning the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals last weekend in Topeka, Duane Shields and the Shortline Express team traveled to Maple Grove Raceway to try and extend their winning streak to five wins for the season in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. It appeared from the start of qualifying that Shields was in a good position to do just that by posting the fastest qualifying time right out of the box with a 5.33 at 271 MPH.
Shields qualifying position set up a first round pairing with the number eight qualifier, Dan Mercier. Mercier got in the show with a 5.59 at 253 MPH so Shields was the likely favorite to win the round. But drag racing has a tendency to surprise racers and fans with some unpredictable moments, and that's exactly what happened as both drivers went red! Unfortunately for Shields, his car lurched forward just after staging and broke the beam causing him to red light. Mercier, who also red lit was last do so, and won the race under "the first or worst" rule.
Shields blamed himself for fouling out. "I think we might be looking for a new driver" Shields said jokingly. "My foot moved just a little bit and the throttle is a little bit sensitive and before I knew it the lights came down and I saw the red light. It was a perfect opportunity that slipped away as we would have faced Bill Reichert in the second round. We win as a team and lose as a team and this time it was the driver but we have the Jegs All Star race in Chicago this weekend so we'll quickly get over this and move on" Shields said. The Shortline Express team thanks their sponsors Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs for their continued support.
Topeka, Kansas May 23, 2010 - Over the years, the Heartland Park Topeka has never been a track that Duane Shields was ever able to conquer outside of maybe a round win. Now, all of that has changed as Shields and the Shortline Express team lead by crew chief Dana Hopewell got their first ever win in Topeka at the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX.
Shields looked good throughout the weekend in what turned out to be a ne ck and neck horse race with Mark Niver as each driver took turns outrunning each other in every session. In the final qualifying order it was Niver who scored the top seed with a 5.27 but Shields was very close behind with a 5.28. "We went back and forth with Mark as to which one of us was going to run the best. We really wanted to be the number one qualifier so we could get the bye-run in the second round but Mark got it. Still, we felt comfortable after qualifying and were confident we would do well in eliminations" Shields said.
At the beginning of eliminations the conditions were questionable as there was a crosswind and the heat was at its peek. Shields and his crew were cautious going into their first round meeting as they weren't sure what to expect. Their first round opponent was Malcolm Wahle, who had qualified 13th. "Wahle is a good competitor and we didn't take him lightly but we decided to back down the tune up just to be safe" Shields said. At the light, Shields was out of the gate first with an 0.043 reaction time to Wahle's 0.070. Shields never gave up the lead and crossed the stripe first with a 5.51 at 261 MPH to Wahle's 5.75 at 241 MPH.
In round two, Shields took on number 7 qualifier, Michael Manners. "Tom Conway tunes Manners' car and he has won in Topeka before so we knew they can step up" said Shields. Manners got off the line first with a 0.031 to Shields' 0.045 reaction time. Shields overcame Manner's slight starting line advantage and took the stripe with low ET of the round. Shields' stopped the clocks with a 5.33 at 268 MPH to Manners' 5.44 at 265 MPH. "Manners ran respectable, we were darn close as it was a good race" Shields said.
There was a quick turn around from the second round to the semifinals but the team managed to service the car in time and was back in the staging lanes to meet their semifinal round opponent Courtney Force. "We couldn't discount Courtney as she ran great in the heat of the day. As a result, we decided to get a little more aggressive with the tune up and push the car harder" Shields observed. The team's decision proved to be a good one as Shields would reach the final with another unbeatable package. Shields had an 0.048 reaction to Courtney's 0.071, and then charged to a 5.38 at 264 MPH to take the win. Courtney's day ended with a 5.55 at 256 MPH.
The final round developed into a showdown that had been brewing all weekend between the two top qualifiers, Shields and Niver. At the start it was Shields with his best reaction time during eliminations, a 0.019 to Niver's 0.076. Shields kept his lead with a 5.40 at 266 MPH to take the victory over Niver's close 5.42 at 260 MPH. Shields' good reaction time was key in winning the race. "I knew that I would need a good light to beat Niver. It was exciting and we couldn't ask for a better win than this one since we have never had very good luck in Topeka" Shields said after winning his forth race in seven starts.
Shields dedicated the win to Laurie Nason, who has been fighting cancer. Shields also thanks his sponsors Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs for their support.
Ennis TX, April 24-25 - Duane Shields and the Shortline Express team resumed their Texas "Two-Step" Tour by entering the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 4 event at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas.
Shields' Shortline Express qualified on top in the all A/Fuel Dragster field with a 5.36 at 268 MPH and appeared to be in the driver's seat for yet another victory. As the number one qualifier Shields drew James Thompson, who qualified on the bubble with a 5.85 at 265 MPH.
At the start, Shields was out of the gate first with an 0.076 to Thompson's 0.097. Sadly for Shields, he went up in smoke at the crack of the throttle. Meanwhile, Thompson, made a decent 5.74 at 286 MPH to get the win light. Shields recorded a 6.51 at 265 MPH.
The Shortline Express team would like to thank Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs for their continued support.
Houston - The NHRA Lucas Oil points leader in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, Duane Shields was upset in the first round of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals held at Houston Raceway Park. Shields qualified 4th with a 5.30 at 271 MPH, and was a favorite to win the event based on his recent win at Gainesville. "We always do well in Houston and the car ran a 5.30 right out of the box so I felt very confident going into eliminations" Shields said.
Because of a rain delay qualifying was limited to just two passes and there was a short turn around time. "Since we had a quick turn around time we didn't have time to change the tune up, but it still ran a 5.35 and we were happy with that. The tune up we planned to try in the third qualifying session turned out to be what we used in the first round and it was a little bit too aggressive" Shields said.
In the first round, Shields behind the wheel of the Shortline Express took on Chase Copeland driving for Gene Snow. Out of the gate Copeland had a near perfect 0.008 light and would need everything he had to beat Shields. Shields in the other lane had his best reaction time of the year, an 0.033 light but Copeland's quicker reaction time paid off as he was able to upset Shields on a holeshot. Copeland got to the stripe first with a 5.35 at 263 MPH to Shields' quicker 5.33 at 274 MPH.
"We didn't take them lightly but I was still disheartened that we didn't win but it happens. Their car reacts quickly. Copeland did his job and stepped it up against us and I applaud him for that. That's racing which is how it's suppose to be. We're still running good and we'll be in Dallas in two weeks and we'll try to get a win there" said Shields commenting on Copeland's great performance.
Shields will be in Vegas next weekend but he won't be racing the A/fuel car as his daughter, Whitney Shields will be debuting a brand new Super Comp dragster at the event. The car hasn't ever been down the track so the Summit.com Nationals will be the car's maiden voyage.
As always, the Shortline team would like to thank their sponsors Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs.
Shields Wins Second Straight Gatornationals Title!
Gainesville Florida - It's not a big secret that Duane Shields and the Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragst er team has been red hot and have only lost one round of racing so far in this young season. But that was on the divisional side of the equation. Now, the team got put to the test as they competed at their first national event of the year in Gainesville, March 12-14. And the end result was just what they were looking for as they successfully defended their NHRA Gatornationals title in the Top Alcohol Dragster category.
Shields and his crew is excited about pulling off the big repeat win. "We're very excited to get the win as every round seemed like a final round. Each team that we faced was very capable of winning the event" Shields said after securing the victory.
Shields qualified #2 with a great 5.25 at 274 MPH which meant he would face the number 15 qualifier Michael Manners, who is capable of running some big numbers. Shields was out of the gate first with an 0.063 to Manner's 0.070 but the first round turned out to be anticlimactic as Manners lost traction and had to lift early. Meanwhile, Shields was on another consistent run stopping the clocks with a 5.34 at 266 MPH.
Moving on to the second round, Shields took on Monroe Guest. At the light, Guest got off the line first with a good 0.024 reaction time to Shields' 0.064. Shields managed to get out in front of Guest, but had to pedal it once as he experienced bad tire shake. The tire shake didn't effect the outcome of the race for Shields as he crossed the stripe first with a 5.30 at 273 MPH. Guest was right behind recording a 5.41 at 266 MPH to end his day.
Back in the pits, the Shortline Express crew did an inspection of the chassis and noticed a crack close to where the wheelie bar bolts in. While the team serviced the car, fellow competitor Randy Meyer whom Shields raced in the finals at Atlanta welded up the chassis. Shields best described the moments leading up to the semifinal round as "controlled" even though there was a lot of work to get done between rounds.
In the semifinals, Shields opponent was none other than Marty Thacker. Thacker is one of the best blown alcohol racers in the sport but this time around he was having difficultly holding the car at the starting line as it was creeping farther into the beam after staging. As a result, Tacker red lit. Shields put together another consistent run beginning with an 0.044 light and finished it off with an elapsed time of 5.37 at 271 MPH. "All of the cars in the semifinals were evenly matched, and any of them could have won. We're trying to work with the car as the weather warms up. I was a little disappointed that the car slowed down in the semi finals" Shields mentioned.
In the final round, Shields took on Darren Nicholson whom Shields already met in the finals once this season. At the hit, Nicholson left the line first with a 0.014 reaction time to Shields' 0.066. But just 60 feet out Shields flew by as Nicholson lost power after shredding a blower belt. Shields then claimed his second Gatornationals win in a row with a convincing 5.36 at 267 MPH. "We've won three out of four races. That's the way I like it" Shields said after the event.
The Shortline Express team will take the next three weeks off until the next race on the schedule, the O'Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11 in Baytown, Texas near Houston. "I'm looking forward to racing in Baytown as we always do well there" Shields said. The Shortline team would like to thank their sponsors Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs.
