text:
DUNGE tI. STEAMSHIP UTOPIA.
don to New York. She was a passenger and freighting steam. ship of 1,700 tons, and running in a regular line. Her length was about 350 feet. The bark was loaded with full cargo of petroleum and staves, and was on a voyage from New York to Rotterdam. The libels aver that the bark, when she sighted the steamer was sailing east by south, with all sails set except the studding sails, and that the wind was south-west, and that the bark was making a. speed of seven miles an hour, or thereabout. The answers aver that the wind was about Bouth-west, S. W. by S., and blowing a. good full-sail breeze. An attempt was made upon the trial, on the part of the claimants, to show that the wind, at the time of the collision, was S. W. by W. ! W.; but by a great preponderance of the testimony it was shown that the wind was not at all to the westwardly of southwest, and this effort to show that it was so has no support in the proofs, and is in conflict with the answers. It must therefore be taken as a. fact in the case that the wind was south-west. The facts of the collision are thus stated in the libel: "The weather was very foggy, and a competent lookout was stationed on the bow, by whom three loud blasts of a foghorn continued to be blown at very short intervals, and by whom, also, a careful lookout was kept. A competent man was also at the wheel, the master was walking on the main deck, and t):J.e boatswain and a seaman were also forward, and all were listening carefully for signals, etc. At a few minutes past 5 o'clock the lookout descried through the fog, the sail of a vessel right ahead, and immediately reported such sail right ahead. "The master, hearing the report, ran to the forward deck and saw the sail ahead, and for a moment he supposed it to be a fishing vessel at anchor-that being a locality where the presence of such a vessel at anchor might reasonably be expected. On that supposition he called to the man at the wheel to put the wheel to starboard, but almost immediately, and before the order to starboard could be obeyed, he saw
that the vessel was a steamer coming almost directly upon them, but apparently changing so as to bear more toward& the port hand of the bark, and thereupon, in order to cooperate as far as possible with the movement of the steamship, he ordered the helm of the bark to be put hard a-port, and her helm was at once put hard a-port. The steamer was then so near, and coming at so rapid a rate, that the course . of the bark was only changed about two points under the port helm when the steamship struck her on her port side, just aft of the fore rigging, a diagonal blow, cutting in nearly to the main hatch, and causing the bark to sink so speedily that her crew barely escaped with their lives, losing everything except the clothes which they had on at the time." The libels further aver "that the steamer was running a rapid rate of more than 11 knots an hour, and at too great a rate of speed, and without keeping as careful and attentive a lookout as should have been kept, or blowing as loud and as frequent signal whistles as should have been blown, and that she dia not in time adopt and continue proper measures to keep clear of the bark by passing her on one side or the other, or by stopping and backing in time, but by changing her as she did she ran directly upon the' bark, and was otherwise carelessly navigated; that the bark was in no way in fault; that the steamer was seen as soon as it was possible to see her; that the collision was then, so far as the bark was concerned, inevitable, and that the changes of helm in the bark were only made in extremis, and that the only effect of them was to change the position in which the two vessels came together." The answers allege that "at 4 P. M. the breeze was moderate, with a thick fog and a drizzling min, clearing up at intervals; that thereafter the fog was less dense and not very thick, before and when the vessels first sighted each other; that at about 4 o'clock, there being then a dense fog, two lookouts were placed on the bow and two stationed on the forward bridge of the steamship, and the master and first and third officers were on the main bridge, a quartermaster at the wheel, and aJl necessary appointments made for thQ griiul
BUNGE·..,. STEAMSffiP UTOPIA.
navigation of the steamship---=proceeding thenCil forward at a. moderate rate of speed of about nine knots, and blowing her steam at intervals of not more than a .minute; that shortly after 5 P. M., and at about 5: 10, a lookout on the bow. Bung out, · A vessel ahead,' and the vessel, afterwards known. to be the Helios, was seen by the officers of the steamship on the bridge, bearing as to situation nearly directly ahead of the steamship, about a quarter, of a point, or less, on the steamship'!l.starboard bow, showing her port bow, and having the wind free and all her sails (without studding sails) set, and drawing and moving at a rate of speed of about eight knots an hour, and sailing south of east, and on a course inclined to the southward of, and to pass to the southward of, that of the steamship, sailing on a WUIse west by north, quarter north-the bark being, when fir.st seeD from the steam- . ship, at a distance off of llr mile and more, ar ' 80 far off that on their respective courst's there was no danger of a collision from proximity, nor any ground for apprehension of danger by persons in charge of the navigation of the bark, if ordinarily competent seamen, and minding their business; that immediately upon the obaervation of the bearing and the standing of the bark, as aforesaid, the helm of the steamship, for greater caution, was ordered to be and was put hard a-port, and if the bark had continued, as she should have done, on the courBe on which she was standing when first sighted from the steamship, and when the helm of the steamship was ordered to be put and was pnt a-port, as aforesaid, the two vessels would have passed-the steamship to the northward and the bark to the southwa.rd, at a. proper and safe distance, and so far off that no collision could have been possible; that instead of so continuing her course, the bark, after the steamship's helm had been put a-port, as aforesaid, put her wheel to starboard and altered her course to pass to leeward of the steamship, end so as to stand across the line of direction of the steamshipthrough some misconception (from careless observation or other fault on the part of the bark, as afterwards learned, but unknown at tlJe time on board the &teamship) that this great steamship was a fishing vessel a.t
anchor; that this making of the bark to pass to leeward being observed from the steamship, the latter's helm was ordered to be and was shifted to hard a-starboard, by which the course and direction of the steamship was changed to the southward, and so far to the southward, and with speed reduced by slowing and stopping her engines, that if the bark had continued on the course she was making to pass to leeward the steamship ltnd bark would have cleared at a safe distance off, and so far off that there could not have been a collision; that instead of keeping on this last mentioned course, the bark, through want of proper seamanship, or other fault of persons in charge of her navigation, again changed, this time suddenly porting and standing on a port helm, so as to throw herself across the bow of the steamship, and in such close proximity, through the mismanagement and fault of the bark, that the collision followed as the l"esu11 of this last change, notwithstanding the use of all the precautionary measures to avoid the collision, in her power, by the steamship, on board of which, immediately upon observing this last change of the bark, the engines were reversed full speed astern; that the steamship at the time of the collision had but little, if any, headway through the water, and the bark was forging ahead on a port helm, angling across, until her llort side, between the fore and main rigging, struck against the stern of the steamship, and thereby the bark was badly damaged; that the collision was caused by the want of a proper lookout on the bark, the want of proper attention to the sounding of the steamship's steam-whistle, and the mistake by the persons navigating the bark of the steamship for a fishing vessel at anchor, through their fault, and their want of proper seamanship, and the changing of the bark's course each time, after the steamship changed her course to clear the bark, so as to cross the bows of the steamship, or otherwise, through the sole fault of the master and crew of the bark, and without negligence or fault on the part of the steamship... The UtopIa is a British steamer, and by the merchant shipping act of 1854, § 282, (17 and 18 Viet. c. 104,) it is required
BUNGE V. STEAMSIIIP'U'rOPIA.
that there be entered in the 'official log "every collision witli any other ship, and the circumstances under which the same occurred." By section 283: "The entries in the official log are required to be signed by the master and mate, or some other of the crew." By section 285: "All entries made in any official log.book, as hereinafter direc'.lted, shall be received in evidence in any proceeding in any court of justice, subject to all just exceptions." In pursuance of the duty required of them by this statute +'he master and mate of the Utopia signed an official log, ·.aining the following statement of this collision: "Weather thick, with rain, clearing at intervals; steamer proceeding with careful attention to the state of the weather; suddenly .. ship was sighted nearly ahead, when we slowed engines and lItopped; ship and steamer ported, but instantly the ship kept away, compelling the steamer to starboard; the ship at this time was dangerously close to the steamer, and a collision being inevitable the engines were reversed, full speed astern, when she suddenly ported and ran across the bows of the steamer and fell against the stern, crushing her broadside in with the force of her own impetus, and resulting in the total wreck of the bark Helios, of Pillan, Captain George Zeismer, from New York, bound to Rotterdam, laden with 2,886 barrels of petroleum, with a crew of 12 men, who were all saved by the steamer's life-boats." The exact time when this statement was drawn up, or when it was signed, is not shown, but the act requires the entry to be dODe as soon as possible after the occurrence to which it relates, and in all cases not later than 24 hours after the arrival of the vessel in her final port of discharge. The testimony of the master is that in this case it was done before he reached London on his return voyage. The libels were filed and the vessel bonded while she was in New York, and before her return to London, so that this statement of the collision was made by the master· and ma.te of the steamship after they had an opportunity to know the allegations of the libel as to the circumstances of the collision. v.l,no.lO-57
The steamer left New York for London on the eighteenth of September, and arrived at London on the third day of October. On the tenth of October, 1878, the master of the Utopia signed and swore to a statement before the receiver of wrecks, in London, which was as follows: "On Friday, the sixth day of September, at 5 P. M., the tide at the time being unknown, the weather thick and foggy, and the wind in the south-west blowing a fresh breeze, the sea smooth, the said ship arrived off the south edge of the Grand Bank coast of Newfoundland. The vessel was in charge of deponent, who was on the bridge. Swain, first mate, was with deponent on the bridge; Polsen, third mate, was also on the bridge, attending to the steam-whistle, which was kept going about every two minutes j one A.. B., seaman, (name unknown,) was on the bow forward, and another A.. B., seaman, (name unknown) on the fore bridge, keeping the lookout. The vessel steers by steam from the bridge, the wheel being attended to by the quartermaster. The vessel was steaming about nine knots, the course being west by south, (magnetic.) Deponent and the lookouts simultaneouslyobserved the sails of a bark, which proved to be the Helios, about right ahead, almost head on. She appeared to be about a quarter of a mile distant. Instantly, put the helm hard a-port and stopped the engines, and then reversed, full speed astern. The Helios was observed to port her helm and then instantly starboarded. Deponent then ordered his helm to be starboarded, which was instantly done, and the vessels were clear of each other. The Helios suddenly again ported her helm, and a collision became inevitable. Deponent's vessel was going full speed astern, but the Helios' port side, a little abaft the fore rigging, fell across the Utopia's stern. The Helios stove in her port side and fell over on the port side, a complete wreck." This statement was dictated by the master, and he indorsed on the statement, in his own handwriting, and signed the following additional statement: "That, in my opinion, the cause of the casualty was the Helios improperly star-
BUNGE t'. STEAMSIDP UTOPIA.
