Perfecting the Vehicle Presentation
Written by Darin George. Posted in Sales Training
businesswoman presenting a car
The saying "Presentation is Everything" must have started in the restaurant industry. Good food is important, but how it's presented distinguishes a great dining experience from being just another meal.
The presenters at the major auto shows are well rehearsed and trained so they can deliver top-notch product presentations to the crowds. Manufacturers want and need these presentations to be outstanding. If you take the same approach at your dealership, you will see a consistent increase in demonstration drives, sales, and overall gross profit.
After or during your contact questions and when you have chosen a vehicle to present, where do you start your vehicle presentation?
A vehicle presentation should always start at the front of the vehicle, because your end result has to be the customer sitting in the driver's seat. I've heard others say suggest starting at the point of interest to the customer. This is OK, but remember you are giving the customer control of your presentation. The bottom line is you have to get the customer into the driver's seat.
Determining what type of customer you have will affect the time you spend with them. Visual person = less time; Auditory person = more time; Kinesthetic person = both, depending on your initial rapport established.
The average presentation should be 10 minutes. Your product knowledge is critical during your walk around. Professionals know every detail of their product and the competition's.
No one is perfect, but your credibility is at risk if the customer asks a question you can't answer. Be sure to acknowledge when the customer raises a point you are not familiar with. Say something like, "This is an excellent question and would it be OK if I find out the correct answer for you a bit later?"
It is important not to avoid the question; write it down and answer it later.
Do not interrupt the flow of your presentation to look for the answer unless it is of critical concern that influences the selection.
Six Position Vehicle Walk Around
1. Explain the front of vehicle, styling and aerodynamics of the vehicle.
2. Explain everything about the engine.
3. Explain the passenger side of the vehicle and open doors.
4. Explain the trunk and rear of the vehicle.
5. Open driver's side door and go over the interior features.
6. Seat the customer in driver's seat and explain gauges etc.
what to point out when selling a car
When you can, you should always show a vehicle feature and explain any benefits that are related to it.
At the end of the walk around, with the customer sitting in the driver's seat say to them: "Let me show you the vehicle properly. I'll be right back."
Do not hesitate; just go and get a dealer plate and come back to the vehicle and put it on the car. When you are back to the vehicle ask/tell the customer: "Mr. Customer, for safety reasons could you please sit in the passenger seat while I drive the vehicle out of the dealership?
Never ask the customer if they would like to go on a test drive, because if you do; statistics show you have a 50/50 chance of actual going on the test drive. If you just assume the demo drive your chances climb to a 70/30 that you will be going on the demonstration drive. More demonstration drives, always results in more sales.
It's all about presentation. Your goal of a vehicle presentation is to get the customer to the next step, the demo drive. The proper amount of professional quality time spent during your vehicle presentation, combined with your contact question and a demo drive, will separate the great sales people from the average.
Darin George is the founder of the Automotive Sales College. For information on recruiting new sales staff and in dealership sales training, contact Darin by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ASC company websites: and


text: Nicotine salt is the natural form of nicotine found in tobacco leaves. Nicotine derived from tobacco leaves is slightly acidic with a pH of approximately 5. However, the most commonly used form of nicotine in e-liquids is called freebase nicotine. Freebase nicotine is slightly basic with a pH of approximately 8. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 where lower pH values indicate a more acidic substance, while higher pH values indicate a more basic substance. The chemical process for making the nicotine derived from tobacco leaves more basic is called de-protonation. This is the process that turns a natural nicotine extract into a freebase nicotine extract.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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This study evaluates initial construction costs of a four-story building in the Portland area. It compares construction cost estimates of six different structural systems all with brick veneer as the exterior cladding. Click here to view the full study.
Based on the construction cost estimates prepared for this study, the cost associated with using a noncombustible compartmentalized construction method including concrete-based construction materials was very favorable with both conventional wood frame and light gage steel frame construction costs. The load-bearing masonry system was only 3 percent more than the cost of conventional wood frame and 3 percent less than steel frame construction.
The minimal increase in construction cost can help pay for itself over the life of the structure. Materials such as concrete masonry have many other advantages beyond their inherent fire resistance including durability, resistance to mold growth, resistance to damage from vandalism, structural integrity, and minimal damage caused by water and water pressure in the event of building fire. In many cases, with concrete-based construction that will never burn, the damage outside of the fire compartment is minimal. This provides for reduced cleanup costs and quicker reoccupation of the structure.
This study determined that truly resilient buildings can be constructed affordably. We can keep the residents in our communities safe by using the principles of balanced design. We recommend that a similar study be undertaken to evaluate the use of similar construction systems and their associated construction cost impact on other typical building types such as schools, retail establishments, and commercial buildings.


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In Sec. 2.4, curl A was identified as that vector function which had an integral over a surface S that could be reduced to an integral on A over the enclosing contour C. This was done by applying (2.4.1) to an incremental surface. But does this relation hold for S and C of finite size and arbitrary shape?
The generalization to an arbitrary surface begins by subdividing S into differential area elements, each enclosed by a contour C. As shown in Fig. 2.5.1, each differential contour coincides in direction with the positive sense of the original contour. We shall now prove that
where the sum is over all contours bounding the surface elements into which the surface S has been subdivided.
Figure 2.5.1. Arbitrary surface enclosed by contour C is subdivided into incremental elements, each enclosed by a contour having the same sense as C.
Because the segments are followed in opposite senses when evaluated for the adjacent area elements, line integrals along those segments of the contours which separate two adjacent surface elements add to zero in the sum of (1). Only those line integrals remain which pertain to the segments coinciding with the original contour. Hence, (1) is demonstrated.
Next, (1) is written in the slightly different form.
We can now appeal to the definition of the component of the curl in the direction of the normal to the surface element, (2.4.2), and replace the summation by an integration.
Another way of writing this expression is to take advantage of the vector character of the curl and the definition of a vector area element, da = n da :
This is Stokes' integral theorem. If a vector function can be written as the curl of a vector A, then the integral of that function over a surface S can be reduced to an integral of A on the enclosing contour C.


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MOBA Game UI design
- 2 hours on-demand video
- 5 downloadable resources
- Full lifetime access
- Access on mobile and TV
- Certificate of Completion
Get your team access to 4,000+ top Udemy courses anytime, anywhere.Try Udemy for Business
- Design a MOBA UI inside Photoshop
- Understand using tools and layers inside photoshop
- Photoshop Layer Styles
- How to design a clean user interface
- A basic understanding of photoshop and its tools
- An appreciation of Moba genre Games
- Simple Gaming Knowledge
This course covers the basics of designing a game user interface or concept inside Photoshop. It details the tools used and also the use of layer styles to create your concept/design.
This course will help you learn the uses of certain Photoshop tools, shortcuts and layer styles at a beginner level and hopefully help you to advance your skills within this area and grow your understanding of a very powerful peice of software with a variety of uses.
This course includes the design psd as well as free resources and textures that were used in the creation of the design.
- Suited for Indie Game developers
- Esports Graphic Designers


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Are you considering a career as a medical assistant? One of the key factors to consider when pursuing this path is the salary. Understanding the average hourly wage for medical assistants is crucial in making informed decisions about your future. In this article, we will delve into the factors that influence medical assistant salaries and provide you with valuable insights. So, let's explore the question on everyone's mind: how much does a medical assistant make an hour?
Understanding the Role of a Medical Assistant
Before we dive into the salary details, let's first understand the role of a medical assistant. Medical assistants play a vital role in healthcare settings, providing vital support to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They perform both administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and managing patient records, and clinical duties, including taking vital signs and preparing patients for examinations. Their versatility and ability to handle various responsibilities make them essential members of any healthcare team.
Factors Influencing Medical Assistant Salaries
Several factors come into play when determining the salary of a medical assistant. Let's explore some of the key influencers:
Education and Certification Requirements
Education and certification play a significant role in determining a medical assistant's salary. While some medical assistants enter the field with just a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training, others pursue formal education programs. Completing a medical assisting program and obtaining certification through organizations like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) can lead to higher earning potential.
Experience and Expertise Levels
As with any profession, experience and expertise levels have a direct impact on salary. Medical assistants with several years of experience and specialized skills tend to earn more than entry-level counterparts. Continuously expanding your knowledge, staying up-to-date with the latest medical advancements, and pursuing additional certifications can help you advance in your career and command a higher salary.
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary discrepancies for medical assistants. Wages can vary significantly from state to state or even within different regions of the same state. Urban areas generally offer higher salaries due to higher living costs and demand for healthcare services. Researching the salary trends in your desired location will give you a better understanding of the earning potential in that area.
Type of Healthcare Facility or Setting
The type of healthcare facility or setting you work in can also impact your salary. Medical assistants employed in hospitals or specialized medical centers may earn higher wages compared to those working in small clinics or private practices. The complexity of the medical procedures performed, the patient volume, and the level of specialization required all contribute to salary variations.
Average Hourly Wage for Medical Assistants
Now that we have explored the factors influencing medical assistant salaries, let's delve into the average hourly wage you can expect in this profession.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average hourly wage for medical assistants is $17.08 as of May 2020[^1^]. However, it's essential to note that this is just an average, and wages can vary significantly depending on the factors mentioned above.
To provide a better understanding, let's compare the hourly wages across different states. As of May 2020, medical assistants in states like Alaska, Washington, and the District of Columbia reported some of the highest average hourly wages, ranging from $20.75 to $23.08[^1^]. On the other hand, states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama had lower average hourly wages, ranging from $12.73 to $14.94[^1^]. These variations highlight the impact of geographic location on medical assistant salaries.
It's important to remember that these figures are subject to change over time as the healthcare industry evolves. Keeping track of the latest salary trends in your area will help you make informed decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Assistant Salaries
To address some common queries regarding medical assistant salaries, let's dive into a few frequently asked questions:
How much does a certified medical assistant make an hour?
Certification as a medical assistant can positively impact your earning potential. On average, certified medical assistants tend to earn slightly higher hourly wages compared to their non-certified counterparts. However, the actual salary will still depend on other factors such as experience, location, and the type of healthcare facility.
What is the starting hourly wage for medical assistants?
Starting wages for medical assistants can vary depending on the factors discussed earlier. On average, entry-level medical assistants can expect to earn around $13 to $15 per hour. However, gaining experience and additional certifications can lead to higher wages as you progress in your career.
Do medical assistants receive benefits?
Many medical assistants receive benefits as part of their employment package. These benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other perks. The specific benefits offered will vary depending on the employer, so it's important to consider this aspect when evaluating job opportunities.
Can medical assistants earn more through overtime?
Medical assistants may have the opportunity to earn more through overtime hours. Overtime pay is usually calculated at a rate of 1.5 times the regular hourly wage. However, the availability of overtime hours will depend on the healthcare facility's policies and workload.
In conclusion, understanding how much a medical assistant makes an hour is crucial when considering a career in this field. While the national average hourly wage provides a general idea, it's important to consider the various factors that influence salaries, such as education, experience, location, and the type of healthcare facility. By staying informed and gaining relevant certifications and experience, you can increase your earning potential as a medical assistant. So, if you're passionate about healthcare and helping others, pursuing a career as a medical assistant might be a rewarding choice for you!
[^1^]: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2020. BLS website


