text:
Southgate Newsreel
Standard 8mm film Colour Sound 1958-59 16:22
Subcollection: Planet Amateur Film Society Collection
Category: Amateur Newsreel
Theme: Agriculture Transport Celebration (event)
Locations: EnfieldBroomfield Park
Summary: Lord Mayor of London sets the foundation stone for a school; new Diesel trains for Palmers Green; school centenary celebrations; scented garden for the blind; Southgate Horticultural Society Show Fete Gymkhana
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Title number: 1470
LSA ID: LSA/1962
Description: Opening shot shows the Southgate coat of arms with motto ('Ex Glande Quercus') and the words 'Southgate Newsreel'. Music plays and the film is narrated by George Fletcher. The first section: an intertitle reads 'Lord Mayor at Oakwood'. It is a rainy day, men are digging and a large number of women walk across boards set out across a muddy field. A marching band led by a goat goes past. The occasion is the laying of the foundation stone for the new Southgate County Grammar School. A large crowd is assembled under and around a large marquee. A very large black/dark red car (a Bentley?) with the numberplate MX1 pulls up in the mud, a policeman standing by. Two elderly men exit the car. Many other local and county dignitaries then exit other cars. An alderman wears a large tricorne hat and carries a large ceremonial mace. The Mayor of Southgate, Ruth Winston, is amongst them - she wears a red cape, livery chain and black tricorne hat. Also present are the Lord Leftenant of the County of Middlesex, who wears military uniform and a pith helmet with plumes. The guest of honour is the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Harold Gillett. The chairman of the Middlesex County Council is also present. The military band plays as the rain still pours and the dignitaries take their seats. The school chaplain dedicates the stone, which is then set by the Lord Mayor of London. The crowd in the rain wears yellow raincoats and carries umbrellas. The mayor makes a speech.
Next, an intertitle reads 'Diesel Railcars for Palmers Green'. Music continues to play as a red London bus drives down a high street followed by a black cab. The bus carries adverts for BP and Crawford's Cream Crackers. The narrator tells us that this is a rail replacement service in Wades Hill as it goes round a suburban roundabout. Another bus pulls up outside a rail station with an advert for Heinz Baked Beans on the side. The bus is a shuttle service between Palmers Green and Hertford North stations. A man in a brown overcoat and a cap seems to direct the passengers. Sections of the old railway are being replaced to accommodate the new and faster Diesel trains. A sign for Palmers Green and Southgate is shown (above a smaller sign that reads 'Passengers cross the line by the footbridge only'). A shot inside Palmers Green station shows one of the new Diesel trains pulling up, then a shot from the front of the train and inside the driver's cabin, followed by a shot through the window. The narrator tells us the new trains are faster, more comfortable and cleaner. The train stops in Hertford North and the windows are cleaned. More shots of the interior of the train, which seems very spacious. The train goes through a tunnel and we see close-ups of the driver's controls. We return to Palmers Green station (indicated by a sign). An advertising hoarding for train excursions is seen, with prices for trains to Colchester, Ipswich and Cardiff. A child (wearing a coat, it seems to be winter) on the platform points as the train pulls out the station.
Next intertitle: 'A Hundred Years'. It is now summer, and we see a large number of children in Grovelands Park in the sunshine. They are all in fancy dress in milkmaid-type dresses with Regency-style bonnets; the boys wear frilly shirts and cravats. The adults are dressed more typically of the late 1950's, the women in floral sleeveless dresses and the men in short-sleeved shirts. These are the celebrations for St. Paul's School in Winchmore Hill, celebrating its centenary (1859-1959). The children line up as the mayor and mayoress arrive to present prizes (the mayor now is William Victor Pearce, he wears a suit with a livery chain; his wife wears a blue dress suit). A girl carries flowers and presents them to the mayor; other girls in frilly dresses sit in the sun. Adults stand behind with bunting in the background. A man in suit introduces the mayor, who gives a speech. Now the children dance in formation, a sort of line-dancing.
Next intertitle: 'Scented Garden for the Blind'. The mayor and his wife walk into a public garden on a summer's day (they seem to be wearing the same clothes as in the previous section). A large number of blind people, mostly with sunglasses and white canes, are seated. The garden is specifically designed for the blind so that flowers can be located and identified by their smell. The mayor gives a speech, then leads a blind man around the garden. A rail around the garden has brail markings to help the blind people identify the flowers. The blind people sit down to have tea and cakes. Last shot is of a cane on the grass.
Next intertitle: 'Southgate Horticultural Society Show Fete Gymkhana'. A large fete in Broomfield Park has tents and a carousel, and a miniature car ride for children. This is the 15th Annual Pony Show and Gymkhana. A small girl in smart equestrian gear and riding helmet sits atop a pony. The Floral Queen, 18-year-old Miss Janice Oakley, walks onto a stage holding a bouquet; she wears a smart white dress with white pumps and is flanked by two girls in blue dresses, who wear white flowers in their hair. Spectators sit in deck chairs. The mayoress, in an A-line floral blue dress, presents the Floral Queen with a tiara. The three girls are then driven around in the back of an open-top white car. We now see horses with riders jumping obstacles. Mrs Bedwell presents the cup for best pony of the show, to Miss Haycock with Red Devil. The more serious part of the competition on the jumping course now starts. We see the horses with riders jumping over various obstacles with the crowd in deck chairs still watching. One horse is ridden by a man in military uniform. Next, a dog show and children with dogs, followed by the children's talent competition: a child tap dances. Next: the fancy-dress ride. Costumes include a phantom horse and rider (man dressed as a skeleton); pearly king; belly dancer; Wind in the Willows; and Little Miss Muffet (a small girl on a pony with a big fake spider). The film ends with the Southgate coat of arms and THE END with Southgate Tube station in the background. The final title reads 'Southgate Newsreel is a Planet Film Society Production', with a high street in the background.
Cast: Sir Harold Gillett, Lord Mayor of London; Ruth Winston, Mayor of Southgate; William Victor Pearce, Mayor of Southgate
Keywords: Mayor; train; fete; horse show
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Enfield; Southgate; Plamers Green; Hertford North; Winchmore Hill; Bush Hill Park; Grovelands Park; Broomfield Park
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text:
Dark Witch and Creamy
Bewitched by Chocolate Mystery series By H.Y. Hanna
IN THE March 18 ISSUE
Our bewitching story begins with Caitlyn Le Fey sitting with her cousin, Pamona, savoring her tea and scones and pondering the somewhat shocking revelations of her birth. Her mother recently died in a tragic accident, and surrounded by her mother's lawyers she was handed a letter—a letter that announced she was adopted, well, it turns out she was really found abandoned on the side of the road near a little Cotswold village called Tillyhenge with an unusual runestone around her neck.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Upcoming album release: "The Past". The album features 7 space ambient tracks from Nimanty's early years as space ambient composer. Tracks included are Elianon+, Mun S Nal and Mognihado.
Available from August 9 on all major online music stores .


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Q: Filter with VueJS I am very new with VueJS so my question is very simple. I cannot use vue filter. Please help me fix the problem.
My html file is shown as followed. When I try this code the item in v-for can't be shown and also the it has error Failed to resolve filter: uppercase.
Can any one tell me why?

{{item.id}}

        {{message | uppercase}}

A: If you are using vuejs2, with vuejs2 uppercase filter has been removed. You will have to use toUpperCase() for this, like following:
{{message.toUpperCase()}}

see demo.
Similarly orderBy filter also has been removed, vuejs2 suggests to use  lodash's orderBy (or possibly sortBy) in a computed property:
HTML

{{ item.name }}

vue
computed: {
  orderedList: function () {
    return _.orderBy(this.list, 'level')
  }
}

Here is demo with orderBy.

A: You can use a computed property.
Markup:

{{ item.id }}

     {{ message }}

Definition inside of Vue:
data(){
    sortKey : 'level'
},
computed : {
    orderedList(){ return this.list.sort(this.sorter) }
},
methods : {
    sorter(a,b){ return a[this.sortKey] > b[this.sortKey] }
}

And then you can change order of the elements in orderedList by modifying sortKey (using v-model="sortKey" to any kind of input, like <select></select> or any other way).
Here is an example based on your code

And what about uppercase, I prefer to control a view with css, and text-transform property can solve this: .pan__title { text-transform: uppercase; }. But you can define a computed property for this one too or keep it inline with {{ message.toUpperCase() }}.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Benzyl acrylate's (BZA) high refractive index (1.514) provides optical control in water and impact resistant coatings. The benzyl ring disperses pigments or other aromatic molecules for ink applications. Less frequently, it is a precursor in synthesis via transesterification.
Koike, Y., Ishigure, T. & Nihei, E. High-bandwidth graded-index polymer optical fiber. J. Lightwave Tech. 13, 1475–1489 (1995).


text:
Q: Ошибка при установке Android Studio Добрый день! Подскажите!
При открытии Setup wizard выскакивает сообщение:

The following SDK components were not
installed: build-tools-21.1.1,
source-21,sys-img-x86-addon-google_apis-google-21,
extra-android-m2repository,
android-21, extra-google-m2repository,
addon-google_apis-google-21, tools,
platform-tools          Retry   Cancel

A: *

*Пользователь с правами администратора?
Попробуйте запустить как админ.

*В имени пользователя есть кириллица?
Если есть, выберите другую папку для установки SDK (весь путь латиницей).

*Попробуйте установить SDK и Studio по отдельности.


text:
Smalls v. Faneuff
VICTOR SMALLS, Petitioner,
WILLIAM FANEUFF, Warden, and DERRICK MOLDEN, Deputy Warden, Respondents.
RULING ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CHARLES S. HAIGHT, JR. SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Pro se petitioner Victor Smalls ("Smalls"), a prisoner currently confined at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center ("Corrigan") in Uncasville, Connecticut, has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his 2009 state court conviction for murder under Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-54a.[1] Doc. 1 ("Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus"). The respondents, Warden William Faneuff and Deputy Warden Derrick Molden, opposing the petition, argue that (1) the Petitioner has failed to exhaust his state court remedies, and (2) the state appellate court decisions affirming the judgment of conviction were based on a reasonable application of clearly established federal law. Doc. 12 ("Response to Order to Show Cause"). Smalls filed a reply objecting to that response. Doc. 13 ("Petitioner's Traverse to Order to Show Cause" or "Reply"). By this Ruling, the Court resolves the Petitioner's request for habeas relief.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On March 17, 2009, Smalls was convicted after a jury trial on two criminal charges: murder, in violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-54a, and carrying a pistol without a permit, in violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35(a). Doc. 1, at 3; see also State v. Smalls, 136 Conn.App. 197, 202 (2012) (Doc.12-1).
The Connecticut Appellate Court summarized the underlying facts of the case as follows:
On the afternoon of March 22, 2007, Colonel Francis, James Gibson and the victim [Edgar Sanchez] drove to the vicinity of the Monterey Village housing project, which also is known as the Carlton Court housing project (apartment complex), in Norwalk. They parked their vehicle near the apartment complex, and Gibson went to sell narcotics, while the victim and Francis went to a nearby diner to wait for Gibson. When Gibson arrived at the diner, he told Francis and the victim that he thought something was going on outside and that they should leave the area. As they were walking back to their vehicle, Gibson noticed two hooded and masked individuals, later identified as Jimmy Kave and [Victor Smalls], following them, and he told the victim and Francis to walk faster. One of the hooded and masked individuals called out to the men, and Francis looked back and saw one of the men reach toward his waistline. Believing that the man was about to pull out a gun, Francis turned and ran toward the vehicle. The victim turned around to face the hooded and masked men, and [Smalls] and Kave both fired several shots at the victim, one of which hit him, causing his death. Gibson turned and saw both [Smalls] and Kave firing handguns. [Smalls] and Kave fled the scene after firing the shots. Francis heard the gunshots and then heard Gibson yelling for him to get the car. Francis got the car and parked it near the victim, who was located at or near the entrance to the apartment complex on Grove Street, and he and Francis attempted to get the victim into the car, but the victim collapsed. Gibson applied pressure to the victim's wound, while he and Francis waited for the police and an ambulance to arrive.
Moments earlier, a resident of the apartment complex, Tracie McElveen (T. McElveen), along with her twin sister, Stacie McElveen (S. McElveen), drove down Grove Street, where they saw three males walking toward the apartment complex, and drove into the parking area of the apartment complex shortly before they heard gunfire. They then saw two males wearing hoodies run from Grove Street and between buildings twelve and thirteen of the apartment complex, with their hoods clenched tight around their faces. T. McElveen then saw the men run into building thirteen of the apartment complex. As the McElveens drove away from the apartment complex, they saw the victim lying on his back, with blood all over him, and they stopped their car. T. McElveen recognized the injured male as one of the three males she and her sister had seen walking toward the apartment complex a short time before. The other two males they had seen were nearby, and one of them asked for someone to call 911. S. McElveen then called 911 using her cell phone. The McElveens remained at the scene and spoke with the police once they arrived at the scene.
A maintenance worker at the apartment complex, Temestocles Sanchez (T. Sanchez), had been repairing a hole in the wall in building thirteen when he heard the gunshots. After hearing the gunshots, he looked out of the window and saw [Smalls] and Kave run into the building less than a minute after he heard the shots. T. Sanchez recognized [Smalls], and he also saw that the other individual had a partially exposed gun in his hoodie. [Smalls] and Kave began knocking on apartment doors. T. Sanchez went to report the incident to his supervisor, and they telephoned the police. [Smalls] and Kave gained entry into apartment 151, and they began talking with its occupants, Erica Sawyer and her cousin, Crystal Burden. Burden, Burden's mother, Maribel Rodriguez, and Burden's younger sister all lived in apartment 151. Once Burden's mother left for work and Burden's younger sister left for school in the morning, Burden and Sawyer were the only people in apartment 151 until [Smalls] and Kave arrived. Burden and Sawyer had not left the apartment all day. After [Smalls] and Kave arrived, they each removed their sneakers and their hoodies. Burden told [Smalls] and Kave to leave, but they remained. The police arrived at the scene and surrounded building thirteen; no one entered or exited the building, except for the police. The police obtained a master key from the manager of the apartment complex, secured the approval of the apartment residents and began knocking on doors looking for [Smalls] and Kave. Upon entering apartment 151, the police ordered its occupants to come out, and Sawyer and Burden exited a bedroom. An officer again ordered anyone else in the apartment to come out. [Smalls] and Kave came out of the bedroom from which Burden and Sawyer also exited. No. one else was found in the apartment. The renter of the apartment, Maribel Rodriguez, arrived home, and the police obtained her permission to search the apartment. They found two hoodies, two pairs of men's sneakers and, in the back of the bedroom closet, a .380 semiautomatic handgun and a nine millimeter Glock handgun. In the cartridge of the Glock handgun were four Federal Cartridge Company (Federal) HydraShok brand nine millimeter bullets. The police also uncovered a black mask in a pocket of one of the hoodies and another black mask in one of [Smalls]'s pockets.
In the meantime, the police had arrived at the location of the shooting and attempted to tend to the unconscious victim. An ambulance was called, and it transported the victim to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, never having regained consciousness. The paramedic explained that the victim had "bled . . . out right on the street. He lost most of his blood there." The medical examiner reported that the twenty-two year old victim had died as a result of a "[g]unshot wound to the lower abdomen." The medical examiner retrieved one bullet from the victim's body, which, after cleaning and photographing it, she placed in a labeled container and then turned it over to the police. The bullet was a nine millimeter caliber, jacket hollow point, with a Hydra-Shok design.
While at the scene of the shooting, the police collected eight spent shell casings and one live round. Four of the shell casings were .380 caliber, as was the one live round. The remaining shell casings were nine millimeter. It was determined, to a reasonable degree of certainty, that the shell casings had come from the handguns that had been seized from apartment 151. The bullet that killed the victim also was consistent with one having been fired from the nine millimeter handgun that was recovered from apartment 151. None of the shell casings or the handguns contained fingerprints, and [Smalls] and Kave had no gunpowder residue on their hands.
Following a probable cause hearing, [Smalls] elected to be tried by a jury, and a trial ensued. At the close of the state's evidence, [Smalls] filed a motion for a judgment of acquittal, which the court denied. [Smalls] called no witnesses. The jury found [Smalls] guilty of murder and of carrying a pistol without a permit.
Smalls, 136 Conn.App. at 198-202 (footnotes omitted). Following his conviction, Smalls was sentenced to a total effective sentence of forty-five (45) years of imprisonment.[2] Id. at 202.
On direct appeal, Smalls claimed that the trial court improperly "(1) found that there was probable cause to support [his] prosecution . . . for causing the death of the victim, Edgar Sanchez, and (2) concluded that the evidence was sufficient to sustain [his] conviction for murder as either a principal or accessory." 136 Conn.App. at 198; Doc. 1, at 4. The Connecticut Appellate Court rejected both of Smalls's claims of error and affirmed the judgment of conviction. 136 Conn.App. at 203-10.
As to his first claim - i.e., that the trial court improperly found that there was probable cause to support his prosecution for causing the death of the victim, Edgar Sanchez - the Connecticut Appellate Court held that, although the evidence did not establish whether Smalls or Kave fired the fatal shot, it warranted a person of reasonable caution to believe that Smalls had murdered the victim and, therefore, amounted to probable cause. Id. at 209. The Court summarized:
The defendant argues that although the evidence reasonably might "justify an inference that either the defendant or Kave fired the fatal shot" that killed the victim, "the only inference that can be derived from [the] facts is that there is a [50] percent possibility that the defendant fired the fatal shot.... And there is a [50] percent possibility [that] Kave fired the fatal shot." He argues that this is insufficient to support a finding of probable cause to try him for murder. We disagree with the defendant's assertion that probable cause requires more than a 50 percent likelihood, which essentially would amount to a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant committed the crime, and we conclude that the evidence presented at the defendant's hearing in probable cause would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that the defendant had murdered the victim.
Id. at 208-09.
In support of his second claim that "the court improperly concluded that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the defendant's conviction for murder as either a principal or an accessory," Smalls argued that there was no evidence that he either touched the handgun from which the fatal shot was fired, or that he intentionally aided Kave in the commission of the murder, as required by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-8(a).[3] Id. at 202-03.
The state countered that under the "concert of action doctrine," the evidence was sufficient to support Smalls's conviction for murder as a principal or as an accessory. Id. at 203. At oral argument, Smalls contended that the "concert of action" doctrine: "puts a gloss on § 53a-8(a) that is not supported by the statute's plain language," is not a rule of law, and is not binding on the appellate court. Id. at 203 n.4; Doc. 1, at 13.
Relying on the Connecticut Supreme Court's precedent in State v. Delgado, 247 Conn. 616 (1999), the Connecticut Appellate Court stated:
"Whether a person who is present at the commission of a crime aids or abets its commission depends on the circumstances surrounding his presence there and his conduct while there.... Since under our law both principals and accessories are treated as principals ... if the evidence, taken in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdict, establishes that [the defendant] committed the [murder] charged or did some act [that] forms ... a part thereof ... then the convictions must stand.... Therefore, as we have stated in the past, the terms accessory and principal refer to the alternate means by which one substantive crime may be committed." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.)
136 Conn.App. at 203-04 (quoting State v. Delgado, 247 Conn. 616, 622 (1999)).
Comparing the present case to Delgado, the appellate court agreed with the state that the jury reasonably could have found that, at the time Smalls was firing his gun at the victim, he was aware that Kave also was firing at the victim and, therefore, there was "sufficient concert of action between the defendant and [the other participant] to support the accessory allegation.... As such, there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's conclusion that the defendant had intentionally contributed to the victim's murder." Id. at 204 (quoting Delgado, 247 Conn. at 623). In other words, there was sufficient concert of action between Smalls and Kave to establish that Smalls intentionally aided in the commission of the murder. Id. The trial court's judgment of conviction was affirmed.[4]
Smalls petitioned the Connecticut Supreme Court to review the Connecticut Appellate Court's decision. Doc. 1, at 4, 12. On the first page of the petition, he framed the issues for certification the same way he presented them for review by the appellate court:
I. Whether The Evidence Was Insufficient To Support The Defendant's Conviction For Murder As Either A Principal Or An Accessory?
II. Whether The Evidence Was Insufficient To Support The Trial Court's Finding That Probable Cause Existed That The Defendant Caused The Death Of Sanchez?
Doc. 1, at 12.
As to the first issue, the substance of his argument in support of certification was that the Connecticut Appellate Court, in affirming the judgment of conviction on sufficiency grounds, improperly applied the "concert of action" language from Delgado and its predecessor, State v. Diaz, 237 Conn. 518, 679 (1996). He argued that the appellate court's findings were inconsistent with accessorial liability principles and diluted the state's burden of proof. See Doc. 1, at 14-16. Smalls asserted that the concert of action language (1) is inconsistent with state precedent on accessorial liability, (2) is inconsistent with the clear language of § 53a-8(a), (3) wrongfully absolves the state of its burden to prove that another person committed the crime, (4) is inconsistent with the Second Circuit's decision in United States v. Ruffin, 613 F.2d 408, 412 (2d Cir. 1979), (5) wrongfully absolves the state of its burden to prove that the accused helped, supported or assisted the other person in committing the crime, and (6) is only invoked when the state, as in this case, is unable to prove whether the accused or the other participant committed the crime. Doc. 1, at 14-16.
With respect to the second question presented for certification, Smalls argued that the appellate court improperly upheld the trial court's finding of probable cause because there was no direct evidence that Smalls fired the fatal shot, and "the only permissible inference based on the evidence was [that] either [Smalls] o[r] Kave killed the victim," which is insufficient to find probable cause. Doc. 1, at 18.[5]
The Connecticut Supreme Court granted Smalls's petition for certification, limited to the following issue: "Did the Appellate Court properly apply the concert of action doctrine; see State v. Diaz, 237 Conn. 518, 679 A.2d 902 (1996); in concluding that there was sufficient evidence to support the defendant's conviction for murder as either a principal or an accessory?" State v. Smalls, 306 Conn. 906 (2012). See also Doc. 1, at 20; Doc. 12-2. In his brief to the Supreme Court, Smalls reiterated his arguments that the concert of action doctrine is inconsistent with § 53a-8(a) and improperly dilutes the state's burden of proof. See Doc.12-3 ("Petitioner's Brief to the Supreme Court"), at 25-30. He interpreted the doctrine as requiring the state to prove that the accused "prepared for, and knowingly participated in, the murder," which is less burdensome than § 53a-8(a)'s requirement that the accused "intentionally aid[ed]" another person in committing the crime. See id., at 30-31. He asserted that the evidence was insufficient to show that he committed the murder as a principal because there was no evidence that he fired the fatal shot. Id., at 31. Moreover, he argued, the state could not convict him as an accessory because it could not prove that Kave fired the fatal shot and, therefore, that Smalls intentionally aided Kave in killing Sanchez. Id. Smalls also challenged the appellate court's conclusion that the evidence showed he was aware that Kave was firing at the victim. See id., at 32.
In a per curiam opinion, the Supreme Court dismissed Smalls's appeal without substantive review of the issue presented. State v. Smalls, 312 Conn. 148 (2014) (filed on the case record as Doc.12-4). The Court held as follows: "After examining the entire record on appeal and considering the briefs and oral arguments of the parties, we have determined that the appeal in this case should be dismissed on the ground that certification was improvidently granted." Id. at 150. Put simply, upon additional review, the Connecticut Supreme Court dismissed the case summarily because it concluded that it never should have accepted it.[6]
On January 25, 2011, while his direct appeal was still pending, Smalls filed his first petition for writ of habeas corpus in state court. Doc. 12-7 ("First State Habeas Petition," App'x G to Respondent's Brief). In that writ, Smalls claimed that his trial counsel, Eroll Vincent Skyers, was ineffective during his criminal trial because Skyers failed to: call an expert witness on Smalls's behalf, properly cross-examine the state's witnesses, object to the amended information, or fully investigate the case. See id., at 5. Smalls later withdrew this petition on June 4, 2013, before the habeas trial could be held. Id., at 8; Doc. 1, at 22-23.
Smalls filed his second state habeas petition on July 15, 2014, approximately one month after the Connecticut Supreme Court dismissed his direct appeal. Doc. 12-8 ("Second State Habeas Petition," App'x H to Respondent's Brief). In support of his second petition, Smalls argued that: (1) the "long form information" upon which he was convicted did not properly state the elements of accessorial liability, (2) his trial counsel Skyers was inadequately prepared for cross examination of witnesses because he failed to investigate and interview said witnesses prior to their testimony; (3) Skyers also, inter alia, failed to move for a bill of particulars, a dismissal of the information, and/or a new trial; (3) appellate counsel, Raymond L. Durelli performed in a "deficient" manner because he failed to challenge Smalls's conviction for carrying a firearm without a permit; and (4) Smalls's confinement violated his Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment because "he is being held without any meaningful opportunity to obtain release for a crim[e] committed as a juvenile." Id. at 7-10. Smalls withdrew his second petition on March 23, 2017, less than two weeks before it was scheduled for trial. Id. at 11; Doc. 1, at 25, 27.
Approximately seven months after withdrawing this second state habeas action, Smalls filed the instant federal petition for writ of habeas corpus (herein "Petition"). Doc. 1, at 1.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Pursuant to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 ("AEDPA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a), "a district court shall entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." See Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011) ("Section 2254(a) permits a federal court to entertain only those applications alleging that a person is in state custody 'in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.'"). Because federal habeas relief may only be obtained for a violation of federal law, it "does not lie for errors of state law." See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67(1991) (citation omitted). Therefore, a claim that a state conviction was obtained in violation of state law is not cognizable in this Court.
Moreover, as the Second Circuit stated in Lewis v. Connecticut Commissioner of Correction, 790 F.3d 109 (2d Cir. 2015):
"[F]ederal courts will not review questions of federal law presented in a habeas petition when the state court's decision rests upon a state-law ground that 'is independent of the federal question and adequate to support the judgment.'" Cone v. Bell, 556 U.S. 449, 465, 129 S.Ct. 1769, 173 L.Ed.2d 701 (2009) (quoting Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 729, 111 S.Ct. 2546, 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991)).
In determining whether a state conviction violates federal law, Section 2254(d) "imposes a highly deferential standard for evaluating state-court rulings and demands that state-court decisions be given the benefit of the doubt." Renico v. Lett, 559 U.S. 766, 773 (2010) (citations and internal quotations omitted). This Court cannot grant a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by a person in state custody with regard to any claim that was rejected on the merits by the state court unless the adjudication of the claim in state court either:
(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or
(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.
28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
In sum, "in order to satisfy § 2254(d)'s substantive predicates and merit federal review" of the petitioner's claims for habeas relief, he must establish either that the state court's decision: "(1) contravened clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court, or (2) was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts," Lewis, 790 F.3d at 121. This standard for obtaining federal habeas relief is "difficult to meet," Metrish v. Lancaster, 569 U.S. 351, 357-58 (2013) (quoting Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 102 (2011)), and "highly deferential" to state court rulings, "stop[ping] short of imposing a complete bar on federal-court relitigation of claims already rejected in state proceedings," Harrington, 562 U.S. at 102, 105.
"Clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court," refers to the "holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of [the Court's] decisions as of the time of the relevant state-court decision." Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 412 (2000). See also Howes v. Fields, 565 U.S. 499, 505 (2012); Carey v. Musladin, 549 U.S. 70, 74 (2006); Kennaugh v. Miller, 289 F.3d 36, 42 (2d Cir. 2002). "[C]ircuit precedent does not constitute 'clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court.'" Parker v. Matthews, 567 U.S. 37, 48 (2012) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)). A decision is "contrary to" clearly established federal law when it applies a rule different from that set forth by the Supreme Court or if it decides a case differently than the Supreme Court on essentially the same facts. Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 694 (2002).
A state court unreasonably applies Supreme Court law when it has correctly identified the law but unreasonably applies that law to the facts of the case, or refuses to extend a legal principle clearly established by the Supreme Court to circumstances intended to be encompassed by the principle. See Davis v. Grant, 532 F.3d 132, 140 (2d Cir. 2008). Moreover, "an unreasonable application of federal law is different from an incorrect application of federal law." Eze v. Senkowski, 321 F.3d 110, 124-25 (2d Cir. 2003) (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 410). Specifically, the state court's application of clearly established federal law must be "objectively unreasonable," a substantially higher standard. Id.; Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 473 (2007). Thus, a habeas petitioner must show that the challenged court ruling "was so lacking in justification that there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility of fairminded disagreement." Harrington, 562 U.S. at 103. Accord Metrish, 569 U.S. at 358. See also Williams, 529 U.S. at 389 ("state-court judgments must be upheld unless, after the closest examination of the state-court judgment, a federal court is firmly convinced that a federal constitutional right has been violated").
When reviewing a habeas petition, the Court presumes that the factual determinations of the state court are correct, 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). See Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338-39 (2006) ("State-court factual findings . . . are presumed correct . . . ."). The petitioner bears "the burden of rebutting the presumption of correctness by clear and convincing evidence," 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). Also, the Court's "review under section 2254(d)(1) is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits." Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011).
In sum, when reviewing an application for a writ of habeas corpus by a state prisoner, a district court must ask three questions to determine whether habeas relief should be granted: "(1) Was the principle of the Supreme Court case law relied upon by the petitioner 'clearly established' when the state court ruled? (2) If so, was the state court's decision 'contrary to' that established Supreme Court precedent? (3) If not, did the state court decision constitute an 'unreasonable application' of that principle?" Williams v. Artuz, 237 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 924 (2001). "When applying these standards, the federal court should review the 'last reasoned decision' by a state court . . . ." Robinson v. Ignacio, 360 F.3d 1044, 1055 (9th Cir. 2004).
         III. ...


Deciding where to host a blog is a huge decision for many individuals and business owners. Some people prefer to look after their own blog, while others prefer to publish on a third party platform like Facebook or Medium. Below are some of the main things you should consider before you decide to move your blog to Facebook or Medium.
Running a self-hosted blog can be expensive. You have to factor in development costs and a range of other fees associated with running a blog. The latest third party platforms are free, which means you can focus on creating high quality content and marketing your blog, without having to worry about the financial outlay required when setting up and running your own blog.
A lot of time and effort goes into building a successful blog. Your own blog is always at risk of being hacked and it may not be as secure as it should be. Platforms like Facebook and Medium are much easier to use and extremely secure.
A large number of blog owners prefer to do their own thing and don't want to be dependent on any third party. The more control you have over a blog, the more you can manage it better and make more informed decisions about the future of your blog. For example, when you host your own blog you can customise it to suit your exact preferences. The data produced from your own blog is readily available too, which tells you a huge amount about blog visitors, which is not always available from third party blogging platforms.
When you use Facebook or Medium, you have to follow certain rules. This can prevent a blog owner from expressing themselves in the way they want to express themselves and adding the content they would like to publish. If you break any of these rules, you may attract negative attention and even lose your blog. These rules don't apply when you have your own blog on your own domain.
An established blog can become extremely valuable over time. Some self-hosted blogs have sold for millions of dollars. This is why it's important to carefully consider where you publish your content. It is particularly important for businesses because a blog should be viewed as an asset the business owns. This is not the case with blogs hosted on third party platforms.
Internet traffic is the lifeblood of any blog. However, it can take a long time for a blog to build momentum and generate large numbers of website visitors. Platforms like Facebook and Medium already have huge numbers of visitors, which means you can piggyback off their success by creating a blog on either of these websites. The people who use these platforms are accustomed to the way content is delivered to users, which means you have a ready-made audience just waiting for you to publish high quality, useful content.
Different blog owners have different requirements, so you should think carefully before choosing to move your blog to Facebook or Medium. Taking into account each of the factors above will help you make a more informed decision.
Why move a blog? A lot of people repost articles from their existing blog to Medium. It's a good way to repurpose existing content to reach a new audience and build another following.


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How we're adapting to new comfort zone and masks on Michiana ski slopes, trails
Joseph Dits
Cross-country skier Helena Russell enjoys an old ritual from back home in Sweden that has become a hallmark of COVID winter.
She finds the picnic table and crackling fire pit that normally aren't there by the nature center at Love Creek County Park in Berrien Center — an offering in case you don't want to hang out inside.
Then Russell, who now lives in St. Joseph, sets out snacks on the table and, before perching herself on the cold wooden bench, lays out a furry sheepskin she's had for years. She's also used stadium and camping mats or even newspapers inside of a plastic bag in the past — for a cushy tush during a post-ski meal.
Skiers and snowboarders are learning a new comfort zone this season, warming up around fires and in tents rather than indoors. More like an old-school winter. But they're also adapting to the fact that there are lots of people on the downhill slopes, drawn by decent snow and a healthy, open-air activity.
That, plus COVID-19 protocols, has meant unusually long lift lines at some of the big resorts, a problem that hasn't really afflicted the smaller resorts. In Michigan and other states, resorts ask that skiers and boarders ride the lift only with people in their group — no strangers riding together. So lines back up.
Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones created "Skibana" spaces that were booked up through the weekend, spokesman Mike Panish says. In the parking lot, you can rent space for $20 to set up your own warming tent or your own chairs. Or you can pay $100 for one of three fully equipped tents with table, chairs and heater at the top of the slopes by the rental building.
The two public fire pits are popular, Panich says, adding, "I've had several people ask if those could be permanent fixtures."
Swiss' cafeteria is open for carryout food. But, because Swiss can't open its restaurant and bar yet, Panich said, it is working on an outdoor bar service soon, a fenced-in area with drinks and light food.
But he admits that it has been "challenging" to keep the required face masks on everyone. Swiss even got on its PA system over the weekend to remind skiers and boarders to mask up. The resort's management is serious. So are resorts everywhere, where the protocols are the same. There's a catch phrase going around the ski industry: "Don't be the reason we lose the season."
Panich understands. The snow is good. You're out there having fun. And if you look down to adjust your snowboard, the mask may slip.
The vast majority of people, though, have been compliant. Give a little reminder, he says, and many respond, "Oh yeah," and flip up the mask.
All Michigan ski resorts had entered the season requiring masks on ski lifts, in lift lines, anywhere you can't be six feet apart and indoors. Now, to make it simple and clear at Swiss, Panich says, "We are asking you to put on a mask as soon as you get out of the car."
Right, so the risk may be zero when you're flying down the slope. But that's over in a minute or two, and then you're bunched up around other people again. Time to mask back up. It's easy to forget.
Swiss is learning and adjusting, as it tweaks the way it manages the lifts and ski rentals — to keep skiers moving — Panich says, adding, "We're learning every day."
Swiss Valley has opened its rope-tow slope for beginners and all three lifts. Its most advanced, racing hill is open, but the adjacent slope leading to the terrain park is closed off.
The full terrain park won't open until Swiss can amass more snow, but — in a new strategy this year — it has set out a handful of rails and features at the base of the first intermediate slope, Quad 83. The terrain park's new manager, Wyatt Boyer, had told me in November that he expects to set out twice to three times as many features this winter, thanks to an expanded collection, that will be dubbed "Shanda's Nomadic Terrain Park."
You'll like how staff have improved the approach to the ski lifts this year, making for a nice, flat entry.
Near Kalamazoo
Timber Ridge Ski Area near Kalamazoo, a small independent resort like Swiss, has opened more of its terrain, along with its popular tubing hill. It offers fire pits, a covered picnic shelter and food that you can buy through an outdoor concession window.
From what I hear, wait times there, as at Swiss Valley, aren't bad: maybe a couple of minutes at the busiest of weekend times.
Bittersweet Resort, a much larger ski and snowboard area with lots of different, well-developed terrain near Kalamazoo, has seen longer lift lines — significantly so during the weekend hours of the holidays. Some people have griped about it on social media. You can get a general sense if you check the live web cameras at its website (skibittersweet.com). Check it at different times of day and on different days. As always, you'll find much quieter slopes on weekdays, especially during the day.
Cross country, etc.
Christmas Day snow put us back on cross-country skis, at least for a few days at area parks, which are waiting for more snow to reopen trails to that sport. Up through this weekend, though, I and others have been skiing (and sledding) at South Bend's Elbel Golf Course, with conditions that have ranged between crusty and soft. There aren't any groomed trails at Elbel, but there's also no cost and no restricted hours. Stay off of the putting greens to protect them.
More recently, Love Creek County Park in Berrien Center has opened trails only for snowshoeing and fat biking. Fat bike rentals haven't yet returned, as staff are still working to secure bikes, hopefully by February.
• Glow Ski: St. Patrick's County Park in South Bend has scheduled its "Glow Ski" Friday evenings when it will set out luminaries along the trails. The first will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 15, followed by Jan. 29 and Feb. 12. This typically includes a stop inside of the Manion Cabin, but this year will instead stop by a campfire for a hot drink and a homemade snack. Cost is $5. Skis, boots and poles can be rented for $10. For advance registration, which is required this year, call 574-654-3155.
Will Mother Nature keep the slopes and trails stoked? WSBT meteorologist Matt Rudkin says we can expect "pretty tranquil" weather from now until roughly Jan. 15, when it looks like a surge of colder air — and potentially more snow — could arrive. Remember that, in general, we expect more precipitation than usual during this La Nina winter, though temperatures will determine if it's rain or snow and whether it'll stay. Rudkin says a warm pattern may return in late January.
The natural stuff is great, but ski resorts rely on cold enough temperatures to generate their own reliable base of snow.
• Free Camino: Tom Labuzienski of South Bend is offering a free, five-week series of virtual classes on hiking or biking the ancient pilgrimage Camino de Santiago in Spain, which he's done. The sessions are at 4 p.m. each Monday next week through Feb. 8 with guest speakers, including Jan. 11 with St. Pius Catholic Church pastor the Rev. Bill Schooler, who's taken parishioners on the Camino, and Feb. 1 with local Mary Rooney, who marked her 80th birthday in 2019 on the Camino. The other dates will have speakers from around the world who've documented their journeys. This would have been Labuzienski's eighth semester of the class at the Forever Learning Institute, but it was canceled over a lack of participation. So he's offering it on his own for free. Join the Zoom meetings at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84826677369. Or, for more details and questions, email Labuzienski at tomlab@outlook.com.
• Cass County parks: Review and give your input on the five-year plan for improvements in Cass County parks until Jan. 13. View the plan at casscountymi.org or call 269-445-4456. You can also see the document in the county library branches for Edwardsburg, Mason/Union and Howard.


In this edition John answers questions on players scoring four tries in a Test for the Wallabies, Samoan-born All Blacks, the Crawshay's and the player with the most honours at domestic level.
Chris Latham holds the Australian Test record with five tries against Namibia in a World Cup pool match at Adelaide in 2003. All told, there have been six occasions when a Wallaby has scored four or more tries in a Test.
Most of these players grew up and/or were educated in New Zealand. Although there is no definitive listing giving the places of birth of all Samoan-capped players, considerably more than 13 of their international players are known to have been born in New Zealand.
NB: The All Blacks Frank Solomon and Jerome Kaino were born on American Samoa.
Crawshay's are affectionately known as the Welsh Barbarians and regularly tour overseas. Their selections usually embrace a mix of young up-and-coming Welsh talent with experienced internationals.
The five British Lions in their 1985 party to South Africa were Elgan Rees, Graham Price, Ian Stephens, Alan Phillips and Allan Martin. David Pickering, Mark Titley, Phil Davies toured as Welsh internationals who had appeared in the 1985 Five Nations, while former caps Ray Giles, Terry Shaw and Alun Donovan were also members of the side.
Injury took its toll of the tourists and they were happy to embrace the talents of the Springbok fly-half/centre, Errol Tobias, who assisted them during the latter stages of the visit.
The internal tour was hastily arranged when the All Blacks cancelled their visit to South Africa for political reasons. The side was known as the "Shadow" Springboks but has never been acknowledged in South African records as an official Springbok team.
The South African party had been selected after a series of trials held in anticipation of the All Blacks tour. John Robbie was the former Lions and Ireland scrum-half.
Yes, the former Ireland & Lions wing, Trevor Ringland, contested Belfast East, the constituency where Naomi Long unseated Stormont's First Minister, Peter Robinson. Ringland, a solicitor, stood for the Ulster Conservatives & Unionists - New Force Party.
In the Heineken Cup and Super 12/14 competitions, the top sub-international tournaments, the record is held by Reuben Thorne who played in seven winning Super 12/14 finals for the Crusaders (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008).
In major national club championships, French prop Armand Vaquerin was in ten winning French Championship Finals with Béziers (1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1984). He also played in a losing final (in 1976 when Béziers were beaten 13-10 by Agen).
Considering appearances across the different competitions, the only players to appear in winning finals in both the Heineken and Super 12/14 tournaments are Doug Howlett (Munster & Blues) and Rod Kafer (Brumbies & Leicester). Howlett also appeared in winning New Zealand Championship Finals with Auckland and played for the Munster side that won the 2009 Magners League (for which there was no play-off or Grand Final).
NB: The first Grand final to determine national champions in South Africa (the Currie Cup) was not until 1939, in New Zealand not until 1992 and in England not until 2003. This year is the first season that the Magners champions will be determined by a Grand Final.


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[UPDATED] Ace TT table tennis player St Louis dies
TT table tennis player Dexter St Louis has died at 51, after what is being described as a short illness.
St Louis was this country's most decorated table tennis player, having competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and, at 40, participated at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was the only person to represent TT at the Olympics. St Louis, who was still good enough to represent this country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, also represented TT at the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan American Games.
A multiple Caribbean champion, he was also a formidable force with his stepdaughter Rheann Chung in mixed doubles.
He died in France, where he had lived for a number of years.
Attorney Matthew Gayle, in a press release, said, "On behalf of the family of Dexter St Louis, it is with great regret and sadness that we announce the death of TT's most indomitable table-tennis champion and two-time Olympic qualifier, Dexter St Louis.
"Born 21 March 1968, Dexter first represented TT in table tennis in 1983, at the age of 15. In the early 1990s after defeating France-based players and winning the tournament in Martinique he received his first full professional contract to play with a club in France. Dexter will be remembered for his relentless work ethic, sense of humour and passion for justice, as well as for his honesty, fair-play and his open and transparent approach to sport and to life."
The release said St Louis died "on the evening of Thursday 16 May, 2019 in Bordeaux, France, surrounded by his wife, Jeromaine and two daughters, Rheann and Axelle. He will be dearly missed. The family welcomes prayers at this time, but ask that in this difficult time they be allowed to grieve in private."
Before the 2018 Commonwealth Games, St Louis and Chung battled with the TT Table Tennis Association over who would represent this country at the games.
St Louis and Chung questioned the process used by the association to select Aaron Wilson and Yuvraaj Dookram. Just before a legal showdown between the parties in March 2018, it was decided that all four players would represent TT at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia from April 4-15.
This story was originally published with the title "TT table tennis player Dexter St Louis dies" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
TT table tennis player Dexter St Louis has died at age 51.
Details of his death are not clear at this time. St Louis was this country's most decorated table tennis player, having competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he took part in the men's singles.
At 40 he participated at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and last year was still good enough to represent this country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. St Louis and his stepdaughter Rheann Chung were a formidable force in local tennis. At the time of his death he was in France, where he had lived for a number of years.
Table Tennis TT Table Tennis Association (TTTTA) Dexter St Louis


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Boil Water Notice
DRINKING WATER WARNING
North Hero Water - WSID 20562
Due to the need for system maintenance/repair (just south of Blockhouse Point Road) on US Route 2 there is a possibility that your drinking water supply may become contaminated on the way to the tap. Water users north of the elementary school are unaffected. This situation presents a potential health risk to users of the North Hero water system. The North Hero water system is issuing a BOIL Water Notice for users, effective 4pm Wednesday, February 19, 2020.
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other; potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. When a water system is experiencing fluctuations in water pressure the possibility exists for bacteria and other harmful organisms to enter the water distribution system and contaminate your drinking water supply.
People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.
What happened? What is being done?
This Boil Water Notice will remain in effect until the water system maintenance/repair is complete and the system is able to demonstrate that the quality and quantity of the drinking water meets State and Federal drinking water standards.
We will inform you when the necessary system maintenance/repair has been completed and tests show no bacteria present in the drinking water supply. We anticipate resolving the problem within 3 business days.
For more information, please contact Kevin Knapp at 802-793-8243. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division at (800) 823-6500.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink our water, especially those who may not have received this notice yet.
• Seasonal people with out-of-state addresses
• People in apartments
44°49′52″N 73°16′25″W
North Hero is the county seat of Grand Isle and was named after American Revolutionary War patriot Ethan Allen.
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One animal life hack could be the secret to human longevity
Scientists examine the slumbering secrets of animals.
Tara Yarlagadda
In the world of science, a slumbering lemur is something to get excited about.
More than slumbering — a lemur in hibernation. In March, scientists working at the Duke Lemur Center announced in Nature an incredible first: Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs in captivity finally hibernated.
Hibernation is in the DNA of dwarf lemurs, but it's difficult to achieve in zoos and sanctuaries. It is also what's set them apart from other primates: these lemurs are our closest hibernating relative, and the only primates known to hibernate for longer periods of time.
This new lemur study adds to our ever-growing knowledge of animal hibernation. But its family tree proximity to people also raises two important questions about how animal hibernation can help humans.
How can hibernation help us better understand human longevity?
Could humans ever hibernate?
A lemur being studied at the Duke Lemur Center. Photo by David Haring, Duke Lemur Center
How do animals hibernate?
This might seem like a trick question, but many misconceptions exist around the concept of hibernation.
Hibernation has a long, ancient history: One fossil study even suggests hibernation goes back as 250 million years ago. That study suggests pig-sized pre-mammals known as lystrosaurus went into long periods of sleep to cope with stressful, cold conditions in the Arctic Circle.
Modern-day hibernation doesn't look all that different. However, not all animals sleep for the entire winter. Others do: For example, dwarf lemurs living in the wild hibernate between three to seven months a year.
Marina Blanco led the study of the dwarf lemur and is a research scientist at the Duke Lemur Center. She tells Inverse these lemurs nearly stop their metabolic activity, reduce their body temperature, and gear up for the long winter.
"They can shut down metabolism for several months to a year, but they need to prepare for it by accumulating fat reserves, or cache food," Blanco says.
But contrary to popular belief, many animals, such as bears, don't actually sleep all winter. Instead, they merely constrain their metabolic functions so they no longer need to expend energy doing basic tasks, such as pooping. But the severity of the winter can also affect how long they slumber.
Rather than associating hibernation purely with sleep, research suggests we should view hibernation primarily as an energy-saving mechanism.
Which animals hibernate?
A hibernating Western Hermann's tortoise. Getty
While bears are iconic hibernators, most hibernating animals tend to be on the smaller side. There's a scientific explanation for this phenomenon.
"Hibernation is most beneficial in small animals [with relatively high metabolism], living in seasonal environments," Blanco explains.
These small animals span the animal kingdom, ranging from the Western Hermann's tortoise to hedgehogs (though you should take caution if your own pet hedgehog starts hibernating).
Other small animals have evolved unique tricks to survive during the long winter. The Arctic ground squirrel recycles its own pee, converting it into protein to stay alive.
Months-long hibernation is particularly difficult for large animals, like humans, says Blanco.
"Larger animals — most primates — for example, could not accumulate enough fat in their bodies to survive six months a year!" Blanco says.
Instead, humans and other primates find other ways to endure times of famine and harsh winters, such as eating lower-quality foods when resources are scarce.
Could humans hibernate?
The question has fascinated humans for centuries, though it's also received considerable skepticism.
In an 1885 article in the journal Nature, author C. K. Bushe responds to the suggestion that a hibernating man had been buried — and later been recovered alive — by basically calling the gravediggers charlatans:
"... we must remember that the burial was performed by men, descendants of others wholly unscrupulous, magicians, tricksters, who had probably followed the same calling for ages, and acquired an hereditary skill in such deceptions."
The scientific review of hibernation in humans, meanwhile, is lacking.
In a 2008 article published in the Annual Review of Medicine, researchers write "the thought that humans can undergo a severe hypometabolic state analogous to hibernation borders on science fiction."
The study goes on to state that severe hypothermia may correlate with hibernation in animals, but using drugs to induce hypothermia in humans is both difficult and dangerous. Ultimately, our metabolic functions are quite different than hibernating animals, which makes hibernation a challenge.
"Hibernators, including dwarf lemurs, live life in the extremes, and can tolerate changes in metabolism, and likely levels of cellular stress that would be pathological or harmful in humans," Blanco says.
However, recent scientific news suggests that the ability for human hibernation may dwell within our DNA — an ancient mammalian function that we have lost, but could one day regain.
One study of ancient humans, for example, found evidence of "tolerated hibernation" in the bones of the Sima de los Huesos hominins, who may have hibernated in caves during the extreme Ice Age weather of the time.
The latest cancer research also shows that human cancer cells under a slow-division process similar to hibernation as an adaption to the harsh nature of chemotherapy.
Why would humans want to hibernate?
Scientists think studies of animal hibernation could help us understand — and even offset — a host of human health issues, including:
Bone deterioration
Muscle loss
But the most eye-popping reason for humans to actually hibernate: To survive in space.
Humans traveling long distances in space — say, to Mars — will need to remain sedentary for long periods of time. Inducing a state of artificial hibernation (also known as synthetic torpor) like the space pods from the movie Passengers could be one way to do it.
This kind of artificial hibernation might look like suspended animation in humans, suggests Blanco. Suspended animation occurs when an organism's vital activities cease without death.
Apparently, this isn't just a specter of science fiction: doctors placed a human in suspended animation for the first time in 2019.
What can hibernation teach us about longevity?
According to scientists, the metabolic functions of hibernation could help us unlock the secrets of longevity and anti-aging techniques in humans.
Hibernators are capable of living in extremely stressful environments, and their bodily adaptations could hold clues for medical conditions that occur as the human body ages.
An Arctic ground squirrel. We can apply knowledge gleaned from hibernating animals, like the ground squirrel, to our own bodies. Getty
"If hibernators can repair DNA damage and cope with stress associated with metabolic depression, understanding those mechanisms can help revert this condition in humans," Blanco says.
We're still not quite able to hibernate like animals, but it's not a far-off possibility, according to some researchers.
In 2020, Inverse spoke with Kelly L. Drew, director of the Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism at the University of Alaska Fairbank, who conducted a study on hibernation in Arctic ground squirrels.
"A long-term goal is to mimic the metabolic adaptations in hibernation in humans," Drew said.
Drew adds, "Towards this end, we need to know what metabolic processes contribute to the unique metabolic phenotype of hibernating animals."
Blanco notes that dwarf lemurs can turn their metabolic processes on and off like a switch. If humans could unlock a similar ability within our DNA, hibernation may well be within our reach.
Why can't I understand my dog? Recent research may offer an answer
By Tara Yarlagadda
Elephants could be key to saving the planet — here's why
Plague study complicates a commonly held belief about the Black Death
By Samuel Cohn, Philip Slavin and The Conversation


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Globe Drive The most interesting new tech from the New York auto show
The most interesting new tech from the New York auto show
matt bubbers
Published April 6, 2018 Updated April 6, 2018
The New York auto show saw the debut of no less than 10 new gadget-laden SUVs this year, which will compete against the more than 100 different crossovers and sport utility vehicles already on sale in showrooms.
As the market becomes increasingly crowded, auto makers are pushing new high-tech gadgets to one-up the competition. From air-ionizers, to face-tracking, to alarms that go off if you forget a child in the car, some of these features will be useful, others less so, and they certainly won't all come cheap.
Everywhere you turned at the New York auto show there was another SUV model or concept on display. VW showed off a concept Atlas with a pickup bed, there was an an updated Forester, and Cadillac also showed their version of a compact crossover.
It's only a slight exaggeration to say the feature list of your average new vehicle might as well be written in Egyptian hieroglyphs for all the vaguely named technologies with indecipherable purposes you'll find there.
Modern cars are already complex, with bloated infotainment systems that can lead to driver distraction. The last thing you want to do is add to the problem by paying for optional tech you won't use.
The SUVs unveiled at the New York show all touted interesting new features, which have the potential to be great, if they work as advertised and if they are easy to use. Those, however, are big "ifs."
The 2019 Subaru Forester offers a DriverFocus feature, which detects distracted or drowsy drivers.
Richard Drew/AP
All-new for 2019, the Forester is in its fifth generation since debuting in 1997.
The new model's most interesting new feature is called DriverFocus, which detects distracted or drowsy drivers. Subaru says it's "like having an attentive co-pilot along for the ride, ready to give a helpful alert."
The system uses driver-facing cameras and facial-recognition software – similar to Apple's Face I.D. feature on the iPhone X – to monitor the driver for signs of distraction or drowsiness.
Distracted driving caused 27 per cent of fatal collisions in British Columbia in 2016, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. Any technology that helps to mitigate that danger is worth a look.
Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance system will be standard equipment in the United States, but optional on Canadian cars. The DriverFocus system will be optional as well.
Lane Tracking Assist, available in the new RAV4, is meant to help the driver keep the car centred in a lane.
SHANNON STAPLETON/Reuters
Made in Canada, the RAV4 was the country's bestselling SUV last year. The all-new model unveiled in New York features Toyota's updated Safety Sense 2.0 system as standard equipment.
Its new Lane Tracking Assist feature warrants some explanation. Systems like this are also known as lane-centering, because they work to help the driver keep the car centred in a lane. The RAV4 uses cameras and radar to recognize lane markings and vehicles in front to track the road ahead.
By contrast, lane-departure warning systems only beep if you're drifting out of a lane, and lane-keeping systems only jerk the steering back once you've already drifted to the edge of a lane. The new Lane Tracking Assist system only works on highways, and is simply meant to assist a driver, so don't take your hands off the wheel.
Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Cadillac have similar lane-centering systems, but having it as standard on a Toyota is impressive.
Wireless phone charging, illuminated light blade and near-field communication are only a few of the tech features available for the Cadillac XT4.
AMIR LEVY/Reuters
Cadillac is late jumping into the booming compact luxury SUV market, but the company is hoping the XT4 will nevertheless attract younger buyers to the brand.
Buried among the avalanche of tech features and gadgets piled into the XT4 – wireless phone charging, illuminated light blade, surround vision, near-field communication – is an in-cabin air ionizer, which improves air quality in the cabin. "It does this by generating negatively charged ions through an emitter and distributing them into the air through the heating ventilation and cooling ducts," according to Cadillac.
The ionizer itself is hidden from view and runs automatically when the vehicle is on. Got to have those air ions.
The Lincoln Aviator's Phone as a Key system will let you get in and drive using only your smartphone.
BRENDAN MCDERMID/Reuters
The Aviator shown in New York is a prototype, a "teaser" the company says, of a coming three-row SUV. It will be Lincoln's first plug-in hybrid, slotting into the lineup below the Navigator.
Should you forget your car key, the Aviator's Phone as a Key system will let you get in and drive using only your smartphone. It works through the Lincoln Way app. You can use it as you would a regular key fob, and it can make the car chirp so you can find it in a crowded parking lot.
If your phone battery dies, you still won't be locked out. A backup keypad on the door will let you in, and you'll be able to start the car using the central touchscreen.
It raises security concerns, but Lincoln says that if you lose your phone you can disable the feature.
The 2019 Acura RDX's Intuitive True Touchpad Interface lets you control the central screen using a separate touch pad mounted on the centre-console.
The all-new 2019 RDX made its debut almost simultaneously at the Vancouver and New York auto shows.
Acura is calling this the most extensive redesign of the RDX in a decade. The company hopes its new SUV will elevate the brand's reputation.
It looks sharp from the outside, but the interior design may split opinion. The dashboard is a radical, alien-looking shape. At its centre is Acura's new Intuitive True Touchpad Interface. You control the big central screen using a separate touch pad mounted on the centre-console. "To support intuitive and easy control," the company says, "the touchpad is precisely mapped, one-to-one, with the action on the centre display."
The idea being you won't need to look down at the touchpad or at an on-screen cursor to control navigation and vehicle settings. Sounds nifty, but we'll have to see how it works in practice.
Forgot your child in the back seat? The Santa Fe's Rear Occupant Alert won't let you walk away without them.
Drew Angerer/AP
Hyundai has sold more than 1.5 million Sante Fe SUVs in the United States, making this its most popular SUV. The all-new fourth-generation model should arrive in Canada this summer as a 2019 model.
Rear Occupant Alert is a new feature from Hyundai that warns parents if they've accidentally left a child in the rear seats. Yes, really.
The system uses ultrasonic sensors to detect movement in the back seats. The car will flash a message on the dashboard screen, reminding drivers to check the rear seats. Then, if the driver gets out and locks the door, and the sensors still detect movement, the car's horn will honk. It'll even send an alert to Hyundai's app if you have it set up on your phone.
It's unclear though how Rear Occupant Alert would help detect sleeping children or pets, but parents could probably use all the help they can get.
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There are too many Nile Cruises in Egypt, about 300 Nile Cruise boats or more and it docks in different Marinas in Luxor or Aswan. So you have to arrange the pickup from Airport / Train Station to your Nile Cruise before your Arrival with a specific company to avoid the hassles of taxi and other transfers to your Nile Cruise before your Arrival.
The high season for Nile cruises is in between November and February; when the temperatures are 30 degrees Celsius in the day time and about 20 degrees Celsius at night. The low season is from June to august months, the temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
You can reach Luxor by several ways. From Cairo you can take the Train or Domestic Flight (Recommended). From Hurghada you can reach Luxor by Bus or Private Car. Also you can reach Luxor by Domestic Flights from Sharm El Sheikh.
The Majority of Nile Cruises is on Full Board Basis. All meals are included and are in an open buffet style (Or Set Menu in Some Cruises), some days there are many varieties, depending of the type and quality of the cruise boat; these meals are served with a fixed timetable. In Some Cruises, Tea and coffee is available, while on the move, every day at 5:00 pm. Other drinks are offered in the bar area.
Very Few Nile Cruises are on All Inclusive Basis (Very Expensive, For 7 Nights Only). All Inclusive includes Full Board Basis and All Beverage such as Mineral Water, Soft Drink, Hot Drink, Coffee, Tea, Juice etc..
What Is the Check In and check out Time? When The Tours Starts?
Normally the check in time is at 11:00 AM before Lunch. So if your Flights come very early in Morning you can start your tours directly after coming from Airport or Train Station before it come too hot then when you finish your cabin will be ready for you.
During The Daytime Tours in summer, it is recommended you wear lightweight clothes. But you have to put in your mind that Egypt is a Muslim country, so respect must be given to this, particularly when visiting temples and other religious monuments.
On Board Your Nile Cruise You can wear shorts and swimming costumes, if you wish.


Connecting the jumper cables backward or installing a new battery the wrong way is never fun. In this article, you will find troubleshooting steps that will help you diagnose such problems.
All of the sudden you see a scary spark and your car goes completely dead. Car will no longer start. Dashboard lights are off, and everything is dead. Key may not even turn the ignition. Similar symptoms will be experienced when you try to jump start a dead battery but you accidentally connect the jumper cables backward.
When a car battery is connected backward a fuse designed to protect vehicle electronics should blow. If your vehicle doesn't have a fuse (almost all cars do) designed for this purpose, you will send electrical current backward through systems in your car including ECU, transmission control unit and more. If current flows backward through lights that's not a problem. The issue is when current flows backward through an electronics that have diodes such as the ECU / ECM (Engine Control Unit / Module).
It is not common to damage the Engine Control Unit / Module by connecting the battery cables incorrectly. Most of them are designed to withstand reverse polarity. In the worst case, the ECU/ECM can be removed and inspected if a diode has failed.
Check the high ampere fuses on your car. Most vehicles have a large fuse that will blow and avoid damage to the ECU / ECM. This may be a 40, 60, 80-ampere fuse and it is usually hard to find. Here is a picture of this fuse on a Honda Civic. When the jumper cables were connected backward, this fuse blew. This is from a 2015 Honda Civic.
Notice the fuse strip. More than one fuses can blow. Once you replace this fuse, start up the car. In most cases, the car should start right up. If it doesn't, continue to Step 2.
After you replace the blown fuse, you may still have a problem starting the engine. The engine may turn over and crank, but it will not start. Now it is time to check all the smaller fuses. Make sure that the fuse for the ignition system, ECU, fuel pump, Immobilizer are still good.
If all the fuses are still good and your car still refuses to start here are a few things you need to check.
The car turns over but won't start.
Car won't turn over or crank.
Hopefully, you were able to diagnose the problem yourself. If you are still having problems with being able to start the car you may want to consider having a mechanic take a look at your car. Avoid letting water or rainfall on your fuse panel.
Do not allow water or rain on your fuse panel.
Hooked up a new battery backward and now car won't start on a used Mazda Millenia 2000; opened up the fuse panel to find out that a previous owner had removed the main 120a main fuse and bypassed it. Now trying to figure out how to proceed.
I have a 1968 Corvette 327 and my son put the battery in backwards put the charger on it and walked away. Came back 20 minutes later to a cloud of smoke coming from the battery. Can you help me figure out how much damage he did and where I would even start to look.
The battery is gone for sure. The acid in the battery is contaminated at the very least. Check your ECM, starter, and fuses. That is the most common issues.
I just had my jeep patriot battery die while at sons soccer practice. Got a jumper cable but connected to wrong terminals. Car then started up after changing terminals. However. Now my interior lights will not turn off even when I hit switches. They stay on. I removed fuse. And they still stayed on. Any help??
Battery wrong and now I have no power whatsoever before I hooked it up wrong it was just a clicking and sometimes nothing when battery was dead but the clicking made me think starter should I replace put a brand new starter on vomiting starter on we switch batteries in my dad's truck to my truck and somehow it got backwards and that's when the battery cables were switched just for a short time then taking off and swap back over now I have nothing no power no lights no nothing.
Any idea what happens when you ( me) hook up a battery backwards on a Yamaha outboard . Boy do I feel stupid !!


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LinkedIn eyes major expansion with big Silicon Valley property purchase
Photo Credit: Catalyst Sunnyvale
LinkedIn is getting ready for a major growth spurt in the city of Sunnyvale. The career-building website has just purchased two older buildings which it apparently intends to demolish, and it will use the site to build two brand new office buildings. According to the Mercury News, LinkedIn has also signed a deal to lease a large office building nearby that is ready for use right now. Once all three buildings are ready for operation, they could be the workplace of up to 2,900 employees.
The two older buildings that LinkedIn just bought for almost $123 million are at 810 and 870 West Maude Avenue and are both around 190,000 square feet. The modern office building it just leased, which is 194,000 square feet, has the address of 684 West Maude Avenue. It is just a short distance from several other buildings used by the company. The Silicon Valley Business Journal earlier reported that LinkedIn bought the property of its headquarters at 950,1000, and 1020 West Maude Avenue which total more than 287,000 square feet. That transaction in July had a price tag of $323 million.
Once the older buildings are torn down and the new buildings are complete, they will be combined with the modern building to complete a three-building tech campus which is being marketed as a development called Catalyst. The development as a whole has already been approved by the city. The developers of Catalyst, Harvest Properties and Invesco Advisors, apparently designed the tech campus to help keep workers safe from viruses. "Tenants will have the ability to integrate customized space design features on top of a thoughtfully architected, COVID friendly base building to optimize the workplace for their employees," the developers say on the Catalyst website.
There's no official word yet when LinkedIn will start utilizing the new campus but developers were hoping to have them ready for use sometime in 2023. The real estate moves from LinkedIn fall right in line with other real estate actions by prominent Silicon Valley tech entities which signal that tech companies are not trying to move out of the Bay Area. Google, Apple, Meta, Adobe, and Tesla have all recently announced that they plan to expand their footprints in Silicon Valley with new buildings.


This property was built in 0 and is priced at $775,000. Please see the additional details below.
LOCATION, VIEWS, VALUE, POTENTIAL & PRIVACY!! University Heights home with 2445 est. SqFt home on Canyon cul-de-sac w/ HUGE lot & Views. Features-Central A/C & Heat, 3 bedrooms, den/study, 2 baths, walkout basement (Granny Flat potential, has plumbing). Kitchen upgraded with new custom granite counter tops, Solid Maple cabinets and all Stainless Steel appliances. The main bath is updated, new carpet, Laundry room with FL W/D that conveys, Hot Tub, large deck, patio and NEW Roof w/ warranty & Skylights.


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Q: For i in range(b) variable Is there anyway to store the input of the user in total for each amount of money raised?
 b=int(input("Please enter how many people have collected money: "))
 for i in range(b):
    a=int(input("Please enter the amount raised: "))
total =

A: Make a list to store the values in:
b=int(input("Please enter how many people have collected money: "))
total = [0]*b
for i in range(b):
    a=int(input("Please enter the amount raised: "))
    total[i] = a

A: Use this :
`
b=int(input("Please enter how many people have collected money: "))
total = []
for i in range(b):
    a=int(input("Please enter the amount raised: "))
    total.append (a)
print ("Total: " , sum(total))
`

A: Alternatively use this:
b=int(input("Please enter how many people have collected money: "))
total=0
for i in range(b):
    total+=int(input("Please enter the amount raised: "))

This adds your given input on total every Iteration.


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Zoom shares hit record high amid blowout earnings for second quarter
Company sees explosive growth in 2020, fueled by the increase of remote work during the pandemic
Zoom reported adjusted earnings of $0.92 per share, above the $0.45 per share predicted. Photograph: Roberto E Rosales/Albuquerque Journal/ZUMA/REX/Shutterstock
Kari Paul
Mon 31 Aug 2020 18.03 EDT
Last modified on Tue 1 Sep 2020 23.37 EDT
Zoom shares hit a record high on Monday as the company announced blowout earnings for the second quarter of 2020.
The video conferencing platform has seen explosive growth in 2020, fueled by the increase of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic. It made as much money in the past three months as it did in the entirety of 2019, beating the already-optimistic predictions of analysts.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $0.92 per share, above the $0.45 per share predicted. Revenue rose 355% from the same time last year to $663.5m, above analysts' average estimate of $500.5m.
In remarks on an earnings call following the report, chief executive officer and founder Eric Yuan said Zoom has taken on a number of large businesses as customers, including oil and gas firm ExxonMobil and software firm ServiceNow in quarter two.
Zoom has seen an increase in paying customers this quarter, according to the report, with approximately 370,200 customers of businesses with more than 10 employees, up approximately 458% from the same quarter last fiscal year.
Shares of the company, which have surged almost four-fold this year, rose 9% after the bell and hit a record high in regular trading.
Zoom saw a massive increase in users as countries around the world instituted lockdowns to slow the spread of Covid-19. It has become nearly synonymous with the concept of video hangouts, being used for casual happy hours, teaching in schools, and events.
But in the immediate aftermath of its skyrocketing popularity, the app also faced intense criticism over privacy and security practices, causing some companies and institutions to pull back.
Since then, the company has released a number of updates to enhance security. However, it continues to face problems with "zoom bombing," a practice in which pranksters terrorize people in Zoom events with racist language and other hate speech.
In light of the tremendous report on Monday, Zoom has raised its annual revenue target for fiscal year 2021 to the range of $2.37bn and $2.39bn, from $1.78bn to $1.80bn earlier.


Silver aluminum alloy shell, looks simple, comfortable and beautiful.
Blue indicating led light is given out when touching.
Touching automatic sensor, very convenient.
The switch respond agilely and quickly.


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Posts Tagged 'AU'
Gabonese Military HIV/AIDS Program
Published December 14, 2011	AFRICOM Blog , Uncategorized 4 Comments
Nicole Dalrymple, U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs Office wrote:
The nation of Gabon in Sub-Saharan Africa straddles the equator and is one of the least densely populated countries in Africa. The nation, which is about the size of Colorado, has an estimated population of 1.54 million people, which is smaller than some U.S. cities.
The week after Thanksgiving I had a chance to visit Gabon while supporting a senior leader visit by Ambassador J. Anthony Holmes, U.S. Africa Command's deputy to the commander for civil-military activities. The visit's main focus was maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and regional cooperation, but we got an opportunity to visit the Gabonese military's HIV/AIDS program at Camp Baraka in Libreville.
The HIV prevalence rate in Gabon is estimated at 5.9 percent, with approximately 49,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. In the Gabonese Armed Forces, roughly 5,000 members, the HIV/AIDS prevalence is estimated at 4.3 percent.
We were told by staff at the U.S. Embassy that HIV/AIDS prevalence in Gabon is notably higher among young people and military personnel, which makes programs like Gabon's Anti-AIDS Military Program (PMLS), established in 2002, very important. PMLS provides training, medical care and support, and outreach and educational activities targeted at vulnerable kids, orphans, widows and the military.
The U.S. Government has been supporting Gabon's Anti-AIDS Military Program since 2003 through the DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP). Support has included funding for the acquisition of laboratory equipment, reagents and supplies related to the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. In fiscal year 2011, DHAPP provided $300,000 in funding support to Gabon.
Our visit to Camp Baraka included a ceremony where Ambassador Eric Benjaminson, the U.S. Ambassador to Gabon, joined by Ambassador Holmes, presented a $5,600 donation in equipment for the center. The donation included a refrigerator for medical supplies, printers and a computer.
During his remarks, Ambassador Benjaminson said that the office equipment was meant to assist the Gabonese military's HIV/AIDS program as it works to create "new, progressive messages to promote HIV/AIDS awareness" and support activities "that will change any stigma or discrimination related to HIV/AIDS among military troops or civilians."
The program also included a tour of the center and two special presentations. Members of the Gabonese military sang an original song that incorporates anti-HIV/AIDS messages that highlight the importance of knowing your HIV/AIDS status, getting tested, practicing abstinence, being faithful and using condoms. The song was followed by the Camp's HIV/AIDS drama troupe performing a skit that put HIV/AIDS on trial.
The effects of HIV/AIDS extend beyond health, family and social impacts. The epidemic also threatens a nation's security by reducing military readiness, limiting deployments, and hindering a military's ability to support regional response and peacekeeping activities.
Reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS is a priority for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) because of the disease's destabilizing effects on a nation and the readiness of its military.
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