text:
Ateneo takes home W in a Katipunan showdown
Ateneo won their second game in six tries and are now just 1.5 games out of a Final Four slot, with eight games still left on the docket. Their Final Four destiny are still pretty much in their hands and a win on Saturday versus UST and the two-week FIBA hiatus would bring a lot of momentum and recuperation time for the ailing Eagles.
But as Kiefer implied "Let's take this one game at a time, shall we?"
Last Sunday, Ateneo won the battle between campus neighbor, the UP Fighting Maroons. It was a game that Ateneo pretty much had control over (except for a few minutes in the second). The animosity between these two teams (and schools) is almost nonexistent. The UP Pep Squad even played the "Go Ateneo" chant at the end of the game! I have no idea whether they were mocking us or not. I choose to believe the latter.
Graphs, Tables, Numbers
ADMU 69.3 103.9 41.9% 10.4% 41.9% 22.1%
UP 69.3 92.4 40.1% 10.7% 31.3% 9.9%
Game Flow
Individual Offensive Rating
Reviewing the Keys to the Game
Attack the Rim
Attack the rim they did. Ateneo attempted 54.4% of their attempts near the rim (never mind that they made just 43.2% of them). That was right around UP's season average (they allowed their opponents to shoot 54.9% near the rim). In fact, Ateneo had a lot of good looks inside born out of dribble handoffs and the Horns set. Newsome, in particular, was in top form, drawing two fouls on the defense and just continuously barraging through the hoop against Sam Marata's non-existent defense. There were also a couple of nifty executions – including this awesome pass from my BFF (lol) Von Pessumal.
That's a no-look skip pass, my friends.
Push the Pace
Sometimes, possessions per 40 minutes can be deceiving. Look at the numbers above – the pace is really low (~69 possessions). However, looking closer, you'll see that there were a lot of offensive rebounds, that usually pushes the "possessions" number down. So if you really want to know whether a game was actually a "slow, half court" type of game, you look at the pace (or possessions per 40) and the offensive rebounding rate. In this case, Ateneo did push the ball (on several occasions, in fact) with Newsome leading the charge. One of my favorites? One that finally sealed the game for good.
Ateneo did have 12 fast break attempts (and scoring 12 points). Their season average was 5.2 fastbreak attempts (scoring 7.6 points). Big fat check, my friends.
Finish strong they did. With the exception of some Sam Marata heaves in the dying minutes of the game (when Ateneo was up by 15+ and with mostly third stringers in the game), Ateneo played really well in the second half. This didn't matter as much as I thought because Ateneo dominated the first half, with a Nico Elorde corner three (YUM) at the end of the first half that put Ateneo up by eight. Ateneo would build on this lead and hold on to it (look at the Game Flow chart). I did get a little bit irritated by the fact that UP found a way to get it down to eight. But I'll give it a pass for now since the third stringers haven't played a lot this season.
1. I was very interested to see how Kiefer's return would affect the entire system of Ateneo. Previously, we saw a lot of off-ball movements in our sets (doesn't matter whether it's from the Hawk or the Horns formation) and it worked beautifully. But Kiefer Ravena – you know, the wunderkid who was nursing a high ankle sprain – is one badass dude. He's very proficient particularly in leakouts, on ball screens and most recently, in the post. Gist of it: Kiefer operates really well with the ball in his hands. How did Ateneo involve him?
Well, to be perfectly honest, Kiefer got most of his attempts all by his lonesome – no sort of prior action that would have helped him. That's a good thing because in chaos time, the times when for some reason (the opposing team's defense, mistimed passes or actions, etc.) the play just doesn't work, Ateneo now has a weapon they can go too. Most of Kiefer's postups were him simply overpowering and outwitting his opponent (most of the time, by going down the middle as if to sprint around screens, only to turn around, seal and postup his guy). Look at how Kiefer uses his low center of gravity (and big butt) to create postups out of thin air. This is akin to how Sir Charles Barkley created postup opportunities for himself.
Catch the ball. Turn around. Back your way down to the hoop.
There was a set involving a back screen that allowed Kiefer to get to his spot on the floor for a seal (see: fourth and ninth clip in the video).
That will be a big key for Ateneo because now they finally have more than one chaos time weapon – outside of those Buenafe postups or top of the key isolations, we now have Ravena postups (and probably wing-on-wing ball screens in the future). And if Ravena at 80 to 90% can operate this well in the post, I shudder at the idea of Kiefer at 100%. I mean seriously, look at this snapshot. Ball, Soyud, Lao and Wong adjusted their stance, their coverage and their attention to cover for Kiefer in the post. That kind of attention with Ateneo's good off-ball scorers (Newsome, Tiongson) is deadly.
Photo Credit: ABS-CBN Sports/UAAP Sports TV
2. Outside of the Horns and Hawk sets, Ateneo's added what appears to be a version of one of my favorite sets: a gate screen. The set Ateneo runs is simple – enter ball into Buenafe in the high post, Juami goes to set a double screen with Golla. Here's a snapshot:
3. UP has a really hard time understanding the concept of "stunting" and "chucking." Usually in a ball screen action, regardless of how you attack it (do you trap? do you zone off? do you go under?), "stunting" and "chucking" are very important parts of defending a ball screen. It's a really simple but difficult task – someone has to impede the momentum and direction of the roll guy (from what I understand, either through a fake called a "stunt" or through an actual bump called "chucking"). Simple right? Well, Bradley Beal, in a conversation with the great Zach Lowe had this to say:
Off-ball is definitely harder than on-ball. Definitely. You have to chuck the big [Note: "Chuck" is NBA slang for bumping the roller in the paint] and then run back to your man. And you have to know whether or not your man can shoot, or if he's gonna drive. And he's at a standstill and your momentum is going forward, so he can drive by you. It's really hard.
In a trapping scenario or in a "zone off" scenario, this is very important since the defense suddenly plays 4-on-3 (with one opponent getting the attention of two defenders). Usually, it's the weak side corner that "chucks" the big man. In more complex sets (read: Chicago Bulls' defense), they try to find ways to not concede that weakside corner (as it leaves them vulnerable as with the Heat).
[Editor's Note: I highly suggest you follow Zach Lowe. One of the best writers you'll ever find on basketball. I'll save you the trouble and provide you with a link.]
4. UP's inability to stunt/chuck the roll man was more evident because Ateneo was executing it most of the time. It was also very obvious because Ateneo trapped the ball hard on ball screens.
5. To further point no. 4 – Vince Tolentino is slowly growing on me. He's quick, strong and smart. He's aggressive in trapping the ballhandler and he's quick enough to recover to his man. He also showed some nice finishes inside. I hope he can continue getting minutes and growing into his role. He'll be huge for the Eagles this season.
6. Sam Marata is just … hahaha The amount of attention he gives on the offensive side is opposite of what he gives on defense – nothing. The guy continuously loses track of his man and has a lot of bad habits – not being aware of where a screen comes, ball watching, etc. I don't know why he didn't last in La Salle but this is probably one of the reasons.
In the end, Kiefer fixed a lot of our problems – lack of a chaos creator, leakout specialist and just a moral boost. Look for Coach Bo to continuously tweak his offense to integrate Kiefer's massive skill set into the system. Goal now is to get healthy and ready for a big matchup against UST – a matchup that could well set how we start out the second round.
How about you, what are your thoughts?
Disclaimer: All videos and screen captures are courtesy of ABS-CBN Sports/UAAP.
Ateneo Blue Eagles Season 76 Preview: Can clipped wings still soar?
Nico Baguio June 23, 2013
Witness Misery: Late-game lapses push UP to 0-7 cliff
Ravena flies high, leads Ateneo to dominating win
The streak continues, Warriors defeat the Archers to break even at 3-3
NU takes advantage of Mammie-less Warriors
Falcons hit rock bottom. Congrats UP.
UP Fighting Maroons Season 76 Team Preview: One Brick at a Time
Martin Sison June 26, 2013
UE Red Warriors Season 76 Preview: Armed and Ready for Battle
July 22, 2013 Dan DanDan Reply
trade Golla for Soyud???
July 23, 2013 James Paolo Laygo (@jamespaololaygo) Reply
Need to win against UST for a shot at a Final Four spot. Must capitalize on Jeric Teng sitting out the remaining 1st round games #OBF
July 23, 2013 Mark Aloysius Duque Reply
Hey Nico, there used to be an alley oop play executed by the UE Warriors for Elmer Espiritu that really devastated the frontline of their opponenets including us. Isnt it possible to run the same play for Newsome or whoever???
July 23, 2013 Nico Baguio Reply
yeah I remember that – it usually involved a back screen on a misdirection play (since Elmer Espiritu could shoot from the outside). It's a good one time play but one that isn't sustainable. Plus it's a high risk play. I wouldn't be too concerned with setting up oop plays for Newsome. If they do it, YAY! If they don't I'm ok. We can't rely on oops, we need to focus on more sustainable, versatile and high efficiency actions. Not saying an "alley oop" play can't have multiple options, just saying one of its options is high risk.
July 23, 2013 Francis Ignatius Reply
How do we intimidate their frontline? We have to find a way to reverse our attitude, and be the aggressor???
July 23, 2013 diane villanueva (@VillanuevaDiane) Reply
why is buenafe/kiefer start their post-up moves near the 3-point line and not within the shaded area? i really find it awkward.
July 23, 2013 Javie Bengzon Reply
I'm not sure about the numbers behind this, but it seems like we've had our best success getting into our offense early, i.e. with 20 or more seconds on the shot clock. I think that's important, because it forces the defense to adjust quickly on the fly, creates "artificial" transition (even off makes), and allows our chaos creators to find their spots earlier. I'll probably study our conversion rate running our early offense versus setting up with less than 20 seconds left on the shot clock, and let you know what the results are; initially, my gut tells me that our conversion rate is pretty good, and likely gets better as the game wears on and the pace wears down on the opponents.
I think it's almost a forgone conclusion that getting into your offense early offers more success that much is sure. But it's not about whether you're better when you run your offense early (as you said, 20 seconds early) but rather HOW you get into those sets early. The key there is getting good defensive rebounders and quick, athletic players. I'm all for running sets early but I'm not going to depend on it.
Close games are more often than not won in chaos time.
And it's funny you mentioning that pushing the envelope wears the opponent down without mention of how it also wears down our team.
Most teams (if not all) are better when they run their offense early.
As per Diane's question regarding setting up in the post, you definitely don't want your post guys (whether Kiefer, Ryan, or even a true big like Rabeh) to get too deep, because it modifies passing angles, opens them up to 3-second violations, and makes the spacing too convenient for defenses to clamp down.
Just to add to Sir Javie's excellent points, I think posting up low (as compared) to high works only for players who are "tall" because the spacing is harder (since one entire side cannot be occupied. Not isolating on a postup just begs yourself of a low efficiency shot since double teams and rotations are easier). And because the spacing is harder, players are usually clumped up far closer which means you'll have to be really tall to see the entire court (a good asset to have when posting up).
But yeah all of those leads back to sir Javie's points – fewer and harder passing angles, (three seconds I think, isn't as a big problem unless you're posting on the free throw line extended) and generates a ton of spacing issues.
July 23, 2013 chuck Reply
And the simple fact that other teams aren't going to give up post position to the two best "poser-uppers" in Ateneo :)
this — they'll try to push them as far away from the hoop.
How about hook shots by Erram and Golla? Is learning this too late for the season?
Haven't seen a lot of hook shots from both those guys, I think
July 23, 2013 Earl Reply
Vince Tolentino's movement on D deserves a 4 out of 5. Guy knows when to slide in and out, and times it very well. Had he been taller and stronger he can replace…. uh, never mind.
July 23, 2013 Aloysius Reply
is this just another relief win or a point of redirection???
Can be a point of redirection — Kiefer is back.
http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/karim-abdul-warning-after-elbow-on-christian-sentcheu
If you watched the video this occurred with 4 mins. remaining in the 3rd quarter.
This caused the scuffle in the end of the game. Pido saw this one, and therefore, had no right to react if he had any sense of decency in him.
July 23, 2013 ANGELOFGOD Reply


