Adidas Wilson's Blog, page 113
July 18, 2017
DC’s New Aquaman is The Batman of Atlantis
He may be famous as the King of Atlantis, but in Aquaman‘s newest comic adventure, he’s embodying Batman in the underwater city’s poorest neighborhoods. To be honest, it’s not a mission of stealth and guerrilla warfare that Arthur Curry is actually choosing for himself, but one forced upon him by the latest developments in Aquaman‘s “Rebirth” storyline. A story that saw him struggle to advance Atlantis’s bonds with the surface world… only to lose his kingdom as a result.
It’s a shocking change of status quo that begins writer Dan Abnett’s collaboration with artist Stjepan Sejic in Aquaman #25, plunging the action from Atlantis and the American coast down into the deepest depths of Atlantean society. Below the arches, the throne rooms, and the majestic history of Atlantis’s golden era sits the Ninth Tride: home to the outcasts and victimized of Atlantis’s rigid new caste system. It’s here where the poor, the hungry, and the fearful cry out for a protector… and where the King of Atlantis thought dead is becoming a terrible nightmare.
THE KING OF ATLANTIS IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING
For those stepping into the world of Aquaman comics after dabbling with the New 52 – or anticipating Jason Momoa’s movie version – it may seem like old hat for Aquaman to find himself on a mission to claim the throne of Atlantis. But this time around, things are a bit different. It isn’t a case of Aquaman’s brother Orm claiming the crown for himself, which may actually be the story told in the Aquaman movie. No, this time around Aquaman had his chance to rule Atlantis as he felt it should be… and his subjects voted democratically to remove him from power.
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In a story reflecting more than one modern political movement, the idea that “Atlantis must embrace progress” has been the foundations of the post-“Rebirth” Aquaman series. It began with some members of his court questioning the abandonment of the old ways, and whether diplomacy with a surface world that feared and hated them was the right decision. It was Corum Rath – head of The Drift, Atlantis’s extreme, militarized ‘terrorist’ cell – that emerged as Arthur’s direct rival. And to Arthur’s surprise, his court voted almost unanimously to hand power over to King Rath.
THE LEGEND OF THE AQUAMAN
With Corum Rath crowned in the previous issue, Arthur flees the city before it can be closed off from the outside world. He wasn’t fast enough, stabbed and left for dead by his former subjects. So when word begins to spread of a strange figure able to wield fish like weapons (bats?) and fighting Corum Rath’s forces in Atlantis’s poorest districts… it’s a sign that Arthur is taking some lessons from his former Justice League colleague. Where Batman has Gotham City and Crime Alley, Aquaman has taken it upon himself to patrol the Ninth Tride.
Arthur Curry may live, but his name, title, and appearance have all changed in order to give him a better chance of survival. It’s no coincidence that this rougher, more violent era of Aquaman’s life should get a Jason Momoa makeover, and a re-adoption of Arthur’s Atlantean name. The modestly-dressed, bearded, quiet, and isolated “Orin” doesn’t set off any warning when enforcers of local crime lords come calling. Under King Rath’s leadership these gangsters of the criminal underwaterworld have taken greater control of their neighborhoods, without fear of reprisals.
He may not have a crown, but Arthur Curry is still unwilling to let innocents suffer. So when one debtor’s life is threatened, Aquaman asks himself one question: what would Batman do?
THE LEGEND OF THE DEAD KING GROWS?
It’s a thrilling opening to what DC is calling a “bold new direction” for the Aquaman series, not least of which is owed to Sejic’s stunning artwork. The time required to bring these images to life means Aquamanwill shift from a twice-monthly-shipped series to just monthly, but if Issue #25 is a sign of what’s to come, few fans will argue. Especially not as Aquaman shifts from a gilded, shiny monarch of Atlantis to a brutal, elemental protector of the slums nearest the ocean floor. At least… until his still-loyal friends and family discover that this “legend of the dead king” is truly Arthur in hiding.
It remains to be seen if Mera, Vulko, and the rest of those loyal to Arthur will be enough to tip the scales against The Drift, King Rath, and the highest levels of Atlantean society. What we do know is that the hero won’t be fighting his battle alone. With Issue #25 Abnett and Sejic return a long lost Aquaman supporting character to the DC Universe. Her powers are nothing to underestimate, but it remains to be seen if Arthur and Mera’s marriage can survive the rebirth of Dolphin, the beautiful Atlantean mutant whom Aquaman once called a lover.
