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Luis Rubiales resigns as Spanish FA president amid controversy over Forced kiss incident
Posted : 11 September 2023
Luis Rubiales, the President of the Spanish Football Association, has stepped down from his position. This decision comes in the wake of a controversial incident at the Women's World Cup final where he forcibly kissed Spanish national team player Jenny Hermoso on the podium. Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales last week, alleging sexual assault, and public pressure has been mounting since the incident.
The incident occurred as the world champion players were on the podium to receive their gold medals just before the trophy presentation. It sparked outrage not only in Spain but also globally. Initially, Rubiales resisted calls to resign, asserting that the kiss had been consensual. However, in a recent interview, he stated that he could no longer continue in his role. He posted a message on social media expressing his confidence in his innocence and his belief that unfounded charges against him would not be productive. Subsequently, the Spanish FA confirmed his resignation.
Hermoso's formal complaint against Rubiales accuses him of sexual assault, consistently asserting that the kiss was non-consensual. Rubiales maintains his innocence but acknowledges some mistakes and expressed regret for them. He clarified that there was no aggression or discomfort during the kiss.
In addition to Rubiales' resignation, the Spanish federation recently dismissed Jorge Vilda, the national team's coach, who was considered a close associate of Rubiales. This decision was made despite the team's historic World Cup win. Vilda was replaced by his assistant, Montesa Thoma of Austria, who has become the first woman ever to hold this position.
Rubiales' refusal to step down had triggered outrage from various quarters. Notably, 81 players from the Spanish league, including all the members of the new world champion squad, had announced their refusal to play for the national team until Rubiales resigned from his post.


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Gothenburg, Sweden based heavy rock group, Horisont hit the ground running in Boston, MA on Halloween for the opener of their USA debut. Horisont draws a lot of comparisons to a handful of groups, notably; early Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and, Thin Lizzy among others. The past few years has seen a saturation of retro-rock groups, with a new group seemingly popping up every few months. Horisont stands head and shoulders above almost everyone out there and are relatively unknown here in the USA. Their blend of spaced-out-prog-rock meets NWOBHM is addictive and these guys have some serious chops.
Horisont played on a bill at San Diego's venerable Soda Bar with local San Diegans Red Wizard opening, and Ohio heavy rock outfit Electric Citizen, whom they are on tour with, headlining. Red Wizard took the stage early and smashed through a set of raw stoner rock. Horisont got on stage around 9PM, and after some minor equipment problems, launched right into their 10 minute plus epic "Odyssey." The crowd went nuts. Probably, like myself, many had been waiting for this moment since they discovered Horisont. The dual guitar attack of Charles Van Loo and new member- David Kalin- is a fierce combination. The rhythm section is held down by drummer Pontus Jordan and bassist Magnus Delborg- who bears a slight resemblance to Lemmy Kilmister. On top of this wave is singer and keys player Axel Soderberg pushing the group's sound. Horisont has a new album ("About Time") out in February 2017 being supported right now with their new single "Electrical." If the single is any indication of the album's sound- fans of the group are in for a treat. Somebody, anybody get these guys on tour with Kadavar here in the USA! Are you listening Century Media and Nuclear Blast? Horisont closed out their set with a brutal cover of UFO's "Rock Bottom." Coincidentally, UFO will be in San Diego with Saxon in March.
Electric Citizen was up next and singer Laura Dolan dished out some evil delivery of her lyrics backed by heavy riffing from the group. I would not cross this woman, ever. I look forward to Horisont hopefully touring the US again. Check their website linked below for dates of this tour which ends on November 22nd in Philadelphia, PA.

domain: entertainment


Man armed with knife shot by Sacramento police
Man asked officers to shoot him, police say
A man died Saturday after Sacramento police shot him when he refused orders to drop a knife.
Police were called out to investigate reports of a disturbance in the 4100 block of Wheatley Circle from family members who said the man was intoxicated and chasing his brother while armed with a butcher knife.
Officers found the 22-year-old man, whose name has not been released, a few blocks away and shot him after he refused to drop the knife. He later died.
Investigators discovered that the man was at a family gathering, became intoxicated and was trying to drive home when his brother took his keys. The family also tried to disable the man's vehicle so he could not drive.
A fight ensued. The man eventually got into the disabled vehicle and fell asleep. Police said when he awoke 10 minutes later, he went into the house to get a butcher knife and then chased his brother, threatening to kill him.
The rest of the family barricaded themselves while the brothers fought. The armed man eventually walked away, still armed with a knife.
A witness called police and updated them on the man's location until officers arrived in the area of Cold Creek Way.
Officers chased the man a short distance until he stopped at a fence and threatened them with the knife, investigators said.
During the confrontation with officers, they said the man requested that they shoot him.
Police said the man sustained multiple gunshot wounds, noting that they opened fire because of his threatening behavior and out of fear for their safety.
The armed man died at UC Davis Medical Center.
No one else was injured.


Marge Simpson stars in Dove campaign
Sick of watching wonderful and unreal women starring in beauty products campaigns? Then you might appreciate the ads created by Ogilvy & Mather Chicago for Dove Styling which presents a series of cartoon’s women with an original hair makeover.
Wilma Flintsone from “The Flintstones”, Jane Jetson from “The Jetsons”, Velma Dinkley from “Scooby-Doo”, and Marge Simpson “The Simpsons” will star in an integrated campaign which will include TV, print, and outdoor advertising.
Not sure whether this solution is cheaper, but it’s no doubt original and potentially viral.


