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Saltours selects Triometric to optimise B2B online travel with operational and business intelligence – Breaking Travel News

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Triometric, the leading provider of API intelligence for online travel distributors, today announced that Saltours International, a long established global wholesale tour operator, has selected Trio Express to monitor the performance of its API environment and increase visibility into its product demand and availability.

Trio Express is the Software as a Service (SaaS) version of Triometrics API analytics platform. It monitors the health of an API environment and provides deep analysis and reporting of all search and booking traffic of a companys booking platform. Salvation, Saltours B2B wholesale booking platform, offers an industry leading service of hotel and travel product rates to Saltours travel partners. Trio Express, delivered as a cloud based service, provides out-of-the-box reports that help hotel distributors to get up and running quickly without the need for hardware investment, or skilled analysts. Trio Express gives users self-service access and alerts to timely operational and business intelligence including any service errors, message errors, latency, search patterns, look-to-book ratios, and real-time inventory availability.

Using Trio Express, Saltours benefits from insights into the performance of Saltours reservation platform to ensure optimal service. At the same time, Saltours business users get a deeper understanding of the search request and reply traffic running through its API. With Trio intelligence, Saltours can increase conversion rates and revenue by:

Optimising its API operationsImproving inventory availability management in line with demand patternsBuilding strong client partnerships built on real-time insights

Starting with a high-level dashboard view of key performance indicators, Saltour users can drill down to transaction-level details to quickly and easily pinpoint any root causes of poor performance, service issues or gaps in inventory.

Saltours is committed to continuous investment in technology to ensure that our API and reservation service performs optimally as our product and client portfolio grows said Imran Salehjee, Group Managing Director at Saltours International. We look forward to working with Triometric to help us ensure the highest possible quality of service for our clients.

We are delighted that Saltours has chosen Trio Express to help them optimise their operations and strengthen client management. Leveraging their XML insights will help them build and grow their travel partnerships said Matthew Goulden, CEO at Triometric.

About SaltoursSaltours International is a wholesale tour operator and FIT travel services provider, servicing airlines and the B2B travel trade since 1974. The company evolved from a single office in London, to its current network of branch and partner offices stretching across Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. As a leading wholesale outlet for Inbound and Outbound tourism, Saltours offers a comprehensive range of quality services at unbeatable prices which benefit both individual travelers and groups. These include bookings for hotels and apartments worldwide, transfers, sightseeing, excursions, cruises, car hire and meet & assist services. http://www.saltours.travel

About TriometricTriometric is the leader in API analytics with 20 years experience working with the worlds leading travel distributor and enterprises, helping them meet the challenges and opportunities of todays fragmented distribution landscape using XML analytics. Trio analytics helps customers monitor and manage their complex distribution environment. Actionable insights enables travel companies to optimise their business performance by improving their offers, uncovering opportunities and increasing revenue. Triometric is a privately held company based in the UK. Customers include some of the leaders in the travel industry including Bonotel and Marriott. http://www.triometric.net.

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Saltours selects Triometric to optimise B2B online travel with operational and business intelligence - Breaking Travel News

Skiing in Afghanistan: Meet the man who wants the world to enjoy the war-torn country’s slopes – Telegraph.co.uk

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Whether its clocking up miles on the pistes, discovering untapped terrain or conquering a black run for the first time every skier and snowboarder has their own personal goals to achieve in the mountains. But in Afghanistan, a country that has been in a state of internal turmoil and war for over 40 years, one man has the hopes of the entire nation on his shoulders.

Sajjad Husaini is a man on a mission. Not only is the 28-year-old bidding to become Afghanistans first ever Winter Olympian at the Winter Games in Beijing in 2022, he is also leading the charge to put his countrys mountains on the map for skiers and for good reason.

The untouched mountains of Afghanistan offer an almost unrivalled chance of carving fresh, first-ever tracks a lot of the terrain remains un-skied and undiscovered. This is, of course, in part because the Foreign Office advises against all travel to the country.

Bamyan, 100 miles north west of Kabul, is the capital of the Bamyan Province in the central Afghan region of Hazarajat, and the focal point of Husainis efforts to encourage more international visitors to Afghanistans slopes.

"My hope is to develop skiing and tourism in Bamyan and to use the potential we have here," he said. "I love mountains and Bamyan is a province covered with mountains and snow."

The region sits in the shadow of the Hindu Kush mountains to the north east. The range stretches through Afghanistan to Pakistan and into Tajikistan, and is home to some of the most dramatic peaks in the world, including Noshaq,7,492m,Afghanistans highest mountain.

The Koh-e Baba mountains, to the south west, mirror this magnificence, reaching 4,951m at their loftiest point, Foladi. By comparison, Europes highest ski resort Val Thorens sits at a relatively modest 2,300m, with slopes up to 3,200m, and the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, summits at 4,810m.

As well as big mountains, the region is rich with historic culture, most famously the giant statues of Buddha, the worlds largest, which were carved into the cliff faces in the fifth century and destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. Located on the ancient Silk Route, Bamyan remains a peaceful region of Afghanistan, one of the few areas of the country where the Taliban has been unable to gain a strong foothold. This makes it one of the most popular spots for international visitors, but not yet skiers and snowboarders looking for an off-piste adventure.

This winter Husaini is hoping to change that, as skiers and snowboarders have the rare chance to experience skiing in Afghanistan on a 10-day trip organised by social enterprise ISHKAR. Participants on the pioneering trip will explore the backcountry off-piste terrain of the Bamyan region with Husaini and fellow Afghan professional skier Alishah Farhang.

While there are very few first-person accounts of skiing in the country to entice potential guests to join the trip, Husainis inspiring story, as well as the undiscovered appeal of the region, has recently inspired Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Daniel Etter to make a film that tells the truth of skiing in Afghanistan. The film, Where The Light Shines, takes its name from the translation of Bamyan, the place of shining light.

"Of course, as a visual storyteller, I was inspired by the immense beauty of the landscapes in Bamyan. But more importantly, the idea was to use the shared experience of skiing as a means to convey a positive story of Afghanistan that goes beyond the stereotypes of war and poverty that are dominant in the media," said Etter.

The opening sequences of the film demonstrate how the area has little infrastructure, with locals using shovels to clear paths for 4x4 vehicles up the mountains. But its this simple approach to life, tourism and skiing that will leave potential visitors intrigued.

"I enjoyed the beauty and the simplicity of life in Bamyan immensely. People were kind and open and I gained insight into Afghan society and culture I would not have expected beforehand," said Etter.

With mountains covering an estimated 90 per cent of the region and winters lasting at least six months, when temperatures fall as low as -30C, the conditions are ripe for powder turns and winter sports. But, as the film shows, turns are earned here the first lift, a rope tow powered by a motorbike engine was constructed, in part by Husaini, just last year. "Skiing is a new sport in Afghanistan most people in Afghanistan have never heard of skiing," says Husaini.

"We have good backcountry skiing in Afghanistan. The slopes are natural so we need to hike up and ski down," he explains. "It takes four hours just to go up and only four minutes to go down."

As well as infrastructure on the slopes, potential visitors can forget the quaint wooden ski chalets found in traditional Alpine ski resorts. Bamyan is home to ancient Qala mud brick fortresses and crumbled ruins, which date back to when Genghis Khan, the great Asian ruler of the 13th century, laid waste to the region.

Yet despite parts of the area lying in disrepair there is a burgeoning ski industry. Bamyan Ski Club, which opened the first permanent ski centre in the country in 2018, is playing a crucial role in the growth of the sport. It was under the watchful eye of club founder Christoph Zurcher, from Switzerland, that Husaini took his first turns in 2012, aged 20. Unlike other novices shown in the film skiing on wooden planks, he had access to proper ski equipment, after Zurcher saw his potential.

Over the years dozens of local Afghan boys, and since 2013 also girls, have learned to ski with the Club. They all have one primary goal, to compete in the Afghan Ski Challenge, which the Club hosts each spring. The race is set in the backcountry terrain of Bamyan in the Koh-e Baba mountains, and while the course varies in distance each year, the rules stay the same: everyone starts at the same time, competitors must carry all their own equipment and supplies, the winner is the first person to cross the line having successfully reached all checkpoints, and, strictly, no weapons.

After competing in his local race for many years, Husaini now travels to the world's top ski resorts to compete in the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup in the giant slalom and slalom races, but he has his sights set on the biggest global stage of all. "I hope we can represent Afghanistan for the first time in history at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games," he said, making the chance to ski with him this winter, on the ISHKAR trip, even more unique.

The 10-day trip is open to keen skiers with some experience of backcountry skiing, and costs from 2,680 per person in a group trip of six people, including food, travel and accommodation. The itinerary includes four to five days of guided skiing plus days spent seeing other cultural sights in Afghanistan.

ISHKAR, the company behind the pioneering trip, is a social enterprise set up by Britons Flore De Taisne and Edmund Le Brun. It's an online marketplace that helps craftsmen and women in war-torn countries connect to the international market. The duo have recently been named on Forbes 30 under 30 list, and this winter will run their first ski trips to the country, with three dates set in February and March and limited places remaining.

For security reasons the trips full itinerary cannot be made public. Safety was one the challenges the film crew behind Where The Light Shines faced. "While Bamyan is extremely safe, Kabul and the provinces between the two are not. I was almost kidnapped once and only got away because my translator concocted a story of me hailing from an Afghan father who migrated to Germany and us getting married in the following summer. The kidnappers-to-be only believed it after her father confirmed the story on the phone," said Etter of his experience when filming.

Following the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US strike in Baghdad in January, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently advises against all travel to all areas of Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan. The incident has led to increased tensions in the region and, according to the FCO, there is a possibility of an increased threat against Western interests and the security situation could worsen with little warning.

"Together the founders of ISHKAR have spent more than a decade living and travelling to Afghanistan. The company takes security very seriously, and follows a number of uncompromising security principles,"said the trip organisers at ISHKAR. "All ISHKAR trips are led by experienced local guides, who are highly knowledgable about where it is safe to visit. ISHKAR draws on its range of contacts from across the Afghan government, local NGOs and security experts to ensure that ISHKAR has most up-to-date security information prior to, and during, the trip."

