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CLASS / COURSE: Finance
1. (15 Points) Over the past 4 years, large-company stocks and U.S. Treasury bills have produced the returns stated below. During this period, inflation averaged 3.4 percent. Given this information,
What are the average rates of return on large-company stocks and Treasury bills?
What are the standard deviation for large-company stocks and Treasury bills?
2. (20 Points) The risk-free rate is 3.5 percent and the expected return on the market is 11 percent. Stock A has a beta of 1.1 and an expected return of 12 percent. Stock B has a beta of.92 and an expected return of 10.25 percent. Are these stocks correctly priced? Why or why not?
3. (25 Points) A portfolio is invested 40 percent in stock A, 30 percent in stock B, and 30 percent in stock C. What is the expected return and standard deviation of this portfolio?
State of Probability of Rate of Return if State Occurs
Economy State of Economy Stock A Stock B Stock C
Boom.10.05.16.23
Normal.70.08.09.11
Recession.20.15 -.03 -.25
4. (10 points) You have a portfolio comprised of the following. If the portfolio beta is 1.15, what is the beta of stock C?
Stock Value Beta
A $3,000 1.4
B $4,000.8
C $2,000?
D $1,000.9
5. (15 points) KL Airlines paid an annual dividend of $1.42 a share last month. The company is planning on paying $1.50, $1.75, and $1.80 a share over the next 3 years, respectively. After that, the dividend will be constant at $2 per share per year. What is the market price of this stock if the market rate of return is 10.5 percent?
6. (15 points) Diets For You announced today that it will begin paying annual dividends next year. The first dividend will be $0.12 a share. The following dividends will be $0.15, $0.20, $0.50, and $0.60 a share annually for the following 4 years, respectively. After that, dividends are projected to increase by 4 percent per year. How much are you willing to pay to buy one share of this stock today if your desired rate of return is 8.5 percent?
Brain-Teaser Questions (extra Credit Questions)
1. You have 8 marbles, 7 of them weigh the same and one of them weighs different. You also have a balance scale. Within 2 weighings, how do you figure out which one is the weird one and whether it is heavier or lighter than one of the other 7? (5 points)
2. You have a string-like fuse that burns in exactly one minute. The fuse is inhomogeneous, and it may burn slowly at first, then quickly, then slowly, and so on. You have a match, and NO watch. How do you measure exactly 30 seconds? (5 points)
Completed Solution is attached. Click on Buy button and then download file to get full solution.
SUBJECTS / CATEGORIES:
2. Financial Management
3. Corporate Finance
4. Investment and Portfolio Management


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Lions and tigers are both night hunters. A good way to tell how if they are night or day hunters is by their eyes.
When looking at lions, you can see that they have white under their eyes, and so do tigers.The reason for this is to improve their night vision. The moonlight reflects off the white and in to their eyes so that they can see better in the dark.
Unlike the lions and the tigers, cheetahs actually hunt during the day. You can tell the same way you would for lions and tigers: looking at their eyes. Instead of having white under their eyes, cheetahs have those infamous black stripes down their face. Those stripes actually help them see during the day. The black does the opposite of what the white would do, actually absorbing the sun's rays, so it won't reflect in their eyes and make it hard to see.
There's always an exception…
One of the wild cats though is an anomaly. The cougar doesn't hunt only during the day or only during the night. The cougar on the other hand hunts whenever, whether it is night time or day time. They don't have a dominant color under theirs eyes like the cheetahs, lions or tigers do.
While you can see these tell-tale signs from pictures, it's much more fun to see in person! Come visit our lions, tigers and cougars next time you're at Wildlife Safari!

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Factor in privacy in data-driven efforts
New Ideas in MarketingEssential news for marketers, summarised by YouGov
January 28, 2021, 5:55 AM UTC
Brands must adapt to the changing consumer sentiments around privacy and transparency.
With more consumers taking steps to protect data privacy and rethinking brand interactions, marketers must create data-driven practices addressing privacy and transparency concerns in 2021. As regulations like GDPR and CPRA regulating the collection and use of data, usual data-driven practices can be affected.
Joanna O'Connell, VP and principal analyst at Forrester says, brands must communicate their data collection processes and how they use data to consumers. Industry bodies like W3C are developing new standards for targeted advertising to overcome challenges like limited tracking identifiers.
However, brands must make fundamental changes to how consumer data is accessed and used, while respecting privacy and being transparent, adds O'Connell. Companies with direct consumer connection and access to first-party data, like Disney, are in a better position to tackle data collection complications.
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A C# Class to Perform Arithmetic on Complex Numbers
, 14 Nov 2007 CPOL
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A C# class to perform arithmetic on complex numbers
Although the C# language has been used quite successfully in many kinds of projects, it still remains to be proven proficient for scientific computing. Questions remain as to whether or not C# can measure up to the likes of FORTRAN and C++ for scientific and mathematical projects.
Complex Arithmetic
Arithmetic and algebra on complex numbers is important in many fields of science and engineering. Even though C# does not support an intrinsic complex number data type, it doesn't stop you from creating your own. You can do so using a struct, which has value semantics. The purpose of this article is to present my attempt to fashion a complex arithmetic class for C#.
Using the Code
The struct Complex is completely contained within the namespace ComplexMath in the file Complex.cs. There are three separate program files included in the download as well as a documented help file for the project. You can run the program either by using the ComplexMath.dll reference, or by using the ComplexMath library code directly by simply adding the Complex.cs file to a project. You must, in either case, add the header using ComplexMath; to the main project file. If you decide to go the DLL route, first build the library (DLL) by running the CompexMath.sln file from which you can generate two ComplexMath.dll files, one each in bin/Release and bin/Debug.
Steps to Use the Library as a DLL
 1. Start a new C# console application.
 2. Build both the Debug and Release versions.
 3. Place the Debug and Release versions of the ComplexMath.dll in their respective bin folders.
 4. From Project/Add Reference menus, find the ComplexMath.dll for the version (debug or release) and add it to the project.
 5. Add the header: using ComplexMath; to your program file.
 6. Use the accompanying TestComplexMath.cs file as a prototype for your own program.
Your test program should look something like the one below which briefly demonstrates many of the capabilities of the library:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using ComplexMath;
namespace TestLib
 class Program
 static void Main(string[] args)
 Complex z1, z2, z3; // instantiation
 z1 = new Complex(1.0, -2.0);
 z2 = new Complex(-3.0, -5.0);
 z3 = new Complex(0.292342, -0.394875);
 Console.WriteLine("instantiated complex numbers:");
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z1 = {0}", z1));
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z2 = {0}", z2));
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z3 = {0}", z3));
 // random complex numbers
 z1 = Complex.Random();
 z2 = Complex.Random();
 z3 = Complex.Random();
 Console.WriteLine("random generated:");
 Console.WriteLine("basic properties:");
 ("z1.real = {0} z1.imag = {1}", z1.real, z1.imag));
 ("complex conjugate of z1 = {0}.", z1.Conjugate));
 ("complex modulus of z1 = {0}.", z1.Modulus));
 ("complex argument of z1 = {0}.", z1.Argument)); // operators
 z3 = z1 + z2; Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z1 + z2 = {0}", z3));
 z3 = z1 - z2; Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z1 - z2 = {0}", z3));
 z3 = z1 * z2; Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z1 * z2 = {0}", z3));
 z3 = z1 / z2; Console.WriteLine(string.Format("z1 / z2 = {0}", z3));
 // transcendental functions
 Console.WriteLine("transcendental functions:");
 z3 = Complex.Sin(z1); Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Sin(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Cos(z1); Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Cos(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Tan(z1); Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Tan(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Sinh(z1);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Sinh(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Cosh(z1);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Cosh(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Tanh(z1);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Tanh(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Exp(z1); Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Exp(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Log(z1); Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Log(z1) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Log10(z1);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Log10(z1) = {0}", z3)); // roots
 z3 = Complex.Sqrt(z1);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Sqrt(z1) = {0}", z3));
 Console.WriteLine("k 4th roots:");
 for (long k = 0; k < 4; k++)
 z3 = Complex.NthRoot(z1, 4, k);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("NthRoot(z1, 4, {0}) = {1}",k, z3));
 } Console.WriteLine("the five 5th roots of unity:");
 Complex z = new Complex(1.0, 0.0);
 for (long k = 0; k < 5; k++)
 z3 = Complex.NthRoot(z, 5, k);
 (string.Format("{0}th 5th root of unity = {1}", k, z3));
 // powers
 int n = 7;
 z3 = Complex.Pow(z1, z2);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Complex.Pow(z1, z2) = {0}", z3));
 z3 = Complex.Pow(z1, n);
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Complex.Pow(z1, {0}) = {1}", n, z3));
 // display
 Console.WriteLine(string.Format("polar form of z1 = {0}.", z1.Polar()));
 // debug tracing
 }// Program
}// TestLib
The accompanying TestLib program demonstrates all of the capabilities of the Complex struct. One point worth making is that complex numbers can be expressed both in a rectangular form that most high-school algebra students are familiar with and in the more sophisticated polar form which requires some more advanced understanding of trigonometry, De Moivre's Theorem and Euler's Identity. If you are interested, check them out on the Web.
Note that all of the initialization input assumes that you are using the rectangular form of the complex number, which implies that real is measured along the x-axis of the Argand plane and imaginary is measured along the y-axis of that plane. However, the program has the capacity to output the components of the polar form -- that is, the modulus |z| and the argument (theta) -- by using the ShowPolar() and Polar() methods and the Argument and Modulus properties (see above).
Since complex numbers can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided, it is convenient to have operators to accomplish those ends. Thus, we have incorporated those operators.
There appears to be no shortage of postings offering C# code for dealing with complex numbers. These include:
Although I have been involved in scientific mathematical and statistical programming for over 10 years, this article is the first that I have attempted to post. I quickly learned that there are many smarter and better programmers out there who have done a much better job at using C#. For me, this was an excellent learning experience, both in terms of learning some of the pitfalls of scientific computing with C# and having to explain to others what my code does.
The fact that C# class assignment operators which are automatically generated and cannot be overridden create something of a problem, particularly if one is coming from a C++ background. Once an assignment is made, the assignor and the assignee are locked together by a common pointer. Change one, you change the other. In order to work around that, one would have to implement ICloneable which can be rather tedious and complicated. For that reason, I chose to use the struct rather than a class. I am still learning about C#.
I plan to update and improve this code for my own use and for any others who wish to use it, and to do a better job in the future. You may use this code in any manner that you wish. It is always polite and professional to give the original author credit. Please report any comments, criticisms or bugs to the forum below.
About the Author
Mike Pliam
United States United States
Born in the USA
Comments and Discussions
SuggestionVery good class. PinmemberCFSW25-Aug-14 5:46
Generalcomplex atan Pinmemberjoerghaus23-Nov-08 4:36
GeneralRe: complex atan PinmemberMichael B Pliam