Atlanta - With just a month into the season, three Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events have already been completed in the Southeast Division. Atlanta Dragway was the third stop in the series and a chance for Duane Shields to take a commanding lead in the Top Alcohol Dragster class driving his Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragster.
Shields established himself early as the favorite to win by qualifying on the pole with a great 5.29 at 272 MPH blast. As the top qualifier, Shields received a bye run in the first round since there was just five cars in the field. Even without an opponent, Shields made a spectacular pass to start off eliminations by recording an incredible 5.21 at 274 MPH to advance into the second round. "The track was really good and we decided to go with an aggressive tune-up since we had the bye" Shields said.
In the second round, Shields faced Dan Mercier. At the light it was Mercier out of the gate first with a 0.079 to Shields' 0.114. Mercier began to experience tire shake and had to pedal. Meanwhile, Shields was on a another clean run and crossed the stripe first with a 5.36 at 269 MPH to Mercier's 5.60 at 255 MPH to advance to the final round. "The conditions were not as ideal as they were in the first round but we still ran a 5.36" Shields observed.
In the finals it would be a showdown between Shields and veteran driver Randy Meyer. "Randy is a tough customer and we knew we would have to run well. We put a new set of tires on so we wanted to be careful with the tune-up" said Shields.
This race would be a close one as both drivers left the starting line at nearly the same time with Meyer getting a slight advantage with an 0.036 reaction time to Shields' close 0.039. At the finish line it was Shields by less than a car length to win the race with a 5.35 at 270 MPH to Meyer's close 5.41 at 262 MPH. "We were hoping it would run a .28 or a .29 but we're glad to have won. We wanted to run the car as aggressive as we could and still get the results we wanted. And we officially clinched a spot in the JEGS Allstar race" Shields continued.
Gainesville - After a sweet win to open up the season last weekend in Bradenton Florida, Duane Shields and the Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragster team had plenty of confidence they could win again for a second straight week. This weekend at the Lucas Oil divisional race in Gainesville, the car ran consistently well on every run which put Shields close to the top of the pack with a 5.39 to land him in the number two qualifying position.
In the first round, Shields would take on number seven qualifier Mark Taliaferro. At the light, Taliaferro left first with a 0.036 reaction time to Shields' 0.059. As luck would have it for Shields, his engine ran on just seven cylinders after breaking a rocker stand. Meanwhile, Taliaferro would run low ET of the round with a 5.31 at 274 MPH to Shields' 5.48 at 263 MPH. Taliaferro scored a rare first round upset which put Shields on the trailer.
Shields was content that the car's consistency had improved even if he didn't win the race. "I can't complain the car ran more consistent than last week. We were running on seven cylinders in the first round, but for the most part the car ran good all weekend. We'll be back here in a couple of weeks and hopefully we'll do much better" Shields said.
The future race Shields was referring to is the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals held March 11-14 at the Gainesville Raceway. Shields would like to thank his sponsors Hussey Copper and NGK Spark Plugs for their support again in 2010.
Bradenton - Duane Shields likely surprised some loyal fans and even a few competitors by not competing at the 50th Anniversary NHRA Winternationals. Shields was still in the driver seat though, just not in California. Instead, the Nevada based racer was in Bradenton Florida for the first Divisional event of the year. "We certainly wanted to be a part of the Winternationals but racing in Florida almost assured us a spot in the Jegs All Star race (to be held later this season in Chicago) and we have a divisional race scheduled in Gainesville next weekend. This way we don't have two races in a row on opposite sides of the country" Shields said.
The down side to racing in Florida was the cold track conditions that lasted most of the weekend which made tuning decisions very difficult. During the first round of qualifying Shields shook the tires but still ran a 5.76 at 236 MPH to claim the fourth qualifying position. With the cold track conditions, the final qualifying round was postponed until Sunday. On the second and final qualifying pass Shields did not improve and had to shut off early in the run.
In eliminations, Shields had a first round match up with Dan Mercier. Shields responded well to the challenge by making one of his fastest runs ever. Shields got down Broadway with a 5.22 at 273 MPH to Mercier's 5.48 at 246 MPH. "The first round pass really helped our confidence and served notice that we got a handle on the track" Shields said.
During the second round, Shields would face John Finke. Shields was out of the gate first with a great 0.051 reaction time to Finke's late 0.262 light. Shields' 5.43 was enough to cover Finke's close 5.47. "I shook the tires 150 feet out and had to pedal it. I was very fortunate to have a good light against Finke in order to win" said Shields.
In the final round, Shields took on west coast competitor, Darren Nicholson. At the light it was Shields once again with the advantage as he got off the line first with a 0.106 to Nicholson's 0.131. Both cars were side by side all the way down the quarter. However, Shields better reaction time paid off as he crossed the stripe first with a big victory to start off the 2010 season. Shields ran a 5.384 at 272 MPH to Nicholson's ever so close 5.391 at 262 MPH. "Nicholson ran quicker than us in the semis. We tried to tone down the tune-up a little bit in middle. It was a difficult race for us but it still had a winning result" said the celebratory driver.
In the end, Shield's decision to race in Florida paid off as he earned the same amount of points as if he would have won in Pomona. He also sewed up the Jeg's All Star program and secured the lead in the Division 2 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. "Last year we were a little slow getting out of the gate on the divisional side so this year we're already ahead of the game. We're very happy to begin the season with a win" Shields said.
Reynolds, GA- Duane Shields and the Shortline Express team clinched the Division 2 Top Alcohol Dragster Championship with a big win at Silver Dollar Raceway on October 18.
Pomona - The Auto Club NHRA Finals are now in the books which ends the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season. Now that Champions are crowned the points will be reset to zero as teams get a fresh start in 2010. The end of the season also marks the final battle of the year for Duane Shields and the Shortline Express team.
It was truly a great season for Shields as he entered Pomona in third place nationally but could no longer earn points as he had already claimed the maximum amount of races for the year. The good news for Shields was that only Shawn Cowie could pass Shields in the point standings and he would have to win the event to do so.
Shields' weekend started a little rough as the team discovered that they had a bad fuel pump during the first round of qualifying. Once the pump was replaced the car ran consistently well all weekend as the team qualified fifth in the tough sixteen car field with a 5.30 at 271 MPH. This would set up a first round showdown with Division Seven racer Chris Demke. "We couldn't take Demke lightly as he ran in the 5.20's at the Winternationals" Shields explained.
At the light Demke got out of the gate first with a 0.017 reaction time to Shields' 0.059 and was able to maintain the lead until the Shortline Express horsepower kicked in and Shields flew by him. At the finish line it was Shields by a car length. Shields had a winning time of 5.21 at 268 MPH to Demke's 5.32 at 268 MPH. Shields' 5.21 was his third best ET and his best ever first round ET. "Chris had a great light as it was the third best reaction time of the round and it was just his luck to have been paired up with us when the car was running so well" Shields said.
In the second round Shields faced the man who he has been chasing down for the Top Alcohol Dragster Championship, Bill Reichert. Shields got out in front of Reichert at the starting line with an 0.055 to Reichert's 0.062. Even with the disadvantage at the starting line, Reichert had the momentum to get past Shields and take the stripe with a 5.28 at 267 MPH to Shields' close 5.31 at 273 MPH. "We had to race the champ and we over powered the track just a little bit and I had to pedal it. Still the car ran a 5.31 which was good so I wasn't to terribly disappointed, but I would like to have advanced to the next round. Bill and I always run good when we have to face each other" said Shields.
When asked what the team planned to do over the winter, Shields said they would likely not make any changes in the off season. "We have a great team and had a very good year, unless they (NHRA) make a major rule change we should stay competitive next season. So, we'll likely come back with the same combination we are running right now" Shields said.
Shields would like to thank all of his team members, fans and sponsors including NGK Spark Plugs and Hussey Copper for all of their support this season and wishes everyone a happy holiday season.
Las Vegas - Duane Shields' chances of winning the NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster Championship came down to the Shortline Express Gambler Showdown presented by Torco at The Strip at Las Vegas, which is a race his company Shortline Express Markets sponsors. For competitors of the Top Alcohol Dragster class it was a challenge just to qualify as over 20 cars were trying to get into an eight car field. Just to watch Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying would be worth the price of admission.
Shields got into the field in the eighth and final position with a 5.41 at 263 MPH. "We were feeling pretty good as the conditions were like last week's national event so we felt we would do well and we were fortunate to get in with so many cars trying to qualify. But we had a couple of malfunctions that popped up and we were only aware of one of them at the end of qualifying" Shields said. The malfunction they discovered was an ignition problem which the team found and fixed before round one.
Going into the first round Shields faced number one qualifier Hillary Will. At the hit Shields got a sizable lead off the starting line with an 0.064 reaction time to Will's 0.141. But by 1000 feet Will was able to get past Shields as he began experiencing problems. Will recorded a 5.46 at 259 MPH for the win as Shields slowed to a 5.67 at 231 MPH on just three cylinders. The problem turned out to be a fuel regulator that wasn't working.
The loss put an end to Shields hope to come from behind and win the Championship. "After we lost we went down and congratulated Bill Reichert who won the Championship. We knew going into this race it was a long shot and knew what we were up against so we weren't too surprised. We had a great year and had very few malfunctions that cost us a race like what happened today" Shields said.
Now that the pressure is off the team plans to head for Pomona and have some fun at the NHRA Auto Club Finals.