Safety concerns and cultural differences aside, watching Husaini in action on the untouched slopes of Bamyan echoes the action footage of world-class winter-sports films that premiere on big screens, shot in bucket-list destinations such as Alaska, Japan and North America.

"The feeling in the mountains is the same anywhere you go. We dont think about who is up here or what ethnicity they have, we are just living the sport," said Husaini.

That said, when asked where his favourite place to ski is? His reply is prompt: "Of course, Bamyan."

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Skiing in Afghanistan: Meet the man who wants the world to enjoy the war-torn country's slopes - Telegraph.co.uk

Japanese airport introduces ‘first of its kind’ dog toilet area, complete with ‘pee pole’ – Fox News

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

closeVideoFox News Flash top headlines for Feb. 11

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

An airport in Japan is ensuring the skies are a little friendlier for four-legged travelers by setting up a doggy toilet area, complete with a pee pole to allow canines to relieve themselves.

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Osaka International Airport put up the "first of its kind" pup potty, which is a fenced-in zone outside one of the airports pick-up and drop-off areas. The set-up is complete with a bathing station, a pee pole with washing functions, as well as a water bowl, according to a press release.

Osaka International Airport put up the first of its kind pup potty, which is a fenced-in area outside one of the airports pick-up and drop-off areas. (Kansai Airport)

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The airport is hopeful the pet relief area will allow dogs to relieve themselves before boarding, and reduce stress and discomfort for the pooches during flights.

Hopefully, it will also avoid any mid-flight accidents.

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Japanese airport introduces 'first of its kind' dog toilet area, complete with 'pee pole' - Fox News

The Problem with Atheism By Mohammad Alshereda – Nature World News

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Feb 07, 2020 10:44 AM EST

Atheism as a way of life or as an ideology provides an explanation for existence that depends only on the materialistic side of life and rejects the belief in God or a supreme being. By that, atheists think that they solved the philosophical dilemma of existence yet they actually created a bigger one.

By taking the concept of God out of the equation, a lot of things human-beings take for granted just fall apart. For example: the concept of good and evil, the concept of reward and punishment, moral compass... etc. These concepts are built on the existence of God and without it, there is no foundation for them and that is the real problem that atheism creates as those concepts are critical to the human condition and cannot be eradicated.

Furthermore, atheism kills the motivation to do anything good for oneself or humanity because according to what atheism entails, there is no point in doing so as all living beings will cease to exist at a point in time and there is no afterlife. It is a very disappointing idea.

If atheism wants to cancel the idea of a creator or supreme power, it should provide a substitute to hold the basis for the critical concepts mentioned earlier yet it failed to do so till this very moment (and frankly, it seems to me that it never will).

Atheists also fail to provide an explanation for fine tuning which is a huge topic in science. The only thing that atheism really succeeded in (with flying colors) is increasing the confusion of human-beings.

About the author:

Although almost all of the classical sociologists were atheists, Alshereda criticizes atheism and states that: "It is a religion in its true essence and there are huge efforts to make it mainstream". He states that even hugely celebrated atheists failed to explain morals and fine-tuning. Since atheism uses science to form its beliefs, he believes that science is an essential tool to improve our lives but it lacks the ability to justify the moral compass and to answer the main philosophical questions man is inspired to have.

Originally posted here:

The Problem with Atheism By Mohammad Alshereda - Nature World News

Journal Writing Project Reflection of ourselves – Fillmore County Journal

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

By Leah Himlie

If someone walked down every street of Minneapolis and counted the number of people of color, how many would that person see? If a survey of the entire state of Minnesota was conducted, how many people would check a box declaring their sexual orientation something other than straight? In the United States, how many would state their religion to be something other than a branch of Christianity or atheism? The answer for any of these questions is probably a lot. The country in which we live is a diverse nation, but the fictional media we consume does not reflect this. Movies, TV shows, and books are often filled with straight white characters whose religion is deemed irrelevant. While the lack of accurate representation of minorities in fictional media may not seem like a big deal, it does have impacts on both individuals and society as a whole.

The lack of representation for minorities has been a bigger issue in the past, but the representation gained is still nowhere near an accurate portrayal of cultural diversity, particularly in the United States. To put this issue in perspective, in 2017 YouTuber and activist Dylan Marron created a series called Every Single Word. In this series, popular movies were edited to show only the words that a person of color spoke. The Fault in Our Stars, Noah, and Into the Woods, along with most others, were stripped down into clips under a minute long. The longest clip, lasting one minute and 40 seconds, was Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. The entire movie was two and a half hours long. Though shows and movies may include people of color, many of those characters are not given as much screen time as white characters, which contributes to the lack of representation. People of color are not background characters in real life, so they should not be portrayed as such in fictional works.

Screen time is an important factor in considering how much representation is in the media, but the quality of the character is important as well. For instance, sometimes a creator makes a side character gay for no other reason than to attract people from the LGBT+ community. J.K. Rowling has done this on Twitter. While her books have been published for a long time, she is known throughout the fanbase to announce that various characters of hers are gay even though she did not originally write them that way. The same can be done for a characters race or religion, and it is especially easy to do in books since it is up to the reader to imagine the character. It is easy for the author to add one line about a character not being white and then never say anything else about it. The problem is that in America being not white will impact that characters entire life, and it is negligent to simply not acknowledge it again. Despite race, sexuality, and religion possibly being a large part of someones identity, those traits do not define a person. When minorities, especially people of color, are represented, they sometimes end up being a stereotype with no actual personality. This helps to reinforce negative stereotypes and prejudices. Just being seen is not enough. A character that is part of a minority group must seem like a person, not simply a character that is part of a minority group.

Good representation is important because what we as individuals see influences what we as a society believe. Individually, it is important to see a reflection of ourselves within mainstream media because its empowering to see someone with whom you can relate on TV or in a book. It creates a sense of belonging and feelings of being accepted. On the other hand, if a person is straight, white, and either a Christian or an atheist, seeing people of minority groups reminds them that not everyone in the world is part of the majority. Normalizing the minority fosters acceptance for those groups. This connects to the attitudes of society because minority groups are the minority. Minority groups need the majority to see and accept them, but if the media is not portraying them in a positive light, the majority will be influenced to not see them in a positive light. The social perception of these groups will become skewed. The media, even fictional media, influences the attitudes of society as a whole more than many people realize.

Leah Himlie is a student at Rushford-Peterson High School. She is one of eight area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 21st year.

Sources:

http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/RHI825218

deadline.com/2018/04/diversity-inclusion-representation-television-tv-time-1202375787/

http://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/minorities-and-media

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Journal Writing Project Reflection of ourselves - Fillmore County Journal

Fighting over Evolution? Why? – Covalence

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Millennial young people, whom we do not see in our church pews on Sundays, frequently complain that the Christian religion is anti-science right along with being anti-everything else they take for granted. When it comes to the people who do sit comfortably in our church pews, many take for granted that Charles Darwin was right on the evolution issue. Many other hymn-singing Christians, however, fear that Darwinian science conflicts with the Bible and the Bible, after all, is the Word of God. Most just find themselves confused.

As recently reported in Covalence, a Pew Study shows that 40% of adult Americans see creationism, or the idea that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years, as the way life on Earth began. Where are these people? In our pews? In our pulpits? Or, in the church down the street?

For two decades now, Ive been researching the evolution controversy with my friend and colleague, Martinez Hewlett. Martys a biologist who specializes in virus evolution. Without Darwins theory of evolution, Marty explains, he could not develop medical therapies to protect us from dangerous viruses. Hed never ask a creationist or intelligent design theorist to assist him in the laboratory. The theory of evolution is good science because its fertile, he says; it generates knowledge and even medical therapies. Thank God for evolutionary science! exclaims Marty, a devout Roman Catholic.

With this in mind, lets try to clear up things for those in the confused category. Actually, most everybody is confused even if they dont recognize it, even if theyve already made up their mind.

Before we can trumpet the right position on the evolution controversy our own position! we should know something about the alternatives. Before we tell everybody else how they should believe, we should enable ourselves to understand what evolution looks like from multiple points of view.

This is important because of an aching need to correct one widespread misunderstanding, namely, the false belief that theres a war going on between science and Christian belief. No such war is happening, because everybody loves and respects science. Science has no enemies here. Lets make this clear.

Theres a culture war going on, to be sure. But, its not a war against science, at least not against genuine science. Even creationists and intelligent design advocates love science. So, if this is true, then whos fighting with whom about what? To that we now turn.

There are at least five armies fighting in this culture war, and the smoke on the battlefield is so thick it makes it difficult to see just what theyre fighting about. Here is a map of adversaries Marty came up with.

Note whats on each end of this divine action bar graph. We find belief in an interventionist God on one end and atheism on the other. The real battle is between belief and disbelief, not between faith and science.

Look initially at the second category from the right, evolutionary biology: the science only. Here we place Charles Darwins theory of evolution first published in 1859. What Darwin tried to explain is how one species evolves from another species. His explanation was and still is so very elegant in its simplicity: variation in inheritance acted on by natural selection (survival of the fittest) leads to some inherited traits passed on while others go extinct. Darwin had no idea how life began, but once life began it evolved over time into many different forms. Evolution may take a long time, but over deep time species change. Thats it. Simple, eh.

Lets take a another look at that second category from the right, science only, a century and a half later. Thats where we put Martys laboratory where he studies the evolution of viruses. On weekday mornings when hes not skiing down Taos Mountain, he attends matins at church. Following worship, Marty goes to the laboratory to search for one and only one thing, natural processes in virus evolution. Marty does not look for intervention by angels or divine providence. Does he believe in angels and divine providence? Yes, of course. But, in the laboratory he confines his research framework to that of natural causation, the only framework that could possibly lead to developing a vaccine. This is science only, uncontaminated by ideologies such as materialism or atheism.

If you now look at the category on the far right, youll find the ideology we know as materialism, sometimes called scientism. As an ism, materialism is the belief that only material things exist and, further, that scientists are the sole producers of knowledge. Anything that is not scientific is fiction, accordingly. Religious belief is fiction, according to this ideology. Where we find the venomous opposition to religion is in this camp of materialists who promulgate their atheism, pretending that science supports the denial of Gods existence. This is not science. This is ideology, even if its proponents wear lab coats.

