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Analysis: UK's CO2 emissions fell for record sixth consecutive year in 2018
TOPICS:co2 emissionsUK
Posted By: Carbon Brief April 9, 2019
Carbon Brief analysis shows the UK's CO2 emissions fell for the sixth consecutive year in 2018, the longest series of continuous reductions on record.
The estimated 1.5% reduction was once again driven by falling coal use, down 16% compared to a year earlier, whereas oil and gas use were largely unchanged. However, there are signs the recent run of reductions could be coming to an end, with 2018 seeing the smallest fall in the six-year series.
The UK's CO2 emissions were an estimated 361m tonnes (MtCO2) in 2018, some 39% below 1990. Outside years with general strikes, this would be the lowest since 1888, when the first-ever Football League match was played and Tower Bridge was being built in London.
These findings are based on Carbon Brief analysis of newly released energy use figuresfrom the UK's Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The department will publish its own CO2 estimates on 28 March.
Update 28/03/2019: BEIS has published its own estimates, showing a 2.4% reduction in the UK's CO2 emissions in 2018 compared to a year earlier. This is 0.9 percentage points larger than Carbon Brief's 1.5% estimate. The difference is due to revised BEIS provisional energy use data, also published today. Using these revised figures, Carbon Brief's model matches the 2.4% cut in CO2 reported by BEIS.
The UK's CO2 emissions have now been falling for six consecutive years, the longest run of reductions in records going back to 1850 (the blue area in the chart, below).
There were particularly large falls in 2014 (8.7%) and 2016 (5.9%), with 2018 seeing a more modest 1.5% reduction, according to Carbon Brief's analysis. This means the UK's CO2 emissions stood 39% below 1990 levels at an estimated 361MtCO2 in 2018 (yellow line).
This is the lowest since 1888, outside three years of economic collapse during strikes by coal miners and other workers in 1893, 1921 and 1926, each of which is prominent on the chart, below.
UK CO2 emissions 1850-2018, millions of tonnes (blue area) and the level in 2018 (yellow line). Source: BEIS, Carbon Brief analysis and the World Resources Institute CAIT data explorer. The CAIT data has been adjusted because it excludes emissions from land use and forestry. Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts.
The 1.5% reduction in the UK's CO2 emissions in 2018 is the smallest decline over the past six years. This highlights the fact that continued cuts cannot be taken for granted.
Still, since 1990, the UK has cut its emissions faster than any other major economy in the world, even as its GDP has continued to grow. Recent Carbon Brief analysis suggests reduced energy demand and a shift to cleaner sources of electricity explain most of the CO2 reductions since 1990.
Per-capita emissions in the UK fell to 5.4tCO2 in 2018, the lowest since 1858, when the population was less than half its current level. On this measure, the UK now ranks alongside France and well below China (around 7tCO2 per capita), but roughly three times the level in India (1.8tCO2).
Coal powered
During those six years of continuous cuts in the UK's CO2 emissions between 2013 and 2018, almost all of the reductions have been due to coal, as the chart below shows. Overall emissions fell by a fifth (98MtCO2), with coal accounting for 97% of that total (94MtCO2).
The UK's CO2 emissions from coal (light blue line), oil (yellow) and gas (dark blue) in 2013 (left) and 2018 (right), in millions of tonnes of CO2. Overall emissions fell continuously during this six-year period. Figures for intermediate years not shown. Source: BEIS and Carbon Brief analysis. Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts.
Meanwhile, emissions from oil increased by 4% (6MtCO2), while CO2 from gas was unchanged. (The remainder is made up of changes in emissions from other fuels, such as non-renewable wastes, as well as CO2 from non-fuel sources, such as cement production.)
Notably, coal CO2 emissions now make up just 7% of the UK total. This small share will shrink even further as coal-fired power stations continue to close ahead of a 2025 phaseout deadline. Only 5% of UK electricity generation in 2018 was from coal, a record low.
This means there is limited potential to continue reducing overall UK emissions if coal is the only contributor. Emissions from oil and gas will also have to be cut if the UK is to meet its legally binding carbon targets in future.
Expanding gas
As noted above, the largest recent changes in the UK's fossil fuel use have been in demand for coal. There was another 16% reduction in coal use last year, down to a new low in records stretching back to 1850. This was primarily due to a 24% fall in coal use in the power sector.
The CO2 emissions from the UK's coal use have fallen by around 80% over the past six years and more than 90% since 1970, as the chart below shows (light blue line). With oil demand also having fallen until recent years (yellow), gas is now the largest source of CO2 emissions in the UK (dark blue).
The UK's CO2 emissions from coal (light blue line), oil (yellow) and gas (dark blue) between 1970 and 2018, in millions of tonnes of CO2. Source: BEIS and Carbon Brief analysis. Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts.
Demand for gas in the first quarter of 2018 was up 8% on the previous year after exceptionally cold temperatures during the "Beast from the East" in February and March. However, annual demand for gas was flat (+0.5%), in part due to a 4% fall in electricity generation from the fuel.
Demand for oil was also largely unchanged in 2018 (-0.3%). Within that total, demand for diesel and petrol both saw annual declines of around 1%, whereas aviation fuel was up 2%.
Transport is now the single-largest sector within the UK's CO2 emissions total. This is because transport emissions have barely changed since 1990, while most other sectors have declined.
The government's Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has warned of the "worrying trend" in emissions beyond the power and waste sectors. These cuts have "masked" a lack of progress in the rest of the UK economy, it says, putting legally binding carbon targets at risk.
The housing sector is a case in point, according to another recent CCC report. Home CO2 emissions increased by 1% in 2017, the most recent year with sectoral data available.
CCC advice on when the UK should reach net-zero emissions is due on 2 May this year and will add to the pressure to reduce CO2 emissions across the whole economy.
Meanwhile, the CCC recently rated progress in each of 18 policy areas, giving the government a failing grade in 15 of them. Its letter to energy and clean growth minister Claire Perry said government policies had "failed to produce expected reductions in emissions".
BEIS projections suggest the UK's emissions will continue to fall over the next decade.
Carbon Brief calculations
Carbon Brief's estimates of the UK's CO2 emissions in 2018 are based on analysis of provisional energy use figures published by BEIS on 28 February. The same approach has accurately estimated year-to-year changes in emissions in previous years (see table, below).
Estimated year-on-year change in UK CO2 emissions versus reported results
2010 3.5% 3.8% 0.4%
2011 -8.7% -8.3% 0.4%
One large source of uncertainty is the provisional energy use data, which BEIS revises at the end of March each year and often again later on. The table above applies Carbon Brief's emissions calculations to the latest energy use figures, which may differ from those published previously.
For example, last year Carbon Brief estimated a 2.6% fall in emissions in 2017, while BEIS later put the reduction at 3.2%. Using the same Carbon Brief approach today, with the updated energy use figures, the estimated reduction is revised to 2.8%.
Update 28/03/2019: As noted at the top of this article and in the table, above, BEIS has published its own estimate for 2018, as well as revising its provisional energy use data. Its estimated 2.4% annual cut in the UK's CO2 output in 2018 is larger than Carbon Brief's initial figure, with the difference explained by the revised energy data.
UK emissions are estimated by multiplying the reported consumption of each fossil fuel by its emissions factor. This is the amount of CO2 released for each unit of energy consumed and it varies for different fuels.
For example diesel, petrol and jet fuel have different emissions factors and Carbon Brief's analysis accounts for this where possible. This adjustment is based on the quantity of each fuel type used per year, drawn from separate BEIS figures covering oil, coal and gas.
Emissions from land use and forestry are assumed to remain at the same level as in 2017.
Note that the figures in this article are for CO2 emissions within the UK measured according to international guidelines. This means they exclude emissions associated with imported goods, including imported biomass, as well as the UK's share of international aviation and shipping.
The UK's consumption-based CO2 emissions increased between 1990 and 2007. Since then, however, they have fallen by a similar amount to the CO2 emitted within the UK. Around one quarter of the bioenergy used in the UK is imported and its climate benefits are disputed.
International aviation is considered part of the UK's carbon budgets and faces the prospect of tighter limits on its CO2 emissions. The international shipping sector recently agreed to at least halve its emissions by 2050, relative to 2008 levels.
March 4th,2019
Simon Evans
Originally published by Carbon Brief
By: Carbon Brief
