text:
LOBO, TEXAS
The Ghost Town with a Swimming Pool
Culberson County, West Texas
30° 48' 51" N, 104° 45' 11" W (30.814167, -104.753056)
On U.S. 90
12 miles S of Van Horn the county seat
24 miles W of Valentine
Lobo, Texas Area Hotels › Van Horn Hotels
Lobo Valley Stock Ranch, "The only Exclusive Breeders of Black Mooley Cattle in El Paso Co" July 10, 1909
Letterhead courtesy General Land Office
Lobo with an empty swimming pool is appropriate, since Lobo lived and died on the availability of water.
The original Van Horn Wells were not far from present day Lobo and the town (Lobo) was once a rival with Van Horn for the Culberson county seat. The town actually appears on the 2000 Official Texas Department of Transportation Map, but the sad truth is: the vacancy sign is up, out in Lobo.
This may or may not have been the first child born in Lobo
TE Archives
In 1907 Lobo had it's own post office and enough water to sustain the people who had been lured there by land promoters a few years later. The promoters lied, which is nothing new, but the buyers sued and won, which is noteworthy. The promoters were forced to built the hotel (later destroyed in a 1929 earthquake) and amenities that they had promised.
The town's water had been discovered before the Civil War and the wells were the reason for the town to be on the San Antonio-San Diego Stagecoach Mail Route. The water even seemed abundant enough to make the town a water stop for steam locomotives in the 1880s.
The town lost population after the seat went to Van Horn in 1911 and the 20 remaining inhabitants lay in a sleepy twilight until efficient pumps came into being just after WWII. (The post office had already closed in 1942). Enough water was produced to irrigate hundreds of acres of cotton and still have enough left over for an occasional shower. The pumping proved expensive, though, and wells were shut by the late 1960s.
When the population approached 90 people, the water table fell. The population was estimated at 40 in the mid 1970s when a man named Bill Crist bought the entire town. He opened the store for awhile, but crime reared its familiar head and the building was burned. The entire town with motel, diner, several houses and a gas station were offered for sale in 1988 for $60,000. As you can see by Mr. Penney's photos, the place remains as it was. A modern ghost town, with limited water and an annual rainfall of 13.2 inches.
The Culberson County map shows a cemetery for Van Horn Wells, but none for Lobo.
Hotel in Lobo ca. 1910
De Golyer Library, Southern Methodist University, Wikimediacommons
"Albert A. Ivy 1970's at that time owner of Lobo Texas. We used it for housing for Evergreen Farms for a time in the 70's"
Photo courtesy Howard Ivy, January 05, 2008
Lobo Texas, 1915-1917
"My father (Bert E. Bailey) and his family lived in Lobo, Texas 1915-1917. My grandfather, Lee Bailey ran a small cattle and horse ranch there. My Dad said that a couple of times, all the children of Lobo were taken to the court house in Van Horn for safety during raids by Mexican bandits.
There was a school in Lobo at the time. Fewer than a dozen kids attended.
My grandmother, Lena Bailey, bought a camera somewhere and took all of the old family photos. She was actually a pretty good photographer. I don't know where the negatives were developed.
I went with my Dad to Lobo in 1956 to locate the old place. We found the location, but there was very little left of it."
- Wayne Bailey, Richardson, Texas, November 25, 2011
"My Dad, Bert Bailey, with Sister Orla and brother Buster enjoying themselves at the Bailey property in Lobo." - Wayne Bailey
My folk's place in Lobo. On the back of the photo "Bert and Sis just home from school & Mrs. Bettersons chaps come home with them". - Wayne Bailey
"The T&P yard at Lobo" - Wayne Bailey
"T&P" photo enlarged - "A locomotive is being serviced" - Wayne Bailey
"T&P" photo enlarged - "cattle cars are in place to receive cattle" - Wayne Bailey
Lobo, Texas Today
Lobo, Texas today is a private property. Three Germans from Frankfurt, Germany purchased Lobo on November 5, 2001.
Lobo - A favorite stop for photographers:
The closed gas station behind barbed wire fence
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2009
Signs of the Times in Lobo
The swimming pool in Lobo
Photo courtesy Rob Hann, 2001
The desert reclaims the motel
Photo courtesy Jason Penney
Lobo For Sale
"Originally a truck stop owned by Buddy Griffin, a farmer in Lobo Valley" - Ron Segura
Culberson County 1920s map showing Lobo
Near Jeff Davis County line
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
Lobo Texas Nearby Destinations
12 miles north on Hwy 90 to Van Horn, another 55 miles north on Hwy 54 to The Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The park contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest elevation in Texas (8749 ft.).
Book Hotel › Van Horn Hotels
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Lobo, Texas Forum
I think my Great Aunt, Vivian Hackett, was born in Lobo Texas, January 1899. My Great grandmother was Ida Belle Hackett. J. D. Hackett would have been an employee of the railroad, probably telegrapher. I have never been able to find Vivian Hackett's birth certificate though. Any ideas on how I could find a birth certificate or record for Culbertson county? - Kimberly Ammeter, December 28, 2016
My family and I lived in Lobo from 1978-80. I had a welding and mechanic business set up in the old service station. I provided services to the local farms. In '79 Miller Beer made a commercial in Lobo. It was called Jack's Chili Bus. Ruth Bussy was there because her husband was in the commercial. She parked her motor-home along side of my shop. They were very nice people and stayed for about 5 days. We really enjoyed it. I can't remember the owners name but it was a couple who sold rocks. In fact they moved to Marfa and set up a rock shop and left us to take care of the town.
I just recently visited Lobo in October, 2004. There are three Germans (I think they are Alexander, Claus and Annette) who now own Lobo and are doing some restoration and repairs to some of the buildings. ... It's right on Highway 90. Interesting place to visit and sets in a beautiful valley. - Clarence Louviere, November 09, 2004
My uncle, Edward Eugene Johnson, was a section foreman in Lobo, Texas in the early 1930s. His father, my grandfather, William R. Johnson lived there with him. They lived in the Railroad Section House. Uncle Eugene took my grandfather to Valentine to a doctor and he died there in March, 1936. The Section house probably dose not exist now but sure would like to find a picture of it or even of the water tower for the railroad there. - Jane Johnson Taylor - September 10, 2003
It has come to my attention some people are trying to resurrect Lobo, Texas. See web site www.lobo-texas.com - Lon Braselton, Allen, Texas, August 01, 2003
In searching for information on nearby, Candelaria, Texas, I came upon the article on "Lobo For Sale", this particular building was originally a truck stop owned by Buddy Griffin, a farmer in Lobo Valley, I worked the truck stop during summer vacation and Christmas vacation 1958 while a student at Texas Western College (now UTEP) in El Paso, Texas. A great place to save money since there was no place to spent it! - Ron Segura, April 29, 2002
Subject: Albert Ivy owned Lobo
My name is Howard Ivy. Albert Ivy was my dad. Even named my hound dog after the town. We used it for housing for Evergreen Farms for a time in the 70`s - Howard Ivy, April 28, 2002
Well, except for seeing it in person to totally round out my final decision, I am, and let me make this clear, 95% positive that I will purchase LOBO, Texas !!!! - Mike G., Pennsylvania
I enjoyed your article immensely. Can you point me to any other information about Lobo? Is it still for sale, and who owns it today? I'm actually interested in buying it if it's available. I've always wanted my own town. ;) - Larry T., Charlotte, NC
Lobo, Texas Nearby Towns:
Van Horn the county seat
See Culberson County | Jeff Davis County | Hudspeth County
Van Horn Hotels | More Hotels
Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A very special Young Artist concert brings the winner of the prestigious BBC Young Musician 2018, pianist Lauren Zhang, to the 2019 Festival. Her performance to win the competition was broadcast live on BBC4 and BBC Radio 3 to widespread critical acclaim. She went on to make her BBC Proms debut and is now in demand as a soloist throughout the UK and further afield.


