Monthly Archives: March 2017

This time around, the controversy over climate change was thrown in.

BESE created an 86-person volunteer committee to revise Louisiana science standards for the first time in 20 years. The committees plan would begin implementation during the 2018-2019 school year.

The standards proved a source of contentious debate among a score of witnesses particularly regarding the committees acceptance of evolution and climate change as scientific facts.

In accordance with the Louisiana Science Education Act of 2008, which allows public school teachers to use supplemental materials in the classroom that are critical of the evolutionary theories, several witnesses aired concerns about the new standards.

State Rep. Beryl Amadee, R-Houma, expressed fears of inherent bias toward evolution and climate change within the recommendations.

If you really embrace the idea that we teach the controversy, why isnt it reflected in the proposed standards? Why would you not want students to recognize other standards? Amadee asked.

Proponents of the renewed standards, however, staunchly defended the language in the original document.

Cathi Cox-Boniol, who led the standards committee, maintained the updated standards have fewer topics and more depth, which the committee believed would better expose Louisiana students to global institutionalized science.

We took everything else out of the equation and thought about the student, Cox-Boniol said, noting the committee members logged some 10,000 collective hours on the project.

Of the 86 volunteers on the committee, only one member dissented on presenting the standards package to BESEWade Warren, a biology professor at Louisiana College.

Warren said he was concerned about what he perceived as the standards apparent dogmatic presentation of Darwinian philosophy and exclusion of alternative theories.

He said he suggested adding the sentence results may differ depending on theory to one of the standards, which was rejected by fellow committee members.

The writers of the science standards did not include any of my suggested edits, Warren complained

William C. Deese, a chemistry professor at Louisiana Tech University, argued that introducing alternative theories into the science classroom would diminish students understanding of science as an institution. There is absolutely no controversy within institutionalized science about evolution and global warming, he said.

State Superintendent John White argued students deserve standards based on the latest scientific research and knowledge.

In developing Louisiana Student Standards for Science, Louisiana educators have set ambitious expectations for students who will soon be the leaders of our state and its economy, White said.

BESE approved the updated standards, with curriculum reviews set to launch as early as spring 2017. Field test assessments will be given in spring 2018.

See the rest here:

BESE accepts updated content standards on evolution, climate change - bestofneworleans.com

Dimple Yadav had a faltered entry in politics. Her first scripted speech in Lok Sabha was such a disaster that it went viral on YouTube as Dimple Yadavs hilarious mistakes in Parliament.

Dimple fumbled a dozen times, apparently for her inexperience in public speaking. BJP leader Rajeev Pratap Rudy, sitting behind her, chuckled but stood up to appreciate her and congratulate Mulayam Singh Yadavji for his bahus speech.

But thats history.

The 2017 assembly election is Uttar Pradesh has seen Dimple emerge as the star campaigner of Samajwadi Party. She has also commanded more spotlight than many seasoned leaders across political parties.

Now, she draws more crowd than me, more applause than me, her husband and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said. He is not exaggerating.

Read more

Dimple, 39, wasnt just the top woman campaigner, leaving former CM and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati behind in election tours and rallies. She also took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and turned Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shahs metaphorical Kasab, an acronym for the Hindi pronunciation of Congress-SP-BSP, on its head.

Her version of Kasab, underlining peaceful coexistence, prevented Shah from using it often while Akhilesh borrowed it for his rallies.

Admirers say Dimple doesnt read out anymore. At every rally venue, she spoke eloquently and impromptu, using her hand gestures and eye movements to good effect.

Her evolution has not escaped YouTube, which is now flooded with videos that show her as a skilled politician, drawing cheers, claps and slogans such as Dimple bhabhi, jeet ki chabhi (Sister-in-law Dimple is the key to victory).

Dimple hasnt had the best of starts in politics. In 2009, she lost the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat, vacated by Akhilesh, to Congress Raj Babbar. But she won the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat, also vacated by Akhilesh, without a contest in 2012.

Today, she has virtually made the red SP cap a fashion statement after putting it on for the first time during the release of the party manifesto for 2017.

Dimple Rawat and Akhilesh Yadav met at a party in 1995 and love blossomed. This was shortly before Akhilesh left for Australia for higher technical studies. They married in November 1999.

