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Page last updated at 10:04 GMT, Wednesday, 2 September 2009 11:04 UK
Second night of city disturbances
Hundreds of people gathered on the Albertbridge Road on Monday night
Three people have been arrested after a second night of disturbances in east Belfast on Tuesday.
A number of petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police at the Albertbridge Road and Mountpottinger interface.
The people were arrested for riotous behaviour, possession of a petrol bomb and disorderly behaviour.
One officer received an injury to his face. Police said calm was restored by 0230 BST on Wednesday.
On Monday night, up to 200 people assembled in the area after a Sinn Fein event to mark the closure of Mountpottinger Police Station.
Police officers fired plastic baton rounds to break up the trouble between groups of nationalist and loyalist youths.
Area Commander Chief Inspector John McKeagh condemned the second night of disturbances.
"Although the disturbances were on a much less scale that the night before, this behaviour is still totally unacceptable," he said.
"Local residents deserve to live in peace and I can assure the community that we are continuing to work to bring those responsible before the courts at the earliest opportunity.
"A team of dedicated officers has been set up to achieve this and I am confident that further arrest will be made over the next few days.
"I would also urge local community and elected representatives to assist police in their efforts to dissuade this unacceptable behaviour."
Sectarian riot a 'disgrace to NI'
01 Sep 09 | Northern Ireland |
There are 2 Grizzly Wintergreen Flavor reviews in the database.
Strong flavor to start which mellows out in 5 - 7 minutes. Pouches hold together fairly well and, like most, eventually begin to leak loose tobacco; making it time to pitch it. |
Patricia Vonne Kicks Off 2022 Singer Songwriter Concert Series on Saturday, April 23, at Gaithersburg Arts Barn
Three-time Austin Music Award winner Patricia Vonne, an Alt-Americana powerhouse incorporating her special blend of rock, folk, flamenco, bilingual Tex-Mex and Latin music, will be the featured performer on Saturday, April 23, as Gaithersburg's Arts on the Green opens its 2022 Singer Songwriter Concert Series at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn.
The Singer Songwriter Concert Series annually produces inspiring performances. It celebrates musicians who write, compose and sing their own original material. In addition to the concert experience, patrons can participate in special workshops with the artists for unique insights into the world of the singer songwriter.
All concerts and workshops will be in-person at the Arts Barn, which is located at 311 Kent Square Road in Gaithersburg. Concerts also will be live-streamed. All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Workshops are held at 3 p.m.
The series is presented by O'Hair Salon + Spa and sponsored in part by Hampton Inn & Suites.
The Singer Songwriter series schedule will include:
Patricia Vonne with Jay Byrd. Saturday, April 23. The three-time Austin Music Award winner is an Alt-Americana powerhouse, incorporating her special blend of rock, folk, flamenco, bilingual Tex-Mex and Latin. She is back with her seventh album, "Top of the Mountain," on her own Bandolera Records. Along with her many career titles of singer, songwriter, actress and activist, she has recently added award- winning filmmaker. Tickets: $50 combo (workshop and concert), $30 concert only, $35 concert door; $20 livestream. Purchase tickets here.
Seth Glier. Saturday, May 21. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter also is a producer and multi-instrumentalist. NPR describes his voice as "otherworldly" while praising him as "an engaging performer and storyteller." His critically acclaimed, emotionally dense catalog of work often draws upon traditional roots music, experimental instrumentation and moody atmospheres that result in soulfully intelligent stories. He is currently on tour and is debuting new music, including his two latest songs, "If It Wasn't For You" and "Stages," both released in 2020. Tickets: $50 combo (workshop and concert), $30 concert only, $35 concert door; $20 livestream. Purchase tickets here.
Gretchen Peters. Saturday, June 4. She is considered one of Nashville's most beloved and compelling artists. Her songs immerse listeners in a world of emotion, digging underneath to expose what is fueling the fire. Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, Peters has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill. Her song, "Independence Day," recorded by Martina McBride, won a CMA Song of the Year award in 1995. She has been nominated for two Grammys, a Golden Globe, and numerous other awards. Tickets: $55 combo (workshop and concert), $35 concert only, $40 concert door; $20 livestream. Purchase tickets here.
Purchase concert series tickets online or call the Arts Barn Box Office at 301-258-6394. For more information, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/aotg.
The Arts on the Green music series is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). To discover more about MSAC grants and how they impact Maryland's arts sector, visit www.msac.org.
Labels: Art |
Nearly 150 people have been arrested here after a mob torched over 150 homes of the minority Christian community in search of an alleged blasphemer as outraged Christians took to the streets in many Pakistani cities.
Nearly 150 people have been arrested in Lahore after a mob torched over 150 homes of the minority Christian community in search of an alleged blasphemer as outraged Christians took to the streets in many Pakistani cities.
Police officials said they had arrested about 150 people who had been identified from video footage of the attack or named by the victims. Raids were being conducted for other wanted persons, they said.
Trouble began at Joseph Colony on Friday, when over 2,000 enraged Muslims surrounded the neighbourhood and pelted stones at the homes of Christians.
The mob was led by Shafiq Ahmed, who claimed he was looking for a Christian named Savan Masih as he had allegedly committed blasphemy by insulting the Prophet Mohammed.
Some men found Masih's 65-year-old father Chaman Masih and assaulted him and then burnt his home.
The mob dispersed after a police contingent was posted in the area and officials said they had registered an FIR against Masih under the blasphemy law.
Yesterday, the mob returned to Joseph Colony in the morning and drove out all Christian families that were still in the area.
Footage on television showed masked men armed with sticks rampaging through the neighbourhood, setting houses and cars on fire. The police did little to stop the mob.
Police said they had arrested Savan Masih, a 26-year-old sanitation worker, and shifted him to a safe location.
Shahid Imran, named as the complainant in the FIR against Masih, alleged that the Christian had uttered blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Mohammed in the past too. |
China Admits Destroying Early Coronavirus Lab Samples But Denies Cover Up
Confirmed: Chinese government issued order to dispose of COVID-19 samples
By: Jay Greenberg |@NeonNettle
on 17th May 2020 @ 12.00pm
© press
It has been confirmed that China ordered early coronavirus samples to be destroyed
China has admitted to destroying early coronavirus samples but the Chinese government insists the move was not part of a cover-up.
The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) issued an order to non-government-controlled labs to destroy samples of the deadly virus on January 3.
The admission from China confirms a claim put forward by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late last month.
On Friday, a supervisor with China's National Health Commission, Liu Dengfeng, admitted that "the Chinese government issued an order on January 3 to dispose of coronavirus samples" at "unauthorized" laboratories.
However, Liu denies the samples were disposed of as part of a cover-up, claiming they were destroyed to "prevent risk to laboratory biological safety and prevent secondary disasters caused by unidentified pathogens."
He insists they had to be terminated in order to comply with Chinese public health laws because the labs were "unauthorized" to handle such samples, according to Newsweek.
China's National Health Commission official Liu Dengfeng admits that early samples of the coronavirus were destroyed
Liu did not specify how many labs destroyed coronavirus samples, according to The Daily Mail.
The admission comes amid souring diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China over the COVID-19 outbreak - which originated in Wuhan late last year.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month accused the Asian superpower of not being transparent about the spread of the coronavirus.
"The Chinese Communist Party still has not shared the virus sample from inside of China with the outside world, making it impossible to track the disease's evolution," Pompeo stated at a briefing on April 22.
"We strongly believe that the Chinese Communist Party did not report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely fashion to the World Health Organisation," he added.
"Even after the CCP did notify the WHO of the coronavirus outbreak, China didn't share all of the information that it had."
Pompeo continued: "Instead it covered up how dangerous the disease is.
"It didn't report sustained human-to-human transmission for a month until it was in every province inside of China.
"It censored those who tried to warn the world in order to halt the testing of new samples, and it destroyed existing samples."
As of Saturday afternoon, more than 4.7 million people around the world have tested positive to COVID-19 while at least 313,000 have died.
The United States has been disproportionately affected by the disease, with the country accounting for almost a quarter of global cases and deaths.
Earlier this week, President Trump gave an interview with Fox Business Network, where he said he was "very disappointed in China."
The coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan in December and was spreading silently as the U.S. and China signed a Phase 1 trade deal hailed by Trump as a major achievement.
"They should have never let this happen," Trump said.
"So I make a great trade deal and now I say this doesn't feel the same to me.
"The ink was barely dry and the plague came over. And it doesn't feel the same to me."
Meanwhile, a Department of Homeland Security report shared last Sunday revealed US officials believe China "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic in early January and hoarded medical supplies.
The four-page report dated May 1 that was obtained by the Associated Press notes that China downplayed the virus publicly but increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies.
The document accuses China of covering their tracks by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data."
It lends weight to a leaked dossier drawn up by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance which describes how Beijing made whistleblowers "disappear," destroyed early virus samples, and scrubbed the internet of any mention of the disease in the early stages.
The 15-page document brands Beijing's secrecy over the pandemic an "assault on international transparency" and points to cover-up tactics deployed by the regime.
It claims that the Chinese government silenced its most vocal critics and scrubbed any online skepticism about its handling of the health emergency from the internet.
China has roundly come under fire for suppressing the scale of its early outbreak which did not afford other nations the time to react before the disease hit their shores.
Elsewhere, the CIA believes that China pressured the World Health Organization into delaying public warnings about coronavirus early in the outbreak, according to a report recently published in Newsweek.
WHO is accused of helping China cover-up the initial outbreak of the coronavirus
The alleged delay came at a crucial time in January, as the virus was spreading around the world undetected and China was stockpiling medical equipment and protective gear made in the U.S. and elsewhere.
The contents of the CIA document, called "U.N.-China: WHO Mindful But Not Beholden to China," were confirmed to Newsweek by two U.S. intelligence officials.
It is the second Western intelligence report to indicate that China strong-armed the WHO into downplaying the risks of the epidemic after a German intelligence document reported by Der Spiegel suggested that Chinese leader Xi Jinping personally pressured WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The German newspaper cited intelligence from the country's Federal Intelligence Service, known as the "Bundesnachrichtendienst" (BND).
According to the BND: "On January 21, China's leader Xi Jinping asked WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to hold back information about a human-to-human transmission and to delay a pandemic warning.
"The BND estimates that China's information policy lost four to six weeks to fight the virus worldwide."
The WHO released a statement shortly after the publication of the shock claims, calling them "unfounded and untrue."
[RELATED] Bill Gates-Funded COVID-19 Tracking Program Shut Down by FDA
tags: China | coronavirus
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The secret sauce has made a touchdown, according to Mayor Rahm.
He's really mad about our protest yesterday against Noble's discipline policy. I'd guess he's even madder that the news made every Chicago news outlet plus CNN, MSNBC, and Huffington Post, so far, and it definitely has legs.
He's mad because we forgot to mention that Noble has better-than-mediocre test scores (though the network is federal academic watch) and a better-than-citywide graduation rate (though it's hard to compare given that the discipline system in question allows Noble to pressure almost any lagging student to leave).
The truth is (and Rahm has a lot of trouble telling the truth about Noble and charters in general) that the system-wide citywide graduation rate, according to the district state report card, is 73.8%, not the pretend number that Rahm uses to puff Noble up.
And the bottom line is that "results" are only valuable when the means used to get them are sound. Noble's discipline policy is more reform school than college prep. |
Gutchek
Gutchek Tarun Kothari MD, FACG, FACP
Author: publisher
Guideline Issued for Treatment of Mild, Moderate Ulcerative Colitis
By publisher | April 29, 2019 | Comments 0 Comment
Guideline Issued for Treatment of Mild, Moderate Ulcerative
A new clinical guideline from the American Gastroenterological
Association (AGA) published Dec 18 in Gastroenterology focuses
on the medical management of patients with mild-to-
moderate ulcerative colitis (UC).
To inform the guideline, Siddharth Singh, MD, from the University of California in San Diego, and colleagues compiled the clinical evidence in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations
Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework.
In the guideline, Cynthia W. Ko, MD, from the University of
Washington in Seattle, and colleagues note that most UC patients
have a mild-to-moderate course characterized by periods of
activity or remission. For patients with extensive mild-to-moderate UC, using standard-dose mesalamine or diazo-bonded 5-ASA is recommended rather than low-dose mesalamine, sulfasalazine, or no treatment. Rectal mesalamine should be added to oral 5-ASA for patients with extensive or left-sided mild-to-moderate UC.
High-dose mesalamine with rectal mesalamine is recommended
for patients with mild-to-moderate UC with suboptimal response to standard-dose mesalamine or diazo-bonded 5-ASA. Once-daily
dosing is recommended rather than multiple-daily dosing for
patients with mild-to-moderate UC being treated with oral
mesalamine. For induction of remission, standard-dose oral
mesalamine or diazo-bonded 5-ASA is recommended rather than
budesonide MMX or controlled ileal-release budesonide.
"We identified several knowledge gaps and areas for future research in this patient population," Ko and colleagues write. "Due to evidence gaps, the AGA makes no recommendation for use of probiotics, curcumin, or fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with mild-to- moderate UC."
Treating Hepatitis C
HepCDownload
Courtesy of JAMA patient page
Endoscopy Overview
By publisher | November 7, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment
ENDOSCOPY OVERVIEW — An upper endoscopy, often referred to as endoscopy, EGD, or esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, is a procedure that allows a physician to directly examine the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the esophagus, the stomach, and the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine)
The physician who performs the procedure, known as an endoscopist, has special training in using an endoscope to examine the upper GI system, looking for inflammation (redness, irritation), bleeding, ulcers, or tumors.
REASONS FOR UPPER ENDOSCOPY — The most common reasons for upper endoscopy include:
●Unexplained discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen.
●GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease (often called heartburn.)
●Persistent nausea and vomiting.
●Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (vomiting blood or blood found in the stool that originated from the upper part of the GI tract). Bleeding can be treated during the endoscopy.
●Iron deficiency anemia (low blood count associated with a low iron level in the blood) in someone who has had no visible bleeding.
●Difficulty swallowing; food/liquids getting stuck in the esophagus during swallowing. This may be caused by a narrowing (stricture) or tumor or because the esophagus is not contracting properly. If there is a stricture, it can often be dilated with special balloons or dilation tubes during the endoscopy.
●Abnormal or unclear findings on an upper GI x-ray, CT scan, or MRI.
●Removal of a foreign body (a swallowed object).
●To check healing or progress on previously found polyps (growths), tumors, or ulcers.
ENDOSCOPY PREPARATION — You will be given specific instructions regarding how to prepare for the examination before the procedure. These instructions are designed to maximize your safety during and after the examination and to minimize possible complications. It is important to read the instructions ahead of time and follow them carefully. Do not hesitate to call the physician's office or the endoscopy facility if there are questions.
You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for up to eight hours before the test. It is important for your stomach to be empty to allow the endoscopist to visualize the entire area and to decrease the possibility of food or fluid being vomited into the lungs while under sedation (called aspiration).
You may be asked to adjust the dose of your medications (such as insulin) or to stop specific medications (such as blood thinning medications) temporarily before the examination. You should discuss your medications with your physician before your appointment for the endoscopy.
You should arrange for a friend or family member to escort you home after the examination. Although you will be awake by the time you are discharged, the medications used for sedation may cause temporary changes in the reflexes and judgment and interfere with your ability to drive or make decisions (similar to the effects of alcohol). Patients who receive sedation are often required to be accompanied home after the procedure.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING ENDOSCOPY — Prior to the endoscopy, the staff will review your medical and surgical history, including current medications. A physician will explain the procedure and ask you to sign consent. Before signing consent, you should understand the benefits and risks of the procedure, alternatives to the procedure, and all of your questions should be answered.
If you are going to receive sedation for the procedure, an intravenous line (a needle inserted into a vein in the hand or arm) will be inserted to deliver medications. You may be given a combination of a sedative (to help you relax) and a narcotic (to prevent discomfort), or other medications that are commonly used for sedation.
Your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level) will be monitored before, during, and after the examination. The monitoring is not painful. Oxygen is often given during the procedure through a small tube that sits under the nose and is fitted around the ears. For safety reasons, dentures should be removed before the procedure.
Although most patients are sedated for the examination, many tolerate the procedure well without any medication. Usually, these patients are given a medication to numb the back of their throats (either a gargle or a spray) just prior to the endoscopy to prevent gagging during the passage of the instrument. This may be offered to patients felt to be at higher risk for receiving sedation. Otherwise, if you are interested in having your endoscopy in this sedation-free manner, you should discuss this with the doctor beforehand to see if this is a possibility for you.
THE ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURE — The procedure typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete. The endoscopy is performed while you lie on your left side. A plastic mouth guard is placed between the teeth to prevent damage to the teeth and endoscope.
The endoscope (also called a Gastroscope) is a flexible tube that is about the size of a finger. The endoscope has a lens and a light source that allows the endoscopist to see the inner lining of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, usually on a TV monitor. Most people have no difficulty swallowing the flexible Gastroscope because of the sedating medications. Many people sleep during the test; others are very relaxed and generally not aware of the examination.
An alternative procedure called trans nasal endoscopy may be available in some facilities. This involves passing a very thin scope (about the size of a drinking straw) through the nose. You are not sedated but a medication is applied to the nose to prevent discomfort. A full examination can be performed with this instrument.
The endoscopist may take tissue samples called biopsies. Obtaining biopsies is not painful. The endoscopist may also perform specific treatments (such as dilation, removal of polyps, treatment of bleeding), depending upon what is found during the examination. Air or carbon dioxide gas is gently introduced through the endoscope to open the esophagus, stomach, and intestine, allowing the endoscope to be passed through these areas and improving the endoscopist' s ability to see completely. You may experience mild discomfort as air is pushed into the stomach and intestinal tract. This is not harmful; belching may relieve the sensation. The endoscope does not interfere with breathing. Taking slow, deep breaths just before and during the procedure may help you to relax.
RECOVERY FROM ENDOSCOPY — After the endoscopy, you will be observed for a period of time, generally less than one hour, while the sedative medication wears off. Some of the medicines commonly used cause some people to temporarily feel tired or have difficulty concentrating. You typically will be instructed not to drive and not to return to work for the balance of the day of the procedure.
The most common discomfort after the examination is a feeling of bloating as a result of the air introduced during the examination. This usually resolves quickly. Some patients also have a mild sore throat. Most patients are able to eat shortly after the examination.
ENDOSCOPY COMPLICATIONS — Upper endoscopy is a safe procedure and complications are rare. The following is a list of some possible complications:
●Aspiration (inhaling) of food or fluids into the lungs, the risk of which can be minimized by not eating or drinking for the recommended period of time before the examination.
●Reactions to the sedative medications are possible; the endoscopy team (doctors and nurses) will ask about previous medication allergies or reactions and about health problems such as heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease. Providing this information to the team ensures a safer examination.
●The medications may produce irritation in the vein at the site of the intravenous catheter. If redness, swelling, or discomfort occurs, you should call your endoscopist or primary care provider, or the number given to you at discharge.
●Bleeding can occur from biopsies or the removal of polyps, although if bleeding occurs, it is usually minimal and stops quickly on its own or can be easily controlled.
●The endoscope can cause a tear or hole in the area being examined. This is a serious complication but fortunately occurs extremely rarely.
The following signs and symptoms should be reported immediately:
●Severe abdominal pain (more than gas cramps)
●A firm, distended abdomen
●Vomiting
●Any temperature elevation
●Difficulty swallowing or severe throat pain
●A crunching feeling under the skin of the neck
AFTER UPPER ENDOSCOPY — Most patients tolerate endoscopy very well and feel fine afterwards. Some fatigue is common after the examination, and you should plan to take it easy and relax the rest of the day.
The endoscopist can describe the result of the examination before you leave the endoscopy facility. If biopsies have been taken or polyps removed, you should call for results at a time specified by the endoscopist, typically within one week.
Colonoscopy Overview
COLONOSCOPY OVERVIEW — A colonoscopy is an exam of the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract, which is called the colon or large intestine (bowel). Colonoscopy is a safe procedure that provides information other tests may not be able to give. Patients who require colonoscopy often have questions and concerns about the procedure.
Colonoscopy is performed by inserting a device called a colonoscope into the anus and advancing through the entire colon. The procedure generally takes between 20 minutes and one hour.
Other tests that are sometimes used to screen for colon cancer, like virtual colonoscopy (also called CT colonography),
More detailed information about colonoscopy is available by subscription..
REASONS FOR COLONOSCOPY — The most common reasons for colonoscopy are:
●To screen for colon polyps (growths of tissue in the colon) or colon cancer
●Rectal bleeding
●A change in bowel habits, like persistent diarrhea
●Iron deficiency anemia (a decrease in blood count due to loss of iron)
●A family history of colon cancer
●A personal history of colon polyps or colon cancer
●Chronic, unexplained abdominal or rectal pain
●An abnormal x-ray exam, like a barium enema or CT scan
COLONOSCOPY PREPARATION — Before colonoscopy, your colon must be completely cleaned out so that the doctor can see any abnormal areas. This is vitally important to increase the chances that your doctor will identify abnormalities in your colon. If your colon is not completely cleaned out, the chances your doctor will miss abnormalities increases. Your doctor's office will provide specific instructions about how you should prepare for your colonoscopy. Be sure to read these instructions as soon as you get them so you will know how to take the preparation and whether you need to make any changes to your medications or diet. If you have questions, call the doctor's office in advance.
You will need to avoid solid food for at least one day before the test. You should also drink plenty of clear fluids on the day before the test. You can drink clear liquids (a liquid you can hold up to the light and see through) up to several hours before your procedure, including:
●Water
●Clear broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
●Coffee or tea (without milk)
●Ices
●Gelatin such as Jell-O (avoid red gelatin)
Avoid drinking red liquids. Your doctor may also ask you to avoid high fiber foods including seeds and nuts for the week before the procedure.
To clean the colon, you will take a strong laxative and empty your bowels. You may be asked to take the entire preparation the night before the test, or you may be asked to take it in two doses, with the second dose taken four to six hours prior to the colonoscopy. Taking the preparation in two "split" doses may help get the colon even cleaner. This may require you to wake up early in the morning to complete the preparation. The instructions you are given will tell you how you should take the preparation.
A commonly used preparation is a 4-liter (1 gallon) solution that is purchased at the pharmacy with a prescription. There are several low-volume (2- to 3-liter) preparations on the market as well. Some doctors prefer citrate of magnesia (also called magnesium citrate), a 300 mL (10 ounce) bottle that requires no mixing and is over-the-counter. Packets of powdered laxative are available that are mixed with a smaller volume of water. Sodium phosphate-based preparations are now usually avoided due to concerns over safety.
Refrigerating the solution can make it easier to drink, but do not put ice in the solution since it will melt and you will have to drink even more fluid. Drinking the solution through a straw, adding sugar-free powdered flavor packets (ex. Crystal Light), and taking half the preparation the night before and the other half later (four to six hours before your colonoscopy) may also make it easier to drink. Drinking this solution may be the most unpleasant part of the exam. Watery diarrhea is the desired result. This may occur shortly after drinking the solution or may be delayed for several hours. The result should be diarrhea that looks like urine. If you become nauseated or vomit while drinking the solution, call your doctor or nurse for instructions. Tips that can help with nausea and vomiting include temporarily stopping drinking the solution, walking around, and resuming drinking at a slower pace.
Medicines — You can take most prescription and nonprescription medicines right up to the day of the colonoscopy. Your doctor should tell you what medicines to stop. You should also tell the doctor if you are allergic to any medicines.
Some medicines increase the risk of heavy bleeding if you have a polyp removed during the colonoscopy. Ask your doctor how and when to stop these medicines, including warfarin/Coumadin, Clopidogrel/Plavix, or any other anticoagulant (blood thinning) medicine. Do not stop these medications without first talking with your doctor.
Transportation home — Most patients are given a sedative (a medicine to help you relax) during the colonoscopy, so you will need someone to take you home after your test. Your doctor may prefer that an anesthesiologist administer the sedative and monitor you during the colonoscopy. Although you will be awake by the time you go home, the sedative/anesthetic medicines cause changes in reflexes and judgment that can interfere with your ability to make decisions, similar to the effect of alcohol. You will not be able to drive home or go back to work after the examination if you received sedation for the procedure. You should be able to return to work the next day.
WHAT TO EXPECT — Before the test, a doctor will review the procedure with you, including possible complications, and ask you to sign a consent form.
An IV line will be inserted in your hand or arm. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing will be monitored during the test.
THE COLONOSCOPY PROCEDURE — You will be given fluid and medicines through the IV line. With sedation/analgesia provided during the colonoscopy, many people sleep during the test, while others are very relaxed, comfortable, and generally not aware. Your doctor may request an anesthesiologist give you an anesthetic agent (for example, Propofol), which is a stronger sedative and will put you to sleep while you are being closely monitored.
The colonoscope is a long black flexible tube, approximately the diameter of the index finger. The doctor will gently pump air or carbon dioxide and sterile water or saline through the scope into the colon to inflate it and allow the doctor to see the entire lining. You might feel bloating or gas cramps as the air opens the colon. Try not to be embarrassed about passing this gas (it is just air), and let your doctor know if you are uncomfortable. You may feel like you have to go to the bathroom, which is a normal feeling during the procedure.
During the procedure, the doctor might take a biopsy (small pieces of tissue) or remove polyps. Polyps are growths of tissue that can range in size from the tip of a pen to several inches. Most polyps are benign (not cancerous). However, some polyps can become cancerous if allowed to grow for a long time. Having a polyp removed does not hurt.
RECOVERY FROM COLONOSCOPY — After the colonoscopy, you will be observed in a recovery area, usually for about 30 to 60 minutes until the effects of the sedative medication wear off. The most common complaint after colonoscopy is a feeling of bloating and gas cramps. You should pass gas and not feel embarrassed doing this either during or after the procedure. This will relieve your feelings of bloating and cramping. You may also feel groggy from the sedation medications. You should not return to work, drive, or drink alcohol that day. Most people are able to eat normally after the test. Ask your doctor when it is safe to restart aspirin and other blood-thinning medications.
COLONOSCOPY COMPLICATIONS — Colonoscopy is a safe procedure, and complications are rare but can occur:
●Bleeding can occur from biopsies or the removal of polyps, but it is usually minimal and can be controlled.
●The colonoscope can cause a tear or hole in the colon. This is a serious problem that sometimes requires surgery to repair, but it does not happen commonly.
●It is possible to have side effects from the sedative medicines like nausea or vomiting.
●Although colonoscopy is the best test to examine the colon, it is possible for even the most skilled doctors to miss or overlook an abnormal area in the colon.
You should call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:
●Severe abdominal pain (not just gas cramps)
●A firm, bloated abdomen
●Fever
●Rectal bleeding (greater than a couple of tablespoons [30 mL])
AFTER COLONOSCOPY — Although many people worry about being uncomfortable during a colonoscopy, most people tolerate it very well and feel fine afterward. It is normal to feel tired afterward. Plan to take it easy and relax the rest of the day.
Your doctor can describe the results of the colonoscopy as soon as it is over. If s/he took biopsies or removed polyps, you should call for results within one to two weeks if your doctor has not already contacted you.
BOLD Proposal for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
By publisher | October 29, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment
Please click on the below link to view the Physician fee schedule.
Updated Guidelines From GI Societies
By publisher | September 29, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment
Updated ACS guidelines on colorectal cancer screening (May 2018)
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has updated its colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines [2]. On the basis of an apparent increase in the incidence of CRC in younger adults, the ACS guidelines now make a "qualified" recommendation to begin screening persons at average risk for CRC at age 45 years, with a strong recommendation to screen at age 50 years and above. The guidelines also now offer six testing options to select among: colonoscopy every 10 years, computed tomographic colonography (CTC) every five years, sigmoidoscopy every five years, take-home high-sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing yearly, take-home fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) yearly, and multitargeted stool-DNA test every three years, noting that any positive result on a non-colonoscopy test should be followed up with timely colonoscopy. In including more tests, rather than prioritizing tests that could detect both polyps and cancer, the ACS notes that screening with a test acceptable to the patient is preferable to the patient declining screening. For average-risk patients, and in keeping with most guidelines, we continue to initiate screening starting at age 50 years. We prefer colonoscopy when possible, and FIT or CTC if the patient cannot or will not have colonoscopy.
Hemostatic nanopowder approved for use in gastrointestinal bleeding (July 2018)
Hemostatic nanopowder can be used to treat bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract due to lesions such as ulcers and tumors. It is sprayed onto a bleeding site under endoscopic guidance and forms a stable mechanical barrier at the site of bleeding. In prior reports, success rates for achieving initial hemostasis in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding are 75 to 100 percent, with rebleeding rates of 10 to 49 percent. In May 2018, Hemospray, a hemostatic nanopowder, was approved as a device by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [5]. The data submitted to the FDA showed hemostasis on index endoscopy in 97.8 percent of 750 patients, with an overall rebleeding rate of 10.2 percent [6]. In patients with bleeding peptic ulcers, hemostatic sprays may be particularly helpful when a temporizing measure is needed to stabilize a patient pending definitive therapy or when traditional endoscopic techniques fail to control massive bleeding.
Revised diagnostic criteria for eosinophilic esophagitis (July 2018)
The 2018 Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) conference has published new consensus criteria for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis [7]. The diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis requires symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, at least 15 eosinophils per high-power field on esophageal biopsy, and exclusion of other causes that may be responsible for or contributing to symptoms and esophageal eosinophilia. In contrast to prior guidelines, persistence of mucosal eosinophilia in the esophagus after two months of treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is no longer a diagnostic criterion for eosinophilic esophagitis. The rationale for exclusion of a PPI trial is that patients with eosinophilic esophagitis who are PPI-responsive do not appear to be clinically distinct from patients who are not PPI-responsive, and their management should not differ.
AGA guidelines on acute pancreatitis (April 2018)
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) updated its guidelines on the management of acute pancreatitis [14]. They recommend goal-directed therapy for fluid management and advise against the use of hydroxyethyl starch-containing fluids. Prophylactic antibiotics should also be avoided. The guidelines also recommend early oral feeding and the use of enteral feeding rather than parenteral nutrition in patients who are unable to tolerate an oral diet.
Clinical Updates
Obesity, type 2 diabetes tied to jump in NAFLD cases
At the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians. Younossi and other researchers conducted a meta-analysis of studies in 20 countries, which was published in Hepatology Communications and found that the global prevalence of NAFLD is 24%, but nearly 75% of patients with the disease are obese, and 58% of people with diabetes also have NAFLD.
Study: Insect consumption may improve gut inflammation
Research suggests that eating crickets may improve inflammation in the gut and its overall health, according to a study led by Valerie Stull, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The investigators looked at whether cricket consumption was tolerable and safe and changed markers of inflammation or lipid metabolism, and they assessed whether insect fibers such as chitin — the chief component of a cricket's exoskeleton — could work as prebiotics.
Report: Medicaid could save over $4.8B with fully electronic transactions
Medicaid could save over $4.8 billion per year if all of the program's claims processes were to become fully electronic, according to a report from the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare. The move could save payers $6.84 per transaction, the report estimates.
CDC looks at patient health data exchanged by physicians
CDC researchers found that referrals, laboratory results and medication lists were the most common types of patient health information sent by office-based physicians, while they most often received lab results, imaging reports and medication lists. The findings in National Health Statistics Reports, based on 2015 National Electronic Health Records Survey data, also showed that lab results were the most commonly electronically integrated data, while medication lists were the most commonly searched data in the EHR.
Using analytics to incentivize value-based health care
Value-based care encourages medical professionals to prioritize outcomes and efficiency with preventative health care, but the strategy can be difficult to incentivize for health professionals. Analytics could help solve this problem by collecting patient data, indicating where there are gaps in the patient's care and creating priority and outreach lists, says Jennifer Carney of Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization.
Health data access remains a challenge for patients
Patient access to health records remains a challenge, with a survey finding that 63% of Americans are unaware of where their health care data is stored or who has access to it. The CMS has launched the MyHealthEData Initiative for Medicaid and Medicare's EHR programs, and the agency has started using Medicare Blue Button 2.0, a new software protocol for developers.
Compiled By Tarun Kothari MD
IBS and 5 Things to Know
By publisher | August 22, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment
IBS—From Symptom to Disease: Five Things to Know
In a recent Healio Gastronenterology article, Dr. William Chey, of the University of Michigan, explained the challenges of IBS and why we need to create a future in which we can identify an effective solution for some IBS patients that is based on a more personalized medicine approach.
Dr. Chey points out that IBS is a symptom-based condition defined by the presence of abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
"The clinical phenotype can be quite diverse so while all patients have pain, some patients can have problems with diarrhea, others can have problems with constipation, and still others can have a mixture of both constipation- and diarrhea-related features," he said in the article.
IBS—being a symptom-based condition—isn't one disease, according to Dr. Chey. "It's likely several different diseases that happen to present with the same symptoms. Yet, given our current understanding and a lack of validated biomarkers, we cannot parse IBS patients on the basis of pathophysiological abnormalities. Instead, we rely upon symptoms to establish a diagnosis and choose a treatment. "
Dr. Chey's Five Things to Know about IBS:
IBS is currently a condition defined by characteristic symptoms of pain and abnormal bowel habits.
There are many potential causes for IBS symptoms—IBS isn't one disease—it's likely a number of diseases which happen to present with the same symptoms.
Most tests are done to RULE OUT diseases like colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease that can mimic the symptoms of IBS.
Researchers are developing tests to RULE IN IBS, but they are in their infancy at the present.
The future will pair symptom based criteria like the Rome IV criteria with tests that help a doctor to understand the cause for a patient's IBS symptoms and, in that way, choose the right therapy for a specific patient.
More about IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of bowel function (as opposed to being due to an anatomic abnormality). Patients who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome have changes in bowel habits such as constipation or diarrhea, and abdominal pain along with other symptoms including abdominal bloating, and rectal urgency with diarrhea. In addition, IBS may be associated with a number of non-intestinal ("extra intestinal symptoms"), such as difficulty with sexual function (pain on intercourse or lack of libido), muscle aches and pains, fatigue, fibromyalgia syndrome, headaches, back pain, and sometimes urinary symptoms including urinary urgency, urinary hesitation or a feeling of spasm in the bladder.
In the United States, it is estimated that 10-15 percent of the adult population suffers from IBS symptoms, yet only 5 to 7 percent of adults have been diagnosed with the condition. IBS is the most common condition diagnosed by gastroenterologists and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.
The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not known. However, tremendous advances in our understanding of this common and disabling disorder have been made in the last 10 years. Abnormal motility in terms of the bowel moving too fast (which causes diarrhea) or too slow (which causes constipation) is certainly part of this syndrome. However, this represents only one part of a complicated disorder. The symptoms of pain, incomplete emptying of the bowels, and bloating cannot be explained only by abnormal gut GI motility. Over the last 20 years a number of very well done scientific studies have demonstrated that individuals with IBS tend to have higher levels of sensitivity in the intestines compared to individuals who do not have IBS.
Source: The American College of Gastroenterology
Public Health Survey
By publisher | June 28, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment
Public health survey:
From: Common Ground Health <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 10:05 AM
Subject: Please participate to improve community health
Common Ground Health, working in partnership with the public health directors in each of our nine Finger Lakes counties,* is conducting an important health survey. I am writing to ask for your help.
We are gathering health stories from as many residents of our region as possible in order to learn more about our region's health-related needs and help our county health departments develop strategies for addressing public health priorities. Please tell us your story through the survey below and then share the link with family, friends and colleagues. The survey will take 15 to 20 minutes of your time.
You can complete the survey anonymously, or enter your name and email for a chance to win a $500 gift card to a local supermarket or gas station. **
To begin the survey in English, click here: MyHealthStory2018.com. For Spanish, follow this link: MiHistoriadeSalud2018.com.
I can't thank you enough,
Trilby de Jung
Feel free to re post or forward this to your friends.
Low Vitamin D Levels May Raise Bowel Cancer Risk
In the largest study of its kind, low levels of vitamin D are linked with a significant increase in colorectal cancer risk. Conversely, higher levels appear to offer protection.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin after contact with sunlight, as well as absorbed in our guts from several dietary sources — including fortified foods and fatty fish.
Its primary role was long considered to be bone maintenance. But, as researchers dig deeper, vitamin D's sphere of influence widens.
For instance, vitamin D deficiency has now been linked to Parkinson's, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, among many other conditions.
Scientists have also investigated its influence on the progression of cancer.
Vitamin D and Bowel Cancer
Recently, researchers from a host of organizations, including the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta, GA, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, and the United States National Cancer Institute in Rockville, MD, combined forces to investigate vitamin D's role in colorectal cancer risk.
Aside from skin cancers, colorectal cancer — which is also called bowel cancer — is the third most common cancer in the U.S. It is expected to claim more than 50,000 lives in 2018.
Understanding what factors play a role in its development is crucial. And, if vitamin D is involved, it might form the basis of a simple and cost-effective intervention.
Some previous studies have found a link between vitamin D deficiency and colorectal cancer, but others have not. This new, large-scale effort was designed to iron out the creases and present more concrete evidence.
The researchers' findings were published recently in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Co-senior study author Stephanie Smith-Warner, Ph.D. — an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health — says, "To address inconsistencies in prior studies on vitamin D and to investigate associations in population subgroups, we analyzed participant-level data, collected before colorectal cancer diagnosis, from 17 prospective cohorts and used standardized criteria across the studies."
In all, the team used data from studies conducted on three continents that included 5,700 cases of colorectal cancer and 7,100 controls.
Previously, researchers found it difficult to pool data from different studies because of the variety of ways that vitamin D was measured. These researchers calibrated the existing measurements so that a direct comparison could be made between multiple trials in a meaningful way.
Vitamin D's influence on cancer
The researchers compared each individual's vitamin D levels with the current National Academy of Medicine recommendations for bone health.
People who had vitamin D levels below the current guidelines had a 31 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer during the follow-up — an average of 5.5 years. Those with vitamin D above the recommended levels had a 22 percent reduction in risk. The link was stronger in women than in men.
These relationships remained significant even once the team had adjusted the data to account for other factors that are known to increase colorectal cancer risk.
But, it is worth noting that the reduced risk did not become more pronounced in the people with the highest levels of vitamin D in their system.
"Currently," notes co-first study author Marji L. McCullough, "health agencies do not recommend vitamin D for the prevention of colorectal cancer."
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April 3, 2019 January 29, 2020 huntercollegeart News and Events, Uncategorized
Alvin Lucier, "The Queen of the South" and Ron Kuivila, "Sparkline, with acceleration" – April 5, 7pm
Alvin Lucier, The Queen of the South
and Ron Kuivila, Sparkline, with acceleration
The Artists' Institute
April 5, 7pm
Alvin Lucier, The Queen of the South (1972)
Drawing on the experiments of 18th century physicist and musician Ernst Chladni and 20th century physician Hans Jenny, Alvin Lucier's The Queen of the South attempts a direct visualization of sonic vibration. In 1787, Chladni drew a violin bow along the edge of a brass plate sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. The vibrating surface bounced the granules into symmetrical forms—stars, waves, grids, and labyrinths—he termed "sound figures." Nearly two centuries later, Jenny published the book Cymatics, which further explored and photographically documented the effects of sound vibrations on various substances. Lucier's score calls for performers to sing, speak, or play electronic or acoustical instruments to activate responsive surfaces strewn with fine materials in order to make visible the effects of sound. The title is drawn from a figure in alchemy, which attempts the transmutation of one substance into another. The Queen of the South will be performed by Ron Kuivila.
Ron Kuivila, Sparkline, with acceleration (2003)
A spark is the visual analogue of a sound: it appears briefly and then disappears, leaving a trace in the memory. Curiously, the sound of a spark has no "body." Instead of vibrating (pushing and pulling the air), it literally tears the air via a flow of electrons. For Sparkline, with acceleration, Kuivila records sparks as they jump across parallel wires and then plays back these sounds at a slowly increasing rate. Initially sounding five octaves below, the sound of the spark gradually accelerates until it is several octaves higher than the initial sound and stops.
This event is free, but advance registration is required and space is limited. Please RSVP here.
Performance: shawné michaelain holloway – March 28, 7pm
Raúl de Nieves, MFASO Lecture – April 10, 7pm |
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of flyash filled thermoplastic blends which comprises heating a thermoplastic polymer to its melting temperature, adding flyash powder to the said melted thermoplastic polymer under constant stirring followed by adding a second thermoplastic polymer to the mix under constant stirring to obtain a flyash filled thermoplastic blend. The thermoplastic blend is used for the preparation of tubes , pipes, tiles , doors ,window shutter , boxes and building materials.
This invention relates to a process for the preparation of flyash filled thermoplastic blend.
This invention particularly relates to making of thermoplastic/ thermoplastic blend compositions with Fly ash by melt blending of incompatible, non-interacting polymers into homogenous mixture. Homogeneously Fly ash mixed polymer blends can be used for moulding to make utility items Such as tubes, profiles, pipes, tiles, doors, window shutters, roofing elements, containers, boxes, building materials and insulation items. These Fly ash particles are fine and have better thermal conductivity as compared to polymers. Addition of these Fly ash particles, increases the thermal conductivity of the system and reduces the rate of crystallization. Since polymers possess very low thermal conductivity, temperature of mixture remains non-uniform, Which leads to the change in viscosity and stresses due to uneven temperature.
Fillers on thermoplastics are added to reduce the cost and to improve the dimensional stability, thermal stability and dielectrical strengths.
Several mineral particles such as red mud, calcium carbonate, talc, silica, and metal powders have been added to polymers in the past.
toughness, barrier properties, electric properties, easy processing etc. in the resulting polymer mixture. Mixing of fillers and melt blending of polymers is carried out either by using extruder, kneader, banbury mixer or by two roll mixing mill at elevated temperature. For making utility items mentioned above filled polymers/ filled blends are moulded in a mould at high temperature and then cooled.
Reference may be made to A. Tager, Physical Chemistry of Polymers, Mir Publishers, Moscow 1978.
to first one Higher melting point polymer crystallizes at a temperature above the melting temperature of second polymer and in this process segregation of one polymer gains momentum. This phenomenon leads to exclude the second polymer and then creates non-homogeneity among the polymer blends. Reference may be made to N. Chand, S.A.R. Hashmi and S. Vashishtha, Research and Industry, 40, 193, 1995. Phenomenon is most important and occurs in most of the cases.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a process for the preparation of flyash filled thermoplastic/thermoplastic blends.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of flyash filled thermoplastic blends which comprises heating a thermoplastic polymer to its melting temperature, adding flyash powder of the particle size 5-400 microns to the said melted thermoplastic polymer in a ratio ranging from 5.3:1 to 8:1 under constant stirring followed by adding a second thermoplastic polymer to the mixture of said thermoplastic polymer and flyash under constant stirring to obtain a homogeneous flyash filled thermoplastic blend composition of the tensile strength ranging from 15.469-21.75 mpa .
In an embodiment of the present invention the thermoplastic polymer used is such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, poly-carbonate, polyamides and crystalline polymers or mixtures thereof.
In another embodiment of the present invention the ratio of two thermoplastic polymers used for blending ranges from 1-95% by weight.
The particle size of the flyash powder used may be in the range of 5 to 400 micron meter.
The present invention provides new homogeneous thermoplastic/ thermoplastic filled fly ash based compositions prepared by melt blending of polymers into homogenous mixture which comprises heating of the polymer to its softening (melting) temperature, adding flyash filler particles to improve the uniformity in the mixture. Additions of the second polymer, is then done until a uniform composition is obtained.
until a homogenous mix is obtained.
