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GPLv3|L8R -- Status report - ready for inspection? 2 years, 1 month
Mats Lidell
Hi, Here comes yet another status report from the project of converting to GPLv3 or later. There are two lists of files below. The first list contains all files that are in an undecided state. Please inspect: Do we need to do anything with them. If so what? The second list contains all files that we can leave untouched and the reason for that. Please inspect: Are all reasons OK and correct? Are we getting close to the were an inspection of the xemacs-gplv3 repository could be performed? With the intent that it that is OK we could merge back to trunk and go GPLv3 or later? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "CHANGES-beta" "ChangeLog" "PROBLEMS" "README" "README.GPLv3" "etc/ChangeLog" "etc/Emacs.ad" "etc/InstallGuide" "etc/NEWS" "etc/ONEWS" "etc/OONEWS" "etc/README" "etc/editclient.sh" "etc/emacskeys.sco" "etc/emacsstrs.sco" "etc/gtkrc" "etc/package-index.LATEST.gpg" "etc/sample.Xresources" "etc/xemacs.1" "lib-src/ChangeLog" "lib-src/README" "lisp/ChangeLog" "lisp/README" "lisp/mule/mule-locale.txt" "man/ChangeLog" "man/README" "modules/ChangeLog" "modules/base64/Makefile" "modules/common/configure-post.ac" "modules/common/configure-pre.ac" "modules/zlib/Makefile" "nt/ChangeLog" "nt/Emacs.ad.h" "nt/Installation.el" "nt/README" "nt/Win32.cf" "nt/lisp.ico" "nt/site.def" "nt/xemacs.dsp" "nt/xemacs.dsw" "src/ChangeLog" "src/README" "src/README.kkcc" "src/m/README" "src/s/README" "src/s/freebsd.h" "src/s/irix6-0.h" "src/s/netbsd.h" "src/s/sol2.h" "tests/ChangeLog" "tests/Dnd/README" "tests/automated/README" "version.sh.in" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- These files below are the files that we might be able to leave as they are. The reason for why they need not to be changed is listed after each file: (Some reasons are taken verbatim from private communication or the "GPL version 3 source survey") ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "INSTALL" -> old FSF Documentation license "config.guess" -> Part of config which is still GPLv2 or later. See "http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/config" "config.sub" -> Part of config which is still GPLv2 or later. See "http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/config" "etc/ETAGS.ChangeLog" -> BSD and GPL v2 or later "etc/VEGETABLES" -> Not copyrightable. "etc/XKeysymDB" -> MIT "etc/ctags.1" -> Part of the etags distribution, which is not part of XEmacs. "etc/custom/example-themes/ex-custom-file" -> Generated(!?) or GPL V2 or later? "etc/etags.1" -> Part of the etags distribution, which is not part of XEmacs. "etc/gnuattach.1" -> simple man link to gnuserv.1 "etc/gnuclient.1" -> simple man link to gnuserv.1 "etc/gnudoit.1" -> simple man link to gnuserv.1 "etc/refcard.ps.gz" -> Generated from refcard..tex "etc/sample.Xdefaults" -> It is deprecated, so it can be removed but is only a three line reference to .Xresources "etc/xemacs-X.ico" -> GPLv2 or later but there is not meta data for the file where this can be documented. "info/dir" -> Generated(?) "install-sh" -> MIT-style "no advertising" license "lib-src/b2m.c" -> This is the version from GNU Emacs, so should be OK. "lib-src/config.values.in" -> Generated. "lib-src/emacs.csh" -> I don't think this even works with XEmacs ("emacsclient"), so I believe we can just delete it. "lib-src/insert-data-in-exec.c" -> Compatible license. "lib-src/mmencode.c" -> Compatible license. "lisp/dump-paths.el" -> Empty file. Not copyrightable. "lisp/term/bobcat.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt102.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt125.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt200.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt201.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt220.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt240.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt300.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt320.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt400.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lisp/term/vt420.el" -> Emacs version has no explicit license declaration "lock/.precious" -> Not copyrightable. "modules/canna/install-sh" -> MIT "modules/ldap/install-sh" -> MIT "modules/postgresql/install-sh" -> MIT "modules/sample/external/install-sh" -> MIT "modules/sample/internal/install-sh" -> MIT "move-if-change" -> Identical to GPLv3 or later Emacs version "nt/Xmd.patch" -> GPLv2 or later but only a few lines "nt/file.ico" -> MIT "nt/minitar.c" -> Public domain "nt/paths.h" -> Generated "nt/xemacs.ico" -> GPLv2 or later but there is not meta data for the file where this can be documented. "src/alloca.c" -> Public domain. "src/depend" -> Generated "src/emacs-marshals.c" -> Generated. "src/emacs-widget-accessors.c" -> Generated. "src/intl-auto-encap-win32.c" -> Generated. "src/intl-auto-encap-win32.h" -> Generated. "src/libsst.c" -> Compatible license. "src/libsst.h" -> Compatible license. "src/libst.h" -> Compatible copyright. "src/linuxplay.c" -> Compatible license. (MIT-like) "src/miscplay.c" -> Compatible license. (MIT-like) "src/miscplay.h" -> Compatible license. (MIT-like) "src/nas.c" -> Compatible license. (MIT-like) "src/paths.h.in" -> Generated. "src/s/openbsd.h" -> Too short. (< 10 lines) "src/s/usg5-4-2.h" -> Too short. (< 10 lines) "src/sunplay.c" -> Compatible copyright. "tests/gtk/UNIMPLEMENTED" -> Does notes need a license? "tests/tooltalk/beeps.el" -> Too short. (< 10 lines) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Yours -- %% Mats _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
Re: Loading startup changes load-path? 5 years, 3 months
Michael Sperber
Mats Lidell <matsl(a)xemacs.org> writes: >>>>>> Michael Sperber <sperber(a)deinprogramm.de> writes: > >> It is intentional, to some degree: A long time ago, people screamed >> bloody murder at me when the startup paths didn't give configure'd >> paths precedence over those determined at run time. startup.el is just >> the first file that knows about those paths. So there's no good >> solution here that will make everybody happy, I'm afraid. > > But this happens while building the dump. What ever happens when you > start your xemacs is another thing I think. Couldn't this behavior be > controlled some how so that when building the dump we don't do this? It could be done. My point is that, at least once upon a time, there were people who didn't do it to be the way you want it to be. They do have a point in that the already complicated behavior gets more complicated when it's different at dump time. -- Regards, Mike _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
The help-buffer: Left-click, middle-click, right-click and return...!? 5 years, 5 months
The XEmacs Package Smoketest
Hi, I have had a look at the *Help:-buffer and have spotted some inconsistencies. It seems like left-click, middle-click, right-click and return is used differently. How should we have it? As it is now a referens to a variable sets an extent so that left-click and middle-click goes to the Documentation. Hitting return with the point in the extent does nothing. Finally, right-click will bring up a context menu with alternatives to go to Documentation, the source or Find tag. On the other hand, the source code link after "-- loaded from", does not set up a link for left-click. Here middle click and return works. Right click does nothing special, but could have had a menu for goto source. Wouldn't it be more consistent to let left-, middle-click and return do the same thing. Not that important but the context menu could include something useful for all links as well. Comments? Yours -- %% Mats _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
Bug fix in menubar.el 5 years, 6 months
Byrel Mitchell
A couple functions in menubar.el (add-menu-item-1, and delete-menu-item) assume that any operations on a top-level menu are operations on current-menubar, and so overwrite it, regardless of whether this menu was passed in as an argument. A test case: (progn (setq my-menu '(("File" "---"))) (add-submenu nil '("Edit" "Editting") nil my-menu) (delete-menu-item '("File") my-menu) (and (assoc "Edit" my-menu) (not (assoc "File" my-menu)))) This should return t; it removes one submenu and adds another. On a 21.5.34 system, however, it will return nil as both add-submenu and delete-menu-item will fail to operate on the local menu. (It won't in fact clobber the current menu; this example's safe.) I'm attaching a patch to fix this. Best, Byrel Mitchell _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
Re: Ispell+Flyspell with UTF8 fonts 5 years, 6 months
On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 12:19:19AM +0100, Richard wrote: > On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 11:54:50PM +0100, Mats Lidell wrote: > > 2013/12/23 Aidan Kehoe <kehoea(a)parhasard.net> > > > > > > > > It can be both! I have a 75% merged ispell.el sitting around, which I > > > should > > > finish and commit. > > > > > > > Well I have similar problems with the native swedish chars åäö. I'm running > > XEmacs with locale sv_SE.utf8 but according to the suggested spellings when > > checkling a word with åäö in it somewhere another encoding seems to be > > introduced. In the ispell-dictionary-alist "svenska" is listed as > > iso-8859-1. Do I have a bad configuration or is there a bug here? Will your > > fixed ispell.el handle this case? > > I have > > $ echo $LANG > en_US.UTF-8 > > and for me ispell-dictionary-alist has non-utf charsets for all languages > as well. so I have now changed the iso-8851-1 into utf-8 and the error is gone. (copied lisp/ispell/ispell.el into my homedir, edited there and load at top of init.el) With that simple hack the list of characters doesn´t fit anymore the äöüß aren´t recognised as part of word. Simply changing the regexp to include aöüß instead of the previous definitions somehow failed for me, have to look at that closer. Richard --- Name and OpenPGP keys available from pgp key servers _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
Ispell+Flyspell with UTF8 fonts 5 years, 6 months
Hi, I have recently installed Xemacs (21.5.34-1) on Fedora-19. When switching flyspell on it says "starting International Ispell xxx (but really Hunspell 1.3.2)" "ps" shows that hunspell is running as "hunspell -a -C -d de_DE" It seems to work till the moment that I type something with a special chars - typing "daß" results in: (1) (command/warning) Error in `post-command-hook' (resetting to nil): (args-out-of-range (ß 2)) Backtrace follows: # bind (inhibit-quit) string-match(" " "ß" 2) # bind (shift accept-list output) ispell-parse-output("ß") # bind (word poss end start flyspell-word cursor-location) # (unwind-protect ...) # bind (following) flyspell-word() # (unwind-protect ...) # (unwind-protect ...) # bind (command) flyspell-post-command-hook() # (unwind-protect ...) # (catch #<INTERNAL OBJECT (XEmacs bug?) (opaque-ptr, adr=0x0) 0x22> ...) # (unwind-protect ...) # (condition-case ... . error) # (catch top-level ...) The buffer mode-line is showing UTF8. I would be thankfull for any insight if this is a configuration error of me or a bug. Richard --- Name and OpenPGP keys available from pgp key servers _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
XEmacs Packages have been pre-released (2013-12-19-09) 5 years, 7 months
Norbert Koch
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hey there everyone. I have just added the following packages to the 'Pre-Releases' directory: New Packages in Pre-Release: =========================== xemacs-base-2.39-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none Previously Announced Packages Still in Pre-Release: ================================================== Sun-1.17-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none cc-mode-1.74-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 5.32.5 ede-1.04-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 1.0pre4 ediff-1.82-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 2.75 edit-utils-2.51-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none efs-1.35-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 1.24 eudc-1.41-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 1.32 games-1.21-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 2.00 gnus-1.95-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 5.10.10 haskell-mode-1.12-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 2.1 hyperbole-1.20-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 5.0.5 leim-1.34-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none mh-e-1.33-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 7.4.2 misc-games-1.23-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none mmm-mode-1.06-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 0.4.8 net-utils-1.57-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: N/A pcl-cvs-1.71-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: R-2_9_9 pgg-1.08-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 0.1 prog-modes-2.29-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none ruby-modes-1.05-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 1.8.7 speedbar-1.30-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 1.0pre4 text-modes-2.01-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none tramp-1.46-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 2.2.8 w3-1.38-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 4.0pre47 x-symbol-1.13-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: 4.5.1 xemacs-devel-1.82-pkg.tar.gz upstream version: none Detailed Changes: ================ - ------- ChangeLog Entries from xemacs-packages/xemacs-base/ChangeLog ------- 2013-12-19 Norbert Koch <viteno(a)xemacs.org> * Makefile (VERSION): XEmacs package 2.39 released. 2013-12-12 Michael Sperber <mike(a)xemacs.org> * compile.el (compilation-error-regexp-alist-alist): Make it autoloaded. 2013-12-14 Mats Lidell <matsl(a)xemacs.org> * Makefile (ELCS): Add rcfiles.elc so it is built and installed. Installing These: ================ Manually: - -------- 1) Download the packages that you want to install from: /ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/beta/experimental/packages/ 2) Unpack them to: [1] /usr/local/lib/xemacs/xemacs-packages/ 3) Re-start XEmacs. Using XEmacs Package Tools (XEmacs 21.[245].x): - ---------------------------------------------- 1) Tools -> Packages -> Add Download Site -> Pre-Releases 2) Tools -> Packages -> List and Install 3) Select the packages you wish to install (there are brief instructions at the bottom of the packages buffer). 4) Packages -> Install/Remove Selected 5) Re-start XEmacs. Using XEmacs Package Tools (XEmacs 21.1.14): - ------------------------------------------- 1) Options -> Manage Packages -> Add Download Site -> Pre-Releases 2) Options -> Manage Packages -> List and Install 3 - 5) As per XEmacs 21.[245].x. Footnotes: [1] Note: Mule packages should be installed into: /usr/local/lib/xemacs/mule-packages/ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFSsrrp7yJLt8ORD7cRAhg/AKCNFyxbfBOKhNXmPzWopwS8Z8rS4gCcCI17 HHcMr/OHrzSIzXwTvAUARJM= =ni2F -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
[AC] Port `move-beginning-of-line', `move-end-of-line' from GNU Emacs 5 years, 7 months
Michael Sperber writes: > > Michael Sperber <sperber(a)deinprogramm.de> writes: > > > 2013-12-08 Michael Sperber <mike(a)xemacs.org> > > > > * subr-more.el (condition-case-unless-debug): Added, from GNU Emacs. > > (with-demoted-errors): Added, from GNU Emacs. Does it make sense (since we have a sane warning system) to repromote these to warnings, perhaps at a level that doesn't pop the *Warnings* buffer, but only logs the warning for future reference? Steve ? _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
question about `while-no-input' in xemacs-base/subr-more.el 5 years, 7 months
A blast from the past (March 2013). Michael Sperber writes: > ;;;###autoload > (defmacro while-no-input (&rest body) > "Execute BODY only as long as there's no pending input. > If input arrives, that ends the execution of BODY, > and `while-no-input' returns t. Quitting makes it return nil. > If BODY finishes, `while-no-input' returns whatever value BODY produced." > (declare (debug t) (indent 0)) > (let ((catch-sym (make-symbol "input"))) > `(with-local-quit > (catch ',catch-sym > (let ((throw-on-input ',catch-sym)) > (or (input-pending-p) > (progn ,@body))))))) Does this actually work in XEmacs? AFAICS there's no symbol `throw-on-input' in XEmacs 21.5. Nor, again AFAICS, is there anything here that actually catches the `quit' signal. _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta
Re: Improving [was: Massaging] load-history 5 years, 7 months
Sean MacLennan
On Sun, 15 Dec 2013 10:32:09 +0900 "Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen(a)xemacs.org> wrote: > Which probably isn't writable for most users (even today, it isn't for > me on *any* of my systems without su/sudo). I was thinking more of the case where somebody has installed XEmacs on the machine (using apt-get under Ubuntu for example). For most of these users they are probably not changing the source packages at all. I am much more likely to look up the source to see how it works (and maybe steal a few ideas) more than looking it up to change it. What I don't understand even after reading the thread Aidan posted is how massaging load-history would affect anybody. My simple use of find-function doesn't seem to be affected by changing load-history. In fact I (setq load-history nil) and describe-function and find-function work the same. Or did the last patch make load-history less important? Cheers, Sean _______________________________________________ XEmacs-Beta mailing list XEmacs-Beta(a)xemacs.org http://lists.xemacs.org/mailman/listinfo/xemacs-beta


