#The Final Inquiry 2006

[maxkennedy24]

The Final Inquiry X The Expendables crossover

[evmorfi-a]

فيلم The Final Inquiry 2006 مترجم HD اون لاين

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

can you explain why you dont believe the titanic switch conspiracy theory? didnt they find a propeller with "olympic" written on it amongst the wreckage?

i feel like the phrase "you just activated my trap card" applies here but i have also never watched yu-gi-oh so dont fully know the correct use of that. anyway whats the text limit on a tumblr post because i think i might hit it with this response.

before we begin (if you wanna join me on this fucking journey), ill just drop some useful sources on the topic:

olympic & titanic - an analysis of the robin gardiner conspiracy theory dissertation by mark chirnside in july 2006

titanic or olympic: which ship sank? by steve hall and bruce beveridge

olympic & titanic: the truth behind the conspiracy by steve hall and bruce beveridge

with that shipkeeping housekeeping out of the way, lets jump into it after the cut

so hands up, how many people knew that this theory originated in a book from 1995?

yeah, its a pretty modern theory considering titanic sank in 1912. the theory originated in the riddle of the titanic by robin gardiner and dan van der dat.

and the theory argues that the ships were switched and titanic (actually olympic) was deliberately sank as part of an insurance scam. now they didnt do this at all for shits and giggles. instead, the theory posits that the navy enquiry that followed the 1911 collision between hms hawke and olympic was biased which meant white star line couldnt recover the costs of repair from lloyds (the insurance company), and therefore, they wrote olmpic off as too damaged to be repaired, lied about the amount of damage, switched the ships and sank olympic disguised as titanic to recover some costs.

far-fetched? oh definitely and it gets worse, but ill leave that til later in this gargantuan response because its really fucking funny.

(seriously, i recommend you read til the end or just skip to the part where i start talking about the sinking itself because fam, gardiners theory gets wild )

according to van der dat, who is a dutch journalist and naval history writer with an incredibly dutch name, gardiner had wrote the manuscript after researching the titanic for however many years and sent it to his literary agent. this agent had previously worked with van der dat and so sent it to him to double-check the information by going back to the original sources. he then rewrote the book with line-by-line consultation with gardiner.

and would you like to hear a quote from van der dat regarding the theory? i think you would:

"the publishers were disillusioned when the theory did not stand up"

he also, in correspondence with titanic author and researcher paul lee, called it "bilge" which is a fun ship joke alongside calling the theory bullshit.

anyway, the publishers went ahead with the book anyway because fuck integrity, i guess... thats kinda harsh considering this first book (oh yeah, theres more) was praised for stellar research and for being balanced, and the final chapter of the book literally acknowledges that the wreck has titanics shipyard number (401) on it, hence disproving the theory.

in 1997, it was published in the us under the name the titanic conspiracy - cover-ups and mysteries of the worlds most famous sea disaster, and it sold like sliced bread in 1928 because 1997 was titanic fever, baby!

unsurprisingly, gardiner's following books (titanic: the ship that never sank? in 1998; the history of the white star line in 2001; the great titanic conspiracy in 2010) were a lot less well-received and were not co-authored by van der dat.

-

"but wait, kai!" you might shout if youre up to date with issues of the times from 1914, "what about raymond asquith's comments? he was junior counsel for the board of trade at the sinking inquiry!"

and i would say, what about it? the letter asquith wrote to the times was a sarcastic letter in response to a prior stance taken by the paper.

yes, he said "the architect, the owner, and the captain to repair their desperate fortunes by sinking the ship and sharing the insurance money" but said letter also included the phrase "manipulating dummy icebergs".

if were taking sarcastic or satirical responses outside of their original contexts as serious quotes, then i guess i need to cancel my dropout subscription since the company holds the opinion that oj simpson is innocent.

and while were here, that single deathbed confession from james fenton is not evidence of anything. his name is not on any crew lists or survivor lists, and not a single payment was ever claimed by a crewman called james fenton. he was not on board the titanic and his claims hold no weight.

-

now, my go-to explanation as to why i dont believe the switch theory is that their insurance scam would have lost them money and they would know that it would have lost them money.

see, it cost white star (which was a subsidiary of the international mercantile marine) £1.5million/$7.5million to build titanic and they insured it by lloyds (you can check their records on their website) for £1million/$5million.

you dont have to be good at maths to see a problem here.

they didnt just not insure the rest; it was self-insured by imm's insurance fund, but that still means theyd have lost £500,000/$2.5million on the sunken ship.

this whole insurance thing was established by uh the united states senate inquiry report:

"the vessel fully equipped, cost £1,500,000 sterling, or about $7,500,000. at the time of the accident the vessel carried insurance of £1,000,000 sterling or about $5,000,000, the remaining risk being carried by the company's insurance fund."

oh and the £1,000,009 insurance was announced in the daily mirror on 16th april 1912

and the insurance scam seemingly thought up by someones whose first and only introduction to maths was golf isnt the only way white star would have lost money on this.

after the sinking, olympic was temporarily pulled from service to increase safety measures like adding more lifeboats. obviously, a logical move made by a company with a brand new, safer ship on their hands who were desperate for any money they can make.

white star also halted construction of britannic, titanics other sister ship, in order to alter the design and make it safer. this costs quite a bit of money and is, again, an odd choice for a company apparently desperate for money.

-

and hey, question for you guys: if you were alive in 1913 and needed to cross the atlantic, would you

a) choose the near identical sister ship of that ship that sank last year and was the deadliest sinking of a ship at that time

or

b) choose any other option such as the lusitania or the mauretania or the ss france or the ss imperator

personally id take my chances with option a, idk about you

yeah so the point im making here is that the sinking of the titanic was what the kids say

a marketing disaster

it was the loss of the newest flagship on its maiden fucking voyage and it had been touted as "practically unsinkable". maybe just maybe people wouldnt feel that comfortable getting on a white star line ship after that.

i dont have any figures for you because reading through a detailed account of white stars history just is not on my to-do list, but that doesnt even matter. what matters is that its clearly a massive risk and who the fuck is taking that risk?

as titanic author, senan molony states:

"one doesnt need to compare designs and count portholes - a moments serious consideration of the reputational risk involved - individually and collectively - is all that is required to end any entertainment of the notion"

-

anyway, you guys wanna compare designs and count portholes? yeah? okay, here we go!

