The Velvets Revolution [2009] <- Download

Entre os que atribuem ao Velvet Underground o título de banda seminal, apenas uma minoria consegue citar exemplos de influenciados para confirmar o que dizem. É o efeito Mate-me Por Favor, responsável por fazer muita gente acreditar ser possível sintetizar a importância do VU em 443 páginas.  Encartada na última edição da Uncut, a coletânea The Velvets Revolution – 15 Bands Inspired By The Velvet Underground pode ajudar essas pessoas a entender o legado dos novaiorquinos. Não se trata de um tributo convencional, desses com regravações; mas de uma pequena amostra da difusa e duradoura a influência do grupo para o rock alternativo.

Na virada para os anos 80, as bandas americanas Feelies e Suicide representaram bem o quanto a água de uma mesma fonte pode causar diferentes efeitos colaterais – jangle pop e no wave, respectivamente. Do outro lado Atlântico, ainda nos anos 80, os extremos vão do proto-indie-pop do Orange Juice ao kraut-shoegaze do Loop. Smog, numa faixa bem Lou Reed, e Hope Sandoval, emulando a Nico, são os nomes mais conhecidos dos anos 90. Entre os filhotes nascidos nesta década, estão o Thee Oh Sees e as Vivian Girls, ambos já devidamente elogiados em posts anteriores. Sobram ainda mais sete artistas que eu desconheço, mas que também fizeram ótimas canções sob influência de Lou Reed e Cia.

Vivian Girls - Tension
 Magik Markers - Risperdal

di Gianni Santucci & Armando Stella

«Il basso numero di stazioni pre­senti sul territorio non è sufficiente per svolgere significative analisi» sul­l’aria e per questo la Fondazione Lom­bardia per l’Ambiente ha installato al­tre 50 centraline antismog, ovunque, centro e periferie. L’incarico le è stato affidato dal Comune dopo l’avvio di Ecopass, il 18 febbraio 2008.

Obietti­vo: «L’individuazione delle zone del­la città più critiche, quanto a ‘rischio potenziale’, fornendo così al deciso­re politico un agile strumento per po­ter attuare delle politiche, a breve ter­mine, di mitigazione delle emissio­ni».

La relazione è del giugno 2009, ma il dossier sulla salute pubblica dei milanesi — pagato dai cittadini — è stato nascosto, archiviato, secretato.

Nelle conclusioni si legge, tra l’altro, che «l’esposizione della popolazione residente che lavora a Milano, i resi­denti non occupati e le persone pres­so strutture ospedaliere presentano un grado di esposizione di tipo croni­co». E cronico «si dice di malattia per­sistente nell’organismo, priva di ma­nifestazioni acute ma di difficile gua­rigione». Definizione da dizionario.

Il documento rientra nel program­ma «Pro-Life» ed è da sei mesi nei cassetti di Palazzo Marino. S’intitola «Analisi di rischio per la valutazione dell’impatto della qualità dell’aria sul­la popolazione di Milano, monitorag­gio target- oriented e analisi delle cri­ticità »: 114 pagine sulle due campa­gne di misurazione condotte nel­­l’estate 2008 e nell’inverno 2009, ana­lisi comparate dei dati su benzene, biossidi di azoto, ozono e pm10.

Me­dici e ingegneri hanno scelto i 50 «si­ti di monitoraggio più rappresentati­vi», da piazza Mondadori a via Dante, da corso Magenta a piazza Bolivar, considerato i «fattori di pressione» sull’ambiente («traffico, sorgenti di ti­po civile e industriale») e definito una «carta degli elementi di vulnera­bilità» che include scuole, ospedali, «aree a particolare densità abitativa» e tutela anzitutto bambini e anziani.

Una sola premessa: «Nel quadro delle politiche di road pricing attuate dal Comune, una specifica tassa chiama­ta Ecopass è stata introdotta nel me­se di gennaio 2008». Il programma Pro-Life ne valuta gli effetti. Questi. «Le medie giornaliere di concentrazione del pm10 rilevate sia in estate sia in inverno in tutti i siti di monitoraggio sono spesso superiori ai valori limite fissati dalle normati­ve », fino all’esasperazione dei 199 mi­crogrammi misurati in via Larga, zo­na Ecopass, un valore quattro volte oltre la soglia d’allarme fissata a 50 microgrammi.

