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Seeps to Swimming Pools: Water In Nevada's Desert

“All my friends told me not to film with you. But whatever,” Hank grumbles. Hank Vogler, a Nevada sheep rancher, is in the fight of his life to protect his water rights from being snatched up by a distant city, laying waste to all he has created.

Hank has spent over 40 years here in Spring Valley, Nevada, a large tract of desert land on the central eastern side of the state. He's grown his ranch from two cows and seven sheep to a large operation with sheep herds scattered around this massive landscape. The size and influence of his ranch pales in comparison to his nemesis however, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the governing body for water in Las Vegas.

In the late 1980s SNWA began researching how to get more water to the city. "Need As the population of Las Vegas swelled, they needed to find alternative ways to procure water. One of those methods sent engineers north to the sparsely populated desert to develop new supplies of water.

Hank is one of the people sparsely populating the desert, and he needs every drop of water he has. As he told me, he doesn't have title to enough water to fill a swimming pool in Las Vegas. His livelihood depends only on small springs and seeps in the hills. SNWA carries a big check book, however, and many of his neighbors have been unable to resist the hefty purchase fee frequently being offered at double and triple the going value.

SNWA has scooped up dozens of ranches in the area, hoping to collect enough water rights to build a pipeline to Las Vegas, nearly 300 miles away. In the interim, as SNWA needs to manage the ranches around Spring Valley, Hank has found a target on his back. "Pipeline His outspoken opposition to the water transfer scheme has made living in his community difficult, causing poor relations with neighbors, and the knowledge that at any moment they could turn on the pipeline and suck all the water out from underneath him.

This drives Hank to do everything in his power to protect his way of life, even if it means talking to a filmmaker from Washington, D.C..

The Water Is for Fighting project documents the challenges facing our nations freshwater resources. Corey Robinson is a filmmaker and Young Explorer Grantee collecting these stories through film, still pictures and words.

Follow along with @coreyrobinson #w4f2015

“Whisky is for drinking, water is for fighting.”

"Spring

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r0B0t: Pokemon Go Cheats Issued With Permanent Bans By Niantic

Niantic, the developer behind Pokemon Go, is clamping down on cheating with lifetime bans for players who violate the game's terms of service.

In a statement on its website, Niantic announced users can be banned for falsifying locations, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and accessing Pokemon Go clients or backends in “an unauthorised manner”.

GPS spoofing enables players to trick the game into thinking they are in different regions, helping them to pick up rare Pokemon currently unavailable in their locality. Bots, meanwhile, let players automate portions of the game.

As the Verge reports, players can appeal the ban using a form on Niantic's Pokemon Go website.

Niantic said: “Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone. We will continue to work with all of you to improve the quality of the gameplay, including ongoing optimization and fine tuning of our anti-cheat system.”

Hundreds of users have taken to Reddit to try to unearth Niantic's strategy, but it's not yet clear how the developer detects foul play.

The Guardian has reported that a number of bot developers had been sent cease and desist orders.

Necrobot, a premium service for account farming, said: “Due to legal action being started against other bot creators and developers (we did not receive a letter yet) the project development will be stopped. All source files/downloads will be removed.”

The latest crackdown comes after a number of third party Pokemon mapping sites were shut down last month.

The move coincided with the removal of the nearby tracking feature, which has since been updated, and frayed relations with the game's community.

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r0B0t: Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Recruitment
Despite major advances, it doesn't look like artificial intelligence will replace recruiters anytime soon

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rarely out of the news at the moment, whether it is robots threatening to put physicists out of a job as they learn to run complex experiments for themselves or Google's AI project learning to write poetry, it seems that in the future anything humans can do, robots will be able to do - if not necessarily better - at least serviceably well.

Understandably, this is expected to shake up the jobs market. It will make some roles redundant and transform others. Some commentators go as far as suggesting that recruitment consultants themselves need to be added to the endangered species list since the strength of AI's capabilities makes having a human at the helm of the recruitment process unnecessary.

At first glance, it seems like a reasonable idea. Recruiters match candidates with jobs that require certain skills - something that a computer could achieve with the right algorithms in place. Indeed, I launched a tech-based recruitment startup last year, The Work Crowd, which uses advanced algorithms to connect specialist freelance talent with businesses.

So do I think that recruiters should be brushing up their own CVs in earnest, ready for the seismic changes ahead? I'm inclined to think not.

"2016-08-12-1470996155-4165310-ArtificialIntelligence2.jpg"

A science as well as an art

There are many jobs where artificial intelligence could, in theory, be applied. A visit to the GP could be superseded with inputting your symptoms into a computer, which would then use data such as your age and medical history to determine the cause of your ailments before prescribing appropriate treatment. It could happen, but nobody in their right mind would ever think it was a good idea.

