Download This Free Tool to See If the Government's Spying on You

 

It's been over a year-and-a-half since documents leaked by Edward Snowden shook our sense of privacy to the core. Those documents proved that government is spying on us pretty much all the time. And now that we know Congress isn't going to do anything about it right away, it's time to find the tools to protect yourself. Detekt is a good one.

The free, open source (PC-only) software is designed to spot malware infection caused by surveillance. Developed by security researcher Claudio Guarnieri, Detekt has the support of Amnesty International, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Privacy International. So it's not just some trick to scare you into buying security software. Detekt is here to help you protect yourself from the government's prying eyes—not to mention anybody else that's trying to spy on you.

Specifically, the project's website says, "Detekt is a free tool that scans your Windows computer for traces of known surveillance spyware used to target and monitor human rights defenders and journalists around the world."

It's worth pointing out that Detekt does not claim to be a catch-all solution. The EFF's Eva Galperin explains, "Because Detekt is a best-effort tool and spyware companies make frequent changes to their software to avoid detection, users should keep in mind that Detekt cannot conclusively guarantee that your computer is not compromised by the spyware it aims to detect." However, that should not stop you from downloading Detekt and scanning your PC. After all, it's free! [Detekt via EFF]

10 Places You Can Own an Island (Even if You’re Not Larry Ellison)

In 2012, Larry Ellison, the co-founder and chairman of Oracle Corporation, paid a lavish sum of 300 million U.S. dollars to own 97 percent of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
It’s hardly surprising for a man of extravagance and opulence such as Larry Ellison, who is currently the fifth-wealthiest person in the world, to spend such huge sums to own private islands. He’s just another in the long list of millionaires and billionaires of the world who own private islands, even some whose assets may not be as massive as that of Ellison.
Are private islands the privilege of mega rich people only? It might seem so, taking into account the stories of private island purchases of Ellison and other elites.
But, as it turns out, that’s not the case.
There are plenty of average Joes out there who own island lots or even entire islands in some of the most beautiful and exotic places in the world. Affordable island property can be hard to find, but companies like Viva Tropical are now helping even not-so-rich people locate and purchase private islands of their own.
Below are ten such places where you can buy bonafide island property at prices to fit any budget.

1. Bird Island, Florida

The Bird Island of Florida is a located on the Harris Chain of Lakes, just east of Lady Lake and a short trip to the Villages. It is 50 acres and offers stunning views of Lake Griffin. With its pristine surroundings, it’s a great place to relax and gaze at what nature has to offer. It also offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy water sports. Fishing tournaments are held every year on this Harris Chain of Lakes. The price of this island is $250,000 USD, a significant downsize from what Larry Ellison paid for Lanai.

2. Boca Chica Island, Panama

There are few places in the world where you can truly have it all. Boca Chica Island, Panama is one of them. With all of its 11 acres in an untouched natural state, this beautiful Central American Island offers great opportunities for fishing, beautifully diverse flora and fauna, and the finest views of the Pacific and the surrounding islands. It’s also primed for a big boom, given the recent infrastructure improvements in Panama’s Chiriqui province, which include an expansion of the nearby international airport. It’s priced at $1.5 million, making it quite affordable private island and is available via VivaTropical.com.

3. Roatan, Honduras

The rather affordable private island of Roatan is located off the coast of Honduras and is the largest of the country’s Bay Islands. It offers access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the hemisphere’s largest, as well as plenty of attractions that lure tourists from all over the world, many via cruise ship. With plenty of amenities and modern conveniences, the island has been growing in popularity in recent years. However, it still offers a number of varied options for those wanting to purchase property, so interested buyers should be able to find something within their price range.

4. Hastholmen, Sweden

Hastholmen is a beautiful private island located near the town of Dalom, in the in the Västernorrlands län region of Sweden. This private island consists of two cottages, a sauna, a boathouse, bathing spots and sundecks by the water. With plenty to see and do from morning to evening, the island offers Swedish wilderness at its finest, with forests, fishing ponds and pastures nearby. The island comes at the price of $309,000.

5. Piacabucu Islands, Brazil

The Piacabucu Islands are the group of six river islands in the northeastern part of Brazil, lying on Brazil’s fourth longest river, the Sao Francisco. Of great national importance and known as the river of integration, the Sao Francisco River unites much of Brazil. All the islands in the group provide splendid views of the river and are home to a large number of fruit trees. This group of islands encompasses 81.58 acres and is priced at $81.971 USD, which makes it quite affordable private island for many.