In 1996 Nico moved to Kansas City and began working for a local landscape company, Brothers Company, which soon changed its name to True North Outdoor. After a few years True North sold its grounds maintenance division to Signature Landscape, and Nico stayed on to continue his career as an irrigation technician. He enjoyed the challenge of scheduling his daily workload in an attempt to make his days most efficient.
In 2007 Nico was recommended to begin training as a production manager for the Northland Branch. Nico viewed the opportunity as a chance to evolve and learn more about the landscape industry and management. Throughout his 11 years as a production manager Nico has learned to identify many types of plants, both annual and perennial & has learned how to plan ahead for the maintenance of those plants. Also, Nico has learned to interact with crews in order to get the best quality of work for Signature's clients. Nico has also learned to maintain strong communication with Signature's Account Managers to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Nico is highly respected by Signature's field staff, management, and executives. Signature's Northland Branch Manager, Ben Boyd, states he can count on one hand the people he trusts and respects as much as he does his friend, Nico Gallegos!
When Nico isn't managing crews he enjoys visiting with family. Nico also enjoys going fishing at Smithville Lake. Nico's preferred fish to catch are Carp as he enjoys adding these to his homemade soups and a Hispanic specialty ceviche.


So I broke down and bought Clip Studio Paint Pro so I'm looking forward to using it to streamline my workflow a bit. I love Krita, but I think Clip Studio will be faster and smoother to illustrate with.
It feels good to read something that humanizes gay folks in such a homophobic world. Thanks! It is good to see Thomas get some good lovin'!
It's funny how when I was Christian there was no way I would have written or drawn a scene like this. I'm glad the homophobia they wanted me to have is long gone.


I managed to catch up with two of our energetic Day Care Centre guests this morning, taking full advantage of autumn's array of transformative colours, all the better in bright, still warm sunshine. As with many of our guests, the simple joy of ambling through our gardens is a lovely precursor to a hearty lunch. One's appetite piqued, as they say. Simple fresh air too, definitely not to be underestimated. In the round there is nothing quite like both recognising and thoroughly enjoying the outside space we have at Penpergwm House before we are to contend with the darker, colder, winter months. That isn't to say that those intrepid lovers of nature, knowing the heartiness of a bracing walk, will not feign from donning coats and hats, far from it. In fact I have an assurance this morning, if, and it might well be the case, that if the snow falls as it did last winterit will not hold us back in the least. That leathery crunch of snow underfoot; the birds foraging, surviving in the true sense of the word is surely enough to imbue us with a sheer and insatiable gratitude for things whatever the season. And what better way, then, to see the mountains, Mynydd y Garn-Fawr and The Blorenge in its ermine white cloak while chatting, red-cheeked and contented with friends new and old.


cloud-first world to a new world that is going to be made up of an intelligent cloud and intelligent edge". "Creating the intelligent edge is a step toward realising the promise of a world populated with tiny intelligent devices at every turn -- embedded in our clothes, scattered around our homes and offices," said John Roach, a world-renowned expert in AI and machine learning, in a Microsoft blog post. The researchers imagine all sorts of intelligent devices that could be created, from smart soil-moisture sensors deployed for precision irrigation on remote farms to brain implants that warn users of impending seizures so that they can get to a safe place and call a caregiver.
The intelligent devices are part of the so-called Internet of Things, or IoT, except that these things are intended to be smart, or intelligent, even without an Internet connection. "The dominant paradigm is that these devices are dumb. They sense their environment and transmit their sensor readings to the cloud where all of the machine learning happens. Unfortunately, this paradigm does not address a number of critical scenarios that we think can transform the world," said Manik Varma, Senior Researcher with Microsoft Research India and a co-leader of the project.
"The intelligent devices are part of the so-called Internet of Things, or IoT, except that these things are intended to be smart, or intelligent, even without an Internet connection," the blog post added. The drive to embed AI on tiny devices is part of a broader initiative within Microsoft's research organisation to envision technologies that could be pervasive a decade from now.


