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Desiree's Place > General > What is it about bartenders?
What is it about bartenders?
February 27, 2014 | General | 1 |
Author Kerry Vail wants to know.
I love bartenders. I don't know why. It isn't that they serve beer and other yummy drinks. Well, maybe that is part of it, but there's something else. Maybe it started with Cheers (A lot of you are probably too young to remember that show), and other shows where bars were safe places to go talk about your troubles. Where you could find people who would listen, and even commiserate. And you could get a beer.
Add in a fine young (or fine, not-so-young) bartender who has a hefty dose of charisma, and it's no wonder I am easily smitten—at least for an evening. Who doesn't like feeling special—being given a drink, asked about your day by someone who is actually listening (or doing a darn good job pretending), and then smiled at and left alone to think for a while? Just the right amount of interaction. No prying. Plenty of time to stare at people, plenty of time to think. And then offered another beer or another drink.
Yeah, I tip good bartenders well. I remember being a waitress and how difficult a job that was (yes, I tip good waitresses well, too). Bartenders have a difficult job. Bartenders are responsible for not letting sad people or too-happy people drink too much. For not letting kids drink at all. For making the best damn margarita at the end of the worst day and serving it with salt and a smile. That's a lot of responsibility. They have to stay on their feet and provide service with a smile for hours on end. Sure, we all think it would be fun to make mixed drinks—but I'd imagine that doing it for hours on end for days on end would be a lot of hard work.
The bartender that inspired Wally (the bartender in Artist's Touch) was a great bartender. I watched him for a couple of hours as he went about serving people. He was adorable, attentive, and charming. I tipped him well when he brought me my Bass Ale. He'd smile, ask me about Green Day, and make small talk, then move on to help someone else. Perfect amount of chat. Heck, if I could have folded him up and put him in my purse without being arrested, I would have. But, I left him there in Philadelphia in the little college bar where he could make lots of other people smile.
I loved coming up with Wally's story, and I hope you'll check it out. It holds a dear place in my heart and represents my love for the sweet bartender I met in Philly.
Artist's Touch
The Guild, book one (Sculptor's Desire and Guitarist's Wish coming soon!)
By Kerry Adrienne
Every starlet wants master painter Kenon Alavi to do her portrait…and more. But Kenon prefers firm to soft and sates his desires with the boyfriends of the women he paints, enjoying the diversity of many lovers but shunning any attachments.
Wallace Harte's English degree isn't helping him find a job and working at a bar is the closest he's gotten to being the Second Coming of Faulkner. Something's gotta give soon or he'll be out on the street.
Kenon zeroes in on the bartender at an art exhibition, intending to add him to his long list of conquests, but Wally bolts, initiating a heated game of cat and mouse. Kenon delights in the game until he discovers what Wally is writing. Feeling betrayed, Kenon swears off all entanglements until he reads Wally's story and discovers true love is sometimes between the pages and not the sheets.
Inside Scoop: This book contains hot, sexy scenes of M/M interaction of an artistic nature. Who knew having your portrait painted could be so hot?
A Romantica® gay erotic romance from Ellora's Cave
By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.
An Excerpt From: ARTIST'S TOUCH
Copyright © KERRY ADRIENNE, 2014
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Another day, another drink for those who had dollars. Wally slipped the candied cherry into the Manhattan and handed the glass to the tall brunette leaning against the bar. With barely a nod, the woman slinked away as if on skates, joining one of the clusters of patrons waiting on Kenon Alavi's arrival. The artist, notorious for being late, probably wouldn't arrive for another ten minutes at least. Light jazz floated through the air from the ensemble set up in the far corner and spots of colored lights beamed up the walls to the tall ceilings that arched over the studio space. This would make a great setting for a novel, Wally mused. Too bad he didn't have the plot to go along with it. His creativity had hit an impasse as cliché as the proverbial brick wall.
"Martini. Wet and stirred, no olive, no twist." The man put his hand on the bar and looked over his shoulder toward the gallery door. "I'm tired of waiting. Don't care how special Alavi thinks he is, my time's important too." He tapped his fingers on the bar. "Annoying bastard. Wouldn't be here if my wife wasn't so keen on having him paint her."
Wally pulled out the glass for the martini, not speaking to the customer. He'd been hired to make drinks, not socialize. The man was just complaining anyway. He wasn't really expecting a conversation, especially from the bartender. Plus, tonight Wally had to remember all the different highbrow cocktails. He rarely served anything but beer and frozen drinks back at the Cellar Bar. He poured the vermouth into the sloped glass, then stirred the concoction. As long as Mr. Alavi paid his wage, who cared when he actually showed up? His gala, his schedule.
"Told her we could get a portrait done for a lot less but she insists on this guy." The finger tapping grew more vigorous. "He's refused her calls for two months now. Arrogant bastard."
Wally nodded and set the drink in front of the man. Mr. Alavi sounded like a typical snobby artist. Big surprise. "Here you go, sir. Wet and stirred. No olive, no twist."
"Top shelf?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow. He toyed with the rim of the glass, running his finger around it as if he was checking for chips.
"It's all we serve," Wally mumbled, wiping up a few drops of condensation from the top of the bar. Alavi's guests were snobby too. "Only the best." Bottles of fine alcohol that could pay off his student loans with cash left over for a few months of rent. He looked out over the room of people. Wealth and privilege as far as he could see, well, except for the musicians in the corner. He smiled. At least they were making a living off their art. One day he would too—if he could ever shed his writer's block.
The man shrugged and tipped up the glass, finishing off the cocktail in one gulp. He held the glass to the light and examined it, then set it on the bar. "Good thing Alavi has an open bar at this reception. Otherwise, I'd leave right now, no matter what my wife said. I'll take another, please. The same." He resumed his tapping.
Wally took out a new glass and prepared the man's drink. The jazz music was making him sleepy. He'd much prefer something a little more lively. Having spent the previous night out on the town dancing to a club beat didn't help. But he couldn't refuse the extra money this bartending gig would put in his pocket. He pushed the glass over to the man and tried not to yawn.
Silence hit the entire room at once, echoing off the vaulted ceiling in thick waves. Someone gasped, then the patrons broke into applause. Mr. Alavi had arrived. The large front doors banged closed and the music softened.
Drink forgotten, the man strode off to join the mass of bodies that now moved as one as they pushed toward the door where Mr. Alavi waited to be greeted. Wally squinted to see what the excitement was but the crowd blocked his sightline. He'd heard the artist put on quite the spectacle and with the number of people and amount of money spent on the reception tonight, he didn't doubt it for a second.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea in front of Moses and a man walked toward the grand doors that led to the open studio in the back of the room.
Wally stared.
Mr. Alavi's stopped to shake hands with a tall gentleman and then moved on through the crowd. Light glinted like a beacon off the silver brooch at his throat. Murmurs filled the room—whispers, really. Like a creature of the night, Mr. Alavi was dressed in black from head to toe with a few flashes of silver sparkle sprinkled here and there. God, why did all the handsome men have to be rich and unattainable? Alavi was probably straight too. Life was definitely not fair.
Wally reached for the two martini glasses and bumped one over. He caught the stem of the second one just as the glass bowl shattered against the bar. His heart pounded and blood rushed to his ears. When he looked up, Mr. Alavi was staring at him, looking him right in the eye with a piercing gaze and unreadable expression. Everyone in the room watched. Wally's face flooded with heat and sweat trickled down the back of his tuxedo shirt. Fuck.
"Sorry," he stammered to no one in particular.
Before anyone could respond, Mr. Alavi moved in his direction and Wally's throat tightened. Would he fire him on the spot? He began picking up pieces of glass and dropping them into the bar wastebasket, avoiding Mr. Alavi's approach. Way to go, Wally, blow your chance to earn some extra cash. The one glass probably cost more than the night's wages.
He bent to drop a large piece of glass into the trashcan, still holding on to the marble bar with his free hand. He squeezed his eyes closed. He'd get through this. Bile rushed into his throat. Why did he always screw things up? He took a deep breath. What was the worst thing that could happen? He'd been fired before and for worse offences.
A warm hand covered his, sending a wave of fear up his arm. Wally stood, coming face-to-face with Mr. Alavi. Wally wanted to pull his hand away and run but fifty wealthy snobs would stop him before he made it to the front door and onto the New York streets. He was trapped.
"Everything okay?" Mr. Alavi asked, his voice as smooth and dark as his slick black satin shirt.
Wally met the man's gaze—green eyes lined in kohl, set in warm skin that shimmered in the bar light. Black spiky hair dusted with glitter.
Mr. Alavi squeezed his hand and Wally shivered.
"I said, is everything okay?"
"Y-y-yes," Wally stammered. Even from over the bar, he could tell that Mr. Alavi was tall, well over six feet. His shoulders broadened and then tapered to trim hips. Wally's mouth filled with saliva. The man was hot. Even if he was about to fire him for breaking the barware.
Avoiding eye contact, Wally studied the black leather jacket Mr. Alavi wore. It was no rental but made to slip around his body like water, hugging the right places, with a few silver studs and spikes on one shoulder. Designer-made, no doubt. In place of a tie, he wore a silver serpent brooch pinned at the neck, its eyes made of tiny rubies and its forked tongue licking out.
Wally gulped and his already-warm face burned. The man must think he was an idiot, drooling and fumbling like a fool. The crowd had gone back to chattering and mumbling but a few people still glared toward the bar, probably annoyed that Wally had taken the artist's attention away. Mr. Alavi lifted his hand and pulled Wally farther down the bar, away from the rest of the broken glass. The artist looked out at the crowd. Wally didn't see the look he gave them but anyone staring suddenly turned away and ignored the scene at the bar. The man had the power, no question about it. This was his scene and his alone. Wally's pulse quickened. At least he wouldn't be totally humiliated by stares when Alavi fired him.