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SAPI 5.0 Tutorial I: An Introduction to SAPI
SAPI 5.0 is the latest incarnation of Microsoft's Speech API - allowing programmers to add speech recognition and synthesis into their programs. It is based on a COM interface, making it usable in a variety of COM-supporting languages (VC++, VB, Java, Delphi etc). You many download SAPI or order a CD through Microsoft at Microsoft's Speech site. Note that you will also need the latest Platform SDK.
This tutorial will look at setting up Microsoft Visual C++ to allow programming with the SAPI SDK, as well as an introduction to the basics of SAPI and the grammar. The program we will create is a simple dialog-based application (MFC) that can draw 3 different shapes in 7 different colours, as well as a few additional commands. You might want to download the code now:
Setting up MSVC++
Once you have installed SAPI 5.0, you should configure Visual C++ to automatically include the SAPI directories for its header files, libraries and tools. To do this, start up Visual C++ and select "Tools, Options, Directories". Make sure they include directory setup is showing. Now, add a new directory and point it to the SAPI 5.0 include directory. My directory setup looked like this:
Now, do the same thing for the "Libraries" ('lib\i386') and "Executables" ('bin').
Setting up the Help File
This is not essential, but I find it useful - adding the SAPI 5.0 Help to the help menu. Go to "Tools, Customize" and add a new Tool. Type "SAPI 5.0 Help" as the name, and "hh" (HTMLHelp) as the program. Enter 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Speech SDK5.0\Docs\Help\sapi5sdk.chm' as the argument (or whatever your directory is). Now, you have a tool to bring up the help file. You can either leave it where it is, add it as a toolbar button, or add it to the Help menu. Now, to create our program. This is a hack, so if people have found a nicer way, please tell me.
Adding SAPI Support
Create a dialog-based application using the MFC AppWizard. Before anything, open up your main application class. Now at the top of InitInstance add:
This allows the dialog to use COM objects. Now, in your dialog class definition add the following include:
_TAG_
Now, add the following three variables to a protected interface of your dialog class:
 CComPtr g_cpEngine;
 CComPtr g_cpRecoCtxt;
 CComPtr g_cpCmdGrammar;
These are the engine, recognition context and grammar variables respectively. Confused yet? Not to worry, I am just quickly presenting all the "necessities", and once we look at how to initialize SAPI, we will take a decent look at the individual components.
We will be moving on to the dialog implementation file to add our event handler, but finally we'll add our handler declaration to our class header. When SAPI handles speech recognition, it will send a message to a window (normally called WM_RECOEVENT) just like other Windows controls. As always, for non-ClassWizard support messages, we must declare our event handler outside of the }}AFX_MSG block:
 virtual BOOL OnInitDialog();
 afx_msg void OnSysCommand(UINT nID, LPARAM lParam);
 afx_msg void OnPaint();
 afx_msg HCURSOR OnQueryDragIcon();
 afx_msg void OnDestroy();
 afx_msg LRESULT OnRecoEvent(WPARAM, LPARAM); // SAPI handler here
Now, open up the dialog implementation file. We need to add a little stuff at the top of the file, just above the CAboutDlg declaration:
_TAG_ "sapi0.h"
The first include is a local include that doesn't exist yet, but it will do soon! It is automatically generated by one the grammar compiler (gc.exe) and is used to handle various events. The next line defines WM_RECOEVENT to make our later code more readable.
Finally, we need to set up the message handler for our WM_RECOEVENT message, so outside of the AFX_MSG_MAP but before the END_MESSAGE_MAP() macro add:
OnRecoEvent is the handler for WM_RECOEVENT and will receive all the messages. Now, get comfortable because we are about to look at SAPI-specific code.
Initializing SAPI
Add a function to the dialog class called InitializeSapi that returns a boolean value. Now the fun stuff:
bool CSapiTutorial0Dlg::InitializeSapi() {
 if (FAILED(CoInitialize(NULL))) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error starting COM");
 return false;
Firstly, we must initialize COM before anything else. If there is a problem, we will return a false value allowing the calling function to handle errors.
 HRESULT hRes = g_cpEngine.CoCreateInstance(CLSID_SpSharedRecognizer);
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error starting SAPI");
 return false;
We now create the engine, using a shared recognizer. This basically means other applications will be able to use the recognizor simultaneously - this is the optimal setting for most applications.
 hRes = g_cpEngine->CreateRecoContext(&g_cpRecoCtxt);
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error creating context");
 return false;
A recognition context is a 'view' that the speech recognition engine (SRE) will use. An application can have multiple recognition contexts to handle different situations. For example, if an application has a multi-document interface, then each MDI frame could use its own context. An application must have at least one context to utilize the SRE.
 hRes = g_cpRecoCtxt->SetNotifyWindowMessage(m_hWnd, WM_RECOEVENT, 0, 0);
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error creating notification window");
 return false;
We are setting which window will receive the necessary notifications from the SRE (in this case, the main dialog window). Note that we defined WM_RECOEVENT earlier.
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error creating interest...seriously");
 return false;
Here we are setting the "interest" of the application. This sounds strange, but all this means is that we are not interested in the many messages SAPI might send to the application, just recognition events.
 hRes = g_cpRecoCtxt->CreateGrammar(0, &g_cpCmdGrammar);
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error creating grammar");
 return false;
 hRes = g_cpCmdGrammar->LoadCmdFromResource(
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error creating grammar rules");
 return false;
We now have an engine and a context that engine will work in, but we don't have any grammar rules for the engine to work with. Therefore, we create a grammer object for the recognition context. The grammar doesn't have any rules yet, so we need to load it from the resource section of the application. As of yet, we have not added any sort of grammar - but when we do, it will be called "IDR_SAPI0" and have a custom type 'SRGRAMMAR'. Adding grammar will be our next step after finishing this...
 hRes = g_cpCmdGrammar->SetRuleState(NULL, NULL, SPRS_ACTIVE );
 if (FAILED(hRes)) {
 AfxMessageBox("Error setting rule state");
 return false;
This effectively turns on all the rules that have been added.
 return true;
Summary: Still confused? A brief re-cap might help - we have looked at initializing SAPI. SAPI requires three things (in this case) - an instance of its engine, a recognition context to work within, and some grammar rules. Grammar rules help the SAPI engine recognize what is being said, since knows in advance what to expect.
Adding Grammar
Ingeniously, the grammar rules used by SAPI are defined using XML (eXtensible Markup Language), making it easy for anyone with any HTML (or any other XML-derivative) to write grammar rules. I show show a shortened version of the grammar used in our program to aid readability:

 // REMOVED

 // REMOVED

 red
 green
 // REMOVED

 square
 circle
 triangle
Ok, as you can see the entire grammar is surround by "GRAMMAR" tags. Next comes the "DEFINE" section that assigns values to the various IDs (VAL tags) that you will use throughout the grammar. Next


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There are records in the Nuremberg city annals of Friedrich Staedtler's activities as a pencil-making craftsman as far back as 1662. Generations later, his descendant would create one of today's most useful artist's tools.
J.S. Staedtler invented the first colored pencil in 1834. It was a colored oil pastel pencil which could be "sharpened to a point just like a pencil". In 1835, the city council granted him a manufacturing license, with permission to produce black lead, red chalk, and pastel pencils.
Staedtler had gained expertise from working with his father, Paulus Staedtler, at his workshop. He transferred this expertise to his industrial efforts. By the year 1840, his company was already making 63 different types of pencils.
Staedtler is now Europe's largest manufacturer of black lead and colored pencils, but its original headquarters have always remained in Nuremberg, Germany. More than two thirds of all the writing instruments Staedtler produces are made there. The quality seal of "Made in Germany" has become an integral part of the Staedtler Company. [ visit manufacturer website ]