boarding her helm, and it would have been avoided if she had kept her port helm; but, when the Helios sUtrboarded, if she had then kept her starboard helm the collision would ha VEl been avoided. The Helios, porting her helm a second time, made the collision unavoidable." This statement was made in pursuance of section 448 of the merchants' shipping act of 1854, (17 and 18 Vict. c. 104,) which provides that "any receiver, or, in his absence, any justice of the peace, shall, as soon as conveniently may be, examine upon oath any person belonging to any ship which may be or may have been in distress on the coasts of the United Kingdom as to the following matters, [among others:] 5. The occasion of the distress of the ship lit ·· 7. Such other matters or circumstances relating to such ship, or to the cargo on board the same, as the receiver or justice thinks necessary. And such receiver or justice shall take the examination down in writing, and shall make two copies of the same, of which he shall send one to the board of trade and the other to the secretary of the committee for managing the affairs of Lloyd's. in London; and such last mentioned copy shall be placed by the said secretary in some conspicuous situation, for the inspection of persons desirous of examining the same." By section 449 it was provided that "any examination taken in writing as aforesaid, or a copy thereof purporting to be certified under the hand of the receiver or justice before whom such examination was taken, .shall be admitted in evidence in any court of justice, or before any person having by law or by consent of parties authority to hear, receive and examine evidence, as prima facie proof of all matters contained in such written examination." By the merchant shipping act of 1876 (39 and 40 Vict. c. 80, § 45) the 449th section above cited was repealed. The master of the steamer also drew a diagram, intended to represent the circumstances of the collision, which 'was produced by him upon the trial. It was drawn to a scale while he was on a voyage to New York, about a year after the event. It shows the steamer headingW. by iN.,'
when she first saw the bark, and the bark nearly one point on her starboard bow, and upon a course nearly south-east, and, of course, crossing the bow of the steamer to the southward. ·rhen the steamer is represented as porting, with her engines slowed and stopped, and moving ahead quite slow, making a course two points to starboard of her forllier course, and running one-fourth of a mile after porting. the bark meanwhile having kept on her course one-sixteenth of a mile, and then starboarding and keeping off four points to the leeward, running a quarter of a mile on this course, and then the steamer starboarding three points and running on this new course an eighth of a mile, coming into collision with the bark about head on, or at a right angle upon the port side, the bark meanwhile having ported four and a half points and run a sixteenth of a mile to the place of collision. The witnesses on the part of the steamer, who observed the collision, were the master, the mate, and the third officer, who were on the bridge, one lookout on the bow, and one on the fore-bridge, the carpenter of the ship, and one of the quartermasters, who were not on duty, but happened to be on deck. These witnesses testify that when they first saw the bark she was.nearly ahead, all but one of the witnesses other than the master putting her a little on the starboard bow. ,The master testified that she was right ahead, and, though pressed, refused to say that she bore at all on either bow. His diagram, however, shows her on the starboard bow, and the answer so The witnesses testified that "hey could see her sails and her port bow; that she appeared to them to be on a course to the southward of them, crossing their bow. They vary greatly as to her distance at,that time, from a quarter of a mile to more than a mile. The mate puts her more than a mile off, and the master "a good mile off." The master was on duty, and directing the movements of the ship. She was so nearly ahead that she was reported by the lookout as "ahead." hard a-vort, The wheel of the steamer was immeuiately and the master testifies that he at the same time gave an
BUNGE 11. STEAlIISHIP UTOPIA.
order to the engineer "to slow." Their testimony is to the effect that after the stea.mer had thus ported, and had brought the bark on their port bow, she suddenly changed her course by starboarding, standing across their bow again to the north. ward; that the master of the steamer, observing this move· ment of the bark, immediately changed his wheel to hard a starboard; that the steamer starboarded so as to bring the bark on their starboard bow again. The master testifies three points on their starboard bow, when the bark suddenly ported, running across their bow again, being then at a dis. tance of about an eighth of a mile; that the order was then given to reverse at full speed, and the collision became inevit. able, and thus they came tQgether. The master of the steamer testifies that if the bark had kept on her original course they would have cleared each other by the porting of the steamer, and would have passed each other port side to port side by an eighth of a mile. He also testified that he saw it was necessary to port in order to clear, and he did put his wheel hard a-port. He. testified. that if the bark had kept her course after she starboarded, and after the steamer starboarded, they would still have passed clear of each other starboard side to starboard siele; that after the steamer starboarded they were in fact well clear of each other, the bark being broad off on the steamer's star· board bow;. and that it was the porting of the bark in this position, and that alone, which made the collision inevitable. In this account of the circumstances of the collision he is to some extent corroborated by the other witnesses lrom the steamer. On the part of the bark, the witnesses were the lookout, the wheelsman, the master, the boatswain, and one other sea· man. Their story is that the weather was very thick; that the lookout sung out, "Ship right ahead;" that the master and the boatswain ran forward on to the forecastle deck. The master could see sails, and, thinking it was a fisherman at anchor, he immediately gave the order to the wheelsman to keep off. The master testifies that he looked back to see that the order was obeyed, and he saw the wheelsman beginning
to move his wheel; that he immediately looked forward again, f\nd he saw the hull of the vessel ahead, and saw it was a steamer, and the boatswain at the same moment exclaimed that it was a steamer, and that she was keeping off; that he immediately gave the order to the wheelsman to luff-that is to starboard; that the bark had not then altered her course under the order to keep off; that there was not time to get the wheel over; that under the second order the bark luffed about two points; that he gave this order to co-operate with the steamer in her movements; that if he had kept his course the steamer would have struck the bark on the starboard quarter; that immediately after giving the second order he ordered the rest of the crew called from below, the danger was so imminent. The testimony of the man at the helm confirms that of the master as to the movements of the wheel; that the wheel was not got over under the first order, and the course of the bark was not altered by it. The testimony of all the witnesses from the bark goes strongly to show that the vessels were very near together when first seen; that the speed of the steamer was very great; that the time after sighting her was very short, and the suecQssion of events very rapid. The testimony of those on the bark is positive as to her course; that it was east by south, the wind being south-west; that until she luffed, just before the collision, her course was not to the southwardly of this; that she had been keeping that course steadily till she sighted the steamer. The first contested question of fact is as to the course of the bark before she was sighted by the steamer. I think there is no doubt that those who observed her on the steamer thought she was on a course crossing that of the steamer to the southward when they first made her. This is not only the concurrent testimony of seven witnesses, but the fact is strongly sustained by the order of the master of the steamer to put the wheel "hard a-port." Her bearing from the steamer is shown to have been a very little on the starboard bow, bat nearly ahead and coming towards them, the course
BUNGE V. STEAMSHIP UTOPIA.
of the steamer being N. by W. i W. If the bark, bearing thus from the steamer, was on an east by south course, she had, in fact, already crossed the bows of the steamer, and was pointing to the leeward of the steamer, and not to the southward of her or across her bows. If such had been observed from the steamer to have been her course, the steamer's wheel would not have been put to port, a movement which tended at once to bring them upon crossing courses, involving danger of collision. Yet I am unable to reject the positive testimony of those on the bark as to her course! if it is possible to reconcile their testimony with any probable hypothesis of a mistake in this respect on the part of those who observed her movements from the steamer; and I think it can be so reconciled. Each vessel saw the other through the fog. Whatever may have been their distance apart, (a point to be hereafter considered,) it was, at the first glimpse, necessarily very indistinct, that those on the steamer got of the bark, that they thought her crossing to the southward. It is not at all improbable that upon this first glimpse they should be mistaken as to her course. It is not at all improbable that something in the trim or appearance of her sails gave them the impression that she was crossing their course to the southward. It is too common an optical illusion to excite either remark or surprise that when the eye catches some object in an imperfect light, or indistinctly through a fog, the image conforms itself more or less in detail to what it seems to be as suggested by some one feature which the observer, for the instant, thinks he makes out. Thus, it is to be expected that if there was something .which gave the'impression of the bark's standing to the southward, it should also seem to those observing her that they made out the port bow, or saw along her port side, as they testify, with more or less positiveness, although this impression as to details may indeed merely be a trick of the memory, or the imagination working in aid of the impression they had at the time that the bark was standing across their course to the southward, it is the
nature of such an optical illusion that it vanishes suddenly, and the object, mistaken before, is suddenly seen as it really is. And that was so in this case. Suddenly they observed that she had fallen off to the northward. They attributed this to her having starboarded. This is exactly what they would seem to see as they came nearer, if they had mistaken her course at first, and they represent it as a sudden and a marked change, from pointing to the southward of them to pointing to the leeward or northward of their course; from seeing her port bow and side to seeing her starboard bow and side. Yet it is certain, the bearing of the bark from the steamer and the course of the steamer being fixed, that the bark was not pointing across the bows of the steamer at this time, if hor course was east by south. And the change in her wheel upon the first order given is not sufficient to account for this apparent change as observed from the steamer, if any credit is given to the testimony of those on the bark, for the following rev,sons: First, because it was not a change from a course crossing the bows of the steamer to a course to leeward of the steamer, but, if anything, a change from a C011rse to leeward to a change a little more to leeward of the steamer; and, secondly, because the change of the wheel was not, upon the testimony, such as altered the course of the bark at all. Further confirmation of this view is, I think, to be found in the fact that the imagination of the master of the steamer created in his mind the idea, to which he for some time adhered, that the first movement of the bark, as he first dimly saw her through the fog, was her porting before she starboarded. It is true that in giving his testimony on the trial that idea was entirely given up, and he was disposed to repudiate the sugestion that he had ever entertained it, yet the fact was positively asserted by him and the mate in the official log, and by him again in his examination before the receiver of wrecks. The bearing and importance of these papers as evidence will be hereafter considered, but with reference to the present point it is only necessary to observe that whereas it is now conceded and certain that the bark did not port when first.
