text:
package org.apache.zeppelin.python;

import com.google.common.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
import io.grpc.ManagedChannelBuilder;
import org.apache.commons.exec.CommandLine;
import org.apache.commons.exec.environment.EnvironmentUtils;
import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;
import org.apache.commons.io.IOUtils;
import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
import org.apache.commons.lang.exception.ExceptionUtils;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.BaseZeppelinContext;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.Interpreter;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.InterpreterContext;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.InterpreterException;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.InterpreterResult;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.remote.RemoteInterpreterUtils;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.thrift.InterpreterCompletion;
import org.apache.zeppelin.interpreter.util.InterpreterOutputStream;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.CancelRequest;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.CompletionRequest;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.CompletionResponse;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.ExecuteRequest;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.ExecuteResponse;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.ExecuteStatus;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.IPythonStatus;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.StatusRequest;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.StatusResponse;
import org.apache.zeppelin.python.proto.StopRequest;
import org.apache.zeppelin.util.ProcessLauncher;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
import py4j.GatewayServer;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.net.URL;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Properties;

/**
 * IPython Interpreter for Zeppelin
 */
public class IPythonInterpreter extends Interpreter {

  private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(IPythonInterpreter.class);

  private IPythonProcessLauncher iPythonProcessLauncher;
  private IPythonClient ipythonClient;
  private GatewayServer gatewayServer;

  protected BaseZeppelinContext zeppelinContext;
  private String pythonExecutable;
  private int ipythonLaunchTimeout;
  private String additionalPythonPath;
  private String additionalPythonInitFile;
  private boolean useBuiltinPy4j = true;
  private boolean usePy4JAuth = true;
  private String secret;

  private InterpreterOutputStream interpreterOutput = new InterpreterOutputStream(LOGGER);

  public IPythonInterpreter(Properties properties) {
    super(properties);
  }

  /**
   * Sub class can customize the interpreter by adding more python packages under PYTHONPATH.
   * e.g. PySparkInterpreter
   *
   * @param additionalPythonPath
   */
  public void setAdditionalPythonPath(String additionalPythonPath) {
    LOGGER.info("setAdditionalPythonPath: " + additionalPythonPath);
    this.additionalPythonPath = additionalPythonPath;
  }

  /**
   * Sub class can customize the interpreter by running additional python init code.
   * e.g. PySparkInterpreter
   *
   * @param additionalPythonInitFile
   */
  public void setAdditionalPythonInitFile(String additionalPythonInitFile) {
    this.additionalPythonInitFile = additionalPythonInitFile;
  }

  public void setAddBulitinPy4j(boolean add) {
    this.useBuiltinPy4j = add;
  }

  public BaseZeppelinContext buildZeppelinContext() {
    return new PythonZeppelinContext(
        getInterpreterGroup().getInterpreterHookRegistry(),
        Integer.parseInt(getProperty("zeppelin.python.maxResult", "1000")));
  }

  @Override
  public void open() throws InterpreterException {
    try {
      if (ipythonClient != null) {
        // IPythonInterpreter might already been opened by PythonInterpreter
        return;
      }
      pythonExecutable = getProperty("zeppelin.python", "python");
      LOGGER.info("Python Exec: " + pythonExecutable);
      String checkPrerequisiteResult = checkIPythonPrerequisite(pythonExecutable);
      if (!StringUtils.isEmpty(checkPrerequisiteResult)) {
        throw new InterpreterException("IPython prerequisite is not meet: " +
            checkPrerequisiteResult);
      }
      ipythonLaunchTimeout = Integer.parseInt(
          getProperty("zeppelin.ipython.launch.timeout", "30000"));
      this.zeppelinContext = buildZeppelinContext();
      int ipythonPort = RemoteInterpreterUtils.findRandomAvailablePortOnAllLocalInterfaces();
      int jvmGatewayPort = RemoteInterpreterUtils.findRandomAvailablePortOnAllLocalInterfaces();
      int message_size = Integer.parseInt(getProperty("zeppelin.ipython.grpc.message_size",
          32 * 1024 * 1024 + ""));
      ipythonClient = new IPythonClient(ManagedChannelBuilder.forAddress("127.0.0.1", ipythonPort)
          .usePlaintext(true).maxInboundMessageSize(message_size));
      this.usePy4JAuth = Boolean.parseBoolean(getProperty("zeppelin.py4j.useAuth", "true"));
      this.secret = PythonUtils.createSecret(256);
      launchIPythonKernel(ipythonPort);
      setupJVMGateway(jvmGatewayPort);
    } catch (Exception e) {
      throw new InterpreterException("Fail to open IPythonInterpreter", e);
    }
  }

  /**
   * non-empty return value mean the errors when checking ipython prerequisite.
   * empty value mean IPython prerequisite is meet.
   *
   * @param pythonExec
   * @return
   */
  public String checkIPythonPrerequisite(String pythonExec) {
    ProcessBuilder processBuilder = new ProcessBuilder(pythonExec, "-m", "pip", "freeze");
    File stderrFile = null;
    File stdoutFile = null;
    try {
      stderrFile = File.createTempFile("zeppelin", ".txt");
      processBuilder.redirectError(stderrFile);
      stdoutFile = File.createTempFile("zeppelin", ".txt");
      processBuilder.redirectOutput(stdoutFile);

      Process proc = processBuilder.start();
      int ret = proc.waitFor();
      if (ret != 0) {
        try (FileInputStream in = new FileInputStream(stderrFile)) {
          return "Fail to run pip freeze.\n" + IOUtils.toString(in);
        }
      }
      try (FileInputStream in = new FileInputStream(stdoutFile)) {
        String freezeOutput = IOUtils.toString(in);
        if (!freezeOutput.contains("jupyter-client=")) {
          return "jupyter-client is not installed.";
        }
        if (!freezeOutput.contains("ipykernel=")) {
          return "ipykernel is not installed";
        }
        if (!freezeOutput.contains("ipython=")) {
          return "ipython is not installed";
        }
        if (!freezeOutput.contains("grpcio=")) {
          return "grpcio is not installed";
        }
        if (!freezeOutput.contains("protobuf=")) {
          return "protobuf is not installed";
        }
        LOGGER.info("IPython prerequisite is met");
      }
    } catch (Exception e) {
      LOGGER.warn("Fail to checkIPythonPrerequisite", e);
      return "Fail to checkIPythonPrerequisite: " + ExceptionUtils.getStackTrace(e);
    } finally {
      FileUtils.deleteQuietly(stderrFile);
      FileUtils.deleteQuietly(stdoutFile);
    }
    return "";
  }

  private void setupJVMGateway(int jvmGatewayPort) throws IOException {
    String serverAddress = PythonUtils.getLocalIP(properties);
    this.gatewayServer =
        PythonUtils.createGatewayServer(this, serverAddress, jvmGatewayPort, secret, usePy4JAuth);
    gatewayServer.start();

    InputStream input =
        getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("grpc/python/zeppelin_python.py");
    List<String> lines = IOUtils.readLines(input);
    ExecuteResponse response = ipythonClient.block_execute(ExecuteRequest.newBuilder()
        .setCode(StringUtils.join(lines, System.lineSeparator())
            .replace("${JVM_GATEWAY_PORT}", jvmGatewayPort + "")
            .replace("${JVM_GATEWAY_ADDRESS}", serverAddress)).build());
    if (response.getStatus() == ExecuteStatus.ERROR) {
      throw new IOException("Fail to setup JVMGateway\n" + response.getOutput());
    }

    input =
        getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("python/zeppelin_context.py");
    lines = IOUtils.readLines(input);
    response = ipythonClient.block_execute(ExecuteRequest.newBuilder()
        .setCode(StringUtils.join(lines, System.lineSeparator())).build());
    if (response.getStatus() == ExecuteStatus.ERROR) {
      throw new IOException("Fail to import ZeppelinContext\n" + response.getOutput());
    }

    response = ipythonClient.block_execute(ExecuteRequest.newBuilder()
        .setCode("z = __zeppelin__ = PyZeppelinContext(intp.getZeppelinContext(), gateway)")
        .build());
    if (response.getStatus() == ExecuteStatus.ERROR) {
      throw new IOException("Fail to setup ZeppelinContext\n" + response.getOutput());
    }

    if (additionalPythonInitFile != null) {
      input = getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(additionalPythonInitFile);
      lines = IOUtils.readLines(input);
      response = ipythonClient.block_execute(ExecuteRequest.newBuilder()
          .setCode(StringUtils.join(lines, System.lineSeparator())
              .replace("${JVM_GATEWAY_PORT}", jvmGatewayPort + "")
              .replace("${JVM_GATEWAY_ADDRESS}", serverAddress)).build());
      if (response.getStatus() == ExecuteStatus.ERROR) {
        throw new IOException("Fail to run additional Python init file: "
            + additionalPythonInitFile + "\n" + response.getOutput());
      }
    }
  }

  private void launchIPythonKernel(int ipythonPort)
      throws IOException {
    LOGGER.info("Launching IPython Kernel at port: " + ipythonPort);
    // copy the python scripts to a temp directory, then launch ipython kernel in that folder
    File pythonWorkDir = Files.createTempDirectory("zeppelin_ipython").toFile();
    String[] ipythonScripts = {"ipython_server.py", "ipython_pb2.py", "ipython_pb2_grpc.py"};
    for (String ipythonScript : ipythonScripts) {
      URL url = getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("grpc/python"
          + "/" + ipythonScript);
      FileUtils.copyURLToFile(url, new File(pythonWorkDir, ipythonScript));
    }

