#Steve Boxall

[stephenboxall]

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[goalhofer]

2020 Olympics New Zealand Roster

Athletics

Sam Tanner (Tauranga)

Connor Bell (Auckland)

Malcolm Hicks (Auckland)

Quentin Rew (Wellington)

Zane Robertson (Hamilton)

Nick Willis (Lower Hutt)

Jack Gill (Belmont)

Hamish Kerr (Auckland)

Tom Walsh (Timaru)

Tori Peeters (Matamata)

Camille Buscomb (Cambridge)

Lauren Bruce (Christchurch)

Julia Ratcliffe (Hamilton)

Madison-Lee Wesche (Auckland)

Valerie Adams (Rotorua)

Boxing

David Nyika (Hamilton)

Canoeing

Callum Gilbert (Okere Falls)

Max Brown (Whanganui)

Kurtis Imrie (Lower Hutt)

Luuka Jones (North Palmerston)

Lisa Carrington (Ōhope)

Caitlin Regal (Takapuna)

Teneale Hatton (Auckland)

Alicia Hoskin (Gisborne)

Cycling

Sam Dakin (Cambridge)

Ethan Mitchell (Auckland)

Sam Webster (Auckland)

Aaron Gate (Auckland)

Regan Gough (Waipukurau)

Jordan Kerby (Brisbane, Australia)

Campbell Stewart (North Palmerston)

Corbin Strong (Invercargill)

George Bennett (Nelson)

Patrick Bevin (Cambridge)

Callum Saunders (Blenheim)

Anton Cooper (Westmorland)

Jessie Hodges (Hamilton)

Ellesse Andrews (Christchurch)

Kirstie Klingenberg (Auckland)

Bryony Botha (Takapuna)

Rushlee Buchanan (Hamilton)

Holly Edmondston (Nelson)

Jaime Nielsen (Hamilton)

Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu)

Diving

Anton Down-Jenkins (Wellington)

Field Hockey

Steve Edwards (Auckland)

Sean Findlay (Taradale)

Leon Hayward (Darwin, Australia)

Hugo Inglis (Dunedin)

Stephen Jenness (Lower Hutt)

Sam Lane (Temuka)

Dane Lett (Carterton)

Shea McAleese (Canterbury)

Jared Panchia (Auckland)

Nick Ross (Dunedin)

Kane Russell (Dunedin)

Jacob Smith (Wellington)

Blair Tarrant (Timaru)

Dylan Thomas (Hastings)

Nick Wilson (North Palmerston)

Nic Woods (Hamilton)

David Brydon (Auckland)

George Muir (Auckland)

Katie Doar (Auckland)

Tarryn Davey (Morrinsville)

Olivia Shannon (Feilding)

Olivia Merry (Christchurch)

Frances Davies (Tauranga)

Elizabeth Gunson (Whangarei)

Samantha Charlton (Auckland)

Grace O’Hanlon (Auckland)

Elizabeth Thompson (Thames)

Stephanie Dickins (Āpiti)

Megan Hull (Pongaroa)

Elizabeth Keddell (Tauranga)

Kelsey Smith (Nelson)

Stacey Michelsen (Whangarei)

Julia King (Auckland)

Hope Ralph (Taranaki)

Tessa Jopp (Dunedin)

Holly Pearson (Taranaki)

Soccer

George Stanger (Dunblane, U.K.)

Clayton Lewis (Wellington)

Gianni Stensness (Northbridge, Australia)

Michael Woud (Auckland)

Winston Reid (Sønderborg, Denmark)

Liberato Cacace (Wellington)

Nando Pijnaker (Wellington)

Michael Boxall (Auckland)

Elijah Just (Wellington)

Joe Bell (Wellington)

Chris Wood (Hamilton)

Marko Stamenic (Wellington)

Joe Champness (Brisbane, Australia)

Callum McCowatt (Auckland)

Jamie Searle (Cambridge)

Dane Ingham (Lismore, Australia)

Callan Elliot (Nelson)

Ben Waine (Wellington)

Matthew Garbett (Porirua)

Sam Sutton (Wellington)

Ben Old (Wellington)

Alex Paulsen (Lower Hutt)

Marisa Van Der Meer (Christchurch)

Michaela Robertson (Wellington)

Erin Nayler (Takapuna)

Victoria Esson (Burnside)

Anna Leat (Arrowtown)

Catherine Bott (Wellington)

Meikayla Moore (Christchurch)

Ali Riley (Los Angeles, California)

Claudia Bunge (Auckland)

Ria Percival (Brentwood, U.K.)

Annalie Longo (Auckland)

Betsy Hassett (Auckland)

Katie Bowen (Auckland)

Daisy Wilson-Cleverley (Auckland)

Olivia Chance (Tauranga)

Hannah Wilkinson (Whangarei)

Paige Satchell (Rotorua)

Anna Green (Stockport, U.K.)

Abby Erceg (Auckland)

Gabi Rennie (Rangiora)

Emma Rolston (Auckland)

Elizabeth Anton (Auckland)

Gymnastics

Mikhail Koudinov (Auckland)

Dylan Schmidt (Auckland)

Maddie Davidson (Christchurch)

Rowing

Jordan Parry (Tauranga)

Jack Lopas (Christchurch)

Dan Williamson (Auckland)

Tom Mackintosh (Christchurch)

Phillip Wilson (Wellington)

Stephen Jones (Auckland)

Brooks Robertson (Nelson)

Chris Harris (College Estate)

Shaun Kirkham (Hamilton)

Hamish Bond (Dunedin)

Matt Macdonald (Auckland)

Michael Brake (Auckland)

Tom Murray (Blenheim)

Sam Bosworth (Waipara)

Hannah Osborne (Te Awamutu)

Georgia Nugent-O’Leary (Aramoho)

Emma Twigg (Napier)

Kerri Gowler (Raetihi)

Grace Prendergast (Christchurch)

Brooke Donoghue (Te Kauwhata)

Livie Loe (Christchurch)

Eve Macfarlane (Parnassus)

Ruby Tew (Wellington)

Ella Greenslade (Christchurch)

Emma Dyke (Invercargill)

Lucy Spoors (Christchurch)

Kelsey Bevan (Auckland)

Beth Ross (Auckland)

Rugby

Andrew Knewstubb (Wellington)

Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (Auckland)

Tone Ng-Shiu (Auckland)

Amanaki Nicole (Christchurch)

William Warbrick (Auckland)

Scott Curry (Rotorua)

Tim Mikkelson (Matamata)

Kurt Baker (North Palmerston)

Caleb Clarke (Auckland)

Dylan Collier (Auckland)

Sione Molia (Auckland)

Etene Nanai-Seturo (Pakuranga)

Regan Ware (Tokoroa)

Tevarn Webber (Tokoroa)

Dhys Faleafaga (Wellington)

Jazmin Hotham (Auckland)

Shiray Kaka (Auckland)

Mahina Paul (Whakatane)

