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Redlands East Valley student represents city at state, national Girl State mock government camps – Redlands Daily Facts

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

REDLANDS >> The role of women in government and female empowerment is driving Caroline Irvings passion for getting involved.

The Redlands East Valley High School senior spent much of her summer learning about women in influential roles as a participant in American Legion Auxiliary-sponsored programs in California and Washington, D.C.

The programs, known as Girls State, are dedicated to developing leadership skills, confidence and action-based understanding of the government process to give young women a lasting foundation for success, both personally and professionally, according to the programs website. Caroline, 17, said her interest in politics and government began at a young age.

Her biggest inspiration is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a woman she has idolized since the age of 8.

It was back when the Notorious RBG campaign was going on, Caroline said. I was enticed by it and thought, I think Im going to check out what she stands for.

Ginsburgs long track of court success and the personal battles she has overcome inspires Caroline to pursue her long-term goal of working on the preservation of ecological diversity in South America.

Caroline represented REV at Girl State in late June after receiving a nomination to attend the mock government camp.

There, she ran for higher office and was elected as the camps lieutenant governor.

At the end of the week she learned she was one of two girls selected to attend the national camp in late July.

The nomination came as a surprise, Caroline said.

It was awesome and one of the craziest experiences of my life, she said. It changed my life.

Back at REV, Caroline is heavily involved in mock trial and speech and debate. She hopes to continue to develop her passion and love for politics and government after she graduates. And she hopes to inspire others to get involved, as she was inspired by Ginsburg.

I hope I can bring the role of leader, friend, mentor and (advocacy for) female empowerment to REV, she said. I want to be (an example) to other girls that as a senior I am not afraid to be outspoken and hope it becomes more normal and less taboo.

Redlands East Valley student represents city at state, national Girl State mock government camps - Redlands Daily Facts

Accessible Public Transport: The Whole Journey – Sourceable

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

These are of course the standards related to transport systems including aircraft, buses and coaches, ferries, taxis, trains, trams, light rail, motor rail, rack railways, and other rolling stock, and are formulated under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992).

The review, which began in 2012, recognised a number of areas where improvements could be made, with one of the recommendations being to develop accessibility guidelines for a whole-of-journey approach to public transport planning.

The resulting guideline which was recently published in draft form by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is The Whole Journey: a guide for thinking beyond compliance to create accessible public transport journeys.

Comments were sought with regard to the guideline, the period for which has since closed. The guideline is therefore subject to change further the Departments assessment and implementation of any feedback gained.

The guide states that it has been "designed to encourage policy makers, planners, designers, builders, certifiers and operators to think beyond compliance and the physical and governance boundaries of services and infrastructure, and to focus instead on peoples accessibility needs across their whole journey."

The report acknowledges that Australians reporting a disability represent 18.3 per cent of the population, and that numerous previous reports and studies continually identify that people with a disability are more likely to experience social and economic disadvantage. Access to public transport is identified as a key factor in creating opportunities for personal empowerment, social inclusion and participation. A key factor in reducing dependence on families, friends and taxi services, and to participate actively and independently in the community be it for recreation, training or employment.

In addressing the identified gaps in the Whole Journey, the guide identifies eight key stages and elaborates on strategies, solutions, technologies and opportunities as they relate to each stage. The points below are offered as summary of some of the items and solutions raised.

Pre-journey planning

Journey start and end

Public transport stop/station

Public transport service

Interchange

Return journey planning

Disruption to business-as-usual

Supporting infrastructure

The guideline can be downloaded here

Read the rest here:

Accessible Public Transport: The Whole Journey - Sourceable

Technology – reddit

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

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Technology - reddit

Technology Has Changed Advertising Forever – HuffPost

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Throughout history, advancements in technology have played an important role in how individuals are exposed to new information. From the printing press, to radio, to television, and most recently, the internet, each successive innovation revolutionized and altered how individuals engaged with new concepts, products, companies, and brands. Yet, despite technological advancements, until the mid-to-late 1990s most companies and brands relied on a linear and symbiotic way to reach consumers: traditional media companies sold advertising space to fund their operations and companies bought advertising space to reach consumers.

With the rapid growth and adoption of internet connectivity, the long-established advertising norms have been uprooted. Increased connectivity has resulted in the democratization of media; anyone with a good strategy, an internet connection, and basic web design skills is now capable of competing with multi billion dollar enterprises for views and advertising dollars. Moreover, the increased use of social media platforms not only means that people are accessing information in new ways, it also means they are no longer as reliant on receiving information through traditional mediums.

Due to the proliferation of new ways to reach consumers and shifting consumer habits, companies, brands, advertising firms, and media outlets have been forced to adapt and develop new ways to reach audiences. While Americans still spend about three hours a day watching television, the internet is not far behind, with most Americans spending about two hours online. Social media has also played an important role in impacting the how people access information, with Americans reporting they spend an average of 1.7 hours a day using social media. Globally, social media has experienced similar trends, with adults reporting having accounts on over 5 social networks. In recognizing the importance of the online world to reaching consumers in the United States, companies spent $15 billion more on online ads versus television ads in 2016. Although television still remains popular, its projected growth rate of 1.3 percent from 2016-2021, pales in comparison to projected online ad spending which is expected to grow at a rate of 9.9 percent during the same period. Perhaps not surprisingly, its been estimated that in 2017, companies will spend $204 billion on digital ads, an increase of over $50 billion since 2015. Additionally, combined spending on mobile ads and social media, non-existent 15 years ago, is expected to reach $55 billion dollars in 2019, an over five time increase from 2016 levels of $10.9 billion.

While the proliferation of new avenues with which to reach consumers has increased exponentially, it has not always translated into greater consumer engagement. Surveys have found that two-thirds of internet users viewed online advertising in a negative light, with users having used annoying and distracting as the most common ways to describe online advertising. Furthermore, many consumers are taking matters into their own hands to avoid unwanted marketing and using ad-blocker technology to filter out advertising; accordingly, in 2016 ad-blocker use grew by 30 percent.

The growth of digital advertising and its corresponding hurdles have spurred entrepreneurs to develop systems and processes to facilitate digital advertising, track results, and optimize effectiveness. In 2016, Adtech, or Advertising Technology, saw nearly $2.2 billion of investor funds flow into the sector. From interactive advertising, to personalization, to value-exchange, to native advertising, Adtech entrepreneurs are using technology to develop innovative ways to connect companies with consumers.

I had the opportunity to interview, Mitchell Reichgut, the CEO of Jun Group, a New York City based Adtech company that seeks to optimize the ability of brands and companies to effectively share content with potential customers. Mitchell and I discussed his business, the impact of technology on advertising, and his views on entrepreneurship. Hope you enjoy!

Mitchell Reichgut, CEO of Jun Group

CG: Tell me about your company. What does Jun Group do?

MR: Jun Group gets millions of people to watch videos and visit web pages from Fortune 500 brands across devices. The word Jun means truth and the worlds best-known brands trust us to connect them to their customers because everything we do is viewable, brand-safe, and transparent.

CG: What solutions does your company provide to brands and publishers?

