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Portland Braces For "Blood In The Streets" As Antifa Pledges "Militant Antifascist Resistance Against Patriot Prayer" On Saturday
Written by: Michael Snyder
If Portland authorities do not intervene in a major way, we could potentially see one of the largest street brawls in modern American history on Saturday. On June 30th, an extremely violent confrontation in Portland between Antifa thugs and conservative groups made headlines all over the world, and now both sides have been hyping this August 4th sequel as an even bigger event. Two conservative groups, Patriot Prayer and The Proud Boys, are claiming that they will have thousands of members in the heart of Portland for their scheduled rally, and they are very much encouraging people to bring guns. On the other side, Eugene Antifa, Rose City Antifa, RASH NW and the Pacific Northwest Anti-Fascist Workers Collective are hoping to bring thousands of their own members, and one organizer publicly stated that they "better bring our own guns too". All it is going to take is for one person to get shot and killed for all hell to break loose.
At the center of this controversy is a conservative Senate candidate named Joey Gibson…
For the past week, Vancouver activist, provocateur and senate candidate Joey Gibson has been talking about guns — guns that his friends and supporters with the groups Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys will likely bring to a self-described "Freedom Rally" in Portland on Saturday.
"Everyone should be carrying around guns at all times, especially in our situation," Gibson explained in a video, posted to Facebook June 30 to promote the event.
There is certainly nothing wrong with a candidate holding a rally and encouraging his supporters to bring guns. It happens in other major cities all the time.
And because of the violence that happened last time, conservatives are flying in from all over the country for this event.
"We'll have people locally showing up from Vancouver, Portland, Hillsboro, California. We have people flying in from Texas and the East Coast," he said.
If the left simply did not interfere with this rally, it wouldn't even make national headlines.
But they aren't going to do that. In fact, they have been working very hard to promote their "counter-protest", and they are openly telling us that they "make no apologies for the use of force"…
For its part, Rose City Antifa released a "hype video," encouraging people to counter-protest Gibson's rally. They also promised violence.
"History has shown that militant resistance is a necessary and important tool in the fight against fascism," the video's narrator intones. "We make no apologies for the use of force in keeping our communities safe from the scourge of right-wing violence."
In fact, the various Antifa factions are definitely planning a "direct confrontation" with Patriot Prayer and The Proud Boys…
Ahead of Saturday's conservative rally, Antifa is back at it again – planning a "direct confrontation" with participants, according to a call to action on the leftist website "It's Going Down."
"Rose City Antifa has continued their great work of doxxing the Portland area Proud Boys involved in this violence, and is also calling for militant antifascist resistance against Patriot Prayer," reads the posting.
Portland authorities could prevent this by showing up with overwhelming numbers of police and by completely keeping the two groups separated.
But will they?
For Antifa, the goal of the "counter-protest" is to "chase Gibson and his supporters out of town"…
Organizers of a counterprotest are hoping hundreds if not thousands of people turn up to chase Gibson and his supporters out of town.
"One of the things folks keep saying is 'If you just ignored them, they'd probably go away,'" Effie Baum, a spokesperson for Popular Mobilization, a coalition of activists formed to mobilize a counterprotest on Saturday, told HuffPost. "There are many examples across history that explicitly tell us this is not true. The community at large in Portland has tried ignoring them… Despite that, Joey Gibson and Patriot Prayer have not gone away."
I have been warning that civil unrest is coming to America over and over again. I warned that it is coming in my first book, and I have warned that it is coming on radio and television all across America. And about a month ago, Portland got a little taste of what is ahead…
On June 30, as a faceoff between opposite ends of the political spectrum exploded into a street fight, enforcement in Portland, Oregon, jumped into action. The march, organized by Patriot Prayer, a far-right outfit with a history of sparking conflict, was met by anti-fascist – antifa – and other-counter protesters. As the clash escalated, the event was declared a riot. Officers in body armor tried to unknot the scuffles. Four people left the scene in ambulances, the Portland Police later said in a statement. Four others left in handcuffs.
Other watchmen are sounding the alarm as well. For instance, the following comes from an alert that Steve Quayle recently posted on his website…
Ladies and Gentlemen we are in the midst of a war for the fundamental right to be an American. The constitution is under attack from the far left and its democratic leaders. This is only going to get worse from here. America has fundamentally changed; just as Barack Obama wanted. If you ask me, we are only a few more riot/protests away from the left and right clashing to the point of firearms being used. Once that is done, you will force the police to drastically change our approach. I don't know how that will go but I was there in Ferguson, MO during the BLM riots and in Baltimore for the BLM riots. The police and National Guard will eventually be forced to put down the riots by force and that is not what we want nor need to happen.
Let us pray for peace because nobody should want to see more violence.
And as I mentioned earlier, the authorities in Portland could stop the violence from happening. The police need to show up very early in massive numbers, and they need to do everything that they can to keep the two groups apart.
Because if the two sides come face to face, there will be violence.
Article posted with permission from Michael Snyder
Islamist Turkey Currency Hits New Low After Trump Sanctions Over Pastor Hostage Next Post:
Unmasking The Creation Of "Islamophobia"
About the Author: Michael Snyder


CD8, also known as T8 and Leu2, is a type I membrane glycoprotein consisting of two disulfide-linked chains (CD8a, CD8b). CD8 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily found on the majority of thymocytes, a subset of peripheral blood T cells, and NK cells (which express almost exclusively CD8a homodimers). CD8 acts as a co-receptor with MHC class I-restricted T cell receptors in antigen recognition and T cell activation and has been shown to play a role in thymic differentiation. Two domains in CD8a are important for function: the extracellular IgSF domain binds the α3 domain of MHC class I, and the cytoplasmic CXCP motif binds the tyrosine kinase p56 Lck.


