Using Microsoft Query to design your queries
Environment:Visual C++ 5 (and above)
Setup procedure
When designing a database application it's required to sometimes make the user design a query. The programmer could write his own graphical query designer, but why not use Microsoft Query? This document describes the design and usage of the MSQuery class. This is a class which will communicate with Microsoft Query. This class is not completed to support all MSQuery DDE commands, but will be enough to create a query in MSQuery and to modify a query in MSQuery. This class and this article uses the Dynamic Data Exchange Management library. This makes the usage of DDE much easier. First the header file of this library must be included in the source. When using MFC this could best be put in stdafx.h. At the moment this _TAG_ is put in the headerfile of the MSQuery class.
_TAG_
Using this library requires the linkage of user32.lib. This shouldn't concern you, because with Visual C MFC, this is done automatically. But you must ensure DDEML.DLL is in your system directory. When this is done, Visual C is ready to use the DDE library of Microsoft. Of course also Microsoft Office should be installed, well at least MSQuery. This article was tested with Microsoft Office 97 and Microsoft Office 2000 Beta2. This article is split up in three parts: the first part describes very briefly the DDEML library. With only the vital information required understanding the rest of the article. The second part describes some basic concepts of MSQuery. And the last part describes how to use the MSQuery classes.
Very Short Introduction DDEML
Initialising DDEML
To use the Dynamic Data Exchange Management Library, you must first initialise it and get an instance-id from it. This can be done by the following piece of code:
// DWORD idInst, The instance ID, required for every DDEML library
// DdeCallback is a callback function, see below for more details
// The third parameters are a number of flags
// 0 is a reserved parameter, which should be 0.
Connecting to the server
When the library is initialised there must be made contact with a DDE server. To do this there must be passed two strings to a special function: the server name and the topic name. It is not possible to pass a normal pointer to a character array (string) to it. The functions of DDEML require the use of string handles. But this isn't very difficult, because DDEML has got several standard functions for this. Below are the two most important string functions.
Creating a string handle:
HSZ DdeCreateStringHandle(DWORD idInst, LPTSTR psz, int iCodePage);
// idInst = the instance id obtained from DdeInitialize
// psz = the string to create
// iCodepage = the codepage used for this string
// CP_WINANSI = for the normal ansi characterset (default)
// CP_WINUNICODE = for a unicode string
// Returns: the string handle (or NULL when error)
Deleting a string handle:
BOOL DdeFreeStringHandle( DWORD idInst, HSZ hsz);
// idInst = the instance id obtained from DdeInitialize
// hsz = the handle of the string obtained from DdeCreateStringHandle
To connect to a server, there must be passed two strings to the DDEML: the servername and the topicname. The function, which gets a conversationhandle to the DDE conversion, is the following:
HCONV DdeConnect( DWORD idInst, HSZ hszService, HSZ hszTopic, PCONVCONTEXT pCC);
// idInst = again is the instance id obtained from DdeInitialize
// hszService = a stringhandle of the service (or server) name.
// hszTopic = a stringhandle of the name of the topic.
// pCC = Conversation context information (can usuable be NULL)
// Return: the conversation handle (or NULL when error)
After getting a conversationhandle, it is possible to communicate with the DDE server.
Executing a transaction
To make the server execute a given function, the following command could be used:
HDDEDATA DdeClientTransaction( LPBYTE pData, DWORD cbData, HCONV hConv, HSZ hszItem, UINT wFmt,
 UINT wType, DWORD dwTimeout, LPDWORD pdwResult);
This is a pretty complex function, but not all parameters are required. In this article only this form is required for execution:
HDDEDATA DdeClientTransaction( commandstring, strlen(commandstring), hConv, 0, 0, XTYP_EXECUTE, timeout, result);
// commandstring is the command to execute
// hConv = the handle obtained from DdeConnect
// XTYP_EXECUTE = the type op transaction
// timeout = how long to wait on server (in ms) or TIMEOUT_ASYNC to not wait for the completion of the command.
// result = the result. When using TIMEOUT_ASYNC this will be the transaction handle.
// return value will be!= NULL when the function was successfull.
Using TIMEOUT_ASYNC will have as result, that the callback function (see below: Callback function) will be called when the DDE command is executed.
Retrieving information
To retrieve information from the server, the following function should be used. Again it's a variant on DdeClientTransaction:
HDDEDATA DdeClientTransaction((LPBYTE)NULL, 0, conv, str, CF_TEXT, XTYP_REQUEST, timeout, &res);
// conv = the conversation handle from DdeConnect
// str = a string handle of the item to get
// CF_TEXT = the format of information to get. (CF_TEXT is string)
// XTYP_REQUEST = the type of transaction
// timeout = the timeout interval in ms, to wait for the result.
// result = the result.
// return value will be the data handle to the requested information.
When the return value of above function is a nonzero value. The DDE transaction was successful and the data can be retrieved. It would be nice to know the size of the result. The result will be a string, because we used CF_TEXT. This is very easy:
int size = DdeGetData(dta, NULL, 0, 0);
// dta = the data handle returned from DdeClientTransaction
When we've got the size, we could reserve memory and get the data: DdeGetData(dta, (unsigned char*)buf, size, 0); // dta = the data handle returned from DdeClientTransaction // buf = a pointer to the buffer, to return the string to. // size = the size of the buffer.
When done delete the handle:
The Callback function
It would also be nice to implement a callback function. This function is called for example, when a TIMEOUT_ASYNC transaction is finished. This is the general callback function:
HDDEDATA CALLBACK DdeCallback(UINT uType,UINT uFmt, HCONV hconv, HSZ hsz1, HSZ hsz2, HDDEDATA hdata, DWORD dwData1, DWORD dwData2)
 switch (uType)
 return (HDDEDATA) NULL;
 return (HDDEDATA) DDE_FACK;
 // this one is called after a finish of TIMEOUT_ASYNC
 return (HDDEDATA) NULL;
 return (HDDEDATA) NULL;
 return (HDDEDATA) NULL;
For the details about this callback function look at the DDEML documentation.
Introduction MSQuery
When using DDE with MSQuery, you have got 2 different types of conversation channels: (also called topics)
This is the main channel for conversation. This channel is always available.
For every query in MSQuery there's a query channel available. This channel can be requested via the system channel.
Detect and run Microsoft Query
The first step is to make a connection via DDE with Microsoft Query. To make a connection with MSQuery, this piece of code should be executed:
HSZ hszServName = DdeCreateStringHandle(idInst, "MSQuery", CP_WINANSI);
HSZ hszSysTopic = DdeCreateStringHandle(idInst, SZDDESYS_TOPIC, CP_WINANSI);
HCONV hConv = DdeConnect(idInst, hszServName, hszSysTopic, (PCONVCONTEXT) NULL);
As can be seen from the above sample, the servername of Microsoft Query is 'MsQuery'. The topic we are connecting to is the system topic of MSQuery. The symbolic constant for the system channel is: SZDDESYS_TOPIC.
When trying this and no connection could be made, it could be MSQuery is not running. So when that is the case we should try to run MSQuery. To do this, first the location of MSQuery32.exe must be located and then the executable should be run. The location can be found in the registry at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSQuery\Path. See the sourcecode for details how to do this.
Creating a query
To create a query, the following command should be passed to MSQuery. As can be seen in this example, every command must be between '['and ']'.
"[UserControl(\"&Return to application\",1,TRUE)]"
// 1 is the state of the MSQuery window: 1=normal, 2


Take the 2-minute tour ×
Suppose G is an algebraic group (over a field, say; maybe even over ℂ) and H⊆G is a closed subgroup. Does there necessarily exist an action of G on a scheme X and a point x∈X such that H=Stab(x)?
Before you jump out of your seat and say, "take X=G/H," let me point out that the question is basically equivalent to "Is G/H a scheme?" If G/H is a scheme, you can take X=G/H. On the other hand, if you have X and x∈X, then the orbit of x (which is G/H) is open in its closure, so it inherits a scheme structure (it's an open subscheme of a closed subscheme of X).
I say "basically equivalent" because in my argument, I assumed that the action of G on X is quasi-compact and quasi-separated so that the closure of the orbit (i.e. the scheme-theoretic closed image of G×{x}→X) makes sense. I'm also using Chevalley's theorem to say the the image is open in its closure, which requires that the action is locally finitely presented. I suppose it's possible that there's a bizarre example where this fails.
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2 Answers 2
up vote 9 down vote accepted
In his book "Linear algebraic groups", 6.8, p98, Borel shows that the quotient of an affine algebraic group over a field by an algebraic subgroup exists as an algebraic variety, and he notes p.105 that Weil proved a similar result for arbitrary algebraic groups.
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Great. I think the precise reference is Proposition 2 of this paper: jstor.org/stable/_PHONE_ – Anton Geraschenko Dec 14 '09 at 3:25
The representability theorem [Demazure-Gabriel, III.2.7.1, p. 318] implies the following.
Let $A$ be a local artinian ring, let $G$ be a group over $A$ locally of finite type, and let $H\hookrightarrow G$ be a closed subgroup which is flat over $A$. Then the quotient $G/H$ in the category of fppf sheaves is a scheme; and the canonical morphism $G\rightarrow G/H$ is faithfully flat and of finite presentation.
Note that the group $G$ in the above theorem need not be either affine or flat over $A$; also, Demazure-Gabriel write in comprehensible language, unlike Weil.
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text:
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source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Resources to help stop bullying Jerry Sat, 09/08/2012 - 22:23
This is a collection of references that deal with bullying of and by senior citizens: what it is, how it emerges, how to control and extinguish it, and how to create a better environment.
Stop bullying elders: mission statement Jerry Wed, 08/29/2012 - 20:35
To create a virtual peer-to-peer support network to combat bullying of seniors
 - To provide meaningful peer support for seniors living with bullying in subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled. Including practical ways to empower seniors to protect themselves and to advocate for themselves: we will seek to provide support, information and education, and to share tested ideas.
Stop bullying elderly people in HUD-subsidized housing Jerry Wed, 08/15/2012 - 02:00
A petition for legislation, administrative rules, and oversight to correct the abuse
Elders living in subsidized residences frequently are subject to abuse, harassment, and bullying by other residents and/or by staff. Residents in these out-of-control buildings are constantly under siege from bullying, causing them to suffer from stress and related conditions such as depression, high-blood pressure, stroke, and possibly suicide, and have nowhere to turn for relief. This is a petition seeking legislative and administrative remedies. Please join and help make a difference.
Planning for a sustainable energy future for Mytown
Submitted by Jerry on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 21:01
A story about our environmental future that you can help write.
Submitted by Jerry on Wed, 05/30/2012 - 14:17
Why can't our political system deal with climate change?
Submitted by Jerry on Mon, 03/26/2012 - 17:56