We just got back from a week in New York City celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. I've only been once 8 years ago and my husband hadn't, so a trip was due! I was hoping the city would already be lit up for Christmas, but we still had a great trip running around the city. ;p We stayed with my husband's childhood friend, Caroline, in Brooklyn and used our Subway passes to get around. A lot of walking, a lot of coffee, and a lot of cold: that's NYC!
We arrived Sunday night, and our first stop was to eat Grimaldi's pizza in Brooklyn (so good). Monday we woke up early to go to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum (so powerful and definitely worth a visit) and raced to grab our ferry to the Statue of Liberty. After recharging our phones and our bodies with caffeine at Starbucks, we walked through Times Square (so crazy) and met up with Whitney's cousin for dinner.


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Polotiki News
February 4, 2019 — polotikinews
Here is where the EFF will get the money to finance it's policies
EFF's FISCAL Framework
The EFF government will maximally collect taxes with the aim of a 20% increase in current annual tax collections.
The EFF government will reduce the state debt to under 20% of the GDP.
The EFF government will equitably distribute nationally raised revenue in the ratio of 40% nationally and 60% locally.
Under the EFF government, a minimum of 50% of funds allocated to local government must be used solely to deliver services.
The EFF government will use a build, operate and transfer funding mechanism for infrastructure development.
The EFF government will increase capital gains tax and inheritance tax so as to ease the tax burden of the poor and transfer it to the rich.
The EFF government, including state-owned companies, will abolish tenders and insource all security guards, cleaners, gardeners, drivers and general workers.
The EFF government, including all state-owned companies, will disallow the use of consultants and directly employ people with capacity.
The EFF government will discontinue housing subsidies for ministers.
The EFF government will discontinue the appointment of deputy ministers.
The EFF government will move the Parliament to Pretoria.
The EFF government, including all state-owned entities, will discontinue the rental of buildings. Instead, it will occupy government-owned buildings built by a state-owned construction company.
The EFF government, including all state-owned entities, will use Telkom services for all information and technology related services.
The EFF government, including state-owned entities, will use the services of state-owned banks.
The EFF government will remove all presidential and ministerial spousal support.
The EFF government, including all state-owned companies, will buy all goods directly from manufacturers at a discounted price to leverage economies of scale.
The EFF government will build government-owned storage facilities to store non-perishable goods.
A state-owned mining company will start operating at all coal mines owned by Eskom and will export surplus coal to generate revenue for the fiscus.
The EFF government will nationalise all mines and allocate key shares in South Africa's mineral and petroleum resources to the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The EFF government will increase corporate income tax from 28% to 32%, with a 25% dividend tax, in 2020.
The EFF government will increase capital and inheritance gains tax.
The EFF government will introduce education and training taxes on all private companies at a minimum of 2% of total revenue for companies with a turnover of R50 million and more, to be used to fund fee-free quality education.
The EFF government will increase taxes on speculative capital inflows to 60%.
The EFF government will raise an additional R100 billion annually through curbing illicit financial flows, including the expropriation of multinational companies which participate in tax avoidance and institute a stronger penalty regime with jail sentences for directors and executives.
The EFF government will pass an Anti-Avoidance of Tax Act to illegalise all forms of tax avoidance and will ensure that all those found to be engaged in tax avoidance and tax base erosion are imprisoned.
The EFF will establish a multi-disciplinary cross-agency task team, independent from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and National Treasury, which will include officials from the National Treasury, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and SARS, to gather and publish reliable statistical data on illicit financial flows.
The EFF government will launch a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into illicit financial flows since 1990, headed by a Constitutional Court Judge, by 2020. The Commission will include local and international experts on illicit financial flows and it will make specific recommendations in respect of past and future transgressions, prevention, detection and the imposition of suitable punitive and restorative measures.
The EFF government will adopt a long-term infrastructure financing model.
The EFF government will combine all Municipalities' Pension Funds into one Municipal Employees Pension Fund (MEPF), with an investment mandate that focuses on Municipal Infrastructure Development.
The EFF government will reduce the cabinet to half of its current size and proscribe the positions of deputy ministers.
The EFF government will reduce VAT to 14%.
The EFF government will highlight employment targeting as the primary measure of fiscal
EFF Manifesto 2019
Latest Posts By polotikinews
06.20.19State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa
06.12.19The African National Congress is not ready to be led by Women, so I resign – Bathabile Dlamini
05.31.19Pravin Gordhan has constituted for himself a parallel state and a source of authority in much the same way he did during the period of the United Democratic Front (UDF) – Floyd Shivambu
05.29.19Ramaphosa's Dream Team
05.28.19How the EFF has shifted SA politics to the left – William Gumede
Previous Post Be a COPE MP, Applications open – COPE
Next Post The Good Plan to Fix SA
State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa June 20, 2019
The African National Congress is not ready to be led by Women, so I resign – Bathabile Dlamini June 12, 2019
Pravin Gordhan has constituted for himself a parallel state and a source of authority in much the same way he did during the period of the United Democratic Front (UDF) – Floyd Shivambu May 31, 2019
Ramaphosa's Dream Team May 29, 2019
How the EFF has shifted SA politics to the left – William Gumede May 28, 2019
I regret promoting Black leadership in DA - Helen Zille
Members of SA 6th Parliament
This is how many millionaires live in South Africa - Businesstech
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CANDIDATES LIST 2019 ELECTIONS
Jacob Zuma, You are a true leopard that doesn't change its spots - Dr. Mashubaba
There are many achievements of the ANC government under Zuma - Mzwandile Masina
Bosasa corruption is child's play compared to the corruption you will find in the mining Industry - Aubrey Somana
You will work 24 hour a day without any leave, you also can't take any break - Lumka Yengeni
Concourt erred on Nkandla ruling, it should have simply thrown out the case - Paul Ngobeni
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is the founder of corruption in South Africa, Not Jacob Zuma - Gareth van Onselen
Pendulwa Finca on Members of SA 6th Parliam…
Kadebona on I regret promoting Black leade…
1000 Chinese Rural S… on We did not defeat the aparthei…
Phillip on I regret promoting Black leade…
MaQ on I regret promoting Black leade…