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text:
Looking Through Philosophy in Black
Mabogo Percy More
This autobiography is a series of interrelated true-life events and decisions taken by a black philosopher that highlight the human drama unfolding in the inferno of the South African apartheid system. Mabogo More details what it means to be a black philosopher in an anti-black apartheid academic world. More's life story traces his emergence in philosophy and his pursuit of a philosophical dream, a dream that takes him from his South African black ghetto township to American and British universities and finally to the prestigious Frantz Fanon Lifetime Achievement award. His extraordinary philosophical autobiography, with an emphasis on Africana existentialism that takes into account issues of racism, identity, liberation, freedom, alienation, responsibility and bad faith, is supplemented by three key essays from his intellectual career representing the extraordinary contribution he has made to Africana philosophy and black existentialism.
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Rowman & Littlefield International
978-1-78660-938-0 • Hardback • December 2018 • $142.00 • (£109.00)
978-1-78660-939-7 • Paperback • December 2018 • $47.00 • (£36.00)
978-1-78660-940-3 • eBook • December 2018 • $44.50 • (£34.00)
Series: Global Critical Caribbean Thought
Subjects: Philosophy / Movements / Critical Theory, Philosophy / Movements / Existentialism, Social Science / Black Studies (Global), Philosophy / Continental Philosophy
Mabogo Percy More is a former professor of philosophy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is currently professor of philosophy at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. He is the author of many journal articles and his latest book is Biko: Philosophy, Identity and Liberation (HSRC Press, 2017). He was awarded the Frantz Fanon Lifetime Achievement award by the Caribbean Philosophical Association in 2015.
Preface and Acknowledgements / Part I: A Philosophical Autobiography / 1. Introduction by Way of Freedom / 2. Formative Student Years / 3. Philosophy Lecturer / 4. Overseas Experiences / 5. The Returnings / 6. Black (Africana) Philosophy / 7. Philosophy and jazz / 8. Post 'Retirement' / 9. The Frantz Fanon Award / Part II: Essays / 10. Philosophy in South Africa: Before, Under and After Apartheid / 11. Locating Frantz Fanon in (Post) Apartheid South Africa / 12. Gordon on Contingency: A Sartrean Interpretation / 13. Black Solidarity: A Philosophical Defense / 14. Biko: Africana Existentialist Philosopher / Bibliography / Index
The title of the autobiography captures the intentions of the memoir: in reading these reflections, the non-black audience is given a glimpse of what it is like for the black person to be in philosophy, embodied as a black person and possessing a different epistemology. Simply put, More's memoir is about the negotiation that black scholars have to make in order so "survive" in the academy. … Overall, Looking Through Philosophy in Black reads as an ode, an ode to the black bodies that wish to continue with their careers in philosophy.
— Journal of World Philosophies
Looking Through Philosophy in Black is a compelling story of one man's struggle for philosophy against the odds, willed by the author's determination to think freedom under the heel of apartheid South Africa. Buoyed by the Black Consciousness Movement—the author was a classmate of the murdered student leader Abram Onkgopotse Tiro—Mabogo Percy More became a philosopher. Recognized today as one of the most important interlocutors of Steve Biko and Black Consciousness philosophy, More challenges us to reflect on "Being-Black-in-an-Anti-Black-World"—the ontological impossibility of being Black and being a philosopher—as he engages Africana philosophies born of struggle. Looking Through Philosophy in Black is a remarkable and engaging story of life and the human condition. Doggedly resisting philosophy's epistemic apartheid, its racism and its colored-blindness, More asks us to contest the absurd mediocrity, downright incompetency and paucity of thinking in higher education and by extension in civil society.
— Nigel C. Gibson, Associate Professor, Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, Emerson College
Looking Through Philosophy in Black: Memoirs is not only a chronicler and definer, it is a courageous narrative that takes philosophy head-on from the locus of blackness. Mabogo P. More makes a unique and extraordinary contribution to self-writing with a lucid craft that grapples with the question of being in the world.
— Tendayi Sithole, Author of Steve Biko: Decolonial Meditations of Black Consciousness
A compelling account of a life lived in fidelity to the urgency of freedom, More's autobiography is marked by a profound and sustained commitment, against the odds, to philosophy as a practice of freedom. This account of the life of the mind, made against the dead weight of racism, moves from the outskirts of Johannesburg to the world via jazz, philosophy and struggle.
— Richard Pithouse, Associate Professor, Wits Institute for Social & Economic Research, University of the Witwatersrand
Looking Through Philosophy in Black is a tour de force, a work that delivers. It is a powerful existential reflection on African and Africana philosophy, and at the same time a highly revealing account of what it means to be a Black philosopher today.
— Paget Henry, Professor of Africana Studies and Sociology, Brown University