    CommandLine cmd = CommandLine.parse(pythonExecutable);
    cmd.addArgument(pythonWorkDir.getAbsolutePath() + "/ipython_server.py");
    cmd.addArgument(ipythonPort + "");

    if (useBuiltinPy4j) {
      //TODO(zjffdu) don't do hard code on py4j here
      File py4jDestFile = new File(pythonWorkDir, "py4j-src-0.10.7.zip");
      FileUtils.copyURLToFile(getClass().getClassLoader().getResource(
          "python/py4j-src-0.10.7.zip"), py4jDestFile);
      if (additionalPythonPath != null) {
        // put the py4j at the end, because additionalPythonPath may already contain py4j.
        // e.g. PySparkInterpreter
        additionalPythonPath = additionalPythonPath + ":" + py4jDestFile.getAbsolutePath();
      } else {
        additionalPythonPath = py4jDestFile.getAbsolutePath();
      }
    }

    Map<String, String> envs = setupIPythonEnv();
    iPythonProcessLauncher = new IPythonProcessLauncher(cmd, envs);
    iPythonProcessLauncher.launch();
    iPythonProcessLauncher.waitForReady(ipythonLaunchTimeout);

    if (iPythonProcessLauncher.isLaunchTimeout()) {
      throw new IOException("Fail to launch IPython Kernel in " + ipythonLaunchTimeout / 1000
              + " seconds.\n" + iPythonProcessLauncher.getErrorMessage());
    }
    if (!iPythonProcessLauncher.isRunning()) {
      throw new IOException("Fail to launch IPython Kernel as the python process is failed.\n"
              + iPythonProcessLauncher.getErrorMessage());
    }
  }

  protected Map<String, String> setupIPythonEnv() throws IOException {
    Map<String, String> envs = EnvironmentUtils.getProcEnvironment();
    if (envs.containsKey("PYTHONPATH")) {
      if (additionalPythonPath != null) {
        envs.put("PYTHONPATH", additionalPythonPath + ":" + envs.get("PYTHONPATH"));
      }
    } else {
      envs.put("PYTHONPATH", additionalPythonPath);
    }
    if (usePy4JAuth) {
      envs.put("PY4J_GATEWAY_SECRET", secret);
    }
    LOGGER.info("PYTHONPATH:" + envs.get("PYTHONPATH"));
    return envs;
  }

  @VisibleForTesting
  public IPythonProcessLauncher getIPythonProcessLauncher() {
    return iPythonProcessLauncher;
  }

  @Override
  public void close() throws InterpreterException {
    if (iPythonProcessLauncher != null) {
      LOGGER.info("Kill IPython Process");
      if (iPythonProcessLauncher.isRunning()) {
        ipythonClient.stop(StopRequest.newBuilder().build());
        try {
          ipythonClient.shutdown();
        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
          LOGGER.warn("Exception happens when shutting down ipythonClient", e);
        }
      }
      iPythonProcessLauncher.stop();
      iPythonProcessLauncher = null;
    }
    if (gatewayServer != null) {
      LOGGER.info("Shutdown Py4j GatewayServer");
      gatewayServer.shutdown();
      gatewayServer = null;
    }
  }

  @Override
  public InterpreterResult interpret(String st,
                                     InterpreterContext context) throws InterpreterException {
    zeppelinContext.setGui(context.getGui());
    zeppelinContext.setNoteGui(context.getNoteGui());
    zeppelinContext.setInterpreterContext(context);
    interpreterOutput.setInterpreterOutput(context.out);
    try {
      ExecuteResponse response =
              ipythonClient.stream_execute(ExecuteRequest.newBuilder().setCode(st).build(),
                      interpreterOutput);
      interpreterOutput.getInterpreterOutput().flush();
      // It is not known which method is called first (ipythonClient.stream_execute
      // or onProcessFailed) when ipython kernel process is exited. Because they are in
      // 2 different threads. So here we would check ipythonClient's status and sleep 1 second
      // if ipython kernel is maybe terminated.
      if (iPythonProcessLauncher.isRunning() && !ipythonClient.isMaybeIPythonFailed()) {
        return new InterpreterResult(
                InterpreterResult.Code.valueOf(response.getStatus().name()));
      } else {
        if (ipythonClient.isMaybeIPythonFailed()) {
          Thread.sleep(1000);
        }
        if (iPythonProcessLauncher.isRunning()) {
          return new InterpreterResult(
                  InterpreterResult.Code.valueOf(response.getStatus().name()));
        } else {
          return new InterpreterResult(InterpreterResult.Code.ERROR,
                  "IPython kernel is abnormally exited, please check your code and log.");
        }
      }
    } catch (Exception e) {
      throw new InterpreterException("Fail to interpret python code", e);
    }
  }

  @Override
  public void cancel(InterpreterContext context) throws InterpreterException {
    ipythonClient.cancel(CancelRequest.newBuilder().build());
  }

  @Override
  public FormType getFormType() {
    return FormType.SIMPLE;
  }

  @Override
  public int getProgress(InterpreterContext context) throws InterpreterException {
    return 0;
  }

  @Override
  public List<InterpreterCompletion> completion(String buf, int cursor,
                                                InterpreterContext interpreterContext) {
    LOGGER.debug("Call completion for: " + buf);
    List<InterpreterCompletion> completions = new ArrayList<>();
    CompletionResponse response =
        ipythonClient.complete(
            CompletionRequest.getDefaultInstance().newBuilder().setCode(buf)
                .setCursor(cursor).build());
    for (int i = 0; i < response.getMatchesCount(); i++) {
      String match = response.getMatches(i);
      int lastIndexOfDot = match.lastIndexOf(".");
      if (lastIndexOfDot != -1) {
        match = match.substring(lastIndexOfDot + 1);
      }
      completions.add(new InterpreterCompletion(match, match, ""));
    }
    return completions;
  }

  public BaseZeppelinContext getZeppelinContext() {
    return zeppelinContext;
  }

  class IPythonProcessLauncher extends ProcessLauncher {

    IPythonProcessLauncher(CommandLine commandLine,
                           Map<String, String> envs) {
      super(commandLine, envs);
    }

    @Override
    public void waitForReady(int timeout) {
      // wait until IPython kernel is started or timeout
      long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
      while (state == State.LAUNCHED) {
        try {
          Thread.sleep(100);
        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
          LOGGER.error("Interrupted by something", e);
        }

        try {
          StatusResponse response = ipythonClient.status(StatusRequest.newBuilder().build());
          if (response.getStatus() == IPythonStatus.RUNNING) {
            LOGGER.info("IPython Kernel is Running");
            onProcessRunning();
            break;
          } else {
            LOGGER.info("Wait for IPython Kernel to be started");
          }
        } catch (Exception e) {
          // ignore the exception, because is may happen when grpc server has not started yet.
          LOGGER.info("Wait for IPython Kernel to be started");
        }

        if ((System.currentTimeMillis() - startTime) > timeout) {
          onTimeout();
          break;
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


Our Amplifier Modules provide the versatility you need along with the performance and durability that continue to make AR a leader in the field and one of the world's most trusted brands. Amplifier Modules are available for a diverse spectrum of applications with power ranging from 1 to 400 Watts and frequencies covering from 30 to 512 MHz.
KMW3434 30 Watts, CW, 400-450 MHz Amplifier Module, RoHS Compliant.


The Category Leadership Assistant generates reports, provides analysis, and delivers actionable insights for the Category Leadership team for support of Brand Marketing, Field Sales and Executive Team initiatives, sales and profit goals. The focus of the position is on the full Bel Brands USA portfolio with focus on Total US Market as well as priority customer including Walmart, Kroger, Sam's and Target.
BEL Group: With five universal brands, including The Laughing Cow®, Mini Babybel®, Kiri®, Leerdammer®, and Boursin®, and over 25 local brands, Bel brings smiles to nearly 450 million consumers in over 130 countries. By building on the strength of its brands, the most international names in the cheese sector, Bel aims to lead in all its various markets.
The commitment, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit of Bel's 12,000 employees is the growth driver of the world's third-largest branded cheese company.
To experience Bel is to be daring, pragmatic and determined to meet the growth challenges of an international food group. Come join us and measure the impact of your talent and energy in realizing an ambitious company project.


Want to visit a movie set while also learning about the history of power generation in B.C.? Consider a trip to the Powerhouse at Stave Falls in Mission this spring. The Powerhouse is a historic power generating facility and has been the site of many television shows and movies over the years, including X2: X-Men United and The X-Files. Even if you're not a movie buff, visitors can check out the amazing Tesla coil electricity demonstration alongside other interactive and historic displays. The Powerhouse at Stave Falls is also a National Historic Site of Canada, where guests can comb through archival photos, artifacts and explore the original mechanical and electrical components installed over a century ago. For visiting hours and information on other BC Hydro recreation sites visit: bchydro.com/stavefalls.
Show us which of our recreation sites you've visited on Instagram and tag us @bchydro.