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http://screenrant.com/aquaman-comic-batman-atlantis/
Box Office Milestone: ‘Wonder Woman’ Passes Final ‘Harry Potter’ Pic
Another day, another milestone for Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman.
Today, the superhero film will become the third-biggest Warner Bros. release of all time in North America — not accounting for inflation — leapfrogging the final Harry Potter film, 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
Through Sunday, Wonder Woman‘s domestic total was $380.7 million, compared with $381 million for Deathly Hallows: Part 2. The studio’s two top-grossing films domestically are Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight ($533.3 million) and The Dark Knight Rises ($448.1 million), again, not adjusting for inflation.
Wonder Woman has enjoyed the best hold of any superhero film in more than 15 years since hitting theaters in early June.
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Harley-Davidson is eliminating 180 jobs after earnings fall from weaker U.S. sales
Harley-Davidson Inc. is eliminating about 180 production jobs at its U.S. plants, union officials said Tuesday, with the Menomonee Falls and Kansas City plants expected to be hit the hardest.
The permanent job cuts are coming in the next couple of months as the company throttles back production.
Temporary furloughs also are expected this fall.
“It’s not looking too good at this point,” said Ross Winklbauer, a sub-district director for the United Steelworkers union.
Earlier Tuesday, Harley said net income fell 7.7% to $258.9 million, or $1.48 per share, in the second quarter ended June 25, from $280.4 million, or $1.55 per share, a year earlier.
Revenue from motorcycles and related products fell to $1.58 billion from $1.67 billion.
Harley said its worldwide motorcycle sales were down 6.7% from a year earlier and U.S. sales were down 9.3%.
The company, which previously forecast “flat to down modestly” full-year bike shipments, said it now expects to ship 241,000 to 246,000 motorcycles in 2017 – down 6% to 8% from 2016.
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The new projection includes a 10% to 20% decline in production in the third quarter.
In a conference call with analysts, CEO Matt Levatich said workforce cutbacks would be announced to employees starting today. No further details were immediately available.
“Lower expected shipments means we will need to reduce plant production, and this has an implication for our manufacturing facilities, our people and our financial performance. This action will require an hourly workforce reduction at some of our U.S. manufacturing plants. We will be sharing details with employees beginning today,” Levatich said.
He described the second-quarter earnings as disappointing and said the company would be aggressively managing its motorcycle inventory.
The earnings beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.37 per share.
The company said it now expects its full-year operating margin to be down approximately one percentage point compared with 2016.
“Given U.S. industry challenges in the second quarter and the importance of the supply and demand balance for our premium brand, we are lowering our full-year shipment and margin guidance,” Levatich said.
Harley said its U.S. market share for the quarter was 48.5% in the heavyweight motorcycle category.
Harley and other makers of cruiser and touring motorcycles have seen their U.S. sales fall as the economy has faltered in some states.
Also, the company has faced pressure from Japanese and European motorcycle manufacturers, as well as rival Indian Motorcycle Co., based in Minnesota.
Harley-Davidson shares have declined 11% since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index has climbed nearly 10%. The stock has increased 8% in the last 12 months.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, Harley shares were down about 9%, trading at $47.49.
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This strange scene from the ‘Game of Thrones’ premiere may have confirmed a theory about the White Walkers
In our weekly roundup of small details you may have missed, we noted the mysterious vision Bran had of the Night King and his army. The scene showed a bleak cloud making its way across the land. And in the center of the storm was the Night King, White Walkers, and thousands of wights.
While it’s hard to tell exactly where the storm was, one detail seemed confirmed: The Night King was causing the storm.
In the books, Sam Tarly and other characters try to determine the answer to an important question: Do the White Walkers (or Others) appear when it’s cold, or does it get cold when they appear?
Here’s how Sam worded it in George R.R. Martin’s books: “The Others come when it is cold, most of the tales agree. Or else it gets cold when they come. Sometimes they appear during snowstorms and melt away when the skies clear. They hide from the light of the sun and emerge by night … or else night falls when they emerge.”
The storm in the season seven premiere. HBO
Also in the books, Craster’s wives (the group of Wildlings who live in a cabin beyond the wall) refer to this phenomenon as the “white cold.”
Now, however, the show seems to have confirmed that the White Walkers are bringing cold with them, not just conveniently showing up when it happens to get cold outside.