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Silicon Valley companies are learning a hard lesson: They can't escape their attitude problems.
The last few months have been rocky. In June, a female engineer who sued Tesla for sexual harassment was fired. In July, prominent venture capitalists including Dave McClure of 500 Startups admitted to behaving inappropriately toward women founders.
And earlier this month, it emerged that a software engineer at Google had written a controversial 3,300-word memo arguing that biology prevents women from being as successful as men in the tech industry (he was later fired).
"It's not just about one person being affected," said Adriana Gascoigne, CEO and founder of Girls in Tech, an organization that helps advance women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. "It's a systemic issue."
Tech industry executives often say their companies need to do a better job finding and keeping women and minorities. For the past three years, more than a dozen companies, including Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter, have even released annual reports that show the industry remains overwhelmingly white and male. Women make up about 30 percent of the tech workforce and hold an average of just 18.5 percent of tech-related roles in those five companies. According to a report from software company Atlassian, black and Latino employees respectively account for about 2 percent and 3 percent of the tech workforce. It's a problem that begins at the startup phase and extends all the way to major companies.
Some companies say it's a "pipeline problem," meaning there just aren't enough diverse applicants to fill positions.
Catherine Ashcraft, senior research scientist at the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), says that argument is just plain wrong.
"It tends to mean that you're not looking in the right places," Ashcraft said. "You haven't done a lot of things to actively expand your networks and look at your job descriptions for bias and be more creative about where you're hiring."
Joelle Emerson, CEO of diversity consulting firm Paradigm, says too many companies rely on gut instinct in the hiring process, asking inconsistent questions. The end result is that companies hire more of the same rather than diversifying their employee mix.
But recruitment is only one issue. Once inside the organization, women still have to contend with pay gaps, a testosterone-laced "bro culture" and unconscious bias ("mansplaining," anyone?). Various studies of men and women in computing and engineering jobs report that women tend to feel isolated in the workplace.
Women in STEM careers are more likely to leave within the first few years than those who aren't in STEM fields, says the NCWIT, because of unsupportive work environments, lack of role models and significant personal sacrifices they're required to make. About half continue to use their technical skills, but at a different company. The rest abandon their training.
That's bad for business.
According to researcher McKinsey & Company, gender-diverse companies are 15 percent more likely to have better financial performance, and ethnically diverse companies are 35 percent more likely to financially outperform their counterparts. Other studies found that startups with female founders have faster growth and better performance compared to all-male startups. Racial and gender diversity is linked to higher sales revenue, more customers, greater market share and greater relative profits.
"The company's culture is really defined early on," said Anu Duggal, founding partner at Female Founders Fund. "If you look historically at most successful large companies, they don't retroactively go back and establish what their values are."
Even with data to support the diversity cause, Erica Joy Baker, a member of Project Include, says talk of diversity's benefits still tends to fall on deaf ears.
"I've heard several people say, 'We make plenty of money in Silicon Valley just the way we are,'" she said. "If you don't have everybody represented in your decision making, you're going to end up making products that don't work for everybody."
Baking it in
Some younger companies recognized early on the importance of having different perspectives inside the workplace.
Pinterest, for example, says women make up 44 percent of the overall team and hold 26 percent of technical roles. Slack, the business communications company, says women comprise 43.5 percent of the overall workforce and 29.8 percent of the technical team.
Candice Morgan, Pinterest's first-ever head of inclusion and diversity, said the company started asking more objective, consistent interview questions and ultimately scrapped culture-fit interviews. Recruiters also began looking more closely at schools with greater diversity in their computer science graduating classes, as well as at historically black colleges and universities.
Female Founders Fund, which invests in startups with at least one woman leader, says new companies need to recognize early that diversity will play a key role in their success.
That view could become par for the course as women-led startups begin to succeed.
"Capitalism's king," said Dell entrepreneur-in-residence Elizabeth Gore. "I don't care how biased they are; [companies] want to make money."
It's never too late for a company to change.
In 2015, Intel invested $300 million to increase diversity at the world's biggest chipmaker. The following year, the company said it had achieved 100 percent pay parity and promotion parity for women and minorities in the US. Diverse hiring increased from 31.9 percent in 2014 to 45.1 percent in 2016.
Facebook, pushed by Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, developed a course on managing unconscious bias, expanded its recruitment to more schools and now requires that people from underrepresented backgrounds be considered for all technical and nontechnical job openings.
Despite these and other efforts, Silicon Valley is still predominantly made up of white workers, even in nontechnical roles. Black employees make up just 5 percent of the nontechnical workforces at Facebook, Google and Twitter. They make up 4 percent at Slack, 6.5 percent at Microsoft and 11 percent at Apple.
Maxine Williams, global director of diversity at Facebook, said part of the issue is that Silicon Valley itself isn't very diverse. According to the Joint Venture 2016 Silicon Valley Index, only 2 percent of the area's population is black. Facebook University, which began four years ago as a technical global internship program for college students in underrepresented communities, has broadened to nontechnical roles to encourage greater enrollment of African-Americans and Hispanics in locations such as Austin, Texas, and Atlanta.
"We are building products that the world is using immediately," Williams said. "Unless we have more diverse perspectives ... we will not build the product that anyone wants to use."
But it can be challenging to move the needle with a larger workforce, Project Include's Baker said. "It's extremely hard to make these changes when a company is 10, 15 years old or has 20,000 to 100,000 employees," she said. "Changing a culture at that size is almost impossible."
Uber is an example. Former CEO Travis Kalanick was eventually asked to resign following a February blog post by an engineer, Susan Fowler, who alleged sexist remark about women talking too much. He resigned hours after a recording of his comment went viral.. But though the ride-hailing service has been trying to change its culture, there have already been bumps along the way. At an all-hands meeting in June meant to address allegations of sexual harassment, board member David Bonderman jumped in with a
"At Uber's level, I don't think that asking Travis to resign is going to fix much," Baker said. "You have to have him replaced by somebody who is not from that culture and who comes in there with a mind and authority to fix things. That person has to come in with the power to fire people."
A silver lining?
So, will young startups get the message?
It may take a while, according to a State of Startups 2016 survey by investment firm First Round Capital. According to the report, 61 percent of founders say their boards are all-male. Only 14 percent say their organization has a formal strategy for promoting diversity and inclusion.
That's not enough, particularly for the next generation of employees who are being encouraged to explore STEM education now.
"When diverse candidates get to the next stage, they will be looking for employers that will support their career growth and ambitions," said Karen Quintos, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Dell. "It's essential that there are diverse role models throughout the company, and that companies are addressing unconscious biases head on."
For what it's worth, women who are victims of harassment are increasingly speaking up -- and being met with acceptance. This makes Duggal "cautiously optimistic."
Ashcraft, of the NCWIT, is also hopeful.
"We know how to improve this problem," she said. "We just need people to be committed and commit adequate resources, and treat it like a business issue."
With additional reporting by Brianne Garrett.
Solving for XX: The tech industry seeks to overcome outdated ideas about "women in tech."
The Smartest Stuff: Innovators are thinking up new ways to make you, and the things around you, smarter.

domain: news


text:
- Wait Time 15 minutes
Get the facts about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including symptoms and complications.
Dr. Paula Wozniak, DO is similar to these 3 Doctors near Williamsburg, VA.
Dr. Gregory Merti
Dr. Jonathan Lee
Dr. John Colaluca

domain: biology


text:
Carmel, CA: Friends of Photography, 1977. Paperback. 46p., wraps, very good condition, 8.5x11 inches, laid in an SF State flyer advertising the sale of Don Worth's photographs. Untitled 13.
"Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Friends of Photography Gallery, September 9 to October 30, 1977." - title page note.

domain: artistic


Cincinnati, Ohio – The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech introduces the EKI-7656C 16+2 combo port industrial managed redundant Gigabit Ethernet switch. This compact and industrially hardened switch offers advanced traffic control for optimum network performance and security, along with rapid self-healing fiber optic ring capabilities to ensure network uptime in adverse environments.
The 18-port EKI-7656C features 16 Fast Ethernet (10/100Base-TX) and two combo gigabit (1000Base-T) ports, which support both copper (RJ-45) connections and optional industry-standard Small-Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) modules, giving users the power and flexibility to configure the switch for their unique application requirements. About the size of an “AA” battery, SFPs are available in single-mode and multi-mode fiber models, for fiber connections ranging from 500M to 110km (1,800 feet to 68 miles).
To meet the real-time fault-tolerant needs of manufacturing, Advantech developed the ultra fast X-Ring, which in the event of a fiber cable fault or similar problem, switches to the backup connection in less than 10ms, ensuring solid and reliable network communications.
For even greater network resiliency, X-Ring supports advanced architectures including dual rings and coupled rings. There is even backward compatibility with enterprise and back-office to factory-floor connections, with support for RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) and its predecessor STP (Spanning Tree Protocol).
The EKI-7656C provides a broad range of advanced traffic control functions. QoS (Quality of Service) ensures priority delivery of critical data, and rate limiting can shape excessive traffic from connected devices. Ethernet MAC and IP address filtering limits access to only authorized devices and users.
Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) allow the creation of multiple logical networks within a single physical network, providing network segmentation for improved performance and enhanced security. For customers using Ethernet/IP “Implicit” messaging for I/O devices, IGMP Snooping allows the switch to listen to multicast traffic, and limits it to just the ports using it.
For easier network troubleshooting and maintenance, the switch also supports advanced traffic monitoring and diagnostics. Port Mirroring allows eavesdropping on data traveling in or out of switch ports. Used with a PC-based diagnostics program or protocol analyzer, it is a valuable tool for rapidly troubleshooting device problems. Also a built-in Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server allows automatic assignment of network settings for attached devices. It can even be configured to assign static IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to specific ports, eliminating the need for manual configuration of attached network devices.
For centralized remote management, and integration with enterprise network management systems, the EKI-7656C also features Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
Ideal for demanding environments, the EKI-7656C features industrial-grade components, is designed to withstand extreme shock and vibration, and includes redundant 12 to 48 VDC power inputs for resiliency with a built-in fault relay output to signal external logic or a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Its compact size allows it to fit in even the tightest spaces, using either standard DIN-rail or direct panel mounts. Plus, it is cUL (UL/CSA), FCC, CE, and RoHS/WEEE certified.
To purchase the EKI-7656C or if you have any questions, contact Advantech at 1-800-205-7940 or an Advantech authorized dealer.
Filed Under: Electronics • electrical, Ethernet — cables • hubs • switches


Despite the Gloom, Still a Shale Boom
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
The US has captured all the oil demand growth of the last three years. Onward and upward.
Oil prices remain weak, despite alarming geopolitical risks with Iran. The key dynamic remains that Iranian and Venezuelan exports have already effectively been zeroed out. US production is growing and Chinese demand growth is flat, so only OPEC-plus production cuts can support prices now. Effectively, since Trump was elected, new US production has satisfied all new global demand growth at the expense of OPEC-plus market share. Media stories about the death of the shale boom are mistaken, as usual. The short-term hiccup in US production is all in the Gulf, due to Hurricane Barry. Shale production is surging – and with high efficiency – especially in the Permian, constrained only by takeaway and export capacity. That is coming on slightly more slowly than expected, but nevertheless still coming on strong.


