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The Good,
Falafel: Super Reporter
Heroic NGO's
Israel: Regional Blessing
Jordan: Survivalist Nation
Lebanon: Middle East Gem
Turkey: Civilians Protector
The Bad,
Arabism: Dictatorial Regimes
Obama: Ignorant President
Iraq: Sectarianism
Palestinian Cause
… and The Ugly
Assad Agents & Spies
Assad: Inner Circle of Killers
Islamic State Terror
Iran: The Evil Mullahs
Putin: Sends Jailed Radicals to Syria
Putin: Bombs Russians for Power
Putin: Dirt Collector
Religion: Wolves and Sheep
Introduction to TFS
TFS Mission Statement
TFS Privacy Policy
HomeAssad Genocide
Sexual Abuse and Torture of Women in Assad's Prisons
June 22, 2015 8:02 pm	0
Iran vows to step up fight against Syrian civilians
Iran Tells Syria to Attack Israel on the Golan Heights
Special Tribunal for Lebanon to Investigate Hezbollah-Assad Ties
Women prisoners in Assad's jails are used as a "weapon of war", a network of rights groups said in a report Monday, documenting sexual abuse and torture of detainees.
The report published by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) documents what it describes as "arbitrary" detentions and contains testimony from dozens of former prisoners with sexual abuse history..
The report wrote:
"Women have been increasingly weaponized in Syria's ongoing bloody war, with dire repercussions for the country's social fabric and the prospect of ending the conflict"
EMHRN released the report on the eve of a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday of the U.N. Rights Council which is expected to address the rights situation in Syria.
The 42-page report, entitled "Detention of Women in Syria: A Weapon of War and Torture", documents the cases of pregnant women held in jail and of mothers imprisoned with children under the age of 18.
The report details "horrendous violations perpetrated against women by the Syrian government… in a widespread and systematic manner, as well as the use of women as bargaining chips in hostage exchanges with anti-governmental armed groups."
Women held in Assad's prisons are subjected to "various forms of deprivation, threats, solitary confinement, as well as different forms of torture, including rape and sexual harassment," it said.
Assad's prisons are a nasty hive of sexual abuse and torture of women.
Their ordeal continues long after they are freed, the report said, citing people sacked from their jobs, others who were rejected by their families or forced to divorce their husbands.
Laila, a 38-year-old activist and mother of two jailed in 2013, recalled her interrogation "in a cold room full of rats" saying she was made to stand naked and was menstruating at the time.
Another prisoner, Sawsan, said she was raped by 10 members of the security forces — the first time in front of her 16-year-old son.
Other women said they were forced to make false confessions and to say they had practiced "jihad sex" with rebels fighting the regime. Next time someone reads "jihad sex" anywhere, think of the high possibilities Assad inventing it as a propaganda tool.
EMHRN president Michel Tubiana urged the international community to exert "intense efforts" to help such women. He said:
"Intense efforts need to be made at international level in order to provide women who have been exposed to grave violations with adequate rehabilitation and protection mechanisms,"
It is estimated that more than 200,000 people, including thousands of women, are held in Assad's prison of sexual abuse and torture.
In the meantime, Obama just enjoyed another round of gold. What Syrian women, he asked?
AFP contributed to this article.
Europe Welcomes Assad War Criminals
Assad May Be Controlling Food Delivered to Madaya
Saudi Arabia new unite and conquer spirit
Assad Genocide 427
Swiss Court Maintains Freeze on Assad's Dirty Front Man
Saudi WikiLeaks: One-faced Coin
About Terror Free Syria
Terror Free Syria (TFS) is a US-based Syrian-American news website whose goals are to combat terror and violent rulers. Both in Syria and the surrounding countries. TFS stands against the Assad and ISIS terror as it stands against al-Qaeda and Hezbollah terror.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


since the medium breaks down.
- How wet do I want it to be most of the time?
- How often am I willing to repot my plants?
Remember that or, better yet, write it down.
Now go on to the next mix.
after a watering during the growing season.


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Worsening HFpEF Linked With Low T3/T4 Ratio Worsening HFpEF Linked With Low T3/T4 Ratio
The study covered in this summary was published on researchsquare.com as a preprint and has not yet been peer reviewed.
In the study, 79 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) were seen at a heart failure clinic in Portugal and were followed for a median of 2.8 years. Among those whose ratio of free triiodothyronine (FT3) to free thyroxine (FT4) was in the lowest tertile, there was a significantly increased rate of a composite of urgent heart failure (HF) visits involving diuretic intensification, HF hospitalization, or cardiovascular death compared with those whose ratios were in the higher tertiles.
Patients whose T3/T4 ratio was in the lowest tertile were more likely to have obesity, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, higher body fat, higher pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Up to 30% of patients with HF have some form of thyroid dysfunction that may contribute to the onset and progression of HF. Results from this study suggest a potential mechanism that could in part explain this relationship.
The results suggest that decreased T4 to T3 conversion may help explain HFpEF progression and decompensation.
Persistently low T3 levels negatively influence myocardial function and structure and impair cardiac remodeling.
The researchers identified 79 patients with stable HFpEF who had no history of thyroid disease or of taking medication and were seen at an HF outpatient clinic in Porto, Portugal. The patients participated in the prospective New Targets in Diastolic Heart Failure: From Comorbidities to Personalized Medicine (NETDiamond) study, which focuses on finding novel disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets for people with HFpEF.
All participants underwent blood testing to measure thyroid-stimulating hormone, T3, and T4, and they all had undergone echocardiography.
The average age of the patients was 74 years, and 53% were women. The mean T3/T4 ratio was 2.63.
Those in the lowest tertile for FT3/FT4 ratio were older and were more likely to be women and to have orthopnea, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. They also had a higher body mass index, and levels of high-sensitivity troponin-I were increased.
Increased T3/T4 ratios were positively associated with LVEF and negatively associated with pulmonary arterial systolic pressure.
During a median follow-up of 2.8 years, participants had 32 first events for the composite HF endpoint.
The highest rate of the composite HF outcome was found among people in the lowest tertile for T3/T4 ratio. The fully adjusted hazard ratio for the primary outcome increased by a significant 2.5-fold for each 1-unit decrease in FT3/FT4 ratio.
This was an observational study; as such, it cannot establish causality, and the generalizability of the findings is limited.
Because of its small size, the study had limited statistical power.
The analysis may be affected by residual confounding.
Participants' thyroid hormone levels were measured once, and potential variations within individuals could have been missed.
The study did not receive commercial funding.
One author has been a consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca and has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis through his institution. Another author has received consulting or speaker fees from AstraZeneca, BIAL, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Merck, and Novo Nordisk. A third author has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca.
This is a summary of a preprint article, "Clinical and Pathophysiologic Insights of FT3/FT4 Ratio in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Data From the NETDiamond Cohort," written by researchers from the University of Porto, Spain, published on Research Square, and provided to you by Medscape. This study has not yet been peer reviewed. The full text of the study can be found on researchsquare.com.
Lifestyle During Menopause Affects Cardiovascular Mortality Lifestyle During Menopause Affects Cardiovascular Mortality
New Mexico Urges Syphilis Testing for All Pregnant Mothers New Mexico Urges Syphilis Testing for All Pregnant Mothers


The last party from SoSalsa this year is around the corner and we are planning to go out with a blast!
The party will start off with an afrohouse workshop for all levels and will continue the party with in room 1 Groove Patada (liveband) playing their salsa grooves and dj power-G with Bachata, Kizomba and some Afrohouse in the other room. You cannot miss this one!
This party is the closing of the Sosalsa Friends and Family Day.
Tickets for the day! IMPORTANT: Day & combi ticketsale closes on the 2nd of june! So invite your friends and family fast and buy your tickets!


