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What’s Trending in Aerospace – July 19, 2020 – Aviation Today

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Check out the July 19 edition of What's Trending in Aerospace, where editors and contributors for Avionics Internationalbring you some of the top headlines and stories across various segments of the global aerospace industry that you should be aware of for the week ahead.

At the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow, a concept of the Tempest sixth generation fighter jet concept aircraft was on display. (Leonardo)

The 2020 Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) is presenting an all digital webcast experience this week in place of its bi-annual live gathering at Farnborough International Airport.

In 2018, there were 80,000 visitors from 96 countries at FIA, which should mean a large online participation this week as the airshow has planned for five days of keynote speeches, presentations and networking opportunities. Topics featured on the agenda include space exploration, real time operating systems, sixth generation fighter jet technology and several sessions dedicated to the future of sustainability in aviation.

FIA is providing free registration for the event via its website here.

Boeing Announces Second Quarter Aircraft Deliveries

In a July 14 press release, Boeing announced its major program deliveries for the second quarter, that included 20 commercial aircraft deliveries. That brings the total number of commercial aircraft delivered year to date for Boeing to 70.

"Our commercial airplane deliveries in the second quarter reflect the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers and our operations that included a shutdown of our commercial airplane production for several weeks. We have and will continue to work with our customers on specific timing and adjustment to deliveries," said Greg Smith, Boeing executive vice president of Enterprise Operations, chief financial officer and interim leader of Communications.

Stratos Aircraft achieved the first flight of its 716X six seater jet. Photo: Stratos Aircraft

Stratos Aircraft announced the first flight of its Stratos 716X model registration N716X. The flight lasted 22 minutes, according to a July 10 press release published by the company.

The Stratos 716X is a "multi-role" VLJ (Very Light Jet) designed to seat six people to support personal, business, and air taxi use.

Flown by test pilot Sean VanHatten, the Stratos 716X is a spacious six-place jet with generous space for baggage. The all-carbon airframe, single-engine jet is designed to cruise at 400 knots. The first flight was a full power takeoff and climb to 13,500 ft. A series of maneuvers were then conducted to evaluate handling characteristics. The flight is the first of an extensive flight test program that will span the next several months, according to Stratos Aircraft.

The 716X is 4.5 ft longer, and has a wider cabin, than the 714 Proof of Concept (PoC) aircraft introduced at Oshkosh in 2017. The all-carbon-fiber 716X features trailing link gear, is powered by a Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 turbofan, and is configured with dual G3X screens, GTN 750 MFD, integrated Garmin Autopilot, dual standby attitude indicators, custom switch panels, fully automated pressurization system, and air conditioning.

VersaLogic Has a New Embedded Computing System with Error Correcting Memory

(Versalogic)

VersaLogic Corp. has released a new compact and rugged embedded computing system with error correcting (ECC) memory. This is VersaLogics eighth product family released in the popular Embedded Processing Unit format.

Named Owl, this new computer features error correcting memory combined with Intels latest 5th generation Apollo Lake processors (dual or quad core). The Owl also includes TPM 2.0 hardware security, on-board power conditioning, Mini PCIe expansion sockets, and analog input ports, along with standard USB and Ethernet I/O ports.

On-board I/O includes dual Gigabit Ethernet, one USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports, eight analog inputs, eight digital I/O ports, and four serial ports. A SATA interface, eMMC Flash, mSATA slot, and a microSD socket provide a range of data storage options, according to the company.

Microchip Technology introduced its newly-expanded portfolio of Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) vertical arrays the MDA3KP Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS), a 3 kW diode family of more than 25 products with different screening levels, polarities and qualification standards.

Microchips MDA3KP TVS diode array family provides an integrated multi-diode solution. These voltage-clamping devices provide fast-reacting Avalanche Breakdown Diode (ABD) features that divert excess current around sensitive components to protect them from electrical overstress, the company said in a press release.

Digital controls, logic and diagnostic system circuit blocks require highly reliable, secure current and power protection to ensure operations in extreme environments, said Leon Gross, vice president of Microchips Discrete Product Group business unit. This diode family also addresses the challenges system designers face with a more efficient vertical construction and requirement for less board space than other devices.

Skydio X2

Skydio, a U.S.-based developer of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for recreation, commercial and military use, closed $100 million in Series C funding, bringing its total funds raised to $170 million.

Known primarily for its industry-leading autonomy systems and producing high-quality video footage of recreational activities, Skydio also has contracts with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Drug Enforcement Agency. Its one of a few domestic companies the Pentagon is hoping will be able to provide secure, affordable small drones after the DoD acted to ban the use of Chinese-made DJI drones due to data security concerns.

Last May, Skydio was one of six companies the Army chose, through the Defense Innovation unit, to develop short-range reconnaissance (SRR) platforms. The other five are Altavian, Teal Drones, Lumenier, Vantage Robotics and Parrot.

Alongside the fundraise, Skydio announced a new family of drones it calls X2, available in enterprise and military configurations. The military version meets the Armys SRR requirements, pairing Skydios autonomous navigation technology with a ruggedized airframe, folding arms, a thermal camera and up to 35 minutes of flight time.

The Pentagon recently announced $13.4 million in awards to UAS and related technology developers through the Defense Production Act Title III, as part of the national response to COVID-19. Skydio received $4 million to continue work on their flight controller hardware and software and data link.

As policymakers continue to voice concerns about Chinese-made DJI drones and data-harvesting, Skydio is well-positioned to capture a significant share of the enterprise and military market looking to move away from foreign UAS.

Honeywell Offers New GPS-Denied Navigation System

Honeywell is introducing HGuide n380, a new inertial navigation system that communicates position, orientation and velocity of an object even if GPS signals are unavailable. This version is developed to offer a smaller, lighter, lower-priced version of similar systems, for use on smaller, more weight-constrained aircraft.

We recognized a need for a small, high-performance inertial navigation system in areas like 3D mapping, surveying and other applications where space is at a premium and performance cannot be compromised, said Chris Lund, offering management senior director, Navigation and Sensors, Honeywell Aerospace. We responded by developing the HGuide n380 inertial navigation system, which provides our customers with proven, cost effective inertial sensor technology, created for aerospace applications, but that can be integrated into almost any architecture.

This new inertial navigation system is composed of Honeywells HGuide i300 inertial measurement unit (IMU), a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and Honeywells proprietary sensor fusion software, which is based on the algorithms used for navigation on millions of aircraft every day. Inputs from these components are fused together to determine position, orientation and velocity to deliver critical navigation information even in areas where a satellite signal is degraded or altogether unavailable, such as canyons, bridges, tunnels, mountains, parking garages or dense forests.

Lilium Selects Toray Industries As Carbon Fiber Composite Supplier

German air taxi developer Lilium, which is working to certify its five-seat, all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing Lilium Jet, is partnering with Toray Industries to supply high-performance carbon fiber composite for production of future technology demonstrators and eventual manufacturing of its aircraft.

Securing this supply agreement marks an important step in the maturity of our supply chain and in our preparations for serial production, commented Daniel Wiegand, co-founder and CEO at Lilium.

The agreement also paves the way for further collaboration between the two companies, both in the provision of other high-performance materials and the establishment of research and development partnerships.

Lilium, which expects to begin commercial operations in 2025, recently added Bailie Gifford as a shareholder and brought its total funds raised to date up to $375 million.

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Telos, the Second-Most Active Blockchain Behind EOS, Increases Staking Rewards, and Development Funding – Crowdfund Insider

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Telos, one of the most active blockchain-based networks in terms of transactions processed per second (which isnt always the best metric to gauge the performance of DLT platforms), announced on July 23, 2020, that it has increased its staking rewards and also allocated more funding for ongoing development.

As mentioned in a release shared with CI, stakeholders had voted to approve additional funding and also to increase staking rewards. Staking, on blockchains, allows network participants to lock a certain amount of funds (usually cryptocurrencies) on a platform in order to earn rewards.

Staking on distributed ledger technology (DLT)-enabled platforms allows users to earn interest on their deposits, but this process is not like traditional banking because network participants are mainly interacting with software which isnt a legal entity.

As noted in the announcement, Telos network stakeholders had voted to increase development funding as part of the Telos Economic Development Plan 2.0, which aims to support the platforms core application developers and to promote the networks adoption.

The release noted that Telos added over 100,000 new accounts during the past 30 days. These new accounts were opened, as new decentralized applications (DApps) have reportedly been using the Telos blockchain, because of its high capacity for transactions, useful technical features, and proper governance.

The released stated that projects such as Epios, a COVID-19 testing app, hackathon platform TAIKAI, social good firm All_EBT, creative platform Newlife, and Transledger, an interoperability platform, have now integrated the Telos blockchain.

The announcement confirmed:

Following the Telos Economic Development Plans approval, staking rewards increased from 13% to 19% APR. The newly established fund supports [new] features including Telos Decide and Telos EVM, [which is reportedly] a 300x faster way to create and deploy Ethereum-compatible smart contracts with zero transaction fees.

Telos claims it can handle around 10,000 transactions per second (TPS), meanwhile, Ethereum can only manage to perform 14 TPS (however, TPS is not always the best way to assess network performance). For non-core developers, Telos said it would create feature bounties that should help others with gaining access to the additional development funding.

The release further noted:

All Telos community members were able to vote on the new plan using Telos on-chain, smart contract-based governance engine, Telos Decide. Voting was conducted on several interfaces over a 29-day voting period, and Telos Economic Development Plan 2.0 was passed on July 8, 2020. The approved changes were then coded, tested, and enacted by Telos block producers on July 11, 2020.

In May 2020, Transledger revealed that it would use Telos to perform cross-chain digital asset transfers. In June 2020, Telos launched an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) testnet on an EOSIO blockchain

Also in June, Telos teamed up with TAIKAI to bring virtual hackathons to the blockchain.