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text:
TV picks of the week: 11 February to 17 February
Famous and Fighting Crime
Monday: Channel 4, 9.00pm
(Credit: Channel 4)
New four-part series, Famous and Fighting Crime, sees Jamie Laing (Made in Chelsea) Sandi Bogle (Gogglebox), presenter Katie Piper and comic Marcus Brigstocke working as volunteer police officers.
Factual Entertainment
period drama
Read more about TV picks of the week: 11 February to 17 February
The horn of plenty: TV in a hyperconnected world
Comedian Hugh Dennis aired the thoughts of many trying to navigate the new television landscape when he introduced this session. In a video diary shown to conference delegates, he was seen stuck inside a room for a month. His task was to watch all the content available to modern audiences.
"Watching telly used to be so easy," he complained. "Four channels, maybe five – everyone watched the same thing in the same place at the same time, unless your family was at the cutting edge of technology and had a VCR."
Hugh Dennis
Simon Pitts
MediaCom UK
ITV Hub
Read more about The horn of plenty: TV in a hyperconnected world
The lure of the small screen
When the latest project from multiple Oscar nominees Peter Morgan (The Queen) and Stephen Daldry (The Reader) reaches audiences in November, it won't be in cinemas.
Morgan has created and written The Crown, an extended biopic on the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Daldry is the executive producer and has directed an episode of the show. The series begins with Elizabeth's marriage in 1947 and aims to recount the story of her life until the present day.
Read more about The lure of the small screen
Catch up TV picks
1. Kabul Kitchen
Based on true story of Marc Victor, a Radio France Internationale journalist, who ran a restaurant in Kabul for French expatriates until 2008, Kabul Kitchen is a hilarious French-language comedy taking a sideways look at life in the Afghan city.
Jacky runs the popular restaurant, Kabul Kitchen, and all appears to be going well… until his daughter arrived to do some humanitarian work.
Read more about Catch up TV picks
Netflix announces new Top Gear deal
The SVOD platform already shows older series of BBC Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson.
The details of the deal remain vague, however Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos told Buzzfeed News that the show will "fall under the same deals" of international distribution as the existing Top Gear, adding that the deal will be "multi-territory for sure."
Read more about Netflix announces new Top Gear deal