(This article previously appeared on Rewire.org.)
Politics has traditionally been frowned upon as a topic of conversation at work. But, at one time, women weren’t allowed to wear pants at the office — workplace “rules” do change. Does this one hold up in our highly politicized world?
“Political campaigns and election season create a tension between our shared identities as human beings, citizens and workers,” said McClain Watson, clinical associate professor of business communication at The University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management.
And that tension has only gotten more palpable as politics seeps into everything else in our lives.
“As human beings, we want to share our opinions; as citizens, we want to discuss those opinions with others; as workers, we want to keep our jobs and maintain productive relationships with our coworkers,” Watson said. “While our political system and culture require people to share their viewpoints and discuss difficult topics, our need to put food on the table and sustain our families means that we need to be very careful and smart about when and how we have those conversations.”
Most people don’t have the skills to navigate complicated and controversial topics in a nuanced way.
As workplaces have gotten progressively less formal, political talk among coworkers has gotten less taboo, creating a murky gray area. If your workplace doesn’t have a no-political-talk policy, you will have to make your own decisions about how to navigate it.
The Argument for Political Talk
If you approach it respectfully, talking politics “can be an opportunity to learn how to engage with one another around conflicting viewpoints,” said Cheri Torres, a business leadership coach and author of Conversations Worth Having. This can happen “if you can first teach people to learn to stay open, curious and transparent around conflict,” she said.
“The workplace is a primary place where opposing political sides come together to work on something together,” Torres added. “Imagine having conversations where the political dissonance actually helps bring people closer together, helps them better understand one another and perhaps points out to both sides that these subjects are highly complex and can’t be solved with simple or even complicated solutions. Imagine people realizing they don’t have all the information or that their info is skewed.”
The way to keep these conversations civil and productive is to ask “generative questions” — questions for which you don’t have answers and about which you are genuinely curious,” Torres said.
“It’s not a debate, it’s not about advocating hard enough to change someone’s mind … Ask questions to bring out the facts, help people discover what they don’t know … Sometimes people discover they really don’t have info to back up their feelings and they’re not sure where their feelings came from,” said Torres.
If you get pulled into a political discussion, another strategy is to “keep any comments about politics or the election generic and focused on things everyone can agree with,” Watson said.
“For example, ‘Less than half of all registered voters even bother to vote, so I just hope people take the time’ or ‘Obviously, the election is important, but part of me can’t wait for it to be over so we can move on.’ Comments like this enable you to participate in a conversation but won’t risk associating you with either candidate,” Watson said.
The Argument Against Political Talk
Though political conversations at work could be an opportunity for growth and increased understanding across differences, the truth is that most people don’t have the skills to navigate complicated and controversial topics in a nuanced way.
And even though politics is all around us, it’s still a touchy subject. In a 2017 survey by Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews platform, 12% of employees said they had been made uncomfortable by political expression at work in the past week. In the minds of many, politics and religion remain strictly off the table at work.
It’s better to be blissfully ignorant about your coworkers’ beliefs than to risk hurting important relationships and the company at large, said Andrew Selepak, director of the graduate program in social media at the University of Florida. Making assumptions about another person’s political beliefs — like striking up a political conversation with someone because you assume they agree with you — is a good way to make things awkward for everyone if you guessed wrong.
“There is almost zero reason to engage in a political discussion at work because there is little chance that it will end in a way that will satisfy either person, and more than likely it will cause tension in the office,” Selepak said. “On social media we can pick who we are friends with and who we follow… But we can’t pick our coworkers and we can’t just unfriend them either.”
Apart from the bad feelings that arise from an unnecessary workplace conflict, knowing your coworker disagrees with you politically could cause you to be subconsciously distrustful of them or cause you to avoid them, Selepak said. Neither is good for a team.
Though only 45% of workplaces have an anti-politics policy, more than half of folks who have been uncomfortable at work because of political talk think their workplace should put a policy in place that bans it, the Clutch survey revealed.
In 2016, that’s exactly what North Coast Financial in Oceanside, Calif., did.
“Prior to instating the policy, we experienced a few politically charged discussions that caused unneeded headaches for management and resulted in decreases in office productivity,” said Jeff Hensel, a mortgage broker at the company.
“Regardless of the political topic and opinion, someone is likely to be alienated if their personal beliefs differ. We want our employees to express their political beliefs, but the office is simply not the appropriate venue to discuss these types of issues,” Hensel added.
Ending an Unwanted Conversation
The new rule has helped employees better navigate uncomfortable situations — ”they can end any unwanted political conversations by simply reminding their colleague of the company policy,” Hensel said.
If you want to end a political conversation and your workplace doesn’t have a policy like that, you can do it “in a similar way you would discourage gossip,” said Rosalinda Randall, a workplace civility trainer and author.
Try saying “I learned that it doesn’t pay to discuss ‘X’ at work,” she recommended.
“A more subtle way is to pretend you have to make a call or see someone,” Randall said. “Excuse yourself and walk away.”
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NAIROBI, Kenya, May 4 – Eveready East Africa Ltd (EEAL) has announced plans to venture into personal care products and solar power in a bid to expand its product range from mainly batteries and flashlights.
Shareholders authorised the move during its 42nd Annual General Meeting in Nakuru on April 23, to amend its objects to facilitate product diversification as well as investment in other business opportunities.
Eveready EA Managing Director Steve Smith said the company will now start marketing the Playtex brand of personal care products from later this year, as well as venture into solar power.
"We are already in talks with several organisations to form partnerships in the area of solar power sector and announcements over this will soon be made," Mr Smith said.
He said the diversification plans had been necessitated by increased unfair competition from proliferation of substandard, duty free and therefore very low priced “D” size batteries from China and the dumping of product from the Export Processing Zones meant for the export markets.
Playtex brand covers skin, feminine and infant care products.
Mr Smith said the company was further planning to expand into other markets in the region among them Tanzania, Uganda, Southern Sudan and Rwanda.
In the recent past the company announced it was losing over Sh350 million annually as a result of the government allowing the importation of duty free dry cells into the country.


Seven workers exposed in 'hazmat situation' at Intel plant in Arizona
PHOENIX May 5 (Reuters) - Seven workers were exposed on Monday in a "hazmat situation" at an Intel manufacturing complex in Chandler, Arizona, authorities said.
Chandler fire spokesman Tom Dwiggins said the incident involved a leak of some kind at the sprawling plant southeast of Phoenix. Dwiggins said he had no information on the condition of the seven workers, nor did he say what they were exposed to. (Reporting by David Schwartz; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)
- U.S. immigration protesters drop U.S. border blockade plan
- Exclusive: Angry with Washington, 1 in 4 Americans open to secession
- About 60,000 Syrian Kurds flee to Turkey from Islamic State advance |
- White House intruder was armed with knife: officials
- Man charged with killing NFL player Peterson's son released on bond: report


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Reply to the Paper “National Philosophy as a Subject of Comparative Research”
The paper aims to clarify and develop some of the issues raised by S. Rudenko & S. Yosypenko who reviewed the author’s book Selected Issues in the History of Polish Philosophy. It focuses mostly on methodological questions in the historiography of national philosophies, and on interdisciplinary approach which is presented as useful and fruitful for researching less influential philosophical traditions.
Mróz, T. (2016) Selected Issues in the History of Polish Philosophy. Vilnius: Vilnius University.
Rudenko, S., & Yosypenko, S. (2018). National Philosophy as a Subject of Comparative Research. Sententiae, 37(1), 120-129. https://doi.org/10.22240/sent37.01.120
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