«Le aree maggiormen­te critiche si snodano lungo una fa­scia centrale che attraversa la città da est a ovest» e che interessa «anche buona parte dell’area Ecopass»: que­sto, in particolare, «denota la circola­zione significativa di autovetture a benzina (non solo Euro 4) indipen­dente dal disincentivo economico in­trodotto dall’amministrazione».

Tut­tavia, la tassa antismog un impatto ce l’ha: mentre «all’interno della zona di rispetto Ecopass le concentrazioni degli ossidi di azoto e di benzene mo­strano una diminuzione rilevabile», e pure i livelli di pm10, «immediata­mente al di fuori di quest’area i valori sono molto più alti, ma anche supe­riori a quelli delle aree più periferi­che caratterizzate da un traffico pe­sante. Questo fenomeno può essere attribuito al congestionamento di au­toveicoli alla ricerca di un parcheg­gio».

È l’effetto canyon descritto da­gli esperti lungo i Bastioni, la camera a gas affacciata sul centro storico. Oltre agli impianti di riscaldamen­to, c’è il «contributo determinante» del traffico nel superamento dei limi­ti «orari e annuali sulle concentrazio­ni » degli inquinanti. Un contributo doppio: assieme agli scarichi, le auto dei pendolari trasportano anche «par­ticolato » prelevato da «terreni conta­minati esterni al territorio urbano mi­lanese».

Milano, in sintesi, respira so­lo di notte, «quando i residenti e i la­voratori provenienti da fuori città tor­nano alle proprie abitazioni». Osserva Enrico Fedrighini, consi­gliere dei Verdi, che «il Comune, ol­tre a prendere provvedimenti, deve anche monitorarne l’efficacia. Questi documenti non dovevano essere se­cretati, è un brutto segnale per la cit­tà. Letizia Moratti ha avuto il corag­gio di aprire una nuova strada nella lotta allo smog. Non torni indietro».

Fonte: www.corriere.it

Quand Bill prends de la hauteur, c’est un peu tout le monde qui respire. Son dernier album en date est vraiment à la hauteur de nos attentes. Que ce soit sous Smog ou Bill Callahan, je suis fan, j’avoue. Son dernier est juste sobrement magnifique. Sans aucun rapport, j’ai commencé la semaine à écouter du Brian Eno (d’ailleurs, je suis tombé par hasard sur un chouette papier de Lester Bangs sur Eno ici) et je pensais à tous les nouveaux groupes qui pointent le bout de leurs nez, je ne vais pas les citer, mais tous sont dans une veine électro-rock assez marquée, Health, Clues et consorts, tout comme Liars, il y a quelques temps. Non pas que ce soit faible, mais on peut compenser une certaine lacune d’écriture ou de technicité, par l’énergie. Et là j’en ai un peu ma claque de tout cette mayonnaise de claviers, de batteries énervées, de guitares saturées et de chants déstructurés… Je suis revenu à Eno et enfin à Bill Callahan comme on revient en pèlerinage sur un lieu de vacances pour y ressentir l’essentiel.

Détendu et avec ce sentiment d’être à la maison. Et ça fait du bien.

www.myspace.com/toomuchtolove

Via Associated Press:

BEIJING — China will seek binding pollution targets for developed countries and reject similar requirements for itself at an international climate summit next month, China’s top climate envoy said Wednesday.

Yu Qingtai said it is unfair that all countries be required to play a role combating global warming since most of the environmental damage was caused by developed nations during their industrialization over the last 100 to 200 years.

“Developed countries should not make requirements of developing countries that are unreasonable,” Yu told a news conference.

“Developed countries should also earnestly ask themselves: ‘In solving this problem that I have created, am I keeping my promises and honoring my commitments?’” he said.