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Quota for Economically Backward Flies in the Face of Constitutional Principles
Judicial precedent suggests that the Narendra Modi government's decision, if implemented, may be struck down by the Supreme Court.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit: PIB
The Wire Analysis
In September 1991, an Office Memorandum issued by the then P.V. Narasimha Rao government reserved 10% of posts for 'other economically backward sections…not covered by any of the existing schemes of reservations'. This decision was struck down by the Supreme Court's nine-judge constitution bench in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India. The primary purpose of Article 16 of the constitution, the court held, is to ensure participatory justice, and not redistribution.
In paragraph 91 of Indra Sawhney, the majority of the judges made it clear that backwardness cannot be determined exclusively with reference to economic criteria. Under Article 16(4), an OBC must primarily be 'socially' backward, with educational and economic backwardness being used as a tool to determine social backwardness. The other criterion is that the group should be inadequately represented in public employment.
The Tamil Nadu law which provides 69% vertical reservations has been pending for consideration by the Supreme Court for several years. Unless the court overrules Sawhney, or finds exceptional circumstances, the chances of it being held constitutional are poor.
In Indra Sawhney, the Supreme Court held that vertical reservations should not ordinarily exceed 50% (paragraph 94A). This limit may appear arbitrary, but it makes sense if we understand that equality of opportunity is for every citizen, including those who do not belong to a backward class. Dr B.R. Ambedkar's famous warning against "reservation…of such magnitude that the rule regarding equality of opportunity has been destroyed" should remind us of the dangers of excessive reservation.
In Indra Sawhney, the Supreme Court made it clear that Article 16(4) is exhaustive of any reservations made in favour of backward castes (paragraph 57). Therefore, the question is whether the Narendra Modi government will find succour under Article 16(1) for the purpose of reservation in favour of economically backward groups.
Article 16(1) guarantees 'equality of opportunity' in public employment to all citizens. It is a rule of substantive rather than formal equality, and therefore, allows the state to take affirmative action to ensure equality of opportunity for a group which will not be able to access it otherwise. Formal reservation in favour of a group under this provision will undermine the access of those groups who are already well-represented.
Also read: Optics, Not Welfare: The Politics of Appeasement Behind the 10% Reservation Move
Therefore, Article 16(1) is used for affirmative action in favour of those categories of people who are either not backward or do not exhibit characteristics of a cohesive class – like women or persons with disabilities. These are called 'horizontal' reservations, as opposed to vertical reservations under Article 16(4).
In Union of India vs National Federation of the Blind and others (2013), 3% reservation for persons with disabilities as required under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 was the issue. The Supreme Court held that the ceiling of 50% reservation mandated in Indra Sawhney applies only to reservation in favour of other backward classes under 16(4) of the constitution, (vertical), whereas reservation in favour of persons with disabilities is horizontal and under 16(1).
Gujarat high court's 2016 verdict
In 2015, the Gujarat government relied on Articles 14, 15 and 16 and Articles 38, 39 and 46 of the constitution to justify its reservation for economically backward groups. It appointed a high-level committee consisting of five ministers by a government resolution dated August 13, 2015. This committee, headed by then minister for health and family welfare Nitin Patel, considered 225 representations and orally heard parties.
On October 7, 2015, the Gujarat government formulated a policy of providing financial aid to meritorious and needy students on merit-cum-means basis, irrespective of social categories. On April 5, 2016, another resolution extended similar benefits to diploma students aspiring to get admission to recognised degree courses. The Nitin Patel Committee recommended reservation of 10% in government services and for admission in educational institutions for economically weaker classes (with family income of less than Rs 6 lakh per annum). Based on this, the state government issued an ordinance to provide for reservations for economically backward groups. This was challenged before the Gujarat high court.
The judgment by the Gujarat high court was delivered by a bench of Justices R. Subhash Reddy (currently a judge in the Supreme Court) and Vipul M. Pancholi on August 4, 2006.
The ordinance aimed to provide a level playing field to weaker sections from unreserved categories without disturbing the reservation provided under Articles 15 and 16 of the constitution.
The state government claimed that earmarking 10% of seats for economically weaker classes is stricto sensu not reservation, but a further classification in general/open/unreserved category of citizens of the state. It also claimed that the state is enjoined to reach more deserving people and the task of finding the most deserving must necessarily be a matter of continuous evolution.
Article 46 says that state shall promote with special care, the educational and economic interest of the weaker sections of people. Article 14 permits reasonable classification with reference to general/open/unreserved category. The state government claimed that there are five other parameters wherein sons and daughters of various functionaries of different categories would not be entitled to benefit from the ordinance, even though their income may be less than Rs 6 lakh per annum. Thus it denied the allegation that the income criterion alone was taken into consideration.
Also read: 97% of OBC Quota Jobs, Admissions Went to Under 25% Sub-Castes: Report
The state government argued that the 50% ceiling limit mentioned in the Indra Sawhney judgment applied only to the reservations for SC, ST and SEBC groups. This ceiling was fixed by the Supreme Court in Balaji vs State of Mysore (1962). As the ordinance provides for only classification/categorisation amongst the open category to the extent of 10%, it cannot be construed as reservation, the government contended.
More justifications were advanced before the high court: No empirical study is required as the order was issued only for classification. Mere use of the word reservation in the ordinance per se does not and cannot have the consequence of ipso facto applying the entire mechanism underlying the constitutional concept of protective reservation.
The constitutional philosophy provided under the directive principles of the state policy as laid down under Articles 38, 39(b) and 46 of the constitution, which mandates the state to effect economic empowerment of weaker sections, was relied upon.
The state government advanced the fanciful argument that the ordinance is under Article 14 of the constitution, which does not require empirical study. Promoting the interests of economically weaker sections belonging to the unreserved category of citizens is the objective of the ordinance, it argued. Therefore, the test of homogeneous class is not applicable in the matter of classification under Article 14 of a larger category of citizens belonging to the unreserved category, it contended.
If economic criteria can be accepted for the purpose of creamy layer, why cannot it be the basis for identifying a class within the economically weaker section for giving the benefit of reservation, it asked.
The Gujarat high court. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Dismissing the state government's contentions, the Gujarat high court held that its ordinance aimed at reservation and not classification. Apart from 15(4) and 16(4), there is no other power conferred on the state for effecting reservation in favour of any other category, more particularly the economically weaker sections of unreserved category, it held. In the absence of any specific provision which empowers the state to make such special provisions, under the guise of classification the state cannot put in place 10% reservation.
The unreserved category itself is a class, and it is not open for the state to effect reservations on the grounds that a part of this section is economically weak, the high court reasoned.
In Indra Sawhney, paragraph 799, the court held that a backward class cannot be determined only and exclusively with reference to economic criteria. It may be a consideration or the basis along with and in addition to social backwardness, but it can never be the sole criterion. Eight out of the nine judges on the bench concurred with this view. In paragraph 809 and 810, the bench held that reservation contemplated under clause (4) of Article 16 should not exceed 50%.
In paragraph 810, the bench held,
"while 50% shall be the rule, it is necessary not to put out of consideration certain extraordinary situations inherent in the great diversity of this country and the people. It might happen that in far flung and remote areas the population inhabiting those areas might, on account of their being out of the mainstream of national life and in view of conditions peculiar to and characteristical to them, need to be treated in a different way, some relaxation in this strict rule may become imperative. In doing so, extreme caution is to be exercised and a special case made out."
The Gujarat high court held that as it did not find any such extraordinary circumstance for making a departure from the 50% rule, the ordinance could not be sustained.
In Ram Singh vs Union of India, the Supreme Court held that though caste may be a prominent and distinguishing factor for easy determination of backwardness, social groups who would be most deserving must necessarily be a matter of continuous evolution. The court also added that new practices, methods and yardsticks have to be continuously evolved, moving away from caste-centric definition of backwardness. This alone can enable recognition of newly emerging groups in society which would require palliative action, it reasoned.
Also read: Apathy Getting in the Way of Implementation of Reservations for People With Disabilities
The Gujarat high court, however, was reluctant to follow the Ram Singh ruling in the absence of any amendments to the constitution, and in view of the binding nature of the ratio laid down by the Supreme Court in Indra Sahwney.
The court also held that when equality is the rule of law under Article 14, a group cannot be created for the purpose of providing reservations unless a detailed scientific and technical study is carried out. Except by referring to representations based on which the Nitin Patel Committee has recommended the reservation, there is no other scientific data collected, it pointed out while quashing the ordinance.
In Atyant Pichhara Barg Chhatra Sangh vs Jharkhand State Vaishya Federation and Others (2006), while dealing with affirmative action under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the constitution, the Supreme Court held in paras 22 and 23:
"The State has failed to show any new circumstances except for a bald statement that the same was done after careful application of mind and due deliberation by the highest policy-making body, that is, the council of ministers. There are no materials or empirical data to indicate that the circumstances had been changed and the State has not undertaken any study, research or work. In such circumstances to merely suggest that the council of ministers had applied their minds and had reached a decision is arbitrary and unreasonable."
The parallel with the Centre's decision to introduce a similar reservation for the economically backward without the results of an empirical study in the public domain cannot be missed.
It is reported that the Modi government is toying with the idea of a constitutional amendment to change the basis of the Supreme Court's judgment in the Indra Sawhney case. While parliament indeed has the power to amend the constitution, there is a likelihood that the Supreme Court may strike it down because it undermines a basic feature of the constitution – the right to equality of all the citizens.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