text:
Bill Would Keep Corrupting Influence Out of Montana Elections
Nick Chrestenson Published: January 19, 2023
Photo by Vladimir Solomianyi on Unsplash
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 18, 2023, a bill heard in the Senate was all about keeping corporate influences out of the official administration of Montana's elections.
Senator Shelley Vance sponsored Senate Bill 117, which would prohibit state and local governments from using outside money to conduct elections, instead requiring that all election administration costs be paid for with public funds.
Vance said Montana's elections are not for sale and that elections are decided by the voting public. She believes it's not appropriate for anyone other than the public to be funding the administration of elections.
"There is no room for even the appearance of a corrupting influence or a tipping of the scales when it comes to the official operations of our elections," Vance said.
According to Vance, SB 117 establishes a felony penalty for violations of its provisions keeping the official state administration of elections free of outside influence.
"A person who purposely or knowingly violates this section is guilty of a felony and shall be punished my imprisonment for not less than one year or more than 10 years, or by a fine of not more than $50,000," Vance said. "I put that penalty in there because citizens need to have belief and faith in government services that are provided to them."
Vance said this is a straightforward election integrity bill that will strengthen Montana's confidence in our election processes.
"The people that would be making or had made these decisions with the 2020 grant money are local elected officials," Vance said. "I think that we need to hold our local elected officials accountable. Our citizens need to believe in our government and right now some don't and that kind of breaks my heart."
A similar bill to this session's SB 117 narrowly failed on the Senate floor last session, but Vance believes the issue of outside money flowing into the official administration of elections has received a lot of attention over the past two years and that people are much more aware of it now.
Election Memes That Will Make You Laugh or Cry
LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them
Using data from the BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report, Stacker identified the most common and costly types of scams in 2022.
Source: Bill Would Keep Corrupting Influence Out of Montana Elections
Filed Under: Missoula County Elections


text:
package com.mapr.synth;

import com.google.common.collect.Queues;
import com.mapr.synth.distributions.LongTail;
import com.mapr.synth.distributions.TermGenerator;
import com.mapr.synth.distributions.WordGenerator;
import org.apache.mahout.common.RandomUtils;
import org.apache.mahout.math.jet.random.AbstractContinousDistribution;
import org.apache.mahout.math.jet.random.Uniform;
import org.apache.mahout.math.random.Sampler;

import java.net.Inet4Address;
import java.net.InetAddress;
import java.net.UnknownHostException;
import java.util.PriorityQueue;
import java.util.Random;

/**
 * Generates kind of realistic log lines consisting of a user id (a cookie), an IP address and a query.
 */
public class LogGenerator implements Sampler<LogLine> {
    private PriorityQueue<LogLine> eventBuffer = Queues.newPriorityQueue();
    private PriorityQueue<User> users = Queues.newPriorityQueue();

    private LongTail<InetAddress> ipGenerator = new LongTail<InetAddress>(1, 0.5) {
        Random gen = new Random();

        @Override
        protected InetAddress createThing() {
            int address = gen.nextInt();
            try {
                return Inet4Address.getByAddress(new byte[]{
                        (byte) (address >>> 24),
                        (byte) (0xff & (address >>> 16)),
                        (byte) (0xff & (address >>> 8)),
                        (byte) (0xff & (address))
                });
            } catch (UnknownHostException e) {
                throw new RuntimeException("Can't happen with numeric IP address", e);
            }
        }
    };

    private WordGenerator words = new WordGenerator("word-frequency-seed", "other-words");
    private TermGenerator terms = new TermGenerator(words, 1, 0.8);
    private TermGenerator geo = new TermGenerator(new WordGenerator(null, "geo-codes"), 10, 0);

    // the average user visits once per day, but there is a LOT of variation between users
    private AbstractContinousDistribution sessionRateDistribution = new Uniform(1.0 / 24 / 3600, 1.0 / 24 / 3600, RandomUtils.getRandom());

    public Iterable<User> getUsers() {
        return users;
    }

    public LogGenerator(int userCount) {
        for (int i = 0; i < userCount; i++) {
            users.add(new User(ipGenerator.sample(), geo.sample(), terms, sessionRateDistribution.nextDouble()));
        }
    }

    public LogLine sample() {
        LogLine firstEvent = eventBuffer.peek();
        double t1 = firstEvent != null ? firstEvent.getT() : Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
        double t2 = users.peek().getNextSession();

        while (t2 < t1) {
            User u = users.poll();

            // generate a session
            u.session(eventBuffer);

            // user now has new time for next session
            users.add(u);

            // if u.session() schedules an event immediately, then this will never
            // allow another loop
            firstEvent = eventBuffer.peek();
            t1 = firstEvent != null ? firstEvent.getT() : Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
            t2 = users.peek().getNextSession();
        }
        return eventBuffer.poll();
    }

    public int getUserCount() {
        return users.size();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


How often do you feel Overwhelmed with life?
Have you a really high expectation of yourself?
Do you feel guilt for not being everything to everyone?
I've recorded my Overwhelm Tapping Meditation that I used in one of my workshops and the feedback I've had from it has always been positive. With people feeling lighter and less stressed.
Tap along with me and use your words where you feel they are more appropriate, the more specific you are to how you are feeling the bigger shifts you will have.