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Updated February 24, 2016 at 10:40 pm: A map showing the various options for a Pape-Queen routing to downtown has been added at the end of this article.
The City of Toronto Planning Division has released the detailed technical scoring for evaluation of six possible routes for a Relief Line linking the core area to the Danforth subway.
The possible routes that survived a preliminary cull were:
- A: Broadview to Queen crossing the Don River at Queen
- B1: Pape to Queen crossing the Don River at Queen
- B2: Pape to Queen, dodging south to serve the Unilever site before crossing the Don and swinging back to Queen Street
- C: Broadview to King crossing the Don River at Queen
- D1: Pape to King crossing the Don River at Queen
- D2: Pape to King crossing the Don River at the Unilever site
Of these, the two Broadview options don't fare very well, and the real debate is between the four remaining Pape options.
The scoring extends through many categories and pages, but to simplify things and understand just how each factor was ranked, I have consolidated the scores into a spreadsheet. (For the detailed evaluation, refer to the scoring document linked above.)
In place of the scoring system used in the city summary, I have converted each of the symbols to a numeric value:
- Full moon = 4 points
- 3/4 moon = 3 points
- Half moon = 2 points
- 1/4 moon = 1 point
- New moon = 0 points
Within each major grouping of scores, the values were totalled and then normalized to the range of zero to one. For example, if a group contained 4 topics, then the maximum possible score is 16, and each alignment's score is divided 16 to get a normalized value. This allows the scores from each group to be compared with each other.
At the end, the scores can either be summer individually (each topic counts equally), or the group averages can be totalled (each group count equally regardless of how many topics it contains) and normalized.
On a grand total basis, both the city's technical evaluation and public feedback came to the same conclusion: even though there are variations between the four alignments, they all average out to a 3/4 score.
The point scores also come out close to the same with higher values on one item balancing lower values on others for, overall, an even ranking.
Quite simply, all other things being equal, the four alignments are more or less equivalent using this scoring system. However, the City opted for alignment B1 because, among other things, is is claimed to be cheaper and simpler to build.
The costs estimates in the City's evaluation [at p.19] are:
- $3.7-billion for either of the Pape via Queen options regardless of whether they follow Queen or King to the core
- $4.0-billion for the Pape-Unilever-King option
- $4.1-billion for the Pape-Unilever-Queen option
The ridership estimates are generally higher for the via King options, and higher still for the routes serving the Unilever site. In all cases, off-peak riding tends to be low compared to the rest of the network with roughly 2/3 of all boardings on the Relief Line being during the AM or PM peak. The effect is even more striking for configuration where frequent SmartTrack service at 12 trains/hour competes with the Relief Line for customers. This demonstrates the problem of a line aimed at primarily peak period "relief". As and when we see projections for longer versions of the RL (to Eglinton or Sheppard), the balance of off-peak travel may change because the route will serve new subway territory, not simply provide an alternate route for existing trips.
Despite the even scoring overall, the preferred corridor was selected based on giving some criteria additional weight as shown in the table below.
This evaluation, like so much other recent work, depends very much on the presumed presence of frequent SmartTrack service in the rail corridor. If that is found to be impractical, then the relative importance of the RL changes along with its appropriate alignment to serve the core. This is particularly critical at the Unilever site which would have only SmartTrack serving it if the RL stays on Queen Street.
One point above misrepresents the technical evaluation: both of the Queen Street crossing routes have the same cost estimate regardless of which route they take to the core area (Queen or King) and they share the same river crossing characteristics.
In summary, the choice "makes sense" in the limited context that a frequent SmartTrack service will actually be feasible and will be built. If SmartTrack cannot be provided on a five minute headway with a low fare, then the entire planning process will require a major rethink.
Updated February 24, 2016: The following map shows possible alignments for a route from Pape & Danforth to the core area. Notes on the map talk of a track connection at Danforth to provide access to Greenwood Yard. The technical scoring paper also mentions a southerly route under the rail corridor from Gerrard & Pape eastward. While this is longer, it would avoid the complexity of adding linking curves at Danforth.


Zoom Scavenger Hunt
Today's Contributors: Lauren De Amezaga & Deirdre Nic Ruairí from Zilker ES
We felt that our Zooms weren't exactly mirroring the fun that we had together in the classroom. While we appreciated shares and time to catch up, we were utilizing FlipGrids for students to share their voice every day. We wanted to spice things up a bit and have students be active around their houses while having fun. Together, we created a list of items students could go on a scavenger hunt for around the house. We came up with 5 items for students to find around their home around the topic of Earth Day. We utilized classroomscreen.com for our timer. We set the sound on the timer and played it for students to know that if they heard the sound, they should come back because time was up! We also shared our screen with students after each clue so they could see the amount of time they had left for each item. Teachers chose a few students to share the items they found after each round of a scavenger hunt.
Also, 'Scientific Sally' came in a bucket hat, glasses, and handkerchief to make it more engaging and fun for the kiddos!
One student remarked, "It was so fun! We got to do something new and fun all together."
This comment, coupled with students' smiles and laughs, are how we know it was a huge success and something we will definitely do again!
Here are the clues we used:
1. Something blue like the ocean
2. Something that has the letter E like earth
3. Something that has ink like a squid
4. Something that makes you think of nature
5. Something that smells good (like outside/ a flower)
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itself. (These are equivalent when they are both defined.)
(I still feel like it ought to be possible to make the connection crisper.)
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I'm afraid I know nothing about $B_3$ but here is my favourite construction of $\widetilde{\mathrm{SL}}_2(\mathbb{R})$.
The elements of $\widetilde{\mathrm{SL}}_2(\mathbb{R})$ are pairs $(A,f)$ where $$A=\left(\begin{array}{cc} a&b\\\ c&d \end{array}\right)\in\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R})$$ and $f$ is a branch of $\log(cz+d)$ for $z$ in the upper half plane. We compose these as follows: $(A,f)(B,g)=(AB,h)$ where $$h(z)=f(Bz)+g(z)$$ and of course $Bz$ denotes the usual linear fractional transformation action of $B$ on $z$ in the upper half-plane.
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This is only a partial answer to your question, concerning how to visualise the universal cover of $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$.
A nice picture of this group (together with a proof that it is not a matrix group) is given in Graeme Segal's lectures in the book Lectures on Lie groups and Lie algebras. Alas, the Google Books preview does not cover Segal's lectures and I don't have the book here with me in order to scan the nice picture he draws.
The bi-invariant metric on $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ is lorentzian and has constant negative sectional curvature. Its universal cover is the lorentzian analogue of hyperbolic space and in the Physics literature it goes by the name of (three-dimensional) anti de Sitter spacetime $\mathrm{AdS}_3$ and has been studied a lot.
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Your Answer


Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Tamarack trees in the fall, photo by Linda Baird White, American Conifer Society
Tamarack tree needles
#5 gallon pot purchase size: 2'-3' tall
Mature height: 40'-50'
Mature width: 15'-30'
Tamarack is a native tree to Minnesota and is unique because it is a deciduous conifer. This tree has horizontal to drooping branches and is pyramidal in form. The needles are a bluish-green before turning a brilliant yellow in the fall and then dropping. It is a low maintenance tree and does best with little to no pruning. This tree is often planted in groups. Tamarack will grow in average to wet conditions and prefers acidic soil. Full sun to part shade.


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Entrenchment as onomasiological salience
Dirk Geeraerts, KU Leuven
The notion of onomasiological salience specifies entrenchment as the relative frequency of competing expressions. This talks argues that such an onomasiological definition of entrenchment is necessary to avoid some of the problems inherent in Langacker's initial definition of entrenchment ( 1987: 59-60 ). The talk introduces the main types of onomasiological salience: formal, conceptual, and typological. It offers an overview of the (predominantly lexical) research in these three areas, and explores how an onomasiological perspective contributes to the study of entrenchment at large.