Alena Saili (Wellington)

Tenika Willison (Hamilton)

Sarah Hirini (Feilding)

Kayla Ahki (Waitara)

Shakira Baker (Masterton)

Michaela Blyde (New Plymouth)

Kelly Brazier (Dunedin)

Gayle Broughton (Taranaki)

Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland)

Stacey Fluhler (Whakatāne)

Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)

Risealeaana Pouri-Lane (Motueka)

Terina Te-Tamaki (Hamilton)

Ruby Tui (Wellington)

Portia Woodman (Kawakawa)

Sailing

Micah Wilkinson (Auckland)

Sam Meech (Tauranga)

Paul Snow-Hansen (Takapuna)

Daniel Willcox (Takapuna)

Peter Burling (Tauranga)

Andrew Tuke (Kawakawa)

Josh Junior (Wellington)

Erica Dawson (Auckland)

Alexandra Maloney (Auckland)

Molly Meech (Tauranga)

Shooting

Natalie Rooney (Waimate)

Chloe Tipple (Christchurch)

Surfing

Billy Stairmand (Auckland)

Ella Williams (Whangamata)

Swimming

Lewis Clareburt (Wellington)

Zac Reid (New Plymouth)

Erika Fairweather (Dunedin)

Ali Galyer (Auckland)

Hayley McIntosh (Whangārei)

Eve Thomas (Brisbane, Australia)

Carina Doyle (Auckland)

Taekwondo

Tom Burns (Christchurch)

Weightlifting

Cam McTaggart (Southport)

David Liti (Auckland)

Kanah Andrews-Nahu (Auckland)

Laurel Hubbard (Auckland)

Equestrian

Jesse Campbell (Marlborough, U.K.)

Tim Price (Rangiora)

Bruce Goodin (Huntly)

Tom Tarver-Priebe (Auckland)

Daniel Meech (Steinfeld, Germany)

Bundy Philpott (Cambridge)

Jonelle Price (Rangiora)

Uma O’Neill (Santa Cruz, California)

Golf

Ryan Fox (Auckland)

Bo-Gyung Ko (Orlando, Florida)

Karate

Andrea Anacan (Auckland)

Tennis

Marcus Daniell (New York, New York)

Michael Venus (London, U.K.)

Triathlon

Tayler Reid (Gisborne)

Hayden Wilde (Whakatāne)

Ainsley Thorpe (Auckland)

Nicole Van Der Kaay (Rotorua)

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Ten things we learned from F1's 2021 British Grand Prix

Formula 1, the British Grand Prix and a sold out Silverstone – it had the feeling of familiarity after the unknown and empty grandstands since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. But the 2021 British GP was anything but recognisable, starting on the Thursday with the first showing of a full-scale 2022 F1 car model and then a new weekend format which pivoted around the inaugural sprint qualifying race. It all resulted in a dramatic and controversial victory for Lewis Hamilton after his lap one collision with Max Verstappen which sent the F1 world championship leader into a 51G impact with the tyre barriers. Hamilton recovered from a 10-second time penalty for the incident to reel in shock leader Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and overtake him with just two laps to go – maximising his advantage with Verstappen out and cutting the deficit in the standings to eight points. While penalties and sportsmanship became the major post-race talking points, it created a race weekend jammed with action and memorable moments. Here are 10 things we learned from the 2021 British GP. 1. The first major clash of Hamilton vs Verstappen reveals true rivalry (By Alex Kalinauckas)

Lewis Hamilton congratulates Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver's sprint race victory Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images It's easy to see why the Lewis Hamilton/Max Verstappen collision at Copse, which put the Red Bull driver out in a scary, high-speed accident, is being described as 'inevitable' – because, really, it was. They have already clashed once in 2021 – at Imola. Then there was Verstappen's divebomb in Spain, plus the ultra-on-the-line close racing between them between Abbey and the approach to Copse in both Silverstone races. But the reason why the grand prix clash ended as it did is precisely because of the championship situation Hamilton faces, as well as the fierce nature of both driver's on-track attitude. Hamilton came into the British GP 33 points down on Verstappen. This isn't 2017-2021, when the Mercedes driver could afford to take a 'big picture' championship-points-tally-consideration view in 50-50 moves. He has more to lose now if something goes wrong, vital ground in a title battle where he has a slower package, so simply cannot afford to give an inch. And that's Verstappen's attitude overall – just look at his reaction to Hamilton getting alongside at Abbey and Brooklands on Sunday. In the crash, Hamilton deserved a penalty for causing the incident, but it was still a fine call. Don't expect this to be the last flashpoint of the 2021 title fight. 2. F1's penalty system needs to be explained better (By Jonathan Noble)

Lewis Hamilton had to sit stationary in his pitbox for 10s before his mechanics could service him Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images Red Bull's calls for Lewis Hamilton to be given a race ban for his part in the opening-lap crash with Max Verstappen were always going to fall on deaf ears. But you could fully understand its frustration that the 10-second penalty given to Lewis Hamilton for the clash ultimately cost the world champion nothing. Although it meant he had to fight a bit harder for the victory, he was still able to come home with the full 25 points. While that may seem unfair for Verstappen, who saw his title advantage slashed massively, F1 is quite right not to dish out penalties based on the consequences of offences. For doing it that way could open an even worse scenario where drivers get heavy sanctions for relatively minor rule breaches, but the book thrown at them when a tiny issue has big consequences. What perhaps is most lacking in F1 is actually a definition of driving rules and etiquette – so fans are better able to judge incidents based on the same criteria the stewards use. That would be hugely helpful in preventing the kind of polarised opinions that have engulfed social media in the last 24 hours. 3. A spirited sprint success, but the overall verdict remains to be decided (By James Newbold)

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, and the rest of the field at the start Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images Until the ill-fated clash of the titans at Copse, the weekend's biggest talking point had been F1's inaugural sprint race (let's call it what it was, shall we?) which generated mixed reviews. From "weird" according to Sebastian Vettel) to "I loved it" from Charles Leclerc, just about everybody had their opinion. Many welcomed the added excitement it brought to Fridays and the engineering challenge of getting the set-up nailed in FP1, while others questioned the relevance of FP2 when the cars were in parc ferme conditions which meant evaluating tyres was the only feasible action. The 17-lap distance allowed for variation in tyre strategies which was seized upon by Fernando Alonso, whose star turn on the soft tyres undoubtedly enlivened the proceedings as the race for the top four proved pretty static after the opening lap. F1 now faces a decision over whether to continue its experiment beyond the two further (as yet unconfirmed) sprint events planned for this season and, if so, whether to make further tweaks. Series bosses are encouraged by initial feedback, and have an unspecified "job list" to work through, but can at least be pleased that the format shake-up achieved what it set out to in building anticipation throughout the weekend. 4. Two-day race weekends look realistic option to ease pressure on growing F1 calendar (JNob)

