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1) 46th Student Film Festival – 4 programs for
National competition + 10 programs for International competition. 46eFestival duFilm Étudiant-4 programmes pour la compétition
nationale+ 10programmes pour la
compétitioninternationale.2)Focus on Chinese cinema of today / Focus surle cinéma Chinoisd'aujourd'hui3) Tribute to
celebrated British producer David Puttnam (born 1941). He will receivethe highest awardof the Festival, the Grand Prix of the
Americas.Five films he has produced will be screened under
the stars.
A run-down of all the films seen at this
year’s festival. As time permits a more elaborate critique (features only) will
appear under the label “Film Box-Office.” They will be identified with the
WFF2015 logo. Updates will appear on a frequent basis (hopefully once a day) so
please visit frequently.
Twenty-something Cédric is devastated when
his girlfriend dumps him on the metro platform. When he returns to their shared
apartment he leaves in a state of fury, taking only his unfinished novel. Fate
brings him to the boarding house of Isabelle, a 76-year-old former star pianist
and faded beauty. To maintain her sense of youthful beauty and self-worth,
Isabelle has surrounded herself with a bevy of young eccentric male boarders
who ‘adore’ her. Cédric and Isabelle become entangled in a bizarre ‘love-hate’
relationship. As with his first feature, this is a meaningless meandering drama
about lost souls seeking love.
After 50 years of
being separated from her first love, Michael, Anne summons up the courage to go
the reunion of her high school. She wants to apologize and try to rekindle the
romance. He is not there. She goes to see him the next day at the residence he
is staying. He is a war hero who suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Ellia has been living an anonymous life in Melbourne ever since the
tragic death of her twin brother Adam many years ago. Her only link to her old
life is her father, Robert, and their shared love of wine. When Robert is
killed in a freak accident, Ellia returns to the family vineyard to attend his
funeral, finding the family fractured and the vineyard seriously in debt. Robert’s
death is ruled a murder. His wife Sophie is the prime suspect and is arrested.
Angered and confused, Ella decides to stay to find out what really happened to
her father.
At the end of World War I, Poland
was reborn as an independent state after having been partitioned between the
empires of Russia, Germany and Austria. This film is an unconventional
retelling of the only successful Polish uprising of its history – mixing
psychic fantasy with fact. A group of clairvoyants, committed to restoring Poland’s
independence, have gathered in a hotel room for a special séance. They are
pooling their powers to save Jan Paderewski, the legendary pianist who was considered the
symbolic leader of the Wielkopolska Uprising. Dr. Abuse has been hired by the Prussians to
negatively influence Paderewski.
Anya is unable to accept the death of her lover. Her attempt to join
him is interrupted when a rooster smashes through the window, entering her
apartment. In her eyes, the rooster is the spitting image of her lover. This
leads to hilarious situations as she tries to convince those around her that it
is – even to the point of trying to get a marriage certificate.
The Bergers are on their way to their vacation destination, when the
husband starts speeding. Arriving insomewhere in Austria, he stops in the town square. The next morning is
market day, and he is asked to move his car. He stubbornly refuses to do so,
even with police presence. His wife is frustrated – is this the end of their
marriage?
Emo finds out that his girlfriend, Vera is pregnant and doesn't know
who the father is. He decides to embark upon a journey to the land of his birth
– the land of the ‘kurai’ (the tumbleweed). It is an unfamiliar land with
unfamiliar rules – one of which is to ‘listen’ to the kurai as it reveals its
secrets. Along the way, he will encounter many characters who will tell him
their stories of the kurai, bringing him closer to understanding their riddle.
The film is a modern myth that explores the search for the meaning of life and
love.
Today’s technology is dependent on an adequate supply of copper, coltan
and many other minerals. The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to one the
richest seams of these minerals. The multinationals are willing to fund the
deadliest war since the Second World War (over five million lives lost since
1996 with the body count continuing to rise. The billions of dollars made from the
exploitation of these minerals haven’t benefitted the Congolese people at all. The
film powerfully exposes this geological scandal. What can be done to stop it
before it is too late (if not already so)?
Michael Clarke knows that his Colby, is gay,
yet he prefers to ignore that aspect of his son’s life. Colby hatches a plan to
trick his father to go on a camping trip with Rusty, his boyfriend. Colby tells
his father that Rusty is straight and that they plan to open a restaurant
together. Colby is convinced that his father and his boyfriend will get along. I
found the acting somewhat emotionally inappropriate especially that of the
director who played the role of Rusty. He had an annoying smirk even when his
dialogue was of a serious nature.
Brandon is preparing for his duties as bartender for a wedding
reception when a young woman walks in and makes a beeline for the bar. He
immediately gives her a martini. She orders two more and reveals that she is
the sister of the bride and that her name is Sarah. She also tells Brandon a
secret that if revealed would have adverse repercussions. Brandon finds himself
being dragged deeper and deeper into the family drama. A character-driven drama
exploring more than just the bride and groom as it reveals secrets that can
only be told to the bartender.
Roya has been playing
the role of 'Nandini', the central character of
Rabindranath Tagore's play 'Red Oleanders', for 12 seasons. This is her final
season. 'Nandini' represents the epitome of Bengali womanhood. She is a young
woman who disregards society’s conventional attitudes towards women and seeks
her own happiness. Roya’s husband wants her to quit being an actress and have a
child. Her mother wishes the same. Meanwhile, a renowned producer asks her to
remount 'Red Oleanders' and make it pertinent for today’s audience. Real life
and stage are ‘under construction’ as Roya embarks upon her own psychological
journey.
In 1596, Spitsbergen, an island in the Svalbard archipelago, was
discovered by William Barents. Situated in the northernmost point of Europe, it
is now under Norwegian control. The 12th century Russian Pomors
called it Grumant. Every year during the six months of the polar night, Barentsburg,
a Russian mining community, the coal mines are worked six days per week, with
New Year’s Day and the sun emerging to end the polar night as holidays, despite
its forbidding and harsh environment. It has been dubbed ‘Island of Communism’
due to it being a cashless society and a statue of Lenin.
Can one truly breakaway from a darkened
past and finally find a place he can truly call home and a family he can truly
call his own? When Cotton Welles is accepted by widower Clay Peakes, who runs a
horse ranch and is raising his young daughter Emily, he hopes that he can
finally do so. But his past does catch up to him when he is handed a flyer –
his predatory evangelist mother has tracked him down and wants him back in the
flock at any cost. He has a gift – the power of healing animals and man.
Three brothers spend the evening
together conversing around the kitchen table in the home where they grew up and
where two of them still live. At first, it seems like a normal family gathering
but the dysfunctionality between the three and their superficial insecurities, soon
becomes apparent. Too much of a ‘home movie’ (the Dabijas are personal friends
of the director) for my taste – nothing significant or of interest for the
public.
Belgian painter Philippe Vandenberg (born 1952) died in his apartment in
Brussels. On June 29th 2009, while watching ‘Last Tango in Paris’, he
had made the decision to leave this world. Afterwards, his son, Guillaume,
returns to the center of the drama.
Japan is the only country that has suffered a nuclear attack –
Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. After the devastating
earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that struck in March of 2011, Japan once
again had to face the threat of contamination through radiation. When the
nuclear power plant at Fukushima exploded, thousands of people were forced to
evacuate. This film not only examines the effect on physical health but the
psychological effect as well. The dream of bountiful energy has become Japan’s
worst nightmare.
This experimental Kafkaesque film tells the story of a man waking up in
a field – bruised, beaten and groggy – who cannot remember how he got there or
who he is. Over the next 24 hours, the man struggles to discover who he is and
why he is in the situation he is in. Through those he encounters, he begins to
slowly piece it together. He quickly discovers that his name is Farhad; that he
is involved in a shady drug deal; that his house burned down five days earlier
and that this routine has been repeated daily since then.
This very unnerving film exposes an extreme level of injustice,
corruption, hypocrisy, inhumanity and refusal to accept responsibility; blaming
an innocent victim instead. Honorine has been separated from her husband and
two children. She is incarcerated and charged with murdering the 17-year-old son
of a plantation owner, who is doing everything in his power to make her pay for
her ‘crime’ by making her life in prison ‘a living hell.’ Her husband and two
children are suffering as well. Their only hope is an honest
judge surrounded by honest associates – hard to find in such a corrupt society.
Mile, Fedr and Zekir have
been friends for a very long time. All are in their fortys, but are still
holding on to their youthful activities. Often short of cash, they often need
to dig into their pockets just to buy a coffee. Fedr’s aunt passes away and
leaves her sowing boutique to him. They decide to reopen the space as a
pizzeria. Business is slow at first, but Jana, a mysterious wandering customer,
inspires them to offer an original service – “Order a pizza, plus whatever
makes you happy and we will make it happen.” A hilarious situation comedy.
A small seaside village, once
famous for its hairtail fishing industry, is now a shell of its former self.
Many of the villagers have left. The three remaining eligible women – Jae-kwa,
Yoo-ja and Mi-ja – compete amongst each other to catch the eye of Joon-seoh,
the only eligible bachelor left, who still continues to fish. Jae-kwa dreams of
enriching her family by raising pigs. This isn’t as easy as she imagined: her
father – always drunk; her mother – rumoured to be having an affair; her
brother – always getting beat up; the pigs – wandering off and getting stuck in
a rut.
This hour-long television
documentary is an exploration of the career of Orson Welles (1915-1985). He is
considered to be among the most innovative directors, writers and producers in
theatre, radio and cinema. His first film, ‘Citizen Kane’ (released when he was
only 24), still ranks as one of all-time greatest films. Wells, through
audacity and ‘ignorance’ had boldly reinvented the language of the 7th
Art. This film addresses the question as to why he was unable to finish any
other film since Citizen Kane. It is an excellent introduction to this 20th
century genius.
Sin desperately wants to
withdraw from her addiction to heroin but she doesn't want to do it in the
cold, grey and inhuman environment of a detox centre in Frankfurt, Germany. After
she separates from her boyfriend Leon, she encounters her best friend Illy.
Together, they plan a trip to a Greek island. But there are many obstacles in
their way. The first is money. Sin gets the needed money by selling blank prescriptions
stolen from her father’s office. The next is passports. Sin has hers but Illy
needs to pass through her alcoholic mother to get hers...
In 1931, Soviet filmmaker
Sergei Eisenstein (1898-1948) travels to city of Guanajuato in Mexico to shoot
his next film to be entitled ‘Que Viva Mexico.’ While there, he has a sensual
experience that will become a significant turning point in his life and his
career. He loses his virginity in a brief affair with his guide and chaperone Jorge Palomino y Cañedo. As with his other
films, Greenaway (as if in a dream) paints a fantastical, erotic (often graphic scenes of sexuality and nudity) and
extravagant picture of Eisenstein; resulting in a well-researched factual film
containing many experimental elements.
A portrait of three bicycle
messengers – Caroline, Raph and Matila – in the city of Lausanne, who are at an important crossroad in their
lives – do they move on to a more productive and safer career or do they stay
on, indulging their passion for unbridled liberty? An intimate look at this
often misunderstood and ignored segment of society. Yet this film addresses
universal issues that affects all of us in our lifetimes – does one become too
old for certain activities begun in our youth.
It’s scouting day for the
Dynamics High School baseball team. There is a bit of confusion as to who the
professional scout is here to see. The scout is interested in Byung-hoon, the
pitcher, but the coach is promoting Syng-jun, the batter.
Lucas, a young aspiring yet
modest Jewish lawyer, has a penchant for detective mysteries. Taking a break in
a café, he meets Barbara. She seems perfect – sexy, independent with ‘good
taste’ in literature (she’s reading his favourite author). She goes home with
him on their first date. The next morning, Lucas wakes to find that not only
has she left, but that his financial savings are gone as well. Utilising his
penchant for detective mysteries, Lucas begins to piece together the puzzle of
this theft. He soon realises that a ‘close ally’ may be one of his biggest
foes.
The Godfrey Global
Inventory Company is closing its doors for good. The company’s owners, the
enigmatic Mr. Godfrey and his overbearing sister, Esther, invite their four
employees – Janet, Mort, Jason and Misty – to a ‘farewell party.’ Attendance is
mandatory, if they want to receive the ‘final’ paycheque plus a bonus. After
some party games, they are told that there is one final ‘inventory’ that must
be processed and completed by dawn. During this night, strange paranormal
happenings begin to occur; indicating an unholy cataclysmic result is about to
come. Who/what is Mr. Godfrey and Esther? Who will survive?
After being in Britain for
two decades, celebrated travel writer Bill Bryson has just bought a home in
Connecticut. He intends to retire from writing and spend the rest of his life
at home with his beautiful wife of 40 years. After the funeral of one of his
old friends, he decides to hike the Appalachian Trail (America’s most rugged,
unspoiled and spectacular countryside) – the full 2,200 miles from Georgia to
Maine. Only Katz, an incorrigible Don Juan, agrees to accompany him. Hilarious
situations between Bryson (Redford) and Katz (Nolte) arise when the latter’s
charm gets him into trouble.
With the sensibilities of a
documentary, this film is an exploration of the quickly changing face of
Beijing. Sophie (a young blogger and artist) is having trouble accepting the
sudden departure (due to the visa crackdown on foreigners living in Beijing) of
her best friend. She was to create a cabaret show with him, but now she feels
that there is no point in doing so. How can Sophie make sense of the changes,
the losses and the heartbreaks; and also pay tribute to the streets of Beijing
– whose face is also changing – she loves but can never own?
Pakistan’s first
feature-length animation. The people of the town of Roshan Basti celebrate
annuallythrough song and dance. One
year, the festivities are cut short when Mangu attempts to kidnap a little
girl. She is saved, but Mangu escapes into a tunnel. The tunnel is inhabited by
an evil spirit named Babou Balam. He gives Mangu powers with the condition that
he protects the key to all evil. He returns to Roshan Basti to rule it with
terror and extortion. It will be up to Saadi, Amna and Kami – three
11-year-olds, endowed with special powers – to rescue the town.
Kavita takes care of her
80-year-old infirm father-in-law while her husband Rajiv is at work. She also
works at home, selling cosmetic creams. When the father-in-law needs help, he
bangs on either the bedpost or the side table with a teaspoon. And he seems to
be doing it a lot more recently...
Sofiane convinces his
friends to help him set up a web page consisting of staged violent videos. When
their first video showing an attack on a bus goes viral and becomes a headline,
others begin to send in their own videos. Things quickly spin out of control
when a group of unsavoury characters enter the picture.
Anne
and Thomas are en-route to meet his mother. Being late, Thomas begins to speed;
Anne tells him to slow down, but he doesn’t. Coming from the opposite direction
– an elderly woman is in a rush to get to her destination …
The lives of an eccentric
group of retirees are turned upside down when they are told that Silver Skies,
their beloved apartment complex, has been sold and is being converted to
condominiums. If they want to stay, they will have to buy their unit.
Unfortunately, for most of them, the asking price is beyond their means; thus
many of them will be out on the street. An inspirational comedy that not only
honours the elderly but also shows that we must never give up in fighting for
what is rightfully ours (no matter how old we are).
Adam Matthews, a
31-year-old struggling writer, is about to give up his dream of being
considered among the greats. His first two novels were rejected by the
publishers. Currently working on his third, he lacks the motivation to complete
it. His girlfriend Tracy believes he can succeed and is pushing him to finish
it. One day, while he is in a cafe, a smart beautiful woman named Emma, also
named Death, sits down at his table and tells him he will be a successful
writer; stipulating that he must die before this happens. Adam faces a
momentous decision.
In an alternative Japan, a
series of robots called Labor were designed for heavy industrial work. To
combat the potential criminal use of these robots, the Special Vehicle Section
2 (SV2) division was established. The units were known as Patlabor
(Patrol Labor). But a generation later, due to high maintenance costs, they
have been mothballed. Tokyo is attacked by a group of terrorists using a stolen
high-tech stealth helicopter. The SV2 is called in to neutralize the
threat. Mainly known for anime (example Ghost in the Shell), Oshii carries over
many of the genre’s aesthetics to this live-action sequel.
Every year, usually a month
before the holidays, hundreds of men and women traditionally leave their homes
in Vermont, Quebec and other places. They descend upon the streets of New York
City in their vans to sell Christmas trees. They are affectionately called
‘tree men’ and ‘tree women.’ For the past eight seasons, François leaves his
wife and three children to sell his trees on the corner of West 102nd Street and Broadway. Setting this ‘Christmas’ film apart
from others is its approach – expounding humanitarian ideals that create a
meaningful community far from home rather than business politics.
In an anonymous urban
neighbourhood, a real estate agent (convincingly portrayed by Andrea Vasone)
has staged an illusionary image of perfection. Every day, he compulsively
follows the same routine, recites the same rehearsed promotional speech to
every potential buyer. This compulsive behaviour is a veiled attempt at
maintaining contact with the real world and to fulfill an unexpressed dream of
love. As with most ‘illusions’, reality slowly begins to seep into the picture.
It is a harsh dystopian reality (one that many suburban neighbourhoods are
experiencing to an extent today), lacking in deep interrelationships creating nameless
blank faces.
Film
director Tokita has been unsuccessful in getting a producer to finance his
films for a long time. To make ends meet, he has accepted a teaching job at a
film school in Kyoto. He is also having an affair with Yui, the school’s
secretary. Despite his apparent stability, Tokita is very frustrated and
distressed. Unable to fund his project and complete the script nags him
enormously. One day, he spots Ritsuko, a striking young high school student. He
stalks her; becomes delusional blurring the line between his life and the
script of the film he is working on.
This is Iran’s highest
budgeted production. A grand historical epic that isn’t an actual biopic but a
depiction of the world into which the prophet Muhammad (circa 570-632) was
born; its tyranny and its oppression as seen through his eyes and those of his
protector, Abu Talib. The first of three parts, it spans the period from the
‘miraculous’ defeat of the Abyssinian army, one month before his birth, until
he was thirteen-years-old. The intention of this film is to introduce the
prophet to the world, to bring unity amongst Muslims and to smooth out
religious differences.
Nancy's Books are sold on Kindle and at Paragraphe Bookstore, 2220 McGill College Avenue, Montreal
Beyond the Dream: Epic Solitude - Nancy's collection of Poetry & short stories. Contact [email protected] or Click on image to read article. Here is the link to Martin Barry's article: http://martincbarry.weebly.com. Book is also available on Amazon Kindle
To purchase Nancy Snipper's books on Kindle,
Nancy Snipper's CDs available
Nancy Snipper is also an accomplished singer/songwriter – banjo player and classical pianist. Her three CDs have garnered much media praise along with her performances (Canada, Mexico, Cuba). Her voice is astoundingly beautiful – velvety in her blues numbers, sensual and sizzling in her folk, rock and country compositions. Now you can own one of her CDs. For enquiries about owning her CDs and/or booking performances contact her at this email: [email protected]. Her CDs help raise money for cancer research.
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Collaborators / Collaborateurs:
Sylvain Richard
Nancy Snipper
Note / Nota:
July 10, 2016:The beginning of a new and exciting chapter! Nancy Snipper's (a.k.a S.N.) first posting on her own blog: http://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.ca/********************************************************
To see all articles on a specific topic, scroll down to LABELS and click on desired LABEL. Full articles will appear one after the other that pertain to that label.Keep scrolling down to view more articles, and at end of page, click on OLDER POSTS to read more.Enjoy! | {
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Saturday, February 7, 2009
Repoze.bfg
As mentioned earlier, I've spent time looking at other frameworks lately.
I've spent more time on Chris McDonough's repoze.bfg than any of the others so far. This is probably because, as discussed below, it's very minimal. It's also documented well. Finally, it follows a few standard old Zope patterns that don't require much thought for me to process. Given all that, I can understand it quickly, and so am enticed to spend more time to read and think a bit about its design.
I looked at it again because of this recent bit of marketing: http://plope.com/whats_your_web_framework_doing. Chris makes his point, which is valid; and he's selling to his design's goals, which is the point of this kind of presentation.
As an aside, I'm a "can't we all just get along" kind of guy, so the fact that the trade-offs of repoze.bfg's design are not discussed in comparison with the other frameworks bothers me, even though having done so would have made the piece much worse marketing and much harder-to-read communication. (A repoze.bfg design tradeoff example: if you always need authentication and authorization for your web apps, you'll need to plug in and understand more WSGI middleware, and then the given comparison is not as pertinent, at least for Grok and Django.) I actually wouldn't be surprised if repoze.bfg still would do very well in the chosen metric, if the set up actually did include authorization and authentication middleware in the profile; and if it didn't discard the webob.Response. That would have been mildly more interesting to me. But, whatever, it's marketing, and I get Chris' point.
The name of the framework, "bfg" is funny on multiple levels. The level that sticks with me is that the F[*&^%$#] G[un] is really not that B[ig]. As the documentation points out, this is a very minimal framework:
Minimalism: repoze.bfg provides only the very basics: URL to code mapping, templating, and security. There is not much more to the framework than these pieces: you are expected to provide the rest.
That's nice for a "pay for what you eat" story, as the documentation says elsewhere. But it's also insufficient for any website I've ever made. There are at least some suggested patterns to follow elsewhere within the repoze meta-project: repoze.who and repoze.what are available for authentication and authorization, for instance.
But it is a framework that wants more guidance, more "rails," more framework, to get some basics done. What about web form helpers: maybe we ought to use Ian Bicking's stuff. Or what about REST helpers? You might be able to write some interesting adapters from a generic RESTful view to a CRUD-ish interface, like the patterns I've seen in Rails. But it's not there now (and the documentation states that it is an active goal to hide the zope component architecture, which could have helped with this).
While it's nice to be lightweight, I think this would make a more appealing sales pitch. Maybe it's in the plans to build related libraries and integrate them in "building with repoze.bfg" tutorials, or maybe it's antithetical to Chris' goals, who knows.
Of the three features that the framework provides, the view and templating story is the least interesting to me. It seems very similar to the Zope 3/Grok story. I intend to checkout Ian Bicking's webob library, and I hope to use chameleon at work and for hobby projects, but that's the extent of it.
The security story is very similar to Grok's. They both forego framework-level security checks during traversal, I believe, while they differ in the last step: repoze.bfg security-protects the last traversed object within the view code, as I understand it, while Grok security-protects the view. For what it is worth, I prefer the repoze.bfg approach.
The traversal story is the most interesting to me. When I first heard the repoze.bfg traversal plan of "__getitem__ over the model, period," as opposed to the more flexible standard traversal story of Grok/Zope 3, I was skeptical, but the more I think about it the more I like it. The traversal story in Zope 3 has always been a pain to use for me, and while there might be a more powerfully flexible way to alleviate that pain than the repoze.bfg approach (and I think Grok might have tackled this already), the __getitem__ simplicity still is appealing.
In that vein, I find that the assertion that the repoze.bfg code is not MVC but "MVT" (Model-View-Template) like Django doesn't feel right. repoze.bfg doesn't provide a model story; it provides a traversal story. As such, you could be traversing over models or controllers; the code doesn't care which. This is "TV" (Traversable-View); or "[MC]V," from a regex perspective on MVC; or some other odd acronym. Not MVT.
In any case, while I might explore using repoze.bfg on some hobby projects, primarily to get my hands dirty with WSGI and get a better handle on a couple of Ian Bicking's libraries, I won't be working with this at work, and I have a higher personal priority to get some time with Django. I'll probably continue to follow repoze.bfg's development from a distance for now...and be glad that I don't have to write any marketing myself.
2 comments:
Thanks for the blog post Gary! Looks like you've given it a goodonce-over. I think you have a few misunderstandings, so I'll pointthem out here.
"If you always need authentication and authorization for your webapps, you'll need to plug in and understand more WSGI middleware".That's not quite true. While authentication is not built in,authorization indeed is).And you don't need middleware to provide an authentication source:repoze.bfg can also be configured to trust the Apache-styleREMOTE_USER CGI envvarIn my experience, configuring BFG security is far less complex thanconfiguring PAU or PAS. You *can* of course get more complex asnecessary via repoze.who, which is a lot like PAS. FTR, TurboGears 2is using repoze.who for their authentication system as well, so we getto share some of the maintenance and feature-add burden for these morecomplex cases.
Wrt form validation and generation: There are a good number ofgeneral-purpose form post helpers out there: formencode,repoze.formapi, repoze.monty. There are also a good number ofgeneral-purpose form generation libraries out there: tw.form,io.formish, repoze.lxmlform, and so on. We tend to treat formvalidation and form generation separately, instead of combining theminto a formlib-like framework. One of the reasons we do this is thateach piece is smaller, and the resulting packages can be used inrepoze.bfg as well as any other WSGI framework fairly easily, so wetend to share the maintenance burden with other Python frameworks. Inpractice, this works quite well.
"What about REST helpers?" We do indeed allow for this sort of thingusing adaptation. But you're right about the CA helping here; this is the one placewe don't really try to hide it.
Wrt "repoze.bfg doesn't provide a model story, it provides a traversalstory. As such, you could be traversing over models or controllers;the code doesn't care which". This is incorrect: bfg traversal isunwilling to traverse over or into view code like Zope does, it isonly willing to traverse over models in a model graph. The last modelfound becomes the context, and we adapt it to a named view using thenext element of the path. During traversal, we *find* a model to bethe context. We also support URL dispatch using Routes. And in thatmode, BFG *generates* a model, which is the context. So it literallydoes use models, and they are very distinct from views (orcontrollers, whatever you want to call them).
And FTR, as for the BFG version of theprofile test throwing awaywebob.Response, that's mostly because it *can*. Pylons can't; itmakes one for you whether you need it or not. Grok and Zope3 workcompletely differently, but to a large extent it's true there too:you're not going to throw away the code that creates a response in thereal world. In bfg, however, we do it all the time; it's evendocumented. The same thing for being able to disable authentication: in bfgit's the default that it's disabled. You enable it specifically .
As far as needing rails: BFG doesn't quite share Zope's (or Django's)ethos of ship-with-lots-of-stuff. Instead, we try to keep the coresmall, and let people add stuff via addon packages. It's just adifferent ethos, and folks will choose whatever fits their brain atthe end of the day, I suppose.
Point taken with authorization being built in: I had forgotten about the ACL bits.
I was aware of most of the other libraries you mentioned--and I certainly didn't mean to imply that there were not good form generators/validators out there. I was just saying that bfg wasn't guiding users in any particular direction for forms, which is simply an observation of your philosophy, as you say towards the end.
Cool about REST being possible with interfaces. Your response is certainly valid, though I was thinking more about RoR-style REST support. One could probably build something like it on top of the interface hook you showed that supports it.
My response to your disagreement about my MTV comment got so big that it turned into another blog post. http://codesinger.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-claim-mtv-is-silly.html | {
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First group of child refugees from Calais arrive in Britain
The first group of unaccompanied children from the Calais “Jungle” have travelled to Britain for resettlement with relatives and more are to follow this week before the camp is closed, officials said on Sunday.
“Five Syrian minors and one Afghan travelled to the United Kingdom on Saturday,” an official at the Calais Prefecture said. “Another 10 children are to follow on Monday, and 10 more on Tuesday.” The departures come as British and French officials register unaccompanied minors eligible to join family members in the UK before the “Jungle” migrants’ camp is cleared and demolished.
Bulldozers could roll in as early as October 24 but charities have mounted a legal challenge, arguing that the demolition is illegal until sufficient alternative accommodation has been provided for up to 10,000 migrants estimated to be living there, especially for about 1,200 children at the camp.
According to the British Red Cross, 178 unaccompanied children have been identified as being entitled to claim asylum in Britain because of family links.
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, estimates that about 300 children at the Jungle are eligible to be settled in Britain.
British authorities are required to arrange for the transport of those with relatives in Britain and to make provision for their support.
Vulnerable children without relatives in Britain but who could be admitted on humanitarian grounds are also being registered and their cases considered separately.
Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, has said Britain is keen to bring as many eligible children as possible to Britain before the “Jungle” camp is razed.
Construction of a new UK-funded wall designed to stop migrants reaching the port of Calais is under way. The first 13ft-high concrete blocks were put in place on Saturday after the foundations were laid in September. The wall, to cost more than £2 million, is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Calais authorities maintain there are now only about 6,000 people in the sprawling shanty town, which would represent a substantial decrease in recent weeks.
A Prefecture official said police last week counted 5,684 migrants in a “precise, exhaustive and visual survey”. However, the official added that another tally, based on statements by camp residents in order to include those not present when police counted the migrants, led to the conclusion that 6,486 people were living there.
Charities insist that the figures are too low but volunteers acknowledged that migrants have been leaving the camp each day, some for reception centres elsewhere in France, others for unknown destinations.
Some have tried to cross the Channel. Dozens have been intercepted trying to board lorries bound for Britain and four were arrested after being found trying to cross in a dinghy.
A policeman was injured in the knee in a clash between migrants and security forces on the main road to Calais port on Saturday night, an official said.
“About 300 migrants tried to block the road and police intervened to push them back,” the official said. Police fired tear gas to disperse the migrants and one officer was hit in the knee by an object thrown from the crowd.
The port road has become a virtual no-go area at night because of increasingly desperate and violent attempts by migrants to slow or stop traffic so they can climb aboard lorries or other vehicles. | {
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Raphael(II)
Raphael was born on May 5, 1943 in Linares, Jaén, Andalucía, Spain as Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez. He has been married to Natalia Figueroa since July 14, 1972. They have three children. See full bio » | {
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It's not enough to just post the final in your WIP thread, as we might not notice it there. You also can't be sure to get your submission recognized if you send it to any of our private email addresses. So please send it to the dedicated contest email address mentioned above. | {
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Fizzics Education: Human Body
Description:
Students will gain an appreciation of the complexity of the human body in this fun workshop where your classroom becomes a hands on biology lab. Students will use microscopes and hands on models to look at major body systems and how the five senses work.
Cost per workshop:
$350 inc. GST for a 60 minute workshop or $440 for a 90 minute workshop. | {
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} |
Companies House Forms
Alternatively you can select forms by category using the navigation guide to the right of this page
PDF (Portable Document Format) is an electronic file format that can be viewed in modern browsers or saved and viewed offline. To view PDF files you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. The latest version can be downloaded free of charge. | {
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Ireland's foster care system 'besieged'
The foster care system in Ireland is "besieged" according to a child welfare expert.
The head of TUSLA, the agency responsible for the service, will appear before the Oireachtas later.
Fred McBride is expected to answer questions over high-profile failings, including the 'Grace' case which saw a vulnerable women left in an abusive home.
Fred McBride
Child welfare expert Kieran Mc Grath is worried that money is being wasted.
"The whole care system is under tremendous pressure and TUSLA is under tremendous pressure in terms of it's quite a besieged agency at the moment," he said.
"One of the issues that'll probably come up at the committee is the whole question of private foster care.
"The reason private foster care exists is because statutory provision wasn't able to keep pace with the demands - the costs are three times as much and the question would be: 'Is it three times better?'." | {
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Jazz update: Favors, Williams won’t play against Portland
Summary of 9 articles · Updated Dec 10, 2013
Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors will not play against Portland on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena. But two of Portland’s six 3s came as the Jazz were mounting a late comeback. The Jazz take a 4-18 record into their game against Portland. Tipo… (more)ff is 7 p.m. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 points and Robin Lopez added 11 to help the Portland Trail Blazers take a 51-45 halftime lead over the Jazz on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Wesley Matthews scored 24 points, Weber State product Damian Lillard added 21 and LaMarcus Aldridge contributed 20 points and 15 rebounds as Portland dominated during a 130-98 victory. Crawford led the Celtics to the East's lone perfect mark on the week at 3-0, behind averages of 23.3 points on .610 shooting from the field , 6.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds.
Utah Jazz: Burks shines, but Jazz fall to Blazers
In their first meeting of the season, the Trail Blazers rained down 3-pointers — a franchise 17 of them — in a dismantling of the Utah Jazz. On Monday night in the rematch, Portland picked its spots more judiciously, waiting until the end to let loose t…
Aldridge, Lillard lead Portland past Jazz
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and Damian Lillard added 18, including a clinching 3-pointer with 38.5 seconds left, to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 105-94 win over the Jazz on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah and Portland battled …
Jazz update: Favors, Williams won’t play against Portland
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 points and Robin Lopez added 11 to help the Portland Trail Blazers take a 51-45 halftime lead over the Jazz on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Alec Burks led Utah with 15 points. Enes Kanter finished the half with 10. …
Aldridge leads Portland to 51-45 halftime lead over Utah
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 points and Robin Lopez added 11 to help the Portland Trail Blazers take a 51-45 halftime lead over the Jazz on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Alec Burks led Utah with 15 points. Enes Kanter finished the half with 10. …
Crawford, Aldridge named Players of the Week
The Boston Celtics' Jordan Crawford and the Portland Trail Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge on Monday were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 8. | {
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} |
yeah, it must be a nullifying technique of some sort. otherwise, itachis giving naruto some of his powers would be pointless. itachi was actually depending on naruto to save sasuke. Itachi was protecting sasuke from the start.
Naruto was given an UNBELIEVABLE power, nothing is as strong as it. If you want to know, look below:
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
did you miss Naruto use it in Sage mode when he snuck out that night while learning how to become a sage. He did not perfect its use yet but if you remember you saw the big white thing that look like a cloud. That was no cloud! I say no more....
i jsut hope it is something that can help naruto defending not just himself but the whole konoha without him asking the help of the nine tailed beast...it can really be something that can help naruto stop sasuke in destroying konoha for basing on what i've seen in the anime,itachi told naruto that sasuke may not follow the path that he intended for him to follow, and that is protecting konoha just like what he did..
Naruto was given an UNBELIEVABLE power, nothing is as strong as it. If you want to know, look below:
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
did you miss Naruto use it in Sage mode when he snuck out that night while learning how to become a sage. He did not perfect its use yet but if you remember you saw the big white thing that look like a cloud. That was no cloud! I say no more....
Naruto was given an UNBELIEVABLE power, nothing is as strong as it. If you want to know, look below:
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
did you miss Naruto use it in Sage mode when he snuck out that night while learning how to become a sage. He did not perfect its use yet but if you remember you saw the big white thing that look like a cloud. That was no cloud! I say no more....
i dont believe he was practicing to do whatever itachi gave him i believe he was practicing his ultimate technique
i think he was given the power to make his mind up on killing suske if he cant be helped
in the best guess of all ages. I'm willing to bet that he gave Naruto the Power to control the 9 tails power to the fullest of there abilities and to resist madara and sasukes ability to control that chakra or whatever. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
FrenchTrotters at Pitti Uomo Video
Retail Store FrenchTrotters were amongst numerous other retailers on buying trips at Pitti Uomo. While in Florence, the guys captured the show and its surroundings on film for us all to see. Its a very well put together piece and an insight into how FrenchTrotters saw the show and what might be in their store next summer. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The war should be called a measure for assessing the “strength of the Russian state,” rather than the “strength of the Russian people.” Indeed, Russia’s victory in the war was one of the most vivid manifestations of the Russian spirit and probably one of the last major victories of the Imperial Russian Army.
Valdaiclub.com
interview with Sergey Mironenko, Director, State Archives of the Russian Federation, Professor, Chair of Russia's history of XIX - early XX century, History Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Can the War of 1812 be used as a measure to assess the “strength of the Russian people?”
The war should be called a measure for assessing the “strength of the Russian state,” rather than the “strength of the Russian people.” Indeed, Russia’s victory in the war was one of the most vivid manifestations of the Russian spirit and probably one of the last major victories of the Imperial Russian Army. Moreover, Russia dominated the 1815 Congress of Vienna and determined the future of the world, which was primarily controlled by Europe at the time. I don’t know of any other historical period, perhaps with the exception of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, where Russia made such a successful showing on the European stage.
What role did the people’s militia play in the Russian Army’s victory over the forces of Napoleon?
Current perceptions of the Patriotic War of 1812 as a war involving the entire Russian people against the Grande Armee do not always correspond to the facts of what happened. Units of the people’s militia were formed as part of the regular army. They did not amount to partisan units as they have been described in the historical accounts of the Patriotic War.
The manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, dedicated to the noble militia, set out the creation of a militia with a clear command structure. An ad hoc committee to form the militia was established in Moscow. General Alexei Arakcheyev was one of its members. The militiamen received weapons in line with a centralized procedure and they were also issued standard uniforms.
Partisan units were also affiliated with the regular army. It should not be forgotten that the partisan units of Denis Davydov or Alexander Figner were formed on the basis of the regular army. They were subordinated to the army command and had somewhat different functions from the militia units and partisan units described in the historical accounts of the Great Patriotic War.
Moreover, the people’s militia had little active involvement in any actual fighting. So I believe that there is a certain historical misconception about the militia’s role in the War of 1812.
Where did the expression “the big stick of the people’s war” come from then?
The great Russian author Leo Tolstoy was the first to use the expression “big stick of the people’s war” in reference to the War of 1812. The appearance of this metaphor was to a large extent linked with Tolstoy’s own perception of historical processes and with the fact that rank-and-file Russian soldiers were recruited from among peasant serfs.
However, the extent of the involvement of the people and the peasants in the fighting remains unclear. Modern-day historians doubt that even if Vasilisa Kozhina actually existed, whether she really created a partisan unit and took part in the war.
As for the “big stick of the people’s war,” the people definitely rose up in defense of the Motherland. However, partisan units were not the main form of resistance and armed struggle, although it would be wrong for any historical evaluation to underestimate their role or significance. We need to have a clear idea of what these partisan and militia units were really like. Of course, peasants dressed in soldiers’ greatcoats defended the Motherland. At the same time, the nobility, the clergy and the Third Estate also rallied in the struggle against Napoleon. Nor should the stance of the supreme leadership be forgotten either. Remember, Emperor Alexander I refused to hold talks with Napoleon, who mistakenly believed that once Moscow was captured he could force Russia to surrender on French terms. The more we understand the real events of the War of 1812, the more we understand the many issues that were previously concealed from us by mythologizing or propaganda.
What do you think about the current perception of the War of 1812? This year has been proclaimed as the Year of Russian History, and celebrations of the victory in the War of 1812 have been designated as its main event.
I’m beginning to get pretty fed up with this unhealthy media hype surrounding the events of the War of 1812. There are many publications and speculations on the subject of the war. One respected radio station broadcasts the timeline of the War of 1812 every day. Everywhere you go you hear the War of 1812, the War of 1812, the War of 1812. I cannot understand who this endless historical distortion is aimed at.
Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise. | {
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Environment Science Graduates Future
Why Environment Science Graduates are so important
With the devastation of floods seen in the state of Kerala and the booming climate-change adversities, people and the government officials are now forced to bend over the depressing condition of the environment. But what happens to the attention of the government officials in the Higher Education Ministry, when we talk about the employment of the science graduates in the same discipline?????
Environment Science Graduates Future
The EVS (Environment Science Graduates) with a zeal and enthusiasm to work for the greater good in the various domains of the environment lag behind in the path of the career in comparison to the others. In spite of achieving diversity of knowledge from various fields ranging from Ecology to Waste Managment, from Remote Sensing to Environment law, Ethics to the economy, these graduated have all, but still, the job market for these aspiring candidates is at stake. This is in a much less state in India when compared with other countries. The situation is not taken with utmost seriousness as the Higher Ministries (CPCB, MOEF, SPCBs) are not working for the development of these candidates. | {
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} |
With full updated ergonomic shaping and design details, the GP Pro R2 has taken an evolutionary step with an anatomically engineered design for performance, protection and comfort. Tested on MotoGP and WSBK circuits around the world, the GP Pro R2 features Alpinestars exclusive Dynamic Friction Shield (DFS) protectors feature advanced airflow ventilation and aramidic reinforcement, this glove is primed for superior track day performance. | {
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You are using a browser that is not standards-compliant. The information on this Web site will be accessible to you, but for a list of Web browsers that comply with the World Wide Web Consortium standards, please visit our Web standards page.
You are using a browser that is not standards-compliant. The information on this Web site will be accessible to you, but for a list of Web browsers that comply with the World Wide Web Consortium standards, please visit our Web standards page.
Optical and Electronic Materials and Nanomaterials
Dr. Bartha's program involves the characterization of novel nanomaterials for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. In particular, the characterization and development of methods to detect nanomaterials with greater sensitivity using a mechanism called chemical exchange saturation transfer. The use of this mechanism provides opportunities to utilize nanomaterials to report physiological conditions such as temperature and pH in biological systems.
Systems with dimensions in the nanometer range are studied by molecular simulations and analytical theories. The systems are modeled on atomic scale using different levels of description that range from quantum chemical to empirical in order to capture features defining the properties of the systems. The properties that are studied are phase transformations, conformational changes of biological molecules and other polymers, solvation, reactions in clusters/aerosols, disintegration mechanisms of charged nanodroplets, diffusion of drugs.