Crystallization of one polymer excludes the other polymer if crystallization temperatures are different. Addition of Fly ash particles will reduce the rate of crystallization by creating several number of nucleating points. This will stop formation of big crystals. Thermal conductivity is improved and temperature remains uniform in the mixture. Thus the possibility of phase separation or formation of big domain reduces.
The invention is described with the help of the following examples which should not therefore be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
160 gms. of polypropylene granules were heated at 165°C on a two roll mill for 10 minutes, when temperature of granules reach to the melting point of polypropylene, the rotation of roll mill is started. Gap between two rolls and differential speed of rolls is adjusted so that maximum shear force is applied to polypropylene granules. When whole mass is in semi molten form, 20 gms. fly ash particles of diameter less than 45 micrometer were added. Mixing was continued for 5 minutes to get a homogeneous material. At this stage LDPE was added into PP/Fly ash mixture. The mixing on two roll mill was continued for ten minutes. Resultant mass i.e. PP/LDPE/Fly ash was removed from mixing mill. This was a homogeneous material which can be moulded easily. Tensile strength of this composition was 21.75 MPa.
a homogeneous material which can be moulded easily. Tensile strength of this composition was 15.469 MPA.
strength ranging from 15.469-21.75 MPa .
polymers used for blending ranges from 1-95% by weight.
added ranges from 1-95% of the total polymer.
1 NAVIN CHAND REGIONAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (CSIR) HOSHNGABAD ROAD, BHOPAL INDIA.
2 S. VASHISHTHA REGIONAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (CSIR) HOSHNGABAD ROAD, BHOPAL INDIA. |
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola led tens of thousands of demonstrators at a rally in the city in support of the bid for the Catalonia independence referendum. The revered former manager of Barcelona's football club told the gathered crowd he would be voting for independence on October 1 'even if the Spanish state doesn't want it'.
Carles Puigdemont, leader of Catalonia's regional government, defied Madrid on Friday by setting a date for a binding vote even though the referendum has been ruled illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court. Guardiola said: 'We will vote, even if the Spanish state doesn't want it,' Guardiola told the crowd speaking in Catalan, Spanish and English. 'There is no other way -the only possible response is to vote,' he added.
As Puigdemont looked on, Guardiola also spoke calling for the international community's support against 'the abuses of an authoritarian state'. While Barcelona authorities estimated the turnout at around 30,000 people, a separatist source put the figure at 47,000. 'I think independence is the only solution,' Ramon Fon, a retired 67-year-old at the rally, said. 'I want the referendum as a first step, and if the majority shares my opinion, then to win independence,' he said with the starred flag of Catalonia draped across his shoulders.
The latest regional government poll found that 73 percent of Catalans were in favour of holding a referendum similar to the one held by Scotland in 2014 - though that one had the approval of the British government. But the same poll found that 48.5 percent of respondents opposed independence, with 44.3 percent in favour.
In 2014, Catalonia held a non-binding vote in which more than 80 percent of those who cast a ballot chose independence, though just 2.3 million out of 6.3 million eligible voters took part.
But the Spanish government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has vowed to be just as tough this time around as it was in the 2014 vote called by Catalonia's regional president at the time, Arturo Mas, despite it being outlawed by the Constitutional Court. Mas was later put on trial and banned from holding office for two years.
In February, the Constitutional Court ruled against the latest planned referendum and warned Catalan leaders they would face repercussions if they continued with their project. Spain has a variety of measures available to halt Catalonia's vote, including suspending Puigdemont for disobedience and even taking control of the regional government.
In a bid to circumvent such action, the regional government has drafted a law seeking to extract Catalonia from Spain's legal system.
It is expected to present the bill in the next few weeks to the regional parliament, where pro-independence lawmakers have an absolute majority. But this too will probably be suspended by the Constitutional Court.
The proposal for the wealthy region to become a breakaway republic sets the stage for months of confrontation with the central government which says such a vote is illegal and must not take place.
Previous secessionist challenges in Catalonia, a populous wealthy region whose capital is Barcelona and which has its own language, were blocked by Spain's conservative government and the Constitutional Court.
'The question will be: 'Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic', Carles Puigdemont, president of the government of Catalonia, said. He said attempts to agree a date and the wording of the question with the Madrid government, which is vehemently opposed to allowing Catalonia to split from Spain, failed and left him with no other choice than moving unilaterally.
'We have always made very diverse offers and all of them have been rejected without any exception,' Puigdemont said. Pro-independence campaigners staged a symbolic ballot, organised by volunteers rather than government officials to get around court restrictions, in 2014, months after Scots voted to stay in the United Kingdom. Some two million people voted in favour of secession in that non-binding ballot, though turnaround was relatively low.
It is not clear how far the legal wrangling may go this time as the Catalan regional government has said it would throw all its weight behind the vote.
Under Article 155 of Spain's constitution, Madrid has the power to intervene directly in the running of Catalonia's regional government, forcing it to drop the vote. This could involve sending in the police or suspending the regional government's authority to rule.
This is widely seen as a last resort move, however, and many analysts believe the clash will instead culminate in regional elections in Catalonia. |
Steinkuhler Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
Matt Lothrop
University of Nebraska defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler was honored Monday, as one of 42 players named to the initial Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.
A two-year starter for the Blackshirts, Steinkuhler started all 13 games for Nebraska in 2011, totaling 40 tackles, including a pair of sacks from his defensive tackle spot. The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder has started 26 games for the Huskers over the past two seasons, earning honorable-mention all-conference recognition in both 2010 (Big 12) and 2011 (Big Ten).
Steinkuhler is one of nine nominees from the Big Ten, which leads all conferences. The 2012 winner will be announced on Dec. 9 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
Man arrested months after peeping through bedroom window, Lincoln Police say
Nebraska baseball unveils new home uniforms |
Clarksville, Ark.-The men's tennis team clinched the No. 2 seed out of the East Division in the American Southwest Conference Tournament with a 6-3 victory over East Texas Baptist University Saturday.
It is the second straight season the Eagles (10-4, 3-1 ASC) have qualified for the playoffs. Against ETBU (2-8, 0-2 ASC), the Eagles powered past the Tigers at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Todd Turner and Bishop Bass took an easy 8-1 victory at No. 1. Corey Dillard and Jacob Organ won 8-6 at No. 3. Turner and Bass won at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Dillard won at No. 4 and Trevor Scott won at No. 5.
The ASC Tournament will be held in Tyler, Texas, on the campus of UT-Tyler April 23-25.
Ozarks will play one more non-conference match before heading to Tyler for the tournament. Ozarks will face Trinity University April 18 in Tyler. |
Q: For each key get only a number of values Let's say I have a Product object with the following attributes:
Name, Code, ClientId
I want to write a job which takes only 3 products for each ClientId.
Can I achieve this?
Example: I have the following products:
P1,1,1
P2,2,1
P3,3,1
P4,4,1
P5,5,1
P6,6,2
P7,7,2
P8,8,2
P9,9,2
So i want to get 3 products for each ClientId and my desired result is:
P1,1,1
P2,2,1
P3,3,1
P6,6,2
P7,7,2
P8,8,2
A: Let's say your Product is modeled as a case class and the product list is a RDD, you can group by ClientId to create a Map and take 3 per group from the grouped Map values:
case class Prod(Name: String, Code: Long, ClientId: Long)
val rdd = sc.parallelize(Seq(
Prod("P1", 1, 1), Prod("P2", 2, 1), Prod("P3", 3, 1), Prod("P4", 4, 1), Prod("P5", 5, 1),
Prod("P6", 6, 2), Prod("P7", 7, 2), Prod("P8", 8, 2), Prod("P9", 9, 2)
))
rdd.groupBy(_.ClientId).flatMap(_._2.take(3)).collect
// res1: Array[Prod] = Array(
// Prod(P1,1,1), Prod(P2,2,1), Prod(P3,3,1), Prod(P6,6,2), Prod(P7,7,2), Prod(P8,8,2)
// )
A: You can try like this.
val rd1 = sc.textFile(path2) // your sample data created as RDD
.map(x => x.split(",")).map(x => (x(0),x(1),x(2)))
.groupBy(x=> x._3) // grouping based on **ClientId**
rd1.foreach(x => println((x._1,x._2.take(3)))) // here you can give some number X in take method to get X records of that key
Output:
(1,List((P1,1,1), (P2,2,1), (P3,3,1)))
(2,List((P6,6,2), (P7,7,2), (P8,8,2)))
|
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They are worth having a deal with. Support answers pretty quickly. |
Stade Rivière Salée is a football stadium located in Noumea, New Caledonia. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000. It hosts the home games of a number of local football teams, including AS Kirikitr, as well as serving as a host venue for the 2011 Pacific Games men's football tournament. The stadium hosted every Group "A" match at this tournament from 27 August 2011 to 5 September 2011. In hosting Group "A" matches, the Stade Rivière Salée held the games of American Samoa, Guam, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
This page was last edited on 30 May 2018, at 04:10 (UTC). |
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SOHO'19
What´s that? About freedom of expression and the struggles around it.
"I believe in fight, I believe human beings learn from confrontation, from discussion, from struggle. Education means exchanging perspectives. When we discuss about prejudices, ideas, values, politics, with other people, we learn. That's the point."
Freedom of expression and assembly, cornerstones of a democracy
When voices are heard that are "fed up" with democracy because diversity and freedom of expression of the "wrong" people are annoying, they want to split society and determine who is on the "right" side and in the "right" garb.
Which kind of democracy is meant, when we talk about it? Is it free consumption? Free travel for free citizens? Freedom of art?
One of the most important foundations in a democracy is the freedom of expression and assembly. In Austria, freedom of expression is enshrined in the Constitution.
It is also an important part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in which is stated: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
Free exchange of opinions and thought among citizens can only take place with the support of a critical free media. But what does freedom in the media landscape mean, how is information processed and who can be reached? Is our opinion still free in a world of online media and online networks where algorithms determine which media reaches us directly?
Currently, Democracy is often undermined and interpreted in terms of nation-state interest through tricky manipulation of political demagogues.
Not to lose vigilance requires not only a critical media landscape, but also confrontation with people who think differently, for example in debates. Why is that important? Listening to, comprehending and debating complex issues is one way to consider multiple perspectives, which are always related to different realities of life.
This keeps democracy vibrant and alive. Without it, voices fall silent or they are being silenced. A fundamental affirmation of diversity and tolerance of those who think differently are lost.
In whatever context people live, a society needs a we-feeling. This sense of being, however, can also be manipulated on an emotional level so that half-truths, misinformation, hate messages are constructed and creepingly accepted. To imagine other worlds and to consider them is just as important as seeing your own interests represented.
A look beyond the national borders helps shape new perspectives. The basic idea of a united Europe of peace and stability must be strengthened so that the process of dangerous nationalistic interpretations of democracy and the withdrawal of common values of the Human Rights Conventions are not undermined.
Now, who can participate in shaping the future? The answer might be that strong civil participation and democratic awareness be intensified and promoted at all levels, through outreach at the micro level in particular.
Program in detail
20 years of SOHO in Ottakring:
Jubilee party & anniversary celebration, 04.10.19
18:00 Book launch:
SOHO in Ottakring 2008 – 2018:
"Unsicheres Terrain" / "Destabilized Ground"
(Ed.: Ula Schneider, Wolfgang Schneider, Beatrix Zobl; Verlag der Provinz, ca. 264 pages)
19:00 Performance by Julischka Stengele
20:15 Harri Stoyka
20:30 Esrap (requested)
21:45 Joshua Korn
22:30/23:00 -2:00 DJ Chilo Eribenne
Gallery "Die Schöne", Kuffnergasse 7, 1160 Viena
Free opinion in times of populism
Exhibition on art and freedom of expression
Artists: Karolina Breguła, Miklós Erhardt, Lena Lapschina, Hansel Sato
Opening: October 8/ 2019
Exhibition duration: October 9 – 27/ 2019
Venue: Old Cinema at Sandleitenhof, Liebknechtgasse 32, 1160 Vienna
Collaborating partners: IKL – Institute for Artistic Teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts
In neighboring Central European countries, such as Hungary and Poland, freedom of expression and critical media reporting are severely limited through conservative, authoritarian governments. Diversity of opinion, political participation and transparency constitute a threat to their power.
Taking into account historical circumstances and the importance of membership in the European Union, Miklós Erhardt, artist from Hungary and Karolina Breguła from Poland are invited to participate in the exhibition with works of art on freedom of artistic expression. The international positions are juxtaposed with works of art by the two artists Lena Lapschina and Hansel Sato who lives in Austria.
The aim of the exhibition is to visualize the situations in Hungary and Poland out of a perspective of those affected, to encourage a reflection and to explore the dangers and effects of limited freedom of expression in the Austrian context.
Karolina Breguła is an artist in the fields of film, video, photography, installation and happening. She studied at the Film School in Łódź, where she graduated in 2015. Her work examines the problems of the status of the artwork, the materiality of art objects and their functioning within the institutional framework. The artist questions the reception of contemporary art and undermines official art narratives, also questions their hermetic language and opens up new interpretations. Breguła encourages viewers to take an active part in the process, to interact and to challenge the established modes of reception. The artist investigates the problem of the social role of art and the myths that revolve around it. Despite her knowledge of limitation, Breguła tries to get art out of the showroom. Her films inhabit the areas of contemporary art and cinema – they are shown both in art galleries and at film festivals. She lives and works in Warsaw.
The artist Miklós Erhardt (born 1966,) explores in his works by means of interventionist and documentary methods artistic possibilities of action in relation to socio-political and economic issues. He is particularly interested in personal stories and experiences. He lives in Budapest.
Lena Lapschina, born in Kurgan, Siberia, graduated from the Stroganov State University of Visual and Applied Arts in Moscow. Lapschina's work traverses various disciplines such as video, sculpture and installation and shows a strong inclination towards public / semi-public places and their mutual influence in private areas. She lives in Vienna and Lower Austria
Hansel Sato (Peru / Austria) is a visual artist and cultural mediator. His artistic work encompasses representational painting, comics, drawing and public art interventions in the context of postcolonial theories. Since 2013 he has been part of the SOHO team in Ottakring and senior lecturer at the Institut for Artistic Teaching (IKL) of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He lives in Vienna.
CVs and artworks:
Karolina Bregula:
>> CV Karolina Breguła
© Karolina Bregula
Miklós Erhardt:
>> CV Miklós Erhardt
© Miklós Erhardt
Lena Lapschina:
>> CV Lena Lapschina
© Lena Lapschina
Hansel Sato:
>> CV Hansel Sato
© Hansel Sato
Accompanying program as part of the exhibition
• Mediation
In collaboration with the IKL – Institute for Artistic Teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts, a mediation format is developed for different age groups. In addition, the participating artists are invited to present their work in conversations in the context of the main topic.
• Debate
SOHO in Ottakring would like to take up the tradition of debates, a well-known format from the Anglo-Saxon area. Debates promote intellectual diversity and are often shown in the UK in front of a large audience. The core aspect of a debate is the confrontation of two or more guests in each case, mostly public figures who represent contrary opinions on a topic.
The format of a moderated debate should focus on an engagement with the active participation of the audience. The goal is to break with a discussion format in the sense of "preaching to the converted" and "fuel" a discourse through controversy.
Debate 1: What significance does free opinion have in today's society?
Guests: will be announced
Moderation: Michael Kerbler, Kombinat3
Freedom of the media is much discussed in today's democratic societies. In times of overflowing information, critical media find it difficult to reach a broader audience as a source for reflective opinion making.
Information, e.g. on the Internet, is often constructed as "facts" for groups of people with particular interests and also used in politics manipulatively. Self-proclaimed journalists have little responsibility for what they distribute. In addition, "hate posts" spread fear and frustration. The influence of populist media in the yellow press spreads common prejudices on a daily basis. Sexism, racism, homophobia are often propagated as part of normal daily life. Last but not least, these developments are driving forward a division of society.
What different strategies are needed to ensure that freedom of opinion and thus a just democratic society are not undermined in the context of manipulated information? How can pressure be put on politics to fulfill this responsibility through comprehensive education and better educational opportunities?
• "Freedom of Expression" and "Hate Speech" – a search in urban democracy
with Danila Mayer
Based on the European project FreeEx, Danila Mayer investigates where and how in today's Viennese society opinions, positions, emotional worlds pass each other or meet one another, where they are being negotiated 'live' and how this is happens. – She refers to the term 'arena' in the anthropology of Victor Turner.
Danila Mayer holds a doctorate in social sciences and is a member of "The World of NGOs". She has researched numerous topics in Vienna and participated in artistic and social projects. Her interest in high-cultural institutions of the Republic of Austria connects her with the practice of diversity and commitment to marginalized groups.
"Free Speech – Fear Free"
Film by Tarquin Ramsay | Great Britain 2016 | 80 min.
In collaboration with ethnocineca – International Documentary Film Festival Vienna
A discussion will be held after the film screening.
Tarquin Ramsay is only 15 years old when he starts his project on freedom of speech. The adolescent deals with the question of whether there can be a functioning society without freedom of expression and whether the right to freedom of expression is not inseparably interwoven with the quality of our humanity. Ramsay's project is taking on ever bigger waves, and the circle of those who are facing the camera for the aspiring filmmaker is becoming ever more prominent. Five years later, Tarquin Ramsay's collected materials became a full-length feature film.
The film includes interviews with hackers, philosophers, and privacy and anti-surveillance activists such as Jacob Appelbaum and Julian Assange, he analyzes freedom of expression in different countries and reflects on what life would be without this human right.
http://www.freespeechfearfree.com/
Chamber of Wonder 2.0, Autumn ´19
A participatory project in and around the urban district "Sandleiten"
A project of the "Production Collective Vienna"
Venue: SOHO-Project studio, Rosa-Luxemburg-Gasse 9, 1160 Viena
Main Subject: "What's up: On free speech and struggles around it"
Graphics and Fotocredit: Caterina Krüger
To download the press pictures:
Please click once on a picture – it opens an extra window. Click on the right mouse button and click on the field "Save graphic as …". If you have further questions, please contact [email protected]
by DasSohoTeam
© Copyright SoHo in Ottakring 2019
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US Navy, Northrop conduct nine flight trials of MQ-4C Triton UAS
6 January 2014 (Last Updated January 6th, 2014 18:30)
The US Navy and Northrop Grumman have successfully completed nine initial flight tests of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at Northrop's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, California, US, as part of the envelope expansion process.
The expansion programme aims to demonstrate the ability of the aircraft to operate at a range of altitudes, speeds and weights.
Northrop Grumman Triton programme director, Mike Mackey, said that the envelope expansion completion will enable the test team to prepare for installation and further testing of Triton's surveillance sensors.
To date, the Triton test team has achieved flights up to 9.4-hours at altitudes up to 50,000ft, while the aircraft conducted doublets, a manoeuvre designed to validate ability of the aircraft to recover from small perturbations in its flight path caused by turbulence.
Featuring a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensor payloads, the Triton aircraft enables military commanders to gather high-resolution imagery, use radar to detect targets as well as provide airborne communications and information-sharing capabilities to military units across long distances.
"The high-altitude, long-endurance UAS can cruise at a maximum speed of 357mph."
The MQ-4C Triton programme is managed by the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Programme Office (PMA-262).
In addition to providing real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions, the Northrop-built MQ-4C UAS will support missions including battle damage assessment, maritime interdiction, anti-surface warfare, battle-space management and targeting missions for the navy.
Powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3007H turbofan engine, the high-altitude, long-endurance UAS can cruise at a maximum speed of 357mph.
The US Navy is planning to deploy 68 Triton UAS with the manned P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to carry out surveillance missions.
Image: a Northrop-built MQ-4C Triton UAS during its flight. Photo: courtesy of Alan Radecki.
Degaussing Systems, Magnetic and Acoustic Sweep System
Pompe Garbarino
Naval Centrifugal and Positive Displacement Pumps
12thLevel
Information Management Software for the Defence Sector |
And this serves us, so that we can ripen into new ways of doing what we do that are a truer reflection of what it is we naturally bring, which will make what we bring all the more congruent and useful.
We're in the Earth wave now, with a few days left in the Moon of Liberation, before we enter the Moon of Integration. So, let this be a memorable weekend of living our way into authentically showing up in human community here on earth!
With Jupiter square Saturn, there's some inner tension demanding action around taking our place, in our way, and making our contribution. This connects all the way back to Spring 2000 when something began that is now in the final five year phase. Let's go all the way into bringing it, beyond what we've perhaps ever even imagined!
With Mars retrograding back into Scorpio today, and staying retrograde until late June, it suggests that we are being invited to deepen into embodying our power and potency, into finding a way to do that honorably, where we are not afraid of the potency of our beings, and of life and death, but can embrace and meet the moment.
Hear so much more in the Moon 11 Audio Calendar Podcast.
so register soon if you want to attend.
As usual, buy four get five. Free shipping in the US.
Essence Sprays that smell divine! |
News Featured News Latest News Politics
New campaign shines light on human trafficking in Mississippi
by Steven Gagliano June 28, 2021
Photo courtesy of AG Lynn Fitch's Office
Photo courtesy of AG Lynn Fitch's Office
In partnership with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Attorney General Lynn Fitch has launched the new 'Be the Solution' campaign aimed at combatting the rise in human trafficking in Mississippi.
Fitch and DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell urged everyone to recognize the existence of this issue in Mississippi as 241 human trafficking victims were rescued in 2019. The campaign will not only involve statewide and local agencies and private sector partners, but it extends to the public as well to ensure everyone is engaged in the fight against human trafficking.
"Identifying those signs and understanding that you too, as a citizen of this state, can be part of the solution is why we're here today…If you see something, say something. Because the reality is, as a law enforcement agency, we can only do so much and we can only be so many places at one time," Tindell said asking that members of the community help to their eyes and ears.
Fitch expressed that the goal of the campaign is to ensure all Mississippians know the signs to look out for and how you can help. The agencies will be issuing PSAs, setting up billboards across the state along with several other educational components as the campaign gets underway. This includes wrapped 18-wheelers that you'll see cruising on the state's highways featuring the nationwide human trafficking hotline – 1-888-373-7888.
Photo by SuperTalk News
"With a problem as big as human trafficking, it takes everyone doing their part," Fitch said. "The Attorney General's Office is committed to putting the full force of our resources behind putting traffickers out of business and recovering victims who have been forced to live out their very worst nightmare day after day. We conduct undercover operations statewide, and they start with a tip. Together, we can be the solution."
The campaign was announced at KLLM's headquarters in the metro area, signifying the sizable role that the state's truck drivers have in identifying and stopping human trafficking. Because of their time spent on the road, truckers are among the most equipped to spot human trafficking. The 'Be the Solution' campaign will expand training efforts to help them identify these situations and teach them what to do next.
Hal Miller, President of the Mississippi Trucking Association, explained that one in 12 jobs in the state is in the trucking industry. Several of the state's major trucking companies already participate in 'Truckers Against Trafficking,' a nationwide effort to combat human trafficking, but Miller noted that this new campaign will bring additional truckers from all over the state into the fold.
Fitch also discussed the importance of developing additional resources to help victims of human trafficking and giving them the tools to re-enter society "without any shame or blame."
In recent years, the Mississippi Legislature has taken steps to further assist victims and to stiffen penalties against those convicted on human trafficking-related offenses. Last week, the Center for Violence Prevention completed a renovation of its facility which offered aid and support to 150+ victims during the past year.
This month alone, three separate operations led by the AG's office led to the rescue of 20 victims of human trafficking.
Other agencies involved in the campaign are the Mississippi Beer Distributors Association, Mississippi Development Authority, and the Mississippi Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores Association.
Hear more about the campaign from Fitch and Tindell as they spoke about it during an appearance with SuperTalk Mississippi this morning:
Tropical Storm Danny won't affect Mississippi
Thunder & Lightning: Mississippi State's Season is On The Brink in Omaha
Steven Gagliano |
Local charity group Run for Children's Guild announced today that it is once again teaming up with Columbia Winery to raise funds to help families pay for care at Seattle Children's Hospital. The 2015 Columbia Winery Charity Run & Walk, which includes a 5K run /walk, a 10K run and a Kids' Dash, will take place at Columbia Winery in Woodinville on Saturday, August 15th at 8:30 AM.
This year marks the group's 10th annual event in partnership with Columbia Winery. Last year, the Columbia Winery Charity Run & Walk raised more than $90,000, all of which benefitted the uncompensated care fund at Seattle Children's Hospital. This year the group hopes to raise more than $100,000.
The Columbia Winery Charity Run & Walk is 10K run, 5K run/walk and Kids' Dash held in Woodinville at Columbia Winery. For more information, visit www.runforchildrens.org.
The Run for Children's Guild is dedicated to raising funds to support the Seattle Children's Uncompensated Care Fund. For more information, visit www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/uncompensated-care/.
For more than 50 years, Columbia Winery has embraced a legacy of progressive winemaking that has led its forward-thinking winemakers to discover new grape varieties, vineyards and blends. Today, Winemaker Sean Hails continues this spirit of innovation, handcrafting a distinct collection of food-friendly wines from Washington State. Here, intense sunlight, coupled with a lack of rainfall, translates to deeply concentrated color, flavor and structure in the glass. Located just outside of Seattle, the iconic Columbia tasting room offers daily tastings and Northwest-inspired offerings. For more information, visit www.columbiawinery.com. |
The market for luxury homes has cooled, but the demand still exists.
Spring has officially arrived around the Bay Area – the beauty of this past season's El Nino' rain has put a blanket of green on the hills and all the trees and flowers are in full bloom.
Mid-way through the spring market and the house market continues to be hot in San Francisco.
The San Francisco house and condo markets diverge: Non-luxury house market remains white hot; supply & demand balance shifts in condo market; and the luxury condo market continues to cool.
Median Home Sale Prices are Back Up: Is it Due to Seasonality?
New construction is booming, median prices continue to increase, and where to buy to a home or condo in SF! |
The Prestige Room is a spacious, luxurious double room on the ground floor. This room was tastefully decorated with a beautiful and of course high-quality bed. Furthermore, the Prestige Room features a steam shower with several massage jets and of course a regular shower.
Air conditioning, with both hot and cold air and always pure outdoor air. |
Brand spankin' new character portraits!
The entire game's soundtrack in mp3 format!
So, what are you waiting for? Get the demo here!
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at 9:40 AM and is filed under Game Updates. This post is tagged demos, Telepath RPG: Servants of God. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Sometimes isolation milling leaves some burrs on the edges of the traces. This paper can be used to remove them. It has very fine grit, so the copper on the traces is left virtually untouched, but the burrs get cleaned up.
The paper is supplied in 140x230mm sheets and is sold in packs of 10 sheets. The coating is silicium carbide. |
Home / Company News / An Interview with Boscarelli Winery
The Boscarelli Vineyards
Boscarelli is located in Cervognano, a historically famous area for quality grapes. In the 1960s, farmers lived here, but before us, there were not many extensive vineyards. Our grandfather began planning with mixed cultivars in 1961.
At the time, when we planted our first nine hectares between 1964 and 1970, we planted 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), complemented by Cannaiolo, Mammolo, and white grapes. In 1988, we began replanting older vineyards, gradually purchasing new vineyards, bringing our total proprietary hectares to 16 – for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Over this time, we made a selection of our older Sangiovese clones, for 35%. For the rest, we used many clones, such as: Ch20, Tebano19, F9, Pa1, and Pa8. For Cannaiolo and Mammolo, we used our old clones exclusively. As for white grapes, we didn't replant any.
We recently bought La Tenuta delle Cerraie, a farm with five hectares of old vineyards, going back to the 1970s with 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cannaiolo Mammolo and white grapes.
There are also two hectares of Merlot in Cortona.
We don't have any provisions for water and in any case, DOCG regulations do not allow for any type of irrigation unless in an emergency for young vineyards.
We use an Espalier training system, which is about 1.7 meters high and about 2 meters wide for an average of 6,000 plants per hectare. We prune using a double Guyot method and we are exclusively organic and partially sustainable and do not use herbicides.
What are the different soil types from each of the vineyard sites? What do these soils do for your wines?
The nine initial hectares have red soils with alluvial origins and a gravelly structure. The 7 additional hectares, especially in the Nocio area are more classic for Montepulciano, with a higher percentage of clay and sand from more recent eras.
The climate and soils of Cervognano in particular, in terms of their characteristics, allow us to reach full ripening, maintain good acid content, which gives freshness and character to the wine.
Do any of your vineyards have names? If so, is there a story behind those names?
All of our vineyards, even the small parcels, often have names that come from trees on the property: for example, Il Nocio, for a walnut tree; il Susino (plum), il Leccio (holy oak), il Canneto (for reeds), il Melograno (pomegranate). But we also use names that for where they are located on our property, such as Sottacasa (below the house), Sottacantina (below the cellar), Sottoufficio (below the office) or the Vigna del Bosco (the wooded vineyard).
Absolutely. We do many harvests and fermentations from each single vineyard. All single fermentations remain separate until we start blending, some for the cru wines, others into the bulk of our production, our base Nobile wine.
The choice mainly comes down to the consideration of the different characteristics of each single parcel, in terms of soil composition, water retention based on incline, and sun exposure, especially at sun up and sundown and general sloping. The convergence of these characteristics leads to the same ripening of the grapes, despite being located in different areas of the vineyard. As a consequence, we pass through the vineyards three times to pick the grapes at their peak maturation.
The Boscarelli Winery & Winemaking Process
What makes your winery different from others in the region? In Italy?
We are located in a historic area for the production of red wines made from Sangiovese, which, because of the climate and territory, make an important wine, rich and deep but at the same time elegant and fragrant.
What is the winery's long term plans regarding production levels, vineyard replanting, style of winemaking, consumer targets, etc..
Our project was and will remain to produce a traditional Nobile wine but with an openness and interest in innovation and experimentation. We undoubtedly seek to transmit the aromas and personality of the area, with precision and sophistication, pride and ambition to produce an important wine.
The goal is to gradually and consistently grow, passionately cultivating each aspect of production and maintaining the Boscarelli Nobile style.
What vintage had the most challenges and what were those challenges? How did you overcome them?
Two periods must be mentioned:
Before the 2000s, or rather when the problem was mainly excessive rain and the consequent difficulties in ripening, especially 1980.
After the 2000s, or rather, when the problem became the opposite: heat and drought conditions, such as 2003.
In both cases, in terms of production, we didn't bottle Nobile or if we did, we made very few bottles, like in other years, such as 1984, 1989, 1992, 2003 or 2014.
In both periods mentioned, we were committed to managing and replanting the vineyards to avoid this problem. The selection of single-vineyard parcels and grapes picked at different times, vinified separately, is still a winning tool. But in any case, Boscarelli's philosophy is to make wine in the vineyard, not the cellar.
Historically, we use large Slavonian oak casks measuring 10-40 hectoliters in size. In the 1990s and 2000s, we changed over to smaller French tonneaux and barrique. Around 2010, we went back to larger casks, but still French. Troncais, Nevers, Allier and tapered-cone vats for the fermentation (holding 40 hL). We also only use indigenous yeasts.
The philosophy behind the oak we use is about bringing out and giving the way complexity without masking or excessively modifying the balance and freshness of the wine.
Wine Spectator Insider Report Spotlights Boscarelli |
Torquay United's Elliott Romain red card appeal rejected
The Gulls striker will now miss the next three matches
Elliott Romain will now miss Torquay's next three games (Image: Pinnacle)
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The Football Association has rejected Torquay United's appeal against on-loan striker Elliott Romain's straight red card at Dover Athletic on Saturday.
Romain will now be suspended for the Gulls' next three matches, starting with Tuesday night's home game against AFC Fylde.
Romain, on loan from Dagenham, went in for a challenge with former United player Giancarlo Gallifuoco in the 90 minute of the 1-0 defeat at the Crabble Ground, and he appeared to win the ball before colliding with his opponent.
"I am disappointed with the reasoning," said head coach Gary Owers after hearing the verdict.
Gary Owers slams "shambolic" referee Carl Brook after two red cards in Torquay United defeat at Dover Athletic
"It's been turned down on the grounds of insufficient evidence, but I don't know what else we're supposed to provide, beyond the official match-day footage.
"Looking at it as someone who played the game, there's no way that it deserves a red card – after he wins the ball, Elliott can't go anywhere else because the defender is right in front of him.
"It's really difficult to get any of these decisions overturned.
"Elliott is now suspended for three games, which is a massive blow."
Rhys Healey is also banned against Fylde, after picking up two yellow cards at Dover. United felt those cautions were harsh, but clubs are not allowed to appeal against bookings.
"It's now up to other lads to come in and make up for the loss of two quality players," said Owers.
Exeter ChiefsExeter Chiefs handed Premiership boost as trio of players earn Six Nations call-upsScotland and Wales have named their squads ahead of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations
Harrogate was the kind of game we ought to be winning if we're serious about finishing in the top three
Exeter City FCJake Taylor talks his injury, the Harrogate draw, commentators, and that he is set to become a father for the second time
Fears Torquay United's promotion campaign is under threat over National League loans row
Torquay United FCOfficials at several National League clubs – in the South and North divisions – have now spoken out insisting it has put the season in jeopardy amid claims of broken promises.
Exeter City reject bids from Charlton Athletic for winger Joel Randall
Exeter City FCIt is understood the bids were in the region of £300,000, but Lee Bowyer said that the price that the Grecians were asking for was 'around a million and out of their price range'.
Exeter City FCHarrogate Town 0 Exeter City 0 - the match in picturesThe pictures from Pinnacle Photo Agency tell the story of the goalless draw
Exeter Chiefs handed Premiership boost as trio of players earn Six Nations call-ups
Exeter ChiefsScotland and Wales have named their squads ahead of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations
'Goals will come if we keep creating chances' as Exeter City draw blank at Harrogate Town
Exeter City FC"They were there for the taking tonight, especially when they went down to ten men," said Matt Jay
'We should have won that game' - Matt Taylor's thoughts after Exeter City's 0-0 draw at Harrogate Town
Exeter City FC"I can't describe it in any other way than that we should have won the game." |
Q: Android Studio build failed I just tried to build the android-version of my cordova-app with Android Studio, because I want to add Parse Push Notifications for the future Versions, but I get the following errors:
Do you have any idea, how to fix this?
Executing tasks: [:assembleDebug]
Configuration on demand is an incubating feature.
:preBuild
:compileDebugNdk UP-TO-DATE
:preDebugBuild
:checkDebugManifest
:prepareDebugDependencies
:compileDebugAidl UP-TO-DATE
:compileDebugRenderscript
:generateDebugBuildConfig
:generateDebugAssets UP-TO-DATE
:mergeDebugAssets UP-TO-DATE
:generateDebugResValues UP-TO-DATE
:generateDebugResources
:mergeDebugResources UP-TO-DATE
:processDebugManifest
:processDebugResources
:generateDebugSources
:compileDebugJava
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/gkb/PushApp/MainActivity.java:25: error: cannot find symbol
public class MainActivity extends CordovaActivity
^
symbol: class CordovaActivity
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:3: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:4: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaInterface;
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:5: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:6: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaWebView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:7: error: package org.apache.cordova.PluginResult does not exist
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult.Status;
^
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:18: error: cannot find symbol
public class IonicKeyboard extends CordovaPlugin{
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:20: error: cannot find symbol
public void initialize(CordovaInterface cordova, CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: class IonicKeyboard
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:20: error: cannot find symbol
public void initialize(CordovaInterface cordova, CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class IonicKeyboard
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:64: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, JSONArray args, final CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class IonicKeyboard
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:42: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:43: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:44: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
^
symbol: class PluginResult
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:46: error: cannot find symbol
public class EmailComposer extends CordovaPlugin {
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:51: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute (String action, JSONArray args, CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class EmailComposer
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:73: error: cannot find symbol
private void isServiceAvailable (CallbackContext ctx) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class EmailComposer
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/de/appplant/cordova/plugin/emailcomposer/EmailComposer.java:83: error: cannot find symbol
private void open (JSONArray args, CallbackContext ctx) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class EmailComposer
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:15: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:16: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaInterface;
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:17: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:18: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
^
symbol: class PluginResult
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:34: error: cannot find symbol
public class SocialSharing extends CordovaPlugin {
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:50: error: cannot find symbol
private CallbackContext _callbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:62: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, JSONArray args, CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:106: error: cannot find symbol
private boolean invokeEmailIntent(final CallbackContext callbackContext, final String message, final String subject, final JSONArray to, final JSONArray cc, final JSONArray bcc, final JSONArray files) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:168: error: cannot find symbol
private boolean doSendIntent(final CallbackContext callbackContext, final String msg, final String subject, final JSONArray files, final String url, final String appPackageName, final boolean peek) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:332: error: cannot find symbol
private boolean invokeSMSIntent(final CallbackContext callbackContext, JSONObject options, String p_phonenumbers) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:389: error: cannot find symbol
private ActivityInfo getActivity(final CallbackContext callbackContext, final Intent shareIntent, final String appPackageName) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:55: error: cannot find symbol
public CallbackContext callbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing.SocialSharingRunnable
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/nl/xservices/plugins/SocialSharing.java:56: error: cannot find symbol
SocialSharingRunnable(CallbackContext cb) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class SocialSharing.SocialSharingRunnable
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:23: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaWebView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:24: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:25: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:26: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaInterface;
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:33: error: cannot find symbol
public class Device extends CordovaPlugin {
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:56: error: cannot find symbol
public void initialize(CordovaInterface cordova, CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: class Device
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:56: error: cannot find symbol
public void initialize(CordovaInterface cordova, CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class Device
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/device/Device.java:69: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, JSONArray args, CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class Device
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:21: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:22: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaInterface;
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:23: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:24: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
^
symbol: class PluginResult
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:49: error: cannot find symbol
public class Notification extends CordovaPlugin {
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:69: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, JSONArray args, CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class Notification
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:157: error: cannot find symbol
public synchronized void alert(final String message, final String title, final String buttonLabel, final CallbackContext callbackContext) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class Notification
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:198: error: cannot find symbol
public synchronized void confirm(final String message, final String title, final JSONArray buttonLabels, final CallbackContext callbackContext) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class Notification
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:272: error: cannot find symbol
public synchronized void prompt(final String message, final String title, final JSONArray buttonLabels, final String defaultText, final CallbackContext callbackContext) {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class Notification
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:454: error: cannot find symbol
private AlertDialog.Builder createDialog(CordovaInterface cordova) {
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: class Notification
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/dialogs/Notification.java:464: error: cannot find symbol
private ProgressDialog createProgressDialog(CordovaInterface cordova) {
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: class Notification
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:51: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:52: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.Config;
^
symbol: class Config
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:53: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaArgs;
^
symbol: class CordovaArgs
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:54: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:55: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaWebView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:56: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.LOG;
^
symbol: class LOG
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:57: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
^
symbol: class PluginResult
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:65: error: cannot find symbol
public class InAppBrowser extends CordovaPlugin {
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:84: error: cannot find symbol
private CallbackContext callbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class InAppBrowser
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:98: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, CordovaArgs args, final CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CordovaArgs
location: class InAppBrowser
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:98: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, CordovaArgs args, final CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class InAppBrowser
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:666: error: package PluginResult does not exist
private void sendUpdate(JSONObject obj, boolean keepCallback, PluginResult.Status status) {
^
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:682: error: cannot find symbol
CordovaWebView webView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class InAppBrowser.InAppBrowserClient
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppBrowser.java:690: error: cannot find symbol
public InAppBrowserClient(CordovaWebView webView, EditText mEditText) {
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class InAppBrowser.InAppBrowserClient
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppChromeClient.java:21: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaWebView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppChromeClient.java:22: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.LOG;
^
symbol: class LOG
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppChromeClient.java:23: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
^
symbol: class PluginResult
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppChromeClient.java:36: error: cannot find symbol
private CordovaWebView webView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class InAppChromeClient
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/inappbrowser/InAppChromeClient.java:40: error: cannot find symbol
public InAppChromeClient(CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class InAppChromeClient
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:27: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:28: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaArgs;
^
symbol: class CordovaArgs
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:29: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaInterface;
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:30: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:31: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaWebView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:32: error: cannot find symbol
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
^
symbol: class PluginResult
location: package org.apache.cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:35: error: cannot find symbol
public class StatusBar extends CordovaPlugin {
^
symbol: class CordovaPlugin
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:46: error: cannot find symbol
public void initialize(final CordovaInterface cordova, CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaInterface
location: class StatusBar
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:46: error: cannot find symbol
public void initialize(final CordovaInterface cordova, CordovaWebView webView) {
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class StatusBar
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:70: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, CordovaArgs args, final CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CordovaArgs
location: class StatusBar
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/org/apache/cordova/statusbar/StatusBar.java:70: error: cannot find symbol
public boolean execute(String action, CordovaArgs args, final CallbackContext callbackContext) throws JSONException {
^
symbol: class CallbackContext
location: class StatusBar
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/gkb/PushApp/MainActivity.java:30: error: cannot find symbol
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
^
symbol: variable super
location: class MainActivity
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/gkb/PushApp/MainActivity.java:31: error: cannot find symbol
super.init();
^
symbol: variable super
location: class MainActivity
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/gkb/PushApp/MainActivity.java:33: error: cannot find symbol
loadUrl(launchUrl);
^
symbol: variable launchUrl
location: class MainActivity
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/gkb/PushApp/MainActivity.java:27: error: method does not override or implement a method from a supertype
@Override
^
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:21: error: cannot find symbol
super.initialize(cordova, webView);
^
symbol: variable super
location: class IonicKeyboard
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:29: error: cannot find symbol
final CordovaWebView appView = webView;
^
symbol: class CordovaWebView
location: class IonicKeyboard
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:69: error: cannot find symbol
InputMethodManager inputManager = (InputMethodManager) cordova.getActivity().getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
^
symbol: variable cordova
/Users/Alexander/Dropbox/com.idee.gkb/platforms/android/src/com/ionic/keyboard/IonicKeyboard.java:70: error: cannot find symbol
View v = cordova.getActivity().getCurrentFocus();
^
symbol: variable cordova
BUILD FAILED
Total time: 5.612 secs
Dependencies
dependencies {
compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: '*.jar')
// SUB-PROJECT DEPENDENCIES START
// SUB-PROJECT DEPENDENCIES END
}
Used .jar-Files
classes.jar || in gradle/wrapper/
gradle-wrapper.jar || in CordovaLib/ant-build/
A: Add your Sub Project in build.gradle
dependencies {
compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: '*.jar')
compile project(":CordovaLib")
}
Once you added, you may get other JAR errors and Lint errors;
You have to add appropriate things.
Finally your build.gradle should looks like this
// Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules.
buildscript {
repositories {
mavenCentral()
}
dependencies {
classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:1.1.3'
}
}
apply plugin: 'android'
dependencies {
compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: '*.jar')
compile project(":CordovaLib")
}
android {
compileSdkVersion 22
buildToolsVersion "22.0.1"
packagingOptions {
exclude 'META-INF/DEPENDENCIES'
exclude 'META-INF/NOTICE'
exclude 'META-INF/NOTICE.txt'
exclude 'META-INF/LICENSE'
exclude 'META-INF/LICENSE.txt'
}
lintOptions {
abortOnError false
}
sourceSets {
main {
manifest.srcFile 'AndroidManifest.xml'
java.srcDirs = ['src']
resources.srcDirs = ['src']
aidl.srcDirs = ['src']
renderscript.srcDirs = ['src']
res.srcDirs = ['res']
assets.srcDirs = ['assets']
}
// Move the tests to tests/java, tests/res, etc...
instrumentTest.setRoot('tests')
// Move the build types to build-types/<type>
// For instance, build-types/debug/java, build-types/debug/AndroidManifest.xml, ...
// This moves them out of them default location under src/<type>/... which would
// conflict with src/ being used by the main source set.