The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition released new data conveying the growth of entrepreneurial activity across the state's universities as part of its Illinois Innovation Index, a publication that reports on key metrics of the state's innovation economy.
A big takeaway? The report found that over the past five academic years, students and faculty at Illinois universities have created 611 startups through university technology licensing, entrepreneurship programs and competitions, and other university-financed initiatives.
We know this to be true as we have a great tech ecosystem in Champaign-Urbana & see many startups from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, several of which are located at the University of Illinois Research Park and throughout the community.
Agrible, a Champaign-Urbana startup, was located on page 12 of the report.
March 8, 2016 – (CHICAGO, IL) – The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) today released new data conveying the growth of entrepreneurial activity across the state's universities as part of its Illinois Innovation Index, a publication that reports on key metrics of the state's innovation economy. The announcement was made at the Illinois Institute of Technology's University Technology Park with university leaders and leading university-driven entrepreneurs.
Based on data self-reported by the state's universities, the report found that over the past five academic years, students and faculty at Illinois universities have created 611 startups through university technology licensing, entrepreneurship programs and competitions, and other university-financed initiatives. Roughly 80 percent of these companies remain active (or were acquired), and 73 percent of active startups were based in Illinois at the time of the survey—up from 68 percent reported in last year's survey.
"Illinois' universities are engines of economic growth. The significant uptick in the level of entrepreneurial activity occurring on campuses across the state is a testament to the investment our universities have been making to build programs, initiatives, and incubation spaces that cultivate entrepreneurial talent and support technology companies that are growing here in Illinois," said ISTC president and CEO Mark Harris.
University of Illinois President Tim Killeen, who also serves as chairman of the ISTC Board of Directors, said the findings reinforce the critical role that universities play in moving Illinois forward.
The Index also reports that university startups created since 2010–11 have raise at least $345 million, including $311 million in follow-on private funding with the remaining $34 million coming from crowd funding, university grants, competition awards, and the government in the form of SBIR/STTR grants. While companies often relocate to move closer to investors, Illinois retained roughly 62 percent of these companies that received venture capital funding.
Activity in all four tech transfer categories—disclosures, patents, licenses, and startups—has increased over the past five years both in Illinois and at the national level as well. Illinois universities recorded especially robust growth in total number of patents – fifth nationally – and tech transfer startups continue to be led by biomedical technologies, with software and clean tech companies rounding out the top three.