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, waves to fans after securing pole Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images F1's first sprint race trial at the British Grand Prix can be viewed as an overall success. The boost in audience figures on Friday, plus increased interest for the Saturday 17-lap dash that provided a few spills and thrills, were exactly what F1 chiefs wanted. Sure there are some things that need improving – like the issue of Saturday's final free-practice being pretty much of no interest to fans on TV – but this is just a case of tidying up rather than starting from a clean sheet of paper. And, of course, the sooner the FIA goes back to awarding pole position in the history books to the fastest driver in Friday qualifying, rather than the winner of the sprint, the better things will be. But the success of the compressed format has also reopened the debate on whether F1 actually needs to stick at three-day weekends. Hamilton suggested a two-day schedule in the future would be the right way to go. It's something that F1 has baulked at in the past, and circuits would certainly not be happy at losing an extra day's ticket sales. But could it be something that proves preferable for some venues in exchange for holding one of F1's Grand Slam sprint weekends? 5. F1 at its best with packed crowds as Silverstone roars again (AK)

Fans cheer from the grandstands Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images Questions over the merits of letting a capacity crowd – that totalled 365,000 at Silverstone over the entire British GP weekend – gather during an ongoing pandemic should directed to the UK government, with the track itself understandably just trying to stay afloat in these awful times. But the fans in attendance were treated to an exceptional sporting event. Friday night qualifying produced two exceptional displays from British drivers in front their home fans, with the reaction to George Russell's Q3 lap the highlight for this writer given how the Williams racer was cheered from corner-to-corner. Then the sprint race delivered nicely in terms of an interesting race, even if it wasn't the all-out thriller some claimed. But it did set up a grand prix that fizzled spectacularly throughout – capped by the title rivals colliding and Leclerc nearly holding on for a famous against-the-odds victory. But there's an interesting footnote to Hamilton's victory. Motorsport.com was told there were plenty of new, younger fans seen at Silverstone – with an apparent increase in female spectators too. It will be interesting to see if this can be backed up in official data, but even anecdotally it suggests the 'Netflix effect', as well as Hamilton's laudable efforts to help diversify motorsport are having an impact. And what a race they were treated to, hopefully cementing lifelong motorsport fan status. 6. Leclerc demonstrates Ferrari's resurgence (By Jake Boxall-Legge)

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images Leclerc was unbelievably close to a surprise victory at the British GP, but there wasn't quite enough in the tank to repel Hamilton's late assault for the lead. But Leclerc had been stellar, and his opportunistic move to clear Hamilton moments after the Verstappen incident rewarded him with the upper hand for the restart. His getaway from the pole spot and subsequent managing of the gap to Hamilton were incredibly well-judged and, despite facing engine cut-out issues while in the lead, Leclerc was able to weather the storm and find enough in reserve to keep Hamilton at bay. The seven-time champion's recovery post-penalty, however, was too much for Leclerc to resist and his slight wide moment at Copse was the only blot on the Monegasque's copybook. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr's recovery in the sprint and continued progress in the race also showed the pace of the Ferrari in the pack, although his ascent was halted by a slow pitstop. That dropped him behind Daniel Ricciardo, whose McLaren proved to be a tough cookie to overtake. Nonetheless, Ferrari has showed greatly improved form after a disastrous Paul Ricard race, and the upcoming Hungarian GP could be a race in which the Scuderia truly shines. 7. Perez suffers like those before him in Red Bull's second seat (By Haydn Cobb)

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, on the grid, ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 car unveiling Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images Sergio Perez appeared to have the Red Bull support role nailed after picking up the pieces to win in Baku and then claim a deserved podium at the next race at Paul Ricard. But after being in the wars in Austria against McLaren's Lando Norris and Leclerc, Perez's performance in the British GP had shades of the struggles Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon endured before the Mexican came to Red Bull's rescue. It must be said it is down to fine margins, but qualifying behind Leclerc on Friday night set the wheels in motion for Perez's downward spiral. Trapped in the midfield battle at the start of the feisty sprint race, he was caught out by dirty air and spun off, to be condemned to the back of the grid for the main event. Despite Red Bull F1 car tweaks made in a bid to aid his retaliation in the grand prix, but also meaning a pitlane start, Perez was making progress until he got stuck in DRS trains and then got impatient and collided with Kimi Raikkonen. A P10 finish was as good as it was going to get until Red Bull sacrificed that solitary point to pit Perez for softs to take the fastest lap point away from Hamilton – even though finishing outside of the top 10 meant he wouldn't earn the point himself. Perez has slipped back to fifth place in the standings and is set to play 'who can be the best support driver' against Valtteri Bottas for the rest of the year. 8. Old dog Alonso makes the most of new tricks (HC) Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, and Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images Alonso demonstrated he's lost none of his racecraft with his stunning start to the sprint. The Alpine driver's charge from 11th to fifth was aided by his soft tyre gamble, but the TV onboard footage was reminiscent of the old Alonso - carving through the pack and finding gaps few others can. As his softs faded and left him seventh for the start of the main event, the double world champion held his nerve against an early attack from Vettel, before his old rival spun off on his inside at Woodcote, and went on to take seventh to extend his points-scoring run to a fifth race. The British GP marks Alonso's last race before his turns 40 and after a steady start to his F1 comeback, slowed by his pre-season training accident and adapting to his Alpine surroundings, he feels fresher and ready – a warning that the old dog has learned new tricks. "After the accident at the beginning of the year, in the first couple of races, there was still a part of the stress of coming back to the sport. I was concerned about the jaw, about the shoulder as well that I had the small injury with," Alonso said after the British GP. "But now, I'm super fit and I am 200%. "Next week is another number. So we'll eat some cake. But apart from that, it's going to be a very normal weekend. I feel 25. So whatever number it says in the passport it's not what I feel." 9. Williams progress clear but Russell is making the difference (JNew)

George Russell, Williams, waves to fans from Parc Ferme after Qualifying Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Hamilton's qualifying triumph on Friday stole the headlines, but one of the biggest cheers from the crowd was reserved for Russell's lap of honour in his one and only Q3 run. The Williams driver made the final segment of qualifying for the third race in a row with the eighth quickest time, raising questions over whether the FW43B should be considered a Q3 car henceforth. The team's head of vehicle performance Dave Robson reckoned it was "a little too early to say whether that's going to be something that's a regular occurrence", admitting he expected Williams would find it harder than in Austria but the "very calm conditions" on Friday evening played to the car's strengths. Despite the Hungaroring requiring a totally different set-up, Robson predicts "there's a good chance we'll be there or there abouts". But even if it's not, Russell can be counted on to make the difference. While his weekend went downhill after qualifying - a first-lap tangle in the sprint with Sainz resulted in a "harsh" three-place grid penalty for the grand prix that he couldn't recover from against cars that remain quicker in race-trim - Russell is in the form of his life right now. "I think there's an element for him of getting on that upward spiral," explained Robson. The question now is, how high can it go? 10. What the 2022 F1 show car hints at (JBL)