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Telos, the Second-Most Active Blockchain Behind EOS, Increases Staking Rewards, and Development Funding - Crowdfund Insider

Guerin Emig: Lord help us overcome the hate that overran Chuba Hubbard – Tulsa World

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Last week Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard used Twitter to call for the resignation of Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater over what he saw as Praters heavy-handed treatment of social justice demonstrators.

Some of Hubbards followers went berserk. One with an OSU logo as his Twitter avatar requested that coach Mike Gundy stop recruiting commies who hate our country before calling for Hubbards deportation, presumably back to his Sherwood Park, Alberta, home.

Hubbard responded by tweeting a message clarifying: Everything Ive done in my life has been aimed towards making this world a better place; lamenting: Many people havent taken the time to see my side; admitting I have also made many mistakes like everyone else on this Earth; and declaring he was stepping away from his social media because it has become a playground for hate.

The majority of Hubbards followers responded reasonably if not supportively.

A sampling from the less tolerant went: I liked it better when you had Twitter deactivated! Your scholarship should be deactivated! And I hope he is kicked off the team. And Enough we will not be lectured by Canadians! Go home! And I thought I had heard the last of you Chuba. I was seriously trying to forget about your stupid antics (of) self preservation.

This isnt to debate the politics in play here. People are going to be for and against political figures like Prater and political issues so involved. Thats understandable.

This isnt to debate Hubbards right to come down on one side of this issue. Thats indisputable, provided we still live in a democracy that allows athletes to form real-world opinions same as electricians, physicians, plumbers or teachers.

This isnt to ignore the backing Hubbard did receive last week. There was a lot of We got your back from OSU fans who encouraged the young man to continue exercising his freedom of speech.

Nor is this to dismiss those who disagreed with Hubbard. Their rights to free speech are the same as his, provided all practice the First Amendment within respectable, decent bounds.

The issue here is indecency. The issue is those who responded to Hubbard hatefully.

And if you are thinking about the old bad apples in every bunch line, surely you see that those apples are rotting worse with every issue that arises anymore, with every attempt at civil disagreement, and that the stink is getting all over that democracy of ours.

Last week it got all over Hubbard and it drove him from social media at a time college athletes everywhere are, for the first time, truly discovering their voices.

Hubbard tweeted about the Black Lives Matter movement in the days leading up to his Twitter departure, and about a program dedicated to education opportunities for high school and college students of color.

On July 13, Hubbard tweeted about faith and hope for everyone that is going through a hard time.

You dont have to agree with someones political or social views to appreciate when that person gives a damn about the world, as Hubbard clearly does. It is inspiring to see that in anyone, let alone someone so young and so perceptive as to understand that his platform amplifies his voice.

It is nauseating to realize that voice has been silenced by those who either cant or wont bring themselves to tolerate it. Who are so consumed by their own political and social agendas that they smear vitriol over a representative of the other side, and then do it again when that representative simply tries to explain himself.

A month ago, I had a meaningful conversation with University of Tulsa offensive lineman Chris Paul. We chatted about his investment in world views he is the American Athletic Conferences representative on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and about his hope that fans who supported college football players on fall Saturdays might take the time to support them away from games, as well.

That holistic view is very important, Paul said. It allows you to understand the individual youre cheering for.

Thats all were after here. Understanding. If you agree with the player on issues beyond the game, fine. Thats your choice. Just be understanding. Be humane.

Again, the majority of those who disagreed with Hubbards stance toward Prater, and might continue to disagree with Hubbards stance toward Gundys One America News Network fondness or any other topics related to what the country is going through currently, are being humane. They are being decent.

The indecency, however minor, is startling. Some of what Hubbard endured last week was shuddering.

And now as we wonder when Hubbard might reappear from under the garbage, Im thinking about something his head coach once famously asked.

Where are we at in society today?

Bixby 5-10175Sr.

In his first two years as a starter, has led the Spartans to a 25-1 record and two 6AII state titles. Last year, completed 75% of his passes as he threw for 3,491 yards and 47 touchdowns. Passed for 435 yards and eight TDs against Mansfield Timberview. Connected with Braylin Presley on the winning TD pass with 1:04 left against Stillwater in the state final. Career passing totals: 446-of-625, 6,716 yards, 83 TDs, 13 interceptions.

Click here to vote for Mason

Pawhuska 6-3220Sr.

In 2019, completed 198-of-309 passes for 3,426 yards and 36 TDs. Had 150 rushes for 870 yards and 25 touchdowns. Also caught eight passes and had a TD. Passed for 328 yards and five TDs against Barnsdall. Threw for 351 yards and accounted for four TDs as he rallied the Huskies from a 26-0 halftime deficit for a 34-26 playoff win at Stroud. Career passing totals: 334-of-537, 5,440 yards, 57 TDs, 23 interceptions.

Click here to vote for Bryce

Jenks 5-10175Sr.

In his first season as a starter, completed 171-of-255 passes for 2,646 yards and 24 TDs to lead the Trojans to the 6AI state final. Passed for 271 yards and five TDs in a quarterfinal win at Mustang. Completed 18-of-20 passes for 259 yards and two TDs against Westmoore in a Week 10 victory that clinched a playoff berth.

Click here to vote for Stephen

B.T. Washington 6-0170Jr.

Versatile athlete with 12 major offers. In 2019, injuries limited his time at QB as he completed 58-of-111 passes for 861 yards and nine TDs five against Shawnee and four against Bishop Kelley. Also rushed for 467 yards and three TDs. In 2018, passed for 784 yards and 10 TDs as he won his first six starts. Has two career catches of at least 55 yards. In the 2019 6A state track meet, won the 400 (47.70) and was runner-up in the 200.

Click here to vote for Gentry

Union 5-11195Jr.

Showed star potential as he won his first five starts to rally Union from a 1-4 start to reach the 6AI playoffs. In his starting debut, he rushed for three TDs and passed for another in a 31-7 win at Putnam North. Produced 253 yards and two TDs in win over Norman North. In the quarterfinals, Banks accounted for 243 yards and two TDs in a 35-31 loss to Broken Arrow.

Click here to vote for Rovaughn

Central 6-0175Sr.

Last season, led the Braves to their best record, 6-4, since 2011. Completed 116-of-170 passes for 2,016 yards and 29 TDs. Also had 30 rushes for 305 yards and seven TDs. As a safety, had 27 tackles. Passed for 389 yards and five TDs at Stilwell; 328 yards and five TDs against Hilldale, 301 and four TDs at OKC Grant.

Click here to vote for KT

Coweta 6-3190Jr.

In 2019, completed 157-of-232 passes for 2,278 yards and 21 TDs to help the Tigers reach the 5A quarterfinals last year. Also rushed for 342 yards and six TDs and caught three touchdown passes. On defense, picked off two passes. Averaged 40 yards on four punts. Passed for 289 yards and four TDs in a playoff win over Tahlequah. Threw for 330 yards and two TDs against Edison.

Click here to vote for Gage

Holland Hall 6-2180Sr.

Oklahoma baseball commit passed for 2,070 yards and 23 TDs last season as he led the Dutch to a 9-3 record. Also rushed for 366 yards and four TDs. As a free safety, had 44 tackles and three takeaways. Started 11 games at QB as a freshman in 2017, filling in for injured Drake Roush. Clark completed 116-of-173 passes for 1,951 yards and 20 TDs to help the Dutch reach the 2A quarterfinals.

Click here to vote for Wallace

Inola 5-10170Sr.

In 2019, completed 187-of-315 passes for 2,418 yards and 29 TDs. Also rushed for 307 yards and five touchdowns. Completed 30-of-41 passes as he accounted for 434 yards and six TDs against Locust Grove. Passed for 315 yards and six TDs against Wyandotte. Career passing totals: 325-of-545, 4,083 yards, 43 TDs, 23 interceptions.

Click here to vote for Landen

Broken Arrow 5-11170Sr.

In his debut as a starter, completed 79-of-126 passes for 1,540 yards and 19 TDs with only two interceptions last season. Connected on 7-of-10 passes for 217 yards and two TDs in a playoff win against Union. Passed for three TDs on eight passes in a 43-42 win over Yukon. Completed 9-of-10 passes for 162 yards and three TDs in a win over Mansfield.

Click here to vote for Jake

The 2020 All-World Preseason Football Contest presented by Bill Knight Automotive is underway, giving readers the chance throughout the summer

LBs:All World football: For Owasso's Emaud Triplett, Army and medical school are in his future, but first another 6AI title run

All World defensive backs: Recruiters didn't miss B.T. Washington standout Keuan Parker

Click here to vote on the best running back

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Guerin Emig: Lord help us overcome the hate that overran Chuba Hubbard - Tulsa World

Over 400 alumni call on the U.S. govt. to assist Maria Ressa ’86 – The Daily Princetonian

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Jon Ort / The Daily Princetonian

Four hundred and twenty-four members of the University community took out a full-page ad in the Tuesday edition of the Washington Post in support of journalist Maria Ressa 86, who was found guilty of cyber libel in the Philippines over a month ago.

The letter comes a day before a scheduled court appearance for Ressa in the Philippines.

Signed by a number of journalists, multiple former public servants, and two sitting members of Congress, the letter urges the U.S. government to use its influence to convince the Philippine government to drop all charges against Ressa, her colleague Reynaldo Santos Jr., and the online news network Rappler.

Ressa, Rapplers CEO and co-founder, was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018, and she delivered the baccalaureate address at the 2020 virtual University Commencement ceremony.

On June 15, she was convicted of cyber libel by a Regional Trial Court in Manila, following a May 2012 article published by her news organization alleging ties between a corrupt judge and a wealthy Filipino-Chinese businessman. She was charged alongside Santos the author of the article in question and faces both an $8,000 fine and up to six years in prison.

