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Land & Corruption related Blog post
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An Interview with Professor Howard Stein at the recent Conference on Land Policy in Africa
Mr. Howard Stein
Stacey Zammit
land titling
landlessness
During the recent Conference on Land Policy in Africa, we had a chance to sit down and speak with Professor Howard Stein of the University of Michigan. Scroll below to read more.
1) Can you tell us a little bit about your research, work and background?
Marc Wegerif of University of Pretoria Presenting at Pan African Land Conference
Dr. Marc Wegerif
agricultural land management
agricultural landscape
land acquisitions
land fragmentation
land rent
Marc Wegerif, of the Human Economy Program within the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship at University of Pretoria, was presenting at the 2019 Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire on 28th November 2019. The theme of the CLPA was "Winning the fight against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa's Transformation".
Land Access and Household Wellbeing in Cameroon: Does Gender Matter?
Mr. Eric Feubi Pamen
gender equity in access to land
Africa remains a net food importing region spending more than USD 35 billion annually on food imports, although this continent has about 65% of the uncultivated arable land left in the world to feed 9 billion people by 2050 (AfDB, 2016). Land tenure remains a major challenge across the continent and only about 10% of Africa's rural land is registered. In Cameroon, in particular, land as an asset, an input or an income source is not equally possessed by any individual or household with respect to gender and place of living.
Transparency in the Land Sector Needs to Include Youth: Discussions at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa
The session "Exploring tools and approaches towards responsible youth and gender sensitive land governance and transparency in Africa" took place on November 27th, 2019 in the framework of the Conference on Land Policy in Africa and was organized by the Global Land Tool Network and the International Land Coalition. Land is both a source of livelihood and life line for most communities in Africa and is considered a strategic social and economic resource for communities in rural and urban areas.
2019 Conference on Land Policy in Africa: Why it matters for the continent
cadastral administration
land economics
Cosmas Milton Ochieng, an expert in natural resource governance and economic development in Africa, is the Director of the African Natural Resource Centre at the African Development Bank.
In collaboration with the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank will host the 3rd Edition of the Conference on Land Policy in Africa in Abidjan from 25 to 29 November 2019.
In this interview, Ochieng shares key insights into why the conference matters for Africa.
Leveraging Open Data in the Fight Against Corruption
Clinton Omosula
The land sector is increasingly being cited as a corruption hub. Many countries across the globe are grappling with land-related corruption that dates to the colonial years and which have metamorphosed into historical injustices and continue to be a source of conflict and violation of basic human rights. Cases of land grabbing, compensation-less expropriation, gender-based discrimination in accessing and ownership of land and related resources, illegal mining deals, bribing to access land administration services among others are not new in the lands sector.
Keynote Address by Stephen Karingi, Director, Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division, UN Economic Commission for Africa
It is my privilege to address you, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Dr. Vera Songwe, and welcome you to the 3rd Conference on Land Policy in Africa.
I would like to extend our gratitude to the Republic of Cote D'Ivoire and the African Development Bank for hosting the third Conference on Land Policy in Africa. As the host institution of the second land conference, we recognize the tremendous effort that goes into hosting this conference.
Statement by Her Excellency Ambassador Josefa L.C. Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission
I bring you warm greetings from H.E. Mousa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of African Union Commission. It is my honour and pleasure to deliver this statement at the opening of the Conference on Land Policy in Africa. I salute the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Côte D'Ivoire and all partners for hosting and successfully organizing the 2019 Conference on Land Policy in Africa.
Speech by Dr. Benjamin Laag, Head of Cooperation of the German Embassy In Côte d'Ivoire at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa
Dr. Benjamin Laag
Africa is a rich continent. It has vast agricultural and land resources and thus the potential to feed all people living on the continent. We observe technological improvements in agriculture, as well as in geospatial sciences and other relevant land sectors. Thus, the tools are available to implement policies to ensure fair and sustainable land policy in every country. However, there is still a considerable gap in what is proven to work and what is implemented in many countries.
Conference on Land Policy in Africa Opening Remarks by Charles Boamah, Senior Vice-President African Development Bank
Charles Boamah
The Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa very wisely prioritised three key objectives:
Land policy development and implementation;
Allocation of adequate budgetary resources to land management and administration;
And the establishment of enabling conditions for institutional innovation in land policy and governance frameworks on the continent.
As we gather here today, so much has been achieved over the past decade. And yet we know that a great deal of work still remains to be done.
Conference on Land Policy in Africa 2019: An Interview with Marc Wegerif
control rights
dispossession
Next week the Conference on Land Policy in Africa - Winning the Fight against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa's Transformation, will take place in Abidjan. The African Union recognises that corruption is a key factor hampering efforts at promoting governance, socio-economic transformation, peace and security, and the enjoyment of human rights in the Member States.
Conference on Land Policy in Africa 2019: An Interview with Kenya Land Alliance's Odenda Lumumba
Mr. ODENDA LUMUMBA
compulsory acquisitions
land rights activists
Read more about An Interview with Professor Howard Stein at the recent Conference on Land Policy in Africa
Read more about Marc Wegerif of University of Pretoria Presenting at Pan African Land Conference
Read more about Land Access and Household Wellbeing in Cameroon: Does Gender Matter?
CCSI Executive Training on Sustainable Investments in Agriculture 2020
9 June 2020 to 19 June 2020
Socio-Economic & Institutional Context
The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2020 Executive Training on Sustainable Investments in Agriculture.
International Anti-Corruption Day
alienation (land)
On this International Day, I urge people everywhere to continue to work on innovative solutions to win the battle against corruption and to ensure that precious resources serve the peoples of the world.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
Conference on Land Policy in Africa, CLPA-2019: "Winning the fight against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa's Transformation"
Sofitel - Hotel Ivoire Abidjan
Winning the fight against Corruption in the Land Sector: Sustainable Pathway for Africa's Transformation
The 3rd edition of the Conference on Land Policy in Africa was organised by the African Land Policy Centre which is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank. The Conference is a policy and learning event whose goal is to deepen capacity for land policy in Africa through improved access to knowledge and information on land policy development and implementation. This Conference follows the second Conference held in November 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that was attended by close to 450 participants.
Land Policy Initiative
African Development Bank
Open Land Data in the Fight against Corruption
9 September 2019 to 29 September 2019
Mr. Tim Davies
Lisette Mey
Ms. Amy Coughenour Betancourt
Land Portal Foundation
Cadasta Foundation
grassroots organizations
The global data revolution has undoubtedly reached the land sector. Land information is increasingly created, stored and shared as data.
Land and Corruption in Africa in 3 Topics
17 July 2019 to 7 August 2019
Jean Brice Tetka
Mary Maneno
Michael Okai
Dr. Simon Manda
Mr. Gerald Padde Auku
customary land rights
land dispute resolution
Download the Report of the discussion.
What can we do to achieve sustainable pro-poor land reform in South Africa?
19 November 2018 to 7 December 2018
Dr. Rick de Satgé
Phuhlisani NPC
communal ownership
land distribution
In February 2018, South Africa's National Assembly passed a resolution to establish an ad hoc Constitutional Review Committee to explore and debate the need for a constitutional amendment to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation in the public interest.
Type of organization
- Any - Civil Society Organization (4) Intergovernmental or Multilateral organization (1) International professional body (2) Journal (6) Network (1) Non Governmental organization (5) Non-profit organization (4) University or Research Institution (4)
Curbing Corruption
CurbingCorruption.com is a new website providing practical help for public officials and politicians planning anti-corruption reforms.
We provide you with two tools
A practical five-step approach – summarised in the left side bar – helps you develop your own anti-corruption initiative, large or small. The Steps can be accessed at any time from the top navigation bar.
Front Line Defenders
Front Line Defenders was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs), people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR). Front Line Defenders addresses the protection needs identified by HRDs themselves.
Global Witness
Global Witness exposes the hidden links between demand for natural resources, corruption, armed conflict and environmental destruction
Many of the world's worst environmental and human rights abuses are driven by the exploitation of natural resources and corruption in the global political and economic system. Global Witness is campaigning to end this. We carry out hard-hitting investigations, expose these abuses, and campaign for change. We are independent, not-for-profit, and work with partners around the world in our fight for justice.
Government Blockchain Association - Land Titling Working Group (GBA)
The Government Blockchain Association (GBA) is an international nonprofit professional association with its headquarters located in Fairfax, Virginia. GBA focuses on its members as individuals and organizations that are interested in promoting blockchain technology solutions to government, but does not advocate for any specific policy position. Membership is available to government employees along with student organizations, private sector professionals, and corporations. Membership fees are waived for government employees.
KGM Consulting
KGM Consulting is a 100% Botswana youth-owned consultancy that aims at growing the wealth of its stakeholders through Research, Innovation and Sustainable Solutions based on People, Profits and Planet. KGM Consulting was incorporated in 2013 as KGBG Investment Pty (Ltd) and transformed into a full registered consultancy in 2019.
Land Rights Now (LRN )
To achieve our Goal, we are campaigning for an unprecedented mobilization of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, governments, intergovernmental organizations, corporate and other private sector actors, civil society, social movements, and citizens from all over the world. To realise the change we want, we ask that by 2020…
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.
We seek to strengthen the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check.
We help to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights.
Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA)
REPOA was formed in 1994 in Tanzania with the mandate to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in its multiple dimensions through research and capacity building. Over time, REPOA's mandate has expanded beyond alleviating poverty to encompass growth and socio-economic transformation for poverty reduction.
REPOA's STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2015-2019
Sustainable Development Institute (SDI )
SDI is complrised of grassroots activists using technology to hold the Liberian government & corporations to their commitments.
The Gecko Project
The Gecko Project is an investigative journalism initiative established to shine a light on the corruption driving land grabs and the destruction of tropical rainforests. It seeks to create and maintain a sense of urgency over the role of large land deals, predominantly for food production, in some of the most pressing global challenges: climate change, the collapse of biodiversity, food security, and the rights of indigenous peoples and other rural communities. We aim to achieve this through the production and promotion of in-depth, high-quality and accessible journalism.
Transparency International (TI)
One global movement sharing one vision: a world in which government, business, civil society and the daily lives of people are free of corruption.
In 1993, a few individuals decided to take a stance against corruption and created Transparency International. Now present in more than 100 countries, the movement works relentlessly to stir the world's collective conscience and bring about change. Much remains to be done to stop corruption, but much has also been achieved, including:
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL CAMEROON
From villages in rural India to the corridors of power in Brussels, Transparency International gives voice to the victims and witnesses of corruption. We work together with governments, businesses and citizens to stop the abuse of power, bribery and secret deals.
As a global movement with one vision, we want a world free of corruption. Through chapters in more than 100 countries and an international secretariat in Berlin, we are leading the fight against corruption to turn this vision into reality.