As we near Valentine's Day many wine vendors like to promote pink wines and Ros Champagnes, in particular, as "the" wines for this day of romance.
We included three top California bubblies to compare to a range of French Champagnes. Schramsberg, Iron Horse and the French-owned Roederer Estate were pitted against formidable Bollinger and Krug, along with the famed Billecart-Salmon, Laurent Perrier and the tiny grower's house of Rene Geoffroy.
The results showed how competitive the wines are! The top four finishers were separated by a mere four points! Interestingly the top two wines had NO first place votes. The wine with the most firsts, Bollinger, had an off-setting number of lasts.
One taster was put off by the nose, describing this as having "mercaptans on the nose and palate. This took the wine out of the running." Someone else found "guava and grapefruit which are unpleasant elements in Champagne." Someone else mentioned finding a leathery note reminiscent of Brettanomyces which seemed to blow off. Another critic felt "It's good at first, but then it's a rather 'tarted up' wine. New World Pinot Noir with bubbles...a bit of wood and bubbles. This has a lot of personality." Someone else knocked it for being "unforgivingly bitter."
I found this wine to have a lovely bright pink color. Its fragrance is very fruity and berryish, with a sort of woodsy tone or forest-floor character. The flavors display lots of Pinot Noir-like fruit and berries. I thought the wine was reasonably dry and nicely balanced on the palate. It's more a sparkling ros than being "Champagne-like." I gave it a one-and-a-half star rating on my 3 star scale.
One critic likened the character of this wine to that of "cotton candy." Someone else said it's "Syrupy on the nose and palate, with a pomegranate syrup character. It's candy-like and didn't get better in the glass." One panel member found it to "smell like strawberry jam." Another critic felt it was "Simple and sweet. It might be adequate otherwise, but it's not a sophisticated wine." Another taster disliked the "rancid butter character" they detected at the start.
I found this to be a delightful example of Pinot Noir made into bubbly. It is bright pink in color and youthful in hue. The aromas reminded me of bright cherry and berry fruits. Very promising on the nose. It's dry and nicely balanced on the palate, though clearly a "fruit driven" bubbly. The Pinot takes center stage here. Very fine. The best Schramsberg Ros to date. One-and-a-half stars.
One taster found "nice floral and citrus notes. It's got a distinctive element on the nose." Another person disliked the fragrance, at first, thinking they detected a "sulfury note to start, but it got better and it did well in the glass." Someone else described it as "candied to a degree and showing some funky, barnyardy notes." Another person agreed with this sentiment, saying they found notes of "earth and wet cardboard. It has lots of fruit, though and some yeasty notes. It's a tad funky and the sweetness is going to be perfect paired with sea scallops." One critic felt it was "tired and lifeless. There's not much energy here."
I have usually been a big fan of this wine, but have noticed our most recent batch seems less fruity and a bit "older." I found some nice yeasty notes on the nose with a stony, almost chalky fragrance, followed by a hint of a mushroomy quality (other taster's "funky" character, I suppose). The wine shows a bit of berry-like fruit and a lightly yeasty flavor. I gave it a one-and-a-half star rating.
One taster said this wine reminiscent of "grapefruit rinds." Another called it "strawberry soda pop." One panel member felt it was "Oxidized and has a tutti-frutti character with strawberry overtones. I wouldn't want more than one glass." Someone else said "It shows an intensely herbal streak." Another taster echoed the sentiments about "tutti -fruitti and grapfruit pith." Bob mentioned finding "apple drops." One person found it to be "Fruity and generous on the palate...it's a very energetic Champagne."
The color of this wine was medium-pink with a youthful cast to it. The nose reminded me not so much of fresh cherries, but of distilled kirsch. I found some stony tones to the fragrance along with the fruit. It's quite elegant on the palate and dry. The CO2 really covers the palate and it's extremely lively in the mouth. I gave it two stars, liking the berry and spice notes of the fruit.
One taster found this to be "dry, dry and perfectly dry. It displays quince and Pinot Noir." Someone else mentioned this had a "nice level of acidity." One critic found it to be "delicate, crisp and tart. There are notes of Asian pear and it's perfect for oysters or sushi!" Another person felt it's "Elegant and has nice character and structure." More critical was one person who characterized this as "Quite weak...not energetic and it's simple. I don't find much autolysis here." A final assessment was that it's "non-descript on the palate and not particularly exciting."
This wine is very pale pink in color. It shows nice berry and cherry aromas. I found it dry and nicely acidic. It's elegant, lightly berryish in flavor and "complete" on the palate. One-and-a-half stars.
This wine had the greatest number of first place votes, a number of tasters finding it to be the most Champagne-like of the set. On the other hand, a nearly equal number of people ranked it last! One critic felt it was "Bitter and thin and high in acidity." Another taster found it to be "An older wine as it's complex and yeasty." A third person found "Autolysis and it's tart and crisp. There are notes of grapefruit and a lemon-rhubarb quality." One taster said "It's overwhelming yeasty! Too much, in fact." Someone else nailed this as a "Clear last place wine as it reminded me of Worcestershire sauce with a sour smell and a vinegary quality." Another critic panned it for being "Tired and flat." Meanwhile, a fan found it to be "Classic Champagne! It's toasty and rich as well as being wonderfully bubbly." Another fan said "This has nice mouthfeel and good tartness."
I noted the pale, onion skin color of this bubbly. It displays some hints of cocoa and lots of nice toasty, yeasty tones on the nose. For me it was the best "Champagne" of the tasting. It's dry and fairly crisp. It tastes like Champagne, too (what a surprise, eh?), being tangy, tart and crisp. Very elegant. I gave it a two-and-a-half star rating.
Described by one taster as "Very bubbly and very bready, this is yeasty and crisp. It's also quite clean with a nice guava and fermenting peach tone. Very creamy on the palate." One taster said "I like it but it needs more CO2." A third panel member found it "Nicely yeasty with good fruit. It's the most elegant wine of the tasting." Another taster found it "Dry, elegant and deep. There's lots of Pinot Noir notes in this one!" Someone else felt it was merely "thin and acidic." A final person said "It's delicacy kept this from rating higher on my score sheet."
I noted it displays a pale onion skin color. The aromas show mildly yeasty notes with a hint of toastiness. The wine is quite crisp and dry. The flavors show some yeasty tones and a hint of berry fruit. I gave it a one-and-a-half star rating.
One person remarked about this wine's "Lovely mousse and frothiness." Someone else liked the "raspberry fruit." Another taster found notes of "Pear skin and apple pie." One panel member found "Cherry flavors with a tart, lemon-lime finish. It's a tad cloying, though." Another person found it to have "a bit more weight on the palate," while someone else felt it "has a lot of charm."
This has a pale onion skin color. The fruit on the nose is decidedly berryish with a cherry-like note. I found it "off dry" rather than really austere, yet the acidity was strikingly "edgy" and gave an "angular" quality to the wine. It's high level of acidity makes this a good palate cleanser, certainly. I found it "simple" in character on the palate and a straightforward bit of "fizz," but not particularly impressive as "Champagne." Even so, I awarded it one star.


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Home » How to Buy a Gaming PC for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
How to Buy a Gaming PC for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is a new RPG game from the World of Darkness series. While it was just released last May 19, 2022, the game has received several positive reviews and feedback from critics. If you're planning to upgrade or buy a new gaming PC to play this game, then here's a brief guide to help you. Follow this guide on "how to build a gaming PC for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong":
Check PC specifications requirements for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swan Song.
Get an Intel Core i5-3470 (3.20 GHz) processor or higher.
Check the RAM specification of the unit.
Look for a unit with GeForce GTX 1070 or higher.
Check the memory storage device of your gaming PC.
Choose a gaming PC with Windows 10 operating system.
1 – Check PC specifications requirements for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swan Song.
On its official Epic page, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong has two lists of PC requirements: (1) minimum and (2) recommended. If you're upgrading and buying a new gaming PC, it's best to follow the recommended specifications as they have better hardware suggestions than the minimum.
Here are the recommended PC requirements for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swan Song:
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-3470, 3.20 GHz
RAM / Memory: 8 GB
Operating System (OS): Windows 10
Video Card: GeForce GTX 1070
And just for reference, here are the minimum system requirements for the game.
Video Card: Radeon HD 7790, 4 GB / GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 4 GB
As you can see, there's a big difference between the CPU, RAM, and Video Card specifications. Choosing the recommended system requirements will allow you to play other upcoming video games in the future. While following the minimum system requirements as a reference when buying a new gaming PC will save you money. For this guide, though, we will follow the recommended reference.
2 – Get an Intel Core i5-3470 (3.20 GHz) processor or higher.
Check the processor or CPU first when looking for a new gaming PC. The unit should have an Intel Core i5-3470 (3.20 GHz) for its processor. This has a total of 4 cores and threads and has a processor base frequency of 3.20 GHz, which can be boosted up to 3.60 GHz. It also has its own processor graphics called the Intel HD Graphics 2500, which can support your video card with several features. These features include Intel® Quick Sync Video, Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology, and Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI).
However, since the Intel Core i5-3470 is an old processor, you might want to consider getting a gaming PC with a higher processor model like the Intel Core i5-1140F or the Intel Core i5-12600K. These are newer Intel Core processors and feature better specifications than the recommended processor above.
3 – Check the RAM specification of the unit.
After checking the processor of the gaming PC, the next thing you need to do is know its RAM specification. As listed in its recommended system requirements, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swan Song is best played on a gaming system with a minimum of 8GB RAM. However, an 8GB RAM is not powerful enough to run several programs/applications simultaneously. If you want a more advanced gaming PC, choose a 16GB RAM or higher unit.
16GB RAM will help you run and play most video games in the market with faster loading times. However, if you want to play games and stream simultaneously, it's best to choose a gaming PC with up to 24GB or 32GB RAM. The higher the RAM specifications, the better the loading process and performance it can deliver.
4 – Look for a unit with GeForce GTX 1070 or higher.
The next hardware you should consider when choosing a new gaming PC to play Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is the video card or graphics card (GPU). The game's recommended system requires a GeForce GTX 1070 GPU or higher. Thanks to its Pascal-powered gaming architecture, it features advanced tech, next-gen memory, and a massive frame buffer. However, the GeForce GTX 1070 is part of the GeForce GTX 10 Series which has recently been replaced by the GeForce RT 30 Series.
The GeForce RTX 30 Series is designed and powered by Ampere, NVIDIA's 2nd gen RTX architecture. It features new RT Cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming multiprocessors that deliver the most realistic graphics. Therefore, it's better if you can buy a new gaming PC with a GeForce RTX 30 Series GPU.
5 – Choose a gaming PC with Windows 10 operating system.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swan Song requires a gaming system that runs a Windows 10 operating system. There are three types of Windows 10 operating systems. Still, the Windows 10 Home is usually installed on a gaming PC since it's designed for personal use. You can buy Windows 10 Home for $139, but it usually comes for free when purchasing a new gaming PC unit.
If you're looking for a new gaming PC system to play Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong and other upcoming games to be released this year, CyberPowerPC offers a wide selection of gaming PCs.


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De Facto States in World Politics
Lemke, Douglas William (PI)
This project enriches understanding of when civil wars are likely to occur and of whether and under what conditions war contributes to state making, that is, the construction of effective political order. Existing research on the onset of civil war focuses only on official governments. Current research incorporates no information about groups likely to rebel. Theories about state making assert that war and preparation for war are important elements of the process by which effective governance is created. And yet extant empirical assessments of the proposition that wars help make states are deeply flawed: the political organizations that do not succeed are omitted from analysis.
In both of these areas of research, the gaps in our knowledge stem from the fact that existing datasets only contain information about official states. What is lacking is information about de facto states, defined as political organizations governing recognizable, populated territories, but lacking universal diplomatic recognition. Examples include Abkhazia, Somaliland, and the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. Many and perhaps even most civil wars occur because a de facto state has arisen within the territory recognized as governed by some official state. The war is then an effort either to protect the independence of the de facto state (as occurred when Eritrea won its civil war against Ethiopia) or to re-assert the sovereignty of the official state over its territory (as occurred when Sri Lanka eliminated the last pockets of Tamil independence). Importantly, it is not uncommon for a de facto state to emerge without subsequent violence.
This project generates a dataset on de facto states and permits identification of a population of potential rebels?groups that did and some that did not wage war against official governments. With that dataset, the researcher is equipped to test arguments about the onset of civil war that combine information about both governments and rebels.
This project promises to remake the empirical study of civil wars. The de facto state dataset also has the potential to remake the study of state making. Both official states and de facto states strive to maintain and increase their political control over their territories. Many theories assert that war is helpful to state makers because it provides them with a justification to extract more resources from society, which are then used to increase the government's political control. The ultimate failure of political control occurs when a state maker is eliminated and ceases to exist. However, official states, at least since the creation of the United Nations, almost never meet this fate. Hence existing state making research that considers only official states necessarily is incomplete: it includes no cases of state making failure and so cannot determine whether war advances or detracts from state making. De facto states, in contrast, frequently are eliminated. The dataset of de facto states will finally allow analysis of both successes and failures, and will permit the first ever critical test of the hypothesis that war participation and war outcomes advance state making.
This project has several broader implications. Understanding the conditions under which civil wars erupt and the conditions under which effective forms of governance can be established throughout a given territory stand as pressing questions in international politics today. This project sheds new light on those fundamental questions. In addition, the project will help train the next generation of researchers by involving a team of undergraduate research in every step of the project.
National Science Foundation: $234,947.00
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1123629
civil war Social Sciences 100%
world politics Social Sciences 93%
political organization Social Sciences 33%
Government officials Social Sciences 30%
Eritrea Social Sciences 20%
governance Social Sciences 18%
Somalia Social Sciences 17%
Tamil Social Sciences 16%


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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A Debreceni trónfosztás az 1848–49-es forradalom és szabadságharc eseménye volt, amely 1849. április 14-én zajlott le. Ezen a napon mondta ki a debreceni országgyűlés a Habsburg-Lotharingiai-ház trónfosztását, amit öt nappal később a Függetlenségi Nyilatkozat kiadásával erősített meg.

Mivel a schwechati csatavesztés után, az országgyűlés nem tartotta megoldhatónak Pest-Buda védelmét, így a főváros visszafoglalásáig 1849. január elejétől május 31-éig Debrecenben ülésezett az országgyűlés. Miközben folytak a fegyveres harcok, Debrecenben sorsdöntő politikai elhatározás született meg. A magyar országgyűlésnek méltó választ kellett adni az olmützi alkotmányra. Az 1849. április 14-én a debreceni Nagytemplomban ülésező kibővített országgyűlés történelmünkben másodszor mondta ki a Habsburg-ház trónfosztását. Ugyanezen a napon Kossuth Lajost kormányzó elnökké választották. A függetlenségi nyilatkozat lehetőséget adott arra, hogy Magyarországon a törvényes hatalom helyreálljon. Az újra megalakult kormány miniszterelnöke Szemere Bertalan lett.

Előzmények
V. Ferdinánd király 1848-ban Olmütz (magyarosan Alamóc) városban mondott le unokaöccse, Ferenc József főherceg javára. Mindezt azért tette, mivel a Habsburgoknak nem volt érdeke, hogy V. Ferdinánd legyen a király. Mivel V. Ferdinánd szentesítette az áprilisi törvényeket, az ő keze "meg volt kötve". De Ferenc József már szabadon cselekedhetett, őt nem kötötték a törvények, így nem követett el törvénysértést, amikor leverte a szabadságharcot. Rendelkezéseinek éle különösen a "lázadó" magyarok ellen irányult: a Szent Korona országait felosztotta Magyar Királyságra, Erdélyi Fejedelemségre – az uniót Erdéllyel semmisnek nyilvánítva, – Katonai Határőrvidékre és Dalmát–Horvát–Szlovén Királyságra. A császári házhoz lojális Horvátország pedig Dalmácia mellett megkapta a Magyar Királyságtól elvett Fiume kikötővárost is.

Az olmützi alkotmány kiadásával (mely valójában nem lépett életbe, hiszen bevezetését a szabadságharc utánra halasztották), kizárta azt, hogy a két fél - az V. Ferdinánd király helyett a magyar fél szerint trónbitorló Ferenc József főherceg kompromisszumosan meg tudjon egyezni.

A tavaszi hadjárat sikere után egy alapvető politikai probléma merült fel. A kérdés az volt, hogy vajon mi a célja az egész szabadságharcnak. Valamint az is felmerült, hogy milyen egyértelmű választ adjanak az olmützi alkotmányra. Abban minden érdekelt fél egyetértett, hogy ezt az alkotmányt el kell utasítani, de annak módjában voltak véleménykülönbségek.

A trónfosztás lebonyolítása
Kossuth Lajosnak az 1849. március 4-i megalázó olmützi alkotmányra született meg válaszként a Függetlenségi nyilatkozat. Már április 12-én előterjesztette tervét az Országos Honvédelmi Bizottmánynak, de annak tagjai nem voltak elragadtatva az ötlettől. Kossuth azonban az országgyűléstől várt jelentős támogatást, így az április 13-án tartott zárt országgyűlési ülésen indítványozta az ország függetlenségének kimondását és a Habsburg–Lotaringiai-ház trónfosztását, ám ekkor még nem sikerült meggyőznie a képviselőket.

Az országgyűlés másnap, április 14-én nyílt ülést tartott, melynek kezdetén egy román képviselő azt javasolta: a nagy ünnepélyességre való tekintettel ne a református kollégium nagytermében, hanem a Nagytemplomban üljenek össze. Miután a ház elfogadta az indítványt, Kossuth egy inkább népgyűlésre emlékeztető országgyűlésben terjesztette elő a Magyarország függetlenségének kimondásáról és a Habsburg–Lotaringiai-ház trónfosztásáról szóló határozat tervezetét. A tömeg lelkesedése gyorsan elvette a határozat ellenzőinek bátorságát. A javaslatot végül a képviselők közfelkiáltással, s nem szavazással fogadták el. Az országgyűlés egyben kormányzóelnökké, egy ideiglenes államfővé választotta Kossuthot.

A döntéseket megfogalmazó Függetlenségi nyilatkozatot, mely nagyrészt Kossuth munkája volt, április 19-én A' magyar nemzet függetlenségi nyilatkozata címmel tették végleges szövegezésben és nyomtatásban közzé, amelyet a magyar nemzet törvényesen egybegyűlt főrendei és képviselői nevében báró Perényi Zsigmond, a felsőház másod-elnöke, Almásy Pál, a képviselőház elnöke, és Szacsvay Imre, mint az országgyűlés jegyzője írtak alá.

A trónfosztás következményei
A trónfosztással Kossuthnak határozott célja volt, de ezek nem valósultak meg. A szabadságharc vezérét gyakorlatilag ugyanaz a szándék vezérelte, mint II. Rákóczi Ferencet: abban bízott, hogy a független Magyarország támogatást, de legalább elismerést kap majd a nagyhatalmaktól. Várakozásai azonban nem valósultak meg, mivel a brit és francia diplomácia számára az európai egyensúly megtartása jóval fontosabb volt a magyar ügynél, így ezek az államok az egységes Ausztriát részesítették előnyben a térség politikai viszonyainak újragondolása helyett. Hasonlóan vélekedett I. Miklós orosz cár is, aki később fegyverrel támogatta Ferenc József császárt a szabadságharc leverésében.

Külső hivatkozások
 Rubicon - 1849. április 14. | Debrecenben kimondják a Habsburg-Lotharingiai-ház trónfosztását
 A Függetlenségi nyilatkozat eleje, hasonmás
 A Függetlenségi nyilatkozat vége aláírásokkal, hasonmás
 A Nyilatkozat teljes szövege
 Múlt-kor történelmi portál
 Az 1848/49-es szabadságharc és forradalom eseményei

Magyarország politikai élete
1848–49-es forradalom és szabadságharc

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


INDIA Indian State Feud Orchha VFU 3a Sg #39 £180 Postal Cancel Scarce !!
SWZ1. 1 OZ (28gm) SWAZILAND: POSTALLY USED KILOWARE, WITH HIGHER VALUES.
Poland IRC international Reply Coupon 3-8- Postal 1949?
Guernsey stamp lot--postally used--very nice!
Germany postal history - 46 covers, postcards etc. See images below.


text:
interface FileEntry {}

declare namespace zip {
    export var useWebWorkers: boolean;
    export var workerScriptsPath: string;
    export var workerScripts: {
        deflater?: string[];
        inflater?: string[];
    };

    export class Reader {
        public size: number;
        public init(callback: () => void, onerror: (error: any) => void): void;
        public readUint8Array(index: number, length: number, callback: (result: Uint8Array) => void, onerror?: (error: any) => void): void;
    }

    export class TextReader extends Reader {
        constructor(text: string);
    }

    export class BlobReader extends Reader {
        constructor(blob: Blob);
    }

    export class Data64URIReader extends Reader {
        constructor(dataURI: string);
    }

    export class HttpReader extends Reader {
        constructor(url: string);
    }

    export function createReader(reader: zip.Reader, callback: (zipReader: ZipReader) => void, onerror?: (error: any) => void): void;

    export class ZipReader {
        getEntries(callback: (entries: zip.Entry[]) => void): void;
        close(callback?: () => void): void;
    }

    export interface Entry {
        filename: string;
        directory: boolean;
        compressedSize: number;
        uncompressedSize: number;
        lastModDate: Date;
        lastModDateRaw: number;
        comment: string;
        crc32: number;

        getData(writer: zip.Writer, onend: (result: any) => void, onprogress?: (progress: number, total: number) => void, checkCrc32?: boolean): void;
    }

    export class Writer {
        public init(callback: () => void, onerror?: (error: any) => void): void;
        public writeUint8Array(array: Uint8Array, callback: () => void, onerror?: (error: any) => void): void;
        public getData(callback: (data: any) => void, onerror?: (error: any) => void) : void;
    }

    export class TextWriter extends Writer {
        constructor(encoding: string);
    }

    export class BlobWriter extends Writer {
        constructor(contentType: string);
    }

    export class FileWriter extends Writer {
        constructor(fileEntry: FileEntry);
    }

    export class Data64URIWriter extends Writer {
        constructor(mimeString?: string);
    }

    export function createWriter(writer: zip.Writer, callback: (zipWriter: zip.ZipWriter) => void, onerror?: (error: any) => void, dontDeflate?: boolean): void;

    export interface WriteOptions {
        directory?: boolean;
        level?: number;
        comment?: string;
        lastModDate?: Date;
        version?: number;
    }

    export class ZipWriter {
        public add(name: string, reader: zip.Reader, onend: () => void, onprogress?: (progress: number, total: number) => void, options?: WriteOptions): void;
        public close(callback: (result: any) => void): void;
    }
}


Today's project will definitely get you over the mid week hump :) Thanks Linda Abadie for the awesome inspiration!
1. Stamp title and butterflies on top of the tag sticker.
2. Fussy cut stamped flower image and distress edge.
3. Add ribbon on top of the card and layer with stamped flower.
4. Add light blue bird clay for accent.


text:
Q: How to Create Person Account Portal User in Test class? How to i Create Person Account Portal User in Test class. I am using Site.createPersonAccountPortalUser(u, ownerId, password); to create User.

A: You have to first create the Person Account (as a User with assigned Role) and then use the generated PersonContactId field on Person Account for User.ContactId ... something like this:
    UserRole r = new UserRole(name = 'TEST ROLE');
    Database.insert(r);

    User userWithRole = new User(alias = 'hasrole', email='userwithrole@roletest.com', userroleid = r.id,
                                 emailencodingkey='UTF-8', lastname='Testing', languagelocalekey='en_US',
                                 localesidkey='en_US', profileid = UserInfo.getProfileId(),
                                 timezonesidkey='America/Los_Angeles', username='userwithrole@testorg.com');
    Account a;
    System.runAs(userWithRole){
        String recordTypeId = Schema.getGlobalDescribe().get('Account').getDescribe().getRecordTypeInfosByName().get('Person Account').getRecordTypeId();
        a = new Account(RecordTypeId = recordTypeId, FirstName = 'TestPersonAccountFirst', LastName = 'TestPersonAccountLast', PersonEmail = 'test@user.com');
        insert a;
    }
    Account acc = [Select PersonContactId From Account Where Id = :a.Id];
    Profile p = [SELECT Id FROM Profile WHERE Name = :COMMUNITY_PROFILE LIMIT 1];
    User u = new User(
        FirstName = 'TestFirstName',
        LastName = 'TestLastName',
        Email = 'test@user.com',
        Username = 'test@user.com',
        Alias = 'TestPA',
        TimeZoneSidKey = 'GMT',
        LocaleSidKey = 'en_US',
        EmailEncodingKey = 'UTF-8',
        ProfileId = p.Id,
        LanguageLocaleKey = 'en_US',
        ContactId = acc.PersonContactId);
    insert u;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Falcons basketball team climbs in WIAC to tie for top spot
By Zach Dwyer
The Falcons men's basketball team fell in a hard-fought WIAC battle against conference leader UW-La Crosse Wednesday, Feb. 10 with a score of 77-87. The game had a playoff atmosphere throughout, and proved that the Falcons are a good enough team to battle with any other in the tightly-contested WIAC conference.
The game started off extremely fast-paced, with La Crosse hitting their first three shots to go up 7-2, but UWRF went stride for stride with the Eagles, fueled by Garret Pearson's nine points. By the first timeout, the score was 19-14 with still 14 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Head Coach Jeff Berkhof said, "Both teams came out making shots. UW-La Crosse was exceptionally hot from the three-point line, while we focused on working it inside more."
Freshman Ben Meinholz gave the Eagles a huge boost, making some tough shots and throwing down a fast-break dunk to initially put the Eagles on top. But Junior Devin Yurk was the real star of the first half, knocking down all four of his three pointers to add 18 points to the Eagles' high-powered offense. A quick 12-5 run out of the timeout put UW-La Crosse up 31-19 midway through the first half.
The Falcons didn't go down easily, however, bringing the deficit back to three points at 35-32 with six minutes remaining in the half. The Falcons got back in the game with strong production from their bench, with sophomore forward Brennan Witt adding seven points and guard Devin Buckley knocking down two key three-pointers.
A late Eagles run brought the game to 46-40 as the teams went back to their locker rooms for halftime. UW-La Crosse shot an incredible 73 percent on threes in the first half, but the Falcons' ability to get to the line and convert on their free throws kept the game close at the break.
La Crosse came out of the break on a mission, knocking down shot after shot to extend their lead to fourteen after a mere four minutes. Meinholz looked to be on a different level in the second half, knocking down contested shots all night and going 7-8 from the field after the break. His hot start stretched the lead to 66-48 in favor of the Eagles.
"We came out a little flat after halftime, and La Crosse came out and executed by hitting their first five shots of the half. That made us have to exert a lot of energy to get back into the game," Berkhof said.
The Falcons came back with a resilience in the second half that proved they aren't a team that will roll over. Garret Pearson put the team on his back, adding 17 points by mixing post moves and jump shots to stretch the UW-La Crosse defense.
"We were just playing our game. We play an inside-out approach and everyone knows it," Pearson said.
Even with the Falcons leading scorer Jon Christensen struggling to knock down shots in the second half, River Falls managed to claw its way back into the game. The run was slow and steady, but the UWRF defense tightened up and converted on some big plays to bring the game back to five points with only two minutes remaining.
Berkhof said, "We gave up some easy baskets in the middle of the second half that let them get ahead. But we got back into it by attacking the rim and playing very aggressively to get to the line and force tough shots."
With the score at 80-75, senior guard Jared Staege hit a clutch three-pointer that proved to be the dagger. The Eagles kept control of the ball down the stretch and managed to prevail 87-77 to hold sole possession of first place in the WIAC.
Pearson's strong performance kept the Falcons around all night, dropping a game-high 28 points on 11-15 shooting. The rest of the Falcons starters only combined to go 5-24 from the field and had difficulty matching the scoring effort of UW-La Crosse. The Eagles finished with three starters contributing over 20 points, with Meinholz leading the way with 24 points.
"Going forward we need to continually try to get better defensively. We go through stretches of very tough defense and good basketball but then seem to fall apart," Berkhof said.
Pearson also felt the need for improvement, simply stating, "Our defense needs a lot of work."
With the loss, the Falcons drop to 7-4 in the WIAC and 13-9 overall. But after an overtime win against Platteville on Saturday, they only trailed UW-La Crosse by one game. The next Wednesday, the Falcons took on UW-Stout in an extremely close game where, after the Blue Devils took a strong early lead of 3-13, the Falcons pulled it back and won by a mere 2 points with a score of 81-79. The Falcons now find themselves tied for first place with UW-La Crosse both in conference with nine wins, four losses, and overall with 15 wins and nine losses.
The women's basketball team has had huge success this season as well and are currently on a five-game winning streak which has them tied for the top spot in the WIAC conference with UW-Oshkosh. Both teams have 11 wins under their belt and just two losses.
The Falcons men's team finish the regular season with an away game against UW-Oshkosh Saturday at 7 p.m. At the same time, UW-La Crosse will be going up against the UW-Stevens Point Pointers. With a win for the Falcons and a loss from UW-La Crosse, the men's team will secure first place in the WIAC season. Women's basketball will be finishing their season on the same day at 3 p.m. at home, also against UW-Oshkosh. Only one team will come out on top and stand tall as the WIAC regular season champions.


If you worked long enough with SourceSafe, you probably heard by now about the physical file names associated with files and projects from a SourceSafe database. The SourceSafe command line ss physical can be used to display the physical file name associated with a logical file or folder from the VSS database.
If you look at the the free SourceSafe tools from the www.ezds.com site you'll find a SSNPL utility whose description says that every SourceSafe file has a number, a physical file name, and a logical file name; ssnpl converts from one to the other.
If you asked yourself why is the number good for, the answer is simple: when storing a reference to a physical file in another database file, VSS will use the file number instead of the physical file name, because it requires less space on disk.
So, the question that remains is how does VSS generate these physical file names, and what is this file number calculated?
Let's start our investigation by creating a new database ("mkss.exe C:\temp\vss"). The database is initially empty, and in the data folder there is only one file, data\a\aaaaaaaa. If you use the "ss.exe physical $/" command you'll find out that AAAAAAAA physical name is used by the database root.
From this MSDN article you'll find that the content of the data\aaaaaaaa.cnt file in the SourceSafe database reflects the physical name of the last file added to the database. Indeed, the initial content of this file is 'AAAAAAAA' - sign that last created file or folder was the database root.
Let's add a file into the database. You'll see that the content of the aaaaaaaa.cnt file is now BAAAAAAA, and SourceSafe has created a new file on disk, data\b\baaaaaaa.
Let's continue adding one-by-one new files into the database and each time look at the content of the aaaaaaaa.cnt to see how the new physical files are named. It's easy to see the files are named BAAAAAAA, CAAAAAAA, DAAAAAAA, etc., each file ending up in the data subfolder identified by the first letter of the filename - (data\b\baaaaaaa, data\c\caaaaaaa, data\d\daaaaaaa), etc. After the last letter of the alphabet is reached (ZAAAAAAA), the filenames wrap back, using the second letter: ABAAAAAA, BBAAAAAA, CBAAAAAAA, etc., with files being created on disk in data\a\abaaaaaaa, data\b\bbaaaaaa, data\c\cbaaaaaa, etc.
So, the SourceSafe naming scheme and location of physical files uses a 26-way hashtable to distribute the files on disk in the a-z subfolders of the data folder.
If you run the SSNPLtool on the files added into the database ("ssnpl.exe $/ C:\temp\vss\data", etc.) you'll see their numbers are incremental: 0 (the database root), then 1, 2, 3, 25, 26, 27, .... etc. for each added file.
each file added into the database gets next available number in sequence: 0, 1, 2, etc.
Basically the physical file name is a base-26 representation of the file number, with each base-26-digit represented in A-Z range instead of 0-9A-P.
You should be now able to convert easily between the file numbers and physical file names.
Did you ever follow up this rather brilliant article with info on how to get from physical file name to logical file name?
Unfortunately I didn't have time.
1) figure out the format of the physical file for a file in database (at least the parent folder). In an empty database, add a new file with a distinct name in the database root. The file will have physical ID==BAAAAAA. Open this file with a hex editor, you'll find the name of the parent folder (AAAAAAA) at offset 0x450 in the file, and the real name of the file at offset 0x4BD.
2) figure out the format of a physical folder in the database. Create now a folder in the root with a distinct name, e.g. 123456789012. Open it's phyical file (CAAAAAAA), and notice at offset 0x190 there is AAAAAAA - the physical name of the parent (the root). At offset 0x42 there is the name of the file. And at offset 0x8C there is $/, which seems to be the real name of the parent.
If you want to figure out the physical name of $/Folder1/Folder2/Folder3/..., you'd have to start with the root (AAAAAAA), open this physical file, start from offset 0x33C and look in entries of size 0x19C, locate the directory entry for Folder1 by looking in each entry at offset 0x62. Once you find the entry, get it's physical file name from offset 0x88, open this new physical file and repeat the steps to locate the entry for Folder2, etc.
- if it's for a file, get the file name from the header at 0x4BD, get the physical name of the parent at 0x450. Continue to next step for the parent.
This works if the folders have names shorter than 31 characters - longer names are stored in names.dat, so you'd have to reverse engineer the format of that file, and figure out where in the directory entry is stored the index of the names.dat entry with the long name.
SS.exe physical $/ -r -o"C:\FileNames.log"
It will produce a logfile containing all the names.
Fwiw, if you're interested in the logical path of just one physical file, I wouldn't be enumerating all the files in the database with ss physical then searching in the result. It's inefficient if you have a large database. You can simply use "ssnpl physical_filename database_path"
Great blog post! I am extending an existing program a little bit that does SourceSafe conversions by reading the physical files directly. I haven't seen any documentation on the SourceSafe file structure out there besides some existing code that reverse engineers it. So it was nice to stumble across your blog post.
In your comment to Tony you mentioned that the offset 0x450 for files contains the parent physical name. This appears to be the case on many of the files I open, but on at least one of the files I have the parent offset doesn't occur until 0x60d. Is this an indicator of a corrupt file, or is there a certain algorithm to be taken into account to find the correct offset?
@Abe: Sorry I don't remember much about the VSS file format structure, and I have much time lately to figure it out again.
If you suspect something is wrong with that file, run analyze tool on the database and see if it makes any changes to it. If it doesn't, the file is ok.
You can also use "analyze -pss" on the file to see how that parses some of the data structures.


Literacy is widely recognised as a fundamental human right, which empowers individuals and opens opportunities for social, economic and political integration. Information Literacy can be defined as knowing when and why one might need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.
In this paper we argue that Information Literacy can help disadvantaged groups in both the developed and developing worlds improve their opportunities for developing their intellectual potential. We report on case studies and initiatives from the Information Literacy movements that are addressing these hurdles to learning. It will be argued that it is naïve and simplistic to suppose that a solely technological solution will enable the learners to surmount obstacles to learning in order to improve their life chances. What is required is a more holistic approach, which requires the construction of legal, cultural, and economic infrastructures.


Senior account executive turned Vitamin T agent Monica Brantz knows the creative world from every side: client, agency, vendor, and recruiter. If you're looking to find a fantastic gig in Philly, you really need to give her a ring.
Check out her favorite local events and the question she never forgets to ask during an interview as she answers our 7 Quick Questions!
What made you want to work at Vitamin T and what do you love most about working here? I wanted to work for Vitamin T because I'd heard great things about the company AND be able to get my creative / agency 'fix'. What I love most about working with Vitamin T is the company culture: we're encouraged to express our individual ideas, speak up if we have an opinion, share ideas, and ask for what we want. The opportunities are endless!
What do you love about working with creative talent? My favorite thing is working with like-minded people. While I've always been in more project management type roles throughout my career, I definitely have a creative side. I love hearing everyone's new ideas and new ways of tackling challenges on a daily basis. It's so inspiring!
In your job, what's been your favorite moment or biggest joy? I had a week in the beginning of my career here when I really felt like I 'got it' and everything was falling into place. I think I filled three roles in one week and remember being SO excited that I was really making placements! I didn't come from a staffing background prior to working at Vitamin T (I was a senior account executive), so it was a tell-tale moment where I proved to myself that not only did I like this role, but I could find success in it as well.
What app do you use regularly that provides great user experience? The budgeting app MINT. It organizes all of your information, helps you set a budget, provides a snapshot of your bank accounts and gives you a financial play-by-play at all times. You can organize and categorize your spending however you want to see it and it really lets you drill down to figure out where your money is going. It's definitely an eye opener as far as budgeting is concerned!
What's your favorite interview question? "Tell me about a time when you identified a problem at work that you solved in a creative or unique way. What was the outcome?" I like this question because it not only gives me a look at the talent's problem solving abilities, it gives me a good sense of their personality. It helps me identify what type of 'thinker' they are and the type of environment they'd work the best in.
What's your favorite brand and why? Wow, there's SO many! I love to shop so it's really hard to narrow down to just one. I think my favorites are Apple, Lululemon, and J.Crew. Each of these brands do a solid job of 'telling a story' to their consumer base and allowing customers to see themselves in their brand. When a brand really resonates with me, I'm hooked, and it becomes a staple in my wardrobe or life.
Best creative/digital event in your city? Philly CHI is pretty great. It's the Philadelphia region's chapter of the ACM SIGCHI, an interdisciplinary academic and professional group interested in human-technology and human-computer interaction (user experience, usability, etc.) They hold a free event every month or so and are open to the public. Not only are the events a valuable learning resource, but they give you the opportunity to meet and interact with other talent and stakeholders in the community.
Looking for an amazing creative job in Philly? Chat with Monica!


text:
Access Statistics for Harmen Oppewal
Place Attachment and the Consumption of Servicescapes 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 20
Place Attachment in Commercial Settings: A Gift Economy Perspective 0 0 3 6 1 1 9 26
Places as shared possessions: exploring consumers' attachment to commercial settings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
Total Working Papers 0 0 3 6 1 1 12 50
A stated choice approach to developing multi-faceted models of activity behavior 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 36
A three-person ultimatum game to investigate effects of differences in need, sharing rules and observability on bargaining behaviour 0 0 3 37 1 1 6 97
Assessing the Impact of School Marketing: Conjoint Choice Experiments Incorporating Availability and Substitution Effects 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4
Assessing the impact of school marketing: conjoint choice experiments incorporating availability and substitution effects 0 0 1 6 0 0 1 32
CONTEXT EFFECTS AND DECOMPOSITIONAL CHOICE MODELING 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Conjoint modeling of residential group preferences: A comparison of the internal validity of hierarchical information integration approaches 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consumer Satisfaction with Local Retail Diversity in the UK: Effects of Supermarket Access, Brand Variety, and Social Deprivation 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 2
Consumer responses to mobile coupons: The roles of shopping motivation and regulatory fit 0 1 4 19 1 2 5 99
Consumer satisfaction with local retail diversity in the UK: effects of supermarket access, brand variety, and social deprivation 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 42
Did I choose the right university? How post-purchase information affects cognitive dissonance, satisfaction and perceived service quality 0 0 0 0 3 4 9 10
Experimental analysis of consumer channel-mix use 0 1 3 20 0 1 3 55
Group-Based versus Individual-Based Conjoint Preference Models of Residential Preferences: A Comparative Test 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Group-based versus individual-based conjoint preference models of residential preferences: a comparative test 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 53
How in-store educational and entertaining events influence shopper satisfaction 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
In-store music and aroma influences on shopper behavior and satisfaction 1 2 9 165 4 13 40 671
Modeling Constrained Choice Behaviour in Regulated Housing Markets by Means of Discrete Choice Experiments and Universal Logit Models: An Application to the Residential Choice Behaviour of Divorcees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Modeling Group Preferences Using a Decompositional Preference Approach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Modeling constrained choice behaviour in regulated housing markets by means of discrete choice experiments and universal logit models: an application to the residential choice behaviour of divorcees 0 1 1 17 0 1 1 46
Modelling the Effects of Shopping Centre Size and Store Variety on Consumer Choice Behaviour 0 1 1 4 1 2 2 9
Modelling the effects of shopping centre size and store variety on consumer choice behaviour 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 130
Modifying Conjoint Methods to Model Managers' Reactions to Business Environmental Trends: An Application to Modeling Retailer Reactions to Sales Trends 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 92
Pairwise Conjoint Analysis of Activity Engagement Choice 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
Pairwise conjoint analysis of activity engagement choice 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 124
Place Attachment in Commercial Settings: A Gift Economy Perspective 0 0 2 46 0 1 4 265
Predicting early adoption of successive video player generations 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
Research in Action: Enquiry and Debate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Residential Choice Behaviour of Dual Earner Households: A Decompositional Joint Choice Model 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
Residential choice behaviour of dual earner households: a decompositional joint choice model 0 0 0 27 0 0 0 86
Segmenting consumers based on how they spend a tax rebate: An analysis of the Australian stimulus payment 0 0 0 11 0 0 2 116
The Impact of Store-Price Signals on Consumer Search and Store Evaluation 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
The attraction effect is more pronounced for consumers who rely on intuitive reasoning 0 1 1 25 0 1 5 150
The effects of in-store themed events on consumer store choice decisions 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
Tourist destination and experience choice: A choice experimental analysis of decision sequence effects 1 1 2 2 2 2 7 10
Unit Pricing Increases Price Sensitivity Even When Products are of Identical Size 0 0 3 3 0 1 10 11
Total Journal Articles 2 8 30 490 12 31 102 2,162
Workshop report: mental representations and discrete choice behaviour: state-of-the-art and avenues for future research 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 17
Total Chapters 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 17


I grew up and still live in a region that has the guts to list mac-and-cheese as a vegetable on menus, with a straight face. As a kid, the only "ethnic" food were some meat-and-three joints in parts of town where whites didn't go and a couple of places that had spaghetti. (Any Nashvillians remember Marchetti's?) Seafood was catfish, and that ~ and everything else ~ was fried. Salad, if offered at all, was an uninspired little bowl of iceberg lettuce and a few carrot shavings. Or something congealed; don't get me started.
In school, from elementary through high school, each grade had maybe three or four black kids, one guy from India, and the random Asian kid who stayed until his parents pulled him out for private school. The advent of busing changed some of that, but mostly it added a few dozen Jewish kids from an area near the synagogues in town. My best friend was Italian, which improved my dining prospects a great deal. But mostly, my hometown was exceedingly white and Christian. You would have also assumed it was straight, but the AIDS disaster proved that to be inaccurate.
Now, of course, you can get some really interesting salads in my hometown, both human and culinary. People of different racial make-ups can marry, and so can gays. People from every country on earth moved over and folks tired of being cold moved south. People tired of over-paying for houses moved from California. Nashville now has the largest population of native Kurds outside of Kurdistan. And, entire streets in town have more signs in Spanish than in English. Fewer new acquaintances ask you first thing which church you attend. There are mosques and temples and atheists, believers and hypocrites.
In high school civics class, America was described as a melting pot but, looking around the room, the stew was light pink. And it wasn't only our palates that were suffering from a lack of variety; we were stuck in the mindset of white bread with baloney and mayonnaise. We didn't know there were any other points of view, any other ways to live, or what sort of reality we might create for ourselves. It was unappetizing.
A melting pot fetches up imagery of everyone being blended into a smooth, consistent puree of humanity. Who wants that? Not me, and not the ethnic purists. If you are suspicious of people from other places, people who practice a religion different from yours, or people with a different level of income or education, ask yourself why. Search your soul and discover what you might be missing. Why not appreciate all the unique, multi-colored, delicious pieces of our world, right here and right now?


The release date for Final Fantasy XIV Content Patch 4.25 is fixed: 13.03. Players will be able to enter the Forbidden Land, Eureka. In addition, the fan favorite Hildibrand teaches back.
And as a bonus, there is the continuation of the quest series about the funny adventures of the popular character Hildibrand.
Fans of the Final Fantasy series will find the name Eureka very familiar. In FFIII, the Forbidden Land, Eureka was an optional dungeon, where long ago the strongest weapons and spells were sealed because they were far too powerful.
This concept also brings the development team to FFXIV. The launch of the Forbidden Land will also feature the first relic quest from Stormblood live.
The special thing is that in contrast to the Zeta and Anima quests, Eureka will be able to reinforce not only his weapon but also the job-specific armor.
However, Eureka's functionality differs drastically from all other content in Final Fantasy XIV.
There are strong elemental currents on the island: normal levels do not do much there.
Instead, the heroes must collect elemental EXP and then distribute them on the special "Magia Board" so that you can make the most of the elemental strengths and weaknesses of your opponents.
The adventures of the legendary master detective Hildibrand Helidor Maximilian Manderville go into the next round!
The witty quest series about the miserable, but kind-hearted detective Hildibrand had become so popular with the players that the producer Naoki Yoshida had promised to continue them in Stormblood.
After his last outing to deliverance in the Heavensward expansion, Hildi now heads for the far east to Kugane.
Because there is a thief named Wolf Burglar, the rich upper class of the city in a panic and Hildibrand's faithful assistant Nashu is already hot on his heels.


text:
Cirkulární ekonomika (též oběhové hospodářství – například v právu EU) je koncept, který je integrální součástí udržitelného rozvoje. Zabývá se způsoby, jak zvyšovat kvalitu životního prostředí a lidského života pomocí zvyšování efektivity produkce.

Klíčové je, aby používané materiály byly navzájem odděleny do dvou nezávisle cirkulujících okruhů, jež se řídí rozdílnou logikou. První operuje s látkami organického původu, které jsou snadno odbouratelné a není u nich proto problém navrátit je zpět do biosféry. Druhý operuje se syntetickými látkami, jež by měly být do produktů vkládány tak, aby bylo možné je z nich následně extrahovat a opět použít, a nebylo tak nikdy nutné je do biosféry navracet.

Kritici však namítají, že z energetického hlediska by to znamenalo porušit druhý termodynamický zákon. Žádný cyklus nemůže být stoprocentně účinný (perpetuum mobile druhého druhu), takže každá cirkulární ekonomika je i trochu lineární ekonomikou.

Počátky
Počátky tohoto pojmu jsou spojeny s knihou německého chemika Michaela Braungarta a amerického architekta Williama McDonougha Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things (Od kolébky ke kolébce: jak změnit způsob, jakým vyrábíme věci) z roku 2002.

Změna vnímání produkčního řetězce

Zásadní roli hrají logistické řetězce (jejich struktura a realizace, včetně výrobní logistiky, dopravy a skladování) a logistické cykly včetně recyklace.

Metodou posuzování životního cyklu není obtížné dojít k závěru, že pokračovat s tradiční produkční koncepcí Cradle to Grave (Od kolébky do hrobu), která vychází z lineárního produkčního řetězce, není cestou k dosažení udržitelného průmyslu. V tomto modelu vzniká odpad jak na konci řetězce v podobě použitého výrobku, tak v průběhu výrobního procesu. Tím mohou být třeba zplodiny vzniklé při transportu nebo rafinaci, přebytky výroby nebo obaly.

Design výrobku v produkčním řetězci podle zásad Cradle to Cradle by měl zohledňovat environmentální šetrnost, možnost rozebrání na jednotlivé materiály a zdravotní nezávadnost prvotního produktu. Jednotlivé součástky musí být možné snadno přeměnit zpět na zdrojovou surovinu, z níž lze vyrobit výrobek o srovnatelné kvalitě jako byl ten původní.

Základní principy

Změňme odpady v suroviny
Odpad v podstatě neexistuje. Biologické i technické komponenty produktu jsou navrženy záměrně tak, aby mohly cirkulovat, aby je bylo možné rozložit na suroviny a znovu použít. Látky biologického původu nejsou toxické, a mohou být proto kompostovány. Syntetické látky jsou navrženy tak, aby mohly být užity znova při spotřebě minimálního množství energie.

V rozmanitosti je síla
Adaptabilita je v rychle se měnícím světě stále větší předností. Abychom dosáhli cirkulární ekonomiky, musíme se soustředit na výrobu produktů s delší životností, které bude možné snadno modifikovat a opravit. Za zmínku stojí i strategie emočně trvanlivého designu. Systémy produkující rozmanité výrobky a materiály v široké škále velikostí a variant jsou odolnější náhlým změnám, než systémy postavené čistě na efektivitě.

Energie z obnovitelných zdrojů
Nelze uvažovat v parametrech cirkulární ekonomiky, pokud tempo, kterým čerpáme zdroje, vyváří nejistotu, zda pro budoucí generace budou moci existovat v rámci stejných produkčních a spotřebních parametrů. Je potřeba čerpat energii ze Slunce, které svítí právě teď, větru, který právě vane nebo z geotermálních zdrojů.

Harmonický rozvoj sociální, ekonomické a environmentální oblasti
Nezbytností je schopnost uvažovat v dlouhodobém horizontu a být schopni dávat různé jevy do souvislosti. Společnost se musí rozvíjet nejen s ohledem na ekonomickou stránku, ale také brát ohled na kvalitu života a environmentální ochranu.

Cirkulární ekonomika zpochybňuje způsob lineárního uvažování, který říká, že výsledek procesu musí být vždy uměřený vstupu. Upozorňuje na to, že jakékoli přírodní systémy jsou schopné se evolučně vyvíjet pozitivním směrem. Hovoříme pak o biomimetickém aspektu cirkulární ekonomiky, napodobujeme přírodu co do efektivity využívání zdrojů a vytváření udržitelných ekosystémů.

Porozumění systému je klíčové, pokud chceme v rámci takového systému provádět změny. Ignorování nebo špatná interpretace trendů, procesů, fungování věcí a míry reálných lidských dopadů na náš socio-ekologický systém, může vést ke katastrofickým výsledkům. Abychom se vyhnuli chybám, musíme uplatňovat holistický přístup. Švédská nezisková organizace The Natural Step navrhla soubor podmínek, jež je třeba splnit pro to, aby bylo možné navrhnout systém, který se bude řídit principy cirkulární ekonomie.

Odstraňování negativních externalit
Stále bojujeme s názorem, že ekonomický růst je nutně spjat se zhoršováním životního prostředí a kvality života. Tedy pokud hovoříme o environmentální politice, diskuse probíhá spíše o zmírňování negativních dopadů průmyslové výroby. Cirkulární ekonomika znamená přechod od minimalizace negativních dopadů k optimalizaci dopadů pozitivních.

Teorie omezení postuluje, že kdybychom v systému odstranili všechna omezení, dosahoval by nekonečného výkonu. Cradle to Cradle design se zaměřuje podobným směrem, leč míří k realističtějším výsledkům. Jedním ze základních principů je odstraňováním negativních externalit plynoucích z produkce, užívání i likvidace výrobků. Takovými externalitami mohou být třeba chemické výpary z nábytku, tapet, koberců, různých plastů či nátěrů, které zhoršují kvalitu ovzduší v domácnostech. To má i negativní sociální dopady v podobě nárůstu počtu astmatiků a ekonomické v podobě finanční zátěže pro veřejné zdravotnictví či rozpočty domácností.

Odstraňujeme tím princip přesouvání problémů do budoucna. V současnosti potřebujeme přilepit tapety, v budoucnu potřebujeme být zdraví. Cradle to Cradle design by nám měl umožnit obojí. Extenzí odstranění negativních externalit je kumulace všech možných pozitivních externalit. To v praxi znamená, že můžeme mít barvu, která nejen barví stěny a nezpůsobuje rakovinu, ale také čistí vzduch od oxidů dusíku.

Někdy je lepší začít od začátku, nebo nedělat nic
Výrobky a služby obecně mají za cíl uspokojovat nějakou lidskou potřebu. Díky technologickému pokroku a vlastním environmentálním nárokům se obvyklá řešení, jak toho dosáhnout, mohou stále častěji zdát neakceptovatelná. Je potom lepší se zamyslet, jak jinak, než pouze zmírňováním negativních externalit, potřebu uspokojit. Posuzování životního cyklu by mělo určit, která z variant, mezi nimiž vybíráme, je udržitelnější. Volba může vypadat následovně: nechat si opravit starý mobilní telefon, a tím pádem nevytvářet odpad a nečerpat přírodní zdroje, nebo si koupit nový, vysoce energeticky efektivní, který vám pomůže zvýšit pracovní produktivitu a je lepší pro váš zrak. Nové hybridní SUV může mít horší dopady než sedan s běžným spalovacím motorem. Někdy je také možné od výroby produktu upustit úplně, což je nejjistější způsob eliminace negativních externalit.

Koncepce určující rámec cirkulární ekonomiky

Biomimetika

William McDonough uvádí: "Zkusme navrhnout něco tak elegantního jako strom. Představte si, že by se nám podařilo navrhnout něco, co produkuje kyslík, zadržuje uhlík, zpracovává dusík, využívá solární energie, čistí vodu, vytváří komplexní sacharidy, produkuje jídlo, má vlastní mikroklima, mění barvy s ročními obdobími, samo se reprodukuje…" Příroda je pro nás vzor efektivity výrobních řetězců, ale také měřítko ke srovnání našich inovací.

Průmyslová ekologie

Je obor, který studuje materiálové a energetické toky v rámci průmyslových podniků a výrobních řetězců. V rámci industriálních ekosystémů jde o vytváření a následné aplikování modelů jakýchsi uzavřených smyček, v nichž je odpad vnímán jako potenciální výrobní vstup. Klade důraz na holistický přístup a braní ohledu na lokální ekologická omezení i případný globální dopad zamýšlené výroby.

Cradle to Cradle

Pojem, který vymyslel švýcarský architekt Walter R. Stahel, který byl zastáncem výroby a spotřeby kvalitních materiálů s dlouhou životnost s možností opětovného použití, opravy nebo modifikací. Je spoluzakladatelem Product Life Institutu v Ženevě. Myšlenky jeho a jemu podobných vyústily v to, o čem dnes mluvíme jako o cirkulární ekonomice, kde průmyslové podniky samy kladou důraz na kvalitu výrobků, jejich recyklovatelnost, minimalizaci produkce odpadu, lokální zaměstnanost, produkci i spotřebu a efektivní využívání zdrojů obecně.

Další posun nastal díky Michaelu Braungartovi a Williamu McDonoughovi, kteří tento koncept začali popularizovat na začátku tisíciletí, a díky nimž se nyní dostává do politického mainstreamu.

Modrá ekonomie

Koncept vytvořený belgickým businessmanem Guntrem Paulim. Modrá ekonomie je open source iniciativa, složená z několika případových studií, jíž Pauli předložil Římskému klubu. Je založena na 21 základních principech. Navrhuje sdílení vědeckých poznatků pomocí open-source komunikačních platforem a imitaci procesů běžných v přírodě. Dělá výraznou distinkci mezi cenou a hodnotou věcí.

Cirkulární ekonomika v České republice
Koncepce cirkulární ekonomiky pomalu proniká i do České republiky. Pro rozvinutí veřejné debaty o změně socioekonomických vzorců v ČR je zásadní situace v západní Evropě. Velký vliv hraje především Evropská unie a její politika, směřující k podpoře udržitelného rozvoje. EU je také významným zastáncem cirkulárně ekonomického přístupu. Mezi roky 2011 a 2015 probíhala kampaň EU Generation Awake, která upozorňovala na problémy spojené s odpady. Evropská komise vydala 2. července 2014 nové sdělení k tzv. cirkulární ekonomice s názvem "Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe". Koncem roku 2015 by pak měla předestřít ambiciózní strategii pro cirkulární ekonomii. V České republice se začátkem roku 2015 etabloval Institut Cirkulární Ekonomiky, z. ú., který se zaměřuje na edukační i praktickou činnost směřující k analýze monitoringu odpadů. Institut cirkulární ekonomiky provozuje mimo jiné informační portál Zajímej.se, jehož účelem je poskytovat novinky z oblasti cirkulární ekonomiky a udržitelnosti, a web Uplatni.se, který slouží k poskytování a hledání pracovního uplatnění v oblasti cirkulární ekonomiky.