domain: library


text:
Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current perspectives on diagnosis and management
Authors Spelta C
Received 12 May 2015
Accepted for publication 2 July 2015
Published 20 August 2015 Volume 2015:6 Pages 293—300
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Professor Young Lyoo
Caroline W Spelta
Townsville Vet Clinic, Townsville, QLD, Australia
Abstract: Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a neurodegenerative disease of the hypothalamus, resulting in the loss of dopaminergic inhibition of pars intermedia. An oxidative stress injury of unknown etiology has been suggested to initiate the neurodegeneration. While hypertrichosis (formerly known as hirsutism) is considered pathognomic for advanced disease, the antemortem diagnosis of subclinical and early disease has continued to prove difficult. Numerous tests have been used with varying sensitivities and specificities. The overnight dexamethasone suppression test, originally documented to have 100% sensitivity and specificity in horses with advanced disease, has proven to be less valuable in identifying early disease. Basal plasma adrenocorticotropin concentrations have improved sensitivity and specificity when sampled during the autumn months, and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, while not yet commercially available, shows promise as a sensitive and specific single sample test. Recent advances in our knowledge include the strong association between laminitis and hyperinsulinemia, both common clinical signs associated with PPID. The pathogenesis of hyperinsulinemia, laminitis, and their association with this disease is a focus of current research. The dopamine agonist pergolide mesylate is still the mainstay of medical management, with studies on oral bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and long-term survival rates now published.
Keywords: PPID, ACTH, α-MSH, laminitis, pergolide, hypertrichosis, pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction
Equine Cushing’s disease, now known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), was first described in 1932.1 The classic clinical picture is one of advanced disease, the aging horse or pony with a persistent, long, curling hair coat; epaxial muscle wastage; pendulous abdomen; and an increased risk of laminitis.2 In recent epidemiological surveys, 21%–22% of aged horses and ponies had PPID based on endocrine testing, an increase in reported prevalence from previous studies.3–6
Considerable research into the pathophysiology of PPID has occurred in recent years. The current pathophysiological theory for PPID is an age-related oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration of the dopaminergic neurons of the hypothalamus.7–10 This in turn causes a loss of dopaminergic inhibition on the pars intermedia resulting in an increased production of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides including adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), β-endorphin, and corticotrophin-like intermediate peptide. Of these hormones, the production and actions of ACTH and α-MSH have been most closely studied and assessed for diagnostic test potential. The cause of the oxidative stress compared to age-matched controls is yet to be determined. The very slow progression of this disease makes the elucidation of an initiating cause or insult difficult as clinical signs are only evident after a substantial time lapse (years), when normal hormonal function is lost.11
In the normal pituitary, the pars distalis is responsible for the majority of ACTH production with small amounts of ACTH from melanocyte-derived POMC.9 The pars intermedia’s primary product is α-MSH, a metabolically active peptide involved in metabolism and obesity, which has potent anti-inflammatory properties. The cortiotrophs in the pars distalis are under a glucocorticoid negative feedback loop. The production and secretion of the POMC peptides from the melanotropes in the pars intermedia are under dopamine inhibitory control from the hypothalamus. Hypothalamus and pituitary activities are influenced by season and photoperiod length, with significant up-regulation of α-MSH and ACTH production in the late summer and autumn months (periods of decreasing day length).12–14 The increased activity is seen in both unaffected and PPID-affected horses and ponies. This has a significant effect on basal endogenous ACTH and α-MSH levels and therefore on diagnostic testing during this period.
In 1994, Dybdal et al described the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ODST) as a 100% sensitive and specific diagnostic test based on a population of horses with clinically advanced PPID.2 The challenge since then has been the diagnosis of PPID in subclinical and early clinical horses and ponies. Plasma POMC peptide levels are secreted along a concentration continuum. Horses and ponies will have normal to mildly elevated levels early in the disease process. There is a transition period or “gray zone” within this continuum, where hormone levels may be normal in clinically suggestive cases or elevated in clinically normal horses and ponies.15 Clinically overt cases will have significantly increased plasma POMC concentrations than either clinically normal or early clinical cases. Cutoff levels for the current diagnostic tests are based on statistical methodology to maximize sensitivity and specificity. To minimize the number of false negative and positive results, a number of recommendations by various equine endocrinology groups have been made including the use of seasonally adjusted reference ranges and further dynamic testing.16–18
Diagnosis of PPID has included the presence of overt clinical signs, endogenous hormone levels including ACTH, insulin and cortisol levels, dynamic endocrine testing such as the ODST, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test measuring cortisol or ACTH, combined TRH–dexamethasone suppression test, domperidone stimulation test, and histology.2,19–23 Most recently, α-MSH has also been evaluated as a possible diagnostic option.24 Of these tests, the current recommendations are the use of endogenous plasma ACTH with seasonally adjusted reference ranges in combination with suggestive clinical signs. Horses and ponies with ambiguous results (suggestive clinical signs with normal ACTH results) or in the gray zone (clinically normal horses with mildly elevated ACTH levels) should either be resampled during autumn or undergo a TRH stimulation test measuring ACTH to improve sensitivity.
A long, wavy, or curling hair coat, known as hirsutism, has long been considered pathognomonic for advanced PPID disease. The long hair coat in horses with advanced PPID has recently been determined to be due to the persistence of hair follicles in the anagen stage and is therefore more correctly termed “hypertrichosis”.25 Follicles arrested in the anagen stage fail to shed, as occuring in PPID-affected horses and ponies. Hirsutism, the term commonly used to describe the hair coat changes in PPID-affected horses and ponies, has been borrowed from the medical field and refers to the excessive androgen-dependent growth of hair in women with Cushing’s disease. The term “hirsutism”, therefore, has been incorrectly used to describe the hair coat abnormalities seen in PPID.
Laminitis is commonly associated with PPID.1,9,22,26 In all, 13% of PPID confirmed horses had a history of or concurrent laminitis in a recent survey.3 Historically, it was thought that the loss of the diurnal cortisol fluctuations with exposure to increased daily cortisol levels was responsible for the PPID-associated laminitis.27,28 Recent work on the pathogenesis of endocrinopathic laminitis, however, has demonstrated a strong association with a concurrent hyperinsulinemia.29–31 The exact mechanisms of this association and the association between hyperinsulinemia and PPID are currently unknown and are the subject of ongoing research.
Other common clinical signs include bulging supraorbital fat pads, lethargy or docility, epaxial muscle wastage, a pendulous abdomen, sweating abnormalities, polyuria/polydipsia, poor wound healing, chronic infections or increased susceptibility to infection, endoparasitism, and very rarely, seizure-like activity.1,9,22,32–34 The presence of three or more common clinical signs (hypertrichosis, wasted epaxial muscles, pendulous abdomen, bulging supraorbital fat pads, and divergent laminar rings) in combination with a seasonally adjusted endogenous ACTH value has recently been documented to be the “clinically diagnostic gold standard”.3
In the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, ACTH secretion from the pituitary stimulates the adrenal glands to increase the secretion of cortisol. In PPID-affected horses and ponies, only 20% have adrenomegaly, supporting the theory that the excessive ACTH produced in PPID-affected horses and ponies is biologically inert, resulting in ACTH-cortisol dissociation.9,35 ACTH secretion is affected by numerous external factors including stress, transport, illness, marked pain, and debilitation and exercise.36–39 ACTH secretion is also affected by day length, with increased secretion associated with decreasing photoperiods during the late summer and autumn (Table 1).40 This effect does not appear to be universal though, with varying degrees of seasonal fluctuations documented at different latitudes.15,41–44 PPID-affected horses and ponies still show the greatest elevations. Increased plasma ACTH secretion in the autumn months in both normal and PPID-affected horses and ponies initially resulted in reluctance to measure endogenous plasma ACTH due to a presumed decrease in specificity during these months. However, recent work and determination of seasonally adjusted ACTH reference ranges has significantly increased the sensitivity and specificity of endogenous plasma ACTH levels during this period. The seasonally adjusted values are latitude dependent. Large, multicenter collaborations to establish regional seasonally adjusted values are needed. In lieu of these data, using a local laboratory with its own established reference ranges is recommended.