// Adding new build types or product flavors should be accompanied
// by a similar customization.
debug.setRoot('build-types/debug')
release.setRoot('build-types/release')
}
}
A: For me adding required dependencies resolved it.
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaInterface;
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaWebView;
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
|
February 20, 2020 #adorable #anime #cute #kigurumi #kigurumi onesie
Waking Up in a Kigurumi in an Unfamiliar Place
Nothing beats the comfort of waking up in a kigurumi after a comfortable night of a well-timed rest, eventual deep sleep, and perhaps a few cuddles here and there.
"Wait...what?!"
But not so much if you happen to suddenly wake up in the middle of a forest hiking trip. Even... if your kigurumi is perfectly themed to suit the occasion.
So, how would you suddenly just wake up wearing a kigurumi in the middle of somewhere you absolutely didn't intend to go to, you ask? Well, if you have an overly doting personal maid. One that is more than eager to take her beloved cute baryshnya for a day's adventure to the wild yonder.
"Yup! I decided... by myself... that we two should go camping!"
Misha, in a whirlwind of confusion and distress upon realizing the situation, demanded to know what in the world was happening.
Tsubame promptly explained that it as a bit of a desperate move. Unable to make up with Misha since she basically ignored her after the faked online personality incident, she decided to take matters into her own hands by taking her out.
"Did you seriously think I'd flail my arms in excitement once you take me here?"
No, no, no not "that" take out. She meant to literally take her out for camping. While Misha initially tried to get away immediately, Tsubame made her realize that trying to get out of the forest mountain as a kid is pretty much impossible.
Thus, agree to the day's camp she reluctantly did.
As for the bear kigurumi... it was meant for her to adapt to the cold mountain forest weather, presumably without lessening her visual appeal for the obsessive lolicon burly and sturdy maid.
With the exception of a few precious moments here and there, camp day pretty much came and went without incident. Even Misha herself admits to this uneventful development despite having enjoyed Camembert cheese-dipped veggies. This, unfortunately, allows her to ponder once again occasionally about her memories with her late mother, at least twice during that entire day.
So deliberate or not, Tsubame's wacky antics did at least help her put her mind away from it, and to focus on what is up ahead instead.
"It'd be warm in there at least."
In any case, Misha was eventually convinced to sleep in the tent. She did expect to have difficulties sleeping in such an unfamiliar landscape, especially with Tsubame just right beside her. But Tsubame's chattering actually made it quite easier for drowsiness to kick in.
"Oh, guess I did sleep soundly after all."
Finally, as the dawn of the next day came and the shining rays of the sun came upon their sleeping tent, she rubbed her eyes and yawned. It was indeed a good night's sleep.
"I was around your age, when I lost my father, that I started to dream about flying to the skies..."
She did remember something about Tsubame telling a good old story about her late father when she was just around Misha's age, but the little lady brushed it off aside to welcome the new morning.
"A zoo at the base of the mountain, with an exclusive petting corner, and all the soft-serve ice cream I can eat you say?!"
And with that, Tsubame reveals her other plan for kidnapping taking Misha to camp: to visit the nearby wildlife park at the base of the mountain and have a good time with her.
"I brought this back for you, Yasuhiro!"
"Did you know, did you know? You can actually bake bread outdoors! And the chicks, they felt really fluffy!"
Unfortunately, we as the audience never got to see the full glorious detail of this other half. But at the very least, we all knew just how enjoyable it was with Misha's bright and cheerful expression as she finally got back home.
Yes, while still wearing that bear kigurumi.
The crazy comedic premise of Uchi no Maid ga Uzasugiru! (うちのメイドがウザすぎる!) seems like a formula of either pure laughs or cringes, especially when you realize just how "dire" the situation really is for Misha. Surprisingly, however, the show manages to inject a lot of serious moments in the form of backstories, in a way that doesn't disrupt its baseline comedic flow at all. These somber events would then often provide the opportunity for the characters to develop and grow.
... sometimes even physically.
Written by Christian Crisostomo
Beware of the Kigurumi that Invites a Swarm of Troubles
Don't Just Wear the Kigurumi, Be the Kigurumi |
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Mother pigs endure unimaginable suffering on factory farms. Trapped in a sea of cages, unable to turn or socialise, they have no joy in their lives. Only pain and suffering.
It has promised to ensure all its pregnant breeding mother pigs will be housed in opens pens with other mother pigs, known as group gestation pens, by 2025 in Thailand and by 2028 for international operations.
Join almost 60,000 other supporters and sign our pledge now, and demand supermarkets source pork from higher welfare producers.
Together, we can move supermarkets to help raise pigs right. |
Indonesian President Joko Widodo smiles at reporters as he arrives before delivering a speech ahead of Independence Day, at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug. 16, 2019. (Willy Kurniawan/Reuters)
Indonesia's Widodo Warns 'Identity Politics' Is 'Threat to Democracy'
By Katabella Roberts
Katabella Roberts
Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She covers news and business for The Epoch Times, focusing primarily on the United States.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned of the dangers of "identity politics," and called on "closest friend" Australia to work together to defend their democratic values, human rights, and diversity and to stop terrorism.
Widodo made the comments during a speech (pdf) to the Australian Parliament on Feb. 10, when he signed a lucrative trade deal with Australia.
In a rare address to both houses of Parliament, Widodo celebrated "70 years of friendship between Indonesia and Australia" and thanked the country for its continuous support.
"Despite the cultural differences between Indonesia and Australia, we share the same values: heroism; diverse ethnic groups and tolerance; democracy and respect for human rights as well as a commitment to protect the environment and beyond," Widodo said.
Widodo proposed a number of priorities for the Australia–Indonesia relationship, which include continuing to "advocate the values of democracy, human rights, tolerance, and diversity—stop intolerance, stop xenophobia, stop radicalism, and stop terrorism."
"Identity politics must be discouraged in our countries and globally, regardless of its religious, ethnicity, or other identity basis. Identity politics is a threat to democracy, a threat to diversity, and a threat to tolerance. These threats will become even more actual when exploited for short-term political interests, resulting in hatred, fear, and even social conflict," he said.
The Indonesian president added that the two countries must "work hard, side by side, standing together to defend the values of democracy, tolerance, and diversity and to prevent the world having a clash of civilizations."
He said the two countries must also work together to promote "free and fair "economic policies, stating that he believes an "open and fair economic system will be beneficial for all."
"Indonesia and Australia must become the anchors for development partners in the Pacific region," Widodo added, noting that "Indonesia understands the development challenges in the Pacific region," and "as a fellow island state, Indonesia faces similar challenges with countries in the Pacific region."
"Indonesia and Australia must become true friends for countries in the Pacific region, collaborating as development partners, addressing the impacts of climate change, alleviating poverty and social inequality, and creating new centers of economic growth in the Pacific region," he said.
Finally, the two countries must also work together to "protect the environment, to achieve sustainable development and reforestation in forest and river upstream areas, to prevent forest and land fires, to commit to lowering carbon emissions, and to develop renewable energy and other green technologies," he said.
Elsewhere in his speech, Widodo noted that his country had also provided relief, in the form of Army Corps of Engineers and personnel of the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Management, to help New South Wales overcome the bushfire crisis and that teams from both countries are "currently discussing possible cooperation for weather modification."
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also praised the two countries' close relationship, but noted that there is still "more to be done, especially on the economic front."
"Together, Australia and Indonesia are motivated by our shared concerns for our region and our shared vision for an open, prosperous Indo-Pacific underpinned by strong institutions, rules, and norms," he said.
"By continuing to work together, we can build the region's resilience and make our people safer and our economy stronger. Our ambitious comprehensive strategic partnership, which was finalized 18 months ago, gives us a framework for even closer ties. We now have a plan of action to take the next steps in our relationship."
The trade agreement, which has been eight years in the making, is aimed to boost multibillion-dollar ties and will provide a major boost for Australian farmers and businesses through lower tariffs and improved access.
Indonesia agreed to import 500,000 tons of grain tariff-free, while a lower tariff has been secured for live cattle, dairy, and vegetables, while Australia agreed to open universities in Indonesia and consider ways to simplify the visa application processes for Indonesians visiting the country.
Australia's goods trade with Indonesia was worth $11.8 billion in 2018, making Indonesia its 13th-largest trading partner. |
With so much going around that ideal couple that you dream so much about having, what you are provoking is attracting precisely the kind of person you don't want. Today you may live a very uncomfortable situation, when you receive a message from someone who seems interested in you and that you don't like at all.
However, your reaction seems unpredictable: the stars are favorable whether you give them a chance or not. Maybe that person in question is generating a sense of love-hate that you need to clarify.
In any case, you must recognize to yourself that what really attracts you are complicated relationships; those in which you know you can give something to the other person and make them change.
The importance you give to your material assets depends directly on the time of your life in which you find yourself. Now that you lack certain amenities and have discovered that paying bills is not an easy task, you have become someone who pays more attention to material goods than to altruistic actions.
Maybe that desire for your knowledge has led you to collaborate with a charity association or NGO and today you discover that you want to stop being part of it.
Probably some events have triggered that you feel that your effort isn't being rewarded and that it's taking time to devote to other issues.
The position of the stars reveals that you are living some situations you don't feel comfortable in. It seems that your scale of priorities has changed, Virgo.
Doing "temerities" with your own body is something that hasn't caught your attention too much, but today you will be surprised doing something you never thought you could do. Once in a while you're that unpredictable, Virgo.
In general, it's easier for you to recognize that you like a risky change of look, for example, than to be the one who shows one. But today everything will be different and you will step forward, willing to do what you have always wanted. Make a piercing, a tattoo or as we say, a risky change of look. |
The scene fades in to show TME and Atomsk while TME walked into the room and sat in a chair.
"Ugh, finally done with that sea of thieves Quest… plenty of Finn the Red rewrite material but that sword of souls thing was…. Wow… quest was glitched and had to get that ghost to appear after undoing the Quest and had to sail around the seas… nuff said taking a break for a bit from Sea of thieves… may Wilf rift things more until I'm not salty about this day." TME said while he looks a bit grouchy.
Atomsk was thoughtful.
"Interesting. Gonna need to start playing that. Got the Xbox version of that."
"Nice, try friending me on the console, hope you have a headset because I can use one to talk and stuff." TME said when he looks amused by this next.
"Ohh… actually gonna need to buy a new headset. Plus a charger for my controller. Can't always use batteries. But I'll check it later so we can do the chapter." Atomsk said.
"Nice… anyway last time Marceline, Me-Mow, and Maite stayed behind in the Candy Kingdom while the others went to Azure's village right?" TME said as he looks thoughtful on last time.
"Yup and looks like a bit of Cedric's past was revealed. Also, he has to plan a date with Angel on account of her jealousy hehe." Atomsk said while chuckling.
"Oh yeah… maybe Cedric has a thing for fliers or something since he seems to have a lot of fliers coming onto him lately… and there is also the meeting between Cedric and Azure's dad… what was his name again?" TME said while he looks thoughtful.
"Hmmm… let me look." Atomsk said as he looks over the pages.
"Huh… we never actually gave the parents names."
"Really?, not even during the flashbacks?... hmmm… want to brainstorm some names while we get into the story?" TME said when he was thinking of a few names already.
Atomsk was thoughtful again before chuckling.
"Hehe… maybe we could call the dad either… Mufasa or Simba."
"Hmmm… I say Mufasa and thanks to the time Azure was gone… hehe a Simba could be in the works… though less on the dad dying here hopefully so we don't pull a full on Lion king." TME said while he really didn't want anyone to die.
"True… then again, we didn't create an evil brother so I think we're good. And what of the mother?" Atomsk said.
"Hmmm… who was the mother of Simba again?... Kiara?... man so many names and I'm getting confused now." TME said while he found it a bit amusing.
"Nah that's Simba's daughter. Think the mom's name is Sarabi." Atomsk said.
"Ah… I'll look up the name just in case since I have bing up… want to go ahead and get into the story?" TME asked while he raised an eyebrow at Atomsk unless Atomsk had something to say.
"Hmmm… let's go ahead." Atomsk said.
"Alright… anyway dear readers we're going into the story as many enter the village…" TME said as the scene shifts to...
Ooo/ Azure's village/ Village Gate/ Azure (Guide), Emerald, Jasmine, Lillum, Finn, Cedric, Bubblegum, Huntress
As the group entered the village they saw it was a rather large place… it was a large cul de sac like village with many buildings surrounding a small hill and the buildings were of various sizes.
"Ah… home sweet home… nothing like a visit to feel refreshed… anyway here is the town… not much to see persay look wise but in each building is a rather unique thing… first off on this side if the marketplace area… we trade things like fish, metals, and other things with other villages and what not who come here or we send things out…" Azure said as she points at one side of the village and many jolt when Huntress spoke up after so long of her being in silence… aside from Finn who chuckles at this when he was by Huntress's side a lot.
"They have magical shops?" Huntress asked while Azure blinks.
"Uh… yeah right there… mainly deals with wood and earth based magics though so while maybe up your alley may not be quite what you're looking for if you're looking for other stuff." Azure said when she and many others calmed down and had one central thought.
"She was so quiet, she blended in with the background." The group thought as they calmed down.
Huntress smirks.
"I'll be the judge of that. See you guys later." She said before checking out the shop.
"W-Well… now that Huntress is amusing herself… want to follow me to my home while we get more of a tour?... we have a training group, various shops that are not just magic but tech as well thanks to this mad scientist type living on the hill here if you look up… apparently they want to make a monster with electrical energy or something to help defend the village… they they called themselves franken… Franky?... well… Franksomething… nuff said aside from a mad laugh and what not, pretty nice guy, and his son Aggro is a rather nice guy though Aggro is more or less the opposite and could be a monster himself… just to let you know he is a lion like man or a hybrid at least given his dad isn't a lion… either that or Aggro is adopted… nuff said the guy is built like a tank and well… he and I were kinda Ex's/ sex friends before I left and stuff… had to get serious stress relief if you remember what my dad does so expect a sudden attack when we get to my home." Azure said while she rubs the back of her head as Cedric's ears twitch a bit at this Ex/sexfriend thing.
"Wait… this Aggro guy is your ex and yet you both are… sexfriends?" Cedric while making sure he heard things right.
Finn whispers to Emerald.
"This could be bad."
"Hmmm?, yeah I mean you have sex with a lot of women now and I get ducked by lots of male creatures, soon to be orcs here, what's wrong if I have fun with Aggro for old times sake?, not like I wouldn't invite you for a kinky threescore if you're worried about that… you're my main squeeze right now, so who cares what happens physically, not like any emotions are between Aggro and I." Azure said as Emerald grins as he whispered this to Cedric.
"May as well call that an I love you as much as that can be called." Emerald teased as he gave Cedric a pep talk like shoulder rub like a boxer coach wishing the boxer luck.
Cedric blinks a bit before looking at Azure.
"Well… I was just surprised to hear that. I trust you completely Azure."
"Hehe, good… may as well get the introduction out of the way with Aggro then so we won't have issues in the future." Azure said as she walked from Cedric and the others with a smirk on her face.
Finn pats Cedric on the back.
"Well handled."
"Oh shut it…" Cedric said as he walked after Azure with a comical level scowl.
Emerald chuckles as he walked next to Finn.
"Want to follow and see the drama?" Emerald said with a grin on his face.
Finn chuckled.
"Wherever we go, drama finds us. So sure." He said as Bubblegum, Lillum and Jasmine sweatdrops.
They followed Azure up a set of stairs when they walked towards the hill with the large tower like building where the scientist seemed to live and when Azure got to the front door… well they saw a monstrous sized doorway while a smaller door was made in the middle of the door and when Azure knocks, the door opens a minute later, once this happened heavy thuds were heard and well… when the larger door opened, a massive unit of a lion man was seen… nuff said many had wide eyes when the guy was 3 feet tall and built like a tank with pure muscle…. Most were around 2 feet tall or so, which caused many to feel dwarfed by the massive lion man and he got an excited grin as he pulled Azure in and up by her ass with his hand for a hug against his chest.
"Azure!, how are you doing… you up and left on us after we heard you went to get some kind of job… who are your friends?" The lion man said while he held Azure effortlessly with one hand while she sat on it like a chair in the air.
"Whoa… that's a big lion." Jasmine said.
"Yeah… very big." Emerald said when he looks up at the lion man while Lillum smirks as she licks her lips when she looked as a massive bulge in the lion man's shorts.
"Hehe… Very very big indeed." Lillum said as she felt worked up right now from the sight alone.
Bubblegum blushes when she noticed as Jasmine licks her lips at the bulge.
Finn and Emerald noticed Cedric's eye twitch at this scene before clearing his throat.
"Is this Aggro, Azure?"
"Hmmm?... oh yeah, this is Aggro, most here call him the iron wall thanks to how powerful he is… some say he is the strongest warrior in the village because of this, doesn't matter if he is related to the scientist or not, might makes right here so he is well liked by many." Azure said while Aggro chuckles.
"Hehe, yup, many do like me, mainly the ladies, met a few feisty felines and a few orc ladies after Azy here left but they are still new so they have a hard time taking my dick… not a brag since my cock is huge… some say too huge." Aggro said when he grins at the others.
Finn and Emerald blinked as Bubblegum blushes while Jasmine chuckled.
"No kidding from where I'm standing." She said as Cedric tries to remain calm.
"Right… Name's Cedric. I'm Azure's boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?... a scrawny guy like you?" Aggro said when he leaned in to look Cedric in the face and after a few sniffs, hums.
"Hmmm… seems a bit iffy to me, I mean a tiny guy like this Azure?" Aggro said while Azure rolls her eyes as she hits Aggro on the side of the head though it had no effect.
"Oh shut it, not everyone has a body like yours, Cedric is perfect as boyfriend or mate material… remember why we broke up, its because of your arrogance and stuff." Azure said while Aggro laughed at this.
"Yeah well when you have a body like mine when you got it you got it… still just a warning… Cedric was it?... make Azure cry and…." Aggro said when he reached for a large boulder… picked it up while his fingers broke into the rock and with a snarl crushed the boulder into dust and looks at Cedric with a look to be very careful.
The group were shocked when they saw Aggro do that as Cedric stood his ground with a serious look.
"Understandable… but I have no intention of doing that."
Aggro hums at this and grins before he pats Cedric on the back hard enough to knock him into the wall.
"Hehe… now thats what I like to hear, Azure is a real treat of a lady, better make sure you treat her well otherwise I may steal her from you… hahaha!... come on Azure lets get you to your parents, my pops is busy with his latest experiment thanks to a storm coming so we don't want to get onto him right now." Aggro said as he walked away while Azure looks a bit worried for Cedric when he fell from a Cedric shaped imprint on the wall as Emerald opened a spell book and after a moment of talking with Lillum, Emerald used a healing spell on Cedric to help him go from a twitching mess to full health in no time.
Cedric get up before shaking his head.
"That hurt for a moment."
"Yeah… but that seemed like a light hit… probably good that he didn't go full force otherwise you would be flying THROUGH the tower instead of just into a wall." Bubblegum said when she considered Aggro's strength well… maybe not on Marceline's level but damn well close given his powerful body.
"Either way, no fights happened but still… good luck on impressing the parents man." Finn said as Cedric had a half lidded look.
"Let's just go." Cedric said before walking away.
As the group followed Cedric, the group managed to catch up with Azure and Aggro while they were making small talk and in no time, the group made it to a surprisingly simple, yet nice looking 2 story home with a large yard, once this happened, Azure got off Aggro's hand.
"Either step away from the pathway from the door or get behind Aggro… you'll see why if you remember my story." Azure said as she approached the door and used a unique looking knock as many moved either away or behind Aggro with Lillum teasingly pinching Aggro on the ass.
Aggro jolts from that action before grinning at Lillum.
"Hehe, a bit daring… like your style."
"Hehe, thanks… though before you ask, yes I'm not human, yes I'm taken technically by Emerald there, and no he doesn't mind if I have fun… Succubus after all… a S-E-X demoness… so I'm sure I could take that massive greatsword of yours later after we meet Azy's parents." Lillum said while she points at Emerald when he was mentioned and when he saw the lion man and Succubus looking at them, he waved while the scent of extreme danger wafted to Aggro's nose when he got a better look at him… despite his small stature his instincts were warning him not to anger Emerald for some reason.
"I-I see… Good to know." Aggro said as he calmed down while everyone else looked confused as they watched Azure knock on the door again.
A moment later, multiple thump noises were heard as Azure opened the door, steps to the side and a Cat man bigger than Azure did a flying double jump kick while many looked shocked when hearing about this was one thing… seeing was another as Azure's dad flew by many and Aggro caught the father so he wouldn't fall and sets him on his feet.
"Oh thanks Aggro." The father said as Aggro chuckles.
"No worries Mufasa, saw this enough to know when to catch you." Aggro said while Azure gave a tsk noise at the help for her father.
"Yo dad… stop doing those surprise attacks and say hello to my friends and my boyfriend here… his name is Cedric… attack him if that look on your face is any indicator and I'll elope with him after the first hit… try and get to know him first before you do something to REALLY get your daughter to not come home again." Azure said when she points a thumb at Cedric.
Cedric blinks a bit at the elope part as Mufasa looks at Cedric.
"Really?… Him?… He's so-!" He was stopped as Cedric had a tick mark.
Though as Cedric opened his mouth, Azure speaks for him.
"Chamber of the Crystal eye… Cedric is the son of the monster boss of the dungeon and yes, monster boss… nuff said Cedirc is stronger and smarter than he looks… if that doesn't make him good enough for me, I don't know what is… not everyone is as freakishly big as Aggro you know." Azure said before she looks at Aggro.
"No offense." Azure said as Aggro chuckles.
"Nah, I don't take offense to it… plenty enjoy my muscles… right beautiful ladies?" Aggro said to Lillum and the other ladies of the group when Aggro flexed a bit before them.
Lillum giggles as Bubblegum blushes while Jasmine smirks.
Mufasa looks at Cedric.
"Hold on… you're a Middleton, boy?"
Azure blinks at this like many did.
"Hold on, you know Cedric's last name?" Azure said while she looks at Cedric to see if she heard right.
Cedric did blink as Mufasa chuckles.
"Now I remember… you're Juan's kid. How is the old bastard?"
"Uh, alive and well but how do you know him?" Cedric said.
"Well… your mom and I used to date before I met Azure's mother." Mufasa said.
Azure blinks before she looks at Cedric again.
"Wow… so close to being related… glad that didn't happen right?" Azure said while she shakes her head at the momentary thought.
Cedric shudders before almost throwing up.
"Y-Yeah… good thing." He said.
Mufasa chuckled.
"Well word of warning kid… hurt my special kitten and make you wish you were never born." He said with a serious look.
Before any could speak, Mufasa seemed to moved with shocking speeds and had his claws at Cedric's throat already.
"Nuff said I'm not the head of this village for no reason… try and not think I won't do it… I go easy on building Azure up but know that when I get serious…" Mufasa said as his eyes turned pure white and he actually pulled an Emerald moment when he turned dark.
"Well lets just say not only have I trained with Emelina daily before she moved away… well… even Aggro knows not to piss me off… especially after that time when Azure broke up with him… after I heard that… he was nursing injuries for weeks." Mufasa said as he lets some killing intent leak for a moment to show he wasn't bluffing.
Cedric shudders when he felt that but stood his ground.
"U-Understand… sir. But I will not hurt Azure."
"..." Mufasa was quiet for a moment while he looks Cedric in the eyes before chuckling.
"Hehe… not bad… you got more stones than Aggro thats for sure, he was shaking like a leaf when I did this the first time, you barely gave a reaction… maybe you're good for Azure after all." Mufasa said as he looks amused while Aggro jolts at the mention of that time as Mufasa returns to normal.
Cedric was able to calm down.
"Thank you sir. Azure has helped me through some… troubled stuff I've been dealing with and… I care deeply for her and would do anything to make her happy."
"Welp you said it boy… may as well just make sure you take responsibility just in case… I can smell your scent on her… and plenty of it… make sure not to do anything under my roof and we will be good… agreed?" Mufasa said while he gave Cedric a half lidded look.
Cedric jolts a bit after hearing.
"Yes sir. No problem with that."
"Good… anyway welcome to my home, same to the rest of…" Mufasa said when he turned and well… when he saw Emerald… he jolts as he got in a guarded stance which confused Emerald.
"Huh?... uh… something wrong?" Emerald asked while Mufasa growls.
"Yeah… what the fuck are you… you reak of danger… and I'm not talking the normal kind." Mufasa said while Emerald looks confused and looks at the others while pointing at himself with a confused look as Azure sighs when she saw Emerald looking a bit bummed when he seemed to get more trouble just being there.
"Simple dad… Emerald is wearing the Amulet of the Nightosphere given to him by Hunson Abadeer since Emerald is dating Marceline Abadeer… Hunson's daughter… makes Emerald deathless as far as I know for a number of reasons and he has chaotic energy from the Nightosphere coursing through his body… relax… he is a cool guy… try and not antagonize him… not like he had a choice with the amulet." Azure said while Emerald looks at his hand and before many could say anything… well… Emerald moved to get out of everyone's sight before anyone could stop him… oh boy… not this stuff again… like a lesser moment of Grandfather oak with danger and stuff.
Cedric facepalms.
"Fuck… where are Maite and Marceline when you need them?"
"Currently they should be back at the castle… anyway Lillum lets get a fast travel door opened so we can get them." Bubblegum said as she looks at Lillum who nods her head.
"Sorry big guy, need to help get my man in a better mood, maybe next time." Lillum said as she pinched Aggro on the ass again as she moved to fly into Azure's home while Azure sighs and she knocked Mufasa flat on the ground.
"Good fucking glob… we had to get Emerald therapy for this shit and you pull a stunt like this dad… may as well kiss your balls goodbye because I'm telling mom what you just did." Azure said as she walked into the building in a huff.
Mufasa pals after hearing that.
"No, don't tell her that!" He said as he chase after Azure making Cedric facepalm.
"And mom dated him?… this will be awkward when I visit my home."
"Didn't we already do that already?" Bubblegum said when she looks at Cedric as she walked by him.
Cedric sweatdrops.
"I mean when I go by myself." He said.
"Ah… well you got a fast travel door set up so should be a simple visit." Bubblegum said as Marceline, Maite, and Me-Mow rushed out of the house while Marceline had an umbrella.
"OK… who the hell is this Mufasa guy and where do I kick his ass… Lillum just flew into the room we were in and told us everything." Marceline said while she looked pissed.
Maite was also pissed as Me-Mow had her arms crossed.
"Uh… first, if Lillum didn't say this, Mufasa is Azure's dad and he went in there to stop Azure from ratting him out to his wife. Though maybe you guys should find Emerald first. Also if you noticed the big lion dude, that's Azure's ex, Aggro." Finn said.
"Uh did they need to know that?" Jasmine said.
"Just saving time on who's who." Finn countered.
"Fair enough, nice to meet you but we have a guy to find and… hold on…" Marceline said as she sniffed the air a few times.
"His scent isn't in this place… seems like he ran off towards… well… that way?" Marceline said as she points in a certain direction as Bubblegum blinks.
"Isn't that the way to Maite's village or something?" Bubblegum said as she looks confused by why Emerald was heading that way.
Maite was confused before her eyes widened.
"Oh Glob… maybe he's gonna challenge my dad." She said.
"Okay, you guys should definitely get going now before anything." Cedric said.
Marceline and Maite nods their heads as Marceline flew in and got Lillum.
"Come on you!... we got a wild Emerald to catch, for all we know he could either go for Maite's dad or just go that way and use one of those spells to give us the slip." Marceline said as she pulled Lillum out of the house by the ear for a moment and after Lillum was moved in front of Marceline she smacked Lillum's ass hard to get her flying.
"Hey easy!" Lillum said as she groans from the ear pulling before she grabs Maite and starts flying.
Meanwhile… Ironically enough they saw a figure walking to Maite's village… but when they got close, they saw it was just a shadow of Emerald with a note… when Maite and Lillum got close… they saw that it said some things.
"Don't follow me… many shadow spells used to throw scent off with blood mixed in… will need time alone to think… sorry everyone… really…"
"Dang it. Was just a wild goose chase." Maite said.
"No kidding… lets double back… he can't have gotten far." Lillum said though contrary to what Lillum said… Emerald was already well in the Fire Kingdom of all things surprisingly enough… he stopped ironically near Flambo's place of rest and Emerald could only think was this.
"Even after using so much strength in my legs… I'm not even tired… is my body altering even more?" Emerald thought while he looks at his hand but he heard a voice try and get his attention.
"Hey mister. Yous okay?"
Emerald blinks at this before he looks over with an empty look in his eyes when he saw a Flambit of all things… he heard about them and they were normally harmless… all Emerald said was say this.
"No… I'm not…" Emerald said as he moved with great speed so he vanished from the flambits sight while the direction of the kicked up dust on the rock caused the Flambit to hum given that this guy seemed to come into the Fire Kingdom and not get harmed… not only that he looked a lot like a human but with an odd dangerous feeling about him.
"Hmmm… something tells me I should call Finn." Flambo said.
Though given the odd feeling he felt from Emerald, he did want to make sure no trouble was made so he first decided to go to Phoebe… after that he would call Finn…
Once he made it to the Fire Kingdom, he got into the throne room and saw Phoebe sitting on the throne while a person left the room after a usual listen in on the people's complaints.
"Pardon the intrusions yours highness… we may have a problem… a big one." Flambo said when he got close to Phoebe… the armor hid some of her figure but she grew to be a beautiful looking Flame person while parts of her armor were changed to not be so restrictive, in fact it seemed like a mix of armor and a dress now if you look close enough.
Phoebe blinks a bit.
"What type of problem Flambo?"
"Well… this weird guy came bys but he looked human… not Finn the Human but he didn't seems to be harmed by the heat and when I asked if he was OKs and stuff… well he said no and moved with surprising speed into the Fire Kingdom… not towards the Kingdom itself but towards the more dangerous parts of the kingdom from the direction of where he jumped." Flambo said while he looks thoughtful as he tried to remember the direction he jumped.
Phoebe was a bit surprised after hearing that.
"I see… then maybe I should meet this being. Have you called Finn about this?"
"Not yet yours highness… was going to after letting yous know about this, figured we could try and keep things from stressing Finn more than usual since I heard he is with Bubblegum in some kinds of… Creature study thing?... need to ask more details from people passing by… seems he is doing more than hero work now." Flambo said as he moved to leave the throne room.
"I'lls be going to call him now, from the direction of the jump unless he changes directions, he should be heading to the fire wyvern territory." Flambo said while many guards and noble flame people looked surprised when they heard that… Fire Wyverns were highly territorial so going there was tantamount to suicide unless you were a powerful flame person like Phoebe.
Phoebe was surprised to hear this.
"If this person is going there, then I should go myself and stop him before something bad happens." She said with a determined look.
"Will you need an escort Milady?" One of Phoebe's guards asked.
Phoebe shook her head.
"I don't wish for any casualties." She said but the guards protested.
"My Queen, at least take a couple of the strongest guards with you."
"*sigh*... very well… get me Bruno and Jake 3, may as well have the Strongest flame person physically and the Strongest Flame Alpha come with me." Phoebe said when she gave them guard a look to go get the duo.
The guard nods his head before fetching the Duo.
Once this happened, Phoebe met with a massive unit of a Flame person while next to him was an equally powerful Flame Wolf who was much bigger than Phoebe… both had powerful muscles, intense heat, and they looked at Phoebe silently while waiting for their orders… Bruno had a unique helmet with horns and aside from armored grieves, gauntlets, and a chain or two connecting his helmet to some kind of harness… he didn't wear any upper armor, never talked and Jake 3 had a scar over one eye to show he had a few decent fights in him and was toned as hell.
"Hello Bruno and Jake 3. Thanks for coming. I assume the guard told you two what is happening?" Phoebe said.
The duo nods their heads and Jake 3 moved to kneel on the Ground so Phoebe could hop on.
Phoebe approaches Jake 3 before getting on him.
"Alright. Let's move out." She said to the duo.
This results in Phoebe getting carried by Jake 3 at a rapid rate while Bruno, despite his massive frame would suggest was able to keep up when he ran after Phoebe and Jake 3 while he used flames from his hands to propel him over some buildings for impromptu jumps… nuff said the group managed to leave the Flame Kingdom in no time as they worked their way into Fire Wyvern territory in no time.
"Okay you two, based on Flambo's description, we're looking for a human of sorts that looks demonic and has an amulet. So be on the lookout." Phoebe said.
Bruno and Jake 3 nods their heads after they stopped to look around… however considering the Fire Wyvern territory was large… well… they didn't find anything for a bit… but when they did… well… they were in for a shock when they managed to locate the man they were looking for… however the man was laying against a Fire Wyvern and looked like he was actually napping and the wyvern didn't seem to mind?
"Okay… that's shocking". Phoebe said as she didn't expect that.
This got the man's attention and when he looks over, he was silent as Phoebe, Bruno, and Jake 3 got close and the Fire Wyvern looks over with a growl… but the man petting the wyverns side eased the dragon as the man got up.
"Easy there… sorry about her… her child was nearly killed and I helped it before it could be… its getting some help from other healing Fire Wyverns… at least thats what I think they are… over there… the mother is a bit jumpy." the man said as he points in a certain direction which caused Bruno, Phoebe, and Jake 3 to look over and see a injured baby fire wyvern while larger wyverns were using a green colored flame breath to help heal the baby wyvern as the man looks at the trio.
"Though… if you're here to hunt wyverns… I suggest leaving now… I'm really not in the mood to deal with poachers after the day I've had." the man said as a few tentacles came from his back in a threatening manner while a dark mist emits from him while he didn't do anything else as he gave the trio a cold look.
"We're not poachers. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Phoebe, the Flame Queen and this is Bruno and Jake 3."
The man blinks at this while Bruno and Jake 3 were on guard though as the man recalled the tentacles and stopped emitting the dark mist, he sighs.
"Nice to meet you… heard about you from Finn and others mentioned… I'm Emerald… freak of nature that causes many to be frightened in my mere presence… now… if you'll excuse me your highness… I really want to be alone so if you'll excuse me…" the man said as he introduced himself but as he walked away… Bruno got in his way while Emerald raised an eyebrow when it seemed Phoebe gave a gesture to do that and looks at her.
"There's no reason to leave. We come in peace. Was just surprised when I heard you were heading to the wyvern territory." Phoebe said.
"Yeah well I'm leaving now since I'm pretty welcome here… mind telling your guard to move otherwise there may be an incident that you may not want to see your highness… I'm serious… I really don't want to be around others right now…" Emerald said as he starts to walk by Bruno though he was gripped by the hulking flame person with both hands and lifted off the ground while Emerald was silent as shadows covered his eyes.
"Buddy… I'm trying to be nice… well mannered in front of the Queen… and damn well patient despite things… keep this up… and you WILL be losing some fingers." Emerald said as he emits a deep growl with serious killing intent as his amulet glows in reaction to his rising anger.
Jake 3 whimpers when he felt that as Phoebe pets him.
"Bruno… step aside." She said.
Bruno was quiet about this as he sets Emerald down while Emerald was quiet as he starts to walk away while he seemed to have a dead look in his eyes right now.
Phoebe wondered what's wrong before she gets off of Jake 3 and run towards Emerald before lightly grabbing his hand.
"Hold on. Let's at least talk. Maybe I can help you." She said.
Though what she didn't expect was Emerald actually looking angered when he went to punch her, it was only thanks to some quick reforming and away from Emerald while Bruno and Jake 3 got near her while Emerald this time looked royally pissed.
Meanwhile nearby…
Marceline, Maite, Flamebo, Finn, and many others like Azure and Cedric when they changed plans to follow Emerald when they got the call about a guy looking a lot like Emerald from Flambo and when they met Flambo… well they followed Flambo's directions a bit before this… by the time they got to where Emerald was thanks to Flambo's guidance… well… they saw him try and attack Phoebe and Emerald roars this.
"TALK!?... I'M FUCKING DONE TALKING!... THERAPISTS CAN'T HELP SO WHAT MAKES YOU THE FUCKING EXPERT!" Emerald growls while his face was covered in a darkness so thick that even the whites of his eyes were barely seen while he looked almost demonic with the darkness going to his hands and feet similar to when he first transformed and stuff.
The group sees this as they got close to the scene.
"Emerald stop!" Maite said.
When everyone looks over… instead of calming down… Emerald seemed to emit more killing intent shockingly enough.
"Stop?... stop!?... are you kidding me!?... when I want to try and be fucking alone to let my thoughts untangle… everyone wants to get involved and I'm fucking sick of it!" Emerald growls out while he had a look that was almost unhinged though either good timing or very VERY bad… well a portal opened before Emerald when the amulet of the nightosphere glows and Hunson walked through while he hums a bit.
"Hmhmhm… oh hey, when did we get to the fire Kingdom?" Hunson said while some like Marceline couldn't believe this kind of timing and well… Emerald's killing intent kicked into overdrive at the one who turned him into this while his teeth sharpened into points and nuff said more darkness emits from him as a result honestly this was a record breaker when he made that Grandfather oak moment look like a simple thing in comparison.
"Dad, we need help. Emerald is super pissed now. We need to calm him down." Marceline said.
"Huh?" Hunson said as he looks at Emerald though he was more surprised and chuckles in amusement.
"Oh didn't expect this… looks like the transformation is going on more it seems." Hunson said shocking many and even Emerald big time when the killing intent stopped instantly… though in this case the look on his face was like the calm before the storm when Emerald's pupils and the colors of his eyes were extremely shrunken and his gaze seemed unfocused… Cedric noticed this and boy did his ears pick things up like a rising heartbeat.
"Okay… I'm actually hearing his heartbeat rising." Cedric said.
"That's a bad thing right?" Finn said.
"Oh big time… dad what do you mean by this transformation is going on more!?" Marceline asked as Hunson explains.
"Well of course, the amulet is only pumping out 10% of its power at a time, once its done adjusting things it goes onto the next step more or less while keeping his mind intact so-!" Hunson tried to say as Emerald's veins bulge, his breathing got haggard and he moved with such speed that he slugged Hunson into a wall before the Ruler of the Nightosphere could react at this while Emerald looked absolutely feral.
"You!... you're the reason why many see me as a freak of nature!... from people like Azure's family and pretty much normal people who look at me with fear... I'll kill you in such a way that not even your deathless state will help you!" Emerald growled with such ferocity while so much rage was seen on his face that if looks could kills Hunson would be dead thousands of times over while Hunson rubs his cheek while he sat up as he looks thoughtfully at Emerald.
"You can try boy… strike me down no matter how many times and I'll still get up." Hunson said.
"Hooo… if strikes won't work... ever get ripped apart limb from limb and pretty much have your pieces thrown all across Ooo and various dead worlds?... just because your deathless doesn't mean you can't be in states that will make you wish for Death." Emerald said as a cold smirk appeared on his face much to everyone's shock at the surprisingly evil method of dealing with Hunson was said.
Hunson wasn't afraid.
"Kid, you don't have it in you. Think of my daughter and her kids."
Emerald though got quiet and said this as he slowly walked towards Hunson with a cold look in his eyes.
"Oh that is rich coming from you of all people… you made me into this freak of nature and while it was for Marceline… it sure as hell wasn't my first choice… I could have done other ways of becoming immortal… magic… science… making a damn wish… but now you're telling me this transformation thing is just a start of something more?... tell me… in that brain of yours did anything about what I wanted ever go through that skull of yours or was it just for Marceline and her kids since you can have a chance of getting an heir to your throne… don't bullshit me… ever since I got this damn thing I've been hearing voices in my dreams… I've seen beings that no one else can and I'm not thinking I'm nuts with that… I've seen people cower from me… I had beings like Grandfather oak pretty much try and give me a damned test… Azure's dad looked like he wanted to kill me… if it was really for Marceline and her kids sake… why the fuck did you make me into a damned monster that would make many fear me!?... to protect them!?... Marceline is the damn Vampire Queen and is one of the strongest beings in Ooo with few matching her… she has people like Bubblegum who is in fact immortal as long as she isn't killed as far as I know and lets face it… I heard you're not the one with the best forethought…. So why not try and tell me the damned truth… because right now… all I see is a pathetic demon of a man who pretty much didn't know what he had until it was too late and I'm not talking about your wife before you say a low blow moment… I'm talking about Marceline herself… I heard about those fries… I heard about after you got to Ooo thanks to Finn… so why not try and do something honorable at least once because right now… its not just me listening in… your daughter is as well so if you could care less about what happens to me persay since you already got what you want more or less… why not try and explain that?... because right now a distraction should be good since I want to kick the ass of someone right now and ANYONE besides my women will do right now." Emerald growls out as he looked more enraged at the end while he looked like he was barely holding his sanity together.
Hunson was quiet.
"You want honesty… fine. I was trying to make sure I was the perfect dad to Marceline since I've been terrible at that job during her undead life. I just wanted to make up my mistake. Seeing you in this state shows I failed again and I am sorry for causing this much pain to you."
Emerald was quiet for a moment at this when he heard that and well… honestly it was hard to read what he was thinking though he did ask this.
"Fine… say you did this for Marceline… but I don't buy it in that you even feel remorse for me… I've heard you're a soulless remorseless guy who torments people for fun on a daily basis… whats to say you're not trying to just try and throw your mistake under the bus so to speak… to you… to many… I'm just a random guy who pretty much got your daughter knocked up… we don't hang out… we don't do any bonding things… so honestly I doubt ANYONE can say or do anything that can make me think otherwise… this damned voice in my head I've been hearing lately is telling me your lying out of your ass and it feels like its coming from this damned amulet." Emerald said while he gripped the amulet's jewel and when he went to throw it away… well it just teleports back to Emerald's neck much to everyone's surprise… even Hunson's when he didn't expect that to happen… something seriously wasn't right here… a voice?... from the amulet?... and what were these voices now that many thought about it?... Emerald never mentioned voices before…
"Wait… what do you mean voices?" Cedric said.
"Oh like anyone would even believe me about this… I'm sure most of you think I'm insane or something or flat out way beyond repair… day after day when I least expect it a voice says things in my head either about things that happened or comments on things in ways that just flat out sicken me like a twisted conscience…" Emerald said while he clinched his hand for a moment.
"Emerald… no one thinks you're insane." Marceline said.
"It's true Emerald. We all care for you." Maite said.
"Oh really?... what about those onlookers that only I can supposedly see?... I've seen you guys be skeptical and even mock that sometimes and don't think I didn't see that moment before we got in Azure's village Cedric… saw you… *Attempt* to speak with them and stuff before we entered… and seriously… while I can get you care… did no one else besides me see people starting to actually look fearful of me?... even on dates the butlers and waitresses for one example looked like they had to build up courage to even look me in the eyes… how do you explain that!?" Emerald said when he looked really frustrated by this conversation.
Most raised their eyebrows at Cedric when they heard that as Cedric jolts.
"Okay… let's ignore that part." He said before looking at Emerald.
"Look Emerald, we may not know what you're going through but all I can say is that first impressions may be bad but give it time and everyone will get use to this just like your father said."
"Give it time?... Hunson just said this is only the first transformation, second if I'm about to pull an evolve moment soon… there is no getting use to it if people will see more than there is now." Emerald said while he looked exasperated at how things were going.
Cedric had no idea how to respond to that.
"Okay, bad example… does anyone have something to say for back up?"
"Uh… not quite, mind explaining from the too for those who are not in the loop?" Phoebe said as Emerald got a half lidded look on his face.