IBM Corp. this week is announcing an integration product aimed at a particular class of users – midsize companies using the WebSphere Commerce suite that haven't integrated their e-commerce software with their back-end systems.
The purpose of the new product, called IBM CrossWorlds Extender for WebSphere Commerce, is to make integration easier and more affordable for Commerce customers that don't need a full-blown IBM CrossWorlds enterprise integration platform.
CrossWorlds is the company IBM acquired last fall that specialized in business-process automation. IBM retained the CrossWorlds branding for its business-process-oriented middleware, which features predefined integration templates organized around common business tasks, such as tracking an order.CrossWorlds Extender includes the same core technology as the enterprise version, but its deployment options are limited. It will tie WebSphere Commerce to a back-end source, such as a CRM or enterprise resource planning application – but only one source. Conversely, the enterprise version of CrossWorlds allows for multisystem integration.
Like its ascendant, CrossWorlds Extender makes use of prepackaged business-process templates that are aimed at reducing the burden of defining and coding integration points. More heavy-duty integration platforms – IBM's and those from competitors such as webMethods and Tibco Software – typically require users to engage consultants for the implementation process, says Steve Gatto, WebSphere Commerce integration manager. That's something IBM says it hopes to avoid requiring with the lighter-weight CrossWorlds Extender product.
Gatto estimates the new bundle will reduce initial implementation costs by 30 percent to 70 percent vs. a typical application integration project.
The software comes preconfigured to work with WebSphere Commerce. It's built on IBM's WebSphere Application Server and DB2 Universal Database. Because it shares the same core technology as the enterprise version of IBM CrossWorlds, customers can upgrade easily as their integration needs grow, Gatto says.
Application integration continually shows up on companies' to-do lists. According to an April release of Morgan Stanley's ongoing CIO Survey Series, application integration is the No. 3 priority for 2002, after security software and connecting to customers over the Internet. Yet according to Hurwitz Group, fewer than 35 percent of companies have fully installed integration products.
CrossWorlds Extender for WebSphere Commerce will be available in the third quarter. Pricing starts at US$150,000.
Optimize business processes faster with IBM Business Process Manager on Cloud.


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Carnival Prize-giving 2015
You are here:Home||News|Carnival 2015|Carnival Prize-giving 2015
Winners of prizes for Tobago Carnival 2015 competitions received their rewards in less than one month courtesy the Division of Community Development and Culture.
These were distributed at the Tobago Carnival 2015's Official Prize Giving Ceremony themed "An Evening of Excellence" held on Thursday 12th March 2015 at the Division's Main Office in Glen Road.
Welcome remarks were brought by Ms. Victoria Mitchell, Chairman of the Tobago Festivals Commission who paved the way for remarks from Councillor Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, Secretary of Community Development and Culture.
Secretary Angus shared that she has been questioned on numerous occasions as to the success of Tobago Carnival 2015 to which each time she answered a resounding yes. Dr. Angus rationalized that "Carnival in all its splendour cannot and should not be measured by one moment but the culmination of moments; it is not to be measured by a location but the sum total of the activities occurring throughout that morning; and certainly it is not to be measured by a day but the totality of the season".
Noting from the braving of the inclement weather at the Launch held in November 2014, Dr. Angus said that this was an indication of a bumper season which saw the birth of new partnerships and smashing of several records in unveiling the secrets of Tobago's Carnival.
The Secretary enlightened the crowd on the collaboration between the Division and 91.9 with their Street Tent programme which offered a platform for budding Tobago artistes to be heard on a national level. Collaboration was also seen with: the Magnificent Glow and Masters Calypso Tents to have calypsonians sing on Monday in Scarborough, NCBA and TCBA in creating a more effective mas route and with Pan Trinbago in creating a haven for Pan Lovers in lower Scarborough on Carnival Monday and Tuesday that avoided the competing sounds from music trucks.
In identifying the broken records, Secretary Tsoiafatt-Angus listed: eleven bands succeeded to the Panorama semi finals, appearance fees were paid to finalists at T.H.A. Pan Champs for the first time, $110,000.00 was distributed to Calypsonians who qualified for the Calypso semis at Skinner Park and Junior Calypso Monarch, two generations qualified to go to Trinidad as children Garvé Sandy and Shé Ann Cunningham both qualified for Junior finals alongside their parents who also qualified for semi-finals at Skinner park and in mas, "the undisputedly higher quality in creativity and expression was demonstrated through performance."
Congratulations were extended to: The Administrator and Staff of the Division of Community Development and Culture, the Tobago Carnival Committee 2015, The Commissioners and Staff of the Tobago Festivals Commission, The Windward CDC, Crown Point jouvert comittee, Pan Trinbago, T.U.C.O, NCBA, TCBA, Bandleaders, all participants and stakeholders.
Before closing, the Culture Secretary challenged all involved emphasizing that there is still work to do. She forecasted that the Carnival Committee would be meeting with stakeholders and special interest groups to improve for next year.
"I expect that those vocal about Scarborough will come out and collaborate on improving that product" Dr. Angus welcomed, highlighting that "at the end of the day it is all about becoming more beautiful with each step we take."
She closed by thanking all for their contribution to a successful Carnival 2k15 while looking forward eagerly to Carnival 2k16. Bringing the curtains down on what was indeed an evening of excellence, Chairman of the Tobago Carnival Committee Mr. Winston Gordon gave the Vote of Thanks.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Secretary Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, whom he described as a stickler for precision and for her support. Assemblyman Hilton Sandy who was present, received thanks for his significant contribution to Tobago's Carnival in the past.
Chairman Victoria Mitchell and her team at the Commission for their oversight management, Mr. Eric Powder and his staff, Mr. Julian Celestine and his Committee also came in for high praises. Former Assemblyman Wendell Berkley and Coordinator for Community Development Mrs. Ayanna Webster-Roy were also thanked for their contribution.
Gratitude was also extended to leaders of the special interest groups namely Pantrinbago, NCBA, TCBA, TUCO, Crown Point Carnival Personnel and Modern Mud. All persons who contributed significantly to Tobago Carnival 2015 and those who performed throughout the evening's proceedings also received warm thanks.
Tobago Festivals2015-05-18T00:21:28-04:00March 19th, 2015|Carnival 2015, News|


This blue dress is perfect for all occasions of everydays. Very soft and cosy top with long sleeves in knitwear, and embroirederd denim skirt. Soft ruffle in the neck line. Buttons to fasten in the back.
Girl is 1m20 and is wearing a size 4.
Girl is 120 cm and is wearing a size 4 years old dress.