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Purpose Step 1: Create the prerequisites for a smart test and demo environment for the mining industry that integrates existing, new and future virtual and operational environments. Environments where new developed smart subsystems can also be integrated, to continuously expand and drive a more meaningful and accessible test and demonstration environment. Concerted efforts to identify and define relevant and necessary test, pilot and demonstration projects.
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July-August, 2012
Our trip across Canada got a late start on the first day, so we traveled by moonlight, finally stopping at Greenwood, BC.
We traveled through the Crowsnest Pass, so a lot of Jessica's photos were of mountains from a moving vehicle.
Our second night, we arrived just before moonrise at the campground that doesn't exist.
A small study on perspective...
Welcome to Alberta! The mountains diminish as the wind picks up.
Jessica practicing her panning technique...
We stopped at Battlefield Park in Lethbridge to see why an american flag was flying over Fort Whoop-Up.
Our first arrival before sunset! The Gas City, Medicine Hat.
Moosejaw was clearing the streets for Sidewalk Days but we couldn't stay. We had to reach Toronto before the 11th.
Our first multiple night stay was in Winnipeg where we managed to see The Forks, The Zoo, and The Mint.
Ever heard of a Takin?
We sidetracked to Steinbach to see the Mennonite Heritage Village.
Northern Ontario reminds us very much of BC.
We reached Toronto on schedule to see the Whitecaps defeated on the last play of the game by an ex-Whitecap. It must have been fixed!
Dad's must-do/see item was the Whitecaps game. Rebecca's was the CN Tower.
The Parliament buildings were another must-see.
Dad was the only one able to stand the heat at the changing of the guard.
We also saw the Canadian Museum of Civilization and shopped at Byward Market while in the Ottawa/Hull area.
We set up for a pleasant, quiet evening at Quebec City's free camping on the old zoo parking lot. Pleasant? Quiet? Ha! Dad just about lost his flip-flops at the grocery store!
The tour guide for the Citadel was impressively knowledgable and articulate and, because it is an active regiment, we were treated to a drill parade which can be seen in the video further down the page.
We enjoyed the beach and nature centre at Cape Jourimain before crossing the Confederation Bridge and getting lost on PEI.
We went straight to Peggy's Cove the evening we arrived in Nova Scotia.
The next day was spent at the Halifax Citadel and Harbour and the evening in Lunenburg.
Ellen wouldn't leave without seeing Peggy's Cove, again.
Probably one of the most photographed boats in the world...
We used Baddeck as our home base on Cape Breton Island while we drove the Cabot Trail, sailed an inland sea (Bras d'or Lake), and learned about Alexander Graham Bell.
Dad was too heavy for the Bay of Fundy. His feet were shredded by the barnacles under the mud.
We could wear shoes at Hopewell Rocks, so walking was much easier.
We traveled through the US to save time on our way home, except for a quick detour to see Niagara Falls.
The north shore of Lake Michigan has some nice waves.
We saw some wild storms in Northern Ontario, Quebec City, and Windsor but Devil's Lake, North Dakota was the only place that had a tornado warning.
And now the video version.


...And I'm officially free from education!
And I'm in a good mood today.
Describe a colour without stating its name or the name of any other colours.
I will pick the description I like best. And I will gift the person a brave Ignis.
Post Hmmmmm.......this sounds fun, I'll have to think about this. Congrats on finishing school!
(11-29-2016 07:50 PM)AirCavalry Wrote: Hmmmmm.......this sounds fun, I'll have to think about this. Congrats on finishing school!
With the tranquility of a common color and the ferocity of another one combined, this color symbolizes ambition (As portrayed in the movie with the name of the color in its title) and luxury/royalty, as well. You may see this color on the robes and cloths and sheets of medieval kings and queens, yet now it is a somewhat oftenly worn color. Eyes can never be seen hving this color, yet the lips of those in the cold may have it.


I usually gild several glass panels at a time with transfer leaf. In this way I have more choice when matching a suitable gold panel to the image or subject matter. The image is just as important for the effectiveness of the final piece of work and the two are married with careful consideration.
For 'First Snow', shown on the left, a glass panel was chosen from my stock. I was particularly attracted by its unusual patterning, incorporating two sheets of gold leaf and a slightly bigger size of 8x12cm.
The image I had in mind for it was from a photograph I had taken of my daughter, Eliana, age 2. It was her first experience of snow and the shot captured the moment she turned around, cold and fed up.
In preparation for sketching the photograph of Eliana, the image is printed in high definition on an A4 sheet of photo paper together with a smaller version, to help with scale.
Once the sketch is finished it can be placed onto a light box, the gilded glass panel placed on top and secured with tape. The outline of the sketch can then be traced through the gold using a fine needle tool or hard pencil. However, this cannot always be achieved, as the light does not penetrate the more dense areas of gold. Viewed through a magnifying glass, most of the drawing is done straight onto the gold, using the sketch and photographs as reference.
Each time I begin drawing on the gold panel, there is always a sense of anticipation and pressure to do it right first time, but once I start, I relax and try not to worry about it...I tell myself, if it doesn't work out I can always do it again. Nine times out of ten this works and the drawings are completed with satisfaction.
Drawing straight onto the gold using a fine needle tool the etched side of the gold is the 'wrong' side, as the image will be viewed through the glass.
As the process suggests the gold is engraved, etched away and the details and gentle shading can be built up using a combination of stippling and cross hatching.
Once marks are made in the gold it is difficult to correct mistakes, although not entirely impossible. Gold leaf can be carefully reapplied to an area to cover a mistake, although, when working in such small detail it can be very risky. A 1mm spot of size covers an area of 5mm and if any grease residue is on the glass the gold will not adhere to the surface.
To work on the gilded glass panel I place it on a black velour covered board. This prevents the glass panel from slipping when working on it and can be flipped over regularly to view the marks created through the glass, as it progresses towards the final image.
Once I'm happy with the final image, it is signed. I use my initials, 'CMR', always remembering to sign in reverse!
To seal and protect the gold leaf, as well as enhancing the design, oil based paint or enamel paint is applied to the entire glass panel, covering the gold. The colour of the paint only shows through where there are gaps in or around the gold.
I prefer to use either red or black paint as it gives lovely definition to the design and complements the gold. It is left to dry overnight and the finished picture will be revealed for the first time and can be framed. Once framed, an acid-free backing board covers the painted area of the picture and secured ready to display.
Gold was the first metal widely known to early humans and we consider the development of iron and copper-working as the greatest technological achievement to our early species - but gold came first. Its natural beauty, luster and great malleability, with a resistance to tarnish, made it pleasureable to work and play with for thousands of years.
Creating art with gold unearths a primative desire for this treasure and the particular medium of Verre Églomisé, is both challenging and enjoyable, with the potential to be developed in so many ways.


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Home / Business & invest / Film & screen / Location in focus: the Gold Coast
Film & screen
Location in focus: the Gold Coast
Jacobs Well
With the only local government production rebates in the country and fast-tracked permit applications, the Gold Coast is the most screen-friendly city in Australia.
The city's unique combination of natural and built attributes makes it the perfect location for cost-effective, high-impact screen production.
The Gold Coast boasts easy access to experienced local crew, world-class studios and production infrastructure, diverse locations and almost 300 days of sunshine each year.
Below, two Gold Coast Location Managers speak on the challenges of mounting recent productions locally: Imagine and MGM's true-life thriller Thirteen Lives and Netflix's chic sci-fi Escape from Spiderhead.
Veteran Location Manager Duncan Jones helped steer Netflix's visually ambitious sci-fi film Escape from Spiderhead to a range of natural Gold Coast locations. Spiderhead, starring Chris Hemsworth, was also the first film to utilise the 4000sqm Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre as studio space.
What looks were the filmmakers chasing? And how did the Gold Coast meet those needs?
Escape from Spiderhead is science fiction; it could have been shot anywhere in the world, but the Gold Coast has a range of diverse backgrounds, and that helped the director a lot. We found some really unique locations that strengthened the script and really enhanced the look; some of our locations have never been seen on film before. Locally we were at Advancetown, Arundel, Jacobs Well and Tallebudgera Valley. To have access to such a diversity of looks in such a small geographical space is unique. We also spent time on the water at the Whitsunday Islands.
Hinze Dam, Gold Coast
With the Gold Coast's Village Roadshow Studios already occupied, how did you solve your stage space issues?
There were some phenomenal sets for the film, so we knew warehouse space was not going to work. We were incredibly lucky to take over the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for our stages and production offices. It's the first time a film has used the space like a studio… we worked on 4000sqm of stage space, and half of that was taken up by the film's biggest set. It was a wonderful collaboration between Netflix, the Queensland Government, City of Gold Coast and Convention Centre management.
How did the City of Gold Coast support the production?
The City of Gold Coast has a full-time Film and Television Adviser, who's an invaluable resource for inbound and domestic productions. They're always proactive in supplying information on infrastructure, and that helped to bring Netflix here. Gold Coast City as a whole is extremely supportive of film at every stage of production.
How has COVID impacted your work as a location manager?
We have to plan extensively for COVID management – sets and locations have become a completely different environment. Crew, for example, used to just park and walk up to breakfast, but with COVID they are funnelled through testing checkpoints; we need more space for social distancing and facilities to manage testing.
Does the Gold Coast present any environmental advantages to shooting under COVID?
COVID has increased demands for space, but in saying that, the Gold Coast is well positioned to maintain production because we have so much space, even in our CBD. We've worked hard as a community to be able to keep filming and working: virus case numbers have been kept incredibly low, we have outstanding local crew, and can accommodate these large-scale films safely and effectively. We had several hundred crew on Spiderhead without a single case. Productions in COVID hotspots are shutting down or turning over big numbers of crew – we haven't had to do that here.
As Supervising Location Manager on Imagine Entertainment and MGM's Thirteen Lives, Gold Coast local Nick Smith leads a locations team of three. Ron Howard's dramatic thriller, which recounts the miraculous 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, will utilise the Gold Coast hinterland to double for rural Thailand and shoot the complex cave sequences on local stages.
What were your first location challenges on Thirteen Lives?
With the wonderful Village Roadshow Studios occupied, we needed to piece together substitute floor space. That meant our first focus was a search for several commercial facilities to house stage space, workshops and a production office. With the assistance of a fantastic local commercial property agent, we managed to create a hub of five facilities at the northern end of the Gold Coast: four within two minutes of each other, and the fifth eight minutes away. We're also close to some great cafe options, including my favourite that has the best chocolate thickshakes in the world!
How have COVID protocols forced you to think or work differently as a location manager?
More space… and luckily the Gold Coast has plenty of space! Locations and our unit base need more area around them for social distancing and COVID testing, plus more temporary infrastructure and more vehicles to safely move crew to and from set. On the Gold Coast, we're grateful to be working during COVID. But at the same time we're aware of productions shutting down overseas and how hard that instability would be on crew and their families. We appreciate how lucky we've been here, and hope the broader industry recovers quickly.
Rainforest, mountains, tropical clearings and creeks – and the Gold Coast provided a staggering selection, all within our production zone.
Tropical jungle, Gold Coast
Of the COVID protocols currently in place around location management, might any actually stay post-pandemic?
I am a quasi-germaphobe, so I am hoping the hand sanitiser stations everywhere I look stay! I think the greater understanding and use of remote communication technology to share location scouting will also stay. Much of the early scouting presentations for Thirteen Lives were via zoom meetings and sharing photos and drone footage with the creative team on the other side of the world. They are smart people and did a great job of making it work.
How has the City of Gold Coast's film unit supported the show?
City of Gold Coast always provides amazing support to the film and television industry.
They offer in-kind support by providing a location scout for a couple of days while productions consider the Gold Coast as a film destination, as well as mostly free city-owned locations for filming and parking of unit base. The City also provides a financial incentive to attract productions, and all of their departments take a collaborative approach to problem solving location issues. City of Gold Coast covers the whole of city too; it's a massive benefit to only deal with one Council for the entire shoot.
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Local support helps drive film and TV production on the Gold Coast