The decision was met with staunch criticism by journalists around the world and has been widely deemed an assault on press freedom and free speech. Ressas organization has extensively covered Filipino President Rodrigo Dutertes drug war, drawing the ire of his authoritarian regime, which has charged both her and Rappler over half a dozen times with fraud and tax evasion.

Presidents throughout the history of [the United States] have used their leverage against authoritarian governments that violate the rights of U.S. citizens abroad; the current administration should do the same, the signatories added. To do otherwise would only diminish Americas role as a leader of the democratic world.

The letter also urged congressional appropriators to reexamine the hundreds of millions of dollars the Philippines receives each year in U.S. military aid, adding, Why should U.S. taxpayers underwrite a government that is so egregiously violating our values?

Spanning nine decades of University graduates, the letters signatories include Representatives Terri Sewell 86 (D-Ala.) and Derek Kilmer 96 (D-Wash.); former senior White House and State Department officials Mike McCurry 76, John Bellinger 82, and Anne-Marie Slaughter 80; Editor-in-Chief of ProPublica Stephen Engelberg 79, and Founding Director of the Broad Institute Eric Lander 78.

Several individuals associated with The Daily Princetonian also signed the letter, including Editor-in-Chief Jon Ort 21, Managing Editor Ben Ball 21, President of the Prince Board of Trustees Tom Weber 89, and Trustee Emerita Kathy Kiely 77.

As of Monday afternoon, five additional individuals signed on after the letter went to press, including Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ben Taub 14 and humorist Jason O. Gilbert 09, both of The New Yorker. Other community members interested in signing can find the statement and a Princetonians for Maria Ressa Google Form online.

Citing the absurd number and phoniness of charges against Ressa, the letter also described attacks on the press throughout history by authoritarian regimes as a calculated strategy to avoid accountability and undermine democracy.

Our Princeton education instilled in us an understanding that a government is only accountable to its people when journalists are free to report on its activities without retaliation, it continued. That is why we denounce these politically motivated charges against Ressa and her colleagues.

The letter lauded Ressa, a dual American and Philippine citizen, as having fearlessly withstood a four-year-long campaign of online and legal harassment blatantly aimed at intimidating journalists and stifling any criticism of the governments authority.

All of us know that the rights Maria is fighting for are not just the rights of journalists. Freedom of speech is a human right; each of us recognizes we must join Maria in this battle, the letter concluded. Princeton taught us the importance of intellectual freedom and the service of humanity. Maria Ressa is the embodiment of those values. We recommit ourselves to them in standing with her.

The letter was authored by a group of alumni, including Kiely, McCurry, David Abromovitz 78, Anne Tergesen 86, Weber, and Joe Stephens, director of the Program in Journalism and former staff writer for the Washington Post.

In an interview with the Prince, Stephens, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence, wrote, Freedom of the press should know no boundaries. Any attempt to suppress free speech anywhere in the world diminishes all of our knowledge, and diminishes all of humanity.

He added, It is important for Maria and her colleagues, but also for all of us, that Americans and Princetonians stand as one to support the free exchange of ideas everywhere, and buttress anyone who seeks to hold the powerful to the highest standards of accountability."

The letter joins several other statements of solidarity from the Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the University, the Editorial Board, the Princeton Fillipino Community, and a letter signed in February 2019 by students and alumni.

From the UP to space: Site near Marquette picked as rocket launch site – Detroit Free Press

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Site near Marquette picked as rocket launch site. USA TODAY Handout

A rocket blasting toward the heavens over Lake Superior.

What could be more Pure Michigan than that?

The push to turn Michigan into one of a handful of states with active space launch operations has a new milestone.

An undeveloped, 3-mile stretch of land along the lakeabout 16 miles north of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula, has been picked to host a vertical launch site. Picture Cape Canaveral, although not on the same grand scale, according to the man spearheading the effort.

Gavin Brown, executive director of the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association, told the Free Press that the site could be operational in the next five or six years if plans come to fruition. Browns manufacturing associationhas been instrumental in the push to bring a bit of the last frontier to the Great Lakes State.

This is a rendering of an undeveloped, three-mile stretch of land along Lake Superior about 16 miles north of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula, which has been picked to host a vertical launch site for rockets.(Photo: Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association)

In February, the Oscoda-WurtsmithAirport, a former Air Force base perhaps best known now because of its connection to PFAS pollution from its military days, was picked to handle what are called horizontal launches,with operations possible as early as 2023, should it be approved by the feds. Basically, it would mean large jets would ferry satellite bundleshigh enough to be launchedinto low Earth orbit. Brown said the intent for both sites is to create environmentally safelaunch operations, with as many as 300 launches in Oscoda and a few dozen near Marquette each year.

The idea that Michigan could become a serious launch location for space flights might sound farfetched, but Brown said Michigan has some clear advantages and there's a key reason that it could come to pass. The auto industry needs access to space to make its self-driving car dream a reality. The continuous communications connections needed for fully autonomous driving require satellites, and Michigan, with its northern location, means satellites couldfind spaces in orbit that are underserved by more southernlaunch sites. Plus, Michigans proximity to large bodies of water provides an essential safety component.

Gavin Brown, executive director of the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association, leads the Michigan Launch Initiative and is photographed at his hotel in Sterling Heights in 2019.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

The automotive manufacturers are trying to figure out how to get that connectivity in their cars, Brown said, noting that the effort his group is pushing would allow the Detroit Three to benefit from a network the companieswould not have to build on their own. He noted the advantage Tesla enjoys because of Elon Musks connection as founder of SpaceX, which has become a major player in the commercial space industry.

Im talking about the convergence of automotive and space, and why do it anywhere but here in Michigan? Brown said this week.

The potential for significant employment gains, an estimated high end of 40,000 direct and spin-off jobsin Michigan is one reason the entire project has seen interest from the state, which contributed$2 million for a feasibility study. Its also why the operation could see stimulus money in coming months, although nothing is set, Brown said.

By the end of the year, as much as $1.2 billion should be secured for the project, thanks tointerest from several equity firms, Brown said.But he noted that fundraising would not formally begin until after the feasibility process has finished.

The site of a command and control center, which could be located anywhere in the state, is to be announced in November. Brown used NASAs approach to illustrate why such a facility would not need to be located close to a launch site.

Think of Houston being the command and control center for Cape Canaveral, Brown said.

And the high-paying jobsthatcould be created in connection with the project would likely be spread out across the state.

Kurt Ruppenthal, vice president and general manager of Warren-based Weldaloy, said his business would easily add another 30 or 40 employees to the 100 on staff now should the spaceport effort come to pass. Weldaloy makes specialty forgings for rocket engines, something it has been doing for at least the last decade. Its a prime example of a company that once focused heavily on supplying the auto industry and has since shifted its growth elsewhere, the kind of diversification that could benefit others in Michigan manufacturing.

More: Fiat Chrysler, Waymo to put self-driving tech in Ram vans

More: Is Tesla's Elon Musk wrong about this key self-driving technology?

More: Michigan wants to become next site for space launch facility

Ruppenthal said Weldaloy, which is part of Browns aerospace group, already works with major companies involved in the space business, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Virgin Orbit, Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

The potential for job growth with an expanding aerospace industry is easy to envision. Consider the layers of software components, engineering, design, manufacturing and flight planning that would be needed, kind of an aviation-plus situation.

Imagine an airport, but the airports going to space, Ruppenthal said.

In Oscoda, adding aspaceportto the current aviation operationscould mean a considerable boost to the local community, said Airport Manager Gary Kellan.

The communities around the airport have fewer than 10,000 residents, he noted.

"If youcan create 500 jobs, that would be big," Kellan said.

Brown, who touted the existing infrastructure, including the 11,800-foot runway at Oscoda, said a completed launch site in the Lake Huron-area communitycould generate 2,500 to 10,000 jobs.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.

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Lancaster-based company to help with moon mission – ABC27

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) A Lancaster-based company plans to help with a mission to the moon.

Advanced Cooling Technologies located in the Burle Business Park on New Holland Avenue is the business that will be helping a mission thats expected to launch in 2021.

It fills you with a lot of pride in what you do, says Ryan Spangler, lead engineer in Aerospace Product Development.

ACT is working with a company out of Pittsburgh (Astrobiotic Technology Inc.) to perfect the Peregrine lander. NASA plans to use the lander to make deliveries to the moon.

Spangler said that ACT will be responsible for keeping the lander safe from extreme temperatures.

In space, its not just about being too cold, but its also being very hot, he explained. In space, you dont have an atmosphere to shield you from the sun.

Other officials from ACT say they will use liquid nitrogen to help with tests to mimic the temperatures in space. ACT has designed cooling components for space flight before.

Spangler said the work on this project could lead to future space exploration. Its important to view this as not just as an important mission for us, or for NASA, or Astrobotic. Its important for the future of humankind if we anticipate further investigating deep space, or different planetary objects. This is an exciting first step for that.

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Lancaster-based company to help with moon mission - ABC27

Bedrest and bears – clues for spaceflight and ageing – The Irish Times

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

John, part of your research looks at what happens to our bodies on prolonged bedrest why?

Lying in bed continuously for a prolonged period results in loss of muscle mass, bone mineral density and other changes within the body that mimic what happens in ageing and also throughout spaceflight.

As such the research we do is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the European Space Agency (ESA). The goal is to see what happens at a cellular level during prolonged bedrest, which is key to help find ways to counteract such undesired changes.

What is involved in prolonged bedrest studies?

In the bedrest studies people lie for weeks in a test facility in France, tilted with their heads down and unable to sit up any reason. We analyse samples of their blood and muscle over time.

What kinds of changes do you see?

We look at metabolism, and in particular we measure how bedrest alters our fuel selection for energy, a process highly controlled by organelles within the cell known as mitochondria. Under normal circumstances these dynamic mitochondria fuse and divide consistently, adapting to the energy needs of the body.