Carbon Brief (CB) is a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy. CB specialise in clear, data-driven articles and graphics to help improve the understanding of climate change, both in terms of the science and the policy response. CB publish a wide range of content, including science explainers, interviews, analysis and factchecks, as well as daily and weekly email summaries of newspaper and online coverage.
In 2018, Carbon Brief won the "energy and commodities" category of the Press Gazette's British Journalism Awards for Specialist Media. It was a finalist in the "science and health" category. Separately, the Royal Statistical Society "highly commended" Carbon Brief in 2018 for its investigative journalism. In 2017, Carbon Brief won the "Best Specialist Site for Journalism" category at the Online Media Awards.
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Home/Destinations / Jama Masjid
About Jama Masjid in Agra
During the Mughal era, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital city of India and thus held an important position in the Indian Map.
Agra has to some extent become synonymous to the grand Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Many more important places including forts, palaces, mosques and the likes were built here that boasts of high Mughal architectural styles. One such place is the Jama Masjid or the Jami Masjid built in 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan and dedicated to his loving daughter Jahanara Begum. The mosque also known as the "Friday Mosque" is one of the largest mosques in India and most sought after pilgrimage site by the devotees. It is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Agra district. Some of the designs of the mosque reflect beautiful Iranian architecture.
It is situated opposite the Agra Fort right in the middle of Fatehpur Sikri. Earlier there was a Tripolia Chowk, octagonal in shape in-between the Jama Masjid and the Delhi Gate of the Agra Fort. Later on it was demolished to build Agra Fort Railway Station.
History and Architecture
Built by Shah Jahan in 1648, it took six years and 5000 workers to complete the mosque. It rests on a high plinth with five arched entrances leading to the courtyard. On its right side is the Jammat Khana hall. Next to the hall is the Zenana Rauza, the Tomb of the royal ladies. The Tomb of the sacred Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti is within the compound of Jama Masjid. History says that Emperor Akbar, the greatest and most renowned Mughal Emperor of the dynasty had no heir. He earnestly sought blessings from the Sufi Saint and through the divine grace of the Saint the Emperor was blessed with a son. He named his son Salim after the name of the saint who after Akbar became the emperor and was famously known as Emperor Jehangir. As mark of true gratitude and respect, the Emperor Akbar dedicated a magnificent city in honor of the Sufi saint and a mosque. The emperor also built a royal tomb of the Saint made of red sandstone after his death. Later on Emperor Shah Jahan erected another tomb of the Saint with white marble. The beautiful paintings, the intricate designs of the latticework, glazed tiles adorned with floral motifs of myriad colors, carvings, the pillared Dalan, the Chatri on the roof, the geometrical designs in the central arch of the Iwan, the beautiful Chhajja makes it architecturally rich and stand apart on its own right.
The main entrance of the masjid is through the eastern side. There are cloisters with designed arches supported by pillars. The prayer chamber has a large entrance with an arched iwan in the center. An iwan is a rectangular hall with three walls having one side fully open. It is decorated with kiosks alternatively with slender turrets. Out of the three domes of the masjid the one crowning the prayer chamber is the largest and highest. The three domes have inverted lotus carved and kalash finials on the top. Narrow zigzag designs are made by alternating white marble and broad bands of red sandstone. In the center of the courtyard there is a fountain with four kiosks in four corners. A beautiful mihrab and pulpit in white stone grace the interiors of the western wall. The archway of the central portal has a white marble which is inscripted with inlaid blackstone. The inscription praises Shah Jahan and his daughter Jahanara. This beautiful mosque with its awesome architecture was compared with Baitul-Mamur considered to be situated in the fourth sky decorated with rubies and pearls.
The mosque has a capacity to accommodate 10,000 people at a time. While visiting the masjid complex one need to dress up accordingly and knees should be properly covered. It is one of the important landmarks of the city. Crowded bazaars surround the mosque that serves as a reference point for the newcomers or tourists. The street plans remain the same as in the days of the Mughals.
Taj MahalAgra FortItmad-Ud-DaulaMariam's TombChini Ka RauzaMehtab BaghJama MasjidMankameshwar TempleKinari BazarAkbar Tomb SikandraMughal Heritage WalkRoman Catholic CemeteryMother Teresa ChurchWildlife SOS AgraKalakriti Show
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Brands+
ByWP
Wolfgang Proksch
Impressum / General terms
PM/D
In 2003, Wolfgang Proksch founded PM/D for the worldwide distribution of his ByWP brand.
His career started at the end of the 1980s, when he presented his designs to the industry for the first time, at the SILMO exhibition in Paris.
Cooperation with the manufacturer "Tractor Productions" from the French part of the Jura – which itself was manufacturing a highly unusual collection of eyewear, with which it was supplying actors and fashion magazines – and the rise of a small, sophisticated elite of designers on the west coast of the USA (LA Eyeworks, Oliver Peoples) and Belgium (Theo), in whose circles he moved, pushed his new brand, "Proksch's" into undreamt-of spheres. Suddenly, people like Seal, Brad Pitt, Elton John, Catherine Zeta Jones, J. Lo, Mick Jagger, Liam Gallagher and even the "Queen of Less", Jil Sander, were wearing models bearing his designs. Diana Kruger, whose leading roles have included playing Helen in "Troy", viewed at the time as a walking advertisement for Armani and now treated as a supermodel and worldwide star, was photographed in the Lindberg Studios in Paris for the Proksch campaign, which subsequently appeared in all the top fashion magazines. Other internationally famous models such as Jodie Kidd were to follow, otherwise only ever to be seen on catwalks wearing famous names. Glossy journals from Italy, France, Germany, and NY's "W" made Proksch's new style familiar to their readers in many reports and fashion features. The hottest stores in L.A. San Francisco, New York, Paris, Milan and Tokyo displayed the glasses in their shop windows.
In 1998 and after a brief intermezzo with the Italian company Optiprojekt, which now goes under the name of "Allison", he granted his name under license to Kaneko in Japan. The synergy of his unashamedly unpretentious design and the notorious quest for quality of the Japanese gave his products' a unique radiance. Innovative, functional details and balanced proportions distinguished the decidedly modern style. Kaneko introduced the brand into its own "Facial Index" and "Complex Plus" flagship stores, in New York, Tokyo and Osaka.
1999 saw the creation of a surprising new range under the transformed "Wolfgang Proksch" label, which employed novel shapes and material finishes. The so-called "new teardrop" spectacle form, combined with unusually set arms, influenced the industry and served as a spiritual source for the very first Prada models. Design commissions followed from Oliver Peoples, L.A. for Paul Smith, from Sama Eyewear from Hollywood – including for Pamela Anderson, as well as for other international superstars such as Jennifer Lopez, P. Diddy and Brad Pitt. His glasses, reminiscent of a horizontal figure eight, were bought in a small store in Sydney before – because he wore them in the taxi scene in the first Matrix film – going on to briefly send the Americans into a buying frenzy. They were to serve as the template for many imitations, in all conceivable finishes. At that time, Wolfgang was spending more time on the West Coast than he was in Germany.
Even today – though only available through select outlets – his spectacles are cast for films, including, for example, for the lead actors in the US 'super series', NSI:NY.
– For years now – and above all in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong – the name Wolfgang Proksch has been a genuine cult. With impertinent ease, he pulls off the balancing act between industrial design, technical finesse and that clear, sophisticated look.
Wolfgang Proksch received numerous coveted Design Awards such as GOOD DESIGN for outstanding design.
Today PM/D is not only distributing its own brands ByWP and Wolfgang Proksch, but also the upcoming brand Thierry Lasry.
mail@pmd-eyewear.net
Walter-Rathenauer-Str. 13 75203 Königsbach-Stein
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EVERYONE - young, old, and everyone in between - is encouraged to come for coffee, juice, snacks and fellowship after worship every Sunday. This is an opportunity to really get to know each other, especially those from other generations. We will share our highs and lows, pray for one another, and share time together. Be sure to make your way into the Prayer Parlor room rather than mingling in the Welcome Center.
Confirmation instruction for grade 6-8 is offered on Sundays following worship beginning in November. Confirmation students are expected to join the large group each Sunday for Fellowship of Faith.
Meets off-site in members' homes. Contact the church office for more details.
Meets on the second and fourth Thursday night at 6:30 pm See the Men's Ministry page for more information or contact the church office.
Weekdays - Meets on the second and fourth Monday at 9:00 am Contact Marlene Runnion for more information.
Weekend - meets on the second Saturday at 10 am. Contact Lisa Hissong for more information.


