Search results for:

I think it extremely sad that people conflate Intifada with violent means.
It is a word that cannot be translated effectively. In the Palestinian context it was students who both wanted to separate themselves from violent uprisings, and to legitimise a protest as a mirror of Gandhi's tenets.
Sources:

1. Mary King's Book
   
2. Vice Article
   
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intifada
   
   

As such, projecting a meaning on a chant in a march organised by the definitively peace-seeking Palestine Solidarity Campaign can only be seen as an attempt to delegitimise protests, akin to Braverman's/ this government's attempts to do so

I've asked people to read before posting- but it seems an unwillingness to do so remains.

The conflation of the term stems from the tail-end of both of the first and second intifadas, and specifically the second, instigated by enough indiscriminate killing of unarmed civilians by the IDF that Chirac even commented that in no way could "he convince [anyone] that the Palestinians are the aggressors".
Reference 1
Reference 2

The Orthotic debate will run for time immemorial.
As below, strengthening exercises can help, as can barefoot training over shorter distances.
Indeed, they have for me, with a similar story to doubleOdavey.
However, they can also be -genuinely- needed, and the correct answer is to see a physiotherapist, not a podiatrist. They can assess the extent of the pronation (assuming it is such) and the need for continued use of the orthotics.

FWIW- I used to use a cricket pitch as a place to do sprintervals completely barefoot, which changed my running style and cadence, and has made me relatively injury proof- bar something in my 1st metatarsal that was once a stress fracture.

Quotation marks (") below are from the BBC live feed. (<>) are from this thread.

It is shocking that there is no mention of the complete silence imposed on Gaza during the impending full-scale invasion.

I hope it's because those seeking to justify inhumane methods-on either side- have developed some introspection.
For others, I suspect a complete sense of disbelief now spreads, and the realisation that we will see unimaginable devastation over the coming hours.
Destruction carried out in complete freedom to be violent.
Buoyed by an unfathomable, continued support from the West for indiscriminate bombing, starvation and crippling health services and preventing aid from reaching civilians.

I suspect a few will still cling to the belief that Israels claims are true.
That a "hospital is the base of Hamas operations", and accept that the destruction of the people within that hospital is accepted in the theatre of war.
That "Human Shields" are being used by Hamas.
That Hamas has already killed the hostages prior to the ground attack- despite documented reports from the hostages suggesting that some semblance of care was provided.
(too little, too late- of course- the acts should not have happened).

-Let me be clear again- the actions of Hamas were abhorrent, unfathomable to me as a Palestinian. Just the basest, worst form of inhuman barbarism and there are no words I can espouse for my sadness and disgust-

Some will cling to a belief that all Palestinians want the destruction of Israel. A fact that my own posts should make perfectly clear is not true.
Most of us just want the chance to have a prosperous economy, a homeland to exist.
This embodiment of a people in diaspora should be understandable, as it is a mirror of Israeli hopes at the creation of Israel. How we keep losing sight of our commonality perplexes me.

However, we know and fear what the re-connection of services will bring.
Unimaginable devastation, and no documentation, no counter-narrative, no means of fact-checking claims.
The sort of thing that was previously confined to history- where the victor writes, and the oppressed voices die.

For me- the convenience of being a displaced people is that my direct family have been safe as we lost our home a long time ago. This allows for a separation that many of my family friends do not have. That colleagues (medical workers) in Gaza do not have. And as such last night I said my (internal- for reaching them is impossible) goodbyes. Those working for MAP, for UNWRA, those I've met- even in a distant past where we had hope- and those I have not. The students at https://manara.tech, who just wanted a chance to betterment. And most of all the children, cousins of my own, whom we will never get to meet.
Know that you can never be forgotten, and that we carry your name forward.

No matter who you are, these past three weeks should have shocked you. It should. It has shown humanity's ability to fall prey to baser instincts and to desire the death of those different, or percieved as lesser than ourselves.
This is not defence, this is a massacre, a single-focused destruction of a people and any chance of prosperity or return to lives now completely destroyed.
The fact the UK and Western governments are accepting it is abhorrent beyond belief.

