Description.

The defining characteristic of the plant is its vines: they are thin, spindly, and have silver to reddish brown bark. They are generally between in diameter. However, if growth is not disturbed, vines can exceed and when cut, will show age rings that can exceed 20 years. When "Celastrus orbiculatus" grows by itself, it forms thickets; when it is near a tree the vines twist themselves around the trunk as high as 40 feet. The encircling vines have been known to strangle the host tree to death or break branches from the excess weight, which is also true of the slower-growing American species, "C. scandens". The leaves are round and glossy, long, have toothed margins and grow in alternate patterns along the vines. Small green flowers produce distinctive red seeds which are encased in yellow pods that break open during autumn. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Range and habitat.

Due to systematic disturbances to eastern forests for wood production and recreation, Oriental bittersweet has naturalized to landscapes, roadsides, and woodlands of eastern North America. In the United States it can be found as far south as Louisiana, as far north as Maine, and as far west as the Rocky Mountains. It prefers mesic woods, where it has been known to eclipse native plants.

Cultivation.

"Celastrus orbiculatus" is cultivated as an ornamental plant. In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

"Celastrus orbiculatus" as an invasive species.

Oriental bittersweet is a strong competitor in its environment, and its dispersal has endangered the survival of several other species. One attribute that contributes to the success of this species is having attractively colored fruit. As a result, it is eaten by mammals and birds, which excrete the seeds to different locations.  The introduction of Oriental bittersweet into new areas threatens the local flora because the native plants then have a strong competitor in the vicinity. The species is native to Eastern Asia, but was introduced to the US for aesthetic purposes. It has been used in floral arrangements, and because of improper disposal the plant has been recklessly introduced into areas, affecting the ecology of over 33 states from Georgia to Wisconsin, and parts of the Appalachians. The organism grows primarily in the perimeter of highly vegetative areas, allowing it to readily access the frontier of resources. Oriental bittersweet's ability to grow in a variety of environments has proven to be detrimental to many plant species along the Appalachian mountains and is moving more towards the West as time progresses.  Oriental bittersweet employs multiple invasive and dispersal strategies allowing it to outcompete the surrounding plant species in non-native regions. This is a strong reason why the control of the species presents difficulties to manage. The plant's invasion has created diverse ecological, managerial, and agricultural complications making it a focus of environmental conservation efforts.

Response to abiotic factors.

Oriental bittersweet can be found growing in areas that are high and steep. When placed in 10 different sites with varying light intensity and nitrogen concentration, Oriental bittersweet was found to have higher aboveground biomass as well as a lower mortality rate in comparison to its congener species, "Celastrus scandens" (American bittersweet). This species is able to outcompete other species by more effectively responding to abiotic conditions such as sunlight. In diverse abiotic conditions (such as varying sunlight intensity and nitrogen concentrations), Oriental bittersweet has a mortality rate of 14% in comparison to the American bittersweet, which has a mortality rate of 33%. Oriental bittersweet cannot thrive as efficiently when placed in extremely wet and dry environments; however, it flourishes in moderate rainfall environments which leads to an increased growth rate.  Sunlight is one of the most vital resources for Oriental bittersweet. As demonstrated by controlled experiments, Oriental bittersweet grows more rapidly in environments that fare a higher amount of sunlight. In a study where populations received above 28% sunlight, it exhibited a higher amount of growth and biomass. This study used layers of woven cloth to control the percentage of available sunlight. In this experiment, the TLL ratio (the living length of stems on each plant) increased when Oriental bittersweet was exposed to higher amounts of sunlight. If Oriental bittersweet was exposed to 2% sunlight, then the TLL ratio decreased. Oriental bittersweet can increase in biomass by 20% when exposed to 28% sunlight rather than 2%. The plant's strong response to sunlight parallels its role as an invasive species, as it can outcompete other species by fighting for and receiving more sunlight. Although growth ratios decrease when Oriental bittersweet is exposed to 2% sunlight (due to a decrease in photosynthetic ability), it still exhibited a 90% survival rate. Experimental data has indicated that Oriental bittersweet has a strong ability to tolerate low light conditions “ranging on average from 0.8 to 6.4% transmittance ”. In comparison to its congener American bittersweet, when placed in habitats with little light, Oriental bittersweet was found to have increased height, increased aboveground biomass, and increased total leaf mass. Oriental bittersweet, in comparison to many other competing species, is the better competitor in attaining sunlight.  Temperature is another variable that plays a role in Oriental bittersweet's growth and development as an invasive species. Unlike other invasive species, high summer temperatures have been shown to inhibit plant growth. Oriental bittersweet has also been shown to be positively favored in habitats experiencing high annual precipitation. This is noteworthy as it contrasts sharply with other common invasive species such as "Berberis thunbergii" and "Euonymus alatus" which have been shown to have a decreased probability of establishment when placed in environments experiencing high annual precipitation.  Compared to other invasive species analyzed in a recent study, Oriental bittersweet was more prevalent in landscapes dominated by developed areas. Open and abandoned habitats were also found to positively influence the spread of the plant compared to other invasive species. Additionally the species is heavily favored in edge habitats. This ability to live in various environmental conditions raises the concern of the plant's dispersal.

Biotic interactions.

Mutualistic interactions.

A determining factor regarding Oriental bittersweet's ability to outcompete native plant species is its ability to form mutualistic associations with mycorrhizal fungi, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Oriental bittersweet growth is highly dependent on the absorption of phosphorus. In a recent study, growth was found to be greater when arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were present in soil with low phosphorus concentrations, compared to when the plant was placed in an environment with high soil phosphorus concentrations with no arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were present. The results from this study show the importance of symbiotic relationships in allowing Oriental bittersweet to effectively uptake nutrients from its surroundings. Additionally, the symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizae allows this invasive species to utilize less of its energy in root biomass to absorb necessary nutrients. This may be crucial in allowing Oriental bittersweet to act as an effective invasive species as it is able to allocate more energy to its aboveground biomass instead of its belowground biomass; a significant point regarding this plant's invasiveness relies on photosynthetic ability and reproductive capacity. The symbiotic relationship established with fungi only occurs with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, while no such relationship has been observed with ectomycorrhizal fungi. These studies have shown that suitable mycorrhizae are a strong determining factor regarding whether a plant can survive in its environment. Studies have also shown evidence that “introduced plant species can modify microbial communities in the soil surrounding not only their own roots, but also the roots of neighboring plants, thereby altering competitive interactions among the plant species”. This may be a key invasive trait for Oriental bittersweet, as it allows the plant to negatively affect surrounding plant life by altering their underground symbiotic microbial relationships. However, further experimentation is necessary to determine whether this organism employs this trait as an invasive strategy.

Competitive interactions.

One of Oriental bittersweet's invasive characteristics is its effective utilization of energy to increase plant height, thus giving it a competitive advantage over similar plants. A study conducted in 2006 showed that, in comparison to its congener American bittersweet, Oriental bittersweet had increased height, increased aboveground biomass, and increased total leaf mass. This is not to say that Oriental bittersweet outperformed American bittersweet in all criteria: in comparison to Oriental bittersweet, “American bittersweet had increased stem diameter, single leaf area, and leaf mass to stem mass ratio,” suggestive that American bittersweet focused growth on ulterior portions of the plant rather than plant characteristics emphasized by Oriental bittersweet such as stem length. This is significant as height plays a major role in allowing Oriental bittersweet to outcompete surrounding vegetation. Focusing growth on stem length allows it to be in a strong position to absorb light, while also negatively impacting surrounding plant life by creating shade-like conditions. The species' vine-like morphology has also been shown to have negative effects on surrounding plant life. For example, evidence suggests that this morphological characteristic facilitates its ability to girdle nearby trees, creating an overall negative effect on the trees such as making them more susceptible to ice damage or damaging branches due to the weight of the plant. Additionally, studies have suggested that Oriental bittersweet is capable of siphoning away nutrients from surrounding plants. The study found this to occur in a variety of environments, suggestive of both the plant's increased relative plasticity as well as increased nutrient uptake.  One study observed that the presence of Oriental bittersweet increases the alkalinity of the surrounding soil, a characteristic of many successful invasive plant species. This alters the availability of essential nutrients and hinders the nutrient uptake ability of native plants. Though the relationship between Oriental bittersweet and the alkalinity of the soil is consistent, there are a number of proposed mechanisms for this observation. The plant's significant above-ground biomass demands the preferential uptake of nitrate over ammonia, leading to soil nitrification. It also has a high cation-exchange capacity, which also supports the larger biomass. Either of these functions could explain the increased alkalinity, but further experimentation is needed to pinpoint the exact mechanism.

Hybridization.

Another major threat posed by Oriental bittersweet is hybridization with American bittersweet. Hybridization occurs readily between American bittersweet females and Oriental bittersweet males, though the opposite is known to occur to a lesser extent. The resulting hybrid species is fully capable of reproduction. In theory, if the Oriental bittersweet invasion continues to worsen, widespread hybridization could genetically disrupt the entire American bittersweet population, possibly rendering it extinct.

Management.