The materialist army today is led by an atheist general, Richard Dawkins at Oxford University. I am attacking God, all gods, anything and everything supernatural, wherever and whenever they have been or will be invented. (The God Delusion, 36) General Dawkins attacks everything supernatural, because, as a materialist, he believes only natural things exist. What contributes to the widespread cultural misunderstanding, is that Dawkins arms his attack weapons with ammunition he believes to be scientific. Even though it appears that we have a battle between science and religion, its actually a battle between atheism against religion.

Now, lets jump to the far left end of our bar graph, to those who affirm that God intervenes in natures world. Here we find the notorious creationists. The creationists are by far the most interesting army in this battle. Never underestimate how fascinating and creative this group can be.

Creationist soldiers attack the materialists/atheists from two different flanks. The biblical creationists arm themselves with the authority of Scripture, especially Genesis 1:1-2:4a, the seven day creation. The Bible has authority over Darwin, contend the biblical creationists; therefore, we should believe the Bible and disbelieve Darwin. Its important to acknowledge that biblical creationists do not reject all of science; they reject Darwinian evolution only.

On the other flank, the attacking army is made up of scientific creationists. Rather than appeal to the authority of the Bible, the scientific creationists appeal to scientific evidence. This army contends that a genuinely scientific examination of evidence drawn from geology and genetics will testify that the Earth is young, perhaps only 10,000 years old, and that all species were created as they are today. No evolution took place. Human beings and dinosaurs walked together, even if we survived and they didnt. What is decisive is this: the scientific creationists rely on science, not Scripture, for their ammunition.

In recent decades, it has been the intelligent design [abbreviated ID] army on the front lines. Like the scientific creationists, IDrs appeal to science rather than Scripture to argue that Darwin was wrong. Why was Darwin wrong? ID soldiers accept that evolution including speciation has occurred, but they deny that variation in inheritance acted on by natural selection can account for speciation.

If Darwins explanation was wrong, whats the right explanation? Intelligent Design. Heres the argument. Organisms are complex. The whole organism has properties that none of the parts individually or together possess. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This complexity of the whole organism evolved over time. Evolution goes from the simple to the complex. Human beings are the most complex of Earths organisms. And, human beings must have been designed.

Lets try this again. For simple things to make up a complex machine with new properties it takes an engineer. To make a complex machine such as a Toyota Camry, it takes intelligence to design it. Toyotas could not possibly evolve on their own by natural selection. Complex organisms such as human beings, like a Toyota Camry, require a designer to become as complex as they are. Intelligent design better explains evolution than Darwins theory of natural selection. Thats the sum of the argument proposed by ID. ID offers better science, not religion.

Who is that designer? Thomas Aquinas would answer, why, God, of course. How would the IDrs answer? They would say: We dont know. What!? They dont know? The problem with the term, God, is that it risks sounding religious. Yes, contend the IDrs, complex organisms were designed by an Intelligent Designer that some people call God. But, because IDrs want to be scientific and not religious, they withdraw from making theological judgments.

Critics of ID contend that they are in fact religious, even if IDrs try to hide it. It appears that religion is a disease that nobody wants to catch.

On one occasion Marty and I took some students to spend a day with the scientific creationists at the Institute for Creation Research. The so-called Bull Dog of creationism was Duane Gish, who held a Ph.D. in biology from the University of California. Gish asked us a rhetorical question: Do you know whats more dangerous than a godless atheist?

No, we responded. Tell us.

A theistic evolutionist! he trumpeted.

Marty and I looked at each other. I think hes talking about us, I thought. Marty read my mind. Eventually Marty and I began to call ourselves, theistic evolutionists.

Theistic evolutionists, the middle item on our bar graph, dress in minimalist and maximalist uniforms. The minimalist accepts Darwinian theory buttressed by more recent discoveries in genetics as good science, as indisputable. But, thats all. Fundamenalist theologians at Princeton Theological Seminary a century ago, such as B.B. Warfield, were minimalist theistic evolutionists.

A maximalist theistic evolutionist constructs a grand worldview driven by evolutionary principles that fully integrates all of Christian teaching with the science. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Jesuit paleontologist who discovered Peking Man in 1929, provides an example. Teilhard continues today to inspire both Roman Catholic theology and New Age spirituality.

Marty and I along with those who invite us to their barbecues fit somewhere in between the minimalists and maximalists. We affirm that Darwinian evolutionary theory buttressed by molecular biology is fertile science requiring theological acceptance if not celebration. We, like so many of our colleagues in this school of thought, affirm that God works creatively and redemptively in, with, and under the natural processes that make up evolution. We further affirm that much of what we Christians believe about human nature could benefit from using evolutionary theory to amplify and expand it.

The leading Lutheran theologian marching in the theistic evolution platoon is Philip Hefner, author of the excellent book, The Human Factor (Fortress).

If youre inclined to join the forces of theistic evolution, visit the Clergy Letter Project website for resources. Note that each February this organization sponsors an Evolution Weekend when church congregations can discuss these matters.Many of our colleagues in the theistic evolution army are very impatient with creationism and ID. They tend to ally themselves with the materialists/atheists because they believe in defending the intellectual integrity of science. I hesitate to designate the creationist and ID armies as enemies. Because this culture war seems so unnecessary, I hesitate to increase the smoke on the battlefield and I certainly would like to lessen the number of casualties. Where are the peace-makers when we need them?

In summary, a culture war is raging, to be sure. But, this is not a war between science and faith. Everyone, including soldiers fighting for creationism or ID, love science. Science has no enemies, except perhaps the atheists who distort what science is in order to co-opt it for their ideology.

Within our churches, I recommend we treat none of these armies as our enemy. Each position attracts supporters for some reason, and we need to understand this reason. Each position, even atheism, exhibits some level of coherence and meaning. Our churches should provide open and accepting forums where individuals can explore without condemnation their convictions and lines of inquiry.

When we fight the good fight of faith, dont mistake science for the enemy.

With regard to resources, let me mention three. First, my website, TedsTimelyTake.com, offers many resources on evolution and other related topics. Second, one of the books Marty and I co-authored, Can You Believe in God and Evolution? (Abingdon Press) is very readable and informative. Third, if you can handle a lengthy and detailed description of the evolution battlefield, visit my You Tube Voice Thread, The Evolution Controversy.

Ted Peters is a pastor in the ELCA and Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. He co-edits the journal, Theology and Science for the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences at the Graduate Theological Union. He is author of God The Worlds Future (Fortress, 3rd ed., 2015) and editor of AI and IA: Utopia or Extinction? (ATF Press, 2019). More of Peters work can be found on his website, TedsTimelyTake.com.

Excerpt from:

Fighting over Evolution? Why? - Covalence

What If I Told You That You Could Help Save A Life With A Tweet? – Patheos

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

In 2013, Junaid Hafeez was arrested in Pakistan for insulting the prophet of Islam.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

DEATH.

Unfortunately, hes nowhere near the only one. Many of these men and women have only just been critical of the national religion in their country. Many of them are considered blasphemers just for being atheist and being honest about it.

In 40+ countries, you can be charged and sentenced for blasphemy.

In many of those countries, atheism is considered blasphemy.

In 14 countries, you can be sentenced to death for blasphemy and for being an atheist.

So many of the people affected by these antiquated laws face these punishments because they cannot afford to defend themselves. Many are on death row because they had no money for a lawyer.

Its time we did something about this, no?

Atheist Alliance International, which is the only atheist organization with special consultative UN status, has launched a legal aid fund. Money raised for this fund will be set aside and every dollar of it will be used to help pay the legal fees for the men and women in these 40+ countries who have been charged with blasphemy.

All you have to do is tweet to help us raise this money.

In 14 countries, blasphemy is punishable by death. In those places, atheism is considered blasphemy. Time to do something. Help us launch a legal aid fund to help victims of these laws by donating here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/229447941389432/ #Right2Blaspheme #atheist

You can also tag any of the following to help get more eyes in this campaign:

@RichardDawkins@rickygervais@ThinkingAtheist@SethAndrewsTTA@SecularStudents@seculardotorg@americnhumanist@AtheistRepublic@jimjefferies@GadSaad@ArianFoster@SarahTheHaider@SarahKSilverman@sherlockmichael@ExmuslimsOrg@aliamjadrizvi@DanBarkerFFRF@BillNye@JaclynGlenn@peterboghossian@hrw@danieldennett@LKrauss1@SethMacFarlane@billmaher@MaryamNamazie@MrAtheistPants@sapinker@timminchin@DerrenBrown@stephenfry@SalmanRushdie@SamHarrisOrg@michaelshermer@pennjillette

If you want more information on this campaign, please email me at courtneycheard@gmail.com

Image: Creative Commons/Pixabay

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What If I Told You That You Could Help Save A Life With A Tweet? - Patheos

Actors Theatre of Columbus 39th season will have royal flavor – ThisWeek Community News

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Royals is the theme of Actors Theatre of Columbus 39th season, which opens May 21 in Schiller Park.

The German Village-based theater company will perform two Shakespeare plays, King Lear (May 21 to June 14) and Queen Margaret (July 16 to Aug. 9), plus Simon Levys adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby (June 18 to July 12). The season will close with William Congreves The Way of the World (Aug. 13 to Sept. 6).

I think that theres a sort of fantasy to live in that 1 percent-type of environment, said Philip J. Hickman, artistic director of Actors Theatre. And I think that these plays, something like The Great Gatsby, sort of explores what its like to achieve that dream and what it might cost.

King Lear, one of Shakespeares most noted works, tells the tale of pre-Roman legend Leir of Britain.

The Great Gatsby, adapted from a book written in 1925, is a tale about decadent parties and contrasting idealism and hedonism on Long Island, New York, during the Roaring Twenties, it also is a cautionary tale about the American dream.

Perhaps lesser known are Queen Margaret, to be directed by Hickman, and The Way of the World.

Actors Theatres performance of Queen Margaret is the version edited by Jeanie OHare that premiered in England in 2018.

Queen Margaret of Anjou was one of the most powerful queens in English history and ran the country while her husband (King Henry VI) was ill and wasnt a very effective king, Hickman said.

The Way of the World, by William Congreve, is a pretty classic Restoration comedy, Hickman said, referring to the period between 1660 to 1710.