may i present a non-exhaustive list of differences between the ships:

olympics wheelhouse was curved; titanics was flat

titanic was 4 inches longer

the porthole arrangements on shelter deck c were different

on b deck, olympic had a 1st class promenade; titanic had 2 private verandahs and suites (put a pin in this by the way, it comes back in the best of ways)

titanic had additional cabins on promenade deck a

olympics promenade was open all the way along; on titanic, the forward half of the 1st class promenade on a-deck was enclosed with retractable glass screens

on titanic, the forward bridge wings aft docking bridge on the stern extended over the ships side by a couple of feet; this would not be true for olympic until the 1912/13 refit

the officers deck house was pushed out more on titanic

the iron gates of the elevators were different between the ships and this is evident in the wreck itself

their propellers had different pitches and hence not interchangeable (pitch is a theoretical concept which is like the distance a propeller would move if it turned once through something solid, yeah i dont know either)

the wireless cabin had an outside window on olympic, but not titanic

further, it was placed on the port side of the officers deck house on olympic but amidship on titanic

they had different air vent arrangements around the funnels

white star line cut the ships names into the shell-plating at the bow and stern, four feet high and a ½ inch deep

now, please, close your eyes, take a deep breath and consider how much money it would cost to switch just the list above. now compare all of that to the -£500,000/$2.5million youre losing in the insurance scam.

truly, a spend less on candles situation.

and while we're here, shall we quickly talk about how much hush money white star would be paying to silence everyone about this since its apparently an illegal insurance scam.

not to make another non-exhaustive list but heres just who i can think of that youd have to silence:

the 15,000 workers employed directly by the shipyard

the 20,000+ workers in support services or sub contractors

any permanent or casual staff at the belfast dock and harbour comission

all of the officers and crew who came directly from olympic onto titanic such as the captain or stewardess violet jessop (puppet history fans rise up) who interestingly remarked on how improved titanic was compared to olympic

any staff at white star, imm and harland & wolff (where she was built) who would be in the know such as designers

passengers who had previously sailed on olympic who then sailed on titanic

just like anyone in belfast who walked past while the ships were docked together

olympics wreckers: thomas wards & sons who kept huge loose-leaf ledgers for each ships. the one for olympic was 72 pages long and funnily enough olympics yard number and builders I'd frequently appear in it, as seen below

bob ballard who was the one who found titanic. hes known as a very honest man and didnt even claim salvage rights on titanic because he assumed everyone else would also recognise it was a gravesite. he also said "i think it is the titanic at the bottom of the ocean"

every other explorer or researcher like james fucking cameron or us navy consultant and titanic wreck explorer, parks stephenson

its been estimated likely over 60,000 people were involved in just the building of titanic. this was ⅕ of belfasts population and ⅓ of the working population. heres a photo of them leaving olympic at the end of the day

now maybe im just a fool, but that looks like a lot of people you need to silence, and unless white star were blackmailing them or idk fucking killing them i guess, thats a lot of hush money just in the photo above.

i mean, theres also the claim, from noted liar james fenton, that the surviving crew were forced to sign the official secrets act of 1911, but that act was about espionage that benefits the enemy military so im not sure how this is relevant to the switch, and also, again, the guy was never on the ship.

are you perhaps starting to get the picture as to why i dont believe the conspiracy theory because im still going.

-

okay so as established, if the ships were switched, there would have clearly been a lot of work that would need to be done to switch the ships.

and i only mentioned some of the structural differences, i didnt get into the aesthetic differences like the floor tiles and carpeting being different colours, or how the lounge furniture in each ship having the ship name on them.

mind you, this is what titanic looked like (in the foreground) when olympic was first docked next to her:

this was taken around october 11. olympic docked next to titanic on october 7th for repairs after that whole catastrophic collision.

now how much time do you think it was before olympic sailed away? mind you, titanic has already been launched at this point and just needs to be fitted-out, and that normally takes around 4 to 6 months?

oh, what was that? 44 days? why, kid, youre going somewhere. it was 44 days exactly!

now, i dont think i need to get into the fact that the dock only had 1 crane (which you needed to install and uninstall funnels and machinery) that physically couldnt reach olympic unless she was moved or how olympic was painted white for her launch and then painted black and that the white paint would get exposed in rough weather so the same would have to be applied to titanic so it would look convincingly like olympic.

i mean, you have that information now, but im hoping just by the words "44 days", you might get how off the wall insane it is to suggest white star was able to switch the ships so well no one noticed for decades in 44 fucking days.

"wait kai, youre forgetting that they were docked together again!" you shout, "after olympic threw a propeller, they were docked together from march 1st to march 7th 1912"

and i dont know dude, im pretty sure white star cant warp space time so i really dont know what eight extra days is gonna do.

i hate to strawman but man, the late robin gardiner would have won a gold medal in scarecrow hide and seek.

-

lets also take a quick detour into the idea that olympics repairs were so expensive.

without getting into gardiners claims about the damage because theres no evidence of it and as mark chirnside states "there are no credible sources indicating that the damage to olympic was worse than reported at the time - and indeed ample sworn expert testimony to the contrary", lets just quickly go over some financial stuff.

during the case, it was unofficially estimated that the damage didnt exceed $125,000. imm, by including lost passenger receipts, wanted to claim for as high as $750,000, but they lost that case.

during the year 1911, imms surplus profit was $822,062. so weve got:

750,000 > 822,062

now as we might remember from key stage 1 maths, the bigger number eats the smaller number, aka, their surplus profit covered the costs of repair.

aka, no ill-advised insurance scam needed.

-

"thousands of people in belfast would have seen the switch operation - and yet there is not one word in the papers of reporters or photographers rushing out to find out what was happening."

-dr paul lee

so this is the section where i ask how did no one fucking notice?

no one on titanic, who had previously sailed on olympic, ever said anything about the switch other than one guy who was literally not on the ship at any point.

no one who has ever explored the wreck or done research on it has definitively stated it was olympic. rather, they have definitively stated otherwise.

for example, what remains of the base on the wheelhouse shows it to be straight and not curved, and as you might remember: titanics wheelhouse was heterosexual straight and olympics was curved.

(id be impressed if you did remember)

also, as parks stephenson has stated:

"weve got actual high def images of this wreck. ive seen with my own eyes. weve identified the name titanic on the port bow"

its difficult to make out but its there; the name is on the fucking ship.

also, as you might remember, titanics b-deck was different to olympics. the 2 suites there were nicknamed the "millionaire suites" and jim cameron has used rovs to go inside of them.

funnily enough, robin gardiner has gone on the record saying that these suites didnt exist so make of that what you will.

and further, no one noticed anything about olympic even though she sailed for 24 more years. theres no written record of anything, theres nothing in the board of trade reports, theres no photographic proof and theres not even fucking hearsay.

she served as a damn troopship in ww1, youd figure someone would figure it out as all of her fittings were ripped out.

but no, theres nothing.

as i mentioned above, olympic was scrapped in 1935, but some of her fittings were auctioned off and still exist today. and these have the number 400 on them because that was her shipyard number. titanics was 401 and the wreck reflects this also:

the wooden parts are from olympic; the other has been salvaged from titanics wreck.

theres even the famous myth that olympic or olympus as one person told me is written on the propeller at the bottom of the ocean. its not, but you can see the number 401 written on it:

-

and while were disproving myths about the name olympic being on the titanic, the story about olympic being engraved on titanics lifeboats is also false:

theres no written testimony, no sketches and no photographs of this.

white star didnt engrave names onto lifeboats, the names were on metal plates that were screwed on

do you really think they did all of this work but just didnt fucking swap the lifeboats? if theyre this stupid, how did it take until 1995 for someone to figure it out?