To any Israelis reading this. I can only offer you love. My heart is also broken.

It seems impossible to overcome the acts of inhumanity that have occurred these past few weeks. But it is not.
These acts, initiated by zealots speaking in the name of Palestinians, but not speaking for Palestinians.
Likewise, I know for many that Netenyahu does not speak for all of you, that settler actions don't speak for you.
But as always, as the war grows more violent, the walls will go up, and the dominant voices on both sides will grow darker. And we must try and remember our shared humanity.

Please- I beg you- pressure your government for a ceasefire.

If nothing else- we know that history tells us that increased devastation akin to that wrought on Gaza, the easier the narrative comes to dehumanise you as a people becomes for the next batch of extremists. Likewise- the more the narrative of a Palestinian whole as Extremists pervades- the same dehumanisation occurs in your view of us.
Instead, let us talk, as people with a commonality that poor historians would prefer us to forget. Like Jeremy Bowen claiming we "do not share much", instead remember even down to our Languages- we share a literal root- trileteral consonant structures.
We share more in culture, food, family structures- the essence of what makes a 'people' than we do with anyone else, and yet it is forgotten and arbitrary differences are weaponised. Weaponised and heightened by people who , including both sides 'allies'.

I can only hold my hand out in the hope you will take it, and that that starts a different approach to a conflict which should not exist, and one that has only proven that violent means achieve nothing but devastation and demonisation.

To non-Israelis, please, pressure your government to ask for a ceasefire to allow aid to reach my people. To allow a chance of reconciliation, however minute it is. For now it seems impossible.
Be part of a concerted voice to silence the anti-Semitic voices amongst the appeals for peace.
Be part of a concerted voice to silence the anti-Palestinian voices amongst the calls for justice and defence.

For once- make the loudest voice be the voice of reason.

No, their biggest chain.

Just had this stolen: (Just off the Strand, somewhere around Lunch)
Gloria branded Lynskey ti Frame, Columbus fork with some pretty stars on.
Ekar and PDWs
Cut through my HipLok Diamond Motorbike lock which is pretty annoying.
Assume they'd been scoping it out for a bit.

I wonder, anyone know of good data of how the risks increase with number of hours of exercise?

Nuanced... (one of my pet interest areas-AFLETES published in May was most recent update I'd seen but below is a collection of other interesting ones):
TAUPO study:

There was no sign that admission rates were higher amongst the more active participants than those who cycled less. For every additional hour spent cycling per week, the risk reduced by 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.79 – 1.01). After adjustment for age and height the hazard ratio remained 0.90 (0.79-1.03). The model was run separately to control for BMI, and again this did not change the association between time spent cycling and hospitalisation for AF. There was no evidence of modification by age (50 and over compared with under 50 years).

2000 hours:

It was also found that moderate to severe activity in excess of 2000 hours during lifetime was significantly associated with a higher incidence of AF (odds ratio=3.88; 95% confidence interval= 1.55-9.73)

U-shaped association and deep overview:
Graph actually from this article:

Also supported here:

and a Clinical trial of sorts- which concluded:

Despite changes in LA structure and mechanical function after only 10 months of exercise training, there were no clear changes in atrial electrophysiology; a longer duration or dose of training may be required to induce LA electrical changes thought to be causative of the increased risk of AF in endurance athletes.

Also, same question, Eagles?

What.
The.
Fuck.
9ers.

Refball on this last drive has been unreal.
200yd in penalties…

@hugo7
Furthering above because I wanted to clarify.
The formation of the IDF is very nuanced.
The creation of Israel was immediately met with a mass invasion, and the "drive them to the sea"
Creating an armed force to protect your people is not just understandable, but essential.

