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What is a hyperscale data centre?
PUE
We take a look at hyperscale data centres in more detail and list some of the largest hyperscale facilities in the industry
The word 'hyperscale' is synonymous with data centres, but what are hyperscale data centres? In short, they are large, business-critical facilities that support robust, scalable applications and are often associated with big data-producing companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft.
With that in mind, what's the difference between a hyperscale data centre and a non-hyperscale data centre? Well, a standard data centre is either a space or a building that houses a company's IT equipment and servers. The company can then use its data centre resources to operate its business or serve those resources up to the public as a service.
The best way to compare hyperscale and enterprise data centres is to look at their scale and performance. Firstly, in terms of size, Hyperscale data centres are significantly larger than enterprise data centres, and because of the advantages of economies of scale and custom engineering, they significantly outperform them, too. Technically speaking, a hyperscale data centre should exceed 5,000 servers and 10,000 square feet.
In addition, the two types of facility can be further differentiated by the volume of data compute, and storage services they process. In a survey, 93% of hyperscale companies expect to have 40 GigaBytes per second (Gbps) or faster network connections. In the same survey, 51% of respondents report that the bandwidth needed to manage vast volumes of data is an increasing challenge.
In terms of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) enterprise data centres often report an average data centre PUE between 1.67-1.8. However, Google hyperscale data centres report a PUE of 1.1, where a PUE of 1.0 means perfect efficiency. From a performance standpoint, the comparison is very much like a full-size sedan versus a zero-emissions vehicle.
Hyperscale is also a term that embodies a computing system's capability to scale, at orders of magnitude, to meet tremendous demand. So hyperscale data centres are exceptionally agile, with the ability to scale up, down, and out to meet any load they service. This can mean adding more compute power, as well as adding more machines, or the ability to scale out to the edge of a network.
The largest hyperscale data centres
Inner Mongolian Information Hub
Total Area: 10.7mn square feet
Owned by China Telecom, the Inner Mongolian Information Hub is the largest of six data centres in Hohhot.
Hohhot Data Centre
Total Area: 7.7mn square feet
China Mobile's Hohhot Data Centre is the second-largest, also located in the Information Hub at Hohhot.
The Citadel Campus
Located in northern Nevada, The Citadel Campus is the largest data centre in the world, owned by the global technology company Switch. It's powered by 100% renewable energy up to 650 megawatts (MW). The campus guarantees a latency of 4.5 milliseconds (ms) to Silicon Valley, 9 ms to Silicon Beach, and 7 ms to Las Vegas.
Essentially, hyperscale data centres take a specific approach to building and managing infrastructure, emphasizing stripped-down hardware, maximum disaggregation (components can be mixed and matched), modularity, automation, and other principles."
H5 Data Centers, DE-CIX announce New York partnership
Iron Mountain and Web Werks: Hyperscale in India
STT launches new hyperscale data centre in Thailand
Teraco expands Cape Town hyperscale data centre campus


While other retailers promoted 'back-to-school', Sears launched a fashion campaign telling kids 'Don't go back - arrive'.
Central to the campaign was Arrivelounge.com: a website where teens could shop for Sears' music-inspired fashions. But that was just the half of it.
The site also allowed kids to audition for one of four parts in an airband as well as choose the band's clothes, design its logo, and create its music tracks.
Those who made the final selection got to perform in a music video with teen idol Selena Gomez, who also hosted the site, while auditions for a fifth band member led to a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.


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Activists Calling for a Ban on 'Killer Robots' Raise Alarm Over an Uncertain Threat
Featuring Paul Scharre
Source: VICE News
Journalist Samuel Oakford
The year is 2050. A fighter jet roars across the sky, zeroing in on targets in enemy territory somewhere in the Middle East. But the targets are really a group of farmers holding hoes and rakes, which the jet identifies as guns. Within minutes, it fires a series of rockets, killing all of them. The jet is pilotless, and the aircraft is not being directed from a base. It registers its operation as successful.
The prospect of such scenarios has led some activists and human rights groups to call for a complete ban on so-called "killer robots" — advanced artificial intelligence weaponry that they believe could one day blanket battlefields and make life and death decisions independent of human direction.
Representatives of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots gathered at two events held at the United Nations on Tuesday to advance this campaign. The events, a press conference and a side meeting of the General Assembly, came three months after more than 1,000 prominent scientists, robotics experts, and researchers — including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk — signed a letter opposing the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems, as this technology is officially known.
Read the full article at VICE News.
Senior Fellow and Director, Technology and National Security Program
Paul Scharre is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. He is the award-winning author of Army ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The Decies Brigade
The Decies Brigade - The Flying Column
The Decies Brigade - Brigade Staff
The Military & Black And Tans
The Ambush At The Burgery
The Aftermath Of The Burgery Ambush
Evacuation of the Barracks
Decies Brigade War Diary Extracts
Dungarvan UDC Minutes
The Irish War of Independence 1919 - 21
8. Evacuation of the Barracks
Extract From Keohan's History - by Edmond Keohan
In writing of Dungarvan Castle and the Barracks, the terms must be understood to be synonymous. Since the castle was demolished the premises got to be known as the barracks, and it was spoken of as such whenever reference was made to the place. In the year 1921, when the troubles were on to the biggest extent, matters were shaping them-selves and exchanges of feelings were being made between those in high places on either side of the Irish Sea. The castle was occupied by the police force known as the R.I.C., and with them were the auxiliary police, or what were known as the "Black-and-Tans". The military had their quarters in Church Street, and the utmost precautions were continually taken so as to prevent a surprise. On one occasion in the summer of the year a bomb was thrown at the military post. A couple of the soldiers received slight wounds, but some young girls who were walking on the opposite side, close to the Convent wall, got more or less severely wounded. They were that night removed to the hospital, and in a short time got perfectly well. When the bomb exploded the military fired several rifle shots. People became alarmed, and there was a general run for cover, those who could making for their homes. The night was one of excitement. On a few occasions, as some of the military were making for their quarters from the town to the Union Hospital, where some numbers of them were located, they were fired on, and a sharp fusilade would follow. In this way matters proceeded till coming on the close of the year. Correspondence was being carried on between Mr. De Valera, who was President of the Irish Republic, and Mr. Lloyd George. The Prime Minister of England, land, which culminated in negotiations being agreed upon. Plenipotentiaries were appointed by Mr. De Valera, and they proceeded to London, where the conference was held Amongst the plenipotentiaries were Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins. After some days of negotiations, and when rumours began to appear in the Press to the effect that the conference would fail, the report was published on the 7th December, 1921, that the conference came to an agreement and the Treaty between England and Ireland was signed. One of the terms of this Treaty was that the English soldiers should evacuate Ireland, as well as the Black-and-Tans, and that the Irish police force should disbanded.
It seemed that a relief had come to the people. The Irish, with the exception of six counties of Ulster, were to have their own Parliament, the management of their own and they were to be enlisted as one of the dominions, having equal status with Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa they were to be empowered to raise their own army of defence and organise their own police force. But notwithstanding these arrangements, things did not get on well. A striking instance of the first appearance of the division which soon after made for the wrecking of the country was seen in Dungarvan. The members of the old brass band came together and resumed practices in order to jubilate over the victory gained by their leaders. But meantime a letter written by De Valera appeared in which he said that he was entirely against the Treaty, and that it was a document which he would advise the people not to accept. The practices of the band discontinued. Division crept in amongst them, and the split observable there in a small way was typical of the larger and fiercer split which soon widened through the country.
But, in accordance with the terms of the Treaty, preparations were being made for the evacuation of the barracks. All the police from the west of the county, as well as from several stations in East Cork, had been drafted into Dungarvan for security, and their force numbered at this time. A body of them used patrol the streets with loaded rifles, and in extended formation, but their work. of usefulness as a police force had ceased. A chasm seemed to have divided them from the people.
The occupants of the old Castle were now to be changed. The English forces were to leave; the old premises were to fall into the possession of the Irish people alone. This old fortress had in the olden time, before the building of Dungarvan Quay, been washed by the waters of the Colligan, and the sentries at night could listen to the swish of the waves as they beat against its ancient walls. In this defensive stronghold were garrisoned the troops of the English King, and kept there, with but little intermission, for 750 years. It was symbolical, in every respect, of British rule in Ireland.
Through the reigns of the Henrys, the Edwards, James the First, Queen Elizabeth, and the Georges, Dungarvan Castle was regarded as a fortress of immense significance. Despatches from the Court of England, orders from the English Parliament, frequently found their way to this old Castle, all giving directions for procedure for the protection of the British interests in the South of Ireland. Cromwell himself walked the ramparts. His iron mind, indeed, might have been softened with the lovely view that unfolds itself from the topmost walls, for the aspect of the sea and land is fraught with all that comprise beauty in the artistic modelling of nature.
It is said that when Cromwell stood on the heights of Killineen and viewed the waters around Dungarvan Bay, the Drum Fineen Hills in the distance, the diversified valley that stretched itself at both sides of the Colligan river, he exclaimed, "This is a country worth fighting for." It may be that he used the words elsewhere, but tradition credits him with having used them here, and however that may be, it is certain that the view from this eminence called forth the eulogiums of Thackeray and other famous writers who have toured the country.
The evacuation of Dungarvan barracks took place on the 4th March, 1922. The large square of the enclosure had been used for the purpose of keeping the motor lorries and motor cars, and it is from here that the military used issue forth on their raiding expeditions. The Black-and-Tans had gone away some days before the military had left the town, and the Castle was occupied solely by the sixty-five members of the R.I.C. They were under the command of Captain Sheehan, an officer who had fought in the Great War.
Taking Over the Castle
Before the police left some conferences were held in the barracks. An application was made to Captain Sheehan for possession in the name of the I.R.A.. He asked for credentials from the Provisional Government, for now, under the Treaty, the Irish Provisional Government was in power. Captain Sheehan did not consider those produced satisfactory. As a consequence, the giving over of the barracks was delayed until the 12 train came from Waterford, when a Commissioner from the Provisional Government arrived, and, driving in a motor to the barracks, he had an interview with Captain Sheehan. Captain Sheehan, being satisfied, handed over the control of the fortress to the representative of the Irish Government, and in a few minutes afterwards he formed his men four deep in the square, and giving the order "March," the men filed out of the Castle, passed through the massive gateway, and thus was ended, apparently for evermore, the symbol of British rule in this historic fortress.
It might have been two hours later that three motor cars drove down the street. In them were members of the I.R.A. They entered the barracks and installed themselves there, and within a few minutes the Tricolour floated from the ramparts of the building. These incidents in themselves were of tremendous significance, in as much as they emphasised the change that had taken place, that the rule of which the people had so long complained was at an end, and that the affairs of the country were now in the hands of their own representatives.
There were many onlookers at their doors and windows as the body of police marched up the street, headed by their Captain, en route for the railway station, to leave the old town for ever. Some of the men smiled greetings to their friends as they passed them by, others appeared to realise the changed position of affairs. A musical instrument was being played by one of the party, and the air "Good-Bye-ee" only indicated too well the meaning of the proceeding. Their departure was regarded with mixed feelings, and perhaps at the moment the mind was filled with kindly recollections. For, until the strife, these men and the public had got on very well together. They were regarded by the ordinary citizen as the protectors of the people's rights, and, apart from their position as representatives of a foreign power, they were, on the whole, held in high esteem. Indeed it might be said with truth that up to the last moment they could not bring themselves to think that their status was being brought down, that they, who were the almost absolute controllers of everything that pertained to the government of the people, were now to be completely dispensed with, and that all their ideas of constabulary life were to be dashed to the ground. Yet so it was. But reflections such as these must have seized them as they marched up the street, wheeled around the Square, and made for the steaming train in waiting for them at the station. When they arrived at the platform they were entrained, the whistle of the engine sounded, and the Royal Irish Constabulary were gone for evermore from the " Old Borough." Thus we had convincing evidence on that day of the vast change that had come over the government of the country. If unity could have prevailed, matters would have gone on well, but division crept in, armed bodies became arrayed against one another, and it would seem for a time that matters were much worse than ever before.
The great Dominican, Father Tom Burke, in one of his brilliant lectures in America, said that on the day when Ireland would be united there was no power would be able to keep them in subjection, and with reference to their condition he quoted the lines of the national minstrel, Thomas Moore:-
"They say 'twas fate, a wayward fate,
Our web of discord wove,
For where our tyrants joined in hate,
We never joined in love."
When the English garrison evacuated the barracks of Dungarvan and the premises were handed over to the control of the Irish soldiers, it was thought, and with some reason, that our troubles were at an end. Such an idea was, however, very soon to be dispelled. Subsequent history does not seem to reflect the glory which was once ours in the past, nor would it redound to the good sense or desire for the country's welfare on the part of its people. It was believed that when the Castle, now occupied with our Irish troops, was free from all outward molestation that the people's hearts would glow with pride and that a new enthusiasm would replace the lethargy which had prevailed for some considerable time.
Author: Fraher, Mansfield, Keohan