To minimize the effects of Oriental bittersweet's invasion into North American habitats, its growth and dispersal must be tightly managed. Early detection is essential for successful conservation efforts. To reduce further growth and dispersal, above-ground vegetation is cut and any foliage is sprayed with triclopyr, a common herbicide. Glyphosate is another chemical method of control. These two herbicides are usually sprayed directly on the plants in late fall to prevent other plants from being targeted. These steps must be repeated annually, or whenever regrowth is observed. Triclopyr is non-toxic to most animal and insect species and slightly toxic to some species of fish, but it has a half-life of less than a day in water, making it safe and effective for field use. Mechanical methods have also been used, but they are not as effective due to the difficulty of completely removing the root. There is also no biological control agent available in helping control this species. Mechanical and chemical methods are being used, but they are only temporarily fixing the situation.

Celastrus orbiculatus is a woody vine of the family Celastraceae. It is commonly called Oriental bittersweet, as well as Chinese bittersweet, Asian bittersweet, round-leaved bittersweet, and Asiatic bittersweet. It is native to China, where it is the most widely distributed "Celastrus" species, and to Japan and Korea. It was introduced into North America in 1879, and is considered to be an invasive species in eastern North America. It closely resembles the native North American species, "Celastrus scandens", with which it will readily hybridize.

Der Rundblättrige Baumwürger ("Celastrus orbiculatus") ist ein kletternder Strauch mit auffälligen Früchten und bemerkenswerter Herbstfärbung aus der Familie der Spindelbaumgewächse (Celastraceae). Das natürliche Verbreitungsgebiet liegt in der gemäßigten Zone Ost-Asiens. Die Art wird häufig als Zierstrauch verwendet, die Früchte werden in der traditionellen chinesischen Medizin eingesetzt.


Types of "Cores".

"Tiny Core" (16 MB) is the recommended option for new users who have a wired network connection. It includes the base Core system and a dynamic FLTK/FLWM graphical user interface.  "Core" (11 MB) (also known as "Micro Core Linux") is a smaller variant of Tiny Core without a graphical desktop, though additional extensions can be added to create a system with a graphical desktop environment.  "dCore" (12 MB) is a core made from Debian or Ubuntu compatible files that uses import and the SCE package format, a self-contained package format for the Tiny Core distribution since 5.x series.  "CorePure64" is a notable port of "Core" to the x86_64 architecture.  "Core Plus" (106 MB) is "an installation image and not the distribution". It is composed of Tiny Core with additional functionality, most notably wireless support and non-US keyboard support.  "piCore" is the Raspberry Pi port of "Core."

System requirements.

Minimal configuration: Tiny Core needs at least 46 MB of RAM in order to run, and Core requires at least 28 MB of RAM. The minimum CPU is an i486DX.  Recommended configuration: A Pentium 2 CPU and 128 MB of RAM are recommended for Tiny Core.

Design philosophy.

The developers describe TCL as "a nomadic ultra small graphical desktop operating system capable of booting from cdrom, pendrive, or frugally from a hard drive." As of version 2.8.1, the core is designed to run primarily in RAM but with three distinct modes of operation:

Tiny Core Linux (TCL) is a minimal Linux operating system focusing on providing a base system using BusyBox and FLTK, developed by Robert Shingledecker. The distribution is notable for its small size (11 to 16 MB) and minimalism; additional functions are provided by extensions. Tiny Core Linux is free and open source software and is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.

Tiny Core Linux (TCL) ist eine minimalistische Linux-Distribution auf Basis von BusyBox und FLTK. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Distributionen braucht TinyCore nur ein 16 MB großes Installationsmedium. Tiny Core Linux benötigt mindestens einen Prozessor der i486-Architektur und 46 MB Arbeitsspeicher.


Early life.

Robert Frederick Cohen was born in May 14, 1916 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of Moise Jacques Cohen, an electrical engineer, and his wife Hattie Alberta née Mackay, a school teacher. He was named Robert after his maternal great uncle Robert Wood, and Frederick after Frederick Alexander Christy, the second husband of his maternal grandmother. He had an older brother, John, who was born in 1913. Moise changed the family surname to Christy by deed poll on August 31, 1918. On November 4, Moise was accidentally electrocuted at work. Hattie died after goitre surgery in 1926. Christy and his brother were then cared for by Robert Wood, their grandmother Alberta Mackay, and their great aunt Maud Mackay.  Christy was educated at Magee High School, and graduated in 1932 with the highest examination score in the province of British Columbia. He was awarded the Governor General's Academic Medal, and, importantly in view of his family's limited ability to pay, free tuition to attend the University of British Columbia (UBC). At the award dinner he met the second-place winner, Dagmar Elizabeth von Lieven, whom he dated while at UBC. He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in mathematics and physics with first class honors in 1935, and his Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1937, writing a thesis on "Electron attachment and negative ion formation in oxygen".  George Volkoff, a friend of Christy who was a year ahead of him at UBC, was accepted as a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, by Robert Oppenheimer, who led the most active school of theoretical physics in the United States at that time. This inspired Christy to apply to the University of California as well. He was accepted, and was awarded a fellowship for his first year. At Berkeley he shared an apartment with Volkoff, Robert Cornog, Ken McKenzie and McKenzie's wife Lynn McKenzie. For his thesis, Oppenheimer had him look at mesotrons, subatomic particles called muons today that then recently been found in cosmic rays. They were so-called because they were larger than electrons but smaller than protons. With the help of Shuichi Kusaka he performed detailed calculations of the particle's spin. He published two papers on mesotrons with Kusaka in the Physical Review, which formed the basis of his 1941 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis

Manhattan Project.

Christy could have graduated in 1940, but could not then be a teaching assistant, and this would have left him jobless and without income. In 1941, Oppenheimer found him a post at the physics department at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). In May 1941, he married Dagmar von Lieven. They had two sons: Thomas Edward (Ted), born in 1944, and Peter Robert, born in 1946. IIT paid Christy $200 per month to teach 27 hours per week for 11 months per annum. To keep abreast of developments in physics, he attended seminars at the University of Chicago. This brought him to the attention of Eugene Wigner, who hired him for the same money that IIT was paying him as a full-time research assistant, commencing in January 1942. Enrico Fermi and his team from Columbia University arrived at the University of Chicago in January 1942 as part of an effort to concentrate the Manhattan Project's reactor work at the new Metallurgical Laboratory. Fermi arranged with Wigner for Christy to join his group, which was building a nuclear reactor, which Fermi called a "pile", in the squash court under Stagg Field at the University of Chicago. Construction began on November 6, 1942, and Christy was present when Chicago Pile-1 went critical on December 2.  In early 1943, Christy joined Oppenheimer's Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, where he became an American citizen in 1943 or 1944. Hans Bethe, the head of T (Theoretical) Division, detailed his physicists to assist with the projects at the laboratory. With his knowledge of reactors, Christy's assignment was to help Donald W. Kerst's Water Boiler group. The Water Boiler was an aqueous homogeneous reactor intended as a laboratory instrument to test critical mass calculations and the effect of various tamper materials. It was the first reactor to use enriched uranium as a fuel, and the first to use liquid fuel in the form of soluble uranium sulfate dissolved in water. Christy estimated that it would require of pure uranium-235, a figure he subsequently revised to. When the reactor went critical on May 9, 1944 with, the accuracy of Christy's figures raised the laboratory's confidence in T Division's calculations.  The discovery by Emilio Segrè's group in April and May 1944 of high levels of plutonium-240 in reactor-produced plutonium meant that an implosion-type nuclear weapon was required, but studies indicated that this would be extremely difficult to achieve. By August 1944, the calculations had been made of how an ideal spherical implosion would work; the problem was how to make it work in the real world where jets and spalling were a problem. Christy worked in Rudolf Peierls's T-1 Group, which studied the theory of implosion. He suggested the possibility of using a solid plutonium core that would form a critical mass when compressed. This was an ultra-conservative design that solved the problem of jets by brute force. It became known as the "Christy pit" or "Christy gadget", "gadget" being the laboratory euphemism for a bomb. However the solid pit was intrinsically less efficient than a hollow pit, and it required a modulated neutron initiator to start the chain reaction. Christy worked with Klaus Fuchs, Paul Stein and Hans Bethe to develop a suitable initiator design, which became known as an "urchin". The Gadget used in the Trinity nuclear test and the Fat Man used in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki used Christy pits.  Later in life, Christy agreed to give a number of both oral history and video interviews in which he discussed his role in the Manhattan Project and latter interests.

Later life.