The Denniston group's research focuses on modelling particles and dynamic processes in complex fluids. They study systems involving micro- and nano-scale objects, soft colloids or polymers for instance, in a complex fluid such as a liquid crystal. An important aspect of their work is the development of models and multi-scale computer simulation techniques to investigate these systems.
Prof. Fanchini's activity encompasses the preparation of carbon-based and organic nanomaterials and their use for the fabrication of optical and electronic devices , including as thin film transistors and solar cells. Materials that have been recently investigated include carbon nanotube networks, graphene nanoplatelets, conducting polymers and polyaromatic molecules. Specific characterization and modeling activities focus on spectroscopic investigation of electronic and solar cell devices during operation and involve the use of photothermal deflection spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometruy, solid-state electron-spin resonance, Kelvin-probe spectro-microscopy and near-field optical techniques.
Prof. Lyudmila Goncharova is an expert in surface and interface characterization utilizing high and medium energy ion scattering elastic recoil detection analysis, nuclear reaction analysis. Scientific objectives in the group are to perform quantum dot preparation using ion implantation, as well as high-resolution ion profiling of thin film multilayered structures with focus on the interfaces, and a development of a more comprehensive model of interface structures that can be used in the design of interfaces for electronics, photonics and related applications. Additionally the broader technological impact of this work will result in improving ion beam techniques for hydrogen detection and profiling to study novel materials for solar cell energy applications.
Dr. Jiang’s research interests and activities cover a wide range in solid and applied mechanics and materials engineering. One of her projects is focused on investigating the size-dependent properties of piezoelectric nanostructures in energy harvesting. Dr. Jiang’s other research topics include investigating the mechanical and electrical properties of conductive polymer nanocomposites by developing an efficient multi-scale modeling approach; investigating the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube, graphene, and the electromechanical coupling behavior of nanoscale dielectric materials for applications as actuators and sensors.
Prof. Lagugné-Labarthet's scientific interest includes the development of high spatial resolution optical spectroscopy for nanomaterial characterization, the design, modeling and fabrication of nanostructured plasmonics devices for high sensitivity sensing. More recently he is involved together with Robarts researchers in the spatial control of neuron growth using surface modification. He is involved in multiple collaborations within UWO and with other Canadian and European colleagues.
Dr. Mittler's Laboratory for Photonics of Surfaces and Interfaces focuses on three major themes. One is evanescent microscopy, both fluorescence and scattering, to study ultra thin films, cell adhesion and biofilm formation on surfaces: here novel (polymeric) materials can be tested for biocompatibility, foulingor antifouling effects. The second theme addresses fabrication of functional surfaces to detect particular molecules (e.g. cancer marker) or creates a particular cell response. This involves gold nanoparticles and localized surface plasmon spectroscopy, self-assembled monolayers or Langmuir-Blodgett films but also nano-structuring with holographic methods. Last but not least, new fundamental sensor platforms based on waveguide technology are developed.Dr. Mittler works highly interdisciplinary and has various cooperations especially when biological topics are addressed or new synthetic materials are involved.
Professor Sham’s research covers the general area of the chemistry and electronic properties of materials and the development and application of synchrotron radiation, especially the interplay of electronic structure, materials properties and synchrotron techniques. His areas of expertise include nanomaterial synthesis with emphasis on C and Si based materials as well as metal oxides, surface and interface, photoemission, x-ray absorption, photon-in photon-out spectroscopy (x-ray emission, x-ray excited optical luminescence, resonant and non-resonant inelastic x-ray scattering via the x-ray and the Auger channel) and x-ray microscopy. His recent interest concerns with nanostructure assembly and proximity effects, light emitting phenomena from composite nanostructures in the energy and time domain, microbeam analysis of tissues, energy transfer dynamics in nanostructures and industrial materials for drug delivery, Li battery and fuel cell applications.
Peter Simpson's group researches the production of silicon nanocrystals, or quantum dots, by a variety of fabrication methods. These structures exhibit light emission unlike bulk silicon, and we investigate the underlying physics of the light emission process as a step toward device engineering. Prof. Simpson also researches the application of positron annihilation as a technique to investigate open-volume defects in materials, and the use of 'defect engineering' to control or modify material properties.
Chemistry and materials research under extreme conditions, especially at high pressures, represents a prevailing interdisciplinary frontier area with profound implications in new functional materials ane clean energy. In particular, the Song group is specialized in the investigation of molecular structures and materials properties under extremely high pressures using optical spectroscopy and synchrotron techniques. The recent research thrusts focused on several main themes, such as pressure-morphology tuning of one-dimensional nanomaterials, investigation of energetic materials, and development of hydrogen storage materials.
Prof. Workentin specializes in the design and synthesis of photochemically and electrochemically responsive organic functionalized materials. The main goal is to develop a physical organic chemistry understanding of the structure-function relationships and factors that control chemical reactivity on these materials to aid in the building of new architectures for potential applications. | {
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'Any recount ... will be unconstitutional'
The petition presents the following questions: whether the Florida Supreme Court established new standards for resolving Presidential election contests, thereby violating Art. II, Sec. 1, cl. 2, of the United States Constitution and failing to comply with 3 U. S. C. Sec. 5, and whether the use of standardless manual recounts violates the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses. With respect to the equal protection question, we find a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.
The closeness of this election, and the multitude of legal challenges which have followed in its wake, have brought into sharp focus a common, if heretofore unnoticed, phenomenon. Nationwide statistics reveal that an estimated 2% of ballots cast do not register a vote for President for whatever reason, including deliberately choosing no candidate at all or some voter error, such as voting for two candidates or insufficiently marking a ballot. In certifying election results, the votes eligible for inclusion in the certification are the votes meeting the properly established legal requirements.
This case has shown that punch card balloting machines can produce an unfortunate number of ballots which are not punched in a clean, complete way by the voter. After the current counting, it is likely legislative bodies nationwide will examine ways to improve the mechanisms and machinery for voting.
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College. This is the source for the statement in McPherson v. Blacker, that the State legislature's power to select the manner for appointing electors is plenary; it may, if it so chooses, select the electors itself, which indeed was the manner used by State legislatures in several States for many years after the Framing of our Constitution. History has now favored the voter, and in each of the several States the citizens themselves vote for Presidential electors. When the state legislature vests the right to vote for President in its people, the right to vote as the legislature has prescribed is fundamental; and one source of its fundamental nature lies in the equal weight accorded to each vote and the equal dignity owed to each voter. The State, of course, after granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors.
The right to vote is protected in more than the initial allocation of the franchise. Equal protection applies as well to the manner of its exercise. Having once granted the right to vote on equal terms, the State may not, by later arbitrary and disparate treatment, value one person's vote over that of another. ("(O)nce the franchise is granted to the electorate, lines may not be drawn which are inconsistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment"). It must be remembered that "the right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizen's vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the franchise."
There is no difference between the two sides of the present controversy on these basic propositions. Respondents say that the very purpose of vindicating the right to vote justifies the recount procedures now at issue. The question before us, however, is whether the recount procedures the Florida Supreme Court has adopted are consistent with its obligation to avoid arbitrary and disparate treatment of the members of its electorate.
Much of the controversy seems to revolve around ballot cards designed to be perforated by a stylus but which, either through error or deliberate omission, have not been perforated with sufficient precision for a machine to count them. In some cases a piece of the card -- a chad -- is hanging, say by two corners. In other cases there is no separation at all, just an indentation.
The Florida Supreme Court has ordered that the intent of the voter be discerned from such ballots. For purposes of resolving the equal protection challenge, it is not necessary to decide whether the Florida Supreme Court had the authority under the legislative scheme for resolving election disputes to define what a legal vote is and to mandate a manual recount implementing that definition. The recount mechanisms implemented in response to the decisions of the Florida Supreme Court do not satisfy the minimum requirement for non-arbitrary treatment of voters necessary to secure the fundamental right. Florida's basic command for the count of legally cast votes is to consider the "intent of the voter." This is unobjectionable as an abstract proposition and a starting principle. The problem inheres in the absence of specific standards to ensure its equal application. The formulation of uniform rules to determine intent based on these recurring circumstances is practicable and, we conclude, necessary.
The law does not refrain from searching for the intent of the actor in a multitude of circumstances; and in some cases the general command to ascertain intent is not susceptible to much further refinement. In this instance, however, the question is not whether to believe a witness but how to interpret the marks or holes or scratches on an inanimate object, a piece of cardboard or paper which, it is said, might not have registered as a vote during the machine count. The factfinder confronts a thing, not a person. The search for intent can be confined by specific rules designed to ensure uniform treatment.
The want of those rules here has led to unequal evaluation of ballots in various respects. ("Should a county canvassing board count or not count a "dimpled chad' where the voter is able to successfully dislodge the chad in every other contest on that ballot? Here, the county canvassing boards disagree" Wells dissent). As seems to have been acknowledged at oral argument, the standards for accepting or rejecting contested ballots might vary not only from county to county but indeed within a single county from one recount team to another.
The record provides some examples. A monitor in Miami-Dade County testified at trial that he observed that three members of the county canvassing board applied different standards in defining a legal. And testimony at trial also revealed that at least one county changed its evaluative standards during the counting process. Palm Beach County, for example, began the process with a 1990 guideline which precluded counting completely attached chads, switched to a rule that considered a vote to be legal if any light could be seen through a chad, changed back to the 1990 rule, and then abandoned any pretense of a per se rule, only to have a court order that the county consider dimpled chads legal. This is not a process with sufficient guarantees of equal treatment.
An early case in our one person, one vote jurisprudence arose when a State accorded arbitrary and disparate treatment to voters in its different counties. Gray v. Sanders, 372 U. S. 368 (1963). The Court found a constitutional violation. We relied on these principles in the context of the Presidential selection process in Moore v. Ogilvie, 394 U. S. 814 (1969), where we invalidated a county-based procedure that diluted the influence of citizens in larger counties in the nominating process. There we observed that "(t)he idea that one group can be granted greater voting strength than another is hostile to the one man, one vote basis of our representative government." Id., at 819.
The State Supreme Court ratified this uneven treatment. It mandated that the recount totals from two counties, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach, be included in the certified total. The court also appeared to hold sub silentio that the recount totals from Broward County, which were not completed until after the original November 14 certification by the Secretary of State, were to be considered part of the new certified vote totals even though the county certification was not contested by Vice President Gore. Yet each of the counties used varying standards to determine what was a legal vote. Broward County used a more forgiving standard than Palm Beach County, and uncovered almost three times as many new votes, a result markedly disproportionate to the difference in population between the counties.
In addition, the recounts in these three counties were not limited to so-called undervotes but extended to all of the ballots. The distinction has real consequences. A manual recount of all ballots identifies not only those ballots which show no vote but also those which contain more than one, the so-called overvotes. Neither category will be counted by the machine. This is not a trivial concern. At oral argument, respondents estimated there are as many as 110,000 overvotes statewide. As a result, the citizen whose ballot was not read by a machine because he failed to vote for a candidate in a way readable by a machine may still have his vote counted in a manual recount; on the other hand, the citizen who marks two candidates in a way discernable by the machine will not have the same opportunity to have his vote count, even if a manual examination of the ballot would reveal the requisite indicia of intent. Furthermore, the citizen who marks two candidates, only one of which is discernable by the machine, will have his vote counted even though it should have been read as an invalid ballot. The State Supreme Court's inclusion of vote counts based on these variant standards exemplifies concerns with the remedial processes that were under way.
That brings the analysis to yet a further equal protection problem. The votes certified by the court included a partial total from one county, Miami-Dade. The Florida Supreme Court's decision thus gives no assurance that the recounts included in a final certification must be complete. Indeed, it is respondent's submission that it would be consistent with the rules of the recount procedures to include whatever partial counts are done by the time of final certification, and we interpret the Florida Supreme Court's decision to permit this.
This accommodation no doubt results from the truncated contest period established by the Florida Supreme Court in Bush I, at respondents' own urging. The press of time does not diminish the constitutional concern. A desire for speed is not a general excuse for ignoring equal protection guarantees.
In addition to these difficulties the actual process by which the votes were to be counted under the Florida Supreme Court's decision raises further concerns. That order did not specify who would recount the ballots. The county canvassing boards were forced to pull together ad hoc teams comprised of judges from various Circuits who had no previous training in handling and interpreting ballots. Furthermore, while others were permitted to observe, they were prohibited from objecting during the recount.
The recount process, in its features here described, is inconsistent with the minimum procedures necessary to protect the fundamental right of each voter in the special instance of a statewide recount under the authority of a single state judicial officer. Our consideration is limited to the present circumstances, for the problem of equal protection in election processes generally presents many complexities.
* * *
The question before the Court is not whether local entities, in the exercise of their expertise, may develop different systems for implementing elections. Instead, we are presented with a situation where a state court with the power to assure uniformity has ordered a statewide recount with minimal procedural safeguards. When a court orders a statewide remedy, there must be at least some assurance that the rudimentary requirements of equal treatment and fundamental fairness are satisfied.
Given the Court's assessment that the recount process underway was probably being conducted in an unconstitutional manner, the Court stayed the order directing the recount so it could hear this case and render an expedited decision. The contest provision, as it was mandated by the State Supreme Court, is not well calculated to sustain the confidence that all citizens must have in the outcome of elections. The State has not shown that its procedures include the necessary safeguards. The problem, for instance, of the estimated 110,000 overvotes has not been addressed, although Chief Justice Wells called attention to the concern in his dissenting opinion.
Upon due consideration of the difficulties identified to this point, it is obvious that the recount cannot be conducted in compliance with the requirements of equal protection and due process without substantial additional work. It would require not only the adoption (after opportunity for argument) of adequate statewide standards for determining what is a legal vote, and practicable procedures to implement them, but also orderly judicial review of any disputed matters that might arise. In addition, the Secretary of State has advised that the recount of only a portion of the ballots requires that the vote tabulation equipment be used to screen out undervotes, a function for which the machines were not designed. If a recount of overvotes were also required, perhaps even a second screening would be necessary. Use of the equipment for this purpose, and any new software developed for it, would have to be evaluated for accuracy by the Secretary of State.
The Supreme Court of Florida has said that the legislature intended the State's electors to "participat(e) fully in the federal electoral process," as provided in 3 U. S. C. Sec. 5. That statute, in turn, requires that any controversy or contest that is designed to lead to a conclusive selection of electors be completed by December 12. That date is upon us, and there is no recount procedure in place under the State Supreme Court's order that comports with minimal constitutional standards. Because it is evident that any recount seeking to meet the December 12 date will be unconstitutional for the reasons we have discussed, we reverse the judgment of the Supreme Court of Florida ordering a recount to proceed.
Seven Justices of the Court agree that there are constitutional problems with the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court that demand a remedy. See post, at 6 (Souter, J., dissenting); post, at 2, 15 (Breyer, J., dissenting). The only disagreement is as to the remedy. Because the Florida Supreme Court has said that the Florida Legislature intended to obtain the safe-harbor benefits of 3 U. S. C. Sec. 5, Justice Breyer's proposed remedy remanding to the Florida Supreme Court for its ordering of a constitutionally proper contest until December 18-contemplates action in violation of the Florida election code, and hence could not be part of an "appropriate" order authorized by Fla. Stat. Sec. 102.168(8) (2000).
* * *
None are more conscious of the vital limits on judicial authority than are the members of this Court, and none stand more in admiration of the Constitution's design to leave the selection of the President to the people, through their legislatures, and to the political sphere. When contending parties invoke the process of the courts, however, it becomes our unsought responsibility to resolve the federal and constitutional issues the judicial system has been forced to confront.
The judgment of the Supreme Court of Florida is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
Pursuant to this Court's Rule 45.2, the Clerk is directed to issue the mandate in this case forthwith.
Concurring opinion
We join the per curiam opinion. We write separ- ately because we believe there are additional grounds that require us to reverse the Florida Supreme Court's decision
In most cases, comity and respect for federalism compel us to defer to the decisions of state courts on issues of state law. That practice reflects our understanding that the decisions of state courts are definitive pronouncements of the will of the States as sovereigns. Of course, in ordinary cases, the distribution of powers among the branches of a State's government raises no questions of federal constitutional law, subject to the requirement that the government be republican in character. But there are a few exceptional cases in which the Constitution imposes a duty or confers a power on a particular branch of a State's government. This is one of them. Article II, Sec. 1, cl. 2, provides that "(e)ach State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct," electors for President and Vice President. Thus, the text of the election law itself, and not just its interpretation by the courts of the States, takes on independent significance. . . .
This inquiry does not imply a disrespect for state courts but rather a respect for the constitutionally prescribed role of state legislatures. To attach definitive weight to the pronouncement of a state court, when the very question at issue is whether the court has actually departed from the statutory meaning, would be to abdicate our responsibility to enforce the explicit requirements of Article II . . .
* * *
But as we indicated in our remand of the earlier case, in a Presidential election the clearly expressed intent of the legislature must prevail. And there is no basis for reading the Florida statutes as requiring the counting of improperly marked ballots, as an examination of the Florida Supreme Court's textual analysis shows. We will not parse that analysis here . . .
The State's Attorney General (who was supporting the Gore challenge) confirmed in oral argument here that never before the present election had a manual recount been conducted on the basis of the contention that "undervotes" should have been examined to determine voter intent. For the court to step away from this established practice, prescribed by the Secretary of State, the state official charged by the legislature with "responsibility to ...(o)btain and maintain uniformity in the application, operation, and interpretation of the election laws," was to depart from the legislative scheme.
The scope and nature of the remedy ordered by the Florida Supreme Court jeopardizes the "legislative wish" to take advantage of the safe harbor provided by 3 U. S. C. Sec. 5. December 12, 2000, is the last date for a final determination of the Florida electors that will satisfy Sec. 5. Yet in the late afternoon of December 8th -- four days before this deadline -- the Supreme Court of Florida ordered recounts of tens of thousands of so-called "undervotes" spread through 64 of the State's 67 counties. This was done in a search for elusive -- perhaps delusive- certainty as to the exact count of 6 million votes. But no one claims that these ballots have not previously been tabulated; they were initially read by voting machines at the time of the election, and thereafter reread by virtue of Florida's automatic recount provision. No one claims there was any fraud in the election. The Supreme Court of Florida ordered this additional recount under the provision of the election code giving the circuit judge the authority to provide relief that is "appropriate under such circumstances."
Surely when the Florida Legislature empowered the courts of the State to grant "appropriate" relief, it must have meant relief that would have become final by the cut-off date of (December 12) In light of the inevitable legal challenges and ensuing appeals to the Supreme Court of Florida and petitions for certiorari to this Court, the entire recounting process could not possibly be completed by that date. Whereas the majority in the Supreme Court of Florida stated its confidence that "the remaining undervotes in these counties can be (counted) within the required time frame," it made no assertion that the seemingly inevitable appeals could be disposed of in that time. Although the Florida Supreme Court has on occasion taken over a year to resolve disputes over local elections, (resolving contest of sheriff's race 16 months after the election), it has heard and decided the appeals in the present case with great promptness. But the federal deadlines for the Presidential election simply do not permit even such a shortened process.
As Chief Justice Wells' dissent noted:
"In (the four days remaining), all questionable ballots must be reviewed by the judicial officer appointed to discern the intent of the voter in a process open to the public. Fairness dictates that a provision be made for either party to object to how a particular ballot is counted. Additionally, this short time period must allow for judicial review. I respectfully submit this cannot be completed without taking Florida's presidential electors outside the safe harbor provision, creating the very real possibility of disenfranchising those nearly 6 million voters who are able to correctly cast their ballots on election day."
The other dissenters echoed this concern: "(T)he majority is departing from the essential requirements of the law by providing a remedy which is impossible to achieve and which will ultimately lead to chaos."
Given all these factors, and in light of the legislative intent identified by the Florida Supreme Court to bring Florida within the "safe harbor" provision of 3 U. S. C. Sec. 5, the remedy prescribed by the Supreme Court of Florida cannot be deemed an "appropriate" one as of December 8. It significantly departed from the statutory framework in place on November 7, and authorized open-ended further proceedings which could not be completed by December 12, thereby preventing a final determination by that date.
For these reasons, in addition to those given in the per curiam, we would reverse.
Justice Souter's dissenting opinion
Justice Souter, with whom Justice Breyer joins and with whom Justice Stevens and Justice Ginsburg join with regard to all but Part C, dissenting.
The Court should not have reviewed either Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Bd., or this case, and should not have stopped Florida's attempt to recount all undervote ballots by issuing a stay of the Florida Supreme Court's orders during the period of this review. If this Court had allowed the State to follow the course indicated by the opinions of its own Supreme Court, it is entirely possible that there would ultimately have been no issue requiring our review, and political tension could have worked itself out in the Congress following the procedure provided in 3 U. S. C. Sec. 15. The case being before us, however, its resolution by the majority is another erroneous decision.
. . . The interpretations by the Florida court raise no substantial question under Article II. That court engaged in permissible construction in determining that Gore had instituted a contest authorized by the state statute, and it proceeded to direct the trial judge to deal with that contest in the exercise of the discretionary powers generously conferred by Fla. Stat. Sec. 102.168(8) (2000), to "fashion such orders as he or she deems necessary to ensure that each allegation in the complaint is investigated, examined, or checked, to prevent or correct any alleged wrong, and to provide any relief appropriate under such circumstances." As Justice Ginsburg has persuasively explained in her own dissenting opinion, our customary respect for state interpretations of state law counsels against rejection of the Florida court's determinations in this case.
It is only on the third issue before us that there is a meritorious argument for relief, as this Court's Per Curiam opinion recognizes. It is an issue that might well have been dealt with adequately by the Florida courts if the state proceedings had not been interrupted, and if not disposed of at the state level it could have been considered by the Congress in any electoral vote dispute. But because the course of state proceedings has been interrupted, time is short, and the issue is before us, I think it sensible for the Court to address it.
Petitioners have raised an equal protection claim in the charge that unjustifiably disparate standards are applied in different electoral jurisdictions to otherwise identical facts. It is true that the Equal Protection Clause does not forbid the use of a variety of voting mechanisms within a jurisdiction, even though different mechanisms will have different levels of effectiveness in recording voters' intentions; local variety can be justified by concerns about cost, the potential value of innovation, and so on. But evidence in the record here suggests that a different order of disparity obtains under rules for determining a voter's intent that have been applied (and could continue to be applied) to identical types of ballots used in identical brands of machines and exhibiting identical physical characteristics (such as "hanging" or "dimpled" chads). I can conceive of no legitimate state interest served by these differing treatments of the expressions of voters' fundamental rights. The differences appear wholly arbitrary.
In deciding what to do about this, we should take account of the fact that electoral votes are due to be cast in six days. I would therefore remand the case to the courts of Florida with instructions to establish uniform standards for evaluating the several types of ballots that have prompted differing treatments, to be applied within and among counties when passing on such identical ballots in any further recounting (or successive recounting) that the courts might order.
Unlike the majority, I see no warrant for this Court to assume that Florida could not possibly comply with this requirement before the date set for the meeting of electors, December 18. Although one of the dissenting justices of the State Supreme Court estimated that disparate standards potentially affected 170,000 votes, the number at issue is significantly smaller. The 170,000 figure apparently represents all uncounted votes, both undervotes (those for which no Presidential choice was recorded by a machine) and overvotes (those rejected because of votes for more than one candidate). But as Justice Breyer has pointed out, no showing has been made of legal overvotes uncounted, and counsel for Gore made an uncontradicted representation to the Court that the statewide total of undervotes is about 60,000. To recount these manually would be a tall order, but before this Court stayed the effort to do that the courts of Florida were ready to do their best to get that job done. There is no justification for denying the State the opportunity to try to count all disputed ballots now.
I respectfully dissent.
Justice Stevens' dissenting opinion
The Constitution assigns to the States the primary responsibility for determining the manner of selecting the Presidential electors. When questions arise about the meaning of state laws, including election laws, it is our settled practice to accept the opinions of the highest courts of the States as providing the final answers. On rare occasions, however, either federal statutes or the Federal Constitution may require federal judicial intervention in state elections. This is not such an occasion.
* * *
The legislative power in Florida is subject to judicial review pursuant to Article V of the Florida Constitution, and nothing in Article II of the Federal Constitution frees the state legislature from the constraints in the state constitution that created it. Moreover, the Florida Legislature's own decision to employ a unitary code for all elections indicates that it intended the Florida Supreme Court to play the same role in Presidential elections that it has historically played in resolving electoral disputes. The Florida Supreme Court's exercise of appellate jurisdiction therefore was wholly consistent with, and indeed contemplated by, the grant of authority in Article II.
* * *
Admittedly, the use of differing substandards for determining voter intent in different counties employing similar voting systems may raise serious concerns. Those concerns are alleviated -- if not eliminated -- by the fact that a single impartial magistrate will ultimately adjudicate all objections arising from the recount process.
* * *
Even assuming that aspects of the remedial scheme might ultimately be found to violate the Equal Protection Clause, I could not subscribe to the majority's disposition of the case. As the majority explicitly holds, once a state legislature determines to select electors through a popular vote, the right to have one's vote counted is of constitutional stature. As the majority further acknowledges, Florida law holds that all ballots that reveal the intent of the voter constitute valid votes. Recognizing these principles, the majority nonetheless orders the termination of the contest proceeding before all such votes have been tabulated. Under their own reasoning, the appropriate course of action would be to remand to allow more specific procedures for implementing the legislature's uniform general standard to be established.
In the interest of finality, however, the majority effectively orders the disenfranchisement of an unknown number of voters whose ballots reveal their intent -- and are therefore legal votes under state law -- but were for some reason rejected by ballot-counting machines. But, as I have already noted, those provisions merely provide rules of decision for Congress to follow when selecting among conflicting slates of electors. They do not prohibit a State from counting what the majority concedes to be legal votes until a bona fide winner is determined. . . . Thus, nothing prevents the majority, even if it properly found an equal protection violation, from ordering relief appropriate to remedy that violation without depriving Florida voters of their right to have their votes counted. As the majority notes, "(a) desire for speed is not a general excuse for ignoring equal protection guarantees." Finally, neither in this case, nor in its earlier opinion in Palm Beach County Canvassing Bd. v. Harris, did the Florida Supreme Court make any substantive change in Florida electoral law. Its decisions were rooted in long-established precedent and were consistent with the relevant statutory provisions, taken as a whole. It did what courts do -- it decided the case before it in light of the legislature's intent to leave no legally cast vote uncounted. In so doing, it relied on the sufficiency of the general "intent of the voter" standard articulated by the state legislature, coupled with a procedure for ultimate review by an impartial judge, to resolve the concern about disparate evaluations of contested ballots. If we assume-as I do-that the members of that court and the judges who would have carried out its mandate are impartial, its decision does not even raise a colorable federal question.
What must underlie petitioners' entire federal assault on the Florida election procedures is an unstated lack of confidence in the impartiality and capacity of the state judges who would make the critical decisions if the vote count were to proceed. Otherwise, their position is wholly without merit. The endorsement of that position by the majority of this Court can only lend credence to the most cynical appraisal of the work of judges throughout the land. It is confidence in the men and women who administer the judicial system that is the true backbone of the rule of law. Time will one day heal the wound to that confidence that will be inflicted by today's decision. One thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law.
Justice Ginsberg's dissenting opinion
Justice Ginsburg, with whom Justice Stevens joins, and with whom Justice Souter and Justice Breyer join as to Part I, dissenting.
I might join The Chief Justice were it my commission to interpret Florida law. But disagreement with the Florida court's interpretation of its own State's law does not warrant the conclusion that the justices of that court have legislated. There is no cause here to believe that the members of Florida's high court have done less than "their mortal best to discharge their oath of office," Sumner v. Mata, 449 U. S. 539, 549 (1981), and no cause to upset their reasoned interpretation of Florida law.
Rarely has this Court rejected outright an interpretation of state law by a state high court.
The extraordinary setting of this case has obscured the ordinary principle that dictates its proper resolution: Federal courts defer to state high courts' interpretations of their state's own law. This principle reflects the core of federalism, on which all agree. . . Were the other members of this Court as mindful as they generally are of our system of dual sovereignty, they would affirm the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court . . .
I agree with Justice Stevens that petitioners have not presented a substantial equal protection claim. Ideally, perfection would be the appropriate standard for judging the recount. But we live in an imperfect world, one in which thousands of votes have not been counted. I cannot agree that the recount adopted by the Florida court, flawed as it may be, would yield a result any less fair or precise than the certification that preceded that recount.
Even if there were an equal protection violation, I would agree with Justice Stevens, Justice Souter, and Justice Breyer that the Court's concern about "the December 12 deadline," is misplaced. Time is short in part because of the Court's entry of a stay on December 9, several hours after an able circuit judge in Leon County had begun to superintend the recount process. More fundamentally, the Court's reluctance to let the recount go forward-despite its suggestion that "(t)he search for intent can be confined by specific rules designed to ensure uniform treatment," ultimately turns on its own judgment about the practical realities of implementing a recount, not the judgment of those much closer to the process.
Equally important, as Justice Breyer explains, "deadline" for bringing Florida's electoral votes into 3 U. S. C. Sec. 5's safe harbor lacks the significance the Court assigns it. Were that date to pass, Florida would still be entitled to deliver electoral votes Congress must count unless both Houses find that the votes "ha(d) not been ...regularly given." The statute identifies other significant dates. (specifying December 18 as the date electors "shall meet and give their votes"); Sec. 12 (specifying "the fourth Wednesday in December"- this year, December 27 -- as the date on which Congress, if it has not received a State's electoral votes, shall request the state secretary of state to send a certified return immediately. But none of these dates has ultimate significance in light of Congress' detailed provisions for determining, on "the sixth day of January," the validity of electoral votes.
The Court assumes that time will not permit "orderly judicial review of any disputed matters that might arise." But no one has doubted the good faith and diligence with which Florida election officials, attorneys for all sides of this controversy, and the courts of law have performed their duties. Notably, the Florida Supreme Court has produced two substantial opinions within 29 hours of oral argument. In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be tested. Such an untested prophecy should not decide the Presidency of the United States.
I dissent.
The facts
On December 8, 2000, the Supreme Court of Florida ordered that the Circuit Court of Leon County tabulate by hand 9,000 ballots in Miami-Dade County. It also ordered the inclusion in the certified vote totals of 215 votes identified in Palm Beach County and 168 votes identified in Miami-Dade County for Vice President Albert Gore, Jr., and Senator Joseph Lieberman, Democratic Candidates for President and Vice President. The Supreme Court noted that petitioner, Governor George W. Bush asserted that the net gain for Vice President Gore in Palm Beach County was 176 votes, and directed the Circuit Court to resolve that dispute on remand. The court further held that relief would require manual recounts in all Florida counties where so-called "undervotes" had not been subject to manual tabulation. The court ordered all manual recounts to begin at once. Governor Bush and Richard Cheney, Republican Candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency, filed an emergency application for a stay of this mandate. On December 9, we granted the application, treated the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari, and granted certiorari.
The proceedings leading to the present controversy are discussed in some detail in our opinion in Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Bd.
On November 8, 2000, the day following the Presidential election, the Florida Division of Elections reported that petitioner, Governor Bush, had received 2,909,135 votes, and respondent, Vice President Gore, had received 2,907,351 votes, a margin of 1,784 for Governor Bush. Because Governor Bush's margin of victory was less than "one-half of a percent . . . of the votes cast," an automatic machine recount was conducted under Sec. 102.141(4) of the election code, the results of which showed Governor Bush still winning the race but by a diminished margin. Vice President Gore then sought manual recounts in Volusia, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties, pursuant to Florida's election protest provisions. Fla. Stat. Sec. 102.166 (2000). A dispute arose concerning the deadline for local county canvassing boards to submit their returns to the Secretary of State (Secretary). The Secretary declined to waive the November 14 deadline imposed by statute. The Florida Supreme Court, however, set the deadline at November 26. We granted certiorari and vacated the Florida Supreme Court's decision, finding considerable uncertainty as to the grounds on which it was based. On December 11, the Florida Supreme Court issued a decision on remand reinstating that date.
On November 26, the Florida Elections Canvassing Commission certified the results of the election and declared Governor Bush the winner of Florida's 25 electoral votes. On November 27, Vice President Gore, pursuant to Florida's contest provisions, filed a complaint in Leon County Circuit Court contesting the certification. He sought relief pursuant to Sec. 102.168(3)(c), which provides that "(r)eceipt of a number of illegal votes or rejection of a number of legal votes sufficient to change or place in doubt the result of the election" shall be grounds for a contest. The Circuit Court denied relief, stating that Vice President Gore failed to meet his burden of proof. He appealed to the First District Court of Appeal, which certified the matter to the Florida Supreme Court.
Accepting jurisdiction, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part. The court held that the Circuit Court had been correct to reject Vice President Gore's challenge to the results certified in Nassau County and his challenge to the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board's determination that 3,300 ballots cast in that county were not, in the statutory phrase, "legal votes."
The Supreme Court held that Vice President Gore had satisfied his burden of proof in respect to under to his challenge to Miami-Dade County's failure to tabulate, by manual count, 9,000 ballots on which the machines had failed to detect a vote for President ("undervotes"). Noting the closeness of the election, the Court explained that "(o)n this record, there can be no question that there are legal votes within the 9,000 uncounted votes sufficient to place the results of this election in doubt." A "legal vote," as determined by the Supreme Court, is "one in which there is a "clear indication of the intent of the voter. ' " The court therefore ordered a hand recount of the 9,000 ballots in Miami-Dade County. Observing that the contest provisions vest broad discretion in the circuit judge to "provide any relief appropriate under such circumstances," the Supreme Court further held that the Circuit Court could order "the Supervisor of Elections and the Canvassing Boards, as well as the necessary public officials, in all counties that have not conducted a manual recount or tabulation of the undervotes . . . to do so forthwith, said tabulation to take place in the individual counties where the ballots are located."
The Supreme Court also determined that both Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County, in their earlier manual recounts, had identified a net gain of 215 and 168 legal votes for Vice President Gore. Rejecting the Circuit Court's conclusion that Palm Beach County lacked the authority to include the 215 net votes submitted past the November 26 deadline, the Supreme Court explained that the deadline was not intended to exclude votes identified after that date through ongoing manual recounts. As to Miami-Dade County, the Court concluded that although the 168 votes identified were the result of a partial recount, they were "legal votes (that) could change the outcome of the election." The Supreme Court therefore directed the Circuit Court to include those totals in the certified results, subject to resolution of the actual vote total from the Miami-Dade partial recount. | {
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'Yahoo’s recent announcement of it’s intent to purchase Tumblr has brought out the virtual fangs. Tumblr users are passionate and are worried about what will happen to their platform. ” If the deal goes down, Tumblr as you and I once knew it, may be done. Is that what lies ahead for Tumblr? How about Facebook? SEO/SEM Tumblr Yahoo
'Check out this week’s summary of all the latest social media news, including changes and new features for Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare and Snapchat: Tumblr’s app update allows users to customize the way their blog looks on mobile. Tumblr. Twitter. Foursquare. Snapchat. Any social media updates that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
[Facebook, Startup] 50 Top Startups from 2010: Acquired, Pivoted or Still Going?
It''s said that one year in the life of a startup is the equivalent of dog years when compared to more established companies. My goal with this June 2010 post was not to highlight the top private companies, as I withheld inclusion of many of the bigger companies, like Facebook and Twitter and Tesla. highlighted 50 top startups on the Web. 7: Tumblr Status: Acquired by Yahoo.
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PUSHING SOCIAL
APRIL 25, 2014
[Facebook, Startup] What is the Most Effective Content Strategy for Startups?
The hub for your content strategy will in most cases be a WordPress or Tumblr blog. will often the Business Model Canvas created by Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur authors of Business Model Generation , an invaluable guide to any startup. Define the Problem: Surprisingly few startups use their blog to concisely explain the challenge facing their prospects! Keep at it.
Follow the blog on RSS , Twitter or Facebook and youll never miss a post again! My friend Amit Klein and I have been giving away startup ideas on our blogs. You should build the service using the Facebook and Foursquare APIs and launch it city by city, starting with New York. Would this be like an app on Facebook? Like Thrillist. Like Plancast. Like Thread. Digesting it.
It is still in its infancy and while many people are engulfed in some form of social media, there are still billions of people who haven’t been on Facebook or its kind before. Will Tumblr Stay Up Regularly Enough To Expand Their Adoption? There are two things that we learned about Tumblr in 2010: It can be highly addicting, accounting for it’s boom to 3.5
But even with whatever Tumblr or Pinterest site comes next, there are a few big boys that are probably here to say. The biggest, of course, are Twitter and Facebook. Facebook in particular offers a unique format that is ideal marketing yourself and directly interacting with your potential clients and customers. And at the very least, you can still use Facebook as an almost inexhaustible resource for information. Facebook can give a lot back to you, and it really doesn’t take a lot of effort to reap the rewards. Building your brand online is hard. Let us know!
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Hopefully you’ve caught up to these by now, but just in case, this post from Trevor LaTorre-Couch details (fairly) recent design and functionality changes from Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and explaining for each change the benefit(s) of each change for marketers. Keri Jaehnig details two dozen tips and tools for planning, productivity, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, G+, image editing (e.g., Scientific Guide to Posting Tweets, Facebook Posts, Emails, and Blog Posts at the Best Time by Buffer Social. Guides to Marketing with Tumblr and Triberr. do that for me?”
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'What is Yahoo going to do with Tumblr? What is Tumblr going to become with Yahoo? After it was announced that Yahoo would be acquiring Tumblr for a little over a billion dollars, the online channels (and traditional media outlets) went crazy in an " Instagram just got bought by Facebook for a billion dollars" kind of way. Like Instagram, Tumblr has no immediate and clear revenue model (the company reportedly made about $13 million in 2012 with an estimated $100 million for 2013 in advertising revenue). The future of Tumblr isn''t Yahoo.
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[Facebook, Startup] Unplug Your Social Media Machine and Go Acoustic from Time to Time
Content that I post on Pinterest , Tumblr , Scoop.it , and my personal WordPress blog go live the moment that I publish on those platforms. 14 Twitter Feeds Startups/Founders Should Follow. Business Social Media Featured Social Media Social Media Management Social Media Marketing Social Media Strategy Facebook Online Communities pinterest Triberr tumblr Twitter WordpressThere’s an excitement that surrounds it, particularly after a couple of weeks when the results start improving and the processes start moving like clockwork. You should be using tools. Rinse.
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Social Media Informer can personalize the content based on your interests,
your LinkedIn profile, what you share on Twitter and LinkedIn, and what content people
similar to you are sharing. More on Content Personalization
Sign-in using your social networks so we can begin to personalize your experience.
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"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Activism as Art
If you know me then you know I have a knack for traversing emotional landscapes, most of the time gracefully and sometimes not so gracefully (I take pride in my imperfect humanness). My art comes from a place of vulnerability and passion that is greatly influenced by the natural landscapes of environment. For this reason, and so many more, I reside in an ecologically diverse and remote community where I have access to the magnificence of nature on a daily basis. I pull my art from the places both within and without and I believe the two are synonymous; human relationship to the outer environment is a reflection to the inner environment of the emotional and physical self.
When I paint I often imagine dancing between the two, the body and the earth. Or one…the earth. Whichever way you look at it. Respect for the natural world is of great importance to me. Abuse to humans, animals, or biological regions raises my blood pressure like nothing else. We are all on this planet together and there is no tolerance for carelessness of life. We must continue to grow together and learn to respect our self, one another, and the habitats we reside within. We need to be good humans and treat all living things with reverence.
Earlier this month, I read an article in Exotic Hikes that illuminated an issue that encompasses the region of my home on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. As I read the article, I could not believe that there was no other media or information about these plans. The more I learned, the more disappointed and impassioned I became.
The nutshell version: The US Navy partnered behind the publics back to request a land use permit from the United States Forest Services which would allow the Navy access to protected land of the Olympic National Forest. The Navy’s proposal for Electromagnetic Warfare Training Games would bring an additional 36 Growler Jets to the airspace of the Olympic National Park while mobile and fixed emitters would be positioned throughout the Olympic National Forest and neighboring communities sending signals to the jets overhead.
We are united community members around the Olympic Peninsula and world, raising our voices together to stand for the land. (Check out this stunning video & other inspiring creative projects by More Than Just Parks)
The Olympic National Park is described as a place of incredible beauty and variety. A day’s exploration can take you from breathtaking mountain vistas with meadows of wildflowers to colorful ocean tide pools. Nestled in the valleys are some of the largest remnants of ancient rain and old growth forests left in the United States. Home to endangered species and coined the last quiet place in America, this is an ecologically diverse and magnificent part of the world where pilgrims from all over visit to bask in the stillness of its beauty.
The words of Howard Zinn:
To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places — and there are so many — where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand Utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
Art is life in action.
Activism is action for life.