If you have a wonderful man in your life, it's important you do your best to make him feel loved and special.
1. Always compliment the things about him that you love.
2. Believe in his dreams and support him achieve them.
3. Avoid making him feel insecure.
4. Always give him a good, tight hug. Don't wait for him to initiate it.
5. Don't ignore him when there are other guys around. Give him preference.
6. Have faith in him and trust him.
7. Give him space to hang out with his friends and do the things he likes.
8. Be his shoulder to lean on when he is facing challenges.
9. Don't prolong a fight; try to resolve any differences as soon as possible.
10. Dress good always. Look your best when you are with him. This will definitely make him feel special.
11. Get along with his friends and family.
12. Remember important days in his life like his birthday.
13. Don't put him down in front of others. You hurt him when you do this.
14. Partake in his favourite activities.
15. Be willing to hug him and kiss him in public. Guys also love public display of affection.
Be the first to comment on "15 WAYS TO MAKE HIM FEEL SPECIAL"


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Best rates guaranteed. Experience a Boutique Design Hotel in Verbier when you book with W Hotels. ... Rue de Médran 70; Verbier,; 1936; Switzerland; Map.
W Verbier is a luxurious house in the modern centre of Verbier, boasting contemporary alpine design and a spa area with indoor pool and heated outdoor. ..


Could you do a parody of some of your older work? Make fun of yourself a whole lot!
Hear the original song here!
lol pooface! i <3 this dude… who… owns this… awesome website!
Wow. How could you live with yourself after all that namecalling?
I think you need to see a psychiatrist, Andrew. You obviously have a poor self-image.
do you wear glasses. u r really bad at putting yourself down. where was the song?


The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo today introduced the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala that can be found in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. The latest generation of Pokémon video games will launch in North America on November 18th and in Europe on November 23, exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. In addition to the details about these powerful Pokémon, new characters in the game and new features were also revealed.
Honored as an emissary of the sun since ancient times, Solgaleo is referred to with reverence as "the beast that devours the sun." Solgaleo's body holds a vast amount of energy, and it shines with light when it is active. It has a flowing mane with a remarkable resemblance to the sun. Its signature move is Sunsteel Strike, an attack that charges at an opponent with the force of a meteor, disregarding the target's Ability. Solgaleo's Ability is Full Metal Body, a new Ability that no previous Pokémon has had. With the Full Metal Body Ability, a Pokémon's stats will not be lowered by the effects of an opponent's moves or Ability.
Since ancient times, Lunala has been honored as an emissary of the moon. Referred to with reverence as "the beast that calls the moon," Lunala is constantly absorbing light and converting it into energy. With its wings spread to absorb the surrounding light and glittering like the crescent moon, it resembles a beautiful night sky. Lunala's signature Moongeist Beam attack releases an ominous beam of light that disregards the target's Ability.
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon take place in the Alola region, which centers around four tropical islands and one artificial island. Many Pokémon that have never been seen before inhabit the lush islands of the Alola region. The story begins right after the main character moves to the Alola region. After choosing to play as a hero or heroine, players can customize their character's name and appearance. No sooner have they arrived than their adventures begin to unfold, and they meet many fascinating people as they travel through the region.


Nigeria's female national team, Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby is looking beyond next month's Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, as he has started making plans for international friendlies for the squad.
Although Dennerby stayed modest over his side's chances of winning AWCON 2018 in Ghana, footballllive.ng gathered he is staying positive that they will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.
The top three teams at Ghana 2018 will go on to represent Africa at France 2019 and, though Dennerby insists the Falcons did not play well at the last edition of the continental championship that they won in Cameroon two years ago, he is upbeat they will again come tops.
With that target in mind, Dennerby has now taken a projection into his build-up plans for the Mundial, hence his decision to start outlining the array of top-grade matches his side will play before heading to France.
The Swedish tactician said he is hoping for quality preparations for the World Cup and wants some warm-up games for his side, as he says high-profile international friendlies are extremely important for his team.
The 59-year-old tactician, who led the Falcons to a third-place finish at the WAFU Nations Cup in February before steering them to qualify for the 11th AWCON by mauling Gambia 7-0 on aggregate in June, charged Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to approve his build-up programme.
Dennerby recounted how his side were not able to take advantage of previous FIFA windows, which he hopes will not be repeated next year, as he stressed that warm-up games will help his team reach top shape.
He disclosed: "I have a schedule for the team. Now is the time to seal agreements with other countries worldwide for the FIFA international windows. It is extremely important for us to have friendlies.
"Unfortunately we couldn't use the window, but we still have another window from November 3.


Hope everyone is well, Happy Halloween by the way.
As you know I'm now writing for the Chicago Baseball Museum but the mods at WSI are allowing me to post the link to my stories that appear at that location.
I've got a revised and updated interview with former Sox 20 game winner Ray Herbert up now.
I first spoke with Ray in depth in June 2004 and stayed in touch but never really took the time to see how he's doing and his thoughts on baseball today. So I called him recently and got his thoughts on those areas.
There are new photos connected to the interview, a new opening / scene setter and again his thoughts on baseball today and how he is fairing.
I hope you will enjoy reading it.
Great interview, Lip. When you look back at pitchers the Sox acquired from other teams like Bob Shaw, Turk Lown, Ray Herbert and Juan Pizzaro and see how well they did here. you have to think that Ray Berres was just an outstanding pitching coach and Al Lopez was a great handler of pitchers.
I remember the 1962 season very well as that was the year I was a vendor. Saw many of Herbert's wins that year. Went to a Sat afternoon game in mid August, got in free but didn't feel like vending that day and watched Herbert beat the Tigers 2-0, went all nine innings allowing 3 hits.
PS Sox had went 85-77 that year which was their worst year since I started following them in earnest in 1954 but one of the best games I ever saw was the last Friday night home game of the season when the Sox scored 6 runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Yankees 7-6. IIRC the winning hit was a by a guy named Deacon Jones.
Last edited by LITTLE NELL; 10-31-2013 at 07:55 PM.
The Blind Squirrel that finally found an acorn.
I remember my dad always wanting a pinch hitter for Hansen. (he didnt like Hansen because he was no Looie) He called for Herbert on occasion.
Hansen was a very good fielder and had a couple years when he drove in 65 runs. He hit 20 homers in 64 which was huge for a Shortstop in those days. I think he hurt his back in 65 and was never the same.
Last edited by LITTLE NELL; 10-31-2013 at 08:29 PM.
It didnt matter what he did to my dad, he wasnt Looie.
I was pretty happy when the Sox traded for Herbert. As a kid back then I was always looking forward to the winter meetings to see who the Sox would get. A much simpler time back then; kind of miss it.
No doubt about it, Aparicio was one of the greatest. That being said the trade that brought us Hansen, Ward, Wilhelm and Nicholson for Aparicio and Al Smith after the 62 season was a pretty good trade and helped us average almost 96 wins a year for the 3 years following the trade. We had a down year in 66 with only 83 wins but came back and almost won the AL pennant with 89 wins in 67.
Thanks for the memories. Another great interview Lip.
I never knew that back then there weren't any pitching coaches in the minors.
She's the foundation I lean on, My woman, my WIFE.
I agree but no one could ever convince my dad.
There were a lot of fans who were upset with Aparicio when he said after being traded that it would take another 40 years for the Sox to win another pennant, as we all know he was off by 6 years.
The frozen balls, high grass and 360 ft down the lines probably didn't hurt either.
It was 352 down the lines but the power alleys were 385 even though the markers said 375.
Old Comiskey was for sure a pitchers park but Berres and Lopez were still the best handlers of pitchers I've ever seen.
Last edited by LITTLE NELL; 11-14-2013 at 12:44 PM.
Big Klu says... "When you step in the box you go to war"..