After the war ended, Christy accepted an assistant professorship at the University of Chicago, at a salary of $5,000 per annum, twice what he had been making before the war. He moved back to Chicago in February 1946, but suitable housing was hard to find in the immediate post-war period, and Christy and his family shared a mansion with Edward Teller and his family.  Before the war, Oppenheimer had spent part of each year teaching at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Christy was one of Oppenheimer's Berkeley students who made the trip down to Pasadena, California, each year to continue studying with Oppenheimer. After the war, Oppenheimer decided that with his additional responsibilities he could no longer continue this arrangement. The head of the W. K. Kellogg Radiation Laboratory at Caltech, Charles Lauritsen therefore asked Oppenheimer for the name of a theoretical physicist that he would recommend as a replacement. Oppenheimer recommended Christy. Willy Fowler then approached Christy with an offer of a full-time position at Caltech at $5,400 per annum, and Christy accepted. He remained at Caltech for the rest of his academic career. The drawback to working at Caltech was that neither Lauritsen nor Fowler was a theoretical physicist, so a heavy workload fell on Christy. This was recognised by a pay raise to $10,000 per annum in 1954.  Christy joined Oppenheimer, Lauritsen and Robert Bacher, who joined the faculty at Caltech in 1949, in Project Vista, a detailed 1951 study on how Western Europe could be defended against the Soviet Union. Christy was distraught at the outcome of the 1954 Oppenheimer security hearing. When he encountered Teller, who had testified against Oppenheimer, at Los Alamos in 1954, Christy publicly refused to shake Teller's hand. "I viewed Oppenheimer as a god", he later recalled, "and I was sure that he was not a treasonable person." Asked about his relationship with Teller in 2006, Christy said:  In 1956, Christy was one of a number of scientists from Caltech who publicly called for a ban on atmospheric nuclear testing. The 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty that Christy advocated put an end to one of his most unusual projects. He worked with Freeman Dyson on Project Orion, the design of a spacecraft propelled by atomic bombs. During a sabbatical year at Princeton University in 1960, Christy began an investigation of Cepheid variables and the smaller RR Lyrae variables, classes of luminous variable stars. At the time it was a mystery as to why they varied. He used the knowledge of the hydrodynamics of implosion gained at Los Alamos during the war to explain this phenomenon. This earned him the Royal Astronomical Society's Eddington Medal for contributions to theoretical astrophysics in 1967.  Christy was appointed Vice President and Provost of Caltech in 1970. Under Christy and President Harold Brown Caltech expanded its humanities and added economics to allow (or perhaps to compel--undergrads were required to take 25% of their units in "humanities") students to broaden their education. He had David Morrisroe appointed as Vice President for Financial Affairs, and they steered Caltech through the financially stringent 1970s. The first women were admitted as undergraduates in Fall 1970.  When Jenijoy La Belle, who had been hired in 1969 but refused tenure in 1974, filed suit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Christy pressed for the case to be settled and La Belle to be given tenure. The EEOC ruled against Caltech in 1977, adding that she had been paid less than male colleagues. La Belle received tenure in 1979.  In 1970 he became romantically involved with Inge-Juliana Sackman, a fellow physicist 26 years his junior. He divorced Dagmar in early 1971, and married Juliana on August 4, 1973. They had two daughters, Illia Juliana Lilly Christy, born in 1974, and Alexandra Roberta (Alexa) Christy, born in 1976.  Christy briefly became acting President of Caltech in 1977 when Brown left to become Secretary of Defense. Christy returned to teaching after Marvin L. Goldberger became President in 1978. He became Institute Professor of Theoretical Physics in 1983, and Institute Professor Emeritus in 1986.  Christy died on October 3, 2012. He was survived by his wife Juliana, their two daughters, Illia and Alexa, and his two sons, Peter and Ted. He was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, California.

Robert Frederick Christy (May 14, 1916 – October 3, 2012) was a Canadian-American theoretical physicist and later astrophysicist who was one of the last surviving people to have worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. He briefly served as acting president of California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Robert Frederick Christy (* 14. Mai 1916 in Vancouver, Kanada; † 3. Oktober 2012 in Pasadena, Kalifornien, Vereinigte Staaten) war ein US-amerikanischer Physiker.


History.

Early years, "Trinity" and "Continuum" (1994–2007).

In January 1994, Psychosis guitarists Vince Levalois and Kragen Lum shifted their focus to forming their own band, recruiting bassist Stephen Gambina and drummer Damion Ramirez, and named the band Prototype. The new band then began recording their debut release, a demo titled "Seed", and released it later that year. The demo went on to receive praise and was referred to as the benchmark for modern aggressive/melodic progressive metal. The demo contained three songs: "Seed", "Shine", and "Dead of Jericho"; all three tracks later appeared on the band's first two studio albums. In 1996, Gambina and Ramirez left the band, and were replaced by bassist Mike Bear and drummer Pat Magrath. Gambina, however, remained with the band as a writer to help contribute material for their following release, and continued to do so thereafter. In 1997, the band began recording an EP, titled "Cloned", and released it in 1998. The following year, bassist Kirk Scherer replaced Bear in the band, completing the line-up that has lasted nearly a decade.  The band began working on their first studio album, "Trinity", in mid-2000, and the album was released on February 12, 2002. The band later appeared on "Phantom Lords: A Tribute to Metallica", covering Metallica's song "Battery". Later that year, Magrath left Prototype, and the band decided to re-enlist their former drummer Damion Ramirez. In 2004, an instrumental version of the song "Probe" was featured in "MTX Mototrax". In the same year, five songs from "Trinity", including "Pure", "Trinity" and "Shine", were featured in "". After three years of touring and playing in shows throughout the United States, the band returned to the studio early 2005 to record their second studio album, "Continuum", which was released on May 23, 2006. Ramirez recorded majority of the drum tracks for the album, while Magrath returned to play on the song "Heart Machine". In 2006, the song "Synthespian" appeared in "Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam", and in 2007, the song "The Way It Ends" featured as a bonus playable song in ""; the same song later appeared as a Rock Band Network downloadable content (DLC) song for "Rock Band 3" in 2012, one year before the network's designer, Harmonix, announced that they would be discontinuing regular DLC updates for the "Rock Band" series. In 2007, Levalois, Lum and Scherer were endorsed by Jackson Guitars and appeared in the product catalogues; Lum's custom seven-string Soloist was featured in the catalogue's custom shop guitars. Later that year, Lum also joined thrash metal band Heathen.

"Catalyst" and other projects (2008–present).

In early 2008, Ramirez left Prototype for the second time and was replaced by drummer Nic Ritter, who had been performing with thrash metal band Warbringer at the time. However, due to Ritter's commitments with Warbringer, the band re-enlisted Pat Magrath in 2009, and began working on their third studio album later that year. "Catalyst" was released on September 11, 2012, and saw a change in the sound of the band's music to a more thrash metal-inspired sound. In November 2012, the band released the compilation album "Retrospect", which featured music from all five of the band's demos, including "Seed". On March 4, 2013, the band released their second EP, "The Way It Ends - Video Game EP", which featured exclusive mixes of the band's songs that have previously been featured in video games.  To celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, on March 4, 2014, Prototype released the live album "Live At The Whisky 1998" online. The live album is a recording of the band's performance at Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood on December 5, 1998, where it was supporting death metal band Death. In late 2014, Lum recorded himself playing guitar solos from several of the band's songs and posted the videos on Prototype's official YouTube channel. Levalois later collaborated with former Control Denied vocalist Tim Aymar, former Watchtower vocalist Jason McMaster and Holy Grail vocalist James Paul Luna on the Control/Resist EP, "Gods By Design", which was released on February 22, 2015.

Musical style and influences.

In the band's early years, Prototype was known for its progressive metal sound, and nearly all of the songs from the band's first two studio albums, "Trinity" and "Continuum", were in D tuning on standard six-string guitars. However, on the band's third album, "Catalyst", the band expanded from their earlier progressive metal sound to a more thrash metal-inspired sound, with aggressive guitar riffs, deeper vocals and complex bass lines. All of the songs from the album were in B tuning on seven-string guitars. The band is also notable for performing songs at live shows exactly as they are heard on the band's releases. All of the band's lyrics focused on life, destiny and inner struggles, and their artwork and album cover designs are science fiction-themed and designed by graphic designer Travis Smith.  Prototype's influences include Metallica, Rush, Cynic and Dream Theater.

Band members.

Current members Former members

Prototype is an American progressive metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1994 by vocalist/guitarist Vince Levalois and guitarist Kragen Lum, who were both members of Psychosis at the time. The band's current line-up comprises founding members Levalois and Lum, bassist Kirk Scherer and drummer Pat Magrath. Bassists Stephen Gambina and Mike Bear and drummers Damion Ramirez and Nic Ritter are former members of the band.

Prototype ist eine US-amerikanische Progressive-Metal-Band aus Los Angeles, Kalifornien, die im Jahr 1994 gegründet wurde. Die Gruppe spielte bereits zusammen mit Bands wie Fates Warning, Strapping Young Lad, Death, Hammerfall, Nevermore, Mercyful Fate, Entombed, Exodus, Flotsam and Jetsam, Morbid Angel und Grip Inc.


Early life.

Bidwell was son of American Revolutionary War Patriot Adonijah Bidwell, Yale 1740, and Jemima Devotion in Township No. 1 (now Monterey, Massachusetts), and he graduated from Yale College in 1785. Through his mother, he was descended from John Haynes, 5th Governor of Massachusetts and 1st Governor of Connecticut, and George Wyllys, 4th Governor of Connecticut. He later attended the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (now known as Brown University) in Providence, Rhode Island. He studied law under judge Theodore Sedgwick of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Sedgwick, a prominent member of the House of Representatives and later a senator, was an important spokesman for the Federalist Party. He was admitted to the Massachusetts state bar in 1805 and commenced practice in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

US political career.