The 2022 Formula 1 car launch event on the Silverstone grid Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images Although F1's vision for 2022 has been long defined after the unveiling of the all-new regulations (initially planned for 2021) back in 2019, the championship's promoters unveiled a full-size model of its interpretation of next year's chargers. Of course, it came with all the bells and whistles expected for next year: the low-slung nose directly attached to the front wing, the simplified bodywork and focus on ground-effect aerodynamics all featured on the car wrapped in a distinctive holographic livery. That being said, there were a few small differences between the physical model and the render, particularly around the front end; the nose tip sat in the middle of the leading front wing element, rather than protruding beyond them, hinting at the variation the teams can employ. Although F1 elected to pick a representation of next year's rules largely based on aesthetics, it can only be expected that the teams will take a more pragmatic view of the rules and might not necessarily stick to the spirit of them. There's a greater focus on prescribed designs and single-spec components to cut costs and develop the aero effect that F1 has studied and earmarked as the way forward for closer on-track racing, but those effects will surely be a little diluted when it comes to the actual range of cars next year. Regardless, it's an exciting new direction for F1; although some have questioned the necessity of the new rules as 2021 continues to intrigue us all, the British GP still showed the difficulties of racing within the current level of dirty air. The new rules should reduce that problem, should everything go to plan. By Alex Kalinauckas, Jonathan Noble, James Newbold, Jake Boxall-Legge and Haydn Cobb Read the full article

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Quai 54 x OMM Agency Video compilation by Jordan Jaiyeola Credits: Project Lead Roderick Goedhart Creative Direction & UI Design Steve Davidson, Tricha Tan Development Howard Boland, Guy Boxall, Hasan Abdulaziz

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Już w piątek Malcie będą równość małżeństw, prezydent tego kraju o akceptacji i miłości do rodzin LGBT

Już w piątek pary jednopłciowe będą mogły wziąć ślub na Malcie, kiedy wszystkie przepisy zmienionego prawa małżeńskiego wejdą w życie. Minister sprawiedliwości Helena Dalli podpisała prawo do wiadomości publicznej opublikowanej w gazecie rządowej w zeszły piątek.

W kraju którym ponad 90% to katolicy gdzie większość polityków też prawica jest była za legalizacją równości małżeństw. Gdzie ponad 70 proc. mieszkańców regularnie chodzi na niedzielne msze. Dodatkowo ponad 60 proc. mieszkańców i mieszkanek Malty w wieku 18-35 lat popiera równość małżeńską.

Malta przez zaledwie trzech lat, zrobiła duży krok w równości dla LGBT. Ten katolicki bastion, gdzie legalna aborcja jest zakazana i rozwód był nie dawno jeszcze zakazany dozwolony jest od 2011 roku, trzy lata temu głosowano za związkami partnerskimi mimo sama prawica popierała, wstrzymali od głosowania byli przeciw jedynie sprawie adopcji dzieci, ale za równość głosowali jeden poseł przeciwko.

Rok później ten sam rząd Josepha Muscata uchwalił ustawę podstawowe prawa dla osób transseksualnych i interseksualnych, to też pierwszy kraj gdzie akceptują prawa osób interseksualnych.

Malta to jedyny kraj na świecie zakazała "terapii konwersji" leczenie z orientacji seksualnej i zmiany płci.

Wiele z tych osiągnięć należy miedzy innymi Helena Dalli, minister Malty kiedyś była Miss World Malta i wykładowczyni socjologii na Uniwersytecie Maltańskim.

Według ILGA-Europe, Malta w rankingu "tęczowej Europy", zajęła pierwsze miejsce. Ranking ILGA-Europe, w którym w kategoriach miedzy innymi azyl, równouprawnienie, ochrona przed mową i przestępstwami z nienawiści, prawo do posiadania rodziny, wolność zgromadzeń i wypowiedzi czy możliwość korekty płci metrykalnej, przyznawane lub odejmowane są punkty.

Mimo nie którzy biskupi katolicy wspierają LGBT. Biskupi z Malty opublikowali dokument dotyczący stosowania Amoris Laetitia, o rodzinie od papieża Franciszka. Dokument Episkopatu odzwierciedla wezwanie papieża, aby uzyskać więcej miłości i integracji w Kościele, dla rozwiedziony i też LGBT. (New Ways Ministry)

Biskup Grech szukał większej integracji dla osób LGBT w kościele podczas synodu rodziny w 2014 roku, a Biskup Scicluna chce żeby nie karać, duchowny którzy akceptują i błogosławią związki osób jednopłciowy. Scicluna powiedział Kościół powinien przeprosić osób LGBT, za język homofobiczny. Tylko w ubiegłym roku, Scicluna stał się jednym z niewielu biskupów na Malce który potępiał "terapie reparatywną".

Premier Malty Joseph Muscat mówił podczas debaty że nadszedł czas do wprowadzenia ustawy związków partnerskich jest ona do ochrony praw mniejszości. "Chcę żeby moje dzieci dorastały w kraju równości" powiedział po głosowaniu wyjściu do tłumu.

"Chciałbym, by upowszechnił się pogląd, że orientacja seksualna to nie jest stan podlegający "leczeniu", a wciąż u nas podobne próby mają miejsce" - powiedział premier.

"Będę bronił prawa Kościoła katolickiego do wyrażania swych poglądów i jednocześnie niech mi wolno będzie zapewnić, że mój rząd będzie kontynuował realizację własnych planów. Nigdy nie zaakceptuję mentalności, zgodnie z którą można krzywdzić osoby LGBT". (Replika)

Też dzięki wielu organizacją największa jest Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM), też bardzo pomogli zmienić mentalność Drachma Parents - u nas są akceptacja rodzicie dzieci LGBT.

Wielu rodzice do praktykujący katolicy walczyli o równe prawa dla swoi dzieci. Nawet dzięki im jeden biskup katolicki przeprosił społeczność LGBT za prześladowania na żywo w telewizji, jest nim Biskup Malty Charles Scicluna.

Film, wyprodukowany przez fundację prezydencką od prezydent Marie Louise Coleiro-Preca podkreśla znaczenie tworzenia bezpiecznych przestrzeni, dla rodzin wszystkich na Malcie. Pokazać że rodziny LGBT nie odróżniają się od inny.

Ceremonie związków partnerskich

Steve i Manuel:

Karl Boxall i Simon Law ich ceremonia ślubna, ślub dał osobiście Burmistrz Vittoriosa (Birgu), który okazuje się też ojcem pana młodego Boxall.

