proba
float64 0.5
1
| text
stringlengths 16
182k
| timestamp
timestamp[s] | url
stringlengths 15
1.72k
|
|---|---|---|---|
0.999521 | Given a set of candidate road projects associated with costs, finding the best subset with respect to a limited budget is known as the network design problem (NDP). The NDP is often cast in a bilevel programming problem which is known to be NP-hard. In this study, we tackle a special case of the NDP where the decision variables are integers. A variety of exact solutions has been proposed for the discrete NDP, but due to the combinatorial complexity, the literature has yet to address the problem for large-size networks, and accounting for the multimodal and multiclass traffic flows. To this end, the bilevel problem is solved by branch-and-bound. At each node of the search tree, a valid lower bound based on system optimal (SO) traffic flow is calculated. The SO traffic flow is formulated as a mixed integer, non-linear programming (MINLP) problem for which the Benders decomposition method is used. The algorithm is coded on a hybrid and synchronized platform consisting of MATLAB (optimization engine), EMME 3 (transport planning module), MS Access (database), and MS Excel (user interface). The proposed methodology is applied to three examples including Gao's network, the Sioux-Falls network, and a real size network representing the city of Winnipeg, Canada. Numerical tests on the network of Winnipeg at various budget levels have shown promising results. | 2019-04-20T12:57:49 | https://research.chalmers.se/publication/237540 |
0.99883 | Valtteri narrowly edged team-mate Lewis to pole, securing a front row lockout!
- Lewis finished second quickest in FP3 with a 1:04.099, just 0.029 seconds behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. Valtteri was 0.134s off the top spot, claiming P3.
- Conditions were warm and dry for qualifying, with Lewis and Valtteri progressing through to Q3 - setting their best Q2 times on SuperSoft compound, which they will start the race on.
- Valtteri set the pace after the initial Q3 runs on the UltraSoft tyre, before lowing his benchmark further on his last attempt to put in a 1:03.130.
- It was good enough for the Finn to take the fifth pole position of his Formula One career and first of the 2018 season, but only just!
- Lewis narrowly missed out on pole with his improved final lap, finishing just 0.019s off P1 with a 1:03.149. It secures the team a front row lockout.
- Saturday's qualifying result marks the 175th pole position for a Mercedes-Benz powered car.
"It's great to get our second front row in succession and a fantastic reward for all the hard work that has gone on in Brixworth and Brackley bringing updates to these recent races," said Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin.
"Congratulations also to Valtteri on his first pole of the year. He's had more than his fair share of bad luck this year but has remained completely focused and committed so it's nice to see his hard work rewarded.
"The day has run quite smoothly, we made some changes to the car overnight that seemed to be a step in the right direction but we still had a bit of time to find in the slow corners that required some fine tuning for qualifying.
"The qualifying session was more or less to plan. Both drivers were finding time as the track improved, Valtteri getting a very good first lap on the board in final qualifying whereas Lewis had a mistake in Turn 3 which left him with everything to do on the final run.
"To see them separated by two hundredths with such a good gap behind shows that they were both really getting all the performance out of the car. The long run picture from Friday looks like it will be closer in the race than we saw in qualifying and the start tyre difference between us and Ferrari adds another dimension.
"We've got a long way to go to convert the front row into a one two but we'll be working hard tonight on a race plan to help us achieve that."
Valtteri: "It feels really good to get my first pole position of the season. I like this track a lot; last year I had a good weekend here and this year the weekend has started well again.
"It's a tricky circuit; there are only seven real corners on this track, but you can get them wrong very easily and lose a lot of time. For me it helped a lot that my first lap in Q3 was really good, so I could build on that in the second run.
"I will look at the data in detail to see where there is further room for improvement. The car felt really well-balanced today, so I can't imagine why it wouldn't feel that way tomorrow. We have had very mixed races lately, so I hope that I can get a good start and fight for the win.
"We have shown that we are quick here and have a really strong package, so we need a nice, clean race to turn our qualifying result into points.
"It's nice to have a good result, but this was only qualifying, and it's the race that counts."
Lewis: "This is a great result for the team, I'm really happy for us to have a one-two. Congratulations to Valtteri, he did a better job today. He went a completely different way with the set-up and maybe in hindsight I should have gone that direction as well.
"I'm really grateful for all the hard work from everyone at the factory, they've helped us to improve the car, move forward and lock out the front row - it's quite a privilege to be in that position.
"You can't really follow here, so there usually isn't a lot of overtaking but we will see if the three DRS zones will make a difference.
"Ferrari will start on the UltraSoft tyres whereas Red Bull and us will start on the SuperSofts so that will be interesting.
"There is a bit of a performance difference between those tyres, so keeping Sebastian behind at the start will be difficult, but I will give it everything I could. It's going to be close tomorrow, but we're in a good position for the race."
Toto: "It's a fantastic result to take the front row here in Spielberg with Valtteri just a few hundredths ahead of Lewis. We have been pushing hard in recent weeks to add performance to the car and, after the upgraded engine last week, it was really impressive to see the size of the aero upgrade here at the second race of the triple header.
"The hard work has paid off so far, with the car performing well and handling nicely around this circuit. Valtteri has been on good form all weekend and had a clean qualifying session, building up the performance level with each lap; Lewis also started strongly, after a tricky FP3, but made a mistake on his first lap in Q3.
"That meant it played out like a perfect thriller, with everything riding on the final runs - Lewis was quicker than the provisional pole time, but Valtteri was a little faster still and took his first pole of the season. It's a well-deserved result after some really bad luck in recent races.
"Now, we need to manage the start well to have a strong race. Like last weekend in France, we will start on the SuperSoft, Ferrari on the UltraSoft; this gave them the advantage from the start last weekend, and we need to be conscious of that tomorrow.
"But those considerations are for this evening, for a few moments now we can enjoy a strong team result - and the best possible starting point for what will be a hard-fought Grand Prix." | 2019-04-23T11:54:43 | https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/mercedes-amg-f1/amg-f1-news/amg-f1-article/report-valtteri-beats-lewis-to-pole-position-in-austria/ |
0.999759 | The study is based on a detailed review of the two campaigns' web sites and postings on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube during a two-week period, as well as public responses to the content. It found that the Obama campaign published 614 posts across platforms compared to Romney's 168. On Twitter, the Romney campaign averaged one tweet per day, while @barackObama and @Obama2012 averaged 17 and 12 tweets per day, respectively. In addition, the president's campaign web site posted about twice as many blog posts and more than twice as many online videos, the study found.
Obama's campaign also surpasses Romney in terms of Twitter followers and Facebook likes by a margin of 13:1. The study suggests the margin could be wider due to the fact that after Romney's number of followers suddenly spiked by 141,000 in two days, it was discovered that they were mechanically generated.
Romney does have the edge when it comes to base enthusiasm, the study notes, with 87 percent of Republicans following election news closely, compared to 79 percent of Democrats, according to a Gallup poll published this week. And while the party is on a bit of a high over his choice of Rep. Paul Ryan as a running mate, Team Romney may want to reach out and tweet a whole lot more somebodies.
— Both candidates' digital campaigns have focused on the economy more than any other issue; 24% of all Romney posts and 19% of Obama posts were about the economy. However, the campaigns differed in the angle they stressed. The Romney campaign devoted nearly twice the attention to jobs in its posts —14% of posts compared to 8% of posts from the Obama campaign. Obama's economic messages were almost equally divided between jobs and broader economic issues, such as the importance of the middle class.
— The economy may have dominated both candidates' digital messaging, but other issues — such as immigration and health care — were far more likely to spur re-sharing by their digital audience. Obama's posts about the economy generated an average of 361 shares or retweets. His posts about immigration, by comparison, generated more than four times that, and women's and veteran's issues generated more than three times the reaction. This was also true of Romney's messaging. His posts on health care and veterans averaged almost twice the response per post of his economic messages.
— Neither candidate offered much sharing or retweeting of its followers' messages. If the Internet offers the promise of making campaigns more of a two-way conversation with citizens, the candidates are not participating. For example, just 16% of Obama's tweets over the two-week period studied were retweets. The Romney campaign had just one retweet during this period — something from Romney's son Josh.
— Obama's digital strategy targets specific voter groups to a greater degree than Romney's. Visitors to Obama's website are offered opportunities to join 18 different constituency groups, among them African-Americans, women, LGBT, Latinos, veterans/military families or young Americans. If a visitor clicks to join a group, they then receive content targeted to that constituency. The Romney campaign offered no such groups at the time of this study. It has since added feature pages for nine groups, although users can still only join the general "Team Romney" rather than the particular voter group. | 2019-04-23T07:54:44 | https://www.bet.com/news/features/vote-2012/news/politics/2012/08/15/obama-campaign-is-wired-for-voters.html |
0.999999 | LAPLACE, La. - The state sent scores of buses and dozens of high-water vehicles to help evacuate about 3,000 people from St. John the Baptist Parish after Tropical Storm Isaac pushed water from lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas into parts of LaPlace.
Rising water closed off all main thoroughfares into the parish, which is about 30 miles west of New Orleans. In many areas, water lapped up against houses and left cars stranded. The water was being driven higher by south winds as Isaac passed to the west and was expected to continue rising through the night.
Floodwaters rose waist-high in some neighborhoods, and the Louisiana National Guard was working with sheriff's deputies to rescue people stranded in their homes and surprised by the flooding.
The floodwaters "were shockingly fast-rising, from what I understand from talking to people. It caught everybody by surprise," Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said.
By 8 p.m. about 1,500 people had been evacuated, most to a nearby church being used as a temporary shelter, and Gov. Bobby Jindal's office said up to another 1,500 more were expected to leave their homes.
Dardenne said officials speculated that the fortifying of levees in other parishes along Lake Pontchartrain after Hurricane Katrina forced storm surge into new areas that had escaped flooding in past storms.
"The water's got to go somewhere, and this is where it went," he said.
Jindal's top coastal adviser, Garret Graves, said he thought the theory was unlikely to be the cause of the extensive flooding.
"My personal opinion, based on the science, was if it did have any impact, it would be minimal," Graves said.
He said years of wetlands erosion has lessened the resistance to wave energy, allowing stronger storm surge to push farther inland. Also, Graves said even though previous storms like Katrina didn't inundate St. John the Baptist Parish, every hurricane has its own impact in areas surrounded by water.
"This one traveled slower, it had different wind, it had different surge. It was a different storm," he said.
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries had 30 boats in LaPlace and 20 more on the way to get people out of their homes, and the state sent 89 buses to take them to shelters in Alexandria and Shreveport, and to evacuate an assisted living facility. The National Guard had seven high-water vehicles in the parish and another 25 - as well as ten boats - on the way Wednesday night to assist the parish evacuation efforts.
With one water district flooded, the National Guard also was sending two 5,000-gallon water tankers and 35,000 bottles of water to distribute to residents. State officials sending 200 one-ton sandbags to protect the water system from floodwater contamination. | 2019-04-23T18:52:43 | https://www.onlineathens.com/article/20120829/NEWS/308299943 |
0.999021 | You can tell a cheetah from a leopard by looking at its face cheetahs has black lines that run from their eyes to their mouths.
Cheetahs feed on animals such as deer rabbits, birds and lizards.
Sometimes they eat fruit too. They likes watermelon.
In the wild, most cheetahs live only 10 to 15 year.
The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal. It can reach speeds of [ALTERNATE: a speed of] 70 miles an hour in just 3 seconds.
You can tell a cheetah from a leopard by looking at its face. Cheetahs have black lines that run from their eyes to their mouths.
Cheetahs feed on animals such as deer, rabbits, birds and lizards.
Sometimes they eat fruit too. They like watermelon.
In the wild, most cheetahs live only 10 to 15 years . | 2019-04-25T11:12:34 | https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/animalsAtoZ/animalsAtoZ005.shtml |
0.999997 | Which famous faces popped up as guest stars on the nation's favourite street?
Setting foot on the cobbles is the dream of many a Coronation Street fan - and that goes for famous fans too.
Some of them have got to live that dream and have had a small part in the show for a few episodes.
From comedians stars, to full-on Hollywood actors and pop royalty, a number of famous faces have graced the Street with their presence.
Here is a round up of the biggest and best cameos Corrie's ever seen.
Comedian Peter Kay starred in one episode of Coronation Street as drayman Eric Gartside.
Unlucky-in-love Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay) agreed to a date with Eric in January 2004 after the end of her marriage to bigamist Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne).
Eric pulled out all the stops to win her over, even taking Shelley to a fancy restaurant, but when they ended up back at his house for a cup of tea, the sight of his mother, Dolly, in her dressing gown was enough to put Shelley off for good.
She make a hasty retreat and refused Eric's offer of another date, telling him to cut the apron strings if he wanted to find love.
Best-known for playing Gandalf in the Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Magneto in The X-Men movies, Sherlock Holmes in Mr. Holmes, and Cogsworth in the live-action Beauty and the Beast adaptation, Sir Ian McKellen joined Coronation Street for 10 episodes in May 2005 when his character, Mel Hutchwright, turned up at a book club after being invited by Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones).
Mel had written the book they were discussing, and while Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden), Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) and Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) were all in awe of him, Ken Barlow's (William Roache) nose was firmly put out of joint.
The author moved in with Norris and Emily to finish his next book, allowed them to pay for everything, and even persuaded the book club to donate £200 each to help publish the novel.
But Ken wasn't taken in and eventually exposed Mel for who he really was: conman Lionel Hipkiss. Norris threw Lionel out and that was the last we ever saw of Sir Ian on the cobbles.
Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness played Dougie Ryan in six episodes in August 2005.
Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment), Beth Tinker (Lisa George), Craig Tinker (Colson Smith), Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn), Chesney Brown (Sam Aston), Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) and Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) went on a camping trip, where Dougie was with his daughter Caitlin (Eve Gordon).
He fancied himself as a bit of a Bear Grylls type and immediately rubbed Tyrone up the wrong way, although the rest of the group were in awe of him.
A trek into the woods to forage for food ended in an argument and eventually Dougie was put in his place by his own daughter.
Paddy has talked of a Corrie return and told The Manchester Evening News that he would love to go back for another short stint.
Despite Cheryl often saying she'd love a role in Coronation Street (and having a small part in the Text Santa special), it was Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah Harding who ended up starring in five episodes of the soap as Joni Preston, ex-wife of Robert Preston (Tristan Gemmill).
Joni arrived on the cobbles looking for Robert in July 2015. He'd reignited his relationship with Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), and Joni wasn't happy.
When she finally caught up with them at the restaurant Robert and Joni owned together, she gave Tracy an almighty slap. She and Robert divorced and he handed everything over to her.
His relationship with Tracy didn't much longer than Sarah's stint in Corrie after critics slammed her performance and the show told The Mirror there were "no immediate plans for the character of Joni to return".
She played herself in the 1997 feature-length Viva Las Vegas! where she was on a plane with Corrie icons Jack and Vera Duckworth (Bill Tarmey and Elizabeth Dawn), who'd travelled to Vegas to renew their wedding vows.
Vera spilled a drink on herself as Joan walked past and Joan assured her it would wash out, adding: "I should know," in reference to all the times she had a drink thrown over her in Dynasty.
Playing a murderer was quite the departure for James who is best known for playing loveable guys.
But in Corrie, he helped Tony escape from prison and then held both Carla Connor (Alison King) and Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh) at gunpoint.
Sadly for Robbie, who was helping Tony in return for £2000 to pay for his son to go to university, he choose the wrong man to trust as Tony shot and killed him as a thank you.
The King and Queen of daytime Television Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were in one episode of Coronation Street in June 2018.
They played a part in the exit storyline of Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) who was heading off on maternity leave.
Rosie, along with Craig Tinker and Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) appeared on the This Morning sofa after taking down a drug lord on the Street.
While Craig was enamoured with Holly, Gemma flirted up a storm with Phil, and Rosie managed to insult everyone!
Quo rockers Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt appeared in three episodes of the soap in 2005 as themselves.
They were spotted by super-fan Les Battersby (Bruce Jones) who persuaded them to come and sing at his wedding to Cilla Battersby-Brown (Wendi Peters).
The band duly obliged - and then took Candice Stowe (Nikki Sanderson) with them on tour as their personal hairdresser.
She played Rula Romanoff, an old friend of Rita'swho tried to seduce Norris in a wife-swapping storyline!
Who was your favourite Corrie cameo? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know! | 2019-04-19T02:49:10 | https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/coronation-street/coronation-streets-9-best-cameos/ |
0.880561 | Oil giant ExxonMobil moved to reject a shareholder proposal calling for the company to assert moral leadership on climate change and pledge to work toward limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less.
In a letter to securities regulators, the company said the resolution filed by a faith-based organization is "vague and indefinite." Exxon also said it's unnecessary for shareholders to consider the proposal at the annual stockholders meeting on May 25 because the company has already taken steps to tamp down global warming. The resolution was filed by the New Jersey-based Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment.
While social responsibility groups have been demanding action on climate change from Exxon for decades, the Tri-State resolution is the first to call on the company to acknowledge moral responsibility. Over the past 25 years, shareholders have submitted 62 climate change-related proposals to Exxon, according to an InsideClimate News review of shareholder resolutions. Of those, 22 were either withdrawn or blocked by the company. None of the remaining 40 got enough votes to pass.
Management often urges the Securities and Exchange Commission to bar shareholder proposals from the proxy statements they publish for annual investor meetings.
Sister Patricia Daly of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, N.J., one of the sponsors of the resolution, called Exxon's move "arrogant and dangerous."
"This challenge demonstrates that ExxonMobil plans to continue to cling to an unsustainable paradigm that severely harms our planet, without reflecting on the moral dimensions of a 'business as usual' scenario," she said. "I wonder what management fears will be revealed if they allow this resolution to go to a vote.
"They don't see the moral imperative," she said. "They are dodging the 2 degrees."
The resolution declares, "We believe that ExxonMobil should assert moral leadership with respect to climate change." It also calls on Exxon to adopt policies consistent with limiting the average global temperature increase to 2 degrees since the beginning of the Industrial Age and to acknowledge urgency in meeting that goal. The Tri-State Coalition represents nearly 40 Roman Catholic groups with pension funds that hold shares of Exxon.
A spokesman for Exxon declined to comment. The Tri-State proposal was among the first of seven 2016 shareholder resolutions to be filed with Exxon addressing climate change.
Exxon asked the SEC to allow the company to dismiss the resolution because it does not spell out exactly what actions Exxon would have to take to comply.
"The Proposal's request that the company commit to 'support the goal' of limiting warming to less than '2° C' is vague and misleading," according to Exxon's letter to the SEC.
"The meaning and implications of this reference to '2° C' are not defined or explained in the proposal and are likely only understood and appreciated by shareholders with a significant level of knowledge and expertise regarding climate change science and policy," Exxon said in the letter.
The company argued that there is disagreement in the scientific community over how to define or reach a 2-degree target, so it would be impossible for the company to do so.
The goal of holding global warming to 2 degrees or less was embraced by 196 countries during the Paris climate talks last year. The resulting agreement aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are the largest contributor to global warming.
Exxon also said it has taken numerous steps to reduce the risk of climate change.
"The Company's past and current actions and initiatives compare favorably with the shareholder proposal's essential objective of having the Company publicly support the goal of addressing climate change risk," according to the Exxon letter.
It cited steps to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its own operations and to conduct and support research on new technologies. Exxon said it also has urged governments, private companies and consumers to embrace climate policy solutions.
The sponsors of the proposal said Exxon's objections show that it is out of step with the rest of the industry and the world. Daly said the moral dimensions of climate change are clear and have been articulated in statements from world leaders and faith leaders, including Pope Francis in his environmental encyclical, Laudato Si'.
Robert Brulle, a professor of sociology and environmental science at Drexel University, said he understands Exxon's argument that the resolution is vague. He said the resolution's sponsors could have specified how Exxon should contribute to the 2-degree limit, or how much in greenhouse gas emissions Exxon should curtail.
"Without the specificity, you end up with all the varying interpretations," said Brulle, who has studied the funding behind climate change denial campaigns mounted by the fossil fuel industry, including Exxon. "What Exxon is doing is using that discussion to muddle the issues."
As for Exxon's contention that it has already met its responsibility, Brulle called it "laughable."
"They say 'Oh yeah, we've met that goal,'" he said. "But what have they really done?" | 2019-04-22T22:22:04 | https://insideclimatenews.org/news/02022016/exxon-stiff-arms-request-take-moral-responsibility-climate-change |
0.999978 | bad news. The context was NP completeness.
known polynomial time algorithm for solving the TSP problem.
application of the dynamic programming algorithm design.
un-directed graph, and each of the end choose two edges has a non-negative cost.
network the minimum cost towards overall cost thirteen.
of root four search would be in factorial.
develop a dynamic programming algorithm that solves the TSP problem.
Now, of course, TSP is NP complete. We have to expect that.
We're not expected a polynomial time algorithm.
quite a bit better than n factorial. n factorial is more ball park n^n.
this dynamic programming algorithm for values of n, probably pushing 30 or so.
the size of the arrrays, that we can sort.
hard, to solve very large instances of the traveling salesman problem.
Even with, 10's of thousands of cities, even sometimes over 100,000 cities.
But, I mean, this often represents years of work.
Traveling Salesman Problem books out there.
extended in some easy way to the original problem.
other vertex exact. Once on root.
for the single source shortest path problem was the Bellman Ford.
So what then did the sub-problems look like in the Bellman-Ford algorithm.
a cannotical sub-problem with Bellman-Ford was.
destination vertex v. That has I edges or less.
path from the starting node vertex, number 1, to some other vertex j.
That uses, at most. I edges.
So precisely, let's define sub-problems as follows.
programming algorithm using these sub-problems.
problem? All right so the correct answer is C.
also not A, it's not that there are too many subproblems.
We only have o of n choice for i, and o of n choices for j.
So there's only a quadratic number of sub-problems.
Just like in Bellman-Ford, that's totally reasonable.
it's really exactly the same as what we were doing in Bellman-Ford.
The problem is that our semantics are incorrect.
traveling salesman incident that we started with.
much as N edges if they wanted. But in general, they won't.
instead of using most I-edges and the shortest path.
It has to use exactly I edges and the shortest Path.
one, the answer remains the same. The answer is still C.
Of course, we still don't get polynomial time algorithm.
Traveling Sales. Has been told.
hoping and then we look at the biggest sub problem.
and when we take j the destination to be. One, the same as the origin.
be a tour and therefore the minimum cost travelling salesman tour.
starts at 1 and it ends at 1 doesn't mean it's a tour.
the largest sub problem, when i = n and when j = 1.
additional constraint, that no repeated vertices are allow.
the past couple and the correct answer is switched from C to B.
this different definition of sub problems they do capture the TSP.
Specifically, look at the biggest subproblem.
we started with. That is exactly TSP.
a larger edge budget, given the solutions to the smaller sub-problems.
sub-problems. And the reason is a little bit subtle.
in, how to solve your sub-problems given the solutions to smaller ones.
And there's even a natural guess, for these sub-problems.
What you hope the recurrence. Might be.
you'd say, well let's think about an optimal solution.
So what is that? That's a path that starts at one.
It ends at j. It has exactly i edges.
tells me what the penultimate vertex k was on the shortest path from 1 to j.
So if I knew that the second to last vertex on the shortest path was k.
second to last vertex k is. But no big deal.
As usual, in dynamic programming, we're just going to try all of the possibility.
k. Clearly, k should not be equal to j.
let's also preclude k from being 1. That's the starting vertex.
into it a final half that goes from k to j.
may be this is the key ingredient to polynomial time algorithm for TSP.
is that we've defined our sub problems to disallow repeated visits to a vertex.
constraint. That no repeated visits are allowed.
repeats with this final hop. k to j.
Well this might result in a repeated visit to j.
hop kj, results in the cycle of second visit to j.
So, this bug means that the proposed recurrence is not correct.
actual shortest path length from 1 to j with exactly i edges.
With the no repeat visits constraint respected.
That could be a bigger number than what's computed by this recurrent.
exactly once, that's a quite tricky constraint.
And we're going to have to work quite hard to make sure it's satisfied. | 2019-04-23T09:11:31 | https://es.coursera.org/lecture/algorithms-npcomplete/the-traveling-salesman-problem-49MkW |
0.99965 | The dust formed as a result of wear of brake shoes, contains the asbestos which is hazardous to health. It is forbidden to use solvents on the basis of gasoline for cleaning of the mechanism of brakes. Use only alcohol or a special cleaner for the mechanism of brakes.
1. Turn off nuts of fastening of a wheel, lift the car and establish it on support. Remove a wheel.
2. Get adjustable to the check and remove a cap of a nut of fastening of a semi-axis.
3. Turn off and remove a nut of fastening of a semi-axis and a washer. In order that the nave did not rotate, insert ломик between two bolts of fastening of a wheel and establish it so that the end ломика rested against the earth or the floor panel.
4. To get a semi-axis from шлицов naves, strike on the shaft end with a hammer with a brass head or use to copper small beards.
Do not try while get the semi-axis end from a nave. If you make too big effort a semi-axis, you can damage it or a transmission.
5. Remove a brake support (see subsection 9.6) and a brake disk (see subsection 9.7), remove a brake hose from a suspension bracket rack.
6. If on the car the ABS system is established, disconnect and remove the sensor of speed of rotation of a wheel.
7. Turn off, but do not remove nuts and bolts, fastenings of a rotary fist to a suspension bracket rack (see subsection 10.2).
8. Remove the end of steering draft from the lever of a rotary fist (see subsection 10.17).
9. Turn off a bolt and nuts of fastening of the spherical hinge to the suspension bracket lever.
10. Get a semi-axis from a nave and suspend the semi-axis end on a wire.
11. By means of the tool for division of spherical hinges or a small stripper, remove the spherical hinge from a rotary fist.
12. Now it is possible to remove bolts of fastening of a rotary fist to a suspension bracket rack.
13. Accurately remove a rotary fist from a suspension bracket rack.
1. Establish a rotary fist and a nave into place, having inserted a semi-axis into a nave.
2. Establish a rotary fist on a rack, insert bolts and acquire a nut, do not tighten while a nut up to the end.
3. If you removed the spherical hinge from an old rotary fist for installation on a new rotary fist, establish the hinge and twirl a nut of fastening of the hinge till the demanded moment of an inhaling (see subsection 10.1).
4. Establish the spherical hinge on the suspension bracket lever (see subsection 10.5), but do not tighten while a bolt and fixing nuts.
5. Establish steering draft on the lever of a rotary fist (see subsection 10.17). Put the clamps fastenings of a rotary fist to a suspension bracket rack, a bolt and nuts of fastening of the spherical hinge to the lever a suspension bracket and a nut of fastening of steering draft till the demanded moments of an inhaling (see subsection 10.1).
6. Establish a brake disk on a nave and establish a brake support, being guided by the instructions provided in the corresponding chapter.
7. Establish a nut of fastening of a semi-axis and tighten it till the demanded moment of an inhaling (see subsection 10.1).
8. Establish a wheel and acquire a nut of fastening of a wheel.
9. Lower the car on the earth and tighten nuts of fastening of a wheel till the demanded moment of an inhaling (see subsection 10.1).
10. Address to experts for check and if it is necessary, adjustments of installation of forward wheels. | 2019-04-18T16:58:23 | http://britzaza.ru/html/10_7.htm |
0.997748 | WASHINGTON - As it tries to craft a rule on whether or how to let motorists disconnect their vehicles' airbags, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds itself painted into perhaps the tightest corner in its 31-year history.
Against a backdrop of widespread media coverage of small children being killed by deploying airbags, NHTSA rule-makers are being buffeted by conflicting legal opinions, inconclusive technical information and powerful special and political interests.
But the National Automobile Dealers Association has warned its members against deactivating airbags even when vehicle owners request it in writing and have NHTSA approval.
In such a charged environment, observers say, a typically rational, scientific decision by agency employees is all but precluded.
'I'd say a lot of politics and a little science,' will go into the rule, said Adrian Lund, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The division between public sentiment and expert opinion has created a 'conundrum' for rule writers, said Barbara Mansfield, public affairs manager for Ford Motor Co. 'NHTSA does have a Solomonic decision to make,' she said.
Even lawmakers, normally quick to second-guess executive branch agencies and to respond to constituent pressure, appear wary of trying to untangle the airbag knot.
Finding the right balance for a device that is a proven lifesaver but can occasionally be lethal itself is 'sort of a Godly call that we normally leave to deities much more potent than ourselves,' said Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., chairman of the House consumer protection subcommittee, which recently held hearings on airbags.
Tauzin observed at the hearing that it would be 'cruel' to require people to pay for equipping their vehicles with airbags, and then have them pay for deactivation.
In a later interview, though, Tauzin said he is not suggesting the repeal of the federal airbag mandate. But if NHTSA writes the limited deactivation rule he favors, Tauzin said, automakers should foot the bill for those who qualify for the service.
Some other lawmakers are more willing to enter the fray.
One group led by Rep. Dan Miller, R-Fla., has introduced a bill to allow airbag deactivation switches for anyone who wants them.
And Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, R-Idaho, has written but not yet introduced a bill that would repeal the requirement in law that airbags be designed powerful enough to protect adults not wearing seat belts.
Kempthorne, with constituents whose 1-year-old child was decapitated by an accidental airbag deployment, has contended NHTSA could modify the unbelted-adult-protection standard on its own and remove most of the danger to children.
But the agency has said it does not have the authority to go that far.
NHTSA has authorized carmakers to install moderately lower-powered airbags, but only until 2001 when so-called smart airbags are expected to come into use. But carmakers challenge that deadline on the grounds that advanced technology may not be ready by then.
NHTSA Administrator Dr. Ricardo Martinez has consistently maintained that his goal is to retain most of the benefits of airbags while minimizing the risk. He has said that more than 1,900 people have been saved while only 63 have been killed by airbag deployment.
At a recent Senate hearing though, Kempthorne challenged Martinez's numbers. He said that only 189 people have been saved by airbags in the passenger position, while about 40 children have been killed.
A 5-to-1 ratio between adults saved and children killed is unacceptable, he told Martinez.
Lawmakers are not the only ones looking over NHTSA's shoulder.
Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, a longtime political ally of Clinton's, reportedly has taken a direct role in shaping NHTSA's rule. And whatever comes from the department will be examined by the Office of Management and Budget at the White House before being made public.
Plus, groups that oppose the final decision can challenge it in federal court.
The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers has told NHTSA, for example, that its legal advisers have determined the agency does not have authority under existing law to give a blanket exemption to a safety standard.
Barry Felrice, director of regulatory affairs for the American Automobile Manufacturers Association and a former NHTSA official, said he now sees signs that the agency is backing away from a broad rule allowing unrestricted bag deactivation. Instead, he said, he expects a rule that will require motorists to justify a reason for wanting deactivation.
NHTSA officials hinted as much at the House subcommittee hearing.
'Very few people really need to avail themselves of this opportunity to deactivate their airbags,' Martinez testified. | 2019-04-24T13:55:37 | https://www.autonews.com/article/19970512/ANA/705120760/airbag-rule-making-clouded-by-politics |
0.998771 | Aside from "a force that pulls things near," gravity can also mean "heaviness of mood." In that sense, the opposite of gravity is ___ity, or lightness of mood.
To gravitate toward something is to move that way naturally, as if it's pulling you by the force of gravity.
Talk about one person or thing gravitating toward (or to) a particular person, place, or thing: "she gravitates toward funny, easygoing men," "he gravitates to the quiet corners of the library," "we gravitate toward sources of information that confirm what we already believe," "these prices will gravitate toward the limit of what people will pay."
I think of New York City as this pulsing, frenetic cultural vortex that all kinds of people gravitate toward.
Handheld devices got as small as they possibly could, but now they're gravitating toward larger screens.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "gravitate" means when you can explain it without saying "move to naturally" or "incline toward."
Think of a time your preferences changed or matured. Fill in the blanks: "During/In/When _____, I eventually gravitated from (one thing) to (another)."
Example: "In college, I eventually gravitated from t-shirts with cute things printed on them to blouses with buttons and collars."
In the first solution above, for example, we made 8 words: across, ante, no, ta, & cent; and down, an, note, an, & et.
The goal, again, is to maximize the number of words you can fit into the grid. Try it today with the letters NPSTAEIO. Draw three vertical and three horizontal lines on some scrap paper, and go for it!
1. The literal opposite of GRAVITATE is LEVITATE, or float.
2. Because she gravitates _____, it's been hard for her to ____. | 2019-04-20T11:16:02 | http://www.hilotutor.com/archives_gravitate.html |
0.999999 | The objective: The main goal of this project is to create an effective algorithm for finding the best move in a given chess position. This algorithm will consist of a series of step-by-step tests and avoids the use of intuition or the need for a theoretical chess background.
The materials I used were a chess set and chessboard, various positions from The Art of Planning in Chess and other chess books, Fritz 11 and ChessDiagrammer chess software, and a pencil or pen. In order to create my first algorithmic component, I analyzed various chess positions where tactical motifs, or types of tactics, were present and investigated the interactions and relationships between the pieces involved in the tactics. Geometrically defining these relationships enabled me to create a series of step-by-step methods a player can use to determine whether he can execute any tactics. For my second component, the Positional Evaluator, I studied annotated chess games and classified plans that were employed in those games under certain categories based on their purposes and goals. By examining these plans I was able to extract certain relationships between the pieces involved in the plan and other points and lines on the board. I again used these relationships to create various tests chess players can use to determine whether he should implement a certain type of plan. I tested my algorithm on many different instances from master games and in each instance a strong move was found.
I successfully created an algorithm for finding the best move in any chess position that does not require the user to have any theoretical chess background or to implement his intuition.
I concluded that there are certain spatial and functional relationships between the pieces on the chessboard that determine the positional and tactical features present in a given position. I fulfilled my goal by creating an algorithm for finding a strong move in a chess position that avoids the use of intuition.
This Mathematical project creates an understandable algorithm for finding the best move in a chess position that does not require the user to implement his intuition. | 2019-04-23T01:09:18 | http://www.sciencefairprojects.co.in/Mathematics/Chess-Algorithms.php |
0.999786 | Media captionPrime Minister David Cameron: "We believe in helping families"
David Cameron says he will create 600,000 extra free childcare places if he is returned to power next month.
The prime minister said Labour had a "brass neck" to claim they were on the side of ordinary working families.
Under the £350m Conservative plans, the amount of state-subsidised childcare for three and four year-olds would be doubled to 30 hours a week.
Labour said it was "another unfunded announcement", accusing the Conservatives of "desperation".
The Liberal Democrats said the plans "ignore working families with the youngest children".
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Mr Cameron was attempting to switch the focus of the campaign to one of his party's key announcement after several days dominated by warnings about the SNP and a future Labour government.
The party is likely to face questions about how it would ensure sufficient childcare places are available, she added.
Currently, all three and four-year olds in England are entitled to 570 hours of free early education or childcare a year, which works out as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year.
The Conservatives said the 30-hour offer from 2017, announced a week ago, would result in more than 600,000 extra 15-hour free childcare places every year.
They said the proposal would be funded by reducing tax relief on pension contributions.
Labour has pledged 25 hours of free childcare a week and the Liberal Democrats 20 hours, although both parties also plan to extend the offer to younger children.
Mr Cameron said his government inherited a "shocking" situation, "where couples were spending as much on childcare as one of them took home in earnings".
He added that "for many second earners, work didn't pay because the cost of childcare was so high".
A Conservative government would expand on the changes made in the last Parliament, Mr Cameron said.
"If you're a working parent with one child you can rest assured that by the time they're three they'll be able to go to nursery for 30 hours a week completely free," Mr Cameron said.
"And we have legislated also for tax free childcare for anything outside that - so if you spend ten thousand pounds on childcare you'll get two thousand pounds back for each child."
But Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "Hard-working families will not be fooled by the £600m gap in funding for this policy, as announced last week."
He said Labour had a "better plan" including a "guarantee of access" to childcare between 08:00 and 18:00 for primary age children.
And Liberal Democrat equalities minister Jo Swinson said: "Tory plans for childcare ignore working families with the youngest children, which could leave some parents locked out of the labour market for years on end."
She said her party would extend early-years education to all two-year-olds and ensure free childcare support kicked in as soon as paid parental leave ended for working mums and dads.
"This will help with the cost of childcare and ensure working parents have a genuine choice about when to return to work," she added.
The UK Independence Party says it will continue to fund the current free 15-hour a week childcare scheme and in-coming tax-free childcare scheme - although they would de-regulate childcare provision "to address the shortage places and cut the cost to both parents and the state".
* Subscribe to the BBC Election 2015 newsletter to get a round-up of the day's campaign news sent to your inbox every weekday afternoon. | 2019-04-20T05:02:20 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32407934 |
0.999999 | There was a public bus transport in one town. All buses had circular lines. Each line had at least two stops. Some lines had some stops in common. When two or more bus drivers met on some stop they announced each other all news they knew, so that after leaving the stop they all knew the same news. All drivers started driving their buses at the same time and at this time each driver knew some news that was not known to any other driver. Each bus ran all the time along a fixed bus line. Different buses running along the same bus line started possibly on different stops of the bus line at the beginning.
The operation of buses was highly synchronized. The time necessary to get from one stop to next stop was equal for all stops and all lines.
There were n lines ( 0 < n < 20), d drivers (and also d buses) ( 0 < d < 30) numbered by integers from 1 to d, and s bus stops ( 0 < s < 50) numbered by integers from 1 to s.
The drivers' gossiping club would like to know whether each driver, in some time, would learn all news from his colleagues. Write a program that will answer this question.
The input consists of blocks of lines. Each block except the last describes one town. In the first line of the block there are integers n, d and s described above separated by one space. The next 2n lines contain descriptions of n bus lines (2 lines for each bus line) as follows: In the first line there are stop numbers on the corresponding bus line separated by one space. The stops are listed in the order the bus passes them. After passing the last stop listed on the line the bus goes again to the first stop listed on the line. The second line describes on which stops the individual buses operating on the bus line started at the beginning. The description consists of pairs si, di, where si is a stop number on the bus line and di is the number of driver driving the bus. All numbers si, di on the line are separated by one space. The last block consists of just one line containing 0 0 0, i.e. three zeros separated by one space.
The output contains the lines corresponding to the blocks in the input. A line contains Yes if the corresponding block in the input file describes a situation where each driver will learn, in some time, all news from his colleagues. Otherwise it contains No. There is no line in the output corresponding to the last ``null'' block of the input. | 2019-04-23T12:18:37 | http://sharecode.io/section/problemset/problem/1067 |
0.999348 | Niall Conlon (O'Connell's) - The finisher was on fire as O'Connell's prevailed in the Leinster Intermediate Football Championship on Sunday. The match wasn't without drama, however, Conlon's abilities shone through. He hit 2-5 of his team's total.
Michael Leddy (O'Raghallaigh's U14) - Leddy scored a hat-trick of goals and was an contact menace as the O'Ragh's completed two-in-a-row and made it three trophies for the season with victory over Cuchulainn Gaels/Cooley Kickhams in the U14 A Championship final.
Darren Geoghegan (Naomh Moninne U18) - Like his elder brother, Ronan, Darren continued his wonderful form into Sunday's Minor Hurling Championship semi-final, scoring 4-7, as Moninne cruised into the decider against St. Fechin's.
Liam Hoey (Karate) - Liam put in a very strong performance in Madrid recently, claiming a bronze medal to leave all at CIKA Dundalk in awe at their young star.
Michael Kirby (St. Dominic's U12) - Young Kirby had a stunning week. He scored a penalty to ensure the Doms overcame Muirhevnamor Celtic, while, on Sunday, he scored a goal, made another and hit the bar as the Friary side took the spoils over Ardee Athletic. What a week for the young man.
James McDonnell (Roche Emmets U16) - The Louth U15 panel member was a rock at centre-half as Roche claimed the U16 Division Two league title with a fantastic two-point victory over Mattock Rangers/Hunterstown Rovers outfit in Darver last night. The linchpin of the defence, he's a star of the future.
Cobra Kan Students - A team entry this week because it's impossible to separate the achievements of either Liam McCabe, Lisa McCabe or Meadhbh Duffy. The brilliant trio returned nine medals to clean out the Bristol Open.
Darragh McCoy (Ardee, St. Mary's) - McCoy gave a masterclass at left-half back in last night's Division One U16 league success for Ardee. They defeated Kilkerley in a thriller, coming from behind in the second-half, despite being a man down. McCoy was just sublime.
