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Lorna and Alan's wedding was set at the historic Blairquhan Castle in Ayrshire. The dramatic architecture lent a perfect frame to a beautiful wedding day. As per usual in Scotland the weather was 4 seasons in one day; windy, rain and a few cats ;) . Quite miraculously the sun broke after the ceremony lending a generous glow to the newly wedded couple.
One can imagine many families have traversed the hills and dales by foot, boat or horse to partake in family celebrations here, the walls contain family portraits, generations long gone, offering their blessings.Lorna and Alan chose a 1930s style for their day, adding to the timelessness of the event. Spring blooms reminded us of the newness of love and beginnings. The grand old trees served as a testament to the importance of roots.
The girls gathered around Lorna as in times long past, in the ritual of bridal preparation, while the groom waited in anticipation fresh pressed in his tartan.
Finally the bride made her descent down the grand staircase observed by her beloved and family and friends. A humanist ceremony was in order for the day as the couple exchanged rings and vows.
As the ceremony completed and the weather cleared the wedding party was able to go outside for photographs in the stunning scenery<|fim_middle|> grounds of Blairquhan Castle, making it one of the best places for Ayrshire Wedding Photography.
Then it was time for further celebrations as the couple went inside to celebrate with guests. Food music and dancing ensued ending a very brilliant day.
Thanks to Lorna and Alan for allowing us to witness such a fantastic event. | . There are so many extraordinary features on the | 9 |
The end of Big Twitter
As long as I've been on Twitter (I started in March 2007) people have been complaining about Twitter. But recently things have changed. The complaints have increased in frequency and intensity, and now are coming more often from especially thoughtful and constructive users of the platform. There is an air of defeat about these complaints now, an almost palpable giving-up. For many of the really smart people on Twitter, it's over. Not in the sense that they'll quit using it altogether; but some of what was best about Twitter — primarily the experience of discovery — is now pretty clearly a thing of the past.
Recently Marco Arment got into a something of a pissing match on Twitter, and says that he learned a few things from it. For instance, he's going to stop hate-retweeting some of the nastiest comments he gets, which I have always thought was a bad idea anyway. He's going to take more time away from social media. And he's going to reconsider the access to his life that he grants, that all of us grant, to strangers on social media. "We allow people access to us 24/7. We're always in public, constantly checking an anonymous comment box<|fim_middle|> big account (close to 1.5k followers) and I suffered serious trolling, threatening and harassment due political ideology (striking harder on electoral campaign). My notifications were full of their tweets.
First, I blocked them and report them to Twitter. I got their accounts suspended but they came back within a few days. This lead me to a different strategy and mindset. I saw their tweets but I "felt" them as what they were: noise.
Do you know that pain-in-the-ass noise that you ignore after a while? Somebody drilling, i.e. That kind of noise.
When I realized this, I didn't care about them. I just passed through them, ignoring actively. They eventually stopped harassing. They became powerless.
With this experience I developed a fine sense to detect useless discussions, allowing me to even get in one on purpose if I'm bored enough. Even if I'm in the mood I can answer them but when I do it I use to be right on the spot. They tend to stop after two or three tweets.
I think everybody should develop this kind of mindset around Twitter. Obviously, this won't work in other types of harassments beyond "intellectual" one. They should be dealt in more severe ways.
Steve P Brady said...
I think there is a vast difference of experience that is dependent upon the number of followers you have. From my sense of things, those of us with less than 1,000 followers rarely get the troll or unwanted reply activity that those of you with thousands of followers get.
On a personal note, @ayjay- I for one will be sad to see you go. You were one of my first follows and I found many other smart and interesting people through you. This I think was/is? one of Twitter's greatest strengths. You could lurk in on smart conversations without feeling a need to contribute- just appreciate.
Megan Alstot said...
I am new to Twitter and inexperienced when speaking to its scope and scale. However, this article supports the need of education and educators to teach critical thinking and analysis strategies if we are to equip students with the skills necessary to engage in and evaluate content and conflict encountered via the internet. Social Media provides opportunity for invaluable networking and resource gathering, but the potential for personal and professional suicide lurks around every corner. Educators must teach students to evaluate information and source.
Chris Cotter said...
In 2007 and 2008, Twitter was my main social media site to exchange information and ideas with teachers; people were responsive, and we actually had conversations. Unfortunately, it now mostly seems to be people talking at one another rather than with one another (or even worse, people announcing some great, new product). Although there are a few groups / people who provide value and push the conversation forward, Twitter has definitely evolved into, for me, a less useful platform.
Chris Cotter
www.headsupenglish.com
Charles Packer said...
Haj Melek said above (Sep 1, 4:52 PM) "I have yet to witness a community that didn't eventually turn into something far less appealing than it was in its early days."
Of course. The community comes to be dominated by the most productive. Because their utterances tend to have the least substantive content, the rest of the members fade away out of boredom, leaving them to trade verbal spitballs with each other.
In Twitter, hashtags should in principle solve that problem, transcending stale networks by encouraging focus on the topic at hand. This seems to work for current events with a short shelf life. But hashtags referring to longer-lasting interests --analogous to Usenet's newsgroups -- attract spambots.
Charles Packer
cpacker.org | , trying to explain ourselves to everyone, and trying to win unwinnable arguments with strangers who don't matter in our lives at all."
Brent Simmons comments interestingly on Arment's experience:
Even though I follow people I like and respect, there's no way around seeing some of the crap that happens on Twitter. Even if you don't use Twitter at all, you will have seen articles about people being harrassed and threatened. You will have noticed the pure toxic sludge that pours through the service. (A hypothetical "Dawn of the Idiocracy" prequel would feature Twitter prominently.)
And it's worse than any blog comments system, because if you use it, anybody can put something in front of your face whether you want it or not.
Twitter is also wonderful, and I get so much value out of it. But it's like 51% good and 49% bad.
I don't see it getting any better. Hopefully it can hold the line at just-barely-worth-it. (But the recent changes to the timeline make that a little less likely.)
I don't see it getting any better either. And no one has offered a better explanation than Frank Chimero:
We concede that there is some value to Twitter, but the social musing we did early on no longer fits. My feed (full of people I admire) is mostly just a loud, stupid, sad place. Basically: a mirror to the world we made that I don't want to look into. The common way to refute my complaint is to say that I'm following the wrong people. I think I'm following the right people, I'm just seeing the worst side of them while they're stuck in an inhospitable environment. It's exasperating to be stuck in a stream.
Here's the frustration: if you've been on Twitter a while, it's changed out from under you. Christopher Alexander made a great diagram, a spectrum of privacy: street to sidewalk to porch to living room to bedroom. I think for many of us Twitter started as the porch — our space, our friends, with the occasional neighborhood passer-by. As the service grew and we gained followers, we slid across the spectrum of privacy into the street.
This is exactly right. I have found that my greatest frustrations with Twitter come not from people who are being nasty — though there are far too many of them — but from people who just misunderstand. They reply questioningly or challengingly to a tweet without reading any of the preceding or succeeding tweets that would give it context, or without reading the post that it links to. They take jokes seriously — Oh Lord do they take jokes seriously. And far too often they don't take the time to formulate their responses with care and so write tweets that I can't make sense of at all. And I don't want to have to deal with all this. I just want to sit here on the porch and have a nice chat with my friends and neighbors.
But wait. I'm not on the porch anymore. I'm in the middle of Broadway.
So I'm doing what, it seems to me, many people are doing: I'm getting out of the street. I'll keep my public account for public uses: it'll be a place where I can link to posts like this one, or announce any event that's of general interest. But what I've come to call Big Twitter is simply not a place for conversation any more.
I don't like this change. I made friends — real friends — on Twitter when it was a place for conversation. I reconnected with people I had lost touch with. Whole new realms of knowledge were opened to me. I don't want to foreclose on the possibility of further discovery, but the signal-to-noise ration is so bad now that I don't think I could pick out the constructive and interesting voices from all the mean-spiritedness and incomprehension; and so few smart people now dare to use Twitter in the old open way.
Big Twitter was great — for a while. But now it's over, and it's time to move on. I'm just hoping that some smart people out there are learning from what went wrong and developing social networks that can strengthen the signal and silence the noise.
Labels: Frank Chimero, social media, Twitter
Víctor Raggio said...
I can´t see where is the problem with a platform in which you can choose who to follow and what tweets you ignore/pay attention to ??? works just fine for me. I devote some time to "edit" twitter, I mean MY twitter.
Douglas Carnall said...
The great thing about Twitter is that if your signal:noise ratio is wrong, you have no-one to blame but yourself: resolute use of the Unfollow button cures all ills!
Interesting that neither of these commenters knows that people you don't follow can reply to you on Twitter.
yes, I´m aware of that (don´t happen to me often thoug). but you can ignore (block?) them. But I can imagine that could be a real pain in the ass for somebody.
Yeah, I believe there is this thing called "blocking" which sounds like it would sort that out, but being in a fairly unverbose corner of the Twitterverse (by virtue of the aforementioned ruthlessness with my timeline) I've never really felt the need.
I should perhaps add that I try toreserve Twitter as a unpolluted noosphere of intellectual affinity, following and unfollowing accounts without any recourse to 'in real life' sentiment. I reserve Facebook for that, and it's interesting how rubbish my FB feed is as a result. But as it's being posted by people I'm glad to know that they're alive and kicking, I put up with all the nonsense that ensues there.
But you can't block people until they tweet at you — that is, unless you want to go looking through Twitter for nasty people so you can block them in advance, which would be, you know, pretty counterproductive. And anyway, it's kind of mean to block people just for missing the point or writing unclearly. No, the block option doesn't address this issue.
I am quite new to Twitter. I also sometimes have the problem of misunderstanding tweets. Even after reading their past posts.
I have decided to use a list, a simple whitelist. I have now a little Twitter "cohort" of 300 people I follow (and who follow me) and whenever I see someone writing funny, intelligent or even harmless weird tweets they go on my list. That simple. I can always remove them but most of "the chosen ones" are still there and I enjoy their tweets. My main TL is out of sight most of the time. I only look at it infrequently.
dominique marie said...
not only. it's also a place where people educate other people. first were most educated people. then low educated ones. and they can read newspapers they would never have known, posts they would never have written. in the begining of twitter, i thought i wav always right and i spoke on an arrogant way. now, i red so much amazing people (that i woule never have met without twitter) than i became more realistic about myself and i think twice before twitting. i read also people who think the opposite of me, and i can consider their ideas, which make me think + large. i think twitter educated me a lot. and i think people just got saved in some lands like haiti in 2010 or in Libye in 2012: remember Mo!
Haj Melek said...
Like some of the folks I follow on Twitter and elsewhere, I've been online since the days of packet email and BBSes running on IBM clones in someone's den. And I have yet to witness a community that didn't eventually turn into something far less appealing than it was in its early days. The facile analysis, of course, has long been that it's always September somewhere on the net. But clueless noobs are rarely the ones who are truly at fault.
From Conrad: "In Patusan they had found lots of pepper, and had been impressed by the magnificence of the Sultan; but somehow, after a century of checkered intercourse, the country seems to drop gradually out of the trade. Perhaps the pepper had given out. Be it as it may, nobody cares for it now; the glory has departed, the Sultan is an imbecile youth with two thumbs on his left hand and an uncertain and beggarly revenue extorted from a miserable population and stolen from him by his many uncles."
Anyway, thanks for your participation in these precincts. I share your hope that someone figures out a lasting better way.
Eternal September strikes again.
Dario Castañé said...
I'm sorry but this doesn't make sense for me nowadays. I'm not a | 1,834 |
Temple Grandin named to the National Women's Hall of Fame
Temple Grandin, Colorado State University professor of animal sciences and world-renowned autism spokesperson, has been named to the National Women's Hall of Fame. Grandin is one of only 10 women to receive the prestigious honor this year.
"We are pleased to add 10 American women to the ranks of inductees whose leadership and achievements have changed the course of American history," said Betty M. Bayer, the Hall's co-president and professor of women's studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
A professor of animal sciences for more than 20 years, Grandin has made enormous contributions to the livestock industry. Her autism allows her to think in pictures, and that ability has made her a visionary in her field. Her insights into animal behavior shaped innovative approaches to livestock handling, including methods and designs for humane slaughter that have become the industry standard.
Role model for young women
"Honoring Dr. Temple Grandin in this esteemed group of women not only speaks to the power of her research and advocacy, but also her impact as a role model for young women everywhere," said Colorado State University President Tony Frank. "Early in her career, her determination helped her break into what was a largely male-dominated animal production industry, and she continues to serve as an advocate for women in the sciences, for young people with autism, and for anyone unwilling to let artificial boundaries stand in the way of their personal and professional success."
The Hall notes that Grandin's life and work have revolutionized the study of autism, reflected in the title of her Ted Talk: "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds."
Grandin's research, teaching and international consultation on autism, animal behavior and handling as well as advancing quality standards and assurance in the meat and livestock industries were highlighted in the announcement.
Written by Jennifer Dimas for Colorado State University.
By adminnds|2017-04-09T19:54:00+00:00February 10th, 2017|News|2 Comments<|fim_middle|>/politics/political-pulse/os-able-act-disable-accounts-story.html
Orlando Sentinel Article Highlights Benefits of ABLE
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I've posted this magical moment before but I just had to share it again, it's that magical for me.
Peter just let his AS disabilities go and stepped up all by himself for his very first pin trade in 2000. The Boardwalk greeter was so kind and patient with him. I could here him talking to her quietly. We had discussed pin trading often, picked out a few pins to trade and he had watched his brother trade many times on previous trips. I guess all the preparation worked. That was a magical moment!
<|fim_middle|> son in 2000? Isn't there truly something magical about our kids and how they react in this "Fantasyland"??
What great memories and magical moments for sure. Thanks for sharing with us and hosting!!
What a precious memory for your son and an absolutely great timing and magical moment. Spectacular fireworks photo!
We're going to have to revisit this topic in the future! There are so many wonderful posts linked up this week, 31 so far! Please take a Minnie moment to visit and leave comments as new bloggers are still joining in. | Here's another magical memory for you. This picture is only a representation of the actual experience since my camera batteries died and I don't have a picture from it.
One night we were headed to Epcot for Illuminations. Rushing from the Contemporary platform I asked the operator if we'd make it to Epcot in time to see Illuminations. The CM just shrugged. He showed us to the second or third car, all by ourselves. The monorail ride was quiet and seemed slower than usual. Just as we passed in front of Space Ship Earth the monorail glided to a stop. I immediately thought it was broken and that we'd be stuck there for awhile, high up in the air with the World Showcase on one side and Space Ship Earth on the other. I remember saying to DH, we are going to miss the whole thing because something is wrong with the monorail.
Just then the fireworks started. All of us sat there in shock and awe as we watched Illuminations perched high above the World Showcase.
9/26 - The Letter "E"
10/3 - "Your Calendar Shot for October"
Wordless Wednesday ~ The Disney Letter "D"
I love this theme and I'm looking forward to reading everyone's magical memories! That must have been an incredible view of the fireworks but I love the story about your son's pin trading experience - it's always so amazing to see a child step beyond his/her comfort zone - Disney can definitely be a place where magic happens!
If you got to stay on the monorail all the way through Illuminations, then that's becoming one of my magical memories. What an ultra-cool place to watch from!
Those are some seriously magical memories! Brava!!
I love hearing stories about Disney melting away disabilities for magical moments. I know we have lived these as well. So amazing to witness and capture. Adore the view you had from the monorail as well.
Great memories - especially the first!!
Well, can I say that I had tears in my eyes looking at your | 421 |
Cameron University Foundation receives scholarship funding from The Helen W. Holliday Foundation
The Cameron University Foundation has received a gift of $50,000 from the Helen W. Holliday Foundation in Lawton. The donation will be used to fund scholarships for Cameron students. Since 1988, the Helen W. Holliday Foundation has donated almost $520,000 to Cameron University.
"We are deeply appreciative of the Helen W. Holliday Foundation's continued support of Cameron students," says President John McArthur. "For more than 25 years, the Foundation has provided vital scholarship funding to our students, enabling them to achieve a college degree. The end result of that support is immeasurable when you consider the positive impact those degree-holding students have in shaping southwest Oklahoma's economic and cultural growth."
"The Helen W. Holliday Foundation is pleased to present Cameron University with this gift, which is in keeping with the late Mrs. Holliday's wishes to assist young people in improving their position in life," says Robert L. Ross, a representative of the Helen W. Holliday Foundation.
The Helen W. Holliday Foundation was established in 1974 to provide support for educational, vocational, and rehabilitation purposes for young women in the Law<|fim_middle|> She passed away in 1972.
PR#14-03 | ton-Fort Sill community. Helen W. Holliday was a Lawton native who spent much of her life in Los Angeles. She returned to Lawton in 1948 after marrying Arthur O. Holliday, early-day Faxon banker, postmaster, farmer and teacher. Following his death in 1956, Mrs. Holliday continued to operate the family farm on several sections of land in Comanche County. | 89 |
EOFF announced it's 2014 Dates – February 20-22, 2014 – but before we can savor another year of great film and music in downtown LG we need to assist the organization in growing it's pocket book to bring about a 5th annual celebration that continues to astound.
Portland, Oregon's AU and ETERNAL TAPESTRY will cozy up with La Grande's Catskills on Thursday, May 23rd at The Art Center at the Old Library to present a powerhouse evening of edgy rock, experimental psychedelia, and hyper-attentive, graceful, and often fierce instrumentation of sonic and psychological terrain. The trio of cutting edge NW musicians will be heading to the Tumbleweeds of Idaho to converge with a number of other stellar musicians.
The event cost is $5.00 at the door. (Eastern Oregon Film Festival members are admitted free). Support our growing film and music festival by experiencing this evening of cutting edge northwest centric music.
AU's third album, Both Lights, is a recurring dream. Eleven songs made by the Portland, Oregon-based duo Luke Wyland and Dana Valatka, it's a story of Time.
In its eleven songs, Both Lights constructs new sonic and psychological terrain for the listener. It unfolds like<|fim_middle|>, and often fierce instrumentation — the language of Wyland and Valatka — and in its heated and naked emotion. "This is all inner struggle, inner growth, inner seeking," said Wyland. Set to music, life sounds like AU.
After the dark conceptual ambience of Beyond the 4th Door, the members of Eternal Tapestry decided the time was right to do an album embracing their live show – blistering psych rock filled with lyrical guitar soloing and a caveman approach to rhythm, an oddly euphoric state where melancholia is blasted by ecstatic noise.
From La Grande, Oregon. Jeff Grammer (drums, keyboard, banjo, vocals) Gregory Rawlins (guitar, vocals, harmonica, tamborine, cassette effects). Wayne Marvin Callahan (bass, vocals) have been evolving their newest project CATSKILLS, most recently playing at Boise's Treefort Music Fest these homegrown experimentalists bring to the table raw and romping regional rock/folk. | a story, both in its hyper-attentive, graceful | 13 |
At Weddings By Dzign, we love a couple who isn't afraid to think outside of the traditional wedding design box—and Sherrie and Cody were absolutely fearless when it came to working with stark hues and modern design elements to create a stunning black and white wedding. The couple chose to marry at The JW Marriott Las Vegas in March of 2017, and we were absolutely thrilled they trusted the Weddings By Dzign team to execute coordination, floral, decor and entertainment for their stunning, sleek and modern soirée.
We were head over heels for Sherrie's super chic black and white wedding dress—the clean lines and simple silhouette made for a striking gown, so we wanted to work with understated forals that didn't overpower her dress but, instead, complemented it.
For the bride, then, Floral By Dzign crafted a tight, focused arrangement of all white calla lilies, and, for Cody, our floral team used a simple, single white calla lily to ensure his boutonniere played perfectly with his bride's bouquet.
The ceremony took place outdoors at the JW Marriott's Garden Gazebo, and Floral By Dzign flanked the space with two altar arrangements that consisted of modern black urns filled with white and green florals, sitting pretty atop white pedestals. The altar arrangements really worked to add some height and depth to the altar space, without overpowering the natural beauty of the venue itself.
Plus, the combination of stark<|fim_middle|>atory jazz trio and, later in the night, a talented DJ.
Overall, between the sharp geometric patterns, modern succulents and striking color palette, the event aesthetic felt like something you'd see in a West Elm catalog—and the couple couldn't have been happier with how it all turned out. We were honored to play such a big part in this sweet couple's Big Day, and we're still swooning over the stunning images from what turned out to be a beautiful springtime soirée. | black vases against soft white and green florals felt super modern, and worked really well with the striking lines on Sherrie's black and white wedding gown. Our entertainment team was thrilled to book a talented guitarist for the couple, who played throughout the entire ceremony and really helped to set a romantic, springtime-in-Las Vegas mood.
After the couple said I Do, guests moved to the Lodge at the Lawn, an indoor/outdoor space which features both a European-style lodge and an a private, lush lawn area. Sherrie and Cody wanted a reception that felt more laid back than most—so the couple opted to forego a traditional cocktail hour and reception format and, instead, chose a mixed-purpose area with no assigned seating. To create that laid-back feel they wanted, Furniture By Dzign brought in a mixture of both high and low cocktail tables, along with banquet rounds. We then staggered the tables strategically throughout the indoor and outdoor space to encourage a natural flow and easy movement throughout the reception.
Both the high and low cocktail tables boasted black and white geometric-patterned linens—while the Linen By Dzign team dressed the banquet rounds in a simple white linen with a coordinating black and white table runner. The stark colors and sleek geometric pattern managed to make for an aesthetic that felt both modern and playful at once.
Low cocktail tables and banquet rounds were framed with gold chiavari chairs topped with simple white cushions. Floral By Dzign then topped the banquet tables with black, square vases filled with white hydrangea, white roses and green kermit, along with smaller gold-etched vases filled with succulents in muted green hues. The cocktail tables boasted super chic iron terrariums filled with succulents. We then flanked the bar area with two arrangements on either side, which consisted of sleek black vases filled with white and green florals. To top it all off, guests danced the night away under romantic bistro lights, to the sounds of a celebr | 406 |
Today is the last day of the Craftin Desert Divas August Release Event, and I have two final cards to share with you.
The first card features the new Playtime stamp set. For this card, I stamped out two of the images, plus a sentiment and a bit of candy from the set, and then colored in the images with my colored pencil. I drew in a<|fim_middle|>. I colored in the image with my copics and then die cut out the image with the new die set Inside Scalloped Rectangle Dies. I added some textured card stock also die cut with the new dies. I am seriously loving these new bird stamps. They are so friendly and 'tweet! | boarded floor and then fussy cut the stamps out above the floor line. I backed the image in some grey paper and then added a frame of white card stock cut out with the new Inside Scalloped Rectangle Dies. I popped the two kids up with a bit of three dimensional tape so that they would life off the page, and hand a little over the border. This whole set is really cute, and has so many different possibilities, from play, to a birthday card, to even Halloween!
My second card features the new Birds of a Feather stamp set.
I stamped out two of the birds from the set, plus a branch and flower | 129 |
<|fim_middle|> optimize campaigns for maximum performance. The Google Ads Video Certification Exam covers how to create and manage video advertising campaigns on YouTube and other video platforms. The Google Ads Shopping Certification Exam covers how to set up and manage shopping campaigns on Google.com and other Google properties. The Google Ads Mobile Certification Exam covers how to create and manage mobile advertising campaigns on Google and other mobile platforms. The Google Ads Measurement Certification Exam covers how to use Google Analytics and other measurement tools to track and optimize your campaigns.
The Facebook Ads Certification program is designed to help people who want to get certified in using Facebook Ads to grow their business. The program includes a series of courses that cover everything from the basics of using Facebook Ads to more advanced topics like campaign optimization and measurement. The Facebook Ads Certification Program provides individuals and businesses with the skills and knowledge necessary to run effective Facebook advertising campaigns. The program is broken down into four courses:
Introduction to Facebook Advertising: This course covers the basics of Facebook advertising, including how to create an advertising account, how to create ad campaigns, and how to target your ads.
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Tagged with: facebook adsfacebook ads vs google adsfacebook campaigngoogle ad campaigngoogle ads
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Facebook Ads vs Google Ads: Which is Better ?
Author Thinkster
Online ads have established themselves as the mainstay in today's market. They allow businesses to reach a larger audience than they would be able to through traditional forms of advertising. This is because more people are spending time online than ever before. Additionally, online ads are more cost-effective than traditional forms of advertising, making them a more attractive option for businesses on a tight budget. They are more likely to be seen by people who are actually interested in what the business has to offer, as opposed to people who are simply flipping through a magazine or watching television.
Facebook and Google Ads are two of the most popular online advertising platforms. They both allow businesses to create ad campaigns that target specific audiences. Both platforms offer a variety of targeting options, including interests, demographics, and behaviors. Facebook ads are ads that appear on Facebook. They can be targeted to people based on their interests, demographics, and other factors. Google ads are ads that appear on Google. They can be targeted to people based on their search terms, location, and other factors. In today's market space, Facebook and Google ads are important because they provide a way for businesses to reach out to potential customers. By creating ads that are targeted to specific demographics, businesses can ensure a more efficient marketing campaign, and can ultimately lead to more sales and more customers. As the two largest online platforms Facebook ads and Google ads, offer businesses unrivaled access to potential customers. Here we compare and explore the various contention points of these illustrious platforms.
Backgroud
Facebook Ads and Google Ads are two of the most popular online advertising platforms. They both allow businesses to create ad campaigns and target specific audiences. Google Ads is the largest online advertising platform, with over 3 million advertisers worldwide. Facebook Ads is the second largest, with over 2 million advertisers. Both platforms offer a variety of features and options for businesses to target their ads. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Google Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) platform, which means businesses only pay when someone clicks on their ad. Facebook Ads is a cost-per-impression (CPM) platform, which means businesses pay based on how many people see their ad. Google Ads also offers a variety of different ad formats, including text, image, video, and rich media. Facebook Ads offers fewer ad formats, but they are more visually appealing and can be targeted to specific demographics.
Overall, both platforms are effective ways to reach a large audience with your marketing message. However, it is important to choose the right platform for your specific business goals.
Suitable Industries
Google ads are suitable for industries such as technology, automotive, and retail while Facebook ads are more equipped for handling fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment.
The suitable industries for Facebook ads are those that are looking to target a specific audience with laser precision. Facebook allows advertisers to target users based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. This makes it an ideal platform for companies in industries such as retail, e-commerce, travel, and more. For example, a business that sells products or services to women ages 18-35 would be an ideal candidate for Facebook ads. This is because Facebook allows businesses to target this specific demographic with ads that are relevant to their interests. Businesses that can create engaging and visually appealing ads are more likely to be successful with Facebook ads. Industries such as fashion, beauty, and travel are well suited for Facebook ads because they can target users based on their interests and tend to have a high degree of engagement on Facebook, which can further help to reach a larger audience.
The suitable industries for Google ads are those that can generate a high volume of traffic to their website. These industries tend to be competitive and have a large potential customer base. Some examples of suitable industries for Google ads include:
Google ads are used to effectively target potential customers through keywords and other targeting options. Google ads can be particularly effective for businesses that offer products or services that are highly targeted and relevant to the user's search query. Industries such as e-commerce, travel, and B2B have a high ROI for paid search, meaning that they are more likely to see a return on their investment in Google ads.
Google ads are typically more expensive than Facebook ads. This is because Google is the largest search engine in the world, and businesses are willing to pay more to reach potential customers through this platform. Additionally, Google ads tend to be more targeted than Facebook ads, which can also drive up costs.
The cost of Google ads varies depending on the keywords that are being targeted, the competition for those keywords, and the budget that is set for the campaign, including the quality score of the ad, the size and type of ad, and the location of the ad. The most important factor is the quality score of the ad, which decides how much you will pay per click. Quality score is based on the relevancy of your ad to the keywords you are bidding on, the quality of your landing page, your historical click-through rate, etc.
There are a few key factors that play into how much a Facebook ad will cost. The first is the overall targeting of the ad. This includes factors like age, gender, interests, and location. Facebook will also look at the type of ad you're running, and whether it's a boosted post or a promoted post. Lastly, Facebook will consider your ad's historical performance when determining how much to charge. CPCs can vary greatly depending on your target audience and the type of ad you're running. For example, ads targeting people who live in rural areas may have a lower CPC than ads targeting people who live in urban areas.
The level of complexity between Facebook ads and Google ads can be broken down into a few different categories.
First, let's take a look at the targeting options for each platform. Facebook offers more targeting options than Google, giving you the ability to target people based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. Google, on the other hand, allows you to target people based on what they've searched for in the past, their current location, and their language.
Second, let's have a look at the bidding options for each platform. Facebook allows you to bid on a CPC or CPM basis, while Google only allows you to bid on a CPC basis. This can make a big difference in how much you're willing to pay for each click or impression.
And finally, let's look at the ad formats for each platform. Facebook offers a variety of ad formats, including single images, videos, carousels, and slideshows. Google, on the other hand, offers a more limited selection of ad formats, including text, image, and video.
Overall, Facebook ads tend to be more complex than Google ads, due to the greater number of targeting and bidding options, as well as the variety of ad formats.
Usage Rate
The main difference between Facebook ads and Google ads is that Facebook ads are best used to build brand awareness or create interest in a product or service, while Google ads are better suited for driving traffic to a specific website or landing page. Additionally, Facebook ads tend to be more visual in nature, while Google ads are more text-based.
The difference in usage rate between Facebook ads and Google ads is significant. Facebook ads are used by nearly 70% of marketers, while Google ads are used by less than 50%. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that Facebook has a much larger user base than Google, and that Facebook's ad platform is more user-friendly and effective.
The two platforms have different usage rates because of their different target audiences. Facebook has a higher usage rate among adults, while Google has a higher usage rate among teenagers. in general, Facebook ads tend to have a higher click-through rate (CTR) than Google ads. According to a study by WordStream, the average CTR for Facebook ads is 0.9%, while the average CTR for Google ads is 0.4%.
Google ads and Facebook ads share somewhat similar objectives of reaching as many people as possible in the target market, creating awareness of the product or service, and generating leads and sales. The main difference lies in the fact that Google ads are designed to get users to click on ads that are relevant to their search query, while Facebook ads are designed to get users to engage with the ad. Google ads are designed to target search terms, while Facebook ads are designed to target users based on their interests.
The objectives of Facebook ads vary depending on the business and what they are trying to achieve. However, some common objectives for Facebook ads include:
Streamlining traffic to a website or landing page
Engagement with future or present customers
Promotion of a product or service
Working on a contest or promotion
Increasing app installs or engagement
There are a few different objectives that Google ads can help businesses achieve:
Increasing brand awareness: Google ads can help businesses increase their brand awareness by appearing at the top of search results pages for relevant keywords. This can help businesses reach new potential customers who may not have heard of them before.
Generating leads: Google ads can also be used to generate leads for businesses. This can be done by creating ads that include a contact form or by using call-only ads to drive phone calls.
Boosting sales: Businesses can use Google ads to boost their sales by creating ads that link to product pages or by using special offers and discounts to entice potential customers.
Increasing website traffic: Google ads can help businesses increase their website traffic by appearing at the top of search results pages. This can help businesses get more visitors to their websites, which can eventually lead to more sales or leads.
Google ads and Facebook ads both have their pros and cons when it comes to reach. Google ads tend to have a wider reach because they are displayed on more websites and apps than Facebook ads. However, Facebook ads are more targeted because they are based on people's interests and demographics.
They are one of the most popular and effective ways to reach your target market. By advertising on Google, Google AdWords allows businesses to target potential customers based on what they're interested in, where they are, and what they're searching for. You can also use Google ads to remarket to people who have already visited your website or engaged with your brand. This targeting makes ads more effective because they are more likely to be seen by people who are interested in what the business has to offer. Additionally, Google ads are also able to reach people who are not actively searching for a business's product or service, but who may be interested in it nonetheless. This is because Google ads are not only shown on Google's search engine results pages, but also on websites that are part of the Google Display Network. The Google Display Network is a collection of millions of websites, videos, and apps where Google ads can be shown. This allows businesses to gain access to a vast audience, which is why Google ads are so effective.
Facebook advertising is one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience, with over 2 billion monthly active users. Facebook offers advertisers a massive pool of potential customers to target. Advertisers can use a variety of targeting options to reach their desired audience, including interests, demographics, and behaviors. Facebook also offers powerful tools for measuring the performance of your ads, so you can optimize your campaigns for maximum results. The reach of Facebook ads is vast and it is the largest social media platform in the world. This gives businesses of all sizes the ability to target a wide range of individuals with their ads. There is a need for businesses to create highly customized campaigns that are more likely to resonate with their target audience. Facebook also offers a variety of different ad formats, including traditional text and image ads, video ads, and even interactive ads. This allows a lot of flexibility when it comes to creating ad campaigns. Overall, with such a large user base and so many different targeting options, any business can find success with its Facebook ad campaigns.
There are several advantages and disadvantages to Facebook ads. On the plus side, Facebook ads can be very effective in reaching a target audience. As we have already learned, they can be targeted to specific demographics, interests, and even behaviors. Additionally, Facebook ads can be very cost-effective, especially when compared to other forms of online advertising. Facebook ads can also be customized to a great extent, allowing businesses to create highly effective campaigns that align with their overall marketing goals.
On the downside, Facebook ads can be less effective than other forms of online advertising, such as search engine marketing or display advertising. They can be intrusive and annoying to some users, which can lead to negative brand associations. Facebook ads are also subject to the same issues as all other forms of online advertising, such as click fraud and ad blockers.
There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to using Google Ads as well. On the plus side, Google Ads can be a very effective way to reach a large audience with your marketing message. Additionally, because of the way that Google Ads are targeted, you can generally be sure that your ads are being seen by people who are interested in what you have to offer. Google Ads can be a very cost-effective form of advertising since you only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad.
On the downside, however, some people find Google Ads to be intrusive and annoying, similar to other online ads. Because of the way that Google Ads are targeted, it is possible for your ads to be shown to people who are not actually interested in your product or service, which can waste your advertising budget. Additionally, Google Ads can be a complex platform to use, and it can take some time to learn how to use it effectively. Google ads can also be very competitive, and you may have to bid against other companies for your ad to be seen.
The certification courses for Facebook ads and Google ads showcase parallels in many ways. Both courses cover the basics of setting up and running campaigns, as well as more advanced topics such as optimization and measurement. However, there are some key differences between the two courses. Google Ads certification covers more topics than Facebook Ads certification. For example, Google Ads certification covers search engine marketing, while Facebook Ads certification does not. In addition, Google Ads certification covers topics such as video advertising and display advertising, while Facebook Ads certification does not. This makes Google Ads certification more comprehensive than Facebook Ads certification. However, both courses are valuable for anyone interested in learning more about online advertising.
Google offers a variety of certification courses for its Google Ads products. The Google Ads Certification is a professional license for participants who demonstrate proficiency in basic and advanced aspects of Google Ads. The Google Ads Certification Exam tests your knowledge of online advertising best practices and Google Ads. To earn the Certification, you must pass the Google Ads Fundamentals Exam which covers basic and intermediate concepts, including the benefits of online advertising and how to set up and manage a campaign. The Google Ads Search Certification Exam covers advanced concepts, including how to | 3,102 |
Assam: Devotees bid adieu to Goddess Durga on Vijay Dashami<|fim_middle|> Visarjan'. (ANI)
16th October 2021, 01:56 GMT+11 | with 'Durga Visarjan'
Guwahati (Assam) [India], October 15 (ANI): The pomp and gaiety with which Durga Puja was celebrated in Assam and other parts of the country came to an end on Friday evening with the immersion of idols of the 'goddess of strength' with traditional and religious fervour.
Devotees bid adieu to Goddess Durga on the occasion of Vijay Dashami today, a day that marks the triumph of good over evil.
The devotees took out huge processions on the way to the rivers and water bodies for immersion.
Two prominent inland water transport stops on the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati turned into a sea of humanity as scores of people on both sides of the city roads pulled out of their homes to catch a glimpse of the trolly carrying the idols for immersion.
The Assam administration made special arrangements to facilitate the immersion ceremony smoothly. The immersion which begins from 11 in the morning is continuing till 9 in the evening.
According to mythology on this day Goddess Durga annihilated the demon god Mahishasura after a fierce battle that lasted for nine days.
This day also marks Durga Visarjan or immersion of Durga idols signifying the journey of the Goddess back to Mount Kailash after ten days of stay at her parent's house on earth. Annually, Goddess Durga visits her paternal house with her four children in tow--Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesha.
This year Durga Puja began on Monday, October 11 (Maha Shasthi). On Maha Shashti, Durga Puja celebrations begin with full enthusiasm and the idol of Goddess Durga is unveiled to visitors at the pandal with the beating of drums, known as 'Dhaak'. During Durga Puja, devotees wake up early to worship the goddess and follow other rituals. On the last day, devotees immerse Goddess Durga's idol in water which is known as 'Durga | 428 |
Trading Plans
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOALSTATISTICS DAILY FOOTBALL STATS
Goalstatistics Daily Football Stats – Intro
As you might be aware, we made our stats available on-site recently. Given the nature of our football stats, we felt it's important to create a guide for our users, to show how to understand and utilize our data.
Don't forget, registered members are also allowed to download our daily football datasheets. If you do so, you can easily create shortlists for different football trading strategies. If you're not a member yet, register here.
Fulltime and Halftime Results
These are the very first tables you can see at each match's pages. These are also very simple stats, displaying how many games a team won or lost in a certain time frame.
There are two sections, one that shows the results from the past calendar year, and one that shows results from the current season. Home means home team, these stats take into consideration only those games where the team played at home. Away is for the away team, considering only games that they played away from home.
Each table has two rows, FT and HT. FT is for fulltime, HT is for halftime.
Stat Categories:
GP: games played
W: games won
D: draws
L: games lost
GLS: goal difference
Basic Pre-match Stats
As this section's title says, these are the basic pre-match stats. If you want to succeed with pre-match bets, you'll need this. Plus you also get a good overview of what can you expect from the specific match – if you want to trade live.
Both teams scored: shows the percentage of games, that ended with a scoreline where both teams managed to score (e.g. 1-1, 2-1, etc.)
Home team scored: shows the percentage of games where the home team managed to score at least one goal.
Away team scored: shows the percentage of games, where the away team managed to score at least one goal.
Home scored 1st: this stat shows how often the home team scored the first goal in a football match.
Away scored 1st: this stat shows how often the away team scored the first goal in a football match.
FT over x.5: this shows the percentage of games that ended with over x.5. e.g: FT Over 2.5 shows the percentage of games that ended with at least 3 goals (goals combined by both teams).
HT home team scored: shows the percentage of games where the home team scored in the 1st half.
HT away team scored: shows the percentage of games where the away team scored in the 1st half.
HT over x.5: shows the percentage of games where the 1st half ended with over x.5 goals. E.g. HT Over 0.5 shows the percentage of games where the 1st half ended with at least one goal (goals combined by both teams).
Important: You might have noticed that there is no stat category for home or away team goal conceded. Good news: there is. When we say home team scored, that means a goal conceded for the away team. So, in this example below in the "Home Team Scored" row 87% means the home team scored in 87% of their home games. Next to it, 52% means that the away team conceded in 52% of their away games. The reason for this layout is the fact that these are stats that you want to see next to each other when you do your analysis.
As the headers are consistent across the tables, this is very important to understand how they work and what they show exactly. Here we go:
LAVG PCY: league average in the past calendar year.
HOME PCY: home team's stats considering only their home games from the past calendar year.
AWAY PCY: away team's stats considering only their away games from the past calendar year.
LAVG STD: league average in the current season.
HOME STD: home team's stats considering only their home games from the current season.
AWAY STD: away team's stats considering only their away games from the current season.
In short: this is the best way to display relevant data. Home and away breakdown is essential, as teams do behave completely differently in their own stadium vs on the road. The past calendar year and season to date breakdown is also essential. In certain situations you want to see an increased sample size (e.g. in the beginning of the season it is difficult to make bets based on two or three games played in the current campaign). On the other hand, as the football season goes on, you'll need to weigh more towards the season to date stats, as they are more relevant.
Last, but not least, we have the league average. This should be one of your most important benchmarks. It helps you to put stats into context and it also shows what can you expect from games in the specific league.
15th / 20th / 30th Minute 0-0
Okay, this is where it gets interesting. These tables are part of our unique situational stats. At the top of every table, we display which situation we refer to. We cover three scenarios from the first half, these are the following:
15th Minute 0-0
Basically we apply a filter to our database, and we consider only games played under these circumstances. For example: in the 20th Minute 0-0 table we've calculated stats from those games, where the score was 0-0 at the 20th minute.
Because different teams behave differently under certain circumstances. Some teams tend to score/concede more often at the end of the first half than others. When you trade or bet on football, it's good to know what can you expect from the teams in the specific scenario. If you want to read more on this topic, check out our First-half Stats & strategy guide.
Stat Categories
Games played: number of games played in this situation.
HT over x.5: shows the percentage of games where the 1st half ended with over x.5 goals. E.g. HT Over 0.5 shows the percentage of games where the 1st half ended with at least one goal (goals combined from by teams).
Halftime Home Lead / 0-0 / Non-Scoreless Draw / Away Lead
These are the deepest tables, by far. The thing is, at this point, you have seen one half of football already. But… It's still only 50% of the match, right? All in all, you have enough information about the game flow, but so many things can happen in the 2nd half.
At this point we broke down our tables for four different scenarios, these are the following:
Home lead
Non-scoreless draw (e.g. 1-1)
Away Lead
Just as before, we applied a filter to our database and we generate stats only from those games, where the scenarios above occurred.
Just in case it's not clear yet, we repeat ourselves: teams do behave differently in different situations. At the moment of writing this article, the Nicaraguan League (what an example!) just finished. In this season, there were at least two goals in the second half in 40% of the time. Let's see how this looks like, if we break down into the scenarios above:
Home lead at halftime: 51.6%
0-0 at halftime: 39.4%
Non-scoreless draw at halftime: 30%
Away lead at halftime: 25.7%
Can you see it now? There is a huge difference between certain scenarios.
2nd half goals: goal difference in this situation
Any scored 46-60 min: this stat shows the percentage of games where at least one goal was scored between halftime and the 60th minute (goals combined for both teams)
Home team scored: shows<|fim_middle|> need to utilize. Some teams are more likely to produce so-called garbage time goals when they are ahead by more than on goals. Some others tend to chew the clock, when they are leading by only one, as a potential goal conceded will result in a loss of 2 points.
The stat categories are similar to the basic tables, so you can compare the stats in different situations.
60th / 75th Minute 0/1/2 Goals Scored In 2nd Half
This is another complementary category. We take into consideration how many goals have been scored so far in the 2nd half, and show how teams did perform in these situations.
We think when it comes to betting on late goals, many bettors try to avoid certain situations. For example, there are people who won't bet on late goals, if there was at least one goal scored in the second half already. Or, some others might skip a bet, if a goal wasn't scored yet in the 2nd half.
Ready? Take a look at the latest stats!
Copyright © 2021 Goalstatistics | E-mail: support@goalstatistics.com | the percentage of games where the home team scored in the 2nd half.
Away team scored: shows the percentage of games where the away team scored in the 2nd half.
Home team scored 2+: shows the percentage of games where the home team scored at least 2 goals in the 2nd half.
Away team scored 2+: shows the percentage of games where the away team scored at least 2 goals in the 2nd half.
1/2/3+ goals in 2nd half: shows the percentage of games, where at least 1,2 or 3 more goals were scored in the 2nd half (combined for both teams).
As we said earlier, this is the deepest table amongst all. We have introduced the 2nd half goals category to display the number of goals scored/conceded in this situation. We have also added a few stats that are available only in this spot. You can see how often a team scored/conceded at least 2 goals in a specific situation. Last, but not least you can see how often 1, 2 or 3 more goals scored by the teams combined. The reason to display stats like this is simple: the scoreline could be pretty much anything, so using over 1.5, 2.5 is not viable anymore.
60th and 75th Minute Home Lead / Draw / Away Lead
Crunchtime! When it comes this late in the games, goals are expected more than ever. When we designed our stats, we kept this in mind. We cover 3 different scenarios in our basic data set, these are the following:
The main reason for this breakdown is the fact that at this point the range of potential scorelines is really wide. Later on, you'll see some additional tables where we taking into consideration other situations too.
Nope, this time we won't repeat ourselves. If you're looking for late goals, you should always consider these stats. Now, let's move on!
61-FT goals: goal difference in this situation, considering only the last 30 minutes
Any scored 61-75 min: this stat shows the percentage of games where at least one goal was scored between 61st and 75th minute (goals combined for both teams)
Home team scored: shows the percentage of games where the home team scored in the last 30 (for 60th minute tables) and 15 (for 75th minute tables) minutes.
Away team scored: shows the percentage of games where the away team scored in the last 30 (for 60th minute tables) and 15 (for 75th minute tables) minutes.
1/2/+ goals in last 30 minutes: shows the percentage of games, where at least 1 or 2 more goals were scored in the last 30 minutes (combined by both teams, only available in 60th minute tables).
1+ goals in last 15 minutes: shows the percentage of games, where at least 1 more goal was scored in the last 15 minutes (combined by both teams, only available in 75th minute tables).
60th / 75th Minute Leverage Tables
This is one of the most interesting tables we have. Leverage itself comes from baseball and it describes the current game situation strictly by considering the goal difference between the teams.
What Is High and Low Leverage?
When we say leverage is high, we refer to games, where the goal difference was exactly 1. When we say leverage is low, we refer to games, where the goal difference was at least 2. In these tables, we take into consideration only the goal difference between the teams, and it doesn't matter who has the lead.
Leverage is something that we | 796 |
Central Bank independence refers to the degree of autonomy and freedom a central bank has in conducting its monetary policy and managing the financial system. It is a key aspect of modern central banking, and has its roots in the recognition that monetary policy decisions should be based on the best interests of the economy as a whole, rather than being influenced by short-term political considerations.
The concept of central bank independence emerged in the late 20th century, as many countries were struggling with high<|fim_middle|>.
References
Macroeconomics
Economic policy
Banking
Central banks | inflation and a growing recognition that monetary policy needed to be independent from political influence. The idea was that central banks should be free to make monetary policy decisions that were in the best interest of the economy, rather than being swayed by short-term political considerations.
The purpose of central bank independence is to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy and ensure the stability of the financial system. Independent central banks are better able to carry out their mandates, which include maintaining price stability, ensuring the stability of the financial system, and implementing monetary policy. By being free from political influence, central banks can focus on long-term goals, such as controlling inflation and ensuring stability, rather than responding to short-term political pressures.
Central bank independence can be classified in various ways. One common classification is based on the extent of the central bank's autonomy, which can be either formal or actual. Formal independence refers to the legal provisions that guarantee the central bank's autonomy, such as its mandate, its organizational structure, and the procedures for appointing its leaders. Actual independence refers to the practical independence that the central bank enjoys in practice, taking into account factors such as its political and institutional environment, its relationship with the government, and the level of transparency and accountability in its operations.