text:
Rising antibiotic resistance taking India to pre-antibiotic era, say experts
The situation can become alarming considering that the crude infectious disease-related mortality rate in India is 416.75 per 100,000 persons, which is about twice the prevalent rate in United States (World Bank data).
The lack of restrictions on access to antibiotics and their irrational use, non-standardized microbiology laboratories, use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and fisheries, and lack of sanitation are leading to widespread antibiotic resistance in India, and there is a danger of the country slipping back into the pre-antibiotic era.
The situation can become alarming considering that the crude infectious disease-related mortality rate in India is 416.75 per 100,000 persons, which is about twice the prevalence rate in the United States (World Bank data). There is also a 15-times greater burden of infectious diseases per person in India than in the UK.
This was said by experts in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from India and abroad. They highlighted the importance of 'Antibiotic Stewardship', which means a combination of practices to rationalize antibiotic use through the right dose, right drug, right duration, right frequency, right patient and right indication.
Dr. Sanjeev K Singh, Medical Superintendent, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, said, "Over-consumption of antibiotics is rampant in India. A recent study in Kerala has found that 89% of all doctors prescribe antibiotics on daily basis. Hence, when a patient suffers from, say, symptoms of upper-respiratory infection, diarrhoea or vomiting – which usually indicates a disease that is viral in nature and therefore should not be treated with antibiotics – the patient gets prescribed a course of antibiotics. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that India consumes the highest volume of antibiotics in the world."
Dr. Arjun Srinivasan, Associate Director, Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept. of Health, said, "Antibiotic resistance poses an urgent threat to the health of the world. The loss of effective antibiotic therapy threatens to make once-treatable infections deadly again and jeopardize the delivery of modern medicine. One of the best ways we can preserve the power of life-saving antibiotics is to improve the way we use them, a concept known as 'antibiotic stewardship'. Its goal is to ensure that everyone gets the right antibiotic when they need one."
Dr. Alison Holmes, Director of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit at Imperial College, London, and Public Health England, said, "Individually and collectively, we all have responsibility in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics, which means we must use them wisely and that we must also reduce the need for antibiotics by maximizing action to prevent infections from occurring."
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text:
The Midway Guardian
Latest News from Midway Presbyterian Church
Judicial Matters
Thirteen Officers Submit Credible Report to PCA Stated Clerk Alleging Important Deficiencies and Grossly Unconstitutional Proceedings of the Northwest Georgia Presbytery
luther1517
The troubling allegations originated with the controversial Midway church meeting of July 19, 2020 and the related events that followed.
In accordance with BCO 40-5, thirteen ordained men, all current or former officers of Midway PCA, signed a letter written by Elder Lindsey Tippins outlining the many unconstitutional actions of the NWGA Presbytery relating to the installation of the associate pastors and the handling of the complaints relating to the July 2020 congregational meeting.
BCO 40-5 states "When any court having appellate jurisdiction shall receive a credible report with respect to the court next below of any important delinquency or grossly unconstitutional proceedings of such court, the first step shall be to cite the court alleged to have offended to appear before the court having appellate jurisdiction, or its commission, by representative or in writing, at a specified time and place, and to show what the lower court has done or failed to do in the case in question. The court thus issuing the citation may reverse or redress the proceedings of the court below in other than judicial cases; or it may censure the delinquent court; or it may remit the whole matter to the delinquent court with an injunction to take it up and dispose of it in a constitutional manner; or it may stay all further proceedings in the case; as circumstances may require."
The Stated Clerks office promptly opened an investigation which is ongoing.
Here is the full letter as submitted to the Stated Clerk's Office:
The Presbyterian Church in America February 14, 2021
Office of the Stated Clerk
1700 North Brown Road
To the Stated Clerk of the PCA:
We the undersigned, in accordance with BCO 40-5, hereby make this report to the stated clerk's office of the Presbyterian Church in America concerning important delinquencies and grossly unconstitutional proceedings of the Northwest Georgia Presbytery:
• On July 8, 2020 the Session of Midway Presbyterian Church called a congregation meeting for the purpose of calling three assistant pastors to the position of associate pastor. The decision to call the congregational meeting was not unanimous. The Session never called a congregational meeting for the purpose of electing a pulpit committee (BCO 20-2).
• The congregational meeting took place on Sunday, July 19, 2020 after the morning worship service. The recorded vote was 127 for and 93 against changing the call of these men. The men were voted on as a single slate. Abstentions were not counted, and ballots were not used, in violation of BCO 20-4.
• Two complaints were filed within hours of the vote that challenged its constitutional conformity. These complaints questioned the adherence to BCO chapter 20, specifically BCO 20-2, BCO 20-4, and BCO 20-5 in the Session's conduction of the congregational meeting. Both complaints were denied by the Session on July 28, 2020.
• On Sunday, August 2, 2020 the Presbytery's Credentials Committee, acting as a commission whose proper establishment is questionable, met at Midway Presbyterian Church 30 minutes before the evening worship service for the purpose of approving the call of the three assistant pastors to the position of associate pastors.
• The Credentials Committee erred in their conduction of this meeting by accepting commissioners from Midway that were not appointed by the congregation in violation of BCO 20-7 & 20-8. The Midway congregation never held a public vote to appoint commissioners to present and prosecute its call.
• The Credentials Committee erred in not requiring "any facts of importance" to be laid before them as required in BCO 20-5. Furthermore, the committee acted to approve these calls even though two members of the committee, as members of the Midway session (who heard the two complaints that previous week which raised serious questions about the Congregational meeting), were well aware that the calls were alleged to have been unconstitutionally formed.
• The Credentials Committee erred in not confirming "that the persons who signed the foregoing call were authorized to do so by a vote of the congregation." Had they attempted to do so, they would have discovered that the commissioners were not actually appointed by the congregation, despite the moderator's attestation that they were, in violation of BCO 20-6. The unconstitutionality of the proceedings would have become apparent.
• The Presbytery erred by permitting the Credentials Committee to approve multiple simultaneous calls when only the Presbytery can act on a call, thus violating BCO 21-1. It should be noted that the Credentials Committee approved the calls at a meeting starting 30 minutes before the evening service where the three pastors were installed as associates. The Presbytery did not affirm these calls until their next stated meeting on August 15, 2020 after these men were installed.
• On August 10, 2020, one of the two complaints was elevated to the NWGA Presbytery. The second complaint was elevated August 22, 2020.
• On August 15, 2020, the NWGA appointed a Judicial Commission to hear the first complaint.
• On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, after five months of careful study, a hearing, and deliberation, the Judicial Commission voted that the Midway Session did indeed violate BCO 20-2, BCO 20-4, and BCO 20-5 in their conduction of the July 19, 2020 congregational meeting.
• On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, the Judicial Commission sent their written judgement to the respondents and the complainant, stating on lines 206-207 that "The case is remanded for adjudication consistent with this decision, and we recommend that the session offer an apology to both Mr. Michelson (the complainant) and the congregation."
• On Thursday, January 14, 2021, contrary to the statement made by the Stated Clerk in his email to the complainant that "Presbytery will receive the same notification later today," the Presbytery sent a different written judgment to the Presbyters. In that judgment, lines 206-207 were replaced with a remedy that stated that the three pastors shall remain associates. Whether this change was made by the Judicial Commission chair or the full Judicial Commission is not clear. Whether the Judicial Commission or any member of it was asked to make this change is also not clear. This updated judgment was not sent to the complainant in violation of BCO 43-9.
• On Friday, January 15, 2021, the respondents from the Midway Session circulated the court by distributing a motion to the Presbyters of the NWGA Presbytery 24 hours in advance of the upcoming Presbytery meeting asking the presbytery to take an action that would misapply BCO 15-3 by sending the complaint to a study committee in lieu of voting up or down on the judicial commissions judgment. Any attempt, by either party, to circulate a court is a violation of BCO 43-2. Note that, when they took this action, the Midway respondents were well aware of the proposed judgment of the Judicial Commission was not in their favor.
• On Saturday, January 16, 2021, this series of delinquencies and unconstitutional proceedings culminated at the stated Presbytery meeting, when the seven respondents from the Midway Session 1) made a motion to send the first complaint to a study committee in lieu of voting on it up or down without debate; and then, 2) the Midway respondents sat, deliberated, and apparently voted to pass their own motion 27-11 in flagrant violation of BCO 39-2. The Session's actions at this meeting were a clear conflict of interest that unjustly allowed them to interfere with and tip the scales of justice to their favor. The complainant was barred from the deliberations by the moderator of the Presbytery by entering executive session.
The preceding circumstances and the Presbytery's role in them have enabled and fostered a culture of apparent constitutional violations by the Session of Midway Presbyterian Church. We are concerned that its most influential operators may have converted the Northwest Georgia Presbytery into a convenient mechanism for unjustly muting the congregational voice. If true, the Presbytery has abdicated its duty under BCO 13-9 to exercise proper church authority under our constitution.
This is why we are requesting the high court's assistance in addressing these issues to help bring resolution to this long chain of troubling events.
Therefore, being that all of the undersigned ordained officers are currently members in good standing at Midway Presbyterian Church and none were delegates to the January 16, 2021 stated meeting of the Presbytery, we now ask that the next higher court above the NWGA Presbytery accept this as a credible report and use that authority given to it by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America to correct these important delinquencies and grossly unconstitutional proceedings of the NWGA Presbytery and bring that court into compliance with our ecclesiastical constitution.
Seeking decency and order in the affairs of God's church,
Lindsey Tippins, Ruling Elder
These ordained Midway members are joining Elder Tippins in submitting this report:
Don Barnett, Ruling Elder Mike Kline, Ruling Elder Dan Crouse, Deacon
Jerry Blades, Ruling Elder Ed Knox, Ruling Elder Reggie Harris, Deacon
Clay David, Ruling Elder James Scott, Ruling Elder Ken Joiner, Deacon
Larry Judy, Ruling Elder Mel Bokhoven, Deacon Fred Warren, Deacon
A. August 2,, 2021, NWGA Credential Committee Report and Calls (Pages 14-18 of NWGA Presbytery Minutes of the August 15, 2020 Stated Meeting).
B. January 13, 2021, Original Judicial Commission Judgment.
C. January 14, 2021, Restated Judicial Commission Judgment with Revised Remedy.
D. January 15, 2021, Correspondence to the NWGA Presbyters by the Respondents.
SJC Panel: Northwest Georgia Presbytery Was Wrong to Accept Midway Session's Assignment of Malicious Motive to RE Dudt
SJC Panel: Northwest Georgia Presbytery Wrongly Concluded that Midway Session Indictment Against RE Dudt Was Scripturally Supported
SJC Panel: Northwest Georgia Presbytery Wrongly Agreed with Midway Session on Accepting Biased Evidence
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text:
Obama Poll Watch -- August, 2010
[ Posted Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 – 13:25 UTC ]
Dog days of August
Augusts, to be frank, are not President Obama's friend. The past month was no different, at least as measured by public opinion polling. Obama was on a downswing heading into the month, and his numbers reflect this in a stark way. In other words, it was a bad month for Obama.
As I pointed out last month, "Augusts, to put it mildly, haven't been very kind to Obama. He's got some sort of Augustine Jinx happening, or something. Two years ago, August was 'Reverend Wright' month for Obama on the campaign trail. Last year, August was 'death panel' month at the town hall meetings from Hell."
By that measure, at least, this past August wasn't actually all that bad. Given the choice of reliving the past month versus August 2009 or 2008, I'd be willing to bet Obama would choose this year's dog days in a heartbeat.
But, while Obama's poll numbers last month were pretty bad, there was some good news at the end. In keeping with this, we're going to present the bad news here first, and save the silver lining for the end of today's article.
With that warning in place, let's look at Obama's new chart:
Once again, Obama posted "worst" numbers in all categories this month. Even worse, the slope of the lines steepened. But we'll get to the actual numbers in a bit.
August began with two contentious issues, one of which President Obama mostly ignored, and one he did not. The Perry v. Schwarzenegger decision which overturned Proposition 8 in California is just the first step on a legal road which will likely end at the Supreme Court on the subject of gay marriage, so it has national significance. But Obama's never been in favor of gay marriage, so he kept quiet on this, for the most part. He did, however, interject himself into the fray of the Two And A Half Blocks From Ground Zero "Mosque" debate, in a big way. Obama tried to explain the next morning that the media had totally gotten his remarks wrong, but the media was having so much fun with the storyline to stop at that point.
Having annoyed many, Obama's chief spokesman Robert Gibbs made sure "the professional left" wasn't left out, as he gave the Democratic base one more slap in the face, just in case they had nodded off in the August heat or something.
In the good news department for Democrats, the Tea Party continues their insurrection over in RepublicanLand. A few prominent Tea Party candidates advanced in primaries, and a few missed the boat. The oil continued not to spew into the Gulf of Mexico, which went a long way towards fading the issue in the public's mind (at least, that portion of the public who doesn't live near the Gulf Coast). And the best news of all started about mid-month, when the media (led by NBC, for the most part) decided to actually cover the story "Almost 100,000 American soldiers have left Iraq, right on schedule." This led to a rise in the president's numbers towards the end of the month, but more on that bright spot in the news a little bit later.
In raw numeric terms, Obama's polling data looked pretty dismal. He dropped 1.3 points in approval rating, to slide to 45.3 percent. His disapproval rate rose even more dramatically, by 2.1 percent, to end up at 49.5 percent (scraping the ceiling of the halfway mark). This increased the rate of fall for Obama, as his numbers last month lost about the same as the previous two months combined. It also opened up the "underwater" gap, as Obama wound up 4.2 percent in negative territory, a large jump from last month's 0.8 percent.
But here's where things start to turn around a bit. While in August, Obama hit record lows in all categories, he seems to have turned things around just after mid-month. But before we get there, let's finish up with the bad news. As noted, Obama hit both "worst all-time" monthly approval and disapproval, at 45.3 percent and 49.5 percent respectively. He also hit new "worst daily" numbers as well, hitting a low of 44.3 percent approval on the eleventh of the month, and a high of 50.8 percent disapproval on the sixteenth and seventeenth of the month. Both of these numbers changed exactly one point from the previous all-time numbers, which Obama hit last month.
But the downward trend for Obama may have bottomed out at this point. Right after Obama gave his freedom of religion speech, and right after NBC started broadcasting live shots of the last Stryker combat brigade leaving Iraq, Obama's numbers began to improve. Now, it's impossible to say why, leaving us with mere guesses as to the reason for the improvement. My own personal feeling is that the Iraq withdrawal news led the movement back towards approval for Obama, but I can't say I have any data to back that up with, so you should feel free to draw your own conclusions. But the trendline is up -- way up -- since the middle of last month. If the trend is real (and if I'm right about the Iraq news driving the trend), it should continue to improve for at least another week or so on the tails of Obama's Oval Office Iraq speech last night.
September, though, is going to be the Main Event for campaign season, so there are going to be all sorts of things happening during the month which will likely influence polling. But, as things stand, September could be a relatively good month for Obama.
OK, here's where we lose all connection to verifiable reality, and just indulge in sheer speculation for the fun of it. The graphs have been grim for the past few months, so I thought I'd give Obama fans something to look forward to. But be warned -- this is all smoke and mirrors from this point onwards (just so we're straight on that).
I mentioned that the improvement in Obama's numbers is striking. Check out the daily tracking graph over at RealClearPolitics.com to see this charted. Just for fun, I created the following chart, which compares today's poll average with the real data:
[Click on graphs to see larger-scale versions.]
Again, for this to turn out to be true, Obama would have to perfectly average for the entire month of September exactly the same as the numbers he posted today -- which almost never happens. Still, today's average is 46.6 approval and 47.6 disapproval, and heading for crossing back over to more people approving than disapproving of the job Obama's doing. Which puts him almost exactly where he was in July -- gaining back August's losses, in other words.
Of course, a two-week blip does not a trend make. Obama could easily post some lower numbers next week, which would mean this period may end up as a spike which reverses itself. Or Obama could plateau out and have his numbers stay where they are (as in the above chart). Or -- I saved the best for last -- the trend could continue, and Obama could start regularly posting approval numbers above 50 percent once again, and August could be his "bottom out" point.
That's being pretty optimistic, though. So far, Obama's general cycle is to have a downward fall of polling numbers, then have a month or two of mini-correction that plateaus out, to be followed by another downward fall. He's gone through this cycle four or five times now, depending on how you count. This could wind up being another cycle in this progression.
But maybe, just maybe, Obama hit a floor at about 45 percent approval, and he'll set a new cycle -- one where his numbers steadily and noticeably improve for a while. Again, this section and its conclusions should be taken with a rather large grain of salt. One way or another, we'll know more next month. Until then....
[Jul 10], [Jun 10], [May 10], [Apr 10], [Mar 10], [Feb 10], [Jan 10], [Dec 09], [Nov 09], [Oct 09], [Sep 09], [Aug 09], [Jul 09], [Jun 09], [May 09], [Apr 09], [Mar 09]
Lowest Monthly Approval -- 8/10 -- 45.3%
Highest Monthly Disapproval -- 8/10 -- 49.5%
Lowest Daily Approval -- 8/16/10 -- 44.3%
Cross-posted at The Huffington Post
17 Comments on "Obama Poll Watch -- August, 2010"
Obama tried to explain the next morning that the media had totally gotten his remarks wrong, but the media was having so much fun with the storyline to stop at that point.
Here's an alternate explanation..
The Media (surprisingly enough) got the remarks dead on ballz right, but Obama wasn't calculating on the fact that the vast majority (70%) of Americans were against the Cordoba Mosque..
So, the next day he had to walk back his comments because, ONCE AGAIN, he pissed off the majority of Americans..
This is exactly what happened with the "Cops acted stupidly" statement so there is ample precedence to support my interpretation of the events in question...
hehehehehehehehe
Now THAT was funny!!! :D And oooohhhh so true... :D
With the utmost respect (and you know I mean it) your "silver lining" could also be termed "grasping at straws".... :D
Overall, things are going exactly as I figured they would.. Obama continues to tank and will drag the Democratic Party down with him in the run-up to the Mid Terms...
But waiting in the wings is some very nasty surprises....
It's possible that Obama will rise to the occasion and show true leadership..
NOTHING to date has indicated that he is capable of doing so with two VERY minor exceptions...
Obama's response to the Somali pirates and his response to the McChristal issue...
However, those are very minor in the larger scheme of things and, to be perfectly honest, I think those were more of Obama simply following the advice of his military staff.. But, that DOES indicate good leadership, knowing when to say, "over to you."....
[ Permalink ] [ Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 16:08 ]
fstanley wrote:
I am hoping that we will see an upward trend in the polls for Obama. The reason I think this is because voters will start to notice and feel the effects of the new laws such as the new consumer protections for credit card holders and many aspects of the healthcare bill that are only now being phased in. Also if Congress can get the small business bill to Obama's desk I think it will prove very popular. The other popular issue pending is extending the tax cuts for the middle class and allowing the tax cuts for the insanely rich to expire. I just hope that Obama will be out in front on these issues which is what the voters want from him - they want a leader.
...Stan
Ah, it's Poll Watch day. My favorite. 'D Let's rumble.
First, before I forget, Stu Rothenberg (the Dems' Charlie Cook; don't know if you follow him) appears to have given official clearance for Dems to start taking a closer look at none other than my good friend and yours... http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/news/article/is-rasmussen-better-than-its-reputation
ROFL. When I read an article today about Obama's mideast peace talks, the first thing I thought of was Gibbs eventually saying something that ultimately blows the whole thing apart. What are the chances.
right after NBC started broadcasting live shots of the last Stryker combat brigade leaving Iraq, Obama's numbers began to improve. Now, it's impossible to say why, leaving us with mere guesses as to the reason for the improvement. My own personal feeling is that the Iraq withdrawal news led the movement back towards approval for Obama, but I can't say I have any data to back that up with, so you should feel free to draw your own conclusions.
I fully expect Obama to get a bump outta this. It might take a day or two before it shows up, but an event like formally ending combat operations on a 7-year war ought to pop him up a few points, without a doubt. I don't think the bump will last. Most don't. But I think you have that little ray of sunshine to look forward to.
Meanwhile, for all the crap Rasmussen catches from the Left, their likely voters polls have been reporting higher approvals for Obama than the last couple of RV polls. Today he's got a 48% approval. Same with yesterday, which was up two points from the day before.
Of course, a two-week blip does not a trend make. Obama could easily post some lower numbers next week, which would mean this period may end up as a spike which reverses itself.
I think the State Department's U.S. Human Rights Violations report to the U.N., citing the Arizona law, is likely to hurt him. I don't know what that man is thinking sometimes. I really don't.
The other popular issue pending is extending the tax cuts for the middle class and allowing the tax cuts for the insanely rich to expire.
Dems unlikely to repeal tax cuts for the rich
Democrats in Congress are poised to play a leading role this month in thwarting their party's effort to raise income tax rates on the wealthy.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/09/01/99992/democrats-unlikely-to-repeal-tax.html
Actually, I think this would make a great October surprise for Obama and the Dems. It would go far in giving Business some confidence to start firing up again. It would also help out a lot of Dem candidates, who are being brutalized on the stump. Right now, business owners don't know what the heck is going on with taxes, which is compelling them to sit tight and do nothing until they figure out what the deal is. Nobody can craft budgets without knowing what their tax situation is gonna be, and how it's gonna impact their bottom line.
akadjian wrote:
I tend to agree with Stan that what people are looking for right now is more leadership from President Obama.
He's been successful in passing legislation. But what seems to be missing is the mission statement. The guiding principles and why they're worth fighting for. This is what he did such a good job of on the campaign trail.
I think Arianna Huffington nails it in this article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/glenn-beck-president-obam_b_699822.html
Because the absence of this guiding purpose leaves a moral ground which will be filled by others.
To their credit, this is what the Tea Party and folks like Glenn Beck are doing: providing a sense of purpose to the dialogue that's lacking from the administration. I disagree with their mission statement, but I give them credit for doing it.
[ Permalink ] [ Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 07:24 ]
He's been successful in passing legislation
Yes he has...
Unfortunately, the problem is he is passing legislation that the majority of Americans are against..
I knew there was a reason why I liked you! :D
Oh, c'mon, even if you (which I know you do) credit mostly Bush and the surge for the situation in Iraq, you have to give Obama at least some credit for where we are now. Or do I have to go back and dig up some quotes from you during the campaign to show what people were saying back then on the subject? I know it's tough, but while calling for Dems to admit they were wrong about the surge, you've got to admit that the GOP was wrong about the "precipitous withdrawal" from Obama, right? I mean, it's only fair.
Stan -
I have hopes that Obama will score a few decent legislative victories this month, but we'll see... it is, after all, a campaign season, so GOP senators may just block everything (which they've proven they're quite good at).
I try to stay out of pollsters' spats, because I'm strictly rank amateur status, myself. That's why I use a "poll of polls" average, which takes off the rough edges of any one poll, and then further average them into one single number for the month. And I had noticed a pretty wide disparity between Ras. and Gallup for the past two weeks, you're right.
For others unaware of this debate, it boils down to "likely voters" and how the pollsters decide who is "likely" to vote and who isn't. It's a tricky thing to decide, because if a wave of new voters appears (like "the youth" getting off their butts and voting) then your poll numbers will be wildly off. But this rarely happens, I should mention, which is why some like the LV measure the best. I'm officially neutral on the debate, personally.
As for the bump, we'll see. Again, for everyone -- what a lot of people miss in the art of polling is the fact that things have a lag time. Say there's an event (presidential speech) that influences public opinion. Well, only polls which START polling AFTER the event will catch the swing in the public mood. Most polls are multi-day polls, so it takes a few days for them to finish polling. Then it takes another day or so to crunch the numbers. Then the poll results come out -- anywhere from three days to a week AFTER the actual event. So, when looking for daily changes, always look to what happened the week BEFORE to see what could have influenced it.
September's going to be a wild month though, so I don't offer any predictions past a one-week bump. We'll see, we'll see...
On the tax thing, my money (right now) is on a compromise being reached. The Dems will get the tax rates we had under Clinton for the top two brackets restored. But they'll bargain away the next one or two years of continuing these cuts in order to do so. What this practically means is that the next Congress could change everything around again, although the Dems could score a (weakened) bragging point on the campaign trail. This is going to be an interesting debate, because BOTH parties think it's a political winner for them. Could be a Battle Royale, in other words.
David -
Yeah, this has been Democrats' problem since about 1980 or so. Sigh.
you've got to admit that the GOP was wrong about the "precipitous withdrawal" from Obama, right? I mean, it's only fair.
Well, I would argue that Obama's withdrawal was a FAR cry from the precipitous withdrawal demanded by the Democrat base. THAT was the withdrawal that the GOP was complaining about.. And rightly so..
However, yes.. Credit where credit is due. Obama deserves credit for drawing down troops in Iraq in an orderly and secure fashion.
So, yes.. Obama does deserve credit for that.
It's a tricky thing to decide, because if a wave of new voters appears (like "the youth" getting off their butts and voting) then your poll numbers will be wildly off.
You're so right about that. I don't know if you recall, but during the 2008 campaign, given all the young voters Obama was energizing, pollsters were going crazy. Nobody wanted to commit to anything.
On the tax thing, my money (right now) is on a compromise being reached. The Dems will get the tax rates we had under Clinton for the top two brackets restored. But they'll bargain away the next one or two years of continuing these cuts in order to do so.
I really don't know what the heck they're gonna do. But as far as the top tax bracket, I've always felt that $250K was just to low to set as the bottom rung of "the wealthiest" category. There is absolutely nothing "wealthy" about $250K. I think if the Dems popped that up $500K or $750K, they would fare much better. That way, they're not giving away the entire store, and it would also mean a LOT to that lower-rung of small business owners. I don't think the Dems realize how badly hurt those small businesses are gonna get if their taxes go up in this economy.
I really don't know what the heck they're gonna do. But as far as the top tax bracket, I've always felt that $250K was just to low to set as the bottom rung of "the wealthiest" category. There is absolutely nothing "wealthy" about $250K. I think if the Dems popped that up $500K or $750K, they would fare much better.
I almost posted this earlier CB. There's a great article from one of my favorite economists that takes this a step further.
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2010/08/16/100816ta_talk_surowiecki
$250k a year, especially if you live in NY, parts of California, or D.C., is really not "wealthy".
It's kind of like the Chris Rock joke: Shaq is rich, the person who writes the checks to Shaq is wealthy.
CW,
it is, after all, a campaign season, so GOP senators may just block everything (which they've proven they're quite good at).
Why is it, when the Democrats are the minority they can't block shinola??
Yet, when the GOP is the super-minority, they allegedly manage to derail everything??
I guess this harkens back to the question, why is it that, when the Democrats have a near super majority AND the White House, everything is STILL the GOP's fault??
You would think such ridiculous passing of the buck and blame evasion would invite some very real and very deep soul-searching on the part of the Democrats...
But, noooooooooooooooooooo.......
Everything is always everyone else's fault....
It is this kind of fix-the-blame-and-not-the-problem mentality that has John Q Public royally pissed off...
OK, I didn't go back and dig up your quotes, but I did come across this searching for something else:
Only 3% of small business owners would see their taxes rise. That "income" to a worker is actually "profit" to a small businessman, and not the net worth of the business or even the net receipts of the business. So it doesn't affect businesses that are "worth" over $250K, just the ones that "profit" over $250K in one year. Hence the small percentage (at some point, they stop being "small businesses" and start being "large businesses" which affects it too) of small business owners affected. And they'd be paying less than 4 percent more -- ONLY on the money they make OVER that $250K. Not exactly crippling. If someone made $275K, for instance, his taxes would rise by only $1,000 (less, actually, since I used 4% to make it easier math).
[Oh, and go look at the note I just posted at the bottom of my press conference article from Monday, and read the link -- this may be interesting, tax-wise... we'll see next week...]
But I do agree with you -- this is one thing Reagan started that has gotten completely out of hand. We used to have a LOT of tax brackets in this country. The GOP decided fewer was better. In doing so, they got rid of all the top brackets (I think we only have 5 brackets now, I could be wrong). I think Dems would be smart to push for a "millionaires' bracket" -- you only hit it if you make a cool mil per year. But that probably makes way too much sense for Dems to jump on it. Sigh.
There's a reason for that. Although you're right about Dems not being able to block much in the past (they blocked some judges), it's because in the past few years, Republicans have used the filibuster/cloture thing MORE THAN IN OUR ENTIRE HISTORY. In the 2007-2009 Congress, they used it more in TWO YEARS than in ALL OTHER YEARS COMBINED. And this Congress will likely shatter that record, too. So it basically comes down to that, I think -- which side uses their leverage more. But I think also that you can look forward -- the next time the Dems are in the minority in the Senate -- for Dems to use it on par with the new standard the GOP just set. So we may achieve parity then... or maybe "absolute gridlock" is a better way to put it. And look for the GOP to be loudly denouncing the Dems as "obstructionists" just like the Dems now do (although the GOP will complain louder and more effectively, because they're better at whining than Democrats could ever hope to be).
Sorry, was that a bit cynical? Sigh.
Only 3% of small business owners would see their taxes rise.
Is that okay? In this economy, with people seriously struggling to keep their fledgling little businesses afloat, is it all right that ONLY 3% — who are barely even cutting a profit — will be shelling out another thousand bucks? How many people does 3% amount to? And is this a way of creating jobs? See, that's my point. These people should not be included in the top-tier. This level of business-owner is just barely scraping by.
(In fact, nobody should be getting their taxes raised at a time like this, but that's another story entirely.)
Y'know, Chris, when Dems talk about "only $1,000 more," they're forgetting all the other monies these little guys are paying out. Depending on where one resides, some of these people are already paying through the teeth for state and local taxes and all sorts of other things. Some have to carry federal flood insurance, which is "only" another couple of grand. How about the new mandated health care insurance? You put enough "only's" together — especially for the little guy residing in, say, NYC, who's getting killed with rent and permits and licensing fees, etc., etc. — and a lot of these little guys are gonna be among the 9.5% receiving unemployment bail-outs in a NY heartbeat. This is not how jobs are created; this is how little businesses get ruined. Because Dems are very myopically looking at "only" the federal tax aspect and failing to factor in a whole lot of other financial realities. You'd be surprised how very far $250K does NOT go for a family of four in NYC.
Good article, D. This is exactly the kinda thing I'm talking about. Professional politicians — many of whom have never even been on a private sector payroll in their lives, much less had to make a payroll — really, truly do not understand how business works. Just wait and see what raising taxes, in this current environment, is gonna do. I don't even wanna think about it.
Good article, D. This is exactly the kinda thing I'm talking about.
The thing I'd like to see is a distinction made between small businesses and multi-national corporations.
Obama has done some to make this distinction, but not nearly enough.
Because I think you make a good point, CB. Small businesses are struggling. Yet, at the same time, most of large corporate America is doing amazingly well. M&A activity is up across the board. In part because they have so much in cash reserves, they literally do not know what to do w/ it.
Everyone wants to help small businesses. What bugs me is when the multi-national corporations whine like small businesses to milk the government (when most are doing amazingly well).
The supply side is important. But I think for too long we've focused solely on supply side economics. If we run out of middle-class consumers, eventually this will catch up to those large corporations who are doing so well right now.
This is why what I'd like to see is a tax structure that helps create innovation and small businesses and appropriately taxes the very very upper end of the spectrum.
The trick is, who is able to donate most to political campaigns ... both Democrat and Republican. *sigh*
[ Permalink ] [ Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 05:57 ]
If Obama had created a proper business environment long ago, that $2T they're sitting on would've been fueling this economy. Instead, we're closing out "The Summer of Recovery" with unemployment up to 9.6%, now, and — just to ensure that Business sits on that cash that much longer — a master plan to raise taxes. And campaign trails filled with Dems, saying "Vote for me because... uhhh... well, because... ummm..."
If I weren't witnessing this with my own eyes, I'd never believe it.
Just came across this in the Wall St. Journal, folks. It makes some pretty good points:
The Small Business The 97% Fallacy
The president's plan to raise top marginal rates is holding back the very people who should be leading the economic recovery.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703959704575454061524326290.html#mod=most_viewed_day