We found that prolonged bedrest of 21 days leads to a decrease in their fusion, resulting in smaller, more fragmented mitochondria, something which could help explain the change in the way our body uses energy during prolonged bedrest.

Are you figuring out how to improve matters?

Yes, our lab and our collaborators within the ESA found that if people used resistance vibration exercise to work their muscles as they lay in bed for 21 days, their mitochondrial fusion and ability to process sugars were better than if they didnt do such exercise, improving their overall health.

We have also just completed an experiment where people in bedrest for 60 days took a daily cocktail of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds of selenium, polyphenols, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. We are now looking to see what kind of impact that had.

Whats the most interesting thing you have done in your PhD?

I think it was working on muscle samples from brown bears in the forests in Sweden, to look at metabolic changes between hibernation and non-hibernation.

Thankfully I didnt have to catch the bears though. A team of rangers and vets tranquillised the bears and collected the samples, then they rushed the samples over to us researchers by helicopter and we worked on them in a little lab in a house by the woods. In that study, we noted differences in the bear mitochondria between summer and hibernation, and are now trying to understand such interesting findings.

You recently won the student category of the DCU Presidents Award for Engagement, well done how did that feel?

To be honest it was surreal! I was delighted just to be nominated. In my spare time I like to engage in scientific outreach through talks and presentations on space and ageing and I work closely with the Feed Our Homeless charity in Dublin. Im also a deputy group leader of my local Scout unit.

When Prof Brian MacCraith announced I was the winner in the online ceremony, I had to play it back to make sure it had actually happened.

How was lockdown for you?

I was supposed to finish my PhD in June, but my supervisor, Associate Professor Donal OGorman, arranged for an extension until December because the lab work was significantly disrupted.

Lockdown helped me get a lot of the project written up, and now I am back finishing up the final pieces of lab work. In that respect, lockdown was useful, because it got me out of the lab so I could write a big chunk of my thesis.

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Bedrest and bears - clues for spaceflight and ageing - The Irish Times

In emerging role, chaplains are providing spiritual care for activists in movements across the nation – Religion News Service

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

(RNS) The Rev. Kimberly Jackson remembers the disappointment and devastation that erupted after the execution of Troy Davis nearly 10 years ago in Jackson, Georgia.

Years of canvassing and protesting ended with activists weeping and embracing outside the prison after Davis was put to death by lethal injection. Davis, a Black man who maintained his innocence, was on death row for two decades after being convicted of murdering a Savannah police officer.

Not In My Name and I am Troy Davis slogans emblazoned T-shirts and protest signs in Georgia.

During that time, Jackson, who was freshly ordained as an Episcopal priest, found herself serving as a spiritual companion to Davis supporters and those involved in the movement against the death penalty.

She did traditional clergy activities like leading a prayer vigil or a pray-in. A chaplain for Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Atlanta, she also guided students who sought to get involved in the cause.

After the execution, activists approached Jackson with urgent questions, asking her Where do I find hope? or Why isnt God doing something here?

These are folks who didnt go to my church. Many of them dont go to church at all, but they needed a person who they understood to be somehow connected to something much bigger, said Jackson, vicar of Church of the Common Ground.

Jackson embodied an emerging vocational role thats now being referred to a movement chaplain, whose purpose is to provide spiritual and emotional care to activists and organizers before, during and after demonstrations.

Chaplains who perform ministerial duties apart from a house of worship have long been familiar faces at airports, hospitals, colleges, military bases and prisons. They do ministry in the midst of everyday life. Its not uncommon to see them in homeless shelters or in New Yorks subway stations.

As fewer people identify with a specific religion or attend religious services, Americans may be more likely to meet a chaplain than a local clergy person at a congregation.

RELATED: As Americans become less religious, the role of chaplains may grow

In recent years, movement chaplains have become more visible in protests for immigrant rights, at rallies against white nationalist groups and in demonstrations supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Movement chaplaincy, as Micky ScottBey Jones described it, is in the lineage of something that has been happening for a long time.

Micky ScottBey Jones serving as a movement chaplain in San Diego during a 2018 rally held by the social justice group Mijente. Courtesy of Micky ScottBey Jones

We just didnt have a name for it, said ScottBey Jones, the director of healing and resilience initiatives at Faith Matters Network, a Nashville, Tennessee-based group that equips faith leaders and community organizers with wellness resources.

ScottBey Jones has big aspirations for movement chaplains. She envisions students in divinity schools being ordained into the role. Shed also like to see grants made available to fund movement chaplain teams.

So far, more than 300 people have gone through movement chaplaincy training and workshops hosted by Faith Matters Network. The training involves people who are atheists, Indigenous, Jewish, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims.

Movement chaplains, ScottBey Jones said, differ from protest chaplains who emerged during the Occupy Wall Street movement that stood against economic inequality.

They show up to protests, yes, but they also embed themselves in movements by attending meetings where organizers are planning the rallies. Theyre at the side of activists after a demonstration to help them vent or debrief.

ScottBey Jones said this role is critical to address the activist martyrdom syndrome that can lead to compassion fatigue, health problems, burnout and even suicide.

She noted Ohio Black Lives Matter activist Marshawn McCarrel, who died by suicide in 2016. His death shed light on the struggles with depression many activists in the national protest movement face.

We deal with the stress and the trauma that people go through when they engage oppressive forces, ScottBey Jones said.

On July 29, Faith Matters Network, in partnership with Odyssey Impact and Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, is hosting Movement Chaplaincy: Meeting Spiritual Needs in our Struggles for Justice. The online conversation will touch on how faith leaders are using their pastoral skills in a time of social change.

And this upcoming October, Faith Matters Network will offer a 12-week online training for movement chaplains to learn de-escalation and mediation practices. It will cover ways to respond to stress, burnout and trauma.

So far, clergy, lay leaders and spiritual practitioners have been among those filling this chaplaincy role. Not all are ordained or wear their collars. Many are women and include LGBTQ and people who identify outside a gender binary.

RELATED: 'Chaplains' documentary follows nontraditional faith companions to battlefield, prison

To ScottBey Jones, these demographics make sense because they represent communities and identities on the front lines of disparities and discrimination.

Movement chaplains have been seen at protests wearing fluorescent vests or signs to identify their roles. In a recent demonstration in Philadelphia, a group pinned white patches on their backs with the words MVNT CHAPLAIN.

And, theyre not to be confused with other clergy at rallies who, ScottBey Jones said, tend to assume positions of authority either by standing between police and protesters or even getting arrested in solidarity with activists.

Instead, movement chaplains can help create ceremonies and prayers for protests and meetings. They offer bodywork and herbal remedies. They accompany people of all or no religion. They use spiritual practices, sacred texts and physical comfort as ways to include healing in movement spaces.

This is a way you can still offer support, love and care without having to be that upfront and in-charge person, ScottBey Jones said. I think both are necessary.

This makes sense to the Rev. RJ Robles, an ordained Christian minister with the Disciples of Christ.

To Robles, 28, this is one of many ways to show up for people in need.

After George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police in May, Robles and other movement chaplains attended a protest that reached several thousands of people in Nashville. Robles took water bottles to distribute and also kept a wary eye in case any protesters felt unsafe and needed somebody to walk with.

Movement chaplaincy takes on many forms.

Robles, who identifies as a trans nonbinary organizer, recently accompanied a friend who had a stillbirth and experienced a risky surgery.

Demonstrators participate in a healing circle at a Mijente-led rally in 2018. Photos courtesy of Micky ScottBey Jones

The family sought Robles, whose upbringing, identity and cultural understanding mirrored theirs. The hospital chaplain, Robles said, wasn't somebody the family connected to because that person was white and cisgender, a term for people whose gender identity matches the sex they were given at birth.

Being brought in and called by my friend to be there for her and her family ... I put on my hat as a pastor, as a healer and as an organizer so I could move in that space to be their chaplain in that moment, Robles said.

In Philadephia, the Rev. Margaret Ernst, an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, is working on building ties with activist groups who may be in need of chaplaincy care as they continue to organize around racial justice and the movement to defund police.

Ideally, we believe its best when movement chaplains are in real long-term relationships with people who are leading protests,said Ernst, 31, an associate pastor at Chestnut Hill United Church.

Ernst, who also works for Faith Matters Network, said some organizers dont know who chaplains are or what they do. She often describes her group of chaplains as healing or care teams that can help de-escalate any conflicts that may arise.

As she works to build those relationships, Ernst has found herself fulfilling varying roles as a movement chaplain. In one rally, Ernst wound up having to block a street so people could safely cross.

The way Ernst sees it, I cant care for peoples spiritual needs, if they are not physically safe, she said.

Recently, Ernst called an organizer, who was behind a big rally in Philadelphia, to introduce herself as a movement chaplain who was ready to serve.

She was like, Wow, Ernst said. I could hear in her voice a sound of relief that there are people out there who can just care about us as organizers and who we are in our fullness as humans.

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In emerging role, chaplains are providing spiritual care for activists in movements across the nation - Religion News Service

Healthy Mindset | Spiritual and Physical Wellness – ChicagoNow

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

By Sheri McIntosh, Saturday at 1:27 pm

I am part of a group on Facebook that supports each other with our fitness goals. The group has almost 43,000 members and I have not read a troll on there yet. I enjoy how supportive the women are to each other. It does not matter if the woman posting is 120 pounds or 200 pounds, she will receive encouraging words or likes. I usually scroll through and give likes or if there is a question that I have an answer for I will respond.

Last week a lady posted a picture of herself and she looked totally fit to me. She was complaining about how other people who were her same height and weight looked better than her. She stated that she could not be great. I had to respond and tell her she was great, and she should not compare herself to other people. She said she was just stating facts.