MR: Our job is to provide clear, unfettered access to the people our customers want to reach. We are uniquely suited for this because our technology reaches over 100 million people in mobile apps where consumers spend 90% of their smart phone time. Instead of interrupting people, we allow them to opt-in to gorgeous, full-screen branded experiences. This produces some of the best results in the industry: 93% completion rates for 30-second videos, 100% viewability, an average of 3-5% of viewers take actions after watching (clicks to websites, social media actions, etc.), and less than 2% non-human traffic according to independent measurements.

All this is powered by value exchange, which lets people unlock entertainment, points, or other digital content in exchange for their time. Major ad platforms like Google, Facebook, Newscorp, AOL, and Pandora are all using value exchange to drive results for their advertisers.

CG: Technology has revolutionized how consumers interact with brands and companies. In your view, what have been the major changes impacting the advertising industry?

MR: Mobile applications have fundamentally changed the ad industry. People are especially intolerant of interruptions on their mobile devices because they are so personal, and the age-old precept of reach and frequency is becoming outdated. Additionally, advertisers can pinpoint specific people they want to reach on any device rather than relying on editorial environments to attract them. On one hand, these factors are creating more efficient advertising mechanisms; on the other, the power is shifting to consumers who are demanding more relevant and entertaining experiences in exchange for their attention.

CG: From your perspective, given the aforementioned changes and the rapidly evolving business climate, what should brands and publishers be cognizant of as they seek to promote their products and services to consumers? What strategies are most effective?

Along with all the opportunities and advances, digital advertising has major problems. Ad fraud is expected to cost advertisers over $16 billion in 2017 and we believe thats a gross underestimate because so much fraud goes undetected. To enjoy the benefits of this new marketplace while avoiding its pitfalls, advertisers should follow three rules. First, demand complete transparency throughout the process: payments, placements, partners, and technology. Second, create content that is meaningful to people. It doesnt have to be hilarious or outrageous, just relevant. Finally, ad context is as important as ad contentadvertisers must carefully choose where and how to place their brands.

CG: Looking towards the future, over the next decade or so, how do you see Ad-Tech evolving?

MR: Digital advertising will become less interruptive and more relevant. Currently, anyone who can afford to pay about $12 per month can avoid ads on platforms like Amazon, YouTube, Netflix, etc. The onus will increasingly be on advertisers to provide value in exchange for peoples attention. Lets not forget, though, that AM radio is still a popular and effective mass medium. New media will never fully supplant the old guard.

CG: Entrepreneurship is rife with challenges. What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs seeking to launch their own innovative, technology startup?

MR: When people ask me how to be successful in digital media, I ask them a question in return: how bad do you want this? Elite athletes, top academics, great artists, and successful businesspeople are typically willing to make deep sacrifices over long periods of time because they are passionate about what they do. Digital media is no exception. Work hard, stick with it, learn from mistakes, and the rest will take care of itself.

MR: Ive enjoyed this conversation and I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts. Thank you!

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Technology Has Changed Advertising Forever - HuffPost

Rookie Progress Report: Engram makes presence felt – Giants.com (blog)

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

A look at how the Giants rookies performed in the team's Preseason matchup vs. the Browns:

Preseason in the NFL means different things to different players.

For the young guys, its about getting an opportunity to prove the stage is not too big and that your teams assessment of you was justified. And the New York Giants got another good look at their youth on Monday night in Cleveland.

>> WATCH GIANTS VS. BROWNS HIGHLIGHTS

TE Evan Engram

Depth chart: TE2 Preseason Week 1: 2 TGTS, 1 REC, 11 YDS Preseason Week 2: 4 TGTS, 3 REC, 32 YDS

You never know where the first-round pick is going to line up on any given play, and thats just how the Giants like it. Engram tied for a team-high with three catches for 32 yards, including a 21-yard catch-and-run when he came out of the backfield. It was the longest offensive play of the game from either sideline, run or pass.

Depth chart: RDT2 Preseason Week 1: 4 TCKLS (2 SOLO) Preseason Week 2: 3 TCKLS (2 SOLO)

While Jay Bromley has been a steady Eddie on the top line next to All-Pro Damon Harrison, Steve Spagnuolo thought Tomlinson took a major step between the first and second weeks of the preseason. Hes playing more violent, the defensive coordinator said, as the second-round pick gets more comfortable with the players around him. Those three will make up the bulk of the interior rotation while veteran Corbin Bryant was placed on injured reserve last week with an elbow injury.

>> READ TOMLINSON'S ROOKIE BLOG

QB Davis Webb

Depth chart: QB4 Preseason Week 1: 8/16, 67 YDS, 61.2 RTG Preseason Week 2: DNP

Ideally, McAdoo would have liked to play all four quarterbacks in Cleveland, but with the way the game unfolded, that didnt turn out to be the case. Eli Manning, after sitting the opener, started the game before Geno Smith came in just before halftime. Josh Johnson, who started the first game vs. Pittsburgh, was third and played only the final two minutes of the game after Smith threw an interception deep in Browns territory. The assumption was Webb would take a developmental role this year behind Manning the backup, whoever that may be, but McAdoo opened the door for the rookie even if its just a crack.

I think we all have to be careful making assumptions, he said last week before the second preseason game. Josh and Geno are competing right now for the number two spot, and if that doesnt look the way we want it to look, Davis will get a crack.

RB Wayne Gallman

Depth chart: RB5 Preseason Week 1: 5 CAR, 11 YDS; 1 REC, 4 YDS Preseason Week 2: 5 CAR, 22 YDS, LOST FUM; 2 REC, 20 YDS

Gallman, who finished his college career third in Clemson history in rushing touchdowns and fifth in rushing yards, provided a spark when he came in at the beginning of the fourth quarter. His first run was an 11-yard gain, followed by a pair of 10-yard receptions. However, the bad came with the good for the rookie. Gallman dropped a pass and lost a fumble at the Browns 10-yard line. It was one of three turnovers for the Giants on the night.

DE Avery Moss

Depth chart: RDE4 Preseason Week 1: 2 TCKL (1 SOLO) Preseason Week 2: 1 SOLO TCKL

Ahead of him, Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon played for the first time together since Dec. 4 of last season and absolutely dominated when they were in. Thats a lot to aspire to for the rest of the unit, including the rookie Moss. Hes trying to make the most of every rep as the Giants look to find a healthy rotation of defensive ends. Theres a crowd behind JPP and OV, though. Romeo Okwara and Kerry Wynn lead the next wave.

OT Adam Bisnowaty

Depth chart: RT2 Preseason Weeks 1 & 2: Relieved starter Bobby Hart

Like he has since he arrived at the facility, Bisnowaty has been on the second team at right tackle. Hes playing behind Bobby Hart, who is part of the five returning starters from a year ago on the offensive line. As a whole, the Giants managed 65 yards on 20 carries against the Browns in addition to 147 passing yards.