"What's your name?" Alavi asked, squeezing Wally's hand.
"W-w-wall…Wallace Harte, sir. I'm sorry I broke the glass."
He brushed away Wally's comment with his free hand. "Ah. An unusual name. Wally for short?"
Wally nodded and gulped down the panic in his throat.
"Call me Kenon," the artist said, stretching out his name in a French-sounding accent. He ran his thumb over Wally's knuckles in a slow circular motion and Wally closed his eyes.
The scant hairs on his arm stood erect and he hoped Kenon couldn't feel how damp his palm was beneath his grasp or how his pulse beat a frantic escape rhythm. From the corner, the music started playing again and the low murmur of the crowd drowned the silence in his ears. Deep breath.
"Thank you, sir," Wally said. He opened his eyes and met Kenon's gaze. For a moment, he stared into Kenon's green eyes, pausing to fully examine them. Enhanced with dark eyeliner, the artist's eyes almost glowed with feral sparkle. Predatory. Waiting. Wally looked down, not daring to move his hand. Mr. Alavi must be quite the lady-killer. Who wouldn't want to be with him?
"Time to open the show, Mr. Alavi," a gallery aide said, sidling up to Kenon at the edge of the bar. "Everyone's getting impatient." Wally had seen the aides milling around, making sure things stayed perfect. It must cost a fortune to produce an event like this.
"This is my show. Let them wait," Kenon growled and clamped down on Wally's hand.
The aide looked at Wally and smirked. "I'm sure the bartender won't mind talking to you after the show." He emphasized the word "bartender" as if it were a dirty word.
Kenon snapped his head and turned to the man. "I said I'm busy." This growl was louder and deeper and the aide's eyes widened and his shoulders tensed.
"Yes, sir," he said and backed away, hands up.
Wally began to shake. He tried to tell himself it was from the air-conditioning but he knew it was from a mixture of fear and longing to be near this mysterious man. The artist must always have a rapt audience. Despite his growling, everyone seemed to be taken in by his charm. Kenon milked Wally's finger in a stroking rhythm and Wally clenched his thighs together, willing his dick to be still. Kenon was too close and it was a good thing the bar was between them or things could get embarrassing.
"Now," Kenon said. He tugged Wally's hand close to his chest, tightening his grip once again. "Lean in so I can whisper what I have to tell you. Privacy you know." He smiled, a tight line of control.
Wally leaned toward Kenon, drawing in a deep breath of what was likely the most expensive cologne he'd ever smell, combined with a fresh scent that could have been makeup or fine-milled soap. Underlying everything was an all-male scent of danger combined with sex and power. The bar was cold against his chest but the man's breath was hot in his ear. "Yes?" he asked, voice trembling. "I'm sorry I broke the glass."
"I said I'm not worried about the glass."
"What, then?" Wally squeaked out.
"Why are you shaking?" Kenon touched his nose to Wally's earlobe and Wally tensed. "Am I too close?"
"I…I…don't know," Wally said, his breath stuttering in his throat. Why was he shaking? He'd not had a boyfriend in ages but had never responded to man's presence so strongly and so urgently before. Especially a straight man. At least not while he was sober.
Kenon pressed closer and his warmth radiated over Wally's neck and face. Wally stood statue-still under the assault of heat. "I want to see you after the show," Kenon whispered. "Will you stay around? To…talk…"
Wally nodded. Was he in trouble?
"Goooood," Kenon blew. "See you then." His lips brushed Wally's ear and then he nipped it gently, holding on to the lobe for a second before releasing it. Wally shuddered as heat jolted straight to his groin. Why was Kenon flirting? Wasn't he straight? And why was he so close? Wally squirmed as his pants tightened and his dick disobeyed the order to stand down. The ruby eyes of the serpent brooch glinted as Kenon pulled away.
Viper.
Just as quickly as Kenon had latched on to Wally's hand, he dropped it. Turning, he sauntered off as if he were strolling along a promenade without a care. The crowd, cued into his movement, followed him through the open doors to the main exhibit hall. Wally stared after him, watching the people meander into the larger room where Kenon's latest paintings would be unveiled.
What had just happened? And why had he agreed to meet Kenon after the show? He knew better than to tempt fate with an employer, especially one he was so attracted to and who was so out of his league. He always screwed things up. He adjusted himself and sighed. What did he have to lose?
Add Artist's Touch to your Goodread's shelf HERE.
Kerry writes about love in its many forms, and enjoys exploring the dynamics of relationships and the quandaries people get themselves into. She lives in suburbia, but is making plans to escape to the ocean and NYC, as both places hold a piece of her heart.
You can connect with Kerry here:
You can purchase Artist's Touch here:
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Known to the world as the oldest author of erotic romance, Desiree Holt proves every day that she is more than the sum of her years. She is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, an Authors After Dark Author of the Year and winner of the Holt Medallion. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The London Daily Mail and numerous other national and international publications. She enjoys football and reading and her three cats, who are her constant writing companions.
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You've never seen manners like this!
Honor the men and women who serve-today it's the Army
Pansy Petal	on February 27, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Hmmmm . . . This sounds yummy! I will have to check it out. I love bartenders. My first boyfriend as an adult was a bartender. Fond memories. At one point in my illustrious career, I too was a bartender. Yes, they work darn hard. (And I do remember Cheers.) Anyway, another book for my tbr list. Thank you for sharing.
About Desiree
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About UOP
Why UOP
Dates and Costs
Experience UOP
Stockton Campus and Services
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Life in California
Top Stockton Attractions
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University of the Pacific > About California > Top Sacramento Attractions
Sometimes you need a study break
Sacramento is the star on the map of California, its capital city. It's not only the seat of the state's government, but also home to cutting-edge local restaurants, a deep wealth of American history, a rich arts and cultural scene, as well as natural beauty and a deep sense of serenity.
A Day in Sacramento
The Crocker Art Museum
The Crocker Art Museum is one of the leading art institutions in the state and boasts one of the country's finest collections of Californian art. In addition, the Crocker has an extensive collection of master drawings, international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African and Oceanic art.
This lively and fun year-round market happens every Saturday in the middle of the city (20th Street between J and L streets). Showcasing local agriculture, prepared foods, artisans and crafters, the farmers market is the perfect opportunity to discover locally grown foods and regional specialties.
Other Popular Things to Do
With Sacramento's more than 230 days of sunshine and its location bordering both the American and Sacramento rivers, cycling, running, rafting, fishing and golfing all rank in the top outdoor activities. Basketball fans will also love cheering on the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento's performing arts groups include the Sacramento Ballet, the Sacramento Opera and many more. Enjoy performances at many venues, including the historic Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento and the Community Center Theater, parts of the Sacramento Convention Center complex.
Enjoy fantastic locally grown food. Sacramento is America's Farm-to-Fork Capital, with fine dining restaurants scattered throughout the city among world-class art galleries, bookstores and boutiques.
Sacramento's 28 museums showcase a range of unique subjects and artifacts, including medical history, the California Gold Rush and world-class art collections.
Whether you want to know about getting to class or a camping adventure in one of the many nearby state parks, traveling around campus, the city, and throughout California is easy.
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Lawyers are highly trained professionals. They provide their clients with advocates who can help them make sense of any legal situation. Most people will need to get help from a lawyer at some point in time. Finding the right lawyer is essential. The right lawyer can make the difference between a favorable outcome and one that is not as pleasing. This is particularly true for those who are seeking out a Philadelphia defense lawyer. When looking for an attorney, it is vital to find someone who can truly offer effective counsel and skilled help. Any client should take into account multiple factors during the process of looking for a Philadelphia defense attorney including their budget, their specific situation and the lawyer's qualifications.
Anyone who is facing a serious legal issue needs highly effective and skilled legal counsel. Careful selection is vitally important before doing anything else. One of the first step should be to contact the Philadelphia Bar Association. The association is in charge of overseeing the legal system in the city. Staffers here can offer specific information about any potential Philadelphia defense lawyer. They can confirm that the lawyer is a member of the bar in good standing and has the legal right to practice law in the state. This will help the client make sure that the lawyer they are hiring is someone who is licensed and fully understands all aspects of the law in this state and city. The organization, founded in 1802, offers many services including access to referral for a specific area of law.
Locating the right kind of defense lawyer can also be done in other ways. Many people find it helpful to contact friends and family and ask if they know anyone who has helped them in a similar situation. A person facing criminal charges of any kind may also wish to find out if they are eligible for legal help from the state. A lawyer may be provided by the state if the person is unable to afford one on their own. In all instances, the defendant should interview the lawyer before they hire them. Any interview should include questions about the lawyer's background, how long they have resided in the city and any cases they have worked with before that are similar to their own case.