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


By Brooke Adams, communications specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Students in social work professor Caren Frost's honors course went from the classroom to the community to get a more hands-on understanding of what it is like to be a Muslim student at the U.
jn-class-photo-2What they found: There was general agreement among the Muslim students interviewed that they feel welcome at the U, though some said there is more the university could do to support them. Specifically, the Muslim students suggested that the U do the following:
 - Make a prayer room available at or near the on-campus residence halls.
 - Broaden food options available on campus to include selections that meet halal requirements.
 - Support and acknowledge Islamic observances, such as Ramadan and the holiday of Id al-Fitr, which would also provide opportunities to educate others about the religion.
The honors students conducted the surveys and presented their findings as their end-of-semester project for the course, Voices of Muslim Women.
The 28 students worked in teams to find and interview more than two dozen of their peers, with a focus on exploring high school and college experiences, experiences on-and off-campus and relationships with friends and parents. Some participants grew up in Utah; others came here as international students.
The interviewees included students who've lived in other states and they described Utahns overall as more understanding and accepting. According to one student presenter, an interviewee found that in Utah, "when you talk about religion, people get it. When you say 'I do this because of my religion,' people understand that."
Another interviewee initially worried about leaving the "bubble" of acceptance and familiarity experienced during high school but upon arriving at the U found support and understanding.
Most described angst over inaccurate portrayals, particularly by the media, of their faith, which they said typically fail to reflect the diversity of the Muslim community. "Don't fall for the media bias," one interviewee said.
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, at daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. The Muslim students said they appreciate that the U provides a prayer room at the Union Building, but said making use of the room in off-hours is challenging when shuttles aren't available between the residence halls and the building. They also wished there was a mosque closer to campus.
Some student teams had an 'aha moment' listening to interviewees, discovering they had more in common than the students assumed. The team that focused on relationships with parents, siblings and friends said, with the exception of dating practices, participants gave answers that sounded a lot like how any non-Muslim student would respond.
"It is a pleasure to have students from international and national backgrounds engaging in conversations about how their lives are more similar than they imagined," Frost said.


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This new monitoring system for critical vessels uses thermal imaging cameras to provide higher measurement density than traditional systems based on thermocouples. The Critical Vessel Monitoring System from Land Instruments International Ltd, a unit of Ametek Inc., measures surface temperature once every 16 cu cm, as compared with one measurement every 250 cu cm in typical thermocouple systems.
By measuring temperatures in more locations, the system allows for earlier detection of refractory wear or breakdown. Benefits include greater protection against catastrophic vessel failure and extension of refractory lifetime based on actual data.
The system is optimized for use in gasifiers and other critical vessels in petrochemical refining, power generation, chemical and coal processing, waste management, and fertilizer and plastics production.
Industrial cameras suitable for harsh environments are placed to view all parts of the vessel including the critical cone and dome sections. Each camera records over 110,000 individual measurements, ensuring that even the smallest degradation can be detected.
Measurements from all cameras are reported using graphical software that signals an alarm if a potential breakout is detected. The software also compiles temperature trends to support statistical analysis of refractory wear. An integrated web interface allows visualization of current vessel conditions from all plant locations.
The system supports operating efficiency by allowing installation and maintenance to be performed without shutting down the process.
For more information, visit _URL_ or _URL_.


text:
Below is the transcript of the video:
Hello, I am Anca Haiduc. I am an analytical scientist at Philip Morris working in Neuchatel Switzerland. Welcome and thank you for joining me for this presentation in which I will talk about the scientific substantiation of the absence of combustion in a novel heated tobacco product.
We all know that the toxicants released when combusting tobacco are the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. Heated tobacco products (HTP) are designed to heat the tobacco without combustion, in order to generate nicotine-containing aerosols instead of smoke.
HTPs are a category of products. They use different technologies. They heat at different temperatures, use different tobacco blends and processing methods for the tobacco. Therefore, each product needs to be scientifically assessed.
The aim of this current presentation is to present evidence that we have generated from the scientific assessment of a new HTP to substantiate the absence of combustion and the significant reduction in the levels of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals, called HPHCs, in this HTP aerosol relative to cigarette smoke.
This new heated tobacco product or HTP is an electronically heated product that uses an electrically controlled metal pin to heat the tobacco. It has a specifically designed tobacco stick which is inserted in the heating device and the device contains this electronically controlled metal pin that is acting as the heat source for the tobacco.
In order to substantiate the absence of combustion, the temperature of tobacco was measured at three points. First, the contact point between tobacco and heater, then the farthest end from the pin heater in the tobacco plug, and then the middle point between these two points that we described before.
Additional tests were performed under oxidative and non-oxidative atmospheres and the chemical analysis of the aerosol was also done, to assess the potential difference in the emissions between these 2 environments. In case of combustion, a difference in the aerosol composition would be measured.
Finally, a targeted aerosol chemistry analysis was performed in order to evaluate the levels of HPHCs in the generated aerosol in comparison with the smoke generated in the combustion of a 1R6F reference cigarette. The graph shows you the results that we have obtained. So first for the temperature of the tobacco the maximum temperature that was reached by the pin heater is 345 degrees Celsius, well below the level needed for combustion.
The maximum temperature of the tobacco reached 309 degrees Celsius, at the point of contact with the pin heater, and then it decreased with increasing distance from the pin. The observed drop of the temperature during puffs is an additional confirmation that no self-sustained combustion occurs. It is also interesting to note that as soon as the heating source is turned off the tobacco cooled rapidly. In addition, the tobacco is not consumed, and no smoke or ash are formed.
The second part is the results obtained under the oxidative and non-oxidative atmosphere. It can be seen from the table that the aerosol composition under these two environments is not changing, demonstrating that oxygen is not playing any significant role. The levels of CO, NO, and NOx are the same in the aerosol generated under these two atmospheres and they are massively inferior to the levels found in cigarette smoke.
Overall, this demonstrates that oxygen does not play an important role in the functioning of this novel heated tobacco product.
For the third part, we will look at the aerosol chemistry that was obtained on this product. A targeted aerosol chemistry analysis was performed to evaluate the levels of HPHCs emitted by the electronically heated novel tobacco product in comparison to the reference cigarette smoke. This analysis showed significantly lower levels of all measured HPHCs in this novel tobacco product aerosol compared to reference cigarette smoke.
To conclude, the evidence presented here scientifically substantiates that there is no combustion occurring in this new heated tobacco product. The main findings of the studies are the following:
By heating the tobacco instead of burning it, the HTP emits an aerosol with significantly reduced levels of HPHCs relative to cigarette smoke.
Thank you for joining me today I hope you enjoyed my presentation.


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A complex character is a character who has a mix of traits that come from both nature and experience, according to fiction writer Elizabeth Moon. Complex characters are more realistic than non-complex characters.Continue Reading
According to Elizabeth Moon, the traits of complex characters are made up of both constants and variables. The constant traits are the innate ones, such as eye, hair or skin color. The way a character reacts to these traits adds to his personality. The variable traits come from life experiences and how the character reacts to those experiences. A character's reaction to a situation may change over time as he develops. Development also plays a large part in complexity; just like a real person, a character changes as the story goes on.
Angela Ackerman of Adventures in YA Publishing says that flaws play a large role in a character's complexity. Characters should not be perfect; they should have a few flaws that add to their personalities and make them more realistic. When characters interact with others, they may point out their flaws or ignore them, just as people do in real life. It is also important to know the reasons behind the flaws to make a complex and realistic character.Learn more about Literary Writing


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We report on an optically pumped semiconductor disk laser with a wide wavelength tuning range and a high peak output power. This was achieved using a combination of efficient thermal management and a broadband gain element (GE) with carefully engineered spectral gain characteristics. For heat removal, a flip-chip bonding scheme on diamond was used. To provide high active mirror reflectance over a large wavelength region, the layered structure of the GE formed a nonresonant subcavity assisted by an antireflective structure. A peak output power of more than 7.5 W and a tuning range of 32 nm around the center wavelength of 995 nm were obtained.
- multilayer interference coatings
- semiconductor lasers
- Tunable lasers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics


text:
HR Proactive's One-on-One training emphasizes the importance of understanding and preventing harassment and bullying in the workplace. Does employee conduct breach company policy and/or is in violation of the prohibited grounds of protection under human rights law? The definition of harassment is discussed as well as employer and employee liability. Trainees will be able to identify the different types of harassment and bullying, and the impact it has on the victim, other employees and the workplace. Examples are provided so the trainee has a clear understanding of what is and what is not considered harassment and bullying. Learn how to know if your behaviour is welcome or unwelcome and the possible consequences if the inappropriate behaviour continues. Learning is reinforced through case studies, video and quizzes. Ensure your work environment is free from harassment and bullying.
While many workplaces continue to have employees work-from-home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and given the physical distancing requirements in place to help stop the spread of the virus, HR Proactive's live virtual, interactive One-on-One Sensitivity Training sessions offer an effective and practical solution for remedial training in Canadian workplaces.


text:
A cuckoo clock is a clock, typically pendulum driven, that strikes the hours using small bellows and whistles that imitate the call of the Common Cuckoo in addition to striking a wire gong. The mechanism to produce the cuckoo call was installed in almost every kind of cuckoo clock since the middle of the eighteenth century and has remained almost without variation until the present.
The design of a German cuckoo clock is now conventional. Most are made in the shape of a rustic birdhouse or chalet to hang on a wall. The wooden case is frequently decorated with carved leaves and animal heads. Most now have an automaton of the bird that appears through a small trap door while the clock is striking.
The bird is often made to move while the clock strikes, typically by means of an arm that lifts the back of the carving. There are two kind of movement: a one-day movement and an eight-day movement. Some have musical movements, and play a tune on a swiss music box after striking the hours and/or half-hours. Musical German cuckoo clocks frequently have other automata which move when the music box plays. Cuckoo clocks are almost always mechanical weight driven movement; a very few are spring driven. The weights are made of cast iron in a pine cone shape. 1 Day Clocks need to be wound by pulling up the weights each day. 8 Day Clocks need to be wound by pulling up the weights every 7-8 days
In recent years, quartz battery-powered cuckoo clocks have been available. These do not have genuine cuckoo bellows. The cuckoo bird flaps its wings as it calls to the sound of running water in the background. The call is an actual recording of a cuckoo in the wild. During the cuckoo call the double doors open and the cuckoo emerges only at full hour, and they do not have a gong wire. One thing that is unique about the quartz cuckoos is that it has a light sensor, so when you turn your lights off at night, it automatically turns off the cuckoo call. The weights are conventionally cast in the shape of pine cones made of plastic, as well as the cuckoo bird and hands. The pendulum bob is often another carved leaf. The dial is small, and typically marked with Roman numerals.
Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks from Germany are the world's finest. These hand-carved masterpieces feature precision mechanical movements, detailed craftsmanship, moving figurines, and music to delight you. The cuckoo clock is a magical work of art with mid-18th century tradition.


text:
To improve the load-carrying capacity of steel structures there are mainly two methods of using cover-plate which are the preflex method and multi-stepwise thermal prestressing method. However a prestress applied to the top flange of H beam is less than the bottom flange because these two methods have small eccentricity. It is necessary to develop an advanced feature of prestressing method which efficiently increases load-carrying capacity and prestressing efficiency. Therefore this study proposes a cover-plate prestressing method with increased sectional stiffness and prestressing efficiency, called multi-stepwise thermal prestressing with steel brackets. To evaluate the prestressing efficiency and load-carrying capacity of the proposed method, prestressing application tests and static loading tests were conducted on three H beams. The multi-stepwise thermal prestressing method with the steel brackets had higher displacement induced to the H beam and higher tensile stress in the top flange than in a case without the steel brackets. Also, when prestress is applied, the tensile stress in the cover-plate significantly decreased with the installation of the steel brackets. The static loading tests showed that the installation of the brackets increased the stiffness, the yield load, and ultimate load of the structure, compared with an unreinforced girder, which meant higher load-carrying capacity than a conventional thermal prestressed structure without brackets.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Building and Construction
- Mechanics of Materials
- Metals and Alloys


text:
Brazilian emission standards for motor vehicles and engines are developed and adopted by the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (IBAMA) and the Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA)—two agencies within the Ministério do Meio Ambiente (MMA, Ministry of Environment).
Emissions from motor vehicles are reguated under two CONAMA programs :
- PROCONVE—Programa de Controle da Poluição do Ar por Veículos Automotores (Air Pollution Control Program for Motor Vehicles), and
- PROMOT—Programa de Controle da Poluição do Ar por Motociclos e Veículos Similares (Air Pollution Control Program for Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles)
The programs are focused on new vehicle regulations. However, PROCONVE also covers the development of annual inspection and maintenance (I&M) programs to ensure that vehicle operators maintain their vehicles according to the original specifications and to prevent changes to vehicle emission systems.
PROCONVE emission standards for light-duty vehicles are loosely based on both US and EU regulations, with a number of differences in the limit values and testing requirements. Standards for heavy-duty engines are based on European regulations.
Regulated Engines and Vehicles
Emissions are regulated from the following vehicle categories :
- Light-duty vehicles, including light passenger vehicles (automobiles) and light commerial vehicles,
- Heavy-duty vehicles (trucks and buses),
- Nonroad vehicles, including agricultural and construction machines, and
- Two-wheel vehicles, such as motorcycles and mopeds (Phase M-1 was introduced in 2003, M-2 in 2005, M-3 in 2009, and M-4 in 2011).


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After looking at the core data type for frameworks that deal with unstructured data in java:
the common theme seems to be that data are first de-serialized into Map, then transformed into an given class by reflection.
So this raises the question, why not just work with these Map (or sub-type of map) directly? You can extend Map and create your own sub-type, and you will still have all the benefit of OO programming.
Edit I am not concerned with the cost of deserialization, but the flexibility that Map offers when dealing with unstructured data. By this, I mean not having to define a class that the data can be deserialized into.
Edit 2 I am more interested in the "why not (disadvantages)", since the framework I mentioned already demonstrated that it could be done.
share|improve this question
It doesn't beg the question it raises the question. Begging the question is a logical fallacy in which one assumption depends on another being true that depends on the first being true. – Mike Brown Feb 21 '12 at 16:38
duly noted, updated accordingly. – ltfishie Feb 21 '12 at 17:16
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2 Answers
up vote 4 down vote accepted
The convenience of working with a strongly typed object sometimes outweighs the cost of serializing to/from that object. For instance I usually use JSON to transmit MVVM ViewModels over the wire. Once the data is deserialized, I can take advantage of the functionality embedded in the ViewModel class that works on the data. If I were just passing around dumb data, then I agree it probably makes sense to forgo that extra step.
What is dumb data? To me dumb data is a class that has nothing on it but simple properties/fields and any logic is provided by other classes that consume them (cf. Anemic Domain Model or Data Transfer Object).
If instead you are (de)serializing intelligent objects (like my ViewModel example), there is much more to gain. This goes beyond just validation. If you look at the argument for Rich Domain Models versus Anemic Domain Models, the case is that we are putting the logic that operates on the data with the data itself. That's the entire point of using an Object Oriented language. Presumably you're passing the data around to have some function performed on it. Serialize it into a rich object and put the function on that object so all you have to do is invoke the function. I've touched on the idea in a blog post here.
share|improve this answer
Thanks for your answer. Can you expand on what you mean by "dumb data"? – ltfishie Feb 21 '12 at 17:22
Thanks for the update. So would unstructured data be the same as dumb data? Can you list some other gains besides validation? – ltfishie Feb 21 '12 at 18:00
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Good question. Why indeed? In dynamic OO languages (e.g. Ruby, LUA, Javascript, Python, Perl, and others) every object is basically just a map. You can add new properties and methods to objects at run-time. It's very powerful, but you give up compile-time validation of method calls. It's just not the Java way.
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Properly inserting your eartips guarantees better noise reduction and superior sound quality from your streaming devices. Follow our 6 step guide for properly inserting your eartips:
 1. Screw a single TRILOGY™ foam eartip onto your ISOtunes earbud.
 2. With one hand, roll the foam eartip between your index finger and thumb for 5 seconds.
 3. Continue to squish and compress all sides of the eartip while the opposite hand pulls up on your ear.
 4. Immediately push the earplug into your ear as far as you can (this should not hurt nor feel uncomfortable).
 5. Firmly hold the earplug in your ear for 15 seconds, allowing the foam to fully expand in your ear canal.
 6. Repeat with the second eartip.
If properly inserting your eartips does not deliver optimal noise protection and sound quality, you may be using the wrong size.


text:
Home > Reviews & Submissions
Reviews & Submissions
Once an intervention has been accepted for review, the developer and NREPP staff work together to identify the outcomes and materials that will be used in the review. A review generally takes several months to complete, from the initial scheduling of the kick-off call to the completion of an NREPP intervention summary. The three stages of the review process are summarized below.
- When NREPP is ready to commence the review of an accepted intervention, NREPP staff contact the developer to schedule a kick-off call. This call should include the developer and any other individuals who are closely familiar with the intervention and can provide information related to research and dissemination. These individuals will serve as NREPP's contacts for the remainder of the review process.
- During the kick-off call, developers:
- Meet the NREPP staff who will be involved in the review
- Learn about the NREPP review process and rating criteria
- Work with the NREPP staff to identify additional materials needed for review
- Have an opportunity to ask questions/gain clarification on any part of the NREPP review process
- NREPP staff identify the reviewers who will participate in the review.
- NREPP staff send review packets to two pairs of reviewers. One pair of reviewers focuses on Quality of Research, while the other pair looks at Readiness for Dissemination.
- Each of the reviewers independently reviews the materials provided and calculates ratings using the predefined Quality of Research and Readiness for Dissemination review criteria.
- The reviewers submit their ratings to NREPP.
- If their ratings differ by a significant margin, NREPP staff may hold a consensus conference to discuss and resolve the differences.
- NREPP staff compile the ratings and descriptive information into an intervention summary that is shared with the developer.
- Once the developer approves the intervention summary, SAMHSA reviews the summary and publishes it on the NREPP Web site.