Dokument OurStory od Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement

[joyffree]

#NewRelease ➙ Title: Legendary Box Set Author: Multi-Authors Genre: SciFi Fantasy From the publishers of Legends and Legacy, the two longest-running, best-selling sci-fi fantasy collections comes… LEGENDARY Freecurrent: The Legacy by Deanna J. Compton A long-lost diary promising a world where magic and dragons rule. Bernie and the Lost Girl by Steve Lebel Not long ago, a young girl disappeared, and all of God Town feared for her life. After extensive searches, little Emily could not be found. Mecha 1: Steel Trap by Brendon Berg Earth has become devoid of anything natural due to large scale fracking. The planet is a barren, devastated, global wasteland. Jason, an ex-marine, discovers his training doesn’t count for much on Mecha 1. The Tin of Honey by Holly Barbo Life is tough for Zoe in the new world. As a small child, her voice can never be heard and she may as well be invisible. Except as a slave. Adamanta: Season 1, Episode 1 by T.Y. Carew For humanity, hope is merely a fantasy, until Colonel Xander Finlay meets Matt. She’s mastered control of a brand-new technology. A new weapon. Can her experience and her parent’s lifetime of research turn the tide of war? Pick of the Litter - A Mutt is Born by Sean Gallatin He can survive on the junkyard planet. The pack of dogs provide some company, but he must find a way to get away and pay someone back. Can he cobble together something that will get him off world and back in the game? A Fire's Sacrifice by Jess Mountifield Narway's life will never be the same. Her father is dead. Almost entirely alone she must choose between two paths. Whatever she decides she'll have to make a sacrifice. Martin Little Resurrected by Ella Medler Meet Martin Little -- Little by name, little by fortune, and with a luck to match those two. Once he breaks into Heaven, it's all a downhill slide to Hell. Deirdre’s Dawn by J. Michael McFadden Young Deirdre loves Celtic lore. Are the heroic stories true or legend? Living in year 1000, she avidly reads ancient manuscripts at the Abbey will she become part of the stories? Best friend Culain dares her to discover Ancestral Secrets in the Enchanted Ards Forest! Will faerie magic prevail over her doubts? Lost Shadows by Julie Elizabeth Powell Not only had Adam lost his parents in a car crash, but he’d also forgotten who he was. Pamela is haunted by the patient who was murdered by her father. Barbara and Mike have mysterious secrets. Harry seeks solace at the bottom of a glass. Most are strangers, all are haunted by darkness – does this unite them? Will they find what is lost? The Owner by Nathan Boxall Peace on earth! That's what the elves promised when they came out of hiding. We did get that, but do we know what it cost us? Zero Cadence by Rene Folsom “I am intrigued by the notion that love was once a choice. The adventure of falling in love, finding your soul mate amongst billions of people around the Earth, seems so much more realistic than being told who you’re meant to be with for eternity. I feel like I would much rather go through loss and heartache in order to find my true match, instead of being told by a stupid internal timer when my soul will finally be complete.” The Timely Gift by Suzy Stewart Dubot Ivan Tait, Lord Palmer, has a gift. One might suppose that it is his astounding good looks, but one would be wrong. His gift is not visible. A time-travel novella. In Pursuit of Cheese A Cat and CoDee Novella by Cherime MacFarlane Greenhouse II, one world where Cat can be herself, may no longer be safe. As they struggle to communicate without using their bond, neither sense the menace lurking in the warm jungle. A catastrophe on a far-off world which produces a fine cheese may prove to be Cat’s undoing. #LegendaryBoxSet   #SciFi #Fantasy #MustRead #MultiAuthor #Anthology #CharimeMacFarlane

[stevebox007x]

WebPresence4U 2018 Intro

WebPresence4U 2018 Intro

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[365footballorg-blog]

Fantasy: Week 33 positional rankings

USA Today Sports Images

October 10, 20182:32PM EDT

With so few games in Round 33, Reid, Mike and Blayne take the opportunity to start thinking about the 2019 fantasy season and review some of the more interesting suggestions they have heard so far. They also try out a new open format for player reviews and it turns into a heated discussion about who should win Newcomer of the Year. Where do you fall? Listen to the show and then let us know your thoughts. But don’t forget, games start on FRIDAY at 10 pm ET!

The FIFA international window brings us to a condensed Week 33 of MLS Fantasy, with just four games to build a team around this week. With international absences in mind, let’s take a closer look at the top players at each position.

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Goalkeepers

New England’s Brad Knighton has conceded two or more goals in three straight games, but he’s in a good bounceback spot at home against Orlando City on Saturday. The Lions have been shut out in four straight games and will also be missing key pieces of their attack in Yoshi Yotun (international duty) and Dom Dwyer (yellow-card accumulation).

Rank Player Team Opponent Price 1  Brad Knighton NE vs. ORL $ 7.0 2  Bobby Shuttleworth MIN vs. COL $ 4.4 3 Tyler Miller LAFC vs. HOU $ 8.9 4  Bill Hamid DC vs. DAL $ 7.9 5  Jesse Gonzalez DAL at DC $ 5.4 6 Joe Willis HOU at LAFC $ 6.4 7 Tim Howard COL at MIN $ 5.6 8 Joe Bendik ORL at NE $ 4.5

Defenders

Walker Zimmerman has three goals over his last three outings, highlighting his ability to contribute attacking points as a towering target on LAFC set pieces. A home game against Houston on Friday presents another opportunity for Zimmerman to deliver.

Rank Player Team Opponent Price 1 Walker Zimmerman LAFC vs. HOU $ 8.0 2 Michael Mancienne NE vs. ORL $ 6.9 3 Steven Beitashour LAFC vs. HOU $ 8.6 4 Frederic Brillant DC vs. DAL $ 6.0 5 Reto Ziegler DAL at DC $ 9.3 6 Matt Hedges DAL at DC $ 8.4 7 Michael Boxall MIN vs. COL $ 7.0 8 Jordan Harvey LAFC vs. HOU $ 8.0 9 Jalil Anibaba NE vs. ORL $ 5.7 10 Steve Birnbaum DC vs. DAL $ 8.8 11 Edgar Castillo COL at MIN $ 6.6 12 Brent Kallman MIN vs. COL $ 4.8 13 Ryan Hollingshead DAL at DC $ 4.4 14 Jerome Thiesson MIN vs. COL $ 4.0 15 Eric Miller MIN vs. COL $ 4.0 16 Danilo Silva LAFC vs. HOU $ 5.6 17 Dejan Jakovic LAFC vs. HOU $ 5.9 18 Joseph Mora DC vs. DAL $ 6.7 19 Marquinhos Pedroso DAL at DC $ 7.3 20 DaMarcus Beasley HOU at LAFC $ 6.1