Bidwell broke with the Federalists and became the leading spokesman of the Democratic-Republican administration of President Thomas Jefferson in the US Congress.  Bidwell was a Massachusetts state senator from 1801 to 1804 and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1805 to 1807. Bidwell was elected as a Democratic-Republican and served in the Ninth and Tenth Congresses (March 4, 1805 – July 13, 1807).  In the House of Representatives, Bidwell displaced John Randolph of Roanoke, as administration leader and become the leading spokesman of Jefferson. He successfully defended the president's policy of imposing economic sanctions in response to British violations of neutral rights at sea. He also directed the campaign to purchase Florida and was the leading advocate for passage of the bill that abolished the slave trade in the US, which took effect in 1808. He was Attorney General of Massachusetts (June 15, 1807 – August 30, 1810), when his political opponents found in a minor discrepancy in the Berkshire County books and so exaggerated allegations of corruption.  Accused of embezzling money while he was Berkshire County treasurer, he and his family fled to Canada in 1810 and settled in Kingston, Upper Canada (now Ontario) until an investigation could determine what if any liability he held. The charge was forwarded by his political enemies in the Federalist Party, apparently to halt his rise of this Democratic-Republican and trusted confidant of Jefferson. At the time, he has been under consideration by President James Madison for a position on the US Supreme Court. The final judgment of the Berkshire court against him, which he paid in 1817, amounted to only $330.64 damages and a paltry $63.18 costs. Since Bidwell was promptly able to pay both amounts, he fled not because of the judgment. There is little reason, moreover, to doubt his assertion that because his public offices required his presence elsewhere in the United States, he employed clerks to handle his duties in Berkshire, one of whom, dead at the time of financial exposure, had been responsible. He fled, he claimed, out of fear of his political enemies, who were exaggerating his personal responsibility and indebtedness.

Exile.

Bidwell won a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Lennox and Addington but failed to take his seat because his election was petitioned against on the grounds that he was a fugitive from justice, he had an immoral character, and he had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States.  After an unusually long debate, Bidwell was expelled from the House by a vote of 17-16. Bidwell remained in Canada until his death.  Bidwell died in Bath, Upper Canada, and his remains are interred in Kingston's Cataraqui Cemetery.

Legacy.

His son, Marshall Spring Bidwell, successfully sat in the same seat from 1824 to 1836. Marshall Spring Bidwell later left for the United States. Bidwell's sister, Theodosia Bidwell Brewer, was the grandmother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer, who sat on the court from 1889 to 1910 with his uncle, Stephen J. Field.

Barnabas Bidwell (August 23, 1763 – July 27, 1833) was an author, teacher, and politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, active in Massachusetts and Upper Canada. Educated at Yale, he practised law in western Massachusetts and served as treasurer of Berkshire County. He served in the state legislature as representative and senator, in the US Congress as spokesman for the administration of Thomas Jefferson. He was effective in defending the administration's positions and passing important legislation, and was the Massachusetts Attorney General from 1807 to 1810, when exaggerated press accounts of irregularities in the Berkshire County books halted his political career and prompted his flight to Upper Canada. Bidwell later paid the $63.18, plus fines, which he attributed to a Berkshire County clerk while he was away on duties in Boston. Nonetheless, the controversy, exaggerated in the press by his Federalist Party enemies, effectively scuppered his potential appointment to the US Supreme Court.

Barnabas Bidwell (* 23. August 1763 in Monterey, Berkshire County, Massachusetts; † 27. Juli 1833 in Kingston, Oberkanada) war ein US-amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1805 und 1807 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Massachusetts im US-Repräsentantenhaus.


Biography.

Barbanègre was born in Pontacq (Béarn). He was initially a sailor, then a captain in the 5th Battalion of the Lower Pyrenees, and Battalion Chief in the consular guard, He was then promoted to colonel of the 48th Infantry Regiment of the line on 29 August 1805, with whom he fought like a hero at Austerlitz, Iéna, and Eylau. He participated in all the Napoleonic campaigns, becoming Brigadier General after the Peace of Tilsit, 21 March 1809. He powerfully contributed to win battles at Eckmühl, Regensburg, and Wagram. He attained the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor on 25 December 1805. On 20 August 1809 he became Baron of the Empire. In 1812 he joined the Grande Armée to Moscow; in Minsk, Borisov and Smolensk he had to organize supplies for the army. He joined Ney, who left the city on 17 November 1812. He was wounded in the Battle of Krasnoi, but succeeded to escape with Ney when crossing the Dnieper. He defended Stettin in 1813. But it was defending Fortress of Huningue against some 25,000 Austrians in 1815 which made him most famous, holding out with only several hundred men. On the 28 June shortly after word of Napoleon's abdication became known, and the French Provisional Government had requested a ceasefire, Barbanègre ordered the bombardment of Basel, something that contemporaries on the Seventh Coalition side considered to be a war crime.  He died in Paris, aged 58, and is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in the area reserved for marshals and generals of the Empire. In his home village of Pontacq there is a street bearing his name and a statue erected in his honor on the town hall square.

Joseph Barbanègre (22 August 1772 – 7 November 1830) was a French General and a Baron of the First French Empire. He was governor of the Fortress of Huningue during the siege of the 1815 and held out until the end of hostilities, surrendering the place with full military honours on 26 August 1815.

Baron Joseph Antoine Barbanègre (* 22. August 1772 in Pontacq; † 7. November 1830 in Paris) war französischer Général de brigade in der Ära Napoleon. Er wurde berühmt als Verteidiger der Festung Hüningen während der Belagerung 1815.


Reception.

"DxOMark" reviewed the D600 sensor image quality and assigned it an overall score of 94, the third-highest-rated camera sensor in its camera sensor database, behind the D800 and its sibling, the Nikon D800E.  According to "Digital Photography Review", its build quality and user interface are between the D7000 and the high-end full-frame D800. It includes almost all of the video capabilities of the D800, except that the D600 body cannot adjust aperture during video recording.

Service advisories and release of successor (D610).

Following complaints of dust accumulation on the D600's sensor, in late November 2012, a user created a timelapse video as evidence that was then widely reported in photography-related publications. Three months later, Nikon responded with a service advisory that referred to "the natural accumulation of dust", and advised users to perform "manual cleaning using a blower bulb" before contacting a service center.  On October 8, 2013, the Nikon D610 was announced, a direct successor of the D600, and the D600 was shortly thereafter noted as having been discontinued. The D610 has been described as "a very minor refresh", but does include a new shutter unit. It was speculated that the D610 was released solely to address the oil and dust issues of the D600.  In January 2014, the website "Nikon Rumors" reported that some users were receiving D610 units back in response to sending their D600 units in for repair, and Nikon responded by stating this was done on a case-by-case basis. On February 26, Nikon issued another service advisory according to which they will perform full inspection, cleaning, and replacement of the shutter unit for all D600 units sent in, regardless of warranty status, and free of charge. On March 18, the Chinese government ordered Nikon to stop selling the D600, forcing Nikon to recall all remaining units from dealers. Ten days later, Nikon published a third advisory noting that "Nikon will replace [...] with a new D600 or an equivalent model" any cameras "upon which the above service has been performed several times" "if a number of multiple (sic) granular black spots are still noticeable". On June 30, it was revealed Nikon had allocated 1.8 billion Yen (17.6 million USD) for the cost of these repairs and replacements over the past financial year.

The Nikon D600 is a 24.3-effective-megapixel FX-format full-frame digital SLR camera from Nikon released on September 13, 2012 targeted at professionals and enthusiasts. It began shipping on September 18, 2012; at introduction, its suggested retail price in the U.S. was $2099 (UK £1,955) for the body only and $2699 (UK £2,450) with a 24–85 mm kit lens. The Nikon D600 was given a Gold Award by "Digital Photography Review".

Die Nikon D600 ist eine digitale Spiegelreflexkamera des japanischen Herstellers Nikon, die im September 2012 in den Markt eingeführt wurde.


Education.

Walls gained a BSc in physics and mathematics and a first class honours MSc in physics at the University of Auckland. He then went to Harvard University as a Fulbright Scholar, obtaining his PhD in 1969. He was supervised by Roy J. Glauber who was later awarded a Nobel prize in 2005.

Career and research.