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Published On: Thu, Dec 4th, 2014
Hold Amaechi, APC responsible for post election violence – Group
By Ali Abare Abubakar
A group, Elite Youths Support and Development Initiative (EYSDI) has called on Nigerians and the world at large to hold Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and the All Progressives Congress (APC) responsible for any post 2015 election violence.
EYSDI made the call in a statement signed by the duo of Barristers Tokunbo Olu and Smart Fred, president and secretary respectively and issued to journalists in Abuja yesterday.
According to the group, the call became necessary following statements made by both Governor Amaechi and the APC national chairman, Odigie Oyegun, during the APC salvation rally in Abuja, where Governor Amaechi was alleged to have said "What is the essence of going to court when the Federal Government doesn't obey the law? That's why the APC say we won't go to the court any longer. If you rig us out, we would rig ourselves in; we will form our own government. We have met on that and we have agreed on that. We will install our own government and there would be two governments."
Similarly, the group further alleged, at the party mega rally for the re-election of its governorship candidate in Osun at the Osogbo Township Stadium in Osogbo, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said, "the battle line has already been drawn. The APC will no longer accept any stolen mandate. We shall not recognize any government that emerges through rigging in February 2015."
"The APC will set up a new government, which will be a peoples government if the PDP rigs the 2015 Presidential election"
Part of the statement issued by EYSDI reads:
"Those who doubt Governor Amaechi's proclivity for actions that could threaten peace should recall the recent threat by Amaechi to lawyers in Port Harcourt to the effect that he would provide black suits to thugs disguised as lawyers to beat up lawyers if they dared to go to the street to protest the long closure of the courts in Port Harcourt.
"Equally significant is that the APC leaders' statements were made after the salvation rally the main highlight of which was a most unruly blockade of the entrance of the police head quarters for hours.
"Nigerians recall with sadness that before the 2011 elections, certain persons close to the APC leadership had similarly threatened to make the country ungovernable and we are all witnesses of the level of violence that ensued. Indeed, only a few are able to distinguish between the violence that followed these threats and the Boko Haram insurgency.
"With such sense of Déjà vu, we urge all Nigerians to hold Amaechi who had already stated his desire to run and relocate abroad after the election, where he claimed several embassies have already given him forms for grant of residency in their respective countries and his APC counterparts responsible for any possible future violence incited by their statements".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Alpine Environment
When an alpine lockdown is inspiring
I'd like to come clean about my relationship with the Alps. I never think "what fun!" when faced with a mountain I've decided to hike or cycle up, either slow footing my way to the top or searching for a lower gear that doesn't and probably never will exist.
This content was published on November 26, 2020 - 08:00 November 26, 2020 - 08:00
Dale Bechtel
Dale began his career at Swiss Radio International, the predecessor of SWI swissinfo.ch, in the 1990s. He reports on everything and anything happening in the Swiss Alps, from politics and climate change to tourism.
More about the author | Editorial Board
I summon the willpower by doing the math. When walking, overcoming a thousand metres in altitude will roughly require two hours up a path with an average gradient of 18% while maintaining a cadence of 100 steps per minute. Those were my numbers recently while climbing Pizzo Leone – a peak in southern Switzerland that forms part of a ridge separating Lago Maggiore to the east from the Centovalli (valley of the hundred valleys) to the west.
Not that I'm counting – my smartwatch silently performs the task for me, although I do catch myself from time to time checking the heart rate reading on my wrist, worrying that my vital organ could burst as the beats-per-minute count jump above 150.
There is a point though when my pace becomes fluid and I find a rhythm – no longer forcing each upward step, adapting naturally to the terrain. It's then that the movements are more poetic than mathematical. They can inspire minor articles like this one by yours truly - a hack journalist, or major works by truly great artists.
Innovation in women's health comes in small doses
As awareness of women's specific health needs grows, Swiss researchers and entrepreneurs help counteract a history of neglect.
Lord Byron is an excellent, early example. In September 1816, he set out to explore the Swiss Alps, and although his climb to the foot of the Jungfrau must have been arduous, he was so impressed by the glaciated heights that he was moved to pen the dramatic poem, Manfred. If you'd like to know more, I recommend reading my colleague Simon Bradley's excellent article on George Gordon Byron's time in Switzerland.
Following in Lord Byron's Swiss footsteps
This content was published on May 26, 2016 May 26, 2016 Two hundred years ago, Lord Byron retreated to Switzerland with fellow Romantics for what would become an exceptionally creative summer.
Around the same time Byron was writing Manfred, Beethoven was composing the "Hammerklavier" Piano Sonata. Swiss pianist Andreas Haefliger has been performing the monumental solo piece for about 30 years now. This spring and early summer the pianist spent an extended period of time in the mountains of Uri in central Switzerland due to the first lockdown. It inspired him to make a film connecting the Alps to Beethoven's work, "Uri inspiriert, Beethoven triumphiertExternal link" (Uri inspires, Beethoven triumphs).
While I was hiking and biking in southern Switzerland, Andreas' wife, flautist Marina Piccinini, reached out to inform me how the film came about:
"On March 5, I came up to Uri to spend a total of three days with Andreas before setting off to NYC on a two-month tour. Likewise, Andreas was to travel to London for a big Beethoven celebration at the Royal Festival Hall and then on to other concerts, so we wanted to have a chance to meet up. By March 8, our flights and concerts were canceled, and we were in lockdown in the Alps until June 15th. We bought an electric keyboard so Andreas could practice, (I had my flutes with me). We came to know the area intimately, taking daily walks. And we started to produce videos as live concerts turned to streaming."
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The film shows Andreas' dazzling performance of the sonata on the stage of the main theatre in Uri, interspersed with conversations with the pianist.
"In the case of Beethoven his love of nature is obvious. I wanted to illustrate how, in Beethoven's words, art and science can bring us closer to the divine," Andreas explains. "Yearning to feel the influence of nature on our art, we as artists can understand the creativity of the divine."
There's even an unexpected and wonderful scene in the second half of the film where Andreas is joined on a mountain walk by neighbour, extreme alpinist, Dani Arnold. Arnold is best known for speed climbing some of the most challenging faces in the Alps.
The men's chosen professions couldn't be more disparate, yet they find common ground in their discussion.
When standing at the foot of a sheer 1,000-metre-high mountain wall, Arnold says he sometimes doubts whether he's up to the challenge. The pianist can relate, remembering first seeing the Hammerklavier score as a 22-year-old, and thinking it would be impossible to ever play the 18-page fugue found at the end.
Pharma hub Basel ranked Switzerland's most polluted city
This content was published on Jan 20, 2021 Jan 20, 2021 An air pollution mortality ranking of more than 1,000 European cities shows that urban Switzerland can do better.
Another theme of the film is the idea of constant change. That brought to mind the off-road bike routes we followed in southern Switzerland. The loose rocks and tree roots scattered along the single trails make navigation a test of skill and perseverance at the best of times, but even more of a challenge in autumn when they're hidden by a thick layer of fallen leaves.
It also made me recall a discussion I had recently with colleague Luigi Jorio about his plans to highlight the important work of PERMOS, the network in Switzerland that monitors permafrost. The article Luigi wrote details how as the climate warms, the permanently frozen ground thaws, releasing trapped carbon and microorganisms with potentially disastrous consequences.
Don't miss Luigi's article if you'd like to get a sense of the global implications of permafrost loss as well as the real impact it's already having on infrastructure in the Swiss Alps.
Loss of permafrost - a global cause for concern
This content was published on Nov 10, 2020 Nov 10, 2020 The thawing of terrain that used to be permanently frozen is becoming more and more prevalent, and it has planet-wide repercussions.
The theme of constant change also reminded me of this passage from an article Scott Haas' penned for us a few months back about the time he spends at his alpine home: "The best time to view our mountains is…any time. Waking up to a day of snow falling, the fog obscuring them, and then clearing until they emerge, as if to say: We have always been here, we will be here centuries after you are gone." Scott is the author of the just-published book, "Why be happy? The Japanese Way of Acceptance".
If you have a question about life in the Alps or a story you'd like me to cover, do get in touch: dale.bechtel@swissinfo.ch
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Letter from the Alps
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Schiedsrichterbeobachter im Fußball und Handball sind in der Regel ältere, erfahrene, zumeist aber auch nicht mehr aktive Handball- oder Fußballschiedsrichter, welche offiziell vom jeweilig zuständigen Schiedsrichterausschuss für die Bewertung bzw. Beurteilung der Leistung eines Schiedsrichters, ggf. seiner Schiedsrichterassistenten, in einem Fußball- oder Handballspiel angesetzt werden. Die Beobachtungen, welche in ihrer Häufigkeit je nach Festlegung des zuständigen Verbandes für zwei Spiele im Jahr bis hin zur Beobachtung eines jeden Spieles (Bundesligen) für Schiedsrichter festgelegt werden, dienen der Qualitätssicherung und Fortentwicklung des Schiedsrichters und werden von den Schiedsrichterausschüssen – neben Einsatzbereitschaft und sonstigem Engagement im Schiedsrichterbereich – am Ende oder im Laufe des jeweiligen Spieljahres wesentlich zur Beibehaltung oder Änderung der Einstufung des Schiedsrichters herangezogen (Auf- oder Abstieg). Mit dem Aufstieg in eine höhere Liga nimmt die Anzahl an Spielen unter Beobachtung in der Regel zu. Im Anschluss an ein geleitetes Spiel erfolgt in der Regel eine mündliche Auswertung, welche in die Erstellung eines Beobachtungsbogens durch den Beobachter mündet, den dieser in den darauf folgenden Tagen zu erstellen hat und welcher dem Schiedsrichter auch zur Kenntnis gegeben wird. Der Schiedsrichter erhält unter Berücksichtigung der Anforderungen im Spiel Hinweise zu Fehlern oder besonders positivem Auftreten oder solchen Entscheidungen.