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With long, blonde curls and a polka-dotted button-down, Kate Clopeck looks like the typical Middlebury student from just-outside-of-Boston. But Clopeck's educational experience and entrepreneurial vision — not to mention her atypical jump from a technical engineering career to a social enterprise — set her apart from the crowd.
Clopeck described in detail the reality for many of the residents of the Ghanaian villages where she works. Because of rocky soil in northern Ghana, drilling for water is not a solution. The existing water sources — known as "dugouts" — are extremely muddy.
In 2008, Clopeck and Vanessa Green, a colleague at the MIT Graduate Program of Technology and Policy, took it upon themselves to design a solution. After receiving funding from MIT to focus on water treatment solutions in Ghana, Clopeck and Green founded Community Water Solutions (CWS), an organization that works with women in Ghanaian villages to launch clean water businesses use a simple water treatment process.
Although each step can be expressed in just a short phrase, Clopeck spoke openly about the extensive challenges at each stage. For example, Clopeck described how she and Green realized that they would have to compromise on their goal of women's empowerment by utilizing male village elders to designate women suitable for selling water, instead of holding open community meetings as they had hoped.
Clopeck explained that a key component of their approach is the 5-year monitoring process. CWS uses full-time staff members to communicate with women in local households and randomly test drinking water for five years after the project has been implemented in the village in order to evaluate efficacy and document best practices.
Ghanaian women, who have traditionally taken responsibility for gathering water in village life, earn a small supplemental income — around $1/week — from these treatment facilities. Although their incomes may be modest, the most important part is that the water is affordable for the village residents. Each bucket of clean water costs approximately 10 cents.
Over the years, Clopeck has observed varying levels of receptiveness to the projects.
"Behavior change does take a long time … but what it does mean is that at any point when someone does decide to drink clean water, they have that option," said Clopeck.
The sustainability of scalability of Clopeck's organization rests on their fellowship program, which was launched in 2010. Fellows, who are typically students, are trained to go into the field and introduce the CWS model in a village of their own — all within a three week timeline. Although the initial team started with just five students, CWS has now seen around 155 fellows, and is currently accepting applications for three separate summer sessions. Now, sessions tend to include 30-40 fellows.
Hannah Stonebraker '13 participated in the CWS fellowship program both as a fellow and as a leader. The experience left an impact on her academic pursuits at Middlebury.
CWS is currently accepting applications for their summer fellowship session.
Clopeck also spoke at the TEDx event at Middlebury on Saturday March 9. Once available online, her TEDx talk can be viewed online here.


text:
Macrocera hudsoni är en tvåvingeart som beskrevs av Tonnoir 1927. Macrocera hudsoni ingår i släktet Macrocera och familjen platthornsmyggor. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Platthornsmyggor
hudsoni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Viper Special Ops Pack allows the user to control the overall volume as it can be reduced with its compression straps but also increased with its molle system. This has 3 zipped compartments - front, middle and main, main compartment has hydration system pocket with concealed hole at the top for feeder, molle front and side compatible with the viper modular system, multiple compression straps, quick release belt strap, Velcro ID panel, 2x V-lock, 1x D-lock. Capacity 45ltr (approx).


text:
Fido refers to:

Dogs

 Fido (dog), a famous dog and symbol of loyalty
 Fido (Lincoln dog), favorite dog of Abraham Lincoln

Art, entertainment, and media

Fictional characters
 Fido Dido, a cartoon character associated with the soft drink 7 Up
 Fidough, a Pokémon species

Film
 Fido (film), a Canadian comedy about a zombie named "Fido"

Music
 Fido (band), a punk/rock band from Melbourne, Australia
 Fido, one half of Alexis & Fido, a reggaeton duo

Visual art
 Fairfield Industrial Dog Object, or Fido, a sculpture in Fairfield, Victoria, Australia

People
 Beata Fido (born 1967), Polish actress

Internet and communication
 FIDO Alliance, an industry consortium working on internet authentication mechanisms, including the U2F protocol for two-factor authentication.
 Fido Solutions, a Canadian cellular, home phone and Internet provider
 FidoNet, a worldwide bulletin board system computer network, related to the FIDO bulletin board software package.
 A microcontroller version of the Freescale ColdFire (part of the Motorola 68000 series)
 .fido a type of Cineon Graphics Data file format.

Military and space

 Fido Explosives Detector, a portable explosives detector
 Fire Direction Officer or FDO, the third ranking officer in a US artillery battery
 Flight Dynamics Officer, a position in ground control of space missions
 Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation, a fog dispersal system developed in the Second World War
 Mark 24 Mine or FIDO, a U.S. acoustic homing torpedo used during World War II
 Roger Grosjean, an MI5 double agent (codename Fido) in World War II

See also


text:
Microporellus subumbonatus är en svampart som beskrevs av Corner 1987. Microporellus subumbonatus ingår i släktet Microporellus och familjen Polyporaceae.   Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Basidiesvampar
subumbonatus


Our prime focus is for static information websites. A database, in conjunction with an Administration website, may also be included to allow clients to provide their own sections of text information on the website. A number of clients have done this to provide, for example, costs for their services.
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Domain name registration (eg. www.bruceDesign.ca) requires finding out if a domain you want to use is available and then registering the domain.
Web hosting and domain name registration from any third party can be arranged by Bruce Design. Domain registration is often now included in the hosting fee.
Some sites require a secure login and a backend database to store information required on the website. Bruce Design can support these features.
It is recommended you fill out the Quote form on this website to get an idea for the cost and time required to design and implement your site. For simple static sites(less than five pages) this can be very quick and inexpensive ($300).
© 2015 Bruce Design. All Rights Reserved.


The hardware Internet Protocol Address tracing evidence is computer produced exclusively for 102.156.245.85. This host has the Internet Protocol Address 102.156.245.85.The IP (Internet protocol) adheres to proper specifications of an IPv4 IP (hardware Internet protocol), which has a decimal value of 1721562453.
An organization that manages 102.156.245.85 is TOPNET. An Internet Service Provider (also known as ISP) that controls the hardware to maintain the query identity is TOPNET.
The data for this tracking information pinpoints that the connection to this host has an assigned geographic location in Tunisia. The timezone of the address of this host is Africa/Tunis.The last user of this IP (a.k.a. Internet protocol) that connected to the website was using a computer device running Android 8.1.0 with Chrome 72.0.3626.121 browser.