Based on the Naruto anime franchise, Ultimate Ninja Blazing is a mobile game that allows you to get involved in Shinobi Formation Battles. The strategic action game is developed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. and is compatible with Android & iOS devices. In order to win the battles, you will have to team up with your fellow fighters and unleash attacks on your enemies. The mobile game can also be played on a PC with the help of an Android emulator.
In case you didn't, Shinobi Formation Battles are strategic battles that can be carried out with intuitive controls. They involve teaming up with your allies to unleash Combination Attacks on your enemies. Your allies have Field Skills that can be activated, making your attacks more lethal.
When attacking your opponents as a group, you should resist counter attacks as much as possible. This is because any successful attack on your group can wipe out all your allies. You should also unleash powerful, continuous attacks to avoid group hits from your enemies.
Ultimate Ninja Blazing presents you with a huge range of Ninjutsu which are characters key to battle. There are offensive Ninjutsu that you can use to destroy your enemies and sealing Ninjutsu that you can use to stop your enemy movements. There are also Ninjutsu that possess powerful Secret Technique which you can utilize to monitor your enemy's missions.
The timers are located next to your enemies and show when your opponents will be unleashing attacks. When you notice that they are about to attack, it is recommended to stay back and strengthen your group. But when you see the timers showing many turns before their next attack, you can push forward and unleash your attacks.
Ultimate Ninja Blazing gives you five slots that you can match up with the available five elements. After matching up them, you need to represent all of them in the battles in order to unleash stronger attacks. Since you might not be aware of the elements used by your opponents, you should get all your elements out there to deal with corresponding elements.
Phantom Castle is a special mode that appears during special event periods. When in this mode, you can compete against other players to win points that will take you to the top of the castle. As you move from one level to another climbing the castle, you will come across a multitude of enemies that you must take down in order to get to the top.
When you get into the social part of the game, you will be able to use the Friend Summon feature. You can use the game's premium currency (ninja pearls) or friend points to launch a Friend Summon. If you are finding it hard to earn ninja pearls, just add friends and you will earn friends points that will help you use the Friend Summon.
If you want to play the game on a bigger screen of a desktop, laptop or MAC, install it on your computer with the help of an Android emulator. This software will allow you to download and install the free game app on your computer.
Sometimes when playing Ultimate Ninja Blazing, bluestacks ask you fee to pay but gives you option to download some apps. Every time it asks you just select "Install apps" and continue using it free.
I hope you enjoyed this guide, please rate and share. If you have problems running Ultimate Ninja Blazing on desktop or any other issues, leave a comment below.


Banks are major providers of the mortgage loans that help many Americans achieve their dreams of homeownership. In 2017, the dollar value of one-to-four family mortgage loans made by the banking industry grew by 3.4 percent to total $2.1 trillion. Banks have remained a constant supporter of the housing sector; however, constrained supply and rising prices have led to new challenges in the mortgage sector.
In 2017, home prices across the nation approached peaks last seen before the most recent housing boom. The median home price of an existing home rose 5.8 percent, while the median new home price rose 4.7 percent. Home prices rose three times faster than inflation and two times faster than income growth, suggesting a growing affordability challenge. This rise in home prices has largely reflected tight supply chains—too few homes for sale, too few lots on which to build and too few workers available to build them.
Housing supply measures attempt to provide an indication of the size of the for-sale housing inventory relative to the number being sold. Today's measure of 5.4 months indicates a tight housing supply market. The number of existing homes available for sale reached an all-time low in December 2017, bottoming at 1.48 million units—equating to a 3.2 month supply. And while housing starts have begun to rebound since the dramatic drop-offs of 2007-10 (led by single family housing starts), demand continues to outweigh the market supply.
Pent up demand for homeownership drove sales in 2017. New home sales rose solidly for a gain of 8.3 percent, while existing homes sales made a comeback, rising 1.1 percent over the year—the strongest year of growth since 2006.
Banks have continued to make mortgage loans available as a service to their communities, despite burdensome regulatory hurdles. They actively serve rural communities—where almost a quarter of the U.S. population resides—often providing not only mortgage loans, but also a broad array of financial services. While community banks represent the only banking presence in almost 1 out of every 5 counties across the nation, regulations improperly tailored to their size and business models have hampered their ability to serve their communities. In such circumstances, nonbank mortgage services have entered—exponentially growing mortgage debt over the past few years. Independent mortgage companies and affiliates of non-depositories together hold a 51 percent market share in rural areas across the U.S., and a 59 percent market share in urban areas.
Early 2018 data suggests the trends of 2017 are continuing in the housing sector this year. In the first quarter of 2018, home prices rose more than in any first quarter since 2006, while home sales continued to struggle largely due to lack of available inventory.
A healthy economy, stronger incomes and a continually improving job market has driven demand for buying a home through the first half of 2018 and demand is expected to gain momentum through the second half of 2018 despite headwinds, including a worsening affordability challenge (climbing home prices, rising mortgage rates and less additional tax benefits for prospective home buyers since the passage of the tax reform legislation). On the other hand, sales of new homes that have not yet been started jumped in April 2018, the largest jump in five months, suggesting strength in housing starts in the months ahead, which could reduce lack of inventory concerns.


SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College's Anna Helwig, Ph.D., Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) was presented with a Board Recognition Award from Bremen High School District 228 at their Students in Leadership Board Meeting this week. According to the District, the award is intended to acknowledge individuals who have provided above and beyond service or assistance to its students.
Dr. Helwig said she has enjoyed working collaboratively with District 228 to engage high school students in all of the technology opportunities that SSC's provides, including its Manufacturing Lab, Maker's Lab, CNC Lab – all housed at its Oak Forest Center (OFC) near BHSD 228 schools. She also serves as the lead contact for the District's Alternative Education Program and has assisted in creating new college classes for DELTA students, now housed at the OFC.
Bremen High School District 228 students Alonzo Arostegui (left) Jamal Cole (right) presented SSC's Dr. Anna Helwig, Dean of STEM, with a Board Recognition Award as part of the District's Students in Leadership Board Meeting this week.


text:
/** @author Brian Cavalier */
/** @author John Hann */

import fatal from '../fatalError'
import { now } from '../source/now'
import { compose } from '@most/prelude'
import { currentTime } from '@most/scheduler'

/**
 * Turn a Stream<Promise<T>> into Stream<T> by awaiting each promise.
 * Event order is preserved. The stream will fail if any promise rejects.
 */
export const awaitPromises = stream => new Await(stream)

/**
 * Create a stream containing only the promise's fulfillment
 * value at the time it fulfills.
 * @param {Promise<T>} p promise
 * @return {Stream<T>} stream containing promise's fulfillment value.
 *  If the promise rejects, the stream will error
 */
export const fromPromise = compose(awaitPromises, now)

class Await {
  constructor (source) {
    this.source = source
  }

  run (sink, scheduler) {
    return this.source.run(new AwaitSink(sink, scheduler), scheduler)
  }
}

class AwaitSink {
  constructor (sink, scheduler) {
    this.sink = sink
    this.scheduler = scheduler
    this.queue = Promise.resolve()

    // Pre-create closures, to avoid creating them per event
    this._eventBound = x => this.sink.event(currentTime(this.scheduler), x)
    this._endBound = () => this.sink.end(currentTime(this.scheduler))
    this._errorBound = e => this.sink.error(currentTime(this.scheduler), e)
  }

  event (t, promise) {
    this.queue = this.queue.then(() => this._event(promise))
      .catch(this._errorBound)
  }

  end (t) {
    this.queue = this.queue.then(this._endBound)
      .catch(this._errorBound)
  }

  error (t, e) {
    // Don't resolve error values, propagate directly
    this.queue = this.queue.then(() => this._errorBound(e))
      .catch(fatal)
  }