-

we can also discuss the stupid olympic room thing while were here. see theres a maritime superstition that changing the name on a ship is bad luck and obviously, if youre swapping the ships, youre changing the names.

so to... get around this? cheat luck? outsmart superstition? i dont fucking know, to take a detour to avoid this, white star named a room "the olympic room."

i cannot find any evidence at all that this room ever existed. its not in the design plans or the blueprints, and no passenger or crew has ever said it existed, so im pretty sure the room just didnt exist.

and even if it did exist, titanic was in the olympic class of ships. thats what olympic, titanic and britannic were. its not weird to have an olympic room on an olympic class ship. i mean it is weird in this case since the room didnt exist, but you get my point.

-

and heres some quickfire myths and falsehoods

the myth about the 14 vs 16 bow portholes is also a false. yes, titanic had 14 portholes on launch but an extra 2 were added before her maiden voyage so yes, the ship photographed departing southampton with 16 bow portholes is the titanic, and do you really think it would take 83 years to figure this out if it was this easy?

similarly, titanic did have evenly spaced b-deck windows on launch, but then the extra verandahs and suites were added so the window configuration was altered, so that photograph is off the titanic.

the idea that titanic had a 2 degree list to port like the olympic before her is evidence of the switch theory is, to borrow a word from dan van der dat, bilge. plenty of ships at the time and now have minor lists. the one on titanic was only recorded by 2 passengers and we know that the list was related to coal consumption. it means nothing.

jp morgan (owner of imm) did not cancel last minute. as mark baber points out on encyclopedia titanica, it was announced in the new york times that hed be in venice on april 23. at that time, transatlantic voyages took at least 5 days so it would at least be a 10 day round trip and likely not give him time to get to venice for the opening of a store of whatever it was.

also, j bruce ismays wife and kids also didnt cancel last minute. theyd already decided to go on holiday to wales rather than sail on titanic.

addendum to that point: if ismay knew it was going to be sank deliberately and so warned his wife, why would he get on board himself? further, why would harland and wolff designer thomas andrews (who did not survive by the way) get on board?

-

and we're finally at my favourite part of this entire mess: the sinking itself.

see, a deliberate sinking doesnt really make sense for titanic because the conditions under which she sank has led to the descriptor "freak sinking."

these are: a new moon meaning less light, unusually calm ocean that disallowed lookouts to watch for foam as waves hit any icebergs, ice having drifted further south than normal for that time of year, and a sideways glancing blow that breached more watertight compartments than the ship could handle and stay afloat.

and idk dude, is there not an easier way? like maybe some light arson. just call it an accidental fire that got out of control and led to the ship being a write-off, this isnt difficult.

but you see gardiner has an answer to this, and i am laughing as im typing this, he claims that:

titanic didnt hit an iceberg, it hit an imm rescue ship.

thats right, this guy fully says titanic didnt hit an iceberg. apparently it hit another ship and NO ONE FUCKING NOTICED

i mean we have testimony from survivors but fuck them i guess.

he claims that as titanic was apparently a "steel double-hulled vessel" so an iceberg simply couldnt inflict so much damage.

yeah titanic wasnt double-hulled. she had a double bottom, but it was only after titanic that shipbuilders were like ah maybe full double hulls arent an unnecessary expense after all.

theres also the issue of uh no evidence of this rescue ship ever existing? at all? i dont know where it came from, i dont know where it went, and who fucking knows, maybe it was called the rms cotton eyed joe.

yeah so weve got a theory riddled with problems and im just gonna introduce some more problems with this theory as gardiner has also alleged that:

the original plan was to open the seacocks and slowly flood the ship, but this was interrupted by titanic hitting another ship

1) titanic didnt have seacocks? and 2) was the rest of it a coincidence then? i think its meant to be a coincidence.

i believe his theory is alleging that the crew on titanic would open the seacocks that didnt exist to flood the ship slowly, and that the imm rescue ship that also didnt exist was in the area in advance to help evacuate passengers, alongside other ships such as the ss californian.

this is that ship that was like 10 miles away or something and didnt respond to titanics distress signals. according to gardiner, they were expecting a rendezvous with titanic according to the "original plan", but never received it.

instead, they saw the rockets of the fabled imm rescue ship and helped them instead.

this is fucking stupid.

i cant be charitable here, its a fucking stupid theory. i mean, that imm ship did not exist, and also californian is a ridiculous choice for a rescue ship. her capacity was 47 passengers and 55 crew; there were more than 2200 people on board titanic.

to counteract this argument, gardiner alleges carpathia was also in on the scheme as a rescue ship. she, at least, had capacity for the passengers, but theres also several problems with this too.

for one, it was fucking 50 miles away and famously arrived several hours after the sinking even though the captain had her running at top speed to get there.

for two, carpathia was owned by cunard, white stars rival. was their rival line in on the insurance scam??? how much money did they have to pay cunard for this????? why? just why?

do you understand why i dont believe it? please tell me you understand. i need you to understand. i need you to tell me that you understand that the guy who created this conspiracy claimed titanic didnt hit an iceberg.

[wolframpant]

16 November: Emperor Tiberius was born in 42 BC. Here are some of his portrayals on screen:

André Morell in The Caesars (1968) George Baker in I, Claudius (1976) Peter O'Toole in Caligula (1979) James Mason in AD (1985) Michele Bevilacqua in Imperium: Augustus (2003) Max von Sydow in The Final Inquiry (2006) Giovanni Carta in Barbarians (2020) Benjamin Isaac in Domina (2021)

[eternal-echoes]

“At this point, as far as understanding of God and thus the concrete practice of religion is concerned, we are faced with an unavoidable dilemma. Is the conviction that acting unreasonably contradicts God's nature merely a Greek idea, or is it always and intrinsically true? I believe that here we can see the profound harmony between what is Greek in the best sense of the word and the biblical understanding of faith in God. Modifying the first verse of the Book of Genesis, the first verse of the whole Bible, John began the prologue of his Gospel with the words: "In the beginning was the λόγος". This is the very word used by the emperor: God acts, σὺν λόγω, with logos. Logos means both reason and word - a reason which is creative and capable of self-communication, precisely as reason. John thus spoke the final word on the biblical concept of God, and in this word all the often toilsome and tortuous threads of biblical faith find their culmination and synthesis. In the beginning was the logos, and the logos is God, says the Evangelist. The encounter between the Biblical message and Greek thought did not happen by chance. The vision of Saint Paul, who saw the roads to Asia barred and in a dream saw a Macedonian man plead with him: "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" (cf. Acts 16:6-10) - this vision can be interpreted as a "distillation" of the intrinsic necessity of a rapprochement between Biblical faith and Greek inquiry.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, MEETING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SCIENCE - Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg, 12 September 2006

[ammg-old2]

It was a simpler time. A friend introduced us, pulling up a static yellow webpage using a shaky dial-up modem. A man stood forth, dressed in a dapper black pinstriped suit with a red-accented tie. He held one hand out, as if carrying an imaginary waiter’s tray. He looked regal and confident and eminently at my service. “Have a Question?” he beckoned. “Just type it in and click Ask!” And ask, I did. Over and over.