Why? Because no AI programme could substitute for the role of the doctor, with their abilities to understand all the things that make us human: the non-verbal signs, the meaningful omissions and the background stories that could never be accurately represented as fields in a database.

Just as there's an art to medicine, there's an art to recruitment. It's not just about matching candidates to jobs - if that was the case the consultancy sector would have died out a long time ago. It's about being able to accurately read a given situation to see what a client really needs, even if they don't see it themselves yet. It's about being able to build relationships that allow you to carefully calibrate all stages of the recruitment process to ensure the right result for all parties.

The limitations of AI

Certainly, AI will have a role to play in our industry, particularly in temporary or lower level roles where moves between jobs are more often motivated by measurable factors such as pay, working hours and location, rather than more amorphous things like status and opportunity.

Technological advancements are a great asset to recruitment, but not a replacement. There's simply no substitute for 'pressing the flesh' and applying old-fashioned human intuition, social skills, and good sense. This is something Microsoft proved when its own foray into an AI social media account led to a number of posts supporting Donald Trump, claiming that 9/11 was an inside job and confidently telling the world that "Ricky Gervais [sic] learned totalitarianism from Adolf Hitler, the inventor of atheism". We can outsource all manner of tasks to artificial intelligence, but, as Microsoft learned, it doesn't mean we should.
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Will Sleeping with Your Dog Make Him Aggressive?

Have you ever worried that sleeping with your dog or sharing some cuddle time with your puppy is against all the training rules?

Are you one of the multitudes taught to believe that inviting your otherwise adoring, sweet, innocent dog or puppy onto your lap will turn him into Kujo?

Do you have a family member, convinced by some celebrity trainer, who fills you with guilt each time you pat the bed sheets or lift your baby up for a snuggle?

Do. This. Now! Call your dog or puppy over, lift him gently onto your lap (offering him a bone if he's nippy) and take three deep breaths. Now repeat after me: It's ok to be loving, it's ok to be loving, it's ok to be loving.

All the research and home practices by not only myself but all the top veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists (Drs. Jeff Werber, Nicholas Dodman, Marty Becker, Ian Dunbar) show that snuggling with an otherwise friendly dog or puppy will not cause aggression. As long as you're someone who also offers positive encouragements and routine care, then sitting or sleeping next to your dog or puppy while he rests, won't make him aggressive. You have my permission to do all that.

But yelling at your dog, strapping electronic collars, pinning or poking him, and then expecting him to curl up next to you peacefully might not end so well, though. Just saying.

Still puzzled by what causes some dogs to act out aggressively when resting on the sofa or bed? You're not alone. Aggressive behavior is not uncommon when people and dogs live under the same roof.

In today's blog, I'll offer you some quick tips to improve your dog's attitude while resting in privileged places. Our next blog will focus on leash aggression. I'm also happy to field any questions you may have regarding your dog's aggressive reactions: just add them to the comment section below.

First, let's be clear on what aggression is and what it isn't. Aggression is one way a dog may respond to extreme feelings of fear or frustration. Aggression is not a dog behaving badly.

Kids act out aggressively all the time; grown-ups too. The only startling difference between a child's emotional tornado and dogs is that a dog will show or use their teeth.

Consider what causes dogs and children fear or frustration.

What Kids and Dogs Fear
Being alone
Silence
Unfamiliar noises
Unpredictable people
Strange dogs acting up

What Frustrates Kids and Dogs
Being Locked away
Not getting their way
Unable to reach something
Being restrained

Studies show that dogs and children have nearly identical brain development. The emotional similarities are obvious, yet, while both kids and dogs can be conditioned to positively accept things they cannot change, without the effort they may not be able to cope.

So what does all this have to do with cuddling up with dogs? In short, loads.

When you allow your dog onto a bed or sofa, you're saying let's rest together. It's intimate and loving. If that's how you act with your dog throughout the day, he'll feel equally comfortable being near you.

But, and this is a big but, if you isolate your dog too much, if you're frustrated or react in ways that frighten him through the day, or if you don't, but other family members do, then the whole snuggle-with-me now invitation will confuse your dog.
Dogs who are yelled at, shocked or hit, can't distinguish when you're happy and when you're not. They fear anyone's head-on approach at all times, and even more so when they are elevated. If one family member handles your dog roughly, while you're kind, don't be too surprised if your dog doesn't want to make room on the sofa or growls at this individual when he comes to bed.

Dog training is elemental: if you use positive parenting skills, setting some rules, but otherwise treating them kindly, you'll have a companion that will love you unconditionally. If you're inconsistent or sharp, you dog's fear or frustration will rise, and he may mature into a dog who is moody and hard to read. Is this the dog's fault? No. It's poor parenting. Fortunately, dogs are forgiving; you can teach old dogs new tricks, but the first change must happen with you.

If you're feeling guilty and want to learn more, I'd be happy to teach you how to live happily with your dog. To get started on the road and to resolve any quirks that may have arisen during your snuggle time follow these five steps.

Step One- Learn how to limit the fear and frustration in your dog's life. Use the teaching methods outlined on my website, in my blogs and upcoming book Modern Dog Parenting to introduce your dog to games and exercises you'll use to associate words to actions!

Step Two- Help your dog associate a sound with getting a reward. The pros call this noise a secondary reinforcer. Shaking treats in a cup or bag, or using a clicker are excellent options. Next, pair the noise with your dog's name.
--Call his name as you make the sound
--then call to your dog just before you make the sound
-- gradually increase the time between calling your dog's name and making noise until you can do away with the noise altogether.
Continue to reward your puppy or dog when he listens with food, praise or play.

Step Three- Your dog will feel less threatened if you let him know you're coming close. No one likes to be startled or dragged from a deep sleep. It's not only startling; it's disrespectful.
Form a new habit: for the next two weeks, whenever anyone approaches your dog when he's resting on the furniture, have them call his name. Initially reward your dog with their favorite thing: a toy, treats or attention.

Step Four- To teach your dog that resting on furniture is a privilege, organize a play station for him nearby with a dog mat, toys, and a favorite chew. If your dog doesn't stay there, use a crate to teach or station lead affixed to something durable.

Step Five- Permission train your dog! Teach him to request permission to join you on the bed or couch. Use the direction "Sit" as the equivalent of saying please. Also teach your dog the word off. The funniest and fasted way to teach Off is to start with the Find it game. Once your dog learns, Find it as outlined in the video, attach the word "Off" to the end of the phrase "Find it-off" until he pairs "off" with the habit of jumping off. Now pair Off-matt-bone to teach your dog where to go when the couch or bed is off limits.

Say Off in a strong, happy voice
Matt in the same tone as you point to his bed
Bone as you offer your dog a positive redirection!

Of course, I cannot end this piece without a few caveats.

Housebreaking: When housetraining a new dog or puppy, crate or contain him in a small area overnight. Crates are prison cells; they're more similar to a crib. Place puppy pacifiers in their enclosure to comfort your dog as he settles in.

Aggression: If your dog's already showing aggression that's not easily resolved with the steps above, call for help. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation to a behaviorist, or check out my association, the IAABC, for a list of qualified professionals in your area.

Holy Wars: If the biggest argument in your home is whether or not to allow your dog on the furniture, don't do it. Inconsistency is both unsettling and upsetting to dogs. Solve the holy war with a compromise. Teach your dog to rest in a pre-designated bean bag or cozy dog bed that you can snuggle into when the mood strikes.

Photo Credit: Rupert Fawcett via offtheleashcartoons.com

"I've always been a big fan of having our pets sleep in bed with us--in fact, we have 5 dogs and 6 cats, and I've often said that if they made a bed larger that a California King, I'd have more!"--Jeff Werber, DVM.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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Virtual Reality Can Help Stop Old People Falling Over

Image: Anat Mirelman et al/The Lancet

Virtual reality might currently be best known for its applications in gaming and porn, but some researchers have found a more noble use for it: teaching old people not to fall over.

Researchers led by Anat Mirelman at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center found that using a combination of a treadmill and VR to train older people who were at high risk of falls was effective at keeping them on their feet. The people who had this training had 42 percent fewer falls in the six months following the training than a control group who just had treadmill training.

“Virtual reality enables us to safely train both the motor or gait aspects that are important for fall risk, while also implicitly teaching the participants to improve the cognitive functions that are important for safe ambulation,” Mirelman told me in an email. “It also has the advantage of being a game that encourages participation and compliance. Our subjects were always motivated to continue to do better, and avoid more obstacles.”

To do the study, which was funded by the European Commission and published in The Lancet, the researchers recruited around 300 people aged 60-90 who had fallen at least twice in the previous six months. About half got six weeks of training on a treadmill, while the other half got training on a treadmill with a “non-immersive” VR component—a screen in front of the treadmill showing a simulated environment with paths and obstacles, with the subject's feet included via a modified Kinect camera.

Here's a video of a participant in the VR group in the first week of training:

And here's the same participant in the last week of training:

Mirelman explained that they didn't want to use immersive VR tech such as a headset because of the risk of cyber-sickness in the older population, and because the whole point was to teach people how to walk safely in reality. “With immersive systems, specifically headsets, it is quite difficult to walk without the feedback of the real world,” she said.

While this study was done one-on-one with the participants, the researchers hope that the training could be replicated in clinical practice. “The study showed that this type of training is effective and we think it can be administered in community gyms and rehabilitation clinics,” said Mirelman.

She added that they were surprised by the adherence and motivation of the participants, which suggests that people might be willing to take it up. Call it gamification of elderly care.

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r0B0t: I Love Dick

When Amazon first started making original series, it had a gimmick: The internet's very own big-box store would put the first episodes of potential series online so viewers could vote on which ones would become full-fledged series. The gambit made the obligatory tech-company gestures at transparency and disruption, but it also reflected the paucity of Amazon's initial series, a batch of pilots that, excepting Alpha House, barely looked professional. When a network is making such larkish TV, it hardly matters what goes and what doesn't. In the few years since, as Amazon has gotten more serious about making television, it has continued to put pilots online early, but viewer response is barely relevant: The network is going to greenlight what it is going to greenlight, apparently having discovered that disrupting the television business sometimes involves doing things the old way.

Earlier this summer, Amazon released pilots for two hourlong series: The Interestings (flawed, but promising; not yet picked up) and The Last Tycoon (very bad; picked up). This week, it is releasing pilots for three half-hour series: Jean-Claude Van Johnson, The Tick, and Jill Soloway's I Love Dick, the headlining act of this trio. Liberally adapted from a beloved cult novel by Chris Kraus, I Love Dick stars Kathryn Hahn as Chris, a stymied filmmaker who travels with her husband Sylvère (Griffin Dunne) to Marfa, Texas—where she, and then they, become infatuated with Dick (Kevin Bacon, smoldering), a macho intellectual and part-time cowboy who runs an institute Sylvère is attending. I Love Dick has potential, but it doesn't need it: Soloway, the creator of Transparent, is Amazon's most important creative asset. If you are a network, you give her what she wants, including another show.

Soloway told New York magazine, in a piece about the show, that she identified with Kraus' choice to use her own name and biography in her work. “I only want to write about somewhat unlikable Jewish women having really inappropriate ideas about life and sex,” Soloway said. I Love Dick delivers on those interests. The pilot reflects many of Soloway's strengths—her naturalistic skill with actors, her ability to capture bourgeois social milieus with a detail (in this case, fluorescent-yellow Birkenstocks), her dedication to exploring gender politics in ways that don't turn her shows into lectures—but it doesn't have the instantaneous hook or heart of Transparent.

I Love Dick, the novel, is epistolary. I Love Dick, the show, is framed by letters Chris has written to Dick. “Dear Dick, every letter is a love letter. It started in New York,” Hahn says in harried voiceover at the start of the show as the block text dramatically appears on an all-red screen. But turning the novel into a TV show takes it out of Kraus' character's head in a way that alters the texture and tone, losing some of the hothouse intensity of the novel. Television does a great close third-person, but it is very hard, if not impossible, for it do first-person, even when using first-person narration. (Recently, Mr. Robot has made some attempts.) With TV, you're always watching from the outside. The world that Chris and Sylvère inhabit in the show automatically feels bigger, more populated, and more concrete than their world in the novel, simply because you can see all the people in the shot that the writing might have ignored. The pilot also introduces characters who are not in the book at all. Also not in the book: Marfa. Soloway decided to set the show there after visiting her girlfriend, the poet Eileen Myles, there, and deciding it would be a good cross-cultural canvas to help broaden the novel's scope.

There are people who have a hard time watching Transparent because they find the Pfeffermans too excruciating. On Transparent, Hahn's Rabbi Raquel, the on-again, off-again love interest of Josh Pfefferman (Jay Duplass), works like aspirin: Raquel is so grounded, so sane that she lessens the pain of watching the Pfeffermans mess up their lives. In I Love Dick, Hahn, fantastic in everything she does, gets to play the headache. Her Chris has a big, blowsy personality: caustic, dramatic, and self-sabotaging. But she has that Pfefferman-esque charisma. When she spots Dick at a party—Kevin Bacon wears a white T-shirt as well as he did in Footloose—and expresses her attraction by jabbering about how remarkable it is that he goes by “Dick” and not Richard or Rick or Richie, her allure is nonetheless plain to see.

In the show's climactic scene, dinner at a restaurant, Dick asks Chris what her movie is about. “It's about a couple, or I would say the woman in the couple, she represents all women, and society's crushing expectations,” she says. “Sounds horrible. Sounds like you're crushed by someone,” Dick replies, before turning to Sylvère and asking if Chris' film is any good. The great thing about Soloway's work is that she herself is both Dick and Chris, a woman interested in society's crushing expectations of women but also talented and funny and wise enough to know you need character and plot and entertainment and complications to tell that story—that you need people, not symbols. You need a blowsy New Yorker who rolls into Marfa in a jumpsuit and neon Birkenstocks with her own unhinged plans about what to do with a lustworthy macho intellectual cowboy named Dick.

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But 'pioneering paper' also contains some contradictory data, says prof

Le Petit Prince by Oleh Slobodeniuk

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