  _event (promise) {
    return promise.then(this._eventBound)
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Star Wars Artist Jordan Maison Reports Kenobi Series Being Repurposed Back Into a Movie
Star Wars artist and former contributor to StarWars.com Jordan Maison reports the Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor, which was expected to stream on Disney Plus, is being repurposed back into a feature film.
As reported by Bleeding Fool, Maison took to Twitter to write, "Welp, since I've had more than two (separate) people tell me, I can share a tidbit. Seems like they were (or are, hard to say right now) considering shifting it back to a MOVIE instead of a show."
He added, "The lower episode count would mean they've certainly trimmed elements down. #Kenobi"
Welp, since I've had more than two (separate) people tell me, I can share a tidbit. Seems like they were (or are, hard to say right now) considering shifting it back to a MOVIE instead of a show. The lower episode count would mean they've certainly trimmed elements down. #Kenobi
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) January 24, 2020
The Disney Plus series was initially conceived as a film. McGregor revealed that fact in an interview with Coming Soon back in October:
"It wasn't always going to be a series, not initially. When we first started talking about [it] that wasn't really in the cards, but everything's changed so much, so quickly. It's really exciting that it is now. I'm really into the idea to be able to tell the story over several hours instead of just one hit. I think it's going to be quite cool."
Related: Report: Obi-Wan Kenobi Crew Sent Home – Series On Hold
Maison's report comes after both Collider and The Hollywood Reporter indicated the Kenobi series was on hold. Collider even reported "the crew that had assembled at Pinewood Studios was sent home."
The Hollywood Reporter would indicate there were issues with the scripts, "Sources tell THR that the scripts — only two were written — and story became an issue and that the entire package has been jettisoned." They also reported the show would be reduced to four episodes.
However, the idea that there were issues with the script was refuted by actor Ewan McGregor. While promoting Birds of Prey, McGregor told IGN:
"I've read about eighty, ninety percent of what they've written so far, and it's really, really good. Instead of shooting this August, they just want to start shooting in January, that's all. Nothing more dramatic than that. It often happens in projects, they just wanted to push it to next year."
McGregor also indicated he had not heard anything about the show's episode count being reduced. "I haven't heard that," McGregor stated.
Star Wars: Kathleen Kennedy and Ewan McGregor Confirm Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ Show: "All the Scripts Written"
The Hollywood Reporter's report was a little far-fetched to begin with, especially with the idea that there were problems with the script. When the series was announced at D23 Kathleen Kennedy stated, "We are really close. We have all the scripts written. We are ready to start shooting next year. We could not be more excited. Can't wait to start production."
It's safe to assume that Kennedy and Lucasfilm would have been satisfied with scripts if she's going to make a statement indicating they've been written.
However, Lucasfilm has an increasing pattern of having issues with creatives and specifically directors. Colin Trevorrow was replaced by J.J. Abrams for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And recent leaked concept images and details about Trevorrow's Duel of the Fates indicate his film would have been radically different from what Abrams gave us in The Rise of Skywalker.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story saw Tony Gilroy come in and heavily edit the Gareth Edwards directed film. THR even describes Gilroy as "the film's ghost director."
Gilroy described what Rogue One looked like before he came in, "And they were in such a swamp … they were in so much terrible, terrible trouble that all you could do was improve their position."
He also detailed there was a lot of confusion with the film as well, "If you look at Rogue, all the difficulty with Rogue, all the confusion of it … and all the mess, and in the end when you get in there, it's actually very, very simple to solve."
Related: Ewan McGregor Reveals Key Details About Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ Series
Kennedy and Lucasfilm would also have issues with Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ron Howard would replace Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who were originally tapped to direct the project. An unnamed crew member who worked under both Lord and Miller and Howard cited the reason Lord and Miller were canned was because they were doing too much experimentation.
The crew member told Variety, "I got a lot of overtime [under Lord and Miller], which ultimately was their downfall." The crew member added, "The first assistant director brokers that with production. He ultimately went to the well one too many times, and Kathleen Kennedy blew up."
However, a source close to Lord and Miller indicated Kennedy and company were constantly overruling their ideas:
"In their minds, Phil and Chris were hired to make a movie that was unexpected and would take a risk, not something that would just service the fan. They wanted it to be fresh, new, emotional, surprising and unique. These guys looked at Han as a maverick, so they wanted to make a movie about a maverick. But at every turn, when they went to take a risk, it was met with a no."
Needless to say there still appears to be rampant chaos at Lucasfilm and for all intents and purposes they have no idea what they are actually doing over there.
Disney PlusEwan McGregorObi-Wan KenobiStar Wars
Marvel Drops First Trailer And Reveals Premiere Date For Disney Plus Moon Knight Series
Michael Austin
Ms. Marvel in Trouble? New Casting And "Significant" Reshoots Reported Months After Filming Wrapped

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Things haven't been easy for Jessica lately. With the way her life has been turned upside down, it is hard for her to imagine that only a week ago she was still mostly human. Now however, it looks like not only is she the only female werewolf ever known to have exist, but she also just might be the most powerful. And that has caused more than a few ruffled feathers. In fact an angry Immortal Goddess has captured her mate, Roarke, determined to make him her own. Jessica is determined to get him back at all costs, no matter the odds. So she sets out with a few friends and temporary allies to bring down the Goddess once and for all.
I really love Jessica's character! She doesn't let anything stand in her way of her determination to do what she feels is right. But, she is also rather humble considering the circumstances. She's not power hungry, and doesn't want to be put in the middle of all of the conflicts. Quite honestly, she'd be happy to be left alone, but since that isn't in the cards, I do think she handles it quite well considering the circumstances. I also admire her for not shrinking behind her father as it would have been so easy to let her Alpha take over. In fact, she took things a step further, and risked her very place in the pack due to go after her mate. Granted, her father shouldn't have put her in the position of having to choose between her mate and her pack, but in the end, he and Jessica are both doing the best they can with the realization that she doesn't have to follow his orders. In fact, there has been a great deal of growing pains with all of Jessica's friends as they have all had to try and dampen down their protective instincts of her. I have a feeling things will only get more interesting once Roarke's own protective instincts come into play.
One of my biggest pet peeves in Urban Fantasy is when the protagonist has seemingly unlimited power. It just makes it harder to find the threats facing the character to be, well threatening. I mean if they will just miraculously have a new power to overcome every new threat without a whole lot of consequences, then it just doesn't feel real to me. I just think there should be some sort of price involved with great power as it helps to keep them level. Now, I wouldn't say this is quite the case with Jessica, but things do seem to be headed towards that path. I understand that Jessica is supposed to be this wildcard, potentially being the one to unite all of the races, so of course she needs to be incredibly powerful. I just wish that power would come with more of a cost, especially when she's just blundering through things blindly. Then again, I guess when you take a step back to really look at things, while there doesn't seem to be a direct personal cost involved with her powers, the threat to the people she cares about is very real as has already been demonstrated. And while Jessica may seem to be unbeatable, one of these times I have a feeling even that won't be enough to save whoever is at risk. So I guess in the end there's a pretty good checks and balance system after all.
I really enjoyed HOT BLOODED, although I have to admit I would have preferred there to have been a bit more time spent together between Roarke and Jessica. Their total time together has only accounted for a very brief amount of time so far, and I really would like to see things become more developed. Here's to hoping we finally get some smexy time in the next book. Also, just as a forewarning, this one ends in another nasty cliffhanger, just like the first installment. I'll definitely be counting down the days until COLD BLOODED is released in October 2013. A great second installment in the Jessica McClain series, HOT BLOODED is a roller coaster ride from start to finish that is not to be missed!


You could get a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, or Adult Dependants' Grant. These grants are paid in addition to your main student finance, and don't usually have to be paid back.
There are three types of dependants' grants you could be eligible for.
This helps with course-related costs if you have dependant children. You can get up to £1,716 a year depending on your household income, which is your income and the income of your partner and any dependants.
You can apply for help to pay your childcare costs. You could get up to 85% of your weekly costs – a maximum of £169.31 per week for one child, or £290.27 per week if you have two or more children.
If you or your partner get the childcare element of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit, or Tax-Free Childcare from HM Revenue & Customs, you won't be able to get a Childcare Grant at the same time.
You can apply for an Adult Dependants' Grant if you have a partner or another adult who depends on you financially. You can get up to £3,007 a year depending on your household income.
You can't get Adults Dependants' Grants for grown-up children, or if the dependent adult is a student getting student finance.


text:
Сантьяго-Сакатепек () — город и муниципалитет в Мексике, входит в штат Оахака. Население — 4871 человек (на 2005 год).