Even with the determination of seasonal variation and adjusted cutoff values, there still exists a transitional or “gray” zone.45 Horses and ponies that have endogenous plasma ACTH value of between 29 and 40 pg/mL (northern hemisphere non-autumn reference range) during the winter, spring, and summer months with no or few subtle clinical signs present a clinical dilemma and should be retested during the autumn when the test has greater sensitivity and specificity, decreasing the likelihood of false positive results.46 Alternatively, a TRH stimulation test measuring ACTH, instead of cortisol, can be performed (see TRH stimulation test measuring ACTH).
Ultradian and circadian rhythms and effects of feeding have been investigated to optimize sample timing. No ultradian rhythms were found in neither unaffected or PPID-affected horses and ponies.45 Further to this, paired sampling was not found to increase sensitivity and specificity.47 Rendle et al identified a circadian rhythm in unaffected horses and ponies with plasma ACTH values highest at 8 am and decreasing throughout the day, whereas Diez de Castro et al did not demonstrate a circadian rhythm in healthy horses.45,48 A significant postprandial increase in endogenous ACTH has been documented, suggesting that the feeding status of the animal may also be a cofounder for both endogenous and dynamic ACTH testing.48
Sample handling and storage of plasma for endogenous ACTH measurement has also been investigated. Contrary to previous recommendations, while there is a decrease in endogenous ACTH levels over time, clinically relevant results can be obtained from chilled, non-centrifuged plasma processed within 48 hours of collection.9,49 Samples held for greater than 48 hours prior to processing should be centrifuged, the plasma separated and frozen while awaiting transport to the laboratory. The inclusion of the preservative N-phenylmaleimide had no effect on plasma ACTH levels over time.49
TRH stimulation test measuring ACTH
The TRH stimulation test originally measured cortisol levels 10 and 30 minutes post-TRH administration and had a sensitivity of 92%. Specificity, positive and negative predicative values were improved when combined with the dexamethasone suppression test.19 In horses and ponies with PPID though, cortisol levels are rarely elevated in the face of significant elevations in ACTH, suggesting that the melanotropic-derived ACTH is immunologically active but biologically inert and, therefore, dissociated from serum cortisol levels.9,35 This observation has led to endogenous ACTH being measured 10 and 30 minutes post-TRH administration (Table 2), resulting in sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 78% at 30 minutes using a cutoff of 36 pg/mL.35 In this study, plasma ACTH was shown to be superior than serum cortisol for the diagnosis of PPID.
As with endogenous plasma ACTH, the TRH stimulation test is affected by season and seasonally adjusted reference ranges are needed to improve specificity. Factors that confound the evaluation of endogenous ACTH results will impact on the TRH stimulation test as well. TRH has been both expensive and difficult to obtain and is therefore a test usually performed at referral and university institutions. A compounded TRH product stored at room temperature has been assessed and found to give comparable test results. The availability and cost of this product outside North America is unknown at this time.50
Overnight dexamethasone suppression test
The ODST has, for many decades, been considered the “gold standard” antemortem diagnostic test. This was based on a sensitivity and specificity of 100% achieved in a population of horses and ponies with advanced PPID.2 The sensitivity and specificity in early and subclinical disease are 65% and 76%, respectively.19 The potential induction or exacerbation of existing laminitis post-ODST and the requirement of either two visits or overnight hospitalization of the patient have limited the practicality of this test.1 As a downstream product of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, cortisol secretion is also seasonally affected. To date, there have been no seasonally adjusted reference ranges documented for the ODST.
α-MSH is primarily derived from the pars intermedia and undergoes increased secretion occurring in the later summer and autumn months (Table 1).14 Its role in metabolism and increased secretion during periods of decreasing day length is a proposed survival mechanism to increase fat stores in preparation for anticipated feed restriction in harsh winters. This same mechanism may be responsible for the associated obesity and regional fat deposition seen in PPID cases. PPID-affected horses and ponies have a greater magnitude in plasma α-MSH levels than concurrent ACTH levels, suggesting that α-MSH may rise early in the disease process and, therefore, be a more sensitive diagnostic test.14 Plasma α-MSH is stable in chilled, whole blood for up to 8 hours, but does require centrifugation, plasma separation, and freezing prior to transportation to the laboratory, unlike ACTH which, when chilled, is stable in whole blood for up to 48 hours.14,49 α-MSH is not effected by stress, illness, exercise, or transportation and as such has less confounders on result interpretation than ACTH.14 In a recent epidemiological study, α-MSH had a higher sensitivity and specificity than ACTH when tested in the autumn months.15 Currently, α-MSH assays are not commercially available and only used in research facilities.
Almost 90% of laminitis diagnosed is classed as endocrinopathic in origin.51 The initial theorized pathogenesis of PPID-associated laminitis was glucocorticoid induced, due to exposure of the lamellar tissue to increased total daily cortisol as a result of the cortisol diurnal secretory rhythm loss; this has not been clearly demonstrated in studies though.27,28,52 Hyperinsulinemia has been repeatedly documented to cause laminitis in healthy non-laminitic horses and may be the major mechanism associated with pasture-associated laminitis.29,53 PPID-affected horses and ponies with concurrent hyperinsulinemia experience laminitic episodes more frequently than normoinsulinemic PPID horses and ponies.31 The presence of PPID alone though does not impair insulin sensitivity.54 Insulin sensitivity decreases with increasing age in equids.55,56 The mechanism by which hyperinsulinemia induces laminitis and whether it is the same mechanism/s associated with PPID or a concurrent disease is yet to be elucidated.
Basal serum insulin concentrations or dynamic insulin testing should be undertaken in horses and ponies with PPID and laminitis. The presence of a concurrent hyperinsulinemia will influence the management and feeding practices implemented. To standardize testing, samples for basal serum insulin should be taken in the morning after an overnight fast. A small biscuit of good quality given and consumed before 10 pm is allowed. Insulin levels greater than 20 IU/L are considered hyperinsulinemic.57 Dynamic testing has the added benefit of assessing postprandial insulin levels (the pancreatic β-cells response to a glucose challenge). Dynamic testing involves the oral administration of 0.15 mL/kg of corn syrup (ACH Food Companies, Karo Lyte, Cordova, TN, USA) orally after a short overnight fast (ie, a small biscuit of hay given, consumed, and any remainder removed before 10pm the night before), and serum insulin samples taken 60 and 90 minutes later. Serum insulin of less than 45 IU/L at both time points is found in healthy horses. Serum insulin levels between 45 and 60 IU/L are equivocal and greater than 60 IU/L is evidence of postprandial hyperinsulinemia and insulin dysregulation.58 Alternatively, 1 g/kg of dextrose powder can be fed in a small meal of chaff or low-sugar chopped feed and mixed in water after a short overnight fast. Serum insulin levels are measured 60 minutes later. Insulin levels greater than 85 IU/L are considered diagnostic for hyperinsulinemia.59 Other tests include the combined insulin and glucose test and the insulin tolerance test. Neither of these tests assesses both the pancreatic secretion and clearance of insulin. They also require more time and sampling with more confounders when compared with the oral glucose tests.60
For many other diseases, confirmation of a previously described histopathological appearance is considered the gold standard to which all antemortem tests are compared. Confirmation of the disease on histopathology is therefore used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of a given antemortem test. This test standard has been unreliable in PPID, with documented inconsistencies between pathologists on classification of histological changes and therefore final diagnosis.23 The pituitary architecture and size is also subject to seasonal variation.61 The current accepted description is a hyperplastic pars intermedia with a singular large or multiple small adenomas.9
There is currently no cure for PPID. Pergolide mesylate, an ergot-derived D2-dopamine agonist, is still the drug of choice for the medical management of PPID.9 The replacement of dopamine and reestablishment of dopamine inhibition on the POMC-derived peptides results in normalization of pituitary hormone levels and resolution of clinical signs.
PPID-affected horses and ponies require excellent husbandry and management practices. The presence of insulin dysregulation and postprandial hyperinsulinemia requires careful dietary management.62 Horses and ponies with a history of laminitis or documented hyperinsulinemia require restricted access to diets high in soluble nonstructural carbohydrates, including lush or fast-growing pastures and sweet feeds to decrease the frequency of laminitic episodes.63 The use of a grazing muzzle aids in dietary restriction without restricting exercise. Grazing should be restricted from mid-morning to late afternoon, as wilting increases the sugar content in the pasture. Likewise, grazing should be restricted after a harsh frost as this also increases the sugar content of pasture. Soaking hay for 60 minutes in cold water will also decrease the sugar content. All PPID-affected horses and ponies benefit from the feeding of good quality senior diets to provide adequate protein intake to minimize muscle catabolism.