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Title: "Exploring the Enigmatic ca185: An Unveiling of its Origins, Significance, and Impact"
In the realm of historical mysteries, few things captivate the imagination as much as the enigmatic symbol "ca185." Often dismissed as a mere combination of letters and numbers, this cryptic code holds a deeper meaning and significance that has intrigued researchers and historians alike. In this article, we will embark on a journey to unravel the origins, decipher the purpose, and explore the impact of ca185.
Origins of ca185:
The first step towards understanding ca185 is to uncover its origins. While its exact genesis remains shrouded in mystery, speculation suggests that it might be a clandestine code used by secret societies or a symbol of an ancient civilization. Some theorists propose that ca185 could be a time reference, possibly indicating a significant event that occurred in the year 185. However, without concrete evidence, these theories remain purely speculative.
Significance and Interpretations:
The significance of ca185 extends beyond its origins, as it has garnered attention for its potential interpretations. Some argue that it represents a forgotten language or script, waiting to be deciphered. Others believe that ca185 holds a symbolic meaning, representing hidden knowledge or a secret message. The possibilities are endless, and researchers continue to delve into various disciplines such as linguistics, cryptography, and archaeology to unlock its true significance.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of ca185, it is essential to examine the historical context in which it emerged. By studying the era surrounding the speculated origins of ca185, historians can attempt to connect it to specific events, movements, or ideologies that might provide clues to its meaning. By analyzing relevant historical sources and records, researchers hope to shed light on the context in which ca185 was conceived and its potential relevance to that period.
Notable References and Encounters:
Throughout history, there have been sporadic references to ca185, further fueling interest and curiosity. For instance, in the diaries of an obscure explorer from the 19th century, there are cryptic entries mentioning encounters with an esoteric symbol resembling ca185. Additionally, art historians have identified similar patterns in ancient artwork, suggesting that this symbol might have transcended time and cultures, hinting at a universal meaning or relevance.
The Impact of ca185:
Despite the lack of concrete information, the impact of ca185 cannot be understated. Its mystique has inspired numerous works of literature, art, and even music. Writers have incorporated ca185 into their narratives, attributing it to hidden treasures, lost civilizations, or secret societies. Artists have created captivating visual representations, exploring the intricate patterns and symbolism embedded within ca185. It has become a muse for creativity and a symbol of intrigue and fascination.
In conclusion, the symbol ca185 continues to captivate individuals from various fields of study, beckoning them to unlock its secrets. Its origins remain elusive, and its significance open to interpretation. Yet, it is undeniable that ca185 has left an indelible mark on history and culture. Whether it is a forgotten language, a coded message, or a symbol of something greater, the enigma of ca185 persists, inviting future generations to embark on their own quests for understanding and discovery.


Skip to definition.
Verb: whiz (whizzed,whizzing) wiz
 1. Make a soft swishing sound
 "the motor whizzed";
 - whizz, whirr, whir, birr, purr
Noun: whiz wiz
 1. Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
 - ace, adept, champion, sensation, maven, mavin, virtuoso, genius, hotshot, star, superstar, whizz, wizard, wiz, megastar
 2. A buzzing or hissing sound as of something travelling rapidly through the air
 "he heard the whiz of bullets near his head"
Derived forms: whizzing, whizes
Type of: expert, go, sound
Encyclopedia: Whiz


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Chapter 5: Childbirth
The moment of childbirth is somewhat erratic; ten days before the child is expected and every day thereafter, the DM should roll a d20. On a result of 20, the mother will give birth to the child at some point that day. What point is determined by dramatic necessity, convenience or randomisation as desired by the DM.
When childbirth begins, the mother loses one hit point every minute, to a minimum of 0hp, when she is staggered. Childbirth continues for 2d12 hours, after which she must make a Fortitude save against a DC determined by Table X-XX: Childbirth DCs.
X-XX: Childbirth DCs
assistance (Heal check DC 5): -1 DC
On a success, the child was born successfully and the mother can begin to regain hit points normally. On a failure, complications have arisen: the mother must make two Fortitude saves (DC 15) to prevent disaster: if the first fails, the mother drops to –1 hit points and is dying. If the second fails, the child is stillborn. Miscarriages use the above mechanics, but unless there is less than a month before childbirth is expected, the child will always be stillborn.
To determine the child's potential in future life, take the averages for the ability scores of its parents (where necessary, roll a d%: 01-50 round down, 51-100 round up) and modify each according to the roll on Table X-XX: Variation, below. Results cannot exceed 18 + racial modifier or drop below 3 + racial modifier. These will be the ability scores of the child when it reaches adulthood. Until then, modify them according to Table X-XX: Age Modifiers (minimum score 1).
Table X-XX: Variation
X-XX: Age Modifiers
The child is considered a level 1 commoner for the duration of its youth. Its upbringing and education will be crucial in determining its personality, likes and dislikes. When it reaches adulthood, the child may choose an NPC or (if they received the proper training) PC class.


Heaven at North Pole described in many Cultures
Vedas have described that Gods reside at north direction and one day for them is equivalent to one year for humans.
This was based on idea that north pole has six months of sunlight and six months of darkness, which makes it day and night for one year.
Varaha Mihir, one the most famous Indian astronomer (around 6th century AD), identified North Pole as the location of Meru in his celebrated work Panch-siddhāntikā.
heaven at north pole
Indian Historian and Freedom-fighter, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in his phenomenal work titled, 'The Arctic Home of the Vedas', written in late 19th century, gives an extremely detailed as well as convincing account based on the literary evidence of various Slokas from Rig Veda and the Zoroastrian Avesta that point to an Arctic Home of the ancient Aryans.
The original home of Aryans was at the North Pole, from which they had to emigrate due to the Ice deluge 10,000 years ago.
Around 8000 BCE, the age of migration from the original home began when the survivors roamed over the northern parts of Europe and Asia in search of lands suitable for new settlements. If we accept this, we can easily understand the legends of Noah and Manu, the progenitors of mankind in this current age.
More than half a dozen World Mythologies locate their sacred lands at the North Pole.
 - Norse myths place their 'Land of Immortality' at the North Pole and their legends talk about a World Tree called YGGDRASIL that connects Heaven, Earth and Hell just like Meru.
Zoroastrian Avesta revered by the Persians (Parsis), mentions the Aryanam Vaijah the ancient land of Aryans as the Best-of-all-places and situated up in the North, above the other six world zones. At the beginning of the current age, the god Ahura Mazda warned of an impending fierce winter (Ice Age?!?) and advised its denizens to migrate to other locations.
meru mountain earth axisSurya Siddantha mentions a Meru in the middle of Earth, a Sumeru at the North Pole and a Kumeru at the South pole.
Which means that the structure called Meru stretches from pole to pole and Hell exists at South Pole, just like Heaven at North Pole.
Meru does not refer to a mountain at all but instead is an allegory for the Earth's Axis of Rotation.
Interestingly there is a Mount Meru in Tanzania, which roughly corresponds to the geographic Center of the Earth.The Mountain is even worshipped by the local tribes as an abode of Gods.
Another ancient Sanskrit text, the Narpatijayacharya mentions Sumeru as being present in the middle of the Earth, but not visible to humans.
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The will host a baseball celebration to honor the minor league players from the Hudson Valley who helped contribute to the popularity of the national pastime of baseball in the years following World War II. Many of the honorees served in the military fighting in WWII or in the Korean War, which ended their professional baseball careers when they got injured in war or could not find a team when they returned home.
The museum has invited these 80 and 90-year-old men to share their stories and experiences in professional baseball and to educate the public about the sport along the Hudson River and Peekskill's contribution to the game in the 1940s. The event will be held at the Peekskill Museum and other city establishments from Friday, July 20 to Sunday, July 22.
A press release from the museum explains some of the background history:
The Hudson River Valley towns were playing baseball as early as the 1850's and played host to professional baseball as early as 1886 when the existing Hudson River League became affiliated with the minor leagues. This professional league did not last long, but was again active from 1903-7 with teams along the river from Yonkers to Kingston, including Ossining, Peekskill, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie. After some short-lived leagues (Eastern Association, Atlantic, and New York/New Jersey) prior to 1915, minor league baseball was not present in our area until 1946 with the formation of the Class D North Atlantic League. The championship of the league that year was won by the Peekskill Highlanders. Several NAL teams were from Pennsylvania, but other New York teams in the league included the Nyack Rockies, Kingston Dodgers and Newburgh/Walden Hummingbirds. Peekskill was active in the league through 1949 and played in the championship playoff series each year.
In 1947 another minor league, the Class B Colonial League was formed further up the Hudson. Poughkeepsie, Kingston (shifting from the NAL in 1948), and Saugerties fielded teams as did Port Chester and several towns in Connecticut. Interestingly Lou Baselice of Mount Vernon, the owner of the Peekskill Highlanders also owned the Poughkeepsie team and at the end of the season, he would move his best Peekskill players to Poughkeepsie. The Colonial league lasted into 1950, when many minor leagues folded due to the televising of Major League baseball games and poor attendence.
In December, 2011 Peekskill museum baseball historian and collector Bob Mayer began contacting as many of the living players from these local teams as possible. It was difficult to locate the players since the Minor League Database maintained by SABR and BaseballReference.com does not often have up-to-date information on these men, Mayer wrote.
But staying persistent, Mayer was able to locate nearly 40 players or their families, most former Peekskill Highlanders and Poughkeepsie Chiefs.
About a dozen players and some widows and deceased players' sons plan to attend the museum events in July.
Below is Mayer's description of the weekend events:
The Mayor of the City of Peekskill has agreed to have the city take on a supportive role in this project and will assist with transportation, reception, and publicity. The Peekskill Museum (non-profit) will also play a pivotal role.
The plan is to play host to these men and their companions in Peekskill where we will gather for a Welcome at the Peekskill Museum Friday afternoon July 20th. Mayor Foster will be one of our guest speakers. Then we'll have an informal dinner at the Westchester Diner (across the street from the old Peekskill Stadium). The players and their companions will have several options to explore Peekskill and the vicinity on Saturday morning. This could include a water tour, shopping or visiting the Arts Center, etc. This will be followed by an event for the public which will be held at the Cove Restaurant and include: an exhibition of Hudson River baseball memorabilia, a player panel discussion and a guest speaker.
The player panel will be moderated by a professional sports interviewer (John Vorperian of "Beyond the Game") who will get the players talking about their experiences and sharing their many stories. The players will also respond to questions from the public, and there will be time for the attendees to mix with the players and get autographs before we have a dinner/reception for the players and their guests. We are trying to arrange for a baseball celebrity to speak at the dinner.
On Sunday July 22nd the players will have a breakfast at the Inn on the Hudson then attend a Peekskill Tides (Westchester/Rockland College Wood Bat League) baseball game at Peekskill Stadium, where they will be brought to the field, announced and honored by the home team. Our Local Little Leagues will have a chance to meet the players who will also sign autographs at the game.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
- Applicants must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment from an accredited college or university in the United States.
- Students must submit the completed application found online.
- Send one official copy of academic transcripts from all institutions attended.
- Send a written statement of professional goals.
- Two letters of recommendation
Other Important Information
- West Chester University's MS Criminal Justice program provides a high quality advanced education to both full-time and part-time students.
- Prospective Students
- Current Students


New World Empires logo
New World Empires score:
New World Empires screenshots:
Imagenes de New World Empires
New World Empires
New World Empires review:
GAME TYPE: Free to play Strategy MMO
PLATFORMS: Web Browser
New World Empires is a browser based free to play strategy where players control their own realm at the start of the 19th Century, a time of conflict and opportunity as the new world is being discovered and every nation is looking to carve out their own slice of this new land and colonize it for themselves. In the game players control one such nation and must manage their own provinces and lands, recruit an army, manage their resources, make trade and diplomatic negotiations, and ultimately battle it out with their rivals in PVP. The game can be access directly through your web browser and does not require a client download.
- Lead a nation and expand it across Europe and beyond
- Discover new lands and colonize the new world
- Manage resources, trade and engage in diplomacy
- Build an army from dozens of units
- Research over 150 technologies
- Win the game by controlling key provinces
- Browser game
- Completely free to play
New World Empires is a tactical strategy MMO where players control individual nations set in 19th Century Europe where the world is broken up into a vast amount of historically accurate territories. Players must gather up resources, train a powerful army and take control of these territories to advance their Empire and ultimately win the game.
The game has an extremely slow pace where researching tech, constructing buildings, training units and even moving them around the map can take hours or days; players are able to log out of the game whilst their nation continues building, training and moving around as decided and then can log back in the game later to continue playing when these tasks are complete.
Whilst players are able to form alliances, engage in trade and diplomacy and otherwise work cooperatively, the game is geared towards competitive play and particularly towards the mid game revolves a lot more around PVP with other player's nations.
When first joining the game players can either be randomly assigned a country, from dozens of historical nations, or select one that they would prefer; they fill the roles of the various active nations which are otherwise controlled by AI until more new players join that particular world. Starting with a handful of towns or cities the player gains an income of resources from these locations as well as a few units to help defend them against the AI and their rival players.
Players must focus on advancing their nation by researching new technologies, broken down into various categories such as economy, warfare and colonizing, the technologies a player researches will define their playstyle and path to victory. To stop players advancing too quickly down the research trees, or using premium currency to buy their way to more powerful late game technologies, the techs are separated into different tiers that are unlocked at different stages as the game goes on giving a set number of days before the next tier is available.
With new technologies unlocked players will construct buildings to enhance resource production, keep their populous happy with their Morale up (low city morale leads to bad production and possibly a revolt), or training up various units. Players can look to expand to new undiscovered territories and create both explorers and colonists to settle them, allowing expansion without aggressions, alternatively players can form an army to take what they want.
Armies are formed of various types of units, from infantry to artillery to naval vessels, and are stationed in player's towns and cities as defenders or used as rally points to begin an assault from. If a player wishes to declare war on a rival nation then they can march their units into their land and attack their settlements to conquer and control them.
Each world's game runs for around 60 days, each province that a player controls is worth a certain number of Victory Points (capitals of a country are worth more), at the end of the 60 days the player with the most Victory Points is declared the winner of the game and then players are free to join a new one.
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Website: New World Empires
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Updating a relational database php adult dating in kidder south dakota
Doctrine 2 is an object-relational mapper (ORM) for PHP 5.4 that provides transparent persistence for PHP objects.It uses the Data Mapper pattern at the heart, aiming for a complete separation of your domain/business logic from the persistence in a relational database management system.These trigger types are referred to as "Schema-level triggers". Performing conditional actions in triggers (or testing data following modification) is done through accessing the temporary Inserted and Deleted tables. The following functionality in SQL:2003 was previously not implemented in Postgre SQL: Firebird supports multiple row-level, BEFORE or AFTER, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE (or any combination thereof) triggers per table, where they are always "in addition to" the default table changes, and the order of the triggers relative to each other can be specified where it would otherwise be ambiguous (POSITION clause.) Triggers may also exist on views, where they are always "instead of" triggers, replacing the default updatable view logic.(Before version 2.1, triggers on views deemed updatable would run in addition to the default logic.) Firebird does not raise mutating table exceptions (like Oracle), and triggers will by default both nest and recurse as required (SQL Server allows nesting but not recursion, by default.) Firebird's triggers use NEW and OLD context variables (not Inserted and Deleted tables,) and provide UPDATING, INSERTING, and DELETING flags to indicate the current usage of the trigger.
What we often stumble across, though, is the naiive approach of synchronizing both data storages.
My SQL is the most popular database system used with the PHP language.
My SQL is one of the most popular relational database system being used on the Web today.
It boils down to: The problem with this approach is, as in any distributed system, that both the first and the second write will fail at some point.


Updated 09:15 AM EDT, Fri, May 14, 2021
Chile Sees Dead Sea Lions
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Marine researchers in Chile got the shock of their lives when they saw dead sea lions washed ashore. They found that the same curious case is also happening elsewhere on South America's Pacific coast.
For the past three moths, dead sea lions are dying and washing up ashore. The American sea lions are called Otaria flavescens. Most of those that are dying off are newborns, with a few adults and juveniles. This makes the problem even more significant.
Researcher Carlos Guerra-Correa said that Chile's neighboring countries are also experiencing this. "This is happening along the entire coast of northern Chile and we're getting reports that it's also happening in Peru, our neighbor to the north," researcher Carlos Guerra-Correa said. "We could be talking about hundreds of sea lions washing up ashore dead in the entire region."
Guerra-Correa added that it is alarming that most of the dead sea mammals are literally just babies. "Some of the dead animals we have found still had their umbilical cord attached," Guerra-Correa said. "We found one with a placenta," he added.
The expert also provided several reasons why this is happening. According to him, the El Nino is a significant culprit. El Nino is causing the tropical Pacific to bring warm water to the coasts of Chile. Warm water, however, does not possess the same nutrients of phytoplankton found in cold water. Phytoplankton nurtures the sardines and anchovies that sea lions love to eat.
Without sardines and anchovies, sea lions might be starving to death. According to Guerra-Correa, the female sea lions in the latter stages of their pregnancy are the most vulnerable ones. Without the nutrients they need, they can be miscarrying or delivering weak babies that die the moment they are born.
In a related news, experts said that there is an ongoing fish famine that is barring mothers from producing enough milk for their baby sea lions to become stronger. As the mother sea lions scout for food in further waters, they can be gone for days, leaving their pups to starve.
Some pups may also look for food themselves, even though they are not physically ready to be apart from their moms yet. They die as a result.
Here is a video of a killer whale hunting baby sea lions:
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Grandmaster Kim Bok Man is one of the most recognized authorities of taekwondo in the world. He worked tirelessly with General Choi Hong Hi as a founder of taekwondo curricula used today by the many international taekwondo organizations.
Originally published in 1979, this book provides defense techniques taught to military, law enforcement officials, and black belts. Beginners will have a chance to see the application of their training in actual weapon defenses.
Advanced students will learn techniques and fundamental training that has been "field" tested since the inception of the art in the 1950s.
- History and the theory of power
- Defense against weapons: knife, baton, pole, sword, bayonet, and pistol
- Sparring: releases, grabs, throwing, falling, free-sparring
- Patterns: Silla pattern 1, Silla pattern 2, Silla knife pattern, and Silla pole pattern
- Training: stretching, calisthenics, action principles, hand & foot techniques, using a heavy bag
- Body parts for attack & defense, stances, vital points for striking
This book catalogs the essence of the fighting art of taekwondo as it was originally intended.


Tensor Network Machine Learning Modeling
时间： 9:00 -10:30，2020 - 8 - 24
Machine learning algorithm based on tensor networks is a new direction that has just developed in recent years. This direction could help us better understand the complexity of traditional machine learning datasets, the expressive power of traditional machine learning models, such as probability graph models, and it could also be regarded as a classical simulation for a large class of quantum machine learning models. In this talk, I will first give a brief overview of both tensor networks and traditional machine learning. Then, starting from the similarity of data and models, I will explain why tensor networks models originally used for quantum many-body research can be connected with traditional machine learning. After that, I will specifically introduce several typical tensor network machine learning models that have been proposed. Finally, I will summarize the significance of this direction and the future development.
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Circling back to properties, when you set a value on an attribute or metadatum or author a relationship within a layer, you are effectively expressing an opinion on that value. This is named an opinion because value assignments can always be changed by others! This is a very important concept for composition.
A different way of looking at this would be that "setting a value" implies that that action is final and the value itself becomes immutable; whereas with opinions you merely mean
"Within this layer, I want the value for this to be
If the value already existed before, you are essentially "overriding" it


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Extinction: When an observed behavior goes away entirely because of the reinforcement procedure that has been applied to the situation. An extinction burst, occurs when the reinforcement that caused a behavior has been removed, initially there will be an increase in the observed behavior. This is an attempt of the subject to try to obtain the motivational operant by causing more behaviors. After the outburst, the behavior then decreased to the point of extinction.
An example of this can be seen at a vending machine that does not deliver a soda after you have paid and pushed the button. In previous experience, putting in money and pushing the button delivers the soda. This behavior has a strong history of reinforcement. When the situation changes and the soda machine stops delivering the soda, the reaction is to start pushing the buttons madly. The soda button pushing behavior previously delivered soda. Now it does not. More button pushing ensues. The mad button pushing is the extinction burst. After the extinction burst, the button pushing behavior is decreased and then stops.
Warning: Thinning the schedule of reinforcement may actually entrench the behavior more effectively, making extinction more difficult to obtain in the future. Extinction involves reducing the maintaining reinforcers to absolute zero.
Resistance to extinction refers to the amount of responding by an individual after reinforcement has been removed. Intermittent schedules of reinforcement, thinner schedules and variable schedules are associated with a greater resistance to extinction.
Possible unwanted side effects of extinction:
- Increased behavior (extinction burst)
- Spontaneous recovery – the behavior comes back for a brief time for no apparent reason
- Some desirable behaviors are sometimes accidentally "ignored" and may cease
Note: Increasing the opportunities for extinction may actually reduce target behavior more quickly. Increasing the opportunities for extinction means that there are more offers for the chance for the behavior to be emitted and the reinforcement denied more often. This will speed up the extinction process.
Resistance to Extinction: Refers to an individual continuing to respond even after reinforcement has been removed from the equation. Some things that can cause resistance to extinction include: thinner reinforcement schedules, intermittent schedules of reinforcement, and variable schedules of reinforcement. All these things cause behavior to persist.
Extinction is highly recommended to use in any case where punishment procedures are implemented. Additionally, in any case of punishment or extinction, introduce the correct replacement behavior.


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WEIGHT: 59 kg
Sex services: French Kissing, BDSM, Facial, Fisting vaginal, Uniforms
Prostitution in France the exchange of sexual acts for money was legal until April, but several surrounding activities were illegal, like operating a brothel, living off the avails pimping, and paying for sex with someone under the age of 18 the age of consent for sex is In the Napoleonic era, France became the model for the regulatory approach to prostitution.
In the 20th century, however, a policy shift became apparent. Brothels became illegal in, and France signed the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others in France thus became a major supporter of the international abolitionist movement for the eradication of prostitution see Abolitionism in France.
Prostitutes were not marginalized, but integrated into society where they had a role to play. In stories which were often ribald, prostitutes would be complicit with other women in avenging men. The great Cathedral of Chartres had a window endowed by prostitutes The Prodigal Son in the same way as other windows were endowed by various other trade guilds The Trade Windows.
During the Middle Ages, the various authorities, civil or noble, oversaw prostitution as an institution. Charlemagne AD was amongst those rulers who attempted to suppress prostitution, declaring flogging lashes as a punishment in his capitularies. This was primarily aimed at the common man, since harems and concubines were common amongst the ruling classes.
Some idea of the seriousness with which the state regarded the offense is provided by the fact that lashes was the severest sentence prescribed by the Code Alaric.


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on imaginal worlds and magical thinking…
I'm not sure why, but I feel that as of late I have had a great number of conversations with people who have referenced magical thinking. In most cases the particular reference to magical thinking has been tentative, unsure, as if evoking distrust. I've encountered this with people who I have met a the hospital as well with friends and acquaintances. It makes me curious about just what they mean; the tone of their comments seem to suggest that magical thinking isn't the best thing, nor is it a reliable way of seeking context within our world. There is a fascinating article that was published in the New York Times about magical thinking that you can read here which helps to explain the "phenomena" of magical thinking. Overall, I feel that magical thinking is important, if not key to a healthy spiritual life (in some form), but I'm not so sure what is so magical about it.
Wikipedia describes magical thinking as:
[A] causal reasoning that looks for correlation between acts or utterances and certain events. In religion, folk religion and superstition, the correlation posited is between religious ritual, such as prayer, sacrifice or the observance of a taboo, and an expected benefit or recompense. In clinical psychology, magical thinking is a condition that causes the patient to experience irrational fear of performing certain acts or having certain thoughts because they assume a correlation with their acts and threatening calamities.
This description (the rest of the Wikipedia entry can be found here) seems to suggest that magical thinking may be more of a problem than a boon; more of a crutch than a clear vision of how reality unfolds; perhaps even a disturbance in "normal" mental functioning. I get a little scared when I read this definition, it seems to re-affirm that perhaps I am not-all-here. Maybe I/we are not…
I am particularly drawn to the use of the word correlation in this description, especially given what it means in relation to Buddhism. Correlation points to relationship and dependence: interdependence. If we look at this same statement with interdependence in mind then we find that magical thinking is:
a causal reasoning that looks for interdependence between acts or utterances and certain events. In religion, folk religion and superstition, the interdependence posited is between religious ritual, such as prayer, sacrifice or the observance of a taboo, and an expected benefit or recompense. In clinical psychology, magical thinking is a condition that causes the patient to experience irrational fear of performing certain acts or having certain thoughts because they assume an interdependence with their acts and threatening calamities.
In looking at it from this perspective, magical thinking appears a vital and inseparable way of finding meaning as we experience life; it doesn't seem strange, or even less dependable that some kind of rational objectivity (something we are generally taught to desire). In fact, we engage in magical thinking so often that perhaps it should just be called ordinary thinking. Be that as it may, I am curious as to why some people don't seem to trust this magical thinking with all of the shifty mysterious individual meaning that it weaves throughout our lives.
The great sufi saint shaykh Ibn al 'Arabi (_PHONE_) is an inspiring figure when it comes to the realm of the imaginal. Driven by a series of ecstatic visions, Ibn al 'Arabi made his was from Andalusia through Morocco, and across the Maghreb towards Mecca. Along the way he met many people, teachers and fellow seekers, some were real humans, locatable within the nexus of shared time and space, others were not. One of the greatest visions he had was while sailing to Tunisia whereupon he encountered Mohammed, Jesus and Abraham simultaneously. Other visions were equally "magical" and "unreal", yet they acted as a great furnace through which al 'Arabi's spiritual passion was refined and tempered allowing him to not only experience the presence of Allah, but to write with great detail about his experiences as well as guide others to this end. His monumental impact on mystical Islam is still felt today and I would argue he could have never lived the life he had lived if he conceived of life as fixed in nature, lacking the subtlety and mutability to which magical thinking alludes.
Much of the material that I have found on the topic of magical thinking, especially from the perspective of clinical psychology, offers reasons for abandoning and avoiding magical thinking. Such reasons involve improving impaired decision-making, not being able to achieve our goals, and in the case of people with mood disorders or people suffering from psychosis, experiencing a break from reality. In extreme cases, I acknowledge how magical thinking and spirituality inform and can reinforce a person's break with reality. Having spent ten months chaplaining patients on a psychiatric unit of a hospital in New York, I can certainly say that I have come to see first hand how such thinking exacerbates a person's suffering. This form of suffering can be terrible; to live with a variant point of orientation, in the midst of near-complete subjectivity is the cause of great horror.
As is the case with most things, when taken to an extreme magical thinking can be a great danger. But to eliminate it altogether? That also sounds like a form of killing our natural tendency to be creative, to imagine and to experience inspiration.
Indeed in it's most elevated forms magical thinking breaths vitality and meaning into the experiences found within sufism, the teachings of pure view (especially as it relates to yidam practice) within tantric Buddhism, as well as Jung's notion of synchronicity and the collective unconscious, to name just a few jewels in the long garland of human experience. In the face of death, and the suffering caused by illness, as a chaplain, I have found that magical thinking arises with such commonplace frequency that I regard it as a natural and important way though which we find connection and meaning in ways that can not often be explained rationallyand that's okay.
In extending the Zen Buddhist approach of not knowing, to the larger Buddhist conception of the six realms of existence, we are in essence throwing open the doors towards direct relationship with hell realms, god realms, demi-god realms, buddha realms, ghost realms, animal realms and all various permutations of these. We open oureslve up to the magical. We allow for varied relationship with appearance. We develop the seed potential for a rich and layered experience of life. Of course a great many western Buddhists may not believe in the six realms as "real" but as internal dimensions of our own behavioral habitual tendencies; while I appreciate and find great wealth in this view, I for one find great meaning in feeling that the immediacy of direct interface with Buddha-realms, lamas, yidams, dakas and dakinis, and protectors charges the moment with the potential for great insight and awakening.
It seems that as we tread our paths only we can really know how much we want to, or can, open ourselves up to the visionary realm of the imaginal. While this is very individual, perhaps something we can all do is remain mindful of how we shut the magic out and why? As well as, whether we use it as a crutch to avoid realizing where we need to change and grow?
on Karma Pakshi, Mikyö Dorje and empowerment…
In my post about Mahakala, and how the practice of Mahakala may relate to our lives on a daily basis as well as between and throughout meditation sessions, I related a short story around the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi.
A reader of this blog, and now friend, sent me a wonderful image of the siddha Karma Pakshi (pictured above) and an image of Mikyö Dorje, the eighth Karmapa (below).
In reflecting upon these images I am struck by how they convey so clearly the energy that these two realized masters embodied. In the upper image, Karma Pakshi is shown empowered, present, and full of vitality. He is shown sitting upon a chöjung, the source of dharma, above him is Guru Rinpoche, Rechungpa and the terton Mingyur Dorje, on his right is Hayagriva and on his left Dorje Phagmo, below him is Mahakala and then Damchen Garwa Ngagpo to his left and Palden Lhamo, or Sri Devi to his right. Karma Pakshi's right hand is raised holding a vajra, and his left holds a phurba. This is not an image of passivity, or weakness. On the contrary, this image shows how profoundly inspired, naturally empowered, and essence-oriented Karma Pakshi embodied his direct experience of the dharma.
The lower image, that of Mikyö Dorje, is also an image of empowerment. Mikyö Dorje is famous as an endless wellspring of ability. There is a definite feeling of inexhaustability that his activity demonstrated. When I consider that he only lived to the age of forty-seven I am even more humbled by the impact that his presence had upon the Kagyu lineage; he left behind a magnificent imprint of Buddha-like depth and sensitivity. His works include commentaries upon many tantric texts including the Hevajra Tantra, as well as a variety of very important texts on buddhist philosophy. His impact upon art was as concentrated and


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FLINT CREEK (YOUNG COUNTY)
FLINT CREEK (Young County). Flint Creek rises two miles southeast of Loving in west central Young County (at 33°14' N, 98°30' W) and runs southwest for twelve miles to its mouth on Salt Creek, two miles northwest of Graham (at 33°10' N, 98°35' W). The headwaters of Flint Creek are known as Baylor Springs; they were a stop along an early stage route from Fort Richardson to Fort Belknap. In its upper reaches the stream is an intermittent draw that runs through private ranchland and the Knox oilfield. After meeting with Turtle Hole Creek, however, Flint Creek becomes the main source of Lake Eddleman, a municipally owned reservoir that supplies water, electrical power, and recreational facilities to the Graham area. The creek runs through terrain of resistant ledges and low cuestas, where shallow, stony soils support live oaks, juniper, and grasses.


Zehnder Communications, Inc.
Banks and Customers: Do They Really Have Relationships? Zehnder Turns the Question Around And Finds a Few Surprises
In a post-digital world, retail bankers realize the future of their industry is not one of pure technology. While smartphones and websites certainly have changed the banking landscape, research shows a rising demand for multi-channel service – a mix of mobile, digital, call center and in-person options.
Despite the increased role of technology, the sense of personal relationship between bankers and customers is still a relevant issue. Indeed, through our agency's work in the retail banking space, we see the multi-channel model essentially ensuring that personal relationships will remain relevant.
Do those kinds of relationships exist? Many bankers say they do, but what about customers? How does each side perceive its relationship with the other, and how well do they match up?
In other words, is there a difference between what bankers see as their customers' priorities and what customers say their priorities really are?
By placing just a slight twist on the question, we found some meaningful and eye-opening results between both bankers and consumers.
So what exactly did we do? In September 2018, Zehnder conducted an online survey of 500 respondents ‒ 400 consumers, as well as 100 bankers with varying levels of decision-making power ‒ all distributed equally in the South, West, Northeast and Midwest.
Our survey was built around four main questions:
 - Would you say you have a personal relationship with your bank?
 - If you do not have a personal relationship with your bank, what reason would prompt you to start one?
 - How comfortable would you be if your bank does not have a physical location?
 - How much do you trust a bank with no physical location?
There were some notable exceptions, but the results showed that bankers were generally much more convinced of relationships than customers ‒ more than 80 percent of bankers compared to 56 percent of consumers.
Among consumers, perceptions differed along a number of criteria. Older customers and males were more likely to perceive a relationship, while females and younger customers were not.
Interestingly, attitudes varied especially among geographical regions. In the South, for example, nearly 90 percent of bankers surveyed said they have a relationship with most clients. That compared with only 50 percent of Southern consumers surveyed.
Bankers in the West were among the least confident in relationships. In that region, a relatively high 18 percent said they were unsure, while only 26 percent said they "definitely" have a relationship, among the lowest figures nationwide.
The responses revealed other interesting differences. While African-American and white customers were generally even on the question of banker relationships, Asian customers weren't as sure. Nearly 40 percent of Asians expressed at least some doubt, the highest among all ethnic groups.
In short, Zehnder's research shows there are some real differences between banks and customers when it comes to the perception of relationships. The bigger question is how much does that matter? The answer is that it depends.
When we asked consumers how much they would trust a bank with no physical location, 53 percent said "a great deal" or "a lot." There were a few variations among regions and age groups, but less than a quarter went as far as saying they would place little or no trust in such a bank.
So consumers are less apt to perceive the existence of a relationship than their bankers are. Yet, consumers are still willing to trust banks, even those without a physical location. What does that insight say about the way your financial services company communicates with customers?
Zehnder is a full-service advertising agency that specializes in education, financial services, food-and-beverage, health care and travel and tourism. With offices in New Orleans, Nashville and Baton Rouge, we help clients all over the country develop a deeper understanding of their industry and how to turn those discoveries into better marketing.
To learn more about our research, contact Jen Boneno at or _PHONE_ to find out more.
Let's Talk.


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Sexbots: Sex & Consequences
As a general rule, any technology that can be used for sex will be used for sex. Even if it shouldn't. In accord with this rule, researchers and engineers are hard at work developing ever more realistic sexbots. By science-fiction standards, these sexbots are fairly crude—the most human-like seem to be just a bit more advanced than high-end sex dolls.
In my previous essay on this subject, I considered a Kantian approach to such non-rational sexbots. In this essay I will look at the matter from a consequentialist/utilitarian moral viewpoint.
On the face of it, sexbots could be seen as nothing new—currently they are merely an upgrade of the classic sex dolls that have been around for quite some time. Sexbots are, of course, more sophisticated than the famous blow-up sex dolls, but the basic idea is the same: the sexbot is an object that a person has sex with.
That said, one thing that makes sexbots morally interesting is the fact that they are typically designed to mimic human beings not merely in physical form (which is what sex dolls do) but in regards to the mind. For example, the Roxxxy sexbot's main feature is its personality (or, more accurately, personalities). As a fictional example, the sexbots in Almost Human do not merely provide sex—they also provide human-like companionship. However, such person-like sexbots are a still a thing of science-fiction. As such, human-mimicking sexbots of this sort can be seen as something new.
An obvious moral concern is that the human-mimicking sexbots will have negative consequences for actual human beings, be they men or women. Not surprisingly, many of these concerns are analogous to existing moral concerns regarding pornography.
Pornography, so the stock arguments go, can have considerable negative consequences. One of these is that it teaches men to regard women as being mere sexual objects. This can, in some cases, influence men to treat women poorly and can also impact how women see themselves. Another point of concern is the addictive nature of pornography—people can become obsessed with it to their detriment.
Human-mimicking sexbots would certainly seem to have the potential to do more harm than pornography. After all, while watching pornography allows a person to see other people treated as mere sexual objects, a sexbot would allow a person to use a human-mimicking object sexually. This could presumably have an even stronger conditioning effect on the person using the object, leading some to regard other people as mere sexual objects and thus increasing the chances they will treat other people poorly. If so, it would seem that selling or using a sexbot would be morally wrong.
People might become obsessed with their sexbots, as people do with pornography. Then again, people might simply "conduct their business" with their sexbots and get on with things. If so, sexbots might be an improvement over pornography in this regard. After all, while a guy could spend hours each day watching pornography, he certainly would not last very long with his sexbot.
Another concern raised in regards to certain types of pornography is that they encourage harmful sexual views and behavior. For example, violent pornography is supposed to influence people to engage in violence. As another example, child pornography is supposed to have an especially pernicious influence on people. Naturally, there is the concern about causation here: do people seek such porn because they are already that sort of person or does the porn influence them to become that sort of person? I will not endeavor to answer this here.
Since sexbots are objects, a person can do whatever he wishes to his sexbot—hit it, burn it, and "torture" it and so on. Presumably there will also be specialty markets catering to particular interests, such as those of pedophiles and necrophiliacs. If pornography that caters to these "tastes" can be harmful, then presumably a person being actively involved in such activities with a human-mimicking sexbot would be even more harmful. Essentially, the person would be practicing or warming up for the real thing. As such, it would seem that selling or using sexbots, especially those designed for harmful "interests" would be immoral.
Not surprisingly, these arguments are also similar to those used in regards to violent video games. The general idea is that violent video games are supposed to influence people so that they are more likely to engage in violence. So, just as some have proposed restrictions on virtual violence, perhaps there should be strict restrictions on sexbots.
When it comes to video games, one plausible counter is that while violent video games might have negative impact on the behavior of some people, they allow most people to harmlessly "burn off" their desire for violence and to let off steam. This seems analogous to sports and non-video games: they allow people to engage in conflict and competition in safer and far less destructive ways. For example, a person can indulge her love of conflict and conquest by playing Risk or Starcraft II after she works out her desire for violence by sparring a few rounds in the ring.
Turning back to sexbots, while they might influence some people badly, they might also provide a means by which people could indulge in desires that would be wrong, harmful and destructive to indulge with another person. So, for example, a person who likes to engage in sexual torture could satisfy her desires on a human-mimicking sexbot rather than an actual human. The rather critical issue here is whether or not indulging in such virtual vice with a sexbot would be a harmless dissipation of these desires or merely fuel them and drive a person to indulging them on actual people. If sexbots did allow people who would otherwise harm other people to vent their "needs" harmlessly on machines, then that would certainly be good for society as a whole. However, if this sort of activity would simply push them into doing such things for real and with unwilling victims, then that would certainly be bad for the person and society as a whole. This, then, is a key part of addressing the ethical concerns regarding sexbots.
(As a side note, I've been teaching myself how to draw-clever mockery of my talent is always appreciated…)


Where are the world's most war-damaged cities?
Architectural devastation is a familiar byproduct of conflict, but the effects on a city can extend far beyond simply bricks and mortar. So what lessons can be learned from those most severely affected by war?
An explosion at the 2,000-year-old Temple of Baalshamin in Palmyra, as posted on a website linked to Isis.
An explosion at the 2,000-year-old Temple of Baalshamin in Palmyra, as posted on a website linked to Isis. Photograph: AP
Throughout urban history cities have been regularly torn apart as collateral damage in wars and rebellions. Even so, the ravaging of the ancient city of Palmyra by the militant group Isis earlier this year was particularly shocking for its deliberate targeting of the Syrian city's irreplaceable architectural heritage.
In a very public wave of destruction, Isis razed Palmyra's 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, which in more peaceful times attracted 150,000 tourists a year, dynamited the smaller Temple of Baalshamin, destroyed numerous venerable statues, and laid waste to the tombs of two Muslim holy men.
Of course, many of Syria's historic cities have been devastated by the bitter fighting between government and rebel forces too, with much of ancient Aleppo, the "Vienna of the Middle East", reduced to rubble in recent years. Whole neighbourhoods have been levelled by targeted explosions as well as marketplaces and hospitals, and many of the city's inhabitants live without electricity, running water or fuel.
The systematic disruption of a city's infrastructure extends far beyond Syria. In northern Mali in 2012, for example, the Battle of Timbuktu did considerable damage to another World Heritage City, when Ansar Dine fighters intentionally vandalised, smashed and even set fire to the tombs of many Muslim saints.
But any survey of war-damaged cities must inevitably focus on the mass destructions of the 20th century, when weaponry and ways of conducting war perfected the art of destroying a city. The second world war saw approximately 17,500 civilians killed in London, while in Germany 42,600 died in just one week during the bombing of Hamburg in 1943.
Despite the carnage, by the end of the war European cities had become adept at restoring transportation and essential services in a matter of days. Even in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, cities that suffered the biggest single bomb blasts the world has ever known, water and power were restored within a week. Electric power was available in most of Hiroshima by 7 August 1945, the day after the first atom bomb was dropped, and the railways resumed running the following day.
London has the reputation for being Britain's most war-damaged city, a phenomenon fuelled by the "London Can Take It" propaganda pumped out during the second world war. Indeed, many people now appear to believe the Blitz was largely a phenomenon of the capital city alone.
The morning after a German air raid on Coventry, which lost its entire city centre to one night of bombing.
The morning after a German air raid on Coventry, which lost its entire city centre to one night of bombing. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images
During the eight months in which the Luftwaffe inflicted Blitzkrieg on Britain, London did indeed endure 57 consecutive nights of raids. But, despite losing more than 1m houses and much of its dockland, London's war damage pales in comparison to other ravaged cities in Britain. Coventry lost its entire city centre in one night, and by the end of the war, 95% of Hull's housing stock was destroyed or badly damaged. Apparently Luftwaffe pilots crossing the North Sea often could not find their targets, but could always locate Hull.
The rebuilding of London has been so sustained since 1945 that today there are more memorials to the world wars in London than evidence of war damage. But the amount of damage that Britain as a whole suffered during humanity's most destructive war never reached anything like that which happened across Europe and a number of Asian cities.
Hiroshima lost more than 60,000 of its 90,000 buildings, all destroyed or severely damaged by one bomb. In comparison, Nagasaki – though blasted by a bigger bomb on 9 August 1945 (21,000 tonnes of TNT to Hiroshima's 15,000) – lost 19,400 of its 52,000 buildings. This anomaly was partly the result of hillsides in Nagasaki sheltering some parts of the city, whereas Hiroshima is virtually flat.
In Tokyo, 286,358 buildings and homes (approximately 26% of the city) were incinerated over the three years that the Japanese capital was bombed. Operation Meetinghouse (9–10 March 1945) has been estimated to be the single most destructive bombing raid in history, and the Japanese emperor's tour of the damage in Tokyo began his personal involvement in the decision to surrender.
More than a quarter of Tokyo was laid waste during three years of bombing of the Japanese capital.
More than a quarter of Tokyo was laid waste during three years of bombing of the Japanese capital. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis
By comparison, the German capital Berlin was hit by 67,607 tonnes of TNT over five years of bombing. This, coupled with intense street fighting in the closing stages of the war, destroyed 80% of the city centre.
But Berlin was a spread-out city, built mostly of stone and brick. As a result, Britain's RAF Bomber Command failed to inflict the damage intended because the concentration of flammable buildings was not as great as it was in the German city of Dresden. That crowded, baroque city, with its high tally of wooden buildings, was incinerated on the night of 13 February 1944 in a man-made firestorm that destroyed 90% of the city centre.
Perhaps surprisingly, though, the city that suffered the most war damage – in terms of the percentage of buildings destroyed – is the German city of Jülich. Built on a crossing of the River Rur in what is now the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Jülich was considered one of the main obstacles to the Allies' plan to occupy the Rhineland.
Not wishing to take any risks, the Allies bombed the city on 16 November 1944 and destroyed 97% of it. The remaining 3% was smashed during three months of fighting that ended on 23 February 1945, when the Allies finally managed to cross the Rur.
After the second world war, it was initially planned that Jülich be abandoned and its ruins – which in aerial photography greatly resembled the centre of Hiroshima – be retained as a war memorial. A new city was to be built nearby. However, in 1949 the rebuilding of Jülich began, using a street plan that had been drawn up in the 1930s and which modified the original Renaissance plan. Essential work was completed in 1956 and today the city shows hardly any signs of being war-damaged, although craters have been deliberately retained in the citadel and nearby woods.
The German city of Dresden photographed in 1952, as workers remove bomb debris in front of the ruins of the Frauenkirche.
The German city of Dresden photographed in 1952, as workers remove bomb debris in front of the ruins of the Frauenkirche. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
While the second world war is without doubt the conflict that spawned the most war-damaged cities the world has ever known, the American Civil War was responsible for the first wholesale civic destruction of modern times. In 1865, General Sherman decided that his victorious Union army could not leave the important rail hub of Atlanta to be re-garrisoned by the Confederates once he moved on to the sea, so he ordered its obliteration.
Sherman's troops concentrated on the industrial centre of the city, so although that was eliminated, "only" 40% of the entire city was burned down. By the grimmest 20th-century standards that may not sound so much, but at the time it was a shockingly ruthless act and one that heralded the way warfare would develop in the 20th century. The rebuilding of Atlanta took seven years, and today its seal still depicts a phoenix rising from flames.
Abandonment is perhaps the ultimate proof of how badly a city is war-damaged, and over the centuries, many have been left to decay after major conflicts.
In Georgia in 713 AD, the capital Armazi was so wrecked by Arab forces under Marwan ibn Muhammad that it was abandoned and never rebuilt. In 1221, Afghanistan's Red City was home to 3,000 people until Ghengis Khan destroyed it. In India in 1565, Vijayanagara was probably the second largest city in the world, until it was captured and destroyed by Muslim armies; it has lain abandoned ever since. In Thailand, the old capital of Ayutthaya was captured and destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767 and never rebuilt.
Abandonment has been less common in Europe, partly because there has been less empty ground on which to begin anew, and partly because most European cities were founded on uniquely advantageous river crossings. When it came time to relocate Jülich, for example, no other location proved quite as good.
The strategic position of Ypres, which held back the German Army for four years during the first world war, meant that it was immediately rebuilt despite being 99% in ruins at the end of the war. The repair work was nearing completion when the Wermacht returned in 1940 and took the city with comparatively


Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Solution
Each solution consists of three parts:
-Date: the date of the newspaper appropriate to the crime. For some reason, the game never tells you this!
-Visits: the set of addresses you must visit before you are allowed to appear before the judge. Some addresses can be visited by either Holmes or the Irregulars, in which case they should be visited by the Irregulars for a higher score. Such addresses are listed under 'Irregulars'. Some addresses, on the other hand, must be visited by Holmes in person.
-Answers: the answers to supply to the judge. Only look here if you must!
Volume I
The Mummy's Curse
-Date: 4/12/1889
-Visits, Irregulars: 1.Jardine-Matheson
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Ellis, Henry 2.London University 3.Weatherby, Clarissa
-Answers: 1.who killed Turnbull? Phillip Travis 2.motive? C (Turnbull lambasted Travis) 3.who killed Weatherby? Phillip Travis 4.motive? D (Weatherby was chosen) 5.who killed Windebank? Phillip Travis 6.motive? B (Windebank didn't choose him)
The Mystified Murderess
-Date: 7/4/1888
-Visits, Irregulars: 1.S. Goff
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Clarendon, Guy 2.Halliday's Hotel 3.Old Bailey 4.Shinwell, Porky 5.Trevelyan, Dr. Percy
-Answers: 1.who killed Clarendon? Loretta Nolan 2.motive? C (wanted tiara) 3.why did Frances go to Hallidays? B (hypnotized) 4.who was burglar? Guy Clarendon 5.why? B (father cut him off)
The Tin Soldier
-Date: 6/10/1890
-Visits, Irregulars:
-Visits, Holmes: 1.David Sennett 2.Princess Theater 3.Grand Hotel 4.French Embassy
-Answers: 1.who killed the General? Phillip Arneau 2.motive? B (avenge honor) 3.what was the general trying to say? D (murderer plays Napoleon) 4.what did the general call his wife? C (horseface)
Volume II
The Two Lions
-Date: 8/17/1888 (7/4/1888 also useful)
-Visits, Irregulars:
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Central Carriage Stables 2.Lestrade, Inspector 3.O'Neill, Carroll 4.Shinwell, Porky
-Answers: 1.who killed the lions? Thomas O'Neill 2.motive? C (get Oldenburg jewels) 3.accomplices? Stephen Lyons and Barry O'Neill 4.role of Barry? B (fastened pouches) 5.role of Lyons? A (picked lock) 6.who killed Lyons? Thomas O'Neill B (poison) 8.why? D (avoid payment)
Pilfered Paintings
-Date: 1/1/1891
-Visits, Irregulars:
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Pike, Langdale 2.National Gallery 3.Jardine Matheson (shipping company) 4.Well's Warehouse 5.Murray, H.R. 6.Murray, Mortimer 7.Carlton, The 8.Armitage's Gallery 9.Meek, Sir Jasper
-Answers: 1.who stole the paintings? Cole 2.who put Cole up to it? Brady Norris 3.motive? D (Norris afraid of discovery) 4.who killed Cole? Brady Norris 5.Pierre Donet's involvement? B (forger) 6.Coffman's part? C (drove up the bidding)
The Murdered Munitions Magnate
-Date: unknown! (no newspaper mention)
-Visits, Irregulars:
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Camp, Richard 2.Egan, Captain 3.Grant Arms, both locations 4.Lestrade, Inspector 5.Ragland, Lord Robert 6.Zobar, Emile
-Answers: 1.who killed Allen? Ragland 2.motive? D (Allen had learned of plan) 3.what was SP10? A (new naval gun) 4.what happened at Spaniard's Inn? B (Ragland sold to Meshkof) 5.what was Camp doing? A (visiting fiancee) 6.why was cigarette pinched? C (smoked through holder)
Volume III
The Solicitous Solicitor
-Date: 6/26/1890
-Visits, Irregulars: 1.Bell's Baths 2.Heathcliff, August
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Lestrade 2.Monroe, Virginia 3.Murray 4.Porter, Margaret 5.Tuttle 6.Wallace, Brenda
-Answers: 1.who was murderer? Swarthmore, Henry A (poisoned envelopes) 3.why? C (blackmail) 4.accomplice? Livingstone, Cedric 5.role? C (partner, poison)
The Banker's Debt
-Date: 4/11/1890
-Visits, Irregulars: 1.Brown, Mabel
-Visits, Holmes: 1.British Museum 2.Evenson & Co. 3.Farmer, Dahlia 4.Mason, Oswald 5.Millbank Prison 6.Olive, Violette 7.Small, Aggie 8.Treasury, The
-Answers: 1.who was murderer? Hawke, Errol 2.why? C (surprised Mason) 3.bearing of treasury work? D (none whatsoever) 4.role of Violette Blue? B (fled with Hawke) did Hawk know? A (broke into Evenson)
The Thames Murders
-Date: 6/9/1890
-Visits, Irregulars: 1.Murray
-Visits, Holmes: 1.Bagatelle Club 2.Elephant and Castle 3.Jacquard,Roland 4.Lindsay, Kathleen 5.Shinwell, Porky 6.Tankerville Club
-Answers: 1.killer of Revell? Maude 2.why? B (ordered by Moran) 3.killer of maude? Twiggs 4.why? D (take securities) 5.killer of Attard? Twiggs 6.why? A (self-defense) 7.killer of Twiggs? Jacquard 8.why? B (securities) 9.killer of Jacquard? Marco Escobedo 10.why? D (jealous)


- Thursday, 14 February 2019
Lessons in love from the animal kingdom
sneak peak: heartwarming (and sometimes odd) facts about love in the animal kingdom for Valentine's Day 2019
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I bring you an assortment of love-related facts about animals, gathered from various sources including, but not limited to, my own head, the internet, and my extremely cool ~animal facts~ advent calendar of Christmas 2018.
cat and dog, Lessons in love from the animal kingdom, imogen molly blog, _URL_
Without further ado, prepare the cockles of your heart to be warmed:
Otters hold hands while they sleep. They also have a favourite rock that they carry with them.
Puffins mate for life and create a separate space in their little homes for the loo.
Seahorses date before getting together (and when they do, it's the father that has the babies). They also hold each others tails when they go somewhere together.
Bonobos kiss with tongues.
Cows have best friends.
Rats are ticklish and will laugh when tickled (and apparently it's more cute than weird).
Penguins propose using a pebble.
Baby chicks communicate with their families (each other and their mums) whilst still inside their eggs.
Sheep can have same-sex relationships (and they're the only ones other than humans to do so).
Squirrels adopt abandoned squirrel babies.
Dolphins have names for each other.
Polar bears value politeness, and will grant favours to each other if asked nicely.
Worms communicate with each other by snuggling.
Elephants mourn their dead, even when their dead aren't other elephants. Their friends and family will comfort them through grief too.
Cats only miaow to talk to humans, not to each other. Also when they headbut you, it's their way of saying they feel safe with you.
Dogs (probably) dream about their owners. It's only fair, because goodness knows I dream about them.
 1. Replies
 1. Lesson in love from Lettice: licking people's faces is the only way to show your family you love them; the more enthusiastic, the better.