Jake Gittes: Let me explain something to you, Walsh. This business requires a certain amount of finesse.
From the dark lighting to the clothing, Chinatown (1974), directed by the enigmatic Roman Polanski, is an ode back to an earlier kind of film: those film noir pieces of 30 or 40 years earlier. The mood for the film is set early on as the credits scroll down the screen in that subtle sepia tone to the tune of that mood-setting "late night bar" jazz. The score was done by Jerry Goldsmith who, in addition to having an excellent taste in first names, seamlessly weaves the events of the film together. Jerry (I think we can be on a first name basis) utilizes chilling piano and harp to build suspense. It's one of the greatest things about this movie: it's ability to effectively build suspense numerous times in a sort of intricately designed roller coaster.
The film features a young (long before sunglasses at the Lakers' games) Jack Nicholson, who is a perfect fit for the hard-hitting, rule-breaking private detective Jake Gittes. Gittes is cocky, and his arrogance gets him into trouble more than a handful of times. On one specific occasion, Gittes almost loses his nose by way of a knife wielding guard (Roman Polanski's cameo) after he hops the fence into a no trespassing area.
Chinatown is a fast film to say the least. By that I mean things happen so fast that you really have to pay attention. The confusion doesn't take long to begin either. In the beginning, Gittes is hired by a woman (who claims to be a Mrs. Mulwray) to see if her husband is cheating on her. Once Gittes has found evidence, it gets published in the newspaper, and it seems as though his job is done. This idea quickly dissolves when another woman (Faye Dunaway) shows up to his office with her lawyer claiming to be the real Mrs. Mulwray. And so begins the convoluted storyline which constantly makes you go from being sure you know what's going on, to being clueless with relative frequency. Underneath all the important events of the film, there is a repeated reference to "Chinatown" (possibly an inspiration for the title?). We find out that Gittes used to work in Chinatown and perhaps we can deduce that the location serves as a symbol representative of the fast-thinking and dangerous situations he encounters in the film (as he would have faced in Chinatown).
Eventually, the seemingly routine domestic case that Gittes originally attempts to solve turns into a curious scandal involving the water department. More specifically, LA is in the midst of a drought, yet the water department seems to be secretly siphoning off water (scandalous, huh? Don't be fooled by the simplicity of it, or my unnecessary sarcastic tone) Gittes knows that there is much more to the case than what he is being told, so he decides to do a little investigating on his own (much to the dismay of the water department, the police, and even Mrs. Mulwray). It's funny, just about every place Gittes goes snooping, he ends up being beaten to a pulp.
Chinatown takes plot twits and makes them twisted. You really have to hang on to every little detail of what everyone does and says to keep up with what is going on. Nothing is insignificant. Chinatown, as with most movies it seems, slowly reveals a love triangle (one you wont see coming). It's one of those moments where you go, "WHAT?!" And of course, Gittes sleeps with Mrs. Mulwray, although it is left to one's own devices as to whether he did it primarily to get information out of her or not. Mrs. Mulwray always speaks with a certain unstable tone. She gives the impression that every sentence coming out of her mouth has been processed to conceal the truth, and that she is most definitely hiding something (or perhaps everything).
The brilliance of Chinatown is that you may think it's going to be like every detective movie you've watched before, but it turns out to be something completely different. In many ways, the film doesn't make sense. When the movie ends, it leaves you wondering if you actually figured out what happened or if you need to watch it again. Even after I watched it again, I still wasn't really sure, which begs the question, "Is it supposed to make sense?" I do believe that after watching it a third time, and thinking about it, the answer is yes… or rather, it depends. I believe it is up to you to decide. Either way, whether you hung on to every detail and it all clicked for you, or you have no idea what happened, it is a movie you can appreciate. Chinatown is one of my favorite detective films, if that's what you want to call it.


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Adidas has "three lines" trademark cancelled
Adidas has lost its EU trademark of "three parallel equidistant stripes of identical width, applied on the product in any direction", which was registered in 2014 after the General Court of the EU ruled this mark was not "distinctive" enough.
Adidas first registered a variation of its three stripe logo back in 1949. In 2014 Adidas registered a figurative trademark which consisted of three equidistant parallel lines which could be applied on clothing, footwear and headgear in any direction ("the 2014 Trademark"). The rational behind this decision appears to be so that Adidas could expand its brand protection beyond the distinctive logos which it already had registered trademarks to protect.
However, following the registration of the 2014 Trademark it was challenged by Shoe Branding Europe BVBA ("Shoe Branding") who filed an application for a declaration of invalidity of the trademark on the grounds that it was devoid of distinctive Character. For context Shoe Branding is a Belgian footwear brand who has a 2 stripe logo and they have been involved in a long running dispute with Adidas since July 2009 when Adidas opposed their trademark application to place two stipes on its footwear on the basis that Shoe Branding's 2 stipe logo was "confusingly similar" to its own 3 stripe trademark.
Shoe Branding were initially successful and their 2 stripe logo was registered as a trademark. However, Adidas later appealed the decision to the European Union General Court which overturned the original decision. Shoe Branding appealed this decision to the Court of Justice of the European Union who upheld the decision of the European Union General Court. It was during these ongoing proceedings that Shoe Branding issues a separate claim to the European Union Intellectual Property Office ("EUIPO") to have the 2014 Trademark declared invalid.
EUIPO found against Adidas as they stated that the 2014 Trademark lacked distinctive character and so the 2014 Trademark should be cancelled. Adidas appealed this decision in the first instance to EUIPO and latterly to the European Union General Court arguing that the 2014 Trademark had acquired distinctive character through use. On each occasion Adidas were unsuccessful and so as matters stand the 2014 Trademark has been cancelled. However, it should be noted that Adidas has a number of other registered trademarks upon which it can rely.
Although it should be noted that this may not be the end of the case as Adidas may still appeal to the highest court in the EU system being the Court of Justice of the European Union.
What this whole saga demonstrates is that owners of trademarks should be careful when considering whether or not to take enforcement action against other companies as there is a risk that your opponent may apply to have your trademark declared invalid where it is too generic and devoid of distinctive character. This is true in this case even where the mark was arguably synonymous with the Adidas brand. It is therefore often advisable to reach an out of court settlement at an early stage in trademark disputes to ensure that your registered trademark does not come under attack particularly if it lacks distinction.
This blog was written by: Sam Pepper