PPID-affected horses and ponies are more likely to suffer from moderate to severe endoparasitism compared with age-matched controls.33 PPID horses and ponies tend to be the “high egg shedders” in the herd and have a shorter egg reemergence period post-worming than their herd mates. A deworming program which incorporates regular fecal egg counts and fecal egg reduction test is optimal.
Regular dental checks and vaccinations are recommended. PPID horses and ponies, while having an increased susceptibility to infections, continue to have adequate immune responses to vaccination.64,65 The degree of response and duration of immunity may vary depending on severity of disease compared with age-matched controls. Further research is required to further quantify these changes and assess whether a change in vaccination dosage frequency should be recommended. Early and aggressive medical management of infections is also needed.
Pergolide mesylate is available in Australia and New Zealand as a liquid (Ranvet Pty Ltd, Ranvet’s Pergolide, East Botany NSW, Australia) and as a tablet (Boehringer Ingelheim, Prascend, Ingelheim am Rhein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). Only the tablet form is commercially available in the UK, Europe, and North America. The 200 mg/mL liquid formulation allows for very accurate dosing. Pergolide, however, is unstable and light sensitive in the liquid form, with a short 3-month shelf life, potentially resulting in drug wastage and extra cost to the client. The tablet formulation is more stable with a shelf life of up to 24 months. The 1 mg tablets are half-scored allowing for one division and a dosage accuracy of 0.5 mg. Compounded pergolide mesylate has shown itself to be unreliable in both drug distribution and stability and is not recommended for use.66
The current recommended dose rate is 0.002 mg/kg once daily orally.9 Lower doses have been successfully used.34,67 Once clinical and biochemical resolution has been achieved, the dose should be titrated down to the lowest effective dose to prevent side effects such as anorexia, sweating, colic, diarrhea, and neurological signs.68 These side effects are most commonly seen at higher dose rates (0.01 mg/kg) and can be avoided by starting at a lower dose rate and gradually increasing the dose if needed over a period of weeks. Dosage efficacy is based on the demonstration of normalized plasma ACTH levels and the resolution of clinical signs. It should be noted that hair coat shedding will not be seen until the spring, regardless of appropriate dosage administration, due to the day length effect on α-MSH.
The serotonin antagonist cyproheptadine is no longer considered useful either alone or in conjunction with pergolide due to the lack of efficacy achieved above that attributed to either management or pergolide.68
The last 3 decades has seen considerable expansion in our knowledge of PPID. There is still much to learn though. A “gold-standard” antemortem diagnostic test continues to be elusive. Currently, basal plasma ACTH is the most sensitive and specific test commercially available for early diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity increase if sampling occurs during the autumn months. Dynamic testing using the TRH stimulation test measuring ACTH is also useful in detecting early clinical disease. α-MSH shows promise as a single sample diagnostic test, but is not yet commercially available. Pergolide is still the drug of choice for medical management of clinical signs and, when used in conjunction with improved husbandry and management practices, can significantly improve the quality and duration of life of PPID horses and ponies for many years.
The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.
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The fall movie season arguably looks better than the summer season this year, with a nice mix of traditional fall films and a few scattered blockbusters – although a look at each film’s pedigree reveals this to still be the season of the auteur. Here are my picks for the top 10 movies to see:
“The Predator” (Sept. 14) – Shane Black, who (trivia alert) played one of the soldiers in 1987’s original “Predator,” is the writer-director of the series’ fourth installment (sixth if you count the “Aliens” crossovers). My buddy Michael recently introduced me to Black’s writing style, where he dodges clichés and adds understated humor to traditional genre set-ups in the likes of “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “Iron Man 3” and “The Nice Guys,” all of which I adore. So two things make this a must-see: It’s a “Predator” film and a Black film.
“A Simple Favor” (Sept. 14) – This is likewise on my radar for two major reasons: One, it’s directed by Paul Feig, who’s work I’ve enjoyed since “Freaks and Geeks,” and two, it doesn’t look at all like a Paul Feig film; the trailer says it’s “from (his) darker side.” I appreciate the fact that the trailer piques my interest without giving away the solution. Anna Kendrick gets into one of those odd friendships where there’s something just a bit off about her new buddy (Blake Lively, in this case). Then Lively goes missing, “Gone Girl”-style, and the mystery kicks in.
“Life Itself” (Sept. 21) – I resent this one slightly for using the same title as the Roger Ebert biopic, although not as much as the fall film “Serenity” for stealing the “Firefly” film’s title. Still, it is written and directed by Dan Fogelman of “This Is Us” fame, and it looks to tap into the lump-in-your-throat love and family stories that show trades in. “This Is Us” is soon going to have to contend with the danger of becoming a parody of itself, with its emotions running so high and butting so close to melodrama. It works for me so far, but some viewers are already labeling it trash. “Life Itself” looks to walk that same tightrope.
“Bad Times at the El Royale” (Oct. 12) – Buffyverse and “Daredevil” veteran Drew Goddard gets grindhousey in a movie with a unique setting. The titular hotel is near Lake Tahoe, and the California-Nevada border crosses right through the building. Guests have a choice of which state they’d like to stay in. (I’d choose Nevada for about a dozen reasons.) But that might be just one of many quirks in a heist/murder movie with a star-studded cast, from Jeff Bridges to “Thor’s” Chris Hemsworth to “Parks and Recreation’s” Nick Offerman, to Dakota Johnson, who is working hard this fall to add non-“Fifty Shades” entries to her resume with this and “Suspiria” (which just missed my list).
“First Man” (Oct. 12) – The misunderstanding is easy: Damien Chazelle, the jazz fan and young filmmaking genius behind “La La Land,” is doing a movie about a famous Armstrong. Louis, obviously. Nope, “First Man” is actually about Neil Armstrong and all of the NASA testing from JFK’s announcement of the moon plans up through Apollo 11’s landing. This is a well-tread genre, with the likes of “The Right Stuff” and “Apollo 13,” plus the “From the Earth to the Moon” miniseries which devoted an episode to each moon mission. This one looks grittier, and definitely worth a (moon)shot.
“mid90s” (Oct. 19) – Known for an acting career that has spanned from silly comedies to award-winning turns, Jonah Hill goes behind the camera for a personal entry in what I think of as the “American Graffiti” genre: Filmmakers recapturing their formative period on screen. Hill is more or less from my generation, so I might find this chronicle of being young in the mid-90s deliciously nostalgic. It might depend on if it’s a 1990s movie that happens to feature skateboarding, or a skateboarding movie that happens to be set in the 1990s; I’m hoping for the former.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” (Nov. 16) – I adored the first entry that introduced us to Newt Scamander (the excellent Eddie Redmayne, portraying a rare Aspie hero), but I can sympathize with viewers who found it insubstantial. If the trailers are any indication, the sequel addresses those concerns and blows them away, as we’ll get healthy doses of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, titular villain Grindelwald, young Newt learning ridikkulus spells, and adorable baby Nifflers.
“Creed II” (Nov. 21) – For being one of the fall’s biggest franchise films, this eighth entry in the “Rocky” saga is surprisingly under the radar, with Entertainment Weekly not even writing about it in its Fall Movie Preview. This might be because “Creed” helmer Ryan Coogler (who then became even more famous with “Black Panther”) is handing off the reins. The recipients are fellow MCU man Cheo Hodari Coker, the helmer of “Luke Cage,” who has writing duties, and director Steven Caple Jr., who I’m less familiar with. The trailer hits on all the Rockyverse clichés, backed by modern rap music that I could take or leave, but then delivers a brilliant zinger when we see the robe of Adonis’ opponent: DRAGO. Hell yes.
“Aquaman” (Dec. 21) – “Man of Steel” was OK, “Batman v Superman” was overwrought, “Suicide Squad” was ridiculous but a blast, “Wonder Woman” was a masterpiece and “Justice League” was fun but insubstantial. I’m a DCEU apologist compared to the average filmgoer, but whether the entries so far are a creative success or failure, I mainly just want the DCEU to find its groove and become as consistently strong as the MCU. Although there’s a danger of “Aquaman” being production-design porn, in that the underwater scenes are so vibrant, I have confidence in this one. Jason Momoa (introduced in “Justice League”) is perfect in the title role, and James Wan (the “Conjuring” films) knows how to direct.
“Holmes and Watson” (Dec. 21) – Yet another Sherlock Holmes adaptation? I’d pass, except that Holmes and Watson are played by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who successfully teamed up for “Step Brothers” a decade ago. So although the trailer isn’t out yet, I suspect they’ll be finding the funny and absurd in this franchise, giving this installment a reason to exist. Writer-director Etan Cohen has experience with parodies, having co-written “Idiocracy” with Mike Judge.
What movies are you looking forward to this fall? Share your lists below.