Protect the Knees by Understanding the Kinetic Chain
Our bodies are one long connected chain with thousands of parts and pieces all moving together to achieve the same goal - successful movement. It is no surprise that within this amazing system, no single part can work alone.
Our knees are one link in this chain and are one of the major weight-bearing joints within the body. So, when looking to protect the knees it's essential to also understand the kinetic chain.
The below provides a high level overview, for more specific ways to ensure knee health: Five tips for taking care of your knees.
Understanding the kinetic chain
The kinetic chain describes how our body's joints, muscles and nerves influence one another when in motion. Each individual chain within the movements also impacts how the body functions.
For example, the lower body chain that enables you to do a squat. This movement involves coordinated flexion (bending) of the ankles, knees, and hips on both legs. If one of these joints is unable to move correctly, then the other joints movements are also compromised.
When there is a lack of mobility, strength, flexibility, or power within a muscle, it causes an imbalanced movement. Imbalances lead to compensation patterns which can progress into long term injuries.
Some of the most common injuries which occur due to an imbalance are damage to the cartilage, ligaments, bone and muscles around the affected joint.
Protect the knees
Within the rehab setting, the kinetic chain plays an important role in recovery and injury prevention. If one part of the chain is strengthened, then the benefits radiate throughout all the other joints.
There are steps which can be taken to strengthen and protect your body prevent a knee injury. These include:
Strength exercises
Imbalances can be corrected by an increased focus on full-body strength training. Increased muscular strength not only relieves pressure from ligaments and joints but can also improve performance.
When supporting the knee, it's important to build strength in the following areas:
 - Ankles, building both strength and stability
 - Glutes and hips
 - Calves and Achilles
Wearing support or a brace
Supports and braces are also beneficial to protect and stabilise the injured or imbalanced area. These improve muscular activation to provide extra stability during rehabilitation and to also avoid re-injury.
Bauerfeind knee brace
Featured above: the GenuTrain
A holistic approach
For coordinated and painless movement, it's important to not only focus on the point of injury. Strategies that incorporate all the links in the chain will have a greater impact on recovery and management and will, in the long run, be more beneficial for your overall health.
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Myanmar: making rule of law a reality
"Everybody talks about the rule of law but they don't talk about how to support the judicial system to provide the rule of law…"
An opinion piece by Sam Zarifi, ICJ's Asia-Pacific Regional Director.
"Everybody talks about the rule of law but they don't talk about how to support the judicial system to provide the rule of law," a senior member of Myanmar's judiciary told the International Commission of Jurists during a meeting in the capital Naypyitaw recently.
Four decades of brutal authoritarian rule systematically weakened the independence and integrity of the legal system. With reforms underway, judges in Myanmar are facing demands to provide justice, accountability, and stability — virtually overnight.
But the Myanmar judiciary simply does not have the resources to meet this demand at present.
As the country prepares for a groundbreaking general election next year, it is important for all political parties and candidates to make clear how they would strengthen the judiciary's ability to carry out its responsibilities.
It is also crucial for the international community to provide all the help it can.
Everyone in the so-called New Myanmar is calling for the rule of law, including President Thein Sein, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi – who is Chair of the Parliamentary Rule of Law and Tranquility Committee — ethnic and religious minority groups, civil society and businesspeople.
But 'rule of law' evidently means different things to different people.
Some in Myanmar seem to equate it with 'greater security.' Others in Myanmar view rule of law as important for different reasons as the country proceeds down the rocky path of reforms: law and order; economic growth and development; fighting corruption; and fostering good governance.
What is clear is that strengthening the rule of law, regardless of why people invoke the concept, requires an independent judiciary. Whether it's for fighting corruption, fostering good governance or attracting foreign investment, Myanmar needs judges and lawyers who are able to operate independently and impartially to provide proper jurisprudence and, importantly, change the public's poor perception of the system.
But a crucial point to remember is that an independent judiciary is not just an instrument for achieving desired social ends. An independent judiciary is the law.
Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal. The United Nations General Assembly has for its part unanimously affirmed that 'human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing'.
International laws and standards also state that governments must prioritize the provision of sufficient resources to ensure the judiciary's ability to provide independent and impartial tribunals.
Myanmar's judiciary desperately needs these resources.
Many courthouses lack the most basic facilities. Some are too small to accommodate public audiences, despite the 2008 Constitution guaranteeing the right to a public trial.
At present, judges in Myanmar do not have full access to the necessary cases, laws and international standards.
Furthermore, they are underpaid and treated as basic civil servants instead of as an independent and equal branch of government.
And those in remote areas still face pressure from the military, government officials and powerful local interests.
In its December report "Right To Counsel: The independence of lawyers in Myanmar", the ICJ found that corruption, which is widespread in almost every sector of the country, also plagues the legal system. Significantly, it also erodes the public's perception of judicial integrity.
Add to this the unprecedented scrutiny and criticism from a newly liberated and emboldened media, and it is easy to understand why Myanmar judges feel that they are being asked to do the impossible.
There is no question—even inside the judiciary—that there is a lot of room for improvement in the recruitment, training, conduct and integrity of the system. To its credit, the Myanmar judiciary is now trying to adapt to its new environment and the increasing demands placed upon it.
But improving the independence of the judiciary and bolstering the rule of law requires a systematic and concerted effort from the entire government and in particular from the powerful Executive and Legislature branches of the administration.
The Executive and Legislature must assist the Judiciary to become a proper, equal branch of government, able to regulate its own affairs and be accountable for satisfying the public's demands.
Amidst competing clamor for attention, it is crucial for the Myanmar government, and the many international supporters eager now to assist, to ensure that the Judiciary is granted the independence and resources necessary to improve the rule of law in Myanmar.
The task is daunting, the challenges enormous. But this is the only way to strengthen 'rule of law' in the evolving 'New Myanmar' and improve the dire human rights situation for everyone living in the country.
Burmese language Version can be downloaded in PDF format here.


jQuery Tests
These jQuery tests/quizes will help you to check how much you know, or don't know, about jQuery to prepare for the interviews. You may also go through jQuery tutorials before giving tests.
Each test contains MCQs, and you will get 1 point for each correct answer. There is no time limit for the tests.
jQuery selectors, methods, animation, DOM traversing, events, ajax, etc.
No of Questions: 20
Level: Easy
Start jQuery Test


expand {1,3,4,8} to get {1,3,4}, at the same distance as {1,3,4,8}, and {8}, the distance of which is shown by the diagonal red line. Current queue in order: {1,3,4}, {8}, 5, {2}, {6,7}, 9 We extract and expand {1,3,4}, which is a leaf region, and add the three points. Point 4 is closest, point 3 lies between {6,7} and 9 in distance, and point 1 is slightly closer than point 9. Current queue in order: 4, {8}, 5, {2}, {6,7}, 3, 1, 9 We extract and output point 4, the closest point. We expand region {8} and add point 8, which is slightly farther than point 3. Current queue in order: 5, {2}, {6,7}, 3, 8, 1, 9 We extract and output point 5. We expand region {2} and add point 2, which is slightly closer than point 8. Current queue in order: {6,7}, 3, 2, 8, 1, 9 We extract and expand region {6,7}, adding points 6 and 7. Point 6 is farthest yet and point 7 even farther. Current queue in order: 3, 2, 8, 1, 9, 6, 7 We've now expanded all regions and the remaining points in the queue are the remaining points not yet outputted in order. The nice thing about this particular algorithm is that it's fully incremental: we could have stopped at any time once we had enough points, and pick up later when we want more. This makes it quite appealing in database queries, where you don't really know how many points you need in advance, because you might want to filter the results according to additional attributes. In practice, in a typical spatial database, one only needs to expand a small fraction of the regions in order to find a small number of closest points. The idea can be extended into higher-dimensional regions, spatial objects other than points such as areas and line segments, and even more general problems where one can easily compute the minimum key of a subtree of objects. I hope you found this informative and I appreciate your comments.MSDNArchive list processing in C# 2.0 with anonymous delegatesOne of the benefits of functional languages is their great flexibility in list manipulation, which enables them to express certain computations concisely that would require one or more verbose loops in procedural languages. Many of the features that functional programmers take for granted such as first class functions, persistent data structures, and garbage collection were included in Lisp partly for the purpose of convenient list processing (Lisp stands for "LISt Processing"). Although C# is not a functional language, in C# 2.0 and the accompanying.NET Framework 2.0, a number of constructs and library calls have been added that allow generic List objects to be manipulated in a more functional way. The most important of these is anonymous delegates, which are the same construct that functional programmers call closures. We start out with the following method, which removes all elements from a list that match a given condition, passed in as a delegate: delegate bool Predicate<T>(T arg); static void RemoveAll<T>(List<T> list, Predicate<T> condition) { int i=0; while (i < list.Count) { if (condition(list[i])) list.RemoveAt(i); else i++; } } The use of the word "predicate" here comes from the mathematical predicate, which is just a function that yields a boolean true/false value. Now say we have a list of integers, and we want to remove all the multiples of x, where x is a given number. In C# 1.0, using RemoveAll for this is so no easy task, requiring a temporary object: class RemoveMultiplesOfHelper { private int x; public RemoveMultiplesOfHelper(int x) { this.x = x; } public bool IsMultiple(int n) { return (n % x) == 0; } } static void RemoveMultiplesOf(List<int> list, int x) { RemoveAll<int>(list, new RemoveMultiplesOfHelper(x).IsMultiple); } The advantages of reusing RemoveAll are important: it's tricky to iterate through a list while removing elements from it, and programmers often introduce subtle bugs while attempting to do so. But this code has serious problems too: it's a hassle to write, it's verbose, the "temporary" class isn't very reusable and is difficult to name, and the code is spread all over the place, making the flow of execution difficult to follow. Because of these issues, many procedural programmers opt to reinvent the wheel instead. Anonymous delegates solve all these problems. An anonymous delegate allows you to write code right in the middle of a method which has access to all the local variables in that method, and then package it up and pass it to another method to execute later. Here's our example using anonymous delegates: static void RemoveMultiplesOf(List<int> list, int x) { RemoveAll<int>(list, delegate(int y) { return (y % x) == 0; }); } In this much briefer implementation, the delegate "captures" the local value of x at the instant of its creation, then later RemoveAll uses it in computations. Another handy trick you can do with anonymous delegates is take a method signature that doesn't quite fit an existing delegate and translate it into one that does. For example, suppose you're sorting a List using the overload of the Sort method that takes a System.Comparison delegate. Now say you're sorting a list of strings, and you have a string comparison method that takes a boolean determining whether the comparison is case-sensitive: delegate int Comparison<T>(T left, T right); void Sort<T>(Comparison<T> comparison); int StringCompare(string left, string right, bool caseSensitive); At first you appear to be in quite a pickle, as the signature of the StringCompare method does not exactly match the delegate signature Comparison<string>. Anonymous delegates make it easy to overcome this problem: static void SortStrings(List<string> a, bool caseSensitive) { a.Sort(delegate(string left, string right) { return StringCompare(left, right, caseSensitive); }); } We simultaneously match the desired delegate signature and push the decision of whether to sort case-sensitively or not to the caller, where it belongs, all with very little new code. The advantages of anonymous delegates make functions like our Sort and RemoveAll considerably more useful. Consequently, a number of such functions were included with the generic List class in.NET 2.0: RemoveAll(Predicate<T>): Like our RemoveAll implementation above, removes all elements from a list matching a predicate. Sort(Comparison<T>): Mentioned above, this is a Sort method that takes a delegate. Sorting with anonymous delegates is very handy for unusual sorting orders; for example, the following sorts a list of integers in reverse order: list.Sort(delegate(int x, int y) { return y.CompareTo(x); }); Find(Predicate<T>): Finds the first element in a list satisfying a predicate. Handy for replacing linear searches. For example, this single line of code identifies the first file in the current directory modified in the last hour, or yields null if none: new List<string>(Directory.GetFiles(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory())).Find( delegate(string path) { return File.GetLastWriteTime(path) >= DateTime.Now - new TimeSpan(1, 0, 0); }); Exists(Predicate<T>): Determines whether a list contains an element satisfying a predicate. Besides its added readability in situations where you only care about the existence