It was very popular in its day, and its still very funny, he said. Its a story of young love between a young man whos trying to move up in the work and a young woman who is going to come into some money. But theres a very modern sensibility to the comedy.

Jodi Marmion, new president of the Actors Theatres board of trustees, said she is looking forward to this years lineup because it has something for everybody.

We want to bring classical theater to the 21st century, she said. Actors Theatre has been working hard in the past few years to bring more content and doing more throughout the entire year, not just the summer, but obviously, our main focus is the summer. Thats the meat of our work.

Were very excited to bring contemporary new works adapted from the classics, Marmion said.

gseman@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekGary

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Actors Theatre of Columbus 39th season will have royal flavor - ThisWeek Community News

Australia’s ‘King Of One-Man Cabarets’ Michael Griffiths Returns To The McCallum With COLE – Broadway World

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Michael Griffiths, Australia's king of one-man cabaret shows, is returning to the McCallum Theatre at 7:00pm., Sunday, Feb. 16, bringing back Cole, his one-man tribute to the great Cole Porter. How insanely talented is Michael Griffiths? Cole will be taking place just hours before he takes the McCallum stage for an evening performance of In Vogue: Songs by Madonna.

Cole covers the colorful life and timeless songs of Cole Porter. It's a tale of hedonism and grave misfortune-with a legacy that sparkles with wit and wisdom. Sometimes, anything goes! Songs include "You're the Top," "It's De-Lovely," "Let's Misbehave" and "Night and Day," woven around Anna Goldsworthy's cleverly written script.

With pop music as his first love, Michael grew up in Australia, playing the piano by ear, dancing to Michael Jackson and dreaming of pop stardom. Discovering musical theater later in his teens, he moved from his hometown of Adelaide to Perth to study at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, whose alumni include Hugh Jackman. Michael graduated bachelor's degree in music theater; he also has a diploma in music composition.

This led to many years touring around Australia performing in musicals, including Priscilla, Queen of the Desert during which he learned to dance in high heels. Other performances include the Australia and Japan tour of We Will Rock You, where he was thrilled to meet Queen's Brian May. He was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys, a role he performed for more than four years. He was also in the original Australian cast of Shout!, and in the original workshop for the Australian musical Prodigal. Michael performed cabaret at Sydney's legendary Showqueen at the Supper Club and for Kookaburra's "Up Close and Musical" series.

In his absence, his sleepy hometown launched the annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival-which quickly became the biggest of its type, hosting some of the finest cabaret performers from all corners of the globe. Michael stumbled across this festival on a visit home-and a new love for cabaret was born. In Vogue was his first one-man cabaret show, and it went on to win the Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe Award in 2014.

A chance conversation with old school friend and best-selling author Anna Goldsworthy led toCole, which premiered at the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival by invitation of Barry Humphries (also known as "Dame Edna"). With his intoxicating combination of talent and wit, Michael stole the show at the 2016 Adelaide Fringe, and his performance in Cole earned Michael a Helpmann Award for Best Cabaret Performer in 2016. That same year, Cole was the top-rated cabaret show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The Herald Scotland said of Cole: "Heartbreak is always bubbling under the surface as the beautifully melancholic tunes, such as 'Night and Day,' transport the musical mind to another era full of glamour and tragedy. ... You will leave on a little cloud of cabaret heaven; it's simply 'De-Lovely.'"

With his dear friend Amelia Ryan, he recently toured Livvy and Pete: The Songs of Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen across Australia. His original song "Resemblance" was featured in the award-winning ABC documentary Sperm Donors Anonymous.

http://www.michaelgriffiths.co

Tickets for this performance are priced at $68, $48 and $28. Tickets are available at the Theatre's website at http://www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-2787.

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Australia's 'King Of One-Man Cabarets' Michael Griffiths Returns To The McCallum With COLE - Broadway World

Wines of the week: 9 bottles to celebrate Valentine’s Day with – The Independent

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Valentine'sDay" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-9319326-/topic/Valentine'sDay" data-vars-event-id="c6">Valentines Day comes at just the right time to brighten up the middle of what can be the dullest month of the year the festive season is a distant memory, the weather is pretty grim and there are still a few weeks to go before we can feel spring in the air.

And theres not much in the way of seasonal foods shellfish apart perhaps to liven the table prompting us to find some compatible wines.

So, although the day has become horribly commercialised, lets surrender a little to all the pink fluffiness, avoid the often horrible Valentines Day themed menus in restaurants, shut out the cold, light some candles and indulge in some nice food and wine with our loved ones

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And its obviously a great excuse to open a bottle of something sparkling. If it really is a special occasion for the two of you, then a bottle of pink champagne is a must. There are loads of timely big name discount offers on the high street such as the impeccable, refined, red berry flavoured Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose NV Champagne (37.49; normally 49.99 until 18 Februarywaitrose.com) or try the more expressive, lighter, chardonnay dominated Ayala Rose Majeur NV (32.50 champagnedirect.co.uk; 33.50 tanners-wines.co.uk).

My personal choice would be a fine English sparkling rose, such as the Ridgeview Fitzrovia NV (35ridgeview.co.uk; 30.56 thedrinkshop.com) made in Sussex by one of the pioneers of English sparkling an elegant bottle, classy carefully made, precise red fruits and hedgerow aromas.

If you are looking for something a little more budget friendly, then try a pink cremant such as the Domaine Langlois-Chateau Cremant de Loire Rose Brut NV (14.95 winedirect.co.uk; 15.25 divinefinewines.co.uk) made in the champagne method, with cabernet franc grapes in the Loire, which gives really fulsome, raspberry and blackcurrant flavours.

All pink sparklings are a great match for seafood, but particularly anything which is also pink, such as lobster, crab or prawns. My view is that mid-February is not really a great time for a chilled still rose, but if thats your preference, there are lots around in lovely, romantically styled bottled, such as the Whispering Angel 2018 (17.99 waitrosecellar.com; ocado.com; various independents) a blend of Grenache, cinsault and vermentino and one of the originators of the trend in upmarket Provencal roses, with its very dry, orange scented flavours and distinctive bottle.

Many other have followed suit, such as the Jean Claude Mas empire [which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago] which has the syrah dominated Jardin de Roses (14.99 sohowine.co.uk) from an estate in Roussillon near Mount Canigou, dry, slightly spicy, but aromatic and lively and stylishly bottled and labelled, with four different rose-themed variants.

Speaking of roses, wine gifts have become increasingly popular at Valentines, as an alternative or indeed an accompaniment to flowers and there are lots out there on the High Street or via online wine merchants, including the Tattinger Rose and Two Glasses (48.75 amazon.co.uk; 55 johnlewis.com) which pairs a bottle from this excellent house with two fine sparkling flutes. There also good ranges here from online wine merchants Virgin and Laithwaites.

But, you say, enough of all this pink fluff, what about a big, meaty red to accompany, say, a fine Chateaubriand for two? Well, of course there are masses to choose from, but and, like those roses, you have to acknowledge the French are pretty good at this sort of thing here is a terrific gift for anyone with interest in mediaeval history and the story of the ill-fatedlove affair between 12th-century theologian Pierre Abelard and abbess Heloise dArgenteul, which has entranced France ever since.

The upmarket, organic and biodynamic boutique Chne Bleu winery, based near Mont Ventoux in Provence, names its flagship wines after the pair: The Chne Bleu Abelard 2010 (49normally 59, until February 18, waitrosecellar.com; 69.30 hedonism.co.uk) is a big, intense, rich, powerful, brooding, special occasion Grenache based blend in typical Rhone style, that needs to be decanted at least two hours before drinking, while the Chne Bleu Heloise 2011 ( 57.00 waitrosecellar.com;67.90 hedonism.co.uk) is Syrah based and lighter and more expressive and fragrant, but still a big, fulsome, concentrated wine. also needing plenty of air before drinking.

Both wines can now be bought in a stylish and elaborately decorated gift box fromHedonism Wines(in-store only) from 167.20 or sent direct from the Chne Bleu wineryhereat 150 (127.24 + shipping) for Ablard & Hlose or 160 (135.66 + shipping) to include a third bottle, Astralabe, named after their son and, naturally, a lighter syrah/Grenache blend. Orders need to be placed by Tuesday, 11 February, for delivery by Friday.

Yes, its all quite pricey, but it makes a change from a bottle of branded Aussie syrah and a bunch of roses from the petrol station, doesnt it?

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Wines of the week: 9 bottles to celebrate Valentine's Day with - The Independent

Legendary rock band to play Lincoln fresh off 25th anniversary – Lincolnshire Live

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

A legendary British rock band are heading to Lincoln after celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2019.

Fresh off the release of their 25LIVE@25, Skunk Anansie have announced they will hit the road with a major headline tour starting June 2020.

Having spent most of the past year playing too sold out crowds over 13 countries, the group will now perform at Lincolns Engine Shed on Saturday, November 28.

The well-known group has reunited and disbanded several times over the last two and a half decades.

Paranoid & Sunburnt was their first studio album and in released in 1995.

It was swiftly followed by Stoosh in 1996, Post Orgasmic Chill in 1999, Wonderlustre in 2010, Black Traffic in 2012 and Anarchytecture in 2016.

They also released one compilation album, Smashes and Trashes in 2009 and several hit singles, including "Charity", "Hedonism", "Selling Jesus" and "Weak".

The name "Skunk Anansie" is taken from Akann folk tales of Anansi the spider-man of Ghana, with "Skunk" added to "make the name nastier".

Skunk Anansies success continues to be recognised as the band were presented with the Hall of Fame Award at the 2019 Kerrang Awards joining the likes of past winners Rage against the Machine.

Vocalist Skin picked up the Inspirational Artist Award at the Music Week Awards in 2018.

Last year Skunk Anansie also released their first instalment of brand new music in three years with the brilliant track What You Do For Love.

The track garnered airplay on BBC Radio 2 and was an instant fan-favourite.

They release its riff-raging follow-up This Means War on Friday.

Both tracks will be made available as a limited run collectors edition double A-side vinyl 7 in April, with pre-orders available from Friday via https://skunkanansie.tmstor.es/

The last 25 years have seen the band internationally acclaimed as one of the greatest British rock bands of all time, while Skin herself has become one of the worlds most iconic female performers, as well as inspirational role model, activist, trailblazer for women in the music industry, model and muse for designers.

Now reflecting on her incredible journey, Skin has announced her very first memoir, co-written by journalist and friend Lucy OBrien.

For more ticket visit The Engine Shed website.

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Legendary rock band to play Lincoln fresh off 25th anniversary - Lincolnshire Live

6 Anti-Valentines Day Films That Will Make You Happy To Be Single – British Vogue

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

The glut of rom-coms set to land on screens over the next few weeks can only mean one thing: Valentines Day is just around the corner. But, if the thought of dating montages fills you with horror, look no further. Ahead of 14 February, we pick 6 films that will make you feel grateful to be single on the most romantic and potentially nauseating day of the year.

Read more: The Joyful Rebellion Of Beanie Feldsteins Red-Carpet Fashion

Blue Valentine

Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection

Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are the picture of youthful exuberance in Derek Cianfrances account of a whirlwind romance that is until their relationship unravels. Armed with an ukulele and a goofy smile, Gosling is Dean, a house painter settled in Pennsylvania. Williams is his wife Cindy, a nurse trying to make ends meet. Their arguments are caught in agonising close-ups and become all the more tragic when interspersed with recollections of their carefree courtship.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Snap Stills/Shutterstock

The only way to get over a break-up? Targeted amnesia courtesy of medical corporation Lacuna Inc or so thinks Joel (Jim Carrey) in Michel Gondrys sci-fi classic about bruised egos and broken hearts. The woman he is so desperate to forget is Clementine (Kate Winslet), a force of nature who has already undergone the procedure to wipe him from her mind. Part fever dream, part melancholic reality, the film sees Joel mull over his painful memories and eventually pine for a reconciliation.

Frances Ha

Photography Moviestore/Shutterstock

Shot in luminous black and white and stuffed with French New Wave references, Frances Ha has all the hallmarks of a sweeping romance but in the hands of director Noah Baumbach, its an ode to female friendship. Greta Gerwig stars as a dancer who has a quarter-life crisis when her best friend (Mickey Sumner) moves out of their apartment. She fills the void with family visits and an ill-fated solo trip to Paris, but their reunion is more moving than any teary declaration of love.

Booksmart

Photography Annapurna/MGM/Kobal/Shutterstock

Two friends wonder if their youth has passed them by in Olivia Wildes crowd-pleasing high school comedy. Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever are Molly and Amy, cautious bookworms keen to make the most of their final night before graduation. They party on a yacht, watch porn in the back of a Lyft, have disastrous run-ins with their crushes and attend an elaborate murder mystery dinner. It makes for a mile-a-minute romp imbued with genuine emotion as the pair prepare to part ways.

Little Women

Photography Wilson Webb/Columbia/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock

Greta Gerwigs heartfelt Louisa May Alcott adaptation is a meditation on women and commerce in the 19th century. It opens with Jo (Saoirse Ronan) selling her short stories in New York. Back home, her sister Meg (Emma Watson) is struggling with her finances while Amy (Florence Pugh) considers the economic benefits of marriage. The plot zips between the present and their rose-tinted past, but the focus remains on Jos enduring love of books and the novel she gives birth to at the end.

Animals

Photography Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo

After a decade of codependency, flatmates Laura (Holliday Grainger) and Tyler (Alia Shawkat) grow apart when the former starts dating a pianist (Fra Fee). Their millennial ennui and freewheeling hedonism are the driving forces behind Sophie Hydes poignant drama, adapted from Emma Jane Unsworths novel of the same name. Its magic, however, lies in the chemistry between its leads and their depiction of an all-consuming friendship. As they trawl through Dublins dive bars and dingy clubs, you cant help but follow them down the rabbit hole.

Read more: Florence Pughs Hair Was The Real Winner This Awards Season

Learn About NeuroTechnology Treatment Options for Hearing …

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

NeuroTechnology comes in several shapes and sizes, including some invisible options for maximum discreteness. The hearing health care provider will review your treatment options based on your specific hearing loss and hearing needs. Regardless of which treatment option is right for you, whether youre out to dinner with friends, hitting the beach, meeting with clients, or hiking, youll be able to hear what matters most with todays hearing loss technology.

Invisible Treatment Options: Once placed in your ear, its hassle-free so that you may even forget youre wearing the device! And thats the point. Hearing loss shouldnt hold you back, and neither should your hearing solution. Features in todays invisible technology options include:

Mini Receiver In The Ear Options: Groundbreaking NeuroTechnology is fast and precise enough to analyze and follow the dynamics of the entire auditory environment, and differentiate between speech and background noise. Advances in miniaturization of technology have led to the breakthrough of new NeuroTechnology proven to support brain function, including working memory, selective attention and processing speed (The Hearing Review: Dr. Desjardin, University of Texas, El Paso). These new devices have 3 features designed specifically to maintain the brains innate ability to hear in all different listening situations:

In addition, some options include Bluetooth and Internet compatible options that enable:

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Learn About NeuroTechnology Treatment Options for Hearing ...

Social Credit Market by Physical and Cyber Infrastructure (Sensors, Cameras, Biometrics, Computer Vision), Software (Machine Learning, Data Analytics,…

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Overview:

Social credit systems represent the ability to identify (mostly people but also some "things") and track activities for purposes of grading behaviors and applying "social credit" scoring. A given grading/scoring methodology depends largely on social credit system objectives and metrics. However, most systems will have socially acceptable behavior at their core. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity as a combination of government, companies, and society as a whole must determine "good", "bad", and "marginal" behavior within the social credit market.

Beginning as a trend largely orthogonal to public safety and homeland security concerns, the market for social credit system infrastructure will ultimately become a mainstream component of both business and public policy. This means that systems will ultimately be used for a variety of commerce and lifestyle related issues ranging from risk assessment (access to credit, financing fees, insurance, etc.) to accessibility within public places such as concerts, sporting events, and other assemblies. High social scoring individuals within the social credit market will be granted preferred access to both real and digital assets.

Social credit system infrastructure includes analog and digital surveillance, Internet enabled devices like smartphones, wearable devices, security systems sensor enabled physical objects, and surveillance devices that use biometrics and computer vision. Technologies include broadband wireless (WiFi, LTE, and 5G), IoT, AI algorithms and big data analytics platforms, processes, and procedures. While each of these systems has market value individually, and are deployed separately for various purposes, it is the convergence of these otherwise disparate technologies that will facilitate value within the social credit market. For example, combined AI and IoT systems will be leveraged to identify important events that require immediate action versus those that are merely archived.

It is important to note that there is great overlap between the technologies used for social credit systems and other solutions such as public safety, homeland security, and smart cities applications of many types including smart transportation (highways and surface streets, parking, autonomous vehicles, etc.), intelligent buildings, environmental monitoring (light, temperature, pressure, etc.). Many of these infrastructure elements are already planned for smart cities implementations and will therefore be multi-purposed including support of the social credit market.

In terms of physical infrastructure, social credit systems will rely upon various forms of equipment and platforms including sensors, biometrics, cameras and other optical devices, computer vision systems and other advanced computing platforms. Cyber infrastructure includes platforms, devices, and software to support data processing and correlation with identity information, which shall leverage AI, IoT, and advanced data analytics. The main purpose for all the aforementioned infrastructure elements is to capture data, which must be stored and acted upon as appropriate.

At the heart of social credit systems are large-scale data repositories that may store virtually any type of data that may be correlated to or associate with citizens and businesses in terms of both identity and behaviors. This includes raw observational data as well as listings (white, gray, red, and black) and meta-data to tie together data elements and allow for ease of information queries. Without the use of AI and big data technology, it would be problematic to implement social credit market systems in a meaningful way as massive amounts of disparate data must be correlated.

This report represents the only one of its type to assess market opportunities for infrastructure support of the social credit market. The report evaluates market drivers, use cases, and consequential impacts/implications (anticipated and likely unanticipated) for social credit market implementation and operation. Mind Commerce also evaluates some of the leading companies that are anticipated to drive social credit market evolution. This report includes detailed quantitative analysis driven by market needs with forecasting for all major infrastructure elements from 2019 to 2024.

Story continues

Select Report Findings:

Infrastructure to support social credit systems represents a nearly $13B global opportunity by 2024

Cameras and other optical equipment for social credit systems will reach almost $300M globally by 2024

Advanced computing will be used in conjunction with AI to provide nearly flawless identification and tracking

Various forms of biometrics will be used for identity verification as well as verifying presence/location of people

Starting as tangential to public safety and homeland security, the social credit market becomes mainstream by 2026

Select Report Benefits:

Infrastructure and services support forecasts for social credit market 2019 to 2024

Understand the government, business, and societal drivers for social credit systems

Identify opportunities for infrastructure and services support of the social credit market

Understand the overall and specific implications for implementing and operating social credit systems

Understand the use of blacklists, whitelists, and gray listing gradation system approach for social credit

Target Audience:

AI companies

IoT companies

Robotics companies

Data management vendors

Media (including social) companies

Governments and R&D organizations

Companies in Report:

ACTi

Alibaba

Amazon

Analog Devices

Apple

Aratek

Axis

Baidu

Bosch Security Systems

Broadcom Limited (Avago)

Canon

China Rapid Finance

Cisco

Deep Vision AI

Facebook

Google

Honeywell

IBM

Infineon Technologies

Knightscope

Logitech

NEC

Netradyne

Neurotechnology

NEXT Biometrics

NVidia Corporation

NXM Semiconductors

Omron Corporation

Panasonic

Points

Robert Bosch GmbH

Samsung

Sony

STMicroelectronics

Tencent

Texas Instruments

Toshiba

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05827248/?utm_source=PRN

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Social Credit Market by Physical and Cyber Infrastructure (Sensors, Cameras, Biometrics, Computer Vision), Software (Machine Learning, Data Analytics,...

Non-fiction reviews: One Blade of Grass and three other titles – The Sydney Morning Herald

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Yellow: A History of a ColorMichel PastoureauPrinceton University Press, $79

Credit:

Since surveys of basic colour preferences began in the 1880s, yellow has ranked last. This is not surprising given its long association in the West with cowardice and betrayal. Judas was often portrayed in paintings as wearing a yellow robe. The positive connotations of blonde are a rare exception to the colours bad rap. In classical antiquity, however, yellow bathed in the glow of golds prestige. But as the myths about gold reveal, the yellow metals status was ambiguous it symbolised power but also inspired greed, theft and destruction. As the pejorative associations of yellow gained ascendancy, the colour was pushed to the margins, reaching its lowest point with the yellow star imposed on the Jews by the Nazis. This lively, erudite history predicts that the colour is set for a comeback as underdogs such as the yellow vests make themselves seen and heard.

The NeuroGenerationTan LeAllen & Unwin, $32.99

Credit:

Tan Le had been working on brain-enhancement technology for more than a decade when she witnessed a Buddhist monk do the virtually impossible. The company she founded, which pioneered portable EEG brainwear, had helped a woman with locked-in syndrome use her thoughts to make a video game avatar fly, and a paralysed man drive a racing car with his mind. But this monk could control the fluctuations of electricity in different areas of his brain. His awe-inspiring demo revealed how much untapped power we hold. Les excitement about the future of neurotechnology is infectious, even if you find her enthusiasm for devices that could transform us into cyborgs a little confronting. Far from being gung-ho, however, she is well aware of the ethical pitfalls and is at pains to address the dangers such technology could pose.

Forgotten Corners: Essays in Search of an Islands SoulPete HayWalleah Press, $25

Credit:

We might smile if a writer were to go in search of Victorias or New South Wales soul, but find such a quest entirely acceptable when conducted by a Tasmanian. Perhaps only an island can be conceived of as possessing a singular, animating life force. The soul sought in these idiosyncratic essays, however, isnt an incorporeal entity separate from the body of the land but what Pete Hay describes as the islands biophysical qualities, from ancient geological processes to all the life forms that inhabit it. Most of these essays grapple in one way or another with how to comprehend Tasmanias wild places, whether through the lens of art, science or politics. And if this soul has an essence, it is to be found, Hay suggests, in the enchantment of its rainforests dripping with deep time.

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Non-fiction reviews: One Blade of Grass and three other titles - The Sydney Morning Herald

Face and Voice Biometrics Market Demand And Analysis of Key Players Research Forecasts 2019-2025 – Redhill Local Councillors

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

The Face and Voice Biometrics market report [5 Years Forecast 2020-2025] focuses on Major Leading Industry Players, providing info like market competitive situation, product scope, market overview, opportunities, driving force and market risks. Profile the top manufacturers of Face and Voice Biometrics, with sales, revenue and global market share of Face and Voice Biometrics are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast and speak to info. Upstream raw materials and instrumentation and downstream demand analysis is additionally administrated. The Face and Voice Biometrics market business development trends and selling channels square measure analyzed. From a global perspective, It also represents overall industry size by analyzing qualitative insights and historical data.

The study encompasses profiles of major companies operating in the global Face and Voice Biometrics market. Key players profiled in the report includes : 3M Cogent (USA), NEC Corporation of America (USA), AcSys Biometrics Corp. (Canada), AGNITiO S.L. (Spain), Cognitec Systems GmbH (Germany), Nuance Communications, Inc. (USA), Eurotech S.P.A (Italy), Ivrnet Inc. (Canada), Kimaldi Electronics, S.L. (Spain), National Security Resources (USA), Neurotechnology (Lithuania), PSP Security Co. Ltd (Hong Kong), SAFRAN Group (France), Sensible Vision (USA), Sensory, Inc. (USA), Suprema, Inc. (Korea), VoiceTrust eServices, Inc. (Canada), VoiceVault, Inc. (USA) and among others.

Get Free Sample PDF (including full TOC, Tables and Figures) of Face and Voice Biometrics Market @https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid2057317

This Face and Voice Biometrics market report provides a comprehensive analysis of:Industry overview, cost structure analysis, technical data and competitive analysis, topmost players analysis, development trend analysis, overall market overview, regional market analysis, consumers analysis and marketing type analysis.

Scope of Face and Voice Biometrics Market:

The global Face and Voice Biometrics market is valued at million US$ in 2019 and will reach million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of during 2020-2025. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Face and Voice Biometrics market based on company, product type, application and key regions.

This report studies the global market size of Face and Voice Biometrics in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Face and Voice Biometrics in these regions.

This research report categorizes the global Face and Voice Biometrics market by players/brands, region, type and application. This report also studies the global market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors, customers, research findings & conclusion, appendix & data source and Porters Five Forces Analysis.

The end users/applications and product categories analysis:

On the basis on the end users/applications,this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate foreach application.

On the basis of product,this report displays the sales volume, revenue (Million USD), product price, market share and growth rate ofeach type.

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Dr. Ricky Jones talks to students after anti-gay pamphlets were handed out to LGBTQ-focused classroom – WHAS11.com

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

LOUISVILLE, Ky. A concern on campus lead to a discussion about diversity at the University of Louisville on Monday.

Dr. Ricky Jones, a professor and director of Pan-African Studies at the university, voiced his frustrations with the schools response to a student who handed out anti-gay pamphlets to an LGBTQ-focused class.

While the students actions caused concern among the students and faculty in the classroom, he apparently followed the law and university policy when distributing the literature, a statement from UofLs spokesperson, John Karman said.

Dr. Jones told students, faculty and staff that be believed it went beyond the Freedom of Speech when the student came back a second time.

We are not making anti free speech arguments. That is not the argument we are making. We are not even arguing that the student did not have the right to pamphlet the class, he explained. The argument that we're making is that he has crossed out of the boundaries of free speech and moved into a realm of targeting, harassment and intimidation. Once he pamphlet-ed the class, I and others do not understand why it was necessary for him to return to the class.

According to the University, the student was trying to share information not intimidate, but some students took it very differently.

That wasn't him just popping up in Davidson and saying I'm going to hand these out everywhere. This was a specific classroom that he knew was going to be full of queer students, explained Finn Depriest, who was not in that specific class but has taken classes with Dr. Kaila Story before.

It was frustrating. I was super aggravated, because she's given students such a space to feel safe and for someone to invade that.

Students said theres a security guard that stands in front of the door before and after class. Jones said the student was told he'd have to give 48-hours of notice before showing up again, but doesnt believe thats enough.

This student has to be contacted immediately and be told 'do not return to that class, he said. Dr. Jones has no issue with the student exercising his right of free speech in an open area on campus. Nobody is saying you can't pass the stuff out, we're just saying, look man, don't come back.

RELATED: Woodford County approves fairness ordinance; becomes first county in 20 years to pass LGBTQ right law

RELATED: Catholic school students stand against anti-Semitism

UofL President Dr. Neeli Bendapudi met with students after the incident.

The students and I discussed how, as a learning community at a public university, we also respect and must uphold free speech rights protected by the First Amendment. We express this in the CARDINAL Principles as a commitment to prepare students for ideas rather than protect them from ideas, however disagreeable they may be to any of us personally. This is not just some abstract ideal that institutions of higher education espouse. For a public university, failure to protect free speech leads to significant consequences if we infringe on ones constitutional rights. At the same time, as a university we have the right, in fact an obligation, to educate our community and advance our goals of creating an inclusive environment.

Depriest finds the silver lining knowing there's still acceptance on their campus, and hopes their voices will be heard.

I hate that this has to be such a horrible thing to happen for people to come together and you get to see, but also you get to see all the people who you can go to and you can count on.

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Originally posted here:

Dr. Ricky Jones talks to students after anti-gay pamphlets were handed out to LGBTQ-focused classroom - WHAS11.com

Swiss vote to approve legislation to protect LGBTQ+ rights – The Guardian

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Swis voters have given their backing in a referendum to extending anti-racism legislation to cover sexual orientation, defying critics who had claimed such a move would be an infringement of free speech.

Unlike many of its western European neighbours, Switzerland has no law in force that specifically protects LGBTQ+ people from discrimination or hate speech.

A law passed by the countrys government in December 2018 was designed to close this loophole. However, an alliance of rightwing parties including the conservative Christian Federal Democratic Union (EDU) and the nationalist Swiss Peoples Party (SVP) opposed the law change and sought a referendum to prevent it from coming into effect.

On flyers and on posters, opponents framed the law as a gagging clause that would restrict freedom of speech and demote gay and bisexual members of society to a weak minority in need of protection.

Switzerland has a long tradition of holding plebiscites on issues that can range from major foreign policy decisions to the building of a new school. Votes are usually held on three to four dates spread across the year.

In Sundays vote, 63.1% of the public voted in favour of expanding the anti-discrimination law, though the results revealed splits across the linguistically and cultural heterogenous state. In the German-speaking cantons of Schwyz, Uri and Appenzell-Innerrhoden, there were majorities in favour of blocking the law. In French-speaking Vaud, by contrast, the law was endorsed by an emphatic 80% of the voting public.

Under the new law, those who publicly degrade or discriminate others on the basis of their sexual orientation, for example by denying same-sex couples entry to a nightclub, could face a jail sentence of up to three years. The law does not affect private conversations such as among friends or family.

Several European countries such as Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland and the UK already have similar legislation in place.

LOS, an advocacy group representing Swiss lesbian, bisexual and queer women, welcomed the referendum result. We have won, and how! Next stop: same-sex marriage, it said.

Switzerland and Italy are the last two countries in western Europe where gay marriage is not legal. Both countries offer same-sex couples the option of civil unions but not full marriage.

In a separate referendum, Swiss voters on Sunday rejected an initiative calling for at least 10% of new housing to be built by not-for-profit cooperatives in an attempt to reduce the cost of living. The proposal was rejected by 57.1% of the voting public.

See the article here:

Swiss vote to approve legislation to protect LGBTQ+ rights - The Guardian

Julian Assange Wins 2020 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award – Consortium News

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Danzig

Imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange has been awarded Consortium News 2020 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award for courage in the face of an unprecedented attack on press freedom.

By Joe Lauria Special to Consortium News

Julian Assange, the imprisoned and maligned publisher of WikiLeaks, has been awarded the 2020 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award by the board of the Consortium for Independent Journalism, publishers of Consortium News.

Assange is incarcerated in a maximum security prison in Londonawaiting a hearing later this month on an extradition request by the United States. He has been charged 0n 17 counts under the U.S. Espionage Act of possessing and publishing classified material that revealed prima facie evidence of U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

For practicing the highest order of journalismrevealing crimes of the stateAssange faces 175 years in a U.S. prisona life sentence for the 48-year old Australian.

Assange, whose life has been endangered in harsh prison conditions, has become an international symbol of the threat to press freedom. He is the first journalist to be charged under the Espionage Act for possession and dissemination of state secrets.

The late Robert Parry.

Robert Parry, the late founder and editor of Consortium News, was a staunch defender of Assanges rights. In 2010, he wrote: Though American journalists may understandably want to find some protective cover by pretending that Julian Assange is not like us, the reality is whether we like it or not we are all Julian Assange.

The award is named after journalist Gary Webb whose life was cut short after the mainstream press vilified him for accurate reports about a CIA operation that flooded urban areas of the U.S. with cocaine from Nicaragua.

Journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, a member of the Consortium News board, said: Having been close to Julian Assange through much of his struggle against corrupt power, I had no hesitation in voting for him for the Gary Webb prize. While Gary was a tragedy at the end, Julian must be a triumph.

A History of Scoops

Assange launched WikiLeaks in Dec. 2006. Among its first revelations were files alleging corruption by former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi; the U.S. Army manual for soldiers at Guantanamo Bay and registers of U.S. military equipment in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In January 2008, WikiLeaks released United Nations Confidential Reports that expose matters from allegations of hundreds of European peace-keepers sexually abusing refugee girls to generals in Peru using Swiss bank accounts to engage in multi-million dollar frauds against the UN.

Chelsea Maning in 2017. (Vimeo)

WikiLeaks first major release came on April 5, 2010 with the publication of the Collateral Murder video,providing evidence of a U.S. war crime in Iraq. It was leaked by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was arrested and charged on May 26, 2010 under the Espionage Act.

With Manning in jail, WikiLeaks published more of her leaked material. The Afghan War Diaries were released on July 25, 2010, which revealed the suppression of civilian casualty figures, the existence of an elite U.S.-led death squad and the covert role of Pakistan in the conflict. Assange partnered with The New York Times, Der Spiegel and The Guardian in publishing the Afghan leaks.

On Nov. 28, 2010, the first of Mannings U.S. Diplomatic Cables were released. They helped spark a revolt in Tunisia that spread into the so-called Arab Spring, revealed Saudi intentions towards Iran and exposed spying on the UN secretary general and other diplomats.

Over the next few years WikiLeaks revealed embarrassing documents on Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the Sony Corporation, and secret details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

WikiLeaks in 2011 pioneered an anonymous online drop box for whistleblowers to deposit documents without their identities being known, even to WikiLeaks. The organization carefully authenticates every document it receives and has a perfect record of accuracy. Major news organizations like The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and CNN have copied WikiLeaks in creating their own anonymous drop boxes.

In 2016, WikiLeaks published leaked emails from the Democratic National Convention and Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta that exposed DNC efforts to derail the primary candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Hillary Clintons role in the destruction of Libya and a pay-to-play scheme at the Clinton Foundation.

During the Trump administration, WikiLeaks published in March 2017 secret CIA documents that exposed the entire hacking capacity of the CIA, which the agency had lost control of. WikiLeaks avoided the distribution of armed cyberweapons. But the documents it published revealed how the agency can remotely gain control of a citizens television set and showed that the CIA can plant doctored fingerprints into a cyber-attack to falsely blame an adversary. The Vault 7 release led then CIA Director Mike Pompeo to label WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence service.

Over the past decade, WikiLeaks publications have spurred countless news reports and academic papers around the world, and have been used in numerous court cases promoting human rights.

Assanges Arrest

A month after the Afghan War Diaries were published two women went to the police in Sweden to ask if Assange could be tested for sexually transmitted disease after having unprotected relations with both of them. One of the women later texted that she had been railroaded by police into making a formal complaint about rape and refused to sign her statement. The next day Swedens chief prosecutor dismissed the allegations. She said: I dont think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape.

Nils Melzer (UN Photo)

After Swedish authorities told him he was free to go, Assange returned to London when an extradition request was issued by a prosecutor, not a judge, and he was arrested in December 2010. This came after Swedish police had altered and signed the statement of one of the women who had refused to sign, in a way that permitted the case to be re-opened, according to a UN special rapporteurs investigation. Nils Melzer, the rapporteur on torture, said:

I speak fluent Swedish and was thus able to read all of the original documents. I could hardly believe my eyes: According to the testimony of the woman in question, a rape had never even taken place at all. And not only that: The womans testimony was later changed by the Stockholm police without her involvement in order to somehow make it sound like a possible rape. I have all the documents in my possession, the emails, the text messages.

While still in the police station, she wrote a text message to a friend saying that she didnt want to incriminate Assange, that she just wanted him to take an HIV test, but the police were apparently interested in getting their hands on him. The police wrote down her statement and immediately informed public prosecutors. two hours later, a headline appeared on the front page of Expressen, a Swedish tabloid, saying that Julian Assange was suspected of having committed two rapes.

After he exhausted his appeals in British courts to fight extradition to Sweden, Assange sought and received political asylum by the government of Ecuador in its London embassy on June 19, 2012. Assange and his lawyers said at the time they feared onward extradition from Sweden to the U.S. to face charges for publishing classified material.

The former foreign minister of Ecuador on why his country gave Assange asylum:

Assange continued running WikiLeaks from inside the embassy. Despite needing medical care, British authorities said he would be arrested if he left the embassy and re-entered British territory. In February 2016 a UN panel ruled that Assange was a being arbitrarily detained in the embassy.

A change in government in Ecuador in May 2017 led to the eventual revocation of Assanges asylum without due process and in likely violation of Ecuadorian national law and the 1954 United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees. The convention stipulates that no asylee can be expelled to a territory where his life or freedom would be threatened.

Assange was eventually dragged out of the embassy by British police on April 11, 2019. His fears of extradition to the U.S. were realized when the U.S. indicted him on 17 charges under the Espionage Act and one charge of computer intrusion.

Imprisoned in the high security Belmarsh Prison with terrorists and other violent criminals, Assange has had restricted access to visitors, including with his lawyers. Nils Melzer, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture, visited Assange in his cell and reported that he was suffering from psychological torture.

Assange faces an extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court that begins the week of Feb. 24 and will continue in May. (Consortium News will be in London to provide extensive coverage in print and video.)

In a normal case, Assanges indictment would be thrown out after it was revealed that the prosecuting government was spying on Assanges privileged conversations with his attorneys in the Ecuador Embassy.

Police expelling Assange from embassy. (YouTube)

Both U.S. indictments against Assange spell out the exact work of investigative reporting. The indictment on intrusion alleges that Assange helped Manning gain access to a government computer, which the indictment acknowledges Manning had security clearances to legally access.

What the indictment alleges is that Assange egged Manning on for more information and tried to help her, unsuccessfully, to sign in under an administrative user name to help her do what every reporter must do, hide their sources identity. The second indictment likewise accused Assange of practicing journalism by encouraging his source to provide classified documents.

In his 2010 article Parry said in his investigative reporting he did the exact things Assange had done, even encouraging his sources to commit a crime if it could prevent a larger crime from occurring. He wrote:

The process for reporters obtaining classified information about crimes of state most often involves a journalist persuading some government official to break the law either by turning over classified documents or at least by talking about the secret information. There is almost always some level of conspiracy between reporter and source. In most cases, I played some role either large or small in locating the classified information or convincing some government official to divulge some secrets. More often than not, I was the instigator of these conspiracies.

At the time Parry wrote his article, the Obama administration had empaneled a grand jury to consider charging Assange under the Espionage Act for publishing leaked secrets, which Parry defended as the core work of investigative journalism. Ultimately, then Attorney General Eric Holder decided against indictment, because of what the administration called its New York Times problem.

That was an acknowledgement that Assange was a journalist and that prosecuting him for doing what the Times and other big media also do would open them up to prosecution as well. The First Amendment prevailed until the Trump administration brushed aside the very same problem and charged Assange with espionage.

The 1917 Espionage Act, derived from the 1889 British Official Secrets Act, outlaws any unauthorized possession and/or dissemination of classified information. Journalists have for decades possessed and published state secrets without consequence. This is what makes Assanges case an unprecedented assault on freedom of the press and the First Amendment.

Recognition of Threat to the Press

Rachel Maddow.

At the time of his arrest, even long time critics of Assange acknowledged the threat to press freedom it posed. In an editorial, The New York Times wrote:

The new indictment is a marked escalation in the effort to prosecute Mr. Assange, one that could have a chilling effect on American journalism as it has been practiced for generations. It is aimed straight at the heart of the First Amendment.

The new charges focus on receiving and publishing classified material from a government source. That is something journalists do all the time. This is what the First Amendment is designed to protect: the ability of publishers to provide the public with the truth.

The Times praised Assanges work:

Mr. Assange shared much of the material at issue with The New York Times and other news organizations. The resulting stories demonstrated why the protections afforded the press have served the American public so well; they shed important light on the American war effort in Iraq, revealing how the United States turned a blind eye to the torture of prisoners by Iraqi forces and how extensively Iran had meddled in the conflict.

The New Yorkers Masha Gessen, wrote: The use of the Espionage Act to prosecute Assange is an attack on the First Amendment. It stands to reason that an Administration that considers the press an enemy of the people would launch this attack. In attacking the media, it is attacking the public.

MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, the Democratic Party booster, who probably had more influence than any commentator in drumming up the Russiagate conspiracy theory and Assanges alleged role in it, launched into an astounding defense of the imprisoned publisher. On her program she said:

The Justice Department today, the Trump administration today, just put every journalistic institution in this country on Julian Assanges side of the ledger. On his side of the fight. Which, I know, is unimaginable. But that is because the government is now trying to assert this brand new right to criminally prosecute people for publishing secret stuff, and newspapers and magazines and investigative journalists and all sorts of different entities publish secret stuff all the time. That is the bread and butter of what we do.

Victim of Disinformation Campaign

Assange has been the victim of an effective, mass disinformation campaign, planned as long ago as March 8, 2008 when a secret, 32-page document from the Cyber Counterintelligence Assessment branch of the Pentagon described in detail the importance of destroying the feeling of trust that is WikiLeaks center of gravity.