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The Virtues of the Islamic Month of Rajab: Fadaa'il Rajab
The Virtues of Rajab: Fadaa'il Rajab by Imam Abu Laith Lqman Ahmad
"BEHOLD, the number of months, in the sight of Allah, is twelve months, [laid down] in Allah's decree on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; [and] out of these, four are sacred: this is the ever-true law [of Allah]. Do not, then, sin against yourselves with regard to these [months]."[1] According to the shariah[2] of Islam, years are properly reckoned by the cycles of the moon and not the sun; "They ask you concerning the crescent moons; say: they are time determinants for people and for the Hajj.[3]"
The names of the Muslim lunar months:
1. Muharram 7. Rajab
2. Safar 8. Sha'ban
3. Rabi' al-awwal (Rabi' I) 9. Ramadan
4. Rabi' al-thani (Rabi' II) 10. Shawwal
5. Jumada al-awwal (Jumada I) 11. Dhu al-Qi'dah
6. Jumada al-thani (Jumada II) 12. Dhu al-Hijjah
The Muslim Hijri was first introduced by the Caliph and companion of the Prophet (SAWS) Umar ibn al-Khattaab in the year 638 C.E[4]. It consists of 12 lunar months. The beginning of each month is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Each lunar month lasts approximately 29 or 30 days. The month of Rajab is one of the sacred months of the Islamic calendar. The other three sacred months are the consecutive months of Dhul Qi`da, Dhul Hijja, and Muharram. Thuswe have just entered into the sacred month of Rajab, the seventh month of the Hijri calendar as of June 13th 2010. It is a good idea to keep track of the Islamic months because during each month, there are recommended and sometimes compulsory actions which are recorded in the Sunna of the Prophet (SAWS).
There are many areas of ah'kaam (jurisprudence) related to the month of Rajab. Some of the reported traditions of Rajab trace back to the days of jaahiliyyah[5] (pre-Islamic period) and continued after the dawn of Islam. Others were prohibited by the Prophet (SAWS). Scholars differ as to which of these traditions continued after Islam. So in response to a question by one of the sisters about the month of Rajab and what are the recommended actions of the month, I have prepared the following.
Animal Sacrifices: During the days of jaahiliyyah, people used to make animal sacrifices of sheep and called it al-ateerah[6]; scholars differ whether the practice is still permissible. It was reported the hadith of Abu Hurraira that the Prophet (SAWS) said: "There is no far'a[7] and no ateerah"[8]. Other scholars say that the practice of ateerah is permissible, among them is ibn Seereen and it was related about Imam Ahmad that the people of Basra used to do it. It was related that the Prophet (SAWS) said while standing of the mountain of Arafat: "each year, every household should slaughter a sacrifice and that is what they call al-ateerah"[9]. In another tradition it was reported about Abu Razeen[10]; he said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah, we used to perform animal sacrifices during the days of jaahiliyyah (during Rajab), we would eat it and feed whoever came to us" the Prophet (SAWS) replied: "there is nothing wrong with that."[11] In another tradition reported by ibn Abbaas, he said: "The Quraish sought permission from the Prophet (SAWS) continue the ateerah and he said: "You may do the sheep slaughter of jaahiliyyah; however, if you sacrifice for the sake of Allah and want to eat it and give some away as charity then you may do so.[12]" scholars of Islam reconcile the prohibition in the hadith of Abu Hurraira and the permissibility of the practice reported in the other hadith by saying that the prohibition relates to the pre-Islamic practice of offering sacrifices to gods other than Allah. Sufyaan ibn Uyyaina says that what's meant by the prohibition here is the removal of wujoob (obligation). Other scholars say that the hadith of Abu Hurraira is the most authentic narration available on the topic and should provide the standard on how the action is mitigated[13]. It was related about Hasan al-Basri that he said: "There is no ateerah in Islam. Ateerah is something that existed in jaahiliyyah. Some of them used to fast the whole month of Rajab and perform an ateerah during it and the sacrifice would resemble a religious rite or holiday.[14]" it was related about ibn Abbaas that he used to dislike that people take Rajab for a holiday. [15] The conclusion is that if a person wants to slaughter a sheep during the month of Rajab for the sake of Allah and eat some and distribute or feed some to others; that is permissible. However, they shouldn't take a specific day or make into a holiday occasion for that would not be consistent with the Sunna. And Allah knows best.
Prayer on particular days of Rajab: There are no authentic narrations about the Prophet (SAWS) regarding a specific prayer designated for the month of Rajab. There are several narrations regarding 'salaatul raghaa'ib' during the first Jum'ah night of Rajab but they are weak narrations with no validity. Such a prayer is considered an innovation by the majority of scholars but not all of them. Ibn Jawzee[16] and Abu Bakr as-Sam'aani are amongst the latter-day scholars who mention this. The rulings on salaatul raghaa'ib were not mentioned by earlier scholars because the practice did not appear until about the fifth century of the Hijra.
Fasting during Rajab: There is nothing authentic reported directly from or about the Prophet (SAWS) or any of the companions regarding fasting during specific days of the month of Rajab. However, there is a report about Abu Qalaaba that he said: "There is a castle in paradise for those who fast during the month of Rajab." According to al-Baihaqi, Abu Qalaaba being one of the luminaries of the taabi'een would not have said such a thing unless he received it from one of the companions.[17] It was reported in a narration Mujeeba al-Baahiliyyah about her father that the Prophet (SAWS) said: "fast some days of the sacred months and leave some days.[18]" Some of the Salaf[19] used to fast the entirety of the sacred months; among them Abdullah ibn Umar, and al-Hasan al-Basri, and Abu Is'haaq as-Sabee'i. Ibn Abbaas and Anas ibn Malik used to dislike that people fast the entire month of Rajab and in another narration about ibn Umar and ibn Abbaas; they used to prefer that if people fasted Rajab, they break their fast at least some of the days. It was also reported about imam Ahmad, Sa'eed ibn Jubair and Imam Shaafi'ee that they used to dislike that people would fast the entire month of Rajab. Imam Shaafi'ee was reported to have said in a former opinion; "I dislike that people complete the fast of Rajab like they would the fast of Ramadan." His argument for this was the hadith of Aisha; "I never saw the Prophet (SAWS) complete a month (of fasting) ever, except for Ramadan.[20]" Some of the Hanbali scholars view that fasting the complete month of Rajab is not disliked if they also fast another month before or after it in its entirety as well. I already mentioned that Ibn Umar and others used to fast the entirety of all the sacred months. There is no harm for a person to fast the entirety of the month of Rajab if it is incorporated as part of a perpetual fast (siyaamul dahr[21]) Some fasts are customary in the sunna of the Prophet (SAWS) and can and should be incorporated into Rajab: Such as fasting three consecutive days of the month, as reported in the hadith of Aisha, she reported: "the Prophet (SAWS) used to fast three consecutive days out of each month." Or fasting Mondays and Thursdays as recorded in the Sunna. According to Imam Nawawi; "Neither prohibition nor praiseworthiness has been established for the month of Rajab in itself, however, the principle concerning fasting is that it is praiseworthy in itself, and in the Sunan of Abu Dawudthe Prophet has made the fasting of the sacred months praiseworthy, and Rajab is one of them. And Allah knows best".[22] I also like the statement of my late Sheikh, Sayyid Saabiq; "Fasting during Rajab contains no more virtue than during any other month. There is no sound report from the Sunna that states that it has a special reward. All that has been related concerning it is not strong enough to be used as a proof. Ibn Hajar says: "There is no authentic hadith related to its virtues, nor fasting during it or on certain days of it, nor concerning exclusively making night prayers during that month." Thus fasting during Rajab particularly has no special bearing in Islam but fasting during the sacred months is acceptable and was practiced by some of the companions. Fasting three days of the month and on Mondays and Thursdays is a Sunna of the Prophet (SAWS) and a praiseworthy act.
Zakaat during the Month of Rajab: Some Muslim countries and communities have become accustomed to collecting and paying zakaat during the month of Rajab. Such a practice is permissible as the zakaat is due annually and needs to be paid. However, here is no basis for singling out Rajab for zakaat in the Sunna of the Prophet (SAWS). This alone does not make it prohibited to do so because zakaat is due annually and its payment is based upon reaching the nisaab of a year and not a particular date. However it was reported about Uthmaan ibn Afaan that during his term as Caliph that he ascended the pulpit and said: "Oh people, this is the month of your zakaat, so whoever amongst you has a debt, then he should pay his debt.[23]" Other scholars say that zakaat should be paid in the month of Muharram because it marks the beginning of the year and some of the jurists say the Muharram is the time when the imam should dispatch the people to collect the zakaat. Others say that zakaat should be paid during the month of Ramadan because of the sheer virtue of Ramadan and the virtue of charity during the month of Ramadan. The fact of the matter is that zakaat is due after the nisaab has reached a year. According to Abu Saud, the basic definition of nisaab is that amount which is sufficient to sustain the minimum average family for one year. In some modern Muslim countries, nisaab is often interpreted to equate a governmentally determined poverty threshold. Once a person's holdings have reached the level of nisaab, the zakaat is due on that wealth, regardless of the month. The issue of zakaat is a lengthy subject and not the central topic of our discussion. Please refer to the books of fiqh for more detail.