After holding postdoctoral research positions in Auckland and Stuttgart, Walls became a senior lecturer in physics at the University of Waikato in 1972, where he became professor in 1980. Together with his colleague Crispin Gardiner, during the next 25 years he established a major research centre for theoretical quantum optics in New Zealand and built active and productive collaborations with groups throughout the world.  In 1987 he moved to the University of Auckland as professor of theoretical physics.  His major research interests centred on the interaction and similarities between light and atoms. He was notable for his wide-ranging expertise in relating theory to experiment, and was involved in all major efforts to understand non-classical light. A seminal paper by Walls with his first graduate student Howard Carmichael, showed how to create antibunched light, in which photons arrive at regular intervals, rather than randomly.  Walls was a pioneer in the study of ways that the particle-like nature of light (photons) could be controlled to make optical systems less susceptible to unwanted fluctuations, in particular by the use of squeezed light, a concept formulated by Carlton Caves. In squeezed light, some fluctuations can be made very small provided other fluctuations are correspondingly large.  He made major contributions to the theory of quantum measurement such as those involving Albert Einstein's"which-path" experiment, and the quantum nondemolition measurement. Walls also used a simple field theoretical approach to explain and corroborate Dirac's description of photon interference and in particular Dirac's statement "that a photon interferes only with itself."  In the later stages of his career he focused his research efforts on the theoretical aspects of the newly created state of matter, the Bose–Einstein condensate (BECs). Some of his contributions in the field include the prediction of the interference signature of quantized vortices, and the collapses and revivals of the Josephson coupled BECs.

Awards and honours.

Walls was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1992. Walls was also elected Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Royal Society of New Zealand (FRSNZ). In 1995 he was awarded the Dirac Prize for theoretical physics.  The Dodd-Walls Centre for Quantum Technology, a New Zealand Centre of Research excellence based in the University of Otago, was named after Jack Dodd and Dan Walls in recognition of their pioneering roles in establishing New Zealand's as an internationally recognised standing in Photonics, Quantum Optics and Ultra-Cold atoms.

Personal life.

Walls died of cancer at hospital, in Auckland, aged 57.

Daniel Frank Walls FRS (13 September 1942 – 12 May 1999) was a New Zealand theoretical physicist specialising in quantum optics.

Daniel Frank Walls (* 1942 in Neuseeland; † 12. Mai 1999 in Auckland) war ein neuseeländischer theoretischer Physiker, der sich mit Quantenoptik befasste.


Life.

Born in Radom, moved to Warsaw where studied Philosophy and History of Art at Warsaw University. In 1924 defended doctoral thesis (a monograph of Ephraim Szreger - Warsaw architect of the Age of Enlightenment). He moved to Vilnius in 1929, where he worked as the Art conservation officer in the regions of Vilnius (e.g. protection of the ruins of Peninsula Castle in Trakai) and Novogrodek as well as lectured at the Stefan Batory University in Wilno (then in Poland, now Vilnius in Lithuania). Since 1935 director of the National Museum in Warsaw. With the title of "Polish head of the museum under the German commissioner", he remained engaged at the National Museum.  He was a high-ranking member of the Polish Underground State during the German occupation of Poland, tasked with preserving Polish cultural heritage. After the war in 1945, he resumed his post as the director of the National Museum in Warsaw. In 1982 he was dismissed as a director because of joining the "Solidarity" movement. He became an honorary director from 1990 until his death in 1991.  In 1947 he became a professor at the University of Warsaw, in 1949 a member of Polish Academy of Learning, and in 1952, the Polish Academy of Sciences.  He was a member of several governmental departments and commissions related to art conservation and was also a deputy to Polish Sejm (1965–1969). He was a UNESCO expert on Polish and international cultural heritage, highly active in the restoration of the Royal Castle, Warsaw and Old Town in Havana, Cuba.  Lorentz conducted an intensive correspondence with Lithuanian art conservation specialist Vladas Drėma. The letters were published in 1998.

Stanisław Lorentz (28 April 1899 – 15 March 1991) was Polish scholar of museology and history of art. Director of the National Museum in Warsaw in the years 1936-1982, deputy to Sejm - the Polish Parliament (1965–69), an UNESCO expert for the protection of monuments and historic sites.

Stanisław Lorentz (* 28. April 1899 in Radom; † 15. März 1991 in Warschau), Deckname «Bukowski», war ein polnischer Musikwissenschaftler, Museologe und Kunsthistoriker.


Name.

Often assumed to be named after Larz Anderson, the bridge was actually built by him as a memorial to his father, Nicholas Longworth Anderson. To do so, Anderson was helped by the huge family fortune of his wife, Isabel Weld Perkins. According to the Metropolitan Park Commission of 1913:

Construction.

The bridge was designed by the architectural firm of Wheelwright, Haven and Hoyt and completed under the direction of John R. Rablin, chief engineer for the Metropolitan District Commission.

Rehabilitation.

From 2012 to 2016 MassDOT rehabilitated the Anderson Memorial Bridge at a cost of $25million.. The project repaired the arches and replaced the parapets, sidewalks, lighting, and the bridge deck. The bridge now has three lanes of traffic (two northbound and one southbound) and one bicycle lane.

Characteristics.

Anderson Memorial Bridge is constructed of reinforced concrete accented by red brick. The bridge's spandrel walls and panels are fashioned to give the illusion of rough-hewn stone. It has a Georgian Revival design with neoclassical influences that visually connect it to the other bridges that span the Charles as well as the nearby buildings of Harvard University. Architectural author Douglas Shand-Tucci writes:  The bridge stands next to the Weld Boathouse and was designed with "a high enough arch to admit the passage of all sorts of pleasure craft." It may be noted that both the bridge and the boathouse (built in 1906) were funded by heirs to the fortune of 19th century magnate William Fletcher Weld.

In literature.

Anderson Memorial Bridge is the site of Quentin Compson's suicide in William Faulkner's classic novel "The Sound and the Fury." This is commemorated by a small brass plaque, the size of one brick, that is located on the brick wall of the Eastern (Weld Boathouse) side of the bridge, just North of the middle of the bridge span, about eighteen inches from the ground in a small alcove. It reads:  "QUENTIN COMPSON  Drowned in the odour of honeysuckle.  1891-1910"

Anderson Memorial Bridge (commonly but incorrectly called Larz Anderson Bridge) connects Allston, a neighborhood of Boston, and Cambridge. The bridge stands on the site of the Great Bridge built in 1662, the first structure to span the Charles River. It brings Boston traffic (from North Harvard Street) into Harvard Square (via JFK Street) and was finished in 1915.

Die Anderson Memorial Bridge (üblicherweise, jedoch inkorrekt als Larz Anderson Bridge bezeichnet) ist eine Bogenbrücke im Bundesstaat Massachusetts der Vereinigten Staaten, die den Bostoner Stadtteil Allston mit Cambridge verbindet. Das Bauwerk befindet sich an der Stelle, wo zuvor die 1662 errichtete Great Bridge stand, die als erste Brücke den Charles River überspannte. Die heutige, 1915 fertiggestellte Brücke führt den Straßenverkehr aus Boston von der "North Harvard Street" über die "John F. Kennedy Street" bis zum Harvard Square in Cambridge.


Early life and education.

James Packer was born in Sydney, the son of philanthropist Roslyn (née Weedon) and media mogul Kerry Packer. His grandfather was the media proprietor Sir Frank Packer.  Packer was educated at Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney. After obtaining the Higher School Certificate (HSC) at Cranbrook, he began working at his father's extensive Newcastle Waters cattle station in the Barkly Tableland of the Northern Territory, where he was a jackeroo. Packer has stated he did not attend university as he "didn't have the marks".  His mentors, he has said, include his father and corporate executive Albert J. Dunlap.

Career.

Packer is the major shareholder and a director of Crown Resorts Limited, one of Australia's largest casino groups. In October 2017, Crown's market capitalisation was over 8 billion. Every year Crown's Australian resorts attract over 31 million visits.

Early internet investments.

Following the dotcom crash of 2000–2001, Packer acquired stakes in the online classified sites SEEK and Carsales.com, believing that newspaper companies relying heavily on classified advertising were vulnerable to online companies in categories including employment and vehicle listings.  Packer purchased a 25% stake in SEEK for 33 million in August 2003. He sold most of his stake six years later for 440 million. At Packer's urging, the magazine group then controlled by his family, Australian Consolidated Press, acquired a 41% stake in online advertiser Carsales in October 2005. The deal, initially valued at 100 million, was eventually worth 462 million to Packer-controlled entities.

Selling Channel Nine.

In March 2006, Packer began discussing whether to sell Channel Nine and the Australian Consolidated Press magazine group to help fund his move into the international gaming and tourism business. Given changes in media due to the Internet and pay-TV, Packer was concerned about the future of free-to-air television. On 17 October 2006, Packer's team finalised a deal to sell 50% of the media assets—which also included a 50% stake in web portal Ninemsn and a 51% stake in Carsales—to private equity group CVC Asia Pacific for 4.5 billion, plus an additional A$1 billion in equity in the new company, which would be called PBL Media.  In June 2007, Packer sold another 25% share of the joint-venture PBL Media to CVC for $515 million. In October 2008, Packer wrote down his final 25% stake in PBL Media to zero. By the end of 2012, debt from CVC's acquisition had overwhelmed Channel Nine and US hedge funds ousted CVC, taking complete ownership.

One.Tel.