"Yeah… Mr. Lord of Evil turned me into an immortal monster so that his daughter, my girlfriend or fiance or whatever won't lose her hubby to be from old age… the kicker… many in Ooo aside from people I hang with want to pretty much kill me, look nervous or think I'm a freak of nature now and I don't do jack squat… that enough of an answer for you or should I go into detail on how I was forced to be this by Hunson… stabbed through the heart and recovered from that when a Mermaid named Gamma did that… or how Grandfather oak… AKA mr. Grandpa of all wood based beings in Ooo did a test that royally pissed me off… or how Bubblegum's people look like they will blow up in my mere presence… and Azure's dad was pretty much the final straw because if this is a recurring pattern, why the fuck should I even do these creature study things when I'm the strangest creature in Ooo that requires a fucking death threat." Emerald said and he finished with this.
"Oh… and the kicker… this was shortly AFTER I put a twin based Bun in Marceline's oven so it's been 3 to 4 months since then so yeah… pretty productive months when you get worn down by people looking at you like you're a weapon or freak of nature ready to attack." Emerald said while he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Phoebe's eyes widened after hearing that as everyone was feeling bad for a bit even thought it wasn't their fault.
"Good Glob… I don't know if I should blame most of you. I mean… he doesn't deserve this torment." She said as she was feeling bad for Emerald.
Emerald then surprised many when he sat on the ground.
"Yeah well can't fault them… I'm the ass who pretty much caused many to worry… just do whatever… I'm done with running… I just wanted to be alone to think but even that was too much to ask for it seems." Emerald said while he laid on the ground with a defeated look in his eyes.
Maite was now sad.
"I'm so sorry Emerald. We were just worried for you. I should've just listened to your note." She said before running as she was in tears.
Though thanks to many not realizing it, thanks to everyone being distracted… well… an actual fiery rock titan tried to make an attack on Maite when she was distracted and while many were off guard… Emerald emits a ton of killing intent as he got to his feet while many were frozen.
"Oi… I don't care who you are… I don't care what the fuck I'm feeling right now… but try and sneak in to get a quick meal of one of my women… and I'll kill you in the most painful way imaginable." Emerald growled out while the rock titan was actually frozen from how much killing intent Emerald emitted and a moment later Emerald moved to get near Maite with surprising speed and picked her up and he looks at the fiery rock titan with a look that promises pain if it didn't leave now.
The rock titan pales before fleeing for its life as Maite was surprised from this.
Emerald than sat on the ground with Maite on his lap.
"Sorry for making you cry and stuff… not trying to be a bother…" Emerald said before he suddenly dozed off on everyone and light snoring was heard from him making many blink at the sudden turn of events… first things were dramatic… than Emerald threatened Hunson and when Maite suddenly ran and was about to be attacked by a fire rock titan… well Emerald threatened it away and now as he held Maite… he fell asleep as he sat on the ground?... man this moment was more swinging than mood swings and chaotic.
"Huh… looks like he tired himself out." Hunson said.
"No kidding… Dad we are going to have one big talk later about this with the multiple transformations thing and more… for now… hey Phoebe… mind if we head to your place so we can let Emerald rest, its probably because of him not having time to really rest that he went wild like this… knowing him he will probably need a lot of time to think and stuff but we can't force him to talk." Marceline said when she looks at her dad than Phoebe a moment later.
Phoebe, after calming down, nods her head before looking at Bruno.
"Bruno, pick up Emerald but he gentle. He's innocent." She said.
Bruno was hesitant before he nods his head and went to pick up Emerald as Hunson went to Marceline.
"I'm sorry Marceline. Seems no matter what I'm still a bad father. If your mom still lived, she would beat my ass." He said with a regret look that's sometimes is rare for the lord of chaos.
Marceline sighs as she looks at her father.
"Yeah… but at least you're trying… though you really need to work on your people skills so you're not hanging around demons who inflate your ego so much… for now… just try and keep the soul eating thing to a low level thing for now…. May as well start small." Marceline said when she got up in the air when she floats a bit.
Hunson was thoughtful.
"Guess I can try. If you want, I'll remove the amulet and make Emerald normal again."
"Well you can try." Marceline said since Emerald had a point… there were many ways of making people immortal and last resort, Marceline could just bite him and stuff.
When Hunson heard that and went to remove the amulet… he heard a fememine chuckle enter his mind and heard this after.
"Ah ah ah… not going to happen Hunsy." The voice said as Hunson's hand was forced off the amulet with a small blast shocking many who saw this while Hunson was the most shocked of all as he looks at the amulet and his hand a moment later which had actual damage on it before it slowly healed… him… harmed?
"Whoa! What just happened?" Finn said.
"And was he just… harmed?" Cedric said.
"Seems… like it… looks like there is more to this than even I would know…" Hunson said while he clinched his hand as it fully heals and looks at the others.
"Seems removing the thing is impossible now… Emerald threw it away and it just came back to his neck, seems anyone else trying to remove it will get blasted back and I doubt they would just get singed flesh like I just got." Hunson said while he looks at the amulet while he wondered just what was going on right now.
"So basically… Emerald is stuck with that amulet for a long time." Huntress said.
"Pretty much… guess I screw the kid more than I thought." Hunson said.
"Maybe… ugh… come on talking about things right now about what's pretty obvious won't help us…" Marceline said as she and the others left the area.
Everyone was walking talking to one another as Finn was talking to Phoebe.
"Sorry about today, Phoebe. Are you okay?" He said.
"Well… yeah, just surprised by everything… and I mean everything that happened, things went from 0 to 100 in no time." Phoebe said while she looks at Emerald as Maite walked next to Bruno since he was carrying the sleeping Emerald.
Finn was gonna respond before he took notice of the Flame Queen's armor.
"Did you change your armor?"
"Hmm?... oh yeah, figured while protection is good, it weighed me down too much, what do you think?" Phoebe said when she gestured to her armor/dress… the outfit had wrist bangle like gauntlets, shin guards with armored boots, and a breastplate that covered her chest well… the torso though was missing the middle section around her waist while her upper arms, her upper hips, and her waist were free of armor and a long billowing dress was seen, it went to her heels to give her a rather interesting look like a combat queen of sorts.
Finn lightly blushes when he looks at Phoebe head to toe.
"You actually look… great. Nice figure." He said.
Phoebe blushed a bit from this.
"Hehe, thanks, was trying something different, many probably say I look good just because of the honesty policy and stuff, so hearing it from you and probably others here make me feel nice." Phoebe said while she lightly scratched her cheek a bit.
Still she than looks at Emerald.
"So… is everything he said about what happened to him true and it all happened in 3 to 4 months and stuff?" Phoebe said while she looks a bit concerned for Emerald.
Finn rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah… what happened was…" He said before telling Phoebe, what he heard, about Marceline getting knocked up by Emerald thanks to Bubblegum and Lillum's deal, Emerald meeting Marceline's dad, the mermaids, the problem with Huntress's grandfather's test, though Huntress didn't know, and then how the humans and a couple of Azure's people, Aggro and Mufasa, reacted to Emerald's look.
"… and that's pretty much it. Though much earlier, Emerald was talking to this therapist, who happens to be Maite's cousin."
"I see… sounds intense and wonder why he kept quiet about that voice thing and normal people getting intimidated by him just from being seen alone… how come we're not getting effected?" Phoebe said as Hunson chipped in.
"Probably a mix of your own power, familiarity, and other factors, the intimidation is more or less how he got that Flaming rock titan to scram, makes it so fights end before they begin though it seems its not potent enough unless focused since it seems many don't run in fear of him." Hunson said which would explain some things like people being on guard around Emerald and probably why Emerald didn't intimitate the group… he knew them and was relaxed and stuff… was he subconsciously on guard around others?
"So wait, was Emerald subconsciously on guard from us? I mean we never showed hostility towards him." Finn said.
"Actually the opposite Finn, Emerald was not on guard around you all, its the random folk he was on guard around, this intimidation thing was building up over time and normal people probably started to cause him to go from subconsciously on guard to consciously on guard… makes it more controlled now but now he has to learn how to turn it off at will since its an ability that can help get rid of weak threats, I mean would you be annoyed if you get attacked by weak level 1 enemies on a daily basis?" Hunson said while he tried to put it in a way that some would get hopefully.
Finn was thoughtful.
"Well… if I was in Emerald's shoes… which I almost was thanks to you." He said as he gave Hunson a half lidded look before continuing.
"I would definitely be annoyed if that happened. Especially if my loved ones like Huntress gets involved."
"Yeah well its only for those who have no affiliation with Emerald, if he got to know someone, power level wouldn't matter since he would have gotten to know them and put his guard down around them… nuff said this is an extreme matter of him getting to know people while many are in a majority hostile state… surprised I didn't hear anything about that big guard guy or wolf looking hostile when I appeared, seemed on guard when Emerald was on guard but now look pretty relaxed." Hunson said while Phoebe looks thoughtful.
"Well… maybe its because we're still in the Evil to good phase of the kingdom changing so many are used to intimidating figures, pretty sure no one would really bat an eye at Emerald unless he really concentrates on someone more or less." Phoebe said while she tried to explain why she and others were not hostile on sight and only when Emerald was on guard did they get on guard themselves… she was trying to stop Emerald from leaving as well so she did get him angry and stuff.
It wasn't long before the group finally made it to the castle.
Once inside, Phoebe ordered Bruno to take Emerald to the guest quarters.
Once this happened, she looks at the others and saw that some were about to run out of their flame shield and after a quick area wide recast, many saw that the flame shield was stronger than usual.
"There, now you guys have a few days without much issues of the flame shield spell failing, consider yourselves guests in the castle." Phoebe said when she smiles at the others.
Finn smiles.
"Thanks, Phoebe." He said.
"Hehe, yeah thanks Pheebs. And by the way, nice outfit. Looks good on you." Marceline said with a smirk as Huntress chuckled.
"I know Finn enjoyed it." She said with a teasing smirk causing said human to blush.
Phoebe on her end blushed a little from this.
"W-Well even if he does like it, we're broken up and friends and stuff… besides seems he is having fun with you all since I got more details about this… Creature study thing from Bubblegum… while I can't allow this… fast travel door in the castle, if you're willing to head to the outer wall of the Fire Kingdom walls, I'll allow a fast travel point to be set up and stuff though you'll have to make sure a flame shield is on first since the moment you step through, you'll be in a really heated situation." Phoebe said as she composed herself a moment later.
Huntress did smirk.
"Fair enough. But if you wish to, I don't mind if you have fun with Finn. Nothing wrong having fun with an ex." She said as Jasmine laughs.
"No kidding. Azure here has fun with her ex and girl, he's a very big lion. Kinda the same size as that guard of yours that carried Emerald."
While Phoebe sighs at the stuff with her having fun with Finn since she and Finn were broken up still at this point, finding things quickly getting annoying, she decided to change the subject.
"Really?, what's this big lion guys name?, I find it hard to believe anyone can match Bruno, as you can see he is the strongest of my royal guard and loyal as well… never questions orders unless its for my protection." Phoebe said as Bruno silently stands there while he rubs the back of his helmet covered head for a moment at the compliments while feeling bashful.
"Heard his name is Aggro. Don't know much so might have to ask Azure for more details." She said as she points to said feline.
"Alright, I'll ask later, want to see this Aggro since I haven't left the Fire Kingdom for awhile, may as well have a small vacation to visit various kingdoms and villages of interest, was planning some peace talks between some kingdoms, mainly the water Kingdom with Hydrian the Water Princess." Phoebe said while she smiles at the others.
Most blinked when they heard that.
"Seriously? Well this would be interesting." Me-Mow said.
"How so?" Phoebe said when she wondered what Me-Mow meant.
"Fire, Water… when have you seen both elementals in a room together?" Me-Mow said.
"Technically Me-Mow, PB is an elemental so…" Finn said.
"Huh?" Me-Mow said as Finn quickly explains the four elements, Fire, Slime, Candy, and Ice.
He also explained the Element incident where LSP had to save everyone when she was the Anti-elemental and stuff… Finn finished with this.
"So yeah… things really got hairy that time." Finn said while he rubs his head.
"Huh?… I get Fire and Ice but seriously?… don't remember that happening." Me-Mow said.
"Yeah well most don't remember and only those who did a lot seem to remember like Fern back than… he remembers some things and stuff." Finn said while he couldn't explain more… he really didn't want to talk about him fighting Phoebe back than when he thought she ate well… herself thanks to the jewel and stuff being swallowed when she was a massive blue dragon and Finn mistook things back then.
Huntress sensed this before she pats Finn's back.
"You don't have to talk about it if this memory bothers you Finn."
"Thanks… but thanks to Fern dying and me unlocking my vault I remember everything now… nuff said I got a lot of regrets and stuff… anyway we should rest up, we came here from Azure's place so I'm pretty wiped." Finn said while he rubs his head a bit… good thing a fast travel door can be set up and stuff soon.
"Me too. All that drama got to me good." Marceline said.
"Yeah, and we need to check to see if the twins in Marceline are OK thanks to how stressful things were." Lillum said while Phoebe looks at the others.
"Oh they are fine, unlike Marceline, I can read their heat signatures since they are half vampires not full ones… they may still be developing but they are not showing signs of issues… seems they are pretty tough for vampire hybrid kids." Phoebe said while she smiles at Marceline.
Marceline blinked a bit after hearing that.
"Well that's great to hear." She said with a relax look.
"Hehe, yup, though while I was shocked to hear you were pregnant, all I can say is congrats, if things work out with Emerald, thats cool, and if not, well… heard you have Bubblegum so…" Phoebe said while she grins at Marceline as Bubblegum blushed big time.
Marceline did chuckle.
"Yeah I still have Bonnie and definitely making sure she takes responsibility big time for this. But I will say, I enjoy spending time with Emerald."
"Hehe, sounds nice, which I could find someone like that, honestly people give me a lot of issues saying stuff like you can't be a Queen if your not married… know what I mean?" Phoebe said as Marceline rolls her eyes.
"I know right?... so annoying, some call me a Vampire Princess as well… honestly I kick the ass of people who do that… know what we should hang out more, you seem pretty fun, not sure why no one like Finn didn't introduce us at all." Marceline said while she and Phoebe seemed to have an odd bond on the legitimacy of the Queen status and stuff.
Most looked at Finn as said Human chuckles nervously.
"May bad." He said.
"Eh he probably wanted to keep you to himself and…" Marceline said as she and Phoebe follow Bruno with Maite and Me-Mow in tow as Jasmine looks amused.
"Hehe… me thinks there could be an interesting romance if she and Marceline hook up… or maybe the Queen of Flames and Emerald?... issues aside could be a fun mix since Finn had his shot." Jasmine said with an amused look on her face.
Huntress chuckles.
"Unless Finn wows her himself if he still has feelings for the Flame Queen."
Finn was blushing like a tomato.
"Oh Glob this!" He said before walking out.
Once this happened, Jasmine chuckles as she looks at Huntress.
"Because of that… my money is either on Emerald… or Cedric if he tosses his hat into the ring so to speak though given he has one fiery lady on his end he may as well pass on this one given he has a date with Angel to plan for." Jasmine teased when she grins at Cedric.
Cedric blushes as Huntress chuckles.
"Maybe we should have a wager then."
"Sure… winner of the bet makes the loser their bitch and if Cedric wins we pretty much be Azure's bitch or Cedric's bitches so to speak?" Jasmine said as she and Huntress shake hands.
"Hehe, deal." Huntress said as she shakes Jasmine's hand grabbing it.
"Uh hold on. Don't me and Azure have a say in this? I mean we don't mind having fun with you two but what was the bet? Whoever pleases the Flame Queen the most gets her?" Cedric said.
"Hmm?... oh no, its more like who can make the Flame Queen their bitch more or less, fun is fun but claiming a lady is a different matter." Jasmine said with a fanged grin on her toothy face.
Cedric blinks at this as Bubblegum sighs.
"This won't end well."
"Or end very well… all we need to do is wait and stuff to see how things go, after a day like we had, things should be looking up right?" Huntress said while she looks at Hunson.
"So what will you do now?" Huntress said as Hunson looks thoughtful.
"Maybe… head to Prismo to see whats up with that amulet, he owes me one after a game of poker so may as well claim that IOU and see what is going on… I've had that amulet for as long as I had sentience and never in all my life, which is long mind you, has it done something like this with me, Finn, or Marceline when they wore the amulet… no… something is off here about this situation and I'm not liking this one bit… its one thing to have a gradual transformation but this… its a different matter like instead of a transformation… its more like Emerald is… evolving." Hunson said while he rubs his chin in thought.
"Evolving to what?" Jasmine said.
"No clue, thats why I'm going to ask Prismo, if its one thing you can ask, its him for info on certain dimensions, while there are other me's, you's, and pretty much alternate versions of dimensions, there is only one Prismo thanks to the effect of the Time room keeping him as a singular being as long as he is inside of it… so he has lived much longer than even time itself." Hunson said as he looks at Bubblegum.
"Tell Marceline I'll be visiting Jake for that note of his, heard that Prismo gave him a way to get pickles and stuff and will use that method to get to him… anyway nice meeting with you all again so see you later." Hunson said as he walked out of the throne room.
"Talk about bad and weird at the same time." Jasmine said.
"Yeah no kidding… whats next in this adventure aside more creature fucking?" Huntress said while she shakes her head.
Bubblegum shook her head.
"I'm not sure but I could use some rest.""
"Fair enough… Lillum, we should get going so lets go… Cedric, unless you want one of us to run for the Flame Queen, I would say you use that nose to sniff her down and stuff… we will be going for a good point to make a fast travel point and stuff." Huntress said while everyone looks at Cedric with expecting looks on him to run for Phoebe.
Cedric had a half lidded look.
"Not funny. I may be a wolf but I don't sniff around. That's a dog thing. Second, I haven't exchange any words with her."
"Eh you saw her for awhile and are wolf man much more attuned with their noses?... you saying you can't track the Queen of Flames?" Huntress teased.
Cedric had a half lidded look as he went to look for Phoebe while Huntress looks amused as she gave the others peace sign for victory.
"Come on ladies, lets head back to the Candy Kingdom… hopefully we can get those Orc's studied later at Azure's home and Lillum can have fun with Aggro and stuff." Huntress said as she smirks at the others.
Lillum chuckled.
"Sounds like a plan." She said.
Others chuckle at this, and after this happens the scene fades to black on this day… all things concidered no sex was seen surprisingly enough but that should change soon next chapter with Azure's village and the orcs as Lillum has fun with Aggro… how the scenes would go was a mystery but this would be a chapter that would be mainly Emerald free as he recovers from what just happened to him. |
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\section{Introduction}
Navigation represents one of the most heavily studied topics in robotics~\citep{siciliano2008springer}. It is often approached in terms of \emph{mapping} and \emph{planning}: constructing a geometric representation of the world from observations, then planning through this model using motion planning algorithms~\citep{thrun2007simultaneous,cadena2016past,bresson2017simultaneous}. However, such geometric approaches abstract away significant physical and semantic aspects of the navigation problem that in practice leave a range of real-world situations difficult to handle (see Figure~\ref{fig:teaser}).
These challenges require special handling, resulting in complex systems with many components. Some works have sought to incorporate machine learning techniques to either learn navigational skills from simulation or to learn perception systems for navigation for human-provided labels. In this article, we instead argue that learned navigational models, trained directly on real-world experience rather than human-provided labels or simulators, provide the most promising long-term direction for a general solution to navigation. We refer to such learning approaches as \emph{experiential learning}, because they learn directly from past experience of performing real-world navigation. As we will discuss in Section~\ref{sec:experiential}, such methods relate closely to reinforcement learning.
Geometry-based methods for navigation, based on mapping and planning, are appealing in large part because they \emph{simplify} the navigation problem into a concise geometric abstraction: if the 3D shape of the environment can be inferred from observations, this can be used to construct an accurate geometric model, a path to the destination can be planned within this model, and that path can then be executed in the real world.
However, although some idealized environments fit neatly into this geometric abstraction, real-world settings have a tendency to confound it. Obstacles are not always rigid impassable barriers (e.g., tall grass), and areas that appear geometrically passable might not be (e.g., mud, foliage, etc.). Real-world environments also exhibit patterns that are not used by purely geometric approaches: roads often (but not always) intersect at right angles, city blocks tend to be of equal size, and buildings are often rectangular. Such patterns can lead to convenient shortcuts and intuitive behaviors that are often exploited by humans.
Machine learning can offer an appealing toolkit for addressing these complex situations and exploiting such patterns, but the many different ways of utilizing machine learning for navigation come with very different tradeoffs. In this article, we will focus specifically on \emph{experiential} learning, where a robot learns how to navigate directly from real-world navigation data. We can contrast this with four other types of approaches: (1) methods that utilize learning to handle \emph{semantic} aspects of navigation, typically based on computer vision with human-provided labels~\citep{chen2015deepdriving,armeni20163d,janai2020computer,feng2020deep}; (2) methods that utilize learning to assist in 3D mapping, which is then integrated into standard geometric pipelines~\citep{liu2015learning,garg2016unsupervised,tateno2017cnn,detone2017toward,yang2018deep,detone2018superpoint,chaplot2020neural, murthy2020gradslam}; (3) methods that utilize reinforcement learning in simulated environments and then employ transfer learning or domain adaptation~\citep{sadeghi2016cad2rl,pan2017virtual,muller2018driving,xia2018gibson}; (4) methods that use human-provided demonstrations to learn navigational policies~\citep{pomerleau1988alvinn,silver2010learning,codevilla2018end,bansal2018chauffeurnet,sauer2018conditional,codevilla2019exploring}.
Methods that utilize learning only for handling semantic (1) or geometric (2) perception do not address the limitations of geometry-based methods in terms of failing to understand the \emph{physical} meaning of traversibility and navigational affordances detailed above, though they can significantly improve the performance of geometric methods and address their limitations in regard to semantics. Such techniques can help to make conventional mapping and planning pipelines more effective by endowing them with semantics or more accurate 3D reconstruction. However, like conventional mapping techniques, they do not attempt to directly predict the physical outcome of a robot's actions. This stands in contrast to experiential learning methods that directly learn which observations correspond to traversible or untraversible terrains or obstacles, though a number of works in robotic perception have incorporated elements of experiential learning, for example for learning to classify traversability~\citep{hirose2017go,kahn2018self,wellhausen2020safe,palazzo2020domain,lee2021self}.
Methods based on simulation (3) are limited in that they rely on the fidelity of the simulator to learn about the situations a robot might encounter in the real world. Although simulation methods can significantly simplify the \emph{engineering} of navigational systems, in the end they kick the can down the road: instead of manually adding special cases (tall grass, mud, etc.) into the standard mapping pipeline, we must instead model all such possible conditions in the simulator. Sometimes it might be easier to simulate some phenomenon and then learn how to handle it than to design a controller for it directly. However, human insight is still needed to identify the phenomena to simulate, and human engineering is needed to build such simulations, in contrast to methods that learn from real data and therefore learn about how the world \emph{actually} works.
Indeed, in other domains where machine learning methods have been successfully deployed in real-world products and applications -- computer vision, NLP, speech recognition, etc.,~\citep{lecun2015deep} -- such methods utilize \emph{real} data precisely because such data provides the best final performance in the real world with the least amount of effort.
Methods based on human-provided demonstrations (4), which have a long history in robotic navigation~\citep{pomerleau1988alvinn,schaal1999imitation,silver2010learning,bagnell2015invitation,codevilla2018end,bansal2018chauffeurnet,sauer2018conditional,codevilla2019exploring}, have the benefit of learning about the world as it really is, but carry a heavy price: the performance of the system is entirely limited by the number of demonstrations that are provided and does not improve with more use. In contrast, experiential learning methods~\citep{kahn2021badgr, kahn2021land,shah2020ving,shah2021recon,shah2022viking}, which may also utilize demonstration data in combination with the robot's own experience and, crucially, do not make the assumption that all of the provided data is \emph{good} (i.e., it should not be imitated blindly) offer the most appealing combination of benefits. Such methods handle the world the way it really is, learning traversability and navigational affordances directly from experience, improving as more data is collected and do not require an expert human engineer to model the long tail of scenarios and special conditions that a robot might encounter in the real world.
Algorithms that learn robotic policies from experience often employ ``end-to-end'' learning methods~\citep{levine2016end,xu2017end}. This can either mean that the robot learns the task directly from final task outcome feedback, or that it learns directly from raw sensory perception. Both have appealing benefits, but particularly the former is a critical strength of experiential learning: only by associating actual real-world trajectories with actual real-world outcomes can a robot acquire navigational skills that are not vulnerable to the ``leaky abstractions'' that afflict other manually designed techniques. For example, the abstraction of geometry doesn't capture that tall grass is traversable. The abstraction of a simulator that doesn't model wheel slip doesn't capture that wheels can become stuck in mud. By learning about real outcomes from real data, such issues can be eliminated.
At the same time, as we will discuss in Section~\ref{sec:high-level}, learned navigation systems can (and should) still employ modularity and compositionality to solve temporally extended tasks. Indeed, we will argue that effective learning systems, like conventional mapping and planning methods, should still be divided into two parts: a \emph{memory} or ``mental map'' of their environment, and a high-level \emph{planning} algorithm that uses this mental map to choose a route. Conventional methods simply choose specific abstractions, such as meshes or points in Cartesian space, to represent this map, whereas learning-based methods \emph{learn} a suitable abstraction from data. These learned abstractions are grounded in the things that are actually important for real-world traversability, and they improve as the robot gathers more and more experience in the environment.
The goal of this article is to provide a high-level tutorial on how navigational systems can be trained on real-world data, provide pointers to relevant recent works, and present the overall architecture that a navigational system learned from experience should have. The remainder of this article will focus on providing a high-level summary of navigation via experiential learning, algorithms for learning low-level navigational skills from data, algorithms for composing these skills to solve temporally extended navigation problems, and a brief discussion of several of our recent works that provide experimental evidence for the viability of these approaches.
\section{An Overview of Experiential Learning for Navigation}
\label{sec:experiential}
The central principle behind experiential learning is to learn from actual experience of attempting (and succeeding or failing) to perform a given task, as opposed to learning from human-provided labels, such as semantic labels provided by humans (e.g., road vs. not road), or demonstrations. Perhaps the best known framework for experiential learning is reinforcement learning (RL)~\citep{sutton2018reinforcement}, which formulates the problem in terms of learning to maximize reward signals through active online exploration. However, we will make a distinction between the principle of experiential learning -- learning how to perform a task using experience -- and the \emph{methodology} prescribed by RL. This is because the primary benefits really come from the use of experience, rather than the specific choice of algorithm (RL or otherwise). The particular methods in the case studies in Section~\ref{sec:studies} use simple supervised learning methods, though they can be seen as a particularly na\"{i}ve version of offline RL~\citep{levine2020offline} and could likely utilize more advanced and modern offline RL methods as well.
We can use $\mathbf{o}_t$ to denote the robot's observation at time $t$, $\mathbf{a}_t$ to denote its commanded action (e.g., steering and throttle commands), and $\tau = \{\mathbf{o}_1,\mathbf{a}_1, \dots, \mathbf{o}_H, \mathbf{a}_H \}$ to denote a trajectory (i.e., a trial obtained by running the robot). The algorithm is provided with a dataset of trajectories $\mathcal{D} = \{ \tau_i \}$, which it uses to learn. This can be done either \emph{offline}, where a static dataset consisting of previously collected data is provided and the algorithm learns entirely from this dataset, or it can be done online, where the policy explores the environment, appends the resulting experience to $\mathcal{D}$, and periodically retrains the policy. The critical ingredient is the use of real trial data, \emph{not} whether or not this data is collected online. The power of experiential learning comes from using real experience to understand which trajectories are possible, and which aren't. For example, if $\mathcal{D}$ contains a trajectory that successfully drives through tall grass, the robot can learn that tall grass is traversable. Traversals that are not seen in the data (e.g., there is no trajectory where the robot drives through a wall) should be assumed to be impossible. Of course, this presumes a high degree of coverage in the dataset, and additional online exploration can be helpful here.
It is likely that ultimately the full benefit of experiential learning will be unlocked by \emph{combining} offline and online training, as they offer complementary benefits. The central benefit of offline training is the ability to reuse large and diverse navigational datasets. In the same way that state-of-the-art models in computer vision~\citep{krizhevsky2012imagenet} and NLP~\citep{devlin2018bert} achieve remarkable generalization by training on huge datasets, effective navigational systems will work best when trained on large previously collected datasets, which would be impractical to recollect online for every experiment. At the same time, a major strength of such methods is to continue to improve as more data is collected, particularly for real-world deployments where such methods can benefit from a network effect: as more robots are deployed, more data is collected, the robots become more capable, and it becomes possible to deploy more of them in more settings.
To define the task, we can assume that something in $\mathbf{o}_t$ indicates task completion. For example, the task might be defined by a \emph{goal} $\mathbf{o}_g$, or by a \emph{goal location}, where the location is part of $\mathbf{o}_t$. More generally, it can be defined by some reward function $r(\mathbf{o}_t)$ or goal set $\mathbf{o}_g \in \mathcal{G}$. We will assume for now that it is defined by a single goal $\mathbf{o}_g$, though this requirement can be relaxed. The specific question that the learned model must be able to answer then becomes: given the current observation $\mathbf{o}_t$ and some goal $\mathbf{o}_g$, which action $\mathbf{a}_t$ should the robot take to eventually reach $\mathbf{o}_g$?
RL~\citep{sutton2018reinforcement} and imitation learning~\citep{pomerleau1988alvinn,schaal1999imitation} offer viable solutions to this problem by learning policies of the form $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$, as we will discuss in the next section. However, it is difficult to directly learn fully reactive policies that can reach very distant goals. Instead, we can decompose the navigation problem hierarchically: the robot should build some sort of ``mental map'' of its surroundings, plan through this mental map, and utilize low-level navigational skills to execute this plan. Such skills might, for example, know how to navigate around a muddy puddle, cut across a grassy field, or go through a doorway in a building. But they do not reason about the longer-horizon structure of the plan, and therefore do not require memory. The role of $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ is to represent such skills and, as we will discuss in the next two sections, also to provide \emph{abstractions} that can be used to build the higher level ``mental map.'' This higher level, discussed in Section~\ref{sec:high-level}, can either be an explicit search algorithm, or can be defined implicitly as part of a memory-based (e.g., recurrent) neural network model~\citep{tamar2016value,gupta2017cognitive,zhang2017neural,amos2018differentiable,mirowski2018learning,chaplot2020neural,chaplot2020learning}. This hierarchy is also present in the standard mapping and planning approach, where the geometric map represents the robot's ``memory,'' but the abstraction (3D points) is chosen manually. Viewed in this way, a central benefit of the experiential learning approach is to learn low-level skills $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ that represent navigational affordances, and then \emph{build up its higher level mapping and planning mechanisms in terms of the capabilities of these skills}.
\section{Learning Policies From Data}
\label{sec:rl}
\begin{wrapfigure}{R}{0.5\columnwidth}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.5\columnwidth]{figures/relabel.pdf}
\caption{\textbf{Low-level navigational policies can be trained from data} by extracting tuples $(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$, where $\mathbf{o}_t$ is an observation along a trajectory, $\mathbf{a}_t$ is the corresponding action, and $\mathbf{o}_g$ is an eventual goal that can be reached successfully after taking $\mathbf{a}_t$ in $\mathbf{o}_t$. Both supervised learning and RL-based techniques can do this by using some sort of relabeling function $g(\tau,t)$ to select $\mathbf{o}_g$ during training from the remainder of the trajectory $\tau$ from which $\mathbf{o}_t$ was taken.}
\label{fig:relabel}
\end{wrapfigure}
Training $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ can be framed either as maximizing the probability that $\pi$ reaches $\mathbf{o}_g$, minimizing the time it takes to reach $\mathbf{o}_g$, or in terms of some other metrics. In practice, methods for $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ include goal-conditioned imitation~\citep{ghosh2019learning,lynch2020learning,dasari2020transformers,emmons2021essential,yang2022rethinking} and RL~\citep{kaelbling1993learning,andrychowicz2017hindsight,veeriah2018many,nair2018visual,warde2018unsupervised,pong2019skew,eysenbach2019search,eysenbach2020c,colas2020intrinsically,chane2021goal,chebotar2021actionable} which, though seemingly different conceptually, can be cast into the same framework. An algorithm for training $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ must provide an objective function $J_{\mathcal{D}}(\pi)$, which factorizes over the dataset:
\[
J_{\mathcal{D}}(\pi) = \sum_{\tau \in \mathcal{D}} \sum_{t=1}^H J_{\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\tau}(\pi).
\]
We slightly abuse notation to index time steps in $\tau$ as $\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{a}_t$. In the case of supervised learning, $J_{\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\tau}$ is given by $J^{\text{ML}}_{\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\tau}$:
\[
J^{\text{ML}}_{\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\tau}(\pi) = E_{\mathbf{o}_g \sim g(\tau,t)}[\log \pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)],
\]
where $g(\tau,t)$ is a relabeling distribution that selects future observations in $\tau$ as possible goals. For example, $g(\tau,t)$ might uniformly sample all $\mathbf{o}_{t'}$ where $t' > t$, or select $\mathbf{o}_H$ or $\mathbf{o}_{t+K}$ (see Figure~\ref{fig:relabel}). The general idea is to train the policy to imitate the actions in the trajectory when conditioned on the current observation and \emph{future} observations in that same trajectory. Reinforcement learning algorithms typically use either an expected Q-value objective or a weighted likelihood objective, given by
\begin{align*}
J^{\text{Q}}_{\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\tau}(\pi) &= E_{\mathbf{o}_g \sim g(\tau,t), \mathbf{a} \sim \pi(\mathbf{a}|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)}[Q^\pi(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)]\\
J^{\text{W}}_{\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\tau}(\pi) &= E_{\mathbf{o}_g \sim g(\tau,t)}[w(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g) \log \pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)],
\end{align*}
respectively. In the case of RL, $g(\tau,t)$ can select as goals future time steps in $\tau$, as in the case of supervised learning (``positives''), but can also mix in observations sampled from other trajectories (``negatives'') that are less likely to be reached, since the Q-function or weight will tell the policy that these ``negative'' goals have low values. Prior works have discussed a wide range of different relabeling strategies and their tradeoffs~\citep{kaelbling1993learning,andrychowicz2017hindsight,eysenbach2020c,chebotar2021actionable}. The expected Q objective $J^{\text{Q}}$ is typically used by standard actor-critic methods such as DDPG and SAC~\citep{lillicrap2015continuous,haarnoja2018soft}, as well as offline RL methods such as CQL~\citep{kumar2020conservative}. The Q-function in this case is trained via Bellman error minimization on the same data, with offline RL methods typically including some explicit regularization to avoid out-of-distribution actions. The weighted likelihood objective $J^{\text{W}}$ is used by a number of offline RL methods, such as AWR, AWAC, and CRR~\citep{peng2019advantage,nair2020awac,wang2020critic}, which utilize it to avoid out-of-distribution action queries. Typically, the weight $w(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ is chosen to be larger for actions with large Q-values. For example, AWAC uses the weight $w(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g) = \exp(Q^\pi(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g) - V^\pi(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g))$. Further technical details can be found in prior work on goal-conditioned imitation~\citep{ghosh2019learning,lynch2020learning,dasari2020transformers,emmons2021essential,yang2022rethinking}, standard online RL~\citep{lillicrap2015continuous,haarnoja2018soft,andrychowicz2017hindsight,veeriah2018many,nair2018visual,warde2018unsupervised,pong2019skew,eysenbach2020c}, and offline RL~\citep{peng2019advantage,nair2020awac,wang2020critic,kumar2020conservative,chebotar2021actionable}. For the purpose of this article, note that all three loss functions have a similar structure: they all involve selecting goals $\mathbf{o}_g$ using some relabeling function $g(\tau,t)$, and they all involve somehow training $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ to favor those actions that reach $\mathbf{o}_g$, either directly using the actions that actually led to $\mathbf{o}_g$ in the data in the case of $J^{\text{ML}}$, or actions that have a high value for $\mathbf{o}_g$ according to a separate learned Q-function.
As discussed in the previous section, $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ by itself will not necessarily be effective at reaching distant goals, and perhaps more importantly, it does not maintain a memory of the environment, does not attempt to map it and remember the locations of landmarks, and does not perform explicit planning (though the process of training the Q-function arguably performs amortized planning via dynamic programming during training). Therefore, it is generally only effective for \emph{short-horizon} goals. In the case of navigation tasks studied in prior work with such approaches, this typically means goals that are within line of sight of the robot, or within a few tens of meters of its present location~\citep{savinov2018semi,eysenbach2019search,shah2020ving,kahn2021badgr,shah2021recon,shah2022viking}, though some works have explored extensions to enable significantly longer-range control in some settings, including through the use of memory and recurrence~\cite{gupta2017cognitive,mirowski2018learning}. As a side note, $\mathbf{o}_t$ in general may not represent a Markovian state of the system, but only an observation. The use of recurrence mitigates this issue~\citep{mnih2016asynchronous}, but if we only require the policies to represent short-range skills, this issue often does not cause severe problems.
In the next section, we will discuss how planning and memory can be incorporated into a complete navigational method that uses the policies $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ as \emph{local} controllers. This will require an additional object besides the policy itself: an evaluation or distance function $D(\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ that additionally predicts \emph{how long} $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ will actually take to reach $\mathbf{o}_g$ from $\mathbf{o}_t$ (and if it will succeed at all). As discussed in prior work~\citep{kaelbling1993learning}, this distance function can be extracted from a value function learned with RL. If we choose the reward to be $-1$ for all time steps when the goal is not reached (i.e., $r(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{a}_t,\mathbf{o}_g) = -\delta(\mathbf{o}_t \neq \mathbf{o}_g)$) and $\gamma=1$, we have $D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g) = -V^\pi(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$, though in practice it is convenient to use $\gamma< 1$. With supervised learning, this quantity can be learned by regressing onto the distances in the dataset, using the loss $E_{\mathbf{o}_g \sim g(\tau,t)}[(D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g) - (t' - t))^2]$, where $t'$ is the time step in $\tau$ corresponding to $\mathbf{o}_g$.
\section{Planning and High-Level Decision Making}
\label{sec:high-level}
Navigation is not just a reactive process, where a robot observes a snapshot of its environment and chooses an action. While the explicit process of exact geometric reconstruction in classic navigational methods may be obviated by learning from data, any effective navigational method likely must still retain, either explicitly or implicitly, a similar overall structure: it should acquire and remember the overall shape of the environment (though perhaps not in terms of precise geometrical detail), and it must plan through this environment to reach the final destination, while reasoning about parts of the environment that are not currently visible but were observed before and stored in memory. Indeed, it has been extensively verified experimentally that humans and animals maintain ``mental maps'' of environments that they visit frequently~\citep{gould2012mental}, and these mental maps are more likely topological rather than precise geometric reconstructions. Crucially, such mental maps depend on \emph{abstractions} of the environment. Precise geometric maps use coordinates of vertices or points as abstractions, but these abstractions are more detailed than necessary for high-level navigation, where we would like to make decisions like ``turn left at the light,'' and allow our low-level skills (as described in the previous section) to take care of carrying out such decisions. Thus, the problem of building effective mental maps hinges on acquiring effective abstractions.
\begin{wrapfigure}{R}{0.5\columnwidth}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.5\columnwidth]{figures/planning.pdf}
\caption{\textbf{Planning with learned policies.} Learned distance functions, which correspond to value functions for a low-level policy, describe the connectivity structure in the environment. This provides an \emph{abstraction} for high-level planning informed by the capabilities of low-level skills.}
\label{fig:highlevel_planning}
\end{wrapfigure}
A powerful idea in learning-based navigation is that the low-level policies $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ and their distance functions $D(\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ can provide us with such abstractions. The basic principle is that $D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ can describe the \emph{connectivity} between different observations in the environment. Given input observations of two landmarks, $D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ can tell us if the robot's low-level policy $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ can travel between them, which induces a graph that describes the connectivity of previously observed landmarks, as illustrated in Figure~\ref{fig:highlevel_planning}. Thus, storing a subset of previously seen observations represents the robot's \emph{memory} of its environment, and the graph induced by edge weights obtained from $D(\mathbf{o}_i,\mathbf{o}_j)$ for each pair $(\mathbf{o}_i,\mathbf{o}_j)$ of stored observations then represents a kind of ``mental map'' -- an abstract counterpart to the \emph{geometric} map constructed by conventional SLAM algorithms. Searching through this graph can reveal efficient paths between any pair of landmarks. Critically, this mental map is not based on the geometric shape of the environment, but rather its \emph{connectivity} according to the robot's current navigational capabilities, as described by $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ and $D(\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$. Particularly in the RL setting, where $D(\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ corresponds to the value function of $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$, this makes it clear that the robot's low-level capabilities effectively inform its high-level abstraction, defining both the representation of its memory (i.e., the graph) and its mechanism for high-level planning (i.e., search on this graph).
Using policies and their value functions as abstractions for search and planning has been explored in a number of prior works, both in the case of RL (where distances are value functions)~\citep{nasiriany2019planning,eysenbach2019search} and in the case of supervised learning (where distances are learned with regression)~\citep{savinov2018semi,emmons2020sparse,shah2020ving,beeching2020learning,ichter2020broadly}, and we refer the reader to these prior works for technical details. However, the important ingredient is not \emph{necessarily} the use of graph search, but rather the use of low-level skills to form abstractions for high-level skills. For example, it is entirely possible to dispense with the graph entirely and instead optimize over the goals using a high-level model via trajectory optimization or tree search~\citep{nasiriany2019planning,ichter2020broadly}. Indeed, it is entirely possible that \emph{amortized} higher-level planning methods (i.e., higher-level RL or other learned models) might in the long run prove more effective than classic graph search, or the two paradigms might be combined, for example by using differentiable search methods as in the case of (a hierarchical variant of) value iteration networks~\citep{tamar2016value} or other related methods~\citep{gupta2017cognitive,mirowski2018learning}. The key point is that the higher-level mapping and planning process, whether learned or not, should operate on abstractions that are informed by the (learned) capabilities of the robot.
The graph described in Figure~\ref{fig:highlevel_planning} can be utilized for planning in a number of different ways. In the simplest case, the current observation $\mathbf{o}_t$ and the final desired goal $\mathbf{o}_g$ are simply connected to the graph by using $D(\mathbf{o}_i,\mathbf{o}_j)$, a graph search algorithm determines the next waypoint along the shortest path $\mathbf{o}_w$, and then $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t | \mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_w)$ is used to select the action~\citep{eysenbach2019search}. However, real-world navigation problems often require more sophisticated approaches because (1) the environment might not have been previously explored, and therefore requires simultaneously constructing the ``mental map'' and planning paths that move the robot toward the goal; (2) the goal might be specified with other information besides the target observation. In general, observations in a new environment might be added to the robot's memory (``mental map''), connecting them to a growing graph, and each time the robot might replan a path toward the goal. When the path to the goal cannot be determined because the environment has not been explored sufficiently, the robot might choose to explore a new location~\citep{shah2021recon}, or might use some sort of heuristic informed by side information, such as the spatial coordinate of the target, or even an overhead map~\citep{shah2022viking}. The latter also provides a natural avenue for introducing other goal specification modalities: while the mental map is built in terms of the robot's observations, the final goal can be specified in terms of any function of this observation, including potentially its GPS coordinates~\citep{shah2022viking}.
\section{Experimental Case Studies}
\label{sec:studies}
In this section, we will discuss selected recent works that develop experiential learning systems for robotic navigation, shown in Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results} and Figure~\ref{fig:recon_teaser}: BADGR~\citep{kahn2021badgr}, which learns short-horizon navigational skills from autonomous exploration data, LaND~\citep{kahn2021land}, which extends BADGR to incorporate semantics in order to navigate sidewalks, ViNG~\citep{shah2020ving}, which incorporates topological ``mental maps'' as described in the previous section, and its two extensions: RECON~\citep{shah2021recon} and ViKiNG~\citep{shah2022viking}, which incorporate the ability to explore new environments and utilize overhead maps, respectively.