To their credit, the merger of the most extreme factions in the Mandate Insurgency period was not immediate:

Following Israel's Declaration of Independence, Prime Minister and Defense Minister David Ben-Gurion issued an order for the formation of the Israel Defense Forces on 26 May 1948. Although Ben-Gurion had no legal authority to issue such an order, the order was made legal by the cabinet on 31 May. The same order called for the disbandment of all other Jewish armed forces.[9] The two other Jewish underground organizations, Irgun and Lehi, agreed to join the IDF if they would be able to form independent units and agreed not to make independent arms purchases. This was the background for the Altalena Affair, a confrontation surrounding weapons purchased by the Irgun resulting in a standoff between Irgun members and the newly created IDF. The affair came to an end when Altalena, the ship carrying the arms, was shelled by the IDF. Following the affair, all independent Irgun and Lehi units were either disbanded or merged into the IDF

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Israel_Defense_Forces), (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altalena_Affair).

The modern "Spirit of the IDF" is inherently challenged due to the nature of the conflict.
However, at base, it is hard to argue with.

(1) Israel is entitled to be a state and to defend itself, and it isn't a misreading of history to feel that Jews as a people have been historically persecuted and therefore are at risk; (2) the way it has done so has, at least some of the time, been unacceptably brutal; but (3) they are correct to feel threatened as there are those out there who don't accept their right to a state and wish them harm.

I'm happy to condemn Israel for the things it has done wrong, but I don't think that means (as many on this thread appear to) that this is unequivocally a case of "Israel bad and that's all that matters"

FWIW, I agree here.

double post.

@hugo7
Sure. Read that into it. Perhaps read my other posts first for context.
I was pointing out exactly where and when Hamas was formed.
After a breakaway sect of zealots wanted to inflict harm on people.
Hamas are distinctly, as I have repeatedly and clearly stated, not the good guys.
They are vile.

I really think you need to read deeper. I apologise that this is ad hominem, but you don't seem to have a good grasp on the history of either side.

1. Formation of Hamas:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#History

   The idea of Hamas began to take form on December 10, 1987, when several members of the Brotherhood[h] convened the day after an incident in which an Israeli army truck had crashed into a car at a Gaza checkpoint killing 4 Palestinian day-workers.... To many Palestinians it appeared to engage more authentically with their national expectations, since it merely provided an Islamic version of what had been the PLO's original goals, armed struggle to liberate all of Palestine, rather than the territorial compromise the PLO acquiesced in—a small fragment of Mandatory Palestine.... entity distinct from the Muslim Brotherhood was a matter of practicality; the Muslim Brotherhood refused to engage in violence against Israel.

2. The opposition to the formation of Israel and the basis of Israeli military policy.
   The creation of the IDF stemmed from this period
   Violence against Jews and Arabs was plentiful, and no side (especially the British) come out looking particularly good.
   Israel, much like the US, has a remnant believe (understandable from Israel, less so from the states) that they are under attack or at war. As such, your points are fine- but know the underlying basis.

There used to be a good textbook on the conflict published in 1998.
Subsequent revisions have fallen increasingly foul of partisan bias, whereas at least the first edition bias was predominantly pro-Britain.

Just a minor edit as a sentence of mine didn't track the way I wanted upthread.
I was trying to point out that in the face of violence, resistance grows. I worded it poorly initially.

Israel doesn't know whether using more force on Palestine will prevent attacks from Hamas or provoke them

History tells us the answer to this. Extremism thrives off violence. Hamas is arguably only extant due to discontent with previous overuse of force by Israel, and the perceived subsequent lack of action by Fatah.
Elsewhere it is evident that increased strength of resistance has been shown in face of increasing violence.
Afghanistan (Britain)
Vietnam (France, then Japan, then France, then America)
Afghanistan (USSR)
Iraq (Britain and America)
Afghanistan (Americans and British)

Hamas don't know what the reaction will be to an attack - they can guess it will provoke a violent reaction, but how far, and what will the international reaction be?

They absolutely did know, and they knew the extent. They knew that Israel would retaliate, as it always has done and has made Policy, with an Iron Fist, and this would lead to substantial, unavoidable, civilian casualties of Palestinians.
This makes the already abhorrent action taken by Hamas even more abhorrent.
As to the international reaction- they don't care. They're zealots.