I am not sure what she sees when she looks in the mirror. I am convinced she has a distorted view of herself. I am not judging her because I feel that many of us have distorted views of ourselves. We have let the opinions of others dictate how we feel about ourselves.

If you want to be healthy physically you need to be healthy mentally. I am convinced that the two go hand in hand. You need to have a healthy mindset. Stop the negative self-talk. Do not continually go over your flaws. We all have them. Do not rehearse your failures. We all have them also. I like this quote from Dr. Maya Angelou. "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." Negative self-talk with sabotage your success. You have heard the term you are what you eat. You also are what you think.

You may have had people speaking negative to you from childhood into adulthood. You must not let the words spoken to you by other people control how you think about yourself. You are beautiful, intelligent, and great! Find a place of calmness and peace where you can take hold of the person you are meant to be. Find positive people to be around. Realize that God created you and He does not make any mistakes. Declare that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

A lot of times, I write in my blogs that if you feel that you cannot deal with your circumstances seek professional help. I am writing that in this blog. Seek professional help if you are overwhelmed. There is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking professional help. Search the Internet there are some places that offer free online counseling if your insurance does not cover it.

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Healthy Mindset | Spiritual and Physical Wellness - ChicagoNow

Christen Limbaugh Bloom: How to uncover your God-given gifts in this unlikely way – Fox News

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Have you ever stopped to consider which spiritual gifting God has given you, or why these gifts matter?

Maybe you havent because you dont consider yourself to be an advanced Christian. You might think these gifts are only reserved for people who seem to have life all figured out.

But you should never discount yourself this way. Whether you consider yourself a devout Christian or not, be careful not to underestimate Gods calling on your life. He created every person with a special assignment in mind, and spiritual gifts are a part of that.

'FULLER HOUSE' STAR CANDACE CAMERON BURE TALKS BEING A CHRISTIAN IN HOLLYWOOD: THE BIBLE TO ME IS TRUTH

Discovering which gifts God has uniquely placed in you is an exciting journey I believe everyone should pursue. To begin this search we must first ask: What are the spiritual gifts?

The Apostle Paul explained the nature of Gods spiritual gifts in great detail in several New Testament letters, but Romans 12 is a great place to start.

He writes in verses 6-8, We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with yourfaith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

If after reading this list you feel at a loss, Id point you to 1 Corinthians 12:27 where Paul again writes about spiritual gifts saying, Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

There you have it! Every believer is meant to play a role and use their God-given gifts.Though Paul was writing to the first Christians who lived more than 2,000 years ago, the Spiritual gifts he describes are just as real, accessible and relevant today as they were then.So the question then becomes for each of us, Where do I fit into all of this?

I had to ask myself this question not long ago when I took a class on leadership through my church, C3 NYC. During one of our sessions, the group leader asked us to try to remember a time when we were hurt or rubbed the wrong way by an experience at church. Not your every-day prompt! Her next point amazed me.

She shared that oftentimes, as they relate to the church, the things that annoy or upset us should actually be treated as guideposts pointing us to our innate passions. In other words, we are bothered by the things we care about the most. She went on to explain that the passions often serve as signs of our spiritual gifts.

For example, a person who is frequently frustrated by a lack of substance in their churchs sermons could possess the spiritual gift of teaching. In another sense, a person who feels neglected by their church community could possess the spiritual gift of encouragement.

Though this is a counterintuitive method, we should keep in mind that many things about Gods kingdom are in fact counterintuitive due to the broken state of our sin-filled world.

Why can we gain insight into our spiritual gifts by considering areas of our spiritual walk where we feel either hurt or inadequate? Because the enemy often uses not just our weaknesses, but our strengths against us.

Jesus warned us, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy; (John 10:10). The areas where God plans triumph for His Kingdom are the same areas in which the enemy will try to tear down--and we are a part of that equation. That is precisely why God gives us Spiritual gifts, to develop our individual spiritual journeys and to advance His Kingdom.

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Ultimately, we have to pray about these things and ask God to reveal our spiritual gifts to us because, just like any other gift, they were not ours first. Most importantly, they are called gifts because they are not earned. As Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

God is gracious and His love for us is beyond our comprehension. Every good thing comes from Him, and though we dont deserve them, we receive them by faith alone.

Our spiritual gifts are a way for us to more richly experience Gods love and to empower us to contribute to His greater plans. Jesus said later in John 10:10 that He came to give us life, and to give it to the fullest.

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That is why He not only saves us but gives us an opportunity to partner with Him and participate in His beautiful plans. No gift is greater than that!

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (1 Corinthians 12: 4-6).

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Christen Limbaugh Bloom: How to uncover your God-given gifts in this unlikely way - Fox News

How To Travel The World During Covid-19 – Forbes

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

I built a hack to travel around the world during Covid-19. I wrote this to share it with my fellow explorers around the world currently confined to their homes.

Before Covid-19, we were the ones who loved packing light, jumping on a plane. Or out of one. Landing in a new city. Choosing the dish on the menu were least familiar with. Delighting in a deep conversation with a stranger at a bar weve never been to before.

And theres more than a billion of us. 1.4, to be exact: 1.4 billion people international travelers in 2018. To put that in perspective, in 1950, just 25 million people traveled internationally. Us explorers have exploded across the globe these last decades.

So whats an explorer to do when the worlds in lockdown?

I built a hack to travel around the world during Covid-19.

A first-of-its-kind conversation platform, where we explorers can get matched to partners around the world for short, 15min video chats. No small talk - all conversations start with a Big Question you get to choose ahead of time.

It required a shift in how I thought about travel.

I used to think, travel was about going places.

But then I realized, you can just as easily travel through conversation with someone who lives in another part of the world.

You can travel through their stories, their experiences, their joy, their sorrows.

You can experience their world through their words.

In many ways, this travel is as powerful, if not more so, than physically traveling the world. Because its accessible to anyone. No vacation budget needed. Just show up authentically, ready to share your story, and dive into a conversation that matters with another human.

What does exploring humanity via 15min video chat convos on Big Questions feels like? (or - try it for yourself)

Here are some stories from my fellow explorers.

I met a NYC ICU doctor who had started showing symptoms three days prior, and had been pulled out of rotation. She was exhausted, lonely, and fearful of infecting her boyfriend. She was eager to kick the virus, and return to the fight. She was inspiring and impactful and strong in a way that a New York Times article about her could not be. She shared with me a window into the front lines, and I am grateful for it.

I met a highly successful tech worker who was battling demons from childhood about body image, and utterly illogical fears that she should be farther in her career than she is. She inspired me with her courage and vulnerability.

I met a guy who had just been laid off, another indirect victim of Covid. He felt he could stay afloat for 6 months+, but wasnt sure after that. He told me about how his parents had always been careless with money, and thankfully, that made him super careful. I met him 3 hours after he had gotten the call from HR. It was raw, human, authentic, and a high definition window into a painful moment that millions of people are going through.

I met a Brazilian yoga instructor, living in NYC. She told me about her radical, religious upbringing, and how she wasnt allowed to wear a dress until she was 21. She told me about a brush with God she had in the Dominican Republic, when she was miraculously saved from a dangerous situation. - LC

For 30 minutes my quarantine walls were ripped down, had 3 great convos in the Philippines, LA , and Chicago. - DM

I was surprised to chat with someone in Bangladesh! But we had a conversation about American politics - which he actually began talking about first. I got some unique insight and perspective from him and look forward to the next conversation with a new person soon! - KS

What I keep on learning and keeps surprising me is, how we are from different cultures and backgrounds and still, we are basically all the same, we have so much in common and we want the same for the world." - JF

Meeting such diverse people with various backgrounds and ideas inspired me and expand my perspective on the topics we talked about. At the same time, it was truly exciting to feel the unity - that you are not alone thinking about the particular things which are important to you. - HB

I really enjoyed getting to talk to a few individuals who were actually spread out around the country/world. A lot of the discussion circled back to how were all coping with the current pandemic, and it was nice to be able to break out of my usual social circles to hear about different perspectives. I think twine has the potential to remind people that were truly a global community even though we may be socially isolating for now. -EL

In the words of e.e. cummings: listen: theres a hell of a good universe next door; lets go

Explore humanity, now

How to travel the world during covid-19

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How To Travel The World During Covid-19 - Forbes

Bob Woodruff and son’s travel series finds hope in the world – Newsday

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Father and son are unmistakably father and son, although at 58, Bob Woodruff would unmistakablybe the dad, while Mack, 29, the son.

Other than that: Same eyes, same eyebrows, almost same voice. And to hear both speak in that voice, same passion for the great world beyond.

The Woodruffs appeared tother on a recent Zoom hookup to discuss "Rogue Trip," their new limited Disney+ series where both venture to places like New Guinea, Colombia and Ukraine. It's a hot day in Phase Three New York, where they find themselves presumably bound in by the same limited horizons as everyone else. That great world seems far away. (The series launches Friday, July 24)

Bob Woodruff still travels widely for ABC News as a correspondent while Mack is just back from Australia, where he was on an assignmentfor his photography and video production company.

Nevertheless, this is a lousy time to be afflicted with wanderlust. Back in 2005, when he was co-anchor of "World News Tonight" with Elizabeth Vargas, Woodruff was in the fieldmore than in the studio, with reporting trips to Iran, Israel (twice) and Iraq in his first four weeks on the job. Part of that had to do with the nature of major league anchoring, but most of it with the nature of Woodruff. A wandering man then, he wanders still.

"Rogue" is both familiar and unique. We've all seen TV travelogues which are the most fundamental and foundational of genres. What's so unique here is that generational aspect. It's really about a father and son who share this epiphany by the end of each episode: There's hope for the world after all.

Bob Woodruff says they wrapped the series just before the pandemic hit but that "I wanted viewers to know that as a country, while we are in a very difficult time right now, that history shows that countries do come back from horrible moments, that there is hope, no matter what happens."

