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Faster innovation with automated ATOs – GCN.com

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Faster innovation with automated ATOs

When hackers are wielding sophisticated exploits enabled by artificial intelligence, agencies cant be armed simply with spreadsheets or Word documents, said Oki Mek, a top IT advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services. You're going to lose that battle.

Now with the expanded attack surface resulting from the remote work environment, more flexible, quicker methods of getting systems authority to operate (ATO) are more critical than ever, he said.

As one of the agencies at the center of the federal government's response to the COVID pandemic, HHS is "getting hit hard" by attackers attempting to penetrate its networks, Mek said. Additionally, hackers and bad actors are leveraging AI to see how network users are interacting with infrastructure and systems.

One area where AI and machine learning technology can provide a targeted lift for federal IT systems is speeding up the processes to obtain mandatory ATO certifications, Mek said in remarks at an Oct. 14 webinar sponsored by the Institute of Critical Infrastructure Technology.

Leveraging machine learning and AI to automate the ATO process can shorten review of hundreds of security controls on a system and provide an assessment in hours or days, rather than months, Mek said.

Automated ATOs, he said, could follow the same model as popular commercial machine learning and AI-based tax filing software. That software draws on previous years data.

For an automated ATO process, the software can ask basic questions, such as, Are you building a new system, moving to the cloud, or making changes to the system? By asking a series of questions, Mek said, that common information can automatically fill in parts of the ATO system security plan.

IT systems operators could also develop a machine learning "confidence score" for cybersecurity.

"When you assess a system for an ATO, there are about 500 to 600 security controls. You could run machine learning against each requirement," he said. A system owner would use machine learning to compare requirements and policies against the agency's implementation statement to produce a confidence score. If the score is below 50%, then the owner should try again, he said.

An auditor's ATO assessment process, which can take up to two months, could be shortened to a week or two depending on the score, according to Mek. The automation would also allow the ATO process to become mostly continuous, providing more timely cybersecurity, he said.

This article was first posted to FCW, a sibling site to GCN.

About the Author

Mark Rockwell is a senior staff writer at FCW, whose beat focuses on acquisition, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.

Before joining FCW, Rockwell was Washington correspondent for Government Security News, where he covered all aspects of homeland security from IT to detection dogs and border security. Over the last 25 years in Washington as a reporter, editor and correspondent, he has covered an increasingly wide array of high-tech issues for publications like Communications Week, Internet Week, Fiber Optics News, tele.com magazine and Wireless Week.

Rockwell received a Jesse H. Neal Award for his work covering telecommunications issues, and is a graduate of James Madison University.

Click here for previous articles by Rockwell. Contact him at [emailprotected] or follow him on Twitter at @MRockwell4.

Coinrule Launches Its Automated Trading Platform To The Wider Market – Exchange News Direct

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Coinrule is, this week, making its automated cryptocurrency trading platform available to the wider market, allowing more people access to automated, algorithmic crypto trading.

Coinrule is a beginner-friendly and safe trading platform enabling you to send automated trading instructions to your favourite exchanges, including Binance, Kraken and Coinbase, etc. allowing you to compete with professional Algo Traders and Hedge Funds.

Between hyper-financialisation and the growth of automation, trading and investments are becoming more and more popular; not just with millennials, but with a growing older population too, who want to take control of their finances and see their investments work for them.

However, the relative knowledge of professionals and hobbyist investors is very different, and therefore so is the access to opportunities.

Coinrule empowers regular people, with little investment knowledge, to compete with professional investors by automating trade investments, without having to learn a single line of code.

By using Coinrule you can design your own crypto currency strategy - or, put simply - a trading rule - and test it in different market conditions. You can tweak your strategy until you are comfortable, then press play and the rule goes live into the market.

67% of Coinrule funds are in profit, despite the COVID market collapse. This is because users can design strategies, with rules that get triggered only in certain circumstances, that secure their profits and protect against losses.

For example, If Bitcoin goes down 2%; buy Ethereum at $700.

Coinrule is built specifically for mass market users: people less familiar with technical terms and financial language. It is both educational and gamified, and aims to level the playing field between hedge funds and normal people.

Coinrule connects to the 12 best digital investment platforms globally and safely runs on top of them. Users choose from four available plans: free, hobbyist, trader and pro plans.

Coinrule has been testing its automated platform with over 13,000 pioneer users across the globe using over 100k strategies. It has $5m in monthly trading volume, more than $10,000 in monthly revenue with consistent 20% growth month on month.

And now Coinrule is opening up to the wider market allowing more people to benefit from its automated trading system. At the same time, the company is opening its second round of fund-raising via Seedrs. https://www.seedrs.com/coinrule/

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Coinrule Launches Its Automated Trading Platform To The Wider Market - Exchange News Direct

Logistics Manager Analysis: Automating conveyors and sortation systems – Logistics Manager

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Conveyors and sortation systems are the core of intralogistics operations, and their versatility is meeting increasingly complex demands. Johanna Parsons investigates.

Conveyors and sortation systems are the backbone of the warehouse, connecting all the extremities of the intralogistics operation. But there is far more at stake than just moving stuff from A to B. Escalating requirements are stretching many systems, so this technology needs to be more flexible than ever before.

Investment in such a core component of the intralogistics operation will always require deep consideration. Setting up conveyors and sorters can involve sizeable capital outlay, and will influence every other inbound and outbound process. Likewise, how such equipment works will be dependent on exactly what is being processed. So careful planning is required.

In order to optimise investment, the automation equipment provider has got to spend a significant amount of time understanding a customers business and the processes that help drive it, says Brian Jones, sales director for BEUMER Group Logistic Systems.

Drawing up first-time automation solutions also requires several key factors to be taken into consideration. You have to look at earnings per item as well as the structure of the distribution network and what the means of distribution are. It is also important to understand the operational cost per item that is being sought, says Jones.

Stephen Baker, head of solutions strategy at Dematic says there are three fundamental considerations, sorter function, product type, and the required throughput rate.

He says In most cases the sortation system is there to do one of three things: Distribute received totes or cartons to different parts of a buffer, picking or ASRS system; Enable a batch of picked items to be collated into orders, and then to be packed into parcels, or perhaps loaded onto order pallets; or distribute despatch units to chutes or truck loading docks based on the destination.

Whichever of these is the case, it will affect both the design of the sorter and also the chute arrangement that is used in conjunction with it, so its important to define this up front, says Baker.

When the requirements have been ascertained, you will need to consider the equipment that would be most appropriate. Hilton Campbell, managing director at Interroll gives an overview. The first consideration should be, if you need a circular sorter (horizontal), or a vertical sorter, (up and over). A crossbelt sorter can be delivered in both configurations. Shoe sorters can only be supplied in a vertical configuration and a tilt tray only in a horizontal configuration. These are the only real options when weights exceeding 35 kgs and throughputs above 6,000 per hour need to be processed, says Campbell.

The shoe or slide sorter has been around for many years, it has both a solid design and track record. The sorters offered today can be equipped with different shoes depending on the type of products to sort. This kind of sorter is good for cartons of good quality and plastic bins.

The tilt tray sorter is perhaps a more familiar option, and Campbell explains that this technology can travel at very high speeds, up to three meters per second. It is suited for cartons, totes and better for bags. The design of the tray allows for goods that are not the most stable. In my experience I see mostly a tilt tray in airport applications, and in some larger parcel distribution centres. The loads can exceed 35 kgs. One disadvantage is that such a sorter realizes a passive discharge, it relies solely on breaking friction between the tray and the parcel when tilting to be discharged to a destination or chute.

Campbell says that the third option is the cross belt sorter. Compared with a shoe sorter it can be offered in both a vertical configuration, slightly deeper than a shoe sorter, or in a horizontal configuration, becoming increasingly more popular. In the horizontal option, the design can be omni-directional, including inclines, declines and it follows the contours of the building. The sorters can be used multiple times and therefore when designed into the process can be used in different stages within the complete solution. A crossbelt sorter offers an active discharge, so it gives complete flexibility to the customer.

If you can induct it by a conveyor or even by hand, it will sort it! says Campbell.

He says there are two types of crossbelt sorter, electrical or mechanical. The main difference is how the crossbelts themselves are powered. The mechanical sorter was until recently limited to a speed of 1.8m per second and a weight per carrier of 35 kg. Today, there is now also in additional a High Performance Crossbelt Sorter by Interroll, one that can operate at speeds up to 2.5m per second and can carry loads up to 50kgs. It has maximum throughput of 20,000 items per hour. A mechanical sorter is more cost effective than a electrical sorter, says Campbell.

Sortation has the potential to touch every part of your business, points out Jerome McAllister, technical sales and proposals manager, Conveyor Networks. He says that if implemented effectively, sortation can make the whole material handling operation more efficient and cost-effective. But he reckons this is often dependent on the demands being made by the consumer.

The warehouse will always be shaped by trends in consumer behaviour and technology. When deciding on a sortation solution, its natural for businesses to start with different system applications, but it is more effective to consider the data that will drive the entire sortation design. Analysis of product handled, throughput, unit load, recirculation, budget, space and scalability requirements, will help determine the appropriate sort philosophy and subsequently which sorter you then choose, says McAllister.

Fast and Reliable

In terms of consumer trends, retail is the sector that has seen perhaps more change than any other in recent years, with the development of online shopping. The mega omni-channel e-retailers like Amazon have led the way with enterprising new approaches to fulfilment logistics. But the effect has trickled down to even the smallest retailers whose customers have come to expect a certain level of service and speed.

Consumer shopping habits are now having a large impact on how sortation systems are designed, says Conveyor Networks McAllister. E-commerce fulfilment now dominates space in distribution centres, as retailers need their sortation equipment to be fast and reliable to manage the volume of goods being moved.

And McAllister says that the challenge goes way beyond just sending shipments out fast The cost of returns to a supply chain cannot be ignored. Known as the new battleground for retailers to maintain the competitive advantage, well managed returns operations are shown to have a positive impact on customer loyalty.

Automating your operations improves productivity, traceability and information management. Adding scanning software into the equation, gives the ability to quickly and accurately log the information about the item. The data collected can improve understanding of customer behaviour and drive changes to strategies such as buying, marketing or packaging to improve the cost of sale, says McAllister.

BEUMERs Jones concurs that the challenges are defining new ways of working. Logistics companies already have to deal with a whole raft of individual requirements from different customers. And he says all pose unique challenges.

In terms of inventory passing through different channels, for example, similar items are often differently packaged dependent upon the relevant channel. Furthermore, some retailers adopt distinct approaches to the dispatch of individual items of apparel, depending on whether they are going to their stores or are e-commerce items. In the case of the former, sometimes hangers are preferred to minimise the use of store-side labour, while the latter are commonly polybagged without hangers to reduce costs, explains Jones.

