Third Energy's North Yorkshire fracking planning application cost £½m+ – MPs told – DRILL OR DROP?
The planning application by Third Energy to frack at Kirby Misperton cost North Yorkshire County Council more than £500,000, MPs were told this week.
The council's chief executive, Richard Flinton, told a select committee investigating planning guidance that local authorities did not have enough money to process fracking applications properly.
The fee paid by Third Energy when submitting the application in 2015 was £3,638.
"It was not just my team and the planning and licensing committee; it was my colleagues in the emergency planning and my legal colleagues. It was not just a burden on my planning finances; it was a burden on the local authority's finances.
"It is not just determination; it is post decision as well, in terms of the monitoring and enforcement of sites.
The council officers said people contacted their local authorities first when they wanted to find out about local shale gas plans.
One of the key questions is whether fracking applications should be decided locally by councils or nationally by a government-appointed inspector at a public inquiry.
The officers from Lancashire and North Yorkshire, the only two authorities to decide applications for fracking, both said decisions should be made locally.
He said decisions made under the Nationally-Significant Infrastructure system would probably take longer than those made by local authorities.
"National infrastructure could take up to a year and possibly two. National infrastructure requires a lot of groundwork to be done, even before the hearing is made. There is then a 12-month period in which the Secretary of State has to have made the development consent order.
"I absolutely fundamentally believe that the first port of call is that it should be a local authority determination.
Unless the whole development is very sizeable, it should not automatically go up into the national infrastructure regime; it should stay local so that there can be the full scrutiny of it locally. Local people should have the opportunity to pitch their views in and understand how all the issues are being determined.
Executives from the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive and Oil and Gas Authority said it would make no difference to them if applications were decided nationally.
The shale gas industry complained to the committee that applications were taking too long.
Andrew Mullaney responded to comments by Matt Lambert, of Cuadrilla, that the decision on the company's Preston New Road shale gas site near Blackpool had taken 28 months.
"The suggestion that local authorities are somehow dragging their feet or do not have the competencies in speed of determination is wrong.
Andrew Mullaney said Cuadrilla had been keen to respond to detailed consultation comments on the application. At each point the company submitted fresh information that then required another round of consultation.
"What you have, because of the external pressure that is coming to this, is a process that is long. It took us 12 months from receipt of the application to determination—not 28 months—but that was punctuated by five, possibly six Regulation 22 sets of information from the applicant.
The committee heard that the North Yorkshire draft minerals plan included a definition of fracturing based on the pressure needed to fracture rocks, rather than the legislative definition, based on the volume of fluid used in the fracking operation.
"If you were to use the definition that is in the regulations around national infrastructure, then you would narrow it down so much so that we feel that applications that just miss that threshold would require all of the same level of consideration as something that hit that definition.
Executives from the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive said the definition made no difference to them.
A planning inspector has supported the concept in the North Yorkshire Draft Minerals Plan of separation distances between fracking sites and homes and a buffer zone around the edge of protected areas.
The industry has threatened to challenge the setback distances in the courts.
Matt Lambert, of Cuadrilla, at the previous committee hearing, had said councillors were often under pressure to concern themselves with sub-surface issues that were dealt with other regulators.
"It is important that we consider, and that the planning authority is satisfied with, things like groundwater impact, even though that is controlled by the Environment Agency, and seismicity.
The committee asked the officers about proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.
Andrew Mullaney said there was an inconsistency between the new draft, which says mineral planning authorities should recognise the benefits of shale gas, and a written ministerial made in August 2015, which said there was a national need to explore and develop shale gas and oil resources in a safe, sustainable and timely way.
"We would also like for it to include national policy on climate change and the Government's energy policy. It should really include best-practice measures and learning that has accrued so far, in terms of onshore oil and gas exploration. At the moment, it lacks that detail.
Andrew Mullaney said there seemed to be inconsistency between national policy in its climate change ambitions and the importance it attached to shale gas.
"The written ministerial statement says there is a need for gas and it is important but, on the other hand, we have things like the Clean Growth Strategy.
It seems that more people are gaining a better understanding of all the issues related to this industry. One must hope that they take this better understanding on board and are not unduly influenced by the industry or central government.
No; taxpayers were required to stump £330,00 to ensure 3rd energy were given permission to extract shale gas. Leave it to the experts, can't say it will ruin the environment when you have no evidence it will.
You need to get to Specsavers and then start doing some research Gregoryyy. Or perhaps you're too busy working/investing in the industry. Whichever, am not interested in discussion with somebody clearly not prepared to be objective.
I missed important work because police held me up on the road to allow a fracking convoy to go past. This was because of police and fracking, and their concept of how I should have to stop and wait a considerable period of time to allow their convoys priority on a significant stretch of rural roads. I was not held up by protests, but by the police road block. They even had the cheek to claim the road was still "open". Fracking is more than a financial cost to our community, it is distress, inconvenience, a threat to our health. And our taxes are paying for this??!!! Well I had my brief protest on that occasion, and the police detained me a lot longer for inconveniencing their convoy and their pride. But Third Energy are now in the dog house of "run out of money", so I can sit back and wait for round two, unless they and the others call it a day!
I wonder hpw many committee members will have input to report as many of them do not attend the meetings. Havent seen Holinsnake there at all.
Oh dear Ryor! Discussions in a mirror. Probably a medical term for that.
May be missing out on a big chunk of life there. "Opposites attract" emerged for a reason!
Never mind, too much else to worry about. Need to make sure all the horses and agricultural machinery are removed from the rural roads as they have a habit of slowing up my more important journey. And some don't even pay any road tax, or wash their wheels or hooves! As for flocks of sheep-just don't get me started.
£500,000 would be a small price to pay to rid North Yorkshire of fracking.
Road repair costs alone would cost the council millions if fracking was developed commercially.
The devaluation of local properties would leave an elderly population requiring social care earlier than they had planned for. Full time care costs councils millions already.
The councils and tax payers will be far better off once fracking has been stopped nationally.
Best spend millions now removing the industry rather than tens of millions if the industry became established.
Still worried about your N.Sea investments John? Shouldn't be, with oil and gas prices still moving higher.
I suppose if you want to speculate there, than why not speculate about fracking.
£500,000 would be a small price for who to pay? Someone else, maybe-including the two thirds.
lots and lots of mug punters dosh up for grabs.
Seems to me it's pointless continuing to comment on here whilst the same old industry spokespeople such as MC are allowed to continue churning out their petty insults devoid of any objective or rational content.
I agree RG; it's becoming tedious at best.
Continue to comment, but I suggest simply ignore those with a history of repetitive abusive comments. They will hate their comments being ignored, more so than any riposte!
That would be great in practice Malcolm, but sadly they then create another handle and persona; for some it is only 'negative attention is better than no attention' – the wind blowing tumbleweeds across the desolate prairie springs to mind when trying to find a valid argument in their posts rather than reactionary flaming or attention seeking…..
I acknowledge that there has been NO fracking in the UK since Preese Hall [awesome]; until this changes, will spend my time living my life and sharing with those I love; helping where I can; blogging has been fun but there are now more important things to do.
The Earth is a beautiful place, there is a beautiful place in all of us; we just have to find it…….
It will be sad to see you go, I have felt the same need for something other than flaming fire fighting and the insane descent into gutter politicking for a while now.
All the best and take care of family priorities, we all need to do that or we forget just why the future is so important and for whom.
As you say, we all have a beautiful planet to protect, and without protection for all life, we are no better than dead men and women walking towards a bleak burned out wasteland planetary future.
But the tide is turning and people are waking up.
I shall stick around for a while, if only to watch that change sweep away the old insane mess of the fossil fuelled oiligarchies and to watch the new renewable intelligent sane energy future for all to emerge.
Yes, such a move smacks of desperation, some very long strings being yanked ( I use the word yank advisedly, and only slightly misspelled?) very hard to make this weak and compromised government dance to their insider traders puppeteer rigga jig jig.
Pinocchio puppets pirouetting prancing manikins performing a dance of political absurdity and moral and ethical and anti democratic obscenity.
Time to find those cutting shears and end the whole sorry spectacle.
I thought it was you suggesting a visit to Specsaver, Ryor, and suggesting that someone who might be working in the industry or an investor, needed to do some research and was not capable of being objective? Hardy objective or rational.
Perhaps you might find that if they had that experience they may have some knowledge of the subject?
Or, you could have a chat about "Questions over green-energy boss's evidence to MPs". Another little alternative problem, after yesterday's Innogy reveal, that makes John's £500k look a little like lose change. But that does mean observing all options, which a few of us try and keep there, to be observed.
One choice will certainly give you a particular viewpoint, the other may add to the sum of your knowledge. But, I do agree with Malcolm's comment. I do as he suggests and then occasionally weaken my resolve, and end up with reading the "real" reason behind red diesel.


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General states at the start. The EU: no money for propaganda – La Stampa
BRUSSELS-ROMA. Yes risespario of the "General States of the economy", even if the show is not exactly what Giuseppe Conte hoped to be able to stage in the eyes of the many international guests who will be speaking today at Villa Pamphili. All the heads of the EU institutions and the directors of the IMF and OECD, to which the Prime Minister wants to send a reassuring message, will parade today – albeit by videoconference – at the government's representative headquarters: Italy is ready to start again and knows how to spend well the approximately 170 billion that will come from Europe with the "Recovery Fund".
A complicated diplomatic operation, because the opposition has decided to desert the appointment, derubricated to "catwalk", and the majority itself does nothing but send signs of impatience. Conte has put down a draft "Relaunch Plan" which – in the intentions – should reassure European partners and avoid surprises in the negotiation on the "Recovery Fund" which will take place next week at the European Council. A text that the Prime Minister, after criticism received from his own ministers, patiently filed together with the Minister of Economy Roberto Gualtieri and the heads of delegation of government parties.
Recovery Fund, as the Italian government will have to spend the € 82 billion non-refundable
"It's time for concrete actions and urgent actions to improve the country," Conte writes on Facebook on the eve. The prime minister promises to "unblock the construction sites already in the summer, 120 billion works to be speeded up and built", promises "High speed throughout Italy, especially in the South", a "Impresa 4.0 Plus" project. And then a "single national fiber optic network", the elimination of cash and so on.
After him, today the president of the European Parliament David Sassoli, the EU commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, the president of the EU commission Ursula von Der Leyen, the president of the ECB Christine Lagarde, the IMF operational director Kristalina Georgieva, the governor of the Bank will speak of Italy Vincenzo Visco, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria. From Monday, however, it will be up to the social partners.
Moreover, in Brussels there is a certain interest in what will emerge from the general states. Because the money from the "Recovery fund" will not be distributed unconditionally, but will be tied to the implementation of the reforms. "Italy has a great opportunity that must not be wasted": in short, this will be the message that will arrive this morning from the interventions of the EU leaders. Manfred Weber, EPP group leader in the EU Parliament, explains: "Countries like Germany are ready to take a big step, agreeing to contract common debt for this future investment in the name of European solidarity". But for the German, Italy too must do its part: "It's time for responsibility. Anyone who wants recovery funds must present a credible plan. We cannot finance with European money the false promises of some government party ».
Economy in quarks – Covid-19, despite the huge numbers allocated, the recession will not be avoided
In Brussels, for example, Prime Minister Conte's idea of investing a billion euros to plant a million dthe trees. Accounts in hand, they make a thousand euros per tree. The initiative is appreciated by the EU, but according to a spokesman for the Commission "the cost does not seem very much in line with current prices".
This is why Conte would have liked to offer a more cohesive image. Even yesterday, however, there was no lack of pricks. For Matteo Renzi «everything is useful. The important thing is that we move on to the concrete projects after the small talk ». And the president of the senatori Pd Andrea Marcucci "this must be the moment of concreteness". The M5s boss Vito Crimi then announces that the 5 stars will present their own package of proposals.
The economy in quarks – Too much public debt? This time it is the ECB that will shelter us
«We young Irpinians in the North are the real workforce»
Exor, consolidated losses of 1.3 billion in the first half – La Stampa
Aerospace, Macron presents a 10 billion rescue plan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Chun-Li is arguably the most popular female video game character along with Princess Peach and made her debut in 1991 with Street Fighter II.
Since Street Fighter 2, Chun-Li has appeared in nearly all Street Fighter games and ports, and also in many crossover games like Capcom Vs SNK 1+2, all Marvel vs Capcom games, SNK vs Capcom, all Card Fighters Clash games, Capcom Fighting Jam / Evolution, Pocket Fighters, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom, Namco X Capcom, Street Fighter X Tekken , and last but not least in Onimusha Soul.
Chun Li was revealed to return in Street Fighter V alongside Ryu during the Playstation Experience 2014 as one of the first characters and received the same treatment when she was revealed to be in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (2017).
Chun-Li got a redesign in the Street Fighter Alpha games similar to Ryu and Ken. She appears as a younger version of herself and wears a Chinese acrobatics outfit. There are also alternate costumes in the Street Fighter IV games and Street Fighter X Tekken.
Chun-Li's story started with her searching for the murderer of her father in Street Fighter II. In other games, she is often working for Interpol and fighting for justice.
Chun Li is the probably most popular fighting game character and one of the most popular female video game characters in general since her debut in Street Fighter II as "The Strongest Woman In The World".
Since we created tributes to the Street Fighter series before, we had a good couple of excellent illustrations of her already, but the one above is the first Chun Li illustration extra created for this gallery. Kudos belong to Gino Descalzi also known as Dreamgate-Gad for his take on Chun Li.
This was one of the first GA-HQ Database Project character illustrations and was created by Gino in early May 2017.
Chun Li is a big part of our second Street Fighter Art Collaboration and is going to be drawn in all of her different designs throughout the whole series.
Chun Li vs Chun Li!
03.10.2017 – Chun Li's official art from MVCI added as well as Gino Descalzi's take on her for our gallery here!


text:
Do you remember the first time you thumped and plucked?
Y'know, the first time I played bass I didn't immediately start thumpin' and pluckin.' Before then, in my mother's group [the Dell Graham Trio, which Graham joined at age 15], I was on guitar and my mother was on piano and we had a drummer. So when I would take a solo, she would be playing the bass lines with her left hand on the piano, and when she would solo, then I would play bass lines on the guitar. So the biggest influence for me, in terms of bass patterns, at that time, would be her left hand. Later, when my mother decided to no longer use drums—and I still don't know if that was mostly for economic reasons—that's when I started to thump the strings to get that groove going.
But the way I started playing bass in the first place was that I had been playing the bass pedals of an organ with my feet at the same time as I was playing the guitar. We were getting used to having that extra bottom there, but at some point the organ broke down, so we missed the bottom. That's why I went out and rented this St. George electric bass, and I rented it because I was going to take it back as soon as the organ was repaired! My first love was still the guitar! But it turned out that the organ couldn't be repaired, and that's how I got stuck on the bass. When my mom decided she was no longer going to have a drummer, that's when I started thumping the strings—to make up for not having that bass drum—and plucking the strings to make up for not having the backbeat on the snare drum. I was basically trying to play drums on the bass to compensate for not having a drummer.
Larry Graham plays his signature Moon J-style bass with Graham Central Station at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City on June 16, 2010. Photo by Adam Sands (Frank White Photo Agency)
Do you recall getting a strong reaction from people when you started playing that way?
I don't remember any strong reaction to it at the time, though I remembering thinking that if any professional musicians heard me, they'd think, "What is he doing? He's not playing the correct way." Meaning, y'know, the correct overhand style of bass playing. But the people at the club were just enjoying what they were hearing. When I look back, I wonder if my style would have ever meant anything to anybody if Sly [Stone] hadn't come down and heard me at the club, loved what he heard, and asked me to join this new band that didn't even have a name yet.
But because of all those hit records we had, and because of other bass players seeing me on TV and wondering, "What is that guy doing?" it really caught on. Even in the '70s, if you were in a cover band playing those Sly songs, you really had to play them the way I was playing them. So as a result of our success, other original bands started writing stuff that required their bass players to start thumpin' and pluckin' on their original songs. Of course, from there it spread even further. But until it became something famous, I really didn't see anybody trippin' on it. I never got that sort of "Wow, look what he's doing!" People just seemed to enjoy my mother and I as a duo, with both of us singing and playing.
So where exactly does your right hand thumb contact the string?
Most of the time, it hits the string just ahead of the back [J-style] pickup—between the two pickups, but much closer to the bridge pickup. You get a slightly different tone back there than you do if you thump the string closer to the edge of the fretboard—which I also do, depending on the sound I'm after. If you're hitting it closer to the pickup, it's like the difference between singing up right on the microphone or standing back a little bit. Now, I do play overhand style as well, but most of the songs I've created incorporate the thumpin,' so that's how I tend to play. And this might sound funny, but most of the songs that other people have written with me in mind also incorporate that style, so it becomes even harder to do things overhand- style—other people have sort of helped me to lock into what I do even more.
And the popping or plucking is always your index finger?
Yeah, it's mostly the index finger for popping—it's the strongest finger, and the one naturally closest to the string.
So where do the ghost notes come from—the percussive stuff that's often non-harmonic?
A lot of that actually comes from the left hand. You can hit a ghost note with your left hand that you can actually attack with your right hand. And you can accent notes just by how hard you press down with your left hand, even if you're just playing one note. Take, for example, on "Everyday People": That's just one note, but that rhythm— that BIM-dup, BIM-dup, BIMdup— comes about by how hard you hit the string with your right [plucking] hand. Harder and softer, harder and softer. But it also comes from how hard you press down on the notes with your left [fretting] hand. That's how you create that sort of galloping rhythm thing, even on just one note. So both right and left hands have a part to play in that.
The one change in your playing over the years seems to be that you've added more melodic information, such as in bass lines like "It Ain't No Fun to Me."
Well, again, that comes from growth within yourself. You can know how to do something pretty well, but as time goes on you keep doing it over and over, and that fundamental technique just gets better and better. I have to say that, these days, I don't think about playing that much—I think a lot more about the overall performance, and that includes singing and dancing, and communicating with the audience. Of course, in the studio, working on a record, that's a time to focus in 100 percent on your playing and your parts and your technique. It's easier to focus in when you're concentrating on one thing, and there's no audience, no distractions. In front of an audience, though, I can't just stand there and play bass—well, I could, but I'd get in trouble!
What are the biggest lessons you've learned from being both a legendary sideman and a well-known bandleader?
All those years with Sly, and with my mother before that, I was quite comfortable following the leader. I've always felt that, though I'm in a contributing role, I'm constantly learning. With Prince, for example, very often I'm in the background role, just being the bass player. Of course, with GCS, I'm out front as the bandleader. So I'm very comfortable and content in either role. In other words, I don't have to be the leader. In fact, I became a bandleader out of necessity—I wasn't seeking the role! I was working with Hot Chocolate as a producer, and I was writing all the tunes as well, so when I suddenly found myself also in the band, bandleader was the role I naturally assumed.
Larry Graham's Gear
Moon Larry Graham Snow White bass with Bartolini J pickups and 27-volt Bartolini preamp
Warwick WA 600 class-A solid-state amps powering WCA 410 and WCA 115 cabinets
Ernie Ball volume pedal, Dunlop 105Q Cry Baby bass wah, Danelectro fuzz, Roland Jet Phaser, Mu-Tron Octave Divider
Strings and Accessories
GHS Boomers (.035–.095), Ernie Ball straps
Obviously, I had great training and great role models, and I've seen a few bad examples— how not to treat band members. Sly was a great songwriter and producer, but one thing that was a part of Sly's genius—and, I think, part of the band's success—was that he allowed each person in the band to be themselves. He asked me to be in the band because of what he heard me do. So, if he's going to write "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," and he's going to bring that to the table, why change up the way I play the bass? Just let me do my thumpin' and pluckin', like he heard in the beginning! Freddie Stone is a great guitar player— one of the greatest rhythm-pattern players—and though Sly is a guitar player, too, he wasn't going to try to change up the way Freddie played. So I may play drums, but I'm not telling anyone they need to play it my way. Just bring the song to the people, and have them contribute what they do.
It's the same thing with Prince: When we play together, I can be in the background playing bass on his stuff, or I can jump out front and be myself. He's not trying to say, "Do it like this" or "Do it like that." As a player and as a bandleader, that's the way to enjoy what you're doing.


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Spreading faster, hitting harder – why young Brazilians are dying of Covid
Productivity Tips and Apps by Productivity Hub April 17, 2021
Highly transmissible variant and behavioural factors blamed as intensive care units fill with younger patients
One month after Michel Castro's premature brush with death, the coronavirus infection has receded but the nightmares persist.
In them the 31-year-old father relives the spine-chilling scenes he witnessed as his Covid-hit body battled for survival in a Rio ICU. The six-month-old baby who appeared to be suffocating right next to him. The man urinating blood after his kidneys failed. The unnerving bleep-bleep-bleep of machines warning doctors that yet another life was on the line.
"It was agony. When you closed your eyes – God forgive me – but it was as if you were in hell," said Castro, a systems analyst and devout Christian who fell ill in early March as Brazil was thrust into the deadliest month of a coronavirus disaster that has killed more than 365,000 people.
"I saw everything in there. Children, adults, young people, bodybuilders – the lot. All of them going through the same thing," Castro recalled, rubbishing the idea that only elderly people were in danger. "If you're a human being you're at risk," he said. "This disease is a total game of Russian roulette."
When Covid first hit Brazil last February it was, as elsewhere, considered mainly a threat to the ageing or infirm. A year later, as Brazil grapples with by far the most traumatic phase of its epidemic, a troubling trend has emerged, as intensive care units fill with younger patients such as Castro, some seemingly battling more severe forms of the disease. An unusually high number of infant fatalities has also been reported with more than 1,000 Brazilian babies dying last year compared with 43 in the US.
Brazilians have been particularly shocked by the case of Paulo Gustavo, a 42-year-old television star who has spent the past month fighting for his life in a Rio ICU despite being previously fit and healthy. Last week, the Brazilian Association of Intensive Care Medicine said that for the first time, most Covid patients in ICU were under 40 – a finding echoed by frontline doctors.
Nurses prepare to attend to Covid patients at Nova Iguacu General Hospital. Photograph: António Lacerda/EPA
"We're seeing a really big increase in young patients," said Pedro Carvalho, a critical care doctor from the country's northeast whose hospital's ICUs have admitted Covid victims aged 27, 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34 in recent days. Two were women who had just given birth. The wife of the 33-year-old patient is expecting their fourth child but he is on dialysis and his chances of survival slim. "It really feels like we're at the eye of the hurricane and things are just getting worse and more intense," Carvalho said.
Clarisse Bressan, a tropical medicine specialist working at Rio's Fiocruz Covid hospital, said she had detected a similar shift in the last three weeks, including a disturbing rise in the number of pregnant women being admitted. "The average age really has gone down. One Friday we had more patients in their 40s than over-80s."
"The patients seem to be suffering a more drawn-out illness. They deteriorate later – after 12 or 14 days rather than 10 – and I've seen young people with more symptoms," Bressan added. "They don't necessarily end up with more serious conditions but I'm seeing fewer completely asymptomatic young people than I did at the start of the pandemic."
The explanation for the generational shift remains unclear, although some suspect a highly transmissible new variant linked to the Brazilian Amazon may be partly to blame. "It's clearly connected to the P1 variant," said Marcos Boulos, a infectious disease specialist from the University of São Paulo who believes the virus is now both spreading faster and hitting young people harder.
Boulos said the vaccination of older Brazilians partly explained the increasing proportion of younger patients in ICU. "But there's no doubt young people are being [physically] more affected by this new variant. It's unquestionable."
"Sometimes … these young people will die after just a few hours or days with very acute, severe illnesses – and you won't find any comorbidity or factor to explain why. It's dramatic," added Boulos, pointing to similar suspicions that the South African variant might be affecting the young more.
Bressan suspected behavioural factors were also at play, with younger Brazilians more likely to be frequenting places where they might be exposed to greater doses of the virus, more often. "It's younger people who are going out to work, to parties, restaurants and nightclubs," said Bressan, adding that many of the patients she was now seeing in their 40s were domestic workers, cleaners, retail workers and waiters. "People who absolutely have to leave home to work."
Everton Nascimento de Oliveira, 32, lies in an emergency unit bed of a field hospital in Ribeirao Pires.Photograph: André Penner/AP
Castro has no idea which variant brought him to the casualty of a hospital on Rio's northern outskirts last month, with a raging temperature and a respiratory system on the verge of collapse. "My lungs were totally black," he said, recalling how one doctor told him it was a miracle he had made it there at all. "You should be drowning on dry land," the doctor said as Castro was rushed into an improvised ICU.
"It's terrifying," he said of what he saw inside. "It's like those war films where you see a warehouse full of wounded people and say, 'No this is just a scene from a movie – The Walking Dead.' Only it's for real. This is what's happening."
After a sleepless night, Castro was moved to a specialist Covid unit where he came within a whisker of death. His oxygen levels plummeted and he suffered a series of cardiac arrests, with his heart rate shooting up to 140 beats per minute, then back down to 40.
Michel Castro, his wife Juliana and one-year-old son Arthur. 'If you're a human being you're at risk,' he said Photograph: Michel Castro
"I remember feeling something so strange that I'd never felt before. I felt so cold, so much pain. My chest hurt so much. I was coughing so much. Everything hurt. And then suddenly everything just stopped. The feeling I had was that I was going to die. I didn't feel afraid any more. I didn't feel pain. I didn't feel the cold. I stopped feeling everything … it was as if my body had switched off … I felt I was dead."
More than 66,000 Brazilians lost their lives last month and as many as 100,000 are expected to die in April with their country now the global epicentre of the pandemic. But somehow Castro survived, the inflammation and infection suddenly clearing over the next four days before he was allowed to return to his home in the Chatuba favela.
"Dude, this is a miracle," Castro remembered his doctor telling him as he was discharged into the arms of his overjoyed wife and 20-month-old son, Arthur. "Your lungs are really badly damaged but you've beaten the disease."
A month later, Castro said he still suffered occasional panic attacks and fatigue and was relearning how to breathe, walk and eat. A childhood friend was also struggling to recover after being taken off a ventilator. She was so weak she was using a walking frame to get around. "We're talking about someone in her 20s, who exercises, eats well … and doesn't have any major health problems and now she's debilitated like a 90-year-old woman."
Castro, who believes he was infected at a small family gathering, said he hoped telling his story would convince other young Brazilians to take fewer risks.
"Contrary to what they say, this disease is extremely aggressive. It does attack young people," he said. "Maybe with you it won't be so aggressive – maybe you'll feel nothing. But the person next to you – your friend, your dad, your mum, your uncle, your aunt – they might never make it home."
All Rights Reserved for Tom Phillips
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Mthobisi Magagula on April 17, 2021 at 5:48 am
This is a very sympathetic situation for Brazil. This COVID virus is aggressive & I feel pity & sorry for those who lost their lives, may God protect Brazil. Oh my God! 😥😥😫😷


The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. 4 And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 6 You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, 7 and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8 And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.
I know what our tents look like, but I am thinking after reading this that there might be just walls of curtains and not a tent top as the cloud and fire are in that position.
38For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.


Peter has been a member of the New York musical community since 2003, when he moved to the city after graduating Oberlin Conservatory. Peter currently works in a wide variety of areas, including solo performance, chamber orchestras, performance art, free improvised settings, electro-acoustic music and composition. As a performer, Evans has been working to break through the technical barriers of his instrument and enjoys playing with steady configurations of improvisers; each band explores a specific concept or style as much as possible. Current bands include the Peter Evans Quartet (with Brandon Seabrook, Tom Blancarte, & Kevin Shea), Moppa Elliott's terrorist bebop band Mostly Other People Do the Killing, the hyperactive free-improvisation duo Sparks (with Tom Blancarte), the free-jazz quintet Carnivalskin (with Klaus Kugel and Bruce Eisenbeil), the Language Of with Charles Evans, duos with trumpeter Nate Wooley and saxophonist Dave Reminick, the New York Trumpet Ensemble, as well as a sustained interest in solo performance. In New York, Peter also performs contemporary notated music with groups such as the International Contemporary Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, Continuum and Ensemble 21. He has continued to perform on piccolo trumpet in Baroque settings, performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 at the Bargemusic series and Mass in B Minor at St Peter's Church. Other collaborators have included: Mary Halvorson, Dave Taylor, John Zorn, Okkyung Lee, Taylor Ho Bynum, Perry Robinson, Jim Black, Evan Parker, Ned Rothenberg, Mark Gould, Jack Wright, Luka Ivanovic, Brian Chase, and Alan Kay. Recent travels have brought Peter to venues and festivals in the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and South East Asia. Recordings include More is More, a solo trumpet album on psi, the self-titled first album of the Peter Evans Quartet (on firehouse12), and Shamokin!, the second album by MOPDTK, on HotCup Records.


text:
Q: How to convert an array of objects into a mapped object in JavaScript? How can I convert something like initialArray array of JSON objects into finalObject map?
var initialArray = [
             { id:'id1', name:'name1' },
             { id:'id2', name:'name2' },
             { id:'id3', name:'name3' },
             { id:'id4', name:'name4' }
          ];

var finalObject = {
                  'id1':'name1',
                  'id2':'name2',
                  'id3':'name3',
                  'id4':'name4'
               }

Things to consider:

*

*IDs are strings.

*I tried for in loop - couldn't make it to work - http://jsfiddle.net/5af9R/23/
Any ideas?

A: You need to operate on the objects in your array, not strings containing their indexes in the array.
You should also use a regular for loop to iterate over an array.
Your JSFiddle, fixed:
var x = [ {id:'1', img:'img1'}, {id:'2', img:'img2'}, {id:'3', img:'img3'} ];
var resp = {};

for( var i = 0 ; i < x.length ; i++ ){
    var obj = x[i];
    resp[obj.id] = obj.img;
}

document.write( JSON.stringify(resp, undefined, 2) );

A: DEMO
You can loop over the array, and for each object, add a new property to finalObject whose property name is the id, and whose value is the name.
var finalObject = {};

for (var i = 0, max = initialArray.length; i < max; i++)
    finalObject[initialArray[i].id] = initialArray[i].name;

A: resp[key.id] = key.img;
You correctly call it key. But you need a value;
resp[x[key].id] = x[key].img;

A: var finalObject = initialArray.reduce(function(ret, obj){
  ret[obj.id] = obj.name;
  return ret;
}, {});

This solution is specific to the property names for the specific question, but Array.prototype.reduce is a function I use all the time for any sort of array iteration that requires a non-array result.

A: You're not using For In correctly jsFiddle
var x = [ {id:'1', img:'img1'}, {id:'2', img:'img2'}, {id:'3', img:'img3'} ];
var resp = {};

for( var key in x ){
    resp['id' + x[key].id] = x[key].img;
}

document.write( JSON.stringify(resp, undefined, 2) );

A: for (var i=0; i<x.length; i++) {
    var id = 'id' + x[i].id;
    var img = x[i].img;
    resp[id] = img;
}

A: if i have understood correctly you can do something like
var x =' [ {"id":"1", "img":"img1"}, {"id":"2", "img":"img2"}, {"id":"3", "img":"img3"}]';
var resp = {};
var json = $.parseJSON(x);
$(json).each(function(i,v){
    resp[v.id]=v.img;
});

 console.log( resp);

DEMO

you talked about json but in the fiddle you provided there was no json even jquery was not added as a resource so i made some assumptions

A: Today I was on the same question and I didn't find an answer here, except the answer of @adam-rackis.
The way I found is :
var initialArray = [
    { id:'id1', name:'name1' },
    { id:'id2', name:'name2' },
    { id:'id3', name:'name3' },
    { id:'id4', name:'name4' }
],
    finalObject = {};

$.each(initialArray, function(k,v) {
    finalObject[v.name] = v.value;
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Edgartown is a small and very attractive town and the county seat of Dukes County, Massachusetts. In the past, it used to be a thriving whaling port, but nowadays the local economy is mostly based on tourism. There are many well-maintained houses built long ago by many captains and now they serve as a great pole of tourist attraction. Thus, by visiting Edgartown for your summer holidays you will have the chance to find out more about its past (its origins date back to the 17th century), enjoy lovely beaches, sunbathing, swimming, great home-made like local cuisine, and fabulous ocean views. A few of the top Edgartown attractions that are worth your attention include the 18th-Century Whaling Church that was recently transformed into a performing arts center, if you love movies then you will certainly find many Edgartown locations familiar since these were used in 1975 for the filming of Steven Spielberg's blockbuster "Jaws," the Edgartown Harbor Light, Katama Bay, South Beach, etc. The coolest part is that you can explore all these by bike or feet, thus an excellent opportunity to stop using the car for a while. Regarding budget accommodation, there are more than 30 and nearby Edgartown that offer rooms at competitive prices. The cost per room varies between $50 and $170+ per night.


As the global funding landscape is changing rapidly, arts and cultural organisations are becoming increasingly concerned about what actions to take. On this course you will learn about the importance of developing organisational resilience through effective leadership and management, and how to diversify income streams by becoming more entrepreneurial. You will explore different leadership styles, change management and entrepreneurship, so you'll be in a better position to lead your organisation's fundraising strategy and offer better value to your audiences.
0:07Skip to 0 minutes and 7 secondsTo be successful in fundraising, I think organisations need to adapt to a changing landscape. Traditional sources of funding are declining. Everyone agrees about that. And organisations, therefore, need to diversify their income sources. In order to survive and indeed thrive in this new funding climate, organisations will have to take risks, be innovative, and learn from others' experiences. The course exists to help organisations to develop their leadership styles, to explore new business models, to think about how to diversify their income streams, and to be inspired by examples of effective leadership and business models elsewhere. So entrepreneurship is important in the arts because most arts organisations aren't just charities, and they're certainly not just businesses.
0:55Skip to 0 minutes and 55 secondsThey need to increasingly think in different ways, and do things differently from other organisations and from commercial entities. So what we encourage in this course is for learners to be inspired by entrepreneurial thinking, to take risks, to develop innovative business models that futureproof their organisations. We're going to develop leadership skills in how to create and share a vision for an effective organisation. We're also going to look at how leaders can empower everybody within the organisation. For example, by adapting their leadership style so that everyone across an organisation can take an effective role in developing fundraising activity. I think learners might be surprised and inspired by how to deal with change, how vision and mission is related to organisational values.
1:46Skip to 1 minute and 46 secondsThis course is designed for a whole range of learners. You may be a leader working in a national organisation. You may be a fundraiser working in a small organisation. You may be a board member trying to get more actively involved in supporting fundraising activity. All of you will find something useful in this course. This course was funded by Arts Council England, as part of a consortium, managed by Cause 4, the University of Leeds, and Arts Marketing Association. The course is going to be open to learners from around the globe. And of course, there will be lots of examples given from lecturers, from practitioners, from case studies.
2:23Skip to 2 minutes and 23 secondsWhat we're really hoping is that learners will share their examples from diverse organisations and contexts all around the world. Sign up now for Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture.
Introduction and overview: why are we talking about arts fundraising and organisational development? Global perspectives.
A values-based approach to vision and mission development and the implications of this for authentic arts fundraising.
The role of leaders and leadership in managing changing cultures of fundraising and organisational development.
Theories and practical applications of change management in the arts and cultural sector.
An evolving ecology: Cultural entrepreneurship and new venture creation.
Developing and debating 'resilience' by critically exploring emerging business models and structures in the arts and cultural sector.
Explore how to develop an enterprising and effective arts and cultural organisation.
Evaluate the opportunities and challenges of raising funds in the arts and cultural sector by exploring examples and strategies from arts management and cultural policy.
Critically investigate key ideas and models of arts fundraising, cultural leadership, organisational development and change management.
Reflect on ways to develop enterprising and effective arts and cultural organisations.
Identify and debate the challenges unique to leading contemporary arts and cultural organisations.
I'm a Teaching Fellow for the Leeds Enterprise Centre at the University of Leeds. My focus is on Social Enterprise and "Intrapreneurship". I also have a background in the Performing & Visual Arts.


The Storyteller, Musée de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec collection, L'Opinion publique, 1871, 1993.25327.1.
Springtime in the little French village above the straits was a time to put away the snowshoes and heavy winter coats, although the nights could still bring a reminiscent chill of winter. This was such a night. The cousins were assembled in the great room of Mimi and Pipi's cabin, laying about the floor and enjoying the warmth of the fire.
"Did I tell you I came across Oncle Gautier in the corner store Monday morning this week?" asked Cousin Gilbert in a gentle, "matter-of-fact" voice.
The cousins shook their heads but made no expressions, believing this was just small talk. The fire blazed on with a creak, a pop and a spit.
Cousin Gilbert interrupted himself. His voice took on a stern tone as he began imitating Oncle Gautier.
With a sudden and befuddled expression, Cousin Gilbert sat straight up. His eyes darted about the room searching for the source of the mysterious sound.
The cousins roared with laughter at the joke as did the children in loft above the great room.
"Oh yeah, Oncle Gautier's memory isn't what it used to be," said Cousin Paul Andre.
"Can we hear more stories?" asked little Rosanne from the loft above.
"Oh please, please may we come down?" pleaded the little ones. Cousin Claire-Marie looked up from the rocking chair, gave a little smile and nodded her head once.
With a rustling of quilts and the pattering of little feet overhead, the children bolted from the oversized bed and climbed down the ladder. They sat in a half-circle in front of Genot Élan de L'Hiver, their backsides to the fire. Genot waited for their attention, and he began the story.
"Ta-Ta Mai would answer the door in the same way when she heard me knock. The door would swing open. A few chickens scurried around the room, and there she stood in her bare feet; wiping her hands in the same purple print apron with tiny yellow flowers.
« How are you this pretty, fine day ? » he asked in his squeaky troll voice.
The children's faces twisted in disgust at the very thought of tasting mud pudding.
"What did you do?" asked little Rosanne. Genot paused for a moment before he continued.
"Pass up the bowl of mud pudding," shouted the Troll Boss.
"The Troll Boss leaned forward. 'Are you sure you want some more?'" he asked.
"Oh, yes please," I answered.
"Now, you are free to go," he said in a quivering, dastardly voice.
"Then what happened?" asked Rosanne's sister Genevieve.
The children's eyes grew wide and they leaned forward. Genot peeked over each shoulder to make sure none of the adults were listening.
"Cousin Gilbert was the Troll Boss!" he whispered.
The little ones gasped in disbelief except for Rosanne.
"I KNEW it!" she exclaimed, slapping her hands on her thighs.
The children scurried off to bed, up the ladder and into the loft, while down below, silence once again settled into Mimi and Pipi's cabin. Only the crackling hypnotic fire continued to speak with a creak and a pop and a spit.
Boue Pudding (Mud Pudding) excerpted from "Stories that Mimi and Pipi Told" © Genot Winter Elk Picor, 2016. Published with Permission.
Join Genot Picor in the "public tradition" of storytelling during the St. Ignace Heritage Days (July 15, 16 and 17, 2016) and at Rendezvous at the Soo (July 30 and 31, 2016).


New onto the letting market August 2018 – a stunning 4-bedroom, detached stone cottage built in 1850. It was originally two farm workers cottages and was sympathetically renovated in 2001 to create one gorgeous, much-loved family holiday home. The downstairs is completely integrated and the upstairs is still split into two halves for added privacy.
The historic market town of Kelso with all its amenities is only a 10 minute drive away and 5 minutes away the village of Morebattle provides a pub with amazing views from the garden, a paper shop and an excellent local butcher.
That's if you can tear yourself away from the house. The Whinney has outstanding 360 degree views of the Cheviot Hills and surrounding countryside. It is the definition of getting away from it all.
The perfect place for walkers, dog lovers, cyclists, fisherman, writers, artists, musicians, families and couples, The Whinney has so much to offer. So, why not step out of your everyday life and into a world that's quiet and relaxing, with wide open skies and plenty of fresh air to revive and invigorate the soul and views that will take your breath away!
The whole of the downstairs floor is tiled in terracotta with a good covering of rugs.
Also off The Dog Room are two steps up into the large, fully-equipped country kitchen with a family-sized wooden table and seating for 7 people.
The dual-aspect windows allow for stunning views while you eat – towards the Cheviot Hills on one side and rolling countryside and Marlfield House – the estate that originally owned The Whinney on the other.
The owners are keen cooks and there's a large range of pans and utensils, a dishwasher, a larder containing an American-style fridge freezer, a microwave and filter coffee machine.
Like many old cottages in the area, all of the upstairs bedrooms are built into the eaves with dormer windows, so the white, wood panelled ceilings are lower than you would find in a modern house and slope on each side, authentic cottage living!
This room has a luxurious super king size bed, two high-backed armchairs, a decorative fireplace, and drawers for storing your clothes in. There is a door that leads to the generously-sized en suite bathroom with separate bath and electric shower. You will also find hanging space for clothes, another chest of drawers and a decorative fireplace in here . There is a heated towel rail and large rug for added cosiness.
decorative fireplace and lovely views from the desk out to the Cheviots. Behind you, another view out onto Marlfield House and the surrounding rolling countryside. Next door to The Nook, is the lovely main sitting room.
Features two comfy sofas, a huge Persian rug and two reclining, revolving chairs– with matching footstools.
TIP: In the evening, you can turn these towards the large French windows and sit with a glass of wine as you watch the light change over The Cheviot Hills. You may even spot some local wildlife – such as barn owls or bats! Also a good place for a morning cup of tea.
A spacious room with a king size bed and views over the Cheviot Hills. Like everywhere upstairs, this room has a low white painted tongue-and-groove ceiling. Also a decorative fireplace, chest of drawers, full length mirror, two armchairs and a low wide bench – perfect for a couple of suitcases.
At the top of the stairs, on the landing there are two alcoves – one with hanging space and a mini chest of drawers and one with a standard-sized chest of drawers. The alcoves are shared by the two rooms in this part of the house.
Features two single beds, a bedside table and chest of drawers. As with all the bedroom doors, there are hanging hooks for extra hanging space. This room is perfect for kids or friends, with views looking out over the Cheviot Hills.
Off the main sitting room, along a short hall, is the downstairs loo and shower. Unusually, there is an electric and a mains shower to choose from in the same cubicle – so you can have both on at the same time, or just one!
Beside the downstairs loo, includes a washing machine, tumble dryer, iron, ironing board, wooden clothes horse and sink area.
From the utility room you can reach the 'back back door' and find a parasol and reclining chair for the garden.
Leave The Whinney from the back of the house, and enter into the garden. The back door opens out onto a paved area with a picnic bench. The area is fenced and encompasses grass and patio with two gates leading into the main garden. It is safe to let your dogs or toddlers out in this smaller, enclosed bit of garden. Through the picket fence gate you'll find yourself in the main open area of the garden, which is laid to lawn and enclosed by a dry stone wall. A great area for a game of football, cricket or general running around.
Within this main garden there is a rockery, which used to be a pond, which is in the process of been drained for safety reasons. There is a second paved area outside the patio doors from the sitting room, with a wooden table and bench facing the Cheviot Hills. At the back of this patio is a hose – which is ideal for washing down muddy dogs and wellies after an afternoon of exploration!
A separate outbuilding at the bottom right-hand corner of the garden which used to be a pigsty. There is further sheltered paving here and an old table and bench.
The bottom left-hand side of the garden features another picket gate that leads to the barn, where you'll find a delightful games room! Just go through the gate, step onto a small paved area, then into the barn through the French doors. The barn is one big open space with a covered concrete floor and a wood burning stove. You can settle around the stove on the armchair or one of two sofas, and gaze out of the French windows at the light playing on the Cheviots. There is a big wooden table here with five chairs – ideal for playing board games, doing jigsaws or a little bit of drawing or colouring.
In the back half of the barn, there's table tennis, table football and air hockey. You'll also see three windows down the side of the barn overlooking a little private garden on the opposite side of the barn to The Whinney garden. There is extra parking here, too.
TIP: The barn is great space on a rainy day and good for teenagers who want to be noisy, but please supervise closely if the stove is in use.
There are a couple of short walks to take your dogs on straight from the house and then a pretty much endless selection of walks, with or without dogs, in the surrounding area.The Cheviot Hills are close by and St Cuthbert's Way passes close to The Whinney.
In Kelso, there is Floors Castle to explore, and if you don't mind going a bit further afield, you can even head to Bamburgh and Alnwick – the latter is home to Alnwick Castle where some of the Harry Potter films were made!
In terms of outdoor activities, there's plenty of options to choose from. Kelso is home to two 18-hole golf courses, plenty of invigorating walks and cycling routes, the world-famous Junction Pool – if a spot of salmon fishing is your thing (although you must book a beat separately before fishing).
There is also Kelso races (check online for race dates) and a great rugby team to watch. Kelso is home to a bustling Flemish-style cobbled market square, full of lovely independent shops and delightful restaurants all within a short stroll of the square. So, if you're going to be in town, you should definitely take a wander and see what takes your fancy!
We've tried to think of everything to make your stay as easy as possible. The Whinney makes for a peaceful and relaxing getaway, and the owners want you to feel at home whilst you take full advantage of all that this lovely part of the world has to offer.


Zeblaze seems to be one of the most active wearables makers from China in the last period, with devices Zeblaze Plug C, Vibe 3 and Thor S hitting the market with quite a success. Today, the company unveils a new smartwatch in the Thor lineup, the Zeblaze Thor PRO; let's have a closer look.
The Thor PRO is equipped with a 1.53-inch IPS full round screen, with bright colors and faster response times compared to reflective colored screen. The smartwatch also packs a quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage to potentially store lots of social media apps or games when supported.
As for the autonomy, Thor PRO uses brand-new large battery, with battery life improved by 20%, providing better reliability for daily life. Camera wise, the 2MP HD camera along with a custom-optimized image processor will be able to get clearer pictures.
What's more, the built-in GPS module can accurately record real-time route, mileage, pace, speed and other sports data, it will help you analyze and improve the way you exercise. Finally, with the reminder function, you will never miss any important massages.
The Zeblaze Thor PRO hasn't been launched yet, so we don't have any info about pricing but we'll keep you updated. Visit Zeblaze's official website to learn more about the Thor PRO.
Since we're covering Zeblaze, some of you might be glad to learn that the company will be attending this year's Global Sources Electronics Fair in Hong Kong from 4.18 to 4.21.2018, with their original products: PLUG C, THOR 4(4G), THOR S, ARCH PLUS, VIBE 3, etc. You'll find Zeblaze at booth number 7P29.


Are your Hugo ballots in? I hope so, because yesterday was the very last day and now all that's left is waiting to see who wins what award!
In the meantime, here's one more story from the 2014 Hugo Ballot to read, notably for those who haven't read it yet. Technically a novelette, "The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling" by Ted Chiang was published by Subterranean Press Magazine in the Fall of 2013. Now that voting's over, I can safely say that while this was a tight category, this story hit me and it hit me hard, so I want to make sure you get a chance to read it. All you have to do is click the link below!
This was such a strong novelette. I loved the dual storylines, the subject of memory, that twist near the end… It really impressed me.
Yeah, this story gave me ALL THE FEELS. It really hit me on a personal level, and I love it when stories do that.


So without further ado, here is this Monday's muffin tin lunch... the theme this week was "colors of the rainbow". I'm sad to say I was feeling very uninspired today with it.
raspberries, puzzle shaped cheddar cheese pieces (April is Autism Awareness Month, all month long!), Trader Joe's "pirate booty". The cheese was cut with the Lunch Punch puzzle set.
Bottom row: broccoli, purple grapes, grape jelly sandwich.
Pirate Booty is so yummy! Great tin!
love it. and your colors are great!
I love the puzzle pieces= Very cute!
Still haven't had Pirate's Booty. Maybe this weekend when I'm near a Whole Foods.


text:
Africa Americas Asia Australia China Europe India Middle East United Kingdom
Amnesty says Cameroon soldiers executed women, young girl and a baby
By Stephanie Busari, CNN
Updated 9:06 PM EDT, Fri July 13, 2018
Cameroon's President Paul Biya plans to stand for election on October 7 amid spiraling violence and alleged human rights abuses in the country.
Cameroon's 85-year-old president has announced plans to stand for re-election in the country's elections on October 7, amid spiraling violence and alleged human rights abuses in the country.
Paul Biya, who has led the country since 1982, posted a statement about his plans on his Twitter account Friday.
However, the octogenarian leader, one of Africa's longest-serving rulers, is accused by rights groups of presiding over a brutal regime, characterized by human rights abuses, particularly towards residents of Cameroon's English speaking provinces.
Horrific videos and images of abuse, murder, and torture allegedly by Cameroonian soldiers have flooded social media in recent months.
Images like this depicting the barbarism of the #BiyaRegime will forever be seared in our memories. In this picture taken in anglophone #Cameroon, a dejected old man stands in front of what used to be his home which had been reduced to ashes by #Biya's military. #AnglophoneCrisis pic.twitter.com/yxcRkcBdZg
— Israel Ayongwa (@iayongwa) June 10, 2018
CNN has not been able to independently verify these images.
However, one of these shocking videos, which has gone viral online, shows the execution of two women and two children by uniformed men and has attracted widespread condemnation.
Rights group Amnesty International says it has "credible information" that Cameroonian soldiers were involved.
The agency said: "Extensive analysis of the weapons, dialogue, and uniforms that feature in the video, paired with digital verification techniques and testimonies taken from the ground, all strongly suggest that the perpetrators of the executions are Cameroonian soldiers."
Cameroonian forces are seen in Mabass, a village in northern Cameroon that overlooks a Boko Haram base in Madagali, Nigeria. Boko Haram militants attacked Mabass and the village of Makxy on January 18. Boko Haram is an Islamist militant group that has been waging a campaign of terror aimed at instituting its extreme version of Sharia law. Much of its violence has taken place in Nigeria. But neighboring countries, such as Cameroon and Chad, have also been affected.
PHOTO: Ngala Killian Chimtom
Fighting Boko Haram in Cameroon
Cameroon's Ministry of Communication said in a statement that the government is investigating the claims, although government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary is quoted in local media initially saying the video could be "fake news."
"We haven't authenticated yet, but I draw your attention to what we call fake news. Do not be peremptory in the attribution of this video to the Cameroonian army.
"Because the enemy is always able to slip into our defence and security forces to attribute to us such heinous crimes," Bakary said in local media reports.
A series of demonstrations in Cameroon's English-speaking western regions escalated into violent clashes in several cities. The images below show demonstrators in Kumba, in Cameroon's Southwest region on December 9, 2016.
Related Article Rights groups call for probe into protesters' deaths in Cameroon
There are several edited versions of the video. One of them, which CNN has seen, is just over two minutes long and does not show the women and children being executed.
A group of men, some of them wearing army uniforms and carrying guns, are seen abusing the women and another man, who is filming, is providing commentary about them.
One of the men slaps a woman who is walking with a young girl next to her and is heard saying in French, 'BH. you are going to die."
Behind her is another woman with a baby on her back. The women are led to a side road near a dirt track, all are blindfolded, apart from the baby, and shot, according to Amnesty researchers.
BH is thought to refer to the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, which has waged a brutal decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria.
Men being interrogated by gendarmes at an unidentified location in Cameroon
PHOTO: Amnesty International
Related Article Cameroon security forces torturing English speakers, Amnesty says
This latest incident follows an Amnesty International report in June stating that English speakers in the country were being targeted by both the Cameroonian military and armed Anglophone separatists in waves of violence that Amnesty described as "unlawful, excessive and unnecessary."
Speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, one man living in Cameroon told CNN: "It is a very sad time for us… An issue, which started with people holding peace branches, has now spiraled into outright war…with gun battles becoming part of everyday life for many in these regions.
"It is terrible, and I can assure you that the way things are going, we are not in for a resolution any time soon," he added.
The US Africa Command, which oversees US troops on the continent including the hundreds of American advisers working with Cameroonian soldiers, said it was aware of the execution video.
However, spokesman Major Karl Wiest said: "At this time, we cannot confirm the authenticity, nor can we confirm any possible military affiliation of those shown in this troubling video."
CNN's Robyn Kriel and Ryan Browne contributed to this report.


Hi all... it's been AGES since I last commented on here. I have been SOOOOOOO busy with work! I know this is naughty and KT you can slap my hand but I just wanted to share this Crowd Funding I am hoping will change my life! This is a vision I have had for a few years and I finally thought - GO FOR IT! you never know!
So - sorry for the ad, but please at least have a read!
Born in Wales - Currently pillaging the Neighbours!


text:
by éleos ministry | Aug 21, 2019 | Newsletters
The first half of 2019 has been an exciting season for Éleos, one that's challenged our faith and given us breathtaking glimpses of the future. Thank you for your faithful support and continual encouragement!
In this edition of the Éleos Newsletter, you'll find:
Graduate Spotlight
Eleos Staff Profile
"This is Home" Fundraiser Update
If it seems like most Eleos programs focus on working with students in our community, well…that's because they do. We believe that if a community is going to thrive, its most effective leaders will be those who come from the neighborhood itself. We also know that graduating from high school is an impressive accomplishment that has the potential to open doors for a brighter future. If we can play even a small part in helping students from our community complete their high school education, we consider that a success worth celebrating.
Over the past three years, hundreds of students have been a part of Eleos through a variety of programs. Some joined us for Open Gym and Q&A sessions on Tuesday nights. Others took part in our tutoring program. Some even developed leadership skills through their involvement with the LEAD Project. While our team of staff and volunteers considers it a privilege to build relationships with every student, we want to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on our 2019 graduates. We are so proud of each of them and excited to see all they will accomplish in the years to come!
Presenting: The Éleos Class of 2019
Simone Griffin
Wade Hampton High School
Courtney Evans
James F. Byrnes High School
Kemarzay Choice
JL Mann High School
Christian Holland
South Carolina Whitmore School
Niderrius Byrd
Congratulations, graduates! We're so proud of you!
Meet Mikey Hayes, Éleos Outreach Director
C.S. Lewis once said, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." And you know what? He's exactly right. Shared experiences are the heart of every strong relationship. In most cases, those experiences happen after you meet somebody for the first time. But every once in a while, you cross paths with someone whose past is similar to yours and friendship feels natural, like you've known them your whole life. Those relationships are special. And they're the kind our new Outreach Director, Mikey Hayes, is hoping to build with students in our neighborhood.
We love having Mikey on the Éleos team, and after you learn a little more about his story and his heart for students, we think you'll see why!
Q&A with Mikey
How did you first get involved with Éleos?
I first learned about Éleos through Cam Hill. He mentored me when I was a middle and high school student at GOAT (Great Outdoor Adventure Trips), another discipleship-based nonprofit in Greenville. After a couple of years, Cam told me that he was starting a program similar to GOAT, but it would be focused on basketball instead of outdoor trips. I jumped in right away and started leading teams at the Phillis Wheatly Community Center, but before I knew it, I had to hang up my basketball shoes because of some pretty serious family issues. But thankfully, the story didn't stop there.
Fast forward two more years and I'm attending North Greenville University, working a part-time job, and tutoring students at Éleos. It didn't take long for me to realize there was no way I could do all of these things. I decided to step back from the tutoring program simply because my job was my only way to earn an income. But I think it's safe to say that God had a different plan. Cam mentioned to me that he was creating a paid role for someone to run, grow, and create new programs at Éleos, and he wanted that someone to be me. So, I quit my part-time job and accepted the position of Outreach Director.
What drew you to the role of Outreach Director?
More than anything else, the thing that drew me to this role was the opportunity to further take advantage of a time where I had the ability to love and serve students who are currently in a situation similar to the one I grew up in. The thing that drew me to coming on staff at Éleos is the opportunity to interact with those students and somehow be a part of their lives, in the hopes of somehow making a difference.
What are the unique qualities that you bring to the role?
I grew up in a similar situation as most of these students, which gives me a unique perspective. This natural understanding allows me to have increased patience, a better ability to interact and start conversations, and a stronger desire to see these students achieve their goals. In short, I lived a similar life to these students which allows me to understand where they're coming from and why they do what they do. My experiences also give me a real-life perspective on how God can help you through even the toughest challenges.
What makes a mentoring program successful?
I think a mentoring program is successful when a relationship between a mentor and a mentee can grow regardless of the activities that they do. A successful mentoring program can look like students and mentors growing and learning from each other while playing basketball, drinking coffee, or even doing homework. The hallmark of a successful mentoring program is students and mentors learning and growing through their relationship no matter the setting.
When a student signs up for the Éleos mentoring program, what should they expect?
We're trying to show these students that we love them for who they are. We're trying to empower them to achieve goals and pursue opportunities they may not have known about before. Students should expect to feel loved no matter how many referrals they've gotten, how many fights they've been in, what their grades are, what their living situation may be, or what their family life looks like. Whatever their situation, students who become a part of an Éleos program can expect to feel loved unconditionally, because that's how Jesus calls us to love each other.
Anything else you'd like to add before we wrap up?
I would love to thank everyone for supporting Éleos and its endeavors. There's no way we could offer these programs or be involved in these student's lives without the amazing support of our generous partners. With everything I have, thank you!
(Spoiler Alert: We bought a building!)
As many of you know, Éleos was given the opportunity to purchase the building that houses the Co-Op, our coworking/after-school tutoring center. With your help and God's blessing, we were able to raise enough money to finalize the purchase in less than two months!
In the update below, our founder, Cam Hill, shares the incredible story of how God used this wildly unexpected fundraising campaign to expand our vision of what He can do through the generosity of His people!
I'll start this update by being completely honest. There was a time in the middle of this fundraising process where I thought I would be sending a very different update. I remember one night near the end of May when I told Joy that I thought I would need to contact all of our generous donors and let them know we were going to need to return their gifts for several reasons: we hadn't reached our goal, the financing terms weren't as favorable as we had hoped, and the lease agreements weren't as good as we thought they would be. I thought we were going to throw in the proverbial towel. I wrestled with the Lord about it, and finally gave in. I was days away from typing that discouraging email, first to our directors and then to our donors.
But then, over the next three days, the Lord graciously provided $30,000. Those unexpected donations took us from $130,000 to $160,000 in funds raised. I felt that was the Lord nudging us a little further down the field. "Keep going," he seemed to be saying. Then, about 48 hours later, around 8 PM, I received a call from a local church elder. I thought it was odd to get a call from him so late, so I answered to make sure everything was okay. (He and I are pastors at separate churches, but we've worked together on some pretty heavy counseling scenarios. In our world, late night phone calls from other pastors are rarely a good thing.) After answering, I noticed that he sounded chipper. I breathed a sigh of relief.
He got right to the point and let me know he was recently at an elder meeting where he heard that Eleos needed some money. I shared with him that we had raised $160,000 so far, but we probably needed at least $200,000 to secure financing that we could afford. Without hesitating, he responded, "Well that's great because we'd like to give you $40,000!"
My jaw literally dropped as I tried to find the words to convey my gratitude. As I searched for something that would stretch beyond a "thank you" and an "I don't know what to say," their entire team of elders spent time praying for the ministry of Eleos right there over the phone. It was a truly holy moment—and it wouldn't be the last.
Not even 24 hours after that encouraging call, my phone rang again. This time it was the building owner. He shared with me that he and his wife were moved by the ministry of Eleos, and they wanted to offer private financing for the building purchase. But there was one condition: he needed us to raise $200,000. Can you believe that? We had secured that exact amount, unexpectedly, not even 24 hours earlier! Within two weeks of that conversation, we officially closed on the building.
God is good, amiright?
I share these incredible details for a specific reason. I want each of you to believe down in your bones that you're a part of something so much bigger than yourself. Every time you show up to tutor, mentor, or shoot hoops, you're not doing it alone. You are partnering with the almighty God who has the power to do so much more than raise $200,000! He has the power to change the eternal trajectory of the lives of the students and families we serve.
In any ministry, there are times when the mission seems too big and our efforts feel too small. I know that feeling well. In those moments, we need to remember whose mission this is, whose name we minister under, and who stands by our side. I believe with all my heart that we are faithfully walking the path that God has set before us. May this season of miracles be a reminder during seasons of drought. And may the God of past victories and future hope continue to lead us in the years ahead.
Purchasing the Co-Op has allowed us to call Nicholtown home for years to come. But may we never forget our heavenly home and our mission to pursue those heavenly realities here in the neighborhood. Thank you for being an essential part of the amazing work God is doing right here in our community! Let's keep going!
Cam & Joy
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."


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DDA - Document Deposit Assistant
Gebert, Dr. Agathe +49 (0221) 47694-218 agathe•gebert[at]gesis•org
Dr. Agathe Gebert
Bibliothek und Open Access
Hübbers, Dipl.-Ing. Gerrit +49 (0221) 47694-231 gerrit•huebbers[at]gesis•org
Dipl.-Ing. Gerrit Hübbers
Document Deposit Assistant
Team: Gerrit Hübbers
Leader: Dr. Philipp Schaer, Dr. Agathe Gebert
Scientific unit: Computational Social Science (CSS)
Aim: Due to missing web-interfaces and the insufficient interoperability of databases and metadata formats the inclusion of full texts and metadata into repositories is a challenge - especially for me-dium-sized publishers, research units and editors. The project DDA aims to establish a self-deposit-platform for open access full-texts and metadata in order to reduce labor-intensive manual integration of these into the repositories. As such the DDA works as a broker between the content-providers and repositories similar to the EU-financed PEER-depot within the PEER-project. Unlike the PEER-project the DDA aims to establish a sustainable deposit-infrastructure and especially addresses small publishers and partners.
Approach: In order to import and index larger quantities of documents that cannot sensibly be integrated by individual self-upload we plan to establish and run an interactive self-deposit-portal which allows automated integration of different data formats. The DDA consists of two compo-nents: (1) a web-platform with an interactive questionnaire-based assistant (online wizard) to find out about the systems/databases used by the content-provider and guide him to the possible ways of delivering his data and (2) an upload platform and a converter to import and publish the data in the repositories.
Results: With its described functionality DDA is a fundamental piece of the open-access-transformation as it helps the content provider to import full texts and metadata en bloc into the repositories. This means that yet hidden content of publishers, journals and research units can be made freely available in the web – as well as research output on the basis of the right of secondary publishing. The latter type would be gathered by the institutional libraries and then delivered into a repository. Barriers to open access like work intensive single uploads and the unawareness on behalf of the content-provider of their own technical possibilities will be reduced. Whereas before these barriers could only be handled through intensive counseling and manual converting the DDA will automate these procedures. This will enable partners to act independently and contribute to the self-service philosophy favored by repository managers.
1.7.2015 – 30.9.2017
Deutsches Institut für Internationale Pädagogische Forschung (DIPF)
Informationszentrum Bildung Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft (ZBW)
German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB)
W. Bertelsmann Verlag
Verlag Barbara Budrich


The three-year term will commence following the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting in August 2019. Holmes's Governors seat is designated for diversity, specifically LGBT, marking the first time the ABA has highlighted this area on its Board.
"Jim is such a valuable member of Clyde & Co so we are thrilled that he has been recognized as a leader by the ABA. His position on the Board shows his dedication to the legal community as a whole," said Bill Casey, Partner and Chair of the North American Board at Clyde & Co.
At Clyde & Co, Holmes represents major media and entertainment entities, as well as major insurance carriers insuring them. He defends clients in a variety of intellectual property matters, including trademark, trade dress, trade secrets and copyright infringement, misrepresentation of likeness, unfair competition and breach of contract actions. He works with clients on the defense of claims brought against their marketing practices, including advertising (broadcast and print media), and internet marketing (websites and social media). Holmes also advises clients on cyber liability issues, including the implications and coverage for data and privacy breaches.
He is very involved in the legal community and has received numerous recognitions for his service, including the 2016 Benjamin Aranda Outstanding Public Service Award from the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Holmes was also awarded the Access Award for pro bono service from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities, and he received commendation for his work as a temporary judge for Los Angeles Superior Court. He received the 2010−2011 Public Service Honor Roll Award from the American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Law in Public Service Committee (LIPS).
Holmes is a long-time and fearless advocate for diversity and LGBT rights and has served in numerous prominent bar and civic leadership roles. Whether in the courtroom or in the community, he is a winning emissary for those he represents.


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Stephen M. Walt: What's Really at Stake in the Iranian Nuclear Deal What's Really at Stake in the...
What's Really at Stake in the Iranian Nuclear Deal
The interim nuclear deal with Iran is an important step forward, and the various negotiating teams can be justly proud of their achievement. Far be it from me to be a killjoy at this rare moment of progress, but let's not lose our heads amid all the high-fiving and back-patting. Why? Because Iran's nuclear program ...
Photo: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images
The interim nuclear deal with Iran is an important step forward, and the various negotiating teams can be justly proud of their achievement. Far be it from me to be a killjoy at this rare moment of progress, but let's not lose our heads amid all the high-fiving and back-patting. Why? Because Iran's nuclear program is not in fact the real issue. The more important issues are Iran's future relations with the outside world and whether the deal paves the way for reintegrating that country into the world economy and the broader international community.
There is something of a paradox in the ways that opponents and supporters of a deal approach the whole subject of Iran's nuclear program and the country's broader relations with the United States and other major powers. Opponents of a deal tend to believe that 1) Iran is governed by irrational and highly aggressive Shiite fanatics; 2) it is hellbent on getting a nuclear weapons capability; and 3) if Iran does get the bomb, it will have dramatic and overwhelmingly negative consequences for regional stability and world politics more generally. Given those (unwarranted) beliefs, you'd think hawks would be thrilled with this deal, insofar as it freezes Iran's current capabilities, will reduce the stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium (i.e., the stuff that could be enriched to weapons grade fairly quickly), and leaves all the truly significant sanctions in place. If the nuclear program is your big concern, then this is a great first step and a more far-reaching comprehensive deal would be even better. (The alternatives -- an unconstrained Iranian program or another Middle East war -- are clearly inferior.)
By contrast, many who support the current deal believe that 1) Iran's leaders are rational individuals seeking to advance Iran's national interests; 2) Iran has not yet decided to seek a nuclear weapon and probably prefers a condition of nuclear latency to a fully developed nuclear arsenal; and 3) getting the bomb wouldn't transform Iran into a major world power overnight and certainly wouldn't enable it to threaten Israel or blackmail its neighbors. If this view is accurate, then a final deal on Iran's nuclear program -- i.e., one that scales back those elements that shorten the breakout period but leaves Iran with some enrichment capacity -- isn't that significant by itself, because Iran wasn't really seeking a weapon anyway and its getting a few bombs wouldn't have that big an impact on world politics.
The interim nuclear deal with Iran is an important step forward, and the various negotiating teams can be justly proud of their achievement. Far be it from me to be a killjoy at this rare moment of progress, but let's not lose our heads amid all the high-fiving and back-patting. Why? Because Iran's nuclear program is not in fact the real issue. The more important issues are Iran's future relations with the outside world and whether the deal paves the way for reintegrating that country into the world economy and the broader international community.
There is something of a paradox in the ways that opponents and supporters of a deal approach the whole subject of Iran's nuclear program and the country's broader relations with the United States and other major powers. Opponents of a deal tend to believe that 1) Iran is governed by irrational and highly aggressive Shiite fanatics; 2) it is hellbent on getting a nuclear weapons capability; and 3) if Iran does get the bomb, it will have dramatic and overwhelmingly negative consequences for regional stability and world politics more generally. Given those (unwarranted) beliefs, you'd think hawks would be thrilled with this deal, insofar as it freezes Iran's current capabilities, will reduce the stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium (i.e., the stuff that could be enriched to weapons grade fairly quickly), and leaves all the truly significant sanctions in place. If the nuclear program is your big concern, then this is a great first step and a more far-reaching comprehensive deal would be even better. (The alternatives — an unconstrained Iranian program or another Middle East war — are clearly inferior.)
By contrast, many who support the current deal believe that 1) Iran's leaders are rational individuals seeking to advance Iran's national interests; 2) Iran has not yet decided to seek a nuclear weapon and probably prefers a condition of nuclear latency to a fully developed nuclear arsenal; and 3) getting the bomb wouldn't transform Iran into a major world power overnight and certainly wouldn't enable it to threaten Israel or blackmail its neighbors. If this view is accurate, then a final deal on Iran's nuclear program — i.e., one that scales back those elements that shorten the breakout period but leaves Iran with some enrichment capacity — isn't that significant by itself, because Iran wasn't really seeking a weapon anyway and its getting a few bombs wouldn't have that big an impact on world politics.
Thus, the paradox: Many supporters of a diplomatic deal don't believe the danger of a "nuclear Iran" is all that momentous, while opponents of the current deal think Iran's nuclear program poses a grave and imminent threat. One would think the former would be more relaxed about recent progress, while the latter would be more enthusiastic. But that isn't the case: Those with a moderate view of the nuclear danger are much happier with the deal than those who (logically) ought to be more interested in anything that constrains what Iran is able to do.
In fact, the real issue isn't whether Iran gets close to a bomb; the real issue is the long-term balance of power in the Persian Gulf and Middle East. Iran has far more power potential than any of the other states in the region: a larger population, a fairly sophisticated and well-educated middle class, some good universities, and abundant oil and gas to boost economic growth (if used wisely). If Iran ever escapes the shackles of international sanctions and puts some competent people in charge of its economy, it's going to loom much larger in regional affairs over time. That prospect is what really lies behind the Israeli and Saudi concerns about the nuclear deal. Israel and Saudi Arabia don't think Iran is going to get up one day and start lobbing warheads at its neighbors, and they probably don't even believe that Iran would ever try the pointless act of nuclear blackmail. No, they're just worried that a powerful Iran would over time exert greater influence in the region, in all the ways that major powers do. From the perspective of Tel Aviv and Riyadh, the goal is to try to keep Iran in a box for as long as possible — isolated, friendless, and artificially weakened.
But from the U.S. perspective, that's neither a realistic nor a desirable long-term goal. As I laid out last week, America's main strategic interest in the Greater Middle East is a balance of power in which no single state dominates. In such a situation, U.S. interests and leverage are best served by having good relations with as many states as possible and at least decent working relations with all of them. America's long-term interests are best served by helping reintegrate Iran into the global community, which is likely to strengthen the hand of moderate forces there and make Iran less disruptive in other contexts (e.g., Lebanon). Managing this process will require reassuring existing allies, but this development would also force current allies to listen to Washington a bit more attentively, which wouldn't be a bad thing.
Over the next six months, the fine details of a long-term nuclear deal will receive enormous attention and debate. Given the attention that Iran's nuclear program has received over the past decade or more, that level of scrutiny is unavoidable. But in the end the nuclear issue doesn't matter that much; what matters is whether an agreement on that issue will allow relations between Iran and the United States and the rest of the P5+1 to normalize in the months and years ahead. And it is that development that opponents of an agreement will be desperate to prevent.
Tags: Barack Obama, Foreign & Public Diplomacy, Iran, Israel, Middle East and North Africa, Military, Nuclear Weapons, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Theory, U.S. Congress, U.S. Foreign Policy
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Internet, Networking, & Security Antivirus
135 people found this article helpful
Rainbow Tables: Your Password's Worst Nightmare
Andy O'Donnell
Andy O'Donnell, MA, is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a senior security engineer who is active in internet and network security.
Social Media Scams
Phone & Texting Scams
While you might think of Rainbow Tables as eclectic colorful furniture, those aren't the ones we are going to discuss. The Rainbow Tables that we are talking about are used to crack passwords and are yet another tool in the hacker's ever-growing arsenal.
What are "Rainbow Tables"? How could something with such a cute and cuddly name be so harmful?
The Basic Concept Behind Rainbow Tables
We're a bad guy who has just plugged a thumb drive into a server or workstation, rebooted it, and ran a program that copies the security database file containing usernames and passwords to our thumb drive.
The passwords in the file are encrypted so we can't read them. We'll have to crack the passwords in the file (or at least the administrator password) so that we can use them to access the system.
What are the options for cracking passwords? We can try and use a brute-force password cracking program such as John the Ripper, which pounds away at the password file, trying to iteratively guess every possible combination of a password. The second option is to load a password cracking dictionary containing hundreds of thousands of commonly used passwords and see if it gets any hits. These methods can take weeks, months, or even years if the passwords are strong enough.
Zmeel/Getty Images
When a password is "tried" against a system it is "hashed" using encryption so that the actual password is never sent in clear text across the communications line. This prevents eavesdroppers from intercepting the password. The hash of a password usually looks like a bunch of garbage and is typically a different length than the original password. Your password might be shitzu but the hash of your password would look something like 7378347eedbfdd761619451949225ec1.
To verify a user, a system takes the hash value created by the password hashing function on the client computer and compares it to the hash value stored in a table on the server. If the hashes match, then the user is authenticated and granted access.
Hashing a password is a 1-way function, meaning that you can't decrypt the hash to see what the clear text of the password is. There is no key to decrypt the hash once it is created. There is no "decoder ring" if you will.
Password cracking programs work in a similar way to the login process. The cracking program starts by taking plaintext passwords, running them through a hash algorithm, such as MD5, and then compares the hash output with the hashes in the stolen password file. If it finds a match then the program has cracked the password. As we said before, this process can take a very long time.
Enter the Rainbow Tables
Rainbow Tables are basically huge sets of precomputed tables filled with hash values that are pre-matched to possible plaintext passwords. The Rainbow Tables essentially allow hackers to reverse the hashing function to determine what the plaintext password might be. It's possible for two different passwords to result in the same hash so it's not important to find out what the original password was, just as long as it has the same hash. The plaintext password may not even be the same password that was created by the user, but as long as the hash is matched, then it doesn't matter what the original password was.
The use of Rainbow Tables allow for passwords to be cracked in a very short amount of time compared with brute-force methods, however, the trade-off is that it takes a lot of storage (sometimes terabytes in size) to hold the Rainbow Tables themselves, Storage these days is plentiful and cheap so this trade-off isn't as big a deal as it was a decade ago when terabyte drives weren't something that you could pick up at the local Best Buy.
Hackers can purchase precomputed Rainbow Tables for cracking passwords of vulnerable operating systems such as Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, and applications using MD5 and SHA1 as their password hashing mechanism (many web application developers still use these hashing algorithms).
How to Protect Yourself Against Rainbow Tables-Based Password Attacks
We wish there were better advice on this one for everybody. We would like to say that a stronger password would help, but this is not really true because it's not the weakness of the password that's the problem, it's the weakness associated with the hashing function being used to encrypt a password.
The best advice we can give users is to stay away from web applications that restrict your password length to a short number of characters. This is a clear sign of vulnerable old-school password authentication routines. Extended password length and complexity may help a bit, but is not a guaranteed form of protection. The longer your password is, the larger the Rainbow Tables would have to be to crack it, but a hacker with a lot of resources can still accomplish this.
Our advice on how to defend against Rainbow Tables is really meant for application developers and system administrators. They are on the front lines when it comes to protecting users against this type of attack.
Here are some developer tips on defending against Rainbow Table attacks:
Don't use MD5 or SHA1 in your password hashing function. MD5 and SHA1 are outdated password hashing algorithms and most rainbow tables used to crack passwords are built to target applications and systems using these hashing methods. Consider using more modern hashing methods like SHA2.
Use a cryptographic "Salt" in your password hashing routine. Adding a cryptographic Salt to your password hashing function will help defend against the use of Rainbow Tables used to crack passwords in your application. To see some coding examples of how to use a cryptographic salt to help "Rainbow-Proof" your application please check out the WebMasters By Design site which has a great article on the topic.
Cryptographic Hash Function
TrueCrypt v7.1a
What Is MD5? (MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm)
How to Verify File Integrity in Windows With FCIV
What Is SHA-1 and How Is It Used for Data Verification?
COMODO Disk Encryption v1.2
What Is a Checksum?
What Is a RAR File?
What Is WPA3 Wi-Fi?
How the Heck Did They Crack My Password?
How to Stop People From Using Your Wi-Fi
What Is Network Encryption?
How to Secure Your Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
What Is a Document Open Password?
3 Best Free Full Disk Encryption Programs