"Hope" might seem a contrivance for any travel series, but maybe not for this one, certainly not for this host. Bob Woodruff and his cameraman Doug Vogt were nearly killed when they were hit by an improvised explosive device riding with an Iraqi army unit on Jan. 29, 2006. Woodruff suffered a traumatic brain injury, then returned to ABC a little over a year later to anchor a documentary about veterans who suffer from such injuries. In 2006, Woodruff and his wife, Lee, launched the Bob Woodruff Foundation in support of "long-lasting positive outcomes for our nations wounded, ill, and injured veterans," per its mission statement.The Foundation's annual benefit, Stand up for Heroes, fills up Madison Square Garden every November (Woodruff says this November's show will stream online only.)

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The six countries "Rogue" visits (which include Ethiopia, Pakistan, Lebanon) have been torn by war in their recent history but "we had this idea to go back to some of these countries where I've reported from and on mostly negative topics war or environmental collapse to see that they were not exactly what they seemed to be," says Woodruff.

"I wanted [viewers] to know that these countries are filled with beautiful places and remarkable people, and to show that they're not exactly the way they've been reported."

In the New Guinea episode, dad and son head up the Sepik River into one of the world's most remote regions. In Colombia, they hook up with former FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) combatants who are trying to lure tourists to the country. Wherever they go, people are kind and generous, the scenery resplendent. The past troubles, euphemistically speaking, have vanished.

For Woodruff, travel has long been both a compulsion and obligation a reporting life dedicated to the Mark Twain decree that "travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." After college he got into corporate law, hated that, then headed to China to teach. After learning Chinese, he became a translator for Dan Rather during the Tiananmen Square uprising, then suddenly a new world opened up for Woodruff the whole world, in fact.

Joining ABC News in 1996, he later became a war correspondent, then anchor, and promptly fused both roles. His predecessor, Peter Jennings -who died in 2005 had as well early in his tenure, although not nearly to the same degree. Woodruff's compulsion to report led him to a dusty road outside Taji, about a dozen miles north of Baghdad.

The attack left Woodruff with a vestige of guilt because "there was the impression inside my house, with my family, that these are dangerous places and why would a father go to them? What's the attraction of doing that?"

A father of four, Woodruff says "I didn't want [my kids] to descend into fears" or "feel like I was a bad father because I did take these risks."

He says he also"wanted to show Mack that these places are fascinating and beautiful and that it's important to report on parts of the world that Americans don't know about. ['Rogue Trip'] wasn't necessarily a way to get rid of my guilt but for Mack to better understand the attraction."

Asked how his father's near-death affected him almost fifteen years ago, Mack says, "oh man, it's tough to know what I would have been like if it had never happened. It made me realize the reality of what my dad did on a day-to-day basis. You saw him on TV [before the attack] and thought 'everything's fine,' or that just because he's there in the middle of a war doesn't mean the war was actually going on there."

His dad"has taught me that the human spirit is incredibly resilient. [He] came back from an accident that nearly killed him and that's given me the confidence to step out into the world and to not be intimidated. If anything, it made me want to see more of it."

THE DAY WOODRUFF'S LIFE CHANGED

Bob Woodruff hadn't been to Iraq in nearly two years but "I am a firm believer that to cover a story, you have to get out in the field and see it with your own eyes," he recalled in the memoir he wrote with his wife, Lee, "In An Instant."

By January, 2006, both story and field had changed dramatically.

In a few hours, President George W. Bush would tell the American people that the Iraqi military had begun the process of taking over the country's security. The "World News Tonight" co-anchor and his ABC News crew decided to see for themselves.

They were told the town of Taji was a "good model" relatively safe, with a water filtration plant secured by Iraqi forces. They got an offer to ride there with an Iraqi armored column, although safety became a troubling questionmark after the bullet-riddled body of an informant was found by the side of the road.

The ABC News crew decided "it would have been rude" to cancel on them.

They got into an armored personnel carrier an APC then after a few minutes, realized something had gone wrong: The APC had moved to the head of the head of column, where journalists were not supposed to be. Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, debated whether they should do the shot as planned, with both standing above the hatch.

Woodruff ducked back into the tank, then up again, then back down. When he popped up the next time, an IED in the road that had been packed with rocks exploded. A hundred of them, some marble-sized, hit the left side of his head. One rock punched a fist-sized hole in his back.

Woodruff fell back into the cabin, his head bouncing off the metal stanchions. "Omar," the translator, told Vinnie Malhotra, Woodruff's producer, to plug the gaping wound in his neck. A U.S. soldier, maybe 19, "calmly" told Malhotra to "just keep talking to him, keep the words coming "

Those three Malhotra, Omar, the unnamed teenage soldier likely saved Woodruff's life in those early, critical minutes.

I asked Woodruff how the attack changed him: "It always takes a lot of time to finally reroute yourself, to find a different path [but] nobody ever thought I'd be alive right in those first few hours, nobody thought I'd be able to sound like this again, not be able to return to work. In some ways, it was a great gift to go through this [recovery] and find another way to be able to travel the world and do stories."

He smiles: And to do them with his son. VERNE GAY

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Bob Woodruff and son's travel series finds hope in the world - Newsday

Disease route? Bacteria and virus use highways of the sky to travel the world – ThePrint

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

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Microbes are the truly dominant group of lifeforms. These invisible pieces of biogenic matter have been running Earths affairs for billions of years. Plants and animals popped up as the by-products of microbial mergers relatively recently in our planets history.

Understanding microbes is not easy. It took us some time to learn about the existence of the human microbiome, the collection of viruses, bacteria and fungi inside and outside our bodies that connects us to the rest of the microbial cloud that exists everywhere life can survive.

We are now learning that there is even a microbiome high in the sky. These are microbes that are swept into and then reside in the lower parts of the atmosphere. This includes the mid and upper troposphere at altitudes of between 8km and 12km above the ground, and the lower stratosphere at altitudes of up to 15km. Whats more, by joining the planetary wind systems, these lifeforms create microbial highways in the sky that transport them across the world.

Scientists first reported the existence of sky-bound bacteria in a couple of pioneering studies published in 2013 and 2018. These were not isolated microorganisms found by chance. Instead, bacterial communities straddle the sky in large numbers, in the region of hundreds of thousands of bacteria for each cubic metre of air in the troposphere.

Between 60% and 100% of the bacteria in collected samples were alive and they typically lived in the sky for longer than five days. Analysing their genetic material confirmed the presence of dozens of different bacterial species. However, the tropospheric bacterial communities were less complex than some of Earths terrestrial habitats.

But bacteria are not the only tiny lifeforms in the sky. We now know this microbiome includes viruses and even fungi. The lower atmosphere appears to be alive and teeming with microbes.

These microbes are well adjusted to their new environment. Only bacteria that already have mechanisms for coping with UV radiation, lack of water and high levels of dangerous oxidants such as ozone survive the journey into the sky, where they feed on the carbon compounds available in the atmosphere. Given this harsh environment, researching bacterial behaviour in the sky may be useful for understanding microbial survival in space.

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Bacteria also actively grow in clouds and play an important role in the processes behind the Earths atmospheric chemistry. For example, some airborne bacteria encourage water in the air to freeze. This may occur in a similar way to how some plant bacteria use specialist proteins to enable ice to form on and damage leaves, opening a way for the bacteria to infect them. The airborne bacteria and the ice particles that some of them can carry can even become the nuclei needed to form clouds.

Also read: Chinese kids are drinking more milk to boost immune system after Covid

Understanding the atmospheric microbiome and its highways in the sky could also help us learn how disease-causing microbes are transported around the planet. In a recent study, scientists found viruses falling from the sky in large numbers, like invisible snowflakes covering the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain where viral detectors were placed. Thanks to the microbial highways in the sky, genetically identical viruses may be found at different and distant locations across the planet.

This kind of route might be responsible for the spread of the mysterious Kawasaki disease, which can cause heart problems in children but whose exact cause is unknown. A group of Japanese scientists has produced evidence that it may be due to a fungal toxin carried through the sky over long distances from China to Japan. Analysis of air samples over Japan during the time of year when Kawasaki disease is most common found that the most dominant microbial species was the fungus Candida. Laboratory experiments have shown this fungus can produce a Kawasaki-like condition in mice.

Now the whole world is watching the saga of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know the virus spreads through human contact, but a group of doctors has recently warned the World Health Organization that the viral particle may be travelling through the air. Some scientists have even speculated that the COVID-19 virus may have been carried between countries at similar latitudes by a jet stream through the atmosphere.

As weve only just begun to understand the role of microbes down here on Earth, it seems likely there is a huge amount more to discover about those that live above our heads.

Predrag Slijepcevic, Senior Lecturer in Biology, Brunel University London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Also read: Dogs can sniff out coronavirus infections with few days of training, German study reveals

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Disease route? Bacteria and virus use highways of the sky to travel the world - ThePrint

FDA Loosens Restrictions On Blood Donation For Military Members, World Travelers – WLDS-WEAI News

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center has implemented changes to donor eligibility based on revised guidance from FDA. The changes particularly effect current and former military members who have previously served in Europe and their ability to donate.

Military members have previously had to defer blood donation due to potential exposure to Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease while serving in Europe. The revised guidance from FDA eliminates the deferral of individuals who spent time on U.S. military bases in Europe. The deferral remains for those who spent time in the United Kingdom (cumulative 3 months from 1980-1996) and France or Ireland (cumulative 5 years from 1980-2001). It is expected to help make more donors eligible within the miltary.

There was also previously a 12-month deferral for travel to parts of the world where there is risk of exposure to malaria. This deferral has been changed from a 12-month deferral to a 3-month deferral. Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Public Relations Manager Kirby Winn said in email communication that he regular has talked to a number of people who travel annually to countries that are a malaria endemic area and they regularly have to wait to give blood or cant give blood at all for an extended period of time. He says that by loosening the restriction, it will allow those regular travelers to give blood between trips.