Purchase rotors/pads of choice when shopping take heed to this quote about vented/slotted rotors (tires matter). I choose a set from rockauto for a steal powerstop K4077 w/z16 ceramic pads.
"BUT MY BUDDY PUT BREMBOS ON HIS WRX WITH WTFBBQ ALLOY PADS, SUPERBUTTSEKS INCREDITAINIUM LINES AND CHUCK NORRIS BRAND FLUID AND IT STOPS WAY HARDER."
No, it doesn't. It has a lot more INITIAL BITE.
95% of people will mistake initial bite and/or decreased pedal travel, for the ability to stop shorter.
A locked tire is a locked tire. And while big brakes can lock a tire without having to push the pedal as hard, stock brakes can still lock the tires instantly if you nail the pedal.	Therefor, stopping distance and rate of slowing down, is unchanged.
Disclaimers: I did not use torque wrench, use one. I did not use loctite suggested for safety. Wear gloves I don't. Paint on braking surface may or may not harm new pads up to you.
1) Lift up the vehicle, and remove the front/rear wheels. OEM lugs are 19mm. I used cross member/rear diff to jack + rocker pinch points for stands.
3) I suggest work one wheel at a time in case you forget how things go back together especially important with drum brakes!
Start with fronts remove 14mm caliper body bolts. These bolts should remove easily with 3/8" ratchet, the caliper guide pin is keyed to the caliper body so it "shouldn't" spin. Rust changes everything.
4) Open the brake fluid reservoir cap/remove screen. Remove caliper body, some manual compression may be required to loosen. With caliper body removed use a zip tie to hang body from strut/spring.
5) At this point compress the pistons, image shows fully returned pistons. Use channel locks or c clamp with wood or old brake pad. Make sure as you clamp the piston boot is not damaged/folds incorrectly. Once complete check for excess fluid level in reservoir as paint and brake fluid do not get along.
6) Remove old brake pads if not already done. If not choosing to replace rotors be careful to not hurt rotor surface when prying pads loose from pad clip/caliper bracket. Remove pad clips.
7) Remove caliper support. Two 17mm bolts attached to knuckle. Here I removed the lower strut mount bolt for better access to the top caliper support bolt. DO NOT remove the top strut bolt it is for camber adjustment.
8) Remove rotor. Soak center hub with PB. Use M8 - 1.25 x 20mm grade 8 in threaded holes of rotor body. Some light persuasion on the rotor with a sledge can help bust up rust, heat/PB as well, hit at your own risk damaging hub bearings can occur. Only hit on the flat section adjacent to the braking surface if force is required.
9) Reassemble. Install rotor. Install caliper support torque value: 80 N·m (8.2 kgf-m, 59 ft-lb). Replace lower strut bolt if removed torque value:155 N·m (15.8 kgf-m, 114.3 ft-lb).
10) Install new pad clips in caliper support. I took a extra step and bent over all the ears on the clips to make sure they did not walk. A punch works well.
11) Install brake pads. Ensure shims are attached. Apply disk quite if preferred. Inner pad always has the indicator attached.
12) Grease caliper piston boots if preferred. Inspect/clean/grease caliper guide pin bolts.
13) Install Caliper Body. Ensure shims do not fall off of brake pad. Tighten 14mm bolts torque value: 27 N·m (2.8 kgf-m, 19.9 ft-lb).
14) Repeat procedure for other side front. Now may be a good time to use white out on bolt heads to ensure they are not loosening after install. It is for me at least as I do not take the time to pull the torque wrench out I just tighten to feel.
15) Remove 14mm caliper body bolts. Rear caliper body bolts may require the use of a wrench on the caliper guide pin to prevent spinning, I believe it is a 19mm. Remove caliper body, again some manual compression may be required to help body come off. Hang Caliper body from strut/spring with zip tie.
16) Compress piston to fully returned using same method as front calipers. Remember to check fluid level in reservoir for overflow situation. Remove excess fluid using same method as front.
17) Remove pads and pad clips.
18) Remove caliper support 14mm bolts. Remove caliper support.
19) Remove rear rotor/drum. Again use the same M8 bolts used in front removal. Soak hub with PB. Light persuasion may be needed as well as heat use same process as front. Unique to rear is inner brake shoes the adjuster must be accessed, and backed off to relieve brake shoes from drum. Remove black rubber plug. Rotate rotor so access hole is centered in lowest possible position. Take flat head screw driver and rotate adjustment wheel up or counter clockwise to loosen.
20) At this point I did not replace the e brake shoes as they still had meat (4 to 5mm) on them and the closest available replacements where in Boston 1.5 hours away. Here is the factory manual procedure for those that are interested.
22) Install caliper support bracket two 14mm bolts torque value: 66 N·m (6.7 kgf-m, 48.7 ft-lb).
23) Install pad clips. Bend tabs if preferred. Install brake pads. Inner pad always has the indicator. Apply brake quite to pad shims if preferred.
24) Lubricate rear caliper piston boot if preferred. Clean, inspect, grease caliper guide pins as done in front procedure.
25) Install rear caliper body. Tighten 14mm bolts, again a wrench may be required to keep guide pin from spinning. Torque value: 27 N·m (2.8 kgf-m, 19.9 ft-lb).
26) Adjust e brake shoes, rotate adjuster to nearest point where drum has drag, back off slightly and your good. This is not a Subaru procedure, just one that has worked well for me in the past.
27) Do a final fluid level check remove fluid if needed. Replace brake fluid reservoir cap.
28) At this point if preferred use white out on bolt heads to ensure they do not loosen after installation.
29) Install wheels. Lower car from jack stands. Torque lugs nuts.
30) Start vehicle and pump pedal a few times until it is hard. If you do not do this the first time you back out of the garage and hit the brakes the car will not stop and well you know what happens next :furious:.
Now Drive! in my case powerstop had a specific break in procedure that activates the resin in the pads and breaks in the new rotor. Worked well. Paint removed from braking surface after just a few stops, I had done this before so I knew it worked.
Hope this helps, a fairly detailed DIY for a simple procedure but figured as a new member I would contribute what I can, it appears that there is not much specific how-to for GH chassis WRX's so hopefully more to come $ pending.
Good write up. The white out on the bolt heads is a good idea, I lost a bolt from a front caliper after my brake job, not sure how.
FYI if any of the caliper body bolts break like mine, NAPA had the cheapest replacement guide pin kit at $12.50.
White out works great! except I always loose it. Best insurance when I am to lazy to use torque wrench. I am a big fan of syringes to for fluids being a nurse has its benfits, IV line works well for bleeding brakes too!
When I did mine all my pins, sliders, hardware came from there. Fitment was correct and as you said, cheap.
Rear brake shoes typically last at least 150k miles on these car.
Nice write up. Should add that this is the same basic method to do all subaru brakes.
Good call, I'll do some brake type research and edit post at some point for optional lines/models this works for.
Very nice post. On your picture "Rear indicator and pad clips tabs" that tab on the back of the pad, is that pad for the left or right rear. My kit came with only one brake pad with the tab off the rear of the pad. I'm not sure of it's function if only intended to be on one side only?
hey there my original login doesn't work any more so had to create a new user. So rear pad sets sometimes come with 1 sometimes come with 2 wear indicators. if only 1 than put it on either driver or passenger. Manufactures just assume you will have even pad wear to get away with only 1 indicator.
Ryan, pm me and I can reset your password for your regular login name.