“To be an artist is to believe in life,” says Henry Moore.
There is no doubt in my heart that groups of impassioned artists, believers in life, are creating the future one marvelous victory by one marvelous victory by one marvelous victory by one…
Onward we go, change it is slow, the road may be long but our voices are strong.
The roots of this forest are ancient and deep and the hearts of the dreamers have promises to keep.
PERMANENT EXHIBITION
A permanent display of work is located at The CoLab, 237 Taylor Street, in the heart of beautiful, picturesque, historic downtown Port Townsend, Washington. The space is open to the public, Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm, and the collection "Beneath Waves" covers two different styles of art from a five year span of time.
www.ptcolab.com | {
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Is it possible to write a "1" into an input image table location? No input card installed. Wondering how to turn on an input bit using logic (without forcing). I only want to write to a single location.
You can use the force function in either a SLC or PLC to force the input address on. In a PLC5 I think you can just punch a one in the data table and it will stay there as long as there isn't a card installed.
In a SLC, the processor will fault if the configured card is absent. I don't know of a way around this.
In a SLC you can use an input address in an OTE or OTL instruction. I don't know about the PLC5.
Our distinguished colleague Ron Beaufort teaches this exercise in his PLC bootcamp to illustrate the fact that a PLC COPIES the inputs into an input image table. Then it solves the logic. Then it COPIES the output image table to the outputs. The input image table is NOT the actual inputs, its a read/write memory location that is updated with a copy of the actual inputs in between the scans. So if you write a 1 to a bit in the input image table on the first rung of the program, logic will solve as though the input was on, even if is is not actually on.
"Forcing" is a temporary override in memory of an Input data element or override of the logic program's result of an Output data element. It's a very specific thing and can only be done by the controller's operating system under instructions from the editing software. Forces can be globally turned on and off, and globally removed with the push of a button.
I had not considered putting an "overwrite" routine in the first program subroutine. It wouldn't work when interrupts or immediate input instructions were present, but it's a very clever technique.
If you didn't put the "override" routine in the first program subroutine, you'd have the input bits at different states at different times in the program, which would be troublesome.
I'll take back my assertion "but not by application logic" above, as it is demonstrably incorrect. Back to bootcamp for me.
Ken's right, we are not writing to the force table here, but if you don't have any IIMs then this method will work - as long as you are clear on exactly what it happening and make sure your program and subroutines are constructed accordingly.
The IO module must be configured, and unless you set the status bit the program will fault if the module is actually missing as already mentioned above.
Well, may be I missused the word "Forcing" in the context in which I needed to accomplish my task.
Basically, I want to be able to write a one or a zero in to an input image table location using logic.
Following OkiePC's example, I used an OTE instruction to turn on an input bit in the I/O image table. This was the first line in my main program. However, it keeps toggling on/of without holding a steady state of "ON" or a 1. I even tried adding an OTE latch instruction, but did not help the cause. Even tried the instruction at multiple locations (beg. and at end of Main routine) w/o any sucess. By the way, I am trying this with a PLC 5/40.
Is it actually toggling on and off in your program scan, or are you just seeing it toggle in Logix500? You computer reads the IO image table asynchronous to the progam scan, so the bit could still be on for the full portion of the progam solving part of the scan. Try this
Just a Warning - The input image in a controllogix 5000 is updated independant of the PLC scan (ie between one rung and the next)
PS I have sucessfully used simulation code in SLC500 where the simulation code changed the I table based on the O table using timers and basic logic - Great for testing the program and HMI in the office before turning up on site.
standard disclaimer: first of all let me say that I always feel slightly “uncomfortable” whenever I use Phil’s excellent forum to discuss the PLC training that I do - because I’m sure that there are some who consider any comments that I make to be “advertising” ... on the other hand, occasionally my PLC courses do get mentioned, and in many of those situations I feel that I should make SOME type of personal response ... I can assure you that my feelings will NOT be hurt if Phil decides to edit (or even completely remove) anything that follows ...
also ... I’ve been out of touch for a few days of vacation in Florida which is why I haven’t already responded to the questions posed in this thread ...
also ... the material that I’m posting here pertains to the Allen-Bradley PLC-5, SLC, and MicroLogix platforms ... specifically, it does NOT apply to the ControlLogix or CompactLogix platforms (for the reasons that MichaelG correctly pointed out in post #14) ...
from skyfox:
Quote:
Well, may be I missused the word "Forcing" in the context in which I needed to accomplish my task.
yes, your original terminology could be causing some of the confusion ... just to nail this idea down, my PLC classes generally last for five days ... I usually don’t let the students “force” anything until at least Wednesday or sometimes Thursday ... the reason is that until they understand EXACTLY how the PLC processor’s “scan sequence” works, the “force” feature can be quite confusing ...
personally I use the term “hijacking” for the operation that you’re looking for in this thread ... specifically, we can use a simple OTE rung to “hijack” the 1-or-0 status of any INPUT bit during the execution of the ladder logic rungs ... more specifically, we can MAKE the processor interpret the status of that “hijacked” input bit as either a 1 condition or as a 0 condition throughout the REST of the ladder logic rungs - REGARDLESS of the actual on/off condition of the field device itself ...
Quote:
Basically, I want to be able to write a one or a zero in to an input image table location using logic.
that’s not a problem ... in fact, I use exactly the same approach VERY often when I need to demonstrate to a customer how his program will react to a certain input - even when my lab equipment isn’t set up to duplicate the exact addresses of his input devices ...
here’s a quick example ... suppose that a customer has a rung which uses the field address I:014/12 for a start button ... I don’t normally have my lab equipment set up to duplicate that specific address - so I just drop in a temporary rung to “hijack” the status of that input bit ... to keep things neat and clean I usually put this new rung in a TEMPORARY subroutine file ... the customer doesn’t even need to see this part of the setup ... but now when I turn my lab’s simulator module switch (I:000/0) on and off, I can easily change the status of the original bit ... just make sure that your JSR rungs are set up so that you jump into the “hijack” routine BEFORE you jump into the original file ... or if you want to keep things simple, skip the “subroutine” idea and just put the “hijack” rung in the same program file as the original rung ... but again, be sure that the “hijack” rung is scanned BEFORE the original rung - or else the whole idea won’t work ...
and yes, I know how “weird” it looks to “control” an INPUT device with an OUTPUT instruction ... but it works - and it’s VERY educational ...
and now the puppet dances ... all we have to do is pull the (simulator) strings ...
and since “forces” were mentioned too, click herefor an interesting post which pits the brutal power of the mighty FORCE against the wimpy little OTE instruction ... guess who wins? ...
Quote:
Following OkiePC's example, I used an OTE instruction to turn on an input bit in the I/O image table. This was the first line in my main program. However, it keeps toggling on/of without holding a steady state of "ON" or a 1. ... By the way, I am trying this with a PLC 5/40.
probably what confused you here was that the status of the bit on the RSLogix5 display screen appeared to keep toggling on and off ... the “PLC-5/40” is REALLY important ...
secret handshake #1: with the PLC-5 platform (and RSLogix5) the screen “communicates” with the processor at RANDOM times during the ladder execution sequence ... so SOMETIMES the status of the “hijacked” bit might look ON - but SOMETIMES the status might look OFF ... but if you really understand how the rungs are scanned (their order of execution) then you can accurately forecast how the ladder logic will interpret the status of the “hijacked” bit - regardless of what you see on the display screen ...
secret handshake #2: with the SLC and MicroLogix platforms (and RSLogix500) the screen usually “communicates” with the processor at the VERY END of the ladder execution sequence ... so the status of the “hijacked” bit will NOT usually appear to “toggle” on the screen the way you witnessed ... and once again, if you really understand how the rungs are scanned (their order of execution) then you can accurately forecast how the ladder logic will interpret the status of the “hijacked” bit - regardless of what you see on the display screen ...
actually this “you-can’t-always-trust-the-screen” lesson is always a critical part of the classes that I teach ... some students have a LOT of trouble “unlearning” some of the misconceptions that they’ve picked up “along the way” ... usually their biggest problem is pure old-fashioned stubbornness ... “but I’ve THOUGHT it for so long that it MUST be right” ... sorry ... that approach doesn’t always work ...
Quote:
Perfect. It wasn't toggling. I was wrong! At least now I can setup a test routine just to toggle the bit's I need without modifying the existing logic.
This has been very educational and I appreciate the help I've gotten from all of you. Back to the boot camp post..........
and it looks like it’s all been taken care of ...
finally ... I do NOT recommend using this “hijacking” approach as a regular programming technique ... this will confuse the daylights out of a LOT of people - even some who have been successfully writing PLC programs for years ... it’s just too doggone WEIRD! ... but ... it really DOES have a lot of uses for demonstration and training purposes ... and (as long as SAFETY permits) it can sometimes come in handy for a TEMPORARY “quick-fix” to replace one field device with another ... again, I do NOT recommend it - I’m just trying to make you aware of what will happen IF (big IF) the “hijack” situation ever does arise ...
and REALLY finally ... thanks to Alaric for the kind compliments - and for the link in post #10 ... if anyone has any additional questions along these lines after reading that particular “epic” then please post again ... I’ll be glad to try to nail things down ... just between you and me, these particular ideas are ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL to fully understanding PLCs and they are well worth the time it takes to master them ... | {
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Local politics
art
New Media Center_kuda.org is an independent cultural organization which since 2001 brings together artists, theoreticians, media activists, researchers and the wider public in the research of contemporary art theory and practice, cultural policies, activism and politics. kuda.org tends to make an intervention in the sphere of research and artistic and social experimentation within the field of art and cultural production, from the position of institutional critique and critique of cultural policies. Facing processes of cultural industries and culturalization of politics and art, the collective attempts to map and encourage acts of critique and resistance to comodification of results of art production including attempts of transformation and critique of relations of production which are in the field of art production and outer-art social processes being reproduced through shifts of ideological and „political“ matrixes, which are in the last instance consequence of recuperation of people.
kuda.org creates platform for an open dialogue, experimental education, collaboration and research, and open access to different knowledge resources. Within kuda.org, there have been organized several hundreds public events: lectures and presentations of visiting artists and theorists, workshops, exhibitions, conferences and international publishing project. Over the years, kuda.org has established wide network of collaborating cultural institutions and individuals, locally, in Serbia, in the region and internationally. In 2007, kuda.org co-established Youth Center CK13 (www.ck13.org), one of the rare autonomous spaces dedicated to activism, self-organization and independent cultural production. Since 2012, kuda.org is closely collaborating with Group for Conceptual Politics – GKP (www.konceptualnapolitika.blogspot.rs) from Novi Sad on mutual projects, theoretical researches, publishing and politics of housing (within the project „Local politics and Urban self-management“, www.detelinara.org).
Collaborative Change? - Commons, Networks, Exchange
This one-day symposium Collaborative Change? - Commons, Networks, Exchange investigates emerging possibilities around collaboration, sharing and exchange and collective models of production, consumption, and ownership across a number of arts and non-arts fields.
Existing models have a long history in the construction and maintenance of community and provision e.g. meitheal, housing and agriculture cooperatives, credit unions, artists’ communities, etc. Network societies bring with them open and crowd-sourcing, user-generated content, crowd-funding and collaborative consumption, social networks with new economic models emerging. The aim of the day is to frame these shifts and developments in the context of a new urgency and discuss what they mean for the future of cultural work, education, local and alternative economic initiatives, funding and financing, communities and networks amongst other issues.
It brings together number of local and international speakers made up of artists and theorists, activists and commentators across a number of areas and fields. These include: Michel Bauwens, p2pfoundation.net; Branka Ćurčić, kuda.org/; Renée Ridgway northeastwestsouth.net/; Patrick Bresnihan provisionaluniversity.tumblr.com/; Nicolas Malevé, academycommons.net/; Adria Rodriguez universidadnomada.net/ ; Gergely Laszlowww.photolumen.hu/;Tom Stewart,www.exchangedublin.ie/;Michaele Cutaya; Aebhric Coleman, mondriansroom.com/ ; Andrew Hetherington, fundit.ie/
Two things mark our moment, arguably. The crisis in public finances and the debts burdened on citizens of a Europe whose currency is under threat from predatory markets and whose banking systems are failing. And this arrives with the ascendancy of a network society and economy whose impacts are becoming more apparent as we enter the second decade of the twenty first century. Aside from the political upheavals and the justifiable anger manifest in street protests, there have been other responses to the catastrophe in the form of a renaissance in earlier practices to moments of crises; practices of sharing, collaborating, lending and bartering. Equally, there has been a resurgence in civil society activism, community organization and political grassroots movements seeking to renew and rethink the ties that bind us together and new forms of affiliation. And this is happening when peer-to-peer and social networks, creative commons, open source, ‘the crowd’ are all heralded as new paradigms of possibility.
The disputes around the public and private ownership and control of knowledge and culture that marked the last decade have thrown the commons to the forefront of public debate. Platforms based on participatory and commons-oriented paradigms appear to absorb the social, the economic and the cultural as the network becomes the new space of the polis or at least its organizational base to a point where social networks are now attributed to instigating revolutions (if that is what they are) in the Maghreb and Middle East. More broadly, it would seem that sharing is now a public virtue with movements within the academy towards open-access and open-source seek to develop new modes of scholarly dissemination and sharing of knowledge. In addition, the practice of sharing source code is increasingly applied to realms beyond its origins in computer science and software development. There are initiatives where cooperation and sharing are the basis for new economic models and alternatives to the market primarily in terms of resources and sustainability. Equally visible for decades now in the art-world, are collectives built on a sustainable principle of production, where process, experience, authorship, responsibility and success are shared.
However, what is the value and meaning of these ideas, values and principles at a moment where they both contain the possibility of change and transformation but at the same are becoming the very means and terms for the marketisation and colonization of the social. What is at stake here? How should we negotiate these contradictions ?
This one-day event engages these questions and debates them in the context of crises and responses to the crises from within and outside the cultural field. It brings together artists, activists, organizers and thinkers from different international contexts and experience to consider and think through these issues, to reflect on precedents and models in operation, to exchange, examine and discuss.
This one-day symposium, co-organized by PhotoIreland and GradCAM and supported by the City Arts Office, Dublin City Council. | {
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Cheese Wedding Cakes
Photo Credit: Pinterest Savoury wedding cakes made from a selection of cheeses are a great option for an evening buffet and tend to become a central point at the wedding reception with guests helping themselves to the different tiers. They are usually decorated with fresh fruit and perheaps vine leaves, and served with a selection of crackers. By adding fresh breads and chutneys you can turn your cheese wedding cake into a ploughmans for those guests needing extra sustinance. The following cheeses tend to be the most popular options: | {
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Recommendation letter for my job
by mathinaz
A college friend of mine is considering getting into teaching, and she asked me for my thoughts on the idea. This girl is smart, patient, and amazing with kids, and she’d probably make a fabulous teacher. Despite that, I still had a really hard time recommending it to her. Isn’t that a shame? I just kept thinking about how many teachers I know, both TFA and non-TFA, who are miserable on a daily basis. That deep-in-your-bones exhaustion and frustration and unhappiness isn’t something I can steer a good friend toward with a clear conscience.
Here’s part of the email I wrote her back, and maybe advice I would give in general to anyone thinking of teaching:
Your experience would depend enormously on what the school is like, so it helps that you know someone who is there. Ask what administration does to support teachers with discipline issues. Ask if there is any curriculum or any advisors/mentors available. Ask how frequently teachers are observed and what type of support is given if you are struggling. Seriously, any of those things could make or break your experience. Especially the discipline support.
Personally, I absolutely love teaching. But it also needs to be said that I work all day, all evening, and much of my weekends. I have more responsibility than I should ever have been given. Your first year, you are pretty much guaranteed to have the worst day of your life on a regular basis. I still love it, but I would never recommend it unless I was sure you totally understood all the downsides, because you can’t quit until June if you hate it.
That’s such a discouraging response. There are wonderful things about teaching, I promise.
2 Responses
Shannon Fithian
Thank you for being honest. I am applying to TFA and all I ever hear are the overly amazing stories of making a difference and having the best experience of your life. I was seeking an honest answer because I KNEW there was someone who wasn’t 100% content and I wanted a real life perspective. Your post didn’t change my pursuit, but it’s refreshing to hear honesty. Thank you.
I never, never know what to say when people ask me what teaching is like or whether they should join TFA. I wind up sounding schizophrenic. “Umm…it really sucks horribly, I wanted to die so often my first year… but sometimes it’s great, I mean, I love my job! So…” *shrug*
Someday I will figure out a graceful way to deal with this question. And then I will probably retire. | {
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Bourne/ Bash Shell CGI Scripts
Nov 1st, 2008
Usually I do my server-side scripting in Perl, but some time
ago when writing CGI scripts for an embedded system I ran into memory
and flash space contraints. Because the system used Busybox, I
had the Bourne compatible ash shell available.
So I wrote a very small Bourne shell script to include in my CGI scripts,
which I share here, maybe it is of use to someone.
(Of course this will work in the Bash shell as well.)
Caveat Emptor:
This code is probably one big security hole waiting to happen,
interactive shells and the Internet don’t mix very well, please
use wisely. :)
This code can be then be used in your CGI scripts like so, for example
this little script, that simply displays all posted variables.
All posted variables, together with those in the query string in
the URL are prefixed with F_ which makes this small example very
simple: | {
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23 February 2011
Best Practices for Honeycomb and Tablets
The first tablets running Android 3.0 (“Honeycomb”) will be hitting the streets on Thursday Feb. 24th, and we’ve just posted the full SDK release. We encourage you to test your applications on the new platform, using a tablet-size AVD.
Developers who’ve followed the Android Framework’s guidelines and best practices will find their apps work well on Android 3.0. This purpose of this post is to provide reminders of and links to those best practices.
Moving Toward Honeycomb
There’s a comprehensive discussion of how to work with the new release in Optimizing Apps for Android 3.0. The discussion includes the use of the emulator; most developers, who don’t have an Android tablet yet, should use it to test and update their apps for Honeycomb.
Rotation
The new environment is different from what we’re used to in two respects. First, you can hold the devices with any of the four sides up and Honeycomb manages the rotation properly. In previous versions, often only two of the four orientations were supported, and there are apps out there that relied on this in ways that will break them on Honeycomb. If you want to stay out of rotation trouble, One Screen Turn Deserves Another covers the issues.
The second big difference doesn’t have anything to do with software; it’s that a lot of people are going to hold these things horizontal (in “landscape mode”) nearly all the time. We’ve seen a few apps that have a buggy assumption that they’re starting out in portrait mode, and others that lock certain screens into portrait or landscape but really shouldn’t.
A Note for Game Developers
A tablet can probably provide a better game experience for your users than any handset can. Bigger is better. It’s going to cost you a little more work than developers of business apps, because quite likely you’ll want to rework your graphical assets for the big screen. | {
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Posts tagged pulse link
ABI Research definitely put its thinking cap on for this one, as it recently found that wireless HDTV vendors are still pouring cash into products, yet few are available for consumption in North America. It's a trend we've watched develop, and we cringe to think that it's not getting better. Chanc... | {
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Trotting Into History: Doodle Celebrates Father of Modern Photography
Today's Google doodle--the occasional replacement for the logo at the top of the Google search page--commemorates the 182nd birthday of Eadweard Muybridge, the photographer credited with the historic experiment that formed the foundation for motion pictures, especially animation.
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What is A + B?
Today's Google doodle--the occasional replacement for the logo at the top of the Google search page--commemorates the 182nd birthday of Eadweard Muybridge, the photographer credited with the historic experiment that formed the foundation for motion pictures, especially animation.
It's a matrix of stallions seen in profile, and by clicking the "play" icon in the center, the stallions slowly begin to run and gallop across the screen. In addition to being one of only a dozen or so animated doodles out of approximately 1,000 Google has done, it's also one of the few that doesn't obviously incorporate the company's name.
At its core, the doodle is actually a tribute to an 1878 experiment funded by former California governor Leland Stanford. Fifteen years out of the California governor's office and thirteen years ahead of founding the university named for his son, Stanford believed that the stallions at his Palo Alto farm lifted all four hooves off the ground when they ran. He hired photographer Muybridge to prove him right.
Over several years, Muybridge had unsuccessfully tried to capture the horses' hooves off the ground as the horse was ridden (as the Google image shows). The tests didn't work until he set up 12 cameras attached to 12 wires across a running track on Stanford's farm and had a trainer behind the horse in a sulky, so that the sulky's wheels tripped the cameras. As described in a 2001 Stanford magazine article, "When a sulky wheel rolled over one of the wires, it completed an electrical circuit, tripping the shutter of the attached camera. The shutters firing in quick succession sounded like a drumroll."
The result was a set of photographs that played in succession showed the horse's hooves were all off the ground simultaneously. The concept of having single frames shown in succession became the basis for motion-picture photography. | {
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This graph shows the website traffic generated by a single blog post, written for one of our clients in a particularly technical B2B niche. They started the year getting no traffic at all.
As I type this, the blog post has been viewed 16,222 times.
The graph is a perfect example of viral content in action. Soon after publication, we saw an explosion of traffic, driven almost entirely by direct (dark blue), referrals (yellow) and social media (turquoise).
Currently, the post has been shared 1,080 times - with 600 of those shares coming from the super-B2B-centric LinkedIn. It's this feverish person-to-person activity that creates viral content, as its readers feel compelled to pass it on to their friends and colleagues.
Even though the frenzy of social sharing eventually dies down, that initial surge of popularity garnered enough backlinks and traffic to see the post's organic search traffic quickly grow to a steady 1000+ views a month.
In total, this single blog post generates our B2B client an average of 1800 additional page views per month. Not a bad return, right? With that in mind, B2B businesses can definitely create viral content, and actually, it's in their best interests to do so.
So how you can do it?
1) Create Content Worth Sharing
Whilst there aren't really any shortcuts or tricks to help turn our next blog post into a runaway success, creating viral content is actually a pretty simple process: we just need to create something worth sharing.
There are a handful of key reasons for people to share content, and to go viral, we need to leverage one (or more) of those triggers.
Solve a Problem
Solving serious problems is the easiest way to your reader's heart. If your blog post offers a ton of actionable advice, and helps your audience tackle one of their most pressing problems, they'll read it, love it, and pass it on to people with the same problem.
Use Persona-Specific Targeting
By creating a super-targeted blog post, you reduce the size of your potential audience, but increase the chances of engaging those people. Viral kings Buzzfeed leverage this to great success (X Things Only a Teacher/Chocoholic/Short Person Will Understand), and by writing blog posts for particular segments of your target audience, your B2B business can do the same.
Elicit an Emotional Response
There's a strong correlation between emotion and social sharing. If your blog post can surprise, delight or divide your readers, there's a great chance you'll earn some serious social leverage.
Create Epic Content
There's a direct correlation between content length and content shares. The longer your blog post, the more shares it's likely to receive. This phenomenon is known by social psychologists as the 'Length-Implies-Strength' heuristic. Most readers will assume that a long post is more worthy of a share than a short one - even if they haven't read the post themselves.
2) Make It Easy to Share
Creating valuable content gives your reader a reason to share. Next, we need to give them a way to share it.
As illustrated above, social media shares are one of the most crucial channels at our disposal. They make it quick and easy for our readers to share content with their entire social networks. Better still, if our readers are relevant to our business (read: potential customers), it's likely their peers and social media connections will fall into the same demographic.
You don't want to bombard your reader with dozens of social share icons, and desperate invocations to 'SHARE ON FACEBOOK, GOOGLE+, LINKEDIN AND TWITTER!'.
Equally, if your reader feels compelled to share your blog post, it should be easy and intuitive for them.
Promote your own social network company pages, and regularly share your own content.
3) Don’t Neglect the Basics
It's not wise to pursue viral content as a standalone B2B marketing tactic. Viral content is unpredictable, and in order to generate a constant inflow of qualified leads for your business, you need to invest most of your energy into regular content creation.
Consistently creating valuable content will grow your audience, and your reach, and increase the chances of hitting-on a hugely popular post.
4) Make the Most of the Opportunity
B2B content is unlikely to reach the same stratospheric heights of popularity as B2C content, but it's still entirely possible to reach thousands of people. Each of those readers has the potential to become a blog subscriber, lead, or customer.
Viral content has a proven track-record in the B2C sector, and with slow uptake in B2B, there's a huge opportunity for your business to get there before your competition.
If we can generate 16,000 visits with a single post, for a client in a hugely technical B2B niche and no existing audience, your business can do the same. | {
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Looking fabulous in vibrant and sporty Mizuno kit, Krunic recovered from 1-4 to 4-4 in the first set, but then dropped serve in the following game, allowing Konta to win the set. However, the underdog didn’t despair over a lost chance, won the second set with a crucial break of serve in the eighth game and impressively edged the decider with entertaining shot-making at important moments.
In 2014, Krunic advanced to the fourth round of the US Open as a qualifier, beating three seeded players in the main draw.
Emman Damian, Halep is actually still in contention for the No.1 ranking! Konta is no longer in the No.1 game. I’d say Muguruza has the biggest opportunity to grab the top spot, as she only needs to reach the fourth round for a chance to overtake Pliskova, but then again she’s never been past the second round at the US Open. Svitolina needs to reach the semifinals for a chance to become a new No.1. It would be really bizarre that after those four wasted chances Halep becomes No.1 at the tournament where she lost in the first round lol. | {
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Liang & Eimil Mink Linen Fabric Miller Occasional Chair
With the Miller Occasional Chair you can see from the first moment that it is so special. A substantial sitting space, it is ready to delight with its lovely features. Gorgeously soft mink linen upholstery forms the basis of the whole piece. It is slightly reclined to ensure the maximum in comfort for you. Well-padded it adds a blissful extra layer of relaxation to your afternoons. The button-back effect is both attractive and yet practical to ensure no slippage of the fabric. The black wooden legs create a wonderful finale to finish this piece to the ultimate perfection.Pair with the matching ottoman for stylish, restful luxe.
Item dimensions: 62cm (L) x 84cm (H) x 82cm (D)
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Seen this item cheaper elsewhere? We will not just match but BETTER the price by 10% of the difference! Get in touch and tell us where you've seen the item and we'll come back with an offer (terms apply).
Shropshire Design® is your first point of call for the most unique, exquisite, glamorous and cutting-edge designer mirrors, furniture, lighting and home accessories. Our friendly and responsive customer care, generous repayment plans, price beating and discounts mean there really is no better place to buy from online. | {
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Are These 2 High-Yield Small Caps Worth The Risk?
The goal for many income investors is to find high-yielding stocks selling for bargain prices. After all, not only is it possible to buy more shares with lower-priced stocks, but they have the potential to provide greater capital gains than higher-priced ones.
In this light, small-cap stocks are perfect. Known for sporting nice yields of 3% or more and for their greater upside potential, dividend-paying small caps can really supercharge any portfolio.
But small caps can also be risky. They are often too volatile and have a greater chance of dividend cuts.
I'm not really worried, though.
In the past five years, small caps have produced better gains than the overall market, with the S&P 600 SmallCap Index returning almost double than the S&P 500's 4%.
After looking at the chart above, it's easy to see why small-cap dividend payers can play a vital role in a well-diversified portfolio.
With this in mind, here are two small dividend-paying telecom companies investors should consider, despite their intrinsic risk:
This member of the Russell 3000 Index provides one third of all cellphone services in Israel.
The company has paid a stellar trailing dividend yield of more than 12% in the past, attracting many investors seeking super high yields. It also has a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of almost 6 and a PEG ratio of 0.67 (A PEG ratio is also known as the P/E-to-growth ratio. It determines a stock's value while considering earnings growth. So if the PEG ratio is one, then the company is considered fairly valued. If it's below one, then the company is considered undervalued. A PEG ratio above one shows the company is overvalued.)
Total cash on hand of $4.29 per share and an expected profit of nearly $4 per share this year just show how the company's metrics are positive .
But before I continue, I need to share some bad news: The company's 12% dividend has been shrinking at an annual rate of 7% during the past five years. In addition, the board of directors announced in the third quarter of 2012, it had decided not to distribute a dividend in order to get the balance sheet back on track.
The company's existing infrastructure limits it to 3G service, while the competition has upgraded to much faster 4G service. This caused Cellcom's earnings to plunge 38% in the third quarter of 2012 to 32 cents a share, while revenue also fell 13% to a little more than $370 million during the same period.
To add to the weakness, Cellcom acquired competitor NetVision in 2011, taking on $421 million of debt in the process. Since then, the company's entire free cash flow has been used to pay this debt. The board will decide when to resume dividends on a quarter-by-quarter basis, effectively turning this once high payer into yielding zero.
But despite these recent hurdles, Cellcom has launched efficiency measures to match its reduced revenue. Free cash flow has actually ramped up by 58% to $106 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier.
It's important to note that it's not just Cellcom that has been struggling in Israel: Three other telecom companies that had led this sector for more than 12 years are having to face a few challenges, just like Cellcom. Federal changes in Israel in 2011 forced them to cut the fees they charged one another to connect calls. The changes also required them to eliminate exit fines for customers, which caused their revenue and earnings to slide across the board.
That's not to mention a price war that started in 2012, when six new telecoms entered the market offering ultra-low rate plans.
But I think there are some bright spots on the horizon.
Cellcom recently won a military contract and it's making plans to enter the Internet TV business. Still, it may be a rough few quarters before this major Israeli telecom starts paying dividends again.
Taking a look technically, Cellcom's price has dropped well below its 200-day simple moving average, eliminating the company from my value zone pullback criteria (To ensure the uptrend is still intact, the pullback must remain above the 200-day moving average.)
Despite its super high-yield, I only feel comfortable watching Cellcom for now, before waiting for signs of an upward momentum to really appear.
This little telecom provides wireless messaging as well as mobile voice and data services to U.S. health care, government and business markets. It has a market cap of a little more than $240 million, a payout ratio of nearly 49% and net margin of almost 20%.
The dividend yield is just under 5%. In the third quarter of 2012, USA Mobility reported revenue of a little more than $55 million, but GAAP reported sales were 10% lower than the same quarter a year earlier. USA Mobility is estimating revenue of just under $54 million and earnings of 37 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2012.
What I like about the company is that nearly 80% of the shares are institutionally-owned. In addition, the price has just bounced off of the 50-day moving average -- indicating upward momentum. I expect shares to be trading at $13 within the next year.
Risks to Consider: As stated earlier, small-cap dividend-paying stocks have more risks than higher-cap stocks. When investing in small-caps always be prepared for substantial volatility and only use money you can afford to lose.
Action to Take -- > Along with the risk comes high potential reward. Cellcom Israel has historically paid high dividends but it is currently suffering from a lower share price due to the dividend cut. I think this company may soon get back on the winning side, but I would wait for signs of upward momentum prior to entering long. USA Mobility, on the other hand, is exhibiting strength and is showing upward momentum, so it's a compelling pick right now.
The StreetAuthority Insider is a subscriber-only, complimentary publication, exclusively for our paid customers. As a paid subscriber in good standing, you'll now be getting more exclusive access to more investing gurus than ever before. I hope you'll find these periodic missives always informative, occasionally entertaining and consistently helpful to your bottom line. | {
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Chinese President Xi Jinping orders PLA to prepare for combat
The China’s People’s Liberation Army has been ordered to “prepare for combat” by Chinese President Xi Jinping to protect and defend its territory against any possible hostile moves from Asian countries, specifically actions from the United States at all cost in the South China Sea
This comes ahead of an international tribunal on Tuesday that’s expected to issue an unfavorable ruling against China’s claims over the South China Sea. A report said from Arirang.com.
U.S.-based Boxun News said Tuesday that the instruction was given in case the United States takes provocative action in the waters once the ruling is made.
The Chinese Luyang II-class guided missile destroyer Jinan and other ships in formation at the South China Sea – rand.org
The UN Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in favor of the Philippines in the case filed on 2012 by the Philippine government versus China, dismissing China’s nine-dash line historical claims.
The PCA said, “There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’,” the court said, referring to a demarcation line on a 1947 map of the sea, which is rich in energy, mineral and fishing resources.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
China responded by labeling the ruling “ill-founded” and refused to be bound by it.
Chinese foreign spokesperson said China “does not accept and does not recognize” the ruling by a UN-backed tribunal on its dispute with the Philippines over the South China Sea, the official Xinhua news agency said Tuesday.
However, Xi Jinping fears that the U.S. could be used on the ruling to justify aggressive military maneuvers in the area and has ordered PLA forces to prepare for war.
Prior to the PCA ruling the United States USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier fleet were already stationed in the South China sea, while the Chinese Navy also carrying out exercises near the disputed Paracel islands. – Jason E.
Manila Livewire Digital Media Group is a group of writers and creative editors which bring relevant and useful news and articles. We are dedicated in reporting recent topics or write something about it to bring a deeper point of views. | {
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Computer hardware and self-education in 3D modeling
June 13th, 2013
Hello everyone! Today we have two important questions to discuss with you. The first one is computer hardware and the second one is self-education. There are going to be too many letters and few pictures, but we think this post will be interesting for everyone.
First let’s talk about hardware.
A brief preface. We are not going to advertise any particular hardware. We are just being logical.
Everyone starts somewhere. And of course we need some things to start with. If you want to work at CG industry, first you’ll need some talent and then a good computer. The price of the computer as the price of any other product is based on a number of factors. For example development costs, advertising and transport. But of course the name of the brand always affects the price.
Actually we have started this conversation in order to give beginners some advice on what characteristics of the computer have to be noted for studying some 3D tricks. It is just for beginners, because professionals don’t need any advice and they have specific conferences for this.
As we started to talk about brands, we would like to focus on the rivalry between two major brands of the desktop segment. Of course we are talking about Intel and AMD. After AMD stopped producing premium processors, there wasn’t any alternative to Intel’s processors. Yes, unfortunately there is still no any alternative to Intel in the top segment. But there is one in the “wheel horse for CG” category. A great comparison of Intel Core i7-3770k and AMD FX-8350.
You might think that it’s too late to discuss it or that FX-8350 cannot be put on an equal footing with the Intel. But we are interested in Computer Graphics and this area has its own laws. And we are saying it just in time, because now Intel is releasing a new platform – Haswell. According to preliminary tests, the new architecture increases productivity by 10 -15% depending on a task. The replacement of i7-3770k costs 303$. Its price is approximately the same now. The price of AMD FX-8350 is 170$ and AMD FX-8320 – 140$.
Let me get straight to the point. Recently a one friend of mine bought FX-8320. And I have some experience with i7-3770. So we couldn’t help ourselves and decided to compare these processors. Well, somebody may consider the whole process of comparison as a very fade one. But it brings very valuable conclusions.
Both compared computers had Windows 7 Home Premium. Both had 8GB of RAM. And SATA-III HDD was installed on each of them. The test by itself was very easy. It measured the render time of V-Ray 2.40.03 test scene in Maya. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a real laboratory test, but it’s enough to draw some conclusions.
So, Core i7-3770k completed the task with a time of 12 minutes 31 seconds. It wasn’t surprising, because this processor always showed good results for the majority of beginners’ tasks. But FX-8320 surprised us more. It managed the task in 12 minutes 30 seconds! I think that 1 second of difference can be attributed to measurement error to make our comparison clear.
What do we have? 300$ for i7-3770k and 140$ for AMD FX. Brilliant! My world has been shaken! This is good, that Haswell is being realized now and we have the same 300$ for the new CPU. But the difference is only by 10-15%. We also have an excellent overclocking potential of AMD FX. And we also have FX-8350, which is more powerful than our FX-8320. And there is also Core i7-4770k, which is more expensive, but shows better results during the overclock, than the dry version. Moreover, the world record for clock speed was reached with AMD processors.
But there are some nuances. The standard AMD cooler is terribly loud. This isn’t a cooler, this is a vacuum cleaner! So I advise you to change it at once. Especially if you are going to overclock the CPU. And there is one more thing. Not every application supports multithreading, and i7-3770k will work better with such applications. But almost all design programs support multithreading, so it’s not very important for studying and work. One more point, which is important for the environment. The peak power of i7-3770 is 77 W. Just a magic of numbers! And the peak power of AMD FX-8350 is 125W. The quad-core i7 has integrated graphics, but do not count on it so much. This advantage is questionable, because all CG programs actively use your video card.
And now a few words about GPU. Curiously enough, we have two options here too, Nvidia and AMD again. But it happened that some programs (3DS Max, Maya for example) have an exclusive optimization support for Nvidia graphic cards. So there is the only choice between average or expensive Nvidia. If you are not going to work with 50-100 million of triangles, GeForce will be good enough for you. The more expensive your graphic card, the more comfortable your work will be.
The other hardware is not so important for your work. The more RAM you have the bigger scenes you can create. The faster HDD or SSD, the faster loading and work with the paging file. Because the huge paging file is a constant attribute of big scenes. Since the motherboard is a bridge for all these things you have to spend quite money on it, in order not to have an effect of “Too narrow bottleneck”.
So take your pick. AMD FX will be good enough for work in 3DS Max, Maya, zbrush and Photoshop. In 95% of the projects even amid the professionals it will work well. And when you become a highly qualified specialist, you’ll easy find a job at some large company. So the question of buying a very expensive and extremely productive CPU will lie on the shoulders of this company.
So we got to the matter of self-education.
Most 3D artists I know are self-taught in a way. Of course there are many of different 3D lessons, so they aren’t “pure” self-taught. Many of them achieved really impressive results. But very often there is one problem:
During one of the exhibition I met a man, who’d been working as a freelance 3D artist using 3DS Max for 4 years. And it was a complete surprise for him that in 3DS Max you could hide not only the whole object, but individual polygons! Unfortunately, we can’t show you his works here, but take it from me! This man was performing only in 3DS Max the kind of job, which I couldn’t imagine without Zbrush or Mudbox!
Now there are a lot of video lessons describing interface of different programs, explaining some features and tricks. And to get rid of the problem of white dots, we advise you to start with complex tutorials. There have to be explained all interesting moments of the work and the interface of the program has to be described in detail.
There are certain types of lessons which describe the creation of the production projects from the beginning to the end. They examine the pipeline of project creation in detail. In addition, we want to say that watching making of different projects can be very helpful. You can find there many interesting methods. Of course, master classes can perfectly speed up your job. But you always have to remember about practice. The more you practice the better you will be as a specialist. But the beginning is ALWAYS THE SAME! It should be a complex lesson.
There are a lot of very talented self-taught. You can’t even imagine how many of them are working for the Hollywood. But all of them once deleted all gaps in their education. We hope, you’ll follow our advice and soon you’ll become great specialists! | {
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What is American Capital? Why use us over a large Bank or a small mortgage broker?
We are a 22 year old Mortgage Bank founded in El Segundo California by three Loan officers, Kent Kirkpatrick, Allen Cravello and Tim Greaney. We worked for banks like Citibank and others back in the day and got our training and corporate industry knowledge while thinking there had to be a better way. At one institution, we had one set of products and pricing and one mindset. We knew that by starting our own Mortgage Bank, we could have many different bank products and appeal to a much broader base of clientele. A Mortgage Bank has one solid goal, to find the best loan ( rate, product and credit match) for a client buying or refinancing a 1 to 4 unit residential property, and along with that give the best customer service. In 1994 we started ACC to provide more options for our borrowers, real estate agent clients and the loan officers that would come to work with us. We needed to be able to offer whatever bank ( Wells Fargo, Chase, US Bank etc….), investor ( like Fannie Mae direct or Freddie Mac direct, FHA ), credit union, mid-size banks from all over the country… would have the best combination of interest rate, product and service for our clients… and so we formed ACC to accommodate this need. For 22 years we have been providing this service to our clients. We have grown to 13 states, 22 offices and over 240 employees… careful not to grow too large that we lose our goal and careful not to stay too small that we cannot take advantage of the benefits of size and strength.. benefits that range from better pricing, more options and greater control of the loan process… all ending up in the best possible experience for our clients.
You will not see ACC advertised on a freeway billboard or during the NBA game… we are not looking to be the cheapest rate quote to get you to “call in”. Those lenders inevitably will find a reason to tell you why your rate is different than the one quoted upfront… and usually so far into the process it is too late… we are not the lender who quotes you the lowest rate… for those that are looking for that upfront we are not the home. But for those that are referred to us by someone ( past borrower, real estate agent, family member ) and who want a complete and honest quote upfront, one that involves us asking detailed questions about what they are trying to accomplish with this loan, information on their personal credit and finances and any other pertinent information that might affect the actual end price of the loan, we are the BEST option. Our experience, connections and massive product and interest rate options provide the very best platform in the industry to take care of our clients.
It is important to note that the mortgage industry has been through massive change. Government regulation is everywhere and not very many Mortgage banks have survived the last five years let alone the last 20 plus… it is a difficult industry and one that takes an expertise that cannot be gained through any short period of time or education. This industry is one of time and hard knocks and there is no replacing that. We tell our borrowers upfront that the amount of documentation we are going to request is overwhelming and that they need to be prepared the whole way through to work with us and it will get done… working together is the only way… we seek clients that understand this… then end result is the client ends up with a great loan and we end up with a great relationship. | {
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I didn't know that and your pictures show the doves so clearly. Have been decanting like mad for just the same reason. Manufactures could make a killing if they reverted to their old packaging. There's a market ready and waiting. Me.
Found an old style Fairy bottle in the shops a few months ago and yes, I've been decanting like mad ever since. Well, as fast as I wash up.Thank you for the gorgeous doves. I have masses of them in the garden- just my sort of plant as they self-seed so easily.I think things are back to normal for the next couple of weeks aren't they? No more weddings, Bank holidays, seasonal celebrations? Ax
Oh I so do see the doves, wow, we call them 'Grannies Bonnets' here as well as Columbines and Aquilegia. Beautiful by any name, I used to have lots of different varieties in the house that I owned.....sigh.x Sandi
I love columbines but had never realised their resemblance to doves before, nor indeed knew that that was why they are so named. I have a columbine growing outside my front door and I can't wait to pop outside in the light to see my own little flock of doves - thank you. xxx
You have got me on all three - Columbines - just planted some in the garden.They are so beautiful and delicate.
Those healthy meals have me all of a quiver. I am TRYING to help my ageing bod by filling it full of the good stuff. Chocolate eggs were not on the radar, and yet... Oh dear.
I could write poems to Fairy Liquid - the only and original - that smell - it reminds me of my childhood. Why can't they come up with a kitchen cleaner that smells the same. They had some in our local Co -op when they first released the original packaging. I bought it in bulk and stored it in the garage. All gone now, but I will re-stock.
Sue, I love the columbines, they are so beautiful and hadn't even noticed the shape of the dove until you pointed it out. Sweet!I did the fairy liquid decanting a few months ago when they had a 50th year anniversary bottle of the same shape and colour as yours. After a few usages, the ink started to run out, unfortunatelly and had to throw it away as it look a bit tatty. I thought it was a one off so am pleased to see the bottle back!! This one has a cute little picture, the other one was a bit different.... It does look quite vintage and sweet. Yes, you are not the only one..... x Pati
Now I know why they're called columbines, thank you ! It is so lovely, and I have plenty of them too in my garden. So easy and elegant.Now this Fairy bottle, is it a special "Royal Wedding" edition ? I would be very curious to know what items were on sale for this special event, except for the usual flags and mugs. Do you know anything or have a link ?
I love the way that columbines in all kinds of colours from white to inky-blue and all shades of pink in between seed themselves all over the garden. I never knew that about the name, fancy that! In spite of your lovely photos showing the little doves so clearly, I just had to nip out into the garden and check ours. Absolutely right. Thank you for givig me yet another way to enjoy these flowers. Now what is the name of that flower that is supposed to look like a lady in the bath?
Carole, I can't find a link to the special Fairy bottles. It is a royal wedding special edition. It says 'tale' underneath Fairy as in 'a fairy tale wedding' and the little baby is carrying a union flag.
How funny! I bought the commemorative fairy liquid this morning, with the same plan in mind. I hate the weirdly shaped bottles that washing up liquid seems to come in these days, they take up too much room and won't fit in the jar I want to store them in. Rather tragically I also succumbed to the tin in the same design for dishwasher tablets, reasoned with myself that it will mean that the boxes no longer get soggy under the sink. Love the aquilegia close ups too.
I didn`t know the reason for their name but you really can see the doves. My son`s French nursery is called Les Petites Colombes, the little doves, which I think is the loveliest name. Beautiful images and then that lens of yours...
Or a weeding fork for that matter, planetcoops. Still cross about the emerging hemerocallis Katy which is now composting in the council facility along with the clumps of grass from the flower bed just because I went to make a start on the supper.
Just a quick question about the delicious-looking honey-soy-lime baked salmon, which I would like to recreate for Sunday lunch. "Baked" makes it sound as though it is cooked "dry". I presume you marinate the salmon in the h-s-l and then you put the fish on a baking sheet to cook. Do you discard the marinade - I hate wasting it! | {
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From "BB-8, punch it!" to "It's calling me!" these two new TV spots for Star Wars: The Last Jedi seem to be offering up a bit of contextualization for some intriguing new bits of dialogue. The first spot, seen above, mostly just features that new directive from Poe Dameron to everyone's favorite spherical droid, but hearing the classic Star Wars theme over some of the shots we've seen in other trailers makes it feel more, I don't know, Star Warsy.
It's the second spot, seen below, that brings some more context to some famous trailer moments. That "I've seen this raw strength only once before" scene where Rey splits the ground appears to be her attempting to resist a call to the dark side. No wonder Luke looks so terrified in all of the marketing materials.
We're a little more than three weeks away from TLJ's release date and I must admit that I'm still a fan of their marketing. It really seems like they're doing their best to keep most of the film under wraps, which will make that first viewing all the more sweet. Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi hits theaters beginning at 7pm on Thursday December 14. | {
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October 8, 2012 4:55am EDTOctober 7, 2012 7:24pm EDTLance Briggs and Charles Tillman each score on interception returns as the Bears defense has another impressive game, making it look easy in a 41-3 laugher over the Jaguars.
Watch This
The Bears returned two interceptions for touchdowns Sunday in their 41-3 win over Jacksonville. It was the second straight game they’d turned that trick.
The Bears also had one three weeks ago. Those five touchdowns are only one fewer than Jacksonville’s offense has this season.
The high scorers Sunday were Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman, who each had 36-yard interception returns. Wasn’t Chicago’s defense supposed be getting too old for this?
That was the thought before the season, but the Bears have now allowed only 57 points in five games. That could make them the NFL’s No. 1- ranked defense after this weekend’s games.
Chicago was ranked No. 17 in total defense last year. This year’s resurgence has started with a dominant defensive line. The Bears (4-1) will now enjoy a bye week. That’s the only thing that seems capable of stopping Chicago’s offense, er, defense.
Other things we learned Sunday:
The Jaguars are worse than expected
They actually were tied 3-3 at halftime, then their lack of everything came into play.
Blaine Gabbert was 17-of-33 for 142 yards and no touchdowns, unless you count the two he threw to the Bears. The Jaguars’ defense did sack Jay Cutler in the third quarter. It was Jacksonville’s first sack in 15 quarters.
It was the third straight home loss for the Jaguars (1-4). They have a bye, then travel to Oakland and Green Bay. Sounds like a 1-6 start. | {
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7 comments:
We have a similar issue in North London, a 12 month removal of a route because of congestion could actually have been dealt with a lot better, it is really impacting upon thousands of people's travel needs.
There's a large bus depot in Catford, so this might be one explanation for the route's change of destination.
The Catford Gyratory and the sick joke that runs through—a little-known minor road known as the South Circular—is a major cause of congestion, certainly, but this is hardly Lewisham Borough Council's fault. They've been banging on about sorting this junction out since at least as far back as the 1970s. Unfortunately, the money to do so has yet to appear. (They did get very close at one stage, but that window was slammed shut by the creation of the GLA.
In fairness, the chronic congestion in Catford is entirely out of Lewisham Borough Council's hands: the two major roads that intersect at this point are the A21 (prop. TfL) and the pitiful A206 "South Circular" (prop. TfL).
Lewisham have been trying to get the A206 realigned for decades now. They came within a hair's breadth of achieving it at one stage too, even going so far as to buy up an entire street's worth of housing for the necessary road widening, but the money simply never materialised.
One advantage of the 320's extension is the relief of the 208 route's stretch between Catford and Bromley. The 208 sees a hell of a lot of passengers. Another could be to open up more journey options to destinations beyond Bromley as most existing routes tend to terminate there.
The 320's run by Metrobus from Orpington, so it's nothing to do with Catford bus garage (which is run by Stagecoach).
It's actually a common issue across London - routes are often too long and get cut back at the vital bit the route was originally meant to serve. A similar situation happens with the 486, which gets snarled up in Bexleyheath so turns around at Charlton, missing the vital stretch up to North Greenwich.
Of course, Biggin Hill could always secede from Greater London, return to Kent, lose all buses after 7pm, and then Boris would lose their votes ;-)
Weird that some pro-Johnson comments are not being published. Adam, stop trying to control the view of the general public.
Many people whom I have spoken with recognise the fact that Johnson minor has to act in demand of his constituents, not his brother. In my eyes, his constituency come first - and I am very glad that he has decided to support this case. | {
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Stormwater Management
T&M provides complete stormwater management engineering services to municipal, institutional and commercial/industrial clients. These services include field surveys, stormwater management planning, drainage design, flood control, hydraulic analysis, integrated site design, dam inspection and rehabilitation, permitting and construction phase services. Our professionals have expertise involving stormwater regulations and permitting requirements with regard to State regulations, the Clean Water Act and SPDES/NPDES coverage. The company is also on the forefront of stormwater management engineering. We design and oversee construction of the latest in alternative stormwater treatment and Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater systems. These include water quality treatment using infiltration ponds/trenches, rain gardens, and porous pavement features. T&M also has assisted clients with design and evaluation of non-structural controls including Ordinances and By-laws, public outreach programs, and stormwater utilities. | {
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Camcorder Bags Drift User manual
Instruction manual -
Camcorder Bags Drift
Camcorders - Cases - Camcorder Bags - Instructions for use
The English user manual for camcorder bags Drift can usually be downloaded from the manufacturer‘s website, but since that’s not always the case you can look through our database of Drift brand user manuals under Camcorders - Cases - Camcorder Bags - User manuals.
You will find the current user manual for Drift camcorder bags in the details of individual products.
We also recommend looking through our discussion forum which serves to answer questions and solve problems with drift products. Under Camcorders - Cases - Camcorder Bags you can submit a question and get answers from experienced users who will help you get your Drift up and running .
The black Protective Carry Case from Drift makes carrying around your Drift HD, HD 720, HD Ghost, Ghost-S, or Stealth 2 camera easy and convenient. It not only has room for the camera, but it will hold memory cards, an extra batte... | {
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Plot
Summaries
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch performs in the music video "Good Vibrations" from the album "Music for the People" recorded for Interscope Records and Atlantic Records. Marky Mark raps as he dances and works out shirtless in an old industrial building. Video clips feature Loleatta Holloway singing the chorus and dancers. | {
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} |
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“Very young, I would notice that something wasn’t quite right with my parents,” says Leslie Rangel, an evening anchor and reporter at KWKT Fox 44 in Waco. “But I would go to sleepovers and see other parents the way they would interact. It was just different than the way my parents would interact. There wasn’t that lovingness. I just got married and I can just think about how much I love my husband. As a child, seeing that in other parents, then I would come home and not see that in mine.”
“There were times where I remember being little and my mom was crying, laying in bed, sometimes naked, and I would ask, ‘What happened?’ and she would be like ‘Nothing, sweetheart. Nothing, sweetheart.’ And now as an adult looking back, I can’t even fathom what had happened to her.”
“I think the big culmination that happened was when I finally witnessed him beat her,” Rangel says. “It was just this feeling of ‘What just happened?’ My mom says that I called the police. Even though she was legally here in the U.S., my dad had somehow made her believe that he could get her deported and made her believe that he could take away her children. And she finally said to the officer, ‘Yes, he hit me’ and we were taken away to a shelter. Luckily for us, it did not end in death. But as a journalist, I’ve reported on so many instances where domestic violence ends in death.”
“When you see photos of when I was younger with my mom, she looks very sad. And when she separated and finally left my dad after he was abusive with her,” she says, “there’s no other way to put it, she really did blossom like a butterfly.”
“Mommy, on this Mother’s Day I just want to say thank you so much. You have taken us from brokenness into wholeness. And I am just so honored to be your daughter and so honored to be able to tell our story of survival.” | {
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Traffic Deaths and Missing Persons
As I've said, the LBJ Presidential Archives are an exciting way to spend a few hours (or days), particularly if you have nerd-like tendencies. The people are terribly helpful, and you don't need any pretense for being there; people who just want to browse the files are just as welcome as people writing dissertations.
I was primarily reading National Security Files having to do with Vietnam while I was there. I learned, as I've posted in two quickly and poorly composed posts already, about a series of covert US CIA and military actions that, though intended to stave off having to commit American combat troops, ended up precipitating the Gulf of Tonkin incident (which essentially started the war as far as the Americans were concerned).
One of the few Johnson administration officials who explicitly acknowledged this, and was even troubled by it, at least as far as I could find, was a State Department Special Assistant named Michael Forrestal. In this memo, from September 1964, he's pushing for someone to coordinate covert operations against the North Vietnamese. He rather dryly understates that the Gulf of Tonkin taught everyone how "unproductive" it can be when these actions overlap.
A few months before that, in July 1964, someone prepared a memo for the administration showing that more American people had died in car accidents in the Washington, D.C. area than had died in Vietnam thus far.
Forrestal's response is terse and dismissive:I asked my professor, Elspeth Rostow, whose late husband, Walt, was Johnson's National Security Adviser, what she knew about Michael Forrestal. She said he was a little more conservative than most of the people who were in the Kennedy-Johnson administrations; that he, as far as she knew, never married but was extremely popular socially in Washington (having him at your party was apparently a big "get"); and that, in spite of being very intelligent, he may have been too spoiled to really meet his potential.
Elspeth Rostow has no idea what became of Michael Forrestal. He's not referenced in Wikipedia, not even in his father's entry. While I was in her office, she opened a directory from the last year of the Johnson administration. Michael Forrestal wasn't listed; he'd left government by then. "So after 1969 he was never heard from again?" I asked. "Well," said Professor Rostow, "he undoubtedly was, just not by me." | {
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Dara Khosrowshahi, the new chief executive of Uber, will meet with TfL's transport commissioner on Oct. 3 to discuss the decision to strip the company of its licence in the city.
"Following an approach from Uber, and at the Mayor's request, London's Transport Commissioner will meet with Uber's global CEO in London next Tuesday," A TfL Spokesperson said.
Now playing:Watch this:
London regulator says Uber not fit to operate in city
1:28
TfL claimed last week that Uber was not "fit and proper" to hold a licence. It accused the company of "a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications."
After TfL's announcement, Khosrowshahi wrote an open letter to the city, promising to listen to the local community as he writes the company's next chapter.
"On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we've made," he said. | {
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Bucs to sign Chris Owusu off Chargers practice squad
The Buccaneers have made two moves at wide receiver already this week, but it seems that they aren’t done adding to the group of players at the position.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the team will sign wide receiver Chris Owusu off of the Chargers’ practice squad. The move could be officially announced as early as Thursday night.
Owusu was one of Andrew Luck’s favorite targets at Stanford, but he had his final collegiate season cut short by concussions. Concerns about those injuries helped Owusu slide out of the draft and he wound up on San Diego’s practice squad after former college coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t keep him on the 49ers this summer. If Owusu does wind up on the Bucs, he’ll have to remain on the 53-man roster for three weeks.
The Buccaneers are expected to place wide receiver Sammie Stroughter on injured reserve to make room for Owusu on the roster. He hurt his foot in the loss to the Giants.
In the last few days, the Buccaneers have brought backtwo players they cut this summer — Jordan Shipley and Tiquan Underwood — while cutting loose Preston Parker in a bid to make over their receiving corps on the fly. There’s not much settled behind Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, so all three players should have a good chance of earning playing time in the weeks to come.
mikealstott you obviously didn’t watch the game or seww Williams getting open josh has a more than capable arm smh you obviously aren’t a Buccaneers fan listen josh is way better than any qb we had lol and yes Brad was awesome but threw alotta wobbly ducks and Garcia was luck a speedy Galloway bailed him out | {
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Pages
Within this thesis influence of thrust vectoring for VAWTs, controlling the magnitude and direction of the thrust vector with respect to the freestream, is investigated through active pitch actuation. The H-type Darrieus VAWT is modelled in 2D through the actuator cylinder model with the Mod-Lin correction included. The evaluations are performed...
Research in medicine and psychology has demonstrated that placebo treatments can lead to clinically meaningful effects which are created by the context of the treatment. Therapeutic rituals are acknowledged as the core of contextual healing effects. To design for contextual healing in clinical practice, more insight is needed in the key...
In this research a framework is proposed including factors involved for success in multi-mode standardization. This framework was applied to identify the relevant factors in the case of phosphorus recovery in form of struvite from municipal wastewater. The following eleven factors were deemed to be relevant by experts:‘financial strength’, ...
Like many rivers around the world, the Loire river in France has a history of human interventions in order to facilitate navigation and port development. Next to affecting bed levels directly, the heavy modification of the river-estuary has induced significant changes in the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic behaviour of the Loire. As a result, the...
Globally, a growing number of kidnappings executed by pirates occur each year. The current protection consists of mercenaries which are flown in by helicopter to protect merchant ships in threat areas. This is not only expensive, sometimes innocent fishermen are seen for pirates, in some cases with a lethal ending for the fishermen. An...
The superyacht industry faces an increasing trend of larger dimensions, more open spaces, larger hull openings and more exotic shapes. This puts more effort on the structural design and especially for superyacht longitudinal stiffness is important, since the luxurious interior and delicate systems installed in a superyachts are not allowed to...
The Netherlands is often depicted as a battleground, with the Dutch in a constant struggle against the water that surrounds them. This project examines this tradition in the context of the Wadden Sea and the island of Schiermonnikoog, where this battle between the land and the sea is at its most extreme.
Climate change is an inevitable fact and governments worldwide have started to recognize this by expanding the contribution of renewable energy sources to our global energy production. Wind energy is currently one of the most attractive solutions for the transition to a more sustainable energy future. Since wind energy is not the only competitor...
Mechanical metamaterials are a new emerging class of materials which achieve properties outside the bounds of conventional materials. A metamaterial consists of a unit cell which is periodically repeated in space. In this study, a new metamaterial unit cell is proposed, derived from a class of space structures known as deployable masts. What...
Objectives – Over the past decades, more and more cardiac diseases have been treated in interventional cardiology. Catheters are generally used to access the heart through the blood vessels. The previously developed steerable Sigma catheter at Delft University of Technology, tackles cable related challenges of conventional mechanically...
To evaluate traffic signal controllers, and vehicle-actuated traffic signal controllers in particular, in terms of how they are performing with respect to the road authority’s policies on traffic flow and accessibility, traffic safety, and environmental factors, several methods are developed in practice. However, in scientific literature, little...
Flotsam lines may arise on coastal dikes after a storm surge. These lines are generated when material due to debris accumulation on the foreshore has been transported onto the dike surface by wave run-up. Hydraulic engineers who used flotsam line measurements, interpreted a flotsam line as a line which is marking the highest wave run-up. In the...
Flow unsteadiness caused by impeller rotation, vortex-shedding, secondary flows etc. can lead to the generation of acoustic waves within the turbomachinery cascade. This causes pressure loading on the impeller. When acoustic resonance occurs, i.e. the frequency of acoustic wave excitation matches with the structural natural frequencies of the...
An experimental investigation on shock-shock interactions has been conducted with the aim of studying the transition between Regular (RI) and Mach interactions (MI) under the condition of variable inflow Mach number. The RI contains only oblique shocks while the MI has a quasi-normal shock segment, known as the Mach stem. MI configurations...
Haptic feedback on the side stick has been used in previous research on assisting pilots in recognising flight envelope limits. Pilots indicated, however, that it was not always clear what the haptics were trying to tell them, leading to a lower system acceptance. This paper describes the design and evaluation of a visual display in...
The starting point of this graduation project is noises that nurses experience in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). There is a defined medical symptom which is called “alarm fatigue” that refers to numb auditory senses, stress, low job satisfaction as a result of being exposed to excessive noise for the extended period, and it often leads to low...
Locating people inside buildings is still an unsolved problem. There is a lotof research going on in this field and many different solutions using differenttechniques have been proposed. However, there is no widely accepted indoorlocalization solution like how GPS is for outdoor localization due to less accuracy, higher hardware...
This thesis proposes an innovation strategy to leverage the potential of connected vehicles for the fleet of LeasePlan, the global leader in automobile leasing and fleet management. This strategy has been developed through an extensive analysis of the internal environment, customer trends, industry developments, and emerging technologies in...
A parametric study, using the FEM-software package ABAQUS, validated on experimental results found by Abspoel, was conducted on S690 steel plate girders to address if the results of the previous researches was valid. Using a slightly different analytical model the results show the maximum web slenderness of this steel grade in both 6000 mm2 and...
Miniaturization of spacecraft has been gaining wide interest in the space industry, given its potential for reducing space missions' costs and providing a novel approach to enhancing and facilitating spaceflight. Recently, a lot of research has been successfully put into this field along with the advancements that make it more feasible, though a... | {
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As with all of the other manifestations of information technology, we are also making exponential gains in reverse-engineering the humanbrain….By 2029, sufficient computation to simulate the entire human brain, which I estimate at about 1016 (10 million billion) calculations per second (cps), will cost about a dollar. By that time, intelligent machines will combine the subtle and supple skills that humans now excel in (essentially our powers of pattern recognition) with ways in which machines are already superior, such as remembering trillions of facts accurately, searching quickly through vast databases, and downloading skills and knowledge.
Basically, that technology will replace or enhance the human brain’s capacity and here’s a comment about the future of Google from Google’s Marissa Mayer, VP, Search Products & User Experience:
So what’s our straightforward definition of the ideal search engine? Your best friend with instant access to all the world’s facts and a photographic memory of everything you’ve seen and know. That search engine could tailor answers to you based on your preferences, your existing knowledge and the best available information; it could ask for clarification and present the answers in whatever setting or media worked best.
Science fiction becomes science fact ladies and gentleman…except perhaps before 2029. Moore’s law often means technology change happens faster than you even predict. | {
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The BLUESHAPE V-Mount Battery Adapter for CVS8X Charger connects to the BLUESHAPE CVS8X Charger to add another charging bay. It features a 5-pin LEMO-type male connector on a robust 19.7" cable and can be connected into any of the four 5-pin LEMO inputs on the back of the charger. It's also capable of transmitting battery data to the charger for further processing by the battery monitoring system. | {
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COVID-19 Response
Events
Golden Reunion, May 6
Due to the ongoing threat to public health from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Luther Seminary staff made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Golden Reunion, which was scheduled for May 6. We believe this is the most prudent course of action for everyone involved.We plan to recognize and celebrate both the class of 1970 and the class of 1971 at the May 2021 Reunion. For more information, visit www.luthersem.edu/alumni/golden-reunion/.
Festival of Homiletics, May 18-22
The Festival of Homiletics, originally scheduled for May 18-22 in Atlanta, GA, will be offered online for free (that’s right, free!). There is no better time than our current crisis to learn how to “preach a new earth.” Visit Festival of Homiletics to learn more.
Commencement, May 31
A virtual
baccalaureate is scheduled at 2 p.m. Central, Saturday, May 30. A virtual
commencement is scheduled at 3 p.m. Central, Sunday, May 31. Please invite your
friends and family. A link to both virtual events will be available on our commencement
webpage.
Second, this year’s
graduates will be invited to participate in next year’s commencement ceremony
on June 6, 2021. We do not require a commitment from students at this time. We
will provide more information during the 2020-21 academic year. | {
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To the dismay of the members who laughed at shooting a water park commercial in the basement of “Weekly Idol,” Jung Hyung Don reassured them by bragging about the amazing computer graphic skills of their staff.
First up was Lai Guan Lin who swam in the water and said his line in English.
The second member was Ong Sung Woo, or “Wanna One’s Yoo Jae Suk” as nicknamed by Jung Hyung Don. He showed off his popping dance moves in the water.
The third member was “wink idol” Park Ji Hoon, who showed off his manly side by diving into the water and pushing his hair back.
Next up was Bae Jin Young who made realistic swimming noises and then stood in the sun to ask if he could swim into your heart.
Kang Daniel was next, and was dubbed as the “physical king” of the group. He pretended to surf in the water and said the line with his signature Busan accent.
Kim Jae Hwan, nicknamed the “the main of everything for Wanna One,” backstroked in the pool, which was met with lukewarm reactions.
Next up was Park Woo Jin, who requested a customized kiddie pool to be edited into his scene. On cue, he pretended to fall into the pool and said, “I fell into your heart,” which made everyone cringe.
Last but not least was Hwang Min Hyun, who had been sighing with nervousness as he was the last to go. Dubbed as “Wanna One’s father,” Hwang Min Hyun pretended to ride in a tube and asked, “Can I swim in your heart?”. | {
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Press Release by SPRING Singapore: Number of Enterprises and Start-Ups Supported by Spring Singapore Doubled in 2015
NUMBER OF ENTERPRISES AND START-UPS SUPPORTED BY SPRING SINGAPORE DOUBLED IN 2015
SPRING helped more than 20,000 enterprises and 300 start-ups press on with their restructuring efforts and grow.
1. More than 20,000 enterprises embarked on 22,000 projects last year. This was twice the number of enterprises supported in 2014. When fully implemented, these projects would create 19,500 new jobs and contribute $6.9 billion value-add to the economy. Close to 95% of these SPRING-supported companies were enterprises with $10 million or less in annual revenue.
2. Together with its partners, SPRING engaged 70,000 enterprises in 2015, with some 22,000 assisted through the SME Centres where SMEs received free business advice and access to information on government schemes.
HistoIndex was listed in Annex A of this press release: Fact sheet on companies showcased in SPRING’s Year-in-Review. | {
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desalination plant
(Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ))
Project: SWRO-BWRO and DM Plant
Damavand petrochemical company intend to setup centralized utilities and power production/effluent treatment facilities in petrochemical zone phase 2 to supply whole of utilities for complexes and main offsite units. Following units are included in Damavand petrochemical company:
ASU plant, water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant and incineration, power and steam generation and condensate polishing plant, sea water intake, interconnecting and offsite, firefighting unit and gas station units.
Source of raw water for the plants located in phase 2 is sea water. The sea water is supplied by intake system and then is used for different consumptions after required treatment in water desalination plant.
Water treatment plant of the complex is divided into following units:
- Filtration unit (Gravity sand filtration)
- R.O units (SWRO and BWRO)
- Demin and CCP unit
- First RO permeate water storage tanks and firefighting water feed pump station
- Service water storage tanks and pump station
- Cooling water make-up storage tanks and pump station
- Demin water storage tanks & pump station
- Potable water storage tanks and pump station
- Chemical unit
Wahang Saran scope of work in first phase:
- Basic and detail design of whole water treatment plant based on 400,000 m3/day
- Mixing, flocculation and filtration unit, 6160 m3/hr
- SWRO, 2115 m3/hr Permeate water in 5 units each 423 m3/hr
- BWRO, 1890 m3/hr Permeate water in 3 units each 630 m3/hr
- DM plant based on mixed beds, 780 m3/hr in 5 (4+1) column each 195 m3/hr | {
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Though judgments have already formed on some some highly gifted players. We're talking about the so-called "can't-miss guys." And it begins with Andrew Luck, the ultra-hyped Stanford quarterback and presumed No. 1 overall pick.
But beyond Luck, who is the most can't-miss prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft?
Bucky Brooks NFL.com
LSU's Claiborne should make an immediate impact as a lockdown corner
LSU CB Morris Claiborne is the most can't-miss prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft besides Andrew Luck. He has a versatile game built upon a solid set of fundamentals that will lead to immediate success in the pros.
Claiborne is more refined than former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson was at this point, and he should make an immediate impact as a lockdown corner. There are other players with flashier games, but no one is better prepared for the NFL than Claiborne.
Jason La Canfora NFL Network
RG3 will go second overall and could mirror Cam Newton
Robert Griffin III could have a Cam Newton-esque ascent. The overall skill set is phenomenal. I don't think the height will prove to be a real detriment, and this kid is going to go second overall for a reason. He is the real deal on and off the field, and whether it's Cleveland, Washington or someone else, a team will trade up to land him. He's going right after Andrew Luck. Period.
As teams learn more about him, they will become more attracted to him. The leadership traits will blow them away. There are just too many QB-hungry trams out there, and at a time with such a weak free-agent crop at that position, it's all there for this kid to make an immediate impression.
Elliot Harrison NFL.com
Oklahoma State WR Blackmon will contribute from Day 1
There seem to be several prospects who are labeled "can't miss." When I watched Stanford play Oklahoma State last month, I couldn't help but notice what a great player Cowboys wideout Justin Blackmon could (should) be right out of the gate at the next level. Playing wide receiver in the NFL has historically been a difficult transition for rookies. Only a few, like Anquan Boldin, Randy Moss and Terry Glenn, have been good from Day 1. But Blackmon's acceleration and ability to cut, change directions and play with the agility of a smaller man is impressive. His catch radius (his ability to give a quarterback a larger window to make a completion) is something colleague Charles Davis discussed extensively on Total Access and warrants comparison to Calvin Johnson.
Charley Casserly NFL.com
Want the complete package at running back? Richardson's a no-brainer
Normally when you look for a can't-miss prospect, your best bet is an offensive lineman. The finest one in this year's draft is Matt Kalil. He played left tackle at USC, and if he can't make it there, he can move to the right side.
But to me, the second-best player in this draft is Alabama RB Trent Richardson. He is a complete back. He can run inside and outside, as well as block and catch the ball. I believe Richardson is a better player at his position than Kalil is, so that's why I'm going with him.
Notre Dame wideout Floyd is going to be a monster
While the 2012 draft may be short on superstars, it's chock-full of solid, long-term productive players. The offensive line and defensive back prospects alone will help half the league. But I want a can't-miss game-breaker, so I'm taking Notre Dame wideout Michael Floyd. I'm not concerned about the off-the-field alcohol issues, because two of them were for underage drinking -- which 98 percent of all college students could be cited for. On the field, he's not as fast as you'd like, which will turn some teams off. That's a mistake. The guy he reminds me of wasn't fast either, but Keyshawn Johnson didn't seem to have any problem getting the damn football.
Floyd is big (6-foot-3, 224 pounds) and has a knack for shielding defenders away from the football. But most importantly, he showed up huge in every big game Notre Dame played the last couple of years. There were no instances where he was invisible, which is incredible, because that occurs with virtually all the other top receivers in college football at some point. He did it against one of the strongest schedules in the country year in and year out. Nobody could stop him. There were times when he was triple-covered in clutch situations and still came down with the ball. He got better every season at Notre Dame. He's going to be a monster. | {
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Q2. How long can I expect to get the sample9 It will be ready for delivery in 3-7 days. The samples will be sent to you via express and arrive in 3-5 days. You can use your own express account or prepay us if you do not have an account.
2. Western Union: we accept 100% payment via the western union. Please contact with our Trained Sales Consultants to get help with the restaurant equipment, the consultants will offer you the services of Consultation, Bakery Shop Design, Restaurant Kitchen Design, OEM, Project Solution, Quotation, etc. TWOTHOUSAND brings the SECURED Restaurant Equipment and COMPLETE Food Service Design to the people in 150 countries and regions. .
Hygienic, safe and fast, it is a good utensil for the big kitchen to be a western personage or a shop maker. The flat furnace is divided into stainless steel electric heating flat furnace and gas flat furnace. The furnace can be used alone or in It can roast mutton kebabs, steak, baked food, fragrant, crisp, crisp.
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Alibaba.com offers 1,443 pancake griddle products. About 15% of these are pans, 14% are electric grills & electric griddles, and 14% are other hotel & restaurant supplies.
A wide variety of pancake griddle options are available to you, such as ce, cb, and rohs. You can also choose from free samples, paid samples.
There are 1,443 pancake griddle suppliers, mainly located in Asia. The top supplying country is China (Mainland), which supply 100% of pancake griddle respectively.
Pancake griddle products are most popular in Western Europe, North America, and Mid East.
You can ensure product safety by selecting from certified suppliers, including 260 with ISO9001, 22 with Other, and 20 with BRC certification. | {
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Adaminaby is a small town of around 234 people. It is located around 60km from Cooma, and around 168km to Canberra via Cooma and 112km via the Bobeyan Rd.
Adaminaby is a central fishing area in the summer and a ski hub in the winter, only a short 40min drive to the nearest ski feilds. It is 1017m above sea level making it one of the highest towns in Australia.
Adaminaby has not always been located where it is today. In 1957 Adaminaby was relocated to make way for Lake Eucumbene. Now located on the Snowy Mountains Hwy, Adaminaby is known as the home to the “Big Trout” that is located at the entrance to the main street.
“The Trout” being a 2.5t, 10m high, fiberglass model was built in 1973 by a local artist and fisherman Andy lomnici. Mr Lomnici used a frozen fish as a guide for scale, colour and shape. | {
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UK a very comfortable destination for 'financial fraudsters' for Indians: Court
Acase was registered by CBI in 2013 on the complaint of deputy general manager of Bank of India against Pixion Media. Photo: Wikimedia
By PTI
Updated: Mon, May 23, 201605:11 pm
New Delhi , PTI
United Kingdom appears to be a "very comfortable destination for financial fraudsters" who flee from India, a Special court has observed while refusing to give permission to travel abroad to a director of a film making studio, accused in over Rs 2,200 crore banks fraud case.
The court dismissed the plea of P K Tewari, director of M/s Pixion Vision Pvt Ltd, saying that it was not safe for the purpose of trial to accord him permission to go abroad.
According to the charge sheet, a case was registered by CBI in 2013 on the complaint of deputy general manager of Bank of India against Pixion Media, its promoters/ directors P K Tewari and Anand Tewari and other unknown public servants and private persons.
The case was lodged under various sections including criminal conspiracy, forgery and using forged documents as genuine under the IPC and under the Prevention of Corruption Act for defrauding Bank of India of crores of rupees.
While refusing his plea, Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar said, "I may further point out that when court imposes a bail condition that a person would not leave the country without permission of the court, it means that permission has to be granted in backdrop of the facts and circumstances of the case. Para 2 of the charge sheet shows that a loss of approximately Rs 2,200 crores has been caused to the Indian banking industry."
"In such circumstances, I am of the opinion that it is not safe for the purpose of trial to accord permission to the applicant to go abroad, specially when UK appears to be a very comfortable destination for the financial fraudsters, who flee from justice from India. Hence, this prayer is declined," the judge said.
The court said even if for the purpose of ensuring the return of accused, it imposes a condition of furnishing a surety of a few crores, the same would be insignificant in view of the enormity of the money misappropriated.
P K Tewari had sought permission to go to UK to expand his business in London and to visit Dubai saying that he was invited as guest of honour in an award function of Bhojpuri film industry.
Tewari's counsel said he has roots in the society and stays in Delhi with his family and there was no likelihood of him fleeing from the country.
CBI, however, opposed his plea saying that substantial amount of fraud has been remitted to UK and the applicant's company (M/s Molinare Ltd.UK) had availed huge credit facility from Bank of India and defaulted in payment, as result, the firm went in liquidation.
It said Tewari chose Dubai and UK to travel keeping in mind that substantial amount of proceeds of crime was remitted to UK through the routes of UAE and it is highly suspicious activity. It said there was apprehension that if the court granted him permission to travel UAE and UK, he will not return to India. | {
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Macarons with Sweet Caribou
An Anchorage market favorite, Sweet Caribou’s macarons are a small and flavorful dessert straight from the streets of France. One of the trickiest desserts to make, owner James Strong brings the city of Anchorage the tasty treats through his brand new store in midtown.
Executive pastry chef Sam Wagner, well-versed in the tricks of the trade and a graduate of UAA’s own culinary program, has been working with Sweet Caribou for a little over a year.
In addition to making macarons and other sweet treats, Wagner also designed many of the salads and lunch boxes Sweet Caribou offers for delivery.
“We could deliver to UAA very easily if people were hungry,” Wagner said.
Using a basic recipe for macarons, Wagner deviates with the wild and powerful flavors Sweet Caribou is known for.
“We play around with new stuff fairly often… trying to find new stuff that our customers like,” Wagner said.
Macaron shells right out of the oven and cooling. Photo credit: Victoria Petersen
The recipe is a sweet and subtle vanilla and can pair well with most fill-ins. Recreate Anchorage’s favorite macaron with this recipe.
Ingredients:
4 ounces of almond flour
8 ounces of powdered sugar
4 ounces egg whites (approximately 4 egg whites)
1 1/2 ounces of fine granulated sugar
4 drops of vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Weigh all of your ingredients.
2. Place egg whites in medium size bowl. It is best to use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Add sugar and whip on a medium setting.
3. While the sugar and egg whites are being whipped, sift and incorporate the powered sugar and almond flour into a medium sized bowl.
4. Make sure to frequently check the ‘peaks’ of the meringue. Stop whipping when stiff peaks are achieved. Take care to not over-whip, which will cause the macarons to lose shape in the oven and prevent ‘feet’ from forming on the cookie.
5. Once the meringue is complete, add the vanilla. Take a third of the dry ingredients in the medium bowl and add it to the meringue mixture. Fold gently, evenly adding a third of the dry ingredients at a time until everything is combined. The batter should move like magma and ribbon when it falls off the spatula.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Either with stencils or by drawing them out, create small circles to guide the piping process.
7. Funnel the batter into pastry bags that have a regular tip for piping. Carefully pipe the batter out, starting with your tip close to the baking sheet and then once the space is filled, move your tip to the side, trying to avoid pulling up.
8. Slam your baking sheet roughly ten times on the surface you’re working on. This can be done by holding the baking sheet above the table and dropping it, or by forcefully hitting the sheet against the table, keeping it even with the surface. This relieves air bubbles in the batter and helps the cookies take shape.
9. Let the cookies sit for about 10 – 15 minutes. They are ready for the oven when lightly touched and your finger doesn’t stick.
10. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown and well-risen. Let the cookies cool completely before removing them from the tray.
11. Sandwich the cookies with your favorite buttercream, ganaches, or ice cream. Note that the cookies are sensitive to moisture and will disintegrate. | {
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Here are a few things you may have in your pantry (if not, you may want to stock up)
olive oil
1 can black beans, or pinto beans, or pink beans
1-2 cloves garlic
any leftover veggies
reduced fat shredded cheese
salsa
whole wheat tortillas
1. Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick pan. Turn the heat to medium. When heated, add garlic, stir for 30 seconds. Then add beans. Saute for 1 minute. Then add veggies of your choice. Stir together and cook until heated about 2-3 minutes. Lay out a whole wheat tortilla on a plate. Add bean/veggie mix. Top with 1/4 shredded cheese and 1/4 cup salsa. Heat in microwave for a minute or 2. Voila! Dinner. | {
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Consciousness: and brain damage (General)
dhw: If you are happy with Adler’s 50/50 chance that your God listens to us and answers our prayers, why can’t you be happy with a 50/50 chance that your God has enjoyed life’s ever changing spectacle for its own sake, and not just for the sake of producing Homo sapiens (for reasons you “cannot” consider for fear of humanizing him).
DAVID: I won't accept your 50/50 humanizing on principle that we cannot know. Adler's opinion is his considered judgment which I follow.
dhw: If your guiding principle is that we cannot “know”, then none of your beliefs should be acceptable to you. All of them, like Adler’s, are opinions and no doubt considered judgements, but they are not knowledge. The same applies to your insistence that God must have dabbled or preprogrammed every innovation, lifestyle and natural wonder in order to provide energy to keep life going until he could produce the brain of Homo sapiens. You cannot “know” this. It is an opinion, a considered judgement. Your unwillingness to consider a different divine motive and ‘modus operandi’ for evolution therefore has nothing to do with the principle that we cannot “know”. I will leave you to ask yourself what other possible reason you might have for refusing to consider alternatives.
I will resist any attempt to analyze a humanized God. I won't even try, as you keep doing. We cannot know as you point out. Why try? All my other opinions that you list above are based on reasoned thought as you stated. Your view of God differs from mine. | {
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Franchise hires and promotes key staff
David Robinson has been appointed as network growth manager and Rod Fitzgerald has joined as head of corporate partnerships and events, while long-serving general manager Leanne Pilkington has assumed the role of managing director.
Laing & Simmons said that Mr Robinson’s role would be to drive productivity and revenue improvements for existing offices, while attracting new businesses to the network.
“With 15 years’ industry experience, including senior roles at McGrath and Elders, Mr Robinson has specialist expertise in training and development, and has coached and managed high-performance teams throughout his career,” the company said in a statement.
Mr Fitzgerald’s role will be to manage relationships with corporate partners, according to Laing & Simmons.
“With 15 years of experience in events and having previously held a corporate partnership role at LJ Hooker, Mr Fitzgerald’s focus will be on engaging and enhancing relationships with existing corporate partners and driving new partnerships with the potential to benefit the group,” it added.
Ms Pilkington will continue to oversee the operation of the franchise network in her new role, but will now have a more strategic focus on building the brand in NSW and nationally. | {
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Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier offshore race, an exceptional test of sailing prowess and human endeavor, which started 40 years ago as the Whitbread round the World Race.
IMG, host broadcaster for the 2011-12 race, awarded Timeline Television the contractto provide all the broadcast and technical facilities to for the Volvo Ocean race. A significant challenge of the contract was to provide a fully featured HD production and edit flyaway kit that would pack into four jumbo jet container pods.
The end to end solution involves two roaming cameras, two radio camera chase boats and a heli-tele as well as the fixed shore camera which are fed back into the production & sound control rooms. EVS for replays, 3D and FCP edit suites complete the lineup.
Timeline TV’s RF team was given the challenge of providing live radio camera signals from two chase boats that could work up to 20 km from shore and still be fully controlled by the vision engineer in the control room. Full duplex talkback and tallies to each boat are also provided. Timeline chose Cobham HD camera transmitters and receivers which have the unique feature of full diversity provided by 8 aerials. By deploying a combination of high gain Omni, fan beam, and sector antenna’s, complete coverage of the large competition areas is achieved.
Due to the event being held in ten different countries, with each port providing local chase boats, the system needed to be easily adaptable to a vast range of vessels. Timeline designed a fully waterproof portable battery system that could be deployed on any craft in a short period of time. The system integrates the Cobham COFDM transmitter and high power amplifier, the camera data receiver and the talkback base unit allowing the cameraman full communications to shore over the 15km span.
Each craft also carries a reporter and the timeline system incorporates a bespoke commentary system allowing the commentator to give a firsthand account of the action live to the land based commentary team.
Working with Amis, who provide the heli-tele gyroscopic camera, Timeline also had to develop an RF system that could be fitted to a variety of helicopters as provided by each host port. Timeline’s unique battery powered heli-tele solution removes the need to integrate to the helicopters power supply. Timeline bought the BMS actuator arm and aerial system that could be deployed on the skids or the cross mounts of differing helicopters. Timeline now has EASA & FAA approvals for all major helicopter models used in aerial photography and is believed to be most approved actuator arm system in the world.
Back on shore a 42 meter hoist provided by the host port houses the eight receive antennas and multiple talkback aerials which are connected back to the RF receive cabin located near the hoist. The RF cabin can be located up to 1km away from the main production centre which presented the challenge of getting multi bi-directional video, audio, control and comms signals over this distance. Timeline chose the Riedel Mediornet compact to connect these remote sites together
with a main and backup signal mode fibre. As Timeline also chose Riedel to provide the talkback system talkback panels are also be provided at the remote sites under the complete control of the sound supervisor in the broadcast centre. Timeline have also deployed the brand new Riedel commentary units. Because of their tight integration with Mediornet & Artist these are used for live operation as well as post with all the edit suites without the need for any re-configuration.
The Broadcast Centre galleries are equipped with a the award winning Ross Carbonite vision mixer and Yamaha LS9-32 sound desk. This flexible console is connected to the Riedel Mediornet by just one LC fibre MADI cable. Not only has this completely de-cluttered the sound gallery but crucially it saves hours of rig time and reduces the quantity of cables and equipment needing to be shipped around the world.
EVS was chosen to supply the live replays into the TX and IPD is used to integrate streaming of up to 4 feeds into the edit store via XT-access. The edit store product was chosen as it presents a single box storage solution. Mounted on the edit store are three FCP edit suites which cut a 26 minute highlight show. This has to be played out just two hours after the event finishes.
Volvo’s digital media archive follows the race around the world to ensure it is available to the production team in every location. All media is backed up to removable drive and sent back to Volvo headquarters, not only for heritage but for Volvo’s media team to make use of in their future VNRs’ and web edits.
The Volvo Ocean Race media centre is often located many miles away from the broadcast centre and Timeline provide a full broadcast quality 5Ghz point to point video link to connect the two sites. For world feed distribution in the media centre, Timeline developed a custom built distribution pod. This unique solution caters for all Volvo’s media partners giving them access to the world feed in any format desired from HD-SDI with embedded audio, through to analogue PAL with discreet analogue audio. | {
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JUSTICES FORCE NORFOLK TO SCRAP AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS<BR>
The Supreme Court let stand an order scrapping at-large city council elections in Norfolk, Virginia's second largest city, because they discriminate against blacks.
The court also agreed Monday to resolve an industrywide dispute over when coal miners qualify for black lung disability benefits, and let stand a ruling that a prison system cannot force convicts to cut their hair if it would violate their religious practices.Returning from its first two-week recess of the term, the court disposed of more than 200 cases but agreed to hear only three, taking its most significant actions in cases where it refused to review a number of important lower court rulings.
The court refused to review a decision of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the at-large format, used by Norfolk since 1918, lets the city's majority white population control the council's racial makeup in violation of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965.
The appeals court had ordered Norfolk, a city of more than 280,000 where 35 percent of the population is black, to replace its pres-ent system with elections based on wards to ensure blacks have a clear majority in voting for at least two of the seven seats. The city appealed to the high court.
The court's decision will not be felt in next week's elections because none of the seats is up for re-election this year. Two of the current council members are black.
"It's been a long battle," said James Gay, a former Norfolk NAACP president who filed the original 1983 suit against the city. "It proves that, in the end, justice does triumph."
The court agreed to resolve a dispute in the circuit courts over the standards to be met before a coal miner or his family qualifies for disability under the Black Lung Benefits Act.
The act established a federal program to provide benefits to coal miners and their families in the event of disability or death due to pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, caused by inhaling coal dust.
But for nearly a decade, federal courts have disagreed over how a miner qualifies. The Justice Department says the court's interpretation could immediately affect up to 3,500 claims.
The court let stand a ruling that the New York State prison system cannot force new convicts to cut their hair if it would violate their religious practices.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals outlawed the prison system's haircut requirement as a violation of the religious rights of Rastafarian prisoners. Rastafarianism is a religion that teaches men should neither cut nor comb their hair. | {
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Other Jack Daniel Products
70cl Glass BottleABV: 45%Tennessee whiskey is a straight bourbon whiskey produced in TennesseeEnjoy Neat, on ice or with a splash of still or sparkling water.It is an offence for any person under 18 years to buy or attempt to buy alcohol. Please drink responsibly. | {
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Again and again public opinion polls make clear that New Yorkers consider the congestion price scheme a regressive tax and want to hear about any and all alternatives before getting hit with another expense they cannot afford.
The members of the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission owe New Yorkers a fiduciary duty to examine all traffic mitigation alternatives and to give each and every proposal a fair and proper hearing.
The most recent poll, the November 19, 2007 Q-Poll from Quinnipiac University, found that opposition to the “congestion pricing plan has grown to 61-33% among New York City voters.”
In this latest survey, voters in Queens oppose congestion pricing, 65-29%; in Brooklyn 63-31%; in Staten Island 63-32%; in The Bronx 70-24%. This time even Manhattanites rejected the congestion tax, 47-46%.
See news coverage on the November 19 Q-Poll:See news coverage on the November 19 Q-Poll:
In, New poll shows 61% of city voters opposed to congestion pricing, The Daily News reports: “Opposition to Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan is growing among city voters - even those in Manhattan who would expect to gain the most from having less traffic.....Although voters in the other boroughs have always been solidly against the mayor's plan, 47% of Manhattan voters are against it - up from 36% in August......Congestion pricing support fell even if the money it raised would help forestall MTA fare hikes, the poll found.”
(November 20, 2007) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/11/20/2007-11-20_new_poll_shows_61_of_city_voters_opposed-1.html
“Overall, only 33% of New York City voters support the plan, the poll shows,” reported the New York Sun in, Poll: Support For Congestion Pricing Falling, which also noted the marked increase in opposition to the congestion tax among Manhattan voter: “Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan is facing growing opposition, with more Manhattan voters opposing than supporting it, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday.” It explained: “The proportion of registered voters opposing congestion pricing rose to 47% from 36% in August, while those supporting the plan fell to 46% from 54%.”
(November 20, 2007) http://www.nysun.com/article/66706
“With the debate over a transit fare hike heating up, opposition to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan is spreading to Manhattan, where residents had been solidly behind the proposal, according to a new poll,” reports Newsday. “In barely three months, the number of Manhattan residents who support Bloomberg's plan to charge motorists to enter the borough dropped from 54 percent in August to 46 percent this month, a Quinnipiac University poll found.”
(November 20, 2007) http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nycong205468933nov20,0,938338.story
New York One News reports: “It appears fewer New Yorkers are supporting Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal.” The report, Poll: Fewer New Yorkers Supporting Congestion Pricing, notes, “According to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Monday, 61 percent of New York City voters are now against the plan to charge drivers to enter Midtown Manhattan during certain peak hours. That number is up four percent from August and nine percent from July.”
(November 20, 2007) http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=75768
“Some 61 percent of New Yorkers are now against Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to charge drivers to enter Midtown Manhattan during peak hours, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Monday.” In Poll: fewer New Yorkers support mayor's congestion pricing proposal, Xinhua News Agency's China View English Language Internet News site also reports, “The number is up 4 percent from August and 9 percent from July......The biggest drop in support is in Manhattan, where only 46 percent support the plan, dropping sharply from 54 percent in August.”
(November 20, 2007) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/20/content_7108066.htm
From the Gothamist: “Remember when all anyone could talk about was congestion pricing? Well, now that the city is officially in holiday gridlock mode, Quinnipiac University released a new poll showing growing opposition to congestion pricing, with 61% of New Yorkers against the plan.” In Poll Suggests Waning Support For Congestion Pricing, it recalls: “Back in July, 52% of voters were against congestion pricing, and then that grew to 57% in August. Most notably, the number of Manhattan voters opposing congestion pricing has risen 11%, from 36% in August to 47% in November.”
(November 19, 2003) http://gothamist.com/2007/11/19/poll_suggests_w.php
In Majority of New Yorkers Oppose Pricing Plan, The New York Sun reports: “Opposition to Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing proposal is growing, even as the city has qualified for $354 million of federal funds to implement a pay-to-drive system in Manhattan, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday. New York voters consider traffic congestion a serious problem, but 57% of voters oppose congestion pricing – up from 52% opposing the road fee last month. Manhattan voters still support the proposal, which would charge cars $8 to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street, by a margin of 54% to 36%. The bulk of the federal dollars that would fund transportation improvements in New York City are contingent upon implementing some sort of pricing plan.”
(August 31, 2007)
http://www.nysun.com/article/61722
In Feds meddling in congestion pricing: poll, Crain’s New York Business.com reports: “A majority of New York City voters say the federal government’s promise to give the city $354 million in transit funding only if a congestion pricing plan is approved constitutes meddling, according to a new poll.
Only about $10.4 million of the total federal monies would go toward Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s traffic proposal, yet the U.S. Department of Transportation won’t give the city any of the funds if the state legislature fails to give its stamp of approval for a trial run of the congestion proposal.
Fifty-one percent of New York City voters surveyed by Quinnipiac University say the promise of federal funding with conditions is “federal meddling in a municipal decision.”
(August 30, 2007)
http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/FREE/70830002/1066/newsletter01
From The Daily Politics (The Daily News): “Brooklyn Councilman Lew Fidler used the Q poll’s results to slam the city/state congestion pricing commission as a “sham,” given that the majority of its members are predisposed in favor of Bloomberg's proposal in spite of the fact that a majority of residents in every borough but Manhattan oppose it.”
(August 31, 2007)
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/08/poll_position.html
From The New York Press: “A brand new Quinnipiac Poll finds once again that outer borough residents are overwhelmingly opposed to Mayor Mike Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan.” in Like Congestion Pricing? You Probably Live In Manhattan
(August 30, 2007)
http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=96320598
Incredulously – maybe not – the congestion tax proponents argue members of the public lack enough information about congestion pricing to form an opinion; they argue the poll results would change. In fact, informed voters oppose congestion pricing. Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free finds the suggestion by tax advocates – that our citizens lack the capacity to know what makes sense – more than offensive but obnoxious and telling of dismissive attitude shared by many congestion tax proponents towards overtaxed New Yorkers.
Most New Yorkers know a bad deal when they see it. The more New Yorkers learn about congestion pricing, the more they see how rotten it is to tax New Yorkers to address Midtown and downtown Manhattan traffic when better ways exist.
Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free respects the public and endeavors to share information about congestion pricing, its pitfalls and the many sound alternatives. Please peruse this website and if you need more information, contact Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free at [email protected] for assistance. | {
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My 11.2 version has started locking up on me. I'm opening a previously edited file and I'm trying to display the mask in a local adjustment layer. It locks up the 2017 MacBook Pro every time. I have to force the MacBook to restart by cycling the power. | {
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Throat Cancer Information
Throat cancer is a general term referring to several unique diseases. The four most common include:
Squamous cell carcinoma, which develops in the cells that cells that line the throat
Adenocarcinoma, which develops in the glandular cells of the throat
Pharyngeal cancer, which develops in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx
Laryngeal cancer, which develops in the voice box.
Although all are classified as forms of throat cancer, each of these unique diseases develops, spreads, and responds to treatment in a different way. Therefore, patients are typically advised to seek specialty treatment from oncologists with extensive experience managing these specific malignancies.
Tampa General Hospital's ENT oncology specialists treat tumors of the sinus, salivary gland, oral cavity, throat, thyroid and parathyroid and endocrine gland. Because our oncologists have a high level of expertise treating cancers found throughout the head and neck, they’re able to recommend the most promising treatments while taking into consideration each patient’s unique needs.
Tampa General Hospital offers:
Surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic procedures that help reduce scarring and preserve vocal function
Chemotherapy, including novel drugs and drug combinations that studies have shown to be especially effective in the treatment of throat cancer
Radiation therapy, with an emphasis on targeted delivery techniques that help minimize radiation exposure of healthy tissues
Not only do patients have access to our complete range of throat cancer therapies, but also the supportive care services that reflect our commitment to comprehensive cancer treatment. This includes speech pathology services, dietary counseling, and extensive integrative medicine services to enhance their quality of life throughout recovery. | {
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OCTOBER 4, 2007
A Formula 1 story about motor racing
There have been a lot of stories in recent days about the politics of Formula 1 and little has been said of the driver market. What is clear is that everyone is now waiting to see what happens with Fernando Alonso. It has been fairly evident since the Hungarian Grand Prix that the future of the McLaren lies with Lewis Hamilton and there have been rumours of five-year deals worth very large sums of money. It makes total sense for McLaren to have moved quickly to nail down Hamilton and make sure that he is not lured elsewhere. The next problem is what to do with Fernando Alonso. He has a deal with McLaren for 2008. Neither side is happy with the situation but neither wants to be the one to make the break because of the legal implications involved and the need to pay for a settlement. Thus it has been a very cagey game of tryingg to find ways to break up the relationship without either side having to pay. This has not been easy, as was indicated by Bernie Ecclestone's recent remarks about Fernando perhaps having a sabbatical in 2008. That was never going to happen but it was probably a message to one someone.
There has been a lot of talk about Alonso going back to Renault but this is really wishful thinking as Renault does not have the cash to pay for him and there will be the fear that the team's performance will not improve next year and also that the quietly simmering scandals may yet bubble up and engulf Renault, as rumours have suggested for some time.
The obvious home for Alonso is at Ferrari and while Jean Todt says that Alonso will not be there in 2008, it is by no means certain that this will change. Fernando cannot just leave without a suitable settlement and the team is unlikely to fire him but this does not mean it is impossible for him to force the situation to his advantage. One could speculate that there are lessons that may have been learned from what Nick Heidfeld did a couple of years ago when he wanted to leave Williams to join BMW Sauber. Williams wanted him to stay and had a contract but Nick wanted to leave to become number one as the Swiss team. this was achieved by signing a contract for the year after his Williams deal ended. By doing this he made it clear that he was going to the rival operation and that Williams would then have to decide whether it was a good idea for him to gather a whole lot of knowledge that would go with him (in his head of course) arer whether it was best to cut and run and find an alternative.
Thus one can imagine a situation in which Alonso would agreed a deal with Ferrari to start in 2009 and then present this to McLaren. There is little reason then that McLaren would want him to stay on as that would simply be giving Ferrari a better insight into McLaren activities. At the moment Alonso is probably not playing any great role in the development of things for 2008 and so it is a good time for McLaren to agree to let him go. McLaren might like some money and it would really depend on what Ferrari (or its sponsors) are willing to pay. Marlboro always want the fastest drivers available but a company like Alice (a Spanish-controlled pan-European telecommunications company) may well be happy to chip in to grab Fernando.
McLaren's choice for a replacement is somewhat limited. There are the old lags who have the experience but not perhaps the hunger. There are young guys who are untried but might be good. There is very little in between as those who are available are contracted. In this class the only man who seems to be free is Tonio Liuzzi and the Italian is seen as a bit of a risk because the performances of the Toro Rosso has been pretty poor until Fuji. Sebastian Vettel got most of the publicity in Japan but Liuzzi did a very good job as well even if his point - the team's first - was ultimately taken away by the stewards.
The man who is most likely to join Lewis is, however, Nico Rosberg. He has been racing Hamilton since they were kids and has managed to handle it well and remain a friend. Hamilton has often been quicker than Rosberg, but not by much. Thus he is a good team-mate as he will win races where he can win races, even if Lewis wins more.
The departure of Rosberg would create double trouble for Williams because it would need to replace both Nico and Alexander Wurz, who is well-respected within the team but has no place next year in the race team. If Alonso moves to Ferrari, Williams might pick up Felipe Massa (if the team is interested). There are Liuzzi, Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson available but the team might prefer to strengthen its relationship with Toyota by going for novice Kazuki Nakajima in one of the cars.
At the moment all these things are bubbling - and no doubt there are more besides.
But Alonso holds the key to the market and no-one is moving until Fernando's future is known. | {
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I was playing around with Picasa the other day and decided to see what it would take to plug my Photo Gallery Maker gallery into Picasa. Turns out it’s relatively easy. I’ll save the “How does this thing work” post for later. For now, I’ve posted an installer and a zip of the templates. I’ve only tested the installer on Windows 64-bit, so if it doesn’t work you can download the .zip and do a manual install.
After I built my new computer, I went to put a photo gallery together and realized my Photo Gallery app ran at about the same speed as it did on my old PC. I was running all the thumbnailing and image scaling in a single thread, so it was only taking advantage of one core (and I have a simulated EIGHT in my new PC) no matter what. So I fixed it.
Photo Gallery Maker 1.2 has support for multi-core systems. It will run ([number of simulated cores] / 2 + 1) threads for thumbnailing and image scaling. Just about every system available today should see a noted improvement from version 1.1.
There was also some funny stretching going on with the thumbnails on the generated web page. I fixed that too.
I was working with Photo Gallery Maker recently and decided it needed a bit of an update. Key changes are as follows:
You can now have Photo Gallery Maker include a .zip file of all the photos in your gallery. If you do this, there will be a “download all photos” link in the title bar allowing viewers of your gallery to download the photos. You can include the original photos or the resized versions in the .zip file.
You can now save and load your gallery as xml.
I’ve adjusted the look and feel of the full size image (shown when you click a thumbnail).
You can now view the images in a slideshow. A slideshow control panel is shown if you mouse over a full size image.
I’ve also fixed a few bugs:
There was a nasty memory leak in the image processing code. If you were working with large images, it would most likely run out of memory.
Drag and drop should drop to the correct position now. It was off by one in certain cases.
If one of your images was sufficiently tall, it would overflow onto the caption. I’ve fixed this by causing the thumbnail to get squashed if it’s too tall. The full size version remains unchanged.
This build includes a library called SharpZipLib, which is available under the GPL. As such, source code is not included in the installer (you won’t notice it unless you’re trying to). A file called source.zip contains all source code, and it is copied into the Photo Gallery Maker folder in Program Files.
In my last post, I mentioned I’d be posting tool to create a simple photo gallery. Well, I finished it earlier than I expected. I’d like to talk about the workflow I designed it around, though, before just throwing a link out.
How To Use It
To use my tool, you’ll need the following:
Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 installed. If you don’t have this, you can get it here.
A website (or an http server) where you can post a folder full of files.
Some photos you want to post online.
The general use case is as follows:
Open up Photo Gallery Maker.
Enter a title for your gallery in the title box.
Drag photos into the large empty listbox. Reorder as necessary using Drag and drop or the sorting options available.
Choose a color scheme.
Click “Export Webpage”, specify an output folder, and click ok. At this point, the app will generate thumbnails and web ready images from your source pictures. It will also copy the necessary CSS and JavaScript files and generate the html for you.
Once generation is complete, copy your destination folder to yourwebsite. You can then link to the http path of the folder on your website toview the gallery.
For example, if I generated the folder “photos” on my computer, and copied it to /www/galleries on my website, then I’d link to http://www.lukerymarz.com/galleries/photos or http://www.lukerymarz.com/galleries/photos/index.html. Other FeaturesNow, there are a few extra features I overlooked.
You can double click an image or select it and press enter to change the caption displayed under the thumbnail in the web page. You can alse do this through a right click.
If you’d like a faster way to enter captions, select and image, right click it, and choose “Begin Quickedit Mode”. This will allow you to enter a caption for the current image. When you press enter or tab, the edit focus will move to the next picture and you can enter it’s caption. This will continue until you’ve entered a caption for all the images or clicked the mouse somewhere else.
By default, the full size image will be 800×600. You can choose a few different sizes in the “Image Size” group on the right side of the app. 800X600 is fastest with HighSlide, but sometimes you just want a higher resolution.
If you need to regenerate the html or choose a different color scheme for your gallery, but you don’t want to regenerate all the images, you can use the “Export HTML” button. It will do just that (copy the highslide files, the current color scheme, and generate a new index.html). If you’ve changed the photos in the gallery, use this at your own risk!
CAVEAT: You must have the .NET Framework Version 3.5 installed for this to run. If it’s not installed, you’ll get an error message when you start it up. Anyways, I found this pretty useful for posting galleries to my website to share with friends. Photo Gallery Maker version 1.0 can be found here.Photo Gallery Maker version 1.1 can be found here. Read more about it here.Drop me an email at [email protected] if you have any questions.
I don’t know if I’m the only one, but I’ve yet to see a photo gallery in a web page that I like. The primary problems are:
1. I don’t want to have to press the back button every time I look at a picture (like facebook, for example). To that end, the whole gallery (thumbnails and full size images) should be contained on a single page.
2. I want it to load fast.
3. I want to have it look nice.
4. Each picture should have room for a short description.
5. It should resize to fill the browser window with thumbnails (so you can treat it much like a thumbnails view in Windows Explorer).
Rather than complain about it, though, I thought I’d make something I was satisfied with. Well, I worked with my girlfriend to put one together (She’s learning HTML and needed a project). Here’s a sample of how it turned out.
I used Highslide for the fancy javascript transitions. It’s a really nice kit that plugs in easily. The only issue I had with it was because I had defined a style for img elements. The fix was to… not do that, define class that each image could use (for example class=”imgThumb”).
Anyways, this post is a heads up, because I wrote a tool to throw galleries like this together, and I’ll be posting it soon. More about that when I get there. | {
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Why not take a look at our cleaning tips to help keep your home fresh! | {
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This has nothing to do with constructing std::string from char const*.
f expects a lvalue reference to a string, and by creating a temporary instance on the spot, you're providing an rvalue, which cannot be bound to a non-const lvalue reference. f(string{}) is just as invalid. | {
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Actually, the cop has been trained on how to deal with armed citizens. But probably in the training, the armed citizens were all white.
Now that black men are starting to join the NRA and get concealed carry licenses we will see MORE of them get shot by cops. In this case, the cop had a brain freeze because he couldn’t compute “black man” and “licensed to carry” both at once. | {
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Atlas
2D Silicon Device Simulator
S-Pisces™ is an advanced 2D device simulator for silicon based technologies
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include MOS, bipolar, and BiCMOS technologies. The capabilities of all the
physical models have been extended to deep submicron devices, SOI devices,
and non-volatile memory structures.
All measurable electrical parameters can
be calculated. For MOS technologies these include gate and drain characteristics,
subthreshold leakage, substrate
currents, and punchthrough voltage. For bipolar technologies Gummel plots
and saturation curves can be predicted.
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can
be calculated include breakdown behavior, kink and snapback effects, CMOS
latchup, guarding breakdown voltage, low-temperature and high-temperature operation,
AC parameters, and intrinsic switching times.
Complete MOS Characterization
Electron temperature distribution in a 0.3µm MOSFET.
Impact ionization rate is based on the carrier temperature.
The LDD MOSFET structure simulated in the process simulator Athena and the final structure imported directly into Atlas. The electric field contours superimposed on the plot.
Substrate current in a MOSFET calculated using the Energy Balance and classical drift-diffusion models.
Simulated snapback in the breakdown curve caused by the parasitic bipolar.
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Intrinsic switching speed of a bipolar transistor
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A bipolar transistor was simulated in Athena and imported
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Advanced Device Structures
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Above shows the ID-VD characteristics
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This is a comparison of electron concentration in
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EEPROM device design curves are shown in the three
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High-k Dielectrics
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Breakdown voltages of power devices are improved using multiple guard
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Strained Silicon MOS
Comparison of in-plane and perpendicular electron mobilities in strained
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S-Pisces calculate DC, AC and time-domain solutions
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Ohmic and Schottky contacts, and floating gates. | {
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MFW Adventures: West by Wagon and the Human Body
Its our favorite time of year! “Winter.” The weather is gorgeous, though very rainy this year, and we spend more time than ever out of doors.
The garden has gone absolutely berserk this year. I love walking outside and cutting a head of lettuce before dinner. We planted more veggies this week and I am looking forward to harvesting them in March.
West by wagon train! The boys were eager to jump right in. I gave them each a small bag and asked them to pack things they would need for one week of travel through an unsettled, wild area.
We had to pack and repack for over an hour. It was fun watching them try to figure out what really needed to go in the bag and what they could do without. We read “Daily Life in a Covered Wagon” by Paul Erickson and the boys made their own “travel journals” as an exercise in creative writing. They wrote and illustrated stories about their make believe travels on the Oregon Trail. These entries read like the old Oregon Trail computer game I loved as a kid. Day 1: shot a buffalo. Day 2: dysentery. The illustrations were hilarious. I love when they ask to do their own projects. Its fun to watch their creativity bloom as they take complete control over their work.
After reading “The Josefina Story Quilt” and our reading selection from American Pioneers and Patriots, the boys asked if they could make their own quilts. After showing them squares from the quilt I’ve been working on for the last nine years (no joke) they opted for glueing fabric scraps onto paper and making “Quilt Art.”
See that little model wagon? Looks nice in the picture doesn’t it? Its garbage. We could have burned three dollar bills in front of our children and they would have learned a greater lesson than the experience of putting this thing together. While we’ve had fun with other wood building kits, this one received poor marks. The quality is terrible and there is no building involved. You glue pieces together and watch the wheels fall off because the accompanying nails don’t fit correctly in the predrilled holes. a big thank you to my patient hubby for seeing that project through to the bitter end.
After that disaster, we opted to use our play stand as a covered wagon. We threw a white sheet overtop and our eldest sang “Old Dan Tucker” as the kids pretended to bump along the trail. They ate lunch in their wagon and pretended to cook a few meals while I read aloud from their book basket. Then our youngest began crying for his play stand. “My birds! My blocks! My sky!” We put things to rights once more and he has not left it since. Territory claimed!
We used the booklet, “My Body” last year during Cycle 3 of Classical Conversations.
The boys each made a life size cut out of their body which they then filled in with various organ systems from the pages of this book. One book can be used for an entire family or classroom.
It was a great learning experience. I was tempted to repeat it once more for this unit but instead chose the following add ins:
This dover coloring book was an excellent choice for the boys. They have loved working in it and describing the various organs and systems to me as they complete each section.
We picked up a Magic School Bus Human Anatomy science kit. The boys completed the majority of these experiments on their own and learned an incredible amount of information. This kit has inspired me to allow the boys to lead more of their own science projects. They are more than capable of gathering their own materials from around the house, following procedural steps, forming hypothesis and recording their results. I picked this kit up several months ago during a Zulily science sale. The school bus kits show up on Zulily frequently at a hefty discount.
Other hands on activities we introduced and enjoyed included: puzzles, three part letter cards and a safari toob of human organs.
This digestive system puzzle shows up in the Target dollar section every August. | {
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Tonight, we discuss Amber's adventures at the St. Louis Anime Convention, and cosplayers in general. So, sharpen your cardboard swords, and join us! This podcast is brought to you by Girls Dressed Like Boys.
If you love to play it, but are ashamed to admit it, tonight's podcast is for you. We come clean on some of our favorite guilty pleasure video game titles, so that you won't have to. This podcast is brought to you by Insert Sponsor Here.
We've now watched the Watchmen, and so it's time to circle the chairs and discuss our experience. It's much like therapy, with the added bonus of a naked blue dude. Join us! This episode is brought to you by smiley faces.
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Get ready for a showdown. Tonight, we both count down our top five weapons of choice in video games. From lasers to bullets to things that go boom, these are our weapons of choice. This week's podcast is brought to you by Unlimited Ammo. | {
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You are here
Volcanic hot springs & Samurai houses
The dominant image on Kagoshima’s horizon is that of Sakurajima, the overactive volcano whose frequent dustings of ash bring out the umbrellas as if they were spring showers. The mountain also heats a number of geothermal springs, providing the unique opportunity to relax in a “sand bath” that will leave you feeling relaxed and energized.
For a rare taste of old Japan, visit Chiran and its street of seven meticulously preserved Samurai houses and their manicured gardens. These handsome residences exemplify Japanese aesthetic principles, which reflect simplicity, and a restrained and refined sense of beauty.
Sakurajima Island
The island, in Kagoshima Bay features Mount Sakurajima. This beautiful active volcano often billows a heavy plume of smoke, and lava flows have connected the island with the mainland. The Arimura Observatory offers an incredible vantage point.
Kagoshima Highlights
Visit Sakurajima Island and visit Arimura Observatory to learn about the history of the active volcano. Sakurajima Island is also known for the Sakurajima Radish, the largest variety in the world, and the Sakurajima Mandarin, the smallest variety in the world. Explore Senganen Garden and Shoko Shuseikan Museum.
Featured Kagoshima, Japan Shore Excursions
#
Flavors of Kagoshima & Wagyu Beef
Immerse yourself in the culture and flavors of Kagoshima on this journey to a traditional kiln, a local brewery, and restaurant where you'll try the famous Wagyu Beef. | {
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Program
Rhythm on My Heels
The
film is 86 min. long and the concert (8 songs) will take approx. 30 min.Concert by Emil Viklicky and Greg Ritchie, Dan Loomis, Petr Cancura
Film: Rhythm
on My Heels
Josef
Škvorecky (born 1926) is a Czech writer and novelist living in Canada since
1968. For decades Josef Skvorecky taught at the University of Toronto as a
professor of literature.
His
novels and stories were translated to dozens of languages and he is the
recipient of numerous literary and civil awards including the prestige Governor
General’s Award and Order of Canada.
The
literary work of Josef Skvorecky has been inspiring TV and movie productions
for years. Rhythm on My Heels is a featured movie base on his book “The
Tenor Saxophonist’s Story” shot in Prague last year.
The
story takes place in Czechoslovakia in fifties and it is “a musical tragedy”
about love. Main character Danny is the alter ego of Josef Skvorecky himself.
Danny is passionate about beautiful girls and jazz,
but at the wrong time in a country where communist regime considers this music
be way too imperialistic for young people. Danny and his friends form a jazz
band and try to live a normal life in a strange world,
where one’s destiny is shaped by politics,
secret police and undercover agents who might as well be those beautiful girls.
This
movie received great reviews and was screened at many international film
festivals. Its screening in Toronto followed by a musical performance of
featured jazz songs, performed live
by the actors, is planed for the end
of May and we would like to dedicate it to Josef Skvorecky. Internationally
acclaimed jazzman Emil Viklicky, who
composed this movie’s scenic music and arranged all original songs, will play the piano.
This
movie not only introduces the work of your famous fellow citizen, but also presents the viewers with the
Eastern-Europeam reality of 1950s. Thanks to the beautiful jazz songs this film
is interesting for younger generations and most importantly for jazz lovers.
Josef Škvorecký
BiographyBorn 1924
in Náchod, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, he graduated in 1943 from the Reálné gymnasium in
his native town. As part of Josef Goebbel's Totaleinsatz scheme, he spent the next two years as a slave labourer in
a German aircraft factory.
After World War Two he studied at Charles
University in Prague,
and received his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1952. In 1952 - 1954 he served in the
Czechoslovak army, then held
editorial jobs in the Odeon Publishing House. His first novel, The Cowards,
written in 1948-49 was not published until 1958,
immediately condemned by the Communist party,
banned and seized by the police. According to many critics, this novel marks the beginning of the end of
socialist realism in Czech literature. Škvorecký then published several other
books and wrote scripts for feature films.
After the Soviet ambush in 1968 Škvorecký and his wife left for Canada where he continued writing novels, and taught in the Department of English, University
of Toronto until his
retirement in 1990.
In 1971 Škvorecký and his wife,
writer and actress Zdena Salivarová,
founded the Sixty-Eight Publishers,
Corp. which for over twenty years kept publishing banned Czech and Slovak
books. For this, the president of
post-Communist Czechoslovakia Václav Havel awarded them the Order of the White
Lion. In 1992 Škvorecvký was appointed to the Order of Canada.
Among his numerous literary awards,
the most important are the Neustadt International Prize for Literature (1980), the Canadian Governor General's Aaward for Best
Fiction (1984), the Czech Republic
State Prize for Literature (1999) and the Prize of the Comenius Pangea
Foundation “For Improvement of Human Affairs” (2001) which he received with the
Polish film director Andrzej Wajda.
Most of his books are awailable in English: the novels The Cowards, Miss Silver's Past,
The Republic of Whores, The Miracle
Game, The Swell Season, The Engineer of Human Souls,
The Bride of Texas, Dvorak in Love, The Tenor Saxophonist's Story, Two Murders in My Double Life, An Inexpliocable Story or The Narrative of Questus
Firmus Siculus, his selected short
stories When Eve Was Naked and the two short novels The Bass Saxophone and
Emöke. He also wrote four books of detective fiction featuring Lieutenant
Boruvka of the Prague Homicide Bureau :The Mournful Demeanor of Ltn. Boruvka, Sins for Father Knox,
The End of Ltn. Boruvka and The Return of Ltn. Boruvka.
His poetry, both published and
unpublished, has been brought out in
1999 as ...there's no remedy for this pain .
With his friend, the poet Jan
Zábrana, Škvorecký published three
more detective novels, Murder for
Luck, Murder by Proxy and Guaranteed
Murder and a novel for children Tanya and the Two Gunmen (not available in
English).
With his wife, the novelist Zdena
Salivarova he published (in Czech onlz,
so far) three crime novels, Brief
Encoounter, with Murder; Encounter
After Many Years, with Murder and
Encounter at the End of an Era, with
Murder.
Škvorecký also published several volumes of short stories; a selection of them
was published in English as When Eve Was Naked.
His non-fiction works include Talkin' Moscow Blues,
a book of essays on jazz, literature
and politics, an autobiography
Headed for the Blues, two books on
the Czech cinema, All the Bright
Young Men and Women and Jirí Menzel and the History of the "Closely
Watched Trains"
Škvorecký extensively wrote for films and television. The feature film The Tank
Battalion, adapted from his novel
The Republic of Whores, was the
first Czech film made not by the Barrandov State Studios but by a private
company, The Bonton Films; it was
the biggest box-office success since the fall of communism. Other features, written for Prague TV,
include Eine kleine Jazzmusik,
adapted from his story of the same name,The
Emöke Legend from a novella of the same name,
and a two-hour TV drama Poe and the Murder of a Beautiful Girl, based on the murder of Mary Rogers of New York
which Poe had used for his story "The Mystery of Marie Roget". Three
very successful TV serials were made from his stories: Sins for Father Knox, The Swell Season and Murders for Luck.
Josef Škvorecký and his wife Zdena Salivarová live in Toronto, Canada.
Emil
Viklickywas born November 23, 1948, in Olomouc,
Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), and started to play piano at a very
early age. His grandfather Victor Wiklitzky had brought a Hoffbauer concert
grand piano from Vienna as a wedding gift for his musically gifted bride. Emil
graduated from Palacky University with a degree in mathematics in 1971. While a
student, he devoted much time to playing jazz piano. In 1974, he was awarded the
prize for best soloist at the Czechoslovak Amateur Jazz Festival, and that same
year he joined Karel Velebny's SHQ ensemble. Emil was a prizewinner at the jazz
improvisation competition in Lyon in 1976, and his composition “Green Satin”
(Zeleny saten) earned him first prize in the music conservatory competition in
Monaco. Nine years later, his “Cacharel” won second prize in the same
competition.
In 1977 Emil was
awarded a four-year scholarship to study composition and arranging with Herb
Pomeroy at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He then continued his
composition studies with Jarmo Sermila, George Crumb, and Vaclav Kucera. Since
his return to Prague he has been directing his own ensembles (primarily quartets
and quintets), composing and arranging music and—since the death of Karel
Velebny—working as director of the Summer Jazz Workshops in Frydlant. He has
also lectured at a similar workshop event in Glamorgan, Wales.
Between 1991 and 1995
Viklicky was President of the Czech Jazz Society, and since 1994 he has worked
with the Ad Lib Moravia ensemble, whose performances combine elements of
Moravian folk music, modern jazz, and contemporary music. In 1996 the ALM
ensemble undertook a highly successful concert tour of Mexico and the United
States.
As a pianist, Emil
often performs in international ensembles alongside musicians from the U.S. and
European countries. During 1983-89, he worked with the Lou Blackburn
International Quartet, the Benny Bailey Quintet, and American
multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson. He has made frequent appearances in
Finland (with the Finnczech Quartet and in particular with Jarmo Sermila) and
Norway (with the Czech-Norwegian Big Band and Harald Gundhus), and has performed
in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Israel, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands (at the
North Sea Festival), and elsewhere. Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner wrote of
Emil that “It was a delightful surprise to see such first-class, top-of-the-line
jazz in Prague.”
As a composer and
pianist, Emil has become noted for his unique synthesis of the melodicism and
tonalities of Moravian folk song with modern jazz. As English critic Euan Dixon
wrote in 2005, “Emil Viklicky is one of those European jazz pianists who
successfully incorporated elements of his indigenous folk culture into
jazz.”
He also composes
straight-ahead modern jazz as well as chamber and orchestral works that utilize
certain elements of the New Music, and at times his music requires a combination
of classical and jazz performers.
In addition, Emil
composes incidental and film music and has produced scores for several
full-length feature films and television series. Throughout the 1990s he devoted
an increasing amount of time to the composition of contemporary classical music
for a variety of instrumental combinations ranging from small chamber ensembles
and electronic instruments to symphony orchestras and choruses. Viklicky’s work
has gained him a number of prestigious awards, including the 1991 Film and
Television Association prize for music for animated films, second prize at the
1994 Marimolin contemporary music competition in Boston (for “Tristana”), a 1996
Prague award for electroacoustic music (for “Paradise Park”), a 1996 Czech Music
Fund prize for use of folk music in art music, and first prize in a 2000
international OPERA composition competition in Prague (for the opera Phaedra).
Review
quotes:
“One of the best
contemporary pianists, Emil Viklicky’s soloing and comping, his touch, voicings
and intervals have a good deal in common with fleet, tasteful pianists like
Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles and Bill Charlap.”Doug Ramsey, Jazz
Time (Dec. 2004)
“Combine elements of
Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson with a deep infusion of Moravian soul, and you
have Emil Viklicky, the patriarch of Czech jazz piano.”Jack Massarik,
Evening Standard, London (June 5, 2006)
“Emil Viklicky Trio has
the same collective energy as Esbjorn Svenson Trio, though without electronics
and rock input.”John Fordham,
Guardian, London (Sept. 13, 2006)“Viklicky himself is a
wonderfully lyrical yet robust pianist, his playing packed with dynamic and
textural subtleties.”Chris Parker,
London (Dec. 22, 1997)
“The program did have
its share of happy marriages. Emil Viklicky cloaked the writings of Vaclav Havel
in two distinctly different garments: a slinky, flirtatious raiment to accompany
an early work and a gray, bluesy fleece that provided a huddling place for a
prison letter afforded a witty reading by Mario Van Peebles.”David Sprague,
Variety (Oct. 29, 2004)
Greg
Ritchie:Since
moving to New York City
in 2003 Greg Ritchie has been touted as one of the city’s premiere young
drummers. As a sideman in high demand,
Greg has been been involved in countless musical settings in a wide variety of
music. He has performed with many of today’s finest jazz musicians including
Dave Liebman, Seamus Blake, Vic Juris and Donny McCaslin in addition to being
an integral member of rock, pop and
folk groups such as Clare and the Reasons & Zach Williams.He
currently resides in Brooklyn where he is busy touring,
performing, rehearsing and composing
for his own projects as well as ‘The Story’ (www.thestorymusic.com) which he co-leads.
Dan Loomis:
A new presence on the New York
jazz scene, Dan Loomis has already
become one the most in-demand bassists of his generation. Called “a
forceful and creative bass player” (Cadence) “double-teaming you with style and
substance” (All About Jazz), Dan has
created a stir with both his powerful bass playing and his vision as a
composer/bandleader. Dan has toured extensively through the US, Canada and Europe with his groups The Dan Loomis
Quartet (DLQ), The Wee Trio, Spoke,
and as a sideman, winning new
audiences and bringing enthusiastic praise from critics.
Petr
Cancura:
Multi-instrumentalist Petr Cancura is sought-after for his original voice and
unique blend of musical influences,
whether on saxophones or mandolin. Appearing on over 30 released albums, he has recorded and performed with
Grammy-nominated Danilo Perez, Grammy-nominated
Julian Lage, Bob Moses, Joe Morris,
Kathleen Edwards, Kenny Wollesen, Joe Maneri,
Cecil McBee and the Juno award-winning Mighty Popo among others.
Born in Czech Republic,
raised in Canada and
currently based in New York, Petr’s versatility and experience shines through
everything he does. Petr is also the Programing director of the Ottawa
International Jazz Festival, one of
the leading North American Jazz Festivals. The Petr Cancura Trio has been
featured on CBC Radio’s Signal, and
continues to tour internationally with acclaim. In 2004,
Cancura received an award to study at the prestigious New England Conservatory
in Boston, where completed the Masters program.
Today
Cancura continues to record and perform with artists from all over the world, with musical project spanning from jazz to world
and folk music. Petr’s current project called Down Home is jazz inspired by
original black & white photographs and the music of the deep south (Mississippi and Kentucky).
Other current projects are The Richie Barshay Group,
his own groups PeopleMusic, a
quartet with Polish marvel Jacek Kochan,
guitar legend Joe Morris, Brazilian
Country band NationBeat and the Grammy-nominated Danilo Perez Big Band.
Film will
be introduced by a film director Andrea Sedlackova,
and during a concert you will also see and hear Vojtech Dyk, Jan Meduna,
Berenika Kohoutova, Marika Soposka a
Margareta Hruza, who also played in
this tv-film. | {
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After my initial pilot of a Javascript/phone application written for the pebble to see how the idea worked, I decided to build a solution which would allow me to keep my (relatively) expensive phone o… | {
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I'm not sure how I feel about this - except that RA has been getting heaps of mainstream press lately and has been adopted by a number of larger 'mainstream' or 'non specialty' coffee roasters suppliers. We've been buying it for a number of years and are quite a supporter of the programme. I guess this is another way of making everyday consumers more aware of the situation at origin.
McDonalds have said on their website:
"We view coffee as a key growth driver for our business and recognise that our customers increasingly want not only safe and great tasting food and drink, but to feel good about the choices they make. For coffee, there were a number of established and structured certification programs already available in the marketplace and so once we had evaluated the merits of each, making the decision to move to sourcing from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms was really very simple."
I don't know if McCafe is a big thing in the USA or elsewhere for that matter, and where McDonalds source their coffee.
i went to a mc cafe on the way to fraijanes guatemala. the coffee was not entirely bad. plus, i could double dip my quarter pounder in it. where else can you do that? i don't know about their sourcing, but it seemed like hard bean central, fairly clean, some acidity. made me think of tim hortons. now ... do they have tim hortons in australia? (please answer "no"!) -tom
sweetmarias wrote:i went to a mc cafe on the way to fraijanes guatemala. the coffee was not entirely bad. plus, i could double dip my quarter pounder in it. where else can you do that? i don't know about their sourcing....
McDonald's have been using and heavily promoting Rainforest Alliance coffee in the UK for over a year - they claim that sales of coffee have grown 22% partly as a result of this. They are shortly to change their tea to RA also. For me RA is the easiest of the 'badges' to put on your coffee for these guys as you only need 35% of the blend to be certified. Over here their supplier is Kraft.
With regard to McCafe while successful in Ireland, Russia and other EU countries it has failed to get past two trial stores in the UK. In their mainstream stores they have a very clever loyalty card that is actually inbedded in the outer layer of a double walled cup and is perforated to allow the customer to remove it.
Every bean we grind at McCafé® is made using 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced only from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms in Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica that meet the strict environmental and social standards set by the Rainforest Alliance.
The coffee offerings at McDonalds in the US seems to very by location or to a greater extent by region. The individual stores are operated by franchisees and I think they have some leeway in which McD's specialty products (food and beverage alike) they offer and which ones they don't. In this area the new "premium" coffee is offered but when I was on a road trip to Connecticut recently the expressway rest top McD's had Green Mountain /Paul Newman organic coffee. I haven't tried that one but their standard "premium" coffee is fairly mediocre. Certainly better than what they had previously and far better than Burger King's Coffee.
Tom said:
made me think of tim hortons.
I wonder if Tim Horton's also uses different coffee in different areas? I've never been to a full blow Canadian Tim Horton's but they recently started moving into NY state with some Buffalo area stores. I tried a cup of coffee at one of their NY state Thruway stores - which is a food court mini-store - and it was putrid; really seriously bad - not even as good as what McD's had before they raised the bar a bit.
phaelon56 wrote:The coffee offerings at McDonalds in the US seems to very by location or to a greater extent by region. The individual stores are operated by franchisees and I think they have some leeway in which McD's specialty products (food and beverage alike) they offer and which ones they don't.
It's divided by region, and I do not believe the franchisees have any choice. I know they use Gavina in California, Green Mountain in the northeast and S&D in the South. Don't know the other regions.
sweetmarias wrote:i went to a mc cafe on the way to fraijanes guatemala. the coffee was not entirely bad. plus, i could double dip my quarter pounder in it. where else can you do that? i don't know about their sourcing....
Gavina in California.
Marshall, are you saying McCAfe in Guate is using Gavinia in Calif?
I agree tom it's definitely a hard central, not prime, not shb.
Many of the McCafe's in Guate now have ristretto on the menu and have more than one coffee offering. A few weeks ago I had some espresso. It was ground and dosed to order. Then as I watched the careful distribution and tamping with perfect form on the edge of the counter I thought to myself the 2009 WBC COULD come from a McCafe in a MALL in Guatemala City! Don't laugh, it just might happen!
Watch out Emily.. I heard McDonalds in Australia is also looking at single origin micro lots and hosting public cuppings.
sweetmarias wrote:i went to a mc cafe on the way to fraijanes guatemala. the coffee was not entirely bad. plus, i could double dip my quarter pounder in it. where else can you do that? i don't know about their sourcing....
Gavina in California.
Marshall, are you saying McCAfe in Guate is using Gavinia in Calif?
No, we were talking about McDonald's coffee in the U.S., which is almost entirely drip. They are just beginning to roll out the McCafe's here (except for a few pioneer test locations). But, I would not be surprised to see the McCafes use the same roasters who gave McDonalds such a sales boost over the past two years.
One of the first test McCafe locations in the US opened back around 2000 on 42nd Street in Manhattan as a sort of annex to the big McDonalds there. It was really lame with a small superauto or pod machine (can't recall which) and Nescafe as the featured coffee. I think they yanked it after year or so but the lack of success was understandable as they just didn't "get it". | {
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Thursday, January 14, 2010
This is a guest post for swpd by thesciencegirl, a 20something medical and graduate student living in Chicago, IL. She describes herself as biracial, having both black and Italian-American heritage. Although her professional focus is in science and medicine, she has a long-held personal interest in understanding and combating racism and other forms of prejudice.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is in the news (again) for saying something wildly inappropriate. In an Esquireinterview, he was quoted as saying,
I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.
It’s clear what Blago’s conception of blackness is: poor, shoe-shinin’, not whatever Barack Obama is. So often the only view of blackness that whites have is only reflective of one segment of the black population, and even that segment has been reduced to a stereotype: poor, uneducated, inner-city, inarticulate, from broken families, criminal, etc. Rarely is there open white acknowledgment of the black middle class, of healthy black families, or of a wider range of interests and styles beyond hip-hop culture. And then there are all of the character traits (or lack thereof) assigned to blackness, and this is most telling in how white people react to black individuals who counteract their ideas of blackness. “You’re so articulate/clean/intelligent/pretty/educated/etc for a black person.” Or “you’re not really black.”
It really astounds me when white peolpe try to define blackness. According to this Blago dude I am not really black either because I have never did anything that he has listed above and I freakin African.
He feels just be cause he may have had a few experience similar to SOME Black Americans (since over half of the Black American population is in middle class) he is "blacker than obama" but I doubt that he has had any other experiences that black people go through like having people be so surprised at how articulate he is, or face driving/shopping/sleeping in public while black
You and I have related on this subject in threads before, as have a number of educated black women: most of my life I've had people telling me I'm "not really black." I've had white friends joke that they're blacker than me; one boy used to say that put together, he and I would make three-fourths of a black person, and he was bringing most of it. I think he meant, like, sass as blackness. Probably also his dancing skills and his knowledge of hip-hop and R&B. I've been called "Oreo" quite a lot -- "black on the outside, white on the inside" -- God, that one makes me really mad.
Basically, this white-people-qualifying-blackness business has meant that when I am true to myself, I'm a source of amusement (the white people who do this have always thought "Oreos" are just hilarious -- like a dog walking on its hind legs and barking on command -- cleverer than they thought and always good for a laugh). The things I'm good at are attributed not to me or to my upbringing or education but to this "whiteness" I supposedly possess.
If I'm so white, where's my fucking privilege? I can't even begin to express how mad this topic makes me. It's late and I'm just blithering, so I'll come back tomorrow and maybe have something more insightful to say. But tonight I'm an Angry Black Woman. Nobody's ever said I'm "not black enough" when I'm pissed at them. Looks like the ABW stereotype is universal.
“How is blackness defined by whites? By blacks? By others? Why do you think that this narrow definition exists?.”
Whites have been controlling our image since slavery, and they’ve never had a problem defining what black means to them. Just look at the imagery used by advertisers to sell everything from household products to literature. Using pickaninnies and little black sambo types with big red lips to sell material goods to white consumers. http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/picaninny/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickaninny
Think about Willie Horton, or the darkened images of OJ Simpson on the cover of Time magazine. Whites control and shape our image to suit their purpose. If we temper our blackness, learn to speak the King’s English effectively; harness our emotions, we can become tolerable to whites to a degree. With all of the opportunities whites have to know blacks in a more intimate way, it’s sad that most whites still rely on images gleaned from popular entertainment to supplant their knowledge of us. It why the ex-governor can call up what he believes to be a common black trait (shining shoes?) apply it to himself- effectively making him one of us. Wow!
“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.”
So let me get this straight- because I grew up with whites that lived like this. If I learn to play bridge, join a country club and move to an all-white community, does that in effect make me white?
The constant presence of white culture can be suffocating at times. When I start from the lowest position on my cable box and surf up, rarely do I come across a black face. The images of whites I do come across will span the gamut of human interest. You are politicians- self-help gurus, talk-show hosts. You’re sitcom moms- desperate housewives; Gods, fairies- noblemen and knights. You’re the swaggering cowboys, war generals, damsels in distress; revered doctors or saintly priests.
On the big screen and television you're the malevolent aliens or monsters; perverts and moralists, heroes or heroines. Who has time to befriend blacks when you’re so busy shaping the world to your liking?
It’s scary this privilege thing. Most whites can’t even admit to having one black friend. Not one black friend? In contrast to many blacks who can attest to having more than one white friend. It’s quite apparent to me the governor doesn’t have many black friends.
To respond to what mgibson17 has said, whites have been defining blackness all these years--but mostly dead whites. The ways in which we think about race, and how we define the very concept of "black" or "white," have been handed down to us, virtually unchanged, since the days of slavery. In other words, we still blindly accept a way of thinking about race that was developed, long after slavery began in this country, in order to justify and maintain the institution of slavery.
I think it's also worth noting that since "blackness," like race itself, is a social construct, these notions will always be subject to competing attempts at redefinition and refinement. We can lament whose ideas of blackness dominate our social discourse, but we shouldn't be surprised that anyone who can get the public's attention can influence even such basic social concepts.
>> "How is blackness defined by whites...? Why do you think that this narrow definition exists?"
As to the why, maybe it has something to do with WP's need for control and, what almost seems more important to us as a general group, to understand situations. A strict definition of blackness absolutely creates an idea that can be much more easily understood. Black people who break out of this box aren't stretching the boundaries, they are breaking them, because goodness forbid WP should have to understand blackness as an octagon rather than a square (wow, welcome to Bad Metaphor Alley).
I think that also helps explain WP's quickness to shove Black people who are considered beyond/above blackness into stereotype roles at the *first* sign of anything threatening to white power.
As to how white people define whiteness...I guess you mean, the ways in which they do it? I'm thinking the media has a lot to do with it. Specifically, the phrase "the black community" that TV newscasters love to throw around. I mean, (a) you never hear about the "white community" (b) for other races, it's usually the "Chinese immigrant community" or "Salvadoran community", and while those are also problematic my spidey sense tells me WP understand those on cultural rather than socio-economic *and* cultural levels.
The reason I mention this is because, when "black community" comes up on the teleprompter at the local news stations, the white reports just breeze on through it like they're saying "the high temperature will be..." But you can see the black, and even some of the Latin@ anchors (I can't think of any POC of other races on the news here), slide down in their chairs when they say the words.
Obviously, of course, they're not speaking for all BP/POC. But it's something to consider.
Blackness definitely seems to be defined by whites as "likes hip-hop,lower class, uneducated, good at dancing, angry, terrible grammar, American, unintelligent." The "angry" part may apply to me (as a result of these assumptions, how ironic), but not much else. The "American" part just assumes that every black person is American and that is the beginning and end of what it means to be black on earth. I mean, I had a white American friend express to me that it surprises her any time a black man opens his mouth and speaks with a British accent. And why not? How shocking! A black person with a "posh" accent (it seems to me that a lot of Americans just associate a British accent with being more refined than an American, regardless of class) and speaking proper grammar and DOESN'T SOUND AMERICAN? What?
Zara- Amen at the whole "being called an Oreo" thing. It is a large part of the reason you will never catch me residing in America again (that and I have no residency). The idea that I'm not black because I don't listen to hip-hop or know what an Escalade is (although I do know what that is now, after some white kid expressed shock and disbelief that I could be black and not know what an Escalade is...what?) or that I don't own six guns and am not an illiterate, high school drop-out single mother is just unfathomable, because finishing university, speaking proper English, being multi-lingual, and being well-traveled is just something that white people do, but not blacks.
I'd say that 90% of this idea of what the monolithic blacks are like comes from the media, but I don't say that to absolve every-day, non-media white people of their culpability. I mean, despite examples on television, in movies, in books and in REAL LIFE of black people being well-rounded and respectable individuals rather than caricatures of some decades-old, inaccurate stereotype, they still want to say that blacks who don't fit that narrative are "acting white" or are Oreos.
At its most benign, this idea is incredibly annoying. At its absolute worst, you have people being passed over for jobs and promotions on the assumption that we are intellectually inferior, people being denied home loans because we're seen as irresponsible, cops shooting unarmed black mencops because of course they're guilty! They're black! They're inherently criminal!
And other, harder to prove things like teachers putting more effort into helping white and non-black students of color because of the idea that blacks aren't smart and aren't worth the trouble.
I don't think most readers here are "surprised" by that. I think, and hope, that most readers here are interested in finding ways not to clarify "competing attempts at redefinition and refinement," but rather to combat de facto white supremacy. There's something, um, leveling about your comment that makes me wonder if you even think of the existing social order as white supremacist.
mgibson17,
I'd like to thank you for this especially effective and useful turning-of-the-tables:
“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.”
So let me get this straight- because I grew up with whites that lived like this. If I learn to play bridge, join a country club and move to an all-white community, does that in effect make me white?
Thesciencegirl -- great post. Thanks for pointing out what Biden said, as well. Everyone's all in arms about what Reid said forgetting that our VP said something similar (he just had the good sense not to say "Negro")
Zara - "Oreo" pisses me off too. A friend of mine thinks it's funny to say. I've come to realize she says it because I make her feel insecure (I don't know why -- well, I have an inkling, but whatever) and that's her way of saying "yeah, you may be better than me in most things, but I'm more black..." It's absolutely ridiculous and I think it's how ridiculous it all is that pisses me off more.
How is blackness defined by whites? By blacks? By others? It irritates me too much to try to think of how blackness is defined by any group. Why can't how I define it be all that matters?? Generally, though, (getting off my high horse of individuality) white people seem to (more) universally define blackness through a negative lens -- black people aren't much better but I think by virtue of being black, we have a harder time "justifying" ridiculous definitions. Truth be told, though it's usually WRONG I think white people have a better time articulating what is and isn't black, than black people. If you can easily say what's black, you're probably wrong...
Why do you think that this narrow definition exists? Because humans like to put things in boxes. The added benefit for black people is then we can more easily exclude and include; the benefit for white people is... (oh you saw this coming) privilege.
How is a limited definition of blackness damaging to black people? When said limited definitions comes from other black people, on the whole, we lose out on awesomeness; on an individual level we restrict growth. From white people, though, the damage is devastating. I don't need white people questioning my blackness. Why is that even funny to begin with? I'm black, you can see it, and that's all we need to talk about as far as I'm concerned. I wonder why white people think it's appropriate to suggest they have a definition of black...
How do you define blackness? For the most part, I try not to. It gets murky. But I guess if I had to:
If you look the part and define yourself as the part, you are the part. White people who think they're down like Blagostupid don't look the part; they're not black (and, even in his stereotyped world, his experience STILL doesn't count) and there are some folks (like Dominicans) who look the part but don't define themselves as black. Gotta have both.
Macon, I certainly hope most of your readers aren't "surprised" to find that concepts such as blackness aren't defined only by powerful actors and institutions in our society, but also by such random blowhards as Blagojevich. I do think, though, that many people in our society tend to assume that powerful or even monolithic forces are behind the evolution of these concepts, and I believe an essential step in challenging racism is to thoroughly understand the dynamics at work in our society.
As for your suggestion that I might not "even think of the existing social order as white supremacist," I'm sorry that I gave that impression. I was, after all, critiquing our society's entire foundation for thinking about race as established by an obviously white supremacist system, so I suppose I wasn't thinking too much about establishing my bona fides.
for me, "blackness" is such a weird term to describe African Americans, when there are many more black people who are NOT African American or even have African heritage.
India is full of black people-- very dark skinned Indians with black skin. but they're not "black" in the same sense of "BLACK" as defined by Americans.
I've always felt that "African American" was more appropriate over "black." but that's just me and I know that many of my African American friends said that they prefer to be called black than be called African American.
Hello, I'm Reese. This is my first comment. I definitely can relate to this. One of my friends (who is a white Hispanic male) told me I was not Black because I could not remember what Nike Dunks were and I did not act like a stereotypical Black women - aka rolling my neck, rolling my eyes, snapping my fingers, talking with an attitude. He kept saying it, so I had to tell him to stop.
I hate when people automatically assume I have to act a certain way or do something in order to be Black. As long as I have this skin and these features, I am automatically that. Nothing else is needed to prove that.
I've always felt that "African American" was more appropriate over "black." but that's just me and I know that many of my African American friends said that they prefer to be called black than be called African American.
It varies a lot, but, yeah, I'm one of those black people who would rather not be called African-American because I don't identify at all as African. Both sides of my family came to America over 125 years ago. When we're talking nationalities, American is it for me.
This happens in my school. The other day a white class mate asked me if i liked Lil Wayne. When I said no he replied" hmm are you sure your black??" Also this also happens to other POC in my school. Espcially asians. This guy named Lee- Change is failing math. All of a sudden white people went on his case. They were saying that he is a disgrace to his race because is not the sterotypical " smart asian".
I feel like WP interpretation of blackness means one can be "too black" (by fitting into a stereotype in some way) or "not black enough" (by not fitting into one or more aspects of a stereotype). But never just "black". It is always qualified in some way.
The only time a white person seems to have to qualify their whiteness is if they are multiracial or are not wealthy.
If white people talked about our own whiteness the way we think and talk about blackness or Asianness, we might realize how absurd it sounds. If a fellow white person doesn't like the same music as one's own circle, we don't say, "Are you sure you're white?" We allow other white people to be individuals, in other words, or even to be part of different white subcultures, but we are disoriented when those we see as "other" break into our received image of what they are; we don't want to grant them the same individuality.
Historical Stuff White People Do post (retracted) by Macon D: get used to blackness. Key quote: "Maybe white people will get more used to blackness, and to markers of it--things like black music, and black gestures, and black words and phrases and names."
This old post by Macon D follows the same pattern of white people mistaking racial stereotypes for racial authenticity, and white people defining blackness.
I almost have to laugh at the quaintness of Blago's image of blackness. It's like something preserved in amber. The man was born in 1956....On the other hand, maybe I should be thanking the gods he didn't equate his giant pouf to an Afro or something. Heh.________Okay. How do people define blackness? Depends who's defining, and why. I could go on ALL DAY on that subject. But I'm trying to be good. So I'll stick to "Western white people seeking to clothe themselves in the mantle of American blackness." Your Eminems, your Justin Timberlakes, your Blagojevich...i. I notice they tend to define blackness in a broad-and-shallow way: broad in that it's always that Greatest Hits Collection of gross stereotypes described by Doreen, and shallow, in that it's only the "fun bits"— the music, the slang, the sympathetic (when it's wp) circumstances. They never get anywhere near where those stereotypes comes from. Which sometimes results in brain-bending irony. It's like, not to rain on your totes fun fully-catered ghetto-themed frat party, guys, but why is a poor education, drug dealing, bad teeth, anger, apathy, etc. associated with blackness, again? (W'evz, pass the parent-subsidized Cristal!)
For a while, Eminem was my prime example of this. (Why was NWA so pissed off, again?) Then it was J.Timbo; no explanation necessary. But Blago's looking like a contender. It's pretty. f'n. ballsy. for an (ex?) Chicago politician to be turning people's thoughts in that direction. (Why do you associate poverty with blackness, again?) But the infuriating truth is, it's perfectly safe for him to do so. In fact, it's a proven road to white success:1. Claim insultingly stereotypical blackness2. ???3. Profit!
First off all, do we even have to accept that category? I used to think abot what would happend if I started to refer to people in their real colours, like "brown-reddish", "beige", "dark-brown" etc. By defining myself as black (which I do) I am not really defining myself..I'm just accepting the rules of the game and trying to define myself within the frame of the game.
I sort think that one can be "blacker", in the sense that poor people will be effected by racism more than an upper middleclass black person.
How do I define blackness, being a man with pink skin? Well I don't and why should anyone? The fact that a person has black skin and another pink is no more significant than the fact that a person has blonde hair and another red. You can no more define a person by the colour of their skin than you can any other single attribute, and so any definition of a person because of single attriibute is meaningless and fundamentaly flawed. Am I missing something here?
Edward A, you're missing the greater context of skin color as the basis for the sociological concept of race and the discrimination and oppression based on that concept. One person claiming to be colorblid (which I gaurantee you are not) is sort of insignificant to the bigger picture. The fact of the matter is: people do define blackness. They associate certain characteristics and abilities with people who are black, and these associations are often negative. Pretending that this isn't true doesn't help anyone. I agree with you that this kind of thinking is flawed, but it is, alas, pervasive.
Your comparison ignores the fact that there's no widespread social discrimination, bigotry, or hatred attached to having blonde or red hair, and guess what? Racism exists, and impacts people's lives. (Though many people upthread have explained that they are constantly put in boxes by other people's definitions of blackness.) Since I can't imagine that you are unaware of that fact, your argument seems a little 'Oh, I'm colorblind!' disingenuous.
Also, what's up with refusing to identify yourself as white (since that's what I assume 'pink' is standing in for...)?
As a White person among Whites I have observed many examples of what Sciencegirl is describing. White students who are sure they know about Black culture because they like rap. Or talk about "welfare culture." One Black woman who is very religious and conservative in her social values told about shopping for a CD player and having the White salesman tell her that "this one will be good for you becuase it has a good bass for the hip hop music." She was offended, of course. The sad thing is that the White salesman wasn't trying to offend, he was trying to make a sale. He was suffering from ignorance, and the trouble with ignorance is that you don't know what you don't know.
I have a question that is off topic, so please just ignore if it is out of line. I'm late pulling together a course syllabus and recent threads have made me think about linking Black people's emotion-management and face work in dealing with Whites to some standard (White) readings on these topics. I know where to find literature on how Whites do face-saving talk about race (in the "I'm not a racist, but" form), but I'm sorry to say that I can't think of sources on emotion/face work by Black people or other people of color, preferably written by people of color. Can you recommend sources? Would it be creepy to locate blogs where people talk about this and ask students (who are mostly White) to read them?
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."
As compared to the functionally retarded dumbass who preceeded him, the philanderer who before him and the twelve years of bush sr, a known fascist who tried to have reagan murdered, funded oppressive right wing regimes all over the planet and was dining with shafiq bin laden on the morning of 09/11/2001. Biden, so far, seems to be loyal and supportive of his leader. He was stating that Obama stands in contrast to other politicians not other black folks.
Another teaching-related thought, more relevant to this post. It takes a lot of work as a teacher not to replicate stereotypes. On the one hand, you want to teach about the reality of structural effects of racism and economic inequalities that have not gone away and are in some ways getting worse. But in doing this, it is very easy to end up reinforcing stereotypes that all Blacks are poor, etc. As much as I know this is an issue and am conscious of the need to convey the balance, in the flow of lecture I have sometimes failed to achieve the balance and have had students complain about stereotyping. It is an ongoing struggle.
Thank you for responding to my comments. I have in a previous post acknowledged my inability to be without prejudice. I don't believe for a moment that I am capable of it without time and effort, but it is something I aspire to.
If, in my ignorance, I have been offensive or evasive by using pink and not white, I appologise for making that statement. It was an attempt to focus on the colour of my skin rather than my assigned race due to the colour of my skin. I understand that you are saying skin colour is closly related to, if not defines, race but it's something I just can not agree with, faced with the relatity I see every day.
I have not ignored or denited the fact that racism occurs. Neither have I ignored or denied the fact that prejudice is directed at people with red or blonde hair - my point is irrespective of if it happens or not. I have simply said that it shouldn't happen, and if I know it shouldn't happen why should I define millions of people together?
Great post! You go girl! I love hearing about high-achieving young Black students, and the fact that you are going to school in my hometown doesn't hurt. :-)
Biden Booster,
What you wrote makes no sense. If Biden was comparing Obama to other politicians, why did he mention his race? If Obama is the "first mainstream Af-Am to be . . . ", the implication is that other "mainstream" Af-Am's are none of those things. Replace "mainstream Af-Am" with "presidential candidate", then maybe you'd have a point.
Olderwoman,
Last semester, I put together a "Race Forum" on campus where we discussed issues facing students of color with a panel of professors, and that spurred the idea this semester to have a "Part 2" (I'm currently organizing it), in which we'll have professors listen to students and hear the issues surrounding students of color in the classroom. It will be like a mini-workshop, and I think it will be more beneficial to our professors than a sensitivity workshop that lacks student input.
@ Biden Booster: Biden can be loyal to Obama and still have said something racist, as he did. Would he have described a white male politician (say, Edwards) that way, especially the bright and articulate part? Even if that politician happed to be all of those things? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have. Biden didn't say what he did out of malice or ill-intent, but he still said something racist.
To the questions posed: In my limited experience, it seems as though many whites (at least American whites) define (American) blackness as being descended from slaves, urban, poor, physical--good dancers, singers and athletes--speaks slang (which of course is then appropriated by white culture), etc. It seems to be diametrically opposed to whiteness, which is then defined as middle-class, suburban or rural, more intellectual, etc. The object of the narrow and stereotyped definition of blackness is to shove people into boxes, to justify continued oppression, and to justify the punishment of those who dare to step outside the box. It also permits whiteness to claim a lot of what blackness isn't, sort of expanding the white box while shrinking all others. E.g., "black" music is hip-hop and gospel, while "white" music is everything else that's not officially "ethnic"--classical, country, rock, pop, techno, etc.
Narrow definitions of blackness are damaging because they are limiting, and because of the history of WP defining blackness in the U.S. and their reasons for doing so. (And elsewhere, really--can't imagine the British, say, working with a positive definition of blackness [or just plain non-whiteness] when they went to colonize parts of Africa and Australia and India and everyplace else.)
I started out saying that I'd define blackness as whatever the person claiming that identity says it is to her/him. As a WP, I don't get to define blackness (or anything else) for another person. But then, I don't identify as black, even though I have a black ancestress on my mom's side. And I don't identify that way because I and my family have always been perceived as and given the privileges of being white. We didn't know we even had a black great-great-great-grandmother until very recently. So a lack of white privilege is part of that definition, too. (I have a fuzzy sense that the lack of white privilege is a major part of any non-white identity. Is that realistic or center-staging whiteness, I wonder?)
Edward A said... "I understand that you are saying skin colour is closly related to, if not defines, race but it's something I just can not agree with, faced with the relatity I see every day."
Most of us black folk would question your reality, as it is seen through privileged white eyes. And therefore in black minds... not to be trusted. Whites are just as occupied with skin color as we blacks are occupied about race. Whether you can accept it or not is irrelevant. The fact remains even during this crisis in Haiti, we blacks (even our President) are being defined- labeled, judged and categorized by whites.
You admit that you haven’t fully conquered this race thing- but you come off as an expert on the matter. Just as someone else put it further up, “He was suffering from ignorance, and the trouble with ignorance is that you don't know what you don't know.” It has little bearing on your intelligence and everything to do with your perception.
Your comment, "faced with the reality I see every day." Is quite telling coming from a white man.
I do not wish to be arrogant or come over as if I think I know everything - I clearly don't. I started to post here a few days ago to challenge myself, to challenge any prejudice I might hold, to learn from a group who are talking openly and frankly. I am, to some degree, self aware and open to being fundamentaly wrong. If I am, then please, if you have the patience, assist me in understanding your point of view.
I cannot disagree with you that white people are just as occupied with skin colour, I just don't want to be! - In the sense that it shouldn't be an issue in our world.
You are right, my words: "I understand that you are saying skin colour is closly related to, if not defines, race but it's something I just can not agree with, faced with the reality I see every day" do not make sense. People clearly use skin colour to define race and that is of course evident in what I see in life. I have very badly articulated, perhaps entirely failed, to make the point I thought I was.
I believe I was intending to say that any definition of race will entirely fail to describe the people I see and interact with in my life unless the definition is one word, human. I also intended to say that, through my experience of working with and for people of just about every colour of skin, I have seen people from a wide variety of countries around the world and each country appears to have those with pale skin and those with dark skin, and so I wonder can skin colour truely define a race when no skin colour is unique to a race?
@thesciencegirlI'm sorry but now I'm here you may have to suffer me for some time! =0
It seems to me that what you're saying is, "Race is a fiction. The word 'white' doesn't accurately describe the skin color of those designated as 'white,' and 'black' doesn't do that for the people in that group either. Ergo, we shouldn't use those words, cuz we're all just humanz!"
Is that what you're basically saying?
If so, here's what I see you doing -- you're stating a Racism 101 truism that most readers of this blog already know. In addition, by focusing on that point, instead of other issues at hand here that are caused by the fiction of race, you're ignoring (and distracting from) the harsh realities of that which is caused by the fiction of race.
Your "pink" skin has afforded you certain perks that you benefit from every single day without even realizing it. One of those perks is that no matter what, even if someone doesn't know you well - you can be perceived to be an authority on something. In this comment section you seem to come off as an authority on race. You are probably able to go shopping without having to worry about what you're wearing, can walk into a bank and appear to be what other "pink" people think looks like an upstanding citizen. Of course you can't fathom how everyone else regards race as important or even real - because you personally have never been adversely affected by your own race. Your pinkness keeps you safe and dominant.
Honestly, it doesn't matter what we call it - people's lives are dictated by their appearances. Your pink is another man's white. Do we who participate in anti-racism blogs and the like wish this wasn't the reality? Yes! That's what we keep coming back for. Some way of figuring out how to make it stop. Another sad reality is we'll probably all be dead by the time significant change is made. But on an individual basis - deciding that it shouldn't be a problem doesn't make it "not a problem" anymore.
I hope that you'll read around on SWPD, the previous posts. If you read around enough - MANY points of view become very clear here. I'm not sure you're asking mgibson in particular for his point of view or if you're just stating it in general, but when you do that it sounds like you're asking for proof so you can decide if you agree or disagree. If you decide to read around some more, don't miss the comments. They're very much a part of the blog itself.
@Edward A,Not only are you harping on something so obvious it hardly needs to be stated ("race" doesn't exist; it is a construct), you're treating it as some kind of full-stop conclusion and using that to check out. We see you, okay? My god, you are so obvious.
To go with your environmentalism analogy, it's like looking around and seeing a blasted landscape and saying, "This should never have happened! people shouldn't treat the Earth like a toilet!" And never moving on from there. Talk about running when the going gets tough.
Yes. That's very true. People shouldn't treat the Earth like a toilet. BUT THEY HAVE, AND THEY DO. Which is what we are talking about. So, resolved: we are all righteously indignant about it. Can we move on to talking about cleanup and reducing emissions, please?
Because righteous indignation is the easy part. The easiest, in fact. And frankly, you are starting to piss me off. I mean, look at yourself. It's bad enough that you're so smug about your Unprecedented Philosophical Breakthrough that you can't move on to actually, you know, doing anything because— oh noez!!— it might reveal your feet o' clay... but what you are devoting your energy to is derailing the people who'd like to work on it? You're trying to "enlighten" other people with this there's-no-point philosophy?? How. Fuckin'. Dare you.
I just discovered I am the clueless white guy asking for someone to explain racism to me, as describe in the racism 101.
I am sorry for being this person. I will no longer comment until I am far more versed and actually have something to contribute. I am sorry for any hijacking or dereailing that I have been the cause of.
How can that which is lesser seek to define the Greater?...or the lower to compass that which is Higher? No, whites can never define Blackness; such an attempt is sad and disordered thinking, for the Black Man:the original Hue-man is of the same nature as the Sun, and his Heart is one with the great heart of Space-freedom and effulgence. By uniting with the fertile Earth of the Black Woman in the Holy Land of Ket, thus was created the original Human Race of Black People. THIS is the true, original, singular Great Race of Man; abiding in the Wisdom of Kemetic Science and Law, projecting Peace and Love, acting with Chastisement or with Blessing upon these lesser races, these melanin deficient peoples-as indicicated by their actions.
ummmmm..... @AkonAMun77, what I gather you're saying, amidst all the flowery talk is that black people are better than other races. I disagree, and I'm not sure what this is adding to the conversation.
Yes, by publishing AkonAmun77's comment, I actually broke my own tentative rule, as stated in a Comments Policy draft: "Do not espouse racial essentialism, by which I mean, do not suggest or claim that members of any race are inherently anything other than that which members of any other races are as well."
My apologies -- perhaps AkonAmun77's "flowery" language threw me off.
But then, what also threw me off was surmising that AkonAmun77 is black, and then the subsequent doubts that I still have about policing black expression here as a white moderator of comments. In addition, although AkonAmun77's definition of blackness is widely considered objectionable, the comment does address this post's topic, "define blackness."
Personally, I find any expressed beliefs in the supposed significance of essential racial differences repugnant, and derailing -- thus my decision to forbid any such expression here.
But then, who am I, as a white comment moderator, to disallow apparent POC from defining their own racial or ethnic group here however they please?
My tentative Commenting rule against any expression of essentialism didn't provoke any objection in the Comments Policy draft's own comment thread (unless I'm missing it). However, when I earlier objected in another thread to what I read as an apparent expression of essentialism by a self-identified black commenter, Julian Real called me out for it:
And wtf with calling out a WoC on being ESSENTIALIST. That's fucked up. Beyond fucked up. And I don't wanna hear about your logic or anything else. Not here, not now. . . . for Lorde's sake, check yourself when you're about to tell a WoC that her PoV is ESSENTIALIST. Dude. Really.
So . . . is it okay for you, as a black person, to call out another apparently black commenter for saying, in an essentialist manner, that "black people are better than other races," but not okay for me to do that (which I would do by refusing to publish them)?
Your post asks,
How is blackness defined by whites? By blacks? By others?
Some blacks define blackness the way AkonAmun77 did (some non-blacks do that too) -- do you think I should allow such comments? If so, should I allow essentialist comments only when the writer is apparently black, or otherwise non-white? (There's also the potential problem of people who aren't black writing comments in which they pretend to be black, but I suppose that one can be set aside for now.)
[Btw, in case it's not obvious, I have long (and often) refused to publish essentialist comments from white commenters, about the supposed inherent inferiority of other races, and about the supposed inherent superiority of "the white race." Commenters submit those regularly, usually as "Anonymous."]
Blagojevich is just one in a long line of corrupt and stupid Illinois politicians providing joke fodder to the state's citizens. He's way off base here, but I can't say that I expected much of him.
How do I define blackness? If a person says that zie is black, believe zir, whatever zir looks like, if zir considers own kin to be black. (I think this would rule out dumb politicians, reincarnationists, and obnoxious white conservative college students). An art form or cultural practice (such as slang and dialect) can be "black" if performed by a significant percentage of blacks and rarely if ever performed by whites, or if blacks invented the art form or practice. Socioeconomic status, commercial goods (Escalade), and other items are not specific to or invented by a race, and it makes as much sense to call the left fourth toe "black" (ie, no sense whatsoever).
The stereotypical monolithic black [hip hop] culture is pushed as much by blacks as it is by whites. Whites can only understand blacks through a defined lens, yes.
However, I have heard many blacks call people who don't identify as African-American (ex. Nigerian) and people who don't confine themselves to stereotypical black lifestyles, speech patterns, dress, etc, as being "white washed" or "sellouts."
This isn't hard to prove. Take it from one of only three blacks in the gifted program in high school. Whenever I misspoke, white teachers ignored me. Whenever a white kid mispoke, they corrected them politely. I say politely because I once had the unfortunate experience of a white kid yelling, "why can't you people speak English properly?"
I've also had white people accuse me of speaking in Hip Hop slang, except I don't care for Hip Hop slangs and would never speak using them. I speak English fluently. I sometimes wonder if they hear what they want to hear as opposed to what is true. Troubling.
The benefit of the doubt that blacks can legitimately misspeak is never granted. They assumed I mispronounce words because that's the way black people speak. I've had white suburban kids ask me about Hip Hop and basketball. I had another tell me to "act my culture."
"And other, harder to prove things like teachers putting more effort into helping white and non-black students of color because of the idea that blacks aren't smart and aren't worth the trouble."
i would challenge anyone to go over my life history with a fine tooth comb and try to find some example of a privilege i was given for being white. i've honestly tried to find one. i grew up in the same neighborhoods, went to the same schools, had similar family circumstances and income levels as most of the black people in my community. and i know black people who are much more privileged than me. I admit that white privilege does exist. but just being white doesn't mean you are privileged.
@thesciencegirl thank you for the link. it was a good read. some if it makes sense. however,as someone who endured frequent and random beatings as a child growing up in a black neighborhood I am not inclined to feel i was particularly blessed by being born white. seeing white people on tv and represented in history books just doesn't balance that out.
@jas0nburns. Yes, being white does mean you're privileged. very privileged. You have more racial privilege than anyone else because you're white. Nobody said that's all you need in life to be living the life, so to speak. No, it's not the only kind of privilege, but white privilege goes a really long way. I think you need to do some more thinking about how privilege works in your life. Unfortunately, one of the very privileges of being white is the option not to notice being privileged and also not to notice the oppression of others and their own part in it.
Some hints: Are you routinely followed while shopping? Have you had generally genial dealings with the police? Are you frequently told that you are being too sensitive when you object to something offensive? Do you ever actually feel the need to speak out against something offensive? Have you ever worried that a prospective employer will be turned off when Jas0n Burns shows up for an interview and, surprise, he's white? Have you ever worried that you're playing into a stereotype?
Also, now that you know that white privilege does exist (even if you have reservations/questions about it) maybe you could consider how it feels to POC when they hear a WP demand to know, "where's MY fucking privilege?"
i've heard it said that it's supposed to be privilege instead of disadvantage. but the only explanation was white people cant face the truth cause we're assholes bla bla bla,
if being treated with fairness and dignity is supposed to be the norm ideally. than not having those things is a dis advantage. because your taking away basic rights. it's not a gift to be treated fairly, it's the baseline. a privilege is something you get on top of that. which is why i was wondering where my privileges were. im treated fairly, it sucks if other people arn't. i know that wont fly here but...
by your definition if racism vanished completely than everyone would be privileged. that would be impossible but by my definition everyone would just be back at the baseline. but the idea is that by being privileged your saying we're getting something we don't deserve. but we do. everyone deserves it. it's called basic human rights.
Honestly? I'm black and even I don't think Blackness can be given a definition. I've been mulling it over this whole past month - the stereotypes versus the actual diversity (in terms of personalities, language, features, etc.), and have found that we're far too different to be given a definition. We aren't even united on the most basic level of skin color; skin color varies drastically among all black people. | {
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Top community discussions about F8-V2 Audio Unit
F8-V2 is an audio unit effect with 8 LFOs and 8 time-varying amplitude modulators. F8-V2 works by copying the audio input into 8 independent streams. Each LFO and sequence pattern can be set independently. The filters can be set as highpass, bandpass or lowpass. Each stream may have an amplitude pattern set independently, as well. You can draw any sequence pattern you want, with an easy-to-use editing interface using Bezier curves. Custom design any amplitude envelope of any shape.
After processing, the streams are then remixed together. This 8 X 8 array gives an unlimited number of options and sounds, ranging from subtle and richMore...
What's New in F8-V2 Audio Unit
Version 2.0: You may now copy and paste amplitude sequence patterns in F8-V2. The most significant upgrade, however, is the addition of two new AUs to the F8-V2 distribution - Mod8 and Res8 - The Collective 8 Audio Units. These AUs are free to registered F8-V2 users. Mod8 and Res8 have similar sequence pattern configurations to F8-V2. But instead of LFO's, Res8 has the choice of a driven, nonlinear,More...
Requirements for F8-V2 Audio Unit
Mac OS X 10.4 or later and an Audio Unit host that supports AUs with Cocoa-based interfaces.
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F8-V2 is an audio unit effect with 8 LFOs and 8 time-varying amplitude modulators. F8-V2 works by copying the audio input into 8 independent streams. Each LFO and sequence pattern can be set independently. The filters can be set as highpass, bandpass or lowpass. Each stream may have an amplitude pattern set independently, as well. You can draw any sequence pattern you want, with an easy-to-use editing interface using Bezier curves. Custom design any amplitude envelope of any shape.
After processing, the streams are then remixed together. This 8 X 8 array gives an unlimited number of options and sounds, ranging from subtle and rich tremolos and wah-like sounds to over-the-top, novel effects. F8-V2 can be used as a mono or stereo effect.
F8-V2 comes with over 200 presets designed for different instruments, although the various categories are interesting and fun to apply to any sound.
This is a versatile and expressive effect with a wide range of uses.
Version 2.0: You may now copy and paste amplitude sequence patterns in F8-V2. The most significant upgrade, however, is the addition of two new AUs to the F8-V2 distribution - Mod8 and Res8 - The Collective 8 Audio Units. These AUs are free to registered F8-V2 users. Mod8 and Res8 have similar sequence pattern configurations to F8-V2. But instead of LFO's, Res8 has the choice of a driven, nonlinear, multi-stage filter or formant filters that can be independently applied to each audio stream. Mod8 has a range of modulation effects like vibrato and ring modulation. It also has echo, reverb, sub-octave, and pitch shifting. The result is up to 8 different effects running all at the same time, each with its own settings and amplitude sequences. This layering gives unlimited options to create incredibly interesting effects, from intricate and wild effects, to rich, textured reverb, echo, chorus-type effects.
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Posted results
EVA SCHIPPERS
fight
During our last summer [2014] we spent time at the beach. Each night the light of the nearby lighthouse flashed past our house in a monotonous cycle. It turned my attention to its historical function in relation to current times, the reactive and interactive era we live in today. The movement of the light seemed mechanical and non-responsive to me. If a ship ran aground, the light would keep moving around in the same way, ignoring the emergency at hand.
Thus the idea was born to build Object of Emergency #38 The Lighthouse. An object or extension of the body that one could wear and that literally embodied this (object of) emergency; conceived as a responsive object possessing empathy, individual traits and consciousness. There are currently four lighthouses at large that focus their lights according to the movements and intentions of the performers, that navigate the public spaces of Prague like a group of friends, roaming the subways, shops and city squares…
The Lighthouses are part of the TRIBES project, a large-scale program taking place during the 10- day Prague Quadriennal with 80 different international groups or ‘tribes’ moving through the streets of Prague. | {
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We Made It To The World’s End
The World’s End finally made it to a theater near us, and boy am I glad we got to go see it! We love Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and closing out this movie “trilogy” was just a great part of that. I have done Shaun of the Dead for Halloween. I was always going to like this movie.
So in some ways, it doesn’t serve much purpose for me to do a review of the movie, and maybe especially not a spoiler-free review. My spoiler-free review is this: you ought to see this movie. Yeah, pretty much done.
So instead, let’s look at a couple of interesting parts. One is the fantastic Nick Frost. The other, is actually looking at these films (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End) like a trilogy – because, for the creative team at least it was. So for this, I say: spoilers ahead!
Nick Frost has A Man Cold
A lot of the focus in these films ends up on Simon Pegg, and as the main character I suppose that fits. And don’t get me wrong, Simon Pegg is great. But he’s part of a team. He has a wingman. And that’s Nick Frost.
If you haven’t seen Nick Frost on his own, check out something like Man Stroke Woman:
Funny guy, good work. Note to self, watch more of that show.
Anyway, there’s a whole host of jokes or moments that they could go with because he’s a bigger guy. I don’t remember anything like that in the first two movies, though, and definitely not in The World’s End. If anything, him being the big guy helps him fight, and he easily beats up the most Blanks of the group.
Even during the big chase scene, it’s not like he’s falling behind, slower, or winded. If anything, he’s running and fighting – and drunk. Doing pretty well for himself, all told.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, by moving beyond what would be the obvious jokes one might come up with, they get to do much better things with his character. Like have him argue for sobriety in the middle of a drinking movie – a scene which gets a callback at the very end. Because it takes balls to walk into a bar full of testosterone-laden guys and order water.
Closing out a Trilogy
If Douglas Adams could write a five-book series and call it a trilogy, then these guys can make three unrelated movies and call them a trilogy. It’s probably just a difference in the British meaning of the word, right?
I saw an interview with them recently, and you can tell they’re friends who’ve been working together for years:
But really, if this is the end of a creative trilogy, then what does that say about Simon Pegg? That he’s always going on about finishing the trilogy, that they had to get together and make the movie? To get to the end, even if it kills them?
You can tell there’s an increased maturity to their thought by the movie. In the first, Shaun of the Dead, they’re irresponsible, haven’t really grown up, and are vindicated in this by their thought of going to the pub being a good move.
Then in Hot Fuzz, they’re moving on to try to be responsible adults: police even. They’re like the skilled version of what they needed to be in Shaun of the Dead. But by still having crazy thoughts, being doubted and outsiders for it anyway.
And here we have a movie about adults. About moving on, growing up, but still kind of wanting what you wanted when you were younger. Our one last hanger-on to the past is the butt of so many jokes, without being aware of any of them. Because there’s no point in arguing with him.
And it gets down to: we have to grow up, but we’re still stubborn, we still love freedom and being a little crazy, and apparently the universe needs to be okay – and needs to be ready for that.
Because the world fails to end in all three movies. Our unlikely heroes win. And, friends, walk away to try to live a good life. Far more of a message than American comedies try to have, to be sure!
So what do you think? Will Edgar Wright, Nick Frost, and Simon Pegg make another movie together? Let us know in the comments below! | {
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I got there too late and missed Marasmus, so there was one opening band for me. Lucky for me, it was Troglodyte! One of my favorite local bands around. This was pretty much their first time in Lawrence, and it was by far the best I've seen them! They had lots of energy and the Jackpot's sound system sounded extremely good for them. No full setlist, but included: Skunk Ape Rape, Don't Go Into The Woods, We Eat Our Own, Crypto-stew-ologist, and Die When You Die. Bigfoot death metal at its finest. 9/10
It was a homecoming show for Origin, welcoming them back from slaughtering the summer on the Summer Slaughter tour all over the US. The band knew pretty much everyone at the Jackpot, and it was all fun and games all night long. Their performance was brutal as always, the guitarist and the bassist were still unbelievably mind-blowing, and the drumming insane as everything. Always a good time when Origin is in town. 9/10
Thus concludes my metal journey. I think I won't be attending another concert until blink-182 on Sept. 4 and no metal concerts until about Sept. 28th for Motorhead and Sept. 29th for Dragonforce. Thanks for reading. | {
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Welcome to Our Lady of Tahoe!
Parish Mission Statement: As disciples of Jesus
Christ, and in the name of Mary, Our Lady of Tahoe Catholic Community
welcomes and embraces all those who come to us. With the guidance of
the Holy Spirit, through worship, the sacraments and loving service,
we provide for each other's spiritual and material needs. In being
so nourished, we reach out in faith to serve the larger community.
Scripture Class
Father Oliver teaches a Scripture Class each week. Please come join us in the Father John K. Bain Pastoral Center (parish hall) on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, while we study the Gospel of Luke. Usually, about a dozen people attend these classes. However, in the summer, we have had as many as twenty-two! It's a comfortable and informal environment, and all are welcome.
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, informally known as the Assumption, according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of Anglicanism, was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus by exercising papal infallibility. While the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church believe in the Dormition of the Theotokos, which is the same as the Assumption, the alleged physical death of Mary has not been dogmatically defined.In Munificentissimus Deus (item 39) Pope Pius XII pointed to the Book of Genesis (3:15) as scriptural support for the dogma in terms of Mary’s victory over sin and death as also reflected in 1 Corinthians 15:54: “then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”In the churches that observe it, the Assumption is a major feast day, commonly celebrated on August 15. In many countries the feast is also marked as a Holy Day of Obligation. MORE AT WIKIPEDIA.ORG....
Bishop Calvo to Celebrate Mass
On Sunday, August 16th, Bishop Calvo will pay a Pastoral visit to celebrate Mass at Our Lady of Tahoe.
Please mark your calendars so that, if at all possible, you can attend the 10:00 AM Mass on that day and join us in welcoming our fine Bishop.
Bishop Randolph Calvo is the seventh Bishop of Reno, ordained to the episcopate and installed as ordinary on February 17, 2006.
Church Remodel
We want to thank those who attended the Town Hall meetings on May 27th and June 3rd, regarding the possibility of a church remodel as part of our Master Plan. Most of you were favorable to Phase II for improvements to the interior.
The Parish Council, Finance Council and Father Oliver have taken into account the ideas, thoughts, questions and concerns of the parishioners from these two meetings, along with other comments that were voiced, mailed, emailed or posted to the website. It was decided we need further clarification of the costs of the project, and we are proceeding in that direction with the Diocese and the architect. When we receive more definitive numbers, we will have another Town Hall meeting as soon as possible. Thanks to all!
There was a special meeting of the Parish Council on Monday, July 13th to discuss the Church Master Plan. Mike Quilici, Director of Development & Stewardship at the Diocese of Reno, and Mercedes de la Garza, architect, were in attendance.
For more information, or to submit a question or comment, please visit the Church Master Plan page on this website.
Ordinary Time
Ordinary Time refers to a season of the Christian liturgical calendar, particularly the calendar of the ordinary form of the Roman rite of the Catholic Church, although some other churches in Western Christianity also use the term. The English name "Ordinary time" translates the Latin term tempus per annum (literally "time through the year").
Since 1970 in the ordinary form of the Roman rite in the Catholic Church, Ordinary Time comprises two periods: one beginning on the day after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (the end of the Christmas season) and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday, the other beginning on the Monday after Pentecost (the conclusion of Eastertide) and continuing until the Saturday before Advent Sunday (The First Sunday of Advent).
The Church numbers the weeks of Ordinary Time. Several Sundays bear the name of feasts or solemnities celebrated on those days, including Trinity Sunday and the Feast of Christ the King. The liturgical color normally assigned to Ordinary Time is green. MORE AT WIKIPEDIA.ORG....
World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015
Held every three years and sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting of Families is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families.Scheduled for September 22-27, the theme of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 is “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” emphasizing the impact of the love and life of families on our society.
Reno Synod 2015
The 2nd Diocesan Synod of Reno is coming December 3-5, 2015. Please pray for the work in preparing for this historical event for our church in Northern Nevada, and offer input and assistance when and where requested during this process.
The Diocese of Reno Synod will bring together people from the entire Catholic community including priests, deacons, parish staff members, lay parish leaders, parishioners and representatives of religious communities and lay groups to discuss the vision for our diocese. The Synod, and the sessions leading up to it, should be a wonderful and exciting Spirit-led process that will give the diocese a clearer direction of priorities.The delegates from Our Lady of Tahoe will be Dr. Al Bisbee, Laura Schorr, Jim Hicks, Gabriel Aguilar, Eva Buijten, Jim Meenan and Jan Roman-Gonzales.
Download the Reno Diocese Smartphone App
The Reno Diocese Smartphone App offers users a quick and easy way to access the Catholic network and community in Reno, NV. It features quick access to information on parishes, schools, charities, and all things Catholic in our community. Free of charge, it's available for both the iPhone and Android phones. | {
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Wednesday, January 25, 2017
If you are turning in a pride card for the drawing or ice cream make sure to put your name on it. First and last name.
Candy, soda and sugary drinks are not allowed in the hallways or classrooms. Lunchtime ONLY!!!!
Cell phones are NOT to be used during the school day. When you get to school they are to be turned off and stored in your locker and not brought out for any reason until the school day is over.
If you are attending games at SMS you must stay in the gym during the game. If you leave you will not be allowed to re-enter the gym.
Library Notices will be delivered today during homeroom.
Attention: Library fees must be paid in order to attend school dances. The Valentine's Day Dance is quickly approaching. The deadline to pay fees is the Friday before the dance. If you have any questions about this please talk to Mrs. Curtiss.
Thank you
The SMS winner of the Geo Bee will be determined on January 25th during 6th period. That student will earn the opportunity to take a test in hopes of qualifying for the state round to be held in the spring.
“Art for Human Rights”
Sandpoint High School, Sandpoint Middle School, and Forrest Bird Charter School will have their art on display at the Panida Little Theater/POAC Office on First Avenue. The opening Artist’s reception is Monday January 16th at 5:30 pm. The art will be on display through February.
District Spelling Bee will be Thursday, January 26 @ Sandpoint High School Auditorium
4:30 Registration - Good luck and have fun!
See Next Page
Did you know that the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960's on the Nile River? The winners of the 7th grade geography bee, Alex Liddiard, and the 8th grade, Benj Rogers, did! They will now compete for the SMS Geography Bee Championship today (1/25/17) in room 8 during 6th period. Stay tuned to hear the winning question and our school Geo-Champ! | {
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The MTA’s “Summer of Hell” may cool a bit next month — thanks to a crowd-sourced shuttle service being readied by Ford Motor Co.
Ford will launch the service by offering round trips — for $4 each way — for routes between Greenpoint and Dumbo, as well as a circuit between Midtown and the Lower East Side.
Customers will be driven by professional drivers in WiFi-outfitted Ford Transit vans that accommodate 14 passengers apiece.
Ford’s so-called Chariot shuttle will expand its service in the coming months by asking prospective customers to propose new routes on its site, http://www.chariot.com.
Ford expects that Queens and other “transit deserts” — as the company calls areas with few public-transportation alternatives — are the most likely beneficiaries of Chariot’s expansion.
Only 54 percent of Queens’ housing units are within half a mile of a subway, for example, compared with 94 percent of those in Manhattan, according to research by New York University’s Furman Center.
“We want to connect people more easily to where they want to go – whether they need help making it to a transit hub or live in an area underserved by public transportation,” said Chariot CEO Ali Vahabzadeh, who founded the service in San Francisco three years ago.
The service is also up and running in Austin and Seattle.
Ford, which acquired Chariot last year, is committed to having 60 Ford Transits operating in New York by October.
A Chariot app will display new crowd-sourced service areas, while Ford’s own data and analytics team will assist in the logistics of serving them.
The app will also allow commuters to reserve a seat and pay their fares through prepaid and tax-free accounts like WageWorks.
“We know how important it is for everyone to be able to get around effectively — especially when there’s heavy traffic,” said Jessica Robinson, the director of Ford City Solutions.
In San Francisco, where 200 Ford Transits serve 12 areas, Robinson noted that 20 percent of Chariot’s customers take the vans to connect to transit hubs such as BART, Caltrain and ferry terminals.
Founder Vahabzadeh predicted that New Yorkers will also embrace the service as a first-and-last-mile solution that eases the burden on public transportation — without costing the city a dime.
An added benefit, according to a KPMG study, is that every Chariot vehicle in operation removes ten cars from the road. | {
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Mainstream
journalists are being torn apart. Conservatives long have accused
reporters and editors for big newspapers, magazines and television of
having liberal biases. More recently, liberals have hounded
journalists for pandering to conservatives and Americas social
elite. Both conservatives and liberals depict journalists as craven
careerists, more concerned with maintaining their own privilege than
getting stories right or serving the national interest.
Ive
been a journalist for more than 25 years and have worked for two of
the most powerful media organizations in the country, Dow Jones and
Time Inc. Ive written for some of the smallest publications in
the country, from weekly newspapers to small opinion peddlers.
Ive taught journalism at leading universities for seven years.
Everywhere, Ive met talented and principled people who want the
best for their readers. Yet I must concede that critics of
conventional journalism are correct on nearly all counts.
Trying
to be fair and balanced, journalists have failed their subjects and
themselves. In seeking to stand above the fray, journalists have
denied the obvious. They have robbed themselves of credibility. They
are getting torn to pieces fighting the wrong battles.
Technology
bears some of the blame. In the good old days, a pack of journalists
could enter into a secret pact. All reported the same essential
facts, drawing on the same people, and coming to the same
conclusions. The uniformity reports benefited journalists by taking
the risk out of their jobs. No one looked bad.
The
Internet demolished the journalism herd, driving holes into the
fraternitys defenses and exposing most journalists to be poorly
prepared, fearful of making grievous errors and reading from a brief
and superficial script. Blogs and other forms of citizen
journalism can never replace the breadth and quality of professional
journalism but the immediate effect of this torrent reportage has
been to destroy the credibility of mainstream journalism.
The
Myth of Balance. Professional journalists can only restore their
status by taking radical action. They are getting torn to pieces
fighting the wrong battles. Journalists keep telling critics that
they are committed to hearing all sides. That they are committed to
objectivity, which in practical terms means giving ink
and airtime to various viewpoints in a fair and even detached way.
This so-called balance is supposed to translate into the
all-important objectivity.
Veteran
journalists know that the objectivity ethos is the big
lie of their profession. Actually, journalists are beholden to
various points of view, and their commitment to balance is a
convenient way of not talking about the rats nest of
commitments, concerns, biases and passions that animate the life of
every good journalist and most of the bad ones.
Commercial
pressures also force journalists to choose sides, to root for one
outcome over another, to seek out some sources and never even speak
to others. Professional values, meanwhile, force journalists to
routinely rule out certain points of view, notably those deemed
irresponsible or out of the mainstream. In a
world of complexity, journalists cannot square the circle; they
cannot smooth the rough edges of reality.
Partisan
journalism is thus not an aberration but an ideal. Today, this
ideal is never professed and rather, confusingly, denied. Openly
taking sides is a necessary but not sufficient condition to reform journalism.
The
field is under not only ideological attack but also economic attack.
The Internet has forced a transformation in the mentality and tactics
of advertisers, and both newspapers and magazines are only now
starting to feel the negative effects of this transformation. Larger
traumas are still to come as the Internet grows more firmly
entrenched as an information and advertising medium.
A
revolution in journalism is underway and its outcome is not even in
view. For a long time the causalities will mount. The journalists
big dogs will suffer even as they maintain the enormous influence.
Change
is needed, now. It is already clear that a new journalism ethos
is required, a new way of thinking and acting that acknowledges the
criticisms from the Left and the Right while at the same time
presenting a powerful new rationale for journalistic professionalism
and independence.
Here,
in brief, is a new creed for journalism that carries forward whats
consistent with the uncertain waves of the Internet while affirming
what journalism has always stood for.
Let
subjects have their say but tell readers why one side is fudging,
lying or worse. Subjects have grown too adept at manipulating
reporters. Punish liars.
Take
personal responsibility for the accuracy of your story. Outcomes are
more important than process. If your sources prove incorrect, say so
in a new story. The critical measure of a journalists stature
is whether they got the story right, not whether they were fair and
balanced. Admit mistakes. Hold accuracy, not intent, as the highest
standard. Get the right answer. If you cant, keep
trying until you can.
Declare
your agenda. All journalists have one. Be honest about yours.
Readers appreciate candor and will judge a story more sympathetically
when they plainly see where the journalist is coming from.
Fair
and Accurate. Stop talking about journalists
objectivity and instead promote the concept of
journalistic integrity. This means we must substitute the
concept of fair and balanced with the concept of fair and accurate.
Having an agenda raises the importance of ethics and honesty. Because
a journalist is trying to prove a point, his choices of sources
becomes a legitimate area of reader scrutiny. Anonymous sources can
still be used but journalists must take responsibility for whom they
quote, whether they quote them by name or not. The days of hiding
behind a source are over (Thank you, Judith Miller). Passion is
important. Partisanship is inevitable. Journalists should not be
embarrassed to admit to either.
Journalists
are human beings first, not special creatures that are above the
normal loyalties of life. Journalists should be subject to all the
normal constraints of ordinary citizens. They should benefit from all
the normal freedoms of ordinary citizens. If these freedoms are not
enough to support an informed and energetic journalism, then the
normal standards for all citizens must be raised. For too long
journalists have asked for and received special treatment
notably from government and from their sources. Professional
journalism cannot rest on special privileges but rather superior
performance. --Z
Trying
to be fair and balanced, journalists have failed their subjects and themselves.
Veteran
journalists know that the objectivity ethos is the big
lie of their profession.
This
means we must substitute
the concept of fair and balanced with the concept of fair and accurate.
G.
Pascal Zachary spent 12 years on The Wall Street Journal, teaches
journalism at Stanford University and is an editor-at-large for Time
Inc.s monthly Business 2.0 magazine in San Francisco. | {
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Explore World’s Best Attractions and Destinations on Your Auspicious Occasion of Honeymoon
An occasion of love, romance and seduce is called honeymoon plays a predominant role in newlywed couples life. No one knows its significance more than newlywed couples; it is the most awaited occasion which every one wishes to celebrate in world’s best destination and no one like to do any kind of compromise with it. Well if you are looking for an unusual honeymoon destination where you can take your beloved and spend some beautiful time together then look no further than Kerala, often synonymous with God’s Own Country. Nature has unleashed its all splendor to this place to make it one of the finest places in the world. With breathtaking attractions of nature, blissful ambiance and all time soothing climatic conditions, what else make your honeymoon most memorable. In terms of natural attractions, it has not any competitor in the world. It is an ideal holidaying place for those who wish to spend some beautiful time in the lap of mother-nature.
Refreshing blue hills blessed with cascading fountains, palm-fringed beaches, wildlife national parks, pristine lakes and ranges of floras and faunas, all makes Kerala an ideal place for nature-lovers. Apart from there are many other things that no one would like to miss such as its fascinating culture, mouth-watering cuisine, exotic resorts and excellent hospitality by its citizenry. The year in this state is filled with several colorful celebrations which is an important part of its culture. There is much about Kerala which really not possible to signify in few words, thus we are presenting the topnotch attractions that one can explore during Kerala honeymoon travel.
Wayanad
Set in the northern part of the state, Wayanad is a quaint hill station gifted with immense beauty of nature with variety of floras and faunas. The majestic landscape is speckled with lofty ridges, dense tropical forests, mesmerizing waterfalls, and gurgling water streams.
Munnar
Fondly called Kashmir of south, Munnar is another beautiful hill station of Kerala set on the western-Ghats. Picturesque hills, wildlife parks, mesmerizing waterfalls, lush green meadows, and vast tea gardens are the few attractions that make Munnar a honeymooner’s paradise in real sense. Nature has gifted Munnar with such amazing attractions whose significance can not be described in any human language. Away from hustling and bustling of city life it is the perfect place to get in. Eravikulam National Park, Devikulam, Attukal, Rajamalai and etc are the few attraction places in and around Munnar.
Kumrakom
Kerala honeymoon tour can not be completed unless you don’t explore Kumrakom a small cluster of islands set on the picturesque Vembanad Lake well illustrated in the ‘God of Small Things’, a well-renowned novel written by booker prize winner, Arundhati Roy. The major attraction in Kumrakom is its picturesque backwaters and national bird sanctuary, home to the colorful birds and marine animals. Several rivers, lakes, inlets and lagoons team up together and forms the breathtaking locale that can be well explored through country’s houseboats also known as Kettuvallams in traditional language.
Apart from, there are several honeymoon places in Kerala named as Alleppey, the queen of Arabian sea Cochin, Thiruvananathpuram, and many more. Select the tailor made package of honeymoon and enjoy your vacations in memorable way. | {
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ZeeGames.com was launched in 2013 and is a game site exclusive for girls,here you will find only cute zee games and girl games.We focus to update the site daily,soo you girls can play new games every day.Our girl games are hand picked to ensure that they are high quality games and can be published on our ZeeGames.com site.We have many girl games like dress-up games,baby games,cooking games,makeup and makeover games,animal games and other games for girls.We also have the latest dentist and doctor games that are soo popular this days.You can play cute zee games and other nice and popular zee games.Our girls like zeegames.com | {
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The U.S. game has come around under Klinsmann due to him recognizing what our personnel is.
Klinsmann's attacking style is much more suited for the U.S. than the possession (hold and wait style) that the European's play. The U.S. just doesn't produce technically sound soccer players (or should I say football players) that the European's (and some South American teams... Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia) do because U.S. players are taught to shoot and score goals before they are taught fundamentals such as possession and ball movement. Klinsmann has incorporated a possession oriented attacking style of play. If you watch, you will see that the only time that U.S. plays negative is when they are under pressure or there is truly nothing open forward.
The U.S. plays a very similar game to Uruguay... the goal is to work straight up the middle rather then in-out-in (European style). One reason the U.S. can play this way is because they have a semi-technically sound players in Graham Zusi and Michael Bradley who are both capable of feeding Dempsey and Altidore. The same with Uruguay, they have a semi-technically sound player in Diego Perez whose entire job is to feed Cavini, Suarez, and Forlan.
It's a shame that Uruguay probably won't qualify for the World Cup... There's also talk that Forlan may transfer to Toronto FC of the MLS.
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And.....Torres will be celebrated down the streets of downtown Portland tonight with a hat trick. Donovan will have a frustrating game and the only thing left to do is substitute Jimmy Pickles in for Cam Newton. | {
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Local Space Networks And Large Area Networks
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Lifetime receives eleven Emmy Award nominations – a single-year report for the community. IP Addressing and IP routing resides on the OSI Community layer, which is layer three. Identified for its on-line videos, Vice operates a preferred YouTube channel and also produces news programming for Time Warner (Xetra: – information ) ‘s HBO.
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By Evan Munday
When an author mentions a book adaptation, the next question the author fields is invariably about casting. The book adaptation is assumed to be a film or television series. After all, books have provided source material for filmic entertainment since the days of the Lumiere Brothers, and each year sees dozens of film adaptations of novels, nonfiction texts, short stories, and comic books. But rare is the literary video game adaptation.
Video games, as an art form and industry, are no strangers to adapting other mediums. Many game enthusiasts will cite E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, a largely detested Atari 2600 game from 1982, as an early example – one so heinous that the company buried 700,000 unsold cartridges in a New Mexico desert – but there were also early game adaptations of films like Tron and Fantastic Voyage. (There was even a 1976 arcade version of cult Roger Corman film Death Race 2000!)
Even corporate brands quickly got into gaming to spread their marketing messages, from Atari games like Kool-Aid Man and Pepsi Invaders, to later games for Nintendo like Yo! Noid (featuring the short-lived Domino’s mascot) and the infectious multi-platform Cool Spot (for 7-Up). One could even argue that music has been ‘adapted’ into video game form with the popularity of games like Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and the more questionable trailblazer, Revolution X (starring Aerosmith as kidnapped freedom fighters in a dystopian 1996 where ‘youth’ culture has been banned). Yet video game adaptations of books are rarer than a green 1-up mushroom.
There are, of course, exceptions. The most famous example is the video game of Dante’s Inferno, developed by Electronic Arts for the X-Box 360 and Playstation 3 (and soon to be required playing for all Medieval Lit majors). As in the epic poem, Dante descends into Hell, but unlike the text version, Dante is a Templar Knight, hacking and slashing both demons and the damned, in a quest to save his beloved Beatrice’s soul from Lucifer. (Why the game version Beatrice is in Hell, rather than Paradise, is a good question.)
There are a number of popular games that many gamers may not even be aware have books as their source materials. The popular Witcher game series is based on books by Andrzej Sapkowski and the Metro: 3033 series is inspired by novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The list of games based on written texts is short. Longer if you include the countless games based on comic books. But given that gaming has a proud history and tradition of text-based games like Zork and Adventureland, where are are all the games based on books?
It’s a valid question. As narrative game developer and author Kaitlin Tremblay (Ain’t No Place for a Hero, ECW Press) notes, “books, like video games, require carefully constructed worlds and universes, with starkly defined themes and atmospheres … World building is an integral part of narrative game construction.” (Perhaps this explains why there are, in fact, game adaptations of Frank Herbert’s Dune.) Literary agent and gamer, Kelvin Kong, agrees: “with a book, you have a developed setting, characters, plot lines – so much of the foundations are already laid. You’ll still need a writer to write the story and flesh out the world to fit the game, but it’s easier to fit a game into that established world.” Kong adds that if a book is already popular with readers, it also ensures some built-in buzz for the game adaptation. “If it’s a well known property, you’ll have more fans who are invested in it … you’ll have a segment of captured market.”
In a province like Ontario, which by most estimates accounts for 30% of Canada’’s gaming industry, there can even be economic advantages to adapting a book into a game – provided the author lives in Ontario. Manager of Industry Initiatives at the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Erin Creasey, notes the OMDC is committed to “enabling cross-sector collaboration across cultural media sectors,” including books and interactive digital media. “We work hard to create opportunities for Ontario content creators to meet and establish partnerships, through professional development and networking events like our Digital Dialogue Breakfasts, and events like From Page to Screen, where Ontario film and IDM producers meet with book publishers to learn about books they can option for screen-based development.”
There’s even a signature program, the IDM fund, that allows book and magazine publishers to submit projects for new presentations of their texts in interactive digital media. In theory, this fund could help fund future literary game adaptations: “Because book publishers are at the nexus of great storytelling, and are bringing so many interesting, diverse, and engaging characters into the world, the IDM Fund presents innovative ways to bring stories to light in new ways – be it through a game, an interactive storybook, or a web series.”
The fund has already been used to support a game adaptation of the TV show Orphan Black by local producation house Boat Rocker and the early-stage activities for the web series adaptation of Sara Taylor’s Boring Girls (ECW Press) by producers Coral Aiken and Hannah Cheeseman.
Books have the groundwork necessary for good game adaptation. The demographics of gaming (over 40% of gamers are women) and fiction reading (over 80% women) are converging. And there are even government initiatives to support literary game adaptation. Are we just a few years away from a Jane Austen dating sim? Maybe. Maybe not.
For one, there is the issue of interactivity. Video games are all about changing the narrative – and a lot of classic fiction doesn’t lend itself well to readers rewriting the text. As Tremblay points out, “one of the excellent things the game industry is doing right now, especially indie games, is examining different viewpoints and filtering experiences through an explicitly interactive lens. What Remains of Edith Finch and Gone Home are both very successful indie games that explicitly tell stories through mechanics, through capitalizing on player interactivity, and what it means to have your audience controlling elements of your story. This isn't to say adaptations can't take advantage of this, but more to say there is a lot of original and creative work being done through thinking of stories intertwined with interactivity and game design.”
That said, she thinks we may see more book adaptations than we have been seeing: “The more diverse voices we bring into the game industry, with varied backgrounds and frames of reference, we'll end up seeing different books being adapted into video games.”
Kong is similarly ambivalent about literary video games’ future. “It’ll always be the genre books (sci-fi and fantasy), children’s books, and hot properties with large crossover appeal that’ll be picked first. It’s difficult to make a game out of a literary property – a literary setting is harder to build a game around.”
He does, however, foresee more interactivity in future novels. “I can see someone doing the transmedia thing and making a sort of visual novel (think Choose Your Own Adventure with more pictures), and maybe some sort of additional mechanic like resource building (big thing in Asia, becoming a bigger thing here in North America) out of a book, with the same characters, maybe different story.”
The other factor is that often the most creative game developers – the ones who could, say, turn the Dick Francis novels into a thrilling horse-race/puzzle game – are often working on their own brilliant and engrossing interactive stories that rival acclaimed works of fiction.
While it remains to be seen if games like Dante’s Inferno and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (based on the Strugatskys’ novella Roadside Picnic) will be curious anomalies or leaders in a fruitful new genre, the elements and resources are there for a literary video game renaissance. But whether game makers and players are interested is – like most things in gaming – endlessly debatable.
FUTURE POSSIBLE CANLIT GAMES
Kait’s Idea:
I was going to say The Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje, but Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is already such a perfect video game example of what makes Collected Works so good: it's an interrogation of heroism in the Wild West through an unreliable narrator and historiographic metafiction. Otherwise, I'd love to create a narrative-driven, body horror adventure game based on The Tracey Fragments by Maureen Medved. The gameplay would echo the detective-like quality that Tracey embodies as she interrogates her own memories in order to form a complete picture of who she is and her trauma, having players discover bits about Tracey's character through vignettes and completing puzzles in a non-linear fashion.
Kelvin’s Idea:
Oh my god, maybe Publishing Tycoon. There’s a business simulation genre of game where it’s all about building a business and making decisions around it (logistics, marketing, etc). Those games have covered things like a lemonade stand, a farm, a prison, a theme park, and even the video game industry. No one’s done Publishing Tycoon and it would probably be a hilarious game to play. Like BookNet Canada’s Pubfight but with even more levers to pull.
How much office space will you devote to your publishing house? How much will you spend on this author’s tour? How nice will you be to this agent, which may decide how much they play hardball during negotiations? Will you spend an additional $50 per night for free drinks for the author and their mates? How big a stand will you rent for a book fair? How many nights do you stay at the fair? Maybe a little mini-game like an Arkanoid-type game that sets how easily you’ll fill out your grant applications, and the chances of the grant website crashing on you when you hit ‘submit.’ The game can be done in all pixel art so it’s funnier when the characters in the game constantly run around with little sweat drops popping out of them.
Or maybe an adventure game called CanLit that’s set in the woods somewhere, with a character living in a cabin to “find themselves,” and every day they go chop for wood (mini-game: press the correct sequence of keys displayed on the screen to match the rhythm, and you chop more wood), and at night, contemplate life (by clicking on various objects on the screen that will bring up more narrative). Oh man, everyone’s going to hate me for even coming up with that, aren’t they?
A three-part game in which you, as Ray, must first successfully build a baseball diamond in your wheat field, Minecraft-style. Then, you must best the 1918 Chicago White Sox in a nine-inning game of baseball. And finally, you must, detective-style, track down J. D. Salinger. Three tasks, each more difficult than the last.
Brown Girl in the Ring (by Nalo Hopkinson):
As Ti-Jeanne, you must use your magic to protect your baby and Tony, the baby’s father, from gang leader Rudy, the duppies he has at his disposal, and the ruthless Premier of Ontario, who is on the hunt for a healthy human heart, in a dystopian Greater Toronto Area.
No Logo (by Naomi Klein):
A simple shooter reminiscent of Space Invaders, where the player (or adbuster) must destroy a seemingly unending supply of corporate brands before they overwhelm the gaming space.
They Left Us Everything (by Plum Johnston):
Roam the cityscape, as in Pokemon Go, collecting objects belonging to your dead parents and amassing the bittersweet memories that accompany each. When you max out your grief experience points, look for red wine to replenish your health.
The views expressed by Open Book columnists are those held by the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Open Book.
Evan Munday is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed book series for young readers, The Dead Kid Detective Agency. Both The Dead Kid Detective Agencyand its sequel, Dial M for Morna, were nominated for the Silver Birch Fiction Award.
Evan has worked in book marketing and publicity for ten years, eight of which were as publicist at Coach House Books, and he has since worked as a freelance illustrator and ebook designer. | {
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Practice Areas & Industries
Admitted In
Colorado
Andrew M. Low
Senior of Counsel
Phone 303.892.7327
For more than 25 years, Andy Low has been one of the
leading appellate lawyers in Colorado, throughout the Rocky Mountain region,
and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He was the leader of
the firm’s Appellate Group through 2013 and has handled a broad range of
appeals, including cases involving employment relations, insurance, securities,
real estate, legal and medical malpractice, products liability, income
taxation, and pension plans, to name a few. Mr. Low also has extensive
experience in litigating commercial cases at the trial level, including
numerous administrative agency trials and appeals. For 22 years, he wrote a
quarterly column on appellate practice for The
Colorado Lawyer. He also edited the first and second editions of the Colorado Appellate Handbook, a
loose-leaf text covering all aspects of appeals in the Colorado state appellate
courts.
Mr. Low was selected by the American Bar Association as
one of 13 appellate lawyers nationwide to review the written work product of
Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan and to recommend whether they should be rated
as qualified to be justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Low is a member of
the Colorado Supreme Court Joint Committee on Appellate Rules and is a past
president of the Appellate Practice Subcommittee of the Colorado Bar
Association Litigation Council. He is also a member of the Colorado Civil Jury
Instructions Committee.
Mr. Low received his legal education at Cornell
University, where he graduated magna cum
laude in 1976. At Cornell, he was a member of the Cornell Law Review and the Order of the Coif. Mr. Low was awarded
prizes for scholastic achievement in real estate and insurance, and he received
the Herbert Reif Award for the best law review note.
Mr. Low is named in The
Best Lawyers in America® (Appellate Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, White
Collar Criminal Defense, Commercial Litigation, and First Amendment Law) and
was chosen by Best Lawyers® as the
Denver Appellate Lawyer of the Year for 2012. He has also been selected for
inclusion in Colorado Super Lawyers (Appellate Law), has been named in Who’s Who in American Law, and has been named a litigation star in Benchmark Appellate. Additionally,
he has been recognized as a leading appellate lawyer by Chambers USA.
Mr. Low is admitted to practice in Colorado and before
the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Federal Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme
Court. Mr. Low is a member of the American, Colorado, and Denver Bar
Associations (Litigation Section). | {
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Hurricane Irma cleared out of South Florida on Sept. 10. In Orlando, University of Miami officials gathered in a hotel room, pulled up a spreadsheet, got out their phones and went to work.
When they left campus to prepare for the storm, players, coaches and staff members went in different directions. They had no idea when they would return.
Or what they would return to.
Now that the worst had passed, the priority became checking on the safety of all 380 athletes and 150 staff members.
Men's basketball coach Jim Larranaga texted. His team was fine. Women's basketball coach Katie Meier texted. Her team was fine. Check marks started filling the spreadsheet.
But there was trouble tracking down a few football players and coaches in South Florida because of power outages and intermittent cellphone service.
"It was definitely a moment of jumping up and down and cheering."
Miami deputy athletic director Jennifer Strawley, upon finding out all players and coaches were safe after Hurricane Irma
Running back Travis Homer's mother had to go to linebacker Zach McCloud's home in Lantana, Florida, to make sure McCloud was safe. He had no cell service and was out helping to clean up yards. Cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph also had no cell service or power, and it took hours to locate him, too.
By Tuesday morning, Miami had a check mark next to every coach and player. Deputy athletic director Jennifer Strawley called athletic director Blake James to deliver the news.
A raucous celebration ensued.
"It was definitely a moment of jumping up and down and cheering," Strawley said.
For the first time in over a week, everyone in the Miami athletic department felt joy. And relief.
They were not alone.
Mark Richt discusses the past week for his team as it practices in Orlando. Andrea Adelson
Inside athletic departments across the entire state, administrators grappled with the best way to respond to Hurricane Irma. In the end, they had to answer one basic question: What would best ensure the safety and well-being of their student-athletes, coaches and staff?
To get a sense for what they faced, athletic directors, coaches and players in the state of Florida shared their thoughts now that a return to normalcy has begun. The following is an inside look at how one storm impacted seven FBS schools and eight football games over a two-week span.
Decision time
Shortly after 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, James called Strawley. Had she seen the latest advisory on Irma?
It portended trouble for Florida, and South Florida in particular. The Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds barreled over the Caribbean without weakening, and threatened to become the most intense hurricane to ever hit the United States.
Miami had two options: travel to play Arkansas State and stay in that area indefinitely, or release players to their families and provide evacuation options for those with nowhere else to go.
It quickly became apparent that playing the game would not be a viable option. Frantic parents were calling coaches and administrators asking for their children to come home. Players asked to be released so they could help board up windows, buy supplies and take care of their families.