Andy McDermott (Redeemer Celtic) - The matchwinner for Redeemer on Sunday, McDermott stepped up in the second-half of their promotion clash with Hazel Lane as the Gorman Park side continued their fine march to the top of the NEFL Division Two table. | 2019-04-18T11:09:28 | https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/poll/national-sport/278139/vote-dundalk-democrat-sports-person-of-the-week.html |
0.999979 | [...] That the Times presents these conclusions so baldly — accusing him of “outright fraud” in the first sentence — in the face of Trump’s famous litigiousness, is a testament to the power and clarity of its findings.
Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who flew in helicopters of major cocaine trafficker J. Weichselbaum, who Donald did favors for and whose case came before her, needs to remove herself from the bench immediately. Sr Judge, 3rd Circuit appeals court. Her conduct must be investigated.
Repeat in bold: NY TAX AUTHORITIES WILL BE GOING AFTER *ALL* TRUMP'S FRAUDULENT INCOME - UNPAID TAXES AND PENALTIES FOR DECADES. THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
Know for a fact they will try to collect 20 yr. old fines as low as $1,000, plus penalties and interest of course. Famously far scarier to business owners than the IRS. Whatever they may have fallen for from the Trumpco in the past, if they smell money there now, they will go after it.
New York? it's like shark tank, except bloodier. Let the gladiator fights begin.
Trump's angry language is about Ford, about all sorts of other things. But it appears to be about the NYT tax investigation about how he inherited his wealth.
P.S. which in turn, triggers mine: isn't the heart of all his delusional narcissism the lie that he is a, smarter, savvier, hotter, bigger deal maker guy than the nasty old man? The yugest the world has ever seen, and dad was peanuts. Defeating dad looms large in the psyche. This New York Times work is striking directly at the heart of that, it says just the opposite: smart father making up for loser son.
Edit to add: I even wonder now if he wouldn't release tax returns because they show losses, many fake, some real. Not because he would be ashamed of tax evasion, but because it wouldn't fit his The Apprentice character that he sells to the fans. That character is supposed to be so successful and rich that paying taxes is a drop in the bucket.
in which case, if I Maggie and me are right, Christine Ford has a real savvy attorney: Ford's attorney fires back at Trump: 'He is a profile in cowardice', knows just where to punch.
Also note that the statute of limitations are easier on personal taxes than corporate - but since The Donald's shuffled so much of his income through shell corporations, you can guess he's on the hook for back taxes and interests since forever.
NYState does it for personal too. They don't worry about messy things like statute of limitations, they try to squeeze anyone they can any way they think will work, as if it's your responsibility to get a lawyer to argue for you if they are doing something illegal. It's a long process of spitting out computer letters but once that's over, he courts are very amenable to getting them liens right quick. If it's not worth doing special collections, they'll just leave the debt on the books, yes for 20 or more years, and take whatever they can when you like file for a refund or do a legal transaction that shows up on their computer like sale of property. They are extremely collections minded to the point of not caring what the law is, if they can scare someone into paying, they will take it. Tax lawyers will warn you not to trigger their attention, they are truly vicious pit bulls as it's going to cost you or a lawyer a lot of time to clear it up.
There are nasty torturing folks at the IRS, too, but they are rarer there, overall. their culture is a lot more reasonable and they act like humanoids.
Strange - Trump making fun of Blasey Ford is the main headline today at The Guardian & Huffpost - not that Trump stole hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and is a complete fraud.
Maybe cuz NYTimes broke it - *FINALLY*.
ANyway, what are our priorities?
I remember long ago, like in the 90's, before The Apprentice, hearing from a friend in the Midwest about how popular he was, even among some little kids, there were big fans, kids who wanted to grow up like him. And as a New Yorker my first reaction was "huh? no way!" but I checked that out and found it was true. Some kids were carrying around Art of the Deal and idolizing him way before The Apprentice began.
The statute of limitations issue is explained here by David Cay Johnston @ 3:43. the state can go after him for civil tax fraud with no time limitations. And, as a matter of fact, they already did so in the past as regards two 1980's returns and The Donald lost both cases.
New York City officials said on Thursday that they had joined state regulators in examining whether President Trump and his family underpaid taxes on his father’s real estate empire over several decades.
The announcement came in response to an investigation published this week in The New York Times that showed how Mr. Trump had participated in dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud, that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents.
“We are now just starting to pore through the information,” said Dean Fuleihan, the city’s first deputy mayor.
A spokesman for the I.R.S. said the agency would not comment on whether it was taking any action in response to The Times’s investigation.
The inquiries will explore whether civil penalties and bills for back taxes are warranted. City officials said interest and penalties of up to 25 percent could be added to any unpaid taxes. | 2019-04-25T18:14:30 | http://dagblog.com/link/beggarman-thief-trump-massive-tax-fraud-undervalue-freds-gifts-26332 |
0.999018 | I want to take the fear out of a product of one of the world's most useful plants. Whether you are a new vegetarian, just like vegetarian food, or are clueless about what to do with it, I hope this helps you.
I am not a tofu expert but I've been eating it for quite a while. Tofu doesn't judge you or worry about morning breath. Tofu doesn't mind being kept in the fridge when you sometimes forget it behind your jar of tahini or your leftovers. Tofu doesn't care that you disguise it. Tofu is a jack of all trades- it can take the leading role and showcase itself or it can be used for the structural integrity of a dish. It can also be used as a binder (like eggs) in many baked goods. You can use tofu pockets for sushi and you can use it in desserts..
Tofu is pressed blocks of soymilk that has had a coagulant added. It is actually a lot like cheese-making. The soy milk (from water and soybeans) is treated with a thickener, oftentimes this thickener (coagulant) is calcium-based. It is then pressed into blocks and the water is pressed out. It is packaged in water (needs refrigeration) or in sterile aseptic packages (which do not require refrigeration until opened).
Types of Tofu: there are basically two types of tofu (and different levels of firmness).
"Regular" tofu is packaged in a small amount of water. I have heard it referred to as "Chinese tofu", "block tofu", "water-packed tofu", etc. Usually when tofu is the star of a dish, this is it. There is soft, medium, firm, and extra firm. In some areas where there are Trader Joe's you can get super-firm (I haven't seen it). Baked tofu in stores is made from this type of tofu. This is also the type of tofu used in tofu scramble, fried tofu in restaurants, etc. It is my go-to tofu for all sorts of dishes, including scrambled tofu.
"Silken" tofu is a smooth creamy tofu. It is also sometimes sold in plastic containers in water, but it is most commonly found in the aseptic packages. Silken tofu is great when used as a base. You can make dips, soups, and mousse (chocolate mousse!) out of it. It can also be used as a creamy dessert base for other things like quiche.
For water-packed/Chinese tofu, you will need to get the water out. Tofu is very good at absorbing the flavours around it, but it doesn't have too much flavour on its own. There is a distinct taste to it that I personally like so often my tofu is plain sauteed, but I still press it for this application.
Pressing Tofu:You can spend a lot of money on fancy tofu presses but all you need is something clean and absorbent and something with weight. If you need to do something with the whole block of tofu, then you may need to press longer (up to an hour) but I like to slice it and press for just a few minutes.
*Place clean, absorbent item (paper towel or my choice- a clean kitchen towel. VERY absorbent and you can reuse it) on the bottom. Place tofu on top of towel. Place another towel on top of tofu. Put a weight on top of towel. Many people will use: counter-towel-tofu-towel-plate-can of soup. Use what ever you want.
Flavour Infusion- Since tofu doesn't have much flavour, you can marinate it in a number of different sauces. Press it first (see above) and marinate for a couple of hours. If you are using only tofu and vegetables in the marinade, feel free to use the marinade as a sauce. You can reduce the marinade (cook until some of the liquid evaporates). I don't often marinate my tofu but many people like to.
Freezing- Freezing tofu changes the texture. It becomes chewier and more sponge-like. Drain excess water (not necessary to press) and store in an air-tight container. Freeze for 24 hours or longer. Thaw in refrigerator. Once thawed, squeeze water out with hands. Marinate or cook as desired.
Baking- Baked tofu in the grocery store is expensive. You can do the same thing at home. Slice and press firm or extra firm tofu , drizzling with olive or peanut oil and seasonings. Generally, it's baked for 45 minute-1 hour at 350 or 375 degrees (F). Search baked tofu recipe and you'll find a lot of them. Less expensive than store-bought and exactly to your individual preference.
Different Tofu Applications- Besides what I listed here (and some reiteration), you can do a tofu scramble (saute up some vegetables, add pressed tofu in chunks/crumbles and add seasonings such as nutritional yeast (NOT Brewer's yeast), soycheese, etc).Don't forget stir fry, General Tao's/Tso's Tofu, sushi, etc. Here is some Inari/ Inarizushi- litte pockets of sweet tofu used for stuffing with sushi rice and fillings.
. You can get it in cans at your local Asian Market.
There is SO much to do with tofu. If you've never tried it before, you may want to go to a Chinese restaurant and get a vegetable fried rice, minus egg, add fried tofu. Or you could try some of the recipes at a number of websites. A simple search of tofu recipe yields over 1 million links!
I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. Feel free to add your own experiences, problems, and successes with tofu. Hope you aren't missing out on this awesome food!
Wow, i so needed this post! The info is out there, i know, but to have it in an easy-to-understand format written for the "layperson" (such as i am) is totally appreciated BIG TIMe. i'll be back to re-read and re-re-read again and again. Thanks, Pamela! | 2019-04-19T08:34:14 | http://pamelacooks.blogspot.com/2007/06/dont-fear-fu-tofu-prep-and-applications.html |
0.999776 | Beleaguered high-street retailer GAME has had its shares suspended from trading as it enters the final few days of a bid to save the company from going bankrupt.
GAME Group, which owns the GAME and Gamestation high-street brands, has been under increasing financial pressure of late. Poor Christmas sales led to an inability to pay debts, directly causing a loss of confidence which has led to major publishers refusing to provide stock on new-release titles.
The result: a spiralling problem where GAME Group misses out on sales because it has no stock of new-release games like Mass Effect 3, leading to further poor financial performance, leading to more publishers refusing to provide stock. It's an issue which has led to strongly denied rumours of wage payment delays and, most recently, the appointment of Rothschild to find a buyer.
Time is running out, however. The company is believed to have just days left to find the cash it needs to pay rent on its high-street properties as well as to meet repayment terms mandated by its creditors. Should it fail to find a buyer willing to stump up the cash in the next few days, GAME Group will be forced into insolvency - a move which would have a serious impact on the UK gaming market.
The news that GAME Group's shares have been suspending from trading, following a precipitous drop which saw the company's value almost wiped out as investors bailed in ever-increasing numbers, isn't good - despite the move coming from the GAME Group's board itself, following discussions with lenders. 'The board now considers itself to be unable to assess the business's financial position, and is of the opinion that there is no equity value left in the group,' a GAME Group spokesperson explained in a statement to press.
The suspension comes as GAME Group enters talks with what it describes as 'a potential third party provider of finance.' While it is naming no names, private investment partnership and Comet owner OpCapita has been suggested as a potential suitor.
Industry publication MCV, meanwhile, claims that GAME Group is looking to enter voluntary administration in the hopes of rising again as a 'phoenix company' under a new name and with fewer stores. Though strongly denied by GAME Group management, MCV's sources suggest that the renewed company would operate GAME-branded stores while closing Gamestation outlets in order to reduce operating costs.
That may not be a bad move: following GAME Group's acquisition of Gamestation from previous owner Blockbuster back in 2007 for £74 million, GAME Group has continued to operate the two brands side-by-side. As a result, many towns and cities across the UK have at least two GAME Group-owned stores - in some cases three or four. The additional overheads of running multiple stores a few doors down from each other are, it has been suggested, one of the reasons GAME Group has landed in the financial mire now.
Closing the Gamestation brand down, however, would have a very real human cost in the form of lost jobs. Should it save the entire GAME Group from closure, it may be a price the company is more than willing to pay.
UPDATE: GAME Group has formally announced its intention to appoint administrators, suggesting that MCV's claim of a phoenix rebirth plan is not a million miles away from the truth. Sadly, this scuttles any hope of external investment saving the company as it exists today.
'Further to this morning’s announcement of the suspension of trading in shares of Game Group plc, the board has concluded that its discussions with all stakeholders and other parties have not made sufficient progress in the time available to offer a realistic prospect for a solvent solution for the business,' the company explains in an updated statement. 'The board has therefore today filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator. | 2019-04-19T22:40:06 | https://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/game-shares-suspended/1/ |
0.999057 | U.S. Ambassador To Libya, Three Other Americans Killed In Benghazi Attack : The Two-Way The deaths came after protesters fired a rocket-propelled grenade into the consulate, and protesters in Egypt scaled the U.S. embassy walls there.
Update at 7:02 p.m. ET. The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other staff members were killed in an attack against the American consulate in Benghazi, last night. The attack happened over an American-produced film that criticized the prophet Muhammad.
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens supported Libya's transition to democracy.
-- Quoting U.S. officials, the AP reports that the Pentagon is moving two warships toward the Libyan coast. CNN is also reporting the move.
-- The remains of all four Americans killed in Libya have been recovered.
-- American officials are "reluctant to say, at this stage, that this [attack] was planned."
-- The State Department says this was "clearly a complex attack." But it is still not clear what was going on outside the diplomatic compound at the time of the attack.
-- President Obama condemned the attack. "There is absolutely no justification for this senseless violence. None," he said.
-- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney weighed in, criticizing a statement issued by the State Department calling for calm in both Libya and Egypt and assuring Muslims that the American government condemned the film.
-- The identity of the filmmaker is still largely a mystery.
The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three of his staff members were killed in an attack on the American consulate in the country's eastern city of Benghazi, the White House confirmed Wednesday.
The deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and the other embassy employees came after an angry mob surrounded the Benghazi consulate Tuesday night to protest a film ridiculing Islam's Prophet Muhammad that had been promoted by an extreme anti-Muslim Egyptian Christian campaigner in the United States.
The mob was armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades, according to The Associated Press, but it was not immediately clear how the ambassador or the others were killed.
President Obama on Wednesday reiterated the U.S. condemnation for the attacks "in the strongest terms" and vowed to "work with the Libyan government to bring the killers to justice."
"There is absolutely no justification for this senseless violence. None," he said.
The president said that the attack "will not break the bonds between the United States and Libya."
The State Department also named Sean Smith, a foreign service information management officer and 21-year diplomatic veteran, as among the dead. Release of the others' names was awaiting notification of their next of kin, the Department said.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday morning that U.S. and Libyan security personnel "battled the attackers together" during the assault.
"This is an attack that should shock the conscience of people of all faiths around the world," she said.
"There is no justification ... violence is no way to honor faith," Clinton said.
The State Department website says that Stevens is the sixth U.S. ambassador to be killed by terrorists since 1968 and the first since 1979.
Stevens and Smith were among a group of embassy employees who had gone to the Benghazi consulate earlier to help evacuate staff there as the building came under attack by the armed mob, the AP reports.
Stevens, 52, was a career diplomat who spoke Arabic and French and was the first U.S. envoy to the Libyan resistance, which overthrew Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. He was named ambassador earlier this year.
NPR's Michele Kelemen says Stevens was well known to journalists covering the region.
"He served in a lot of places in the Middle East," she says.
"This was his second tour in Libya. He played a key role in the uprising there. He was the U.S. envoy to the opposition in Benghazi when the opposition was fighting Col. Moammar Gadhafi," Kelemen says.
NPR's Greg Myre, who was formerly based in Jerusalem, has this personal remembrance of Stevens.
In Egypt, hundreds of people protesting the film breached the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Tuesday. The protesters tore down an American flag, replacing it with a black Islamic banner.
In a statement on Tuesday, the president said that he was directing "all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe."
NPR's Tom Bowman reports that a contingent of U.S. Marines from the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team, or FAST, was being dispatched to Benghazi.
In his statement, President Obama said Stevens and the others killed "exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives."
In the first hours after the embassy attack and before it was learned that Ambassador Stevens had been killed, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney weighed in, criticizing a statement issued by the State Department calling for calm in both Libya and Egypt and assuring Muslims that the American government condemned the film.
Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt responded that he was "shocked" in an email to the AP and that "at a time when the United States of America is confronting the tragic death of our diplomatic officers in Libya, Gov. Romney would choose to launch a political attack."
On Wednesday, Romney stood by his remarks, calling the State Department's early statement "inappropriate and disgraceful."
"It's terrible ... for America to stand in apology for our values," he said.
Romney said that the State Department issued the statement as "our grounds [were] being attacked and being breached." But NPR's Leila Fadel says the U.S. statement was issued at noon in Cairo, long before protesters assaulted the embassy compound there or anyone was killed in Libya.
Asked whether he might have spoken too soon about the events in Libya, Romney said: "I don't think we ever hesitate when we see something that is a violation of our principles."
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in apparent reference to Romney's remarks that "it is exactly the wrong time to throw political punches. It is a time to restore calm and proceed wisely."
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., in a statement on his website, defended Romney's, saying the GOP hopeful "is absolutely right, there is no justification for these deadly attacks and we should never apologize for American freedom.
"It was disheartening to hear the administration condemn Americans engaging in free speech that hurt the feelings of Muslims, while real atrocities have been repeatedly committed by Islamic radicals against women, Christians, and Jews in the Middle East," he said.
The California-based filmmaker Sam Bacile, whose movie sparked the protests, went into hiding Tuesday, according to the AP. The two-hour film has been shown just once, earlier this year in Hollywood, but a 13-minute English-language trailer of the film, Innocence of Muslims, was on YouTube. Bacile describes himself as an Israeli Jew.
Two-Way colleague Eyder Perlata has a detailed take on the film and YouTube trailer that sparked the initial protests.
The remains of all four Americans killed in Libya have been recovered, says NPR's Dina Temple-Raston, who spoke with American officials familiar with the investigation into the events.
The officials said that Ambassador Stevens, who was based in Tripoli, was visiting Benghazi for the opening of an American cultural center there.
Temple-Raston reports that officials confirmed that members of Ansar al-Sharia, a militant group affiliated with Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, were part of the mob that assaulted the Libyan consulate. It was not clear, however, whether the group's involvement went any further. Ansar has denied it was behind the attacks.
Temple-Raston's sources are "reluctant to say, at this stage, that this [attack] was planned."
The officials say there was no specific piece of intelligence suggesting that the consulate would be attacked, but that a pattern observed in recent months suggested the possibility that someone or some group might be waiting for an opportunity to attack a U.S. target.
National Security Council spokesman says it is too soon to know what the motive behind the attack was.
"There is a lot of press speculation for who did this and why but at this stage it would be premature to ascribe any motive to this reprehensible act," Tommy Vietor said in a statement. "As the President said, make no mistake, we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people." | 2019-04-25T10:33:13 | https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/09/12/160992840/u-s-ambassador-to-libya-three-other-americans-killed-in-benghazi-attack |
0.997736 | Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly stated the name of the debate’s host school, Community College of Denver.
The November election is just 14 days away, and the candidates for Colorado attorney general are charging hard into the Election Day final stretch. George Brauchler and Phil Weiser met yesterday for another debate in their final push for votes.
The debate, sponsored by the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and hosted at the Community College of Denver, focused on criminal justice issues and, again, the difference in the candidates’ views on the role of the attorney general.
Experience and activism are not partisan issues, Brauchler said following the debate. In speaking before a room filled with students, young voters and criminal defense attorneys, he emphasized his experience and high-profile endorsements — such as those from the Denver Post and La Prensa de Colorado newspapers — rather than his political party. When given the opportunity to ask a question of Weiser, he simply asked how long he had worked in the antitrust division of the Obama administration Department of Justice — nine months.
Weiser likewise pointed to the differences other than their political affiliations and said his campaign is focusing its message on rule of law in the final two weeks. In making a claim that the state needs an attorney general to act as a bulwark against what he said are illegal actions by the federal government, he highlighted other attorney general-led lawsuits against the federal government and the departures of high-level attorneys from the DOJ who quit because they felt they were asked to do something unconstitutional.
During the debate, the candidates were mostly agreeable on topics regarding how the office could support rural prosecutors as well as their commitment to defending legalized marijuana in the state —although Brauchler did specify he would assist federal prosecutors in cracking down on black market marijuana operations that aren’t in compliance with state laws. They both touched on attorney general involvement in federal lawsuits and the influence of dark money in the political race as well. Despite those topics, and the criminal law focus, much of the time was spent on discussing the role of policy in the office.
In response to a question asking whether the candidates would consider joining a lawsuit challenging immigrant family separation at the border, Brauchler emphasized the power of the attorney general within the borders of the state and downplayed the role of other state attorneys general in federal lawsuits.
“The attorney general is defined and limited by the authority that we give the attorney general through our statues our rules and regulations,” Brauchler said. He cautioned against electing an attorney general who would “tilt at every political windmill” for fear of what it would mean for the office for posterity.
Weiser responded by stressing that the federal lawsuits are within the power of the attorney general. “There’s no question under the law our state has standing and the legal ability to have our attorney general go into court and defend the Constitution,” he said.
The candidates again stressed their differences in their stance on policy in closing remarks. Weiser said he would be an attorney general who would represent the state against a federal government that is disregarding the rule of law. And although opposed to the idea of having an activist attorney general, Brauchler suggested he would be a balance to a Democratic governor by warning this November could make the first in his life that the state government would be of all one party.
The candidates will meet again tonight for a debate hosted by the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. | 2019-04-25T02:08:09 | https://lawweekcolorado.com/2018/10/candidates-debate-the-role-of-the-ag/ |
0.999996 | For those that do not know exactly what happened to John we will fill in the blanks.
John was running to Fareway to pick up a couple of things. He was southbound on 9th Street and at the intersection of First Avenue North a vehicle going eastbound ran a stop sign and hit Johns car on the passenger side. John was taken to Trinity Regional in Fort Dodge and assessed with some bleeding on the brain and Beverly was told he would be flown to Des Moines for surgery. He was taken into surgery immediately upon his arrival and was in surgery for close to 7 hours. He had a double subdural hematoma. They basically operated on one side of his brain, then closed it up. Turned him and then operated on his other side and closed it up. He has been in ICU since coming out of surgery. It is a slow process and we look each day for small improvements.
The gentleman that hit John was charged with driving while barred, and aggravated misdemeanor. The state patrol also obtained a search warrant to draw blood for possible driving while under the influence. He appeared in court on Tuesday for the driving while barred charge. Court ordered he be held on $2,000 bond. Car he was driving was not his either. | 2019-04-25T19:57:59 | https://www.caringbridge.org/public/johnmccartney |
0.999752 | As the debate rages on about the Trump administration's horrific policy of separating undocumented parents from their children as they attempt to cross the border between the United States and Mexico, the fight between officials and lawmakers has spilled over onto social media.
One tweet, in particular, from Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen, has served as a flashpoint. She tweeted on Sunday that the DHS doesn't "have a policy of separating families at the border. Period."
But images and videos across social media as well as a plethora of well-reported stories have offered substantial evidence to the contrary, relaying stories and even showing tent cities created for undocumented children separated from their families.
Here are photos of the tent city near El Paso that is housing immigrant children separated from their parents. Photos by @i_p_a_1 for the @TexasTribune.
What's more, journalists and lawmakers made note of previous comments Nielsen has made in defense of the same policy she tweeted doesn't exist.
Nielsen didn't exactly help herself, either, on Monday morning by saying, "We will not apologize for doing out job."
Lawmakers have jumped in, calling out Nielsen and her statement, labeling it a lie, and challenging both the Trump administration and Nielsen to address the growing crisis that is spiraling out of control.
Retract this statement, Madame Secretary.
While it's mostly been Democrats reacting to Nielsen's statement, some Republicans, including former First Lady Laura Bush, have publicly opposed the Trump administration's policy.
As of Monday morning, though, Trump was back on Twitter himself and, though he didn't address Nielsen's comments directly, he did address the issue but in the most horrendous way, continuing to blame Democrats.
We truly live in the worst, darkest timeline. | 2019-04-25T17:57:48 | https://mashable.com/2018/06/18/children-separated-border-kristjen-nielsen/ |
0.991911 | The Solution below shows the Eb minor scale notes, intervals and scale degrees on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.
The Lesson steps then explain how to identify the E-flat minor scale note interval positions, choose the note names, and scale degree names.
This step shows the ascending E-flat natural minor scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. It also shows the scale degree names for all 8 notes.
The E-flat natural minor scale has 6 flats.
This minor scale key is on the Circle of 5ths - Eb minor on circle of 5ths, which means that it is a commonly used minor scale key.
This scale sounds the same as the D# natural minor scale, which is also a commonly used scale. The same notes are played in the same order in each scale - they sound identical. Only the names of the individual notes are different.
For the key signature of this scale, showing these symbols grouped correctly next to the bass or treble clef symbol at the beginning, have a look at the Eb natural minor key signature.
The difference between the E-flat natural minor scale and the Eb major scale is that the 3rd, 6th and 7th note positions of the major scale are lowered by one half-tone / semitone.
So whereas the Eb major scale has notes G, C, D for the 3rd, 6th and 7th notes, these notes are lowered to arrive at notes Gb, Cb, Db for this natural minor scale.
This step shows the descending E-flat natural minor scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.
This step applies the minor scale note interval pattern starting from E-flat, so that the correct piano keys and note pitches can be identified.
What is the difference between the E-flat natural minor scale and the Eb major scale ?
This step shows the notes when descending the E-flat minor scale, going from the highest note sound back to the starting note.
This step shows the E-flat natural minor scale degrees - tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, subtonic, and tonic.
In contrast, the Eb major scale has only one half-tone / semitone separating the 7th and 8th notes, and in this case the seventh note is called the leading note or leading tone, as the 7th note feels like it wants to resolve and finish at the octave note, when all major scale notes are played in sequence.
Both the Eb harmonic minor scale and Eb melodic minor scale scales share the same property - having a leading tone, with the major scale. | 2019-04-20T11:08:14 | https://www.basicmusictheory.com/e-flat-minor-scale |
0.998682 | Is the 767-200 considered a "Heavy" aircraft?
"Heavy" is not a comparative term. It is a call sign addition (i.e., "United 1450 Heavy") used to alert ATC that an aircraft has a gross takeoff weight greater than 255,000 pounds in the USA and greater than 300,000 pounds in some other parts of the world. This is important because of greater ATC separation minimums for heavy aircraft than for lighter ones.
Some of the aircraft capable of carrying the designation "Heavy" are the Boeing 707, 747, 757,767, 777; Airbus A310, A330, A340; the L-1011; DC-8, DC-10, and the MD11.
Don, very interesting. Good info. I wasn't even close.
I didn't think the 757 could be considered one. So it doesn't depend on the aircraft, it depends on the weight of the aircraft?
I'm not an expert on which aircraft sometimes use the "heavy" designation and which do not. I took the list in my previous post from an FAA circular. Not all aircraft that can be "heavy" are for every flight. Depending on passenger, freight, and fuels loads, some may be "heavy" for one flight and not for another. I suspect the 757 may be one of these.
Having spent a bit of time on the 757 I will add that the reason the 757 can use heavy is because of wake turbulence....masses of it! For this reason it can be classed as heavy not due to climb characteristcs etc but due to the WT it creates recommended spacing is as per heavy ac. There are some 757's that are over the 255k limit which makes them heavies anyway this is due to galley configs. | 2019-04-18T21:19:08 | https://forum.flyawaysimulation.com/forum/topic/4956/767/ |
0.965068 | Gros Islet: Australia captain Alex Blackwell led from the front as her side advanced into the Women's World Twenty20 final with a seven-wicket win over India on Thursday.
Blackwell's 61 - her maiden fifty at this level - was the centrepiece of Australia's successful pursuit of a target of 120. Her innings was all the more impressive as Blackwell, only leading the side because wicketkeeper/batsman Jodie Fields withdrew before the tournament with a hamstring injury, came in with the score one for one.
But together with left-handed opener Shelley Nitschke (22), she shared a second-wicket stand of 74 that ended Indian hopes. By the time Blackwell was stumped by Sulakshana Naik off leg-spinner Priyanka Roy, Australia were 101 for three and in sight of victory. Blackwell faced 49 balls, including eight fours.
Leah Poulton, unbeaten on 30, ended the match with seven balls to spare with a boundary. Australia, who lost in last year's semi-final to eventual champions England, will face the winners of Friday's match between the West Indies and New Zealand in Sunday's final at Barbados's Kensington Oval.
Their victory also kept alive hopes of an Australian 'double', with the men's side facing defending champions Pakistan in Friday's semi-final.
Australia's reply get off to a stuttering start, when Elyse Villani was bowled off an under-edge for nought to leave her side one for one. But Nitschke, twice pierced the cover field as she drove left-arm spinner Gouhar Sultana for four.
Blackwell was soon into her stride, with three fours in as many balls from Roy as she took advantage of a trio of full tosses. Australia, thanks to tight bowling and fine fielding, restricted India to 199 for five.
Opener Poonam Raut made 44 off 51 balls, with three boundaries, before she became one of three wickets that fell in the 17th over. Raut put on 57 with Harmanpreet Kaur, the best stand of the innings, before she was run out by bowler Ellyse Perry's quick thinking flick onto the stumps after backing up too far.
That same over also saw Goswami run out for nought by opposing skipper Blackwell's direct hit and next ball Raut was caught by Jess Cameron, running in from long-on.
Amita Sharma, who hit a straight six in the final over to the delight of Indian fans in the crowd, chipped in with 17 runs off 11 balls. Earlier India star's batsman Mithali Raj was drawn out of her crease by experienced Australia spinner Lisa Sthalekar and stumped by Alyssa Healy - the niece of former Australia wicketkeeper Ian.
Ellyse Perry took three wickets and held her nerve in a tense last over as Australia beat New Zealand by just three runs in a thrilling women's World Twenty20 final.
Sara McGlashan saw New Zealand into the final of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 against arch-rivals Australia as her superb innings of 84 set up a 56-run over the West Indies here on Friday.
The West Indies women's team is on a mission to lift the spirits of Caribbean cricket fans following the exit of their male peers from the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 tournament.
Australia captain Alex Blackwell led from the front as her side advanced into the Women's World Twenty20 final with a seven-wicket win over India on Thursday.
West Indies women's all-rounder Stafanie Taylor has issued a rallying cry around the Caribbean for cricket fans to come out in force to support their team in Friday's crucial semi-final showdown with New Zealand in St Lucia.
Indian skipper Jhulan Goswami is confident of stopping the Australian juggernaut when they clash in the first semi-finals of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Thursday.
India defeated Sri Lanka to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament on the last day of fixtures at Warner Park while New Zealand rounded off its group stage of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 with a comfortable victory over Pakistan earlier in the day.
New Zealand pace bowler Nicola Browne led her side's rout of the Pakistan team in the sides' final game of Group B in the ICC Women's World Twenty20 to secure the team top place in the pool.
England secured its first and only victory of the tournament today when it beat South Africa by 56 runs in the first fixture of the day at Warner Park.
Australia secured its place at the top of Group A in the ICC Women's World Twenty20 2010 as it defeated host and fellow semi-final qualifier West Indies in front of a crowd of over 4000 spectators at Warner Park in St Kitts. | 2019-04-19T01:02:27 | http://www.crictotal.com/articles/blackwell-leads-australia-into-womens-fi-4179.php |
0.999999 | Johnson said that schools and universities should expect students to remove face coverings if they turn up "looking like a bank robber".
If Mr Johnson's comments are found to have breached the party code of conduct, he may face a string of punitive measures. His Brexiteer credentials were bolstered when he resigned as foreign secretary in July, accusing May of killing "the Brexit dream" with her plan to seek close economic ties with the bloc after Brexit next year.
'All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them. "On that basis, no apology is required", he wrote, in a letter to the Times. It is, however, a nefarious component of a trendy gateway theology for religious extremism and militant Islam.
"The burqa and niqab are ugly tribal ninja-like garments that are pre-Islamic, non-Koranic and therefore un-Muslim", he wrote in The Times.
But Atkinson, in a letter to The Times, said the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip had just been telling a joke.
Theresa May was 14 points ahead of Jeremy Corbyn, up seven points on last week, on the question of who would make the best prime minister.
"We are not bound by collective responsibility or that type of discipline and it is the wrong approach to party discipline".
Boris Johnson could be told to go on a diversity training course instead of facing more severe sanctions for his comments over Burkas, The Telegraph has learned. What about metaphor or simile?
A Conservative MP has said it is a "very dark day" for United Kingdom democracy and free speech over the independent investigation into Boris Johnson's comments about the burqa.
"I think people are whipping up a little mountain out of a molehill on this one, I really do".
Mr Mitchell, who was chief whip in 2012, told BBC Two's Newsnight: "I don't think he should apologise".
"This is quite an important issue about free speech and it's got nothing to do with the terrible events that take place over Enoch Powell and the Rivers of Blood speech".
He added: "But let's look at what Boris said: he expressed himself in quite colourful language".
The letter also said that Johnson's choice of Islamophobic words was deliberate and "was made to inflame tensions in a way that makes it easier for bigots to justify hate crime against us", adding further support to Tory peer Lord Sheik's request that Johnson lose the party whip, meaning he would no longer represent the party. "We've got to be able to have this debate".
The two men Emery trusts to lead Arsenal's revival Disney Releases New Sneak Peek For "Ralph Breaks The Internet" | 2019-04-21T06:15:32 | http://populationhealthcaucus.com/2018/08/12/newspaper-conservatives-to-investigate-boris-johnsons-burqa/ |
0.99999 | Having over 7 years experience, Rob has a vast knowledge of exercise in various populations ranging from sports performance to exercise rehabilitation.
After spending 4 years at Northumbria University to achieve a BSc in Sports Science and an MSc in Clinical Physiology, Rob treats everyone is an individual when it comes to health and fitness, and understands that a bespoke training plan needs to be used for every client depending on various factors.
Rob enjoys using a number of different exercise methods to help clients reach their goals whilst keeping the workouts enjoyable, goals orientated and progressive.
Angus is a highly qualified Personal Trainer/ S&C (Strength and Conditioning Coach) with a huge amount of experience. Angus started his career out as academy S&C for WRL (Wales Rugby League).
During this time with WRL Angus was S&C for Wales U16's, U18's and U20';s. After two years in this role Angus progressed to assistant academy S&C coach for the Cardiff Blues for a further 2 years.
Over the four years spent working with athletes Angus was also a coach and personal trainer at Dragon Crossfit Cardiff, coaching weightlifting, crossfit, strongman and fitness classes such as HIIT and bootcamp. Alongside this Angus also had personal training clients in which he helped achieve their fitness goals through training and nutrition.
Having taught for 12 years, Rosie utilises her experience to devise programmes that cater for the individual - enabling clients to progress in a measured and sustainable way.
Her focus is on making exercise varied and enjoyable to help clients achieve their personal health and fitness goals, whatever they may be. To further enhance results, Rosie also has extensive knowledge of healthy eating with a wealth of experience in creating ‘clean’ meals and treats to compliment any fitness programme.
Rosie is currently studying to attain the Level 3 qualification in Pre & Post Natal Exercise. As a new mum herself, she was inspired to specialise in this field and is aware of the challenges that clients can face - time, self-image, tiredness to name a few! Having studied extensive new research, Rosie will be able to help clients to train safely whether they are new to exercise or working towards a pre-pregnancy training goal. | 2019-04-19T11:19:32 | http://www.rlukinsfitness.co.uk/coaches-profiles |
0.999325 | I've met quite a few people during my career that seem to fixate on the idea of getting "payback" for "injuries" both real and perceived. I've even been aware of a few instances when such a person successfully managed to take revenge on an enemy.
But more often than not, the attempt backfires, dragging the revenge-seeker, the victim, and often innocent bystanders down, damaging all of their reputations.
While seeking revenge is a fairly natural reaction to being wronged, it has absolutely no place in a business setting. Those seeking revenge are often caught, at least partially because they become so focused on "getting even" that they miss how the entire episode will be perceived once it comes to light. And these schemes almost always seem to come to light, making the instigator looks petty, childish, and untrustworthy.
For example, one of my direct reports -- a vice president of the company -- decided he wanted to "get even" with one of his peers. The original "offense" remained a mystery. Had I ever learned it, I likely would have concluded my revenge-seeking manager should have ignored it and gotten on with his job. Unfortunately, for some reason the man just couldn't allow things to slide. His method of getting even was more clever than most -- he sat back and watched his enemy plan an elaborate customer event (nearly 1,000 people for four days) without offering input or comment. At the last moment, he attempted to undermine the entire event by claiming "we couldn't afford to do it at the planned time," and that "he wasn't consulted."
In particular, the second claim irritated me. This manager had passively sat through two dozen meetings where details of the event were discussed. It was obvious he was "laying in the weeds" waiting for the right moment to embarrass his peer.
They attempt partially worked -- we ultimately delayed the event by a few months. But the instigating manager also appeared petty and stupid. Because all his other peers recognized the motivation behind the behavior, it reduced their willingness to work with the manager. While the man lasted several more years (I was transferred to another job a few months later, giving the guy a "reset" opportunity. Had I stayed, he was definitely on his way out.) he eventually retired early experiencing great stress. Few, if any, mourned his departure.
In another example, I watched as my boss attempted to take revenge on one of his peers. This particular boss was continuously involved in political infighting, and felt this particular peer had interfered with his shot at a key promotion.
The instigator's tactic was to simply criticize everything his target did. The action was well timed -- that particularly business unit was in a cyclical downturn -- and the victim was ultimately fired from his position. Whether the revenge tactics contributed to the executive's demise, is debatable.
Their mutual boss, however, recognized the roll the instigator played in stirring things up, and "rewarded" him by adding the peers responsibilities to his own. Ultimately, the instigator couldn't turn the cyclically down "sow's ear" of a business into a silk purse, and he too was fired.
Everyone recognized the contribution the revenge-seeker's own behavior made to his ultimate demise, and while most of us simply shook our heads the revenge scheme did nothing to enhance his reputation as a professional manager.
I'm sure there have been a few instances where a revenge-seeking employee was able to quietly put his plans in place, undermining or injuring a competitor without others recognizing what was going on. But when it is recognized, when it is plainly obvious what is going one -- which experience convinces me is most of the time -- the revenge-seeker inflicts more injury to himself than to his target.
January 17, 2014 by Tom Spears. | 2019-04-23T16:54:49 | https://tomspears.squarespace.com/corporate-politics/2014/1/17/dragged-down-by-seeking-revenge |
0.999793 | Does anyone know anything about skateboarding? My character is a nineteen-year-old skateboarder with no survival instincts. I'm looking for skateboarding terms and the names of dare devil stunts as well as phrases that such a character might say. Please let me know if it's okay to use any longish phrases that you give me. I'm assuming that short phrases are okay for me to use.
And, if you're a skateboarder, happy skateboarding and stay safe.
I don't know anything about skateboarding, but perhaps viewing some YouTube videos by and about skateboarders will help you get some of the lingo!
I agree with JennKenn's idea of watching videos, and might add watching a movie or two about skateboarding.
If this is for performance, reading some skateboarding-related scripts will you help get the action descriptions clearer and tighter.
I'm finding a few phrases, but it'll take a while before I get this where I want it.
I was going to suggest that you visit a skateboard park to pick up the lingo. But then I remembered that the last time I was there, no one spoke at all. It was totally silent except for the rolling sounds, the occasional scraping of a board on a rail, the chattering of an out-of-control skateboard.
"Rolling sounds, occasional scraping of a board on a rail, the chattering of an out-of-control skateboard" is really good writing.
Thank you to everyone. I got what I wanted, plus an appreciation for skateboarding. I'm using a ninja-kick ollie, a frontside disaster, a double kick-flip (the kick so nice you flip it twice.) and a handstand. | 2019-04-20T17:13:26 | http://boards.barbarasher.com/viewtopic.php?p=261912 |
0.998477 | For the month of March, I didn't come across a cookie that I particularly wanted to make... but I DID find the Magic Cake that looked pretty cool.... so I gave that a shot instead.
... it didn't. So I lost the middle of my cake. But oh well.
In doing further research, after the fact, I saw that many recipes said to make sure your melted butter had cooled before adding it in... I did not, so maybe that was one issue I had.
INSTRUCTIONS1. Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. Grease a 8 inch x 8 inch baking dish.
2. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until light. Add butter and vanilla extract and continue beating for another minute or two after which you can add the flour and mix it in until fully incorporated.
3. Slowly start adding the milk and beat until everything is well mixed together. Add the egg whites, a third at a time and gently fold them in using a spatula, repeat until all egg whites are folded in. Another variation to folding in the egg whites would be to add a third of the egg whites and gently whisk them in to the cake batter, then reverse the process and add a bit of the cake mixture to the egg whites and gently whisk in, repeat until all cake batter has been whisked in.
4. Pour batter into baking dish and bake for 40 to 70 minutes or until the top is lightly golden. The baking time could vary greatly depending on the oven, so take a peek at around 40 minutes and see how it looks.
5. Sprinkle some powdered sugar after cake has cooled.
Great flavor, but too soft in the middle. I may try the lemon one to give that a shot, put foil over it to keep it from browning and leaving it in longer. | 2019-04-24T20:11:16 | http://themoorebabies.blogspot.com/2015/04/ |
0.999998 | I leave home at eight.
She left her bag in [ on ] the train.
She left her bag in the train. | 2019-04-21T02:10:02 | http://maomagyo.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-1132.html |
0.998419 | A stand-alone application is something that does not require any one computer program to open. In the case of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, you would need your computer to have Excel installed on it in order to view its contents. That is, unless you turn it into a stand-alone application. Once you export your file to a very specific file format, it will be able to be opened on any computer running the Windows operating system.
Double-click on your Excel spreadsheet file to open Microsoft Excel on your computer. Excel will then open the spreadsheet file and display its content on-screen.
Click "Save" to turn your Excel spreadsheet document into a stand-alone application. If someone attempts to open the file and does not have Excel installed on their computer, it will open in their Web browser. | 2019-04-20T18:17:19 | https://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7260513_turn-excel-spreadsheet-stand_alone-application.html |
0.999999 | To take the hauntology one first... I think the difference here lies in our different ideas of the status and purpose of hauntology. For me, hauntology is best conceived of not as some political aspiration, but rather as a zeitgeist, something which is already in place and which demands critical commentary (and extrapolative extension). Hauntology is not something that is aimed towards, so much as where we are starting from (the End of History and its escape). Hauntological theory is an attempt, for instance, to account for why the Burial records have captured a mood, a malaise, this decade. The claim is not that hauntology is ultimately preferable to some accelerationist model of culture (although the Burial records are in many respects actually superior to the accelerationist Jungle they spectralise). On the contrary, one of the things that you can hear in hauntology is the spectres of accelerationism itself. To turn Alex's question about the political correlate of hauntology around - what is the cultural equivalent of accelerationism now? It was precisely the lack of any cultural exemplars of accelerationism that led to spectrality in the first place. The paradoxes that Alex refers to are not a problem for hauntology; or rather, the problems they indicate are constitutive of a hauntological moment which makes the only resistance to the nostalgia mode look like a nostalgia for modernism. Hauntology is not, therefore, opposed to accelerationism; rather, it is the only way, at the moment, that culture makes any kind of contact with it. Neither is there any opposition between "the return of modernism" that Alex decries and "the arrival of a new (perhaps, or at the very least) a currently properly unthinkable temporo-cultural episteme" which he calls for. What is modernism if not that which generates a "properly unthinkable temporo-cultural episteme"? Modernism (and Badiou's theory of the event has been characterised as a late arriving philosophy of/ for modernism) can return as a recirculated obsolete style, but it cannot 'return' as the unthinkably novel without puncturing a hole in postmodernity. Certainly, the issue is how can we bring about a break of this sort, which returns us to the question of agency, the central issue in Alex's other new post.
Nick Land needs to be counted as a speculative realist theorist, if only because he provided a version of Deleuze and Guattari evacuated of any "pseudo-biological vitalist ethology" (but also because Metzinger's account of identity as a systemic illusion generated from cybernetic feedback sounds like a detailed elaboration of concepts sketched in texts such as "Meltdown" and "No Future"). Behind all these discussions, of course, is the issue of speculative realism's relationship to politics, if any. (See Speculative Heresy's call for debate on this.) Is there a way of commensurating the necessarily human focus of the political with the nonhuman perspective opened up by SR that will not betray or compromise its fundamental insights? | 2019-04-25T18:05:47 | http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/010782.html |
0.998731 | During your interview, you are inevitably going to be asked about your weaknesses. It’s unlikely that you will be asked straight out, but you should expect the question to come in some form or other.
The first thing to remember when you’re asked this question is that the interviewers know that the perfect candidate does not exist Your interviewer is looking for more than weaknesses in your answer.
Honesty: Nearly everyone takes the same line when answering the weakness question: they use a strength that can be perceived as a weakness – such as being too much of a perfectionist. Hiring managers can see right through this, instead they are looking for someone who can discuss their weaknesses openly and honestly (but you should know how to do this).
Introspection: If you’re unable to come up with a credible weakness or a task that you didn’t perform well, interviewers are going to be slightly suspicious. It shows that you’re either trying to hide something, or that you are unable to properly assess your own work.
Ability to grow: If you have nothing to learn when coming into a new job, employers may worry that you won’t be fulfilled in that job, and that you won’t be happy at the company for very long. Now, sometimes a company will be happy that you have nothing to learn – for example, when they want you to come straight in and perform a specific task – but the majority of companies want long-term employees, in which case weaknesses can be quite positive.
Good presentation: Though companies want you to give an honest assessment of your weaknesses, they will want it to be presented in the right way.
So how should you prepare and present your weaknesses?
I always say to prepare five cases, so that if the interviewer wants to press the subject then you are able to give them some good answers. It also means that you can select the right weaknesses to use on each occasion.
Past: What was your weakness?
Process: What did you do – or what are you doing – to overcome that weakness?
Present: What positive results came out of the work you put into solving your weakness?
Past: When I started my sales career, I was impatient to be out talking to my clients, developing deals and negotiating contracts. I didn’t have the patience to do the admin side of the client relationship management. I avoided crises because I have a good memory, but I eventually realised that my approach was unsustainable and that I needed to keep my CRM up to date.
Process: I had to look at my time management and manage my frustration in order to make dedicated time after every client contract to make notes in the CRM system – notes that were not just clear to me but also to my colleagues.
Present: Now I make sure that I do this every time. It still frustrates me, but I see the value not just to me but also to my business. My clients get a good service and they tell me that is a real positive for them.
With this example: I acknowledge a failing, show why it was a failing not just to me but to the business, showed that I was able to correct or manage a failing, and I kept the example business-focused.
If you take this approach when working up examples of your weaknesses then you will have compelling stories to give your interviewer.
Good luck with your interviews and if you have questions, please let me know. | 2019-04-21T04:17:32 | http://thecareerace.com/episode-52-talking-interviews-the-weakness-question/ |
0.999986 | I was reading about a known retail process that was interesting. However, there are industries I feel it could be uniquely applied to and solve multiple problems.
I googled application of other retail processes and patents and found Priceline, which uses a 'reverse auction' system which has been patented to use in their specific areas.
I was going to take the steps of drafting a provisioning patent application then use SCORE to find a lawyer who would look it over for me before submitting.
How does this sound? Is it worth pursuing?
First, you can't patent a known process in a new area if it's an obvious way to use the known process. For example, you likely couldn't patent a method of providing a supermarket-style self-checkout system in a pet store, because there's no real underlying invention. You're just using the prior art system from a supermarket in a known way, exactly in the way you would expect it to work, just in a slightly different type of shop.
However, if in the process of porting the method into the new field, you have to solve some difficulties, this can support some patentable invention. For example, if you had to adjust the system to allow for puppies without barcodes to be scanned on the self-checkout system in the pet store, this goes beyond an obvious use of the prior art, and becomes potentially a non-obvious invention in its own right.
As to drafting the provisional yourself, I would strongly advise not doing this. If you have an invention you want to protect, then you want to protect it properly, so you need a patent attorney. Doing it yourself will almost certainly result in you not getting a useful patent, because there are far too many snags that can catch you out (and that you may not find out about until years down the track, when it's too late to fix). In this respect, having an attorney review it is more or less a waste of money: they may pick up some things, but it's more likely that they would need to rewrite it anyway. Incidentally, because of this, every firm I've worked for has a policy of refusing to review applications drafted by individuals, since it never ends well (and the income doesn't justify the liability).
I've drafted my own provisionals for years and it didn't pose a problem -- but I'm also a lawyer. Self-drafted provisionals often create problems by accidentally hitting a third rail of patent law, like saying "In one obvious application of this invention...." or "while people have done this using pencil and paper, this invention automates it...."
As for the patentability question, you need to check with your lawyer, as a high level and vague description like you posted may well miss a point of patentability. You should be aware that there are two ways that prior art can be a problem: Obviousness and novelty.
Obviousness asks "knowing what people skilled in the art knew at the time of invention, would it have been obvious to combine other stuff that is well known to create the invention"? If the new use of a known process wouldn't be obvious, you don't have an obviousness problem.
Novelty asks "has this thing existed or been done before"? Normally, something that not novel is also obvious, but there are exceptions -- and this may be one. For example, I can't patent a jet engine that already exists just because I propose we attach it to a boat instead of a jet. Or using a real world example, Amazon's "one click" patent covers keeping somebody logged in and then buying and shipping it based on a single click. If I proposed using the same invention in a car's console to order gas while parked at a gas station, the one click portion would not be novel even though it might not be an obvious use of the one-click invention. Of course, actually implementing it in a gas station might create new twists that are novel and non-obvious, such as where you also determine fuel level and capacity and trigger an automated pump to open the gas cap, extend a fuel line to the car, and fill the car. But the baseline "this already exists, but look, I'm using it in an unexpected way" would normally present a novelty problem (although with processes the new way you use it may be part of the process, so that may get around the novelty issue).
Can a new chemical substance without known application be patented?
Can you patent an existing bacteria without any modifications?
Can you patent something that does not have a patent but is in use?
Can you patent software that uses opencv (the free part)?
Can you sell an item that already has a patent but your product differs in the ability to be customized?
How is the system described novel in any way? It is simply a proxy registration that has been digitzed. | 2019-04-20T06:16:14 | https://patents.stackexchange.com/questions/18909/how-can-you-patent-a-known-process-that-is-used-in-a-unique-way |
0.99904 | Bruno, who has not fought since being knocked out by Mike Tyson in 1996, has been suffering with bipolar disorder in recent years.
However, he told ITV's This Morning: "I've been in the gym all the time, that's why I want to come back into boxing."
Asked if it was a good idea, Bruno replied: "I haven't got a choice."
Bruno, who made his professional debut in 1982, says he returned to the gym to burn off energy and does not like to be "mugged off" when challenged by younger boxers.
"I can't sit down and let these so-called promoters say Anthony Joshua can knock me out in two rounds when I'm not even dead," Bruno added.
However, Bruno later said that his agent had been told by the British Boxing Board of Control that it would not accept his application for a licence. | 2019-04-18T15:16:27 | https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/35461651 |
0.999828 | I shall tackle these questions moving from general to specific. For the general perspective, I examine the following points of view.
1. Economics is a science.
2. Economics is an art.
3. Economics is a competition. 4. Economics is politics.
I then examine specific cases for illustration and debate.
1. Is there a Phillips curve?
3. Does contractionary monetary policy lead to a contraction in output? 4. What causes business cycles?
The general points as well as the specific cases each have their own implication for the central question at hand. Armed with this list of implications, I shall then attempt to draw a summary conclusion and provide an overall answer. | 2019-04-21T15:02:44 | https://cms.ineteconomics.org/research/research-papers/how-empirical-evidence-does-or-does-not-influence-economic-thinking-and-theory |
0.999999 | I have finished writing the ''Transmission of the Kalachakra Dharma'' and the ''Great Empowerment of Kalachakra.'' Next I should write about the ''Kalachakra Yoga Sadhana.'' One must receive the empowerment in order to cultivate this dharma.
I received the transmission of this empowerment personally from Guru Sakya Zheng-kong. I also received the empowerment and blessings from Guru Thubten Dargye.
That year Guru Sakya Zheng-kong noticed that I merged ''emptiness'' with ''awareness'' while cultivating ''Kalachakra Dharma.'' The Master told me ''This practice of yours is absolutely perfect. Only the most advanced practitioner would be able to practice in this way. I am delighted at your profound realization of this dharma. I know that only a good cultivator is able to reach this advanced level of enlightenment. I am proud of being your teacher of this practice. In the future, you will definitely have the ability to turn the great dharma wheel of Kalachakra.
In regard to Guru Thubten Dargye, he knew that in the future I would transmit the ''Simhamukha Dharma'' and ''Kalachakra Dharma,'' so he immediately and personally mailed to me these two deities' images which had been previously blessed by him. At the same time, through the void, he bestowed on me the blessing empowerment to protect and support me in spreading this dharma.
One can see that ''Kalachakra Dharma'' is the highest, the supreme, and the most wonderful dharma in the Vajrayana.
Generate bodhicitta and recite, ''I pray to the uncommon Kalachakra. Via the supreme bliss of the ten directions and three times and the dance of emptiness, please manifest the undertakings of loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, so that sentient beings will embrace and follow him, and thereafter be reborn in the Shambhala Buddha Land.
First visualize emptiness. From the void the seed syllable ''Hum'' appears atop the time wheel. The seed syllable transforms into the five elements of ''Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Emptiness'' with Mount Sumeru in the center. On the peak of Mount Sumeru a large lotus appears with a sun-moon disc in the center. Above the disc, Kalachakra emerges embracing his Buddha Mother.
Visualize Kalachakra and his Buddha Mother unified in a standing position. Kalachakra tramples Mahesvara and Mahasvara's consort with both feet. Kalachakra has four faces. His center face is blue in color; right face, red; back face, yellow; and left face, white. He holds a dharma instrument in each of his 24 hands. Kalachakra's Buddha Mother is naked. The Buddha Father and Buddha Mother each have three eyes.
Visualize that the topknot of the Buddha Father is adorned with a vajra scepter. He wears a tiger skirt embellished with pearls and jewels, which dignifies Kalachakra.
Visualize ''Om'' in Kalachakra's brow chakra, ''Ah'' in Kalachakra's throat chakra, and ''Hum'' in Kalachakra's heart chakra. One then visualizes the ''10 Syllable Mantra'' emerging from Kalachakra's heart chakra and forming a mantra wheel.
Entering of the Deity into Oneself, Release of Oneself into the Cosmic Consciousness and Entering Kalachakra's Samadhi.
Tender the Great Homage with Visualization. Exit the shrine. May all endeavors be auspicious. | 2019-04-19T10:42:00 | http://tbsn.org/english2/article.php?id=1267 |
0.99851 | Q: "Is it OK to exercise while I'm pregnant? What types of exercise are OK, and what precautions should I take?"
Exercise strengthens muscles and builds endurance, both of which are helpful during labor.
Studies show that exercise helps reduce backaches, a common complaint during pregnancy.
Exercise helps reduce constipation, another side effect of pregnancy.
It reduces the ankle swelling and bloating that are common during pregnancy.
It can increase your energy level and reduce that run-down feeling that many women experience during the later stages of pregnancy.
Some studies show that exercise reduces the risk of postpartum depression.
It helps you sleep better, especially toward the end of a pregnancy when it's hard to get comfortable.
Studies suggest that exercise may help prevent or treat gestational diabetes.
Last but not least, exercising throughout pregnancy makes it significantly easier to get back into shape afterwards.
Get your OB's OK. It's very important to talk with your obstetrician before starting a new exercise program or continuing your usual routine. Every pregnancy is different, and your doctor can tell you if there are any special precautions you should take based on your own personal pregnancy and health history. If you are severely underweight, have high blood pressure or have a history of pre-term labor, or if your fetus is not growing as expected, your doctor will most likely advise you not to exercise during your pregnancy.
Are you new to exercise? Start with baby steps. If you weren't much of an exerciser before, this is a good time to start, for all the reasons just mentioned. Begin very slowly and gently, easing into it with five minutes of walking daily. Increase your time gradually, letting your body's energy level be your guide. A good goal to shoot for is 30 minutes of moderate, low-impact activity on most days of the week.
Are you a seasoned athlete? Keep it up. If you are accustomed to vigorous exercise and your obstetrician has given you the green light to continue, it's generally fine to keep up your usual pace as long as you feel up to it. If you feel more fatigued than usual, take the pace down a notch.
Take a timeout from contact sports and risky activities. Avoid contact sports such as basketball, soccer and hockey, which could put you at risk for a blow to the belly. The same goes for activities that raise the risk of falling, such as horseback riding and downhill skiing. And if you are an adrenaline junky, take a break from risky activities — now is not the time for scuba diving, skydiving and bungee jumping.
Feeling too big and bulky for exercise? Head for the pool. Many women find swimming and water aerobics to be the most comfortable way to exercise while pregnant, especially in those last, heavy months. The water takes the weight of the baby off of your back and legs for a while, letting you move more freely for a good workout.
Be aware of relaxing while exercising. When you are pregnant, your body releases more relaxin, a hormone that, just as it sounds, relaxes certain muscles to prepare you for childbirth. In many women, it loosens the ligaments and joints, too, which can increase the risk of injuries during exercise. Be aware of this, and go a little gentler on your joints.
With your OB's OK, try your best to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Exercise will help with your delivery and will improve the way you feel throughout your pregnancy. And when you keep it up afterward, you'll not only be a healthier, more energetic mom — you'll set a wonderful example for your child. | 2019-04-19T06:17:27 | https://healthplans.providence.org/fittogether/find-your-fit/manage-health-conditions/pregnancy/exercising-when-youre-expecting/ |
0.999991 | Consider these questions: How could a man, born of woman, have divine qualities unless at least one of his parents was divine also? How could a man, born of woman, have power on death, if death had always been part of human nature? The answer to these questions lies in understanding the real Fatherhood of Jesus.
As Christians, we believe that Jesus is "the Son of God." But what does that really mean? Furthermore, the scriptures tell us that Adam was also "the son of God" (Luke 3:38) in a literal, genealogical, biological sense. But more than that, they are the only two persons whom the scripture refer to them by this title. Why?
Before we look at the answer to those questions, let me quote to you from "The Chemistry of the blood" by M.R. De Haans, pages 31 and 32: "It is now definitely known that the blood which flows in an unborn babe's arteries and veins is not derived from the mother but is produced within the body of the fetus itself only after the introduction of the male sperm. An unfertilized ovum can never develop blood since the female egg does not by itself contain the element essential for the production of the blood. It is only after the male element has entered the ovum that blood can develop.... the male element has added life to the egg.....Since there is no life in the egg until the male sperm units with it, and the life is in the blood, it follows that the male sperm is the source of the blood."
We know that if a fertile hen's egg is put in an incubator for several days, tiny veins of blood will begin to form inside of it. However, that is not true of an infertile egg, showing that blood can only be produced by the male sperm. We know that Jesus had blood in His body, therefore, there must have had a male sperm present to produce this condition.
source of our death as well.
I believe that Jesus had the same kind of blood which Adam had in the garden before he became sinful. Why do I say that? Since blood is the life of the body, in the beginning, Adam was very much alive, and, until he sinned, he would have lived eternally. When he committed sin, his body became "corruptible" and became subject to death (see 1 Cor. 15:53,54). Since blood is the life of the flesh, and sin produces death, that means, that sin must have corrupted the blood of Adam to the point that it no longer had the power to sustain life forever.
Christ's body was like Adam's body in the garden of Eden, before he transgressed. It was a perfect body. Adam's body only became mortal after he fell from righteousness, thereby sinning and introducing death into the world.
In order for that to happen, His blood had to come from a pure, incorruptible source. Furthermore, to keep his blood from being corrupted, He would also have had to have live a sinless life. The source of that pure blood which Jesus had could only have come from one person - God. And that's where Adam first received his blood. That is why both Adam and Jesus are literal sons of God!
As a side note, I use the term "blood" in a generic sense. The pure blood of God obviously is not the same substance as what we have flowing in our body right now. However, even though it is different, I don't know what else to call it. Therefore, I use the term "blood" when referring to both kinds of substances.
It was necessary for Jesus to be conceived by a perfect Father in order for Him to have the ability to atone for our sins. Is there scriptural proof of this? When Jesus asked His disciple "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? Peter answered: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13) Jesus answered Peter by saying that this knowledge was revealed to him by "my Father which is in heaven." Notice that Jesus never claimed that He was the son of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost was just the means by which Mary was able to stay in the presence of God. Jesus clearly wanted His disciples to know who His real Father was, and that wasn't Joseph from Nazareth.
Psalm 2:7 Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5 use the word GENERATED not created..
On another occasion, "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?" (John 14:8-9).
When the Jesus declared that He was the "Son of God" He meant that in a very literal, biological way. Mary was His mother, but His Father was God Himself.
28 [Is] this man Coniah a despised broken idol? [is he] a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man [that] shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
With that understanding, let's take a look at what happened in the garden of Gethsemane. It was in the garden of Eden that man first lost his eternal and spiritual life. That's where he fell from his standing with God. It was in the garden of Gethsemane that man regained his eternal and spiritual life and had the opportunity to regain his standing with God. But how was this accomplished?
allowed himself to take upon Himself our sins. So great was this pain, that the scriptures tell us that Jesus became "sore amazed" and that his soul became EXCEEDINGLY sorrowful, even unto death. It was in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus became our substitute, or scapegoat for sin. It was there he was readied to become our sacrificial lamb. (for a more in-depth study of this subject, read "The Garden of Gethsemane" at Why Jesus had to shed His own blood?
The name Gethsemane in Hebrew means "oil press". The olive tree was often used as a symbol for the house of Israel and oil from the olive was often used as a symbol of sanctification. The blood of Jesus was perfect and it was pure! As Christ took upon Himself our sins, blood came out of every pore of His body. It was as though He was in an oil press being crushed by sin. And as His pure blood was squeezed out of him, it was as though it was purifying and sanctifying all of creation.
After Jesus had taken upon Himself the sins of the world, another terrible thing happened to Him. For the first time in His mortal life, He became spiritually separated from God, just as Adam was. But why? Because God can't tolerate sin even in the least degree. AS Jesus hung on the cross, spiritually He was like all other mortal men. Although He personally dad never sinned, yet, He made a conscious decision to take our sins upon Him so that He could ransom the rest of us from our sins. But when He did that, He too became separated from God, just like the rest of us.
It is difficult for us to fully comprehend what this meant to Jesus. Jesus not only allowed His physical body to die, but He also partook of spiritual death as well. Although He was sinless, yet He willingly took upon Himself the nature of fallen man.
To complete the atonement, Jesus had to die, just like the rest of us. If He didn't he would not have been able to open the gates of hell and bring to pass the resurrection for all of mankind. And if that had not happened, we would all remain imprisoned in hell throughout eternity.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:22-26).
According to the words of Peter, while Jesus was in the grave, "he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.. For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." 1 Peter 3:19,4:6).
On the morning of the first day of week after the death of Jesus, Mary Magdalene went to the gravesite and there discovered the risen Christ. When she went to embrace Him, He said to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:17).
None of this would have been possible if Jesus was the son of mortal parents. Had that been the case, He would have died forever, just like the rest of us. But because He was the son of a mortal mother and an immortal Father, Jesus not only had the power to live forever Himself, but He also had the power to help us live forever with Him.
John 16:7-14: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."
When Jesus was baptized the Father and the Holy Ghost were his special witnesses and according to the Book of Mormon all of them will give mankind a special testimony of the truth, in fact we have to pray the Father, in the Name of Jesus to receive the answer. All the witness are involved, the son is the mediator and the Father giving the Holy Ghost is witnessing that his request was granted by the special witness promised. | 2019-04-19T00:46:50 | http://www.docbible.net/doctrine/122-the-fatherhood-of-jesus-christ |
0.999999 | Why would "Sono pronto" be the only correct answer? Aren't the others at least possible sentences grammatically?
There's always "sono pronta", if I'm a woman.
Again confusion arises from Duolingo's practice of attaching a comment to a sentence, etc., when it reappears in another context. What I commented on was this same sentence in a multiple choice format, where one or more of several translations could have been correct. However, my comment now follows the sentence wherever it goes. I think it is a flaw in the program that should be corrected.
There is an early quiz: "Sono pronta" which Duolingo translates as "I am ready". So why does this use: "Io sono pronto" use "pronto" instead of the aforementioned "pronta" with an "A"??
Pronto is a man speaking about himself, pronta is a woman. If you're translating from English, either should be correct.
"Sono a posto" is also a possible answer. | 2019-04-26T05:47:19 | https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/178973/I-am-ready |
0.999853 | After that organic food 'experience', my junk food craving came to haunt me again. So I decided to make love, not war - at Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta in e'X and get meself some ol' burger and coke.
-> The most generous ration of coke in town. Felt like bottomless.
-> (Description from the menu) Famous the world over: ten ounces of fresh certified Angus Beef, topped with seasoned bacon, two slices of cheddar cheese, and a crisp fried onion ring.
A little erratum: It should be beef bacon since Indonesian HRC serve halal food only.
What can I say? This burger is too huge, even for someone with big appetite. The beef is good, succulent, and should be ordered medium-well for that extra moisture. To be honest, 10 ounces (that's close to 300 grams for you metric folks) is a tad too much for me. I ended up leaving one of the patties uneaten.
Anyhoot, the only downside of dining alone in Jakarta's HRC is that you have to deal with those super-friendly, super-amiable, corny wisecracking waiter dudes - alone. Indonesians are weird in the sense that someone having lunch alone is a rarity, especially on weekends. In other countries, I eat lunch all by myself all the time. But in Indonesia, when you do that, people will ask "where's your date? where's your friend? are you all alone?"
Just bring the food and shut up, will ya.
Yg di Mulia, Edogin? bole juga sih itu. But Hyatt's Sumire is better. Yes, sushi tei is the only decent sushi restaurant in Jakarta. Of course, there are others, but sushi tei is the best among the CHEAPer ones. And also, sushi tei kan rame, jadinya fresh lah ikan nya.
Dari jaman bahuela, di Jakarta, yang namanya restoran Jepang paling top (and expensive) itu cuma 3: Sumire (Hyatt), Shima (Aryaduta), Nadaman (Shangri-la).
It's nowhere near Nobu's or Tetsuya's, but untuk ukuran jakarta ini udah mahal bgt. And of course, the service (especially Sumire & Nadaman) is top-notch. | 2019-04-25T02:01:53 | http://eatlikeacow.blogspot.com/2008/03/hard-rock-cafe-plaza-indonesia-ex.html |
0.997852 | From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Malcolm X ( May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965), born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz was an African-American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist.To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. His detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism, and violence. He has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history, and in 1998, Time named The Autobiography of Malcolm X one of the ten most influential nonfiction books of the 20th century. Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska. The events of his childhood, including his father's lessons concerning black pride and self-reliance, and his own experiences concerning race played a significant role in Malcolm X's adult life. By the time he was thirteen, his father had died and his mother had been committed to a mental hospital. After living in a series of foster homes, Malcolm X became involved in a number of criminal activities in Boston and New York City. In 1946, Malcolm X was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison. While in prison, Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam, and after his parole in 1952 he became one of the Nation's leaders and chief spokesmen. For nearly a dozen years he was the public face of the controversial group. Tension between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam, led to Malcolm X's quitting the organization in March 1964. He subsequently traveled extensively throughout Africa and the Middle East and founded Muslim Mosque, Inc., a religious organization, and the secular Organization of Afro-American Unity, which advocated Pan-Africanism. Less than a year after he left the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X was assassinated by three members of the group while giving a speech in New York. The beliefs expressed by Malcolm X changed during his lifetime. As a spokesman for the Nation of Islam he taught black supremacy and deified the leaders of the organization. He also advocated the separation of black and white Americans, which put him at odds with the civil rights movement, which was working towards integration. After he left the Nation of Islam in 1964, Malcolm X became a Sunni Muslim, made the pilgrimage to Mecca and disavowed racism, while remaining a champion of black self-determination, self defense, and human rights. He expressed a willingness to work with civil rights leaders and described his previous position with the Nation of Islam as that of a "zombie". Description above from the Wikipedia article Malcolm X, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. | 2019-04-22T08:21:57 | https://hddvdfreak.com/people/19742-malcolm-x |
0.998759 | Assess value of land, building, structures, machinery, equipment and property improvements for purposes of taxation, grants and regional planning.
Classify the property by type, and determine the taxable status of the property.
Review and analyze data such as past sales, title searches, engineering and alignment maps, soil maps, subdivision plans, water and sewer plans, leasing cost data and easements.
Advise and consul in a specific field of assessment such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, or farm lands.
Collect and analyze financial records of a business, such as financial statements, budgets, projections and sales data, to assess its competitiveness or to estimate its market value.
Appear as an expert witness before courts, security regulators and other regulatory boards and commissions.
Explain the assessment process to ratepayers.
Who Employs Real Property Assessors?
Assessors may be employed by government agencies, real estate firms and other private companies; or they may be self-employed.
Property assessment and appraisal are multidisciplinary vocations centered on the study and valuation of land, businesses, estates and other real property for the purpose of ad valorem taxation.
Both mass appraisal and real property assessment require specialized skills in valuation, in addition to focused study in finance, urban land economics, real property law, statistics, and building construction.
The educational requirements for AAOM accreditation reflect current industry standards for real property appraisal.
What distinguishes Real Property Assessment as a profession?
To become an accredited assessor in Manitoba, a combination of experience, education, and adherence to a professional code of conduct is required. | 2019-04-18T22:36:21 | http://aaom.mb.ca/assessment-as-a-profession-or-calling/ |
0.999131 | Information/meaning doesn't only come from words?
I was listening to 'Private Passions' on Radio 3 at lunchtime today, and Martin Rowson, The Guardian's political cartoonist, was laying in to Bob Dylan, saying how useless he is as a poet. I like Dylan, though you can't argue that if you read the words as poetry disconnected from the music and the associations of the music, the zeitgeist, the context, if you read it like that, then it's not up there with the all-time great poetry. But, it wasn't written like that, it could not be written like that. The words, the music and the context are all of a piece.
This also links into the issue of information and meaning conveyed by music. In the discussions at an internal seminar exploring 'The Nature of Information' that we had at the OU last October, one of the contributors commented that we were only addressing information in words - written or spoken - and queried whether we should also consider our other senses, such as smell. This also links to elements in 'What good are the arts' by John Carey. But this is for another day. | 2019-04-18T15:10:40 | http://www.intropy.co.uk/2008/02/musical-information-context-again.html |
0.999987 | Generate fresh ideas with lateral thinking, perspective shifts and concept ‘porting.’ Also, try reading contrarian content.
Where do you turn when the creative muse is nowhere to be found?
Inspiration/insight is the stage at which new ideas are created. Ideas, however, rarely occur in a vacuum—even with extensive preparation. As in the formation of crystals, ideas must be anchored to something to flourish.
Lateral thinking is making a mental leap to a related concept, action or goal.
To spur this technique, look at objects or objectives with similar patterns of activity or growth. Is there anything that resembles what you’re trying to accomplish? What’s conceptually close to your goal?
Consider social media and writing headlines. What happens one step before or after the core headline? What impact will the tweet or post have on the reader? What will they miss out on if they don’t read it?
What can you describe about the structure of the idea without giving it away in the headline?
Suppose we want to promote our company’s product launch. What does our product do? Take one step back from our solution: What’s the core problem our product solves? How do we then transform that problem into a compelling headline?
That’s an example of lateral thinking.
Imagine, for example, that you’re brainstorming for store layouts and you hit a mental wall. Don your secret shopper disguise and visit your own stores, your competitor’s stores and unrelated industry stores to see how they do things. Experience the perspective of a customer.
Seeking out different cultural perspectives can be helpful, too. If possible, travel to stores that label their goods in languages you don’t speak. Use that shift in perspective to spark new ideas.
What cues are universal in website design, for example, that help you navigate popular websites in other languages? Look at Asahi Shimbun or Al-Arabiya. Can you figure out how to navigate those sites without English clues?
A more sophisticated way to approach perspective shift is to use media monitoring tools to scan articles written by journalists who cover your industry. What do they write about? What language do they use? How can you incorporate their language?
For example, industry insiders might talk about SKUs, whereas consumers and journalists simply say products. By shifting perspective, you can create ideas and content that reflects how your audience thinks.
Porting involves translating a computer program from one language, such as PHP, to another language, such as Ruby. Concept porting is about taking great ideas from one area of expertise and translating it effectively into another.
For example, I write frequently on my personal blog about how World of Warcraft’s concepts apply to marketing. I wrote recently about how marketing has cooldowns just as player abilities have cooldowns. There’s a tremendous amount of crossover if you can see how the syntax changes but the core idea remains the same.
Take concepts from things you’re already expert in—things you love beyond work—and see whether they apply in a different realm.
Social media platforms enable us to see, hear and read only the things we agree with. Staying within a bubble limits creativity. Subscribe to content that contains strong opposing points of view, personally and professionally. See what “the other side” is saying, and use your reactions as starting points for new ideas.
For example, there’s a person in the digital marketing industry whose opinions and methods I vehemently oppose. I dislike nearly everything about this person’s work, but I stay subscribed to their content because my reactions generate energy and passion. That creates momentum, which I often redirect into creating content about what I believe to be the “right” way, or at least a better way, of accomplishing certain digital marketing tasks.
Who in your industry writes the most inflammatory articles? Which journalist is always the skeptic? Subscribe to them, listen to them, read them, and use their ideas as fuel. Find your own “hot button” people to read and follow, and you’ll never lack ideas.
Christopher S. Penn is Shift Communications’ vice president of marketing technology. A version of this post first appeared on the Shift Communications blog. | 2019-04-18T20:23:00 | https://www.ragan.com/4-methods-to-jolt-communications-creativity/ |
0.999579 | Review: Last May, Marvel’s The Avengers roared onto screens around the world becoming the crown jewel of a tent pole franchise that Marvel Studios has been carefully planning for quite some time. If everyone’s being totally honest the thanks should go to Iron Man and Iron Man 2, films which bore the weight of lofty expectations while other Avengers-themed material got underway. Though subsequent films like Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor did solid box office, they couldn’t hold a candle to the kind of money that the Iron Man films brought in. Of course, when Marvel’s The Avengers was released it set box office records a blaze, becoming the first film to gross over 200 million dollars in its opening weekend.
Now it’s a year later and Phase II of Marvel’s film series begins with Iron Man 3 and if this is any indication on what’s to come with Thor: The Dark World releasing in November and Captain America: The Winter Soldier releasing in 2014…it will be nothing but blue skies from now on for fans of these superhero films.
A lot has changed in a year for our Iron Man, aka Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) as he battles nightmares and paranoia brought on by the events that took place in Marvel’s The Avengers. (This is a case where having some knowledge of the previous films is nearly required to get the most out of the story that Iron Man 3 is putting forth.) While his relationship with his former assistant now CEO Pepper Potts (Paltrow) has moved forward, he struggles with being vulnerable in the face of protecting the one he clearly loves.
Opening with a brief flashback to 1999 where we meet Aldrich Killian (Pearce, Lawless) and Maya Hansen (Hall, The Awakening), the film lays a groundwork for a plot of revenge that will take our hero on a difficult journey of redemption as makes a personal mission to take down a terrorist called The Mandarin (Kingsley, The Dictator, in a role that provides several nicely unexpected twists).
Revealing anything more would spoil some of the surprises that new director/screenwriter Shane Black has in store for audiences. Working with Drew Pearce, Black skillfully takes everything that we know about Stark from the previous films and gives the character a hefty shove forward into uncomfortable territory – and it works quite well. Black first came to attention by penning such hardscrabble action films like Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Long Kiss Goodnight (not to mention The Monster Squad) so he feels at home with melding the action-comedy genre to fit Downey Jr’s talents (the two previously worked together on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). Like Iron Man 2, having less screenwriters makes the film feel like it’s one voice rather than many that are bringing ideas forth to keep our characters growing and evolving.
What I enjoyed about this film (and all of Iron Man’s appearances on the big screen) is how willing everyone is to let Tony Stark be as irascible as possible. His relationship with a fatherless boy (Simpkins in one of the better child performances lately) in the films mid-section is refreshingly off-the-cuff and very in line with how Stark would relate to an adult that crossed his path the way this kid does. That’s what makes Downey Jr. so perfect for this role – he’s able to make an unlikable character very likable without making sacrifices.
Iron Man 3 marks a turning point for Paltrow’s character as well – it appears that someone finally took note that Paltrow can do more than just play the straight-woman to Stark’s childish behavior because her role is amped up here to good effect. Pearce looks mighty buff in the arms but old in the face and is a nicely smarmy villain. Hall is, unfortunately, typically bland and Cheadle does the most with what is still a sadly underwritten role. Director of the first two installments, Favreau literally sits this one out as his character (looking like a meatball in a too-small suit) is laid up for most of the film. Nice turns from James Badge Dale and Stephanie Szostak as fiery henchman top off a decidedly eclectic cast.
What sometimes bothered me about the movie is that we all know by now that Iron Man has some friends in super places yet no one shows up to help him out as he goes through a particularly rough patch (spoiler alert: Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t appear in this one as Nick Fury). I kept waiting for someone to pop in and lend a hand but as the movie has a theme of isolation it winds up working well that Stark has to go it alone.
Though it can’t match Marvel’s The Avengers for sheer jaw-dropping action sequences, it comes close with a finale set on an abandoned oil dock that seems right out of a Lethal Weapon movie. Wildly ambitious and easy to follow, it’s quite overwhelming…especially in 3D which for the rest of the film doesn’t add much to the proceedings or your ticket value. What it does add is parting excitement as you leave the theater because the way that things are left the movie can go in any number of different ways. With a Captain American and Thor movie set for release before the next Avengers movie in 2015, who knows if we’ll see Tony Stark again for a few years…but based on the series famous end credits of cameos (this is no exception…please stay until the end) I bet Stark will pop in again soon. | 2019-04-20T10:47:01 | https://joethemnmovieman.com/2013/05/06/movie-review-iron-man-3/ |
0.999999 | Context. Rosetta is the cornerstone mission of ESA devoted to the study of minor bodies of the Solar System. During its journey to the comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the main target, Rosetta also investigates two main belt asteroids, 2867 Steins (fly-by in September 2008) and 21 Lutetia (fly-by in July 2010).
Aims. In Spring 2008, we performed a broad observational campaign in order to complete the ground-based photometric and spectroscopic investigation of Steins. Before the Rosetta fly-by, this was the last opportunity to perform ground-based observations useful for calibrating properly the imaging and spectroscopic data obtained by the instruments on board the Rosetta spacecraft.
Methods. Visible photometry was carried out at a wide range of phase angles, and visible spectra were acquired at different rotational phases to retrieve information about the absolute magnitude and surface properties.
Results. The lightcurve was completely sampled in V and R bands. A rotational period of h and color index mag were computed. We investigate Steins' phase relation over the range between 3.3 and 42 degrees in solar phase angle. The opposition effect is not evident down to the phase angle of 3 degrees, as is typical of other E-type asteroids. Assuming for Steins an opposition surge similar to that of other E-type asteroids, we calculated an absolute magnitude , and slope parameter . Eight visible spectra, obtained at different rotational phases, exhibit similar behavior, confirming a homogeneous composition of the asteroid surface and the E[II] classification. All spectra display a spectral feature centered on about 0.49 μm that is typical of E-type asteroids and usually attributed to the presence of sulfides (e.g. oldhamite). A tentative model of the surface composition is presented.
Based on observations carried out at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, La Palma, Spain (AOT17/08A Programme TAC_28). | 2019-04-24T18:07:00 | https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2009/06/aa11340-08/aa11340-08.html |
0.996207 | A cylindrical gear ring assembly is provided for use as a decorative wearable ornamental device useable as a ring or other piece of jewelry, a toy, and a therapy tool, and more specifically to a ring with a rotatable mechanism comprising movable cylinders which rotate against gear mechanisms and method of using the same.