With his steady hand, Jeeves helped me make sense of the tangled mess of the early, pre-Google internet. He wasn’t perfect—plenty of context got lost between my inquiries and his responses. Still, my 11-year-old brain always delighted in the idea of a well-coiffed man chauffeuring me down the information superhighway. But things changed. Google arrived, with its clean design and almost magic ability to deliver exactly the answers I wanted. Jeeves and I grew apart. Eventually, in 2006, Ask Jeeves disappeared from the internet altogether and was replaced with the more generic Ask.com.

Many years later, it seems I owe Jeeves an apology: He had the right idea all along. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and the stunning popularity of generative-text tools such as ChatGPT, today’s search-engine giants are making huge bets on AI search chatbots. In February, Microsoft revealed its Bing Chatbot, which has thrilled and frightened early users for its ability to scour the internet and answer questions (not always correctly) with convincingly human-sounding language. The same week, Google demoed Bard, the company’s forthcoming attempt at an AI-powered chat-search product. But for all the hype, when I stare at these new chatbots, I can’t help but see the faint reflection of my former besuited internet manservant. In a sense, Bing and Bard are finishing what Ask Jeeves started. What people want when they ask a question is for an all-knowing, machine-powered guide to confidently present them with the right answer in plain language, just as a reliable friend would.

With this in mind, I decided to go back to the source. More than a decade after parting ways, I found myself on the phone with one of the men behind the machine, getting as close to Asking Jeeves as is humanly possible. These days, Garrett Gruener, Ask Jeeves’s co-creator, is a venture capitalist in the Bay Area. He and his former business partner David Warthen eventually sold Ask Jeeves to Barry Diller and IAC for just under $2 billion. Still, I wondered if Gruener had been unsettled by Jeeves’s demise. Did he, like me, see the new chatbots as the final form of his original idea? Did he feel vindicated or haunted by the fact that his creation may have simply been born far too early?

The original conception for Jeeves, Gruener told me, was remarkably similar to what Microsoft and Google are trying to build today. As a student at UC San Diego in the mid-1970s, Gruener—a sci-fi aficionado—got an early glimpse of ARPANET, the pre-browser predecessor to the commercial internet, and fell in love. Just over a decade later, as the web grew and the beginnings of the internet came into view, Gruener realized that people would need a way to find things in the morass of semiconnected servers and networks. “It became clear that the web needed search but that mere mortals without computer-science degrees needed something easy, even conversational,” he said. Inspired by Eliza, the famous chatbot designed by MIT’s Joseph Weizenbaum, Gruener dreamed of a search engine that could converse with people using natural-language processing. Unfortunately, the technology wasn’t sophisticated enough for Gruener to create his ideal conversational search bot.

So Gruener and Warthen tried a work-around. Their code allowed a user to write a statement in English, which was then matched to a preprogrammed vector, which Gruener explained to me as “a canonical snapshot of answers to what the engine thought you were trying to say.” Essentially, they taught the machine to recognize certain words and provide really broad categorical answers. “If you were looking for population stats for a country, the query would see all your words and associated variables and go, Well, this Boolean search seems close, so it’s probably this.” Jeeves would provide the answer, and then you could clarify whether it worked or not.

“We tried to discern what people were trying to say in search, but without actually doing the natural-recognition part of it,” Gruener said. After some brainstorming, they realized that they were essentially building a butler. One of Gruener’s friends mocked up a drawing of the friendly servant, and Jeeves was born.

Pre-Google, Ask Jeeves exploded in popularity, largely because it allowed people to talk with their search engine like a person. Within just two years, the site was handling more than 1 million queries a day. A massive Jeeves balloon floated down Central Park West during Macy’s 1999 Thanksgiving parade. But not long after the butler achieved buoyancy, the site started to lose ground in the search wars. Google’s web-crawling superiority led to hard times for Ask Jeeves. “None of us were very concerned about monetization in the beginning,” Gruener told me. “Everyone in search early on realized, if you got this right, you’d essentially be in the position of being the oracle. If you could be the company to go to in order to ask questions online, you’re going to be paid handsomely.”

Gruener isn’t bitter about losing out to Google. “If anything, I’m really proud of our Jeeves,” he told me. Listening to Gruener explain the history, it’s not hard to see why. In the mid-2000s, Google began to pivot search away from offering only 10 blue links to images, news, maps, and shopping. Eventually, the company began to fulfill parts of the Jeeves promise of answering questions with answer boxes. One way to look at the evolution of big search engines in the 21st century is that all companies are trying their best to create their own intuitive search butlers. Gruener told me that Ask Jeeves’s master plan had two phases, though the company was sold before it could tackle the second. Gruener had hoped that, eventually, Jeeves could act as a digital concierge for users. He’d hoped to employ the same vector technology to get people to ask questions and allow Jeeves to make educated guesses and help users complete all kinds of tasks. “If you look at Amazon’s Alexa, they’re essentially using the same approach we designed for Jeeves, just with voice,” Gruener said. Yesterday’s butler has been rebranded as today’s virtual assistant, and the technology is ubiquitous in many of our home devices and phones. “We were right for the consumer back then, and maybe we’d be right now. But at some point the consumer evolved,” he said.

I’ve been fixated on what might’ve been if Gruener’s vision had come about now. We might all be Jeevesing about the internet for answers to our mundane questions. Perhaps our Jeevesmail inboxes would be overflowing and we’d be getting turn-by-turn directions from an Oxford-educated man with a stiff English accent. Perhaps we’d all be much better off.

Gruener told me about an encounter he’d had during the search wars with one of Google’s founders at a TED conference (he wouldn’t specify which of the two). “I told him that we’re going to learn an enormous amount about the people who are using our platforms, especially as they become more conversational. And I said that it was a potentially dangerous position,” he said. “But he didn’t seem very receptive to my concerns.”

Near the end of our call, I offered an apology for deserting Jeeves like everyone else did. Gruener just laughed. “I find this future fascinating and, if I’m honest, a little validating,” he said. “It’s like, ultimately, as the tech has come around, the big guys have come around to what we were trying to do.”