t:leen, it is equally certain that the master of the steamer, on or about the third of October, in his official log, and on the of October, in his examination-both within little the less than a month after the event-declared in the one case, and swore in the other, that she first ported and then starboarded. I am unwilling to accept the view that this alleged porting of the bark was a mere fabrication of the master and the mate to account for and justify their first movement of porting, which, upon what is now shown to be the real course of the bark, was a mistake. When the official log and the examination were signed, the master may be presumed to have known, from the libels filed before the Utopia left New York, that the bark had been upon an east by south course. This being positively given as her course in the libel, and there being no reason why she should not, with a south-west wind, hold such a course until she sighted the steamer, and the impression of the master of the steamer being positive that when he gave the order to harel a-port the bark was going to the southward of him, it was a natural conclusion of his mind that she must have ported in order to be standing across his bow when he gave that order. may thus have had its origin This notion of the bark iu what the master knew was the claim of the bark as to her course, and what he observed as to her course when he gave that order, and may have been a conclusion of his mind, working towards a possible reconciliation of these facts. So strong must have been the impression, then, that she ported, that in the official log he and the mate actually make the starboarding following that movement of the bark, which proves to have been purely imaginary, the real cause of the collision; for the official log distinctly stites that when, in consequence of that movement, the stea.mer was compelled to starboard, the collision was already inevitable. This Idea had become modi- , fred when he was examined before the receiver of wrecks, for there, while he still adheres to the first p,orting of the bark, he takes 'great pains, apparently, by a. postscript, to point out:
that, in his opinion, the collision did not become inevitable until the bark ported the second time. Without noticing here· the gross contradictions between these two official statements, and between each of them, and the testimony of the master and the mate, it is enough to observe, as bearing on the question now under consideration, and the probability of those on the steamer being mistaken in their first dim observation of the bark through the fog, that the view which they got of her must indeed have been indistinct and uncertain, if the impression of it on their minds was so plastic that their imaginations, working on that impression so soon after the event, can have created the positive belief in their minds of a movement of the bark by porting, which supposed movement proves now to have been a mere creation of the imagination, or a conclusion of what they thought must have been done from what they also thought they saw being done. What reliance can be placed upon optical impressions so plastic and unreal, so little fixed and certain, so susceptible of shifting appearances? Assuming, then, that the course of the bark, when first seen, was east by south, and that she was not crossing the bow of the steamer, but was pointing, though at a very slight angle, to leeward .of her, the next point in dispute is the speed of the steamer. It is claimed on the part of the bark that the steamer was running at a speed of lli knots an hour. The steamer admits about nine knots. On this point the preponderance of the testimony is against the steamer. It. is true that the witnesses from the steamer testify to their opinions that the speed she was making was eight and a half or nine knots, but such evidence is of little value if based on mere observation of the progress of the vessel through the water. The master, however, testifies that the telegraph, up to the time the bark was sighted, stood at "full speed ahead," and on this point the chief engineer says her utmost speed, under steam alone, was 111 to knots. She was carrying her fore try-sail, Iriain try-sail, fore stay-sail and jib-all large
BUNGE V. STEA.MSHIP UTOPIA.
sails-and they were full and drawing. The sea was smooth. The master testified that these sails were carried merely to steady the ship, and he thought they gave her no increase of speed. The opinion of another witness, a competent expert, was that they would give her, at least, an additional knot and a.. half an hour. The fog had set in about noon. There was no evidence of any order whatever being given to slacken the speed after the fog set in, and before the bark was sighted. But the chief engineer was called, and testified that after the fog set in they used coal from a particular bunker, which, he says, contained inferior coal, and that the engine was not making the full number of revolutions required for full speed. But the testimony of this witness, under the circumstances, seems to me not sufficient to prove the inferiority of the coal to an extent that would so largely reduce the speed of the steamer. The witness is not shown to be an expert in the quality of coal. No other evidence is produced to the fact, . although if true it might be produced. And if the engineer thus allowed the speed to run down, or purposely took measures to produce that result, he was acting in direct violation of the order from the bridge, which stood at "full speed ahead." Moreover, he testifies to the number of revolutions from memory merely, though he was examined more than five months after the collision, and although he kept a log in which the number of rev-olutions was noted, which was neither produced nor used to refresh the recollection of the witness at or before his examination. Nor was the assistant engineer, who was on watch, examined as a witness. Aside, however, from the evidence given in the case touching this que.stion of speed, there has been, in the course of the trial, such an evident suppression of testimony on the part of the steamer that all presumptions are on this point against her. The mate of the steamer was examined before the trial, in New York, in February, 1879. On his direct examination he testified that thi speed of the steamer was about eight and
knots. On his cross-examination it appeared that the ship's log contained an entry as to her speed, signed by him and the master; that this entry was made from the report of the quartermaster. The libellant's counsel called upon the e 1limant's counsel to produce the ship's log, in order that the witness might be examined in reference to this entry. This :request was refused, although the log was shown to be in New York, and accessible. This refusal to produce a contemporaneous record, made by the witness himself, in the course of his duty, when the same was required, lost the accuracy or good faith of his statement on direct examination, which tended strongly to exonerate his side of the case, on a critical point in dispute between the parties, will admit only one construction, and that is that if the log had been produced it would not have aided the steamer's case. There is also evidence that one of the quartermasters not called was charged with the duty of ascertaining the speed of the ship by throwing the log, and the result of his observation was noted in what was called the "scrap log." This log was called for by the libellants on the trial, but not produced, the non-production being excused by want of sufficient notice; but the fact is uncontested that a constant observation and noting of the sj!8ed were made on board the steamer, and yet only the most uncertain evidence of speed, from the estimate and judgment of the witnesses, was produced, and the evidence which could alone have afforded a reasonable degree of certainty-if, in fact, she was not going at full speed--was not produced, or was suppressed. Further confirmation of the fact that the steamor was making at least 11 knots an hour is to be found in the computation minuted by the master on his diagram, in which, in laying down the course and movements of the steamer, he estimated her average speed, while under her hard a-port wheel, to be 10 knots, although his diagram indicates that, at the same time that he ported, he stopped his engines, and his testimony indicates that he gave the order to slow the engine d the time that he ordered the wheel hard a-port. The next question to be determined is the distance the ves-
BUNGE t1. STEAMSHIP UTCPU..
sels were apart when they first came in sight of each other. On this point there is a very great conflict between the testimony from the bark and the testimony from the steamer, but no substantial conflict between the testimony from the bark and the official log signed by the master and mate, and the . examination dictated and sworn to b;y the master before the receiver of wrecks. The witnesses from the bark estimate the distance at three or four ship's lengths. The captain of the bark puts it at a cable's length and a half, which would make it 1,100 feet. The master of the steamer says "a good mile." The mate says more than a mile, and he swore that vessels could be seen two miles off. Most of the witnesses from the steamer refused to give any judgment by ship's lengths, or by the steamer's lengths, and their estimates vary greatly. The statement of the collision in the official log, it seems to me, strongly confirms the case of the bark that the distance was' very short and the succession of events up to the collision very rapid. Thus, it says: "Weather thick, with rain; clearing at intervals; steamer proceeding with careful attention to the state of the weather; suddenly a ship was sighted nearly ahead," etc. The use of the word "suddenly" in this connection shows that the appearance "as unexpectedly near; that it came upon them suddenly. It necessarily suggests that they found themselves in close quarters with her. It is not such an expression as would be likely to be used if she were a mile or half a mile away. It goes on: "When we slowed engines and stopped, ship and. steamer ported, but instantly the ship kept away, compelling' the steamer to starboard. The ship, at this time, was dangerously close to the steamer, and a collision being inevitable the engines were reversed," etc. As we have seen, the porting of the ship was a mistake. The apparent keeping away of the ship merely their first accurate observation of her course, which did not take place till after the steamer ported, and which must have been immediately after the steamer ported, because the rapid movement of both out of the
fog towards each other would leave time only for a momentary delusion. And so the log says, with reference to the porting of the steamer, "instantly" the ship kept away. The starboarding of the steamer is represented as immediately following on this movement of the ship, and the vessels were already in instant peril of an inevitable collision. Nothing can be plainer than that this official log makes the distance very short, and the time very brief, from the point where the ship was observed to be on her east by south course to leeward of the steamer's course, to the collision. The first orders given on the steamer also show that the distance was very short The orders were "hard a-port" and "slow." Why should thb wheel have been put hard a-port, especially' if, at the same time the steamer slowed, the approaching ship being but a quarter of a point on the starboard bow, and, as then observed, making a course to the southward of the steamer's course, if she were a mile, or even a half a mile, off? The answer, as if anticipating this criticism, character. izes the movement as made "for greater caution." It was indeed, if true, upon the relative positions of the vessels as given by the steamer, extreme caution, and so much so as to suggest in itself a serious doubt as to the truth of the case she makes. At the distance apart of a mile, a comparatively slight porting of the wheel would have been all that was required, if anything, to clear the bark, her movement being all the time to the windward of the steamer's course. But the master of the steamer is not only contradicted on this poi:nt by the necessary inferences to be dmwn from the ofliciallog, and by the probable inferences to be drawn from the measures he took on seeing the bark, but in his examination before the receiver of the wrecks, dictated by himself, be expressly states the distance: "She appeared to be about one-fourth of a mile distant. Instantly put the helm hard a-port," etc. It is claimed, on the part of the steamer, that this docu. ment is not competent evidence in the cause. This is 80. The statute making it admissible has been repealed, and,
moreover, I do not see that the statute required the statement of the circumstances Of the collision to be made in any case before the receiver of wrecks, and the requirement of any such statement seems to be limited to vessels that fall into distress upon or near the coasts of the United Kingdom. See stat. utes above cited. See, also, Nothard v. Pepper, 17 C. B. (N. S.) 39; The Henry Coxon, L. B. 3 P. D. 156; The Little Lizzie, E. L. R. 13 Ad. Rec. 56. But, conceding all this, the statement is still competent evidence to contradict the testimony of the master, and to show that he has made statements of the circumstances of the collision conflicting, on the most vital points, with his testimony given upon the trial. In this view this document destroys entirely his testimony as to the distance of the two vessels apart when first seen. Upon the whole evidence, I have had no difficulty in reaching the conclusion that the vessels were not more than a quarter of a mile apart when they first made each other dimly through the fog. It is unnecessary to refer in detail to all the evidence relied on and discussed by as bearing. on this question. On the part of the steamer it is claimed that both vessels swung fu:rther on their changes of wheel than is consistent with this view. But there is much the same element of uncertainty in these estimates of the numbe! of points a vessel swings to port or starboard-either vessel on which the witness stands or the vessel he is watching-that there is about the judgment of distances and periods of time. The evidence relied on is mostly of this character. The attempt to fix with certainty the number of points that the steamer swung to starboard under hef hard a-port wheel, and to port under her hard a-starboard wheel,by the evidence of the wheelsman, is a good deal weakened by fact that he could not give the heading of the steamer after either change, but only had a recollection of the number of points she changed. At any rate, I think his testimony is not suffieient to outweigh the great preponderance of the: proof, othe.rwise in favor of the bl,lork. movements of