Read this article:

Rookie Progress Report: Engram makes presence felt - Giants.com (blog)

Three countries undermining Afghanistan progress that President Trump didn’t call out – Washington Post

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

President Trump unveiled a new strategy for the U.S. war in Afghanistan on Aug. 21. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

President Trump delivered a sharpwarning to Pakistan on Monday,saying he intends to hold itsleaders to account for harboringmilitantgroups responsible for perpetuating instability across the border in Afghanistan.

During a prime-time address to the nation, Trumpsaid the United States would once more accelerate its longest military mission and bring renewed focus to achieving victory in Afghanistan.

It is time for Pakistan, the president declared, to demonstrate its commitment to civilization, order and to peace.

He declined, however, to similarly admonish three other regional powers which the United States views ascomplicit inundermining progress there: Russia, Iran and to a lesser extent China, which has a stake in Afghanistan's stability but shows little motivation to take a more active role in providing for its security.

Here's a look ateach country's involvement in Afghanistan:

Russia

Since April,notlong after he declared America's longest war a stalemate, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen.John Nicholson, has voiced concern aboutMoscow's apparent effort to arm the Taliban. Those weapons include medium and heavy machine guns, officials have said,used to cut down Afghan troops in multiple southern provinces, including areaswhereU.S. military advisers and Special Operations forces aredeployed.

U.S. officials have said that any country shipping weapons into Afghanistan would be in violation of international law. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vowed toengage theRussians through diplomatic channels, hopeful that doing so would encourage them to halt their alleged meddling.

Russia has denied working with the Taliban, saying its interactions with the fundamentalist group thatonce ruled Afghanistan have been focused on encouraging it to make peace. Video published by CNN in July appears to contradict that.

Iran

Like Russia, Iranviews Afghanistan as within its sphere of influence, as The Washington Post'sErin Cunningham characterized it earlier this year.Iranian operatives have been active in the west, where the two countries share a 500-mile border, as well as in the south.

Afghan government officials have indicated Iran and Russia appear to be coordinating, supplying weapons and training to the Taliban in an effort to create loyalty and promote unrest.

In a piece published this month, the New York Times' Carlotta Gallexplored this burgeoning dynamic in considerable detail. Here's an excerpt:

Iran has conducted an intensifying covert intervention, much of which is only now coming to light. It is providing local Taliban insurgents with weapons, money and training. It has offered Taliban commanders sanctuary and fuel for their trucks. It has padded Taliban ranks by recruiting among Afghan Sunni refugees in Iran, according to Afghan and Western officials.

Iran has come to see the Taliban not only as the lesser of its enemies but also as a useful proxy force. The more recent introduction of the Islamic State, which carried out a terrorist attack on Irans parliament this year, into Afghanistan has only added to the Talibans appeal.

China

Trump has been candidin his criticism of China for not doing more to help counter the provocative actions being taken by North Korea, whose leaders have threatened a nuclear attack against the United States. But his administration has said little about Beijing's comparatively minor contributionsin Afghanistan.

China, as one observer notes, has chosen to assume a minimalistic role in the security sector, refusing to get involved in direct military operations but benefiting nonetheless from the U.S. and NATO presence there.

And asMilitary Times' Shawn Snow reported in March, Beijing is seen as something of a freeloader in Afghanistan, but there is growing evidence small numbers of Chinese security forces there's disagreement as to whether they are military personnel or police units have been deployedacross the border to conduct counterterrorism patrols. China is concerned about Uighur militants who remain active in the region and have professed support for the Islamic State.

Since 2015 China hascontributed some funding and combat equipment for the Afghan security forces. Still, its interests are primarilyeconomic, focused on Afghanistan's natural resources and its potential to help connect China with other trade partners.

China was one of four countries, including Russia, Iran and Pakistan, that sentenvoys to an Afghan summit in the spring talks the United States refused to attend. And China was quick to show solidarity with ally Pakistan after Trump's remarks Monday.

A spokeswoman for China's foreign minister, speaking with the Reuters news agency Tuesday, conveyed Beijing's contentment with the U.S. continuing to do the heavy lifting.

We hope, the spokeswoman added, the relevant U.S. policies can help promote the security, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region.

Some in Afghanistan and India praised President Trump's Aug. 21 speech, but his rhetoric set off alarm bells in Pakistan. (The Washington Post)

Here are six costly failures from Americas longest war. No. 1: cashmere goats.

Trumps muscular but vague Afghanistan speech, annotated

Trump faces the grim reality of Afghanistan: No quick path to victory and no clear way out

See original here:

Three countries undermining Afghanistan progress that President Trump didn't call out - Washington Post

Three arrested as councilors vote to shroud Confederate statues at meeting overwhelmed by anger – The Daily Progress

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Three Charlottesville residents are facing misdemeanor charges after Monday evenings raucous City Council meeting that was taken over by those demanding answers for the citys handling of the Aug. 12 Unite the Right rally.

Donna Gasapo Gray, 43, was charged with disorderly conduct. Two others, Mark Heisey, 30, and Sara Michel Tansey, 29, were chared with obstruction of justice.

The council agreed to continue the meeting following the arrests, but cancelled the planned agenda. The meeting then turned into a town-hall style meeting that ended after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The Charlottesville City Council voted unanimously early Tuesday morning to cover the citys statues of Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson in black fabric, which will represent the city's mourning of Heather Heyer.

Heyer was killed earlier this month in what many have described as white nationalist terrorism. At least 30 others were injured in the attack.

Some time after the Aug. 12 white nationalist Unite the Right rally was shut down by authorities due to violence between ralliers and counter-protesters, a 20-year-old man from Ohio who came to attend the rally allegedly drove his car into a crowd of Downtown Mall pedestrians on Fourth Street.

The council voted on other resolutions after a tumultuous council meeting Monday evening. Activists and residents took over the meeting to express their anger and frustration about how the city and police officials handled the rally.

In addition to seeking the removal of the citys Lee statue, councilors voted to direct the Board of Architectural Review to make a decision on removing the nearby Jackson statue.

People in the crowd said three were arrested. They called for Mayor Mike Signers removal. His eyes welled as people told the City Council how they experienced the vicious car attack that slammed into a crowd of counter-protesters crossing the Downtown Mall.

A woman said her daughter was supposed to start her fourth year at the University of Virginia this week. She wont be attending the first day of class because of her injuries, the mother said.

Another man said hes suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said he can still see the bodies that went flying after the car struck the crowd several hours after the Unite the Right rally was shut down because of rampant street-fighting outside Emancipation Park, the location where white nationalists and white supremacists gathered on Aug. 12 for their Unite the Right rally.

Within 30 minutes of starting its meeting, the entire City Council, the city attorney, the city manager and council clerk all retreated into a backroom. Two women stood on top of the dais with a banner: Blood on your hands.

City Council candidate and community activist Nikuyah Walker asked: Why did you think you can walk in here and do a business-as-usual meeting after what happened on the 12th?

Mayor Mike Signer and Councilor Kathy Galvin are now supporting the removal of Charlottesvilles statue of Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park, but the change did not spare them from criticism Monday.

Last week, Signer asked for the state General Assembly to hold an emergency session to consider amending the states law regarding statues. A lawsuit citing that law is preventing the city from removing the statue as planned because of a court injunction.