Little did the God of Moses envisage things would go this far! Devjani Bodepudi explores the need for worship, celebrity worship.
Imagine a time when gods and demigods roamed the earth. Zeus, Kali, Athena, Thor, Krishna and Hercules ruled with their might and wisdom. They gave us something to aspire to; they explained away the seasons and the thunder. They rode on their bulls and tigers, spoke to their owls and wielded their hammers, all so we mere mortals could sleep safe in the knowledge that the sun would move across the heavens again and again as it was being rolled by the sacred scarab, through the will of the divine alone.
So taken are we with our new gods, that we follow them, both physically and virtually. We replace our image with that of theirs on Facebook as our profile pictures, as if we aspire to be them. And we buy the products they are being paid to endorse. Our gods can do no wrong. We must be as one with our gods.
So taken are we with our new gods, that we follow them, both physically and virtually. We replace our image with that of theirs on Facebook as our profile pictures, as if we aspire to be them.
Ergo, if we wear the same brand of underwear Akshay Kumar does in that ad, we too will endowed with the same animal magnetism he exudes on a daily basis. It's as if somewhere in our brains the primitive need for imitation has not developed beyond that of a primate's.
So extreme has our need for idols become, that there is an actual psychological disorder associated with it—Celebrity Worship Syndrome or CWS. According to a study carried out by the University of Leicester, about 36 percent of the British public lie somewhere on the spectrum of this obsessive compulsive disease. The figures are not so clear for the general Indian public, but symptoms involve an extreme desire to know about every detail and aspect of a favourite celebrity's life, from whom they are seeing to the brand of perfume they wear. Suicides have been committed with announcements of engagements and marriages. Temples have been erected for our gods of Tollywood and Bollywood, cardboard cut-outs of Salman Bhai and Rajnikanth are adorned with garlands and are offered milk to celebrate the success of a film. Somewhere along the way, the line between divinity and celebrity has become blurred.
Suicides have been committed with announcements of engagements and marriages. Temples have been erected for our gods of Tollywood and Bollywood, cardboard cut-outs of Salman Bhai and Rajnikanth are adorned with garlands and are offered milk to celebrate the success of a film. Somewhere along the way, the line between divinity and celebrity has become blurred.
I am not criticising the celebrity here; I am critiquing our willingness to follow blindly and happily in the hallowed footsteps of our idols. Why did it take a celebrity to tell us that depression is real for us to believe it? Why is it all the more tragic for our starlets to be suffering, than it is for our neighbour whom we barely acknowledge? Surely we have more in common with our neighbour than we do with the gods? And yet, gods will be gods; flawed and fated to repeat the same mistakes as us ordinary mortals, but so much more beautiful while they do so.
Their technicolour lives, their children, their relationships, their dramas seem so much more than our own. Their loves and hates are so much more intense, so much more important than our own monochrome humdrum existence. To live vicariously through them is to dream the dream. To be able to swish our dandruff-free mane in concert with Kareena's is nothing short of pure joy. We will be transformed into the yoga-flexing, sculpted-lipped waif that is arm candy to Saif, the man-boy has-been who is still 'kinda' cute.
Their technicolour lives, their children, their relationships, their dramas seem so much more than our own. Their loves and hates are so much more intense, so much more important than our own monochrome humdrum existence.
They, our idols, provide us with opinion, escape, aspirations and hope. Without them our lives would be far too real.
In a land where poverty, mud, and garbage are far too visible, sometimes a little Bollywood magic can go a long way. Who cares if the gas cylinder is nearly empty? Let's dance to the 'Lungi Dance', let's sway to 'Exotic' because in those few moments, we are not here. We are not us; we are SRK, Deepika and Priyanka. We are transformed into glittering angels sent from somewhere, anywhere but not here!
So firm is our faith in the stars that we willingly elect them into Parliament; we trust them to make decisions for us. Again, temples erected, judgements overturned, all because stars cannot be so easily touched. It seems that when one attains a certain age, one must stand for election. It appears to be the only logical solution to remain in the limelight when the spotlight has faded on the silver screen. Ironically, the number of actors who have played gods and goddesses on the list of actor-politicians is quite telling. Sita, Krishna, Hanuman are all on there. We trust our celluloid deities more than the ordinary Jo, any day!
But then again, our need for celebrity is as much about the need to vilify as it is to adulate. Women in particular, are our prey. Take for example, Anushka Sharma again. Our cricketers, another breed of god, who are responsible for our very identity as a nation, (Lord help us if we say a word against Dhoni!) are so holy that to be seen with a frivolous tartlet, such as Anushka is almost blasphemy. Her, with her fake lips and seductive smile. She is nothing but a distraction to Virat, who should know better, being of a higher order of god. She becomes the Menaka to his Vishwamitra and we are left cursing and mocking and 'papping' the hapless couple whose only crime was to simply fall in love.
In centuries to come, stories will be told of our immortals and legends will be written about our gods. Humanity will continue to evolve, but only so much. We will always need our idols. We shall continue to worship them, imitate them, follow them, retweet them and defend them, in the vain hope that one day some of their star-shine will rub off on us. And this is what we must do until we too find a way to become immortal.