text:
About Ice Age Centre
Polar Bear Cafe
Room rent
Raft trips
We – Su
Äksi, Tartu County
Are we buiding tower to the Moon from our used tires? 10. Jan 2023
Winter program 1. Jan 2023
Exhibition "Material Change. Design and New Technologies" 5. Dec 2022
Aastavahetus 28. Nov 2022
Polar Bear caffee 27. Nov 2022
Local Christmas market 25. Nov 2022
Christmas holidays 8. Nov 2022
Soup days in cafeteria 1. Nov 2022
Activities during the school holidays 26. Sep 2022
Polar Bear cafe holiday week 22. Sep 2022
Paintings exhibition is open util 25th of September 21. Sep 2022
Cafe reserved 9. Sep 2022
Are we buiding tower to the Moon from our used tires?
In the Ice Age Center: Are we buiding tower to the Moon from our used tires?
It may come as a surprise to many that the tower made of car tires produced every year in the world is higher than the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Or that one car consists of about 28,000 parts that are transported all over the world, or that during the "lifetime" of one machine it consumes up to 36 car tires, 8 brake discs, 3-4 batteries.
The rooms on the 3rd floor of the Ice Age Center are being renovated and three rooms on the impact of human activity on the environment are open again. The exhibitions "Estonian, native rich...?" and "Shall we build a tire tower on the moon?" provide an overview of the daily activities of humans and their impact on our future.
"We are not reinventing the wheel with our exhibitions, these are topics that have been talked about for a long time," said Kadri Valner, the curator of the exhibitions, CEO of the Ice Age Center. "We try to 'translate' many everyday activities into the language of numbers, in the hope that these facts will be remembered and influence us."
At the same time, it is not limited to just tracking numbers, added Valner. "We are also looking at the future of the automotive industry, with the help of both automotive journalists and Lähte high school students, who drew their vision of future transportation."
At the exhibitions, people's kitchens and wardrobes are also displayed, making the visitor realize that 330 kg of food thrown away per person per year or 25 kg of clothes purchased per year is a very large amount, which can certainly be reduced by acting sensibly. In order not only to show, you will also get some tips from the exhibition.
In order to be truly environmentally friendly, we recommend people coming from Tartu to use free public transport. The footprint of bus traffic is smaller than that of car passengers.
The Ice Age Center in Äksi in Tartu County is open Wed - Sund from 10  to  17, in January and February.
Kätrin Beljaev
Communication specialist of the Ice Age Center
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about our great offers and new events?