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text:
Q: How many partitions can be created for linux on GPT? I know it's up to 128 for windows OS. Does the same limit apply to Linux? So this limit is actually a limit of GPT?

A: The 128 is the default setting for number of entries in the partition table header. That controls how large the partition table & backup partition table is. It can default to smaller numbers for small drives and can be adjusted to have even more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table
Full specification is part of UEFI specification.
https://uefi.org/specifications
Apple information:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2166/_index.html
Intel information:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/unified-extensible-firmware-interface/efi-specifications-general-technology.html
See also
man gdisk

Gdisk will only convert 128 MBR partitions to gpt.

A: The Windows FAQ on this says

The specification allows an almost unlimited number of partitions. However, the Windows implementation restricts this to 128 partitions. The number of partitions is limited by the amount of space reserved for partition entries in the GPT.

so the 128 is Windows-specific.
For Linux, as explained here, the limitation comes usually from DISK_MAX_PARTS, which is 256, so 255 is the maximum number of partitions. I'd assume that this applies to all partition schemata, not only GPT.
I do not know if anything else would break if you just increase this number, and recompile the kernel with it.

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text:
Q: IN mysql with fractional values SELECT * FROM salers WHERE comm IN (0.12, 0,13, 0.15);

query returns an empty set while any other queries returns values. Where do I make mistake here?

A: "Fractional" values are represented either as fixed-point values (decimal) or as floating point values.  The latter are very troublesome when used with equality operations.
So, in addition to the mistake with the comma, this can be dangerous if comm is double or float.  You may find that this works better:
where cast(comm as decimal(10, 2)) in (0.12, 0.13, 0.15)

Or, preferably, you can look for a range:
where comm > 0.11 and comm < 0.16

A: Your mistake is at : 0,13
Change to:
SELECT * FROM salers WHERE comm IN (0.12, 0.13, 0.15);


Bahnfleth, W.P. and Kowalski, W.J. "Airborne-Microbe Filtration in Indoor Environments." Accessed: December 15, 2009.
UPMC Center for Biosecurity. "Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV)." Accessed: December 15, 2009.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Qualtiy." Accessed: December 17, 2009.


text:
HOME / PUBLICATIONS / BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE / POLYVALENCY /
Polymeric Polyvalency, Influenza, Others
V.M. Krishnamurthy, L. A. Estroff, and G. M. Whitesides. 2006. "Multivalency in Ligand Design." In Fragment-based Approaches in Drug Discovery, edited by R. Mannhold, H. Kubinyi, and G. Folkers, 34: Pp. 11-53. Weinheim: WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 963.pdf
J. C. Love, L. A. Estroff, J.K. Kriebel, R.G. Nuzzo, and G. M. Whitesides. 2005. "Self-Assembled Monolayers of Thiolates on Metals as a Form of Nanotechnology." Chemical Reviews, 105, Pp. 1103-1169. PDF
M. Mourez, R. S. Kane, J. Mogridge, S. J. Metallo, P. Deschatelets, B. R. Sellman, G. M. Whitesides, and R. J. Collier. 2001. "Designing a polyvalent inhibitor of anthrax toxin." Nature Biotechnology, 19, Pp. 958-961. PDF
J. Rao, J. Lahiri, R. M. Weis, and G. M. Whitesides. 2000. "Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of a High-Affinity Trivalent System Derived from Vancomycin and L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 122, Pp. 2698-2710. PDF
J. Rao, J. Lahiri, L. Isaacs, R. M. Weis, and G. M. Whitesides. 1998. "A Trivalent System from Vancomycin•D-Ala-D-Ala with Higher Affinity Than Avidin•Biotin." Science, 280, Pp. 708-711. PDF
S.-K. Choi, M. Mammen, and G. M. Whitesides. 1997. "Generation and In Situ Evaluation of Libraries of Poly(Acrylic Acid) Presenting Sialosides as Side Chains as Polyvalent Inhibitors of Influenza-Mediated Hemagglutination." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 119, Pp. 4103-4111. PDF
S.-K. Choi, M. Mammen, and G. M. Whitesides. 1996. "Monomeric Inhibitors of Influenza Neuraminidase Enhance the Hemagglutination Inhibition Activities of Polyacrylamides Presenting Multiple C-Sialoside Groups." Chemistry and Biology, 3, Pp. 97-104. PDF
M. Mammen, K. Helmerson, R. Kishore, S.-K. Choi, W. D. Phillips, and G. M. Whitesides. 1996. "Optically Controlled Collisions of Biological Objects to Evaluate Potent Polyvalent Inhibitors of Virus-Cell Adhesion." Chemistry and Biology, 3, Pp. 757-763. PDF
G. B. Sigal, M. Mammen, G. Dahmann, and G. M. Whitesides. 1996. "Polyacrylamides Bearing Pendant a-Sialoside Groups Strongly Inhibit Agglutination of Erythrocytes by Influenza Virus: The Strong Inhibition Reflects Enhanced Binding through Cooperative Polyvalent Interactions." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 118, Pp. 3789-3800. PDF
M. Mammen, G. Dahmann, and G. M. Whitesides. 1995. "Effective Inhibitors of Hemagglutination by Influenza Virus Synthesized from Polymers Having Active Ester Groups. Insight into Mechanism of Inhibition." J. Med. Chem., 38, Pp. 4179-4190. PDF
W. J. Lees, A. Spaltenstein, J. E. Kingery-Wood, and G. M. Whitesides. 1994. "Polyacrylamides Bearing Pendant a-Sialoside Groups Strongly Inhibit Agglutination of Erythrocytes by Influenza A Virus: Multivalency and Steric Stabilization of Particulate Biologicial Systems." J. Med. Chem., 37, Pp. 3419-3433. PDF
M.A. Sparks, K. W. Williams, and G. M. Whitesides. 1993. "Neuraminidase Resistant Hemagglutination Inhibitors: Acrylamide Copolymers Containing a C-Glycoside of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid." J. Med. Chem., 36, Pp. 778-783. PDF
W. Schmid, L. Z. Avila, K. W. Williams, and G. M. Whitesides. 1993. "Synthesis of Methyl a-Sialosides N-substituted with Large Alkanoyl Groups, and Investigation of Their Inhibition of Agglutination of Erythrocytes by Influenza A Virus." Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Lett., 3, Pp. 747-752. PDF
J. E. Kingery-Wood, K. W. Williams, G. B. Sigal, and G. M. Whitesides. 1992. "The Agglutination of Erythrocytes by Influenza Virus is Strongly Inhibited by Liposomes Incorporating an Analog of Sialyl Gangliosides." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 114, Pp. 7303-7305. PDF
A. Spaltenstein and G. M. Whitesides. 1991. "Polyacrylamides Bearing Pendant a-Sialoside Groups Strongly Inhibit Agglutination of Erythrocytes by Influenza Virus." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 113, Pp. 686-687. PDF
A. Schrell and G. M. Whitesides. 1990. "Synthesis of the a-Methyl Ketoside of 5-Amino Neuraminic Acid Methyl Ester and its Corresponding 5-Myristoyl and 5-Cyclopropanoyl Derivative." Liebigs Ann. Chem., Pp. 1111-1114. PDF
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Q: Unable to open vs2015 .net core 1.1 project after installing vs2017 I was working in vs2015 with .net core 1.1 a few months back.  I upgraded to vs2017.  I had some problems getting vs2017 to work while vs2015 was installed, I finally got it to work by uninstalling vs2015 and vs2017 and just installing vs2017.
Today I was tasked with working on a vs2015 project which they do not wish to upgrade to vs2017 at this time.
First obstacle was just organization - you see the TFS structure is like this:
-Root
+ Project A ( vs2015 )
+ Project B ( vs2015 )
+ Project C ( vs2017 )
+ Project D ( vs2015 )

VS and TFS will not allow me to change the local directory form c:\Root\Project C to c:\Root\VS2015\Project B -- oh well.
I reinstalled VS2015 with service pack 3.  Fired it up and downloaded a vs2015 project from TFS.  The problem comes when I try to open it.  When I open the Solution from Source Control Explorer I get this error:

Clicking OK opens the Migration report in my browser:

Clicking on any of the links (Migration Report Link) goes to a page about ".NET Core installation guide".
I navigated to the vs2015 version and re-downloaded the .net installation exe, but when I ran it I only had an option to repair, which I did but didn't help.
My solution remains in this broken state, unable to open the projects in the solution:

Right clicking on any of the projects and trying to reopen the project brings up the migration report error again.
I did find a similar reported issue at Visual Studio 2017 install breaks Visual Studio 2015 ASP.NET Core Projects

but my solution did contain a gloabl.json file in the root and changing the contents of the file from:
{
  "projects": [ "src", "test" ],
  "sdk": {
  }
}

to:
{
  "projects": [],
  "sdk": {
    "version": "1.0.0-preview2-003131"
  }
}

Didn't help.  I also ran a dotnet --version and got the result 1.03 and used that in the version string, but still no joy.
Any ideas on how to open these vs205 .net core projects?   I also read that others who have had this issue that uninstalling vs2015 and vs2017 and just reinstalling vs2015 does not help either.

A: The issue turned out to be an incompatible .net core installation.  I had the newest .net core installed but the project will only open with
"DotNetCore.1.0.1-VS2015Tools.Preview2.0.3.exe".


text:
2018-19 Day Lift Ticket Prices
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— Holidays: New Year's Day, Jan. 1; Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 21
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• Senior — 70+
• Student — 6 to 18 + college with ID
• Military — Active duty with ID
• Children 5 and under ski free when accompanied by a paying adult
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text:
Author Archives: Alex Winnett
Goodbyes of all sorts
Yesterday was the first full day after American Troops had ceded power of urban areas to Iraqi troops. While there was some violence, the day was mostly peaceful. This is an important step in the relationship between Iraq and the United States. I am glad to see this day come.
Today marks another "goodbye" for me. Today is my last day working for the UUA. After two years as the Program Associate for Peacemaking at the UUA, my term of service is coming to an end. I think it is a fitting end to my time here, I leave just as American troops leave Iraqi cities.
I have really valued and appreciated my time at the UUA Washington Office. The people I worked with, both here and in Boston, are dedicated to the faith and are examples of grace and humility under pressure. I have learned lots from them and appreciate their mentorship and friendship.
Some highlights for me in the past two years include:
Advocacy and Witness' weekly staff meeting and all the fun ways we would decide the agenda
Theological Reflection with the UUA Staff and our office minister, Alida
Hearing about all the awesome work people are doing in their congregations
Working with the Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Seeing the Tents of Hope on the National Mall
Making origami paper cranes with the UUA staff after the Knoxville shooting last year
Helping people think of new and innovative ways of thinking about peace.
One blog post could never appropriately capture all the thoughts and feelings I have right now. So, I will just leave it with this: my gratitude is unfathomable. I will always love and charish the time I had with the UUA. It helped me grow into the faithfilled leader I am today.
As for what is next with me, I join the mighty ranks of the "underemployed." This gives me an opportunity to find another career that fits my passions and skills. It also frees up some time to work on a project I have started with some friends– The UU Volunteer Service Core (UUVSC). It is my hope that the UUVSC will allow me to pass on some of the opportunities I had by working at the UUA by supporting UU Young Adults spiritually while they work for change in their communities. For more information on the UUVSC, you can see our facebook page here. And if you a thing or two about starting up a non-profit, you can get in touch with me at UUVSC(dot)Alex(AT)gmail(dot)com.
UUA
Getting Ready for GA with Standing on the Side of Love
Lisa and I caught an early morning flight from National Airport to Salt Lake City, Utah for the annual business meeting of the UUA. I am really excited to be here. If memory serves me correctly, this is my 10th GA (yeow!).
But I don't ever remember being as excited for a GA as much as this one. Not only are there three history setting votes (including edits to the Principles and Purposes of the UUA, the Peacemaking Statement of Conscience, and the election of a new UUA President), but I am really excited about the launch of the UUA's new outreach campaign, Standing on the Side of Love.
Standing on the Side of Love is a way UUs can act upon their faith by working along side marginalized and oppressed people in American society.
Adam Gerhardstein (former Legislative Assistant for International Issues and former Acting Director of the Washington Office for Advocacy) is now the campaign director for Standing on the Side of Love. In the video below, you can see Adam overseeing the hanging of our Standing on the Side of Love banners in the Salt Palace Convention Center.
We will be posting videos like this all week long. You can see these videos and receive more updates by going to our companion blog for Standing on the Side of Love at http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/ or at youtube by subscribing to our feed.
You can also follow the Standing on the Side of love campaign through many different ways.
If you want text messages from GA sent to your cell phone from GA, just text STAND to 41411.
You can follow us on Twitter @SideofLove
And you can become a fan of Standing on the Side of Love on facebook
Dr. Seuss and Social Justice
Yesterday, Lisa sent me an email she had received from one of her immigration listservs. The note links to a blog post called RI4A: Finding the right Dr. Seuss metaphor for our movement. The author of the post, who goes by the "Nom de Blog" Sneetch posed the question: "What is the best Dr. Seuss metaphor for the immigration movement?" The author of the note first proposed Horton Hears a Who!. Lisa excitedly sent me the note because she knows that "Horton…" is my all time favorite book I have ever read.
Yes, my all time favorite book…ever. Not just my favorite children's book. Not just my favorite Dr. Seuss book. Not just my favorite book about anthropomorphic elephants. My favorite book ever. So much so, that when my peers in my high school Advanced Placement Literature class wrote reports about Dostoevsky, Austen, and Steinbeck, I wrote a report about Horton Hears a Who!
I love Horton… because I really do believe it is a wonderful story about strength, faith, courage, and justice. It is about doing what you think is right even when it is difficult or when you face ridicule or no one believes you.
It has become a staple for UU Religious Educators and it is taught all over the world. I have seen it published in no fewer than four languages. Plus it is a really fun story.
It tells the tale of Horton, a loveable and gentle elephant, who finds a speck of dust while splashing in a jungle pool. As the speck of dust falls through the air, his powerful ears are able to hear the tiny cries of the people who live in the speck of dust–the Whos. Hearing their calls, Horton catches the speck of dust on a clover and swears to protect them. "After all," says Horton, "a person's a person, no matter how small."
As Horton travels around the jungle carrying a speck of dust on a clover, he attracts the attention of other jungle creatures. They don't believe Horton when he says tiny people live in the speck of dust. They are threatened by his faith. They call him crazy. They ridicule him and put him through many dangerous feats of strength and courage to test his faith and commitment.
Finally, the jungle creatures threaten to drop the speck of dust into a cauldron of boiling oil. Horton insists that every Who in Whoville must lift up their voices and make a great sound to let everyone know that the Whos exist. While every Who does make a sound, it is not until the smallest Who of all adds her voice that the jungle creatures finally hear the Whos and believe Horton. It is then that every creature in the jungle commits to join Horton in protecting the Whos.
It is a very good story that touches on all the themes of social justice–especially from a UU perspective. It shows the inherent worth and dignity of every person (no matter how small). It shows that we should work for justice and equal rights. It shows the importance of every hand and voice being raised for the good of others. And it shows the power of faith and commitment to sustain the long and grueling movement toward justice. And how we can soften the hardest hearts through the power of love.
I love this book. I keep of a copy of it on my desk and read it when I am feeling discouraged. I give it away for birthday, coming of age and transition celebrations. I like reading it to kids using silly voices and encouraging kids to say with me the refrain, "A person's a person, no matter how small."
To return to the letter Lisa sent me, Sneetch critiques the Horton frame as being patronizing toward recent immigrants. If we are to follow the Horton theme of the non-profit world as Horton and the immigrants as the Who's, it shows how non-profits have taken on the role of the protectors of the helpless immigrants. Yet, I believe this is a flawed analysis of the book as it ignores the fact that Horton helps the Whos become moral agents who are able to raise their own voices for justice.
The blog writer Sneetch offers The Sneetches instead. The Sneetches is a great allegory for racism and white supremacy of Dr. Seuss's time. But I feel that Sneetch missed the point of The Sneeches by focusing on the dangers of materialism that is inherent to the Sneetches story. She compares the modern non-profit sphere to the scam artist McBean in The Sneetches. McBean profits off the pain of those who look for his help. Much as, the author claims, the non-profit world profits from the pain of recent immigrants. But that saddens me. By reading the blogpost, I am sorry to hear the hurt and pain in Sneetch's words. I know the long journey of justice can be difficult and exhausting. But that is why we need stories like "Horton Hears a Who!" to refresh and inspire us.
Which stories inspire you to keep on the long road to justice? What are your favorite social justice stories, Dr. Seuss or otherwise? Please share in the comments below.
Get Ready to Vote for the Statement of Conscience for Peacemaking
General Assembly (GA), the annual business meeting for the Unitarian Universalist Association is quickly approaching.
At GA, we have a full docket of things to discuss and vote upon. But what I am most excited about is the Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking. This statement is the culmination of three years of study, action and reflection. If passed, this document will help the UUA, congregations and individuals discern future peacemaking opportunities. It will also help with spiritual discernment on peace matters for years to come.
The Statement of Conscience was written by the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) and aims to be a prophetic and dynamic statement on the role of peace in the UU community and our role as peacemakers. It is the result of three years of work of hundreds of UU activists, theologians and ministers. Congregations had a total of four opportunities to give feedback to the CSW on the topic of peacemaking. The resposes we received were varied and complex. It was the goal of the CSW to reflect the diverse opinions held by members of the larger UU community.
At GA, there will be two mini-assemblies on Thursday for delegates to propose ammendments and edits. Ultimately, there will be a vote on whether or not to pass the statement made by the delegates of the GA. The statements requires a 2/3 majority vote to pass.
In preparation of the mini-assemblies and the final vote, we recommend that congregations discuss the Statement of Conscience with their delegates. To find the final draft of the Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking, please visit our website. For ideas on how to collect feedback, please see this resource from an earlier feedback period. For more information on UUA peacemaking, please visit uua.org/peacemaking.
Thank you for your time and efforts before the event. By coming prepared, we can have a productive and helpful conversation on the statement.
Iranian American Journalist Freed
Last year, Iranian-American journalist Roxana Sebari was arrested in Iran for bringing a bottle of wine into the country. Sebari, who has dual citizenship with Iran and the United States had been living in Iran since 2003 as a freelance journalist for NPR and the BBC. While detained, her charges had been elevated to reporting without a license and espionage for the United State government.
While the Iranian government has arrested foreign reporters in the past, most of them had been deported to their home country. Ms. Sebari, on the other hand, stood trial. She was found guilty of spying and was sentenced to eight years in prison. The United States government immediately called for the release of Ms. Sebari, insisting that she has never worked for the government in any form, especially as a spy. After her trial in January, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad filed for an appeal–a move unheard of in modern Iranian history.
The appeals court rejected the initial sentence of eight years and called for the immediate deportation of Ms. Saberi. On Monday, she was released from jail to the custody of her parents and will return home to the United States this week.
Analysts say this is an important milestone in Iranian/American relations. President Ahmedinejad is up for re-election next month and his hard line rhetoric of his early administration has fallen away in response to falling approval ratings. The Iranian president has made many gestures to normalize relations with the American government. His election-night call to President Obama was the first call of congratulations an American president has received from Iran since the revolution of the 1970's. The United States has continued to welcome Iran as a partner in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their continued participation has helped us stay an accountable partner in the region.
We, at the UUA, applaud the release of Ms. Saberi. We also encourage increased diplomatic negotiations with the Iranian government. We believe the United States can be a good model of religious freedom and tolerance to the Iranian government and they, in turn, can be important allies in ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We hope the US State Department and Iranian Supreme Council will continue to work toward normalized relations.
Recognize Your Mom (Figure) The Right Way
Mother's Day is this Sunday, and I'll bet you know many moms who deserve thanks, and an award, for all she does. The UUA and MomsRising.org want to thank all the mothers and mother figures in the world for all the amazing work they do.
Give them an "award" for their years of tireless service by visiting MomsRising.org and watching a video of Hollywood Celebrities, President Obama and grateful folks recognizing the mom in your life.
We look forward to making this a great year for mothers and families together.
To share this video with other folks, please copy and send the following link:
http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/index2.html?p=uu
Truth? Yes. But, Reconciliation?
Last week, the White House released memos dating back from the previous administration proving that the government promoted the use of extreme interrogation tactics. These tactics, as described in the memos are easily considered torture. The memos have been read and analyzed by many in the media and you can find many reviews in a lot of places. I will not continue that discussion today.
Instead, I want to touch on a question that a lot of people have been asking: "What next?" How will we respond to this information as a government and a people? How should we punish those responsible? Who is responsible, exactly?
With all this uncertainty and murkiness, it seems like a truth and reconciliation commission similar to what happened in post-apartheid South Africa should occur. Through that process, we can find who is truly culpable and create closure on this gruesome period in our history. It makes sense for the Unitarian Universalist Association to call for truth, reconciliation, and repair since we are attempting to use that model in concerns of our racial history.
However, this model may not be the correct one in this case of a government sponsoring and endorsing torture of their prisoners. Traditionally, truth and reconciliation (T&R) commissions are reserved for societies where there is no government able to investigate, try or prosecute those responsible. In cases of failed democracies, such as South Africa, or in non-nation state-based communities, such as religious bodies, T&R allows a community to admit wrongs, forgive or punish as they see fit. An important element of T&R procedures is restorative justice where the suspected perpetrator is allowed to admit their deeds and apologize to the offended parties. By apologizing and receiving forgiveness, they receive amnesty and immunity from a prison sentence. It is a process that is long, grueling, and spiritually draining, but ultimately healing. It allows a community to admit their communal mistakes and receive a "do-over" with everything out in the open.
In the case of the Bush-era torture, the culpability is easily investigated. There is already a short list of people who could be caught red handed. Just off the top of my head, I would personally send to the witness stand: President Bush; Vice- President Cheney; CIA Director George Tennet; Secretaries of State Rice and Powell; Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld; White House Counselors Yoo and Meirs; and Attorneys General Gonzales and Ashcroft. In this case, we still have a justice system that works. The DOJ and courts still function and Congress still sits. A truth commission followed by a trial can be completed easily.
The ultimate question at hand is: "Can we reconcile torture?" Is this a time in which we can just forgive heinous and murderous actions endorsed by our government? When I read about actions inflicted on prisoners and the way these techniques affect the performers of the actions, and considering what could have been accomplished without these techniques, I think that we cannot just forgive it away. There seems to be no reconciling this–as long as we can really punish those responsible. It is important here to note that reconciliation and forgiveness are not always the same thing. One can reconcile differences without forgiving and vice versa. And even proponents of T&R would admit that the process is not for every one or for every situation.
What we have here resembles the Nuremburg Trials of the 1940's. Now, I am not one to fall into populist rage and I consider myself pretty even handed. I am also not one to compare folks to the Nazis unless they have been responsible for the attempted annihilation of an entire race of people. That being said, we have a clear chain of command responsible for a specific action that has a concrete set of documents proving their intention. If that is not worth investigating and punishing, I am not sure what is. And so, by calling for a truth commission and a war crimes trial, we use the systems in place to resolve the problem at hand. That is why we at the UUA, along with our partners at UUSC, TASSC and NRCAT, are calling for a truth commission and justice for the victims—including the soldiers who were ordered to inflict these deeds. It is the very least we can do. To learn more and join our call for a truth commission please visit our partners at NRCAT.org.
Working in peace and social justice can be incredibly exhausting. To work for peace is an exercise in making what Reinhold Niebuhr called the "impossible possibility." To trudge chest deep in pain, suffering, war, genocide, and famine can lead to fatigue and burnout.
There are always those inspiring stories, that seem too far and in between: people overcoming violence to do great and heroic things. And those stories are important. Then there are the stories of people who stand up in the face of injustice and work to right past wrongs. Those stories are important as well.
But sometimes, what really makes me most hopeful are random acts of kindness. To see people stand up and make a gesture to help a stranger with no need of recognition or compensation. Rather, they just help because they can.
There is a short video going around in the Do It Yourself community about Tweenbots. These little robots travel in a straight line at a constant speed with a flag asking for a push in the right direction. They rely on the kindness of strangers to get to where they are going.
The creator then follows the robot with a hidden camera. And the footage is pretty amazing. Perfect strangers in midtown Manhattan stopping to point a little robot in the right direction.
It warms my heart.
I think we need more stories of random acts of kindness in our daily lives.
President Obama Takes a Long View on Military Policy.
When President Obama left Istanbul on Tuesday, he hosted a town hall meeting with Turkish students. He was asked a lot questions about the U.S.'s relationship with the world. One student asked the President how he was different than his predecessor, George W. Bush.
That is a question a lot of folks in the United States are asking these days with Obama as Commander in Chief.
Since the President entered the Oval Office, we have seen him taking a firmer stand on Afghanistan. He has committed to an increase of 51,000 American troops as well as 5,000 NATO troops to the region. We have also seen several bombings of Al Qeada camps in Pakistan, with more scheduled soon. This should not come to any one as a surprise as the President campaigned with a platform that was tough on Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The President also issued a 19 month plan to bring an end to the war in Iraq. But the plan includes 50,000 troops to stay in the region as peacekeepers for an additional two years. For many who want to see an immediate end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, these plans have us stay in these lands for far too long.
But the President told the Turkish student that he is looking to the long term on military policy and people of the United States and the world should do the same.
While in Prague, in the Czech Republic, the President pledged the United States to be the moral example in ridding the world from nuclear weapons. He promised the United States and Russia would enter negotiations by the end of the year to reduce their nuclear arsenals.
Many people note that the President has increased the military spending budget by over $20 billion compared to last year's Bush Administration budget (from $513 billion in FY09 to $534 billion in FY10). I would agree this is a disturbing trend that should be reversed. But I take pause and rethink this when I find this spending increase would help give benefits to soldiers and vets and would include improvements in the lagging Veteran's Affairs and hospitals.
In fact, the President has told Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to cut out costly and unnecessary weapons systems. Secretary Gates passed the message to the Pentagon and told Congress to resist the urge to increase military spending in the budget. Many Republican Congress Members, including Saxby Chamblis (R-GA) expressed their dismay that the Pentagon would no longer be buying F-22 stealth jets (a plane never used in combat).
In January of this year, Secretary Gates said, "…the spigot of defense spending opened after 9/11 is closing."
In the short run, I am extremely disappointed by the President's military policy. I think the troops should come home and a surge of diplomats, engineers, and educators should help secure Afghanistan and Iraq. But in the long term, I am thrilled.
I hate knowing that my tax dollars are wasted on useless missles systems, jets and nuclear warheads. I think these changes are crucial steps to reversing the out of control spiraling military budgets.
U.S. and Iran Share Table at Afghanistan Meeting
This week The Hague, Netherlands, hosted a meeting to discuss the future of Afghanistan. Attendees included representatives from 73 nations, 11 international organizations and several observers from non-governmental organizations.
This meeting was very important and we at the UUA applaud the use of multi-lateral discussions and diplomacy to find a speedy and responsible end to the war in Afghanistan.
The UUA also approves of the United States and Iran joining together in dialogue over this cause. Iran has become an important ally in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. At this meeting, Iran has agreed to strengthen its control of the Afghani/Iranian border to prevent the opiate and heroin trade.
Reports indicate that the U.S. Envoy to South Asia, Richard Holbrooke, shared a short conversation with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mehdi Akhundzadeh. If this is true, this would signal a monumental shift in U.S. foreign policy with Iran. In previous years, Iranian and American officials never spoke with one another. A mending of relations between the United States and Iran after a thirty year rift is crucial to the progress and security of the Middle East. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said the meeting between Akhundzadeh and Holbrooke was "cordial" but "unsubstantive."
However, today the Iranian government denied any such meeting happened. While Iran is committed to working alongside the United States to bring peace to Iraq and Afghanistan, Iranian officials refuse to meet directly with American officials.
We encourage the Obama Administration to continue working with Iran and opening up relations between the two countries. As one of its legislative objectives for the 111th Congress and the Obama Administration, the UUA calls on the government to "…prevent armed conflict with Iran, through multilateral diplomatic engagement."


text:
Best Malware Removal Software for Windows
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June 17, 2017	Apps	3447
If you are someone who loves to watch the online content on TV, Fire TV is a wonderful option for you. Fire TV is a media streaming device and any such device is only as…
Download Periscope for PC (Windows 7/8/10)
May 25, 2017	Apps for Windows	9114
If you are someone who loves to broadcast the videos live, you will love the Periscope application. This application has been developed by the Social Media giant Twitter. Whenever you are broadcasting the live video,…
Best Game Recording Software for Windows PC (Free & Paid)
May 2, 2017	Technology	3434
You may need to create game recording primarily for two purposes – for amusement or to create game tutorials for the others. Regardless your objective, you can make good use of some of the finest…
How to Transfer Photos From iPhone to Computer
April 21, 2017	Technology	3774
The iPhone camera gets evolved with the introduction of the new iteration of the Apple flagship. That's a good thing as it lets you click pictures and shoot videos in high quality. But, with enhanced…
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April 5, 2017	Apps for Mac	4480
Game Boy Advance was once an extremely popular handheld gaming console of the world. The several versions of the gadget had sold more than 80 million units worldwide back in the days. GBA had some…
iMessage Not Working On iPhone and iPad-How to Fix!
March 14, 2017	Apps	3200
iMessage is one of the most popular instant messaging applications. While WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app, iMessage is a craze among the iOS users. Unlike WhatsApp, which is a cross-platform app, iMessage…
10 Best Media Players for Windows 10/8/7
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A good media player can change your movie watching experience completely. This is the reason why those who love to watch videos are looking for better options. Media players are not just about the interface…
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Skype is the frontier in VoIP and video calling. It is the app that made video and voice calling extremely popular. There was a time when everyone used Skype to make voice calls over internet…
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There is absolutely no denying that iTunes is one awesome application that works perfectly as a device manager for iOS and doubles effectively as a media manager and player. But, the problem is that iTunes…


Moments of My Life: Need Some RAM Upgrade Now!
Need Some RAM Upgrade Now!
Oh it's here again I'm having trouble with my access memory. I should be reporting this to our software engineer so I'll know what's to be done. I've been encountering some trouble when I open various websites all at the same time especially if I open software's that requires big memory. Maybe I should request for an upgrade in my computer's memory. After all I've seen a lot of websites offering computer RAM upgrades at a very competitive price with an assurance of quality testing and product guarantee.


text:
Elton John >
Sir Elton John announces hometown shows at Watford FC's...
Sir Elton John announces hometown shows at Watford FC's Vicarage Road
Follow Elton John
'Rocket Man' hitmaker Sir Elton John announces two special hometown gigs at Vicarage Road as part of his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour.
Sir Elton John has announced two special hometown shows at Vicarage Road on his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour.
The 'Your Song' hitmaker - who became Watford FC's chairman in 1976 and is still Honorary Life-President - will play two gigs at the club's stadium on June 3 and 4 after previously performing there in 1974, 2005 and 2010.
Elton - who has a stand named after himself at Vicarage Road - said in a statement: "I simply had to play Vicarage Road a final time as part of my 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour.
"My relationship with the club, with the fans, the players and the staff over the years have meant the world to me. Through the good times and the bad, Watford have been a huge part of my life.
"I love the club so dearly, and have had some of the best days of my life in those stands – these shows are going to be so incredibly emotional, and to spend them surrounded by my fellow Watford fans will be wonderful.
"We've been on quite the journey together. Come on you 'Orns!"
The 74-year-old music legend will bow out of touring after completing the rest of his farewell tour, which has been postponed until 2023 after he fell and injured himself and subsequently underwent hip replacement surgery.
And while he won't be going on any more extensive jaunts around the globe, the 'Tiny Dancer' star - who has Zachary, 10, and eight-year-old Elijah with husband David Furnish - has insisted he's not giving up music completely, as he will continue to make new tunes
He recently said: "I can assure you it's the final tour. I will be doing some charity shows if I'm asked, but I'm not touring again. I'll be 76 when I finish, I need to be with my family. My boys will be teenagers.
"I will always make music, I'll always be doing my radio stuff and whatever, but you know I've been playing music since I was 17 professionally.
"That's 57 years of, it'll be 59 years by the time I finish. I've had enough applause, I can't do a better show than I'm doing and so I'm really really, I'm really adamant that I'm not touring again. I can't."
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle Movie Review
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I made a video. It's a learning process and I come across as blinky and a bit stilted but what the fudge... it's a learning curve (a steep one) and I hope I'll get better with time.
This video is about crawls and locomotion. Stuff I love to do during my group training and it can even jack up the heart rate of ultra-endurance athletes.
Hope the video is not too clunky and promise I'll do better next time.


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Phantoms Finish Season with 5-Straight Wins
Matthew Strome Scores Shootout Winner for Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley, Pa. – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (39-30-4-3) concluded their fifth season in Lehigh Valley with a five-game winning streak as the top the Hartford Wolf Pack (29-35-7-4) with a 3-2 shootout victory. Colin McDonald extended his goal-streak to four games and David Kase scored late in the third to tie the game. Matthew Strome potted the shootout winner as Mike McKenna came up with 29 saves in the victory.
The Lehigh Valley fans have shown their tremendous support all season, and they displayed that once again in the final game of the regular season, selling out the PPL Center for the 15th time this season.
The Phantoms felt the crowd's energy early, really applying the pressure on Hartford and getting a couple good looks early in the period. They registered nine shots in the opening frame but were unable to beat Adam Huska. In the final moments of the opening frame the Wolf Pack were able to get on the board with a weird goal that just snuck by Mike McKenna. With 31.7 seconds remaining, Ryan Dmowski threw a puck on net that McKenna was able to get a piece of but not secure. The puck fluttered up into the air and landed on the wrong side of the goal line to give the Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead.
After Shawn St. Amant layed a big hit from behind on Philip Samuelsson, Philippe Myers immediately made him answer for it as the 6-foot-5 defenseman dropped the gloves. With both players in the box for fighting, Hartford was able to take a 2-0 lead as Lewis Zerter-Gossage was able to control a loose puck in front of the crease and find the back of the net.
Lehigh Valley would cut it to a one-goal game with 3:56 remaining in the second period thanks to Colin McDonald's 13th goal of the season. The Lehigh Valley captain now has goals in four-straight games, tying a career-high that he set back in 2010 as a member of the Oklahoma City Barons. A T.J. Brennan shot hit the Hartford goaltender square but he was unable to control the rebound and a diving McDonald was there to backhand the puck in. The Connecticut native now has eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games against Hartford. Rob Michel picked up an assist on the goal for his first pro point
Another big hit from the Wolf Pack would cause a Phantoms player to drop the gloves, this time is was Greg Carey coming to the defense of Chris Conner. The Phantoms leading goal scorer is usually known for his soft hands, but he was able to land some heavy rights on Brandon Crawley to further validate why he was selected as the 2018-19 Fan Favorite.
The Phantoms were not ready to let the season end quite yet as David Kase tied the game up with his eight goal of the season. Kase was able to beat the First-Team All-Star John Gilmour and turn on the jets down the right side. He fired a shot from the bottom of the circle that squeezed through Huska to tie the game 2-2 and force overtime for 12th time this season.
Mike McKenna came up huge in overtime, making four saves for the Phantoms, and then shut the door on all three Wolf Pack shooters during the shootout. Matthew Strome scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Phantoms won 3-2 to conclude the season with a five-game winning streak.
1: G Mike McKenna (LV) – 29 saves, Win
2: F Colin McDonald (LV) – 1 goal
3: F David Kase (LV) – 1 goal
First Period:
HFD – (19:28) Ryan Dmowski (1) (Fogarty, Lettieri)
Second Period:
HFD – (2:43) Lewis Zerter-Gossage (2) (Fontaine, Meskanen)
LV – (16:04) Colin McDonald (13) (Brennan, Michel)
Third Period:
LV – (16:31) David Kase (8) (Willcox)
Shootout:
LV – Matthew Strome
NEXT TIME OUT: Phantoms fans will have a chance to leave their mark on PPL Center for the first time ever as we welcome fans to paint the ice! Starting on Monday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m for all of our season ticket holders, and then on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for all Lehigh Valley fans. Come down and paint your name on the PPL Center ice!
Follow the action @LVPhantoms on Twitter, on AHLTV or the Phantoms365 App.
← Sandstrom Sensational in Phantoms Debut
PSECU Player of the Week — Colin McDonald (4/15) →


Yesterday I came across a printed advertisement containing a QR code. It was in a bathroom, so you can imagine what I was doing while staring at it. I was peeing. I've been in a similar situation before, and it let me thinking about the reasons of why QR might not be that popular.
I think that one reason is a translation issue. I mean changing from an abstract visual data/information to some data/information that a person can understand. When we observe QR codes, they basically mean or denote nothing. In that regard, why should a user need to carry out a set of steps to translate, discover what the QR code says? In that bathroom situation, why should I have to take my phone out, look for the appropriate app and scan the code? I can easily google the name of the restaurant by using the same device at that moment. It'd be faster! Those steps for translating the visual abstract data/information from the QR code into a form that a human can understand seem to be unnecessary.
Nonetheless, I do think that QR codes provide an interesting opportunity to design for user experience. Imagine this, as some cameras can detect faces and smiles, it'd be great that our smartphones can detect the QR code and do something with it. Automatize something. For instance, imagine that once you scan the QR code, your phone downloads an app and feeds it with your personal data stored in the phone. Consequently, a restaurant knows "your taste" and offers you a bottle of wine, free desert, or takes into account to guide you in your search for similar restaurants elsewhere.
What experience can we design for QR codes?
We have the QR codes. They're design is there. It's restrictive. However, I little bit of imagination could bring us to exploit the use of QR codes better. They were invented for some reason. And people are still using them for some reason. An interesting UX design space seems to be there to explore and re-think the purpose and UX with QR codes, including how to make that translation issue seamless or better, get rid of it.
I don't know why I hadn't paid attention to it before. Maybe it's consequence of being surrounded by design philosophers, feminists, and rhetoricians as part of my PhD education. I'm talking about the postcolonial role of design in the development of the Mexican culture. I don't have a concrete argument here, but sparse thoughts and questions. All of them are consequence, in turn, of being exposed to the architecture of some european cities I've had the opportunity to visit. By observing and reflecting about the architecture of Europe and Mexico, I couldn't avoid thinking about how the hegemonic vision is imposed through design.
The (Mexican) architecture, as I imagine that it occurs all over Latin America and other colonized countries, shows such hegemonic vision. It seems that design, before and nowadays, either we talk about architecture or object design, is clearly the materialization of the hegemony. Design works as a cultural wax stamp.
I just heard in the DRS 2014 Conference that, as designers, we should pay attention to the design needs of Africa and Asia due to their coming population growth, including its economic impact. Who should be in charge of these design situations? To what extent design should avoid fostering a neocolonialist vision? Is there a design vision and education emerging from not-western countries that should be taken into account? In other words, do we need to use that cultural wax stamp as safe action? How much?
The old zones of Mexican cities show the European heritage in terms of functionality and aesthetics. Furthermore, current developments also follow modern architectural approaches influenced by developed countries. Nevertheless, Mexican cities don't identify themselves as European cities. The Mexican flavor has developed on its own. So, why do Mexicans need to care about how the european vision has affected what they call culture? Will it make any change? Is it anyhow relevant to make a comparison with the inherited wester design and the design that mexicans are allowing to conquer them nowadays?
I know that it might sound as an exaggeration. Too much buzz around the idea of architecture, and hence of design. Nevertheless, just by observing, reflecting, and understanding architecture as an evidence of a repeating history, it comes to my mind more doubts about the failure of design. It comes to my mind images of clumsy Mexican cities where the marginalized zones are not considered as design projects; software that is not inclusive for the heterogenous societies within the Mexican Republic; or even an image of how certain products and services might be unaccessible for people whose user or consumer profile parallels to that of people in USA or Europe.
I think that Design perceived as a transformative action deserves a couple of thoughts. It changes reality, and hence, it changes us. Therefore, shouldn't we be more critical about how other forces affect our agency? Regardless, I'd bet that any thought about Design and its implications is just as mess; as anything that plays part of transforming the world.
In a previous post I commented about some examples of flat design for user interfaces (UI) and about the prominent use of the circle—as the basic widget component in such design. Later, I found this novel user interface design for car controls proposed by Matthaeus Krenn.
From my perspective, this is a great example of how Information Design and HCI/UX Design overlap. In his proposal, Krenn attempts to integrate a gesture-based interaction with a low cognitive load interface. As we observed from the video and images below, he seeked to visually synthesize the information and make the information as least intrusive as possible—for the driving experience.
The circle seems to be the best shape to represent a manipulable object—within a flat screen—when considering a gesture-based interaction. As I mentioned before, I conjecture that our experiences, in relation to manipulating spheroids since we're born, influence this type of design rationale. That is, to make the connection of the fingers—something physical and tridimensional—with something abstract and flat, we still need to refer to something in the real world. That is, the metaphorical reference.
Size (diameter). This is clearly a variable that represents quantity, which goes from zero—the absence of the widget—to the maximum—as wide as we can extend our fingers on the screen.
Tilt. As I observe, the key aspect regarding this variable is having a reference point. When the user decides to tilt the widget, a cognitive model of range is created in the user's mind at that moment. Yet we may reflect whether the latter adds complexity to the interaction. In this regard, I assume that tilt as an interactive variable is suitable for qualitative range, or ranges that are not require to be that precise. We don't need that tilting represents a hard/long decision to the user, specially in context of use where the user is saturated by diverse information sources—as it may occur for the case of car controls.
X-value. This variable—that represents values along the horizontal axis—in conjunction with the y-value—vertical axis— determine the center of the circle and hence the current position (x,y) of the widget. What Krenn shows to us is the convenience of decomposing the center into two independent variables. He employs only one axis, but the idea of observing the scale at the side of the screen provides a mental reference for using either on axis or two of them. From Krenn's video, we can note that setting the origin point (0,0) is critical in terms of both interface and interaction. Krenn's proposes a good approach by setting this point relative to wherever the user touches the screen at any moment.
Y-value. As it occurs with the x-value, the vertical axis can be used to represent another quantity. In this way the user can set the value of two variables at the same time. Nevertheless, as I've experienced with Photoshop for iOS, it's frustrating to deal with different quantities due to the sensitivity of the screen (or lack thereof) and a finger. As Krenn comments in his video, the design should take in account this issue and validate the interactions. One idea that came to my mind is snapping to values that makes sense. In Krenn's proposal, the employment of the vertical axis only, in addition to rationale behind the increments/decrements according to the function/velocity of fingers, contribute to validate the interactions in this UI.
I get excited by observing design proposals as the one from Krenn. As I stated before, I think that Information Design plays a key role in the shift of any interactive paradigm. As designers, we should be conscious that we not only interact with products/design since the moment we wake up, but also we consume/interact information by means of our senses. Because of the latter, I remark that is difficult to see the actual boundaries between information and interface. Hence, representing information in a usable fashion and make it part of an interactive aesthetic experience is something really hard. Yet it represents to me a critical aspect that HCI/UX designers should pay more attention and recognize the implications of a matter where form & function cannot be practically detached.
How would you visually/sensorially redesign all the information you've consumed/interact with since you woke up this morning?
Design, Science, Art and Craft: among facts and abstractions.
What's the difference between Science and Design? What about Art and Craft? Is design about something concrete (an object), a process, an line of thought? Further, by taking User Experience (UX) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) as knowledge disciplines, what's the relation of UX with Science? Does UX belong to Craft or Art? What can we tell about HCI? These are very difficult questions to answer, and they require to take a philosophical stance—at least, I assume—in order to create arguments and hence generate discussion. So, what's the point of this post any way? Although I think I don't have the answers to all these questions whatsoever, I would like to share my perspective on how these big words relate each other by means of the following schema.
Relational space between Science, Design, Craft, Art, Actuality and Abstraction.
El diseño implica arte pero el arte no implica necesariamente diseño.
La ciencia implica diseño pero diseñar no implica necesariamente hacer ciencia.
Aun así, la ciencia implica hacer arte.
Design implies Art, but Art not necessarily implies Design.
Science implies Design, but to design not necessarily implies doing Science.
Yet Science implies doing Art.