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{figures/lowlevel.pdf}
\vspace{-0.3in}
\caption{\textbf{Learning outdoor navigation.} BADGR~\citep{kahn2021badgr} learns short-horizon skills from randomly collected data to minimize the risk of collision (a) or choose paths with minimum bumpiness (to stay on paved trails) (b). LaND~\citep{kahn2021land} extends this system to also learn from human-provided disengagement commands, thus learning the semantics of driving on sidewalks (c) without explicit labels or rules. ViNG~\citep{shah2020ving} utilizes goal-conditioned skills and combines them into long-horizon plans by building ``mental maps'' from prior experience in a given environment to reach a series of visually indicated goals for the task of autonomous mail delivery (d).}
\label{fig:lowlevel_results}
\vspace{-0.1in}
\end{figure}
\subsection{Learning Low-Level Navigational Skills}
\label{sec:lowlevel}
Low-level navigational skills can be learned using model-free RL, model-based RL, or supervised learning. We illustrate a few variations in Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results}. All of these methods only use forward-facing monocular cameras, without depth sensing, GPS, or LIDAR. BADGR~\citep{kahn2021badgr} employs a partially model-based method for training the low-level skill, predicting various task-specific metrics based on an observation and a candidate sequence of actions. Data for this method is collected by using a randomized policy. The model is trained from this autonomously collected data, analogously to the models in Section~\ref{sec:lowlevel}, and can predict the probability that actions will lead to collision (visualized in Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results} (a)), the expected bumpiness of the terrain (Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results} (b)), and the location that the robot will reach, which is used to navigate to goals. LaND~\citep{kahn2021land}, shown in Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results} (c), further extends this method to also predict disengagements from a human safety monitor, with data collected by attempting to navigate real-world sidewalks. By taking actions that \emph{avoid} expected future disengagements, the robot implicitly learns social conventions and rules, such as staying on sidewalks and avoiding driveways, which enables the LaND system to effectively navigate real-world sidewalks in the city of Berkeley, California. These case studies illustrate how experiential learning can enable robotic navigation with a variety of objectives that allow accommodating user preferences and semantic or social rules. The training labels for these objective terms are provided during data collection either automatically via on-board sensors (with collision and bumpiness) or from human interventions that happen naturally during execution (in the case of LaND).
The above methods focus on low-level skills. Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results} (d) illustrates ViNG~\citep{shah2020ving}, which integrates low-level skills, in this case represented by a goal conditioned policy $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ and distance model $D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ that are trained following using the supervised learning loss in Section~\ref{sec:lowlevel}, with a high-level navigation strategy that builds a ``mental map'' graph over previously seen observations in the current environment, as detailed in Section~\ref{sec:high-level}. Note that this ``map'' does not use any explicit localization, it is constructed entirely from images previously observed in the environment. The visualization in Figure~\ref{fig:lowlevel_results} (d) uses GPS tags, but these are not available to the algorithm and only used for illustration. ViNG uses goals specified by the user as images (i.e., photographs of the desired destination), and requires the robot to have previously driven through the environment to collect images that can be used to building the mental map that the system plans over. Note, however, that the low-level model $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ is trained on data from many different environments, constituting about 40 hours of total experience, while the experience needed to build the map in each environment is comparatively more modest (comprising tens of minutes). In the next two sections, we will describe how this can be extended to also handle novel environments.
\subsection{Searching in Novel Environments}
\label{sec:recon}
The methods discussed above don't give us a way to reach goals in previously unseen environments---this would require the robot to \emph{physically search} a novel environment for the desired goal. In conventional navigation systems, this is done by simultaneously mapping the environment and updating the plan on the fly. Experiential learning systems can also do this, building up their ``mental map'' as they explore the new environment.
\begin{wrapfigure}{R}{0.45\columnwidth}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.45\columnwidth]{figures/recon_map.pdf}
\vspace*{-0.2in}
\caption{\textbf{Searching a novel environment} for a user-specified goal image (inset), RECON~\citep{shah2021recon} incrementally builds a topological ``mental map'' of landmarks (white) by sampling \emph{latent} subgoals and navigating to them (blue path). Subsequent traversals use this mental to reach the goal quickly (red).}
\label{fig:recon_teaser}
\end{wrapfigure}
As with ViNG, we can first train the low-level policy $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{o}_g)$ and distance model $D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{o}_g)$ on data from many different environments (RECON~\citep{shah2021recon}, described here, uses the same dataset). However, exploring a new environment requires being able to propose \emph{new} feasible goals that have not yet been visited, rather than simply planning over a set of previously observed landmarks. This requires the learned low-level models to support an additional operation: sampling a new \emph{feasible} subgoal that can be reached from the current observation. Sampling entire images, though feasible with a generative model, is technically complex. Instead, RECON employs a low-dimensional latent representation of feasible subgoals, learned via a variational information bottleneck (VIB)~\citep{alemi2016deep}. Specifically, a latent goal embedding is computed according to a conditional encoder $q(\mathbf{z}_g | \mathbf{o}_g , \mathbf{o}_t)$, where conditioning on \emph{both} $\mathbf{o}_g$ and $\mathbf{o}_t$ causes $\mathbf{z}_g$ to represent a kind (latent) change in state. The VIB formulation provides us with both a trained encoder $q(\mathbf{z}_g | \mathbf{o}_g , \mathbf{o}_t)$, which we can use to then train $\pi(\mathbf{a}_t|\mathbf{o}_t, \mathbf{z}_g)$ and $D(\mathbf{o}_t,\mathbf{z}_g)$, and a prior distribution $p_0(\mathbf{z}_g)$ that can be used to sample random latent goals. VIB training optimizes for random samples $\mathbf{z}_g \sim p_0(\mathbf{z}_g)$ to correspond to feasible random goals -- essentially random nearby locations that are \emph{reachable} from $\mathbf{o}_t$.
The ability to sample random subgoals $\mathbf{z}_g$ is used by RECON in combination with a fringe exploration algorithm, which serves as the high-level planner. RECON keeps track of how often the vicinity each landmark in the graph has been visited and, if the robot cannot plan a path directly to the final goal, it plans to reach the ``fringe'' of the current graph, defined as landmarks with low visitation counts, and from there sample random goals $\mathbf{z}_g \sim p_0(\mathbf{z}_g)$. This causes the robot to seek out rarely visited locations and explore further from there, as illustrated in Figure~\ref{fig:recon_teaser} (blue path). After searching through the environment once, the robot can then reuse the mental map to reach the same or other goals much more quickly.
\subsection{Learning to Navigate with Side Information}
\label{sec:viking}
\begin{wrapfigure}{R}{0.45\columnwidth}
\centering
\vspace{-0.2in}
\includegraphics[width=0.45\columnwidth]{figures/viking.pdf}
\vspace*{-0.2in}
\caption{\textbf{Kilometer-scale navigation using geographic hints.} ViKiNG~\citep{shah2022viking} can use a satellite image to perform informed search in large real-world environments (a), involving navigating on paved roads (b), through a dense patch of trees (c), while showing complex behavior like backtracking on encountering a dead-end (d).}
\label{fig:viking_teaser}
\vspace*{-0.2in}
\end{wrapfigure}
Specifying the goal solely using an image can be limiting for more complex navigational tasks, where the robot must drive a considerable distance and simply searching the entire environment is impractical. To extend experiential learning to such settings, ViKiNG~\citep{shah2022viking} further incorporates the ability to use GPS and overhead maps (e.g., satellite images or road schematics) as ``heuristics'' (in the A* sense) into the high-level planning process. This can be seen as somewhat analogous to how humans navigate new environments by using both geographic knowledge (e.g., from a paper map) and first-person observations, combined with patterns learned from their experience~\citep{wiener2009taxonomy}.
ViKiNG trains an additional \emph{heuristic} model that receives as input the image of the overhead map, the approximate goal location (obtained via a noisy GPS measurement), and a query location, and predicts a heuristic estimate of the feasibility of reaching the goal from that location. This estimate is learned from data via a variant of contrastive learning~\citep{oord2019representation}. It is then included in the search process as a heuristic, analogously to how heuristics are used in A* search, though with a modification to account for the fact that the robot is carrying out a \emph{physical} search of the environment, and therefore should also take into consideration the time it would take for it to travel to the best current graph node from its \emph{current} location.
In an experimental evaluation, ViKiNG is able to extract useful heuristics from satellite images and road schematics, and can navigate to destinations that are up to 2 kilometers away from the starting location in new, previously unseen environments, using low-level policies and heuristic models trained on data from other environments. Evaluated environments include hiking trails, city roads in Berkeley and Richmond in California, suburban neighborhoods, and office parks. Figure~\ref{fig:viking_teaser} shows one such experiment, where the robot successfully uses satellite image hints to navigate to a goal 1.2km away without any human interventions.
Note that the information from GPS and overhead maps is used merely as heuristics in the high-level planning algorithm, and not directly incorporated in the observation space for the low-level navigational skills. This illustrates an important principle of the low-level vs. high-level decomposition for such learning-based methods: both the low-level and high-level components can utilize learning and benefit from patterns in the environment, but they serve inherently different purposes. The low level deals with local traversibility, while the high level aims to determine which paths are more likely to lead to the destination. Note also that the approach for learning the heuristic model is fairly general, and could potentially be extended in future work to incorporate other types of hints, such as textual directions.
\section{Prospects for the Future and Concluding Remarks}
We discussed how experiential learning can be used to address robotic navigation problems by learning how to traverse real-world environments from real-world data. In contrast to conventional methods based on mapping and planning, methods that learn from experience can learn about how the robot \emph{actually} interacts with the world, directly inferring which terrain features and obstacles are traversible and which ones aren't, and developing a grounded representation of the navigational affordances of the current robot in the real world. However, much like how conventional mapping and planning methods build an internal abstract model of the world and then use it for planning, learning-based methods \emph{also}, implicitly or explicitly, construct such a model out of their experience in each environment. However, as we discuss in Section~\ref{sec:high-level}, in contrast to the hand-designed abstractions in geometric methods (e.g., 3D points or vertices), learning-based methods acquire these abstractions based on the capabilities of the learned skills. Thus, robots with different capabilities will end up using different abstractions, and the representations of the ``mental maps'' that result from such abstractions are not geometric, but rather describe the connectivity of the environment in terms of the robot's capabilities.
Such methods for robotic navigation have a number of key advantages. Besides grounding the robot's inferences about traversibility in actual experience, they can benefit from large and diverse datasets collected over the entirety of the robot's lifetime. In fact, they can in principle even incorporate data from other robots to further improve generalization~\citep{kang2021hierarchically}. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, such methods can continue to improve as more data is collected. In contrast to learning-based methods that utilize human-provided labels, such as imitation learning~\citep{pomerleau1988alvinn} and many computer vision approaches~\citep{chen2015deepdriving,armeni20163d,janai2020computer,feng2020deep}, experiential learning methods do not require any additional manual effort to be able to include more experience in the training process, so every single trajectory executed by the robot can be used for further finetuning its learned models. Therefore, such approaches will benefit richly from scale: the more robots are out there navigating in real-world environments, the more data will be gathered, and the more powerful their navigational capabilities will become. In the long run, this might become one of the largest benefits of such methods.
Of course, such approaches are not without their limitations. A major benefit of hand-designed abstractions, such as those used by geometric methods, is that the designer has a good understanding of what goes on \emph{inside} the abstracted model. It is easy to examine a geometric reconstruction to determine if it is good, and it is comparatively easy to design an effective planning algorithm if it only needs to plan through geometric maps constructed by a given mapping algorithm (rather than a real and unpredictable environment). But such abstractions suffer considerable error when applied to real-world settings that violate their assumptions. Learning-based methods, in contrast, are much more firmly grounded in the real world, but because of this, their representations are as messy as the real world itself, making the learned representations difficult to interpret and debug. The dependence of these representations on the data also makes the construction and curation of the dataset a critical part of the design process. While workflows for evaluating, debugging, and troubleshooting supervised learning methods are mature and generally quite usable, learning-based control methods are still difficult to troubleshoot. For example, there is no equivalent to a ``validation set'' in learning-based control, because a learned policy will encounter a different data distribution when it is executed in the environment than it saw during training. While some recent works have sought to develop workflows, for instance, for offline RL methods~\citep{kumar2021workflow}, such research is still in its infancy, and more robust and reliable standards and workflows are needed.
Safety and robustness are also major challenges. In some sense these challenges follow immediately from the previously mentioned difficulties in regard to interpretability and troubleshooting: ultimately, a method that always works is always safe, but a method that sometimes fails can be unsafe \emph{if it is unclear when such failures will occur}, which makes it difficult to implement mitigating measures. Therefore, approaches that improve validation of learning-based methods will likely also improve their safety. Non-learning-based methods often have more clearly defined assumptions. This can make enforcing safety constraints easier in environments where those assumptions are not violated, or where it is easy to detect such violations. However, this can present a significant barrier to real-world applications: a SLAM method that assumes static scenes can work well for indoor navigation, but is not viable for example for autonomous driving. The most challenging open-world settings could violate \emph{all} simplifying assumptions, which might simply leave no other choice except for learning-based methods. This makes it all the more important to develop effective techniques for uncertainty estimation, out-of-distribution robustness, and intelligent control under uncertainty, which are all currently active areas of research with many open problems~\citep{gal2016dropout,guo2017calibration,lakshminarayanan2017simple}.
In the end, learning-based methods for robotic navigation offer a set of features that are very difficult to obtain in any other way: they provide for navigational systems that are grounded in the real-world capabilities of the robot, make it possible to utilize raw sensory inputs, improve as more data is gathered, and can accomplish all this with systems that, in terms of overall engineering, are often simpler and more compact than hand-designed mapping and planning approaches, once we account for the additional features and extensions that the latter require to handle all the edge cases that violate their assumptions. Methods based on experiential learning are still in their early days: although the basic techniques are decades old, their real-world applicability has only become feasible in recent years with the advent of effective deep neural network models. However, their benefits may make such approaches the standard for robotic navigation in the future.
\section*{Acknowledgements and Funding}
The research discussed in this article was partially supported by ARL DCIST CRA W911NF-17-2-0181, the DARPA Assured Autonomy Program, and the DARPA RACER Program, as well as Berkeley AI Research and Berkeley DeepDrive.
\bibliographystyle{IEEEtran}
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The United States has long been an unusual study in medical care, with employers assuming much of the cost. Now, though, as the employers say "enough," calls are deepening for the government to take on more of that role through nationalized health care.
The opposite situation is unfolding in other parts of the world. As long-running national health systems become overburdened, more employers are paying for workers' supplemental health care costs.
According to the Watson Wyatt survey cited by the NYT piece, India's employers will spend 30% more this year on health care than they did in 2007. That's a one year increase. Canadian employers will spend 12% more than last year. Even British employers will spend 8% more than last year.
Granted in some of these countries these are percentage gains on what are relatively small expenses already, but it is still interesting and further circumstantial evidence questioning the sustainability of government run health programs with single budgets. |
From Good Homes
An album's cover art is easily one of a band's first selling points. I remember walking through the aisles of Best Buy when I was in college at the time when they used to place selected CDs with headsets. As I walked down one aisle I noticed the cover for From Good Home's second album, "Open Up The Sky". I briefly stopped and then continued walking. But something made me turn around to look at it again. I was drawn by the artwork and couldn't help but wonder what kind of music was hiding inside this unknown band's album. I took a chance and bought it. As it turns out From Good Homes (FGH) quickly became one of my favorite bands of all time.
Album cover for "Open Up The Sky"
In the early-to-mid 90s, The Dave Matthews Band made their mark on the world and people everywhere were suddenly discovering "jam-bands". Jam-band is a category for bands whose songs are often elaborated on by live improvisational performances. Sometimes a three-minute song can turn into twenty minutes during a live show. And it's this style that made "Dead Heads" (Grateful Dead fans) follow the Grateful Dead around from town to town. Well…that and probably the drugs. But these interpretations would change every time depending on the mood of the band.
Although bands like the Grateful Dead already performed these types of concerts, Dave Matthews helped to reintroduce it to a new generation. Some would say he lead the wave of 1990s jam-bands, making that style famous again (or at least helped create the category since "jam-band" wasn't an official term when the Dead were around in the 60s).
Jam-bands seemed to be the alternative to Alternative music in the 1990s and the general public started to take notice of other closely related bands like Phish and Blues Traveler. But there was another unrecognized jam-band with something that the others did not have: Hick-pop. It's the term coined by one of their critics to help describe their unique style of rock, folk, jazz and Celtic influences.
L-R: Todd, Patrick, Jamie, Brady, Dan
FGH consists of Todd Sheaffer (vocals, guitar), Brady Rymer (bass, vocals), Patrick Fitzsimmons (drums, vocals), Jamie Coan (guitar, mandolin, violin, vocals) and Dan Myers (saxophones, vocals). Originally Todd, Brady and Patrick began playing together in high school and by 1990, they had added Dan and Jamie; they were on the cusp of their FGH namesake. They had a bit of a run in with the law for breaking into a bar where their instruments had been locked up when the bar owner decided to close early. Since they hadn't performed yet, they broke in and performed "as scheduled". The judge sentenced them to community service instead of jail time, declaring that they seemed like they were "from good homes".
In 1994, they released their debut album "Hick-Pop Comin' At Ya!" Released independently, the album has the sound of a very young and enthusiastic band. There are several stand out tracks: "Maybe We Will", "Comin On Home", "Black Elk Speaks", "Scudder's Lane", and "Drivin' 'n' Cryin'". But the album feels as if it comes from a band that still hadn't tapped into their true potential. It wouldn't be long before they found their songwriting talents, when their debut was quickly followed up with their first major label release "Open Up The Sky" in 1995.
Album cover for "Hick-Pop Comin' At Ya!"
"Open Up The Sky" is the album that proved they could develop their songs with more innovation, focus and arrangement. It has a very simple and natural sound to it with styles varying from rock and folk. It's a flawless record with every track bringing originality and a powerful sense of emotion. With themes of isolation, frustration and the search for a new life, it's a great album for anyone traveling long distances. Writing meaningful, thought-provoking lyrics is only half of their strength. They also know how to make an audience dance. Even their slower tunes gives you the sense to tap your foot.
Suggested tracks: "Let Go", "Rain Dance", "Sunshine", "Radio On" and fan favorite "Head". (Side Note: "Head" has had many incarnations throughout its life. It was even turned into a bluegrass tune on the debut album of Todd's other band Railroad Earth).
L-R: Brady, Patrick, Dan, Jamie, Todd
FGH not only were critically successful, but they also impressed their musical colleagues. They toured with Dave Matthews Band, Ratdog (with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead) and Hootie and the Blowfish who applauded their outstanding live performances. In fact, it's their live shows that helped gain FGH their huge following, much like the Grateful Dead. Although I've never personally witnessed their live shows, based on their live recordings it's clear that this band doesn't write music simply from a technological point of view, they create it on instinct and feeling.
Image from official website: www.fromgoodhomes.com
In 1998, they released their self-titled studio album; a record ranging from somber and atmospheric to fun and jazzy. It's miles away from their previous album but similar in quality and innovation. I was surprised by how flawless it was considering they had written such a perfect album prior. Suggested tracks: "The Butterfly And The Tree", "Cold Mountain", "Ride All Night", "Goin' Out", "Broken Road", "Kick It On" and my personal favorite "The Giving Tree".
I was excited by the future of this band and curious as to what would be next. Unfortunately, they decided to part ways around the time of this album. Of course, this was 1998 and the Internet hadn't become as widely used for news as it is today so I was unaware of their breakup for several years.
Album cover for "From Good Homes"
That entire time I was waiting and by 2001, I learned that Todd formed a new band (Railroad Earth). Fortunately, Railroad Earth's debut was incredible. Todd created a band nearly unplugged to shape a very natural, bluegrass sound. Once again, the band gathered a huge following based on their live performances.
Album cover from "The Black Bear Sessions" by Railroad Earth
At the same time, Brady started making his solo records beginning with the amazing "Good Morning, Gus" which is an accidental album. Brady wrote most of these songs for his son Gus and eventually the songs made their way to the ears of friends and family – and the demand for the songs became high. Based on the enthusiasm for the record, Brady formed a touring band and began releasing more and more children's records. He was recently nominated for a Grammy for his children's record "Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could".
Album cover for "Good Morning, Gus" by Brady Rymer
Drummer, Patrick released his solo records in a very unique fashion. He sold pre-release albums to help pay for the recording process. Basically, he was selling the album before it was even made and the people who bought the pre-release were given a bonus CD as a thank you. This was a concept foreign to most artists (and shoppers) and tested nearly a decade before Kickstarter was online.
Album cover for Patrick Fitzsimmons's 2nd record "Dance"
Dan Myers founded the recording studio Dirt Floor Studio and has worked with such artists as Sam Champion, Adam Green as well as with Todd and Brady. Jamie Coan writes and records music while also playing fiddle and dobro for The Red Top Ramblers.
Many fans, including myself, can only hope that one of their reunion performances will lead them into the recording studio to continue what they started back in the 90s. It's honorable that they have all remained friends while continuing their individual projects but the audience isn't done with FGH yet. We're still waiting for more Hick-pop to come at us.
For more information about FGH, visit their official site here: www.fromgoodhomes.com
TRIVIA: Originally, the core members went under the name "Old Crow" and later "The Dogs".
Posted by 2nd First Look at 8:37 PM
Labels: Jav Rivera, music
Saving Fish From Drowning
Amy Tan introduces her novel Saving Fish From Drowning with a story from "real life": how she wandered into a New York library to escape bad weather one day and found the material for the book as she passed the time. Or, so many readers thought; later, people began to look into the supposedly true events and people that inspired the novel, and many cried foul when they couldn't substantiate Tan's claims. There are websites with comment after comment from readers, lamenting that they feel duped by the author. I'll freely admit that I was one of those readers who took the opening story at face value, but I'm more inclined to say "bravo" to Ms. Tan. Having read some of her other work and already knowing what a talented storyteller she is, her "sleight of hand" on the page gives me more admiration for her as a fellow writer. It's not always easy to draw readers in to your work and interweave multiple plot lines, and Tan's possibly faux preface does both things exceedingly well.
The novel revolves around a quirky socialite and art dealer named Bibi Chen and a group of her well-to-do friends who are planning a holiday time trip to China and Myanmar. After making the arrangements for their adventure and designating herself as tour guide, Bibi dies unexpectedly and mysteriously. Brand new to the afterlife, she still goes along with the group, trying to figure out how to navigate her new existence along the way. Despite Bibi's sudden passing, her friends go forward with the vacation, justifying it by asserting that Bibi would've wanted them to forge ahead. Tan's use of Bibi as a wacky, unreliable storyteller is pure fun. What follows is a winding, complex comedy of errors that culminates with the group disappearing into a jungle on Christmas Day.
Though this isn't a quick read (it has 474 pages), the commentary from Bibi Chen throughout amps up the adventure. Sometimes sarcastic and always opinionated, Bibi gives us glimpses into the characters' faults, attributes and frailties. It's through these insights from Bibi that characters who seem a little bit cloying on the surface are given more depth, and we can even empathize. While much of the novel is somewhat light-hearted and funny, political commentary, misunderstandings (and just plain ignorance) of other cultures and beliefs also play a large part in the storyline. There were a few characters that I would have liked to have seen expanded on even more, and some reactions from the characters that seemed rather unrealistic considering the circumstances. All in all though, this novel maintained a perfect record: there hasn't yet been a book from Amy Tan that I haven't enjoyed.
Posted by 2nd First Look at 10:28 PM
Labels: Lisa Adamowicz Kless
The Grays | Ro Sham Bo
Most music-lovers typically have most of the classic albums in their collections such as Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" or The Beatles "White Album". Every so often, however, you find an album that should be in their collection. "Ro Sham Bo" by The Grays is one of those.
The Grays released their first and only album "Ro Sham Bo" in 1994. The album has a classic rock sound, with polished guitars, incredible production value, and what feels like a cross between The Eagles and The Beatles. The band consisted of Jason Falkner (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard), Jon Brion (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard), Buddy Judge (vocals and guitars), and Dan McCarroll (drums).
And despite it being the only album they ever released, it has been critically applauded for years. It was produced by Grammy Award-winning music engineer and producer Jack Joseph Puig. Puig also produced albums for U2, The Black Crowes, Weezer, Fiona Apple, The Counting Crows, Stone Temple Pilots, and Sheryl Crow.
L-R: Jason Falker, Jon Brion, Dan McCarroll, Buddy Judge
The album produced the single "Very Best Years" which had minor airplay on the radio. Their music video didn't get much attention on MTV or VH1 either. I distinctly remember hearing the tail end of it on the radio and hoping for the DJ to announce the name of the band. But as luck would have it I would have to wait until another few weeks, while driving my car, to discover its creator. I immediately bought the CD and still claim it as one of the best albums in my vast collection.
In a way, The Grays could be referred to as a super group, albeit none of them had achieved much popularity before forming. But it was a collaboration from musicians who had already established themselves as solo songwriters. The album is so flawless that it's hard to pinpoint the best tracks to suggest, however, here are some of my favorites:
"Everybody's World" (by Buddy Judge)
Buddy Judge has been establishing himself as a composer for films and documentaries. "Everybody's World" is a good example of layering and production mixing. The track begins with a grungy guitar that slowly builds into the main theme, much like a film's score crescendoing to the pinnacle of a scene.
"Both Belong" (by Jason Falkner)
Something in my brain loves the sound of an acoustic guitar. Jason Falkner's "Both Belong" proved that a rock band could still function as powerful without the use of a loud electric guitar. Of course I would later be exposed to such classic albums from bands such as The Who and Boston who often used acoustic guitars to compliment the electric lead and rhythm guitars.
"Same Thing" (by Jon Brion)
One of the many things that I love about The Grays is their song dynamics. "Same Thing" is a great example of the band's ability to change their musical emotion and tempo within the same song. Their compositions can start light-hearted and take a dramatic turn somewhere in the middle and come back around to playful melodies. "Same Thing" also showcases their guitar solos which helped strengthen the intensity of the overall piece. Their solos never sound contrived or arrogant; they simply add to the song with technical and emotional skills. It's rare to find an album composed of songs that feel this established and perfected while maintaining their spontaneity.
"Is It Now Yet" (by Buddy Judge and Dan McCarroll): Judge and McCarroll may not have gained as much attention as Falkner and Brion but their contributions to this album made a huge impact. "Is It Now Yet" introduces the album's more dark sound. A crude view at life, the song possesses one of the band's best features: their harmonies. As depressing as the lyrics may be, one can't help but sing along to the harmonic chorus.
"Friend Of Mine" (by Jason Falkner): Twang guitars that sound like a modern version of a classic Eagles tune mixed with a typical composition by Falkner make "Friend Of Mine" a side step to alternative music. It's one of the strongest tracks on the album and yet probably the reason most teens in the 1990s didn't "get" The Grays. It's somber and yet aggressive. It may have twang but this is certainly not a country-pop tune. It's definitely ahead of its time and much more grown up than the Grunge music that was beginning to form at the time.
"No One Can Hurt Me" (by Jon Brion)
Jon Brion could be described as a visual composer and when you listen to the tracks he wrote on this album you can't help but feel that mindset. "No One Can Hurt Me" begins with a slippery bass line and unusual instrumental elements floating in and out within the background. The acoustic guitar's main riff slowly strums in and after the track's long intro the main song begins. This is where the band treads on alternative and progressive music.
The individual band members each have had great success. Jon Brion has composed music for several films including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I Heart Huckabees, Punch-Drunk Love, and Magnolia.
Jon Brion
Dan McCarroll was recently promoted from Senior Publishing Executive to President of Capital and Virgin Label Group in North America.
Buddy Judge has composed music for several films including This Is Where We Take Our Stand, Beer Wars, Certifiably Jonathan, and for the DVD of David Fincher's film, Zodiac. He has also recorded with such artists as Aimee Mann, Michael Penn, Liz Phair and The Wallflowers.
Jason Falkner has gone onto produce several critically successful solo records. He has also performed on albums for several musicians including Paul McCartney, Susanna Hoffs, Beck, Aimee Mann, and Daniel Johnston. *Side Note: Falkner was approached by Paul McCartney after he heard Falkner's album "Bedtime with The Beatles," an instrumental interpretation of The Beatles music made for newborns. Additionally, McCartney contributed to the followup, "Bedtime With The Beatles Part Two."
Jason Falkner's album "Bedtime With The Beatles"
Jason Falkner's album "Bedtime With The Beatles Part Two"
Falkner is one of the many artists who have inspired me to experiment with the production of a song. Instead of working with session musicians to play the other instruments, he often layers his own performances to create a band-like sound. His album "Necessity: The 4-Track Years" is an excellent example of his layering. This was made, before digital recording, by use of an analog 4-Track recorder. (Falkner used Tascam's Porta One Unit).
Jason Falkner
For those of you unfamiliar with this device, it's basically a tape player that can record up to 4 instruments/tracks separately. In Falkner's case, he used the process of sel-sync (selective synchronous) recording which allowed him to record on a separate track while playing back the previously recorded track – hence layering.
iPad's digital version of the Porta One
"Ro Sham Bo" has an experimental feel to it and it could be theorized that these were four incredible musicians attempting to collaborate on a passion project. So it's a shame that The Grays parted ways because their techniques, though seemingly perfected, had plenty of room for further exploration. I respect them for following their own paths but I can only imagine what direction they would have gone on a follow-up album. It's unlikely that the band will ever get back together but fortunately we have "Ro Sham Bo" to celebrate.
At the time of posting this article, there was no official download of this album. Hopefully it will be re-released in the near future but until then here's a link to a myspace page with some of the tracks available for previewing: http://www.myspace.com/thegraysroshambo
And for more information on the band, visit:
Jason Falkner: www.jasonfalkner.net
Jon Brion: www.imdb.com/name/nm0109726
Buddy Judge: www.buddyjudge.com
Dan McCarroll: n/a
TRIVIA: Grammy Award-winning music engineer and producer Jack Joseph Puig, who worked on "Ro Sham Bo", also produced albums for U2, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, The Black Crowes, Beck, The Counting Crows, and Roger Hodgson (of Supertramp).
Radio Girl (RG) Productions
Mentioning old time radio shows probably puts you squarely in a scene of nostalgia like the one above: families in a bygone era huddled together around the radio in their living rooms, eagerly awaiting an evening of entertainment. In the present day when sight, sound and special effects are available at the press of a button, long gone are those radio show days when imagination played a key role, right? RadioGirl Productions, or RG, as they're commonly known, would be happy to have you pull up a seat and get comfortable so that they can prove to you that the answer is a resounding "no".
RG is the creation of three women from varying backgrounds: Nita Hunter, Joan Roehre and Leslie Utech. Nita's goal was to bring old time radio out of the past and back onto the airwaves, not only resurrecting classic shows but to showcase new productions as well. Along with a cast of dynamic voice actors and a talented crew, she and her two fellow founding members have been doing just that.
Hunter, executive producer of RG Productions, has won two awards for her original radio plays "And On the Eighth Day," (a re-telling of the Scopes Monkey Trial), and "Rebecca Diamond: Private Eye". Influenced by Orson Welles and "A Prairie Home Companion", she's happy to stay mostly behind the scenes, but will occasionally grace the stage. Roehre is a veteran stage and radio actress, performing in not only RG Productions' events but local theater as well. She also directed RG's production of "The Shadow, Silent Avenger", originally a 30s era radio show whose main character was voiced by Orson Welles at one point. Rounding out the trio of founding "Girls" is Utech, a producer, director and actor. Bestowing a compliment that proves how deeply she commits herself to her roles, an audience member once commented that when Utech played Gracie Allen, she was Gracie Allen.
More than twenty other actors and crew members make up RG Productions, most of them from the region in between Milwaukee and Chicago. Performing mainly at venues in that same area, RG Productions' shows have a little bit of something to appeal to everyone. Whether they're in a historic site or a modern facility, RG uses live music, sound effects and costumes to enhance their live performances. Staying true to the tradition of old time radio shows though, their work is also broadcast on WGTD 91.1 FM out of Kenosha, Wisconsin three nights a week.
Doug Despin as Rick & Leslie Utech as Ilsa in a "Casablaca" promo shot
Branching out into collaborative ventures, in October of last year members of RG were a part of "Nosferatu", a multi-discipline arts event in Kenosha, WI centered around the silent film classic of the same name. This fall, they'll be part of a "Sci-Fi-O-Rama", performing "Flash Gordon" and "Space Patrol". With the driving passion of Hunter behind the scenes supported by the dedication and enthusiasm of the rest of the RG Productions family, younger generations will be able to discover the appeal of old time radio for a long time to come.
To learn more about the myriad projects that RG Productions has been involved in, see their upcoming show schedule and to hear some of their past broadcasts (including Dracula, The Grapes of Wrath, Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, The Shadow and more), visit their website at http://rgaudioproductions.com/. |
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According to the principle "Those who want to get hit shall be allowed to get hit" STAGE is hosting Shakespeare's "The taming of the shrew" with full intention to game everything away.
The production starrs a woman named Katharina who is tamed and restrained by the boorish Petruchio. Though his techniques are sleazy they seem to work – eventually the wildcat purrs around the stallion's feet. Well done! But: How could this have happened and what will this mean for love? And then there's Katharina's little hot sister Bianca, who is swept off her feet by the romantic Lucentio, without apparent resistance. Is this an example of old-fashioned female obedience– or do we witness an often played but rarely disclosed wicked game?
On this occasion we introduce you to the battle of glorifyed romantic love and the shameless love combat. Why shouldn't we be allowed to celebrate our own submission?
Not too long ago, this subject matter had been a world sensation; a Hollywood movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, an immensily popular Broadway Musical performed more than a thousand times across German, French and British stages.
Today, the play has been rated misogynistic and almost banned from the stage. Progress? Or Fear? Of what? |
Black Caviar's sibling stole the show on Day One of the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where $38.9 million was traded on 127 of the region's best bred and conformed young thoroughbreds.
"Australian history was not only made with the actual sale of the Helsinge colt for $5 million, but in a huge win for the breeding industry the sale was broadcast live into thousands of homes on free-to-air television via Channel 7 Two," said Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster.
"There was a huge crowd assembled here at Newmarket all day and hopefully those and more people watching at home get involved in attending the races as owners in the future," Webster said.
The average price on Tuesday was $305,945, median $200,000 and clearance rate of 73%.
The colt pushed his buyer, vendor and sire to the top of their respective lists by average and aggregate for Tuesday's session.
The progeny of champion Easter graduate Fastnet Rock were in high demand today, with 18 of his yearlings selling at an average price of $540,556, headed by colts from Gold Anthem and Dream Play purchased for Coolmore / China Horse Club.
The Gold Anthem colt, a half-brother to champion sprinter Starspangledbanner, was offered as Lot 123 by Tyreel Stud and John Warren needed to go to $2.4 million to secure the youngster for Coolmore / China Horse Club.
Offered by Kia-Ora Stud as Lot 82, the colt from Dream Play was knocked down to Tom Magnier for $1,500,000. Under bidder James Harron later secured the day's other lot to break through into six figures when purchasing Arrowfield Stud's colt by Snitzel from La Bamba as Lot 161 for an even $1,000,000.
Horses passed in during today's session are available for sale via the Inglis Make-An-Offer Service, which was well utilised in taking last year's day one clearance rate from 74% at the close of the opening session to 83% by the end of the three day sale.
The Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale continues from 11am tomorrow, with Online Bidding again available for those not able to make it to Newmarket.
InglisTV and TVN will again be broadcasting the sale, with Sky Racing providing viewers with hourly updates across their network. |
Nick-N-Willys Breaks Franchise Record During the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
February 17, 2010, Centennial, Colorado – The team at Nick-N-Willy's Pizza in Park City, Utah is proud to have broken the record for the most pizzas ever tossed, baked and delivered by a single restaurant in the franchise company's 21 year history. The record was broken during a 19 day period when the Park City fast casual restaurant prepared meals to feed close to 3,000 Sundance Film Festival volunteers. The initiative was part of the franchise company's in-kind sponsorship agreement to support the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
From January 12-31, the Park City restaurant pumped out over 700 pizzas to more than one hundred locations for a total contribution of approximately $20,000 to the Sundance Institute.
"We were kept very busy during Sundance and I'm so proud of my team of pizza chefs and delivery drivers for being able to keep up with the pace," said Sonia Bernard-McCall, franchise owner of Nick-N-Willy's Pizza in Park City, Utah. "Being involved with Sundance has been very rewarding for us. We've had nothing but positive feedback from the festival volunteers about our pizza and we've already noticed an increase in traffic into our restaurant as a result of our exposure at the festival."
The Nick-N-Willy's in Salt Lake City, Utah also contributed to the 2010 Sundance Film Festival with dozens of pizza orders delivered to festival volunteers. Although the Salt Lake City restaurant's contribution was substantial, it did not break any records.
The Sundance initiative is part of the franchise company's strategy to support events and organizations in the communities in which it operates. The company leveraged the sponsorship through a variety of marketing and media relations initiatives which included in store and online branding and press announcements. In addition, the company implemented a 10-day social media campaign that included a diarized account of Nick-N-Willy's adventure at Sundance on Twitter, Facebook and on the corporate blog. In exchange for Nick-N-Willy's contribution to the festival, the Sundance Institute provided $30,000 worth of marketing at the festival through Nick-N-Willy's signage, advertising and promotional opportunities. The overall campaign resulted in numerous articles and interview opportunities, plus a new loyal following on the company's social media sites. Most importantly, the sponsorship strategy has proven to leverage the profile of the Nick-N-Willy's brand across the country in an effort to attract new customers and potential franchisees.
About Nick-N-Willy's
The Nick-N-Willy's concept was developed in 1988 in Boulder, Colorado. The franchise company now has 40 locations in 14 states. In addition to its fast casual restaurant model where products are baked in gas-fired brick ovens, the Nick-N-Willy's franchise also offers outlet models, where consumers can purchase high quality gourmet pizzas that are ordered fresh and baked at home in their own home. The Nick-N-Willy's concept is based on quality, freshness, convenience, and value. The Nick-N-Willy's franchise system is committed to customer service, and its success is based on its proprietary dough that is made daily from scratch with pure Italian olive oil, and is cut, kneaded and tossed by hand. Nick-N-Willy's is owned by the World Famous Pizza Company (TSX-V: WPC), a publicly traded company. For more information about Nick-N-Willy's, visit www.nicknwillys.com. For franchise information, call 1-888-642-6945 or send an email to: [email protected].
About the Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S. and international independent film, held each January in and around Park City, Utah. Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is a not-for-profit organization that fosters the development of original storytelling in film and theatre. Presenting dramatic and documentary feature-length films from emerging and established artists, innovative short films, filmmaker forums and panels, live music performances from solo acts to film composer events, cutting-edge media installations, and engaging community and student programs, the Festival brings together original storytellers from around the world. Supported by the non-profit Sundance Institute, the Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most ground-breaking films of the past two decades, The 2010 Sundance Film Festival took place in Park City, Utah from January 21-31st with more than 50,000 people in attendence. For more information, visit www.sundance.org. |
Love in the Catskills
Richard Ellmann
Washington Irving; drawing by David Levine
During the last year of W. H. Auden's life, I sometimes had the luck to meet him in Oxford. On these occasions he would gradually place me as someone associated with literary biography, and would then inform me kindly but firmly that literary biography was no use. For its only purpose must be to display a relation of life and art, and either this relation—he would say—was obscure and impossible to detect, or else (and here his tone became triumphant) it was obvious and not worth mentioning. The verdict was chastening. But I found a little comfort in the fact that Auden defied his own rules. No one was more curious than he about the underpinnings of artistic careers. He wrote biographical poems about Housman's furtive sexuality and Melville's combat with Nobodaddy, and some of his essays, such as a long article on Oscar Wilde and Alfred Douglas, happily flouted by example his antibiographical precept.
In his will he nonetheless admonished his friends to destroy his letters with a view to rendering a biography impossible, and this clause is becoming almost standard for writers' testaments, Orwell and Eliot having included it or one like it. Quite understandably, it is hard to accept that reticence can only last a lifetime. Writers are apt to feel that their biographers, if they do not merely drudge, will prosecute. Few are eager to submit posthumously to the whipping they have more or less 'scaped during life, and the idea of one's corpse lying on the analyst's couch, with the analyst for once doing all the talking, and the patient prevented by rigor mortis from self-justification, is not fetching.
This aversion to biography is different from that of the structuralists and new critics who, coming from different postulates, agree in trying to clear the work of its creator. They take the view that there is an "exclusive interdependence of the objective elements which compose the work." The author's intention, if he had one, cannot be calculated, only miscalculated, and is irrelevant anyway. The intentional fallacy, which biographers are especially prone to commit, is a special case of the old offense, the genetic fallacy, which only Nietzsche among philosophers actively defended.
Still there is an opposite danger, the parthenogenetic fallacy that the text is a virgin birth accomplished without human intervention. "Look, mama, no hands!" Granted that purging a work of its originator may sometimes be useful and even virtuous, this ritual bath is not obligatory. Writers about whom we know most, those closest to our own day, have usually declined it; Flaubert seems not to have minded saying, "Madame Bovary, c'est moi," or George Eliot to have avoided the admission that Mr. Casaubon was drawn from her own heart. Henry Miller even displays outrage at the suggestion that the Henry Miller in his novels is a fictional character, and W.D. Snodgrass, when he writes, "Snodgrass is walking through the universe," also seems bent upon demolishing the fourth wall. Most critics have, like William Empson, cheerfully trespassed across the border that separates work and life, and have ransacked letters, journals, first drafts, interviews, and obiter dicta for details that might illuminate an author's intentions.
Critical purists often cite Eliot against this procedure, but in fact Eliot turned against them. Though he declared early on, "The more perfect the artist, the more completely separate in him will be the man who suffers and the mind which creates," this maxim survived only as long as did the antiromanticism he learned from Irving Babbitt at Harvard. In later life he began to talk about literature in a way much closer to that of the confessional poets who have held the scene in the second half of this century. It was then he made his famous remark that scouted the interpretation of The Waste Land as social criticism, objectively arrived at. "To me it was only the relief of a personal and wholly insignificant grouse against life. It is just a piece of rhythmical grumbling."
Even if we allow for his modesty, Eliot had clearly begun to veer toward the idea of poetry as what Yeats called "personal utterance." The repercussions of the change are manifested in Four Quarters, where the spiritual struggle of his art is equated with the spiritual struggle of his life, and the pursuit of right words is made tantamount to the pursuit of right feelings. If his early ideal of the art object was the objective correlative of once personal emotions, his later ideal was parable—the presentation, with as much directness as possible, of the meaning of his experience as a man in the world.
Goethe was in the same mood when he said that all his works were "fragments of a great confession." The word parable, meaning an illustration of something, is at once personal and representative. It suits the idea of a possibly clandestine yet certainly self-aware purpose. It is different from the attempt to detect unconscious purposes in art. Biographers will continue to look for these as well, but the successes to date in this field have been less encouraging than one hoped. That is the melancholy burden of a fine article by Frederick Crews, "Reductionism and Its Discontents," in the March number of Critical Inquiry. The spread of psychoanalytic criticism has worn thin its tenets; Freud's analyses had an air of the marvelous about them, but his followers have had to wrestle with stereotype.
Because the uncovering of parables in artists' work does not rest upon preformulated theory, depending rather upon intimate knowledge of their experience and, so far as available, thoughts about their experience, biographers now are moving in this direction. It can be demonstrated that large works, such as Yeats's A Vision or Ruskin's The Stones of Venice, were to some extent parables of their authors' experiences, as both Yeats and Ruskin recognized. But I think the same claim may be made for less imposing works.
A convenient example is Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle." Since its initial publication in 1819, this first American short story has become standard reading outside as well as inside the English-speaking world. In its elegant simplicity, it might seem wonderfully unambiguous, the story-teller delighting disinterestedly in his craft. Yet the circumstances of its composition, and certain elements within it, conduce to the belief that it was a parable, and largely a conscious one, of Irving's life. One paragraph in it is perplexing enough: Rip, as everyone knows, goes off into the Catskills and encounters a silent man dressed in the Dutch fashion who leads him to an amphitheater among the mountains where a group of other men, similarly dressed, including one who appears to be their leader, are playing at ninepins. Though they have funny faces, one all nose, another with pig eyes, the scene is suddenly uncanny. As Irving writes,
What seemed particularly odd to Rip was, that though these folks were evidently amusing themselves, yet they maintained the gravest faces, the most mysterious silence, and were, withal the most melancholy party of pleasure he had ever witnessed. Nothing interrupted the stillness of the scene but the noise of the balls, which, whenever they were rolled, echoed along the mountains like rumbling peals of thunder.
As Rip and his companion approached them, they suddenly desisted from their play, and stared at him with such fixed countenances, that his heart turned within him, and his knees smote together.
A partial explanation of this terrifying scene is proposed later in the story, when it is said that every twenty years Henry Hudson, the first explorer of this region, and his crew of the Half Moon return for a vigil and play at ninepins. Yet they behave neither like ghosts nor like people, and what shakes Rip's knees is the peculiar mixture of the jolly game of ninepins and the "lackluster" impassivity of their grotesque faces.1 Rip drinks a magic brew to overcome his fears, and he wakes up twenty years later to find beside him his rusted gun. He returns to the village to learn that in his absence the American Revolution has taken place, and that he, who had gone off in his prime as a British subject, has returned as an American senior citizen.
Irving's biographers have had little to say about this story, in part because Irving borrowed the principal details of the plot from a German story about one Peter Klaus. Yet borrowing is a transaction and what one chooses, or feels obliged, to borrow is an act of decision. In any case, the story of Peter Klaus has no Dutchman but rather some knights, who are anachronistic and formidably bearded, but not otherwise so dreadful. The question remains why Irving was drawn to this particular tale, and why he represented its most intense moment—the game of ninepins—in a manner at once comic and shocking. Such a question may be asked in spite of the story's impersonal surface, and the urbane and amusing, if sometimes arch, manner that Irving could brilliantly sustain. Many of the details lead nowhere. The name Van Winkle was that of a printer in New York whom Irving had employed, and, as he indicates in the story, was that of an early Dutch family in New York. Precise analogues between Rip's life and Irving's are not forthcoming, since Rip suffers from the nagging of his termagant wife, while Irving himself never married.2 As if to separate himself further, Irving sets the scene in an earlier age, so that Rip awakens from sleep about the time that Irving himself was born.
And yet some connections lurk behind. Irving seems to have been all his life a praiser of times past, as Rip, once his long nap is over, becomes. Irving knew and slightly mocked this proclivity in himself: he signed his most youthful productions, written before he was twenty, in which he nostalgically criticized current customs of marriage and current fashions, with the pseudonym "Jonathan Oldstyle." The next pseudonym he adopted was "Senex." In later life he devoted himself to chronicles of the dead. The burlesque History of New York, meaning its history under the Dutch governors, which he published when he was twenty-six, is represented as having been written by Diedrich Knickerbocker, and at the end of this book Knickerbocker announces that he is withering away in old age and has not long to live. This grim prognosis is confirmed in the story of "Rip Van Winkle," which has for subtitle "A Posthumous Writing of Diedrich Knickerbocker," and is represented as having been found among "the late" Knickerbocker's papers. Irving's sense of himself as an old timer was constant from early youth.
The fact that Irving used Knickerbocker as author of both the History of New York and the history of Rip Van Winkle also indicates that he wished to connect them. In the History he had described Henry Hudson and his crew of the Half Moon as historical personages, not as absurd-looking creatures with "lackluster faces" playing at ninepins. Given these connections, perhaps there are others. Irving's early life bears some inspection. As I mentioned, he showed himself a writer at a very youthful age. A career as literary man was what he aspired to, but he needed a more predictable means of support, and so read law. This study was not agreeable; he pursued it with as much truancy as Rip Van Winkle exhibited toward other responsibilities. He bumbled his way through the bar examination, and friendly judges pretended he had passed. But his real interest was in writing a History of New York: he began it in collaboration with a brother, but when the brother went into business, Irving proceeded with the book on his own.
Ostensibly he was practicing law in the office of a man named Hoffman, with the aim of establishing himself so he could safely marry Hoffman's daughter. But clandestinely Irving worked on his History. Then a most unfortunate event altered all his plans. Matilda Hoffman, in whose household he had been a constant visitor for three years, caught what was first assumed to be a cold, but what was quickly rediagnosed as tuberculosis. Within two months, by April 1809, she was dead. This love story is one of the most affecting in a century distinguished for affecting love stories. Matilda Hoffman died at seventeen, Irving being then twenty-six.
Her death and especially her dying did not fade. "For three days and nights," he wrote later in an autobiographical fragment, "I did not leave the house & scarcely slept. I was by her when she died…. I was the last one she looked upon." He remembered "The last fond look of the glazing eye, turned upon me even from the threshold of existence!" A dozen years later he could still feel almost the same pain. "I cannot tell you what a horrid state of mind I was in for a long time—I seemed to care for nothing—the world was a blank to me…. Months elapsed before my mind resumed any tone: but the despondence I had suffered for a long time in the course of this attachment, and the anguish that attended its catastrophe seemed to give a turn to my whole character, and threw some clouds into my disposition which have ever since hung about it." As a young man Irving had been known for his high spirits. These were now lowered.
In the circumstances it seemed pointless to go on with the law, which he had pretended to accept only to buttress his then impending marriage. He returned instead to his History of New York, the broad humor of which could scarcely have been less suited to his new grief. Yet the hope of a profession lay there, and he drove himself on. The book was published in December 1809, about eight months after Matilda Hoffman's death, and gave him a reputation: but as he said, "the time & circumstances in which it was produced rendered me always unable to look upon it with satisfaction." As if to confirm this depression of mind, his attempts to continue his work as a writer proved abortive, apart from editing a magazine; in fact, for almost ten years Irving was virtually silent. During this period he was taken into his brothers' business, though he had no head for the work and was not expected to do any. But since the firm had headquarters in England, he traveled there in 1815, arriving just a day or two after the war with Napoleon ended, while the victory bells were still ringing.
Irving recognized the voyage over as momentous, and made it the subject of a chapter called "The Voyage" in The Sketch Book, where "Rip Van Winkle" appears in close conjunction. "The Voyage" confirms Irving's lifelong sense of the separation of his life into distinct parts, such a sense of separation as Rip also was to experience. On Irving's way to England, he felt that "I had closed one volume of the world and its contents, and had time for meditation before I opened another." "I stepped upon the land of my forefathers but felt that I was a stranger in the land." Rip's experience after his nap was cognate to this.
Irving's sojourn in England did not rouse his creative powers. His brothers were sick, he nursed them, and then there occurred a second crisis in his affairs. This crisis was as material as the previous one had been spiritual. His brothers' firm went into bankruptcy, and Irving, though an inactive partner, shared in the disgrace. "I underwent ruin in all its bitterness and humiliation—" he wrote, "in a strange land—among strangers…. I shut myself up from society—and would see no one. For months I studied German day & night by way of driving off horrid thoughts. [This idea had probably been put in his mind by a visit to Sir Walter Scott.] The idea suddenly came to return to my pen…."
So in 1817, eight years after the death of Matilda Hoffman, Irving began to make notes for The Sketch Book, which was published in installments in 1819 and 1820, with "Rip Van Winkle" as the capstone of the first installment. His notebook has also been published, and its central entry indicates that in the new grief over financial ruin his old grief over emotional ruin was sharpened. There is a moving passage apostrophizing Matilda Hoffman: "How lovely was then my life—How has it changed since—what scenes have I gone through since thou has left me…. The romance of life is past." The sense of empty, eventless years and of a rude awakening seems comparable to Rip's experience.
I think we can now risk an explanation of the awe-striking jollity of the Dutchmen in "Rip Van Winkle." Bankruptcy caused Irving to relive, in the new ruin of his affairs, the old ruin of eight years earlier. The paradox of his life at that earlier time, of which he was acutely conscious, was that he had to write amusingly while feeling funereal, to resurrect with forced animation the dead Dutchmen as figures of fun while bearing always the memory of the glazed last look of Matilda Hoffman, "on the threshold of existence." These elements combined and merged into the "lackluster" gaiety, that incongruous medley which so terrified Rip Van Winkle when he observed it in the dead but very lively Dutch bowlers. And following her death, Irving could look back on long years in which he moved like a somnambulist, alienated by grief in his native America, then by nationality when he became an American in postwar Britain, as Rip was a Briton in postwar America.
When at last he returned, as he said, to his pen, the pen was as rusty as Rip's gun. "I have suffered several precious years of youth and lively imagination to pass by unimproved," he wrote to his brother when sending him the manuscript of The Sketch Book. Two of his friends have left an account of how Irving wrote "Rip Van Winkle" in a fever of activity, staying up all one night in June 1818 as he filled and threw aside one page after another. This sense of being seized by the story came from its being a parable of his own monstrous dual vision, in which the history of New York took shape as farce, and the history of his own life took shape as tragedy, a vision followed by years of depression, and then by his reawakening, an artist once again, but a young man no longer.
If this account of Irving's involvement in Rip Van Winkle's career is accepted, the baffling passage in the story ceases to baffle. And it may help to explain the subterranean power of this work which made Rip Van Winkle rather than Peter Klaus one of the great figures of the nineteenth-century imagination. The parabolic value the story had for Irving came from the sifting of his personal emotion through a lighthearted tale. Its pages are, after all, noisy with Rip's termagant wife and with his own recollections, noisy also with chat, with foreseeable stock emotions; but against these elements is the otherness of that scene of the bowlers, its invocation of an emotional plane far different from the rest, a plane where garrulity becomes dumb, conventional feeling is absent, the comic spirit is suddenly challenged by faces devoid of expression, mouths that will not speak, as if in the midst of the festive act of writing Irving could only recall Matilda's glazing eyes and chilling body. It was only by assimilating this experience into a new context that he could resume his literary career. And it was this particular passage, where the fantasy becomes suddenly frightening rather than funny, that raised the story into an unforeseen memorability.
Parables may be motivated in many ways, not only by a desire to put one's affairs in order but by a desire to carry experiences or feelings to limits which they did not actually attain, or perhaps to exorcise them, since what is not there may constitute part of the parable, or to serve other functions. What is illustrated need not be especially moral, but has been subjected to the economy of reflection. The parable may have varying degrees of self-sufficiency, and its meaning is often a trade secret, to be fathomed only on long and close critical association. This view of art may seem more contemporary than the puristic view of the work as an aesthetic object set in the void to burn by its own light. The work appears now less as an object than as a convergence of energies, a momentary delay of forces that come from the individual and from society as well as from the literary tradition. The void is peopled by works, lives, circumstances, pressures. As the work loses the autotelic privacy which purist critics have sought to ascribe to it, it enters an interfusion of art and life. Or as Yeats said in a slightly different context, the stallion eternity mounts the mare of time.
More by Richard Ellmann
Oscar Meets Walt
December 3, 1987 issue
Nayman of Noland
Yeats's Second Puberty
Peter du Sautoy
Eliot's Request
Thomas H. Pauly
Terror in the Catskills
Nina Baym
Richard Ellmann (1918–1987) was an American critic and biographer. He taught at Northwestern, Oxford and Emory, where he was named Robert W. Professor in 1980. He won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for James Joycein 1959; a revised edition was awarded the James Tate Black Memorial Prize in 1982.
Philip Young, in Three Bags Full: Essays in American Fiction (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1972), conjectures that the bowlers are impersonating Thor with his thunder. If it is hard to say he is wrong, it is even harder to say he is right. ↩
Marcel Haiman, in "'Rip Van Winkle': A Psychoanalytic Note on the Story and Its Author," American Imago XVI (1959), pp. 3-47, offers the hypothesis—more desperate than demonstrable—that "Dame Van Winkle is a fusion of both parental figures." ↩
Short Review
Short Reviews
Effie Traylor-Parkes
Neither Here Nor There
At Lady Ottoline's
Janet Malcolm
Thoughts on Autobiography from an Abandoned Autobiography
Russian Sketches
Murray Kempton
Mozart in the Stacks |
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Celtic wedding rings symbolizing eternal love and loyalty
Timeless symbol of eternal love, Celtic wedding rings represent love and loyalty. The Celtic rings with the usual knot work have remained favorite ones since the ages. These days they are formed from many a different metals and alloys leaving behind the only choice of the gold and diamond ones. They can suit to any of the wedding themes as they are wonderful in their designs and makings. They are not necessarily the traditional rings but the designers and the jewelry houses of today have given them some modern and chic looking feel as well. Check out in the list for the Celtic wedding rings that we have chosen for you!
Palladium Celtic knot wedding ring
This one is a Celtic ring that has been derived out of the palladium. Quite simple in its texture this forms an elegant wedding ring. It measures 6mm in width, with the flat style of setting. The inner side of the wedding ring is perfectly polished to have the comfort fitting. The knot work is superficial and the wedding ring maintains its looks and shine for a lifetime. Though quite expensive, this makes a desirable wedding ring.
Celtic swirl wedding ring
All handmade, this is a Celtic swirl wedding ring that can be purchased in the 9 carat and the 18 carat white gold, rose gold, yellow gold and other metals like platinum and palladium. It is 5mm in width and has all expert hands going into its making. The ring looks traditional but has the hypoallergenic texture to it, that makes it suitable for wearing. This will make a perfect wedding ring for the classic and the vintage themed weddings.
Dome profile titanium Celtic wedding ring with animal artwork
Pretty rustic looking this Celtic wedding ring has been prepared from titanium metal which is characteristic to it. It has a dome profile and also has the beautiful animal artwork to its exterior surface. A must have wedding ring for the couples who share a love for animals. It is available in the widths of 6mm to the 12mm. It has been made by using the latest technology and the highest quality materials have been employed in its making.
Zirconium blue knot design 7mm Celtic wedding ring
A zirconium ring having a beautiful inlaid blue Celtic design makes this one a pretty fine wedding ring. The blue color looks awesome on its outer side. It can be a very special wedding ring for the beach themed and winter themed weddings. The inner side of the ring is curved featuring its comfort wearing and taking off when needed. The wedding ring can be purchased in widths like 5mm, 6mm and 7mm. This is beautiful court styled wedding ring having the comfort fitting.
Two tone Celtic wedding ring
With the two different tones, this is a Celtic wedding ring that can be availed in white and yellow gold by the couples who are planning to buy a unique Celtic wedding ring. Other options in the materials can be palladium and platinum for the similar design. The width of the ring is 5mm which can be increased or decreased as per the need and liking. The knot work done in this ring is exquisite. In the category of the two tone wedding rings this one is a wise choice to make.
Triptych Celtic wedding ring
Borne with the three part wedding ring style this Celtic ring is known as Triptych Celtic wedding ring. It has a gold runic ring that is bordered by two D-shaped classic silver rings. The design of the ring is too unique and it is a masterpiece of design. The integration of the classic styles turns out as the most modern of the Celtic wedding ring style in this as one complete ring. The most wondrous thing is that the three rings can be swapped to create altogether new and different designs by the one who wears it. It is just like having three rings in a single one!
Round diamond Triquetra solitaire Celtic wedding ring
Built with the 14 carat of the white gold this is a brilliant looking solitaire Celtic wedding ring. It features the setting of the Triquetra which is a known to be the Celtic symbol for the trinity present on the each sides of the gemstone. This one is a made to order Celtic wedding ring and there is no doubt that it is yet another beauty in its class with all the diamond and glitter to magnify its eternal beauty.
Classic Celtic diamond wedding ring
Those who are sophisticated in style and perception will like this one. This is a classic diamond setted Celtic wedding ring that is simple in its design but features a great personality as a mature and graceful wedding ring. The diamond included in the design and making of the ring is 0.1 carat. The setting of the diamond has been done with the run-over technology that ensures its fine, secure and intact placement.
Sterling silver Celtic wedding ring
D-shaped Celtic wedding ring has been formed with the finest of the sterling silver. The Celtic knots have been carved very elegantly to the ring. The grooves of the ring have been oxidized to create a vintage or the ancient kind of a look. It has a 5mm width and a depth of 1.7mm. This is an excellent choice for the vintage styled wedding and also makes a great pick for the lovers of the rustic themed weddings.
Celtic dual wedding ring
Formed with the 9 carat of white gold, the ring has been made with the two rings fused as one. It is slim, classic and has a D-shape to its built. This is a kind of a modern touch added to the traditional Celtic ring formation. This qualifies as a wedding ring that will make people talk about it for a long time. Those who love simplicity and wants to keep their style statement intact in their wedding ring as well, should go for this Celtic wedding ring.
Wedding Jewelry For Bridesmaids
Personalized Cuff-links |
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Home › Articles › Banksy's Back With Two New Street Pieces
Banksy's Back With Two New Street Pieces
He is perhaps the most famous person we know without ever having seen his face. Banksy, the world's most famous guerrilla artist, has returned with two classic pieces after a brief hiatus.
The two new street pieces were spotted in London, one in Gillett Square Hackney, with the other spotted on the A1 in North London.
'Ghetto Boy', as it is now being referred, is the first work attributed to Banksy since October last year and follows previous high profile works 'One Nation Under CCTV' and 'Kids Pledging Their Allegiance to Tesco'. This latest creation shows a child dressed in urban clothing, carrying a boombox and a teddy bear whilst wearing a gold chain with a gun hanging from it. This social commentary appears to highlight the gang culture in London and its links to hip-hop which is packaged up and sold to children and teenagers as pop music.
The second street piece, 'Last Graffiti Before Motorway' is located not far from his previous Tesco stencil on the Essex Road and appears less obvious in its comment. Perhaps this was done purely as he was leaving town or perhaps it really is the last piece of graffiti before the motorway. As ever with Banksy all we have to go by is an air of mystery. All of a sudden there is something fantastically amusing and clever to look in a space where none of us would consider looking in the first place.
Both the new Banksy pieces, as with all of his street work, have the distinct hallmarks that make a piece a Banksy: irreverent comments towards society and politics combined with superb placement often relating to the piece in question via a road name. It is this aspect which you could argue defines Banksy's work as art and not simply vandalism as some people see it.
If you are interested Banksy, would like to know further information or to enquire about other works we might have in the gallery call +44 (0)20 7240 7909 or email [email protected]
Return to our London section |
Free Oil Painting Lesson In Real Time - Lavander field on sunset | Галерея картин.
This lesson is ideal for beginners with it's easy to mix saturated color palette and step by step instruction. You will learn how to create a beautiful simple painting with a few colors and as usual In my lessons, you have full close up shots while mixing colors and applying brush strokes so you don't miss a thing.
Have fun painting this lesson!
How to oil painta landscape? In this oil painting lesson artist shows in detail how to paint painting of lavender field at sunset with oil paints. Prepare the necessary materials, paint step by step and you have a very beautiful landscape of Provence.
Best Full video tutorials oil painting FREE watch on http://lessons.rybakow.com Today we paint a beautiful oil painting, which shows a lavender field of summer flowers at sunset. We will paint a beautiful bluish-purple summer flowers in oil on canvas. This is a complete lesson in oil painting, which lasts 1 hour 25 minutes In Real Time. During this time, we understand how to paint a landscape — Lavender field at sunset oil painting and palette knife.
— Paint oil paintings by yourself — how? where to begin?
If there is such an interest in my lessons in painting with oil and palette knife, I believe that we should continue to improve our mastery of oil painting in the new class. That's the way he — the new floral oil painting lesson, which is called: How to paint with oil: Lavender field at sunset.
I tried to make this tutorial and palette knife oil painting for you the most convenient and straightforward. I have a concrete example will show you how to get from a blank canvas ready to flower and landscape oil painting completed: Lavender field at sunset.
So, meet new topic: How to paint a flower landscape lavender field — oil painting lessons.
Рисуем в Реальном времени Поле красных маков. Как нарисовать цветы маслом. |
Nagano 1998 – Look of the Games
Designer: Landor Associates, Tokyo
Only on closer inspection does Nagano's Look of the Games reveal itself in all its sophistication: the pattern consist of drawn, abstract representations of winter sportspeople. Each individual athlete is drawn with brushstrokes, a technique borrowed from traditional Japanese calligraphy, which distinguishes itself from the calligraphy of European languages, for which a pen has usually been used. In fact, the brushstroke athletes who make up the patterns of the Look are sports pictogram designs by Hidetaka Matsunaga. Although these brushstroke figures were ultimately not used for the pictograms, they were very much used for the Look of the Games – double the yield, so to speak, with the same effort.
The patterns of the Look of the Games allow great flexibility with regard to their application: individually or joined together, in different sizes and colours (monochrome or multicoloured), the various elements of the Look can be combined almost arbitrarily. Clearly, the two variants are very closely related to each other, but still differ: compared to pattern 2, the individual figures in pattern 1 are much closer to each other. In other words: the proportion of white between the figures is much higher in pattern 2. Moreover, the arrangement of the figures varies between the two patterns: the graphic standards manual stipulates that the two patterns of the Look should always be used separately and never mixed. The interaction of the many athletes who make up the Look's patterns is intended to underline the sense of community at the Olympic Games. |
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On Watch May 5, 2021
Welcome to the first May edition of On Watch, and we hope that all is well with our subscribers across the country and internationally during these challenging times. Perhaps our electronic newsletter will help brighten your inbox with news from our industry. This edition features our member, Ocean Group, with an interview with Director of Business Development, Renée Dumas, continuing our focus on women in our sector. I am very pleased to say that even though women only make up about 10% of the marine sector workforce, we have no shortage of innovative and successful women to feature in our Member Spotlights. The modern marine sector in Canada benefits from the skill, experience, traditions and passion from such a wide variety of people.
Happy reading, and please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your colleagues and contacts and be sure to scroll down to the bottom to check out the latest Government of Canada marine procurement opportunities.
Member Spotlight: Ocean Group
Photo of Renée Dumas, courtesy of Ocean Group.
Ocean Group is more than a shipyard: where there is water, you'll likely see Ocean Group in some form or another! Offering integrated marine services ranging from shipbuilding, repair, barge and workboat rental, dredging, towing, salvage and oversized marine transportation, the company really does it all. Ocean Group has transformed itself quickly from a yard that specialized in towing to one that supports a wide variety of clients with a host of marine services, particularly for small and medium-sized vessels. A key driver for the company is quality. As Director of Business Development, Construction and Naval Repairs Renée Dumas explains, Ocean Group maintains and services the vessels it constructs, therefore it's in the company's best interests to build to high quality standards "as we have to deal with it in the future."
Like many insiders in the marine industry, Dumas comes to her work naturally with a family background in fishing in coastal Québec/Labrador. She always knew she wanted to be involved in the marine industry. Ocean Group may have almost 1,000 employees, but with a horizontal management structure that fosters team work based on projects, Dumas describes the work atmosphere as "like a family, where you can count on everyone." The varied nature of the work means that every week is different, and with an ambitious and passionate team, growth is a top priority. Ocean Group is now expanding its successful business model to other parts of the world.
In a sector dominated by men, Dumas is optimistic of what women can bring to the table in this fast-paced, constantly changing environment, and she feels fortunate to work for a woman who has spent 31 years at the company and can provide vital mentorship to her. "It's a great career, and we need more women to bring a wind of change, with a feminine touch to this industry!" She is also cognizant of the need to align Ocean Group with the other shipyards and marine industries in Canada, and counts on the advocacy support the Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association gives, to be able to speak to governments about challenges and solutions as one unified voice.
The Canadian Marine Industry and Shipbuilding Today
CMISA
It has been a long time since the marine industry in Canada has been so robust and vibrant. Naturally, there is room for improvement, but it is still safe to say that things are busy and going in the right direction. This is an exciting time to be building ships in Canada.
Vard Electro Announced New Sub-Contract with Philly Shipyard, Inc.
VARD ELECTRO CANADA
Vard Electro Canada (VEC) is proud to announce our new sub-contract with Philly Shipyard, Inc. to provide power and propulsion systems design for the US Navy's Cable Ship T-ARC(X) Industry Studies project.
FMF Cape Breton and Cape Scott celebrate 25 years serving the Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific and Atlantic Fleets.
LOOKOUT NAVY NEWS
April 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the inception of the Fleet Maintenance Facilities Cape Breton and Cape Scott (FMFCB/FMFCS), the Royal Canadian Navy's dedicated engineering, repair, and maintenance facilities located on each of Canada's coastlines within HMC Dockyard Esquimalt, B.C., and HMC Dockyard Halifax, N.S.
Galoni Named CEO of Thordon Bearings
MARITIME PROFESSIONAL
Anna Galoni was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Thordon Bearings Inc., a Thomson-Gordon Group company.
B.C. government puts $9.5 million toward removing more than 100 derelict boats
CONSTRUCT CONNECT
VICTORIA—B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman says the province is spending $9.5 million to address the "massive" problem of marine debris along the coast.
Transport Canada's plan to clean contaminants from Kingston harbour could close Metal Craft Marine
A plan to clean contaminants out of Kingston's inner harbour led by the federal government is causing frustration with local organizations.
Seal & Bearings Retrofit Highlight Value of Ontario Partnership to CCG
Thordon Bearings and Heddle Shipyards have successfully completed a retrofit project to replace the shaft seals and bearings aboard the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) vessels CCGS Caribou Isle and CCGS Ile St. Ours.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Develops AI Solution for Ship Safety
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group independently has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based safety management/monitoring system (HiCAMS) and obtained classification and flag Approval-in-Principal (AIP) for the first time in the shipbuilding industry.
SeaspanLNG secures approval in principle for 7600cbm LNG bunker vessel
SEASPAN
NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. – SeaspanLNG is pleased to announce that it has secured an Approval in Principle (AIP) with Bureau Veritas, for the design of a 7600cbm LNG bunker vessel.
Leonardo to supply Royal Canadian Navy's new Canadian Surface Combatants
ASIA-PACIFIC DEFENCE REPORTER (APDR)
Leonardo will supply to Lockheed Martin Canada four OTO 127/64 LightWeight (LW) Vulcano naval guns, including the Automatic Ammunition Handling System (AAHS) as an optional solution, for the new Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC), which will be built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. at the Halifax shipyard in Nova Scotia.
Request for Proposal for Placing, Lifting / Removal, Maintaining and the Servicing of Buoys on the Southern Lakes – Yukon Territory. The RFP closes on 2021/05/11.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for CCG Heating Line Replacement Phase 2. The NPP closes on 2021/05/14.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for Stoney Island Basin Dredging. The NPP closes on 2021/05/18.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for Floating Plant Dredging – Cap Lumiere, St. Edouard, Caissie Cap, Cap-Pele and Barre de Cocagne. The NPP closes on 2021/05/11.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for Architectural and Engineering Services (includes Marine Architect and Engineering Services) to Source List to provide "as and when required" professional services to DND through Defence Construction Canada. The NPP closes on 2021/06/01.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for CCG SIEMENS Canada Limited Spare Parts. The NPP closes on 2021/05/26.
Request for Proposal for a Lie Preserver Yoke (MP) & Life Preserver Yoke (HD) for CFB Halifax and CFB Esquimalt. The RFP closes on 2021/06/07.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for CCGS Traverse Engines. The NPP closes on 2021/06/01.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for CCGS Samuel Risley Drydocking 2021. The NPP closes on 2021/05/28.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for SA (Supply Arrangement) Ship Repairs Halifax Harbour. The NPP closes on 2021/05/11/
Notice of Proposed Procurement for Supply York Chiller CCGS Louis St L. The NPP closes on 2021/05/11.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for SALD Boats Inspection in Lockport, Manitoba. The NPP closes on 2021/06/07.
Request for Proposal for Sentinel Survey (southern Gulf of St. Lawrence) – Mobile Gear. The RFP closes on 2021.05/14.
Request for Proposal for Sentinel Survey (southern Gulf of St. Lawrence) – Longline Gear. The RFP closes on 2021/05/14.
Request for Proposal for Vessel Entertainment Media System & Support Services for Marine Atlantic. The RFP closes on 2021/06/03.
Request for Proposal for Placing, Lifting/Removal, Maintaining and the Servicing of Buoys in the Province of New Brunswick. The RFP closes on 2021/05/31.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for MV Madeleine II Heat Tracing Material. The NPP closes on 2021/05/18.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for CCGS Earl Grey – Ballast Pump. The NPP closes on 2021/05/20.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for a Supply Arrangement – Research on Marine Protected Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador. The NPP closes on 2021/06/03.
Request for Proposal for a Valve, Diaphragm, Stop. The RFP closes on 2021/06/10.
Request for Propposal for a Valve, Safety Relief. The RFP closes on 2021/06/10.
Request for Proposal for a Valve, Safety Relief. The RFP closes on 2021/06/10.
Request for Proposal for a Valve, Regulating, Fluid Pressure & Valve, Regulating, Temperature. The RFP closes on 2021/06/10.
Request for Proposal for Multiple Victoria Class Spares. The RFP closes on 2021/06/02.
Request for Quotation for Multiple Victoria Class Spares. The RFQ closes on 2021/07/07.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for DFO – Vessel Charter, Whelk Survey. The NPP closes on 2021/05/19.
Notice of Proposed Procurement for the CCGS Martha L. Black – Refit Summer 2021. The NPP closes on 2021/06/01. |
More people than ever will be shopping at Aldi and Lidl for Christmas dinner this year, but how do you know which is the right supermarket for you?
With so many supermarkets to choose from, it can be hard to know where to buy your Christmas dinner ingredients in 2016.
None of us wants to overspend, which probably explains the increasing popularity of discount retailers Aldi and Lidl.
Research from online reward programmes provider Webloyalty suggests that the two discounters will post some of the highest growth in market share this Christmas.
Nearly 3.9% more people will be visiting Lidl – with over a fifth of us planning to use the retailer for festive grocery shopping.
Aldi is also expected to grow in popularity - 26.7% of us are planning on visiting the store, meaning it will leapfrog Asda and close the gap on Tesco and Sainsbury's who remain the supermarkets of choice for the festive food shop.
These discount supermarkets are certainly the most cost-effective. Good Housekeeping's annual Christmas basket research found that Aldi was the cheapest place to buy Christmas groceries this year, closely followed by Lidl. At both you could feed a family of eight for under £25.
The same is true for frozen specialists Iceland, where you pick up all the essentials from our Christmas basket for £24.81 (including fresh vegetables!), and our taste test winning mince pies, turkey, and stuffing too.
However, not all of us are so cost-conscious. The other supermarket that's increasingly popular is Marks & Spencer, which is expected to grow its market share by 3.6% to 26.4%.
Despite our research showing that ingredients from M&S cost twice as much they would at Aldi and Lidl, shoppers are in for a tasty treat.
In Good Housekeeping's annual taste test, we blind tested hundreds of ingredients to see which were the tastiest, and Marks & Spencer appeared most frequently in the top five - in 10 of the twelve categories.
READ MORE: VISIT ICELAND FOR AMAZING MINCE PIES AND LIDL FOR BARGAIN PROSECCO!
Of course, that doesn't mean you can't snap up a tasty bargain – M&S was followed closely by Asda and Lidl.
So how to decide where to shop this Christmas?
Set a budget – think about how much you can actually afford to spend on your Christmas lunch and stick to it!
Go for value – have a look at the taste test results so you make sure you're getting the most delicious food possible for your budget. |
If beetroot and chocolate sound to you like an unearthly combination, then beetroot, chocolate and wine must seem out of this world. Once you've got your head around the former—and that, with Tom Hunt's delectable recipe for candied beetroot chocolate pots, is easy enough—it's only a matter of time before the latter suggests itself as not just conceivable, but indubitably the right thing to do.
Step forward Maydie Tannat, a quaffable portmanteau of the tiny commune in which this wine is made, Aydie, and its more famous neighbour Madiran in Gascony: the heavy, luscious red wines of which are renowned for the unique tannat grape they are made from.
The family behind Maydie, Laplace, produce a variety of wines under Château d'Aydi, and have spent generations mastering the tannat grape and its properties. Maydie Tannat is the family's fortified wine—"a slightly funkier, quirky bottle"—made from 100 per cent tannat grapes which are left to ripen almost to raisins on the vine before being harvested and fortified with spirit to stop them fermenting. |
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra's venue at the DCR's Hatch Shell is known for its laid back, welcoming, non-traditional ambiance for an orchestral concert. People bring picnics, children, and even their dogs. A Landmarks concert at the Hatch Shell has a feeling of celebration about it. Added to that, Christopher Wilkins has set up what he calls the Maestro Zone, an area to the side of the stage where young people and the young at heart can follow the lead of the orchestra's associate conductor in leading the orchestra. Participants are given a straw and can even look at the score which is placed in front of them. Long lines await their turn to see what it's like to give a downbeat.
At all of our Hatch Shell concerts (including weeks when there is a guest orchestra), folding chairs are available to rent at our Information Tent for $5 each. If you are a member of the "Musical Chair" Club, check in at the Information Tent and we will give you a chair to set up on the lawn wherever you'd like.
There is no parking on Storrow Drive. Public parking is available at the Boston Common Garage and Charles Circle Laz Parking Lot next to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
A handicap drop off point is available behind the Hatch Shell. Ambassadors are available to help anyone with disabilities, and DCR staff with golf carts are available to bring audience members with disabilities to and from the handicap drop-off point. Braille and large print program books and assisted listening devices are available at the Landmarks Information Tent. Text-to-speech files of program books can be accessed from our website and our mobile app on the day of each concert. At select concerts, ASL interpretation takes place on the left side of the Hatch Shell, closest to the river.
If inclement weather is in the forecast on the day of a concert, please check www.landmarksorchestra.org or call 617-987-2000 after 4 PM for any changes to the date or venue. Download our mobile app to receive weather alerts, notifications, and special offers. |
Ramaria longicaulis är en svampart som först beskrevs av Peck, och fick sitt nu gällande namn av Corner 1950. Ramaria longicaulis ingår i släktet Ramaria och familjen Gomphaceae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.
Källor
Basidiesvampar
longicaulis |
Hi, I would like to convert from keepass to Avast Passwords. We have many accounts with Notes (security questions and answers, related accounts etc.). Would you please consider adding a Notes field to the Account record? Keepass has many fields for each record but all we use are Name, Account, Password, and Notes. Or, if you believe this sort of info should be separated into a Notes record please explain.
p.s. - setup on Win10 PC went without issue, enabled sync, installed Passwords app on iOS and logged on to existing account - no problem, registered device fine, sync worked immediately.
yes, having note for each account record makes sense. It is already on our roadmap. Can't promise any due date though.
I find the revision history for the iOS app in the AppStore informative and encouraging.
- Is there a public version of the Win10 app revision history?
- Is there a public version of the roadmap?
p.s. - I think you are working on a great project. Growing up in a social media era, students that I meet seem to have a relaxed sense of privacy and an apathy toward data breaches. Thank you for providing a free cross platform system to help those that do care manage their accounts and passwords. |
The man credited by Abraham Lincoln with keeping California in the Union was unceremoniously thrown out of Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill this week and replaced by a two bit actor and traitor to his country.
To be certain that the Rev. Thomas Starr King is not completely lost in the shuffle to cannonize that Traitor to his Nation Ronnie Raygun, just a brief note.
King was not a healthy man, and his trip to California, and relentless speaking schedule, took its toll. He was aware that health was poor, but remained passionate about his cause. He once told a friend, "I had rather die next year than be sick this." Having saved California from becoming Texas, he died on February 28, 1864. He was 39 years old. |
Small shops and heavy advertisers less likely to ID tobacco sales
By Keri Carbaugh | Jul 8, 2019
Research suggests young smokers are less likely to be carded in smaller shops and those that heavily advertise tobacco, according to a study from the American Journal of Health Promotion.
In Columbus, Ohio, where officials are currently trying to decide whether to raise the legal tobacco age to 21, the study sent 20- and 21-year-old researchers into a variety of stores. They were not carded in 60 percent of the stores.
"Our findings suggest that certain types of stores — tobacco shops, convenience stores and those with a lot of tobacco advertising — are more likely to sell tobacco to a young person without checking his or her ID," said Megan Roberts, an assistant professor of health behavior and health promotion at Ohio State University. "One implication of this finding is that enforcement may benefit from targeted outreach and monitoring at these locations."
In the study, 64 percent of grocery stores asked for ID while only 29 percent asked in bars, restaurants and alcohol stores.
"In addition to variation by type of store, we saw that those that heavily advertised were less likely to card us. It makes sense, if you think about it, that people who are plastering their windows with tobacco ads probably are trying to make a lot of money off those products and may be more likely to look the other way when selling to a young adult," Niru Murali said. She participated in the study as part of her undergraduate work at Ohio State.
In Columbus, anyone who looks younger than 30 is supposed to be carded when buying tobacco products.
Organizations in this Story
22ND CENTURY GROUP, INC.: CDC Survey Finds Most U.S. Adults, including 80% of Smokers, Favor Lowering Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes to Make Them Less Addictive
By Press release submission | Jul 12, 2019
GLOBAL CENTER FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE IN TOBACCO CONTROL: Public Statement in relation to the invitation to attend tobacco industry-backed 'Smoke Free Dialogue'
SOUTHEAST ASIA TOBACCO CONTROL ALLIANCE: Cambodia: Gov't to act against sale of unstamped cigarette packets
HEMP, Inc.: Vertically Integrates its North Carolina Farming and Processing Facilities
P&S INTELLIGENCE: U.K. E-Cigarette Market is Expected to Reach $6.5 Billion by 2024 |
The vehicle had started from Odisha and was going towards the North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.
Earlier Naxals blasted an explosive minutes before polling began in Dantewada.
No harm to security forces as well as polling party has been reported. |
Egypt midfielder Mahmoud Trezeguet was grateful to coach Hector Cuper for putting faith in him as he established himself as a key starter for the Pharaohs ahead of the summer World Cup in Russia.
Trezeguet, who plays on loan at Turkish side Kasimpasa, has recently become Cuper's preferred choice on the left wing, with Stoke City's Ramadan Sobhi relegated to the bench.
The work rate of Trezeguet and his knack of making jinking runs into the area and scoring decisive goals have helped him become one of the pillars of Cuper's strategy.
He has had an impressive season at Kasimpasa, whom he joined from Belgian side Anderlecht last summer, scoring 14 goals and creating five others in 30 appearances in all competitions.
"I got my first chance (with Egypt) when Cuper arrived and I grasped it, showing a strong desire to work and improve. He is a coach who respects those who exert efforts in training and matches and are tactically disciplined," Trezeguet said in an interview with FIFA.com on Tuesday.
"Thanks God, I earned his trust and I played all of Egypt's World Cup qualifying games and all the matches of the 2017 African Cup of Nations.
"I want to thank him for the faith he put in me and I promise him that I will keep my current level of form and improve further in the coming weeks."
Trezeguet has made 23 appearances with Egypt since making his debut in 2014, scoring twice.
He won the decisive penalty which Mohamed Salah converted to give the team a 2-1 win over Congo in Alexandria last year, which lifted them to their first World Cup finals since 1990.
Egypt will play in Group A of the football's most prestigious showpiece along with hosts Russia, South American powerhouses Uruguay and Arab Gulf side Saudi Arabia.
"Without doubt, it's a tough group. Those who think it's easy are mistaken," the 23-year-old added.
"Russia will have home advantage, Uruguay are former world champions who boast big stars and can threaten anyone and our match against Saudi Arabia will be like a derby.
"But we should trust ourselves … we should go to the finals fearing no one." |
Q: Apache & PHP folder permissions Our PHP scripts create dynamic folders and files and we are having a permission issue. The folders were initially create using our ftpuser.
EG: Album (created by ftpuser) all subfolders and files in them have to be dynamically created. The apache user is the user when a new folder is created and then it cannot write anything to that folder for some reason.
The server is running with PHP safe mode OFF.
Whenever a folder is created by php script the user is apache and the permission for some reason shows as dr----x--t
Thanks.
A: Find the place in the PHP where the folder is created. Typically, this will be:
mkdir( folderName );
Change the line to:
mkdir( folderName, 1755 );
Or, instead, add this line after the mkdir:
chmod( folderName, 1755 );
For more information, here's the PHP mkdir documentation.
|
The Kenya Country Office will avail the services of a retainer consultant as and when there is a need for outsourcing a spot check, follow up recommendations from the spot check and audits and also provide specific support to the implementing partners in terms of capacity building. The retainer would be effective from 16/11/18 to 15/9/19.
Under the supervision of the Quality Assurance Officer, QA Unit, Operations, as and when required, the consultant will provide the required support in terms of carrying out the spot checks, capturing recommendations from assessment and assurance activities, follow up of open recommendations and also provide capacity building to the implementing partners, eventually helping KCO to be HACT compliant.
Provide support to the implementing partners, both CSOs and government departments in helping to set up accounting systems leading to capacity development.
The consultant is expected work closely with Quality Assurance Officer/Fund Monitoring Specialist of the QA Unit in terms of guidance for the tasks listed above. In addition, consultant will also be working closely with programme sections/zone offices, implementing partners and audit firms.
Tracking tool/etools update and follow up of open recommendations.
Payment to be made in line with the terms mentioned above and will be effected on completion of assigned tasks and submission of deliverables acceptable to UNICEF; Cost of travel (DSA/airfare/taxi-fare) to be reimbursed on submission of travel claim. Travel to be undertaken by the consultant only after prior approval by the supervisor.
Consultant will be expected to undertake travel as part of the assignment to undertake spot checks, and other related activities, such as capacity development of implementing partners. Manual Travel Requests will be raised based on the need and travel costs will be reimbursed based on actual and scrutiny of supporting documents, as per applicable UNICEF rules and regulations.
UNICEF to provide use of office space, and reimburse communication costs as per actual and for completion of agreed activities.
Payment is on satisfactory completion of deliverables duly authorized by the Supervisor of contract.
Note: As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary".
Years of experience : 2 years' experience in the area of finance/accounting and familiarity with auditing. |
Southeast Power serves Wilmington, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greensboro, New Bern and other areas of North Carolina.
Southeast Power is a North Carolina based solar installation company dedicated to delivering the best possible service before and after installation of your system. The Southeast Power team has extensive experience in solar and electrical installation, and our team undergoes continuing education yearly. Our knowledge and industry qualifications allow us to handle projects of any scope and size. We carry an unlimited electrical contractor's license, North Carolina general contractor's license, and are NABCEP-certified Solar Installers.
Individual energy choices have a measurable and direct effect on our environment. Southeast Power believes that the environmental impact of energy production is an emerging concern facing business owners and consumers. We are committed to doing our part to reduce those impacts with solar power and wind systems. We strive to reduce the effects of environmental degradation by enabling the mass market to obtain clean solar energy in an economically viable way. We seek to provide sound financial and environmental advice to anyone interested in purchasing a solar or wind system for their residence, business, or non-profit.
Our mission is to make solar power the smart financial and environmental choice, and we intend to accomplish that one installation at a time. Southeast Power is committed to installing cost-effective solar solutions for many applications, from a single-family home to commercial property.
We are certified Solar Installers. We install solar technology in many areas of North Carolina like Raleigh, Wilmington, Greenville, and Fayetteville. |
Last time we popped into the Ford Design Studios, it was the late 1960s and everyone was strung out on black turtlenecks and jazz flute.
We're traveling a few years further back in time today, but Ford Design Studios remains our destination.