Dalle 7.30 alle 20.30 di giovedì 26 novembre, non potranno circolare all’interno della fascia verde cittadina tutti i veicoli più inquinanti. Il divieto riguarda: autoveicoli (compresi mezzi commerciali) a benzina e diesel “euro 0”;  motoveicoli e ciclomotori a due tempi “euro 0”;  autoveicoli (compresi mezzi commerciali) diesel “euro 1” e “euro 2”; minicar diesel e benzina “euro 0”; minicar diesel “euro 1”. Come previsto dal piano di intervento operativo comunale per contenere i livelli delle polveri sottili è stata decisa la limitazione della circolazione sulla base dei dati forniti questa mattina da Arpa Lazio che hanno evidenziato livelli di pm10 superiori ai limiti imposti (50 microgrammi per metrocubo) in 8 centraline.  Rispetto ai dati precedenti non hanno superato i limiti la stazione Villa Ada (42) e Bufalotta (44), mentre tutte le altre centraline hanno riportato valori inferiori: Arenula (da 67 a 51 microgrammi per metrocubo), Cinecittà (da 76 a 64), Cipro (da 70 a 56), Fermi (73 a 57), Francia (da 73 a 61), Magna Grecia (da 74 a 55), Preneste (da 80 a 57), Tiburtina (da 78 a 60). Si prevede per venerdì un ulteriore miglioramento.

via BBC:

US President Barack Obama will go to the early stages of December’s UN climate summit in Copenhagen, but will not stay for crucial talks at the end.

Mr Obama will be in the Danish capital on 9 December on his way to Oslo to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize, a US administration official said.

The talks will attempt to draw up a new global climate treaty to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

So far more than 60 world leaders have said they will attend the summit.

Observers say the attendance of such figures as Mr Obama will raise expectations, although the talks are not expected to result in a new treaty.

via BBC:

Large sums promised to developing countries to help them tackle climate change cannot be accounted for, a BBC investigation has found.

Rich countries pledged $410m (£247m) a year in a 2001 declaration – but it is now unclear whether the money was paid.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has accused industrialised countries of failing to keep their promise.

The EU says the money was paid out in bilateral deals, but admits it cannot provide data to prove it.

The money was pledged in the 2001 Bonn Declaration, signed by 20 industrialised nations – the 15 countries that then made up the European Union, plus Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.

They said they would pay $410m per year until 2008 – a total of $1.6bn.

But only $260m has ever been paid into two UN funds earmarked for the purpose, the BBC World Service investigation has found.

“There have been promises which have not been fully materialised. There is an issue of trust,” says Ban Ki-moon.

Mixing and matching some stuff from different sources:

Hair: MADesigns – AKAMI (left) and JONAS (right) both in colour ~ ASHB I~ (not free!)

Skin: Flirt! Jacob -D ark Skin (Midnight Mania Prize, Board currently @ 26/50)

T-Shirt: >>> moloko <<< Shirt FreeFighter black (all layers, L$ 1 inworld and on XstreetSL)

Bracelet & Choker: Magically Aluring Gift for BitterSweet Hunt

Glasses: Kumaki – K_gs -optino2- (really not to be missed!)

Jacket: :SMOG: special Jacket (Dollarbie on XstreetSL)

Pants: Sensual Mistery – .::SM::. MOTORS PANT GIFT

Shoes: HOC Apparel – Bolts Sneakers, L$ 40 (blogged before)

via Detroit News:

Washington –Honda Motor Co. has the most fuel efficient fleet in the United States, followed closely by Hyundai Motor Co., the Environmental Protection Agency said Friday in releasing preliminary figures for 2009.

All vehicles sold in the 2009 model year are expected to average 21.1 miles per gallon in “real world” driving, which is one-tenth of a mile better than in the 2008 model year.

Final 2009 figures will be released next year in October or November. The preliminary numbers are based on sales data and confidential product reports and sales estimates from the companies and usually don’t vary much from the final tallies, which are based on actual sales.

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The EPA also released final numbers for the 2008 model year, reporting the nation’s fleet improved 0.4 miles per gallon from 20.6 mpg in 2007 to 21.0 mpg.

Via WSJ:

WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule Monday aimed at reducing pollution from construction sites, saying that it will significantly improve the quality of water nationwide.

The rule will be phased in over four years, starting in February, and when it is fully in effect, the EPA estimates there will be four billion fewer pounds of sediment discharged from construction sites each year.

Nearly 82,000 home builders, commercial and industrial building contractors, and civil-engineering companies are expected to be covered by the rule, which the EPA estimates will impose about $953 million of annual costs.