[llewelynpritch]

https://lnkd.in/df-GkYwr  'PUTIN SET OUT TO MAKE SURE THIS STORY WAS NEVER TOLD' As he plays the murdered spy in a new drama, the actor and Marina Litvinenko talk corruption, justice and hope. Alexander Litvinenko saw the horror coming, but nobody listened. Known to his family and friends as “Sasha”, the former Federal Security Service (FSB) agent, who was lethally poisoned in London in 2006, apparently by Russian spies, warned of the grave consequences of ignoring the threat posed by President Vladimir Putin.

EXTRACTS

' “In an article he wrote in 2006,” Litvinenko’s widow Marina tells me, “just a few days before he was fatally poisoned, Sasha wrote: ‘If you don’t stop this monster, he will start a war and millions of people will die.’ Now, finally, it is happening.” Sixteen years after Litvinenko’s final warning, the Russian president mounted an unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

Litvinenko, who had exposed Russian corruption before escaping from his homeland with Marina and their young son Anatoly in 2000, was equally prescient in his deathbed message, which directly addressed the president: “You may succeed in silencing one man, but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life. May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people.”

This deathbed statement, read by a close friend on the pavement outside University College Hospital moments after the former Russian spy had passed away, is one of many chilling moments in Litvinenko, a new four-part drama that begins on Thursday ... 15 December 2022 ... on ITV’s streaming platform ITVX. Written by Lupin showrunner George Kay, the drama recounts not only the murder, but the subsequent, tireless campaign by his widow to find justice for him.

“The story feels important on a geopolitical scale,” says David Tennant, who stars as Litvinenko, playing him with a kind of rare intensity. “It reveals the terrible truth of what was attempted by this gangster who happens to have all this power. It also shows the wonderful victory – and I use that word advisedly – that exists within this. What Putin set out to do was to make sure this story was never told. So it feels that the most important thing we can do is to tell the story again and again and again because that way, Putin loses.” '

'Ultimately, the focus of Litvineko is Marina’s ceaseless campaign for justice for her murdered husband. Over the last 16 years, she has refused to give up, even though she has been consistently stone-walled by successive British governments that appear to value business interests above human rights.

“Unfortunately,” Smith sighs, “as much as there are bullies in Russia, there are also bullies in this country. The British Government felt unable at times to allow an inquiry to go ahead because they felt like there were bigger interests at play, let’s just say.”

It was the “relentless” determination of Marina and her legal team, he adds, and the “flawless” work from the Metropolitan Police that meant the British Government couldn’t avoid the case any longer. “It became inevitable that there had to be an inquiry and they could no longer ignore what was an absolutely obvious truth.”

In a revelation that will surprise no one, Marina says that over the past 16 years it has been extremely hard to get any sense out of British politicians. “All this time, I’ve tried to talk to politicians. I never expected to be so experienced working with the justice system and with politicians! It was Labour in the beginning, and then it was the Conservatives. I just started to realise that everybody has their own agenda.”

Then, “in 2010 and 11, people started to tell me: ‘Marina, they’re not sure you will have justice in the end because the political climate is different.’ I just couldn’t believe it. How is that possible?”

But she did finally persuade the UK Government to hold a public inquiry in 2016. It decided that the murder of Litvinenko was committed by Lugovoi and Kovtun, probably with Putin’s approval.'

' “I’ve talked to many politicians,” says Marina. “I have respect for some and a lot of critical opinions of others. But I believe they must watch this drama. What’s happening now in Ukraine must change political attitudes. They can’t any more just look for a balance between commercial interest and human lives. That approach needs to end because human lives and human rights are the values of democracy. This is a checkpoint for democracy in the world.”

If the inspiring Marina has one desire for Litvinenko, it would be that it pushes viewers to battle for their own causes. “I’ve heard many times how this story has helped people to fight for their own reasons.”

For all that, she concludes, “this is not only a political story, it’s not only a crime story, it’s a human story. It’s a story of love. It’s a story of hope.”

James Rampton 13 December 2022

[ilovemylawyer]

finally got around to watching tazza (2006) and it sparked an evilive related inquiry in my mind...

you know in ep3 how ohjae holds his mic in a lil funny upright style?

well peep this gamblingrelated gangster's eerily similar pose in tazza (2006)

so my question is: is ohjae's stance a reference to this? is it a coincidence? is it referencing something even older that i haven't gotten to yet? are these two going up against each other in a 1v1 rap battle?

[soutienshivam]

Flying with Volaris Airlines: Discovering Mexico's Affordable Air Travel Option

In the vibrant world of Mexican air travel, Volaris Airlines shines brightly as a top choice for both locals and tourists seeking affordable and reliable flights across Mexico and beyond. Launched in 2006, Volaris has quickly established itself as a prominent player in the industry, known for its extensive domestic network, competitive pricing, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Whether you're a frequent traveler or planning your first trip to Mexico, exploring what Volaris Airlines has to offer can make your journey seamless and memorable.

Extensive Domestic Network

Volaris Airlines boasts an extensive network that connects major Mexican cities, tourist destinations, and regional hubs. From bustling Mexico City to the coastal beauty of Cancun and the cultural richness of Guadalajara, Volaris provides convenient options for exploring the diverse landscapes and attractions of Mexico. Tumblr users often share their excitement about discovering hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations accessible through Volaris, making it a preferred choice for adventurous travelers seeking authentic experiences.

Affordable Pricing and Promotions

One of the standout features of Volaris Airlines is its commitment to offering competitive pricing, catering to budget-conscious travelers without compromising on quality or service. Tumblr posts often highlight Volaris' frequent promotions and discounted fares, making travel more accessible and affordable for individuals and families alike. Whether you're planning a spontaneous weekend getaway or a well-deserved vacation, Volaris' pricing strategies resonate with Tumblr users looking for value and savings.

Cabin Experience and Comfort

Tumblr users share their experiences regarding Volaris' cabin comfort, praising the airline for its clean and modern interiors, comfortable seating options, and friendly service. Volaris offers different fare classes that cater to various preferences and budgets, including the option to upgrade for extra legroom and additional amenities. Posts often feature aesthetic photos of the cabin ambiance and personal anecdotes about memorable flights with Volaris, showcasing the airline's commitment to providing a pleasant travel experience.

Customer Service and Community Engagement

Volaris Airlines places a strong emphasis on customer service, striving to exceed expectations through responsive assistance and personalized care. Tumblr users appreciate Volaris' efforts to engage with passengers and address inquiries or concerns promptly, creating a positive impression of the airline's commitment to passenger satisfaction. Posts often highlight instances of exceptional service or helpful interactions with Volaris staff, fostering a sense of community and trust among travelers.

Innovative Initiatives and Sustainability

As an industry leader in Mexico, Volaris Airlines continues to innovate and implement sustainable practices aimed at reducing environmental impact. Tumblr users discuss Volaris' initiatives such as fuel-efficient aircraft, waste reduction programs, and community outreach efforts, applauding the airline's commitment to corporate social responsibility. Posts often raise awareness about Volaris' sustainability efforts and encourage followers to support eco-friendly travel practices while enjoying the convenience of air travel.