Ссылки

Муниципалитеты Оахаки
Города Оахаки

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Business cycle
Business cycle with it specific forces in four stages according to Malcolm C. Rorty, 1922
The term business cycle (or economic cycle or boom–bust cycle) refers to aggregate production, trade and activity over several months or years in a market economy.
This economics-related article is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it.
CONTENT : A - F , G - L , M - R , S - Z , See also , External links
Quotes are arranged alphabetically by author
A - F[edit]
Business cycles are a type of fluctuation found in the aggregate activity of nations that organize their work mainly in business enterprises: a cycle consists of expansions occurring at about the same time in many economic activities, followed by similarly general recessions, contractions, and revivals which merge into the expansion phase of the next cycle; this sequence of changes is recurrent but not periodic; in duration business cycles vary from more than one year to ten or twelve years; they are not divisible into shorter cycles of similar character with amplitudes approximating their own.
Arthur F. Burns and George W. Mitchell (1946, 3); as cited in: Robert J. Gordon, ed. The American Business Cycle: Continuity and Change, 1986. p. 1
For well over a century business cycles have run an unceasing round. They have persisted through vast economic and social changes; they have withstood countless experiments in industry, agriculture, banking, industrial relations, and public policy; they have confounded forecasters without number, belied repeated prophecies of a "new era of prosperity" and outlived repeated forebodings of "chronic depression."
Arthur F. Burns (1947, 27); as cited in: Robert J. Gordon, ed. The American Business Cycle: Continuity and Change, 1986. p. 1
Periodically, our economic system becomes the spectacle of unemployed men who are able and eager to work; abundant tools to work with and materials to work upon; and a nation in need of the goods that these men, by the use of these idle machines, might make out of these surplus materials. Yet, month after month, the men and machines and materials are not brought into productive relations with each other.
William Trufant Foster and Waddill Catchings, Money, (3rd Revsied Ed., 1927), Ch. 1 : Money a Central Interest of Life
G - L[edit]
Business-cycle theorists concerned themselves with why the economy naturally generated fluctuations in employment and output, [while the rest of the profession] continued to operate on the assumption that full employment was the natural, equilibrium position for the economy.
Robert Aaron Gordon Business Fluctuations (1952), p. 340
The postwar era has not surprised Arthur Burns, for business cycles have continued their "unceasing round." although the United States recession of 1981-82 was the eighth since World War II and the deepest postwar slump by almost any measure, the 1983-84 recovery displayed an upward momentum sufficient to befuddle forecasters and delight incumbent politicians. Nor would a reincarnated Joseph Schumpeter be disappointed in the current status of business cycle research in the economics profession. To be sure, interest in business cycles decayed during the prosperity of the 1960s, as symbolized in the 1969 conference volume, Is the Business Cycle Obsolete? and in Paul Samuelson's remark the same year that the National Bureau of Economic Research "has worked itself out of one of its first jobs, namely, the business cycle."
Robert J. Gordon, ed. The American Business Cycle: Continuity and Change, 1986. p. 1-2
The other mystery is the reason why there is a business cycle - the irregular rhythm of recessions and recoveries that prevents economic growth from being a smooth trend.
Paul Krugman, Peddling Prosperity (1994), Ch. 1 : The Attack on Keynes
M - R[edit]
That very large system, with interconnected industries responding to each other through delays, entraining each other in their oscillations, and being amplified by multipliers and speculators, is the primary cause of business cycles. Those cycles don't come from presidents, although presidents can do much to ease or intensify the optimism of the upturns and the pain of the downturns. Economies are extremely complex systems; they are full of balancing feedback loops with delays and they are inherently oscillatory.
Donella Meadows, Thinking in Systems: A Primer, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2008, page 58 (ISBN 9781603580557).
This book offers an analytic description of the complicated processes by which seasons of business prosperity, crisis, depression, and revival come about in the modern world. The materials used consist chiefly of market reports and statistics concerning the business cycles which have run their course since 1890 in the United States, England, Germany and France.
Wesley Clair Mitchell, Business Cycles, 1913; Preface
S - Z[edit]
No two business cycles are quite the same; yet they all have much in common. They are not identical twins, but they are recognizable as belonging to the same family.
Paul Samuelson, Economics (2nd ed., 1951), Ch. 18 : The Business Cycle
Analyzing business cycles means neither more nor less than analyzing the economic process of the capitalist era.... Cycles are not like tonsils, separable things that might be treated by themselves, but are, like the beat of the heart, of the essence of the organism that displays them.
Joseph A. Schumpeter (1939, 5), as cited in: Robert J. Gordon, ed. The American Business Cycle: Continuity and Change, 1986. p. 1
Austrian business cycle theory
Real business cycle theory
Wikipedia has an article about:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Business_cycle&oldid=2513344"
Economics and finance stubs


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Home » Spain » A. G. Porta
A. G. Porta
A. G. Porta (Antoni García Porta) was born in Barcelona in 1954. His early writing was in the form of poetry under the pseudonym of Kithoue, appearing in an anthology of Barcelona poets called Algunos poetas en Barcelona [Some Poets in Barcelona] (link in Spanish). His next appearance was a joint novel with Roberto Bolaño, the first novel for both writers, called Consejos de un discípulo de Morrison a un fanático de Joyce [Advice from a Disciple of Morrison to a Joyce Fan]. (Note that this novel has been translated into French and Italian but not English.) The title is a play on the title of the poem Consejos de un discípulo de Marx a un fanático de Heidegger by the Mexican poet Mario Santiago Papasquiaro. Morrison refers to Jim Morrison (lead singer of The Doors) and Joyce, of course, to James Joyce.
At this point, Porta gave up literature and worked for a text book publisher. Bolaño asked him to be involved in his work Literatura nazi en América (Nazi Literature in the Americas) but Porta declined. Fifteen years later, however, he published Braudel por Braudel [Braudel by Braudel] and he went on to publish other novels, only one of which has been translated into English. The character of Professor Antoni Carrera in Bolaño's posthumously published Los sinsabores del verdadero policía (Woes of the True Policeman) is based on Porta.
A. G. Porta (in Spanish)
1984 Consejos de un discípulo de Morrison a un fanático de Joyce [Advice from a Disciple of Morrison and a Fan of Joyce] (with Roberto Bolaño; republished in 2006 with the story Diario de bar)
1999 Braudel por Braudel [Braudel by Braudel]
2001 El peso del aire
2003 Singapur
2006 Concierto del No Mundo (The No World Concerto)
2008 Geografía del tiempo
2012 Otra vida en la maleta (con Gregorio Casamayor)
2015 Las dimensiones finitas
2017 Hormigas salvajes y suicidas
2019 Me llamo Vila-Matas, como todo el mundo [My Name is Vila-Matas, Like Everyone]


I live in New York City where tourists are a menace. But in the past couple of years they have become a true danger with the proliferation of selfies. No longer content to have someone else take their picture in front of the Empire State Building or the Red Lobster in Times Square, they now insist on taking hundreds of pics of themselves using the selfie option on their phones. Or they use those obnoxious sticks. Apparently, the Russians have the same problem. No surprise given how many tourists go to Russia every year. So, the Russian interior ministry released a series of ads meant to encourage people to pay attention to what they are doing.
The graphics show the figures engaging in dangerous activities while taking selfies. Standing by some stairs or the edge of a cliff are two sensible ones. But because it's Russia they also have one where a dude is taking a picture while holding a gun. You know, like you do.


Newly elected Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms has asked her entire cabinet to step down after work Monday. According to CBS46, all of the mayor's cabinet must be out of their post by Friday so as not to disrupt city functions.
Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms has not giving a definitive reason for asking for so many resignations at one time, but she did say that the actions we're not related to the federal corruption indictment or a former Atlanta School Board member.


Top-level security certifications at affordable prices.
I bought an SSL Certificate from GoDaddy. The setup was very easy. Within 15 minutes the SSL Certificate has been activated. GoDaddy provides us with the best encryption. I am very happy with GoDaddy. Convenient for the prices.


Do you want the tagline/slogan incorporated into the logo design?
How would you describe your business, services, and/or products?
Age range, gender, location, income, b2b, etc.
Provide links and descriptions of your competitors and how they are different from your own.
What 3 words you want a customer to use to describe your business?
Do you have an specific imagery, graphic or icon in mind for your logo? Please share the first few things that come to mind.
Whatever you think is best!
Any fonts we SHOULD NOT consider?
Do you have a Pinterest Mood Board for your logo design or brand?
Please feel free to create a board in Pinterest and link us! Any and all visuals that inspire you help us capture your style and vibe.
The stationery package will include your letterhead, envelope & business cards.


These interiors were created for "Home to win" TV show, season 1. This is the next set of rooms, that was used as interactive content for web site application "Design a room". There are 5 more options of 5 interchangable elements to each room. You can see, how that worked on our main page in "Our features"


In the final stretch before Sunday's Super Bowl, SocialCode is releasing ad engagement data around the NFL playoffs that analyzed the different ways sports fans interacted with Facebook and Instagram ads during this year's playoffs.
The playoffs, as a whole, drive more users to platforms.
However, content specifically relevant to the sporting event results in higher click-through rates and engagement rates. Ads launched on game days score a 1.12x increase in click-through-rates and a 1.14x increase in engagement rates, compared to days without games in the playoff season.
Still, ads must be contextually relevant.
Slippers, for instance, aren't likely to receive as much attention as pizza ads. Overall, football-related Instagram and Facebook ads garnered 1.85x higher click-through-rates and 1.2x higher engagement rates compared to content unrelated to football. Top categories for elevated engagement included alcohol delivery service, sports retailers and snack providers.
Fans' interest spikes when they have skin in the game. Meaning, in states with teams that made it to the playoffs, like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, the report finds 1.35x more engagements (likes, comments, and shares) compared to the rest of the U.S.
Finally, the most frequently used football terms on Facebook and Instagram in January were NFL, Super Bowl, Wild Card, Touchdown, NFC, AFC, Interception, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Yards.
This is SocialCode's first year tracking NFL playoff data with the company tracking engagement rates/click-through rates leading up to and through the day of the Super Bowl. The data is exclusive to Facebook and Instagram because the level of granularity provided by these two platforms — state-level data — isn't mirrored on other platforms.


text:
package net.automatalib.modelchecking.lasso;

import java.util.Collection;

import net.automatalib.automata.concepts.DetOutputAutomaton;
import net.automatalib.automata.fsa.DFA;
import net.automatalib.modelchecking.Lasso.DFALasso;