the bark and the testimony of her witnesses strongly corroborate the official log as to the sudd'tlnness and close proximity in which the vessels appeared to each other, and the imminence of the danger from the beginning. Measnring the time and the distance by what was actually done on both vessels, and the time required to do it, and by the speed of the vessels as .they approached each other, the distance of a quarter of a mile, and a minute or less in time, will most perfectly account for and harmonize with the proved facts of tue coHision. It is among other circumstances, that the sails of the bark were full when she struck. This would have boen impossible if she luffed so much, as is claimed on the part of the steamer. The next question is whether the collision was already inevitable when the bark lnffed. If, as testified to by on the steamer, she was then three points on the starboard bow of the steamer, and an eighth of a mile away, clearly the collision was not inevitable, and the bark, being already clear of the steamel', threw herself directly in the way of danger. The luffing of the bark can be justified only, if at all, on the ground that it was in extremis; that either the collision was already inevitable, and the movement of the bark only changed the place and direction of the blow, or that she had been brought into such a position of extreme peril by the fault of the steamer, and the danger of collision was so great, if she kept her course, that the error of judgment, if it was one, in luffing to avoid the peril, was par. donable. The Bywell Castle, E. L. R. 4: P. D. 219. The latter alternative I do not find it necessary to determine, because there is proof enough that when the bark ported the collision was inevitable. This question is, of course, very closely connected with the question of the distance at which the vessels sighted one another, and the question how far they swung from their respective courses on their changes of wheel. The master of the steamer testifies that if the bark had kept on her course to the southward, across his bow, and the steamer had kept on her course with her hard a-port wheel, they would have gone clear and passed,
BUNGE 11. STEAMSHIP UTOPIA.
Mch other at a distance, as he judged, of an eighth of a mile. As he was entirely mistaken in respect to the course of the bark when he put his wheel hard a-port, his testimony does not show us how far apart he thinks they would have passed, the bark being upon the course she was on, to the leeward, as he afterwards discovered she was. But he and the mate have answered that question in the official log, where they say, "but instantly the ship kept away," which, as we have seen, is to be interpreted as meaning, in the light of the facts, tbat "the ship was seen to be on a course to leeward;" and they say of this "keeping away" of the ship: "The ship kept away, compelling the steamer. to starboard. The sbip at this time was dangerously close to tbe steamer, and, a collision being inevitable, the engines were reversed, full speed astern, when sbe suddenly ported," etc. It was tbe judgment of the master of the bark that if he had kept his course, instead of luffing, the steamer would have struck the bark on tbe starboard quarter. His judgment at the time is tbus confirmed by that of the master and mate of the steamer when they signed tbe official log so soon after the collision. The learned counsel for the claimants bave made very light of this official log as evidence, and the master himself has, upon the trial, treated it as a mere formal matter, a document of no consequence, a statement of the collision which was near enough to the truth for the purpose for which it was made. I cannot so regard it. Great importance, it seems to me, has been given to the official log by the merchant shipping act. It is expressly made evidence in any court, subject to all just exceptions. The compliance with the statute requiring it to be made is enforced by penalties, and it seems to me that facts stated in it must, as against the skip, be taken to be true, expressly where it is made and signed by those chiefly having knowledge of tbe facts, unless a mistake is olearly shown. The case cited to show that the log is not competent evidenoe . has no application. That was a case in which the
entry in the log made by a deceased mate was offered as evidence Jor the ship. The Henry Coxon, ut supra. It is argued that the act only requires a statement of the fact of collision, the names of the vessels, the time, whether day or night, and the casualties attending it. This, it seems to me, would be a very narrow construction of the words "circumstances under which the same occurred," and I see nothing in the cases cited as limiting the construction of the act. In the present case it is inconceivable that the master and mate should admit in this document, which was drawn up by the master's dictation, that the collision was inevitable before the bark ported, unless that was in fact their judgment at the time. They had every inducement to state their case as favorably for their steamer as their partial judgment of the facts would allow, and yet, knowing that the bark changed her course just before the collision, and knowing also that this was a fatal fault if not in extremis, they say explicitly that the collision was inevitable when she ported, and charge the collision to her fault in first porting, and then, after the Eiteamer had ported to conform to that movement of the bark, suddenly, and in violation of the rules of navigation, starboarding. This concurrence of those in charge of both vessels ought to be conclusive on the court. There is, however, in the evidence, other confirmation of the judgment thus expressed by the officers of both vessels. The order to luff was given because the master of the bark saw that the steamer was famug off; that is, going to leeward under her port wheel. If the order to put the wheel hard a-starboard had been given on board the steamer when the order to luff was given, there was certainly nothing in the movement of the steamer, as seen from the bark, to indicate that her wheel was changed. The starboarding of the steamer and the luffing of the bark must have been, therefore, almost simultaneous, and not in .the order testified to by those on the steamer, who put the luffing of the bark after the steamer had got fairly on her course to windward under her hard a-starboard wheel, which
would be a maneuver on the part of the bark so absurd as to be proved only by a very greai weight of concurring testi. mony. The steamer, by putting her wheel hard a-starboad, virtually admitted that it was too dangerous to keep on across the bows of the bark while she was going to leeward, and this movement of the master of the steamer strongly confirms the judgment of the master of the bark that if both the vessels had kept on the bark would have been struck on the starboard side. If, as may be properly assumed, the situation was so urgent, as the master of the steamer anderstood it, as to require him to put his wheel hard a-port when he first saw the bark, the danger of collision must have been many times greater when, to escape a collision by persevering in that course, he changed his wheel to hard a-starboard. The vessels were much nearer together, and the swing of the steamer to starboard had to be broken before she would begin to swing to port. If the vessels were very near together, as seems to have been the case, the tendency of the movement was to bring the steamer directly down on. the bark. Many other parts of the testimony have been commented on by the counsel as bearing upon the disputed questions of fact. It would prolong this opinion too much to notice them in detail. They have all been considered with care in reach' ing the foregoing conclusions. The fault was clearly on the part of the steamer. With a fog so thick that vessels could only be dimly seen at a quarter of a mile, she was running at a speed of over 11 knots an hour. This was not that moderate rate of speed which the rules of navigation :require. This was the primary and chief cause of the collision. When the vessels first sighted each other each made a mistake in respect to the other. The bark took the steamer to be a sailing vessel, and the steamer mistook the course the bark was on. This mistake of the steamer cannot, in itself, be accounted as a fault. But the steaiDer was in fault; considering her immoderate speed and the nearness of the bark, and the indistinctness with which she could be seen, in not at once stopping. By merely slowing,instead
of stopping, she was brought so "dangerously close" to the bark, as the official log states, when she discovered her mistake, that the collision was then inevitable. The bark did not change her course to port by the first movement of her wheel. That movement of her wheel, if it had had some slight effect, would have been excusable, because the vessel ahead did not appear, at the time, to be a steamer, and the fog was so dense that she could not be made out. The luffing of the bark was in extremis, and after the collision had become inevitable by the fault of the steamer. Decrees for the with costs, and refel'ences to compute damages.
GREEN '/J. S'fEAMER HELEN.
(D/aerie' Oowrt, D. MMyland. March 24, 1880.)
COLLISION-NEGLIGENT RATE OF SPEED-UNLAWFUL ANCHORING OF VE8IEL-DAMAGES.-Where a steamer collides with a vessel, unlawfully anchored in an improper and dangerous place, while negligently maintaining too high a rate of speed, the damages will be equally divided. POLICE REGULATION-STATUTORY PROVISION CONSTITUTIONAL.-An act of the legislature of the state of Maryland, (1867, c. 295,) declaring that it should not be lawful to anchor any boat in a river of the state, within certian prescribed limits, in order to keep the channel free from 0 bstructions to navigation, is not unconstitutional, as an attempt to regulate commerce among the several states, where such provision does not conflict with any regulation of congress.-
Handy IX Hodson, for libellant. Crisfield et Dennis, for claimant.
MORRIS, J. The allegations of the libellant are that his schooner, the Wm. H. Roach, 28 tons register, of Crisfield, Md., was, on the morning of the second of December, 1878, .,lying in the harbor of Crisfield, at anchor, in a manner not contrary to law, having on board 900 bushels of oysters; that about 5 o'clock A. M., while it was yet dark, the steamer Helen (lame upon her from the south·west, out of the usual track
Beef Slough Manujacturing, etc., Co., ante, 145.
GREEN V. STEAMER HELEN.
of said steamer, at a high rate of speed, and ran into and so damaged her that she soon filled with water and sank; that at the time a proper light, as required by law, was brightly burning in her forward rigging, which could have been easily seen, with proper vigilance, by those navigating the steamer, in time to have avoided the collision. The claimant, by his answer, alleges that the steamer Heien, of was on her usual route from Baltimore to Crisfield, expecting to arrive at the railroad wharf at Crisfield on her schedule time of 5 o'clock; that the night was very dark, with occasional rain, and the wind blowing hard from the south· west; that the steamer was proceeeding cautiously, at a rate not more than sufficient for steerage, with two men on the lookout far forward in the bow, one all each side,' and with her.captain and pilot in the wheel-house; that when on her usual course, about the center of the chaunel, and about 200 yards from the railroad wharf for which she was steering, . the lights of two vessels were seen, one on her port and one on her starboard bow, but with ample room to pass between them; that when nearly abreast of the two lights the look·. outs and officers saw the reflection of the steamer's head-light on the masts of a vessel under the steamer's bow, not more than 75 to 100 feet ahead, which afterwards proved to be the libellant's schooner Roach; that the engines were at once reversed, but there was not time to avoid the collision, although the headway of the steamer was checked, so that. the blow was not violent; that the Roach was lying acrOBS the channel, and in the usual track. of the steamer, and had no light upon her, and was so heavily ladened that not more than a foot of her hull was above water, and the night was so very dark that it was impossible to have seen her sooner; that the schooner was anchored in a place forbidden by law, and although in a dangerous and forbidden place had no lookout or watch; that the steamer, knowing it was the constant habit and practice of the Roach and other vessels of her class to anchor in that part of the channel, although by law forbidden 80 to do, used every precaution to gua.rd against accident, bu.