There's just 12 shopping days to go until Christmas, finding the perfect gift in that time can present a challenge. To relieve some of the stress of the holiday season we're making it easy for you with this list of 12 great gifts for the more creative-minded person in your life.
There's a range of options at a variety of price points, and each one will bring out your inner child.
The new MacBook Pro is powerful, lightweight and has the look that Apple fans love. The new display is bright and features a "second screen" in the Touch Bar that's above the keyboard. The bar changes based on your application to enhance working features. And the biggest bonus for designers? The graphics render 130 percent faster than previous models.
Designers tend to work wherever the inspiration strikes and sometimes that includes on the couch or in the bed. (Particularly if travel is a big part of the job.) The sleek and lightweight Slate 2.0 Lap Desk provides a great set up for putting it all together with places for a laptop, mouse (with built-in pad) and phone holder. Plus, you can customize it for left- or right-handed users.
Every designer loves a great notebook. A Moleskine Planner is a new spin on that classic with pages for mapping out projects for work or play. Notebooks come in a variety of sizes and colors with hard- and soft-cover options so you can find one that really is a personality match.
Help your favorite designer or developer show off their "geek" style with a fun t-shirt. Zazzle has a large collection of "designer" shirt styles that come in plenty of sizes and colors. The best part, all the designs in the online shop are curated by designers. Options range from career-based concepts to downright silly.
If a gift card is more of your idea of a great present, consider a gift card for an Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription or buy a package outright. The set of design tools is used by most of the graphic design industry and is a must-have for working professionals, freelancers, students and anyone who wants to create for print of the web.
Need something for that person who already has every gadget known to man? The PopSockets Phone Grip is an interesting find. Just attach the grip to a phone or tablet to make it easy to hold (or prop up) at different angles. Telescope it for a selfie or mount it to pretty much any surface with a PopClip. The tiny gadget makes it easy to work hands-free.
Virtual reality is the next big thing. Designers want to play with it and need to think about it to design for this next wave of technology as well. The Oculus Rift is one of the leading devices in this market and the new Touch hand controllers take VR to the next level. Here's the catch, you need an Oculus Rift to use the Touch. Gift the Touch alone for someone who has the headset or buy both!
For the heathy conscious designer, a standing desk can be a practical and healthy idea. The Refold desk allows the owner to assemble and move the desk as needed. The nifty design is made of tough cardboard and folds into its own carrying case. (It's hipster chic.) Order with a waterproof top to prevent coffee mishaps.
Fingerless gloves are one of those little items that you don't know you need until the first day your hands get chilled at the office. Working on a computer all requires that your hands be warm and comfortable. Fingerless gloves provide enough room to move, come in lots of fun colors and fabrics and are totally functional. Available at a huge range of price points.
It's the coffee of the month club for java lovers. The Mistobox delivers fresh-roasted artisan coffee right to your door. The neat thing about this service is it takes preference into account so you don't just get a random box of coffee. A curator looks at your taste selections and picks something you are sure to love. Each shipment includes a 12 ounce bag.
Have you waited just a little too long to order a gift online? Here are a few stocking stuffers you can get practically anywhere.
Fun sticky notes: Mix and match colors, shapes and sizes to create an almost custom gift pack.
Coloring book/pencils: Grab a cool coloring book – even grocery stores seem to have them these days – and a box of fun pencils. Personalize the gift with a handwritten note inside.
Flash drive: Look for one that reflects the personality of the person you are gifting. Practical favorites include keychain options or stainless steel flash drives that are cap free (no pieces to loose) and water resistant.