Winn says that the need for more blood donors is needed now more than ever due to cancellations of blood drives and other challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He says that the need for blood has returned to normal levels at local hospitals because of a backlog of elective surgeries.

To make an appointment for donation, call CICBC at (800) 747-5401 or sign up online at http://www.bloodcenter.org.

30 Beautiful Sunrise Photos Best Photos of Mornings Around the World – WomansDay.com

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Anna ShvetsGetty Images

It takes a lot of effort to get up before dawn and catch a glimpse of the perfect sunrise coming up in the Eastern sky, especially when you're on vacation and or in a cushy bed with soft pillows and warm blankets. It's much easier to hit the snooze button and catch a pretty sunset at the end of the day. But these spectacular photos of sunrises around the world prove without a doubt that getting out of bed early in the morning is completely worth it.

While traveling to many of these spots isnt possible at the moment because of the COVID-19 pandemic, youll want to add most of these dreamy spots to your travel bucket list for the future. And while the photos are gorgeous, seeing them in person is incentive enough to grab an extra cup of coffee or two to witness nature at her finest.

1 of 30

Easter Island Rapa Nui National Park Chile

The Moai statues at Ahu Tongariki look even more magical at dawn.

2 of 30

Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina, USA

If you've ever wondered how the Great Smoky Mountains range got its name, you'll see why as the pre-dawn haze the mist of the morning makes the hills appear to be filled with a soft, blue smoke.

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Kromlau Germany

The Devil's Bridge (Rakotzbrcke) looks pretty heavenly by the first light of day.

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Portland Head Light Maine, USA

Portland Head Light is known as the most photographed lighthouse in the United States, and it's easy to see why.

5 of 30

Pienza Italy

Daybreak over the rolling hills of Tuscany is a sight to behold.

6 of 30

Grand Canyon National Park Arizona, USA

Mother nature puts on a colorful show every morning at the Grand Canyon.

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Baan Pak Pra Thailand

This fishing village is home to some spectacular sunrises.

8 of 30

Glacier National Park Montana, USA

We're convinced there's not a bad view anywhere in Glacier National Park, so it should come as no surprise that the sunrises there are superb as well.

9 of 30

Wadi Rum Desert Jordan

Wake up on the Wadi Rum desert's red sand dunes and you'll feel like you've stepped on to the surface of Mars.

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Yellowstone National Park Wyoming, USA

A lot of people can say theyve seen Old Faithful, but not as many people can say they have visited Yellowstone's White Dome Geyser erupting at dawn.

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Patagonia Argentina

In El Chalten, you don't have to chose between seeing a waterfall and a mountain, you'll get amazing views of both.

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London UK

You dont have to hike up a mountain or be on the beach to witness the first light of day in all its glory. City skylines, like this one in London, can be just as beautiful as any scenic resort.

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Crater Lake National Park Oregon, USA

You'll need some snowshoes to visit Crater Lake in the winter, but for a view like this it's worth it.

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Lake Bled Slovenia

This church on the island in the center of Lake Bled looks like something out of a fairy tale all the time, but it's truly a magical sight in the morning.

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Bryce Canyon National Park Utah, USA

It might not make sense to head to a spot named Sunset Point at dawn, but if you do you'll greet the day and see Thor's Hammer in all its glory.

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Aruba

With flamingos wandering the island's beach early in the morning, you'll get a truly pretty in pink moment.

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Ponta Delgada Island Portugal

Nothing can be bad about a day that starts off with a hike down this mountain path.

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Mount Fuji Japan

There's a reason that Japan has been known as the land of the rising sun for thousands of years.

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Rio de Janeiro Brazil

The unforgettable Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro greets a new day.

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Golden Gate Bridge California, USA

You'll have to cross the San Francisco Bay to see the sun rise over the fog-covered iconic bridge.

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Indian Ocean Sri Lanka

Surfers know that dawn is the ideal time to catch the best waves.

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Taj Mahal India

The Taj Mahal is one of the most majestic buildings in the world, no matter the time of day.

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Serengeti National Park Africa

The unbelievable sunrise over the Serengeti looks like a painting.

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Bahia Drake Costa Rica

The combo of the stunning red sky and palm trees in this Costa Rican haven definitely make us want to walk the beach at dawn.

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Gold Coast Australia

A golden glow of sunrise over Australia's Gold Coast seems perfectly fitting.

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Miami Florida, USA

Key West's sunsets are famous, but just a few hours North in Florida you'll get some epic AM views.

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Auronzo di Cadore Italy

Daybreak over the Dolomites, with the sun glinting off the Bdenseen lakes shows off why this is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Denali National Park Alaska, USA

Talk about your purple haze. You can almost feel the chill of air coming off Wonder Lake in the wee hours of the morning.

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Yosemite National Park California, USA

You don't have to be a daredevil and climb out on a cliff to get a great seat for the sun rising over Half Dome.

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Cappacocia Turkey

There is a massive ballooning festival every year, but in Cappadocia hot air balloons lift off almost every day at dawn. Visit in the spring or fall for the best chance of a perfectly sunny morning.

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Sandals expands into St. Vincent with new Beaches resort – Breaking Travel News

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Sandals Resorts International is expanding to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, its eighth island in the Caribbean.

The new destination will join the portfolio following the acquisition of Buccament Bay Spa & Resort.

The resort, which has been shuttered as a failed development since 2016, will be completely transformed to become the fourth Beaches Resorts property within the portfolio.

It will join award-winning family-friendly resorts in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.

According to Sandals founder, Gordon Butch Stewart: Investing in St. Vincent and its captivating people, was not only compelling, but a natural next step for continued expansion within the eastern Caribbean.

Beginning with our first entry in Saint Lucia many years ago and more recently Grenada and Barbados, we are champions of growth for the eastern Caribbean, and it has remained at the forefront of our expansion strategy.

Expanding into a brand-new destination ushers in the tremendous opportunity for new and existing team members to experience a whole new way of life and professional growth path.

The minute our customers land in St. Vincent, they will be enchanted with its magnificence.

The resort hugs the Caribbean Sea and is nestled within a lush mountain range and neighbouring rainforest.

Best of all, its only a short drive from the newly constructed Argyle International Airport.

From left to right: Sandals Resorts International chief executive, Gebhard Rainer, and Sandals deputy chairman, Adam Stewart, sign the deal with St. Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister, Ralph Everard Gonsalves, minister of tourism, Cecil McKie, and minister of finance, Camillo Gonsalves

The agreement, which has been in the works for nearly a year, will bring Beaches Resorts to the archipelago chain known as the Jewels of the Caribbean.

The resort will undergo extensive reimagination and renovations, stated Adam Stewart, deputy chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

Each time we expand, we bring with us the full potential of our 40 years in hospitality with the creation of new jobs and skillsets through our Corporate University, the on-the-groundwork of our Sandals Foundation, the dedicated airlift and comprehensive global marketing campaigns that always follow.

As we look to the future, this growth stands for tremendous possibility.

More Information

Sandals Resorts International was recognised as the Worlds Leading All-Inclusive Company by the World Travel Awards in 2019.

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Sandals expands into St. Vincent with new Beaches resort - Breaking Travel News

Royal Holiday Vacation Club Is Helping Its Members To Plan Safe Holidays During Pandemic – GlobeNewswire

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

Mexico City, Mexico, July 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Holiday Vacation Club has been providing travelers the best vacation experience for several years. While the club ensures that its guests have the best time at any of their selected destinations, Royal Holiday Vacation Club also takes its members' safety as one of their top priorities. Especially post Covid-19, Royal Holiday Vacation Clubs have taken several precautionary measures to ensure that their members find vacations in some of the best tourist destinations that are marked safe under the Royal Holiday Vacation club touring arrangements.

Royal Holiday Vacation Club - Safe Travel Experiences

The club has been serving its members for years, ensuring that their clients have unique and memorable traveling experiences. Due to the spread of Covid-19, many travelers are reluctant to go on tours or plan holidays. The Royal Holiday vacation club has been monitoring the situation closely. It has ensured that all precautionary measures are in place at all hotels and vacation destinations that the club recommends to its members. Royal Holiday Vacation clubs have strict policies and checks to ensure that the safety of all the members and the employees of the club remains the top priority.

Offering Reservations with Full Confidence

The club makes sure that their team at different traveling destinations confirms the Covid-19 safety measures and provides the club with the latest stats on the spread of the virus in a particular location. All reservation options open to the members are at some of the best vacationing resorts that are safe and have reported no recent Covid-19 cases. You can also book your trip at some resorts around the world in countries that did not get any corona cases. However, the Royal Holiday Vacation Club is not taking any chances. Any reservation option they keep open for its members is the location where they did everything possible to provide the clients with the safest standards they could expect with the ongoing COVID situation.

Following all Safety Regulations

Royal Holiday Vacation Club monitors all safety regulations and requirements to ensure they offer safe traveling options to their members. The club gets its latest news by following the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local health agencies. As a socially responsible company, the club is in contact with all the local health agencies at various touring locations to get the latest information on Covid-19. All the traveling options recommended by the club to its members are safe by the Club standard. The club only refers to those vacationing options that are marked safe according to government recommendations and public health entities.

Extra Precautions

The club's emphasis is on the safety of its members so they can enjoy vacations with their loved ones with full confidence. The Royal Holiday Vacation Club has offices all over the world, and their team ensures every destination where the brand has operations is under constant scrutiny to ensure that all Covid-19 safety measures are in place. The region is safe for the members to go to and enjoy their holidays.