/**
 * A DFALasso is a lasso for {@link DFA}s.
 *
 * @param <I>
 *         the input type
 *
 * @author Jeroen Meijer
 */
public class DFALassoImpl<I> extends AbstractLasso<I, Boolean> implements DFALasso<I> {

    public DFALassoImpl(DetOutputAutomaton<?, I, ?, Boolean> automaton,
                        Collection<? extends I> inputs,
                        int unfoldTimes) {
        super(automaton, inputs, unfoldTimes);
    }

    /**
     * Returns whether the given state is accepting.
     * <p>
     * The current state is only accepting iff it is precisely the state after the last symbol index in the finite
     * representation of the lasso.
     *
     * @param state
     *         to compute whether it is accepting.
     *
     * @return whether the given {@code state} is accepting.
     */
    @Override
    public boolean isAccepting(Integer state) {
        return state == getWord().length();
    }
}


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Monsignor Lynn denied house arrest
A Philadelphia judge has denied Monsignor William Lynn's request to be confined to house arrest while awaiting sentencing.
Lynn was denied bail after his conviction June 22nd on charges of endangering the welfare of children. He's the first Catholic church official convicted for failing to protect kids from sexually abusive priests.
One of Lynn's attorneys, Jeff Lindy said he's disappointed. "He's a 61-year old man, with no prior record, with a long work history, with well-established ties to the community, who's convicted of a third degree felony – endangering the welfare of children, not sex abuse," said Lindy. "I've said this before – I can't think of any other defendant similarly situated who would have been denied bail."
Judge Teresa Sarmina quickly denied Lynn's motion without explanation.
Lynn's other attorney Tom Bergstrom said the judge's rulings raise the prospect that Lynn might get the maximum sentence.
"It worries me that it might be, sure," said Bergstrom. "She's been very difficult, very tough, and it, it worries me," said Bergstrom.
Prosecutor Patrick Blessington declined to comment to reporters. In the hearing, he told Judge Sarmina that Lynn shouldn't be treated any differently from other defendants, and that the circumstances of the case warrant his remaining in custody.
Lynn faces three and a half to seven years. Sarmina did grant Lynn's request for expedited sentencing. It's now set for July 24th. Lynn is appealing his conviction.


text:
Haldreka is a village in Hiiumaa Parish, Hiiu County in northwestern Estonia.

The village is first mentioned in 1693 (Haldrico). Historically, the village was part of Emmaste Manor ().

1977–1997 the village was part of Kaderna village.

References

Villages in Hiiu County


text:
11 Easy Tools for Measuring Website Credibility
When doing business online it comes in handy to be able to estimate the size and credibility of a website.
You can be concerned about credibility when you're looking to buy, to make an advertising decision, looking to write an external guest post, making a partnership or assessing the real size of a new customer, just to name a few examples.
In this post we will take a look at some of the most accessible tools to assess a website's size and credibility. None of the following tools are authoritative enough on their own, so we recommend you to use a combination:
What is it: PageRank is a system developed by Google, the representation of an algorithm that ranks websites for Google's Search Engine results. It reflects how 'important' Google believes a website is.
How to read the metrics: The number, a value from 0 to 10, is based on the number and quality of websites linking back to that specific page. The most important websites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) have a PR of 10, while unranked or non-relevant pages can be on 0.
Where to Find it: With a toolbar app such as " Google Toolbar " you can retrieve Google's PR for any visited page. Alternative tools are available in your browser app store. We personally like Open SEO Stats , which joins several metrics in one place.
Weaknesses: Google PageRank is updated infrequently and therefore could be outdated. It also doesn't provide any information regarding the amount of real visitors or quality of the content itself.
Alexa Ranking
What is it: Alexa is the ranking system of a subsidiary company of Amazon, representing the visitor traffic of a certain website.
How to read the metrics: Alexa ranks websites in an ascending order based on their amount of traffic, starting with Google on number 1, followed by Facebook on 2nd and Youtube on 3rd place. A huge number of websites are listed in an endless and ever growing ranking.
Where to Find it: By creating an official account at www.alexa.com , or by installing the alexa toolbar you can check any website's Rank. You can also use a third-party app such as Open SEO Stats , which includes the value for the Alexa Ranking Position for each visited website.
Weaknesses: A website's Alexa score is constructed through the number of its visitors that have the Alexa Toolbar installed. It is thus obtained through sampling and approximation and can therefore be distorted. For example, a website that attracts a segment of people with the Alexa Toolbar installed will have a disproportionately high alexa ranking compared to others that don't attract such a segment (e.g. a business software website with tech-savvy visitors vs. a food style blog).
What is it: WOT stands for Web of Trust. In general lines it is a User Rating based number showing the average trustworthiness of a website. The goal of WOT is to protect web users from online scams and inappropriate content.
How to read the metrics: WOT displays 2 metrics: website trustworthiness and appropriateness for children. Results appear in a coloured logo in your browser: green for safe, yellow for suspicious and red for dangerous. When you have the app installed you can leave behind your own review. The algorithm behind the app determines how much impact a vote has, based on the amount of votes and conformity with general opinion.
Where to Find it: You can download the WOT app here .
Weaknesses: WOT is not as widely used as for example the Alexa Toolbar. Because of this there are oftentimes no ratings available for smaller websites. Nevertheless, it's still useful to identify clear cases of scamming sites.
Moz Bar
What is it: A comprehensive SEO overview tool which lets you not only discover the website's positioning regarding Page Authority but also the number of inbound links and social media followers.
How to "read the metrics": Even though the inputs for Inbound link analysis are the same as used for Google Page Rank, with this kind of research it is possible to know the exact number of linking pages and their source. Page Authority is then measured from 1 to 100. The higher it scores, the more authority it has. Furthermore, by clicking on Page Analysis you are able to further check for linking sources, opportunities and other metrics.
Where to find it: You can install the Moz bar directly from your Browser app store .
Weaknesses: In Moz Bar's free version not all functions are available.
What is it: Built With helps you to understand the technical structure behind a certain website. This is a valuable tool to understand the deepness of the website as well as the technology behind it, the servers' location and other pertinent information to assess a website's credibility
Where to find it: Built With website
Weaknesses: Maybe too complex for those who are not familiar with the applications which can be found in the long lists (although the short description provided can be very useful).
What is it: Ghostery is one of the best apps to discover which tools and plugins are used on a website. Ghostery is recommended for both businesses and private consumers who want to know what information is collected about themselves. It is possible to block the trackers of certain tools, similar to the functionality of adblocker.
Ghostery can be used to assess a website's credibility indirectly, by looking at the type of tools they use. You can make some conclusions about the professionality of a website, for example, when you see that a website it only makes use of free tools.
Where to find it: Ghostery Website or app store from your Browser
Weaknesses: Ghostery is not an extensive tool, but in what it does there is not a lot you can criticise on it. Its initial settings might be a bit dominant as you're browsing the web, but this will make you realize the amount of data that is collected from you while surfing. You can change the settings to make it less dominant and can disable the tracker tools manually.
What is it: Quantcast is a tool that allows you to collect meaningful information about a website's audience. From demographics information to interests, traffic size, pageviews and others. With Quantcast you can also compare a website to its competitors. All this data is collected through a Digital Beacon, introduced in some publishers' content, information and sampling is then extrapolated to all different sources under a statistical modeling process.
Where to find it: Quantcast can be used through their website
Weaknesses: Its focus on quantifying audiences comes from the company's core business in advertising. Therefore, the type of data collected and presented is mostly related with data relevant for paid marketing activities.
What is it: Compete is a free online tool that helps you measure the number of visitors to your website and compare it to other websites. Full paid products enable you to have more insights about conversion, channel effectiveness and mobile intelligence. Data is collected from user behavior across multiple devices and from a heterogeneous sample of the population studied.
Where to find it: Compete website
Weaknesses: The free tool is quite limited by only giving you information about the number of visitors.
What is it: SimilarWeb gives you an overview of a website's traffic, bounce rate, traffic sources, subdomains, referring sites, visitor location, search traffic, social media and much more. Data used in SimilarWeb come from their own crawlers and other click-stream data from their own panels of users
Where to find it: SimilarWeb website
Weaknesses: Some enhanced features such as competitors comparison are only available on the paid version.
What is it: This is a tool designed for Marketing professionals with information collected by AdWords, positions, rankings, organic positions for domains and URLs, search volume and others. One interesting features from the free plan is the possibility to obtain direct competitors from organic search, ads competitors and charts comparing organic and ads related traffic.
Where to find it: SEMrush Website
Weaknesses: Even though this is regarded as one of the best SEO tools available, it still lacks in information concerning link building.
What is it: Number of Followers per social network channel such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and others.
Where to find it: You can find this information in any of the company's official social pages. We also suggest that you take a look at Klout a tool which measures social impact.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately, the number of social media followers can fail to provide meaningful information on different levels. First, there is the possibility for any company to "buy" social media followers at a really low cost. Because of this you should look at the interaction level of the company's post. For example, when a website has a 1000 followers with dozens of them reacting on each of their posts, you can assume they collected them naturally. On the other hand, when a page has more than 1.000.000 followers but only 1 or 2 comments on each of their posts, you can assume the social following was bought. Also, not every business is active on social channels due to their marketing strategy and therefore not having many followers is not necessarily a sign of lack of credibility.
Final Considerations
As pointed out above, you mustn't forget to apply common sense. Not every business is internet focused, depending on their product or market and performing badly on these metrics are not necessarily signs that a website's lacks in credibility or trustworthiness.
Marta is part of Userlike's marketing team. She loves tech, startups, eCommerce, and dogs.
How to Make your Website PCI DSS Compliant
10 Crucial Elements for Website Credibility