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I ordered the books for gifts, and they were shipped and received in a blink of an eye, in very good conditions.
A book about a Chinese farmer and his family and his path through life, includes some Chinese traditions but otherwise could be a universal story of life, its hardships and its joys.
Pearl Buck was born in my state of West Virginia and I've read her books since I was a little girl.
I have always wanted to go to China, and its because of Pearl Buck and her writings of China.
This book was exceptionally written and easy to read. It was difficult to read, though as you delve into these characters and feel so much sympathy for them. It truly makes you realize how blessed you are, not to have to make the sacrifices that these people did. This book draws you in and makes you ask questions of yourself that may be hard to answer!


You can get space from your RAM without rooting, All you need is to Disable all animations – Uninstall all unwanted applications, Remove all Widget and live wallpapers. and restart your phone. Believe us this will work.
If the above method does not work for all the phones.. If you have root access then you can go more Steps.. This method involves creating a partition on your Micro SD card. After creating the partition it will act as a secondary RAM. to Create it, we want this app.
If 'Congratulations' appears on screen, then your device is compatible with the RAM expander app.
However what are the roots of this educating?


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Device Gets Legs Moving After Spinal Cord Injury
Device compares favorably to surgically implanted option, researchers say
From the WebMD Archives
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A noninvasive procedure might help people with paralysis move their legs without the need for surgery or implanted devices, new research suggests.
The treatment approach is called transcutaneous stimulation, where a device delivers an electrical current to the spine through electrodes placed on the outside of the lower back.
In a recent trial of the device, five paralyzed men were able to generate steplike movements. The men didn't walk, but moved while their legs were suspended in braces hung from the ceiling. This enabled them to move without resistance from gravity.
"These encouraging results provide continued evidence that spinal cord injury may no longer mean a lifelong sentence of paralysis, and support the need for more research," Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, said in an institute news release.
These findings come on the heels of another successful study using spinal stimulation, but with a surgically implanted electrodes. Electrical stimulation with implanted electrodes allowed the men to voluntarily flex their toes, ankles and knees, and one man was even able to stand unassisted for short periods. The strength and precision of their movements improved over time with intense physical rehabilitation, according to that study, published in April 2014 in the journal Brain.
The latest study, however, focuses on a nonsurgical option.
"The potential to offer a life-changing therapy to patients without requiring surgery would be a major advance; it could greatly expand the number of individuals who might benefit from spinal stimulation. It's a wonderful example of the power that comes from combining advances in basic biological research with technological innovation," said Pettigrew.
The current study's leader, V. Reggie Edgerton, a distinguished professor of integrative biology and physiology at University of California, Los Angeles, expressed similar thoughts.
"There are a lot of individuals with spinal cord injury that have already gone through many surgeries and some of them might not be up to or capable of going through another," said Edgerton in the news release. "The other potentially high impact is that this intervention could be close to one-tenth the cost of an implanted stimulator."
The men involved in the study were all paralyzed for at least two years. They underwent a 45-minute transcutaneous stimulation sessions on a weekly basis for about 18 weeks. While undergoing the stimulation, the men were periodically instructed to either try to move their legs or to remain passive.
In addition to the noninvasive stimulation, the men also received several minutes of conditioning. Their legs were moved for them in a steplike pattern.
During the final four weeks of the study, the men were also given the drug buspirone. The medication, which acts like serotonin, has been shown to promote movement in mice with spinal cord injuries.
When the study began, the men's legs only moved if the stimulation was strong enough to trigger involuntary movements. During therapy, men who tried to move their legs even more developed a significantly wider range of movement, the study found.
After four weeks of both therapy and physical training, the men's voluntary range of motion doubled while receiving the stimulation. Researchers explained that the treatment worked by reactivating dormant connections between the brain and the spine.
Recordings of electrical signals in the men's leg muscles increased while the amount of stimulation remained the same, suggesting communication between the brain and spine was being reestablished.
"It's as if we've reawakened some networks so that once the individuals learned how to use those networks, they become less dependent and even independent of the stimulation," Edgerton said.
By the end of the study, with the medication, the men were able to move their legs with no stimulation at all. On average, their range of motion was the same as when they were moving while receiving stimulation.
Findings from the study were published July 30 in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
The study authors plan to conduct more research to determine if noninvasive spinal stimulation could enable paralyzed patients to bear their own weight the way people with surgically implanted devices can. In addition, they want to investigate if this noninvasive therapy can also help people regain the ability to sweat, regulate blood pressure and control bladder, bowel and sexual function.
The researchers also hope to learn if this external stimulation can help those who are partially paralyzed.
Despite the promise of noninvasive spinal cord stimulation, the researchers said surgically implanted devices may still be needed by some patients.
SOURCE: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, news release, July 30, 2015
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Man accused of racially harassing neighbors is still a threat and will stay in jail, judge rules
Updated: Jul. 14, 2021, 3:22 p.m. |
Published: Jul. 14, 2021, 1:51 p.m.
Kevin Shea | For NJ.com
The Mount Laurel man charged with continually harassing neighbors of color in his condo community will remain jailed pending trial, a judge ruled Wednesday, saying the suspect remains a continued danger to the community.
Edward Mathews, 45, did not speak during the virtual detention hearing in front of Judge Terrence Cook in Superior Court of Burlington County. He's currently charged with 14 crimes that stretch back to 2020 for what prosecutors say was a sustained campaign of harassment and bias intimidation leveled mainly at members of the community's homeowners association who are Black.
After hearing a lengthy summation of the case so far from Assistant Burlington County Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson, and several rebuttals from Mathews' attorney, Anthony Rizzo, Cook said the weight of evidence against Mathews is "extremely strong."
The judge said Mathews' history of prior criminal convictions, which number 20, and prior failures to appear in court, led him to deviate from the court system's public safety assessment, or PSA, which recommended Mathews be freed with conditions.
Cook said he saw no other way to protect the community from possible future harm. "I do view that he is a high risk of danger to the community," Cook said.
Edward C. Mathews, 45, of Mount LaurelBurlington County Prosecutor's Office
The PSA is a computer program, which Hutchinson argued in Mathews' case, "is not accurate whatsoever." Rizzo countered that the value is that the computer is free from emotion.
Also in the hearing, Hutchinson revealed several new details in the case, including that the FBI was involved in investigating a note Mathews allegedly left for a resident earlier this year, which could lead to more charges. She also described Mount Laurel police - criticized by the community for what they said was inaction - as more involved in the case than has been publicly stated.
For example, on July 2, a township detective was so frustrated with the case he brought his own private security camera to the Essex Place condo community to try and catch Mathews in one of his criminal acts, Hutchinson said.
The police department also obtained a camera from a homeland security agency on an emergency basis and installed it near Mathews home from Nov. 24 to Dec. 11 of 2020, Hutchinson argued. Unfortunately, Mathews was not recorded committing any crimes, and they had to give back the camera.
Hutchinson described a pattern over the past year in which residents rightfully called police and signed their own complaints at times against Mathews, and police continually following through the best they could - even calling the FBI for help. But many of them fell apart at the municipal court level.
In one case, from August 2020, in which a resident had feces smeared on her car, a municipal court judge did not find probable cause Mathews was the alleged culprit.
The homeowners association fined Mathews $500 for his misconduct, and the organization had a Zoom meeting with police, during which they discussed the cases and need for more cameras, Hutchinson said.
Unfortunately, Mathews continued to escalate his actions, focusing on three members of the homeowners' boards, one who moved out in late 2020 over frustration and fear, Hutchinson said.
"These people were doing everything they could, the police were doing everything they could," Hutchinson said.
Mathews attacks crescendoed on the recent Fourth of July weekend, with confrontations with neighbors for which police were called, but a municipal judge again did not approve an arrest warrant. Hutchinson herself approved an arrest warrant as the prosecutor on-call that weekend, but again, she said, a municipal court judge denied it.
Had it been approved, Hutchinson said Wednesday, "This may have not even gotten to this level - but we won't know."
Protesters gather outside Edward Mathews' Mount Laurel condo on July 5, 2021. David Hernandez
Late on July 2, Mathews confronted Etchu Tanyoh Brandon Tambe, a neighbor who came to the aid of one of the victims, and cellphone footage of Tambe refusing to budge while enduring a verbal, racial attack from Mathews went viral - leading to the July 5 protest at Mathews home.
The Wednesday hearing started with Hutchinson providing over two dozen complaints, police reports and medical records regarding Mathews, to which Rizzo objected to 18 of them.
He argued all the police reports say that purported victims, "believed it" to be Mathews, and he attacked the validity of an ERPO, or Extreme Risk Protective Order, which police obtained to search for weapons in Mathews' home.
Such an order is for an emergency basis, but Rizzo argued his client was already in jail when police got the order, and there was no need for such a move.
Hutchinson said Mathews, in his rants to neighbors, mentioned weapons, and when officers entered the home with the ERPO, they immediately stopped when they saw drugs and other items, and successfully applied for a full blown search warrant.
"Police did everything on the up and up," Hutchinson said.
After Rizzo's objections, Hutchinson gave an excruciating timeline of the recent accusations against Mathews, as well as his prior criminal history, which includes drugs, theft, burglary and resisting arrest convictions that date to 1994 and include multiple sentences in state prison.
The current cases, Hutchinson alleged, have Mathews leaving threatening notes on residents' vehicles, throwing rocks through homes' windows, shooting up resident vehicles with high-grade ball bearing ammunition, and at least one time smearing feces on a vehicle's windshield.
The FBI investigated one of the notes, and Hutchinson submitted a January 2020 letter from the agency in which she says it confirms Mathews was the writer.
Hutchinson argued that Mathews was a risk to the victims and his neighbors, "every single day" and remains so if released.
"This defendant is a clear danger to other persons in the community [too]," Hutchinson said. "Who's to say what he's going to do next?"
"He's a public disturbance waiting to happen," she said.
Rizzo, in a final attempt to free his client, argued that Mathews would agree to more restrictions than usual. Often, suspects are ordered to stay away from victims, but Rizzo offered a more broad restriction, like ordering Mathews away from the entire condo community, or the town of Mount Laurel as a whole.
He described his client as a lifelong Mount Laurel resident who has some college credits and family in the area who has worked consistently for a local union doing highway construction, recently at the Scudder Falls bridge project in Mercer County and Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Cook, though, said there were too many arguments against Mathews' freedom, and said he's shown an attitude of acting with perceived impunity.
"I do believe that he is a threat to the community," Cook said.
Protesters outside Edward Mathews home on July 5, 2021.David Hernandez
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.


BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) in 47 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative rose 8.1 percent year on year to 1.33 billion U.S. dollars in January this year, data showed Thursday.
China's non-financial ODI in 973 overseas companies in 137 countries and regions stood at 9.19 billion U.S. dollars last month, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement.
Compared with 10.8 billion U.S. dollars registered in January 2018, Gao Feng, the MOC spokesperson, said the decline was due to various reasons, including a forecast of slowed global economic growth this year and enhanced security checks from certain countries and regions.
In addition, a number of accidental factor also exists, Gao said, adding that ODI in mining last month dropped 85.3 percent year on year.
"Generally speaking, China's ODI in January improved in quality and profits though the scale declined," Gao told a press conference.
January's data also showed the structure of outbound investment continued to improve, with investment mainly going into leasing and business services, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, and construction sectors. The irrational tendency in outbound investment has been contained, according to the MOC.
Last month, Chinese companies completed 30 cross-border mergers and acquisitions projects in 18 countries and regions, mostly in the sectors of manufacturing, leasing, business services, information transmission and software, the MOC said.


Logos, packages, signs, publications, websites: we are surrounded by graphic design Where does it come from? Why does it look that way? What is it supposed to do? This is the first career monograph from graphic designer Michael Bierut. Using examples from a portfolio spanning five decades, he provides the answers, describing three dozen projects from start to finish, with insights into the creative process, his working life, his relationship with clients, and the challenges that any creative person faces in bringing innovative work into the world today. How to be a graphic designer in the middle of nowhere. How to think with your hands. How to destroy the world with graphic design. How to have an idea. How to transcend style. How to create identity without a logo. How to invent a town that was always there. How to work for free. How to raise a billion dollars. How to win a close game. How to be good. How to run a marathon. How to avoid the obvious. How to avoid doomsday. How to be fashionably timeless. How to cross cultures. How to behave in church. How to disorient an architect. How to put a big sign on a glass building without blocking the view. How to make a museum mad. How to judge a book. How to make a mark. How to squash a vote. How to travel through time. How to pack for a long flight. How to have fun witha brown cardboard box. How to shut up and listen. How to top the charts. How to convince people. How to get where you want to be. How to investigate a murder. How to be who you are. How to get the passion back. How to make news. How to set a table. How to survive on an island. How to design two dozen logos at once. How to save the world with graphic design. Michael Bierut is a partner in the New York office of the international design consultancy Pentagram. Bierut began his career with the legendary designer Massimo Vignelli. In over 35 years of practice, he has worked for every kind of client imaginable, from professional football teams to academic research laboratories. He was elected to the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 2003 and was awarded the professions highest honor, the AIGA Medal, in 2006. Two years later, he was named winner in the Design Mind category of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards. A teacher at the Yale School of Art and a co founder of the Design Observer website, Bierut is the author of Seventy nine Short Essays on Design and the co editor of the five volume series Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design.


27 May 2013 - Aurecon has been awarded a position on SP AusNet's distribution, transmission and sub transmission capital works provider panel to carry out design services for the next three years with a possible extension to five years.
"I see tremendous similarities between our two cultures. SP AusNet and Aurecon share common values – safety, passion, teamwork, integrity and excellence," said CEO Paul Hardy.
SP AusNet manages three Victorian energy networks – electricity transmission, electricity distribution and gas distribution.
Aurecon will provide transmission and distribution design services to assist SP AusNet in the delivery of its significant capital works programme.
John Szmalko, Power Transmission and Distribution Leader at Aurecon, said that our team will provide SP AusNet with constructible, practical designs and will stay involved throughout the construction process. "Our commitment to SP AusNet goes through to completion, both of the project and throughout the panel life," he said.
Aurecon has committed to providing a core team in Melbourne, which will be supplemented by our global resource base as needed.
"Our business model enables us to quickly create multidisciplinary, collaborative teams across all aspects of civil and structural design, project and asset management," added Paul Hardy.
Aurecon has a strong track record in the transmission and distribution sector. Our focus is on providing innovative solutions that meet schedule and budget without compromising on performance, functionality, reliability, flexibility or security, for either the development of new or refurbishment of existing infrastructure.
For further information please contact John Szmalko at John.Szmalko@aurecongroup.com.


