Remote region gets broadband internet against all odds
A small community in the Province of Turin has set up the first non-profit, independent internet provider in Italy.
A professor and his team have built a wireless internet network for their village, at a reduced cost - all to prove a point.
Take a look at the beautiful, rugged countryside of Verrua Savoia and you probably won't be surprised to learn that it's hard to get internet around here.
But high up, overlooking the valley below, an engineer is busy installing an internet antenna.
This is all thanks to Daniele Trinchero, electronics professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin, and his team of students.
As part of an experiment - started in 2006, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University in Turin - they built a wireless internet network for their village, using reconditioned parts.
The project was funded jointly by the two universities.
We wanted to demonstrate that it was possible to bring telecommunication services even at reduced costs simply by having a bit of good will and by using a bit of creativity, says Trinchero.
That was our main goal: showing that you can bring the internet where it is needed even when spending very little.
A student in one of the university's labs demonstrates how they built the first radio transmitter they used.
This is the computer, we added a radio card, you place it here and attach the 'pig tail', the antenna, that's it - it's finished, he says.
Five installations for less than 1,000 euros (1,185 US dollars) each were put in place across the town's hilltops to offer free internet to residents who wanted it.
But as the experiment neared its end on 31 December 2014, the villagers of Verrua Savoia took it upon themselves to keep their precious internet connection alive.
Trinchero has helped the citizens of Verrua Savoia create their own non-profit association called wireless without borders.
The association is the first in Italy to be considered an independent internet provider.
Each member must pay a yearly fee of 50 euros (50 US Dollars), which began on 1 January 2015.
The fee includes a 15-20 megabyte internet connection as well as classes for those who have never used the web - but essentially, Trinchero says, the internet connection itself is free.
Engineer, Enrico Guariso says he has installed many of the connections.
But many people were able to take care of the installations on their own, he adds.
When the experiment began in 2006, not everyone subscribed, but as time went on almost everyone has given it a try, explains Professor Trinchero.
He says that 300 households are now signed up - out of 650 families living in Verrua Savoia.
Trinchero, who is the president of the association, says about 10 people a day call him to ask about the service.
The association is managed by five administrators, including the president. Their tasks range from technical director, to customer services.
We registered (the association) as an Internet Service Provider. It's the first association registered in Italy as a communications operator, Trinchero says.
Our intention is to maintain what we have created with the Polytechnic University over the past four years: give out the internet for free to all members of the association across the entire city.
The connection in Verrua Savoia has changed many people's everyday life.
At Verrua Savoia's elementary school a boy presses brightly coloured buttons on a multimedia board at the front of the classroom.
He and his classmates are now able to play online educational games and use satellite maps when studying geography.
The experiment has forced me to learn new things. And just like them, I have become very fond of the system while learning a lot, says Cristina Cavanna who teaches at the school.
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18th Century Badman (Roadman Parody)
Brought to you by Jake Wardle at A parody video I made during an 18th century battlefield re-enactment event. In this parody I combine the standard British soldier from the later part of the 18th century with a Mandem (now commonly referred to as a roadman) from the early 21st century street culture found in some parts of the UK today. I thought such a combination would make for a funny, interesting and absurd parody.
If you are not from the UK you may have never heard of this street sub-culture we have, let alone be able to understand it (further down I have included a translation of the slang words I used). It mainly exists in the poorer, rough ghetto areas of major English cities. The particular variant I did in this video is the London variant (as I am from London myself and grew up in an area where many youth speak this way) I do not however speak this way myself in my normal speech (some of you who know me and have seen my other videos already know this) but I am able to do an accurate imitation due to going to school and sixth form college where many spoke this way.
The official academic name for this accent and dialect is 'London Multicultural English'
To give you an idea of all of this, here is an example of the type of Mandems/roadmen that I am imitating in this video. Here is a scene from the film 'Kidulthood' which is a drama about the street culture:
And here is another (funny) example, a scene from an actual parody film of the street culture called 'Anuvahood':
Anyway, now for the translation off the slang... Street or mandem/roadman slang is a combination of mostly Jamaican patois, ghetto American and some words that seem to be unique to UK street culture. However, the accent and dialect as a whole is predominately Jamaican (due to many Jamaicans settling in the UK) which is why in my previous accent videos I had labeled it as Jamaican influenced it is not to be confused with an actual Jamaican accent though. Anyway here is the slang:
Badman: tough/gangster/man who commits bad deeds and gets street cred for them
Wagwan: a typical Jamaican greeting equivalent to whats going on? or whats up?
Mandem/mandems: used to describe a male or group of males in the street culture
Galdem/galdems: same meaning as mandem but for females instead
Man/Manz: I, you or them
Dun kno: Done already known used as a conformation of something, exitment/celebration or to gloat
Blud/fam/cuz: man, dude, homie, mate, friend or foe etc
Garmz: garments (clothing)
Creps: trainers/shoes
Reppin: representing
Endz: area/territory/ghetto
Brap: a kind of imitation of a gun shot that is used an expression of excitement or celebration
Gat/gats: gun
Screwfacing/screwface: pulling an angry or disapproving/disgusted/distasteful expression on your face
Vexed: angry/mad/really annoyed etc
Innit: isn't it
Par/parred: an insult, or misfortunate event that has happened to someone
Ting: thing
Wifey: girlfriend/serious lover
Buff/peng: sexy (male of female)
Back off: sexy bum
Bare: really, very, lots of, large quantity or size etc
Jheeze: wow
Pussyhole: an insult that pretty much usually means what it what its says on the tin. It is used in the same way as just calling someone a pussy.
Shank: a knife or sharp object used for stabbing (noun) or simply to stab (verb) originated in American prisons to describe and improvised sharp melee weapon
Jook: a verb meaning to stab
Sket: slut, whore, bitch, overly promiscuous woman
Sick: very good or cool
Spit barz: rap/rhyme
Beef: fight/fighting
Butterz: an alternative way of saying butt ugly used to describe someone or something ugly or disgusting
*kmt*: kiss my teeth, a mtchew kind of sound produced by doing just that, used to display a distasteful attitude towards something or someone.
You can also find more detailed translations on the Urban dictionary website:
Also here is some of the 18th century military terminology I used:
Make ready: cock your musket (ready to fire)
Present: point/aim
Shoulder firelocks: place your musket against your shoulder supporting it from the bottom with your palm
Huzzah: British battle cry from the 18th and 19th centuries
Finally I would like to say a special thanks to the 'Redcoats and Rebels' re-enactment group that I have the privilege of being a part of.
Also if you like shooting videos, my fellow redcoat cameraman 'K Fish' has a YouTube channel full of them. Check him out on YouTube (he has lots of videos firing both historical and modern guns alike)
As stated in the video, the music I used was:
Barry Lyndon - British Grenadiers (fife and drum)
Strictly Beats Series - Hood Riddims
Thanks for watching!
JayP's Gravel Pursuit 2016
Gravel Pursuit is a gravel cycling race (60 or 120 miles) hosted by Jay Petervary in late September near West Yellowstone: gravelpursuit.com
Everything about the ride is epic. It takes place in one of the most scenic places in the world. It is very hard. It is a definite bucket list ride for any gravel cyclist.
Soundtrack: The Life and Death of a Certain K. Zabriskie, Patriarch by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Source:
Artist:
Police Helicopter over Rave
Police tools / toys, deployed against a Free Party in North Nottinghamshire woods Alternative Lifestyle Free Festival Travellers Party Sound System Events Rave .
middle of the desert.lancaster, CA.
The morning after (around 10am)
Crescentino Rave party 15/06/2013 Police in helicopter.