Umrah[24] during Rajab:Once ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (SAWS) performed umrah during Rajab, Aisha was present and repudiated what Ibn Umar said, he heard her repudiate it and didn't object[25]. Umar ibn al-Khattaab and other companions used to like to perform umrah during Rajab. Aisha used to do it as well as Abdullah ibn Umar. Ibn Seereen reports that the Salaf used to do it. Thus there is no harm performing Umrah during the month of Rajab or any other month.
Conclusion: Rajab is indeed a sacred month and on should increase acts of goodness during the sacred months as in other months. It was reported in the hadith of Anas that the Prophet (SAWS) said: "Oh Allah, bless us in our Rajab and Sha'baan for they deliver us into Ramadan." The hadith although it has weakness in its chain, shows that it is permissible to ask Allah to prolong your life to a more blessed time so that you can perform good deeds during that time. It's like saying; oh Allah keep me going until Ramadan. The Salaf used to like that when they died, it would happen at the end of a good deed; right after Ramadan, or on the way back from hajj and they used to think that if someone died in that manner their sins would be forgiven. It was also reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said: "verily deeds are reckoned according to one's final acts". And Allah knows best.
Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
[1] Quran, 9:36
[2] Sacred law.
[3] Quran, 2:189
[4] Christian era.
[5] Jaahiliyyah refers to the period that existed before Islam. It also refers to practices which contradict Islam and the principles of Islam.
[6] Ateerah: a sheep sacrifice.
[7] Far'a: the first born of a she camel which during the days of jaahiliyyah they used to slaughter n the name of the pagan gods.
[8] A sound hadith (sahih) collected by Bukhaari and Muslim.
[9] A good hadith, collected by Abu Dawud
[10] His name was Laqeet ibn Sabira, a well known companion of the Prophet (SAWS)
[11] A sound hadith collected by Al-Nissa'i
[12] Collected by Tabaraani with his own chain except that the chain of this particular hadith contains Ibrahim ibn Ismaa'eel ibn Abi Habeeba, who was considered trustworthy by Ibn Ma'een but a weak transmitter by most others.
[13] Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, page 207
[14] Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif, page 206
[15] Collected by Abdul-Razaaq with a broken chain
[16] Abu Faraj Ibn Jawzi; his name was Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Ali Ibn Muhammad, one of the great Hanbali scholars of Baghdad; he died in the Hijri year of 597.
[17] This alone does not validate the hadith as authentic, but it does according to some scholars lend marginal credence to the narration.
[18] A weak hadith collected by Abu Dawud and others.
[19] Righteous people and scholars of the frst three generations of Islam.
[20] Collected by Bukhaari and Muslim.
[21] Perpetual fast; this is when you fast every single day perpetually.
[22] Imam Nawawi, Explanation of Sahih Muslim, Kitab 13 Bab 34
[23] Collected by Imam Malik in the Muwatta.
[24] The lessor Hajj.
[25] This story is related in sahih al-Bukhaari.
Don't Blame the Media; Muslims Play With their Own Emotions!
By Imam Luqman Ahmad. Muslims Play With their Own Emotions! Contrary to popular Muslim belief, the media does not play with Muslim emotions. News and commentary is not a game to them; it is business. What the media does, is profit from Muslim emotions. They are in business to make a profit and Muslims are a great source for news, commentary, and media sponsored debate. Our issues are all over the place and there is plenty to profit from. Just visit any major book store and the shelves are stocked with books about Islam, Islamo-Fascism, Islamic Terrorism, Islamic Reform, Shariah, American Muslims and everything that relates to Islam and Muslims. Coverage of Muslims and Islam is big business, and everyone is taking advantage of it and profiting from it except every day average Muslims, especially indigenous African American Muslims. The mega media conglomerate Fox, is owned by a Muslim and Muslims from the Gulf States have billions of dollars invested in Western Media. Many Muslims come to America for the expressed purpose of making money, so to many of them, manipulating Muslim emotions is just another way to make money. Many if not most African American Muslims do not have Imams, have sporadic and unfocused agendas if any, and are not active contributors in Muslim congregations so emotional response to the media is about the only form of Islamic activism they know. The irony is that even when responding to a media generated issues most of our activism is limited to simple getting mad and venting our anger, or perhaps we'll mount a protest or call for a ridiculous boycott, (which usually only lasts for about a week or two). There are a billion Muslims in the planet, and with all the wars, conflicts, ideologies, groups, fatwas, acts of stupidity, and sensationalizing events concerning Muslims, the media as well as selected Muslim organizations and political leaders, have an unlimited selection from which they can tap into Muslim sentiment, and profit from it, and we by our actions, encourage them. Political Islamic Organizations, are more powerful, better financed, and have farther reach than any religious institutions in Muslim America. Almost all of them are funded, managed and run by immigrant Muslims h political agendas, and even Islamic agendas that do not include the indigenous American muslim community except to the degree that they can be utilized to serve the purpose of these organizations or some foreign Muslim group like the insidious Hizbul Tahrir, or to the degree that they can be marginalized. In many ways, the media benefits American Muslims by debunking many of our fantasy plagued, over romanticized views of the Muslim world. When we cheered the Taliban in their pursuit of an Islamic State in Afghanistan, the media helped us see what an Islamic State run by undisciplined Muslim maniacs, and religious fanatics who care little about justice, would look like. While American Muslim converts embrace the modern salafist ideology and turn on each other in the inner cities of America, media coverage of the carnage of Muslim on Muslim killing in Somalia, give us a glimpse of what modern salafiyyah would looks like when armed and financed. True, much of the media coverage about Muslims is selective and focuses on Muslim rage, and killing. However, if Muslim rage, and killing were not so prevalent, the media would not have such an abundance of it to cover. Even where there isn't any rage, it can be summoned up instantaneously by the publication or broadcast of a cartoon, or negative statement about Islam or Muslims. If there is no available rage on hand, then there is an abundance of Muslim stupidity all over the place to cover. Some national Muslim organizations depend upon negative media portrayal of Islam and Muslims in America to raise money and help perpetuate the American Muslim victim mentality by which these organizations legitimize themselves as self appointed leaders and defenders of Islam and Muslims in America. This helps pay for conferences, trips back and forth overseas, and publishing materials that tell hone grown American Muslims what to think, what their priorities are, and how to look at themselves. The Political organizations determine our religious priorities and they have decided that fighting Islamophobia, and being obsessed with the image of Islam in the media as their number one priority. It is written in our scripture that everyone will not be guided to Islam, "And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside: if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.", 16:9 . So there will always be people who take issue with Islam and the Muslims. Thus, in making islamophobia our number one enemy, national American Muslims political groups and advocacy organizations ensure that they will always have a place in Muslim America, even if it means sacrificing the future of Muslims in the United States. It is not in their interest to improve the image of the American Muslims, which is why they antagonize anyone who criticizes Islam to ensure that their opposition to Muslims and Islam will intensify. This is also why anti-Islamic sentiment has increased in equal proportion to the growth and influence of political Islam in America. The sad part of it all is they are bringing the entire Muslim community into this arena of insanity. As poll after poll shows that American Muslims are increasingly paralyzed by fear, insecurity and worry about the potential of backlash against Muslims, we can take comfort in the fact that although our fear has no spiritual benefit for us whatsoever, there are Muslim American Organizations who are making a tidy profit from it. We can scapegoat the media until we are blue in the face. However, at the end of the day, we are engineering our own destruction