For those times when you need an emergency power source to keep your home running, or simply want the modern conveniences of phones and refrigeration while you're away on a camping trip, you'll need a powerful enough generator to get you through.
Rather than wasting money on smaller devices that won't give you the power you're after, the Briggs and Stratton Portable 3000-Watt Inverter Generator is a powerful and durable source of clean and instant energy for when you need it most.
The Briggs and Stratton Portable 3000-Watt Inverter Generator is one of the quietest yet most powerful generators on the market, with unique technology that allows its computer controlled engine to adjust automatically to save you power.
10 hours of use on a single tank - This system has amazing value for fuel, with a 1.5gallon tank that only requires filling every 10 hours for a 25 percent load. For smaller appliances, it will last a lot longer than that using a lot less gasoline.
Quiet and comfortable - Compared to traditional camping generators, the Briggs and Stratton is quiet enough to power an RV without any loud disruptions that are common with other devices. Its inverter technology allows even the most sensitive appliances to be attached without damage.
Portable for your convenience - With convenient twin handles and telescoping handle design attached to this model, you're able to transport the generator with ease around your home, campsite, or anywhere else you need it in an instant.
Priced at about $1,200 the Briggs and Stratton Portable 3000-Watt Inverter Generator shows great value for money considering the long life of the system and its quieter than usual running capacity.
The only main disadvantage to this generator is the weight, starting in at around 55 pounds when empty. Once filled with gasoline, this creeps up even higher and although there is a twin handle available it can still get quite heavy to carry.
For one of the quietest but most powerful inverter generators on the market, the Briggs and Stratton Portable 3000-Watt is the best choice out there. This generator runs efficiently on a 1.5 gallon tank and for 10 hours, meaning you can get a whole lot of use out of such a small amount of fuel.
Briggs and Stratton have used their patented computer controlled technology to ensure the generator automatically adjusts to your power needs, so it won't just run at full capacity and steal your gas as some other products can.
The only downside of this generator is its weight, which is a common complaint with most generators. The double handle system does make it easier to carry around, but it's still quite heavy to take longer distances. Overall, though, the Briggs and Stratton Portable 3000-Watt Inverter Generator is a top pick for a portable and powerful gas generator.


text:
using System;

namespace DBNanalysis {
	[Serializable]
	public class DBNmodel {
		public RBMlayer[] layers;
		public string TrainFilename { get; set; }
		public string TestFilename { get; set; }
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Says a Woman Will Be Featured on Country's Currency
By Julie Zeilinger
After photos of Justin Trudeau cuddling pandas circulated on Monday, it seemed the Canadian prime minister had easily and definitively solidified his status as dreamiest world leader. But the feminist favorite wasn't content to stop there, announcing on Tuesday that an "iconic Canadian woman" will be featured on the country's currency in 2018, according to the Washington Post.
"I am pleased to announce today, right here, that a Canadian woman will be featured on the very first of the next series of bills expected in 2018," Trudeau said at a news conference in honor of International Women's Day.
Read more: Matt McGorry's Feminist T-Shirt Is All We Want to Wear on International Women's Day
Thibault Camus/AP
Although Canadian women have previously been featured on the nation's currency, they were replaced with the image of an arctic icebreaker in 2011, according to the organization Women on Canadian Banknotes. The organization is the same one that launched a petition, which over 73,000 individuals have signed, calling for restored representation.
The Bank of Canada is calling for and will receive official submissions from the public until April 15, but more than 300 suggestions of women worthy of the honor have already been posted on Women on Canadian Banknotes' website, from national literary treasures Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood, to pop icons Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne and Shania Twain. Curiously, Carly Rae Jepsen, Rachel McAdams and Kim Cattrall seem to be missing from the list (but, then again, there's still time).
Trudeau's pledge comes in the wake of a highly publicized call for female representation on United States currency. After one organization called for a woman to appear on the $20 bill, American women championed the effort, rallying for the cause until Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced in June that in 2020, the $10 bill will be updated to feature a female figure.
A rendering of a $10 bill featuring a woman. AAUW/YouTube
This is also hardly Trudeau's first show of support for marginalized and underrepresented groups. In addition to advocating for gender equality, the prime minister agreed to march in a Canadian gay pride parade, has notably welcomed refugees and was honored by indigenous Canadian Tsuut'ina First Nation.
Trudeau received much, deserved acclaim for asserting he needed no other reason to incorporate gender equality into his agenda than "because it's 2015." Thankfully, it's clear the same holds true for the politician in 2016, too.
h/t Washington Post


text:
Car trim reviews
Volkswagen Golf R-Line review
"The Volkswagen Golf R-Line aims to bring some of the sports appeal seen in the Golf R into other versions of its hatch."
by Ben Custard
The Volkswagen Golf R-Line is the German brand's attempt to distil some of its sporting prowess found in the Volkswagen Golf R hatchback into a less powerful version that costs less to buy and to run. The R-Line trim is designed to be a cheaper alternative to the full-fat Golf R while still providing a decent amount of the R hatchback's design and performance appeal.
Every Golf R-Line has a decent amount of kit as standard, with the most notable features being a unique R-Line bodykit and sports seats. The infotainment system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio and the R-Line also has adaptive cruise control as standard.
Top 10 best used hatchbacks 2022
The latest version of the R-Line trim is available with a choice of two engines. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol produces either 128 or 148bhp and 0-62mph times of 9.2 or 8.5 seconds. The latter is also available with an automatic gearbox, and this version also gains mild-hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption. Every petrol version will manage around 50mpg.
The 2.0-litre diesel produces 148bhp and has a similar 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds. It's the most economical in the range, returning up to 62mpg. Now only available with an automatic gearbox, the diesel is around £1,200 more expensive than the automatic petrol, so only high-mileage drivers are likely to save money by choosing the diesel.
In R-Line trim, the Golf Mk8 certainly looks the part, with its large alloy wheels and racy bodykit taking centre stage. It will certainly take a seasoned car enthusiast to tell the difference at a first glance, especially as the badges are very similar.The Golf is fairly well-built and high-tech inside, like any contemporary Volkswagen. It's a wonder why anyone would go for the massive 2.0-litre TDI diesel when the smaller, lighter, quieter and almost as economical 1.5-litre TSI petrol is part of the R-Line's engine options.
Bad points
The previous Golf, the Mk7.5, is arguably even better built than this model and, while the technology looks impressive in the new one, it's not as easy to use. Navigating through sub-menus and changing the air-conditioning temperature requires you to take your eyes off the road. Although the R-Line looks the part, if you ever see a Volkswagen Golf GTI or Volkswagen Golf R on the road, you may feel like you opted for second best.
Tyre pressure sensors
Tinted rear windows
Heated sports steering wheel
Front electric windows
Stop/Start
Automatic wipers
Sports seats
Rear electric windows
Autonomous emergency braking
Lane-keeping assist
Three ISOFIX child-seat points
Recommended optional extras
Space-saver spare wheel
We'd choose the 1.5-litre TSI petrol in a heartbeat. The fuel economy and emissions benefits of the diesel are marginal enough where road tax costs are no different. It's just as quick too, and cheaper to buy.
Volkswagen Golf hatchback review
The UK's top 10 best-selling cars 2021
Used VW Golf buying guide: 2004-08 (Mk5); 2009-13 (Mk6)
Top 10 best self-parking cars 2022


text:
class TH1;
class TTree;
class TList;

class AliVEvent;
class AliESDEvent;
class AliESDHeader;

#include <TObject.h>
#include <TString.h>
#include <TBits.h>
#include <TClonesArray.h>

#include "AliESDVertex.h"
#include "AliAnalysisTaskSE.h"
#include "AliTriggerAnalysis.h"

// task for VdM analysis producting a TTree with
//  * constrained and unconstrained vertex -> non-separation analysis
//  * timing information for V0 and for AD -> bkgd estimation
//
class AliAnalysisTaskVdM : public AliAnalysisTaskSE {
public:

  AliAnalysisTaskVdM(const char *name="AliAnalysisTaskVdM");
  virtual ~AliAnalysisTaskVdM();

  virtual void UserCreateOutputObjects();
  virtual void UserExec(Option_t* option);
  virtual void Terminate(Option_t *);
  virtual void NotifyRun();

  void SetBranchNames(TString options) { fTreeBranchNames = options; }

  TString GetListName() const { return "TL"; }
  TString GetTreeName() const { return "TE"; }
  TString GetResultsFileName() const { return "results.root"; }

  struct EventInfo {
    EventInfo()
      : fClassMask(0)
      , fClassMaskNext50(0)
      , fBCID(0)
      , fPeriod(0)
      , fTimeStamp(0)
      , fL0Inputs(0)
      , fL1Inputs(0)
      , fRunNumber(0)
      , fL2Inputs(0)
      , fOrbitID(0) {}

    void Fill(const AliVEvent *);