6. Lyons Island, Ontario

Lyons Island is a picturesque lake island in Ontario, Canada that would make a beautiful place to call home. Lying only about 2 hours’ drive from Toronto, the island’s size is 1.5 acre. It’s located in Prince Edward County, on East Lake, just a few minutes from Sandbanks National Park. It has been developed with its own 3-bedroom cottage. The island’s shoreline is child friendly and the island offers plenty of space and scenery for campfires and fishing. At $339,357 CAD, it’s a deal you won’t regret, since it could also serve as a potential source of income as a seasonal rental.

7. Mavuva Island, Fiji

Mavuva Island is 42 acres of rather affordable private island, situated 3 km off the sunny northern coast of Vanua Levu in Fiji. The island lies almost entirely within a protected coral lagoon and can be reached via a 10-minute boat ride from Vanua Levu. It offers some of the finest boating conditions and finest weather in all of Fiji. The lots on this South Pacific island are suitable for building holiday homes and can be purchased for as little as $125,000 USD.

8. Hemlow Island, Nova Scotia

Hemlow Island lies in the Nova Scotia region of Canada and features sand beaches, beautiful views of the water, and excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, and diving. The island is 54 acres in entirety at 2 km long and 1.5 km wide. The island is around a 2 hours’ drive from Halifax Stanfield International Airport and 10 minutes away from the historic village of Sherbrooke. Liscombe Lodge Resort, which is famous for its planked salmon and beautiful harbor, are also very near to this island. Lots start at just $29,500 CAD.

9. Kastawei Island, Vanuatu

Kastawei Island is a picturesque tropical island located in Vanuatu, a small country in the South Pacific. It’s one of the cheapest destinations in the world for everything it has to offer. Less than an acre in size at 0.83 acres, the island has natural bay perfect for boating. It’s surrounded by white and primeval reef and is a perfect place for building dream island home in the Pacific. A great place for fishing, diving and swimming, the island is priced at $199,000 USD.

10. Alligator Caye, Belize

Alligator Caye is 10.7 acres of waterfront land, with 700 feet of beachfront, off the Belize coast and marginally north of the town of Dangriga. Approximately 40 minutes by boat from Belize City, this exotic island is located between the Bluefield Range Cayes. The Belize Barrier Reef, which is the second largest reef in the world, lies just a few yards offshore. This completely undeveloped island is a great place for fishing and has been designated as World Heritage Site because of its ecological importance. The price for this quite affordable private island is a reasonable $99,000 USD.
So, before you hang up your dream of owning island property, check out one of these reasonable and affordable private island options. You don’t need a billion dollars in the bank to make your dreams a reality.
Featured photo credit: Orpheus Island/Privateislandnews.com via privateislandnews.com

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It’s Time To Change Your Lifestyle: Here’s What Alcohol Does To Your Weight

Alcohol is a great way to unwind after a hectic week. But those late night drinks can add up, especially if you are are a heavy drinker. If you’ve been experiencing weight gain lately, it may not be due to stress. Instead, it could be due to those drinks you’ve been having.
I’m not just talking about shots and beer. Wines, although considered to be healthier, hold a staggering amount of calories per drink. An average wine drinker takes in the same amount of calories as 141 ice cream cones every year. So when it comes to relieving stress, would you rather eat ice cream or drink wine?
If you have to drink, there are ways to choose beverages that are not too heavy on the body. Such drinks contain less sugar and aren’t blended. They also make use of fresh fruits and club soda.
Alcohol and Weight Gain [infographic] | Daily Infographic

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Thrilling News - 'We are all Ayotzinapa': Mass student kidnapping sparks outrage in Mexico

Protests surrounding the disappearance of 43 students from a rural teaching college in Mexico have raged on for weeks with no signs of slowing.
Originally centered in Mexico's southern state of Guerrero, the demonstrations have now expanded nationwide, including a march last week in which thousands of protesters stormed the main square in Mexico City and set fire to the door of the National Palace. A national strike is planned for Thursday, Nov. 20, and thousands are expected to participate.
Kidnappings and violence in Mexico are not new — according to an Amnesty International report, more than 26,000 people disappeared in the country between Dec. 2006 and Dec. 2012 in addition to the 65,000 who died in violence related to the drug war in that time.