1. A device comprising a cylindrical ring assembly comprising a central axis and an inner diameter that is substantially smooth with holes for accepting a fastening mechanism; the cylindrical ring assembly further comprising a first side of a larger diameter than a second side so that the larger diameter first side fits firmly on top of the second side creating an integrated single unit; the first and second sides each comprising an annular lip extending perpendicular to an outer surface of the cylindrical ring assembly; a first and second outer annular gear wheel of a larger diameter than the cylindrical ring assembly adjacent to the outer surface of the cylindrical ring assembly and held in position by the annular lips of the first and second sides; the first and second annular gear wheels comprising a plurality of teeth facing inward across the outer surface of the cylindrical ring assembly; and, a plurality of drive gear mechanisms with a plurality of gear teeth capable of engaging the first and second outer annular gear wheels where the gears turn in unison when either the first or second outer gear wheel is rotated.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the teeth comprise cogs, notches, fingers, and cylinders.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the gear drive mechanisms comprise wheels and pinions, rack and pinion gears, ring gears, planetary gears, master and servant gears, noncircular gears, face gears, internal and external gears, helical gears, worm gears, bevel gears, non-circular gear rack, internal gears, and sprockets.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device material comprises a precious metal.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device material comprises gold, silver, platinum, minerals, precious or non-precious gem stones, alloys, stainless steel, brass, tin, aluminum, plastic, resin, PVC, polypropylene, and polycarbonate.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a ring.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a piece of jewelry, a piece of body art, a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, a charm, and a broach.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a toy.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used for maintaining, exercising, or improving motor or cognitive skills.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used as a portable relaxation aid.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used as a part of a therapeutic treatment.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used as an educational tool.
13. A method of therapy for improving or maintaining motor or cognitive skills by using a wearable gear assembly device as a tool for improving or maintaining manual dexterity comprising the following steps: placing the gear assembly device on a finger; using a finger to rotatably manipulate a first or a second annular gear wheel; and, visualizing or feeling the movement of the first and second annular gear wheel in relation to a plurality of drive gear mechanisms.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method is used as part of a relaxation program.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method is used as part of an educational program.
16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method is used to lessen anxiety, anger, stress, and other emotions.
17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method is used for amusement.
This invention claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/342,459 which was filed Apr. 14, 2010, entitled ROTATING EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT AND THERAPEUTIC DEVICE, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The invention relates generally to a decorative wearable ornamental device useable as a ring or other piece of jewelry, a toy, and a therapy tool, and more specifically to a ring with a rotatable mechanism comprising movable cylinders which rotate against gear mechanisms and method of using the same.
The present invention relates generally to jewelry or decorative wearable items or educational toys or physical or mental therapy tools, and more particularly to a combination of cylindrical rings which readily rotate against a variety of gear mechanisms. Although the prior art teaches many devices for use as decorative jewelry, all of these teachings demonstrate limitations that the present invention addresses and overcomes.
Toys, jewelry, wearable items, educational toys, physical or mental therapy tools, and other tools with rotation features are well known in the art. Gear assemblies with a plurality of mechanisms have many uses as toys or other tools for improving many devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,269 to Fischer describes a wheel capable of transmitting motion through friction as it contacts a second rotary element for use in devices such as toys. This allows for the construction of toys where the accuracy of gear transmission is not necessary in order to keep construction and manufacturing costs down. However, this invention is not well suited to use as a ring or piece of wearable jewelry as it teaches motion transmission for the purpose of performing work to drive a gear shaft. Also, there is no teaching that this mechanism may have use for mental stimulation or therapy purposes.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,031 to Sahler uses a ring gear assembly as part of a toy used for amusement and educational purposes. The device is purportedly useful as an educational tool for teaching the relationship between a ring gear and a drive gear to demonstrate rotational motion. However, this invention also has limitations that would restrict its use as a piece of wearable jewelry or as an easily portable therapy device. This device requires the gear mechanisms to be mounted to a board in a specific relationship to each other. Therefore, it is not wearable or portable by design.
Despite the prior art, there is still a need for additional entertaining devices which utilize rotation elements to produce movement. An additional need exists for devices that teach basic mechanical associations such as a gear and cog mechanism to promote education in the science and engineering fields in a simple and engaging manor. There is also a need for wearable devices designed as a physical therapy tool to help improve or maintain fine motor function as people age or otherwise begin to lose or have lost "normal mental/motor function." Another need exists for wearable movable devices that are helpful with the relief of stress or anxiety such as for people affected by obsessive compulsive disorder or attention deficit disorder. An additional rehabilitative need exists for a device that may improve or maintain cognitive function for individuals who have declining cognitive states whether from natural causes, brain injury, or disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Finally, there is always a need for decorative wearable jewelry capable of identification of marriage or other social status that is visually pleasing, movable, enjoyable to wear and distinctive.
Accordingly, the present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a geared ring assembly including a first geared ring component and a second geared ring component that revolve in opposite directions when an assembly is manipulated. The other rotating assembly is driven in the opposite direction by a drive spur gear that lies between and makes contact with the ring assemblies along an inner annular surface designed to be worn on a finger like a decorative piece of jewelry. Accordingly it is a primary object of the invention to provide a new interactive and educational gear assembly device capable of demonstrating basic mechanical movements that may be worn on an appendage as a piece of decorative art.
Consequently, the following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as to preclude the more detailed description that is presented later.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device useable as a decorative cylindrical ring assembly comprising first and second gear wheels capable of rotating in opposite directions across a plurality of gear mechanisms when manipulated.
It is another object of the invention to provide a toy gear assembly in the form of a wearable piece of jewelry.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device for exercising and improving fine motor and cognitive skills.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a toy gear assembly comprising a base assembly on which an inner gear engages outer cogwheels that rotate in opposite directions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a therapeutic treatment for stress or anxiety.
An even further object of the invention is to provide an educational tool for a mechanical rotational motion.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of maintaining or improving motor or cognitive skills by manipulating a rotatable gear wheel assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a form of entertainment.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method of therapeutic relaxation.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the second gear ring assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
One or more implementations of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. The gear assembly of the present invention is adapted to supply a variety of amusing, educational, and therapeutic devices which do not currently exist.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 shows a geared ring assembly device 100, 200 and 300 that comprises a first annular gear wheel 102 and a second annular gear wheel 104 that revolve in opposite directions when the device 100, 300, 300 is manipulated and driven by a plurality of drive gear mechanisms 106. Moving the first annular gear wheel 102 or the second annular gear wheel 104 or any of the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 106 will drive the other geared components. For example, turning a first drive gear mechanism 108 will result in the turning and/or movement of the remainder of the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 106, the first annular gear wheel 102 and the second annular gear wheel 104. Although the inventors in this embodiment are utilizing spur gears as the drive gear mechanisms 106 and geared ring components as the first and second annular gear wheels 102, 104, one skilled in the art could use other gears and gear assemblies to create similar embodiments.
For example, the drive gear mechanisms 106 can comprise wheels and pinions, rack and pinion gears, ring gears, planetary gears, master and servant gears, noncircular gears, face gears, internal and external gears, helical gears, worm gears, bevel gears, non-circular gear rack, internal gears, sprockets, and the like. In addition, the geared ring assembly device 100, 200, 300 can have different internal shapes (i.e., where the finger is inserted) and external shapes comprising squares, polygons, other uniform geometrical metal shapes, ovals, circles, hexagons, rectangles, non-uniform shapes and not depart from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications that may be made to this configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of what is described herein.
Referring again to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the geared ring assembly device 100, 200, 300 also comprises an interconnecting ring 114, an upper gear lock ring (shown in FIG. 4 as 410) and a lower gear lock ring (shown in FIG. 4 as 412). An inner ring base surface 116 is smooth allowing the user to wear it on a finger like a piece of jewelry. Once the device 100, 200, 300 is assembled, the inner ring base surface 116 is sanded until it is substantially smooth to the wearer. In addition, once assembled, the inner surface of the geared ring assembly 100 fasteners can be modified using known smoothing techniques comprising flattening, pressing, filing, rasping, brushing, sanding, grounding, and other techniques known by those of skill in the art.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-5, a geared ring assembly device 400 and 500 is illustrated. The devices 400, 500 comprise a first annular gear wheel 402 and a second annular gear wheel 404 that revolve in opposite directions when the device 400, 500 is driven by manipulated by a plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406. While the drive gear mechanisms 406 in this embodiment are spur gears, the inventor has contemplated any other similar type of gear that can drive the device 400, 500, well known by those of skill in the art. Moving the first annular gear wheel 402 or the second annular gear wheel 404 or any of the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406 will drive the other geared components of the device 400, 500. For example, turning a first drive gear mechanism 408, which may be any of the drive gear mechanisms 406, will result in the turning and/or movement of the remainder of the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406, the first annular gear wheel 402 and the second annular gear wheel 404. As discussed supra, that although the inventors are utilizing spur gears as the drive gear mechanisms 408, 408 and geared ring components as the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404, one skilled in the art could use other gears and gear assemblies in similar embodiments and still be within the scope of the invention.
The geared ring assembly device 400, 500 also comprises an upper gear lock ring 410, a lower gear lock ring 412, and an inner ring base surface 416 that is smooth allowing the user to wear the device 400, 500 on a finger like a piece of jewelry. Once the device 400, 500 is assembled as for example a ring, the inner base surface 116 is sanded until it is substantially smooth to the wearer. The inner base surface 116 provides a base for the rest of the device 400, 500 to rest on and further comprises annular lips 418, 420 extending outward that keeps the other device elements in place on the outer surface of the base. The entire device 400, 500 may be made of materials comprising any combination of non-uniform or uniform substantially rigid material such as a precious metal, gold, silver, and platinum, any mineral, any precious or non-precious gem stone, alloys, stainless steel, brass, tin, aluminum, plastic, resin, PVC, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or any other machinable material, and the like. Additionally, the scope of the invention contemplates different device elements being made of different materials, for example glass, precious stones, gems and metals in various combinations.
The first annular gear wheel 402 and the second annular gear wheel 404 adjacent to the respective annular lips (418 and 420) are of a diameter that allows them to be contained and yet be freely moveable on the upper gear lock ring 410 and the lower gear lock ring 412, respectively. The upper gear lock ring 410 and a lower gear lock ring 412 are attached utilizing fasteners inserted through the center of the drive gear mechanisms 106 into an outer through hole 422 in the upper gear lock ring 410 and an inner through hole 422 in the lower gear lock ring 412. The end of the fastener can be detachable or filed or machined off, for example on the lower gear lock ring 412 creating a smooth surface along the inner ring base surface 116 so that the device may be worn on a finger or toe comfortably. The fasteners may comprise screws, nails, brads, pins, rivets, dowels, and the like. The plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406 have a plurality of gear teeth or cogs that fit between the gaps of a plurality of teeth on the inward facing portions of the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 respectively.
To engage the rotating mechanism of the device 400, 500, the rotating element engages the rotating wheels to allow rotation of the gear mechanisms and the outer ring elements at the same time. In other words, the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406 run in relation to the circular pinion outer gears of the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 to produce complimentary movements of the outer rotating first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 in opposite directions. All gears turn in unison when one of the outer gear wheels is spun. The rotation is created when the plurality of teeth on one of the first or second annular gear wheels 402, 404 engages the notches between the plurality of gear teeth of the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406 which simultaneously transfers the movement in the opposite direction to the opposite outer wheel 402, 404 respectively.
The inner cylindrical ring assembly base (not numbered) comprises a first side (410 and 418 combined) and a second side (410, 412, and 420 combined) each with a central axis and an inner diameter that combined forms the inner ring base surface 116 that is substantially smooth but has the plurality of through holes 422 for accepting a fastening mechanism such as a screw or any other fastening mechanism that is known in the art. The first side and the second side are of slightly different diameters so that the larger side fits firmly on top of the other side to create a single integrated inner cylindrical ring assembly base with the plurality of through holes 422 aligned. Additionally each of the first and second sides has an annular lip 418, 420 respectively that extends outward perpendicular to the diameter or the first or second side respectively that is used to keep the other device 400, 500 elements in place once assembled. Another embodiment of the inner cylindrical ring assembly base has the inner first side configured as a shelf or ledge where the outer second side fits into place in a step joint and the outer second side is not as wide as the inner first side (see FIG. 5). The shelf joint is grooved into the inner first side at an annular position proximal to the plurality of through holes 422 through the member. This creates a uniform inner diameter with the use of less material.
Next, the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 have a greater diameter than the inner cylindrical ring assembly base. When the device 400, 500 is assembled, the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 lie on the outer diameter surface of the inner cylindrical ring assembly base so that the plurality of teeth of the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 are facing inward across the inner cylindrical ring assembly base surface where the outer rims of the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 are held in place and ride along the inner edge of the annular lips 418, 420. Additionally, the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406 are rotatebly attached to the inner cylindrical ring assembly base by using the through holes 422 in the inner cylindrical ring assembly base. Once attached, the inner surface of the attaching mechanisms are flattened or otherwise integrated into the inner ring base surface 116 of the inner cylindrical ring assembly base inner diameter to create a substantially smooth surface.
Each of the plurality of drive gear mechanisms 406 have a plurality of teeth or cogs used to match up with the teeth or cogs of the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 and drive the rotational movement of the wheel and gear assembly. The inner drive gear mechanisms 406 turn in unison when an outer annular gear wheel 402 or 404 is rotated causing the reverse rotation of the other annular gear wheel 402 or 404. The gear mechanisms may be used to create an electrical current used for a variety of options such as powering a light or sound attachment without the need for an external power source. Additional embodiments contemplate the ability to connect a plurality of rings or the face of the ring may have a surface perpendicular to the ring assembly with an additional set of gear mechanisms of a variety of designs for rotational or linear movement of the gear elements along the face.
The device 100 of FIG. 1 has three elements comprising the cylindrical ring assembly, however for simplicity, we will describe how the device of FIG. 5 is assembled knowing that one skilled in the art would be easily able to assemble a cylindrical ring assembly with three elements. In FIG. 5, the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 are slid on top of the cylindrical assembly's first and second sides until they bottom out on the raised annular lip elements 418, 420. Next the first side and the second side of a smaller diameter are slid over one another until the shelf joint makes contact in an annular position where the through holes 422 are aligned. Then the inner drive gear mechanisms 406 are placed in between the first and second annular gear wheels 402, 402 so that the teeth elements of all of the drive gear mechanisms 406 and first and second annular gear wheels 402, 404 are interconnected and aligned. The inner drive gear mechanisms 406 must also be aligned so that the base through-holes 422 are visible through the center. Next, fastening mechanism s is press fit through the center of the drive gear mechanisms 406 and through the base for each gear and the attachment is made. Finally, the inner surface of the fastener is ground or filed so that the inner diameter of the inner ring base surface 116 is smooth.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of relaxation or therapy. In this embodiment, a device as described supra is worn on a finger and used as an exercise tool. By using a finger to manipulate a fine mechanical gear mechanism, the user must concentrate on the task, which requires mental concentration and dexterity. This manipulation is useful as a rehabilitative or preventative form of exercise. Repetitive motion exercise such is created by using the device is also a useful relaxation tool for individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, or for any number of compulsive disorders. Having a wearable device creates a tool that is portable and useful in any situation where other traditional therapies may not be used, such as while riding in a car.
A variety of embodiments for the invention include uses as a decorative interactive piece of jewelry, a toy, an educational tool, and a therapeutic device. As an educational tool, this inexpensive portable device may be used to educate the user in a manor where they learn how a gear system works by observation and manipulation. By providing an educational tool that is fun and amusing to use, the repetitive motion will constantly reinforce the engineering principle behind the mechanism. An additional embodiment of the invention is as a social status identifier and conversation device. For example, the device may be used as a less than traditional wedding ring signifying that the wearer is married. The gear mechanism will not only entertain the wearer, but others who see the ring as well.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, systems, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a "means") used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "including", "includes", "having", "has", "with", or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a similar manner to the term "comprising". | 2019-04-23T06:25:51 | http://www.patentsencyclopedia.com/app/20120090356 |
0.998611 | No more secrets: I'm in the process of relocating to Berlin. While I've been mostly focused on finding a job at present, this was a concert I couldn't pass up. I was also amused that the venue is named after the third album from Ideal, the classic Berlin-based Neue Deutsche Welle band. It's conveniently but unexpectedly located underneath the above-ground subway station Schlesisches Tor, although there is hardly any signage to alert passersby of its presence.
Opening band Frank the Baptist has been based in Berlin for a decade despite their roots in San Diego. I was curious to about what they might offer, but was quickly disappointed by their fairly generic hard rock sound and weird carnival sideshow aesthetic. Some songs started out with a promising atmosphere, but inevitably were quickly quashed by heavy aggro guitars. There were occasional hints of gothic rock that in their best moments reminded me of second-rate Sisters of Mercy, but those moments were rare. Frank sang with strength, but he only had one tone, and his words were hard to understand. I was amazed they were allowed to play for a full hour.
At first, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with ChameleonsVox. Since original Chameleons drummer John Lever died earlier this year, and guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding have seemed unwilling to participate in further reunions, this project only features bassist/vocalist Mark Burgess from the original band. When he formed ChameleonsVox in 2009, Lever was on drums and regular collaborator Yves Altana joined on guitar. Their obvious intention was to resurrect old Chameleons songs, although in 2013, they released the M + D = 1(8) EP, featuring three new compositions along with a cover of "Across the Universe". Lever had left around that time and is not credited on the EP.
The current lineup features Altana on drums, Chris Oliver (who also played on the previous EP) on guitar, and Neil Dwerryhouse on guitar. This lineup has just recorded and released a new EP, Where in the World, continuing the Chameleons tradition of reissuing and repackaging the same songs in a million different versions and collections by featuring re-recordings of four of the more obscure original-era Chameleons songs. (Oddly, "Ever After" isn't on the physical 12" vinyl, but is included with the digital download.) The press release claims the original versions were demos, which is a bit hard to believe since all of them except "Dali's Picture" were never described as such until now.
"Denims and Curls" and "Free for All" are new versions of tracks from the amazing Tony Fletcher Walked on Water EP, originally recorded in 1987 while the band was breaking up and finally released in 1990. This same EP was included in the Dreams in Celluloid compilation released in 2013. That compilation also included "Dali's Picture", a demo from circa 1981, first released on a compilation of the same name in 1993. "Ever After" was originally a bonus track on some editions of Strange Times (1986). As one would hope, the production values of the new recordings are markedly superior. Mark's voice is as strong as ever and the musicianship is just as solid. The admittedly dated-sounding drums from the Tony Fletcher EP are gone, but so are most of the keyboards. The new arrangements are mostly very similar, although "Denims and Curls" and "Ever After" feature extended outros. The EP makes for a great listen, although "Dali's Picture" sticks out a bit for being older and less ethereal than the others, and one can't help but wonder how necessary this project was.
Upon consideration of the new EP, the live show largely followed suit. The setlist exclusively featured songs from the original era of the Chameleons with nothing from their early 2000s reunion nor the previous M + D = 1(8) EP. That being said, they do a terrific job keeping the old songs alive. Since the beginning, Burgess has always including improvised segments in some of the songs, which he usually uses for teasing lyrics of other songs, often to reinforce the intended political sentiments. "Soul in Isolation", for example, included lines such as, "Lost in a Facebook wilderness of pain / And all our leaders are insane". Most of the arrangements haven't changed much since the beginning, except that "Denims and Curls" featured the same extended outro as the version on the EP, and several songs, such as "Nostalgia", featured more wordless vocal parts during instrumental sections.
Although I wouldn't complain if they played some newer songs, they played almost all of my personal favorites (except "Tears"). They balanced their spacey side with their rawer edge. The irony of playing their first b-side "Nostalgia" was not at all lost on me. We were even graced with a second encore featuring two of their punkier songs, which really got the crowd going and closed the evening on a strong, energized note. The closing number, "Don't Fall", featured a guest vocalist whose name I didn't catch. He mostly sang in unison with Burgess, so he didn't particularly add much, but it was still cool to see the two vocalists play off each other.
The band played the songs tightly outside of a few minor flubs. I don't know if it is a testament to the skill of Burgess and his bandmates that they can summon the familiar sounds so effortlessly or if that implies that the original band is simpler to replicate that I'd expected. Certainly the sounds they made in the 80s were innovative for their time, but I imagine the wealth of effects pedals available today make reproduction easier than ever. Whatever the case may be, their transcendent, astral splendor still captivates me as much as it did the first time I heard the original recordings over a decade ago. It also makes me wonder if they were a precursor to shoegazing bands like Ride and Slowdive. | 2019-04-25T22:45:58 | http://patricksmusic.blogspot.com/2017/05/chameleonsvox-frank-baptist-live.html |
0.999002 | 1996 champagne - still sparkling?
A version of this article is published by the Financial Times. See these tasting notes on 2006 and 1996 prestige champagnes.
Vintage years are important in wine lore. They tend to acquire their reputations early on and are usually stuck with them for the rest of their active lives. The 2001 vintage of red bordeaux, particularly on the right bank, has arguably gained in stature over time, as did the 1993 vintage of red burgundy, but these are exceptions.
In Champagne the 1996 vintage was hailed early on as exceptional, exceptionally good, not least because the grapes notched up record levels of both ripeness and acidity. At a recent showing of his excellent NPU prestige bottling, champagne producer Bruno Paillard called the 1996 vintage a 'naughty boy' because it was so changeable and such a cliff-hanger for producers as they waited for acid levels to fall to palatable levels, 'but the result is fantastic for those who have the patience to wait'. This demanding vintage followed the hot summer of 1995, whose earlier-maturing wines were initially regarded as inferior to the dramatic 1996s.
But today there is considerable revisionism about the reputation of the 1996s. Many champagne drinkers and champagne producers nowadays are expressing doubts about how well the 1996 champagnes have aged. In some cases, the acidity, rather than tactfully receding into the background to allow mature fruit and complex, tertiary aromas to blossom, continues to hog the limelight while the fruit seems already to be losing its power. This is particularly true of regular 1996 vintage champagne from less starry producers. The downgrading of 1996 often goes hand in hand with an approving reappraisal of the 1995s. Some 1995 champagnes that have particularly impressed me recently were the P2 late releases of Dom Pérignon both white and pink, Bruno Paillard's NPU and Charles Heidsieck's Blanc de Millénaires.
It may be worth noting that the only time I have ever been invited to a generic tasting in Champagne by the interprofessional body, the CIVC, was in 2002 when they asked a group of us wine writers from all over Europe to participate in a blind comparison of wines from the 1995 and 1996 vintages. My conclusion at the time was a starry-eyed, 'on average I have awarded the same overall score to 1995s as to 1996s (3.3 stars), but when you consider that most of the famous names are still on vintage 1995 or older, and that a high proportion of the 1996s [we tasted] are from lesser-known producers, I think the vintage's intrinsic worth shines through'.
Twenty years is quite an age for a champagne, even a vintage-dated one that is generally based on the finest base wines available, but the high acidity of the 1996s should, at least in theory, be enough to keep the best of them soldiering on into their third decade.
The fine wine trader BI (known as Bordeaux Index before diversifying into pastures new, notably top-quality champagne) tends to hold an annual tasting of 10-year-old champagnes. At this year's event were eight 2006 prestige champagnes plus a Krug Grande Cuvée based on the 2006 vintage. But in honour of BI's twentieth anniversary, this year these were supplemented by a dozen 1996 champagnes, including virtually all the most glamorous.
Having tasted these 1996s – admittedly some of them extremely expensive – supplemented by a few others tasted recently, it seems to me that you have to head for the crème de le crème of Champagne to be guaranteed a really outstanding 1996, and that yes, there are indeed disappointments to be found. Two bottles of Gosset Grand Millésime 1996 and a magnum of Lanson Gold Label 1996 were just a bit too tart for comfort.
On the other hand, BI's tasting included a magnum of Bollinger 1996 disgorged (separated from the sediment of the second fermentation in bottle) much more recently than these standard-release Bollinger 1996s would have been disgorged. This Bollinger RD 1996, RD standing for recently disgorged, was not disgorged until September 2013 and is sold at a premium (£540 a magnum in bond from BI). This was a much more intense and glorious wine whose density seemed better able to compensate for all that acidity than the earlier-disgorged examples.
The finest 1996 champagne of all in the BI tasting was from a (very rare) magnum of Roederer Cristal. This was a very particular pleasure to taste because, thanks to worldwide demand for Cristal, it is so unusual to come across examples of this luxurious wine with much bottle age on it – and even rarer to find it from the supposedly optimum magnum size. But I swear it was not just the rarity that was so exciting, but also the extraordinary range of aromas of gingerbread, baked apples and a positively electric sort of energy in this youthful wine. You would never guess from either the taste or the look of this wine that it was 20 years old.
When I first tasted this wine at the end of 2002, presumably soon after it was released, it was really not very communicative at all and didn't start to show what it was capable of for another eight years or so. I see that when I tasted it, again from magnum, in 2007 I observed, 'this should make spectacular old bones – if it's allowed to'. Cristal really does repay patience even if it is hardly ever given it.
The wines described here include virtually all of the world's most luxurious champagnes and this may not seem the most appropriate time to be concentrating on them. Consider this account a displacement activity.
These are the 1996 champagnes I have recently given a score of at least 18.5 out 20 (although several also scored 18) with the prices quoted by BI as a guide, although they have probably already sold out of many of these rarities. | 2019-04-19T18:53:19 | https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/1996-champagne-still-sparkling |
0.999827 | For my last read before I go away on my Christmas break, I stepped out of my comfort zone into historical fantasy. Into the world of witches, daemons and vampires. Promising to suspend disbelief, I took a brave step into the pages of something tagged as "...irresistible to Twilight fans..." No, I am not a Twilight fan. But they did call it Twilight for grown-ups, and I AM grown-up now, aren't I?
The book starts out on a very promising note. Set in the Bodleian Library in Oxford - in the Duke Humfrey's reading room no less - descriptions of the original 15th century part of the library, the rows of Elizabethan reading desks with scarred writing surfaces, Gothic windows directing attention to coffered ceilings with gilding picking out the details of the university's crest would make any booklover drool and swoon. Dr Diana Bishop, a historian of science and alchemy, has ordered and recalled a rare 17th century manuscript. She takes it to her favourite reading spot, takes notes and returns the manuscript when done.
Diana also happens to be a witch, descendant of Bridget Bishop - the 1st person executed for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. And there really are witches, daemons and vampires around humans, masquerading as humans at all times. They choose professions to match their characteristics - for e.g. vampires, who can live for centuries, often choose to be in laboratories. The solitary work habits make them less likely to be recognized by too many people making an abnormally long life span less noticeable. Diana's parents were powerful witches who died under mysterious circumstances when she was 7. Believing magic to be the cause of their downfall, Diana refuses to use magic and tries to build a legitimate "human" life and credibility instead, working her way up the world of academia.
So this was the good part of the 700 page book. History, libraries, magic, mysterious rare manuscript - what could be in it that would cause so much attraction of these other worldly creatures? A good start for a suspense novel.
From here on however, I feel the book goes downhill. The pace slows to almost a dead stop as more and more plots are introduced - romance, rules of inter-creature relationship, a Congregation of these creatures. It also moves from a great mystery-suspense-historical fiction to a romance novel with allusions to some mystery. Flashes of brilliance come through sometimes, particularly towards the end when every character's back story has been dealt with. But overall, I feel this could have done with some serious editing to keep the storyline tighter and needless details and overwriting out of it. Right after a life and death situation, I do not want to hear about Halloween (human) trick-or-treaters going about their candy collection.
The other thing that grates on me is the character of Diana. Starting out as a workaholic, independent, sporty, highly accomplished historian and academic - she morphs within days (no exaggeration) into a helpless woman that is almost taken prisoner by her new boyfriend. He sedates her when he needs to control her, tells her she must obey him at all times, keeps secrets and flies into an unpredictable rage anytime she mentions anything he thinks she should not. Oh, and apparently when they kiss in front of his mother they are "married", no consent needed, no questions asked - actually the bride does not even KNOW they are married. Yet Diana loves Matthew like there is no tomorrow! Stockholm Syndrome, anyone?
There are 2 more books in this trilogy. Given the plot sped up towards the end and we know the back stories of most of the characters, I would hope they are better. I might get them in the new year to see how the mystery of the manuscript will be resolved. But I sure do not feel the urgency that a great series brings. | 2019-04-20T18:17:25 | http://bookloversmelbourne.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-review-discovery-of-witches-by.html |
0.999738 | PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) - The seaside town where the Pilgrims came ashore in 1620 is gearing up for a 400th birthday bash, and everyone's invited - especially the native people whose ancestors wound up losing their land and lives.
Plymouth, Massachusetts, whose European settlers have come to symbolize American liberty and grit, marks its quadricentennial in 2020 with a trans-Atlantic commemoration that will put Native Americans' unvarnished side of the story on full display.
Organizers are understandably cautious this time around. When the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing was observed in 1970, state officials disinvited a leader of the Wampanoag Nation - the Native American tribe that helped the haggard newcomers survive their first bitter winter - after learning his speech would bemoan the disease, racism and oppression that followed the Pilgrims.
"We'll be able to tell some stories of what happened to us - to delve back into our history and talk about it," Peters said. "Hopefully it will give us a chance to re-educate people and have a national discussion about how we should be treating each other."
There are also plans to invite relatives of the late Wampanoag elder Wamsutta "Frank" James to publicly read that speech he wasn't allowed to deliver in 1970 - an address that includes this passage: "We, the Wampanoag, welcomed you, the white man, with open arms, little knowing that it was the beginning of the end."
"The Pilgrims had hardly explored the shores of Cape Cod for four days before they had robbed the graves of my ancestors and stolen their corn and beans," the speech reads. | 2019-04-22T18:19:06 | https://www.helloplymouth.com/news/national/279374/400-years-later-natives-who-helped-pilgrims-g |
0.997535 | Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer got married in 2018.
Amy Schumer appeared on NBC's "Late Night With Seth Meyers" on Wednesday and explained why she and husband Chris Fischer agreed to go public about his diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder.
Schumer said that the "tools" she and Fischer have received since his diagnosis "have made his life so much better and our marriage and our life more manageable, so I just wanted to encourage people to not be afraid of that stigma."
She added: "I don't want to make it sound like 'I'm so nice that I married someone with autism.' I love him. I feel in love with him and I wouldn't trade him in for anybody."
The comedian revealed the news about Fischer during her new Netflix comedy special called "Growing," and said that his autistic behaviors were part of what she loved about him from the start of their relationship.
Amy Schumer says that she and her husband, Chris Fischer, agreed to go public with his autism "to encourage people not to be afraid of" the stigma that surrounds it.
Schumer recently revealed her husband's autism spectrum diagnosis during her new Netflix comedy special called "Growing."
"That's why we both wanted to talk about it, because it's been totally positive," the comedian said during an appearance on NBC's "Late Night With Seth Meyers" on Wednesday. "I think a lot of people resist getting diagnosed, and even some of their children, because of the stigma that comes along with it."
Schumer added: "But you're not just diagnosed and then they throw you out. Hopefully, if you can get help, the tools that we have been given have made his life so much better and our marriage and our life more manageable, so I just wanted to encourage people to not be afraid of that stigma."
The 37-year-old, who married Fischer, a head chef at a Massachusetts restaurant, in February 2018, went on say that her husband is "an amazing guy."
"I don't want to make it sound like 'I'm so nice that I married someone with autism,'" Schumer said. "I love him. I feel in love with him and I wouldn't trade him in for anybody."
Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer at the 2018 Tony Awards.
The "I Feel Pretty" star also said that Fischer can't lie, which is "a dream, but it's also a real nightmare." Schumer went on to explain that prior to her late night appearance, she changed her outfit and asked if her final one "looked OK." In response, he told her: "Well, it's too late."
In the special, Schumer, who's expecting her first child with Fischer, said that she "knew from the beginning [her] husband's brain was a little different than [her's]" and "there were some signs early on." She explained that his unique reactions to things added to the reasons why she "fell madly in love with him."
"Once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he's on the spectrum are all of the reasons that I fell madly in love with him," Schumer said in her comedy special. "That's the truth. He says whatever is on his mind. He keeps it so real. He doesn't care about social norms or what you expect him to say or do."
Schumer's comments arrive just in time for World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 2.
Watch the interview with Meyers below. | 2019-04-23T18:01:57 | https://www.thisisinsider.com/amy-schumer-husband-agreed-to-go-public-with-autism-diagnosis-video-2019-3 |
0.999999 | Below is an excerpt from an article covering many aspects of the negatives of soy products. Soy protein isolate is used in a protein mix I used to take. I am noting this article here in preparation for talking with the company about why they use SPI.
It should be noted that the researchers did not dare to use soy products to help the children recover from malnutrition, and were obliged to supplement the soy-sugar mixture with nutrients largely absent in soy products - notably, vitamins A, D and B12, iron, iodine and zinc.
The author is Dean Houghton, writing for The Furrow,2 a magazine published in 12 languages by John Deere. "This ideal food would help prevent, and perhaps reverse, some of the world's most dreaded diseases. You could grow this miracle crop in a variety of soils and climates. Its cultivation would build up, not deplete, the land...this miracle food already exists... It's called soy."
Just imagine. Farmers have been imagining - and planting more soy. What was once a minor crop, listed in the 1913 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) handbook not as a food but as an industrial product, now covers 72 million acres of American farmland. Much of this harvest will be used to feed chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows and salmon. Another large fraction will be squeezed to produce oil for margarine, shortenings and salad dressings.
Advances in technology make it possible to produce isolated soy protein from what was once considered a waste product - the defatted, high-protein soy chips - and then transform something that looks and smells terrible into products that can be consumed by human beings. Flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers and synthetic nutrients have turned soy protein isolate, the food processors' ugly duckling, into a New Age Cinderella.
The new fairy-tale food has been marketed not so much for her beauty but for her virtues. Early on, products based on soy protein isolate were sold as extenders and meat substitutes - a strategy that failed to produce the requisite consumer demand. The industry changed its approach.
The competition - meat, milk, cheese, butter and eggs - has been duly demonised by the appropriate government bodies. Soy serves as meat and milk for a new generation of virtuous vegetarians. | 2019-04-26T08:18:55 | http://brazosdedios-english.blogspot.com/2008/04/soy-protein-isolate-not-so-friendly.html |
0.999935 | Given here is information on how to reach and traveling to Thekkady. Know about getting to and reaching Thekkady.
Reaching Thekkady is not at all a problem. If the question of how to reach Thekkady is giving you a headache, then read on further and know about getting to Thekkady. This should help you while traveling to Thekkady.
The nearest Airport is to Thekkady is Madurai, which is at a distance of 140 kilometers. Apart from that, you can access the airports at Kochi at a distance of 180 kilometers and Thiruvananthapuram at a distance of 260 kilometers.
The railway station nearest to Thekkady is Kumarakom, located at a distance of 114 kilometers. Another station is at Madurai located at a distance of about 130 kilometers.
Thekkady is connected to all major towns and cities in Kerala through an excellent network of roads. The nearest place is Kumily at a distance of 4 kilometers. | 2019-04-21T18:21:13 | http://www.bharatonline.com/kerala/travel/thekkady/how-to-reach.html |
0.998583 | 1. HIGH QUALITY MATERIAL: This brake is made of quality aluminium alloy material, which is high strength, and non-deformation.
2. RAPID RESPONSE: The Disc Brake has perfect performance in braking, it has rapid response to stop bike quickly and safely.
3. HIGH ADOPTION: F160/R140 for front brake, F180/R160 for rear brake, and the 160mm disc is suitable for many bikes, you can buy it with confidence.
4. GREAT ACCESSORY: Comes with screws for assembly, the brake is easy to install. It will be a good replacement parts for bike repair.
HIGH QUALITY MATERIAL: This brake is made of quality aluminium alloy material, which is high strength, and non-deformation.
RAPID RESPONSE: The Disc Brake has perfect performance in braking, it has rapid response to stop bike quickly and safely.
HIGH ADOPTION: F160/R140 for front brake, F180/R160 for rear brake, and the 160mm disc is suitable for many bikes, you can buy it with confidence.
GREAT ACCESSORY: Comes with screws for assembly, the brake is easy to install. It will be a good replacement parts for bike repair. | 2019-04-22T06:12:39 | https://www.bikeaudit.com/parts/bike-disc-brake-caliper-aluminium-alloy-mechanical-f160-r140-front-f180-r160-rear-160mm-disc-brake-set/ |
0.99837 | WHAT MESSAGES DO THE RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS HOLD FOR US?
were killed due to the hurricane. Monetary damages are estimated at approximately $95 billion dollars. Many in Puerto Rico are still without power.
Hurricane Irma formed on August 30th, 2017 near Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Conditions favored the growth of the storm, which quickly intensified, becoming a Category 2 Hurricane in under a day. By September 6th, Irma reached peak intensity at Category 5, with wind speeds of 185 mph. Then Irma fluctuated in intensity as it hit various Caribbean Islands, including Cuba, on September 8th. The hurricane lost intensity due to contact with land, but quickly regenerated to a Category 4 Hurricane over the warm waters on the way to the Florida Keys. Irma was the most intense hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Monetary damages are estimated at over $100 billion. 132 people were killed, 72 in Florida alone.
On September 7, 2017, Mexico was hit off its southern coast by the most powerfulearthquake to hit Mexico in a century.
The magnitude 8.1 quake was felt as far as Mexico City and Guatemala City. 61 people were killed in Mexico, and one in Guatemala. The quake hit the southern coast of Mexico just as heavy rains from Hurricane Katia lashed the east.
The temblor was felt by about 50 million people across the country, reminiscent of the September 1985 magnitude 8.0 earthquake, which killed an estimated 9,500 people in and around Mexico City.
This one hit shortly before midnight, when many people were asleep. The states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, home to approximately nine million people, are located closest to the earthquake's epicenter. They are two of the most impoverished areas in Mexico, and were hit the hardest.
Sea, Harvey began to weaken and degenerated into a Tropical Wave north of Columbia on August 19th. Then, on August 23rd, Tropical Depression Harvey resurged into a Category 1 Hurricane and it began to pick up intensity. By August 25th, Harvey had become a Category 4 Hurricane, with sustained winds of 130 mph. Late August 25th, Harvey hit land over SanJose Island, which is in South Central Texas, near Corpus Christi. More than wind, rainfall was the real damaging factor of Harvey. As Harvey slowed and stalled over Texas, it dropped torrential and unprecedented amounts of rain over low level regions. Harvey dumped a year’s worth of rain on parts of Texas in only a matter of days. Flash flooding and rising rivers led to catastrophic conditions, especially in Houston. Governor of Texas, Greg Abbot, has said that monetary damages could be as high as $180 billion. Harvey caused at least 90 confirmed deaths, one in Guyana and 89 in the US.
Many people have a hard time understanding disasters from a Torah point of view. Natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes can destroy property and wipe out whole villages and cities, and many innocent people and children may perish. These recent natural disasters killed hundreds of people. If a natural disaster is looked at in a secular way, then the forces of nature are powerful and awesome, and sometimes destroy and kill. Nature cannot be held responsible.
From a Torah point of view, however, everything, including natural disasters, comes from the will of Gd. Our Torah teaches that Gd isresponsible for everything, and everything that comes from the will of Gd is good.
Gd knows the minds of people, and that there is nothing in the world that unites people more than natural disasters, and in fact, when we do acts of charity and kindness, we are performing Gd’s will.
This is certainly true, and the recent hurricanes and earthquakes did indeed unite people where the destruction occurred. Also countries from all over the world joined together to help those affected by the natural disasters. They send money, supplies, rescue workers, and food to the stricken areas.
But we may ask: how can it be good that hundreds of people died? We think that certainly not all of them deserved to die. Perhaps a few deserved to die, but not all. What about the innocent ones and the children? How can this be good?
there is no explanation that will make us feel like we fully understand why Gd has allowed death and destruction to happen. The seeming inconsistency between the goodness of Gd and the loss of lives and property is beyond our comprehension. Furthermore, there is no conceivable information that might be offered to us that would make what happened comprehensible. Nevertheless, The Torah and our Sages have given us hints. And even if we cannot understand them, it is important to know what they have said. We will see that what they have said is supported by the Torah Codes.
But [instead] they arose early and corrupted all their deeds’ (Zephaniah 3:6-7).
We read in the gemara another reason for earthquakes – the rumbling of the earth. The gemara tells us that when Gd calls to mind the suffering of the Jews among the nations in the world, He lets two tears fall into the ocean and the resulting sound is the rumbling of the earth.
In the Midrash Shocher Tov, there is an interesting exchange, which offers two other reasons. The first is that earthquakes occur when the Jews are not giving enough charity. The second is that when the nations of the world are celebrating even as Gd’s Holy Temple is in ruins, Gd peers towards the earth and the earth trembles.
“He peers towards the earth and it trembles”(Tehillim 104:32).
The Torah contains not just the holy words passed down through Moshe, but it also contains a myriad of messages – some of them, in fact, hidden.
Those hidden messages could be hints to events, persons, or even occurrences in other time periods. Over time, those messages can be revealed with the right tools and understanding.
It was only in the past few decades that a new methodology was developed with the help of modern technology to search for hidden messages in the Torah through “codes.” The codes are words spelled out over the span of many words. Those who deciphered these hidden codes claim that there are hidden messages encoded in the Hebrew text of the Torah, messages so complex that no human could possibly have inserted them.
It should then come to no surprise that all of the recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, and Maria, as well as the earthquake in Mexico, are specifically mentioned in the Torah!
Only today, with the availability of high-speed electronic computers, can one decipher the Torah codes to reveal these messages. In earlier generations, before the era of computers, no human mind, however brilliant, could have devised such intricate codes. Since these codes could not possibly have been inserted in the Torah by human beings, the codes are seen as further evidence of the Divinity of the Torah.
The popularity of the Torah codes has been phenomenal. Public lectures, conferences, debates, numerous articles, and entire books have been devoted to the subject. Torah code proponents claim that the Torah contains every detail about the life of every human being that ever lived or ever will live.
The explanation by Torah code proponents for believing that detailed information of this kind is indeed contained in the Hebrew text of the Torah is based on a passage in the kabbalistic writings of Rabbi Eliyah ben Solomon Zalman, the Gaon of Vilna.
Since the Gaon is famous for his brilliant Talmudic and halachic analyses, it is not generally known that most of his writings deal with the subject of kabbalah. In view of the pithiness and profound nature of the Gaon’s writings, it is not simple to grasp the deep meaning of his works regarding matters of kabbalah. The simple literal translation of his words does not necessarily reflect their full, true meaning. Nevertheless, a single passage in the Gaon’s writings on kabbalah serves as the basis for the claim that the Torah contains all there is to know about the life of every single human being.
The principle is that everything that was, is, and will be, until the end of time, is included in the Torah, from its first word until its last word – and not just in a general sense, but even the minutest details of every event that ever happened to everyindividual human being, from his birth until his death. Similarly, [the Torah includes] the minutest details of every event that ever happened to every beast and animal in the world, every grass and plant and inanimate object.
Particularly important is the second sentence, often omitted when quoting this passage, which shows that the Gaon’s statement is not limited to human beings, but also includes all animals, all plants, and even all inanimate objects. Therefore, the claim of the Torah code proponents is even more comprehensive than stated previously, namely, that the complete details of the history of every object in the entire universe is encoded in the Torah.
Rabbi Moshe Cordevaro (1522-1570), alsoknown as the Ramak, served in the illustrious position of Head of the Rabbinical Court ("Av Bet Din") in Tzfat, Israel, during the 16th century. The following piece appears in Pardes Rimonim(68a), the Ramak's voluminous commentary on the classic kabbalistic work, The Zohar.
"The secrets of our holy Torah are revealed through knowledge of combinations, numerology (gematria), switching letters, first-and-last letters, shapes of letters, first and last verses, skipping of letters (dilug otiot) and letter combinations."
These matters are powerful, hidden, and enormous secrets. Because of their great hidden-ness, we do not have the ability to fully comprehend them. Furthermore, to see different angles through these methods is infinite and without limit. On this the Torah says, "Its measure is longer than the world."
Scientific research has confirmed that there are hidden codes in the Torah. The Torah code proponents have scored two important coups. First, they published an article in the respected journal Statistical Science that describes their analysis and presents their conclusion that the codes they find in the Torah text could not possibly be the result of pure chance. Second, they obtained a letter, signed by four highly respected mathematicians, statingthat their methods and conclusions seem sound and are worthy of further study. Armed with these successes, the Torah code proponents have circled the globe, lecturing on the validity of their methods and their conclusion that the Torah codes are a real phenomenon that validates the belief in the Divine origin of the Torah.
1. According to traditional Jewish sources, the Torah in general and the Book of Beresheetin particular, contain a wealth of information in cryptic form. This information is encoded in a number of different ways. One of the ways mentioned is in the form of ELS(Equidistant Letters Sequences). What is ELS? Suppose we eliminate all spaces in the Torah, and consider the text as one long sequence of304,805 letters. A computer then finds hidden words, encoded at equal skips of letters. Statisticians call this phenomenon ELS.
2. In 1983 the mathematician Prof. Eliyahu Rips began to conduct quantitative research into the subject. He primarily investigated the occurrence of words as ELS's clustering at an appropriate place in the text. An impressive example of his work appeared in the periodical Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, Vol. 151, Part I ('88), p 165.
3.In the spring of 1985 Doron Witztum and Eliyahu Rips discovered the phenomenon of convergences between pairs of conceptually related words in the Torah. Shortly thereafter they defined a methodology for evaluating the significance of these convergences. The necessary software was prepared by Yoav Rosenberg.
as well as the earthquakes in Mexico. | 2019-04-25T22:02:53 | http://communitym.com/article.asp?article_id=104583&article_type=0 |
0.955985 | A Better Workout With Medicine Balls?
I've been seeing more and more people working out with medicine balls at my gym. I'm trying to do more strength-training exercises to prevent osteoporosis. Do you think I should try working out with a medicine ball? Any suggestions on how to use it?
Medicine balls do seem to be making a comeback. Roughly twice the size of a basketball, and weighing from two to 20 pounds, they were popular back in the 1930s and then disappeared until this recent resurgence. One reason they fell out of vogue was because the old-fashioned balls were filled with paper and cotton, making them moldy and smelly when they got wet. Today's medicine balls -- filled with gel, polyurethane, sand, sawdust, or rubber shavings -- don't get soggy when you get sweaty. The exercises you can do with a medicine ball are called "plyometrics," and there are more than a hundred of them, including a number of abdominal-strengthening moves, upper-body exercises, and just plain games of "catch" with a partner.
The medicine ball owes its comeback to Donald A. Chu, Ph.D., a former professor of kinesiology (the study of movement), who is director of the physical-therapist assistant program at Ohlone College in Newark, CA. Dr. Chu's book, "Plyometric Exercises with the Medicine Ball" (Bittersweet, 1987), the bible of the medicine ball crowd, describes the exercises you can do.
To protect against osteoporosis you should be doing both aerobic exercise and strength training. The aerobic exercise can be running, walking, aerobic dancing, or any form of cardiovascular workout that you do on your feet (swimming and biking are aerobic but don't have the bone-strengthening impact of exercises you do while standing). Strength training also offers protection against osteoporosis. Studies at Tufts University in Boston have shown that postmenopausal women who engage in strength training can actually gain, rather than lose, bone mass.
Adding a medicine ball to your strength-training workout may make exercise more fun. I'm not aware of any scientific studies showing that use of a medicine ball gives you a more effective workout. There's no way to predict whether the return of medicine balls is a fad -- or whether they'll become permanent workout fixtures. If the exercises done with a ball appeal to you, I recommend scheduling a session or two with a personal trainer to learn how to use it effectively. Have fun! | 2019-04-26T09:08:55 | http://www.pharmacynoprescriptionovernight.com/get/carisoprodol-prices.phtml |
0.999464 | That's right, Facebook appears to be running a test which would see the 'Share' button removed from News Feed posts, replaced with a 'Message' button instead.
The new format would likely see a reduction in public post sharing, further shrinking already low organic reach numbers. And while the option does move in line with broader trends shifting towards private messaging, the impacts could be significant - if, in fact, Facebook does go ahead with a broader push.
On that front, we don't have a lot to go on as yet. But as noted, it does make some sense.
Various reports have shown that private messaging is on the rise, with the big four messaging apps now seeing more active usage than the big four social platforms.
That trend can be traced back to the rise of Snapchat - while, initially, the concept of being able to share everything publicly on social media was exciting, providing anyone with a platform from which to share their views, as the medium has evolved we've also become increasingly aware of the dangers and potential negatives of public sharing.
This is most notable in regards to publicly recorded perspectives being used against us. We saw a high profile example of this recently in Sarah Jeong, a writer at The Verge who's been appointed to a role at The New York Times. Upon the announcement, some of Jeong's old tweets, which expressed controversial views, were uncovered as part of a campaign to discredit the NYT and Jeong herself.
What you post on social media stays forever, and can be seen by your parents, your grandparents, and anyone else who might care to take a look.
That element appears to have pushed people towards more private sharing - on the back of this, Snapchat essentially rose to prominence as the anti-Facebook, with a focus on private, disappearing messages that couldn't be pinned to your public record. Since then, messaging apps have continued to rise, and the latest Facebook data scandals look set to amplify this even further, pushing more and more engagement across to messages and enclosed groups.
Given the broader trends at play, switching the emphasis on public sharing of Facebook posts to private messaging is logical - and Facebook's data must show that more users are indeed sharing content via message, as opposed to sharing them publicly.
But that may not be the best news for Pages.
Given the various News Feed changes, which have squeezed organic Page reach to the low single-digit percentages for most brands, sharing remains a key option for boosting reach. By prompting users to share, you can generate more awareness of your content, helping to expand your messaging and subsequently boost your referral traffic.
Without that option, or with it essentially de-emphasized, you'll be more reliant on organic reach, and while you may see some of that replaced by increases in sharing via message, given that that type of sharing is not public, you would have to think that it won't help you get your messaging in front of as big an audience.
But then again, maybe it will - maybe the data shows that more people are sharing via message anyway, and by making it a bigger focus, it could actually prompt more users to distribute and discuss your content, even though it's in a more private forum. It seems unlikely, but only Facebook has the actual data, and we won't be able to measure it for ourselves unless it gets implemented.
Again, we have no word if or when that could happen, and whether this is even a full-scale test that Facebook's pushing. But it's one to watch either way. | 2019-04-25T16:03:42 | https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-tests-replacing-share-with-message-option-on-news-feed-posts/529360/ |
0.998961 | South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump on Thursday sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un canceling a summit set for June 12 in Singapore. He apparently did not warn South Korea about this decision.
Experts say this could benefit North Korea and China.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who met with Trump earlier this week to try to save the summit, has called an emergency meeting.
President Donald Trump's Thursday decision to cancel his planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seems to have blindsided South Korea — and experts say this could benefit North Korea and China.
Seoul has worked hard in recent months to improve relations with Pyongyang and work toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who met with Trump earlier this week to try to save the summit, which was set for June 12 in Singapore, has called an emergency meeting.
"We are attempting to make sense of what, precisely, President Trump means," Moon's spokesman, Kim Eui-kyeom, said shortly after news broke of Trump's decision.
The White House was said to have been inspired to pull out of the summit after a senior North Korean official referred to Vice President Mike Pence as a "political dummy" and threatened the US with a "nuclear showdown."
In this context, experts say Trump arguably made the correct decision to cancel the summit — but some still criticized his lack of communication with South Korea and highlighted the potential consequences of his approach.
Alexander Vershbow, a fellow at the Atlantic Council who was formerly the US's ambassador to South Korea, said Trump made a wise move.
"While 'wise' is not a word usually used for President Trump, it was wise to cancel the meeting in Singapore," Vershbow said in a statement.
"It has been clear from the outset that there is no common understanding of 'denuclearization' between the United States and North Korea, even after two Pompeo meetings with Kim Jong Un. Nor is there any sign of agreement on the timeline, conditions, and incentives for implementation," Vershbow added, referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Vershbow said that if Trump wanted to avoid the mistakes of previous administrations, then "much more diplomatic spadework is needed."
Ian Bremmer, the president and founder of Eurasia Group, told Business Insider that Trump was "pushing South Korea into China's arms."
"Both in the way the meeting was announced and organized and now in the way it was canceled, Trump has made very clear to the South Koreans that 'America First' is very different from South Korea first," Bremmer said.
Bremmer said that as a result of Trump's approach to this issue, Seoul now has a "much better" relationship with Pyongyang than Washington does and "will be reluctant to squander it." He added that it "works very well" for the government of China, North Korea's top trading partner and most important ally.
"Between this, the [Trans-Pacific Partnership] pullout, and Trump's approach to trade, the big beneficiary of Trump in Asia is Xi Jinping," China's president, Bremmer said.
Samantha Power, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, expressed similar sentiments, tweeting that Trump's apparent lack of warning to South Korea showed "astounding disrespect for one of the closest, most steadfast allies of the US."
"This is not just about blindsiding Moon — alliances w/ democracies depend on public support to thrive," she added. "How are South Koreans supposed to interpret this?"
In an op-ed article for the news website Axios, Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, argued that canceling the meeting was the correct choice under the circumstances.
Haass said there was "no way" the summit would have been a success if Trump's aim was for North Korea to agree to full denuclearization.
"Better that the summit was postponed than to have ended up in dramatic failure, which would have led some to conclude (incorrectly) that diplomacy had been tried and failed, leaving a dangerous and costly war as the only US alternative," Haass said, adding that the cancellation highlights the Trump administration's lack of a viable North Korea strategy.
Though Trump has left the door open for the summit to still occur and the tone of his letter was relatively diplomatic, it seems the US would require major concessions and assurances from North Korea to salvage the meeting.
"It's possible that the existing summit could take place, or a summit at some later date," Trump said Thursday. "Nobody should be anxious. We have to get it right."
And Trump's decision on the summit comes at a particularly shaky time in relations between Seoul and Washington, which still has no permanent ambassador to South Korea. | 2019-04-23T10:39:02 | https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-furious-trump-cancelled-north-korea-summit-without-warning-2018-5 |
0.937627 | Have you ever wondered if you are living in the right place in the world for you to succeed and be the happiest, healthiest, and wealthiest that you could ever be in life? There is a certain type of astrology chart that can be configured for you called astrocartography, which takes your natal astrological chart and then outlines the best cities for you to live in the entire world.
These are very complicated charts that look at all kinds of things in your chart, including the longitude and latitude of where you are and the planets that were in your time of birth. You can access kind of information online but usually accessing this information requires that you pay some sort of fee. They are considered to be multi-dimensional blueprints that tell you where you should live.
The theory is that by choosing to live in a location where the energy of your birth chart supports your goals, you can change the quality of your every day experience and achieve things with less effort. In essence, living in the right country or city can make a world of difference when it comes to your happiness. You know you are living in the right place when negative experiences seem minimized and positive experiences just seem more like a positive part of your life.
These astrocartography charts also can consist of three maps. One shows the locations in the world where your unique birth chart's energy is maximized. Using the science of Geodetics, you can find which cultures that you will respond best to if you decide to live somewhere less. Some astrocartographers also do something called a Local Space chart, which tells you what influences are best for you or what your personal "trade winds" of luck come from in the world.
A much simpler way of divining where the luckiest place you should live in the world is to simply figure it out according to your zodiac sign. For instance, if you are a Gemini, you can tell from looking at the chart below that one of the best countries for you to live in his Iceland and that one of the best cities for you to live in is London. This is because both Iceland and London were also created on dates that make them a city them a Gemini entity as well.
The theory is that if you were born in a city that shares your sign, you have a better chance of having things go your way in that city. Your life will go smoother in general and luck will be with you.
So just how exactly is the above information arrived at? Some countries have 'traditional' authority. For instance, Scotland is always ruled by Cancer.
However, other countries have actual birth charts for when the country was 'created'. There is a lot of debate as to how this should all be decided. For instance, you can find many charts online for the United States that let you see that it is a country that is ruled by the sign of Gemini. Basically, this is a natal chart. If you look at the chart for the United States, the country also has Neptune and Mars in Gemini as well as three planets in Cancer. The moon of the United States is in Aquarius.
In theory, you could have a natal chart made up for any city that you are thinking of moving to as long as you have that location’s date of founding. You can then ask an astrologer to take the two charts and do a compatibility to report, which will tell you what the likelihood is of you and that city getting along.
Wow - This seems more than a little unrealistic.....How many of us are really in a position just to pick up and move - to another country, no less? Best to count our blessings where we've made our home and raised our families. God is good!
Claudia...check back to the countries again and you will see Australia listed right after Spain for Sagittarius. Being a Sag I noticed it right away as I have always been drawn to Australia and applied for a long term visa so I could live their for awhile and not just visit for 30 days. Great country!!!
Well, the only country (and city) I'd be interested in living in is India (and Delhi) because of the spiritual connection I feel there. Wish Ireland was a country that was on any of my 3 main signs: Capricorn (Sun), Pisces (Moon), or Leo (Ascendent). Oh well. I said that cause I plan on moving there.
I am a Sagittarius. I, at first, questioned this article, but then I came down to the cities best for my sign. The last one listed was Stuttgart, my eyes bugged.... because I was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas. I'm sure the Stuttgart listed is the one in Germany, but the coincidence is undeniable. It has been my goal to visit there.. Good job!! & Blessings to all..Happy Holidays! | 2019-04-24T06:32:40 | http://www.spiritnow.com/article/horoscopes/best_places_to_live_for_your_zodiac_sign_379 |
0.999999 | Play this cooking game with Tessa. Today Tessa's going to prepare an apple strudel. In this cooking game we'll teach you exactly how to prepare this recipe. You'll need the following ingredients : - 200 g flour - 100 g melted butter - 120 ml lukewarm water - 4 apples, peeled and cored - 100 g sugar - salt - 50 g raisins - 1 tbs cinnamon - 1 pack (8 g) of vanilla sugar - 1 tsp. of ground cloves - 3 tbs lemon juice - 55 g almond shavings - 4 crushed rusks Prepare these ingredients as follows: - Bring a pan of water to the boil - mix 100 g flour, 50 g melted butter, the water and a pinch of salt - Add the rest of the flour - Knead the pastry with your hands until it's supple - pour the boiling liquid out of the pan - Put greaseproof paper into the pan and lay the pastry on it - Cover it and wait for 90 minutes - Preheat the oven at 190 degrees Celsius (374 degrees Fahrenheit) - Cut the apples into small cubes - Mix the apple cubes, the sugar, the raisins, cinnamon, vanilla sugar, cloves, lemon juice and almond shavings - Dust your working surface with flour - Roll out the pastry with a rolling pin until you get a piece of 20x30 cm - Put it on a piece of greaseproof paper - Then stretch it out with your hands until it's 50x70 cm, until it's almost transparent - Spread it with butter - Sprinkle it with the crushed rusk - Cover half the pastry with the apple mixture - let 4 cm of the edges uncovered - Fold the borders to the inside - Roll the strudel up with the help of the greaseproof paper - Cover the roll with the rest of the butter - Put the strudel on a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper - Bake it in the preheated oven for 55 minutes - Let it cool down a bit and then enjoy! | 2019-04-23T00:13:53 | http://www.mary.com/tessa-s-cooking-apple-strudel.html |
0.998972 | The simplest definition of an insurance agent is simply: A person employed to sell insurance policies.
In the real world, "insurance agent" gets used as an umbrella term describing any licensed person in the agency, but the more specific definition describes the agent as the "principal" of the agency.
The agent is the owner of the agency and is generally the person contracted with the insurance company to sell the products that they offer.
There is a local Allstate Agency called the Jensen Agency. Sarah Jensen owns the agency, rents the building, and is the employer of Barb, the CSR (customer service representative) and Thomas, the producer.
They all hold the same licenses with the state, but Sarah is the person who holds the contract with Allstate to sell their products, therefore, she is the "Agent."
Sarah is the owner of the Jensen Agency, a local Allstate agency.
Sarah got into insurance sales a few years back while working as an insurance producer for a different agency in her town.
Through the years, she became a well known name in her community. People came up to her in restaurants all the time, just because they knew her from her work as the local insurance person.
One day, Sarah was approached by a representative from Allstate, and was offered an opportunity to open her own agency, selling exclusively Allstate products.
Sarah was sad to leave her agency, but she saw that this opportunity to own her own business looked too good to pass up.
Now that Sarah has owned her own agency for a couple of years, she has the ability to directly influence her income much more than she could as a producer. She sees that the more business she can generate for her agency, the better the business's bottom line looks.
She has two employees, a customer service representative, and a producer, so the phones are covered, and when a new customer walks in, the producer takes care of the sale (most of the time).
Sarah's main job is to make sure that the agency has a steady flow of new business coming to it. She is a member of several different community organizations, and much of her time operating the business is spent outside of the office.
She also makes sure that her internet leads and other inbound marketing practices stay operational, and that her producer stays busy with new sales.
Since she has the most responsibility in her office, she also has some stresses that her employees don't feel. She has to make sure that her accounting is always in order, that the bills are always paid, and that she can always make payroll. She is, in fact, a true business owner.
Who pays an insurance agent? The agency, in most cases, pays the insurance agent. So then, who pays the agency? Depending on how the contract is set up, the agency is usually paid a percentage commission based on the insurance premiums that they sell.
The average percentage of the premium paid is generally between 6% - 15%, again, totally dependent on the agreement between the agency and the writing insurance company.
How a small business owner decides to pay their own salary is up to them. Here are the best numbers that we could find describing the salaries of insurance agents in each state.
The information in this table is gathered from a couple of sources. Salary ranges were provided by individual members of Glassdoor.com. Income per capita figures are based on the year 2014, and gathered from this Wikipedia page.
There are a couple of different ways to become an insurance agent. The biggest decision you will make when exploring the opportunity is whether to become a captive agent (selling one brand), or an independent agent (contracted with multiple companies). An article with information on captive vs independent will be coming soon.
Each different company that you wish to contract with will have different requirements that you must bring to the table.
One thing that is a requirement for any direction that you take is licensing. You must have your insurance license to become an insurance agent.
Be sure to do your research before you jump into a contract with a company. Every opportunity is different, so be sure to pick the one that will suit your situation the best. | 2019-04-26T15:51:39 | https://staterequirement.com/positions-insurance-agent/ |
0.99945 | In both categories of grant the following considerations will be applied by the Foundation.
- The applicant must be a UK organisation with its management, operations and benefits all centred in the UK.
- Matched funding by other bodies will be encouraged wherever possible.
-The VTCT Foundation does not work on projects where commercial interests are involved.
- Any grants made may only be used for the agreed purpose.
- Applicants will need to give not only an outline of the proposed study or project, its purpose, timescale and costs, but give a clear indication of its value in the longer term and how its outcomes can be evaluated.
- Successful applicants must agree to acknowledge publicly the funding received from The VTCT Foundation and allow their name and information about the project to be reported in newsletters published by Vocational Training Charitable Trust.
Particularly in the case of large scale projects applicants will need to demonstarte the credibility of the overall project, provide a full background of those institutions and individuals involved, the timescales for it and details of each stage and costs.
Agreement will normally be required to allow the The VTCT Foundation to consult with appropriate professional experts on the validity of the project before agreement.
Proposals will be required in respect of regular reporting back in order to evaluate progress.
In the interest of maximising the efforts of many organisations in the disfigurement field and to increase the effectiveness of the grants made to them, The VTCT Foundation wishes to encourage as much collaboration and cooperation as possible.
Through the activities of the Appearance Collective, sponsored by The VTCT Foundation, in developing seminars and meetings on subjects of common interest it is hoped that organisations can see greater benefits from their resources and efforts.
The Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) at the University of the West of England has received grants from The VTCT Foundation to enable it to undertake research and provide information of value to others working to support those with visible difference. It holds workshops on a regular basis in conjunction with the Appearance Collective.
The Foundation believes that the sharing of experience, information and results is key to successful outcomes for patients and professionals. It encourages, and expects, organisations in receipt of grants to provide access to the outcomes of research and experience. | 2019-04-25T18:28:18 | http://vtctfoundation.org.uk/guidance.html |
0.999926 | Preheat oven to 350. Spray muffin tin with oil.
Place lemon juice in a cup or bowl. Add milk, stir and let sit for 5 minutes to curdle.
Using a microwave, melt margarine or coconut oil in a large glass bowl. Remove and stir in olive oil, vanilla, sugar, then eggs. Pour in milk and stir. The next step is very important so you don't over mix the muffins. Add in the dry ingredients and only mix just until moistened. Mix should resemble very thick pancake like batter. Spoon into prepared muffin tin.
Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
Since honey is a liquid you need to reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe to compensate.
Simply reduce the almond milk by 1/3 of a cup (you would use 2/3 cup almond milk) and add 1/3 cup honey to the recipe. | 2019-04-26T00:44:29 | http://blog.glutenfreetraining.com/2011/12/gluten-free-whole-grain-cornbread.html |
0.999991 | What messages about teacher professionalism are transmitted through South African pre-service teacher education programmes?
Promoting teacher professionalism is regarded as a strategy to address the disparate quality of learning in South African classrooms. Through a qualitative analysis of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes offered by five universities, this paper analyses the messages of teacher professionalism transmitted to pre-service teachers. Findings show that professionalism in teaching is variously conveyed to pre-service teachers as being located in their personal appearance and attributes; within their personal morals and shared ethical imperatives; in the kinds of workplace relationships they build, and in their use of formal knowledge for reasoned judgment in practice. The Specialisation Dimension of Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) (Maton, 2014) is used to show that when teacher professionalism is presented as highly individualised traits, the possibilities of developing shared knowledge-based teaching practices is reduced, and the importance of conceptually-informed judgments is obscured. This shuts down possibilities for systemic improvement. Conversely, if teacher professionalism is primarily located in what teachers know and can do with that knowledge, the social, moral and affective dimensions of teaching are underemphasised. Ideally, approaches to teacher professionalism ought to introduce students to teaching as a communally-owned practice, based on shared knowledge that enables reasoned judgment. The paper draws on the conceptual tools offered by LCT to suggest how social and epistemic relations can be weakened and strengthened to enhance the construct of teacher professionalism offered to prospective teachers through their ITE programmes.
As in many other developing countries, South African teachers need to navigate the complexities associated with teaching in a rapidly changing, inequitable and largely under-performing education system (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2014). Advancing teachers' professional development is one of four outputs envisaged by UNESCO's (2006) Teacher Training Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa, and is widely regarded as one means of leveraging systemic improvements in the education system (Mukeredzi & Mandrona, 2013; Ndebele, Muhuro & Nkonki, 2016; Taylor, Van der Berg & Mabogoane, 2013). In legislation governing the provision of teacher education, teaching is conceptualised as a knowledge-based professional practice where "principles and theory are emphasised as a basis for entry into a professional teaching career" (Department of Higher Education and Training [DHET], 2015:20). A professional approach to the preparation of teachers is contrasted with skills-based approaches that produce "technicians who may be able to replicate performance in similar contexts, but who are severely challenged when the context changes" (DHET, 2015:9). Despite assertions in policy that teachers are to be prepared as prospective professionals, little is known about how Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes conceptualise teacher professionalism and seek to fulfil this mandate.
To address this gap, this paper analyses the conceptions and enactment of teacher professionalism transmitted by ITE programmes at five institutions that participated in the Initial Teacher Education Research Project (ITERP), led by JET Educational Services. The findings show how messages about teacher professionalism are variously transmitted through ITE programmes as being about individual attributes, as being part of a community with a shared moral purpose, and as having shared knowledge, and being able to account for the pedagogical decisions one makes. I conclude by suggesting how teacher professionalism can be strengthened in ITE and the grounds of its legitimation made more explicit to pre-service teachers.
A professional practice is classically understood as a collection of patterned actions that address a common endeavour, with action based on shared knowledge, skills and ways of thinking that can be taught and learned (Elmore, 2008; Gamble, 2010; Young & Muller, 2014). Because professional practices do not merely rely on intuition or common-sense perspectives, professionals need an extended pre-service education to acquire the necessary reservoirs of academic and diagnostic knowledge to make informed decisions when addressing complex problems that arise in practice (Abbott, 1988; Guile, 2014; Shalem, 2014), followed by an induction period as they enter the profession (Macbeath, 2012). They are accountable to peers in their practice for discernment and their ethical conduct.
Any claim that teaching is a professional practice needs to encompass both a professional knowledge claim and a claim to moral knowledge concerned with maintaining the ethical standing of the occupation (Winch, 2004). A moral claim of teachers is proposed by Dunne (MacIntyre & Dunne, 2002), who argues that an 'internal good' of teaching is the ethical imperative to act in the best education interests of learners and their wellbeing. The professional knowledge claim has been bolstered through research into pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). PCK is broadly understood as the knowledge teachers use to transform their subject knowledge into appropriate representations that diverse learners will find understandable. Researchers such as Loughran, Berry and Mulhall (2006); Rollnick, Bennett, Rhemtula, Dharsey and Ndlovu (2008) have attempted to further theorise PCK. While efforts to pin down examples of PCK have been hampered by its topic- and context-specific nature, others argue that while teachers' topic specific professional knowledge can be codified, PCK is enacted in con-textually responsive ways (Gess-Newsome & Carlson, 2013; Park & Oliver, 2008).
The professional status of teaching falls short if the list of traditional criteria is imposed on the work of teachers (Douglas, 2005; Elmore, 2008). In terms of the autonomy of professional practitioners, for example, there is contention around whether or not teachers are accountable to a professional body, or to the state (as their employer), to their institutions (as site managers), or to learners and their parents (as 'clients') (Gamble, 2010). Since Shulman (1987) identified the knowledge base that supports teachers' work, there has been a firmer base for recognising teaching as a professional practice. Teaching is recognised as intricate and unnatural work, requiring deliberate choices that are both conceptually-informed and contextually-responsive (Ball & Forzani, 2009; Morrow, 2007). On these grounds, teaching is accepted as a 'semi,' 'new' or 'proto' professional practice (Muller, 2009; Taylor & Taylor, 2013) in research and in policy. Professional teachers thus need to be educated (not merely trained), and should intentionally use a knowledge base to support their teaching practices (not merely indiscriminately apply a set of techniques and routines) within the contextual challenges of an emerging economy overcoming a legacy of inequality.
It is necessary to distinguish between the professionalisation of teaching and advancing teacher professionalism internationally and in the South African context. Enhancing teachers' professionalism is a pedagogic project that seeks to improve the internal quality of teachers' work (De Clercq, 2013). Professionalisation of teaching, on the other hand, is a sociological project that seeks to improve teachers' working conditions, as well as increase their status and collective power over their work (De Clercq, 2013; Hargreaves, 2000).
Professionalism cannot be imposed on or demanded from teachers because concerns "what teachers do, how and why they do it; what they know and understand; where and how they acquire their knowledge and understanding; what attitudes they hold; what codes of behaviour they follow; what their function is; what purposes they perform; what quality of service they provide; and the level of consistency incorporated into the above" (Evans, 2011:855). Conceptualised in this way, teacher educators are important role-players in introducing and inducting pre-service teachers into the practices associated with professional teaching.
Despite the increased bureaucratisation of teachers' work, the implementation of a skills-based performance management system and ongoing struggles to ensure that schools comply with the legislated norms and standards for infrastructure, numerous initiatives over the past twenty years have attempted to advance the professionalisation of teaching in South Africa. Initiatives to advance the professionalisation of teaching include the establishment of the South African Council for Educators (SACE) in 1997 to "enhance the status of the teaching profession, and promote development of educators and their professional conduct" (SACE, 2011). SACE is mandated to register teachers with a licence to practice (thereby opening possibilities for professional recognition) and to set professional teaching standards. In another example of an initiative that seeks to advance the professionalisation of teaching is the passing of legislation that moved the provision of ITE into the higher education sector (Republic of South Africa, 1997). All teachers need to qualify with an academic or professional degree, and pre-service teacher education qualifications (the four-year Bachelor of Education degree and one year PostGraduate Certificate in Education) focusing on "well rounded application of theory to professional practice" (DHET, 2015:19). Teacher educators are thus legislatively tasked with ensuring that pre-service teachers acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge that will enable them to "demonstrate competence and responsibility as academically and professionally qualified beginner teachers" (DHET, 2015:20). While this is identified as an important mission for teacher educators, little is known about how this endeavour to prepare teachers as professionals is enacted in South African pre-service teacher education programmes.
This paper addresses the research question of how pre-service teacher education programmes offered in the South African context conceptualise and transmit notions of teacher professionalism to students. This paper reports on a part of the ITERP that analysed the Bachelor of Education and PostGraduate Certificate in Education programmes offered by five South African universities. Participating institutions differed according to their geographical location, their language of instruction, merger history, and resourcing legacies. Ethics approval for the study was obtained from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Ethics Committees of each institution.
In each institution, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 to 15 teacher educators who teach on a range of courses, including education theory, content subjects and pedagogy. Interviews were also conducted with those involved in programme, course and practicum leadership. The participants were selected by the head/dean of education at each institution based on their academic leadership roles in their departments, their knowledge of the initial teacher education programmes, the courses they teach and their experience mentoring pre-service teachers during their practicum sessions.
Each interview lasted 40 minutes, and detailed notes on the participant responses were recorded on a template during and immediately after the interview. Participants were provided with an opportunity to review the reports, in order to ensure that their contributions had been accurately captured.
What are the key characteristics of a professional teacher?
How does the curriculum offered by this institution seek to enable student teachers to become the kind of professional teacher envisaged?
Using the characteristics of professionalism raised by lecturers, and with reference to their perceptions of where the curriculum addresses the professional development of teachers, the design and rationale of each institution's pre-service teacher education programmes was analysed. In particular, we drew on several sources of data that speak to the way in which the notion of teacher professionalism is transmitted to student teachers. These could be grouped into three main areas: through their expectations of students' conduct at university, through the formal university-based coursework offered to students, and through criteria used to assess the teaching competence of students during their teaching practicum sessions. To gain access to the espoused curriculum we analysed the official BEd syllabus and rules book, course outlines and study guides (where available). We also used the teaching practice assessment rubric to access criteria regarding the way in which professionalism is conceptualised and assessed during the practicum sessions.
Maton's (2000, 2007, 2014) Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) provides useful conceptual tools to analyse how teacher professionalism is understood and transmitted through pre-service teacher education programmes. The Specialisation Dimension is based on the premise that "every practice, belief or knowledge claim is about or oriented towards something and by someone, and so sets up an Epistemic Relation to an object (ER) and a Social Relation (SR) to a subject" (Carvalho, Dong & Maton, 2009:487). Every message regarding teacher professionalism thus has both a social relation and an epistemic relation that can be stronger (+) or weaker (-) along a continuum. Ways in which messages about what legitimates teacher professionalism vary in terms of the strength of an epistemic relation towards a knowledge base. The extent to which teacher professionalism is socially related to who a pre-service teacher is as a person also varies.
The relative strength of the epistemic relation to an object of study (in this case, teacher professionalism) interplays with relative strength of social relation (in this study, the subject as pre-service teachers) to describe four Specialisation Codes, which can be represented as a quadrant on a Cartesian plane as illustrated in Figure 1. These codes describe the underlying structures that legitimise the conceptions of teacher professionalism transmitted: by virtue of who the pre-service teacher is as a person (a Knower code with a weaker ER and stronger SR), by virtue of what they know irrespective of personal attributes (Knowledge code with a stronger ER, and a weaker SR), by both what they know and who they are (an Elite code in which both ER and SR are stronger), or by neither (a Relativist code, where both ER and SR are weaker). The discussion will draw on empirical data to postulate what teacher professionalism would look like when governed by each of these codes.
First, the concept of teacher professionalism was used as a sensitising concept to identify empirical data relevant to this part of the study. The empirical data deemed relevant was then analysed using the concepts from the Specialisation Dimension of Maton's (2007, 2014) LCT. Data that acknowledged prospective teachers as individuals who enter ITE programmes (with a unique combination of prior knowledge, constructed identity, and personal experiences of schooling, teaching and learning) were coded as having stronger social relation (SR+). The translation device shown in Table 1 has developed iteratively from the theory and tested and revised using empirical data. It defines three levels within a continuum from very strong to weak social relations in the context of this study.
Secondly, the data was examined for notions of teacher professionalism that rely on an established theoretical knowledge in order to allocate an epistemic relation (ER) to the data. This, for example, included data that referred to the induction of student teachers into established academic, disciplinary and teaching practices that transcend the diversities associated with students' personal traits, identified as having stronger epistemic relation (ER+). The strength of the epistemic relation is defined on the basis of where the knowledge is produced, and how transferable it is across diverse contexts. The translation device in Table 2 defines three levels within a continuum from strong to very weak epistemic relations in the context of this study.
The nature of this research as a case study introduces limitations in the data sets used, and as such, the findings of this study are provisional and not necessarily transferable to other institutions offering pre-service teacher education programmes. The purpose of this study is not to offer an evaluation of the different programmes, but rather to illustrate the different ways in which notions of professionalism in teaching have been transmitted to pre-service teachers. It is hoped that the analysis will illustrate how conceptions of teacher professionalism are transmitted to pre-service teachers through the curriculum, pedagogy and assessment of their ITE programmes.
Messages about teacher professionalism were found to be transmitted to students through expectations of students' conduct, university-based coursework, and criteria used to assess their teaching competence during practicum sessions. Drawing on the literature review, the results of this study will be discussed in three broad clusters, namely: the dispositional and behavioural (attributes); the social (indicative of the communal values and collective ethical imperatives that underpin professional relationships that prospective teachers build in their practice); and the intellectual (which relates to the knowledge and understanding teachers have, and the choices they make on the basis of that knowledge).
Teacher Professionalism as a Personal Attribute Lecturers from all five institutions asserted that the development of a professional identity is enhanced by students' 'desire to teach' and a 'commitment to the profession.' While some students who landed in teacher education programmes by default discovered a love of teaching as they participate in the practices, for most, this desire was an intrinsic one, akin to a vocational calling. Emphasis on the dispositional qualities of a prospective teacher reflects a stronger social relation to professionalism, and suggests that the ability to teach effectively cannot entirely be taught and learnt through formal instruction. Lecturers across institutions agreed that prospective teachers ought to have caring dispositions; be patient and enthusiastic; and 'have time for all learners' complaints and stories.' In addition, lecturers from just two universities went well beyond attributes about caring relationships with children to describe the 'ideal' dispositions of a professional teacher in terms of relationships to knowledge: an 'inherent curiosity,' a ' passion for the subjects they teach,' and an ' interest in understanding the way children think. ' The social relation of this message about being a professional teacher is relatively strong, but its epistemic relation is much weaker, because it is based on individual characteristics.
Three universities require that pre-service teachers interrogate their personal experiences of schooling, however, there are significant differences in how they draw on formal concepts to guide this process. First-year students at one university are asked to articulate their philosophy of teaching. Given that students have acquired very little formal knowledge about teaching, their responses have much weaker epistemic relation. The basis of their judgment (such as decisions for lesson planning, teaching strategies and so on) is presented, from the outset, as legitimated by their personal value system.
In two universities, pre-service teachers learn how policies and teacher unions have shaped the formation of teacher identities in South Africa. Identity, then, is presented not an individual journey, but a social one that forms as one appropriates practices and participates in conversations shaped by politics, policy and the priorities of a much wider community of teachers. Their journey of becoming a teacher thus has stronger ER and SR is weakened.
Professionalism through Personal Conduct University environments prepare pre-service teachers to develop the 'professional behaviour' that is expected of them in their future workplaces. Certain norms of teachers' professional conduct are developed implicitly through teacher educators' expectations of how students are to conduct themselves on campus. For example, expectations like the on-time assignment submission policy, punctual start of lectures, zero-tolerance of plagiarism, integrity in completing assessment tasks, and the rooting out of discrimination result in an induction into the discipline and knowledge practices of academia, as well as a socialisation into the conduct expected of prospective teachers in their future workplace. Lecturers, particularly those from two universities, emphasised the importance of teachers being 'good' role models for the children. This reflects a stronger social relation but does not depend on any specialised knowledge. These norms for professional conduct can be learnt in the course of everyday life, and so have a weaker epistemic relation.
In some universities, criteria in Teaching Practice (TP) assessment rubrics present 'professionalism' as the outer image that pre-service teachers project through their conduct, through their appearance and alongside aspects of their interactions with other school staff (such as the extent to which they are positive, respectful, loyal, courteous). Also included as sections of 'professionalism' are criteria that related to the way in which students worked within the school environment: whether they are organised, punctual, dependable, and participate meaningfully in the activities of the school. Although most TP guidelines alert students to the importance of complying with the SACE Code of Professional Ethics, these criteria are expressed in terms of expectations for appropriate conduct during school-based placements, rather than ethical imperatives that guide their classroom actions. Such criteria both weaken the social relation and the epistemic relation of how teacher professionalism is understood.
Teacher Professionalism as an Ethically-Driven Accountability to the Practice During interviews, lecturers from four of the institutions emphasised that understanding of the ethical imperatives that drive teachers' work is an essential aspect of developing their professionalism. These institutions offer coursework where concepts like ethics, ethical decision-making, morality and fairness are explicit objects of study. These modules draw on philosophical insights and therefore have a stronger epistemic relation than those emphasising compliance with conduct guidelines.
Pre-service teachers in two of the universities study sociologically-orientated modules on the role schooling plays in reproducing or disrupting unequal power relations in society. Students are introduced to sociological gazes that potentially enable them to notice prevalent exclusionary practices in schools that they might otherwise have overlooked. They are invited to consider their roles (as future teachers and potential agents of reproduction or change) within existing social structures. This coursework seeks to create a cultivated gaze in which there are both stronger epistemic and social relations. Some evidence of an ethical orientation could be found in the teaching practicum assessment rubrics, mainly related to principles of inclusion and use of inclusionary pedagogies. One university merely requires that pre-service teachers have an 'accommodating attitude' towards learner diversity, however others expect pre-service teachers to ' make pedagogical choices that respond intentionally to diversities encountered.' The former is at the level of personal interaction, whereas the latter has implications for informed classroom action.
This section considers the way in which ITE programmes transmit messages to pre-service teachers that their professionalism resides in specialist knowledge and their ability to use that knowledge to make reasoned pedagogical judgements in practice.
Theoretical Knowledge of Education All five programmes studied contained courses that all pre-service teachers - irrespective of their phase and/or subject specialisation - are required to study as knowledge for practice (Rusznyak, 2015). A strong epistemic relation within the BEd degrees offered by different institutions is exemplified through compulsory modules on education, schooling, teaching and learning. All programmes contained modules that taught prospective teachers about generalised patterns of human development (typically including cognitive, social, moral and emotional development). In addition, all programmes included coursework on intrinsic and extrinsic barriers to learning commonly experienced by children. Just two universities include modules where the knowledge bases of teaching are an explicit object of study. In other programmes, these links are implicit and students are required to work out the links between different courses in their programme themselves. The way in which theoretical knowledge informs teaching practice is therefore less visible in these programmes, and may be a contributing factor in explaining why some teachers struggle to see how research and theory can strengthen teaching practices.
Subject and Pedagogical Knowledge for Teachers All programmes included courses that seek to build the subject-specific knowledge of prospective teachers, although a comparative analysis of these courses has shown much variation in terms of time allocation and depth (Bowie & Reed, 2016). All programmes included a criterion in TP assessment rubrics about the content knowledge of students during the practicum, but the weighting varied considerably. In some, content knowledge exists as one of many points on a checklist, whereas in others, high levels of content knowledge constitutes a non-negotiable requirement on the basis of which competence in teaching depends (Rusznyak & Bertram, 2015). Whereas criteria at two universities stipulated that the students' subject knowledge should be 'sound,' 'sufficient,' 'thorough' and 'accurate,' others specify what student teachers are expected to do with that knowledge. For example, comprehensive and well-organised conceptual knowledge ought to enable students to 'foreground main ideas' and 'develop content logically and systematically,' draw on 'appropriate examples from the real world,' and use their knowledge of the subject/topic to inform their justification of pedagogic choices. Subject knowledge is thus not merely one of many aspects needed for competent teaching, but constitutes a basis for important pedagogical choices.
In the coursework offered by four universities, pre-service teachers undertake subject-specific pedagogy courses. The use of subject knowledge as a basis for professional judgment is potentially enhanced though subject-specific pedagogy courses, where students are required to account for the pedagogic decisions made in relation to the topic being taught. These potentially establish opportunities for the construction of PCK, however the extent to which students are expected to make knowledge-based pedagogic decisions in their teaching varies across institutions. The importance of students' developing professional judgment is minimised in subject methodology courses that focus exclusively on using pre-developed material to rehearse for confident lesson delivery. Opportunities to develop teachers' professional reasoning are created when pre-service teachers are required to interrogate the selection and sequencing of the knowledge they teach. It is further developed when opportunities are created for them to critical analyse the way in which conceptual knowledge is represented in learning materials, and evaluate the value of the learning opportunities constructed by learner-based classwork and assessment tasks. Furthermore, opportunities for developing pedagogical reasoning are restricted when criteria in the teaching practicum assessment rubric are expressed as technical application of particular strategies rather than in relation to a conceptually informed judgment about the appropriateness of a strategy in a particular situation (Rusznyak & Bertram, 2015).
Although during interviews, teacher educators from three universities stressed the importance of students learning to justify their pedagogic decisions, the justification of pedagogic choices is a lesson planning requirement and a formal criterion in the TP assessment instrument at only one of the participating universities. The ability of a student to account for the grounds upon which the pedagogic choices are made is enabled by criteria such as ' [evidence that the student] thoughtfully selects and effectively uses a variety of teaching and learning strategies appropriate to content and learners,' that he/she has the ' ability to reflect in action, and change tack if necessary to do so' and can 'justify reasons for pedagogic choices.' Reflection in and on teaching is required by students at all institutions during their practicum sessions. Students are sometimes provided with specific questions to guide them through a reflection process. The use of concepts to inform their reflection can range from trial-and-error (ER-) or through conceptually guided thinking (ER+).
The analysis of the different ways in which professionalism is transmitted to pre-service teachers through five ITE programmes shows that conceptions of teacher professionalism are transmitted through the expectations teacher educators hold of student conduct, the demands in assessment tasks, knowledge selected for inclusion in coursework, the requirements for success during the practicum and the criteria on practicum assessment instruments used. The analysis shows that all five institutions work with conceptions of teacher professionalism as having a relatively strong social relation. However, the extent to which a strong epistemic relation is transmitted as a criterion for what constitutes teacher professionalism differed greatly between the five programmes analysed. I will use the results of the findings to consider hypothetical ways in which the messages of what constitutes teacher professionalism revealed in the analysis of data can be combined to legitimate professional teaching primarily within Relativist, Knower, Knowledge or Elite codes as described by Maton's LCT framework. A summary of the analysis is presented in Table 3 below.
In the discussion, I look at the potential for advancing the professionalisation of teaching when the SR and ER of the criteria legitimising teacher professionalism are weakened and strengthened.
The criterion that measures teacher professionalism by appearance and dress code has neither social nor epistemic relation. It would thus exemplify teacher professionalism conceptualised as a Relativist Code (where both ER and SR are weakened). If teachers emerge from ITE programmes believing that their appearance, punctuality and demeanour is primarily where their claim to professionalism lies, they would possess a restricted understanding of the intellectual work of professional teaching. These traits, while not unimportant for teachers, are similarly expected of any other occupation that provides a public service. It provides a deficient way of conceptualising the nature of teacher professionalism and consequently cannot contribute to the systemic improvement of teaching across the education sector.
An ITE programme that locates teacher professionalism in a Knower code (where ER is weakened, and SR is very strong) is concerned with producing a graduate with the 'right' kind of attributes. The importance of personal disposition and conduct is foregrounded in practicum assessment, and the programme would create opportunities for each pre-service teacher to follow a unique development trajectory that is effectively unchartered. Prospective teachers would be taught that their professionalism lies primarily in their natural disposition, their personally-acquired practical knowledge, and gaze on practice that is cultivated through immersion in the field of practice. This would require extended apprenticeship in the sites of practice, where personalised learning through personal reflection based on experience alone would be valued over insights enabled by theoretical knowledge. Without the lens of theory, all views and perceptions are regarded as equivalent, and there is no recognised authority, despite evidence and/or research that points to some perspectives being more generative than others. Inducting pre-service teachers into a practice where every option is as good as the next means that they do not have access to ordering principles that enable them to distinguish the priorities between the competing demands they inevitably face in their day-to-day practice.
Constructing teacher professionalism in this way creates an impression that professional teaching is more about the qualities of teachers as individuals than about being part of a collective that strives for shared excellence within their schools, districts and the education system more broadly. Without understanding that the practice is based on a shared knowledge base and a shared commitment to an ethical imperative, pre-service teachers could leave an ITE programme thinking that their professionalism resides in their disposition and conduct, rather than in drawing on a knowledge base to make conceptually informed judgments. With the focus on individual attributes, attention is deflected from teaching as a communal knowledge-based practice, and the potentially exclusionary structures in which teachers practice. It thus offers limited potential for opening up ways of building a community of highly effective teachers capable of transforming an under-performing education system.
ITE programmes that conceptualise teacher professionalism as a Knowledge Code (where ER is strengthened, and SR weakened) would emphasise the existence of a specialised knowledge that transcends individual differences between members of a practice. The competence of a professional teacher would exclusively depend on how much they know and how that knowledge enables them to achieve the purposes of the practice. Legitimating teacher professionalism as a Knowledge code would mean admission to an ITE programme based exclusively on whether applicants could cope with the academic demands of the programme. Their motivation, commitment or dispositions would be inconsequential for admission, and would not be valid grounds for assessment during the programme.
Were an ITE programme to legitimise teacher professionalism exclusively in a Knowledge code, the experiential knowledge of classroom life and systems of meaning that prospective teachers bring into their ITE programmes would be deemed irrelevant. Samuel (2009) usefully points out that ignoring the social relations that pre-service teachers hold towards teaching is likely to alienate them from ITE coursework, and severely constrain their appropriation of practices. This conception of teacher professionalism ignores what De Clercq (2013) identifies as being part of what is crucial for meaningful professionalisation of teaching in the South African context: attention to teachers' beliefs, values, and professional identity.
Attempts to understand teaching exclusively from a base of abstract professional knowledge ignores the individualise artistry of teaching (Hargreaves & Goodson, 1996; Sockett, 2008). Teachers' personal mission, beliefs and disposition influence their thinking and behaviour in a classroom in both conscious and unconscious ways, such that teachers' practice can neither be hyper-clinical nor purely rational (e.g. Flores, 2006; Korthagen, 2004; Palmer, 2007). A knowledge focus can therefore support but never be sufficient for a practice that, like teaching, is driven by ethical imperatives for learner wellbeing and social justice.
In this analysis, an Elite Code (where both social relation and epistemic relation are strengthened) offers the greatest potential for advancing the professionalisation of teaching. It bases its conception of teacher professionalism in both specialist knowledge, and a cultivated gaze that enables a teacher to understand and be responsive to the complexities of classroom life. Pre-service teachers would be taught that there are rational reasons why certain approaches and strategies are more appropriate than others. However, their classroom action ought not to be entirely informed by teaching protocols, but also by what is appropriate given their context and the learning support needs of the children they teach. Principles arising from academic knowledge (including content knowledge, educational theory and pedagogical knowledge), personal dispositions, and experience can be used as a basis for conceptually informed professional judgments that are both ethically driven, and responsive to diverse contextual realities. While acknowledging the varying experiences of teaching and learning that pre-service teachers bring into their ITE programmes, this approach seeks to provide a knowledge base that supports practice, and provides ample opportunities for pre-service teachers to generate conceptually informed rationales for their pedagogic choices and judgment in simulated or actual practice-based contexts.
Although teacher educators are expected to prepare teachers as prospective professionals, newly qualified teachers begin their teaching careers in a system characterised by high pressure for bureaucratic compliance, performance management and highly prescriptive curriculum and assessment requirements. Intentionally building ITE programmes with conceptual coherence around the idea of teacher professionalism as an 'Elite' code creates conditions for possibility for preparing teachers that can develop the "teacher mindset and behaviour to take responsibility for the quality of their teaching and school education as a whole" (De Clercq, 2013:18). Advancing professionalism in the South African context requires "deep changes in the intellectual knowledge, mindset and values of teachers" as well as for teachers to develop "stronger professional identities and responsible commitment to learners and quality school education" (De Clercq, 2013:18). However, the professional preparation of pre-service teachers will not make an impact on the education system if the most capable newly qualified teachers are expected to work in environments where they are unable to practice as professionals; where scripted lessons is the norm and further development of their pedagogic reasoning is restricted. The recent initiatives by SACE to begin the development of standards for professional teaching has the potential to open up important conversations amongst practicing teachers about the intellectual basis of their practice, the ethical imperatives and the pedagogic reasoning that their work demands. If these initiatives are merely designed to impose further technical, bureaucratic or performance management obligations on teachers, their potential for advancing teacher professionalism will not be attained. The intentions to develop a supported induction period for newly qualified teachers also has the potential to open spaces for new and mentoring teachers to talk about the pedagogic choices they make in their practice.
This paper has argued that the ways in which teacher professionalism is conceptualised and enacted in ITE programmes has important implications for how prospective teachers come to understand and embody their practice. If the quality of professional teaching is to be improved systematically across the sector, pre-service teachers ought not to qualify accepting that becoming a professional teacher is a matter of merely ensuring that they comply with a code of conduct, are patient with learners, and are appropriately attired. A more robust view of teacher professionalism demands consideration of the ethical imperatives that guide relationships and practice, the thoughtful use of theoretical knowledge in response to contextual demands, and personal development that builds capacity for discernment in practice. Teacher educators need to be cognisant of the ways in which they intentionally prepare (and don't prepare) prospective teachers as knowledgeable, thinking practitioners who subscribe to a collective ethical imperative to act in the best educational interests of their learners. This paper has shown how these messages can be embodied in various ways in the coursework and practicum requirements of ITE if pre-service teachers are to qualify with a deep understanding of the nature of their work as prospective professionals.
The author acknowledges the ongoing support of the UNESCO Chair Forum in Teacher Education for Diversity and Development. This work is based on the research supported wholly/in part by JET Education Services and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant Numbers 109224) - https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001321. | 2019-04-25T07:50:11 | http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0256-01002018000300004&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= |
0.999687 | Wainwright pushed the lever to bring his ship into normal space, and, as the stars reappeared, started to look for the familiar solar system on his astro-screen.
Twenty long years ago he had disappeared beyond radio contact with the universe, on this first manned voyage to the stars — now, back to Earth, with the saddening news that nowhere, not about any of the stars he had visited — the Alpha Centauri, Vega, Orion, Sirius, or any of the other dozen or so — was there a planet capable of supporting more than a fractional number of Earth's teeming billions. By now, he reflected, the number would be nearly doubled since he left — fervently, he hoped that the next journey would be successful. If it was not — what then?
He made a routine check of the co-ordinates; yes, everything appeared to be all right in the solar system, viewed from this distance, far outside the orbit of Pluto. Then he realised something — the radio which, when he had left, had been alive with the crackling of the many stations in the solar system, was silent — not even the call-signs of the interplanetary beacons, made up of a radioactive core, which should never die out, broke the silence!
First, he checked the set, tried the laser receiver, the deep-space radio-telescope — yet he could find nothing to reassure him. Something dreadful had happened!
He then switched to transmit, for the first time in twenty years, and sent out his call sign, agreed upon before he left the orbit round the moon, where the ship, never designed to go into the earth's atmosphere, had been built specially for the one and only trip it would make. No reply penetrated the eerie silence of the cabin and he began to be a little worried. Still, in a matter of days, his ship would be in orbit round the Earth, waiting for a service craft to come and take him home, and to check his tiny, one-man interstellar probe with the equipment on board that had taken years of research and the finest brains on Earth to develop. This equipment had worked perfectly, generating the field that had carried him on a grand cruise to the nearer parts of the Milky Way. Without developing any noticeable faults, it had brought him home — to what? He did not know and dared not guess.
A few hours later, he shot past silent Pluto, freezing under its eternal blanket of solid hydrogen, and headed inwards, still receiving no replies to his urgent signals. Soon, he should find out what had happened.
Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter — all appeared now uninhabited, as if the small exploratory stations had been withdrawn and their dwellings left to decay.
The asteroids were the same, hardly depleted at all yet, by the mining operations necessitated by the growing need for the metals they contained. His ship had been built from most of one of the smaller ones, XK 657, he remembered. He did not check very closely, because he was still worried about the continued radio silence from all sources.
Deeply worried now, he turned up the power on his radio transmitter, and explored the moon with the searching fingers of the electron telescope — no sign of man appeared at all, and the moon seemed suddenly larger, and less pockmarked with craters than it had been before.
Then he went cold all over, as he realised that the Apennine range, cut through in many places over the years of increasing colonisation, was completely whole — not a mark of the work of centuries appeared!
Now with a real sense of urgency he accelerated down towards the Earth. Surely he must find something — his telescope would show him everything more than a hundred yards across, on the earth. What would it reveal?
Settling into orbit just outside the atmosphere he subjected Europe to an intense scrutiny. Where were the City of Britain and the European Community. Only rolling hills and ubiquitous forests mets his gaze.
All over the world it was the same — forests covering all the land, with the polar caps shrunken and thin. The continents, too, were out of place — somehow bunched together and mis-shapen.
Then his numbed mind realised that there would be no service ship to take him home. Wainwright burst into insane laughter as it came home to him — he must starve and die there, stranded on the fringes of the atmosphere in his twenty-fifth century starship, above the primeval Earth.
Do you know Borrowdale, the wettest area of the British Isles? We can now state that this fact is true. Miss Green and Miss Boulton bravely assumed command over seven misguided fifth and sixth formers, and took us to camp at Grange-in-Borrowdale from the 8th to the 15th of August, and we would like to thank (?) them for doing so.
We soon discovered that the quickest way to enlist help, concerning such complicated mano’euvres as erecting tents and lighting primus stoves, was to stand about looking pathetic, and wait for more experienced campers to offer their services.
Throughout the week we enjoyed such things as hikes, swimming in the River Derwent (for the hardy ones only!) and drinking coffee in the cafe at Grange. Most of the days ended with a sing-song and supper (biscuits and hot chocolate, drinking chocolate) in the large tent.
Saturday night was most exciting. Borrowdale's worst storm in living memory occurred that night, leaving a trail of destruction throughout the valley. The nine of us huddled together in the large tent, singing to keep out the thunder and endeavouring to mop up the stream that was flowing through the tent.
The rain finally gave way to beautiful sunshine on the day that we came home.
We did enjoy ourselves. Honestly! | 2019-04-22T12:32:09 | http://ecclesgrammar.co.uk/Essayan%201967/essayan_67_11.html |
0.992855 | Let me write a line - Luke.
I was with you tonight at the church and listened to what the preacher (Gordon) said in reference to religions and their point of contact, and was some what surprised at his declarations as to the analogy which he drew between the believers in the various so-called Christian religions.
Religion is a matter of soul and not of intellect, and the greater the development of the soul in the right direction, the higher will be the spiritual state or condition of the soul. Mere intellectual belief, no matter how intense and undoubting, will not tend to bring about this spiritual development, for "religion is really nothing but the relationship and harmony of men's souls with the Soul of God." The mind will not be sufficient to create this state because the mind of man cannot possibly bring into harmony the Soul of the Creator and that of the creature. Mind in its exercise may tend to awaken the soul to this possibility of relationship, but only the workings of the soul can effectuate the complete unity of the Creator and the created. Only soul can speak to soul, and mind is only a helper, provided the soul is alive in its longings.
I know that among these various religions there are individuals who have found the way to the method of becoming transformed into the Divine nature of the Father, and this notwithstanding that the teachings and creeds of the several churches do not show the way to this soul development into the spiritual of the Divine. But in these churches there is wanting, in their dogmas and doctrines, that which will help men to this true religion.
Because it may be found that in the churches there are some who have, to a degree, this Divine spirituality, there is no justification in saying that there is any common place of meeting in these several religions. Of course the moral precepts may be and are taught by all the Christian churches, and when observed will ultimately lead all men to the condition of the perfect natural man, and only to this extent can it be said that they may have a common ground of religion arising from the belief in the moral teachings.
And the church which declares and teaches as its religion with great exactness and more enlarged comprehension is the church in which this, as I may call it, natural religion exists; and the more dissimilar these churches are in these teachings the farther apart is their approach (sic). If a preacher of one church knows, with the conviction that arises from his sincere and honest investigation of the moral laws, that some other church is not teaching or insisting on the observation on the part of its members of these great moral truths, then he has no right to conclude and say this latter church is the possessor of religion, as is the church in which these moral truths are taught and followed by its adherents.
It is a mistake for a preacher to say that because there may be good and spiritual men in all churches, therefore, one church is as good and religious in its teachings as another church. Truth is of such a nature that it cannot be compromised, and the man or preacher who would compromise the truth is not fulfilling his duty to God or man.
That the preachers of the various churches should accept as equal and the possessors of the true religion whenever these moral lessons are alike taught by these churches and have a common point of approach, is not to be wondered at, because these preachers do not know the higher religion, or are able to teach the way to the same. And when it is understood that a moral truth is a truth no matter where it may appear and by whom taught, there is some justification in declaring that all churches which teach the moral truths are on a plane of equality, and that one is entitled to as much respect and freedom from criticism as another. And further, as the great truth of the rebestowal of the potentiality of receiving the Divine Love, and the effect on men's souls, was never known and taught until the coming of the Master, it is not surprising that none of the churches can or do teach this great spiritual truth, and the only true religion arising there from. The knowledge of this truth perished from the earth a short time after the passing of the Master, and hence no church can teach this religion of the soul that transforms the mortal into the Divine.
I thought it advisable to make these few remarks on the declaration of the preacher, as showing that his broad assertion that the religions mentioned, which to him is all embracing, may have a common meeting point with every religion. When he learns the truth, he will realize the errors of his human and brotherly declarations. I will not write more. Good night, and God bless you. | 2019-04-23T20:24:20 | https://www.padgettmessages.net/messages-in-1918/1918/04/25/minor150.html |
0.999999 | Chinese state media reported Friday that an explosion at a pesticide plant in the eastern part of the country has killed 62 people.
According to Reuters, 34 people were critically injured and 28 are missing--the latest casualties in a series of industrial accidents that has angered the public.
The blast occurred in an industrial park in the city of Yancheng, in Jiangsu province.
The fire was finally brought under control at 3 a.m.
At least 62 people are dead and more than 600 injured after an explosion at a chemical plant in China. This video, "<a target=_blank rel="nofollow noopener"..
An explosion at a pesticide plant in eastern China has killed 47 people and injured more than 600, state media said on Friday. | 2019-04-19T19:20:28 | https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20190323/11526818/China-Chemical-Plant-Blast-Kills-62-Injures-Hundreds.htm |
0.998854 | You know it's gotten bad when the president is required to do damage control for his lawyer, but that's exactly what happened Thursday morning, when Donald Trump took to Twitter to explain himself, after Rudolph Giuliani admitted on Fox News that Trump repaid $130,000 in hush money to Stormy Daniels. In suspiciously non-capitalized prose, Trump (or his ghost-tweeter) basically confirmed the story and said it was no biggie.
"He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation," Giuliani said. "He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that, and he couldn't get that. So he fired him, and he said, 'I'm free of this guy.'"
In saying this, Giuliani appears to have thought that he was exonerating Trump. Giuliani was saying Trump didn't fire Comey to obstruct the investigation into Trump campaign collusion with Russian sabotage of our election, but rather because Comey didn't publicly clear him, which Giuliani believes Trump was "entitled to."
But this undercuts the leading public rationale that Trump offered for firing Comey. The White House has cited Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation as the fake pretext for the firing. But now Trump's own lawyer has confirmed on national television that the rationale was directly related to the Russia investigation.
"It seems that Giuliani is trying to suggest that Trump did not obstruct justice when he fired Comey," Barbara McQuade, a former prosecutor and current law professor at the University of Michigan, told me. "But in fact he may just be building the case against him. Even demanding that Comey make a public statement that Trump is not under investigation would itself potentially be obstruction of justice."
McQuade added that insisting on such a public statement constitutes "interfering in the investigation."
Here's a key bit of context showing why Giuliani's admission could be important: Remember that Trump himself reportedly made this same demand of Comey - and that special counsel Robert Mueller III appears to be examining that demand as part of his effort to determine whether Trump obstructed justice.
After Comey publicly confirmed the existence of the probe in March of 2017, Trump told Comey in a March 30 phone call that he wanted Comey to confirm he was not personally under investigation, to publicly "lift the cloud" that the probe had cast over his presidency, according to Comey's memos. Comey detailed in the memos that he didn't want to do this, because the status of the probe could change (as it ultimately did), and he wanted to avoid having to publicly confirm such a change later. Comey took this exchange seriously enough to report it to his superiors at the Justice Department.
What's more, we know that a short time later, Trump personally asked two other top intelligence officials to publicly confirm what Comey would not. As The Washington Post reported, they both refused the request, which they deemed "inappropriate." Trump subsequently went further, prodding them to directly intervene with Comey to curtail the investigation, which they also refused to do.
We also know that Mueller is looking at all of this conduct. To establish obstruction, Mueller needs to show that in trying to hamstring or derail the probe, Trump acted with "corrupt intent," say, to protect himself and his top officials from scrutiny. The leaked questions from Mueller show that he wants to ask Trump about that very same March 30 call with Comey in which he seems to have demanded that Comey publicly exonerate him. Mueller wants to probe Trump's state of mind about all of this, including whether Comey's public confirmation of the investigation - which angered Trump - helped precipitate Comey's firing.
Giuliani has now publicly confirmed that all that did indeed figure into Trump's rationale. And Mueller's team may take an interest in this, McQuade told me: "This will cause them to review what they've done already and will inform their questions going forward."
To be clear, it still remains very unlikely that Mueller will try to indict Trump for obstruction of justice. But Mueller is expected to produce a report on the obstruction question, and his findings on it may be made public in some form. Whether or not Trump can be held criminally liable for obstruction, Mueller may end up documenting a pattern of very serious misconduct, which could shed new light on just how far Trump went to shield himself and his cronies from accountability, something that could have serious implications for our politics and for our efforts to restore the integrity of the rule of law amid Trump's nonstop degradation of it.
Giuliani has inadvertently lent more salience to this whole line of inquiry. | 2019-04-26T05:53:54 | https://www.heraldnews.com/opinion/20180503/opinion-giulianis-other-big-admission-may-be-even-worse-for-trump |
0.999995 | That's true, I don't envision the same items being rebuild all the time.
How do you combine items in Two Worlds then, drag them on top of another? That's true, I don't envision the same items being rebuild all the time. How do you combine items in Two Worlds then, drag them on top of another?
You drag them into an alchemy pot. It's five blank spots that take up to ten total items (Two of each, or ten of one, or anything in between). Then you click on the actual pot to combine them, and it generates the item based off of what you spent to get it. There is also an alchemy skill that controls its efficiency, but you can always use alchemy even if you haven't bought the skill. You drag them into an alchemy pot. It's five blank spots that take up to ten total items (Two of each, or ten of one, or anything in between). Then you click on the actual pot to combine them, and it generates the item based off of what you spent to get it. There is also an alchemy skill that controls its efficiency, but you can always use alchemy even if you haven't bought the skill. | 2019-04-24T23:56:27 | https://www.instantkingdom.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3765&start=70 |
0.998431 | I have seen a shared hosting offer with this feature "1000 mb bandwidth?". What does it mean? I think today hosting offers are providing unlimited banwidth and I can control that on my hosting plans?
"Unlimited" is a marketing gimmick done by web hosting companies to attract customers. There is no unlimited like things. 1000MB bandwidth mean that you have approx of 1GB bandwidth for your website.
Bandwidth is the amount of data your hosting account is allowed to send/receive per billing period. Bandwidth is used when a visitor access your website, if you upload/download files, stream videos etc. The bigger your website is the more bandwidth you will use. You should also look into services such as cloudflare which serve a cached version of static files from their own servers which will reduce your bandwidth usage.
Unlimited is primarily for marketing, the provider doesn't usually set a limit or sent a very high limit which would leave you to believe that you are getting unlimited however they will still have an Acceptable Usage Policy, if you use too much they will probably need you to upgrade / move your account.
Oh if it was 1GB bandwidth only, I think it will not enough for my website uses in the future.
Bandwidth is the amount of data your hosting account is allowed to send/receive per billing period. Bandwidth is used when a visitor access your website, if you upload/download files, stream videos etc.
It is calculated by number of data that downloaded/uploaded from my website?
. The bigger your website is the more bandwidth you will use. You should also look into services such as cloudflare which serve a cached version of static files from their own servers which will reduce your bandwidth usage.
Yes on all my websites I used Cloudflare and that saved more Bandwidth.
Can I measure exactly how much bandwidth that I am having on my hosting? or I need to ask this from my hosting provider?
You should go with a plan that have 10GB of Space and 100GB of Bandwidth. This will help you to start and grow your website without any issues.
And for what in general this bandwidth? What does it affect? | 2019-04-21T02:19:44 | https://www.webmastersun.com/threads/20552-1000-mb-bandwidth?s=6cb43542e0fc2ed8e4088d4ab25e0c87 |
0.999982 | Place property blocks so that housing lots are placed on high point lots. Try to build a city that generates a maximum amount of money value by placing the right types of buildings in block areas. It's time to build a city. You are the mayor and your goal is to make the citizens happy. | 2019-04-25T18:37:53 | http://www.tilegames.net/game/m/mega-city/ |
0.999111 | Questions for "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
1. Martin Luther King writes as a member of several communities, some overlapping, some in conflict. What are they? Focusing on two or three, explain how he defines himself within each?
2. What is the meaning of ekklesia? What does King mean when he invokes "the true ekklesia"?
3. How does King balance the twin appeals to religion and patriotism throughout "Letter from Birmingham Jail"/ Do you think he puts more emphasis on religion or patriotism? Why do you think he makes this choice?
4. In the later 1960s, Alice Walker wrote an essay titled "The Civil Rights Movement What good Was It?" How could you answer her question today? What good do you believe has resulted from the civil rights movement?
5. What is King's tone in the opening paragraph? How might you make an argument for its being ironic?
6. How do King's allusions to biblical figures and events appeal to both ethos and pathos?
7. Why does King go into such detail to explain the basic principles and the process of the nonviolent protest movement?
8. In the long sentence in paragraph 14 (beginning with "But when you have seen"), why does King arrange the "when" clauses in the order that he does? Try repositioning them, and then discuss the difference in effect.
9. Why does King wait until paragraph 45 to address the alleged commendable behavior of the Birmingham police in "preventing violence"?
10. King uses repetition of single words or phrases, of sentence structures, and of sounds. Focus on a passage of one or more paragraphs, discuss the effect of this use of repetition. | 2019-04-22T22:25:11 | https://tpruyne.weebly.com/question-for-letter-from-birmingham-jail.html |
0.999392 | Sometime around 1892, a Connecticut dentist named Washington Sheffield—who'd introduced toothpaste to America in 1850—received a letter from his son, Lucius. While studying art in Paris, Lucius had watched realist painters squeezing their oils out of tin tubes and thought the container would be a novel way for his father to package his own product. The dentist agreed and began selling his Doctor Sheffield's Crème Dentifrice in tubes.
It's a great story of American innovation, and the reason nobody much remembers it is because, four years after Sheffield's dispenser debuted, a more established brand of toothpaste out of New York adopted the tube. That brand was Colgate.
While Procter & Gamble's Crest is the category leader—with a 34.2 percent share of the market, per Euromonitor—Colgate toothpaste, from Colgate-Palmolive, is the brand that has stood the test of time.
As New York dentist and media personality Thomas Connelly points out, toothpaste isn't much of a differentiated category. "It's a staple, it's habitual, and there are not a whole lot of benefits to changing," he noted. So why do people keep reaching for that red and white tube—to the tune of $314 million last year?
It's part timing, part marketing. Though challenger brands have chipped away at its dominance, Colgate has never surrendered the advantages that come with being first to market. (Samuel Colgate began selling his toothpaste in jars in 1873.) "It's the law of first in," said Adam Padilla, founder of consultancy BrandFire. "Colgate was the first, and they originated the tube. Once you have that foothold, you are the immovable piece that everyone else reacts to." Colgate didn't just popularize the tube—in 1908, it also added a rectangular opening that forced the paste out in a ribbon shape, a simple innovation that let Colgate position itself as the "ribbon dental cream" for years.
Still, Colgate is seen as the stalwart brand, the inevitable brand, the family brand of toothpaste. And that's no accident. Because parents tend to introduce their kids to toothpaste and because adults usually buy the brands they remember from childhood, Colgate continues to enjoy a kind of pass-down popularity that's difficult to efface, Padilla pointed out.
"When you teach your kids, 'Daddy says use Colgate,' they'll stay with the brand," he said. "Once you're in there, you have that recognition. Attach 100 years of longevity to that and you're immovable." | 2019-04-20T02:37:23 | https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-colgate-famous-minty-goop-found-its-way-your-toothbrush-165322/ |
0.999551 | Since our founding more than 40 years ago, Wilson Learning has been at the vanguard of advances in human resource development. We were among the first to introduce video modeling, the first to utilize multi-rater feedback instruments, the first to use group decision support tools in learning, and the first to use interactive video technology in teaching interpersonal skills. Throughout our history, we have employed some of the leading experts in psychology, education, communications, and technology to bring to our clients the best learning and development solutions possible. In this paper, we would like to share with you what we have learned about how to deliver effective adult learning.
Learning, the acquisition of new skills, knowledge, and capabilities, always occurs within the context of human performance improvement! Wilson Learning approaches every client situation from this perspective. That is, we begin with a process of understanding the client's needs, expectations, situation, and problems. We do not assume that learning is the answer to every performance issue. Many performance issues that organizations and individuals face, however, do require the learning of new skills, knowledge, and capabilities.
Thus, the primary purpose of this paper is to address the question: How does Wilson Learning structure the learning and development process to maximize impact on work performance? Over the years, we have developed a comprehensive philosophy and processes for developing effective and meaningful learning and development solutions. We have based this philosophy on our own experiences as well as our understanding of the research on adult leaning—from the early work of scholars such as Knowles, Linderman, Bloom, and Mager, as well as contemporary researchers such as Swanson, Holton, Nicholl, Rothwell, Mayer, Seligman, Gardner, and others. We also recognize that the field of adult learning is constantly changing and adapt as new theories and techniques emerge.
Any discussion of our approach to learning needs to begin with the purpose of the learning processes. We deliver learning to support the Development of individuals and organizations. We distinguish Development from Training and from Education, and summarize the differences in the following table.
Given our focus on performance improvement, Wilson Learning does not provide Training (or for that matter, Education), but instead provides individual and organizational Development services. Thus, we don't create seminars as discrete events, but create learning processes that involve multiple activities and events. Our learning helps people develop a deep understanding of critical competencies they can generalize in a flexible, versatile way. Finally, our learning focuses on performance improvement, not discrete learning or skill objectives. We have found that true improvement in sales performance, leadership, and interpersonal communication requires learning that teaches people how to think and how to act in unique situations. Processes that focus on teaching discrete skills and actions fail to produce people who can adapt and generalize their learning. Thus, while training may be part of a development solution, it is never the whole solution.
Since Malcolm Knowles' groundbreaking book "The Adult Learner," there has been a clear understanding that adults learn differently than children. At Wilson Learning, our beliefs about today's adults learn best are grounded, not only in the work of Knowles and Merriam, Caffarella and Baumgartner's expansion on the theory of andragogy, but also in the human performance technology theory, instructional system design theory, action science, organizational learning, advancements in instructional technologies, and in our many years of experience.
Individuals and organizations learn. While it is true that all learning, at its root, is individual, organizations also have "memory" that can either support or hinder new performance. Thus, in designing learning, we consider the role the organization's culture and processes plays in the application of learning. For example, we create a "critical mass" to support the use of new skills, or focus on how to overcome culture predispositions that will hinder the use of new behaviors.
Learning should address impact. Adult learners are motivated to learn when they perceive that the learning will help them perform tasks or deal with problems they confront in their daily lives. Therefore, showing practical and direct link between the learning outcomes and the learners' abilities to do their jobs better is critical to effective learning.
Learning occurs through individual insight. The most significant learning occurs when people see their roles differently. When people see a new purpose or perspective, they are more likely to explore options to current forms of thinking and behaving.
Learning is a process, not an event: Effective individual development does not occur from isolated training events. We believe that a series of activities, systematically structured to build upon each other, is the only way to develop new skills and to assure they are applied in the workplace.
Learning is present-oriented and problem-centric. Adults will be more receptive to new knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes when these are presented in the context of real-life situations. For Wilson Learning, this means that we always build real life applications into the learning and have participants bring to the learning environment specific cases or situations they struggle with.
Learners take personal responsibility. While adults will respond to some external motivation, the motivation to learn is driven mostly from internal desires. At the same time, all normal adults are motivated to keep growing but are often blocked by organizational or personal barriers. Wilson Learning works with organizations to eliminate these barriers, increasing the acquisition and use of skills.
Learning promotes self-efficacy. Learners, especially adult learners, need a learning environment that supports their value and self-worth. Drawing on research from Mayer, Goleman, Seligman, and Bandura, we create learning processes that ensure safe zones to practice new skills, lead to self-discovery of hidden talents and abilities, and give people confidence that they can learn and apply these new capabilities.
Work learning is life learning. Especially for interpersonal communication skills, we have found the most powerful learning occurs when people see a connection with their whole lives, not just their work lives. Former participants have told us that what they learned has improved their marriages, their relationships with their children, and many other out-of-work contexts. We take pride in that!
Our approach to learning includes multiple methods to meet multiple needs. Today's work environment consists of at least four different generations and frequently involves people from multiple countries. Generational and cultural differences affect how people learn, and an approach to learning must take that into account.
There are those who don't know and don't know they don't know, avoid them.
There are those who don't know but know they don't know, teach them.
There are those who know but don't know they know, lead them.
There are those who know and know they know, follow them.
Unconscious Incompetence: They don't know that they don't know.
Conscious Incompetence: They know that they don't know.
Conscious Competence: They know and know why they know.
Learning is as much about acquiring new attitudes, or mind-sets, about your job as it is about skills. For example, a salesperson can learn new questioning skills, but until they believe differently about who they are as a salesperson, there will be limits to the value of these skills.
It is not enough to just convince people that they need to think and act differently, they need to learn specific skills, behaviors, and process to turn it into reality. If you want real change in your job performance, both new perspectives and new skills are required.
But, new skills will not be applied on the job without tools and procedures to support their use. We believe it is critical to support every new skill with tools, job aids, or other capabilities that help people apply these skills.
It has been our experience that the best learning design is a combination of the Art and the Science of instructional design. What Wilson Learning does best is marry the art and science of individual and organizational development.
This is especially true for interpersonal communication skill development in the work setting. In order for learning to translate to meaningful behavior change on the job, adults need learning that engages, empowers, and informs. You need to tap into the passions of the learner and help them take ownership of the process. To fully engage the learner and to motivate them to use new approaches and skills, careful consideration must be given to both the learning structure (the Science) and the level of emotional engagement (the Art).
For Wilson Learning, the Science side is the effective utilization of tested instructional design principles and theories. Our development teams are fully versed in Instructional Systems Design (ISD) and we follow the ADDIE approach (Analyze-Design-Develop-Implement-Evaluate) in all of our development efforts. We incorporate skill and task analysis processes as proposed by Mager and others to assure that learning is delivered in the right sequence and at the right level of complexity for the learner. We utilize the Know-Demonstrate-Apply approach (also known as Know-Show-Do) approach, Component Display Theory, and others as appropriate in our learning design. We incorporate the recent research on learning style differences across the generations and across cultures, as well as the science of multiple modalities (Auditory, Visual, Kinesthetic) when choosing instructional methods.
We do not, however, forsake the Art for the Science. In our experience, adhering to the science of instructional design alone will not ensure effective adult learning. The art of instructional design is the process of engaging the learner, capturing their imagination, and maintaining their attention. Since the 1980s, Wilson Learning has used an instructional approach that parallels what some call Accelerated Learning today. In fact, before the term Accelerated Learning, Wilson Learning coined the phrase "Inside-Out Learning" to capture the same intent.
Wilson Learning has long referred to this marriage of Art and Science as a balance of Inside-Out and Outside-In learning approaches.
Outside-In learning is probably what most of us are familiar with from our formal education. Information and knowledge are imparted from outside of you for you to incorporate inside you. There is no question that some Outside-In learning is necessary; a person cannot acquire new skills or information without some presentation of new content, models, or procedures.
However, for adults to truly incorporate new skill and mind-sets into their lives requires, as Northrop Frye stated, "recreating the subject in the student's mind." This is Inside-Out learning. Development begins by recognizing that learners have existing knowledge and cognitive frameworks. If you build on those frameworks, rather than just try to create new frameworks, you connect to something deeper.
Inside-Out and Outside-In learning approaches each have their strengths and weaknesses, as the following indicates.
At Wilson Learning, we use Inside-Out learning to help people recognize what they already know, then challenge that as the most effective way to think and behave, then use Outside-In to provide them with a new way of thinking about their actions and behavior. Thus, we bring together Inside-Out and Outside-In learning to break down barriers to change and growth.
Creating and resolving tension: Many of our activities are designed to use tension as a way to get the learner's engagement. First, we create the tension, then we show them how the mind-set and skill-sets can help in resolving the tension. For example, we ask managers to describe times when they were dealing with employee dissatisfaction and show them how versatility skills can help them in resolving the problems.
Dealing with learner emotions: There are two aspects to dealing with the emotions of adult learners. First, research has shown that learners' confidence in their ability to learn is critical to their successful use of skills on the job. Second, many adults are risk averse and need a safe environment in which to practice new skills. We incorporate many approaches to building learners' self-efficacy, as well as providing safe simulations and role plays to lower risk in practicing new interpersonal skills.
Challenging people to think: Earlier we distinguished Training and Development. Development requires you to engage learners cognitively, to dig deeper into the topic and extract new meaning. If you are "training" discreet skills, you don't need to challenge people to think, but for Wilson Learning, this challenge is essential to the development of individual performance.
Role of fun: Humor and games can make learning fun and lead to greater engagement. However, we have found that it is important that the humor or game be closely tied to the content. Doing a physical game or showing a funny video may get a laugh, but if it does not lead learners to think deeper about the topic, it will not be engaging. Humor that is closely tied to the objective helps create and resolve tension and keeps interest and attention high.
Collaborative learning: Especially when it comes to interpersonal skills, learning from each other is a critical component. Wilson Learning designs collaborative learning processes into every solution to ensure that learners are exposed to the informal and incidental learning that comes from contact with others.
Learning styles: Just as the Science addresses differences in learning modality (Auditory, Visual, Kinesthetic), the Art addresses differences in cognitive style. Integrating research from David Kolb, Bernice McCarthy, and Howard Gartner, Wilson Learning has adopted a model for creating a design flow to ensure that the learning meets the needs of all cognitive and learning styles, including cultural and generational style differences.
It is the marriage of the Art and Science of instructional design that make our learning solutions powerful.
There are two critical tool kits needed to assure the effective integration of the Art and Science of learning design—Learning Methods and Learning Flow.
Individual learning methods and techniques would be ineffective if not organized into an effective instructional flow. Flow is not just a list of activities, ordered in a logical sequence. While that is important, flow is also about the "rhythm" of the learning; where are the areas of high and low energy? Where are the learners overloaded with information? Where are they lost and in need of an organizing principle?
Equally important is making sure that the learning is adapted to all of the cognitive learning styles and multiple intelligences that learners bring to the experience. That is why Wilson Learning has developed a process for creating learning flow. Drawing on the work of Howard Gartner, David Kolb, Bernice McCarthy, Malcolm Nicholl, and others, we have created a learning flow that addresses ideas and knowledge from both a concrete and abstract perspective and requires both active engagement and reflection.
Learning starts with bringing the real world to the learning environment (step 1). Then, with guidance, the learner reflects upon that experience (2) and extracts personal meaning (3). At this point, the learner is open to new concepts and skills (4). Once new knowledge or skills have been presented, the learner practices these skills in the safety of the learning environment (5) and is given an opportunity to experiment or "tinker" with these skills (6). The learning process continues with help transitioning the skills into day-to-day habits (7) and support for the ongoing application and reinforcement on the job (8).
Each step is not necessarily given the same amount of time—nor is this just reflective of what happens in a classroom, but also what happens back in the work environment. Wilson Learning utilizes this framework in assuring that all learners have a valuable experience, that all learning styles (the Abstract, Reflective, Concrete, and Action oriented learners) are addresses that ultimately the learning changes behavior in the "real world," and that the rhyme of the learning experience maintains their excitement, engagement, and energy.
All of the instructional methods we incorporate into our learning are based on the principles of the Art and Science of instructional design described above and are in support of an effective learning flow. It is impossible to innumerate in this paper all of the methods we use. In fact, we are continuously adding new methods as we grow and learn ourselves. However, describing some of our primary methods may help you understand why Wilson Learning solutions work the way they do.
Discovery learning is the method most closely tied to Inside-Out learning. We have found that it is critical, as Bettelheim stated, to "Bring the learner to the knowledge, not the knowledge to the learner." Inside-Out learning, at its best, helps people discover and make sense of what they already know, bringing competence to the conscious mind, seeing ways to improve on their skills, and pass them on to others. Discovery learning is about connecting to their values, experiences, and sense of self-worth.
To fully engage the learner, you need to engage them physically as well as cognitively. Games and other physical activities are valuable to this engagement, as long as these activities remain relevant to the skills being learned. Adding activities where participants throw foam balls around without any clear connection to the learning objectives is not effective learning. When we include interactive learning experiences, we make sure they are closely tied to the learning outcome.
One central fact of human nature is that we cannot effectively observe our own behavior. Most of us don't recognize ourselves when we first hear our voice recorded, and the same is true with our work behaviors. Wilson Learning uses a number of methods for giving people honest and reliable feedback from others, including multi-rater (360) feedback tools, video taped behavior, or behavioral observations from the instructor. Wilson Learning helps individuals see themselves as others see them.
They are flexible: You can manipulate them mentally, finding new meaning as you do.
They are expandable: You can dig deeper and deeper and the model makes sense.
They are elegant, in the classical sense, with no unnecessary parts.
One way to create Inside-Out learning is by connecting key concepts to familiar ideas and examples. Analogies and metaphors are effective ways to accomplish this. Analogies and metaphors are also helpful at challenging people to think about the new behaviors and practices they are exposed to. Metaphors allow people to play with ideas, manipulate them, and ask "what-if" questions easier.
A story is a narrative, incident, or a case history. "Real" stories tend to be the most powerful. For many years, we used a real story to support one of our primary sales skills—the "Ben Duffy Technique." Once, to meet the desires of a client to shorten the program, we took the story out and just taught the skill. The result was a disaster and we vowed to never do that again. The story is powerful and teaches not only the technique, but the strength and value of the Ben Duffy Technique. Without the story, it is only a set of steps. With the story, it is one of the most valuable lessons salespeople learn.
While Wilson Learning focuses on Inside-Out learning approaches, we recognize that at least some Outside-In learning is essential. People need new knowledge and concepts in order to grow. However, we have learned through experience that too much straight knowledge transfer does not lead to more learning, just more forgetting.
In training, you show behavioral models to learners so they can later duplicate those behaviors. But in Development, you need to build flexibility and adaptability of behavior, not duplication. Wilson Learning uses behavioral modeling to show real life challenges and to promote critical analysis and interpretation. Thus, while criticized by people who do training, we often incorporate both right-way and wrong-way modeling. This helps create the tension that sparks discussion and new learning. The result is the learning of a set of flexible skills that learners can adapt to the different types of challenges they will face.
Another form of interactive learning, and closely tied to Inside-Out, is engaging learners in group discussions. Discussions provide the opportunity to learn from other's experiences and share stories, challenges, and ideas. But effective discussions do not just happen, which is why Wilson Learning utilizes the Focus-Explore-Invite-Check process for structuring discussions. We have always used a discussion process that fosters positive relationships, assumes the basic positive intent of people, and supports individual self-esteem, similar to what David Cooperrider refers to as Appreciative Inquiry.
The primary outcome of development is performance improvement. Thus, it is critical that our learning include opportunities for learners to apply their learning to real work experiences. All of Wilson Learning's solutions include some instructional activities that draw on the participants' real life experiences and individual cases. Often these individual cases are used to introduce a tool or worksheet that the learners can use when they are dealing with similar situations in their work setting.
Research has confirmed that the majority of skill training in businesses does show up in work practices. Wilson Learning incorporates a wide range of Learning Transfer Technologies (LTT) to ensure that skills are used. These techniques might include planners and other worksheet tools, reminders and reinforcement learning, assessments, job aids, action plans, communities of practice, and case-study practices.
Supporting learning in the workplace is a critical element for assuring that learning results in development and transfers into work performance. Whether it is developing managers into coaches and mentors, or providing access to live or virtual professional coaches, Wilson Learning takes steps to assure that support for application and use is provided.
You wander around your home and first discover a door you had not seen before, then through that door, a room, then an entire wing of the house that you never knew existed before . . . yet recognizing that, at some level, you always suspected was present.
Wilson Learning helps people discover new rooms in their own houses—not ones we build for them, but ones that were always there. The learners are not just visitors, but owners of their learning, resulting in an immediate sense of comfort and belonging.
Accomplishing this level of comfort involves a use of both an art and science for getting learners to recognize what they already potentially know, to break up obstacles to self-examination, and to create an openness to new ideas and concepts. Our models and exercises are designed not only to reveal and validate, but also to confront and challenge the learners' beliefs, fears, experiences, and current practices.
The use of these seemingly simple, but often complex, techniques is by no means totally predictable, but the risk—and the rewards—are worth it. This is one of the great beauties and power of Wilson Learning's Inside-Out approach to learning.
Please complete this form to download the factsheet for Approach to Learning.
Please complete this form to download Approach to Learning | How We Enhance Human Performance Through Learning (Point of View Paper). | 2019-04-18T11:26:09 | https://www.wilsonlearning.com/wlw/w-paper/hr/approach-learning |
0.999962 | Another easy day, although at least I did make a start as early as possible, departing Great Yarmouth at 09.30. It's possible to get from Great Yarmouth to Cromer on one bus - in fact the very bus that I was catching - Sanders Coaches service 6 (although to get round satisfy drivers' hours regulations it mutates into a 6A at some stage along the route). It doesn't however, follow a particularly coastal route and, in fact, misses out a large chunk of the "edge". This meant a change of bus and the only place this would be possible would be in the small village of Sutton.
Some timetables show the timing point in the village as "Post Office" whilst others just describe it as "Sutton". Traveline calls it "Elmhurst Avenue" and for once this is the most apt description as the Avenue is clearly visible, whereas of the Post Office there is no sign. I must admit that service 6 tuns inland fairly soon after leaving Great Yarmouth and there might have been other possibilities that followed the coast more closely, at least for the first few miles. But it was a reasonable compromise and, given the low frequency of the connecting service 34 at Sutton more-or-less the only option. This bus turned out to be by far the busiest of the day, with a healthy load leaving Great Yarmouth and still well-loaded when I left it at Sutton, having passed through the edge of the "Broads Country" at the boating centre of Potter Heigham, where we paused for a minute or two next to a huge hire boat base.
I had 15 minutes between buses at Sutton with nothing more to do that wander aimlessly up and down the main (only) street, attracting suspicious glances from the locals until the next bus was due. Its destination was North Walsham, but at this point it would be heading back towards Cromer which is no doubt why the driver asked me where I was going. According to him - and I can well believe it - they get more than a few people boarding this bus but wanting to get to Cromer. At this stage I was the only passenger and things stayed that way for most of the journey. We picked up a hiker at Sea Palling, where the bus reversed just out of sight of the sea, and one or two others through Happisburgh before arriving at Mundesley where there was time for a coffee in a cliff top cafe followed by a walk around the village.
trip - not counted in the statistics - down to North Walsham, somewhere I'd never been before and which turned out to be an interesting small market town albeit rather run down, no doubt due to the presence of a huge Sainsbury's supermarket on the edge of the town centre.
The bus that took me back to Mundesley continued on to Cromer - and kept to the coast passimng the huge North Sea Gas terminal at Bacton and I arrived in the town mid-afternoon with time to drop off my stuff at the hotel and then enjoy a walk along the pier and round the town, getting caught in a rain shower - the first this week and only about the third or fourth of the entire adventure - just before getting back to my hotel. | 2019-04-22T02:24:48 | http://aroundtheedgeofengland.blogspot.com/2016/11/day-38-great-yarmouth-to-cromer.html |
0.999997 | What is siege warfare? A lot of people use the term, but surprisingly few know what it actually means. If you've seen the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you probably have the general idea. The Battle of Minas Tirith is reasonably good example of a classic siege, one featuring many of the medieval siege weapons and tactics you'll find in notable sieges throughout history.
The basics of the thing are pretty simple: surround an enemy's fortification, cut off all food, water, and supplies, then wait for the fort or city's inhabitants to starve, turning their fort into a prison with no escape. Along the way, invaders maintain constant pressure and constant harassment, breaking the enemy's will to fight with bombardment, fire, disease, and general unpleasantness.
So, what are the most iconic siege weapons of all time? You'll find them all here and you can vote up the weapons most associated with successful sieges throughout the history of warfare.
Trebuchets were the big guns - the heavy artillery of catapult warfare. Capable of launching huge projectiles over long ranges, trebuchets were often the biggest weapons on the field. Really massive trebuchets required crews of a hundred men or more. Instead of rope torsion, these weapons relied on a huge counterweight to send the long arm upward and sling projectiles far into the distance.
It's said that the first sonic boom ever heard by man came from the trebuchet projectiles.
Ballistas were effectively giant crossbows, working on the same torsion principles as onagers. The big difference was that ballistas were meant to fire straight ahead at enemy walls instead of up and over them. Loaded with stone "cannon balls" as often as they were with the iconic "arrow" bolt, ballistas specialized in hammering enemy walls to pieces - but they could just as easily be fired into advancing soldiers.
Since a Lord of the Rings reference is pretty much inevitable on this list: Yes, Grond, Hammer of the Underworld was kind of a real thing. Granted, most invading armies didn't consist of orcs, and most rams weren't intricately carved, flaming wolf heads. Most were like the one pictured - logs suspended on ropes and covered by a roof to protect from arrow fire.
Some had flat faces, some were pointed and some had metal spears depending on whether they were used to batter down walls or wooden gates. And yes, some (like those used by the ever-stylish Romans) even had intricately molded, metal ram's heads.
Sometimes also referred to by the generic "siege engine," towers were as much about psychological battle as practical warfare. Siege towers were basically glorified ladders meant to be wheeled up to enemy walls so invaders could quickly scale them and invade en masse. The sight of a line of massive siege towers appearing over the horizon was often enough to break a defending commander's will before the siege even began. | 2019-04-23T20:43:48 | https://www.ranker.com/list/siege-weapons/richard-rowe?ref=collections&l=2669049&collectionId=1116 |
0.999012 | Could my smartphone charger be broken after bumping it against a wall?
I bring my charger to work in my tote bag. I accidentally bumped it against a wall one day while walking. I shook it to hear if there were any loose parts but heard nothing. It still works, too. I'm just worried that it might be broken enough to damage my smartphone even if it's still working. It's a Samsung charger that came with my phone. Thanks!
They are pretty durable , if it's working still , it's fine.
It should be alright, but no promises. I drop mine Huawei Supercharger 2 or 3 times and it still works fine.
How does aspect ratio affect the gaming performance in smartphones?
Please help me choose a smartphone. | 2019-04-25T18:07:53 | https://forums.tomsguide.com/threads/could-my-smartphone-charger-be-broken-after-bumping-it-against-a-wall.445169/ |
0.998365 | Opinion What to do when donors become tainted?
What to do when donors become tainted?
BP's reputation has been severely damaged as a result of the oil disaster and its inability to curtail the growing environmental damage.
Meanwhile, at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., the remodelled BP Sea Otter Habitat opened last week. Should a sea otter habitat be associated with a polluter that is causing enormous harm to the aquatic wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico?
This is not an unusual dilemma. Charities, hospitals, universities and other non-profits occasionally face the ethical challenge of what to do when one of their donors becomes tainted.
One option is to return the donation and delete the honour bestowed on the benefactor. The day after David Radler pleaded guilty to committing fraud in the Hollinger case, Queen's University in Kingston announced that it would be returning his $1-million gift and deleting his name from a hallway in the business school. Israel's University of Haifa also returned a $75,000 donation that Mr. Radler had made to its business school.
Another strategy is to do nothing. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto continues to honour Conrad Black and his family for their donation. A hallway in the hospital still bears the "Black Wing" name.
BP has been a generous supporter of cultural activities in the Los Angeles area. It has supported the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a local public television station. Should these institutions return the donations and delete BP's name, or should they do nothing?
In its press release at the time, Queen's University said, "Ethics and corporate social responsibility are a cornerstone of good business practice, and we take them very seriously at Queen's." Clear enough. But an environmental disaster - awful as it is - may not necessarily be incompatible with the goals of an art gallery or concert hall. They may legitimately opt to do nothing.
But, what about the Aquarium? On the surface, oil pollution that is killing the aquatic wildlife along the coast of Louisiana is inconsistent with a sea otter habitat designed to protect a threatened species. According to the Aquarium, "California's sea otters are concentrated in a relatively small area, and a major oil spill off the central coast could wipe out the entire population." Furthermore, BP has a history of accidents, from an oil refinery explosion in Texas in 2005, to an Alaskan crude oil leak in 2006 in its Prudhoe Bay pipeline.
So, should the Aquarium delete BP's name?
The difference between the Radler donations and the BP donations is that David Radler admitted he intentionally committed a fraud that cheated the shareholders of Hollinger. From all the evidence currently available, it appears the BP disaster is a horrendous accident. BP did not intentionally set out to pollute the Gulf of Mexico. As such, the Aquarium has no ethical obligation to return the donation and delete BP's name from the sea otter habitat, even though they may now be under severe pressure to do so.
What, then, are the lessons that can be learned from this incident?
First, non-profits should carefully screen their donors. Mother Teresa apparently accepted donations from anyone, no matter how unsavoury the donor. Her contention was that the money went to a good cause, helping the poor and destitute in the slums of Calcutta. But few non-profits have the moral stature of a Mother Teresa. They need to thoroughly examine the background of their donors before accepting gifts.
Second, accidents and scandals occur. Non-profits should protect themselves by having formal agreements with large donors that specify what happens in the event that one is embroiled in a scandal.
Finally, non-profits should seize whatever opportunities present themselves. If you have broken eggs, make an omelette. The Aquarium of the Pacific can use the oil disaster and its association with BP to launch an educational program that discusses the benefits and risks of offshore drilling, especially the potential problems to the environment and the associated damage to aquatic wildlife.
Tainted donors certainly present ethical problems. But they also create significant opportunities for those non-profits that can see beyond the surface of problems.
Paul Dunn is an associate professor in the faculty of business at Brock University.
Just how evil is oil? | 2019-04-24T14:30:04 | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/what-to-do-when-donors-become-tainted/article1372049/ |
0.998773 | Instructions: Heat 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil in an electric pressure cooker turned to the saute mode. Add sliced red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, for about 3 minutes. Stir in chopped garlic and continue cooking until fragrant.
Pour in the white wine scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon, until about half the wine has evaporated, for about 1 minute.
Stir in the clam juice, water, potatoes, tomatoes, then season with salt, black pepper, red pepper. Close the pressure cooker and lock the lid. Set the machine to cook at high pressure. Set the timer to cook for 5 minutes.
Using the Quick Release method, bring pressure to normal. Carefully open the cooker and turn the saute mode on. Add cubed fish fillets and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until fish is just cooked and flakes apart easily.
Turn off the pressure cooker. Stir in lemon juice, remaining 2 tablespoons 930 ml) of olive oil, and chopped fresh dill. Serve immediately.
In a 6-quart (6 L) slow cooker, combine all ingredients, except fish fillets, lemon juice, dill, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix well.
Cover the pot and cook on low-heat setting for 6 hours, adding fish fillets during the last 20 minutes of cooking.
Turn off the slow cooker and open the lid. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Season with salt and black pepper if necessary. Ladle to soup bowls. Serve hot. | 2019-04-23T12:33:07 | https://magicskillet.com/recipe/slow-cooker-vegetable-fish-stew-recipe/ |
0.999286 | DOES RELIGION HAVE A POSITIVE CORRELATION WITH HAPPINESS?
Viewed in geographic terms, religion has a NEGATIVE correlation with happiness.
Whether religion correlates with happiness depends on how one measures happiness.
Whether religion correlates with happiness depends on how one measures religion/religiousness.
In several countries religion does NOT have a positive correlation with happiness.
When a study does find a positive correlation between religion and happiness, it is usually a weak correlation.
There are a number of other factors that have a significantly stronger positive correlation with happiness.
The correlation between religion and happiness appears to be bi-modal: religious people tend towards both greater happiness and also greater unhappiness compared to non-religious people.
1. Viewed in geographic terms, religion has a NEGATIVE correlation with happiness.
Let’s compare the top ten MOST religious states in the USA with the ten LEAST religious states in terms of happiness.
If religion is the key to happiness, then we would expect the states with the MOST religious populations to have the happiest populations as well, and we would expect the states with the LEAST religious populations to have the least happiest populations. A perfect positive correlation between religion and happiness would be if the number one most religious state also had the number one spot in happiness, and if the second most religious state was number two in terms of happiness, and so on. A perfect correlation would also mean that the LEAST religious state in the country would have the least happiest population, and the second LEAST religious state would have the second least happiest population, and so on.
There is NOT a perfect positive correlation between religion and happiness. In fact, the most religious states tend to be states with lower than average happiness, and the least religious states tend to be states with above average happiness. In terms of states, religion has a NEGATIVE correlation with happiness.
Note that West Virginia is one of the top ten most religious states, and it also has the LEAST happy population in the USA (it ranks dead last).
Note that two of the ten least religious states (Alaska and Hawaii) are the two states with the happiest populations in the USA (ranking number 1 and number 2, respectively).
In a 2011 paper that analyzed self-reports from hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, researchers found that the connection between religious faith and happiness was strongest among people living in difficult conditions—fear, poverty, hunger.
When we divide the world up by states or nations, the LEAST religious states or nations tend to have the happiest populations, and the MOST religious states or nations tend to have less happier populations. This geographic organization of data on religion and happiness indicates that religion is NOT the key to happiness, and it also casts doubt on the claim that religious people tend to be happier than non-religious people.
2. Whether religion correlates with happiness depends on how one measures happiness.
Religion correlates with happiness only when specific measures of happiness are used, particularly the Oxford Happiness Inventory. When other measures of happiness are used, the positive correlation between religion and happiness may disappear.
3. Whether religion correlates with happiness depends on how one measures religion/religiousness.
Surveys also ask people about their religious practices, such as how often they pray, how often they read or study scripture, how often they attend religious services, and surveys ask people about how they feel about religion (“How important is religion in your daily life?”), and about their religious experiences (“Do you feel close to God when you pray?”).
So, religion and religiousness can be evaluated on the basis of different sorts of considerations: religious identification, religious beliefs, religious activities, religious experiences, and attitudes about religion, to name some commonly used considerations. Whether a study shows a positive correlation between religion/religiousness and happiness depends on how religion/religiousness is measured or evaluated.
The surveys showed that across all creeds, religious people were more satisfied than non-religious people. According to the data, about 28 percent of people who attended a religious service weekly were “extremely satisfied” with their lives, compared with 19.6 percent of people who never attended services.
Having more close friends has an obvious relevance to happiness, so whenever “religiousness” is measured in terms of attendance at religious services (as opposed to religious beliefs or religious experiences) the correlation of religion with happiness could be explained in purely natural and ordinary terms, as the result of the social aspects of religious practices.
4. In several countries religion does NOT have a positive correlation with happiness.
Religious people tend to feel better about themselves and their lives, but a new study finds that this benefit may only hold in places where everyone else is religious, too.
But if religion/religiousness does NOT have a positive correlation with happiness in several countries, then that is strong evidence that religion by itself is NOT the cause of the happiness that correlates with religion in other countries, otherwise the correlation would be consistent across all countries. In any case, religion by itself cannot be “the key to happiness” for people in general because there are many countries where being religious does NOT make a significant difference in how happy a person will be. | 2019-04-20T02:20:03 | https://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2018/09/15/skepticism-about-religion-part-2-caveats-and-qualifications/ |
0.99961 | EU and US sanctions against Russia: which will they hurt more?
The latest round of EU sanctions against Russia is designed "to hurt Russia more than it hurts us", according to the foreign secretary Philip Hammond. With trade between Europe and Russia worth 10 times more than US trade with Russia, European Union leaders are treading a fine line between sanctions that will influence Moscow while not damaging their own economies – many of which are still emerging from the eurozone crisis.
The latest sanctions are more sweeping than previous ones, and target whole sections of the Russian economy – not just individuals and companies.
• Restrictions on the export of hi-tech oil-production machinery, with a total ban on equipment destined for deep water, Arctic or shale production.
Washington has also blocked three Russian state-owned banks from US capital markets, as part of a package of measures Barack Obama said would impose growing costs on Russia. But Hammond also acknowledged: "It would be absurd to suggest that we can impose wide-ranging sanctions on the Russian economy without also having some impact on ourselves." Both sides will be watching closely to see which is hurting the most. Below are the industries targeted and the pain factor for each side on a scale of 1-5, with 5 the most painful.
Denying Russian banks access to the moneylenders of New York, London and other western financial capitals could eventually tip the country's struggling economy into full-blown recession. The EU has banned banks and companies registered on its territory from buying or selling bonds issued by Russia's state-owned banks or their subsidiaries. The US has put Russia's second-largest bank, VTB, the Russian Agricultural Bank and the Bank of Moscow on its banned list. But Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, has not been included, raising fears that loopholes and exclusions may weaken the impact of the sanctions.
US banks have been less generous funders of Russia in the past: European banks had lent Russian institutions around $155bn (£92bn) at the end of March, according to the most recent figures available from the Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements.
Excluding Russian state banks from international finance would not trigger instant collapse, but the measures are certain to increase capital flight, increase pressure on the rouble and put any investment plans into the deep freeze. So far, the Russian Central Bank has vowed to stand by its banks and take "necessary, adequate measures" to protect depositors and customers.
The City of London is often seen as the main loser from any attempt to freeze Russia out of the financial system but only 1% of its earnings come from Russia. Austria's Raiffeisen Bank, which has a large retail banking operation in Russia, is more exposed, with France's Société Générale in second place.
The big western energy firms are heavily involved in Russia, which produces 10.5m barrels of oil a day and is the world's third-largest producer. BP, which has a 20% stake in Kremlin-controlled Rosneft, has already warned it could see damage to its business and reputation from dealing with Russia. Even while the conflict in east Ukraine was raging, BP and Rosneft struck a deal to exploit potential shale reserves in the Urals in May. A company spokesman said he could not comment on how the EU's export ban would affect this deal until BP had seen the full EU sanctions list.
ExxonMobil, Statoil and Shell, which also hope to profit from Russia's hydrocarbon riches, are likely to be caught out by sanctions. But the biggest cost is likely to fall on Russia, which is in desperate need of western cash and know-how to modernise its antiquated refineries and leaky pipelines. In 2012, the EU exported £150m in specialist energy technology to Russia, a tiny part of overall exports, suggesting the measure will hurt Europe far less.
The EU sanctions deliberately excluded the gas industry, in a tacit acknowledgement of Europe's dependency on Russian gas. Poland gets more than 80% of its gas from Russia, while the Baltic states and Finland are 100% dependent. But Hungary, which is 80% dependent on Russian gas, could come under increased pressure following a deal it signed with Russia in February to build two nuclear reactors.
The ban on dual-use goods, those that have civilian and military applications, could have the biggest impact on Germany, Europe's export powerhouse and the largest EU exporter to Russia. Not only does Germany export machine tools, cars and chemicals to Russia, around 6,000 German companies have a presence in the country. The Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations in Germany estimates that the country's exports to Russia and Ukraine are on course to shrink by €6bn (£4.8bn) in 2014 and claims 25,000 people will lose their jobs if affected firms do not find alternative export markets. But in recent days the lobby group has softened its rhetoric to recognise "the primacy of politics".
While certain companies are heavily exposed, German exports to Russia account for barely 1% of its economic output, while only a small subset of its chemicals industry is expected to fall foul of the dual-use category under the sanctions, according to Capital Economics.
Countries will be banned from signing new contracts to sell arms to Russia, although France's controversial €1.2bn (£950m) deal to sell Mistral assault ships to Russia will go ahead. A future ban could have a far reaching impact on a number of countries, especially the UK and France. As recently as mid-July, the UK had 200 arms export licences in place to sell weapons, military components and missile launching equipment to Russia.
The ban on the EU-Russian arms trade will hit Russia harder than the EU. While Russian arms exports to the EU were worth €3.2bn (£2.5bn) in 2012, the EU's trade was €300m (£237m). The European commission has said only a fraction of the €20m (£15m) dual-use technologies that the EU exports to Russia would fall foul of the ban on military exports. | 2019-04-25T06:31:05 | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jul/30/eu-us-sanctions-against-russia-hurt |
0.999062 | "My rehabilitation has been clearly established and in 27 more days, I will be sixty-one years of age. Forty years of incarceration has not rendered me an angry, bitter or cynical man and since 2007, my institution adjust remains exemplary I am well honored and respected among inmates of every race and background as well as prison officials and I can still smile genuinely. To keep men such as myself confined when they are parole eligible and have accomplished as much as I have and against crazy odds, is nothing short of a disservice to the society. "
Read below for story on word.
It has been a while since I have written to you and unfortunately, if my situation has changed, it has been for the worse. It has been more than six years since I was unjustly terminated from work release in Milwaukee and had my security classification elevated for purely political reasons.
If you can recall, my conviction and life sentence involved the death of an off-duty police officer for the city of Milwaukee. In 2007, I had served 34 years and everything was going my way. I had a full time job through the work release program, a job that offered much needed medical, dental and other benefits. I was reconnecting with my family and was establishing a solid relationship with my three grandchildren, whom I love dearly. That relationship as well as others was destroyed in the name of vengeance and political expediency, because a governor was running for reelection and had to make amends to a corrupt law enforcement agency, due to the fact that his appointee, Lenard Wells, the former Chairman of the parole commission had granted parole for two co-defendants who had killed an off-duty police officer in the city of Milwaukee during an attempted armed robbery. Their case was almost identical to mine, except that they were convicted after me and received more time and more victims were hurt. And although one of these men had escaped while serving his life sentence, it was decided by the parole commission that he had served sufficient time for punishment and that he, as well as his co-defendant no longer posed an unreasonable risk to the public.
My rehabilitation has been clearly established and in 27 more days, I will be sixty-one years of age. Forty years of incarceration has not rendered me an angry, bitter or cynical man and since 2007, my institution adjust remains exemplary I am well honored and respected among inmates of every race and background as well as prison officials and I can still smile genuinely. To keep men such as myself confined when they are parole eligible and have accomplished as much as I have and against crazy odds, is nothing short of a disservice to the society.
Not only is it as waste of tax payer's hard-earned dollars, but children in our society suffer the most due to being deprived of the wisdom, knowledge and life experiences of men who have spent long periods of time in prison and who have transformed their lives from negative to positive and could very well make a difference in the lives of so many if given the chance.
I dropped out of school before completing the eighth grade. I was a gang member, drug abuser, victimizer and all that comes with being a product of the concrete jungle. And like every child who enters this world, I was not born that way. I was born in poverty and raised in an environment where one is taught not by his parents, but by circumstances in his life that in order to survive, you had to imitate the atmosphere. And in the concrete jungle, you are either predator or you are prey. And at times, you might be the predator one day and prey the next.
It was through meaningful education that I learned that I didn't have to live that way; no one does. I was barely able to read and write when I first came to prison, but since then, not only did I get an HSED, I earned a college degree as well. And if I were to do a "before and after in my life," the before would be a social worker report that was written in 1974 while I was housed at Green Bay Reformatory.
The social worker concluded in his report concerning me that "He appears to be an extremely limited individual who is easily led and in need of developing some social and vocational skills." I have good social skills and possess a number of vocational skills. The "after" would be a letter written on my behalf by the director of the college program I was involved in and she wrote: "Ken overcame an enormous educational deficit to become one of the more successful participants in the program."
Someone need to question the Parole Commission and ask them to explain their rationale when they conclude that after forty years, I have not served sufficient time for punishment due to the nature and severity of my offense and that my release would involve an unreasonable risk to the public. How could it be that I posed an unreasonable risk to the public when in 2007 and even before that time, I was in the public, working side-by-side with its members who were well aware of my incarceration status.
I was in minimum security status and was on work release as far back as 1993. However, I received a negative conduct report and was returned to medium security status and it took me ten years to get back to minimum security status. I was in minimum security status from 2004-2007 and was doing very well. The Parole Commission had ordered a pre-parole investigation, which had been approved by my agent and I was slated to reside with a sister of mine in Milwaukee. I was scheduled for a parole hearing in April of 2007, before the took place, I was placed in lock up due to what was deemed "community concerns" about my being housed at the minimum correctional I was housed in in Milwaukee. The initial move was to relocate me to a different correctional center, and I was in fact transferred to the Kenosha Correctional Center. However, a few hours later, I was returned to the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility and remained there until I was placed here at OCI. Not only have I been black-balled, which means that all recommendations for placement at a correctional center has been disapproved, I have not been considered for work release due to me case and the fact that no warden wants to allow me out in the community for fear of backlash.
The Parole Commission and the Bureau of Offender Classification and Movement is conspiring to keep me confined. The Parole Chairperson has a policy in place that precludes any parole consideration for a lifer until he makes it to a correctional center. So in order to continue to deny me a parole, all they have to do is keep me out of the center system, and this is where the Director of the Bureau for Offender Classification comes in. And along with that, my parole deferrals had gone down to as low as four months and I received two of them. After that, even though nothing had changed in my institution programming and adjustment, my deferral was raised to six months and since then, I have received three eleven month deferrals. If they ever decrease, it will probably be for a few 9 months deferrals, some eights, a few sevens and some more sixes because their aim is to defer me and make me spend the rest of my life in prison. I have a right to a hearing, but they are suppose to be meaningful but they never are. | 2019-04-18T15:03:50 | http://parolecases.blogspot.com/2014/07/kenneth-jordan.html |
0.99998 | For my DMX project (schematics is not important), I soldered this temperature fuse which has just two leads (see picture below).
The fuse doesn't work (meaning it does not conduct electricity) ... which of course is logical since my soldering station has a minimum temperature of 200 °C (392 °F) (although I soldered it with 350 °C (662 °F), forgetting about this).
But how should I solder this component?
I think those thermal fuses are normally connected using crimp terminals, rather than by soldering.
Even with the heatsinks the other answers mention, it would be much too easy to damage the device while soldering wires to it.
This was a problem with transistors in the early days and standard advice was to use a pliers as a heat shunt close to the body of the component.
Figure 1. Protecting a capacitor from overheating when using a big ignorant soldering gun. Image source: Mother Earth News.
Oddly enough, the image above was the only one I could find in an image search. The technique may be getting lost. A long nosed pliers with a rubber band on the handles may suffice and the rubber band will hold it in place freeing up one hand.
You can use a heat shunt - really just a pair of pliers on the lead, and keep the soldered joint as far away from the body as practical, but ideally use crimp joints, soldering these things is always tricky.
Soldering stations which can be set to much lower temperatures than 200°C are not unheard of (and wide temperature range somewhat correlates with quality). If you had one of these, you could use low-temperature solder like chipquik.
For a one-off job and considering your space constraints, you could simply solder copper wires where the fuse needs to be, then twist these wires with fuse terminals, which is not as good as crimping, but does get the job done in practice. Twisted parts can then be trimmed to save space (3-4 twists is enough) and heat-shrink could be put on if insulation is required.
Another idea is to bend the fuse terminal in a snake-like pattern to save space, and then solder the ends of therminals, while cooling down the therminals entering the device (e.g. by holding them with a wet cloth).
My suggestion, given your lack of space is to attach with conductive silver epoxy. This will give you a fairly robust conductive connection with no application of heat.
As was mentioned in other answers, crimp termination would be best. Followed by a pin or screw terminal.
Since you seem stuck with the design and don't have space for a pair of heat sink pliers, there is one other option if you must solder it.
Wrap the component as much as possible with a lightly damp kimwipe or other low lint cloth. Make sure it's distilled water and allow it to dry completely before energizing the circuit.
Not ideal, but I've used it successfully in the past for tight spaces and heat sensitive parts. You may even be able to chill the water provided your fuse can handle cold without damage.
Do as everyone else does. Wrap the therm with a ziplock bag of ice. Then solder away. A wet wrag placed in a fridge is the preferred method.
Use Bismuth solder along with above mentioned heat sinking, 185 degrees melting point.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged soldering fuses thermal heat-protection or ask your own question.
Can a resettable thermal fuse be soldered?
Using a thermal fuse in a PCB terminal block?
Do any SMT components require hand soldering due to heat limitations?
How to solder QFN-16 with a central pad component to proto-board?
Does any thermal fuse with the same cut off temperature work? | 2019-04-24T18:22:31 | https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/401322/how-to-solder-a-70-c-158-f-thermal-temperature-fuse |
0.999998 | A wooden aircraft is not conductive and if a lightning hits the wood it will instantaneously ignite. How would you protect a wooden aircraft from this occurrence?
By not flying through thunderstorms. For a small aircraft, the lightning is not the most hazardous part of a cumulonimbus (Cb) cloud system. Mature Cb clouds have huge updrafts underneath them, which can cause enough turbulence to upset most aircraft. Heavy rain and hail is also commonplace underneath Cb clouds. Even the rain can be heavy enough to damage wooden propellers and any components on your leading edge (such as the leading-edge slats found on the Tiger Moths I fly). Hail can put holes in your canvas, which are expensive to repair - if you manage to get the aircraft home at all. This turbulence and rain persists for a much longer period and across a wider area than the thunderstorm itself.
For these reasons, the chief protection against thunderstorms is by training and procedure: student pilots are taught to avoid Cb clouds when they're visible, and to plan flights to avoid areas where Cb are forecast. Weather forecasts and reports specially call out Cb clouds to help with this, and ATIS messages often warn of "cumulonimbus cloud in the vicinity of the aerodrome".
Protecting a wooden aircraft specifically against lightning is not hugely worthwhile, because it's unlikely to be able to stay in the vicinity of the Cb cloud for long enough to be at risk of a lightning strike. It just wooden happen.
Additional physics-y information: trees attract lightning strikes because they are reasonably well conductive, especially the living tissue between the bark and the heartwood. Also because one end is well-grounded through its roots, which extend down to damp conductive soil. So they are natural lightning conductors.
Wood once dried and turned into timber is not a good conductor, and a plane in flight is not grounded at one end. So it's much less attractive to lightning than a living tree. A metal plane is more likely to be struck than a wooden one because it is a near-perfect conductor and offers the lightning an much easier path than through air. However, for the same reason, a lightning strike doesn't often cause any damage to a metal plane. I'd expect that a wooden plane could be downed by a lightning strike, and lightning strikes are not always closely associated with cumulonimbus clouds. Look up "positive lightning" (a.k.a. "a bolt from the blue", literal meaning thereof). This is mercifully rare. Wikipedia reports that it has downed at least one glider.
I'd also guess that a jet engine's high temperature exhaust creates something of an ionization trail behind it, equivalent to trailing some considerable length of wire behind the plane. A piston engine, much less so.
Well, first off a wooden aircraft is not totally manufactured from wood; it does have metallic or otherwise conductive components throughout the airframe and is engineered with conductive pathways throughout the airframe for electrostatic dispersion and lightning protection as per the requirements of 14 CFR 23.1306, 25.1316, 27.1316, and 29.1316. It is undeniable that an airplane manufactured from wood or other materials that are good insulators would probably suffer considerably more damage to the structure from a direct lightning strike but they have been certified as to protect critical structure, fuel tanks and other components from massive electrostatic discharges.
But there is a way: build them like a composite aircraft.
There are very few wood airplanes left, for one thing. So the problem is solved by building mostly metal airplanes for past 70 years or so.
As it happens, wood planes are still built in tiny numbers, and yes, they are vulnerable to lightning.
But lightning by definition comes from thunderstorms and these must be avoided for other reasons anyway. The few handmade wooden planes that are registered these days are light planes that rarely fly in instrument conditions and so the chance of blundering into a storm cell is really low.
It would be possible to build a protected wood plane. One could laminate a conductive screen on surfaces in the same manner as used on certified glass and other composite aircraft. However, I would guess that no one has ever done that.
Wood airplanes do have steel control cables and rods, which can conduct a strike through one side of the aircraft to the other if the skin is penetrated, which is still destructive to the wood structure at that point. Burning or fire? Possibly if the strike is strong and penetrates the right places. That's why it's a good idea to install grounded static wicks in proper strategic trailing edge locations.
There are modern and sleek kit planes out there today. Very sharp-looking, and pretty quick too.
An article from Flying Magazine hints that lightning strikes do not affect wood-and-fabric planes. That there are almost no reported cases, and the only case they know of, resulted in a damage to a wing-tip.
Source, go to page 6.
It's worth mentioning that big composite (non-conductive) planes (e.g. 787) could suffer from lightnings if it weren't for special coatings, per Boeing.
There are also conductive paints that cause the skin of the plane to carry the charge regardless of its composition.
I would suspect that conductive paints that lead to static dischargers could also be used on wooden structures with cloth skins.
How is an on ground lightning strike test conducted?
What tests are done on aircraft wings for testing the effects of lightning?
How are aircraft protected from lightning strikes by conductive skin?
How well does a composite fuselage deal with lightning?
Aircraft lightning: What are the requirements for airworthiness?
Do passengers notice if the aircraft is struck by lightning?
How HF wire antennas on older aircraft are protected from lightning and static discharge? | 2019-04-19T11:16:44 | https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/29702/how-are-wooden-aircraft-protected-from-lightning-strikes/29703 |
0.995743 | Only four female singers made it through to the top 12 in the competition.
"The Voice" got its top 12 at the end of a special one-hour live show Thursday, and as the results showed, boy, is it a man's world.
But before whittling the show's final 20 contestants down to just 12, all of them had to sing for their chance to stick around.
Team Blake kicked off the night with an energetic take on the classic rock standard "Free Ride." The show's two bearded, gravelly-voiced men, Austin Jenckes and Cole Vosbury, jammed on guitar. Nic Hawk and Ray Vosbury, flanking Shelbie Z., traded funky and bluesy vocals, while Shelbie added her own twang.
But afterward, things got serious. Austin and Cole both were announced, to their relief, to have garnered enough votes to stay in the competition. That left Blake, fresh off the CMA Awards Wednesday night, with the tall task of deciding which one would join them, and which two would go home.
"I hate this part of the show," he admitted, but he said he had to go with his gut and chose Ray to remain on his team.
That meant it was the end of the road for Shelbie, Team Blake's lone lady, and Nic, who said he was just grateful Blake had given him a chance at all when he stole him from Team Adam.
Next came Team CeeLo, performing a '70s rock tune of their own, a languorous rendition of the Supertramp hit "Give a Little Bit" — with Jonny Gray warbling, Kat Robichaud hamming it up in red hot pants, Tamara Chauniece going gospel and Caroline Pennell and Amber Nicole dancing happily.
But the eliminations were another story, as the team's youngest two members — Amber Nicole and Caroline — mouthed "I love you" to each other nervously.
Caroline, with her pixie-like voice and ingenue charm, was first to breathe a sigh of relief when Carson called her name. Next came Jonny, the team's lone male member.
"I love you all equally," CeeLo told the unlucky remaining three. But after dispensing some sage CeeLo advice, he picked glam-rocker Kat to stick around, which meant Tamara and Amber Nicole were leaving.
Next, Team Christina took to the stage, covering not a classic rock song but a Maroon 5 song, "Love Somebody." The five unique singers pranced around the stage as they belted and crooned their lines, and the song's dad Adam seemed to enjoy it.
Then, with Jacquie Lee seeming to be laughing and crying at the same time and with Stephanie Anne Johnson giggling nervously, it was time for eliminations.
Jacquie, the competition's youngest singer, was the first to be saved, followed by Matthew Schuler — both of whom had turned in perhaps the team's strongest performances Tuesday night.
That left Christina with a tough decision and what turned out to be a very long, very rambling speech to make.
"I've really gotten to know each one of you, what makes you tick, what you guys like, what makes you fired up," she said. "I care very much about each one of you."
Finally, however, she chose Josh to stay. That meant Stephanie Anne and Olivia Henken were heading home.
Team Adam closed out the night with a performance of the Capital Cities hit "Safe & Sound," its members — especially Preston Pohl and Tessanne Chin — hitting upon vocal chemistry in their call-and-response lines.
The first member of Team Adam to be deemed safe was one of its most unassuming — but also the member who got perhaps the most over-the-top praise from the coaches Monday night: College dropout and self-professed geek James Wolpert, who looked shell-shocked as he got the news.
Jamaican diva-without-the-ego Tessanne Chin's name was called next, and when it was, she covered her face in her hands and wept.
Adam seemed to waver as he considered whom to pick to keep on his team, but when he finally settled on his pick — warning it might be "surprising" — it was Will Champlin, the singer he'd cut from his team only to steal back from a rival. Preston and Grey, then, were heading home.
And with that, season five of "The Voice" got its final 12 contestants — and eight of them were men, in a sharp reversal from last season.
"The Voice" begins narrowing the field of singers this week, with America's help. The live elimination shows will thin the field of 20 singers down to just 12. The first ten competitors will take the stage tonight.
"The Voice" live shows continue next week with more performances, and more eliminations.
"The Voice" aires Mondays at 8/7c and Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC. | 2019-04-22T06:19:21 | https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/NATL-The-Voice-Top-12-Recap-Live-Eliminations-Adam-Blake-CeeLo-Christina-231092591.html |
0.996275 | 2. Line a muffin pan with paper/foil/silicon liners.
3. Combine bananas, eggs, vanilla, and honey with a hand/stand mixer.
4. In a separate bowl, combine coconut flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until all ingredients are well incorporated.
6. Add in coconut oil (must do this last since the coconut oil will harden with cold ingredients).
7. Last, mix in strawberries.
8. Fill cups a little more than 3/4 way full with batter.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then cool completely on wire rack. | 2019-04-19T20:23:46 | https://boxgrl81.wordpress.com/recipes/coconut-strawberry-and-banana-muffins-paleo/ |
0.997757 | From 1948 to 1991 South Africa was ruled under the Apartheid law that segregated the population between white and non-white.
Nelson Mandela is probably one of the most prominent figures of the second half of the twentieth century. In his Long Walk to Freedom, as he named his autobiography, he reflects all the injustice and racism he had to endure, but also his resilience and will to fight for his people's rights. His life has been an open book, but the horrors of what many South Africans, including him, endured has not been entirely exposed. He was a leading character in the anti-apartheid fight, a struggle not only to end the legal segregation system that imprisoned black South Africans for nearly fifty years but to get the freedom they once enjoyed centuries before the arrival of the first European colonizers. But how did Mandela become a symbol of liberation?
To start with, we must first talk about the colonizing process of the country. It all started during the seventeenth century, when two Dutch sailors shipwrecked in the territory. Helped by the Natives they managed to survive and soon realized that it was an extremely fertile land with a great range of essential elements that could be exported. Naturally, they reported this back to Holland and the idea of expanding their territory began to take form. Soon, several Dutch people started to emigrate to this new land to settle and start a new profitable business the exportation of goods and slaves as well. That was the moment when South Africans learned about this European trend of dehumanizing others for their benefit.
As it happens in history, this land wasn’t going to remain entirely Dutch, and other world powers looked at this as a huge commercial opportunity. By the eighteenth century, the British arrived in Cape Town and occupied a part of the territory, and a war between both powers began. First, they divided the land into four sectors, two belonging to the Dutch and the remaining two to the British, but the latter wanted it all for themselves, and in the nineteenth century the decisive conflict to win the entire territory began: the Boer Wars. This wasn’t only a matter between the two European armies, but people from South Africa got involved as well. Just to mention how they got used in a war for power, when the Second Boer War started, the British had learned about a new method used in Cuba by the Spaniards to dominate and concentrate an entire population: concentration camps. The Dutch colonizers were not the only to be imprisoned and murdered at these camps. Of course, natives belonging to these sectors were affected as well. Long story short, the British won the war and South Africa became part of the Commonwealth countries, of course respecting the natural racial hierarchies that had been established centuries ago.
Now, all this is relevant to understand how after enduring centuries of repression, discrimination, and abuse, the native population decided to raise themselves and fight for their rights. When the British got possession of all the territory, they started implementing laws to control all their territories. Among them, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 forbid selling and buying slaves throughout the empire, but this wasn’t as liberating as it sounds. In fact, accompanied with this act came a couple of laws that limited the economic growth of the different tribes in the region, as well as laws that deprived natives from the power to decide over the government and even restrictions to regulate the relationships between races. All in all, this was nothing compared to what was coming for them.
Now, let’s go back to Mandela. Born in 1918, he was the son of a local chief and council of the monarch of his tribe. Just when he was a little boy, his father was sacked from the government, but years later Mandela was taken by the Thembu regent, who raised him as a son. He was sent to university, where he studied law and became an educated counselor of the tribe, but his rebellious sense for justice appeared at a very young age, so he was expelled after organizing a student movement to protest against the food that they were served and the treatment some students received. Not wanting to go back to his town, he moved to Johannesburg, where he started taking small jobs to make a living until he got acquainted with a white lawyer who hired him as his assistant. Lazar Sidelsky was a liberal Jew who supported the African National Congress (ANC), a party fighting for black people’s rights to vote. In that moment, he became completely attached to politics and the fight.
Now, if this party already existed and was already fighting, how did Mandela become one of the main faces of the movement? He got actively involved in every meeting and every single movement they did. But what the movement lacked was unity among the people, and Mandela became the glue that stuck all the pieces. If you think about it, he was an educated man who knew first hand the problems and the mistreatment black South Africans suffered, and had royal blood, so he had all the elements to become the perfect leader.
We’ve talked about the racial differences and Nelson Mandela’s fight, but what moved them to act and why was the country in such a terrible condition? In 1948 an election was held, of course denying non-white people to vote despite the ANC's fight. The winner of the election was Daniel Francois Malan and his Herenigde Nasionale Party. He was an Afrikaner (the name given to the Dutch settlers of South Africa). With a very nationalistic discourse, he promoted a campaign so that Afrikaners could regain the power that was historically taken from them. Moreover, once in power, he promoted the legal system known as Apartheid, meaning separateness. Among the many acts that his new segregation politics included, the first ones were the "Prohibition of Mixed Marriages" and the "Immorality Act" (forbidding sexual relationships between races).
Following these laws came the Population Registration Act consisting of classifying the population by races and making them register for an identity document they all had to carry with them to be able to move throughout the country. As you can imagine, according to your race you had more or less social benefits and limitations. But these weren't the only measures the new government took to reinforce the racial differences between whites and non-whites, as they referred to them. They started literally moving black people to determined areas of the cities and towns in an attempt to “clean” or have them as far as possible.
As you can see, this was the last straw. Together with the increasing popularity of the ANC movement and the horrible politics that the government encouraged, the people had enough. But this was only the beginning of nearly half a century of a fight that would take Mandela and many collaborators to prison for 27 years. Finally, after a long fight, in 1991 the Apartheid was abolished, and in 1994 for the first time in the history of the country, all citizens were allowed to vote, making Nelson Mandela the first president of South Africa. | 2019-04-21T00:11:01 | https://culturacolectiva.com/photography/apartheid-era-pictures-south-africa/amp |
0.999989 | Why may microfinance institutions need "strategic alliances" with formal financial institutions? How can such alliances be made and managed? MFIs have always been most concerned, quite rightly, with their links 'down' to their clients. Should they work through groups or individuals, what kinds of groups, what kinds of NGOs or community institutions should they work through, and how; these are the main questions that have preoccupied their management.
More recently, however, as MFIs have matured and started to look beyond their original funders, and to offer new products in addition to micro-credit, they have started to look 'up' to more formal financial institutions (FFI), such as commercial banks, insurance companies, and many others, and to forge new alliances, for new purposes. And many of these formal institutions are themselves starting for the first time to look 'down' to the microfinance market, and to examine the potential of MFI as intermediaries through which they can deliver their services to the growing market of 'the poor'.
This set of session guides is designed to assist trainers who want to help MFI and FFI staff to identify and manage such strategic alliances more effectively, for the ultimate benefit of their clients. They are suitable for a two day workshop.
It is assumed that participants have a basic understanding of finance. They should know the difference between debt and equity and they should understand the concept of gearing. If they do not, the instructor must fill the gap.
This session is designed mainly for staff of MFIs and those who work with them, rather than for bankers or staff of other financial institutions which may be involved in partnerships. The aim is to enable participants to identify the range of possible legal forms which an MFI can take, and to select the appropriate form for a particular institution at a particular stage in its evolution. This is extremely important as it will affect the types of alliances that can be created with other financial institutions and the willingness of investors to entrust them with their funds.
This session is intended to enable participants to identify and describe the different types and sources of on-lending finance which are available for MFIs and to select the appropriate type for particular institutions in the stages of their development. It is designed for staff of microfinance institutions rather than bankers.
This session is designed to enable participants to identify the different types of institutions with which their MFIs may be able to make mutually satisfactory linkages or strategic alliances, and to identify their respective priorities and needs in order to negotiate relationships which satisfy all parties.
The objective of this session is to enable participants to identify the potential of partnerships between a large commercial bank and local MFIs, but also to see the potential dangers from both parties’ points of view and, thus, be able to minimise them. The session is based on a case study of ICICI Bank in India and the linkage model that it developed with local MFIs.
This session is designed to enable participants to identify MFI clients’ needs for services other than credit which may require alliances with other financial service partners, and to identify appropriate partners for the provision of these services.
The objective of this session is to enable participants to identify ways whereby linkage arrangements can be negotiated so that they are optimal for banks, MFIs and ultimately their clients. The session is based on a role play between a bank executive and the finance officer of a MFI. | 2019-04-19T20:42:17 | http://www.ruralfinanceandinvestment.org/training/guides-for-trainers/financial-sector-linkages |
0.999949 | How do you add the watermarks on your photos?
Several people have asked me that question: What do you use to make the watermarks on your photos?
To create the semi-transparent watermarks on my photos, I use Photoshop and ImageMagick (a server-side image manipulation program that can be scripted).
With Photoshop, I created custom "actions" and "droplets" (i.e. scripts that automate a series of commands) to add various layers with the watermark, using appropriate blending modes to give the semi-transparent effect. With ImageMagick, I wrote various server-side scripts to dynamically add some watermarking, e.g. when my images are shared with social networks like facebook, twitter, tumblr etc.
But creating those scripts this is quite complicated and require a very good knowledge of layers, blending modes and scripting, so I do not recommend this approach unless you are very good with Photoshop or know how to program scripts that use ImageMagick.
The good news is that there are web services that can add watermarks on your photos for free, like https://www.watermark-image.com, http://www.watermark.ws or http://picmarkr.com . Those probably work pretty well in most cases, so you should try them. I am sure there are other services like those, just google "watermark online" or "online watermarking".
I received an e-mail from a well known artist who showcased many large art installations at Burning Man, and who was concerned that selling individual prints online of photos of his art taken at Burning Man was infringing on the copyright he own over his art and any photos of it.
Shared Copyright: I am fully aware that all photos taken at the Burning Man Festival have a copyright that is shared between the Burning Man Organization, the photographer, and possibly the artists who's arts are represented on the photo. I do mention the artist name in all my photos descriptions (when it is known), and not only that, but i give a direct, clickable link to their website (when i know it), which most other photographers don't do. The copyright watermarks on my photos are generated automatically, and it's not very practical to create different watermarks for the photos of each different arts, but i am fully aware that my copyright is not the only one that governs the use of my Burning Man photos.
Why this ugly watermark? The reason for the ugly copyright watermarks on my photos on Smugmug (the service I use for printing) is that my hi-resolutions images can be accessed on Smugmug, so they need to be protected. I use Smugmug only for the printing process, not for showcasing my photos. My photos are best viewed using the "Slideshow feature" from Flickr.
On Smugmug there is currently no text description for any of my photos - I am working on that - but people arrive to Smugmug from my other sites only when they want to order a print, and the Smugmug galleries with Burning Man photos are password-protected.
Why I let people order prints of my photos online: In the past many people have asked me for prints of Burning Man photos, and I would always send them the hi-res file, and tell them to burn a CD-ROM or DVD (or copy the file on a memory card) and bring it to a store to make the prints themselves. I do not have the time anymore to do that, and when I do that, it actually costs more to those people in time and efforts to obtain the prints, compared to ordering them on-line. This is why I now let people buy prints on-line from Smugmug. I make no profit from that, since the cost of the Smugmug hosting service is on my bill ($150/year), and the small markup (on the prints) will probably never offset that cost.
Of course I still send the hi-res files to the artists (and models) who ask for them, and to the Burning Man Organization, but if they want to get prints, it is generally cheaper and faster for them to order them on-line rather than to print them from the hi-res files.
It is very difficult for me to get paid for the time and effort that I spend with making Burning Man photos (and photography is also a form of art). I spend about one month working on them every year, and make virtually no money with them. Actually last year, the revenues I got from Burning Man photos licensed to magazines was about $200). That does not pay the bills, it does not pay for my time, and it is not an incentive to continue making this kind of photos (even with all the rave revues i get from Burning Man lovers).
My point in allowing people to order prints of my Burning Man photos on-line is not to make a profit or to exploit someone else's art, but to provide something that many people ask me, and do it in a more efficient, cheaper (for me and the people who want photos) and faster way that before.
To support the artists, we encourage you to contact them directly and ask them if they sell other photos of their arts.
If your art is represented on one of my photos and you do not want people to be able to buy prints of these photos, let me know and I will take the photos off Smugmug (where people order the on-line prints), and I will place a notice that prints are not available for these photos, upon request of the artist who's art is on the photo.
I wish I could have personally informed the 500 artists who's art are on my Burning Man photos that I intended to make prints of them more easiely available on-line, but it would be a dawnting task. I don't have a list of the phone numbers or contacts for those 500 or so artists, and gathering it would take another couple of weeks, a time that I don't have.
Feel free to post comments or contact me about this post.
If you are still using Internet Explorer 6, you should upgrade your browser!
I recommend a Giottos Rocket air blower to remove the bulk of the dust, then you can use the wet sensor swabs (with 100% pure methanol optical solution, also called methylic alcohol) to remove sticky particles that don't go with the air blower, if necessary.
Don't put more than a couple of drops of methanol on the swab, otherwise it would be too wet and leave deposit marks on the sensor. You will have to clean several times before getting a clean sensor, especially the first time. To clean, you must sweep the swab on the sensor from side to side. For best results, the width of the swab should the exact width of your sensor, so that you only need one sweep. Swabs made by Visible Dust. are excellent quality, I use those. After sweeping, put back the lens and do a test shot, then zoom on the image and check if there is still dust. usually the dust is located near the corners or near the edges. if you see dust, repeat the process.
To do a test shot, you must set the camera in A mode and close the apperture to the maximum F value (e.g. F32), and take a photo of something uniform, e.g. the sky or just a piece of paper. Set the camera to manual focus and make it completely out of focus, so if you see a dot on the test shot, it will be dust.
Sensor cleaning was painful at the beginning, it took me one hour to get all the dust OFF the first time. But now i can do it in two of three iterations, and it takes 10 min or so, and I am no the least nervous about doing it on my expensive camera.
Also, remember that if you have dust on your sensor, it will probably not show on your photos if you shoot with maximum apperture (i.e. minimum F value, e.g. F2.8 or F3.5). So if you have dust on the sensor and must continue to shoot with the dust, remember to shoot in A-mode (apperture priority) and use maximum apperture, i.e. use the minimum F value of your lens.
Dry-cleaning the sensor with rotating brushes charged with static electricity will work only with the dry, non-sticky particles on the sensor. But it will not cleanup sticky or greasy particles. Those can only be removed with a wet swab. So even if you get one of those dry cleaning brushes (e.g. Arctic Butterfly), sometimes you will still need to use the wet swabs.
NEVER ever use a spray can to blow away the dust inside the camera. The very cold gas out of the air-can would cause irreparable damage (micro-cracks) to your sensor.
There are other CCD cleaning options available, but that's what I use and it works well for me. Or you can pay a professional to do it, but it usually takes several days and it's not cheap, and this is not always possible if you travel. So you'd better learn how to do it yourself. | 2019-04-22T16:58:53 | http://blog.loupiote.com/2009/ |
0.999635 | Why Didn't Apple Sue Mike Daisey?
Mike Daisey’s lies about Foxconn’s Chinese factories emerged because Rob Schmitz, a Public Radio reporter based in China, thought Daisey’s account sounded fishy and investigated for himself. Since Schmitz’s account—based mostly on discussions with Daisey’s interpreter—and This American Life’s retraction of an episode contaning an abridged version of Daisey’s monologue on the subject, several other China-based Westerners have expressed that they, too, had thought Daisey’s story sounded fishy.
If many western reporters thought Daisey was making things up, and Schmitz was able to prove it, doesn’t it follow that Apple must have known all along that Daisey was lying? For example, Apple should have known that there were no hexane-related injuries at any of Foxconn’s Shenzhen facilities, contrary to Daisey’s claim to have met injured workers there whose “hands shake uncontrollably.” Given the knowledge that Daisey was damaging their brand with lies, why hasn’t Apple sued him for slander?
I suppose the answer is that Apple felt a slander suit would not serve its interests. Litigating Daisey’s monologue would have brought out the same revelations we’ve seen this week—some of its content is true, some is made up, and some describes real events that Daisey heard about but did not witness. Such a mixed bag of findings would not have quieted objections to Apple’s business practices in China, and would have raised the profile of the complaints.
Unfortunately, this calculus reflects the fact that the public is likely to mis-analyze the merits of Apple’s operations in China. There is a temptation to say that many of Daisey’s lies were inconsequential: whether in Shenzhen or Suzhou, there were Foxconn workers who suffered hexane poisioning. (Correction: the Suzhou incident involved Wintek, another Apple contractor, not Foxconn.) This is essentially Daisey’s defense—that he took real stories and made them more vivid by telling them as though he had seen them in person.
But a key reason Daisey’s account was effective is that it depicted a density of horror at Foxconn’s Chinese plants. If Daisey could visit just one city for just six days and come out with as much vivid material as he did, imagine what is going on at Foxconn’s facilities all over the country. Admitting that many of the conditions he discussed were not uniform and not necessarily common—and not, so far as he could tell, present in Shenzhen—would have made his critique much less damning.
A lot of the anger at Daisey over the last couple of days has focused on how he has wronged the listeners who believed his story and the outlets that agreed to broadcast it, and those groups certainly should feel wronged. But we’re almost glossing over Daisey’s primary victims: Apple and Foxconn, the companies he has been maliciously lying about, and their shareholders. Slander is still wrong even when the entity you’re lying about is a huge and wildly successful company, and it’s not wrong principally because you might embarrass the network that broadcasts your slander.
I think a slander suit against Daisey has probably gotten even less likely after this week’s revelations. Daisey can’t have much money to pay damages with, and the other valid reason to sue for slander—to get someone to stop lying about you—is now moot. But I think that’s sort of a shame, as I would enjoy watching Daisey defend a slander suit.
As for the merits of Foxconn’s operations in China, I think Matt Yglesias has the right take. You have to look at this from an opportunity cost perspective. If the conditions at Foxconn plants are bad in various ways, and yet Chinese people are lining up out the door for jobs there, what that tells you is that their other options are worse. China, like many countries, is much poorer than the United States, and so many things that are improvements by Chinese standards will look terrible from our perspective.
The best way to narrow that gap is continued industrialization and economic development in China—a process that is hindered if we shame people out of buying Chinese products. Meanwhile, Americans should concern themselves with the plight of poor people around the world, but not especially with the plight of poor people around the world who happen to make products for the U.S. market. | 2019-04-21T04:19:46 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbarro/2012/03/17/why-didnt-apple-sue-mike-daisey/ |
0.999533 | London: Jose Mourinho's departure from Chelsea will have a financial impact on the club even though it is too early in the season to count the costs of a possible relegation, experts said on Friday.
"Of course it will affect the balance sheet," said Giambattista Rossi, an expert at the Birkbeck Sport Business Centre in London. Mourinho will reportedly get a pay-out of between 13.7 million and 16.5 million euros (£9.7m-12m; $14.9m-17.9m) -- a sum of little significance to Chelsea's billionaire owner, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
But Rossi said any new manager will also need cash on the table to change players and the cost of a planned new 60,000-seat stadium on the club's Stamford Bridge site has to be factored in.
"Every time you change a manager in the UK, you need to give him the power to change the squad," Rossi said. "Probably in the next years financially they will have some concerns."
The expert said tensions in the dressing room were so bad that Abramovich faced a choice between sacking Mourinho or 11 players.
"The easy decision is to change Mourinho," he said. "A player like Diego Costa has strong market value. Next year if Mourinho was still in the club, he would have been sold for nothing," he added.
Chelsea are unlikely to qualify for next season's Champions League, which will also have a significant impact on revenues, said Rossi.
Manchester United's revenues fell by 8.8 percent -- or 52 million euros -- between June 2014 and June 2015 because of their failure to qualify for the competition.
Chelsea, champions in May by an eight-point margin, have been sucked into a potential relegation battle after losing nine of their first 16 games. Wyn Grant, an expert in football business at Warwick University, central England, said Chelsea's poor performance this season had hit revenues.
"There are financial implications in that corporate sales were dipping. Also a lower place in the table means less revenue," he said. "Boosting corporate hospitality income is a key part of the club's plans for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge," he added.
Chelsea last month announced it had made a loss of £23.1 million (31.7 million euros, $34.4 million) last season. The west London club also announced annual revenues of £314.3m, marginally down on the 2013-14 high of £319.8m. The dip in revenues was attributed to Chelsea's exit in the first knockout round of the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain, following their run to the semi-finals the previous season.
According to the most recent figures compiled by Deloitte, the club generated 85 million euros ($90.1 million) in match-day revenue in the 2013-14 season in its current 41,798 capacity stadium. In comparison, London rivals Arsenal, whose Emirates Stadium holds 60,260, raised 120 million euros, while Manchester United, who can fit 75,653 people in at Old Trafford, generated 129 million euros. | 2019-04-21T14:23:07 | https://www.mid-day.com/articles/jose-mourinho-s-exit-to-hit-chelsea-finances/16786198 |
0.999723 | The importance of finding a reputable company to help with your remodel cannot be overstated. For many families, kitchen and bath renovations only happen once in a lifetime. Think about the pressure that exists to make sure you get everything right on the first try!
The most important step in a successful remodel is choosing the right company, but how can you really know if you've found someone you can trust? Begin by making sure the answers to each of the following questions is a resounding, Yes! | 2019-04-21T05:15:43 | https://www.consumerskitchens.com/blog/tag/getting-started |
0.999992 | Pick the right words for jargon-free communication.
The business world is overflowing with unnecessary jargon – words that do more to confuse co-workers and customers than to help them.
Here are three examples: "punch a puppy" (do a bad thing that's good for business); "peel the onion" (look at an issue in detail); and "take a thought shower" (come up with some ideas).
The words may be familiar, but the phrases ask more questions than they answer. And you risk alienating your team members, or losing their good will, if your choice of words is baffling or annoying. This is especially true when you're trying to give them important information.
But jargon is not all bad. Technical language can actually be an aid to good communiction, if it's delivered in the right setting and to the right people. The important thing is to know your audience, and to know the difference between good and bad jargon.
In this article, we'll examine how jargon can reduce the clarity of your communication, and how it can affect your authority as a leader. We'll look at ways to stamp out the wrong kind of jargon, and how to use the right kind effectively... when it is appropriate.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a good starting point for understanding what jargon is, because it offers two definitions that immediately help us to distinguish between good and bad jargon. The first is, "confused, unintelligible language," and the second is, "the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group."
Business jargon that comes under the first definition is the kind that is criticized. It might be just slightly irritating: "Let's run that up the flagpole, and see if anyone salutes," for instance. But, why not simply say, "Let's try this out and see what people think"? Sometimes the words just sound silly: "Let's open the kimono on that." Let's not. Let's just tell people about it.
of people with no knowledge of project management, on the other hand, would likely be left scratching their heads.
But, using specialist jargon or language, is appropriate – or even preferable – as long as you match your audience's level of knowledge. This is because, in one short word or phrase, you can convey a complex concept or a technical process to them quickly and efficiently.
However, it is vital that you prepare the right words for the right people, and that you don't allow your message to become muddled.
It excludes people. Jargon can be a code that people use to impress others or to deliberately make the point that they are part of "the club." But it is baffling and alienating to those who don't know. These people can be made to feel foolish or part of an "out-group" for no good reason.
It's complex. You risk sounding pompous by over-complicating your language. For instance, you could say "contact" rather than "reach out to," or "analyze" rather than "drill down." And always opt for simplicity, especially for an audience of non-experts.
It may be misleading. Saying, "Our exploratory research points to a range of balanced options going forward, and we're currently assimilating the data-sets as a priority to create some top-line metrics," may seem like a smart way to avoid saying, "Sorry, I don't yet know." But making your communications unclear in this way is unlikely to enhance your reputation or credibility.
It can be undermining. If you use jargon in this way, you risk losing your power or authority within your team by failing to communicate accessibly and understandably. People will likely detect that you're hiding behind a screen of tortuous technical terms. Conversely, if they do understand what you're saying, and feel that they can trust your words, it will likely create a more collaborative working environment and better relationships.
or a report. You'll likely use more "normal" language if you do this, even if you initially struggle to find the right turn of phrase.
Use stories, examples and evidence. Don't say something like, "We need to leverage opportunities around a core of millennial-centered deliverables." Instead, clearly and simply outline the findings from a focus group of younger potential customers. Also, you are far less likely to resort to unnecessary jargon if you focus on data or analysis.
Ask, "Is this word in the dictionary?" Jargon enthusiasts love to make up words or run two or even three together in an effort to sound impressive. For instance, "bouncebackability" or "recontextualize."
Think about your audience and the context of your communication. Step back and ask yourself, "Why am I saying it this way? Is it because it is the best way to explain it? Or am I being lazy?" Even specialized audiences value clear communication.
Don't be afraid of the jargon that you do need. Knowing and understanding the "language" of your role is important because it means you can use it confidently and, if you're on the receiving end, you can keep up with what the other person is telling you.
The writer George Orwell was a great advocate of using language clearly and concisely. In fact, "management speak," or corporate slang, is a reference to his term "newspeak," which he used to describe the propaganda language of Big Brother supporters in his classic novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four."
In some organizations, however, being clear, concise and straightforward in your communications can be seen as "dumbing down," while using long and complicated words can be seen as more impressive.
You should certainly avoid coming across as condescending to your audience, but being direct and transparent in what you say or write is not the same as being patronizing. You can still be clear and concise while using authoritative and technical language, by making sure that you simplify and explain complex aspects of your message wherever necessary.
Jargon can be useful to quickly explain a specific activity or meaning to a specialized audience.
But it can also exclude people, mask meaning, and lead to confusion. Using jargon unnecessarily can damage your reputation, authority, and power as a manager and leader.
Think about your audience and the context of your message, the words that you choose to use, and whether there's a more direct, accessible way of delivering your message.
Thanks for the feedback. Pleased to hear that you found it useful and helpful.
grate Article very useful and helpful.
Davidson, L. (June 16, 2016). Revealed: The 10 Most Scream-Inducing Business Jargon Phrases [online]. Available here. | 2019-04-19T00:32:14 | https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/beating-jargon.htm |
0.998601 | Q. How are your legs?
Q. Is that the reason why the match turned in the fifth set?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I cramped after that long rally. I still had game points to go up 3-2. I lost my service game I think because of that a little bit. So, yeah, those are a big reason for it.
Q. Obviously you're disappointed, but in a couple days how do you think you'll look back on this match?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Even now I'm disappointed, but I know that this was a great match. That was a great fight. There's a lot of positives in this match.
Obviously I wanted to win. I could have won. It's disappointing. But I'm fine actually.
Q. Is it extra motivation knowing you're close to that level? What is the mindset moving forward?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I am close. I kind of showed it a few times last year, and this now. We played for over four hours. It was not an easy match. So, you know, there's a few things here and there I could do better. All in one, I think I'm pretty happy with my performance.
Q. Would you say this was the most exhausting match you ever played?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, there are matches where I wasn't as fit as now. A few years back when I played five sets, I just wasn't as fit as now. I played worse players, much shorter, and I was still exhausted.
But now, you know, I'm quite strong and I feel quite well on court, except that one game where I cramped. Yeah, I mean, it was very difficult, I think.
Q. You mentioned positives. Can you mention a few positives you take from the game.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think I just said it. Taking him five sets is very positive. He played very well, I think. He served very well. Everything about that match I think is positive except, like, one or two things.
Q. Talk about your relationship to the game and to the process. You're 19, such a great prospect. Do you love tennis? Is it something that's thrilling to you? Is it at times a grind?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I've got that question asked last time and I said I love tennis. I'm not, like, the person you think of right now. No, I absolutely love tennis. I absolutely love the process. It's exciting for me.
I think I can see how I'm getting better. I can see how I'm getting better in five sets.
So, you know, it's exciting. I think it's going to be an exciting year for me.
Q. Can you, in your own mind, envision going to the very top and winning a Grand Slam?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I'm doing all the work I can for it, so... We'll see what the future holds.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Great. First time fourth round in a major. I wish him all the luck in the world tomorrow.
Q. You beat Federer in Hopman Cup. In terms of satisfaction, this match, that match, how do they compare?
A. One match I won; the other one I lost. It's quite simple, I think.
Q. In terms of performance.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think this was physically a much tougher match. We had much longer rallies. It was completely different.
Against Roger, it's always a very quick game. Against Rafa, you always have to play long points. I think both matches I played pretty well. If this would have been a three-set match, I would have won 7-6 in the third. Again, the same against Roger.
I think both are very positive matches. | 2019-04-21T16:41:44 | http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=126773 |
0.999955 | Get a closer look at Entrepreneur and Dun & Bradstreet's 9th annual listing of the best cities for entrepreneurs.
and you've taken your first step to starting a business.
Function is the key ingredient in designing a restaurant.
Does cutting costs sound like a good start-up idea? Read on for 5 tips to help you save money by bartering.
It's no longer all fun and games in the online video game market--you now have to add profits to the mix.
How do I get the word out about my business in a very specialized market?
If you need quick cash flow to stay in business—and who doesn't?—skip the small retailers and go straight for companies that buy in bulk.
Looking for a new business idea? Keep an ear open for what people grumble about . . . especially if they can afford to drive Lamborghinis.
Can a restaurant that serves healthy food and greasy burgers survive?
Know who keeps up with the goings-on of a franchise? The advisory council.
Getting financing for your international venture isn't as simple as cashing a few traveler's checks. | 2019-04-26T01:56:04 | https://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2002/10 |
0.999991 | Corbyn or May – do we care?
As is so often the case with us nationalists, we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place when deciding a favourite to take the role of Prime Minister.
Allow me to retract that phrase because neither of these candidates from the political class campaigning for the British premiership can be described as either a ‘rock’ or a ‘hard place’ on any political issue which lies within the interests of British people.
Straining the term, the contender for the ‘hard place’ candidate would be bearded commie Jeremy Corbyn for his bullish praise and endorsement of terror organisations committed to the destruction of Britain and the deaths of British people.
A Sinn Fein collaborator and unrelenting apologist for the IRA, he’s committed all the more to the betrayal of Britain by handing over the Falkland Islands to Argentina.
Last year, after the media attacked him for his comments, Corbyn eventually resorted to announcing his regret at calling the Islamist groups Hezbollah and Hamas as his “friends”.
Just the other day he lavished more praise on Hezbollah calling them ““serious and hard-working”.
It’s enough to make any safety-conscious Jew in Britain pack his family’s bags and head for an uncertain future in Israel.
Sadly, we Brits don’t have an Israel, nor will white people ever be permitted one.
If we lose our native island homeland, that’s the final chapter in our glorious historical record written, done and dusted.
Earlier this week, Corbyn’s ex-lover and gaff-prone hypocrite Shadow Secretary, Diane Abbott, was confronted by the BBC’s Andrew Marr with a paper listing the terror organisations she’s failed to condemn and proscribe.
She refused to even acknowledge the paper that he tried passing to her.
Pressed further, she attempted some verbal fancy footwork only to stumble by claiming she deemed them “dissidents rather than terror organisations”.
One of which was Al-Qaeda.
So Abbott was WOEFULLY wrong, but since when has being wrong on everything made the career politician realise they’re not up to the job?
Abbott’s built her entire political career on race baiting.
The British “invented racism” she once quipped, apparently overlooking the fact that her Jamaican father and West African mother both chose to leave their countries to take up citizenship in what she today called “one of the most fundamentally racist nations” while hundreds of millions of non-whites the world over want to come here to benefit from everything we Brits have built.
They often say it needs to get worse before it gets better, with pollsters today predicting Mr Corbyn taking 10 Downing Street in next week’s General Election, it’s about to get a whole lot worse. | 2019-04-25T22:04:30 | https://bnp.org.uk/corbyn-may-care/ |
0.999808 | argument is a term representing a binary tree.
which means their difference is not greater than one.
information into all nodes of the tree.
cbal_tree(0,T) => T = nil.
distrib(N,N,NL,NR) => NL = N, NR = N.
distrib(N1,N2,NL,NR) ?=> NL = N1, NR = N2.
distrib(N1,N2,NL,NR) => NL = N2, NR = N1.
interested in the structure, not in the contents of the nodes.
binary search tree from a list of integer numbers.
add(X,nil,T) => T = $t(X,nil,nil).
add(X,t(Root,L,R),T), X @< Root => T = $t(Root,L1,R), add(X,L,L1).
add(X,t(Root,L,R),T), X @> Root => T = $t(Root,L,R1), add(X,R,R1).
construct(,T,T0) => T = T0.
sym_cbal_trees(N,Ts) => Ts = find_all(T,sym_cbal_tree(N,T)).sort_remove_dups().
their difference is not greater than one.
as information into all nodes of the tree.
hbal_tree(0,T) => T = nil.
hbal_tree(1,T) => T = $t(x,nil,nil).
MaxN = 2**H - 1. However, what is the minimum number MinN?
height-balanced binary tree of height H.
H a height-balanced binary tree with N nodes can have?
height-balanced binary trees with a given nuber of nodes.
minNodes(0,N) => N = 0.
minNodes(1,N) => N = 1.
N = 1 + N1 + N2.
maxNodes(H,N) => N is 2**H - 1.
minHeight(0,H) => H = 0.
H is H1 + 1.
maxHeight(N,H,H1,N1), N1 > N => H = H1 - 1.
nodes(nil,N) => N = 0.
N = NLeft + NRight + 1.
% trees with N nodes.
count_leaves(nil,N) => N = 0.
count_leaves(t(_,nil,nil),N) => N = 1.
leaves/2 to collect them in a list.
leaves(nil,S) => S = .
leaves(t(X,nil,nil),S) => S = [X].
S = SL ++ SR.
collect them in a list.
internals(nil,S) => S = .
internals(t(_,nil,nil),S) => S = .
S = [X|SL] ++ SR.
root to the node has length N-1. The root node is at level 1.
nodes. However, there are more efficient ways to do that.
atlevel(nil,_,S) => S = .
atlevel(t(X,_,_),1,S) => S = [X].
levelorder(T,S,D), atlevel(T,D,) => S = .
S = SD ++ S1.
which are not really nodes!) come last.
structures (or addressing schemes) for heaps.
be used to elegantly construct a complete binary tree structure.
% complete_binary_tree(N,T): T is a complete binary tree with N nodes.
complete_binary_tree(N,T,A), A > N => T = nil.
one of them is as follows.
W "positioned" at (X,Y), and subtrees L and R.
% inorder sequence. D is the depth of the root of T (or PT).
layout_binary_tree(nil,PT,I,Iout,_) => PT = nil, Iout = I.
tree is at position 1.
layout_binary_tree2(nil,PT) => PT = nil.
% between the root node of T and its successor(s) (if any).
hor_dist(nil,D4) => D4 = 1.
D4 = 2 * max(D4L,D4R).
% distance between the root node of T and its successor(s) (if any).
x_pos(t(_,nil,_),X,_) => X = 1.
% its successor(s) (if any). X, Y are the co-ordinates of the root node.
layout_binary_tree2(nil,PT,_,_,_) => PT = nil.
is the same as between it and the root of its right subtree.
the nodes c and m.
layout_binary_tree3(nil,PT) => PT = nil.
contour_tree(nil,CT) => CT = nil.
combine(nil,nil,Cont) => Cont = .
shift(,_,CS) => CS = .
maxdiff(,_,MD,MD0) => MD = MD0.
maxdiff(_,,MD,MD0) => MD = MD0.
mincont(,MC,MC0) => MC = MC0.
layout_binary_tree3(nil,PT,_,_) => PT = nil.
layout_binary_tree3(t(W,nil,nil,_),PT,X,Y) => PT = $t(W,X,Y,nil,nil).
be represented by x(,) and not only by the single character x.
tree_to_list(nil,S) => S = .
tree_to_list(t(X,nil,nil),S) => S = [X].
List = LsL ++ [','|LsR] ++ [')'].
string_to_tree(,T) => T = nil.
string_to_tree([X],T) => T = $t(X,nil,nil).
preorder(nil,S) => S = .
List = ListLeft ++ ListRight.
inorder(nil,S) => S = .
List = ListLeft ++ [X|ListRight].
tree_dots_dl(nil,L1,L2) => L1 = ['.'|L2]. | 2019-04-21T19:05:41 | http://picat-lang.org/p99/btree.html |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.