Your Tour Plan with Royal Holiday Vacation Club

All hotels under the club ensure a high level of safety measures and follow the most stringent guidelines in terms of cleanliness and hygiene from the CDC and WHO. There is an extensive cleaning process in place for cleaning rooms and common areas. While the club wants its members to have an exceptional traveling experience, they greatly value the safety of its more than 100,000 Royal Holiday members. Royal Holiday values its member safety and well-being as a top priority.

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Royal Holiday Vacation Club Is Helping Its Members To Plan Safe Holidays During Pandemic - GlobeNewswire

Portland protests have no goal except violence and anarchy – New York Post

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

At the end of May, rioting and looting broke out in Portland, Ore., as it did in dozens of other American cities in response to the police-involved death of George Floyd. In one night, hundreds of rioters ravaged downtown, breaking into jewelry stores, the mall and banks. They left a trail of broken windows and fires in their wake. That was seven weeks ago. And while violent protests have ebbed or stopped everywhere else, it has continued and grown stronger in Portland.

For 58 days, mass protests and riots have taken over parts of the city. Some streets and areas are literal no-go zones at night either blocked by fires or teams of guards.

Day after day, hundreds and even thousands take to the streets and claim the territory as theirs. They cycle through a number of chants like All cops are bastards and F--k the police. A large number of them participate in violent criminal acts such as arson and assault. Theyve made it a game to lure law-enforcement officers out of buildings so they can assault them with blinding lasers, paint, rocks and other weapons.

Those who dont engage in direct violence cheer them on, assist in de-arresting comrades and act as cop watchers. Rioterstry, and have succeeded in, breaking into Portland police facilities. Now theyre focused on the federal Mark O. Hatfield US Courthousein response to the Department of Homeland Security sending in reinforcements earlier this month.

Besides the violence and anarchy, what exactly do the rioters want?

As witnessed in the former autonomous zone in Seattle, the far-left movement in Portland has no declared leaders. Social media is used to decide when and where to meet, but rarely what the goal is. One faction or person may make a statement, only to have it be contradicted by another.

On Wednesday night, Mayor Ted Wheeler spoke at one of the protests for the first time. He was heckled by the crowd and a group projected a list of demands on the front of the Justice Center.

Theodore, fancy seeing you here. These are our demands, the statement read. It called for defunding the Portland Police Bureau by at least 50 percent, freeing all protesters from jail, kicking federal law enforcement out, and Wheelers resignation.

Despite the radical requests, some took relief because it meant there was something to negotiate on a possible path to ending seven weeks of violent protests. But the Youth Liberation Front, who led the crowd in shouting expletives at the mayor, didnt agree.

What is this defund at least 50% s--t, were trying to abolish the police here, they quickly tweeted out.

And thats what people need to know about Antifa. They dont make demands because thats working within the system. Their unambiguous goal is to destroy all American institutions and then the country itself. When they spray-paint or shout, Burn it down, they really mean it.

The Antifa ideology propagated in extremist zines, booklets and Web sites say the US is so fundamentally wicked that no amount of reform can fix it it must be abolished. They see law enforcement and military as the bulwark between them and their goal.

The daily riots function to drain the city of resources and to weaken the morale of law enforcement and public officials. Its working.

Last month, Wheeler disbanded the Gun Violence Reduction Unit, claiming it unfairly targeted blacks. In the weeks since, there has been a 380 percent increase in shootings compared with the same time frame last year.

City Councilwoman Jo Ann Hardesty has taken police hatred further. She told Marie Claire magazine this week: I believe Portland Police [Bureau] is lying about the damage or starting the fires themselves so that they have justification for attacking community members. She partially walked back her accusation after Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, who is black, asked for evidence of her claim.

Even before the protests started, we were dealing with a catastrophically short-staffed police bureau, says Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association. Going back to 2016, city leaders and Antifa-sympathetic activists have worked to denounce police at every opportunity. The anti-police sentiment in the city has led to early retirements and a policing philosophy of de-escalation where cops mostly stay away from riots. Just this year, the bureau has had three different police chiefs.

Were at a point where none of us knows what to do, says a Portland police officer who asked to be unidentified. Some are thinking we just need to give the vocal minority and the politicians what they want: We go away and let the city burn.

Originally posted here:

Portland protests have no goal except violence and anarchy - New York Post

Letter: Barr: Antifa has role in protests | Letters To The Editor – Gloucester Daily Times

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

To the editor:

One of the critiques about Antifas infiltration in peaceful protests to turn them in to violent riots is that in all of the arrests there is no arrest record of anyone in Antifas membership. In an interview with Brett Beir on Fox News, U.S. Attorney General William Barr stated that, We have some investigations underway, very focused investigations on certain individuals that relate to Antifa, but in the initial phase of identifying people and arresting them, they were arrested for crimes that dont require us to identify a particular group or dont necessitate that.

According to a Spectrumnews1.com article, Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler, who studies terrorism and political extremism says that Antifa is a movement an ideology shared by like-minded individuals. But Antifa isnt an organization . . . the typical profile (of Antifa members) is young, white, educated males who tend to be left leaning politically. Dr. Kaltenthaler also indicates that there are people who will self-identify as Antifa and be involved in the rioting and violence around protests. They wouldnt see it as kind of pointless violence. They would see it more as violence to get a political point across, violence to resist the system as they see it, which they see as oppressive, according to Dr. Kaltenthaler.

In addition, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz stated that he believed that Antifa was present in the protests in his city, and that the FBI is investigating the protests that turned violent in Ohio.

In a Washington Post article on June 4, Barr indicated that he had evidence of Antifa hijacking the George Floyd protests. According to the article, We have evidence that Antifa and other similar extremist groups as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions have been involved in instigating and participating in violent activity. In addition, Barr described violent actors from both the extreme left and the extreme right including the Boogaloo group. FBI Director Wray stated that Antifa and other agitators were Set out to sow discord and upheaval, rather than join in the righteous pursuit of equality and justice. According to KSAT.com news article on June 6, three members of Antifa were arrested for looting a Target in Austin, Texas. These three were part of a larger group of 20 people. I think that there is plenty of evidence to show that the Antifa movement is a far left violent and anarchist movement that infiltrates peaceful protests and does nothing to advance the progress of equality or fight against racism.

Jonathan Ring

Rockport

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Letter: Barr: Antifa has role in protests | Letters To The Editor - Gloucester Daily Times

OPINION EXCHANGE | There’s idiocy on all sides in the ‘law and order’ roadshow – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Danzig

As the Trump administration takes its law and order show on the road after a dress rehearsal at Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., and a soft opening in Portland, Ore., let me just say Im disgusted with almost everybody involved.

Lets start with the Portland demonstrators. Contrary to heroic PR efforts from many in the mainstream media, these arent great people. Oh sure, I have no doubt some, even many, are decent enough on a personal level. But even decent people become ugly when they lend their bodies and voices to mobs and riots. Even if they just watch, theyre encouraging rioting and violence.

Then theres the mainstream and left-wing media. When right-wing protesters foolishly in my opinion, but also peacefully gathered to denounce lockdown orders during the early days of the pandemic, virtually everybody to the left of Fox News insisted it was dangerous, fascistic and scary (which, by the way, is how the media mostly covered Tea Party rallies a decade ago).

But whether it was peaceful protests in the wake of George Floyds killing or even rioting and arson, the non-right media covered it all in a spirit of near celebration, with the occasional tsk-tsking for some excesses.

Now let us turn our gaze rightward. To listen to many on the right, in and out of the administration, the goons in Portland are domestic terrorists on par with al-Qaida or ISIS. Indeed, President Donald Trump said in June he would designate antifa a loose affiliation of radicals, jackasses and radical jackasses a terrorist organization. Characteristically, he hasnt followed through on that threat (though that hasnt stopped antifa sympathizers from pretending he did so they can spin conspiracy theories about how the administration is denying antifa members due process).

The goal is to create a domestic enemy that only Trump can save us from. Its part of the administrations larger effort to re-create the moral panic he fomented in 2016 with his American carnage rhetoric, and failed to foment with the immigrant caravan in 2018. Many on the right are only too happy to help with the messaging.

Thats the basic context for Trumps decision to send federal agents into Portland and now other cities. This has elevated the ridiculousness on both sides by an order of magnitude. Those on the left insist its illegal and unconstitutional. Its neither. Democrats and media commentators glibly talk about how this use of a gestapo makes us a police state no different from China. Thats absurd, not least because the law is on the administrations side (so far), but also because Chinas police state is competent. If the Trump administration wanted to act like China, it would round up (or kill) all of the protesters, violent and peaceful alike.

I have no principled objection to federal agents protecting federal property from rioters and arsonists. What bothers me is that the administrations tactics and motives are all about manufacturing a political narrative that helps Trumps campaign, elevates the status of the rioters and arsonists, and gives critics license to prattle on about dictatorship.

Trump long ago proved he doesnt really want to be a dictator. (That requires too much work.) He wants to be a TV star. Whats outrageous isnt that Trump is using federal agents on American soil, or even that hes doing it without an invitation from local politicians. Whats outrageous is why hes doing it.

When China crushes protests, it crushes them because thats the goal. Trump has the opposite goal. He wants more protests, more riots, because his campaign thinks it needs to make facts on the ground fit its law and order sloganeering and exaggerations.

The idiot mobs of Portland are only too happy to give Trump what he wants, which is why they started focusing their wrath on federal buildings in the first place. Indeed, all the stakeholders (save for the majority of Americans) get what they want. The resistance-drunk left-wing media is gleeful to further heighten tensions by downplaying the dark side of the protests to fit their preferred narrative about Trump being an authoritarian. The Trump-besotted right-wing media gets to highlight the mainstream medias cleanup operation to show how the fake news is just out to get Trump.

Its a collective action problem, a tragedy of the political commons, in which all actors get to harvest the facts that help their cause, leaving the rest of us wondering how things got so stupid.

Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch.

OPINION EXCHANGE | There's idiocy on all sides in the 'law and order' roadshow - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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