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This time it's different. The gruesome details of the forced disappearance and murder of poor, unarmed students has shocked a nation desensitized to violence and renewed calls for a revolution. Here is a timeline of events leading up to the current uprising.

Sept. 26: The disappearance

The unrest began with a demonstration involving around 100 students from Raúl Isidro Burgos Ayotzinapa Normal School in Iguala, Mexico.
The students allegedly took over several local buses and were heading into town where Iguala Mayor José Luis Abarca and his wife María Pineda de los Ángeles were throwing a dinner party.

In this May 8, 2014 photo, the mayor of the city of Iguala, Jose Luis Abarca (Right) and his wife meet with Mexico government officials. Abarca is a suspect in the case of the missing students..

Fearing the students' protests would interrupt their event, the couple ordered police to stop them. "Teach them a lesson," Pineda allegedly told the police.
Police then opened fire on the buses, killing six people and injuring more than a dozen. According to a state investigation, the 43 missing students were then rounded up and taken away in cargo trucks. This was the last time they were seen alive. At some point, the students were handed over to the Guerreros Unidos drug gang, investigators say.
One of the students, Julio César Mondragón Fuentes, was found nearby the next day with his face peeled off and eyeballs removed, a move that suggested cartels were responsible. Gruesome photos of the corpse were posted on social media as anger grew.

Sept. 28: Iguala police arrested, federal forces take charge

State officials arrested 22 city officers for their involvement in the kidnapping of the missing students.

President Enrique Pena Nieto ordered federal police to take control of the city as he opened an investigation into the incidents. The mayor and his wife are suspects in the case, but still missing at this point.

Oct. 4: Mass graves discovered

The remains of at least 28 people originally thought to be the missing students were removed from mass graves on the outskirts of Iguala.

Clandestine graves are seen in Iguala, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Four more grave sites have been found since then 

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DNA testing ultimately proved the bodies were not those of the missing students, igniting hope that they might still be found alive.
At least 19 mass graves have been discovered in the area since the search for the students began, underscoring the height of violence in the region leading up to their disappearance. Locals who lived nearby the mass graves said the area was a well-known dumping ground for corpses of those killed by drug cartels.

Oct. 13: Protesters burn government buildings in Chilpancingo

Students and teachers from the Normal school took over several government buildings in Chilpancingo, holding employees hostage inside for hours before evacuating the building and lighting it on fire.

News For Indians - OnePlus will offer Indian users full warranty for their Ones

Many users in India have bought the OnePlus One via unofficial means or through resellers meaning that their phones don’t have official warranty with OnePlus.




But the maker has been gracious enough to cover all those users if their phones were bought from OnePlus.net – the global variant of the device.
The Chinese One doesn’t get the warranty coverage as it differs from the global one so if you’ve got the former you’re out of luck should your device need servicing.
The move to cover its Indian users is a very serious hint that the maker will soon officially start to sell its sole smartphone in the local market, which is very eager to have it.
OnePlus recently hired a General Manager in India and is moving closer to a launch there.

Home Stephen Collins -- NYPD Looking For More Sexual Molestation Victims

Stephen Collins is NOT in the clear in the child molestation case -- not by a long shot -- because we've learned the NYPD is on the hunt for fresh victims.

TMZ broke the story ... the NYPD was investigating at least 3 cases of alleged molestation or indecent exposure, but all 3 case are so old authorities believe the statute of limitations have run.

But sources tell TMZ ... 2 NYPD detectives flew from New York to Seattle to interview the woman whom Collins admits on tape to molesting when she was 10.

Cops were not interested in probing the woman's story any further, but they were intensely interested in finding out if other, more recent alleged victims might have come forward.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... they don't want to close a case where the suspect admitted he's a child molester. So the NYPD is aggressively pursuing leads and has no plans to shelve the case.

See also

• Stephen Collins -- Cops Looking to Find 3rd Sexual Abuse Victim
• Stephen Collins ... Woman Tells Cops ... He Dropped His Towel and Molested Her
• Stephen Collins -- L.A. County Sheriff Investigates Sex Crime ... Victim Comes Forward

Fact - Why We Use "X" as the Unknown in Math

 

For hundreds of years, x has been the go-to symbol for the unknown quantity in mathematical equations. So who started this practice?

Algebra was born in the Middle East, during the Golden Age of medieval Islamic civilization (750 to 1258 AD), and its early form can be seen in the work of Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi and his 9th century book, Kitab al-jabr wal-muqabala (al-jabr later morphing into algebra in English). During this heyday, Muslim rule and culture had expanded onto the Iberian Peninsula, where the Moors encouraged scholarship in the sciences and math.

So what does this have to do with the letter "x" in math? In a recent TED talk, the director of The Radius Foundation, Terry Moore, posited that the the use of "x" in this way began with the inability of Spanish scholars to translate certain Arabic sounds, including the letter sheen (or shin). According to Moore, the word for "unknown thing" in Arabic is al-shalan, and it appeared many times in early mathematical works. (For example, you might see "three unknown things equals 15," with the "unknown thing" then being 5.)

But since Spanish scholars had no corresponding sound for "sh," they went with the "ck" sound, which in classical Greek is written with the chi symbol, X. Moore theorizes, as many others before him have done, that when this was later translated into Latin, the chi (X) was replaced with the more common Latin x. This is similar to how Xmas, meaning Christmas, came about from the common practice of religious scholars using the Greek letter chi (X) as a shorthand for "Christ."

The principle problem with Moore's explanation is that there is no direct documented evidence to support it. More speculatively, people translating the works would not care about phonetics, but the meaning of the words. So whether they had a "sh" or not one would think would be irrelevant. Despite the lack of direct evidence and flaws in the argument, it nonetheless remains a very popular origin theory, even among many academics. (Do a quick Google search and you'll find many a PhD in mathematics parroting this theory.)

The 1909-1916 edition of Webster's Dictionary, among others, also puts forth a similar theory, although stating that the Arabic word for the singular "thing," "shei," was translated into the Greek "xei," and later shortened to x. Dr. Ali Khounsary also notes that the Greek word for unknown, xenos, also begins with x, and the convention could simply have been born of an abbreviation. But here, again, we have a lack of any direct documented evidence to support these theories.

As for a documented theory, we turn to the great philosopher and mathematician, René Descartes (1596-1650). It's entirely possible Descartes did not come up with the practice of using "x" for an unknown, perhaps borrowing it from someone else, but at least as far as documented evidence that has survived to today goes, he seems to be the creator of the practice, as noted by the OED and the phenomenal work by Florian Cajori, A History of Mathematical Notations (1929). At the least, Descartes' helped popularize the practice.

Specifically, in his landmark work, La Géométrie (1637), Descartes solidified the movement to symbolic notation by instituting the convention of using the lowercase letters at the beginning of the alphabet for known quantities (e.g., a, b and c) and using those at the end of the alphabet for unknown quantities (e.g., z, y and x).

Why? And why x more than y, and z for unknowns? Nobody knows. It has been speculated that the prominence of x being used more than y and z for unknowns in this work had to do with typesetting; one story goes that it was Descartes' printer who suggested x be the principle unknown in La Géométrie because it was the letter least used and so the one he had more letter blocks available to use. Whether this is true or not, Descartes used the x to be an unknown at least as early as 1629 in various manuscripts, well before La Géométrie. And, indeed, it would seem he had not come to any hard rules on x, y, and z indicating unknowns; in some manuscripts from this time, he actually used x, y, and z to represent known quantities, casting even further doubt on the supposed "unknown thing" translation theories listed above.

So, in the end, by all appearances, Descartes simply arbitrarily chose the letters to represent different things in his works as was convenient and it just so happened in his landmark work, La Géométrie, he decided the specific variable nomenclature, perhaps, on a whim.

Whatever the case, as with Descartes' notation for powers (x³), after the publication of La Géométrie, the use of x as a principle unknown (as well as the more general tradition of a, b, c = knowns and x, y, z = unknowns) gradually caught on. And the rest, as they say, is mathematical history.

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:

• Where the Ampersand Symbol and Name Came From
• Where the Dollar Sign Comes From
• How "XOXO" Came to Mean "Hugs and Kisses"
• Did Newton Really Have an Apple Fall on His Head, Inspiring Him to Come Up with His Theory on Gravity?
• The Origin of the Hashtag Symbol

Bonus Facts:

• The equal sign ("=") was invented in 1557 by Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde, who was fed up with writing "is equal to" in his equations. He chose the two lines because "no two things can be more equal."
• Other early symbols used to represent unknowns in mathematics before Descartes' landmark work include Benedetto of Florence's 1463 Trattato di praticha d'arismetrica where he uses the Greek letter rho; Michael Stifel's 1544 Arithmetic integra where he uses q (for quantita) as well as A, B, C, D, and F; Francois Vieta's late 16th century nomenclature where vowels are used as unknowns and consonants are used as constants, among others. (Incidentally, if you're curious: What Makes a Vowel a Vowel and a Consonant a Consonant?)
• In modern English, x is the third least used letter, occurring in only about 0.15% of all words. The least used letters are q and z.
• The word "algorithm" comes from none other than al-Khwarizmi's name. If you distort the name slightly when you say it, you'll get the connection.
• The mathematical volume of a pizza is pizza. How does that work you say? Well if z = radius of the pizza and a = the height then Π * radius² * height = Pi * z * z * a = Pizza.
• As mentioned, La Géométrie was a ground-breaking work. In it, Descartes introduced the idea that eventually became known as Cartesian coordinates; this included the ideas of two perpendicular lines called axes, naming the horizontal one x and the vertical axis y, and also designating the point of intersection as the origin. Descartes is also credited with one of the most famous lines in all of Western thought – Cognito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am.)
• That said, while Descartes is famous for the notion of "I think, therefore I am," he was not the first to express such an idea. For instance, Aristotle said something similar in Nicomachean Ethics, "But if life itself is good and pleasant… and if one who sees is conscious that he sees, one who hears that he hears, one who walks that he walks and similarly for all the other human activities there is a faculty that is conscious of their exercise, so that whenever we perceive, we are conscious that we perceive, and whenever we think, we are conscious that we think, and to be conscious that we are perceiving or thinking is to be conscious that we exist…" Of course, "I think, therefore I am" is a lot more succinct.
• Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi was one of the first directors of the House of Wisdom in Bagdad. Having supervised the translations of important Indian and Greek mathematical and astronomical works, Al-Khwarizmi became an advocate for the adoption of the Indian numeric system (1-9 plus 0) and is the father of algebra. With the publication of The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, Al-Khwarizmi introduced using abstract analysis in problem solving (although with words, rather than symbolic notation). He also introduced the algebraic method of reducing (rewriting the expression to ever simpler, but equivalent, forms), as well as that of balancing (doing the same things to each side of the equation – again to make it simpler).
• The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assesses the competencies of 15-year-olds in 65 countries and economies, including in math. For 2012, the country/economy with the highest scores in math was Shanghai-China, which was closely followed by Singapore, Hong Kong-China, Chinese Taipei and Korea. Notably, Canada ranked 13th, Australia 19th, Ireland 20th and the United Kingdom 26th. The United States' kids ranked 36th. In fact, according to PISA, the performance of one of our highest-scoring states, Massachusetts, was so low, it was as if those students had two fewer years of mathematical education than the students in Shanghai-China. PISA also noted that although the U.S. spends more per student than most countries, this doesn't translate into performance. In 2012, per-student spending in the U.S. was listed at $115,000, while in the Slovak Republic, a country that performed at the same level, they spend only $53,000 per student.
• It should be noted of the PISA's results, though, that they are drastically over simplified. For instance, as noted in a report by Dr. Martin Carnoy of Stanford and Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute, American students actually perform better than the much higher ranked Finland in algebra in general, but worse in fractions. Further, when you normalize the results between the countries adjusting for the relative poverty of the students taking the PISA tests, the U.S performs significantly better, ranking 6th in reading and 13th in mathematics, a huge jump in both categories. They further note in their report What Do International Tests Really Show About U.S. Student Performance? that when you divide the kids based on family wealth, the actual gap in performance isn't so stark between countries, with a not insignificant portion of the ultimate ranking of each nation being based on how many impoverished vs. middle class vs. wealthy students are taking the tests. For reference, about 40% of the schools the PISA used in the U.S.'s sample had more than 50% of their students eligible for free lunch.
• Despite their results being oversimplified, the PISA identified several weaknesses in American students' math skills and these included developing a mathematical model to solve a real-world problem and reasoning with geometry. PISA noted that were the Common Core Standards successfully implemented in the U.S., it should yield significant performance improvement.
• The Common Core Standards seek to focus mathematics education on developing conceptual understanding of key math ideas, as well as mastering basic math skills. To date, Common Core standards have been adopted by 43 states. An important thing to note, however, is that although the states have adopted these standards, each is free to choose the curriculum it implements. Some have chosen a curriculum that is unrecognizable to many parents, who are now frustrated and identify this as a problem with the Common Core, when in fact Common Core is just a list of competencies kids should know by the end of each school year, not how they should learn these concepts. As for implementations, one math curriculum under fire is Everyday Math, developed by The University of Chicago. With methods previously not seen by many American parents (lattice multiplication anyone?), the new curriculum has some pulling their hair out. As one mom said, "I hate the Common Core . . . .I can't help my kid with his homework and I don't understand the new methods at all." But, again, this particular complaint in truth has nothing to do with Common Core, but with Everyday Math.
• With that said, here's a relevant video (particularly from about the 3 minute 10 second mark on) from Henry Reich at MinutePhysics on The Order of Operations. If you've made it this far in this article, I imagine you'll find this video quite interesting from start to finish:

Google donates millions to fight Ebola, launches 'public giving' campaign

 

Google is launching a campaign to fight the spread of Ebola. For every dollar donated, Google will put up $2, the company announced on Monday.
Google has already donated $10 million to regions most heavily impacted by the disease, which has plagued the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Meanwhile, founder Larry Page's family foundation is donating $15 million to the cause, bringing the grand total to $25 million.
The campaign will match donations until an additional $7.5 million is raised.
Google said it will cover all processing fees to ensure that 100% of donated money goes directly to fight Ebola via organizations such as InSTEDD, International Rescue Committee, Medecins Sans Frontieres, NetHope, Partners in Health, Save the Children and U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
"These organizations are doing remarkable work in very difficult circumstances to help contain this outbreak, and we hope our contribution will help them have an even greater impact," Page said in a blog post.
Google joins Facebook as a major company pouring efforts into Ebola relief. Last week, Facebook added a temporary donation button to the top of its News Feed.
On top of that, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan donated $25 million to Ebola relief efforts. In October, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen pledged $100 million to fight the disease.
On Monday, NBC News launched a story series in partnership with Facebook to tell 24 stories over 24 hours about people who have been impacted by the disease. The stories will be posted online and air on programs like NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams.
Like Facebook, Google has spearheaded public donation campaigns in the past. In 2010, the company encouraged its users to help fund relief following a massive earthquake in Haiti.

News - FIFA rules out 2018, 2022 World Cup re-votes

Paris (AFP) - A re-vote into the controversial awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was ruled out on Wednesday despite widespread suspicions of multi-million dollar corruption.
An exhaustive report by the ethics committee of world governing body FIFA admitted that even though there had been a series of worrying episodes in the bidding for the tournament, as well as the 2018 World Cup in Russia, there was not enough evidence to justify reopening the process.
"The report identified certain occurrences that were suited to impair the integrity of the 2018/2022 World Cups bidding process," said the 42-page report released by Hans Joachim Eckert, the chairman of the committee's adjudicatory chamber.
"While the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber fully concurs with the relevant findings, the occurrences at issue were, in the chairman’s assessment, only of very limited scope.
"In particular, the effects of these occurrences on the bidding process as a whole were far from reaching any threshold that would require returning to the bidding process, let alone reopening it.
"The assessment of the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cups bidding process is therefore closed for the FIFA ethics committee."

c. 1910-1920 Fashion at the Parisian races (Pictures)

 

 

The Longchamp racecourse is situated in the Bois de Boulogne on the banks of the Seine River, in Paris, France. The first Longchamp race meeting was held in 1857.
With the first real fashion shows organized in the 1910s, the new century hailed Paris as the fashion capital of the world. And couturiers routinely sent models wearing their latest designs to the racecourse.

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 As women were enjoying more social freedom, corsets — metaphorically and literally restricting — were changing in function from shaping the body to supporting it. And following the 1910 performance of "Scheherazade" by the Ballets Russes in Paris, a fashion mania for oriental styles was born.

 

 

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Women in hobble skirts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designs became asymmetrical. Preferred fabrics were satin, taffeta, chiffon and lightweight silks and cottons for the summer. Hemlines gradually rose and the female silhouette became straighter and flatter.
The Art Nouveau movement influenced designers such as Paul Poiret, Jeanne Paquin, Jacques Doucet and Mariano Fortuny, who created loose and flowing styles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Images: Agence Rol/Gallica via Europeana ..