domain: history


We tell ya, some proud folks work at InvenSense. After boasting last year about its Wii MotionPlus-powering IDG-600 motion sensor, the company is set to gloat once more at E3 this year. The cause for celebration? Its 6-axis motion processing solution, which it's calling a world's first. Said solution weds its IME-3000 3-axis accelerometer with its IDG dual-axis family of gyros in order to produce a wicked small 6-axis motion sensor. In theory, at least, this creation is small enough to add MotionPlus-like capabilities to smartphones and other ridiculously small devices, with even TV remotes holding the promise of one day letting you "roll through" the EPG. Currently, the only big-name devices utilizing 5- or 6-axis motion functionality is Logitech's MX Air Mouse and the aforementioned MotionPlus accessory, but obviously InvenSense is hungry for more. Too bad that DSi already launched, right?


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(Lloyd Burrell) Parents are suing their son’s private school in Southborough, Massachusetts, claiming that the schools wireless Internet network is making their 12-year-old sick.
The child’s parents are requesting that the school to switch to a hardwired Ethernet connection or that they lower the radio frequency (RF) radiation levels so that their son may go back to school in September. They are also seeking financial compensation.
Wireless radiation causing “electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome”
The parents have filed a 47-page lawsuit claiming that their son, identified as “G” in the lawsuit, suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome. They contend that the radio frequency (RF) emissions from the schools new wireless network, installed in 2013, is stronger than was previously the case. They also claim that it has caused their son to have headaches, rashes, nosebleeds and nausea since then. The symptoms cease when their son leaves campus.
According to the lawsuit the new Aerohive Network doubled their prior emissions in classrooms. “Sometime after the above-described Wi-Fi system was installed, G started to experience occasional, troubling symptoms, which he reported to his parents when he came home from Fay at the end of the school day.”
In it’s defense the Fay School said that it had hired, “Isotrope, L.L.C, which specializes in measurement and analysis of radio communication signals and evaluation of emissions safety compliance. Isotrope’s assessment was completed in January 2015 and found that the combined levels of access point emissions, broadcast radio and television signals, and other RFE emissions on campus ‘were substantially less than one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of the applicable safety limits (federal and state.)”
Arguing that exposures fall within safety limits is a poor line of defense. The safety limits are completely outdated.
Current radiation safety standards are completely outdated
Existing U.S. standards for wireless/radio frequency exposures are 19 years old. They are based on the erroneous assumption that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have no biological effects unless there’s a heating effect. Yet thousands of studies have disproven this myth time and time again.
A recent expert panel on the subject of cell phones & wireless stated, “this radiation may be ‘non-thermal’, but [it] has clear and indisputable biological and health effects … the exposure guidelines fail to protect about 97 percent of the population, most especially children.”
Even sources within the government are criticizing the standards. A 2012 U.S. Government Accountability Office report said that current standards “may not reflect the latest research” and “may not identify maximum exposure [to radiation] in all possible usage conditions.”
How to measure wireless radiation
Wireless radiation exposures from Wi-Fi and cell phones can be easily and cheaply measured with a radio frequency (RF) meter.
Over the last few years a new breed of RF meters have come onto the market making RF radiation measurement literally ‘child’s play’. An RF meter measures radiation emissions in the gigahertz frequency range. It’s specifically designed to measure ambient radiation exposures from devices such as Wi-Fi routers, cell towers, cordless phones and cell phones.
To measure wireless radiation, turn your meter on and walk slowly through your home, office or school to obtain readings. An RF meter will identify radiation hotspots you never even imagined existed in places where you spend most time. Click here for a review of an inexpensive RF meter that you can use to obtain RF readings in your home or your child’s school.
Why children absorb more microwave radiation than adults
A recent research paper, Why children absorb more microwave radiation than adults: The consequences has addressed this question specifically. The authors, L. Lloyd Morgan, Santosh Kesarib, and Devra Lee Davis explain how they used computers simulation based on MRI scans of children to model absorption of the type of radiation generated by wireless networks and found, “children absorb more MWR [microwave radiation] than adults because their brain tissues are more absorbent, their skulls are thinner and their relative size is smaller.”
Another problem is that the consequences of wireless and similar electromagnetic field exposures are not immediate, “the average latency time between first exposure and diagnosis of a tumor can be decades, tumors induced in children may not be diagnosed until well into adulthood … exposure can result in degeneration of the protective mylein sheath that surrounds brain neurons”.
In the absence of sufficiently protective standards, it’s your own responsibility to take the necessary steps to safeguard you and your family’s health.
About the author: Lloyd Burrell is the founder of ElectricSense.com. His website offers solutions to the growing number of people whose health is being compromised by exposure to wireless and similar technologies….

domain: news


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Jan.7, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2012
Our beautiful, brave Greyhound left us on New Year's Eve after a battle with bone cancer. Sally was a "Millenium Puppy." She came to us at 18 months. Sally's racing name, we found out later, was Rare Treasure. If any name would've suited her better, it would've been "Tiny But Tough". She was a little miracle dog who survived many medical events. From the start, we noticed how, when Sally had "had enough," eg. got too hot on a walk, she'd go on strike, laying down until she was ready. She loved taking dips in fountains. A shy dog, she'd let folks know if they were being too forward. This was sometimes difficult for me, but she mellowed with age. And she became a marvelous family dog when our daughters arrived.
Her family, including Dave, Tammy, Stephanie and Erin, and her devoted Granny and Grampa, and their dog Canter, will miss her beautiful smile. Her horse, Lyric, will also miss her, as he counted on her to be brave when he wasn't feeling that way.
See you at the Bridge, my sweet dog, tell Cleo and Tazzie I love them too and someday we'll have a fabulous pack reunion.