"There were these two options," Strawley said. "Do we get everybody safe in a place where we can mobilize and be together and know all our student-athletes are safe? And then there was this other side: We had student-athletes and staff who were emotional because they had siblings and mothers who couldn't board up their houses if we didn't release them."
Coaches had their own homes to shutter up and prepare. Portions of South Florida were already under a mandatory evacuation order, and that included areas where some coaches live.
"Could we have snuck out just in time to play that game? We could have, logistically, but in the meantime, if you're a coach and you're putting in the time that it takes to prepare for a game like that, then who's helping your wife get things done?" Miami coach Mark Richt said.
"The thing that was kind of the deciding factor for me was, I didn't want to have a team in Memphis or Arkansas while all heck is breaking loose with everybody's family. I didn't want my players to look at me like, 'Coach, why are we here? What are we doing here?' Or even my staff saying, 'What are we doing?' I said, 'That's it. We're out.'"
James called Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir to cancel the game and phoned ACC commissioner John Swofford to keep him in the loop. Swofford asked if there was anything he could do. James had already thought ahead to the aftermath, when it seemed an impossibility for the team to return to practice in short order.
"I said, 'John, I think we have to start thinking about the possibility of not playing the Florida State game the following week,'" James said.
Later that day, the university announced campus would be closed. Dorms had to be evacuated. Football players and coaches scattered: 33 players left the state, some as far as Puerto Rico; 25 stayed in South Florida; 24 went elsewhere in Florida; and 24 evacuated with other Miami staff, players and coaches to the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando.
James stayed a 40-minute drive away in Deland, with family.
Miami's campus suffered serious damage from Hurricane Irma, as seen from this look at the school's fieldhouse. Courtesy of University of Miami Communications
Miami booked three buses to leave its Coral Gables campus at 10 p.m. Thursday. "It was hard," Strawley said. "The bus pulls out, and you're leaving behind student-athletes, you're leaving behind coaches, you're leaving behind people you care about, and you didn't know if they were going to be OK. We gave everybody an opportunity to go someplace safe, and they had to make a decision that was best for them and their family in that moment."
When defensive coordinator Manny Diaz arrived in Tallahassee with his family, he came to a startling realization: "My wife and I, we drove two cars. We get to the house, and when we brought everything from the cars into the house, all of a sudden in the back in my mind it was like, 'This might be everything we have.'"
A short drive from Miami's Coral Gables campus, Florida International University officials decided the opposite: They would set up a temporary location in Birmingham, Alabama, and play FIU's scheduled home game against Alcorn State at UAB.
About an hour up the road in Boca Raton at Florida Atlantic, athletic director Pat Chun stayed in close contact with Wisconsin officials, who promised them full use of their football facilities, training table and weight room as long as they were needed. They also offered grief counselors and to cover the cost of the extended hotel stay.
FAU decided to play its scheduled game at Wisconsin and stay indefinitely.
"The year before, we had Hurricane Matthew, and what was successful for us was getting all our teams out of here," Chun said. "With the forecast for Irma, it was like, 'All right, our teams have already booked travel, let's tell them to stay on the road.'"
Rather than take the usual 70 players who travel for road games, FAU brought 87 players to Wisconsin, along with the families of the coaches and staff. They left Friday. "It was an eerie feeling taking off," Chun said.
Nobody on that plane knew whether they would have a home to return to, either.
Waiting out the storm
As Hurricane Irma slowly made its way toward Florida, projections showed a possible catastrophic impact on the entire state. Especially as images from the Caribbean showed unimaginable destruction to homes, beaches and infrastructure.
Mandatory evacuations in Florida reached into the millions, clogging roadways, emptying grocery store shelves and leading to gas shortages. It took the Miami contingent 10 hours to drive 235 miles to Orlando as red taillights dotted the landscape.
Once Miami arrived to check in, Strawley went to a meeting with hotel personnel and was given the rundown for emergency procedures and evacuation plans. Though Orlando is inland, the hurricane still threatened Central Florida with 80 mph winds and the possibility of tornadoes and flooding.
The NCAA had given Miami permission to do what needed to be done to keep everyone safe, allowing decisions to be fast-tracked. Miami officials offered players food vouchers for breakfast and dinner at restaurants inside the hotel. They also made a run to the local supermarket to stock up on snacks, bread, peanut butter and jelly. Strawley had cases of water and snacks in her room, available to anyone who wanted to eat.
Players worked out in the hotel gym or ran outside. They tossed a football around too. But for the most part, it became a way of life to stare at The Weather Channel for the latest updates; it was impossible to focus on much else.
By Friday, the Memphis-UCF, Northern Colorado-Florida and ULM-Florida State games had been canceled. Memphis had actually arrived in Orlando on Thursday night to play the game Friday but turned around and went back shortly after landing.
UCF, based in Orlando, then decided to release its players, and allowed Spectrum Stadium to become a staging area for the National Guard. Those who opted to stay on campus were provided with enough food and water to last through the storm.
USF, based in Tampa, had its game at UConn postponed over concerns that the airline would not be able to get the team back before the storm hit. As Friday turned into Saturday, forecasters grew increasingly concerned that the Tampa area would bear the brunt of the storm. USF coach Charlie Strong bolted awake at 4 a.m. Saturday, called strength and conditioning coach Pat Moorer and told him he needed to get all the players to the football facility.
"Coach, it's 4 o'clock in the morning," Moorer told him.
Strong shrugged it off. When he met with his team later that morning, he gave his players two options: everyone had to stay in on-campus dorms or inside the football facility. A handful stayed in the facility with Strong, athletic director Mark Harlan, coaches, their families and pets ranging from dogs to cats to hamsters. "It looked like Noah's Ark," Strong said.
Strong handed out hot dogs and hamburgers, along with care packages filed with Powerade, Oreos and other snacks. The Weather Channel stayed on in his office. Players played pool or pingpong to pass the time.
South Florida defeated Illinois in its first game back in the state. Andrea Adelson
In Tallahassee, 250 miles northwest of Orlando, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher decided to have all his coaches and their families, along with his players, stay overnight in the football facility inside Doak Campbell Stadium. The university also utilized a waiver from the NCAA to allow players' families from impacted areas to travel to Tallahassee and also stay in the facility.
Florida State arranged for more than 200 cots to be placed everywhere from meeting rooms to offices to lounges to the locker room. Fisher woke up every hour to check the weather reports just to make sure everything would be fine.
"You knew everyone was safe, and we felt comfortable being there," Fisher said. "It was sad the reason we had to be there because their homes and other people were going through a very treacherous time, and our thoughts and prayers were with them and other family members that weren't there. But we controlled as much as we could control and got as many people safe as we could possibly get safe. We were happy about that, and that was the role we had to play."
South Florida did not take a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, which made landfall first in the Florida Keys early Sunday and then in Marco Island, on the state's west side. Still, there was significant damage in the area, including downed trees and power lines. Over 6 million homes across the state were left without power.
The aftermath
USF, Florida State and Florida (in Gainesville, 110 miles north of Orlando) suffered no extensive damage and were able to resume practice on a normal basis. USF and Florida decided to go ahead with their games this past weekend after consulting with campus officials and emergency management crews. For the Tennessee-Florida game, Tennessee campus police offered 24 officers to help with security.
FAU stayed in Wisconsin until Wednesday, and took out a full-page ad in the local newspaper to thank the football program for all the support.
The storm was over, but the struggle was not -- especially for Miami and UCF, the two teams that allowed players to leave the state. It became obvious that neither team could play its scheduled Sept. 16 game. Miami-Florida State was pushed back to Oct. 7. UCF canceled its game against Georgia Tech.
Those decisions involved more than an inability to practice. In his usual Tuesday operations meeting, UCF athletic director Danny White learned there might not be enough available security or police to work the game. And they would have no access to ice, in short supply across the area.
When practice resumed Thursday for UCF, National Guard trucks ringed the outside of Spectrum Stadium. Inside the football facility, guardsmen and women slept in a line of cots that stretched the length of the football field. One told coach Scott Frost they had rescued 50 people stranded from flooded homes.
The University of Miami campus suffered extensive damage in the storm. Downed trees, damaged buildings and a lack of power have forced the university to keep campus closed until at least Monday, Sept. 25. So Miami has nowhere on campus to practice for its game against Toledo on Saturday.
After spending a week apart while players dealt with hurricane preparations on their own, Mark Richt's Miami squad finally got back together in Orlando for practice. Andrea Adelson
Still in Orlando, Miami's Richt toured several sites with Florida Citrus Sports officials, who are well-connected in the city because they put on both bowl games at Camping World Stadium. Miami settled on the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as a practice site and secured another hotel that had space for the entire team.
Equipment managers were allowed on campus to pack up everything needed for practice, working without air-conditioning and mostly in the dark to find helmets, shoulder pads and cleats. UCF agreed to allow Miami to use its laundry facilities to clean all their practice uniforms.
The Miami players who had ridden out the storm in Orlando stayed in town. The others reconvened in Miami and took a bus up on Friday. The entire team was finally reunited Friday night, after nine days apart.
"Once you know that everyone is OK, to come back as a team and enjoy each other's company like we did on Friday night was unbelievable," offensive lineman KC McDermott said. "I'm getting chills right now just thinking about it."
Later Friday, USF played the first game in the state since the Hurricane Irma came through. Strong invited first responders and high school players and coaches to attend the game for free. Coaches wore a Florida Strong decal on their hats and gave out 4,000 shirts to students with the same logo. A group of 20 first responders gathered in the tunnel pregame to lead the team out onto the field, and the gesture did not go unnoticed.
"Once you know that everyone is OK, to come back as a team and enjoy each other's company like we did on Friday night was unbelievable. I'm getting chills right now just thinking about it."
Miami OL KC McDermott
"People forget we're human and we have families," said Maj. Lee Bercaw of the Tampa Police Department. "When we leave the house to report for duty, we're leaving behind crying family members because they don't know when we're going to get back."
On Saturday, Miami practiced for the first time in 10 days -- the Saturday it was originally scheduled to be in Tallahassee to play rival Florida State. On Sunday, McDermott reflected on the decision to cancel the Arkansas State game and prepare for the hurricane. He went home to be with family in Wellington, Florida, and then worked to clear trees and debris with his dad. They had no power for four days.
"Coach made the right call in letting us go home and spend time with our families," McDermott said. "It would have been really hard to wake up and get ready for a game knowing a hurricane was hitting the hometown and our families would be there."
The focus has finally shifted back to football. But as players across the state take the field for another practice, administrators have weather maps and projections back on their screens. | {
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In 1994 David Sloan Wilson and Elliott Sober argued for multi-level selection, including group selection, on the grounds that groups, like individuals, could compete. In 2010 three authors including E. O. Wilson, known for his work on social insects especially ants, again revisited the arguments for group selection. They argued that group selection can occur when competition between two or more groups, some containing altruistic individuals who act cooperatively together, is more important for survival than competition between individuals within each group. Their proposals provoked a strong rebuttal from a large group of evolutionary biologists.[2]
As of yet, there is no clear consensus among biologists regarding the importance of group selection. Steven Pinker expressed his ambivalence with the theory: "Human beings live in groups, are affected by the fortunes of their groups, and sometimes make sacrifices that benefit their groups. Does this mean that the human brain has been shaped by natural selection to promote the welfare of the group in competition with other groups, even when it damages the welfare of the person and his or her kin?... I think that this reasonableness is an illusion. The more carefully you think about group selection, the less sense it makes, and the more poorly it fits the facts of human psychology and history."[3]
Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution in his book, Origin of Species. Darwin also made the first suggestion of group selection in The Descent of Man that the evolution of groups could affect the survival of individuals. He wrote, "If one man in a tribe... invented a new snare or weapon, the tribe would increase in number, spread, and supplant other tribes. In a tribe thus rendered more numerous there would always be a rather better chance of the birth of other superior and inventive members."[4][5]
Once Darwinism had been accepted, animal behavior was glibly explained with unsubstantiated hypotheses about survival value, which was largely taken for granted. The naturalistKonrad Lorenz had argued loosely in books like On Aggression (1966) that animal behavior patterns were "for the good of the species",[1][6] without actually studying survival value in the field;[6] Richard Dawkins noted that Lorenz was a "'good of the species' man"[7] so accustomed to group selection thinking that he did not realize his views "contravened orthodox Darwinian theory".[7] The ethologistNiko Tinbergen praised Lorenz for his interest in the survival value of behavior, and naturalists enjoyed Lorenz's writings for the same reason.[6] In 1962, group selection was used as a popular explanation for adaptation by the zoologist V. C. Wynne-Edwards.[8][9] In 1976, Richard Dawkins wrote a well-known book on the importance of evolution at the level of the gene or the individual, The Selfish Gene.[10]
It was at that time generally agreed that the primary exception of social group selection was in the social insects, and the explanation was limited to the unique inheritance system (involving haplodiploidy) of the eusocialHymenoptera such as honeybees, which encourages kin selection, since workers are closely related.[2]
Early group selection models assumed that genes acted independently, for example a gene that coded for cooperation or altruism. Genetically-based reproduction of individuals implies that, in group formation, the altruistic genes would need a way to act for the benefit of members in the group to enhance the fitness of many individuals with the same gene.[15] But it is expected from this model that individuals of the same species would compete against each other for the same resources. This would put cooperating individuals at a disadvantage, making genes for cooperation tend to be eliminated. Group selection on the level of the species is flawed because it is difficult to see how selective pressures would be applied to competing/non-cooperating individuals.[10]
Experiments from the late 1970s suggested that selection involving groups was possible.[16]Kin selection between related individuals is accepted as an explanation of altruistic behavior. In this model, genetically related individuals cooperate because survival advantages to one individual also benefit kin who share some fraction of the same genes, giving a mechanism for favoring genetic selection.[17]
Inclusive fitness theory, first proposed by W. D. Hamilton in the early 1960s, gives a selection criterion for evolution of social traits when social behavior is costly to an individual organism's survival and reproduction. This behavior could emerge under conditions such that the statistical likelihood that benefits accrue to the survival and reproduction of other organisms whom also carry the social trait. Inclusive fitness theory is a general treatment of the statistical probabilities of social traits accruing to any other organisms likely to propagate a copy of the same social trait. Kin selection theory treats the narrower but simpler case of the benefits to close genetic relatives (or what biologists call 'kin') who may also carry and propagate the trait. A significant group of biologists support inclusive fitness as the explanation for social behavior in a wide range of species, as supported by experimental data. An article was published in Nature with over a hundred coauthors.[2]
One of the questions about kin selection is the requirement that individuals must know if other individuals are related to them, or kin recognition. Any altruistic act has to preserve similar genes. One argument given by Hamilton is that many individuals operate in "viscous" conditions, so that they live in physical proximity to relatives. Under these conditions, they can act altruistically to any other individual, and it is likely that the other individual will be related. This population structure builds a continuum between individual selection, kin selection, kin group selection and group selection without a clear boundary for each level. However, early theoretical models by D.S. Wilson et al.[18] and Taylor[19] showed that pure population viscosity cannot lead to cooperation and altruism. This is because any benefit generated by kin cooperation is exactly cancelled out by kin competition; additional offspring from cooperation are eliminated by local competition. Mitteldorf and D. S. Wilson later showed that if the population is allowed to fluctuate, then local populations can temporarily store the benefit of local cooperation and promote the evolution of cooperation and altruism.[20] By assuming individual differences in adaptations, Yang further showed that the benefit of local altruism can be stored in the form of offspring quality and thus promote the evolution of altruism even if the population does not fluctuate. This is because local competition among more individuals resulting from local altruism increases the average local fitness of the individuals that survive.[21]
Another explanation for the recognition of genes for altruism is that a single trait, group reciprocal kindness, is capable of explaining the vast majority of altruism that is generally accepted as "good" by modern societies. The phenotype of altruism relies on recognition of the altruistic behavior by itself. The trait of kindness will be recognized by sufficiently intelligent and undeceived organisms in other individuals with the same trait. Moreover, the existence of such a trait predicts a tendency for kindness to unrelated organisms that are apparently kind, even if the organisms are of a completely different species. The gene need not be exactly the same, so long as the effect or phenotype is similar. Multiple versions of the gene—or even meme—would have virtually the same effect. This explanation was given by Richard Dawkins as an analogy of a man with a green beard. Green-bearded men are imagined as tending to cooperate with each other simply by seeing a green beard, where the green beard trait is incidentally linked to the reciprocal kindness trait.[10]
Kin selection or inclusive fitness is accepted as an explanation for cooperative behavior in many species, but there are some species, including some human behavior, that are difficult to explain with only this approach. In particular, it does not seem to explain the rapid rise of human civilization. David Sloan Wilson has argued that other factors must also be considered in evolution.[22] Wilson and others have continued to develop group selection models.[23]
Early group selection models were flawed because they assumed that genes acted independently; but genetically-based interactions among individuals are ubiquitous in group formation because genes must cooperate for the benefit of association in groups to enhance the fitness of group members.[24] Additionally, group selection on the level of the species is flawed because it is difficult to see how selective pressures would be applied; selection in social species of groups against other groups, rather than the species entire, seems to be the level at which selective pressures are plausible. On the other hand, kin selection is accepted as an explanation of altruistic behavior.[17][25] Some biologists argue that kin selection and multilevel selection are both needed to "obtain a complete understanding of the evolution of a social behavior system".[26]
In 1994 David Sloan Wilson and Elliott Sober argued that the case against group selection had been overstated. They considered whether groups can have functional organization in the same way as individuals, and consequently whether groups can be "vehicles" for selection. They do not posit evolution on the level of the species, but selective pressures that winnow out small groups within a species, e.g. groups of social insects or primates. Groups that cooperate better might survive and reproduce more than those that did not. Resurrected in this way, Wilson & Sober's new group selection is called multilevel selection theory.[27]
In 2010, M. A. Nowak, C. E. Tarnita and E. O. Wilson argued for multi-level selection, including group selection, to correct what they saw as deficits in the explanatory power of inclusive fitness.[28] The response was a back-lash from 137 other evolutionary biologists who argued "that their arguments are based upon a misunderstanding of evolutionary theory and a misrepresentation of the empirical literature".[2]
Wilson compared the layers of competition and evolution to nested sets of Russian matryoshka dolls.[29] The lowest level is the genes, next come the cells, then the organism level and finally the groups. The different levels function cohesively to maximize fitness, or reproductive success. The theory asserts that selection for the group level, involving competition between groups, must outweigh the individual level, involving individuals competing within a group, for a group-benefiting trait to spread.[30]
Multilevel selection theory focuses on the phenotype because it looks at the levels that selection directly acts upon.[29] For humans, social norms can be argued to reduce individual level variation and competition, thus shifting selection to the group level. The assumption is that variation between different groups is larger than variation within groups. Competition and selection can operate at all levels regardless of scale. Wilson wrote, "At all scales, there must be mechanisms that coordinate the right kinds of action and prevent disruptive forms of self-serving behavior at lower levels of social organization."[22] E. O. Wilson summarized, "In a group, selfish individuals beat altruistic individuals. But, groups of altruistic individuals beat groups of selfish individuals."[31]
Wilson ties the multilevel selection theory regarding humans to another theory, gene-culture coevolution, by acknowledging that culture seems to characterize a group-level mechanism for human groups to adapt to environmental changes.[30]
MLS theory can be used to evaluate the balance between group selection and individual selection in specific cases.[30] An experiment by William Muir compared egg productivity in hens, showing that a hyper-aggressive strain had been produced through individual selection, leading to many fatal attacks after only six generations; by implication, it could be argued that group selection must have been acting to prevent this in real life.[32] Group selection has most often been postulated in humans and, notably, eusocialHymenoptera that make cooperation a driving force of their adaptations over time and have a unique system of inheritance involving haplodiploidy that allows the colony to function as an individual while only the queen reproduces.[33]
Wilson and Sober's work revived interest in multilevel selection. In a 2005 article,[34]E. O. Wilson argued that kin selection could no longer be thought of as underlying the evolution of extreme sociality, for two reasons. First, he suggested, the argument that haplodiploid inheritance (as in the Hymenoptera) creates a strong selection pressure towards nonreproductive castes is mathematically flawed.[35] Second, eusociality no longer seems to be confined to the hymenopterans; increasing numbers of highly social taxa have been found in the years since Wilson's foundational text Sociobiology: A New Synthesis was published in 1975.[36] These including a variety of insect species, as well as two rodent species (the naked mole-rat and the Damaraland mole rat). Wilson suggests the equation for Hamilton's rule:[37]
rb > c
(where b represents the benefit to the recipient of altruism, c the cost to the altruist, and r their degree of relatedness) should be replaced by the more general equation
rbk + be > c
in which bk is the benefit to kin (b in the original equation) and be is the benefit accruing to the group as a whole. He then argues that, in the present state of the evidence in relation to social insects, it appears that be>rbk, so that altruism needs to be explained in terms of selection at the colony level rather than at the kin level. However, kin selection and group selection are not distinct processes, and the effects of multi-level selection are already accounted for in Hamilton's rule, rb>c,[38] provided that an expanded definition of r, not requiring Hamilton's original assumption of direct genealogical relatedness, is used, as proposed by E. O. Wilson himself.[39]
Spatial populations of predators and prey show restraint of reproduction at equilibrium, both individually and through social communication, as originally proposed by Wynne-Edwards. While these spatial populations do not have well-defined groups for group selection, the local spatial interactions of organisms in transient groups are sufficient to lead to a kind of multi-level selection. There is however as yet no evidence that these processes operate in the situations where Wynne-Edwards posited them.[40][41]
Rauch et al.'s analysis[40] of host-parasite evolution, which even E. O. Wilson recognised as a situation where group selection was possible (1975), is broadly hostile to group selection. Specifically, the parasites do not individually moderate their transmission; rather, more transmissible variants "continually arise and grow rapidly for many generations but eventually go extinct before dominating the system."[36]
The problem with group selection is that for a whole group to get a single trait, it must spread through the whole group first by regular evolution. But, as J. L. Mackie suggested, when there are many different groups, each with a different evolutionarily stable strategy, there is selection between the different strategies, since some are worse than others.[42] For example, a group where altruism was universal would indeed outcompete a group where every creature acted in its own interest, so group selection might seem feasible; but a mixed group of altruists and non-altruists would be vulnerable to cheating by non-altruists within the group, so group selection would collapse.[43]
Social behaviors such as altruism and group relationships can impact many aspects of population dynamics, such as intraspecific competition and interspecific interactions. In 1871, Darwin argued that group selection occurs when the benefits of cooperation or altruism between subpopulations are greater than the individual benefits of egotism within a subpopulation.[4] This supports the idea of multilevel selection, but kinship also plays an integral role because many subpopulations are composed of closely related individuals. An example of this can be found in lions, which are simultaneously cooperative and territorial.[44] Within a pride, males protect the pride from outside males, and females, who are commonly sisters, communally raise cubs and hunt. However, this cooperation seems to be density dependent. When resources are limited, group selection favors prides that work together to hunt. When prey is abundant, cooperation is no longer beneficial enough to outweigh the disadvantages of altruism, and hunting is no longer cooperative.[44]
Interactions between different species can also be affected by multilevel selection. Predator-prey relationships can also be affected. Individuals of certain monkey species howl to warn the group of the approach of a predator.[45] The evolution of this trait benefits the group by providing protection, but could be disadvantageous to the individual if the howling draws the predator's attention to them. By affecting these interspecific interactions, multilevel and kinship selection can change the population dynamics of an ecosystem.[45]
Multilevel selection attempts to explain the evolution of altruistic behavior in terms of quantitative genetics. Increased frequency or fixation of altruistic alleles can be accomplished through kin selection, in which individuals engage in altruistic behavior to promote the fitness of genetically similar individuals such as siblings. However, this can lead to inbreeding depression,[46] which typically lowers the overall fitness of a population. However, if altruism were to be selected for through an emphasis on benefit to the group as opposed to relatedness and benefit to kin, both the altruistic trait and genetic diversity could be preserved. However, relatedness should still remain a key consideration in studies of multilevel selection. Experimentally imposed multilevel selection on Japanese quail was more effective by an order of magnitude on closely related kin groups than on randomized groups of individuals.[47]
Gene-culture coevolution (also called dual inheritance theory) is a modern hypothesis (applicable mostly to humans) that combines evolutionary biology and modern sociobiology to indicate group selection.[48] It treats culture as a separate evolutionary system that acts in parallel to the usual genetic evolution to transform human traits.[49] It is believed that this approach of combining genetic influence with cultural influence over several generations is not present in the other hypotheses such as reciprocal altruism and kin selection, making gene-culture evolution one of the strongest realistic hypotheses for group selection. Fehr provides evidence of group selection taking place in humans presently with experimentation through logic games such as prisoner’s dilemma, the type of thinking that humans have developed many generations ago.[50]
Gene-culture coevolution allows humans to develop highly distinct adaptations to the local pressures and environments more quickly than with genetic evolution alone. Robert Boyd and Peter J. Richerson, two strong proponents of cultural evolution, postulate that the act of social learning, or learning in a group as done in group selection, allows human populations to accrue information over many generations.[51] This leads to cultural evolution of behaviors and technology alongside genetic evolution. Boyd and Richerson believe that the ability to collaborate evolved during the Middle Pleistocene, a million years ago, in response to a rapidly changing climate.[51]
Gintis wrote that genetic and cultural evolution can work together. Genes transfer information in DNA, and cultures transfer information encoded in brains, artifacts, or documents. Language, tools, lethal weapons, fire, cooking, etc., have a long-term effect on genetics. For example, cooking led to a reduction of size of the human gut, since less digestion is needed for cooked food. Language led to a change in the human larynx and an increase in brain size. Projectile weapons led to changes in human hands and shoulders, such that humans are much better at throwing objects than the closest human relative, the chimpanzee.[53]
The psychologist Steven Pinker concluded that "group selection has no useful role to play in psychology or social science", as it "is not a precise implementation of the theory of natural selection, as it is, say, in genetic algorithms or artificial life simulations. Instead it is a loose metaphor, more like the struggle among kinds of tires or telephones."[3]
Group selection isn't widely accepted by evolutionists for several reasons. First, it's not an efficient way to select for traits, like altruistic behavior, that are supposed to be detrimental to the individual but good for the group. Groups divide to form other groups much less often than organisms reproduce to form other organisms, so group selection for altruism would be unlikely to override the tendency of each group to quickly lose its altruists through natural selection favoring cheaters. Further, little evidence exists that selection on groups has promoted the evolution of any trait. Finally, other, more plausible evolutionary forces, like direct selection on individuals for reciprocal support, could have made humans prosocial. These reasons explain why only a few biologists, like [David Sloan] Wilson and E. O. Wilson (no relation), advocate group selection as the evolutionary source of cooperation.[59] | {
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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Nothing like some local knowledge to give you the upper hand on city discovery, and all that jazz.
I headed out at 11:30 to meet up with someone at the Houston Centre around noon. Apparently the Houston Centre was only fifteen minutes away. I was significantly early. But, finding a place to sit down, I could read for the next forty five minutes. That wouldn't be a problem. Nothing like killing time, learning about the inner workings of mid-nineties Vanity Fair.
Noon. Still no show. I'd been hanging around the Satay restaurant for some time now, and I was beginning to wonder – would my guide ever show?
So who was this guide? Who was it that was to show me the workings of this city-island? An old student of mine. Now in University, through the magic of the internet, she discovered that I was in Hong Kong at the same time she would be there visiting her father. She said that she could play tour guide, and who was I to refuse? But at twelve twenty, and then twelve thirty, I started to wonder.
Perhaps we had agreed to meet at half past? But no. Still, I waited. At twelve forty I was ready to leave. In fact, I had decided that she was not to arrive, and as such I left the building and began to make my own way through the city. But no – no – clearly there must have been some hold up. I headed back. But then at ten to I thought, alrighty – clearly there has to be some point when I leave, otherwise I'll be here all day. So with that I headed down the escalator ready – in theory – to call it quits for this meeting.
Just as I reached the bottom of the mobile stairs, before heading out into the bright sunny world beyond, there she was – with her father – coming up to meet me. Apparently traffic had been terrible. Traffic – all I know is about those crazy mobile tube things that run underground.
Her dad was a Hong Kong local, and knew the city very well. Over the course of the next few hours the two of them would show me around the city and take me to a number of places that I would have overlooked were I to have gone at it on my own. But the great importance of this day was not so much the sights, as it was the food. Yes, the food.
It started with them taking me for a slightly-delayed lunch. Singapore food, I have decided, is delicious. Though not as spicy as I had it sold to me as. I wonder, do they think – huh, white people, and thus not make it hot... or does your average Chinese person not like hot food? Or were these restaurateurs pretending that Singapore food was spicier than it every really was?
Still – delicious.
From there we headed back down to the bay to check out the walk of stars. I had each name pointed out to me and explained. Those names that meant so very little to me before were now fleshed out. It was also at this point (I don't know if I claimed this happened the first time I was there – if so that was a lie) that I discovered why Bruce Lee was called the Little Dragon. Looking at the Chinese spelling of his name, I could recognize that that was how the characters read.
We also walked through the many market streets, where it became apparent once more that Asia would not be a place in which I could pick up tacky touristy earrings. There was a temple, and there were residential districts. There were many things worth seeing that were seen on this day – but once more, it wasn't about that. It was about the food.
I had heard of Chinese street food, but could not find any. This was a most upsetting thing for me. But this girl, and her father, knew the tricks. They knew were to find it. And in no time flat I had myself a giant bowl full of chopped up pigs skin, cow stomach, and fish balls.
Me and cow stomach – we've been at odds ever since my first experience. This time it looked different than it had before. But who was I to turn down such a potential treat? Plus there was a tasty sauce poured on top.
So bite after bite I ate the stomach, and I tell you what – it's not that it's bad, it's just that there are so many other treats that taste better, so why would you ever force yourself to eat this? But never mind that. Next was the pig skin . I've eaten pig skin before. In many forms. In fact I would bet most people have had pig skin.
Pork rinds? Pig skin. Delicious crackle? Pig skin. But sliced and momentarily boiled? This was a new gooey-chewy way to devour it for me. It was actually pretty good. I would have it again. The fish balls were just that – fried balls of clumpy fish. Had em before, they're always a good treat. But the skin – that was what surprised me. At the end, I had to toss some of it away, not because I didn't like it, but because I was too full. I had just had a huge Singapore feast, you know.
While I was eating, a box of iced tea was produced and handed my way. I had avoided this since I saw it, expecting it to be bitter and terrible. But, unable to refuse a gift, I tried it and it was – marvelous. Yellow juice boxes of iced tea? The perfect – strange, yet familiar – combination of flavours. Many more would need to be consumed before I left this SAR.
It was a good day, and interesting to hang out with a past student of mine. I didn't really know how to act, so I wasn't myself, but I certainly wasn't in teacher mode. Forget that. It was about thirty/seventy split. Probably for the best, any more than seventy percent me is difficult for even hardened veterans of my antics to take.
Eventually leaving, with many thanks exchanged, I was left to my own devices. I had just been given one piece of advice: Don't hike up to The Peak. Take the cable car.
Solid tip, but unnecessary, as I was not one to ever want to hike again – remember, no more hiking this trip! But what would be good was a ride up the worlds longest outdoors escalator.
I was a little disappointed by this escalator. Rather than one giant twenty minute escalator to nowhere, it was actually a series of escalators that kept going up, but then you'd need to break away and walk for a bit, and then head back up the next one. Hardly an epic sight worth being in the Guinness book of world records.
It didn't even take twenty minutes. 17:17:99.
Once at the top though, I found myself in the mid-levels (the name for a place that would be right at home in a Bethesda RPG) and there there was also a sign pointing out some walking journeys through the city. One pointed to The Peak, Lower Tram – thirty minutes away. Sounded like as good a destination as any. And, after all, it was a beautifully clear day – you could hardly ask for better lookout weather.
Walking, walking, walking – and somehow I lost the path. I was keeping pace with this older guy in front of me. I wasn't really following but he was going the same way as I was. Eventually I think we went up when we should have gone down, and no longer were signs pointing towards the tram station. The road became lines with trees – a beautiful jungle amidst a city, not unlike one Max might have created in his very own room (not some place down the street where he ran to, but his own room – where the phases of the moon still change indicating something more than it was just one night, Spike! Anyway.)
While the signs to the peak may have ceased, I did come across a sign leading to the peak itself. Huh. Well, sure why not? Up I started to walk. And up. And up. Everywhere I looked Filipinos were walking dogs, or small children, which pretty much amounted to the same thing. Here the class divide, and a wee bit of insight into who the working class are, was made obvious.
I continued to climb.
Wandering along paved switchbacks I eventually started to curse myself for starting this task. Why could I not have just taken the lift? It got to the point that I thought I'd be cursing myself forever, but then a new sign – The Peak, 30min. Well that's nice that it knows the speed that I'm walking, and that all people of all age go at the same pace. Apparently there'd be an end to my climb, in just half an hour.
The half an hour was less than fun. When I heard voices coming from above I thought it would be over. It was just a work house. It was not. One more section to go and then I was at: The Peak.
Let me tell you, The Peak? It's just a complex of shops, and fast food, and a wax museum. I thought, is this all? And the look out pavilion, you had to pay more than it would have been worth. That was it, I give up. But no – there was a lion's look out where you could go for free, and while the top level was full of people with no hope of getting to the ledge to set up my mini-tripod, there was a secondary level below it. Which most people tend to neglect, thus giving me a straight shot to the edge, and allowing me to take images of the city below, over which the fog and smog had started to roll. Of course it had. Beautiful when I was down there, but by the time I'm up – and tired...
For the next hour and a bit I camped out, securing my spot on the edge reading, waiting for the sun to go down. As darkness fell, and the city lights came to life, I had to admit that it had all been worth it.
At eight the light show started, but without the view from the Avenue of Stars it was less than spectacular. You missed out on the music and the lasers, and the spots (which I now saw didn't come from the buildings, but across the bay). Still – Hong Kong at night? It is as spectacular as I was told it would be. And the fog only added to the appearance of layers and depth in the night.
When the lights had ended it was time to go back down. I was going to take the cable car, pay the extra money, and just be done with it. When I got to the car, no line only twenty minutes earlier, there were now over one hundred people waiting. This was less than good.
I reckoned it would be quicker to walk. But it was dark and spooky. And no one else was walking – maybe they knew someth... oh, a couple started walking down the hill. Excellent. This is my chance. Like a thief in the night I started to follow them. Not creepy at all, being followed down a big spooky hill in a strange city at night by someone who looks like me.
After three or four minutes they stopped, let me catch up, and asked where I was from. We started chatting, and I was no longer quite as frightening. They were from Australia, the man from Vancouver forty years ago, but now living way aways over seas.
Down the hill, talking about how we'd still be waiting at the top, and how they bought tickets to take the cable car up, but after thirty minutes waiting in line they bailed and just hiked up. Clearly it was for the best that I missed the lower peak station then.
As we wandered we took in the silence of the city, and the abandonment of the nocturnal hours until like a flash in the night there was a great flash in the night. Cameras started going off, loud pumping music filled the streets, and neon signs reflected off of the pale, pasty white skin of Americans, and Australians all clamoring to throw back one more pint. From the quiet and secluded world we ended up in the part town.
Glowing devil horns, and party favours were sold to anyone drunk or high enough to think they were a good idea. Most likely they would be lost before the purchaser could question why they had them the next morning.
The night was alive. But we? We were just pushing through it, down to the water. To get there we needed to push a taxi out of the street – it had stalled – but once done, we continued to the water, and made our way to the ferry. The couple insisted on getting my ticket (all of 2.5HKD) and then found me a seat by the window to look out and take pictures. There are few better ways to see the Hong Kong harbour. And for what amounts to thirty cents? Highly advisable.
Once across, we made our separate ways, and I went out to the water, looking across, and photographing, for a while longer. Unable to take my eyes off of the city lights, I would have gladly stayed there all night. But the observation deck was closes at eleven. | {
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Study calls for nitrate, water watch
Field demonstrations on vegetable farms in the southern Santa Clara Valley have shown that growers can gain efficiency with a closer watch — and more complete records — on their irrigation and fertility programs.
Marc Buchanan, a Scotts Valley soil fertility consultant, headed a two-year project that set out to help growers with in-field nitrate testing on drip and sprinkler irrigated vegetables to economize on fertilizer use.
Although Santa Clara Valley growers are reluctant to risk yields by cutting back on nitrogen and irrigation inputs, regulations forcing it are approaching.
Agricultural fertilization, along with residential septic systems, animal enclosures, and other sources, is charged with contributing excessive nitrate levels in surface and underground waters.
Further, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is developing daily load limits for nitrates and other nutrients in the Llagas Basin, a part of the Pajaro River Watershed. The region of 330,000 acres has about 7,200 acres in various crops, including 35 to 40 vegetable crops.
Five key growers, with farming operations from Gilroy to Morgan Hill, cooperated in the project funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), which is dedicated to cost-effective fertilizer use and minimal environmental impacts.
Partner in the project is the Santa Clara Valley Water District's Nitrate Management Program, which operates a mobile lab program for irrigation system evaluation.
Nitrogen quick test
In conclusions presented at a FREP Conference in Tulare recently, Buchanan said the nitrogen quick test was again demonstrated as an effective means of fertility management, including evaluating residual nitrate, scheduling side- and top-dress fertigation, and assessing problem areas in the field.
However, Buchanan said, the structure of farming businesses dispersed over a large area tend to impede more monitoring for nitrates. One grower, for instance, has 20 fields across the basin, five irrigators, and a ranch manager who spends much of his time driving on Highway 101 between fields.
As another example, a local ranch manager wants to adopt changes, such as reducing applied nitrogen, but does not have approval from a headquarters superior to spend less than a certain amount allocated for nitrogen.
Yet another grower has a file of petiole sample results taken by a commercial fertilizer company but is unable to interpret and apply them.
Not only do growers vary as to abilities, they have varying interest in making changes. “One of the biggest issues is records and evaluations,” said Buchanan.
“Among several cooperating growers, only one, a recent college graduate, could remember what he did the year before in terms of fertilization or any evaluation of his crop.”
Management ‘snapshot’
Buchanan said his aim in working with cooperating growers and in public workshops is provide a “snapshot” to help them realize that nitrogen management of their fields involves water, soil, uniformity and scheduling of irrigation, plus disease at times, and proper interpretation of the whole.
He selected cooperating ranches that operated both sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. A “technical vacuum,” he said, exists in the area, after growers doing their own experimentation in shifting to drip. Some, even when they converted to drip where they could meter-in precise amounts, continued to apply large amounts of preplant nitrogen fertilizers in “a sort of hybrid fertility practice.”
Several growers consider high fertility a tool to advance their crop during periods when soil temperatures are low. “In the cooler 2000 season, they used nitrogen to jump-start the crop, and we were able to establish for those growers that the added nitrogen is really not doing them a favor.”
Buchanan also set out to demonstrate the utility of the work on the nitrate “quick test” by Tom Hartz, University of California, Davis vegetable crops specialist, and Richard Smith, Monterey County farm advisor. Used in the field, the method uses colormetric strips reveal nitrate in the soil, and its accuracy is comparable to laboratory results.
In one example of a “hybrid” fertility program, the grower typically applied 70 pounds of preplant nitrogen for peppers on buried drip. “After two irrigations the plants are set, and you see a salt band on the furrows and on the bed shoulders,” he said.
This, he continued, suggests that much of the preplant nitrogen was being forced away from roots and to the soil surface.
One grower used the nitrate test method to assess residual soil nitrate in residue from a preceding crop and a cover crop and then tap it rather than simply applying more nitrogen for the new crop.
Another started monitoring for soil nitrate and saved applying 150 pounds of nitrogen through proper timing and methods of application.
Mixing and mismatching of high- and low-flow drip tapes robbed some growers of full potential of their systems. In one example, tensiometers showed that the portion on low-flow tape did get the uniform wetting to take up all the nitrogen available.
Irrigation scheduling was frequently more of a problem than distribution uniformity, particularly for the growth stages of bell peppers, among cooperators. “In the 2001 season,” Buchanan reported, “we found that four of five fields were under-irrigated prior to fruit bulking stage and then over-irrigated prior to first harvest and for the rest of the season.”
Further, some fields on coarse soils had in-season leaching, and growers typically overcorrected with increased fertilization.
Although the original project is completed, Buchanan said the Santa Clara Valley Water District has indicated interest in seeking funding for a follow-up program to continue workshops, demonstrations, and evaluations.
Marc Buchanan is a researcher-consultant specializing in soil fertility and management of solid and water wastes and based at Scotts Valley, Calif. His company, Buchanan Associates, was established in 1995 and its service area includes San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.
From 1990 to 1995 he was a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He holds a doctorate in soil fertility and soil management from North Carolina State University and a master's from UC, Santa Cruz. | {
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