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Illegal Drone Transmitters Could Interfere with Air Traffic Control, ARRL Complaint Asserts
FCC Dismisses Two Petitions from Radio Amateurs
President Obama Renominates FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
Nevada ARES Stands Down as Flood Threat Abates
The Doctor Will See You Now!
New Digital Modes Gain Traction for Moonbounce, but Occasionally Show Up on HF
Radio Club of America Announces New "Wireless Women" Section on Website
The Yasme Foundation Announces Excellence Awards, Supporting Grants
Warm Up with the January VHF Contest, January 21-23
Winter Field Day is Just Ahead
Getting It Right!
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
In what it calls an "extremely urgent complaint" to the FCC, ARRL has targeted the interference potential of a series of audio/video transmitters used on unmanned aircraft and marketed as Amateur Radio equipment. In a January 10 letter to the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said the transmitters use frequencies intended for navigational aids, air traffic control radar, air route surveillance radars, and global positioning systems.
"This is, in ARRL's view, a potentially very serious interference problem, and it is respectfully requested that the products referenced...be investigated and removed from the marketplace immediately and that the importers be subjected to normal sanctions," ARRL's letter said. Some of the transmitters operate on frequencies between 1,010 and 1,280 MHz. "These video transmitters are being marketed ostensibly as Amateur Radio equipment," the League said, "but of the listed frequencies on which the devices operate, only one, 1,280 MHz, would be within the Amateur Radio allocation at 1,240-1,300 MHz." Even then, ARRL said, operation there would conflict with a channel used for radio location.
ARRL said the use of 1,040 and 1,080 MHz, which would directly conflict with air traffic control transponder frequencies, represented the greatest threat to the safety of flight. The use of 1,010 MHz, employed for aeronautical guidance, could also be problematic.
ARRL cited the Lawmate transmitter and companion 6 W amplifier as examples of problematic devices being marketed in the US. Each costs less than $100 via the Internet. The device carries no FCC identification number.
"[T]he target market for these devices is the drone hobbyist, not licensed radio amateurs. The device, due to the channel configuration, has no valid Amateur Radio application," ARRL told the FCC. "While these transmitters are marked as appropriate for amateur use, they cannot be used legally for Amateur Radio communications." In the hands of unlicensed individuals, the transmitters could also cause interference to Amateur Radio communication in the 1.2 GHz band, ARRL contended.
The League said it's obvious that the devices at issue lack proper FCC equipment authorization under FCC Part 15 rules, which require such low-power intentional radiators to be certified.
ARRL cited the Lawmate transmitter as an example of problematic devices.
"Of most concern is the capability of the devices to cripple the operation of the [air traffic control] secondary target/transponder systems," ARRL said. "These illegal transmitters represent a significant hazard to public safety in general and the safety of flight specifically."
The surge in sales of drones has been dramatic. The FAA has predicted that combined commercial and hobby sales will increase from 2.5 million in 2016 to 7 million by 2020.
In Exhibit A of the January 10 letter, "Illegal Drones Threaten Public Safety," the League noted that some of the drones and associated equipment it has come across "are blatantly illegal at multiple levels," with some drone TV transmitters described as "particularly alarming."
"Rated at six times over the legal power limit, and on critical air navigation transponder frequencies, these devices represent a real and dangerous threat to the safety of flight, especially when operated from a drone platform that can be hundreds of feet in the air," the exhibit narrative asserted.
The FCC has turned down two petitions filed in 2016, each seeking similar changes in the Part 97 Amateur Service rules. James Edwin Whedbee, N0ECN, of Gladstone, Missouri, had asked the Commission to amend the rules to reduce the number of Amateur Radio operator classes to Technician, General, and Amateur Extra by merging remaining Novice class licensees into the Technician class and all Advanced class licensees into the Amateur Extra class. In a somewhat related petition, Jeffrey H. Siegell, WB2YRL, of Burke, Virginia, had requested that the FCC grant Advanced class license holders Morse code operating privileges equivalent to those enjoyed by Amateur Extra class licensees.
"Thus, Mr. Siegell's proposed rule change is subsumed within the changes Mr. Whedbee requests, so our analysis is the same for both proposals," the FCC said in dismissing the two petitions on January 5.
The FCC streamlined the Amateur Radio licensing system into three classes -- Technician, General, and Amateur Extra -- in 1999. While it no longer issues new Novice or Advanced class licenses, existing licenses can be renewed, and Novice and Advanced licensees retained their operating privileges.
"The Commission concluded that the three-class structure would streamline the licensing process, while still providing an incentive for licensees to advance their communication and technical skills," the FCC recounted in its dismissal letter to Whedbee and Siegell. It specifically rejected suggestions that Novice and Advanced class licensees be automatically upgraded to a higher class, concluding that it would be inappropriate for these licensees to "receive additional privileges without passing the required examination elements." The FCC cited the same reason in 2005, when it denied requests to automatically upgrade Technician licensees to General class and Advanced licensees to Amateur Extra class, as part of a wide-ranging proceeding.
The FCC said the two petitions "do not demonstrate, or even suggest, that any relevant circumstances have changed that would merit reconsideration of those decisions." Read more.
President Barack Obama has renominated FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, for a new term. She joined the FCC in 2012, and her tenure ended on January 3. Rosenworcel's renomination last fall failed to gain Senate approval before adjournment, and it had been thought that Rosenworcel would depart the Commission by the end of 2016.
Jessica Rosenworcel
With FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler stepping down on January 20, the FCC will be left with two Republicans -- Ajit Pai and Michael O'Rielly -- and, unless Rosenworcel is confirmed, one Democrat -- Mignon Clyburn, whose term ends in mid-2017. The FCC can have up to five commissioners, and no more than three may belong to the same political party. Wheeler applauded Rosenworcel's reappointment and said he hoped Congress would "act quickly to confirm her nomination." With President Obama leaving on January 20, however, action on reconfirming Rosenworcel for a new term is not expected until President-Elect Donald Trump takes office.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) volunteers and emergency operations centers (EOCs) in Nevada stood down this week as the threat of additional widespread flooding damage diminished. Over the weekend, ARES members in Nevada stood ready to support the disaster response effort. Recent heavy rainfall, sparked by a weather system called the Pineapple Express, caused flooding along rivers and forced evacuations in some areas of Nevada and neighboring California. The flooding prompted Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval to declare a state of emergency. In Reno, the Truckee River crested above 12 feet on January 9, and at 19.5 feet in Sparks.
Carrying moisture-laden warm air from Hawaii, the Pineapple Express "atmospheric river" flowing across a narrow band of the Sierra Nevadas brought snow followed by rainfall of up to 15 inches to northern Nevada and California. While the rainfall may have broken the back of the region's lengthy drought, it caused the snowpack in the Sierras to melt, initiating avalanches and mudslides, washing out roadways, and causing heavy flooding.
Because forecasters were able to detect and predict the magnitude of the storm well in advance, the Reno area had time to prepare, and sandbagging and other operations were in full force last Friday. County EOCs such as the Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC), which serves as a joint facility for Washoe County and the cities of Reno and Sparks, began activating early on Friday morning.
ARES volunteers took up positions at the REOC as well as in Storey, Lyon, and Douglas counties. Under the direction of Section Emergency Coordinator Glenn Hale, KB7REO, ARES volunteers in the rest of Nevada's counties began monitoring emergency activations on HF, Echolink, IRLP, and DMR. Shelters were opened in two Reno high schools, and voluntary evacuations were begun.
Throughout the weekend, ARES communicators remained on duty. On Sunday, the fire station at Truckee Meadows experienced a power failure and lost communication. Washoe County Emergency Coordinator Bob Miller, WA6MTY, dispatched an ARES volunteer to the station to provide communication.
A statewide ARES resource net supported the response, with 60 meters and Winlink added to the toolbox. The statewide net included the California counties of Alpine, Mono, and Inyo, which operate by prior agreements within the Nevada Section as the Sierra East District because the Sierra Nevada mountain range makes it impossible for them to communicate with their own California sections. Read more. -- Thanks to John Bigley, N7UR/The Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire
"Long Delayed Echoes" is the topic of the latest (January 12) episode of the "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!
Sponsored by DX Engineering, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an informative discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet, or smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!
Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of technical topics. You can also e-mail your questions to doctor@arrl.org, and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.
Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone or iPad podcast app (just search for "ARRL The Doctor is In"). You can also listen online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration required, or browse the site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android devices.
If you've never listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's guide.
In December, Joe Taylor, K1JT, released the latest version (1.7) of his WSJT-X software suite, designed to facilitate basic Amateur Radio communication using very weak signals ("WSJT" stands for "Weak Signal communication by K1JT"). Version 1.7 included the new modes MSK144 and QRA64, as well as ISCAT (ionospheric scatter). MSK144 and QRA64 (and QRA64A) are finding a home within the VHF Earth-Moon-Earth (EME, or moonbounce) and meteor-scatter communities, but QRA64A signals also have turned up on 160 meters, which poses its own challenges to weak signals.
"QRA64A QSOs are being made nightly on 160 meters, of all places, and QRA64 activity on 2-meter EME is becoming significant, especially on weekends," Taylor remarked in a January 9 update posted to the Moon-Net reflector, pointing out that QRA64 is decoding signals down to about -28 dB signal-to-noise.
But Taylor does not advise a wholesale shift to the use of QRA64 on the HF bands -- at least just yet. "It's okay to play with and test QRA64 at HF, if you wish," he commented recently on the WSJT Development discussion group. "Some of our earliest tests of the mode were done on the 20-meter and 30-meter bands." He suggested, though, that HF operators stick with JT65, "not least because, at present, we have included no 'multi-decode' capability for the QRA64 decoder. It's made to decode just one signal in the passband."
In the WSJT-X Version 1.7 User Guide, Taylor pointed out QRA64's several advantages over JT65, including better performance on the very weakest signals. "We imagine that, over time, it may replace JT65 for EME use," he wrote. "JT9 was originally designed for the LF, MF, and lower HF bands. Its submode JT9A is 2 dB more sensitive than JT65, while using less than 10% of the bandwidth."
Taylor told ARRL that he expects JT65 and JT9 to remain the preferred modes for making "minimal QSOs" at HF for some years to come. "QRA64 is 1-3 dB more sensitive than JT65 or JT9; this is important for EME, but much less so at HF, because one can usually run 20 W instead of 10 W, when the going gets rough."
The 16-element array that Paul Andrews, W2HRO, used during a portable EME expedition to Connecticut targets the Moon.
These modes use 1-minute timed sequences of alternating transmission and reception, so a basic contact can take up to 6 minutes -- two or three transmissions by each station, one transmitting on odd UTC minutes and the other on even. A typical contact uses canned message text to exchange grid squares and signal reports.
Paul Andrews, W2HRO, said in a January 10 post to the Moon-Net reflector that he develops "free-form" QRA64 messages to make his contacts more like ragchews. "Tonight I was able to ragchew via 2-meter EME," he said. "My QRA64 free-form messages actually confused monitoring stations, because they have never seen ragchew free form." Andrews said he likes the idea of taking advantage of good conditions to carry out a conversation via EME, rather than just validating the exchange of signals. Read more.