Jones echoes McAllisters feeling that automation is a key way to deliver the extra levels of traceability and speed that customers now expect. Retailers are nowadays prioritising service levels, since customers are increasingly demanding next-day delivery as an absolute minimum. Indeed, the majority of logistics businesses now aim to fulfil around 95% of all orders within at least 24 hours. Such levels of service absolutely demand automated solutions if high volume traffic levels are to be handled both quickly and accurately.

Even the more traditional markets for sortation like postal services are looking to the benefits of integrating automated processes. Nowadays, there is a consensus of opinion that says introducing a higher degree of automation at the interface between the sortation system and the physical transport to and from the distribution centres would significantly improve the efficiency of an entire operation, says Jones.

He gives the example of BEUMERs work with Australia Post at its Brisbane hub. This facility incorporates robotic ULD inverters, automated singulators, parcel pickers, and loose load trailer operations alongside ergonomically designed operator platforms and devices. In addition, there are high capacity sorting and conveying systems able to handle both large and small parcels that also incorporate full dimension weigh and scan capabilities, says Jones.

Jones also points out that the different channels retailers now utilise mean completely different business demands and challenges are often processed through the same facilities. E-commerce fulfilment is totally different to preparing goods to be delivered to a store, let alone for wholesale. But there are conveyor and sortation technologies that can address these challenges of blending or separating streams.

To overcome these differences, larger and more advanced operations can make use of loop sortation and pouch sortation systems. These actively encourage automation and integration of core processes whilst simultaneously sorting multiple flow routes from in-feed through to despatch.

Dematics Baker agrees that the different sortation methods available have decided benefits for particular channels. He says that sorters such as tilt tray (aka bomb bay) or crossbelt sorters are generally ideal for sorting traditional retail orders going to the stores, where the number of destinations is relatively low. However, says Baker, for handling e-commerce orders the sorters will typically have too few destinations to sort an e-commerce batch into individual orders. Each sorter destination therefore has to take a number (say 10-20) of e-commerce orders simultaneously, and an operator (typically a packer) will then manually separate the items into the individual orders ready for packing.

Baker agrees with BEUMERs Jones that sorting systems that use bags suspended from hangers are particularly well suited for online orders. The modern solution to sorting and collation of e-commerce orders consisting of small items is undoubtably the pouch system, says Baker.

In this case all batch picked units are inducted into separate bags or pouches, each of which is hung beneath a conveyor similar to hanging garment conveying technology. The units can therefore be conveyed, buffered and sorted at high throughput rates on the system. Using a series of sortation steps [means that] the units can also be fully sequenced, such that very small orders of two or three items can be linked in the system, and routed together to a packing station. There is therefore no reliance on a specific number of destinations or chutes. In this way no manual separation of orders is required for ecommerce order collation, unlike with more conventional sorters, says Baker.

So it seems there is a sortation style and a conveyor configuration for every task. Automation is certainly creeping in as a useful adjunct to many conveyor and sortation systems, but the unique requirements of each particular business, and each channel stream within it will determine the appropriate mix. As logistics demands become more complex, the versatility of conveyor and sortation systems will keep them at the core of warehouse operations.

Delivering 75% less handling for Yodel

Parcel carrier Yodel has reduced its manual handling by 75% following the installation of an Out of Gauge (OOG) sortation system from Conveyor Networks, at its Sort Centre in Wednesbury in. the West Midlands.

Yodel commissioned Conveyor Networks to undertake the replacement of existing infrastructure with a new automated sortation area, This was to enable it to respond to increasing demand on OOG product sortation.

The new system reduces risk of operator injury, increases efficiency and counteracts potential damages and mis-sorts, which are common when manually handling outsized OOG products.

The system from Conveyor Networks uses Intralox sortation equipment, consisting of Activated Roller Belt technology, providing gentle and precise sorting, which historically would go through a manual process.

Steve Trisic, head of sort operations at Yodel, said: As a leading parcel carrier in the UK, we needed a reliable system that would give us more functionality to sort OOG parcels. Conveyor Networks has been able to deliver a solution that enables us to process bulky and delicate parcels more easily and efficiently, increasing our capacity and improving the flow of parcels through the sort.

The new system also deploys routeR, part of imio Software Solutions suite of applications, which provides real time data tracking of parcel distribution to each chute, ensuring effective distribution performance throughout the system.

Marcus Uprichard, head of business development at Conveyor Networks and imio Software Solutions added: Typically, sortation of delicate/fragile & misshaped products is a manual process, so the automated solution we have provided is rather unique to the UK post & parcel market, and a flagship project for Conveyor Networks.

Covid-19 Response

Leicester-based BS Handling Systems has invested over 100,000 in an electrostatic sanitisation system designed to combat Covid-19 and other bacterial threats.

Known as the Infection Control Preventative Measures Programme, BS Handling says its service uses specialist equipment, training, innovative chemistry and proven disinfection protocols.

The electrostatic spraying technology employed has an electrode in a dispersal gun that atomises the cleaning fluid. On spraying, positively charged particles are attracted to surface areas, including difficult to reach places, all of which receive an even coating of the antibacterial solution.

Robert Brand-Smith, BS Handling Systems managing director claims, Since launching the service we have treated over 160 sites. These include warehouses, offices, hotels, banks, retail premises and nurseries. Looking ahead, we currently have almost 100 additional sites booked in so the demand is clearly out there.

The time taken to complete a site varies on size, but typically, a 5,000 sq ft facility can be completed in two hours with minimal disruption to business. The site is cleared for working around 10-15 minutes after completion of the process.

Both our Covid-19 disinfection services and core storage, conveyor and materials handling businesses are operating fully to support those companies and key organisations still working under lockdown. More importantly, when it is safe to do so, they will be ready to help companies by providing back to work resets to get the economy moving again.

To assist those most in need, we are also in discussion with a local charity to provide the electrostatic sanitisation service at no cost to them, says Brand-Smith.

This feature originally appeared in the September edition of Logistics Manager.

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Logistics Manager Analysis: Automating conveyors and sortation systems - Logistics Manager

Volkswagen invests in automation, thousands of robots ordered for its EV plants – Hindustan Times Auto News

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Volkswagen Group's passenger cars and commercial vehicles brands have invested in automation in order to carry out the transformation to the e-mobility era and for conversion of plants to e-mobility hubs.

The automaker has ordered more than 1,400 robots from Japanese manufacturer FANUC for its production facilities at Chattanooga in US and Emden in Germany. Its commercial vehicles brand has ordered another 800 robots for its Hanover plant in Germany from ABB of Switzerland.

These more than 2,200 robots will mainly be used for production of car bodies and battery assembly. The three Volkswagen plants where these robots will be deployed are currently being prepared for the production of electric vehicles using highly advanced facilities. Volkswagen plans to produce its ID.4 electric vehicle at the Chattanooga and Emden facilities from 2022. It plans to manufacture the model known under the show car name of ID. BUZZ at the Hanover plant.

The company says it aims to make these production plants the most advanced ones in the industry. "At Emden and Chattanooga, we are investing in the latest technologies such as digitalization and automation," says Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Production and Logistics.

(Also read | Volkswagen to announce 'important' strategic steps to stay relevant)

Volkswagen Group plans to invest a total of 33 billion by 2024 with a view to becoming the world market leader in e-mobility.

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Volkswagen invests in automation, thousands of robots ordered for its EV plants - Hindustan Times Auto News

Solve Unique Accounts Payable Problems and Learn More About the Importance of AP Automation in Today’s Economy With IntelliChief – GlobeNewswire

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Solving Unique AP Problems With Automation for Oracle EBS

The Importance of AP Automation in Today's Economy

Tampa, FL, Oct. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IntelliChief, the emerging leader in Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Workflow Automation solutions, will host two digital events this week for Accounts Payable professionals.

Businesses looking to streamline their Accounts Payable process and take advantage of unrealized cost-saving opportunities can benefit from an integrated solution. With AP Automation, you can reduce or eliminate manual data entry, capitalize on EVERY early pay discount opportunity, and upskill your team while automation handles the repetitive busywork. If you're looking for your chance to kickstart your digital transformation, there's never been a better time than now!

(October 21, 2020, 2:00 PM EST)Solving Unique AP Problems with Automation for Oracle EBS

Attendees will learn how to identify the right AP Automation tool for their company by discussing an array of commonly overlooked AP Automation challenges. Discover:

(October 22, 2020, 2:00 PM EST)The Importance of AP Automation in Todays Economy

Attendees will learn more about the benefits of AP Automation, including:

About IntelliChief

IntelliChief is the emerging leader in Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Workflow Automation solutions. Leveraging advanced OCR, powerful workflows, document management, and analytics, IntelliChief eliminates manual processes and automates repetitive, time-consuming tasks to help businesses secure a decisive competitive advantage.

As a trusted Oracle Gold Partner and Infor Solution Partner, IntelliChief is recognized for its robust, configurable solutions and secure integrations with all ERP systems and applications. Hundreds of customers in every industry depend on IntelliChief as a strategic partner to help them digitize documents, standardize business processes, and automate Accounts Payable, Sales Orders, Human Resources, and more.

The IntelliChief team is committed to serving our customers, community, and country by guiding them through digital transformation and exemplifying what is possible with an ardent dedication to innovation and progress.

Connect with IntelliChief:

IntelliChief Resource Libraryv | Blog|LinkedIn|Twitter|

For more information, visit https://www.intellichief.com/.

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Solve Unique Accounts Payable Problems and Learn More About the Importance of AP Automation in Today's Economy With IntelliChief - GlobeNewswire

Bruker Introduces Routine Gradient Spectroscopy and Robust, Industry-Standard PAL Automation on High-Performance Fourier 80 Benchtop FT-NMR System -…

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

ZUERICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) announces the European launch of the high-performance Fourier 80 system, a next-generation, 80 MHz Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (FT-NMR) benchtop spectrometer, now with major new capabilities.

The Fourier 80 now is routinely equipped for gradient spectroscopy and offers the option of an industry-standard CTC PAL sample changer. The Fourier 80 is suitable for organic or medicinal chemistry analysis, NMR teaching, synthesis verification or routine analysis in any chemistry laboratory. Equipped with a novel, ultra-stable 80 MHz permanent magnet, it requires no cryogens, water cooling, or special lab infrastructure.

The Fourier 80 has been designed for highest data quality and stability at 80 MHz, with excellent line-shape, resolution and sensitivity in 80 MHz homonuclear 1H or heteronuclear 1H/13C FT-NMR experiments. The latest version now offers even greater sensitivity and 20% improved resolution performance. It can be operated by the easy-to-use GoScan software for NMR beginners, or by Bruker's TopSpin NMR software with the extensive TopSpin library of 1D and 2D homonuclear and proton-carbon heteronuclear experiments and pulse programs.

The latest version of the Fourier 80 now includes a pulsed field gradient which has been used in high-field NMR spectroscopy for decades to quickly and conveniently obtain essentially artifact-free spectra. Gradients allow users to enhance solvent or water suppression, perform DOSY experiments, and acquire two-dimensional NMR spectra within minimal experiment time.

Another new feature is the option of an industry-standard, robust and high-throughput PAL sample changer. Fourier 80 users with the PAL sample changer can run up to 132 samples, including 12 reference samples, thereby dramatically increasing throughput and efficiency. GoScan now also operates the sample changer to run samples overnight or over a weekend.

The Fourier 80 offers workflows and protocols for academic, pharma and industrial chemistry research, as well as for forensics and organic synthesis control. It can be incorporated into science education to introduce students to the power of FT-NMR. An optional teaching package with recommended experiments and spectra interpretation guide is also available.

Dr. Falko Busse, President of the Bruker BioSpin Group, commented: "Bruker is proud to offer the Fourier 80 with new, industry-leading capabilities like routine gradient spectroscopy, and a robust, well-accepted PAL sample changer. High-performance 80 MHz FT-NMR can now be used efficiently in any chemistry lab, just like benchtop mass spectrometers or FT-IR systems which have proliferated in chemistry labs for decades. The Fourier 80 is providing education packages to give instructors tools to introduce young scientists to the power of FT-NMR. With the Fourier 80, we further 'democratize' the many applications of NMR."

Join the launch of the Fourier 80 starting on October 19th at http://www.bruker.com/Fourier80. Watch exclusive content describing the new capabilities and hear from experts. Visitors will be able to ask questions and interact with members of the Bruker NMR team.

PAL is a registered trademark of CTC Analytics AG

About Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR)

Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Brukers high-performance scientific instruments and high-value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity and customer success in life science molecular research, in applied and pharma applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, and in industrial applications, as well as in cell biology, preclinical imaging, clinical phenomics and proteomics research and clinical microbiology. For more information, please visit: http://www.bruker.com.

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Bruker Introduces Routine Gradient Spectroscopy and Robust, Industry-Standard PAL Automation on High-Performance Fourier 80 Benchtop FT-NMR System -...

Automated aerocomposites production: Liquid molding or welded thermoplastic? – CompositesWorld

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

The DLR Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) has demonstrated an automated process for an A350 rear pressure bulkhead (RPB) using dry CF fabric (left) and resin infusion with Hexcels RTM6 epoxy. In a separate project, eight petal sections were press-moldedfrom CF/PPS organosheetand ZLPused automated resistance welding to form an A320 RPB (right). Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

As OEMs and suppliers explore the materials and processes that will enable the next generation of aircraft, two different approaches are being demonstrated. The first is liquid molding of dry fiber preforms seen, for example, in Spirit AeroSystems (Prestwick, Scotland) high-rate resin transfer molding (RTM) line for Airbus A320 spoilers and also in the Airbus-led Wing of Tomorrow (WOT) program which uses automated placement of noncrimp fabrics (NCF) and liquid resin infusion, followed by out of autoclave (OOA) cure in an oven (see High-rate, automated aerospace RTM line delivers next-gen spoilers and Update: Lower wing skin, Wing of Tomorrow respectively.)

The second is thermoplastic composites (TPC) featured, for example, in the Clean Sky 2 Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator (MFFD), where stiffened skins are created using automated fiber placement in-situ consolidated for the lower half and autoclave-consolidated for the upper half followed by assembly via welding. These programs use automation to increase production rate and quality while reducing cost. But how do they compare?

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design operates the Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) in Augsburg.Among its many composites manufacturing projects, PROTEC NSR and Fast Lane RPB present a unique opportunity to compare, respectively, a liquid-molded thermoset rear pressure bulkhead (RPB)for the twin-aisle Airbus A350 with a thermoplastic RPB for the single-aisle Airbus A320. Both projects worked with the Tier 1 supplier of these structures, Premium Aerotec Group (PAG, Augsburg, Germany), and demonstrated automation while evaluating cycle time and cost.

We started many years ago with PAG in the AZIMUT project to analyze manual processes for composites manufacturing, says Dr. Lars Larsen, head of assembly and joining technologies at ZLP Augsburg. Our first automation solution was for layup, and then we worked to automate more operations. The main goal for PROTEC NSR was to take these specialized solutions for RPB production and bring them into a single automated process, explains Dr. Marcin Malecha, project manager for PROTEC NSR at DLR.

Dry carbon fiber preform for the liquid-molded PROTEC NSR rear pressure bulkhead.Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

Preform and grippers. The process steps for creating the vacuum-bagged dry preform are shown in Fig. 1 below. This was infused with RTM6 epoxy resin using the Airbus-patented vacuum assisted process (VAP), which employs a semi-permeable membrane for reduced porosity. The preform layup comprised two sets of 16 plies up to 5 meters long using the full 1.27-meter width of the 5-harness satin carbon fiber fabric. Embedded between these two sets were 25 complex-shaped, reinforcing pieces sized up to 1.5 by 2.5 meters. Eight stringers were placed on top.

Fig. 1. Process steps for resin-infused RPBPROTEC NSR process steps for creating the dry preform: (a) material cutting; (b) (d) material transport to the robotic cell; cut-piece recognition, picking up, draping and application of (c) reinforcing plies and (e) structural plies; (f) stringer integration; and vacuum bagging of (g) tool-side and (h) B-side/outer auxiliary materials.Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

Developing tools and grippers that could achieve the necessary precision in draping and handling was one of the biggest challenges, notes Larsen. This was partly due to the complex mix of plies that required three different draping mechanisms:

For the cooperating robots, we developed end-effectors that contain six modules connected by spherical joints, Larsen explains. This allows the end-effector to deform, in a manner similar to a snake, conforming to the target geometry of the mold. Integrated heating devices activate the binder in the fabric as it is being transported and shaped, maintaining its 3D shape and position once placed.

The end-effector features a gripper that uses 127 modules equipped with vacuum suction to pick up cut plies of fabric, transform then into a 3D shape and then heat them before placing in the mold. Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

For the small, shaped plies up to 1.5 by 2.5 meters, a second kind of gripper was developed that uses 127 modules equipped with vacuum suction for pick- up. This gripper picks up material in a 2D state and then bends it to the target geometry, Malecha explains. It must decide which of the 127 modules it will hold firm and which it will let slide to transform the 2D ply to a 3D shape. So, it is very similar to how hands work to drape. We made many experiments and gained experience on where to hold and where to release. Force can be adjusted by how intense the modules grip on the material.

Inline inspection. Optical sensors in the modular grippers monitored the draping process. After placing a ply, an end-effector combining a Leica T-Scan (Hexagon Manufacturing, Cobham, U.K.) and a camera-based fiber angle measurement system by Profactor (Steyr, Austria) inspect for quality. We first measured fiber angles and compared to the CAD file, says Malecha, and then we measured the edges of each piece and checked its position versus the CAD file.

Diagram of the types of cut-pieces and stringers applied to create the preform for the RPB demonstrator manufactured by DLR in the PROTEC NSR project. Source | Fig. 1 from Highly Automated Manufacturing Process of Large Airplane CFRP Structures by Marcin Malecha and Thomas Full, Center for Lightweight Technology (ZLP), German Aerospace Center (DLR).Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

Stringers and vacuum bagging. After completing the preform, eight stiffeners (stringers) were attached on top. For this task, the Multi Kinematic Gripper was developed and was also used to apply the vacuum bag auxiliary materials. This gripper comprises three small and independent 6-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) robots and a rigid arm, all mounted on the center flange of an industrial 6-DOF robot. Vacuum bagging auxiliary materials peel ply, perforated release film and resin flow media (tool-side auxiliary materials) were precut and prejoined, designed for where they were placed. They didnt have to be draped, just placed, notes Malecha. The prefabricated semi-permeable membrane was applied in a semi-automated way via an end-effector with an umbrella-like mechanism, while placement of tacky tape and outer vacuum bag remained manual but could also be automated.

Cycle time and cost. For Malecha, the largest challenge was building the modular, artificial intelligence (AI)-based manufacturing execution system (MES) to monitor and control the process chain. We had to build data management systems that could bring together quite different processes and then command them via the MES through one data exchange port, he explains. We can use them as they are needed on the fly, enabling more flexibility and wider use versus following a strict manufacturing order.

The PROTEC NSR technology was validated by manufacturing a full-size demonstrator in January 2019, and achieving a maturity level of TRL 5-6 by mid-2019. Compared to the current state-of-the-art at PAG, this automated process chain cuts the cycle time of rolled fabric application by 58% and pick-and-place of cut plies by 50%. Manufacturing costs for these operations were reduced by 11.5% and 31%, respectively.

This project started in 2018 with PAG and Institut fr Verbundwerkstoffe (IVW, Kaiserslautern, Germany) to show what is possible with thermoplastic composites in large parts and primary structures, explains Dr. Stefan Jarka, project manager for Fast Lane RPB and expert on welding technologies at ZLP Augsburg. An RPB is not really primary, because the mechanical requirements are not as high as a wing or fuselage, but it shows what is possible for large, flat, slightly curved structures. In just four months, we developed a demonstrator A320 RPB as an example of how to convert an existing aluminum structure to thermoplastic composites.

This demonstrator used Cetex carbon fiber (CF) fabric/polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) organosheet (Toray Advanced Composites, Nijverdal, Netherlands) and resistance welding. A resistive element between the two surfaces being welded generates heat and remains in the welded structure. GKN Fokker (Hoogeveen, Netherlands) has used this technique for decades to produce aircraft landing gear doors and fixed leading edges. For this A320 RPB, the ZLP team used a CF resistive element instead of conventional stainless-steel mesh.

One of the eight CF/PPS petal sections welded together to form the thermoplastic composite RPB. Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

The thermoplastic composite RPB was to be the same price or cheaper, but the material is much more expensive, notes Larsen. Thus, lower production cost due to automation was key, as was the use of eight identical petal sections. These sections were needed to form the double-curved shape of the part, Jarka explains. Thermoforming as one single part would require a very large press that would be too expensive. Thus, eight smaller sections were press-molded by the IVW using matched metal tooling and we assembled these usingautomated welding. The automation level for thermoplastic press-forming is higher than for thermoset composites. You are mostly using matched metal tooling, with high but constant temperature being the main issue, but this also makes the automated press cycle very fast.

The overall process steps for the demonstrator RPB are shown in Fig. 2. The welding process we used was not new, says Jarka, but had to be further developed to join the 1.5-meter-long [and 40-millimeter-wide] seams for the 3-meter-diameter part and integrate a quality inspection system. Components were first fixed into the right position using a positioning jig and then electrical energy was applied to generate the plastic melt in the weld zone.

Fig. 2. Thermoplastic RPB process stepsProcess steps used to produce eight sections (bottom) of stamp-formed CF/PPS organosheet that were then joined via resistance welding to form a demonstrator A320 bulkhead.Photo Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Structures and Design

Integrating QA. We tried thermography, both flash lamp- and ultrasonic-activated, but its not so easy to measure the welding zone with this, Jarka explains. Thermography is very fast, but it doesnt easily tell you if you have good consolidation. Instead, they used a standard test rig to make multiple welded samples, measuring current, voltage and temperature. We then inspected them with ultrasonic testing (UT) and made correlations between process parameters and good consolidation, says Larsen. If we have good parameters, then we have a good part. We have also built a process simulation to compare the data we obtain during welding with the initial baseline we established.

Automation and cycle time. The whole process was very fast, on the scale of automotive parts, says Jarka. We achieved TRL 3 in our 2019 review and have since matured to TRL 4. We will achieve TRL 6 by the end of 2021. Before the pandemic, PAG had indicated it would put the thermoplastic RPB into production by 2021. Though the future is now less clear, the thermoplastic RPB is still seen as enabling the fuselage of tomorrow, reducing weight from 41 to 35 kilograms, process and assembly time by 75% and overall part cost by morethan 10%.

The thermoplastic processes are so fast that you can be cheaper versus aluminum and even meet a production rate of 100 aircraft per month, says Jarka. The RPB is a good application for thermoplastic welding but also for automation, says Malecha. The dry fiber, liquid-molded RPB is more expensive to automate.

But that automation is interesting because you could achieve real gains by automating just some of the sub-processes, says Larsen. For example, with automating the auxiliaries, we could complete the vacuum bagging in about an hour, roughly 10 times faster than the manual process. However, he concedes that cost is a major obstacle to implement such improvement. The cost of the digital tools, robots and development is too much for one single part, such as the RPB. But if we could develop a modular approach where you could use this system for many parts, then this cost could be spread wider, making it affordable when calculated with the reduced time and labor. ZLP has indeed achieved this, as explained in CWs July 2020 feature: Composites 4.0: Digital transformation, adaptive production, new paradigms.

There are not yet many comparisons between thermoset and thermoplastic composite structures, says Malecha. But we are beginning to compare thermoset and thermoplastic processes. He notes the next goal is to show that thermoplastic weld lines have the properties required for aircraft wings and fuselages. And that performance must also be shown for large, integrated liquid molded wings, for example. This is exactly what the MFFD and WOT programs have set out to accomplish. And we await their results, as well as those from many other Clean Sky 2 and EC projects, to show the next steps forward.

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Automated aerocomposites production: Liquid molding or welded thermoplastic? - CompositesWorld

Nursery automation focus of new effort led by UTIA – williamsonherald.com

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Over the next year, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will lead a team of scientists from six partnering institutions to help nursery growers transition to labor-saving automation and related technologies.

Amy Fulcher and Natalie Bumgarner, associate professors in the UT Department of Plant Sciences, are part of a transdisciplinary team that includes economists, engineers, behavioral scientists and commercial and consumer horticulture faculty. The LEAP (Labor, Efficiency, Automation and Production) Team will work with nursery owners across the U.S. tobetter understand their labor issues, identify the greatest labor constraints and opportunities within nursery systems and determine the role automation and related technologies will play in addressing the labor shortage.

For the past ten years, Fulcher and other LEAP Team members have been involved in the development of intelligent pesticide sprayers for the nursey industry that utilizes sensors and variable-rate nozzles to adjust the application to each plants physical characteristics. Those efforts led to a commercialized sprayer and are estimated to save growers more than $200 per acre in pesticide costs. The new effort, which includes members of this successful project, received a $50,000 planning grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agricultures Specialty Crops Research Initiative and is expected to conduct listening sessions and a survey to identify and prioritize yet-to-be developed automated technologies in nursery production systems.

Margarita Velandia, professor, and Alicia Rihn, assistant professor, both from the UT Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, recently joined the LEAP Team and will provide critical production and consumer economics expertise.

Nearly 80% of nursery producers identify labor shortages as a threat to the future of their industry, states Fulcher. Automation offers a largely untapped opportunity to permanently address labor scarcity. Our team will identify important motivators and barriers to adopting automated practices in order to determine the best methods to construct and convey outreach information. Ultimately, we hope to help facilitate the transition to automated technology for the nursery industry as a whole, continues the extension specialist and researcher.

Currently, only 17.5% of the most common nursery tasks are automated. Nationwide, nursery production contributes more than $4.2 billion to the economy and there are more than 800 nurseries in Tennessee alone. Automated technology has the potential to help growers increase profits and product uniformity, decrease costs and avoid the pitfalls of labor shortages as well.

The research team is comprised of scientists from six institutions: the University of Tennessee, USDA ARS, North Carolina State University, University of Florida, Texas A&M University, and Oregon State University.

Through its land-grant mission of research,teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions.utia.tennessee.edu.

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Nursery automation focus of new effort led by UTIA - williamsonherald.com

With roles reversed, Lee and Peterson face off again for NC Senate seat – Port City Daily

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

NEW HANOVER COUNTY In the shadow of a global pandemic, ongoing water-pollution litigation and a census year, and with memories of last cycles narrow margins fresh in the minds of both candidates, now-incumbent Harper Peterson faces Michael Lee in the District 9 N.C. Senate race.

Two years ago, Peterson unseated Lee, who served two terms as the District 9 senator from 2014 to 2018, by 231 votes. In the final weeks of the race, a StarNews freelancer and a former New Hanover County GOP chair filed an ethics complaint against Lee, alleging he used his role in public service to profit in his private enterprise.Lee calls the accusations in the complaint baseless.

That would require those city council members to be doing something that is a felony, he said. It would require a conspiracy of the planning commission. That the six Democrats out of the seven people on the city council were in conspiracy with the Republican.

As a private citizen, Lee is an attorney.

My practice involves land use, he said. Its what I do for a living. Its a very small piece of what I do for a living, honestly. Its probably 5% of what I do, is land use.

Peterson denies any involvement with the filing of the 2018 October complaint.

Well, when you look at it, its an interesting association, he said. I havent used that in my political ads. Its ripe for it, but I havent.

No such last-minute surprises have been lobbed yet this cycle. Both candidates acknowledged the pandemic pressures levied on campaigning have made this election less about in-person outreach and traditional campaigning strategies, and more about the ideals and records of each candidate.

He has a record now, Lee said.He hasnt passed a single piece of legislation, and I think thats important for people to know.

Peterson said he considers Lee to be a tool of special interests.

I see him as an ideologue for the Republican Party, a button pusher, Peterson said.

Peterson entered the N.C. Senate in 2018 along with 20 other Democrats. A shift toward blue candidates in that election broke the Republican supermajority, leaving the GOP with 29 of the total 50 senators. Still, it left Democrats in the minority at the state legislature.

Peterson said all of his attempts reaching across the aisle have faltered because the Republicans view him as untouchable. Peterson received significant financial backing from state-level Democratic groups, who view his race as a must-win if the Democrats are to have hope for reclaiming a majority in the state senate.

Anything I said or initiated was dead-on-arrival because they didnt want to see me get credit for anything, Peterson said about his two years in office. Thats just the way it works up there. So I understood that going in.

Advertising campaigns coming from both sides feature negative depictions of the opponent, as they did in 2018. Commercials and print advertisements coming from the Lee campaign accuse Peterson of racism and misogyny while he was mayor of Wilmington from 2001 to 2003.

I didnt say that, Lee said, The newspaper said that on multiple occasions.

Critical advertisements running about Peterson cite Wilmington newspaper articles, namely editorials, from the early-2000s.

Because a lot of people werent here when he was the mayor, they dont know about those things, Lee said. Now, the people who lived here at that time knew about it, and thats why he didnt get re-elected to be mayor.

Peterson said he and his campaign try to focus advertising on candidate track records rather than personal attacks.

Its a mud-wrestling contest for them, a world wrestling show, he said. I take offense to being called a racist and a sexist. Thats absurd. They fabricated that.

Lee said he anticipated Peterson would have an influx in high-dollar contributions and intensified his own fundraising to prepare. Though limited by the pandemic, he said he still has worked on growing a strong donor base as the election draws near. Virtual fundraising, he said, is not ideal in a race like this, which prior history shows could come down to the wire.

Now, a lot of folks just wont attend a Zoom call for whatever reason, Lee said. I continued to try to fundraise without having events, so I could compete against the money that was coming into his campaign from other places.

The need for education reform drove Lee into public service. In his opinion, schools in the state should have more leeway on how theyre able to use funding, and in general, success metrics should be geared toward evaluating learning rather than test results.

The system is built around this construct to get the most money; its not built around the best way to educate children, he said.

For Peterson, the issue of choice that sparked a re-entry into public office was clean water. In 2018, Peterson focused much of his campaign on accusations that Lee who was then holding the position of District 9 Senator failed to properly respond to the GenX scandal and related water crises. Peterson wants to see more funding for the states Department of Environmental Quality, which haslost more than one-thirdof its funding over the past decade.

Lee said the issue isnt only about funding. By his assessment, Governor Roy Cooper should have banned polluters from continuing to conduct business, which is an ability within the governors reach. Governor Cooper has said water laws passed in recent years by the Republican legislature actually make it more cumbersome for his office to order shutdowns of companies accused of polluting waterways.

DuPont and its spinoff Chemours, the two companies under scrutiny for the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the public drinking water supply, are now being sued by the state for contaminating the environment.

Peterson accuses the companies of treating local waterways like a dumping ground.

I compare that with a house on fire with people in it, Peterson described. Its not as immediate, but its cumulative and its the same thing. Its a crisis you respond to. You dont study it, you jump on it and correct the problem.

Both candidates argued that local Wilmington bureaus, like the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, need to elevate their voices in this discussion. Peterson said CFPUA needs to be reimbursed for the cost of work done in recent years to mediate water pollution, and Lee said it was unacceptable that CFPUA was not proactively included in litigation talks by the state before the lawsuit was initiated.

On development, Peterson said he would like to see a cautious approach, with considerations made to surrounding communities and potential impacts of soaring growth.

Were not here to accommodate every request for development, rezoning, special use, he said. These have to be taken individually, and they have to ask some very primary questions.

Lee said that private development is an issue best left to the local authorities, and he does not see development in New Hanover County as an item in his his potential purview.

I know how I would like it to develop, but its really up to those who are elected by the people of New Hanover County, he said. The general assembly is not there to micromanage local elected officials.

Both candidates align on the issue of redistricting. They admitted to favoring an independent districting process rather than one motivated by partisanship, the current model. According to Lee, any significant reform would involve amending the constitution.

The Peterson-Lee rematch will conclude in 17 days, Nov. 3. Early voting is now open and will close Oct. 31. Absentee ballots can be requested through Oct. 27.

Read more: Early voting just started. Heres how and where to cast your ballot [Free read]

Send tips and comments to Preston Lennon at preston@localdailymedia.com

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With roles reversed, Lee and Peterson face off again for NC Senate seat - Port City Daily

198 thoughts on The Strange Fate of Jordan Peterson – Book and Film Globe

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

As the Canadian philosopher gradually emerges from his semi-coma, will society still have use for him?

Jordan Peterson, the best-selling author, University of Toronto professor, popular vlogger, and progenitor of the Peterson phenomenon, has been mostly absent from public life for health reasons over the last year. Hes been AWOL at just the time when certain of his insights are most directly applicable to the dizzying events around us.

Peterson is the author of the book 12 Rules for Life, which has sold more than three million copies worldwide and whose only drawback may be its title. Generally, self-help books with this sort of title range from dull to unreadable, but Peterson has inspired millions with his plain but eloquent advice, backed by decades of research, on how to live responsibly and with moral courage.

Wheres Peterson when we need him?

Health reasons doesnt really come to close to describing the state of affairs. Its a horror tale.

According to his daughter Mikhaila, Peterson began taking the anti-anxiety drug in the benzodiazepine class a few years ago to counter an autoimmune reaction caused by certain foods. After his wifes terminal cancer diagnosis in April 2019, his dependence on the drug grew severe. Attempts to treat the problem in North American clinics failed. The quest for expert care to wean Peterson off the drug, treat withdrawal symptoms, and deal with a nasty side effect, akathisia, which can make a person uncontrollably restless, brought Peterson and his daughter to Russia and then Serbia.

It has been a long and, by all accounts, excruciatingly hard journey. Right now, Peterson is reportedly on the mend and has resumed writing every day, although recent vlogs posted on Mikhailas YouTube channel, in which he talks at length with his daughter about the past year, relate bouts of depression marking some of the lowest points in Petersons life. But hes not the only one suffering. We could use him around.

Peterson stands out for his rare pedagogical talent. Watching Peterson stride back and forth in business-casual attire and speak in front of a class can be a fascinating and, sometimes, humbling experience. Not everyone can get up and talk coherently and engagingly, without notes, for well over an hour to a roomful of attentive minds on Jung or Nietzsche or Dostoyevsky or Kierkegaard or Marxism or postmodernism.

Petersons zeal for knowledge and insight is palpable whether hes talking about the depth of Dostoyevskys insight into the human psyche or Nietzsches ability to write passages with a concentrated brilliance of thought and expression or Jungs desire to return the primeval to the world. The most striking insights in Petersons lectures come across in a fluid, conversational way.

Besides broad historical, literary, philosophical themes, Peterson speaks about topics at the nexus of sociology, biology, and the clinical psychology in which he is formally trained. At times, when discussing an issue like promiscuity, relationships, or divorce, Petersons point may be a fairly obvious one, yet you may find that you havent heard it voiced in quite as many words. At other times, Peterson is startlingly profound. His analyses of the nature of social hierarchies and of gender differences, gender relations, and social inequality depart markedly from prevailing clichs.

Among Petersons observations are that extensive surveys of multiple countries across many periods of modern history establish that it is neither possible nor desirable to eradicate inequality completely. Those Scandinavian societies that have striven mightily for decades to alter the gender composition of various professions and achieve gender parity havent just fallen short of their goals, theyve ended up with results that confirm what no enlightened person these days will dare to whisper about the innate differences, and differing proclivities, of men and women. You can appreciate gender differences or you can do your damnedest to deny them, and make others deny them, but theyre not going away. Peterson has decided views on this point.

Peterson also argues forcefully that the study of white privilege is a bogus excrescence of an arbitrary and logically indefensible postmodernist charade never subject to any form of statistical analysis. At Petersons own school, this pseudo-concept grew out of scholarship so awful it tests our credulity. At the University of Toronto, in the psychology department, the original paper on white privilege wouldnt have received a passing grade for the hypothesis part of an undergraduate honors thesis. Not even close. Theres no methodology at all, Peterson says.

Another of Petersons feats is to have turned some people against the self-righteousness of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish child activist who has spearheaded a global movement around climate change and led rallies that have convulsed cities. One particularly interesting video contrasts Thunbergs hiss of How dare you! at adults who would stand in the way of her movement and her agenda with Petersons calm and lucid analysis of just how complex climate change is and why Thunberg is wrong to suggest that rich countries could act responsibly and solve the problem but are simply refusing to do the right thing. Whats the solutionswitch to wind and solar power?

Good luck with that. Try it and see what happens. We cant store the power, Peterson says. Germany tried it. They produce more carbon dioxide than they did when they started, because they had to turn on their coal-fired plants again. That wasnt a very good plan. But we dont want nuclear. Its a vexed issue, and complex subjects take years to study and analyze properly. There are reasons why children are told not to speak boldly and rudely to adults.

Obviously, Petersons views arent bound to make him popular with all students in this age of safe spaces and the shouting down of speakers with incorrect views. But when watching his videos, one senses that his eloquence and the wealth of data he deploys command the respect of many in his audience even if they dont like what theyre hearing. Peterson vocally objects to the left-wing and postmodernist tyranny in academia, and says he considers the gravest threat to free speech today to come from the radical left. This isnt surprising given the origins of the Peterson phenomenon.

Petersons phenomenal output follows on the heels of a controversy that still earns him the enmity of many enlightened people in Canada and beyond. In 2016, Peterson spoke out against Bill C-16, then before the Canadian parliament, which stood to add transgendered people to a list of those enjoying full legal protections against any form of discrimination, includingin Petersons analysisthe discrimination of failing to address the transgendered by neologisms, i.e. zim, zhe, zhey. Voluntary use of a given word is one thing, even if the word in question is a concoction of radical left-wing ideologues, but it was clear to Peterson that if nondiscrimination means fostering an atmosphere where people address transsexuals only as the latter feel comfortable being addressed, then the proposed legislation would compel speech by dictating what terms people can use.

As Peterson told the Toronto Sun in 2016, These laws are the first laws that Ive seen that require people under the threat of legal punishment to employ certain words, to speak a certain way, instead of merely limiting what theyre allowed to say. The furor has been running high for years now, but Peterson has never backed down. Under intense fire from the woke p.c. crowd for his alleged bigotry and stubbornness, he has argued cogently that what the ideologues propose to do is without precedent in the history of English common law.

In 2018, Peterson expounded further on the personal philosophy underpinning his opposition to Bill C-16, telling the U.K. interview program London Real, You have a sacred responsibility in relation to what you say. I do believe that you bring the world into being through communicative speech. Thats the fundamental Judeo-Christian doctrine, and I think its true. And I think that the world you bring into being through truth is a good world. So, if you want to mess around with your words, then basically what youre agreeing is to bring a substandard reality into existence.

Given the attitudes expressed here, its little wonder that Peterson has turned into such a staunch and vocal enemy of a postmodernist academic culture that denies gender differences and enforces groupthink through grotesque neologisms that weaponize English for ideological ends.

Clearly, Peterson is a problem for the left. The prevailing assumption is that people with conservative views must simply be uninformed, stupid, or both. To be educated is to be a progressive. If you dare let slip an incorrect thought, shame on you. Get your head out of the ground, try to become enlightened, quit parroting what your ignorant parents told you, stop being a Neanderthal if thats remotely within your power.

Its an attitude we hear today in the maunderings of liberals like Robert Reich, who has divided the polity of this country into progressives, who often meet people not like themselves, and regressives (yes, his own worda nice synonym for deplorables) who lack the tolerance that comes from working and living with those of different backgrounds and are bent on keeping their guns, denying climate change, opposing the expansion of the safety net, and so on. Liberals, who react violently to slurs against other demographics, use terms like Gun nut, redneck, and townie to describe them. In contrast, liberals are enlightened, forward-looking, and engaged in a battle against irrational prejudice.

Jordan Petersons experience turns such notions on their head in the most vivid manner imaginable. Just watch a video or two in which this erudite, thoughtful, supremely articulate man, who calmly states his case against compelled speech with nuanced arguments alluding to history and philosophy and law, walks into a university building and meets with a student protest. Angry kids mob the halls, beat drums, blare horns, and scream things like Transphobic piece of shit! It seems unlikely that the protestors have a more nuanced view of the complex historical and cultural issues involved in the controversy. Theyre like ignorant villagers calling for tarring and feathering of the learned man.

Of course, people of all political persuasions can and do act like boors. But theres a special irony when those who purport to carry enlightened attitudes, and to be doing battle with irrational prejudice, display the basest and most savage kind of obscurantism and obstructionism in an effort to prevent a learned, cultured, thoughtful, and sensitive man from stating his point of view.

Peterson has certainly earned more than his share of opprobrium from the left, both in the form of physical protests when he has tried to speak, and nasty articles dismissing him as, among other things, a right-wing professor, an old-fashioned conservative, and (in one particularly vicious ad hominem screed) a conservative in denial. But is he a conservative?

Peterson denies that hes a political conservative and says that he would oppose right-wing domination of academia, if such a thing should ever come to pass, just as readily as he now opposes leftist-postmodernist tyranny on college campuses. But there can be no doubt that his historical insight, and his restless desire to examine issues in all their complexity, to tease out their philosophical, ethical, and moral nuances, have gotten in the way of some of the more extreme policies and proposals of radical leftists, and theyve long given up caring about such distinctions.

At the start of this article, I lamented that Peterson is out of service at precisely the time when certain of his insights most apply. I was thinking, in particular, of Petersons discussion of the lengths to which conservatives and liberals will respectively go when it comes to distancing themselves from irresponsible people whom they dont want to claim their public image.

Petersons insights are of interest for everyone whos grown tired of a political culture where two sides scream at each other and rarely productively engage with ideas. Peterson defines thinking as a process that involves being scrupulously fair to the other side. The thinker states the viewpoint or perspective that is antithetical to his or her own views as eloquently and powerfully as possible, and then constructs a response. Instead of attacking a straw man version of the opposing argument, the thinker critiques the iron man version, as Peterson puts it.

Thats what great minds have historically done. Its no accident, Peterson says in one of his lectures, that the smartest and most admirable characters in some of Dostoyevskys novels are those whose viewpoint the author opposes. This is intelligence at work, and its sadly absent all too often on both the right and the left. Lashing out at fake news that displeases you is no more intelligent that trying to justify looting and rioting on the grounds that they strike at the heart of whiteness.