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Phenomenology and Grounded Theory
These two models are presented together because one is an extension of the other, and they use very similar data collection methods. The difference is that phenomenology begins with a research question, and grounded theory is conducted to discover a research question for testing. Phenomenologies describe the meanings of lived experiences for multiple consumers about a concept or phenomenon, whereas the intent of grounded theory study is to generate or discover a theory. Text from both methods can be interpreted by a philosophical approach called hermeneutics . This approach is briefly explained for its relevance to both conceptual models presented in this chapter. There may always be another reality to make fiction of the truth we think we've arrived at . —Christopher Fry, 1970 With beginnings in psychology and philosophy, phenomenology was first used in a study of high school students that asked them to describe situations when they felt ...

domain: psychology


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- 6 updates
One of Lincolnshire's most famous RAF stations got the Royal seal of approval today as it celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Prince William, took the Royal salute at the centenary parade of 29 squadron at RAF Coningsby, of which he is Honorary Air Commandant.
His Royal Highness also took to the skies, but in a different aircraft to that which had originally been planned as Kate Hemingway reports:
Members of 29 Squadron have spoken of their delight at Prince William attending their anniversary celebrations at RAF Coningsby.
RAF Coningsby is home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It held a flypast to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 29 Squadron.
Latest ITV News reports
The Duke of Cambridge took a flight in a Chipmunk aircraft and observed a royal salute to mark the 100th anniversary of an RAF squadron.
Prince William is flying in a Chipmunk aircraft at RAF Coningsby as part of celebrations of the 100th anniversary of 29th Squadron.

domain: history


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The new iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to be added to Apple’s iOS smartphone lineup as early as 2023.
(Photo : Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)
A customer uses her new smartphone during the release of the iPhone 6s at an Apple store in Shanghai on September 25, 2015. Apple launched the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus on September 25 featuring 3D touch screen technology.
However, new rumors claimed that this handset could drain consumers’ wallets because of its exorbitant price tag.
As of writing, Apple consumers are still waiting for the arrival of the iPhone 15 Ultra. This new iOS gadget is expected to debut in September 2023.
If you are among the interested buyers, here’s what you need to know about its price.
New iPhone 15 Ultra Price Could Drain Your Wallet
According to Forbes’ latest report, the new iPhone 15 Ultra is the new name for the Pro Max models.
(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
An attendee holds a new Apple iPhone 14 Pro during an Apple special event on September 07, 2022 in Cupertino, California. Apple unveiled the new iPhone 14 as well as new versions of the Apple Watch, including the Apple Watch SE, a low-cost version of the popular timepiece that will start st $249.
Also Read: iPhone 15 Design Leak: Titanium Case with a Rounded Back like Apple’s iPhone 5C Coming Next Year?
But, the gadget title is not the only change you can expect from this device. When it comes to price, the upcoming iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to start at $1,299.
This is a $200 price increase compared to the current iPhone 14 Pro Max.
“Apple has been losing margins year after year. Rising production costs and inflation, that makes the money the company has in the bank worth less, have finally broken the camel’s back,” said a leaker.
The individual added that the new iPhone 15 Ultra would be more expensive than any other iPhone, even in the United States.
Money-Saving Tips for iPhone Users
MakeUseOf provides some of the best tricks you can rely on to save money when purchasing a new iPhone.
These methods may not be 100% efficient for the new iPhone 15 Ultra, but there are still worth the try:
- If you have a mobile carrier, then you should check their offered deals once the new iPhone 15 Ultra is rolled out. There are some instances when these mobile carriers offer great discounts for new smartphones.
- Using a payment plan can also help you save money on new iOS smartphones. You can even have some perks that are unavailable on cash purchases.
- If you no longer want to use your current iOS smartphone, you can trade it in to reduce the price of the new iPhone 15 Ultra.
- One of the most efficient money-saving tips is waiting for the right time to buy. Remember, when a new iOS handset is released, its original price will go down after a few months.
The new iPhone 15 Ultra is not the only smartphone you should be looking forward to. Some advanced Android devices will soon arrive.
These include the new Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Techno Phantom X2 Pro.
For more news updates about iPhones and other smartphones, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
Related Article: Apple iPhone 15: New Camera System with Sony Sensor to Bring Better Dynamic Range, No Overexposed Shots
ⓒ 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


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Assuming you don’t have the key, there are a few ways to go about unlocking a bike lock. One way is to use a bolt cutter. This will take some physical strength, as well as access to a bolt cutter. Another way is to use a hammer and chisel. This method will also take some physical strength. Yet another way is to use a power drill. This method will take access to a power drill, as well as some understanding of how to use the drill. Whichever method you choose, be careful not to damage the bike.
To unlock a bike lock, use the key that came with the lock or a universal key. If you don’t have the key, you can use a bolt cutter to cut through the lock.
How do you unlock a 4 digit combination lock?
If you’re looking to open a 4-number combination lock, there are a few steps you’ll need to follow. First, locate your combination number. Once you have that, you can begin setting the digits of the combination. Start with the first digit, then move on to the second, third, and fourth. Once all the digits are set, you should be able to pull the shackle and unlock the lock.
If your bike is locked and you can’t remove the lock, you can engage with a locksmith or check with your local independent bike shop. They may be able to help you remove the lock. Depending on where the bike is locked, you might need to tell the facility owner that you need to cut your lock.
How do you reset a 4 digit bike lock
There are many different types of safes on the market, but most of them have a similar basic design. The outside of the safe is typically made of metal, and the inside has a dial that is used to change the combination. The dial typically has the word “set” stamped on it, which tells you that you need to turn it to the right combination in order to open the safe.
There are a total of 10,000 possible combinations that the digits 0-9 can be arranged into to form a four-digit code. This means that each digit can be used in any of the 10,000 possible combinations, and each combination is unique. This can be useful for creating codes or passwords that are difficult to guess or crack.
How can I open lock without key?
This is a great way to ensure that your door is always locked, even if you forget to do so yourself. Simply push the button hidden inside the hole on the non-locking side of the door and it will unlock itself. Be sure to have a straight, stiff tool handy to do this, such as a paperclip or eyeglass-repair screwdriver.
Bicycle locks are designed to protect your bike from theft, but it’s important to remember that not all keys for bicycle locks are the same. While some keys may be unique, others may be part of a set of key-lock combinations that are randomly dispersed by manufacturers as part of the production and distribution process. This means that it’s possible for someone to have a key that opens your lock, so it’s important to be aware of this when choosing a lock for your bike.
How do you unlock a bike lock with a bobby pin?
There are five pins inside a standard lock. And each pin needs to be pressed up to the same point in order for the lock to be opened.
If you need to reset a lock and don’t know the current combination, you’ll likely need to purchase a new lock.
How do you manually reset a lock
The top is aApps Debug Tool that lets you debug your apps on your phone. It’s useful for seeing what’s going on with your app, and for fixing bugs. To use it, you first need to enable it in your phone’s settings. Once it’s enabled, you can open it by tapping on the top of your screen. Then, you’ll need to turn it around 270 degrees back the other way. Doing this will let you see your app’s debug information.
A locked keyhole can be a real pain, especially if you can’t figure out what’s causing the problem. Luckily, there are a few things you can try to get your keyhole unjammed.
If the problem is dirt and debris, try using a needle or a toothpick to clean out the keyhole. If that doesn’t work, try spraying some WD-40 or another lubricant into the keyhole. This will help to loosen any debris that might be causing the problem.
If the problem is frozen water, try using a hairdryer to thaw out the keyhole. You could also try pouring hot water over the keyhole. Just be careful not to pour too much, or you could damage the lock.
If the problem is rust, you can try using some lubricant to loosen the rust. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the lock.
If the problem is simply misaligned discs, you can try realigning the discs yourself or taking the lock to a locksmith to have it fixed.
How hard is it to crack a 4 digit code?
If you’re trying to crack a password, you’re likely to have more success if you start with common combinations like 1234, 0000, and 1111. These three combinations make up about 20 percent of all passwords, so you’ll be able to crack 2683 percent of passwords if you try them first.
The Card Security Code is a 4-digit code that is printed on the front of your credit card, just above and to the right of your main credit card number. This code is used to verify that you are indeed the cardholder when making online purchases.
What is the most common 4 number passcode
The most common password in the world is astonishingly 1234. There are a possible 10,000 4-number pin combinations that can be made from 0-9. 12341111000012127777100420004444
A bump key can be a helpful tool to have in your pocket if you ever lose your keys. This type of key can open any lock that it fits into, including your door lock and deadbolt. Having a bump key can be helpful if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have your regular keys.
How do you pick a lock?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to pick a lock depends on the type of lock you are dealing with. However, the fast and dirty method described above is often the easiest and quickest way to pick a basic lock.
Assemble the torque wrench as shown in the figure. Apply a torque force to the torque wrench.
What bike lock Cannot be cut
If you’re looking for a bike lock that can’t be cut, you should check out the Altor SAF, LITELOK X1, or the Hiplok D1000. All of these locks have anti-grinder and anti-cut features that make them resistant to power tools.
Bike locks are designed to protect your bike from theft, but they can be tricky to pick. With a little patience and some practice, you should be able to open most bike locks without a key. In the worst-case scenario, you may end up damaging the lock, so be sure to have a replacement ready.
There are a few different ways that you can unlock a bike lock. If you have the key, simply insert it into the lock and turn it until the lock pops open. If you do not have the key, you can try using a bolt cutter to cut through the lock. However, this will likely damage the bike. Another option is to use a lock pick, but this requires some skill and experience.
There are a few different ways to unlock a bike lock. The most common way is to use a key. If you don’t have a key, you can try using a nail file or a paperclip. Insert the nail file or paperclip into the keyhole and turn. This should unlock the lock. If you still can’t unlock the lock, you can try using a hammer. Place the hammer against the lock and hit it with a lot of force. This should break the lock.