Another common classification of central bank independence is based on the extent to which the central bank is free from government control. This can be either formal or actual, and ranges from complete independence to significant government control, with several intermediate levels in between | 295 |
It wouldn't be a proper Woodie & Morris event without<|fim_middle|>% off clothing and footwear and another surprise gift, what are you waiting for? | a proper tipple and this Saturday we're looking forward to trying this apple liqueur/brandy from Somerset. It was Mary's idea, the liqueur is made by her parents on their apple farm where they have a distillery. It will be combined with pure English apple juice, Schweppes lemonade, strawberries, mint and ice to produce a Somerset style Pimms called Orchard Mist.
And as if that wasn't enough, miniatures will also be given out with each purchase this Saturday.
Luscious little pots of lemon, lime and lavender lip balm. Just one of the exciting new additions being unveiled by Somerset brand Make Skincare at W&M this weekend. We are delighted to say that we are the first UK stockist to be introducing the new additions including a cleanser and eye cream ahead of its launch into Peter Jones in Sloane Street next week, YAAAAY.
Even better, all skincare purchases this Saturday 22nd October will be eligible for a very special 15% discount on the day plus a complementary lip balm with all skincare purchases. How about that folks?
We'll also be tasting Orchard Mist, an apple based Somerset style Pimms and tasty nibbles prepared by Clive. With 10 | 255 |
The Speakers of the Senate
The Speakers of the Senate of Canada contains information from a variety of sources, both historical and contemporary. This publication does not attempt to provide exhaustive biographical information about each Speaker, but rather seeks to shed light on the tenure of each individual who has served as Speaker of the Senate of Canada.
Titles associated with the Speakers' names reflect their lifetime achievements. Thus, an individual who became a member of the Privy Council or Governor General after his or her tenure as Speaker is referred to as "the Honourable" or "the Right Honourable," even though these titles were not held during his or her Speakership.
The professional background identified for each Speaker includes only the field(s) of his or her primary work.
For simplicity, the political affiliations associated with each Speaker are identified using broad terms. As such, "Liberal" indicates a member of the Liberal, Laurier Liberal, or Liberal Progressive<|fim_middle|> the end of the session. | parties; "Conservative" indicates a member of the Conservative, Liberal Conservative, Unionist, National Liberal and Conservative, National Conservative, National Government, or Progressive Conservative parties. The affiliation attributed to each Speaker is the one that he or she held during the term of the Speakership.
For the purpose of this publication, a Speaker is considered to remain in office until a new Speaker is appointed; therefore, following a dissolution of Parliament, a Speaker continues to hold his or her position until a successor is appointed. There are, however, certain gaps in the timeline of Speakers' tenure due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness or death.
It should be noted that until 1894 there was no provision for a replacement if the Speaker of the Senate was absent from the chamber: a new Speaker had to be appointed by the Governor General for the period of the absence. In 1895, a change was made to allow another senator to perform the duties of the Speaker during a temporary absence. In 1982, the Rules of the Senate were amended to provide for the election of a Speaker pro tempore at the beginning of each session. The Speaker pro tempore is effectively the deputy Speaker of the Senate, presiding over sittings whenever the Speaker is unavailable. The Speaker pro tempore remains in place until | 268 |
Fourteen years ago, Brenda Bunch left a department store photography studio vowing never to use one again. The experience of getting her then-2 1/2-year-old son's photographs had been too stressful to repeat. The next time her son, Drew Sheehan, needed photos, at age 3, she grabbed her cheap point-and-shoot camera, took him to Lincoln Memorial Garden and experienced something she didn't at the department store: a good time. That was the beginning of what has become a wildly successful side venture.
Fourteen years ago, Brenda Bunch left a department store photography studio vowing never to use one again.
The experience of getting her then-2 1/2-year-old son's photographs had been too stressful to repeat.
"I thought, 'Oh my heavens, there's got to be an easier way,'" said Bunch, a 43-year-old English teacher at Lanphier High School.
The next time her son, Drew Sheehan, needed photos, at age 3, she grabbed her cheap point-and-shoot camera, took him to Lincoln Memorial Garden and experienced something she didn't at the department store: a good time.
She dropped off the film at a one-hour developer, placed her best shots in a nice display and set it up at home. Drew's father, Mark Sheehan, couldn't believe the photos were not professionally done.
Word got out among Bunch's friends that she did good work, and they'd occasionally call her to meet them and their families at a park with her camera. After a while, Bunch began charging<|fim_middle|> you can trust.
People ask Bunch why she chooses to continue teaching full-time and charge so little for her part-time photography business. They tell her she could easily make a full-time job out of photography and be set financially while working far fewer hours.
But that's not how Bunch operates. She says she loves both of her jobs, and that both allow her to make a difference in people's lives.
And because she feels fortunate to not have any needs — including a home she loves by the park — she doesn't see a reason to change the situation.
The money Bunch makes from her photography business isn't her "bread and butter," she said. It does not help pay her bills; it's purely her giving money.
Contact photographer Brenda Bunch via e-mail at bbunchphoto1@comcast.net. Put "photography request" in the subject line. | $25 for the 100 to 200 photos she'd take of each family.
As more people began to call her, she realized she needed to come up with a business.
Bunch also realized she has been blessed with a gift. As she embarked on what has become an overwhelmingly successful side venture, she made one simple pledge to herself: to keep her prices low. As a faithful servant of God, she said she knew she should use her gift as a venue and not for her own personal glory or gain.
And it has. Today, her client list exceeds 500 families and students and one National Basketball Association star (she takes photos for Lanphier grad and Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala when he's in town for his annual charity game).
For families, she charges a low per-person fee that varies on the number of people at the photo shoot. A few years ago, she expanded to covering athletic events at Lanphier for the yearbook or the athletic program itself.
And soon after, Bunch began offering senior photos. Because Lanphier has a large student population with some form of financial need, she realized that was another niche she could help fill.
For senior photos, she charges $75, which includes hundreds of personalized, fun photographs and rights to every image, which she provides on a compact disc. A spot check of prices listed on the Web sites of photo studios around Springfield showed several charge about $75 for the sitting fee — and then additional fees for purchasing the photos. Some packages cost several hundred dollars.
Before each photo shoot, she prays for the student and his or her future. While she edits a student's photographs, she prays some more.
"By the time I'm done with their photos, I feel such a connection to them," she said.
Her calendar fills so quickly now that she recently had to schedule in Drew, who will be a senior at Lanphier this year, for his own senior portrait session.
Bunch said she believes that by charging so little she can share her gift with more people and further promote her "pay it forward" philosophy. Yet, she never pushes her faith onto others.
Sarah and Jeff Campbell of Rochester have become regular clients of Bunch's since first using her to take some family photos more than a year ago. Though the parents of two said they both understood quickly why Bunch maintains low prices, it wasn't necessarily because she told them so.
Bunch, who grew up in Springfield, didn't grow up in a church-going family. When she was 14, a family she knew invited her to attend Rochester Christian Church with them. While there, she noticed a neighbor boy, Ed Green, also attended. Later, she began riding to church with him.
Three weeks after she began attending, Bunch's father died. The minister at Rochester Christian held her dad's service.
She remained "plugged in" to church throughout high school and during college. While attending Eastern Illinois University, she was active in Campus Christian Fellowship. As soon as she moved back to the Springfield area to begin teaching at Lanphier, she resumed attendance at Rochester Christian.
Today, she regularly raises funds for and participates in yearly mission trips and has donated her photography services for projects such as the church directory.
Her former neighbor, Ed Green, is still involved as well, as an associate minister there.
Because she had so many people help mold her, Bunch tries to be part of every teen's "village" that guides them to success — whether that's in her role as their teacher, or just as their senior photographer.
Cheldon Brown, a recent Lanphier graduate who plans to attend Marquette University this fall, used Bunch for his senior photos last October. Bunch spent hours with Cheldon and a good friend at Washington Park and in her indoor studio, taking photos of them separately and together. She charged them for one CD.
Cheldon never had Bunch as a teacher, but instead knew of her through a friendship he's formed with her son. His mom also became a friend of Bunch's.
Cheldon said Bunch has a reputation at Lanphier as someone | 858 |
I produce a variety of media including painting, sculptural forms and installation. In all these works, I am concerned with un<|fim_middle|> innovative mixed media paintings and sculptural installations give literal and allegorical form to this conceptual foundation.
"Using hefty, dimensional materials like burlap, and dried plant roots, and favoring a richly, fertile palette of earth and autumnal shades along with sensual, distressed, painterly surfaces and salient pieces of text, Orlet both honors and generates the symbolism of a kind of pagan art history.
Sigrid Orlet was born near Cologne, Germany but moved to Los Angeles in 1985. She is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Studio Chanel Islands Art Center in Camarillo, CA. She earned an MA degree in Psychology and Art Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino, CA in 2001 and a PhD in Psychology from Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center in San Francisco, CA in 2006.
In 2006 her PhD dissertation titled "Heuristic and semiotic study of incubation through art-based inquiry" was published. She subsequently published an essay on "An expanding view of incubation" in the Creativity Research Journal, 20(3), pp. 297-308 in 2008.
Orlet is on the artist roster of Los Angeles-based Gallery Yoram Gil. She is also a member of the Los Angeles Art Association and the Women's Caucus for Art. | earthing the roots of being human as an aspect of the wholeness of existence. In our increasingly high-speed virtual world, I go beneath the smooth and shiny surfaces. I use my brushes and other tools to quietly and patiently explore the depth of consciousness and bring to light the rawness, textures and layers of life. I am an artist-archaeologist and my artwork is a collection of visual field notes.
"Sigrid Orlet's background in the field of Creativity Studies had her 'investigating the complex nature of symbol formation in deep scientific inquiry. . . .' And her moving and | 122 |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Still crossing names off your Christmas list? If you're looking for a particular item, a flash sale could be your best bet to getting a deal on what you want. With only 13 shopping days until Christmas retailers are offering more flash sales than ever.
"It's that feeling of saving money that every woman loves," said Nikole Hudson from Amelia's- a boutique at Briarcliff Village in Kansas City, Missouri.
She says customers are all about the bottom line nowadays.
"I definitely think the economy has changed the market, the customers definitely want a good sale I'm the same way I want to feel like I'm getting the most for my money as I possibly can," she said.
To draw in customers --Amelia's like thousands of other stores across the country-- is offering flash sales. A flash sale is a limited time deal on a particular item at a particular time. A flash sale can last minutes, hours or a couple days.
"Consumers love to get a deal the thrill of the hunt is part of what women love and that's what spurs so much of our economy," said Jeff Fromm with Barkley, a Kansas City, Missouri advertising agency. Fromm says with customers plugged in it's easier and faster than ever for businesses to get their attention.
"You have an ever connected consumer --<|fim_middle|> Carol Garrity owns Nell Hill at Briarcliff Village. She says not everyone wants to rush to get a deal.
"I think the customer is more savvy than they've ever been," she said. "I think we just need to make it worthwhile for them to get into the car to drive to here or Atchison."
Garrity says quality, service and making it right is what keeps her clients coming back, "I think some stores like the big box stores are geared toward that to sales, but we consider ourselves we're a small business we're a specialty store so we're more geared to product," she said.
Every dollar counts and this Christmas businesses nationally and locally are banking on yours. | in terms of their adoption of technology tools which enable retailers to connect with them and offer deals that only offer for a really short period of time," Fromm told Fox 4.
But, not all businesses say flash sales are for them. Mary | 49 |
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Les Miserables Star Kyle Jean-Baptiste Dead At 21
Broadway cast devastated by the loss of one of their own<|fim_middle|> our extended family, Victoria Bussert, Scott Plate, Ben Sands, Cameron Mackintosh and friends—old & new. Services will be private."
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Les Miserables Star Kyle Jean-Baptiste Dead At 21 was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
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Broadway has lost one of its brightest new stars just months after he debuted with his role in Les Miserable.
Kyle Jean Baptiste, who made history in the role of Jean Valjean, has passed away. Broadway.com reports that he died after falling from a fire escape.
At just 21 years old, Kyle set two monumental achievements with the casting as he became the youngest actor–and the first Black actor–to ever play Jean Valjean professionally. Although he was an understudy, his presence on stage was undeniable.
Learning of Kyle's death came as huge to the people he worked with, particularly because he had just performed in Les Miserable on August 27. A rep for the production, said in a statement:
"The entire Les Miserables family is shocked and devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle, a remarkable young talent and tremendous person who made magic—and history—in his Broadway debut. We send our deepest condolences to his family and ask that you respect their privacy in this unimaginably difficult time."
His family said that Kyle will be deeply missed in a statement, reading:
"Yesterday, a young man who was kind, thoughtful, respectful, confident and vulnerable, left our world. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, and a friend. With a smile 'yay wide,' a heart worn on his sleeve, and a song always on his lips, he walked with us for 21 years. To say he will be missed would be an understatement. Our pain has no boundaries. Kyle Xavier Seth Jean-Baptiste has left an indelible mark on all of our lives. His talent was boundless and his light was so bright. We are grateful for each and every day we got to spend with him. His energy will live on in each of us. We extend our gratitude to | 399 |
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CFP for SSAWW 2021: Harriet Beecher Stowe and her Circle
Deadline: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Contact: Allison Speicher, Eastern Connecticut State University
Email: speichera@easternct.edu
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Society invites paper proposals for the SSAWW 2021 Triennial Conference, to be held on November 4-7, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. Submissions can focus on any aspect of Stowe's work or on the work of members of her circle, including her famous family, fellow participants in the Semi-Colon Club, and her many correspondents. Papers that connect to the conference theme "American Women Writers: Ecologies, Survival, Change" are especially welcome. Please send a 250-300 word abstract, a biographical statement (no longer than 60 words), and a brief CV to Allison Speicher (speichera@easternct.edu) by Wednesday, February 17.
A Connecticut Abolitionist in King Arthur's Court:
Harriet Beecher Stowe's British Reception
deadline for submissions:
Jude V. Nixon
jnixon@salemstate.edu
For the Northeast Modern Language Association's (NeMLA's) 51th Annual Conference, 5-4 March 2020, in Boston, MA, Shaping and Sharing Identities: Spaces, Places, Languages, and Cultures, this session is seeking proposals addressing the topic, A Connecticut Abolitionist in King Arthur's Court: Harriet Beecher Stowe's British Reception. Harriet Beecher Stowe's radical views on slavery in Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) took the western world by storm. Nowhere was the response more impassioned than in Great Britain. This panel aims to explore British reception of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the ways the novel fueled public debate over the "Negro Question," including the plights of blacks and the labor economics of the west, which slaves, so-called "black gold," bankrolled to help advance Western industrial development.
Please submit a one-page proposal along with a brief bio no later than 30 September 2019. Proposal MUST be submitted via the NeMLA portal (https://www.cfplist.com/nemla/Home/Login). Direct questions or queries to the organizers, Jude V. Nixon (Jnixon@salemstate.edu) and Nancy L. Schultz (nschultz@salemstate.edu)
American Literature Association 2019
Panel 1: Teaching Stowe in the 21st Century: A Roundtable
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Society invites proposals for innovative approaches to teaching Stowe. We are especially interested in proposals that focus on engaging the current generation of college students to appreciate Stowe's influence and literary acumen. Service-learning, digital humanities projects, and experiential approaches to teaching Stowe are all welcome, as are considerations about how teaching Stowe might enhance the undergraduate curriculum whether students encounter her work in their required or elective coursework.
Panel 2: Stowe in Conversation
The Stowe Society invites proposals that consider Harriet Beecher Stowe's texts in conversation with other writers. While this may include writers in the nineteenth century, the society also welcomes proposals that compare Stowe's works to more contemporary problems and authors.
Email 250-word abstracts, along with a brief CV, to LuElla D'Amico at ldamico@uiwtx.edu by December 14, 2018. Membership in the Stowe Society is required of presenters. Please write either "Teaching Stowe at ALA" or "Stowe in Conversation at ALA" in the subject line.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Up and Coming Scholar Award
The Stowe Society would like to recognize graduate students who are currently working on scholarship on Harriet Beecher Stowe. We are sponsoring an outstanding paper award of $100 that will help contribute to conference travel and that will guarantee a slot on one of our Stowe panels at ALA. To submit a paper for the award, please send an essay of no more than eight pages to ldamico@uiwtx.edu by December 14, 2018. Papers should not have your name or any identifying information on them, as they will be anonymously reviewed by Stowe Society members. We will announce the awards in January on our website as well as via email. We look forward to reading your submissions!
A Step Closer to Heaven:
Nineteenth-Century American Women Writers and Theologies of the Afterlife. An Anthology of Essays.
Jennifer McFarlane Harris, Xavier University
Emily Hamilton-Honey, SUNY Canton
Contact e-mails:
mcfarlaneharrisj@xavier.edu, hamiltone@canton.edu
While a great deal of scholarly work has been done to recover the writing of nineteenth-century American women, and sentimental fiction has become its own scholarly category, the explicitly theological nature of these texts is often overlooked. Even spiritual autobiographies and sermons are too often read through the lens of religion as only a coping mechanism for women to deal with racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression, when these texts are also expressions of the lives and dynamic minds of women who developed sophisticated, systematic spiritual and textual approaches to the divine, to their denomination(s) or religious tradition(s), and to the mainstream culture around them.
Authors like Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Julia Foote, Martha Finley, Amanda Berry Smith, Isabella Alden, Zilpha Elaw, Susan Warner, Julia Collins, Maria Ruiz de Burton, S. Alice Callahan, Maria Cummins, and others wrote not only as a commercial venture, not only to survive, but also to have a voice in the moral debates that were consuming churches and national politics: social issues like slavery, temperance, suffrage, the basis of marriage, domestic abuse, divorce, child custody, land ownership, missionary ventures, and colonialism. Each of them, regardless of religious sect, believed that religion was necessary to maintain a morally healthy nation – even while they put forward ideas about revising their particular religion. Though they each believed in different ways to reach the afterlife, they were all working to make earth a step closer to heaven, to convert others to a life after moral reform. They sought to level race, level social class, level gender differences, and create social change in ways that were unprecedented.
This anthology seeks to put lived theologies at the center of discussion of nineteenth-century women's writing. Women do not simply apply, or live out, theologies authored by men. Rather, this anthology is grounded in the radical notion that the theological principles crafted by women and derived from women's experiences, intellectual habits, and organizational capabilities are foundational to American literature itself.
Please send proposals of 250-300 words and a brief bio to Emily Hamilton-Honey and Jennifer McFarlane Harris at the e-mails above. Deadline for proposals is March 1, 2019; finished chapters of 4,000-8,000 words will be due by August 15, 2019.
CFP for SSAWW 2018: Stowe's Resistance, Resisting Stowe
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Society invites paper proposals for the SSAWW 2018 Triennial Conference, to be held in Denver, Colorado November 7-11, 2018. This panel will focus on the complexity of Stowe's legacy, from her exemplary role as a vocal critic of social ills to the occasions when modern readers wish to resist her political views. We welcome papers on the social issue with which we most commonly associate Stowe—slavery—as well as papers that explore her responses to other social issues or illuminate her impact on other protest writers. Given the conference theme, "Resistance and Recovery across the Americas," we particularly welcome papers that focus on Stowe's lesser-known works. Please send a 250-300 word abstract, a biographical statement (no longer than 60 words), and a brief CV to Allison Speicher (speichera@easternct.edu) by Tuesday, February 13.
Graduate students are eligible to apply for the Harriet Beecher Stowe Up and Coming Scholar Award, which comes with a $100 prize to help offset the cost of conference travel. To submit a paper for this award, please send an essay of no more than eight pages and a brief CV to speichera@easternct.edu by Tuesday, February 13. Papers should not have your name or any identifying information on them, as they will be reviewed anonymously by Stowe Society members. Applicants do not need to have submitted an abstract to present on the Stowe Society panel, but the essay should focus on some aspect of Stowe's work, life, or legacy.
Gendered Ecologies and Nineteenth-Century Women Writers
Jillmarie Murphy and Dewey W. Hall, Editors
Union College and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Call for Papers Deadline: August 31, 2017
If ecology is without nature, as Timothy Morton provocatively argued in 2007, then one may wonder of ecology without the feminine as a corollary. For nature, much like the feminine, has been fetishized, exoticized, and romanticized as a signifier emptied out—a sort of lacuna. If we can be at ease with the gap, vacancy, or interval and, perhaps, theorize about the unfilled space while sorting out the inconsistencies of what it means to represent nature, the feminine, and androgyny, then we might begin to trace the valuable contributions of nineteenth-century women writers to the development of the term oecologia coined by Ernst Haeckel in 1866 and beyond.
Gendered Ecologies and Nineteenth-Century Women Writers invites article-length typescripts (e.g., abstracts and/or 15-20 page drafts) that consider the spaces and places women writers have occupied as part of gendering the term ecology—whether masculine, feminine, or androgynous. Indeed, examples may span from Dorothy Wordsworth's gendering of nature and the floating island as feminine to Susan Fenimore Cooper's keen observations of flora and fauna in Rural Hours to Margaret Fuller's "ecology of self" in Summer on the Lakes to Octavia Hill's preservationist action in the Lake District among many other women writers. The edition will feature three guiding principles: transhistorical, transatlantic, and transcorporeality (Alaimo, Bodily Natures, 2010). Topics may include:
New Materialist Ecologies:
*Transcending the Binary Materialism of Gender and Ecology
*Animating Asexual Natures
*Gender Hierarchy and Environmental Degradation
Feminist Political Ecologies and Built Environments:
*Ecofeminism vs. Ecopaternalism
*Nineteenth-Century Girlhood and Ecological Spaces
*Feminist Philosophy and the Biology of Gender
*Ecology and anarcha-Feminisms in the Nineteenth Century
*Racialized Ecologies and Gender
Gendered Ecologies and Androgyny:
*Destabilizing Gendered Ecological Systems
*Pantheistic Femininisms and/or Masculinities
*Queer Ecologies
*Posthumanism and the Question of Gender
Submissions must include the paper title, abstract (200 words), c.v., and, preferably, a 15-20 page typescript sent to murphyj@union.edu and dwhall@cpp.edu by 8.31.17 for consideration. If accepted, then completed typescript aligned closely with the scope of the edition will be due by 1.15.18. Submit unpublished writing that will address the cfp directly.
Call for Papers: International Conference
Transatlantic Women 3:
Women of the Green Atlantic
Royal Irish Academy
Sponsored by the Catherine Maria Sedgwick Society and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society
"Since every wind that blows brings to our shores a fresh swarm of these people, who are to form so potent an element in our future national character, it behooves us to study them well, and make the best we can of them."
Catharine Sedgwick, "The Little Mendicants" (1846)
The third meeting of Transatlantic Women will take place in Dublin, Ireland, on 21-22 June 2018 at the Royal Irish Academy. It will focus on Irish/American crosscurrents of the long nineteenth century, on the transatlantic stream of writers, reformers, and immigrants crossing over the Green Atlantic who were engaged in refuting but also perpetuating stereotypes and racist beliefs that troubled Irish-American relations. Such authors as Catharine Sedgwick, for instance, wrestled with contradictory conceptions created of Irish immigrants who appear in many of her writings, including "Irish Girl" (1842) and "The Post Office: An Irish Story" (1843). In a different context, "An Affectionate and Christian Address of Many Thousands of Women" (1852) pointedly addressed American women as the "sisters" of women from both Great Britain and Ireland; although Harriet Beecher Stowe never traveled to Ireland, she met deputations from that country during her first visit to Europe (1853). In "What Is a Home?" (1864) and "Servants" (1865), she expressed concerns about the Irish in the United States similar to those of Sedgwick.
This transatlantic gathering will celebrate, and question, nineteenth-century women who crossed the Green Atlantic, wrote about it, or in other ways connected the United States with Ireland through networks, translations, transatlantic fame, or influence. As Peter D. O'Neill and David Lloyd demonstrate in The Black and Green Atlantic: Cross-Currents of the African and Irish Diasporas (2009), people from Ireland, as well as from Africa and the United States, crossed the Atlantic as slaves and servants, as cultural and political exiles or activists. Many women, active in travel writing, pamphleteering, writing fiction, newspaper articles, speeches, fairy tales, and ghost stories, were promoters of women's rights and the figure of the New Woman, and were engaged in philanthropy, temperance, abolitionism, social commentary—and simply just in sightseeing and enjoying themselves. Among the most prominent figures to build bridges between the United States and Ireland around activism are such well-known Americans as Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony (on the Irish Question), Frances Willard, Ellen Craft, Ida B. Wells, and the Irish Frances Power Cobbe; among those who have received less attention are, for example, the African American Sarah Parker Remond and the poet Frances Osgood. And the exchange went both ways: fiction by Irish writer Maria Edgeworth, for instance, influenced Sedgwick, among others.
The Transatlantic Women 3 conference brings together scholars representing various countries and disciplines to examine the ways in which these women and their ideas moved, how they resisted oppression and created new ways to conceptualize their identities and the reality surrounding them. We welcome presentations on any topic related to nineteenth-century transatlantic women but are especially interested in those dealing with women of the Irish-American nexus. Some of the key concepts include race, stereotypes, assimilation, immigrant reality; conceptualization of space, distance, and identity; movement, and memory—historical and personal.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
recovering voices of Irish-Americans, or American-Irish women
struggles of immigrant women
women pioneers, in professions, activism, innovation
female networks and sisterhoods—of writers, journalists, travelers
women activists (abolitionism, anti-lynching, temperance, women's rights, peace, white slavery, reform, animal rights)
women travelers and their descriptive gaze
fictional and realistic descriptions of places, people, and societies
women's articulations of transatlanticism and the Green Atlantic
Abstracts, which should be about 250 words, and a short bio, are due by 1 November 2017. They should be emailed to transatlanticwomen3@gmail.com.
We look forward to yet another stimulating transatlantic conversation with you!
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the organizers:
Beth L. Lueck (lueckb@uww.edu ), Sirpa Salenius (sirpa.salenius@uef.fi ), or Lucinda Damon-Bach (ldamonbach@salemstate.edu).
Everyday Stowe: The Harriet Beecher Stowe Society's 20th Anniversary Conference
Spokane, WA, June 24-26, 2016
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Society announces a conference celebrating Harriet Beecher Stowe—her life and works—at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, our first conference in the Pacific Northwest!
In Stowe's short work, "The Cathedral," she suggested that, "To be really great in the little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization." Most often, she linked these "little things" to the cares and domestic duties of women in the nineteenth century, believing that each day was a struggle for<|fim_middle|> the University of Silesia, Poland.
ALA, 2014
Washington, DC May 22nd - 25th
Beyond the Paradigmatic Stowe: New Critical and Pedagogical Approaches
In her introduction to The Cambridge Companion to Harriet Beecher Stowe, Cindy Weinstein argues that Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin has "become, in recent years, a critical white whale." She goes on to explain, "And I don't mean as the bearer of interpretive capaciousness, but rather as an object to be spatially isolated (in terms of [Stowe's] career), hermeneutically contained, and thereby classified once and for all." Indeed Stowe's famous abolitionist novel seems, at times, caged in its paradigmatic role as the ultimate specimen of nineteenth-century, domestic, sentimental fiction. Critically defined by her white whale of a text, Stowe too seems likewise trapped.
This panel seeks new approaches that challenge or transcend the paradigmatic Stowe. In what ways, for example, do Stowe's texts move beyond affect and sentimentalism? How do politics muddy Stowe's domesticity? What are the contradictions in her treatment of Christianity? How does knowledge of her life complicate the reading of her fiction? What new categories of critical inquiry might be brought to bear on Stowe studies? What original pedagogical approaches can inform the Stowe classroom?
Boston, MA. May 23rd-26th, 2013
In Oldtown Folks, Harriet Beecher Stowe famously complains that "woman's nature had never been consulted in theology." Yet, as the daughter, sister, and wife of clergymen, Stowe was herself steeped in the theology and religious practice of her day. Through her fiction, Stowe sometimes challenges the patriarchal leadership of the Christian Church and articulates an alternative vision of spiritual life that she figures simply as "the Religion of Christ."
Papers are sought on any aspect of religion, spirituality, or theology in the work of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Possible topics of exploration in Stowe's fiction include but are not limited to:
Feminist theology
Millennialism
Race and religion
Gender and religion
Theology vs. lived religion
Domesticity and spirituality
Representations of the Bible
The democratization of religion
Slavery and the Church
Sentimentality and the representation of religion
Transatlantic Women II: Nineteenth-Century American Women Writers Abroad
Florence, Italy. June 6th-9th, 2013
Nineteenth-century American women writers moved—culturally, intellectually, and geographically—in a transatlantic, even a global world. Following the success of our 2008 conference in Oxford, England, Transatlantic Women II relocates to Italy: a scene rich with significance for Stowe, Sedgwick, Fuller, and their contemporaries for travel and Anglophone expatriation; "old world" emblem in classical, renaissance, and romantic traditions; site of revolutions. The conference organizers see Italy also as a takeoff point for investigations further afield. We solicit papers that examine American women writers at any point in the long nineteenth century, engaging as readers or travelers with Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Areas of interest include:
Tourism, travel, destinations, geographies in all literary and journalistic expression
Correspondence, conversation, networks, clubs, salons linking Americans and counterparts abroad
Reading of English, European, or global texts in the U.S. and of American texts abroad: educational and literary formations, encounters and controversies, reviews, translations
Exoticism, orientalism, colonialist and anti-colonialist perceptions of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Wars, revolutions, insurrections as experienced, fictionalized, interpreted as politics and history
Narratives and representations of American immigration
The body abroad: travel, health, invalidism, sexuality, medical treatments and therapies
Reform and activist engagements: peace congresses, antislavery meetings, women's rights and suffrage organizations, labor movements; observations of European education, philanthropies, reform movements
Literary celebrity tours, ethnic and cultural performances at expositions
Religious representations: transnational origins, traditions, communities (Catholic, Jewish, Protestant); encounters with non-Western traditions and texts; spiritualism and theosophy; missionary narratives
Narrations of and perspectives on the Black Atlantic; slavery and American racial politics
Aesthetics, visual culture, performance art, exhibitions: commentary on art, landscape, architecture, music, theater, opera, ballet, folk performances, museums, commemorative and memorial sites | women to exert control over their lives. Today, of course, we appreciate Stowe for being one of the first and most successful writers to combine personal sentiment with a drive to transform public policy. After all, Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin elicited vast social change by focusing much of its attention on the daily occurrences of the domestic household and familial ties, speaking to Stowe's attunement to the "little things" in life while still connecting them to broader cultural problems.
This conference will examine ways that Stowe represented the "little things" that made up citizens' daily lives as well as larger social and cultural issues in the nineteenth century. Conference organizers solicit papers that explore the work of Stowe through lenses such as politics, education, reform, race, and religion. Studies on the works of Stowe's family members—Henry Ward Beecher, Calvin Stowe, Isabella Beecher Hooker, and Catharine Beecher—are also welcome.
In addition to scholarly presentations, dramatic performances, readings, and informal conversations are welcomed.
For further information about the conference, contact the on-site conference director: LuElla D'Amico (ladmico@whitworth.edu). Email 250-word proposals for individual papers (750 words for complete panels) by March 15, 2016 to the chair of the program committee and co-conference director: Marlowe Daly-Galeano at stoweconference2016@gmail.com.
Note: Housing will be provided by the Whitworth University dorms at approximately $40.00 per night.
ALA, May 26-29, 2016, San Francisco, CA
Stowean Legacies
2016 marks several anniversaries relevant to Harriet Beecher Stowe scholars, notably the 120th anniversary of Stowe's death, the anniversary of the Collected Works, and even the twentieth anniversary of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society. To acknowledge these anniversaries, this panel seeks papers that explore legacies of Stowe's life, publication, and work, as well as those that consider the evolution of Stowe scholarship and the author's position in the canon and literary history, broadly conceived.
Possible topics might include:
Historical treatments of Stowe, her family, or her contemporaries
Canon-making and canonical revision
Historical and contemporary responses to Stowe's work
Stowe as literary influence
Stowe as social or political influence
Teaching Stowe in the 21st century
Issues of the Archive
Uncle Tom's Cabin's legacies
Stowe's collaborators and protégés
Stowe and Religion
Stowe and Women
Anti-slavery narratives in film and other media
Critical approaches
Transatlantic conversations
Evolving constructions of gender, race, or nation
Please send 250-word abstracts to Marlowe Daly-Galeano at hmdalygaleano@lcsc.edu by January 18, 2016.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Up and Coming Scholar Awards
The Stowe Society would like to recognize graduate students who are currently working on scholarship on Harriet Beecher Stowe. If you are a graduate student who plans to present on Stowe at the American Literature Association Annual Conference (May 2015) or the Society for the Study of American Women Writers Conference (November 2015), we are sponsoring an outstanding paper award of $100 that will help contribute to your travel to the conference and recognize you for your work on Stowe. For ALA, please send conference papers by April 1st and for SSAWW, please send papers by September 15th to ldamico@whitworth.edu. Papers should not have your name or any identifying information on them, as they will be anonymously reviewed by Stowe Society members. We will announce the awards prior to the conference on our website as well as via email. We look forward to reading your submissions!
Between Feeling Unsettled to Feeling Right: Harriet Beecher Stowe's Targeted Liminality
Society for the Study of American Women Writers
Philadelphia, PA, November 4-8, 2015
In The American Porch: An Informal History of an Informal Place, Michael Dolan asserts that Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin served its purpose, namely to heighten certain contradictions inherent in American life." He proceeds to point out that many of the novel's key scenes of emotional potency take place outside of the domestic confines of a home and on a porch, "positioning that ordinary liminal space as a site of enormous transformation" Thus, Stowe's novel can be seen as one that self-consciously worked to disrupt the binaries that defined antebellum America. Under Stowe's scrutiny, binaries such as race, politics, gender, and even public and private space were used to pique and incite a nineteenth-century audience's oft conflicted emotions so as to help them to "feel right."
Keeping with the SSAWW 2015 theme, "Liminal Spaces, Hybrid Lives," the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society invites papers that explore Stowe's self-conscious application of liminality throughout her writing career. Possible topics include:
Stowe's Treatment of Mixed-race Characters and/or Passing
Protestantism versus Catholicism
Sentiment versus Rationality
Constructions of Public and Private Space
Constructions of Public and Private Life
Constructions of Gender
Transatlanticism and/or Transcontinentalism
Please send abstracts (250-500 words) and a brief bio to LuElla D'Amico (ldamico@whitworth.edu) by January 5, 2014. While you do not need to be a SSAWW member to apply for a panel, presenters must be or become SSAWW members to participate in the conference.
American Literature Association 26th Annual Conference
Boston, MA, May 27-30, 2015
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Society will sponsor to two sessions at the upcoming ALA in Boston, MA.
Stowe's "Friendships"
Harriet Beecher Stowe once stated famously that "Friendships are discovered rather than made; there are people who are in their own nature friends, only they don't know each other: but certain things like poetry, music, and paintings are like the Freemason's sign—they reveal the initiated to each other." The Stowe Society invites papers that reveal these underlying "friendships" in Stowe's own writing: in what ways was Stowe influenced by other likeminded writers, and in what ways did she influence them? As literary scholars, what "signs" can we read to indicate Stowe's relationship with other writers both in her day and beyond?
Please email abstracts of 250-300 word proposals to ldamico@whitworth.edu by January 5, 2015. Presenters must be members of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society. Information about how to join the society can be found here:
http://www.stowesociety.org/join.html
Teaching Stowe Roundtable
The Stowe Society also invites participants for a roundtable on teaching Stowe. We welcome any and all perspectives, but we are especially interested in discussions about ways of integrating undergraduate research and/or digital media in the teaching of Stowe, as well as how Stowe can be taught in conjunction with other nineteenth-century authors. Please send 250-300 word proposals to hmdalygaleano@lcsc.edu by January 5, 2015. Presenters must be members of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society. Information about how to join the society can be found here:
From Stowe Society Treasurer, Nancy Shultz:
Ties and Knots: Bridges Between Lands and Cultures
Ustroni, Poland
September 18th-20th, 2014
Deadline: April 15th
Co-Sponsored by Salem State University with the Institute of English and American Cultures and Literatures at | 1,709 |
Book > Academic Books > Political Science (General)
The New Eastern Europe
Social Policy Past, Present and Future
Bob Deacon - University of Sheffield, UK
Comparative Politics | Political Science (General)
May 1992 | 208 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Revolutions against communist regimes all over Eastern Europe have been acclaimed as heralding a new era of individual freedom, political democracy, and market economy. Yet these radical and rapid transitions exact social costs that, in turn, raise pressing questions about social policy in the new nations and republics: What is happening to the<|fim_middle|> as describe... stimulating to read. The authors have been collaborating for some time and that shows in the coherence of the book' - Health Promotion International
`The authors' goal is to outline a framework by which the reader might analyze new developments in social policy. They succeed in doing that. The book is intended for students in comparative social policy or East European studies, especially those in social policy, politics and administration. But the book is also suitable for policy makers, politicians and their advisors in the East European countries themselves. Moreover a general public with an interest in social policy will find a good introduction and a rich source of up-to-date information. All six authors are specialists in the field of social policy in the countries described. Their contributions reach the same high level of quality' - European Journal of Public Health
`This collection of essays contains a country by country analysis of social policy in the Former Soviet Union (FSU), Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary.... It is valuable because it gives the discussion of social policy a more global perspective. It is timely because all the countries are at such a crucial phase of development, and because for some, particularly the FSU, data have only been accessible to the outside observer comparatively recently' - Journal of Area Studies
Bob Deacon is Professor of Social Policy, Director of the International Social Policy Research Unit (ISPRU) and manages the Globalism and Social Policy Programme (GASPP) which is based both in Finland and the UK. Michelle Hulse and Paul Stubbs are both research assistants with ISPRU. More About Author
Buy from SAGE
Politics in Europe
Revisiting the Political Thought of Ancient India | state-organized system of social guarantees, free hospitals, child-care benefits for working women, and other welfare services? Who now provides for the unemployed and the poor? Bringing together leading specialists on the social policy of the former Soviet Union, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Poland, this book systematically outlines the shortcomings of the old bureaucratic collectivist brand of welfare. The authors explain why the emerging system is--at least initially--often inadequate. Emphasizing this unique period of transition, The New Eastern Europe vividly demonstrates the difficulty of balancing social justice and economic efficiency in social policy. This accessible and timely volume is essential reading for students of comparative social policy, Soviet and Eastern European studies, and East European social policy, politics, and administration. "It [the book] is valuable because it gives the discussion of social policy a more global perspective. It is timely because all the countries are at such a crucial phase of development....puts social policy analysis into its global context." --Journal of Area Studies "Deacon and colleagues, many with first-hand experience of the old systems, have assembled an excellent overview of recent developments in social policy in five countries of Central and Eastern Europe. They combine detailed description of recent changes and future prospects with a more general consideration of social policy." --Critical Public Health
Bob Deacon
East European Welfare
Past, Present and Future in Comparative Context
Nick Manning
Social Policy in the Soviet Union and its Successors
Bob Deacon and Anna Vidinova
Social Policy in Bulgaria
Mita Castle-Kanerova
Social Policy in Czechoslovakia
Frances Millard
Social Policy in Poland
Julia Szalai and Eva Orosz
Social Policy in Hungary
The Future of Social Policy in Eastern Europe
`Deacon and colleagues, many with first hand experience of the old systems, have assembled an excellent overview of recent developments in social policy in five countries of Central and Eastern Europe' - Critical Public Health
`[Deacon] has become one of the still very few west-European sociologists who is well informed about eastern Europe in its great transition...a lot of useful, up-to-date information about trends in eastern Europe. This is approached scientifically through a social policy perspective, a comparative framework and a historical dimension' - Journal of European Social Policy
`Lively and thought provoking content will serve to stimulate student interest in comparative social policy. The volume contains detailed, well argued examinations of the historical development, transitional problems and future prospects' - Journal of Social Policy
`A very good book. The general chapters are model comparative surveys and the individual country chapters give a real feel for the issues in each country. It is a very ambitious book, for it seeks to explain and evaluate as well | 558 |
Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844). The founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He claimed that he was visited by God and Jesus Christ in 1820, and later by the angel Moroni in 1823. In 1830, he published the Book of Mormon and founded the Mormon Church with six members. According to LDS scripture, "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it" (<|fim_middle|> ("Joseph Smith: Restorer of Truth," Ensign, December 2003, 18-19).
For additional articles on Joseph Smith, click here. | Doctrine and Covenants 135:3). A month before he was killed in a gun battle at the Carthage Jail in Illinois, Smith explained, "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I" (May 26, 1844, History of the Church 6:408-409). Smith is not worshipped by the Mormon people, though he is highly revered. As thirteenth President Ezra Taft Benson said, "Joseph Smith has done more for the salvation of men in this world than any man who ever lived in it, except the Master" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 132). Remember his December 23rd birthday, fifteenth President Gordon B. Hinckley declared, "We stand in reverence before him. He is the great prophet of this dispensation. He stands as the head of this great and mighty work which is spreading across the earth. He is our prophet, our revelator, our seer, our friend. Let us not forget him. Let not his memory be forgotten in the celebration of Christmas. God be thanked for the Prophet Joseph" | 300 |
Science Metro
Italy satisfied with outcome of ESA ministerial
November 30, 2019 by admin 0 Comments
SEVILLE, Spain — Italy, one of the largest contributors to the European Space Agency, is pleased with the outcome of the recent ministerial meeting that provided funding for a number of its priorities, including a reusable spacecraft.
In a finally tally of contributions provided by ESA at the end of the Space19+ ministerial meeting here Nov. 28, Italy ranked third among ESA's 22 member states, contributing 2.28 billion euros ($2.51 billion) or 15.9% of the <|fim_middle|> contribution to the full Artemis project," he said.
This article was originally published by Spacenews.com. Read the original article here.
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Copyright © 2021 by Science Metro. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. | 14.4 billion in funding provided by ESA members overall at the meeting. Only Germany, at 3.29 billion euros, and France, at 2.66 billion euros, offered more funding. The Italian funding commitment is nearly one billion euros higher than what it provided at the previous ministerial in 2016.
"We are very happy," Giorgio Saccoccia, president of the Italian space agency ASI, said in an interview after the Space19+ meeting here Nov. 28. "What happened today at the ministerial reflects the priorities the government of Italy and the space agency is putting on space activities, which is considered a sector of great economic return for the country."
He highlighted roles in several programs, such as Earth observation, technology development, evolution of the Vega small launch vehicle and Mars sample return. A lot of attention, though, was focused on a smaller program, called Space Rider, that seeks to develop a reusable spacecraft that can be launched into orbit and then return for a landing, somewhat similar to the existing X-37B operated by the U.S. Air Force and Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser under development.
Space Rider will build on the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, a vehicle that launched on a Vega rocket in 2015 on a suborbital flight, splashing down in the Pacific. ESA foresees launching Space Rider on a Vega C as soon as 2022 into low Earth orbit, where the spacecraft would remain for at least two months. The spacecraft, with its payload of up to 800 kilograms of experiments, would then return to Earth, gliding back to the ground under a parachute.
ESA did not disclose the total value pledged to Space Rider at the meeting, but did state that Italy is providing 75% of the total. That led to questions at the press conference at the end of Space19+ about whether Space Rider is truly a European program rather than a national program.
Jan Woerner, director general of ESA, disagreed, nothing that several countries play key roles in the agency's overall space transportation portfolio. "Each and every member state has its specific competence, and this is good," he said.
For Space Rider, he acknowledged that he wanted to see more member states join the program. "But what is more important for me: Space Rider will fly and land," he said. "It's not a national program. It's a program of the European Space Agency within the whole space transportation package."
Saccoccia said 10 countries decided to participate in Space Rider, pledging funding that oversubscribed the program. "It's a good demonstration of trust," he said. "We want to return the commitment that other countries have provided to this program into the proper distribution of activities in order to also produce growth for our partners."
Another priority for Italy was human space exploration, where ESA committed to start work on two modules for the lunar Gateway, a telecommunications and refueling element known as ESPRIT and an international habitation, or "iHab" module ESA proposes to cooperate with Japan in development.
Both modules would be added to the Gateway in the second, "sustainable" phase of its development after NASA's planned 2024 human lunar landing. "The reason why we made a very large contribution to the iHab module is that we want to play a role on the sustainable part of Artemis," he said.
That work, Saccoccia said, will be in parallel with Italy's plans to cooperate directly with NASA on other elements of Artemis. He noted Italy's expertise in pressurized modules as one key area. "We intend to use this capacity to contribute to the early modules that will be used for the first phase of Artemis," he said. That includes the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) element that NASA plans to award a sole-source contract to Northrop Grumman to develop. That will be based on that company's Cygnus spacecraft, whose pressurized module is built in Italy.
"In overall terms, our country will give a great | 848 |
Built in the 1960s, the five-floor Emperor Plaza is located at the junction of Kenyatta Avenue and Koinange Street and enjoys access to Banda Street at the<|fim_middle|> from the deal.
After their father's death in January 2005, the family appears to have concentrated investments in the lucrative real estate sector.
The family also owns Fedha Plaza on Mpaka Road, Westlands. | back.
Real estate billionaire brothers Rajesh and Dhruv Pandit have placed the iconic Emperor Plaza building in Nairobi on sale.
The family is better known as owners of Akiba Bank and East African Building Society (EABS), which were merged and later sold to Ecobank in the late 2000s. Built in the 1960s, the five-floor Emperor Plaza is located at the junction of Kenyatta Avenue and Koinange Street and enjoys access to Banda Street at the back.
It operated as New Avenue Hotel from opening till the early '80s when it was transformed into shops and offices after renovations.
"Emperor Plaza provides an opportunity to acquire a superb, fully let investment property, with opportunities for value addition over the medium term through the renewal of leases at improved rents and tenant mix," says the announcement posted on the real estate management firm's online portal, emperorplaza.live.jll.com.
In mid-2008, the family sold a 75 per cent stake in EABS to Togo-based Ecobank for more than Sh1 billion and has maintained a 25 per cent stake in the mid-sized lender to date.
The late Pandit also founded Mercantile Insurance in 1993 as a life and non-life business.
The family later sold a 66.6 per cent stake in Mercantile to Morocco-based Saham Finances, earning hundreds of millions | 298 |
Armed with his debut<|fim_middle|> synth melody and Teischa's remarkable vocal capabilities blending together with a finely-calibrated, driving percussion line and hand claps to create something that is unique and dynamic in so many ways - especially for a debut track. Set to launch his career with what's promised to be a remarkable debut EP, we can guarantee that Hold On will not be the only piece of well-produced electronica to come from St. Albion this year. Listen to the tune below, and stay tuned for more goodness to come soon.
LOWER SPECTRUM returns with MasqueradeAnd he's joining fellow beatsmith LUCIANBLOMKAMP for a very special tour.
Listen to Gypsy & The Cat's new single, Inside Your Mind2016: The year of the gypsy (and the cat). | single Hold On, mysterious Australian producer St. Albion has emerged with a bang. Featuring young Perth singer-songwriter Teischa on vocals, Hold On is an ecstatic, genre-defying debut, with an upbeat, blissful | 46 |
Home » Digital Supply Chain » Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Supply Chains, Part 2
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Supply Chains, Part 2
Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting every economic sector including supply chain operations. Tech writer Jack M. Germain observes, "AI has changed the supply chain process from reactive to proactive, which creates a larger change in how data-driven processes will operate in the future. The true role of AI in the supply chain is to enhance and augment human intelligence and decision making. That is much different than what some people view as making human intelligence obsolete."[1] In Part 1 of this article, I provided a general overview of why experts insist AI solutions are necessary for improved supply chain operations. In Part 2, I want to discuss specific ways AI can improve supply chain operations. Because supply chains have become so complex and geographically dispersed, Mike Hulbert, vice president of consumer business at Noodle.ai, insists they are vulnerable to "operations entropy."[2] He explains, "[Operations entropy is] the disruption of well-laid plans by forces that are generally thought to be unpredictable. With advances in computers, data storage and machine learning, operations entropy is finally being defeated." Below are some specific ways AI solutions can be used help defeat operations entropy and improve supply chain processes.
Area Where AI Can Optimize Supply Chains
Artificial intelligence systems are not standalone solutions. By that I mean they rely on data generated by other systems. For example, in the modern industrial setting, AI systems are part of an Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. IoT ecosystems involve embedded sensors (i.e., the things being connected) that generate enormous amounts of data, connectivity (i.e., the IoT), and analytics (i.e., embedded in AI systems that analyze the data for insights and action). AI provides its greatest benefit as part of these ecosystems and can be leveraged in the following ways.
Asset Tracking. Andrew Meola (@AMeolaTheStreet), Director of Subscription Marketing for Business Insider<|fim_middle|> prevent stocking unwanted inventory, which is not only a waste of space but also means the customers are not getting what they want, which really translates into a loss of revenue. Inventory management is an overall complex process, with many aspects like order processing and packing involved. Companies strive for accurate inventory management because it prevents understocking, overstocking, or sudden stock-outs in unpredictable circumstances, all of which could translate into hefty costs. AI can automate various processes in inventory management, reducing the risk of error, and providing valuable predictive data on supply and demand."[7]
Better Decision-Making. Bain analysts, Michael C. Mankins and Lori Sherer (@lorisherer), assert if you can improve a company's decision making you can dramatically improve its bottom line. They explain, "We know from extensive research that decisions matter — a lot. Companies that make better decisions, make them faster and execute them more effectively than rivals nearly always turn in better financial performance. Not surprisingly, companies that employ advanced analytics to improve decision making and execution have the results to show for it."[8] Bajwa adds, "Given the complexity of modern supply chains, it's no surprise that supply chain professionals are often faced with difficult decisions. Huge amounts of data to sift through and limited end-to-end visibility makes these decisions even more difficult and risky. Supply chain optimization software integrated with AI allows machines to analyze large amounts of data and detect patterns that are hard for humans to see. AI can then offer actionable insights to professionals, allowing them to make AI-backed decisions, and make them fast and at the right time. This can have a major impact on the overall efficiency of a supply chain."
The above list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Ryan Abbott, professor of law and health sciences at the University of Surrey School of Law, insists, "AI has tremendous potential to impact the global supply chain. It can do this by taking over time-consuming and error-prone manual work. This can involve AI more efficiently predicting demand, improving delivery times, reducing costs, and taking over customer support roles. The complexity of global logistics networks involving hundreds of sourcing, production, and distribution systems makes the use of AI critical to ensuring smart and agile decisions."[9] From planning to production to distribution, AI can make a difference.
Cole predicts, that as companies' familiarity with AI matures, they will find new ways to leverage its capabilities. He explains, "Most of the thinking around AI in the supply chain tends to center on how it will enhance today's processes. But as markets evolve into the new century, AI will also help create and manage entirely new forms of multi-layered, dynamic chains serving highly virtualized and cloud-based business models. Even today's emerging omnichannel environments require precise coordination between customer-facing infrastructure, warehousing, transportation, fulfillment, and a range of other disparate functions. … Much of this will have to be automated to accommodate the speed of business, something that can only be done through advanced intelligent systems that talk to each other with perhaps intermittent human oversight."
[1] Jack M. Germain, "AI's Potential to Manage the Supply Chain," Tech News World, 30 October 2020.
[2] Mike Hulbert, "Five Ways to Leverage AI in Supply Chain Management," SupplyChainBrain, 16 May 2021.
[3] Andrew Meola, "How AI and IoT devices will revolutionize supply chain logistics and management in 2021," Business Insider, 22 February 2021.
[4] Jim Chappell, "Unlocking the Value of Supply Chain with AI-driven Processes," Supply Chain Digital, 15 May 2021.
[5] Robert J. Bowman, "How AI Is Tackling Waste in Factories and the Supply Chain," SupplyChainBrain, 7 June 2021.
[6] Arthur Cole, "How AI can simplify, streamline, and enhance supply chain operations," VentureBeat, 4 June 2021.
[7] Rumzz Bajwa, "How AI is Enhancing Supply Chain Performance," Global Trade, 28 May 2021.
[8] Michael C. Mankins and Lori Sherer, "Creating value through advanced analytics," Bain Brief, 11 February 2015.
[9] Germain, op. cit.
Trends 2023: Supply Chain
For years, supply chain professionals have toiled in obscurity while making the global economy run smoothly. When the Covid pandemic threw a wrench into the | Intelligence, explains, "One of the biggest trends poised to upend supply chain managers is asset tracking, which gives companies a way to totally overhaul their operational efficiency by giving them the tools to make better decisions and save time and money. And this transformation is already underway. A recent survey by GT Nexus and Capgemini found that 70% of retail and manufacturing companies have already started a digital transformation project in their supply chain operations. Asset tracking is not new by any means. … [However,] newer asset tracking solutions offer much more vital and usable data, especially when paired with other IoT technologies."[3] AI is what makes the data vital and usable.
Improved Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Monitoring. Jim Chappell (@JamesPChappell), Global Head of AI and Advanced Analytics at AVEVA, explains, "Real-time and historical data is typically used for trending, reporting, and HMI visualization. AI allows companies to get much more value and insight from this historical data through state-of-the-art technologies such as multi-variate machine learning and deep learning. By integrating software infused with AI into existing industrial IT infrastructures, businesses can greatly amplify the value and ROI by detecting and solving operational and maintenance issues before they become larger problems that often result in unplanned downtime. This alone can increase uptime by 10% annually, resulting in substantial avoided costs and efficiency gains."[4]
Industrial Waste Management. Robert J. Bowman, managing editor of SupplyChainBrain, writes, "If we want a world without waste, we might need something other than the human brain to achieve it. The answer, as with so many other aspects of business today, lies in artificial intelligence — in this case, its ability to eliminate industrial waste in manufacturing."[5] Stephen Pratt, chief executive officer of Noodle.ai, told Bowman, the World Bank estimates that global industrial waste today is 18 times larger than municipal solid waste — "the things we call trash." According to Pratt AI offers "a fresh approach to waste control. The difference, says Pratt, is the use of complex algorithms to predict when excess parts, products and practices are threatening to clog up the works. Such alerts allow humans to take action to head off the problem before it affects the flow of product."
Risk Management. Journalist Arthur Cole (@acole602) notes AI can be used to assess risk.[6] He explains, "Today's management stacks tend to flood workers with alerts without assigning any priority. AI has the ability to quantify risk so organizations gain broad visibility into the most crucial detriments to efficient operations. Even if the problem requires time and expertise, that money is well spent, and solutions highlight the ways AI and human intelligence can work together to produce the most desirable outcomes."
Inventory Management. Trade journalist Rumzz Bajwa (@rumzzbajwa) writes, "Because of AI's ability to process huge amounts of data, identify trends, and take into account recent world events, companies are now using AI to study consumer habits and the ups and downs of seasonal demand. This allows companies to | 630 |
Security / Websense Unveils Triton Unified Content Security Platform
Websense Unveils Triton Unified Content Security Platform
By Nathan Eddy | Print
The company's Security Gateway Anywhere platform combines Websense Web and Email Security Gateway technology.
Unified Web security, e-mail security and data loss prevention (DLP) solutions specialist Websense launched its Triton unified threat management (UTM) platform, designed to deliver security in a consolidated appliance. The firm said Triton differs from traditional firewall UTMs, which do not scale to solve today's security threats, and other legacy controls like antivirus and URL filters that look only at the file and Website.
The Triton Security Gateway Anywhere combines Websense Web and Email Security Gateway technology, including hybrid deployment and data loss prevention, into a unified content security gateway. The gateway consolidates on-premises e-mail and Web security on a single Websense V-Series appliance, complemented by cloud-based SaaS components.
"There is no question that the threat landscape is evolving at a rapid pace," stated Michael Suby, vice president of research at Stratecast, a division of Frost & Sullivan. "Furthermore, cyber-perpetrators will readily pounce on exploitable gaps in legacy security products. What Websense is accomplishing with its Triton architecture is providing businesses with an extensible and adaptable mechanism to fight fire with fire."
Included in this release, for example, and ideal for existing Websense Web Filter customers, is support for Websense Web Security on the V-Series appliance. This provides Web Filter customers with enhanced security, consolidation and expandability to other Triton services.
Websense TruEmail DLP uses Websense DLP technology to identify confidential data, virtually eliminating false positives and negatives and delivering full workflow and reporting. It also benefits from TruHybrid deployment capabilities so that spam is filtered in the cloud before it hits customers' networks and confidential data can be secured on premises before it leaves the network.
"Websense hybrid deployments give us the confidence we need as a leading pan-European operator with thousands of remote workers," said David Rigby, IT network manager for P&O Ferrymasters, a Dubai World company. "It's all about the right access to the right data for the right<|fim_middle|> and communicating confidential data like manifests and invoices. "With Websense Triton-based products, like their Web Security Gateway and e-mail security, we feel confident that our systems stay clean of malware and the integrated DLP helps make sure that sensitive data stays where it should, without fear of data loss," he explained.
Websense doesn't just block Web threats in browsers; the malicious links can also be stripped from incoming e-mails. Also, the Websense Web solution is data aware to stop important documents from being leaked or stolen. In addition, the Websense Advanced Classification Engine (ACE) combines multiple content analysis services to identify security threats and inappropriate content.
"Websense already leads the content security software market," said John McCormack, president of Websense. "Everybody else is providing a portfolio of point products. Only Websense made a four-year investment to build a platform that truly unifies and consolidates Web security, e-mail security and DLP in a way that is greater than the sum of its parts AND reduces costs." | people, whether on-premises or off."
Rigby said as a shipping and logistics company, P&O Ferrymasters always has employees at customer sites, and they are entering | 38 |
Q: What is the fairest order for stage-striking (and is it the Thue-Morse sequence)? Here's a fair-sequencing problem that doesn't quite match the usual fair-division problems. I think that, like those, the answer should also be the Thue-Morse sequence ("balanced alternation"), because the same heuristic reasoning that suggests it's the fairest way there works here as well, but the problem doesn't seem to reduce to them, so it's not obvious. (See here for more on using Thue-Morse for fair division, or this earlier MathOverflow question.)
Anyway, the problem is stage-striking (as is used in certain competitive video games for stage selection :) ). There are two players and $n+1$ objects ("stages"). The two players have different preferences regarding the stages (ideally, opposite preferences, but you'll see below why we don't assume that). The two players will take turns (in some order -- thus the question) removing ("striking") stages that have not already been struck; once only a single stage is left, that stage is selected (both players "get" it). The question, then, is what is the fairest order for stage striking; as mentioned above, I suspect it should be Thue-Morse (one player strikes on 0, the other player strikes on 1), for similar reasons that this is the answer to the old problem of what order to take turns in for fair division.
Of course this raises the question of how we're formalizing this and what we mean by "fair". I'll present here the formalization of the problem that (after discussing this with some other people) I think is best, but answers to other ways of formalizing it would also be OK so long as they don't trivialize the problem.
So -- note that if the players assign the stages opposite values (i.e. they agree about which stages give how much of an advantage to who), as you would expect, then the striking order becomes irrelevant, so long as both players get the same number of strikes; regardless of order, the median stage will be selected. So instead we have to assume the players may disagree about which stages advantage who. Also, since we can only really deal with the order of the stages here, we won't allow them to have arbitrary numeric values as in the fair-division problem; rather we'll assume each player assigns the $n+1$ stages the values $0, 1, \ldots, n$, so that the value of a stage to a player depends only on where it falls in their preference ordering.
Now, since perfect information makes the problem trivial, we'll go all the way in the opposite direction -- each player's preferences are uniformly random; or rather, each player sees the other's preferences as uniformly random. What we want to compare, then, and to make as equal as possible, is the expected value that player 1 gets (when player 2 strikes randomly), vs the expected value that player 2 gets (when player 1 strikes randomly).
(I'm pretty sure that, in this formulation, we can assume that each player always strikes their least-preferred stage at each step, and that there is no advantage from deviating from this. But obviously correct me if I'm wrong there...)
So, for instance, in this model, if $n=2$, then the first player to strike gets an expected value of $3/2$ (they eliminate their least preferred stage and get one of the remaining two at random), while the second player to strike gets an expected value of $5/3$ (they have a $2/3$ chance their most-preferred stage is not eliminated, and a $1/3$ chance they have to settle for the median). So we get a difference of $1/6$. You see?
So the question then is, is the Thue-Morse striking order the fairest? Or is it something else? Is it at least the fairest when $n$ is a power of $2$, even if it might not be otherwise?
EDIT: Actually, a thought -- maybe it should be reverse Thue-Morse? (As in, if $n=12$, you would go $011001101001$ rather than $011010011001$; you just reverse the sequence, and then, if necessary, swap the roles of the players so as to start with a $0$.) This seems possible because here it's going later, rather than going earlier, that seems to confer an advantage. Of course, if $n$ is a power of two, this distinction is irrelevant, as reversing the sequence would merely swap the roles of the players.
A: Here is a counter-intuitive result that gets us as far as possible from the Thue-Morse sequence. Infinitely many sequences which are alternating only once are among the fairest sequences of all. Their score differences are 0.
Let's use free-monoid notations and write $1^40^2$ for $111100$. Then
$v_0(1^40^2) = v_1(1^40^2) = 5$
$v_0(1^{12}0^4) = v_1(1^{12}0^4) = 14$
$v_0(1^{24}0^6) = v_1(1^{24}0^6) = 27$
$v_0(1^{40}0^8) = v_1(1^{40}0^8) = 44$
$v_0(1^{60}0^{10}) = v_1(1^{60}0^{10}) = 65$
$v_0(1^{84}0^{12}) = v_1(1^{84}0^{12}) = 90$
More generally,
$$v_0(1^{2k(k+1)}0^{2k}) = v_1(1^{2k(k+1)}0^{2k}) = k(2k+3)$$
for any integer $k\ge 0$.
EDIT: for exactly the same lengths $n = 2k(k+2)$ as above, there are perfectly fair sequences with as many $0$'s as $1$'s, provided you allow two alternations instead of only 1.
$v_0(0^2 1^3 0) = v_1(0^2 1^3 0) = 5$
$v_0(0^6 1^8 0^2) = v_1(0^6 1^8 0^2) = 14$
$v_0(0^{12} 1^{15} 0^3) = v_1(0^{12} 1^{15} 0^3) = 27$
$v_0(0^{20} 1^{24} 0^4) = v_1(0^{20} 1^{24} 0^4) = 44$
$v_0(0^{30} 1^{35} 0^5) = v_1(0^{30} 1^{35} 0^5) = 65$
$v_0(0^{42} 1^{48} 0^6) = v_1(0^{42} 1^{48} 0^6) = 90$
and more generally
$$v_0(0^{k(k+1)}1^{k(k+2)}0^k) = v_1(0^{k(k+1)}1^{k(k+2)}0^k) = k(2k+3)$$
for any integer $k\ge 0$.
$Proof$: As RaphaelB4 commented, his insight about the simple multiplicative form of his recursion,
$$v_1(0b_1\dots b_n)+1 = \frac{n+3}{n+2}\left(v_1(b_1\dots b_n)+1\right)$$
iteratively yields
$$v_1(0^{i}b_1\dots b_n)+1 = \frac{n+2+i}{n+2}(v_1(b_1\dots b_n)+1)$$
so that
$$v_0(1^{2k(k+1)}0^{2k}) + 1 = v_1(0^{2k(k+1)}1^{2k}) +1$$
$$ = \frac{2k+2+2k(k+1)}{2k+2} (v_1(1^{2k})+1)$$
$$ = (k+1) (2k+1) = k(2k+3) + 1$$
and
$$v_1(1^{2k(k+1)}0^{2k}) + 1 = 2k(k+1) + v_1(0^{2k})+1$$
$$ = 2k(k+1) + \frac{0+2+2k}{0+2} = k(2k+3) + 1$$
which proves the first equality. The second equality with two alternations is similar. It is also easy to prove there isn't any other solutions with one or two alternations.
A: Here are the fairest sequences with $v_0\ge v_1$ for small $n = $ $1,$ $2,$ $\dots,$ $14$, according to an exhaustive search, where $v_b$ denotes the expected score for the player who can choose when the binary digit is $b$.
The reverse Thue-Morse sequence do look better than the Thue-Morse sequence but its score is far from the fairest. The Thue-Morse sequence looks like alternating between being worse and better than the simple alternating sequence. Their scores are tabulated farther below for $1 \le n \le 17$.
EDIT: RaphaelB4 formula allows fast computation and might lead to some other theorems. Harry also asked for the number of fairest sequences. Here they are (with $v_0\ge v_1$) for $n$ up to $28$. I don't see any pattern in them. The value $222$ for $n=23$ is striking.
$$\begin{array}{c r*{27}}
n&1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8&9&10&11&12&13&14&15\\
\#&1&1&1&1&1&4&1&6&1&6&1&6&1&18&1\\
\end{array}$$
$$\begin{array}{c r*{27}}
n&16&17&18&19&20&21&22&23&24&25&26&27&28\\
\#&124&2&11&2&18&1&9&222&2&3&1&72&3\\
\end{array}$$
$$\begin{array}{rccccc}
n&\text{fairest with }v_0\ge v_1&v_0&v_1&v_0-v_1&\text{approx.}\\ \hline
2&10&5/3&3/2&1/6&0.16666\,66667\\
3&001&5/2&7/3&1/6&0.16666\,66667\\
4&0110&10/3&16/5&2/15&0.13333\,33333\\
5&11010&62/15&33/8&1/120&0.00833\,33333\\
\\
6&000011&5&5&0&0.00000\,00000\\
&001110&5&5\\
&110001&5&5\\
&111100&5&5\\
\\
7&1000101&377/64&88/15&23/960&0.02395\,83333\\
\\
8&00110110&61/9&27/4&1/36&0.02777\,77778\\
&10000011&61/9&27/4\\
&10001110&61/9&27/4\\
&10110001&61/9&27/4\\
&10111100&61/9&27/4\\
&11110010&61/9&27/4\\
\\
9&011000101&245/32&574/75&7/2400&0.00291\,66667\\
\\
10&0100110110&77/9&94/11&1/99&0.01010\,10101\\
&0110000011&77/9&94/11\\
&0110001<|fim_middle|>}(X\leq i)=\frac{i+1}{n+2}$and we have
$$\mathbb{E}(\tilde{Y})=\sum_{i=0}^{n}i\times\mathbb{P}(Y=i)+\mathbb{P}(Y=i)\frac{i+1}{n+2}$$
and then
$$\mathbb{E}(\tilde{Y})=\frac{n+3}{n+2}\mathbb{E}(Y)+\frac{1}{n+2}$$ which can be written as
$$\mathbb{E}(\tilde{Y}+1)=(\frac{n+3}{n+2})\mathbb{E}(Y+1)$$
Exemple : $$v(01101)+1=\frac{7}{6}\times(1+1+\frac{4}{3}\times 2)=\frac{98}{18} $$ so $v(01101)=\frac{40}{9}$ (as numerically calculated by Claude).
| 110&77/9&94/11\\
&0110110001&77/9&94/11\\
&0110111100&77/9&94/11\\
&0111110010&77/9&94/11\\
\\
11&00101101001&3309/350&8417/891&2369/311850&0.00759\,66009\\
\\
12&101000001101 &1481/143 &559/54 &37/7722&0.00479\,15048\\
&101001000011 &1481/143 &559/54 \\
&101001001110 &1481/143 &559/54 \\
&101001110001 &1481/143 &559/54 \\
&101001111100 &1481/143 &559/54 \\
&101011001001 &1481/143 &559/54 \\
\\
13&0110100111010 &2534/225 &13873/1232 &463/277200&0.00167\,02742\\
\\
14& 00001010010011 & 1205/99 & 426/35 & 1/3465 & 0.00028\,86003\\
& 00001010011110 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 00111000110110 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 00111010000011 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 00111010001110 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 01111010011010 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 00111010110001 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 00111010111100 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 00111011110010 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 10001010010101 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 10001011010110 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 10111010000101 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 11111000010110 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 11111010010001 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 11111010011100 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 10111011000110 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 11111011010010 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
& 10111011110100 & 1205/99 & 426/35 \\
\end{array}$$
$$\begin{array}{rlccr}
n&\text{Thue-Morse}&v_0&v_1&v_0-v_1 \text{ approx.}\\ \hline
1 & 0 & 1 & 1/2 & 0.50000\,00000 \\
2 & 01 & 3/2 & 5/3 & -1.66666\,66667 \\
3 & 011 & 2 & 11/4 & -0.75000\,00000 \\
4 & 0110 & 10/3 & 16/5 & 0.13333\,33333 \\
5 & 01101 & 15/4 & 40/9 & -0.69444\,44444 \\
6 & 011010 & 77/15 & 34/7 & 0.27619\,04762 \\
7 & 0110100 & 19/3 & 53/10 & 1.03333\,33333 \\
8 & 01101001 & 234/35 & 554/81 & -0.15379\,18871 \\
9 & 011010011 & 85/12 & 284/35 & -1.03095\,23810 \\
10 & 0110100110 & 1639/189 & 1853/220 & 0.24923\,03992 \\
11 & 01101001100 & 399/40 & 712/81 & 1.18487\,65432 \\
12 & 011010011001 & 338/33 & 136/13 & -0.21911\,42191 \\
13 & 0110100110010 & 1582/135 & 6599/616 & 1.00585\,61809 \\
14 & 01101001100101 & 23955/2002 & 75109/6075 & -0.39808\,69336 \\
15 & 011010011001011 & 86/7 & 713/52 & -1.42582\,41758 \\
16 & 0110100110010110 & 44540/3159 & 127340/9163 & 0.20220\,33021 \\
17 & 01101001100101101 & 2799/196 & 11260/729 & -1.16520\,39417 \\
\end{array}$$
$$\begin{array}{rrccr}
n&\text{reverse Thue-Morse}&v_0&v_1&v_0-v_1 \text{ approx.}\\ \hline
1 & 0 & 1 & 1/2 & 0.50000\,00000 \\
2 & 10 & 5/3 & 3/2 & 1.66666\,66667 \\
3 & 110 & 7/3 & 5/2 & -1.66666\,66667 \\
4 & 0110 & 10/3 & 16/5 & 0.13333\,33333 \\
5 & 10110 & 73/18 & 21/5 & -0.14444\,44444 \\
6 & 010110 & 91/18 & 173/35 & 0.11269\,84127 \\
7 & 0010110 & 109/18 & 199/35 & 0.36984\,12698 \\
8 & 10010110 & 554/81 & 234/35 & 0.15379\,18871 \\
9 & 110010110 & 1235/162 & 269/35 & -0.06225\,74956 \\
10 & 0110010110 & 1397/162 & 3263/385 & 0.14813\,21148 \\
11 & 00110010110 & 1559/162 & 3567/385 & 0.35852\,17252 \\
12 & 100110010110 & 10994/1053 & 3952/385 & 0.17571\,07090 \\
13 & 0100110010110 & 12047/1053 & 11933/1078 & 0.37107\,24901 \\
14 & 10100110010110 & 38761/3159 & 13011/1078 & 0.20044\,88751 \\
15 & 110100110010110 & 41381/3159 & 14089/1078 & 0.02982\,52600 \\
16 & 0110100110010110 & 44540/3159 & 127340/9163 & 0.20220\,33021 \\
17 & 10110100110010110 & 849419/56862 & 136503/9163 & 0.04105\,87768 \\
\end{array}$$
$$\begin{array}{rlccr}
n&\text{alternating}&v_0&v_1&v_0-v_1 \text{ approx.}\\ \hline
1 & 0 & 1 & 1/2 & 0.50000\,00000 \\
2 & 01 & 3/2 & 5/3 & -0.16666\,66667 \\
3 & 010 & 8/3 & 17/8 & 0.54166\,66667 \\
4 & 0101 & 25/8 & 17/5 & -0.27500\,00000 \\
5 & 01010 & 22/5 & 61/16 & 0.58750\,00000 \\
6 & 010101 & 77/16 & 181/35 & -0.35892\,85714 \\
7 & 0101010 & 216/35 & 709/128 & 0.63236\,60714 \\
8 & 01010101 & 837/128 & 439/63 & -0.42919\,14683 \\
9 & 010101010 & 502/63 & 1867/256 & 0.67528\,52183 \\
10 & 0101010101 & 2123/256 & 2029/231 & -0.49058\,10335 \\
11 & 01010101010 & 2260/231 & 9285/1024 & 0.71616\,69710 \\
12 & 010101010101 & 10309/1024 & 4553/429 & -0.54567\,08006 \\
13 & 0101010101010 & 4982/429 & 22237/2048 & 0.75514\,34568 \\
14 & 01010101010101 & 24285/2048 & 80141/6435 & -0.59601\,36977 \\
15 & 010101010101010 & 86576/6435 & 414893/32768 & 0.79239\,43129 \\
16 & 0101010101010101 & 447661/32768 & 173867/12155 & -0.64262\,51278 \\
17 & 01010101010101010 & 186022/12155 & 948703/65536 & 0.82809\,57089 \\
\end{array}$$
A: Just a remark : with your weights (0,...,n) you have an simple formula to calculate the expectation.
$$v_1(1b_1b_2\cdots b_n)=1+v_1(b_1\cdots b_n) $$
$$v_1(0b_1b_2\cdots b_n)=\frac{1}{n+2}+\frac{n+3}{n+2}v_1(b_1 \cdots b_n) $$
Proof :
Let us call $Y$ the value obtained by the first player with a sequence $b_1 \cdots b_n$. Now consider the same sequence where we add a digit at the beginning. We note $\tilde{Y}$ the new value of the first player.
If it is a $1$, the first player will erase the $0$ stack and we are reduce to the previous problem but with stack $k+1$ instead of $k$. and then $\tilde{Y}=Y+1$. And therefore
$$v_1(1b_1b_2\cdots b_n)=\mathbb{E}(\tilde{Y})=\mathbb{E}(Y)+1= v_1(b_1\cdots b_n)+1 $$
If it is a 0, then the second player erase randomly one stack $X$. We are reduce to the previous problem but with stack $k$ if $k<X$ and $k+1$ if $k\geq X$ instead of $k$. The rest of the game follow identically but at the end $\tilde{Y}=Y$ if $X> Y$ or $\tilde{Y}=Y +1$ if $Y\geq X$. Therefore $$\mathbb{E}(\tilde{Y})=\sum_{i=0}^{n}i\times\mathbb{P}(Y=i)\mathbb{P}(X>i)+(i+1)\times\mathbb{P}(Y=i)\mathbb{P}(X\leq i) $$
$\mathbb{P | 4,370 |
You will spend the day travelling through some of the most spectacular landscapes you will see in Iceland. Snaefellsnes is truly a magical place, with it's volcanoes, glacier, basalt columns and waterfalls. The peninsula is rich in wildlife, including dozens of species of birds and b<|fim_middle|> from the top over Breidafjordur and the surrounding areas.
During winter months we are working with very limited daylight hours. This may result in some of the sites being visited in dusk or darkness, or skipped altogether. We will do our best to avoid this, but ask for your understanding should this happen.
Get ready for the action and don't forget your camera! | ays teeming with whales.
Snaefellsjokull glacier is a 1446 m high dormant strata-volcano in the middle of Snaefellsnes National Park and the crater is ca 200 m deep. It is the main tourist attraction in the peninsula of Snaefellsnes, towering over the national park at the far end of the 90 km long stretch of land.
The renowned writer Jules Verne wrote his science fiction in 1864, Journey to the Center of the Earth, about a group of scientists who ventured into the crater of Snaefellsjokull glacier.
Snaefellsnes is one of few places in Iceland with golden and pink beaches, natural mineral springs, beautiful rhyolite mountains and volcanic craters,including the spatter cone Eldbog. Arnarstapi and Hellnar are not to be missed.
Driving around Snaefellsnes peninsula, you will pass several, smallfishing villages, as well as Mt Kirkjufell which is said to be the most beautiful mountain on the peninsula.
Right outside of Stykkisholmur, the capital of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, is Mt. Helgafell "The Sacred Hill" and if you can climb it without looking back or uttering a word you can get 3 wishes. When you reach the top you should go to the ruins of a prayer, look east and think about the wishes (which shall all be of positive nature) and don't tell anybody what you wished for. This only works the first time you hike the mountain. The hike up the 73 m high mountain takes about 10-15 minutes (one way) and there is a great view | 363 |
Dog bed couch – along with the trough, is the first product we buy when<|fim_middle|> it will not rest properly. | we adopt a dog. But do we know which is the most appropriate? What is better a round or square bed? A mattress or a pillow-top bed? There are some parameters that you must follow to select the best bed for your dog. Therefore, in this article of a How we will answer these and more questions so that you know how to choose a bed for your dog. The dog bed is essential to ensure its integration into the new home, and is that this will become your lair, in your corner in the house.
Remember that your dog should not sleep in your bed with you, but in his own. This is why the correct choice of your dog's bed is so important. For dogs that sleep huddled it is advisable to purchase a round or square basket-shaped dog bed couch, that is, with borders that protect and protect it. While for those who adopt a stretched posture a rectangular mattress is advised since it will allow you to stretch everything you want, without impediment of the edges. Although a rectangular bordered bed is also not a bad choice, as long as it fits perfectly. If your dog likes to cover up during the night to feel more secure, do not forget to put a blanket on the mattress.
Or, you have the option to purchase a bed that includes a capping system like the image, taking into account the size and size of your dog. In all cases it is recommended that the dog bed couch is padded or if the round basket does not have a padding system, a mattress is introduced. It is very important that it is as comfortable as possible for the dog to adapt to it and prefer it, always, before our sofa or bed. To do this, touch the cushioning of the bed before buying it and check its quality. Never give a bed without any mattress since | 367 |
Tiberio is a family owned estate, specialising in wines made from Abruzzo's native grape varieties.
The story of Agricola Tiberio rings more like a new world tale than one from the old world of the ancient lands beneath the Majella and Gran Sasso mountains in Abruzzo. At 350 meters above sea level, twenty-three miles inland from the seaside city of Pescara, near the lovely medieval hillside town of Cugnoli, Riccardo Tiberio found a very old plot of Trebbiano Abruzzese vines, which, despite the variety's name, is a<|fim_middle|>iano Toscano which were until very recently routinely confused with Trebbiano Abruzzese. However, while the four share similar features they are distinct varieties. Trebbiano Abruzzese is the most noble of the four, producing wines that while delicate and light bodied have greater depth and complexity. Also noteworthy is that Tiberio's Pecorino vines, planted in 2000, are amongst the oldest in the region.
The rolling Abruzzo hills, which slope down from the Apennines toward the Adriatic Sea are characterised by mild sea breezes and cool air currents coming in from the mountainous massif of the Majella. The region was home to ancient Roman villae rusticate, large organised agricultural entities, and grapes were among the many crops grown. Although the land is ancient Roman in history, Cristiana and Antonio have a modern perspective in the cellar and tend their vineyards with a farmer's care. The Tiberio siblings have one goal in mind: make wines that clearly speak of the varieties and the land they come from.
The Trebbiano Abruzzese and Pecorino varieties are planted on mainly limestone soils. This, in combination with the cool breezes from the mountains and ocean, produces wines of minerality in which balanced acidity and structure are a hallmark. The Montepulciano is planted on mainly limestone-clay soils. Cristiana and Antonio seek to express freshness of fruit in their entry level Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP wine and are planning to release a more structured, ageworthy Riserva wine of greater depth and richness in the near future.
The estate and its wines have won numerous accolades in a very short time span. Gambero Rosso has bestowed at least Due Bicchieri on all of their wines each vintage, as well as a string of Tre Bicchieri for their 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Pecorino, an extremely hot and much loved white wine in Italy. Furthermore, the UK's prestigious Decanter magazine has named Tiberio "one of Italy's Rising Stars" estates in 2013. Last but not least, rave reviews from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar have further confirmed Agricola Tiberio's stature as one of Italy's finest wine producers.
New Additions to Our Portfolio of Producers
Azienda Agricola Il Cascinone
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Products by Tiberio | rarity in Abruzzo. This is because the high quality Trebbiano Abruzzese grape (which has nothing in common with Trebbiano Toscano) had always been confused with other similar-looking but altogether different varieties in the region, that were mistakenly planted in its stead. Riccardo was so impressed and excited by his discovery of these roughly 60 years old vines that he decided to change his and his family's destiny. As the export manager for a well known winery in the region, Riccardo knew well what truly high quality Abruzzo grapes could offer and what the modern world expected in wines.
He made the plunge in 2000, purchasing the eight hectare plot of Trebbiano Abruzzese vines he had fallen in love with, along with another 31 hectares of land suitable for planting and the production of single estate wines. Guided by decades of personal experience and one of Italy's most renowned nurseries, Riccardo planted a selection of indigenous varieties matched to the different soil characteristics in the vineyard. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Trebbiano Abruzzese, and Aglianico were planted along with Pecorino and Moscato di Castiglione clones from ancient vines in the area. Experiments with small plantings of international varietals were also undertaken. And so it was that when Tiberio released its first vintage in 2004, the wine cognoscenti took notice of Tiberio's mineral whites and fruit forward reds.
In 2008, Riccardo Tiberio handed over the reins of the winery to his highly competent children, daughter Cristiana and son Antonio. The role of viticulturalist goes to Antonio while Cristiana handles the winemaking duties. She is a chemistry graduate with training stints in Champagne and Australia backed by repeated visits to the Mosel and Chablis. In 2011 she took over all the winemaking duties and is now solely responsible for the wines made at the estate. At that time, Antonio and Cristiana also decided to uproot the international varieties and to replace them with more Pecorino and Trebbiano Abruzzese. They chose to use massal selections from their oldest vines because over the years they found that their massal selections gave much deeper, more complex, and altogether better wines than those made from clonal selections.
Tiberio's Trebbiano Abruzzese vines are especially noteworthy as they are not just amongst the oldest in Abruzzo but because they are the real thing. True Trebbiano Abruzzese is rare; much of Abruzzo's vineyards are actually planted to Bombino Bianco, Mostosa, and Trebb | 567 |
Turkish Cymbals 13" John Blackwell Hi-Hat
JB signature Hi-hats<|fim_middle|> list of artists that John played and continue playing through his drumming career. | have got a raw bell, less weight, thinner, and the sound is really dry.
I am happy to be part of Turkish Cymbals, the new best cymbal", said John Blackwell, inviting all drummers to give a try to Turkish Cymbals products, "You won't regret", he said.
Considered one of the most amazing and influential drummers on his era, John Blackwell joins Turkish Cymbals company to bring his expertise, and his world wide known fan base. Injecting this relation with Funk, Power and commitment with the brand.
Available in 13-inch
Details: "I am happy to be part of Turkish Cymbals, the new best cymbal", said John Blackwell, inviting all drummers to give a try to Turkish Cymbals products, "You won't regret", he said.... *Considered one of the most amazing and influential drummers on his era, John Blackwell joins Turkish Cymbals company to bring his expertise, and his world wide known fan base. Injecting this relation with Funk, Power and commitment with the brand.. Blackwell has an incredible background playing with the most important artists in different genres, that includes R&B, Pop, Rock, Funk, Jazz and Country. Cameo, Patti LaBelle, Prince, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Lauryn Hill, Maze Ft. Frankie Beverly, D'Angelo, Bootsy Collins, among others, are the | 302 |
Q: Why won't this jquery each() function call? It seems like a straightforward bit of code to me but the console.log in the each() function simply isn't called:
function updateLinks()
{
console.log("updateLinks() called");
$("a .appended").each(function()
{
console.log("Checking for " + this.id + " in array");
if($.inArray(this.id, savedTopics) > -1)
{
$(self).text("x");
}
});
}
The first "updateLinks() called" message is displayed, but the each() function doesn't appear to run<|fim_middle|>What is preventing this code from running?
A: It would be easier to help you if you put up a JSFiddle, but maybe it's because what you really wanted to write is $("a.appended"), i.e. the .appended selector is on the a element?
A: If $("a .appended") doesn't return a result the loop won't execute
| at all. None of the expected effects happen. The appended class is for a series of links I created earlier in the script. savedTopics is an array of integers returned from storage and is set just before this function is called. It all happens in the storage callback. Each of the links has a specific ID which is connected to the integers in storage.
| 71 |
On July 16 1983, at the comparatively early age of 65, there passed away one of the greatest musicians it has ever been my privilege<|fim_middle|>1970s and the interviewer asked him: "How would you wish to be remembered?" He said, rather thrown by the question I thought: "Well, just as an interpreter who has brought music to the public but I hope I would also be remembered by my musicians for without them I probably might not have amounted to much. I can only suggest: it is they who interpret my suggestions. I have tried to make it a partnership and I would hope I have been successful. My admiration for our players remains undiminished."
I think he is, and was, remembered by his musicians. On the day of his funeral so many wished to attend that both the matinee performances at the National Theatre and the State Opera were cancelled. It is also pleasing to me that, although not a "star" name, at least some of his performances can be remembered and enjoyed through his recordings.
In remembrance Jaroslav Krombholc, musician, born Prague January 30 1918, died in that city July 16 1983. | to play for.
Jaroslav Krombholc passed away after a long battle against ill-health which had gone on for some years. Although perhaps not an international conductor in the sense in which the words are understood today, I believe he made a major contribution not only to Czech music-making but, in his various appearances abroad, was an early international protagonist for Czech composers, Jan�ček in particular. He was, I think, an exceptional interpreter of opera but his musical interests were wide and far-ranging and he was as enthusiastic about Ravel, Shostakovich, Debussy as he was for Czech native composers. He loved Three Little Liturgies by Messiaen, as but one example. I recall a performance of La Mer which I thought to be truly exceptional, the conductor stating that he had studied the score for three years before giving his first performance of the work in 1940 something.
He served many orchestras in the Czech Republic, Ostrava, both houses in Prague, and the Radio Orchestra. A pupil of Vaclav Talich, whom he revered, he nonetheless was a distinctive musical personality and towards the end of his life prepared his own performing edition of Ma Vlast which he used on his 1973 recording of the piece, an exceptional account in my opinion, restoring many of the balances and dynamics which had been altered through subsequent editions and performance practice. It is an account filled, in my opinion, with both nobility, elegance and drama in proportionate measure.
I recall his attention to detail in this work. The horn call to the warring maidens in Movement III Sarka was, he said, often too loud - he pointed out to the orchestra that if one consulted the text of the original "story" the call was heard from "afar off" across the valley. And so it is on his performance.
He was, in his time, also a noted interpreter of Czech contemporary music in particular that of Seidl and Dobias but many composers in the period from about 1938 onwards were grateful for his study and advocacy.
As a person he was much loved by his musicians. Always polite, he never raised his voice even once in my experience yet I believe sometimes achieved great performances. He was a musician for whom people really wished to play as well as they could, I believe. Rehearsals and performances with him were occasions one looked forward to. His operatic performances were a genuine "co-operative" attempt between his vocalists and the orchestra: he never intervened as the "star" performer as perhaps may happen from time to time. It was the end result which counted. If we were really bad at rehearsal he would take his glasses off, lay them down on the conductor rostrum, and then address us. That was serious stuff but only if he took his glasses off!
Perhaps I may interpolate a slightly funny story: how conductors interpret audience applause varies from conductor to conductor in my experience. Some milk it for all it is worth (and why not!) with sweeping bows so low you wonder if they may be at risk of toppling over. Not Mr K. When he came out they got one quick nod, with a smile, and then he turned immediately to the orchestra and you were in......there is preserved a wonderful example of this in his magnificent performance of Jenufa in Vienna in 1974.
There is tremendous applause when he comes out for Act II (remember they'd only heard Act I) and there are still a few claps going on when the orchestra blast their way into the wonderful beginning of Act II. He obviously did not behave any differently abroad. They just got that quick nod!
Unfortunately his health deteriorated to such an extent that he had to give up conducting and just a few weeks before his death his wife attended a performance of Vixen at the National Theatre, coming backstage afterwards to send his "best wishes" to the orchestra. Naturally there were many inquiries about his health and his wife, clearly distressed, remarked: "I fear for him. If you take his music away, he has nothing left......"
He was honoured with a documentary on Prague Radio/TV in the | 857 |
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Home / Unlabelled / Sukrala Mata Shrine: The Abobe of Goddess Durga
Sukrala Mata Shrine: The Abobe of Goddess Durga
The famous shrine of Sukrala Mata is located in Billawar in Kathua district at a height of 3500 feet from sea level. According to local belief, the temple is abode of goddess Mal Devi, re-incarnation of Sharda Devi. It is believed to have been built by Madho Singh, exiled prince of Chamba of Himachal Pradesh. Thousands of devotees throng the shrine during Navratras.
The Devi Maa Sukrala is also most reverentially addressed as Jagat Janani, Rajarjaswari Mata where devotees throng in thousand to have Holy Darshan, pay obeisance for blessings. Sukrala or Sukral is a small village located at Billawar in district Kathua. Through legends and historical record, the name of Sukrala is derived from Sharikalaya, the abode of Sharika which though, of course is another revered name of Mata Sharda. The historical records reflect the narration as to the origin of the sacred spot of Mata Sukrala Devi. The story goes that there used to live a renowned saint at Basohli who had received his education in Kashmir and Kashi there he visited many shrines including those of Shri Amarnath ji, Sharda, Hari Parvat etc.
He was a strong devotee of gods and goddesses. During his arduous penace and devotion, the Mother Goddess was very pleased and so he had holy dream. When asked by Mata ji as to what he wanted. The devotee prayed that he wants that she should be at his place so that the locals can be relieved of the pains and agony and are blessed by her Shakti. Mataji granted him the boon that she will appear at the time of his grandson and so the devotee disclosed to the locals. The devoted Brahmin had number of sons amongst whom two most pious and learned were by name Amolak Ram and Mahadev Shiv Nandan. They preferred and adopted Billawar and Basohli as their residence. Exactly in the time of Mahadev (Shiv Nandan), a Shila (stone slab) miraculously started emerging out from a spring at Sukrala. The people of the area eftsoonly started realising the prophecy of the grandfather as had earlier been disclosed.They (the inhabitants) accepted it as an emblem of the Goddess and as such started worshipping it regularly.
Mal Mata Sukrala Devi is very benign Goddess who fulfills the wishes of here true devotees. According to a popular belief, all wishes to the extent of the birth of child, securing job for livelihood and for the curing of chronic diseases are fulfilled by the Shrine Shakti of Mal Mata. The images of Mata Ji is a Shila (piece of rock). It is seated on a brass lion with a silver mounted head. And in its backdrop is a figure of Mahishasurmurdini (Maa Durga) standing on Mahishasur. The Goddess is Chaturbhuja, the Goddess with four arms with a sword in one of her hands. The eyes are of silver inlaid with dark vermilion. Mal Mata Sukrala Devi is an important Shrine being revered and venerated by almost all over the State, particularly being a Kul Devi. The devotees across the State also visit this Sacred Shrine of Shakti around the year, particularly during Navratras on both the occasions. There are huge Bhandaras and Langars arranged by the locals and other devotees and the social activists.
Sukrala Mata Shrine: The Abobe of Goddess Durga | 810 |
Press About The Berkshires
Live it up like the rich in the Berksh<|fim_middle|> luxury of art, and treated with a benevolence that brings tears to my eyes."… read more.
In Categories: Press About The Berkshires. Tags: Arrowhead, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Blantyre, Castle Street Cafe, Chesterwood, Days Inn, Fall Foliage Festival, Great Barrington, MA, Guthrie Center, Hancock Shaker Village, Housatonic Heritage Walks, Lenox, MA, MASS MoCA, Mount Greylock, Norman Rockwell, North Adams, MA, Pittsfield, MA, Race Brook Lodge, Red Lion Inn, Rookwood Inn, SoCo Creamery, Stockbridge, MA, Tanglewood, The Clark, The Mount, W.E.B. Du Bois National Historic Site, Williamstown Film Festival, and Williamstown, MA. | ires
A century ago, writer Edith Wharton wrote of this town in Massachusetts, "Lenox has its own tonic effect on me, and I feel like a new edition, revised and corrected."
Wharton's guest at the time, novelist Henry James, concurred: "I am very happy here, surrounded by every loveliness of nature and every | 73 |
The German Advisory Group Ukraine, in cooperation with the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting and Otten Consulting gave a press conference at Interfax, Kiev on Thursday, February<|fim_middle|>y, Leading Research Fellow at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting. The audience consisted of a group of around 15 journalists. | 1st 2018. Topic of the press conference was the planned reform of corporate taxation in Ukraine.Findings from joint analysis about the economic and fiscal effects of the proposed new corporate tax – the "Tax on Withdrawn Capital" – in comparison with the present corporate tax were presented, as well as recommendations on policy measures to accompany the tax reform if it goes ahead. Speakers from the German Advisory Group Ukraine were Robert Kirchner, Project Manager, David Saha, lead author of the key papers on corporate tax reform and Thomas Otten, also owner of our cooperation partner Otten Consulting. We were joined by Oleksandra Betli | 130 |
Join<|fim_middle|>' button. | a market leading Health Organisation, based in CBD. This Australian business is looking for a high energy and experienced Executive Assistant to work and grow alongside the company. More than an administrative role, this business is looking for someone to play an integral role in encouraging the culture and cohesion of the team.
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Involuntary Childlessness
Fertility Radio
The Fertility Podcast
Once our PM series was underway, I was approached by Natalie Silverman from 'The Fertility Podcast' to ask if she could interview me about our work so far.
It felt like a strange request… it was my job to interview people about their lives. What would I say?
Turns out, I had a lot to say. In fact, I didn't take a breath! As you can hear:
Thank you to Natalie for finding me<|fim_middle|>ropath and Nutritionist from Australia whose personal struggle with fertility prompted her to help others trying to conceive.
Tasha asked me if I would be her expert guest for a webinar session entitled "Surviving Christmas with Infertility". So one morning before work, I sat and had a chat with this lovely lady from across the pond.
Thank you for having me Tasha, I look forward to the next one.
Featured Fertility Radio
Our interview with Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2
"I don't think we'll ever accept the idea that we won't meet our own biological baby…"
On our fifth wedding anniversary we spoke to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. A big deal for both of us, of course – he's a legend.
Jeremy wanted to know exactly what it's like for a couple to face many years of fertility problems.
So we told him:
We felt strong as we told Jeremy our story… until we started taking calls.
One brave lady called Sharon had not only faced five rounds of IVF, but during the treatment her husband passed away.
It broke my heart, and made me realise how lucky we are.
Fertility Press Radio
Bio News Review
The best review we received so far. Thank you Bio News.
"As a whole, the radio series achieves what it sets out to do. It offers listeners a window into the tumultuous world of assisted reproduction and demonstrates just how pervasive the desire to start a family can be when all attempts to conceive naturally fail. It is open and honest and isn't afraid to shine a spotlight on the darker emotions that can descend when future plans seem unattainable.
It is very easy as a listener to become invested in Sophie and Jonny's journey and I would thoroughly recommend the series to anyone who has experienced their own fertility struggles. The series would also be of benefit to anyone wanting to gain an understanding of how best to support friends or family through fertility treatment."
Full review here: https://www.bionews.org.uk/page_96296
BBC Family & Education News
"How does a couple survive failed IVF?"
Our story in video for the BBC's Family & Education Facebook Page. | , and asking me to be a part of your fantastic podcast series.
Surviving Christmas Webinar
Christmas can be a hideous time for people who can't have children.
In December 2017, I was approached by Tasha Jennings, a Natu | 54 |
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has announced the opening of nominations for the sixth annual 2017 NSW Women of the Year awards which recognise outstanding achievements by women across the state.
Mr Marshall said the awards celebrate extraordinary women from all walks of life, who deserve recognition for their outstanding achievements – and he's encouraging nominations from across his electorate.
"We know that across the different communities in my electorate we have women who<|fim_middle|> nomination from local MP's in their electorates.
The categories include the prestigious NSW Premier's Award for Woman of the Year, A.H. Beard's Community Hero Award, Rex's Regional Woman of the Year, Harvey Norman's Young Woman of the Year Award, Aboriginal Woman of the Year and a new category, Business Woman of the Year.
Entries close on 10 January 2017 and nominations can be made online at www.women.nsw.gov.au. A ceremony announcing the 2017 winners will be held on International Women's Day on 8 March 2017. | stand out with their remarkable and inspiring success stories," Mr Marshall said.
Glen Innes resident and community stalwart Jan Sharman OAM was the winner of the Northern Tablelands 2016 Local Woman of the Year.
Mr Marshall said Mrs Sharman had made an outstanding contribution to the community over 40 years and through a wide range of organisations and causes and epitomised the theme of the awards.
In 2015, the Northern Tablelands woman of the year was Colleen Graham of Tingha and in 2014 Armidale community crusader Sarah McFarlane-Eagle won the title.
"Nominations for awards like this never fail to remind us that many women are making a difference to the lives of people around them, in their communities and across this electorate," Mr Marshall said.
This year, there are six categories open for nominations from the community to honour the significant achievements of women, as well as one | 194 |
(weeks)
All Right? (52)
Health and Wellbeing (52)
It's All Right (13)
phase 1 (13)
All Righties (10)
Five Ways to Wellbeing (7)
Adshel (5)
Hagley Park (5)
Outrageous Burst (4)
Sue Turner (4)
Te Waioratanga (4)
All Right? Social Media: Facebook Timeline Images (x)
All Right? Social Media: Facebook Timeline Image 104
A photograph of three 'All Righties' with a customer at a Z Energy service station. The photograph was taken during the Outrageous Burst of All Right: Compliment Bombing project, which occurred in December 2013 at Z Curletts Road.
9:52am 18th December 2013
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Outrageous Burst, Compliment Bombing, All Righties, Z Energy, Z Curletts Road, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
All Right? Social Media: Facebook Timeline Image 70
A photograph of Donna from St Albans standing next to an All Right? advertisement in a Adshel bus stop with her quote on it. The poster reads "What makes us feel all right? Great kai, secondhand books, fish & chips, parks & chirpy people".
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Checking In, phase 3, Adshel, bus stop, poster, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of a large All Right? banner being installed on a Leighs Construction hoarding.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 18 February 2014 at 4:51pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Checking In, phase 3, Leighs Construction, banner, hoarding, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of a children's' event run by All Right? in partnership with SKIP (Strategies with Kids | Information for Parents).
All Right? posted the photograph on<|fim_middle|>apa Haka festival held in Hagley Park. On the table are posters from All Right?'s Te Waioratanga project.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Te Waioratanga, Te Matatini, Hagley Park, poster, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing | their Facebook page.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, SKIP, family, children, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photographic montage of coloured flags in different locations around the city. Each flag has a different slogan beginning with, "It's all right."
All Right? posted the image on their Facebook page 14 May 2013 at 1:07pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, flag, road cone, digger, collage, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of three 'All Righties' promoting the All Right? Winter Survival Kit at the Hagley netball courts.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 2 August 2014 at 5:00pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Winter Survival Kit, All Righties, Hagley Park, netball, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of an All Right? image on the first page of The Christchurch Star. The advertisement depicts two 'All Righties' wearing 3D glasses, and reads, "Caught up lately? How about a movie? - P27."
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 4 September 2013 at 4:59pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Five Ways to Wellbeing, phase 2, The Christchurch Star, newspaper, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of All Right? team members in Sumner for The Press Summer Starter. Summer Starter was a 10km run from New Brighton to Sumner.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Summer Starter, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of an All Right? billboard in a field in the Waimakariri district. The billboard reads, "It's all right if you feel frustrated at times."
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 19 March 2013 at 2:29pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, Waimakariri, billboard, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of people (including an 'All Rightie', Sue Turner and Lucy D'Aeth) wearing All Right? t-shirts and tinsel and dancing together.
All Right? posted the photograph on the Do A Little Dance Facebook Timeline on 15 December 2014 at 1:33pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Sue Turner, Lucy Death, Do A Little Dance, Body Festival, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of All Right? flags with different slogans along a grassy hill at the University of Canterbury.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 9 July 2013 at 4:26pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, University of University, flag, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
An image featuring a man in a suit with accessories made from pink straws, and reads, "Win with All Right and Buskers!" The image advertises a social media competition for a family weekend away in Hanmer, which was entered by posting something with the tags '@allrightnz' and '@worldbuskersfestival'.
All Right? posted the image on their Facebook page on 17 January 2014 at 3:52pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, World Buskers Festival, competition, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of a flag in a road cone, next to a digger carrying out road works. The flag is part of the first phase of All Right?'s advertising campaign, and reads, "It's all right if you're a tad on edge this morning".
11:08pm 14th May 2013
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, flag, road cone, digger, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of an All Right? flag attached to a fence in the central city. The flag reads, "It's all right to feel a little blue now and then."
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 25 March 2013 at 12:00pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, flag, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of two 'All Righties' with a group of young basketball players at Cowles Stadium.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 31 July 2014 at 4:48pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Winter Survival Kit, All Righties, Cowles Stadium, basketball, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of Ciaran Fox and Sue Turner of All Right? and an 'All Rightie' meeting with local superhero 'Flat Man'.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 26 May 2014 at 1:25pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Ciaran Fox, Sue Turner, All Righties, Flat Man, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of All Right? posters pasted onto a Phantom Billstickers board. The posters were part of the first phase of All Right?'s advertising campaign. Each poster contained a statement beginning with "It's all right".
11:17pm 25th February 2013
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, Phantom Billstickers, poster, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of Donovan Ryan of All Right? on a bike. Ryan has an All Right? flag on the back of his bike.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 8 April 2013 at 4:27pm.
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, It's All Right, phase 1, Donovan Ryan, flag, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of people (including three 'All Righties') posing with large coloured signs. The signs have various compliments on them, directed at the people of Canterbury.
All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 17 December 2013 at 10:25am.
5:47pm 22nd January 2014
mental health, wellbeing, All Right?, Compliments, All Righties, sign, Facebook, Health and Wellbeing
A photograph of two people visiting the All Right? stall at the 2015 Te Matatini National K | 1,405 |
The Kornit Breeze is compact, robust and engineered to combine high-end technology and performance. Engineered specifically for small to mid-sized commercial digital t<|fim_middle|>-post treatment needed! Kornit patented fixation on the fly (FOF) eliminates the need for external pretreatment process No post-treatment - Waterless printing system eliminates chemical processes and contaminants All you need is a single operator and a small space, for endless possibilities. One ink set for multiple fabric types Widest color gamut in the pigment direct-to-fabric industry. | -shirt printing businesses offering affordable direct-to-garment printing. The Kornit Breeze, like all Kornit printers, include an automatic pretreatment system and an ink degassing system.
The Kornit Storm II is the ideal digital direct to garment printer that answers the need for high-volume production printing businesses. Created to accelerate your production speed and increase volume, users enjoy unparalleled print quality, fast turnarounds and high profitability. The Storm II cost-effectively attains optimum printing results for your custom high-level Direct to Garment production.
The Kornit Storm duo, part of Kornit's R-series, is designed especially to optimize light fabric prints. With no white ink and accelerated print speed, the Storm Duo offers improved productivity and an amazing print quality with a wide color gamut.
Presenting 7-color direct-to-garment printing solution, the Storm Hexa is ideal for sports and licensing franchises. By creating brilliant, vivid White + CMYK + Red and Green color combinations, printers can easily reproduce the true colors of sport teams and accurately match corporate logos. Kornit's unique single-step printing solution improves your print quality while reducing your maintenance ink consumption.
Ideal for promotional t-shirt printers and mass production printers! The Storm 1000 offers accelerated production speed and volume, unparalleled print quality, fast turnaround and high profitability. Supreme quality and high-speed at low cost. Built for 24/7 operation, Storm 1000 will dramatically boost your print output without sacrificing on quality.
The Kornit Avalanche DC Pro is the version of the Kornit Avalanche that answers the call of the fashion market. With its additional print heads and discharge system, the Kornit Avalanche DC Pro, or DC Pro for short, produces an unprecedented soft-hand never before achieved in digital garment printing. This allows the digital garment printer, for the first time, to successfully enter the fashion industry.
The industrial engineered Kornit Avalanche 1000 is optimized for your digital mass-production printing needs. As Kornit's fastest industrial t-shirt and garment printer, the Avalanche 1000, or AVK for short, easily surpasses the high-quality, high-speed and low cost printing demands of the garment and textile printing market. It is specifically tailored to ensure supreme print quality, outstanding accuracy and exceptional consistency.
The Kornit Avalanche Hexa was specifically developed to meet the color and quality demands of the fashion and sports apparel industry. The Kornit Avalanche HEXA, simply HEXA for short, adds Red and Green to the traditional CMYK print system which increases the Kornit color gamut by 30%; this benefits the color range for the print, fashion and design world. Accurately identify the color needed for sporting, company and promotional materials with the robustly designed high-production industrial printer from Kornit Digital. Extend the available spot color options and far surpass what is possible with the conventional four color CMYK palette.
The Kornit Vulcan is Kornit's response to the challenges of mass customization. It was designed to meet the major trend of mass customization, in both cost-efficiency and productivity. Now, screen printers that were struggling with less-profitable jobs will be able to increase their profit by converting to digital printing.
Want to facilitate your workflow? Meet the Kornit Allegro, the digital textile printer that goes from print to cut in just one step. The all-in-1 solution for roll-to-roll printing. With only a few minutes from file to finished fabric, and a sustainable process, Kornit Allegro is the fastest, most cost effective way to start printing on textile. Ideal for fashion, swimwear, home textile, and more! No pre-or | 762 |
Interview with Sinan Ascioglu
Tim Stutts | Fri Feb 26th, 2010 1 p.m.
"Driving through Iceland" sketch by dotlassie. Winner of Rhizome's Tiny Sketch Competition.
OpenProcessing.org is a site that has built a community around sharing visual coding examples created in Processing. As user number 36, I had the unique privilege of watching the idea take shape, while in a thesis group with Sinan at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. During it's first two years of activity, the site has grown to host thousands of user-generated sketches and subsequent conversations between artists / programmers, teachers, and students from around the world. Sinan and I escaped the snow recently at a café outside Washington Square Park to discuss OpenProcessing's origins, Rhizome's collaboration with OpenProcessing in the Tiny Sketch competition, and what we can expect for the future. - Tim Stutts
Tim: How did you first come up with the idea for OpenProcessing?
Sinan: I guess the first thing to talk about is OpenVisuals, which was my Master's thesis project at ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program, New York University). I was reading Edward Tufte's books at the time, and I became very interested in data visualization. In the meantime I was also fascinated with the social revolution that was happening on the web, through a class I was taking at NYU with professor Clay Shirky. Before studying with Clay, I didn't understand Facebook—I didn't even have a Facebook account. I knew I was missing some concepts, and wanted to understand what was going on. Through his classes, I decided that my thesis would have a social component. I also discovered ManyEyes, a site where users can upload datasets, and choose between different the visualization methods for augmentation. Users comment on each other's visualizations, and may even suggest other ways of looking at or representing the dataset. What ...
Tags: animation code collborative community composition data visualization drawing
Interview with Jeff Hnilicka of FEAST
Jenny Jaskey | Fri Feb 5th, 2010 1 p.m.
As the second part of a series on art, labor, and politics, I spoke with Jeff Hnilicka of FEAST, a Brooklyn-based community dinner that funds the work of emerging artists. FEAST will be hosting their next meal tomorrow evening, February 6, from 5-8 p.m. at Church of the Messiah, 129 Russell St, Brooklyn NY. The event is open to the public. - Jenny Jaskey
What is FEAST and how did you begin?
Jeff Hnilicka: FEAST has been going on for a little over a year and runs out of a church basement in Greenpoint. There are around twenty people who help facilitate it. We come from the art world, food world, and design world, and we are connected to ideas of collectivism and immediacy - things like zines, living room dance parties, bike rides, and dinners. Many of us are also involved with Hit Factorie, an artist collective.
FEAST grew out of our desire to investigate the collapse of cultural production in the face of emerging sustainable food production systems that were successful. We wanted to ask "what is localism?" in relation to cultural production and how the structures of a farm co-op translate to an art economy. In the food world, the sustainable is the heirloom - that is the desired experience. In cultural production, the sustainable is relegated to the amateur, the "craft." But we wondered: can you produce high quality cultural products using a sustainable model? Those were our basic goals. What developed was a dinner party, where around 300 people come to a church basement every couple of months. We ask for $10-20 donations at the door to attend the dinner, although no one is turned away. Artists propose projects over the course of the meal, and the guests select one project to fund. We vote democratically. Whichever ...
Tags: community DIY market politics
Ceci Moss | Tue Jan 5th, 2010 2 p.m.
Never mind that the decade really ends in a little over a year, it's time to take stock of it. Today's post looks back at the decade just past while tomorrow's will look at the decade to come.
As I observed before, this decade is marked by atemporality. The greatest symptom of this is our inability to name the decade and, although commentators have tried to dub it the naughties, the aughts, and the 00s (is that pronounced the ooze?), the decade remains, as Paul Krugman suggests, a Big Zero, and we are unable to periodize it. This is not just a matter of linguistic discomfort, its a reflection of the atemporality of network culture. Jean Baudrillard is proved right. History, it seems, came to an end with the<|fim_middle|> art projects. The soup cafe was an extension of their ongoing project Sunday Soup, which offers monthly meals in their storefront space in order to fundraise money for individual artist's projects. Sunday Soup is but one example of the alternative economic models put forth by InCUBATE's varied activities and research. In a shaky economic climate, InCUBATE's grassroots approach to arts funding propose useful solutions to enduring, and most likely, increasingly pressing obstacles. For our ongoing series dealing with contemporary art and the recession, I decided to interview InCUBATE (Abigail Satinsky, Bryce Dwyer, Roman Petruniak, and Matthew Joynt) about their activities. - Ceci Moss
What is InCUBATE and how did it begin?
InCUBATE stands for the Institute for Community Understanding Between Art and the Everyday. We are an experimental research institute and artist residency program dedicated to exploring new approaches to arts administration and arts funding. Acting as curators, researchers and co-producers of artist's projects, our main focus has been to explore ways that artists, both historically and today, have incorporated models of resource allocation, community building, funding structures and forms of exchange as part of their artistic practice.
We originally came together while studying Arts Administration and Policy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given our desire to provoke a critical recognition of how art practices can better relate to alternative systems of economic and cultural exchange ...
Tags: collaborative community DIY interview market participatory politics
Splashback: Rhizome's Splash Pages, 1998-2002
Rhizome | Tue Apr 14th, 2009 1 p.m.
Image: Mark Tribe, Alex Galloway, and Martin Wattenberg, Starry Night, 1999
Rhizome is pleased to announce the launch of "Splashback: Rhizome's Splash Pages, 1998-2002," an online exhibition featuring the 39 splash pages commissioned over a four-year period. "Splashback" offers a brief overview of online art and design practices from ten years ago through a nearly obsolete medium, the splash page.
Artists include: Annie Abrahams, Daniel Garcia Andujar, Ben Benjamin, heath bunting, Gregory Chatonsky, Shu Lea Cheang, Andrew Childs, Curt Cloninger, David Crawford, Mark Daggett, Joshua Davis, entropy8zuper, Andrew Forbes, Valery Grancher, Matthew Hoessli, Olia Lialina, David Lindeman, jimpunk, JODI, Yael Kanarek, Lucas Kuzma, Antonio Mendoza, Mouchette, MTAA, Robbin Murphy, Nettmedia, Scott Paterson, Pavu, Waldemar Pranckiewicz, Reinis, Satellite01, Sigma6, Starry Night, Eugene Thacker, Jake Tilson, Maciej Wisniewski, Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries
"Splashback" is organized by Brian Droitcour, Rhizome Curatorial Fellow.
Site built by Elise Roedenbeck, Technology Assistant.
Tags: animation ArtBase community curation design flash net.art | millennium, which was a countdown not only to the end of a millennium but also to the end of meaning itself. Perhaps, the Daily Miltonian suggested, we didn't have a name for the decade because it was so bad.
-- EXCERPT FROM "A DECADE IN RETROSPECT" BY KAZYS VARNELIS
It's time for my promised set of predictions for the coming decade. It has been a transgression of disciplinary norms for historians to predict the future, but its also quite common among bloggers. So let's treat this as a blogosphere game, nothing more. It'll be interesting to see just how wildly wrong I am a decade from now.
In many respects, the next decade is likely to seem like a hangover after the party of the 2000s (yes, I said party). The good times of the boom were little more than a lie perpetrated by finance, utterly ungrounded in any economy reality, and were not based on any sustainable economic thought. Honestly, it's unclear ...
Tags: architecture community corporate DIY green market mobile network politics social media urban
VisitorsStudio
John Michael Boling | Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 9 a.m.
VisitorsStudio is a real-time, multi-user, online arena for creative 'many to many' dialogue, interviews, networked performance and collaborative polemic. Through simple and accessible facilities, the VisitorsStudio web-based interface allows users to upload, manipulate and collage their own audio-visual files with others', to remix existing media. Providing a platform for the exploration of collective creativity for both emergent and established artists from a diverse array of geographical locations and social contexts. Designed so anyone in the world can access it from a 56k modem. Participants upload sound files and still/moving images (jpg, png, mp3, flv, swf) to a shared database, mixing and responding to each other's compositions in real-time. Individuals can also chat with each other and are located in the interface by their own dancing-cursors.
Congratulations to Furtherfield.org and Furtherstudio.org for winning the Grand Prize for netarts 2009 from the Machida City Museum of Graphic Art.
Tags: collaboration community network participatory remix
I'll Be Your Mirror
ed halter | Mon Sep 28th, 2009 10 a.m.
Image: Candice Breitz, Factum Kang, 2009.
Candice Breitz's current exhibition "Candice Breitz: Same Same" at The Power Plant in Toronto includes the premiere of the first works in Factum, a series commissioned by the gallery. Named after a pair of paintings by Robert Rauchenberg, Factum I and Factum II (both 1957), that appear indistinguishable but reveal differences on closer inspection, Breitz's Factum consists of interviews with identical twins, found by placing ads on craigslist in Toronto and in the city's alternative weekly. Each set of twins appears side by side one another on matching monitors, hung portrait-style. Breitz spoke to each sibling separately about their lives, but using similar questions, then edited the discussions so the pair's words and gestures play off one another, highlighting both parallels and departures. The college-age Kang sisters, for example, diverge when discussing whether one twin has had a tendency to look up to the other, while a set of seventy-something siblings tell complementary stories of getting not-quite-matching rounds of plastic surgery over the years. Each piece runs roughly an hour, feeling like deftly structured documentaries unto themselves.
Prior to the opening of Same Same—her first major solo survey in North America—Breitz gave a sneak preview of a few freshly-edited examples from Factum at the Toronto Film Festival in a talk called "The Origins of Factum," part of the festival's Future Projections sidebar, which focuses on the intersections of cinema and the visual arts. In addition to a discussion with TIFF co-director Noah Cowan, Breitz screened a number of clips from cinematic works that informed the creation of her latest work. The following are excerpts from a transcript of her talk, including three of the films she screened. - Ed Halter
I'm going to start by answering two ...
Tags: community festival film loop
Interview with Casey Reas and Ben Fry
Daniel Shiffman | Wed Sep 23rd, 2009 11 a.m.
Created by Casey Reas and Ben Fry, Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions. It is used by students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook and professional production tool. Processing is an alternative to proprietary software tools in the same domain.
I first discovered Processing in 2003 at ITP while exploring different options for creating a set of tutorials about generative algorithms. We quickly realized that Processing could transform our approach to teaching programming and have adopted it as the language learned by all incoming students. I'm thrilled to have this chance to talk to Casey and Ben a little about the origins of Processing, their philosophy, work, and plans for the future. - Daniel Shiffman
Tags: community data visualization design generative software Writers Initiative
Interview with James Voorhies
Ceci Moss | Mon Sep 14th, 2009 noon
Image: Front of Office of Collective Play, the temporary storefront space that will be used for programming during "Descent to Revolution"
Last Thursday, the new exhibition "Descent to Revolution" organized by Columbus College of Art & Design's Bureau for Open Culture opened in Columbus, Ohio. Taking place around the city and at a temporary location in a former storefront downtown, "Descent to Revolution" will host residencies by five artist collectives and collaboratives over the course of the next three months. These groups will take up projects that engage and respond to the city of Columbus. The first resident is Portland-based collective Red76, followed by Claire Fontaine, Learning Site, REINIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT, and Tercerunquinto. "Descent to Revolution" curator and the director of exhibitions for the Bureau for Open Culture James Voorhies took a moment to answer a few questions about the show. You can follow the exhibition as it develops through the "Descent to Revolution" blog, here. - Ceci Moss
It seems like the multidisciplinary and fluid nature of the exhibitory framework for "Descent to Revolution" is a natural extension of the Bureau for Open Culture's activities and ethos. I am wondering if you can speak more about the Bureau for Open Culture itself and how the space came into being.
Yes. "Descent to Revolution" is, in a way, a culmination of some of the underlying ideas of what we're doing at the Bureau for Open Culture. The Bureau for Open Culture was created as a way to give shape to the exhibition program I've been operating since 2006. Many of the projects we've organized have taken place outside of the gallery or had components outside of it and often involved participants from diverse disciplines and locations like libraries, non-profit music venues, city-owned sites, empty storefronts and other area universities ...
Tags: collaboration collaborative community DIY participatory performance theory urban
Brian Droitcour | Thu May 14th, 2009 3:30 p.m.
Video: Lucky Dragons at Pehr Space, August 2008
Any set has begin and end, but the Lucky Dragons played that down in a New York appearance last Saturday; they switched on some recorded sounds as the audience was taking seats, and demonstrated their equipment and chatted after the music's long, slow fadeout. The structure suits the group's hippie philosophy that doesn't assign prominence to any musical moments, but treats all sounds (and people) equally. They also tried to erase borders between performer and audience by encouraging listeners to be mobile, approach the instruments, and improvise, although the narrow length of The Stone, crammed with folding chairs, made it tough for anyone past the two front rows to join in. Lucky Dragons stalwarts Luke Fishbeck and Sarah Andersen were joined by drummer Ches Smith and guitarist Grey Gersten, the curator of The Stone's program this month.
Once everyone was settled in place, Smith and Gersten entered lightly, playing inside the framework of the electronic pulse already hovering in the venue. Gersten struck and dampened his instrument's strings percussively, rather than playing melodies. Over time the drums and guitar settled into a hazy backdrop for electronic, pentatonic glissandos emanating from Fishbeck and Andersen's hacked instruments. Later on they handed audience members a short-circuited wire—wrapped in a colorful knit cozy for safety—that played triadic chords when touched, varying volume according to intensity of squeezes and the amount of grounding (Fader recorded a demonstration of it). The accidental harmonies of that cord, like most of the sonorities in the Lucky Dragons' music, seems to skip across the overtone series, as if the electronic tool is just picking up the natural vibrations hanging in the air. It could be the signature instrument in their wired drum circle ...
Tags: community interactive music performance
Interview with InCUBATE
Ceci Moss | Fri Apr 24th, 2009 4 p.m.
InCUBATE storefront (Photo by Bryce Dwyer)
I first encountered InCUBATE's work at Creative Time's exhibition "Convergence Center at Park Avenue Armory." For the run of the show, this Chicago-based artist-run organization set up a temporary soup cafe in collaboration with artist Robin Hewlett and artist group Material Exchange. Visitors were invited to purchase soup, and these funds were then directed toward small grants to support | 2,063 |
Alison Muckle, B.A. is a Senior Research Analyst<|fim_middle|> from American University with honors in Psychology. | in the Health Care Department at NORC. She has experience in health information technology (health IT) research, program and policy evaluation, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. Currently, Muckle provides research support in the areas of study design, instrument development, qualitative methods and data analysis for a range of program evaluations and projects focused on health IT. Muckle serves as technical lead for the evaluation of the ONC Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARP) Program, which supports innovative collaborative research in four critical areas. She has a strong interest in open source healthcare technologies, and her previous work includes development of content for HRSA's open source EHR toolbox for health centers. Additionally, she recently helped develop an ONC-funded Study and Report on Open Source Health IT Systems, for which she contributed to an environmental scan, conducted site visit discussions and collaborated with experts and leaders in open source. Muckle graduated | 182 |
Up to 12 months, as low as Rs. 9<|fim_middle|> 51-point AF system help make high-action photography of up to 6 fps possible. Moreover, it has added features for video recording, such as in-camera time-lapse and optional creative effects, to deliver equally outstanding video quality that the Nikon imaging system and DX-format lineup is well known for.
The package comes with the fully compatible Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR all-in-one zoom lens, which is optimized to draw full potential from the Nikon D7200's DX sensor. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or group shots at events, this versatile lens is perfect for your Nikon DSLR camera. | ,542 per month.
The brand-new D7200 DX-format camera is Nikon's first digital SLR that makes it easy to share your stunning photos online. It's the first Nikon DSLR model to have built-in Wi-Fi® and Near Field Communication (NFC) connectivity to enable wireless sharing of high-quality photos and videos within seconds. Its 24.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor, which is specifically developed for the DX-format camera, comes without an optical low-pass filter. It means that the sensor captures only sharp and accurate photos and videos, even at the maximum ISO sensitivity of 25,600.
The D7200's remarkable EXPEED 4 image processing engine and | 150 |
I decided to try Dragon software to see how easy it would be to blog using this. I have experimented with Microsoft's speech recognition software. However, Microsoft speech recognition software seems to be difficult to use at best.
This post is going to be completely narrated by me dictating<|fim_middle|> below.
What ever you do, stay safe! | through Dragon software. Any and all corrections are also done using voice only. Dragon seems to be quite adept at handling this. I find that it is actually enjoyable to use the software compared to any other software's I have seen. I can highly recommend Dragon software specifically NaturallySpeaking version 11.
I initially purchased the software for my son who's in college so that he could make his term papers much more easily.I do not know if he's even tried out the software yet but I think you would be pleased. I believe that he could easily write a term paper using this software. I wish I had something like this when I was in college. The only way to get something typed by dictation was to pay someone to type it out. And that cost would probably be more than the software. When I say that, I mean that it would cost more just for one term paper than for buying this software which can be used over and over again.
I hope you enjoy this post it's a little new for me to dictate versus typing. I actually enjoy writing things such as typing things out. I did find this an interesting experiment. I will give you a link to purchasing Dragon software | 239 |
A patent application containing a written description of the invention sufficient to enable one of skill in the art to practice the invention without undue experimentation (the "specification"), typically one or more drawings, and one or more claims are filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO").
The application is first examined as to form and completeness, and the application is then passed to a USPTO Examiner who examines the application for substantive compliance with Title 35 of the United States Code. The Examiner, who typically has a science or engineering degree, and may (but is not required to) hold a law degree, studies the application and conducts a search of the prior art. The results of the Examiner's search are communicated to the applicant in writing in the form of a so-called "Office Action."
Typically, a PTO Examiner will reject patent claims as "anticipated" under §102, and/or as "obvious" under §103, based on the prior art search. This rejection starts a process of negotiations between the Examiner and the applicant (or his attorney). The applicant then files a response or an "Amendment" in which the claims (1) may be amended, typically by the addition of one or more limitations, or (2) canceled in favor of new, narrower, or more limited claims. Technical arguments are also presented urging a basis for why the new, more limited claims are not anticipated by or obvious from the prior art. The Examiner may (1) maintain the original rejection, (2) conduct a further search and issue a further Action rejecting the claims based on the further search, or (3) allow the application.
Patent Allowance Rates, as compiled by www.patentlyo.com
The examination process is analogous to a contract negotiation. The Applicant begins the negotiation by filing a patent application with claims which define the "offer." The Examiner, after conducting a prior art search, may accept the "offer", or the Examiner may reject the "offer", e.g. for the reason that the claims do not meet the "novel/nonobvious" criteria of §§ 102 or 103. In essence, the Examiner rejects a claim "offer" as "too high" or "too broad." It is then up to the<|fim_middle|> (2) a new application with more restricted or narrower claims. The Examiner may (1) accept the applicant's new "offer", or (2) reject the claims again, or (3) make a "counter-offer" suggesting more restricted or narrower claims which would be allowable. Unlike conventional contract negotiations which are integrated into the written contract, the proceedings or prosecution in the Patent Office remains available to interpret and limit the patent. This is known as the "file wrapper" or the "prosecution history."
In building a patent portfolio a company must make several business determinations including: (1) determine the importance of each technology to its business in each country; (2) the value that a patent would have; and (3) the risks of not having that particular patent. These decisions must be made early in order to protect the company's rights in ideas and developments related to new and improved products and processes. Early decision-making also provides the maximum number of options for protecting the new product or process.
Look at our results. | applicant to come forward with a new, lower (more narrow) "offer" which typically takes the form of (1) an Amendment in which the claims are narrowed or restricted, or | 37 |
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
CLA250 4MATIC SedanCLA250 SedanCLA45 AMG Sedan
Torquey turbo-four
Respectable fit and finish
Cramped rear seats
Rough ride in CLA45 AMG
Gets expensive quickly
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Expert Review
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class gains a new steering wheel design. A larger seven-inch screen has been added to the Multimedia Package, Keyless-Go is now part of the Premium Package, and ambient lighting comes with the Interior Package.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is a small sedan with coupe-like styling available in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations. A turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 is the only engine option and comes with 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in the CLA250 or 355 hp and 332 lb-ft in the CLA 45 AMG. Both variants are paired to a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission. Fuel economy is competitive for the class at 26/38 mpg city/highway in the front-drive CLA250, 24/33 mpg in the CLA250 4Matic, and 23/31 mpg in the CLA45 AMG.
Performance is a strong point in the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, offering plenty of power for all situations. The car's chassis is also well tuned and is able to absorb rough surface and transmits little harshness into the cabin. For maximum performance, consider the CLA45 AMG with its more powerful turbo-four,<|fim_middle|> a 2014 CLA250 First Test that tall adults wouldn't fit well in the rear due to the lack of headroom while the seats didn't have much in terms of lateral support. The CLA45 AMG, on the other hand, has impressive performance thanks to its strong engine and stiff suspension, making it extremely fun to pilot on winding mountain roads. However, in a 2014 CLA45 First Test, we said that the AMG-tuned chassis absorbs little road imperfections, making it ride harsh over rough surfaces and not ideal as a road trip car. | performance-tuned suspension and all-wheel drive system. This model provides plenty of power everywhere in the rev range and quick shifts from the seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. Ride quality, however, suffers in the CLA45 because the aggressive chassis tuning makes every rough surface known to occupants.
Interior space in the 2015 CLA-Class is decent for front seat passengers, however the cramped rear positions mean that it won't fit adults who are taller than average. Trunk space is on the small side at 13.1 cubic feet of volume but can be expanded with the split-folding rear seats. Fit and finish, on the other hand, is class competitive with high-quality materials used throughout the cabin and nice details such as galvanized climate control vent surrounds. However, most desirable features require the addition of packages that can cause the price to quickly pass the $40,000 mark.
Despite being Mercedes-Benz's entry-level model, the 2015 CLA-Class is well-built and a good performer. In a 2014 First Drive of the CLA250, we said that the car has plenty of power for all situations and doesn't suffer from torque steer in front-drive guise. Handling is also notable because the CLA's stiff chassis makes it feel playful but without sacrificing ride comfort. Interior fit and finish is respectable for the class but space on the other hand is compromised due to the CLA's swooping roofline. We noted in | 304 |
Dietrich, Mary Lou Collection
Credit: Mary Lou Dietrich Collection, Northeast Historic Film. A man playing the violin on the beach, Maine, 1956.
Primary Format and Extent film (7,800 ft) : si., b&w and col. ; 8mm
Secondary Format and Extent film (100 ft) : si., b&w and col. ; 16mm
Collection Date Range 1954 – 1970
Amateur films
Boats and boating
Orrington, Maine
Cape Rosier, Maine
Summary This collection contains 153 reels of 8mm home movies filmed by Albert G. Dietrich and Mary Miller Dietrich and one 16 mm reel of home movies filmed by Mary's father Alton Miller. The footage was shot primarily in Maine and includes family activities and vacations with their three children, and an exchange student from Finland who lived with the Family in 1967. In addition to shots of their home in Orrington and camp life in Cape Rosier there are shots of the Penobscot Bay islands and Helen and Scott Nearing's Forest Farm in Harborside. There are also travel films from around New England including Lake Winnipesaukee, Expo 67 in Montreal, Quebec and Las Animas, Colorado.
Biographical/Historical Notes Mary Miller Dietrich (1919-2004) was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1919. She studied at Mount Holyoke College and Tufts University Medical School, becoming a M.D. in 1945. Early in her career she maintained a private practice out of her house in Orrington, Maine. She would later work at the Cutler Student Health Center at the University of Maine, Eastern Maine General Hospital, and St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor. She belonged to a number of medical societies, including the American Women's Association, the Penobscot County Medical Society, the Bangor Medical Club, and the American Academy of General Practice. Mary was also an active volunteer, and an accomplished artist and musician. She passed away on October 5, 2004.
Mary Miller Dietrich married Albert G. Dietrich (1914-2002) in 1947. Albert was a social worker who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. A conscientious objector during World War II, he served<|fim_middle|> and served on multiple other committees related to mental health issues. Albert passed away on June 17, 2002.
Mary and Albert had three children, Mary Louise, David, and Mark, who also appear in the films. The family divided their time between Orrington and Cape Rosier, Maine. They were also friends with peace activists Peace Pilgrim, and Scott and Helen Nearing of Harborside, Maine.
Repository Northeast Historic Film
Availability Access is restricted; consult repository for detail.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use Authorization to reuse and/or reproduce must be obtained from Northeast Historic Film. See http://oldfilm.org/content/stock-footage-licensing for more information.
154 Items in this collection | with the Civilian Public Service. Albert worked at a social worker in Iowa and Nebraska before settling in Maine. There, he worked as a lecturer at the University of Maine, the executive director of Community Health and Counseling Services, and a teacher at the Bangor Theological Seminary and Bangor Community College. He was also appointed the chair of the Committee of Child Welfare, | 75 |
Belize is a premier ecotourism destination for those desiring a unique vacation experience similar to that of Costa Rica, but closer to home and where English is the national language. Its diverse geography, flora and fauna, spectacular reefs, comfortable climate, and intriguing Mayan culture make it a destination that appeals to many people seeking an affordable, Caribbean lifestyle that also provides the major amenities they have come to expect.
San Pedro is the focal point of activities that takes place on Ambergris Caye. It is a popular tourist retreat for both Belizeans as well as seasoned travelers, thus generating the lion's share of Belize<|fim_middle|> book your stay at Grand Baymen Gardens online. Come see for yourself the charm and beauty of Ambergris Caye Belize.
Learn more about Ambergris Caye and Belize. | 's tourism revenue. San Pedro's populace fluctuates during the year with about two-thirds of the island's 25,000 inhabitants located in or near the town. The populace of San Pedro Town includes a large Hispanic component, but both English and Spanish are spoken by San Pedranos.
Belize is easy to reach - only a couple-hour flight from major American cities such as Houston, Dallas and Miami, it is readily accessible for many North Americans. The fact that English is the primary language and the Belize dollar is tied to the US dollar provide a margin of comfort critical to many potential expats.
Given the expanding tourism industry and the Belizean government's continued commitment to tourism, a stable country such as Belize presents an opportunity to buy into a strong real estate market that will continue expanding far into the future.
Conveniently | 169 |
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Do you need a joke, quotation, paragraph, or poem about a particular subject or topic? Go to the search box found at the top right side of this page and type it in. We have a surprising variety of material and we add new stuff regularly, so you just might find what you want.
What is Americana? Americana is that which relates to the culture and history of the United States of America, including its people, writings, music, and artifacts.
You are now on the Make Fun Of Life! Website . . . where humor, inspiration, and learning are back together again - as they were always meant to be.
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Are you interested in the United States Space Force? Simply click on the image shown above to visit the official website.
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Remember he was poor and country-bred;
His face was lined; he walked with awkward gait.
Smart people laughed at him sometimes and said,
"How can so very plain a man be great?"
Remember he was humble, used to toil.
Strong arms he had to build a shack, a fence,
Long legs to tramp the woods, to plow the soil,
A head chuck full of backwoods common sense.
Remember all he ever had he earned.
He walked in time through stately White House doors;
But all he knew of men and life he learned
In little backwoods cabins, country stores.
Remember that his eyes could light with fun;
That wisdom, courage, set his name apart;
But when the rest is duly said and done,
Remember that men loved him for his heart.
by Mildred Meigs
Mildred Meigs was born as Mildred Plew in 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. Her first husband was Carl Plummer Merryman, who was born on 18 January 1893 in Bangor, Maine. Her second husband was Clifford Hutchinson Meigs. Her works may appear with her last name as either Merryman or Meigs. She was a poet and a writer. Her poems and stories were printed in "Child Life" magazine and in her published books. She is known for her book "Moon Song" (1923). Mildred Meigs passed on at 51 years of age on 27 February 1944 in Valparaiso, Florida, United States of America.
A Lesson from History
A Lesson from History
Everything's easy after it's done;
Every battle's a 'cinch' that's won;
Every problem is clear that's solved -
The earth was round when it 'revolved!'
But Washington stood amid grave doubt
With enemy forces camped about;
He could not know how he would fare
Till 'after' he'd crossed the Delaware.
Though the river was full of ice
He did not think about it twice,
But started across in the dead of night,
The enemy waiting to open the fight.
Likely feeling pretty blue,
Being human, same as you,
But he was brave amid despair,
And Washington crossed the Delaware!
So when you're with trouble beset,
And your spirits are soaking wet,
When all the sky with clouds is black,
Don't lie down upon your back
And look at 'them.' Just do the thing;
Though you are choked, still try to sing.
If times are dark, believe them fair,
And you will cross the Delaware!
by Joseph Morris
One of three of George Washington's crossings of the Delaware River occurred on the night of 25 and 26 December 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. Once on the other side, he and his troops undertook a daring surprise attack and captured nearly 1,000 Hessians, or German soldiers hired by the British as mercenaries, along with their military supplies.
Image shown:"Washington Crossing the Delaware" (1851) by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (1816 - 1868)
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
by Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt: excerpt from the speech "Citizenship in a Republic" (23 April 1910) at the Sorbonne in Paris, France
Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt, Junior was born on 27 October 1858 in New York City, New York, United States of America. He became a soldier, a writer, and the twenty-sixth President of the United States of America (1901 - 1909). Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt, Junior passed on at 60 years of age on 6 January 1919 in Oyster Bay, New York, United States of America.
Image shown: Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt, Junior (1885)
The Flag That Betsy Made
There are many hallowed symbols
That enshrine the deeds of men.
Some are trite and some are sacred.
Some are soon forgotten when
Passing time erodes their meaning,
Or the years their glory fade.
Passing years but add new glory
To the flag that Betsy made.
'Twas a time when men of valor
Took their stand for liberty.
Fought and died to build a nation,
Sacrificed to make men free.
And they asked all men to muster;
Men of courage - unafraid.
So they came from far to rally
'Round the flag that Betsy made.
Through the years new stars have flourished
On that field of azure blue.
Now new millions hoist the banner,
Marching toward horizons new.
Yet unborn hordes will muster 'round her.
'Til tyranny has been allayed.
For no flag emblazons freedom
Like the flag that Betsy made.
by Dwayne W. Laws: as published in Monta Henrichs Crane and Betty Wallace Scott, compilers: "Along the Way" (1977), 'Book III - The Influence of Faces - Heroes,' page 167
Through a Child's Eyes
We took my four-year-old nephew through Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois, at an hour when we happened to be the only visitors. A very lovely lady guided us through, pointing out things she felt might especially interest Lanny. As we left, he looked up at his mother and said, "Mommy, wasn't Mrs. Lincoln nice?"
by Mrs. Flossie Pulford: as published in "Sunshine: A Soulful Magazine" (November 1975), Volume 52, Number 11, page 30
Mildred Flossie Pulford was born on 19 December 1889 in Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. She was married at 22 years of age on 20 December 1911 in Windsor, Sandwich South Township, Essex County, Ontario, Canada, to William John Donaghy. Mildred Flossie Pulford passed on at 81 years of age on 3 July 1971.
Image shown: Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois, United States of America.
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Beaumont | 1,552 |
Registration is now open for the 2018 – 2019 Afterschool Program!
The afterschool program is available from 3:00 – 5:30pm Monday through Friday. This program serves students in Pre-K 4 through 5th grade. There will be no afterschool care on early dismissal and non-school days.
The afterschool program is a fun, safe place for your student to spend their time until you are able to pick them up. We offer a variety of games and activities for all ages. We also go outside each day, if the weather permits. When we have adequate staffing, homework time will be offered to students in grades 3, 4 and 5.
We<|fim_middle|> If a child, brings their own snack, please make sure it is nut-free. No candy, gum or drinks are allowed.
Please keep in mind that there may be a wait list for some students. We need to have adequate staffing to cover the number of students we take. | offer a snack for 50 cents per day. All of our schools are nut-free zones. | 20 |
Matcha is everywhere now: in our lattes, our ice cream, our doughnuts. With its striking color and refreshing flavor, who's to say where matcha can't go? But for all the novel ways Americans are enjoying this distinctive Japanese tea, very little matcha is making its way into traditional tea bowls, to be drunk the way aficionados have for hundreds of years. In other words, we in the West need work on our matcha fundamentals.
This guide cuts through the Instagram clutter and hazy health claims to provide a solid introduction to all things matcha. Whether it's your first time picking up a tea whisk or you're a seasoned matcha drinker, here are the essentials.
Traditional matcha is a neon-green powder made from tencha, a specific style of Japanese green tea in which the leaf is partially shaded for three weeks before harvest. This shading alters the tea plant's chemical content as it struggles for light, bringing out intense sweetness and umami.
Since whole tea leaves in cold storage will keep longer than powdered tea, it is kept refrigerated, as tencha, until it's ready to be packaged. Typically, only when an order is placed for matcha does a processor begin the arduous work of removing the tencha's stems and veins, and then grinding the tender leaf into a fine powder. A hand-carved granite wheel is used, at a relatively slow speed, so as to not heat the leaves and diminish their flavor. The matcha is then packaged, nitrogen-flushed to remove any oxygen, and sealed.
Today, matcha is the only tea that we consume in powdered form. But this was not always the case: in China's Song Dynasty (960–1279), all tea was hand-ground and whipped into a creamy, frothy drink. During the subsequent Ming Dynasty, in 1391, the Hongwu emperor prohibited the practice of grinding tea and promoted the brewing style of whole-leaf infusion we now all know—but not before powdered, whipped tea had migrated to Japan. Here, matcha was refined and blossomed into chanoyu, or the way of tea. This intricate, choreographed practice of drinking matcha has its roots in Zen Buddhism, and was codified in Japan about five hundred years ago.
Over the past decade or so, increased global demand for matcha has led many<|fim_middle|> and milk ice for Taiwanese-style shaved ice. Follow this matcha-ginger ice cream recipe for a basic formula.
In cooking: Matcha's grassy-umami flavor works delightfully in a finishing salt. Combine 1 part matcha with 4 parts coarse sea salt, mix well, and sprinkle on toast with abandon.
In cocktails: Matcha mixes seamlessly into shaken cocktails, adding deep flavor and a creamy heft. Try this cocktail recipe from our forthcoming tea book.
In recent years, matcha has expanded from its traditional roots, such as with this delicious cocktail created by Marcie Anderson at Daniel in New York City.
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Dry shake, then shake with ice; strain into a wide clay bowl or preferred vessel without ice. Garnish with dusting of matcha. | processors to modify the traditional methods. Much of the "green tea powder" marketed as matcha is actually grown outside Japan (in China or Argentina, for instance) from inferior root stock. Even Japanese producers may swap out the traditional granite mills for stainless steel grinders to accelerate the process: these work faster than stone, but they spin so fast that friction from the grind can heat up the tea, affecting its volatile compounds.
None of which is to say these shortcuts—such as non-Japanese "matcha," or steel-ground matcha, or tencha shaded for less time to speed up processing—yield fraudulent products, if they're labeled properly. Matcha is a precious tea, and less-expensive versions certainly have their uses.
What's the difference between "ceremonial" and ingredient grade matcha?
This is the single most common question about matcha, and one of the most difficult to answer—mainly because in Japan, distinctions prevalent in the U.S. tea market such as "ceremonial grade" are not used.
Matcha does come in a wide range of quality, which can be measured by flavor, particle size, color, and amino acid content. But with little regulation in the West on grading terms, tea vendors are free to label matcha as whatever grade they think will sell.
The Unkaku Thick Tea Grade is our highest quality matcha. Its extra-fine particle size, exceptional sweetness and low bitterness make for an unforgettable tea that shines as koicha, a thick, intense matcha preparation—with the consistency of paint—traditionally reserved for more formal chanoyu occasions.
The Wako Thin Tea Grade is also very high quality, but its slight touch of bittersweet renders it perfect for usucha, the thinner, frothy-headed bowl of matcha that is much more common (and often more palatable). While Unkaku can also be used to make a sweet and heady usucha, Wako provides a well-balanced, creamy, fresh green flavor.
Wakatake Iced Tea Grade is best enjoyed cold, shaken vigorously with ice and water in a cocktail mixer. Its crisp flavor would turn too astringent with hot water, but it remains ideal for mixing into other iced beverages, lattes and milky drinks, or for cooking and baking.
If you can't rely on a packaged tea's "grade" as a marker of quality, how do you pick out a great matcha?
First of all, look for origin information to confirm the matcha is a product of Japan; if you see the words "stone-ground," so much the better. Do avoid vendors that throw around adjectives like "premium" or "ceremonial grade": these are modern marketing terms, not subject to any industry-wide regulation.
You may see a maker tout their matcha as hand-picked or from an early spring harvest. Consider these likely indicators of quality, though not a guarantee. Hand-picking is generally preferable to machine-harvesting, but Japanese machine-harvesting techniques are fairly advanced, and spring is not the only season that can produce delicious matcha.
Other than that, forget about the packaging and inspect the tea itself.
Quality matcha should be a bright, lustrous green, like if Pantone made a color called Magical Forest. Dull olive or brown hues indicate low chlorophyll content or oxidation. Then smell the powder: You should detect rich vegetal and pine aromas, with hints of chocolate, nuts, and cream. If a matcha's aroma is muted, its taste likely will be as well. The consistency should be fine, like cornstarch. Clumps are normal, a result of electrostatic charges that build up as the canister is agitated during shipping.
Ultimately, of course, it's a matter of taste. Great matcha is intense, with layers of bitterness, sweetness, and umami. It will feel dense and rich on the tongue, which is partially a matter of whisking technique but more about particle size. And it should finish with a vibrant, verdant aftertaste. Good matcha can also make you feel good—gently energized, with a sense of clarity and focus.
By the time you're able to inspect matcha this closely, you've probably already had to buy the tin. But the more you taste and learn about matcha, the more informed you'll become for your next purchase.
What are matcha's health benefits?
Matcha is popularly touted as a superfood with all kinds of purported health benefits, such as general heart health, reduced risk of diabetes, antioxidants that may help prevent cancer, and even weight loss. However, there is little concrete scientific data to support these ambitious claims. Most of the current research on green tea and health is based on correlational population studies, not controlled experiments. Further, experimental studies on compounds found in green tea don't account for their bioavailability in natural forms, nor for natural nutrient variations in different production lots of tea.
So, consider any health claims with healthy skepticism.
That said, matcha is potent. Since you consume the entire leaf, you do ingest more nutrients than from brewed tea. This includes more caffeine, for a stimulating buzz, but also more theanine, a unique compound in tea associated with calming, but not sedative, effects.
There are two traditional ways to make matcha: usucha, the thin, frothy style, and koicha, the thick style. In both methods, it's important to pass the matcha through a fine sieve before preparation, to break up any dry clumps that could lead to gritty tea.
The hallmarks of a well-made bowl of usucha are a stable froth with small bubbles (for certain styles of chanoyu); a creamy body; and bright color and flavor. Preheat a chawan, or wide tea bowl, with boiling water; pour out the water, and dry the chawan. Sift in about 2 grams (2 chashaku scoops, or about 1 teaspoon) matcha; pour over ⅓ cup (3 oz) 190°F water. Whisk vigorously with a chasen, or bamboo tea whisk, for about 20 seconds, using zig-zag motions to dispense the matcha and evoke a healthy foam.
The more formal thick style of matcha involves at least twice the amount of matcha with half the amount of water, resulting in a viscous, intense experience designed to showcase only the highest quality of matcha. This is not matcha for beginners; however, it can be revelatory when prepared well. As with usucha, preheat your chawan, then sift in about 6-8 grams (3 to 4 teaspoons) matcha and add 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) 190°F water. Unlike the usucha method, koicha should not have air bubbles, so slowly knead the chasen in a circular pattern to work the matcha and water into a paste, adding scant amounts of water as needed.
Making matcha with cold water dilutes any bitter flavors and enhances sweetness. For a refreshing iced matcha topped with a frothy crema, set the traditional tea equipment aside and break out the cocktail shaker. Sift 3 grams of matcha over 4 to 5 ice cubes and pour in 8 ounces of cold filtered water. Seal, shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, then strain and serve over ice.
Chawan: A tea bowl, wide enough for both whisking and drinking matcha.
Chasen: A multi-tined bamboo whisk for suspending the fine particles of matcha in water. Chasen eventually wear out with use; make yours last by only rinsing with hot water and letting it dry, tines up, between uses.
Matcha whisk holder: A ceramic piece that helps maintain a chasen's natural shape.
Chashaku: A slender bamboo spoon for measuring matcha. Each little scoop is about 1 gram; use about 2 scoops for usucha and 6-8 for koicha.
Fine mesh strainer: For sifting the matcha. Traditionally, a separate spoon is used to push the powder through the sieve.
Tea towel: For drying the chawan, and cleaning up any spills.
Of course, the most important part of making a good bowl of matcha is starting with quality tea. While having a complete setup adds aesthetic value to the experience, the only crucial elements are a chawan and chasen: the relatively large bowl to small amount of liquid provides enough space for the whisk to be used. And while there are plenty of similar-seeming options for the chasen, it is an essential tool for preparation. Wire balloon whisks or electric frothers aren't designed specifically for matcha, and will often leave you with clumps.
If you're digging into matcha for the first time, try our starter kit, which includes 20 grams of Wako thin-grade matcha, a chasen and chasen holder, and a chashaku. Our matcha gift set includes all those items, plus a white ceramic chawan.
How long does matcha last, and how should I store it?
All of our matcha canisters are nitrogen-flushed and sealed at origin, so there is no air in contact with the tea, and thus no oxidation. Kept in a cool place, the matcha can last for years with minimal loss in quality.
Once the canister is opened, the countdown begins. Matcha does not improve with age and is best consumed within six months of opening for optimal flavor. Store it in the refrigerator after opening to further slow oxidation.
Once you've gotten a handle on the matcha essentials, you'll likely want to experiment. Here are some tips to making the most of matcha in food, drinks, and desserts.
In cookies and cakes: Add 1 to 4 tablespoons of matcha depending on batch size and desired intensity. Matcha acts as a dry ingredient in baked goods, so for every tablespoon of matcha you add, reduce the flour by the same amount. This matcha shortbread recipe is full of green tea flavor and not too sweet.
In ice cream and frozen desserts: As with baked goods, use 1 to 4 tablespoons depending on your target strength. Matcha will thicken the viscosity of ice cream bases | 2,140 |
Enheduanna
Workforce Development Initiative
Connect with Middle East Program
Terror Attacks in Brussels
Wilson Center Middle East Program Director, Henri Barkey describes the implications of the ISIS terror attack in Brussels.
Dr. Henri J. Barkey is the Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He is the former Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen Professor at Lehigh University. Barkey is also a former public policy scholar at the Wilson Center. His most recent works include Turkey's Syria Predicament (<|fim_middle|>0.
Stay up to date with the Middle East Program | Survival, 2014) and Iraq, Its Neighbors and the United States, co-edited with Phebe Marr and Scott Lasensky (Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2011). He served as a member of the U.S. State Department Policy Planning Staff working primarily on issues related to the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, and intelligence from 1998 to 200 | 92 |
The Knights Cap Incredible Season with Trip to State
By: Scoop Gilbertson, Esq.
DULUTH, MN – Chesterton Academy spent a dramatic three days in Duluth competing at the Minnesota State Mock Trial Championships. The Knights finished a stellar 2019 campaign by going 1-2 at state, and 5-2 overall for the season. This earned the team an overall ranking of number 9 in Minnesota.
The squad from Apple Valley High School (a team that beat Chesterton by only one point at the Hamline University Freeze Fest Invitational in December) beat Breck School to claim the state championship and move on to the national tournament, which is being held in Athens, Georgia this year.
"Whatever our results at the state tournament," said Coach Campbell, "this season was a terrific success for the team. The effort that these kids put forth should make their parents, teachers, classmates and the administration very proud. We are all so grateful for the encouragement and support that we received from everyone."
Reflecting on the season, junior attorney Sidney Meyer said, "I'm really proud of our team for all the hard work we've put in this year. I think that going to state was a great learning experience for us that will help us do even better next year." Sophomore, and star timekeeper, Lara Campbell added, "You bond so much with a team over six months of practices, lunches, free periods, and late nights. In the end, we learned that hard work really does win."
Chesterton Academy earned its first-ever trip to the state championships by beating Nova Academy, a perennial powerhouse program, for the Region 7 championship. But mock trial is about much more than just winning, and junior attorney and team co-captain Mary Kracht spoke for many, saying, "I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this team. The experience has taught me so much about our country's judicial system, logic, debate, public speaking, leadership, writing, persuading, memorizing, and offering all of my efforts, successes, and failures for the greater glory of God! Without the team, I would not have formed the friendships with my teammates that I have today."
The State of Minnesota is divided into 16 regions and includes over 130 high school mock trial teams. The Minneapolis/St. Paul area comprises 10 of those regions and, for competitive reasons, these 10 are subdivided into two "super regions" (Hennepin and Ramsey). All teams compete in four rounds (note: this year, weather forced the cancelation of round 4) of "sub-regional" competition in January and early February. The top teams the sub-regional competitions earn the right to participate in one round of "regional" competition in mid-February. Each winner at regionals round is crowned champion of one of the 16 regions and earns a place at the annual state competition.
Winning its first-ever regional championship was a team effort. As junior witness and co-captain Grace Justice put it: "Mock trial taught me so much about how to form logical arguments and conclusions. It also taught me how to use my own skills to better the team."
The state tournament consists of three rounds during which every team competes, and a "championship" round featuring only the top two teams. Each<|fim_middle|> won 239-238.
In the final round, Chesterton went against Region 1 champion Sartell High School (enrollment 1,000). While Sartell did a fine job, it was immediately clear that the Knights had a firm grip on the Sabers. "Our kids were fresh for their third-round match, and they just forgot to be nervous and went for it. Overall, that was probably their best performance of the season," said Mr. Campbell, adding, "I'm extremely proud that they finished their season on such a strong note." Chesterton won 221-198.
Traveling with the team were Mr. Nicholas Zinos, coach of the JV mock trial squad, Mrs. Paula Haller, mother and chaperone, and Mrs. Dana Murphy-Meyer, mother and chaperone. These volunteers made the trip both possible, and extremely enjoyable, for the team. In addition, a number of students made the trek to Duluth in support of the squad. The team is very grateful to each of these supporters.
Given the team's success, one might expect that its members would find themselves fully self-satisfied. Not so. Junior witness Mariajose Gracia, said "When I first signed up, thinking about all the free time I would lose, I immediately regretted it. Now looking at it, the only thing I'd change about the past six months is to work even harder."
The one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the season was a tremendous success. "Now our kids know, they know, that they can beat any team in this state," said Mr. Campbell. "This bodes very well for our future in this arena." As junior witness Julia Favorite put it: "Our season this year was absolutely phenomenal. Sure, our performance at state wasn't our best, but I know that our experience will only push us further next year!"
Watch. Out. World.
2018-19 Mock Trial Varsity Team
Sub-regionals
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Student ActivitiesKendra Posch March 12, 2019 Mock TrialComment
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Chesterton Academy Goes to State for the First Time in School History
Student ActivitiesKendra Posch February 22, 2019 Mock Trial | round is scored by either two or three judges, with each judge submitting a ballot identifying the team that won as well as the number of points that each team scored. The team that wins the most ballots (or, if there is a split, the most total points) wins that round.
"Once you get to the state tournament, every team is a threat, and you've got to be at the top of your game to have a chance to get to the championship round," said Coach Campbell.
At state, the Knights' first round opponent was a very strong Eastview High School, a public school in Apple Valley with an enrollment of 2,207. Eastview competed in the Ramsey county "super" regional with Chesterton and was in second place (behind Nova) after the sub-regional competitions. Eastview claimed the Region 9 championships after the regional round. Both teams argued well, and although it appeared to be very close, Eastview took the match 251-239.
The Knights next faced off against Region 14 champs Eden Prairie High School (enrollment 3,000). Eden Prairie started weakly but picked up steam as the match wore on. Following the round, Mr. Campbell assessed the match as a win for Chesterton. Unfortunately, he was not permitted to submit a ballot on behalf of the Knights, and Eden Prairie | 283 |
Strapping Products: Trucking Executives Expect Higher Prices and Further Delays in the Second Half of 2022
If you see prices going up over the next few months, you can blame it on one thing: there aren't enough truck drivers delivering products to stores in the US. There is a significant shortage of all workers, especially truck drivers, which is driving up the cost of freight and consumer prices. This increase in transportation costs and a lack of truck drivers have a trickle-down effect on the economy.
Truck Driver Shortages
The lack of drivers is nothing new. However, as the economy has grown stronger, driving demand for everything from consumer electronics and clothing to oil, the past year has taken a more noticeable toll. Congestion is made worse by the rapidly expanding e-commerce shipments, mainly from Amazon.com. And as the holiday season approaches, it's likely to get worse, with deliveries starting as early as spring.
The American Trucking Association (ATA) reports that there were 80,000 truck drivers needed nationwide in 2017<|fim_middle|> ocean freight from Asia has significantly decreased. The second half of the year will probably be the exact opposite of the first quarter. But before we can predict what will happen in 2023, we must first wait and see what happens over the next six months.
Used inventories will increase, adding downward pressure on pricing if supply chain problems improve and new equipment deliveries quicken. Purchasing new equipment in 2023 and 2024 will increase as interest rates rise.
As the second half of 2022 approaches, it's essential to navigate these unchartered territories carefully. All aspects of the US economy are uncertain, especially with the transportation industry. Make sure you are strapped in. It's going to be a wild ride! Speaking of strapping in, trust an experienced company to ensure your goods arrive on time and in good condition to avoid more frustrating delays. Call Strapping-Products.com at (888) 803-8140 or get in touch online today! | , up from 20,000 in 2013 and 36,500 in 2016. In the meantime, the economy expanded at a rate of more than 3% over the first nine months of 2017, up from an average of 2.2% since the end of the Great Recession in 2009.
Freight Costs on the Rise
The cost of shipping has the most significant impact. Over the past year, trucking companies have raised rates in their contracts with shippers by 6% to 10% to cover higher wages and to capitalize on the high demand and scarcity of supplies. Rates have increased by at least 10%, and another increase is anticipated over the following year. Early this year, retailers modestly increased shelf prices in response to rising shipping costs. Later this year, more merchants will likely charge customers more for shipping. The margins on corporate profits are getting thinner due to increasing transportation costs and labor, commodity, and energy costs.
Shipment Delays
Some shipments arrive late as manufacturers scramble for trucks. An increase from the usual two days, goods now linger at shipping ports for an average of four days. The percentage of deliveries made on time has decreased from 92-96% to 85-89%. According to estimates, late deliveries result in about 5% of empty store shelves.
How Driver Shortages and Inflation are Impacting the Entire Trucking Industry
While many American companies are affected by inflation, the commercial trucking sector is disproportionately impacted by the rising labor, fuel, and equipment costs. The cost of new equipment is increased by the rising costs of all sorts of raw materials.
2022's second quarter appears to be uncertain. Due to growing concerns that 2022 production will spill over into the first quarter of 2023, many truck makers have not fulfilled 2022 sales and have not opened their 2023 order boards, creating supply chain challenges. Interest rates are skyrocketing, fuel prices are at record highs, and | 437 |
Youth Violence
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Home » Youth violence » Spot the signs
Most young people decide they need to start carrying a knife because they feel threatened. There are tell-tell signs that may suggest they are feeling this way:
They don't want to go to school at all.
They've been a recent victim of theft/bullying/mugging.
They are hanging around with a different network of friends, who may be older and who you suspect are involved in gangs. Potential signs to look out for include graffiti on books and clothes, bandannas, scar<|fim_middle|> Network: Churches and Communities Taking a Stand will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:
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Website created by Arc | ves and emblems that are worn constantly, code words, handshakes, and hand signals.
Here you remind them that walking away if confronted is the safest way of dealing with the situation.
Young people are starved of guidance, for good examples, role models, and morality.
Remember how important your friends and interests are to you when you are making decisions.
Tell your loved one that you trust their judgement and that you'll stand by them. And be sure to set limits that are reasonable. You may be surprised how well your renewed interest in their welfare is received.
Talk about your observations. If they're willing to talk about how they feel, structure some time with them just to talk, or encourage them to talk with someone on a regular basis.
Resources that will help churches, Christian groups and individuals to better engage with the issue of serious youth violence (SYV) in this country.
Top three resources:
Initiative from Premier to pray for the young people in our town or borough.
Useful funding sources for projects relating to serious youth violence.
Countering Paramilitary and Organised Criminal Influence on Youth: research by a team of academics based in Ulster University, commissioned by the Corrymeela Community on behalf of the Education Authority.
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Lives can be changed and it does not always have to be like this. Read from a selection of stories that bring hope and encouragement.
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Treasure Oyelede talks about lives that have been turned around, away from crime, with the help of mentors and youth workers.
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A stop off at the Dutch Market is usually on the Friday afternoon to-do list, and when we're lucky we get to take multiple trips during the weekend— which makes for very happy Willi bellies.
If you live within a few hours traveling distance of Lancaster County, PA, you probably have one of these little treasures not too far from you. The<|fim_middle|> eclair-like, minus the heaviness and about a bajillion calories.
This looks like mush, but you get the idea.
Last up, and sans photo, was deli meat— roast beef and roast turkey to be exact. Far less expensive and far more flavorful than the grocery store.
All in all a successful trip... hoping for peaches and some other fruit next week. Grilled peaches are mayjah, and I have *not* had them yet this summer. This must be remedied.
Buddies today in this mihanblog.com/ tutorial I'm going to chat concerning a fascinating Visit here application called Tubi TV for Laptop. Tubi TV Installation & Download Process : PC, Android It is one of the biggest video streaming applications Tubi TV APK to view totally free films, TV shows, from Tubi TV different groups.
Play Sight for COMPUTER.Download this Mobdro APK Download application on your phone, tablet computers as well as on COMPUTER.Visit here This could be downloaded on Android Download Mobdro smartphones as well as tablet computers. | Dutch farmers travel down and set up shop Thursday-Saturday... then they're gone as quickly as they came.
Pumpkin swirl cake with cream cheese frosting. I wish I could have shown the full swirly goodness, but the other half of this deliciousness was in my belly before I realized what was going on. It's perfection.
Amwilli has early mornings all weekend for school and baseball-related events, so he requested the sausage and cooper cheese stuffed pretzels for quick breakfasts. The pretzel stand is open so you can see all the pretzels and fixins' being made from scratch, including the sausage!
Next up, Saturday's dinner. Now, I don't really make a lot of sense when it comes to dinner-making. When I have the time (weekend), I don't actually like cooking. See? Zero sense. Anyhoo, I picked up some tasty whole wheat potato rolls— these are so buttery and luscious. I figured I could throw together a turkey burger or something quick.
Then I passed the deli, saw the pulled pork, and knew it was meant to be. It may not look very appetizing here, but it's ridiculously good. I'll whip up some homemade mac n cheese so as not to feel like such a lazy bum (post to follow, of course).
OK, dessert. I should have snapped a pic pre-scooping into this sad little plastic container... but apparently my stomach works a little faster than my brain (not surprising). It's chocolate eclair pudding, which is usually some variation of vanilla pudding folded with whipped cream, with a graham cracker and chocolate shell across the top. Very | 344 |
This website first started as my<|fim_middle|>". | personal hobby. I enjoy sharing my insights on complex concepts in intuitive ways. But with each post I wrote, I started liking it more and taking the website more and more seriously.
My background is in psychology, neuroscience, data science, and programming, but for many years I have been especially passionate about probabilities and probability theory.
We all live in a complex world full of unknowns and uncertainties. One of the first things any scientist will tell you about science is that there can never be certain proofs about any empirical question. And no amount of evidence is ever sufficient to completely verify or reject a hypothesis or a theory. Of course, the same is true even for questions "officially" outside of science, like "who ate the cookies, the cat or the dog?".
But we don't have to be defeated by this uncertainty. On the contrary, we can and should learn to use it to our advantage for solving theoretical and practical problems. And what better way to do that than using probability theory, which is the mathematical toolbox specifically intended for this job?
I want to show that concepts and methods from probability theory, as well as related fields like machine learning, are not just for experts, but can be used in any field by anybody. I want to do that with a mixture of theoretical and practical posts related to probability theory and its concrete applications to current and historical problems of all levels of generality and "importance | 285 |
Taxonomy has been described as "the science of documenting biodiversity", which involves collecting, naming, describing, identifying and classifying specimens of organisms. Descriptions are the fundamental information units used in the process of constructing classifications and communicating taxonomic concepts. The quality of stored description data<|fim_middle|> ontology of defined terms, which will be used to compose these description elements. It is hoped that these developments will facilitate the unambiguous interpretation of descriptions and enhance the taxonomic process. | is limited by the lack of a formal model and methodology for composing specimen descriptions, and by the absence of an agreed defined terminology. This impedes the communication, interpretation and reuse of original descriptions. Prometheus is developing a novel approach to composing and recording taxonomic descriptions of botanical specimens. An underlying model for creating character descriptions has been developed together with a process for creating an | 73 |
During the cold winter months, maintaining your hair's shine and moisture can be a challenge. It seems as if the moment you step outside, your good hair day turns into a bad one with brittle and damaged hair! But don't worry because Celebrate Relaxed Hair has you covered. Check out a few tips, ways and treatments to help keep your hair looking its best during the winter season.
Adding extra moisture during<|fim_middle|> want an all in one remedy, purchasing a hair repair product maybe up your alley! We love the Moroccanoil Treatment because it is created to boost shine and strengthen you hair. The mini bottle is only $15 at Sephora.
Protective styles are not only good for summer months but winter months too. Braid your hair down and wear wigs for a few weeks at a time! This will give your hair a chance to soak up any leave in conditioner and for it to not be exposed to cold temperatures! | the times you wash your hair will help cure brittle and damaged hair tremendously. After washing your hair you can mix our favorite hair oils like peppermint, lavender, jojoba, castor and coconut oil and sit under the dryer for 30 minutes. If you have time to spare wrap your hair in a plastic shower cap for about 1 hour and relax!
If you're not up for the hot oil treatment then we know you have conditioner in your home! Whether you visit your stylist or you wait 30 minutes after applying your preferred conditioner on, you will still get the job done and beat brittle hair. Try doing this every other week.
We can't stress this tip enough. With your hair being extra brittle due to the extreme cold, it can start to break off. You can combat unwanted breakage with cutting off any split ends right now.
If you | 176 |
Total Global Services Bucharest, the newest Shared Service Center in Bucharest delivers services for 3 main accounting processes (P2P, O2C, R<|fim_middle|>SAP).
• Conduct data entry of accounting entries into the system and ensure data integrity, perform reconciliation of intercompany/related party accounts according to an agreed schedule and posting of any adjustments in the system to resolve the discrepancies where necessary. | 2R) to Total Group affiliates across 3 business lines (Exploration and Production, Refining and Chemicals, Marketing and Services) in more than 50 countries spread over 3 continents.
Total Group is world's fourth-largest Oil and Gas Company, as well as a major integrated player in the Global Solar Industry. Backed by nearly a century of history we discover, produce, transform, market and distribute energy in a variety of forms, to serve the end customer.
Energy is central to a series of future challenges. Everywhere in the world, Total's employees are helping to make energy better. Joining us means joining a human and collective endeavor in which the corporate culture and each person's experience and inventiveness come together to make our group successful and build a responsible energy future.
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IN THE BEGINNING: FORD MUSTANG
How the Original Pony Car Won America's Heart
It isn't very often that a single car model manages to create an entirely new market segment all by itself, but that's exactly what the Ford Mustang did in the mid 1960s, and the other cars that followed its example from GM, Chrysler, and AMC all shared a moniker coined to reflect the Mustang's equine name—the "Pony Car."
While Pontiac had defined the Muscle Car formula of a big V8 engine in an intermediate-size chassis with the 1964 GTO, that was basically an option package on the otherwise-ordinary Tempest. Ford, headed at the time by the legendary Lee Iacocca, was working on a new small, sporty car design that wouldn't look like any other car in the current fleet, though to save time and money it would share the majority of its underpinnings with the existing Falcon and Fairlane. Between late 1962 and the spring of 1964, a crash program took the Ford Mustang from a bullet list of goals to a production-ready design that would turn out to be an enormous sales success, paving the way for subsequent model generations that spanned more than 50 years of continuous production all the way to today.
'64 ½ Ford Mustang
Those goals included room for four with buckets and a floor-mounted shifter in front, an overall length of fewer than 15 feet from bumper to bumper, a curb weight under 2,500 pounds, and a starting price of less than $2,500 (about $20,200 in today's dollars). Engines would include a base inline-six as well as an assortment of small-block V8 options, and both notch-back and convertible body styles. To say that Ford captured lightning in a bottle is an understatement—the Mustang prototype was the hit of the 1964 World's Fair, and on the opening day of the fair, more than 22,000 orders were taken for the new car. Between the 1964 ½ model year (because the Mustang was introduced late in the model year cycle, the first 120,000 or so were technically 1964 models, though they carry 1965 VIN codes) and 1966 (the peak year of first-gen Mustang production) a whopping 1,288,557 Mustangs were built.
The best modern analogy would be to call it the iPhone of its day…
It's hard to convey just how much excitement and interest the Mustang sparked when it hit showrooms, and GM, Chrysler, and American Motors all rushed to create their own cars to compete in the previously non-existent market segment. The best modern analogy would be to call it the iPhone of its day; while other cars preceded it that had some of the same features, none combined them in a way that defined a whole new type of enthusiast car like the Mustang did. Realizing what they had, Ford leaned into the Mustang's popularity with ad campaigns that emphasized the idea of youthful exuberance, and even went as far as to disassemble a 1965 convertible into four main sections plus a few odds and ends, load the pieces into an elevator, and then reassemble the<|fim_middle|>, and a major facelift for 1971 radically changed the car's profile. Though still popular, sales were nowhere near what they had been during the glory days of 1965–1969, and competition from other manufacturers who were now offering their own "pony cars" plus the 1973 oil crisis brought the first generation to a close.
'69 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The replacement, Ford's Mustang II, was already waiting in the wings—having seen the end of inexpensive gas and ever-stricter emissions standards on the horizon, the company was well-prepared with a new model that was smaller, more fuel-efficient, and as it turns out, universally hated by Mustang fans then and now. But that, my friends, is a story for another day...
In: Car Culture
Tagged: Car Culture, Ford, Ford Falcon, History, Mustang, Paul Huizenga
Paul Huizenga
EXHAUST 101
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© 2020 STATE OF SPEED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | entire car on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building.
'65 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2
The Mustang's ground-breaking long hood/short deck styling set the standard for the domestic competition through the 1960s and beyond, and racers began to adopt it as a platform for closed circuit and drag racing competition as well. Best-known is the Shelby GT350, which debuted in 1965. Carroll Shelby, who also imported the British-built AC Ace and re-engined it with Ford V8 powerplants to create the legendary AC Cobra, took Mustangs equipped with the 271 horsepower 281 cubic inch Windsor V8 and modified them with different carburetors, intake manifolds, brakes, and other small changes in order to prepare them to the limit of SCCA B-Production rules, where the cars won three years in a row. Through subsequent years, the Shelby Mustang became less race-focused and oriented toward high-performance street use, but the die was cast, and many a future Mustang would wear Shelby or Cobra badging in homage to these seminal performance cars (and many a baby girl or family dog would end up named "Shelby" as well.)
…other manufacturers who were now offering their own "pony cars" plus the 1973 oil crisis brought the first generation to a close.
Over the course of the Mustang's first generation, which lasted through the 1973 model year, engine options included inline sixes as well as 289 and 302 cubic inch Windsor small-block V8s (named for their Canadian manufacturing location in Windsor, Ontario), plus 390, 427, 428, and 429 cubic inch big-block V8 power. The Mustang progressively became larger and heavier | 384 |
Home » LiDAR Helps Find Ancient City
AerialMarketsLiDAREnvironmentalTechnology Innovations StoriesRemote<|fim_middle|>erving Ancient Egypt with Laser Scanning
Can We Make Smart Cities Safe Cities?
LiDAR and 3D Help Develop 5G Network
Is LiDAR Becoming Mainstream?
Geomni
Bluesky Geospatial Ltd.
GPI Geospatial Inc.
LAND INFO Worldwide Mapping LLC | Sensing
LiDAR Helps Find Ancient City
LiDAR was a critical component in locating and then documenting the site suspected of being the legendary "Lost City of the Monkey God."
Perry Trunick
KEYWORDS 3D laser scanning / aerial LiDAR / surveying historic sites / terrestrial laser scanning
The Lost City of the Monkey God
Grand Central Publishing, 2017
The Lost City of the Monkey God has all of the elements of a great adventure novel, and yet, it's non-fiction. There's a mythical lost city said to contain untold treasure. There's a curse. Add some political intrigue in the form of a coup and an unstable government. Throw in a "fixer" with a more-than-checkered past. Build a team that includes the requisite former special forces soldiers whose job it is to train the mix of scientists, film crew, photographer and journalist to stay alive, and pit them against venomous snakes, insects and disease. But even before they enter the jungle, they're set against nearly insurmountable odds that they would even find the location of the lost city, much less reach it and explore it before it is looted. And once the possible site is located, put it in an area known for drug traffickers and bandits… and who wouldn't grab that book off the shelf?
Douglas Preston is a seasoned writer who undertook an assignment from National Geographic to travel into some of the most remote and inhospitable jungles on earth to document the search for a site known alternately as the White City and the City of the Monkey God. His journey actually starts with the efforts to locate the site. And here he introduces a new hero to the genre that is familiar to surveyors and geospatial professionals: LiDAR.
The project begins in secrecy, not only to protect the suspected location of the site, but also because of the sensitivity of the technology that would be employed. As the geospatial community fully appreciates, LiDAR technology has, at times, been restricted from export. Getting permission to fly a plane fitted with a LiDAR scanner into an unstable third-world country was a monumental undertaking in itself and could have put a halt to the project before it even started. A condition of the permit was that the plane and the LiDAR remain under military guard around the clock.
The flights and the data collection that would ultimately determine the location of the site sound almost routine now. Interpreting the data collected at the time seemed pretty conclusive to those on the project, but that didn't insulate them from challenges when they attempted to use the point cloud images to garner support for permits to enter the area, nor did it stave off criticism from others in the scientific community.
Additional Online Content
CBS News interviewed author Douglas Preston about his experiences recounted in his book, The Lost City of the Monkey God. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/search-for-a-lost-city/
Preston's account doesn't spare any of the trials or challenges faced throughout the project. He puts the reader right in the middle of everything as it happens. If you've ever enjoyed any of the "Indiana Jones" adventures, you'll get a full dose of the reality that comes with this authentic archaeological thriller. (Did I mention there's a cameo appearance by Harrison Ford?) But in this case, you'll be able to point to the characters and legitimately say, "I know that guy" – as long as you are pointing at the LiDAR.
Recent Articles by Perry Trunick
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Perry Trunick is the editor of POB magazine.
Pres | 792 |
Does Avalanche (AV<|fim_middle|> | AX) Have a Chance to Be the Biggest "Ethereum Killer"? Altcoins have fundamentals to stand out in the market, bu...
Does Avalanche (AVAX) Have a Chance to Become a Major Ethereum Killer?
Does Avalanche (AVAX) Have a Chance to Be the Biggest "Ethereum Killer"? Altcoins have fundamentals to stand out in the market, but to what extent does this drive Avalanche?
The main purpose of Avalanche is to be a competitor to Ethereum (ETH). Therefore, its network has solved the major problems of the major altcoins in the market, such as high fees and slow network.
Avalanche promises to process 4,500 transactions per second, while ETH only handles 14 transactions in the same period.
But in the "Ethereum Killer" category, all Ethereum competitors share the aforementioned characteristics. However, the Avalanche has other key highlights that make it a strong contender.
For example, its scalability is possible because the altcoin has three separate blockchains with different purposes:
X-Chain: a decentralized platform for creating and trading smart digital assets;
C-Chain: allows the creation of smart contracts;
P-Chain: Coordinates validators, keeps track of active subnets, and allows new subnets to be created.
It's worth noting that Avalanche's consensus mechanism varies by use case. Additionally, the altcoin has been working on interoperability between its blockchain and Ethereum.
Avalanche Token also has many advantages
When users transact with AVAX, transaction fees are burned, making altcoins scarce. Additionally, the token is used to secure the network through the staking process, pay fees, and provide a basic unit of account across subnetworks created on the Avalanche platform.
Another point, AVAX's performance in the platform economy is impressive. This is because Avalanche provides multiple services such as: B. Peer-to-peer lending, trading and creating subnets. All of these require developers to own AVAX in order to enjoy them.
Despite all these advantages, why haven't cryptocurrencies skyrocketed?
Firstly, it can be mentioned that the hype of the Ethereum competitor did not last long. The emergence of ETH 2.0 has called into question the existence of the "Ethereum Killer".
Additionally, Avalanche has plenty of competitors that also have positive highlights, such as Polkadot (DOT) and Cardano (ADA). The large amount of money invested to become a cryptocurrency validator is also a distinct disadvantage.
For example, with an altcoin like ADA, you don't have to be an investing whale to earn passive income through staking; AVAX requires at least 2,000 tokens to be an Avalanche validator, which is self-defeating.
At the time of writing, the aforementioned number of tokens equates to a $24,000 investment. While Avalanche has undergone a major market correction, there's no doubt that it's not an investment for every investor.
Scalability solutions and Ethereum completing the transition to version 2.0, according to Vitalik Buterin, the altcoin will perform 100,000 transactions per second, which may end Avalanche's promise of market acceptance, despite its positive meaning. | 652 |
\section{Introduction}
\label{Introduction}
Dimerization is a common process in
physical, chemical and biological systems.
In this process, two identical units (monomers)
bind to each other and form a dimer
($A + A \rightarrow A_2$).
This is a special case of a more general
reaction process (hetero-dimerization) of the form
$A + B \rightarrow AB$.
Dimerization may appear
either as an isolated process
or
incorporated in
a more
complex reaction network.
The modeling of dimerization systems is commonly done using
rate equations, which incorporate the mean-field approximation.
These equations describe the time evolution
of the concentrations of the monomers and the dimers.
Assuming that the system is spatially homogeneous,
these concentrations can be expressed either in terms
of the copy numbers per unit volume or in terms of the
total copy number of each molecular species in the system.
The rate equations are reliable when the
copy numbers of the reacting
monomers in the system are sufficiently large for the
mean-field approximation to apply.
However, when the copy numbers of the reacting monomers
are low, the system becomes highly fluctuative,
and the rate equations are no longer suitable.
Therefore the analysis of dimerization processes
under conditions of low copy numbers
requires the use of stochastic methods
\cite{vanKampen1981,Gardiner2004}.
These methods include the direct integration of
the master equation
\cite{Biham2001,Green2001},
and
Monte Carlo (MC) simulations
\cite{Gillespie1976,Gillespie1977,Tielens1982,Newman1999,Charnley2001}.
The master equation
consists of coupled differential equations
for the probabilities of all the possible microscopic states
of the system.
These equations are typically solved by
numerical integration.
However,
in some simple cases, the steady state probabilities
can be obtained by analytical methods
\cite{Green2001,Biham2002}.
The difficulty with the master equation is that it consists
of a large number of equations,
particularly if the dimerization process is a part of
a larger network.
This severely limits its usability for the analysis of complex
reaction networks
\cite{Stantcheva2002,Stantcheva2003}.
Monte Carlo simulations provide a stochastic implementation
of the master equation, following the actual temporal
evolution of a single instance of the system.
The mean copy numbers of the reactants and the reaction
rates are obtained by averaging over an ensemble of such instances.
In both methods, there is no closed form expression for the
time dependence of the copy numbers and reaction rates.
Recently, a new method for the stochastic modeling of reaction networks
was developed, which is
based on moment equations
\cite{Lipshtat2003,Barzel2007a,Barzel2007}.
The moment equations
are much more efficient than the master equation.
They consist of only one equation for each reactive species,
one equation for each reaction rate,
and in certain cases
one equation for each product species.
Thus, the number of moment equations
that describe a given chemical network
is
comparable to the number of rate equations,
which consist of one equation for each species.
Moreover,
unlike the rate equations,
the moment equations
are linear equations.
In some cases, this feature enables to
obtain an analytical solution for the time dependent
concentrations.
In this paper,
we apply the moment equations to the analysis
of dimerization systems with fluctuations.
These equations are accurate even in the limit of
low copy numbers, where fluctuations are large
and the rate equations fail.
We show how to obtain an analytical solution for
the time dependent concentrations of the reactant
and product species
as well as for the reaction rate.
We identify and characterize the
different dynamical regimes of the system
as a function
of the parameters.
We examine the validity of our solution
by comparison to the results obtained from the master equation.
The analysis is performed for three
variants of the system: dimerization, dimerization
with dissociation and hetero-dimer formation.
The paper is organized as follows.
In Sec. \ref{sec2} we analyze the dimerization process
using the moment equations and provide an analytical solution
for the time-dependent concentrations.
In Sec. \ref{sec3} we extend the analysis to the
case in which dimers may dissociate.
In Sec. \ref{sec4} we generalize the analysis to
the formation of hetero-dimers.
The results are summarized
and potential applications are discussed
in Sec. \ref{sec5}.
\section{Dimerization systems}
\label{sec2}
Consider a system of molecules, denoted by
$A$, which diffuse and react on
a surface or in a liquid solution.
Molecules are produced or added to the system
at a rate
$g$ (s$^{-1}$),
and degrade at a rate
$d_1$ (s$^{-1}$).
When two molecules encounter each other
they may bind and form the dimer
$D$.
The rate constant for the dimerization process is denoted by
$a$ (s$^{-1}$).
For simplicity, we assume that
the product molecule,
$D$,
is non-reactive and undergoes degradation at a rate
$d_2$ (s$^{-1}$).
The chemical processes in this
system can be described by
\begin{eqnarray}
&& \varnothing \arrow{g} A \nonumber \\
&& A \arrow{d_1} \varnothing \nonumber \\
&& A + A \arrow{a} D \nonumber \\
&& D \arrow{d_2} \varnothing.
\label{eq:processes1}
\end{eqnarray}
\subsection{Rate Equations}
The dimerization system described above is characterized
by the average copy number of the monomers,
$\NA$,
and by the average copy number of the dimers,
$\ND$.
Denoting
the average dimerization rate
by
$\R$ (s$^{-1}$),
the rate equations for this system take the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} &=& g - d_1 \NA - 2\R \nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} &=& - d_2 \ND + \R.
\label{eq:rate1}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
These equations include a term for each process
which appears in
Eq. (\ref{eq:processes1}).
The factor of
$2$
in the reaction term of the first equation
accounts for the fact that the dimerization process removes
two $A$ molecules,
producing one dimer.
The dimerization rate,
$\R$,
is proportional to
the number of pairs of $A$ molecules
in the system,
$\NA(\NA-1)/2$,
where the factor of $1/2$ is absorbed into the
rate constant $a$.
As long as the copy number of $A$ molecules is large,
it can be approximated by
\begin{equation}
\R = a{\NA}^2.
\label{eq:Rrate1}
\end{equation}
\noindent
Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate1}) form a closed set
of two non-linear differential equations.
Their steady state solution
is
\begin{eqnarray}
\NAss &=&
\frac{d_1}{4a}
\left(
-1 + \sqrt{1 + 8 \gamma}
\right)
\nonumber \\
\NDss &=&
\frac{d_1^2}{16 a d_2}
\left(
-1 + \sqrt{1 + 8 \gamma}
\right)^2,
\label{eq:ss_rate1}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where
$\gamma$
is the reaction strength parameter given by
\begin{equation}
\gamma = \frac{ag}{d_1^2}.
\label{eq:gamma}
\end{equation}
\noindent
Two limits can be identified.
In the limit where
$\gamma \gg 1$,
the steady state dimerization rate satisfies
$\Rss \simeq g/2$,
and the steady state dimer population is
$\NDss \simeq g/2d_2$.
This means
that almost all the monomers that are generated
end up in dimers and
the monomer degradation process becomes irrelevant.
Therefore,
this limit is referred to
as the reaction-dominated regime.
The degradation-dominated limit is obtained when
$\gamma \ll 1$.
In this limit
$\NAss \simeq g/d_1$,
$\Rss \simeq a g^2 / {d_1}^2 = \gamma g$
and
$\NDss \simeq a g^2/({d_1}^2 d_2)$,
namely most of the monomers that are generated
undergo degradation and only a small fraction
end up in dimers.
The time-dependent solution for the population size of the
$A$
molecules can be obtained from the first equation in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate1}).
The result is
\begin{equation}
\NA = \NAss -
\frac{1}{2 a \tau}
\left(
1 + C e^{t/\tau}
\right)^{-1},
\label{eq:rate_solution1}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where
$\tau = 1/\sqrt{d_1^2 + 8ag}$
is the relaxation time
and the parameter
$C$
is determined by the initial conditions.
In the reaction-dominated regime, where
$a g \gg d_1^2$,
the relaxation time converges to
$\tau \simeq 1/\sqrt{8ag}$.
In the degradation-dominated regime,
it approaches
$\tau \simeq 1/d_1$.
The rate equation analysis is valid as long as
the copy numbers of the reactive
molecules are sufficiently large
\cite{Lederhendler2008}.
In the limit in which the copy number
$\NA$
of the monomers
is reduced to order unity or less,
the rate equations
[Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate1})]
become unsuitable.
This limit can be reached in two situations:
when the monomer concentration is very low or
when the volume of the system is very small.
In the limit of low copy number of the monomers,
the system becomes dominated by fluctuations
which are not accounted for by the rate equations.
A useful characterization of the system is
given by the system-size parameter
\begin{equation}
N_0 = \frac{g}{d_1},
\label{eq:N0}
\end{equation}
\noindent
which approximates the copy number
of the monomers in case that
the dimerization is suppressed.
The parameter
$N_0$
provides an upper limit for the monomer population size
under steady state conditions.
It can be used to characterize the dynamical regime
of the system.
In the limit where
$N_0 \gg 1$
the copy number of the monomers is typically
large and the rate equations are reliable.
However, when
$N_0 \lesssim 1$
the system may become dominated by fluctuations.
In this regime, the rate equations
fail to account for the population sizes and the dimerization rate.
In Fig. \ref{fig1} we present a schematic illustration of
the parameter space in terms of $\gamma$ and $N_0$,
identifying the four dynamical regimes.
\subsection{Moment Equations}
To obtain a more complete description of the dimerization process,
which takes the fluctuations into account,
we present the master equation approach.
The dynamical variables
of the master equation are the probabilities
$P(N_A,N_D)$
of having a population of
$N_A$
monomers
and
$N_D$
dimers
in the system.
The master equation
for the dimerization system
takes the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{eq:master1}
\frac{dP(N_A,N_D)}{dt} &=&
g [P(N_A - 1,N_D) - P(N_A,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
d_1 [(N_A + 1)P(N_A + 1,N_D) - N_A P(N_A,N_D)]
\\
&+&
d_2 [(N_D + 1)P(N_A,N_D + 1) - N_D P(N_A,N_D)]
\nonumber \\
&+&
a [(N_A + 2)(N_A + 1)P(N_A + 2,N_D - 1) - N_A(N_A - 1)P(N_A,N_D)].
\nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
The first term on the right hand side
accounts for the addition or formation of
$A$
molecules.
The second and third terms account
for the degradation of
$A$
and
$D$
molecules,
respectively.
The last term describes the reaction process, in which two
$A$
molecules are annihilated and one
$D$ molecule is formed.
The dimerization rate is
proportional to the number of pairs of
$A$
molecules in the system, given by
$N_A (N_A - 1) / 2$.
Therefore, the dimerization rate can be expressed in terms
of the moments of
$P(N_A,N_D)$
as
\begin{equation}
\R = a
\left(
\NAs - \NA
\right),
\label{eq:Rmaster1}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where the moments are defined by
\begin{equation}
\langle N_A^n N_D^m \rangle =
\sum_{\substack{N_A = 0\\N_D = 0}}^{\infty}
{N_A^n N_D^m P(N_A, N_D)},
\label{eq:moments}
\end{equation}
\noindent
and $n$ and $m$ are integers.
Note that in the stochastic formulation, the
expression used for the dimerization rate,
$\R$,
is different than in the deterministic approach
[Eq. (\ref{eq:Rrate1})].
The two expressions are equal in case that
$P(N_A)$ is a Poisson distribution, for
which the mean and the variance are equal.
The master equation (\ref{eq:master1})
for the dimerization system can be analytically solved
to obtain the steady state probabilities
$P(N_A)$.
This solution can be found at refs.
\cite{Green2001,Biham2002}.
However, an
analytical solution for the time dependent case is currently
not available.
For dimerization systems in the degradation-dominated limit, the
probability distribution
$P(N_A)$
approaches the Poisson distribution.
However as
$\gamma$
increases, and the system enters the reaction-dominated regime,
$P(N_A)$
becomes different from Poisson.
In Fig. \ref{fig2}
we present the marginal probability distributions
$P(N_A)$ (circles)
as obtained from the master equation for four choices of the
parameters, each in one of
the four regimes shown in Fig. \ref{fig1}.
In the limit of
$N_0 \ll 1$
and
$\gamma \gg 1$ (a)
the system is in the reaction dominated regime
(quadrant I in Fig. \ref{fig1}),
and
the results obtained from the master equation deviate from
Poisson (solid lines).
Here the parameters are
$g = 0.5$,
$d_1 = 2$,
$a = 200$
and
$d_2 = 10$ (s$^{-1}$).
The distribution shown in (b),
where
$N_0 \gg 1$
and
$\gamma \gg 1$
(quadrant II in Fig. \ref{fig1}),
also deviates from the Poisson distribution.
Here the parameters are
$g = 100$,
$d_1 = 1$,
$a = 1$
and
$d_2 = 10$ (s$^{-1}$).
In the limit of
$N_0 \ll 1$
and
$\gamma \ll 1$ (c)
the system is in the degradation-dominated regime
(quadrant III in Fig. \ref{fig1}),
and correspondingly
$P(N_A)$
coincides with the
Poisson distribution.
Here the parameters are
$g = 0.5$,
$d_1 = 5$,
$a = 1$
and
$d_2 = 10$ (s$^{-1}$).
Finally, in (d)
$N_0 \gg 1$
and
$\gamma \ll 1$
(quadrant IV in Fig. \ref{fig1}),
the system is dominated by degradation and
as before,
the master equation results coincide with the Poisson distribution.
Here the parameters are
$g = 10$,
$d_1 = 1$,
$a = 5 \times 10^{-3}$
and
$d_2 = 10$ (s$^{-1}$).
In addition to the analytical solution mentioned above,
the master equation
[Eq. (\ref{eq:master1})]
can also be integrated numerically using standard
steppers such as
the Runge Kutta method
\cite{Acton1970,Press1992}.
In numerical simulations,
one has to truncate the master equation
in order to keep the number of equations finite.
This is achieved by setting upper cutoffs
$N_A^{\rm max}$
and
$N_D^{\rm max}$
on the numbers of $A$ and $D$ molecules,
respectively.
This truncation is valid if the probability for the number of molecules of
each type to exceed the cutoff is vanishingly small.
The population sizes of the
$A$
and
$D$
molecules and the dimerization rate are
expressed in terms of the first moments
of
$P(N_A, N_D)$
and one of its second moments,
$\NAs$.
Therefore, a closed set of equations for the time derivatives of
these first and second moments could directly provide all the information
needed in order to evaluate the population sizes and the dimerization rate
\cite{Lipshtat2003}.
Such equations can be obtained from the master equation using
the identity
\begin{equation}
\frac{d\langle N_A^n N_D^m \rangle}{dt} =
\sum_{\substack{N_A = 0\\N_D = 0}}^{\infty}
{N_A^n N_D^m \dot P(N_A, N_D)}.
\label{eq:moments_dot}
\end{equation}
\noindent
Inserting
the time-derivative
$\dot P(N_A, N_D)$
according to Eq. (\ref{eq:master1}),
one obtains the moment equations.
The equations for the average copy numbers are
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} & = & g - d_1\NA - 2\R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} & = & -d_2\ND + \R,
\label{eq:moment1_no_R}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
while the equation for
the dimerization rate is
\begin{equation}
\frac{d\R}{dt} = (2ag+4a^2) \NA + (10a - 2d_1)\R - 4a^2 \NAc.
\label{eq:Rmoment1_not_truncated}
\end{equation}
\noindent
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_no_R})
have the same form as the
rate equations (\ref{eq:rate1}).
However the term for the dimerization rate,
$\R$,
as appears in the moment equations is different from the analogous
term in the rate equations
[Eq. (\ref{eq:Rrate1})].
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_no_R}),
together with Eq. (\ref{eq:Rmoment1_not_truncated}),
are a set of coupled differential equations,
which are linear in terms of the moments.
Although we have written the equations only for the
relevant first and second moments,
the right hand side of
Eq. (\ref{eq:Rmoment1_not_truncated})
includes the third moment for which we have no equation.
In order to close the set of equations one must express this
third moment in terms of the first and second moments.
Different expressions have been proposed.
For example, in the context of birth-death processes
the relation
$\NAc = \NAs \NA$
was used
\cite{McQuarrie1967}.
This choice makes the moment equations
nonlinear,
which might affect their
stability.
Another common choice is to
assume that the third central moment is
zero (which is exact for symmetric distributions)
and use this relation to express
the third moment in terms of the
first and second moments
\cite{Gomez-Uribe2007}.
Here we use a different approach.
We set up the closure condition
by imposing a highly restrictive cutoff
on the master equation.
The cutoff is set at $N_{A}^{\rm max} = 2$.
This is the minimal cutoff
that still enables the dimerization process to take place.
Under this cutoff,
one obtains the following relation
between the first three moments
\cite{Lipshtat2003}
\begin{equation}
\NAc = 3\NAs -2 \NA.
\label{eq:third_moment}
\end{equation}
\noindent
Using this result, one can bring the moment equations
[Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_no_R}) - (\ref{eq:Rmoment1_not_truncated})]
into a closed form:
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} &=& g - d_1\NA - 2\R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} &=& -d_2\ND + \R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\R}{dt} &=& 2ag\NA - 2(d_1 + a)\R.
\label{eq:moment1}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
Numerical integration of these equations provides all the required moments,
from which the population sizes and the dimerization rate are obtained.
\subsubsection{Steady State Analysis}
The steady-state solution of the moment
equations
takes the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\NAss &=&
\frac{g(a + d_1)}{2ag + d_1 a + d_1^2}
\nonumber \\
\NDss &=&
\frac{ag^2}{d_2(2ag + d_1 a + d_1^2)}
\nonumber \\
\Rss &=&
\frac{ag^2}{2ag + d_1 a + d_1^2}.
\label{eq:ss_moment1}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
In the limit of very small copy numbers
the approximation appearing in
Eq. (\ref{eq:third_moment})
is valid.
Thus, in this limit the
moment equations
provide accurate results, both for the population sizes (first moments)
and for the dimerization rate (involving a second moment).
To evaluate the validity of the moment equations in the limit of
large copy numbers, we compare
Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1})
with the solution of the rate equations
(\ref{eq:ss_rate1}),
which is valid in this limit.
Consider the large-system limit, where
$N_0 \gg 1$
[Eq. (\ref{eq:N0})].
In this limit,
the common term in
the denominators in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1}) approaches
${d_1}^2 (2 \gamma + 1)$,
where
$\gamma$
is the reaction strength parameter,
given by Eq. (\ref{eq:gamma}).
Thus, in the degradation-dominated limit,
where
$\gamma \ll 1$,
the steady state solution of the moment equations approaches
\begin{eqnarray}
\NAss &=&
\frac{g}{d_1}
\nonumber \\
\NDss &=&
a \frac{g^2}{d_2 {d_1}^2}
\nonumber \\
\Rss &=&
a \frac{g^2}{{d_1}^2}.
\label{eq:ss_moment1_gamma_small}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
Here we use the fact that in order to
satisfy both the large-system limit
($N_0 \gg 1$),
and the degradation-dominated limit
($\gamma \ll 1$),
one must also require
$d_1 \gg a$.
The results appearing in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1_gamma_small}) are consistent
with the results of the rate equations in this limit.
We conclude that the moment equations are also reliable for large
populations under the condition that the
system is in the degradation-dominated regime.
To test the results of the moment equations
for large systems in
the reaction-dominated regime
we examine the case of
$\gamma \gg 1$.
Here Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1}) are reduced to
\begin{eqnarray}
\NAss &=&
\frac{a + d_1}{2a}
\nonumber \\
\NDss &=&
\frac{g}{2 d_2}
\nonumber \\
\Rss &=&
\frac{g}{2}.
\label{eq:ss_moment1_gamma_large}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
In this limit,
the monomer copy number
$\NAss$,
obtained from the moment equations,
does not match the
rate equation result.
Nevertheless, the results for the dimer population size,
$\NDss$,
and for the dimerization rate
$\Rss$,
do converge to the results obtained from the rate equations.
We thus conclude that the accuracy
of the moment equations is maintained
well beyond the small system limit.
The equations provide accurate results for the dimer copy number,
$\NDss$,
and for the dimerization rate,
$\Rss$,
for both small and large systems.
As for the monomer copy number,
the moment equations provide an accurate
description in all limits,
except for the limit where both
$N_0 \gg 1$
and
$\gamma \gg 1$
(quadrant II in Fig. \ref{fig1}).
In Table \ref{tab1}
we present a characterization of the different
dynamical regimes and the applicability of the
moment equations for the evaluation of
the copy numbers and the dimerization rate
in each regime.
In Fig. \ref{fig3}
we present
the monomer copy number
$\NAss$ (circles),
the dimer copy number
$\NDss$ (squares)
and the dimerization rate
$\Rss$ (triangles),
as obtained from the moment equations,
versus
the reaction strength parameter,
$\gamma$.
The rate constants are
$g = 0.01$,
$d_1 = 1$
and
$d_2 = 5$
(s$^{-1}$).
The reaction rate,
$a$,
is varied.
These parameters satisfy the small-system limit
$N_0 \ll 1$.
The moment equation results are in excellent agreement
with those obtained from the master equation (solid lines).
However, since the populations are small,
the results of the rate equations
show deviations (dashed lines).
In Fig. \ref{fig4} we present
$\NAss$ (circles),
$\NDss$ (squares)
and
$\Rss$ (triangles),
as obtained from the moment equations,
versus
the reaction strength parameter,
$\gamma$.
Here the rate constants are
$g = 10^{3}$,
$d_1 = 0.1$
and
$d_2 = 0.1$
(s$^{-1}$).
As before,
the reaction rate,
$a$,
is varied.
These parameters satisfy the large-system limit
$N_0 \gg 1$,
and thus the rate equation results (dashed lines) are accurate.
Although the populations are large for the entire parameter range
displayed,
the results of the moment equations are in excellent agreement
with those obtained from the rate equations.
The only deviation appears in the results for the monomer population
in the limit
$\gamma \gg 1$.
For the parameters used in this simulation it was impractical to simulate
the master equation.
In any chemical reaction it is important to
characterize the extent to which
fluctuations are significant.
From the
master equation, one can evaluate the fluctuation level in the
monomer copy number,
given by the variance
\begin{equation}
\sigma^2 = \NAs - \NA^2,
\label{eq:sigma}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where $\sigma$ is the standard deviation.
The problem is that the expression for
$\sigma$ includes
the first moment
$\NA$,
which
is not always accurately accounted for by the moment equations.
However, when the copy number is sufficiently large,
the rate equations
apply, and thus one can extract the value of
$\NA^2$
in this limit from the rate equations.
On the other hand, the moment equations account correctly for
the second moment
$\NAs$
by
$\NAs = \R/a + \NA$.
Using this relation,
the result at steady state is
\begin{eqnarray}
\sigmass^2 &=&
\left\{
\begin{array}{ccccr}
\frac
{g
\left[
d_1^3 + a^2(d_1+g) +a (2d_1^2 + d_1 g + 2 g^2)
\right]}
{\left(
2 a g + a d_1 + d_1^2
\right)^2}
& & {\rm for} & & N_0 \le 1
\\ \\
\frac
{g (g + d_1 + a)}
{2 a g + a d_1 + d_1^2} -
\frac{d_1^2}{16 a}
\left(
-1 + \sqrt{1 + 8 \gamma}
\right)^2
& & {\rm for} & & N_0 > 1.
\end{array}
\right.
\label{eq:moment_rate_sigma}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
In Fig. \ref{fig5} we present
the coefficient of variation
$\sigmass / \NAss$ (circles),
as obtained from
Eq. (\ref{eq:moment_rate_sigma})
versus the system size parameter
$N_0$.
The parameters are
$d_1=1$,
$a=1$,
$d_2=5$ (s$^{-1}$)
and $g$
is varied.
Here
$\NAss$
was extracted from the moment equations for
$N_0 \le 1$,
and from the rate equations for
$N_0 > 1$.
In the small-system limit
($N_0 \ll 1$),
the average fluctuation becomes much larger than
$\NAss$.
The system is thus dominated by fluctuations.
As the system size increases,
$\sigmass$
becomes small with respect to
$\NAss$,
implying that the system enters the deterministic regime.
In order to validate our results,
we compare them with results obtained
from the master equation (solid line).
For
$N_0 < 1$
the agreement is perfect, as in this limit the moment equations are
expected to be accurate.
A slight deviation appears for
$N_0 > 1$,
where
$\sigmass$
is constructed by
combining results obtained from
the moment
equations and from the rate equations.
In both limits,
Eq. (\ref{eq:moment_rate_sigma})
is found to provide a good approximation
for the fluctuation level
of the system.
\subsubsection{Time-Dependent Solution}
The time dependent solution for
$\NA$
can be obtained by solving the two coupled equations for
$\NA$
and for
$\R$
in Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1}).
The equation for
$\ND$
receives input from these two equations.
However, the dimers are the final products of this
network and
$\ND$
has no effect on
$\NA$
and
$\R$.
Thus the equations for $\NA$ and $\R$ can be decoupled
from the equation for $\ND$.
One obtains a set of two
coupled linear differential equations
of the form
\begin{equation}
\dot{ \vec{ N}} = {\bf M} \vec N + \vec b,
\label{eq:moment1_matrixform}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where
$\vec N = (\NA, \R)$,
$\vec b = (g, 0)$
and the matrix
${\bf M}$
is
\begin{eqnarray}
{\bf M} =
\left(
\begin{array}{cc}
- d_1 & -2
\\
2 a g & -2(d_1 + a)
\end{array}
\right).
\label{eq:M}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
The two eigenvectors of the matrix
${\bf M}$
are given by
\begin{eqnarray}
\vec v_1 =
\left(
\begin{array}{c}
\frac
{2a + d_1 - \omega}
{4 a g}
\\
1
\end{array}
\right);
&&
\vec v_2 =
\left(
\begin{array}{c}
\frac
{2a + d_1 + \omega}
{4 a g}
\\
1
\end{array}
\right),
\label{eq:eigenvectors}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where
$\omega = \sqrt{4 a^2 + d_1^2 + 4 a d_1 - 16 a g}$.
The corresponding eigenvalues are
\begin{eqnarray}
-\frac{1}{\tau_1} =
\frac{1}{2}
(-2 a - 3 d_1 - \omega);
&&
-\frac{1}{\tau_2} =
\frac{1}{2}
(-2 a - 3 d_1 + \omega).
\label{eq:eigenvalues}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
Using
the matrix
${\bf Q} = (\vec v_1, \vec v_2)$,
one can write
Eq. (\ref{eq:moment1_matrixform})
as
\begin{equation}
{\bf Q}^{-1} \dot{ \vec{ N}} =
{\bf Q}^{-1} {\bf M} {\bf Q}
{\bf Q}^{-1} \vec N +
{\bf Q}^{-1} \vec b.
\label{eq:moment1_matrixform_Qued}
\end{equation}
\noindent
The result is a set of two un-coupled differential
equations of the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\dot{ \vec{ f}} &=&
\left(
\begin{array}{cc}
- \frac{1}{\tau_1} & 0
\\
0 & - \frac{1}{\tau_2}
\end{array}
\right)
\vec f + \vec k,
\label{eq:moment1_uncoupled}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where
$\vec f = {\bf Q}^{-1} \vec N$
and
$\vec k = {\bf Q}^{-1} \vec b$.
The solution of Eq. (\ref{eq:moment1_uncoupled}) is
\begin{eqnarray}
\vec f(t) &=&
\left(
\begin{array}{c}
k_1 \tau_1 + C_1 e^{-{t}/{\tau_1}}
\\
k_2 \tau_1 + C_2 e^{-{t}/{\tau_2}}
\end{array}
\right),
\label{eq:moment1_uncoupled_solution}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where
$C_1$ and $C_2$
are arbitrary constants.
Multiplying
Eq. (\ref{eq:moment1_uncoupled_solution})
from the left hand side by the matrix
${\bf Q}$
one obtains the time dependent solution of
Eq. (\ref{eq:moment1_matrixform}),
which is
\begin{eqnarray}
\NA &=&
\frac{g(a + d_<|fim_middle|> enable one to solve the first and third equations independently
to obtain a time dependent solution as shown in the previous Section.
Here the time dependent solution will include three characteristic time scales
for the relaxation times of both
$\NA$,
$\ND$
and
$\R$.
To obtain these time scales we first write
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment2}) in
matrix form as
\begin{equation}
\dot{ \vec{ N}} = {\bf M} \vec N + \vec b,
\label{eq:moment2_matrixform}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where
$\vec N = (\NA, \ND, \R)$,
$\vec b = (g, 0, 0)$
and
\begin{eqnarray}
{\bf M} =
\left(
\begin{array}{ccc}
- d_1 & 2 u & -2
\\
0 & -(u + d_2) & 1
\\
2 a g & 2 a u & -2(d_1 + a)
\end{array}
\right).
\label{eq:M2}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
The time dependent solution of the moment equations is given by
\begin{equation}
N_i = N_i^{\rm ss} +
\sum_{j=1}^{3}
{{\bf C}_{ij} e^{-{t}/{\tau_j}}},
\label{eq:moment2_time_solution}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where
$i,j = 1,2,3$.
Here,
$\vec N^{\rm ss} = (\NAss, \NDss, \Rss)$,
and the matrix elements
${\bf C}_{ij}$
are determined by the initial conditions of the system.
The relaxation times
$\tau_j$
are
\begin{equation}
\tau_j = - \frac{1}{\lambda_j},
\label{eq:tau_i}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where
$\lambda_j$,
$j=1,2,3$,
are the eigenvalues of the matrix
${\bf M}$
[Eq. (\ref{eq:M2})].
The time dependent solution obtained from the
moment equations applies in the limits
where
$N_0 \ll 1$,
or in the limits where
$N_0 \gg 1$
and
$\gammaeff \ll 1$.
In the limit where
$N_0 \gg 1$
and
$\gammaeff \gg 1$,
the time dependent solution should be
obtained from the rate equations
[Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate2})].
\section{Hetero-dimer Production}
\label{sec4}
Consider the case where the reacting monomers
are from two different types of molecules,
$A$
and
$B$.
Each of these molecules is generated at a rate
$g_A$ ($g_B$)
and degraded at a rate
$d_A$ ($d_B$).
The two molecules react to form the dimer
$D = AB$
at a rate
$a$ (s$^{-1}$).
The dimer product undergoes degradation at a rate
$d_D$ (s$^{-1}$).
For simplicity, here we assume that the
process of the dimer dissociation is suppressed.
The chemical processes in this system are thus
\begin{eqnarray}
&& \varnothing \arrow{g_A} A \nonumber \\
&& \varnothing \arrow{g_B} B \nonumber \\
&& A \arrow{d_A} \varnothing \nonumber \\
&& B \arrow{d_B} \varnothing \nonumber \\
&& A + B \arrow{a} D \nonumber \\
&& D \arrow{d_D} \varnothing.
\label{eq:processes3}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
The average copy numbers of the reactive monomers and of the dimer product
are described by the following set of rate equations
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} &=& g_A - d_A \NA - \R \nonumber \\
\frac{d\NB}{dt} &=& g_B - d_B \NA - \R \nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} &=& -d_D \ND + \R,
\label{eq:rate3}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where
$\R$,
the dimer production rate, is given by
\begin{equation}
\R = a \NA \NB.
\label{eq:Rrate3}
\end{equation}
The master equation for this system describes the time evolution
of the probabilities
$P(N_A,N_B,N_D)$
for a population
$N_A$
molecules of type
$A$,
$N_B$
molecules of type
$B$
and
$N_D$
dimers
$D$
in the system.
It takes the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{eq:master3}
\frac{dP(N_A,N_B,N_D)}{dt} &=&
g_A [P(N_A - 1,N_B,N_D) - P(N_A,N_B,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
g_B [P(N_A,N_B - 1,N_D) - P(N_A,N_B,N_D)]
\\ &+&
d_A [(N_A + 1)P(N_A + 1,N_B,N_D) - N_A P(N_A,N_B,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
d_B [(N_B + 1)P(N_A,N_B + 1,N_D) - N_B P(N_A,N_B,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
d_D [(N_D + 1)P(N_A,N_B,N_D + 1) - N_D P(N_A,N_B,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
a [(N_A + 1)(N_B + 1)P(N_A + 1,N_B + 1,N_D - 1) - N_A N_B P(N_A,N_B,N_D)]
\nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
In the stochastic description the production rate of the dimer
$D$
is proportional to the number of pairs of
$A$ and $B$
molecules in the system, namely
\begin{equation}
\R = a \NANB
\label{eq:Rmoment3}.
\end{equation}
\noindent
A more compact stochastic description can be
obtained from the moment equations.
Here one must include equations for the first moments
$\NA$, $\NB$ and $\ND$,
and for the production rate, which involves the second moment
$\NANB$.
The results for the first moments can be obtained by tracing over the
master equation as shown in
Sec. \ref{sec2}.
However, when deriving the equation for
$\R$
one obtains
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\R}{dt}
&=& ag_B\NA + ag_A\NB - (d_A + d_B)\R
\nonumber \\
&-& a^2(\NAsNB + \NANBs - \NANB),
\label{eq:Rmoment3_not_truncated}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
which includes third moments for which we have no equations.
To obtain the closure condition
we follow the procedure presented in Sec. \ref{sec2}
and impose highly restrictive cutoffs on the master equation.
Here the cutoffs are chosen as
$N_A^{\rm max} = N_B^{\rm max} = N_D^{\rm max} = 1$.
These are the minimal cutoffs that enable the
dimerization process to take place.
Under these cutoffs,
the third order moments appearing in
Eq. (\ref{eq:Rmoment3_not_truncated})
can be expressed by
\cite{Barzel2007}
\begin{equation}
\NAsNB = \NANBs = \NANB.
\label{eq:mixed_moments}
\end{equation}
\noindent
One then obtains a closed set of moment equations
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} &=& g_A - d_A\NA - \R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\NB}{dt} &=& g_B - d_B\NB - \R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} &=& -d_D \ND + \R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\R}{dt} &=& ag_B\NA + ag_A\NB - (d_A + d_B + a)\R.
\label{eq:moment3}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
As in the case of the homo-molecular dimerization presented above,
the validity of the moment equations
extends well beyond the cutoff restriction.
It can be characterized by four parameters.
The first two are
$N_0^A = g_A/d_A$
and
$N_0^B = g_B/d_B$,
which provide the upper limits
on the monomer population sizes
$\NAss$
and
$\NBss$,
respectively.
The second two parameters are the reaction strength parameters,
which in the case of hetero-dimer production are
$\gamma_A = a g_A /(d_A d_B)$
and
$\gamma_B = a g_B /(d_A d_B)$.
In the limit where the populations are
small, the moment equations provide accurate
results for all the moments appearing in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment3}).
When the populations are large,
the moment equations provide accurate results
for the dimerization rate,
$\R$,
and for the dimer population
$\ND$.
However, if the reaction strength parameters are also large,
the moment equations will not correctly account
for the monomer population sizes,
$\NA$
and
$\NB$.
In Fig. \ref{fig9} we present
$\NAss$ (circles),
$\NBss$ (squares),
$\NDss$ (triangles)
and
$\Rss$ ($\times$),
versus the reaction strength parameters
$\gamma_A = \gamma_B$,
as obtained from the moment equations.
Here the parameters are
$g_A = 10^{-2}$,
$g_B = 10^{-2}$,
$d_A = 1$,
$d_B = 10$,
$d_D = 0.2$
(s$^{-1}$),
and the parameter
$a$
is varied.
These parameters are within
the limit of small populations.
The results are in perfect agreement
with those obtained from the master
equation (solid lines).
The rate equations (dashed lines)
show strong deviations, which are mainly
expressed in the reaction-dominated regime.
In Fig. \ref{fig10} we present
$\NAss$ (circles),
$\NBss$ (squares),
$\NDss$ (triangles)
and
$\Rss$ ($\times$),
versus the reaction strength parameters
$\gamma_A = \gamma_B$,
as obtained from the moment equations.
Here the parameters are
$g_A = 10^{3}$,
$g_B = 10^{3}$,
$d_A = 1$,
$d_B = 10$,
$d_D = 0.2$
(s$^{-1}$),
and the parameter
$a$
is varied.
These parameters are within the limit of large populations.
Nevertheless the results obtained from the moment equations
for
$\NDss$
and for
$\Rss$
are in good agreement
with those obtained from the rate equations (dashed lines)
in both the reaction-dominated limit
and in the degradation-dominated limit.
For the monomer population sizes,
$\NAss$
and
$\NBss$,
the moment equations apply only in the limit where
$\gamma_{A} < 1$
and
$\gamma_{B} < 1$.
\section{Summary and Discussion}
\label{sec5}
We have addressed the problem
of dimerization reactions
under conditions in which fluctuations are important.
We focused on two types of reactions,
homo-molecular dimerization ($A+A \rightarrow A_2$)
and hetero-dimer
production
($A+B \rightarrow AB$).
Common approaches for the stochastic simulation of such
reaction systems include the direct integration of the
master equation and Monte Carlo simulations.
The master equation involves a large number of coupled equations,
for which there is no analytical solution in the time-dependent case.
Monte Carlo simulations are often computationally intensive and
require averaging over large sets of data.
As a result,
the relaxation times
and the steady state populations
for given values of the rate constants
can only be obtained by numerical calculations.
Here we have utilized the recently proposed moment equations method,
in order to obtain an analytical solution for
the relaxation times and for the steady state populations.
The moment equations provide an accurate description of
dimerization processes in the stochastic limit, at the cost
of no more than three or four coupled linear differential
equations.
Another useful feature of these
equations is that in certain cases they also apply
in the deterministic limit.
Using the moment equations we
obtained a complete time dependent solution for
the monomer population
$\NA$,
the dimer population
$\ND$
and the dimerization rate
$\R$,
in the case of homo-molecular dimerization.
Expressions for the relaxation times
and the steady state populations were
found in terms of the rate constants of the
different processes.
In the case of hetero-dimer production the moment
equations include four coupled linear
equations.
These equations can be easily solved by direct numerical
integration.
However, a general algebraic expression
for this solution is tedious
and was not pursued in this paper.
Stochastic dimerization processes appear in many natural systems.
Below we discuss several examples.
One of the most fundamental chemical
reactions taking place in the interstellar medium is
hydrogen recombination, namely
${\rm H} + {\rm H} \rightarrow {\rm H}_2$
\cite{Gould1963,Hollenbach1970,Hollenbach1971a,Hollenbach1971b}.
This reaction occurs on the surfaces of microscopic dust grains
in interstellar clouds
\cite{Spitzer1978,Hartquist1995,Herbst1995}.
The resulting
${\rm H}_2$
molecules
participate in further reactions
in the gas phase,
giving rise to more complex molecules
\cite{Tielens2005}.
They also play an important role in
cooling processes during gravitational collapse and star formation.
In recent years there has been much activity in the computational
modeling of interstellar chemistry.
While the gas phase chemistry can be simulated by rate equations
\cite{Pickles1977,Hasegawa1992},
the reactions taking place on the dust grain
surfaces often require stochastic methods
\cite{Biham2001,Green2001,Charnley2001}.
This is because under the extreme interstellar
conditions of low gas density,
the population sizes of the reacting H atoms on
the surfaces of these microscopic grains
are small and highly fluctuative
\cite{Tielens1982,Charnley1997,Caselli1998,Shalabiea1998}.
The processes taking place on the grains are
the accretion of H atoms onto the surface,
the desorption of H atoms from the surface,
and the diffusion of atoms between adsorption
sites on the surface.
These processes can be described by the
dimerization system discussed in Sec. \ref{sec2}.
In recent years, experimental work was
carried out in an effort to obtain the relevant
rate constants
and for certain grain
compositions these constants were found
\cite{Pirronello1997a,Katz1999,Hornekaer2003,Perets2005,Perets2007}.
The solution of the moment equations,
as appears in Sec. \ref{sec2},
provides the production rate of molecular hydrogen
on interstellar dust grains,
in the limit of small grains and low fluxes,
where fluctuations are important.
In the biological context,
regulation processes in cells can be described by
networks of interacting genes
\cite{Alon2006,Palsson2006}.
The interactions between genes
include transcriptional regulation processes as well as protein-protein
interactions
\cite{Yeger-Lotem2004}.
Due to the small size of the cells,
some of these proteins my appear
in low copy numbers, with large fluctuations
\cite{McAdams1997,Paulsson2000,Paulsson2004,Friedman2006}.
Deterministic methods are thus not suitable for the
modeling of these systems.
Dimerization of proteins is a common process
in living cells.
In particular, many of the transcriptional regulator
proteins bind to their specific promoter sites on the DNA
in the form of dimers.
It turns out that such dimerization, taking place before
binding to the DNA, provides an effective mechanism for
the reduction of fluctuations in the monomer copy numbers
\cite{Bundschuh2003}.
In a broader perspective, complex reaction
networks appear in a variety of physical contexts.
The building blocks of these networks are intra-species
interactions and inter-species interactions.
Thus, the analysis presented in this paper of
homo-molecular and hetero-molecular dimerization
processes, lays the foundations for the analysis of more complex networks.
Complex stochastic networks are difficult to simulate
using standard methods,
because they require exceedingly long simulation times.
The moment equations,
applied here to dimerization systems,
provide a highly efficient method for the
simulation of complex chemical networks.
This work was supported by the US-Israel Binational
Science Foundation and by the France-Israel High
Council for Science and Technology Research.
| 1)}
{2 a g + a d_1 + d_1^2}
+
{\bf Q}_{1,1} C_1 e^{-{t}/{\tau_1}} +
{\bf Q}_{1,2} C_2 e^{-{t}/{\tau_2}}
\nonumber \\
\R &=&
\frac{a g^2}
{2 a g + a d_1 + d_1^2}
+
{\bf Q}_{2,1} C_1 e^{-{t}/{\tau_1}} +
{\bf Q}_{2,2} C_2 e^{-{t}/{\tau_2}}.
\label{eq:moment1_time_solution}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
The first terms on the right hand side of
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_time_solution})
are the steady state solutions
$\NAss$
and
$\Rss$
as they appear in Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1}).
The second and third terms represent the time-dependent parts of
$\NA$
and
$\R$.
These terms exhibit
an exponential decay with two
characteristic relaxation times,
$\tau_1$
and
$\tau_2$.
Practically, since
$\tau_1 < \tau_2$,
the effective relaxation time for the monomers is
$\tau_A = \tau_2$.
In the limit of small copy numbers, where
$N_0 \ll 1$,
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_time_solution})
account correctly for the copy numbers and for
the reaction rates.
In this limit
(where $g \ll d_1$),
one obtains
$\tau_A \simeq 1/d_1$.
In the limit of large copy numbers, where
$N_0 \gg 1$,
one has to distinguish between degradation-dominated and
reaction-dominated systems.
Consider a degradation-dominated system, where
$N_0 \gg 1$
and
$\gamma \ll 1$.
These two conditions require that
$d_1 \gg a$.
As before,
the effective relaxation time is approximated by
$\tau_A \simeq 1/d_1$.
This result is consistent with the
results of the rate equations in this regime
[Eq. (\ref{eq:rate_solution1})].
A peculiar result arises in the reaction-dominated
regime, in the limit of
large populations.
In this limit
$\omega \simeq \sqrt{4 a^2 - 16 a g}$.
For
$a < 4 g$
the parameter
$\omega$
becomes a purely imaginary number.
This result leads to spurious oscillations in the solution
presented in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_time_solution}).
As shown for the steady state solution
[Eq. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1})],
the moment equations consistently fail in the limit of reaction-dominated
systems with large copy numbers.
To obtain the relaxation time in this limit, one can rely on the
results obtained from the rate equations, which give
$\tau_A \simeq 1/\sqrt{8 a g}$.
The relaxation times in all the different limits are summarized in
Table \ref{tab2}.
Finally, we refer to the time evolution of the dimer population
$\ND$.
The equation for
$\ND$
is the second equation in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1}), where
$\R$
is to be taken from
Eqs. (\ref{eq:moment1_time_solution}).
The solution of this equation takes the form
\begin{equation}
\ND = \NDss +
\tilde C_1 e^{-{t}/{\tau_1}} +
\tilde C_2 e^{-{t}/{\tau_2}} +
C_3 e^{-{t}/{\tau_3}},
\label{eq:ND_time_solution}
\end{equation}
\noindent
where
$\NDss$
is taken from
Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1}),
$\tilde C_i = {\bf Q}_{2,i} C_i / [d_2 - (1/\tau_i)]$,
$\tau_3 = 1/d_2$
and
$C_3$
is an arbitrary constant.
The effective relaxation time for the copy number
of the dimer product depends on the value of
$\tau_3$.
If
$\tau_3 < \tau_A$,
the copy number of the dimers relaxes rapidly.
Thus,
the time required for
the dimers to reach steady state is determined by
the monomer relaxation time, namely
$\tau_D \simeq \tau_A$.
In the opposite case,
where
$\tau_3 > \tau_A$,
the monomer population reaches steady state quickly,
and the production rate of
the dimers acts in effect as a constant generation rate.
Correspondingly, the relaxation time for
$\ND$
in this limit is approximated by
$\tau_D \simeq 1/d_2$
(Table \ref{tab2}).
In Fig. \ref{fig6}(a)
we present the time evolution of
$\NA$ (circles)
$\ND$ (squares)
and
$\R$ (triangles),
as obtained from the moment equations.
The parameters are
$g = 2 \times 10^{-3}$,
$d_1 = 0.05$,
$a = 100$
and
$d_2 = 5$
(s$^{-1}$).
These parameters correspond to the small system limit and to the
reaction-dominated regime (quadrant I in Fig. \ref{fig1}).
The moment equations (symbols) are in perfect agreement with the
master equation (solid lines).
The rate equations (dashed lines) deviate from the stochastic results
both in evaluating the steady state values of
$\NA$, $\ND$ and $\R$,
and in predicting the relaxation times of
$\NA$ and $\R$.
According to the rate equations,
this relaxation time should be
$\tau_A \simeq 1/\sqrt{8 a g} \simeq 0.8$ (s),
while according to the stochastic description
$\tau_A \simeq 1/d_1 \simeq 20$ (s).
In
Fig. \ref{fig6}(b)
we present results for a system in the large population
limit and in the regime of reaction-dominated kinetics
(quadrant II in Fig. \ref{fig1}).
Here the parameters are
$g = 10$,
$d_1 = 0.5$,
$a = 1$
and
$d_2 = 10$
(s$^{-1}$).
Under these conditions the moment equations fail to produce the correct
time transient, and give rise to an oscillatory solution (symbols).
In this regime the results obtained from the rate equations
(dashed lines) are accurate
and coincide with
the master equation
results (solid lines).
Note that even in this case the
moment equations provide the correct values
for the dimer production rate,
$\R$,
and for the dimer population,
$\ND$,
under steady state conditions.
In Fig. \ref{fig6}(c)
the parameters are
$g = 0.01$,
$d_1 = 2$,
$a = 10$
and
$d_2 = 10$
(s$^{-1}$).
These parameters satisfy the small system
limit and are in the kinetic regime
dominated by degradation
(quadrant III in Fig. \ref{fig1}).
The results are in perfect agreement with those obtained from the
master equation (solid lines).
However, the rate equations (dashed lines),
although displaying similar relaxation times,
show significant deviations in the steady state values of
$\ND$ and $\R$.
In
Fig. \ref{fig6}(d)
we present results for the case of a
large system, where
the parameters are
$g = 10$,
$d_1 = 0.5$,
$a = 10^{-3}$
and
$d_2 = 0.05$
(s$^{-1}$).
These parameters correspond to a system in the degradation-dominated regime
(quadrant IV in Fig. \ref{fig1}).
Although in this system the copy numbers are large, the
results obtained from the moment equations (symbols)
are in perfect agreement with those obtained
from the master equation (solid lines) and from the rate equations
(dashed lines).
Here the relaxation time for the monomer population is
$\tau_A \simeq 1/d_1$
and for the dimer population it is
$\tau_D \simeq 1/d_2$.
\section{Dimerization-Dissociation Systems}
\label{sec3}
To generalize the discussion of the previous Section we now consider
the case where the dimer product
$D$
may undergo dissociation
into two monomers,
at a rate
$u$ (s$^{-1}$).
The chemical processes in this system are thus
\begin{eqnarray}
&& \varnothing \arrow{g} A \nonumber \\
&& A \arrow{d_1} \varnothing \nonumber \\
&& A + A \arrow{a} D \nonumber \\
&& D \arrow{d_2} \varnothing \nonumber \\
&& D \arrow{u} A + A.
\label{eq:processes2}
\end{eqnarray}
\subsection{Rate Equations}
The rate equations for this reaction take the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} &=& g - d_1 \NA - 2\R + 2 u \ND \nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} &=& - (d_2 + u) \ND + \R,
\label{eq:rate2}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where $\R = a \NA^2$.
These equations are similar to
Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate1}),
except for the
$u$ terms
which account for the dissociation.
We define the effective reaction rate constant as
$\aeff = a[d_2/(u+d_2)]$
such that
the effective dimerization rate is
$\Reff = \aeff \NA^2$.
Under steady state conditions,
Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate2})
can be written as
\begin{eqnarray}
g - d_1 \NA - 2\Reff &=& 0
\nonumber \\
\Reff - d_2 \ND &=& 0.
\label{eq:rate2_eff}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
They take
the same form as
Eqs. (\ref{eq:rate1}), for dimerization
without dissociation,
under steady state conditions.
The steady state solution for these equations is
\begin{eqnarray}
\NAss &=&
\frac{d_1}{4 \aeff}
\left(
-1 + \sqrt{1 + 8 \gammaeff}
\right)
\nonumber \\
\NDss &=&
\frac{d_1^2}{16 \aeff d_2}
\left(
-1 + \sqrt{1 + 8 \gammaeff}
\right)^2,
\label{eq:ss_rate2}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
where
\begin{equation}
\gammaeff = \frac{g \aeff}{d_1^2}
\label{eq:gammaeff}
\end{equation}
\noindent
is the effective reaction strength parameter.
In the limit where
$d_2 \gg u$,
most dimers undergo degradation.
The dissociation process is suppressed,
and the effective reaction rate constant is
$\aeff \simeq a$,
namely the solution approaches that of
dimerization without dissociation.
In the limit where
$d_2 \ll u$,
most of the produced dimers end
up dissociating into monomers,
and correspondingly
$\aeff \rightarrow 0$.
In this limit, the dimerization and dissociation processes
reach a balance.
The effective dimerization rate vanishes
and $\NAss \simeq g/d_1$.
\subsection{Moment Equations}
In order to conduct a stochastic analysis we present the master equation
for the dimerization-dissociation system, which takes the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{dP(N_A,N_D)}{dt} &=&
g [P(N_A - 1,N_D) - P(N_A,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
d_1 [(N_A + 1)P(N_A + 1,N_D) - N_A P(N_A,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
d_2 [(N_D + 1)P(N_A,N_D + 1) - N_D P(N_A,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
a [(N_A + 2)(N_A + 1)P(N_A + 2,N_D - 1) - N_A(N_A - 1)P(N_A,N_D)]
\nonumber \\ &+&
u [(N_D + 1)P(N_A - 2,N_D + 1) - N_D P(N_A,N_D)].
\label{eq:master2}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
This equation resembles
Eq. (\ref{eq:master1}),
except for the last
term which accounts
for the dissociation process.
The master equation can be solved
numerically by imposing suitable
cutoffs,
$N_A^{\rm max}$
and
$N_D^{\rm max}$.
However an analytical solution is currently unavailable.
To obtain a much simpler stochastic
description of this system we refer to the
moment equations.
Following the same steps as
in the previous Section,
we impose the minimal cutoffs on the master
equation, that enable all the required processes to
take place.
More specifically, we choose
$N_A^{\rm max} = 2$
in order to enable the dimerization.
We do not limit the copy number of the dimer, $N_D$.
However, we do not allow $N_A \ne 0$ and
$N_D \ne 0$ simultaneously, because $A$ and $D$
molecules do not react with each other.
These cutoffs reproduce the closure condition of
Eq. (\ref{eq:third_moment}).
They also gives rise to another closure condition,
which is needed here, namely
$\langle N_A N_D \rangle = 0$.
The closed set of moment equations
takes the form
\begin{eqnarray}
\frac{d\NA}{dt} &=& g - d_1\NA - 2\R + 2u\ND
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\ND}{dt} &=& - (u + d_2)\ND + \R
\nonumber \\
\frac{d\R}{dt} &=& 2ag\NA - 2(d_1 + a)\R + 2au\ND.
\label{eq:moment2}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
The steady state solution of these equations is
\begin{eqnarray}
\NA &=&
\frac{g(\aeff + d_1)}{2g\aeff + d_1 \aeff + d_1^2}
\nonumber \\
\ND &=&
\frac{\aeff g^2}{d_2(2g\aeff + d_1 \aeff + d_1^2)}
\nonumber \\
\R &=&
\frac{ag^2}{2g\aeff + d_1 \aeff + d_1^2}.
\label{eq:ss_moment2}
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent
Note that this solution resembles the steady state solution shown in
Eqs. (\ref{eq:ss_moment1}), except for the replacement of
$a$
by
$\aeff$.
As before, the validity of the moment
equations can be characterized by the
system size parameter,
$N_0$,
and by the effective reaction strength parameter
$\gammaeff$.
For small systems, where
$N_0 \ll 1$,
the approximation underlying the moment equations is valid,
and thus the moment equations provide accurate results for
$\NA$,
$\ND$
and
$\R$.
In the limit of large systems, where
$N_0 \gg 1$,
the validity of the moment equations can be evaluated by comparison with
the rate equations.
Two limits are observed.
In the degradation-dominated limit, where
$\gammaeff \ll 1$,
the solution obtained from the moment equations
(\ref{eq:ss_moment2})
converges to the solution obtained from the rate equations
(\ref{eq:ss_rate2}).
The moment equations are thus valid in this limit for
the monomer copy number,
$\NA$,
as well as for the dimer copy number,
$\ND$,
and its production rate,
$\R$.
However, for large systems in the reaction-dominated limit, where
$\gammaeff \gg 1$,
the moment equations converge to the rate equations only for
$\ND$
and
$\R$.
In this limit the monomer population size,
$\NA$,
is not correctly accounted for by the moment equations.
In conclusion,
the validity of the moment equations
is the same as in the case of dimerization without dissociation
(Table \ref{tab1})
under the substitution
$\gamma \rightarrow \gammaeff$.
In Fig. \ref{fig7}
we present
$\NAss$ (circles),
$\NDss$ (squares)
and
$\Rss$ (triangles),
as obtained from the moment equations for
the dimerization-dissociation system
versus the effective reaction strength,
$\gammaeff$.
Here the parameters are
$g = 0.02$,
$d_1 = 1$,
$a = 2500$
and
$d_2 = 1$
(s$^{-1}$).
The variation of $\gammaeff$
along the horizontal axis was achieved by
varying the
dissociation rate constant,
$u$.
For these parameters the system is in the
small population limit, namely
$N_0 \ll 1$.
The moment equation results are found to be in
perfect agreement with the results
obtained from the master equations (solid lines).
However, the rate equations (dashed lines) show significant deviations
for a wide range of parameters.
These deviations are largest when the dimerization process is dominant
($\gammaeff > 1$)
as the effects of stochasticity become important.
In Fig. \ref{fig8}
we present
$\NAss$ (circles),
$\NDss$ (squares)
and
$\Rss$ (triangles),
as obtained from the moment equations,
versus the effective reaction strength,
$\gammaeff$.
Here the parameters are
$g = 1000$,
$d_1 = 1$,
$a = 1$
and
$d_2 = 1$
(s$^{-1}$).
The dissociation rate constant,
$u$,
was varied.
For these parameters the system is
in the large population limit, namely
$N_0 \gg 1$.
Although the population sizes of the
monomer and of the dimer are large, the
moment equations are in perfect
agreement with the rate equations (dashed lines)
in the limit of
$\gammaeff \ll 1$.
For
$\gammaeff \gg 1$
this agreement is maintained for the dimer population size
and for its production rate.
In this limit the monomer population
size is not accounted for by the moment equations.
Slight deviations in $\ND$ and $\R$
appear within a narrow range around
$\gammaeff \simeq 1$.
In this narrow range
the effective reaction strength
parameter is far away from either of its limiting values.
In any case, these deviations are insignificantly small.
In the case of the dimerization-dissociation process the
moment equations (\ref{eq:moment2})
are a set of three linear coupled differential equations.
As opposed to the case of
dimerization without dissociation, here the equation for
$\ND$
does not only receive input from the other two equations, but
also generates an output into those equations.
This does not | 4,531 |
In May 2013, the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies began a joint operation with the Ucross Foundation, the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative, with the purpose of integrating state-of-the-art research tools and models with the existing ranch management. The project originated with Ucross Foundation Chairman and Founder Raymond Plank's (Yale '44) long-term vision for Ucross as a working model of land stewardship for the 21st century.
The Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative team includes current Yale students and recent Yale graduates who will spend the next three years working to combine summer fieldwork with remote sensing (from satellites and existing aerial imagery) to address a variety of land stewardship issues including, but not limited to, invasive plant species distribution, wildlife presence, water flow, and soil erosion. At its essence, effective land stewardship seeks to understand and manage for the benefit of an entire ecosystem — including living and non-living aspects, animals and plants, human and non-human entities.
A large component of the Initiative will be to engage professionals, ranchers, technical experts, and stakeholders local to Wyoming in the research so as to ensure the models, tools, and products that are developed will be useful for on-the-ground-management. The team will pursue a suite of topics specific to the Ucross ranch that will also be applicable beyond the High Plains of Wyoming. Intersections with Ucross Foundation artists-in-residence, Wyoming educators and legislators will add creative sparks to the project.
The Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative is based in two locations: Greeley Memorial Laboratory (370 Prospect St, New Haven CT<|fim_middle|> contact us beforehand to schedule a visit during non-fieldwork hours). | 06511) and the Raymond Plank Center (2755 E Highway 14 Clearmont WY 82835). For any questions or curiosities about the project, please email Devin Routh (devin.routh@yale.edu). During the summertime, the team is happy to host visitors at the Raymond Plank Center (though we ask that you | 85 |
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Inspired by the leadership and vision of Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2008, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has created the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center (Blanco Center), which is committed to serving the public interest through<|fim_middle|> justice reform, poverty and economic opportunity, and education.
The Blanco Center aims to provide policymakers and the public with the information necessary to improve lives and communities across Louisiana. With this in mind, a special interest of the center is promoting and expanding the role of women in politics, and providing training for community leaders and elected officials.
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
The Center's Programs
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The Blanco Center is an independent, interdisciplinary research center, bringing together experts from different academic departments to conduct research, analyze data, create white papers, and write grants.
By Providing Policy Research & Archival Preservation
A partnership between the College of Liberal Arts and the Edith Garland Dupre' Library, the Blanco Center will work primarily in the public policy areas championed by Governor Blanco during her 25-year career in state government. These issues included governmental ethics, criminal | 101 |
The Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIME) has disclosed its preparedness to train not less than 500 girls in auto-mechanic skill.
NIME, noted that the beneficiaries of the project, 'Girls Auto Squad,' would be drawn from Abuja and Lagos.
The programme project, NIME, stated was in collaboration with Nenis Auto Care and Auto Lady Synergy Coy Ltd,<|fim_middle|> an advocacy and empowerment programme for disadvantaged girls especially Internally Displaced Persons(IDP).
Adams, said the first phase of the project would reach 500 beneficiaries in Lagos and Abuja.
She disclosed that GAS was a direct response to the myriads of challenges facing young girls in urban centres, absence of educational support and extreme poverty.
According to her, "The beneficiaries would acquire the rudiments and relevant knowledge of running a mobile maintenance enterprise during the one-year course. | Abuja.
Speaking to the press, shortly after the inauguration of the project in Abuja, the National Chairman of the institute Engr. Robinson Ejilah, revealed that the project was being put together to address the problem of shortage of skillful population in the economy.
He said building capacity of girls and young women through productive skill acquisition would enable them realise their potential and enhance the country's Gross Domestic Product.
Elijah, also said the project was employed to close the gender gap in the hitherto male dominated automotive engineering sector in Nigeria by equipping socially vulnerable girls and young women with requisite technical skills and competences through empowering and training programmes.
Similarly, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, stated that girls' empowerment was key to economy development.
He observed that, the council was working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria produces brand new vehicles at affordable prices.
He, however, advised that, Nigeria should look beyond the certificate of individuals, and focused on what they could offer in the practical terms and not what they studied in school.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Auto Lady Synergy Company Limited, Mrs. Joyce Adams, said Girls Auto Squad (GAS) was conceived as | 259 |
Georgia Bulldogs Apparel items are available from the SEC Store! We have Georgia Bulldogs jerseys, sweatshirts, jackets, hats<|fim_middle|> and rich history of the Southeastern Conference. Rely on the Official SEC Store to fulfill all of your merchandise needs! | , and shirts also. The SEC Store is the SEC fan's first choice for Georgia Bulldogs Gear!
Looking for Georgia Bulldogs Gear and Apparel in time for football season? The Official Store of the Southeastern Conference has the Georgia Bulldogs Merchandise that you need. Choose from Georgia hats and shirts and other officially licensed merchandise at the Official SEC Store. We have a fresh batch of Georgia Bulldogs T-Shirts in time for the Fall Football Season, along with Georgia Bulldogs Caps that are suitable for any occasion in which Georgia fans want to demonstrate their enthusiasm for their team. Beyond our selection of official Georgia Bulldogs Apparel, we have a stalwart selection of Georgia accessories and lifestyle accessories. Additionally, we have gameday gear, collectibles, and other items. The Georgia Bulldogs are an inextricable part of the proud legacy | 162 |
Transport Heroes from TU Munich wins Eurotech Venture Pitches
Eurotech Munich Venture
[this article contains two videos of the event]
Leif Luehmann, a student at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), won this year's pitch competition at the end of Eurotech's European Venture Programme with his startup Transport Heroes. In the finals, he defeated fellow TUM-student Alex Pohl with Contunity and Jeroen Bleker from Eindhoven with his startup Spike. Bram Cappers, also from the TU/e, won the prize for the best 2-pager with his plan for Eventpad.
The Eindhoven University of Technology hosted the final event of the annual programme. Out of 22 different startups from five technical universities across Europe, the German pitches were most convincing, according to a jury of three specialists in entrepreneurship.
This video shows the introduction by organiser Steven van Huiden, the elevator pitches of the 10 semi-finalists, and the decision of the jury:
The EVP is an intensive 12-day program takes entrepreneurs on a journey to four different ecosystems in Europe to enable startups to grow their business beyond borders. They already visited DTU Copenhagen, EPFL Lausanne, and TUM Munich (the four partner universities in the EuroTech Alliance, recently joined<|fim_middle|>ins.com. | by l'X Polytechnique in Paris) for several components involved in creating a business.
TU Munich is Winner of the Eurotech Venture Programme
Piet van der Wielen, one of the jury members, shared some serious advise with the winner at the end: "Google the hell out of your potential competition! There's always a company similar to yours. And if you didn't find it on page 1, go to page 2, 3 and 4. And learn from it, try to find that one aspect that distinguishes you from the rest."
After the elevator pitch, the three finalists had to deliver three longer pitches. Here's the complete effort by the winner:
Bart Brouwers is co-founder and co-owner of Media52 BV, the publisher of innovationorig | 162 |
I lost count of how many times I've actually gone back and forth to the Land and Transport Department, situated between Sukhumvit 99 and 101 or opposite of Sukhumvit 62. Last Monday, I thought ah, it's time to renew my license for it causes no harm to renew it before the expiration date because "the earlier the better." It actually expires on August 14, 2008 and last Monday was just August 11. What more, school has just resumed this week and I don't want to miss any morning classes.
So after a few drive and ride across the jammed Sukhumvit road, I was finally at the DLT. With a big smile and a grateful heart I stepped into the DLT glad that my brilliant plan was about to kick in and it did, from getting through the queue and getting approval on my documents from the officers there. I thought in no time I would be given a new title of "Five Years" instead of the previous "<|fim_middle|> Years"! It cost 605B beautiful figure. Again, the big smile and grateful heart was back on. Yay! | One Year". Well, apparently I was wrong altogether and the brilliantness came to a halt.
The officer who was adorned in yellow that day muttered a loud "aww!!" and what followed was "your license has not expired but please come back again on this coming Thursday (August 14, 2008)" which was yesterday when my license was officially pronounced dead. After all the hassle I went through!!!
Renew your license on your actual expiry date only or after the expiry date.
Yesterday when I again visited the lovely faces working at the DLT, I didn't have to go through the busy queue to get my documents checked anymore but they offered me to walk right to their desk and process my license that viola! I got my "Five | 155 |
In one of my favourite fantasy novels, Thief of Time<|fim_middle|>% off at $10.47. Apply promotion code Unfolding before checking out. Hurry now and save! Offer expires Monday, October 6th! | by Terry Pratchett—this relates to The Unfolding Journey, I promise—two people are sitting in a beautiful landscape magically removed from the normal world. There is wind and sunlight in the trees, a river gurgles peacefully near by, peacocks stroll up and down the grass.
There's more, and I urge you to read it: even as a staunch atheist, Terry Pratchett's writing can inform your views on religion and life. But this is the heart of it: sometimes it's good to focus on the mundane details of real life, and sometimes it's good to close your eyes and lose yourself in the impossible.
In The Unfolding Journey, Sr. Jean Marie Dwyer brings together two vastly different people. Meister Eckhart was a gifted administrator and a 'punster' as well as a mystic, poet and philosopher; Etty Hillesum faced the anxieties of modern life as well as the horrors of Auschwitz and the Holocaust. But both of them faced the same journey: moving from within to without.
Detachment is not about withdrawal, about completely cutting one's self off from the world, but about (as Eckhart puts it) equanimity: accepting all things, both good and bad, as God's grace. As Dwyer puts it: "The only important thing is to be where we are called to be—simply to be who we are, without comparison or competition with others. To be who we are is the best of all gifts." To go back to the metaphor in the first few paragraphs, neither character is wrong: the peaceful little valley does need to be tended and cleaned up and taken care of, and it is a perfect moment.
The Unfolding Journey is an absorbing book: it was a slow read for me at first, but a richly rewarding one in the end. It will challenge the way you view Christianity, and how you see life's problems and their solutions. It is a fascinating read, and a valuable one for everybody going on their own journey.
Order The Unfolding Journey today and receive 30 | 431 |
Many popular articles have recently been written about staying present and being mindful. Some<|fim_middle|> help someone become unstuck in judgmental or predictive thinking, and instead see how to use behaviors to be true to one's values in a given moment. Being present, in this approach, is a strategy to find ways for live to be more attuned with what matters most to the person in a given situation. | folks describe it as focusing your attention on the sensory experiences in the moment–like hearing the wind blow or feeling the temperature on your skin. But mindfulness can be more than simply distracting your attention.
The Metacognitive Therapy folks in England developed what may be the first well-researched mindfulness strategy: Attention Training Technique. (http://www.mct-institute.com/metacognitive-therapy) In that treatment protocol, the patient is taught to shift attention from distressing ideas (worrisome thoughts, phobic ideas) to the experiences in the real-life moment. The method trains you to keep your attention on what's really going on, rather than the images and thoughts that cause anxiety or depression.
However, in more recent CBT strategies, most notably ACT, focus work on staying present (https://contextualscience.org/the_six_core_processes_of_act) as a method to align behaviors in a moment with the thoughts that describe the present (not judge it) and the values a person holds. In this view, staying present, or being mindful of the moment, is used to | 219 |
image/svg+xml image/svg+xml image/svg+xml FIRM Platform organiser CUSTOMER A CUSTOMER B Customer's need Customer's need Payment Payment Product X Product Y Additional benefit By Using Product X, Customer Acreates an additional benefit ofvalue to Customer B access throughProduct Y.
A multi-party arrangement (triadic) where a Firm identifies two different customer groups A<|fim_middle|> the value proposition behind the exchange between customer groups A and B, because this model requires that customers are entrepreneurs and that customer group A will continue to have something of value to customer group B. | and B; and delivers to each group a (different) product, service or solution. However, there is an additional requirement: B must get additional benefits from A's usage that is orchestrated by the Firm. The value proposition is multi-dimensional: the Firm delivers independent benefits to each of A and B; and it orchestrates additional value between A and B (externalities).
RISK – Potentially quite high: the firm is ultimately ceding control of | 91 |
b. Experience in Reporting tool IB<|fim_middle|> operations.
ValueMomentum's Foundry family of products address rating (with rating for ISO), agent & customer portal, forms submission and product lifecycle management. ValueMomentum has placed strategic importance to R&D for its Software and Services offerings to differentiate in the markets we operate in. These R&D efforts have led to the filing of patents that enhance ValueMomentum's intellectual capital and drive momentum to our Clients' initiatives. With our help, our Clients are driving momentum to their initiatives involving targeting the right customers, selecting profitable business, optimizing pricing, retaining valuable customers through better service, web-enabling delivery channel interactions, automating knowledge processes, creating system-wide efficiencies for delivery of products & services and becoming the "market-of-choice" for top producing Channels and Customers – while optimizing IT operations.
ValueMomentum has world class delivery centers in Piscataway, NJ and Hyderabad, India. There are additional Client Services and Business Development offices in Sunnyvale, CA and Hyderabad, India. ValueMomentum is appraised as at Level 3 of the CMMI Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). ValueMomentum is also a SSAE 16 - SOC 2 certified company. | Webfocus.
c. Experience in Statistical Reporting.
j. Experience in using combination of technologies includes DataMigrator, SSIS and Webfocus.
ValueMomentum provides Software and Services to Insurance, Healthcare & Financial Services firms. We deliver the value we promise and drive forward the momentum of our customers' initiative. We do this thanks to our customer-first approach, expertise and industry depth. ValueMomentum's IT services help carriers increase returns from their core investments. These include application development and management, systems integration, digital engagement, customer communications management, quality assurance & testing and cloud-enabled IT | 120 |
Funnily enough, Autumn is also one of the prettiest times in London as the city gets ready for the holidays, Christmas parties and long winter nights.
To brighten up Autumn in London – Hamburg is coming to London!
As it turns out, Hamburg is quite the city to be in, especially if you're into music festivals. The best part of a festival in the city is that you can eat your cake and have it – party all weekend but still get to go home to your bed at 5am, have hot showers, explore the city (if you're visiting) and get ready to do it all again the following night!
Hamburg is also a pretty city so there's tons to see and do in the city during the day too! (We visited last year for the Christmas markets so we know this fact only too well – see here and here).
Right! So back to my original point – Hamburg is coming to London! Hamburg On Tour – is bringing the party right to our doorsteps in London this October. On the 20th and 21st of October, there's going to be a party in Brick Lane hosted by Hamburg and you're invited!
<|fim_middle|> point in the evening but nothing a nice cuppa coffee couldn't sort out.
We also stopped for what was meant to be one cake but ended up being a sampling of 6 different cakes!
And don't be fooled by that word 'sampling' the cake sizes here are as huge as they are delicious! Wasn't sure about the poppy seeds on – the one with the dark bits in the middle – but even that turned out to be quite an unexpectedly delightful surprise. The cheesecake for me was, by and large, the winner though Lloyd's fave was definitely the chocolate cake.
…though it didn't take too long before our thoughts turned to food again and with that, on a recommendation by the locals we'd met, we headed off to Hatari The Corner for dinner.
In Hatari, the burgers and salads are humongous and the steak (which is what I opted for) was absolutely cooked to perfection. I love it when people get a steak right so, armed with a beer from Ratsherrn Brewery (which we visited earlier), I was very much in my happy place!
Now, I've got to let you in on a little secret here – well, it's not as much a secret but it's something that sounds odd, especially when you come from the UK – the home of summer festivals. I've never been to a proper festival before.
British festivals usually involve lots of camping, sometimes in the rain (which also equates to mud), willies to deal with said rain and mud, shared bathrooms and lots of portaloos (which till this day, I genuinely struggle with). I like having a nice bed to roll into after a busy day and so the idea of going a proper festival was totally lost on me.
This was the case until recently when I started paying more attention to festivals in the UK (on TV) and finally when a group of friends visited for the first time and absolutely loved it.
"Yes, there's the whole hassle that comes with not having your own clean living space but it's temporary and so worth it!" they reassured me and so with that, I've always been intrigued about attending a festival.
Dockville festival was the perfect way to do it. You got that true festival spirit – right down to mud as it started raining while we were having dinner but we also didn't get thrown too far into the deep end and could head back home later that night (I think we ended up going to bed around 4 or 5am) and could do it all over again!
There are a fair few stages here but we were far too keen to just stick to one place! We got ourselves some drinks and decided to hop around from stall to stall to try out all the drinks (okay, fine – not all but a fair few) and a bit of the food (though I have to admit, this was just the greed speaking now cos we'd eaten quite a lot by this point).
As a true festival rookie, I didn't show up in festival appropriate footwear (I was there with a pair of perforated driver shoes) and so before long, there was mud in my shoes. I don't know if it was the music, the brilliant company, the drunks or just the fun atmosphere but it was just so easy to ignore the muddy shoes and just go ahead and have a great old time!
Vicky even managed to blag us entry into the VIP tent for a brewery (right next to the one for Chanel – though at a festival, guess which one was more popular… *Hint – it's the one with the bottomless refills of beers) where we watched the main act, Flume, perform from our vantage view point.
The night ended in eating huge slices of pizza, lots of laughing all the way to our hotel and us totally understanding why a visit to Hamburg during festival season is an absolute summer must-do! | The Location: The Boiler House, 152 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL. The nearest stations are Aldgate East and Shoreditch though you could also use Whitechapel and Liverpool Street. Time is from 12noon till 11pm so you can pop in whenever is most convenient for you!
Rather than rehash them here – the full details are available on the Hamburg On Tour website here (the final line-up will be confirmed later on so keep an eye out on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
As I mentioned previously, we'd had an amazing time in Hamburg when we visited in winter and as soon as we arrived at the hotel in Hamburg (following a 1 hour flight from London on Eurowings), we wasted no time in heading to explore the city.
But, first thing first – lunch!
On this visit to the city, we went on something of a more local tour of the city – skipping the shinier sights of the city in search of where Hamburgers (that's what people from Hamburg are called right? 😉 ) hang out – it was Friday evening after all.
Sternschanze was, by and large, the recommendation for where to go out in. This once run down neighbourhood of Hamburg is now one of the best places to visit for food, drinks and a good night out in town.
As our night was already planned, we would be attending the MS Dockville Festival with our friend Vicky, we decided to stick to food and drinks here.
…and Braugasthaus Altes Mädchen – a brewery house which has great food too (though look out for the breads here – it's something of a speciality)!
Also, pop by Ratsherrn Brauerei – a local brewery, to pick up some drinks for when you're getting ready back at the hotel.
We spent the rest of the evening wandering around the area, stopping to take in all the street art, retro stores and find out about some secret music venues (turns out – this city has long since had musical roots, even the Beatles had roots here for a little while before they became world famous).
All this sightseeing malarkey is hungry work 😉 so we popped into Harbor Cake for some coffee – we'd just arrived from China so the jetlag was real by this | 473 |
News and Publications > Transportation Expenditure Plans
Transportation Expenditure Plans
The Alameda County Transportation Expenditure Plans guide the expenditures of voter-approved transportation funds generated through the countywide transportation sales tax. The 2000 and 2014 expenditure plans were developed to serve major regional transportation needs in Alameda County and to address congestion in every major commute corridor in the county. Priorities are to:
Expand BART, bus, ferry and rail services.
Keep fares affordable for youth, seniors and people with disabilities.
Provide traffic relief by improving local streets and roads and highway corridors.
Improve air quality and provide clean transportation by expanding bicycle and pedestrian paths and the regional rail network.
Create good jobs within Alameda County by requiring local contracting and supporting community developments that improve access to jobs and schools.
2014 Measure BB Transportation Expenditure Plan
On January 23, 2014, the Alameda County Transportation Commission approved the 2014 Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP), a 30-year plan to address Alameda County's continued transportation needs. On November 4, 2014, 70 percent of Alameda County voters approved Measure BB and its expenditure plan, which will generate nearly $8 billion over 30 years for essential transportation improvements in every city throughout Alameda County.
On September 24, 2020, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) approved an amendment to the 2014 TEP. The amendment includes:
Acknowledgement of the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Rail Authority (TVSJVRRA) as a new agency in Alameda County that can be an eligible recipient of Measure BB funds
Removal of the BART to Livermore project<|fim_middle|>ix C: Glossary
Vehicle Registration Fee Strategic Plan FY 13-14 | and associated $400 million Measure BB funding
Addition of the Valley Link in Alameda County project with $400 million in Measure BB funding
Associated technical amendments
Visit the Measure BB webpage for more detailed information on this amendment.
2000 Measure B Transportation Expenditure Plan
The 2000 Transportation Expenditure Plan guides investments in Alameda County of more than $1.4 billion (in 1998 dollars) generated by Measure B through the year 2022. In 2000, 81.5 percent of Alameda County voters approved an extension of Measure B, which was originally approved in 1986.
2000 Measure B Expenditure Plan
2000 Measure B Ballot and Plan
1986 Measure B Ordinance
Amendment No. 1 (December 2005)
Amendment No. 2 (June 2006)
Comprehensive Investment Plan
The Comprehensive Investment Plan (CIP) adopted by the Commission in June 2015 and updated in July 2016, translates long-range plans into a short-range investment strategy by establishing a list of near-term priority improvements to enhance and maintain Alameda County's transportation system in accordance with Countywide Transportation Plan objectives.
The CIP identifies anticipated transportation funding over a five-year horizon and strategically matches funding sources to targeted transportation investments. The expenditure and revenue assumptions included in the CIP are updated annually, and proposals for new projects and programs are considered every two years as part of the full update cycle.
The CIP also serves to satisfy the strategic plan requirements for the 1986 Measure B, 2000 Measure B, 2010 Vehicle Registration Fee and the 2014 Measure BB programs, each of which represents a fund source that Alameda CTC administers. In addition, the CIP serves as the Capital Improvement Program required of Alameda CTC as the congestion management agency for Alameda County.
Previous Strategic Plans
The Measure B Capital Program Strategic Plan for fiscal year 2013-2014 outlines the annual allocations to the 27 capital projects identified as Tier 1 in the 2000 Transportation Expenditure Plan and the approach for delivery of the remainder of the capital projects authorized in 1986.
The Vehicle Registration Fee Strategic Plan guides the implementation of the four programs identified in the Vehicle Registration Fee Expenditure Plan.
Measure B Capital Program Strategic Plan FY 13-14
Appendix A: Capital Project Fact Sheets
Appendix B: Policies and Procedures
Append | 551 |
MOVIE OF THE WEEK January 11, 2019: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?
January 6, 2019 February 3, 2019 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments astra taylor, betsy bozdech, Cate Marquis, documentaries, liz whittemore, loren king, mariyn ferdinand, maryann johanson, sandie angulo chen, Sheila Roberts, what is democracy?
Thought-provoking and philosophical, Astra Taylor's timely documentary What Is Democracy? takes a deep dive into a topic that many of us probably think we know a lot about. But, as is shown in this compelling film, it turns out that the concept of "democracy" has greater nuance and more room for interpretations than most average citizens (voters or, sadly, non-voters) around the world seem to realize.
By interviewing a variety of people about a wide range of subjects — from the political history of ancient Greece to the current state of public education in America — Taylor weaves a fascinating tapestry of impressions, experiences, and opinions related to the notion of self-governance and representative government. Renowned thinkers and politicians such as Angela Davis, Cornel West, and Mickey Michaux Jr. share screen time with Trump supporters, college students on spring break, immigrants, and many more.
All of them take Taylor's deceptively simple titular question seriously, citing ideas like freedom, justice, and equality while trying to define what democracy means to them. But how those broad concepts play out in the real world is often frustrating — and certainly far from the Platonic ideals laid out by academics such as the University of Patras' Efimia Karakantza and UC Berkeley's Wendy Brown. And what we learn is that, far too often, "democracy" is used to refer to governments and systems that are actually anything but.
MaryAnn Johanson: Astra Taylor's examination of what might be one of the most cherished concepts of our time is bold, proudly intellectual, decidedly feminist, and, in its perhaps most incisive aspect, skeptical… as in, do we actually cherish democracy, or do we merely pay lip service to it? Do we even understand what the word means and the limitations to which we subject it in practice? Are the flawed ways in which we've been deploying democracy in fact responsible for many of the problems of our society? This may be one of the more genuinely provocative documentaries I've seen in a while: it's radical yet keeps itself within a framework that could not be more conservative, looking at the concept of democracy through the lenses of ancient and Enlightenment philosophy. And as it asks us to consider whether we need to rethink our paradigms — especially the ones in which wealth and privilege rule — and create new ones, it does that itself, by featuring mostly women and people of color as its expert talking heads as well as its person-on-the-street opiners. This movie is already walking the walk it is suggesting our culture needs to go on.
Marilyn Ferdinand: Canadian documentarian Astra Taylor is a rare bird—a philosophical thinker in an industry that generally glorifies the superficial. Following up her first examination of the "big questions" in 2008's Examined Life, her latest documentary zeros in on just one question: What Is Democracy?. Her investigation takes her to the birthplace of democracy, Greece, where she meets not only with scholars, but also with the former president of Greece, George A. Papandreou, who imposed austerity measures on his citizens, and Syrian refugees fleeing war and stuck in the stateless purgatory of Greek refugee camps. She also ventures to North Carolina, which one academic classified in 2016 as no longer being a democracy, and to a trauma center and a public park in Miami, a city in which income inequality is particularly egregious and Trumpism battles with liberalism in the minds of its residents. Refreshingly, almost none of the people she questions are white men, which gives<|fim_middle|> some startling answers. Read full review.
Elizabeth Whittemore What is Democracy? could not be coming at more tumultuous time in history. The film explores the past, present, and theorizes what will become of our future if we do not pause to learn from our previous mistakes. The world is in what feels like total upheaval but it is not the first time we as a civilization have been on the precipice of either disaster or triumph. We march, we vote, we are inundated with fake news, and yet the people continue to strive for peace and equality against all odds of capitalism and, dare I say, evil. But democracy goes both ways. That's the very essence of the word itself. Can good prevail without its counterpart? What is Democracy? should be required viewing in every high school civics class. Hell, it should be required viewing by every human being. | this documentary an angle far off the "party line," which usually revolves around freedom. Of all the answers she gets to her question, the one that stuck with me was from a Syrian teacher living in limbo in a Greek camp. Freedom, he says, is not democracy because we cannot be free to do whatever we want. To him, democracy means justice. What Is Democracy? demonstrates through examples the wisdom of his answer.
Loren King At a time when pundits, philosophers and politicians routinely talk about the attacks on democracy all around the world, and when critics of the current US president observe that he regularly runs roughshod over democratic norms, could there be a more vital film right now than What is Democracy? Read full review.
Sheila Roberts Astra Taylor's inspiring documentary, What Is Democracy?, features a diverse cast of ordinary and extraordinary people who explore the meaning of the word, its evolution over the millennia since Plato, its dilution by the forces of modern day free market capitalism, and how personal and local inform the political. What Is Democracy? poses compelling questions that reveal how the concept is increasingly under assault, and that if we truly want to do something about it, we must first define its meaning in today's world. Taylor argues that the sphere of political relations is much broader than government. It passed through our kitchen, our bedroom, and the community which is a center of social power — meaning that women, in particular, play a critical and insightful role in how democracy is defined.
Jennifer Merin Filmmaker Astra Taylor's timely documentary inquiry digs deep into a concept that we hold dear and consider essential, but might not understand quite as well as we think we do. To trace and explore the meaning of democracy and the way in which the concept has effected society and government from ancient to modern times, Taylor interviews a flowing, seemingly random stream of 'thinkers,' including philosophers, historians, politicians, youngsters on the street, immigrants, students, and Angela Davis, among others who explain or opine upon the meaning of democracy. She visits Greece, the Middle East and traverses the USA, stopping at ruins and museums and in school rooms. The film is not an easy watch. Delivering information and insight via the various contradictory comments and interpretations, expressions of varying perceptions and observations, and compilation of personal anecdotes and agonies, it is confounding and astonishing. Put simply, What is Democracy? is a must see eye opener for our time.
Sandie Angulo Chen: What Is Democracy? is a fascinating documentary that poses a lot of thought-provoking questions and makes one wonder if we indeed live in a democracy or just thinly veiled oligarchies in slavish service to economic elites. Filmmaker Astra Taylor interviews philosophers, politicians, activists, professors, and students around the world to discuss the issue of democracy and proposes that many western democracies, including (perhaps especially) the United States and Greece, fall short of Plato's ideal in terms of representation of the people. It's exactly the sort of documentary that high-school students should see, debate, and discuss both at school and at home with their parents. As the film makes clear, it takes civically engaged voters (and protestors) to make their voices heard and work toward change.
Cate Marquis Director Astra Taylor's documentary What is Democracy? asks that question by posing it to various people – experts in Greek history, social scientists, academics, ordinary Americans – and comes up with | 703 |
<|fim_middle|> stops on this year's tour for CHESNEY. Next up: MET LIFE STADIUM in EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, home to the NFL's NEW YORK GIANTS and JETS.
Kenny Chesney Tour 2023 | Events & Tickets
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Kelsea Ballerini Extends Heartfirst Tour January 13, 2023 | Kenny Chesney Sets New Attendance Record At Nashville's Nissan Stadium
SATURDAY night (8/11) was another evening of record-breaking attendance for BLUE CHAIR/WARNER BROS./WEA artist KENNY CHESNEY and his "2018 TRIP AROUND THE SUN TOUR." This time, CHESNEY was closer to home, as 55,182 fans packed NASHVILLE's NISSAN STADIUM for more than two hours of familiar and new hits. Between ACM and CMA, honors, CHESNEY is an eight-time Entertainer Of The Year trophy winner, and he showed why, taking full command of a packed stadium crowd from the start, with an extended, blazing rendition of "Beer In MEXICO." Drenched in sweat, but seemingly never winded, CHESNEY covered every possible square inch of a super-sized and extended stage on a hot Summer night. CHESNEY was joined mid-set by REVIVER RECORDS' DAVID LEE MURPHY, who teamed for their recent #1 single, "Everything's Gonna be Alright." MURPHY also played his classics, "Dust On The Bottle" and "Party Crowd," the latter of which was entirely on point for the evening.
Also on the bill, EMI NASHVILLE's BRANDON LAY, RCA NASHVILLE's OLD DOMINION, and VALORY MUSIC CO. artist THOMAS RHETT. SATURDAY's attendance broke the previous record set in 2014 when boy band ONE DIRECTION hit MUSIC CITY. NISSAN STADIUM, home to the NFL's TENNESSEE TITANS, was one of 19 stadium | 356 |
Composer Spotlight: Gaetano Donizetti
Spotlight on the Sinfonia for Winds in G minor…
Katherine Lacy, Principal Clarinet of the RPO says: 'What I am most looking forward to is opening our concert with Donizetti's Sinfonia, or 'Symphony for Winds'. This piece could only have been written by an Italian operatic composer – Donizetti wrote over 7<|fim_middle|> has an expressive lyrical quality.
More music to explore…
Listen out for comic opera Don Pasquale, the String Quartet No.17 in D major and the cantata Aristea.
Gaetano Donizetti's Sinfonia for Winds in G minor was performed on Wed 14 Oct 2020, 1.15pm at Cadogan Hall.
Discover other composers featured in the Spotlight Series here. | 0 operas altogether! Just like a Rossini overture, it is full of drama, excitement and humour, as well as, of course, beautifully lyrical, singing phrases that are so well-suited to woodwind instruments.'
Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) was one of the leading figures in Italian opera in the early half of the nineteenth century. He produced an enormous number of crowd-pleasing operas in a short period, including his best-known works L'elisir d'amore, Lucia di Lammermoor and La Fille du Régiment, and his music undoubtedly influenced fellow Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Beyond the world of opera though, his musical output was also vast, writing in many different forms from string quartets and symphonies to concertos and songs. His intense music is full of unforgettable melodies, infused with human drama and often | 190 |
<|fim_middle|> 16:29. | Following the group from Macau (30th April-7th May) a group from Singapore came to the Mother House for 8 day session (13th-22nd June). This group had 15 Mission Partners and one Good Shepherd Sister from Malaysia who is responsible for "Enrichment Mission" Project in Singapore. Among the Mission Partners there were 6 teachers of the "Mary Mount" kindergarten, 8 teachers of the "Mary Mount" primary school and one Good Shepherd volunteer who has her own job.
As teachers, they were eager to learn the history and charism of the Congregation and also the spirituality of St. Jean Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia. They wanted to share their knowledge and experiences with their children, so that they asked many questions during the session.
Especially the participants were deeply touched by the relationships of St. Jean Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia with their Mission Partners in their life time, e.g. Madeleine Lamy and Marie des Vallées, Count de Neville and Countess d'Andigne. They were their good friends and advisors, faithful companions and generous benefactors for years. Recognizing the significant role of Mission Partners, the participants were more motivated to devote themselves to their present Mission in Singapore.
When we visited the former Jesuit Church "Notre Dame de la Gloriette" which is nowadays used for cultural events and concerts, they spontaneously presented a choir singing beautiful songs conducted by a music teacher among them. Their creativity and team spirit made the joyous and lively atmosphere in the church.
At the end of the session they were sent to their Mission in the world reenergized and full of gratitude.
Submitted by monique on 07/19/2018 - | 366 |
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Posted on May 28, 2018 by jrcclark
Sometimes humankind's dedication to waging hatred and war runs so deep that even the meek and pure of heart who attempt to circumvent such events become the object of derision and potential acts of violence. Perhaps no group of people in America knows this better than the Quakers, a religious sect that traces its origins back to the mid-1600s as a breakaway Christian alternative to the Church of England. Springing out of the violence of the English Civil Wars, the "Religious Society of Friends" became known for its use of the word "thou," commitment to plain dress, refusal to swear oaths to political entities, opposition to slavery and alcohol, and the practicing of emotional purity with a direct personal relationship to God. Perhaps the one ideal for which they are best known stems from their refusal to participate in the waging of wars, which has also at times put them at great odds with mainstream culture. In particular, this commitment to pacifism placed the religion contrary to American societal trends in 1917, at a time when the United States ended its isolationism and entered World War I.
AFSC Was Born In The Midst of World War I
Photo credit: Dunechaser / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Their opposition to violence in all its forms leads most Quakers to the refusal of military duty, even when called to that obligation through conscription, perhaps better known as "the draft." Such was the case in 1917 when the United States joined the war against Germany and its allies, forcing the Quakers to provide conscientious objectors a constructive substitute for military service. In the midst of this predicament grew a uniquely American component of the religion, by which Quakers were able to "serve both humanity and country while being faithful to their commitment to nonviolence." Now known as the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), this organization began by reaching out and helping conscientious objectors during the First World War, but also through its efforts to establish the means by which military duty could be carried out in other ways than on the battlefield. Throughout World War I, many draft boards across the country assigned conscientious objectors to the AFSC, which in turn directed the center of its efforts to wartime relief – such as the collection of food, clothing, and other life-sustaining supplies for disbursement in France and other areas greatly impacted by the fighting. AFSC workers were able to build a maternity hospital, care for refugee children that had been displaced in the waging of war, repair and reconstruct homes destroyed during the conflict, and distribute the supplies necessary for sustaining the everyday needs of life. At the end of the war, AFSC programs spread into many areas of Europe, including Poland, Serbia, and Russia.
During the 1930s and the years of World War II the AFSC grew even more active, as worldwide humanitarian needs became more and more necessary during those tumultuous years. With Adolf Hitler growing increasingly more powerful in Germany and the horrors of the Holocaust spreading across Europe, AFSC was instrumental in helping all types of refugees escape the advance of Nazi oppression. Similarly, relief for children suffering on both sides of the Spanish Civil War was also a focal point of AFSC efforts just prior to the eruption of World War II – and when the war did eventually occur, AFSC took the unpopular role of aiding Japanese-Americans during their confinement in wartime U. S. concentration camps. Upon the end of hostilities in 1945, AFSC proved equally invaluable for the reconstruction of war-torn Europe, India, China, and Japan. Post-war efforts of the Quaker relief efforts did not go unnoticed, as evident in the fact that AFSC and the British Friends Service Council jointly received the 1947 Nobel Peace Prize. The following year of 1948 witnessed the AFSC aiding refugees fleeing the violence rampant in the Gaza Strip during the First Arab-Israeli War.
Following World War II, AFSC continued to provide charitable aid to impacted civilians on both sides of conflicts, such as the Korean War, Hungarian Revolution , and the Algerian War – but it also began to focus its efforts on programs designed for alleviating the tensions that tend to cause war, including the disparity between the rich and poor, injustices inflicted on ethnic minorities, and shortcomings in education, housing, and working conditions. The universal objectivity of Quaker peace efforts became very evident during the Vietnam War, when the "AFSC undertook programs of child care and prosthetics for war-injured Vietnamese civilians in the south and provided medical supplies for civilians in the north." Unable to acquire U. S. State Department approval for delivery of the medical supplies to North Vietnam, AFSC eventually dispatched the aid with the help of Canada. In recent years, AFSC has been a open critic of the Iraq War, sponsoring a "Wage Peace Campaign" that called for ending the conflict and rebuilding the war-ravaged country "justly." Ongoing AFSC programs today include efforts to prevent the militarization of American youth, fairer patterns in international trade, terminating the buildup of weapons and the international arms trade, banning the use of land mines, debt relief in poorer countries, a just two-country peace in Palestine-Israel, and reforming the U. S. criminal justice system.
Originally AFSC Was Intended To Provide An Alternative To Military Duty
Photo credit: familymwr / Foter / CC BY
Objective writers on the subject of AFSC programs have astutely recognized that "AFSC's peace witness is not just a negative peace (the absence of war or armed conflict), but a positive peace built on the presence of justice and human reconciliation." Such an approach to world peace is just<|fim_middle|> below.
You can help promote the establishment of a monument dedicated to all American victims of terrorism, whether they died at home or abroad, by clicking the link above and signing the petition. Nothing is asked but your signature for a good cause.
About jrcclark
On October 2, 2001, scarcely one month after the horrors of 911, Representative Jim Turner of Texas introduced H. R. 2982 to the House of Representatives, calling for "the establishment of a memorial to victims who died as a result of terrorist acts against the United States or its people, at home or abroad." The resolution was amended by the Committee on Resources in June of 2002 and eventually approved on September 25, 2002 on a "motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill." It was sent to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, but it has languished there ever since – in effect dead and going nowhere. In 2008, this Senate Committee considered making Dark Elegy, the work of a New York sculptor who lost a son in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, as the monument called for in H. R. 2982. However, the committee turned down the touching and thought-provoking sculptures of Suse Ellen Lowenstein – on the grounds that "…as compelling and impressive a proposal as has been made for the memorial in question, that we believe that, for the time being, that it relates to a very specific incident and should be treated as such rather than as a generic monument to victims of terrorism for all time." Today the resolution seems forgotten, and it is the purpose of this website to promote a petition to the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, requesting that H. R. 2982 be reconsidered and revisited.
View all posts by jrcclark →
This entry was posted in Posts for the Cause and tagged AFSC, Algerian War, American Friends Service Committee, Iraq War, monuments to victims of terrorism, peace, Quaker, Spanish Civil War, United States, world brotherhood, World War II. Bookmark the permalink. | what the doctor ordered when it comes to proactively confronting transnational violence, also known as terrorism. Although military action might help in the short term to weed out radical cells dedicated to violence, it is the deep-seated, comprehensive labors dedicated to long term peace promotion that will prove the most helpful when it comes to ending the causes of that scourge in human history. The recognition of that fact runs hand in hand with the need to be aware of those that have died innocently in terroristic acts. You can help advance that fact by signing the petition to which this website is dedicated. Your effort would take just a couple of minutes of your time and no financial commitment at all. Join us and click on the link | 145 |
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Edward Gray - The Old Bending River
Posted in SHOFT on Thursday 22nd September 2011 at 9:09pm
Having suffered a fairly catastrophic computer situation here last weekend, I've had incredibly limited time to listen to music lately and an even more limited range of things to easily play. In the midst of this frustrating, tiresome and starkly tuneless week I received Edward Gray's album. It would have been easy to overlook it in the mess of things to fix and missed deadlines to catch up on, but instead I found myself returning to it again and again. Perhaps because, despite coming late to his music I feel a strange kinship with Edward Gray. For starters "The Old Bending River" is his first release for five years and having spent much of that same period wondering if I was ever really going to get excited about music again, it's easy to draw a parallel with his time in the wilderness. Starting in around 1989, making music largely never far from his Iowa City home, there is a sense of quiet industry against the odds of fierce self-critique here which appeals to me too. The singer-songwriter and self-styled noisician's wayward, outsider spirit is amply illustrated here over the course of eight simply constructed, often humbly short but surprisingly hard-edged compositions.
Opening with "Chafe", Gray's voice is immediately striking. A warm, low burr which draws instant and probably tiresome parallels with Bill Callahan - but Gray manages to be at once more playful and less affected somehow, delivering these curious lyrics with a hint of humour - often of the self-deprecating variety - and a frankness which is incredibly appealing. On occasion, when faced with an impending chorus, Gray manages to soar to cracked, lonesome highs more akin to Mark Eitzel. This voice is allied to a delicate, understated backdrop which marries a swaggering rhythm section to a gentle country backing with beautifully deft licks of pedal steel. Next up "Samson" is a markedly stranger affair, a countrified polka full of lyrical drama. As the tension ramps up towards the conclusion, a violin sweeps in and dances around the song rather mournfully. Considering the simple instrumentation deployed here, the range of approaches Edward's band manages is staggering.
There are points here too, where Gray displays a surprising gentleness of touch in his writing, such as "Away" which couples the simplest of melodies to some affecting, emotive vocals and a chaotic squall of guitar. It's light, easy on the surface listening, but hidden under here is emotionally complex stuff - which still manages to support just the tiniest hint of bitter humour as Gray gruffly observes "you got some brass ones, buddy" with a wry smile before wringing a wonderfully chaotic racket from his guitar. This incredible talent for shifting the mood of a piece around occurs again on the initially playful "Egg Timer Man" which is all pretty straightforward until Gray's vocal dips to a menacing, rumbling whisper to close the track. The versatility of Gray's voice, the dramatic twists and turns in his songwriting and the slick band which backs him all coming into alignment to deliver songs which reward on a scale which belies their humble origins. The album reaches a climax with the tortured, twisted yarn of "Bone" where Edward's voice is paired with a tangled, scratchy guitar line which winds around a sinuous bassline. Occasionally the guitar explodes into life with a tortured howl of melody and noise, before the song returns to it's nagging hypnotic refrain. Toughening into a menacing swagger, the song clocks in somewhere near seven minutes, Gray's voice reaching a pitch of anger and pain before sinking into resignation. This is blistering, visceral music which caught me quite unaware on my first listen. Finally "Cold Cold Man" creeps in with a sinister organ supporting quietly, menacing vocals which invoke Leonard Cohen at his playfully miserable best. Whoops of saxophone add to the atmosphere as the song shudders and stutters towards a riotous conclusion, as Gray begins to bark out the song's title over a bar-room choir of backing vocals.
I'm indebted to Luigi from Almost Halloween Time Records for letting me hear this music as he prepares to painstakingly individually illustrate the lyric sheets of a very limited vinyl edition of this album - and once again, he's picked an incredible record to work on. Playful and surprising, but sometimes discordant and challenging, Edward Gray's work deserves to be far more widely known. This is an accomplished work from a veteran of two decades of self-recording, but who sounds like he's still enjoying every second of it. Long may he continue to do so. I can't urge strongly enough to ensure you get to hear this.
You can purchase "The Old Bending River" from Bandcamp, but I'd recommend that you check out the very limited, hand illustrated vinyl version available from Almost Halloween Time Records. More information, including a fairly extensive back catalogue can be found here.
Edward Gray - Chafe
Slow Club - Paradise
Posted in SHOFT on Thursday 15th September 2011 at 10:09pm
My introduction to Slow Club occurred on what promised to be another glum night in Crewe back in 2009. It's fair to say I've spent a fair few similarly dull nights there over the past decade or so, but rarely have I been quite so surprised. A remarkably glamourous, young looking duo took the stage against the drab backdrop of a Crewe pub, delivering a short but spirited set of songs which couldn't decide if they were pop or folk despite the flyer trying to pass them off as some sort of dreadfully serious anti-folk act. It didn't really matter - I was immediately intrigued. So, almost two years, an album which I listened to almost obsessively for months and a triumphant Homegame set later I find myself in the tricky position of writing about new music by a band I've enthused almost stupidly about everywhere. I'm sometimes accused of sycophancy here, but the mission is to write about things I like, not to act as some sort of arch, journalistic reviewer. Even so, sometimes it's far from easy to stay even slightly objective in the face of music you know is going to become very important to you as it grows more familiar. Yes readers, it's going to be another of those unfocused and incoherent pieces for which this blog is gaining a reputation...
If Slow Club's fine debut album 'Yeah, So' was an uplifting cry of defiance, then 'Paradise' is a somewhat darker and more complex beast. There is a brooding atmosphere from the outset, with almost the entire record drenched in reverb, and with the generally uncomplicated instrumentation echoing around a sparse, empty room. There's also a pervading sense of loss, regret, even bitterness perhaps here. But the songs still manage to fill the vast space with warm, human emotion - and Charles and Rebecca can't entirely avoid the involuntary outbursts of pure, unashamed enthusiasm which made their first record such an instant success for me. Familiar from a recent single release which was coupled to an understated and classy video, 'Two Cousins' is a drum heavy, swaggering and soulful stomp. Strange washes of orchestration punctuate proceedings, and a piano-driven chorus provides one of those definitive Slow Club moments when you're grabbed and lifted up on the giddy spirals of vocals. A word is appropriate here on the metamorphosis of Rebecca Taylor. Universally portrayed in the music press as some sort of disinterested indie ice-queen since the first record, her personality shines through the vocals on this record - childlike glee in it's highs, growling anger at the world's injustice and a soulful ache of regret elsewhere. The clarity of her voice is unchanged, but its range and character have grown immeasurably into something truly amazing.
There is a lightness and simplicity about the plaintive 'Never Look Back' which has become an early album highlight for me. It starts by tackling an incredibly challenging, emotive event in a remarkably honest way. Charles Watson leads the song in with a somewhat incongruous swinging, jazzy intro until huge drums and surprisingly thunderous guitars enter for a soaring chorus where Rebecca's voice reaches for the stratosphere. This is a genuinely affecting, heart-stoppingly frank song which will leave even the most seasoned musical campaigner moist-eyed. A blast of relief from the tension arrives with the opening war-cry of 'Where I'm Waking'. A sultry, swaggering come-on punctuated by epic tumbles of echoing guitar and Motown drumbeats. Parts of this wouldn't be out of place in a seventies soul classic, while other sections belong in a twanging Johnny Cash-era country song. This ability to adopt and adapt pop history but still remain as fresh and modern as a Hoxton haircut seems a theme throughout 'Paradise'. A stroll in East London over last weekend sets 'Hackney Marsh' in some personal context and, like the place it's named for, this is an open, spacious quiet place punctuated by surprises and incongruities. Leading in with the simple observation that 'currency can ruin friendships/a mattress can do it too', this builds to a soaring howl of a chorus, which gives way to a<|fim_middle|> difficult to describe what followed - sometimes it was quiet, delicate and touching - often it was funny, bizarre even. Whatever it was, Ichi totally engaged the audience, and when he didn't he just threw ping-pong balls at them! Lyrically, it was harder to fathom - often barked in a strange, shrill Japanese - or via a distorting megaphone - the vocals were indistinct. Occasional snippets would surface ("this song is about a kumquat") but it didn't matter a bit. His short performance was dramatic, hilarious and affecting. What more could you ask? As Ichi strode back through the room on stilts at the end of his set, still jangling like a one-man folk festival, it struck me just how much guts it takes to pitch up in front of an audience and do something so alien and unlikely. For my money, the man is a bit of a hero.
Using the possibilities of the venue fully, we made the trip upstairs to a room I was more familiar with to see SJ Esau. Whilst a world away from Ichi, SJ Esau is an equally hard to pin down prospect. Over curious, weirdly suggestive video projections, the one man multi-instrumental music machine manipulated loops and beats which thundered oddly around the room. A gut-churning, glitchy bass and lots of scattergun guitar chimes topped things off musically, while he intoned lyrics often through an array of distorting effects. The vocals were almost as interesting as the mesmerising music here - often a robotic semi-rap, then a warm, humanly folky tone, and finally on the closing "I Threw A Wobbly" an outright punky howl. Almost obscured by the lighting and projections, the man himself was content to slip into the background of the performance. When he chats, he's a humble and funny guy - not nearly as arch and terrifying as his sometimes rather stark soundscapes might suggest. Occasionally the complex, shifting musical background drifts into something more like trance - and I'm aware that not for the first time tonight I'm out of my depth and having my assumptions tested by Hooops. No bad thing. SJ Esau is complex, layered and challenging. I leave the room a convert, with records to track down, which is always a sign of success.
Getting caught in interesting chats and things mean I miss Rachael Dadd who is back in the basement - but I make a mental note to catch up again based on what I've heard elsewhere. However, this puts me in pole position for Rozi Plain's performance back up here in the attic. Drawing a huge crowd, Bristol-based Fence Records artist Rozi is on fine form tonight. Her spacious, delicate guitar playing and beautifully fragile vocals filling a room which is utterly silent despite the crowd. Accompanied by a clarinet and saxophone duo who are keen to assert their "violent monopoly" on that particular instrumental ensemble, Rozi works her way through a handful of delirious, summery folk-pop numbers including recent single "Humans" which elicits a buzz of recognition from the audience. There is something earthy, warming and welcoming about Rozi's voice. It's like receiving a musical hug, and as someone standing beside me whispered to her friend "I could listen to her sing forever". Nothing I clumsily concoct as a review can better that description really.