"Styling and the Experimental Car," released in 1964, doesn't start off like a modern promo piece might. We jump from ancient Egypt's papyrus plant fixation to the birth of the automobile in about 40 seconds -- no one ever accused these film reels of being narrow in scope. Color filters are used liberally, as are the groovy, Monty Python-esque collage animations. A school of Continentals swims across the a map of the United States to the avant-garde musical stylings of a jazz clarinetist, followed by a flock of Thunderbirds.
This fluid, abstract, artistic approach is striking. We'd say it was out of place -- if this film wasn't about the mysterious art of automotive design. But how and why does a spark in a designer's mind make it into production? The narrator explains: "the contemporary stylist is part artist, part architect, part sculptor and part product designer." He focuses "on the future that lies just ahead" to give fickle consumers something they might not have even known they wanted.
Somehow, this framing makes the comparison between Leonardo Da Vinci's hypothetical spring-driven "automobile" seem relatively logical.
"Styling and the Experimental Car" is not all Syd Mead-sketched dream cars. It debuted in 1964; not coincidentally, that's right around the time Ford pulled the sheets off the 1965 Mustang. This reel's objective, then, is to connect Ford's wildest flights of fancy to the very real car. It does so by walking us through a series of concepts. There's gorgeous little Allegro, the Cougar II, the Aurora (a concept wagon that boasted a primitive GPS system and cruise control).
We eventually arrive at the Ford Mustang II concept, a clear preview of what the production 'Stang would look like, before meeting that car in the steel. Horses charge across a plain, a Mustang kicks up dust, and narrator solemnly assures us that the stylist's quest to make his "practical dreams" a reality will go on.
Over the top? Today, maybe. But the experimental feel of the film itself speaks to the bold optimism of Detroit in the postwar era. The results -- like the 1965 Ford Mustang -- speak for themselves. We'll gladly crank up the Alvin Batiste if it means more to that era's cynicism-free daring. |
In addition to the most popular Italian destinations, we are specialist for the Southern Italy which represents the latest trend for the travel and MICE industry. Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Taormina, Matera, Apulia, Abruzzo, etc.
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Getting to know…Joe Chrismer
Phat Nguyen, Sports Editor
Meet Joe Chrismer, the senior safety of the football team. The hard hitting safety has been making big stops on defense all year including a late game heroic interception to secure a win against cross town rival King's College during a blizzard.
Major: Business Administration
Hometown: Mountain Top, PA.
Which high school did you go to? Crestwood.
What's it like playing football not too far from your hometown? It's nice you get a lot of the local guys to follow you. It's pretty nice to go back home and see how the teams doing. My family is at every game.
A couple of weeks ago, Alex George said that you're the hardest hitter on the team. Is that true? I thought he was probably about right. Not to toot my own horn, but I look to give out the big hits. Being a smaller guy, I think it's kind of a shocker for some of the receivers to get pinned up on their backs. Then they look up and see a 180 pound safety that hit them.
What was the biggest hit that you had this year? Widenor's number one receiver and the game at Lycoming was probably my two biggest hits this season. They were both momentum shifters for us.
What was the biggest pass deflection that you had this year? Biggest pass deflection was against Susquehanna. Their top receiver was an All-American. They went at me and it was my first start. Big get up for me.
What sports do you play other than football? Basketball four years in high school, baseball until freshman year in high school and I also ran track. I just kept busy.
Who's one guy in the NFL that you would love to tackle? Probably would have to be Terrell Owens or Chad Ochocinco.
Wait, so you don't like those guys? (laughs) No, I would just like to see what their reactions would be. I like them as receivers. I think they're great receivers, but I love to see what their reactions would be.
Who would you want to be up against more? I would probably be Ochocinco since he would have a better reaction than TO.
Who's your NFL team?
Denver Broncos.
What do you think of the whole Tebow situatuation? I'm a fan of Tebow. People just need to give him time. I can see what he'll become eventually. He needs an off season and some games under his belt. He'll be perfectly fine.
Are you familiar Tebowing, where you take a knee and pray in a random public place? (laughs) No I haven't heard of that.
How did you get that comparison to Revis Island? They kind of brought that up last year in the game I started against Utica. I shut down their two top receivers who had probably 14 catches a piece. They kind of came up with Chrismer Island. I just kept a level head and did what I needed to do, more or less.
Do they still call it Chrismer Island? (laughs) No, not anymore.
When you used to play corner with Matt Gunther as the other corner, did the team ever call you guys Revis and Cromartie? (laughs) Yeah, but I'm playing safety now. They've kept me there for the last two games.
Are you more like your mom or dad? My dad. I'm a lot like him. We have a lot of the same personality. The only thing I'm like the mom is that we're both talkative. I'm not afraid to talk to anybody.
What's it like being tied for third most tackles on the team? I didn't even know that. It beat my expectations. It feels good to be up there with Tate. He's a hell of a player.
Sports information reported that your have two carries for two yards. How did you get that? That would be the announcer's problem, I guess. They must've mistaken me for Tivald. (laughs) I'll take it. That's Tivald's yards for sure. That's just a mess-up which happens, but I'll take the stats
Is there any reason that you wear #23? I was #11 all throughout high school for both basketball and football. My roommate and best friend, Matt Gunther was #11 in high school. We had arguments over it, but I let him have it. I just stuck with #23 because Michael Jordan with his mental aspect and drive was my favorite player.
Phat Nguyen, News Editor |
Czech Football Earns 375 Million Crowns at the Euros
by Damien Hawkes
Czech football team earns 375 million crowns at Euro championship
The Czech Republic was once seen as a genuine threat at European Championships and World Cups. Even though the team is past its heyday, when they boasted the likes of Pavel Nedved and Thomas Rosicky, the current group is showing their skills differently.
The present edition of the Czech football team may not have the same star power, but they are performing to a high standard.
Below is an overview of the Czech Republic's performance at Euro 2020, along with a Champions League update for football fanatics.
Czech Republic reaches the quarter finals
When the draw was made for the Euro 2020 tournament, the Czechs were not seen as having a real chance to go deep in the competition. Considering the one-year delay to the tournament, the Czechs had more time to prepare and let their younger players grow into important roles within the team.
Such improvements meant that by the time the tournament came around in the summer of 2021, they were ready to show their skills to the rest of Europe. The Czech national side then made it to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Czechs progressed from the group stages with a few impressive performances, before they took on the Netherlands in the last 16 of the competition.
Such a feat from the team is all the more impressive since they had strong teams in their group. Creditable results in those matches saw them progress to the knockouts.
Despite being the underdog in their game against the Netherlands in the round of 16, they put in a terrific display to nullify the Dutch attack and score goals on the counter-attack.
As a result of that impressive win, the Czechs booked a date with Denmark in the quarter-finals.
The on-form Danes proved too much for the Czechs, as they were defeated in the quarters and knocked out of the tournament. However, their fans could not have been prouder of the effort from every player in the squad.
Massive earnings for the Czech Football Team
Thanks to their fantastic displays in reaching Euro 2020, the Czech Republic football team earned 9.25 million euros or 235 million crowns. They made a further 5.5 million euros, or 140 million crowns, as a result of their performances during the tournament.
Many fans and pundits back home were not expecting an impressive Czech display at the Euros. Some fans were thinking they may be eliminated from the group stages, which would have been a huge shame for their fans who traveled to see matches.
As they were able to get out of the group stages and win their first knockout match, the Czechs earned more money than anticipated. Now those funds will be distributed among the national team and their football association.
Battling group stage results
The Czechs were not one of the teams fancied to progress to the knockout rounds, but they made light work of a group that also contained England, Scotland, and Croatia.
The first game for the Czech Republic saw them take on a very well-rounded and spirited Scotland team. Playing at Hampden Park, the home stadium of the Scots, the Czech Republic was not fancied to get a win from the clash.
However, a terrific display saw them put in the hard work on the defensive end while being decisive on the counter-attack. Striker Patrick Schick is the one who took all the headlines in this game, scoring both goals to give his side all three points.
Schick scored a very good goal in the first half, before following it up with an even better strike in the second period. The Czechs did not let Scotland score in the game, showcasing their defensive resilience.
Their next game saw them take on Croatia, who reached the last World Cup final. Another creditable display saw the Czech Republic claim a 1-1 draw, with Patrick Schick scoring a penalty before Ivan Perisic equalized for the Croats.
Despite losing their final game in the group stages to eventual finalists in England, the Czechs had done enough to claim a knockout round position as a result of their group stage results.
Excellent knockout stage performances
When the Czech Republic was drawn against the Netherlands, nearly every fan and pundit predicted a Dutch triumph. The game was meant to be a procession for the Netherlands, as they moved on to tougher tests in the quarter-finals against a top nation.
The Czechs, however, had other ideas. They put in a spirited display, nullifying the Dutch attack and frustrating their more fancied opponents. When Matthijs de Ligt committed a red card offense, the Czech Republic took advantage of their man advantage and scored two goals in the last 25 minutes of the game to seal a place in the quarter-finals.
One step too far
The Danish national side proved too difficult for the Czechs to handle in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, with Thomas Delaney opening the scoring in their clash within the first ten minutes. Kasper Dolberg then gave the Danes a 2-0 lead before half-time.
While Patrik Schick did pull one back for the Czechs to continue his outstanding individual tournament, they did not have enough quality to score an equalizer to take the game to extra-time. The Czech Republic journey ended in the quarter-finals, with Denmark going on to meet England in the semis instead.
Fans expect even more in the future
There is no denying that the Czech Republic has set the scene for a bright future on the football field after Euro 2020. The European nation may not be one of the first that people consider when they think about the beautiful game, but they are emerging as a top side over the past few years.
Czech fans will be hoping they can continue to nurture their brightest talents while ensuring forwards such as Patrick Schick are still in red-hot form come to the next World Cup or European Championships.
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One type of goddesses spin time, another group measure it and weave events together, and yet another group cut off lengths of cloth. According to the author, Dee believes that Maggie and her mother are not conversant with the traditional heritage. One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledge hammer and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall. They appear to be round and dynamic characters throughout the story. The quilt was put together by pieces of cloths by Grandma Dee and the finishing touches were provided by Big Dee Dee's aunt and Mrs. She does not want to use the names of her immediate ancestors. Dee tells Maggie to make something of herself and ironically tells Mama that she doesn't understand her own heritage.
In fact, Maggie is just an extended version of her mother. Mama resented the intimidating world of ideas and education that Dee forced on her family on her trips home. Dee has decided to choose a new name Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo to conform to her African traditions. She makes me feel that even though we all live different lives, we are all the same in every way. All these articles were all rendered as antics by Dee, whereas, they were still in everyday use by her own family members.
Dee had left to college some years back. Meanwhile, the narrator, Mama, also gives hints about herself as a hardworking, humble woman, who took the lead role of parenting her daughters in the absence of her husband. These outfits represent her colorful, vibrant nature as well as her unwillingness to fit in to her surroundings, a harsh land more suited to farm clothing. Throughout the story, Dee believes that Mama and Maggie do not understand their traditional heritage. The main conflict of the story evolves when Dee visits her family and introduces her fiancé, with the intentions of not only visit her loved ones; as well to demonstrate her mother her superiority to her. In 1964, she travelled to Uganda as an exchange student.
In the process, Dee developed a new philosophy of life, owing to the education she received. The speaker in the story is the mom of two very different girls, Maggie and Dee. She can kill a bull calf and have the meat hung up to chill by nightfall. Dee finds them quaint and worthy showpieces for her apartment. History and heritage play a key role in the development and conclusion of this rather intriguing story. Some times we wish time would go back and find ourselves free and with out no stress and value what we had with a smile. Dee views her heritage as an artifact which she can possess and appreciate from a distance instead of as a process in which she is always intimately involved.
Dee would have had to overcome many obstacles to get to the point of her loud and garish arrival to Mama's house. Dee accuses her mother and Maggie of their plan to put priceless heirloom quilts to everyday use. Near the end of the story, Mrs. . She overlooks American experience and insists in embracing her African traditions. Dee shows them that she is the example of what they could be if they get away from all of this. Hakim-a-barber attempts to kiss Maggie but she recoils in horror.
She asks her mother if it's okay to take the quilts. After greeting her mother and Maggie in a language they do not understand, Dee starts taking pictures, posing Maggie and her mother in front of the house as though she were a tourist. I feel that in this story Dee's feelings of entitlement for what she asks for came to be because she was the one who was given the advantage of going away for college and getting the education that neither her own mother or sister were given. Such names are associated to black slaves. When Hakim-a-barber says that he does not eat collard greens and pork—traditional African-American foods—he symbolically denies his heritage despite his complicated African name. The immediate conclusion the reader has about Dee might generally be negative. Johnson refuses to give her the quilts that Mrs.
Mama is considered as a dynamic character. Mama can no longer endure Dee's shaming. Other people may see Dee as I did. Character Maggie, the younger daughter, shy and low self esteem due to scars on arms and legs. Mama describes Maggie as a wounded animal who must live her life forever subjugated to forces greater than her own will.
Each time, I am equally interested. As the story begins, she hesitantly awaits the return of her eldest daughter. She is selfish and vain. As they're eating, Dee becomes totally obsessed with a butter churn in the corner of the yard that was made by her uncle. Then both Dee and Hakim-a-barber climb into their car and disappear in a cloud of dust as quickly as they had arrived. Therefore, Dee is ironic when she states that Mama and Maggie are not in conformity with their heritage.
Even though we've just met the lady, we climb right inside her head and start watching one of her fantasies. She is the one who can say who made what, which only shows that you don't have to be so educated or modern to know about your family. Dee drives away, leaving dust and sand in the air. Simply put, the quilt is a metaphor for the ways in which discarded scraps and fragments may be made into a unified, even beautiful, whole. Alice Walker, the recipient of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple, has also penned down several other works of excellence. Mama tells herself that she knows Maggie will hide in the corner until she leaves. Maggie and Dee's mother goes out of her way to give them the life they deserve. |
Maddie Candre singled, advanced to second on an error by lf.
Ashley Cohen singled, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; Maddie Candre scored, unearned.
Lauren Luedtke reached first on an error by 2b; Ashley Cohen advanced to third.
Erin Schmitt reached first on an error by 3b.
Rachael Wakefield singled down the lf line; Erin Schmitt advanced to second.
Sophie Lee pinch ran for Erin Schmitt.
Airyanna Maurer to p for Jackie Mulvain.
Morgan Johnson reached on a fielder's choice; Rachael Wakefield advanced to second; Sophie Lee out at third ss to 3b.
Sammy Buerger doubled to right center.
Maddie Candre singled through the left side; Sammy Buerger advanced to third.
Ashley Cohen singled, bunt, RBI; Maddie Candre advanced to second; Sammy Buerger scored.
Lauren Luedtke tripled to center field, 2 RBI; Ashley Cohen scored; Maddie Candre scored.
Erin Schmitt to dp for Sophie Lee.
Jordyn Hynst grounded out to 3b, RBI; Lauren Luedtke scored.
Morgan Johnson singled up the middle.
Sammy Buerger walked; Morgan Johnson advanced to second.
Maicy Kirk singled up the middle.
Jordan Pallay singled to left field; Maicy Kirk advanced to second.
Kayla Alderson singled through the left side; Jordan Pallay advanced to second; Maicy Kirk advanced to third.
Lauren Luedtke singled up the middle.
Rachael Wakefield singled up the middle.
Rachael Wakefield advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Maddie Candre singled through the left side, RBI; Sammy Buerger advanced to second; Rachael Wakefield scored.
Ashley Cohen singled up the middle, RBI; Maddie Candre advanced to third; Sammy Buerger scored.
Lauren Luedtke grounded out to 3b, RBI; Ashley Cohen advanced to second; Maddie Candre scored.
Halle Vardon pinch ran for Ashley Cohen.
Halle Vardon advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Ashley Cohen to p for Halle Vardon.
Anna Pistone to 3b for Haley Barnes.
Kaitlyn Carpenter pinch ran for Alyssa Cook.
Maicy Kirk walked; Kaitlyn Carpenter advanced to second.
Jordan Pallay singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; Maicy Kirk advanced to third; Kaitlyn Carpenter scored.
Megan Gummere singled up the middle, RBI; Jordan Pallay advanced to third; Maicy Kirk scored.
Kayla Alderson singled up the middle, RBI; Megan Gummere advanced to second; Jordan Pallay scored.
Anna Palicka to p for Anna Pistone.
Erin Miller singled through the right side; Kayla Alderson advanced to second; Megan Gummere advanced to third.
Reagan Tom reached first on an error by 3b, RBI; Erin Miller advanced to second; Kayla Alderson advanced to third; Megan Gummere scored, unearned.
Reagan Tom advanced to second; Taylor Watts advanced to third; Kayla Alderson scored on a wild pitch, unearned.
Alyssa Cook to c for Kaitlyn Carpenter.
Ashton Helmke to dp for Megan Gummere.
Mackenzie Marshall pinch ran for Jordan Pallay. |
José Santos Guardiola è un comune dell'Honduras facente parte del dipartimento di Islas de la Bahía.
Il comune venne istituito il 5 febbraio 1960 con parte del territorio del comune di Roatán; il territorio comprende la parte orientale dell'isola di Roatán.
Note
Comuni di Islas de la Bahía |
Hard to believe such tranquility!
If this is Earth, it is hard to imagine what Heaven will be like.
You only pass this way but once, so whatever good you can do…do not hesitate doing it now for others.
Mindful Eating with Carlotta M. Robbins, M.S., C.Ht.
Many people see maintaining their weight as this huge undertaking including working out for hours, eating perfectly and a host of other activities that seem nearly impossible to sustain. While a more drastic approach may be necessary, many can benefit from these simple tips.
Check out this ingredient combo. It was wonderful. If your looking for direction, I prefer to go heavy on the greens and use everything else as topping, but do as you will. |
Oceanico può riferirsi a:
Ciò che è relativo all'oceano
Clima oceanico
Corrente oceanica
Dorsale oceanica
Lingue oceaniche
Pagine correlate
Ocean
Oceano
Oceano (disambigua) |
Do you have a passion for people? Then you could be our next Human Resource Representative with The Delfield Company.
As the Human Resource Representative you will provide technical human resources assistance and administrative support to management and associates using established guidelines.
Reporting directly to the Associate HR Business Partner, this position is based in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
Effectively manage employee relations including day to day problem resolution, policy, procedures, compensation, benefits, etc.
Utilize established protocols and relationships to manage, and conduct recruitment campaigns for all hourly/production non-exempt and temporary associates. Manage hourly recruiting by initiating and posting requisitions schedule and coordinate interviews and initiate pre-screening process. Manage new hire orientation and on-boarding programs.
Maintain HRIS records and all HR documentation to insure systematic, accurate, compliant records are maintained. Works in Taleo and HR Fusion as well as other software to maintain records of personnel transactions such as hire, promotions, transfers, reviews and terminations and employee statistical reporting to gov't regulators.
Provide training and act as resource to all employees with respect to benefits. Benefit Administration to include assistance with claims resolutions, change reporting and communicating benefit information to employees.
Address and manage employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns/union grievances. Analyze employment-related data and prepare required reports. Promptly respond to grievances and maintain grievance log.
Assist in the evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals. Recommend new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in efficiency of department and services performed.
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local legal requirements. Consults with HR leadership and legal counsel to ensure policies and procedure comply with legal requirements, including AAP.
Effectively communicate and present material of varying complexity including but not limited to one on one meetings, group meetings, and facility-wide all employee meetings to employees at all levels in the organization.
Maintain ADP time & attendance system. Administer hourly attendance system. Analyze and reconcile all payroll records and prepare timely associated reports, journal entries, and forms on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis.
• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 3 years' experience in Human Resources or a High School diploma with at least 8 years' experience in Human Resources in lieu of degree required.
• Experience in a unionized manufacturing facility preferred.
• Experience with ADP or other timekeeper system required.
• Experience in HRIS program required.
• Knowledge of State and Federal law in HR required as well as knowledge of principles and practices of human resources.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Power Point required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills with ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Ability to work in fast paced environment.
• Ability to create momentum and foster organizational change.
*Welbilt - Mt. Pleasant, Michigan manufactures world class products such as Delfield, Merco, and Multiplex. Products include frozen beverage dispensing equipment, hot-holding units, prep tables, worktop refrigeration, refrigerated equipment stands, mobile serving lines, an custom refrigeration. The facility in Mt. Pleasant is a division of Welbilt. |
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Cloud Computing, Minterest, tech., Web 2.0
Over 81 Amazon Products & Services You Probably Don't Know
Mahesh Mohan
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First Published: September 26, 2016; Last Updated: Sunday, January 10, 2021.
Amazon ($AMZN) is the largest retailer on the web. I'm not an Amazon fanatic but I like to shop online (or on Amazon). And I believe Amazon will become a lot more bigger than what it is today.
For me Amazon was all about online shopping and shopping only until a few years go, and then I came to know about its dominance in the cloud computing space.
That's how I became curious and made a plan to list all its products and services and app (or this very blog post).
So today, I'm listing all the products and services and apps by Amazon. And I will be updating this article as they launch more products and services.
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A List Of All Amazon Products & Services
Amazon Go First Store
Over 300 million active users. Over 500 million products. Over $100 $200 $300 billion in annual revenues. Over 1.20 million employees. Over 100 million Amazon Prime subscribers. Over 5 billion items shipped worldwide per year. Over $300 $750 $900 $1,500 billion market capitalization. That's the stats of Amazon.
Amazon (Amazon.com) — The largest Internet-based retailer in the world by total sales and market capitalization.
Amazon Advertising — Connect your brand to Amazon customers wherever they share, read, listen, purchase, research and download online, across devices.
Amazon Alexa — Amazon's voice control system.
Amazon Appstore — Amazon Appstore for Android is an app store for the Android operating system operated by Amazon.com.
AmazonBasics — AmazonBasics offers quality and value on everyday products delivered straight to your door.
Amazon Blink — Blink is the completely wireless home security camera that sends motion-activated alerts & HD video to your smartphone
Amazon Books — Amazon Books is a chain of retail bookstores owned by online retailer Amazon.
Amazon Business — Everything you love about Amazon. For work.
Amazon Core 10 — Online shopping from a great selection at Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Store.
Amazon Dash Button — Amazon Dash is a consumer goods ordering service which uses a proprietary device for ordering goods over the Internet.
Amazon Drive — Get unlimited online storage to backup, protect and share photos, videos and files from any device.
Amazon Echo — Amazon Echo is a hands-free speaker you control with your voice. Echo connects to the Alexa Voice Service to play music, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more—instantly. All you have to do is ask. Also check out, Echo Dot, Echo Dot Kids Edition.
Amazon Elements — Amazon Elements is a line of premium everyday essentials exclusively available to Amazon Prime members.
Amazon Essentials — Online shopping from a great selection at Clothing & Accessories Store.
Amazon Fashion — Buy Footwear, Clothing and Fashion Accessories online for Men, Women and kids at low prices in India.
Amazon Fire OS — An Android-based operating system by Amazon for its Fire Phone and Kindle Fire range of devices.
Amazon Fire Phone* — A 3D-enabled smartphone designed and developed by Amazon.
Amazon Fire Tablet — A tablet designed and developed by Amazon.
Amazon Fire TV — Amazon Fire TV is a tiny box you connect to your HDTV. It's the easiest way to enjoy over 250,000 TV episodes and movies on Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and HBO NOW, plus games, music, and more.
Amazon Fire TV Cube — Fire TV Cube is the first hands-free streaming media player with Alexa.
Amazon Fresh — It is a grocery delivery service by Amazon.
Amazon Games — Amazon Games develops games that harness the power of AWS and Twitch to create bold, new game experiences.
Amazon GameOn — Easily share amazing moments, epic fails, tips and tricks and participate in fun weekly Challenges.
Amazon Goodthreads — Incredible clothes at affordable prices.
Amazon Halo — Amazon Halo includes body composition, tone of voice analysis, sleep & activity tracking, and more. Science-backed tools to help improve how you sleep, move, sound and feel.
Amazon Handmade — Discover genuinely handcrafted products created by Artisans around the world.
Amazon Happy Belly — Happy Belly offers quality food and beverage favorites, all at friendly prices.
Amazon Home Services — Amazon Home Services is a new and simple way to buy and schedule professional services such as furniture assembly, house cleaning, and plumbing directly on Amazon.com.
Amazon Hub — Hub by Amazon is a comprehensive solution that frees you and your staff from daily package management, from high-rise buildings to garden-style apartments.
Amazon Inspire — Amazon Inspire is an open collaboration service that helps educators discover, gather, and share educational content.
Amazon Go — Amazon Go is a new kind of store with no checkout required.
Amazon Key — Amazon Key is a service that will facilitate in-home delivery to Prime members in 37 cities and surrounding areas, across the United States, with more locations available over time.
Amazon Kindle — Amazon Kindle is a series of e-readers by Amazon.com that enable users to browse, buy, download and read e-books, newspapers, magazines and other digital media via wireless networking to the Kindle Store.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing — Self-publish eBooks and paperbacks for free with Kindle Direct Publishing, and reach millions of readers on Amazon.
Amazon Launchpad — Amazon Launchpad offers online shopping of products from startups, with a great selection of new technology, innovative gadgets, electronics, wearable tech, workout, style, and home products from startups.
Amazon Local Shops — Local Shops on Amazon is a program that allows any store to register on Amazon and serve more customers from local area.
Amazon Locker — Amazon Lockers are secure, self-service kiosks where customers can pick up Amazon.com packages at a time and place that is convenient for them.
Amazon Luna — Amazon Luna Amazon's cloud gaming service where it's easy to play great games on devices you already own. No waiting for lengthy downloads or updates — just play.
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk.com) — An on-demand scalable workforce.
Amazon Merch — Merch by Amazon makes it easy for you to create, promote and market your branded merchandise.
Amazon Music Unlimited — Amazon Music Unlimited is a premium music subscription service featuring tens of millions of songs and thousands of expert-programmed playlists and stations.
Amazon Pay — Amazon Pay makes it simple for hundreds of millions of customers around the globe to check-in and check out using information already stored in their Amazon account.
Amazon Pharmacy — Allows customers to complete an entire pharmacy transaction on their desktop or mobile device through the Amazon App.
Amazon Prime — Enjoy fast free shipping, exclusive access to movies and TV shows, ad-free music, unlimited photo storage, and Kindle books.
Amazon Prime Air — Amazon Prime Air is a future service that will deliver packages up to five pounds in 30 minutes or less using small drones.
Amazon Prime Book Box — A subscription that delivers hand-picked children's books every 1, 2, or 3 months.
Amazon Prime Music — Ad-free and on-demand music service for Amazon Prime members.
Amazon Prime Now — Prime Now offers household items and essentials you need every day plus the best of Amazon, with FREE 2-hour delivery.
Amazon Prime Pantry — Packages everyday (non-bulk) Non-perishable food grocery store items into a single box for delivery for a flat fee.
Amazon Prime Video — Enjoy exclusive Amazon Originals as well as popular movies and TV shows.
Amazon Prime Video Direct — Prime Video Direct helps content creators and visual storytellers reach millions of Prime Video customers worldwide.
Amazon Publishing — Amazon Publishing is a leading trade publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and children's books with a mission to empower outstanding storytellers and connect them with readers worldwide.
Amazon Robotics (formerly Kiva Systems) — It's all about robotics.
AmazonSmile — Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
Amazon Storywriter — A cloud-based screenwriting app.
Amazon Studios — Amazon Studios is a subsidiary of Amazon that focuses on developing television series, and distributing and producing films and comics from online submissions and crowd-sourced feedback.
Amazon Sumerian — Amazon Sumerian lets you create and run virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 3D applications quickly and easily without requiring any specialized programming or 3D graphics expertise.
Amazon Tap — A portable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled speaker that gives you rich, full-range sound.
Amazon Video Direct — Helping content creators and visual storytellers reach millions of Amazon customers across hundreds of devices with the same distribution options and delivery quality available to major motion picture and television studios.
Amazon Vine — Amazon Vine is an internal service of Amazon.com that allows manufacturers and publishers to receive reviews for their products on Amazon.
Amazon Wag — Amazon's pet product brand.
Amazon Warehouse Deals — Deep discounts on open-box, and used products from Amazon.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) — Amazon Web Services offers a suite of cloud-computing services that make up an on-demand computing platform.
Amazon Wickedly Prime — A new line of distinctive food and beverages, available exclusively to Amazon Prime members.
Amazon Wireless — Cell phones with service powered by Amazon.com.
Amazon WorkDocs — Amazon WorkDocs is a fully managed, secure enterprise storage and sharing service with strong administrative controls and feedback capabilities that improve user productivity.
Amazon WorkSpaces — Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed, secure desktop computing service which runs on the AWS cloud.
Amazon Your Garage — Find parts and accessories that fit your vehicle and ask other owners for tips and advice.
A9 — A9.com is a subsidiary of Amazon that develops search engine and search advertising technology.
AbeBooks (AbeBooks.com) — Shop a vast selection of books, art and collectibles from independent sellers around the world.
Alexa (Alexa.com) — An Amazon company that provides commercial web traffic data and analytics.
Audible.com (Audible.com) — Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers.
AWS Cloud9 — AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser.
Book Depository — A UK-based online book seller with a large catalogue offered with free shipping to over 160 countries.
Box Office Mojo — Box Office Mojo tracks box office revenue in a systematic, algorithmic way, and publishes the data on its website.
Brilliance Audio — Publishes audio books for consumers, resellers, and librarians in the United States.
Diapers* (Diapers.com)— An online specialty retailer for baby products.
Digital Photography Review — It's all about digital cameras and digital photography.
Goodreads (Goodreads.com) — Share book recommendations with your friends, join book clubs, answer trivia. Note: Shelfari has merged with Goodreads.
IMDb (IMDb.com) — Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows.
Junglee* — Junglee.com is an online marketplace by Amazon designed uniquely for India.
LOVEFiLM* — A DVD rental and streaming video on demand service.
Ring (Ring.com) — Ring lets you monitor every corner of your property with Video Doorbells and security cameras.
Souq (Souq.com) — It's the largest e-commerce site in the Arab world.
Twitch (Twitch.tv) — A live streaming video platform by Amazon.
Whole Foods Market — A supermarket chain that specializes in selling food products without artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats.
Woot — Daily Deals for Electronics, Computers, Home, Tools, Garden, Sport, Accessories, Kids, Shirt, Wine, & more.
Zappos (Zappos.com) — An online shoe and clothing shop.
Zoox — An American autonomous vehicle company.
*Discontinued
You might also want to check out all the mobile apps by Amazon — for iOS and for Android. :)
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Amazon Books First Store
As you can see, Amazon is NOT all about Amazon.com. It's a futuristic company!
There's a good chance that your favorite mobile app (and maybe website too) is powered by Amazon. You know how? Amazon Cloud. Amazon's profits comes from its cloud services and not from its e-commerce business.
And do you know what I like the most from the above products and services by Amazon? It's NOT Kindle or Fire or Alexa or Echo.
It's Amazon Prime!
Amazon Prime is a membership program that gives customers access to streaming video, music, e-books, free shipping and a variety of other Amazon-specific services and deals.
And they can still add a lot more things to Amazon Prime and charge us a monthly/annual fee which means lifetime guaranteed revenue for them.
Happy Amazoning! :)
Sharing is Caring is Sharing :)
Amazon Apps Internet Tech Technology Web 2.0
Hey there, I'm Mahesh (@maheshone) — Your friendly neighborhood blogger and an organic marketing evangelist. I write about tech, marketing, and everything in between that truly excites me.
Outside of that, I'm equally passionate about the financial markets, and also spend A LOT of time doing random things.
Also, the Chief Everything Officer (@Infirn Labs). Say hi: [email protected]
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I have actually had boxed wine before and it wasn't terrible. I certainly have had worse.
Whether you see your glass half empty or half full doesn't matter… what matters is you did not pour enough wine into your glass. Start over.
The phones of my childhood look as weird to the children of today as the old wall mounted phones of my grandparents generation.
A cool gift for those who like gadgets…. the Noke Bluetooth Padlock. It's pronounced "no key" because, duh. This Bluetooth padlock replaces a key or combination with what else, your phone. It senses your signal & pops open when you get within 10-feet. When you walk away, it automatically re-locks. The iOS/Android app lets you give others permission to use it, too.
You couldn't buy these phones where I lived, they remained property of the phone company. When you moved, you left the phone.
I hate it when my daughter texts me from her bedroom. |
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Also all scans should be COMPLETE and not quick unless specifically instructed to do so. User Information Only an Email address is required for returning users. an Administrator Command Prompt) the installer will complete without errors. SAS_1710895.COM) to a usb drive or CD and transfer to the infected computer.
Just wondering if anyone had simlar issue? x 111 Private comment: Subscribers only. the text file I created with comments for my wife and kids regarding a virus we got 5 years ago and what file name to look for. 5. Email Reset Password Cancel Need to recover your Spiceworks IT Desktop password?
Start copying below the line._________________________________________________________________Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.msi]@="Msi.Package"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package]"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,10,00"FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,\ 00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,\ 32,00,5c,00,6d,00,73,00,69,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,33,00,34,\ 00,00,[email protected]="Windows Installer Package"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\DefaultIcon]@="C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\msiexec.exe,0"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell]@="Open,Repair,Uninstall"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell\Open]@="&Install""MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\ 6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\ 00,6d,00,73,00,69,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,33,00,36,00,00,00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell\Open\command]@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,\ 00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,\ 73,00,69,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,22,00,20,00,2f,\ 00,69,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,31,00,22,00,20,00,25,00,2a,00,00,00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell\Repair]@="Re&pair""MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\ 6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\ 00,6d,00,73,00,69,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,33,00,37,00,00,00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell\Repair\command]@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,\ 00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,\ 73,00,69,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,22,00,20,00,2f,\ 00,66,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,31,00,22,00,20,00,25,00,2a,00,00,00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell\Uninstall]@="&Uninstall""MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\ 6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\ 00,6d,00,73,00,69,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,33,00,38,00,00,00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell\Uninstall\command]@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,\ 00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,\ 73,00,69,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,22,00,20,00,2f,\ 00,78,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,31,00,22,00,20,00,25,00,2a,00,00,00 Edited by Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation. Go to start run and type in "dcomcnfg" expand Component Services > Computer and go to properties on "My Computer" and modify permissions on "default COM Security" as needed. Processing media-specific event for [AMTUSI.exe!ws!] Error: (04/25/2012 08:40:19 PM) (Source: Application Error) (User: ) Description: Faulting application uphclean.exe, version 1.6.30.0, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.6055, fault address 0x00029f07.
Me Me So Hungry...... Library 10 (Version: 10.0.0612) Microsoft Picture It! If you use this mirror, please extract the zip file to your desktop.Disconnect from the Internet and close all running programs.Temporarily disable any real-time active protection so your security programs will Error: (04/26/2012 07:33:56 PM) (Source: Application Error) (User: ) Description: Faulting application ZVSZKDDI.exe, version 1.71.0.0, faulting module comctl32.dll, version 6.0.2900.6028, fault address 0x000048d6.
unable to install many pgms Started by petegt5012 , Apr 29 2012 04:38 PM Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next This topic is locked 20 replies to this topic #1 The current setting has been marked as failed and the Wireless connection will be disconnected. Back to top Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next Back to Windows XP Home and Professional 0 user(s) are reading this topic 0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users Reply Then double-click on it to launch and scan.
I'm tired! A program run as part of the setup did not finish as expected. I'm desperate! Thank you for all. |
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Magic Teapot combats virus with diversification
The Magic Teapot, established in 2017 as a touring acoustic music venue, has been going from strength to strength. It began the year looking forward to the 20 festivals and events booked for 2020, and were gearing up to build a second structure to enable it to keep up with demand. Lockdown happened and the second structure was no longer needed for this year.
Many people had admired the original structure and enquired as to whether they were available to buy. With this in mind, the Magic Teapot team decided to take a chance and try building them to sell. A new name was needed and as the structures look like crowns, they wanted something like crown but an original word, and so the Qorone was born! The Q is pronounced like a K.
Available in 13 sizes, using different numbers of the same sized walls, Qorones range from 8 walls / 5m diameter for use as cosy glamping accomodation for a couple or family, through to the original Magic Teapot size, which has 12 walls and is 8m in diameter (and can fit over 100 people all singing and dancing on the benches!), all the way up to 20 walls / 13m diameter which would easily seat 150 for dinner and would be perfect for weddings or covered garden dining at pubs and restaurants.
Qorones are hand finished with great attention to detail and given three coats of hi-tech exterior varnish. With the easily removable roof and the fire or woodburner centrepiece they can be used all year round and each one will last many decades with very low maintenance.
Even though the Qorone business is taking off so well, The Magic Teapot crew can't wait to get back to doing events once the virus is under control!
2021 © Lance Show & Publications Limited |
Before surgery I was very tired and did not like to do anything that required much walking or standing. My knees were bad and the left one is artificial, so with all of my weight they ached pretty badly.
In the summer I was a really cranky person to be around. The hot weather and I did not get along well at all and I would perspire something awful. My head looked like I had just poured water on it because I would perspire so much. I slept during the day quite a lot because I had no energy and basically I was just too fat to really care. I was depressed because of my weight so I did not really care if I went anywhere or not.
I was not happy with myself and I had to do something or I would be in big trouble. I just kept gaining weight because I could not exercise to get the weight off. I tried every diet you can think of and none of them worked.
Every person was fantastic; they treated me like I was all that mattered. I was very well informed about what was going to happen, how my diet would change and how I would have to eat and drink.
All of my care at the clinic was very exceptional. They have a wonderful and caring staff that takes care of the patients before and after surgery.
My life after surgery is fantastic. I sleep through the night. I have a lot of energy during the day and never take naps anymore. If I do, I can't go to sleep at night. I like shopping for clothes now. I went from a size 18-20 to a size 4 petite—God, I love it!!!!
My health is much better and I got rid of a lot of medications which definitely saved money. I like working in the yard and staying outside instead of staying in the house.
If you want a new you, go for it, but remember a couple of things. First, some of your friends will try to talk you out of it. Do not let them do that to you. Think of yourself first, this is a must. This is your life we are talking about, not anyone else's. You MUST take care of yourself first.
Second, some of your friends may say things about your weight loss like, "You look like hell," or "You're too thin." REMEMBER they have seen you for so long with a lot of weight on your bones and they aren't ready for you to change. Some people actually think they are losing their friend and you just have to assure them that you are the same person. If you do lose a friend over your weight loss they weren't really a friend anyway. A true friend wants what is best for you. Don't worry about the one or two you MIGHT lose; there are a lot more out there.
This is the best place to have your surgery and I know because I checked out a few different ones. My sister in-law and another friend of mine had theirs elsewhere and both of them have had quite a few problems. I have had none of the problems that they have had. I feel that Barix Clinics is the best because they have done so many of them. I feel the more you do the better you are. |
Those born under the sign of the Deer are kind, loyal, and intensely curious. The Deer is the biggest gossip of the Primal Zodiac - they love to talk about everyone and everything that is going on around them. They have no ill will in spreading rumors, they simply love to share the latest news with everyone possible. This sometimes gets them into trouble with more private types, but if this happens Deers will stop at nothing to make things right. They highly value friendship and loyalty and will do what it takes to right any wrongs that they can.
Deers are very intelligent and quick witted. They are extremely curious and love to know how things work. They have the ability to master new skills quickly, but they also tend to move on to new projects once they have tired of a previous one. Patience is not their strongest virtue and they have a tendency to worry excessively about things that they have no control or influence over. A fast-moving mind in combination with an inclination for anxiety can be a dangerous cocktail, and when taken to the extreme can turn overly stressed Deers into conspiracy theorists and paranoid neurotics.
On a normal day this is a very amiable sign that is a tad on the pessimistic side. Deers must be careful to keep an open mind as they explore life as they have a tendency to get very focused on certain facts and figures that can unintentionally skew the way they see the world. Even dogmatic Deers, though, have good intentions at heart and truly want most to make a positive contribution to the lives of others.
Deers make great friends, though it can be difficult for them to find others who can keep up with their tireless curiosity and need for new experiences. For this reason, members of the Deer sign tend to keep a few different circles of friends on rotation, so they always have choices of what to do on a given day or night. Despite this flightiness, friends know that these are deeply loyal individuals who they can depend on when it really counts. Deers just have to be careful not to constantly talk about everything negative that's going on in the world, as others may interpret them as negative or depressing to be around.
Potential romantic relationships don't come or go often for this sign. Deers tend to take a long time to fall in love but once they do they are loyal and faithful companions. They don't take rejection well, so they can be hesitant to open themselves up after being hurt. Once they find the love of their lives they will stick with them through thick and thin, but they have to be careful not to take their partner for granted. One of the challenges in the life of a Deer is to remain watchful of taking their sad or angry moods out on the ones they love the most. Luckily this a sign that will always apologize and do what it takes to make things right should they go too far.
It's no surprise that members of this sign love jobs that let them share information with others. Careers in journalism and media are natural choices, particularly with the increasingly fast dissemination of online reporting. Similarly, Deers enjoy jobs as information clerks, museum guides, and receptionists at busy companies.
Deers that find themselves drawn to religious or spiritual callings are well fit for the task. This is a sign that can preach The Good Word better than most. At the same time, they are caring and gentle enough to dedicate their lives to others. Less religious Deers that still want to contribute to others can do just as good of a job as community organizers, social workers, and political orators.
Deers have the Tropical Sun sign of Gemini, and are born during the Chinese Zodiac's Year of the Dog. |
CCS offer's extracurricular activities for 3rd–12th grade students in both boys and girls sports.
As a temple of the Holy Spirit, the body of a young person is something to be cared for in a physical way. Development of athletic skills is one aspect of this physical development. Athletic competition gives the student athlete the opportunity to use his or her God given gifts in a wholesome manner in concert with other Christian young people under the direction of a Christian coach. Athletic competition also gives the team an opportunity to demonstrate the level of development with an opponent, before peers, before the general public, and before the Lord (Colossians 3:23).
Athletic contests must be considered a team's opportunity to witness their faith, demonstrate their unity, exercise their self-control, and show their progress of the sport. The purpose of the contest must not be the glorification of the individual, the adoption of an attitude of winning at all costs, nor the acceptance of the idea that an end justifies a means. Integrity, fairness, team play, love, and hard work are the positive attributes held before the students as goals of interscholastic athletic competition (Galatians 5:22–23).
For more information about any of our CCS sports, please contact Mike Elmhorst at [email protected]. |
Deeper wells reduce arsenic risk
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 28 (UPI) -- Drilling deeper water wells would reduce the risk of arsenic for tens of millions of people throughout southern Asia, scientists in California said.
More than 100 million people daily are exposed to arsenic-contaminated water in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam, scientists at Stanford said.
Most arsenic-tainted water is found near the surface and people who have installed deep wells have found water relatively free of arsenic, which dramatically raises the risk of cancer and other diseases, Stanford groundwater expert Scott Fendorf and his team said in a release Thursday.
The cleaner water found at deeper levels could be compromised in the future by farmers who sink irrigation wells in deeper aquifers. Irrigation pumps pull down arsenic-contaminated water from the surface, jeopardizing the quality of the groundwater below.
"This precious resource must be preserved for drinking," the scientists wrote in a recent issue of the journal Science.
Science News // 1 day ago
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Jan. 19 (UPI) -- SpaceX blew up a rocket in Florida on Sunday in a final test launch of its Crew Dragon space capsule, proving it can carry astronauts to safety in a launch emergency.
Science News // 3 days ago
Scientists film chemical bond making, breaking
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Everything depends on chemical bonds. Without chemical bonds, everything would fall apart. And yet, scientists don't entirely understand how chemical bonding works.
Scientists pinpoint release of energy that powered series of solar flares
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Scientists have precisely pinpointed the explosive release of energy that powered a series of solar flares -- a first.
Acoustic communication first emerged nearly 200 million years ago
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- For the first time, scientists took acoustic communication back to its evolutionary roots. Researchers followed acoustic communication's phylogenic path back some 200 million years through evolutionary history.
Neanderthals had the teeth to eat hard plants
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Neanderthals were capable of chomping on hard plants, according to a new study.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- SpaceX plans a final test launch of its Crew Dragon capsule in Florida on Sunday to prove it can carry astronauts to safety in an emergency -- a fiery demonstration that will destroy a Falcon 9 rocket.
Volcanism didn't play a role in demise of dinosaurs
Jan. 16 (UPI) -- New research suggests the volcanic activity in question occurred well before, and was unrelated to, the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs.
Wolf puppies unexpectedly play fetch with researchers
Jan. 16 (UPI) -- To the surprise of scientists, wolf puppies learned to play fetch in response to verbal cues from a human researcher. Dogs are thought to be unique in their propensity to interpret and respond to human cues.
Giant squid's genome sequenced for the first time
Jan. 16 (UPI) -- For the first time, scientists have successfully sequenced and annotated the genome of the giant squid -- the real-life inspiration for the Kraken, the sea monster mythologized for dragging shipping vessels to the bottom
Tool-making Neanderthals dove for the perfect clam shell
Jan. 16 (UPI) -- New research suggests Neanderthals held their breath and dove underwater to retrieve the perfect clam shells for tool-making. |
Christmas concerts
Religious or Civil wedding
Drinks reception and wedding meal
Authentic gospel for events in Avignon
Gospel choir, Gospel band for performances in Avignon and in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
"Avignon: City of tourism and culture"
Avignon is a major city in southeastern France, located at the confluence of the Rhône and the Durance. This is the city where the council of Greater Avignon sits. Avignon is the capital of the district of Avignon and the department of Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The city of Avignon was the capital of European culture in 2000.
The cultural identity of Avignon shines in France and abroad through its festival, the performing arts and its intense cultural proliferation throughout the year. The richness of its heritage, much of which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage, attracts people from all over the world and livens up the cultural life of the city.
But the cultural life of Avignon is not just the Festival. The city hosts many events during the year. Examples include,
Avignon Winter Festival, contemporary dance festival;
Avignon / New York & Avignon Film Festivals (Euro-American film events, independent film festival);
Avignon Jazz Festival;
Les Passagers du Zinc (concert hall of contemporary music).
Avignon is also the crossroads of jazz and gospel with the famous gospel choir Your Gospel Team.
Your Gospel Team, a professional gospel band, is specialized in the event industry. It is known in this field in France for the high-quality services and performances.
In this context of activities, our gospel band organizes, in authentic gospel music style, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region as well as in the other region of France, weddings, concerts, flash mob, birthdays, baptisms, parties for companies, workshops, team building, conventions, campaigns, seminars, conferences and other events.
Therefore, our team has gained the experience, the skill and the expertise essential to plan an event, lead or accompany its organization to completion.
You are organizing an event as a company or individual in Avignon or in its vicinity and you are looking for a gospel choir? Do not hesitate to contact Your Gospel Team.
Our professional team will select in conformity with your musical taste, songs adapted to your events.
Click here for more information about the options available for the organization, leading and entertainment, in an authentic gospel style, of your events in Avignon and in the whole region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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© 2023 Your Gospel Team : Authentic Gospel, Gospel group, Gospel choir, Gospel chorus.
Your Gospel Team belongs to Artists Premium, Ltd |
Jacob Rees-Mogg's European Research Group has told the government compromises on the Irish backstop are unacceptable, it simply has to go.
"Neither a unilateral withdrawal or an end date solve the problems of the backstop. Replacing the current backstop entirely is something all sides could accept," said Rees-Mogg.
The prime minister is in a bind. the backstop is premised on the EU's highly dubious claim that a controlled but open border in Ireland is unfeasible at this current point in time (see tweet below from Michel Barnier's deputy). The only possible compromise, say the EU is for the agreement to be amended, with more optimism given to finding a high-tech solution – the technology is available now, so what if it hasn't yet been implemented anywhere else, as Barnier's team constantly argue. Apparently, the word of Brussels is gospel, it was ever thus.
Similarly, the mandarins in Whitehall are unhappy with the logical and reasonable line taken by the ERG on the grounds that it "doesn't protect the Good Friday agreement", besides the EU would never accept it.
Mrs May has a mandate to secure "alternative arrangements" to the backstop. Given the hard line taken by Brussels and the government's over-eagerness to be conciliatory, it's unsurprising to learn an end date is what they are aiming for. Attorney general Geoffrey Cox is said to be seeking a codicil, a "joint-interpretative instrument" promising that the backstop will not be permanent.
The codicil would amend rather than alter the current terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, which Brussels refuses to do, unless, as points out Henry Newman of think tank Open Europe, a stronger commitment is made to remaining in the Customs Union, which some unnamed ERG figures are willing to entertain, as it will provide the option for unilateral withdrawal.
Even with this parliament, that seems far-fetched. It also detracts attention away from the other serious flaws in the withdrawal agreement highlighted by Boris Johnson in his column.
"We are still proposing to give up £39 billion – a staggering sum – with no clarity over the future relationship," writes Boris, who worries Tory HQ will see no option but to call a general election.
The former mayor of London does not fear the "confused" opposition, the Tories are 7-points up in the polls, but fears Brexit would be betrayed.
He's far from wrong and goes to the heart of why the Tory truce brokered last week by housing minister Kit Malthouse is an illusion, the end-date of which is fast approaching.
Lord Heseltine, Antoinette Sandbach and the Duke of Wellington – just some of the names who have received tens of thousands of pounds in EU subsidies over the years.
What do they have in common? They all want to stop Brexit… No wonder! |
ARTISSIMA | 2013
Past Fair
Podbielski Contemporary proudly presenting:
OHAD MATALON
At Artissima 2013 we wish to present one of the upcoming photographer in Israel, Ohad Matalon. With his distinct reflection on his own country he reveals political forces and interest by exposing the manipulation. He often uses symbolic icons of the Israeli culture excessively, reproducing stereotypical imagery of Israel.
He has shown at the Haifa Museum of Art and will have a solo show in Tel Aviv Museum of Art in 2014. In 2012 he won the BNL-BNP Paribas prize and in 2010 the Minister of culture Award. He teaches photography at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. His works are already in the collection of e.g. Haifa and Tel Aviv Museum of Art, as well as private collections. The presentation at Artissima in 2013 would attract Israeli and Middle Eastern collectors to come to the fair.
8 – 10 NOVEMBER 2013
OVAL, LINGOTTO
Lingotto Fiere | Torino
Visit: https://www.artissima.art/
ARTLAND 3D Tour | ORE SOSPESE. Un diario italiano
Podbielski Contemporary in happy to share with you a 3D recording of our new exhibition: ORE SOSPESE. Un diario italiano Curated by Pierre André Podbielski and Maud Greppi Available through this link! Please check it out on Artland
Oct 29, 2020 | Artists, Guest artists
About Roberto Cotroneo (b. 1961, Italy) is an italian photographer, writer, literary critic and publisher. He has been among the protagonists of the Italian cultural life since the end of the 1980s. From 1985 to 2003 he worked at L'Espresso and for several years he...
Artissima Unplugged
Oct 29, 2020 | News, Upcoming Fair
Podbielski Contemporary is glad to attend the new edition of Artissima Unplugged! Artissima will present three exhibition projects in the museums of Fondazione Torino Musei (GAM – Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Palazzo Madama – Museo Civico d'Arte...
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Our newsletter is the best way to stay in touch with what is going on Podbielski Contemporary; each email provides a summary of the news.
Exhibitions, fairs, featured artists, special invitations and the latest news are all included. |
Q: how to make a websocket connection to dynamic url from the javascript? I have a all_products_page.html(super admin side) where i'm getting products of all the user.
In this page there is a column named 'status'. on which i'm sending an ajax request to approve or unapprove product.
I want whenever super admin approve or unapprove a product a notification to be send to that particular user.
How can i achieve that, as i can only send one room_name.
models.py
@receiver(post_save, sender=BroadcastNotification)
def notification_handler(sender, instance, created,update_fields, **kwargs):
# if seen field is not updated in DB , i.e if message is created or updated then send notifiction
if created or update_fields is None:
channel_layer = get_channel_layer()
# call group_send function to send notifications
async_to_sync(channel_layer.group_send)(
"notification_" + "admin" if not instance.from_admin
else "notification_" + str(instance.notification_receiver_id),
{
'type': 'send_notification' ,
'message': json.dumps(str(instance.id) + ">" + instance.message + ">"
+ instance.notification_link)
}
)
In models.py i'm calling notification on post save of data
consumers.py
import json
from channels.generic.websocket import AsyncWebsocketConsumer
class NotificationConsumer(AsyncWebsocketConsumer):
async def connect(self):
# get user id of notification receiver
self.room_name = self.scope['path'].split('/')[3]
self.room_group_name = 'notification_%s' % self.room_name
print(self.room_group_name)
# Join room group
await self.channel_layer.group_add(
self.room_group_name,
self.channel_name
)
await self.accept()
async def disconnect(self, close_code):
# Leave room group
await self.channel_layer.group_discard(
self.room_group_name,
self.channel_name
)
# Receive message from room group
async def send_notification(self, event):
message = json.loads(event['message'])
print("msg",message)
# Send message to WebSocket
await self.send(text_data=json.dumps(message))
main.js
const notificationSocket = new WebSocket(
'ws://'
+ window.location.host
+ '/ws/notification/'
+ roomName
+ '/'
);
//-----------------If any message for websocket , append message to dropdown and update badge number----------
notificationSocket.onmessage = function(e) {
const data = JSON.parse(e.data);
console.log(data);
let notif_id = data.split('>')[0];
let msg = data.split('>')[1];
let link = data.split('>')[2];
if(roomName == "admin")
{
document.getElementById(`notifications-dropdown`).innerHTML
= `<a class="dropdown-item notification_msg_drpdwn" msg_id="${notif_id}"
href="${link}" >${msg}</a>` +"</li><hr class='dropdown-divider'>" +
document.getElementById(`notifications-dropdown`).innerHTML;
document.getElementById(`notification-badge`).innerHTML
= parseInt(document.getElementById(`notification-badge`).innerHTML) + 1;
}
else
{
document.getElementById(`notifications-dropdown_${roomName}`).innerHTML
= `<a class="dropdown-item notification_msg_drpdwn" msg_id="${notif_id}"
href="${link}" >${msg}</a>` +"</li><hr class='dropdown-divider'>" +
document.getElementById(`notifications-dropdown_${roomName}`).innerHTML;
document.getElementById(`notification-badge_${roomName}`).innerHTML
= parseInt(document.getElementById(`notification-badge_${roomName}`).innerHTML) + 1;
}
};
|
Q: Jquery ajax async "True" is not working sequentialy function loadDropDown(targetControl, url, type,data)
{
$.ajax({
url: url,
type: type,
data: data,
cache: false,
async:true,
dataType: 'json',
success: function (data) {
"do some thing."
},error: function (data) {
"do some thing."
}
});
}
and Call
loadDropDown ('#CountryId', '/Common/Country','GET');
loadDropDown('#StateId', '/Common/State','GET',data);
loadDropDown('#District', '/Common/District','GET',data);
A: loadDropDown should return a promise, you can call the next function when the promise is resolved.
function loadDropDown(targetControl, url, type,data)
{
return $.ajax({
url: url,
type: type,
data: data,
cache: false,
async:true,
dataType: 'json',
success: function (data) {
"do some thing."
},error: function (data) {
"do some thing."
}
});
}
loadDropDown('#CountryId', '/Common/Country','GET').then(function() {
loadDropDown('#StateId', '/Common/State','GET',data).then(function() {
loadDropDown('#District', '/Common/District','GET',data);
})
});
A: async: true is the default, and means to happen in any order in the background.
You want async: false for your code to be synchronous, based on the question in your title.
If this isn't accurate, please fill us in with more details.
As you want synchronous behaviour whilst being asynchronous, try calling the second load() function within the success callback of the first one. It will need some careful coding to avoid an infinite loop.
Just a sec, I'll update my answer with an example.
Edit: pipped to the punch by @Barmar, try their solution!
|
FINRA approves Grayscale of Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin shares trading on public stock market
Grayscale has just got the go-ahead from FINRA to list Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin. The new stocks will trade under the symbols LTCN and BCHG
By Victor Ugochukwu · Jul 21, 2020 . 6min read
Grayscale, arguably one of the biggest names in institutional cryptocurrency investment trading platforms, announces a go-ahead from FINRA to list Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin to the public.
Following this announcement, the new stocks will trade under the symbols LTCN and BCHG. They will be available to the general public in the next two to four weeks.
Grayscale Investments is a New York-based asset manager available to institutional and only individual accredited investors. With Grayscale's latest addition of Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin to its portfolio of investments, it makes it the sixth to be available to the public in the form of shares. These are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Horizen, Stellar Lumens, Ripple and the privacy coin Zcash.
These "stocks" as its called on it's over the counter platform (OTCQX) are traded only to accredited investors. FINRA – Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is the body that oversees this certification. It regulates securities which do not have to be registered with the Securities Exchange Commission. SEC, on the other hand, is popular for its crackdown on crypto-focused erring firms dealing in unlicensed securities.
Both BCHG and LTCN shares will have no trading in their respective public quotations until they become DTC eligible. DTC Eligibility means that accredited investors can deposit public company's securities through DTC. Depository Trust Company is the world's largest securities depository. It normally takes about three to five business days for these kinds of transfers to be due. Grayscale assures its new listings will become DTC eligible shortly.
Grayscale had earlier reported a record $1 billion inflows within the last quarter. This boom nearly doubled to what it reported the previous quarter. This uptick could be linked to the COVID – 19 and the surrounding economic uncertainties.
Cryptocurrency portfolios booming among Millenials
Millennials show a preference towards Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency stocks listed on Grayscale and other popular investment platforms like Robinhood. This perhaps explains the boom for Robinhood who serves more of retail investors. It has however found itself in troubled waters necessitating the installation of bulletproof glass doors to shield itself from frustrated customers.
Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin's prices stand at $228.36 and $43.51 respectively on Coinmarketcap at the time of this publication.
Mexico's second richest man invests 10% of liquid portfolio in Bitcoin
Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego invests in Bitcoin. He says it protects the citizens from government expropriation.
Barry Silbert
Game of Thrones fame Maisie Williams invites suggestions on buying Bitcoin
Game of Thrones and The New Mutants actress Maisie Williams began a poll on Twitter soliciting views on whether she should buy bitcoin.
Asset Under Management
Grayscale's Bitcoin Trust amounts to 87.5% of its $10.4 Billion Asset Under Management
Grayscale's Bitcoin Trust Product (GBTC) now sits at $9.1 billion. That is at least 87% of all its asset under management
Victor Ugochukwu · Nov 18, 2020 . 5min read
Grayscale loses $1.6 million in AUM due to BCH split
Down from its recently published $9.8 billion AUM, Grayscale lost $1.6 million possibly due to dumping of BCH as the date of the hard fork drew nearer.
Grayscale Bitcoin Fund witnesses largest weekly inflow
Interest in Bitcoin and Ethereum rises as Grayscale Bitcoin Fund (GBTC) witnesses the largest inflow of about $215 million in last week.
Komal Joshi · Nov 4, 2020 . 6min read
Bitcoin reaches new heights, stabilizes above $13K for the first time in 2 years
Cryptocurrency pioneer Bitcoin shows bullish trend, surpasses $13,000 for the first time in the past two years amidst the DeFi boom.
Victor Ugochukwu · Oct 26, 2020 . 5min read |
CAIRO – 27 February 2018: Giza Misdemeanor Court sentenced Laila Amer, the singer of controversial song "Bos Omak", to two years in prison over charges of inciting debauchery and public disgrace, through a song released on Internet raising controversy among the public.
The court also imprisoned the director and producer of the clip Samir and the co-actor Magdy for six and three months, respectively. Moreover, other four crew members were handed in absentia different sentences in jail, ranging between six months and two years.
The Giza Public Prosecutor's office charged the indicted over using hidden sexual innuendos in the clip "Bos Omak" (which is metaphor of an curse word).
Laila's defense lawyer said that she had nothing to do with it, but was just carrying out instructions from the director, and that the charges assigned to her were legally refuted, which he presented to the judge while considering the renewal of her imprisonment.
In late December 2017, there was a like case with another singer named Shima, who was jailed for two years over the same charges of debauchery and publishing an anti-public chastity video.
CAIRO - 13 December 2017: The Criminal Court of El Nozha sentenced the Egyptian singer Shima and director of her clip "Andy Zrouf" (I Have Issues) to two years in prison and fined them LE 10,000 each for incitement to debauchery and publishing an anti-public chastity video. |
Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Park is located at 385 Eltham Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground in the Shire of Nillumbik. in Victoria, Australia. The site includes the war memorial, with a firespotting cabin, mature monterey cypress trees and other planted species, and a sandstone caretaker's cottage. The park is situated on the summit of Garden Hill, from which panoramic views are obtainable. The park is situated on two acres.
Towards the end of World War One, in August 1918, Eltham Shire Council discussed and 'generally expressed themselves as favourable to the proposal' to obtain a "piece of land on the summit of Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground, and the formation of a memorial park in which a monument could be erected to represent the whole of the Shire. Local resident Walter Wippell donated £50 and with it Council purchased the one-acre site. In 1919 Joseph Mess agreed to take £50 per acre for two acres of his Garden Hill property. By 1920 subscriptions lists were opened for the purposes of raising funds to "carry out the proposed scheme of beautification, and also to erect, at a later date, a fitting monument to perpetuate the memory of those who fell in the Great War'. Working bees took place on the site and rocks were collected for a memorial cairn which was built in a slight depression which signified the highest point in the park. The compilation of "a complete record of the names of all persons who enlised for service from the Shire and of those who made the supreme sacrifice whilst doing their duty" began in 1920. The park was officially opened by Mr. W. H. Everard, M.L.A. on 3 September 1921. In 1927 a stone hut, known as the caretaker's cottage was built from left over stone quarried for the tower. On Remembrance Day, 2005 a seedling, a descendant of the Gallipoli lone pine tree was planted. Brick toilets constructed in 1965 were also removed and replaced in 2005 including a universal access space.
In 2006, a plaque was put in place from the Vietnam Veterans community in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Nillumbik Shire Council received funding under the 2008–09 Restoring Community War Memorials Grants program to restore plaques on the Tower, and replace bollards to enhance security around the memorial. In December 2014, Nillumbik Shire Council received Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program funding to create new interpretative signage.
In 2015 Shire of Nillumbik added the Tower of Remembrance and War Memorial Park and Moor-ul Viewing Platform to its draft register of memorials. In 2020 Shire of Nillumbik commenced preparing a master plan to create a long-term vision and plan for the park.
Geology
Garden Hill and the surrounding 2000 acres consisting of black soil are probably the remains of an extensive sheet of lava that once flowed down a shallow river valley. Possibly there were two flows. Early settlers considered the area an extinct volcano.
Shire of Eltham War Memorial
The Shire memorial was built based on a sketch by artist Harold Herbert who was inspired by the view, which reminded him of northern England and a conversation with friend Basil Hay mentioning stone keeps built to detect cattle duffing raids centuries ago on the border counties of Scotland and England. It was designed by architects Stephenson and Meldrum. (Later known as Stephenson and Turner). It is built from local stone donated by the local community including Professor William Osborne, and reinforced concrete with sandstone rubble facing and concrete quoins and dressings. The foundations are solid rock with the base of the tower in 16 x 16 external and 11 x 11 internal, the wall being 2 feet 6 inches thick at the base, tapering to 16 inches at the top. The building contractor was George Rousell. The original internal staircase was made from jarrah, with galvanised iron pipe handrailings leading to a look-out. There are 53 stairs. The memorial is 40 feet high or 237 metres.
The view extends to the Kinglake National Park escarpment, the mountains beyond Healesville, the Dandenongs, Port Phillip Bay, the You Yangs and Mt. Macedon.
It was opened on Armistice Day, 11 November 1926, by the governor-general, Lord John Baird Stonehaven, when he also unveiled a temporary honour board. In 1930 a tablet bearing the names of men who served and fell in the First World War was erected on the memorial. On 16 November 1951, the governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks re-dedicated the memorial with an additional plaque to honour those who had died between 1939 and 1945 and the caretaker's cottage as memorials to the dead of the two world wars. In November 2001, on the memorial's 75th anniversary, Victorian Governor John Landy unveiled plaques to honour servicemen and women who served in post World War 2 conflicts in Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.
The memorial is considered architecturally, socially, aesthetically and historically significant to the Shire of Nillumbik and is considered one of Victoria's most unusual war memorials.
Fire Spotting
Following the Black Friday Bushfires in 1939, which impacted the area, a telephone was installed for the use of volunteers using the tower as an observation post for fires. Forests Commission Victoria included the tower as part of its fire-watching network and it was the command post when significant bushfires took place locally in 1962. An enclosed cabin cover was erected on the top of the tower in 1974. The advice of Mr Meldrum, the architect of the memorial was sought and he agreed that the proposed shelter could be added without aesthetic damage. On Black Saturday, 7 February 2009, fire spotters observed new fires starting and with the help of maps, binoculars and other towers in the region, they were able to determine the location of fires starting up, which were then reported to the Kilmore incident control centre. This cabin was replaced with a new tower in December 2009. Improvements included a new larger and airconditioned cabin two metres higher than the original cabin. It is fitted with new communication and mapping equipment and is built on a tilt to eliminate reflection. It is a manned incident control centre in the summer, part of the Country Fire Authority's District 13 operations.
Viewing Platform and Grasslands
The Moor-rul viewing platform was opened on 17 April 2008 in the presence of Jenny Macklin, MP. The function of the platform is to provide shelter adjacent to the war memorial whilst allowing people to enjoy the view. It can be accessed by wheelchair. The name Moor-rul is indigenous describing the fertile soils of the Kangaroo Ground area. Eight double-sided interpretative panels on the platform describe the Aboriginal and European history, geology and flora and fauna of the area. A small section of land next to the platform is maintained with plants indigenous to the area.
References
External links
Kangaroo Ground Tower of Remembrance
Australian military memorials
Monuments and memorials in Melbourne
Buildings and structures in the Shire of Nillumbik
1921 establishments in Australia |
Q: In my quicksort implementation using C++ vectors, is partition function same as using the trivial method of swaps? #include <iostream>
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
void quick_sort(vector<int> &a, int start, int end);
int partition(vector<int> &a, int start, int end);
int main(){
vector<int> v = {7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1};
int n(7);
quick_sort(v, 0, n);
for (auto& itr : v){
cout << itr << ' ';
}
return 0;
}
void quick_sort(vector<int> &a, int start, int end){
if (start < end){
int index;
index = partition(a, start, end);
quick_sort(a, start, index - 1);
quick_sort(a, index, end);
}
}
int partition(vector<int> &a, int start, int end){
int pivot, count(0);
pivot = a[end - 1];
for (int i = start; a[i] != pivot; i++){
if (a[i] > pivot){
a.insert(a.begin()+end, a[i]);
a.erase(a.begin() + i);
count++;
i--;
}
}
return end-count;
}
Here in the partition function I have used insert and erase functions provided in the STL library.
Will the time complexity for partition function be greater than O(n) (The case when using swaps)?
According to me worst case would be when the pivot element is the smallest element, then all of the (n-1) elements will be pushed at the end of the vector.
EDIT:
int partition(vector<int> &a, int start, int end){
int pivot;
pivot = end - 1;
for (int i = start; i < end; i++){
if (a[i] > a[pivot] && i < pivot){
swap(a[i], a[pivot]);
pivot = i;
}
else if (a[i] < a[pivot] && i > pivot){
swap(a[i], a[pivot]);
pivot = i;
}
}
return pivot + 1;
}
This partition function runs in O(n) time.
A: You move every element after end doing the insert, and every element after i doing the erase. This version is much worse than swapping. With std::swap, you only touch two elements.
Aside: sorting in C++ is traditionally done with iterators, not indexes, i.e.
using iterator = std::vector<int>::iterator;
void quick_sort(iterator start, iterator end);
iterator partition(iterator start, iterator end);
|
Set in a small New England mill town, this is a love story which explores the conflicts of a mature women seeking compassion, sexual satisfaction and financial security. Molly's dreams appear to be realized by Joe, but the love and values they share are shattered by his obsessive need to control and his retreat into alcohol. Violence and fear are set against compassion, humor and the struggle to survive. |
Having read a few articles recently about "how to cook the perfect poached egg" one in particular stood out, it suggested using cling film, I thought I should try it out!
Take a cup or ramekin and let the cling film drape in to form a receptical for the raw egg, crack the egg into the hole and then twist the cling film to seal and drop into boiling water. I cracked another directly into the water to see the difference. I didn't add any vinegar or use any other trick just 2 identical fresh eggs (from our Rhode Island Red & Black Rock hens).
Results as in the photos, below, the cling film method is messy & doesn't give a nice finish, the vinegar option I dislike due to the sometimes overpowering taste of vinegar. In conclusion I still prefer the direct immersion method into gently boiling water, with a spoon add a swirl (vortex) to the water just before you drop the egg in as close to the water as possible, the secret factor for poached egg success is VERY FRESH EGGS they will stay together naturally.
This entry was posted in 1, Eggs, Food, Recipes and tagged breakfast, cling, egg, experiment, film, fresh, poached, swirl, vortex. Bookmark the permalink. |
//Academic News
Kia ora tātou The school year finished formally for our students with the junior prizegiving, our final school event for 2020. It was great to see a number of parents and whānau attend this ceremony, and to celebrate our students' successes in 2020. While the prizegiving...
Academic Colours Assembly
Finally after a delay due to Covid we got to recognise NCEA Academic Colours at Wednesdays formal assembly. A really important occasion to celebrate some fantastic academic achievements for NCEA in 2019. Congratulations to everyone who walked across the stage and to those who...
Future Problem Solving International achievement
A huge congratulations to our Future Problem Solvers for their recent success in America, with the utterly magnificent trophy and many other achievements. Here's to our lateral-thinking, research-maniacs, solution-seekers, brainiac heroes! In the group shot: front row L-R...
Academic Colours for NCEA 2018
Academic Colours Assembly today (Wednesday 13th March), with Mr O'Shea presenting certificates to students who have gained NCEA Level 1 Endorsed with Excellence, NCEA Level 2 Endorsed with Merit, and NCEA Level 2 with Excellence. Congratulations to students for this huge...
Young Enterprise Scheme Awards 2018
High School entrepreneurs exceed limits with innovative NanoSign Six secondary school students from Nelson College have developed an innovative solution to temporary speed signage, and have been recognised at the Young Enterprise Scheme Awards 2018. Read more……
Nelson College Senior Prizegiving 2018
Congratulations to all our 2018 Senior Prize winners. Nelson College Senior Prizegiving 2018 Thursday 1 November 2018, 7pm Guest Speaker – Frances Valintine CNZM, MEd Founder of The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab, Board Member of Callaghan Innovation, NZ Artificial...
Media Release – Why a single-sex education is best for boys
Nelson College Headmaster Gary O'Shea dons his black gown and walks on stage to address a sea of students. 1,100 curious faces stare back at him, from fresh-faced new entrants to seniors sprouting stubble. He starts to speak about strength, love, honour and mateship –...
Media Release – Single-sex schools provide a significant advantage for boys in New Zealand
A newly-released independent report by Dr Michael Johnston, Faculty of Education at Victoria University of Wellington, compares the performance of young men in Years 11 – 13 at single-sex schools with those at co-educational schools. It clearly shows that over the period from...
Nelson-Marlborough Model United Nations
More than 40 Y9-Y13 boys from Nelson College joined colleges across the region to participate in the Nelson-Marlborough Model United Nations this year. Each boy acted as the UN ambassador from that country, addressing issues of global significance and grappling with the cultural...
NCEA Public workshops
You are invited to shape the future of NCEA The government's review of NCEA is now underway, and people all over the country have started talking about, and sharing their ideas and experiences of NCEA – the challenges, the successes and what we can do better in the future.... |
Middle Temple are an ancient non-profit law association with a database of over 10,000 members, which is constantly growing. The law society which has heritage dating back to 1610 – knights of the templar, required the building of a bespoke merchandise collection for their Alumni members, new to be barristers, and visitors.
What was the problem with the Merchandise?
The association had been sourcing off the shelf products, that were generic and not uniquely created to them, and had their logo just added, which did not suit their unique rich heritage.
Their branding was not creatively integrated into these off the shelf merchandise products and needed more of an expert eye and an approach that was unique.
They had no products that catered for the female barristers and were missing a best seller in a teddy bear.
Understanding the customer needs - They have hundreds of visitors every day, alumni members and events such as calling to the bar days. These special occasions and opportunities require a collection of prestigious memorabilia and collection of merchandise to buy as gifts and accessories, something unique to remember their experience by. A large amount of the guests are family and friends celebrating their young barristers being called to the bar as well as international tourists who are staggered by the heritage and who want to see the history of this ancient place from the 16th century hidden world. The association needed a merchandise range of distinction.
We had brand guidelines to adhere to, ensuring that the traditional values were still present, but with a contemporary, luxurious and unique edge added.
We proposed a range of merchandise ideas from teddies to ties, created inspiration boards to convey how these could fit into a bespoke collection and created alumni collection labels. The client selected favourite designs to develop into prototypes.
We sourced quality suppliers who could manufacture the high-end merchandise, tested them and visited them for research and approval. All the suppliers that we found for new products were specialists in their product category, from cufflinks, key rings, ties, teddy bears, pashminas, luxury gift bags, phone cases and jacquard socks.
There were three core brand colours that were factored into our proposed designs; red, grey and black. We created a series of designs per product, giving the client a choice, showing them different ways in which their branding can be incorporated into the products which were presented to their committee for final seal of approval and budget.
The designing of the barrister's outfit for a teddy bear included adorning with the association's branding, of course. We also put together a tie range for male Alumni members and a pashmina range for the females.
Designs were prototyped, an exciting stage, seeing their designs to come to life. After approval or refining we moved onto bulk production and had deliveries made in line with their summer call day, which was the perfect time to test out the new collection. We actually assisted at the call day and saw our products selling really well, the adorable teddies were especially popular.
Sales have increased by £30,000 in 6 months, retaining £19,000 more profit. We helped them order 100 pieces per style to test range.
They now have a bespoke collection that stands out from competitors.
Members and visitors have an array of quality products to choose from to help connect with the association.
High quality, bespoke customer specific products made in small order batchs, as opposed to off the shelf generic product.
Female members also have a product category specific to them.
Middle Temple are now going to offer their merchandise collection online, where the products will be sold internationally.
Staff love the tie and cufflink which they are proud to wear unlike previous accessories which did not inspire quality. |
Ha, Shona
Shona Ha
[email protected]
T+44 20 3201 1531 London
LLB, Warwick University, 2008
LLM, London School of Economics and Political Science, 2009
LPC, College of Law, Moorgate, 2010
England and Wales, Solicitor, 2012
Shona Ha is a partner in the private equity transactions group of Ropes & Gray's London office. Shona regularly advises a number of leading global private equity sponsors, asset managers and major international corporations on their most significant M&A transactions and provides general corporate law advice, including with respect to equity investments, disposals, management incentivisation and corporate restructurings.
Shona is listed in The Legal 500 for Private Equity: Transactions High – Value Deals where she has been commended for being an "excellent lawyer and highly responsive and practical" with clients commenting that she has "fantastic manner and judgment" and that they appreciate her "style and approach".
Shona is the co-author of the UK chapter of The Legal 500 2023 Comparative Guide to Private Equity.
Advising TPG Growth on its investment in Musixmatch, a leading global music data platform
Advising Xerox Holdings Corporation on its acquisition of Go Inspire, a UK-based print and digital marketing and communication services provider, serving customers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Advising ERM, the world's largest pure-play sustainability consultancy, and the ERM Partner shareholders, on the sale of ERM to KKR, a leading global investment firm
Acting for GHO Capital Partners on its acquisition (alongside the existing Envision management team and employees) of a majority stake in Envision Pharma Group, a leading technology-enabled scientific communications company
Advising Envision Pharma Group, a portfolio company of GHO Capital Partners, on its acquisition of Two Labs, an industry-leading provider of integrated and customized commercial solutions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector
Acting for Bain Capital in connection with its:
acquisition of NGA UK, a UK payroll and HR Business from NGA Human Resources
purchase of a controlling stake in MKM, the UK's largest independent builders' merchant, from 3i and Lloyds Development Capital
acquisition of the Ibstock, Forticrete, Supreme and Glen Gery clay and concrete businesses of CRH plc
Acting for TSG Consumer Partners in connection with its:
investment in BrewDog, a Scottish craft beer company
investment in Revolut, a consumer fintech firm
Acting for Novavax, Inc. in its acquisition of a Czech manufacturing facility for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Advising Nordic Capital on:
equity investment matters relating to eResearchTechnology, Inc. (ERT), a leading global data and technology company which minimises risk and uncertainty in clinical trials
its acquisition of Lindorff, a financial services company based in the Nordic region
Acting for CCMP on its sale of PureGym, a chain of fitness clubs in the United Kingdom
Acting for Exponent Private Equity on its sale of Pattonair, a global aerospace and defense supply chain provider to Platinum Equity
Acting for 3i Group plc on the acquisition of Audley Travel, a provider of tailor-made experiential holidays
Acting for Charlesbank on the acquisition of Six Degrees, a managed data services specialist
Acting for Ensono, a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners, on the acquisition of Attenda
Acting for European Capital on its leveraged buyout of Cordium from Sovereign Capital and management
Ropes & Gray International LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in Delaware, United States of America and is a recognised body regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (with registered number 521000).
Ropes & Gray Names 21 New Partners
Global law firm Ropes & Gray announced today that 21 attorneys have been named partners of the firm, effective November 1. The new partners are outstanding advisers to the firm's global clients. They represent practices and specialties ...
In Focus: 2022 and The Year Ahead for European Private Capital |
Q: Proper way to name elements in Visuabl Basic. EX: frmMain I'm looking for a reference that tells you the proper way to name form elements in Visual Basic.
EX:
btnGo
frmMain
A: See Visual Basic Naming Conventions on MSDN.
As far as Hungarian Notation, as in your examples, this is discouraged. The type of the object doesn't need to be reflected in the variable name. It is better to give your variables good descriptive names for what they represent.
So, instead of btnGo, call it GoToPage. Instead of frmMain, call it CustomerDetails. Use a descriptive name for the function of the control.
|
Individuals felt some sort of route after yesterday's Supreme x Nike Air Max 98 discharge, yet hold up, on the grounds that it's not finished yet.
After widespread gossipy tidbits consistently, NikeLab at last affirmed that the whole collection—caps included—will drop by means of nike.com this end of the week. This is extraordinary news in case you're endeavoring to abstain from paying exchange costs for these, and it's most likely the last possibility you will get don't as well, rest.
The discharge date is secured for tomorrow, April 30, and will dispatch at 1 p.m. EST. The tennis shoes are evaluated at $175 each, while the caps are $45 each. Beneath, you'll locate the official pictures and direct item interfaces.
Recently, Supreme dropped a Nike SB joint effort including four colorways of the Air Force 2. Things being what they are, the discharge speaks to only one-portion of the synergistic endeavors from the two brands for Fall/Winter 2017. Data has surfaced internet demonstrating an up and coming attire container from Supreme and Nike, including a track coat, track jeans, and cap. Remember that the two imaginative accomplices have recently discharged co-marked attire, yet it's customarily fixing to a footwear joint effort. |
Come celebrate the release of a new book I've edited called 'My Apocalypse' featuring seventeen amazing writers and two of my favorite artists.
Dirigible that the Kioskers fly with blue background.
Suitcase that holds the city.
Dirigible that the Kioskers fly with white background.
September 5, 2011 – first half of play presented at the annual Cho-Chiqq Backyard BBQ Theater Event – cast Travis York, Kip Fagan, Anna Elliott, and Lucy Kaminsky. Sara Walsh flew a miniature dirigible over the seven seas.
January 25, 2012 – Presented staged reading of first half of script and songs at Dixon Place. Sara Walsh designed and built a set that popped out of a suitcase and performed shadow puppetry. Meghan Finn directed. Cast: Matthew Korahais, Travis York, Paula Llabaca, and Samantha Tunis.
July 28, 2012 – Uncanny Valley – presented more songs and scenes from the first half of script. Matt Korahais, Sammy Tunis, Alaina Ferris, Paul Ketchum, and Lucy Kaminsky.
Oct 5, 2012 – PRELUDE .12 Closing Party – Performed all the songs from the Kioskers. Alaina Ferris assembled musicians and music directed cast. Sara Walsh created stop motion video to illustrate the play and convey the plays aesthetic. The video ran behind the singers/performers on a loop. Peformers: Samantha Tunis, Lucy Kaminsky, Paul Ketchum, Alaina Ferris, John Gasper, and Andrew Sheron.
Find links to video excerpts of the performances.
We will play songs as the traveling kiosk attendants from the play The Kioskers: I Knew it Was a Floating Palace but the Image I had in Mind was Something More Like the Titanic. It will be celebration.
Artists Involved: Written by Scott Adkins; directed by Meghan Finn; scenic design by Sara Walsh; composed and performed by Alaina Ferris; performed by John Gasper, Lucy Kaminsky, Paul Ketchum, Andrew Sheron, and Samantha Tunnis.
Lead Artist: SCOTT ADKINS is a playwright with an MFA from Brooklyn College. He was in the 2006/2007 Soho Writer/Director Lab. He wears many hats. He lives in Brooklyn with his love Erin, his two boys, and their two dogs. |
'They're all the same on the ice': Blind hockey growing on Avalon Peninsula
CBC December 7, 2019
Alex Kennedy/CBC
Three years ago, nine-year-old Kaiden Benoit, who is both visually impaired and hearing impaired, found minor hockey becoming too difficult.
Then he learned about blind hockey — and was immediately hooked.
"My mom found it on a website and we just jumped right in," Kaiden said at a session in St. John's that Newfoundland Blind Ice Hockey hosted this week to get people on the ice to try the sport.
"My favourite part is that, like, when you're on the ice, when they drop the puck and you get the goal."
Kaiden is part of the growing number of athletes playing blind hockey on the Avalon Peninsula.
Blind hockey isn't much different from regular hockey, but features minor rule changes to make the game accessible. Players play with a larger puck with metal bearings inside so they can hear the puck moving across the ice rather than see it. There is also a two-pass rule once players pass the blue line, so goalies can hear the play coming.
Blind hockey goalies must be completely blind. They wear blindfolds in net so they can't be accused of seeing the puck and cheating.
Brandon Joy was deemed legally blind when he was in Grade 8. He attended a blind hockey camp in Vancouver and fell in love with the sport. Once he and his father returned to Newfoundland, they began working on blind hockey for this province through help from the Lion's Club and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Three years after the program started, Brandon is excited to get more people on the ice and learn about blind hockey.
"I'm really proud that we can get enough kids out here … to see if they enjoy it," Brandon said.
Brandon's dad, Steve, helps manage the program and the blind hockey team, the Newfoundland Eyelanders. He says blind hockey is slowly growing in Newfoundland.
"We started the first year with two kids, then we moved up to four or five," Joy said. "This year we're looking at having eight to 10 kids on the ice every Sunday."
"Someday I'd love to be able to offer it to all the children of Newfoundland," Joy added.
Kaiden's mother, Lisa Guest, says the introduction of blind hockey to the area has been great for Kaiden and her hockey loving family.
"He was starting to get frustrated and stuff with minor hockey," Guest said. "And to look at him now and be excited to get on the ice and be involved, he's come so far … his self-esteem and just the way he handles himself now."
Thursday's session came with a visit from Kaiden's favourite hockey team, the Newfoundland Growlers. The organization presented the team with a $10,000 cheque to help develop blind hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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At the end of last year, Future Pipe Industries was successful in producing 18m DN 4000 pipe at our Dubai facility in order to deliver for a large project. 18M pipes at such a size were a first for Dubai and for the industry.
Future Pipe Industries has played a key role in the project. At the proposal stage, the idea of producing 18-meter pipe was evaluated, including the overall requirements for modifying the production line. The end user has benefited significantly due to our innovation – we reduce the number of joints which has meant major savings in installation time, especially given that this project is offshore/underwater.
We have delivered over 27,000 meters of pipe in just a year. To do this we have been required to achieve high production efficiencies where the average speed was over 1.6 times the system across the project. In addition, scrap and rejection was just 0.1% with zero additional quantities.
On the 30th November the last 18m pipe for this specific project came off the production line so we pulled the whole team together to celebrate and to recognise the collaboration involved which has made this innovation happen. |
I have been teaching at BMC for 17 years. Prior to BMC, teaching was part of my duties as an IT consultant in the Tulane University IT support organization. And for a year, I taught for Amoco Corporation in New Orleans. Then I started teaching with BMC at the end of 1999.
While I originally began my career as a systems programmer, I realized I had a knack for explaining how things work to customers. This moved me into the teaching field. I enjoy teaching because helping students achieve "aha moments" on a consistent basis gives me a huge buzz.
notified if a student is not active in the virtual training lab.
How has training delivery changed since you've been an instructor?
Training customers used to mean heavy travel for me. I would spend the first day of every training session setting up the environment, which included setting up the classroom and servers—as well as ensuring the configurations were all correct. At times, this was very stressful. But now, with online training, there's less travel for everyone—instructors and students. You don't even need to be on the same continent.
Which tools/features do you use the most?
I am very pleased with ReadyTech. I can teach all over the world, and I don't have to use an organization's production servers. Prior to ReadyTech, a simple reboot could completely shut down an entire business. However, with today's virtual training labs, there's no need for a risky reboot.
Before we were using ReadyTech, classes were taught on customer servers. Most times, the customer had a test or development server we would use for the class, but sometimes the only available system was the production server that the business was running on. In those cases, it was always a bit scary to teach an administration task because we needed to be cautious about what actions were taken. When using a shared server (testing, development or production), shutting down or stopping components would affect a lot more than just the students in the class.
Inactivity Monitor is brilliant. This tool allows me to see when students are working (or not working) on a virtual training lab. I feel like I always know what's going on with students, and I can intervene when they are struggling.
"Lab Overview is also very helpful. I can observe students or take over their virtual training labs to help support them. This tool gives me control over the classroom and allows for successful remote teaching."
What advice would you give to a new instructor, just starting with ReadyTech's solutions?
Before you teach, always check the course reservations to ensure you have the correct image in place. This is simple—but necessary. It is rare to have the wrong image, but quite memorable when it does happen.
Learn how to use Lab Manager and be very comfortable with it before you teach. If you want assistance getting comfortable using Lab Manager, don't be afraid to contact ReadyTech's Customer Success Managers to schedule a how-to session.
Be sure to turn off the notice about "instructor viewing" because this can be distracting to students. This message resembles a tap on the shoulder.
Remind students to contact support directly. It can be tempting to personally help students, but you end up ignoring the rest of the class when you do this. That's what ReadyTech support is there for. ReadyTech support differentiates themselves from competitors with their excellent and reliable support.
Build a PowerPoint slide that includes the course URL, all student names and access codes. Put this slide up so students don't forget the access codes and lab assignment. This will greatly simplify your job.
BMC is a global leader in innovative software solutions that enable businesses to transform into digital enterprises for the ultimate competitive advantage. The organization's Digital Enterprise Management solutions are designed to make digital business fast, seamless, and optimized from mainframe to mobile to cloud and beyond. BMC digital IT transforms 82% of the Fortune 500 and serves more than 10,000 customers worldwide.
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