domain: pet


text:
Slowing growth in China will have global implications
By most international standards, China 4% Year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter of last year was quite solid. However, while it was slightly above most analysts’ forecasts, it was the slowest expansion in 18 months — down from 6.5% in the same period in 2020. Overall, GDP grew by 8.1% in 2021. Continued cooling in China’s expansion will have global implications: According to the International Monetary Fund, China is the largest contributor to global GDP and will account for more than one-fifth of total global growth in the five years to 2026.
It is worth noting that the three main factors dragging down the Chinese economy largely stem from government policies. The months-long crackdown has targeted industries such as fintech, online education and entertainment, as well as social ills such as celebrity culture, gaming and women’s fashion trends.
The downturn in the property market is estimated to have contributed nearly 30% of GDP, stemming from Beijing’s insistence that property developers must reduce their debt ratios to within the “three red lines” announced in 2020. Evergrande Crisis, the world’s most indebted real estate company, and several other developers are investing heavily in real estate activity.
A third obstacle to growth is Beijing’sZero Covid“Strategy. About half a dozen cities are now under partial lockdown as authorities try to track down everyone who has contracted the highly contagious Omicron virus. Goldman Sachs cut its forecast for China’s GDP growth this year to 4.3 percent from 4.8 percent, saying this is in line with the Coronavirus-related restrictions are a factor.
So, at least in part, China’s slowdown is self-inflicted. But it’s hard to see Beijing giving itself much room to ease policy in these three key areas. Every element of its crackdown appears to reflect a firm official belief in industries ranging from fintech to online gaming.
Correctly assessing that debt levels are dangerously high has driven the rationalization of the housing market. Doubts about the efficacy of China’s Covid vaccine partly explain Beijing’s zero-tolerance approach to Omicron.
However, China needs to take steps to revive economic activity in response to what Ning Jingzhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, calls the “domestic economy”. . . under triple pressure of demand contraction, supply shock and weakening expectations.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping sounded a pro-growth tone in an online speech at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting on Monday. He said China’s policy “common prosperity” used to be not egalitarian Instead, it intends to “make the cake bigger first”, and then distribute it rationally through institutional arrangements. The People’s Bank of China also appeared concerned about weak growth, cutting its key lending rate on Monday for the first time since April 2020.
Further relaxation can be done in a sensible way; Beijing should reflect that its debt and property problems are partly caused by previous excess liquidity. Beijing could also step up engagement with Washington as it seeks to end the U.S.-China trade war. The removal of tariffs by both countries in 2019 and 2020 will help curb U.S. inflationary pressures, boost trade and set a more positive tone for cross-border investment, which has slumped over the past three years. That may not be enough to drive China’s GDP growth. But it would be a step in the right direction.


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For the purpose of regulating the safety of aerodromes available for public use, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Kosovo certifies the aerodromes under Regulation No. 17/2017 on requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes, in accordance with the certification standards according to requirements set out by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
All aerodromes in which the annual traffic exceeds 10,000 passengers a year, or has more than 850 aircraft movements per year for transportation of goods, must be certified by the CAA.
The latest versions of “Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC)” and “Certification Specifications (CS’s)” are available on official EASA website:
Basic conditions that must be met for certification of the aerodrome are described in detail in the above mentioned regulation.

domain: law


text:
In the bustling cityscape of Shanghai, an intriguing development emerges as Tesla, the trailblazer in electric vehicles, fortifies its presence with a strategic land acquisition for a new megapack battery manufacturing plant. This move underscores the tech giant’s unwavering commitment to advancing energy storage solutions and electric mobility on a global scale.
Upon securing a 48.7-acre plot in Shanghai for a substantial 222.42 million yuan, which translates to approximately $31.4 million, Tesla signals its intent to not only strengthen its foothold in the Chinese market but also to capitalize on the burgeoning demand for large-scale battery storage. The details of this purchase, rooted in a Chinese government statement and reported by various media outlets, reveal that the electric vehicle juggernaut is poised to break ground at the site in the first quarter of the year, with production expected to commence in the fourth quarter.
The Shanghai factory is slated to bolster Tesla’s production capabilities significantly, with an impressive capacity to produce 10,000 megapacks per year. These megapacks are at the heart of Tesla’s strategy to revolutionize the energy sector, offering a scalable energy storage solution that can be deployed quickly for utility-scale projects, thereby contributing to the stabilization of the grid and the transition towards renewable energy sources.
The company’s investment comes at a time when economic indicators and market movements are under intense scrutiny. Amidst a vibrant discourse on Twitter, Elon Musk responds to contrasting economic outlooks, emphasizing the importance of innovation and resilience in the face of potential economic headwinds. His active engagement on social media platforms not only stirs debate but also keeps Tesla’s stakeholders and the public informed about the company’s endeavors.
Alongside this development, the electric vehicle and tech market observes other noteworthy events, such as Activision Blizzard’s settlement of a gender discrimination case and Apple’s shares experiencing a downturn following an expanded ban in China. These occurrences weave into the narrative of a rapidly evolving industry where companies like Tesla not only contend with technological challenges but also navigate complex social and regulatory landscapes.
The Tesla Shanghai megapack battery unit represents more than just an expansion of production capabilities; it is a testament to the company’s strategic vision and its commitment to sustainability and innovation. With production set to start later this year, the facility is poised to play a crucial role in meeting the growing demands for renewable energy storage solutions, not just in China but across the globe.
As we continue to chart the progress of Tesla’s new venture, it becomes evident that the intersection of technology, sustainability, and market dynamics will remain a hotbed of discussion for analysts, investors, and consumers alike. Engagement with these developments is not only beneficial from an informational standpoint but also essential in fostering informed public discourse.
We encourage our readers to stay abreast of Tesla’s activities in Shanghai and the broader implications for the energy and automotive industries. By keeping a close eye on the evolution of such pivotal projects, we not only gain insights into the future of sustainable technology but also contribute to a more knowledgeable and empowered society.
In conclusion, Tesla’s land purchase in Shanghai for its upcoming megapack battery unit is a strategic step that aligns with the company’s vision of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. The anticipated impact of this facility on the energy storage market and the renewable energy sector is significant, marking another leap forward in Tesla’s ambitious journey. As this story continues to unfold, we invite our readers to engage with us, share their perspectives, and join the conversation about the transformative potential of such innovative endeavors.
What is the significance of Tesla’s land purchase in Shanghai? Tesla’s purchase of land in Shanghai for a megapack battery manufacturing plant is significant as it represents the company’s commitment to expanding its global energy storage solutions, which are vital for the transition to renewable energy and the stabilization of electric grids.
How large is the site for Tesla’s new megapack battery unit in Shanghai? The site for Tesla’s new megapack battery unit in Shanghai covers 48.7 acres.
How much did Tesla pay for the land in Shanghai? Tesla paid 222.42 million yuan, approximately $31.4 million, for the land in Shanghai where the megapack battery manufacturing plant will be built.
When is Tesla expected to start production at the Shanghai megapack battery unit? Production at Tesla’s Shanghai megapack battery unit is expected to start in the fourth quarter of the year.
What is the production capacity of the Shanghai factory for megapacks? The Shanghai factory is expected to have the capacity to produce 10,000 megapacks per year.
Our Recommendations – “Empowering Sustainability: Insights from Tesla’s Shanghai Venture”
Based on the strategic move by Tesla to acquire land for its megapack battery unit in Shanghai, we recommend keeping a close eye on the company’s advancements in the energy storage sector. This development not only signifies Tesla’s commitment to sustainable energy but also highlights China’s role as a pivotal market for renewable energy technologies. For stakeholders and environmentally conscious consumers, Tesla’s actions resonate with a broader movement towards a sustainable future. We at G147 encourage our readers to follow these developments and consider the broader implications for energy policy, grid stability, and climate change initiatives.
What’s your take on this? Let’s know about your thoughts in the comments below!


Files for Loading into External Tables
allow direct access of data located in the
operating system level files by using the SQL
interface within the database. It is a way of
reading and writing files into and out of the
database. Note that one cannot write to an
existing external table.
Data stored in operating system level
files (ASCII filer) can be accessed as if they
are a table with rows and columns. Joins and
views can be constructed with data in the O/S
file and logical database tables.
For all practical purposes, external tables act
the same as the usual tables; however, the data
is not stored with the Oracle data files.
are a great way to load the data into a database
and do data processing. Inserts, updates, and
index creation are not allowed on an external
A DROP TABLE statement issued against an
external table removes the table metadata only;
the operating system file is not removed.
There is no restriction as to where the external
table data file has to be located. In a RAC
database system, it can be located on the local
file system or on shared disk. For the sake of
concurrent access, it becomes more meaningful to
keep the external table file on a shared
storage. This allows for transparent access to
the external table so that any instance in the
RAC database should be able to read it at the
operating system level (ASCII). This is possible
only if the external table file is located on a
Oracle Cluster Registry (OCR)
The OCR contains
cluster and database configuration information
for RAC and Cluster Ready Services
(CRS) such as the cluster node list, instance to
node mapping, and CRS application resource
The OCR is a shared file located in a cluster
file system. When not using a cluster file
system, the OCR file can be located on a shared
raw device in UNIX-based systems or a shared
logical partition in Windows environments. If
more than one database is created on the
cluster, they all share the same Oracle cluster
The voting disk file must reside on shared
The voting disk file manages information
for node membership.
Oracle recommends using multiple voting
ORACLE_HOME Files (Oracle Binaries)
Typically, every instance in Oracle 11g RAC will
have its own ORACLE_HOME and a set of exclusive
binaries. However, the Oracle binaries are
located either on a local file system or on a
clustered file system. Locating the Oracle home
(binaries) on a clustered file system provides
easier management by keeping a single copy of
Oracle home supporting all the instances.
A common Oracle home for multiple instances has
some advantages because it helps to easily
expand the nodes and shrink the nodes as needed.
It helps the dynamic addition and expansion of
nodes without bothering with a fresh install of
the Oracle binaries for the new instance. This
feature is useful for large clusters, and it
fits into the grid strategy of easier addition
and reduction of computing resources.
UNDO Tablespace Files
UNDO tablespaces are special tablespaces that
have system undo segments. They contain before
images of blocks involved in uncommitted
transactions. As such, they are the primary
support structure allowing a transaction to
rollback if the decision is made to not commit
Tables and indexes cannot be created in
the undo tablespace.
A database can have more than one undo
tablespace, but only one can be used at one
time. Automatic undo management is the default
mode for an 11g database.
DBCA will automatically create an undo
tablespace named UNDOTBS1.


text:
I have been going to nino for years and have tried so many different things from their menu but never their desserts. I recently went before Ramadan and saw that they had a new menu and after we finished the food we really wanted dessert but didn’t know where to go so we saw the desserts and ordered. I saw that they had crème brulee and I ordered that because it is my all-time favorite dessert. We also ordered the banana fried rolls. (Not sure what it’s called)
The fried banana roll came with a side of icecream and the crème brulee was very creamy and both tasted very good in my opinion. If you haven’t tried nino’s dessert than I would recommend it! :D
Nino is located in the avenues phase 1 and also by the seaside on gulf street.
Telephone: 22541900, 22597379.

domain: food


text:
Situated close to the spectacular beach, the 5-star Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort offers 106 rooms. The comfortable hotel, built in 2004, is renowned for its traditional architecture.
The hotel boasts good location next to Chaweng Beach, Hat Rin and Samui Crocodile Farm. The property lies within 4 km from the city center.
A short walk to a cove and palm trees as well as slopes.
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort is within a 5-minute drive to Koh Samui airport.
Modern rooms feature elegant décor with luxury furniture. Some rooms at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort have a view over the garden. They also have en suite bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer and a shower.
Eat & Drink
The hotel features an air-conditioned restaurant serving international cuisine. Guests can try coffee and cocktails served in the café bar. Full Moon and H Bistro at Hansar Samui are situated in a vibrant area, about 50 meters away of the property.
A full breakfast is served at affordable prices.
The hotel offers housekeeping, medical service and free shuttle bus service together with a beauty shop, a designated smoking place and a free private car park for guests' comfort.
A kids' club, babysitting and cribs are available for children. The on-site activities include sailing, snorkeling and windsurfing.
Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free.
Free private parking is possible on site.

domain: travel


text:
CONSTRUCTION FOR CHANGE: a nonprofit construction company
We believe that by building infrastructure, we are building opportunity. From schools to medical facilities to community buildings that house vocational training, our network is dedicated to alleviating poverty in the world’s most under-resourced areas. We partner with community-based NGO’s to develop infrastructure and we recruit professional volunteers to manage these projects. These volunteers train and employ local workers and source local materials, allowing for significant investment in the regional economy. We provide pro-bono design and comprehensive project management through our network of expert volunteers and Change Fellows. The resulting strong, sustainable, environmentally sound facilities help to break the cycle of poverty.
819,400 is the number of lives positively impacted by facilities built by Construction for Change.
Construction for Change does #givingtuesday
30/30 Project, Construction for Change.
We are thrilled to announce that Construction for Change will be participating in this year’s Giving Tuesday! #GivingTuesday was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. Together, with a team of influencers.
Make a Donation
Your donation will be used to increase access to healthcare, create education equity, and promote social justice across our world.
Partner with Us
We exist to support other nonprofit organizations looking to build or improve its facilities. We believe a physical space can transform a person’s experience and future; we believe infrastructure can help to end the cycles of poverty. We are here to build with you.
Building safe, sustainable infrastructure for nonprofits across the world. We believe by allowing these organizations to focus on providing access to healthcare, education and economic opportunity, together, we can end global poverty.
What We’re Working On
Right now, we are raising funds to build a healthcare clinic with FIMRC in Bududa District, Uganda – a community that faces HIV/AIDS levels twice the national average. But it doesn’t end there: the average annual income in Bududa District is $200/year, leaving the majority of the population in extreme poverty. This 30/30 Project will provide the community with much-needed access to quality, comprehensive healthcare.
Where Does the Money Go?
Your $200 gift may purchase the materials needed to bring electricity to a secondary school for the first time. This allows for better teaching and an enhanced learning environment for students eager to obtain an education. A gift of $140 can pay a month’s fair wages to a local team member hired to build with CfC. This ensures when we leave a project site, it’s not just our partners and their constituents who benefit, it truly is the whole community. These are just a few examples. Whether your interest is in tertiary education, primary care for young families or vocational training for women – rest assured our team is identifying effective partner organizations spearheading high-impact projects across the globe.

domain: sociology


text:
Can you remember how 2020 began? Perhaps you still remember waking up on the cold morning of January 1st to messages and calls from friends, families and loved ones wishing you a happy new year. Or maybe you did not even sleep at all, you were probably busy sending New Year wishes to people within your network. Do you still remember the New Year resolutions? Or the warm feeling that comes with every New Year? By now your mind is probably taking a short trip down memory lane to the happy moment that was just about six months ago. While 2020 may have begun like every other year, seven months into the year, the entire world has been taken aback by unprecedented events the scale of which continues to confound historians, analysts, politicians, professionals and more or less everyone with access to news.
The first few weeks of 2020 saw an increase in political tension between the United States and Iran, which led to a series of jokes on social media about an impending third world war. Of course, this was hardly the first time the world got to the threshold of a world war; in fact, there have been more tenuous scenarios that almost led to nuclear wars, for example, the Cuban missile crisis. Be that as it may, reports of the brawl between US and Iran soon dissipated and not long after the world was shaken by the untimely death of basketball superstar, Kobe Bryant and his young daughter. It was a great loss for the world of sports, fans and many others whose lives had been positively impacted by the late basketball legend.
By February, the coronavirus pandemic, which had already subjugated Asia and Europe, had begun infiltrating North America and many parts of Africa. March and April 2020 are going to be known to many as months of lockdown, around this time the coronavirus pandemic had overrun virtually all health systems in the world with Europe, Asia and North America recording several thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths. Economic activities, schools, religious gatherings among others were shut down as many countries had to impose mandatory lockdown in order to seize back control. It is perhaps surprising that despite these strict measures, the daily numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases as well as death kept skyrocketing. It was a nightmare indeed. The month of May came with a sigh of relief as countries began to ease lockdown restrictions and economic activities began to recuperate, though this did not happen in some countries until June. Now, even though the pandemic is far from over, we can almost safely assume that the worst is behind us. Our deepest thoughts and prayers goes to those who have lost friends or families to the pandemic.
While the coronavirus pandemic might have been the major highlight of the first half of 2020, it certainly is not the only world-changing event to have occurred during this period. The resurgence of Black Lives Matter protest following the controversial death of Gorge Floyd at the hands of police officers in the United State remains a major event that continues to have global significance. In the United States, there have been numerous protests, some peaceful, others not so much, involving vandalism, pulling down of statues and others. In many other countries across the world, there have been similar protests and here in Nigeria, there is the ongoing debate as to the need to rename monuments and streets that were named after colonial imperialists as well as the move by the Lagos state house of assembly to ratify such.
In conclusion, without doubt 2020 has been an eventful year, even though many of its major happenings have been largely undesirable. Interestingly, we have only completed half of the year, which implies that there is more than enough time for additional events to take place. While we patiently await whatever surprise is lurking around we can only hope that the second half of the year will be much better than its counterpart.
Stay safe and stay positive!
July 2020 Editorial


text:
In what promises to be the most interesting exhibition of the season, eight local artists have created site-specific, fantasy-themed work that takes a fresh look and creates a new feel for the historic Victoria Mansion in Portland.
“Victoria’s Wonderama” opens Friday and will remain on display through April 21. The exhibition will also be open for special hours during the First Friday Art Walk on April 6, with a reduced admission price of $5.
Those involved are some of the best-known contemporary artists working locally today: Greta Bank, Stephen Burt, Tom Couture, Brendan Ferri, Mike Libby, Christian Matzke, Scott Peterman and David Twiss.
They’ve created new work that builds on the wonder and fantasy of the Victoria Mansion and the Victorian culture that was prevalent when the house was built in the late 1850s.
Lisa Pixley, a Portland printmaker, curated the show.
“I was having dinner with some friends, and we were talking about how fun it would be if we did a younger-demo event at the Victoria Mansion,” Pixley said. “It’s just such an interesting place, and offers a window into another era.”
The motivating idea behind “Victoria’s Wonderama” is based on fantasy and wonder.
The mansion itself, which was built as a summer home for a wealthy family, is way over the top. The pre-Civil War structure is ornate and spectacular; palatial in its scale and proportions.
Its interiors feature elegant furniture, period lighting fixtures, carpets, stained glass, silver, glassware and porcelain. The painted trompe l’oeil wall and ceiling decorations blend with gilded surfaces, intricate plaster work, oversized mirrors and engulfing fabrics. It is embarrassingly lavish, designed to showcase the wealth of its owners.
The Victoria Mansion is significant because it remains one of America’s finest surviving examples of architecture and interior design from that period. The interiors are 90 percent intact from the time of their creation, and as such, the house stands as a time capsule to an era that sometimes feels more distant than it actually is.
For the show, Pixley recruited artists whose work she associates with fantasy and who bend the line between make-believe and reality.
“They had such an over-the-top fantasy life during the Victorian era. In society and all the cultural mores and how they interacted with each other, it was so rich, and had to support that fantasy with the objects they surrounded themselves with,” she said.
“I wanted to call on artists who play with that idea in their work. The people we recruited are artists who realize fantasy through the physicality of the objects they create.”
Bank will exhibit tooled leather sculptures and re-imagined furniture. Twiss shows a shroud made of intricate cut lace.
Peterman, who is best known for his photographs of ice shacks, explores lenticular photography, which is a holographic medium traditionally used in toys and novelty cards. Couture will show a series of photos that depict narratives within the mansion.
Libby, who creates insects made with mechanical parts, will present a large trompe-l’oeil tableau that reflects the painted work in the house. Burt takes inspiration from the stained glass windows to create a painted glass window.
Matzke creates work that reflects an alternate reality in which Portland has been conquered by Mars invaders. Similarly, Ferri taps into the idea of an alternate universe by presenting a machine lost in time along with other technologies.
The new work is distributed through the house. Almost every room features something new to complement the old, offering visitors the chance for a complete and revealing tour.
Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or [email protected]

domain: artistic


text:
When it comes to engaging in discussions about objectification, Playboy has a long, vibrant history. Ever since British film theorist Laura Mulvey introduced the concept of the male gaze in her 1973 essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,” the conversation of who gets to objectify whom, and when, and under what circumstances, has found a place in just about every corner of cultural discourse, from what female politicians should wear on the campaign trail to the rise of (and impetus behind) feminist porn to how women—and their sexualities—are portrayed in media.
But we’re not here to ignite another conversation about the wrongfulness of complicit objectification—at least not today. Instead, let’s confront a more joyful truth on the other end of the spectrum: it can feel good to be looked at. As Cameron Diaz said in 2012, “There’s a little part of you at all times that hopes to be somewhat objectified, and I think it’s healthy.” Let’s call it “conscious objectification.”
While conversations about feeling objectified primarily center on women as the object, men too can be objects, although they rarely are. Today, Grammy-nominated artist Charli XCX showed what that can look like with the release of the testosterone-filled video for her new single, “Boys,” and good news: it’s pretty damn fun.
Featuring famous men from all industries in varying levels of physical fitness and undress—including Brendan Urie, Cobra Snake, Diplo, Jack Antonoff, Jay Park, Joe Jonas, Khalid, The Fat Jew, Ty Dolla Sign and Wiz Khalifa—the video, directed by Charli, is a parody of every male-directed video released by a male artist whose sole narrative has been “Here’s some hot, nearly naked women dancing to my song.” Charli’s video isn’t as bare-skinned as Tyga’s “Make It Nasty,” Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” or even Van Han Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” (featuring August 1975 Playmate Lillian Müller), but it’s motive is nonetheless obvious and successful: objectify the fuck out of these men as they show off their masculinity and make sure everyone is having fun in the process. Why is this video so damn good? Because it’s a pleasure-minded approach to art that is too often ignored or ridiculed in a time when sex and pleasure are so highly politicized.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be noticed. Attracting the attention of others is why we filter our selfies before posting, why we sign up for CrossFit even if we never go and why we wear our special $150 jeans that hug just right on Friday night. Our sex lives rely on our ability to be objectified, and sex is a biological imperative.
Charli’s “Boys” video, as a simultaneous celebration of role reversal and objectification, is a gift to both women and men. A pink-hued, exuberant and joyful satire on masculinity, “Boys” playfully reminds us of the merits of consensual objectification and the work we put in toward achieving it. More than that, the video for “Boys” reminds us that women now have just as much power to objectify men as men do women. We need to appreciate this.
Feeling objectified works in tandem with one’s sense of autonomy or ownership.
Thanks to female public figures like Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Eva Mendes actively owning their bodies and sexualities, modern conversations about objectification have been able to evolve as of late. As Mendes related to W in 2010, feeling objectified works in tandem with one’s sense of autonomy or ownership. “I’ve never had a problem with nudity, but I don’t put it out there without a reason,” she said. “I know I walk a fine line between being a respected actor and being what they call a sex symbol. But I’ve never felt objectified. Nothing you see me do is an accident.”
With her latest video, Charli is enforcing the less-explored male point-of-view. In other words, let’s have men see what it feels like to be gawked at—but let’s make sure both genders enjoy it in the process. Previously, in the 2014 video for “I Luh Ya Papi,” Lopez cast herself aboard a yacht full of perfectly tan and oiled-up male models whose bodies were fully dissected by the camera. In her 2012 video for “Girls Gone Wild,” Madonna similarly casted a chorus of chiseled backup dancers—but seized their masculinity by outfitting them in stilettos. That’s the beautiful, and perhaps most exciting, thing about objectification in 2017: women can now tackle it just as forcefully as men have for decades. In Charli’s version, these aren’t just nameless babes, but equally famous guys who are being ogled.
Back in 2015, Hollywood’s newly christened ubermensch Chris Pratt said, “If we really want to advocate for equality, it’s important to even things out. Not objectify women less, but objectify men just as often as we objectify women.” Charli’s video is proof that we’re starting to get closer, and that might be one of the greatest milestones in our march toward true gender equality.


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The need for safe and effective treatment against the various strains of COVID-19 increase, and investigators continue to assess various pharmacologic options.
Availability of COVID-19 vaccinations has been an issue for many regions of the world effected by the pandemic.1 Barriers to access and concerns over the vaccination continue to enable the development of viral mutations, whereas overall rates of vaccination have continued to stall.1 The need for safe and effective treatment against the various strains of COVID-19 increase, and investigators continue to assess various pharmacologic options. Antivirals and immunologic therapies that had shown efficacy in trials have continued to diminish in efficacy as mutations emerge.2 Other pharmacologic options studied have failed to show any clinical benefit for patients.3 Finding medications that have clinical efficacy continues to be of the highest importance.
Reis and colleagues evaluated the clinical efficacy of fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a σ-1 receptor agonist, at reducing the progression of COVID-19 to hospitalization.4,5 The appeal of medications in these classes include the widespread availability and affordability of these agents, alongside the well-documented safety profile.4 It is hypothesized that fluvoxamine could prove efficacious because of its anti-inflammatory and possible antiviral effects.4,5 A smaller, randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that higher-dosed fluvoxamine reduced hospitalizations and requirements in supplemental oxygen among mildly symptomatic, outpatient adults.6
The TOGETHER trial (NCT04727424) evaluated several repurposed pharmacologic therapies against COVID-19 in a multiarm, 1-to-1, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial among 11 sites in Brazil. Patients met criteria for inclusion if they were older than 18 years of age, had a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test at screening or within the previous 7 days, and had presented to an outpatient care clinic for COVID-19 symptoms, beginning within the previous 7 days. Patients were required to be unvaccinated and have a high-risk condition, including diabetes, hypertension requiring medication, cardiovascular disease, certain respiratory conditions (including asthma and smoking), a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease, immunosuppression, or current or recent cancer. Patients were excluded if they required hospitalization for COVID-19, had an illness caused by other viral pathogens, had an inability to use SSRIs, or had dyspnea attributed to another acute or chronic lung disease, such as decompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.4
Patients were randomly assigned to start fluvoxamine 100 mg twice a day for 10 days or matching placebo, along with standard-of-care therapies for symptom management in both arms. The primary outcome of interest was a composite end point of medical admission to a hospital setting for COVID-19, defined as an observation period lasting 6 or more hours in the emergency department or any referral for hospitalization within 28 days of randomization. Secondary end points of interest included associated times of disease progression or resolution, safety and tolerability of the trial medication, and clinical monitoring of disease severity.4
A total of 1497 participants were recruited and randomized to fluvoxamine (n = 741) or placebo (n = 756). Patients were randomized, on average, at 3.8 days of symptoms (standard deviation, 1.87). The study’s intention-to-treat analysis found a significant reduction in the primary composite end point, attributed to the need for retention in the emergency setting for at least 6 hours (Table). The calculated number needed to treat (NNT) was 20 patients. All other secondary end points were unchanged compared with placebo. Rates of treatment-emergent adverse events did not differ significantly between fluvoxamine and placebo.4
The authors concluded that fluvoxamine may have a place in therapy for the management of outpatient, unvaccinated adults with COVID-19 infection to reduce the progression to hospitalization.4 The authors also call on subsequent research to establish whether these effects are a SSRI-class effect or related to fluvoxamine alone.4 Although fluvoxamine shows some statistical significance in reducing hospital setting visits, it appears this clinical benefit is limited to unvaccinated patients requiring extended stays in the emergency department, not those admitted to the hospital. Rates of hospitalization and death did not differ in the intention-to-treat population, although there was a statistical decrease in death in the per-protocol population.4 Some retrospective reviews have found reduction in mortality, but the benefit appears modest in this analysis.7 A recent commentary on outpatient therapeutics estimated that at a 5% risk of hospitalization, fluvoxamine had the lowest NNT at 80 patients and lowest total drug cost of $1122.8 There are also differences in the prescribing patterns of antidepressants in different parts of the world that would influence the generalizability of this trial.9,10 SSRIs continue to show promise for partial management of COVID-19, and ongoing clinical trials will help identify its place in therapy.11

domain: medical