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1. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogicdvohra21 Apr 26, 2010 8:13 PM (in response to paata_lom)Hibernate and entity ejb are both database persistence technologies. Use either of the two.
2. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogicpaata_lom Apr 27, 2010 7:30 AM (in response to dvohra21)Hi dvohra16
I think you didn't understand what i need.
For using hibernate as a persistence layer, i changed my persistence.xml like this:
When my application going to deploy i got an error :
<persistence-unit name="reviewService" transaction-type="JTA"> <provider>org.hibernate.ejb.HibernatePersistence</provider> <jta-data-source>java:/TestOracle151JNDI</jta-data-source> <properties> <property name="hibernate.transaction.manager_lookup_class" value="org.hibernate.transaction.WeblogicTransactionManagerLookup" /> </properties> </persistence-unit>
Where i must put hibernate jars ?
Caused By: weblogic.deployment.EnvironmentException: Error processing persitence unit reviewService of module EJBModule.jar: Error instantiating the Persistence Provider class org.hibernate.ejb.HibernatePersistence of the PersistenceUnit reviewService: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.hibernate.ejb.HibernatePersistence
I've created my domain named MgtBilling.
Paata Lominadze
3. Re: EJB with Hibernate On WeblogicSteve Button-Oracle Apr 28, 2010 5:26 AM (in response to paata_lom)The documentation has a section on classloading that would have been helpful for you.
Adding JARs to the System Classpath
WebLogic Server includes a lib subdirectory, located in the domain directory, that you can use to add one or more JAR files to the WebLogic Server system classpath when servers start up. The lib subdirectory is intended for JAR files that change infrequently and are required by all or most applications deployed in the server, or by WebLogic Server itself. For example, you might use the lib directory to store third-party utility classes that are required by all deployments in a domain. You can also use it to apply patches to WebLogic Server.
The lib directory is not recommended as a general-purpose method for sharing a JARs between one or two applications deployed in a domain, or for sharing JARs that need to be updated periodically. If you update a JAR in the lib directory, you must reboot all servers in the domain in order for applications to realize the change. If you need to share a JAR file or Java EE modules among several applications, use the Java EE libraries feature described in Chapter 9, "Creating Shared Java EE Libraries and Optional Packages.">
Placing the hibernate (and required dependencies) in this directory will make them available to both WLS and the applications to it.
4. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogicpaata_lom Apr 28, 2010 9:27 AM (in response to Steve Button-Oracle)That is exactly what i need.
Thank you very much.
But i think that it will be more accurate to make some tools for package or library manager, like glassfish update manager.
Paata Lominadze.
5. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogicdvohra21 Apr 29, 2010 2:58 PM (in response to paata_lom)Add the Hibernate JAR files to the WEB-INF/lib directory of the WAR file.
6. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogic447464 Dec 22, 2010 8:43 PM (in response to dvohra21)it doesn't seem to be enough to have the jars in the web-inf\lib. My application can't find hibernate, nor can it find log4j's libraries!
Since the application is already written, and makes use of some of Hibernate's specific calls (when using stored procs in the daos via the hibernate session), i'd like to continue to use hibernate 3.x with weblogic 10.x. Is this possible? If so, how do I setup my EAR (exploded) to make things easier?
thanks a bunch.
7. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogicobrienmi8 Jan 6, 2011 2:49 PM (in response to 447464)Eric,
If you want the benefits of JPA persistence with optional native ORM extensions - you could try EclipseLink - which is already shipped with WebLogic in the modules directory on the server. This will solve any classloading issues you have when running container managed deployments where you don't want to ship the JPA library with your EAR or create a shared library yourself.
You will want the hibernate jars placed higher in the classpath in the modules directory off the main WebLogic install directory.
I have detailed steps getting a standard JTA container managed JPA EntityManager running in an EAR via @PersistenceContext dependency injection on a @Stateless session bean on WebLogic in the following tutorial. The steps are all general to JPA with no native API but specifically implemented using EclipseLink as the JPA provider in persistence.xml. You should be able to follow these for Hibernate JPA if you wish to use this alternate JPA provider.
thank you
/Michael O'Brien
8. Re: EJB with Hibernate On WeblogicRené van Wijk Feb 17, 2011 7:34 AM (in response to 447464)Deleted broken link
9. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogic447464 Jan 6, 2011 3:22 PM (in response to obrienmi8)It appears the error seems to be stemming from a couple of issues (based on other threads I've seen).
1. I get an error when the container starts with:
Hibernate Dialect must be explicitly set
In my older OC4J 10.1.2 container, Spring was managing the JPA, so there was NOTHING in the persistence.xml file other than the jpa provider class and the lis of model classes, followed by an excluded unlisted classes. I had to modify the persistence.xml and copy some entries between my Spring applicationContext.xml's entry for the entityManager and this file.
2. Secondly, I got the error:
org.hibernate.QueryException: ClassNotFoundException: org.hibernate.hql.ast.HqlToken
I was told this could be resolved by adding a weblogic-application.xml descriptor:
This appeared to solve the problem.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <weblogic-application> <prefer-application-packages> <package-name>antlr.*</package-name> </prefer-application-packages> </weblogic-application>
3. I then received some other errors based on libraries included with the old OC4J but not included with WebLogic, such as the soap.jar and the SQLJ Runtime libraries.
4. The next error I got was that it never prompted for login. For some reason, it didn't like: <url-pattern>/*.do</url-pattern>, but would work fine with: <url-pattern>*.do</url-pattern>. Why, I have no idea?
5. I manually had to add the users and groups. I really liked the way oc4j could use a jazn-data.xml file to handle authentication. When I deploy from JDEV, it automatically creates the users and roles. Is there a way to make this easier than MANUALLY creating these users? I was using a DDONLY deployment from an exploded folder.
6. The next problem was a missing data source. I had the data-sources.xml file there, but maybe that's not used? I got the error: Error looking up Data Source from Factory: While trying to lookup 'jdbc.eGovUserDS' didn't find subcontext 'jdbc'. Resolved ''. Is there a way to deploy with a descriptor that defines these data sources? I manually defined them in the server via the admin console.
7. The reason I'm complaining more is that I'm a developer that uses to use the previous embedded oc4j 10.1.2. I never had an admin console to deal with in that version, and the deploymen descriptors took carfe of most of the issues/concerns.
8. I then got the error: Root cause is: javax/persistence/Persistence.getPersistenceUtil()Ljavax/persistence/PersistenceUtil;
java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: javax/persistence/Persistence.getPersistenceUtil()Ljavax/persistence/PersistenceUtil;
I found a thread on this that it was caused by WebLogic 10.3.3 including a partial JPA 2 implementation, and then Hibernate's Validator trying to invoke a method on a class that was loaded already. I'm not sure what class has this? Do you know how to search jars for classes and determine what would be the culprit? I resolved this temporarily by using a Hibernate Validator BETA release:
9. I ran into some other errors with commons logging and the xml parser as well with some class loading issues (I guess). I'll post those errors here as well.
10. I tried to convert the application to Eclipselink, but it was not trivial. Like I said before, there was a number of stored procs (it was more than four). When I switched the provider, it had problems with my Dates (not using temporaly annotations), problems with my @ID annotations (had insert and update both false), problems with queries (I used subqueries with select 'x'), etc. I guess Hibernate was more lenient with this stuff?
That's my long winded update.
Thanks for any additional input you can provide.
10. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogic447464 Jan 6, 2011 5:00 PM (in response to 447464)In addition, I also had these issues:
Using this…..
…. Resulted in this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <weblogic-application> <prefer-application-packages> <package-name>antlr.*</package-name> <!-- package-name>org.apache.commons.logging.*</package-name --> <!-- package-name>org.w3c.dom.*</package-name --> </prefer-application-packages> </weblogic-application>
An error occurred during activation of changes, please see the log for details.
loader constraint violation: loader (instance of weblogic/utils/classloaders/ChangeAwareClassLoader) previously initiated loading for a different type with name "org/apache/commons/logging/Log"
Using this….
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <weblogic-application> <prefer-application-packages> <package-name>antlr.*</package-name> <package-name>org.apache.commons.logging.*</package-name> <!--package-name>org.w3c.dom.*</package-name--> </prefer-application-packages> </weblogic-application> ….. resulted in this: An error occurred during activation of changes, please see the log for details. weblogic.application.ModuleException: loader constraint violation: loader (instance of weblogic/utils/classloaders/ChangeAwareClassLoader) previously initiated loading for a different type with name "org/xml/sax/SAXParseException"
11. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogic830935 Jan 13, 2011 2:04 PM (in response to 447464)Another way of loading the hibernate classes in Weblogic is copying the jars into a folder in the weblogic server and modifying the setDomainEnv.cmd adding the jars to the classpath.
An example using hibernate 3.3.2 that works, the line would be:
In my case I have created a folder patches in the root of the wls and added this line
@REM Hibernate jpa 1.0 set EXT_PRE_CLASSPATH=%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\hibernate-entitymanager.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\commons-logging-1.1.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\log4j-1.2.16.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\javassist-3.9.0.GA.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\slf4j-log4j12-1.5.8.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\slf4j-api-1.5.8.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\jta-1.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\commons-collections-3.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\antlr-2.7.6.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\dom4j-1.6.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\hibernate-commons-annotations.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\hibernate-annotations.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\hibernate3.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa1\ejb3-persistence.jar;%EXT_PRE_CLASSPATH%
I am able to load the hibernate libraries but I receive the following error:
@REM Hibernate jpa 2.0 set EXT_PRE_CLASSPATH=%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\slf4j-jdk14-1.6.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\slf4j-api-1.6.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\jta-1.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\javassist-3.12.0.GA.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\dom4j-1.6.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\commons-collections-3.1.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\antlr-2.7.6.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\hibernate3.jar;%WL_HOME%\patches\jpa2\hibernate-jpa-2.0-api-1.0.0.Final.jar;%EXT_PRE_CLASSPATH%
java.lang.AbstractMethodError: weblogic.deployment.PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.getValidationMode()Ljavax/persistence/ValidationMode;
at org.hibernate.ejb.Ejb3Configuration.configure(Ejb3Configuration.java:625)
at org.hibernate.ejb.HibernatePersistence.createContainerEntityManagerFactory(HibernatePersistence.java:73)
at weblogic.deployment.PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.createEntityManagerFactory(PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.java:343)
at weblogic.deployment.PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.createEntityManagerFactory(PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.java:323)
at weblogic.deployment.PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.<init>(PersistenceUnitInfoImpl.java:125)
I think it's thrown because the PersistenceUnitInfoImpl is done for JPA 1.0. Isn't it possible to use hibernate under JPA 2.0 with WL?
Edited by: user9377265 on 13-Jan-2011 06:01
12. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogic447464 Jan 13, 2011 2:07 PM (in response to 830935)I saw a few threads on this.
Se Metalink Note: 1091853.1 (JPA Support in WebLogic Server)
Also, for me the following fixed this issue:
1. I pulled down a nightly build of the hibernate validator (awaiting one that fixes this as a CR):
(replacing hibernate-validator-4.0.0.GA.jar)
2. I also replaced: ejb3-persistence-3.3.2.Beta1.jar with ejb3-persistence-1.0.2.GA.jar.
Since I'm not the server admin, I'll just pass on these changes. However, ours works with hibernate now, and the classes are all in WEB-INF\lib.
Thanks for the tips!
13. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogic830935 Jan 14, 2011 11:17 AM (in response to 447464)Thanks for the answer
I guess you are using JPA 1.0
I would like to use the last version of hibernate with JPA 2.0
Just in case it helps somebody I was able to make it work by comenting out the following lines in the org.hibernate.ejb.Ejb3Configuration class:
* Commented out because wl persistenceunitinfo does not implement getValidationMode(). * This would be used when a <validation-mode>auto</validation-mode> is set in persistence.xml but it can be set vendor-specifically * through <property name="javax.persistence.validation.mode" value="auto"/> */ // else if ( info.getValidationMode() != null ) { // properties.put( AvailableSettings.VALIDATION_MODE, info.getValidationMode().name() ); // }
Edited by: user9377265 on 14-Jan-2011 03:17
* Commented out because wl persistenceunitinfo does not implement getValidationMode(). * This would be used when a <shared-cache-mode></shared-cache-mode> but hibernate does not implement it. It is required to use * another cache provider like ehcache. */ // else if ( info.getSharedCacheMode() != null ) { // properties.put( AvailableSettings.SHARED_CACHE_MODE, info.getSharedCacheMode().name() ); // }
14. Re: EJB with Hibernate On Weblogicobrienmi8 Jan 19, 2011 5:21 PM (in response to 830935)See the recent OTN post from 20110115 detailing the latest release of Oracle WebLogic Server and some retesting of the previous issues related to JSR-317 JPA 2.0 support below.
Re: Deploy Hibernate based EAR file on Weblogic 10.3.3?
The latest release of Oracle WebLogic Server has been available on OTN at the following location since 20110115.
This release provides support for JSR-317 JPA 2.0 container managed applications using the QWG8 patch or a manual prepending classpath change.
In 10.3.3.0 you were required to use the FilteringClassLoader via the *<wls:prefer-application-packages>* addition to your application managed persistence unit - this workaround as well as the persistence.xml renaming one is now fully deprecated and not required in 10.3.4.0 for both application and container managed persistence contexts.
As of 20110115 the 5 outstanding issues below look to be fixed by applying the http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E17904_01/web.1111/e13720/using_toplink.htm#EJBAD1309 patch for QWG8 or manually prepending to the WebLogic 10.3.4.0 server classpath.
commEnv.cmd: line 67 @rem Set BEA Home set BEA_HOME=C:\opt\wls1034r20110115 @rem Enable JPA 2.0 functionality on WebLogic Server 10.3.4 with the following patch line for commEnv.cmd:67 set PRE_CLASSPATH=%BEA_HOME%\modules\javax.persistence_184.108.40.206_2-0-0.jar;%BEA_HOME%\modules\com.oracle.jpa2support_184.108.40.206_2-0.jar
A JPA 2.0 EE application using EclipseLink as the JPA2 persistence provider on WebLogic is detailed in the analysis section below1) JPA 2.0 XSD parsing - verified
2) New JPA 2.0 schema elements like <shared-cache-mode>NONE</shared-cache-mode> - verified
3) JPA 2.0 runtime API like a entityManager.getMetamodel(); call on the Servlet or Stateless session bean - verified
4) JPA 2.0 weaving/instrumentation - this will require a more detailed lazy model and more debugging to fully verify
5) Dependency Injection of a container managed JPA 2.0 entityManager on a EJB component like a stateless session bean - verified
OTN downloadhttp://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/weblogic/downloads/wls-main-097127.html
Supported Oracle WebLogic Server Versionshttp://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E15315_06/help/oracle.eclipse.tools.weblogic.doc/html/SupportedServerVersions.html
TopLink JPA 2.0 Specific documentation/patchinghttp://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E17904_01/web.1111/e13720/using_toplink.htm#EJBAD1309
EclipseLink Wiki: JPA 2.0 using EclipseLink on WebLogic analysis (XSD, Weaving, DI of @PersistenceContext)http://wiki.eclipse.org/EclipseLink/Development/JPA_2.0/weblogic#Enabling_JPA2_support
thank you
/Michael O'Brien


text:
Gregor Blanco has just 27 stolen bases in some 271 career games, so we wouldn't say that he's necessarily known for his speed on the basepaths.
However, when you're trying to take an extra base on a routine outfield single and you fall flat on your face in front of 41,000 people, it's amazing how much faster you get. (And really, what is it about the AT&T Park dirt? This is getting serious.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Studying complex interventions: mission impossible?
Suche in Medline nach
|5. März 2012
Implementation interventions are educational, organizational, financial or technological activities/changes, applied to healthcare professionals or healthcare organizations, to improve healthcare practice and outcomes. Almost all implementation are complex interventions. There is little research evidence to guide the choice of methods for developing and evaluating complex interventions. In the ongoing European project 'Tailored implementation in chronic illness care' (TICD) we test different methods for tailoring implementation interventions to barriers and enablers for improvement. More complex approaches will be compared with a pragmatic approach. There is a range of options for evaluation of complex interventions, including positivist, realist and participatory approaches. One important issue is that the effectiveness of clinical interventions may be reduced after implementation, because of suboptimal fidelity of both the clinical interventions and the implementation intervention. Another important issue is that the local context may influence the impact of an intervention, although it has been difficult to identify factors which consistently predict outcomes.


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Sunday School – 10:00 am
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Watering the Tulips
July 3, 2013
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" – Isaiah 5:20
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What is the real problem? That is a simple answer. Sin is the problem. Man became rebellious towards God in the Garden of Eden. As time has gone by, he has become more and more rebellious. This is not to say he has become more depraved, mind you. The natural man is totally depraved. But, society has become more and more accepting of sinful practices which are nothing more than rebellion against God and His creation. The lost of this world hate God, His standards and His people. As we head towards the return of our Lord, "perilous times" will be the norm (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Are there more problems that help to fuel the sin problem? Of course. If an ungodly people have a good leader, they will not be as wicked as they otherwise would be. This can be seen in everything from our jobs to Old Testament history. However, "when a wicked man rules, the people groan" (Proverbs 29:2). Simply, the leaders of the world today are wicked people. You'll search a long time to find a godly man or woman among the leaders of people today. That is not to say there are none –there are. But, a godly leader today is the exception rather than the rule. As a result, people in this world are becoming more and more sinful.
So, what is coming? The Bible doesn't leave us in the dark here. First of all, there is coming a leader that is so wicked that the Word of God labels him as the "man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This wicked leader will oppose God and all that is true and right. We see that being set up before our eyes, folks. It is clear. And yet, we find encouragement in this. "How", one may say. Simple. As we see this time setting up, we know that the return of our Savior is on the Horizon. He will take us home to the place He has been preparing for us. Oh Glorious Day!! Be encouraged, Child of God. Jesus is coming soon.
Watering the Tulips is brought to you by Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Northport, AL. For more information, please visit www.sovereigngrace.net. "Your App to the Gospel" is available for download in iTunes, Google Play and the Window Marketplace. Please download it today!


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The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies, Vol. 2, Number 3
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Color Edition. The Hatchet is a journal devoted to the examination and investigation of the Borden Murders of 1892. Written for both the novice and seasoned Lizzie Borden enthusiast, The Hatchet takes a literate and entertaining approach through wide-ranging feature essays, reviews and criticism, interviews, fiction, art, poetry, and humor. Fact-filled, The Hatchet contains contributions by Lizzie Borden scholars worldwide.
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Research reveals that for every £10 spent with a local independent business means up to an additional £50 finds its way back into the local economy.
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If you wish to support this initiative, then please share your views using the hashtag #BuyLocal on social media and support your local independent businesses and keep our communities thriving.


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Laura Berk''s Development Through the Lifespan is relied upon in classrooms worldwide for its clear, engaging writing style, exceptional multicultural and cross-cultural focus, cutting-edge consideration of the interrelationships between heredity and environment, rich examples, and long-standing commitment to presenting the most up-to-date scholarship. This new edition continues to offer students research-based practical applications that they can relate to their personal and professional lives.
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text: There are a few reasons why I find myself strangely attracted to Moo. It's made by a Norwegian company called Northern Exposure. You can mount on both inside and outside walls. It reminds me of my brother, whose nickname is Moose. Light-up antlers, baby (although the designers could have put a bit more light at the tips, really). It's just a lot less messy than going hunting in the snow. [Dezeen]


text:
Comparing ColdFusion Number Randomization Algorithms
The other week, I posted about how I didn't feel like ColdFusion always did a great job of random number generation. When using ColdFusion's RandRange() method, I just pass in the two required integers. After posting this, Dustin told me that ColdFusion MX7 introduced a third argument for the RandRange() method, which was the algorithm by which the random numbers were generated. By default, ColdFusion uses the CFMX_COMPAT algorithm. Apparently (and this is stated directly in the documentation), the alternate algorithm, SHA1PRNG, will do a much better job of randomizing numbers.
To explore these two algorithms, I first wanted to start out graphing them, to see if I could see any obvious trends. In the following example, I am looping over the two algorithms and then using ColdFusion's CFChart tag to charge 50 random numbers between the values 1 and 50.
- <!---
- Loop over the two algorithms, the default
- CFMX_COMPAT and then the SHA1PRNG. We are
- going to chart some random numbers to see
- what they look like.
- --->
- <cfloop
- index="strAlgorithm"
- list="CFMX_COMPAT,SHA1PRNG"
- delimiters=",">
- <!---
- Create a line graph of this randomly
- selected numbers.
- --->
- <cfchart
- format="png"
- chartheight="500"
- chartwidth="545"
- labelformat="number"
- xaxistitle="Iteration"
- yaxistitle="Random Number">
- <cfchartseries type="line">
- <!---
- Create each data item by randomly generating
- a number using one of the algorithms.
- --->
- <cfloop
- index="intI"
- from="1"
- to="50"
- step="1">
- <cfchartdata
- item="#intI#"
- value="#RandRange( 1, 50, strAlgorithm )#"
- />
- </cfloop>
- </cfchartseries>
- </cfchart>
- </cfloop>
From the above code, we get the following graphs:
Algorithm: CFMX_COMPAT (ColdFusion's Default)
Algorithm: SHA1PRNG (Added in ColdFusion MX7)
Now, I look at these two graphs, and frankly, they don't mean anything to me. I don't see trends, and even if I do see some trends, I don't understand the significance. Both of these graphics look like a nice randomized set of numbers.
But more than that, this is not a useful test case for me. My issues with randomness rarely involve generating a ton of numbers right in a row; my scenarios usually involve manually refreshing a page to see if something is rotating "properly" (think advertisements or header images). In that case, there is a big delay between random number generation (compared the delay between CFLoop iterations). In my next experiment, I am using a META tag refresh to put a uniform delay between my page refreshes as this will most closely mimic me sitting there and hitting the browser's refresh button:
- <!--- Param the list of random numbers. --->
- <cfparam
- name="URL.numbers"
- type="string"
- default=""
- />
- <!---
- Create a random number using one of the
- two algorithms, CFMX_COMPAT or SHA1PRNG.
- --->
- <cfset intNumber = RandRange( 1, 10, "SHA1PRNG" ) />
- <!--- Add it to the list of numbers. --->
- <cfset URL.numbers = ListAppend( URL.numbers, intNumber ) />
- <!---
- Check to see if we have generated enough numbers.
- We want to generate 20. If have less than 20, let
- provide the refresh link. If we have 20, just output
- the numbers.
- --->
- <cfif (ListLen( URL.numbers ) LT 20)>
- <!---
- Provide meta-drive refresh. This is to ensure
- that the timing of the refresh is similar for
- each page refresh.
- --->
- <meta
- http-equiv="refresh"
- content=".5; url=#CGI.script_name#?numbers=#URL.numbers#"
- />
- <cfelse>
- <!--- We have all the numbers, so output them. --->
- #URL.numbers#
- </cfif>
I ran the above code three times for each algorithm and here are the number lists that were generated:
Algorithm: CFMX_COMPAT (ColdFusion's Default)
- 9,7,7,7,7,7,7,6,6,6,6,9,9,8,9,8,8,8,8,8
- 3,6,6,6,5,6,6,5,5,4,4,5,2,3,2,2,2,2,2,2
- 5,8,8,7,7,6,7,7,6,6,9,10,9,9,8,8,9,8,8,8
Algorithm: SHA1PRNG (Added in ColdFusion MX7)
- 6,8,9,6,4,5,5,9,8,4,10,5,7,4,4,8,10,2,6,1
- 6,6,8,9,8,1,8,9,9,3,7,3,3,5,6,7,7,3,4,5
- 4,8,2,8,4,1,4,4,3,3,9,10,2,10,6,6,4,4,5,2
Just looking at these numbers, I can clearly see grouping in the CFMX_COMPAT algorithm. There is some grouping in the SHA1PRNG algorithm, but to a much much lesser degree. I don't know how the timing of the random number generation affects things, but it seems to have some sort of a link to the seemingly effective nature of the outcome. Now, I say "seemingly" because, remember, I am really more concerned about an even distribution of numbers and less so about the actual randomization of the numbers. Randomization or not, the SHA1PRNG seems to have a better distribution of numbers.
Reader Comments
Here's the mathematical proof for the variance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variance) of the above results.
CFMX_COMPAT - variance - standard dev
test 1 - 1.05 - 1.0246
test 2 - 2.69 - 1.6401
test 3 - 1.5275 - 1.2359
SHA1PRNG - variance - standard dev
test 1 - 6.1475 - 2.4794
test 2 - 5.4275 - 2.3296
test 3 - 7.1475 - 2.6734
As the numbers get larger, the more variance the test set has present. A standard deviation of 2 means you should be hitting ~95% of your population, where 1 is only ~68%. The proof is in the pudding so to speak (sorry for the math pun).
I used this UDF to calculate the variance: http://www.cflib.org/udf.cfm?ID=256
It's been a million years since I took a statistics class (and didn't do so well in it). From what it looks like, a bigger standard deviation is a Good thing since, if you think about the Bell Curve, you are covering more ground (as you say, I think). Thanks for doing the testing.
Yeah, it has been a long time for me as well. In fact I forgot about normal vs. random distributions when talking about standard deviation. The confidence levels stated (~95% and ~64%) are for a normal distribution, which we aren't dealing with. For a random distribution it is ~75% for 2 stddevs and ~50% for 1.41 stddevs.
I'm beginning to remember why I didn't particularity care for the class.
Yeah, if I never hear about a z-test or t-square test (or something like that) again, I will quite content. My brain just doesn't seem to like that sort of thing.
Thanks Ben,
I was complaining about the default behavior of randrange to a colleague only 2 days ago when observing the behavior of an online competition application we were running.
Little did I know that this behavior could be changed!
All goes to show I should RTFM!
Hey, I just learned about this too :)
I will quite content. My brain just doesn't seem to like that sort of thing.


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In a classic "Simpsons" episode, Homer's admiration for Thomas Edison leads him to break into the Edison museum at night, where he accidentally reveals one of Edison's undiscovered inventions (an untippable chair) along with a separate invention of his own (an electric hammer). Edison ends up posthumously getting credit for both.
"Thomas Edison, the greatest inventor of all time, is apparently still inventing despite the notable handicap of being dead," Springfield news anchor Kent Brockman says.
If not for that handicap, Edison would be celebrating his 165th birthday this Feb. 11. And even though no such chairs or hammers have emerged from Edison's labs since his 1931 death, he might still be surprised at how often his name comes up 80 years later — and not just among historians and Homer Simpson.
Aside from launching the lighting, electricity, sound-recording and motion-picture industries more than 100 years ago, Edison is also proving surprisingly relevant to emerging technologies in the 21st century, from data centers and smart grids to electric cars and wind farms.
"When I give talks, I often talk about how Edison really set the stage for modern innovation," says Paul Israel, director of the Thomas Edison Papers project at Rutgers University. "A lot of the things he did are still relevant today. We're still very much working in a kind of Edisonian model."
In honor of Edison's 165th birthday, here's a look at some of the ways the Wizard of Menlo Park continues to influence innovation despite his notable handicap.
Energy efficiency
Edison was as much an improver as an inventor. He didn't actually invent the light bulb, but he did invent seven different components to make it safe and practical for widespread use. And when he unveiled his Pearl Street power station in 1882, he touted it as a model of efficiency: It used one-third the fuel of its forebears, burning about 10 pounds of coal per kilowatt hour.
Yet in the late 19th century's "war of the currents" — which pitted Edison's direct current (DC) againt rival Nikola Tesla's alternating current (AC) — Edison suffered a defeat because his way was less efficient. "The direct current sort of represents Edison's primary weakness, that he often stuck too long with a system as he introduced it, rather than move with the times," Israel says.
Still, a century later, DC is making a comeback because it's now more efficient than AC, at least in certain uses. The semiconductors in modern electronics need DC power, so they convert the AC supply to DC, creating heat and wasting energy. DC can also now be transmitted at high voltage over long distances, which wasn't possible in Edison's time. That's a big reason why high-voltage DC power is key to many smart grid plans. "Everyone says it's going to take at least 50 years," market analyst Peter Asmus recently told Reuters, but "the role of DC will increase, and AC will decrease."
Renewable energy
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy," Edison reportedly told Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone in the 1930s. "What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that."
Edison didn't have much of a chance to tackle solar power in his era, but he is playing a role today in how both solar and wind power are distributed. Solar panels and wind turbines generate DC power, which must be converted to AC before it's pumped into the grid. But high-voltage DC transmission could link renewable energy sources to energy-hungry facilities like data centers, a potentially "game-changing" prospect, according to ABB, a European automation firm that advocates direct current.
Electric cars
Edison was convinced electricity would power cars of the future. He began work in the 1890s on a durable battery for electric cars, and also tried to set up a recharging infrastructure with utility companies. He ended up building three prototype electric cars, but much like his battle with Tesla, his methods were deemed impractical. Henry Ford's gas-powered Model T ultimately won out.
Also like his Tesla feud, though, Edison's way is becoming popular again 100 years later, albeit slowly. "Talk about a man ahead of his time, and even ahead of our time, coming up with a rechargeable battery back at the turn of the 20th century," says Carmen Pantaleo, a ranger at the Thomas Edison National Historic Park in West Orange, N.J. Edison's cars were just too expensive, Pantaleo says, costing around $2,500 compared with a $500 Model T. But electric and hybrid cars are now surging back into the mainstream, from the Prius and Leaf to the Volt and Focus.
Light bulbs
Edison's incandescent bulb dominated the 20th century, but since it wastes energy as heat, it's now being replaced by compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and more efficient incandescents. U.S. President George W. Bush signed an energy law in 2005 mandating such upgrades, but many Republicans have recently turned against the law. During a 2011 effort to repeal it, some even invoked Edison's name, lamenting that his legacy was under fire.
Several of Edison's descendants eventually responded, arguing he would welcome CFLs and other efficient bulbs. "If my great-grandfather were alive today ... he would have already moved on to the better, cleaner, sustainable technology," said great-grandson Barry Edison Sloane. "The technology changes. Embrace it," added Robert Wheeler, Edison's grand nephew and president of the Edison Birthplace Association.
The bill to repeal the efficiency rules failed, but GOP lawmakers later added a rider to a spending bill, temporarily delaying the rules from taking effect. In a Politico column last month, Sloane called this "little more than a speed bump on the road to the light bulb revolution." He also pointed out that, contrary to some descriptions, "the new standards don't outlaw the incandescent bulb. Instead, they have spurred much-needed innovation and improvements — the kind Edison loved."
Israel says Sloane and Wheeler are probably right, despite Edison's habit of clinging to things he created. "I would agree with them 100 percent," he says. "I very much think Edison would have seen improved efficiency of light bulbs as the future, especially at this point in time where there are all sort of issues around supply and energy sources and climate change. He definitely would have seen that as a new challenge."
Steve Jobs
When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died last year, he was often compared to Thomas Edison. The two lived in very different times, but the comparison is still apt, Israel says. "If there's anyone who's a modern equivalent, it's Steve Jobs. Both were very good at managing large organizations that were designed to be innovative. And both had visions for what those innovations should be, so it wasn't innovation by committee. And I think that's a very important distinction. That's one of the things Jobs and Edison were very successful at."
Both had their shares of misses, though Israel says Jobs had an advantage by being born in the 20th century. "Jobs grew up in an era when consumer technologies dominated," he says, "but for Edison they were just emerging, so Edison didn't have as good of a grasp on consumer markets as Jobs did."
Nonetheless, both had a knack for anticipating consumer desires before they existed, Pantaleo argues. "They were coming up with things you didn't know you needed until you had them. Suddenly, it's like 'How did I live without this iPad before,' and I think that's exactly how it was with the phonograph, the light bulb and movies."
And with old projects like DC power and electric cars making a comeback, this famous Edison quote is starting to seem prophetic: "I would like to live about 300 years. I think I have ideas enough to keep me busy that long."
Also on MNN:
- How renewable energy may be Thomas Edison's revenge
- Steve Jobs or Thomas Edison: Who's the greatest innovator?
- 123-year-old talking doll recording surfaces
- Reclaimed Shapes: An 'inventive' line of salvaged wood stools


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The Book to Film Club book selection for January is I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore.
I Am Number Four is a young adult science fiction novel that is the first of a proposed 6-part series (and the only series included in the book club). I keep trying to write a brief description but it keeps feeling spoilery. Sigh. You can get I Am Number Four here at Amazon.ca (Canada) and Amazon.com (US).
I Am Number Four Book Reviews by Book to Film Clubbers:
- Shannon
- Girls in the Stacks: Book Review, Podcast
- Norlinda
- Paolo
I Am Number Four will be our February Film selection. The film stars Alex Pettyfer (Wild Child, Beastly), Timothy Olyphant (High Life, "Deadwood"), Dianna Agron (Quinn on "Glee"), Kevin Durand (Legion), Jake Abel (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) and Teresa Palmer (The Sorcerer's Apprentice), and is directed by D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye, The Salton Sea).
The film comes out February 18, 2011 and you can see the trailer below, although I'd only recommend watching trailer after you've read the book if you are planning to read as it's certainly got spoilers:
What did you think of the book? Are you looking forward to the film? How do you feel about the casting? Looking forward to hearing everyone's reactions!


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Hey Sharks fans!
As the NHL Playoffs and baseball season approaches, please take a look at this 90 second film trailer about Giants Fans:
100% of the film's proceeds are being donated to charity.
After getting tons of positive feedback from Giants fans, I'm interested in the response from fans of other bay area sports teams. I know not all of you are Giants fans, but please give it a quick look anyway, keep the comments clean and go easy on the dislike button!
I encourage Sharks fans to make a film about their favorite team and about the fans that give their undying support year in, year out. This could be a great experiment in letting the world hear their team's story from the fans perspective!


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1. Visit Kō and leave a comment below saying what product you would most like to try
for extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
2. "Like" Kō Denmark on Facebook
3. Follow Kō Denmark on Twitter
4. Subscribe to Kō Denmark's email newsletter
5. "Like" All Natural Annie on Facebook
Good luck. You have until 10:00am ET this Friday, March 4th to enter. Visit on Friday to see if you've won!


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What's worse than an escort mission in a videogame? A videogame that is nothing but escort missions.
This is Knights Contract. A game in which your health meter is determined by a meandering, mentally subnormal woman with no survival instincts, who will stand in lava pits, walk directly into fireballs, and essentially do her utmost to get annihilated within seconds.
Knights Contract is worse than the worst escort mission you can think of ... with the exception of that one in Spartan: Total Warrior.
Knights Contract (Xbox 360 [reviewed], PlayStation 3)
Developer: Game Republic
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Released: February 22, 2011
As a matter of disclosure, I'll tell you right now that I did not beat the game. In fact, I can tell you exactly where I stopped. There is a boss that fights you on a small square suspended over a pit of magma. The boss has several ways to instantly end the battle, and it's pure luck as to whether you'll avoid them or not:
This one boss fight seems to collect the very worst elements of escort missions and bundles them up into one horrific Frankenstein's Monster of pain. The broken ally AI without any inclination toward self-preservation, the random deaths that one is unable to stop, and the focus on babysitting over having any actual fun. It comes together almost like a grim parody of every escort missions ever forced into a game. So that's where I stopped playing.
If the game had been any good up to that point, I might have considered my decision unfair. Fortunately for me, Knights Contract is one of the most boring, hideous, poorly designed games to be released in recent memory. Everything about it screams budget title, but I don't think it's even worth paying $20 for. From the grotesque screen tearing to the washed out colors, uninspired character designs, and basic environment textures, Knights Contract is the epitome of cheap and nasty.
For what it's worth, the premise is at least unique. Players take on the role of Heinrich, an undead knight who has been cursed with the inability to perish thanks to his part in a series of witch hunts. He teams up with Gretchen, a witch who is trying to stop her brethren from exacting their revenge on humanity from beyond the grave. She promises Heinrich that she'll let him die if he helps her, and so the two join forces to stop the twisted remains of the vengeful witches.
Heinrich is immortal, and as such, cannot be killed through combat. Instead, his life is tied to Gretchen's. If her health drops to zero, then the game is over. It's a somewhat innovative idea for an action game, but one that requires a remarkable amount of balance and care to do it right. Miserably, it's been handled with as much balance and care as a horse on roller skates.
For a start, Gretchen will not protect herself, ever. She cannot dodge attacks and she won't try to block them. She only seems to rarely attack of her own accord. Instead, she spends most of the game wandering aimlessly about, usually hovering directly in front of an enemy's face. Monsters will often specifically target her, so it almost looks as if Gretchen and the enemies are conspiring against you. To the game's credit, Gretchen can take a decent amount of damage before she dies, but if you're not constantly monitoring her, you'll find yourself surprised by how suddenly a "Game Over" screen will appear.
Heinrich attacks with simple hack n' slash button mashing, but he can command Gretchen to perform special magic attacks as well. To pull off a magic attack, you have to hold a trigger and press one of the face buttons. There's a good chance the magic attack will actually miss the intended target, but when it works, it can be very helpful. To get more precision, you can target enemies, which requires the press of a bumper. With one finger on the bumper, one on the opposite trigger, and a thumb on the face buttons, however, it's quite uncomfortable and feels needlessly complex. It boggles the mind why magic attacks don't just auto-target the nearest enemy.
Although Heinrich is immortal, he can take damage. Eventually, if he takes enough, he'll drop to a knee, incapacitated. In this state, he can only crawl around slowly and attack with a weak, sluggish swing. You'll need Gretchen to heal you when in this state, but enemies can take advantage of the situation and trap Gretchen with a special attack. Depending on the enemy, this can mean you're screwed, but rather than jump straight to the "Game Over" screen, Knights Contract seems to take pleasure in forcing you to watch Gretchen's health meter languidly, agonizingly deplete -- all while you are unable to do anything.
Heinrich can also take enough damage to become physically destroyed, and that is strangely preferable to incapacitation. In this state, you have to mash a button repeatedly in order to resurrect yourself. This is better than incapacitation as you're not relying on a fucking retard to heal you. However, it takes an almost comically long time to bring Heinrich back.
In order to heal wounds quickly, Heinrich can hold Gretchen. While holding her, he cannot attack, but both their wounds are recovered. This can lead to some silly moments during boss fights where you're running around like a greased pig, woman in your arms, hoping not to get battered by a wayward projectile.
That's about all there is to the combat, but don't worry -- you won't be doing very much of it. In fact, you're lucky to go more than two minutes without a loading screen or a cutscene, or a loading screen that leads to a cutscene that leads to another loading screen that leads to less than a minute of gameplay that leads to a loading screen that leads to another cutscene. Knights Contract has some of the most stuttered, poorly paced progression I have ever seen. The amount of pointless cutscenes that could have conveyed their message over the gameplay become almost farcical, and that's just the opening level. It never lets up. Even the simple act of looking at your map requires lengthy load times.
Speaking of the map, it seems many of the stages have been designed to trick the player into getting lost. It's not that levels are especially large -- quite the opposite -- but their paths are connected in such a way that it's very easy to go around in circles, and the scenery is so indistinct that it's almost impossible to tell if you've entered a new area or not.
Clever gimmickry or not, there's no escaping the fact that Knights Contract is, at its core, a broken, sloppy, dull, pointless waste of space. The majority of the game isn't even that challenging, and Game Republic has apparently compensated for that by throwing in randomized frustrations such as those detailed in the boss battle above. The game also throws in quick-time-events (of course! Why wouldn't it!?) and if you screw them up on a boss, they'll resurrect with a full third of their considerable HP left.
Rest assured, this happened to me during the random fireball boss, and it was one of the most demoralizing moments of my gaming life -- especially as once it resurrected, it swiftly flung Heinrich and Gretchen over the ledge and to their inescapable doom.
After Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, I am devastated to see Game Republic take such a sharp and horrible dip in quality. The careless way in which the game's fundamental gimmick has been implemented, not to mention severe lack of polish overall, is something I'd expect from an obscure European developer making a $10 PC shooter. I don't expect this from the developer of one of 2010's most unsung classics.
Due to the comparatively short amount of time spent with the game, we are omitting a score. Rest assured, however, that this would not have gotten a 10/10.
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Knights Contract reviewed by Jim Sterling
The lowest of the low. There is no potential, no depth and no talent. It has nothing to offer the world, and will die lonely and forgotten.
How we score: The Destructoid reviews guide


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Hidden Costs: Wasted Water
A version of this article appears in the September/October 2005 issue of Home Energy Magazine.
September 01, 2005
Saving water can have a huge impact on the expense of operating multifamily buildings - especially when the water bills and the heating and hot water bills are in the same ballpark.
In addition to being energy hogs, multifamily buildings—especially older ones—can be water hogs.The only way to be certain if a multifamily building is a hog or not is to perform an audit. So along with looking at lights, HVAC, and the myriad of other components that go into buildings' energy use, Steven Winter Associates (SWA), where we work, makes sure to give the water uses their due on site visits. Recent SWA audits of multifamily buildings have revealed that on an annual basis, in some instances, a building's water bill exceeds the heat-plushot- water bill. SWA's Multifamily Buildings staff has performed energy audits on buildings all over the country. Some audits are subsidized by utilities, state programs, or statewide surcharges on utility bills, but many are contracted directly with managers and owners of multifamily buildings that have been hit with large increases in energy and water costs. Savings Potential Most of the audits that our team has completed in the last two years have been in the New York,Washington, DC, and ...
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Is "big data" revolutionizing business, or a passing technological fad?
In two forthcoming reports, Forrester Research takes the middle ground.
In a survey of 259 marketing and business-development executives at large and medium-sized retailers, financial-services companies and consumer-products companies, Forrester found a lot of uncertainty about big data. Roughly one-third of the respondents said the term big data was "very confusing." Only 9% said they plan to implement big-data technologies within their departments over the next year.
In a parallel survey, however, Forrester found that 452 executives who manage technology at those same companies were more familiar with the technologies.
"Big data rhetoric is at an all-time high," the authors write. "Technology vendors tout products with claims that seem incredible."
The report nonetheless encourages readers to take advantage of growing amounts of data from Internet users, devices and sensors. "The data explosion has changed how we do business," says Forrester. "Every interaction, every communication, every touchpoint creates a digital breadcrumb – a piece of data that can be analyzed and manipulated."
Forrester cites retailers building apps to help customers navigate stores, Uber disrupting the taxi business with smartphone data, and Netflix testing millions of customer preferences before launching the successful miniseries "House of Cards."
The report highlights companies in traditional industries that have used data to change business practices or increase revenue. Clorox , for example, attributed a sales increase in early 2013 in part to mining social media for flu-trend data, and using the information to decide where to stock products. Farm-equipment maker John Deere and biotechnology company Monsanto are analyzing data from seeds, satellites, and tractors to help farmers them decide what and when to plant, and how to distribute seeds.
Next up, Forrester says, will be companies that use data to make predictions that influence their operations. As an example, Forrester cites retailer Amazon's recent patent for so-called "anticipatory shipping" – in which the company would begin shipping products based on its predictions of what customers located in a certain geographic area would want.
At the same time, Forrester warns that companies amassing large caches of data about consumers likely will face pressure from individuals and regulators over privacy, security and the ways they collect and manage the data. It cites, for example, a 2013 settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and the social network Path for collecting user contacts from minors without their parents' knowledge or consent. The social network paid $800,000 to settle the charges, without admitting wrongdoing.
"Informed consumers will increasingly want to know what companies know about them and how their data is being used and shared," the report says. It cites regulatory fines and penalties for companies that mishandled data, or didn't fully disclose how
The report also takes a stab at defining big data, which has become something of a parlor game in Silicon Valley. Merriam-Webster, which added "big data" to its dictionary last week, defines it as "an accumulation of data that is too large and complex for processing by traditional database management tools."
Forrester's definition – "the practices and technology that close the gap between the data available and the ability to turn that data into business insight" – is a memo to executives to start paying attention to the value of data.
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101 Huckleberry Knob Road
Cave City, Kentucky 42127
(Right off I-65, Exit 53)
(270) 773-3530
(270) 773-2323
Cave City, Kentucky 42127
(Right off I-65, Exit 53)
(270) 773-3530
(270) 773-2323
South-central Kentucky is home to hundreds of caves. Each cave is unique in size, structure, and appearance. Caves can be either 'wet,' which are actively forming, or 'dry,' where water is no longer entering the cave.
Onyx Cave is a wet cave that offers its viewers beautiful cave coral, a wall of cave bacon, and a 40 foot column. Onyx Cave was discovered in 1971 as a parking lot was being constructed for Guntown Mountain Amusement Park; the cave was opened in May of 1973.
The cave is a comfortable 60 degrees year round. Tours are 30 minutes long and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the unique formations in the cave.
Also, during your visit, browse Onyx Cave Rock Shop. You'll find a variety of rocks, minerals, fossils, and books.
Ever wonder if a stalactite grows from the ceiling or from the floor? Learn about cave formations HERE.


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Directions Leesburg, FL 34788
"Where the people make the difference!"
* Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license. Not responsible for typographical errors.


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Church Web Site:
General Information
Postal Address:
427 West Side Ave
PO Box 4397
Jersey City, NJ 07304
|Psalms 1
|Entire Chapter | Next Chapter
|Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
|Psalms 1
|Entire Chapter | Next Chapter


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BALTIMORE, 04-21-13—Before Sunday's first race, the Pimlico Race Course press box was renamed to include Joe Kelly, who covered horse racing for nearly 70 years prior to his passing in November at the age of 94. The Red Smith-Joe Kelly Press Box will be at full capacity next month for the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes.
Kelly began his career at the Baltimore Sun in the 1940s then moved to the Washington Star in 1955 where he spent the next 26 years. After retiring, he became the publicity director for the Maryland Million and was Pimlico Race Course's historical consultant until his death.
"Nobody spent more time in the Pimlico press box," said Mike Gathagan, Pimlico's vice president of communications. "We felt it was important to honor Mr. Kelly, so the next generations of turf writers know what he meant to this place. He was a tremendous resource and positive influence. We just finished our third week of the spring meet and it is weird not to see him in his office or in the chair where he sat while wagering each afternoon."
On October 30, 1947 Kelly was part of Baltimore's first live remote television broadcast on WMAR-TV, when he called the fifth and sixth races at Pimlico with his then colleague Jim McKay. He is also the only two-time winner of the Old Hilltop Award for excellence in horse racing coverage, winning in 1979 and 2000.
Twenty-members of the Kelly family, including five of his six children and four of his five grandchildren attended the dedication.
"This truly is a great honor for him," said Kelly's son Jacques. "He spent 69 years in this press box and adored Pimlico. For him Pimlico was a very personal place. Joe had a fabulous memory and always had stories to tell about it. Just when you thought you heard them all, you heard one more. This is also where my parents courted. Not only did they court here but they also brought all their friends. This is very emotional for me. I hate to say it but it is the truth, more so than the funeral or other honors (since his passing) because this is his home turf."
Smith covered the Preakness Stakes for more than 40 years, first with the New York Herald Tribune and then for the New York Times. In 1976, Smith was one of the initial winners of Pimlico Race Course's Old Hilltop Award for covering Thoroughbred Racing with excellence and distinction. The Pimlico press box was named in his honor on May 14, 1982, four months after his death.
Apprentice rider Yomar Ortiz was injured when he fell from his mount during the stretch run in today's fifth race at Pimlico. Ortiz was riding Badon when his mount broke down closing in on the finish in the five furlong turf race for $35,000 claimers. Ortiz was on the ground when he was struck by Gator Gone Wild, a trailing horse. The 21-year old was taken to nearby Sinai Hospital for x-rays near the hip and femur areas on his left leg, according to Pimlico medical director Dr. Harry Harris.
Ortiz leads the rider standings after three weeks of the spring meeting with 13 trips to the winners' circle, after capturing the Laurel Park winter meet title earlier this year.
Badon suffered a right ankle injury and was humanely euthanized, according to Maryland Racing Commission veterinarian Dr. David Zipf.


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Funny how electronics of the '70s were better dressed than the people who used them, no? Mixed-media artist David "Netherland" van Alphen tackles the decade's blighted fashions and obsession with sound in a new show at San Francisco's Gallery 1988.
Netherland's showing, entitled "Raised on Hi-Fi", is visually rich, highlighting the mixed bag of '70s visuals with a series of grotesque human/Hi-Fi equipment hybrid beings, each melded with colourful retro kitsch.
Whether the approach is nostalgic or critical is up for interpretation, though the gorgeous wood-grain equipment and polyester nearly cancel out. [Gallery 1988]


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PITTSBURGH, May 28 - A monkey has successfully fed itself with fluid, well-controlled movements of a human-like robotic arm by using only signals from its brain, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine report in the journal Nature. This significant advance could benefit development of prosthetics for people with spinal cord injuries and those with "locked-in" conditions such as Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
"Our immediate goal is to make a prosthetic device for people with total paralysis," said Andrew Schwartz, Ph.D., senior author and professor of neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Ultimately, our goal is to better understand brain complexity."
Previously, work has focused on using brain-machine interfaces to control cursor movements displayed on a computer screen. Monkeys in the Schwartz lab have been trained to command cursor movements with the power of their thoughts.
"Now we are beginning to understand how the brain works using brain-machine interface technology," said Dr. Schwartz. "The more we understand about the brain, the better we'll be able to treat a wide range of brain disorders, everything from Parkinson's disease and paralysis to, eventually, Alzheimer's disease and perhaps even mental illness."
Using this technology, monkeys in the Schwartz lab are able to move a robotic arm to feed themselves marshmallows and chunks of fruit while their own arms are restrained. Computer software interprets signals picked up by probes the width of a human hair. The probes are inserted into neuronal pathways in the monkey's motor cortex, a brain region where voluntary movement originates as electrical impulses. The neurons' collective activity is then evaluated using software programmed with a mathematic algorithm and then sent to the arm, which carries out the actions the monkey intended to perform with its own limb. Movements are fluid and natural, and evidence shows that the monkeys come to regard the robotic device as part of their own bodies.
The primary motor cortex, a part of the brain that controls movement, has thousands of nerve cells, called neurons, which fire together as they contribute to the generation of movement. Because of the massive number of neurons that fire at the same time to control even the simplest of actions, it would be impossible to create probes that capture the firing pattern of each. Pitt researchers developed a special algorithm that uses limited information from about 100 neurons to fill in the missing signals.
"In our research, we've demonstrated a higher level of precision, skill and learning," explained Dr. Schwartz. "The monkey learns by first observing the movement, which activates his brain cells as if he were doing it. It's a lot like sports training, where trainers have athletes first imagine that they are performing the movements they desire."
In addition to Dr. Schwartz, authors include Meel Velliste, Ph.D., and Sagi Perel, M. Chance Spalding and Andrew S. Whitford, all Pitt bioengineering graduate students.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health.
Note to video editors: B-roll of monkeys manipulating the robotic arm is available by calling Michele D. Baum, UPMC Media Relations, at (412) 647-3555.


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Microsoft Puts Price Tag on Intel-Powered Surface Pro, With Models Starting at $899
It won't be available until January, but Microsoft said Thursday that its Intel-powered Surface Pro tablet will start at $899.
That price is for the 64 gigabyte model, with a 128GB model selling for $999. Both models include a digital pen, but don't include either of the two keyboard covers, which cost roughly an additional $130.
"It's hard to believe it's been just over a month since Surface with Windows RT hit the market," Surface project head Panos Panay said in a blog post. "The response from Surface customers has been fantastic and exciting to see."
The Nvidia-powered Surface RT went on sale at Microsoft stores and via its Web site on Oct. 26, and starts at $499.
The Intel-equipped Surface pro uses a similar casing and includes the signature kickstand, but is bigger on both the specifications front and when it comes to size and weight. Its core i5 chip powers a 1,920 pixel by 1,080 pixel display. And because it is running an Intel chip and Windows 8 rather than an ARM processor and Windows RT, Surface Pro can run existing Windows programs, as opposed to only those designed for the Windows 8 store.
It is heavier and thicker than the current Surface RT model, coming in at just under two pounds and 14 millimeters thick.
Microsoft announced both Surface models back in June, but until now had said relatively little about the Intel-powered model. The company said earlier this week that it has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses, but hasn't released a statement on Surface sales specifically, other than a comment by CEO Steve Ballmer that the tablet was off to a modest start.
Update: In a post on Twitter, Microsoft said that the Surface Pro will have battery life approximately half that of the Surface RT. Microsoft has described Surface RT as having "all day" battery life–so I guess that would mean Surface Pro at a half day. Some tests show Surface RT having about 8 hours of battery life in regular use, which would suggest maybe four hours of battery life for Surface Pro.


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Minneapolis Census 2000 Results
This site includes a variety of Minneapolis-specific tables and reports from the Census 2000 statistics, as well as selected data from the 1990 and 1980 Census for comparative purposes. This information is intended to inform residents and other stakeholders about population and related demographic trends. Information posted on this site will be useful for neighborhood planning processes, trend studies and grant applications.
The early releases from Census 2000 (SF1 and SF2) included data on population, race, ethnicity, age, gender distribution by race, household relationship and household type, housing units, occupancy and tenure. Data from SF1 and SF2 are included in the City's census website by census tract, by neighborhood, and for the City as a whole. See links below.
Neighborhood-level data (March 2005)
- The Census Bureau's Summary File 3 (SF3) released in June 2002 contained data on social characteristics such as marital status, language spoken, place of birth, school enrollment and educational attainment. The statistics also reveal economic characteristics such as income and poverty information and employment status. SF 3 data were originally available on the City's census website only by census tract and for the City as a whole. In October of 2004, the City obtained a special extract of selected Summary File 3 data by neighborhood. That data has now been posted on the site in both Excel and pdf formats at the following links:
- Selected Economic Characteristics by Neighborhood, 1990 and 2000 Census
(March 2005)
- Selected Housing Characteristics by Neighborhood, 1990 and 2000 Census
(April 2005)
In addition, a series of neighborhood-specific historical profiles based on selected census data for 1980, 1990, and 2000 are being added from the link below:
- Minneapolis Neighborhood Profiles (March 2005)
Minneapolis Citywide
- 2000: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics (June 2002)
- 2000: Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics June 2002)
- 2000: Profile of Selected Housing Characteristics (June 2002)
- 2000: Profile of Selected Social Characteristics (June 2002)
- 2000 Minneapolis Redistricting Data
- 1990 to 2000: Population by Race and Ethnicity for Minneapolis
By 2000 Census Tract
(requires Acrobat Reader)
- Minneapolis map
- Percent of person at 33.5 Poverty map
- Very low Income family map
- Low income family map
- Moderate income family map
- Households with no phone and-or linguistically isolated map
By Neighborhood
- Minneapolis Neighborhood Profiles (new March 2005)
- General Demographic Characteristics by Neighborhood, 1990 and 2000 Census
- Selected Economic Characteristics by Neighborhood, 1990 and 2000 Census (new March 2005)
- Selected Housing Characteristics by Neighborhood, 1990 and 2000 Census (new April 2005)
- 2000 Race and Ethnicity by Neighborhood
- 1990 Census: Race and Ethnicity by Neighborhood
- 1990 to 2000 Population Change by Neighborhood
Note: The 2000 Census data has not yet been reviewed for accuracy or completeness by the City of Minneapolis.
Last updated Oct 26, 2018


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The winemakers of Saint-Emilion open their doors!
You do not know which wine estate to visit?
The Tourist Office helps you to make your choice! Every day, find between 2 and 4 wine properties open to the public and ready to make you discover the secrets of the vineyard and wine around a tasting.
- Free service.
- Possible visit-tasting fees to be paid on the spot.
- Booking directly and only with the participating wine estates (the Tourist Office does not take a reservation for this visit).
Please note that the schedule may be subject to last-minute changes.


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Cooperstowners in Canada
Kevin Glew's Canadian Baseball History Blog
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Asics GEL Kayano 26 2E Mens Running Shoes Black / White US 11by
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Subject to the following terms & conditions:
- All product(s) ordered must be tagged with Free Delivery over $150
- This offer excludes Bulky items, it is not available for any item that is required to be boxed and will not fit in a satchel.
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The beloved everyday trainer returns softer and more comfortable than ever with the Asics GEL Kayano 26 Men's Running Shoes. Asics packs the Kayano 26 with familiar technology features like Duomax, Guidance Line and Guidance Trusstic System technology to deliver smooth and stable transitions from heel to toe. Refined comfort comes underfoot from the freshly sculpted rearfoot foam and GEL units which offer improved impact protection, taking pressure off your joints. You'll be bouncing quicker back into your next stride too with the Flightfoam Propel placed under the forefoot and heel. Protect your step and find your stride in the Asics GEL Kayano 26.
- Re-engineered jacquard mesh upper minimises weight and delivers exceptional breathability
- External clutch heel counter provides a foot hugging fit
- New contoured sockliner offers a more comfortable footbed
- Dual-density DuoMax in the midsole stabilises the foot for smooth control
- Flytefoam Propel technology delivers a springier and more reactive step
- Sculpted rearfoot GEL unit with improved shear deformation offers greater impact protection
- Guidance Trusstic Technology enhances stability and durability
- Guidance Line Technology helps the foot move more naturally for a smoother landing stride
- AHAR sponge rubber in the outsole remains lightweight while improving durability
- Super AHAR Heel Plug delivers durable wear to protect shoes from wear
- Protect every step with dynamic support and impact protection
- Refined sculpting of rearfoot foam and GEL unit delivers enhanced impact protection
- Softer and springier feel comes from the contoured sockliner and Flytefoam Propel technology


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Harry Styles Dumped Taylor Swift Because She Wouldn't Sleep With Him
Taylor is known for her good reputation, but could that have cost her her relationship with sex-hungry Harry? Read on for all the juicy details.
Taylor Swift and Harry Styles seemed like they were crazy for each other, but as it turns out Taylor reportedly wasn't crazy enough for the One Direction singer who enjoys plenty of intimate one-on-one time.
A source tells RadarOnline.com, "Taylor is so concerned that the public will think she's a wh*re because she dates around, that she doesn't put out."
Is Taylor Swift A Prude And Is Harry Styles Too Sex-Obsessed?
"What she doesn't get is that the guys keep dumping her because she's being a prude," says the friend.
"Harry found Taylor a little sexually uninterested," says the insider. "While it was clear she obviously had a thing for Harry, Taylor didn't want to put out as often as he would've liked. Harry is a young boy, with ladies throwing themselves at him and has had a string of relationships with older women.
Maybe Taylor wasn't sexually mature enough for Harry, who is known for dating older woman.
"It's no secret he's sexually active and is enjoying his fame at the moment. But Taylor just wasn't up for it as much as he is. They were sexually incompatible," adds the source.
"Having a clean and wholesome reputation is super important to Taylor," says the source. "She puts herself in these stupid situations but then honestly can't understand why she's getting such a shabby reputation."
Taylor Swift Tried Her Best To Make Relationship Work
Apparently, Taylor really wanted the relationship to work out, but their differences proved to be too difficult to overcome.
"Harry wants to go out to fancy bars and clubs and enjoy being young – but Taylor's more of a homebody and all she would talk about was antiques!" the insider says. "It drove him crazy, so he gave her the elbow!"
"Taylor was beyond obsessed with Harry and she was over the moon when he agreed to take their relationship public," the source says.
"But he was over it before it ever really even began." How sad!
Do you think Taylor is prude and that's the real reason why her relationship with Harry soured? What do YOU think, HollywoodLifers? Do you think Taylor and harry should try and work things out?
WATCH: Taylor Swift Mocks Harry Styles In New Music Video Shoot
—Sandra Clark
More Taylor & Harry news
- Max George Sets His Sights On Taylor Swift After Harry Styles Split
- Taylor Swift & Harry Styles Broke Up: The Real Reason The Relationship Ended
- Harry Styles & Taylor Swift: How They're Coping After Their Split


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You do not need to register for the eCourts Portal to view Today's Court Listings, Search for Court Listings, View your Fines/Infringements or view information on Strata Titles.
To register for Magistrates Court Online Forms or Guardianship & Administration, click here
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Q&A: Colombia's civil conflict
Colombia has suffered decades of civil conflict and has long been a major producer and exporter of illegal drugs such as cocaine.
Former President Alvaro Uribe, in office from 2006 to 2010, pursued a hard-line stance against left-wing guerrillas while making tentative peace overtures.
His successor, Juan Manuel Santos, took office in 2010 vowing to seek an end to the conflict. In October 2012, the government and the biggest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), launched peace talks.
Why has Colombia long suffered high levels of violence?
Colombia, in common with many Latin American nations, evolved as a highly segregated society, split between the traditionally rich families of Spanish descent and the vast majority of poor Colombians, many of whom are of mixed race.
This group provided a natural constituency for left-wing insurgents - with two main groups, the Farc and the ELN (National Liberation Army).
At the other end of the political spectrum were right-wing paramilitaries, with roots in vigilante groups set up decades ago by landowners for protection against rebels. The main group was the AUC - the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, which officially at least has demobilised.
In a country where the presence of the state has always been weak, the result was a grinding war on multiple fronts, with the civilian population caught in the crossfire and often deliberately targeted for "collaborating".
Human rights advocates blamed paramilitaries for massacres, "disappearances", and cases of torture and forced displacement. Rebel groups are behind assassinations, kidnapping and extortion.
What is the situation today?
The Farc, the country's largest rebel group, and the government are holding peace talks in the Cuban capital, Havana. After six months of talks, they reached agreement on land reform, one of six major issues on their agenda. Negotiations continue, but President Juan Manuel Santos has set a deadline of November 2013 for significant agreement to be reached.
The rebels, although much weakened, are still active. The Farc had called a unilateral two-month ceasefire when talks began in November as a sign of good will. But with the government refusing to cease military operations, the rebels restarted their attacks on military and civilian targets in January. The government insists that there will only be a ceasefire when a peace agreement is signed.
Another factor has been the emergence of what the government calls Bacrims, namely criminal bands, which are involved in drug-trafficking and extortion. These groups emerged after the demobilisation of the AUC paramilitaries in 2006.
The cocaine trade has been the main motor of the armed conflict, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for the illegal armed groups.
Who suffers?
It is difficult to find reliable statistics on the toll from the violence in Colombia. What is clear is that the scale of the suffering has been huge.
Especially at risk are those with high-profile roles in the community - including social leaders, political activists, human rights campaigners and trade unionists. Many indigenous communities have also suffered attacks.
Violent crime and kidnappings have, however, decreased in recent years. In May 2008, the government announced that kidnaps were at a 20-year low. Figures showed that from a high in 2000, when more than 3,500 people were seized, in 2007 just under 400 people were kidnapped. Of these, some 179 were freed.
But the fate of those taken hostage by rebels or seized by common criminals continues to resonate in Colombian society.
Over the decades, some three million people have been internally displaced by the fighting.
The UN says that many displaced people often end up living in shanty towns around the cities, where they have little access to health or educational services.
What are the prospects for peace?
There have been many attempts at negotiations over the course of the conflict, but to date these have always faltered.
The tough security policy pursued by former president Uribe and Mr Santos, then his defence minister, inflicted significant blows on the rebels. Several rebel leaders died and there has been a high number of desertions from guerrilla ranks.
However, the rebels do still operate across large rural areas, where the presence of the state is weak.
The latest round of peace talks has been described as more realistic than previous attempts. The talks between the Farc and government representatives centre on five key issues: rural development; guarantees for the exercise of political opposition and citizen participation; the end of armed conflict; drug trafficking; and the rights of the victims of the conflict.
So far, they have reached agreement on the first of the six issues: land reform. However, with negotiations taking more than half a year to reach a deal on one point, it is difficult to see how the two parties can stick to their original schedule unless they considerably speed up the pace.
Even if the government signs a peace deal with the Farc, it will still have to deal with Colombia's second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The ELN, has expressed interest in entering peace negotiations but President Santos said he wanted to see "actions rather than words" and demanded the 3,000-strong rebel force release the hostages it still holds, including a Canadian citizen.
What about paramilitary fighters?
Since 2003, some 31,000 paramilitaries handed in their weapons under a peace deal.
A controversial justice and peace law passed in 2005 meant that paramilitary fighters were eligible for reduced jail terms - of no more than eight years - if they gave details of their involvement in torture, killings and other crimes.
Critics argued that paramilitaries guilty of serious human rights violations could end up serving only token jail terms.
The government points to figures which it says show a decreasing level of violence as evidence that its strategy is working.
The extent of the paramilitaries' influence over and involvement in local, regional and national politics came to the fore in 2007. In a scandal dubbed the "parapolitics", a dozen members of congress were jailed and dozens more politicians investigated for links to the AUC.
Why is the US involved in Colombia?
More than 90% of all cocaine on American streets comes from Colombia, so the US administration is keen to tackle the supply at source.
Since 2000, Washington has spent several billion dollars on training and equipping Colombian forces, and providing intelligence to help tackle drug traffickers and eliminate coca crops.
Human rights groups say the line between the war on drugs and the war on rebels has been increasingly blurred.
They say Colombia's rebels have been disproportionately targeted in Plan Colombia, though it is the paramilitaries who have been most involved in drug-trafficking.
The US and Colombia signed a controversial deal in October 2009 to allow the US military use of several Colombian airbases.
The two countries said this was to counter drug-trafficking and terrorism. But some of Colombia's neighbours expressed concern at what they saw as an increased US military presence in South America.


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Hey, probably a simple question for some of you...
I need to pass an NULL pointer to a function and have the pointer be given a value within the function. How would that be done? Can a pointer be passed as reference?
My code would look something like this:
But this is not changing the value of the NULL pointer for me after the function exits...Code:void GetData(DataType *data) { data = (DataType *) FunctionThatReturnsPointer(); } DataType *data = NULL; GetData(data);


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