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Saqqara Geophysical Survey Project (SGSP)Supported by: Glasgow Museums
Directors: Dr. Campbell Price and Dr. Angela McDonald.
Area: the whole plateau of Saqqara
Click here to visit the website of this project.
The Scottish expedition, then directed by Ian Mathieson and Harry Smith, started in 1990 with a remote sensing programme of the Saqqara plateau. This employs techniques such as electricity resistivity-meter survey, magnometry, ground-penetrating radar, and sonic and thermal reflection, in combination with global positioning satellite equipment (GPS). The team has already mapped the whole of the area to the north and east of the Step Pyramid, plus the full length of the Wadi Abusir (stretching from the former lake of Abusir south to the Gisr el-Mudir). These geophysical maps show numerous hitherto unknown structures, as well as others which were seen during the 19th or early 20th centuries but have again disappeared under drift sand again. Among the latter is the avenue of sphinxes originally leading up to the entrance of the Serapeum. The former include several rows of Late Period temple platforms lining the Serapeum enclosure to the west of the Step Pyramid. Some of these were also excavated by the expedition, and limited sondages at the Gisr el-Mudir have been the first to show the impressive construction of its limestone perimeter walls. Among the most recent discoveries is a large mastaba suspected to date to Dynasty 3: could this be the long-lost tomb of the legendary Imhotep, architect of the Step Pyramid? The project continues on a yearly basis and is supposed to move gradually to the area south of the Step Pyramid, where it would cover the area of the Dutch concession.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


By default, text in the Microsoft Dynamics AX application is the language that is used for the Microsoft Dynamics AX administrator account. The following procedure describes how to change a user's default language.
Note Note
Each language for Microsoft Dynamics AX requires a license. To learn how to acquire additional language licenses, contact your Microsoft partner.
To set a user's default language
 1. Click > Common Forms>.
 The form opens.
 2. Select the user you want to set the default language for, and then click.
 The form opens.
 3. On the tab, select the desired language from the list.
 4. Press CTRL + S to save changes.
 5. Inform users that they must close and reopen Microsoft Dynamics AX for the language changes to take effect.
 6. Repeat Steps 2 through 5 as needed for other users.
Note Note
Setting the language using a command-line parameter overrides the language setting in the user interface.
See Also


Hairy Ladies investigates the symbolism associated with hair. Long hair is often associated with good health, wealth, vanity, power and femininity as in fairy tales like Rapunzel and myths such as the story of Samson and Delilah. These tales use hair as a symbol for feminine power. Other cultures such as the Native American Navajo believe that hair holds memory. In a more scientific manner, scientists can analyze the DNA found in hair for very specific information about the person it belongs to. This fact confirms that hair literally holds a personal history. I am also interested in the history and contemporary practices of grooming surrounding hair. Women shave large parts of their naturally haired bodies. We cut, color, style and braid our hair in order to appear kempt and presentable. Many people shave their heads and let facial hair grow to assert ownership of the self and refusal to conform to prescribed gender stereotypes. As a society we are obsessed with using our appearance to conform or challenge our own identities. Hair is an element of the human body that links us closely to animals. Over grown hair evokes a sense of the animal nature within the human. The hair on these sculptures seems to have grown so long that the figures look like an evolved or different species of human.
Click here to be directed to an interview I did with Infringe magazine about this series.


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This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the community in Minnesota, see Rollag, Minnesota
Rollag is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Numedal. The municipality of Rollag was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Nore og Uvdal was separated from Rollag in 1858.
The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rollag, although the most populated area in the municipality is Veggli. Rollag is bordered in the north by Nore og Uvdal, in the east by Sigdal, in the south by Flesberg, and in the west by Tinn (Telemark county).
General information
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Rollag farm (Old Norse: Roll(u)lag), since the first church was built here. The first element is probably (the genitive case of) a river name Rolla (now called the Troelva river) and the last element is lag which means "fishing place". The meaning of the river name is unknown (maybe "the shivering").
The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted in 1993. The arms show two gold-colored lines on a red background. The lines represent an old warning cairn made of timber.
The municipality lies in the heart of the Numedal traditional region and valley, the westernmost valley in southeastern Norway. The river Numedalslågen flows through Rollag and into the Ytre Oslofjord at Larvik.
In the northwest of the Rollag lie the Vegglifjell mountains, which are an entryway into the Hardangervidda. The municipality's highest point is Storegrønut at 1,289 metres (4,229 ft) located in the Vegglifjell mountains.
Rollag stave church
- The Rollag stave church (built around _PHONE_) is located a few kilometres north of the centre of Rollag. It was extended and windows were added in 1652. A new Apse was added in 1666. The transept was constructed in _PHONE_. A gallery was added in 1702. The sacristy was built in 1739. A Baroque pulpit was added in 1763.
Sister cities
The following cities are twinned with Rollag:
External links


Arran Trail Map Thumbnail
06. Brodick Castle
06. Brodick Castle
06. Brodick Castle
Artists who worked here:
6. Brodick Castle / Caisteal Bhreadhaig
Listen to Gaelic translation
06. Brodick Castle
Brodick Castle, a former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, has a long history which stretches back to the 5th century.
Sitting in extensive gardens, The distinctive castle we see today is largely the work of architect James Gillespie Graham (_PHONE_) who extensively remodelled the building in the Scottish Baronial style in 1844 for the 11th Duke William Hamilton (_PHONE_) and his new wife Princess Marie Amelie of Baden (_PHONE_).
The story of the 11th Duke, his wife, and the artist George Hering are forever intertwined, and in our placemarker we celebrate the contribution of the Hering family to the Isle of Arran.
Featured Artist
Hering, George Edwards
Born in London, George Edwards Hering (1805 - 1879) was an English artist primarily known for his landscape paintings. The son of a German craftsman, Hering trained at the Munich Art School, later embarking on a 'Grand Tour' through Italy, Greece, Transylvania and Romania.
On his return to London in 1838 he would publish a selection of sketches made on this trip. It was however the Italian landscape which would become the main focus on his work. A regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, one painting, Amalfi, was acquired by Prince Albert in 1841.
A regular visitor to Arran, Ormidale house was built as a summer house for the now wealthy artist and his wife. In 1846, having lost their first only child at the age of six, the Herings were persuaded to adopt a daughter, Marion, the illegitimate child of the Duke of Hamilton and a local girl.
Hering would go on to paint a series of important landscapes of the island, with his 'View of Brodick Bay'(1857) now hanging in the castle, and his romantic depiction of Machrie Moor'Druidical monuments at dawn in the Isle of Arran' of 1871 is currently on view at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. He would die in London in 1879, and is buried at Highgate cemetery.
His daughter Marion, who having moved to London from Arran at age 4, would sometimes use the name Jeanie Hering in honour of her adoptive father. She would go on to become a sucessful author of children's books and plays under this pseudonym, some of which were later performed at the Strand.
Marion would later marry the celebrated sculptor John Adams-Acton, and both would encourage artists such as Sir Noel Paton, poets such as Robert Browning, and writers such as Lewis Carroll to visit their summer home on the Arran, making it a fashionable destination for middle class audiences.


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» Opportunities for rerouting commuter rail via the Grand Junction in Cambridge are criticized by community members who fear increases in pollution. Meanwhile, the long-planned Green Line extension in Somerville is threatened by budget limitations.
Just northwest of Boston, Cambridge and Somerville are some of the nation's exemplar cities when it comes to promoting transportation alternatives. In Somerville, 48% of the population rides transit, walks, or bikes to work; in Cambridge, 57% do. The explanation likely comes down to a strong commitment to livable streets in both cities, a large student population, high residential densities, community activism against limited-access highways, and big concentrations of jobs both in the traditional office center of Downtown Boston but also in the walkable Kendall Square-MIT and Harvard Square areas, both along the Red Line rapid transit corridor.
Yet, with the exception of the Red Line — extended north of Harvard Square in the early 1980s — reliable transit access in the two cities is limited. Buses crisscross the area, but they are stuck in traffic at all periods of the day due to the lack of reserved lanes. Commuter rail lines that extend through the area only stop once, at the Porter Square Red Line station. These limitations have strained the Red Line, which now suffers from overcrowding at peak hours, and limited the potential for growth. In addition, partially because of the penury of transit stations around which to build up, the Boston region is one of the nation's most expensive housing markets.
For years, plans for transit access improvements, clearly merited considering the area's demographics and potential, have been under development by the Boston-area transit agency, MBTA. A circumferential bus rapid transit line, the Urban Ring, would have allowed commuters from Cambridge and Somerville to get to Boston's jobs-heavy Longwood Medical Area or Logan Airport without passing through congested downtown — but it was put on indefinite hold last year due to a funding shortfall. Now, an extension of the Green Line light rail line into Somerville is threatened by similar concerns. And the reactivation of the Grand Junction commuter rail corridor through Cambridge has been put off by community resistance.
The Green Line extension is one of the most promising transit projects in the country. It is expected to carry about 45,000 daily riders along its four-mile, two-pronged route, with termini in Somerville's active Union Square neighborhood and Tufts University, just across the Somerville city line in Medford (see map below of the green dotted line), following two existing commuter rail corridors in a fully separated right-of-way. The state has previously said it plans to begin construction at the end of next year, with the opening of the first stations planned for 2016. The program is expensive — about $1 billion for its completion.
The Grand Junction, meanwhile, is a lightly used railroad that runs from Boston University, across the Charles River, through Cambridge, to the existing commuter rail corridors in East Cambridge; it is the only link between the commuter rail corridors emanating from Boston's North and South Stations, which are on opposite sides of downtown. The Grand Junction, purchased from CSX in 2010, runs through the Cambridgeport, Kendall Square, and Area IV neighborhoods of Cambridge and past MIT, as seen below dotted in purple. The plan developed by MassDOT — abandoned for now — would have routed some commuter trains from Worcester to North Station along this route in order to provide better access to Kendall and decrease congestion at South Station, which is expected to see increasing use due to higher ridership on the commuter rail network and plans for expanded Amtrak Northeast Corridor operations, which end there.
Neighbors of the Grand Junction have opposed the commuter rail rerouting project from the beginning, suggesting that it would increase air pollution due to diesel emissions from the heavy, long, unelectrified trains. State Representative Tim Toomey, in concert with many of his neighbors, hailed MassDOT's announcement last week that it would cancel the program.
The state's own studies suggested that the new train services, including a $30 million upgrade at Kendall Square, would do little to improve ridership; only about 300 new riders would be expected to use them. And the line's six street grade crossings would have posed a significant problem, especially at Massachusetts Avenue, along which a huge percentage of the automobile traffic between Boston and Cambridge travels. And yet the Urban Ring, which would have partially run along the same corridor, was expected to attract 184,000 daily riders, many of them in Cambridge. What gives?
Fundamentally, the problem with the current commuter rail plans for the Grand Junction was that they would have provided infrequent, limited-stop service in an area of the region that demands frequent operations with many stops. Connecting Boston University with MIT and North Station without running through downtown remains a good idea. And neighborhood groups might get on board if the plan is adapted to include stops in Cambridgeport and Area IV, two neighborhoods with only minimal connections to the existing network. This project deserves to be resurrected using low pollution diesel multiple unit trains, electric light rail vehicle, or BRT on its ridership merits alone. Fortunately, MassDOT left the project's development open as a future possibility.
Community opposition, on the other hand, is certainly not a problem for the Green Line extension, which has nearly universal support from Somerville residents and politicians, who are excited about the opportunity for better and faster connections throughout the city and into downtown. But funding this huge infrastructure program is the bigger concern. Following a lawsuit over the Big Dig project (which interred a highway through central Boston), the state agreed as a form of air pollution mitigation to fund a number of major transit projects, including the Green Line extension. But the costs of the project were forced on the already debt-ridden MBTA; no alternative funding plan has yet been developed.
Though the state is required by legal settlement to improve transit into Somerville, the fate of the Green Line remains up in the air; earlier this year, there were rumors that its completion might be delayed until 2018 or later. U.S. Representative Michael Capuano of Somerville sounded the alarm last week, suggesting that the state should limit its ambitions to reflect funding realities, especially while pro-transit Democratic Governor Deval Patrick remains in office. Mr. Capuano's proposal would be to build the extension only to Union Square and Washington Street, failing altogether to address connectivity deeper into Somerville. New stations would be built on the commuter rail line to make up for the loss of light rail access.
Yet this proposal would fail to provide the all-day frequent service rapid transit lines offer the rest of the Boston region. And it would force those using the line to transfer at North Station, preventing them direct access to other destinations in downtown Boston as well as further out to Northeastern University, Boston University, the Longwood Medical Area, and Brookline. Using heavy diesel trains rather than electrified light rail vehicles — just as in the Grand Junction case — would likely increase air emissions in the area, defeating the mitigation aspect of the project altogether. Replacing the Green Line with commuter service operating less frequently would doubtless attract far fewer riders.
Like in many metropolitan areas, funding for transport in Boston and its close-in suburbs is always tight. The exciting opportunity to improve on the fantastic transportation use patterns already present in Cambridge and Somerville, however, should encourage local leaders and politicians to fight for new revenue sources. And in the process, they should argue for the refinement of existing transit plans to better serve communities along their routes.
Image at top: Very short freight train running along the Grand Junction near Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, from Flickr user SignalPAD (cc)


Inhibition of ripening in tomatoes
Undisplayed Graphic
Inhibiting the expression of a specific gene can often result in new traits. In tomato, the softening that occurs during ripening is partly due to an enzyme called polygalacturonase. CalGene has transformed tomatoes with an "antisense" polygalacturonase gene, which interferes with the expression of the normal polygalacturonase gene. As a result, polygalacturonase production in fruit is slowed, which in turn slows the ripening process. Firm fruit can be shipped with minimal damage, and ripen on the shelf.
Marketed under the trade name Flavr Savr®, this is the first transgenic food to be sold commercially.
Kramer, MG, K. Redenbaugh. (1994). Commercialization of a tomato with an antisense polygalacturonase gene: The FLAVR SAVR® tomato story. Euphytica 79:293-297.
Pfeiffer N (1994) FDA OKs Calgene's Flavr Savr® Tomato for Marketing in Supermarkets in the U.S. Genetic Engineering News June 1, 1994.
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If a drone is flying around your house and you are wondering whether it is secretly recording you, there is actually a way to find out. Even if the data is encrypted. Israeli researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Weizmann Institute of Science explain how this works.
Is the drone recording me? Fluctuations in the bitrate will tell
As it turns out you don't need the decrypt the information at all. If you simply apply a stimulus that you control and you monitor the information stream between the drone and the controller, you can determine if the drone is recording you.
The approach the Israeli researchers followed is actually quite straightforward and was first revealed on The Register and also published in detail on the Cornell University Library. They simply intercept and monitor the bitrate of the video communication between the drone and the controller. In their paper they write:
"We demonstrate how an interceptor can perform a side-channel attack to detect whether a target is being streamed by analyzing the encrypted FPV channel that is transmitted from a real drone (DJI Mavic) in two use cases: when the target is a private house and when the target is a subject."
Researcher Ben Nassi, a student of BGU professor Yuval Elovici, said:
"The beauty of this research is that someone using only a laptop and an object that flickers can detect if someone is using a drone to spy on them … While it has been possible to detect a drone, now someone can also tell if it is recording a video of your location or something else".
As they clearly show in the video below, the researchers take advantage of how the encoding and video algorithms work. If between two frames nothing changes, i.e. no windows that alter their transparency as demonstrated in the video below, then there is not new information that needs to be transmitted. If however, something in the filmed scene does change, then the bitrate will rise and fluctuate, indicating that the drone is recording the changes taking place in the scene that the drone is aimed at.
Watch the video below as it may better explain this concept then I am able to do in writing. It is a clever approach from the Israeli researchers and can prove very useful in certain situations. Let us know what you think about this in the comments below.


Hand Care
As we all know, kettlebell lifting can wreak havoc on your hands. I, for one, often feel self-conscious giving people a high five because of the blood blisters, callouses, or giant patches of dry skin on my hands. In some gym cultures, ripping your hand is a glorified battle wound that shows you gave your all in a workout. In the kettlebell world, ripping your hand totally sucks because it means your technique was off and/or you might not be able to train tomorrow.
Even if you don't particularly care what your hands look like, there are several factors to keep in mind if you want to lift consistently without tearing up your hands.
How Do You Prevent a Hand Tear?
In short, you must grip the kettlebell correctly (not so hard!), have good technique, use chalk when needed, and maintain your hands by trimming down callouses.
How to Grip the Kettlebell & Execute Good Technique
Here is an article I wrote about gripping the kettlebell correctly. In summary, you should hold the kettlebell with hook grip in the backswing; loose enough so the wrist is straight and forearm is relaxed, but tight enough so the bell doesn't rotate in your palm. Fingers should also be relaxed in the overhead position.
Executing good technique is the hardest to master, of course. Generally when we are talking about blisters, we are talking about the kettlebell Snatch. This video on Snatch drop technique and this video on the 4 most common mistakes on the Snatch drop will be most relevant to hand tears. For additional technique videos, check out my Intro to the Swing and Intro to Long Cycle videos.
Using Chalk to Prevent Rips and Tears
I've had many lifters ask me if chalk is really necessary for kettlebell lifting. The answer is two-fold: for lighter kettlebells and Long Cycle & Jerk lifts, it depends. For heavier kettlebells (20kg and above) and for Snatch, YES you need chalk.
When snatching a light kettlebell, you can get away with using a lot more grip strength in a set. If you're strong and conditioned, you can easily muscle your way to 10 minutes with 12 or 16kg kettlebell. Long Cycle and Jerk do not require a huge amount of grip strength, especially when compared to the Snatch. You may not need chalk in these situations and might actually find that applying chalk hurts your hands MORE because the chalk can make the handle feel rougher.
For the Snatch, however, every little nuance in your technique is about saving your grip. Tiny changes in how you hold the kettlebell overhead or when to accelerate the bell into the overhead position make a HUGE difference over ten minutes. If you don't chalk your kettlebell, at some point during your set the handle will start to slip in your hand, which will cause you to grip the handle harder and fatigue your forearm very quickly. Chalking the kettlebell ensures the bell will stay in the proper place in your hand; when snatching a heavy kettlebell, a slick handle should be the least of your worries.
Similarly, I would advise using chalk for Long Cycle and Jerk above 20kg, since you don't want the kettlebells to shift out of place during your set, which can cause undue fatigue.
Check out my video on the secret to chalking a kettlebell.
Hand Maintenance for Kettlebell Lifters
Letting your callouses grow and become giant bumps on your palm is a great way to ensure a blister or a tear! Instead, try these hand maintenance tips to prevent blisters from occurring so you can lift pain-free.
 - Shave callouses down so they lie flat with the rest of your hand. If you let callouses build up, the bell handle will begin to pull on them and eventually rip them off. It's safer to trim the callouses down yourself beforehand, so you don't get raw skin or blood blisters underneath when you tear your hand lifting.
 - The easiest way to shave the callouses down is to do so after you shower, when the skin is soft. You can use a pumice stone or a ped egg to scrub the top layers of callous away. Know that your hands may be a bit tender afterwards, so I would do it before a rest day so your hands have time to readjust.
 - If you blister your hand, it's best not to rip the blister open, otherwise the skin will dry and crack, which can be painful and takes much longer to heal. If you do get a spot that's dry and cracking, put some sort of balm on.
 - If you rip your hand, cover the skin up with tape or a band aid to keep it moist and facilitate faster healing. You can apply a salve or balm to keep the skin moist.
 - Chalk dries out your hands! Use lotion or hand cream at night to moisturize. You can moisturize before your set, but only if you want to get an intense workout for your grip. ;)
But What if I Rip My Hand... and I Have to Train?
Good news: If you rip your hand, you can still train!
If the tear isn't very deep, simply trim the excess skin off and fill the blister in with chalk to dull the sensation.
If the tear is deep and/or very sensitive, you can successfully tape your palm to prevent additional damage. Here is a great video by my coach Denis Vasilev that shows exactly how to tape your palm so you can continue training.
After training, be sure to follow the hand maintenance tips as outlined above to facilitate faster healing. While it's great to be able to continue training despite a tear, it's always the best idea to keep your hands from ripping in the first place!
Brittany van Schravendijk is a kettlebell sport trainer, competitor, and the creator of KB Fit Britt. Head to our Ambassadors page to learn more.
1 comment
 - Stefanie Obregozo
 Excellent article, thank you! As a newbie to Kettlebell Sport, this is very helpful.
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Review: Another Round (SFF Summer Season)
Another Round is an alcohol-fuelled dark comedy.
Photo: Henrik Ohsten
Viewers familiar with Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt (2012) will have a very different experience with the Danish director's latest outing. An alcohol-fuelled dark comedy, Another Round explores the consequences of four high school teachers and their experiments with alcohol during work hours. A simple plot that manages to unfold into tragic carnage, its protagonists are deconstructed by their efforts to dive deeper into their indulgence. Vinterberg has crafted a film that is incredibly funny, whilst remaining acutely aware of the complexities of human emotion. The punchlines are strong and the consequences hit hard. A coming of middle-age drama, Vinterberg uses alcohol as a vehicle to confront the internal anxieties born from our feelings of failure.
The film opens with a scene familiar to many Australians: a teenage drinking ritual. The Danish high schoolers race in a relay around a lake. Each team member must sink a beer at the different benches along the way, incentivised by the prospect of winning the proceeds from the recycled beer bottles. An incredibly catchy pop song blares over the festivities while the adults watch on in glee. Vinterberg doesn't utilise the scene as a condemnation of youth drinking; instead, it represents a moment of joyous mischief, chaos and unity. It is this attitude of ambivalence that makes Another Round both a celebration of the revelry that can come from the consumption of alcohol, and a meditation on the importance of moderation.
This messaging is largely carried by the performance of the film's lead, Mads Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen plays a high school history teacher, Martin. A husband and father of two, Martin has slipped into the monotony of middle age, going through the motions of the day, devoid of spark and charisma. This changes when he attends the birthday party of his friend and fellow staff member, Nikolaj. A psychologist, Nikolaj proposes an experiment where they see if a higher blood alcohol content will improve their quality of life. This experiment brings a new spark to their experiences.
The teacher's experiment leads to an array of inebriated hijinks, filling the cinema with laughter for much of the first act. The teachers enthusiastically lead classes while drunk, coach childrens' soccer matches and try to make their way undetected through staff meetings. This initial comedy escalates into absurdity, making the slowing down that comes afterwards more poignant, as the protagonists reap what they have sowed. As Vinterberg puts his characters through the extremes, he pauses to question if their initial newfound happiness is all placebo. The film is well paced but does take its time to transition into the third act. However, this isn't a bad thing, as Vinterberg's visuals and the dynamics he establishes between characters are a joy to watch.
An important way that Vinterberg's comedy stands apart from its American counterparts is through its attention to the craft of cinema. Beautifully composed, Vinterberg's DOP Sturla Brandth Grøvlen mimics the cerebral uncertainty induced by alcohol. The camera refuses to stay stable, even in the film's most intense moments, with handheld shots and shallow depths of field leaving the audience with a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty. While these cinematic choices effectively connect the craft of the film to its themes, it also harkens back to Vinterberg's early career. A founder of the Dogme 95 movement with Lars Von Troyer, the young Danish filmmakers railed against the conventions of cinema. Dogme 95 restricted the filmmaking means of its followers through the signing of a vow of chastity. Directors were forbidden from the use of custom props, tripods and special effects, and instead had to 'live in the moment'.
In 2002, David Bowie challenged Vinterberg on the sincerity of the movement, stating that it sounded like a satirical affair. Vinterberg responded that it was in fact a genuine heartfelt attempt to break the conservative mould of film. These naturalistic qualities of filmmaking are resonant throughout Another Round. Vinterberg paints the protagonists as creatures on a knife's edge; teetering on the edge of primality within their urban environments.
Much of Another Round's meditation on alcohol and the rollercoaster of life can be attributed to the personal tragedy faced by Vinterberg during the film's early production, as Ida, Vinterberg's 19 year old daughter, was tragically killed in a car accident. Vinterberg uses Another Round to preach a sermon about life, showing the audience the pleasures of risks and the pitfalls of excess. He invites audiences to realise that they need to take chances, experiment and explore because there is still time left. The film embraces the spectrum of effects of Danish drinking culture, weighing both the positives and negatives of alcoholic escapism. Another Round will continue to resonate as people return to a sense of normalcy following the pandemic, and have to come to terms with how to enjoy the world despite the anxieties and failures of the past.


Weibull++ - software for life data analysis
The industry standard for life data analysis
Weibull++ - software for life data analysis
The industry standard for life data analysis
Features Training Demo Request quote Resources
Life Data Classifications
Life data of a component, product or system can be separated into the following categories: complete data, right censored data, interval censored data, and left censored data. Each data type requires a modification to the analysis in order to correctly estimate the underlying lifetime distribution. A good life data analysis package, like ReliaSoft Weibull++, must be able to correctly handle all of these types of data. The characteristics of each data type are presented next.
Complete Data
Complete data, as shown in Figure 1, indicates that all of the units under the test failed and the time-to-failure for each unit is known. Therefore, complete information is known regarding the entire sample.
Complete Data diagram
Figure 1: Complete
Right Censored Data
Right censored data, also called suspended data, is composed of units that did not fail during the test as shown in Figure 2. For example, suppose that five units are put under test. Three units fail and their observed times-to-failure (in hours) are 65, 76, and 84. The last two units are still operating when the test is stopped at 85 and 100 hours respectively. Therefore, the last two units are considered to be suspended or right censored.
Right Censored Data diagram
Figure 2: Right Censored
Interval Censored Data
Another type of censored data, shown in Figure 3, is called interval censored data or inspection data. Interval censored data contains uncertainty as to when the units actually failed. For example, if five units under test are inspected every 100 hours, then the status of each unit (failed or still running) is known only at the time of each inspection. If a unit fails, it is known only that it failed between inspections and the exact time of failure is not known. Instead of an exact time-to-failure, an interval of time (e.g., between 100 and 200 hours) would be recorded.
Interval Censored Data diagram
Figure 3: Interval Censored
Left Censored Data
Left censored data is demonstrated in Figure 4. Left censored data is a special case of interval censored data in which the time-to-failure for a particular unit is known to occur between time zero and some inspection time. For example, if the inspection occurs at 100 hours, a failed unit could have failed at any time between 0 and 100 hours.
Left Censored Data diagram
Figure 4: Left Censored


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Working paper // IFAU - Institute for Labour Market Policy Evaluation 2010:9
We examine the influence that co-workers' have on each other's fertility decisions. Using linked employer employee panel data for Sweden we show that female individual fertility increases if a co-worker recently had a child. The timing of births among co-workers of the same sex, educational level and co workers who are close in age is even more influential. Consistent with models of social learning we find that the peer effect for first time mothers is similar irrespective of the birth order of the co-worker's child, while for higher order births within-parity peer effects are strong but cross-parity peer effects are entirely absent. A causal interpretation of our estimates is strengthened by several falsification tests showing that neither unobserved common shocks at the workplace level, nor sorting of workers between workplaces are likely to explain the observed peer effect. We also provide evidence suggesting that peers not only affect timing of births but potentially also completed fertility, and that fertility peer influences spills over across multiple networks. Our results forward the understandings of how individual fertility timing decisions are made and suggest that social interactions could be an important factor behind the strong inter-temporal fluctuations in total fertility rates observed in many countries.


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BSE in Northern Ireland: epidemiological patterns past, present and future.
Ferguson NM., Ghani AC., Donnelly CA., Denny GO., Anderson RM.
By 30 January 1998, there had been 170,259 confirmed cases of BSE in Great Britain (GB), 1766 confirmed cases in Northern Ireland (NI) (2 January 1998), and 276 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland (31 January 1998). Analysis of the epidemiological patterns in the NI epidemic reveals significant clustering of cases in herds and counties. The observed clustering of cases within herds results in lower per capita incidence of BSE in previously unaffected herds, providing support for the introduction of a certified herd scheme in NI. By fitting a backcalculation model to the case data, we can estimate the number of animals infected with the aetiological agent of BSE and project the number of future cases. We predict that the epidemic will decline rapidly, with approximately 99 cases (95% confidence interval 30,504) occurring in the five year period _PHONE_.


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The definition of a root is the part of the plant that is generally underground or the origin of something.(noun)
Root is defined as to establish or become settled.(verb)
An example of root is to firmly teach your child how to be polite.
Root means to completely remove.(verb)
An example of root is to find the source of a drug problem in a school and get rid of it.
See root in Webster's New World College Dictionary
Origin: ME rote < Late OE < ON rot, akin to OE wyrt, Ger wurzel < IE base *wrād-, twig, root > Gr rhiza, L radix, root, ramus, branch
Origin: formerly also wrote, rout < ME wroten < OE wrotan, to root up < wrot, snout < IE base *wer-, to tear up > L rostrum, beak
See root in American Heritage Dictionary 4
Origin: Middle English rot
Origin:, from Old English rōt
Origin:, from Old Norse; see wrādin Indo-European roots.
verb root·ed, root·ing, roots verb, transitive
Origin: Middle English wroten
Origin:, from Old English wrōtan.
intransitive verb root·ed, root·ing, roots
Origin: Possibly alteration of rout3.
, John Wellborn _PHONE_.
Learn more about root


Learn facts about the Atheris Hispida, also known as the hairy or spiny bush viper!***See more on ATHERIS HISPIDA below***
Are you looking for information on the hairy bush viper (Atheris hispida)? Do you want to find out more about its specific features and habitat? How can you be sure to spot Atheris hispida when you see it?
Michael Rivera [CC BY-SA 4.0 (]
There are different types of bush vipers, and Atheris hispida is also one, but with its uniqueness. If you are interested in knowing about its behaviour, the way it looks, and some easy signs that can help you spot this particular type of snake, then this article can help.
Today we are taking a look at various details about Atheris hispida, such as its scientific and common names, its population, where it is found, and also some of its characteristics that you may find interesting. Also, read the signs that can help you spot it easily, even when you watch it on screen.
What is its scientific name?
Atheris hispida is a type of viper species that is extremely venomous. The scientific name of the hairy viper is Atheris Hispida.
By what other names is Atheris hispida also known?
This viper is also more commonly known by a few other names such as the following:
 - The spiny bush viper
 - The rough scaled tree viper
 - The blue bush viper
 - The African hairy viper
 - The rough scaled bush viper
 - The prickly bush viper
One interesting fact is that researchers who specifically work on this bush viper say that it is best to avoid the common name hairy viper while referring to Atheris hispida. This is because using this name can create confusion with another type of snake, which is known as the Atheris hirsuta.
Are there different types or species of Atheris hispida?
LA Dawson [CC BY 2.5 (]
As of yet, there are no known subspecies of Atheris hispida that are recognized.
How big or small is the current total population of Atheris hispida?
While the exact population status of Atheris hispida is not known, it does not fall under the conservation concern category.
Where are Atheris hispida typically found?
Atheris hispida typically live in the forest areas, where they use their scales to help them in climb up on the reeds and stalks. This viper likes to spend time on the top of the plants, and more preferably, in the flowers and the leaves of the plants.
 - The hairy African bush viper is specifically found regions of Central Africa such as the DR Congo, west Kenya and south-west Uganda.
 - To be more specific, Atheris hispida can be found in areas such as the Kivu and the Orientale Provinces in the DR Congo, the southeastern Ruwenzori region in Uganda and the Kakamega Forest located in western Kenya.
What does Atheris hispida look like?
 - This bush viper has a short snout on the head which is more pronounced in the males than in the females.
 - The head and neck of this viper are covered with some of the longest scales as compared to the rest of its body.
 - It has large eyes that are surrounded by about anything between 9 and 16 circumorbital scales. These are the scales that are present around the margins of the eyes.
 - There are about 7 to 9 scales that separate the eyes.
 - The nostril of Atheris hispida is shaped like a slit and is separated from the eyes with the help of 2 scales.
 - It has very heavily keeled and overlapping dorsal scales that cover its entire body.
 - As a result, Atheris hispida has a unique shaggy look to its skin and looks almost as if it is bristle.
Are there any distinct movements or features that sets Atheris hispida apart from other snakes?
 1. Atheris hispida makes a strong guttural kind of sound.
 2. Atheris hispida has large dark eyes.
 3. Atheris hispida has an extremely scaly body.
How can you tell for sure that a snake is, in fact, Atheris hispida?
Jgdb500 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (]
Here are a few physical signs that can make you identify this bush viper, also known as the Atheris Hispida.
These Vipers have…
 - Dark black and big eyes.
 - A head and entire body covered in scales that look as if they are standing up.
 - Bristle like texture on the skin.
 - Scales, especially on the head and neck, have a darkish colour towards the tip.
These Vipers also…
 - Prefer to stay on tree branches.
 - Are an arboreal and predatory animal that can quietly lie in wait for its prey for long.
While they are not becoming extinct, deforestation does pose a threat to their preferred living habitat. Also, the blue bush viper is extremely rare to find, as it is a rare variety of Atheris Hispida in itself.
Additional Research:


How do you say "she weighs 60 kilograms" in Portuguese?
Here's the answer:
"pesa sessenta quilos"
Watch a real native speaker say it:
Here's how it sounds in a textbook:
You could also say:
 - ela pesa sessenta quilos
Fun fact: the hundreds of thousands of people learning Portuguese with Memrise get this phrase correct 98.54% of the time!
Time to set your textbook on fire, learn "pesa sessenta quilos" and other useful phrases that Portuguese speakers really use!
burning textbook


Windows Task Scheduler is a well-known GUI utility tool for automating recurring tasks. Many people don't realize that Task Scheduler does more than schedule scripts, programs, and documents to run at specific times. You can also use the tool to display message boxes and send out email messages. What's more, you can schedule tasks to run based on a number of event triggers, including startup, logon, and even custom events. This article will highlight these event triggers and explain how to get the most from the often overlooked Task Scheduler.
Times Have Changed
There was a time when Task Scheduler was thought to be quite basic and unconfigurable, compared with the cron jobs of UNIX and Linux systems. These days, Task Scheduler is both configurable and capable. So before looking at third-party utilities, determine whether Task Scheduler can already do what you want.
For the purposes of this article, I'll focus on the Windows Server 2008 OS. Although other OSs, such as Windows 7, might differ slightly, Task Scheduler should function in much the same way as described here.
Task Scheduler Basics
Just as you must learn the rules before you can break them, you must become familiar with the basic operation of Task Scheduler before delving into its more esoteric uses. It won't take long.
To open Task Scheduler, you need administrator access. You can use the Control Panel, the Manage command, or taskschd.msc for this task. Figure 1 shows what Task Scheduler looks like when it first opens.
Figure 1: Task Scheduler
Figure 1: Task Scheduler
Creating a New Task
There are three ways to create a new task:
 - Create a basic task
 - Create a non-basic task
 - Import a task
The Create Basic Task menu item will do the job for those tasks that don't require advanced settings, such as task time limits or number of repetitions. Here's how to set up a scheduled task to launch Microsoft Outlook at startup:
1. Click Action from the menu bar, and then click Create Basic Task.
2. Type a name for the task (we'll use Launch Outlook in this example) and an optional description, and then click Next.
3. You now have the option of scheduling the task to run
 - on a calendar-based interval, such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or One Time only
 - at common recurring events, such as when the computer starts or when you log on
 - on specific events, such as when a specific event is logged
Select the Triggers tab and then click New.
4. From the Begin the task drop-down list, choose At log on.
5. Choose 1 minute or 2 minutes from the Delay task for drop-down list, to let your PC complete its startup tasks. (I'll explain more about the benefits of this decision later.)
6. Make sure that the Enabled check box is checked, and then click OK to close the New Trigger dialog box.
7. The Action screen, which Figure 2 shows, gives you three actions to choose from:
 - Start a program
 - Send an e-mail
 - Display a message
Select Start a program and then click Next.
Figure 2: Starting a program action
Figure 2: Starting a program action
8. On the Start a Program screen, click the Browse button to locate outlook.exe. In Windows 7, this file will be in one of the following locations:
 - For 64-bit Windows -- C:\program files\microsoft office\office14\
 - For 32-bit Windows -- C:\program files (x86)\microsoft office\office14\
9. Click Next to proceed to the Finish screen.
10. The Finish screen shows the task summary and a check box to display more options after the task is created. Click Finish to create the task, which then is added to the Active Tasks list.
Running the Task on Demand
From the Active Tasks window, you can double-click any scheduled task to open its properties. Any task can be run on demand so that you can manually run it for convenience, testing, or debugging (although the latter can be built in to some extent). Here's how to run a task on demand:
1. In Task Scheduler's central pane, in the Active Tasks list, double-click an item to bring up its properties. The right-hand Actions pane shows options for the Selected Item, as Figure 3 shows.
Figure 3: Run command
Figure 3: Run command
2. Click Run to start the task. You can click the Stop button to abort the process.
Modifying an Existing Task
You can disable a task from its Selected Item menu. To permanently remove the selected task, use the Delete button.
The center pane displays the properties for the selected task. However, these properties are read-only. To gain access to this information in an editable form, click Properties under Selected Item. This action opens a Properties window that provides more fine-grained control to the task's triggers, actions, conditions, and settings, as Figure 4 shows.
Figure 4: Task Settings tab
Figure 4: Task Settings tab
The remainder of this article focuses on these settings and how to use them to set up more intricate scheduled tasks:
 - Schedule a delayed startup script
 - Schedule shutdown after the server has been idle for a certain length of time
 - Execute a Windows PowerShell script
 - Schedule a task based on a specific event
 - Test your tasks
 - Fine-tune an event-triggered task via the Task Scheduler Developer API
How to Schedule a Delayed Startup Script
Delaying the launch of a startup script or application so that the server can finish booting is usually a good idea. There's an option for that in the Advanced Settings section of the New Trigger dialog box.
Now, you might be wondering why you would need such a scheduled task trigger when the Startup folder offers the same functionality. There are a couple good reasons. First, boot-up and logon already place a sizeable load on your computer. Starting processes directly at logon places an additional burden on your computer and can render it unresponsive for quite some time. Using a delayed scheduled task allows you to wait until the computer has finished its business. The second (and more important) reason is that scheduled tasks can be run with more rights than items in the Startup folder, which run under the logged-on user's credentials. User Account Control (UAC) requires an elevated token when attempting to perform certain tasks:
 - Backing up and restoring data
 - Changing group memberships
 - Setting user and group security
 - Creating administrative scripts
 - Creating logon scripts
 - Creating user and group accounts
 - Deploying and upgrading software
Let's create a task to perform a backup after logon. Because we want to configure advanced settings, we'll create a regular task rather than a basic one. The steps are much the same as the ones we used to create our Launch Outlook task, except that you'll start with the Create Task action (instead of Create Basic Task).
On the Create Task dialog box, which Figure 5 shows, you'll set the account and privileges that the task will use. With UAC, users of the admin group have two tokens. The filtered token represents standard user rights. When you click an executable and select Run as administrator, the full token -- which contains admin rights -- is used.
Figure 5: Task Security options
Figure 5: Task Security options
Likewise, when you select Run with highest privileges in the Security options area of the Create Task dialog box, the full token is used. This setting works only when the user is in the admin group, because only those users have two tokens. To run a program with admin rights from a standard user account, you must select Run whether user is logged on or not and then select a user that is a member of the admin group.
Enter the username in the form computername\username -- for instance, server01\administrator. Enter the password as well.
On the Triggers tab, click the New button to open the New Trigger dialog box, which Figure 6 shows. The Delay task for drop-down list gives you six choices, ranging from 30 seconds to 1 day. Unfortunately, you can't define your own delay time; you must make do with the selection that is closest to what you're looking for. In our case, one minute should suffice. Click OK to close the dialog box.
Figure 6: New Trigger dialog box
Figure 6: New Trigger dialog box
On the Actions tab, click the New button. Click the Browse button and locate C:\program files\cwrsync\cwrsync.cmd in the New Action dialog box. (Note that several actions can be associated with the same task.) Click Next to proceed to the Finish screen, and then click Finish to create the task.
How to Schedule Server Shutdown
Here's a scheduled task that uses the Windows Sysinternals PsShutdown utility to shut down a server that has been idle for a certain amount of time. This is a great way to conserve system resources while not in use.
1. Create a new task, as you did in the previous section.
2. In the Program/script text box, enter the following command:
3. Enter the following in the Add arguments text box:
-s -f -c -t 10
4. You can choose to delay the task so that it runs only after the PC has been idle for a certain amount of time. Select 30 minutes from the Delay task for drop-down box.
How to Execute a PowerShell Script as a Scheduled Task
PowerShell is the most powerful administrative tool in Windows, so it's


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I ran into an interesting (and very frustrating) issue with the equals() method today which caused what I thought to be a well tested class to crash and cause a bug that took me a very long time to track down.
Just for completeness, I wasn't using an IDE or debugger - just good old fashioned text editor and System.out's. Time was very limited and it was a school project.
Anyhow -
I was developing a basic shopping cart which could contain an ArrayList of Book objects. In order to implement the addBook(), removeBook(), and hasBook() methods of the Cart, I wanted to check if the Book already existed in the cart. So off I go -
public boolean equals(Book b) {
 ... // More code here - null checks
 if (b.getID() == this.getID()) return true;
 else return false;
All works fine in testing. I create 6 objects and fill them with data. Do many adds, removes, has() operations on the Cart and everything works fine. I read that you can either have equals(TYPE var) or equals(Object o) { (CAST) var } but assumed that since it was working, it didn't matter too much.
Then I ran into a problem - I needed to create a Book object with only the ID in it from within the Book class. No other data would be entered into it. Basically the following:
public boolean hasBook(int i) {
 Book b = new Book(i);
 return hasBook(b);
public boolean hasBook(Book b) {
 //.. more code here
 return this.books.contains(b);
All of a sudden, the equals(Book b) method no longer works. This took a VERY long time to track down without a good debugger and assuming the Cart class was properly tested and correct. After swaapping the equals() method to the following:
public boolean equals(Object o) {
 Book b = (Book) o;
 ... // The rest goes here
Everything began to work again. Is there a reason the method decided not to take the Book parameter even though it clearly was a Book object? The only difference seemed to be it was instantiated from within the same class, and only filled with one data member. I'm very very confused. Please, shed some light?
share|improve this question
I am aware that I violated the 'Contract' regarding overriding the equals methods by being reflective - however I needed a quick way to check if the object existed in the ArrayList without using generics. – Josh Smeaton Oct 9 '08 at 4:29
This is a good lesson to learn about Java and equals – jjnguy Oct 9 '08 at 4:34
I'm unable to see how a shopping cart can be equal to a book. I mean how can hasBook(Book b) return the result of this.equals(b)? – Robert Jul 14 '12 at 0:52
_USER_, wow, 4 years this question has been here - and no one picked up on that. I can't remember, but I assume the hasBook was supposed to do a this.books.contains() or something similar. – Josh Smeaton Jul 15 '12 at 14:56
9 Answers 9
up vote 214 down vote accepted
In Java, the equals() method that is inherited from Object is:
public boolean equals(Object other);
In other words, the parameter must be of type Object.
The ArrayList uses the correct equals method, where you were always calling the one that didn't properly override Object's equals.
Not overriding the method correctly can cause problems.
I override equals the following everytime:
public boolean equals(Object other){
 if (other == null) return false;
 if (other == this) return true;
 if (!(other instanceof MyClass))return false;
 MyClass otherMyClass = (MyClass)other;
 ...test other properties here...
The use of the _USER_ annotation can help a ton with silly mistakes.
Use it whenever you think you are overriding a super class' or interface's method. That way, if you do it wrong you will get a compile error.
share|improve this answer
This is a good argument in favour of the _USER_ annotation... if the OP had use _USER_ his compiler would have told him that he wasn't actually overriding a parent class method... – Cowan Oct 9 '08 at 4:36
Was never aware of the _USER_, thanks for that! I'd also like to add that overriding hashCode() really should have been done and may have spotted the error sooner. – Josh Smeaton Oct 9 '08 at 4:52
Some IDEs (e.g. Eclipse) can even autogenerate equals() and hashcode() methods for you based on the class member variables. – sk. Oct 9 '08 at 5:48
if (!(other instanceof MyClass))return false; returns false if MyClass extends the other class. But it wouldn't return false if the other class extended MyClass. Shouldn't equal be less contradictory? – Robert Jul 14 '12 at 1:16
When using instanceof the previous nullcheck is redundant. – Mateusz Dymczyk Feb 2 '13 at 3:28
If you use eclipse just go to the top menu
Source --> Generate equals() and hashCode()
share|improve this answer
I wish I could give this answer 10 upvotes. – dansalmo Nov 10 '13 at 18:18
I agree! This one I never knew of before and generating it makes it less error prone – Boy Jan 12 '14 at 15:38
Same here. Thanks Fred! – Anila Mar 13 '14 at 18:21
In IntelliJ you find this under Code → Generate… or control+N. :) – elyse May 6 '14 at 17:31
Also I'd like to add that you should always override hashCode whenever overriding equals.
share|improve this answer
I wonder why you got a downvote. Its not an answer to the question...but it can't be unhelpful. Its always good to have a reminder. – jjnguy Oct 9 '08 at 4:48
thanks for your support :-) – Julie Oct 9 '08 at 4:49
yup, see… – Adrien Be Oct 31 '12 at 16:48
Slightly off-topic to your question, but it's probably worth mentioning anyway:
Commons Lang has got some excellent methods you can use in overriding equals and hashcode. Check out EqualsBuilder.reflectionEquals(...) and HashCodeBuilder.reflectionHashCode(...). Saved me plenty of headache in the past - although of course if you just want to do "equals" on ID it may not fit your circumstances.
I also agree that you should use the _USER_ annotation whenever you're overriding equals (or any other method).
share|improve this answer
If you're an eclipse user, you can also go right click -> source -> generate hashCode() and equals(), – tunaranch Nov 6 '08 at 4:31
Another fast solution that saves boilerplate code is Lombok EqualsAndHashCode annotation. It is easy, elegant and customizable. And does not depends on the IDE. For example;
import lombok.EqualsAndHashCode;
_USER_(of={"errorNumber","messageCode"}) // Will only use this fields to generate equals.
public class ErrorMessage{
 private long errorNumber;
 private int numberOfParameters;
 private Level loggingLevel;
 private String messageCode;
See the options avaliable to customize which fields to use in the equals. Lombok is avalaible in maven. Just add it with provided scope:
share|improve this answer
the instanceOf statement is often used in implementation of equals.
This is a popular pitfall!
The problem is that using instanceOf violates the rule of symmetry:
(object1.equals(object2) == true) if and only if (object2.equals(object1))
if the first equals is true, and object2 is an instance of a subclass of the class where obj1 belongs to, then the second equals will return false!
if the regarded class where ob1 belongs to is declared as final, then this problem can not arise, but in general, you should test as follows:
this.getClass()!= otherObject.getClass(); if not, return false, otherwise test the fields to compare for equality!
share|improve this answer
See Bloch, Effective Java, Item 8, a large section discussing issues with overriding the equals() method. He recommends against using getClass(). The main reason is that doing so breaks the Liskov Substitution Principle for subclasses that don't affect equality. – Stuart Marks Jul 29 at 15:53
Object obj = new Book();
// Oh noes! What happens now? Can't call it with a String that isn't a Book...
share|improve this answer
in Android Studio is alt + insert ---> equals and hashCode
public boolean equals(Object o) {
 if (this == o) return true;
 Proveedor proveedor = (Proveedor) o;
 return getId() == proveedor.getId();
public int hashCode() {
 return getId();
share|improve this answer
recordId is property of the object
 public boolean equals(Object obj) {
 if (this == obj)
 return true;
 if (obj == null)
 return false;
 if (getClass()!= obj.getClass())
 return false;
 Nai_record other = (Nai_record) obj;
 if (


Main page content begins here
The City owns approximately 9,000 titled properties (22,000 acres/8900 hectares). An important part of managing these land assets is understanding and addressing any potential risks associated with possible environmental contamination. In order to do this, the City has created a formal city-wide Contaminated Sites Management Program (CSMP). The CSMP includes 4 main components which address the following:
 - Site identification
 - Site management
 - Real estate related concerns
 - Third party liability
The City manages sites to ensure that potential risks to public health and the environment are mitigated to the satisfaction of Alberta Environment and Parks and Alberta Health. The City is in the early stages of implementing the CSMP, which is expected to take several years due to the large number of properties owned by the City. Work is proceeding based on a ranking of properties using characteristics such as site information, land use activities, public access and operational requirements.
What does contamination mean?
Contamination of land and water can occur for a variety of reasons and from a variety of sources. Activities such as the operation of a fuelling site, salt storage for roadway maintenance, fire suppression and waste disposal are all activities which could result in environmental contamination. Sites operated in the past, when environmental concerns were not well understood or recognized, are often at risk for contamination. Sites constructed now are usually engineered to manage potential contaminant sources to prevent pollution of the environment.
Not all contaminants pose a risk to human health. Each contaminant listed in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines published by Alberta Environment and Parks poses different risks to each receptor category in the guidelines. Receptors are the organisms that may be affected by the contaminants, for example freshwater aquatic organisms, agricultural plants, or people. Contaminants are evaluated for their harm to the receptor including effects such as human health, fish mortality and even soil structure. Not all contaminants are harmful to human health. Those that are harmful to human health do not always fall into the category of toxins, poisons or carcinogens.
Most contaminants are not considered 'hazardous.' Hazardous waste is defined through legislation and regulation in Alberta. There are specific requirements for the management of hazardous waste. Typically, environmental contamination is not found in concentrations that would be considered hazardous waste.
What is a contaminated site?
For the purposes of the CSMP, a contaminated site comprises one or more properties where substances exist in soil, groundwater, or surface water in a greater concentration than is allowed under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (Alberta) Tier 1 and Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines. Contamination can occur through operational use, such as at fuelling sites or maintenance yards, as well as through historical activities due to human occupation, such as filling of low areas, fires, coal mining or the unmanaged dumping of refuse.
Why manage contamination?
Unidentified and unmanaged contamination can affect the City in many ways including:
 - Impacts on the environment and public health and safety
 - Financial loss due to unanticipated liabilities
 - Legal liability due to non-compliance with legislation
 - Impacts to reputation as a responsible, sustainable and transparent municipality
 - Ability to successfully deliver facilities and infrastructure that support communities and contribute to Edmontonians' health and wellbeing
How is contamination managed?
Sites in the CSMP are managed to ensure there is no risk to public health or the environment using a number of approaches including:
 - Remediation - involves activities such as excavation and disposal of contaminated soils at an approved Class II (municipal type) landfill, treatments such as biodegradation or chemical oxidation and groundwater treatment.
 - Risk Assessment - involves the application of statistical calculations based on contaminant concentrations and distribution to determine the risk to specific receptors (people, plants and the environment) through a specific pathway (for example skin contact, consumption of water). Risk Assessment can be used to calculate site specific guideline values for the contaminants, following approved protocols published by Alberta Environment and Parks.
 - Risk Management - occurs after a Risk Assessment has been conducted and includes measures to mitigate the risks that are identified. These could include preventing site access through fencing, placing a barrier to the contaminated soils such as asphalt, concrete or a maintained turf layer, using administrative controls such as development permits and zoning restrictions to prevent unapproved excavation.
CSMP Site Locations
Notice: All information on the City of Edmonton website, including but not limited to the contaminated site information map and site location information (the "Information") is subject to our Conditions of Use.
Geo-Environmental Report Request Form
There is a fee of $75 per search. Report copies are subject to photocopying or digital copying fees.
For More Information
Geotechnical and Environmental Services
Engineering Services Section, Integrated Infrastructure Services
11004 190 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5S 0G9
Title Geo-Environmental Information Coordinator


How to build the perfect Deep Learning Computer and save thousands of dollars
Jeff Chen
Jeff Chen
Jan 14, 2019 · 10 min read
Updated 12/11/2019
Building your own Deep Learning Computer only takes a few hours. Assembly video is below.
You already know that building your own Deep Learning Computer is 10x cheaper than using AWS. But picking the right parts is not trivial, so let's take a detailed look at things you should consider, the pros and cons of my build, assembly instructions, and how you're saving as compared to buying.
This is part 2 of 3 in the Deep Learning Computer Series. Part 1 is 'Why building is 10x cheaper than renting from AWS' and Part 3 is 'Performance and benchmarks'. See new photos and updates: Follow me on Medium and Twitter! Leave thoughts and questions in comments below.
Picking the 4 most important parts: CPU, GPU, Storage and Memory.
here are only 8 components to a build: GPU, CPU, Storage, Memory, CPU Cooler, Motherboard, Power, Case. The first 4 are the most important. When training, data flows from storage to memory to the GPU, while the CPU helps along the way (manipulates batches, etc). So, you want to make sure:
 - Your CPU can support all your GPUs
 - Your GPU is fast enough and can fit the model and data batch in memory
 - Memory is DDR4 and big enough to float most datasets uncompressed
 - Storage is M.2 PCIe and big enough
Make your computer expandable to 4 GPUs with the right CPU
It's hard to know how many GPUs you'll need because some models take 10s of hours to train (Vision CNNs, Natural Language Processing LSTMs, Capsule Auto Encoders, etc). So, one of the best ideas is to start with 1 or 2 GPUs and add more GPUs as you go along.
Each GPU requires at least 8x PCIe lanes (it's 16x officially, but there's data for which 8x is good enough if you're not running cross-GPU experiments). You will need 4x PCIe lanes for the M.2 SSD (which plugs right in and is 5x faster than SATA3), and another 4x PCIe lanes for Gigabit ethernet. That's a total of 40 PCIe lanes and will restrict your CPU choices quite a bit. Your CPU will dictate the motherboard you need. (For example: AMD Threadripper CPU = X399 chipset motherboard, Intel 7900X CPU = X299 chipset motherboard, etc).
You'll want a CPU with 8+ cores / 16+ threads and 40+ PCIe lanes since this allows 4 experiments per GPU (16 experiments if you have 4 GPUs). Typically models take up at least a couple gigabytes of GPU memory so it's rare you can run more than 4 experiments per GPU. Finally, make sure the PCIe lanes are actually getting routed to the expansion slots.
AMD CPUs offer better value than Intel
As of December 2019, AMD offers more performance for less money. AMD's 1920X with 12 Cores/24 Threads/60 PCIe lanes is only $199! Intel's 7900X with 10 Cores/20 Threads/44 PCIe lanes is $1000. Benchmarks show comparable performance, so AMD seems like a no-brainer. AMD's second generation 2920x is only $400. (Disclosure: I'm long AMD stock.)
Your GPU needs to have enough memory and be fast enough
GPU memory works differently than computer RAM, so if you don't have enough memory to fit your model you won't be able to train (as opposed to train slowly). Once in a while I have a model that requires 10GB+ to run, so if in doubt, choose one with more memory.
Nvidia GPUs are easier to use than other platforms because they have the most community support for tools (Tensorflow, PyTorch, etc). Buy cards that have 'blower style' fans instead of the large double fans because if you have multiple GPUs you need to vent air outside of the box. (eg 1080 Ti Founder Edition, or 2080 Ti Asus Turbo)
Your choices are basically:
 - Super High-end: Titan RTX (24GB / 4608 Cores / 576 Tensor Cores / $2,500) You can only fit one of these on the bottom slot because Titans don't use blower fans.
 - High-end: 2080 Ti (11GB / 4352 Cores / 544 Tensor Cores /$1149), 1080 Ti (11GB / 3584 Cores / $500 used), 2080 Super (8GB / 3072 Cores / 384 Tensor Cores / $730)
 - Mid-tier: 2070 Super (8GB / 2560 Cores / 320 Tensor Cores / $530)
 - Low-end (Best Value): 2060 Super (8GB / 2176 Cores / 272 Tensor Cores / $410)
 - GPU inventory is very limited, so you may have to hunt around for inventory
The Titan RTX is a monster card and ~55% faster than 1080 Ti on 32 bit training and 135% faster in half precision mode because of the additional Tensor Cores and extra memory which allows for much larger batch sizes. 2080 Ti is ~40% faster than 1080 Ti on 32 bit training and ~65% faster when used in half precision mode. From there, speed performance is linear to the number of CUDA cores so expect 1080 Ti to be ~40% faster than 1080 and 1080 to be 33% faster than 1070.
Storage and Memory need to be as fast as possible
Because you'll be moving lots of data around from storage to memory then to the GPUs, you want that pipeline to be as fast as possible. Use M.2 SSD NVMe, which plugs right into the motherboard and DDR4 memory.
Important tradeoffs of my build and common pitfalls
Initial single-GPU build costs $3k and can expand to 4 GPUs later
Here is my parts list with updated pricing and inventory.
GPU: I picked the 1080 Ti intially because a 40% speed gain versus 1080 is significant when you're talking about 10-hour train times, and the extra 3GB of memory is important when working with large models or increasing training speed with larger batch sizes. 1080 Tis are hard to find now, so check eBay. I later added a 2080 Ti and a Titan RTX in the bottom slot. As of 2020, the 2060 Super is the best value for a starter card.
CPU: AMD's 1920X has 12 cores and 38MB cache and is $150 more expensive vs. 1900X's 8 cores and 20 MB cache. Earmarking 2 cores / 4 threads per GPU and the fact I might want the machine to double as a staging server later, 1920X gives me a little more breathing room.
Storage: I used a single 1TB M.2 SSD, I don't like having stuff on different drives and 500GB seems small considering datasets are often tens of gigabytes. I might add a super large spinning hard drive for 'cold' storage later.
Memory: Quad channel memory is used because 1920X runs faster with quad than dual channel memory. 4 x 16GB is chosen because maximum supported memory is 128GB so it's an easy upgrade path without needing to remove chips later. 3000Mhz is the fastest memory compatible with the motherboard (it's overclocked from base 2667Mhz).
Power Supply: 1600W P2 is enough to cover 4x250W GPUs + 180W CPU + 150W for everything else and a little bit of headroom for overclocking. You don't want to max out your power supply because fans kick in like crazy when it's running at high utilization.
Case: Lian-Li PC-O11AIR because I need a case with 8 expansion slots (most mid-tower cases have 7, which means you cannot fit 4 double-wide GPUs). Between this case and the Corsair Air, this case looks nicer and comes with dust filters.
Avoid these 7 Common Pitfalls
Run through this list to make sure your build checks out.
 1. GPUs overheat my computer: Make sure you get the blower-style GPUs (The 2080 Ti version is called Turbo by Asus) because they vent out the back of the case. The 'Overclock' 'OC' type cards will have 2 large fans that blow into the computer, which will overheat. You also need a fan that delivers cold air directly onto the GPUs' intake. You can fit one Titan RTX in the bottom slot if your case has a vent on the bottom like the O11AIR.
 2. Not enough PCIe lanes: You need at least 8x PCIe lanes / GPU (16x is better). If you have 4 GPUs, with a M.2 drive and Gigabyte ethernet, it's 40 PCIe lanes at a minimum.
 3. My model doesn't fit in my GPU memory: large Convolutional Networks and LSTMs use a lot of GPU memory, 8GB vs. 11GB is a big difference.
 4. Motherboard doesn't fit