A spokesperson for Gov. Terry McAuliffe intimated last week that a special session was unlikely.

Photos and video of the attack on Deandre Harris, an instructional assistant with the city schools, remain viral on social media.

Galvin held a news conference Monday to announce her change of mind, and she called for the removal of the statue of Thomas Stonewall Jackson, too.

It is time for the Jackson and Lee statues to be relocated to a battlefield park or a museum where they will neither be reviled or revered, she said, adding that shed prefer the statues there so they can be preserved and explained more fully.

She said the state legislature would need to play a role in their removal.

Weve been told that if we take them down tonight, were going to be personally sued, Councilor Wes Bellamy said Monday night. We will personally be held liable and charged with a class-six felony.

Councilor Kristin Szakos encouraged the protesters to challenge the states legislators.

You cant just show up to City Council meetings, Szakos told the protesters. You have to go to the state legislature. Virginia has laws that restrict what we can do.

Signer and Galvins change of heart, however, failed to placate those who accosted their local elected officials almost immediately at the start of the meeting.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nina-Alice Antony said there was not enough evidence to convict Jason Kessler of disorderly conduct stemming from the May 14 vigil.

It then became an urban-populist coup.

Someone needs to be held accountable, said Don Gathers, the former chairman of the blue ribbon commission that recommended relocating the Lee statue.

Something is going to happen by any means necessary, he added. People are tired and theyre fed up its going down, for real.

Social justice activist Emily Gorcenski said many protesters had tried to warn the city that violence would come to the city if the rally was permitted.

Aside from the well-documented clashes that took place on Market Street and in Emancipation Park, protesters Monday said the Unite the Right ralliers went to majority African-American communities south of the downtown area to harass residents there.

Gorcenski said activists and counter-protesters took it upon themselves to defend the community.

Charlottesville isnt the capital of the resistance, Gorcenski said, excoriating Signers declaration of resistance against President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Charlottesville now, she said, is the capital of the [anti-fascists].

Signer read a resolution at the start of the meeting to commemorate the three lives lost, but not before someone in the crowd accused him of being responsible for the loss of life.

The protesters criticized the council for allegedly allowing the rally happen. Signer defended himself and the council, explaining that the council attempted previously to move the rally to McIntire Park.

The crowd also took aim at police officers for not intervening more in the melees that took place on Aug. 12.

We tried really hard. A federal judge forced us to have the rally downtown, Signer said.

Responding to the allegations that he ordered police to not protect people counter-protesting in the street, Signer said the mayor has no real police power.

Signers attempts to calm the crowd repeatedly failed. He tried to cut the meeting short, but that didnt work either.

Bellamy attempted to regain control and coordinate a town-hall style meeting, giving the floor to everyone gathered. The councilors appeared visibly rattled as they came out to the crowd at 8 p.m. It continued past 11 p.m., and dozens of people made their frustration and anger known.

The reason my two daughters and I were out there protesting and putting our bodies in our lines is because we knew that so many others could not, said the woman who told the crowd that her daughter wouldnt be able to attend classes at UVa later this week.

Its not about the statues, she said. We were out there because our community is hurting. what I want to see is meaningful changes in our community.

After the violent street-fighting compelled local and state officials to end the rally prematurely before noon Aug. 12, James A. Fields Jr. allegedly drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters with intent to kill about two hours later.

James Alex Fields Jr. is accused of killing Heather Heyer and injuring 30 others when he rammed his car into a crowd of protesters on Aug. 12.

Local paralegal Heather Heyer was killed. At least 30 were hospitalized because of their injuries.

Two state police officers, H. Jay Cullen and Berke Bates, died several hours later when a Virginia State Police helicopter crashed in Albemarle County.

Fields is facing second-degree murder and other charges.

Previously, 19 injuries resulting from the attack that followed the white nationalist Unite the Right rally had been reported by the University of Virginia Medical Center.

The protesters Monday said they expect there are many more injuries and criminal assaults that have not been reported.

There were hundreds of people that were hurt, said housing activist Joy Johnson. Way more than 19 people got hurt, she added, citing the number that city officials previously reported were injured in the car attack.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Sentara Martha Jefferson hospital said they treated 11 people who were injured in the car attack. A spokesperson for the UVa Medical Center said they treated 19.

Im still pissed, Johnson said. Im still angry.

Read this article:

Three arrested as councilors vote to shroud Confederate statues at meeting overwhelmed by anger - The Daily Progress

San Diego Padres: Grading rotation staples on 2017 progress – Friars on Base

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 17: Jhoulys Chacin

San Diego Padres look to play spoiler in St. Louis by Jonathan Goehring

Four starting pitchers have separated themselves from the rest and have become staples in the San Diego rotation in 2017. This doesnt mean theyre starters of the future necessarily, but merely that they are what fans are used to seeing take the mound since they have started consistently throughout the campaign.

The rotation has faced its struggles, but has also experienced some pleasant surprises. The following are letter grades which we have assigned to the four staples of the rotation: Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo, and Dinelson Lamet. The grades are based on performance compared to expectations, so strong stats do not necessarily convert to high grades and vice versa.

11-8, 3.98 ERA

There is a lot to be said for consistency, which is exactly what Chacin brings. Even though the right-hander began the season as the opening day starter, expectations werent that high. The Padres didnt invest much in him, just a one-year, $1.75 million contract. Chacin was only supposed to be a contributor to the rotation, not the ace. And since he has acted like an ace at times and leads the club in virtually every pitching statistic, he earns himself a nice grade for his efforts in 2017.

Want your voice heard? Join the Friars on Base team!

6-12, 4.77 ERA

Yikes is about all we can say when it comes to Richard. Yes, the 33-year-old has had some flashes, like his first start at Dodger Stadium, or his most recent complete game victory over the Phillies. But Richard has been inconsistent, and that may be a generous way of putting it. Signed to the same one-year, $1.75 million contract, expectations were a bit higher for Richard than any other starter coming in to the year. He was a returning player, and the spring training favorite to be named the ace. Theres no reason to give up on Richard, but his miserable record and inflated ERA make his 2017 campaign a less than successful one.

6-8, 4.93 ERA

Perdomo was the one member of the rotation who brought uncertainty coming into 2017. Now, hes one of the only ones the staff can rely on. It hasnt been smooth sailing for Perdomo by any means, but the right-hander has earned the trust of his team. Starting 22 games, he has been reliable and relatively consistent. Every month, Perdomos ERA has been above 4, but he has also started no fewer than three games a month and hasnt pitched less than 16 innings. While Perdomo isnt ace material, he is also no longer the major unknown of the rotation. And inning eater and a starter with potential is how to describe the 24-year-old.

7-5, 4.84 ERA

It is exciting to see Lamet beginning to figure it out. He isnt a household name, maybe not even for San Diego fans just yet. But the 25-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has turned his opportunity quite possibly into a career. When first inserted into the rotation in May, Lamet was not used to the majors. His stats were below average, but not all that surprising given his low expectations. Following the all-star break, Lamet has a 3.69 ERA in seven starts 39 innings. Hes going deeper into games and staying composed in difficult moments. And, most importantly, Lamet has a winning record, something that only one other member of the rotation shares.