Schiedsrichterbewertung im Fußball

Bewertung ab der Saison 2022/23
Schiedsrichter und deren Assistenten werden in Deutschland seit Sommer 2022 nach einem bundesweit einheitlichen Bewertungsbogen beurteilt, der wie folgt aufgebaut ist:

Der Schiedsrichter startet mit 240 Punkten, was einem fehlerfreien Spiel ohne Vorkommnisse gleichkäme. Für die Assistenten gilt dasselbe, allerdings mit einer Startpunktzahl von 60 Punkten. Der vierte Offizielle wird wo er zum Einsatz kommt, also in den beiden Bundesligen, ebenfalls bewertet und erhält zunächst 20 Punkte.

Für die Bewertung gibt es einen Bogen mit sechs verschiedenen Rubriken und dazugehörigen Kategorien. Startwert ist eine Punktzahl von 4, eine Aufwertung auf bis zu 6 bzw. eine Abwertung bis herunter auf 1 Punkt ist möglich. Zusätzlich erfolgt jeweils eine Gewichtung der Kategorie von 1–3. Die einfache Gewichtung erhalten bspw. Kategorien wie Ermahnungen, Vorteilsauslegung oder Bewertung von Oberkörpervergehen, doppelt gewichtet werden u. a. die Bewertung von Handspiel, angemessene Verwarnungen oder auch die persönliche Akzeptanz des Schiedsrichters. Spielentscheidende Szenen wie Strafstöße, Feldverweise oder die (Nicht-)anerkennung von Toren werden dreifach gewichtet.

Es existieren folgende Bewertungsrubriken, wobei die Anzahl je nach eingesetzten Assistenten bzw. eines vierten Offiziellen variiert:

Die Bewertung jeder Szene kann eine oder zwei Kategorien in derselben oder verschiedenen Rubriken betreffen. Bei Toren, Feldverweisen und Strafstößen ist zusätzlich eine Bewertung in der Rubrik 1 (spielrelevante Einzelszenen) notwendig. Jede Bewertung geschieht textlich aufgrund einer sogenannten Belegszene und nicht durch bloßes, kommentarloses Verändern der Punktzahl. Die Rubrik Teamarbeit bezieht sich ausschließlich auf den Schiedsrichter auf dem Feld, ein Fehler seiner Assistenten, der nur in dessen Verantwortung liegt, wird dem SR nicht angelastet, sofern er ihn im Spiel entsprechend korrigiert. Eine Szene, die für den Beobachter nicht zweifelsfrei aufzulösen ist, wird dem Schiedsrichterteam nicht zur Last gelegt und bleibt wertungsneutral. Das betrifft beispielsweise knappe Abseitsentscheidungen oder solche Spielsituationen, bei denen die Sicht für den Beobachter erheblich erschwert ist. Die Szenen werden dennoch wertungsneutral eingetragen.

Gründe der Einführung
Der neue Beobachtungsbogen stellt eine Generalüberholung des alten Systems bis 2022 dar. Seitens vieler Schiedsrichter wurde ein Schiedsrichterbeobachter oft als "Fehlersucher" empfunden. Dies begründete sich darin, dass die Zahl der Szenen, die zu einem potenziellen Punktabzug führen konnten, deutlich der einer möglichen Aufwertung überwiegt. Auch die Tatsache, dass Bestnoten nur mit einem erhöhten Schwierigkeitsgrad des Spiels erreichbar waren, stieß auf Kritik. Der neue Maßstab soll der einer gesamtheitlichen Bewertung sein, ohne den Fokus zu oft auf einzelne fehlerhafte Szenen zu legen.

In manchen Landesverbänden wurden Schiedsrichterassistenten nicht gesondert bewertet.

Bewertung bis 2022
Bis zum Saisonende 2021/22 war folgende Bewertungsskala, teils mit kleineren Abweichungen je nach Landesverband, maßgeblich für die Beurteilung der Leistung:
 9.0 – 10:   Hervorragende Leistung
 8.5 – 8.9:  Sehr gute Leistung
 8.0 – 8.4:  Gute Leistung
 7.5 – 7.9:  Unbefriedigende Leistung
 7.0 – 7.4:  Schwache Leistung
 6.9:        Ungenügende Leistung

In einem Spiel ohne weitere Vorkommnisse oder Fehler war durch den Beobachter der Wert 8,4 auszuwählen. Durch einen sogenannten positiven Gesamteindruck konnte zudem eine Aufwertung von 0,1 Punkten vorgenommen werden. Maßgeblich für die Bewertung waren neben der Leistung des Schiedsrichters auch der Schwierigkeitsgrad des Spiels (1 = normal/mögliche Höchstpunktzahl: 8,6; 2 = schwierig/mögliche Höchstpunktzahl: 9,0; 3 = sehr schwierig/mögliche Höchstpunktzahl: 10,0).

Für einen leichten Fehler wurden 0,1 Punkte abgezogen, für einen normalen Fehler 0,2 Punkte, und für einen schweren Fehler, wie bspw. einen Regelverstoß (fehlerhafter Feldverweis, nicht gegebener klarer Strafstoß) waren 0,5 Punkte Abzug vorgeschrieben. Aufwertungen waren außer über die spezielle Regelung des Gesamteindrucks nur in Verbindung mit einer entsprechenden herausragenden Szene möglich.

Bewertung im Amateurbereich bis 2008
Bis zirka 2008 war vor allem in den mittleren Ligen (Bezirksliga bis Verbandsliga) ein weiteres, anderes Punktsystem gebräuchlich. Die Bewertung sah folgendermaßen aus:

 50: Hervorragende Leitung in einem extrem schweren Spiel
 49: Hervorragende Leitung in einem sehr schweren Spiel
 48: Sehr Gute Leitung in einem sehr schweren Spiel
 47: Sehr Gute Leitung in einem schweren Spiel
 46: Sehr Gute Leitung in einem normalen oder teilweise schweren Spiel
 45: Gute Leitung in einem normalen Spiel
 44: Leitung mit kleinen Fehlern (kein spielentscheidender) in einem normalen Spiel
 40–43: Leitung mit einigen Mängeln (oder einem Regelverstoß)
 <40: ungenügende Leistung

Förderungsgruppen im Fußball
Talentierte (Jung-)Schiedsrichter werden in einigen Landesverbänden in besondere Kadergruppen berufen und/oder teilweise von Coaches begleitet, was eine bessere Entwicklung eines Schiedsrichters und seiner Leistung über einen bestimmten Zeitraum ermöglichen soll. Oft finden regelmäßige Treffen statt, in denen Erfahrungen ausgetauscht, Wissen vermittelt, die körperliche und regeltechnische Eignung überprüft und eine einheitlichere Bewertung von Spielsituationen erreicht werden soll.

Parallel zum Herrenspielbetrieb entstand mit der Bildung der Fußball-A-Junioren-Bundesliga ein Pool besonders förderungswürdiger Schiedsrichter, welche von einem Kreis ehemaliger Spitzenschiedsrichter beobachtet werden. Dieser Trend setzte sich später mit der Einführung der B-Junioren-Bundesliga fort, in beiden DFB-Ligen kommen nach Ansicht der jeweiligen Schiedsrichterausschüsse "perspektivisch vielversprechende" Schiedsrichter aus speziellen Leistungskadern der angehörigen Verbände zum Einsatz. Auch in den Junioren-Verbandsligen finden sich teils solche Schiedsrichter-Kader.

Weblinks
 Die Rolle der Schiedsrichterbeobachter UEFA.org, 21. Februar 2014.
 So funktioniert die Schiedsrichter-Bewertung Deutscher Fußball-Bund.

Einzelnachweise

Schiedsrichterwesen
Fachbegriff (Fußball)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Лонзо Болл (, народився 27 жовтня 1997, Анагайм, Каліфорнія) — американський професійний баскетболіст, який виступає за команду «Чикаґо Буллз». Розігруючий захисник захисник, «Лос-Анджелес Лейкерс» обрали його під другим загальним вибором на драфті НБА 2017 року. В 2018 році він був включений до Другої команди новачків НБА.

Примітки


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Jim McElwain Lane Kiffin Sports Bowl Championship Series College sports SEC Football Championship Game Big 12 Football Championship Game Football FBS College Football Playoff BCS National Championship Game College football
Big Ten Clemson ACC Ohio State Big 12 Memphis The American LSU SEC Central Michigan Florida Atlantic
College Football Picks: Searching for upsets to scramble CFP
By RALPH D. RUSSO - Dec. 04, 2019 03:26 PM EST
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2019, file photo, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day celebrates on the sideline against Penn State during an NCAA college football game, in Columbus, Ohio. Heading into this year's slate of conference title games a case could be made that No. 1 LSU (No. 2 CFP), No. 2 Ohio State (No. 1 CFP) and No. 3 Clemson (No. 3 CFP) have all done enough already to lose their conference championship games and still get in the College Football Playoff.(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Championship weekend rarely produces the type of upsets that throw the national championship race into turmoil.
Heading into this year's slate of conference title games, a case could be made that No. 1 LSU (No. 2 CFP), No. 2 Ohio State (No. 1 CFP) and No. 3 Clemson (No. 3 CFP) have all done enough already to get into the College Football Playoff even if they lose this weekend.
That's no fun.
We remember major upsets such as Kansas State over Oklahoma in the Big 12 in 2003, LSU knocking Tennessee out of a chance to play for a BCS title in the 2001 SEC title game and Michigan State's victory against Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten championship that cost the Buckeyes a BCS title game appearance.
Memorable, but infrequent. Championship weekend is typically chalky.
In four of the five seasons of the playoff, a team ranked in the top four heading into championship weekend did not reach the playoff, but usually it has not been because of an upset.
Last year, Georgia was in the same position it is in this year: No. 4 going into the SEC title game as an underdog (Alabama last year, LSU this year). The Bulldogs put up a good fight against the Tide, but lost and got the boot for Oklahoma.
In 2017, Wisconsin was undefeated and fourth heading into the Big Ten championship game, where it lost to Ohio State, which had lost twice but was a 6 ½-point favorite over the Badgers. That opened the door for Alabama to get the fourth spot without winning its conference.
In 2016, championship weekend only changed the order of the top four slightly, not the teams.
In 2015, Iowa was unbeaten and fourth but lost to Michigan State, which was fifth, in the Big Ten title game. The Spartans moved up and into the playoff.
The biggest swing game on championship weekend came in the first year of the playoff. Ohio State, a 4-point underdog after quarterback J.T. Barrett was injured against Michigan, beat Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten championship game in 2014. The committee jumped the Buckeyes from fifth to fourth, snubbing co-Big 12 champions TCU and Baylor, which were both 11-1. TCU was dropped from third to sixth and Horned Frogs fans have still not gotten over it.
Will an upset toss the committee a curve this year?
The picks:
No. 5 Utah (minus 6½) vs. No. 13 Oregon, Pac-12 championship at Santa Clara, California
Utes have not defeated a ranked team yet; It would probably help if they not only win, but do so comfortably ... UTAH 28-17.
No. 1 LSU (minus 7½) vs. No. 4 Georgia, SEC championship at Atlanta
The best offense in the SEC (LSU) vs. the best defense (Georgia) ... LSU 35-24.
No. 2 Ohio State (minus 16) vs. No. 10 Wisconsin, Big Ten championship at Indianapolis
Which Buckeye will head to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist? Or Buckeyes? ... OHIO STATE 38-17.
No. 3 Clemson (minus 28) vs. No. 22 Virginia, ACC championship at Charlotte, North Carolina
Tigers come in having won seven straight by at least 31 points ...CLEMSON 45-14.
No. 6 Oklahoma (minus 8) vs. No. 8 Baylor, Big 12 championship at Arlington, Texas
Sooners looking for their fifth straight Big 12 title ... BAYLOR 31-28.
No. 16 Memphis (minus 8½) vs. No. 21 Cincinnati, AAC championship
Tigers go for the sweep against the Bearcats after beating them last week ... MEMPHIS 38-28.
No. 19 Boise State (minus 13½) vs. Hawaii, MWC championship
Broncos looking for third title game victory in fourth appearance ... BOISE STATE 42-24.
Louisiana-Lafayette (plus 6½) at No. 20 Appalachian State, Sun Belt championship
Rematch of last season's first Sun Belt title game ... LOUISIANA 24-23.
UAB (plus 7½) at Florida Atlantic, Conference USA championship
Owls trying to make it two C-USA titles in three seasons under coach Lane Kiffin ... FAU 34-21.
Miami (Ohio) (plus 6½) vs. Central Michigan, MAC championship at Detroit
Former Florida coach Jim McElwain has taken Central Michigan from 1-11 last year to a victory away from its first MAC title since 2009 ... CENTRAL MICHIGAN 33-24.
Last week: 21-3 straight; 10-14 against the spread.
Season: 249-65 straight; 172-130-9 against the spread.
Upset specials: 3-11 (straight up).
Best bets: 6-6-1 (against the spread).


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Netflix for Jazz? Quincy Jones's Qwest TV Takes Concerts and Films Digital | The New York Times
December 7, 2017 in African American Art, African American Music, Jazz Music, KOLUMN, KOLUMN Magazine
Posted in African American Art, African American Music, Jazz Music, KOLUMN, KOLUMN MagazineTags: African American Art, Jazz, Jazz Music, KOLUMN, KOLUMN Magazine, Quincy Jones, Qwest TV
Basquiat Left School at 17—and Made New York Museums His Classroom | Artsy
There are drummers, then jazz drummers, and then there's Harvey Mason | Michigan Chronicle
Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times
Featured Image, Robyn Twomey/Redux
For much of jazz's history, devotees discovered music over the radio airwaves and in library stacks, rooting out old LPs or videos to borrow and sample. Today, a lot of that exploration happens online — particularly on YouTube. Most major albums have found their way onto that streaming platform, as have concert bootlegs, studio sessions and old documentaries that were once impossible to track down.
Now a new video platform is seeking to raise the bar, offering a curated library of high-quality video content from across the jazz world. Quincy Jones, the jazz musician and impresario, is helping to start Qwest TV, an online library of concert videos and feature documentaries, most of them unavailable on YouTube or any other streaming site.
Herman Leonard | Photo Credit
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE | WASHINGTON, DC
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. (Website).
CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE | The New York Times


text:
Grenada adds USA to travel ban
Article Header
This story was posted 2 years ago
in General News, Health
by Linda Straker
Effective Saturday, 21 March at 23:59 pm, the USA is added to travel advisory
The USA, especially New York where thousands of Grenadians reside, has continuously reported increasing cases
As of 21 March 2020, Grenada's ports of entry will not accept passengers from the United States of America who are not Grenadian nationals or residents, as part of measures to combat Covid-19.
This was announced in a travel advisory published on the Ministry of Health Facebook page on 19 March 2020. As of 18 March, there are no positive Covid-19 cases in Grenada: 18 tests were conducted at the lab of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
"Effective Saturday, 21 March at 23:59 pm the USA is added to this advisory as per all the stipulations outlined," said the release which also said that, "Effective Friday, 20 March at 23:59 pm if you are not a Grenadian national, and in the last 14 days you have been to Iran, South Korea, China or anywhere in Europe including the UK, you will be refused entry into the country.
Grenadian nationals and non-nationals alike arriving from any other destinations outside of the list will be screened upon entry and self-quarantined for 14 days. "If you are a Grenadian national or resident you will be self-quarantined for a period of 14 days upon arrival into Grenada," the advisory said.
Before disembarking, every passenger will be required to complete a declaration form of his/her health status and will be required to check in daily with the Ministry of Health. Any person who becomes symptomatic will be quarantined or isolated.
Covid-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, but as of March 2020, Europe has become the epicentre of the respiratory-related infection which has infected thousands and caused the death of thousands.
The USA, especially New York where thousands of Grenadians reside, has continuously reported increasing cases. The Covid-19 death toll in New York City has hit 22, with 3,615 positive cases of coronavirus in New York City, more than half of the state's total. The hardest-hit boroughs are Brooklyn, with 1,030 cases; Queens with 980 cases, and Manhattan with 976 patients. Rounding out the cases are 436 in the Bronx and 165 on Staten Island. On Thursday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that more than half of the total positive cases are in New York City.
NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: caribbean public health agencycoronaviruscovid-19linda strakerministry of healthnew york
Technology can make social distancing easier
joseph davies says:
We chartered sailboat out of Grenada leaving May 1st. This really sucks for us. That being said, anyone who has a problem with this is an idiot. My thoughts are with the people of Grenada and I just hope they have shut their borders and time to be spared from the insanity that's going on in the United States.
Ethlyn Charles says:
People coming from countries where there is widespread cases even if they are asymptomatic has to be quarantined because of the length of incubation this virus has. I am very impressed with the precautions the government of Grenada is taking to protect its people. Stay safe my people and call on God for his protection and provisions in these times of uncertainty.
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Fossil Fools Day Critical Mass Ride TOMORROW!
It will be at 6pm and we will be meeting at the liberty pole. Hope to see you there!
The fossil fools ain't no joke - but that doesn't mean we can't fight them with one!
The Fossil Fuel Empire is real and it's here.
Read more about Fossil Fools Day Critical Mass Ride TOMORROW!
Learn more now about the most important issue facing our region!
our economy, environment, health and quality of life.
In response to Governor David Paterson's proposal to slash New York State's environmental trust fund by more than a third, dozens of conservation, environmental, public health, historic and farmland preservation, zoos, botanical gardens and aquaria groups, and others, decided to get personal with state legislators.
Chesapeake Energy has been called the 2nd largest producer of natural gas in the United States. While CEO of Chesapeake Aubrey McClendon sells natural gas as the key to "fueling America's clean energy future," the residents of Marcellus Shale-rich areas tell a different story: poisoned groundwater, toxic waste, and rural communities that have seen their once pristine air now contaminated with higher levels of o-zone than Los Angeles.
Indy TV #33 deals with the issue of the proposed Mayoral Takeover of the Rochester city schools. Our roundtable consists of members of Community Education Task Force, which formed to oppose Mayoral Control and to put forward alternatives. Dan DiClemente is president of the Union BENTE (Board of Education Non-Teaching Employees. Ryan Acuff is with Rochester Students for a Democratic Society.
In December, members of Genesee Valley Earth First! and others from Rochester participated in demonstrations against the Olympic torch relay in Canada. We did so because environmental destruction knows no borders, and the games have a sordid history of displacing the poor while legitimizing colonialism and authoritarianism. The torch relay itself was born in Nazi Germany to spotlight the fascist government's supremacist propaganda.


When I was first introduced to Papa vs Pretty they were significantly more weird and electronic. 'Heavy Harm' retains an offbeat feeling and roughness to it, but it sounds surprisingly a lot like The Okkervil Rivers, down to Thomas Rawle's imperfect, Will Sheff-aping yelp. It's a pretty sweet tune that shows their song-writing has matured to leans less on weirdness and more on, you know, melody. No doubt this move to more folk-rock territory was helped by Paul Dempsey who produced the EP from which this track is pulled.
Point is, I like where 'Heavy Harm' is at. It's a cool track. Let's stick around here.


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explanation of these key features and their benefits, customer quotes, etc.
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High Availability, vMotion®, and Distributed Resource Scheduler™.
to mature as the company consistently sets the bar for innovation in virtualization and cloud technologies.
Learn more about this robust community of support for VMware's cloud infrastructure suite.
pooled virtual memory or vRAM.
across the entire vSphere environment to enable a true cloud or utility based IT consumption model.
throughout the world and can be found online at www.vmware.com.


We all know that total body wellness is comprised of a smart and consistent workout regime, healthy eating choices and a strong sense of self-worth and meaningful relationships. One of the pillars that is often neglected in all the wellness noise blaring from nearly every major media outlet is the value of self-worth, purpose and strong relationships. Follow these recommendations from the professional wellness coaches to get your full total body wellness on the right track.
Focusing on the third component – self-worth and strong relationship will add enormously to the quality and purpose of your life. Think about what you enjoying doing that brings pleasure and with whom you enjoy spending your time. A lethargic lifestyle on the sofa, alone, evening after evening, is not only unhealthy but is can lead to mild depression and isolation. If you don't have a hobby or sport that you enjoy, start exploring your options. Take advantage of the awesome deals offered by Groupon coupons and snag a Scrapbook.steals coupon and discover the wonderful possibilities for arranging and preserving your favorite photos.
If you're not one for the gym, research the parks that are available in your area and take a long walk with a friend or your favorite play list. The fresh air, sunshine and physical activity will serve to boost your mood and motivation for uncovering a new hobby or sport.


Roland LaPlante, Chief Marketing Officer of Afilias, spoke to me in the past about .INFO being the forth most popular domain gTLD in the world. Today, he shares the current outlook on .ORGANIC and what qualifications are needed to own a domain with the TLD.
Mike: Describe for me how .ORGANIC will be seen as the exclusive online destination for members of the organic community.
Roland: While many companies and organizations associate their business with "organic," there has been no easy way for consumers to identify the ones that are truly in the organic business. They would have to dig into these organization's web sites to determine their authenticity. Until now! Today, companies registering for a .ORGANIC URL will only get the URL if they pass our verification process. For example, if a farm is USDA Certified, we will check with the certifier to ensure that they are really certified.
Over time consumers will have two reasons to know that EVERY .ORGANIC site is authentic. First, their experience will tell them they are visiting a community member. And second, search engines will begin to rank .ORGANIC sites higher as they become recognized as authoritative and authentic. The growing importance of the organic market coupled with the careful .ORGANIC verification process will enable .ORGANIC to stand apart as the real deal in the organic business while making it easy for consumers to identify and find truly organic goods and services.
Mike: How is registration going for .ORGANIC?
The .ORGANIC team was at the Natural Products Expo East 2014 in mid-September, one of the biggest trade events for the organic community on the US East Coast. .ORGANIC was enthusiastically received by both the exhibitors and attendees – many went back to their business teams at home with plans to deploy their own .ORGANIC sites.
Mike: Would you recommend that existing businesses pick up a .ORGANIC domain to supplement their existing site? If so, why?
Beyond branding is the ability to capture whole organic categories. Since the .ORGANIC top-level domain is still new, many great generic terms are available. A great example: Alpine Valley Bread just registered "bread.organic," thereby establishing themselves as THE place on the web to purchase and get information about organic bread and bread making! Participants in every organic category are now looking to see if they too can get a good generic name (note—they must be verified as eligible and must use the name in conjunction with the term they register).
Mike: Do you believe consumers are adapting well to the new TLDs and will .ORGANIC integrate well?
Roland: A recent research shows consumer trust is growing in new TLDs: the number of people stating that they would only put faith in heritage domain names dropped from 54% in 2013 to 39% in 2014. Moreover, 18% stated they would prefer to buy from a branded domain, e.g. "shop.adidas" over "adidas.com/shop," up from 13% last year. What's even more interesting is that 13% would feel that brands are "behind the times" if they were not using branded domain name extensions. Consumers "get" the purpose and benefits of new TLDs and I am confident we will begin to see a shift in consumers' behaviors once companies start building out their sites on these new TLDs.
Specifically for .ORGANIC, it is such a natural fit with and a much needed differentiation for members of the organic community. We have every confidence that consumers will quickly embrace the new .ORGANIC domain as they see how easy it is for them to find and access web sites of verified organic community members.
Mike: Where do you see .ORGANIC in a year from now? 5 Years from now?
Roland: The .ORGANIC domain extension is the logical next step for the organic community. In addition, we expect it to really be a game-changer and will grow very quickly in the next 12 months. Qualified organizations who don't have a web site on this domain will soon be seen as behind the times. Further down the road, say 5 years from now, .ORGANIC will become the standard in separating the "real" organic companies from the rest. Qualified organizations will simply be expected to have a web site on the domain.
TLD's should be short and easy.. I don't believe they need to be relative – leave that up to the domain name.


Beverly Brodsky talks about her near death experience.
Uki MacIsaac talks about her near death experience.
Suzanne Ingram talks about her near death experience.
Jim Macartney talks about his near death experience.
Near-death experiencer Jim Macartney talks about how crisis and trauma can open us to higher states of being regardless of circumstance.
Elke Macartney talks about children's near death experiences and suicide.
In this interview with Mel Van Dusen, P.M.H. Atwater talks about her research on the near-death experience.
Near-death researcher, writer, and three time experiencer, P.M.H. Atwater talks about spiritually transformative experiences at a meeting of South Bay IANDS, with a focus on the near-death experience.
Near-death researcher, writer, and three time experiencer P.M.H. Atwater talks about spiritually transformative experiences at South Bay IANDS, with a focus on the near-death experience.
Near-death researcher P.M.H. Atwater talks about her three near-death experiences at a meeting of South Bay IANDS.


Intense struggle is on display in Diane Paulus' revival (and retooling) of the classic opera Porgy and Bess. Adapted for a more standard evening of Broadway (ahem, running under four hours) by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre L. Murray, the production stars Broadway heavyweight Audra McDonald as Bess, a prostitute trying to turn her life around, and Norm Lewis as Porgy, the crippled beggar who gives her the love she needs to do it. The characters of South Carolina's Catfish Row are destitute and scraping to get by. Bess has to battle the ties to the past she desperately wants to leave behind. And to top it off, there's a wicked hurricane a-comin'.
At the top of Act II, Bess' fearsome pimp Crown, incredibly played by Phillip Boykin, returns from hiding from the police to remind Bess that he will soon be taking her away from the cozy life she's made for herself in his absence. Bess, who has found tender love with Porgy and a sense of community with her neighbors in Catfish Row, has no intention of returning to her murky past. She sings "What You Want With Bess?," an appeal to Crown, highlighting the notion that he can find a better, younger woman to satisfy him. McDonald's delivery signifies the first time in a long time that Bess has stood up for herself. Of course, the concept of being denied only makes Crown desire Bess more, and despite her newfound inner strength, she is no match for his massive arms. As McDonald wails through the song, she and Boykin engage in a gruesome physical struggle. The gripping, pulling, and punching between McDonald and Boykin is raw and horrifically real. Yet the violence is not what makes the scene great; it's McDonald's unaffected singing throughout the brutality that creates this hypnotic juxtaposition. Credit also goes to Boykin, who is firmly committed to the viciousness of his character. However, McDonald's unwavering operatic voice throughout this mayhem is astonishing. I guess four statues named Tony can't be wrong.
Porgy and Bess student rush policy: Beginning at 5 p.m. for evening performances and noon for matinees, one ticket per person may be purchased for $37, cash only.
I'm curious about this show, but i'm not totally sold on it still. I only have so many spots to see shows on my limited time during trips, really torn about this one.


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First Look: DC's Biggest Baddie is a Small-Town Girl?
By Tim Beedle Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Villainous vacations abound in this week's DC'S BEACH BLANKET BAD GUYS SUMMER SPECIAL, which finds some of deadliest denizens of DCU attempting to beat the summer heat.
Summer is for everyone, whether you're a student who's just finished their semester finals, an office worker looking to cash in some vacation time, a baseball fan excited for the return of America's Pastime…or a ruthless super-villain trying to beat the heat AND the Justice League.
DC'S BEACH BLANKET BAD GUYS SUMMER SPECIAL is a tribute to long days in the sun, hot dogs on the grill, rising temperatures and taking a break from your everyday life. It's an 80-page anthology showing us a lesser-seen side of DC's villains that's perfect for reading poolside, and it features the work of writers and artists like Corinna Bechko, Tim Seeley, Otto Schmidt, Gabriel Hardman and more. In this exclusive sneak peek, we get a glimpse of two of those adventures—a Deathstroke tale by Shea Fontana and Carlos D'Anda and a glimpse into Giganta's past by Michael Moreci and Max Raynor. And as a little summertime bonus, we asked writer Moreci to drop by to discuss his contribution. Enjoy!
So, what's your Beach Blanket Bad Guys story about?
First of all, let me say I'm so happy to be talking about this story—we really had a blast making it, the entire team, and it's great to see it as part of this amazing collection. The story I wrote, "Giganta Strong," is a take on the classic "you can never go home again" tradition. What if you're Giganta, and you can go home again—and you have the power to literally stomp it out of existence?
Were you interested in writing a Giganta story, or did someone at DC suggest her to you?
I think it was a little bit of both, if memory serves. I believe a few characters were offered to me, and I leapt at Giganta. She's a ton of fun, for starters (I mean, she's basically a human kaiju), but there's so much terrain to explore that hasn't already been covered. I felt like I could bring something a bit new and interesting to her character, and that's always, to me, the best challenge to have.
I find it amusing that someone as big as Giganta would come from a really small town. Was that by design?
Great insight—and yeah, for sure. There's a lot of contrasting going on in the story, between who Giganta is now (a super-villain) and who she was in high school (a chronically ill teenager) as well as the smallness of her town and her stature now. I wanted to play with the past and the present, and those things are always in conflict; so, adding more contrasts helped bring out that idea.
You've written characters like Batman, Nightwing and the Flash. Was it fun getting the chance to work with a character who isn't seen as regularly?
Very much so. It gives you a little more freedom to bring something new to the character that hasn't already been said before, or at least to say it in a new way. I mean, with Doris, we know she was once a very sick child who ultimately becomes a powerful adult. It was cool to examine, even just a little, what that means for her and how she reconciles these two sides of her life.
We know that Doris Zeul isn't big on high school carnivals. What do you think is Giganta's summer activity of choice? I could actually see her and Wonder Woman making an amazing beach volleyball team if they could just stop fighting with each other.
That would be amazing. I could also see her on Venice Beach, at those outdoor gyms, putting all those huge, muscular dudes to shame by out-lifting them all. That'd be pretty hilarious.
DC'S BEACH BLANKET BAD GUYS SPECIAL #1
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DC'S BEACH BLANKET BAD GUYS SUMMER SPECIAL #1 by Shea Fontana, Michael Moreci, Carlos D'Anda, Max Raynor and many more is in stores this Wednesday.
DC Entertainment congratulates the 2018 Eisner nominees and winners!
Saturday, July 21st, 2018
dc's beach blanket bad guys summer special, dc super-villains, super-villain anthology, dc villains, villain anthology, summer special, first look, sneak peek, comic book first look, comic book preview, Giganta, giganta comic, first look at giganta, wonder woman, deathstroke, first look at deathstroke, sneak peek at deathstroke, deathstroke comic, michael moreci, michael moreci interview, max raynor, shea fontana, shea fontana deathstroke comic, carlos d'anda, dc universe


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Irenebrination: Notes on Architecture, Art, Fashion, Fashion Law & Technology
Support independent writing
Optimistic and Soothing Pastel Palettes: From Couture and Food Utopias to a Columbarium
The Shunya as the Path to Infinity: Gaurav Gupta Haute Couture S/S 23
Evolution of the Stereotypical Ballgown, From Familiar to Absurd: Viktor & Rolf Haute Couture S/S 2023
When a Silent Siren Screams: Iris Van Herpen Haute Couture S/S 23
No Animals Were Harmed, Only Dante Was Butchered: Hellish Allegories in Schiaparelli Haute Couture S/S 23
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Unconcerned Portraits of the Self: A Reflection on Branded Identities in the Front Row at Fashion Shows
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Brief Sunday Comparison: Romeo Gigli Vs Nicholas Kirkwood
In a previous post a couple of weeks ago we looked at a comparison between Cinzia Ruggeri and The Bohemian Society's new collection. Let's look today at another comparison, this time shoe-related.
Victoria's Secret catwalk show that took place in New York on Wednesday evening, was, according to the press, one of the best ever staged by the lingerie brand. Yet what interested me, rather than the fancy lingerie, was the footwear by Nicholas Kirkwood, designed taking inspiration from six different themes, including "Circus", "Silver Screen" and "Dangerous Liaisons".
The shoes were typical Kirkwood – at times covered in crystals or glitter, or featuring his trademark towering platforms. Among the shoes and sandals featured in the show, there were also three different models in green shades that called to mind a pair of shoes designed in 1990 by Romeo Gigli (Spring/Summer collection).
The high heeled sandals, part of Kirkwood's interpretation of the "Angels in Bloom" theme, featured a vine-like strap that went up the calves. Gigli designed instead a flat shoe featuring a decorative rose with a stem that went up the calf. So, you may argue that, even though the shoes are different, they incorporate a similar decorative motif.
Kirkwood's shoes won't be on sale as they were exclusively designed for the catwalk show, even though they can be made to order through Kirkwood's own shops. There may be another option for shoe addicts, though: if you've very lucky, you may be able to find in some vintage shop the original shoes by Romeo Gigli. Mind you, you would have to be extremely lucky to do so, but keeping your eyes open when visiting vintage shops and markets may be a good idea.
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Irenebrination: Notes on Architecture, Art, Fashion and Style


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Back to Announcements
Jean Baruch, Director BOC, Visits Atlanta
A Note from Robert Simmons,
Last week I had an experience with Beads of Courage that I wanted to share with the glass bead community. Jean Baruch, President and founder of Beads of Courage, was in Atlanta for a short visit with our programs at Children's Health Care of Atlanta. My wife and I went to the hospitals with her to meet some of the children and families as well as the staff who deliver the programs. It was quite a day.
First we were impressed with the enthusiasm of the staff for the bead programs. We saw 'Courage Beads' proudly worn everywhere we went. The care givers were really into the whole concept and told us over and over again how much it all meant to them. They told us about how the beads help them communicate with the children in difficult circumstances. This was all pretty cool.
The real kicker, though, was talking with the children and their families about their experiences and their beads. Some of the kids were feeling better than others, but all brightened up when 'the bead lady' came in to see them. There were beads on IV stands, around necks, hung from different areas around the rooms. Some were strung so that all of the same colors were together, some were in order of when they were given and others were just random. There were short strands and frighteningly large collections. Some of the kids wanted to talk and show us their bead collections, others managed little more than a smile and a wave. They could, though, tell us what just each bead was for and when they got it. The parents were excited about how the programs helped engage kids that could otherwise be pretty distant. There were handshakes, hugs, smiles, laughs and a few tears along the way. Stories were told and lives were shared. It was (and still is) a very emotional experience for all concerned.
The day gave us a look into a world that most of us can't really even imagine. The kids and their families find themselves sequestered in their rooms for days, weeks, sometimes for months at a time. The beads donated by our community bring a little light and happiness into this world that can be more than a bit on the dark side. Rest assured that every bead is treasured. You do great work out there, I want you to know that I've seen just how much it really does matter.
Robert Simmons
Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.


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Laparoscopic instruments and trocars are provided for performing laparoscopic procedures entirely through the umbilicus. A generally C-shaped trocar provides increased work space between the hands of the surgeon as well as S-shaped laparoscopic instruments placed through the trocar when laparoscopic instrument—trocar units are placed through the umbilicus. In order to facilitate retraction of intra-abdominal structures during a laparoscopic procedure, an angulated needle and thread with either one-or two sharp ends is provided. Alternatively, an inflatable unit having at least one generally C-shaped trocar incorporated within the unit's walls can be placed through the umbilicus following a single incision. Generally S-shaped laparoscopic instruments may be placed through the generally C-shaped trocars to facilitate access to intra-abdominal structures.
The present invention provides laparoscopic instruments and trocar sleeves or cannulas for the performance of laparoscopic procedures entirely through the umbilicus. Referring now in specific detail to the drawings, in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a conventional, prior art laparoscopic instrument—trocar assembly.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional trocar sleeve or cannula  1 is an essentially straight, hollow instrument, which allows conventional laparoscopic instruments 3 such as an endoscope of suitable diameter to be inserted through the conventional cannula 1 and into the abdominal cavity 5 of a patient. Conventional cannulas 1 have a diameter of a round 2-15 mm. Once the conventional laparoscopic instruments 3 are in place, standard laparoscopic procedures may be performed, such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, or simple diagnostic laparoscopy.
As shown in FIG. 1, when conventional trocar sleeves or cannulas  1 and conventional laparoscopic instruments 3 are inserted only through the umbilicus of the patient, the close proximity of the instruments to each other results in the so-called chopstick effect, which is a significant limitation to the manipulation of conventional laparoscopic instruments 3 through conventional trocars 1.
As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, an exemplary C-shaped trocar sleeve or cannula  7 according to an embodiment of the present invention is generally an elongated tube having a proximal end 15 and a distal end 17. In one exemplary embodiment the C-shape curve through ends 15, 17 is bent so that each end portion forms an angle of approximately 30° with respect to a tangent to the center of the trocar sleeve or cannula 7. However, any angle, which sufficiently reduces the chopstick effect, may be used. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the present invention with angles from 5-45° may be used. A C-shaped trocar sleeve or cannula 7 may be made of conventional material as is known in the art. The interior diameter of a C-shaped cannula 7 is preferably around 5 mm. However, in alternate embodiments the interior diameter of the C-shaped cannula 7 may range from 2-15 mm. In one exemplary embodiment, the C-shape is relatively fixed and does not vary, for example when the cannula 7 has a rigid composition. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the C-shaped cannula 7 is more flexible allowing the surgeon or surgical assistant to bend the cannula 7 changing the angle of the C-shape, for example, via insertion of an instrument into the cannula.
In an alternative design, trocar sleeve or cannula  7 is made of a flexible material with a memory. Trocar sleeve 7 or cannula 7 may have a straight or linear cylindrical configuration in a relaxed state, i.e., in the absence of externally applied forces. Sleeve or cannula 7 assumes the curved or arcuate configuration shown in FIG. 2A upon the insertion through the cannula of a laparoscopic instrument shaft with a curved or arcuate section of sufficiently greater rigidity than the cannula. Cannula 7 then bends through the application of external forces to take the arcuate form shown in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary S-shaped laparoscopic instrument  10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The S-shaped laparoscopic instrument 10 has, for example, a shaft 10 a with a preformed inherently S-shaped configuration including a proximal curve 20 and a distal curve 21. Examples of laparoscopic instruments 10 which can be formed generally into an S-shape according to an embodiment of the present invention include but are not limited to scissors, clamps, dissectors, staplers, clip appliers, retrieval bags, and electrocautery instruments. Instruments 10 include a manual actuator 10 b at a proximal end and an operative tip 10 c at a distal end. The S-shaped shaft 10 a may be substantially rigid throughout. Alternatively, shaft 10 a or a portion thereof, for example, distal curve 21, may be semirigid and flexible so that the shaft may be deformed from the S-shaped configuration to an at least partially straightened configuration upon application of deformation forces to the shaft. In the latter case, the shaft is made of a material with a memory so that the shaft automatically returns to the S-shaped configuration after relaxation of deformation forces. In another alternative, proximal shaft portion 20 is rigid while distal shaft portio n21 is flexible. Distal portion 21 is flexed into substantially rigid C-shape by a locking mechanism (not separately shown), controlled by actuator 10 b, so the instrument assumes a rigid S-form when needed by the surgeon. In any event, the S-shape for these instruments can be achieved, for example, by using conventional manufacturing techniques modified to accommodate the S-shape contour of the instrument.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, a generally S-shaped laparoscopic instrument  10 may be inserted through a C-shaped trocar sleeve or cannula 7. For example, the proximal curve 20 of the S-shaped instrument 10 corresponds to the curve of the C-shaped cannula 7. The distal curve 21 of the S-shaped instrument 10 also corresponds to the curve of the C-shaped cannula 7 and when inserted through the. Cshaped cannula 7 will be, for example, entirely within the abdominal cavity 5 of the patient. An embodiment of the present invention, for example, a C-shaped cannula 7 and S-shaped laparoscopic instrument 10 allows the surgeon to perform the laparoscopic procedure without making incisions outside of the umbilicus. In accordance with the present invention, the size and curvature of a C-shaped cannula 7 will correspond to the size and curvature of an S-shaped instrument 10 and can include any desired size.
This arrangement of C-shaped cannula  7 and S-shaped instrument 10 eliminates the "chopstick effect" which results from the insertion of conventional laparoscopic instruments 3 through the umbilicus. For example, the proximal curves of the S-shaped instruments 10 and the C-shaped cannula 7 allows the surgeon's hands and the proximal portions of the instruments 20, including the instruments' handles, to be placed as far apart as is convenient for the surgeon. For example, workspace 9 a is created. Movement of the proximal portion of one instrument 20 away from the proximal portion 20 of the other also markedly separates the exposed (e.g. outside the body cavity) shafts of each instrument. The distal curve of the S-shaped instrument 21 creates workspace 9 b between the portions of the instruments in the abdominal cavity and redirects the distal end of the laparoscopic instrument 10 back toward a target site 8, such as an abdominal organ or other abdominal structure or site.
Thus, an S-shaped laparoscopic instrument  10 may be thought of as having four segments or sections to allow an abdominal procedure to be performed entirely through the-umbilicus and yet overcome the "chopstick effect" encountered with conventional laparoscopic: instruments 3 and cannulas 1. First, the portion outside of the patient's abdominal cavity 5 allows sufficient space between the surgeon's hands when manipulating the proximal portion of the laparoscopic instruments 10. Second, the portion at or near the umbilicus, which allows a laparoscopic instrument 10 to enter the abdominal cavity 5 is in close proximity to one or more additional laparoscopic instruments 10 so that all instruments 10 enter the abdomen through the umbilicus. Third, the portion beyond the second portion, which creates separation between laparoscopic, instruments 10 within the abdominal cavity 5. Fourth, the distal end of a laparoscopic instrument 10 is shaped to point back toward the target abdominal organ, tissue, or other site.
Examples of procedures which can be facilitated by the use of C-shaped trocar sleeves or cannulas  7 and S-shaped laparoscopic instruments 10 include, but are not limited to diagnostic laparoscopy, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, ovaro-hysterectomy, removal of a section of bowel, a variety of gastric procedures, biopsy of various abdominal organs including the liver, laparoscopic staging for cancer, and hernia repair.
The following discussion describes, as an example, a cholecystectomy procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention as described in FIGS.  2A-C and FIG. 3. It should be noted, however, that many other laparoscopic procedures may be performed using various embodiments of applicant's invention. The following description, therefore, is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention to the description given in this example.
A laparoscopic procedure, such as a cholecystectomy, using a curved C-shaped flexible or rigid trocar sleeve or cannula  7 and S-shaped laparoscopic instruments 10 of the present invention is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. Carbon dioxide gas is insufflated intra-abdominally to 15 mm Hg through a 5 mm lateral umbilical incision using, for example, a VERESS™ needle. For example, two curved C-shaped 5 mm cannulas 7 are then inserted through an incision in the umbilicus. The surgeon operates, for example, a 5 mm endoscope with one hand and a 5 mm S-shaped laparoscopic instrument 10 with the other, each of which are passed through a respective cannula 7. The cannula for the endoscope could be straight so that a conventional straight endoscope could be used, the other curved cannula 7 providing separation between the instruments and the surgeon's hands. Pericholecystic adhesions, if present, are removed by blunt or sharp dissection using an S-shaped dissector to expose the dome of the gallbladder. A 2-0 nylon (or other suitable material) stay suture on a needle is placed through the abdominal wall immediately below the right costal margin at the right anterior axillary line, allowing for superior retraction of the gall bladder dome. The removal of the adhesions from around the gallbladder infundibulum is then continued as necessary. A second stay suture is placed through the right flank and then through the neck of the gallbladder allowing for lateral retraction to expose the cystic structures. The cystic duct and cystic artery are dissected, then ligated with clips, utilizing a 5 mm S-shaped clip applier, and then finally transected with an S-shaped scissors. With continued retraction from stay sutures, the gallbladder is removed from the liver bed utilizing an S-shaped electrocautery device equipped with a hook, dissecting the gallbladder from medial to lateral and inferior to superior direction. The perihepatic area is then irrigated using an S-shaped irrigation/suction device.
The above-described procedure is greatly facilitated by the use of S-shaped laparoscopic instruments  10 and C-shaped cannulas 7, allowing the procedure to be performed entirely through the umbilicus while at the same time reducing or eliminating the "chopstick effect". For example, each of the S-shaped laparoscopic instruments is inserted and removed from the active curved cannula 7 as needed during the procedure and conflict with the endoscope is avoided. Thus, as a result, improved cosmesis, reduced operative and post-operative complications, and a less complicated surgical technique are achieved.
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate an inflatable cannula holder  30 having, for example, multiple C-shaped trocar sleeves or cannulas incorporated within the unit 30. The lateral wall 34 of the inflatable cannula holder unit 30 may vary from extremely flexible and stretchable when deflated, thus facilitating insertion into the umbilical incision, to somewhat rigid when inflated during the surgical procedure. The inflatable unit 30 has, for example, a horizontal upper plate 31 and a horizontal lower plate 32. Curved or arcuate trocar sleeves or cannulas 33 a, 33 b, and 33 c will extend through the horizontal upper plate 31 and horizontal lower plate 32 and may be incorporated within the lateral wall 34. Cannulas 33 a, 33 b, 33 c may be rigid or flexible members. One or more straight trocar sleeves or cannulas 33 d may also be provided which traverse holder unit 30 and particularly upper surface 31 and lower surface 32 thereof. Any given straight cannula 33 d may be rigid or flexible. In the latter case, the cannula 33 d may be sufficiently flexible to bend in conformation to a generally C-shaped section 20 or 21 (FIG. 2C) of laparoscopic instrument 10. Shaft 10 a or section 20, 21 thereof is either rigid or has a sufficient rigidity to force the bending of cannula 33 d. One of more of cannulas 33 a, 33 b, and 33 c may similarly be flexible members with a memory tending to return the cannulas to a straight or arcuate configuration.
Rigid sections may be inserted or attached around the periphery of the horizontal upper  31 or lower 32 plate to add stability. The horizontal upper plate 31 and horizontal lower plate 32 may be, for example concave or straight. At least one and possibly two or more C-shaped trocar sleeves or cannulas 33 a, 33 b, 33 c, (described previously) can be incorporated within the lateral wall 34 of the inflatable unit 30 and are distributed, for example, evenly around the wall 34 of the unit 30. The upper 31 and lower plate 32 are preferably made of a flexible plastic material or other suitable surgical quality material.
In an alternate embodiment, the inflatable unit  30 has one or more C-shaped trocar sleeves or cannulas 7 incorporated within its lateral wall 34, and one or more straight cannula 1, also incorporated within the inflatable unit's lateral wall 34. The straight cannula may accommodate, for example, a straight endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, while the C-shaped cannulas 7 can accommodate an S-shaped instrument 10 as described above. Thus, even where one of the instruments is relatively straight and passes through a relatively straight cannula 1, the chopstick effect is still reduced as a result of the remaining C-shaped cannulas 7 and S-shaped instruments 10, which provide space between the surgeons hands, the proximal portions of laparoscopic instruments (which includes the straight laparoscope), and the distal ends of the laparoscopic instruments (which also includes the straight laparoscope).
Inflatable unit  30 may include one or more passageways 40 a and 40 d formed by generally cylindrical webs of resilient material (not separately designated) connected at opposite ends to upper surface 31 and lower surface 32. Upon inflation of unit 30, the webs close the passageways and, upon insertion of respective cannulas 33 a and 33 d, form a sealed engagement therewith. In one possible mode of use, cannulas 33 a and 33 d are inserted through passageways 40 a and 40 d only after placement of unit 30 in an opening formed in a patient and upon inflation of the unit. Alternatively, all cannulas 33 a, 33 b, 33 c, 33 d may be disposed within and coupled to unit 30 prior to the positioning thereof in the patient.
The surgeon may place the inflatable unit  30 through an approximately 1.5 to 2.5 cm incision in the umbilicus. The unit 30 is inserted prior to inflation with the C-shaped cannulas 33 a, 33 b, 33 c, for example, parallel and in close proximity to each other. The upper plate 31 will remain outside of the umbilicus while the lower plate 32 is located just inside the abdominal cavity 5. Once the unit 30 is properly positioned, the surgeon or assistant may inflate the unit 30. The unit 30 may be inflated via, for example, a one-directional valve using a syringe or gas line inserted into a narrow hollow tube connected to the unit 30 as is known in the art. The syringe or gas line may be alternatively inserted directly into a one-directional valve. Thus, means for inflating the unit 30 can be similar to the means for inflating a conventional endotracheal tube.
In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the inflatable unit  30 increases upon inflation. The unit may be inflated to the extent needed for the particular laparoscopic procedure. By placing the trocar sleeves or cannulas in the lateral walls of the inflatable unit, the surgeon may position a trocar sleeves or cannula, and thus an instrument inserted through a cannula, as far away from the other cannulas and instruments as possible within the confines of a chosen space such as the umbilicus. In addition, the surgeon may change the position of the cannulas and instruments within the umbilicus by rotating the inflatable unit 30 around its vertical axis. This change of position of the cannulas; allows intra-operative adjustments of the position of an instrument as well as the type of instrument to further facilitate the intra-abdominal procedure. Moreover, the inflatable unit 30 seals the opening of the patient's abdominal cavity 5 to prevent leakage of CO2 as a result of the inflation.
An additional cannula  42 may be disposed outside of the holder 30 and spaced from holder outer wall 34. A connector 44 in the form of a web or tube couples cannula 42 to cannula holder 30.
In an alternate embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, the distance between the upper plate  31 and the lower plate 32 may be reduced, thereby increasing the ability of the trocar sleeve or cannula 7 to move in relation to the wall of the inflatable unit 30. In addition, reducing the distance between the upper plate 31 and lower plate 32 allows the size of the trocar sleeves or cannulas incorporated within the unit 30 to be reduced, which further enhances the ability of the cannula to move in relation to the wall of the inflatable unit 30. In one exemplary embodiment, the cannula is immediately adjacent to the lateral wall 34. In another exemplary embodiment the cannula is not immediately adjacent to the lateral wall 34, but is separated by an additional connector 91 to provide even greater flexibility.
Thus, as an example, the cholecystectomy procedure described above may be performed using the inflatable unit  30 in conjunction with S-shaped laparoscopic instruments 10, rather than using separate cannula/instrument arrangements. Once the gallbladder is transected and removed from the liver bed, it is removed through the 1.5 to 2.5 mm incision along with the inflatable unit 30. If necessary, the initial incision can be extended to remove an enlarged gallbladder. Alternatively, the gallbladder may be opened to remove or crush material present in the gallbladder such as gallstones, facilitating removal of the gallbladder and the inflatable unit 30 through the umbilical incision.
As shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an inflatable unit  70 including a single C-shaped trocar sleeve or cannula 7 having a radially expandable and inflatable balloon-like structure 75 incorporated within the hollow lumen 73 of the cannula. A single laparoscopic instrument may be inserted within this inflatable unit 70. This unit 70 may then be inflated to secure the cannula and laparoscopic instrument together as one movable unit. The inflatable unit 70 may be inflated via, for example, a one-directional valve using a syringe or gas line inserted into a narrow hollow tube 74 connected to the unit 70 as is known in the art. The syringe or gas line may be alternatively inserted directly into a one-directional valve. Thus, means for inflating the unit 70 can be similar to the means for inflating a conventional endotracheal tube. Inflating the inflatable unit 70 also serves to seal the abdomen preventing insufflated gas from escaping through the lumen of the cannula. The inflatable unit 70 then may be deflated, the laparoscopic instrument may be removed, and a different instrument may be inserted.
While the above description of S-shaped instruments  10 and C-shaped cannulas 7 has been directed to procedures performed entirely through the umbilicus, it is to be understood that embodiments of the present invention may be adapted for use in other entry sites. Therefore, when it is desirable to have entry of multiple instruments in a relatively localized area, embodiments of the present invention may be used for such entry, while reducing or eliminating the so-called "chopstick effect". Thus, existing scars or hidden areas such as the pubic hair line or the axillary region may be used as a localized entry site. Procedures such as repair of a ventral hernia may be performed using a non-umbilical localized entry site.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, an angulated bidirectional needle  50 in accordance with the present invention is provided with a first sharp end 51, a second sharp end 52, and a surgical thread 55 attached to the angle 57 of the needle 50. The needle 50 has, for example, a total length of around 5-10 cm. The length of each segment from angle to sharp end is roughly equivalent, but need not be. An acute angle of around 160° is formed by the angulated needle 50, however angles 57 ranging from a straight needle, i.e. 180°, to an acute angle 57 of around 90° may be used. The needle is formed out of steel or other suitable material. The surgical thread 55, such as 2-0 nylon, is attached at the angle 57 of the needle 50.
The angulated needle  50 according to an embodiment of the present invention simplifies suture delivery through the gall bladder or other abdominal structure. For example, the first sharp end 51 of the needle 50 is inserted through the body wall by the surgeon. The needle 50 is then grasped within the abdominal cavity 5 by a laparoscopic instrument under endoscopic guidance and is pulled toward the organ of interest. With the second sharp end 52 leading, a stitch is placed through the abdominal structure of interest. The second sharp end 52 is then delivered through the abdominal wall.
The angulated bidirectional needle  50 allows delivery of a stitch without changing the orientation of the sharp end as would be necessary if a needle with only one sharp end is used. Changing orientation of a needle with only one sharp end is a somewhat complicated task requiring advanced laparoscopic skills and may result in iatrogenic injury.
An alternative exemplary embodiment of an angulated needle is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment the angulated needle  60 has, for example, a long segment 61 with one sharp end 62 on one side of the angle 65. The needle 60 has a blunt short segment 67 on the other side of the angle 65. Thread 68 is attached to the end of the blunt short segment 67.
The angulated needle  60 allows penetration through the body wall as a straight needle. The needle 60 is inserted into and through the wall of the gallbladder. The needle is then flipped 180° and delivered back through the abdominal wall. The angulated needle 60, can be used to reposition a gall bladder or other structure during a laparoscopic procedure by, for example, pulling or relaxing the suture, which eliminates or reduces the need for the insertion of one or more additional cannulas and laparoscopic instruments for that purpose. The angulation of the angulated needle 60 also reduces the chance of iatrogenic injury to surrounding structures by allowing the needle 60 to be flipped and then delivered back through the abdominal wall prior to contacting surrounding abdominal structures.
25. The instrument defined in claim 24, further comprising an actuator connected to said first curved C-shaped portion for temporarily locking same into a rigid configuration in resposne to manipulation by an operator.


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. government has awarded a Montana-based company a contract worth more than $73 million to design and build replacement fencing along 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the U.S.-Mexico border in southern New Mexico, officials confirmed Wednesday.
Existing vehicle barriers west of the Santa Teresa port of entry will be replaced with taller bollard-style barriers under the contract awarded in January to Barnard Construction Co. Inc. Bollard walls typically consist of sturdy, vertical posts that are spaced to provide visibility to the other side but are difficult to walk through.Regional Customs and Border Protection officials said there was no timeline for when work might start, and the construction company did not respond to email and phone requests inquiring about project details.
The administration has issued three waivers since August — two to build in parts of California and one in part of New Mexico. Work is already underway on a 30-foot (9.1-meter) high barrier in Calexico, California.
In 2016, officers in the sector arrested more than 25,000 immigrants suspected of trying to enter the country illegally and seized around 67,000 pounds (30,400 kilograms) of marijuana. While less marijuana was seized during the 2017 fiscal year, just as many arrests were recorded.


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