    ULong64_t fClassMask;
    ULong64_t fClassMaskNext50;
    UInt_t    fBCID;
    UInt_t    fPeriod;
    UInt_t    fTimeStamp;
    UInt_t    fL0Inputs;
    UInt_t    fL1Inputs;
    Int_t     fRunNumber;
    UShort_t  fL2Inputs;
    UShort_t  fOrbitID;
  } ;

  struct ADV0 {
    enum {
      kCside = 0,
      kAside = 1
    };
    ADV0() {
      for (Int_t i=0; i<2; ++i) {
        fTime[i] = -10240.0f;
        fBB[i] = fBG[i] = -1;
        fDecisionOnline[i] = fDecisionOffline[i] = -1;
      }
      for (Int_t bc=0; bc<21; ++bc)
        fPFBBA[bc] = fPFBBC[bc] = fPFBGA[bc] = fPFBGC[bc] = 0;
    }

    void FillAD(const AliVEvent *, AliTriggerAnalysis &);
    void FillV0(const AliVEvent *, AliTriggerAnalysis &);

    void FillInvalid();

    Float_t    fTime[2];            //
    Char_t     fBB[2];              //
    Char_t     fBG[2];              //
    Double32_t fDecisionOnline[2];  //[-1,3,2]
    Double32_t fDecisionOffline[2]; //[-1,3,2]
    Double32_t fPFBBA[21];          //[0,32,5]
    Double32_t fPFBBC[21];          //[0,32,5]
    Double32_t fPFBGA[21];          //[0,32,5]
    Double32_t fPFBGC[21];          //[0,32,5]
  } ;

  class TreeData : public TObject {
  public:
    TreeData()
      : TObject()
      , fEventInfo()
      , fV0Info()
      , fADInfo()
      , fIsIncompleteDAQ(kFALSE) {}

    EventInfo fEventInfo;
    ADV0      fV0Info;
    ADV0      fADInfo;
    Bool_t    fIsIncompleteDAQ;
    ClassDef(TreeData, 1);
  } ;

protected:
  void SetBranches(TTree* t);
  void FillTriggerIR(const AliESDHeader* );
  enum {
    kHistTrig,
    kNHist
  };

private:
  AliAnalysisTaskVdM(const AliAnalysisTaskVdM&); // not implemented
  AliAnalysisTaskVdM& operator=(const AliAnalysisTaskVdM&); // not implemented

  TString          fTreeBranchNames;     //

  AliTriggerAnalysis fTriggerAnalysis;   //!

  TList           *fList;                //!
  TH1             *fHist[kNHist];        //!
  TTree           *fTE;                  //!
  TBits            fIR1InteractionMap;   //!
  TBits            fIR2InteractionMap;   //!
  AliESDVertex     fVertexSPD;           //!
  AliESDVertex     fVertexTPC;           //!
  AliESDVertex     fVertexTracks;        //!
  AliESDVertex     fVertexTracksUnconstrained; //!
  TClonesArray     fTriggerIRs;          //!
  TString          fFiredTriggerClasses; //!
  TreeData         fTreeData;            //!

  ClassDef(AliAnalysisTaskVdM, 2);
} ;

#endif // ALIANALYSISTASKVDM_H


text:
Emmanuel Petit Exclusive: Wilfried Zaha would be perfect for Arsenal in crucial summer
Arsenal have wasted plenty of cash over the years but Paddy ambassador Emmanuel Petit knows exactly who they should sign this summer.
Bet Builder tips: Idah the star in this Watford v Norwich 19/1 punt
Andrew Cunneen / Football Tips / 8 mins ago
Paddy Power Register
By Emmanuel Petit / Football / 8 months ago
Wilfried Zaha has been repeatedly linked with Arsenal in recent years. Arsenal used to play with wingers and guys who could make a difference on the flank, who would take responsibility and show the hunger and desire to get the victory – that was the Arsenal that I knew!
When I played for Arsenal in the late 90s, we had Marc Overmars, Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires – these players were so exciting to watch. Zaha is an unpredictable player, you don't know what he's going to do with the ball.
He's got a strong character, and sometimes he needs to control of his emotions, but he's exactly the kind of player Arsenal need.
He'd get the fans excited and stimulate his own team-mates too.
For ages, Arsenal haven't had a player who could dribble or make a difference with the ball at his feet. With Zaha, they would have somebody capable of taking responsibility and not scared to take on defenders.
This is a vital summer for Arsenal and they must get it right
Arsenal have to improve their squad in the summer transfer window. The questions over the club and the dressing room have been the same every single season. Before Arsene Wenger left the club, the last two seasons of his reign were not very good.
The questions were already on the table, and it was the same with Unai Emery and now with Mikel Arteta, people are questioning him – but the main questions are over the dressing room and the profile of the players Arsenal buy and sell. The questions remain the same and they still haven't been answered.
they must get it right this time.
Arsenal have finished eighth in the Premier League in the last two seasons. In the last two decades, I've never seen Arsenal drop so far down the table. In the transfer market, I know it's a question of money, but Arsenal have the money.
They probably can't compete for the big players, but they need to get decent players, with the right mentality. Arsenal have spent £40m, £50m, £60m on players recently and I've found myself wondering, 'Why have they bought that guy? Give me one argument, one reason why you bought this player'. I really don't understand.
If you add to that the frustration of the fans, after a year without football, and the Super League situation as well, when the fans return to the stadium they will be wanting to see a proper team with the right mentality and the right players. Otherwise, that could be the last season for the owners if they're still doing what they're doing.
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