San Diego Padres: Grading rotation staples on 2017 progress - Friars on Base

Latino coalition: CBS diversity progress is part of new push – Las Vegas Sun

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP

In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, Wilmer Valderrama attends the Peoples Choice Awards 2017 nominations news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif. In a statement Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, the National Latino Media Coalition said it was heartened by CBS doubling the number of Latino writers and series cast members since 2016. One example of a Latino newcomer to CBS: Wilmer Valderrama, who joined the cast of NCIS last season as agent NickTorres.

Associated Press

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 | 6:26 p.m.

LOS ANGELES Latino leaders meeting with top CBS executives last week were braced for a confrontation over a protracted scarcity of Latino actors and stories on the network's prime-time shows.

"We said, 'That's it, no more'" in preparing for the encounter, said Alex Nogales of the National Latino Media Coalition.

Instead, the coalition said in a statement Tuesday it found CBS has made "record commitments" to improved representation of Latinos, which Nogales said has galvanized the group to demand more from other networks.

"We're going to be very militant from here on out. ... The next target is Fox," he said, with a meeting to be requested next week. Letter-writing campaigns and boycotts could be among the tools employed to push broadcasters to act, he said.

Fox didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nogales said that what he and fellow coalition member Thomas A. Saenz learned from CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves and other CBS executives proves change is possible.

Without releasing specific numbers per its agreement with CBS, the coalition said the network has doubled the number of Latino writers and cast members since 2016; agreed to order scripts from Latinos or with Latino themes, and will hear additional pitches from 10 Latino writers or producers.

One example of a Latino newcomer to CBS: Wilmer Valderrama, who joined the cast of "NCIS" last season as agent Nick Torres.

When he and Saenz left the meeting after seeing more recent, encouraging data, Nogales said, they shared the same thought: "'Man, if we had known we were going to get all these good things, we would have asked for more.'"

Saenz is the president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, while Nogales heads the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

In a statement, CBS called the meeting "very positive" and said it looked forward to continued progress and collaboration.

At a Television Critics Association meeting earlier this month, CBS executives were questioned about other diversity issues: Its new fall shows that are largely topped by male stars, as well as the departure of Asian actors Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park from "Hawaii Five-O" over their reported demands for pay equal to the show's white stars.

The push for ethnic diversity came after the four major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, fielded a fall 1999 slate of new shows with only white stars. The Latino coalition joined with black, Asian-American and American Indian civil rights groups to demand small-screen ethnic diversity.

Change has come in fits in starts, with African-American actors and producers making greater strides than other minorities. But in 2015, an Associated Press analysis of regular cast members on prime-time comedies and dramas found casts at three of the four networks were still whiter than the nation as a whole.

Networks must realize they can no longer relegate Latinos, a group that represents 18 percent of the U.S. population and has economic clout, to relative invisibility, Nogales said.

"People get their information from TV and film. If Latinos are absent or depicted as lesser than others, that's the way we're going to be treated," he said.

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Latino coalition: CBS diversity progress is part of new push - Las Vegas Sun

Iowa politics: Gov. Reynolds touts progress among early readers – Mason City Globe Gazette

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

DES MOINES | Gov. Kim Reynolds kicked off a tour Tuesday to mark the beginning of K-12 classes for the 2017-18 school year by touting gains in reading scores among students in kindergarten through third grade.

Reynolds and Ryan Wise, director of the state Department of Education, said 70 percent of students met or surpassed statewide benchmarks during the 2016-17 school year increasing 3 percent from fall 2016 to spring 2017. That builds on a 4 percent increase during the 2015-16 school year, they said, calling the progress significant.

"We're seeing growth, we're seeing progress and so we need to continue to look at that and figure out how we can continue to scale that success with school districts across the state," Reynolds told her weekly news conference which was held at the Edmunds Fine Arts Academy in Des Moines the first stop on her Start of School tour that coincides with Wednesday's official opening of K-12 schools under a new state law. The governor and Wise also visited the Emmetsburg Community School District on Tuesday, and plan stops in the Forest City, Central Springs and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura community school districts on Wednesday.

State leaders are looking at long-term ways to strengthen Iowa's workforce talent pipeline, and Wise said one important early step is ensuring all students read proficiently by the end of third grade. In 2012, Iowa adopted a major initiative to identify struggling readers and provide intensive intervention, he said, and now school districts screen students' reading skills on an assessment three times a year which helps teachers identify and intervene for students not reading at grade level.

"Early literacy is critical because success in school starts with the ability to read," Wise said. "Students who struggle to read early on are more likely to drop out of school, are less likely to pursue post-secondary education and training and less likely to earn a living wage."

State lawmakers last session decided to abandon a previous approach to force students to repeat third grade if they were not reading at grade level by the end of the year. The state-mandated summer reading program for struggling third-graders had already been delayed and moved back to 2018 before lawmakers decided a pilot program which provided extra money so struggling third graders could attend summer school would not be continued, but Reynolds said Tuesday there may be other ways to accomplish the goal of boosting reading skills among elementary students.

Deborah Reed of the Iowa Reading Research Center said a number of Iowa's 333 school districts are continuing summer reading programs but they've gone from a required approach to an option for helping students address their literacy needs. "It's part of an array of interventions that might be provided by a school districts" and they work collaboratively to find ways to refine and redeliver instruction based on quality reading performance data.

Reynolds said she is focusing on reading, Iowa's Teacher Leadership and Compensation System and Iowa's STEM initiative during her school visits.

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Iowa politics: Gov. Reynolds touts progress among early readers - Mason City Globe Gazette

Too Short: Dow Gains 196 Points as Tax Progress Lifts Stocks – Barron’s

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Barron's

Too Short: Dow Gains 196 Points as Tax Progress Lifts Stocks
Barron's
Stocks rallied today on reports that the Trump administration has been making progress on its tax plan. But is more than just an oversold bounce? Illustration: Getty Images. The S&P 500 gained 1% to 2452.51 today while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ...

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Too Short: Dow Gains 196 Points as Tax Progress Lifts Stocks - Barron's

Vikings’ D, Sam Bradford’s progress have Mike Zimmer optimistic – NFL.com

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- This has been a pleasantly quiet summer for the Minnesota Vikings, though it's worth remembering there was no drama at this time a year ago, either.

Before Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee days before the preseason finale, and then Adrian Peterson got hurt, and injuries decimated the offensive line, and head coach Mike Zimmer underwent the first of many eye surgeries, and offensive coordinator Norv Turner quit, and a 5-0 start crumbled into an 8-8 finish, the Vikings felt much as they do now: optimistic about one of the NFL's most stacked defenses and an offense that can do enough to make them a tough out come January.

"Defensively, I kind of know who we are and what we are. It's similar to what we've been," Zimmer told me after a recent practice. "Offensively, I think we're still a little bit trying to find exactly the right balance of what we're doing -- but I like a lot of things we're doing offensively.

"I don't think the identity of the team is going to change too much. I don't think we're going to go to The Greatest Show on Turf, and I don't think we're going to be the '85 Bears, either. But this team has some talent, and we've got a chance."

The Vikes have really felt that way since they had the mighty Seattle Seahawks beat in a divisional playoff game 19 months ago -- until Blair Walsh yanked a 27-yard game-winning field-goal attempt.Seemingly every bit of their luck since followed that thing wide left.

To be sure, the Vikings have their work cut out to get out of the NFC North, which they've wrested away from Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers just once in the past six seasons. Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions are coming off their own playoff campaign, taking the spotlight in the division away from Minnesota -- and that may not be a bad thing here.

Just as the 5-0 start last season covered up some of the flaws that eventually got exposed, the way things fell apart might be obscuring some of the reasons the Vikings are excited about their chances for bouncing back. That list includes:

Sam Bradford has settled in: The former No. 1 pick put together his most efficient season in 2016 (71.6 percent passing, 20 TDs, five interceptions, 99.3 rating) despite not joining the Vikings until a cutdown-day trade from Philadelphia and having to learn Turner's offense on the fly, with little run threat to help him. Now Bradford, 29, has had an offseason to work with his teammates and a coordinator, Pat Shurmur, who has a lot of history to draw on in sculpting the offense around Bradford's skill set.

"I think [Bradford] feels so much more comfortable, obviously," Zimmer said. "He's throwing the ball well. He's got a good feeling for Pat, checking and all the different things that he does."

Dalvin Cook might be special: Ask anyone at Vikings HQ about the upside of this team, and they'll bring up Cook, who slid into the second round of April's draft for reasons that had little to do with his unquestioned explosiveness as a runner. He can make an offensive line look better. The one-time NFL MVP Peterson is gone, but with Cook, ex-Oakland Raider Latavius Murray and third-down back Jerick McKinnon, the NFL's least productive running team a year ago (1,205 yards, 3.2 per carry) has some juice.

The O-line shouldn't be horrible: That's a low bar, but the Vikings set it there last season. Is Riley Reiff an ideal left tackle? Probably not. (There are reasons the Lions moved him to right.) But he should be an upgrade over the T.J. Clemmings-Jake Long combo the Vikings played with most of last season. Ditto Mike Remmers at right tackle. Left guard Alex Boone feels better after being beat up last season. Third-round pick Pat Elflein is a likely Week 1 starter at center. Depth seems better, too -- even with Reiff and Boone sitting out last week's exhibition against Seattle, the line played much better than in its opener. Accountability and attitude will be key. As Boone told me: "We've got to smash people and have fun doing it, embrace it."

Defense remains loaded: Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith ... that's an excellent core on defense, and all those guys are under age 30. They know Zimmer's scheme inside and out. One guy to keep an eye on is Barr, whose effort and productivity last season weren't acceptable. People who have watched him recently say Barr is a different guy right now.

"I think Barr has had an unbelievable spring, unbelievable training camp," Zimmer said.

Rookies might make an impact: Unlike last year, when they ranked dead last in offensive and defensive snaps from rookies, the Vikings could have as many as four first-year starters from their draft class -- Cook, Elflein, linebacker Ben Gedeon and guard Danny Isidora. They also spent more on undrafted rookies than in years past and have a few who could contribute, led by defensive end Tashawn Bower.

Zim is Zim again: He went through a lot last year, yet at age 61, none of it seems to have softened him.

"There's nothing different," said veteran cornerback Terence Newman, who has spent much of his 15-year career with Zimmer. "Obviously, he wants this team to win and be better than we were last year. So, he's going to be tough and stringent. But that's always him."

Said Boone: "I think he's probably tougher now."

That approach doesn't fit everyone, especially when things start going south. But Zimmer has shown under the right circumstances he can make it work.

There's plenty the Vikings still have to figure out: nickel cornerback, both kicking jobs, how to best utilize a receiver group with a bunch of solid No. 2/3 type guys (Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Michael Floyd) but no true No. 1 mismatch threat, the right combination on an O-line that still figures as the team's biggest weakness until it shows otherwise. Entering his eighth season, Bradford has to shake the stigma of never reaching the playoffs. An uncertain future at quarterback -- Bradford's in a contract year, while Bridgewater continues to rehab in hopes of returning sometime in 2017 -- contributes to the feeling the Vikings are at something of a fork in the road. Repeat last season, and changes are inevitable.

The Vikings aren't thinking that way now, though.

"Last year was last year and some [expletive]-up things happened. But nine years in this league, I've seen a lot of messed-up things like that," Boone said. "Going forward, this is our team. This is the group of guys we're going to go out and fight with and I'm excited about that."

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.

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Vikings' D, Sam Bradford's progress have Mike Zimmer optimistic - NFL.com

Transhumanism Is Not Libertarian, It’s an Abomination – The American Conservative

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Last week in TAC, Zoltan Istvan wrote about The Growing World of Libertarian Transhumanism linking the transhumanist movement with all of its featureslike cyborgs, human robots and designer babiesto the ideas of liberty. To say Mr. Istvan is mistaken in his assessment is an understatement. Transhumanism should be rejected by libertarians as an abomination of human evolution.

We begin with Mr. Istvans definition of transhumanism:

transhumanism is the international movement of using science and technology to radically change the human being and experience. Its primary goal is to deliver and embrace a utopian techno-optimistic worlda world that consists of biohackers, cyborgists, roboticists, life extension advocates, cryonicists, Singularitarians, and other science-devoted people.

The ultimate task, however, is nothing less than overcoming biological human death and to solve all humanitys problems. Throughout much of Mr. Istvans work on this issue, he seems to think these ideas are perfectly compatible with libertarianismself-evident evenso he doesnt care to elaborate for his befuddled readers.

While most advocates of liberty could be considered, as Matt Ridley coined it, rational optimistsmeaning that generally we are optimistic, but not dogmatic, about progressit is easy to get into a state in which everything that is produced by the market is good per se and every new technology is hailed as the next step on the path of progress. In this sense, these libertarians become what Rod Dreher has called Technological Men. For them, choice matters more than what is chosen. [The Technological Man] is not concerned with what he should desire; rather, he is preoccupied with how he can acquire or accomplish what he desires.

Transhumanists including Mr. Istvan are a case in point. In his TAC article he not only endorses such things as the defeat of death, but even robotic hearts, virtual reality sex, and telepathy via mind-reading headsets. Need more of his grand ideas? How about brain implants ectogenesis, artificial intelligence, exoskeleton suits, designer babies, gene editing tech? At no point he wonders if we should even strive for these technologies.

When he does acknowledge potential problems he has quick (and crazy) solutions at hand: For example, what would happen if people never die, while new ones are coming into the world in abundance? His solution to the fear of overpopulation: eugenics. It is here where we see how libertarian Mr. Istvan truly is. When his political philosophythe supposedly libertarian onecomes into conflict with his idea of transhumanism, he suddenly drops the former and argues in favor of state-controlled breeding (or, as he says, controlled breeding by non-profit organizations such as the WHO, which is, by the way, state financed). I cautiously endorse the idea of licensing parents, a process that would be little different than getting a drivers licence. Parents who pass a series of basic tests qualify and get the green light to get pregnant and raise children.

The most frustrating thing is how similar he sounds to communists and socialists in his arguments. In most articles you read by transhumanists, you can see the dream of human perfection. Mr. Istvan says so himself: Transhumanists want more guarantees than just death, consumerism, and offspring. Much More. They want to be better, smarter, strongerperhaps even perfect and immortal if science can make them that way.

Surely it is the goal of transhumanists that, in their world, the average human type will rise to the heights of an Aristotle, a Goethe, or a Marx. You can just edit the genes of the embryo in the way that they are as intelligent as Aristotle, as poetic as Goethe, and as musically talented as Mozart. There are two problems, though: First, the world would become extremely boring, consisting only of perfect human beings who are masters at everything (which perhaps would make human cooperation superfluous). Second, that quote was famously uttered by the socialist Leon Trotsky.

As Ludwig von Mises wrote sarcastically, the socialist paradise will be the kingdom of perfection, populated by completely happy supermen. This has always been the mantra of socialists, starting with utopian thinkers like Charles Fourier, but also being embraced by the scientific ones like Marx, who derived his notion of history in which communism is the final stage of humanity from Hegel. Hegel himself believed in the man-godnot in the way that God became man through Jesus, but that man could become God one day. Intentionally or not, transhumanists sound dangerously similar to that. What they would actually create would be the New Soviet Man through bio-engineering and total environmental control as the highest social goal. In other words, you get inhuman ideological tyranny taken to a whole new level.

It should be noted that sometimes transhumanists recognize this themselvesbut if they do, their solutions only make things worse (much worse). Take Adam Zaretsky as example, who says that these new human beings shouldnt be perfect: Its important to make versions of transgenic human anatomy that are not based on idealism. But his solution is frightening: The idea is that you take a gene, say for pig noses, or ostrich anuses, or aardvark tongue, and you paste that into a human sperm, a human egg, a human zygote. A baby starts to form. And: We could let it flow into our anatomy, and these peoplewho yes, are humansshould be appreciated for who and what they are, after they are forced to be born in a really radically strange way. Its no surprise that Rod Dreher calls Mr. Zaretsky a sick monster, because he truly seems to be one when it comes to his transhumanist vision. He wants to create handicapped human beings on purpose.

If this were what libertarians think should happen, it would be sad (thankfully its mostly not). As Jeff Deist notes, it is important to remember that liberty is natural and organic and comports with human action. It doesnt require a new man. Transhumanists may say that the introduction of their idea is inevitable (in Istvans words, Whether people like it or not, transhumanism has arrived) but that is not true. And in this sense, it is time for libertarians to argue against the notion of extreme transhumanism. Yes, the market has brought it about and yes, the state shouldnt prohibit it (though giving your baby a pig nose could certainly be a violation of rights), but still, one shouldnt be relativist or even nihilist about such frightening developments. It would be a shame if the libertarian maxim of Everyone should be able to do whatever one wants to (as long as no one is hurt by it) becomes Everyone should do whatever one can do just because it is possible.

Finally, it comes as no surprise that transhumanists are largely, if not all, atheists (or as Mr. Istvan says: Im an atheist, therefore Im a transhumanist. This just proves what the classical liberal historian Lord Acton talked about when he said, Progress, the religion of those who have none. In the end, transhumanism is the final step to get God out of the way. It would be the continuation of what Richard Weaver wrote about in Ideas Have Consequences: Instead of seeing nature, the world and life overall as a means to get to know God, humans in the last centuries have become accustomed to seeing the world as something that is only there for humans to take and use for their own pleasures. Transhumanism would be the final step of this process: the conquest of death.

You dont have to be religious to find this abhorrent. As we have seen, it would be the end to all religion, to human cooperation overall, in all likelihood to liberty itself, and even the good-bye to humanity. It would be the starting point of the ultimate dystopia.

Kai Weiss is an International Relations student and works for the Austrian Economics Center and Hayek Institute, two libertarianthink tanks based in Vienna, Austria.

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Transhumanism Is Not Libertarian, It's an Abomination - The American Conservative

Oregon ‘Hate Map’ Reveals 11 Racist, Separatist Hate Groups In The State – Patch.com

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Patch.com

Oregon 'Hate Map' Reveals 11 Racist, Separatist Hate Groups In The State
Patch.com
Based on the blog Donovan writes, the Wolves of Vinland Cascadia espouse masculinity, tribalism, and survivalism. Northwest Hammerskins The Hammerskins are an unapologetic racist skinhead group with chapters established across the continental ...
Hate MapIntelligence Report
Top three states with the most hate groups: Guess where Florida ranks?Miami Herald

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Oregon 'Hate Map' Reveals 11 Racist, Separatist Hate Groups In The State - Patch.com

We Asked Diehard Swedish Metalheads What They Consider to be ‘Metal’ – Noisey

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

This article originally appeared on Noisey Germany.

I used to play in a metal band as a tender, bright-eyed teen. Back in the day, my bandmates stopped me from buying a yellow hat at the last minute because it wasn't metal. The question has never left me: What is metal and what isn't? I recently went to the Swedish Gefle Metal Festival to finally get some answers to this question. During interviews with roughly 50 participants, I discoveredamong other thingsthat the majority of them agreed with my former bandmates: The color yellow is not metal.

By contrast, these festival goers had metal all over their faces: Roughly 66.6 percent of them sported a thick beard. I quickly realized how important and metal it is to know about, first and foremost, metal. But to also have a working understanding of metal-affiliated topics like religion, history, swords, death, dragons, and meat. If you can effectively trump another person's knowledge of these topics, you get metal cred. While this may sound reminiscent of the hipster mentality, don't be fooledmetal culture is stable, and doesn't blow like a flag in the wind and reinvent itself every Wednesday.

The occasional pissing contest of expert knowledge is also pretty metal. But generally, these festival goers are endearing nerds with a slightly daunting faade who can survive with minimal intellectual and emotional stimulation. The music almost entirely satisfies those needs, but community is just as important in metal culture.

So, I stepped into this mysterious world of smoke, beer, blood, and guttural screams. Here's what I found:

Satanism (34%) Nobody is as metal as Satan. He's so often described as the driving force in so many different contexts throughout the genre that we can confidently deem him the greatest muse of all. The devil even has his own musical interval, the tritone.

Asatru/Neopaganism (30%) For those who aren't as down with Satanism, Asatrualso known as Heathenry or Germanic Neopaganismprovides a nice alternative that perfectly aligns with conventional metal themes. After all, the Vikings were pagans, and their flowing hair, thick beards, and battle axes are unequivocally metal. Even the TV show, Vikings, was mentioned on several occasions. Amon Amarth, arguably the most well known Viking Metalers, were among the headliners at Gefle, so it's safe to say there were some modern Vikings who participated in my study.

Atheism/Non-religious (17%) A decent percentage of participants don't want metal to be defined by ideologies that just aren't metal. After all, metal is metal and nothing else.

The Goat (30%) Goats have beards and hornsand, as it turns outare totally awesome metal singers. Eliphas Levis illustrated Baphomet as a sabbatic goat, and Aleister Crowley's Baphomet of Levi became a central figure within the cosmology of Thelema. The Church of Satan later adopted the Sigil of Baphomet as its official symbol. Based on that objective criteria, that's when the goat officially became metal. This also means that the Swedish city of Gvle, where the festival took place, is the most metal location in the countrymaybe even in the entire world, too. Gvle has constructed a giant straw goat every Christmas since 1966 and arsonists usually let the whole thing go up in flames every year. Giant, flaming goats are almost too metal, Sweden.

The Wolf (22%)The wolf came in second place, taking lead over the cat, the dachshund, and the sloth, who were all tied for third. The dog's wild ancestor isn't just popular in Viking metal and black metalhe also flees whenever he hears Creed's music, which is a pretty damn metal move.

Any back-breaking trade, but especially forging/welding/construction work/etc. (39%) What's more metal than heavy machinery, fire, and grime? Some people insisted it was more metal to play metal, but everyone knows that music, much like playing golf, is a paid hobby and not a real job.

Playing and/or listening to metal (37%) See? Like I said, a hobby.

Boozing (24%)Because every subculture enjoys getting plastered while listening to their favorite music. In this case, even metal is exceptionally unexceptional.

Classical music (30%)When Beethoven composed Symphony No. 5, he birthed the oldest and most traditional metal-riff. Edvard Grieg was also pretty metal, considering he set Ibsen's play Peer Gynt to musicand that was about trolls. Additionally, classical musicians always seem to dress up like vampires from horror movies, drink red wine, and drain the life out of you by being simultaneously condescending and uninteresting. They subjugate themselves to a severe-looking ruler with an awe-inspiring stick and obsessively shred every day. Overall, high-grade metal. Strings and wind instruments like to be inserted in certain metal sub-genres and, once in a while, larger bands make the mistake of performing with an entire orchestra.

Alcohol (100%), specifically beer (88%) Do you see someone drinking beer? Is that person wearing camo shorts or a kilt with a black band t-shirt? Don't hesitate: Salute them with your miniature pitchfork made of French fries to identify yourself as a fellow metalhead, and then headbang away. Maybe they'll even invite you to drink with them.

Meat (63%)Blood, death, burning. Meat is nature's metal. Even the simple act of eating is metal. As this Tumblr user explains, "Eating is so badass. I mean, you put something in a cavity where you smash it and destroy it with 32 protruding bones and then a meat tentacle pushes it into a pool of acid and after a few hours you absorb its essence and transform it into energy just wow."

No fruit at all (41%) "Even the thought of describing fruit as being metal is wrong," one pollster curtly replied when I asked which fruit was the most metal. Another one said, "Fruit has to do with God, and God is bad." Someone else retorted, "I haven't eaten any fruit since I was five years old." Maybe this staunch rejection of fruit is somehow related to the aforementioned ideological freedom? Case in point: There's such a thing as Fruitarianism.

Bananas (14%) This year, former bandmates of the Swedish band Ghost brought forth a lawsuit against the current frontman, Papa Emeritus. The court documents reveal that these sinister-looking masked performers are actually humans like the rest of us: The defamatory points of contention range from inadequate laundry facilities to rogue bananas (one member of the crew is allergic). If bananas have the power to destroy a band's image, perhaps they also qualify as being metal.

Blood oranges (11%)Blood is obviously metal and, as fans and musicians alike know, the "orange grip" is one of the distinguishing features of the genre.

Black (77%) Yeah, we all saw it coming. Even people who consider Creed heavy metal think black is the most metal color. I really only wanted to see if other colors stood a chance. Yellow, for example. Red (12%) Red is metal because blood is metal. Further evidence of this: The red blood pigment hemoglobin is a metalloprotein.

Yellow (<2%) I ended up buying a black hat with red designs, back then. Per the results of my study, this was an acceptable choice. A yellow hat in and of itself wouldn't have been metal, but maybe Bathory's satanic goat could have saved it.

None (68%) Political parties aren't metal. Leif Pagrotsky (9%) When the Swedish social democrat and Minister of Culture, Leif Pagrotsky, went to see Dissection live in 2005, he became "Leffe" to his metal-loving compatriots. Since he's only about 5'3", a helpful circus artist put him on her shoulders so he could have a better view. To this day, he is an honorary member of a death metal study group in Linkping, and Leffe's legend continues to live on in Gvle.

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Nihilist | Define Nihilist at Dictionary.com

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

Historical Examples

You guessed rightly when you said that I am not a nihilist at heart.

I have already mentioned it as often given by a nihilist to one whom he believes may be one with him.

Then you never had such a thought until you knew I was a nihilist?

If I should become a nihilist, it would be to protect the emperor, not to betray your friends.

Was it the princess who informed you that Durnief was a nihilist?

Concerning the woman for whose sake he became a nihilist, he never spoke.

From a distance, and as an observer only, I have studied nihilism and the nihilist.

I have not yet told you why I am a nihilist, and that is what this story is for.

I am not now and have never been a nihilist in spirit, but it is true that I am one in fact.

British Dictionary definitions for nihilist Expand

a complete denial of all established authority and institutions

(philosophy) an extreme form of scepticism that systematically rejects all values, belief in existence, the possibility of communication, etc

a revolutionary doctrine of destruction for its own sake

the practice or promulgation of terrorism

Derived Forms

nihilist, noun, adjectivenihilistic, adjective

Word Origin

C19: from Latin nihil nothing + -ism, on the model of German Nihilismus

(in tsarist Russia) any of several revolutionary doctrines that upheld terrorism

Word Origin and History for nihilist Expand

1836 in the religious or philosophical sense, from French nihiliste, from Latin nihil (see nihilism). In the Russian political sense, it is recorded from 1871. Related: Nihilistic.

1817, "the doctrine of negation" (in reference to religion or morals), from German Nihilismus, from Latin nihil "nothing at all" (see nil), coined by German philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743-1819). In philosophy, an extreme form of skepticism (1836). The political sense was first used by German journalist Joseph von Grres (1776-1848). Turgenev used the Russian form of the word (nigilizm) in "Fathers and Children" (1862) and claimed to have invented it. With a capital N-, it refers to the Russian revolutionary anarchism of the period 1860-1917, supposedly so called because "nothing" that then existed found favor in their eyes.

nihilist in Medicine Expand

nihilism nihilism (n'-lz'm, n'-) n.

The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.

A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.

nihilist in Culture Expand

An approach to philosophy that holds that human life is meaningless and that all religions, laws, moral codes, and political systems are thoroughly empty and false. The term is from the Latin nihil, meaning nothing.

Urban Dictionary: nihilist

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Danzig

people that unrealistic idiots don't understand. its about realising that there is no essential value or purpose to existence or the universe, therefore everything that we do has no real point, and the hype isn't worth it.

I have an idea. Why don't you stop labelling Nihilism as a 'self-defeating philosophy' and actually declare what you think is the validation for existence. then you might have an argument.