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Q: Apache Commons HttpConnection : PostMethod - Get Underlying HttpConnection How would I go about getting the underlying HttpConnection of a org.apache.commons.httpclient.methods.PostMethod, or org.apache.commons.httpclient.HttpClient Object?

A: If you have an instance of HttpClient you can use this to get a HttpConnection reference:
    PostMethod post = new PostMethod(url);
    // ...
    HttpClient httpclient = new HttpClient();
    httpclient.getHttpConnectionManager().getConnection(HostConfiguration.ANY_HOST_CONFIGURATION);
    // ...
    httpclient.executeMethod(post);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


"As we get closer it gets clearer, and I realize what I'm looking at is skinny, hairless and grey, human like but definitely not human."
Four new National Cryptid Society Case Files for your consideration.
"What was that?!" I said that I didn't know nor did I wish to know."


The interior ministry has introduced classifications which, in many cases, do not respect political allegiances and undermine open scrutiny.
The real results of Left Front candidates may be difficult to see at first glance during the departmental elections. This is a fault caused by the interior ministry's decision not to put the exact political affiliation of candidates on lists, and creates the risk of not portraying the real political landscape. Numerous PCF and Left Front candidates thus find themselves with the same label "miscellaneous left", "miscellaneous" or "united left" (319 cases). The ministry also decided that a single coalition PCF-PG would be called "Left Front", the PCF-Ensemble coalition varies, sometimes being called "miscellaneous left", for example. In Oise, the ministry makes no designation of Left Front, even though it has a candidate in every canton. The 192 coalitions of Left Front and Europe Ecology – Greens - find themselves also named "miscellaneous left" in the prefecture, without reflecting the reality of that alliance. Finally, PCF candidates, previously presented under the label "communists", sometimes find themselves reclassified as "extreme left", to say nothing of the category of "united left", wrongly attributed because a PS candidate was among the group.


There is currently one home available in Greene Croft with a price of $175,000. For availability or more information about homes for sale in Greene Croft call Mark Jacobs at 704-498-4495 .
Greene Croft is located in Mooresville NC, Iredell County. There are currently 1 homes active and for sale inside the neighborhood with the average price being $175,000. The number of homes for sale in Greene Croft is always changing so if you see a home you like and you would like to schedule a time to take a look please give me a call at 704-498-4495.


How Inventory Visibility Creates efficient inventory | SBOBET แทงบอลออนไลน์ ฝากถอน ตลอด 24 ชม.!!
Create visibility can be a complicated process. Inventory is often stored in multiple locations throughout the supply chain, including inventory, transport trucks and on the shelf. The complexities of the supply chain often make it difficult for companies employing accurate methods of monitoring their inventory. It is not uncommon for them to rely on approximations based on current accounts or outdated methods.
When managers take a blind eye to inventory management, they lose out on cost savings opportunities associated with the complete inventory visibility. Implementing measures barcodes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or similar file tracking system can provide your business with efficiency that are not feasible with traditional file counting systems.
Count with RFID is about 25 times faster than barcode scanning. This speed leads to lower costs and less disruption. RFID chips can be put on products-no matter where they are in the product life cycle-allowing accurate measurements and greater inventory visibility from start to finish. Easy product tracking lets administrators see a series of anomalies that they come and quickly adjust, saving time and money in the future complications.
RFID provides digital product management, and visibility is possible anywhere, giving administrators complete control over inventory, even if it has been outsourced or in transit.
One of the major inefficiencies that companies face is inappropriate levels, both stocks too little or too much can be costly. Excess inventory exposes the company to increased opportunities for products to be lost, damaged, or become obsolete. It takes money to stock products without immediate return on investment in storage. Of small file prevents you from meeting customer demand, which will not only cost you a current sale, but will also damage the reputation of your brand.
Improving our visibility will empower you to maintain optimal inventory level against this expensive supply chain failures. Optimizing your inventory also ensures that customers will have access to the products they want.
Improved visibility allows you to see the market trends clear. When it is obvious that more of the product is moving, you can quickly ramp up production to meet customer demand. Being the first mover in this increased demand gives you a unique competitive advantage. On the flipside, if the goods are moving slowly, reducing production can prevent excess inventory and save you wasted costs in the long run.
Although companies often outsource part of their production, they can not abdicate responsibility inventory when it is out of their hands. When meeting customer deadlines, take the product timelines, even those that are produced outside of your control, is crucial. To avoid embarrassing slip ups, RFID tracking and visibility allow you to reduce the risks associated with outsourcing. You can track goods anywhere from your own business. If a problem occurs, appropriate measures can be taken to resolve the issue-before it is brought to the attention of your customers.
Whether you are providing products for other businesses or directly to consumers, you know the value of a good relationship. Our visibility strengthen this relationship by allowing you to offer goods on time and to have appropriate levels of inventory on hand. The ability to monitor trends in how the file is moving means that you will always be able to meet customer demand. When customers can rely on your business, you will be able to develop a more loyal customer base, which is always good for the bottom line.


En español | When fake news isn't fueling what some considered tip-the-scales influence on a presidential choice, the primary purpose of shocking headlines and bogus reports is to make money for some while scamming others.
Politics aside, most fake news and fake news websites exist to make money from advertising: The more clicks of that page, the higher commission received from views of surrounding display ads. Outrageous claims attract eyeballs, helping to pad pockets.
But some fake news campaigns — spread via email spam, in pop-up ads, through keyword searches and, especially, on Facebook — are more about cons than capitalism.
Consider malware, like the kind that started infecting computers within hours of the Osama bin Laden raid. It was spread via clicked links that promised "shocking" photos of the shooting, but its purpose was to monitor and siphon funds from users' online banking accounts to those controlled by fraudsters. Other malware is harbored in attention-grabbing clickbait about current events, celebrity gossip, miracle cures, bargain buys, you name it. Some malware is designed to enlist computers as spam-spreading botnets to distribute more fake news to friends and strangers.
Be leery of links. Are details promised in an embedded link, rather than provided in body text? That's the fastest way to infect computers with malware. Another link-clicking result: being directed to a survey that must be completed before "shocking" stories and photos are revealed. This gathers personal information on behalf of marketers or scammers, another way that purveyors of fake news make money.
Pass on "required" software. Scam sites may claim you must install a certain plug-in to view videos or photos. It's another trick to install malware.
Notice local lures. Notice how fake news is often local — supposedly reported by local media or consisting of made-up testimonials by neighborhood customers. That's because fake news websites use an IP tracking tool to ensure the same message is customized locally for greatest impact. So fake news reaching Floridians appears to be from the bogus Miami Chronicle, while the same pages reach folks in the Northwest from the Seattle Chronicle.
Know what's in the fine print (or not). With most free trials, the cancellation window starts the moment you place your order, not when you receive the product. And in many cases, fake news vendors purposely don't ship initial "free trial" orders until after the period has ended, hoping you won't cancel in the meantime. Also watch for pre-checked boxes, which may give companies a green light to continue the offer past the trial period or sign you up for more products.
For information about other scams, sign up for the Fraud Watch Network. You'll receive free email alerts with tips and resources to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud. And you'll gain access to a network of experts, law enforcement and people in your community who will keep you up to date on the latest scams in your area.