Months after, Akhilesh won his first Lok Sabha election, a by-poll for the Kannauj seat. Dimple chose to be a genteel Yadav bahu as Akhileshs stature in the party rose.

Read more

Till February 8, 2017, Dimple had campaigned only for herself first in Firozabad and then in Kannauj in 2012 and never addressed an election rally. She came out after Akhilesh won the family feud and overshadowed party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. She addressed about 55 rallies from the very first of the seven-phase polls.

Her first campaign for a party candidate, on February 8, was meticulously planned. Akhilesh made party MP Jaya Bachchan introduce Dimple at a rally for Anshu Rani Nishad, the partys candidate for Bah (Agra). Dimple took over after Bachchan said: Dimple is your daughter-in-law, and gift her victory.

Her campaign ended with a special appearance during Akhilesh-Rahul Gandhis joint rath yatra through the streets of Varanasi. She turned out to be the main crowd-puller, this quality attributed to her charisma and refined vocabulary.

Go here to read the rest:

Dimple 2.0: Evolution of a bahu into a star campaigner - Hindustan Times

The Upbeats are widelylooked upon as cornerstones of modern bass music. Their caliber of production may not be as influential as that ofNoisia, who have been able to single-handedly set trends and shape modern DnB with each passing album. Yet, The Upbeats have been at the forefront of the genre for over a decade, and show no signs of slowing their momentum. TheUpbeats havereleased over 15 albums and EPs combined, with each one further cementing their status as one of the best acts bass music has to offer.

Each of The Upbeatsalbums has offered listeners a genial experience, and a fresh perspective on the scope of their genre the hallmark of an act on top of its game. The groupslegendary collaboration with Noisia on theDead Limit EP is still regarded by many to be the best DnB releaseof 2015.

The Upbeats latest work, the De-evolution series (part one of which was initially released in April 2016), has been one of the main talking points in DnB over the pastyear, due to its ingenuity. The three-part series has finally come to its conclusion as the final six pieces of the puzzle are releasedon Vision Recordings.

Each EP has had its own unique story, taking listeners on a sonic journey throughout the various sub-genres of DnB, from serene, calming liquid, to the mind-numbing neurofunk sounds they have helped pioneer throughout their illustrious careers.

While parts one and two of the series are straight out of The Upbeats vast musical playbook, De-evolution Part IIIdeals mostly with a side of DnB not generally touched upon by the duo. Taking this factor into consideration, listening to the EP becomes a much more immersive and enjoyable experience. Thesongs on De-evolution Part IIIhavesplit personalities they can be looked upon simply as extremely well made DnB, but they also expose a much more fragile aspect. Close scrutiny reveals the finely balanced concoction of various sonic elements that definethe collection.

Eachsong in this EP is an individual masterpiece, and the entire collectioncomfortably stands head and shoulders above any other DnB release this year. De-evolutionPart IIIfalls perfectly into place with its two previous iterations, resulting in one of the New Zealanders best works yet.

The EP starts off in typical Upbeats fashion with Cauldron (Feat. Agressor Bunks). The hard-hitting neurofunk single is asensory assault, coercing listeners into a submissive trance. The trackssawing bass, growling synths, and ferocious drumsmake Cauldrona perfect selection for hardcore head-bangingthat provides an ideal foundation for the rest of the EP.

The next song Prism, shares very little common stylistic ground withthe aforementioned track. The energetic tempo of Cauldron is replaced with a thick, grimy tone in the second piece from the collection. Atmospheric vocals are scattered throughout Prism, which would be perfectly at home as a standalone Division recordings release. The impeccablydesigned bass growls, gurgles and splutters culminate in a fantastic tune, ably complemented by its subtlerelements.

If the prior two tracks provided a launch pad for the EP, Veiled and De-Evolution easily take the releaseto another level. Veiled, as previously mentioned, is easily one of the groupsbest liquid singles to date. Words can hardlydo justice to the feeling this masterstrokearouses in listeners.

De-evolution, named after the series itself, is the undoubtedly the climax of the three part project. With the titular track, The Upbeats have gone all out to create ajuggernaut that stands out above the rest of the songs on the EP. The song is a mix of two contrasting styles the first being The Upbeats signature ferocity, and the second being a showcase of their capabilities to manipulate more refined, subtler elements. The two contrasting halves of the song signify the recent change in the duosproduction technique and serve as tipping points in both the EP and The Upbeats careers.