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Video Of The Day: A German Carpenter Has Invented An On/Off Switch For Your Testicles
By Nickolaus Hines | Edited By John Kuroski
A German carpenter is hoping to revolutionize contraception with a simple valve that can turn the flow of sperm on and off with the flip of a switch.
The flow of sperm in humans can now be flipped on and off with the simple flip of a switch. A German carpenter named Clemens Bimek claims that he has invented a revolutionary form of contraception: an on and off valve to control the flow of sperm from the testicles.
The Bimek SLV device utilizes minuscule valves surgically implanted on the vas deferens, the duct that sends sperm from the testicle to the urethra. A switch implanted under the skin of the scrotum controls whether the valves are open or closed. All in all, the implantation procedure is said to take only 30 minutes.
Bimek has already tested his device on himself–an ordeal he says was done with only a low-grade anesthetic so that he could assist the surgeon.
The idea for the device came to Bimek about 20 years ago while he was watching a documentary on contraception. He did some research of his own and learned that there wasn't a patent for sperm control using a simple valve implant, and then went to work creating his own.
"Many of the doctors I consulted didn't take me seriously," Bimek said in an interview for Spiegel. "But there were some who encouraged me to go on tinkering and helped me with their expertise."
Despite Bimek's confidence, some fear that the implant could cause scarring and permanently block the vans deferens.
However, implants made with similar materials have been successful in other areas of the body. If successful, the Bimek SLV could be a non-permanent alternative to getting a vasectomy–or it could be detrimental to a man's health. Either way, the world will soon know if male contraception is as easy as flipping off a light–25 men will receive the implant in trials starting this year.
Nickolaus Hines
Nickolaus Hines is a freelance writer in New York City. He graduated from Auburn University, and his recent bylines can be found at Men's Journal, Inverse, and Grape Collective.
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What Is Slow Travel?
All Slow Travel
Serdica (Serdika) The Lost City Discovered Under Modern Sofia
Was Serdica a real city, or a mystery like Atlantis?
Serdica (Serdika) was very real, and even pre-dates the Romans!
Here is everything you need to know about the lost city, including what you can see today.
What Serdica may have looked like.
What is Serdica?
Serdica (or Serdika) was the name given to the city of Sofia, Bulgaria, in ancient times.
The city is often referred to as a Roman city, and those are the ruins that have been found, but it was actually named after a Celtic tribe called "Serdi".
This name stuck for nearly a millennia, and the city became an important part of Euopean history.
Ancient History of Serdica
Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe, and the site of Serdica (modern day Sofia – Bulgaria's capital city) was inhabited as early as 6,000 BC. The remains of a few different neolithic settlements from a broad range of time periods (6000 to 3000 BC) were found here.
Earliest Known Rulers
The Thracians settled the area around 500 BC, but were conquered in 339 by Philip II of Macedon.
(The same Philip II that took Plovdiv, and named it Philipoppolis back in the day.)
Becoming Serdica
Finally the city gained it's first known name when the Celtic tribe Serdi took the city and renamed it, sometime between 300 BC and 29 BC.
The earliest reference to the Serdi is in 29 BC when they were documented as having attacked a Roman general while he was on a journey.
However Celtic artifacts found in the area prove that the occupation began much earlier.
Roman Occupation of Serdica
The story goes that the same Roman general – M. Licinius Crassus – who was attacked by the Serdi, returned the next year with an army to punish them, and thus began the Roman rule of Serdica.
Serdica became a very important and central city in the Roman Empire.
Under the rule of the Emperor Diocletian, the city became the capital of the province Dacia Mediterranea.
It is even said that Constantine the Great considered making Serdica the capital of the empire before ultimately choosing Constantinople.
Serdica continued expanding, and remained a strong part of the now Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) until it was destroyed by the Huns in 447.
The city was rebuilt in the 500's by the Byzantine ruler Justinian.
The wikipedia page states that Serdica was renamed at this time to Triaditsa, but I don't think that's correct.
This Britannica article indicates that the city was renamed Sredets in 809 when it was taken by Bulgars.
The name Sredets is a Bulgarian name, and it is translated to Triaditsa in Greek.
It makes more sense that Serdica was renamed under Bulgarian rule, and not changed to the Greek/Bulgarian name Triaditsa/Sredets while still a Roman city.
How Was Serdica Lost?
After Serdica was destroyed by Huns it was essentially built over top of by the next dynasties.
This was commonplace in ancient times, to level things off and start again, rather than haul everything away.
When Were Remains of Serdica First Discovered?
Modern historians started speculating that an amphitheatre existed somewhere under Sofia in 1919, when a stone plate from Roman times was found depicting gladiators fighting wild animals.
The first ruins were discovered in 2004 while building a hotel. These were the ruins of the amphitheatre.
Rather than, you know, look for the rest of it, life in the city continued as usual.
More ruins sprung up quite unexpectedly in 2006 when digging the foundation for a neighbouring building. Ah Bulgaria.
If you were wondering, they still built the hotel. The ruins are proudly displayed in the lobby. (More on that in a moment.)
More ruins of Serdica were discovered in 2010 during the construction of a metro tunnel and station.
Visiting Ruins of Serdica Today
If you visit the city of Sofia Bulgaria today, you can marvel at a decent amount of ancient Serdica.
Here are the sights that have been uncovered so far:
Ancient Serdica Complex
The complex at Sofia's Metro station Serdika II is the largest area of ruins in the city. There is a large open air complex beside the street, and the sidewalk above leads past the entire length of the area.
Between this outdoor area and the areas inside, is the remnants of 8 streets, a church, Roman baths, and houses.
You can even eat at a restaurant overlooking ancient Serdica.
More of the ancient complex is on display inside the Serdika II Metro Station.
In addition to these preserved ruins, the metro station displays a variety of sculptures, tablets, and other artifacts at the platform level, in glass display cases.
Eastern and Western Gates of Serdica
Still inside the metro station, there is an underpass beneath the road that passes by the "Eastern Gate."
Ann Wuyts, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The ruins of the "Western Gate" are outdoors with the rest of the complex. Not much of it is left.
Serdica Bridge
There are the remains of a Roman bridge that would have crossed the Vladaya River, near modern day "Lion's Bridge," but that is little more than a large pile of rocks.
Serdica Amphitheatre
Remember the hotel I mentioned that was built over the amphitheatre?
That is Arena di Serdica Hotel, and you can stay there for about $160 USD per night.
You can also visit the ruins in the hotel for free, if you don't want to splash out on what is a very expensive hotel by Bulgarian standards.
I do think one night may be worth it, in the spirit of Slow Travel and wanting to soak up the atmosphere.
Church of St. George
The Church of St. George, or St. George Rotunda, is an ancient church in the heart of Sofia (nee Serdica).
The church was originally built in the 4th century as Roman baths.
During the time that Serdica was the capital of Dacia Mediterranea, is when it is thought to have become a church.
Some of the ruins in front of the church date back to the 3rd century.
Between the 10th and 14th century, many frescoes were added to the interior of the church, but the oldest remaining are from the 4th century.
St. George Church is on the list of the world's oldest churches.
Entrance is free.
St. Sophia Basilica Necropolis
Although the original church of St. Sophia was ancient, it was destroyed repeatedly through the centuries. The current structure is partially from the 6th century, and the rest is from the 16th and 19th centuries.
The necropolis under St. Sophia however, dates back to the Serdica era.
This ancient graveyard was built in the 4th century, supposedly over top of a 2nd century theatre.
Admission to the crypt is 6 Lev (~$3.50 USD)
Map of Serdica Ruins
Here are the locations of all the documented ruins found in Sofia so far.
Thanks so much to Roamin the Empire for creating this map!
Is There More Serdica to Discover?
The big question remains: Will we find more of ancient Serdica?
Undoubtedly there are more ruins hidden under this city of secrets, but nobody is about to go looking for them.
It's totally understandable that there are no plans to dig up the whole of Sofia, but you have to wonder how many ruins may have been discovered in past decades and they were just quietly built over top of.
It seems unlikely that the first anyone has dug in central Sofia was in the early 2000's.
Seeing how much has been revealed and preserved in the last 20 years, hints that there could be much more to come!
Other Historical Sites in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is truly an amazing country FULL of historical sights that you have never heard of.
If you want to see more evidence of ancient Romans in Bulgaria, make the short drive to Plovdiv and take in their very own amphitheatre and stadium.
Aladzha Monastery is a medieval rock monastery near Varna, close to the Black Sea.
The Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo are a similar site to Aladzha on a much larger scale. These are located near the town of Ruse, close to the Romanian border.
Want to see more Sofia?
All Bulgaria Posts


Kucherov had a power-play goal and Johnson added one at even strength 38 seconds later as Tampa Bay grabbed a 4-3 lead 8 1/2 minutes into the second.
Montreal was without injured goalie Carey Price for the second consecutive game. The 301-game winner has a lower-body injury and didn't make the trip.


The Something's Festering Tour is taking stand-up comedians Olivia Grace (Comedy Central, Roast Battle) and Eric Freedman (Funny or Die, Laugh Factory Hollywood Fresh Faces Showcase) to clubs, bars, living rooms and art galleries all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles. Catch them in Memphis at Two Rivers for this one night only, free stand-up comedy show.
Break out your dancin' shoes and join DJ's Plastic Citizen and Alpha Heather once again for the best in Underground 80's Music: New Wave, New Romantic, Post Punk, Synth Pop, Ska, Freestyle, and more!
Join us for an evening of poetry. All are welcome to come and recite a poem from memory, or just listen.
recite a poem you did not write.
6pm SHARP. Wine and cookies provided.
Live experimental music. $5 cover.


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Faces of poverty: What racial, social groups are more likely to experience it?
Michael B. Sauter
24/7 Wall Street
The U.S. Census estimates that 13.4 percent of Americans, about 42 million, lived below the poverty line in 2017.
Of course, poverty is far from evenly distributed across the United States, and depending on a person's race, gender, occupation, and social status, Americans are far less, or far more, likely to live in poverty. Some groups are more than twice as likely to experience poverty as the average American.
Both personal responsibility and structural pressures can lead to poverty, and experts often argue which affects poverty more. But some factors outside of the control of the individual — including being a woman, black, Hispanic, a child, or a disabled person — are an indicator that one is more likely to live in poverty.
Greg Acs is vice president at the Income and Benefits Policy Center of the Urban Institute, an economic and social policy think tank. Acs helped explain the complexity of poverty, and why those certain groups are more likely to experience poverty. "The issue with poverty is that it's both a cause and a consequence of factors in the economy and society and personal decisions. So you'll find some groups that have higher poverty rates than others in no small part due to their inability to generate a lot of income on their own as a result of historical, economic, social, and personal factors."
More:Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley to open free grocery store for those in need
More:Wealth in America: Where are the richest and poorest states based on household income?
More:What is the worst city to live in your state? Find out.
24/7 Wall Street reviewed 2017 American Community Data from the U.S. Census Bureau to identify 11 distinct groups of Americans who are more likely than their peers to live in poverty. It is important to note that the more commonly reported poverty rate is based on the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, but to consistently use the level of detail required to break down poverty rates for specific groups, we used American Community Survey data in all cases.
Some of the groups on this list are more likely to grow up in difficult homes, poor neighborhoods, and inadequate school systems. They face discrimination and limited work or advancement opportunities, and the effects of generational poverty, all which make it more likely they will live in poverty.
11. Service workers
• Poverty rate: 10.7 percent
• Total in poverty: 26.2 million
• Service workers as percentage of U.S. population: 8.2 percent
• Service workers as percentage of poor population: 6.6 percent
The 10.1 percent poverty rate among service workers might not seem especially high, given that the national poverty rate is 13.4 percent, but Americans who are employed are far less likely to live in poverty than those who are not. For example, only 4.9 percent of America's full-time workforce lived below the poverty line, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, half the poverty rate among service workers. Service workers represent a major part of the American workforce, and a large share of service workers earn minimum wage or close to it. As of 2017, two-thirds of all American workers earning the minimum wage or less were in service occupations. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, which, assuming a 40-hour work week, would not be enough to bring an individual with no dependents above the poverty level. Many states and municipalities have already passed, or are currently considering passing, legislation to increase the local minimum wage to $15 an hour.
10. Women
• Women as percentage of U.S. population: 51.0 percent
• Women as percentage of poor population: 55.4 percent
While 12.2 percent of men in the United States live in poverty, the poverty rate for women is 14.5 percent. Because women face a number of unique challenges they at a greater risk of poverty and financial hardship. Women are paid far less than men — women earned 81.3 percent of men's median earnings in the second quarter of 2018. While much of this gap can be explained by the kinds of occupations women occupy, the pay gap between men and women persists even when job duties and qualifications are equal. Women with masters and doctoral degrees earn 71.9 percent of what men with a similar education earn, and they are paid less in nearly every occupation. Women are also more likely than men to work in low-paying occupations and spend more time providing unpaid caregiving to children or elderly family members.
More:Progress in fighting poverty in America has slowed despite recent economic recovery
9. Hispanics and Latinos
• Hispanics and Latinos as percentage of U.S. population: 18.2 percent
• Hispanics and Latinos as percentage of poor population: 26.2 percent
Some 19.4 percent of Hispanic and Latino Americans live in poverty, far above the nationwide poverty 13.4 percent poverty rate for all Americans. Two factors contributing to the high poverty rate among Hispanics and Latinos are the group's relatively low education and earnings levels. Just 16.0 percent of Hispanic and Latino adults have a bachelor's degree, half of the nationwide college attainment rate of 32.0 percent — for all races. Individuals with a college degree are more likely to hold advanced, high-paying jobs and report higher incomes overall. In the second quarter of 2018, the typical Hispanic or Latino workers earned just 76.9 percent of the median earnings for all workers.
A large share of Latino workers also face racial discrimination that can reduce the likelihood of gaining employment and ultimately lead to lower earnings. According to a poll conducted by National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, one in three Hispanics and Latinos living in America report being discriminated against when applying for jobs.
8. Children under five
• Total in poverty: 3.9 million
• Children under 5 as percentage of U.S. population: 6.1 percent
• Children under 5 as percentage of poor population: 9.2 percent
Children cannot earn incomes on their own, and so they are reliant entirely on the incomes of their parents to stay out of poverty. Compared to working-age adults or senior citizens, children are significantly more likely to live in poverty — 18.4 percent of Americans under age 18 live in poverty, compared to 12.6 percent of 18 to 64 year olds and 9.3 percent of senior citizens. And the most vulnerable children are the youngest. While 17.8 percent of children age 5 to 17 live in poverty, 20.2 percent of children under 5-years-old do.
7. Non-citizen immigrants
• Non-citizens as percentage of U.S. population: 7.0 percent
• Non-citizens as percentage of poor population: 10.6 percent
Of the 44 million immigrants to the United States, slightly less than half have become citizens. Regardless of citizenship status, foreign-born people living in the United States are more likely than natural born Americans to live in poverty. About 20 percent of non-citizen immigrant residents earn poverty wages. Finding steady employment as an immigrant can be particularly difficult due to language barriers, discrimination, and more. Permanent employment status can help pave the path to citizenship, which helps explain why those who are not yet citizens are particularly likely to earn low wages. The Census is widely believe to heavily undercount those who currently live in the country illegally, and poverty estimates for this group likely far exceed poverty rate of other immigrant groups.
6. Black and African Americans
• African Americans as percentage of U.S. population: 12.5 percent
• African Americans as percentage of poor population: 21.4 percent
Black and African Americans living in the United States face a wide range of institutional obstacles that make earning a steady, livable income, as well as the possibility of escaping poverty, extremely difficult. Black Americans are more than twice as likely as whites or Asian Americans to live in poverty. According to a report by the Brookings Institution, black Americans encounter inequalities in education, discrimination in the workplace, ineffective parenting, high incarceration rates, and more. One in eight Americans are black, but black Americans make up more than one-fourth of the nation's poor population.
5. Adults with less than a high school diploma
• Adults w/o a high school diploma as percentage of U.S. population: 8.1 percent
• Adults w/o a high school diploma as percentage of poor population: 14.9 percent
While there are several famous Americans who dropped out of high school or college and are now successful billionaires, generally educational attainment is a strong indicator of one's earnings potential. Most jobs that pay above poverty wages require, at the very least, a high school diploma, and a large share also require a bachelor's degree. Among American adults, typical earnings correspond directly with educational attainment. The typical adult who did not graduate from high school earns $20,924 a year, roughly $8,000 less than median earnings for those graduated high school but did not proceed to higher education. The typical American with just a bachelor's degree earns $51,094 a year, over $30,000 more than the median earnings for Americans who have not graduated high school.
4. American Indian and Alaska Natives
• Total in poverty: 670,571
• American Indian and Alaska Natives as percentage of U.S. population: 0.8 percent
• American Indian and Alaska Natives as percentage of poor population: 1.6 percent
Native Americans are still dealing with the effects of 400 years of persecution and discrimination. At the time of colonization, the U.S. government forced tribes onto remote reservations that often lacked natural resources or arable soil. Today, American Indians have the highest poverty rate of any major racial group in the United States, with one in four living below the poverty line. Those who live on reservations face obstacles such as food insecurity and associated health problems like diabetes.
3. Americans with a disability
• Disabled as percentage of U.S. population: 11.8 percent
• Disabled as percentage of poor population: 22.6 percent
As is the case with many conditions associated with poverty, causality goes both ways. Those who have a disability have a higher risk of becoming poor, and those who are poor have a higher risk of becoming disabled. Those with a disability, physical or otherwise, are much more likely to be unable to work. In 1990, the U.S. government passed the Americans With Disabilities Act, designed to ensure the financial security of people with a debilitating condition or injury. Still, evidence suggests that workplace discrimination continues, and the disabled generally have a harder time finding steady work and earning above-poverty wages. The unemployment gap between the disabled and not disabled has actually widened since the ADA was passed.
2. The unemployed
• Unemployed as percentage of U.S. population: 2.7 percent
• Unemployed as percentage of poor population: 6.1 percent
Many people who live in poverty work full- or part-time, earning poverty level wages, but one of the more obvious contributors of poverty is earning no wages at all. Just 4.9 percent of those who were employed at least 27 weeks in 2016 lived in poverty. More than 30 percent of Americans who were unemployed and actively seeking work lived in poverty. Those who are unemployed are eligible for state unemployment benefits, but these are often not enough to escape poverty, particularly if the unemployed person has dependents to support. Those who live in poverty are also more likely to have difficulty finding employment for many reasons, including the fact that those growing up in poverty are less likely to have high school and higher education.
1. Single recent mothers
• Unmarried recent mothers as percentage of U.S. population: 0.4 percent
• Unmarried recent mothers as percentage of poor population: 1.4 percent
A dependent child can be a significant cost burden, especially for single parent, and is often enough to push the parent — often a mother — and child into poverty. Among recent single mothers, an astounding 44.3 percent live in poverty. In comparison, just 11.4 percent of married recent mothers live in poverty. While an unplanned-for pregnancy can occur among people of all social and economic levels, low-income women have far more unwanted pregnancies than higher-income women. A 2011 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that low-income women were five times more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy than high-income women.
Detailed findings
Most people who live above the poverty line are able to do so through their jobs. For this reason, the groups that have higher poverty rates generally are less likely to be steadily employed, or are less likely to have high-salaried positions. The disabled and the poorly-educated, for example, are two of the most likely groups to be in poverty because they either cannot access certain kinds of jobs or are less attractive to potential high-paying jobs.
The importance of not only being employed but also well paid in order to stay out of poverty is evident in the poverty rate among Americans employed in the service industry, which, at 10.7 percent, is about twice the poverty rate for those who have jobs. Even full-time service industry workers, many of whom earn minimum wage, often earn poverty incomes.
"In service industries, many of these jobs don't require the highest level of skill or education or training," Acs said. "They do require a lot of personal responsibility and reliability, but because there's a large competitive pool of folks that can do those jobs, and to the extent that those jobs are gendered and there are gender differences that are baked into the way we value work, those jobs tend to pay less, and hence folks working in those jobs tend to have higher poverty rates."
Many of the groups on this list are racial or ethnic groups, including black, Hispanic, and American Indians. While the poverty rate for white Americans is around 10 percent, it is roughly double for black and Hispanic Americans, and it is 25 percent for American Indians.
Attempting to explain the difficulties in assessing why certain social or economic groups have higher poverty rates, Acs said, "Racial and ethnic differences [in the poverty rate] are really complex." He added that one major reason for the disparity is that these groups appear to have more limited access to opportunities for gainful employment, due in part to, he said "...discrimination, and the long-term structural barriers that affect the circumstance of the neighborhoods in which African Americans grew up, as opposed to neighborhoods where whites grew up."
For many specific groups in poverty, there is the argument that individuals in high-poverty groups did not take actions that could lift them out of poverty, including obtaining an education and leaving their impoverished neighborhood. "But," Acs noted, "the reason they didn't do those things was that their poverty or intergenerational poverty reduced those opportunities factors, and society constrains where people can live and what jobs they get offered."
Having a child is a significant expense on a family, and larger families must earn more to escape poverty. Poor families are therefore more likely to be large, and for this reason, children are more likely than both working-age adults and the elderly to live in poverty.
Single parents, particularly single mothers, are one of the most impoverished groups in America, in part because impoverished Americans are more likely to have unwanted pregnancies, and also because supporting a child with a single source of income is more burdensome on an individual, who cannot rely on a partner for flexibility in childcare or income.
Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall Street identified population groups that are more likely to live in poverty compared to other comparable groups. The share of service workers in poverty is based on the July 2018 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Report "A profile of the working poor, 2016," which identifies the poverty rate for all workers employed in a profession for 27 weeks or more during 2016. The remainder of data on poverty rates came from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) one-year estimates. Average earnings by occupation, sex, and race also came from the 2017 ACS.
24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.


text:
Three steps towards post-democracy
The plenary of the European Parliament. Foto: European Parliament / Bernard Rouffignac / Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The EU Council and Commission are seeking to curtail the European Parliament's right to co-determination. In the European Parliament, in turn, the large groups are attacking minority rights
Roland Kulke , 23.06.2016
Tensions are running high in the European Union right now. First, a cold putsch was carried out against a left-wing government in Greece, combined with the threat of throwing the country out of the euro area. Second, the Brexit debate is being waged over whether the UK would be better off outside the EU. And, third, secret negotiations with the USA about TTIP are causing a stir.
On top of this, the elite's large-scale strategy to further the European Union – the Five President's Report – points towards a largely market-compliant, Merkel-style democracy. As if that were not enough, we are currently witnessing three assaults on the sovereignty of parliaments in the EU. According to the familiar neoliberal interpretation of the current crisis, the EU is over-regulated and its institutions could become more credible in citizens' eyes through more efficient regulation. Here "efficient" is naturally taken to mean less legislation, and above all business-friendly legislation.
The most prominent attack is likely to be "regulatory cooperation" as part of the planned TTIP free trade agreement. Under that framework, transatlantic committees would debate potential legislation and discuss whether specific proposals are in the interest of businesses in the USA and the EU. The European Commission would only be able to submit a legislative proposal to the European Parliament (EP) if those committees considered the proposal to be reasonable. MEPs will hardly make independent legislative proposals if they know that the Commission's proposal represents the agreement of the relevant capital factions on both sides of the Atlantic. Regulatory cooperation is part of most modern free trade agreements, and as such is not purely an EU phenomenon. Its advocates argue that it is necessary in order to regulate global value chains, including in the interest of European companies. They describe it as an adjustment to the transnational structure of production under international capitalism today, necessitating legislation to be organised across national borders.
In addition, the Council (which represents the governments of the EU Member States), the Commission and the EP agreed at the beginning of 2016 on a set of measures called "better regulation". It is based on models from the UK and the Netherlands and will significantly influence the EU's legislative process. The USA made "better regulation" a pre-condition for signing the TTIP, since the measures will give even non-European companies far greater influence. Frans Timmermans, Vice-President of the Commission, a Dutch social democrat, has declared it his primary task – a clear sign of how important the project is to the executive body of the EU. They key figure in the background is Martin Selmayr, Jean-Claude Juncker's German head of cabinet and a member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU).
Even before that, the Commission was reorganised based on the recommendations of big business, with the result that the commissioners are no longer on an equal footing. There is now a super-commissioner, who can halt all legislative proposals as he or she sees fit. Nobody learns why a legislative proposal has not reached the EP. Moreover, Timmermans has said on the record that the EP in future will, in general, receive fewer legislative proposals from the Commission. Since the EP does not have a right of initiative – it is possibly the only parliament in the world not to have such a right – it will simply have less to do in the future. Its rights are being undermined, without its external form being changed. As a result, it will become a meek partner in legislative processes. Welcome to post-democracy European style.
The reasons given to justify "better regulation" are largely the same as for "regulatory cooperation", namely more targeted legislation and protection of European companies from over-regulation. The Commission, however, is not basing its arguments on the structural effects of capitalism. Instead, it is extolling its project as a means of combating the EU's loss of legitimacy. That is true to the conservative myth of ungovernability, according to which citizens accuse the EU of over-regulation.
The conservatives and social democrats are putting forward similar arguments in their negotiations with smaller EP groups on new rules of procedure for the Parliament. In doing so, the large parties are making a fundamental assault on minority rights in the EU. They are seeking to limit the possibilities of the small parliamentary groups to be heard and influence legislative proposals. In everyday parliamentary life, the small parliamentary groups often seek to implement changes to the original legislative text by forging clever voting alliances. That, however, requires a minimum number of MEPs, which the conservatives and social democrats now want to increase to 151. Which groups in the EU have that number of seats? That's right, only the conservatives and social democrats. However, this attack on democratic rights is not EU-specific either. The parliamentary rights of the opposition are also under threat elsewhere – see the current developments in Turkey or in Germany, where news magazine Der Spiegel recently published an article titled "The left goes before the constitutional court: Gysi's shattering defeat".
It is important here to keep in mind the political levels at which this is happening. The parliaments are not being attacked by an evil EU, but by certain social forces that have an interest in undermining democracy. The campaign concerning the EP's rules of procedure is driven by the typical complaints of those in power that the party landscape of the parliaments is becoming fragmented, as a result of which clear majorities are lacking and the work of the Parliament is suffering. As with "regulatory cooperation" and "better regulation", the Parliament is being undermined from within, rather than direct damage being done to its external form. Conservative views of authoritarian governance and the subservience of the political elite to international capital, which is eager to increase profit rates in international value chains, are pivotal to the curtailment of democratic and parliamentary rights against an increasingly brazen executive authority.
As with "regulatory cooperation" and "better regulation", the example given above of amending the EP's rules of procedure shows that it is not the EU that is attacking democracy. No, it is always the same social groups that want to restrict the citizen's right to co-determination. Here the EU institutions are at most an additional point of attack against democracy, but no more than that. However, anyone arguing for a purely national strategy in the fight against post-democracy has failed to learn the lessons of history – the still decidedly national "glorious thirty" years (Les Trente Glorieuses) following the Second World War were the exception, rather than the normal state of affairs under capitalism.
Video on Better Regulation: How democratic is EU law-making?


Characters for Phantasms with Rikke Petersen. Kolby, Alex, and Jr.
I thought it might be helpful to post something about each of the characters that we are going to be using in this series of stories we are writing tentatively titles Phantasms. The characters will vary depending on the story, but there are some characteristics that will stay pretty much the same no matter which of is writing or what is going on.
He will never accept any form of bribe and does not do drugs. His only weakness is usually Otis.
Once the weird stuff starts, he is the guy you want on your team. Then you see that he is resourceful, strong willed, and good in a crisis.
Alex is in his early to late 20's. He is extremely into the occult, and desperately wants to be a real magic user.
Alex is average height, dark hair, and has a several piercings and tattoos. He is well aware that the paranormal exists, but can never seem to get anyone else to believe him. His favorite style of dress is all black and identifies with the "goth" subculture.
He thinks he is cool and mysterious and gets pissed when people treat him like an idiot. Almost no one takes him seriously.
His is tall with long read hair and a thin/athletic build.
He has always wanted to be an artist and musician, but frequently finds himself too broke to make a living at it.
He desperately wants people's approval, which can lead him to be manipulated by the less scrupulous.


I hear lots of reasons why many parents don't want a Facebook account. They don't have time, they don't care what their friends ate for breakfast, they don't want old high school classmates looking them up and it's a waste of time, to name a few. Some parents just don't feel comfortable communicating through this new medium. But social networking is a powerful tool that has been placed in the hands of our impressionable, impulsive and ego-driven kids — and they need our guidance.
First, remember that your child needs to be 13 years old to have a Facebook page. The reason for this rule is to protect young children, who should not be allowed to venture prematurely into this new and sometimes dangerous world. A recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, reported on CNN.com, found that nearly half of all 12-year-olds in the USA are using social network sites, despite not meeting the minimum age requirements. Facebook is trying to stop this, "booting out" about 20,000 underage users per day. But parents need to get involved and step up to protect their children. Here are some helpful guidelines.
When your child is old enough (at least 13) and wants a Facebook page, help him or her set it up.
Help your child choose a password that won't easily be hacked.
As you set the privacy settings, make sure that they are set at "friends only" privacy. Young people are more likely to accept a friend request from a friend of a friend – even if they don't know that person. Predators use this to their advantage.
Check the levels every once in a while because sometimes they can be reset if Facebook makes security changes.
Younger users should avoid having an identifying picture as their profile shot. Again, predators will use this to their advantage. Their information page should also be kept to a minimum.
Talk to your children about your expectations of them while using Facebook. Kids sometimes forget that what they write online isn't private. They may get into a Newsfeed fight with a "friend" and go back and delete the interaction. That doesn't mean that it's gone forever. The other person could have taken a screenshot of the interaction. Ask your kids to avoid writing or saying anything that they wouldn't say to someone in person. Consider having your child sign an internet safety contract.
At the time you help your child set up his or her Facebook page, seriously consider setting up a Facebook page of your own and "friending" your child, even if you don't plan to use it often. Occasional checking establishes your presence as the parent. Keep in mind, though, that your child may object to this oversight and can block your access. This is less likely if you consider yourself a third-person observer and refrain from writing on your child's wall. (Commenting on his or her posts would be like showing up for school lunch duty in hair rollers.) If your child is older and you feel uncomfortable "friending" him or her, you can ask one of your friends or another close adult, like an aunt or uncle, to "friend" your teen.
Educate yourself on the many apps linked to Facebook. Decide which ones you feel comfortable with, and explore them with your child. Anonymous apps are very popular with teens. These are sites that allow people to write something about someone else without anyone knowing who they are. Sites like Formspringme have become a playground for cyberbullies. Teens are very susceptible to other people's opinions. As they struggle to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world, anonymous sites can be alluring and dangerous. If they are caught in a cyber fight, check to see what part, if any, they had in the fight.
I was recently viewing Formspring and came across a friend's daughter. I checked to see what her part in the exchanges was and didn't see anything negative on her part. However, what other classmates said about her was downright ugly and abusive. When I called my friend, I learned that, like many parents, he didn't have a Facebook page and had no idea what his daughter was doing online.
Make sure that your teen never meets someone in the "real world" that she or he met on Facebook. Whether your child is the target of a predator or a cyberbully, the same rules should apply: stop, block and tell.
I've heard parents say, "What I don't know won't hurt me." What we don't know may not hurt us, but it sure can hurt our kids. Let's make peace with social networking. It's here to stay, and our kids need our help maneuvering safely through the cyber-world.
This website walks you through reporting methods for a number of cyber issues.


Description of flag: It is a green over white horizontal bicolour with the coat of arms in its centre.
Description of coat of arms: In a blue field is a silver (=white) swan with spread out wings, armed golden (=yellow), standing on a grey stone.
Source: Description at www.kommunalflaggen.de, no.13061022, coat of arms modified from image shown at wikipedia.org according to the description given by Stefan Schwoon in source above.


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			android:text="RPG Configuration"
			android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge"
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			<TextView
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				android:text="Difficulty"
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						android:text="Frequency"
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						android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
						android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
						android:shadowColor="#000027"
						android:shadowDx="5"
						android:shadowDy="5"
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						android:layout_height="wrap_content"
						android:layout_width="match_parent"
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							android:layout_width="match_parent"
							android:id="@+id/configEasterOptionsOdds"/>

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				android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
				android:id="@+id/configEasterOptionsSchoolLayout"
				android:animateLayoutChanges="true">

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					android:text="Scholastic"
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					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:id="@+id/configEasterOptionsSchoolLabel"
					android:shadowColor="#4E0059"
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				android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
				android:id="@+id/configEasterOptionsGoTLayout"
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				<TextView
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					android:text="Westeros"
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					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:id="@+id/configEasterOptionsGoTLabel"
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					android:shadowColor="#FF0000"
					android:textColor="#FDB500"
					android:shadowDx="5"
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				android:orientation="horizontal"
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				android:id="@+id/configEasterOptionsESLayout"
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					android:text="Scrolls of the Elders"
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				<TextView
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					android:text="Literary"
					android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
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					android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
					android:textColor="#997C00"
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			android:gravity="left"
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				android:text="Special Monster Actions"
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				android:layout_width="wrap_content"
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				<TextView
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					android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsTwoLabel"
					android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
					android:shadowColor="#000000"
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					android:shadowDy="5"
					android:shadowRadius="5"
					android:layout_marginRight="15dp"/>

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					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
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					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:orientation="horizontal"
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						android:text="Special Genders"
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						android:layout_width="wrap_content"
						android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsSpecialLabel"
						android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
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						android:shadowColor="#FFFFFF"
						android:shadowDx="5"
						android:shadowDy="5"
						android:shadowRadius="5"
						android:textColor="#000000"/>

					<Switch
						android:layout_height="wrap_content"
						android:layout_width="wrap_content"
						android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsSpecial"/>

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				<LinearLayout
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					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:orientation="horizontal"
					android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
					android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsCustomLayout"
					android:animateLayoutChanges="true">

					<TextView
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						android:text="Custom Gender Field"
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						android:layout_width="wrap_content"
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						android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
						android:shadowColor="#990000"
						android:shadowDx="5"
						android:shadowDy="5"
						android:shadowRadius="5"
						android:layout_marginRight="15dp"/>

					<Switch
						android:layout_height="wrap_content"
						android:layout_width="wrap_content"
						android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsCustom"/>

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			</LinearLayout>

			<LinearLayout
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				android:layout_width="wrap_content"
				android:orientation="horizontal"
				android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsAddressLayout"
				android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
				android:animateLayoutChanges="true">

				<TextView
					android:layout_height="wrap_content"
					android:text="Gender Specific Addressing"
					android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsAddressLabel"
					android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
					android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
					android:shadowColor="#EC92F0"
					android:shadowDx="5"
					android:shadowDy="5"
					android:shadowRadius="5"
					android:textColor="#FFFFFF"/>

				<Switch
					android:layout_height="wrap_content"
					android:layout_width="wrap_content"
					android:id="@+id/configGenderOptionsAddress"/>

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		</LinearLayout>

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			android:orientation="horizontal"
			android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
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			<TextView
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				android:text="Fullscreen (Immersive) mode"
				android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
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				android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
				android:id="@+id/configFullscreenLabel"
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				android:shadowColor="#4F45EE"/>

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			android:id="@+id/configAutosaveLayout"
			android:layout_marginTop="10dp">

			<TextView
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				android:text="Autosave game progress"
				android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
				android:layout_width="wrap_content"
				android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
				android:id="@+id/configAutosaveLabel"
				android:textColor="#000000"
				android:shadowColor="#0000FF"
				android:shadowDx="5"
				android:shadowDy="5"
				android:shadowRadius="5"
				android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"/>

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			android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
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			android:id="@+id/configAutosaveWarningLayout"
			android:background="#3B3B3B">

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				android:layout_height="wrap_content"
				android:text="Note that with this feature disabled, performance might increase slightly in some areas, disk wear might be reduced, and other good things might happen, but at the expense of the game only saving progress on the occasion that the user seems to be leaving. Loss of progress may result: Use with caution."
				android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
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			android:layout_width="wrap_content"
			android:orientation="horizontal"
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				android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
				android:layout_width="wrap_content"
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				android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
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				android:shadowDy="5"
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			android:text="Reset To Default"
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			android:id="@+id/configResetButton"
			android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
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			android:onClick="resetConfigToDefault"/>

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub