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No Copying From First High-def Players
By cdanteek, March 22, 2006 in General Chat
The first HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc players will ship soon--without any support for consumer copying.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124961,00.asp
Melissa J. Perenson, PC World
Imagine Olympic skaters lined up at the starting line, but the ice ahead of them isn't ready for the race--not a pretty sight. Yet backers of Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, the two high-definition optical disc formats poised to succeed DVD, are in a similar situation. And consumers are in even worse shape. If they want to enjoy any of the cool, futuristic copying and sharing features that the next-generation formats were expected to support, they still have to wait.
Vendors have been chomping at the bit to release players for prerecorded high-definition content in both formats. But they've been forced to change their product launch plans because of delays in finalizing the content protection specification that both formats will use--and which neither format's proponents control.
Welcome to the world of next-generation DVD. PR wars, misinformation (no, these players won't track what you're watching via an Internet connection), and repeated delays (some in the industry recall when AACS was supposed to be finished by December 2004) have created a messy state of affairs that's only going to get more complicated when products arrive this spring.
AACS: The Interim Solution
After the apparent ease with which the Content Scrambling System copy protection on standard-definition DVD was broken years back, it's not at all surprising that Hollywood and the technology community would want to take their time to work out the details on the Advanced Access Content System and get it right from the get-go.
However, some of those details just weren't ready in time for consumer electronic companies' product release schedules. In fact, Toshiba--which later this month expects its first HD-DVD players to be the first next-generation products on store shelves--was manufacturing the players before the interim AACS spec was reached. (The company expected to add whatever updates were necessary via firmware before the products shipped.)
To accommodate Toshiba and other companies that wanted to start shipping their high-def products, the AACS Licensing Association came up with a somewhat bizarre solution: It released an interim spec that enables Hollywood studios to securely encode and distribute their content and supports playback of that content on players. But the interim version of AACS has limitations, most conspicuously the lack of support for managed copy. "Managed copy" is industry jargon for the technology that lets content providers offer legal free or fee-based ways for you to move content around on a home server, make a physical copy of content for backup purposes, or transfer it to another device such as a portable media player.
"A player that's licensed under the interim agreement will not be able to do managed copy," states Richard Doherty, spokesperson for the AACS Licensing Association. Although Doherty declined to go into detail about the outstanding issues, he did say that they concern how managed copy will be implemented (and what it will, and will not, allow), and not the actual technology. Technologically speaking, the spec is done, which means it is plausible that "a manufacturer can implement managed copy [but not turn it on], and then enable it in any number of ways down the road," says Doherty.
However, copy support won't be forthcoming for the first round of players. Neither Toshiba's $499 HD-A1 nor its $799 HD-XA1 are firmware upgradeable to support managed copy--in spite of the fact that these units have front-mounted USB ports for some undefined future expansion. Ditto for Pioneer's $1800 Elite BDP-HD1 and Samsung's $1000 BD-1000, due out in June and May, respectively.
No Problem With Media
Strangely enough, the interim AACS spec won't cripple first-generation prerecorded HD-DVD or Blu-ray Disc media. Says Doherty: "It is our intent to avoid any kind of legacy problem with discs. There are no issues on the content side. Prepping a disc to offer managed copy is ready to go now."
What will consumers experience when they play a disc that offers managed copy options in a device that doesn't support them? Those options could be grayed out or hidden when the disc is placed into the device.
"One of the challenges in AACS is in coming to an agreement among all of the participating bodies and organizations," admits Doherty. "We expect AACS to carry an obligation for managed copy under the final agreement. But we are still working out the policies for that."
The AACS Licensing Association has a lot of heavy hitters to please: Its founding members are IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Brothers.
The "obligation" Doherty mentions refers to ongoing statements by HD-DVD backers that the format would require managed copy features, implying at least some minimum support for consumer copying. The Blu-ray Disc Association has indicated that its format will support managed copy as well.
In both formats, the basic managed copy policies will be handled by AACS. Blu-ray Disc has two added layers of copy protection--BD Plus and ROM Mark--but neither should directly affect the format's ability to support managed copy, says Blu-ray Disc Association representative Andy Parsons.
Early Buyers Beware
The AACS Licensing Association's logic in releasing the interim license is simple. "We expected the first early players to be basic players," explains Doherty. "And we didn't want to slow down the roll out of those devices."
But since the first players won't support managed copying, the full promise of the AACS security standard won't be available to early adopters who buy one of these devices to complement a high-definition TV.
Perhaps none of this will matter to some prospective buyers of high-def players. If you've never contemplated moving content via USB to a portable device or using your home network to transfer a movie to a server so you can play it on any networked set in your home, the lack of managed content support probably won't affect you.
More to the point, while both of the Toshiba players as well as the Pioneer will have Ethernet ports, the networking in these devices wouldn't allow you to transfer content over a network even if the copy protection technology did. The Toshiba unit's Ethernet is designed for accessing the Internet to download content, while the Pioneer's network support is strictly for streaming content from a home network to the device, not vice-versa.
The Player's the Thing
Maybe the simple ability to play high-def content will be enough--especially if you own a huge display, or plan to. I saw a preview of high-definition content during Toshiba's recent HD-DVD road show stop in Sunnyvale, California, which highlighted the HD-XA1. The content certainly looked impressive--particularly on the $5000 72-inch Toshiba DLP rear-projection set used in the demonstration.
No full-length movies were available, but we saw trailers for Universal's King Kong and Warner's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, among others; the images, not surprisingly, had depth and looked quite vibrant. I was even more impressed by the non-studio-supplied example of high-def MPEG-4-AVC-encoded content: Its image quality was distinctly sharper and more detailed than that of standard-definition content. Tina Tuccillo, vice president of marketing communications for Toshiba, says the company expects to sell 30,000 HD-DVD players in the first three months after they ship. For comparison, note that by the end of 1997 (the year that DVD first appeared) an estimated 200,000 players were sold--but there wasn't a format war back then.
If you're ready to take the plunge into the coming world of prepackaged high-definition entertainment, you'll be able to do so soon. "By the end of March, we will have both hardware and software on the streets and ready to go," promises HD-DVD promotion group representative Mark Knox.
Just don't count on buying the Star Wars movies, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and all three installments of The Terminator to play on either an HD-DVD or a Blu-ray device. Thanks to the ongoing format war, these blockbusters will not all be available in either of the two formats


CHARLES de GAULLE. World War II-era semi-glossy printed flyer, 6.7 x 8.9. The front of the flyer is a call to arms against the German invasion, bearing a printed signature of de Gaulle. The reverse side, pictured in the accompanying scan, is a chest-up portrait of de Gaulle in uniform, boldly signed in later years in black ink. Fine condition, with very mild handling bends and a small tear in the left border that do not substantially detract from overall appearance.


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Home » Lifestyle News » Young Indigenous people on drugs in BC dying at alarmingly high rate
Young Indigenous people on drugs in BC dying at alarmingly high rate
News Agencies | Updated on: 6 November 2017, 12:22 IST
(ANI)
As per a research, Indigenous young women in British Columbia die almost twice as often as compared to men because of their drug use.
"This study shows that young Indigenous people in BC who use drugs are dying at an alarmingly high rate, especially young women, who die almost twice as often as young men," says Mary Teegee, Executive Director of Child & Family Services at Carrier Sekani Family Services and Chair of The Cedar Project Partnership. "These deaths are catastrophic for our families and for our communities."
A team of researchers, including Indigenous leaders and Elders who are part of The Cedar Project Partnership, looked at data on 610 young Indigenous people aged 14-30 years who used drugs in Vancouver and Prince George, BC, on Coast Salish and Lheidli T'enneh territories, respectively. Forty young people died between 2003 and 2014, and deaths of young women were almost double that of men.
The leading causes of death were overdose (38%), illness (28%) and suicide (12%). Among young people who died from suicide, 80% were young women, who made up almost three-quarters of deaths from overdose and illness. Infection with hepatitis C at the start of the study was the strongest predictor of death, despite the young age of the population and Canada's universal health care system.
Since this analysis was completed, 16 additional young women and girls and 10 men in The Cedar Project cohort have died.
"Substance use may be a way to cope with trauma; however, it contributes to risk of overdose death," writes Dr. Martin Schechter, Professor, University of British Columbia and co-principal investigator of the Cedar Project, with coauthors. "Furthermore, recent experience of a nonfatal overdose was associated with a 3-fold increase in the risk of death, which suggests that the period immediately after a nonfatal overdose may be a critical time for intervention."
"The death rates among young Indigenous people who use drugs reported in this study are appalling and must be viewed as a public health and human rights issue," write the authors. "This study underscores that young Indigenous people who use drugs continue to be affected by historical and present-day injustices, substance use and barriers to care."
Culturally appropriate programs that build on young people's strengths, with particular engagement of young women, are essential for stemming the flow of these tragic and unnecessary deaths.
In a related commentary, Karen Urbanoski, Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia and University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, writes, "these findings serve as a stark reminder of the need for tailored services and policies that are better able to meet the needs of Indigenous people in Canada."
She also urges that broader change is needed to address socioeconomic inequities, and social and political barriers that continue to affect the health of Indigenous people in Canada.
The research has been published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
-ANI
British Columbia drugs indigenous people drug overdose Suicide
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package web

import (
	"fmt"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

type Server struct {
	addr string
}

func NewServer(addr string) *Server {
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	return srv
}

func (srv *Server) Serve() {
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		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: %v\n", err)
	}
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func (srv *Server) setupRoutes() {
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		fmt.Fprintf(w, "IT BLENDS\n")
	})
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Ask anyone whose car has broken down while traveling and you will hear of the frustration of being stranded, delayed and waiting on a tow truck to take your car to who knows where, you will be glad you have a prompt solution for Roadside Assistance in World Trade Centre 3005.
Perhaps this seems too good to be true. Fortunately, it is true and more and more World Trade Centre 3005 residents are benefitting from this service.


Shows deep color and concentration. The nose carries the strength of the fruity richness, effusive with ripe berry and cherry scents, along with a whiff of chocolate. Everything is balanced—fruit, acid, tannin and oak—and the wine stands up a bit stiffly right now but shows good concentration. Should continue to improve over the next five or six years. Blend of 59% Cab Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cab Franc.


text:
FROM ubuntu
RUN apt-get update


Anyone on the lookout for a good sale may be quick to notice a big sign reading, "STORE CLOSING, EVERYTHING MUST GO." A store closing sale usually means big discounts, and that means it's time to spend money you don't have. In the world of retail, new opportunities are arising in innumerable ways, allowing for innovation in selling consumer goods. Despite this, there are still a number of brick and mortar businesses and corporations that are struggling to stay afloat. Some stores opt to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which instigates a process by which the company reorganizes it's business strategy as an alternative to closing its doors. A much more common alternative, however, is to close a store altogether and begin a liquidation sale.
As we get older, our desires and aspirations change. Those jazz sessions we took as kids no longer seem appealing, and we move on to bigger and grander things--or so we believe. Sometimes, financial or life situations get in the way of our dreams. This happens all too often, especially amongst the community of those who are deemed "horse crazy". This group is typically characterized by young women, who all too often, fall victim to the young men they learn to adore. These young men will, usually, get bored of them and let them go, leaving these young girls in a confused and vulnerable state. This is where the horse comes in. However, horses are quite expensive, and most young women can't afford to have their own.
The Administration of Justice club's booth was elaborate, fun, and encouraged all attendees to get in the Halloween spirit!
On Wednesday, October 30th, 2013, Folsom Lake College's student government held a Halloween event, in which all students were invited to participate in various activities set up by both student government and campus clubs. The event itself was located in the Quad at Folsom Lake College's main campus, making it easily accessible to students during their lunch hour. The event was treated as a typical club fair, with clubs setting up booths to promote their events and recruit new members.
Clubs were encouraged to decorate these booths with objects of the past or the future, allowing for some uniquely decorated booths. Seemingly the most exciting activity at the event was a game in which, after spinning a wheel, participants were awarded either a cinnamon apples or hot cider and candy. Overall, the atmosphere was relaxed yet lively. Be sure to stay updated on campus events, so that you don't miss out on future campus events such as this!
As we continue to live in a nation that has so many wonderful freedoms, we take one day out of the year to thank those who have fought so hard for our rights. On this day the city of Folsom puts on a special parade in honor of all military veterans, called the Wayne Spacey Veterans Day Parade. This was the 13th annual running of the parade, and the theme this year was "Remembering Our Korean War Veterans". The parade route started in the Home Goods/Target parking lot off of East Bidwell, and ended at the Folsom Community Center on Natoma Street. There were around a hundred different organizations that participated in the mile and a half march. For example, the non-profit organization All About Equine, Inc., participated in the march for the first time this year with their partner, Horses4Heroes. Many citizens lined up along East Bidwell and Natoma to cheer on the marchers in the parade. It was wonderful knowing that so many people are willing to support local businesses and our military veterans. It was a enjoyable day full of fun, friendship, and honor. I look forward to next year's parade and hope to see many more citizens out on the streets to celebrate and honor our military!
How do I know if it's good?
How do I format this essay?


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Home Doctor Who Doctor Who Books REVIEW: Doctor Who – Twice Upon A Time by Paul Cornell
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time - Target - (c) BBC Books
REVIEW: Doctor Who – Twice Upon A Time by Paul Cornell
Robin Bell
It does feel like I've experienced this story Twice Upon a Time with the original episode still fresh in the memory from Christmas Day. I wasn't sure what could be added to this story and why it was chosen for adaptation but was instantly drawn in by the spectacular cover, and the feel of the old school Target novels didn't end there.
The first thing I noticed when I started the novelisation was how much it felt like a classic Target novel. Only 161 pages long and seemingly reading like a close approximation of the episode. Maybe that feeling could come from the episode being so familiar as it only aired just over three months ago. But it is also true that Paul Cornell sticks closely to the structure of the televised episode.
This adaptation is one of two from the new Who episodes not to be written by its original writer, the other being The Christmas Invasion by Jenny Colgan. This does make it feel like a cover version, so it's great that it's being covered by a writer the calibre of Paul Cornell. His episodes of Doctor Who (Father's Day, Human Nature) are all of an extremely high quality and bring to the fore the emotional aspects of the programme. He also has a long history of writing for Doctor Who novels and comics.
This is the reason it initially feels strange that the novel sticks so closely to the episode. The opening act suffers from the same fate as the televised episode, taking time to introduce the Doctors, and the Captain and how they meet. Not much actually happens for quite a while.
This approach is also quite fun, as it's like reliving the episode, which is what a good Target novel also felt like. There are some Target traditions laid out, Doctor introductions and character descriptions have a very familiar feel in Cornell's hands.
As the novel progresses Cornell finds a way to get his voice into the story, expanding on the inner mental torment its characters are going through and a few recurring gags which tickle the fancy. It's the inner workings of the Doctors mind which are brought to the fore here, as they are in The Day of the Doctor novel. Moffat's era definitely liked to examine the Doctor more than others have. It works even better in novel form I believe, really getting to grapple with the Doctor's torment about life, death and what he brings to the world.
Most of Cornell's additions work really well in expanding the story, but a few of them feel a little jarring. There were a few complaints when the episode aired regarding the sexist jokes from the First Doctor, Cornell it seems held this opinion as he seems at odds to justify these comments. At times it feels like he's reaching for the justification and it's just out of his reach.
But it's a small quibble, which pales into insignificance by the second half of the novel. One of my favourite moments was what Cornell has done with Bill. Just the fact that backstory was filled in that explains events between The Doctor Falls and this episode from Bill's perspective means so much to the emotional impact of the ending.
The ending of the novel highlights an element of Moffat's era which I felt the TV episode didn't have time to explore as well. Cornell threads through the entire story the idea of the Doctor as a fairytale, something which harks back to Season 5 and the Pandorica. I'm sure it was there in the original episode but it's given more space and time here and really pays off.
What I first thought of as a traditional, classic Target novel that maybe seemed a bit too close to the source, grows throughout it's telling to be something quite remarkable – an epic examination about death, love, life and fairytales. All within 161 pages, that is some achievement.
The Target Doctor Who novelisations are available from Amazon £6.99 each.
paul cornell
Target Books
The Twelfth Doctor
Previous articleVideo of the Day-Doctor Who vs Nerdist: Behind-the-Scenes All Star Bowling, 2012
Next articleHappy Birthday to the Fifth Doctor – Peter Davison
Robin is the creator and lead writer for Twisted Showcase, a Guardian top 25 web TV show. He has written articles and fiction for the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, Vworp Vworp magazine, Gorezone and Den of Geek. He has recently been a storyliner for Hollyoaks. His favourite Doctor is the second, Patrick Troughton.
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Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Annual
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'Radio-Medicine' by GreenZone Hero. Every combat veteran has a story to tell, we want to hear it. Every combat veteran has unique capabilities, we want to utilize them. Every combat veteran has the ability to overcome disadvantages, we want to empower them. Every combat veteran has the power to heal, we want to educate others. All Music excerpts used by permission.
Straight Outta Combat Radio-Honoring Combat Wisdom GreenZone Hero
SOCRS132- Kenneth Bender- "America: Courage, Commitment, Community"
Kenneth Bender (In His Own Words):
U.S. Army Air Corps -World War Two
Senior Fire Control NCO, B-29 'Superfortress'
I was born 95 years ago on September 7, 1925 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. located on the Mississippi river about halfway between St. Louis and Memphis. I have lived here all my life except for time I spent in the service during WWII.
My father was a banker and when I was eight years old in 1933, in the heart of the great depression, the bank in which he worked became bankrupt. Except for odd jobs, such as working in the collector's office during tax season or helping out in another bank during vacations, he was unemployed for about three years. We were poor, but so were most of my friends, and I really did not realize what my parents were going through to provide for my three older siblings, me and themselves. When I was nine I got a job selling magazines on Tuesdays after school, making about twenty cents each week. It was spending money for a kid. When I was 11, I got a job delivering papers after school making sixty cents a week. After several months, the new social security law came into effect and you had to be at least twelve years old to get a social security card. I was laid off until my twelfth birthday. I got a better route and in time I finally worked up to $2.70 a week. I kept this job until I was in high school when I got a job setting pins in a bowling alley. This was in the day before automatic pin setters. On an average night working from about 6:00 pm to 9:00 or 10:00 pm I would make anywhere from sixty cents to a $1.20. I was rich. Somewhere about my junior or senior year I got a job working in a hardware store after school and on Saturday making thirty-five cents an hour.
In the middle of all this on December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. This was a Sunday and in the early afternoon our family was getting ready to take a short drive around town. My Mother would not let me go along because I had not written a paper for school that was due the next day.
As they were getting ready to leave my uncle called and told my dad to turn on the radio. THE JAPANESE HAD BOMBED OUR NAVAL BASE AT PEARL HARBOR IN HWAII. We were all glued to the radio for the rest of the day. The next day, Monday, at school our principal brought his big floor model radio from home. He set it on a table in the cafeteria and let anyone who had a drop hour come in and listen to President Roosevelt address a joint session of congress asking them to declare that a state of war had existed since the bombing began the day before. I was lucky enough to be in the room and hear this historic address.
When I was seventeen years old and a senior in high school I knew that when I was eighteen I would be eligible for the draft, so a buddy of mine and I (with the principal's approval) skipped a day of school and drove to the town of Sikeston, Mo. Which was about 30 miles away and had a small army air corps training base. We spent all day taking tests and when we were told that we had passed we were sworn in to the Army Air Corps Reserves under a program in which we would not be called to active duty until after we were 18 years old. We had chosen our branch of service and felt good about it.
A few months after my 18th birthday I was called to active duty and after a period of schooling I became as Central Fire Control gunner on a B-29 Superfortress. The largest and longest- range aero plane that had entered the war. I was sent from Lowery Field in Denver, (a great place to be assigned) to the air base at the tiny dusty town of Clovis, New Mexico. In a large gymnasium, men were assembled in groups according to their job. All pilots in one bunch, navigators in another, CFC gunners, etc. A pilots name was called and he stepped to the center of the room, a co-pilot, a navigator, etc. until a crew of 11 men (boys mostly) had been assembled. We introduced ourselves to each other and
SOCRS131- Bill Quiqley- "On Mission with Transition"
Bill Quiqley is a former Army Psychological Operations 1SG who transitioned out of the service after 20+ years in the Special Operations community. He is currently the City Leader for Bunker Labs in Tampa, where he encourages Veterans and Military spouses to realize their dreams of financial independence through entrepreneurship. He is also the co-founder of Gorilla Gurus, a design and ad agency specializing in Gorilla Marketing.
Throughout his career as a Special Operations professional, Bill was the beneficiary of innovation that enabled him to deploy to remote locations and accomplish the missions assigned to him. He had the opportunity to travel professionally to over 15 countries, sharing his knowledge of information dissemination strategies with partner nations. Being able to identify new and creative ways to message select audiences that resulted in positive and long-lasting change was vital to his success while in uniform. Bill served two combat deployments in Iraq in addition to tours in Bosnia, Nigeria, Niger, and Qatar. It is because of those experiences that he is passionate about telling the story of Innovation and the Veteran Community.
SOCRS130- Marvin "Gonzo" Gonzales- "Immigrant's Son: Family is Everything"
Marvin Gonzalez "Gonzo"
Born and raised in Long Island, NY. Family came from El Salvador escaping the civil war. Graduated from West Hempstead High School and following the attacks on the WTC 9/11.
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy. October 27, 2004 attended Navy Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois. Graduated Gunners Mate "A" School in June 2005 and assigned to amphibious assault ship USS OGDEN LPD-5 from March 2005 to March 2007. During this timeframe deployed to the Arabian Gulf with Navy's Fifth Fleet and Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. After a successful WESPAC deployment and decommissioning of USS OGDEN LPD-5. Transferred to Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Training Class 265 Coronado, California, from March 2007 to October 2007.
Successfully completed training and moved on to SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). Graduated SQT Class 270.Upon completion of SEAL Qualification Training, transferred to SEAL Team EIGHT in April 2009. Completed 1 deployment to Yemen (Mar-Sept 2010), as well as 1 JCET deployment to Colombia (Nov 2010), and 1 deployment to Africa (Feb – July 2011). On June 15, 2012, was Honorably Discharged from active duty service. Worked in Private Sector for various security projects and conducted underwater construction projects in NY Tri-state area. In Nov 2018, hired by the Department of State as a Method of Entry MOE Instructor. Charged with providing training to foreign law enforcement agents in the Middle East and Africa. Currently President and owner of OP5 Tactical.
Personal awards include Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Battle E Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, , Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal, Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Device, Military Freefall Parachutist
Currently holds a Commercial Deep Sea Diver Diploma, and is working towards completing a bachelor's degree in Security Management through Bellevue University.
He is currently married to Joanna and has 3 children: Gabriella (4), Joseph (2), Jeremy (4 months)
SOCRS129- JayR McIntyre- "Security Expert: Son of A Preacher Man"
JayR McIntrye, CEO~Rat Pack Worldwide Security (Son of a Preacher Man)
During his tenure in the United States Army, JayR McIntyre served in the 1st Infantry Division in Germany from 2002-2005 with his First Deployment to Tikrit, Iraq from 2004-2005 Operation Iraqi Freedom and Served in the 1st Calvary Division from 2005-2008 with his Second Deployment to Mosul, Iraq from 2006-2008 for 15 months. JayR also served in the 1st Armor Division from 2009-2011 with his third deployment to Mosul, Iraq 2010-2011 for 9 Months.
JayR has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat action Badge and Numerous Army Achievement medals. Air Assault Qualified. JayR Holds a B.S in Sports Medicine and an Associates in Sports Medicine and is a Graduated of The EBV UConn School of Business 2019. He also serves as the President of Student Veterans of America at Keiser University in Tampa Florida; He also is a Veteran Treatment Court Mentor in Tampa Florida.
SOCRS128- Kirby Ingles- "Creating Pillars of Community"
Our veteran guest for this episode of Straight Outta Combat (Radio-Medicine by GreenZone Hero) is Army veteran Kirby Ingles. Kirby is a 23-year veteran who now lives in Central Missouri with his wife and four children.
Currently, Kirby is a leadership and transformation coach working with young professionals, transitioning veterans, and emerging leaders. Kirby's passion is helping fatherless men live a more fulfilled life and to become pillars of their communities. His focus to bring positive light to the strengths of the men he works with so that they can become leaders who change the world.
SOCRS127- Adam Bird- "Heroes Media Group: A Brighter Future for Podcasters"
Adam Bird is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heroes Media Group LLC. Heroes Media Group (HMG) is a Digital Media Branding platform committed to providing a voice for our community heroes and those who support them. HMG is committed to providing education, entertainment and empowerment to: Active Duty Service Members, Veterans, Firefighters, First Responders, Law Enforcement, Educators, Medical Professionals, and Clergy.
Adam earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Management in 2011. He is an experienced entrepreneur and leader in building companies, educating, training and mentoring and empowering teams to success. Ultimately, Adam founded HMG to create jobs and reorganize the way media is consumed, delivered and trusted on a global scale.
Born in Wisconsin, Adam developed a love for the outdoors at a very young age. Fishing, hunting and playing sports was an everyday thing. After high school Adam enlisted the Army National Guard where he worked in various positions until mid 2007, when he left the Military to pursue greater opportunities and to be a full-time single parent to his son.
Mr. Bird has recently changed his single status to married and we congratulate him.
D. Mason , 06/17/2019
Just came across this
I just happened to stumble across this podcast and listened to the most recent episode with Simon and I was amazing. Keep doing what you are doing and IGY6 HOOAH
Jlp86165 , 03/10/2018
Awe inspiring and uplifting
John and Kris are great. They do an awesome job of honoring our heroes and showing the strength of our veterans. I don't have a military background; but am someone who has always found veterans so inspiring. This is a great show. Every episode leaves me wanting to be a better person and be more grateful for the freedom I have. I just feel grateful to be able to learn from their wisdom; dealing with hardship and being strong. Awesome podcast!!
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Bands 2019
VRIJDAG 13 DECEMBER
19:30 – 21:00 > Matt Schofield Trio
21:30 – 23:00 > Coco Montoya Band
ZATERDAG 14 DECEMBER
16:00 – 16:30 > Storybook Sessions
16:30 – 17:30 > Leif de Leeuw Band
18:00 – 19:00 > Starlite Campbell Band
19:30 – 20:30 > Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado
21:00 – 23:30 > 4G Session
Reviews & Impressie 2018
VRIJDAG 30 NOVEMBER
19:30 – 21:00 > Laurence Jones
21:30 – 23:00 > Kid Ramos Blues Band ft. Big Pete
ZATERDAG 1 DECEMBER
17:00 – 18:00 > The Veldman Brothers
18:30 – 19:30 > The Delgado Brothers
22:30 – 23:30 > Phil Bee's Freedom
16:30-17:00 > AJ Plug ft. Guy Smeets
17:00-18:00 > More Than Blues
18:30-19:45 > Wille and the Bandits
19:45-20:15 > Kyla Brox
20:15-22:15 > 4G-Session
22:45-00:00 > Danny Bryant
16:30-17:45 > Rootbag
17:45-19:00 > Barrelhouse
19:00-20:15 > Gráinne Duffy
20:15- 21:30 > The Delgado Brothers – NL PRIMEUR!
21:30-22:45 > Sean Webster Band
22:45-24:00 > Julian Sas
The Boom Band
24Pesos
Kellie Rucker
David Gogo
Jo Harman
Bos's Blues Band
The LSB Experience
Jo Harman is an original British singer-songwriter and band leader whose work is broadly influenced by blues, gospel, soul, country, rock and other 'roots' sensibilities. In March 2014 the Daily Mirror, as part of a half page interview, described her as 'the finest female soul blues singer in the UK'. Emerging initially as a 'word of mouth' independent, Jo remarkably secured over 50 UK and European festival gigs over in 2013, including prestigious slots at the likes of Cheltenham and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals. Last summer Jo was one of only 12 (otherwise household name) artists appearing at Parkpop in the Hague, performing to over 300,000 people. Moreover, late last year she performed alongside names like Robert Plant and Van Morrison at BluesFest at The Royal Albert Hall in London for Live Nation (Jo's performance being broadcast by Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music) and she has been asked to re-appear in 2014. Jo also appeared on prime time European TV and mainstream radio, as well as making three appearances within 6 months at the world famous Paradiso, Amsterdam.
Jo's 2013 debut album 'Dirt On My Tongue' received remarkable critical acclaim making vaious of 'best of' lists and awards, internationally. She subsequently signed to V2 (stable mates include Adele, Mumford and Sons, Queens of the Stone Age etc) in Europe and the album entered the Netherlands album charts. Recently, Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin' Criminals) said on his BBC Radio 2 show 'Sometimes you hear a singer who leaves you speechless – I am'.
In Summer 2014, Jo releases a new album,'Jo Harman and Company – Live At The Royal Albert Hall', recorded by the BBC. This year, her international touring schedule extends to Festivals in France, Germany, Spain and the Caribbean, as well as continuing many significant festival (Isle of Wight included), theatre and major club shows in UK. She and her band have just received no less than 4 nominations for this years British Blues Awards, including best singer, as well as best songwriter, in 2014 alone.
Spotted singing at an open mic by BiGiAM management, who took her on very much as an 'artist in development', Jo's compelling live shows quickly attracted the attention of influential European agency Bepop. Thanks to Live Nation sharing Bepop's belief in Jo's talent and potential, Jo's first ever European performances were much sought after support slots for the likes of Cranberries, Don McLean, Mick Hucknall, Johnny Winter and more, as well as performing her own shows at prestigious festivals shows in Holland, France and beyond. Back in the UK, despite no released product, promotional spend or even having any kind of official agent, Jo found herself in increasing demand as a live act. With 40 odd festivals in the book for 2013 alone, many as headliners, her calendar included prestigious slots at the likes of Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival and Blues Fest at the Royal Albert Hall. Back in Holland, Jo was very recently invited to appear, alongside the likes of Bob Geldoff, Sinead O'Connor and other household names, as one of only 12 artists appearing at Parkpop, Europe's biggest free festival, in front of around 300,000 people (and a much bigger TV audience besides). Jo's debut album 'Dirt On My Tongue' was released as a low key, no PR budget, independent release in March 2013. It attracted universal praise and some incredible, and unlikely, reviews, including the high street nationals Mail On Sunday, Blues and Soul, The Blues Magazine, Classic Rock – all apparently by word of mouth – as well as the more specialist and underground press. "Album of the Year" was not an isolated remark and, somewhat bucking the industry trends, physical copies album began to sell organically in it's thousands direct from Jo's website. This resulted in noted V2 label (home of Adele, Mumford and Sons and many other superstar acts) releasing the album in Benelux on September 2013, where the album made the national chats proper, in Netherlands. European TV and mainstream radio soon followed. 'Dirt on My Tongue' was subsequently (re) released in UK by The Big Chill Label, being available in HMV and other major retailers via Proper Music (Music Weeks retailers of the year, 4 years running) who named Jo's record 'International Blues Album Of The Year'. With mainstream press and radio now further picking up on Jo's career, her remarkable story continues…
http://joharman.com/
"Stunning…our tip for 2013. Harman's music mainlines the human soul" Classic Rock Blues
"On course to become the finest female blues soul singer in the UK" Daily Mirror
"Album of the year" Gary Grainger, UK Blues Presenter of the Year
"Album of 2013, if not the decade" Blues Doodles
"A veritable superstar on the British blues and roots scene, she really is that good….the voice is a glorious instrument, immensely expressive and with a tone that can send shivers down the spine…this is an astounding record, timeless, rich and powerful …it's this disc that truly says that she is a star of our time." Tone Monkey
"What a voice!" Classic Rock
"Cracking..get it!" Mail On Sunday
Copyright © 2016-2021 • Stichting Blues & Roots Amersfoort • KvK 64587347


Is your insurance company cheating you after a car accident? | The Law Office of Carl Knickerbocker, P.C.
Is your insurance company cheating you after a car accident?
On behalf of Carl Knickerbocker of The Law Office of Carl Knickerbocker, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, April 11, 2016.
If you were recently involved in a car accident, are you sure your insurance company is paying out the full amount that you are entitled to under your policy? Insurance companies know that most people don't understand how the insurance industry works or the tactics they will use to deny part or all of a claim.
Here are a few common tactics that are used in far too many accident claims to cheat policy holders out of what they are owed.
Trying to pretend they are on your side - While some insurance companies do look out for their policy holders and pay as much as possible on a claim, far too many try to make you feel that they are on your side and paying out as much as the claim is worth. Trust your gut. If you do not feel that you are getting the full amount you are due, seek a second opinion from a skilled motor vehicle accident attorney.
Offering quick settlements - Often insurance companies will move quickly to offer a settlement that they make you believe is generous. Again, make sure that you get a second opinion from an attorney before you sign any settlement. Once you sign a settlement, you are locked in for that amount, even if your claim is worth much more.
Pretending that there is no liability - Often insurance companies will claim that they are not liable for claim, offering as much confusing documentation and "evidence" as possible to avoid paying the claim. A lawyer can investigate the accident and put together the evidence needed to build a case against the insurance company.
Studies continue to suggest that individual who contact a lawyer following a car accident recover more than those who try to navigate the claims process on their own. At The Law Office of Carl Knickerbocker, we know how to put pressure on the insurance companies and beat them at their own game, recovering the full amount our clients are owed. For more information, click here.


Join celebrated Wisconsin author and humorist, Michael Perry, as he looks back on his "Clodhopper" tales of life in Wisconsin with an eye toward how his stories of the past connect us to the future. Perry muses on woodpiles and farm auctions, chicken sheds and picking rock. And, of course, tractors.


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Home » Musicians » Interview - …(SlavEATgoD)
Interview - Nick N. aka Sinnik (SlavEATgoD)
Interview with Nick N. aka Sinnik from SlavEATgoD
by Dave "That Metal Guy" Campbell at 08 May 2014, 7:29 PM
Conjuring their force out of the still burning economic crisis in their homeland of Greece, the band SLAVEATGOD are still at it, and with full force, serving modern Metal spikes. Hailing with their second album, "The Skyline Fission", Dave had a chance to talk to Sinnik of the band regarding the new prospect and more…
What was the impetus for forming the band? How was your unique band name chosen?
Plain though it may sound, our passion for music. No matter which state or mood we might find ourselves in, however motivational or the contrary it may feel, we've managed to stay focused on making music for all these years that we've played together and full-heartedly hope to keep on doing so.
Frankly, I'm not sure about how CRS came up with our band name. The way I take it, it certainly does imply that we would be reluctant to be enslaved to any particular deity (to put it mildly ) but maybe when he came up with it, he just liked how it sounds. Whichever the case might be, we would hesitate to suggest the latter because it doesn't sound poetic. Tehehe
Tell us about the state of metal music today in Greece.
Imo, there's tons of talent and a whole lot of unbelievably skilled Greek metal bands, some of which have reached a worldwide reputation. This is absolutely remarkable when coming from a small and poor country like ours. Unfortunately, today's financial and social situation can become disappointing or maybe even devastating; ergo this very period is even harder for bands and musicians. Really good bands keep on coming through and this is quite encouraging to say the very least.
Where did you find your inspiration for writing your songs for the new album? What bands have influenced you and your sound?
The burning desire to create new stuff can sometimes be more than enough as a driving force to compose music. On top of this, living in such a challenging place and especially today can always provide you with all the needed amount of frustration, anger and general negativity. Especially as far as lyrics are concerned the total lack of perspective we've found ourselves trapped in, was a major influential factor and could be considered the main theme of the album.
As far as bands are concerned, we absolutely dig Meshuggah, Periphery, Tesseract, Lamb of God, Machine Head, In Flames and Animals As Leaders among many else. On a personal level, I love Monuments and Textures but also, I've always enjoyed a vast range of non-metal bands such as Jethro Tull, Queen, The Residents, The Tiger Lillies and Crystal Castles. Hardly could there be spotted such an influence in our record tho, I reckon.
I love the combination of Djent and Progressive Death on the new album. How do you work in such a strong commitment to keeping the band so alive, fresh and varied sounding?
Thanks a lot, Dave. It is just something that's happened naturally. It's not always easy to find the motivation and keep on keeping on but with a committed mindset, one always tries to act as he/she should so as not to give up during hardships. No doubt, being in a band with all the pressure, financial issues and occasional ego conflicts will inescapably lead to a string of unpleasant moments. We're still here, however and this means a lot
Who in the band are the primary songwriters? Do you write together or separately?
Stelios, our bass player is definitely the chief songwriter. He is an absolute beast full of great riffs. Yet, as long as he's worked on a song structure to a satisfactory extent, the rest of the band works together on it. CRS always comes up with great arrangements, orchestration and production ideas, while Joni Moas, our new drummer sickens all the drum patterns so as to make our rehearsals even more challenging . My main role is to twist some riffs, come up with some variations of them if asked so, add the lead guitar parts and when the song is ready write the lyrics for it.
Of course, last but definitely not least Jon Howard's contribution in this record was of vital importance. Without his unbelievable vocal arrangements and passionate singing as well as his killer mix, this record wouldn't sound the same. This is how the process has gone for most of our songs till now, yet changing it in the future is definitely not out of the question.
When was your new album, "The Skyline Fission," released? How / where can we purchase the album?
31 March, 2014 by The No Regrets Records. You may ore-order it from the following link: http://www.noregrets.gr/releases/item/73-slaveatgod-the-skyline-fission-cd
What are your plans for after the album is released? Is a tour in the works?
We are working on it and we definitely want to go on tour for "The Skyline Fission". We truly believe in this record and would like to share it with our friends in as many places as possible.
What would be your idea of a dream come true tour? What band(s) would you like to share the stage with?
Gee, I don't know. It would be a blessing if we could share the stage with any of the bands that have influenced us.
What does the band like to do for fun? What hobbies and interests do you have?
Some naughty things we would be ashamed to admit . Kidding of course. Certainly, music devours a big amount of our daily lives and this is a blessing. Except for this, as far as I know, Jon Howard is far too busy so most likely he does not have time for any particular non-musical activities except for working out, CRS is into movies, Stelios is into martial arts lately-so you'd better not argue with him to an upsetting level- Joni is an avid gamer and as for myself, I tend to read, watch some underground cartoons or some high quality TV series for the vast majority of my free time.
What lies ahead for SlavEATgoD? What are your goals?
Currently, we are promoting "The Skyline Fission", so we'll try our best to book some good gigs as well. Quite soon, we'll also start collecting ideas for the next record. We hope that Slaveatgod will grow as a band and tour our asses off. Till then, stay heavy unless your doctor suggests otherwise


Eye injuries at work happen more frequently that one could think. Each day, 200 Canadian workers are affected by these kinds of injuries that often keep the person away from work for few times and in some cases to temporary or permanent vision loss.
Workers should wear an eye protection each time there is a risk of hurting their eyes. Moreover, each person who visit or cross an area where there are potential dangers for eyes should also wear an adequate protection. People working under the sun or who use equipment exposing them to UV light should wear an eye protection too. Sometimes, sunglasses are enough.
If you plan to make do-it-yourself works and/or home renovation, protective glasses are recommended to protect your eyes from dust and debris. This is especially true if you have to handle tools such as a saw, a sander machine, or scouring/corrosive products. If you have to weld something, it is important to wear green tinted protective glasses with an integrated filter for both UV and infrared rays.
When practicing sports, eye safety should not be neglected. Children are very vulnerable as their sight continues to develop until about 8 years old, and they have to wait at the end of adolescence for the connection between sight and brain being fully completed. Consequently, their evaluation of the speed or distance to a ball or a puck is wrong. As a proof, 42 % of eye wounds in sports happen in children aged of less than 14 years old.
Eye wounds happen most frequently in basketball and baseball, but also in water and racket sports. It is possible to classify sports according to the risk they represent for eye injuries, being low, high or very high risk. The first category groups all sports for which participants do not have any physical contact or only with a stick, such as swimming or biking. High-risk sports group those where players use a device to hit such as a hockey stick or a baseball bat or a racket, and those where players can pin or hit their opponent. Martial arts, where there is no eye protection at all, in addition to rock climbing, are very high risk sports.
It is important to know that ageing may have an impact on mobility and reaction time. It may be longer to move oneself away from the trajectory of a projectile. Moreover, some diseases like glaucoma and age-related retina degeneration decrease peripheral sight and represent another risk of eye injury when practicing high risk sports.
A specialized sport shop could provide you with information on the appropriate ocular protection for the sport you are practicing. The chosen glasses should protect you from wind, flying debris, sudden chock, dazzling and UV rays. However, to prevent injuries, you should assure to wear your equipment adequately and safely. Hence the importance of adjusting them correctly: the person should try the glasses along with the helmet to wear for the activity (ski, snowmobile, rock climbing, Tyrolienne,...). The glasses should be firmly fixed without pressing too much on the head, but they should not move in the middle of the activity because they are not tightened! If the glasses move or slide on the user's face, there is an increased risk of hurting the eyes because they are freely exposed but also because the wearer has to manage unstable glasses instead of concentrating on the play. Finally, an anti-fog treatment is particularly important for a good visual acuity.


How big a swap partition do I need?
The canonical answer is "RAM X 2". This is for historical reasons.
In early Unixes (SunOS, e.g.), the memory manager was dumb and preallocated swap space sufficient to swap your entire process out if it became necessary, and it really did want contiguous. Running out of swap was common, even if it was really never used, and the "rule" to avoid that problem was 2xRAM. Further, if you had two swap partitions, or a partition and a file, your process stayed in whatever swap it started in and did not split across both. You could be out of swap space and still have a completely empty swap file.
However I've found that this rule leads to stupid amounts of swap. Do you really need 8GB of swap on a 4GB system? The real answer is: it depends.
My theory these days is: If you have a working set that won't fit in RAM, you need more memory. If you need more memory, buy more RAM.
I find computers become practically unusable once they start thrashing more than about 512MB, and I've demonstrated to some of my engineers that for working sets that thrash a GB or more it is faster to stop the job, go buy and install more RAM, then restart the job, than it is to just wait for the job to finish in the first place.
This is even more true of large machines. I've run memtest86 on a 32GB system, and it only completed three and a half full cycles over a 60-hour period. Thrashing a dataset of that size through a hard disk would take months.
Unless an engineer can make a really good case (and I mean really good) then workstations get 1GB of swap. Servers and compute nodes get 2GB.
Virtual machine servers get almost no swap (512MB or less). This forces people to be careful about not overcomitting RAM for virtual machines.


Whether you're new to contact lenses or already an experienced wearer, we'll provide all the examinations and checks needed to maintain optimum eye health and suit your vision and lifestyle. We fit and supply a huge range of contact lenses from soft daily disposable & monthly lenses to RGP (gas permeable) lenses, plus we're always on hand to give you advice on how to insert, remove and care for your lenses.
We have direct access to the latest contact lens materials & designs via the market leading suppliers (Alcon & Coopervision) who keep our optometrists informed of the latest technology in contact lens manufacturing. This ensures that we are providing our patients with the most appropriate lenses that help to maintain optimal eye health, optimal comfort and optimal vision.
You can purchase Contact lenses through our direct debit iComplete care plan or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
What if I have been told in the past that contact lenses are not suitable for my eyes?
Even if you have been unsuccessful with contact lenses in the past or if you have been told by an optician that contact lenses would not be suitable for your prescription we may still be able to help in finding a contact lens solution for you.
Contact lens technology is continually advancing meaning that Dry eye sufferers may find a new more comfortable contact lens than they have tried in the past. Or someone with high astigmatism may be able to find a contact lens prescription that was not previously available.
Our close working relationship with Alcon & Coopervision representatives means that our optometrists are kept up to date with the latest contact lens developments so that we can source lenses specifically tailored to patient's lifestyle requirements.
both distance & near vision?
From the age of about 45-50 most people will notice their ability to focus on close print becomes increasingly difficult. This is a normal age related change which usually results in the need for reading glasses. Contact lens wearers may also need to put reading glasses on over their contact lenses to see this small print clearly.
There are 2 main options for contact lens wearers if they would prefer not to wear reading glasses.
1. Monovision – This involves using contact lenses to correct the vision in one eye for distance & the vision in the other eye for near. It can be surprisingly effective especially for lower reading prescriptions.
2. Multifocal contact lenses – these lenses aim to simultaneously focus light for both distance & near in each eye.
Both of these options involve some degree of compromise in vision & generally a short period of adaptation is necessary. However for patients who want the convenience from carrying a pair of reading glasses around everywhere then it can be an effective solution.
We offer our contact lens patients the option of joining our direct debit care plan. Our iComplete care plan gives you a range of benefits and discounts, and allows you to spread the cost of your eye care and contact lenses over the year.
It is the most convenient way to pay for your lenses as they are automatically delivered to our practice, or your home address, every 3 months without you having to pick up the phone & order them.
• Half price eye examination (applies to both Standard & Advanced Eye Examination).
• All contact lens aftercare appointments are included.
• Unscheduled emergency appointments are included.
• 30% off lost or damaged RGP lenses (within 1 year of original lens purchase).
• Up to 2 pairs of replacement disposable lenses in the event of loss or damage.
• Free trial of new designs, materials or lens upgrades.
• 10% off spectacle & sunglass purchases.
• 10% off all contact lens solutions.
Should you prefer not to join our direct debit scheme, contact lenses are available to purchase on a Pay-as-you-go basis. Please note, however, that contact lens aftercares and eye examination fees are not included in the pay as you go price and are charged separately.


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British charity stops investing in weapons, tobacco corporations
Posted on December 26, 2013 by petrel41
This 2011 video from the USA is called Military-Industrial Complex from Eisenhower to Obama.
From daily The Guardian in Britain:
Comic Relief to sell investments in arms, tobacco and alcohol companies
Charity says it will sell controversial holdings highlighted in Panorama investigation while it conducts two-month inquiry
Mark Sweney
Thursday 26 December 2013 15.00 GMT
Comic Relief has begun to dispose of its multimillion-pound holdings in tobacco, arms and alcohol companies as the charity kicks off a two-month review of its investment strategy.
The Red Nose Day and Sport Relief charity was criticised following an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme that found it has shares in schemes that critics claim contradict the core aims of the charity.
Comic Relief has now moved to sell the holdings it has in funds related to tobacco, arms and alcohol – worth millions of pounds – while it conducts an independent review.
"Until the review has been concluded, the Trustees have decided to withdraw Comic Relief funds from the sections of the investment portfolio which have caused concern, and this process is underway," the charity said in a statement.
Comic Relief, which was criticised by some of its own high-profile supporters, including the comics Frankie Boyle and Al Murray, said that it had commissioned an "urgent review" of its investment strategy.
"The review will recommend changes to Comic Relief's investment policy that will reinforce and ensure continued public trust in the charity, be consistent with its charitable aims and are in line with charity regulation and law," the charity said.
Comic Relief has revealed details of the review process with the aim to publish the findings and recommendations "within eight weeks".
The review will be conducted by a panel of five led by an "independent chair" which will "recommend the principles and framework for a new investment policy and its levels of transparency".
Comic Relief's vice chair, Richard Curtis, and chief executive, Kevin Cahill, will attend meetings, while the chief operating officer, Derek Gannon, will act as secretary.
"As a charity which depends on public trust, it's absolutely right that we take this opportunity to examine our investment policy thoroughly in view of the concerns which have been raised," said Tim Davie, the chairman of Comic Relief and chief executive of BBC Worldwide.
The charity initially defended its strategy with Peter Bennett-Jones, the co-founder of Comic Relief who stepped down as chair of trustees earlier this year, insisting that investments were made on legal guidelines which state they must yield the best possible financial return.
However, after mounting criticism Cahill admitted earlier this month that the charity would look to start a review and that its investments in companies in controversial sectors were "a small percentage, no more than 5% of our funds in any of those particular areas".
"Comic Relief is committed to finding a solution that allows it to continue to deliver the greatest benefit to the poor and vulnerable people it supports," the charity said.
The lobbying firm run by David Cameron's election guru, Lynton Crosby, is under fire for seeking to obtain internal government opinions about tobacco policy: here.
Militarizing the Ebola Crisis
The Deep State and the Power of Billionaires – David Cay Johnston on Reality Asserts Itself
Today LEGO dumped Shell – Here's why it matters to us all
Comic Relief money invested in weapons, tobacco and alcohol (metro.co.uk)
Comic Relief invested in arms trade (bbc.co.uk)
Comic Relief to review investments (bbc.co.uk)
No laughing matter: Comic Relief invested in tobacco, alcohol and arms firms (independent.co.uk)
Comic Relief to review investments after row over BBC Panorama report (theguardian.com)
British charities entangled with weapons, tobacco corporations (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)
Comic Relief under fire ahead of BBC Panorama investigation (theguardian.com)
This entry was posted in Economic, Human rights, Medicine, health, Peace and war and tagged smoking, UK by petrel41. Bookmark the permalink.
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Air Taxi Takes to the Sky(scrapers)
TransportationTopicTypeNews2019
Volocopter conducts maiden test flight in an urban environment and unveils first "VoloPort" in Singapore
Sandy Ong
Photo: Nikolay Kazakov/Volocopter
alternative transportationVolocopterair taxieVTOLVoloPort
Beneath a gray, rainy sky, the normally vibrant business district of Singapore looked listless. The glass skyscrapers didn't glitter and no sunlight dappled across the waves in the bay. But that didn't matter much because the crowd gathered amid the tall buildings today had come to gawk at something else.
At the stroke of noon, from a promontory across the bay, a speck of white rose into the air. With a lawnmower-like hum, a flying taxi that looked like the love child of a helicopter and a drone approached, drawing a swell of cheers from the crowd.
The launch pad and its surrounding area right before the three-minute flight.Photo: Sandy Ong
Volocopter's three-minute test flight was not the first time the German aircraft manufacturer has flown its full-scale prototype publicly. But today's demonstration was momentous in other ways. It marks the first official test flight in Asia, and the first time the aircraft was put through its paces in an urban environment. That's big news because big cities are the places where the company hopes its air taxis will ultimately find a niche.
"In the next 10 years, we hope to see Volocopter integrated as an addition to existing mobility methods in mega cities," says Christian Bauer, who is in charge of the firm's business development. Volocopter is aiming to be the first company in the world to offer commercial air taxi services to the masses.
Air taxis, part of a category called electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, form a rapidly growing market—one that is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2040. More than 215 such aircraft are being developed worldwide, and with varying designs. Volocopter operates on drone technology with 18 motors, while others such as Lilium Jet have fixed wings. But only a handful of Volocopter's competitors have actually built flying prototypes.
Volocopter, which was founded in 2011 and counts Intel, Daimler AG, and the Geely Holding Group (which owns automaker Volvo) among its investors, has raised close to US $95 million to date. That cash and access to a broad array of expertise have allowed Volocopter to present its third generation of lithium battery–operated, two-seater air taxis. Its next prototype, VoloCity, to be launched by 2022, promises improved specs over the current 2x series. The VoloCity expected to debut with an estimated range of 35 kilometers and a top speed of close to 110 kilometers per hour.
"Volocopter is focused on serving the inner-city mission," says CEO Florian Reuter. With fares expected to be in the "hundreds rather than thousands of dollars," Reuter says the airborne taxi service's expected customers fall into three categories: businessmen looking to get quickly from point A to B, commuters seeking ways to beat rush hour traffic, and tourists.
"I believe eVTOLs will play a significant part in the future of mobility," says Roei Ganzarski, CEO of magniX, an Australian firm developing motors for electric planes. "I don't think we will see thousands of these flying around each city as some companies would like the public to believe, but I do think we will see shuttle models, movement between nearby airports, movement of cargo between main depots and last mile distribution [hubs], corporate use between campuses, and more."
Illustration: Volocopter
However, it could take 10 to 15 years for this to become reality, says Ganzarski, because there are "many other things that need to be solved first." Among the hurdles he cites are battery power, regulatory issues, and the ability of autonomous aircrafts to handle emergencies. Other experts, such as aviation professor Jason Middleton from the University of New South Wales, voice concerns about hardware and software safety, the need to build supporting infrastructure, the challenges of navigating in bad weather, and how to manage air traffic control.
Pilots act as a fail-safe in many respects, says Middleton, who has been flying for nearly 50 years. "In an urban environment with lots of skyscrapers, you're going to have gusts and you can't predict where they're going to be. Weather is unpredictable; it can quickly develop from nothing into a raging thunderstorm," he says. "Who's going to predict where [air taxis] can or can't fly? And what happens when they're in the air and can't go to their destination?"
He adds that, "At least if you have a pilot, they're going to look out the front and see what's going on and take necessary action."
One of the answers to those concerns is unmanned aircraft system traffic management platforms, or UTMs for short. Volocopter is looking to use them to govern its air taxis. "You can take most of the airspace management techniques we use in drones and apply it to air taxis," says Pamir Sevincel, who leads urban air mobility strategy at AirMap, one of the UTM companies Volocopter is working with. Drones, which usually fly below 400 feet, are subject to different air traffic management protocols than those applied to helicopters and other aircraft.
AirMap has developed numerous UTM capabilities, all of which can theoretically be used for eVTOLs as well. These include the digital submission and approval of flight plans, surveilling an aircraft and sending alerts if it veers off track, monitoring traffic and sending real-time updates, as well as providing dynamic rerouting during emergencies. In the future, the California-based company wants to enable pilots or ground-based fleet managers of drones and air taxis to update flight trajectories based on an automated assessment of risk as a function of pedestrian and car densities, as well as other potential safety issues along planned routes. It also plans to equip flying craft with "sequencing, scheduling, and spacing" capabilities, which would allow the safe and efficient scheduling of operations in and out of vertiports and within the urban air mobility network as a whole.
"This capability is really going to enable scale in a safe way...because if you don't, you won't be able to integrate many flights into urban airspace" says Sevincel.
Building infrastructure to support air taxis—vertiports with passenger lounges, check-in and security facilities, as well as battery charging and aircraft maintenance stations—is another issue that must be addressed before air taxis can become a commercial reality. To that end, Volocopter has partnered with Skyports, a British infrastructure firm that has just unveiled the first prototype of its VoloPort— the air taxi equivalent of a helipad—in Singapore.
Volocopter's Reuter says his firm is also working closely with global aviation authorities to ensure that its next-generation air taxi rises to "the same safety level airliners are built to." He's also well aware that gaining public acceptance is key when it comes to autonomous transport, which is why he says Volocopter's first stage of commercial operations, scheduled within five years, will likely involve piloted flights, with the eventual aim of moving towards full autonomy.
"We, as a global society, have to feel our way into this technology...and try it out in a safe and secure environment," says Reuter.
"Many people picture the skies becoming dark and aircraft whizzing around the city without any control or rules. That's a very negative and chaotic image," he says. "But let's take it step by step and evaluate how it goes."
An abridged version of this post appears in the December 2019 print issue as "Electric Air Taxi Flies Over Singapore."
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Following the Money in the Air-Taxi Craze
TransportationTopicMagazineTypeFeatureSpecial ReportsJanuary 2023
Chinese Joint Venture Will Begin Mass-Producing an Autonomous Electric Car
With the Robo-01, Baidu and Chinese carmaker Geely aim for a fully self-driving car
Craig S. Smith
The Robo-01 autonomous electric car shows off its butterfly doors at a reveal to the media in Beijing, in June 2022.
Tingshu Wang/Reuters/Alamy
In October, a startup called Jidu Automotive, backed by Chinese AI giant Baidu and Chinese carmaker Geely, officially released an autonomous electric car, the Robo-01 Lunar Edition. In 2023, the car will go on sale.
At roughly US $55,000, the Robo-01 Lunar Edition is a limited edition, cobranded with China's Lunar Exploration Project. It has two lidars, a 5-millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 12 high-definition cameras. It is the first vehicle to offer on-board, AI-assisted voice recognition, with voice response speeds within 700 milliseconds, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip.
This article is part of our special report Top Tech 2023.
"It's a car, and, even more so, a robot," said Jidu CEO Joe Xia, during the live-streamed unveiling of the car (as translated from the Mandarin by CNBC). He added that it "can become the standard for self-driving cars."
But just how autonomous the car is remains to be seen: In January 2022 Baidu and Jidu said the car would have Level 4 autonomous driving capability, which does not require a human driver to control the vehicle. But the press release at the car's launch made no mention of Level 4, saying only that the car offered "high-level autonomous driving."
The blurred language may have been dictated by lawyers. China has yet to establish laws or regulations governing autonomous vehicles for the consumer market. For the time being, a driver must remain in control of the car. In September 2022, Baidu cofounder and CEO Robin Li noted that lower levels of autonomy shield car companies from liability in the event of a crash, because the driver is expected to be in control. With Level 4, the manufacturer of the car or the operator of the "robotaxi" service using the car would be to blame.
Nonetheless, the Robo-01 launch signals a dramatic shift in the automotive industry, which has been slow to adopt electric cars and even slower to embrace autonomy. No other consumer car on the market yet offers Level 4 autonomy. Tesla's Full Self Driving ability, despite its fancy name and the pronouncements of its CEO, is only Level 2, or "partial automated driving" under the definition of SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers). Other autonomous-vehicle makers, including Tesla, are collecting data from mass-produced L2 vehicles to train L4 algorithms.
"It's a car, and, even more so, a robot," said Jidu CEO Joe Xia.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is offering its Drive Pilot Level 3 autonomous driving system on S-Class and EQS sedans in Germany. Level 3 handles all aspects of driving, but it requires that the driver remain ready to regain control if requested. Drivers need not keep their eyes on the road, but Drive Pilot will disengage if the driver's face is obscured.
That raises the question of what Robo-01 can do that the Mercedes Drive Pilot cannot. And what features will Robo-01 use to keep drivers' hands on the wheel, as required under current Chinese law? Answers to those questions may have to wait until Robo-01 ships.
Regardless of the car's official autonomy designation, Baidu has billed its self-driving package, Apollo, as having Level 4 capabilities. That includes what the company calls a Point-to-Point Autopilot, designed to handle highway, city street, and parking scenarios. Jidu is conducting further tests in Beijing and Shanghai to ensure that its Point-to-Point Autopilot will cover all major cities in China.
The absence of a steering wheel is a statement in itself.
Chinese regulations do allow Level 4 in robotaxis that operate within designated geofenced areas, and Apollo has already shown what it can do in Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis, which have delivered more than 1 million rides in at least 10 cities across China. Baidu recently unveiled its latest autonomous robotaxi, the Level-4 Apollo RT6, which has a detachable steering wheel. The absence of a steering wheel is a statement in itself, and it frees up cabin space for extra seating or even desktops, gaming consoles, and vending machines.
China could well become the world's largest market for autonomous vehicles, with fully autonomous vehicles accounting for more than 40 percent of the country's new vehicle sales in 2040, and 12 percent of the vehicle installed base, according to global consulting firm McKinsey.
In 2018, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transportation, published standards for setting up road-test facilities for intelligent automobiles. Soon after, provinces and cities across China began setting up their own road-testing facilities.
Of the many Chinese companies already preparing to enter the autonomous vehicle market, Baidu is the biggest player. Its Apollo open-source software development platform launched in 2017. Two years later, the company was granted the first Level 4 road-test licenses in the country. More recently it received fully driverless permits in Wuhan and Chongqing, making Baidu the only company of its kind in China to provide ride-hailing services without any human drivers present in the car, as Waymo does in Phoenix and Cruise does in San Francisco. Meanwhile, its Abolong L4 Autonomous Bus is operating commercially in enclosed campuses in at least 24 Chinese cities.
The Robo-01 is powered by a 100-kilowatt-hour lithium battery from Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., or CATL. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) in about 4 seconds and can go 600 km on a charge.
So, the car can drive far, and it can drive fast. But can it drive itself? We'll find out in 2023.
This article appears in the January 2023 print issue as "Baidu and Geely Will Mass-Produce an Autonomous EV."
This article was updated on 6 December 2022.
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