text:
Thus, the various Herding breeds, including the Australian Cattle Dog, were bred and introduced to help man according to his specific requirements such as:
- Herding or Droving various animals including cattle and reindeer
- Police work
- Providing a service to handicapped owners
- Performing Search & Rescue
- Acting as sentries and couriers for the Armed Forces
Information about Herding Dogs characteristics
In this day and age not every Herding Dog might be called to undertake these tasks, but nevertheless, they still harbour the skills and characteristics that made the original Australian Cattle Dog breeding program successful.


Wednesday, March 24, 2010
One distinction I don't see people making enough is the difference between reason and rationale. Reason is the process of using one's mental faculties to assess a situation and come to a conclusion about what must be done. Rationale is using one's mental faculties to come up with justification for what one has already decided to do. This is an important distinction to keep in mind.
To pick a vaguely topical example, if you're arguing with someone who's very strongly in favor of socialized medicine for reasons such as peer pressure, arguing with their stated reasons for instituting socialized medicine is futile in many ways. Arguing with someone's rationale is pointless, because they spring up like weeds. This is, of course, only assuming that your goal is to convince that person that they're wrong. Arguing with that person in a public forum with the goal of convincing the audience is often worthwhile.
 1. Excellent - a very important distinction. The one I more commonly make is between justification and rationalization. The former being the process of arriving at a mutually agreed upon proposition through logical argumentation. The latter being the production of a rhetorical flourish to satisfy one's pre-conceived prejudices.
 2. Yeah, I couldn't decide on a good word to use for the actual process of arriving at a decision through logic. Yours might be better, but I think "justify" sometimes also has the same kind of context as "rationalize".
 3. All we ever do these days is rationalize...


Vegetable Fat
 [ Vegetable_Fat ]
 Edible fat extracted from plants that are solid at room temperature, due to a higher level of saturation than vegetable oils. Typically vegetable fats come from tropical plants such as coconut, palm or cocoa.
 Despite the common use of the terms "coconut oil" and "palm oil", these are more correctly called "coconut fat" and "palm fat", unless they have been chemically processed to be liquid at room temperature.


text:
In the Republic of Estonia, the Ministry of Defence and the Minister of Defence as its head are responsible for organising national defence.
In general, the functions of the Ministry include making proposals for planning national defence politics, implementing the planned activities, and the organisation of national defence, which comprises the following:
- to determine the overall guidelines for national defence
- to organise international co-operation in the sphere of national defence
- to arrange the preparation and implementation of mobilisation
- to implement the subsequent record management and training of reservists
- to arrange and finance the activities of the Defence Forces and the Defence League
- to develop the defence industry
- to supervise the activities of the Defence Forces and the Defence League
- to draft subsequent legislation
Structure-wise, the Ministry of Defence is divided into areas of responsibility of three Deputy Undersecretaries.
Figuratively speaking, it can be said that the departments, subordinate to the Deputy Undersecretary for Defence Policy, are developing the vision of the future of Estonian national defence; the area of responsibility of the Deputy Undersecretary for Defence Planning will 'translate' the vision into the language of capabilities and budget. The departments that are subordinate to the Deputy Undersecretary for Legal and Administrative Affairs will support all the processes, which take place within the Ministry. The Ministry shall co-ordinate its activities with the Defence Forces and other divisions and the sub-office concerned at the decision-making stage.
The Ministry's area of responsibility includes:
- the Defence Forces
- the Centre for Defence Investments
- the Defence Resources Agency, which organises recruitment and conscription issues
- the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service
- the educational institutions of the Defence Forces; the Estonian War Museum - General Laidoner Museum, which showcases military history
- Seli Health Centre, which provides rehabilitation services to military personnel.
The authority of the Minister includes supervision over all the divisions and offices for the purposes of lawfulness and expedience.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
Stranded Polar Bear Floats Down London's Thames
A very large polar bear was spotted traveling down the River Thames, under the Tower Bridge and past Parliament in London today.
Lifelike as it seemed, the 1.5-ton structure -- built by 15 artists in 18 days -- floated down the river to raise awareness of the melting ice caps and the larger picture… climate change (see video below).
The melting of the ice caps threatens polar bear's lives because their habitat is literally disappearing. The 2 billion people depending on glacial meltwater for irrigation and drinking are also faced with serious consequences.
This 16-foot-high sculpture of a mother and cub holding on to life was commissioned by Eden, a new digital television channel featuring natural history programs. Wildlife broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, narrator of series including Life on Earth and Fragile Earth, said the display spreads the message that our environment is currently unbalanced and events like the polar bears extinction will have extreme repercussions.
Watch a video of the polar bear sculpture on the Thames below:

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


The Mechanics of Deadlifting (updated July 2019)
Mechanics of Deadlifting
What is a Deadlift?
The Exercise Overview
A deadlift is a compound power exercise, most commonly used by powerlifters. It engages more muscles during one movement than any other compound lift. This makes it ideal for not only strengthening those muscles, but also is more efficient for those who lift with a time constraint.
image @
Deadlifts are also the easiest exercise to lift the heaviest amount of weight with. There are two main reasons why:
 1. The distance between the floor and the top of the movement is relatively small, averaging only a couple of feet. As compared to a squat or bench press, this makes heavier weights much easier to handle.
 2. You really only perform half of the movement. Unlike a squat or bench press where you need to control the bar for the concentric and eccentric part of the lift, gravity takes over for the eccentric half of the deadlift. As soon as you bring the bar a third of the way down after locking out (or reaching the ending point of the exercise), gravity takes over and gets that bar to the ground. You just have to make sure that it doesn't squash your toes.
Recruited Muscles
The deadlift is primarily a hamstring and glutes movement because the lifter uses his heels as the driving force. However, both the thoracic and lumbar spine are activated at the top of the movement, as is the latissimus dorsi and rear deltoids of the back. In addition, the triceps are recruited when lifting the bar off of the ground. Tricep activation is due to the pushing motion of the lifter relative to the bar — against popular belief, the first movement in a deadlift is pushing the bar off of the ground, not pulling it, to lift it. Therefore, the triceps and not the biceps are utilized to complete the movement.
The Mechanics
image @
There are two different forms of deadlifting, conventional and sumo, but both have the same core mechanics. The trick to a deadlift is to keep your back relatively straight — no rounding at the top! Your feet should be planted firmly on the ground so that the heels are used as the primary driving force. Any additional pressure at the front of the body will just cause you to fall over.
The deadlift should be one continuous movement. Because of the heavy weight, some individuals have a tendency to lift the legs first and let the bar follow. This puts intense strain on the lumbar spine. Instead, the whole body needs to move as one. Ideally, the bar should travel up the path of your legs and follow the same path back down to the ground. It will make sure you keep control of the bar and prevent your back from being thrown out during the eccentric portion.
Another key component to completing the deadlift is to activate your latissimus dorsi before lifting the bar. Located right at the base of the armpit, the lats are the stabilizing force of the entire upper body. To prevent your back from rounding or your shoulders from slumping forward, pressure is applied to the upper back to keep it rigid. It's a similar notion to locking your shoulders during a bench press. In order for the upper body to stay put and not ruin the rest of the lift, it needs to be activated. And stay activated until the bar touches the ground again.
The Equipment
A deadlift can be done with no outside equipment. There are some daredevils deadlifting a raw bar with no shoes on, and that's great for them. However, the heavier the lift the more outside equipment will help. Here are some key tools for optimal deadlifting:
 1. Flat-soled shoes.
 image @
 Running shoes are bouncy for a reason: they keep half the foot off of the ground. However, since the primary driving force in a deadlift is the foot, the entire sole should remain planted on the ground. This gives the lifter better stability, which ensures a better lift. Powerlifting shoes or even Converse are great picks because they provide ankle mobility and keep the entire foot on the ground. Or any flat-soled shoes work, really. Just leave the running shoes at home.
 Powerlifting shoes can be found here, and Converse can be found here.
 2. Wrist straps.
 image @
 Lifting an iron bar off of the ground puts a lot of pressure on weak wrists. To avoid this, wrist straps are a great tool. They're made of a combination of tough fabric and elastic, so one size really does fit every wrist. Wrist straps keep the wrists locked in place and prevent them locking out or bending. In addition, some wrist straps will loop around the wrist and then wrap around the bar to increase grip strength.
 Wrist wraps can be found here.
 3. Lifting chalk. Lifting chalk is messy but effective for those who hate using straps. Also, if you tend to sweat during exercise, chalk will soak up the liquid to prevent slipping grips. When trying to lift heavy barbells, a firm grip is the best grip. Chalk is also applied to the legs when wear shorts to prevent chaffing.
 Lifting chalk can be found here.
Choose Your Best Deadlift
So now you have the knowledge of deadlifting basics and key tools for the best lift. But what stance do you use?
image @
Conventional V. Sumo
There are two types of deadlift: conventional and sumo. Conventional is a close stance deadlift where the hands are kept outside of the legs. Sumo is a wide stance deadlift where the hands are kept inside of the legs. Both get the bar off the ground by primarily activating the glutes and hamstrings. However, conventional deadlifts equally target the quadriceps, or the front of the leg. Conversely, sumo deadlifts work the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus and leave the quadriceps virtually untouched.
But Which to Choose?
Choosing your stance is primarily based on your physical build. Typically, individuals with long legs will choose sumo because they can get closer to the bar. Conventional deadlifts, while effective, make it more difficult for taller lifters to get down into the starting position. Similarly, individuals with longer torsos may also choose sumo deadlifts for the same reasons.
If you're someone with short legs or a short torso, however, you may choose conventional. Having smaller limbs allows more room around the bar while still being able to get the full range of motion during the exercise. Similarly, someone with longer arms may choose conventional deadlifts because their arms are held farther apart. This actually reduces the space between him and the bar, making it easier to complete the movement.
Although, choosing your stance is also based on personal preference. You can learn one way but prefer the other way, or lift heavier, or have a higher repetition range. You can also lift in both stances if you're indecisive. There really is no wrong way to deadlift. As long as your form is good and your back is not rounded during any part of the movement, deadlift away!


New Normal UP208
A new normal is a state to which an economy, society, etc. settles following a crisis, when this differs from the situation that prevailed prior to the start of the crisis. The term has been employed in relation to World War I, the financial crisis of 2007-2008, September 11 attacks, the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and other events.
Some commentators objected overuse and misuse of the phrase by the media while describing atypical situations or behaviors, which turned it into a cliche.


text:
Is the cosmological singularity thermodynamically possible?
- Cite this article as:
- Bekenstein, J.D. Int J Theor Phys (1989) 28: 967. doi:10.1007/BF00670342
- 90 Downloads
The four broad approaches that have been suggested heretofore to eliminate the initial singularity from cosmology are briefly reviewed. None is satisfactory, basically because one does not know enough about the microphysics involved in the process. Thermodynamics has often been used in such dilemmas, and it is proposed to answer the question of whether there was a Friedmann-like singularity in the universe by exploiting the bound on specific entropy that has been established for finite system. It is made applicable to the universe by considering only a causally connected spacelike region within the particle horizon of a given observer. It is found that the specific entropy of radiation in such a region can exceed the bound if the observer is too early in the universe. Faith in the bound leads to the conclusion that the Friedmann models cannot be extrapolated back to nearer than a few Planck-Wheeler times from the singularity. The Friedmann initial singularity thus appears to be thermodynamically unacceptable.


text:
Continuous flow - A method of analysis where sample material is moved through a series of conversion and purification steps within a continuously flowing stream of carrier gas, typically helium. In most cases, this method allows for a single measurement of a sample.
Continuous flow interface - The carrier gas flow rate from a continous flow system is typically an order of magnitude higher than an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) can handle. A reduction in flow immediately upstream the IRMS is achieved with a plumbing interface.
Dual inlet - A method of analysis where a sample gas and and reference gas are alternately put into the isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). This method typically allows for many measurements of a single sample and is generally considered the most precise way to use an IRMS.
Elemental analyzer - An instrument used to combust solid or liquid material in a controlled excess oxygen reaction column. A carrier gas (typically helium) is used to move the combustion products through a series of oxidation or reduction as well as purification steps.
Light Stable Isotopes - Isotopes are elements with varying numbers of neutrons but identical numbers of protons and electrons. Some isotopes are unstable, or radioactive, with increasing numbers of neutrons. Elements with a relatively low mass are considered light. For example, carbon has a mass of 12 and is considered to be light. Lead, however, has a mass of 207 and would be considered heavy. In the environmental stable isotope community, light isotopes are generally considered to be hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.
Mass Dependence - Multiple isotopes of the same species following a physical fractionation that is dependent on mass. For example, 17O is empirically different from 18O by about half.
Symbols δ and Δ - These symbols are the lower case and capital greek letter delta. We use the lower case delta (δ) to indicate the ratio of heavy to light isotope relative to the same ratio of a standard. For example, the 13C to 12C ratio of some sample material relative to the 13C to 12C ratio of some internationally recongnized standard. The capital delta (Δ) is used to express the difference of one δ with that of another (for example Δ17O of an oxygen containing species expresses the difference between δ17O and δ18O).


text:
There is an interesting map called "Geo-Geneology of Irish Surnames".
_URL_ In the 2009 ESRI International User Conference it won two awards in the Map Gallery Competition. It was placed first in the "Most Unique" category, and it won the People's Choice Award. In addition, it received special recognition by the Cartography Special Interest Group.
It was compiled by Dr. Kenneth Field, Principal Lecturer in Geographical Information Systems at Kingston University London, and Dr. Linda Beale a Research Fellow in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Imperial College London. As you can see from the legend, this map shows the number of people in 1890 who had various Irish surnames. The larger the font, the more people who had that surname. You can read more about it at _URL_ and download a copy of the map at _URL_


text:
Strong Name (further referred to as "SN") is a
technology introduced with the.NET platform and it brings many possibilities into
.NET applications. But many.NET developers still see Strong Names as security
enablers (which is very wrong!) and not as a technology uniquely identifying
assemblies. There is a lot of misunderstanding about SNs (as we could see
in the article "Building
Security Awareness in.NET Assemblies : Part 3 - Learn to break Strong Name.NET Assemblies
this article attempts to clear those up. Now let's see what SNs are, what we
can use them for and how they work.
Strong Name is a technology based on cryptographic
principles, primary digital signatures; basic idea is presented in the figure
At the heart of digital
signatures is asymmetric cryptography (RSA, EL Gamal), together with hashing
functions (MD5, SHA). So what happens when we want to sign any data? I'll try to
explain what happens in the figure above.
First we must get a public/private
key pair (from our administrator, certification authority, bank, application
etc.) that we will use for encryption/decryption. Then DATA (term DATA
represents general data we want to sign) is taken and run through some hashing algorithm
(like MD5 or SHA - however, MD5 is not recommended) and hash of DATA is
produced. The hash is encrypted by private key of user A and attached to
plaintext data. The DATA and attached signature are sent to user B who takes
public key of user A and decrypts attached signature where hash of DATA is stored
and encrypted. Finally user B runs DATA through the same hashing algorithm as
user A and if both hashes are the same then user B can be pretty sure that the DATA
has not been tampered with and also identity of user A is proven. But this is a
naive scenario because it's hard to securely deliver public keys over insecure
communication channels like Internet. That is why certificates were introduced
but I will not cover it here because certificates aren't used in SNs and
delivery of public key is a matter of publisher's policy (maybe I can cover
distribution of public keys, certificates and certification authorities in another article). Now let's assume that public key was delivered to user B
This process is used in the
creation of SN for.NET applications. You can translate term DATA as
assemblies and apply the same steps to them when SNs are used. But what is the
purpose and usage of this SN technology? Simple - there is the only one reason –
to uniquely identify each assembly. See section 188.8.131.52
of CLI ECMA specification where SNs are defined:
This header entry points to
the strong name hash for an image that can be used to deterministically
identify a module from a referencing point (Section 184.108.40.206).
SNs are not any security
enhancement; they enable unique identification and side-by-side code execution.
Now we know that SNs are not
security enablers. Where to use them then? We can see two scenarios where SNs
can be used:
Versioning solves known problem called
as "DLL hell". Signed assemblies are unique and SN solves problem with
namespace collisions (developers can distribute their assemblies even with the
same file names as shown of figure below). Assemblies signed with SNs are
uniquely identified and are protected and stored in different spaces.
In addition to collision
protection, SN should help developers to uniquely identify versions of their
That is why when developers want
to use GAC (Global Assembly Cache) assemblies must be signed to separate
each publisher's namespace and to separate each version.
The second important feature of
Strong Names is authentication; a process where we want to ensure ourselves
about the code's origin. This can be used in many situations, such as assigning
higher permissions for chosen publishers (as will be shown later) or ensuring
that code is provided by a specific supplier.
It has been shown that signatures
and public keys can be easily removed from assemblies. Yes, that is right but
it is correct behavior even when we use digital signatures in emails or
anywhere else! Let's see how it works!
We can use some analogy from our
real life. Let's assume you are a boss of your company and you are sending an
email to your employees where new prices of your products are proposed. This
email is a plaintext and you use some non-trusted outsourcing mailing services.
Your communication can be easily monitored and your email can be easily accessed
by unauthorized persons who can change its content, for instance your prices
proposed in email.
How to solve that? The answer is cryptography,
again digital signatures that you can use to authenticate to your employees and
to verify content of your email. Simply you have to add a digital signature to
your email and then require your employees will trust just verified
emails that have your valid digital signature. Let's assume that all PKI
infrastructure is set up and working correctly. Now, when an intruder removes
the digital signature from your email, his employees will not trust them
because they can't be verified and application will alert users about this insecure
The same situation is when SNs
are used. You can remove SNs from assemblies, but this makes no sense because just
as in the case of emails, assemblies without SNs can't be trusted when
environment is set up to require those digital signatures or SNs.
This is also related to another very
important point in.NET – Code Groups & Policy Levels. As in
the case of emails, when PKI is setup in a company and security policy is defined that
employees can't trust and verify emails which are not signed or where the encrypted
hash value is different from hashed plaintext content. The same can be done
with.NET Framework using the.NET Configuration tool on each machine or
by group policy for large networks.
This tool provides configuration
options for.NET Framework including Runtime Security where policy
levels and code groups can be set. Policy levels work on
intersection principle as shown in the figure below
Code groups (inside of those policy
levels) provide permission sets for applications that belong to them according
to their evidence (origin, publisher, strong name etc.). The assembly will get
those permissions based on the intersection of code groups from each policy
level applicable to it. This is a very important improvement in security
architecture and improves the traditional Windows security model that is process
centric (see figure below).
.NET introduces Code Access
Security (CAS) which is used to identify the origin of code and assign to it specific
restrictions and then make security policy more granular and protecting against
attacks such as luring attacks.
However my intention isn't to
describe CAS or Windows security internals (I can write about it in other
articles) but show SN principles. Let's move back to it!
Now we can move to the second use
for SN - administrators and developers can use SNs together with code groups to
provide assemblies with higher permissions (not the default ones that assembly
will acquire according to default.NET Framework settings). Let's see an
example! I must point out that this is just a simplified example how SN can
identify publisher, this is NOT a way to obey CLR security or how to use it
in enterprise environment. That is why please try to understand the example
as a general principle available with SNs but NOT as a design pattern!
Usage of SNs as authentication is a more complex problem and there are many
non-trivial issues when SNs are involved. But it's out of scope of this article,
so now back to the sample!
Take my sample Windows Forms
project and rebuild it and put.exe file on any share on your LAN. Then try to
start this application from this share and click on button – what happens? A security
exception is raised because application doesn't have enough privileges.
Now go to.NET Configuration tool
and add a new code group
add new code group called Test
and in the second dialog choose Strong name, click on
Import button and locate the.exe file in Debug folder of project folder and
finally assign full trust for this application
Now you have created a new code group containing just
your sample application. Now go to your network share and try to start sample
application again. And it works! Why? Because it belongs to our new code group Test
with full trust permissions.
Now remove SN from sample application (as described in his article or just
simply remove attribute [assembly: AssemblyKeyFile("KeyFile.snk")]
from AssemblyInfo.cs file), recompile and publish it on share. Try to
run it and what happens? It's not working! Why? Because assembly can't show this
strong name evidence and it belongs to the default code group (with limited
It's not surprising, nothing special, no magic – just
correct usage of Strong Name technology. SNs are easy and powerful but
we have to understand how and where to use them. That is why I want to
outline some "issues" that are connected with SNs that will present all
capabilities that we can expect from SNs.
So what are the weaknesses of SNs? First we have to realize
that SNs are a lightweight version of Authenticode and they provide fast and easily
used technology to get enterprise features like versioning and authentication.
But this ease of use must be paid by something and here goes a list of
- It can be very hard to securely associate publisher


*)(v2 + 48) = 'y';
*(char *)(v2 + 49) = 'E';
That's good enough – there is no reason to dive into assembly code for purposes of understanding the video stream format.
Interpreting the header
Rather than going through the video stream by hand and extracting frame headers, I used the Ragel regular language parser generator to create a tool that would do so automatically.
The stream language is as follows:
begin = ('BoundaryS');
end = ('BoundaryE');
header = (
jpeg = (any* -- end);
main := (begin header jpeg end)*;
It is unlikely that the stream BoundaryE will occur within the JPEG image data. If it does, the video output is already pretty corrupt, so this really won't make things much worse.
Interpreting the JPEG frame contents
I used the 010 Editor to extract the first frame by hand. According to mediainfo, it's a 1280x720 JPEG image encoded in the YUV color space with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling. Not much of a surprise.
It is more surprising that the frame contains a DRI (Define Restart Interval) marker.
FF DD 00 04 00 50
The last two bytes in this marker tell us that the image will contain an RSTn (Resync) marker every 80 image blocks called minimum coded units (MCUs). See the JPEG File Layout and Format for further (terse) explanation of JPEG marker types, and see ImpulseAdventure for an excellent explanation of MCUs.
Restart markers allow resynchronization after an error, so it should be possible to mitigate the stream corruption – especially since things look pretty much fine in the mobile app.
Image decoding failure with libavcodec
Both VLC and ffmpeg use libavcodec under the hood so both tools will present similar viewing issues.
Viewing issues can be reproduced on the first frame, which I previously extracted. Using ffmpeg to convert the frame to JPEG gives a half-green image when the whole thing should be black. This command results in the following image:
$ ffmpeg -loglevel warning -i frame1.log 1.jpg
[mjpeg @ 0x7f98ba003400] mjpeg_decode_dc: bad vlc: 0:0 (0x7f98ba002448)
[mjpeg @ 0x7f98ba003400] error dc
[mjpeg @ 0x7f98ba003400] error y=43 x=78
Corrupt image
The ffmpeg run's output on stdout says that a bad variable-length code was encountered while attempting to decode the direct current (DC) term of a discrete cosine transform. The error occurred in MCU (78, 43).
A brief aside: mcutool
Since very few tools display information about the size and number of minimum coded units in JPEG images, I wrote mcutool, an extension of a shell script on, to extract that information from the images produced by the borescope.
Running the tool on the frame under examination yields the following output:
$ frame1.log
width 1280
height 720
mcu_x 16
mcu_y 8
n_full_mcu_x 80
n_full_mcu_y 90
n_mcu_x 80
n_mcu_y 90
n_mcus 7200
The image is 80 MCUs wide and 90 MCUs tall, so it's remarkable that libavcodec fails to decode the whole bottom half of the image after an error is encountered.
Analysis of libavcodec's mjpeg decoder
To understand what's happening, I cloned the ffmpeg Git repository listed on the download page and dug into libavcodec/mjpegdec.c. I did not run a debugger as I did not want to compile from source.
Line numbers discussed are as of commit e3dddf2142e21354bbeb27809e7699900a19ee0c made on December 7, 2019.
The error output mjpeg_decode_dc: bad vlc: 0:0 is printed from mjpeg_decode_dc on line 773. At that point, the call stack must be as follows, with the most recent call listed last:
 - ff_mjpeg_decode_frame (line 2322, called via function pointer on line 2368)
 - ff_mjpeg_decode_sos (line 1616, called on line 2537)
 - mjpeg_decode_scan (line 1408, called on line 1765)
 - decode_block (line 791, called on line 1484)
 - mjpeg_decode_dc (line 773, called on line 797)
On line 2378 within ff_mjpeg_decode_frame, the library notes restart markers when it sees them:
 if (start_code >= RST0 && start_code <= RST7) {
 av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_DEBUG,
 "restart marker: %d\n", start_code & 0x0f);
 /* APP fields */
However, it doesn't do anything about them. The switch block in that same function does not respond to restart markers so ff_mjpeg_decode_sos must decode the whole image in one pass.
In short, decoding is not resumed at the next restart marker if an error is encountered. In the future, it may be beneficial to add error recovery behavior to the decoder.
Fixing the stream
While adding error recovery to libavcodec's JPEG decoder will be the most complete and authoritative fix to the issue, I don't feel like doing that right now. Let's be honest, I'm doing this for fun, and compiling ffmpeg from source doesn't sound appealing right now.
There is another way. The jpegtran program accepts JPEG input on stdin, transforms it, and writes a new JPEG to stdout. The tool uses restart markers correctly when decoding an image, so the output is far more reasonable:
$ vid.fifo & \
 ffplay -hide_banner -loglevel error -f mjpeg vid.fifo
It uses about 50% CPU on a mid-2012 i7 MacBook Pro.
Source code for the borescope_stream program is available on GitHub.
Output latency is low and consistent.
In a sample capture of 1000 frames, jpegtran found that 60% of them contained corrupt data. However, even frames that jpegtran does not flag as corrupt generally contained a significant banding artifact about halfway down the height of the image.
image with artifact
Visual artifacts don't show up in the DEPSTECH mobile app. It's not clear what is different about the decoder used in the mobile app or if some form of stream obfuscation is performed.
Future work
Multiple Android apps exist to read data from these wi-fi borescope cameras. For example:
The DEPSTECH-Wifi app appears to be packed/encrypted using Jiagu and Qihoo. Analysis won't be straightforward but it may yield information about differences in JPEG decoding.


Create Office of Building Energy and Emissions Performance (OBEEP)
Statutory Language:
LL97 § 1: "§ 651. Office of building energy and emissions performance. a. There shall be in the department an office of building energy and emissions performance. The office shall be headed by a director, who is a registered design professional, who shall be appointed by and shall report to the commissioner. The duties of the office shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Overseeing implementation of building energy and emissions performance laws and policies for existing buildings, new construction and major renovations;
2. Establishing or administering protocols for assessing annual energy use in buildings;
3. Monitoring buildings' energy use and emissions, and reviewing building emissions assessment methodologies, building emissions limits, goals and timeframes to further the goal of achieving a 40 percent reduction in aggregate greenhouse gas emissions from covered buildings by calendar year 2030, relative to such emissions for the calendar year 2005;
4. Creating an online portal for the submission of annual building emissions assessments by owners;
5. Receiving and validating annual building emissions assessments;
6. Auditing building emissions assessments and inspecting covered buildings, as necessary, to ensure proper reporting;
7. Determining recommended penalties, including minimum penalties, for buildings that are noncompliant with applicable emissions limits;
8. Reviewing applications for alternative methods of compliance with building emissions limits, including adjustments of emissions limits, deductions for the purchase of greenhouse gas offsets or renewable energy credits, deductions for the use of distributed energy resources, and adjustments for special categories of buildings or for special use and occupancies;
9. Working in close coordination with the mayor's office of long-term planning and sustainability; receiving advice and recommendations, as applicable, from the advisory board established pursuant to section 28-320.2 of the administrative code; and
10. Ensuring the participation and cooperation of agencies, including but not limited to the department of environmental protection, the department of housing preservation and development and the department of citywide administrative services. Such participation and cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, detailing agency staff to assist office staff consistent with agency and office functions and reporting to the office on building energy performance issues and related enforcement efforts."


text:
The administrators generally agreed that people skills were important, yet those skills remain underrepresented in required courses. One likely explanation: Students don't like the courses, and they are pressuring administrators to drop them.
When curricula emphasize soft skills, administrators "are significantly more likely to report increased pressure from students to change the curriculum," the researchers said.
"Given that students are indeed the direct consumer and key revenue stream of most M.B.A. programs," they write, "this finding supports recent assertions that students' general disdain for people-focused course work drives considerable policy decisions regarding curricula. … This finding may suggest that with respect to designing a relevant M.B.A., the customer is not always right." –Katherine Mangan —Companies and Business Students Differ on What Skills M.B.A. Programs Should Teach (Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription))


Suggestion for synonym:
Recording is to save a piece of audio or video material. Digitally recording the output of your computer screen is called screen capturing. In analogy to podcasting the term screencasting has also been coined.
See the Recording Screencasts article in the Ubuntu Wiki by the Screencast Team for software recommendations and instructions or answers to the following question: How to create a screencast?
history | show excerpt | excerpt history


text: Value incongruence matters! In academic circles "value incongruence" is defined as the difference between an individual's personal value hierarchy and the perceived value hierarchy of an organisation. Put alternatively, value incongruence describes a phenomenon that an employee's values and priorities are at odds with those of their organisation and employer. What leads to value incongruence? Value incongruence can occur as early as the initial recruitment process if applicants or employers do not take the opportunity to communicate their core values – perhaps incorrectly assuming that sharing such information is unimportant as it is not directly related to the job role. It's also common for employees or employers to intentionally claim desired values to make a favourable impression. For example, a candidate may say they are deeply customer-focused when monetary rewards provide a greater motivation, or a company may boast of a deep commitment to CSR, when in reality their activities only extend as far as making donations rather than taking any personal action. Value incongruence can also be a result of organisational change, particularly if the new way of doing business deviates from values the company previously held. If employees cannot fully accept the company's new focus they are more likely to feel dissatisfied and increasingly outcast from the organisation. Why value incongruence matters? Value incongruence can result in employees developing negative attitudes towards their role, their organisation and themselves. When confronted with value incongruence, employees can expend so much energy suppressing their own values or amplifying values they do not hold in an attempt to fit in that they fall prey to fatigue and risk burnout. Employees can thus be very disengaged and decrease their productivity and performance. They are also less likely to participate in or support activities they perceive as falling beyond their job requirement, limiting their organisation's ability to innovate. Value incongruence, unsurprisingly, can thus lead to higher turnover intention, making it difficult for employers to retain staff. Who is vulnerable to value incongruence? The extent to which value incongruence brings negative consequences on employees' energy and performance depends on employees' affectivity, a stable measure of individual differences in the experience of positive or negative emotions. Recent research indicates that value incongruence is more detrimental to employees who tend to feel active, cheerful, and enthusiastic (i.e., those who are happier in general), because value incongruence induces negative emotions, exhaustion, and tension which contradict their positive affective orientation. These individuals are motivated to reduce such emotional dissonance and thus spend more time and effort on regulating their emotions, consuming energy that could otherwise have been used for performing their tasks. Accordingly, organisations should not ignore employees who seem happy but instead proactively help them when they are confronted by value incongruence. How to prevent and manage value incongruence? To prevent value incongruence, employers should first identify their core values and provide clear information in recruitment advertisements about organisational values to attract applicants with similar value orientations. Job interviews may also assess applicants' likelihood of value incongruence to help recruiters make informed selection decisions. Employers should also be aware of the differences between "espoused values" - the company's declared set of values and norms and "enacted values" – values and norms that are exhibited by employees in the organisation. Employees can still experience value incongruence when their values are different from those enacted by majority of their colleagues in the organisation, even though they were attracted by and embrace the organisation's espoused values. Employers can also take a job redesign approach to prevent value incongruence and manage its negative consequences, if changing employees' or the organisation's values is impossible. For example, employers can think of assigning employees to tasks that are less likely to induce value incongruence, or designing work schedules that provide employees with sufficient opportunities for energy recovery if value incongruence is inevitable in performing their jobs. Finally, value incongruence is not always a bad thing. Employees who possess different values could bring a different perspective that benefits organisations by enhancing decision making quality and innovation. While being aware of the negative consequence of value incongruence, it is worth considering that value incongruence also denotes value diversity, which could contribute to organisations positively. Dr. Chia-Huei Wu is assistant professor of management at the London School of Economics and Political Science Some materials were initially published in IvyExec.


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Assessing The Impact Of Railway Restructuring In Nigeria
The study presents railway restructuring as a solution option to railway problems in Nigeria. It aims at ascertaining the efficiency of the critical input factors of Nigerian Railway corporation (NRC) while comparing it with that of the restructured developed and best practices railways to establish the basis for restructuring. A manpower survey was carried out. Benchmarking method was used to determine the best restructuring model for Nigeria. Descriptive statistical tools and simulation model were also used in carrying out the analysis. In this respect, we identified low investment, low technological capacity and capability, low productivity unreliable services, High operating ratios, weak administration, obsolete equipment and technology, low motivation and large labour force as the most severe problems to overcome. Against this background, the implication of railway restructuring in Nigeria for development was examined. The simulation results show that the restructured railways in Nigeria would save time, increase the number of traffic and increase revenue generation. The study concluded that there is a wide gap between NRC and the best practices and restructured railways as a result of the observed inefficiencies in all the critical input factors. We recommend among others the adoption of the concessional model, the repeal of the 1995 railway acts as amended to make the railway market in Nigeria contestable and viable.
JORIND Vol. 3 (2) 2005: pp. 42-51


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What does MERLIN stand for?
What does MERLIN mean? This page is about the various possible meanings of the acronym, abbreviation, shorthand or slang term: MERLIN.
We've found a total of 6 definitions for MERLIN:
Multi Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network
Missouri Education And Research Libraries Information Network
Mail Evaluation Readability Lookup Instrument
Multi Element Radio Linked Interfometer Network
Madison Entrepreneur Resource Learning and Innovation Network
Motivation Engagement and Recovery Learning Initiative Network
What does MERLIN mean?
- (Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor


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Talk Math 2 Me
Day: Every Friday
Time: noon - 1 p.m.
Talk Math 2 Me is a seminar for students by students. Talk Math 2 Me provides students, both graduate and undergraduate, an opportunity to present anything related to mathematics to an audience of their peers. Undergraduate and Graduate math students or any students interested in mathematics are highly encouraged to attend. The talks are each 15‐60 minutes long and possible speaking topics include Undergraduate and Graduate mathematics research, math history, and STEM research with a heavy footing in mathematics. By presenting, students gain great experience communicating mathematics while developing presentation skills in a relaxed environment. By attending the seminar, students will be introduced to new mathematics and see applications of mathematical concepts in different perspectives. Some weeks will even include visits from professors to discuss how students can get involved with research and the math department.
- March 29: Casey Schlortt, Texas State University, Bootstrap Percolation
- April 19: Hunter Schuler, Texas State University, Enrico Betti & Persistent Homology of Range Image Patches
Contact _EMAIL_ to sign up to speak!


h a l f b a k e r y
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"Oblivion" The 3d event keeping clock.
If we could only project holograms.
 [vote for,
Most effective when displayed on a large screen. The hands of the clock are at the center of a cone. The cone is just for the shape. Written on the clock hands would be the word "present". As time passed the various things you had or have to do would swirl towards the present and then into oblivion. Oblivion being the tip and the last half of the cone. The first half of the cone would be labeled "future". Lets say you have a paper due a couple weeks from now. You write it in on the bottom of the cone and as time passes the "paper due" memo swirls towards the the center of the cone eventually meeting up with the present. As the "paper due" memo passes the hands of the clock, it would gradually shrink and fade away into nothingness. Also as ideas or events approached the center of the cone or the "present" they would increase in rotational speed creating a greater sense of urgency. Colors would also be incorporated. The center would be oranges and yellows. The future would be a calm blue that would start in a darker shade and lighten up as the event approached the center. The tip of the cone would eventually be a fade to black. You could also change the angle at which you view the cone. Head on for when your placing an event in the future and an oblique view that shows the words and dates drifting, swirling through the cone.
10clock, Jun 24 2005
 Nice. [+]
david_scothern, Jun 24 2005
back: main index


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Vocabulary Review for Police Officer Exam Study Guide (page 2)
Having a good vocabulary is important when reading, writing, or speaking. While all police officers and police officer applicants are encouraged to use a dictionary to look up the meaning of words they are unfamiliar with, it is not good use of their time to have to run to a dictionary to check every third word they see. Police officers must understand complex laws, regulations, and procedures. While you cannot be expected to be familiar with many of these terms as well as the specialized words you will be introduced to, you will need to be able to use the English language efficiently.
If your written exam has a section that tests vocabulary, which is very likely, the questions are most likely to cover synonyms, antonyms, context, and/or homophones.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms are words that share the same or nearly the same meaning as other words.
Antonyms are words that are opposite or nearly opposite the meaning of other words.
The most common question type that tests for your understanding of words that are similar to or different from one another will give you a short sentence or phrase with a word underlined and provide four choices from which you are to select either the synonym or the antonym. Root words can sometimes help you answer these questions, but you must be careful to avoid so-called "false friends," or words that look or sound alike and seem to have similar meanings but may not.
Make sure to read the brief instructions prior to the series of questions carefully so that you know which choice you are looking for; a tricky question may provide both a synonym and an antonym as one of the choices to catch whether you read the question closely.
Synonym and Antonym Sample Questions
Choose the synonym of the underlined word in questions 1-3
- The defendant's attorney was eager to expedite the trial process.
- The new lieutenant had trouble learning how to delegate authority.
- The Oak Hill Police Department is housed in an obsolete building.
- The citizens of Rock Hill were unanimous in the view that the police department should hire at least five new police officers.
- Which word means the opposite of refute?
- Officer Tomas went about his duties very purposefully.
Choose the antonym of the underlined word in questions 4-6.
- b. Unanimous means uniform or in agreement; the opposite is divided.
- a. Refute means to disprove or show to be false; the opposite is to verify, or to show to be accurate or true. Note that this question is arranged somewhat differently than the previous ones, but is still testing your vocabulary skills. This question style may be more difficult than the sentence format because you have no context to help you determine the meaning.
- a. Purposefully means with purpose, or seriously; the opposite is casually. Note that in this question, the root word purpose would have helped you in figuring out the answer.
Context refers to the text surrounding a word from which you develop its meaning. You may be unaware that you use context whenever you come across a word you are unfamiliar with when you try to figure out its meaning through the rest of the words in the sentence or phrase. Context questions are similar to synonyms and antonyms but may seem easier because they give you a full sentence to help you figure out which of the choices is the best. You are able to put the words into the context of the sentence. However, the sentence may be phrased in such a way that more than one of the choices initially appears correct. You must still read carefully even if you rely on the process of elimination more than you are able to with other questions.
Context Sample Questions
For questions 7-12, select the word that means the same or almost the same as the underlined word.
- The members of the jury were appalled by the wild and uncontrolled behavior of the witness
- Despite the fact that he appeared to have financial resources, the defendant claimed to be destitute.
- Though she was distraught over the disappearance of her child, the woman was calm enough to give Officer Chu her daughter's description.
- The unrepentant criminal expressed no remorse for his actions.
- Professor Washington was a very ________ woman known for her reputation as a scholar.
- His ________________ was demonstrated by his willingness to donate large amounts of money to worthy causes.
- a. Choice a is more appropriate than choice d because it indicates a stronger emotion that more closely matches appalled. Choices b and c do have the same meaning.
- d. The phrase Despite the fact alerts you to look for the opposite of financial resources.
- d. The words though and disappearance of her child alert you to look for the opposite of calm.
- b. Remorse means regret for one's actions. If you know that repentant comes from the root repent, someone who is unrepentant would be someone not repenting, or not regretting or being sorry about.
- b. The key words are professor and scholar. Even if you are unfamiliar with the word erudite, the other choices, with the possible exception of d, disciplined, do not fit the description of a scholar. Note that the format of this and the next question are slightly different from the first four; here, rather than have an underlined word to start from, you are expected to fill in a blank directly from the context of the sentence. Do not fall into a trap of trying to select the word based on the size of the space; in other words, a short space does not mean you should select the shortest word in the list of choices, nor does a long space mean you should select the longest word.
- d. The phrase large amounts of money to worthy causes is the key to the definition you are looking for. Even if you are unfamiliar with the word altruism, the other choices do not describe generosity, a word you may be more familiar than altruism.
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July 14, 2003 RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- In a perspective article entitled "Evolutionary Danger for Rainforest Species" in the July 4, 2003, issue of the journal Science, UC Riverside's Derek Roff explains new findings that show that a population of rainforest fruit flies had no genetic variation in an ecologically important trait: 'desiccation resistance' or the protective strategy used by cells against drought stress in order to prevent water loss. In the perspective, Roff also discusses the implications of the study for the adaptation of species to global warming.
"The perspective concerns the lack of genetic variation to adjust to changes in climate such as might occur with global warming," said Roff, who is professor of biology. "Given that California is likely to incur changes over the next few decades as a result of global warming, this result indicates that we should be concerned about the possibility that some presently endangered species may also lack the necessary genetic variation to survive the change."
In the perspective article, Roff comments on the paper "Low Potential for Climatic Stress Adaptation in a Rainforest Drosophila Species" by A. A. Hoffmann et al., also appearing in the July 4 issue of Science.
The authors have studied a single trait that apparently lacks genetic variation in the fruit fly Drosophila birchii, which inhabits patches of Australian coastal rainforest … The results reported by Hoffman et al. appear exceptional, but given that the trait involved is likely to be under selection generated by global warming, there is an obvious need to assess genetic variation for similar traits in other species, particularly those that are already endangered.
"The principal finding was that there was no genetic variation within the studied population to permit it to adapt to changing thermal conditions," Roff said. "Given global warming, it is important to assess the genetic capability of organisms to respond to the changing conditions, particularly in respect to endangered species."
Roff is an evolutionary population ecologist with wide-ranging interests in population and quantitative genetics, life-history, and the biology and ecology of dispersal and migration. In 2002, he was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his contributions to evolutionary biology in the area of life history evolution and quantitative genetics, especially with regard to advancing theory by empirical tests. In 2002, he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Canada. He came to UC Riverside in 2001.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University Of California - Riverside.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.


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SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the market for smart eyewear begins to find its sea-legs, companies are still struggling to balance features. What do buyers want in a pair of smart glasses?
Text messaging is a crucial part of communication nowadays. Companies such as Vuzix, North and Everysight offer smart eyewear projecting incoming text messages on their displays. But how do you reply when the eyewear doesn't come with a keyboard?
IpVenture, with its affiliate IngenioSpec, offers the next step: hands-free text messaging for smart eyewear. With our comprehensive patented technologies, users can send and receive texts without displays or a keyboard.
When a text message is received, IpVenture's technology transforms it into audio, and allows the user to hear the message read to her through a speaker in the smart eyewear. The user can then recite a reply verbally, which is received by a microphone in the smart eyewear; and IpVenture's technology will transform the reply into text and send it.
Some of the operations can be performed by a mobile phone wirelessly coupled to the eyewear. For example, the transformation between text and audio can be done by the mobile phone.
With these patented technologies and more, IpVenture and its affiliate, IngenioSpec, continue to lead in development of market-driven ideas and user-friendly technologies. Visit our websites for lists of patents on smart eyewear and hands-free text messaging.


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IMEC Mini‐Pal ‐‐ Minipal is the Palletizing System offered by Process Integration to all of those companies that need to enclose the end of line activities within a limited area.
The machine is formed of a Cartesian centerpiece system made up of three linear axis and a circular axis for product rotation. This structure has the advantage to have considerably smaller overall dimension than the traditional Cartesian portal palletizers. and allows for substantial performance improvements. Lifting can be done by either grippers or suction cups, depending on the product to be palletized.
Minipal can be employed with more pallets and different feeding lines simultaneously, so it can be used for multiple stacking applications.
The standard system is made up of a single feeding conveyor, while the empty pallet's positioning and removal of the filled one is made by an operator. It is possible to increase the machine productivity by providing a completely automatic pallet feeding and removal system that includes a pallet magazine for about 10 units thus reducing load and discharge times.Download PDF and Watch Video


Why Do Guinea Pigs Squeal? Find Out Now!
Guinea pigs are very sociable animals, and because of this, they have evolved to produce a series of vocalizations they use to communicate with other individuals of their species.
Why Do Guinea Pigs Squeal? Find Out Now!
Last update: 30 December, 2020
Guinea pigs are called "Cuys" in some countries of South America. This name has an onomatopoeic origin and it refers to the vocalizations that these rodents emit regularly, in both domestic and wild environments. In this article, we pose the following question: Why do guinea pigs squeal? If you want the answer, we encourage you to read on.
Communication in the animal world is a fascinating evolutionary process, and, for this reason, various ethological researchers are trying to decipher the meaning of language in the different species in the animal kingdom.
About guinea pigs
Before entering fully into the world of guinea pig communication, we need to define the species in question. Surprising as it may seem, the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a species of hybrid rodent belonging to the family Caviidae. These curious pets are the result of the crossing of diverse species of the Cavia genus, such as Cavia aparea or Cavia magna.
Some of the differential characteristics of these small mammals are the following:
 - They come from the Andean region of South America
 - They weigh about 2 lbs and live between five and eight years
 - Guinea pigs are herbivorous animals and require a continuous supply of fiber and vitamin C to enjoy good health
 - This species has different morphotypes, which differ by the color arrangement and nature of their coat.
 - They're affable, calm rodents, and live in social groups.
It's this last characteristic that gives us the first clue as to why guinea pigs squeal. If an animal lives in a society, it has to have some way of communicating with its relatives, right?
Three guinea pigs posing.
So, why do guinea pigs squeal?
As simple as the question may seem, several ethological studies have designed experimental models to discover the reason for these vocalizations. This task is certainly not a simple one. Besides the existence of variations at an individual level, the squeals seem to have a different meaning according to the age of the guinea pig.
The guinea pig is especially multifaceted since, according to this research, it's capable of emitting up to 11 different tonalities. Some of them respond to the following situations:
 - Guinea pigs (especially the youngest ones) emit more audible sounds when they are in a new environment. This coincides with cortisol level increases in their bodies, a stress-related hormone.
 - When separated from their mothers, the guinea pigs emit calls out of loneliness, which are accompanied by an increase in the animal's movements and general agitation. Once the little ones return to their parents, the mothers emit a series of purrs to calm their offspring.
However, not everything is linked to the relationship between mothers and their children, since many other vocalizations are related to other processes. Up next, we'll be mentioning some examples.
A sound for every situation
Several studies have researched when, how, and why different vocalizations occur in various situations. These are some of the results:
 - The chortle is the most common vocalization among guinea pigs. It seems to be present in all kinds of situations, whether they're social or not. The emission of these preliminary sounds is very present when two individuals meet and try to identify each other. In addition, these sounds are later substituted by other noises more appropriate to the situation.
 - The moaning sounds they make are produced, in general, when a situation causes discomfort in the animal. For example, when a non-receptive female is approached by a reproductive male.
 - The squeaking sound is produced when the guinea pig experiences some type of physical pain.
There are many more sounds and noises emitted by guinea pigs, but one idea is clear: guinea pigs squeal to communicate with each other. Each tone has a specific function, and, from an evolutionary point of view, it's much more effective to warn others of a negative interaction with a sound than with a physical activity that requires more energy.
A close-up of a brown guinea pig.
A matter of sociability
As we've seen, social animals such as guinea pigs have developed complex linguistic mechanisms to communicate different feelings and emotions. This is beneficial for all members of the group since they can detect danger more quickly and avoid unnecessary fights among themselves.
In the animal world, everything has a biological response. Therefore, if you have a guinea pig at home, we encourage you to try to understand in what situations and with what frequency it produces these noises. After all, it may be trying to convey a message, such as continuous stress or feeling of loneliness.
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 - Arch-Tirado, E., & Collado-Corona, M. A. (2002). Análisis de vocalizaciones en periodos de soledad en cobayos recién nacidos, como normo-oyentes y con sordera provocada. Cirugia y Cirujanos70(6), 442-448.
 - Cavia, wikipedia. Recogido a 28 de julio en _URL_
 - Verduzco-Mendoza, A., Alfaro-Rodríguez, A., & Arch-Tirado, E. (2012). Etología y bioacústica en ratas y cobayos. Revista Mexicana de Comunicación, Audiología, Otoneurología y Foniatría1(1), 7-12.
 - Berryman, J. C. (1976). Guinea‐pig vocalizations: Their structure, causation and function. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie41(1), 80-106.


in the south to 19 °C in the north (and nights between 5 °C and 11 °C) and very high precipitation, from 2,000 to more than 7,000 mm in local micro-climates. Snow is uncommon at the coast in the north, but happens more often in the south, and frost is usually not very intense.
Immediately east from the coast are the Andes, cut by deep fjords in the south and by deep lakes in the north, and with varying temperatures according to the altitude. The tree line ranges from close to 2,000 m on the northern side (except for the Andes in northern Neuquén in Argentina, where sunnier and dryer conditions allow trees to grow up to close to 3,000 m), and diminishes southward to only 600–800 m in Tierra del Fuego. Precipitation changes dramatically from one spot to the other, and diminishes very quickly eastward. An example of this is Laguna Frías, in Argentina, receives 4,400 mm yearly. The city of Bariloche, about 40 km further east, receives about 1,000 mm, and the airport, another 15 km east, receives less than 600 mm. The easterly slopes of the Andes are home to several Argentine cities: San Martín de los Andes, Bariloche, El Bolsón, Esquel, El Calafate. Temperatures there are milder in the summer (in the north, between 20 °C and 24 °C, with cold nights between 4 °C and 9 °C; in the south, summers are between 16 °C and 20 °C, at night temperatures are similar to the north) and much colder in the winter, with frequent snowfall (although snow cover rarely lasts very long). Daytime highs range from 3 °C to 9 °C in the north, and from 0 °C to 7 °C in the south, whereas nights range from −5 °C to 2 °C everywhere. Cold waves can bring much colder values: -21 °C have been recorded in Bariloche, and most places can often see temperatures between −12 °C and −15 °C and highs staying around 0 °C for a few days.
Directly east of these areas, the weather becomes much harsher: precipitation drops to between 150 and 300 mm, the mountains no longer protect the cities from the wind, and temperatures become more extreme. Maquinchao is a couple hundred kilometers east of Bariloche, at the same altitude on a plateau, and summer daytime temperatures are usually about 5 °C warmer, rising up to 35 °C sometimes, but winter temperatures are much more extreme: the record is −35 °C, and it is not uncommon to see some nights 10 °C colder than Bariloche. The plateaus in Santa Cruz province and parts of Chubut usually have snow cover through the winter, and often experience very cold temperatures. In Chile, the city of Balmaceda is known for being situated in this region (which is otherwise almost exclusively in Argentina), and for being the coldest place in Chile, with temperatures below −20 °C every once in a while.
The northern Atlantic coast has warm summers (28 °C to 32 °C, but with relatively cool nights at 15 °C) and mild winters, with highs of about 12 °C and lows about 2–3 °C. Occasionally, temperatures reach −10 °C or 40 °C, and rainfall is very scarce. It only gets a bit colder further south in Chubut, and the city of Comodoro Rivadavia has summer temperatures of 24 °C to 28 °C, nights of 12 °C to 16 °C, and winters with days around 10 °C and nights around 3 °C, and less than 250 mm of rain. However, there is a drastic drop as we move south to Santa Cruz: Rio Gallegos, in the south of the province, has summer temps of 17 °C to 21 °C, (nights between 6 °C and 10 °C) and winter temperatures of 2 °C to 6 °C, with nights between −5 °C and 0 °C despite being right on the coast. Snowfall is common despite the dryness, and temperatures are known to fall to under −18 °C and to remain below freezing for several days in a row. Rio Gallegos is also among the windiest places on Earth, with winds reaching 100 km h occasionally.
Tierra del Fuego is extremely wet in the west, relatively damp in the south, and dry in the north and east. Summers are cool (13 °C to 18 °C in the north, 12 °C to 16 °C in the south, with nights generally between 3 °C and 8 °C), cloudy in the south, and very windy. Winters are dark and cold, but without extreme temperatures in the south and west (Ushuaia rarely reaches −10 °C, but hovers around 0 °C for several months, and snow can be heavy). In the east and north, winters are much more severe, with cold snaps bringing temperatures down to −20 °C all the way to Rio Grande on the Atlantic coast. Snow can fall even in the summer in most areas as well.
The depletion of the ozone layer over the South Pole has been reported as being responsible for blindness and skin cancer in sheep in Tierra del Fuego, and concerns for human health and ecosystems.[15]
The guanaco, the cougar, the Patagonian fox (Lycalopex griseus), the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus humboldtii), and the Magellanic tuco-tuco (Ctenomys magellanicus; a subterranean rodent) are the most characteristic mammals of the Patagonian plains. The guanaco roam in herds over the country and form with the Darwin's rheas (Rhea pennata) formerly the chief means of subsistence for the natives, who hunted them on horseback with dogs and bolas. Vizcachas (Lagidum spp.) and the Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) are also characteristic of the steppe and the Pampas to the north.
Bird-life is often abundant. The southern caracara (Caracara plancus) is one of the characteristic objects of a Patagonian landscape; the presence of austral parakeets (Enicognathus ferrugineus) as far south as the shores of the strait attracted the attention of the earlier navigators; and green-backed firecrowns (Sephanoides sephaniodes), a species of hummingbird, may be seen flying amidst the falling snow. Of the many kinds of waterfowl it is enough to mention the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), the upland goose (Chloephaga picta), and in the strait the remarkable steamer ducks.
Signature marine fauna include the southern right whale, the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), the orca and elephant seals. The Valdés Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its importance as a nature reserve.
Pre-Columbian Patagonia (10,000 BC – 1520 AD)
Human habitation of the region dates back thousands of years, with some early archaeological findings in the area dated to at least the 13th millennium BC, although later dates of around the 10th millennium BC are more securely recognized. There is evidence of human activity at Monte Verde in Llanquihue Province, Chile dated to around 12,500 BC.[11] The glacial period ice-fields and subsequent large meltwater streams would have made settlement difficult at that time.
The region seems to have been inhabited continuously since 10,000 BC, by various cultures and alternating waves of migration, the details of which are as yet poorly understood. Several sites have been excavated, notably caves such as Cueva del Milodon[16] in Última Esperanza in southern Patagonia, and Tres Arroyos on Tierra del Fuego, that support this date.[11] Hearths, stone scrapers, animal remains dated to 9400–9200 BC have been found east of the Andes.[11]
Cueva de las Manos site in Santa Cruz, Argentina
The Cueva de las Manos is a famous site in Santa Cruz, Argentina. A cave at the foot of a cliff, it has wall paintings, particularly the negative images of hundreds of hands, believed to date from around 8000 BC.[11]
Among tribes living on the eastern plains hunting of guanaco was the most important activity, and rhea (ñandú) to a lesser extent, it appears from artifacts.[11] It is unclear whether the megafauna of Patagonia, including the ground sloth and horse, were extinct in the area before the arrival of humans, although this is now the more widely accepted account. It is also not clear if domestic dogs were part of early human activity. Bolas are commonly found and were used to catch guanaco and rhea.[11] A maritime tradition existed along the Pacific coast; whose latest exponents were the Yámana to the south of Tierra del Fuego


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In the midst of ongoing debates about cannabis legalization, a new survey by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult offers intriguing insights. It compares public perceptions of cannabis' dangers and addictiveness with those of cigarettes, alcohol, opioids, and vapes.
In addition, the survey also extended its investigation into a non-conventional but omnipresent aspect of our lives – technology. Here's what the study found about the shifting attitudes molding the future of substance use and technology in American society.
What the Survey Says About Perceptions Surrounding 'Dangerous' Products
To ensure the reliability of the findings, the APA and Morning Consult developed a comprehensive methodology for the survey. They conducted interviews with 2,201 adults over a span of three days, providing a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.
In terms of perceived danger, the survey findings revealed some compelling insights. When asked about cannabis, only 38% classified it as "very" or "somewhat unsafe," a relatively low figure compared to the perceptions around other substances.
According to the survey:
- 84% of survey participants perceived cigarettes as unsafe.
- Alcohol was labeled as unsafe by 64% of respondents.
- Prescription opioids were deemed unsafe by 66% of those surveyed.
- Non-prescription opioids were seen as unsafe by 75% of participants.
- Vapes were perceived as unsafe by 76% of respondents.
Interestingly, technology was the only category deemed less dangerous than cannabis, with just 23% of respondents labeling it as "very" or "somewhat unsafe."
What the Survey Says About Perceptions Surrounding 'Addictive' Products
The survey highlights distinct views on the addictiveness of various substances and technology. Regarding cannabis, 64% of respondents believe it can be addictive. However, this figure is lower compared to all other categories:
- 87% for cigarettes
- 84% for alcohol
- 83% for prescribed opioids
- 74% for non-prescribed opioids
- 81% for vapes
- 75% for technology
The APA President, Petros Levounis, commented on these findings, affirming the successful communication of the dangers and addictiveness of cigarettes. He also pointed out the necessity of raising awareness about the potential addictiveness of other behaviors, such as alcohol consumption and technology use, to prevent misuse. These views underscore the continued need for education about the potential addictive properties of both substances and technology.
The survey sheds light on respondents' perspectives on the causes of addiction and its potential solutions. The responses highlight the complexity of views:
- A significant 47% of participants perceived addiction as a result of "personal weakness," indicating the ongoing stigma attached to substance use disorders.
- In contrast, a more significant proportion, 76%, recognized addiction as a medical condition, demonstrating increased understanding and compassion towards those facing such challenges.
- Equally, 76% believed that addiction is preventable and treatable, underscoring the value of early intervention and treatment programs.
- Impressively, 71% of Americans think they would know how to support a loved one struggling with addiction, suggesting a broad societal awareness of how to address this issue.
Awareness of Opioid Overdose Antidote
To address the grim reality of opioid addiction, the survey probed the awareness of naloxone, a potentially lifesaving drug that can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.
Results showed that 58% of respondents were aware of naloxone, but only 35% reported that they would know where to access it in an emergency.
This disparity underscores the urgent need for more robust public education about the availability and application of naloxone. In 2022 alone, over 100,000 individuals lost their lives to opioids, a sobering figure that amplifies the necessity of widespread naloxone accessibility and knowledge.
Survey Shows Shifting Public Perceptions
In line with broader societal changes, the survey results spotlight an undeniable shift in public perception, particularly concerning cannabis and alcohol. Once stigmatized, cannabis is now viewed as less dangerous and less addictive compared to traditional substances such as alcohol. This evolution in public perception can largely be attributed to the growing wave of cannabis legalization for both medical and recreational use across the country, which has normalized its consumption to some extent. Furthermore, concerted efforts in public education have shed light on the potential harms of alcohol, contributing to a heightened sense of concern about its use.
Cannabis as an Alternative to Alcohol and Prescription Medication
As the stigma around cannabis dissipates and recognition of its potential benefits grows, more and more people are exploring it as a viable substitute for alcohol or certain medications. An example of this shift was evident during "Dry January," a popular public health campaign encouraging alcohol abstinence for the month.
According to a survey conducted during this period, 1 out of 5 people who participated in 'Dry January' reported using cannabis to help them abstain from alcohol. This rising inclination towards cannabis over traditional substances further testifies to the changing attitudes and behaviors around substance use.
Survey Says People More Likely to Admit to Cannabis Use Than Ever Before
In another surprising revelation, recent poll data shows a change not just in the perception of cannabis use but also in its open admission. According to this poll, more Americans are now willing to admit that they use cannabis by smoking it or consuming cannabis-infused edibles than those who confess to having smoked cigarettes in the past week.
This paradigm shift points towards a decreasing stigma associated with cannabis use and a potential uptick in its acceptance. This candidness around cannabis use, contrasted with the declining admission of cigarette smoking, could be another indicator of the evolving landscape of substance use in America.
In summary, the survey conducted by the American Psychological Association and Morning Consult reveals shifting American views on the relative dangers and addictiveness of substances and technology, with a significant spotlight on cannabis. As it is perceived to be less dangerous and addictive than substances like alcohol, opioids, cigarettes, and even technology, cannabis is seen more and more as a preferable choice.
Legalization efforts and public education campaigns are driving this shift. However, the continued need for effective public health measures, as evidenced by the inconsistent awareness and accessibility of naloxone, is still apparent. As these views continue to evolve, they will shape future policies and societal trends, making it crucial to monitor these shifts in the landscape of substance use and addiction.
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With advances in technology, especially in the area of personal audio, music players are becoming smaller in size, but larger in capacity. There is no longer a need to carry around a large CD player and individual CDs. You can copy your music to your computer and then transfer it from your PC to your personal audio device, or for the purpose of making your own mix CD. With a PC, you can use Windows Media Player to copy your music for later use.
Items you will need
- CDs to copy
- PC with Windows Media Player
Click "Start" on your desktop and then select "All Programs."
Click "Windows Media Player" to open it up.
Put the CD that you wish to copy to your PC in your computer's CD drive. Give the PC a minute or two to read the disc.
Click the "Rip" tab in Windows Media Player. On the screen you will see a list of all songs that are on the CD, and by default they all have the box next to each one checked. This indicates that they will be ripped and copied to the computer. If there is a song on the CD that you do not want copied, simply clear the checked box next to the song title.
Click "Rip Music" at the top of your screen. You may be prompted to choose format settings for copying your music. If you are unsure about formats, simply click "Keep current format settings."
Click "OK" and your music will begin copying to your PC. You can watch the progress in the WMP window.
Repeat the process for any other CDs that you wish to put on your PC.


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Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne
Bound Together
Grand Forks Public School District
To establish a children's international choral music festival, "Voices of the World" featuring song and dance instructors from different countries and cultures throughout the world
Kimmel Center
Lexington Children's Theatre
For a marketing and audience development initiative focusing on the growth and long-term viability of the Lexington Children's Theatre
MIT Museum Loan Network (MLN)
For transition funding for the Museum Loan Network (MLN), to stabilize the future of the MLN directory and other museum collaboration programs
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Definition of Comprehensive Insurance
What is comprehensive insurance? What is the definition of the term comprehensive insurance?
There are two types of physical damage coverage that you can buy for your car - collision and comprehensive insurance.
Comprehensive covers your vehicle for any damage that may occur other than from a collision.
Definition and Illustration of Comprehensive InsuranceComprehensive insurance may vary from company to company, but it usually covers you for the following:
-Malicious Damage (somebody slashing your tires, etc)
Comprehensive insurance is usually subject to a deductible.
Let's say that the deductible on your comprehensive insurance is $200, and let's say that your vehicle is stolen.
The insurance company determines that you are entitled to receive $10,500 for your stolen vehicle, minus the deductible. This would mean that you would be left with a check of $10,300 to try and buy a replacement vehicle.
-- Articles That Mention Comprehensive Insurance:


6 Must-Have Power Tools for the Serious Home Renovator
Whether it's converting an attic into a complete bedroom or installing new cabinets in the kitchen, home renovation projects are hard work. You must measure walls and corners, install fasteners, make adjustments and more. And if you make a mistake, you might be forced to start over. The right power tools, however, can streamline your renovation projects, allowing you to quickly and efficiently upgrade your home.
1. Cordless Drill
A cordless drill is an invaluable tool for serious home renovators. Typically featuring either a nickel-cadmium or lithium-ion rechargeable battery, their primary function is to bore pilot holes into wood and other materials. Most cordless drills support a variety of bits, so you can use them to insert screws into newly created pilot holes as well. Just remember to keep your cordless drill charged or invest in a backup battery.
2. Cordless Screwdriver
Many home renovators simply use a power drill to extract or insert screws. While this usually works, a cordless screwdriver is the preferred choice among serious renovators and builders because it performs fewer revolutions per minute. This makes them easier and more comfortable to use. Keep in mind that cordless screwdrivers aren't as powerful as cordless drills. Therefore, you shouldn't use them to drive screws into solid materials. Only use them to extract or insert screws.
3. Air Compressor
Some tools are designed to support the function of other tools. An air compressor, for example, is a versatile power tool that's used for pneumatic staple guns, nail guns, paint sprayers, water hoses and more. Without an air compressor, you won't be able to use any of these tools. Air compressors feature an electric or gasoline motor that compresses air to a specific pressure. While all air compressors perform this action, there are different available, including twin-stack, wheelbarrow and pan cake style.
4. Belt Sander
A belt sander will allow you to buff and refinish surfaces in your home renovation projects. This handheld, motorized power tool features two small cylinders on the bottom that hold sandpaper. When turned on, the sandpaper moves rapidly against any surface on which it's placed to remove the outer layer of material. After the outer layer has been removed, apply your surface preferred finish. You can use a belt sander to refinish floors, cabinets, doors and furniture. For most projects, it's recommended that you start with a high-grit sandpaper and gradually transition to a low-grit paper to achieve the smoothest finished texture.
5. Nail Gun
Also known as a nailer, a nail gun is a handheld power tool that drives nails into wood and other materials. Most nail guns are driven by compressed air though some use butane or other flammable gases. Regardless of type, all nail guns make driving nails into floors, walls and ceilings a breeze.
6. Circular Saw
A circular saw is a power tool that uses a circular, metallic disc to cut through material. Power supplied from either a connected electrical outlet or battery spin the metallic disc. When the spinning disc is placed against a surface, such as a 2-by-4, it creates a clean, smooth cut through the material. Without a circular saw or any other powered saw, you'll have to cut materials the old way: using a hacksaw. This is incredibly tedious and inefficient for home renovation projects, so add a circular saw to your toolbox.
For serious home renovators, a hammer and manual screwdriver isn't going to cut it. Invest in these power tools to streamline your renovation projects.
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Quick Answer: Can You Leave A Cat Alone For 6 Days?
Does my cat Miss Me When away?
Research has shown that cats don't show signs of separation anxiety when their owner is away.
Some cat owners know this: you return from a holiday but your cat acts pretty indifferently.
Other cats even behave like they are "offended" and pretend not to see you at all..
Do cats miss their owners?
Do cats like music or silence?
Do cats recognize faces?
Is it cruel to leave a cat alone all day?
Your cat should not be left alone for long periods of time. It's important to note that kittens and adult cats are different. Kittens need more regular care and contact, especially in the beginning and when they're adjusting to their new home. Adult cats are much more self-sufficient during the day.
Do cats forget you after one week?
Your cat will remember you after 2 weeks or even after 1 year. They use scent to recognize you, not exactly their memory. If we are close to our feline pets, it can be worrisome to think they'll forget us if we are away for a few months, or even years.
Will cats hold their poop?
There is no definite way to say how long cats can hold their poop since many factors are at play. Richard Goldstein of the Cornell University of Veterinary Medicine states, "Cats typically move their bowels one to three times a day… depending to some extent on the type of food they eat.
Do cats prefer quiet?
Cats prefer quiet because it enables them to relax/sleep. Prolonged exposure to noise above 95 decibels can cause hearing damage. A short, sharp noise of 120 decibels can put your cat at risk hearing damage. Exposure to constant noise must be controlled.
Do cats like music left on?
If you choose to leave on your music player or TV while you're out of the house, stick with calming music. Cats of all ages will appreciate soothing sounds, whether classical music, nature sounds or music created specifically for them.
How long does a cat remember a person?
16 hoursCats average 16 hours of short-term memory. If you meet a cat for the first time and have only one interaction, the cat will remember you 16 hours later. There is no indicated time regarding their long-term memory, meaning they are capable of remembering people they are familiar with for years.
How long is it OK to leave a cat alone?
24 hoursIn general, vets say it's okay to leave your cat alone for up to 24 hours at a time. As long as they have a clean litterbox, access to fresh water, and a full meal before you go, they should be fine for a day. Any longer than that, though, is pushing it.
Should I leave the TV on for my cat?
Do cats get sad when you leave?
Regardless of their reputation, cats do get lonely when they are left unattended for long periods of time. They are social beings that form strong bonds with their owners. When their needs for companionship are not met, cats can become depressed. They can also get separation anxiety.
How long does it take a cat to forget you?
Is it OK to leave a cat alone for 5 days?
As we know, most adult cats will be fine if left alone whilst you're at work, as long as you take the proper precautions. But, if you can work from home a few days a week, this can be a great way to keep your cat company and avoid leaving them alone too much.


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Using the freedom provided by the charter mechanism and waivers from state requirements, these principles guide the governing council and staff of the Ashland Charter Schools:
- Foster Passionate Learners:
Adults help students uncover their passions and set challenging goals for themselves. The school facilitates opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery and build confidence in their own abilities.
- Emphasize the Learning Process:
The educational model blends content with tools and critical thinking skills, enabling students to acquire, apply and transfer knowledge across disciplines. Students become confident and inquisitive problem solvers, eager to learn.
- Do Real Things:
In this project-based learning school, students engage in hands-on work that is meaningful to them. Learning is accomplished through the development of projects encompassing 21st Century Skills, service learning and community involvement while incorporating traditional subjects. Students share their learning experiences and create a portfolio of their work enabling them to share through a variety of mediums within and beyond the classroom.
- Encourage Innovation
We learn from success as well as failure. Critical components of a risk-taking environment are respect, honesty, integrity, trust, and an agreement that all members of the school are empowered to take an active role in their learning.
- Engage Everyone – Learn Everywhere
School, home and community relationships are critical to a project-based education. We partner with experts in business, arts, higher education, environmental and indigenous communities to provide learning experiences in and beyond the classroom.
- Value Diversity
All students are welcome and respected. The school promotes the advantages of learning from a student body that embraces diversity.
- Rethink Everything
We take a fresh look at how we use all resources and processes to support student learning. Ongoing reflection and improvement is embedded in our school culture.


text: The use of characters to present tasks and critical information in a simulated environment has proven to be a useful strategy in the creation of more authentic learning environments online. Such characters can not only perform the role of setting and structuring tasks within the fictitious scenario, but also that of providing useful and realistic guidance. This chapter describes a learning environment designed to create an authentic context for learning evaluation skills and strategies appropriate to technology-based learning settings. The subject in which this approach was adopted was a masters-level course in evaluation of technology-based learning environments. The chapter focuses on the use of a fictitious CEO (chief executive officer) who requests certain evaluation tasks of "employees." Students are given realistic jobs with realistic parameters, and in this way the subject is dealt with in a much more authentic manner than if presented in a more decontextualised way. The rationale for adopting the approach is described together with a description of how it was implemented and summary findings of an evaluation of the approach.


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- No later than the beginning of the student's penultimate semester, the candidate should have identified an appropriate thesis advisor, obtained their permission to do research for credit with them, and identified an honors research project. Note that research experiences in CISAB faculty laboratories are competitive, and students are encouraged to begin seeking such opportunities early in the undergraduate career. Students are encouraged to visit with faculty in areas they find most interesting and can seek advice from Biology Advisors, their course instructors, or the CISAB director to identify appropriate faculty members.
- Once a student has identified a research/thesis advisor, the student should apply for the Honors Program by submitting an application to the Biology Advising Office and to CISAB.
- The experimental portion of the research project should be well underway no later than the start of the student's final semester.
- The student should form their honors thesis committee within six months of the end of the student's final semester. Forming the committee earlier is encouraged to allow the student to receive input on their project from their committee.
- The thesis committee should receive the honors thesis at least two weeks prior to the end of the student's final semester.
- The student should successfully defend their thesis for their committee at least one week prior to the end of the semester. Earlier defenses are encouraged to allow the student time to revise the thesis if required by their committee.
- The Biology advisors must certify the successful defense of the Honors' thesis with the Recorder's office at least one week before the end of the student's final semester. The student must submit a copy of the thesis, bound and signed by all committee members to the Biology advising office at least ten days before the end of the semester.
- Note that the final responsibility for meeting all of the deadlines for the honors degree lies with the student.
The Honors Thesis
The format of the Honors Thesis should follow that of a paper published in a primary literature. Typically, the thesis will include the following sections: abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, acknowledgments, and bibliography. The Introduction and Discussion should include a review of the literature with citations. Data should be analyzed with appropriate statistics. Students are encouraged to begin writing their thesis early, and to solicit frequent feedback from their research mentor(s) on their writing. Students should read and understand the background literature for their project early in the process.
The Thesis Defense
The thesis defense will typically consist of an oral presentation of the research project, followed by a defense of the oral presentation and written thesis. The oral presentation may be open to the public, but will always include a closed defense with the student answering questions from their faculty committee.
Students seeking the Honors Degree in Animal Behavior must conduct an independent research project, write a thesis, and successfully defend the thesis before a faculty committee. The committee should have three faculty members, at least two of which must be CISAB faculty members. Students should select their committee in consultation with their faculty advisor as soon as possible. Students should meet with their committee jointly or individually no later than the third week of their final semester to receive preliminary approval of their project, and must defend their thesis before the entire committee no later than two weeks before the end of their final semester. Students should schedule their defense early to ensure that all committee members will be available.


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Adjusting path segments
Irregular shapes, such as polygons, polylines, freehand paths, elliptical arcs, and Bézier curves are made up of a number of path segments. Path segments can be straight or curved: polygons and polylines contain one or more straight path segments; freehand paths, elliptical arcs, and Bézier curves can include straight and curved path segments.
Path segments are defined by the position of the following two kinds of points:
- Anchor points specify the beginning and end of the path segment
- Control points change the direction and shape of a curve
In the BlackBerry® Composer, anchor points appear as red squares along the path. When you select an anchor point on a curve, the control points appear. Control points appear as black circles, connected to an anchor point by a direction line.
You can use the Transformation or Select tool to move anchor points and control points to refine a shape. You can use the Add Points and Remove Point tools to add or remove anchor points. When you add anchor points to a path, you increase the number of path segments and you have more control over the shape. When you remove anchor points, you simplify the path.