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Action, Arrow Video, Kaiju film, Movies, Reviews
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) review
Posted by pvhaecke on April 3, 2021 March 26, 2021
Seeing the success of Toho's Godzilla series, Daiei Film's studio head Masaichi Nagata decided, obviously for financial gain, to create a Kaiju film with his own company. Little did he know that his fantasy of a tortoise flying alongside his airplane would become such a success and that his "Godzilla rip-off" Gamera would become a Japanese icon in his own right.
The enduring popularity of Gamera, of course, led the Daiei Corporation to reboot the series for a new generation. In contrast to his original outing, this ninth installment featured, by Japanese standards, high production values and expensive special effects.
[This film is available on Blu-ray in the Arrow Video's Gamera: The Complete Boxset]
One day, off the eastern coast of the Philippines, a large ship carrying a dangerous amount of plutonium runs aground on a giant floating atoll. A team of scientists led by Naoya Kusanagi (Akira Onodera) set out on their research ship 'Kenzaki' to find and investigate this rather unusually large atoll. On the atoll, they find numerous orihalcum amulets and one stone slab decorated with Etrurian runes. Suddenly, after excavating the stone slab, the atoll starts quaking. Yoshinari Yonemori (Tsuyoshi Ihara) falls into the water and sees an eye and a tusk.
Upon hearing that her professor has gone missing on Himegami island, ornithologist Mayumi Nagamine (Shinobu Nakayama) decides to go to the island and investigate the giant bird rumours by herself. While she is, at first, very skeptical about the idea of giant birds, the discovery of her professor's pen and glasses in a giant bird pellet is enough to convince her the rumours are true.
While changing things about an iconic character is always risky, the changes made to Gamera in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, the first film in the Heisei reboot trilogy, succeeds in making this beloved Kaiju turtle even more iconic than he already was. With his rendition of Gamera, Kazunori Itō successfully honours the classic elements of Gamera, e.g. his peculiar ability to fly, while also evolving him in a meaningful way, i.e. by giving him retractable spikes protruding from his elbows and the ability to shoot plasma fireballs from his mouth.
The most radical difference between Gamera of the Showa films and the Heisei films is nevertheless not to be found at the level of abilities, but at the level of his origin. Gamera is not, like in the Showa films, a prehistoric giant turtle accidentally awakened by an atom bomb but an ancient human-made defender. While one could argue that rewriting Gamera's origin constitutes a subtle depoliticization of the narrative, this change of origin was, in our view, a necessary step to radically differentiate him from Godzilla and provide a solid ground for his 'surprising' benevolence.
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is, contrary to what one might expect, not devoid of social commentary. When Shinobu Nakayama tries to give an explanation as to why the dangerous Gyaos eggs suddenly hatched, she contends that environmental changes (i.e. global warning) due to unrestrained industrialization as well as our reliance on plutonium could be the underlying cause. The Gyaos are, in other words, a symbol of man's technological disturbance of the complex natural system called nature. If the genetically modified Gyaos are reminders of our destructive presence on this earth, how should we then understand the benevolence of Gamera? Should we understand Gamera as a kaiju who, via a blind benevolence, allows humanity to keep on destroying the earth? We leave the question open.
What makes Gamera: Guardian of the Universe so enjoyable is the rhythm and the energy of the narrative. Kazunori Itō and Shusuke Kaneko fully understood that what the spectator desires from a Kaiju narrative is not a long-winded exposition with little to no action-sequences, but a swift concatenation of excitement thrilling set-pieces with enough exposition to give the narrative's development a decent coherence.
While the special effects, according to contemporary standards, are of course bad – and sometimes awfully bad, the special effects are functional and mostly deliver what needs to be delivered, which is pleasing and thrilling kaiju action. Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, in fact, successfully evades producing the very feeling of disbelief that would problematize any enjoyment a spectator can extract from this film.
The composition of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is decent and straightforward (Cine-note 1). One nevertheless feels, especially because a variety of shots (i.e. fixed, fluid as well as shaky dynamic shots) are used, that the composition lacks a certain thoughtfulness. This is especially evident in tensive scenes where the composition does little to visually heighten the tension. Nevertheless, in some cases, Shusuke Kaneko does utilize the expressive dimension of the image. For instance, when framing the impact of rockets as they hit the Kaiju, he gladly resorts to shaky framing to strengthen the impact of these rockets for the spectator.
Yet despite this straightforward cinematographical approach, the tensive scenes are still tensive and exciting for the spectator. But this excitement and tension is primarily function of the effective dramatic musical accompaniment. One could even contend that the tension and excitement in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is solely depending on the atmosphere that the dramatic music infuses in the scenes.
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is a successful reboot that succeeds in honouring Gamera's classic past, while also evolving this iconic Kaiju in a meaningful way. While the special effects are bad given today's standards, the pleasing flow of the narrative, bombarding the spectator with action-sequence after action-sequence, and the effective dramatic musical accompaniment will thrill the spectator and keep him engaged from start to finish.
Cine-note 1: The composition is marked by one cinematographical quirk: the overly dramatic zoom-ins. While the function of these zoom-ins is evident, many of these zoom-ins are not effective and do not add anything to the composition as such.
Akira OnoderaArrow VideoKazunori ItōShinobu NakayamaShusuke KanekoTsuyoshi IharaYuhmi Kaneyama
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Which fish should you NOT eat??
gut it, clean it, cut it into 1"" steaks (a bit like Salmon steaks) and grill/bbq for a few minutes either side until soft.
My mate caught a 3lb+ trigger fish off mumbles pier. Gutted it there and then, wrapped it in foil, and slapped it on the bbq that we took with us. After 25 minutes the skin just peals off. A very meaty texture and very few bones, but not a huge amount of flavour either. Still, it wasn't unpleasant and I can now tick another one off the "eaten" list.
wow a 2lb pout!!! thats almost a record?
I wouldnt go near the trout you can reel in on Brighton pier, but if you want to catch one, the best location is behind the karaoke bar near the top.
My mate hooked one which was at least 120lb!
Yes but can you eat them ?????????
I eat Flounders I catch out the Thames, they taste lovely! Bit of flour, pan fried with a squeeze of lemon.
It was once said that poeple inland will eat skate better than the poeple who eat skate fresh from the sea. This is becuase cartilaginous fish i.e. skate rays and sharks- have a diferent gill structure to other fish, so instead they maintain a supply of urea within their bloodstream . the urea is rich in other minerals, which prevent the fish losing their bodily fluids to saline water by osmosis. when they die the urea starts to break down and is released as ammonia. basicly the dead fish purges it self. after 2 or 3 days the process is complete and the fish is ready for the pan. This is why you should nt eat fresh skates.
I have got this information FISH BOOK by river cottage it is an excellent read tells you about every thing you can eat from sea and fresh water in this country and gives good advice on size limits and endangered species.
And some bloody good recipes.
Rabbi2 dont if I have misunderstood you but the urine taste of skate has nothing to do with water quality it is just how they deal with salt water that makes them produce urea in there blood stream.


Establish statewide adoption of standards, policies and pediatric guidelines.
Analyze data related to injury prevention and illness.
Monitor the EMSC Program and recommend improvements.
Advise healthcare facilities and other providers.
Promote activities that ensure optimal delivery of care.
Advise on the provision of pediatric education.
Advise the EMS and Trauma Systems Section on best methods to enact legislation and accomplish grant objectives.


A few lucky Art Effect staff recently had the opportunity to attend the Remix NYC Summit on Culture, Creativity and Technology, thanks to support from Wave Farm and NYSCA. Two days packed full of thought-provoking speakers, stimulating conversations with colleagues old and new, and some of the coolest venue spaces NYC has to offer. Several recurring themes from across the conference struck us and stuck with us, and we thought we'd share them with you all.
During her presentation, Julia Kaganskiy, Director of New Inc (New Museum's art & tech incubator) mentioned the phrase "constant beta," and it really resonated. Being in a state of constant beta means approaching your work as in development, in a constant state of testing things out and evaluating how well implementation went with an eye towards making changes for improvement next time. In an age of constant change where technology evolves on a daily basis, such flexibility and adaptability is crucial to keeping competitive. Using the same business model year in, year out will no longer hold the same promise of security. Instead, embracing "constant beta" means entering a mutually beneficial adaptive relationship with customers or clients, where supply changes in response to demand. So much is changing and being reshaped, we have to embrace being in constant beta in order to survive and thrive.
For The Art Effect, the "so what?" is straightforward—particularly after attending Remix NYC. Arts empower communities, and we help facilitate that growth and transformation. Our programs offer youth skills practice, arts exploration, and college/career opportunities they otherwise may not have gotten, and to the students we serve, it makes all the difference in the world. We're so glad and grateful we got to be a part of such an incredible few days, and we can't wait to bring what we've learned back into our organizational practices. Innovation, here we come!