In an effort to encourage more participation of women and girls in the wireless industry, the Radio Club of America (RCA) has created a new "Wireless Women" section on its website, designed to assist women considering careers in wireless and encouraging them to get involved in technology. Information includes resources such as "Notable Women in Wireless," "RCA's Vivian Carr Award," and "Professional Wireless Organizations for Women," as well as web resources for women and girls interested in wireless. There's also a list of universities that have an engineering focus and significant enrollment by women.
"RCA has a long history of recognizing the achievements of women in wireless," RCA President Tim Duffy, K3LR, said. "Three former RCA presidents are women, and we have many female officers, directors, and committee members. We created the Vivian Carr award in 2014 to recognize women who have contributed significantly to the wireless industry, and Director Carole Perry [WB2MGP] has led RCA's effort to educate youth about wireless for decades."
Duffy credited the efforts of several female RCA members, including Secretary Margaret Lyons P.E., Executive Committee member and Marketing & Development Committee Chair Elaine Walsh, former RCA president Mercy Contreras, and others, for assembling the information that might be useful to women and girls who are interested in wireless. "We welcome additional ideas or input from the wireless community to help this section of our website become more useful," Duffy said.
The Yasme Foundation has announced excellence awards to two individuals and supporting grants to six organizations.
The Yasme Excellence Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Amateur Radio in terms of technical, operating, or organizational achievement. Recipients are:
Pekka Ketonen, OH1TV, in recognition of his many innovations, such as the Opposite Voltage Feed concept for Amateur Radio antennas, and for documenting his work in English to make it more widely available.
Hani Raad, OD5TE, in recognition of his work in advancing Amateur Radio in Lebanon and the Arab World, and his efforts to reintroduce Amateur Radio examinations in Lebanon.
The Yasme Excellence Award is in the form of a cash grant and an engraved crystal globe.
The Yasme Foundation supporting grants recognize furtherance of the Foundation's goal of supporting the development of Amateur Radio. These organizations received grants:
Radio Club d'Haiti, to acquire radios for use in emergency communication (further grant).
The Mongolian Radio Sport Federation, to acquire laptop computers for use in the Federation's High Speed Telegraphy competition.
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, to acquire Amateur Radio equipment for the station at its new headquarters in San Francisco, California.
The Amateur Radio Society of Dominica, to acquire Amateur Radio training materials; the grant includes a transceiver, power supply, antenna tuner, and headset.
World Radiosport Team Championship 2018, to sponsor the event's "Ham Widows' Ball."
The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand, to support its HS0AC club station.
For additional information about The Yasme Foundation, visit its newly updated website. -- Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX
If you're feeling a chill in the air, it must be time for the January VHF Contest! Those in the northern tier of the US (or in a good part of the US this winter) are experiencing brisk winds, temperatures dipping southward, piles of snow or ice, or heavy rain. This means the ARRL January VHF Contest is near. What a great way to warm up for the 2017 VHF+ contest season, even if it's already warm where you live. This annual event begins at 1900 UTC on Saturday, January 21, and it wraps up at 0359 UTC on Monday, January 23.
VHF contester John Young, KM4KMU, took his FM-only operation on the road in 2015.
The objective is for amateurs in the US and Canada (and territories) to work as many stations in as many different Maidenhead grid squares as possible, using frequencies above 50 MHz -- often while trying to stay warm. Contest contacts may be made using SSB, CW, digital modes, and even FM simplex.
The January VHF Contest offers Single Operator and Multioperator categories. What's really cool about this contest are the three Single Operator categories, inviting to newcomers and seasoned VHFers alike: FM-only, 3-Band (50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 440 MHz), and Portable. The rules spell out the details for these as well as for other Single Operator, Rover, and Multioperator entry categories.
"We've seen some very strong numbers of participants and healthy scores recently in the FM-only category," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. "The number of Portable and Rover stations -- and their accomplishments -- has been amazing, even in the January event."
Getting on the VHF/UHF bands is not hard. Technician licensees have access to all amateur bands above 50 MHz. Antennas for VHF/UHF frequencies are available new or used, and you can even roll your own. Kent Britain, WA5VJB, offers useful information on his website on how to make your own "cheap Yagis." Another approach is the Quagi antenna. Wayne Overbeck, N6NB, provides an overview on his website. For UHF+, loop Yagis are relatively simple to build, and designs are readily available. Even some HF antennas will work on 6 meters.
All contest entries must be uploaded via the web app or e-mailed to the contest robot by 0359 UTC on February 22. Mail paper logs to ARRL January VHF Contest, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. Contact the ARRL Contest Branch for more information.
Field Day is not just for summertime anymore. Winter Field Day, sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association (WFDA), will take place over the January 28-29 weekend, and it can be a terrific time to prep for ARRL Field Day in June. The annual event's stated purpose is to encourage emergency operating preparedness in the winter, but it's also an excuse to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors. According to the WFDA, getting ready for emergency communication in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that take place each June during ARRL Field Day, and -- let's face it -- it's not cold and snowy everywhere during the winter months. Your local climate could be quite the opposite.
"Don't let those winter doldrums keep you locked up in the house," the WFDA says. "Get out and play some radio!" The WFDA said it believes that maintaining operating skills should not be limited to fair-weather scenarios.
The event, which got its start in 2007, is not restricted to North America. All Amateur Radio operators around the world are invited to participate, and there are three entry categories -- indoor, outdoor, and home. The rules are similar to those for ARRL Field Day. Operation will take place on all HF bands except 12, 17, 30, and 60 meters, as well as on VHF, UHF, and satellite. The event runs 24 hours. US and Canadian stations exchange call sign, operating category, and ARRL or RAC section.
The WFDA encourages both group and solo operation, and if you're not up for an outdoor winter adventure involving Amateur Radio, you can operate from the comfort of your shack. As the WFDA says on its Facebook page, "The object is winter fun!"
ARRL Foundation 2017-2018 Scholarship Application Deadline Looms: The deadline is Tuesday, January 31 (at 11:59 PM ET), to receive completed ARRL Foundation scholarship applications from eligible radio amateurs pursuing post-secondary education in the 2017-2018 academic year. Individuals and clubs support many of the more than 80 scholarships that the ARRL Foundation manages, with awards ranging from $500 to $5,000. Applicants for all scholarships must be active radio amateurs and must complete and submit the online application. Students applying for 2017-18 academic year awards should review the eligibility requirements and scholarship descriptions. One application per applicant is required, but applicants may ask to be considered for as many of the scholarships for which they are eligible (some scholarships have geographic criteria or other requirements). Applications without accompanying transcripts will not be considered. For more information, contact the ARRL Foundation (860-594-0348).
Inauguration Special Event Set: Radio amateurs in the Washington, DC, area, will operate special event station W3T January 19-21 to mark the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, Mike Lonneke, W4AAW, of Round Hill, Virginia, has announced. A group of more than 20 operators will staff the operation, and a commemorative QSL card will be available. Jim Nitzberg, WX3B -- who participated in the 2009 inaugural commemorative station -- recalled the special event was swamped by callers. Lonneke and Nitzberg are making their own stations available for the operation, and teams of seasoned contesters will be taking the helm for the W3T event. Richard Maylott, W2YE, will oversee the distribution of the anticipated thousands of commemorative QSL card requests. QSL direct with a self-addressed, stamped envelope ($2 for non-US requests) to 20732 Furr Rd., Round Hill, VA 20141-1803 or via the W3 QSL Bureau. -- Thanks to Mike Lonneke, W4AAW
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: No sunspots are currently visible, and none have been seen since January 3, when just one sunspot appeared. There were none on January 1-2. The Daily Solar Data from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center is full of zeroes.
Average daily solar flux this week was 72.5, down from 73.1 a week earlier. The average planetary A index rose 5 points to 14.3, while the average mid-latitude A index increased from 6.3 to 10.6.
Predicted solar flux is 74, 73, and 75 on January 12-14; 78 on January 15-19; 76 on January 20-25; 74 on January 26-28; 73 on January 29-February 1; 72 on February 2-7; 74 on February 8, and 76 on February 9-21.
The predicted planetary A index is 10 on January 12; 8 on January 13-14; 5, 8, and 16 on January 15-17; 12 on January 18-19; 18 on January 20; 20 on January 21-22; 10 on January 23; 5 on January 24-26; 12, 15, 7, 10, and 12 on January 27-31; 16, 18, 20, 16, 12, and 5 on February 1-6; 12, 15, 10, and 8 on February 7-10; 5 on February 11-12; 25, 20, 25, and 18 on February 13-16, and 20 on February 17-18.
Sunspot numbers for January 5-11 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 73.3, 72, 72, 71.5, 71.2, 72.7, and 74.5, with a mean of 72.5. The estimated planetary A indices were 18, 16, 20, 16, 12, 10, and 8, with a mean of 14.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 15, 14, 14, 11, 8, 5, and 7, with a mean of 10.6.
Send me your reports or observations.
The story "Boy Scouts' Radio Merit Badge Requirements to Include Amateur Radio Direction Finding Option," in the January 5 edition of The ARRL Letter, included some errors. While requirements for the Radio merit badge have been updated, ARDF is an option, not a requirement. Cellular telephones and different types of radio modulation are required topics, however. The new requirements became effective January 1, 2017. ARDF activities already take place at Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) events and at summer camps.
January 14 -- Old New Year Contest (CW, phone)
January 14-15 -- UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest
January 14-15 -- North American QSO Party (CW)
January 15 -- NRAU-Baltic Contests (SSB and CW)
January 19 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
January 14 -- TechFest 2017 Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
January 21 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia
January 22-28 -- QuartzFest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona
February 3-4 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
February 4 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South Carolina
February 4 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia
February 10-12 -- Southeastern Division Convention (HamCation), Orlando, Florida
February 17-18 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona
February 18 -- Arkansas Section Convention, Hoxie, Arkansas
February 25 -- West Central Florida Section Technical Conference, Sarasota, Florida
February 25 -- 2017 New Mexico Tech Fest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 25 -- Vermont State Convention, South Burlington, Vermont
March 4 -- Arkansas State Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
March 11 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
March 18 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2017, Redmond, Washington
March 24-25 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas
March 31-Apr 1 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
March 31-Apr 2 -- Nevada State Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
Amateur Radio News and Information.
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Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
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According to a new report by the National Assn. for College Admission Counseling, about a quarter of U.S. colleges reported doing some research about applicants on social networking sites or through Internet search engines. The study, which included 10 California colleges, did not specify which schools acknowledged the practice or how often scholarships or enrollment offers might be nixed because of online postings.