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my car is (probably) a different color than your car, even if we both own ford mustangs.
an 'instance' refers to a specific object that has been created of a given class. each and every car that rolls of the assembly plant is an instance of the car, with it's own color, VIN, odometer reading, etc, but they are all of the same 'Ford Mustang' class. [ October 27, 2008: Message edited by: fred rosenberger ]
There are only two hard things in computer science: cache invalidation, naming things, and off-by-one errors
Joined: Jun 28, 2008
i need some more clarification, still i have not understood.
i am repeating my query, "object says-- my instance variable values can be diffferent from my buddy's values."
I think the book is referring to "buddy's" as another implementation of the respective class. For example, you have your blueprint/superclass named Car with an String instance variable of Color. Now you have two classes that extend Car named Mustang and Bronco. Both of the subclasses will have access to their own Color instance variable from Car, however; it can have different values.
They simply mean that two different instances of the class can have different values.
Let's say there exists a factory method called "getMustang()". You call it like this:
Mustang myMustang = getMustang("Blue");
you get a blue mustang. Now you're a nice guy. you have a buddy or friend who wants a mustang, but he wants a red one. So, you can call the method again:
Mustang myBuddysMustang = getMustang("Red");
now you have two Mustang objects - one is yours, and one is your buddy's. Both have a 'color' instance variable to hold what color the Mustang is, but the two (yours and your buddy's) hold DIFFERENT values.


text:
National Action Plan for Conservation of Gibbons welcomed in Vientiane
The Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) has taken a further step to demonstrate its commitment to protecting globally important biodiversity by launching a national action plan for the conservation of gibbons.
Throughout their range gibbons are under considerable threat, often restricted to isolated patches of forest within a region with some of the highest human population densities in the world, namely South-East Asia. It is a poorly known fact that Lao PDR is one of the most species-rich countries in the world when it comes to gibbons.
Altogether six species of gibbon are known from Lao PDR, among 17 species globally, and the country offers the best chance for long-term survival for at least two of them. Of particular significance are the crested gibbons, of which there are four species in Lao PDR. This is the most endangered genus of gibbons and they are found almost exclusively east of the Mekong River, also in Cambodia, China and Vietnam.
Formally launched on 6 July 2011 in Vientiane, the National Gibbon Conservation Action Plan is a major step towards improving the status of gibbons in Lao PDR. Throughout the latter half of 2010 and early 2011, a technical working group of representatives of the Government of Lao PDR, the National University of Laos, scientists and non-governmental organisations outlined the steps to achieving a goal by 2020 of having gibbon populations in priority areas fully protected and the gibbon status for each species nationwide improving. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) coordinated preparation of the action plan with the Division of Forest Resource Conservation within the Department of Forestry.
Achieving this goal is a considerable challenge within a climate of rapid economic development and natural resource depletion in Lao PDR. The priority for meeting that challenge is clearly stated within the action plan as seriously tackling the issue of hunting.
Even where there is forest degradation, Lao PDR remains blessed with vaster areas of intact forest than most of its immediate neighbours. Hunting therefore remains the main threat to gibbons. Yet hunting is often opportunistic as gibbons have relatively little economic value, but it is also deliberate as gibbons, being arboreal, do not accidentally get caught by traps on the ground.
A combination of improved enforcement and raised awareness are imperative to protecting gibbons in Lao PDR. Already though, there is a traditional appreciation of gibbons in Lao PDR among rural communities, for several reasons, including enjoyment of their entrancing calls or common beliefs that gibbons are manifestations of spirits in the forest.
To achieve the goal of the gibbon conservation action plan, priority locations have been identified for each gibbon species. At some of these locations, gibbons have been receiving attention already to ensure their long-term protection. It is hoped that approval of this action plan will lead to greater support for gibbon conservation at all priority sites throughout the country so improving the chances of survival of some of the world's most endangered primates, while benefitting more of Lao PDR's unique biodiversity.
As noted by the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Forestry, Mr Khamphanh Nanthavong, "Lao PDR has a good opportunity now for retaining its diversity of gibbon species while maintaining them as a resource for future development of the country."
Given sufficient support and interest, the goal of the National Gibbon Conservation Action Plan for Lao PDR is achievable.
Gibbons are apes, like chimps, gorillas and orangutans, and are thus closely related to humans. Native to the forests of Southeast Asia, they are considered to be among nature's greatest acrobats. Gibbons live in close-knit family groups usually comprising a male, one female and their offspring. They also make distinct and complex bird-like calls, called a'song', which they can project up to two kilometres through the forest canopy. Adult family members sing both duets and solos (with the male and female singing different parts) in the early morning to defend their territory. This haunting melody has become part of the folklore of the indigenous people of Southeast Asia.
Gibbon species in Lao PDR
There are six species of gibbons in Lao PDR:
1. Black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor) are globally Critically Endangered and in Lao PDR there is only one location in the northwest of the country known to have a viable population. They are mainly found in China. One area in Vietnam is also known to have a viable population. See _URL_ for more information on this species.
2. Northern white-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) are globally Critically Endangered. Most of the global population is found in Lao PDR. There are also records in China and Vietnam close to the Lao border.
3. Southern white-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus siki) are globally Endangered and only found in central Lao PDR and central Vietnam.
4. Northern buff-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus annamensis) are a newly-described species to science and found in southern Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia.
5. White-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) are listed as globally Endangered and are one of the most widely distributed gibbon species globally ranging from China down to Sumatra, but their situation in Lao PDR is perilous.
6. Pileated gibbons (Hylobates pileatus) is listed as globally Endangered and also found in Thailand and Cambodia, but this species is possibly on the verge of extinction in Lao PDR.
The categories Critically Endangered and Endangered are from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and define the most threatened categories for species still found in the wild.
About the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) _URL_
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN works on biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and greening the world economy by supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world's oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,000 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.
About Fauna & Flora International (FFI) _URL_
FFI is the world's first established international conservation body, founded in 1903. FFI acts to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, are based on sound science and take account of human needs. FFI operates in more than 40 countries world-wide.
About the Division of Forest Resource Conservation
The Division of Forest Resources Conservation, part of the Department of Forestry within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, is responsible for the management and protection of Lao PDR's forest resources. This includes the wildlife residing within those forests, as well as the management of the country's system of National Protected Areas.
Funding for this work:
Our work is only possible through generous donations. Funding support for preparing the National Gibbon Action Plan for Lao PDR came from the United States Embassy in Vientiane, the Arcus Foundation and the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Charlotte Hicks, IUCN Lao PDR. Tel: +856 21 216401; email: _EMAIL_


text:
Definition of Antitoxin
Antitoxin: An antibody capable of destroying microorganisms including viruses and bacteria.
An antitoxin provides passive immunity. For example, if a child gets whooping cough (diphtheria), an antitoxin prepared in horses against diphtheria may be useful in treatment. The antitoxin can only be of short-term value because the antibodies against diphtheria were made by the horse and the child is just the passive recipient of the antibodies.
The antitoxin is directed against a toxin, one of a number of poisons produced by certain plants, animals, and bacteria.
The term "toxin" is frequently used to refer specifically to a particular protein produced by some higher plants, animals and pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. A toxin typically has a high molecular weight (as compared to a simple chemical poison), is antigenic (elicits an antibody response), and is highly poisonous to living creatures.
The word "toxin" comes from the Greek "toxikon" = arrow poison.Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM
Find out what women really need.


text:
How do I update my the NOD32 system?
NOD32 supports both automatic and manual updates. By default, an automatic update task is scheduled after the installation of NOD32. If necessary, a manual update can be forced by clicking the Update now button in the main update panel.
For update to work properly, the following conditions must be fullfilled:
Update over LAN:
- a correct user name and password must be specified in the update setup panel (if either the server or worsktation is running an NT-based system and updates are not retrieved through
- Update through a share/mapped drive: a valid server must be selected (we recommend to use UNC paths intead of mapped drives which may not work on some systems)
- Update through http: NOD32 Update http mirror
must be active. On clients, the local mirror address should be added and
chosen as primary update server (e.g. http://192.168.10.3:8080).
Update from the Internet:
- a correct and valid user name and password must be specified in the update setup panel
- the update server should be set to automatic selection (which is, by
- an Internet connection must be established at the time an update is performed


Octopus Deploy Documentation
Build versions and packaging in Team Build
Last updated
Correctly versioning the packages you deploy with Octopus Deploy is important so the right version gets deployed at the right time. With Azure DevOps and Team Foundation Server (TFS), specifying a package version isn't always straightforward.
This guide shows you how best to version your builds and packages in Azure DevOps and TFS, whether you're using OctoPack, or the Octopus Extension in the Visual Studio Marketplace.
Build numbers in Team Build
In Team Build (the build system in Azure DevOps and TFS), build numbers may be in a format that doesn't represent a valid SemVer number.
For example, Microsoft's Build Number format documentation gives an example: $(TeamProject)_$(BuildDefinitionName)_$(SourceBranchName)_$(Date:yyyyMMdd)$(Rev:.r) will result in a version number like Fabrikam_CIBuild_master_20090805.2.
While this is a valid Team Build build number, it can cause issues when trying to pack the build output into a NuGet package or zip file for Octopus.
Packages used by Octopus must conform to SemVer 1.0 or 2.0 depending on the version of Octopus you're using.
The link above explains versioning in detail, but in its simplest form it means two things:
 1. Numbered versions in 3 or 4 segments that can be interpreted as major.minor.patch, with an optional "prerelease tag" afterwards in the form -tag.
 2. Versions can be sorted predictably. For example, 1.2.3 is newer than 1.2.0.
As you can see, a package version of Fabrikam_CIBuild_master_20090805.2 won't be valid will cause issues!
Setting a SemVer-compliant build number
The recommendations below generally rely on the build number itself being SemVer compliant. To do this, you can change the build number format.
Our recommended build number format is: x.y.$(BuildID) where x and y are integers. You can change them when you want to bump a version. This format will produce a three-part version number like 1.2.350.
Recommended Build format
If you have a build for a separate branch, it's a good idea to add the version tag. For example: x.y.$(BuildID)-feature-1 will produce a version number like 1.2.350-feature1. Even better, you can use the $(Build.SourceBranchName) variable to set it to the branch name.
The only downside of this numbering format is the $(BuildID) variable always increases, and does so at the Project Collection level. That means it doesn't reset when you increment your major and minor versions, and if you have multiple builds in your Collection, numbers will be skipped.
Other extensions such as gitversion can also be used to easily get SemVer compliant build numbers.
Packaging in Team Build
There are two standard ways to package your build output in Team Build. The first is to use OctoPack, and the second is to use the build tasks in the Octopus marketplace extension.
You can mix and match these two methods. For example, you might prefer to use OctoPack and the /p:RunOctoPack MS Build argument, but then use the Push and Create Release tasks from the extension.
Octopack and.NET Core
Octopack is not compatible with.NET core and we suggest using the extension instead.
Versioning when using OctoPack
Unless told otherwise, OctoPack will attempt to set the package version itself. You can see exactly how it tries to find a version on this documentation page.
More often than not, the version number will come from the [assembly: AssemblyVersion] attribute found in the AssemblyInfo.cs file (usually in the Properties folder of your project).
The assembly version number doesn't always behave the way we want. It may not change, and if it does, it may not change sequentially.
Setting the AssemblyVersion number to x.y.* will fix the two most common problems here. A version like 1.0.* will result in an always-increasing version number.
 1. If the version number is fixed (e.g., Octopus will complain that the package number already exists.
 2. If the version number only changes "revision" number (e.g. 1.0.0.*), numbers can repeat.
One problem remains - particularly for web projects. If you only change content files, triggering a new build won't update the version number because Team Build realizes no compilable code has changed. OctoPack won't get a new version number!
OctoPack recommendation
To solve all these issues, we recommend using the /p:OctoPackPackageVersion argument when using OctoPack. This lets you specify the version directly, and you can use build variables to specify the version number.
 1. Set the build definition build number format (described above) to a valid SemVer version.
 2. Add the appropriate /p:OctoPackPackageVersion MSBuild argument:
 - In the new build engine (Azure DevOps and from TFS 2015 onwards): /p:OctoPackPackageVersion=$(Build.BuildNumber)
 - In the older XAML-based builds: /p:OctoPackPackageVersion=$(TF_BUILD_BUILDNUMBER). You may also need to do some extra work for certain build definitions.
You can use the additional MSBuild arguments for OctoPack to give yourself more control over the packaging process.
Versioning when using the Octopus build tasks
If you're using the new Octopus Deploy extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace, you'll have access to a new Package Application build task.
Package application build task
This task does not provide you with a default version number - this is something you have to set yourself. Clearly it wouldn't be feasible to change this value every time you do a build, so we recommend you make use of the build variables that Team Build provides.
Build and Release variables can be found in the Microsoft Documentation, but the more useful ones include:
 - $(Build.BuildNumber) - This is the full build number (see above for setting an appropriate format).
 - $(Build.BuildID) - This is a unique, incrementing ID at the Project collection level. Every new build will give you a new number.
 - $(Build.SourceBranchName) - this is the last path segment in the name of the branch. For example, a branch of refs/heads/master will return master.
Build task recommendation
There are two options we recommend for specifying a version number to the Package Application task.
 1. Use a combination of static values and variables directly. For example, 1.0.$(Build.BuildID) will always give you a new version number.
 2. Use the full build number, and format that number appropriately as described above.
We recommend the second option for a few reasons.
First, it's very easy to match the build to the package because they'll have the same number, and secondly, if you have multiple pack steps, you only need to change a single version number.
Specifying the files to pack and push
One of the frequent causes of issues when using the Octopus build tasks is properly specifying the folders to pack and the NuGet package to push. Especially if you're using the hosted build server, it can be hard to figure out where everything ends up when the build is running.
Rather than guessing, it can be helpful to specify these folders specifically. Again, there are some useful build variables you can make use of.
 - $(Build.SourcesDirectory) - the location of your source before it gets built.
 - $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory) - A staging location for artifacts - useful for output files you want to use later (e.g. Nuget files).
 1. Use the /p:outdir= MSBuild argument in your compile step to specify where the compiled code should end up.
 2. In the Package Application step, put the location from step 1 into the Source Path field.
 3. In the Package Application step, put a new location into the Output Path field.
 4. In the Push Package(s) to Octopus step, specify the full path and filename from step 3 above.
By way of example, here's a nicely-configured set of build, pack, and push steps.
Example Build Step
Example Package Step
Example Push Step
Need support? We're here to help.


text: Immunogerontological studies in man have often led to conflicting results. One of the main reasons is the selection of the subjects to be studied. Admission criteria such as "apparently healthy" or "without overt disease" seem insufficient to exclude underlying disease which might influence the immune system and thereby the results. In an attempt to solve this problem, the SENIEUR protocol described in this paper was developed by a working party in the framework of the EURAGE Concerted Action Programme on Ageing of the European Community. This protocol establishes strict admission criteria for immunogerontological studies in man based on clinical information and laboratory data, and it sets limits to pharmacological interference. The use of this protocol will lead to standardization between centers and also to a closer study of the influence of age as such on the immune system. These findings in the immunologically "optimally aged" can also serve as reference values for immunogerontological studies in subjects who do not meet the SENIEUR criteria. In this way the use of this protocol can contribute to the dissection of the influence of disease versus ageing on the immune system.