text:
'ASKING FOR SEGREGATION'
MSNBC's Joy Reid demands unvaccinated Americans should be taxed HIGHER for not getting jabbed
Chris Bradford
10:56 ET, Jan 13 2022
Updated: 11:22 ET, Jan 13 2022
MSNBC host Joy Reid has demanded that unvaccinated Americans should be taxed higher for not getting the Covid jab.
The commentator, 53, made the remarks on her show The ReidOut on Wednesday afternoon.
MSNBC commentator Joy Reid sparked fury after claiming that unvaccinated Americans should be taxed higher for not getting the jabCredit: MSNBC
Scientists say that vaccination against Covid is safe and the most effective means of preventing infectionCredit: AFP
Reid told viewers: "At some point, I feel like people who are wilfully unvaccinated, fine, don't get vaccinated.
"But they need to start to pay a little more of the cost of what this is doing to our system."
The presenter was heavily criticized and slammed on Twitter for her remarks.
One said: "Ohhh, Joy, you may want to think this one through (for once)."
While another quipped: "You know what… come to my house and try to TAX my freedom."
A third user wrote: "She's asking for segregation and fines on a minority.. f***ing irony I tell you."
Most read in The US Sun
GABBY CONFESSION
Brian Laundrie admitted to killing Gabby Petito in notebook, FBI reveals
BUM DEAL
China brings back anal swab testing for Covid two weeks before Winter Olympics
ROCK LEGEND DEAD
Meat Loaf died after 'catching Covid' aged 74, reports claim
But, some social media users said they agreed with Reid as the host's remarks sparked a flurry of discussion online.
As it stands, the federal government has not made Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for the American public.
But, earlier this week, the Biden Administration said that federal agencies should implement weekly Covid testing for unvaccinated government employees that are working on-site, Reuters reports.
Around 3.5million federal workers were required to be fully vaccinated by November 22 as part of a mandate imposed by the White House.
Unvaccinated federal workers were warned that they faced potential disciplinary measures if they refused to get the jab.
Last month, data revealed that around 92 percent of employees had received at least one vaccine dose.
The mandate doesn't apply to workers in the judiciary, legislature, or the US Postal Service.
'IN THE MIDST OF A SURGE'
Biden is set to reveal that the federal government is ordering another 500million at-home Covid tests.
It will bring the number to one billion but it's not known when Americans will receive the testing kits.
Meanwhile, vice president Kamala Harris told the Today show that tests will be distributed "shortly".
She added: "I think it's going to be by next week but soon, absolutely soon, and it is a matter of urgency for us.
"Every day it is time for us to agree that there are things and tools that are available to us to slow this thing down. We are in the midst of a surge."
The White House is ramping up efforts to "surge" military medical personnel to help overwhelmed health facilities mitigate the effects of Omicron.
Hospitals across the country are struggling because of staff shortages as workers are forced to quarantine due to the virus.
Janet Woodcock, of the Food and Drug Administration, warned lawmakers in Congress that Omicron will infect "most people", the Associated Press reports.
She said: "I think it's hard to process what's actually happening right now, which is: Most people are going to get COVID, all right?
'RAMPING UP'
"What we need to do is make sure the hospitals can still function — transportation, other essential services are not disrupted while this happens."
And Anthony Fauci, Biden's top health chief, warned that Omicron will "ultimately find just about everybody", CNN reports.
He told J. Stephen Morrison, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies: "Those who have been vaccinated and boosted would get exposed.
"Some, maybe a lot of them, will get infected but will very likely, with some exemptions do reasonable well in the sense of not having hospitalization and death."
It was reported that more than 145,000 people were in hospitals with Covid across the country on Tuesday.
It's a higher statistic than the previous peak of 142,246 reported last January, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
More than 754,000 daily Covid-19 cases have been reported on average over the past week, Johns Hopkins University data reveals.
Omicron accounts for 98.3 percent of new infections, according to estimates published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But, only 23 percent of Americans have received both vaccine doses and are boosted.
Only 23 percent of Americans have received both vaccine doses and their boosters, according to CDC dataCredit: AFP
Vaccine effectiveness & Omicron
Expert studies have shown that the risk of severe illness from Covid-19 is reduced by 90 percent or more among people who are fully vaccinated.
While there are breakthrough cases of Covid among people who are vaccinated, they are rare.
In the event of a breakthrough case, victims are highly unlikely to be hospitalized with severe or deadly symptoms from the virus.
Health officials have advised that the Omicron variant is more infectious and could lead to further breakthrough cases.
Yet the spread can be offset by all vaccinated Americans receiving a booster shot.
Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant.
With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
Studies have also shown that side effects from the vaccine are extremely rare.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


The Law Offices of Hwang & Weiss, P.C. has handled over 9,000 immigration cases since it was established in 1987. We are a full service immigration firm that handles both employment-based and family-based immigration cases.
We provide services for preparing applications for U.S. naturalization and applications for certificate of citizenship.
We provide litigation services such as challenging arbitrary and capricious government actions (including unreasonable delays). We also help clients respond to Requests for Evidence and file Motions to Reopen/Reconsider and Administrative Appeals.
Law Offices of Hwang & Weiss, P.C.


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                default:
                    print("-----Mutable video exportation complete.\(self.mutableVideoURL)")
                }
        })
    }

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Debating on Eric Garcia's possible move to Barcelona
Udhav Arora
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Over the course of the 2020/21 season, Ronald Koeman has seen his centre-halves fall quicker than skittles in a bowling game. And that is not just a reference to the numerous injuries the backline has suffered, but the flailing form of Barcelona's defenders.
Game after game, one of Gerard Piqué or Clément Lenglet is at the helm of a mistake that costs the club three points. This began from the second game of the season, when Lenglet picked up a red card against Celta de Vigo. It hardly caused trouble for Barcelona but it was the start of a turmoil which has seen its defenders accumulate one error at the very least in every game.
It has not led to a goal for Barcelona on every occasion, but it sure has been the reason for several raised eyebrows. And if the errors were an issue, an injury plague in the middle of the season hit the team like a truck, which at one point left them with just one fit central defender in the form of Lenglet. Fans knew, however, that this may be a short-term solution as they had Eric Garcia to look forward to in the winter.
Gerard Pique's injury spelt a canyon of trouble For Barcelona. (Photo via Getty)
Garcia has been linked with the club since the summer of 2020, with a move looking inevitable during that time. In fact, he is one step one away from receiving the elusive 'here we go' from Fabrizio Romano.
After the transfer failed to go through during that time after the two parties kept knocking foreheads over the price tag. Now it seems like Manchester City have let go of their hopes of getting Garcia to sign a new contract, with his current one expiring in June 2021, and they would definitely be interested in letting the Spaniard leave the club, even if it is for a discount price.
That said, with Ronald Araújo coming into his own since his promotion to the first team, and Óscar Mingueza becoming an unlikely hero, a huge question stays afloat — do Barcelona really need Eric Garcia? Barça Universal assess the pros and cons of the transfer.
By Jan-Michael Marshall
At only 19-years old, Eric García has already earned the trust of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. He has featured in 25 matches over the past two seasons and has often repaid Guardiola's faith in him with his promising performances.
On December 1st, for example, he had a solid outing against FC Porto, helping City earn a clean sheet. In the match, García completed 94.6% of his 92 passes, with a progressive distance of 613 yards, he also had 12 successful pressures, one interception, and one tackle.
Garcia floats on the ball. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
He has all the traits of a Barcelona centre-back, but that's not surprising given he spent nine years with the club before moving to Manchester in 2017. García may not impress with his aerial prowess or physical attributes, but he plays beyond his years. This is showcased through his composure and tactical intelligence, as well as his comfortability on the ball.
He can read the game extremely well and is adept at intercepting the ball and breaking up attacking moves. This season he is averaging 1.27 interceptions per game, 0.55 blocks, and 1.27 tackles. Additionally, García has won 3.6 duels per 90 minutes this season, further boasting of his defensive skill and intelligence.
The Spaniard is completing 93.9% of his passes this season and leads City's squad with the most progressive and total distance passing yards per game this season. His 7.45 passes into the final third per match are also fourth-best in the squad.
His comfortability with the ball at his feet make him a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola and the tactics he implements, choosing to play the ball out from the back. García also leads City this season with most progressive carrying distance per game at 210.5 yards, a stat measuring the total distance a player carries the ball at their feet towards the opposition goal.
Garcia is a knight on the ball, always marching. (Photo via Imago)
"He's so smart, so intelligent. His physicality is not so, so strong, but he resolves the situation by thinking. I like to work with smart people, intelligent people. He is one of them. I can count on him."
Pep Guardiola on Garcia | Pre-game press conference vs Dinamo Zagreb, 2019
Place in the squad
With Gerard Piqué out for what looks like could be the entire season — and not to mention at the tail end of his career —, Samuel Umtiti's nagging injuries, and Clement Lenglet's recent dip in form, Barça need more bodies in their backline. Although youngsters Ronald Araújo and Oscar Mingueza have impressed so far this season, it will barely hurt to have another centre-back, especially one who is so young and has so much potential.
García would provide even more competition for that position which can only bode well for the team. Also, if Koeman continues to implement his new formation incorporating three centre backs, it would help to have another option in García.
Mingueza and Garcia, not Mingueza or Garcia. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
With Lenglet, Araújo, Mingueza, and García, Barça's backline would be set for the next decade or so, barring any injuries or unforeseen circumstances. If Koeman opts for two centre-backs, Araújo and García could make a deadly duo as the Uruguayan's physical prowess and raw tackling ability complement García's anticipation and prowess on the ball.
The Spaniard's composure and passing ability would help Barça continue building up from the back and maintaining dominance with possession. His tactical intelligence and maturity would make him a more than worthy addition to the squad, and his return to Barcelona would be welcomed by most. García wouldn't join the Blaugrana as just a back-up defender, rather someone who can immediately help the first team.
Finances & Transfer Policy
Simply put, Barça must capitalize on the opportunity to buy a young and talented player with high potential for such a low price. García has turned down contract offers from Manchester City, which means he will become a free-agent in the summer against the wishes of his club. Owing to the same, Barcelona can negotiate his transfer back on a minimal fee, even though the Manchester outfit will not be too gloomy about him leaving for free given their mammoth finances.
Nevertheless, it's likely that City reject any lowball offers from the Catalans and García can be signed for free in the summer instead. Barça can potentially afford to wait until the summer to sign him, given Araújo and Mingueza's prominence, but it would still be more ideal to sign him next month.
Garcia would be an excellent addition to Barcelona. (Photo via Imago)
In recent memory, Barça have struggled with overpaying for players in the transfer market as well as managing their wage bill, thus signing García would be a step in the right direction. At only 19, he's talented enough to be a consistent starter and would not ask for outrageously high wages either.
Overall Fit
Having spent nine years at the club, it seems like García would have no trouble fitting in. He knows the city and the club like the back of his hand, and he would fit in seamlessly with Barça's crop of youngsters like Pedri, Ansu Fati, Sergiño Dest, Ronald Araújo, Riqui Puig, and Oscar Mingueza. Furthermore, his work ethic and maturity would allow him to learn from some of the best players in the world, like the player he's been most often compared to – Gerard Piqué.
With the signing of Eric García, Barcelona's defence would surely be solidified for the next decade and it would be a reassuring move for fans and the team alike. He fits a need and has the right tactical profile too. He's one for the future as well as the present, and it feels only right for him to come home.
The Devil's Advocate
By Udhav Arora
Listing a 19-year-old's weaknesses would almost sound like nitpicking, but given how important a peg he can become in the Barcelona unit, Eric Garcia needs to be a defensive prodigy.
For the most part, centre-backs tend to peak very late in their careers; Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Giorgio Chiellini, among others saw their peaks, not before 27. However, as the tide turns, and playing careers seem to stretch longer, even centre-halves experience their peak early, often stretching longer as well. Case in point being Raphaël Varane.
Additionally, Europe has seen the rise of some defensive prodigies like never before; players who have already started to establish their names into the XIs of teams. Matthijs de Ligt leads this list, with players like Jules Koundé, Wesley Fofana, Pau Torres, Kurt Zouma not too far behind. Unfortunately, Garcia does not fall into the same category.
It is almost too easy to bully Eric Garcia in the air. (Photo via Imago)
Standing at 5'11", Garcia is not particularly tall, or very athletic, and right off the bat, the Spaniard's inability to contest aerial duels becomes rather clear. Last season, where he stepped on the pitch 13 times in the Premier League, he won no more than 0.8 aerial duels per game at a success rate of 35%.
For further context, the man he is touted to replace — Gerard Piqué — won 3.7 aerial duels per game last season with a rate of 71%. His tally of 2.5/game (65%) this season, too, easily overshadows Garcia's 0.7 (22%), albeit the latter boasting of a minuscule sample size.
Additionally, Garcia, for all his brilliance, cannot track runners to save his life. His poor marking has often led to trouble in paradise for Manchester City, with the most recent example being the game against Leicester City. Fair, even the best have trouble dealing with Jamie Vardy, but games against Olympique Lyonnais from last season and West Ham from this stand as a testament to the same.
Garcia has to often make up for his slow thinking with fast running.
Luckily, Garcia is quick off the ball and makes up the time lost quickly. That, however, is an unsustainable technique in modern football where defenders can barely keep up with the pace of forwards. He escaped the blame against Lyon, but could only do as much as fouling Vardy, resulting in a penalty.
Vardy thinks quicker than Garcia and wins his side a penalty.
Competition at Barcelona
Eric Garcia is barely the prodigy he is made out to be. At 19, however, he has a lot of time to work on all of these. The unfortunate two-part news is that he has not shown enough promise to warrant a place in the Barcelona squad based on his background as a La Masia graduate.
Furthermore, he is up against two of the strongest candidates in central defence to come through the Barça youth ranks since Gerard Pique himself. Ronald Araújo and Óscar Mingueza's breakthrough season should not be taken lightly, at all, especially in context with Garcia.
Ronald Araujo has had all solid outings at the back for Barça. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Taking into account the City-starlet's last season (because of sample size), compared to Mingueza and Araújo's current season, both the Barcelona players attempt more pressures at 13.1 and 9.86 per 90 respectively when put against Garcia's 8.41. They win a larger part of their pressures at well with 34.7% and 37.5% respectively, compared to Garcia's 27%, who played in a much press-dominant system.
While Garcia is superior on the ball, especially in his ability to carry the ball out of the defence, the difference between him and Mingueza is no more than 34 yards (per 90). As for passing, Araújo has the edge over him in both seasons for long passes per game with 2.5 compared to his 2 from last season and 1.3 from this.
As it stands, Barcelona boast of three other centre-backs in the form of Piqué, Clément Lenglet, and Samuel Umtiti. Umtiti will likely be shipped out, leaving the team with one left-footed centre-back and three right-footed ones.
Given Barça's habit of building from the back, a left-footed centre-back is a priority; the spot Lenglet has made his own. Barcelona should be in the market for a left-footed centre-half, instead because Araújo and Mingueza seem more than ready to take over the mantle from Piqué.
Eric Garcia's return to Barcelona seems all but official as it stands. All it is missing is a here we go, and the official signature of the president who will take over administration late in January. His fit at the club, though, will be highly debated. Both sides of the coin weigh up quite strong argument, but as it stands, a defender with a high ceiling is returning to Barcelona, for free no less, so the financial stronghold on the deal certainly holds the gravitas over anything else.
Stats from FBRef/Sofascore/Whoscored
Related Topics:barcelonaeric garciafeaturedmanchester city
Editor-in-Chief. | I have devoted my life to two arts — photography and writing. They say a picture says a thousand words, but my idea is to click it and then write a thousand words about it myself.
Garcia can possibly become a good central defender. With Laporte, Stones, Dias and Ake at City it is maybe a good time for Garcia to leave City, but that doesnt necessarily mean he is a good choice for Barca. If he comes at Barca either Araujo or Mingueza will be overlooked and may end up leaving Barca like Garcia did in the past. Who will become a better player from the 3 in the future is difficult to say so it is a gamble getting Garcia back.
Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images
Work rate is a crucial element in a successful football side, but which Barcelona players have put in the most effort this season?
While FC Barcelona has always been renowned for their technical ability and tactical intelligence of its players, their work rate on the pitch has also played a key role in the club's greatest triumphs.
The concept is simple, but that does not detract from its importance. Players who track back to win the ball, make bursting runs to create space and passing angles, and constantly apply pressure out of possession are incredibly valuable.
While it may be impossible to quantify a player's effort with full accuracy truly, the available data can still reveal some prominent trends. With that in mind, which Barcelona players put in the highest amount of work rate statistically?
Offensive effort
First things first, time to establish a methodology. Using data from FBRef, the dataset will be filtered down to outfield players who have played five or more 90's in one of the big five European leagues in the 2020/21 season. That means each player has at least a decent sample size under their belt, so there will not be anyone with only a few ten-minute appearances off the bench.
Then, which metrics can be used to quantify effort best? With the data available, it seems like the most viable option is to try and identify box-to-box players. For that, we can use the different areas of the pitch in which players take their touches.
Each player's percentile rank for touches per 90 minutes in the defensive penalty area, defensive third, middle third, attacking third, and attacking penalty area was found. The average of those five percentiles became each player's "attacking average."
These averages were then scaled between 0 and 100 for the final "Offensive Coverage Rating." This is how the top five came out for all clubs:
Raphaël Guerreiro (Dortmund) – 100
Jordi Alba (Barcelona) – 97.5
Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain) – 94.3
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) – 92.7
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) – 92.4
Elsewhere in the top 20 are names like Andrew Robertson, Reece James, Luke Ayling of the intense Leeds United system, Ander Herrera, and Frenkie de Jong. There seems to a solid set of players who work their way up and down the pitch, either down the flank as full-backs or as energetic centre-midfielders.
How does the Barça squad stack up in particular?
As previously mentioned, the full-backs are the main standouts. The never-ending stamina of Jordi Alba is especially on display. Frenkie de Jong sits as the top non-full-back by a solid distance, reflecting his ability to drop deep in the buildup and provide dangerous runs forward.
A bit lower down the list, though, things start to look a bit weirder. It should be noted that this methodology can be a bit biased towards centre-backs. They rack up many touches in the defensive penalty area, defensive third, and middle third in a possession-based system, and the additional touches they get in the attacking penalty area off of corners and free-kicks can drive their scores pretty high.
Looking at Antoine Griezmann and Martin Braithwaite all the way at the bottom brings up another limitation. While we can track players who are active in many different areas of the pitch, we can not do the same for players who move and work a lot in the same area.
Watching Braithwaite and Griezmann definitely shows how active they are making runs in behind or across the attacking third, but because they do not drop off very often to pick up the ball, they rank low in the team.
However, those top names prove this offensive coverage metric is able to quantify box-to-box play in possession. Additionally, incorporating defensive metrics will clean things up even more.
Defensive effort
On the other side of the ball, the process is very similar. The same players and methodology will be applied, only this time with pressures instead of touches.
StatsBomb, who collect the data displayed on FBRef, define pressure as, "…applying pressure to an opposing player who is receiving, carrying, or releasing the ball." These pressures are just broken down based on the thirds of the pitch, not the penalty areas too, so only three metrics go into each player's "defensive average."
Once again, those averages are then scaled between 0 and 100, creating the "Defensive Coverage Ratings." The top five performers in these ratings were:
Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Lazio) – 100
Mikkel Damsgaard (Sampdoria) – 98.1
Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen) – 98.1
Morgan Sanson (Marseille) – 98.0
Maxence Caqueret (Lyon) – 97.2
Midfield workhorses like Fred and Adrien Silva, along with high-pressing forwards such as Diogo Jota are common throughout the rest of the top 25.
Given that Barcelona are a possession-heavy side, and one that often presses at a lower intensity, one would expect these defensive work-rate ratings to be a bit lower. Still, though, which players stand out?
Pedri comes out as the clear leader. Impressively, the teenager's score is one that would be respectable in any side. Let it serve as just another testament to his work rate and ability to perform a variety of different tasks on the pitch.
With Sergio Busquets in second, even as he ages, he is still one of Barça's most active players in terms of closing down the opposition. In third is another newcomer, as Sergiño Dest's tendency to press aggressively puts him much higher than most of the other defenders in the squad.
The tallies for the other members of the backline are quite low because they defend in a more reserved nature. This can also be attributed to the fact that Barcelona give up fewer opportunities than many teams.
With both of these two ratings in place and some solid results for top-ranking players, it is time to combine them.
Here in the endgame, we will be combining all eight metrics to create one "Overall Coverage Rating." That means touches in each third, touches in both penalty areas, and pressures in each third are all included. This way, we can see the players who cover most of the pitch overall.
The top five is comprised of:
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) – 100
Ander Herrera (Paris Saint-Germain) – 99.3
Bruno Guimarães (Lyon) – 97.6
Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) – 96.7
Idrissa Gana Gueye, Dani Carvajal, Joshua Kimmich, Renan Lodi, Arturo Vidal, Maxence Caqueret, Ezgjan Alioski, Pedri, Reece James, Mason Mount, and Mateusz Klich are among the top names as well.
Now, for the final Barcelona squad rankings:
The numbers still involve the same intricacies as those discussed for the separate offensive and defensive ratings, but at least the top five names seem to match an eye test evaluation of the squad.
Pedri has joined the team and impressed everyone with his work rate and movement. He will track an opposition runner back to the defensive third, win the ball, combine in midfield, and then get forward to be an outlet for Messi.
While not as youthful and agile, Busquets still serves as a metronome in the possession and an active defender. He will move and reposition to rack up touches in the deeper thirds and engages in defensive duels very often.
The right flank has been slightly ignored at times this season, leaving Dest isolated, but the American always brings energy. He has all the skills and the mentality to be a great modern full-back.
Dest's counterpart on the left, Jordi Alba, performs a much greater portion of his work offensively. His countless runs down the left wing have made him a key target for through balls and switches of play over the last few seasons.
Lastly, Frenkie de Jong backs up his reputation as an all-round midfielder. This season, the Dutchman is settling in more at the Camp Nou, and his surging runs forward to the penalty area have been awe-inspiring as of late.
Rivaldo (on De Jong): "It is being shown that near the area it seems that he is capable of playing better as an offensive midfielder and that he can even play a role similar to what Messi does when the Argentine is away. This is great news for Koeman." pic.twitter.com/r8aIrdMWSg
Griezmann and Braithwaite are probably the hardest done by these metrics. However, their energy, work rate and volume of runs they can provide off the ball is noticeable when watching them play, and invaluable for Barcelona.
There is no perfect way to quantify how hard a player works in-game, especially with these limited statistics. What this attempted to do, though, is focus on effort in terms moving to a variety of areas, being as involved in the match as possible, and doing so in different ways.
While not perfect, this methodology was successful in identifying some of the busiest players in the side. It should serve as a reminder of the value these players, like Pedri or de Jong, can offer beyond even their brilliant technical ability.
Given that 32-year-old Sergio Busquets and 31-year-old Jordi Alba were also near the top, it is a reminder of the potential replacements the club will be forced to make eventually. How long can these two continue to exert energy at this level? Could younger players be doing even more in those roles? How will Barça fill those holes when they move on? These are questions that need answering.


Manila, Philippines – Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan II would be leaving the upper house to become Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary this was confirmed by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
In a radio interview, Sotto said that Honasan is expected to leave the Senate by December, to serve as ad interim DICT secretary while pending approval of his nomination by the Commission on Appointments but could "still function as legislator" until his confirmation as secretary.
At present, the DICT is presently headed by an acting secretary, Eliseo Rio Jr. after DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima resigned last September 21, 2017.
Salalima had allegedly told DICT employees that he had had enough of the "corruption and interference" that plagued the department, thus he decided to leave.
President Rodrigo Duterte however denied this instead he claimed that he had asked Salalima to resign for allegedly favoring a telecommunications company.