Linked below is a copy of the briefing note that we have recently sent to state politicians regarding the safe schools program.
Harmful outcomes already being reported.
Misinformation has been spread by the media and by some politicians about many of the above items in order to portray ACL's campaign as merely homophobic and transphobic.
The concerns we have raised, however, are of a different kind. We are concerned that the content is not age-appropriate, is radically sexual and constitutes reckless advice. Many parents would agree if appraised of the material, and clearly do agree based on the success of our campaign.
ACL condemns all bullying, including bullying on the ground of LGBTI status and gender. We recommend that effective and appropriate anti-bullying programs be adopted by all schools. This program is not one of them.


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Efterklang é uma banda dinamarquesa de rock experimental formada em dezembro de 2000.

O nome 'Efterklang' vem do dinamarquês e significa reverberação. Embora a banda consista de quatro principais integrantes, a banda geralmente inclui três ou mais músicos ao se apresentarem ao vivo. Formada em Copenhaga, os quatro principais integrantes da banda são: Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen, Thomas Husmer e Rasmus Stolberg. A formação original também incluia Rune Mølgaard, mas ele tomou um papel mais secundário desde 2007.

Eles lançaram álbuns pela gravadora britânica/americana The Leaf Label, mas também possuem seu próprio selo chamado Rumraket (a palavra dinamarquesa para foguete espacial). Até agora, as bandas sob este selo são Grizzly Bear, amiina, Cacoy, Erik Levander, Kama Aina, Slaraffenland, Taxi Taxi! e Canon Blue.

Efterklang tem um histórico de trabalhar com vários músicos convidados em suas gravações. Eles também produziram um vasto número de vídeos produzidos por diretores como Karim Ghahwagi, Tobias Stretch, Anders Morgenthaler, Carolina Melis, Jeremiah Zagar. Nan Na Hvass da Hvass&Hannibal é a mente por trás das aclamadas artes gráficas dos ábluns One-Sided LP, Under Giant Trees, Parades, e do vídeo da música Mirador.

O segundo álbum da banda, Parades, lançado em outubro de 2007, recebeu vários prêmios e indicações. Em Abril de 2009 foi eleito o 38º melhor álbum entre lançado entre abril de 2005 e abril 2009 pela aclamada Clash Magazine, do Reino Unido. Em 2008, numa turnê ao lado de Slaraffenland, as duas bandas gravaram um EP conjunto chamado 'Slaraffenklang'.

Discografia
Springer (EP) (independente, 2003, relançado pela The Leaf Label em 2005)
Tripper (The Leaf Label, 2004)
Swarming Single (The Leaf Label, 2005)
One Sided LP (Burnt Toast Vinyl, 2006)
Under Giant Trees (The Leaf Label, 2007)
Parades (The Leaf Label, Outubro de 2007)
Caravan 7"/Digital Single (The Leaf Label, Março de 2008)
Magic Chairs (4AD,Rumraket, 22 de Fevereiro de 2010)
Piramida (4AD,Rumraket, 24 de Setembro de 2012)

Ligações externas
 Site oficial

Bandas da Dinamarca
Bandas de indie rock
Bandas de post rock

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Greene County Racing Commission can be found at Union Rd . The following is offered: Professional Sports Teams. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Eutaw there are 1 other Professional Sports Teams. An overview can be found here.


Yes, Chicago Cut made the list. "This seemed inevitable" says the Tribune. We love all our guests no matter how famous or regular but some definitely make Chicago Cut unique. Feel free to Read the full article here!
We are delighted to announce that we have received a recommended rating in the Michelin Guide Chicago 2015! "Perfectly suited for the City of Big Shoulders"!
Welcome to Chicago, Jon Lester!
Did You Catch David Flom on Windy City Live?
Last Wednesday Chicago Cut Partner David Flom appeared on Windy City Live (ABC-TV). If you missed it, learn how to make that perfect steak for the holidays, straight from the source!
Chicago Cut made the list, thank you Forbes! "The upstart Chicago steakhouse, opened in 2010, has drawn the kind of star power more commonly associated with L.A. than Middle America: Oprah Winfrey, Kate Upton and Ryan Seacrest are all devotees (Winfrey tweeted that it was "Phenom!!"). You can read the entire article here.


Craig and Sarah are back in town and are ready to teach in their home town! Join us for a fun workshop! $30- please call ahead to reserve your seat.
Ever been intimidated by Jazz? Don't worry, this class will be a lot of fun as we go through some popular Standards and progressions. We'll show you how easy (or hard) you can make these tunes. You must be able to play all of your basic chords and be comfortable with barre chords to get the most from this class. This class will be taught by Sarah Maisel, High or Low G 'ukuleles may join. If you bring a Baritone, please have a capo.
CALL to get your seat ahead of time: (858)-414-4492.