text:
Frozen iPod is nothing new for most users. In fact, it is something that is being experienced from time to time. iPod Touch is in a way durable even if they could experience freezing at some point. Fixing it could be simple, although in severe cases, the iPod Touch might be replaced.
One of the reasons leading to iPod frozen is the presence of corrupted files. When this happens, the operating system is not likely to know what to do with the file causing a freeze. Other reasons include lack of memory, physical freezes and in some cases, no battery.
Part 1 How to Fix Frozen iPod
1 Steps to Fix iPod Touch Frozen
iPod Touch is prone to freeze from time to time. However, when it happens, follow the steps below to fix it.
- First, you have to hold down the Wake/Sleep button that is found on the top of iPod Touch till a red slider comes up to the screen. Slide your finger across the slider to turn off your iPod Touch. Then restart your iPod Touch. (If the red slider never comes up even by pressing the button for 25 seconds, you need to reset it.)
- Reset the iPod Touch by holding down the Wake/Sleep button and Home button at the same time for about 10 seconds, then the Apple logo will appear.
- Connect your iPod Touch to an adapter and wait for it to charge.
- Press the Home button to check your iPod Touch's battery status.
- Update the iPod Touch's firmware through iTunes as you connect it to your computer.
- If the Home button is still unresponsive, restore your iPod Touch to factory settings through iTunes.
2 Steps to Fix Click-Wheel iPod frozen
Is your clickwheel iPod Touch frozen? Don't worry, the following steps will fix it.
- Check Hold switch, move it to On position and then to Off position.
- Restart the iPod by holding down the Menu button on the click – wheel as well as the center button at the same time.
- Repeat the steps above if it fails.
- Then plug iPod to a power source and charge it appropriately.
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How does the weight of a pendulum effect its oscillation time.
Extracts from this document...
Liam Kelly
How does the weight of a pendulum effect its oscillation time
The key factors that could affect this experiment are that the length of pendulum varying will change how far it has to swing to complete an oscillation.
The weight of the pendulum will have a effect on the oscillation time because the pendulum will have more weights which will increase the surface area for air resistance to take place this is the only possible way the weight of the pendulum will affect the oscillation time because, gravity is a standard force, so the weight will not effect the amount of gravity taking place.
The angle at which it is dropped at is another key factor because, if it is dropped from higher up it has longer to pick up speed so therefore it shall travel higher up giving it a longer oscillation time. If the pendulum is dropped from a lower then it shall have less time to pick up speed and so will not travel as high up on the other side.
...read more.
Weight Of Pendulum
Average length of time
...read more.
We could have improved our test by having a beam and when it is broke by the pendulum the fifth time the pendulum breaks the beam it could stop timing so it would be the same reaction time for all, we could have had a stand or something to hold the pendulum in place before it is dropped that way we could be sure it was from the same spot each time.
In our experiment there was some slightly out of place results in our experiment but they're no severe ones that could be anomalous results.
 We could have investigated a further 1000g so we went to 2000g to see if after every 500g there was a jump in time of nearly a second our so, like there was in our experiment. We could also continue to the point of were we have added so much weight that it could not complete 5 oscillations to the same height as it started. We could also have tried the experiment at different temperatures to see what effect, if any it had on the oscillation times.
...read more.
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John V. Murra, a professor of anthropology who culled voluminous Spanish colonial archives for research that reshaped the image of the Incas and their vast South American empire, died on Oct. 16 at his home in Ithaca, N.Y. He was 90.
The death was confirmed by Blaine Friedlander, a spokesman for Cornell University, where Professor Murra taught from 1968 until his retirement in 1982.
"Before he came along, the image of the Incas was one of barbaric splendor," said Frank Salomon, the John V. Murra professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But Professor Murra's work "forged a radically new image" of that empire, Professor Salomon said — one based on an intricate and often ceremonial exchange of produce as gifts among tribal kinfolk. They hiked from the edges of the rain forest to meet those living at the heights of the Andes, ensuring each other's survival by trading key lowland crops like maize and potatoes for scarce mountain goods like llama and alpaca wool. That economic system was named "the vertical archipelago" by Professor Murra.
"His 'vertical archipelago' model has been verified through research
that archaeologists have since done in the Andean zone," said Heather
Lechtman, a professor of archaeology and ancient technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
While some experts debate aspects of the theory, Professor Lechtman
said, "This is certainly the accepted model for the central Andes."
- Click here for the rest of the obituary
Murra's papers are at the National Anthropological Archives of the Smithsonian Institution, according to a press release issued in 2005 announcing the availability of a finding aid [.pdf] to the collection. The press release also includes additional biographical information:
The National Anthropological Archives is pleased to announce the availability of a Register to the Papers of John Victor Murra, an anthropologist and ethnohistorian whose research focuses on Andean cultures and the Caribbean. Murra is the author of Survey and Excavations in Southern Ecuador (with Don Collier, 1943); The Economic Organization of the Inca State (1956); Cloth and its Functions in the Inca State (1962); Current Research and Prospects in Andean Ethnohistory (1970); Formaciones económicas y políticas del mundo andino (1975); Historia general de América Latina / 1. Las sociedades originales (with Teresa Rojas Rabiela, 1999); and El mundo andino: población, medio ambiente y economía (2002), and is the editor of American Anthropology, the Early Years (1976) and Anthropological History of Andean Polities (with Nathan Wachtel and Jacques Revel, 1986).
Trained at the University of Chicago, Murra taught at Chicago, Vassar, the University of Puerto Rico, Brooklyn College, Yale and Cornell, and held visiting professorships in Chile, England, France, Peru and Spain. He served as the president of the American Society of Ethnohistory (1970-71), the American Ethnological Society (1972-73), and the Institute of Andean Research (1977-83). Murra's efforts to cultivate educational opportunities for South American graduate students and promote an international dialogue among students produced three well known programs: the Comparative Seminar on the Andes and Mesoamerica (1972), the Lake Titicaca field project (1973) and the Otoño Andino held at Cornell University (1977).
Following his retirement from Cornell, Murra served as a consultant to the Banco Nacional de Bolivia at the Museo Nacional de Etnografía, La Paz. In 1983, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship to pursue archival research in Spain, later teaching at the Universities of Madrid and Seville and at the Institut Catalá d'Antropologi in Barcelonia (1985-86). He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun, Peru, and Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad de Barcelona. Murra currently lives in Ithaca, New York.


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10.2 Geostrophic Equations
The geostrophic balance requires that the Coriolis force balance the horizontal pressure gradient. The equations for geostrophic balance are derived from the equations of motion assuming the flow has no acceleration, du/dt = dv/dt = dw/dt = 0; that horizontal velocities are much larger than vertical, w << u, v; that the only external force is gravity; and that friction is small. With these assumptions (7.12) become
where f = 2 Ω sin φ is the Coriolis parameter. These are the geostrophic equations.
The equations can be written:
where p0 is atmospheric pressure at z = 0, and ζ is the height of the sea surface. Note that we have allowed for the sea surface to be above or below the surface z = 0; and the pressure gradient at the sea surface is balanced by a surface current us.
Substituting (10.7b) into (10.7a) gives:
where we have used the Boussinesq approximation, retaining full accuracy for ρ only when calculating pressure.
In a similar way, we can derive the equation for v.
If the ocean is homogeneous and density and gravity are constant, the first term on the right-hand side of (10.8) is equal to zero; and the horizontal pressure gradients within the ocean are the same as the gradient at z = 0. This is barotropic flow described in §10.4.
If the ocean is stratified, the horizontal pressure gradient has two terms, one due to the slope at the sea surface, and an additional term due to horizontal density differences. These equations include baroclinic flow also discussed in §10.4. The first term on the right-hand side of (10.8) is due to variations in density ρ(z), and it is called the relative velocity. Thus calculation of geostrophic currents from the density distribution requires the velocity (u0, v0) at the sea surface or at some other depth.
|Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
Robert H. Stewart, _EMAIL_
All contents copyright © 2005 Robert H. Stewart,
All rights reserved
Updated on October 17, 2005


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Mission Statement and Aims
The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program's mission is to provide substantial clinical experience in all phases of recovery from addictive disorders across a variety of settings (academic, acute inpatient care, residential care, intensive outpatient care, office-based care, emergency care, and community care) and health-care systems.
The program aims for the fellows are as follows:
- Expert evaluation and management of both common and less common addictive disorders.
- Competent and effective consultations for non-specialist and non-psychiatry providers.
- Comfort using and citing primary sources for delivery of evidence-based care.
- Education of learners at various levels of training, including 3rd and 4th year Geisel medical students, DHMC and UVM psychiatry residents, internal medicine residents, pain medicine fellows, headache/neurology fellows, social work interns, psychology interns, and nursing students.
- Achieving competence at delivery of medication-assisted therapy including methadone at opioid treatment centers, office-based buprenorphine treatment, monthly injectable treatment including naltrexone and buprenorphine, and medications for treatment of alcohol use disorder.
- Managing withdrawal of addictive substances with both pharmacological and non-pharmacological support.
- Developing competence and confidence at diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
- Delivering evidence-based group therapy. Leading a multi-disciplinary team of providers in delivery of addiction services.
- Engaging in scholarly projects in coordination with the program director and appropriate faculty mentors.
- Developing confidence and competence in meeting the needs of adolescents with addictive disorders and co-occurring psychiatric illness.


Algonquin Downtown Plan
Traditional downtown districts face competing and sometimes conflicting interests (e.g. historic preservation and new development) when it comes to revitalization. To overcome this issue in downtown Algonquin a large and diverse representation of downtown stakeholders were engaged to participate on the project steering committee. These participants oversaw the public engagement portion of the project with the specific objective of developing a balanced and beneficial plan for the entire community. Serving as ambassadors for their constituents interests, these participants encouraged attendance at workshop meetings, distributed surveys, provided input for their respective groups, and developed consensus to ensure the success of the plan.
Community Engagement
Village of Algonquin
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning


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POPE-RACISM (UPDATED) Aug-18-2008 (410 words) With photos. xxxi
Pope urges church to help overcome racism in modern society
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI warned that racism is alive in modern society, and he urged the church to help overcome all forms of racial intolerance.
He said racism today is often tied to economic and social problems. Although such problems may be real, they can never justify racial discrimination, he said Aug. 17.
While the pontiff did not mention specific countries, his words had an immediate echo in Italy, where a series of government actions against illegal immigrants have prompted strong debate inside and outside the church.
The pope, addressing pilgrims at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo outside Rome, began his remarks by quoting the prophet Isaiah about the "foreigners" who will be included in the Lord's universal house of prayer.
Likewise, the pope said, the church today is made up of people of every race and culture, and part of its mission is to help forge bonds of communion between races.
That task includes "helping civil society to overcome any possible temptation to racism, intolerance and exclusion," he said.
"One of humanity's great achievements is, in fact, overcoming racism," he said.
The pope said various countries had "new, worrisome signs of racism, often tied to social and economic problems," but such problems could "never justify racial contempt and discrimination."
The pope asked for prayers so that mutual acceptance may grow in the world.
In Italy, some Catholics have criticized the government's new crackdown on illegal immigration and other security measures, saying they are racially discriminatory.
Some of the strongest criticism came after the government, led by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, announced plans to fingerprint every Gypsy who lives in Italy. The Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana, Italy's top-selling newsweekly, said the plan was evidence of a "creeping racism."
In mid-August, Famiglia Cristiana stepped up its criticism of the Berlusconi government, saying in effect that officials were provoking a "war among the poor" instead of dealing with Italy's real criminal problems. The comments prompted an outcry.
On Aug. 14, the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said that while Famiglia Cristiana was an important Catholic magazine its views represented its own editorial line and not necessarily that of the Vatican or the Italian bishops.
Members of the political parties that form the governing coalition said the spokesman's statement represented a clear distancing of the Vatican from the magazine's criticism.
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · _PHONE_


text:
Use buttons to control the motors
After the project file is downloaded locally, it can be imported into MakeCode for viewing and re-editing, or it can be burned directly to micro:bit via USB to run.
- Stop when starting or resetting.
- Press the button A and B at the same time to go straight.
- Press button A to turn right.
- Press the button B to turn left.
InHardware analysis and calibration: Drive circuit,There is a switch in the drive circuit, which can switch the drive circuit from LM393 voltage comparator control to micro:bit control. The micro:bit control method of the drive circuit is the same as the LM393 voltage comparator, starting at low level and stopping at high level.


Main Content
A People So Bold: the Justice UU University Track
Justice and Congregational Mission
 - How does our faith hold brokenness, injustice, suffering?
 - How do we develop prophetic voice?
 - How do we create prophetic congregations?
 - How do we mend a broken world?
Congregations which thrive focus not only on serving their members, but understand that serving the larger world is central to their mission. The Justice Track provided tools so that justice work is focused, effective and relevant to the whole congregation and the wider community.
 - Rev. Meg Riley, Director, Advocacy and Witness, Unitarian Universalist Association
 - Rev. Louise Green, Minister for Social Justice, All Souls in Washington, DC
Dean Biographies
Presenter Biographies
Event Reports
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:: Mens Clothes
:: White Teeth
:: Cosmetics
:: Fashions
:: Flags
:: Wigs
Hair and Wigs
The colonial wigmaker created wigs which were sold to the gentry and successful businessmen of Williamsburg. They could get them made of horse, goat, yak, or human hair. The wigmaker's could weave hair into the latest fashion look from Europe.
In colonial times, a few women wore wigs, but most had their own hair styled, with added bows, or dried flowers.
Near the end of the century, hair got bigger -- they were gigantic that took a long time to arrange, and they were left like that for many weeks.
There was wire in the hair and padding to make it bigger. Wool or thread was made into curls and added to the hairdo. These huge hairdos might be three feet tall (as high as a doorknob is from the floor) and it could be covered in pins, feathers, ribbons and fake flowers. Keeping all that in place was tricky and women would sleep with their head on a wooden block to sleep! For folks who weren't taking many baths, unwashed hair could have fleas and lice.
Formal events were a busy time for the barber and wigmaker, especially twice a year during "Public Times," when courts were in session.
Wig Styles
Periwigs or perukes are styles of wigs. they were buggy, expensive, and hot. They came in brown, black or grey, which they called grizzle. Some men shaved their heads so wigs would fit better and not be so hot.
The bag wig was held in a bag at the back of the head. A bob wig was very fluffy on the sides, and a ramillies wig had a braid called a queue. Wigs might be powdered. They were sent out to the wigmaker or barber to be cleaned with sand and curled with curlers made of clay and called buckles. They still came back with bugs in them.
In Colonial Williamsburg today, guides in costumes demonstrate how to make wigs from human hair as in colonial times.
Girls kept hair covered all time, even in the house they wore hats and hoods or kerchiefs. Boys had long hair, and some boys wore wigs. Some wigs are of real hair, and some horsehair, cow, goat hair.
They wore wigs made of wire. Some men put white powder on wigs, on a windy day, which blew away like snow
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Why we want what we want: A new book looks to explain it all Add to...
"The enjoyment we get from something derives from what we think that thing is.... For a painting, it matters who the artist was; for a story, it matters whether it is truth or fiction; for a steak, we care about what sort of animal it came from; for sex, we are strongly affected by who we think our sexual partner really is."
More Related to this Story
In How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like, Yale psychologist Paul Bloom looks at how things gratify us, from sex, food and art, to celebrity memorabilia and our own imaginations.
Drawing on research in neuroscience, child development and behavioural economics, Prof. Bloom argues that while human sexual desires used to be driven by evolution, many today have little to do with survival or reproduction. He spoke with The Globe and Mail from New Haven, Conn.
You write that pleasure is rooted in essentialism. What do you mean by that?
The argument that I make in my book concerning sexuality and romance is that what arouses us isn't just superficial. We don't merely respond to certain sights, smells and sensations. Rather, a lot of our response is dictated by who we think we're responding to. Essentialism has an adaptive benefit. It pays off, from an evolutionary point of view, to care about invisible aspects of people, to fall in love with specific individuals.
What about the places where pleasure veers off evolutionary course, like fetishes? You write about foot and high heel shoe fetishists. You say we aren't sexually aroused by trees but there is objectum sexuality disorder, with people falling for roller coasters and the Eiffel Tower. How do you explain that in terms of pleasure?
If anybody tells you they know what's going on in fetishes, they're lying to you. Nobody has the foggiest idea. People tell their cockamamie behaviourist stories, which is that someone is approaching sexual release and his eyes happen to fall upon a woman's shoe. But why a shoe? Why not an alarm clock, or a lamp?
You preface a discussion on pleasure and sexual fetishes such as foot fetishes with a turkey study conducted in the 1950s, in which male turkeys were aroused by a lifelike model of a female turkey. The researchers began taking the replica apart, eventually leaving only the head behind, but the turkeys were still trying to mount the head.
Male turkeys are just turkeys. They can be aroused by very minimal stimuli.
"People can be turkeys," you write. "We can be transfixed by a body part while being indifferent to the person who comes with it."
That's the way fetishes are stupid. They're stupid because they're like the male turkey trying to mount the head. You're triggered by something, like a foot or something, without access to all the richness and complexity of normal desire.
What about pornography, which is far more widespread than foot fetishes? You point out that even animals look at porn, describing experiments with rhesus monkeys who gave up their fruit juice to look at photos of female monkey hindquarters.
Monkey porn.
Why do humans get pleasure from pornographic images?
The story of pornography is an accident. We've grown smart enough that we can fool ourselves into thinking we're looking at real world things. [Pornography]works by exploiting the fact that to some extent, we're indifferent to the difference between reality and fiction.
You quote psychologist Geoffrey Miller, who argued that the human penis evolved to be longer, thicker and more flexible than the penises of other primates so that men can give women more sexual pleasure, and that women are drawn to men who can give them that. You also point out that women don't have to orgasm to get pregnant. So what is the evolutionary benefit of that particular pleasure?
It's a huge debate - and I'm agnostic. One view is that it's an adaptation, that [female]orgasm helps the intake of sperm or facilitates pair bonding between males and females. If the female receives a rush of pleasure, she becomes more attached to the male and all sorts of good things arise from it. The other view is that it's an accident, that the female clitoris is just a homologue of a male penis.
You argue that our minds and sexuality are "not rationally calibrated to modern times." You point out society's unrelenting focus on virginity with people like Natalie Dylan, who tried to auction off her virginity.
For men, virginity matters a lot and there's an evolutionary rationale for that. The man can be confident that any children arising from sexual contact are his. From a genetic point of view, the worst possible fate for a man is to devote his life to raising children that do not contain his genetic material. That's from the natural selection point of view.... Humans are smart enough to create social systems where the genes don't really matter, but our biology and our minds have not evolved to be that smart. A lot of our desires are calibrated from our evolutionary past and they don't make sense, but that doesn't make them go away.
At the same time, you write that the mind is ultimately much more than a "Machiavellian schemer" or "data cruncher:" it's also an "entertainment centre, shaped by the forces of sexual selection to give pleasure to others."
What some evolutionary theorists argue, somewhat convincingly, is that a lot of what goes on when there are forces of evolution at play is that we be entertaining to one another. This is because we select each other as mates, as friends. They could please you by being pretty, funny and clever, so we've evolved to be pretty and funny and clever.
Does it take some of the pleasure out of pleasure to dissect it like this?
People always wonder that. There's a quote from Keats about the rainbow being less pretty once it was explained, but I don't think so. A theory of why you like art or sex or food doesn't make the pleasure go away. If anything, it has the chance of enhancing it because once you know how something works, you can exploit that knowledge for your own pleasurable benefit.
This interview has been condensed and edited.
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Bird Feeders : Meadowlark
The Meadowlark is a short and stocky bird that can be described as having brown upper parts, yellow under parts, black breast, and pointed bill. It can be found in places like British Columbia, Manitoba, Michigan, Texas, Mexico, Utah, and Arkansas. It commonly dwells in areas like plains, meadows, and prairies. Meadowlarks prefer grasslands and areas with vegetation.
The diet of meadowlarks mainly consists of insects like crickets, grasshoppers, cut works and grubs. However they also eat seeds and grains. They feed more often than not on top of the ground or just beneath the soil.
If you want to attract meadowlarks into your feeder, make sure to set up perches by your feeder so that the meadowlark can perch on it while it feeds or sings. In addition, you have to protect secondary habitat types that meadowlarks like to inhabit, such as grasses and other vegetation. Avoid spraying insecticides near your feeder and put a lot of waste grains and seeds on the feeder to attract more meadowlarks. Do not spray herbicides on the weeds that bear seeds that meadowlarks eat. For this reason, it is also more beneficial to grow the weeds. Remember to protect the perch and feeder area with fence posts to protect the meadowlark against competition or predators.
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