The Pink Llama Gallery began as a concept on May 31, 2012. Having time, a little money and the opportunity, the soon-to-be Head Llama decided it was time for a career change. After thoughtful consideration, a great deal of prayer and a lot of hard work, the gallery opened its doors on August 25, just three short months later.
There was so much help from family and friends as we got the gallery up and running. The amount of love and support that those folks gave us was incredible and we are forever in their debt. You may see some of the supporting cast around the gallery even to this day. They help out occasionally, shop here often, but mostly raid the Head Llama's chocolate stash!
What was created was an eclectic, colorful, whimsical and, well…fun place to shop. That means, not only will you see traditional landscapes and a still life or two, but also some wonderfully painted skateboards, abstracts, creative uses of clay, exquisitely hand-woven baskets, beautiful hand-dyed scarves and incredible jewelry. We like to think we have something for everyone.
Now, for the second time, The Pink Llama Gallery has been rated one of the Top 5 Art Galleries in the Milwaukee area.
Based on more than 66,000 votes from over 30,000 voters, The Pink Llama Gallery is one of the top five art galleries in the Milwaukee-Area!
See http://milwaukee.cityvoter.com/the-pink-llama-gallery/biz/655604 for more information!


text:
Dolly Dearest is a 1991 American supernatural horror slasher film starring Denise Crosby, Rip Torn, Sam Bottoms, Chris Demetral, Candace Hutson and Lupe Ontiveros. The film was initially supposed to be direct-to-video, but it did get a limited theatrical release in the Midwestern United States. Despite being critically panned, it has been sometimes credited as being the inspiration for the 2014 film Annabelle.

Plot
Elliot Wade obtains ownership of the Dolly Dearest factory in Mexico. Not far from the factory is the underground Mayan tomb of Sanzia, or Satan on Earth. An archaeologist breaks into the sarcophagus, accidentally releasing the malevolent spirit of Sanzia. Sanzia takes refuge in the porcelain doll, Dolly Dearest.

The Wade family travels to Mexico to see their new home, where they meet their realtor, Mr. Estrella, and housekeeper, Camilla. The factory, long abandoned, is structurally unstable, upsetting Elliot. Jessica discovers many well-preserved dolls on a shelf and her father allows her to take one: Dolly Dearest. Jimmy finds the entrance to the cave, but his father warns him to never go there.

The next day, the children's mother, Marilyn, finds a disturbing drawing she thinks Jessica drew. Jessica becomes progressively more violent and obsessed with Dolly. She acts normal when her father is around, but exhibits evil behavior around her mother. Camilla believes the doll is controlling Jessica. When Jessica speaks in Sanzian tongue, Camilla tries to warn Marilyn, but is killed by the spirit. Jimmy sneaks out one night and breaks into the factory. He finds the night watchman, Luis, dead and flees.

Marilyn realizes her daughter may truly be possessed and tries to take the doll. Sanzia momentarily possesses Jessica and yells, "I will kill you! The kid's mine." The next day, Marilyn talks with archaeologist Resnick (Rip Torn) about their dig. Resnick explains they are searching for the remains of the Sanzia devil child inside the tomb. The devil child, a force of evil, fed on the warm blood of children. The tribe killed the creature because its dietary needs almost wiped out the tribe's population. Marilyn reveals that Jessica is being controlled by her doll.

At home, Marilyn finds Jimmy hiding; he reveals that he saw Dolly talk and move. Marilyn gets their shotgun and tells Jimmy to call his father. At the factory, the dolls disconnect the phones. Marilyn returns to Jessica's room to find the doll gone. Jimmy can't get through to Elliot so he attempts to call the operator but is unable to communicate because he does not speak Spanish. When Jessica becomes separated from Dolly, her mother attempts to flee with her, only to be blocked by Dolly. Dolly calls to Jessica, who then attacks her mother as Dolly advances with a kitchen knife. Jimmy fires the shotgun at Dolly, releasing the doll's hold on Jessica.

Marilyn, Jessica and Jimmy drive to the factory, where Elliot is being attacked by the dolls. Meanwhile, the professor enters the tomb and sees the remains of the devil child, which has the body of an infant and the head of a goat. Realizing the myth was true, he runs to the factory, where he saves Elliot from the dolls. The family reunites and plants dynamite around the factory. It blows up, along with the dolls, and a demonic scream is heard, implying Sanzia is destroyed. The family watches the ablaze factory getting burn to the ground with the dolls trapped inside.

Cast
Denise Crosby as Marilyn Wade, Elliot's wife and Jessica and Jimmy's mother. She is the protagonist.
Sam Bottoms as Elliot Wade, Marilyn's husband, Jessica and Jimmy's father, and the toy maker and manufacturer of the "Dolly Dearest" toy factory.
Rip Torn as Karl Resnick, an archaeologist who is trying to find the remains of the Sanzia Devil child.
Lupe Ontiveros as Camilla, the housekeeper. She is later killed by Dolly.
Candace Hutson as Jessica "Jessie" Wade, Elliot and Marilyn's daughter and Jimmy's younger sister. (Credited as Candy Hutson)
Chris Demetral as Jimmy Wade, Jessica's older brother.
Ed Gale as the Dolly double. Serves as the film's antagonist.

Release

Home media
Dolly Dearest was released on VHS in the United States on January 1, 1998 via Lionsgate Home Entertainment on September 20, 2005 which is available only in a 1.33:1 (4:3) aspect ratio, while the only special feature is a trailer.

In March 2020, it was announced that the film will be released on Blu-ray via Vinegar Syndrome on May 26, 2020. The new remaster will contain a new 2K restoration, special features including interviews from actors Denise Crosby and Ed Gale, reversible cover art, original aspect ratio (1.85:1) and SDH English subtitles.

Reception

Critical response
Critical reception for Dolly Dearest was mostly negative, with DVD Verdict writing that "aside from a handful of fun moments, there's nothing much here to separate it from the lineup of Child's Play clones it dwells among." Variety praised Hutson's performance but criticized the movie's "clutzy dialogue". DVD Talk panned the film, saying "in the 'killer doll' subgenre of stupid horror flicks, Dolly Dearest may very well be the most moronic". The Austin Chronicle also reviewed the movie, giving Dolly Dearest 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

References

External links

Lionsgate films
1991 films
1990s slasher films
1991 horror films
American psychological horror films
American slasher films
Demons in film
Films scored by Mark Snow
Films about haunted dolls
Puppet films
Films set in Mexico
Films about sentient toys
Horror films about toys
1990s American films