AC4 Freedom Cry DLC – Part 9 – Big Plantation (Assassin’s Creed 4 Let’s Play / Walkthrough) – Video

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AC4 Freedom Cry DLC - Part 9 - Big Plantation (Assassin #39;s Creed 4 Let #39;s Play / Walkthrough)
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AC4 Freedom Cry DLC - Part 9 - Big Plantation (Assassin's Creed 4 Let's Play / Walkthrough) - Video

New Accusations Against Freedom Industries in West Virginia Spill

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It hasnt taken long for fratricide to erupt between two companies blamed for the early January chemical spill in West Virginia. In a court filing, a local water utility has accused Freedom Industries, the chemical supplier blamed for the leak in Charleston, of trying to pull a fast one in its federal bankruptcy filing.

As I explained in my last post on the legal wrangling in the wake of the spill, closely held Freedom Industries filed on Jan. 17 for Chapter 11 protection from its creditorsan unsurprising move designed to freeze a growing wave of liability lawsuits seeking damages related to the cutoff of public water to some 300,000 customers in the Charleston area.

Freedom also hinted in the filing that it would attempt to shift culpability to the West Virginia unit of American Water Works. Many of the plaintiffs suing Freedom have filed claims as well againstAmerican Water Works (AWK) (AWK)for failing to move swiftly enough to close its intake in Charleston. The intake to the public water system is a mere mile and a half down the Elk River from Freedoms chemical-storage facility. Freedom suggested that perhaps American Water had helped cause the leak in the first place when a water main break contributed to damage to a storage tank.

In its own filing dated Jan. 19 and made available yesterday, the West Virginia unit of the water company fired back. West Virginia-American Water accused the chemical supplier of concealing its true ownership, using a proposed emergency loan to put creditors at a disadvantage, and generallyfailing to provide the bankruptcy court with sufficient financial information about such matters as Freedoms insurance coverage. The situation smells of collusion, the water utility alleged in its court papers.

West Virginia-American Water said it has a big stake in Freedoms Chapter 11 because the utility suffered expensive damages as a result of the water shut-down. The utility added that, in those suits naming it as a defendant, the company plans to file cross-claims shifting liability to Freedom. West Virginia-American Water ultimately will become the largest creditor by far in this bankruptcy case, the utility said.

Freedoms Chapter 11 filing is indeed vague about the chemical companys current owner, identified in court papers only as Chemstream Holdings, a Pennsylvania company. Cross-referencing publicly filed corporate records from Pennsylvania and West Virginia, however, I was able to show that Chemstream appears to be controlled by a Pennsylvania coal magnate named J. Clifford Forrest, who had the misfortune of acquiring Freedom Industries only weeks before the Charleston chemical spill was discovered on Jan. 9. I also showed that, via other corporate vehicles, Forrest has proposed to loan his deeply troubled new acquisition $5 million to keep it operating during the bankruptcy process.

Now West Virginia-American Water is alleging that the loan, which would require bankruptcy-court approval, is actually a disguised tool to manipulate the bankruptcy process. Without naming Forrest, the water company warned the court that Freedoms owner is trying to use the loan to hold onto those parts of the business that it deems valuable, abandoning the rest, taking the going concern value from the debtor, and leaving the debtor and its many creditors holding the bag.

West Virginia-American Water requested that the bankruptcy judge slow down the process, allow the water utility and other creditors an opportunity to get organized, and force Freedom Industries to be more transparent about its ownership structure and plans for satisfying creditors claims.

So far, lawyers for Freedom and Forrest havent responded to my inquiries. Presumably they will soon answer the utilitys allegations in their own court filings. Meanwhile, Bloomberg Businessweek will stay on top of these strange legal doings in Charleston.

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New Accusations Against Freedom Industries in West Virginia Spill

Freedom Riders captivate high school audiences

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Beatings. Sacrifice. Arrests. King, Evers and Meredith.

Four senior citizens took to the Judson and Wagner high school auditorium stages Jan. 16 and told riveting stories of their youth more than 50 years ago, when the so-called Freedom Riders came to Jackson, Miss., their hometown.

The adults captivated their teen audiences with the telling of the 1961 Freedom Riders civil rights activists who rode buses into the deeply segregated South. The tour set out of Washington, D.C., and attempted to integrate facilities at bus terminals along the way.

Three of the speakers were eventual Freedom Riders, and a fourth has a brother who was part of the movement. All urged the high school audiences many the same age now that the Freedom Riders were when they joined the protests to take up the torch and carry onefforts to bring equality to people of all races, creed, religions and beliefs.

We're hoping to raise awareness, Julia Humbles said. Because 53 years later, we're still fighting the same battles today, and that shouldn't be. If you don't know your history, you're doomed to repeat it.

The Freedom Rider movement attempted to integrate facilities at bus terminals in the South. African-American Freedom Riders tried to use whites-only restrooms and were the targets of vicious beatings.

The rides tested discrimination in interstate travel, Humbles said. The police didn't have to be called; they were already there, watching, sometimes taking part.

She gave a vivid description of what it felt to be a black Freedom Rider in the segregated South .

When you looked at their faces, and they were hating you, despising you, never having met you, she said. You knew, deep inside, what they wanted to do to you, and you wondered, 'How could they hate me so much?'

Humbles, one of the first riders to be arrested, described an incident in which a bus was torched with Freedom Riders still on board. They threw the bomb in, and it exploded, and flames went everywhere. Someone was outside, holding the door shut. They weren't trying to intimidate us, they were trying to fry us.

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Freedom Riders captivate high school audiences

Freedom in death spiral, bankruptcy judge told

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A federal bankruptcy judge said a loan he tentatively approved during a hearing Tuesday would allow Freedom Industries to pay its employees and also pay to clean up a chemical leak into the Elk River earlier this month.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. --

A federal bankruptcy judge said a loan he tentatively approved during a hearing Tuesday would allow Freedom Industries to pay its employees and also pay to clean up a chemical leak into the Elk River earlier this month.

The coal-processing chemical known as Crude MCHM contaminated the West Virginia American Water system in Charleston and led officials to tell residents in nine counties not to drink, wash or cook with their water for days.

Freedom filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows companies to reorganize under bankruptcy protection, on Friday. In Tuesday's hearing, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ronald Pearson called the case "one of the most unique Chapter 11 cases I've ever seen."

Freedom's president, Gary Southern, and chief financial officer, Terry Cline, testified at the hearing, which lasted a little more than six hours.

Southern told the judge, "Freedom Industries, from where I sit, is in a death spiral." Customers aren't buying from Freedom, he said, and suppliers aren't selling to them.

About 80 percent of Freedom's business is providing protection against freezing for coal, Southern testified Tuesday. The other 20 percent, which Southern called the chemistry business, includes the chemical that leaked into the Elk.

The company's busiest time is usually November through March, Southern said.

Cline said Freedom had already put $300,000 toward remediation of the spill, and told the judge the overall cost to the company might be $800,000. But Southern testified later that Freedom had already contributed $800,000 toward remediation costs.

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Freedom in death spiral, bankruptcy judge told

New Yaris all set to lead the eco-car pack

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Toyota is the fifth and last automaker to hit the road with an eco-car, and it has made damned sure that its new model has the oomph to become the market leader.

Accompanying the Vios sedan, the Yaris had been previously sold in Thailand as a subcompact hatchback with a 109hp 1.5-litre engine. But even with its zippy performance, it was no match for the more practical Honda Jazz, which is one of Honda's best-selling vehicles here. The Yaris, meanwhile, was priced higher than the Vios and did not attract as many customers.

But this time around, the Yaris is poised to become a highly-sought-after model in Toyota's line-up. Enjoying eco-car tax privileges, the Yaris now costs less than the Vios, and could even outsell it with monthly sales of about 5,000.

Still, the Yaris is priced from Bt469,000 to 599,000, which is higher than the competition. But there are many reasons for this. Despite being labelled an eco-car, the Yaris is actually a subcompact if you consider its body size. Its wheelbase is 2,550mm and the car weighs 1.01-1.04 tonnes. The trick behind the Yaris is its engine - a 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve 3NR-FE that has a displacement of 1,197cc. Pumping out 86hp and 108Nm, the 1.2-litre also comes with Dual VVT-I, just like other Toyota models. A CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) is used across the range, which is superior to normal automatic transmissions in terms of efficiency and responsiveness.

Before I got in behind the wheel of the new Yaris, I didn't really expect to get great performance from the 1.2-litre engine, but I was proven wrong during a test drive in Krabi last month. The engine and gearbox teamed up to offer zippy performance. On the highway, I was able to smoothly - and calmly - overtake other vehicles, what with the adequate engine power, and that gave me a good dose of confidence. And to make it an even better drive, the steering was surprisingly lively, offering quick, precise response to even the slightest steering input.

This car's suspension has a soft setting that's commonly Toyota but, believe me, the long wheelbase and wide track make it the most stable eco-car on the road. While some eco-cars lack the capability to travel faster than 100km/h under stable conditions due to their small sizes and tiny tyres, you'll find this problem doesn't exist with the Yaris. You can drive pretty fast with it and not feel nervous. Driving visibility is also excellent. And depending on which of the four Yaris models you choose, you'll get either the 175/65 R14 or the 185/60 R15 tyres.

Apart from the extremely satisfying performance, the Yaris has another important attraction - the interior. As I mentioned earlier, the Yaris is the most stable eco-car on the road, but I must add that it is also the largest. Yes, it's even larger than the old Yaris and for that matter other B-segment subcompacts. The vehicle's long wheelbase has allowed designers to stretch its cabin further, and the space inside is nothing short of amazing. Headroom, legroom, shoulder room, you name it, the Yaris has got it all.

The interior looks attractive with a sporty instrument panel and steering wheel, which is multi-function for the upper models, along with automatic climate control. The audio system accepts both USB and AUX inputs, but too bad for Bluetooth - you'll have to order the upgraded DVD player in the accessories list.

There are electric windows on the top three models, but for the J Eco model you'll need to wind them down manually the old-fashioned way. This left me a little surprised - I was under the impression that this manual system was extinct by now. Actually, most of the common market features aren't offered in the entry-level model, such as electric mirrors, height adjustment for the driver's seat, a central locking system, an immobiliser key and more. So this is stronger reason to pick a model in the higher price range.

Well, with its Yaris eco-car, Toyota has proved that the last one to arrive makes the loudest market clamour. This B-segment eco-car is not only spacious but also offers respectable performance and driving enjoyment.

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New Yaris all set to lead the eco-car pack

‘Cyborg plants’ to help watch out for environmental damage

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21 January 2014

Engineers in Italy are attempting to develop cyborg plant sensors that harness natures ability to detect environmental changes.

The team from the University of Rome plans is building electronic devices that can read the electrical signals generated by living plants as they react to changes in their environment, as part of Plants Employed As Sensing Devices (PLEASED) project funded by the EUs FP7 programme.

Although these plant-borg sensors are unlikely to be as accurate as artificial ones, they could be better at monitoring multiple changes such as humidity and temperature at the same time with a simple, cheap and robust device, the researchers claim.

They could be used for monitoring pollution of the environment, for example, or acid rain, said project coordinator Prof Andrea Vitaletti in a statement from the European Research Media Centre.

A very practical application we have in mind is to use plants as certification devices of organic farming. By observing the signals generated by the plants, it should be possible to determine whether or not the farmer has used adequate chemicals.

If you want to find out the same thing with artificial devices, you would need quite a number of them.

Source: PLEASED

The researchers have connected signal-harvesting devices to sample plants using needle electrodes.

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'Cyborg plants' to help watch out for environmental damage

High Surf Advisory Issued Through Wednesday

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HERMOSA BEACH (CBSLA.com) A high surf advisory was in effect Tuesday for many Southland beaches, the National Weather Service said.

The advisory, which was issued through Wednesday morning, affects west and northwest facing beaches with surf ranging from 4 to 9 feet.

The surf will likely produce strong rip currents and sneaker waves which are capable of washing people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches, the NWS said.

The highest surf is expected at shores from Manhattan Beach to Cabrillo Beach.

The conditions are constantly changing and we want people to be aware, Cpt. Chris Linkletter said.

Another westerly swell is expected later this week, likely resulting in high surf Friday into Saturday at beaches from San Luis Obispo County to Los Angeles County.

More than 20 people were rescued by LA County lifeguards Monday due to the high surf at Hermosa, Santa Monica and Zuma beaches.

The county has staffed extra lifeguards and is patrolling beaches around the clock through the advisory.

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High Surf Advisory Issued Through Wednesday

Big waves hit beaches as record highs reported in inland areas

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A surfer rides a big wave in Sunset Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / January 20, 2014)

January 21, 2014, 10:00 p.m.

Big waves pounded Southern California beaches on Tuesday, and inland areas recorded record high temperatures, according to forecasters.

In Ventura County, waves up to 10 feet hit area beaches, according to the National Weather Service. In Orange County, Huntington Beach saw sets of 4 to 6 feet, according to the Surfline wave report

The waves are expected to get smaller beginning Wednesday morning before a new swell arrives on Friday.

On Tuesday, the hottest spot in the nation was Camarillo in Ventura County, which topped out at 84 degrees. That tied a daily record that was set last year, the Weather Service said.

The agency said Burbank also set a record for the month of January with nine straight days of temperatures of 80 degrees or warmer. Temperatures were expected to cool slightly over the next couple of days.

Extreme fire danger is possible on Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the Weather Service. Northeast winds up to 45 mph could blow across the area, and relative humidity could be between 8 and 15%.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday that fire watches had been declared for areas of Northern and Southern California. The watches signify high fire danger but are not as critical as red flag warnings.

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Big waves hit beaches as record highs reported in inland areas

John Dobson, evangelist for amateur astronomy, dies at 98

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John Dobson, a former Hindu monk and a self-taught stargazer who developed a powerful, inexpensive telescope that almost anyone could build and became one of amateur astronomys most influential evangelists, died Jan. 15 at a hospital in Burbank, Calif. He was 98.

The death was confirmed by Bob Alborzian, coordinator of the Burbank chapter of Sidewalk Astronomers, an international organization that Mr. Dobson helped found in 1968. Mr. Dobson had a stroke a few years ago.

Called the Johnny Appleseed of amateur astronomy, the lanky, ponytailed Mr. Dobson started building telescopes in the 1950s as a monk at the Vedanta Monastery in San Francisco. His passion for the hobby led to his expulsion, freeing him to become a roving ambassador for the simple joys of studying the night sky.

He created a hobby and a type of telescope that ensured that people could build their own and look farther across the universe than was possible for most people before his time, said Anthony Cook, astronomical observer at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

Mr. Dobson used cheap or salvaged materials such as glass from ship portholes and cardboard tubing to make his telescopes, the most radical feature of which is a simple, sturdy and highly effective wooden mount that allows users to easily point the scope at any spot in the sky. Over five decades, he taught thousands of people how to build one.

His design was eventually embraced by commercial manufacturers, who advertise the telescopes as Dobsonians. They remain one of the most popular telescopes on the market, said Dennis di Cicco, senior editor of Sky & Telescope magazine.

Dobsonian telescopes have made important contributions to astronomy, including the discovery in 1995 of Comet Hale-Bopp, the most-distant comet ever discovered by amateurs. One of its namesakes, Tom Bopp, was using a Dobsonian.

Alborzian, who had known Mr. Dobson since 1968, said he once urged Mr. Dobson to patent his design. He refused. He said, These are gifts to humanity, Alborzian recalled. His goal was to open astronomy to the common man.

Mr. Dobson had his critics. He did not, for instance, subscribe to the Big Bang theory but favored the idea of a steady-state universe with no beginning and no end. Im not interested in just the stars, he told the Los Angeles Times in 2005. Im interested in the whole ball of wax.

Although the steady-state theory has been widely discredited, Mr. Dobson was an unwavering supporter, which caused many in the astronomy establishment to dismiss him.

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John Dobson, evangelist for amateur astronomy, dies at 98