The document said: This would be achieved with threats of exposure and criminal prosecution and an unrelenting assault on reputation.

It was as if they planned a war on a single human being and on the very principle of freedom of speech, Pilger said in 2018 (video above).

As a result, a number of falsehoods about Assanges story are deeply entrenched in the media and the public and are resistant to correction with facts.

1. Assange is not a journalist.

Most establishment journalists do not consider Assange to be one of them. First, he is completely a product of the Internet Age, a medium as revolutionary as the printing press, radio and television. His journalism is of a different type than traditional reporting.

Second, WikiLeaks publishes entire documents, rather than reporting extensively on them. In the past newspapers, such as The New York Times, published several pages in print editions of major documents, such as the top secret Pentagon Papers and today provide whole documents online.

Accepting the Freedom of Expression award, 2008 (Index on Censorship)

Assange is not simply a clerk receiving documents and posting them online without studying any of them. He has engaged in their authentication and has a profound understanding of their contents and newsworthiness. Assange has given countless interviews and speeches, authored three books, edited and co-written two others, and written dozens of articles. Throughout he has displayed a deep understanding of geopolitics and the internal affairs of numerous nations.

Most importantly, Assange has had an adversarial relationship with power, something that is waning in establishment media. Because of that increasingly cozy relationship between journalism and power Assange has scooped major media, perhaps engendering a degree of professional jealousy. The U.S. government must insist he is not a journalist making it easier to apply espionage charges to him.

His role as a journalist was affirmed by the numerous awards he has won, including The Economists New Media Award (2008); Amnesty Internationals UK Media Award (2009); the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence award (2010); the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism (2011, which Parry won in 2017); the Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism (2011, Australias Pulitzer Prize), the Voltaire Award for Free Speech (2011), the International Piero Passetti Journalism Prize of the National Union of Italian Journalists (2011), the Jose Couso Press Freedom Award (2011); the Yoko Ono LennonCourage Award for the Arts (2013) and the Galizia Prize for Journalists, Whistleblowers & Defenders of the Right to Information (2019).

In 2010, the New York Daily News listed WikiLeaks first among websites that could totally change the news. No less of an authority than the founder of this site, one of Americas best investigative reporters, said, Journalists are all Julian Assange.

And Parry gave this warning to establishment journalists: By shunning WikiLeaks as some deviant journalistic hybrid, mainstream U.S. news outlets may breathe easier now but may find themselves caught up in a new legal precedent that could be applied to them later.

Google search results for Assange.

2. Assange was charged with rape. This might be the most frequent falsehood uttered about Assange, even mistakenly by Assange supporters. No rape or any other charges were ever filed by Swedish authorities. The case was dropped three times, but the rape smear persists. Stefania Maurizi, a reporter for La Repubblica in Italy, obtained documents that showed British authorities pressured the Swedish chief prosecutor not to come to London to interview him in the embassy.

In a report on the German ZDF TV network last week documents were produced by Melzer showing the rape allegations were invented by Swedish police. Why would a person be subject to nine years of a preliminary investigation for rape without charges ever having been filed? he recently told the Swiss newspaper Republik. Just imagine being accused of rape for nine-and-a-half years by an entire state apparatus and by the media without ever being given the chance to defend yourself because no charges had ever been filed.

Many persist in believing that Assange is a coward who fled to the Ecuadorian embassy to escape the rape charges when he voluntarily went to the police station in Sweden. His fear was being extradited to the U.S. via Sweden.

3. Assange was charged with endangering U.S. informants.

Much was made in the Espionage Act indictment of Assange allegedly revealing the names of U.S. informants and endangering their lives. At the top of the indictment are listed all the U.S. statutes prosecutors say Assange violated. Nowhere among them is revealing the identity of informants. Thats because, though it may be unethical, there is no law against it.

In fact, as Australian mainstream journalist Mark Davis revealed in a talk webcast by CN Live! it was Assange and not his mainstream media partners who worked through the night to redact the names of many informants before the Afghan War Diaries were released in July, 2010.

Davis, who was in the bunker at The Guardian in London working on the documents, said it was only when two Guardian journalists in a book revealed the secret password to the entire trove of documents, endangering informants named in them, that Assange released the full archive to alert those in danger. The Guardian denies this saying WikiLeaks told them the password it used in its book would expire within hours. In any event, there is no evidence that any informant named has been harmed.

4. Assange hacked secret U.S. databases.

Assange was arrested at age 20 for hacking but was released on good behavior. The label hacker has followed him ever since even though Assange is not being charged as a hacker but for helping Manning hide her identity while accessing classified material she had clearance to access, which Parry said is standard journalistic practice.

5. Assange was charged with interfering with the 2016 U.S. election.

One of the most widely mistaken beliefs is that Assange interfered in the U.S. election with Russian help in order to get Donald Trump elected. All of the U.S. charges against Assange stem from 2010 and have nothing to do with the 2016 election, another mistaken belief.

In the 2017 film Risk,by filmmaker Laura Poitras, Assange is filmed on the phone in early 2016 saying WikiLeaks had obtained emails on Hillary Clinton and we hope to get something on Trump. As Maurizi has written for Consortium News, WikiLeaks did obtain Trump documents but discovered they had already been published.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, told CN Live!that had WikiLeaks had damaging information on Trump, they certainly would have published it, especially before an election when voters need to be informed about the candidates.

There is zero evidence that WikiLeaks had material on Trump and suppressed it, another widely believed falsehood. Assange favored neither candidate and before the election said the choice between the candidates was like choosing cholera or gonorrhea.

Special Counsel Robert Muellers report alleges that Assange communicated online with Russian GRU defense intelligence agents posing as Guccifer 2.0 to obtain leaked Democratic Party emails. Even if it were true that Guccifer 2.0 was a cover for Russian intelligence, Mueller offers no evidence that Assange would be aware of that.

And even if it were the Russians who provided the material to Assange, the emails were accurate, meaning it is irrelevant who the source of the leak was. The Wall Street Journals and other major medias anonymous drop boxes prove that. They dont need or want to know the source if newsworthy documents are authenticated.

If a foreign power inserted fabricated emails into a U.S. presidential campaign, that would be sabotage through disinformation. But thats not what happened. The emails were information, not disinformation.

What Really Happened

Plaque to be presented to Assange. (Made by Roy de Visser, The Trophy Store in Sydney, Australia)

The truth is that a vindictive U.S. government was exposed with clear evidence of committing war crimes, meddling in other nations internal affairs and spying on adversaries, allies and citizens alike and in response imprisoned and charged the journalist who revealed this wrongdoing. It is an attack on press freedom usually associated with the most aggressive totalitarian regimes, going to the core of how the West defines itself: as a democracy that upholds the right to criticize government or authoritarianism that crushes dissent.

The really horrifying thing about this case is the lawlessness that has developed: The powerful can kill without fear of punishment and journalism is transformed into espionage, said Melzer. It is becoming a crime to tell the truth.

Melzer told the Republik:

Imagine a dark room. Suddenly, someone shines a light on the elephant in the room on war criminals, on corruption. Assange is the man with the spotlight. The governments are briefly in shock, but then they turn the spotlight around with accusations of rape. It is a classic maneuver when it comes to manipulating public opinion. The elephant once again disappears into the darkness, behind the spotlight. And Assange becomes the focus of attention instead, and we start talking about whether Assange is skateboarding in the embassy or whether he is feeding his cat correctly. Suddenly, we all know that he is a rapist, a hacker, a spy and a narcissist. But the abuses and war crimes he uncovered fade into the darkness.

A plaque in honor of Assanges award, reads: For bravery in the face of a grave threat to Freedom of the Press and for journalistic accomplishments in revealing crimes of the state.

The Gary Webb Award is the third prize Assange has won while in prison, and the first from the United States. Recognition of the threat his case poses to press freedom grows.

Past winners of the Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award are Sam Parry (2016), who created Consortium News website in 1995, and filmmaker Oliver Stone (2017).

History of the Award

About the origin of the award, Parry wrote: The award is named in honor of investigative reporter Gary Webb who in 1996 courageously revived interest in one of the darkest scandals of the 1980s, the Reagan administrations tolerance of cocaine trafficking by the CIA-organized Nicaraguan Contra rebels who were fighting to overthrow Nicaraguas leftist Sandinista government.

Journalist Gary Webb holding a copy of his Contra-cocaine article in The San Jose Mercury-News.

The Contra-Cocaine scandal was originally exposed by Associated Press reporters Robert Parry and Brian Barger in 1985, but the major U.S. newspapers accepted the Reagan administrations denials and treated the story as a conspiracy theory.

So, when Webb revived the story in 1996 for The San Jose Mercury News and described how some of the Contra cocaine fueled the spread of crack across urban America, the major newspapers again rallied to the defense of the Contras and the Reagan administrations legacy.

Originally posted here:

Julian Assange Wins 2020 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award - Consortium News

Asia/Oceania Group I Fed Cup matches to be held in Dubai in March: ITF – The Statesman

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Danzig

The Indian Fed Cup team will travel to Dubai for this years competition as the ITF has named the desert city as the new venue for the matches, to be held from March 3 to 7.

The ITF named the new venue after moving out the matches from then Chinese city of Dongguan due to Coronoavirus threat. TheAsia/Oceania Group Imatches were originally scheduled to be played from February 4-8.

The event will be held in the week following the ATP Dubai tournament at the same venue, and will see six nations China P.R., Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Korea Rep. and Uzbekistan compete for a place in the Fed Cup Play-offs in April, an ITF release said.

The six teams will vie for two spots in Fed Cup Play-offs.

Being in Dubai makes no difference. But the dates give enough time to Sania for her recovery. Doubles is an important point. Ankita is playing well. The other team members will also get some tournament to play under their belt, Indias Fed Cup captain Vishal Uppal told PTI.

Sanias participation was under doubt due to a calf injury she aggravated during the Australian Open, where she pulled out of the mixed doubles before retiring mid-way into her womens doubles opening round match.

I think we have a good chance but we will have to be at our best and fight hard for every point, every game, every set, every match, Uppal added.

See the rest here:

Asia/Oceania Group I Fed Cup matches to be held in Dubai in March: ITF - The Statesman

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