text:
How a career criminal got himself arrested so he could take phones into jail
Daniel Fry, aged 33, shouted to store staff that he was shoplifting
Fry ended up in Exeter Prison. File picture (Image: File picture)
Get the best and latest crime stories with our Court Insider newsletter
A career criminal got himself arrested so he could smuggle two mobile phones into prison, a court heard.
Homeless Daniel Fry, aged 33, went into a store and shouted out that he was shoplifting in a bid to get locked up.
He was found to be holding two Samsung handsets – which he was trying to take into prison, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
Woman cut free from car after serious crash involving van on busy Plymouth road
He has spent two and a half months in custody, the equivalent of a five-month prison sentence.
Judge Lawrie added that Fry had received several jail terms, but no community order for the last decade.
He released Fry on bail for probation to prepare a report until October 27.
The former legal high Spice
The judge said he was releasing Fry solely because his sister had just died in Torquay.
Fry, who has been living in a tent, pleaded guilty to attempting to bring a prohibited item into prison on August 4.
He also admitted possession of the Class B drugs cannabis and the former legal high Spice on the same day.
Royal Mail staff vote for strike which could cause havoc over Christmas
Fry was released on condition he stay at a probation hostel on a curfew between 7pm to 7am each night. He must attend the drug counselling service Harbour five days a week.
The chronic drug user, who has clocked up more than 60 offences, was jailed for eight months by city magistrates earlier this year.
Plymouth Crown Court (Image: File image)
Serial sneak thief Fry stole a purse and mobile phone from the Cancer Research UK shop.
He also crept into an office at a Premier Store looking for something to steal – less than two weeks after he was released from his previous prison sentence.
Fry snatched £160 from a woman in Ernesettle post office last December. He shrugged off his victim so that she fell into a lottery stand, hurting her arm and finger.
Body of dog found in search for missing Springer Spaniel last seen on tragic capsized trawler
Fry struck only six days after he was released from his previous sentence. He was jailed for six months in September 2016 for stealing mobile phones and other valuables.
Ernesettle


text:
import { TestBed, ComponentFixture } from '@angular/core/testing';
import { Knob, KnobModule } from './knob';
import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';

describe('Knob', () => {

	let tag: Knob;
	let fixture: ComponentFixture<Knob>;

	beforeEach(() => {
		TestBed.configureTestingModule({
			imports: [
				NoopAnimationsModule
			],
			declarations: [
				KnobModule
			]
		});

		fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Knob);
		tag = fixture.componentInstance;
	});
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Latest items for Australia
"The law prohibits violence against women, including domestic abuse" (11).
Variables: FSCB-PRACTICE-1, FSCB-LAW-1
"There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization" (12).
Variables: GP-DATA-3
"Police received training in responding to domestic violence. Federal, state, and territorial governments collaborated on the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-22, the first effort to coordinate action at all levels of government to reduce violence against women" (12).
"Voters elected the first indigenous woman to the House of Representatives in 2016 and the first ChineseAustralian woman to the House of Representatives in the May elections" (10).
"The law requires organizations with 100 or more employees to establish a workplace program to remove barriers to women entering and advancing in their organization" (20).
"No laws limit participation of women or members of minorities in the political process" (9).
Variables: LO-LAW-1
"The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, including under laws related to... property" (12).
"The law prohibits citizens and residents from engaging in, facilitating, or benefiting from sexual activity with children overseas who are younger than age 16 and provides for a maximum sentence of 17 years' imprisonment for violations. The government continued its awareness campaign to deter child sex tourism through distribution of pamphlets to citizens and residents traveling overseas" (13).
Variables: VOTE-PRACTICE-1
"No laws limit participation of women or members of minorities in the political process, and they did participate" (9).
"In August the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria upheld [Roman Catholic Cardinal George] Pell's December 2018 conviction on five counts of child sexual abuse of two boys in the 1990" (13).
"According to a 2016 survey, women were nearly three times more likely to have experienced partner violence than men, with approximately one in six women (17 percent) and one in 16 men (6 percent) having experienced partner violence since the age of 15" (11). "[I]ndigenous peoples and communities continued to have... high incidences of domestic and family violence" (15-16).
"The government effectively enforced applicable labor laws and convicted four defendants in one case involving forced labor" (18).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-1, LRCM-PRACTICE-1
"The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape, and the government enforced the law effectively" (11).
Variables: AOM-DATA-2
Two persons younger than age 18 may not marry each other; reports of marriages involving a person younger than age 18 were rare. The government reported an increase in the number of forced marriage investigations, but the practice remained rare" (13).
"The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape" (11).
"All states and territories criminalize the possession, production, and distribution of child pornography. Maximum penalties for these offenses range from four to 21 years' imprisonment. Federal laws criminalize using a 'carriage service' (for example, the internet) for the purpose of possessing, producing, and supplying child pornography. The maximum penalty for these offenses is 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of A$275,000 ($186,000), or both" (14). "As noted by the International Labor Organization, the use, procuring or offering of a child age 16 and 17 for the production of pornography or pornographic performances is not prohibited in New South Wales. In Queensland it remains unclear whether children ages 16 and 17 can...more
Variables: LDS-PRACTICE-2
"In one case, in April a court convicted a couple of bringing a Fijian woman to the country, withholding her passport, and forcing her to work as a maid in their Brisbane home between 2008 and 2016" (18-19). "There were reports some domestic workers employed by foreign diplomats faced conditions indicative of forced labor" (19).
"The legal minimum age of marriage is 18 for both boys and girls. Persons age 16 to 18 may apply to a judge or magistrate for an order authorizing marriage to a person who has attained 18 years; the marriage of the minor also requires parental or guardian consent. Two persons younger than age 18 may not marry each other" (13).
"The law provides a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment for commercial sexual exploitation of children and was effectively enforced" (13).
"The law prohibits violence against women, including domestic abuse, and the government enforced the law" (11). "State and territorial child protection agencies investigate and initiate prosecutions of persons for child neglect or abuse. All states and territories have laws or guidelines that require members of certain designated professions to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The federal government's role in the prevention o child abuse includes funding for research, carrying out education campaigns, developing action plans against commercial exploitation of children, and funding community-based parenting programs" (12). "In 2017 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse released its final recommendations on what institutions and governments should do...more
Variables: CLCC-LAW-1
"Children are citizens if at least one parent is a citizen or permanent resident at the time of the child's birth" (12).
"The laws of individual states and territories provide the penalties for domestic violence. In the largest jurisdiction, New South Wales, domestic violence offenses cover acts of personal violence (such as stalking, intimidation, or strangulation) committed against a person with whom the offender has (or had) a domestic relationship. For domestic violence offenses, courts must impose a full-time prison sentence unless a valid exception applies. In the case of strangulation, an offense associated with domestic violence, the maximum penalty is five years' imprisonment" (11).
"The laws of individual states and territories provide the penalties for rape. Maximum penalties range from 12 years' to life imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction and aggravating factors" (11)."Penalties for statutory rape vary across jurisdictions. Defenses include reasonable grounds for believing the alleged victim was older than the legal age of consent and situations in which the two persons are close in age" (13).
Variables: IIP-LAW-2
"The law prohibits sexual harassment. Complaints of sexual harassment can lead to criminal proceedings or disciplinary action against the defendant and compensation claims by the plaintiff... The penalties vary across states and territories" (12).
Variables: UVAW-PRACTICE-1
"Violence against women remained a problem, particularly in indigenous communities. Indigenous women were 32 times as likely to be hospitalized due to family violence as non-Indigenous women, according to a 2018 report" (11).
"Federal and state government programs provide support for victims, including funding for numerous women's shelters. Police received training in responding to domestic violence" (11-12).
Australia domestic violence payment
"One in six women experiences partner violence in Australia, compared to one in 17 men, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. One in six women and one in ten men also experience abuse before the age of 15" (para 4-5).
Variables: SEGI-PRACTICE-1
"Minister for Women's Safety Anne Ruston said the payments will help address the financial barriers that may stop women leaving violent relationships. 'We know that financial hardship as well as economic abuse, which may involve interfering with work or controlling or withholding money, reduces women's ability to acquire and use money and makes it difficult to leave violent relationships,' she said in a statement on Sunday" (para 8-9).
Variables: MURDER-DATA-1
"It comes days after pregnant mother-of-two Michelle Darragh, 32, was found dead inside a suburban Melbourne home, with her former partner taken to hospital under police guard. Earlier this month, another pregnant woman, Janet Dweh, a 36-year-old refugee from Liberia, was found dead inside her home in Perth's northern suburbs" (para 15-16). "The Red Heart Campaign, which 'tracks every known Australian woman and child killed as a result of murder, manslaughter or neglect', estimates 42 women have allegedly been killed due to violence in Australia this year" (para 17).


text:
Weight scale for atoms could map 'island of stability'
Technology 10 February 2010
By Rachel Courtland
The mass of an atom heavier than uranium has been measured for the first time
(Image: bjearwicke/stock.xchng)
Hunting for the universe's heaviest atoms just got a little easier, thanks to a new technique that directly measures the mass of elements heavier than uranium. The method could help find an "island" of unusually stable elements that is thought to extend beyond the current end of the periodic table.
Uranium, which contains 92 protons, is the heaviest element known to occur in nature. But researchers have synthesised a number of even heftier elements, with as many as 118 protons.
These extreme atoms are quite short-lived – many fall apart just milliseconds after they are created. But nuclear theorists suspect that a class of 'super-heavy' atoms, boasting the right combination of protons and neutrons, could have lifetimes of decades or longer (see Hunting the biggest atoms in the universe).
Elements in this so-called island of stability could act as powerful nuclear fuel for future fission-propelled space missions. They might also be exhibit useful new chemical properties. Element 114, for example, has shown hints that it behaves like a gas at room temperature even though it should be a member of the lead family on the periodic table.
But no one knows where the island of stability lies; some models predict it is centred on atoms with 114 protons, while others put it near atoms with 120 or 126 protons.
The uncertainty arises because it is not clear how strongly the nuclei of super-heavy atoms are bound together, and thus how stable they are. Determining this 'binding energy' has been difficult because super-heavy atoms are short-lived; experimentalists have had to estimate it by looking at the atoms produced when a super-heavy atom breaks apart.
Now a team led by Michael Block of the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany has demonstrated a direct way of measuring the mass of particles heavier than uranium.
Binding energy
Because mass and energy are equivalent, as described by Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, determining the mass of an atom indicates how strongly its nucleus is bound together.
To make the mass measurement, the team used a device called a Penning trap, which employs electric and magnetic fields to confine atoms.
The trap was used to weigh atoms of nobelium, an element that contains 102 protons, 10 more than uranium. Like other 'artificial' elements, the nobelium atoms were created by colliding a stream of lighter atoms with a target.
The key advance was finding a way to slow down the nobelium atoms before they entered the trap – a feat the team accomplished by first injecting the atoms into a chamber filled with helium gas.
Hard to produce
Measuring the mass of other elements could help theorists begin to differentiate between competing models for the structure of super-heavy nuclei. "It will [give us] important experimental evidence that can be used to confront nuclear structure theories," says Walter Loveland of Oregon State University in Corvallis, who was not associated with the study.
"There's nothing in the method that would prevent you from moving significantly up the periodic table," he says. But in practice, it will likely be difficult to do with the heaviest atoms because they are so hard to synthesise in the first place. For example, nobelium atoms can be created at the rate of one per second by shooting other atoms at a target, but super-heavy elements, atoms with 104 or more protons, are currently produced at the rate of one per week, if that.
If the technique can be extended to super-heavy elements, it could eventually help identify inhabitants of the island of stability when they are created.
These atoms would be produced in such small quantities and would decay so slowly that they would be extraordinarily hard to detect by their decay products alone. "We need another way to identify them," Block told New Scientist. "The mass in principle can be considered as unique as a fingerprint."
Journal reference: Nature (vol 463, p 785)


text:
Snapchat Raising A New Round From KPCB At A $10B Valuation
The rumors are flying around vanishing messaging app Snapchat, both on and off Secret. These rumors hold that Microsoft and Snapchat are in acquisition talks, though we can't really grok why they would be, other than that the situation would make a great plot point in the inevitable Snapchat movie ("The Sexting Network"?).
According to people familiar with Microsoft, there is little chance of these talks going through, or if they are even happening. And maybe they were just chatting about the Windows Phone?
We also keep hearing the company is in the process of raising another round of funding. According to one source, the raise will be an over-$100 million Series D to follow the $50 million Series C led by Coatue Management last fall. The new round would value the company at $10 billion, according to our sources.
Per reports, one of the high-profile investors looking at the deal was Alibaba, but those talks fizzled out. Corroborating these reports, Snapchat filed a document earlier this month authorizing a sale of 17.4 million of its shares, at a fraction of a cent.
We are hearing that the Snapchat quest for more cash is ongoing, and that the L.A.-based company has been talking to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in addition to New York-based hedge funds like General Atlantic and Tiger Global.
[Update: We've subsequently heard, and the WSJ is reporting, that Kleiner has agreed to invest. The WSJ is reporting a $20 million raise. Snapchat's comment: "The valuation of our business and our capital requirements are the least exciting aspects of supporting the Snapchat community. We have no further comment at this time."]
Snapchat most likely needs the money to launch and bolster Snapchat Discovery and other monetization efforts — perhaps a Snapchat ad network?
According to the WSJ, Snapchat Discovery is a media play that would position ads against ephemeral content like news and video clips. MailOnline, the web version of Daily Mail, has been outed as a Snapchat Discovery partner, and viral behemoth BuzzFeed, during its last funding announcement, made brief mention of one day being able to Snapchat its content.
Disclosure: My significant other works at General Catalyst, an early investor in Snapchat.