The songs at the tail-end of the EP lean heavily towards the new, ambient style which defines the secondary portion of its eponymous track. A Place For You barely classifies as a traditional DnB song. It transcends genres, typified by the serene vocals and ethereal chord progressions. The final song, Streetlight has a starkly minimalist vibe when compared to other songson the EP a fact that it embraces with lachrymose beauty. Each component of the track mourns the ending of this gorgeous series and the track passes on this gloom to listeners with outstanding ease.

The De-evolution series has been unsurprisingly brilliant. The marathon venture is a brief reflection of The Upbeats storied voyage through the music industry. De-evolutionPart IIIis the perfect ending to this gargantuan project, undertaken by one of the staple acts of modern DnB. To fully appreciate the EP, it is imperative to look upon its insinuation, rather than just the music it encapsulates. The De-evolution series is groundbreaking, genre-defining and utterly spellbinding.

Read More:

Noisia announce release date for 20-track Outer Edges remix album

Black Sun Empire & Noisia The Veil (Original Mix)

TOP TRENDING MUSIC

See the original post here:

'De-evolution Part III' is a stunning conclusion to The Upbeats' EP trilogy - Dancing Astronaut

S&P Intelligence report ranked 19 top publicly-listed gold companies according to all-in-sustaining costs (AISC)

One of the effects of the hit the gold price took after soaring to $1,900 an ounce in September 2011, was a concentrated effort on the part of producers to cut costs.

For years big gold mining companies kept on spending, on exploration, salaries, and big acquisitions, confident that the good times would keep rolling with the ever-advancing gold price. Those companies were in for a rude awakening when shareholders dumped them in droves following the gold price retracement of 2012-15. Suddenlyacquisitions were put on hold, exploration spending dried up, and the mantra became: find ways to cut costs.

S&P Global Market Intelligence took a look at 19 publicly-listed, major gold companies in the last quarter of 2016, and found that for most of them, austerity continues to be key,especially with the gold price trending lower in Q4. Recall that gold bears were predicting that Donald Trump's plans for fiscal stimulus, including a $500 billion infrastructure spending program, would lead to strong U.S. economic expansion, ergo, higher interest rates the nemesis of gold.

According toSNL Metals & Mining database, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, the top 19 public gold companies produced gold at a weighted-average cost of US$868/oz, which is slightly lower than US$889/oz reported in the third quarter.

The lowest-cost producer, Centerra Gold (TSX:CG), mines gold at $586 an ounce, while the second-lowest in the group, ASX-listed Evolution Mining (ASX-EVN), produces at $674/oz. Barrick Gold(TSX, NYSE:ABX), the world's most valuable producer of the precious metal, was third on the list at $732 an ounce. Barrick's costs have dropped 12% in 2016, compared to 2015.

Topping the higher-cost end of the spectrum was Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY), which weighed in at$1,129/oz, followed byDetour Gold (TSX:DGF) and AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), which had AISCs of $1,124/oz and US$1,047/oz, respectively.

Some highlights fromSNL Metals & Mining:

According to Scott Perry, Centerra's CEO, the company's favorable cost performance during 2016 can be attributed to the higher mill production and lower unit costs at the company's flagship Kumtor mine, compared with the previous year.

The acquisition of an economic interest in the Ernest Henry copper-gold mine in Queensland in November 2016 improved [Evolution Mining's]quarterly production by adding 14,257 oz of gold at AISC of A$114/oz. The acquisition is expected to further revamp the group's asset portfolio and improve its cost profile.

[Barrick] continued to strengthen its balance sheet, cutting debt and executing business development initiatives throughout the year. Continuing the trend, the company recently announced that it was consolidating its main assets in Nevada and expects to reduce gold production costs at its operations by US$100/oz.

According to Harmony's CEO, Peter Steenkamp, the 14% increase in all-in-sustaining costs (AISC) can be attributed to the labor cost increase under a three-year wage deal and to the winter tariffs during the period.

Read the full report here

Related: 10 mines still makinggood money if the gold price falls 50%

Excerpt from:

Centerra Gold, Evolution Mining were lowest-cost gold producers in Q4 - MINING.com