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I started this post in the middle of May and it was titled ‘Becoming Content”. This is what I wrote: “Lately I’ve been noticing things more – the birds singing, the colour of the leaves against the sky or close to the earth, the smell of the blossom after the rain and the sunlight casting shadows in the woods when I walk the dog. The taste of my coffee and food, the smile on someone’s face, the warmth of C when I snuggle up to him. Each day is full of these precious moments and I’m noticing them and appreciating them more fully than I think I ever have before. I’m becoming content right here right now and it’s wonderful. Simple pleasures that make up a day and ultimately a life”.
Contentment is defined as a long lasting deep feeling of satisfaction and gratitude as opposed to happiness which is more about experiencing positive thoughts and emotions which are less enduring. Attributes of contentment are satisfaction, lack of envy, humility, discipline and abhorrence of greed and corruption (https://www.kofastudy.com).
I didn’t publish or finish the post because there was a nagging sense of a lack of authenticity. Why? Because I was smoking cannabis again on a daily basis. It felt fraudulent to talk of contentment on a sobriety blog whilst using. I’d had a significant break but it had crept back in. At first just occasionally and it was fun again with seemingly none of the bad effects – my senses weren’t dulled, I wasn’t tired and lethargic but I found myself wanting it more and more. I avoided my blog and others as I knew they would increase the conflict in my mind. I was having the best of both worlds and I wanted to keep it that way. I started to avoid yoga and other spiritual nourishment too. I continued to smoke and over the next few weeks my pleasure in life dulled and discontent began to get hold. During the day I would look forward to my evening spliff, then whilst smoking I would think ‘is this all there is?’ I felt bored, apathetic and fed up with myself. My head filled with the conflict – ‘don’t smoke tomorrow, limit it to the weekends’ etc etc knowing full well that I wouldn’t. I was back in the thick of the forest of addiction. My ‘friend’ cannabis was taking more than it was giving once again. I should have known; I did know this would happen but I wanted to be able to have it all. Addiction doesn’t work like that as we all know.
This week we ran out and I’ve stopped – hopefully for good. I’ve been emotional, critical and negative. Less physical withdrawal than last time but I’ve still felt raw. I’ve thought about drinking again – seeking a replacement for the substance I’m grieving. The sense of life being futile and everything being mere distraction and therefore pointless has returned. I’ve disconnected from my soul and my true self and become absorbed in the selfish chatter of my own mind.
I had a dream the other night. I had a tiny baby and was away somewhere. I rolled a spliff and left it on the side whilst I went out. When I came back the police were at the door and of course the first thing they saw was the spliff. In the dream I thought ‘I’m going to lose everything’. The police breathalysed me and I was relieved I no longer drank alcohol. They talked to me and left with a request that I go down the station. I snuggled my baby and fed her. I think the baby represented my sobriety: a little infant that needs a lot of care and nurturing and the warning was in the one spliff – it’s a threat and you can’t have it. Not even one.
As I write this I’m strengthening my resolve and reminding myself that there is life beyond substance misuse. There are other ways to quieten ones’ mind after a day of hearing the woes of fellow humans – a major trigger for me. There doesn’t have to be an obvious point or purpose to life beyond the moment we find ourselves in. All I need to do now is focus on staying sober and allow that to take me where it will. Out of the forest and into the light.

domain: literature


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In a grand gesture he’s sure to take back, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens announced on Tuesday that he was leaving Twitter.
“Time to do what I long ago promised to do,” Stephens wrote before promptly deactivating his account. “Twitter is a sewer.”
The abrupt departure brought to a close a very weird 24 hours for Stephens and the New York Times that began with word that the newspaper had a bedbug infestation. David Karpf, an associate professor at George Washington University, tweeted in response: “The bedbugs are a metaphor. The bedbugs are Bret Stephens.” This joke was too much for Stephens, whose career is rooted in mocking political correctness and safe spaces on college campuses and also writing about Palestinians as if they were vermin.
“I’m often amazed about the things supposedly decent people are prepared to say about other people—people they’ve never met—on Twitter,” Stephens wrote in a now-infamous email to Karpf. “I would welcome the opportunity for you to come to my home, meet my wife and kids, talk to us for a few minutes, and then call me a ‘bedbug’ to my face.” Copied on the email was Karpf’s provost at GWU, a classic narc move.
“I had no intention whatsoever to get him any kind of professional trouble,” Stephens told MSNBC shortly after he left Twitter. He went on to claim, on national television, that the bedbug comparison was “dehumanizing,” tantamount to the acts of “totalitarian regimes.” Women and people of color face far worse abuse on the same platforms, every day, but they don’t get a morning spot on MSNBC to whine about it.
Stephens isn’t alone in such imperious behavior—not even in his own newsroom. Earlier this month, the Times‘ deputy Washington editor, Jonathan Weisman, tried to browbeat writer Roxane Gay into an apology over a critical tweet, going so far as to email HarperCollins, her publisher. (Weisman has since been demoted.)
It’s easy and perhaps psychologically convenient for some to dismiss the Stephens business as nothing more than routine internet folderol. The Amazon is literally burning, after all. But consider: Here was a white man, a columnist at the world’s most influential paper, trying to use his power to directly threaten a critic’s paycheck. This was a singularly revealing incident. With a single email, Stephens exposed the whole kampus kops routine as the intellectual grift that it is and, what’s more, demonstrated the crushing fragility of entitled men like him who can’t fathom life without the impunity they’ve long enjoyed.


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Learn about this topic in these articles:
The robot as a reflection of humanity received a classic outing in Lester del Rey’s short story “
Helen O’Loy” (1938). Helen was not the first female robot—her famous predecessor is the sinister celluloid robot Maria from the aforementioned film Metropolis (1927). Helen, by contrast, somehow establishes her womanhood by marrying her...


U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) praised Senate passage today of a bipartisan bill to rein in and regulate financial institutions. Spratt voted for the bill in the House last week.
"As we rebuild our economy," said Spratt, "we have to build in some plain common-sense rules which ensure that big commercial banks and big investment banks can't gamble on risks, like sub-prime mortgages, that jeopardize our economy."
The "Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" will police and help stop financial practices that almost led to a financial meltdown. The bill creates a process to shut down large, failing firms whose collapse would put the entire economy at risk. After exhausting all of the company's assets, additional costs would be covered by a "dissolution fund," to which all large financial firms would contribute. Henry Paulson, former Secretary of Treasury, has said that he wished such authority had been available when they resolved insolvencies at firms like AIG.
The bill has been called the "strongest set of Wall Street reforms in three generations" by Elizabeth Warren, who chairs the nonpartisan Congressional Oversight Panel. It has won endorsements across a broad range from the AARP to Consumers Union and the National Restaurant Association, among many others.