text:
Guide to Memorial Day Weekend 2020 in St. Louis: Festivals, Events, and Things to Do
United States Missouri St. Louis
All St. Louis
David O'Brien is a St. Louis native journalist and travel writer. His work has appeared in many local and national publications, including St. Louis Small Business Monthly and the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and the chance to remember those who have served our country. In 2020, Memorial Day is May 25. The St. Louis area has plenty of festivals and performances on Memorial Day weekend, but also parades and military services to honor our veterans.
Food Trucks at Grant's Farm
Deborah O'Brien
Built by famed army general Ulysses S. Grant, Grant's Farm is now a fun attraction home to exotic animals, a garden, and free-flowing domestic brews from Anheuser Busch.
Memorial Day marks the arrival of local food trucks serving up entrees, snacks, and sweets in the Tiergarten. You can also expect live music, carousel rides, and other family-friendly activities throughout the weekend.
Mississippi Nights Festival
Barry Winiker/Getty Images
Laclede's Landing hosted an incredible new event during Memorial Day weekend in 2017 called The Mississippi Nights Festival. The festival featured live music performed by dozens of local artists, and many of the concerts were free.
Since that first event was such a success, The Landing decided to make this an annual event in St. Louis each Memorial Day weekend to come. There was a great celebration in 2019, and 2020 promises to be just as fun.
St. Louis County Greek Festival
The St. Louis County Greek Festival, held in the St. Louis suburb of Town and Country, is a Memorial Day tradition for many area families. Thousands of visitors attend the four-day festival, which features Greek music, dancing, gifts, and plenty of authentic Greek food.
The festival runs Friday night through Monday of Memorial Day weekend at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church at 1755 Des Peres Road in Town and Country. The best part? Admission and parking are both free.
Missouri River Irish Fest
Memorial Day weekend at Frontier Park in St. Charles takes on an Irish twist. Don something green then watch the impressive Celtic dancers, jam to the live Irish music, or sample some traditional Irish food and drinks.
There's also a Kids Village filled with art, crafts and other children's activities, so you bring the whole family. This festival is open to the public and admission is no charge. It bills itself as the largest free Irish event in the Midwest.
Continue to 5 of 14 below.
Spring to Dance Festival
Dance St. Louis
Thirty dance companies from around the country perform during a three-day festival dedicated to dance at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.
This annual event, now in its 12th year, brings in top dancers showing off talents in everything from ballet and hip-hop to modern and jazz. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance.
Schlafly's Art Outside: An Alternative Art Fair
Schlafly Beer
Schlafly's Art Outside is a three-day celebration of local artists at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. The festival features the works of St. Louis' best alternative artists, as well as live music, food, and, naturally, plenty of Schlafly beer on tap.
The festival runs from Friday through Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and is a free event.
Summer Zoo Weekends
St.Louis Zoo
Memorial Day means the start of extended weekend hours at the St. Louis Zoo, as well as the kickoff of the Jungle Boogie Friday Night Concert Series.
Featuring a very wide range of music genres, including rock, disco, soul, and even a Beatles' cover band, this concert series runs all summer long and is free for guests of the zoo.
Riverside Flea Market
GraftonLoading Dock
Bargain hunters can look for deals at the Grafton Riverside Flea Market, which is held each weekend from April to October. But one of the most popular times to visit the market is during Memorial Day Weekend. Dozens of vendors will be selling antiques, glassware, tools, furniture, and more along Front Street.
Eckert's Memorial Day Festival
Eckerts
Eckert's Orchards in Belleville, a 175-year-old family-run farm, celebrates Memorial Day with a three-day festival complete with live music and food. There is plenty of fun to be had for the kids at this one-day event, including pony rides, a petting farm, carnival rides, and inflatables. There's also a summer concert series that kicks off on Memorial Day Weekend.
Admission to picking fields costs one dollar per person, but parking is free. You can also bring your dog here, as long as he/she is on a leash.
St. Louis African Arts Festival
St.Louis African Arts Festival
The St. Louis African Arts Festival is held at the historic World's Fair Pavilion in beautiful Forest Park. The three-day celebration includes live music and entertainment, an African marketplace, and a food court.
There's also a children's village with crafts and other art-themed activities for the kids. Admission to the entire festival is free.
Visit Alton
As Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to the summer season, it's time to get your swimming on. You can expect most local water parks and public pools to open on the Saturday prior Memorial Day.
So, don't miss your first chance to enjoy a day in the water at Raging Rivers, Hurricane Harbor, or any of the community pools across the area.
Alton Memorial Day Parade
Though it may be a bit of a drive (it's about 22 miles from downtown St. Louis) the Memorial Day Parade in Alton, Illinois, is definitely worth the trip.
This parade is the oldest consecutive running Memorial Day parade in the nation, dating all the way back to 1868. The parade honors American veterans and celebrates the history of this small Mississippi River town. The parade route begins at the intersection of College and Washington Avenues before coursing throughout the town.
Continue to 13 of 14 below.
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Bill Greenblatt / Getty Images
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is an impressive sight any day of the year, but even more so on Memorial Day. Each year, local boy scouts place small flags at each of the nearly 190,000 headstones on the cemetery grounds. There is also a special service at 10 a.m., in the cemetery chapel honoring all those who have served.
Compton Heights Concert Band Performance
Jim Sparks/
Compton Heights Concert Band
The Compton Heights Concert Band has been performing free concerts in St. Louis since 1976. The band's summer season kicks off every year with a Memorial Day Concert in Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis.
Everyone is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair and gather around the bandstand for an afternoon of patriotic music.
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Recreational Soccer is for players new to the sport and returning players. Recreational soccer starts with programs for players 4 years old and run through all age groups up to under 19 years old.
Our programs run year-round by season. At the younger ages, we have programs where teams play just at their local soccer fields often referred to as "in-house" soccer. This is where teams play other teams that are part of our club, your friends and neighbors. At the older ages, the teams will play home games at our fields and away games at other recreational soccer clubs nearby.
During the recreational soccer season teams typically practice just once or twice a week and are coached by a volunteer who is a parent. There are also opportunities to play in soccer tournaments, in fact, we have one tournament dedicated to recreational soccer teams.
Recreational Soccer is community based and we run programs out of all our major field complexes. To find out about the program close to you check out the options!


text:
Spirits on Sproat Halloween display returns in one month
Eager for some good news in 2021? Perk up, Halloween fans: Your favorite Halloween house will reopen for a new season in only one month, on Friday, Oct. 1.
For Spirits on Sproat's 18th season, we've decided to focus mostly on monstrous animatronics--you know, the kind that move, talk, growl, howl, laugh maniacally, and give you nightmares. Check out several new animated figures we're adding this year, which will bring our total number of props to nearly 100 (!). And while you're here, don't forget to be on the lookout for Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees creeping around.
Our 2021 schedule, which can be viewed here, calls for us to be open 19 days in October (weather permitting). Take time out next month--and a few minutes away from possible White Sox playoff games (go Sox!)--to come visit our expanded display (featured twice on Svengoolie's TV show), which is shaping up to be our biggest and best ever.
Please bring a mask, just in case. Depending on the COVID numbers at the time, and local rules/guidelines, we may require all Spirits on Sproat visitors to wear a mask to prevent spread of the coronavirus, as we did last year. (Thanks for being such good sports about that in 2020.)
It's time to get your Halloween on! See you next month...
It's alive (almost)! Spirits on Sproat opens Friday
Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn expands ...
Spirits on Sproat Halloween display returns in one...