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HUB BUB
A collection of work from the students of the School of Communication at Loyola.
Coming Out: LGBT Youth Homelessness
on January 9th, 2017
An Overview of Chicago's Little Italy
Alternative Diets can drain students' wallets
View Post Archives
ALL » Edit » Reporting and Writing » Kristen Schorsch's Reporting Journey
Kristen Schorsch's Reporting Journey
A typical reporter's notebook. Picture by: Benjamin A. Schoenkin
Chicago- Kristen Schorsch's journey as a reporter has taken her across the Midwest and into the mountains of Colorado.
She grew up in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and went to college in Urbana-Champaign, IL. Her first reporting job was in Iowa City, Iowa, where she most notably covered the Iowa Caucuses. She is currently a reporter at Crain's Chicago Business.
"I actually went into college thinking I would maybe be a doctor. I originally majored in English and took some chemistry and calculus and quickly found that I was not really great at science and high-level math," explained Schorsch during a presentation to COMM 205 students on March 11, 2013.
Schorsch took a journalism class while at University of Illinois which peaked her interest in the field. "I always loved writing and was trying to find kind of a fit for it, I took a journalism class because I had a writing requirement anyways," said Schorsch.
During her presentation, Ms. Schorsch reminisced about her experiences at the campus newspaper entitled the Daily Illini. She said, "I loved it, it was really intense, but I felt if I wanted to be a reporter, I should really learn what it is like to be a reporter."
She believes that journalism students should really get involved in their student newspaper, "I would definitely encourage you to seek out your student newspaper. Just try it. You know it is difficult to get into because you know the first journalism story you write, I think I wrote about a library course. It is really difficult, you just kind of have to hone your craft, and people teach you and then you get into it."
She also explained that during her time she participated in internships in the Chicago area. Schorsch interned at the Chicago Reporter magazine before her final year in college and also freelanced for the Pioneer Press during vacation time.
After graduating college with a journalism degree, she worked as a reporter for the Press- Citizen in Iowa City, Iowa home of the University of Iowa where she wrote stories regarding higher education. She explained the benefits of working at a small newspaper with less than 10 reporters. " You really get to do everything. I don't mean like photography and page layout, but I mean like the type of stories you do."
For example, even though she mainly covered higher education, she also covered the Iowa Caucuses. During the caucuses she had ability to interview presidential contenders- Wesley Clark, and John Kerry and Howard Dean visited the offices of the Press-Citizen. Regarding being a reporter for a small newspaper while the national media was in town due to the caucuses, she said, "We were given access just as much" as compared to the national media.
Following her job in Iowa City she returned home to Chicago, working as a reporter for the SouthtownStar covering various communities for three years. She also covered crime. One big case she covered was about was about six women who were shopping in a Lane Bryant clothing store in Tinley Park. Five of them were killed and one survived. She continued her reporting about the incident even when she moved up to the Chicago Tribune.
She was a general assignment reporter at the Chicago Tribune. Schorsch explained with excitement that she would cover various topics and that anything could happen while she was a reporter there. One time, for example while on her way to work she was called and told to drive to O'Hare airport early in the morning to cover a story about the weather and other things happening at the airport.
While at the Chicago Tribune, Schorsch had the opportunity to expand the boundaries of her reporting and flew to Colorado for a story. She wrote an article entitled "Where Terrorists are their Neighbors" on November 25, 2009 referring to a town in Illinois named Thompson that was being considered for holding terrorist detainees in a prison.
While researching the topic she heard about a supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, where terrorists who had been involved in both World Trade Center attacks were incarcerated. She indicated that Florence had a bad economy prior to the opening of the supermax prison. She explained that people in town told her that "(the prison) really saved their town".
She wrote articles about the possible impact that a prison capable of holding terrorists in Thompson could hold for the surrounding community.
She currently works at Crain's Chicago Business magazine (a weekly magazine) and covers health care and the issues with regard to businesses. She has written articles about hospitals that have merged and she has also covered the Affordable Care Act. She explained that business professionals are the primary market of the magazine. She also explained that even though the magazine is printed weekly, articles are posted to the Internet daily.
"I just really love being a reporter and being able to help people."
written by Benjamin Schoenkin on April 5th, 2013
posted in Edit, Reporting and Writing
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Loyola Student Dispatch
Movember: More than a Mustache
Cat Shadow Shines Light on Homeless Man
Beauty Sleep: Myth or Real Deal?
Trend: College Marijuana Use is on the Rise
The Hub Bub is a collection of articles, videos, audio, photo slideshows, interactive maps and other media produced by students enrolled in journalism courses at Loyola University Chicago's School of Communication. For more about the School of Communication, our award winning faculty, and our state of the art facilities located in the heart of Chicago, visit our website.
The HUBBUB is service from Loyola University Chicago's School of Communication.


Real-valued data - Rational floating point items, such as time-stamped readings from a sensor.
Continuous data - Data that can have any value within a range (e.g. events that occurred in the evening).
Discrete data, such as calendar dates and holidays.
Discrete symbolic data, such as document indexes and directories.
Time-series data can be analyzed through both structured queries to assess how two discrete data points relate to one another, and through unstructured analysis that aggregate a spectrum of data that doesn't lend itself to simple parameters.
The Industrial Internet of Things has made it possible to accumulate large volumes of streaming time-series data: Consider, for instance, a seismic data survey for oil and gas exploration. A typical seismic survey can collect as much as 35 petabytes of data, which can be used to develop highly accurate 3D maps. The goal is to gather and analyze this data as quickly and accurately as possible.
Big data, including time-series data, can be analyzed through the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) with a traditional or NoSQL database management system, but because such systems typically rely on batch processing of data—in which data is clustered and processed in a time span ranging from several minutes to hours—this type of system is not ideal for assessing real-time, streaming data.
Instead, it can be beneficial to use an Object Database Management System (ODBMS), which can store data about real-world "objects," such as physical locations, keeping relationships between data points intact, so that such data does not need to be queried separately for each use.
Using an ODBMS can save up to one-third of the development effort over a traditional or NoSQL database management system, and can also dramatically reduce the storage overheads needed to maintain indices and links between objects.
Learn more about the benefits of an ODBMS for time-series data by downloading our white paper.


Reiki and Aromatherapy can be combined to be extremely effective in helping people struggling with poor sleep quality. Individually, both have been shown to improve quality of life, and together they can make a powerful difference! When used properly, both Reiki and Aromatherapy can be wonderful complementary therapies to help promote restful sleep.
When you are having a hard time getting to sleep, regular Reiki sessions can help to make a difference in the evening. If your mind is racing or you're dealing with anxious thoughts, you may join the thousands of people who turn to Reiki for relief. One of my favorite practitioners said that clients who are struggling with falling asleep find Reiki sessions help them connect with that feeling of relaxation that they are lacking.
Combining this with the effects Aromatherapy has on the limbic system mean an even more relaxed state when trying to fall asleep. Certain essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, and vanilla extract help to promote the soothing energies needed to encourage relaxation.
When struggling with staying asleep, you may feel as if it is out of your control. The good news is there are things that you can do to help! Essential oils that promote grounding can also be helpful in prolonging sleep. Cedarwood, frankincense, and clary sage can all be used to ground. Creating a blend and adding it to a lotion base to use right before bed can help to promote the effects.
On top of a personalized blend, consistently receiving Reiki or other energy healing forms can help to make night time snoozing easier. When receiving Reiki to keep your body more relaxed during the day, it makes it easier to slip into a deeper sleep at night.
Sometimes the sleep itself is not the issue: it is the nightmares or other sleep-related events that make sleep stressful instead of rejuvenating. I actually suffered from hypnopompic hallucinations for awhile (a form of sleep paralysis). Because they were brought on by stress, Reiki was my first step toward resolving them.
Aromatherapy to address stressful sleep events varies based on underlying issues. When sleep patterns are off, a morning rejuvenating blend can be as helpful as an evening relaxing blend. There are several citrus options that can be beneficial including neroli, tangerine, and bergamot.
With my in-person clients, I formulate a personalized blend of essential oils each time we work together (distance clients can also receive this for the price of shipping). I also create a personalized constitutionally guided meditation for each client that helps them stay balanced in between sessions.
Between the hundreds of essential oil options and the thousands of energy healing meditation options, it can be hard to know what is going to work best for you. Working with someone like me can help you to create a plan that will hit exactly what you need to regain your balance and reclaim your Zzzzs!
Larabeth Guthrie is the founder of the Qi Do School and Clinic. She sees clients in person and over distance. Click here to get an appointment scheduled.


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How faulty PPE unmasked our health watchdog's approvals process
By Liam Mannix
May 21, 2021 — 6.00am
Examine, a weekly science newsletter written by national science reporter Liam Mannix, is sent every Tuesday. The latest instalment is below. You can sign up to receive it from The Age here and from The Sydney Morning Herald here.
When the pandemic began, a tide of cheap, flimsy masks descended on Australia. Many of these masks were let through with essentially tick-and-flick regulation. Some purchased by the government for the national medical stockpile later turned out to be defective.
Kate Cole is an occupational hygienist and mask expert.
Kate Cole is an occupational hygienist – a mask expert – and has done more than anyone to blow the whistle on the mask disaster.
On her figures, some 1800 masks were registered in Australia after the pandemic began. Since then, after Ms Cole revealed serious concerns, Australia's medical watchdog has been running a post-market review. So far, more than 70 per cent of those masks have had their registrations cancelled, per Ms Cole's figures – after they were already on sale.
A spokeswoman for the Therapeutic Goods Administration said the body had changed its mask regulations in October so the "manufacturer's declaration of conformity to the Australian legislative requirements [must] be attached" – essentially, mask-sellers now need to at least show they hold evidence their product works, even if that evidence is not independently tested.
That change had seen a reduction in applications for inclusion, and an improvement in the evidence presented by manufacturers to support the performance of the product, a TGA spokeswoman said.
"Had the TGA held off allowing face masks to be supplied until after they had been individually tested by the TGA, it would have led to a very significant shortage of PPE in Australia during the height of the COVID-pandemic last year, and the risk of many more hospitalisations and deaths."
Before the pandemic, Ms Cole had never had anything to do with the TGA.
"I was shocked to understand the lack of processes in place to verify these products were effective before they were provided to healthcare workers," she said.
The TGA is meant to ensure that those who make and sell the vitamins, potions and herbal cures you can buy at pharmacies do not make wild, inaccurate and counter-scientific claims about their effectiveness.
Its spokeswoman tells me it "has the most stringent regulatory requirements for complementary medicines globally".
"The assumption," the TGA notes, "is that the majority of regulated entities intend to comply with the regulatory schemes." Credit:Tanya Macheda
The TGA has received thousands of complaints that these products are doing just that. It has, essentially, taken no action.
Indeed, under the TGA's watch Australia's complementary medicine industry has grown into a behemoth. We have now reached a point where 75 per cent of Australians use complementary medicine every year. We are the number one exporter in this market to China, with exports increasing by around 500 per cent per cent between 2014 and 2019.
Walk the aisles of any pharmacy and look at what they are selling. One favourite are pills that are purported to protect you from the blue light coming from your screens. The industry's biggest growth area is probiotic supplements, but there is essentially no scientific evidence they work.
Is it really acceptable to have a situation where complementary medicine thrives, while advocates for evidence-based approvals – such as medical campaigner Ken Harvey – resign from the TGA's own advertising committee in disgust?
Dr Ken Harvey in 2014. Credit:Eddie Jim
"Complementary medicines are a profitable, export-oriented industry. But it's export-oriented because it's producing bullshit. Sooner or later even the Chinese are going to want products that work," Dr Harvey says.
Then there is medical cannabis.
The TGA prohibited advertising of medicinal cannabis, yet it has allowed medical cannabis dispensaries to open shopfronts that blatantly spruik the drug.
Are we really surprised that pain doctors now report being overwhelmed with patients seeking the drug, despite an almost total lack of evidence it works?
The TGA spokeswoman said the watchdog had issued fines for people caught spruiking medical cannabis, and that stopping advertising of the drug was a "priority".
What joins these seemingly disparate threads? Risk.
The TGA adopts a risk-based regulation approach. Vaccines are scrutinised extensively, with each batch tested for purity. Masks, vitamins and cannabis are at the bottom of the risk pyramid.
And when problems arise, the TGA has a stated policy of extending manufacturers the benefit of the doubt, like a parent might a wilful but ultimately good-hearted child.
"The assumption," the TGA notes, "is that the majority of regulated entities intend to comply with the regulatory schemes." It notes it has issued 143 infringement notices, worth more than $1.5 million, in the past 12 months.
"Independent expert reviews of the TGA recognised that it has an excellent reputation internationally and domestically for its role in ensuring the timely availability of safe, efficacious and high quality therapeutic goods," a spokeswoman said.
Should we treat the vast medical-industrial complex regulated by the TGA with the benefit of the doubt?
Ms Cole is now sceptical.
"We have essentially relied on manufacturers to be honest 100 per cent of the time, to protect our healthcare workers," she says. "And our healthcare workers deserve far better, because they have been let down during this pandemic."
Perhaps the best example of when this risk-based, benefit-of-the-doubt approach can go badly wrong is pelvic mesh.
The TGA allowed transvaginal prolapse mesh to be inserted into thousands of women often without independent clinical evidence for many of the designs. Perhaps as many as 18,000 women experienced complications.
The TGA blames its US counterpart, the Food and Drug Administration, which green-lit a single product in 2001 and then allowed a parade of novel devices through under the dubious claim they were "substantially equivalent". The TGA, committing what sounds suspiciously like exactly the same sin, approved the products in Australia because the FDA had.
Much like masks, the TGA did not think that pelvic mesh posed much risk – so it down-classified it, meaning it was subject to less scrutiny.
Much like masks, this scrutiny was only applied when tens of thousands of devices had been implanted – and thousands of women started complaining of injury.
The untold story here is in the pages of the TGA's little book of medical horrors, the database of adverse event notifications, where manufacturers and doctors are meant to submit notes if a patient is injured by a drug or device. The Department of Health's own staff quietly estimate it misses 99.95 per cent of actual events.
I have been reporting on the consequences of this low-risk approach to medical regulation the TGA takes for years now. I find myself more and more sympathising with Dr Ken Harvey's view: the regulator, and its masters, are simply uninterested for their own opaque reasons in doing a better job.
Enjoy this content? Consider subscribing to Examine. Sign up to The Age's here and the Sydney Morning Herald's here.
Liam Mannix is The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald's national science reporter.Connect via Twitter or email.


differencemakers community blog: Why Must You Lead?
We all want to Lead. Be recognized for doing something great that inspires others to follow. Leave behind some kind of a legacy. Create wealth. Add value to our organization. Do something great that changes other's lives. Do we have a choice? Seemingly, yes.
There are so many people out there who are happy being mere spectators and critics, clapping when things go right and cursing when they don't.
So, what if we don't lead? We end up becoming mere consumers, force-fed with whatever is offered to us. Our minds become more numb, unable to create/innovate, tamed to accept the 'status quo' as fate. Our consciousness stops looking for a sense of purpose in whatever we do, our hearts cease to beat faster on the verge of success or failure. In short, life stops carrying any meaning and we merely 'exist'.
So, why lead? We know that each one of us is unique, has been gifted with a unique DNA sequence and a fingerprint - so there is no one exactly like us, in the whole world - isn't that a wonderful thing? So, why did it have to happen this way? Why couldn't have there been more of our identical genetic copies that had exactly the same frame of thoughts and actions? Because, life does not touch any two people in the same manner. Because, when you say L.I.F.E, it means a product of millions of experiences, each of which happened at that one moment not replaceable by another.
But why is Leading a 'must' and not a 'should'?
Because, to be able to make an impact of any magnitude in your lifetime, you have to undergo the process of identifying your USP, nurturing it, putting it into practice (with your inner circle of people) and finally repeating the act for a cause larger than yourself, hoping to drive in a change. This, is the act of 'Leading Yourself'. Leading yourself is the first step to leading others. Without Leading, life will be just status quo - a perennial comfort zone, that would become so boring that it would implode! And by deciding not to lead, you will fritter away any chance of handing over what was possible to be created/accomplished only by you. In other words, it is better to have 'tried to lead' and lost, than not to have led at all!
Leading comes with its inherent aspects like opportunities, risks, excitement, danger, hope, possibilities, promise, which hold the key to 'Purposeful Living', that it attracts everyone. It is so powerful a phenomenon that even if there is partial or little success, the results get passed on, and from a distance it resembles a mass effort by the whole mankind in taking the civilization forward.
No matter how small and significant your role appears to be in the larger scheme of things, it is still significant, because if you do not do it today, it will take a combination of humans spread across different time zones/eras to fill the gap that could only be filled by you. Because You were the one chosen to be here and now to do what you were born to do.
So, believe in yourself, and Lead yourself to your place in the sun!


Yummy! This truly decadent waffle is loved by many. A crisp, perfectly golden Belgian waffle, topped with slices of fresh, locally grown bananas, generously smothered in our delicious homemade caramel sauce. Enjoy this waffle by itself or complement it with a generous serving of dairy cream or ice-cream. As with all our waffles, gluten free, egg free or dairy free options are available on request.
Try it once, and you will be back for more!


During David's last sickness, many chief priests and Levites were at Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of his purpose to build a temple for God, and of God's disallowing that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from Divine grace. Religion or piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledge of God, the second is worship of God. David says, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God is made known by his works and word. Revelation alone shows the whole character of God, in his providence, his holy law, his condemnation of sinners, his blessed gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true believers. The natural man cannot receive this knowledge of God. But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's atonement, and of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to walk in all his commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper place at the foot of the cross, as a poor, guilty, helpless worm, deserving wrath, yet expecting every thing needful from the free mercy and grace of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to love much.
7. If he be constant. The promise to David that his throne was to be established forever was conditional, the condition being obedience. God repeated the same conditions to Solomon (1 Kings 9:4, 5). Compare also 1 Kings 3:14, where God promised to Solomon a lengthening of his days if he kept God's commandments. God also revealed to David that only on the condition that his descendants kept the divine covenant would they always sit upon his throne (see 1 Kings 2:3, 4; cf. Ps. 132:11, 12).


WHAT DOES SG INTERACTIVE DO?
SG Interactive is the premier global Presentation Design Agency with over 80 full-time employees. Our team of designers provides presentation design solutions to over 2,000 global clients including Adidas, Reebok, Facebook, Blizzard, Delta Airlines, NASCAR, JP Morgan, and many more. We work with clients both big and small, providing us with new and exciting projects every day. In addition to PowerPoint, we offer a wide array of print services.
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING AN PRINT DESIGNER AT SG INTERACTIVE?
We create infographics, brochures, whitepapers, executive summaries, flyers, and much more. You will be responsible for creating on-brand designs for clients globally.
Each SG Interactive office has its own fun and unique culture, developed by the diverse teams of designers and managers that work there. At the root of each office environment lies the foundational culture that was grown at our headquarters in San Diego. Here in Manila, a city full of heart, we reflect that description in our office environment. Covering Asia hours and then some, the Asia office culture mirrors the collaborative foundations from our San Diego HQ to bring 24-hour coverage to SG Interactive. This has grown an environment of next level collaboration—a unique mix between independent space, colleagues within and across departments always willing to jump in and lend a hand, and an overall no-fuss can-do attitude. We strongly support each person's personal time, leading us to work hard and work well together so that when you go home, you can really go home. We enjoy all types of music, corny jokes, and a whole flurry of other interests brought about by each new person who joins the team.
We take great pride in cultivating growth for our employees. We offer a structured and transparent path for each member of the team. You will know where you stand at all times and your manager will highlight exactly what needs to be done in order for you to get to the place you want to be. In addition to offering growth within a given department, we also allow for inter-departmental growth if you show an aptitude in another area. And the growth doesn't stop there, as the company itself is growing at an amazing rate, providing new and exciting opportunities for our team every day!
The catch is that you have to bring your 'A' game. We expect our print designers to bring positive, creative energy into the office everyday. That way we can face any challenge that gets thrown our way, knowing that we will be able to lean on each other for support. Senior Print Designers are the backbone of the print department and are relied on to showcase excellence everyday through their work.


Score big with your customers when you use the Game Day Flyer from MustHaveMenus to announce your specials. The background of this template pictures two hands holding a football against a black backdrop. Grunge fonts in cream and white boldly announce the day, time, specials, and your business information. Customize to match your brand, print, and post!


I had been eagerly awaiting this day for a long, long time. The first meeting of the season brings a fresh team along with fresh hopes. One of the pleasant aspects of this fresh team is the familiarity… Danny King, Ben Barker, Josh Auty, Nico Covatti and Martin Smolinski all being retained from last season with just Chris Harris and Jason Doyle as new guys. The only thing I wasn't looking forward to was… you've guessed it… the weather! The press and practice session last week in bitter cold conditions was a stark reminder that March is on the back end of winter and invariably hangs onto cold wintry conditions. As I entered the stadium the temperature was a bone-numbing 3 degrees centigrade with a sharp wind ensuring that the cold would permeate my many layers of clothing and render my thermals useless! But… 7.30 arrived and the roar of the engines and the intoxicated smell of speedway fuel soon lifted my spirits, the 2013 season was soon to commence. On with the meeting… Belle Vue were operating rider replacement for Matej Zagar. Brummies won the toss and elected to go off gates 1 and 3 for heat 1.
Heat 1. Ales Dryml taking the first r/r for Zagar. The Brummies didn't make the best of gates; Ales Dryml led from the tapes, followed by, Josh Auty, Kevin Wolbert and Chris Harris. Chris rapidly moved up the placings by passing Wolbert out of the first bend of lap 1, Wolbert kept the pressure on Chris and momentarily took the position back, but some gutsy riding from Chris saw him reclaim the 3rd place and then pass Josh into 2nd place. Wolbert kept up the pressure and eventually relegated Josh into last place. While the action was happening in the minor places Ales Dryml confidently led the race from start to finish.
Heat 2. Once again the Aces were sharper away from the tapes as Ales Dryml led out of the first bend followed by his teammate Kauko Nieminen, with Martin Smolinski and Nico Covatti in 3rd and 4th place. Smolinski edged past Nieminen out of bend 3 of the first lap and Covatti did likewise just one lap later on the same bend. Once again Dryml in total control of the race to take his second win.
Heat 3. Into bend 1, Ben Barker, Magnus Zetterstrom, Danny King, Craig Cook. Danny moved past Zetterstrom out of bend 2 on lap 1 but Zetterstrom reclaimed the position as they exited bend 3 of the same lap. Danny pushed hard for the next couple of laps but couldn't better his position. On the final lap Zetterstrom took up the challenge on Ben Barker but to no avail and Ben won the race.
Heat 4. Covatti reared up as they left the tapes entering the first bend in 3rd place behind Jason Doyle and Kauko Nieminen with Artur Mroczka in last place. Nieminen edged past Doyle on bend 3 lap 2 but one bend later Doyle reclaimed the 1st place and then managed to hold the position to the end of the race.
Heat 5. R/R Craig Cook. Craig Cook gated like a rocket, followed by Danny King, Ben Barker and Kevin Wolbert. And that's exactly how they finished. No position contested by any rider and well strung out by the end of the race; with Cook have a quite sizeable lead over the other riders.
Heat 6. Ales Dryml was once again the sharpest gater and led into bend 1 followed by the Brummie pairing of Chris Harris and Josh Auty with Artur Mroczka at the back. Chris Harris pushed hard behind Dryml and completed the pass on the home straight at the end of lap 1. This is the point in the evening where the cold got the better of my concentration levels and I didn't notice where Mroczka had snuck past Auty, but at this point it wasn't too important as Josh took back 3rd place on the back straight of lap 3.
Heat 12. Ales Dryml again making a superb gate to lead into the 1st bend, Danny King 2nd, Nico Covatti in 3rd and Magnus Zetterstrom 4th. Nico passes Zetterstrom on the back straight. Zetterstrom chases hard, Nico exits bend 4 of lap 1 really wide in an attempt to hold Zetterstrom from passing, this resulted in Nico colliding into the fence on the home straight with bike parts flying in the air as he falls off. The race is stopped and amazingly Nico immediately jumps to his feet looking none the worse for this alarming fall. Race to be re-run with the exclusion of Nico Covatti.
Re-run. From the tapes, Danny King, Magnus Zetterstrom, Ales Dryml. The four laps are completed with no change of order and by the last lap a very well spaced out field. Points shared and Belle Vue continue to hold a 4 point lead.
Heat 13. Kevin Wolbert R/R for Zagar. Into the first bend Chris Harris leads, Kevin Wolbert 2nd, Jason Doyle 3rd and Artur Mroczka in last place. Jason gets some grip and storms around the outside of Wolbert and Harris to take the lead, and all importantly a 5-1 position for the Brummies! Jason & Chris team ride for a while and trade place with each other with Chris the eventual 1st place rider, with the Belle Vue pair out of contention. The match once again level.
Heat 14. Craig Cook anticipated the tapes a little too well… race stopped all four back.
Re-start At last a Brummie makes the gate… Martin is flying! Martin Smolinski and Ben Barker in 1st and 2nd into the first bend, followed by Craig Cook and Kauko Nieminen. Cook, who has been riding exceptionally well all evening, splits the Brummie pair as he rides past Ben on the back straight. With no further changes in positions this is also the result as the Brummies edge back into a 2-point lead with just 1 race to go.
Positions into first bend… Chris Harris, Artur Mroczka, Magnus Zetterstrom, Danny King. Mroczka and Zetterstrom trade places out of bend 2 and on bend 3 of lap 1 Danny King also passes Mroczka. This final heat turns into a somewhat processional race with a well spaced out field and the Brummies take a 4-2 to final clinch the win by 4 points.
Meeting summary I really thought we were going to loose this match! Belle Vue outgated us all night. The bizarre thing is… the inclusion of Mroczka in the nominated race? He had not scored a single point from his four scheduled rides, so why use him over Cook, Dryml or Nieminen? I know it was just a challenge match but why did Belle Vue throw away the potential to win the match by appearing to 'throw in the towel' and not contest the last race… most strange! Oh well, it was much needed track time for the whole team, and I'm sure they have all highlighted where the can make improvements in time for a 'proper' match against Coventry next Wednesday. On a personal note I was quite proud of the teams' efforts in the match, only Josh and Nico had low scores, and it wasn't due to not trying, in Nico's case I think he was trying too hard! Martin Smolinski deservedly named as 'man of the match'.
I hope that proper spring temperatures aren't too far away, I don't want to contemplate too many more meetings as cold as this one! I trust that I haven't made too many errors in this report, but at one point I was so cold I think my brain cell was frozen. On top of which I've also discovered it's nigh on impossible to handle a pen, notepad, programme and torch with numb fingers while wearing two pairs of gloves!