It will undeniably be a great thing for those concerned about left-wing tyranny in academia, and the need for students to have greater exposure to non-leftist concepts and ideas, when Jordan Peterson is over his recent problems and speaking and vlogging widely again. Hes of great use to us. Its not that Peterson is a conservative, its just that thoughtful and balanced policy proposals line up suspiciously well with conservative ones. Thats my enlightened opinion, of course, and youre free to disagree with me. For now.

198 thoughts on The Strange Fate of Jordan Peterson - Book and Film Globe

Patrick Peterson on how to defeat Cowboys without Dak Prescott: ‘We have to force Andy Dalton to beat us’ – CBS Sports

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

It's officially the Andy Dalton show in North Texas for the remainder of the 2020 season, and he's already passed his first test in continuing and finishing the rally started by Dak Prescott against the New York Giants in Week 5. When Prescott went down with a gruesome ankle injury that's now been surgically repaired -- a compound fracture with dislocation -- in the third quarter, Dalton entered the game and was forced to overcome an early lost fumble en route to going nine for 11 on pass attempts for 111 yards and a 108.7 passer rating.

He had no touchdown passes, but did have two consecutive game-changing throws to Michael Gallup to set up Greg Zuerlein for a game-winning field goal -- doing just enough to lift the team to 2-3 atop the NFC East. His next test will be a much more daunting one though, as he readies for his first start with the Cowboys against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. A team that boasts firepower on both sides of the ball, it's eight-time pro bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson who could give him fits.

When asked the formula for defeating the Cowboys sans Prescott, Peterson pointed squarely at Dalton.

"Stop the run," Peterson to CBS Sports analyst Bryant McFadden on the 'All Things Covered' podcast. "Definitely gotta stop the run and force -- not saying he can't do it -- but we have to force Andy Dalton to beat us. We feel if you take the ball out of Ezekiel Elliott's hands, there's more opportunities for bad things to happen if the ball is in the air."

Peterson did want to make it clear his comments are not in any way shade being thrown at Dalton, though.

"Andy Dalton is a very, very serviceable backup," said the four-time All-Pro. "I saw a crazy stat that said Andy has like 31,000 passing yards. It's not a lot of backups that -- technically, he's not a backup. He could be a starter in this league. He was a starter in this league and he has starter numbers. To have a guy that's a starter as your backup, that's huge.

"I believe coach Mike McCarthy did the right thing by going out and getting a better [backup] QB, just in case something like this did occur."

Outside of Tony Romo landing in the backup role behind Prescott in 2016 due to preseason injury that fueled the changing of the guard at the position, the Cowboys haven't had a backup as qualified as Dalton in several years. Their refusal to address the issue cost them mightily at times in the past, including the 2015 season that saw a carousel of bad quarterbacks muster just one win in 12 tries absent an injured Romo. One of the first orders of business for McCarthy was to change that storyline going forward, which led to the team moving on from undrafted and uneven Cooper Rush to make room for Dalton on a one-year deal.

Dalton, a three-time Pro Bowler in his own right, is 70-61-2 as a regular season starter with 31,705 passing yards and 204 touchdowns to 118 interceptions.

It's his 0-4 career postseason record that has some wondering what he might or might not do come January, but the first order of business is winning games in October through December. Peterson will have a say in that mission come Monday and, for his money, he likes the Cardinals chances if the game is in Dalton's hands instead of Elliott's.

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Patrick Peterson on how to defeat Cowboys without Dak Prescott: 'We have to force Andy Dalton to beat us' - CBS Sports

The Most Vulnerable Incumbent In The House Is A Democrat, But Republicans Are Defending More Competitive Seats – FiveThirtyEight

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

In the face of a whirlwind presidential campaign and massive fundraising numbers coming out of marquee U.S. Senate contests, its easy to overlook whats happening in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives. That might be because Democrats look like strong bets to hold onto power there. In fact, FiveThirtyEights forecast is most confident about the House, as the Deluxe version of our model gives Democrats a 95 in 100 shot at retaining control of the House, better than Joe Bidens 88 in 100 chance of winning the presidency or the Democrats 74 in 100 chance of capturing the Senate.

However, even if Democrats do hold onto the House, that doesnt mean theyll retain every seat they control. In fact, there are a number of seats they might lose, including that of Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, the most vulnerable House incumbent seeking reelection in 2020. The Deluxe version of our House forecast only gives him about a 1 in 4 shot of winning in Minnesotas 7th Congressional District against Republican Michelle Fischbach.

Petersons chances come down partly to the makeup of his rural district in western Minnesota. The 7th Congressional District is 26 points more Republican than the country as a whole, according to FiveThirtyEights partisan lean metric, making it the most GOP-leaning House seat held by a Democrat. Seeking his 16th term in office, Peterson has won past elections as a Democrat thanks to his moderate views, his anti-abortion stance and his focus on agricultural issues. And as the chair of the House Agriculture Committee, hes been very attentive to farming interests, especially the sugar beet industry, which is important to his constituency. Still, the rightward shift in his district in the last decade or so narrowed his margin of victory to about 4 points in 2018.

But beyond the seats increasingly deep red hue, Peterson is up against his most daunting challenger in years. Fischbach served as the states lieutenant governor and, before that, as president of the Minnesota Senate. And unlike recent Peterson opponents, Fischbach has nearly matched his fundraising. On top of that, Republican groups have spent $5 million on her behalf, while Peterson has received a little less than $4 million in outside support. Its no wonder then that the expert handicappers at The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabatos Crystal Ball all rate this race as a toss-up, which factors into the Deluxe version of our forecast.

However, despite Petersons trying circumstances, the good news for Democrats is that his vulnerability makes him a rare bird in 2020. Of the most endangered Democratic-held House seats, Democrats are clear underdogs in just Petersons district. In fact, as the table below shows, Democrats are slightly favored in most competitive seats they are defending (races where they have less than a 3 in 4 shot of winning). Just two other Democratic incumbents face toss-up races: Rep. Kendra Horn in Oklahomas 5th Congressional District and Rep. TJ Cox in Californias 21st Congressional District.

Democratic-held seats that Democrats have less than a 75 in 100 shot of winning in the Deluxe version of FiveThirtyEights House forecast, as of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 19

Horns race is particularly close, as the district is still heavily red (13 points more Republican than the country as a whole) and she won in 2018 by just 1 point. Meanwhile, Cox is defending more Democratic-leaning turf, but hes faced scrutiny over owing back taxes and is running against former Republican Rep. David Valadao, whom Cox edged out by a slim margin in 2018 (less than 1 point). And in Californias top-two primary system back in March, Cox trailed Valadao by 11 points, which could be a poor harbinger for the freshman incumbent.

These three seats, plus the others where Democrats are marginally favored, could be especially vulnerable if things go better for Trump than currently expected. Nevertheless, Democrats are helped out by the fact that they have incumbents running in all but one of these seats, and 12 are freshmen incumbents who have raised huge sums of money.

By comparison, Republicans find themselves defending far more vulnerable seats than Democrats despite controlling fewer seats overall. This is mostly thanks to redistricting, retirements and the Democratic-leaning electoral environment. As the table below shows, GOP candidates are underdogs in three Republican-held seats, roughly 50-50 in nine others and have less than a 3 in 4 shot of winning in 13 more.

Republican-held seats that Republicans have less than a 75 in 100 shot of winning in the Deluxe version of FiveThirtyEights House forecast, as of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 19

Two North Carolina seats are almost surefire Democratic pickups due to court-ordered redistricting, while retiring Rep. Will Hurds seat in Texass 23rd Congressional District is leaning toward the Democrats, too. Retirements and primary losses have left five of the nine GOP toss-up seats open, which helps Democrats even if the incumbency advantage isnt what it once was. Lastly, the 13 seats that lean toward Republicans are all seats that could conceivably flip toward Democrats if 2020 is another blue wave election.

Put it all together and you can see why the Democrats chances of holding onto the House look pretty good, even if they do have the most endangered incumbent up in 2020.

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The Most Vulnerable Incumbent In The House Is A Democrat, But Republicans Are Defending More Competitive Seats - FiveThirtyEight

OU football: Joe Mixon and Adrian Peterson score, Baker Mayfield struggles, Sooners in the NFL week 6 – The Oklahoma Daily

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

During week six of the 2020 NFL season, 10 former Sooners took the field Sunday afternoon.

Here are some of the notable performances:

Joe Mixon

The Cincinnati Bengals running back had 18 rushes for 54 yards along with two catches for 15 yards. He finished with one touchdown.

Mixons touchdown was not enough, as the Bengals lost 31-27 to the Colts.

Adrian Peterson

The Detroit Lions running back had 15 rushes for 40 yards along with one catch for 18 yards. Peterson was also able to score his second rushing touchdown of the year.

Petersons effort helped the Lions to a 34-16 win over the Jaguars.

Baker Mayfield

The Cleveland Browns quarterback struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mayfield completed 10 of 18 passes for 119 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also had one rush for five yards.

Mayfield was benched after the third quarter to avoid further aggravating his rib injury from Oct. 11. The Browns lost 38-7.

Other Performances:

Ravens wide receiver Marquise Hollywood Brown had four catches for 57 yards.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had two rushes for 23 yards along with one catch for three yards.

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews had two catches for 21 yards.

Bengals running back Samaje Perine had one rush for zero yards.

Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. helped hold the Eagles to three sacks.

Bengals defensive end Amani Bledsoe had one tackle.

Washington punter Tress Way had one punt for 55 yards.

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OU football: Joe Mixon and Adrian Peterson score, Baker Mayfield struggles, Sooners in the NFL week 6 - The Oklahoma Daily

Adrian Peterson passes Walter Payton on this list with latest rushing TD – 97.1 The Ticket

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Adrian Peterson continues to climb the record books.

The 35-year-old Detroit Lions running back scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter of Sundays game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which marked his 82nd career game with at least one rushing touchdown.

The accomplishment puts Peterson ahead of Hall of Famer Walter Payton for the fourth-most in NFL history.

Peterson was cut by the Washington Football Team just before the start of the season and was scooped up by the Lions. The future Hall of Famer has been productive for Detroit, entering Sunday averaging 4.5 yards per carry on 54 carries and one rushing touchdown.

Petersons touchdown also gave the Lions an early 7-0 lead over the Jaguars in what is reportedly a must-win game for head coach Matt Patricia.

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Adrian Peterson passes Walter Payton on this list with latest rushing TD - 97.1 The Ticket

Letter | Peterson will serve Morrow County well as commissioner – East Oregonian

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

I strongly encourage the voters of Morrow County to vote for Joel Peterson as Morrow County commissioner. Joel has the experience, temperament, attitude, and work ethic that the county commission requires.

Joel is a lifelong resident of Morrow County. He makes his living from a multi-generation farm. He understands the economy of Morrow County. He has been an involved resident serving many years on the county planning commission. He also served as a director for various civic and professional organizations. He has been a proponent of a strong education system in the area. He gets it. He understands the intricacies of living and working in Morrow County.

My experience with Joel comes primarily through his time as a director for BEO Bancorp and Bank of Eastern Oregon. Joel has served as board chair in previous years. He is currently chair of the Funds Management committee, and serves on the loan and compensation committees. In all interactions with Joel, he is honest, forthright, intelligent, thoughtful, and a stickler for details.

Joel is rarely the loudest voice in the room, but when he speaks, whatever he says, is worth hearing. He possesses great common sense and has earned the respect of his fellow directors, as well as the bank employees. He has been a visionary in helping Bank of Eastern Oregon grow from three branches in 1993, when he joined the board, to the 20 branches and four loan offices of 2020.

I have no doubt he will serve Morrow County in like manner, with honesty, integrity, professionalism, vision and with common sense, which sadly isnt so common these days.

Please join me in voting for Joel Peterson, Morrow County commissioner.

Jeff Bailey

Heppner

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Letter | Peterson will serve Morrow County well as commissioner - East Oregonian

Patrick Peterson: LB Isaiah Simmons ‘not technically ready’ for extensive role – Cards Wire

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

When the Arizona Cardinals made Isaiah Simmons the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft, many NFL analysts called the pick the steal of the draft. The versatile 2019 Butkus Award winner was seen as a plug-and-play guy who could play outside or inside linebacker, slot cornerback, and safety.

Unfortunately for the first-year player, Simmons has barely seen the playing field. Through five games, he has recorded only 57 of a possible 338 defensive snaps.

According to PFF, in his final year at Clemson, Simmons recorded snaps at the following positions:

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, announced that outside linebacker Chandler Jones will have season-ending surgery to repair his right biceps. Could the Cardinals finally look to Simmons to replace his injured teammates? Maybe not, and Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson might have revealed why.

On All Things Covered, his weekly podcast with Bryant McFadden, Peterson had this to say about Simmons:

Him not having an offseason to really find out what position would be good for him versus doing the virtual meetings. They really didnt expect DC (DeVondre Campbell) to have the season that hes having. Its hard to put that type of guy on the bench when necessarily your first rounder is not technically ready.

Hes not ready?

Previously, when asked about Simmons, coach Kingsbury goes to his standard yeah, thats something were working through. It is understandable Kingsbury does not want to call out his defensive coordinator in the media, but if Peterson is right and Simmons is not ready, then that rests solely on the shoulders of defensive coordinator Joseph.

Consider this, below are the number of snaps and the percentage of total snaps played by other 2020 defensive first-round picks whose teams are currently .500 or better.

As we see other rookie first-round picks receiving snaps its fair to ask Is this on Simmons or Joseph?

Despite Simmons ability to move around on the defense, it seems as if Vance Joseph is pigeonholing Simmons into the weakside inside linebacker spot occupied by DeVondre Campbell. Peterson is right, with the way Campbell is playing, there is no way you put him on the sidelines.

But with injuries plaguing the Cardinals secondary and now the defensive front seven, when will Simmons get his opportunity to learn? Opportunities are presenting themselves, but Joseph seems to be reluctant to not just do whats right for the team, but Simmons development as well.

As an old mentor once told me, Theres no better way to learn than to do.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wires Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Patrick Peterson: LB Isaiah Simmons 'not technically ready' for extensive role - Cards Wire

Peterson catches two TDs in 42-28 win over Campus – The Hutchinson News

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Before the Hutchinson High School football team could turn their attention to next weeks monster showdown with undefeated Maize, the Salthawks had to take care of business against Campus on Friday night at Gowans Stadium.

Tied at 14 late in the first half, quarterback Myles Thompson found receiver Treyton Peterson for a 50-yard touchdown to give the Salthawks a 21-14 lead heading into halftime.

Petersons receiving touchdown was the start of a 21-0 run that allowed the Salthawks to create separation en route to a 42-28 victory.

"That touchdown was especially important because Campus got the ball to start the second half," Hutchinson head coach Mike Vernon said. "I wouldnt say that was the main swinging point of the game, but it definitely helped us."

Of Thompsons 123 passing yards, 110 went to Peterson, including both touchdown passes. On the ground, Hutchinson rushed for 374 yards as a team.

Alec McCuan rushed for 185 yards, while Thompson gained 107 on the ground. Both McCuan and Thompson rushed for a touchdown, as did Jalen Barlow and Anthony Blackwell.

Vernon said Campus did a good job of taking away McCuan and Noah Khokhar on the ground, and praised Barlow and Blackwell for stepping up, especially in the second half.

"Campus did some things that other teams hadnt done to us this year," Vernon said. "We talked about at halftime how some other guys would have to step up. Im super proud of Barlow and Blackwell. Theyve been super selfless this year with blocking, and tonight they made some plays."

Campus struck first on a 63-yard touchdown run from Christian Sicard to take a 7-0 lead. The Salthawks responded with an eight-play, 88-yard drive that was capped off by a 7-yard touchdown from Thompson.

Blackwell put the Salthawks up by seven on a 5-yard score early in the second, but Campus answered on an 8-yard touchdown pass by Braelyn Jay to Jacob Rymer.

Tied at 14 with 14 seconds left in the first half, Peterson caught a pass on a comeback route, turned inside and made a man miss, then beat the safety deep for a 50-yard touchdown to give Hutchinson the lead at halftime.

A 3-yard rushing touchdown from Barlow and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Peterson put the Salthawks up 35-14. McCuan scored a touchdown late in the fourth, and the Salthawks held on for a victory.

The Salthawks are now 6-1 on the season and 4-0 within the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I. All eyes will be on Hutchinson next Friday when the Salthawks host Maize (7-0, 5-0 AVCTL DI) next Friday to end the regular season.

"Were going to have to play mistake-free we cant turn the ball over or have stupid penalties," Vernon said. "Were also going to have to get off the field on third down. Thats our recipe to win every week, it doesnt matter who it is.

"Its going to be a great night of football in Hutchinson, Kansas at Gowans Stadium."

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Peterson catches two TDs in 42-28 win over Campus - The Hutchinson News

Peterson family still swinging at the LCC Foundation Golf Classic – Neuse News

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Playing in the tournament helps keep me connection to Kinston, he said. We lived right on the course (3rd hole) as well. Having my sons play with me also gives them memories of their grandfather. They hit golf balls with him just about every time they came to visit. Dad also was on the organizing committee for the first Foundation tournament.

Peterson said LCC briefly had a golf team in the late 80s. Dad was the coach. I believe Dr. Mac (Dr. Jesse McDaniel) was still the president and Dad talked him into it. He loved golf and he always was there to help kids out. He got to play golf doing this as well.

The late Guy Peterson began his career at LCC in 1972 as a counselor. He served as the director of the Evening Programs from 1984 to 1987 before becoming the director of the College Union/Special Assistant. Dad retired in 1989 but he continued to work with the school part time until the mid 90s, he said. He did whatever was needed - teach, audit classes, visit satellite locations, etc. Between doing that, volunteering with his church and civic organizations and taking care of my mother, he was busier retired than when he was working.

Education was obviously important to Dad. LCC was important to him. He helped students while working and while retired because he cared, he said. If I can continue helping students by participating in the tournament in his memory, I will continue this family tradition. I learned a lot from my Dad. He taught me by example to give ba

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Peterson family still swinging at the LCC Foundation Golf Classic - Neuse News

4 Women of Color Share How Spirituality Has Helped Them Heal, Rest, and Resist – Well+Good

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

No matter who you are, where you live, or how you identify, its fair to assume that the coronavirus pandemic has touched your life and shifted the way you go about it in some way. Whether that means your plans for milestone events have moved, your job security has been compromised, youve experienced financial strife, your mental health has taken a toll, your physical health has been called into question at the hands of the virus, or some combination, your world has undoubtedly been shaken in some way by this illness. For Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who have historically had less access to social determinants of health, these effects of COVID-19 are especially pronounced. More specifically, research has shown that Black and Latinx communities have been disproportionately impacted by the virus, which is crucial to know given that as Black people fight to survive the pandemic, we simultaneously bear the burden of tirelessly fighting against racial injustice following a public reckoning with systemic racism that reached an inflection point in response to the May 25 murder of George Floyd.

Tirelessly fighting for racial justice period, let alone in a landscape where an invisible virus threatens a persons very existence is tiring. And yet women of color, Black women in particular, are often looked to as sources of strength, even when we want toand deserve the right tofall apart. While its okay not to be okay right now, some female-identifying people of color are finding that spirituality is helping them find healing energy that allows for rest, replenishing themselves, and persisting in resistance.

Whether you tend to your spirit via an organized religion, an ancestral tradition, or through meditation and journaling, spirituality can be a great tool for self-care and coping that in turn can benefit mental health, emotional health, and physical health.

If youve been looking to develop your own spiritual practice, or have been wondering how other women of color are using spirituality to cope with the stress that this year has brought about, keep reading. Below, four women of color share how spirituality for healing has helped them find solace during these difficult times.

If anything, quarantine has given me more space to focus on my emotional and spiritual well-being. Before it was a nice to-do when I could fit it in. Now it is a nonnegotiable, daily practice. When I get off-balance, which is easy to do these days for all of us, I know the exact tools to get me back aligned, at peace, and in my power.

Lenora, 36, New York

Meditation and grounding ceremonial practices have allowed me [the energy] to continue to be on the front lines of protests and come back to the recurring theme of ancestral guidance and this long-standing fight that Black and Indigenous people have been up against for centuries. When we take time to care for ourselves, we are making room to be able to care for othersrest is radical!

Alexis, 21, Philadelphia

My spirituality keeps me grounded in a world where everything is changing and uncertain. I know that I have a practice to sustain me, that I have angels and spirits and ancestors and a God that is always here for me when I need them. I know that no matter how scared or alone or hurt or drained I feel, Im never truly alone.

Olivia, 28, Washington, DC

My healing is in focusing on what I can control and how I respond to things, not focusing on triggers. Fox, 33, Philadelphia

The pandemic and continued racism have forced me to focus on mindfulness and awareness of what I can control. Im not in control of racism or the state-sanctioned violence or oppression against us. But what I am in control of is my physical spacemy home. When I find myself feeling anxious about the fact that we are still harmed for simply wanting to be treated as human, I pray. I count joy. I [celebrate that I] woke up today. My healing is in focusing on what I can control and how I respond to things, not focusing on triggers.

Fox, 33, Philadelphia

Be prepared to expand your mind. There are so many gifted content creators who focus on spirituality; try and find some who resonate with you. Be prepared to feed your spirit daily, and stay curious.

Lenora

Try connecting with others in your life, and see if they have their own rituals or practices that stick out to you; mentorship and community within spirituality is greatly rewarding. The internet is also a powerful tool full of online communities and free knowledge regarding different ways to utilize everyday objects and environments to ground yourself and meditate. That said, its important to research the kind of medicines or practices youre adopting to ensure sure youre not appropriating other cultures or contributing to the colonial co-opting of certain practices.

Alexis

Find people who are also on a spiritual journey, and ask if they would be willing to share what their spiritual journey has been like. Understand that your spiritual journey does not have to and likely will not look like anyone elses. Also, do not assume that there is one spiritual path that is right for you; be open to learning about multiple traditions if you are called to do so.

Olivia

However you identify and whatever divine entity you believe, allow yourself to explore. I was hellbent on things needing to be the Christian way, and once I allowed myself to explore, it helped me a lot.

Fox

My daily routine consists of morning meditations, spending time in nature, praying, talking to my ancestors, and talking to God. I notice immediately when I take days off from my spiritual practices, especially in this climate, so I try and stick with it.

Lenora

I say a mantra I learned from spiritual advisor Emilia Ortiz:

May my highest vibration guide me night and day.

May my ancestors protect me always.

May my blessing come in plentiful, like rain.

May my heart assist me in my growth every day .

May my loves light always illuminate the way.

I also often take meditative baths with salt soaks or turn showers into a meditative space. In these moments, I imagine the water washing away any negativity, anxiety, or heaviness I am carrying in my body and mind. I try out different forms of these rituals, and when I feel relieved or grounded afterward, I stick to or revisit them later.

Alexis

I meditate every evening and write down whatever visions I have while meditating. I light candles every evening as well. I sleep holding crystals that correspond with the energy I need. What works for me changes depending on what Im going through. I can always tell when Im feeling spiritually stagnant and need to switch things up.

Olivia

I wake up, say a few prayers, or meditate. I keep lavender and eucalyptus around for their energy-cleansing properties. I make different sprays that I use for protection. [But] it doesnt matter what you practiceconsistency in anything is going to put you in a better place. Consistency in your spirit is important, too.

Fox

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4 Women of Color Share How Spirituality Has Helped Them Heal, Rest, and Resist - Well+Good

Hot on the healers: The best spiritual practitioners in London – Tatler

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Danzig

Photo Media / ClassicStock / Getty Images

BEST FOR... BREAKDOWNS, BREAKUPS AND BREAKTHROUGHS: ESTELLE BINGHAM

When you are running on zero, feeling physically, emotionally and metally defeated, Estelle Bingham is the healer to get you out of your funk and restore your hope, thanks to her uncanny talent for finding the root of problems and illnesses, deep-seated emotional issues and bad habits. And it works quickly. What is quite amazing is Estelle's healing technique: there are no consultations or conversations to find out what brought you to see her. Instead, she tunes into her psychic skills to pinpoint the exact issue, as you lie down on her couch, with huge chunks of crystals placed on various points of your body. Bingham is particularly strong on opening and healing your heart and getting you to, ultimately, love yourself. And while everyone reacts differently, be prepared for the physical side effects too, which might leave you feeling spaced-out and weepy. Her devotees attest that the outcome of her sessions are always an enriching and eye-opening experience, so its no surprise that it can be hard to get an appointment straight away. Book now. estellebingham.com

BEST FOR... TRANSFORMATION: EDDY ELSEYSeeing as, right now, we cannot travel to the depths of Peru, the ashrams of India or make a weeklong retreat in Ubud to realign mind, body and soul, as part of the Mandrakes newest holistic spa programme, The Soul Reset, you can hole up in their loft-style rooms and enjoy a range of esoteric treatments from some of the best spiritual practitioners in the country, even just for a weekend. Dynamic and proactive in his therapy, Eddy Elsey is a no nonsense, straight talking, shamanic healer, who splits his time between the Midlands and as a resident spiritual practitioner at the Mandrake. Combining shamanism and his own philosophical teachings, Elsey prepares you for sessions, where you are stripped back to your purest self - no sex, drugs, alcohol for 24 hours before the session, and no perfume or makeup on the day of the healing. Whether on a distant healing or in person at the Mandrake hotel, Shaman Eddy is exacting and works quickly, tapping into your body and spirit - his sessions are intense, from the consultation to the drumming and calling on his spirit team and yours, bringing clients on a deep experiential journey. Afterwards, things just seem to shift, dreams are often intense and prophetic, and lots of weird synchronicities seem to happen around you. Of course, its a strange experience, but Elseys down to earth manner keeps you in check, plus he equips you with all the spiritual tools to be able to approach lifes crossroads with a new perspective. Even after just one session (unless it's special circumstances, Elsey does not like to see clients again for at least two months), the end result is on point - and somewhat life-changing. .themandrake.com; streetspirituality.com

BEST FOR... QI GONG: PER VAN SPALLA spiritual tour de force, Qi Gong Master Per sets you on the path to peak condition: mentally, physically and emotionally. When he is not working from the Como Shambhala retreat in Bali, you can catch him at Como Metropolitan London. A nirvana of holistic healing, this urban retreat has Como's signature fresh ginger tea on tap to gently ease you into a more meditative state as you talk Per through what you would like to achieve from this session. Per always gets his clients to take a good, long look at themselves, including your posture in front of a mirror before he starts to work on you. An ancient practice stretching back more than 6,000 years, Qi Gong is based on energy work that opens you up to your truest nature and removes the blocks that keep your natural life force from flowing freely - a powerful tool for combating stress and bolstering immune systems. First, Per gets his clients to take a long look at themselves (including their posture in front of the mirror) and then the magic begins. Afterwards, you feel as though you've emerged from a holistic car wash: brighter, noticeably less bloated, generally glowing and just high on life. For maximum results, book yourself in for an Indian Head Massage directly after your Qi Gong session, to ground you and heighten the euphoric effects of Pers transformative energy work. comohotels.com

BEST FOR AN AYURVEDIC OVERHAUL: NATALIE EVEMuscles hum following this Mauli Time treatment from Natalie Eve at the Bulgari hotel. One of the industrys most knowledgeable Ayurvedic specialists and ambassador for the beauty brand, Mauli (the prettiest and most powerful ayurvedic products, including the best Hilamalayn and rose quartz bath salts), Eves two-hour sessions are next level blissed-out affairs: from the in-depth consultation, where you will find out your dosha type, to her signature deep massage strokes along your marma points, where you are drizzled in different oils all over your body, and then massaged along the spine, your legs and arms - throw in some hot stones, crystal massage, reiki, Indian head massage and a pada abhyanga (foot massage), for an out-of-body-experience. Eves understanding of the emotional language of the body is unique, where by applying degrees of manipulation, she releases long-held trauma and hidden emotion, and just relief of deep tensions and stress. You leave feeling energised, emotionally grounded and spiritually replete. The sybaritic sense of space at the Bulgari, with its fabulous pool and loft-style treatment rooms, combined with soothing Ayurvedic pastes, oils and tonics, plus Natalies phenomenal holistic understanding of mind, body and soul, makes this, without a shadow of a doubt, the best healing ritual in London. bulgarihotels.com; natalieevelondon@gmail.com

BEST FOR...RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW: LIZ KINGSoul Alchemist is the enigmatic title that this renowned seeress goes by. Working with her phenomenal psychic skills to tap into whatever is going on around you, Liz King cannot be beaten for her spookily on-point advice on past, present and future situations, from career counselling to navigating a divorce, buying or selling properties and general love life conundrums. Thanks to her kind and calming manner, you instantly feel at ease. For best results (without a trip to her practice in Rutland, or monthly base in Soho), nothing beats an over-the- phone session in the jewel-box surroundings of the Fumoir of Claridges, accompanied by a pot of Lapsang Souchong. Here, the concentration of crystal (Lalique, naturally) and good energy is the densest. If you crave time to pause and reflect on Kings prophetic words amid great luxury, this is the place. sanctuary1960@aol.co.uk

BEST FOR... HEARTBREAK: KRISTINA EVANS While there is never a quick fix for emotional issues, the ancient Mayan ritual of a cacao ceremony can definitely help heal the heart-sore by shifting emotional blocks and improving self-love. Cacao is a non-psychoactive yet deeply powerful transformational remedy that is an integral part of healer Kristina Evans' monthly rituals, which combine sound healing, guided meditation, a thorough smudge (a spiritual cleanse that involves being wafted with palo santo smoke) and breathwork. During the two-hour sessions, following drinking a cup of dark sludgy hot chocolate (incredibly bitter not sweet), everything seems bathed in an endorphin-charged glow, its intoxicating and you become an observer of your emotions, as you lose yourself in a flowing slipstream of sound. Kristina does group sessions from her house in West London, alongside private sessions for manifestation work, visualisation and healings inspired by Peruvian spiritual medicine, which helps you make sense of the bigger picture and leaves you feeling stronger and with an understanding of just being kinder to yourself. meditationontherise.net

BEST FOR TOTAL RELEASE: ANNIE PENNY Expect to feel transformed under the skilled hands of Annie Penny, the most calming and quietly powerful healer, who specialises in an Emotional Freedom Technique known as tapping, which involves targeting your energy channels (chakra points) and gently hitting your meridian points all over your body, from your face and third eye and along your heart, collar bone, hands and stomach. Surrounded by crystals, Annies hour sessions begin by thinking of what it is you want to remove from your life, which might include any emotional or physical blocks you might be aware of, repeating affirmations, incantations and a statement of exactly what you want to release, followed by her tapping technique. You might feel disorientated to start with, followed by intense tiredness after the session, but over the next few days feelings of clarity and joy rise, and even months on, you can still feel the deeply enlightening effects of the treatment. Annie operates from her London base in Queensgate Terrace, but dont miss her legendary chakra courses at her dreamy Cotswolds bolthole. anniepenny.co.uk

BEST FOR...A GOOD GLOW: MARY WHITEFIELD AT GLOW BARUnder the skilled and magical hands of facialist Mary Whitefield, expect to look and feel transformed. Whitfield, who works at Londons most glamorous wellness emporium, Glow Bar, combines lymphatic drainage massage technique, a mix of naturopathic oils and the use of rose quartz crystals in her sessions, which eliminate wrinkles and gives youthful dewiness without surgery. Make sure to have an infra-red sauna afterwards and Glow Bars signature Moon Milks (made with adaptogens), which will no doubt see guests' skin gleaming and feeling drenched in wellness. glowbarldn.com

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Hot on the healers: The best spiritual practitioners in London - Tatler

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