We saw hints of this on the “Hardhome” episode from season five as well. When a White Walker entered a burning hut, he walked right through the flames. The fire seemed to cool to his presence, almost as if he were a walking fire extinguisher.
A White Walker in season five. Courtesy HBO
A similar effect happened in the season six episode “Home,” when the Night King attacked Bran, Meera, Hodor, and the Three-Eyed Raven. The Night King and his ice cronies walked right through the line of fire that was holding back the wights.
But most of all, Jon Snow already said it best in the season six finale: “The true enemy won’t wait out the storm. He brings the storm.”
Read more about the small details you might have missed.
“Game of Thrones” season seven continues Sunday at 9 p.m. with “Stormborn.”
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Amazon is already selling some prepared ‘Amazon Meal Kits’
Based just on trademark filings and reported plans, Amazon’s potential entry into the prepared meal kit market has had a significant impact on freshly-IPO’d Blue Apron’s stock price. Now, however, we know that Amazon is actually already testing its own “Amazon Meal Kits,” thanks to a customer in Seattle who has already ordered and prepared one.
Seattle resident Josh Chadd told GeekWire (via Business Insider) about his experience with the service, which involved ordering a pre-portioned Steak Au Poivre box that ships with prepared ingredients and an easy to follow recipe. The meal was one of a number of options that showed up on Amazon’s website, including Tacos Al Pastor, about a week or two ago for Chadd, who is an AmazonFresh customer. The limited trial seems to have begun around the end of June, judging by user reviews posted to the ecommerce site.
For select users able to participate in the trial, there are approximately 17 different meals on offer, and they range in price, starting at $14.99 and going up to $18.99. Chadd compared them favorably to other similar offerings from Blue Apron, HelloFresh, Sun Basket and Home Chef.
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This is the clearest indication yet that Amazon intends to offer meal kits as a proper service. The ecommerce giant often spins up a business in a limited market first, as it has done with grocery pick up and delivery service and AmazonFresh prior to this, as well as its cashier-less retail shopping experience.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of the U.S. can expect to see Meal Kits rolled out locally anytime soon, however; AmazonFresh rolled out very gradually over time, and still has relatively limited availability vs. its general ecommerce services. Still, it’s got to be troubling news for Blue Apron, especially now that Whole Foods will provide Amazon with a broader distribution footprint for further expansion of the model.
We reached out to Amazon for comment, but they had not replied as of publication time.
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Amazon is already selling some prepared ‘Amazon Meal Kits’
Google plans to end world’s biggest killer which claims 1 MILLION lives per year
The bizarre move is actually a good thing according to scientists, with the infected sterile pests being used to fight diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya – a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted to humans.
The mass pest release is part of the Debug Project – the biggest US study to set free mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a common reproductive parasite.
According to boffins, the idea is that the infected mosquitoes will try to mate with wild females, but the eggs laid will not hatch, leading to an overall decline in the mosquito population over time.
Researchers from Verily will team up with MosquitoMate – a private biotechnology company – and Fresno County’s mosquito control services, Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District (CMAD), to compare the adult population density and number of eggs hatched to measure any changes.
The automated mass mosquito rearing has seen scientists at Verily sorting them by sex, before using algorithms to control on-the-ground devices that will release and distribute the male mosquitoes evenly over two neighborhoods, each measuring around 300 acres in size.
Signs and symptoms of Chikungunya
Fri, June 30, 2017
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms
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Chikungunya shares some clinical signs with dengue and zika
The plan is to release one million mosquitoes each week over a 20-week period.
A similar, but smaller scale, programme was trialled by CMAD and MosquitoMate in 2016.
The new experiment alongside Verily involves 25 times more mosquitoes than the previous study.
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One million mosquitoes will be released each week over a 20-week period
Aedes aegypti – or yellow fever mosquitoes – were first spotted in central California in 2013.
An invasive species originating in Africa, it has since spread to other tropical and subtropical regions.
This specific mosquito is an effective vector for carrying diseases like dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya, with these blood-borne viruses reproduced in the mosquito’s stomach, spreading with bites.
These mosquitoes are likely to bite several times before they are full, increasing the chances of the disease spreading.
Females of this species lay a cluster of up to 200 eggs near water, up to five times during its lifetime, making it easy for the population to increase rapidly.
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