Such costs could raise home prices and cause a small number of builders to go out of business, resulting in some job losses, the EPA said in a draft version of the final rule.  It said job losses may be temporary given the relatively high turnover in the construction industry, and acknowledged that the new rule is being introduced at a time when construction has fallen off sharply.

Via AHN:

New Delhi, India (AHN) – The Ministry of Environment and Forests announced on Wednesday the revised national ambient air quality standards. The revision came after 15 years and will provide a legal framework for the control of air pollution and subsequently improve public health.

According to a ministry statement, “The review of the previous NAAQS and inclusion of new parameters was undertaken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The Proposal for revision in NAAQS was deliberated upon extensively and has been notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 16.11.2009 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.”

These revised standards are in line with the latest advancement in technology and research and is at par with global best practices, the release informed.

Caso não tenha conseguido aceder à apresentação, faça-o aqui.

Coloque aqui algumas das medidas que a população de Pequim encontrou para fazer face à poluição atmosférica da sua cidade.

Considera que as medidas de melhoria da qualidade do ar em Pequim perduraram após os jogos?

Secondo giorno di stop ai veicoli inquinanti per l’emergenza smog nella Capitale. Anche lunedì 23, dopo domenica 22, scatteranno i divieti dalle 7.30 alle 20.30: non potranno circolare a Roma, all’interno della fascia verde cittadina, tutti i veicoli più inquinanti. Il divieto riguarda: autoveicoli (compresi mezzi commerciali) a benzina e diesel «euro 0», motoveicoli e ciclomotori a due tempi «euro 0»; autoveicoli (compresi mezzi commerciali) diesel «euro 1» e «euro 2»; ma anche minicar diesel e benzina «euro 0» e minicar diesel «euro 1». Lo comunica il Campidoglio.

Come previsto dal piano di intervento operativo comunale per contenere i livelli delle polveri sottili è stata decisa la limitazione della circolazione sulla base dei dati forniti questa mattina da Arpa Lazio che hanno evidenziato livelli di pm10 superiori ai limiti imposti (50 microgrammi per metro cubo) nelle stazioni Arenula, Bufalotta, Cinecittà, Cipro, Fermi, Francia, Magna Grecia, Preneste, Tiburtina, Villa Ada. Il provvedimento è stato deciso anche sulla base delle previsioni meteorologiche che risultano favorevoli al ristagno degli agenti inquinanti nei bassi strati dell’atmosfera.

If the trees had a chance to make things a little bit more their way:

tree making a new trail

Download free print version here

illustration by hikingartist.com

I know we’ve seen a lot of sunsets recently, but I thought the contrast between Shimla’s beautiful colors and Bombay’s indistinct skyline had something to offer.

Blogger’s note: I wrote this post a few days ago, and the air has cleared since then. However, as I still find the topic interesting, I’m going to post it anyway.

The half of the village I live in is nestled in between two small hills.

And while this allows you to descend into lovely fall foliage as you drive to our house, it also means that, for all purposes, we are nestled in a valley. Which isn’t a big deal. Except…

People in France love their chimneys. They’re so popular here that bags of firewood are not only custom-ordered, but also sold in large bags in supermarkets and gas stations.

People here also burn leaves. I’m not sure why. My village is about a 3-minute walk from a huge national forest. They could easily leave a pile of leaves there to decompose, if, for some reason, they felt they couldn’t just let the leaves stay in their yards. But no, they insist on burning them.

This, combined with the nightly fireplace-burning, means that, starting in the early morning hours, my house is stuck in a thick blanket of smog. Chimney smog. Just call me Pipp. Or Oliver. Or some other Dickens character.

It’s not too bad, generally, unless the wind isn’t blowing. Then, I start to have an asthma attack upon waking up. And when I leave my street in the early morning hours, I can barely see through the thick smog. It’s sort of like being in Delhi, except that I don’t get the good food to go along with it .

And, of course, except that the air clears mid-morning.

It’s odd, though. I’ve had this conversation with some other foreigners here in France, and we’re all surprised at the copious amount of fireplace- burning that goes on. From what some French people have told me, they look at it like they are saving on gas or electricity for heating, hence, saving the Earth. I can see this point, to a certain extent, and I applaud them caring about the atmosphere. But,  isn’t polluting with fireplace smoke just as bad? Or am I missing something here? And that’s not meant as a rhetorical question, I’m actually curious what other people think about this. Let me know.

This week the Ambassadress of Dubstep Mary Anne Hobbs graces the West Coast with her lovely presence once again at the Scion House Party along with Plastician, SCUBA and 12th Planet. The show is at the Roxy on Wednesday, November 18 and is free with RSVP here.

Earlier that day catch the SMOG showcase on Mary Anne Hobb’s Experimental show on the BBC Radio 1 from 6-8PM Pacific Time as she features some of the filthiest bass talent from madhouse Los Angeles including DLX, 12th Planet, EMU, Pawn and Evol.

Hey hey guys its max!!!I Got A Club Penguin Trainer Code and guess what?

Its a beta hat code!!!!No Need for trainers when you can get the code now!im posting a contest,Whoever comments the most Wins the code!It’s a really good code,i got it from some.Anyway Whoever comments the most get the code and if you comment over 1,000 times ill give you the software to get it!Please leave the email!!!You Need the email!!ok Well Happy Winnings!

So Partypeople! Der Mensch hat eine neue bahnbrechende Entdeckung gemacht: es gibt Wasser auf dem Mond. Das hat nun die Nasa verkündet. Der bemannten Raumfahrt zum Mond steht nichst mehr entgegen. Aus Wasser kann Sauerstoff und Wasserstoff gewonnen werden.

Dumm gelaufen für den Mond. Meiner Meinung nach. Nein, ich will nicht schwarzmalen. Doch ich will! Sonst kapierts ja keiner… Hehe.

Also mir fällt da spontan die Geschichte mit dem Indianer und den Astronauten in der Wüste New Mexicos ein. Der Indianer zieht am Trainingscamp der Apollo-Mission vorbei und sieht, wie lustig verpackte Männer mit komischen Geräten über den Wüstenboden stolpern. Der Indianer wundert sich und will’s wissen. Cleveres Kerlchen – hat kapiert, dass man Fragen stellen muss um Antworten zu erhalten. Ein Mitarbeiter der Mission klärt ihn auf. Die Menschen wollen auf den Mond. Der Indianer setzt sein Pokerface auf und bittet die Leute, ob sie eine alte Indianische Botschaft, geschrieben auf einen Zettel, mit zum Mond nehmen können. Alles kein Problem, der Indianer schreibt seine Botschaft, der Mitarbeiter nimmt sie und – natürlich – übergibt er sie gleich den Schnüffelhunden des CIA. Die haben erstmal Probleme mit dem Dialekt, können die Botschaft dann aber doch übersetzen, die da lautet: “Traut diesen Menschen nicht – sie nehmen Euer Land!”.

Ob die Geschichte der Wahrheit entspricht ist egal. Die Botschaft entspricht der Wahrheit!

Jetzt gibt es ja auf dem Mond keine Menschen. Aber es gibt Wasser! Und wenn es dort Wasser gibt, dann gibt es dort womöglich doch organische Lebensformen. Kein Sci-Fi, wenn man bedenkt, was für Lebensformen bereits in den unwirklichsten Lebensräumen unserer Erde existieren. Die hätten dann die längste Zeit ihre Ruhe gehabt. Selbst wenn es dort nur H2O gäbe, wir schicken ja Menschen hin. Ich möchte ehrlich gesagt nicht dort leben, gehen mir doch schon der graue Herbst und Kunstbau a la Venedig auf den Sack. Der Mensch steht in Beziehung zu seiner Umwelt. Seine Umwelt (die er noch einigermaßen begreifen kann, weil sie nicht zu abstrakt ist), das ist die Erde. Das Gesamte, welches zum Leben auf der Erde beiträgt: Luft, Wasser, Sonne, Tag, Nacht, Pflanzen, Tiere, … – kein Gott (den gibt es nicht) – …, aber auch der Tod!.

Wie wird es für Erdbewohner, wenn sie die ersten Bauten auf dem Mond sehen können? Unromantisch. Zumindest bis da oben alles zugesmogt wurde und dann auch nur noch helle und dunkle Flecken sichtbar werden. Welche Änderungen wird zusätzliche Masse – auch nur im geringsten Ungleichgewicht – auf die Weltmeere haben? Empfindlich genug ist unser System. Wie wir ja nun endlich alle wissen. Wobei Anpassung durch die Natur relativ schnell geschieht. Arten sterben aus, neue entstehen. Aber der Mensch? Auch auf ihn trifft die vorherige Aussage zu.

Schwarzmalerei vom feinsten…

I’ve been pretty much in love with everything in India so far. Even things that I would never tolerate back in the states take on a certain exotic charm here in India. Pouring buckets of cold water over myself for a shower? How energizing. Sour lime juice as a drink? That’s a new one! Cyclones that hit when you’re miles from your hotel? What a great experience! A paucity of toilet paper? Ain’t life grand!

There is one thing about India that I feel I could never get used to, however. One thing that gives America a decided advantage in the ‘places to live’ contest. One thing that I strongly believe should be changed immediately, for the sake of the country’s future.

The smog.

The air quality here came as a bit of a shock; I’d had Indian friends warn me beforehand, but I still did not think it would be as bad as it is. In Delhi, the uniquely congested traffic made me fear to roll my windows down. On the sidewalk, piles of trash had been lit on fire, and the resulting smoke produced an unpleasant smell. After a few days in that city, I felt the full effects of the smog, coughing constantly and negotiating to minimize our time spent at the center of the city.

When our friend Danish offered to drive us up to the North Indian countryside, I jumped at the chance, assuming that once I got out of the city, my lungs would be in a happier state. As we drove north, however, the sky remained a dull grey. Danish explained that the Punjabi farmers cleared their fields by burning them after harvest, despite the illegal nature of such activities. We passed several burning fields on our way to Ludhiana. Uttar Pradesh, as well, had several large factories that would belch pillars of fire from its smokestacks; our friends explained that the UP had a lot of industrial plants.

Bombay has been better in terms of smog, but coming into the harbor by boat allows you to see the air quality more clearly: the entire city seems bathed in a grey mist that is reminiscent of a Northern European fog. Coming back from the island of Elefanta, Elliot and I were able to see the sun set behind the city. It was a beautiful sight, a huge red ball of flame peeking out from between the skyscrapers that stood proudly above the city. However, the fact that we were able to stare directly at the sun without blinking gives you some idea of how much the smog had colored the Bombay air.

Gandhi wrote that “If we cultivate the habit of keeping the air pure and of breathing only fresh air, we can save ourselves from many a terrible disease.” Of course, it’s easy to admonish India for its air quality, but economic development through industrial modernization cannot easily occur without its ill-starred offspring, industrial pollution. And in a country of 1 billion people, it’s hard to regulate individual habits that contribute to pollution. If I had any solutions, I’d happily offer them here. In the meantime, when I see small street children running between stopped traffic in central Delhi, or South Bombay, I simply wonder what the price of this air pollution may turn out to be.

-J.&E.

If there’s one thing China is well known for these days, it’s smog. As a direct result of almost inconcievable progress, the entire country is constantly submerged beneath a blanket of foul chemical mist. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a place in the country devoid of it, with even neighbours such as Japan complaining about being affected by it.

Whilst in China, I had the pleasure of exploring quite a few different parts of what is an absolutely massive country, though I don’t think we ever got away from the smog. There were certainly cities where it was better than others, such as Kunming in the south, and then the smaller, much higher places such as Dali, Lijiang and Zhongdian(Shangri-la) – the latter of those being right up in the mountains. Yet even in the mountainouse Zhongdian, I still always wondered if that beautiful mist was in fact mist, or smog.

The following link is eye-opening. To look at the level of black matter on the face mask shown after a mere four hours outdoors in Beijing….well just imagine that stuff lining your lungs. Whilst we were living in Wuxi, Courtney had an almost constant cough, and both of us had sore throats on a very regular basis.

China is a beautiful country, full of amazing culture and super friendly people. Its pollution however, is beyond bad, and I can only seeing it get much much worse before it begins to improve.

Those going there be warned – you are potentially risking your health breathing this stuff in. I used to think – heh, I quit smoking over five years ago, and now while I am here, my lungs are probably worse off than then. And to think, China has more smokers than anywhere else in the world. Double whammy anyone?