Final Thoughts

Volaris Airlines stands out on Tumblr as a preferred choice for exploring Mexico's diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and cultural treasures. With its extensive domestic network, competitive pricing, and commitment to customer satisfaction, Volaris continues to earn praise from travelers seeking affordable and reliable air travel experiences. Whether you're planning a solo adventure, family vacation, or business trip within Mexico, Volaris Airlines offers a gateway to memorable journeys and authentic discoveries across this enchanting country.

In conclusion, Tumblr users celebrate Volaris Airlines for its affordability, reliability, and dedication to enhancing the travel experience through innovative initiatives and exceptional customer service. As you embark on your next adventure with Volaris, embrace the excitement of discovering Mexico's beauty and charm with an airline that understands and caters to your travel needs.

[mirandamckenni1]

Tumblr Doesn't Understand BDSM: The Non-Sexual Kink Controversy Looking for more info mentioned in this video? My social media? How to support this channel? Just click "show more" below! ヽ(´･ω･`)､ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▼▼▼ SUPPORT AND SUBSCRIBE ▼▼▼ Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EvieLupine My Patreon: https://ift.tt/unJMFvN & For 1:1 Chats, Advice & Video Calls: https://ift.tt/Pkvn4gO Twitter: @EvieLupine Watch me LIVE on Twitch! https://ift.tt/IH4vOcx Looking to meet kinky people? Try Feeld*: feeld.pxf.io/9gLNnQ Want Even MORE BDSM Education? Check Out Dom Sub Living*: https://ift.tt/sEDZG6d https://ift.tt/zpIRrVH FREE resource Library: https://ift.tt/HaljZkO My BDSM Merch Store: https://ift.tt/macukls Business Inquiries ONLY: lupineventide@gmail.com [DO NOT SEND YOUR PERSONAL QUESTIONS HERE] ▼▼▼ RELATED VIDEOS ▼▼▼ The Problem With CNC: https://youtu.be/IIrm6RbDBJQ Twitter Discovered CNC: https://youtu.be/5EyGx-jDXds Are Women Being Brainwashed into Polyamory?: https://youtu.be/578GIfKKVG0 ▼▼▼ VIDEO INFORMATION ▼▼▼ FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. All of my videos are intended to provide safety information for adults who choose to engage in these activities as well as combat stereotypes and misinformation. In addition, these videos may contain educational commentary on queer issues, pop culture, and news items. No portion of my content is meant to be used for gratification, nor is it intentionally salacious. In this video, we discuss a recent viral poll on vanilla Tumblr. To start off Pride month a large argument was started about whether or not kink is always about sex. So let's talk about it, with science! 00:00 - introduction 02:00 - "is kink always sexual?" 04:07 - the standard response 07:37 - why this is so difficult to understand 09:37 - non-sexual BDSM is scary 12:45 - "but the dictionary says...!" 20:43 - saying kink isn't sexual is sex-negative 29:50 - CITATION NEEDED 34:35 - serious leisure 41:26 - if it's not sexual... what IS it? 45:04 - final thoughts CITATIONS: Stebbins, R. A. (1982). Serious Leisure: A Conceptual Statement. The Pacific Sociological Review, 25(2), 251–272. https://ift.tt/xoZU4lG Stebbins, R.A. (2006). Serious Leisure. In: Rojek, C., Shaw, S.M., Veal, A.J. (eds) A Handbook of Leisure Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://ift.tt/5oTZeAO Newmahr, Staci. (2010). Rethinking Kink: Sadomasochism as Serious Leisure. Qualitative Sociology. 33. 313-331. 10.1007/s11133-010-9158-9. Sprott, Richard & Williams, D. (2019). Is BDSM a Sexual Orientation or Serious Leisure?. Current Sexual Health Reports. 11. 10.1007/s11930-019-00195-x. Williams, D., & Prior, E. (2015). “Wait, go back, I might miss something important!” Applying leisure 101 to simplify and complicate BDSM. Journal of Positive Sexuality, 1(3), 63–69. https://ift.tt/7pBEoa8 Langdridge, D., & Lawson, J. (2019). The Psychology of Puppy Play: A Phenomenological Investigation. Archives of sexual behavior, 48(7), 2201–2215. https://ift.tt/yOwMLhr Wismeijer, A. A. J., Pascoal, P. M., Powls, J., Williams, D. J., Weinberg, T. S., Taylor, G., & Hebert, A. (2016, May 24). Is bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism recreational leisure? A descriptive exploratory investigation. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. https://ift.tt/DViXPMa ▼▼▼ EVERYTHING ELSE ▼▼▼ Art by: @animositi on Instagram Credits/Attribution (Music): Artist: Audionautix Website: http://audionautix.com/ Track: Transportation Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://ift.tt/rd7lbPG) All content used falls within fair use guidelines for education and commentary purposes. * = affiliate link ▼▼▼ P.O BOX ▼▼▼ Evie Lupine 4233 SE 182nd Ave # 357 Gresham, OR 97030 via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmML3aupPqE

[thxnews]

The UK's Enduring Legacy in Market Investigations

The United Kingdom boasts a rich history of wielding market-wide investigations to combat competition concerns. This journey began with the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act of 1948, empowering the Monopolies Commission to tackle potential monopolies across industries. This early framework laid the groundwork for continuous evolution. The Fair Trading Act of 1973 introduced the "scale monopoly" provision, allowing investigations into markets where competition appeared stifled. Subsequent advancements came with the Competition Act 1980 and the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992, further broadening the scope of market investigations. The current framework, governed by the Enterprise Act 2002, established the Competition Commission and empowered it to conduct in-depth inquiries into markets suspected of harboring impediments to competition.  

A Rigorous and Transparent Process

Market investigations in the UK adhere to a meticulous and transparent process, encompassing extensive information gathering, stakeholder consultations, and robust economic analysis. Here's a breakdown of the key stages: Market Study: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), formed in 2014, conducts an initial market study to assess whether there's sufficient justification for a full-fledged investigation. Market Investigation Reference: Upon identifying competition concerns, the CMA issues a market investigation reference, outlining the investigation's scope and rationale. Information Gathering: The CMA possesses broad powers to acquire information and documents from involved parties, including mandatory information requests and oral hearings. Consultation and Analysis: Stakeholder consultations are a cornerstone of the process. The CMA publishes working papers and analyses for comment, while economic advisors conduct in-depth quantitative and qualitative assessments. Provisional Findings: The CMA releases provisional findings, including any identified adverse effects on competition (AECs) and potential remedies. Final Report: After considering responses to the provisional findings, the CMA publishes its final report, presenting its conclusions on AECs and any recommended remedies. Strict statutory time limits govern the process, with investigations typically concluding within 18 months (extendable by 6 months for complex cases).   Remedies and Enforcement Should the CMA identify one or more AECs, it has a comprehensive arsenal of legally enforceable remedies at its disposal to enhance future market competitiveness. These include: Structural Remedies: Mandating divestitures of businesses or assets to address market concentration issues. Behavioral Remedies: Imposing conduct requirements or prohibitions on firms, such as mandating access to infrastructure or information disclosure. Recommendations: Formulating recommendations for government or regulatory bodies to address issues through changes in regulations or public policies. The CMA's remedies are legally binding and enforceable through the courts. Parties that fail to comply face potential fines or other sanctions.   Judicial Oversight and Global Influence The CMA's market investigation decisions are subject to judicial review by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. While not a full appeal on the merits, this oversight helps ensure adherence to the law and procedural fairness. The UK's market investigation regime has garnered international influence, with jurisdictions like South Africa, Australia, and certain European Union member states adopting similar frameworks. Notably, the CMA's approach, emphasizing rigorous economic analysis, transparency, and effective remedies, has been widely recognized as a best practice model.  

Success Stories and Ongoing Considerations

The market investigation regime has yielded significant consumer benefits across diverse sectors. Here are some noteworthy examples: Store card credit services (2006): Remedies mandated full information disclosure and the unbundling of payment protection insurance, benefiting consumers. Domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas (2006): Measures were introduced to facilitate customer switching between suppliers, addressing the identified AEC. Personal current account banking (2016): Remedies included requirements for banks to share customer data and implement open banking standards, fostering competition and innovation.  

Present Day Challenges

However, the regime isn't without its challenges. Market investigations can be resource-intensive and time-consuming, particularly for complex markets or cases involving significant legal disputes. There are also ongoing debates concerning the appropriate scope of remedies and the delicate balance between interventionist measures and preserving commercial incentives. Despite these challenges, the UK's market investigation regime remains a crucial tool in its competition policy arsenal. It facilitates comprehensive examinations of markets and the implementation of tailored remedies to address competition concerns, ultimately delivering benefits to consumers and the economy.   Sources: THX News, Competition and Markets Authority & Martin Coleman. Read the full article

[evmorfi-a]

فيلم The Final Inquiry 2006 مترجم HD اون لاين قصة عشق

شاهد مسلسل فيلم The Final Inquiry 2006 مترجم HD اون لاينHD عــل ى موقع قـص ـة عشق وعــل ى الدايليموشن ويوتيوب مجانا مترجم الحلقة كاملة شاهد فوريو Ramadan 2020 رمضان 2020 علي موقع قـص ـة عشق 3isk يعرض مسلسل فيلم The Final Inquiry 2006 مترجم HD اون لاينHD في الموسم الرمضاني مع مسلسلات رمضان 2020 علي موقع شاهد نت حيث يمكنكم مش اهدة الحلقة مسلسل فيلم The Final Inquiry 2006 مترجم HD اون لاينHD يوتيوب…

[theseatshop]

The Seat Shop: Tailored Comfort Solutions for Your Vehicle

Welcome to The Seat Shop, your premier destination for tailored automotive seating solutions that redefine comfort, style, and durability. From the moment of our inception, we've remained steadfast in our commitment to crafting bespoke seat covers and providing meticulous repair services, all aimed at enhancing your driving experience.

At The Seat Shop, we understand that your vehicle is more than just a mode of transportation; it's an extension of your lifestyle and personality. That's why we've made it our mission to offer discerning individuals like you the opportunity to customize their automotive interiors to reflect their unique tastes and preferences.

🚗 About Us 🚗

In 2006, brothers Matt and Brian Verhalen started The Seat Shop in Matt's garage, initially selling odds and ends on eBay. They soon transitioned to refurbishing and selling third-row seats but realized shipping costs were prohibitive. 

As the economy slowed, they pivoted to making replacement seat covers instead. Since then, The Seat Shop has flourished, moving four times and now operating out of a 34,000 sq ft facility in Plano, TX. 

With a focus on quality and using only the finest materials, the company has grown exponentially. Their success isn't just about profits; it's about providing solutions for customers and supporting their employees, who are considered family. 

Guided by five key principles written in a notebook 14 years ago, The Seat Shop continues to serve its customers with pride and dedication, manufacturing top-quality seat covers and foam cushions.

🔍 Services Offered 🔍

Custom Seat Covers: Protect and personalize your vehicle's interior with our custom-made seat covers. Choose from a wide range of materials, colors, and designs to match your unique style and preferences.

Seat Repair Services: Restore your seats to their former glory with our professional repair services. Whether it's a minor tear or a complete overhaul, our skilled technicians have the expertise to tackle any job with precision and care.

Customization Options: Make your vehicle stand out with our customization options. From custom embroidery to personalized logos, we can add a unique touch to your seat covers that reflect your personality and taste.

Upholstery Cleaning: Revitalize your vehicle's interior with our upholstery cleaning services. Our advanced cleaning techniques and products can remove stains, odors, and dirt buildup, leaving your seats looking fresh and vibrant.

Seat Heating Installation: Stay comfortable in any weather with our seat heating installation services. Our experienced technicians can retrofit your seats with heating elements, providing warmth and comfort during chilly winter months.

Seat Foam Replacement: Enhance the comfort and support of your seats with our foam replacement services. Whether your foam is worn out or you're looking to upgrade to a higher-density material, we can rejuvenate your seats for a more enjoyable driving experience.

Leather Seat Restoration: Bring back the luxurious look and feel of your leather seats with our restoration services. Our skilled craftsmen can repair cracks, scratches, and fading, restoring your leather seats to their original elegance.

🌟 Why Choose The Seat Shop? 🌟

Craftsmanship: Our team of experienced artisans takes pride in their work, ensuring that every seat cover and repair is executed with the utmost precision and attention to detail.

Personalization: We understand that every vehicle and driver is unique. That's why we offer fully customizable solutions tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

Quality: We use only the finest materials and techniques in our craftsmanship, ensuring that each product meets our high standards of quality and durability.

Customer Service: Your satisfaction is our top priority. From your initial inquiry to the final installation, our friendly team is here to provide you with exceptional service and support every step of the way.

Expertise: With years of experience in the industry, our team possesses unparalleled expertise in seat cover customization and repair techniques, allowing us to deliver superior results that exceed expectations.

Versatility: Whether you drive a car, truck, SUV, or van, our services cater to a wide range of vehicle types and models, providing versatile solutions to suit your specific requirements.

Warranty: We stand behind the quality of our workmanship and materials. That's why we offer a comprehensive warranty on our products and services, giving you peace of mind and assurance in your investment.

✍️Conclusion✍️

When you choose The Seat Shop, you're choosing expertise, versatility, and peace of mind. Our experienced team is here to guide you through the process and ensure your satisfaction every step of the way. Plus, with our comprehensive warranty, you can trust that your investment is protected for the long haul.

Ready to elevate your driving experience with tailored comfort? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover the difference The Seat Shop can make for your vehicle. Thank you for considering us for your automotive seating needs. We look forward to serving you soon!

📞 Connect with Us Today! 📞

Ready to upgrade your vehicle's interior? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and experience the difference of tailored comfort with The Seat Shop. Visit our website [insert website URL] to learn more about our products and services, and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates and promotions.

🏢 Business Address: 801 Klein Road Suite 300, Plano, TX

📞 Phone: (214) 710-2565 

🌐 Website: https://www.theseatshop.com/ 

🕘 Hours of Operation:  Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm CST

And don't forget to follow us on social media for the latest updates, tips, and success stories:

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theseatshopusa/ 

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSeatShopUSA/ 

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-seat-shop/ 

📽️ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSeatShop 

🐦Twitter- https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Ftheseatshop 

Thank you for considering The Seat Shop for your automotive seating needs. We look forward to serving you soon!

[illionoisprelawland-blog]

The Scopes Trial: A Controversy about Evolution

By Lizbeth Herrera Gomez, University of Chicago, Class of 2026

March 6, 2024

The Scopes Trial refers to John Scopes, the defendant, who was convicted and fined $100 for teaching evolution in a public high school. Central to the case was the Darwinian theory of evolution and Biblical literalism that gave rise to fundamentalism. The defense team was led by Clarence Darrow and included John Neal, George Rappleyea, Arthur Garfield Hays, and Dudley Field Malone. The prosecution included Tom Stewart, Ben McKenzie, and William Jennings Bryan. Both Darrow and Bryan came to represent two sides of the trial, Darrow stood for academic freedom–which included allowing the teachings of evolution–and challenged the religious and moral views of fundamentalists.[1] Bryan, on the other hand, was seen as the leader of fundamentalism and, thus, a threat to individual liberty because he wanted the state and its people to control the curriculum of public schools, effectively barring teachings of evolution.[2] And while Darrow claimed to be an agnostic, he was actually an atheist who viewed Christianity as a slave religion and its teachings as dangerous.[3] As such, the ACLU–American Civil Liberties Union–was wary of having Darrow on the defense team, believing that his zealous agnosticism would transform the trial from an appeal for academic freedom to a broad assault on religion.[4] This, of course, does end up happening later on in the trial. Bryan, on the other hand, occupied more of an honorary role in the prosecution, his presence attracted spectators and, eventually, led to his notable exchange with Darrow.

Within the actual trial, the exchange between William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow became legendized. Arthur Garfield Hays was the one who called Bryan as the defense’s final expert on the Bible, putting him on the witness stand.[5] Darrow then took over and questioned Bryan’s beliefs and Biblical history; the questions ranged from Noah and the Flood, Jonah and the Whale, ancient civilizations, and the age of the Earth.[6] Although I understand Darrow’s purpose in asking these questions, I’m surprised the judge allowed such personal attacks against Bryan. The case is about John Scopes and the Tennessee law he infringed, not about whether Bryan believes Joshua made the sun stand still. Even more, Darrow’s clear skepticism and dislike for the antievolution crusade influences how he presents the trial to the American people, publicly disparaging Bryan. Darrow’s inquiries were such that Bryan was forced to choose between his beliefs and modern knowledge; in either case, Bryan lost face because, by choosing the former, he was showing ignorance and, by choosing the latter, he was showing that some degree of biblical interpretation was necessary.[7] So while the Scopes Trial was supposed to be about academic freedom and individual liberties, the presence of both Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan transformed it into a creationalist–evolutionist controversy that pitted fundamentalists against modernists, atheists, and agnostics.

______________________________________________________________

Lizbeth Herrera Gomez is currently a sophomore attending the University of Chicago. She is double majoring in Law, Letters, and Society and Political Science, with a minor in Gender and Sexual Studies.

______________________________________________________________

[1] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 71.

[2] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 103.

[3] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 71.

[4] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 100.

[5] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 187.

[6] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 187.

[7] Larson, Edward. “Summer for the Gods.” Basic Books, 2006, pp. 188.

[eternal-echoes]

“This inner rapprochement between Biblical faith and Greek philosophical inquiry was an event of decisive importance not only from the standpoint of the history of religions, but also from that of world history - it is an event which concerns us even today. Given this convergence, it is not surprising that Christianity, despite its origins and some significant developments in the East, finally took on its historically decisive character in Europe. We can also express this the other way around: this convergence, with the subsequent addition of the Roman heritage, created Europe and remains the foundation of what can rightly be called Europe.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, MEETING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SCIENCE - Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg, 12 September 2006

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on https://yaroreviews.info/2024/01/fujitsu-boss-truly-sorry-for-role-in-post-office-scandal

Fujitsu boss 'truly sorry' for role in Post Office scandal

House of Commons

By Michael Race

Business reporter, BBC News

A boss of Fujitsu has said the company has a “moral obligation” to contribute to compensation for sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted as a result of its faulty IT software.

Paul Patterson, Fujitsu’s Europe director, said the firm gave evidence to the Post Office which was used to prosecute innocent sub-postmasters.

He added the Post Office knew about “bugs and errors” in Horizon.

It comes as victims of the scandal told MPs of problems receiving compensation.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters and postmistresses were prosecuted for theft and false accounting after money appeared to be missing from their branches, but the prosecutions were based on evidence from faulty Horizon software.

Some sub-postmasters wrongfully went to prison, many were financially ruined. Some have since died.

It has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history, but to date only 93 convictions have been overturned and thousands of people are still waiting for compensation settlements more than 20 years on.

Appearing before the Business and Trade select committee of MPs, Mr Patterson apologised for Fujitsu’s role in what he said was an “appalling miscarriage of justice”.

“We were involved from the very start,” he said. “We did have bugs and errors in the system and we did help the Post Office in their prosecutions of the sub-postmasters.

“For that we are truly sorry.”

Follow live coverage of the Post Office scandal

Asked why Fujitsu didn’t do anything about glitches in the Horizon system when the company knew about them at an early stage, Mr Patterson said: “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

He added: “On a personal level I wish I did know. Following my appointment in 2019 I have looked back on those situations for the company and the evidence I have seen and I just don’t know.”

Earlier, Neil Hudgell, a solicitor representing 77 sub-postmasters wrongly convicted by the Post Office, told MPs that just three people had been paid full and final compensation.

He said layers of bureaucracy, along with certain requests by the Post Office, were causing problems in victims securing financial redress.

In some cases he said requests had been made for documents that were held in Post Office branches that clients had been locked out of some 15 to 20 years ago.

Jo Hamilton, who was wrongfully convicted of stealing £36,000 from the village Post Office she ran in Hampshire in 2006, said getting compensation was like being treated like a criminal all over again.

“It’s almost like you’re being retried.

“It just goes on and on and on,” she told the committee.

Related Topics

Post Office Inquiry

Post Office Ltd

Post offices

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