Midfielders

Luciano Acosta saw his run of three straight double-digit point games come to a halt last week, but he continues to be an integral part of the D.C. United attack as they make a push for a spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Rank Player Team Opponent Price 1 Luciano Acosta DC vs. DAL $ 12.5 2 Lee Nguyen LAFC vs. HOU $ 9.9 3 Miguel Ibarra MIN vs. COL $ 7.9 4 Yamil Asad DC vs. DAL $ 9.3 5 Benny Feilhaber LAFC vs. HOU $ 7.7 6 Diego Fagundez NE vs. ORL $ 6.9 7 Michael Barrios DAL at DC $ 10.9 8 Juan Agudelo NE vs. ORL $ 4.9 9 Paul Arriola DC vs. DAL $ 8.5 10 Tomas Martinez HOU at LAFC $ 9.5 11 Santiago Mosquera DAL at DC $ 9.5 12 Kelyn Rowe NE vs. ORL $ 5.8 13 Aaron Kovar LAFC vs. HOU $ 5.0 14 Zoltan Steiber DC vs. DAL $ 6.4 15 Luis Caicedo NE vs. ORL $ 5.9 16 Rasmus Schuller MIN vs. COL $ 8.4 17 Victor Ulloa DAL at DC $ 8.2 18 Ibson MIN vs. COL $ 7.1 19 Ulises Segura DC vs. DAL $ 5.0 20 Junior Moreno DC vs. DAL $ 6.9 21 Sacha Kljestan ORL at NE $ 7.0 22 Maximiano MIN vs. COL $ 5.2 23 Alexi Gomez MIN vs. COL $ 5.7 24 Andre Horta LAFC vs. HOU $ 5.0 25 Boniek Garcia HOU at LAFC $ 5.8 26 Roland Lamah DAL at DC $ 6.9 27 Scott Caldwell NE vs. ORL $ 5.8 28 Russell Canouse DC vs. DAL $ 7.6 29 Jack Price COL at MIN $ 6.9 30 Pablo Aranguiz DAL at DC $ 5.5

Forwards

Darwin Quintero has a goal or an assist in 11 of his last 12 games, and he should be licking his chops at home against a Colorado Rapids side that have been outscored 22-1 during their current seven-game losing streak.

Rank Player Team Opponent Price 1 Darwin Quintero MIN vs. COL $ 14.3 2 Wayne Rooney DC vs. DAL $ 12.8 3 Carlos Vela LAFC vs. HOU $ 12.6 4 Cristian Penilla NE vs. ORL $ 7.9 5 Angelo Rodriguez MIN vs. COL $ 7.6 6 Adama Diomande LAFC vs. HOU $ 8.0 7 Diego Rossi LAFC vs. HOU $ 9.5 8 Maximiliano Urruti DAL at DC $ 9.3 9 Teal Bunbury NE vs. ORL $ 5.7 10 Mauro Manotas HOU at LAFC $ 9.4 11 Dominique Badji DAL at DC $ 5.6 12 Shkelzen Gashi COL at MIN $ 4.0 13 Marco Urena LAFC vs. HOU $ 4.8 14 Christian Ramirez LAFC vs. HOU $ 7.2 15 Darren Mattocks DC vs. DAL $ 4.1

Stay Connected: To get all the latest Fantasy news and advice, download the MLS app and sign up for MLS Fantasy notifications. To sign up for notifications, select the main menu, choose settings. Within the settings menu, select News & Videos notifications and turn on notifications for “Fantasy Soccer.”

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Fantasy: Week 33 positional rankings was originally published on 365 Football

[pinlink-pr]

The day that Stephen Hawking soared like Superman

The day that Stephen Hawking soared like Superman

In 2007 the late Stephen Hawking fulfilled a lifelong dream; to experience ‘weightlessness’ outside of his wheelchair.

Image copyright ZERO-G/Steve Boxall

With the help of entrepreneur Peter Diamandis (seen above), Stephen Hawking was able to experience microgravity on a Zero G flight, describing the event as “true freedom … I was Superman for those few minutes.”

Image copyright ZERO-G/Steve…

[newsonlinegroup-blog]

The day that Stephen Hawking soared like Superman

In 2007 the late Stephen Hawking fulfilled a lifelong dream; to experience 'weightlessness' outside of his wheelchair.

Image copyright ZERO-G/Steve Boxall With the help of entrepreneur Peter Diamandis (seen above), Stephen Hawking was able to experience microgravity on a Zero G flight, describing the event as "true freedom ... I was Superman for those few minutes."

Image copyright ZERO-G/Steve Boxall Professor Hawking, who died this week, was a wheelchair user who had lived with motor neurone disease from the age of 22. He survived five decades longer than doctors had expected. The scientist boarded a modified Boeing 727 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2007, which then performed parabolic arcs where the aircraft is in free fall, allowing the passengers to experience moments of weightlessness. The activity mimics what floating in space feels like and is used to train astronauts.

Image copyright ZERO-G/Steve Boxall In a message to Nasa astronauts on the International Space Station in 2014, Hawking said of the experience: "People who know me well say that my smile was the biggest they'd ever seen."

Image copyright ZERO-G/Steve Boxall Photos are copyright. Read the full article

[larryland]

TROY, NEW YORK     Tuesday, November 14, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall hosts our free monthly Music @ Noon Concert Series, featuring the Ricochet Duo, playing piano and marimba.  Wednesday, November 15, we are bringing in the modern percussion ensemble Sō Percussion.

With two performances back to back featuring percussion instruments, we saw an opportunity!  The Music Hall, along with Green Room Artist Development, will host a Percussion Discussion.  This discussion takes place from 5:30-6:30 PM at Troy Kitchen (located within walking distance of the Music Hall, on 77 Congress Street in downtown Troy), before the Sō Percussion performance on Wednesday, November 15.

Ricochet Duo

Sō Percussion

This panel discussion is targeted toward the young professional, pre-professional, young player, the hobbyist, anyone thinking about approaching music more professionally, or anyone who may be curious to learn more.  The focus is on what it takes to be a professional percussionist in today’s world, and what a musician needs to have in their “portfolio” in the way of knowledge, skills, and ability.

This panel discussion is free and open to the public, all are welcome to attend.  (Tickets to the Sō Percussion performance that evening will be available at the Music Hall Box Office before the show.  Student tickets are available for just $10.)

Pre-show Percussion Discussion Panel Members: – Jane Boxall, Ricochet Duo marimbist, percussionist, clinician, educator – Cliff Brucker, drummer-percussionist, pianist, keyboardist, composer, producer, arranger and educator. – Rose Chancler, Ricochet Duo pianist, collaborative artist, concert presenter, educator – Brian Melick, drummer, multi-hand percussionist, educator – A member from SŌ Percussion, tbd – https://sopercussion.com/people/

 The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is located at 32 Second Street in downtown Troy.  More information on the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and upcoming programs is available on the website at www.troymusichall.org.   The Hall has hosted performances by legions of world-renowned artists, from legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Isaac Stern, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Vladimir Horowitz, to the best on today’s contemporary music scene, including Joshua Bell, Andrew Bird, Steve Martin, Lyle Lovett, and John Prine and many others.

Troy Music Hall Hosts Free Pre-show Percussion Discussion TROY, NEW YORK     Tuesday, November 14, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall hosts our free monthly Music @ Noon Concert Series, featuring the…

[stephenboxall]

https://ift.tt/3SzEWnL

[i-can-do-tricks]

8/10/17

Los Angles Times Online

Bettina Boxall, author of “From spectacular vistas to the pits: A decades-long public land battle continues in the California desert”, published on 8/7/17

#desertsaredelicious

1891 words

Synopsis: (79 words)

This scarred piece of California desert is what’s left of one of the country’s largest open-pit mining operations and the little company town that Kaiser Steel Corp, built after World War II. A private company wants to use the pits for a $2-billion hydropower project. The plant, proponents say, would help boost renewable energy use in Southern California and lower greenhouse gas emissions. But park officials fear the hydropower project could draw down local groundwater levels and harm wildlife.

Personal Response: (175 words)

It would be a shame for a barren land to not be put to good use, using it for a new electricity plant and contributing to the world’s renewable energy shift, but at the same time it could be rather horrible for the environment to be dug up and drained of its water and resources. There are lots of animals that live even in ecosystems with as harsh conditions as these hot, dry climates of the desert, such as lizards, owls, rabbits, and small rodents. From my perspective, the desert is a horrible place to live. The days are blistering hot and the nights are freezing cold. It’s just so incredibly dry and sandy, which is obvious, not to mention the venomous snakes. The one and only reason I would venture the long journey over the mountains to the desert is for the stargazing. Without the clouds and lights ruining the view, the whole sky is a beautiful light show. I would rather go to the desert than to the middle of the dark woods.

Copy of Original Article:

Just beyond the southeast corner of Joshua Tree National Park, rows of boarded-up houses, gouged mountainsides and concrete ruins are an ugly reminder of the never-ending battle over the West’s public lands.

This scarred piece of California desert is what’s left of one of the country’s largest open-pit mining operations and the little company town that Kaiser Steel Corp. built after World War II. More than three decades after the Eagle Mountain iron mine closed, it still haunts the park that borders it on three sides.

Plans to turn the site into a huge landfill and dump as much as 20,000 tons a day of Southland garbage into the gaping mine pits died in 2013 after years of court battles. Now, a private company wants to use the pits for a $2-billion hydropower project.

The plant, proponents say, would help boost renewable energy use in Southern California and lower greenhouse gas emissions. But park officials fear the hydropower project could draw down local groundwater levels and harm wildlife.

The Eagle Mountain tract, shaped like a handgun aimed at the park’s interior, offers a lesson in what can happen when federal monument protections are stripped from public lands — as President Trump’s administration is considering doing at a number of national monuments in the West.

“It’s been a sordid history,” said Mark Butler, a former Joshua Tree superintendent who is retired from the National Park Service.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established Joshua Tree National Monument on roughly 825,000 acres of federal and railroad holdings northeast of Palm Springs, capping a hard-fought campaign to conserve a singular desert landscape of Joshua trees, massive boulders and spectacular vistas.

But the monument’s ban on new mining claims infuriated gold and silver prospectors who’d long mined the area. In the 1940s, Kaiser Steel bought old patented claims to iron deposits in the Eagle Mountains and started digging them up.

In 1950, Congress shrank the monument by more than a third, chopping a chunk off the northern boundary and the Eagle Mountain area. The way was cleared for Kaiser to blast millions of tons of iron ore out of the mountainsides over the next three decades and ship it by rail to the roaring blast furnaces of the company’s Fontana steel plant.

The 1994 California Desert Protection Act that upgraded Joshua Tree to a national park added much of the Eagle Mountains to the park. But the law omitted the abandoned mine and surrounding federal land.

On a recent day, the town remnants baked in 120-degree heat beneath a mountain of mine tailings. The hulking ruins of the ore loading area looked like a bombed-out village in Afghanistan. Rock benches traced the excavation of four huge pits.

Jeff Harvey and Steve Lowe of Eagle Crest Energy Co. climbed to the top of a metal tower that Kaiser foremen had used to direct mine traffic.

The 360-degree view swept from park peaks to the north, over the moonscape of the mine to the haze-veiled Chuckwalla Valley in the distance.

“This would be full of water,” said Harvey, looking at one of two pits that Eagle Crest wants to convert to reservoirs.

Separated by about 1,400 feet of elevation, the reservoirs would be part of what Lowe calls “an elegant solution” to a problem California is confronting as it boosts renewable energy production.

The sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow according to peak electricity demand. Utilities need some way of storing wind and solar power — or shifting the production time.

One way is with battery systems. Another is through pumped water — the method that Eagle Crest proposes to use in an area that averages less than 4 inches of rain a year.

When the solar panels and wind turbines that are sprouting from the desert floor churn out more power than the electrical grid needs, Eagle Crest would use some of that excess to pump water through an underground tunnel system to the 191-acre upper reservoir.

Later in the day, when energy demand climbs, the water would be released back into the tunnel system, powering turbines and generating electricity at it flowed downhill to the 163-acre lower reservoir.

Pumped storage is not new. There are seven of the operations scattered around California at reservoirs and lakes. Eagle Mountain would be the biggest in the state, capable of producing 1,300 megawatts of electricity — enough to supply nearly 1 million homes.

Like all pumped hydropower systems, it would actually consume more energy pushing water uphill than it generates with the downhill flow.

Unlike the other California operations, Eagle Crest would use groundwater — piped from three new wells drilled on private land in the Chuckwalla Valley to the south.

Over the project’s four-decade life, the company says, it would withdraw a total of about 100,000 acre-feet from the Chuckwalla aquifer. That is enough to supply 200,000 homes for a year.

It is also enough to worry park officials.

They don’t think groundwater feeds their springs. But the Pinto Basin aquifer on Joshua Tree’s east side supplies the Chuckwalla with underflow. Draw down the Chuckwalla, they fear, and groundwater levels in the park could drop.

“The aquifers that underlie the park are ancient,” Joshua Tree Superintendent David Smith said. “Once you start depleting those reservoirs, no one knows what’s actually going to happen. How will that affect the park.… I don’t want to take that risk.”

He cited a 2012 research paper by federal scientists who concluded that groundwater recharge rates in the Chuckwalla Basin may be much lower than previously estimated, suggesting the aquifer is already in overdraft.

Eagle Crest, which bought the 10,000-acre Eagle Mountain site two years ago for $25 million, disputes the paper. Even if it is accurate, Harvey says, company wells would deplete the Chuckwalla aquifer by less than 1%.

Groundwater isn’t the park’s only worry. The hydropower project would disturb an area that has been largely quiet for decades, allowing bighorn sheep and other wildlife to return.

Butler warns that plopping two artificial lakes on such arid land would attract ravens and other predators that could prey on threatened desert tortoises and other park wildlife.

“You’re going to be essentially changing the ecology of that region,” said Butler, who was Joshua Tree’s superintendent from 2011 to 2014.

Despite the park service objections, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Eagle Crest a hydropower license in 2014.

In April, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced it was preparing to approve a right of way on federal land outside of the park for 12 miles of Eagle Crest transmission lines and a 15-mile, buried water pipeline from the wells.

Both agencies essentially concluded that the hydropower project would not cause significant environmental harm and would not deplete the aquifer over the long term.

“It’s a FERC-licensed project, so it is pretty much the law of the land right now,” Smith said with an air of resignation.

He grew up in San Diego County, the son of desert rats who headed for Joshua Tree and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on the weekends. He learned how to climb on Joshua Tree’s boulders. He got his first permanent park service job there.

“I love Joshua Tree. It’s part of who I am as a person,” said Smith, who succeeded Butler as superintendent.

He manages a park that is surging in popularity — Smith expects 3 million visitors this year — and is beset by outside pressures.

Development is on its doorstep. The nitrogen in Southland smog fertilizes invasive grasses that spread across the park, carrying ecologically destructive wildfires with them. Global warming threatens the park’s signature Joshua trees.

Yes, he acknowledges, the Eagle Crest project could help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change. “My concern is that the solution does not cause problems in the park,” he said.

Lowe, Eagle Crest’s president, ticks off the ways in which the abandoned mine is “a great site” for his project.

It is close to existing electrical transmission corridors and solar farms — a new one glints just down Kaiser Road. And, he says, it’s “repurposing a brownfield site that is never going to wind up the way it was.”

Lowe and his late father, Art, founded the company in 1991 and started pursuing the hydropower project despite the competing landfill proposal.

Initially, they eyed the wind turbines popping up in the desert. Now, with the growth of solar and California’s push for renewable energy, Lowe figures his time has come.

“The grid needs this,” said Lowe, who runs the company out of Santa Monica.

Two years ago Eagle Crest signed up a development partner, NextEra Energy, a large energy producer with several solar farms in the California desert, including Desert Sunlight, the 4,000-acre operation down the road.

But Lowe has yet to line up utility customers for the hydropower. And conservation groups have filed protests of the pending right-of-way approval in a move that foreshadows another court fight.

The long battle over Eagle Mountain, it seems, is not yet over.

“Since those boundaries were changed, there’s been almost 70 years of fighting over this landscape,” said David Lamfrom, California desert director for one of the groups, the National Parks Conservation Assn.

“So when people are thinking about the real implications of rolling back national monuments — they are severe.”

“I’ve spent a decade of my career trying to correct past wrongs as they relate to Joshua Tree National Park,” he added.

[photomaniacs]

How I Shot a Photo Assignment in Zero Gravity http://ift.tt/2wy6kUK

One of the greatest things about photography is the seemingly endless supply of new opportunities and new challenges. No matter how many “new” or “weird” or “difficult” experiences you’ve had as a photographer, you’ve never seen it all, and there’s always something unique about each project.

Last summer, Smithsonian magazine Director of Photography Jeff Campagna contacted me about doing some work on the subject of scientific research conducted in zero-gravity conditions. I’d shot for the magazine previously, and it sounded like an interesting assignment. Little did I know, however, that when everything came together and it was time to do the job in November, I myself would be working in zero-gravity conditions — on the same specially outfitted airplane that director Ron Howard used to film the zero-g scenes in the Oscar-winning film Apollo 13!

When I found out I’d be shooting while floating weightless in the fuselage of a 727, I began my research and quickly realized that very little info on the subject is available. I reached out to the company that arranges the flights, ZeroG, for some info. They put me in touch with one of their photographers, Al Powers; talking to him, it became clear I’d have to use a stripped-down setup.

I’d considered mounting a few Profoto heads, but that wouldn’t be an option because, in order to attain weightlessness, the plane must perform a series of severe up-and-down arcs, or parabolas — which basically means anything not welded or bolted down can come loose and start flying around.

I ended up taking two flights, a tourist charter and a trip with six scientific research groups. For the first flight, I paired my Nikon D810 with a 24-120mm zoom lens and a quantum strobe and spent most of the time acclimating myself to the sensation, which was like nothing I’d ever experienced.

Zero G scientific flight November 15, 2016. The Zero G flight crew conducts flight check list before a scientific flight on the Zero G 727. Bob Croslin for Smithsonian Magazine

The plane only achieves zero gravity for about 25 seconds during each parabola, which isn’t a lot of time to raise a camera, frame a shot and take a few pictures, especially when you’re suspended in midair and every little movement can send you spinning off in one direction or another.

I spent the first four or five of the dozen or so parabolas just figuring out how to orient myself and move my camera without altering my position as I hung in space.

Zero G tourist flight November 12, 2016. Passengers float through the plane as the pilots fly parabolas creating 20-30 seconds of weightlessness. Most Zero G flights offer 15 segments of weightlessness. Bob Croslin for Smithsonian Magazine

Zero G tourist flight November 12, 2016. Katie Bennett and Eric Barch float through the plane as the pilots fly parabolas creating 20-30 seconds of weightlessness. Most Zero G flights offer 15 segments of weightlessness. Bob Croslin for Smithsonian Magazine

For the second flight, when I shot the research groups conducting their experiments in the Zero-G Weightless Lab, I switched to a Nikon 14-24mm lens, which provided the widest view of the plane’s cramped interior. Having taken the first trip, I was more confident and in control of my body and camera. And I fared much better than some of the researchers, most of whom were students.

Zero G scientific flight November 15, 2016. College students Emily Schulz and Alex Peterson of Purdue University conduct a scientific experiment on the Zero G 727 while experiencing weightlessness. Bob Croslin for Smithsonian Magazine

The first five or six parabolas were pure chaos. Several researchers filled airsickness bags almost immediately, and had to be escorted back to their seats and belted in for the remainder of the flight. Everyone else was struggling just to stay oriented and try to get their work done.

As my job was to capture them working, not puking or floating away, it wasn’t until near the end the flight that I felt sure I had several great images — and that I could actually enjoy being in zero gravity.

My photos were published in the Smithsonian magazine story, “The Future of Zero-Gravity Living Is Here.”

Thanks to Smithsonian, Jeff Campagna, ZeroG and Al Powers for affording me what might be a once-in-a-lifetime professional experience. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to apply everything I learned to another shoot, but then again, you never know.

About the author: Bob Croslin is a Central Florida commercial and editorial photographer. His work has regularly appeared in Sports Illustrated, Time, Golf Digest, ESPN, Men’s Fitness, FastCo and other magazines. He’s produced advertising campaigns for BurgerKing, DirecTV, IMG Academy, Tampa International Airport and Animal Planet. Croslin lives in the Tampa Bay area with his wife and daughter and cycles more than 200 miles a week when he is not shooting. You can find more of his work on his website, Instagram, and Vimeo.

Image credits: Header photo by Steve Boxall/ Zero G

Go to Source Author: Bob Croslin If you’d like us to remove any content please send us a message here CHECK OUT THE TOP SELLING CAMERAS!

The post How I Shot a Photo Assignment in Zero Gravity appeared first on CameraFreaks.

August 10, 2017 at 09:07PM

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