Violence doesn't work. One of the Intifadas had a set focus of following India and Gandhi's noncooperative nonviolent, though was inevitably co-opted by other elements.
Success was made on an international stage as well as within Israel, just as with India, and this has been lost to history in favour of bloody-minded violent means.

No way you can fit one....
Or is there?

Whoosh....

To continue this-
I am Palestinian. I accept therefore that my writing below will be full of my own bias.
It is also incredibly rare for me to talk about the conflict, however, I cannot contain my sadness at the events over the weekend.

Lets start with 3 basic, undeniable facts
The targeting of civilians is abhorrent, and always has been, regardless of perpetrator.
Israel and its people have a right to exist.
Palestine and its people have a right to exist, and not have basic human rights denied.

-Hamas’ actions are indefensible-

This is undeniable, but we cannot take these recent events in a vacuum. As such the history is important.
I would suggest that corollaries of this action are evident within the creation story of Israel, and this was in no small part aided by the British. The Stern Gang and the Irgun are two examples of similar organisations with a history of against civilians during that formative period. 
Atrocities since have continued, on both sides, and have more-often than is acceptable been white-washed with a narrative of terrorism vs legitimate action. This same rhetoric is clear in review of conflicts historically, elsewhere.

-Many wrongs do not make a right, but ideological narratives are borne of these events.-

It does not change the fact these tactics are abhorrent.
Knowledge of the history contextualises the desire for action. This is added to by a collective comfortable ignorance in the West to the events within Palestine and Israel. That ignorance is perceived clearly by Palestinians, in Gaza, in the West Bank and in Diaspora. 
From the Western PoV- it is easy to follow and support the eloquent, racially similar [ie European, White] voices that drive the narrative of a modern state vs the Oriental [other] where as in the EU’s report (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201110/20111027ATT30536/20111027ATT30536EN.pdf) advancement of society requires a nation state with security. These same perceptions are shown by comments within this thread about perceived backwardness of a society that has been famously matriarchal, with higher than average attendances of university by women, and by leading Islamist Feminism (https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1733&context=jiws). 
Add to this a change in meaning of a word [Semite] that reveals our shared racial history. A race continually denigrated and subjugated through history regardless of religion.
(this is not a plea to return the use of that word, just an example of the power of language)
The sad irony of this- the loss of our shared cultural heritage, and the subsequent unwillingness to discuss our shared demonisation, destroys me.
I am lucky to have close Israeli friends, privileged by living out of Palestine or Israel, and we often share both joy and sadness over our shared traditions, similar family structure and culture. I dream of a day we look to our shared likeness, beliefs, and history of subjugation to attempt conciliation.

It does feel slightly cheap to lessen the imprisoning, the random acts of violence against Palestinians for the past 70 years to lower import than the than the abhorrent events of this weekend.

This graph:

Reference: https://www.vox.com/2014/7/14/5898581/chart-israel-palestine-conflict-deaths
shows the mismatch in death-toll, an admittedly poor metric which doesn't add in the additional deaths from the denial of human rights.
A denial which includes the barricade of medication(see freedom flotilla), acts of violence against humanitarians (Dr. Swee Ang Chai, et al), persecution by reducing ability of creating a viable economic state (the GDP of Gaza is c $1000), prevention of access to education (barriers to university access on a daily basis), segregation physically and politically, Settler attacks on Palestinians, and the accompanying/ underlying ilegal occupation of land that is rightfully Palestine, largely accepted by the global community.

As such subjugation and imprisonment coupled with a comfortable external acceptance (or ignorance) of suffering drives and adds to the despair of a populace-denied basic human rights- and the inevitable weaponisation of this despair by extremists. The hope of some outcome is better than the existential nothingness of the current.

Of note within this thread, attempts to point to complicity of the Israeli populace due to National Service are also unacceptable. They are doing what has protected their people since the inception of the Israeli state, and cannot- as individuals- be held responsible for this, especially when their service has finished.


I will just quickly restate that I believe, whole heartedly, that the rights of Israel and its people are legitimate, and that we as Palestinians cannot deny this any longer. Especially if we want long-term solutions. However, this is a view that is easily cultivated as a Diasporic Palestinian, removed from the despair.

Returning to this weekend:

It is clear that we are beyond the point of peace now. 
This is a devastating turn of events.
Retribution will occur and I am sure my people will pay for the actions that have occurred.
Hamas will continue until destroyed by Israel.
Alongside it will be the re-capture of Gaza and the deaths and further imprisonment of many ordinary Palestinians who had the misfortune of being born in Gaza, and trapped for their entire lives. It will drive extremism on both sides, to the detriment of all.
The additive rhetoric of the news cycle in the West- "our 9/11", "Pearl Harbor", will further the above isolation, and add to that cycle. And continues to bolster international support of Israel’s accepted illegal activities in spite of the apartheid that has occurred for decades. Thus we guarantee further driving denigration of a people who have now banded together in utter despair.

The Civilian casualties are completely unacceptable.

This is true of both sides. An UNWRA site has already been hit. There will be more.
Attacking the music festival is bizarre and stomach-turning, a disgusting act.
This will be a long, bloody conflict with disgusting war crimes.
Hamas has already carried these out, undeniably, and that is beyond abhorrent. Historically, Israel is not clean of them.

Finally- to any Israelis who might read this:
We were once the same.
My only hope is that one day we return to being the same.
I stand with you in sorrow, and shock, and disbelief.

It is actually slightly important here to note that there are technically multiple elements of Hamas.
A military wing- widely seen as a terrorist organisation, and a political party- which is not universally seen as such (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#Terrorist_designation) including (apparently acc. wikipedia) the UN.

This is more semantics for the people above who are having an argument about different aspects of a group that has launched an attack against civilians. A move, that cannot be seen as anything other than abhorrent.

.

Precision-fit... You'll make em work.

Memories...
That is quite a bargain. Great turbo bikes too.

Don't pollute this thread with this filth @dbr
The fact that that stuff when mixed looks exactly like baby poop pretty much precludes any potential weight loss benefits.
(though I really must stop eating 2 substantial portions of PB a day).
On ratings:
Pip and Nut has improved its taste massively, so a strong 8.5/10
Gingerbread PB from Butter Bike is exceptionally moreish (but you cannot have more than a tiny sliver at a time) 8/10
Freda's remains the best I've found in the UK.

As it's also PPG the base issues remain the same, but I quite like the location and form-factor. Plus the team behind it came out of Polar, and the algorithms aren't bad.
(Its probably the one I would go for, if I didn't already have an Apple Watch)

If you want a proper deep dive into the limitations and the algorithmic basis for what either are doing:
https://peterhcharlton.github.io

If you really want a deep dive there are two dev kits- one from Sony and one that is based of the ESP architecture and git has plenty of code to harness to even do cuffless Blood pressure.

Don't follow Brian Johnson- the methodology of throw all the pasta at the wall only works if you can identify the strand that sticks.
Don't get a Whoop- capillary bed photoplethysmography is a poor method of measuring [multiple stacked confounders]. (hence why everyone reverts to chest HRMs, and there is huge debate about their models, overfitting, and the true utility of HRV outside of some pathological states.
I think 8sleep does a great job of targeted marketing, but nothing I've seen within it really makes me want to buy it (bar the 2 side heat differential). The reported noise of the unit puts paid to that for me.

Zoe's has many issues, but I like the aims- much more focused on direct measurement. Methodology isn't up to scratch yet (considering the elements at play within the biological systems studied, cell turnover, etc).

There is a new wave of direct biosensors coming out, with things like:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-023-01095-1
https://www.impli.org
Amongst others, on the horizon. We're going to start stripping inferential layers, and get richer data to build the models underlying. Thats when things start getting interesting.
We're not quite there yet, but soon.

For the time being, whatever you currently use will probably suffice.