There is a bit of delay before FOUND take the stage - but it's for good reason. A fair chunk of the audience want to know who won the Mercury Music Prize. I genuinely couldn't give a damn usually - the annual circus of the same dreary old acts, token Jazz efforts and worthy but patronisingly tokenistic ethnic inclusions bores me silly. But this time King Creosote and Jon Hopkins have not only scored a nomination, but seen the odds dramatically narrow via the sheer force of critical acclaim. Whilst none of us 'care' about the Mercury prize officially, we all want Kenny to win. As Ziggy Campbell concisely puts it from the stage "He's....well, he's our KING!". Frustrated by the delay FOUND begin playing with a pensive, slow-burning take on "Mullokian". Somewhere during this, the news lands that sort-of-local girl PJ Harvey has taken the prize. There's a genuine sense of deflation - it all seemed so possible somehow. But FOUND pay tribute with a wonderfully heartfelt take on KC's "For The Last Time Hello" before returning to their own familiar territory. A glitchy, stuttering "Anti Climb Paint" sets them back on track. The audience has thinned a bit, due to that time-honoured and slightly irritating Bristol tendency to support local favourites but shun touring acts. However, the crowd that stayed are witness to an edgy and tense set from FOUND drawn mostly from "Factorycraft". Just before the set's climax Heinz scatters the audience with banknotes printed on tissue paper before a storming "Johnny I Can't Walk The Line" and a final artistic act by posing with a stickman picture.
The party continues downstairs with OLO Worms spinning tunes, but I slink off over the slippery cobbles once again wondering if I'm getting too old for late nights on a Tuesday? The miracle of all this is though, that Hooops has meant there is something actually worth doing tonight - a friendly, funny and bewildering mix of art and music, novelty and variety alongside performances from truly fine musicians who don't get nearly enough exposure locally or nationally. More of an event or a spectacle than almost any other gig I've attended in Bristol, with lots of effort to do something memorable and worthwhile very much evident alongside the music and general insanity. Heinz Junkins deserves congratulations for waking up Bristol from it's hipper-than-thou usual self just a little tonight. I want there to be more Hooops, soon. And it's still a shame about that Mercury....
Single Ticket #3 - Amber Wilson, The Moth & The Mirror
Posted in SHOFT on Tuesday 6th September 2011 at 12:09am
There's no real theme to this small selection of singles today, except that it's been one of those utterly wasteful, pointless days which grind you to a halt and offer nothing but a stinging slap in return for your best efforts to face them down. It's times like these when the contents of my iPod take on an inordinate, perhaps unhealthy importance as I shuffle through the tracks looking for a musical crutch to get me around the next unexpected bend in the road. So, this pair of recent releases have popped to the top of my listening list at just the right moment to rescue an otherwise written-off day - and long may this continue to happen.
Amber Wilson - Raise The Alarm/An Affirmation
I've remarked elsewhere about the number of 'guy and guitar' acts around just now, and it's probably only fair to say that equally there are a lot of female singer-songwriters doing the rounds too. There is something simple and complementary about a female vocal and an acoustic guitar which is hard to explain, and given the amount of this stuff which finds its way to my collection, I'm not about to knock it. However, it's even better when something comes along which surprises and defies expectations like Amber Wilson's recently released single.
"Raise The Alarm" begins with just a nagging guitar melody and the tense echo of Amber's voice. She is joined by enough mournful cello to keep the brooding mood in place, but just when you're resigned to the song ending much as it began things build to a perfect storm of a guitar-fuelled ending which also propels Amber to new vocal heights. None of this surprise shift of register of course, drowns the remarkable, gymnastic voice which manages to survive this curious mutation from acoustic ballad to out-and-out rock classic completely intact. The arrangement of "An Affirmation" is perhaps a little simpler and more straightforward, but it still allows plenty of space for Amber's gorgeous vocal to play, hitting clear-as-a-bell highs and whispered pensive lows. Again, the accompaniment is simple, uncluttered and manages to deftly enhance the thought-provokingly assuring lyrics rather than going for overblown and cloying, which is apparently all too easy it seems these days.
Beautifully written, sensitively delivered and lyrical pop music sung by someone with a near indecent amount of talent. There's not a lot to argue with here and it's available for a ridiculously tiny sum. I've heard only good things about Amber Wilson for some time now, and it's great to have finally caught up with this release.
Amber Wilson - Raise The Alarm
"Raise The Alarm" is available from iTunes, Amazon and virtually every other online store you can possibly think of.
The Moth & The Mirror - Germany
As soon as the genre-busting, convention-disrespecting patrons of Olive Grove Records announced they'd be working with this band, it was bound to prove interesting. Perhaps most notable initially for a lineage which claims links with Admiral Fallow, Reindeer Section and Frightened Rabbit among others, on the evidence of the recent slow-burning, epic taster "Lights In The Sky" the last thing you'd likely expect from The Moth & The Mirror is an out-and-out floor filling disco hit. However, buried in this heady, addictive mix that's exactly what "Germany" appears to be at it's core. Wonderfully big, clattering beats introduce things, with choppy slices of eighties-sytle Postcard-era guitar slashing through. Meanwhile Stacey Sievwright's sometimes ethereal, sometimes insistent vocals shift mood with every twist and turn of the track. There are so many facets to this song that it's almost embarassing to list its high points - a moody, shoegazey middle section tumbles into an almost choral a cappella interlude, before finally everything shifts up a gear. I defy anyone not to end up dancing around stupidly while Stacey raps out the refrain of "shake me up and shake you out" over a proper old-fashioned soul stomp of a beat, and accompanied by perhaps the best soaring, heart-swelling guitar solo I've heard all year.
I find it difficult to convey just how utterly engaging this song is, and how once you've heard it you'll be convinced you can't remember a time when you didn't know it. For your single pound you also get a remix by Strike The Colours which makes no bones about the track's dance credentials, morphing the whole thing into a fantastically bleepy, pulsing anthem. This is what pop music should always be like, pure and simple.
"Germany" is available digitally via iTunes or Bandcamp. Also available at Bandcamp is a strictly limited CD release, packaged with Olive Grove Records usual flamboyance. The Moth & The Mirror's debut album "Honestly, This World" will be released on 10th October. | perfectly placed saxophone solo. It's another of those moments - vintage Slow Club in many ways, but the focus on bittersweet reflection suits the theme. As the marshes disappear under shopping centres and the Olympic Legacy, this song captures the quiet ache of the bruised landscape and dust-covered spaces remarkably well.
It strikes me around the middle of the album how the duo's confidence in their art has grown since the first album. There is a sense, looking back that some of that record relied on happy accidents and an innocent belief that there was really nothing they couldn't pull off if they tried - and it worked almost flawlessly too. But here on 'Paradise' there is an assurance and a more concious understanding of the process. Charles' guitar veers deftly from chunky riffing to a sweet sixties-infused twang mid-song without a second thought, a wider range of instrumentation is deployed and Rebecca switches characters on a whim, playing Dusty on 'Beginners' switching effortlessly to Janis on 'Half Drunk' with it's Twin Peaks Theme bassline. 'You, Ash & Earth' is a dreamlike swoon of dark smoky vocals and an echoing piano. It sounds like an AM radio era pop song picked up decades later on a distorted radio, while a faint electronic pulse locates it in the present. A deliriously fine, shuffling chorus with gorgeous layers of vocals follows, before a soaring and spine-tingling climb where Rebecca's voice reaches impossible new heights. Charles manages his own vocal highlights too, as at the end of 'Horses Jumping' where an orchestral sweep and an aching piano melody supports his emotional, broken stretch for the sadness tinged notes. Another highlight - another moment banked to be revisited again and again. Finally, 'Palms' arrives to close proceedings. Brimming over with enthusiasm and joy, redeemed from the darkness with jagged rockabilly guitars and dizzily infectious vocals, the spirit of generations of girl groups is invoked from the 1950s right down to the present day - pure, almost annoyingly catchy pop to bookend the record.
This is a sprawling album, maybe even a bit confusing at times because it's so utterly packed with ideas, perfect pop snippets and surprisingly toughened-up tunes. It's the sound of a band confident and happy to be doing it their own way and not playing to a crowd who would probably have been content with a carbon copy of 'Yeah, So'. This is brave, dark and earthy but also beautifully brittle music which sometimes confounds and never quite plays to expectations. If you're looking for an easy listen, Slow Club aren't offering it on 'Paradise' - but if you don't mind digging in and living with a record there is a wonderfully reward awaiting you here.
You can purchase "Paradise" in a Deluxe Edition including videos and extra tracks at iTunes, at Amazon or your local independent record store.
Slow Club - Never Look Back
Hooops #1 - Ichi, SJ Esau, Rozi Plain, FOUND - The Louisiana, Bristol
Posted in SHOFT on Tuesday 6th September 2011 at 11:09pm
As I wobbled my unsteady way over the cobbles among the chattering commuters of Bristol, I speculated on how long it was since I'd been to The Louisiana. Too long was my conclusion, but once inside the place was familiar enough. Tonight was the inaugural Hooops night - not so much a club as an experience encompassing art, performance and a dose of unhinged genius directly from the mind of Heinz Junkins - a local luminary and OLO Worms member.
Quite aside from the line-up assembled this evening, it has to be said that Heinz is a talented guy in his own right, with Hooops doubling as the launch night for his art exhibition in the newly opened cellar of The Louisiana. The small, whitewashed oblong room was adorned with his works - on one wall, a series of giddy, brightly coloured and sometimes visceral paintings. Curious creatures with disturbingly human appendages cavorting under strange disconnected slogans. Opposite, a wall of small digital prints - sketches, often as much textual as artistic, little snippets of curious ideas. It was intriguing to watch the audience reaction as we assembled for the first act of the night - surprise, confusion, amusement. Most of all though, genuine pleasure at the playful oddity of Junkins work - something I've not seen often on my very occasional forays into galleries. And as we pondered this visual feast something strange happened... With a blarting harmonica call and the sound of morris-dancer style foot bells, Ichi strode through the audience on musical stilts. The slight, timid Japanese artist tottered to the front of the room where a steel drum, some rather taped-together electronics and a box of accessories sat. Wobbling down from his stilts, these too doubled as instruments, one featuring a two-string banjo which Ichi deployed both as a makeshift cello and a guitar during his performance. It's | 1,063 |
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For all vacancies – You must be a member of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups)<|fim_middle|>Please ensure that at least 5 years employment history is detailed within your CV including explanation of any gaps.
Due to the anticipated high level of interest in these positions, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
CLOSING DATE – ongoing- please contact Surehaven to see if there is any positions available. | Scheme to work with vulnerable adults. We will require sight of your original Scheme Record.
| 17 |
Maggie has spent all of her academic life being homeschooled by her mother, but is now starting<|fim_middle|> to touch a chord with many readers. Maggie is headstrong and independant with a quirky sense of humor. Her relationship with her father and brothers feels real and each of the characters in the story is given a depth of character not often found in the graphic novel world. The art is clean and shading well-done. My only criticsism is that the paranormal aspect seems a bit unnessessary. While this seems to be a stand-alone graphic novel, I would love to see more of Maggie's high school adventures and plan to keep an eye out for Hicks's forthcoming work. | public high school and is more than a little worried. Her three older brothers will be there to keep an eye on her, but she'll face the trials of freshman year alone. Well, alone that is except for the ghost that has started haunting her!
Hicks has created a compelling, emotional graphic novel sure | 62 |
You can access and define settings for the app here. While some settings vary and some are completely optional, they're simple to use and may help you customize some of the features in the app.
This section provides links to the online help, how to contact Avenza Support, media, and legal links, as well as allow you to re<|fim_middle|> requires a Pro Subscription and allows users to import and manage custom symbol libraries. GPS provides various settings for GPS track recording primarily related to accuracy. Finally, General Settings contains various debug settings, and core functionality settings to improve data response within the app. | -download the Getting Started map (if it's been deleted).
If you have a subscription ID for an Unlimited or Pro account, this is where you can enter it and register your device. By tapping on this, a second dialog will open where you will enter your username (this refers to the subscription code you received), password (unless your organization has implemented a password, leave this blank), name, email (does not have to match your Map Store email), and organization. For in-app subscriptions, you will be sent an email that has the subscription ID attached to it, please enter it here.
If you have not purchased a subscription (for either the Unlimited Import, or Pro), but would like to, you can tap 'Upgrade to Pro' in order to initiate the purchase process. You will be presented with two options to purchase: 1) Unlock Map Import - which provides the user access to unlimited custom (non-map store) map imports, or 2) Pro subscription - which provides the user unlimited custom imports, Shapefile support, as well as the appropriate licensing required for commercial use (Pro licensing is required for any work/organization related use of the app and is on a per device basis). For more details on the Subscriptions available, please see our Subscriptions page.
Once a subscription is activated on the device, the Enter Subscription ID, and Upgrade to Pro options will be removed, and replaced with Account Details. This allows you to view the details of your subscription including the type of subscription, name and email the subscription is registered to, as well as the expiration/renewal date of the subscription.
This section contains various options for settings throughout the app. The categories included are Display, Units of Measurement, Map View, Manage Symbol Sets, GPS, and General. Display includes options specific to how features are displayed (crosshair colour, location dot colour, selection colour, lines and area styles, as well as the ability to turn on a haptic (vibrate) response on tap. Units of Measurement allows you to set the desired units to use throughout the app for both line measurements and area. Map View provides display and other settings directly related to the Map View. Manage Symbol Sets | 442 |
London Local Service
Things To Do London
HomeAll Services...Things To Do London
A trip to London, the Capital of England, promises amazing experiences as you take time out to explore its top attractions. To make the most of your stay, here are a list of attractions that should top your itinerary.
London Museum
The Museum of London is a must-visit on your visit to the capital. The view and sight of this architectural masterpiece is a stunning beauty to behold. It holds lots of British History; its legendary exhibitions shows how London evolved through the ages from prehistory to the great city it has become today. Entry fee is free
The Kew Garden is a sanctuary of green bliss and calm surrounding. This glass-like dome-shaped Kew Garden is like a transparent train terminal. It's a safe house for beautiful plants and flowers. The Royal Botanical Garden has a palm house that is home to its very own tropical rainforest, an 18-meter-high treetop walkway that gives visitors breathtaking experiences, and a glasshouse for alpine plants. Entry costs about (£16) for adults.
This iconic palace is a must see especially for first-time visitors. It's the official dwelling place of the Queen of England, it has about 774 rooms and holds thousands of guests each year for great<|fim_middle|> as they enjoy a sweet ride. A standard ride on the wheel is about (£23.40).
The Shard Building
The Shard is the tallest skyscraper in London and Western Europe. It is about 310 meters into the sky and made up of 72 outstanding stories. The Shard is home to apartments, hotel, offices, a retail arcade, and restaurants and bars. The topmost floor gives you a panoramic view of the city. Entry costs about (£30.95) for adults.
Do take advantage of the following and you can be sure to have nothing short of a fun experience in London.
London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. | royal events, ceremonies, and garden parties.
This palace was once home to the late Princess Diana of Wales but is the Royal residence of the new Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (Royal Family). This picturesque Palace provides avenues to learn about her Majesty, the Queen and her monarch's beautiful exhibitions. You can explore the history of royal weddings and the extraordinary lives of royal leaders such as Queen Victoria. Entry commands up to (£19.50) for adults.
The Tower Bridge is sometimes mistaken for London Bridge by tourists; This Bridge is beautifully designed with a feature that divides the bridge into two to ease traffic on the waterways. The upgraded glass walkway gives a priceless walk for pedestrians. Entry costs about (£9.80) for adults.
Big Ben Tower
Big Ben is one of the most popular landmarks in the London metropolis. Construction of the clock was completed in 1859, which makes it over 150 years old! This elevated piece of art brings a lot of joy to Londoners because it is still standing tall after all the chaos of World War 2. It is also particularly lovely to look at in the evenings when the four clock faces are illuminated. Entry costs about (£28) for adults.
The London Eye is recorded as the world's tallest Ferris wheel on the bank of the River Thames. The wheel stands tall at 443 feet and has a diameter of 120 meters. A complete wheel turn takes about 30 minutes, and the capsules provide visitors with a stunning 360° view of London. It is a real beauty at night when it comes alive with bright neon colours. Tourists are entertained with a glass of royal champagne | 347 |
We all deal with a flood of information. Spam, unwanted correspondence, and irrelevant information stuff our inboxes and voicemail. It can be difficult—despite sophisticated technological communication systems—to get clear and relevant information.
Pager usage peaked in the late 1990s and has been declining ever since. Some view pagers as obsolete and the punch line of jokes. But interestingly, pagers have become niche products for professions in fields like medicine, IT, and public safety. If a server goes down and a quick response is needed, the IT consultant wearing the pager knows that his pager alert most likely means a server has failed. He might receive three email messages and three texts to his smartphone, notifying him that the server went down, but those notifications are diluted by dozens of other email messages and texts received within the same timeframe. Similarly, a physician on call might receive a voicemail telling her to come in, but the voicemail is in a queue with 15 other unanswered voicemail recordings. It's the pager that she responds to because no one else contacts her on her pager.
Engineers use signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) to measure how effectively a signal cuts through background noise. Two email notices sent about a security alert may be two of 25 email messages received within the hour (an SNR of 2:23). In contrast, one pager alert<|fim_middle|> of noise.
Strategy is the critical signal, directing important decisions about resources and what we will fund and staff. Strategy defines tradeoffs, about what work enables that strategy more than others. Some work must be the best in field, while other work only needs to be adequate. Without a clear strategy and an understanding of how that translates into necessary tradeoffs, the noise in an organization can derail talents and resources. Clear strategy removes noise so that important signals aren't missed. | may be only one of two pages received within that hour, yielding a much more effective signal-to-noise ratio of 1:1. To the extent pagers can differentiate in these contexts, offering a dramatically higher SNR, they function as niche communication devices.
Our organizations, like our lives, have low SNRs. There are always multiple opportunities worth taking and resources needed for worthwhile activities. Every support function in an organization has worthwhile work and needs resources. If we attend to everything that is "worthwhile," this creates a lot | 107 |
A refreshing and smooth aperitif, Lionello Bianco<|fim_middle|>, Lionello Extra Dry is naturally clear and naturally low in sugar ensuring a dry subtle flavour without a trace of sweetness. Our Original Recipe is so perfectly balanced, not one of over fifty botanicals in the secret blend overwhelms the taste helping to create the perfect aperitif.
Clear in colour and refined in taste, Lionello Extra Dry is the perfect martini mixer, with its delicate blend of herbs and spices also making it ideal for enhancing flavours in a variety of cuisines. | is produced from fine Italian white wine, resulting in a slightly amber colour. It is an elegant aromatic wine, fortified with aged Stock '84 Brandy and infused with a unique combination of botanicals, herbs and spices that makes it one of the most versatile vermouths in quality, taste, colour and mixabilty.
Italy has always been recognized for the outstanding quality of its Sweet Vermouths, each with its own degree of sweetness and aromatic fragrance. The Stock Family is renowned for its ability to perfect Sweet Vermouth. Lionello Rosso is the latest expression of Stock's vermouth expertise and is great straight or on the rocks as an aperitif.
Naturally dry and as crystal clear as water, Lionello Extra Dry Vermouth is of the highest quality.
Other vermouths are made from dry wines of high sugar content that must be "bleached" to lighten their naturally yellow colour however | 185 |
TheArmenianKitchen.com : Eating well means eating "gud"
When we were kids, a bowl of roasted pumpkin seeds (what Armenians called "gud") always meant company was coming.
I could nibble through the whole bowl in no time, which is why they were usually locked away or stashed up high. Running out simply wouldn't do, as they were among the required mezzeh items that Armenians have always lavished on guests.
I can still nibble through a bowl in no time, but nowadays it's at least defensible and maybe even<|fim_middle|> get raves from health-smart food sources. Among their good qualities are high levels of zinc, which is very much in vogue. Among the touted benefits are improved prostate and bone health in older (ahem...) men and potential cholesterol-lowering properties for everyone. Gud has even been promoted as a treatment for arthritis pain, according to the folks at Whole Foods.
Regardless of whether they're really a miracle snack, they're sure fun to eat. They're a little less fun to prepare because you have to scoop out a pumpkin, separate the seeds, dry them, soak them, boil them and roast them.
Or use my favorite method and buy them ready to eat.
If you insist on doing things the old fashioned way, try simmering the seeds in salted water for a half hour or so. Then spread them on a baking pan and roast at 350 for another half hour to 45 minues.
Just be careful not to let them burn. | a smart thing for someone my age to do.
Roasted pumpkin seeds | 14 |
Manchester and Liverpool hotel sector to benefit from 3,200 new rooms
in Hotel Brands, Hotels, Property
Julian<|fim_middle|> uncertainty to hotel market prospects in Manchester and elsewhere in the UK although current market conditions do not show it having a negative impact."
He added: "Manchester is one of the most visited cities in the UK, benefitting from its diverse culture, burgeoning services sector, wide range of tourist attractions and of course, the United and City effect while the visitor economy of Liverpool also continues to benefit from its ongoing renaissance." | Troup
Around 3,200 new hotel rooms will become available in Manchester and Liverpool over the next two years.
According to real estate advisors Colliers International another 2,073 hotel rooms will be added to the 17,894 already available in Manchester as of 31 December 2017, while an additional 1,170 rooms will be added to the 8,205 currently available in Liverpool.
Julian Troup, head of Colliers International, said the weak pound, the strengthening of global and eurozone economies and the increasing frequency of direct flights between Asia and Manchester had all contributed to the growth in the performance of the city's hotel sector.
Troup said: "Hotel sector performance in Liverpool and Manchester is expected to stay strong but there is a degree of caution regarding the extent of supply growth with potential future consequences for performance. Brexit obviously adds an element of | 191 |
Oakwood cemetery was established in 1857, and has been City owned since 1931. I.O.O.F. cemetery was established in 1860, and has been City owned since 1933.
For information or to inquire about a plot, please call Customer Service at (940) 349-7275, ext. #6.
Oakwood Cemetery is located at the intersections of E. Prairie and Bradshaw streets.
Texas Historical Commission, Subject Marker, 1982
Historic Texas Cemetery Marker, 2000
Oakwood Cemetery Map
Oakwood Cemetery Story and Deed
Marker Text
This cemetery was established soon after Denton was settled as the new seat of government for Denton County in 1857. Land for the community burial ground was donated by pioneer settler Hiram Cisco, who had earlier conveyed property for the townsite. The earliest grave is that of a Mrs. Wilson, who died during childbirth while traveling through the area in a covered wagon. Her newborn infant daughter died several days later and was<|fim_middle|>859 by a number of the area's most prominent settlers, including John S. Chisum of the Chisum Trail fame. That year I.O.O.F. charter member and Denton merchant James M. Smoot (1822-1862) donated land here for graveyard purposes. The lodge subdivided the cemetery into four sections, each of which contained 350 burial plots. The first recorded burial was that of Anne Isabella Carroll, infant daughter of Joseph and Celia Carroll, in 1860. The site served as Denton's main graveyard and by the early 1880s space had become scarce. In 1883 the lodge enlarged the cemetery by 7.5 acres acquired from adjacent landowners John and Ann McMurray; 6.5 acres acquired from the McMurrays in 1916 further enlarged the cemetery. By the early 1920s burial space was again limited, and in 1924 the cemetery was enlarged by four acres. After maintaining the cemetery for more than 60 years the lodge deeded the 22-acre site to the city of Denton in 1933. Among the approximately 5,800 people buried here are pioneer Denton County settlers, local and state elected officials, and veterans of wars ranging from the Texas Revolution to World War II. (1996).
20 of Denton County's 165 cemeteries have received the Texas Historical Commission Historic Texas Cemetery Designation, including I.O.O.F. and Oakwood Cemeteries.
321 E. McKinney St.
teresa.abrams@cityofdenton.com
Go to Staff Directory | also buried here. Other interments at this site include those of Jesse M. Blount, who helped plat the town of Denton and later served as county treasurer, county judge and state senator; Col. Thomas Gynn Cosbey Davis, a cousin of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and a friend of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln; and many prominent early leaders of the town and county. Two interesting graves are those of Andrew and George Brown. On a change of venue from Montague county in 1879, they were convicted of murder and hanged in Denton. Their tombstones bear the inscription "Executed." Officially named Oakwood Cemetery in 1931, this burial ground now serves as a historic reminder of the pioneers who first settled here and who led in the development of the area. (1982).
I.O.O.F. Cemetery
Located at Carroll Boulevard and Eagle Drive; main entrance on Carroll Boulevard.
Named for Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.)
Texas Historical Commission, Subject Marker 1996
I.O.O.F Cemetery Map
I.O.O.F. Cemetery Story and Deed
Marker Text:
Denton Lodge No. 82 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) was chartered in 1 | 269 |
Noel on Strike
And other Noel-related gubbins, by the looks of it
« Topics
A former member 7 January 2018 11:09pm
As been said so many time Ant and dec have ripped alot of ideas of olt
DE88 posted:
Steve Williams posted:
Then it was back again in the autumn with Noel saying everything was fine now and the new series (with another new producer) was better than ever, but by that point it was a totally toxic brand and they almost certainly shouldn't have done that series.
If the 1998-99 series had never happened, though, we would never have had Richard Whiteley's Gotcha...
That was the back to basic gotcha, unlike most of the others from that series that just felt there were pushing it, this very simple and work well.
simpfeld161 posts since 25 Jun 2003 7 January 2018 11:58pm
robertclark125 posted:
I think it was just before the cancelled episode, when Noel refused to do it, that I stopped watching it.
TIMO they tried to over elaborate on the NTV, with them getting one person in a cinema, on the cinema screen. We also had the grab a grand thing replaced with someone finding the location of a phone box, using the code to get into it, and being locked in. Which was a good idea, but it restricted it to just those in that area.
I always thought the cinema one was pretty neat. To cut into the middle of a film with live TV was, as I remember, well executed.
I did always wonder how a 4:3 SD picture that was cropped to a letterbox must have looked projected on a cinema screen. I'd have thought it would have given the game away but maybe only to people who are on this forum.
Can't find it on YouTube would like to see if it still holds up.
As I remember Noel had his back to the camera. And there was an actress who says "we need Dave Smith (or whatever his name was)", "but where can we find this man". Noel then turns to the camera and says "he's in seat M8 down there". Or something like that.. I think that's pretty good!
Steve Williams2,917 posts since 1 Aug 2008 8 January 2018 8:52am
VMPhil posted:
It's interesting how Noel fell out of favour with BBC TV after House Party crashed because Christmas Presents didn't return after 1999 either, and when it returned in 2007 it was on Sky instead. You'd think as an annual show it wouldn't suffer from people getting bored with the format and trying to revamp it every 5 minutes.
I think by that point the relationship between Noel and the Beeb had broken down - I actually remember being quite surprised that Christmas Presents appeared in 1999 when it was now his only show on the Beeb. Just after House Party was axed he did do another series for the Beeb in the summer of 1999, The World Of The Secret Camera, which was a compilation of funny clips from around the world - I remember Noel promoted it as being the ultimate survey of the genre - but it didn't do very well and I think<|fim_middle|> :
SuperSajuuk, ukpetey and 4 others
paul_hadley
bkman1990
gave kudos
buster1,802 posts since 15 Mar 2006 8 January 2018 4:48pm
Although the quality of the show had been declining for some time, it wasn't the freefall that some have suggested. I actually found the 96-97 run quite refreshing as they ditched some of the tired older stuff, brought in some new features and got a larger studio that they clearly were wanting in the previous run. Whilst way past its best it was, in terms of what actually made it to air (and excluding the awful US specials), still an OK-watch right up to Christmas 97.
I think the real debacle was in the production side, as Noel indicated on that Kirsty Young interview, in amongst Guy's departure and some questionable content that had to be binned (including the soap that was the big selling point of series 7 and some Gotchas just not being funny enough) they ended up with all the programmes after Christmas just being empty of content. The RT billing on Genome for the show that didn't go out sounds dire - "it's Blobby's birthday but will anyone remember?" http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-01-03
There was clearly some disagreement over the new set for the start of the 97-8 run as it barely resembled a house at the start of the run, but by the time it came back after Christmas had been supplemented by all sorts of ye olde timbers and bits of furniture to try and look the part.
It was really notable when they came back how different the series was. The live Gotcha compilation actually got a pretty decent lineup of celebs (including DLT!) to come back and introduce their Gotchas, which you might not have expected given what had happened the previous week. But it was the rest of the series which felt like a different programme - all of the scene setting Crinkley Bottom stuff at the top of the show went in favour of Noel just reading out random jokes, they filled the set with actors in party hats as if it was an actual house party and started using chart music in the background instead of the theme tune. They introduced some major new features to fill the gaps like Panel Beaters (a guess the odd one out with inevitable gunging at the end) and a sketch "in the village" (so the pub, the dentist, a shop etc) which always had Bradley Walsh and Leslie Grantham appearing in character. These worked fairly well but overall it was clear quite how much of the show had to be rethought after Noel's walkout.
The production team did change almost entirely over the summer before the final run though - an intriguing short Guardian article here on the fate of the previous producer...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/apr/23/2
sbahnhof 7 gave kudos
TROGGLES1,151 posts since 3 Sep 2005 8 January 2018 5:30pm
Noel had it bang on in the interview. He refused to work with Paul Jackson & others after the usual Machiavellian manoeuvres by senior BBC Management. It is a cultural thing, unfortunately. It was a similar attitude which caused the fuss at Top Gear which got completely out of hand largely caused by Danny Cohen using the situation to position himself for D.G. Some BBC managers have long memories and sharp knives they like to use on long nights (usually in the back).
..."at the first sign of danger my pussy's hairs stand on end" Betty Slocombe 27/05/1975
Whataday gave kudos
Andrew13,987 posts since 27 Mar 2001 8 January 2018 5:49pm
Yorkshire Look North (Yorkshire)
Inspector Sands posted:
Well indeed, and also it's worth remembering NHP was on about 25 weeks a year.
So when people say that they ruined Grab a Grand, in reality it had been done about 75 times by then.
These days people say they are getting bored of a Saturday Night Takeaway feature that occurs just 3-4 times per year!
Of course certain items did get too big, and there was too much reliance on Mr Blobby and gunge , when they started gunging the whole audience and every feature often resulted in a gunging it needed to go back to basics, but when you've been big, you can't go back to the small old days again.
Brekkie gave kudos
A former member 8 January 2018 5:49pm
Plus Fully booked from the 90s.
Did he walk out twice? because there a year between his first walk out and the series getting axed. MY Alarm bells would have been going off like no one business against doing S8 in the current format. There had 30 weeks to come up with new idea etc yet there just complete overhauled the house, the studio brought back and kept my little friend and had sofa soccer, but it never solved the underlying problems.
buster posted:
The other problem was there were never able to find a simple format to work the full series, Were not talking about NTV or Gotchas were talking about a nice simple 5-7min filler. I remember stupid idea was guess the real mr Blobby? I like Mr blobby but as it been said there just cut to him because there had nothing else to do. I think noel got rid of Blobby in S8 to force the production team to come up with proper ideas.
I think the real debacle was in the production side, as Noel indicated on that Kirsty Young interview, in amongst Guy's departure and some questionable content that had to be binned (including the soap that was the big selling point of series 7 and some Gotchas just not being funny enough) they ended up with all the programmes after Christmas just being empty of content. The RT billing on Genome for the show that didn't go out sounds dire - "it's Blobby's birthday but will anyone remember?" http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-01-03]
Some of the earlier gotchas plans could have been reused, like the police car stopping the celeb but why not do it in a hotel where an employee runs off with some money. The plots stupid but the whole point was to get a reaction from the celeb.
There was clearly some disagreement over the new set for the start of the 97-8 run as it barely resembled a house at the start of the run, but by the time it came back after Christmas had been supplemented by all sorts of ye olde timbers and bits of furniture to try and look the part. ]
I just dont understand how the house get give the green light, it was glashly
TROGGLES posted:
I dont blame him.
jamiedd gave kudos
dosxuk4,324 posts since 22 Oct 2005 8 January 2018 5:59pm
How do we know the old set was still available to use and hadn't been thrown in a skip at the end of the previous run?
BBC House Party NHP Noel Edmonds
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Mobile site | Desktop site | Site terms | the general reaction from the public was "Hasn't he gone yet?".
623058 posted:
The reason people including myself side with noel over those "producer" and "Director" is because he stood up and said yes there a problem,
Well, maybe, but why make it so public? It's like when Chris Evans did that big rant on his show about how much he hated Trevor Dann and slagging off a newspaper story about him - all very interesting to people who knew who they were, but of absolutely no interest to anyone else. I don't want to hear internal arguments dragged out into the public. If the presenter of the show is saying it's rubbish, why watch?
Noel also had way more power than the producers, he was the face of the show. And it's easy to say Noel was the only one doing anything but that's because he was the only one blabbing to the papers. We only ever get one side of the story. What if Noel was the problem himself? It's like when Paul O'Grady shoots his mouth off on telly about something he doesn't like, whoever he's slagging off never gets the right of reply.
simpfeld posted:
I remember reading that they had planned the interruption to sync with thirteen different moments in the film, and they'd actually reached the thirteenth before they were able to do it. It was very clever, but there were times around then when they seemed a bit in love with the logistics of the thing and the actual victim ended up as a complete spare part and by the time they'd explained and done the hit, that was the end of it.
It reminds me of William Phillips in Broadcast talking about the short-lived flop ITV hidden camera show Red Handed - where the gimmick was that instead of having a presenter there would be a camera in the control room and we'd see the crew making decisions over what would happen next - and saying "like too much light entertainment, it thinks the audience cares about its machinations".
DE88 gave kudos
Inspector Sands14,098 posts since 25 Aug 2004 8 January 2018 10:47am
The problem that NHP and any similar programme has is that they eat ideas. A lot of the things can only be done once or twice as they're stunts or practical jokes, and the regular items get tired quickly unless there's a few tweaks, but they often ruin the basic idea. NTV is a good example of this, anyone else remember how incredible it was in the first episode? In fact watching the second episode the other day he comments on the reaction to it.
It's also very difficult to find a successful new item, I thin it was on Saturday Roadshow where they went through loads of quiz based studio games, none of which really worked.
By going on too long they basically ruined all the good ideas and struggled to find new stuff.
Charlie Wells3,817 posts since 26 Nov 2003 Moderator 8 January 2018 1:31pm
Anglia (West) Look East (West sub-opt)
I think Ant & Dec had the right idea with Saturday Night Takeaway. In 2009 seven years into the show's original run it was clear things were getting stale & tired, so 'they' announced the show was going to be rested for a few years. It meant that when it was brought back in 2013 some old features (e.g. Grab the ads - which had resorted to featuring a dozen celebs) could be forgotten about and the show felt fresh again.
This is something that should have been done with NHP before the final series. In hindsight instead of walking out during series 7 Noel would have been better to announce he was 'resting' the show. I think it's safe to say after the walkout in series 7 the show's days were number. It's somewhat amazing series 8 was commissioned, maybe he had another year left in his contract with the BBC.
I seem to recall in TV interviews (possibly for 'The Fight for Saturday Night') Noel had said about the budget getting cut, and men in suits getting more involved. Meanwhile someone else noted that prior to the walkout when the show was struggling Noel hadn't been that physically involved with the show's preparation/ideas. Their opinion was that if he (Noel) felt the show was struggling/declining he should have been getting more involved, as his name was in the show's title.
(Edited - corrected Ant & Dec feature 'Grab the Ads')
Last edited by Charlie Wells on 8 January 2018 2:54pm
"Listen, we've all got something to bring to this conversation, but from now on what I think you should bring is silence." - Rimmer
JacobSutton, DE88 and bilky asko gave kudos
Inspector Sands14,098 posts since 25 Aug 2004 8 January 2018 4:07pm
It's not so much the ideas or individual items but the format. Though Saturday Night Takeaway owes just as much to Don't Forget Your Toothbrush as it does to House Party.
VMPhil10,069 posts since 31 Mar 2005 8 January 2018 4:30pm
Granada North West Today
As reference for this thread, here is the segment on Noel walking out from the BBC Four documentary The Fight for Saturday Night | 1,163 |
Historic Covered Bridge ends renovation with grant funding
By Staff | Jan 17, 2012
This historic covered bridge in Moreland Township completed its final restoration in December and is now registered<|fim_middle|>ski said. Fortunately, the stream channel was improved by putting in a large rock which anchored the stream embankment on the east side so it won't erode the foundation walls. This will also protect the bridge from future flooding.
The bridge was built in 1888, and by the time work began on it last year, it was in serious disrepair. The bridge is one of only about 150 still standing in the state. The bridge, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, may be in better condition than when it first was built. Two other bridges nearby were restored previously, one is in Buttonwood and the other one is in Buckhorn.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the bridges since they are historic landmarks.
National Puzzle day is coming
A Carnegie funded organ may be in your community
Montgomery EMA monitored flood on Christmas day | as an historic landmark within the Commonwealth. The bridge crosses over Little Muncy Creek and is located on Dairy Farm Road, just before Lairdsville.
MORELAND TOWNSHIP – Lycoming County's historic covered bridge in Moreland Township has received its final grant installment that completed its renovation this past December. A reimbursement agreement with was made with the State Department of Transportation so the county could receive state and federal funds to complete the covered bridge.
The County Commissioners approved a grant with the state to allow the county to receive about $100,000. That brings about $1.3 million to the amount of state and federal funds spent to renovate the bridge, which spans Little Muncy Creek in the township.
According to the county's transportation planner, Mark Murawski, the cost of the renovation, which began early last fall, was covered entirely by state and federal funds. However, due to flooding in September, there were some setbacks.
Lycoming Supply performed the work on the bridge which included the installation of a new foundation, new flooring, new side boards and a metal roof. If the new infrastructure hadn't been in place, the bridge would have been lost for sure in last September's flooding stated Murawski. About two-thirds of the structure had already been replaced. Only the bridge trusses are original. "A lot of the debris was left upstream. If left unchecked, this would have washed down the stream, pushed the bridge and destroyed it," Muraw | 303 |
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833.834.3429 RES<|fim_middle|> range in size between 370 and 575 square feet, and vary in price from $2,800 to the upper $5,000 range. Rents include utilities, cable and internet, food and drink offerings — group breakfasts, happy hours — and other social programs. The mansion's common areas include a cocktail bar in the original ballroom, a study and library, and a shared kitchen. These areas are also intended to host social gatherings and events for members, from a speaker series through a partnership with Politics and Prose to art shows through partnerships with The Phillips Collection and American University's Museum at the Katzen Arts Center.
Hartman-Cox Architects designed the project, which was approved in February 2014.
Take a tour through the mansion as it nears the end of its rehab.
Sara Gilgore produces content for our digital and print operation and manages our social media accounts.
Source: Inside the Patterson Mansion and Saul Urban's Ampeer Dupont Circle project – Washington Business Journal
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Architectural Digest: How a Chicago Tribune Heiress's Mansion Became a "Dorm for Grown-Ups"
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UrbanTurf: Book Clubs and Sunday Dinners? Tony Temporary Housing Comes to DC
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Washington Business Journal: Inside the Patterson Mansion and Saul Urban's Ampeer Dupont Circle project
The historic Patterson Mansion where P Street NW meets Dupont Circle is nearing the end of its transformation into apartments.
But on the outside, minus the construction-zone fencing and temporary signage, the building looks largely unchanged.
That's because the project, which is slated to deliver 92 furnished micro-unit apartments in July, set out to preserve the historic home. It was built in 1903 for Chicago Tribune editor Robert Patterson and his wife when they moved to Washington, and later housed President Calvin Coolidge for a period when the White House underwent repairs. The mansion was named to the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites in 1964 and in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Now, it enters a new chapter as developer Saul Urban's flagship location of Ampeer, a rental building for short-term leases that seeks to draw everyone from government officials to graduate students to diplomats to young professionals — D.C.'s transient residents.
Saul Urban is also working on a second Ampeer site in Shaw's Blagden Alley.
For what will become Ampeer Dupont Circle, the team rehabilitated some areas of the interior and attempted to recreate some of the historic finishes from the original home. The project also involved replacing the mansion's addition with a new wing for more units, connected on three levels with a courtyard between the buildings.
The units | 320 |
Q: Storing Posts&Comments in seperate tables or together I was wondering what would be best, storing my comments in my post table or them having their own table?
My posts table only has an id, userid, image url and description of the post. I join the posts table with my users table to retrieve the name of the author.
Should I just add a new column to my posts table for comments and store a json of all the comments or should I create a new comments table and log either each comment as a separate row? I am not planning on adding fields to respond to people, just storing the comments<|fim_middle|>, would love to hear your ideas.
A: If you use a relational database then right way is usage normalization and
normal forms. It means you should create two separate tables: posts and post comments
A: You could add an id_parent column next to your id having the very same properties excluding the AUTO_INCREMENT and a DEFAULT to 0.
The given column can point to already existing id from previous posts. In case that this is a new post it can remain to the default value.
This will work in case that you will not constrain the new column with FOREIGN KEYS. You can set an INDEX if you require to search for faster all posts with replies.
That would also give you the flexibility to quote posts over posts over posts without the need to create new tables and searching all over the place. It might lack in normalization but it will save you time and effort in complexity.
| . I'm assuming just adding another column would work fairly well.
If I stored the comments in the posts table then I wouldn't have to make a separate api call to gather them.
Thanks | 38 |
Elizabeth lived on the floor of the nursing home that is reserved for people with dementia. Hers was severe, most likely due to multiple strokes. The nurses told me she was completely nonverbal. They also described her as deaf. She never talked, she would just sit in her wheelchair and stare.
Each week I would meet her in the dining room and take her to her room for a session. At first she didn't respond when I spoke to her, and singing to her got me no farther. I felt invisible in her presence.
Then one day I gave her a maraca.
During our next session Elizabeth said nothing. Again I provided musical support with my guitar, but her maraca playing was halfhearted. The guitar wasn't working. I took another maraca and played a duet with her, rhythms only. I would give my maraca a shake, and she would shake in response. Eventually she got the courage to shake first without waiting for me.
When the session was over I took her back to the dining room.
I explained that I was already married, but would love to visit her again.
Elizabeth befriended the maraca as she became more familiar with it. She would shake it or tap it on her thigh or on the side of the wheelchair. She liked discovering new sounds, and I asked if it made her feel happy. She seemed to want to speak, leaning forward in her chair and looking at me, but no words came out. Sometimes she would only smile.
I continued to sing and play the guitar to provide Elizabeth support for her maraca playing. Her responses were halfhearted at best. Most of the time she held the maraca lifelessly in her lap. But when I put the guitar aside and took a maraca myself she would come to life: she would imitate me, shaking her instrument in the air after mine, tapping it on the table or on her chair or on her knee in response to my own playing.
Why did it take me so long to see it? To Elizabeth the maraca was not just a musical instrument. It was her voice! She had found her voice, and was waiting for me to speak to her. I put the guitar away; from now on it would be only our two maracas speaking to each other. In<|fim_middle|> now?" I offered her my hand. She held it warmly in hers, then covered it affectionately with her other hand. She was smiling again.
A pattern to our sessions evolved: she would begin very tentatively, tapping her maracas, touching mine, exploring the territory. Then she would become more aggressive and start hitting me, often trying to catch me when I wasn't looking. By the end of the session she was really ready for a fight. Once when I put a tambourine between us, it became reverse tug-of-war until she finally pushed it over my side of the table.
Then one day the nurses informed me that Elizabeth had suffered a stroke. When she came back from the hospital I saw she had markedly deteriorated. She died not long afterwards.
Elizabeth told me more with her maraca than is often revealed in many words. She told me of her fears and of her limits. She told me of her isolation and of her need to reach out in spite of it. And finally she expressed her capacity for warm human feeling. Her last severe stroke took her away from me, but not before she once again learned how to trust. | the beginning she seemed content just to answer me, imitating what I did. Several times I shook my maraca behind my back, out of her sight, and every time she answered with a shake of her own. So she really could hear! She was not deaf, and if she did not speak it must have had some other meaning. Perhaps she wanted others to learn her language, instead of her having to adapt to theirs.
I thought I would raise the stakes now, and began bringing two extra maracas, so each of us would have two. Again she would shake her maraca in response to mine, and would tap the table in front of her. I took a chance and tapped one of her maracas lightly with my own. She just kept tapping on the table, avoiding a direct engagement.
But then things began to change. She became territorial, and would whack my maraca when I approached. She would let me get only so close before giving me a good fat smack. She looked so determined, a dark intensity in her eyes. I asked her if she enjoyed playing that way. She spoke, only to say she couldn't hear me! I began to understand this pretense of deafness. Elizabeth was telling me she needed to protect herself.
She became even more aggressive. She would no longer simply wait for me to approach. Now she would seek out my instrument and hit it. Then she would tease me by quickly withdrawing before I could retaliate. She did this repeatedly, keeping herself just barely out of reach. But one day at the very end of a session she allowed me to tap her maraca gently with my own. I was surprised by the intimacy.
One day a nurse walked in while Elizabeth and I were in the midst of a raucous clash. This must look pretty funny, I thought. I told her that Elizabeth and I were having a conversation. The nurse said she could see that, and noted that Elizabeth was smiling.
At first so reserved and defensive, now Elizabeth would wheel herself right up to me when I entered the dining room. She was the initiator now, and would waste no time banging my maracas with hers. She would hit, then quickly withdraw, daring me to pursue. She loved making me miss, but seemed not displeased when I scored an occasional hit. She enlarged her territory: I could tap safely on my half of the table, but if my maraca ventured even slightly into her half she would attack it with a passion. When I asked her if she enjoyed our sessions, she tapped vigorously on the table. Later, in the dining room, she shook my hand and smiled.
The nurses noticed her smiles, and told me that was something they hadn't seen in her for years.
And then I saw a different kind of change. Elizabeth greeted me by holding my hand in both of hers for several moments. For the first time her approach was not aggressive but gentle: while we each tapped our maraca on the table, she inched hers slowly closer to mine until it made a whisper of a contact, like a kiss. I placed a tambourine on the table. She nudged it with her maraca, and we began to push it back and forth. I tapped it on the inside, and sometimes she would meet me there. Still, she did occasionally give my instrument a good aggressive swipe.
There was some ambivalence to her changes. Occasionally she allowed the maracas to contact softly, but just as often would come back with a combative strike. But even in her aggression I saw an increasing playfulness. Again I put the tambourine in the middle of the table, and this led to a game of seeing who could push it farthest toward the other. At the end of that session she rewarded me with a coherent sentence: "Do you want to go back | 780 |
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