text:
New state House map is unfair to Jeffco
As this newspaper reported, last week, the Colorado Reapportionment Commission approved a map redrawing this state's legislative districts. Not only does the map deprive Jefferson County of its allotted number of whole House seats, it carves up significant natural, cultural and administrative communities of interest.
Info wars: The empire strikes back
A short time ago in a county very, very nearby, a group of small weekly newspapers launched an investigation into a land deal that the Jeffco empire presented as a routine open-space purchase.
Election pivotal for school district
When Laura Boggs was elected to the Jefferson County Board of Education two years ago, it caught a lot of people by surprise. It looked like incumbent Sue Marinelli was headed for re-election in an uncontested race until Boggs pulled and returned candidate papers just before the deadline. Running under the radar, Boggs upset the incumbent and has been a controversial and polarizing member of the school board in her first two years.
Are colleges spending funds wisely?
If you watched a recent college football game between the universities of Utah and Southern California, you couldn't have missed a somewhat strange interlude when the announcers rattled off statistics about the amount of money PAC 12 universities are spending on stadiums.
Our state is in a heap of trouble, boys
During a series of commercials for Dodge Challengers in the early 1970s, a rural sheriff who usually said, "Boy, you're in a heap of trouble," stopped Challenger drivers because they must have been speeding in a car that looked so hot. As I read the latest report of the University of Denver's Center for Colorado's Economic Future, I found myself thinking all future residents of Colorado share the drivers' dilemma. We are definitely in a heap of trouble.
Cut trillions, not voting rights
The enormity of the federal government's liabilities is the biggest challenge we face. As of the moment I write this, national debt stands at about $14.652 trillion (add a few billion by the time you read this). Yet debt is only a part of the equation: Boston University economist Lawrence Kotlikoff estimates that the "real liability" of the federal government is actually in excess of $70 trillion.
No wonder markets weren't jumping for joy when Congress and the president agreed to a deal that nets only $900 billion in cuts over the next 10 years.
Our fire chief deserved better
Evergreen's fire chief was essentially fired last spring, and taxpaying residents of the Evergreen Fire Protection District still don't know why.
Boulder ballot misses the point
On Nov. 1, 2011, municipalities across Colorado will conduct elections. Voters in those cities and towns will be picking mayors and members of their city councils. They will decide on tax questions and other issues concerning how their cities will operate.
And then there is Boulder.
The answer is business, not politics
In an oft-quoted line, President Calvin Coolidge famously declared in 1925 that "the chief business of the American people is business."
Some have accused Coolidge of suggesting here that commerce is the highest moral aspiration of the American people, but he'd be the first to disagree. "We make no concealment of the fact that we want wealth, but there are many other things that we want much more," he said in the same speech. "We want peace and honor, and that charity which is so strong an element of all civilization."
School fees: an expensive lesson
Sticker shock.
That the best way to describe the look on my face as I stared at the computer screen last week, looking at the $929 I was about to pay for my two daughters to go to Evergreen High School this year.
I was so amazed at the figure, I actually got out a calculator, thinking maybe the computer had added incorrectly.
It hadn't.
Last year, I paid somewhere around $700 for both girls, and I was a little shocked then, too.


text:
Q: structure for Decodable JSON I am trying to put the following API link into a Decodable JSON in Swift
Link Here
Below is the code to map the link:
import Foundation

struct SelectedCompany: Decodable {

    let LastTradePrice: Double
    let ListedCompanyID: String
    let ListedCompanyName: String
    let MarketTotalOrdersByOrder: Int
    let MarketTotalOrdersByPrice: Int
    let MarketTotalSharesByOrder: Int
    let MarketTotalSharesByPrice: Int
    let NumberOfTrades: Int
    let Value: Int
    let Volume: Int
    let MarketAskOrdersByOrder: [Order]
    let MarketAskOrdersByPrice: [Order]
    let MarketBidOrdersByOrder: [Order]
    let MarketBidOrdersByPrice: [Order]
    let VWAP: Int

}

struct Order: Decodable {
    let Price: Double
    let Shares: Int
}

Any idea why is not mapping correctly? When I try to run it in the simulator, I am getting the below error

dataCorrupted(Swift.DecodingError.Context(codingPath: [], debugDescription: "The given data was not valid JSON.", underlyingError: Optional(Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=3840 "JSON text did not start with array or object and option to allow fragments not set." UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=JSON text did not start with array or object and option to allow fragments not set.})))

Thanks
Post Edit:
The error comes when I run the below function in a separate class called Service:
class Service {
static func getSpecificCompany(companyID: String, table: UITableView, completion: @escaping (SelectedCompany) -> ()) {

    let link = "https://www.adx.ae/en/_vti_bin/ADX/svc/trading.svc/ListedCompanyOrderBook?listedCompanyID=\(companyID)"
    guard let url = URL(string: link) else { return }

    URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { (data, response, error) in

        guard let resultData = data else { return }

        do {
            let resultCompany = try JSONDecoder().decode(SelectedCompany.self, from: resultData)

            DispatchQueue.main.async {
                completion(resultCompany)
                table.reloadData()
            }

        } catch {
            print(error)
        }
    }.resume()

}
}

In the ViewController class, the above function will be as follows:
class SomeViewController: UIViewController {

@IBOutlet weak var myTable: UITableView!

var selectedCompany:[SelectedCompany]?
var companyID = String()

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    Service.getSpecificCompany(companyID: companyID, table: myTable) { (company) in
        self.selectedCompany = company

    }

}

}

A: The only problem with your structs is the presence of this sort of thing in the JSON:
{"Price":null,"Shares":null}

To cope with that, you need to rewrite your Order struct to allow for null:
struct Order: Decodable {
    let Price: Double?
    let Shares: Int?
}

As soon as I do that, I can successfully decode the JSON you showed using your SelectedCompany and Order.
Here is playground code that tests (successfully):
let json = """
{"LastTradePrice":3.87,"ListedCompanyID":"ADIB","ListedCompanyName":"Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank","MarketAskOrdersByOrder":[{
"Price":3.87,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.88,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.88,"Shares":6000},{
"Price":3.89,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.9,"Shares":30000},{
"Price":3.9,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.98,"Shares":99800},{
"Price":3.98,"Shares":10000},{
"Price":3.99,"Shares":75000},{
"Price":3.99,"Shares":285018},{
"Price":4,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":4,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":4,"Shares":10000},{
"Price":4,"Shares":6336},{
"Price":4,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":4.09,"Shares":5000},{
"Price":4.1,"Shares":50000},{
"Price":4.11,"Shares":5000},{
"Price":4.13,"Shares":28894},{
"Price":4.13,"Shares":25000}],"MarketAskOrdersByPrice":[{
"Price":3.87,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.88,"Shares":106000},{
"Price":3.89,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.9,"Shares":130000},{
"Price":3.98,"Shares":109800},{
"Price":3.99,"Shares":360018},{
"Price":4,"Shares":316336},{
"Price":4.09,"Shares":5000},{
"Price":4.1,"Shares":50000},{
"Price":4.11,"Shares":5000},{
"Price":4.13,"Shares":53894},{
"Price":4.14,"Shares":193000},{
"Price":4.15,"Shares":85000},{
"Price":4.2,"Shares":127211},{
"Price":4.25,"Shares":250000},{
"Price":4.26,"Shares":10000}],"MarketBidOrdersByOrder":[{
"Price":3.85,"Shares":5349},{
"Price":3.85,"Shares":200000},{
"Price":3.84,"Shares":70000},{
"Price":3.84,"Shares":300000},{
"Price":3.83,"Shares":75000},{
"Price":3.81,"Shares":28000},{
"Price":3.8,"Shares":700000},{
"Price":3.79,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.79,"Shares":10000},{
"Price":3.72,"Shares":50000},{
"Price":3.68,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.67,"Shares":15000},{
"Price":3.67,"Shares":25000},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null}],"MarketBidOrdersByPrice":[{
"Price":3.85,"Shares":205349},{
"Price":3.84,"Shares":370000},{
"Price":3.83,"Shares":75000},{
"Price":3.81,"Shares":28000},{
"Price":3.8,"Shares":700000},{
"Price":3.79,"Shares":110000},{
"Price":3.72,"Shares":50000},{
"Price":3.68,"Shares":100000},{
"Price":3.67,"Shares":40000},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null},{
"Price":null,"Shares":null}],"MarketTotalOrdersByOrder":28,"MarketTotalOrdersByPrice":16,"MarketTotalSharesByOrder":1678349,"MarketTotalSharesByPrice":1678349,"NumberOfTrades":41,"VWAP":0,"Value":7159043,"Volume":1863558}
"""

let jsondata = json.data(using: .utf8)

struct SelectedCompany: Decodable {

    let LastTradePrice: Double
    let ListedCompanyID: String
    let ListedCompanyName: String
    let MarketTotalOrdersByOrder: Int
    let MarketTotalOrdersByPrice: Int
    let MarketTotalSharesByOrder: Int
    let MarketTotalSharesByPrice: Int
    let NumberOfTrades: Int
    let Value: Int
    let Volume: Int
    let MarketAskOrdersByOrder: [Order]
    let MarketAskOrdersByPrice: [Order]
    let MarketBidOrdersByOrder: [Order]
    let MarketBidOrdersByPrice: [Order]
    let VWAP: Int

}

struct Order: Decodable {
    let Price: Double?
    let Shares: Int?
}

do {
    let result = try JSONDecoder().decode(SelectedCompany.self, from: jsondata!)
    print(result) // works fine
} catch {
    print(error) // no error
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Scouting resolution
Katherine Webb
Katherine is the community editor for Weld. Drop her a line at local@weldbham.com. For Twittering folks, @KAWebb_.
The GSNCA reevaluates its contentious property plan.
The controversial three-phase property plan that divided the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA) — which approved the sale of 88-year-old Camp Coleman in Trussville, among other properties — is under official review, according to a resolution unanimously adopted by the board of directors.
After a yearlong grassroots uprising among the Scouts — from protests to court motions — today, the board voted to reevaluate the property plan with the intent to include membership input along with outside experts and community partners.
According to the resolution, no GSNCA camp properties — including both closed and rested camps — will be sold during the re-evaluation process pending the outcome of a new comprehensive strategic plan that will be developed for the organization.
Currently, the deadline for a new strategic plan is January 2014.
GSNCA Community Partnership Chief, Russell Jackson, said, "[The board] understands this is going to be a pretty in-depth process to take the information already there and go even deeper from the original plan. The goal is in January…for the various committees…to come back with all the components a comprehensive strategic plan, and the board will be able to review that to make a better determination: Are they in a position to make resolutions? Or are they going to need more time?"
The original property plan, announced May 2012, outlined a divestment of assets, including the sale of four of six camp properties, to combat 2011 operating losses of $1 million.
"Since the plan was unveiled," said Board President Rachel Russell, "a number of our membership has raised concerns about the closing and sale of camp properties as detailed in the three-phase property plan and the impact it may have on Girl Scouts as a whole. Many firmly believe that if given the opportunity, they can help GSNCA by raising enough community support to aid in the ongoing operational and capital needs of the camps.
"We will continue to include our membership in this new strategic planning process to help garner the best and most creative solutions in determining how we best meet, grow and sustain our Girl Scout outdoor programs for generations to come."
Grassroots members are pleased to see GSNCA extending a welcoming hand to community support for the camps. In a March interview with Weld, Hilary Perry, GSNCA's director of communications and advocacy, said of volunteer efforts, "it is not just a question of a one-time campaign to fix camp."
Such a denial of volunteer efforts led many members to raise questions regarding the motivations for divesting of property.
And in the wake of what seemed to be the council's determination to move forward with the plan, Scouts voted several members on to the board who are advocates for keeping the camps open. With new blood on the board, the three-phase plan began to lose steam.
In April, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Don Blankenship granted Scouts member Karen Carroll access to nearly 10,945 pages of operational documents in a discovery petition against GSNCA. Now the petitioner in a declaratory judgment complaint to determine who has the authority to decide on selling the camps, Carroll called today's decision "a victory," because GSNCA is now ready to recruit membership time, money and effort.
"We already have a list of people who will help us," Carroll said.
"We'll work with those groups to focus on a fundraising strategy; it's got to be a coordinated effort, whether that be to raise funds for operational dollars or raise funds for capital improvement. We've heard loud and clear that there are certain groups who want to help," Jackson said.
Still, Carroll intends to pursue the standing declaratory judgment. According to her attorney, William Bradford, "Ms. Carroll is pleased with the general direction that the resolution takes GSNCA in and also believes that the new board is certainly being more open and responsive to the concerns of membership. However, reconsideration is not the equivalent of rescission. For that reason, she is concerned that the resolution leaves in place the possibility that the camps could be sold depending on the results of the reconsideration of the three-phase plan.
"The goal of the declaratory judgment action was to resolve the issue of whether the board, as opposed to the members, possess the authority under the state statute and the GSNCA by-laws to make decisions about the disposition or sale of assets of the magnitude of those involved in the three phase property plan; namely the camps. The resolution today does not answer that question. As such, it is her present intention to go forward with the legal action in an effort to resolve the ultimate question."
Carroll explained, "We need the question answered: Does membership actually have a say in it or not? 'It' being the involvement in decisions to sell more than 50 percent of our assets."
Because of today's decision, though, the general mood among membership is positive.
Among those most excited are the Coleman Girls, the Pell City-based troop led by April Ellis Smith. The Coleman Girls joined 30 other Scout members outside the service center where this morning's board meeting was held. Weld spoke with the troop while they celebrated the decision at a local Chuck E. Cheese.
Troop leader Smith said, "I am just so grateful, absolutely just tickled, and it was a very emotional moment for everybody who was there. The overwhelming feeling, though, was gratitude that they finally listened to the members. We're so excited at the potential that we now have to work with our board to renovate our camps and get them back up and running the way they need to. The next step would be to work with our board. … We're going to be working with them to figure out when and what we can do."
"We've worked very long and hard to get this decision made," said 14-year-old Scout Beth Smith. "I think there is still a lot of work to do."
Another trooper, 9-year-old Randi Morgan, said, "I felt really excited that they saved Camp Coleman because that camp means so much to me, and there's a lot of memories to make still."
Present, too, at the meeting were the Waggoner sisters, who have followed closely the dispute among local Scouts.
Lita Waggoner, ambassador Scout, explained that the camps have yet to be "saved."
"They didn't decide to reopen the camps," Lita said. "They decided to reevaluate the property plan at a later date, and they will not sell the camps until they make a decision."
Waggoner is hopeful the board and GSNCA council will continue to value membership input and will come to a reasonable decision. "I know that [the board] is going to be pressed for time to make a decision by January, and we're very hopeful that it will work out, but we'll just have to see."
Lita is excited by the prospect of the reevaluation, but said, "What was especially inspiring to me today was that there were a lot of women who came down from north Alabama to participate in the group of Girl Scouts outside the council office this morning. For the most part, originally, this movement was about saving Camp Coleman, and it was a lot of women from central Alabama heading this movement, and now we've got women from north Alabama and the [Camp] Trico area. It's not just about one camp anymore.
"It's about the council as a whole and making sure that all the girls get the outdoor opportunities that they would like."
Her sister, 12-year-old Mallory, added, "I feel like Scouting is outdoors. You can't really be a Girl Scout without camping so if they sold our camps, what would we do?"
Jackson said service units are planning various outdoor programs for this summer. "The summer programs that were already scheduled, the camping programs at KPC and Camp Cottaquilla, are already underway."
You can read the GSNCA resolution in its entirety below:
Girl Scouts North-Central Alabama
Resolution – Special Board Meeting – 12 June 2013
Whereas on May 9, 2012 the GSNCA board of directors adopted a three phase property plan to consolidate our property holdings with the intent to continue to offer camping in fewer facilities across the Council's geography while expanding program opportunities and improving standards;
Whereas, a number of the membership of GSNCA raised concerns about the closing and sale of selected camp properties as detailed in the three phase property plan;
Whereas, the current board of directors has undertaken a process to re-evaluate the three phase property plan;
Whereas on May 29,2013, the GSNCA board of directors resolved to change the status of Camp Coleman and Camp Trico from "closed" to "rested" pending further action of the board;
Therefore be it resolved, the board of directors will reconsider the three phase property plan with a focus to incorporate current input from the membership using different collection processes on how best to grow Girl Scout outdoor programs in a manner that meets the current needs of the membership and provides for a continuation of outdoor programming in the future;
Be it further resolved that the board will re-consider the status of Camp Coleman and Camp Trico after the strategic planning process that evaluates current and future uses of these camps that align with the goals and desires of the membership that seek an active outdoor program is completed;
Be it further resolved, that the board of directors will not sell Camp Tombigbee and Camp Anderel that were closed in phase one of the three phase property plan and will re-consider the status of the properties as part of the strategic planning process of GSNCA;
Be it further resolved that no GSNCA camp properties will be sold during the re-evaluation of the three phase property plan, the planning process to evaluate current and future uses of the properties, the development of a strategic plan to best suit the outdoor programming needs of the membership; and the camp properties will not be sold pending the outcome of the strategic planning process and upon further action of the board of directors;
Be it further resolved that the Property Committee, in conjunction with other necessary committees (such as but not limited to the Strategic Planning Committee and Finance Committee), and input from the membership, outside experts, and community partners, shall complete the reevaluation and planning processes and prepare resolutions to be presented to the board of directors at the January 2014 board meeting.
For more information on the GSNCA, visit girlscoutsnca.org.
Camp Coleman continued May 22, 2013
Friends of camp win ruling May 13, 2013
Plagiarism in Scouting? May 7, 2013
Democratic Scouting April 30, 2013
Math plus science equals fun
Give a child a helmet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
L'AeroVironment Switchblade è una munizione circuitante (un tipo di arma noto anche come "drone suicida") in miniatura, progettata dall'esercito degli Stati Uniti d'America, realizzata dalla AeroVironment Inc. e utilizzata da diversi rami delle forze armate statunitensi. Abbastanza piccolo da stare in uno zaino, lo Switchblade viene lanciato da una canna simile a quella di un mortaio, dopodiché il piccolo drone apre le ali, si dirige nell'area del bersaglio e si schianta contro di esso facendo detonare la sua testata esplosiva. Il nome dello Switchblade deriva dal modo in cui le ali a molla sono ripiegate quando si trova all'interno della canna di lancio e dalla maniera in cui si aprono una volta che il drone ne è uscito: in inglese, infatti, "switchblade" significa "coltello a serramanico".

Entrato in servizio alle forze statunitensi nel 2011, lo Switchblade originario è stato ribattezzato Switchblade 300 dopo che nel 2020 è stata presentata la variante Switchblade 600, molto più grande e dalle aumentate capacità penetranti. Nel 2015 è disponibile anche la versione Blackwing, una variante dello Switchblade 300 priva di testata.

Sviluppo
Concepito dal comando operazioni speciali dell'aeronautica militare statunitense (in inglese: US Air Force Special Operations Command, AFSOC) e sviluppato dall'esercito, lo Switchblade aveva lo scopo di aiutare le truppe statunitensi a rispondere alle imboscate nemiche in Afghanistan.

Considerando che il comune supporto aereo ravvicinato richiede diverso tempo per essere messo in pratica, è costoso da condurre e rischia di causare danni collaterali nelle aree urbane, che i missili guidati portatili come l'FGM-148 Javelin sono costosi (circa  l'uno per il modello citato) e pochi o nessuno fanno parte del comune armamento di una pattuglia comune, e che i droni portatili come il Raven o il Puma possono in effetti individuare eventuali minacce ma sono comunque privi di sistemi d'arma, lo Switchblade, con il suo costo relativamente basso (circa  al pezzo per lo Switchblade 300), la sua facilità di trasporto e la sua capacità di individuare e colpire i combattenti nemici dall'alto, risulta essere particolarmente utile ed efficiente nell'offrire appoggio alle truppe a terra.

Il 29 luglio 2011, l'esercito degli Stati Uniti ha assegnato alla AeroVironment un contratto da 4,9 milioni di dollari per la "rapida messa in opera" di un numero imprecisato di Switchblade destinate alle forze armate statunitensi impegnate in Afghanistan. Il 20 marzo 2012 il totale della cifra è stato portato a 10 milioni di dollari.

Nel maggio 2012, il Corpo dei Marines degli Stati Uniti (USMC) ha iniziato a ordinare Switchblade per consentire alle proprie truppe di colpire le squadre nemiche impegnate nel posizionamento di ordigni esplosivi improvvisati e obiettivi simili. Di solito, quando viene richiesto supporto aereo, gli attaccanti scappano prima che un drone, un elicottero d'attacco, un cacciabombardiere o comunque le forze richieste possano arrivare sulla posizione. Inoltre, i marines hanno riscontrato casi in cui non era stato possibile ottenere supporto aereo a causa del fatto che altre unità avevano ricevuto la priorità. Il fatto che gli Switchblade siano abbastanza piccoli da poter essere contenuti nei tipici equipaggiamenti di un marine, ossia l'ALICE o il MOLLE, unitamente alla loro capacità di agganciare e seguire un bersaglio una volta selezionato hanno quindi fatto propendere anche l'USMC per la loro adozione.

I primi 75 Switchblade sono stati forniti ai soldati statunitensi in Afghanistan alla fine del 2012 e già nel gennaio 2013 si erano potuti contare diversi e proficui impieghi. Sebbene i militari non avessero confermato i dettagli sul loro dispiegamento, efficacia o impiego tattico, i comandanti dei vari reparti hanno riferito che i piccoli droni si erano rivelati "molto efficaci". Poco dopo, i vertici dell'esercito nel teatro afgano hanno chiesto un aumento del numero di tali dispositivi: il numero richiesto non è stato specificato, ma alcune fonti affermano che sia stato "enormemente superiore" rispetto ai 75 sistemi inizialmente forniti e che abbia superato i limiti di budget. Nel tempo gli Switchblade hanno guadagnato ulteriore notorietà sia tra i soldati che lo usavano, sia tra i nemici presi di mira, in particolare i primi hanno affermato di considerarlio uno strumento prezioso utile soprattutto per ridurre i danni collaterali. A differenza della maggior parte delle altre armi, infatti, gli Switchblade consentono di annullare o interrompere una missione se la situazione cambia dopo il lancio, fornendo quindi la possibilità di ingaggiare un bersaglio secondario o far autodistruggere il dispositivo senza provocare vittime o danni alle proprietà.

Il 28 agosto 2013, AeroVironment ha annunciato di aver ricevuto cinque contratti per un totale di 15,8 milioni di dollari per fornire più sistemi Switchblade, attrezzature ausiliarie e supporto all'esercito. Una settimana dopo, il Pentagono ha stipulato con la società un ulteriore contratto del valore di 6,6 milioni di dollari. Il 5 settembre 2013, AeroVironment si è poi aggiudicata una modifica del contratto, per un importo di 29 milioni di dollari, finalizzata alla fornitura di sistemi Switchblade e hardware e servizi di supporto associati, per un valore totale di 51,4 milioni di dollari in contratti annunciati in soli nove giorni.

Dalla data della loro introduzione fino alla fine dell'Operazione Enduring Freedom, avvenuta il 28 dicembre 2014, si stima che oltre  Switchblade siano stati schierati in Afghanistan.

Nell'aprile 2015, i marines hanno provato a lanciare uno Switchblade dal retro di un MV-22 Osprey. Il drone, che non era armato di testata, è stato lanciato e guidato con precisione verso un bersaglio, mostrando così che esso potrebbe essere lanciato dall'aeromobile in fase di volo e fungere come strumento di sorveglianza armato controllato a distanza all'Osprey.

Il 28 aprile 2016, AeroVironment ha annunciato di aver sviluppato un aggiornamento per il sistema di missili tattici Switchblade denominato Block 10C, mentre nell'ottobre 2016, l'azienda ha sviluppato il Multi-Pack Launcher (MPL), un sistema per trasportare e lanciare in remoto diversi Switchblade. Nell'ottobre 2020 AeroVironment ha presentato lo Switchblade 600, una versione più grande e potente della precedente, ribattezzata Switchblade 300, che, al momento della presentazione, aveva già effettuato almeno 60 voli di prova da lanci a terra contro bersagli fissi e mobili. Sempre nell'ottobre 2020 è stata poi annunciata l'esistenza di un progetto congiunto tra AeroVironment e Kratos Defense & Security Solutions volto allo sviluppo di un "veicolo aereo da combattimento senza pilota ad alta velocità e lungo raggio" utile a fungere da nave madre da cui lanciare Switchblade 300 in gran numero.
 l 31 marzo 2021, AeroVironment si è aggiudicata un contratto da 26,1 milioni di dollari da parte parte del SOCOM, al quale a metà del 2017 erano stati consegnati 350 Switchblades 300 da impiegare nella lotta contro lo Stato Islamico, per la fornitura di sistemi Switchblade 600.

Il 16 marzo 2022, in seguito all'invasione russa dell'Ucraina, la Casa Bianca ha annunciato che "100 sistemi aerei tattici senza pilota" sarebbero stati forniti all'Ucraina nell'ambito di una fornitura di aiuti militari da 800 milioni di dollari. Ciascuno di questi sistemi costituisce "un pacchetto composto da un sistema di lancio e controllo a terra e da un numero potenzialmente variabile di droni". Secondo fonti giornalistiche che citano una fonte militare statunitense, ciascuno di questi sistemi contiene 10 droni Switchblade, nella versione 300 oppure 600, per un totale di .

Progetto

Switchblade 300

Lo Switchblade 300 è progettato come un aeromobile a pilotaggio remoto (APR) utilizzabile per aumentare la potenza di fuoco di precisione di unità di fanteria delle dimensioni di un plotone. Di fatto esso soddisfa i bisogni di piccole squadre e plotoni che si trovino a non avere una sufficiente capacità comunicativa per richiedere un appoggio tattico con lancio di missili nelle zone su cui intendono intervenire. Ogni dispositivo è lungo 610 mm e pesa circa 2,7 kg, inclusa la custodia per il trasporto e il lanciatore, il che lo rende abbastanza piccolo e leggero da poter essere trasportato da un soldato.

Il piccolo drone può essere controllato fino a 10 km di distanza, tuttavia le sue piccole dimensioni limitano la durata del suo utilizzo a soli 10 minuti. Ciò lo rende inadatto a ruoli di ricognizione, ma il sistema si rivela comunque utile per colpire, con una spesa minima, bersagli a lungo raggio e aiutare a soccorrere le unità bloccate dal fuoco nemico. Lo Switchblade 300 è dotato di una  fotocamera a colori e di un sistema di geolocalizzazione GPS, che servono a identificare, tracciare e colpire bersagli, in aggiunta alla possibilità di essere programmato per seguire una determinata rotta. La sua testata ha una carica esplosiva equivalente a una granata da 40 mm, sufficiente a colpire e distruggere veicoli corazzati leggeri e uomini. Nel caso in cui le condizioni mutino così da portare all'annullamento dell'operazione, l'operatore può richiamare lo Switchblade per dirottarlo su un altro bersaglio o per autodistruggerlo. Contrariamente ad altri APR, lo Switchblade non può essere riportato a terra; per questo le forze armate statunitensi lo identificano come munizione circuitante piuttosto che come vero e proprio drone.

Il drone è azionato da un motore elettrico, così che il volo silenzioso, unitamente alle sue dimensioni ridotte, rendono estremamente difficile rilevarlo o tentare di intercettarlo, consentendogli di avvicinarsi a un bersaglio con una velocità massima di 157 km/h. Lo Switchblade 300 utilizza la stessa stazione di controllo a terra (GCS) degli altri APR prodotti da AeroVironment tra cui il Wasp, l'RQ-11 Raven e l'RQ-20 Puma. Ciò consente di coordinare l'utilizzo di piccoli APR a lunga autonomia, volto alla ricognizione degli obiettivi, con quello degli Switchblade, che possono entrare in azione una volta che i bersagli sono già stati identificati.

La testata è stata progettata specificamente per avere una potenza di fuoco controllata atta a ridurre i danni collaterali attraverso un'esplosione che si sviluppa lungo la direzione di volo del drone e non si espande quindi a 360 gradi. La testata può essere programmata per esplodere ad una certa altezza, che può essere decisa dall'operatore sia prima del lancio del drone sia in volo, e può anche essere fatta detonare a comando per distruggere in volo lo Switchblade. In fase di picchiata l'operatore può abortire la missione fino a 4 secondi prima dell'impatto.

Oltre all'uso contro bersagli a terra, la SRC Inc. ha scritto un software che permette di combinare lo Switchblade con sensori, per l'intercettazione di APR ostili. Tale sistema prevede l'utilizzo dello Switchblade assieme a un radar di controbatteria e a un sistema per disturbo di frequenza, detto jammer, che possono essere tutti trasportati da un'Humvee. L'intercettazione di un drone nemico avviene in diversi step: se il drone riesce superare i caccia di copertura o è troppo piccolo perché questi lo possano prendere di mira, esso viene rilevato dal radar e il suo collegamento dati con la stazione di controllo viene interrotto dal jammer. Se però il drone resiste anche all'azione del jammer, allora è possibile lanciare uno Switchblade per distruggerlo.

Switchblade 600
Lo Switchblade 600, introdotto nel 2020, ha lo stesso principio di funzionamento della versione 300 ma pesa dieci volte di più, ossia circa 25 kg, può essere comandato fino a circa 40 km (distanza che può raggiungere in circa 20 minuti di volo) e ha un'autonomia di 40 minuti. Rispetto allo Switchblade 300, la versione 600 ha anche una velocità massima più elevata, pari a 185 km/h e trasporta una testata anticarro basata su quella dei già citati missili Javelin, il che lo rende adatto a neutralizzare i veicoli corazzati.

Un sistema di controllo basato su tablet touchscreen permette di controllare manualmente i droni o di lasciarli in modalità automatica dopo averli programmati, con una comunicazione che risulta protetta da sistemi integrati di criptazione dei dati.

Utilizzatori

 Forze armate degli Stati Uniti d'America

 Forze armate del Regno Unito

 Forze armate dell'Ucraina

Note

Voci correlate
 Phoenix Ghost
 ZALA Kub-BLA

Altri progetti

APR statunitensi
Munizioni circuitanti

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Do you own a holiday home? Then you undoubtedly know that garden maintenance can be a real hassle. You will have to mow the lawn, water the grass, etc. So before you can actually stretch out, relax and enjoy your holiday, you will have to start with putting on your gardening gloves and get to work. Fortunately there is a solution: an artificial lawn from Royal Grass. Holiday starts as soon as you arrive! Your artificial lawn will stay pretty and green no matter what, so you do not have to worry about a thing.
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Home Health Care Harsh Criticism by Loyal Opposition to AHCA Unfounded
Harsh Criticism by Loyal Opposition to AHCA Unfounded
written by Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold May 15, 2017
Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold
Contributors at Freedom Pub
Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold write for Illinois Review.
Latest posts by Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold (see all)
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The first 100 days of a Presidency are often called the "Honeymoon" period. Some honeymoon! By most accounts, it was 100 days of a contentious divorce proceeding, with the Democrats wanting to keep the (White) house and the bank account. By contrast, all Bill Clinton took was the dishes and flatware (and the "w" keys from the typewriters).
Trump's major victory was the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, which happened despite the endless delays and recriminations hurled against Gorsuch aimed at sinking his appointment. In short order, Gorsuch's appointment should put an end to judges in the 9th Circuit using campaign statements instead of judging the law as written. Appropriate for such behavior would be a penalty, possibly impeachment or a "three strikes and retire" rule.
Another contentious and non-compromising issue for Democrats was the dismantling of their sacred cow, Obmacare.
On May 4 the House voted to dismantle the pillars of the Affordable Care Act and make sweeping changes to the nation's health care system with no help from the Democrats. Read here is what the Republican Repeal bill actually does.
The (dis)loyal opposition, as to be expected, has raked the Republican Repeal Bill over the coals, claiming that 24 million people will lose their insurance under Trump's AHCA. This is nothing less than a lie promulgated for political purposes. Trump has made it clear that pre-existing conditions and Medicaid will continue, but in a more manageable format.
How did Obamacare (ACA) really fare? The Democrats claim that 20 million people got insurance for the first time. That includes 11.2 million people who qualified for Medicaid under relaxed income rules. In fact, individuals making less than $35k annually were forced into Medicaid by the Exchange program. While this insurance comes at no immediate cost to the recipient, there are downsides. First of all, having insurance does not guarantee health care, and many hospitals and physicians refuse to accept Medicaid patients. Secondly, most of the expense is borne by the states, which will place a lien on the estate of recipients in order to recover some of that cost.
The other hidden factor is the huge number of middle-income citizens who lost their coverage (the policies Obama said they could keep). In 2016 is 6.5 million people paid the penalty rather than buy expensive insurance. That's a matter of public information. However many more are paying for insurance which does them no good. The cost varies from about $6,000 to over $12,000 a year, but the deductibles are so high (typically $6,000) that it pays no bills short of a medical disaster. Prior to Obamacare, this was called "major medical" insurance. Now they are forced to pay comprehensive insurance premiums for major medical coverage.
Fortunately, the majority of families are covered under work-related policies through corporations and union. The catch is those benefits are now taxed, with a high penalty when they exceed the "Cadillac" cost of $12,000, which is about the same cost as Obamacare for the few paying Obamacare customers.
The new AHCA will eliminate unneeded coverage and most penalties, reducing the cost for Middle Americans. Requirements placed on small businesses will be relaxed, and the threshold for full time work raised once again to 40 hours/week. This will encourage economic growth, and fewer people who seek part time work will need two or more jobs. A high-risk pool will be established for chronic and pre-existing illnesses, much as works with automobile insurance. The cost will be shared by the Federal government, states and the recipients. The cost is high, but affects relatively few individuals. Most policies prior to Obamacare only denied coverage for a specified period of time, like two years.
Hopefully contrarian U.S. Republican senators will soon get their act together, and instead of looking down at House Republican senators as second-class legislators, will come on board to pass the House, without a complete rewrite, so President Trump can sign AHCA into law.
[Originally Published at Illinois Review]
Harsh Criticism by Loyal Opposition to AHCA Unfounded was last modified: May 15th, 2017 by Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold
ACAaffordable care actAHCAhealth insuranceMedicaidMedicareNeil GorsuchObamacarerepeal and replaceRepublicaresocial securityTrump AdministrationTrump's 100 Days
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Today was the last home game for the UT football season. Brent and I hadn't had a chance to go tailgating all year and so I really wanted to make sure to head down there this weekend. I'm still not 100% well, so we mostly visited with a few friends and walked around and took pictures. Next year I'll have to remember it's much more fun when you can have a few beers, minus using the port-o-potties of course.
It was also senior day so we attempted to watch the seniors depart their bus and enter the stadium for the last time. You can clearly see how well that worked out for me; if only I was about 3 feet taller!
An unidentifiable senior departs the bus for the last home game of the season.
In case you've been thinking about rushing down to the DMV to get a customized license plate, I thought I would let you know about a couple of plates that are already taken. I only wish I had been paying more attention earlier in our trek.
You can view more pictures from the tailgate here. I'm afraid I couldn't quite capture the enormity and true spirit of the tailgaters. I'm always impressed with their dedication at arriving to their spots so early, camping out, and the amount of meat smells that permeate the air. Unfortunately, I didn't see any really good shoes, though I was looking really hard. I was a bit disappointed. However there was a menagerie of bling, purses, jackets etc that were all UT flare that made up for it but I didn't get shots of any of that. I guess I could take pics of my own UT garb but it just isn't the same.
Before the tailgate we went to Katz's for a late breakfast. This time Brent and I got smart and split the omelet meal that comes with a 3 egg omelet, a baked good, and a potato pancake; it is an enormous amount of food. They were nice enough to put pastrami only in his half, so he got his meat and was happy.... for today.
I made an addition of a little pancake and it was the perfect sized meal. Add a cup of coffee and I was good for most of the day!


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JALC board of trustees receives excellence award
Members of the JALC Board of Trustees, from left, Ray Hancock, Hanna Dobrynski (Student Trustee), Jake Rendleman, Mandy Little, Aaron Smith, Glenn Poshard, and Rebecca Borgsmiller, display their awards from Phi Theta Kappa.
Courtesy of John A. Logan College
SUBMITTED BY JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE
updated: 12/4/2019 4:14 PM
CARTERVILLE -- The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees has been awarded the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Trustees Excellence Award by the national organization, which has 1,300 chapters nationwide.
This award recognizes distinguished community college Boards of Trustees for their leadership and outstanding commitment to student success. John A. Logan College is one of only four selected to receive this honor.
Members of John A. Logan College's chapter nominated the Board of Trustees for this award in December 2018. According to the chapter's sponsor, Associate Dean for Student Activities Adrienne Barkley Giffin, chapter members felt that the Board had earned the recognition due to their strong support of the chapter. Each member of the Board was presented with a medal, and the College received an award statue to display.
Board Vice-Chair Mandy Little thanked the chapter for all of their hard work.
"We are truly honored to receive this award, but it is because of the outstanding work this chapter has done that we are able to receive this honor," said Little. "It is rewarding for us to interact with you and to see your development, so thank you for this honor."
In their nomination, the chapter members stated, "Board members hear reports about our chapter and encourage our leadership development. They listen intently every month when the student trustee, who is an active PTK member, reports on our chapter's projects."
The nomination went on to say, "When PTK members give presentations at Board meetings, trustees typically inquire about what we have learned from our experiences and what actions we plan to take. They encourage members to pursue higher levels of leadership responsibility in PTK. In fact, in five of the last six years, a member of the John A. Logan College chapter has been elected to a regional office, and in the last three years, two students ran for international office."
In other Board news, Vice President for Business Services and College Facilities Brad McCormick reported that there are currently 20 construction or renovation projects underway at the College. McCormick reported that the College's solar power project is nearing completion and that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled during the spring semester. McCormick added that power production should begin in mid-December.
Several Protection, Health, and Safety projects were approved as well as the adoption of the 2019 Tax Levy. The Board also approved a contract to replace the digital display sign at the Greenbriar and Route 13 intersection.
The Board does not have a regularly scheduled meeting in December. The next meeting is set for Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.
Marion Republican


Each July Redwings searches for 12 fab fundraisers to take part in the British London 10k Run. It is a great way to keep fit, see the sights of London, and raise vital funds for your favourite charity. Andrea, Charlotte, Dena, Joanna, Karen, Marcus, Patrick, Paul (who even dressed as mascot Red!) and Reuben are just some of the brave souls who have taken part so far. Could you be on the team next year?
Author Jane Ayres is donating all of the profits from the electronic version of her series of 'Moonlight and Matty' books to Redwings. The books can be found on Amazon and downloaded for reading on any device. The stories are great, especially for horse fans! A number of writers help us in this way, so whether you are a successful novelist or budding poet looking for a reason to finally put pen to paper, why not consider donating some of the royalties or sales profits to help horses in need?
We LOVE helping horses by selling, auctioning or raffling off your arty creations. Alison Holmes has donated several portraits of our gorgeous Adoption Stars to auction. Crafter Elizabeth Brewer has turned her hand to many a task – from creating birthday cards for us to sell, to sewing stockings for our horses' Christmas treats, and knitting gloves for our horse-care team. Cally Dobbing creates bespoke felted horses to sell or raffle as well as donating 20% of her online sales! We are always looking for people with artistic skills and talents to help horses, so if that's you contact Anne Galloway on 01508 481070 or by emailing agalloway@redwings.co.uk.
Mrs E Harrison asked for donations to Redwings instead of gifts on her 90th birthday! Several other supporters from the age of 10 to 100 chose to help us in this way too. We cannot think of a more inspiring yet simple way to fundraise! Click here to make your donation.
A particular thank you goes to some of our most loyal and hardworking fundraisers Mrs R Kimburger, Mrs B Watkins, Mrs K Gill and Miss B Rockliff. Betty Watkins collects items to sell at boot fairs every year, giving up her sacred Sundays to sell her wares, and donating over £1,200 to Redwings to help the horses she loves. Thank you so much all!
Every penny counts, so collect them!
Ask us for a horse ambulance money box! Our cardboard collection pot is perfect to keep at home, work or in a local shop. Simply fill it with loose change, cash it in and send us a cheque, pay it in online or drop it in to us in person at one of our centres! Each full box contains about £7 – enough to give a rescued horse an hour of special care.


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History | January 2, 2019 5:00 am
Remembering Tommy Morrison and the End of "The Great White Hope"
Looking back on what would've been the "Rocky V" star's 50th birthday.
LAS VEGAS - JUNE 7, 1993: Tommy Morrison (R) connects with a right punch against George Foreman at the Thomas & Mack Center, on June 7,1993 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tommy Morrison won by a UD 12 to claim a share of the heavyweight championship. (The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)
By Sean Cunningham
"Jim Jeffries must now emerge from his Alfalfa farm and remove that golden smile from Jack Johnson's face. Jeff, it's up to you. The White Man must be rescued."—Jack London, author of Call of the Wild
On May 2, 2015, African-American Floyd Mayweather fought Filipino Manny Pacquiao. At the weigh-in, Mayweather was 146 pounds and Pacquiao 145. Neither had much of a weight cut—Mayweather stands 5'8" and Pacquiao is just over 5'5".
In the past, boxing wouldn't have viewed this bout as a particularly big deal. It barely qualified as a title fight. They were contesting the WBO welterweight belt. It's a championship of such minimal significance that—on a night he collected $200 million—Mayweather chose to forfeit it rather than pay a $200 thousand sanctioning fee. Beyond this, they weren't heavyweights—both are decidedly below average in size.
And above all, neither man is white.
Historically, how could a promoter get the public excited about something like that?
Yet the bout sold a record 4.6 million PPVs for $89.95 each (or $99.95 for those demanding high-def). And it confirmed what should have long been clear: Boxing has officially moved beyond the myth of the Great White Hope. For decades, the sport was hung up on the notion that—even when things were going well—they'd be better if a white guy could just claim the heavyweight title already.
This is how a racist tradition came about and why it at last fell to pieces.
Bow to the Boston Strong Boy
If you follow boxing, you know it's diverse in a way few other entertainments are. A glance at Ring Magazine's Pound for Pound rankings invariably reveals Americans, Mexicans, Ukrainians, Asians from various nations, etc., with a wide mix of races and religions and sizes as well—in this era, a star can emerge from an array of weight classes. The one common thread is that it's a poor man's sport. (As the great Sugar Ray Leonard put it, "We can't afford to play golf or tennis.")
Which makes it all the stranger that for a century boxing fixated on the image of a white heavyweight champ. The tradition started in the 19th century with John L. Sullivan and lived on through fighters including Jim Jeffries, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, and finally Tommy Morrison. Some of these men, products of their time, seemed to genuinely believe they were defenders of their fellow whites. Others were indifferent to race or even uncomfortable with how they were portrayed. Regardless, it was a pathway to some blockbuster bouts and utterly reprehensible rhetoric.
Sullivan is one of boxing's great transitional figures. Between his 1882 win over Paddy Ryan and his 1892 loss to James J. Corbett, he is generally accepted as being the last bare-knuckle heavyweight champion and the first gloved heavyweight champ of Queensberry rules. In the era before mixed martial arts or pro football, boxers were an easy pick as the toughest athletes around. Since heavyweights are the biggest, they were perceived as the hardiest of all. (Facts are facts: Generally speaking, it pays to pick fights with small guys instead of large ones.) Sullivan exploited this for all it was worth—it's believed he earned a million dollars during his career.
That was far more than Sullivan could have been expected to generate in any other profession. After all, he was the son of Irish Catholic immigrants. They weren't a popular group at the time—it would be decades before JFK reached the White House. Sullivan was a hard-drinking man prone to announce, "I can lick any son of a bitch in the house," and then attempt to back it up. Without boxing, these qualities would have brought him to prison. With it, he was adored and celebrated. "His Fistic Majesty" even became friends with President Theodore Roosevelt.
Of course, "any son of bitch" had an important qualifier. Sullivan declared, "I will not fight a Negro. I never have, and I never shall." (Though for a time he reportedly considered doing so, provided he was paid twice his normal fee.) His successors also towed the color line. Jim Jeffries even proclaimed, "When there are no white men left to fight, I will quit the business." He kept his word, retiring undefeated in 1904.
Those who came after Jeffries got more inclusive with the belt.
Going Against the Galveston Giant
By 1908, 30-year-old Jack Johnson had a record of 46-5-8, including a number of titles defenses. But these defenses were all of the World Colored Heavyweight title. He'd never had a shot at the overall title and it seemed like he might never get one.
Then the belt fell into the hands of Tommy Burns. A Canadian, Burns declared, "I will defend my title against all comers, none barred. By this I mean white, black, Mexican, Indian, or any other nationality. I propose to be the champion of the world, not the white, or the Canadian, or the American. If I am not the best man in the heavyweight division, I don't want the title."
Let's not overstate Tommy's tolerance—newspapers also quote him making racist statements to justify avoiding black opponents. That said, Burns got in the ring with "Jewey" Smith. (That was the actual name used by a boxer, as this New York Times article demonstrates.) And when an Australian promoter shelled out the massive sum of $30,000, Burns agreed to take on Johnson for the championship. Johnson won the title by knockout—movie cameras documenting the bout were shut off rather than capture Johnson's moment of victory.
Black and the Best
Johnson went on to hold the title for over six years. His dominance inspired Jeffries to emerge from retirement in attempt to, as Jack London suggested, "rescue the White Man." That did not happen. Jeffries hadn't fought in six years, but he didn't let ring rust excuse his loss by knockout: "I could never have whipped Johnson at my best. I couldn't have hit him. No, I couldn't have reached him in 1,000 years."
Johnson thoroughly enjoyed his success and his money, opening a jazz club and daring to having public relationships with white women. Perversely, even Johnson started drawing a color line. Not because of racism, of course—he simply reasoned he'd have more lucrative bouts against white opponents so he stuck to the money.
Johnson finally lost the title to the white Jess Willard in 1915. Willard in turn lost his title to Jack Dempsey in 1919. And Dempsey became one of boxing's iconic fighters while highlighting the sport's blind spot.
The Manassa Mauler Goes Missing
Dempsey developed a reputation for being brutal and fearless. 6'1" and under 200 pounds, he still savagely knocked out Willard (6'6" and at least 235) and "Wild Bull of the Pampas" Luis Firpo (over 6'2" and at least 220).
Dempsey even took on black fighters. This includes a 1916 bout against Lester Johnson in New York. Dempsey was newly arrived from Salt Lake City and Johnson was a local sensation. Johnson took the decision.
At least, Dempsey welcomed all comers before the title. Afterwards, he ignored worthy black contenders like Sam Langford. In fairness, once he had the belt Dempsey ignored pretty much everyone. Between winning the title on July 4, 1919 and losing it to Gene Tunney on September 23, 1926, he made just six defenses—less than one a year. (By comparison, he had won 18 fights in 1918 alone.)
Tunney beat Dempsey again in the 1927 rematch—it featured the notorious long count that Dempsey fans insist allowed Tunney time to recover after a knockdown. With that loss, Dempsey retired.
Now boxing was in the hands of a man with the potential to forever change the image of the heavyweight champ. The son of Irish immigrants like John L. Sullivan, Tunney was in every other way his opposite. A former Marine, he was noted for his constant reading. Indeed, his close friends included Nobel Prize for Literature recipient George Bernard Shaw, who wrote: "I have not been given to close personal friendships, as you know, and Gene Tunney is among the very few for whom I have established a warm affection." Tunney even lectured on Shakespeare at Yale.
A true boxer rather than just a brawler, Tunney lost only once in his career, to the legendary (and legendarily dirty) Harry Greb. Tunney avenged the loss to the "Human Windmill" three times. With two decisions over Dempsey and still only 30, the sport seemed to be his. But Tunney fought only once more, retiring at 31. He promptly married an heiress, fathered a future U.S. Senator (whose successful run inspired the 1972 Robert Redford film The Candidate), found success of his own as a businessman, and lived a life of wealth to the age of 81.
Search for a Planet
The Hall of Fame boxing broadcaster and trainer Teddy Atlas told RCL that he uses the terms "planets" and "meteors" to describe top boxers. Meteors are fleeting—planets stick around. After Tunney, boxing was all meteors: Often intriguing fighters but ones who only managed to stay on top a short time.
This paved the way for a true planet in Joe Louis. The celebrated boxing scribe Bert Sugar wrote of the Brown Bomber: "But no heavyweight champion—and probably no sports figure—ever captured the imagination of the public, fan and non-fan alike, as the smooth, deadly puncher with the purposeful advance who, at his peak, represented the epitome of pugilistic efficiency. And no man was so admired and revered as this son of an Alabama sharecropper who carried his crown and himself with dignity, carrying the hopes of millions on his sturdy twin shoulders."
It was a remarkable rise, so unstoppable ultimately even the color line couldn't contain it. (It helped that Louis and his team pointedly avoided public scandal, where Jack Johnson had reveled in them.) The Bomber destroyed all competition until he ran into the German Max Schmeling in 1936, who unexpectedly knocked out the undefeated Louis. Louis responded by winning seven fights, at which point he got a shot at the fighter Damon Runyon dubbed "Cinderella Man," James J. Braddock. Braddock had unexpectedly defeated Max Baer in a massive upset. (Baer also lost to Louis—today, Baer is best known as the father of Max Jr., Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies, but should also be remembered for knocking out Schmeling and publicly embracing Judaism with a massive Star of David on his trunks.)
Perhaps sensing the good times weren't going to last, Braddock's manager agreed to have him fight Louis in 1937… on the condition he got 10 percent of Louis' earnings for 10 years. Smart move. Louis knocked him out in the eighth round. Braddock fought only once more before retiring.
Louis, on the other hand, would still be successfully defending the title a decade later. None of them would be so momentous as his rematch with Schmeling.
The Human Race
On June 22, 1938, Nazi Germany was overrunning Europe and Joe Louis put the heavyweight title on the line against Schmeling, the man who had handed him his first and only loss. Barely two minutes later, Louis was triumphant. He was acknowledged, on this night at least, not just a great African-American fighter but a great American. The sportswriter Jimmy Cannon observed simply that Louis "is a credit to his race… the human race."
Now Louis began his "Bum of the Month Campaign." He held on to the title for 11 years, taking out challengers white and black. In 1950 he finally lost the belt to another black fighter, Ezzard Charles. Who lost it to another still black fighter, Jersey Joe Walcott.
And this is when another Great White Hope emerged to dominate the sport — albeit one a bit uncomfortable with that designation.
The Original Rocky
Rocky Marciano retired in 1955 as the undefeated heavyweight champ, with 43 knockouts in 49 bouts. He was simultaneously both less and more impressive than that record suggests. His resume probably should have at least one blemish on it, with a few calls that were close, if not outright questionable. He took a split decision against Roland La Starza in 1950. Ezzard Charles gave him all he could handle in 1954 before dropping a decision. Archie Moore always insisted Marciano got a long count after a second-round knockdown and the ref wasted additional time after he got to his feet, letting him clear his head and come back to win what proved to be Marciano's final fight.
For another, Marciano was a uniquely flawed champ. He stood 5'10", weighed only 190, and had a reach of just 68 inches. (By contrast, Tyson Fury reaches 85"—even Floyd Mayweather comes in at 72".) He was never a graceful fighter—trainer Lou Duva noted that when he first watched him work out that "Rocky kept falling down."
That said, another legendary trainer, Angelo Dundee, called him "the best-conditioned athlete out there." Marciano was also a master of the power game—he could take your biggest shot but you damn well couldn't take his.
Which is how Marciano came back to knock out Moore in that 1955 fight. And knock out both Charles and La Starza in their rematches.
His most famous bout came against Joe Louis, who took him on when he was 37. It sounds almost like a reverse Johnson-Jeffries, with a current champ facing a former titleholder who's revered but past his prime. Except this was a rivalry notably devoid of bigotry (at least on a personal level), as Marciano grew up idolizing Louis.
Marciano knocked him out in eight and—according to Louis—stopped by later for a tearful apology: "Joe, I'm sorry." (Louis also reported that when an athletic commission doctor told him he couldn't fight for another three months, he replied, "Do you mind if I don't fight no more at all?" It was indeed his last bout.)
Marciano retired at just 32 in 1955. He died in a plane crash at just 45 in 1969. In between, his life apparently turned surreal, if not unpleasant. In 1993, Sports Illustrated ran an article by William Nack titled "The Rock." It alleges Marciano had essentially become a successful loan shark—SI describes him as "his own savings and loan." He apparently kept no formal records and dealt in cash exclusively. (This was a well known quirk of Marciano's—he once turned down a $5,000 check for $2,500 in bills.) In an unhappy marriage but unwilling to leave, Marciano also apparently indulged in an endless series of one-night stands, refusing to be with the same woman more than once.
Marciano's attitudes towards race in the ring came at a time when non-white champs were later dismissed as unfit for civilized society, like when Jim Murray compared realizing Sonny Liston was the heavyweight titleholder to "finding a live bat on a string under your Christmas tree." (Blunter writers just used slurs to describe Liston—tamer examples include "jungle beast.")
Things Start Getting Complicated
With Marciano out of the picture, Floyd Patterson took the belt in 1956. When he died in 2006, The New York Times described him as "Good-Guy Heavyweight Champion." He earned a gold medal as a middleweight at the 1952 Olympics. When he first won the heavyweight title, he was just 21, the youngest to do so. Like Louis before him, he was a black champion even white American could support. The New York Times' Arthur Daley once described him as "the knight in shining armor battling the forces of evil."
Patterson was so liked he could lose to a white man, then immediately fight him twice more and win both—becoming the first heavyweight to lose the title and take it back—emerging from the whole experience more popular than ever.
You probably aren't aware of this trilogy. Why? Possibly because the world outside of Scandinavia never connected that deeply with Patterson's opponent, Sweden's Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson. (They didn't have time to bond—he fought only 28 times as a pro.) For that matter, you may not have heard of Patterson. His career overlapped those of four of the greatest figures in heavyweight history or any other weight class, for that matter. Between them, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman held the title from 1962 to 1978.
Patterson never got in the ring with Frazier or Foreman, but he fought Liston and Ali twice each—he went 0-4 with four knockouts. The two by Liston were quick, with Floyd failing to make it through the first round on either occasion. His first with Ali was legendarily brutal—Patterson insisted on calling him by his former name, "Cassius Clay," and Ali punished him for that slight over the course 12 rounds.
Patterson is credited with saying: "I've been knocked down more than any heavyweight champion in history." Even after retirement, the knockdowns continued. Ali managed to regain the title twice after losing it, topping Patterson's trick. And Patterson lost his mark as youngest champ—ironically, the record was broken by another protege of his trainer Cus D'Amato: Mike Tyson.
With the result Patterson has been largely forgotten, even as this quartet stand the test of time.
Beyond Race, But Not Bigotry
There has never been anyone like Muhammad Ali. Not in the heavyweight division, not in the rest of boxing, not in sports in general. This is a man banned from boxing for three years for his opposition to Vietnam, a man who met with Klan leaders (they shared his opposition to interracial marriage), and also a man who fought Superman in a comic book. Ali was a vicious trash-talking revolutionary—his descriptions of Frazier as a "gorilla" while promoting 1975's Thrilla in Manilla remain horrifying to hear.
But the documentary Muhammad and Larry (about his 1980 fight with his former sparring partner Larry Holmes) reveals he was also a man who genuinely enjoyed performing magic tricks for children, who seemingly spent as much time at his training camp bantering with the crowds as he did actually training.
Plus he walked the walked like no one else. Decades after the bouts, we vividly recall:
-Ali knocking out the seemingly invincible Sonny Liston
-Ali getting up from a savage Frazier knockdown during their "Fight of the Century"
-Ali rope-a-doping George Foreman to score a shock Rumble in the Jungle knockout
-Ali barely outlasting Frazier to take the Thrilla in Manilla and the rubber match in their trilogy (a fight so brutal Ali noted it was, "Closest thing to dyin' I know of").
Why do we remember these fights? Because of Ali, of course, but also because he had such remarkable foils. Liston brought a menace to the ring previously unseen among titleholders. (It helped he had served two years in prison and had mob ties.) A sharecropper's son, Smokin' Joe relentlessly attacked, even as he was unfairly mocked as a sellout by Ali and others who felt his politics should be more radical. And Foreman seemed to be a combination of Liston and Frazier: He dropped out of school in ninth grade to run with street gangs, yet his waving of a small American flag after winning gold at the 1968 Olympics was viewed as a reproach to the Tommie Smith/John Carlos "Black Power" protest earlier at the games.
These three men were also devastating fighters: Against non-Ali opponents, they were a combined 161-8 with 134 knockouts. (Ali went 5-1 in his six bouts against them, with four knockouts and a decision loss to Frazier.)
Were there white fighters during this era? Of course. Ali fought a number of white opponents, like "Irish" Jerry Quarry, Karl Mildenberger, and George Chuvalo. Indeed, he fought Joe Bugner twice. But these bouts are hazy memories compared to the best efforts of this foursome.
And with Ali in particular achieving a stardom that went well beyond the sports page, it would have seemed that the myth of the Great White Hope could at last be put to rest. (Indeed, it had even inspired the title of a 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning play and then 1970 film about Jack Johnson that mocked the very concept—the movie brought James Earl Jones a Best Actor Oscar nomination.)
Heavyweight boxer Ali and, aka Muhammad Ali, posing outside the Alvin theater where "The Great White Hope" is playing. (Bob Gomel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
Surely we could judge fighters by how they actually fought and at last leave race out of it.
Then 1982 rolled around.
Here Comes Cooney
Like Sullivan and Tunney before him, Gerry Cooney was Irish Catholic (though they weren't raised in Long Island). By 1981 he was 24-0, including a first-round knockout of the former champ Ken Norton.
This landed Cooney a shot at Larry Holmes. Holmes was the heavyweight champ at the time. He had a record of 39-0 and had nearly beaten Ali into retirement. (The Greatest returned for one more equally disastrous bout.) With the benefit of hindsight, Cooney wasn't ready. Even he mused in 2016: "I would have liked to have had a couple more fights before Holmes."
With Don King marketing the fight, it became all about race. Never one for subtlety, King actually said, "This is a white and black fight." Holmes was (correctly) dismissive of Cooney: "The great white dope. If he was black, nobody would know who he is." Sure enough, Holmes won by TKO in the 13th. He eventually ran his record to 48-0 before a decision loss to Michael Spinks denied him a chance to match Marciano's record.
Spinks, in turn, would get obliterated by Mike Tyson in just 91 seconds in 1988 in a fight that showed how far boxing had come since Jack Johnson.
Rooting for the Bad Guy
Teddy Atlas was Tyson's first trainer. He said Tyson had remarkable gifts: "As far as punching ability, he's like a Mickey Mantle in baseball. He could hit from either side of the plate just as well."
Tyson captivated the world as he utterly obliterated opponents on his march to the heavyweight title. Then came a loss to Buster Douglas and a rape conviction and Tyson's life and career generally fell to pieces. Atlas believes Tyson lacked the character that ultimately set fighters like Ali apart—Iron Mike was "fabulously talented, but just as fabulously flawed and weak when it came to the mental side."
But here's the thing: People still wanted to watch. Even without a title, Tyson somehow sold 1.5 million pay-per-views to see him take on Peter "Hurricane" McNeeley. (McNeeley is best known for threatening to bring Mike into his "Cocoon of Horror"—this apparently did not occur as McNeeley lost in the first round.)
Suddenly a belt, even the heavyweight one, no longer mattered so much. Possibly because there were so many of them.
More Is Less
For much of boxing history, boxers pursued a single title. There were downsides to this. Racist promoters, organized crime families, and other shady figures could deny a deserving contender a shot. But at least there was one positive: Having a belt meant something, because there was just one. By 1988, there were four boxing sanctioning organizations. That often meant multiple champs. Did this devalue the concept of being heavyweight champ? Well, when a champ literally throws one of his belts in the garbage—as Riddick Bowe did rather than accept a mandatory title defense against Lennox Lewis—it's hard not to feel things have been cheapened.
Quite simply, heavyweight boxing no longer had its superstar, the Ali/Tyson, the man who commanded attention with or without the title.
But there was a young up and comer who seemed promising and, as luck would have it, he was white.
It's Like a Movie (One That's Deeply Depressing)
In 1977, Muhammad Ali starred in The Greatest. He was already 35, with a legendary career behind him.
Tommy "The Duke" Morrison was only 21 when Rocky V premiered in 1990.
Morrison's nickname was due to a claimed family connection to Marion Morrison (better known as John Wayne). As a fighter, he showed genuine power. He began his career 28-0, with 24 knockouts, generally coming in the first round. It earned him a shot at the WBO title. Then he ran into Ray Mercer, a former gold medalist. Mercer got a brutal KO in five.
Morrison was notorious for partying, womanizing, and general poor decisions. (It's believe all three of these contributed to his committing bigamy.) He pulled himself together for another title shot, facing George Foreman. Even at 44—a full 20 years older than Morrison—Foreman remained dangerous. Morrison pulled out a decision win, earning the WBO heavyweight title in 1993.
At last, boxing had its Great White Hope: white, American, a heavyweight champ.
It went poorly.
Mr. Self-Destruct
Morrison was oddly suited to the role of a Great White Hope. For one, his mother was a Native American. For another, the term implies somehow so strong he'll somehow elevate an entire sport, a whole race. Morrison couldn't even keep himself out of trouble. It took him just two fights to suffer a first round knockout to lightly regarded Michael Bentt. He pulled himself together and managed to win a share of the title again, stopping Donovan "Razor" Ruddock for the IBC heavyweight title in 1995. He held it only one fight, getting knocked out by Lennox Lewis.
It seemed Morrison could keep the strange pattern of his career going for years—impressive displays leading to a loss of interest followed by a humiliating loss followed by a return to form and repeat. Then the cycle ended. His promoter confirmed Morrison had HIV in 1996, which was discovered shortly before a scheduled bout against Arthur Weathers In Vegas. (Nevada was the only state requiring an HIV test at the time.) It seemed a career ender. After all, boxing is literally a blood sport.
With Morrison only 27, it appeared time for him to leverage his celebrity for a new chapter of his life. Except Morrison decided he didn't have HIV, after all. It had (according to him) all been a false medical diagnosis. A decade after his retirement, he returned to the ring for two fights. Morrison granted Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star an interview in 2011. He talked about how he was healthier than ever, how HIV didn't exist for anyone, how he once teleported himself out of a bar: "It's real. But things like this don't work for anybody that doesn't believe it."
Morrison died on September 1, 2013. He was just 44. January 2 would have been his 50th birthday. By the time of Morrison's passing, boxing had at last had its prayers answered, albeit not in the way they may have wanted.
Getting What You Hope For
The irony is that the world eventually did receive a new Great White Hope. In fact, it got two of them. The Ukrainian Klitschko brothers were massive, with Vitali standing 6'7" and "little" brother Wladimir 6'6". They were highly intelligent, holding doctorates in sports science and speaking multiple languages. And they were even the real deal in the ring: Both won titles and Vitali was 45-2 with 41 knockouts for his career, Wladimir 64-5 with 53.
They almost killed heavyweight boxing for the American audience, to the point that their fights weren't offered as PPVs because clearly no one would buy them.
How did this happen? To start, they insisted they had promised their mother they would never fight each other, denying the public the one fight that seemed to offer actual intrigue. Vitali was unlucky—both his losses were due to injuries that caused fight stoppages and his career was cut short as well. Wladimir grew into a fighter both remarkable and sometimes remarkably hard to watch. After 45 bouts, he was 42-3, but all three losses were by knockout. He then reeled off 22 straight wins, with displays that might be best described as grimly efficient to ensure he avoided those fluke defeats. He was utterly dominating, crushing the competition. (Sometimes literally: Wladimir was a master of subtle tactics, like leaning on his smaller opponents so his weight would wear them down.) You couldn't help but be impressed—he wound up 25-3 for his career in title bouts—but that didn't mean you wanted to watch.
And suddenly something became clear: People would rather watch an entertaining black heavyweight champ than a dull white one.
Or an entertaining black heavyweight contender.
Or an entertaining boxer in general, regardless of race or title or weight class. Which is why the world came to embrace a Filipino who destroyed larger opponents like Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.
And an unbeaten trash-talker from Grand Rapids, Michigan, even as he selected increasingly questionable opponents including non-boxer Conor McGregor.
Does race still play a role in fight promotion? Well, in 2017 McGregor instructed Mayweather to "Dance for me, boy!" There was even a tense moment before a recent heavyweight title fight. Deontay Wilder responded to Tyson Fury's monologue about his fighting heritage as a gypsy by announcing, "You say your people have been fighting for 200 years? My people have been fighting for 400 years and are still fighting to this day."
And how did Fury respond? The man with a history of homophobic and sexist remarks struck a surprisingly positive tone: "I don't think we should bring this fight into a battle of races, or a battle of cultures or all that. This isn't a battle of who's been persecuted longest. This is a battle between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. It's not a battle of races or cultures."
They then fought to a memorable draw, praising each other after. (Wilder: "We both go home as winners." Fury: "He's a great fighting man and I respect him.") Their first bout sold roughly 325,000 PPVs. The rematch could do multiples of that figure.
Reminding us all that ultimately in boxing, as in so much of life, the color that matters most is green.
Why FightCamp Is the Home Fitness Program You'll Actually Stick To


The static Reflect.defineProperty() method is like Object.defineProperty() but returns a Boolean.
The target object on which to define the property.
The name of the property to be defined or modified.
The attributes for the property being defined or modified.
A Boolean indicating whether or not the property was successfully defined.
The Reflect.defineProperty method allows precise addition to or modification of a property on an object. For more details see the Object.defineProperty which is similar. Object.defineProperty returns the object or throws a TypeError if the property has not been successfully defined. Reflect.defineProperty, however, simply returns a Boolean indicating whether or not the property was successfully defined.
The definition of 'Reflect.defineProperty' in that specification. Standard Initial definition.


Plastic Tree - 13th Album "剥製(hakusei)" | VKH Press – J-Rock & Visual Kei Coverage Worldwide!
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Plastic Tree - 13th Album "剥製(hakusei)"
The band Plastic Tree will release their 13th album 剥製(hakusei) on December 23rd. It will be available in two types: limited edition (5400 yen) will include CD+Booklet, and the regular edition (3240 yen) will be CD only.


What tool would you use to drive a nail into a piece of wood? A hammer of course! Ever see someone try to drive a nail with a pair of pliers or a rock? How'd that work out? Probably not as well as if they had access to the right tool. They probably didn't have a hammer and just used whatever they could find. The results of any endeavor depend on the resources, or tools, available to do the job. The same can be said when selecting barcode data collection equipment. Before we get caught up in reading data sheets and comparing the display resolution and memory capacity of the myriad of handheld devices available today, we need to stop and assess the true needs. Look at the business process requirements and the technology infrastructure, and pick a device that will get the job done with the desired results but at the lowest investment cost and with as little disruption as possible. Minimize the risk of business disruption and maximize the ROI of the purchase.
Once my data is collected, do I need to transfer it "real-time" to my host system? Or can it be transferred at a later time in a "batch" mode?
If a "real-time" data transfer is preferred, do I have a wireless LAN to facilitate communicating the data instantly from the handheld to the host system?
If I choose "real-time", and I have the wireless infrastructure, what type of interface is required between the handheld device and the host software system? Does it require simple terminal emulation? Maybe a web browser? Maybe I need to load a piece of software, a "thick-client", directly onto the handheld in order to communicate with my host software.
Once these questions are answered, we're ready to embark on a discovery process to decide exactly what type of device would be best. The operative word here is "type", because not all handheld devices are the same. It's very easy to "overbuy" when it comes to technology because people tend to "future-proof" because it gets outdated so fast. Buy the biggest, fanciest widget with all the bells and whistles! But is that the wise thing to do? Spend money on what we think we might need five years from now?
that should be considered when trying to select the optimal device. We'll take a look at all three and consider the pros and cons of each.
A batch data collection device stores data directly on the device. As the data is scanned or keyed in, it stays in the memory of the device until such time it can be connected to a computer and uploaded. Afterwards the data can be erased, freeing the memory of the device for its next use. The upside to this approach is simplicity and cost. Because the information is stored on the device and then uploaded or "batched" to a computer over a wired connection, such as USB, there is no need for a wireless infrastructure (WLAN) in the facility. It can also be used in remote areas where wireless connectivity may not be an option at all. The device itself is lower cost than a Wi-Fi equipped device because there is no radio. For the same reason, battery life tends to be better as well.
One downside is that a small software program or application must be produced and loaded onto the device in order to generate the screen prompts telling the operator to scan or enter data. This can usually be accomplished with a program generation tool that can be used by non-programmers, but still takes some time and thought to properly execute.
Another downside to batch data collection is that the information is not available in real-time. This means that it is not available to be processed by the host software application until it has been uploaded to the computer, and then imported into the host package. Until the data is uploaded, it is still somewhat vulnerable should the device get damaged or destroyed.
Overall, batch devices are an affordable, easy way of collecting data for relatively simple applications such as physical inventory counts. However, they may not be the best choice for a receiving application in a high-volume, high-velocity distribution center where the information is needed on a more real-time basis.
The use of wireless data collection (Wi-Fi) is the real-time alternative to batch data collection. The handheld devices can be almost identical, except that the wireless device is obviously equipped with a radio for communicating over the wireless LAN. Once we move into the wireless world, not all handhelds are alike.
Terminal Emulation is a methodology by which handheld computers can actually emulate "dumb terminals" when connected to a server over the WLAN. It is an extremely simple way of sending text-based screens down to handheld devices in order to provide information to the user and prompt them for scanned or keyed data. The only software application running on the handheld device is the software used for emulating the "dumb terminal", hence the term "terminal emulation". For the past three decades, this has been the method of sending and receiving data to handheld devices. It's simple and reliable.
Most handheld computers are capable of running terminal emulation software, or TE software. In fact, some come equipped with the TE software already loaded. However, it's important to know that not all handheld computers are alike. Some are specifically designed to be terminal emulation devices only, while others are more powerful Windows® devices that are largely overkill when running TE software.
A typical Windows®-based handheld computer will have a microprocessor speed of anywhere from 400 to 800 MHz and a minimum memory configuration of 128MB of RAM and 128MB of ROM. TE software can actually run efficiently on slower processors that require less memory and consume less energy (battery). Because the screens on TE devices are almost always text-based, a color display with touch panel is rarely necessary, further reducing the cost and energy requirements.
In short, handheld devices designed specifically to run TE software will always be less expensive and will also have better battery life. Dedicated TE devices are inherently simpler because typically they will only run the TE client, connect to a server, and login to the host application. The user is presented with no other options.
The downside to TE handheld devices is that it can only be a TE device. It can never run a true browser or any software developed for a Windows® environment, which means it can't run third party packages like device management software. If the chance exists that the host software application might change in the near future requiring a web browser or some other Windows®-based client, then a dedicated TE device might not be the best option for the long term.
The upside is their cost, simplicity, reliability, and battery life. If terminal emulation is likely to be the preferred method for connectivity for the foreseeable future, a dedicated TE device would be the simplest, most cost-effective solution.
The vast majority of handheld computers available today come equipped with a variant of either Windows® CE or Windows® Mobile (now Windows® Embedded Handheld). These devices are quite literally computers in every sense of the word in that they can run software programs that were designed for their particular operating system and hardware configuration like screen size, keypad, etc. This software might be a "canned" Windows® application like Internet Explorer®, or third party applications like terminal emulation clients. It might also be custom software written to connect and communicate with a specific host software package running on a server. The point is that a handheld computer becomes whatever its application software makes it, be it a web browser, a TE device, a route accounting tool, etc.
The obvious upside is versatility. As long as the software exists or can be written, the Windows®-based handheld computer can become a powerful tool. They are generally available in a wide range of form factors from semi-rugged PDAs to super-tough handhelds and tablets designed to withstand even the worst conditions, including hazardous or even explosive environments.
The downside can be cost, and to some degree complexity. The software may or may not exist. So, it may have to be purchased or even written. It is a very common practice to run TE software on a Windows® device, but in most cases, the computing power is wasted. The device is in fact "dumbed down" when making it a TE device. Also, a Windows® device is not designed to be dedicated to one specific purpose. It may have to be "locked down" to remove options that the user doesn't need to see or access. Taking a tool that is designed to be versatile, and then deploying it in such a manner that it is dedicated to a single task, is sometimes harder than it first appears.
The most important part of any discovery process is to first understand what options exist, and then selecting the option that is the most ideal for meeting the specific needs of the application. Whether or not it makes sense to "future-proof" by purchasing equipment that might have more features and capabilities than what is currently necessary, is a business decision that has to be made on a case-by-case basis. It's important to remember that any capital purchase will expect to produce a return on that investment. A lower investment equates to a faster return. It's also important to remember that although technology advances rapidly and it's hard to keep up with, sometimes business environments and processes can change just as rapidly. Sometimes the right answer is to buy what you need today, and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.


text:
Stargazers Pack Griffith Observatory To See Super Blood Wolf Moon
Filed Under:InstaStory, Supermoon
GRIFFITH PARK (CBSLA) – Dozens of excited stargazers packed the Griffith Observatory Sunday night to get a look at the rare "super blood wolf moon," the last total lunar eclipse viewable in the Southland for the next two years.
Although the lunar eclipse was visible throughout North America with the naked eye, the Griffith Observatory provided telescopes with assistance from employees and local volunteers for an even better view.
A Super Blood Wolf Moon is seen during a total lunar eclipse on Jan. 20, 2019, in Marina Del Rey, Calif. (Getty Images)
The super blood wolf moon is a combination of three events at once. A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is closest to the earth in its orbit. A blood moon is a total lunar eclipse in which the sun's rays give it a reddish tinge. A Wolf Moon is the Native American name for the first full moon of the year.
"The super part is somewhat rare, the moon needs to be within a day or so of its closest position, and the orbit's a month long, so that's pretty rare," astronomer David Reitzel told CBS2. "And then eclipses happen only a couple times a year, and you have to be on the right side of the earth to see it. So tonight is a bit of a rare event, and folks should enjoy it."
WATCH: Griffith Observatory Streams Total Lunar Eclipse
Unlike a solar eclipse, eye protection is not required for viewing.
The earth's shadow moves across the Super Blood Wolf Moon during the start of a total lunar eclipse on Jan. 20, 2019, in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Getty Images)
According to the National Geographic, "This lunar eclipse happens to coincide with the wolf moon, the traditional name for the January full moon. What's more, the moon on Jan. 20 will be unusually close to Earth and so will be slightly bigger and brighter, making it a so-called supermoon." Hence, the unusual moniker.
"A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. The disk of the full Moon slowly moves in the dark shadow, and the bright Moon grows dim," officials of the Griffith Observatory said in a statement.
The moon didn't go completely dark, but glowed a slightly red tint as "a result of sunlight being filtered and bent through the Earth's atmosphere," similar to a sunset.
The first visible signs of the moon moving into the Earth's shadow was at 7:33 p.m. Sunday. The moon reached maximum eclipse at 9:12 p.m. and remained as such until 9:43 p.m.
The next total lunar eclipse will not be visible in Los Angeles until May 26, 2021.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)


Hardback, no dust jacket. A uniform matching set, bound in green cloth, with gilt-stamped decoration and titles to the spines. 11 of 12 volumes - Wuthering Heights (published as a single volume) is absent. Most bindings are faded and a little worn appearance - most volumes have light marks to the boards; The Life of Charlotte Bronte has more significant marks to the boards and The Professor has a small dark stain to the front board. Volume 2 of Villette and Volume 2 of Jane Eyre have a slightly darker green binding and Volume 2 of Villette has a gilt top edge (the only volume with a gilt edge). All volumes are bruised at the spine ends and corners and several volumes have frayed cloth at the spine ends. Foxing to endpapers, pastedowns and scattered foxing to pages. Foredges deckled / untrimmed. Wildfell Hall pp. 354, 347; Shirley pp. 458, 471 vol. I has a name written at the top edge of the pastedown and there is a small light brown stain to bottom edge of rear pastedown and endpaper; Life of Charlotte Bronte pp. xviii, 526; Jane Eyre pp. 405, 372; The Professor pp.xi, 378; Agnes Grey pp. 302; Villette pp. xi, 422; 406 A gift inscription to the front endpaper in Volume I of Villette, dated 1944. Books measure 21.7cm tall. Illustrated with a few black and white plates in each volume. DELIVERY: No extra charges for sending within the UK MAINLAND. An extra fee may be necessary for UK islands and highlands, including N. Ireland. INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY may not available for this set due to size and weight - please contact us BEFORE ORDERING. There will be significant extra postage charges for international orders.


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Q: What is the best way to transfer images from a server to an iPhone app? What is the best way to transfer images from a server to an iPhone app? Is sending a base64 string faster or sending a link to the image source and then downloading from this source?

A: Is sending a base64 string faster
Definitely not - base64 is, on average, 1.4x larger than binary. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base64)
or sending a link to the image source and then downloading from this source?
I'm not sure what you mean here - but two requests when you could simply make one (the request for the image) is also not a good idea.
Simply download the image like normal is the best approach.
You could make sure you're making effective use of caching and GZIP (standard HTTP stuff).

A: The second option is better than first,it would be better to have http link.
just make sure you load the images just once.