Packer was a director of Australian Telecommunications company One.Tel, which was declared insolvent during May 2001. The collapse of One.Tel cost PBL 327 million. Packer admitted at a PBL annual general meeting that he had learned "painful lessons" from the collapse of One.Tel. Later at the liquidator's inquiry over the collapse he denied that he was apologising for his own personal conduct; instead, he claimed, "I was making an apology for accepting the bona fides of Mr. Rich and a Mr. Heaney, and the executive directors of One.Tel."  In April 2014, Lachlan Murdoch and Packer agreed to a 40 million settlement over the One.Tel failure. The settlement was approved by the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 17 April 2014, with 14.93 million to be paid by the Packer family's Consolidated Press Holdings, 11.77 million to be paid by Packer's Crown Resorts and 13.3 million to be paid by News Corp.

Crown Resorts Limited.

Since his father's death, Packer has moved away from the family's traditional media businesses and focused on creating a worldwide gambling empire: Crown Resorts. Crown is one of Australia's largest gambling and resort groups. It has businesses and investments in the integrated resort and casino sectors in Australia and Macau, and wholly owns and operates a high-end casino in London, Crown Aspinall's. In October 2017, Crown's market capitalization was over $8 billion. Crown's two Australian resorts, Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth, feature over 2,750 hotel rooms, villas, gambling areas, resort pools, spas, restaurants and retail, convention centres and live entertainment venues. Every year Crown's Australian resorts and casinos attract over 31 million visits. Over one third of Crown's revenue in fiscal 2016 was estimated to be generated from international visitors, mostly from Asia. Crown announced investment of over 4.1 billion between fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2017, to upgrade and open new attractions at its Australian resorts, including the significant development A$2 billion Crown Sydney Hotel Resort which is expected to open in 2020.  In 2009, Crown lost 250 million in failed casino investment company in the US, Fontainebleau Resorts. Crown also paid 242 million for a stake in Station Casinos which is now considered almost worthless.  As at 30 June 2013, Crown held a 33.7% equity interest in MCE. Crown's initial investment in Melco Crown Entertainment was 600 million, the market cap of Crown's investment as at 30 October 2013, was 6.2 billion. At Crown's annual meeting in October 2013 Packer said "Crown's investment through our partnership with Melco International Development has now grown to be one of the largest Australian joint-venture partnerships operating inside China". Crown completed the sell down of this investment in May 2017.  Betfair Australasia was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between Crown Resorts and Betfair Group plc. In August 2014, Crown Resorts announced it had acquired Betfair Group plc's 50% equity interest in Betfair Australasia Pty Limited (Betfair Australasia) for consideration of $10 million.  In 2011, Packer's ASX-listed Crown Limited acquired a 100% interest in Aspinall's Club in London, developed through a joint venture between Crown and Packer's family friend, Damian Aspinall, the son of John Aspinall. Crown has since rebranded Aspinall's Club to Crown Aspinall's.  Together with Damian Aspinall, Packer's Crown Resorts holds a 50% equity interest in a group of casino complexes in the UK called Aspers, which operate four regional casinos in Newcastle upon Tyne, Stratford, East London, Milton Keynes and Northampton. Packer's bid for a UK "supercasino" based in Cardiff fell through when only one licence was granted, to the northern city of Manchester.  In December 2014, Crown Resorts signed a deal with Matthew Tripp, which gave Crown Resorts control over Tripp's online betting platform, CrownBet, formerly known as BetEasy. In April 2016 CrownBet pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching laws by publishing illegal betting advertising that offered inducements for NSW residents to gamble. According to the NSW Department of Justice, CrownBet "sought to have the matters finalised without conviction in Downing Centre Local Court... but Magistrate Joanne Keogh said convictions were necessary for general deterrence to others in the industry and to protect the vulnerable. CrownBet was convicted of the five offences and ordered to pay a total of $10,500 in fines and also ordered to pay... legal costs of $10,000."  On 21 March 2018, Packer resigned as executive chairman of Crown Resorts.

Other business activities.

Packer purchased an 18% stake in Network Ten in 2010, quickly offloading half to Lachlan Murdoch. Three months later after a dispute with Murdoch over a senior management appointment Packer resigned his Network Ten board seat. There was also speculation that Packer resigned due to a conflict of interest with his interests in Consolidated Media Holdings. Following the implementation of CBS's restructure of Network Ten announced in August 2017, Packer will no longer have an interest in Network Ten.  In late May 2011, Packer made a reported 80 million investment in daily deals sites Scoopon and Catch of the Day through a partnership between his Consolidated Press Holding and several other investors, including Andrew Bassat, a co-founder of Seek.com.au.  In December 2012, Packer and producer-filmmaker Brett Ratner formed a joint venture, RatPac Entertainment. The first film financed by RatPac was a major success. "Gravity", a space thriller directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, generated the strongest-ever October opening in the US and took box office receipts of more than 100 million in its first five days.  "We all know it [producing movies] is a high-risk business and when your first movie starts like this all you can say is 'thank you'", Packer said. Packer sold his investment in RatPac for an undisclosed amount in April 2017. According to "Filmink" "Who knows what sort of legacy James Packer is going to leave when he shuffles off this mortal coil, but I maintain the films he helped finance...will stand out among the more positive achievements."  In October 2014, Packer bought out Peter Holmes à Court's 37.5% share of the ownership of South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL club, becoming Russell Crowe's partner in the venture.  In late 2016, Israeli Police started looking into reports that Packer gave members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's family gifts and benefits. Packer, who is trying to gain residency in Israel, has taken the first step and registered with Israeli tax authorities. In February 2018, Packer was mentioned in an Israeli Police report recommending the prosecution of Netanyahu on corruption charges for accepting bribes, and acting against the interests of the state of Israel. Packer is mentioned in the report to have provided Netanyahu and his family members with champagne, cigars, jewelry and clothing valued at approximately US$100,000. In May 2019, Packer sold half of his stake in Crown Resorts to Lawrence Ho.

Wealth.

Packer first appeared on various wealth lists in 2006, following the death of his father the previous year and the intergeneration transfer of the bulk of Kerry Packer's wealth to his son, James. James Packer's wealth was valued at 7.25 billion. A television report on 21 June 2007 alleged that Packer had lost in excess of 1 billion over the previous six months in 2007 due to poor investment decisions and falling profits. The 2008 "BRW" Rich 200 listed Packer as the third-richest person in Australia with a personal wealth of 6.1 billion, behind Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Andrew Forrest and Westfield Group's Frank Lowy. That was the first time in 21 years that a member of the Packer family had not topped the list. According to "BRW", Packer's wealth dipped to an estimated 3 billion during 2009. In its 2013 "BRW Rich 200" list, Packer was ranked third with his wealth estimated at 6.0 billion, a boost of 1.1 billion on the previous year. In the 2014 wealth rankings by "BRW", Packer's wealth was assessed at 7.19 billion, making him the third-richest Australian. In 2015 "BRW" Rich 200, Packer's net worth was assessed at 6.08 billion, making him the seventh-richest Australian.  In January 2009, "The Sunday Telegraph" reported that due to ongoing financial problems, Packer's wealth dropped to under 3 billion; also reporting that Packer listed for sale his Mangusta yacht and delayed the purchase of a Boeing business jet. Yet by mid-2010, it was reported that Packer owned a number of assets including "Ellerston Z" (a superyacht), "Arctic P" (a luxury cruise ship and former ice-breaker), a private jet, a 12-seater Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, and a variety of cars including an Aston Martin DB9 coupe. , "Forbes" magazine estimated Packer's wealth at 3.6 billion, down from the 6.60 billion published by "Forbes" in their 2014 list of the richest people in Australia. In the 2017 "Forbes" list of the 50 Richest Australians, Packer's net worth was assessed at 3.9 billion, making him the ninth-richest Australian.

Personal life.

Packer owns residential property in and in, in Sydney's eastern suburbs. The Packer family also have pastoral property holdings in, called "Ellerston Station", and, since 2018, owned by his sister, Gretel.  Packer was engaged to actress Kate Fischer until the couple separated in 1998 after five years together and a two-year engagement.  Packer married Jodhi Meares at his home in Bellevue Hill, Sydney in October 1999; the relationship lasted two years, and the couple separated in 2002.  Following the breakdown of his first marriage, and the development of a friendship with the actor Tom Cruise, Packer began attending the Church of Scientology in Australia, taking courses on the Church's Dundas business centre in 2002. He subsequently confirmed his involvement with Scientology, saying he had found it "helpful". He later distanced himself from the church.  Packer later married part-time model and singer Erica Baxter, whom he wed in the equivalent of a civil ceremony on 20 June 2007. The wedding was at the Antibes town hall, and the second ceremony took place at Hotel du Cap – Eden Roc in Cap d'Antibes on the French Riviera. Together, Packer and Baxter have three children: daughter Indigo, born 27 July 2008, son Jackson Lloyd, born 1 February 2010, and daughter Emmanuelle Sheelah, born 22 September 2012. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Packer met struggling actress in November 2012 when she was 20 and Packer was 45, and the two embarked on a relationship. In September 2013 James and Erica Packer announced they were separating.  Packer was involved in a public physical brawl at Bondi Beach in 2014 with David Gyngell, a long-term friend and head of Channel Nine. Gyngell and Packer were both fined $500 for offensive behaviour over the incident.  Packer and the American singer Mariah Carey became engaged in January 2016, but had broken up by October. At the time it was alleged that the break up was a result of Carey's extravagant spending and rows over the singer's reality show Mariah's World, but Packer later said that the relationship had just been a "mistake" for both sides. In November 2017, Packer paid Carey a multi-million dollar settlement, in response to a lawsuit pursued by Carey citing an "inconvenience fee".  In 2019, James Packer was dating Kylie Lim.

Philanthropy.

James Packer is the founder and engineer of both the Packer Family Foundation and Crown Resorts Foundation. In July 2014, the Foundations launched their $200 million National Philanthropic Fund which is one of Australia’s largest philanthropic commitments.  According to the two foundations, they are working together to promote Indigenous education opportunities, the arts and culture, and partnerships with organisations that encourage and foster social cohesion. Underlying these priorities are learning, accessibility and engagement outcomes for young Australians – staying engaged with school and learning is the key to long-term positive outcomes, and this is the approach and message that the partner organisations are delivering.

James Douglas Packer (born 8 September 1967) is an Australian billionaire businessman and investor. Packer is the son of Kerry Packer, a media mogul, and his wife, Roslyn Packer. He is the grandson of Sir Frank Packer. He inherited control of the family company, Consolidated Press Holdings Limited, as well as investments in Crown Resorts and other companies. He is the former executive chairman of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) and Consolidated Media Holdings, which predominantly owned media interests across a range of platforms, and a former executive chairman of Crown Resorts.

James Packer (* 8. September 1967) ist ein australischer Unternehmer und Multimilliardär. Laut Forbes gehört Packer mit einem Vermögen von 3,5 Milliarden US-Dollar (2018) zu den 10 reichsten Australiern.


Ceremony.

At exactly 9.53 pm, the Chief Yeoman Warder, dressed in Tudor watchcoat and bonnet, and carrying a candle lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the Escort to the Keys, a military escort made up of armed members of the Tower of London Guard. The Warder passes his lantern to a soldier, and marches with his escort to the outer gate. The sentries on duty salute the Queen’s Keys as they pass.  The Warder first locks the outer gate and then the gates of the Middle and Byward Towers. The Warder and escort march down Water Lane, until they reach the Bloody Tower archway where a sentry challenges the party to identify themselves:  The Warder and escort march down to the foot of Broadwalk Steps where the main Tower Guard is drawn up to meet them. The party halts, and the officer in charge gives the command to present arms. The Chief Warder steps forward, doffs his bonnet, and proclaims:  On the answering “Amen” the clock of the Waterloo Barracks strikes 10pm and the Last Post is sounded, marking the end of the ceremony.  The Guard is dismissed, and the Chief Warder takes the keys to the Queen's House for safekeeping overnight.

History.

The origins of the ceremony are unknown. It may have begun during the Middle Ages, and it is often stated that a ceremony in some form has been held since the 14th century. Written instructions that the keys should be placed in a safe place by a Tower officer, after securing the gates, date back to the 16th century. In its current form the ceremony is likely to date to the 19th century when the institution of the Yeomen Warders was reformed by the then Constable of the Tower, the Duke of Wellington.  The ceremony has never been cancelled, and has been delayed only on a single occasion due to enemy action during the Second World War.  During much of the First World War, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) provided the Tower garrison but in 1919 after handing back the Tower Guard to the Foot Guards, the HAC’s 3rd Battalion presented a lantern to the Yeomen Warders on the 12 May 1919 as a mark of friendship during their time on duty. The lamp was used for the ceremony of the keys that night and every night ever since.

Access.

Between 40 and 50 visitors are allowed access to the ceremony each night, under escort. Tickets are free but must be obtained in advance from Historic Royal Palaces, the organisation that looks after the Tower. The event is usually sold out at least 12 months in advance.

The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual, held every evening at the Tower of London, when the main gates are locked for the night. It is said to be the oldest military ceremony in the world, and is the best-known ceremonial tradition of the Tower.

Die Schlüsselzeremonie (engl. "Ceremony of the Keys") ist eine Zeremonie im Tower of London. Die Zeremonie geht auf die Zeit der Tudors zurück und wird in ihrem heutigen Ablauf seit 1914 durchgeführt. Dabei geht der Chief Warder in Begleitung regulärer Soldaten die Tore und Wachtposten des Towers ab und lässt diese abschließen. Die Zeremonie endet um Punkt 22 Uhr mit einem Zapfenstreich auf dem Tower Green der verschlossenen Festung.


Location.

The stadium is located on a wide plain in St Urbain, at the foot of Morne Beausejour in the southern community of Vieux Fort. It is approximately five minutes away from the main population centre in the south of St Lucia, and virtually a stone's throw from the Hewanorra International Airport. The stadium is approximately 45 minutes away from the capital, Castries.

Development and history.

The National Stadium was one of several projects negotiated by then Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, George Odlum. Preparatory work on the site was undertaken over several months by the Government of St Lucia at a cost of Three Million Eastern Caribbean Dollars (EC$3 million), just over US$1 million. In September 2000, the site was handed over to a Chinese construction company, the China National Overseas Engineering Corporation(COVEC).  Over the course of the next two years, COVEC built the stadium superstructure on part of the site, with two spectator stands, a grass field, a rubberized track, lights and large parking areas. Coming in at a total cost of EC$55 million, the stadium was the most modern in the Caribbean at the time of its construction. One of the first events at the stadium, then simply known as the St Lucia National Stadium, was the multi-discipline Windward Islands Secondary School Games.  Modern as it is in terms of layout, seating, fixtures and amenities, the stadium was not equipped with an IAAF-certified competition surface. By 2009, such a surface would prove necessary if the St Lucia Athletics Association were to prove successful in its bid to host the XXXVIII CARIFTA Games, a regional track and field championship featuring hundreds of athletes from over 20 territories. Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King pledged Government's support.  By this time, St Lucia had broken off diplomatic relations with mainland China, in favour of links with the People's Republic of China on Taiwan. Starting in late 2008, the St Lucia Government scrapped the old running surface, and along with Taiwan, began work rehabilitating the facility, which had suffered through substantial disuse and neglect. The major addition was the installation of an IAAF-certified Mondo track. Total expenditure on the Stadium came to over EC$10 million. Of that amount, though, more than EC$5 million was spent on support systems and infrastructure. The Government of St Lucia never managed to fix the electronic scoreboard, but work was done to install a new photo finish apparatus, repair damaged seating, upgrade the lighting, drainage and plumbing, fix the roof and purchase new equipment. Purchased in collaboration with the Taiwanese, much of the equipment came from major American manufacturer UCS.

CARIFTA 2009.

Minister of Youth, Sports, Social Transformation and Public Service, Honourable Lenard Montoute – a former national athlete himself – worked closely with local contractors and of course Mondo, IAAF Official Supplier since 1987, to bring the facility fully up to international standard. Permanent Secretary Donavan Williams headed the team that was charged with delivering the XXXVIII CARIFTA Games in Easter 2009, when the Caribbean would descend upon St Lucia.  St Lucia delivered. Adjustments had to be made to the programme to account for transportation from the main tourism belt in the island's north, but competition-wise, many considered this the best edition ever of the Caribbean's junior track and field showcase. 15 records were broken or equalled, one in the throws, three in the middle and long distance events. Grenada's Kirani James broke Usain Bolt’s 400m record, and won the Austin Sealy award for most outstanding athlete.  Neville 'Teddy' McCook, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association(NACAC), was impressed by St Lucia's National Stadium. During a visit to St Lucia in September 2008, he said "This is an excellent facility. I see nothing in the region that compares in terms of availability of rooms and the way you can use those rooms. This is an important stadium with available rooms for medical, media, accommodation, that's excellent."

Amenities and fittings.

The National Stadium contains two spectator stands seating a total of eight thousand (8,000) persons. When handed over in 2002, the stated intention was that two other stands to accommodate a further seven thousand (7,000) persons would be constructed in due course by the St Lucian Government. The stadium was also intended to be the centerpiece of a stadium complex that would include accommodation as well as indoor facilities for court sports, meetings and so on.  As described by Donavan Williams, the refurbished facility includes "a warm up facility, two High Jump areas, four Triple Jump and Long Jump runways, two Pole Vault runways, one Discus Throw circle, two Shot Put circles and two Javelin Throw runways." Previously, there had been a warmup area beneath the stands, but this was replaced in the refurbishment. The stadium boasts a regulation football pitch and a 400m all-weather Mondo track.

St Jude Hospital.

In September 2009, a fire destroyed portions of St Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, a few miles from the stadium. The government of St Lucia moved the bulk of the hospital's operations to the stadium, where the large, flexible rooms beneath the stands turned out to be ideal for transformation into the main medical facility for the south of the island. In April 2010, Prime Minister King said that his government would be rebuilding St Jude on a site close to the stadium.  The Ministries of Sports and Health, along with the Saint Lucia Athletics Association and the board of St Jude, agreed that for the duration of the hospital's stay in the stadium, although the facility would not be available for competition, the track and field installations could be used for training. For much of the 2010 season, therefore, athletics meets were held at venues as disparate as the Mindoo Phillip Park in Castries or the mini-stadium in Soufrière.  Although at the moment the bleachers are in poor conditions as well as the roof which has begun falling off. Instead the faculty of the various schools have opted to use the sides of the tracks where students sit on cardboard or metal stands.

The George Odlum Stadium is a 9,000 capacity football stadium in Vieux Fort, St Lucia. The stadium was handed over to the Government and people of St Lucia, represented by Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony and Minister for Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports, Honourable Mario Michel, in July 2002. Its construction was financed by the People's Republic of China. It was given its current name in 2007.

Das George Odlum National Stadium ist ein Fußballstadion mit Leichtathletikanlage in der Gemeinde St. Urban in Distrikt Vieux Fort auf St. Lucia am Fuß des Morne Beausejour. Es liegt in der Nähe des Stadtzentrums von Vieux Fort und des Flughafens Hewanorra International. Die 8.000 Zuschauern Platz bietende Anlage wird vor allem für Fußball und Leichtathletik genutzt.


Life.

Charles Jason Gordon was born in Trinidad and Tobago on 17 March 1959.  Gordon managed his father's failing business after his father died and managed to make it profitable all the while becoming involved in parish initiatives that led him to decide to enter the religious life. He had shown his engagement in projects teaching skills to displaced people with an emphasis on adolescents. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1991. In the late 1980s (after selling the business in 1991) and into the 1990s he studied at Mount Saint Benedict and later at the Louvain college in Belgium where he got his bachelor's and master's in theological studies before completing his doctorate in London. He later became involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and was an active participant in their work.  In 2003 he was made the parish priest for Gonzales. He received some awards for his project to bring peace in the eastern part of Port of Spain through the participation of all the stakeholders (including the gangs and their leaders). He mediated between communities in conflict and improved the standing of the Church while saving lives at the same time which earned him praise from Cardinal Peter Turkson. He celebrated a television Mass once a week and this reached out to as much as 50 000 people per week. Pope Benedict XVI named him as a Monsignor in 2009.  In 2011 he was appointed as the Bishop of Kingstown in Saint Vincent and Grenadines and as the Bishop of Bridgetown in Barbados. He received his episcopal consecration from Joseph Everard Harris with Robert Rivas and Malcolm Patrick Galt serving as the co-consecrators on 21 September 2011 which came two months following his appointment. His consecration was celebrated in a tent in front of the Bridgetown Cathedral. Pope Francis later accepted his resignation from Kingstown in 2015 but continued to serve in Bridgetown until the pope appointed him as the Archbishop of Port of Spain in his homeland on 19 October 2017. He will be enthroned in his new archdiocese on 27 December 2017.  In March 2016 he was charged with the physical (not sexual) assault of the altar server Junior Blackman (b. 1974) and the case was brought to the Magistrates' Court that December. Gordon appeared in court and was granted bail after asserting he was innocent of the charges. The Magistrate Kristie Cuffie-Sargeant dismissed the case on 14 July 2017 since Blackman was no longer interested in pursuing the case.  On an annual basis he embarks on a week-long retreat for silence and solitude.

Positions.

Capital punishment.

Gordon is against death sentences and considers it to be nothing more than "state-sponsored murder". The bishop elaborated that "it's still murder" regardless of who perpetrates it and that "its escalating the violence" rather than focusing on stopping it. He also continued that "all people have human dignity... that dignity does not go away when we do something really bad".

Charles Jason Gordon (born 17 March 1959) is a Trinidadian Roman Catholic prelate and the current Archbishop of Port of Spain since his appointment in 2017. He had served prior to this as a parish priest for Gonzales before serving as the bishop for both Bridgetown and Kingston. Gordon is known for his opposition to death sentences and favours peacemaking and bridge building in local disputes and gang violence.

Charles Jason Gordon (allgemein Jason Gordon genannt, * 24. Februar 1946 in Port of Spain) ist ein trinidadisch-tobagischer Geistlicher und römisch-katholischer Erzbischof von Port of Spain.


Plot.

Rocky (Michael Treanor), Colt (Max Elliott Slade), Tum Tum (Chad Power) defend "Truth, Justice and the American Way", once more - this time, protecting a Native American village and the rest of society against a Toxic Waste Company.  During a summer, the boys are staying with Grandpa Mori (Victor Wong) when they encounter a group assaulting a girl named Jo (Crystle Lightning) at a pizza parlour. After fending off the men, they are praised for their martial arts techniques which gives them big egos. Despite their efforts, they are put to work by Mori and the pizza owner to work off damages. Mori tries to teach them a lesson in humility, but the reference of a flower blooming goes over their heads. Jo comes to the boys later and explains that the men are under the employ of Jack Harding (Charles Napier), an industrialist who is illegally dumping toxic contents into the reserve. Without proof, they can do nothing. Jo's father had gone to investigate but had not returned. Colt, who is seemingly attracted to Jo, says that they will help, and they mount an escape plan for her father that night, which is successful. They spend the night celebrating with the tribe and getting thanks for helping them. Jo's father appeals for a court date with significant evidence to put Jack out of business for good, undeterred. Jack arranges to have Jo kidnapped by the Bikers and convince her father to falsify his evidence, which he has no other choice.  Rocky and the others get information to where Jo is being held, drive out to free her and return before the court case is dismissed and all of her father's hard work accounts for nothing at all. After fighting through a small band of armed men, they find Jo and return her to the court house just before her father turns the real evidence over to Jack. He admits his mistake and hands the evidence to the judge who deems the case and shuts down the company producing the waste. Jo looks around for the 'heroes' of the day, but they are nowhere to be found. Rocky realizes the point of Mori's earlier lesson: that a flower is content to bloom quietly, without clamoring for attention. The film ends with Grandpa Mori and the boys somersaulting into the air in victory.

Reception.

The film received mostly negative reviews. Many fans attribute its lack of success to its PG-13 rating, which drove away younger viewers.

3 Ninjas Knuckle Up is a 1995 American martial arts comedy film and a prequel to "3 Ninjas Kick Back". The film was directed by Shin Sang-ok, credited as "Simon Sheen". The film was shot in 1992, the same year the first film was released, but was not released until 1995.

3 Ninjas – Fight & Fury (Originaltitel: "3 Ninjas Knuckle Up") ist eine US-amerikanische Actionkomödie des Regisseurs Shin Sang-ok aus dem Jahr 1995.


Biography.

Downing was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia. He attended Newport News High School, and graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1940. After serving in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946, he attended and graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1948. He practiced as a lawyer, as well as a substitute judge of the municipal court of Warwick, Virginia.

Congress.

In 1958 he was elected as a Democrat to Congress and was re-elected eight times, before declining to run in 1976. Downing served 18 years in Congress prior to retiring in 1977.

House Select Committee on Assassinations.

Downing was appointed Chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations by Carl Albert, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The Committee was tasked to look into evidence that was not available to the Warren Commission during its investigation of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Upon his retirement from Congress in 1977, Louis Stokes succeeded Downing as Chairman.  Downing stated before and after the HSCA's investigation that he believed there was a conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy. He pushed for a House committee to investigate the assassination nearly two years before its formation. In August 1976, he released affidavits from two men who stated that Richard Nixon approved the plan of a right-wing Cuban exile to "eliminate" left-wing Cuban exiles after the Bay of Pigs invasion. Downing said that their statements raised the possibility that right-wing Cubans killed Kennedy.  Downing said that he was skeptical that Lee Harvey Oswald could accurately fire a bolt-action rifle within a short span of time, and he believed video footage of the assassination showed that Kennedy was struck from the front and the rear. According to a theory provided by Downing, one which he said was without evidence and based on speculation, anti-Castro Cuban exiles killed Kennedy due to his failure to support them after the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. Downing stated that they expected pro-Castro Cubans would be blamed for the assassination in retaliation for the attempted assassination of Fidel Castro by United States agents. Downing said: "I am firmly convinced, I am sincerely convinced, that more than one person was shooting at President Kennedy in Dallas that day. It is so obvious to me."  Downing described "JFK", Oliver Stone's 1991 film about the assassination of Kennedy, as "implausible". He said: "It's impossible to tell where fact stops and fiction starts, it blends in so well."  Prior to the investigation, James J. Kilpatrick described Downing as "a man of exception integrity and common sense" yet "not altogether unbiased in the matter of Kennedy's assassination". Robert P. Gemberling, head of the FBI's investigation of the assassination for thirteen years after the release of the Warren Commission's report, said in 1976 that Downing and his successor, Henry B. Gonzalez, had "preconceived conspiracy theories".

Later life and death.

He died from the complications of intestinal surgery at the age of 82, and is interred in Peninsula Memorial Park Cemetery, Newport News, Virginia.

Thomas Nelms Downing (February 1, 1919 – October 23, 2001) was a lawyer, politician, and Democratic Congressman from for nine terms.

Thomas Nelms Downing (* 1. Februar 1919 in Newport News, Virginia; † 23. Oktober 2001 ebenda) war ein US-amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1959 und 1977 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Virginia im US-Repräsentantenhaus.