JPMorgan Chase & Co has tested a new blockchain platform for issuing financial instruments with the National Bank of Canada and other large firms, they said on Friday, seeking to streamline origination, settlement, interest rate payments and other processes.
Participants in the experiment included Goldman Sachs Asset Management, the fund management arm of Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Pfizer Inc and Legg Mason Inc's Western Asset and other investors in the certificate of deposit. Banks have poured millions of dollars to develop blockchain, the software first created to run cryptocurrency bitcoin, to streamline processes ranging from cross-border payments to securities settlement.
JPMorgan is considering spinning off Quorum because the technology has attracted significant outside interest, Umar Farooq, head of blockchain initiatives for JPMorgan's corporate and investment bank said in an interview. He said it was taking too much time to field requests for help from users at other companies. Charging for assistance is not an option because software support is not the bank's business, a person familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The source was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
JPMorgan plans to beef up the Quorum team with dozens of engineers from the bank's other divisions who have become familiar with the technology, he said. Blockchain is in the early stages of development in the financial industry, but JPMorgan is optimistic about its potential, Farooq said.


text:
using std::string;
using std::wstring;
using std::vector;
using std::map;
using google_breakpad::HTTPUpload;
using google_breakpad::PDBModuleInfo;
using google_breakpad::PDBSourceLineWriter;
using google_breakpad::WindowsStringUtils;

// Extracts the file version information for the given filename,
// as a string, for example, "1.2.3.4".  Returns true on success.
static bool GetFileVersionString(const wchar_t *filename, wstring *version) {
  DWORD handle;
  DWORD version_size = GetFileVersionInfoSize(filename, &handle);
  if (version_size < sizeof(VS_FIXEDFILEINFO)) {
    return false;
  }

  vector<char> version_info(version_size);
  if (!GetFileVersionInfo(filename, handle, version_size, &version_info[0])) {
    return false;
  }

  void *file_info_buffer = NULL;
  unsigned int file_info_length;
  if (!VerQueryValue(&version_info[0], L"\\",
                     &file_info_buffer, &file_info_length)) {
    return false;
  }

  // The maximum value of each version component is 65535 (0xffff),
  // so the max length is 24, including the terminating null.
  wchar_t ver_string[24];
  VS_FIXEDFILEINFO *file_info =
    reinterpret_cast<VS_FIXEDFILEINFO*>(file_info_buffer);
  swprintf(ver_string, sizeof(ver_string) / sizeof(ver_string[0]),
           L"%d.%d.%d.%d",
           file_info->dwFileVersionMS >> 16,
           file_info->dwFileVersionMS & 0xffff,
           file_info->dwFileVersionLS >> 16,
           file_info->dwFileVersionLS & 0xffff);

  // remove when VC++7.1 is no longer supported
  ver_string[sizeof(ver_string) / sizeof(ver_string[0]) - 1] = L'\0';

  *version = ver_string;
  return true;
}

// Creates a new temporary file and writes the symbol data from the given
// exe/dll file to it.  Returns the path to the temp file in temp_file_path
// and information about the pdb in pdb_info.
static bool DumpSymbolsToTempFile(const wchar_t *file,
                                  wstring *temp_file_path,
                                  PDBModuleInfo *pdb_info) {
  google_breakpad::PDBSourceLineWriter writer;
  // Use EXE_FILE to get information out of the exe/dll in addition to the
  // pdb.  The name and version number of the exe/dll are of value, and
  // there's no way to locate an exe/dll given a pdb.
  if (!writer.Open(file, PDBSourceLineWriter::EXE_FILE)) {
    return false;
  }

  wchar_t temp_path[_MAX_PATH];
  if (GetTempPath(_MAX_PATH, temp_path) == 0) {
    return false;
  }

  wchar_t temp_filename[_MAX_PATH];
  if (GetTempFileName(temp_path, L"sym", 0, temp_filename) == 0) {
    return false;
  }

  FILE *temp_file = NULL;
#if _MSC_VER >= 1400  // MSVC 2005/8
  if (_wfopen_s(&temp_file, temp_filename, L"w") != 0)
#else  // _MSC_VER >= 1400
  // _wfopen_s was introduced in MSVC8.  Use _wfopen for earlier environments.
  // Don't use it with MSVC8 and later, because it's deprecated.
  if (!(temp_file = _wfopen(temp_filename, L"w")))
#endif  // _MSC_VER >= 1400
  {
    return false;
  }

  bool success = writer.WriteMap(temp_file);
  fclose(temp_file);
  if (!success) {
    _wunlink(temp_filename);
    return false;
  }

  *temp_file_path = temp_filename;

  return writer.GetModuleInfo(pdb_info);
}

__declspec(noreturn) void printUsageAndExit() {
  wprintf(L"Usage:\n\n"
          L"    symupload [--timeout NN] [--product product_name] ^\n"
          L"              <file.exe|file.dll> <symbol upload URL> ^\n"
          L"              [...<symbol upload URLs>]\n\n");
  wprintf(L"  - Timeout is in milliseconds, or can be 0 to be unlimited.\n");
  wprintf(L"  - product_name is an HTTP-friendly product name. It must only\n"
          L"    contain an ascii subset: alphanumeric and punctuation.\n"
          L"    This string is case-sensitive.\n\n");
  wprintf(L"Example:\n\n"
          L"    symupload.exe --timeout 0 --product Chrome ^\n"
          L"        chrome.dll http://no.free.symbol.server.for.you\n");
  exit(0);
}
int wmain(int argc, wchar_t *argv[]) {
  const wchar_t *module;
  const wchar_t *product = nullptr;
  int timeout = -1;
  int currentarg = 1;
  while (argc > currentarg + 1) {
    if (!wcscmp(L"--timeout", argv[currentarg])) {
      timeout = _wtoi(argv[currentarg + 1]);
      currentarg += 2;
      continue;
    }
    if (!wcscmp(L"--product", argv[currentarg])) {
      product = argv[currentarg + 1];
      currentarg += 2;
      continue;
    }
    break;
  }

  if (argc >= currentarg + 2)
    module = argv[currentarg++];
  else
    printUsageAndExit();

  wstring symbol_file;
  PDBModuleInfo pdb_info;
  if (!DumpSymbolsToTempFile(module, &symbol_file, &pdb_info)) {
    fwprintf(stderr, L"Could not get symbol data from %s\n", module);
    return 1;
  }

  wstring code_file = WindowsStringUtils::GetBaseName(wstring(module));

  map<wstring, wstring> parameters;
  parameters[L"code_file"] = code_file;
  parameters[L"debug_file"] = pdb_info.debug_file;
  parameters[L"debug_identifier"] = pdb_info.debug_identifier;
  parameters[L"os"] = L"windows";  // This version of symupload is Windows-only
  parameters[L"cpu"] = pdb_info.cpu;

  // Don't make a missing product name a hard error.  Issue a warning and let
  // the server decide whether to reject files without product name.
  if (product) {
    parameters[L"product"] = product;
  } else {
    fwprintf(
        stderr,
        L"Warning: No product name (flag --product) was specified for %s\n",
        module);
  }

  // Don't make a missing version a hard error.  Issue a warning, and let the
  // server decide whether to reject files without versions.
  wstring file_version;
  if (GetFileVersionString(module, &file_version)) {
    parameters[L"version"] = file_version;
  } else {
    fwprintf(stderr, L"Warning: Could not get file version for %s\n", module);
  }

  bool success = true;

  while (currentarg < argc) {
    int response_code;
    if (!HTTPUpload::SendRequest(argv[currentarg], parameters,
                                 symbol_file, L"symbol_file",
                                 timeout == -1 ? NULL : &timeout,
                                 nullptr, &response_code)) {
      success = false;
      fwprintf(stderr,
               L"Symbol file upload to %s failed. Response code = %ld\n",
               argv[currentarg], response_code);
    }
    currentarg++;
  }

  _wunlink(symbol_file.c_str());

  if (success) {
    wprintf(L"Uploaded symbols for windows-%s/%s/%s (%s %s)\n",
            pdb_info.cpu.c_str(), pdb_info.debug_file.c_str(),
            pdb_info.debug_identifier.c_str(), code_file.c_str(),
            file_version.c_str());
  }

  return success ? 0 : 1;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub