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Home Call for papers André Herman Freire Bezerra, …, "An alternative keyboard for communication of patients...
André Herman Freire Bezerra, …, "An alternative keyboard for communication of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis"
This paper describes an alternative virtual keyboard for ALS patients that is controlled by a screen scanning mechanism triggered by eye-blink. The patients with ALS may lose the ability to communicate with others by speech or gestures. In most cases, the only remaining capability for those patients are the eye movements. Three different keyboard layouts were tested through simulations to account for typing efficiency. A good user experience in typing is essential to communicate with others or request help of the caretaker in cases of need and emergency. The proposed solution does not use any device attached to the patient. Instead, it uses an AI algorithm to detect eye-blink captured from a webcam to interact with the keyboard.
– An alternative keyboard for communication of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
André Herman Freire Bezerra1,2– andre.herman@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Ricardo Alexsandro de Medeiros Valentim2 – ricardo.valentim@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Daniele Montenegro da Silva Barros2 – daniele.barros@lais.huol.ufrn.br
John Victor Alves Luiz2– john.victor@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Hertz Wilton de Castro Lins2– hertz.lins@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Felipe Ricardo dos Santos Fernandes2– felipe.ricardo@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Danilo Alves Pinto Nagem2– danilo.nagem@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Presenter.Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering, currently Bachelor in Information Technology at UFRN and Resident Researcher at LAIS.
Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health (LAIS), UFRN, Natal, Brazil
An alternative keyboard for communication of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Augmentative and alternative communication has been largely studied in the past decades [1, 2, 3] to help people with motor disabilities to communicate. Several studies test the efficiency of alternative tools in communication for those who are severely speech impaired and show some important factors to be taken into account. Overall, the main indicator of communication efficiency is the time taken by the user to write a sentence. This measured time is commonly reported as an average rate of words per minute or characters per minute. The lesser time to write, the closer to conventional speech. It improves patient autonomy and, therefore, its quality of life.
Our main target audience is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. ALS is a degenerative disease that causes the vast majority of the patient's muscles to stop functioning due to degeneration of the motor neuron. In most cases, the cognitive aspect is preserved and muscles as of the eye region are still functional and can move and blink. These remaining moving muscles are usually explored as a mechanism for triggering some alternative communication apparatus.
Some solutions of assistive technology are classified as bio signal based technologies, in which they obtain signals from the patient, commonly through electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG) or electromyogram (EMG), using assistive devices. Dhillon et al. [4] proposed a virtual keyboard solution that can be controlled by EOG and EMG signals. They proposed a method to obtain the eye gaze direction and eye gaze angle based on the EOG signals. EMG waves are obtained for eye blink actions. Alternatively, [5] proposed a keyboard that is controlled by EOG signalsonly.
About the solution
The proposed solution is an alternative virtual keyboard as an non-bio signal based assistive technology, meaning that there is no additional device attached to the patient to trigger events on the computer. All is needed is a laptop with a builtin webcam. It is a free solution with continuous support and constant update.
In the presented solution, the eye-blink is used as a way to select items sequentially illuminated on the screen, triggering events in the software. The keys are sequentially illuminated on the screen following either a linear or a line-column scan pattern and a timer. The timer is responsible to linger the scanner over the illuminated key for a certain period of time (default to 2 seconds) to give opportunity to the user to select it. An AI face recognition algorithm is responsible to detect user blinking. In short, the project is a free solution for those who cannot afford high priced communication equipment (both software and hardware). It is designed to operate in any laptop running Windows or Linux with a webcam.
The alternative keyboard was designed in order to answer the question: does this set of features makes the keyboard comfortable to ALS patients daily use?
Presenting the keyboard
According to [6], several factors are important to reduce writing time: scanning method, key order, grouping of keys. In addition, [7] shows that features such aseliminating keys momentarily impossible to use (key negation) and word prediction decrease writing time. The effect of those features in typing becomes more evident when using scanning key selection method instead of eye-tracking selection method as user waiting time to select the next desired letter diminishes. As a result of our literature review, the following keyboard features were observed to have the most significant effects on typing efficiency: keys ordered by usage frequency, key negation, list of predicted and most used words, methods of scanning (sequential and line-column), and text-to-speech (TTS), the latter, as a quality of life improvement.
Eyes detection is made by applying a convolutional neural network and a support vector machine to provide eye-coordinates, resulting in an open/closed classification. The flow of the detection process is presented in Figure 1. This binary classification serves to simulate a click action (closed eye) to trigger the event of selecting the current hovered key (Figure 1) on the screen.
Figure 1. Blink detection process.
The keyboard keys are ordered by most frequent characters used in the language (in our case, Portuguese) (Figure 2). A counting algorithm calculates each character frequency by scanning six public domain Portuguese books, in plain text format. Any accented vowel is transformed into their root to increase accuracy. Key negation uses an algorithm that checks for every following character to each letter of the alphabet, making possible to list all characters that do not come after a certain letter. Plain texts are also used to predict words. They are ordered by frequency of appearance in the text and, as the user types, words are suggested. Using this prediction method brings an advantage of training the algorithm to different user knowledge levels. The system can be trained with either simple or elaborate texts, depending on the user's erudition. The TTS feature uses the open source engine eSpeak. All features are presented in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Keyboard initial state and scanning over letter 'd'
Figure 3. Keyboard features in action- speak button, prediction region (orange), most used words region (green), and key negation
Testing the keyboard
A software that simulates the usage of the keyboard by a user was developed in order to run a synthetic test and check the keyboard typing efficiency. The simulations consisted in typing 97 sentences in the Portuguese language, taken from books of several subjects. The result is a typing speed average, measured in words per minute. In the simulations, the default value of 2 seconds for the timer was used. It means the software waits 2 seconds before selectingany key. In a real case scenario, the user selects a key before 2 seconds is elapsed.
We tested the current keyboard layout against the traditional qwerty layout and a new layout where it follows all characteristics of the current layout, but has a more square shape with 9 keys width and 6 keys in height. The layouts are shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Keyboard layouts used in the simulations. a) qwerty, b) currently used, and c) new. Red 'X' represents non-used keys
The simulations results are shown on Table 1. The conventional qwerty layout performed worst of all 3 layouts, with an average of 0.9 words per minute, followed by the currently used layout, with 1.0 words per minute and the new layout with 1.1 words per minute. Unlike the qwerty layout, both the current and the new proposed layout benefit from the arrangement of the most used letters. Similarly, line-column scanning benefits from a more square layout, due to the shorter waiting time for letters that are further to the end of each keyboard line. As a comparison, [8] found an average time of 2.8 words per minute withthe qwerty layout with users using an eye-gaze device when typing.
Table 1. Performance of the different layouts
Layout Words per minute Characters per minute
qwerty 0.9 4.2
current 1.0 4.8
new 1.1 5.5
It is important to note that the mechanism of letter negation was not simulated, whichwould increase the count of word per minute by a significant amount. Also, with constant use, the user would get better with the keyboard usage, resulting in an increasingword per minute average. Additionally, by consideringthese factors, it becomes possible for avirtual keyboard that does not use eye-gaze technology to achieve similar results.
Of course, these are only synthetic results done by simulation. Other variables such asuser comfort with a new layout (different from the default qwerty) and user fatigue due to long time usage are not taken into account. Therefore, tests with real users are essential in order to either validate or refuse the results.
Although the keyboard has been developed to be as comfortable to use as possible, some difficulties need to be overcome. The most obvious is the user's initial difficulty in accepting a new keyboard layout. In addition, keyboards using scanning methods should always look for alternatives to reduce the waiting time. The new proposed layout is an example of it. Finally, for a better user experience, the system should be capable of detectingother languages within the text, in both prediction and speech features.
[1] Foulds, R. A., Soede, M., & van Balkom, H. (1987). Statistical disambiguation of multi-character keys applied to reduce motor requirements for augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 3, 192–195.
[2] Levine, S. H., & Goodenough-Trepagnier, C. (1990). Customized text entry devices for motor-impaired users. Applied Ergonomics, 21, 55–62.
[3] Brumberg, J. S., Pitt, K. M., Mantie-Kozlowski, A., & Burnison, J. D. (2018). Brain–computer interfaces for augmentative and alternative communication: A tutorial. American journal of speech-language pathology, 27(1), 1-12.
[4] Dhillon, H. S., Singla, R., Rekhi, N. S., & Jha, R. (2009). EOG and EMG based virtual keyboard: A brain-computer interface. In 2009 2nd IEEE International Conference on Computer Science and Information Technology. 259-262. IEEE.
[5] Venkatagiri, H. (1999). Efficient keyboard layouts for sequential access in augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 15(2), 126-134.
[6] Lingegowda, D. R., Amrutesh, K., & Ramanujam, S. (2017). Electrooculography based assistive technology for ALS patients. In 2017 IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics-Asia, 36-40. IEEE.
[7] Benligiray, B., Topal, C., & Akinlar, C. (2019). SliceType: fast gaze typing with a merging keyboard. Journal on Multimodal User Interfaces, 13(4), 321-334.
[8] Waddington, C. T., MacKenzie, I. S., Read, J. C., & Horton, M. (2017). Comparing a scanning ambiguous keyboard to the on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Electronic Visualisation and the Arts, 1-6.
Andre Herman Freire Bezerra, Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering, currently Bachelor in Information Technology at UFRN and Resident Researcher at LAIS, andre.herman@lais.huol.ufrn.br
Andre Herman holds a degree in Agronomy from the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) and a PhD in Agricultural Systems Engineering at University of São Paulo (USP), with a 1-year period working as visiting researcher at Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR). He has experience in mathematical modeling of physical processes related to fluid dynamics, numerical methods for optimization problems and analysis of high frequency data. He is currently coursing Bachelor on Information Technology and is a research resident at LAIS, where he is part of the Autonomus development group.
Articolo precedenteRemo TREZZA, "I "valori giuridici" possono mai trasformarsi in "variabili algoritmiche"? Brevi osservazioni su giurimetria, algo-crazia e algor-etica"
Articolo successivoMaria Luiza Pires de Souza, …, "Artificial Intelligence applied in a Human-Machine Interface for an alternative communication system to ALS patients"
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Ignazio GENOVESE, "La natura razionale dell'immagine di Dio e il compito della libertà Contributi per una rilettura del rapporto mente/cervello in chiave patristica"


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'Bill Nye the Science Guy' to Debate Evolution at Kentucky's Creation Museum
Original Article: ABC.COm
Will Bill Nye deliver the ultimate science smackdown to creationists?
Ken Ham, founder of Kentucky's Creation Museum, wrote on his blog that the bow-tied television personality and staunch evolutionist would square off with him in a Feb. 4 debate.
"This debate will help highlight the fact that so many young people are dismissing the Bible because of evolution, and even many young people who had grown up in the church decided to leave the church because they saw evolution as showing the Bible could not be trusted," Ham said.
An email inquiry to Nye's assistant was not immediately returned. The museum had been hoping to attract Nye after the star said in a Youtube video that teaching creationism was bad for children.
"I say to the grown-ups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them," Nye said in the video, which has amassed nearly 6 million views.
The event, which is titled "Is Creation a Viable Model of Origins?" will be held at the Petersburg, Ky., museum's Legacy Hall. Tickets for the two-and-a-half hour debate cost $25, and will go on sale Jan. 6, according to the museum's website.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Extra-Curricular Achievements
News-In-Education
Alina Shaikh's nimble, fast fingers have taken her places. This time in Charni Road, where she won the Ideal Play Abacus India Pvt. Ltd. in the Level III of Elementary competition in abacus.
A release from her abacus training institute, Ideal Play Abacus India Pvt. Ltd., says that she won the prize, where around 3000 students participated in various levels.
Her task was to complete 100 addition and subtraction problems in five minutes. The student who gets the maximum correct answers at the shortest possible time is declared the winner, says Alina's Sister Ms. Amreen Shaikh who has supported her in the run up to the competition.
In fact, it was she who enrolled her in an abacus institute in their neighbourhood in Agripada. "I encouraged her to join an abacus coaching class after finding her do math with interest," she recalls. This was a year ago.
Ms. Allina Shaikh has been congratulated by the Principal and the staff for her brilliant performance.
J. Boman Behram Marg,
Byculla,
Mumbai – 400 008.
Principal:
Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. – 12 Noon
or by prior appointment
Secondary: 8.15 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Pre-Primary & Primary: 8.15 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved by, Eduhook Private Limited


text:
ROOT = ../../../../..
DIR = Pegasus/Common/tests/FileSystem
include $(ROOT)/mak/config.mak
include ../libraries.mak

LOCAL_DEFINES = -DPEGASUS_INTERNALONLY

PROGRAM = TestFileSystem
SOURCES = FileSystem.cpp

include $(ROOT)/mak/program.mak

LOCAL_FILES_TO_CLEAN = \
	$(TMP_DIR)/TestFile.txt \
	$(TMP_DIR)/TestFile1.txt \
	$(TMP_DIR)/file1.txt \
	$(TMP_DIR)/file2.txt

LOCAL_DIRS_TO_CLEAN = \
	$(TMP_DIR)/TestDirectory2

tests:
	$(RM) $(LOCAL_FILES_TO_CLEAN)
	$(RMDIRHIER) $(LOCAL_DIRS_TO_CLEAN)
	$(PROGRAM)
	$(RM) $(LOCAL_FILES_TO_CLEAN)
	$(RMDIRHIER) $(LOCAL_DIRS_TO_CLEAN)

poststarttests:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


By popular demand, professional videographer and Village resident Scott Marvel will repeat his 4-session smartphone video class starting Friday, April 26. Titled "Making Amazing Movies with Your Smartphone," the class will meet April 25, May 3, 10, and 17, from 9:30 am to noon in the Video Lab. Scott produces the monthly "Thrive" show on Village Television – all shot on his iPhone.
Cost is $20 for members, $35 for nonmembers (includes 2019 club membership). No pre-registration required.


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Becky Undlin / M.Ed.
Becky has over 40 years of experience working with children and parents. Since 1980, she has operated a private in-home preschool with a reputation for excellence in the community. She attributes much of her success and satisfaction to the CrabbieMasters Program she created in the late 1980's. She delights in watching children develop confidence, good attitudes, strong relationships with their parents and peers, and readiness for school.
Before starting her own school, Becky earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and then worked as a math and reading teacher. She departed from the public school system to work with younger children. At that time, she had a strong desire for more freedom to implement her own curriculum in a setting where she could continue to focus on education with heightened emphasis on helping children develop positive emotional adjustment.
Over the years, parents and elementary school teachers of the children from Becky's Preschool have frequently commented on their appreciation for the results of her program. This led her to pursue a master's in Family Education at the University of Minnesota to facilitate sharing her methods with others. Because of her love for working with children daily, she continues to operate Becky's Preschool. Other activities have included parent education, community outreach on parenting skills, ECFE class offerings, CrabbieMasters summer camp, parenting groups, and parent consultation.
In addition to her master's in Family Education, Becky holds licenses in the State of Minnesota in both elementary education and parent education. She is a member of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).
Contact Becky for personalized parenting consultation and the use of CrabbieMasters in your home.
Michael Undlin
Anyone who knows Becky knows teaching kids is more than a job – it's her passion. Mike still remembers her excitement when she first told him, now about 30 years ago, how great her days had been ever since she and the kids had learned to "Beat the Crabbies!" Shortly after that, Mike made it his mission to help her develop the concept for use in preschool. Over time, he realized Becky needed to take CrabbieMasters beyond her classroom. With his encouragement, Becky led the way as they drafted scripts.
Mike found great professional help for illustration and editing while managing the details related to putting together the book series. Of all the positions he's held, from summers driving farm equipment to corporate sales and marketing roles, his favorite title is "Assistant to the CrabbieMaster."
Andrea Undlin / LMFT
Andrea was a preschool student during the early years when Becky was launching the CrabbieMasters idea in her own school. Andrea is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and one of her passions is working with caregivers and their children. She has a firm belief that the well-being of children starts with secure caregiver-child relationship. Andrea believes CrabbieMasters is an excellent tool and concept to support a fun, healthy, and effective way for caregivers and children to join and promote a healthy and balanced well-being, both physically and emotionally.
Erik Lervold
Erik is the illustrator of the CrabbieMasters books. He has the fun job of drawing and painting all day, taking characters from his sketchbook to final drawing and inking.


Shallows is a Scrabble word. Scrabble point value for shallows: 14 points.
Shallows is a Words with Friends word. Words with Friends point value for shallows: 14 points.
Above are the results of unscrambling shallows. Using the word generator and word unscrambler for the letters S H A L L O W S, we unscrambled the letters to create a list of all the words found in Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Text Twist. We found a total of 108 words by unscrambling the letters in shallows. Click these words to find out how many points they are worth, their definitions, and all the other words that can be made by unscrambling the letters from these words. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed.


Douglas Jack Agu (born 19 August 1989), better known by his stage name Runtown, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer of hip-hop, R&B, reggae and rap genres.
Runtown was born on 19 August 1989 in Enugu but grew up partly in Abuja and Lagos, where he finished his primary education. After the death of his father, he reportedly moved to Abuja with his mother who was working in the Ministry of Health.
In 2014 he released "Gallardo", a song which features vocals from Davido and was released as the first single off his debut studio album Ghetto University. Gallardo went on to win "Best Collaboration of the Year" at the 2014 edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. On 23 November 2015, Runtown released his debut studio album titled Ghetto University via MTN Music Plus through Eric Many Entertainment. The album generated over millions on naira on the music portal thus earning him a spot in the list of "Top 5 Most Streamed Artist".
On 4 November 2016, Runtown released the ballad "Mad Over You", which charted at number 38 on the Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart. Joey Akan from Pulse Nigeria described the song as a "self-produced track that draws inspiration from the Ghanaian Alkayida sound". Runtown told The Fader magazine that the song was inspired by African beauty.
Runtown was featured in Fv Magazine alongside model Adonnis Bosso.
In 2014, there were reports in the media that Runtown wrote "Aye". In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Runtown said, "A lot of people have been asking me that question. Davido has had a number of interviews where he addressed how the song came about. So if you want to learn more about Aye ask David or read his interviews".
Runtown's contract with Eric Manny Entertainment expired in June 2018. He subsequently started his own label, Soundgod Music Group.


A former North Wales and Merseyside journalist has died aged 65.
Gill Isted worked in the Mold office of the Flintshire Chronicle until her retirement in 2004 and previously worked for the Ellesmere Port Pioneer.
Chronicle reporter George Tattum, who worked with Gill for over ten years, said: "Gill was renowned for her accuracy and was always concerned about the underdog.
"She relentlessly pursued the truth and was keen to cut through red tape and bureaucracy.
Originally from Bangor, Gill became a teacher and later moved to Ellesmere Port where she met her husband George while canvassing for local elections.
She gave up teaching in the 1970s and took a journalist's job with the Ellesmere Port Pioneer.
From here she joined the Flintshire Chronicle and, with her passion for arts, interviewed many top names in the business.
She regularly reviewed productions at Clwyd Theatr Cymru and also travelled further afield as a critic.
Gill was also a supporter of North Clwyd Animal Rescue and chairwoman of the Flintshire area committee of Clwyd Community Health Council.
Her funeral will be held at 2.15pm on Monday at Bangor Crematorium.


You've made the decision to start your own business, identified your skill set, and picked out the perfect name. Now let's have some fun by designing your logo and choosing your brand color(s).
Chances are there are some company logos that you are naturally drawn to. Think about them. What is it that you like about them? What about the logo do you find is easily recalled? A good logo design will draw clients to your business. Stop and take the time you need to design your logo. It will represent your business and should signify what your business does.
Think Simple: Some of the best company logos are made from simple shapes, symbols, and/or fonts. Play around with different ideas that naturally pop into your mind. Remember that your logo needs to be recognizable. Choose either basic shapes or letters as opposed to showy or complicated graphics.
Be Original: What does your company do? What is the name of your business? What makes your business different from the rest? For example, the name of my Virtual Assistant business is Another You. I took a play on the word "YOU" and chose to work with the letter "U". And because my business name is "ANOTHER" You, I decided to use 2 U shapes. Simple and it reflects my business name. Be sure that your logo is original and don't use Clip Art. Stay away from trendy designs because a good logo should last 10 years or more without redesign.
Choose the Right Color: The color of your brand and logo should help voice your message. Color influences emotion. Red symbolizes vitality; it is often chosen my males and extroverts. The cool color of blue signals peace as in the sky or the ocean. Green represents life or nature and tends to be favored by well-balanced people. You will want to pick a color that sends the message that you want to get across about your brand and your business.
After I decided upon the symbols and color that I wanted for my new business, I enlisted the help of a friend that had a design program to put my ideas in print. Personally, I feel that it is worth the small investment to have your logo designed (using your ideas) with help from a professional. If you already know what you want, you can take your ideas to small company like Micro Marketing (ask for Allie) and get a few options for around $100.00. Such a small price to pay for a professional looking logo that can last you upwards to 10 years.
You've made the exciting decision to start your own business. You have looked long and hard to recognize the skills that you have, and just as important, the skills that you don't have. You know what type of business you want to start. Now it's time to choose a name.
Deciding upon your business name (just like picking the names of your children) is very important. As a small business owner your name-your reputation-will be everything. Your business name should be one that touches you but it also needs to tell your potential clients exactly what it is you do. It should also produce a positive response from them. Keep it simple; it will be easier to remember. Avoid unusual spellings; you don't want prospects not to be able to find you on the web because they can't spell your name. Some business owners choose to start the name of their business with the letter "A" so that it will appear first on lists. You might not want to include the name of your hometown unless you are sure you will not move.
Many of us have a good idea what we would name our business, but for those who don't it might be helpful to check out www.thesaurus.com to look through some starter words. If you are still stuck there are Business Name Generators on the internet you could review. Make lists. Sound the names out. Choose a couple of names that you would be happy with.
Next, take your list of favorites and find out which ones are available. Be sure to visit the free online resource NOLO for legal information on name and trademark registration. It is very important that you check with The Thomas Register and the US Patent and Trademark Office to do a trademark search for your list of names. You want to see if any of them are registered, unregistered, or DBA (doing business as). If someone else already has the name, you can't use it. You also want to look at registered names that are similar to yours. You would not want your business name to be confused with a business that has an alike name. Check with your local country clerk's office to see if your names are registered as another business in your area. I also did a quick Google search.
After you have decided upon a couple of choices and ensured that they are available to use (not trademarked, registered, or closely associated with another business), ask the opinions of friends, family members, and/or close associates for their opinion of your names. After I narrowed mine down to 4-5 names, I had family over for dinner. I provided a "ballot" to each of them with my list of names and asked then to vote for their favorite. Luckily, the majority chose my favorite name, Another You.
Your business name may be the first impression your potential clients have of you. People will see it on your business cards, website, and advertising. A clever name may not tell prospects what you do-which defeats the purpose. Your goal in naming your small business should be one that you like, one that is easy to remember, and one that tells what you do or the services that you provide.
August…of my favorite months. Summer is winding down, the neighborhood quiets as school starts up, and the sounds and smells remind me that fall is just around the corner. Normally HOT in August, Ohio has (so far) been a cooler month. It is a beautiful 76 degrees with no humidity as I sit in the sun on our back deck writing this post.
Four years ago this month, I started my Virtual Assistant Business. How blessed I am that I can both work and enjoy this wonderful day. The start-up and day-to-day running my business has been difficult at times but it has afforded me a happy, low-stress life. A life that I thank God for every day and one that I never take for granted.
My fourth year! What have I learned? Clients come and Clients go. This uncertainly used to freak me out! Over the past couple of years I have learned that God always provides. As soon as I lose/term one client, the opportunity for another has always been close by. My new clients come from referrals…mainly client referrals. What better marketing for my business could I ask for?!!
This year I have watched as 2 of my clients businesses have grown expedientially. Sadly, I lost a client earlier in the year as her business had grown so much that she needed a full time employee. Another client just hired his 2nd team member earlier this week! How exciting to be part of such growth! I am so proud of the work that all my clients are doing.
I have learned that most small business owners have at least one thing in common, They need help with organization; whether it be their email, calendar and scheduling, or short and long term goals. Most need accountability, help with focus, and assistance staying on task. These are my strengths! I help them, by using my strengths, so they can focus on theirs.
I love being a part of my client's industries. Where else can I learn about IT, law, mental health, ultrasound, probate, and non-profits all in the same day?!! My clients not only respect me as their assistant but treat me as their partner. They value and ask for my thoughts and opinions when making many important decisions for their businesses.
So what will this next year bring? I don't know but I am not concerned. I know that one of my passions is to help other small businesses owners start, grow, and maintain their passions. I know that I will continue to be blessed with great clients, enough work, and being able to work from home (and sometimes my deck). I know that life is good and this is where I am supposed to be.
Since flowers are the traditional gift for a 4th Anniversary, I think I'll run out and buy a couple of fresh cut bouquets for my dining room table and office (just as soon as I can pull myself away from this glorious work location). Happy 4th Anniversary Another You!
So you finally made the decision to start your own business! Now what? Do you know what type of business you will run? What are you passionate about? What would you like to do? What would you be good at? What skills do you have? Answering these crucial questions will lead you to understand what your new business will look like.
Luckily, for me, I managed medical practices for a lifetime. During those 32 years, I gained countless administrative and managerial skills. When it came time for me to decide what type of business I would start, it helped me to compose a list of things I knew how do to and things that I was good at. I then I re-examined my list and drew a line through the skills that I did not like to do, the ones that did not fulfill me; the ones that stressed me out. If you are going to do your own thing, you might as well be happy doing it, right? For example, the first thing that I crossed off my list was "Managing People". I knew for certain that I no longer wanted to manage employees. I needed to choose a business that I could do on my own with no need for staff. With each skill that you cross off you will get closer and closer to what your new business will look like.
There are so many things to think about during this process. What services will you offer? Who will you be offering these services to? What industry will your clients come from? Do you live in the correct geographical area to be able to find these clients?
Are you a hard worker? Owning your own business means that you will have to toil until all the work is done. There is no such thing as a time-clock, at least at first. There will be no 9-5 office hours for quite some time…maybe never!
Can you work alone? Do you need daily socialization that co-workers provide? Initially, you will probably be the only one on the payroll. Will you be able to handle the seclusion of working hours on end alone?
Do you have support of family and friends? Going alone is not easy and you will have days where you feel frustrated and even scared. Do you have people to share these feelings with? People that will try to understand and support you? When you are your own boss, you have to be everything to everyone. You will need to learn to balance your new business with your spouse, children, family and friends. Do you have financial support? You may very easily have to forgo a steady paycheck for some time.
Go ahead and move forward with lists, research and planning. This is the time to create the framework of your business. Take one day at a time. Do not lose focus or sight of why you are doing this. You have a lot to do so get yourself organized. If organization is not a skill that you possess, hire someone that can help you stay organized and on top of all the tasks of starting a business (detailed in a future post).
Owning your own business is hard work, but rewarding. You do not have an easy road ahead of you but you do have one that will be exciting, life altering and well worth it.
About the Author: Sheri Miller is the Owner of Another You, LLC, a Virtual Assistant service in the Dayton, Ohio area. Sheri helps small business owners save time, money and frustration by taking care of their day-to-day administrative tasks. Think of her as your right hand while your left hand is growing your business.
I was a Medical Office Manager for 32 years. I managed the day-to day activities of the office, multiple physicians, 25 staff members, and a practice full of patients. Hiring, billing, collections, insurance, etc., need I say more? It was a difficult, stressful job but one where I gained a wide variety of skills.
In January 2013, I lost my job. The year before, our private practice was purchased by a large, corporate hospital network. Not long after the practice made it through the 8 month, tough transition, the Network let me go.
After 8 weeks of mourning the loss of my career, I had some hard decisions to make. At that point, I really did not know what I wanted to do but I sure knew what I didn't want to do. I did not want to manage medical offices. I did not want to work for people that I could not trust and did not respect me. I did not want to work for a large hospital network. What did I know? I knew that I had the discipline to work for myself and had always wanted to give it a try. I knew that I had countless beneficial administrative skills; if you can manage a medical office you can do about anything! I knew that as a wife, mother, and practice manager, I had assisted people all of my adult life. So what type of business would be right for me?
It was my knowledge that people in Hollywood and other large cities have Personal Assistants. But did people in Dayton, Ohio have them? I did some research and found that there were Personal Assistants in large cities that ran errands for busy people and organizations. They performed tasks such as shopping, scheduling appointments, and taking cars in for maintenance and pets in for shots. They waited in homes for repairmen, organized paperwork and home offices, and ran errands. I could do these things! As well as running medical practices, I had managed our household for 34 years. Additional research found that there was one woman in Cincinnati and two in Columbus that were working as Personal Assistants. I could find no one in the Dayton area…I was on my way!
Decisions. "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing."~ Theodore Roosevelt. It is a huge decision to start your own business. Can I do this? What if I fail? What if I succeed? What would success look like for me? What will others think? Will I be supported by the people in my life that are important to me? Will I be able to make enough money for my household?
So I put together a simple, makeshift business plan and sat down with my husband. Next, I spoke to my parents, family members, and a few close friends. Luckily, I was supported by most-even though a few looked at me like I was out of my mind. The decision was made. I knew what the business was going to look like now what would I call it? Another decision.
I had a small dinner party with my closest family members. After dinner, I passed around a list with my top 5 choices for the name of my business and asked them to vote for their favorite. That evening Another You was born!
People often say that they find it hard to make decisions. Unfortunately, we all have to make them, ranging from what to wear to life-changing decisions like who to marry and if to start a business. The decision, for me, was not easy and neither was that first year! But here I am, 4 and a half years later, and Another You is alive and well! It did take a different path than what I had planned (which I will discuss in a future post) but I am in business and happier than I have ever been. I am so glad that I made that difficult decision. This is what success looks like to me!
I had a recent conversation with a colleague about how many small business owners and entrepreneurs have a hard time with the delegation of tasks. I get it. When you have the type of personality that it takes to start your own business it is hard to give up control. But sometimes it makes too much sense not to delegate. For example, my colleague told me about a successful small business owner who had over $30,000 on the table in outstanding AR. The problem was not disgruntled clients that did not want to pay; the issue was that this business owner simply did not have the time to make follow up calls.
Not Enough Time: The perception is that you do not have enough time to properly explain the task or teach the skills necessary for a delegated task. The truth is that delegation always takes longer the first couple of times you hand off a task. But later it will save you hours, days, and weeks.
Loss of Control: Most small business owners are used to doing everything on their own. They are uncomfortable giving up control. It is frightening to allow another person-maybe even someone that you do not know-to complete a task for your business. But isn't one of the payoffs expected from all the hard work in running a successful, small business the freedom to no longer have to do the "daily grind" work, the "menial" work, the "frustrating calendaring and tedious phone call" work?
Not sure Who to Delegate To: Many entrepreneurs do not have the funds to hire a full time or even a part time person. Many small business owners only need help 3-5 hours per week. Where are you going to find a hardworking, reputable person who only wants to work a few hours a week? Where do you find a hard worker that does not need benefits?
A clearly defined task will produce clearly defined results. Open and routine communication is a must, especially at first.
Let go of dictating the how and focus on the what. Describe what you want and let the assistant decide on the how.
Start with a small project or task. This will help to develop communication and trust between you and your assistant. After you see how the task was successfully completed, you will feel confident to delegate more.
Back to the small business owner with the 30K in AR. Think of how a few hours a week in collection calls would change his business not to mention his peace of mind! To me, it is a no brainer that this is a task that he needs to pass off to someone. It pays to delegate! I know that delegation can be difficult but it is a skill that you can improve through time, effort, and practice. The next time you find it hard to let go of a task, remember the ancient proverb: No living man all things can.
Finally our days and nights start to get a little warmer in May. The spring colors are in full bloom and this is the month that true flower gardening begins in Ohio.
If you did not aerate in the fall, you will need to do so now. Mow your grass high at about 2.5-3.5 inches. It is really too late to plant grass seed but is the perfect time for sod. Keep sod watered the first couple of weeks. Existing lawns need 1 inch of water per week. For light feeding and Broadleaf control, use a weed and feed product some time during the month.


text:
Kenya News Facts and Life Hacks
Facts and Life HacksEntertainment
Who owns Brooks Brothers?
6 months ago read comments by Simon Ayub
Brooks Brothers, a ready-to-wear fashion emporium, is an American heritage, probably epitomized by fashion apparel stores that joined the massive industry later. The company has existed for more than 200 years and survived two world wars, becoming a renowned institution shaping American style of dress via sophisticated innovation and fantastic value in their products. The firm was founded in 1818 and has dressed 40 United States presidents and numerous high-profile business executives. It is renowned for crisp Oxford suits and light sports jackets. So, who owns this history-rich firm that has been dressing the American business class in pinstripes?
Image: facebook.com, @BrooksBrothers
Brooks Brother's owners have certainly exemplified the company's assumption of perpetuity by keeping the business operational for two centuries. Although ownership has altered since inception, the notion of continuity, despite tough and harsh economic times and financial upheavals has seen the firm survive some of the harshest conditions and still dress Americans. However, the company is now in crisis mode, filing for bankruptcy and looking for a buyer.
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Regardless of their financial woes, many would accept that the firm deserves an accolade. The clothing industry has been experiencing a paradigm shift, with fashion moguls initiating newer and more sophisticated business strategies that easily outcompete old players. And surviving through all these is a great achievement that the CEO of Brooks Brothers, a position held by different people over time, has perfected.
Brooks Brothers background
Who founded Brooks Brothers? Brooks Brothers opened its first store on April 7, 1818, and is now more than 200 years old in the American fabric industry. The company has played a vital role in defining American style and menswear, an inspiration to many fashion brands.
Brooks Brothers was founded by Henry Sands Brooks (1772 – 1833) an American clothier and businessman. Since then, the company has grown from a small family haberdasher to a global brand that has defined American fashion trough fantastic innovations. The founder was always interested in the newest and most novel styles that probably inspired his business.
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The company was the first to introduce ready-to-wear apparel in 1849, and in 1850, adopted the famous Golden Fleece logo. Interestingly, Abraham Lincoln was one of the celebrity customers for Brooks Brothers in the 19th century, and he was assassinated wearing their suit.
The majority of Brook's Brothers most classic apparel was a product of the founders' innovation. And today, their ideologies, although radical at that moment, have paved the way for some of the most iconic fashion apparel like the navy blazer, polo coat, and many more.
Henry passed down his innovative ways to his sons Elisha, Daniel, Edward, and John who were the real Brooks Brothers. They became the earliest fashionistas, during a time that dressing was not as exaggerated as it is today. Their innovation and impressive ideas allowed them to outfit some of the most prominent personalities in history that range from presidents to influential business people.
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Today, Brooks Brothers own more than 280 retail stores in the United States of America and more than 700 in 45 countries all over the world. The company still has some manufacturing in the United States of America, but they do not produce or weave most of their fabrics in the country.
Brooks Brothers' owners
For a company that was created two centuries ago and survived a civil war and numerous economic downfalls, they sure have a fascinating history. Brooks Brothers altered ownership in 1946 when they sold the firm to Julius Garfinckel & Company. This move saw the firm make their garments more traditionally than before.
The company would change hands multiple times over the ensuing years. Today, the firm is owned by the Brooks Brothers group, Italian billionaire, Claudio Del Vecchio privately own the group. He is the son of the founder of Luxottica eyewear.
The Italian billionaire first heard of the company when he was growing up. This finding made him curious as he was growing up, and when he visited the United States at 25 years, it was the first store he entered and got fascinated.
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READ ALSO: Who owns Ferrari now? Current owner and ownership history
Is Brooks Brothers closing?
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, in March 2020, Brooks Brothers were showered with a lot of praise by stating that they will utilize their clothing factories to make personal protective equipment. However, the company has become a casualty of the pandemic as their future is not certain having filed for bankruptcy.
The Brooks Brothers bankruptcy story is shocking, considering the firm has survived even tougher times in the past to emerge as one of the oldest apparel stores in America. The company filed for Chapter 11 restructuring proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. What does this mean?
The company is currently searching for a buyer with assets and liabilities of between $500 million to $1 billion. The firm is looking to start a new chapter with a new owner that can appreciate the Brooks Brothers legacy, values, and culture. They are evaluating various strategic options to secure the company's future and success in the rapidly transforming retail space.
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Currently, the firm managed to source $75 million in financing from WHP Global to continue operation during the bankruptcy proceedings. However, they have already begun closing 51 stores across America.
The company has been struggling in recent years as the owner; Del Vecchio started searching for a buyer in 2019. However, everything started crashing during the COVID-19 that made it impossible for them to sell clothes as people were mostly at home.
Is Brooks Brothers a luxury brand?
The company dresses prominent industry personalities, and indeed, they are a luxury brand among its peers. They produce amazing and beautifully designed men and women apparel of high quality. Expect their apparel to last you a long time and considering they are a classic style; they will hardly go out of fashion.
Is Brooks Brothers made in America?
Brooks Brothers, over time, have managed to create a reliable manufacturing and supply chain that supports its business. They have done this by putting more emphasis on manufacturing in the United States, whereby all teams can swiftly react to market fluctuations.
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Around 70 percent of Brooks Brothers suits are made in Massachusetts, all ties in New York City, and 10 percent of shirts in North Carolina. The firm has been doing this since 1818 and has mastered the trade.
Brooks Brothers are a renowned retail giant, and even though they are facing significant financial problems today, they will probably wither and emerge victorious as always. The company has a rich history in America and has set precedence for the apparel industry all over the world.
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Bored out of our minds, Paige and I have developed a little challenge for each other!
Check back tomorrow to see how we do!
oh damn I DID almost buy that cardigan, MEG!
I wish that I worked with fun people.
so, how did it go??? i want an update!


text:
Mathieu Cornet (Namen, 8 augustus 1990) is een Belgisch voetballer. Hij is een aanvaller en speelt sinds juni 2021 voor FC Wiltz 71.

Carrière
Mathieu Cornet startte zijn carrière bij het bescheiden RRC Mormont. Via een tussenstap bij Sprimont Comblain Sport belandde hij in 2006 in de jeugdacademie van Standard Luik. In 2009 maakte hij de overstap naar Germinal Beerschot. Bij de Antwerpse eersteklasser kwam de struise spits niet aan spelen toe. Tijdens de winterstop werd zijn contract bij Beerschot verbroken en was hij even in beeld bij tweedeklasser KVK Tienen, maar uiteindelijk tekende hij bij derdeklasser KSK Tongeren. Cornet kwam tien keer in actie voor de Limburgse club, die aan het einde van het seizoen degradeerde. In de Vierde Klasse kreeg de 20-jarige aanvaller meer speelkansen. In mei 2011 tekende hij een contract bij reeksgenoot RUS Givry. Bij de Henegouwse club ontbolsterde Cornet volledig. De spits scoorde dertien keer en loodste zijn team zo naar de vijfde plaats in de rangschikking. Door die uitstekende prestatie kon de jonge aanvaller reeds tijdens het seizoen rekenen op de interesse van derdeklassers RFC Huy en Excelsior Virton. In maart 2012 raakte bekend dat hij getekend had bij Huy. Cornet paste zich ditmaal goed aan aan het niveau van de Derde Klasse. Met veertien doelpunten was hij voor het tweede jaar op rij de topschutter in zijn team. Huy greep met de vijfde plaats wel naast de promotie naar de Tweede Klasse. Virton, dat als kampioen wel promoveerde, trok Cornet in de zomer van 2013 aan. De spits tekende er een contract voor twee seizoenen. In zijn eerste seizoen in de tweede divisie kon Cornet met Virton slechts enkele plaatsen boven de degradatiezone eindigen. Een jaar later ontpopte de 24-jarige spits zich tot een van de smaakmakers van de Tweede Klasse. Virton rukte op naar de zesde plaats, terwijl Cornet zelf met vijftien doelpunten vijfde werd in de topschutterstand. Na het succesvolle seizoen 2014/15 tekende hij een contract bij eersteklasser KV Oostende.

Clubstatistieken

Palmares

Belgisch voetballer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This is a continuation of the "underrated" theme started in Gallery #71. It's hard to make a case for underrated when there's never been a critic's top 100 C&W list! Since this is VinylBeat.com, we're focusing on the vinyl years of 1955-1985. Again, this list is subjective and reflects my musical tastes. I did a lot of editing just to arrive at this number; apologies if your favorite was omitted. The list is alphabetical. There are no greatest hits compilations, but there are a few albums that feature tracks taken from 45s or 78s that had never been on an album before (Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Wynn Stewart, etc.). Check out the sample songs!
"Waiting In Your Welfare Line"
"In Memory Of A Memory"
"Trying To Beat The Morning Home"
"Waitin' For The Sun To Shine"
"These Are Not My People"
"One Six Pack To Go"
"When My Baby Double Talks To Me"
"Cold Hard Facts Of Life"
"I've Got A New Road Under My Wheels"
"Why You Been Gone So Long."
"Live Fast Love Hard Die Young"


text:
package com.twitter.finagle.netty4.channel

import io.netty.buffer.ByteBuf
import io.netty.buffer.Unpooled.wrappedBuffer
import io.netty.channel._
import java.net.InetSocketAddress
import org.junit.runner.RunWith
import org.mockito.Mockito.when
import org.scalatest.FunSuite
import org.scalatest.junit.JUnitRunner
import org.scalatest.mock.MockitoSugar

@RunWith(classOf[JUnitRunner])
class ChannelSnooperTest extends FunSuite with MockitoSugar {

  val msg = "buffer content"
  val msgBuffer = wrappedBuffer(msg.getBytes("UTF-8"))

  test("ByteBufSnooper decodes and prints inbound and outbound messages") {
    var messageCount = 0
    val bbs = new ByteBufSnooper("bbs") {
      override def dump(printer: (Channel, String) => Unit, ch: Channel, buf: ByteBuf): Unit = {
        messageCount += 1
        assert(buf == msgBuffer)
        super.dump( { (_: Channel, m: String) => assert(msg == m) }, ch, buf )
      }
    }

    bbs.channelRead(mock[ChannelHandlerContext], msgBuffer)
    bbs.write(mock[ChannelHandlerContext], msgBuffer, mock[ChannelPromise])
    assert(messageCount == 2)
  }

  trait InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
    var eventCount = 0
    var inboundCount = 0
    var outboundCount = 0
    var exnCount = 0

    val ctx = mock[ChannelHandlerContext]
    val cid = mock[ChannelId]
    when(cid.asShortText).thenReturn("1")
    val ch = mock[Channel]
    when(ctx.channel()).thenReturn(ch)
    when(ch.remoteAddress()).thenReturn(new InetSocketAddress(80))
    when(ch.id).thenReturn(cid)

    val scs = new SimpleChannelSnooper("scs") {
      override def printInbound(ch: Channel, message: String): Unit =
        inboundCount += 1

      override def printOutbound(ch: Channel, message: String): Unit =
        outboundCount += 1

      override def printer(message: String, exc: Throwable): Unit =
        exnCount += 1

      override def printEvent(ch: Channel, eventName: String): Unit =
        eventCount += 1
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper prints incoming and outgoing messages") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      scs.channelRead(ctx, msgBuffer)
      scs.write(ctx, msgBuffer, mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(inboundCount == 1)
      assert(outboundCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops exceptionCaught") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(exnCount == 0)
      scs.exceptionCaught(ctx, new Exception)
      assert(exnCount == 1)
    }
  }

  // outbound events
  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops write") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(outboundCount == 0)
      scs.write(ctx, msg, mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(outboundCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops disconnect") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.disconnect(ctx, mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops flush") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.flush(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops close") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.close(ctx, mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops deregister") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.deregister(ctx, mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops read") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.read(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops connect") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.connect(ctx, new InetSocketAddress(0), new InetSocketAddress(0), mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops bind") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.bind(ctx, new InetSocketAddress(0), mock[ChannelPromise])
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  // inbound events
  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelActive") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.channelActive(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelUnregistered") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.channelUnregistered(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelInactive") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.channelInactive(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelWritabilityChanged") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.channelWritabilityChanged(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops userEventTriggered") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.userEventTriggered(ctx, new Object)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelRegistered") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.channelRegistered(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelReadComplete") {
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(eventCount == 0)
      scs.channelReadComplete(ctx)
      assert(eventCount == 1)
    }
  }

  test("SimpleChannelSnooper snoops channelRead"){
    new InstrumentedSnooperCtx {
      assert(inboundCount == 0)
      scs.channelRead(ctx, msg)
      assert(inboundCount == 1)
    }
  }
}


I probably belong to too many groups on DK, and I am still adding more, but let that pass. One of the problems that comes with that is that I have trouble finding a particular group among those I belong to. I can of course search on the page, but I would like to propose that the list be sorted alphabetically.
From your profile page click on Groups and you'll see your groups sorted alphabetically.
Moderator1 closed this discussion on 14 Apr, 2019 01:15 AM.


text:
Olive Garden Review Goes Viral
By Zoe Bain
Last week, Marilyn Hagerty, an 85-year-old freelance writer in Grand Forks, North Dakota, wrote a restaurant review about the newly opened Olive Garden for her local paper, the Grand Forks Herald. Just one day after Hagerty's article was published, it went viral. Now the small town food critic is receiving mixed reviews — some poking fun at her take on an Olive Garden meal, while others praise her professionalism and criticize those who responded to her in a "snarky" fashion.
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According to People, the review, titled, "Long-awaited Olive Garden receives warm welcome," was originally singled out because certain readers found the article funny. Hagerty's prose was so sincere that some thought the review was a joke. Ultimately, the article's Internet fame stems from Hagerty's positive review of the Olive Garden.
Her frank writing produced lines such as: "The place is impressive. It's fashioned in Tuscan farmhouse style with a welcoming entryway," and "The chicken Alfredo was warm and comforting on a cold day." TheHuffington Post reported that Hargerty's article has garnered an impressive 270,000 hits for the Grand Forks Herald, 20 times more than any competing paper.
In a response to Hagerty's review going viral, Anthony Bourdain, who is known for his own controversial comments, supported Hagerty via twitter. He wrote, "Very much enjoying watching Internet sensation Marilyn Hagerty triumph over the snarkologists (myself included)."
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Luckily Hagerty hasn't taken the negative reactions to heart. In fact, she's more concerned about her next deadline. In an interview with The Village Voice, she stated, "My daughter tells me I should go on Facebook and read all this crap...I do not have time to be bothered or read all that stuff. I have a Sunday column I'm doing now about a completely different subject. I don't have time to sit here and twit over whether some self-styled food expert likes, or does not like, my column."
Zoe Bain 7-second life story: I was pre-med in college, until I realized that I could turn baking my problems away (instead of doing my chem homework) into a profession.
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Manchester United's players have to accept their part in the departure of José Mourinho, according to Nemanja Matic.
Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward reportedly made a decision to sack Jose Mourinho after receiving a phone call from a senior player demanding that the manager leave the club.
Juan Mata says the return of "legendary" Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United means it is time for optimism at Old Trafford.
And he got off to the ideal start by beating his former side, Cardiff City, 5-1 to seal all-three Premier League points.
Matic was a key reason United secured a second-place finish in the Premier League that campaign, and he defended Mourinho after the club's worst start to a season for 28 years.
Man United will face Huddersfield Town on Wednesday in the Premier League fixture.
"Four days later, we will welcome Bournemouth, a team who are having a phenomenal season". I've sat next to him in a dressing room for 11 years.
"People might be quick to forget what Jose did for United - the three trophies he won - he did a lot", said Shaw, referring to the fact that Mourinho won the Community Shield, Europa League and FA Cup in his first season, 2016-17.
"I think the boys are looking forward to playing at Old Trafford and that's important". That's tradition, that's history and that's how we play. "We know, also, it's not only the manager's fault that results are not good but this is football and we have to carry on and to fight for the club".


Warming centers and shelters are open in a number of Vermont communities for residents who are still without power following a storm that dumped heavy, wet snow across the state.
Overnight shelters are open at the Barre Municipal Auditorium, the Hartford High School, and the Twin Valley High School in Wilmington. Warming centers were open Thursday at the Barnard Fire Station, the National Guard armories in Bradford and Northfield, the Chester Town Office and the Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro.
More than 19,000 customers were still without power on Thursday morning.
Vermont Emergency Management is providing a list of shelters and warming centers on its website and will update it as they close or new ones open.


Apple glosses over the blemishes in its second-quarter earnings report, when it's hurting along with the rest of the economy.
Apple ( AAPL - Get Report) is a wonderful profit-beating machine. It's also a dispenser of some of the finest Kool-Aid in the land.
After nailing its second-quarter numbers and sharing its customary cautious guidance, Apple laid on the real sales pitch to investors, glossing over the blemishes and putting a fine polish on its aura.
If you didn't know better, you would think Mac marketshare was still growing and the top-shelf prices that Apple commands were holding up just fine in this economy. But that's not true.
Not only did Mac sales fall for the first time in five years last quarter, but computer revenue also fell 16% from year-ago levels. Perhaps even more alarming, in view of the Mac being Apple's core business and the best-suited challenger to the industry dominators Microsoft ( MSFT - Get Report) and Intel ( INTC, Apple lost marketshare in the second quarter as sales in North America fell 8%.
As a reflection of how tough times can rough up even the most lofty tech shops, Apple felt the pinch of a tight-fisted buyer last quarter. The combined average selling price for Macs, including laptops, was $1,320, down 6% sequentially from $1,400 in the prior quarter.
Apple's price erosion came from fewer high-end Mac buyers being replaced by less expensive MacBook customers, TBR analyst Ezra Gottheil wrote in a report Wednesday.
So what's taking a bite out of Apple? The economy, obviously, and with it the rise of what Apple deems an entirely distasteful and unworthy rival: netbooks.
As with any confidence game, there's a fair share of trash talk. For his part, acting chief Tim Cook offered a somewhat accurate and blistering assessment of the wildly popular netbook fad.
"When I look at what is being sold in the netbook space today, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens, and just not a consumer experience, and not something that we would put the Mac brand on," Cook told analysts on a conference call Wednesday.
The problem is that yesterday's junky netbooks have already made a dent in Apple's business. The bigger threat is that tomorrow's improved netbooks and notebooks will offer sleek designs and a performance comparable to Macs at half the price, said Collins Stewart analyst Ashok Kumar, who cut his rating on Apple to hold Thursday.
Cook's response to the challenges ahead was to offer a heart-warming look back at Apple's greatness.
"The product pipeline is fantastic for the Mac," Cook said on the call. "We are, as we look back over ... 17 of the 18 quarters of the last four-and-a-half years, we've exceeded the market rate of growth."
As the luxury goods purveyor in a bargain hunters' market, that history will be tougher to repeat.
An abundance of dirt-cheap components will help keep Apple's profit margins comfortably plump, even if the company bends even more on price. But with iPod unit growth having peaked and Macs in decline, the "revenue upside will be limited" Kumar warns.
"I'm just not sure how Apple can sidestep that trend," Kumar says.


Imagine a small secondary school in a converted city hall next to a library and a park, on a river, in a vibrant urban core. Imagine every student conducting community-connected projects, studying computer science, and graduating from high school with an AA degree.
You're imaging Renton Prep, a microschool at the south end of Lake Washington in bustling downtown Renton, a suburban Seattle city that is home of the Boeing 737 and the Seahawks NFL training facility.
Michelle Zimmerman (@mrzphd) is the Executive Director of Renton Prep Christian School and Amazing Grace Elementary in Seattle, schools her grandmother started almost 60 years ago.
Like her own hybrid high school experience combining dual enrollment courses and work experiences, Zimmerman created a secondary school where learners engage with integrated community connected projects that prepare them to enroll full time as juniors at local community colleges.
Renton Prep uses Core Knowledge curriculum in middle grades to build content knowledge. Students take more than 20 field trips to explore learning at the intersection of domains.
In 9th and 10th grade, students do more exploration to discover personal strengths and interests. Students "co-design learning in ways that don't usually happen until graduate school," said Zimmerman.
Learners at Renton Prep are given opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills in multifaceted approaches and Microsoft recently selected the school as the first K-12 Microsoft Flagship School in the U.S.
A few years ago, Michelle began to see references to artificial intelligence (AI) in popular culture and the media. When she saw more adaptive learning programs being released she realized AI was changing both what young people should learn, as well as how they can learn. In 2016, she began researching AI implications and applications.
She interviewed industry experts on what students should know and be able to do. She scaled that back to elementary school and began incorporating learning experiences for all students.
Zimmerman's new book, Teaching AI: Exploring New Frontiers for Learning was published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) with a grant from General Motors to support the development of new resources on AI in K-12 education.
Each chapter opens with a scene featuring diverse settings and characters. Zimmerman connects the dots between seemingly unrelated topics and concludes each chapter with questions for further study.
Zimmerman concludes that the automation economy demands design thinking and project-based learning. Projects and stories of some of her tenth graders, including Sharice Lee, Rhonwyn Fleming, and Afomeya Hailu (featured image) are included.


It is WWI and the end seems to be coming soon but when a maze of German underground bunkers are discovered in an unlikely location a team on Canadian and U.S. soldiers are sent to investigate them and destroy whatever remains. Shortly after arriving the six man team soon finds out that they are dealing with a deadly parasite. Now the men deal with not only the infected but also a group of German soldiers who have been sent to destroy the bunkers as well.
'Trench 11' is one of several bunker horror films that has been made but I don't think any of the others have done it this well. For starters the film looks amazing with its snow-covered landscapes and the never-ending maze of bunkers that creates the perfect atmosphere and mood. Another thing that made the film so good as the cast including, Rossif Sutherland, Robert Stadlober and Charlie Carrick. All of them give solid and believable performances.
Director, Leo Scherman is no stranger to horror since he worked under the great, David Cronenberg and this film shows he paid attention and learned his craft really well. Scherman does a great job keeping the suspense and tension high while keeping the film moving at a nice pace and the body count high. The film is very violent at times as well and the effects are top notch.
A high sense of dread, brutal violence and awesome special effects makes this an intense and entertaining roller coaster ride that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. 'Trench 11' is a well-done horror film that delivers on story, characters, acting and on horror and action. If you are a fan of horror then you need to check this one out. 'Trench 11' will be available on VOD, Digital and DVD on September 4, 2018.