V červnu 2015 uspořádala nezisková organizace Byznys pro společnost jednu z prvních debat na problematiku CE s názvem BYZNYS VIZE 2015 aneb cirkulární ekonomika v praxi. O cirkulární ekonomice v ČR v praxi referuje na svých stránkách Asociace společenské odpovědnosti firem. Příkladem udržitelné výroby je např. projekt FOREWEAR, který v partnerství s Chráněnými dílnami Fokus Vysočina vyrábí funkčně-designové výrobky z recyklovaného materiálu, šité švadlenkami v Chotěboři. Značka Trash Made představuje kolekci originálních šperků, módních a bytových doplňků vyrobených z recyklovaných materiálů. Brněnská RE: PARÁDA podporuje ideu recyklace a tvorbu mladých návrhářů. Značka Infiberry, která se zabývá ekologickými řešeními pro nákup a skladování potravin, v první polovině roku 2015 představila produkt Frusack, kompostovatelnou alternativu plastového sáčku, který dovoluje dlouhodobé užívání a nepředstavuje ekologickou zátěž. Ucelená kniha Cirkulární ekonomie a ekonomika, prof. Eva Kislingerová a kolektiv, GRADA 2021 ISBN 978-80-271-4619-2 .

Odkazy

Reference

Externí odkazy

 Cirkulární ekonomika, incien.org; Institut cirkulární ekonomiky. Navštíveno 2019-05-16.
 Cirkulární ekonomika, enviwiki.cz, Enviwiki. Navštíveno 2019-05-16.
 Cirkulární ekonomika přinese Česku až 150 tisíc nových míst.

Udržitelný rozvoj


text:
Q: Why does Linq not provide a lambda parameter instead of IEqualityComparer? So in things like GroupBy() in Linq, you can provide an implementation of IEqualityComparer<T> to help with object comparisons.  It seems, though, that it would be easier to simply pass in a lambda expression.
Example:
// current implementation
myCollection.GroupBy(c => c.Foo, c => c.Bar, new FooBarComparer());

// it seems easier to...
myCollection.GroupBy(c => c.Foo, c => c.Bar, (x, y) => x.Baz == y.Baz);

Given a simple implementation of IEqualityComparer<T> like this:
public class FooBarComparer : IEqualityComparer<FooBar> {
    public bool Equals(FooBar x, FooBar y) {
        return x.Baz == y.Baz;
    }

    public int GetHashCode(FooBar obj) {
        return obj.GetHashCode();
    }
}

It seems that providing a lambda expression could be just as effective.  As it stands now, if I try to pass in an IEqualityComparer<T> with a Linq query to a database, it fails because SQL Server (or whatever) doesn't know anything about my class.  It seems that a lambda would be able to be translated into SQL that can be used in the target database.
Is there a specific reason this is not provided as an option in Linq?

A: You'd need two lambdas so that GetHashCode has an equivalent as well. Besides that this would work, yes. There are some LINQ methods that do not make use of hash codes but that use equality (Enumerable.Contains).
I guess it's just to have a standard API for equality that the whole BCL uses. You can easily convert between delegate and comparer by using a delegate-backed comparer implementation or by converting myComparer.Equals to a delegate.
For remoting expressions to the database is is not easy to remote a comparer expression. GROUP BY does not support that in SQL. It can surely be made to work but it is a niche use case (actually if the comparer expression for a GroupBy does not provide an equality relation I'm not sure how that would turn out when translated to SQL).

A: To make an efficient GroupBy/Distinct you need two things:

*

*An equality comparer

*An hash generator, to create an hash dictionary

OR you can follow the C++ route

*

*A comparator able to order the elements, so that you are able to create a tree

If you only have an equality comparer, then the difficulty of doing the GroupBy is something like O(n^2), because if you have 5 elements, you need 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 comparisons, so n * (n + 1) / 2 so 15. This is something a "good" library wouldn't ever permit you to do (and no sane SQL server would ever do!)
Now, clearly the LINQ library could analyze your equality lambda, see that it is
(x, y) => x.Baz == y.Baz

see that it is symmetrical, so that the left term and the right term are in the form
x => x.Baz

and use this to generate an hasher and select a comparer. But at this point, wouldn't it be easier to do directly
myCollection.GroupBy(c => c.Foo.Baz)

Yes, that you can do :-)
And then,
myCollection.GroupBy(c => c.Foo.Baz, c => new { c.Foo, c.Bar })
            .Select(c => new { Key = c.First().Foo, Values = c.Select(x => x.Bar) })

That is quite similar to your intended GroupBy (the only difference is that the values are in a Values IEnumerable<>)
Now... for the use of the overloads with IEqualityComparer<T>... as I've written in the comments, I do think that they should be used with "stock" comparers, that the LINQ provider can recognize, like the various StringComparer.* (e.g. StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase) and the EqualityComparer<T>.Default, that represents the "default" comparer.


text:
Best gaming consoles for kids: PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
by HoneyKids Editorial | Nov 10, 2021
If you're thinking about getting a gaming console, here's the best consoles on the market fit for the whole fam...
Parents! It's time for another lesson in gaming. Gaming is increasingly popular among young people, especially during the school holidays when we have plenty of time on our hands. Previously, we got teens in Singapore to share their favourite video games, but what do they prefer to play them on? The more tech-savvy among you probably already know the ins and outs of every gaming console out there (you played Gameboy and Atari, you were there for the Game Cube!), but you might need a refresher course on the gaming consoles and latest gadgets for kids of today.
Before we jump in, let's talk about games…
Games on gaming consoles work a little differently from online games. You can buy a physical copy, or you can buy a digital copy from the online store directly through your gaming console. The only difference is that the games you buy online will only be available on your account and, like apps, you cannot resell them like you would a physical copy. But they are cheaper than the physical copies, which is a plus.
The other thing you need to think about is that some games are console-specific. That means if the kiddos were looking forward to playing Super Mario Odyssey and you have an Xbox, you're going to have some very unhappy kids. Likewise, if the teens planned on playing Halo, you won't be able to load that up on the PS4. The good news, of course, is that Minecraft is available to play on all consoles. Although if the kiddos wanted to team up to play with their friends, they can't join an Xbox game with a PS4 or Nintendo Switch. It's a minefield, for sure! Now, on to the consoles…
BEST GAMING CONSOLES FOR KIDS IN SINGAPORE
1. Playstation 5
Photography: Playstation 5
The Sony Playstation 5 continues to be a popular choice. This latest version loads your games lightning-fast, and allows you to experience 3D audio through compatible headphones. You can buy physical copies of games to play on your PS5 or buy them online in the PlayStation Plus store. If you sign up for a PS Plus membership, you'll even be able to score discounts and free games every month. Definitely the gift that keeps on giving. And, of course, you can access the internet on the PS5 and use apps like YouTube, Netflix and Spotify for all your multi-entertainment needs. Teens might be interested in the streaming and online multiplayer function, which allows them to play co-op games with their friends from their home consoles.
Price: from $698
2. Nintendo Switch (plus, new OLED model)
Photography: Nintendo
As a proud owner of the Nintendo Switch, this gaming console for kids isn't strictly handheld as it can also be slotted into a docking port and viewed on your TV to prevent cross-eyes. Its (incidentally, kid-sized) controllers (aka joy-cons) can also be removed to accommodate up to eight players, which means all the kids will be kept fully entertained at the same time during long car rides and flights. And you can download the free parental control app to control which games your kids can play and set limits on how long and until what time they can play. The latest, Nintendo Switch OLED, is the newest addition to the Nintendo Switch family and offers up a 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. So, it's sure to impress the kids and adults alike!
Price: from $499, Nintendo Switch Lite from $329, Nintendo Switch OLED from $549
3. Xbox One S and Xbox Series X
Photography: Xbox
Boasting 1TB worth of storage and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K video streaming, the Xbox One S has over 1,300 games, including Xbox exclusive games. Xbox Live also allows the kids to play with online friends. You can also purchase a monthly subscription to Xbox Game Pass for discounts and early access to games. If Dad's a gamer too, he might want to shell out for the Xbox One X for better graphics and gaming bundles. A more premium option is the Xbox Series X. It's designed for games with resolutions of up to 4K (so think awesome visuals), more storage space, and also has a disc drive (unlike the Xbox S), but this comes at a cost (usually retailing at $200 more).
BEST HANDHELD GAMING CONSOLES FOR KIDS IN SINGAPORE
Home consoles can hold tons of games and they're viewable on the big screen, but as much as we'd like to, we can't exactly lug the whole house on a long-haul journey. Handheld consoles, like the original GameBoy, are much more travel-friendly.
The clueless parent's guide to kids and online gaming
4. Nintendo Switch Lite
The successor of the ever-popular Nintendo Switch, Nintendo recently released the Nintendo Switch Lite – with most of the same functions except one major caveat: no removable joy-cons. The Switch Lite comes in four distinct colours: coral, black, blue and yellow, and boast a better battery life than its predecessor. This means hours of solo or online play before having to charge the device.
5. PS Vita
Photography: Playstation
You can't unplug your PS5 and pack it into the luggage without risking more than a few bumps and scrapes, but you can slide a PS Vita into a purse or tot-sized luggage for easy transport. If you have a PS4, that unfinished game of Spider-Man or Fortnite can be played remotely. The PS Vita features high-precision dual analogue controls, over 1000 games and yup, you can stream Netflix on it too.
6. Nintendo 2DS XL
What the Nintendo 2DS XL lacks in 3D visuals, it makes up for in sturdiness. Its two interactive screens are mounted on one panel which means your little gamer is less likely to snap it in half. Along with being easier on the wallet than the 3DS, the 2DS will give you the same streaming capabilities, front and rear cameras and access to 3DS games, apart from newer releases.
BEST GAMING TABLETS FOR KIDS IN SINGAPORE
The multi-purpose tablet is an all-encompassing device that'll let you play games for hours on end, and it'll also allow you to surf the internet, watch Netflix and even learn via apps. It's definitely not one for serious gamers if you're looking for a gaming console for the kids, but it's certainly bang for your buck.
7. Amazon Fire
Photography: Amazon
Nothing really beats a good solid piece of hardware you can lob at the kids so they can play Fruit Ninja or Thomas & Friends. Especially when it comes with those chunky colourful cases for kids to grasp onto easily. Just load it up with free games and they'll be kept occupied for hours. The Fire 7 Kids, Fire HD 8 Kids and Fire HD 10 Kids are all great options!
Price: from US$69.99–159.99
8. iPad
Need we say more? Pick between the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini or the standard iPad for the little ones. Prices range according to sizes and storage and cost extra if you want a cellular network option. Psst, already own an iPad? Trade it in for some credit, and use that to fund your new one.
Price: from $499 to $1199
Happy gaming!
Top image by Corey Motta via Unsplash
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It's like adding spice to your dish. Planning game rides in the Ranthambore National Park will add excitement and adventure to your Rajasthan tour package. This Rajasthan tour travel package will give you an opportunity to experience the rich flora and fauna and wildlife in a national park in India. Other added attractions on this Rajasthan wildlife tour package are the historical monuments, magnificent forts and palaces, and rivers and lakes that could make your holiday in Rajasthan a memorable one.
Highlights: Chandni Chowk, Qutab Minar , Humayun Tomb, Lake Palace Udaipur, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) Jaipur, Amber Fort Jaipur, Ranthambhor, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri.
Your Rajasthan Holidays can be extended in number of ways and customized based on your interests and requirements.
Your Rajasthan Holiday begins with a full day tour in Delhi accompanied with a local tour guide. Start by visiting the Jama Masjid; Enjoy a ride of cycle rickshaw in Delhi through the crowded bazaar and shopping streets of Chandni Chowk; Visit Raj Ghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. Post lunch; explore New Delhi, India Gate & Rajpath; Rashtrapati Bhawan - the President's House; Humayun's Tomb; Qutab Minar and the Bahai Temple.
Board an early morning flight to Udaipur for your trip to Rajasthan from Delhi. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Udaipur for check-in.
Explore Udaipur at leisure. Visit the ghats by Lake Pichola or Eklingji Temples (Nagda) and the markets. Board an Udaipur to Jaipur train on an overnight journey (Train Timing: DEP: 2220 ARR: 0600).
JAIPUR - THE PINK CITY: There are three parts to Jaipur; Amer (the old city which was the previous capital of the Kachwahas, clans of Rajputs). Jaipur (the walled city built in the 18th century) and the new city (which has grown outside the walled city).
Places to visit in Jaipur: Start by visiting Amber/Amer Fort; take a ride to its lofty heights on a jeep or a decked up elephant. Later visit the City Palace Jaipur, Palace of Winds (or Hawa Mahal), Jantar Mantar (Maharaja Jai Singh's astronomy park).
Late evening, enjoy an optional tour to Chokhi Dhani, an ethnic village resort. The mud and thatch dwellings in the resort give you a feel of ethnic environment; you also can experience the Rajasthani Village Culture, Rajasthani Cuisine and folk music & dance of Rajasthan. Enjoy your dinner at the ethnic multi-cuisine restaurant.
Day free to explore the markets in the old city or relax at your hotel; enjoy an optional tour to an Elephant farm, where you'll get to meet, feed, swim with, paint and then ride the elephants. This experience is must-do for families with kids and those who are young at heart.
After breakfast, checkout from hotel and drive to Agra; En-route visit, Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted capital of Emperor Akbar; the city was abandoned as the capital in 16th century due to scarcity of water. On arrival, check-in to your hotel in Agra.
Day 12: Agra sightseeing and Drive Agra to Delhi (220 kms & 4hrs journey).
Your Visit to Rajasthan concludes with a drop to the Delhi International airport for your flight home or to another destination in India.


How is Christmas only nine days away? Cue the panic attack. If you're still on the hunt for gifts, you're not alone. Between freak outs, I've stumbled upon 30 more amazing gift ideas that, if you're anything like me, you'll probably want to keep for yourself. But will also make great gifts for moms, sisters, best friends, and co-workers. If you can bear to part with them. Hope you enjoy!
p.s. More Christmas gift ideas here + here. Plus, 25 Coffee Table Books that make great gifts.
So many flamingos! I love it!


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Being the Way That I Am
(from Within My Illusions)
I was sitting on a bench by the river,
enjoying a quiet moment between tasks
and some time to myself.
I was practicing a new way of seeing,
relaxing my eyes until the ground appeared to pulse
like a heartbeat.
I was writing this poem in my head
when a man called out to me.
"Don't be so weary," he said.
"I'm not weary," I replied,
"Just thinking."
He was sitting on top of a picnic table,
looking out at the water
and also at me.
He was wearing a New York Mets cap
and I commented, "I'm going to New York
and you're wearing a New York hat."
"You want my hat?" he asked.
"No," I said, "I'm going to New York
and you're wearing a New York hat
and I just noticed that
and I wanted to say something about it."
He smiled a gold, toothy smile.
"My mom is from New York,
but I've never been."
"It's a different place," I told him.
"My mom is from Brooklyn," he said.
"I'm going to see my sister.
She lives in Brooklyn too."
But perhaps a different Brooklyn.
I looked beyond him to the street,
to where my car was parked
in front of a city office building
where I'd spent time in a meeting earlier.
"Enjoy the springtime," I said and headed
up the small hill toward the road.
"Hey, when are you leaving?"
he called out to me.
"Right now," I said. "I'm going right now."
I started to walk away when
I had the urge to turn back and say,
"Thank you for talking to me."
"You're welcome," he said with a wave,
and then turned back to the river
where my gaze followed
to take in the shape of this new friend,
sitting on top of a picnic table
with his back to me,
looking out onto the water
the way I often do,
appreciating the ebb and flow,
stillness and movement,
the gift of conversation,
and the thought,
"Perhaps I am weary."


Bill Shadish | Fundamental Objects, Inc.
Operating System: Again, this will focus on the mobile side, and is the software used on the device to perform the basics, like providing a software keyboard, managing the phone, the GPS, etc -- and that is the core upon which the user applications, like your auditing app, is added / loaded onto the Platform.
Microsoft, with a trail of fallen-by-the-way-side mobile OS -- like WinCE, PocketPC, Windows Mobile and others; continues to fall and now is betting on a two-pronged approach of reboot (again) and partner. The reboot component comes in restarting with yet another mobile OS (Windows Phone 8); while orphaning all of their previous users / prior app purchases / vendor applications along the way as previous versions of Windows Mobile apps will not run on the new one. The partnering component is with Nokia, with Nokia providing the actual physical phone hardware.
There now exist tools on the other platforms, such as Android, that work with Word and Excel documents -- including editing these documents.
Mobile users do not find themselves tooling around editing Word and Excel documents as much as they thought they might (or were told they might).
Interestingly, the Windows Mobile applications to work with things like Word and Excel docs were often much worse, than the tools to edit these documents from other mobile platforms, like Palm.


text:
2015 Saw Historic Shift in State Education Leadership, New Report Says
By Daarel Burnette II — February 16, 2016 2 min read
Across the nation, there was an unprecendented turnover in state level educational leadership in 2015, according to a new report issued by Achieve, an education advocacy organization focused on state level policy. And there appears to be no end in sight.
In 2015—a year in which there were 14 new governors and a new District of Columbia mayor—31 states got new education chiefs. In addition, there were 95 new state school board members in 33 states, a turnover of almost a fifth of all the country's state school board members. In all, only seven of the 50 states saw no changes in educational leadership.
And it may not be over. In 2016 alone, there are set to be at least six new governors and two new education chiefs, and many board members' terms will come to an end this year, according to the report. (Check out the detailed report for individual state changes).
This drastic shift in leadership comes shortly after President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which hands more power to state governments to shape the way they hold teachers and schools accountable.
Experts last month described to me several financial, cultural, and logistical challenges state departments of education will have to overcome in order to successfully implement new education policy.
New leadership could be "a hindrance to implementation," said Kathy Cox, who served as the state schools superintendent in Georgia between 2003 and 2010 and now helps state departments implement policy as the CEO of the Delivery Institute, a consulting group. "It's really hard work, and it hurts when there's that constant churn of leaders. You get into inertia. It gives people a sense of, 'Let's just not do anything. We don't know what direction we're going to be pointed in next.' "
As my colleague Andrew Ujifusa wrote last year in describing the turnover in state superintendents, the change in leadership could be attributed to several things. Among them: several Southern states such as Kentucky and Tennessee flipping from majority Republican to majority Democratic as voting districts are were redrawn; education becoming a more political lightning rod as states pick up the majority of education costs; and education leaders' jobs becoming more complicated and under increased pressure to implement federal education statutes and regulations.
What does this mean for local school districts? Here's an interesting line I stumbled upon in Who's in Charge Here?, a book edited by Noel Epstein and lent to me from our super-helpful Education Week library:
It is only common sense that institutions need to have someone in charge, someone who sets goals and strategies and is accountable for results. In business and finance it is the chief executive officer; in the military, the generals and admirals. If one were to sketch an organizational chart of the American elementary and secondary education systems, however, one would discover that there is no such line of responsibility. Instead one would find something closer to a spider's web that has grown increasingly tangled in recent years—a web in which it is difficult if not impossible, to figure out whether anyone is in charge. This is arguably the most fundamental flaw confronting our schools, with implications for all else that happens (or does not happen) in American public education. ... While local officials still have important management roles, the erosion of the American tradition of local school control increasingly means that they are implementing other people's goals and priorities."
Daarel Burnette II
Assistant Managing Editor, Education Week
Daarel Burnette II was an assistant managing editor for Education Week.
State Superintendents
Rebecca Grabill/E+
States This State Set Up a Program to Reduce Chronic Absences. It Worked
Caitlynn Peetz, January 26, 2023


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Rugby Football: South Africa World Cup Win
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw South Africa's Rugby World Cup win – by beating England 32-12 - is being seen by many commentators not only as a sporting triumph in its own right, but also as a possible game changer for the country itself, which is still suffering the effects of and hangovers from the apartheid era, which, theoretically at least, came to an end with the election of Nelson Mandela as President in 1994. The South African Springboks, in their 128-year old history a symbol of white supremacy and dyed-in-the wool tradition in sport, were led to victory for the first time by a black captain, namely, Siyamanthanda Kolisi, who is 28 years old. Born in a slum and brought up by his grandmother, because his teenage parents could not afford to keep him, when asked whether, as a boy he could ever have dreamed of leading his country to victory in the Rugby World Cup, he replied that he only wondered where his next meal was coming from! He watched South Africa win the 2007 World Cup from a broken-down tavern and had to train in his boxer shorts because he could not afford the kit. The 31-man Sprinboks mukti-racial squad, included other blacks. Seeing Kolisi lift the Rugby World Cup Trophy is regarded by many as a watershed and transcendent moment for the country. Kolisi thanked the South African people and remarked: "We love you, South Africa, and we can achieve anything if we work together as one." The South African coach, Rassie Erasmus, added: "We had the privilege of giving people hope, not the burden." It has been said a number of times by several observers, including Mandela himself, that sport can bring people together and act as a catalyst for social change. So, it is to be hoped that wining the 2019 Rugby World Cup will act as an inspiration and stimulus for all those in power in post-apartheid South Africa to bring out about the changes that are still needed to consolidate a better future for all the diverse races that make up this sporting and rainbow nation of 57 million people. Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at 'This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.'