text:
DON'T Uber Everywhere
Kirin Hopper, Carina Raffaelli, and Natalie Walker
Uber is a popular app that allows people to request rides from their mobile devices. The premise is that anyone can become an Uber driver by signing up with their personal vehicles, but the process of becoming an Uber driver lacks a lot of what many people would consider proper safety precautions. There are rarely any complete background checks done on Uber drivers, which raises the possibility of danger to someone who rides in an Uber alone. With 750,000 Uber drivers in the U.S, and 41.8 million Uber users, unfortunate attacks are bound to happen. Unlike cab companies, who operate a tighter ship with FBI background checks, hygiene and wellness checks, and mandatory driving training, companies like Uber have their own financial interests at top of mind, not their riders' safety.
Uber is used a lot in many college towns such as Berkeley and Santa Cruz. While there haven't been any reported cases of attacks happening in Ubers in Santa Cruz, people have reported countless inappropriate and even risky encounters with Uber drivers in Berkeley. Many girls who Uber alone are at risk of being kidnapped or killed, and in some instances, sold into sex trafficking. The problem seems far-fetched and unrealistic for it to happen so close to home, but many attacks happen that go unnoticed and unreported. Uber drivers can register under a fake name, and while the ride is going on, drug the passengers or discontinue the tracking of the ride on the app. This way women are suddenly off the map, with no account of their real last location. After a PCS poll of the teenagers who attend the school, over 80% of girls interviewed said they felt unsafe in an Uber alone. When asked about the threat of danger in Uber rides, 12th grader Ella Currie says she "only feels safe going in Ubers when [she is] with guy friends". Similarly, 17 year-old Lauren Hubbell told the interviewers how she has been "warned by close family and friends to be alert when riding [Uber] alone" and to "not be afraid to defend [her]self if [she] feels threatened". Many of the male students interviewed didn't feel the same threat of Uber rides, although they felt they wouldn't want their close female friends Ubering late at night alone. 11th grader Jack Pecoraro explained how he "hasn't experienced the anxiety of Uber rides" but could "understand why [his] female friends would feel unsafe". Co-author Kirin Hopper believes that "Uber is a helpful app, but [he] feel[s] like it's too easy for something to go wrong".
If this problem is well known, then why haven't proper changes been made to ensure the safety of young girls and college students? Students at PCS should be wary of their Uber drivers and take certain safety precautions when considering taking a ride. Mothers advise their daughters not to get in the car before the driver says your name, to clarify it's really who you booked a ride with. Students should be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to the directions the driver is taking, to make sure they are sticking to the booked path. Many girls stated how they were told to text someone the description of the car and Uber driver after getting in, just in case they went missing for the police to have a suspect to track. Unfortunately, these are safety measures that have to be taken while change is made to the Uber background checks.
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Ljubljana, 27 February - After some light snowfall during the night, precipitation will have stopped in most parts of Slovenia on Monday morning. A bora wind picking up in the west will blow some of the clouds away providing for partial clearing in the Primorsko region.
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Contra Costa Herald
News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California
Writer wants Brentwood Council to choose application process, not waste money on special election or appoint Rarey to vacancy
December 24, 2020 By Publisher 4 Comments
Former Councilmember Karen Rarey knew that if she ran for mayor and lost, instead of running for re-election in District 3, she'd no longer be on the city council. She took that risk, ran and lost. Councilmember Susannah Meyer was elected in District 3 to replace her. Now, Meyer, the other new Councilmember Jovita Mendoza and their special interest group are trying to get Rarey appointed to Mayor Joel Bryant's empty council seat to have three votes to the council. That's not right.
Do we want a small, local, special interest group to control the majority of our council? Of course not. They need to accept the fact that Rarey lost. And she needs to be respectful of the people's vote, gracious in defeat and step away, instead of trying to get back on the council and be the leader of a new majority coalition for a seat she can't even run for in two years!
It's time to give the new leadership that the people voted for a chance. Joel Bryant is that leader. The council needs to hold an application, interview and appointment process, not waste $200,000 of our tax dollars on a special election, and not appoint Rarey to his open seat.
They say politics is the art of compromise. Jovita and Susannah need to remember that and learn to compromise and find common ground with Mayor Bryant and Councilmember Johnny Rodriguez and appoint someone, preferably from District 4 to fill the seat for the next two years.
Please take the City Council survey on the city's website by next Monday, Dec. 28 at www.brentwoodca.gov/gov/council/council_survey.asp. Join me in telling the council we want them to hold an application and appointment process, not a special election and not appoint Rarey. Thank you.
Pauline Giles
Filed Under: East County, Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Politics & Elections
Writers say Brentwood Council should choose application and appointment process for vacancy
December 22, 2020 By Publisher Leave a Comment
The City of Brentwood is now undergoing a process to decide how the vacant council seat should be filled.
Three options are now under consideration. The first, to hold a general election for the empty seat, which will be for a two-year period when the District 4 seat will again become available. This is a terrible choice. The city, now suffering a serious deficit due to the COVID-19 crisis, would incur more debt that could easily cost $200,000. By the time that all the election rules are put in place, the eventual winner may not get seated until mid-year 2021 and serve only one-and-a-half years in place. The election would potentially be open to all Brentwood residents as the seat would be an at-large position. When 2022 comes along, the person in place may not live in District 4 and not be eligible to run or be seated.
The second is to select one of the candidates that did not win during the past election, with the primary choice being the person that got the second most votes in the mayor's race. However, each of those who lost in the council races may ultimately be a better choice but, got fewer votes simply because they only appeared on the district ballot in which they lived and ran. There is an ultimate unfairness in this approach.
The third, which appears to be the most fair, is to open the candidacy with an application to the city council for the temporary position in writing, allow the seated council members select the top five (or three or seven) and have them interview with the council for the best fit.
While it seems to be a lot of work on the part of the council, this should be more equitable to fill the council and most beneficial to the people of the City of Brentwood.
John Case
Olga Vidriales
Filed Under: Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Politics & Elections
East County Imam writes to give thanks to Allah
November 25, 2020 By Publisher Leave a Comment
My name is Khalid Khan, serving as Imam of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Bay Area. I reside in Bay Point. Please find below my letter regarding Thanksgiving.
"On Thursday, millions of Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving—a day of reflection and thankfulness for all that we have. As Ahmadi Muslims we are thankful to God for living in America and having the rights to exercise religious freedom and all the things he has provided for us. Allah says in the Holy Quran that "Surely, Allah is gracious towards mankind, but most of them are not thankful" (10:61). The Holy Prophet (saw) has also stated that, "One who is not thankful to people, is not thankful to Allah."
Even though many families might not be traveling this year because of the pandemic to be with their loved ones during this holiday, nonetheless, we should be grateful that our loved ones are safe and sound. May God keep everyone safe during this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Imam Khalid Khan
Filed Under: Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Writer, private investigator questions investigation, prosecution in 15-year-old murder of Lafayette woman
November 21, 2020 By Publisher 2 Comments
She was the wife of a famous attorney; writer claims neighbor was falsely accused and wrongly convicted, case should be investigated by DA's Conviction Integrity Unit
Fifteen years ago, Lafayette resident Pamela Vitale was repeatedly and savagely bludgeoned, and stabbed numerous times within her home by those responsible for her violent death. I believe, and am of the opinion, that it was an incomplete, flawed, inadequate, and unfortunately misdirected investigation(s), initial defenses and prosecution. In the investigations' haste the neighborhood's poor teenager, Scott Dyleski, was quickly and questionably focused on as being the responsible party, to the exclusion of any others, even though law enforcement's own leads and evidence suggested someone else, perhaps even two others, was/were responsible for her brutal death.
Vitale was the wife of famed attorney David Horowitz and friend of television host and legal commentator, Nancy Grace, who ran an episode about the case during a TV show, last year. Horowitz was an early suspect in the murder.
It is my opinion and belief that this murder case, with some notoriety involved, was where much investigative evidence was ignored and/or discounted in order to quickly bring someone forward as the responsible before the numerous news media and press that had pounced on the case. Scott Dyleski unfortunately was brought before the public and prosecuted as the responsible!
Years ago, I was hired by Scott Dyleski's two appeals attorneys for the purposes of assisting them in their representation of Scott Dyleski's conviction appeals and defense. it was my impression then, and still is, that the killing of Pamela Vitale was a personal rage type of murder by one who closely interacted with and knew her.
This very brief summary position is of my case analysis, evidence, investigation, opinion and beliefs, concerning the then investigations, defense and prosecution of the quickly suspected, accused, and I believe wrongly convicted Scott Dyleski in the vicious murder of Pamela Vitale. Scott Dyleski has been incarcerated for 15 years for a crime that he is seriously believed to NOT have committed, with the responsible(s) having yet to be clearly identified by law enforcement, held accountable, or brought to justice.
There's so much that the case suggests and points to as to the sequence of events that fateful day. One significant part is, I truly believe, based upon the information and evidence, that the brutal victimization of Pamela Vitale was not a single continuation of events. No, the evidence points to there having been separate phases that ultimately led to her violent and savage unwarranted death. This I say with my own 50-plus years of hands-on public safety investigative training and experiences, which includes numerous Homicide investigations. I have been a state certified Homicide Investigator since 1980.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office reported in June 2019 that it had established the Conviction Integrity Unit to review cases where it's suspected that someone may have been convicted of a crime that they did not commit. I quickly submitted a request in writing to the D.A.'s unit and to the Public Defender's Office over a year ago. I haven't heard from them since. This case definitely cries out for such reopening and renewed investigation of the case, including both the defense's and prosecution's involvements. I believe, and am of the opinion, that it was a serious injustice and unfortunately misdirected case investigation(s), his defense and prosecution.
It is my opinion and belief that this case cries out for a full and proper reopening and re-investigation of the case, including the activities of the police, the defense's and the prosecution's involvements. Not only is Scott Dyleski the loser in all of this but so is the foundation of our society wherein we all are entitled to a just and equal expectation of a fair, complete, and unbiased administration of Justice. Pamela Vitale's death and Scott Dyleski deserve real Justice!
Your assistance in demanding such from the D.A.'s Office and Public Defender's Office is more than warranted. Fifteen years of Scott's young life has already been denied him and he still faces many more if this very serious matter is again just ignored by all. Her murder deserves that the whole truth is determined, not ignored! And those really responsible should be brought to justice!
Ralph A. Hernandez
Filed Under: Crime, District Attorney, Lamorinda, Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Police
Writers says Fernando Sandoval running for college board is an inspiring candidate and breath of fresh air
October 29, 2020 By Publisher Leave a Comment
Daniel Borenstein, in his editorial, endorsed candidate Fernando Sandoval for Contra Costa Community College Board of Trustees Ward 5. But he has left out very important assets and characteristics of Mr. Sandoval that I would like to mention for those who would like to hear of his good character and important background that he would bring to the college board which I have found to be very inspiring.
As a person of color, I'm excited to know that we have a chance to elect Mr. Sandoval who will bring equity, diversity and inclusion to everyone entering their first year of upper education in addition to faculty and staff. Mr. Sandoval's priority will be to keep first year students engaged and motivated to move on to either universities or well-paying skilled jobs. I have worked on community education projects with Mr. Sandoval where he has displayed his motivation, passion, sensitivity, and creativity to work with youth or those wanting to go back to school to improve their jobs and careers.
He has also recently written a book that inspires those to move on and improve their lives. He has spoken on identity, motivation and achievement to young students using his book as his historical journey. He also provides this book as a gift to others. I am a retired person now and I was even inspired by his book.
In addition to his passion for education, Mr. Sandoval also has a 25-year career in information technology and finance consulting with worldwide banking institutions and research corporations providing management strategies and budgeting models for economic recovery.
With this background, Mr. Sandoval will increase fiscal accountability and transparency to manage District funding that will support our taxpayers' investment in our community colleges.
With Mr. Sandoval's background, he has inspired many of us to support him including Faculty and Classified Professionals including over 40 Community Educators and Leaders and many elected officials. These important individuals are gravely disappointed in the incumbent and are looking to replace him with all that Mr. Sandoval offers; finding a breath of fresh air, commitment and inspiration with Mr. Fernando Sandoval.
Linda Olvera
Filed Under: East County, Education, Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Writer asks if candidate for Brentwood City Council, Jovita Mendoza if she's not self-funding her campaign but spending 'borrowed' money from creditors she never paid back
October 29, 2020 By Publisher 4 Comments
Judgment against Michael W. Kleeman and Jovita Mendoza from Ford Wholesale Co., Inc. of San Jose for $100,390.86 dated Oct. 16, 2007. Provided by letter writer.
Jovita Mendez is running for Brentwood City Council in District 1 and bragging about self-funding her campaign. That's easy to do and say when you don't pay your bills and you're spending your creditor's money. That's because Jovita and her husband appear to have a judgement against them for over $100,000 from Ford Wholesale Co., Inc. of San Jose dating back to 2007.
In addition, she has judgements against her from Discover Bank beginning in 2009 for $13,590.60, with recent court records from late 2019 and early 2020, that appear to indicate the money Jovita took from them hasn't been paid back. Additionally, court records show Jovita defaulted on a debt with Capital One in 2011.
Court records for Jovita Mendoza Discover complaint for $13,590.60 dated Feb. 17, 2010 and completed Feb. 25, 2020. Provided by letter writer.
Here's the question, did Jovita ever pay those creditors back? If not, she's spending their money on her campaign to try to get elected!
Yet, Jovita has the audacity and gall to attack other candidates for accepting campaign contributions from people, companies or organizations she doesn't like. How hypocritical.
Court record of Jovita Mendoza default on Capital One complaint dated June 8, 2011 and dismissed on Aug. 29, 2012. Provided by letter writer.
The voters should reject Jovita Mendoza for Brentwood City Council. How can we trust that she will "be a good Steward" of our community and handle our tax dollars correctly, when she "appropriates" money from her creditors, avoids paying it back for years (possibly more than a decade!), uses "their money" to promote herself for city council and can't handle her own personal finances?
Leila Hauck
Please see above the proof of my claims and click here to see the judgments against Jovita on the Contra Costa Superior Court website.
Filed Under: East County, Finances, Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Politics & Elections
Letters: Writer wants change, new community college board member for Ward 5
Ward 5 of the Community College Board needs change – Enholm must go!
Ward 5 of the Contra Costa Community College District, including Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Knightsen and Bethel Island, is badly in need of new leadership. The current Trustee for this area, Greg Enholm, has engaged in poor decisions, erratic behavior, and unethical acts that have not served the District, Los Medanos College in particular, very well.
This is not new, but enough is enough.
When the Board of Trustees approved in a 4-1 vote the building of the new Campus located in Brentwood, on donated land, with an approved Bond Measure E in 2014, Enholm continued to oppose its construction. An alternative site would have taken years for approval adding costs for acquisition of land and increased taxes. The new campus was needed as the existing leased building in a retail district of Brentwood was over-capacity. In 2016 Enholm also recommended the residents of the nearby Trilogy community sue the District to keep its construction at bay.
This opposition caused numerous delays, added hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost due to litigation, and for a time imperiled the use of the approved Bond as expenditures needed to begin within an approved time. Covid-19 has impacted its opening, but the students will be served well by this new educational facility.
Especially troubling has been allegations of multiple ethics violations by Enholm that have recently come to light. He has not denied the allegations. The allegations were found to be true by an investigator of the District which included inappropriately trying to get a friend re-classified to be considered for a top-level position as well as ghost-writing an email to the District. As part of the investigation it was noted that Enholm went directly to the Chancellor to ask him to reconsider his friend for the position even though the person was already deemed to be unqualified for the position.
Of late, with the District facing challenges due to COVID-19, he also voted to terminate upper-level district managers, ignoring numerous requests from faculty and classified staff to reconsider that decision. Enholm has stopped listening to the faculty, staff, and his constituents and has engaged in recent actions that have put our District's financial future at risk.
It is time for new leadership on the Contra Costa Community College District Board: Elect Fernando Sandoval.
Valerie T Lopez
Filed Under: Education, Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Politics & Elections
Writer claims Brentwood Council candidate misrepresents facts about her councilmember opponent
October 12, 2020 By Publisher 1 Comment
I find it interesting that Jovita Mendoza routinely misrepresents Councilmember Claudette Staton's positions on the important issues in our neighborhood.
Councilmember Staton voted, along with all the other council members, to put Measure L on the ballot to let the voters decide whether or not to proceed with the development and I think Ms. Mendoza would be happy that the voters rejected the development.
Ms. Mendoza knows – because she received an opinion on it – that per the California Political Reform Act, Councilmember Staton has to recuse herself from deliberations and votes on the proposed oil and gas drilling and the Bridal Gate development and recent zoning decisions. Bridal Gate will come before the Council in Feb. 2021.
Councilwoman Staton, as a private citizen, has stated that she is opposed to the oil and gas drilling.
If Ms. Mendoza continues to misrepresent facts how can we trust her on council?
JoAnn Klement
Writer disagrees with Op-Ed on Prop 15 – Schools and Communities Funding Act of 2020
August 5, 2020 By Publisher Leave a Comment
I am writing in response to the recent Op Ed by Jon Coupal and Ernest Dronenberg about Prop 15, the Schools and Communities Funding Act of 2020. Prop 15 will, in fact, preserve all the protections that the 1978 Prop 13 provided to homeowners. And Prop 15 will preserve those property tax protections for Homeowners, Renters, Agricultural properties, and Small Business owners. Prop 15 will only reassess large commercial properties, currently assessed at over $3 million. The rest of the country regularly reassesses commercial properties. I'm sure our county assessors are capable of this work as they did it for many years before 1978.
Mr. Coupal and Mr. Dronenberg did not mention that Prop 15 will close a loophole that presently allows commercial properties to change ownership without being reassessed at their purchase price. When we homeowners purchase property, we have no such avoidance loophole. This loophole has allowed commercial properties to go under-assessed for many years. When this loophole is closed and reassessments are in place, Prop 15 will bring an annual revenue of an estimated $350 million to Contra Costa County.
This is money, that before 1978, the county collected almost equally from homeowners and commercial properties to pay for schools, libraries, street maintenance, local parks, and first responders. Now homeowners pay 72% of these costs.
It is important to note Prop 15 supports small businesses by allowing them to write off 100% of business personal property purchases. Large commercial businesses get to write off $500,000. of these purchases annually.
Prop 15 is about everyone paying their fair share to benefit our communities and our schools. Passing Proposition 15 will help California recover from years of under-investment. Now is the time to reinvest in our future and pass Prop 15.
Carol Murota
Filed Under: Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Taxes
Writer responds – Schools and Communities First: Prop 15
July 28, 2020 By Publisher Leave a Comment
This is in response to the recent Op/Ed from Dronenburg and Coupal.
Most of us want similar things: good schools for our children, a healthy family, and safe neighborhoods. But for more than four decades, big corporations have not been paying their fair share, leaving California's school funding falling behind. California now has the most overcrowded classrooms in the U.S. and some of the worst ratios of counselors, librarians, and nurses per student. This has taken an enormous toll.
Schools & Communities First is not an effort to undo Prop 13- it is simply an effort to ensure that our schools and communities come first – with the resources to educate all of our kids and the services to support all of our families.
It accomplishes this by closing commercial property tax loopholes only- not residences, not agriculture and not small businesses. In fact, it will impact only a small fraction of large corporations.
SCF will reclaim $12 billion every year to fund world-class schools and strengthen local economies to lift up all Californians
It's time to invest in California again- we cannot afford to wait.
Janet Hoy
Filed Under: Education, Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Politics & Elections, Taxes
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I can no longer upload files from MAC to server by dragging files to fetch window.
I "can" download - drag files from server (fetch window) to the MAC.
I have the same problem plus I can no longer "put" folders, just files.
I am working on addressing this problem in the next release of Fetch. In the meantime you can use the "Put folders and files..." command in the Remote menu.
Is this an Apple Problem or a Fetch Problem? Fist could no longer use BBEDIT to edit files on remote server. Now cannot put files by dragging. I realize this is only a $49 program, but utility of the program is moving backward. What can we expect for timing of next release? I know you cannot predict exactly, but are we talking about hours, days, weeks ... ???
"Put folders and files..." is a command in the Remote menu (i.e. in the menu bar). It lets you upload multiple files and/or folders at once.
Fetch is actually a $25 product. On Mac OS X it uses a new user interface item called a data browser, in order to present a faithful Aqua user interface. Between Mac OS X 10.1.2 and 10.1.3 Apple changed the behavior of data browsers where drag and drop is concerned. I will adjust Fetch's behavior to work correctly in Fetch 4.0.2. I expect 4.0.2 to be available for testing within a month.
You can still drag and drop. Only you need to drop over the status area of Fetch. Not the actual file window.
ou can still drag and drop. Only you need to drop over the status area of Fetch. Not the actual file window.


What do we like at Eurail.com? What makes working with us special?
In 2017 we introduced a new Purpose and Way for our company, replacing our old Mission and Vision.
We follow New World of Work. To us, the philosophy behind this is that employees with a good work/life balance are better performers. Some examples of smart working include working from home, which limits the time you need to travel to the office. You also have the freedom to be flexible when combining having young children and a challenging job. Want to know how we achieve this?
All employees receive a laptop and mobile phone.
You'll get flexibility in the way you schedule your work week and days.
You define your own schedule, so you are free to divide your own hours within the week.
You're allowed to work from home.
Our modern office is right next to Utrecht Central Station and easily accessible by public transport.
We work on the basis of trust. You don't have to keep records of your activities or hours, as we do believe each other can balance his/her workload as they want best.


Louisiana has an $11 billion agricultural industry. When state officials and farmers met this last November in northwest Louisiana with Governor John Bel Edwards for the "Listen to Agriculture" tour, the topic of feral hogs was a priority. This invasive species not only causes visual damage, but the monetary impact particularly in the spring when farmers are planting is substantial and the reason why farmers must invest even more in replanting costs. This setback also causes yields to be potentially lower due to the shorter growing season.
This Sportsman's Paradise has become a prime breeding ground for feral hogs, and this invasive species has no natural predator to help keep their numbers under control. Damages are not limited to crops. The hogs will eat anything; such as fawn, small ground nesting or dwelling animals, small birds and the eggs of the local wildlife. They also root for grubs and other morsels, causing erosion and damage to levees, according to the Assistant State Wildlife Veterinarian with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that damages and control costs across the U.S is around $1.5 billion. In a study put out by the LSU Ag Center in 2016, it was approximated that the total cost of loss is around $55 million dollars for just the agricultural sector. This doesn't include damages to personal property, insurance claims for vehicle collisions or any other factors that would only cause this figure to significantly increase.
As the state looks for viable solutions and debates the environmental impact to wildlife, with regards to the introduction of poison and/or fertility control measures to help cull the wild pig populations in the state, there is a group of individuals who have actively taken up this cause (at their own expense) and are using their skills and equipment to help do their part to combat this growing problem for their community.
Shane Kessler and Marty Strange heard the complaints of their fellow neighbors, and their personal testimonies of how detrimental the feral hog problem was for their community. As quickly as the farmers could put seed in the ground, the hogs would come in at night and root, cause soil damage and seed loss. This cost one farmer $20,000+ in crop loss; in addition to other costs related to labor, wear and tear on equipment and replanting. Shane and Marty knew they needed to do something, they began their grassroots hog eradication efforts right after the state began to allow the taking of wild hog at night. This is how Rougarou Hog Control (out of Pineville, LA) made it their mission to help their local farmers and their community tackle the eradication problem as best they could.
In the beginning, Shane and Marty used night vision optics for their hog eradication endeavors. Once Shane Kessler secured a Prostaff position with ATN Corp., he was able to obtain the thermal resources needed to further this outfits' efforts. Rougarou Hog Control is setting new remediation records that rival even the state's helicopter efforts. This crew is getting ready to hit their personal best, putting down their 1000th feral hog!
Today, Rougarou has grown, and now is a group of 6 dedicated individuals who protect close to 70K acres. These individuals donate their time, money and the mental/physical aptitude required to endure the long evening hours needed to protect the agricultural crops/land of these Central Louisiana farmers.
If it wasn't for the dedication, hard work and unwavering determination of the guys at Rougarou, there would be an additional 1,000 hogs in the state of Louisiana wreaking havoc on farmers and Louisiana residents. Thank you, gentlemen, for your ongoing conservation efforts.
About ATN Corp., Inc.: We are a manufacturer and developer of digital day & night vision and thermal imaging optics aimed at 24hr use. Our optics are a solution for many in the field dealing with feral hog efforts. ATN wanted to bring awareness the individual(s) who are dedicating time and money to give back to their community.


LC50-DIGILOG, a newly developed laser measuring system.
DIGILOG technology generates thousands of measurements per second, increasing the speed, precision and in-process reliability of tool measurement in machining centers.
The new LC50-DIGILOG features optimized laser optics.
The compact BLUM smartDock is the standard interface for all new carrier systems. It is offered in three variants and includes, in addition to the electrical, mechanical and pneumatic connections, all necessary pneumatic valves.
"The new HPC nozzle with 25% greater cleaning pressure enables even more effective cleaning of the tool cutting edges," said a company spokesperson.
Blum-Novotest will present the redeveloped laser measuring system LC50-DIGILOG. The new system with DIGILOG technology generates thousands of measurement values per second while dynamically adjusting the measuring speed according to the nominal speed of the tool. The LC50-DIGILOG also measures each cutting edge individually, rather than just determining the value for the longest cutting edge, meaning it is possible to make a comparison from the shortest to the longest cutting edge. As a result, run-out errors, caused by contamination on the taper of the toolholder, for example, are also automatically detected. The new LC50-DIGILOG also detects any contaminants and cooling lubricants adhering to the tool-due to the large number of measurements per cutting edge-and deducts them from the result to make measurement results even more reliable.
"The new ideas implemented in the LC50-DIGILOG have advantages for users," said a company spokesperson. "Firstly, measurement and testing times have been shortened by up to 60%. In addition, the optics in the system were further improved so that the new generation achieves absolute accuracy due to an optimized beam shape and a 30% smaller focus diameter. Blum developers also further improved the homogeneity of the laser beam, making further analog measurements possible. The influence of coolant mist has been further reduced, enabling improvements in accuracy and in-process reliability. And despite its reduced external dimensions, the optimized design enables the measurement of tools that are up to 30% bigger, depending on the version used."
The compact Blum smartDock standard interface serves as the basis for all new support systems and contains all the necessary pneumatic valves in addition to the electrical, mechanical and pneumatic connections between the machine and laser measuring system. If the compressed air quality is in accordance with ISO 8573-1 class 1.3.1, the separate pneumatic unit required for the LaserControl NT can even be omitted completely.
"In addition to realizing short measurement times, optimized precision and in-process reliability, users will also profit in the future from new, ground-breaking applications. These include the 3-D ToolControl software, which enables continuous digilog-based contour measurement of tools-including the visualization on the control screen, and the new SpindleControl technology cycle, which can be used to record and evaluate the state of a spindle bearing," said the spokesperson.


text:
'Brown' investments could face future penalties under EU 'green' finance initiative
6 June 2018. By John Rega.
The EU's sustainable-finance initiative could one day include punishments as well as incentives to deter investors from environmental harm, a senior European Commission official has said.
The commission's proposal now before lawmakers seeks only to define "green" investments such as wind farms or energy-saving buildings, and mandate financial companies to explain their investment policies regarding climate change and other such factors. Investors could then choose what strategy to pursue.
But the framework being created would also leave policymakers with the scope to offer regulatory breaks as pro-green incentives — the topic of a current debate — or even rules going the other way to penalize environmentally harmful "brown" investments, said Ugo Bassi, the commission's director of financial-market policy, at a conference* yesterday in Brussels.
"We do not exclude, honestly, that the penalizing 'brown' element will come in in the future," Bassi said during a panel discussion on ways that financial rules could spur environmental goals.
"We wanted to start with something we felt more comfortable with," he said of the commission's May 24 proposal. "This is the beginning of a long [road]."
The current legislative proposal simply creates a method by which an advisory group would work out definitions for various categories of environmentally beneficial investments, to prevent the "green-washing" of projects that do little to combat climate change. Social and governance factors could be introduced later.
Once these definitions are in place, the EU could seek to reduce capital requirements for banks and insurers to finance qualifying businesses, lowering the cost of funding. That would require separate legislation.
Any adjustment to prudential capital rules — designed to safeguard financial companies from collapse — should come only after more information is gathered on the risks, said Molly Scott Cato, a UK Green lawmaker who led the European Parliament to adopt a resolution on sustainable-finance last week.
"Politically I can't make a decision … until I have a lot more information," she said on the panel with Bassi.
Scott Cato added that a "green supporting factor" may not be in necessary in any case, as she said that buildings with top energy-use ratings already typically earn lower mortgage rates.
Banks agree on the need to support the green-finance agenda as a business imperative, said Christiane Muyldermans, regulatory counsel with KBC Groep in Brussels. "Sustainability today is no longer a 'nice to have,' but a 'need to be,' " she said on the panel.
But lending is a fiduciary duty, Muyldermans argued, and shouldn't be subject to tweaks in prudential rules. "We don't support any factor — brown, black or green," she said.
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