My point here is that "doing Science" in real life is not that rigid as it looks in paper. To me, it involves both aspects of Craft and Design. Further, this phrase indicates the underlying implications of using a particular language at the moment of reflecting and philosophizing. Regardless, the selection of this continuum is somehow influenced by the perspective of Howard Risatti when comparing Art and Craft—although I don't share his vision regarding Craft and Design in this "Theory of Craft".
For the case of Science and Design, I consider the relation between these two as discussed by Nigel Cross and Harold Nelson & Erik Stolterman. As I tried to embed it in my phrase above, I state that it turns out difficult to outline strict boundaries in the relation of Science and Design. All depends on what type of definition, questions, and the place where those questions are made.
The third continuum entails the consequences of Art/Craft and Science/Design in relation to the real world. Thus, I consider—at least—the range that goes from abstraction to actuality. That is, from ideas to things that people can interact with. This continuum is theoretically related with ideas such as the "ultimate particular" and "design inquiry"—as a compound of the inquiries into the real, ideal, and true respectively—by Nelson & Stolterman.
The relational schema presented above doesn't have the intention of being prescriptive. It corresponds to my personal viewpoint and a attempt to formulate my position as HCI/UX researcher regarding the type of research/discourse generated in my near context. That is, among the faculty and colleagues at Indiana University Bloomington. Further, since I have interest in schemas/diagrams/sketches, I generated it as an example of how schemas may function as a means for argumentation.
My purpose here is for you to take this schema and tear it up. Make it your own.
However, before you go and destroy this relational schema, let me show how it helped me to sketch the answer to the aforementioned issues.
As we observe from the schema above, the relational space is conformed by three axis, each of them representing one of the continuums describe above. Then, I perceive User Experience (UX) as a discipline highly design-oriented, focused on concrete outcomes, and with a high flavor of craft in its practice. I think these qualities make it different from other approaches regarding interactive artifacts-systems such as Software Engineering, ICT, or Computer Science.
UX in relation to Art, Craft, Science, Design, the abstract and the concrete.
On the other hand, I locate Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) in a different place within the relational space. I perceive HCI as more scientific discipline focused on concrete outcomes, yet with certain nuances of craft in its practice. I remark that I'm talking about a general or traditional perspective of HCI. In other words, a practice—and also its research—more emphasized on the first and second waves of HCI.
HCI in relations to Art, Craft, Science, Design, the abstract and the concrete.
I consider that HCI influences UX, more than the other way around. Although HCI provides foundations and methods to UX, the latter seems to lack of impact regarding HCI in this fashion. Of course, this discussion could be very extensive and profound. So far, I remark this influence with an arrow, just to indicate that HCI may entail a more traditional approach whereas UX corresponds to the designerly approach.
Designerly and non-designerly approach to HCI/UX.
In the attempt of describing the relation of HCI and UX and the implications that each has on the other, I've observed that within the HCI track—in the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University Bloomington—theory plays a critical role. It provides the discursive components to understand the aforementioned relation. Thus, in this milieu I've heard of design theoretical topics such as Slow Change Interaction Design, Sustainable Interaction Design, Feminist HCI, HCI Criticism, Participatory Design, Critical HCI, Design Theory, and Design Pedagogy, Practice and Methods. All of them gathered under the big umbrella of Design Theory (DT).
Design Theory in relation to Art, Craft, Science, Design, the abstract and the concrete.
From my current perspective, UX influences DT since it provides the input to start theorizing about design. The consequences of UX are actual design cases. At the moment (design) researchers start analyzing those cases, a universe of study is created. By picking one planet, system, or galaxy of such universe, the (design) researchers cannot avoid to meet a philosophical situation since there's an intrinsic relation between the researcher and the piece selected to study. And just as we may observe from the last sentences, the attempt to understand becomes a matter of (design) philosophy.
The relation between UX and Design Theory.
So far, we've observed from above the relations of HCI→UX and UX→DT. The question is now, in terms of DT and HCI, what is the discipline more prominent to influence or affect the other? I want to remark that it's not my intention to be prescriptive. Based on my experience, I think that DT→HCI marks the relation within the type of research I'm currently involved. That is, DT provides HCI with theoretical foundations, which are in turn employed to generate frameworks.
Not necessarily connected with the latter, (design) methods are located very close to HCI in the path of this connection. Nowadays, more that thinking about their degree of applicability, I think that the so-called design methods could work without a deep—and hence philosophical—understanding of DT. I conjectured the latter based on my early experience with HCI, particularly as an undergraduate and latter getting involved with HCI researchers.
The relation between HCI and Design Theory/Theories.
As I mentioned above the relational schema has the purpose of helping myself what's my position as HCI/UX researcher. The relational schema is limited in order to respond to such statement. However, it provides a means to make an approximation for such goal.
I notice that more than talking about a precise position as (a possible future) researcher within the relational space, I can better reflect on the interrelation of UX-HCI-DT to understand on what research field I can work at. For instance, in the schema below, I picture a research field with big emphasis on the actuality and Art dimensions—although the connection with DT will always be there. Any change on this membrane represents a different framing on what to pay attention as HCI/UX researcher.
Research on design as reconciliation of HCI, UX, and Design Theory.
There are as many membrane variations as HCI/UX researchers. In my case, I know that my academic/professional past as designer and my current formation as scholar influence on how I frame the research field I'd like to work when I reach the dissertation stage. In this sense, I remark that relevance of the context. My advisor Marty Siegel, my mentor Erik Stolterman, the faculty, my colleagues PhD students from all the tracks, and the master's students from the HCI/d program have a huge impact on shaping my particular membrane.
Drawing is a skill associated with design, and other creative disciplines. I consider this should not be the exception for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Design. Drawing is a way for synthesizing and engaging into reflection. Crucial skills for an Interaction Designer or User Experience Designer.
The basis of a systems-oriented thinking is analysis. Although when a strong skill for analysis is needed for designing technology-driven solutions, amalgamating all the information [chunks] in order to create a new and feasible design is complex task. Hence, synthesis plays a crucial role in HCI Design. However, not everything is about synthesizing. Abductive reasoning is in essential design thinking. In fact, the three of them –analysis, synthesis, and abduction– practically occur in a non-linear almos-simultaneous fashion during the design process.
From my experience as a designer and teacher, drawing is a powerful tool for supporting memory and reflection. Talking about the relation of drawing and memory is quite straightforward. Drawing allow us to materialize our thoughts and archive them for future references and inspection. That's why I've decided to focus on drawing again. I realize my memory is kind of bad, and this flaw needs to be beaten by the use of some artifact that connects me back with previous thoughts. I found drawing as a pleasant way for creating this artifact. Of course, I don't deny the power of writing whatsoever. That's the reason of this blog's existence in first place. That implies another post, though.
Cover of my personal journal of micro-drawings and written notes for not forgetting things from my experiences I want to reflect upon in the future.
Drawing is also a tool for reflection. Particularly in Schön's terms –Reflection-in-action and Reflection-on-action. From my perspective, drawing is one way of pushing through all the complexity –expression said by my advisor, Marty Siegel. While drawing, analysis, synthesis, and abduction happen. It is inevitable to reflect in the actual drawing decisions –Reflection-in-action. However, from my perspective, the magic occurs when reflecting upon past experiences, concepts, ideas, or even knowledge during the act of drawing. In this sense, composing becomes more complex than determining which components to draw, their representation, their position, and their relevance. Synthesis and abduction combine during the overall process. They contribute on the creation of meaning around a drawing.
Now that I'm conducting research on Interaction Design practice, and being involved with a HCI Design graduate program, I've decided to keep drawing. Of course, it's also a hobby I really enjoy. Though, it's a mental and physical activity that connects and disconnects myself from the realm of Design and Human-Computer Interaction.
Keep calm and carry on drawing.


text:
René Amengual Astaburuaga (* 2. September 1911 in Santiago de Chile; † 2. August 1954 ebenda) war ein chilenischer Komponist.

Leben
Amengual studierte am Konservatorium von Santiago unter Pedro Umberto Allende Sarón. Er wurde 1935 Lehrer und 1947 Direktor des Konservatoriums.

Neben neoklassizistischen Orchesterwerken komponierte er ein Klavierkonzert, ein Harfenkonzert, zwei Streichquartette, Klavierstücke sowie Motetten und Madrigale.

Komponist klassischer Musik (20. Jahrhundert)
Komponist (Chile)
Chilene
Geboren 1911
Gestorben 1954
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia