How can I escape dark clouds of depression?
Clouds of depression affect millions of people, Christians and non-Christians alike.
There are so MANY external and internal factors that trigger dark clouds of depression!
We can focus too long on the state of the world, the opposition to truth, or be overwhelmed by the suffering encountered. We can get out of balance physically... from needing more sleep to having a medical condition requiring doctors and medications. We can get out of balance emotionally... from dealing with a traumatic event to losing hope that things will change requiring professional help. We can get out of balance spiritually... from dealing with our body's response of living in sin to attempting to manufacture our own happiness. It could be spiritual warfare or just be an ongoing feeling that doesn't match our current circumstances... complicated to say the least!
Whether it is you or someone close, you are NOT alone and depression is NOT a death sentence!
I have been encouraged by Psalms of the Bible when dealing with these dark clouds. Being depressed is not a sin, but our response can be! The author of Psalm 42 seems to understand and point us in the right direction.
Psalm 42, As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Here are some practical steps to escape dark clouds of depression based on the this Psalm.
ANALYZE your HOPES (v5) Sometimes depression is self-inflicted, so it is important to examine our lives for the sources of our hope and happiness. King David wrote while fleeing from his oldest son Absalom who initiated a coupe. David had wrapped up his hope in the love of his family and the love of the people around him, so when it was gone, he realized it needed to be God > Psalm 3:3, But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory [hope], and the lifter of my head.
PREACH the CROSS to Self (v9) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are LISTENING to yourself instead of TALKING to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man's treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says, "Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you." > If GOD is FOR me, who can be AGAINST me... self! >> God loves me enough to step out of heaven and sacrifice His life on the cross, so I might know a connection with Him... self! >>>Nothing can separate me from the love of God... Self! Romans 8:38-39, For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reducing clouds of depression is a process, not an event.


Home Page / Home / Comedy News / Comedian Jerrod Carmichael Lands New Comedy At NBC!
Comedian Jerrod Carmichael Lands New Comedy At NBC!
Perhaps in response to the ongoing call for diversity at NBC, the network has ordered a presentation for a new comedy starring and created by up-and-coming comic Jerrod Carmichael.
The show will be based on Carmichael's comedy and life as "a consummate optimist who is eager to take on the world, but is too busy taking on everyone and everything in his small corner of it," says Deadline.
Carmichael is a relatively new face, having written and appeared in a few projects including Fox's The Goodwin Games, and as a consulting writer on Adult Swim's Loiter Squad.
The ABFF To Revive The Black Movie Awards In 2014!
The 2nd Annual Patrice O'Neal Benefit Has Been Scheduled; Lots Of Comics To Perform!
Bill Cosby Finally Breaks His Silence!


The Reishi mushroom, also known as Ling Zhi, has a 4000 year history of usage in China and Japan. During the Ming Dynasty, many people endured lives full of great hardship and travelled enormous distances in order to find and procure the famous 'red mushroom'.
Reishi is a powerful adaptogen that has a multitude of positive effects on the human body and mind. It is still commonly used today to treat and support the body's fight against cancer, kidney disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, bronchitis, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome and stomach ulcers. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-oxidant effects, all of which support and boost immune system response.
The mushroom is particularly rich in triterpenes, polysaccharides, beta-glucans, steroids, amino acids, alkaloids, nucleosides, vitamins and minerals.
Use: Add a heaped tablespoon (roughly 5g) to a large cup of boiling water. Let the tea brew for about 15 - 20 minutes, add some honey for taste and enjoy!


text:
Institute of Development Studies Research Repository
K4D
Climate Change, Vulnerability to Violent Extremism and Conflict in Kenya
639_Climate_Change_and_Violence_in_Kenya.pdf (844.5Kb)
Price, Roz
This rapid review explores the evidence of indirect connections between conflict, vulnerability and climate change in Kenya. The connections between climate change and conflict are complex, dependent, and not fully understood; robust scientific evidence of this relationship remains obscure, with debates ongoing. Evidence suggesting a direct, linear relationship between conflict and climate-related or climate-sensitive factors is contested (see Adger et al., 2014); this review does not go into detail on this debate or seek to make a direct connection (see Price, 2019). There is, however, some agreement in the literature on indirect links and mediating factors where climate-related change can influence factors that lead to or exacerbate conflict under certain circumstances. There are also areas where vulnerabilities to conflict and climate change impacts intersect.
https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/14687
Price, R.A. (2019). Climate change, vulnerability to violent extremism and conflict in Kenya. K4D Helpdesk Report 639. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies.
K4D Helpdesk Report;639
© DFID - Crown copyright 2019
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
K4D [787]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


No, I'm afraid not. ESPN has exclusive rights.
Thank heavens we have it. That had to be the most exciting tennis match ever between Florida women and Stanford women. So so exciting. I wish those matches were more often on TV!
I tried to do the live streaming throughout the week but just got continually frustrated trying to figure out (via the grainy/unclear screen) who was who. And that was when it did not continually say....now loading...now loading... and locked up.


text:
The State Department doesn't really care if its human rights training for partner security forces is working or not
Jared Keller
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest observes Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps soldiers move to the rally point to begin their training during a live-fire range at Camp Shorabak. (U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Luke Hoogendam)
By law, the United States is required to promote "human rights and fundamental freedoms" when it trains foreign militaries. So it makes sense that if the U.S. government is going to spend billions on foreign security assistance every year, it should probably systematically track whether that human rights training is actually having an impact or not, right?
Apparently not. According to a new audit from the Government Accountability Office, both the Departments of Defense and State "have not assessed the effectiveness of human rights training for foreign security forces" — and while the Pentagon agreed to establish a process to do so, State simply can't be bothered.
human rights abuses human rights department of state news analysis department of defense security assistance
Otto Warmbier's parents blast North Korean leader over son's death after Trump accepts excuse 'he didn't know about it'
(Reuters) - The family of Otto Warmbier, the American student who died after having been imprisoned in North Korea, blamed Kim Jong Un for their son's death on Friday, reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that he accepted the leader's claims to have been unaware of the case.
north korea donald trump kim jong-un human rights
US relied on Microsoft Excel to track gross human rights violations in Afghanistan until 2017
Afghan children follow Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) during a patrol to 6th Sub District Headquarters in Bost Kalay, Afghanistan, March 17, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Sean J. Berry)
Officials did not consistently document human rights abuses committed by Afghan security forces during the first 15 years of the U.S.-led military campaign there, relying on a constellation of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets that were often lost or deleted, according to documents reviewed by Task & Purpose.
human rights microsoft excel news human rights violations afghanistan
Our Inaction Is A Weapon of Mass Destruction in Syria These Days
Mackenzie Wolf
AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen
The stories and images of brutality that have come out of Syria during the now seven-year civil war have resulted in devastatingly little action from the United States. We've claimed war-weariness, or "America first," and turned a blind eye to the slaughter of 500,000 people and suffering of millions more.
human rights iran syria The Long March
The DoD Has Barely Made A Dent In Afghan Security Forces' Child Sex Abuse Problem
Photo via DoD
For years, military officials and lawmakers have acknowledged and tried to crack down on, sexual abuse of young boys by Afghanistan's security forces. But a new Pentagon inspector general audit reveals that the well-known problem will require more than legislative gymnastics to address: U.S. Forces-Afghanistan only identified 16 allegations involving Afghan government officials between 2010 and 2016 — and barely did anything about them.
afghan national defense and security forces afghanistan ANDSF child sex abuse child sexual abuse global war on terror human rights news


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I remember when I was younger and we went to an amusement park for the day. In one part of the park they had a motion simulator based on the movie Days of Thunder. Although the movie is not the high point of Tom Cruise's career the way they took some of the race footage and melded it with moving seats and awesome sound the park took a movie and made it a ride. I left this ride thinking that it was an awesome idea and would love to see more rides like that. Many years later Gravity comes along and gives me a movie that can be classified as a ride by itself, without the need for moving seats.
Gravity is the newest movie by wonder director Alfonso Cuaron and is my worst fear come to life. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical doctor and newly trained astronaut out on a space walk to work on her experiment. When veteran astronaut and all around cool guy Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) gets a frantic message from Mission Control to abort the walk and get in the shuttle do to space debris coming their way, all hell breaks loose. Ryan and Matt lose their shuttle and are drifting in the unforgiving void of space with little hope of rescue except for what they can do for themselves.
Even Bullock detractors will have a hard time arguing with the desperation she exhibits in Gravity.
This is one of the best films I have seen this year and the best way to see this is in the biggest theater with the best sound. While I love a lot of small character films it is sometimes great to see well made spectacles that take full advantage of the tolls that a director has and you can tell that this is exactly what Cuaron does. Starting with a 10-15 minute one shot take of the beauty of space and to the initial arm gripping run in with the debris, this movie grabbed my attention from the first frame and never let go. Like I previously said, the movie is a ride and most people will be gripping their armrests or forgetting to breathe in many parts of this film, it is that intense.
While many people have been comparing this film to Avatar in the way that someone finally did 3-D right, I think a much better movie to compare it to would be The Matrix. While Avatar made billions of dollars because people loved the 3-D, it wasn't much of an industry changer because the movie was just a new version of Dances with Wolves gussied up in Sci-Fi trappings. In comparison, when The Matrix came out it changed the face of action movies for the next decade (for better or worse). I remember sitting in the theater the first time I saw The Matrix and was blown away by the effects and the way the action was shot. I knew I saw a game changer at that time and I was 100% correct. I got the same feeling with Gravity. The way the movie moves, the effects, the way Cuaronso films felt totally fresh and new and there were many times I thought to myself how did they do that?!
Gravity will just keep making money in the theater and have long legs because Cuaron made a film that people will tell their friends that they have to see in the theater and the ride will continue to go all fall.
Cuaron infuses the screen with the destructive potential of these celestial bodies even in the weightlessness of space.
While I have given a lot of the credit of the movie to Cuaron, which is rightly so, Sandra Bullock also gives her best in her role and gives the audience a character you want to cheer for. The story is thin and there is not much character building in the film. Other than a few mentions of a dead child you know nothing of Ryan or her life and this is one time when the baggage a star brings to the movie helps. Without much of a character base, the audience is rooting for Sandy to survive as much as her character. Thanks to 20 years of roles from her, we know Bullock as the cute, friendly person you would want for a wife or a best friend. This "baggage" helps us fill in the gaps for her character and root for one of America's sweethearts. This is not slighting what Bullock did in the film because she conveys the feelings of being scared, helpless, ready to give up and ready to fight really well and much like Tom Hanks in Castaway, Bullock is able to carry a film almost singularly with ease.
Yet, I think the type of actress Bullock is also helped us empathize with Ryan. Bullock is cute but not drop dead sexy, a klutz much more often that an action hero and a person who would believably be over her head in these situations. If the movie would have cast their first choice, Angelina Jolie, her action background would make her plight unbelievable, you would be waiting for her to punch the space debris and also stop an alien invasion while trying to get home. While Bullock was not the first choice for this movie, I believe she was definitely the right choice.
Gravity is amazing, tense, mind blowing action spectacle that is the type of movie that isn't done right nearly enough. Thanks to the behind the camera wizardry from Cauron and crew and a very human performance by Bullock Gravity is not a movie that should be missed in the theater.
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Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.
Screenplay written by Alfonso and Jonas Cuaron.
Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
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Q: Shortening long urls with a hash? I've got a file cache, the files being downloaded from different urls. I'd like to save each file by the name of their url. These names can be quite long though, and I'm on a device using a FAT32 file system - so the long names are eating up resources well before I run out of actual disk space.
I'm looking for a way to shorten the filenames, have gotten suggestions to hash the strings. But I'm not sure if the hashes are guaranteed to be unique for two different strings. It would be bad if I accidentally fetch the wrong image if two hashed urls come up with the same hash value.

A: You could generate an UUID for each URL and use it as the file name.
UUIDs are unique (or "practically unique") and are 36 characters long, so I guess the file name wouldn't be a problem.
As of version 5, the JDK ships with a class to generate UUIDs (java.util.UUID). You could use randomly generate UUIDs if there's a way to associate them with the URLs, or you could use name based UUIDs. Name based UUIDs are always the same, so the following is always true:
String url = ...
UUID urlUuid = UUID.nameUUIDFromBytes(url.getBytes);
assertTrue(urlUuid.equals(UUID.nameUUIDFromBytes(url.getBytes)));

A: There's no (shortening) hash which can guarantee different hashes for each input. It's simply not possible.
The way I usually do it is by saving the original name at the beginning (e.g., first line) of the cache file. So to find a file in the cache you do it like this:

*

*Hash the URL

*Find the file corresponding to that hash

*Check the first line. If it's the same as the full URL:

*The rest of the file is from line two and forward

You can also consider saving the URL->file mapping in a database.

A:
But I'm not sure if the hashes are guaranteed to be unique for two different strings.

They very much aren't (and cannot be, due to the pigeonhole principle). But if the hash is sufficiently long (at least 64 bit) and well-distributed (ideally a cryptographic hash), then the likelihood of a collision becomes so small that it's not worth worrying about.
As a rough guideline, collisions will become likely once the number of files approaches the square root of the number of possible different hashes (birthday paradox). So for a 64 bit hash (10 character filenames), you have about a 50% chance of one single collision if you have 4 billion files.
You'll have to decide whether that is an acceptable risk. You can reduce the chance of collision by making the hash longer, but of course at some point that will mean the opposite of what you want.

A: Currently, the SHA-1 algorithm is recommended.  There are no known ways to intentionally provoke collisions for this algorithm, so you should be safe.  Provoking collisions with two pieces of data that have common structure (such as the http:// prefix) is even harder.  If you save this stuff after you get a HTTP 200 response, then the URL obviously fetched something, so getting two distinct, valid URLs with the same SHA-1 hash really should not be a concern.
If it's of any re-assurance Git uses it to identify all objects, commits and folders in the source code repository.  I've yet to hear of someone with a collision in the object store.

A: Hashes are not guaranteed to be unique, but the chance of a collision is vanishingly small.
If your hash is, say, 128 bits then the chance of a collision for any pair of entries is 1 in 2^128. By the birthday paradox, if you had 10^18 entries in your table then the chance of a collision is only 1%, so you don't really need to worry about it. If you are extra paranoid then increase the size of the hash by using SHA256 or SHA512.
Obviously you need to make sure that the hashed representation actually takes up less space than the original filename. Base-64 encoded strings represent 6 bits per character so you can do the math to find out if it's even worth doing the hash in the first place.
If your file system barfs because the names are too long then you can create prefix subdirectories for the actual storage. For example, if a file maps the the hash ABCDE then you can store it as /path/to/A/B/CDE, or maybe /path/to/ABC/DE depending on what works best for your file system.
Git is a good example of this technique in practice.

A: what you can do is save the files by an index and use a index file to find the location of the actual file
in the directory you have:
index.txt
file1
file2
...
etc.

and in index.txt you use some datastructure to find the filenames efficiently (or replace with a DB)

A: Look at my comment.
One possible solution (there are a lot) is creating a local file (SQLite? XML? TXT?) in which you store a pair (file_id - file_name) so you can save your downloaded files with their unique ID as filename.
Just an idea, not the best...

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S. Katsanevakis, D. Poursanidis, Y. Issaris, A. Panou, D. Petza, V. Vassilopoulou, I. Chaldaiou and M. Sini (2011). Mediterranean Marine Science 12(2), 429-438.
Abstract: International agreements as well as European and national legislation prohibit exploitation and trading of edible marine shelled molluscs, due to either significant declines in their populations or destructive fishing practices. However, enforcement of existing legislation in Greece is ineffective and many populations of 'protected' species continue to decline, mainly due to poaching. The extent of illegal trading of protected bivalves and gastropods in Greek seafood restaurants was investigated by interviewing owners or managers of 219 such restaurants in 92 localities. Interviews were based on questionnaires regarding the frequency of availability in the menus and the origin of twenty-one species or groups of species, among which eight are protected – illegally exploited. Forty-two percent of the surveyed restaurants were found to serve at least one of the protected – illegally exploited species. Among the illegally traded species, Lithophaga lithophaga, Pecten jacobaeus and Pinna nobilis were served in a relatively high proportion of the surveyed restaurants (22.8%, 19.2% and 16.4% respectively), outrunning many commercial species. In many cases, these species were always or often available (11.4%, 4.6% and 5.0% respectively). There was substantial spatial variation in the proportion of restaurants that illegally served protected species with different pattern for each species; very high proportions of illegal trading was observed in some marine regions (e.g. date mussels were served in >65% of the seafood restaurants along the coastline of Evvoikos Gulf). In most cases, the illegally traded species were of local origin, while there was no finding of illegally imported molluscs from other countries. The strategy for enforcement of existing legislation should be greatly improved otherwise protection of shelled molluscs will remain ineffective.


Every week brings documents, emails, new jobs, and job lists. Just how much of this is totally different from the work you have done before? Odds are, not much. Many of our tasks are variations on something.
Do not reinvent the wheel every single time you start something fresh. Instead, use templates–as starting point for work that is new, standardized files with formatting and text. As soon as you save a separate version of the template, just add, eliminate, or alter any data for that record that is exceptional, and you are going to have the work.
Programs work everywhere: in word processors, spreadsheets, project management programs, survey programs, and also email. Here's the way to use templates in your favorite programs –and the way to create documents from a template–so you can get your tasks quicker.
Templates take time to build, and it's easy to wonder if they are worth the investment. The brief answer: absolutely. Editing a template takes much less time than formatting some thing from scratch. It's the distinction between copying and pasting some text, or retyping it.
That's only one advantage: Using a template means you're less likely to leave out key information, also. For instance, if you want to send freelance writers a contributor agreement, modifying a standard contract template (rather than writing a new contract each time) guarantees you won't depart out the crucial clause about owning the material once you've paid for it.
Templates additionally guarantee consistency. You send investors or clients regular job updates. With a template, you understand the upgrade will have the same formatting, design, and general structure.
You can always delete notes on, but you may forget it at the last edition if it's not from the template.
Some applications will automatically fill in these factors for you (more on that in a little ). But if you have to fill in the information by yourself, add some text that's simple and obvious to look for so it is possible to locate text that needs to be changed without a lot of effort.


This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation number is 70Z03918RFQPHM213 and is issued as an invitation for bids (IFB), unless otherwise indicated herein. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circulars. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 451140 with a small business size standard of 500.00 employees. This requirement is a [Small Business] set-aside and only qualified offerors may submit bids. The U. S. Coast Guard Band, New London CT, requires thirty commercial of the shelf instrument cases built to custom ATA Flight Case standard with the following minimum built specifications: 1) Exterior made with 3/8" 7-ply, cross-laminated, void-free Birch plywood with exterior grade glue. 2) Made with hardened aluminum extrusions: • "Dual Wall" style corner extrusion, clamps around both sides of plywood/laminate. Length of interior leg of corner matches length of exterior leg. • Extra deep interlocking tongue (at least 5/8") and groove valence to prohibit twisting. 3) All aluminum extrusions (corners and valence) are to be riveted a minimum of every 5 inches for maximum strength using POP brand rivets. 4) All rivets are to be backed by aluminum extrusions or washers where rivets only go through wood. 5) All door & lid hinges should fully extend to case edges and mounted under the corner clamps. 6) Hardware to meet or exceed Penn Fabrication heavy-duty series. Deep-dish large grip handles, two per side (normally eight per case), unless otherwise specified by USCG Band. Cases over 50" and/or with a lift-off lid should have two handles per side for both top and bottom portions of the case where possible (sixteen total). Heavy-duty ball corners (not flat) on all corners. 7) All cases to have Colson Performa 5 Series 4"x 2" Swivel Casters, Flat Grey Tread, roller bearing metal caps, 4"x 4.5" top plate, Encore yokes, rated 400lbs per caster, unless otherwise specified. 8) Caster/dolly plates are manufactured with at least 18mm 13 ply Birch plywood, routed edges, sanded, painted black, & secured to bottom of case with rivets and T-nuts that extend through the case to hold casters on. 9) Laminate will be Pionite part number SE101-L (.050" thick, "leather finish" textured, high-pressure laminate, color is "Black") - bonded to the plywood with a fully sprayed epoxy and pressed. 10) Cases will have the following stenciled in white paint on two sides: USCG Band New London CT 11) Drawers & lift-out trays are manufactured with 12mm 9 ply birch. Drawers to be sanded, primed, and textured in a black spatter paint finish. Drawers to have full extension metal slides 130lbs rated. 12) 12 oz. heavy-duty carpet will be used in all trunks, drawers, trays, and where needed or specified. 13) All cases will have one 6.5"x 8.5" McCloon/Case Labels USA write on/off label routed into the top center of the lid, flush with the laminate surface. Any pull-out drawers will have one 2"x 6" McCloon write on/off label routed into the upper left corner of the drawer. 14) Latches will be 5"x 8" recessed "lay-flat" heavy-duty "hexagonal catch" unless otherwise specified. 15) All exterior length and width dimensions of cases will be 24", 30", or 48" (Truck-Pack). Heights shall be 38", 50", or 60". Vendor must contact the USCG Band Audio Team (MUC Rob Holtorff - 917.921.5044 / alternate MU1 Ian Dobie 860.444.8469) to confirm and ensure dimensions or any deviation from custom specification and or substitution. Failure to do so will not relieve the vendor of his/her responsibility for estimating properly the difficulty or cost of successfully delivering the supplies. 16) Vendor must provide one prototype road case to the USCG Band, prior to other production within 30 days of award - built to the USCG Band Road Case Specification - in order to demonstrate product specification capability. This case will be equivalent to item/road case #1 on the attached spreadsheet, The prototype case will be partially deconstructed by the USCG Band, only enough to verify that the materials and components used adhere to the USCG Band Road Case Specification. If the case does not meet the specification, it will result in the award termination. 17) After award, a site visit to the CG Academy is required to measure each CG Band instrument and component that each road case will house. CAD drawings of each case design will then be executed and submitted to POC MUC Rob Holtorff within 45 days of prototype approval for review and final approval. 18) Ship /Delivery to be completed 90 days follwoing CAD approval: US Coast Guard Academy 15 Mohegan Ave New London, CT 06320 Technical questions may be directed to: Robert.G.Holtorff (860) 444-8469 | Robert.G.Holtorff@uscg.mil Quotations must be submitted electronically to: David Palacios via email @ david.f.palacios@uscg.mil Ensure to reference the solicitation number when submitting your quote.


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War in the Name of Atheism - Theology Myths
Atheism Myths and Misconceptions
Atheism and Agnosticism Logic
Key Figures in Atheism
Other Religions Atheism and Agnosticism
How Many Have Been Killed by Communists in the Name of Atheism & Secularism?. Keystone / Getty Images
Reversing Atheists' Critiques of Religious Violence
A common criticism which atheists raise against religion is how violent religion and religious believers have been in the past. People have slaughtered each other in large numbers either because of differences in religious beliefs or because of other differences which are further justified and intensified through religious rhetoric. Either way, religion has a lot of blood on its hands. Can the same be said for atheists and atheism? Haven't atheists killed more people in the name of atheism than religious theists have killed in the name of their religion? No, because atheism isn't a philosophy or ideology.
How Many Have Been Killed by Communists in the Name of Atheism & Secularism?
None, probably. How can that be? After all, millions and millions of people died in Russia and China under communist governments — and those governments were both secular and atheistic. So weren't all of those people killed because of atheism — even in the name of atheism and secularism? No, that conclusion does not follow. Atheism itself isn't a principle, cause, philosophy, or belief system which people fight, die, or kill for. Being killed by an atheist is no more being killed in the name of atheism than being killed by a tall person is being killed in the name of tallness. Communists Don't Kill in the Name of Atheism...
Hitler Was an Atheist Who Killed Millions in the Name of Atheism, Secularism
A popular image of the Nazis is that they were fundamentally anti-Christian while devout Christians were anti-Nazi. The truth is that German Christians supported the Nazis because they believed that Adolf Hitler was a gift to the German people from God. Hitler frequently referenced God and Christianity both in public and private. The Nazi Party Program explicitly endorsed and promoted Christianity in the party platform. Millions of Christians in Germany not only enthusiastically supported and endorsed Hitler and the Nazis but did so on the basis of common Christian beliefs and attitudes. Hitler Was Not an Atheist...
Isn't Atheism the Same as Communism? Doesn't Atheism Lead to Communism?
A common complaint made by theists, typically those of the fundamentalist variety, is that atheism and/or humanism are essentially socialist or communist in nature. Thus, atheism and humanism should be rejected since socialism and communism are evil. Evidence indicates that bigotry and prejudice towards atheists in America are due, in no small part, to anti-communist activism by conservatives Christians in America, so this claimed connection has had serious consequences for American atheists. Atheism and Communism are Not the Same...
Militant Atheists are Atheist Fundamentalists, a New Atheism
There seems to be an increasing number of people responding to atheist critiques of religion or theism by labeling the person a "fundamentalist" atheist. The label is problematic because there are no essential or "fundamental" beliefs for an atheist to be "fundamentalist" about. So why do people use the label? Why do so many people feel that the label is appropriate? This seems to be mostly due to misunderstandings about and prejudice against fundamentalism and the label cannot be applied to atheists. Fundamentalist Atheism / Atheistic Fundamentalism Does Not Exist...
Atheists are Intolerant for Criticizing Religion, Theism
There are several myths here, all tightly intertwined for the apparent purpose of getting atheists to cease making uncomfortable and unwelcome criticisms of religion and theism. Religious believers, mostly Christians, are responding to atheistic critiques of religion by claiming that vocal, unapologetic atheists are analogous to religious terrorists and that criticism of religion is a form of religious intolerance. The implication is that believers shouldn't have to be faced with criticism. This is wrong: religion and theism aren't owed any deference or respect. Criticism of Religion & Theism is Not Intolerance...
If People Fail to Believe in God, They Will Believe in Anything
Many religious theists think that their God creates or otherwise provides a set of objective standards against which they can measure all their beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, etc. Without their god, they can't imagine how anyone could possibly differentiate true from false beliefs, moral from immoral behaviors, proper from improper attitudes. Atheists who don't believe in any gods are thus capable of believing and doing absolutely anything, having nothing at all to hold them back. Will Atheists Believe in Anything?
How Many People Did Stalin Kill?
What is Antireligion?
Was the Nazi Party Based on an Anti-Christian Ideology?
What Is a Fundamentalist Atheist?
Atheism for Beginners
9 Answers About Being an Atheist
An Introduction to Atheism and Atheists
Militant Atheist Definition and Examples
The Paradoxical Partnership of Nazism and Christianity
What are Godless and Godlessness?
How to Tell Someone Is a Militant Atheist
Why Do Atheists Need Philosophy? We Need to Reason Well About Life
Defending and Justifying 'Under God' in the Pledge
An Atheist's View of the Christian Right Wing
What is Agnosticism? A Short Explanation
What is Atheism? What isn't Atheism?


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All inclusive holidays in the Maldives
All our destinations in the Indian Ocean
Perfect for a couples retreat away from it all, our majestic Maldives destinations are the ideal place for loved ones to relax together. Our luxury all inclusive Maldives holidays are the ideal romantic getaway, perfect for couples and adults, all year round. From beach holidays in Kani, to couples holidays in our private sea-front villas, to spa holidays in the Finolhu Villas, our Maldives couples holiday resorts have it all. Browse our all-inclusive Maldives holidays & get yourself ready for the sunshine!
Discover new ways to play and unwind at Club Med Kani Maldives Resort. With seemingly infinite possibilities to ignite excitement and pursue your passions, revel in the best Maldives all-inclusive resort amid 2-kilometres of powdery white beaches, swaying palms, and exhilarating underwater adventures. Whether partaking in new pursuits or diving into a favourite pastime, the resort's unmatched offerings make every day worth celebrating. From snorkelling with schools of tropical fish, to paddling through crystal clear waters, or dining on international culinary creations and freshly caught seafood, a holiday here is simply unforgettable.
For a truly luxurious way to enjoy the Maldives, Club Med Kani's discrete Manta Exclusive Collection introduces a heightened level of refinement in each of its overwater suites.
from 1598 CHF instead of 1775 CHF per person*
See the resort
The Finolhu Villas
Nestled on the private, beautifully preserved island of Gasfinolhu in the heart of the Indian Ocean, our ecologically conscious Maldives all-inclusive resort is surrounded by natural splendour at every turn. With butlers available to assist with any need or request, redefine your idea of paradise at the award-winning Finolhu Villas.
from 3339 CHF per person*
See the Villas
Discover the Maldives
Luxury, calm and exquisite pleasure: that's what you can expect from an all-inclusive stay in the Maldives.
Dozens of atolls, translucent waters, multicoloured fish and deserted beaches ... You're in the Maldives, a little piece of paradise in the Indian Ocean.
Your stay in the Maldives, here in the heart of nature at its most sensuous and romantic
On honeymoon or in search of a journey that's truly timeless? Head for the Maldives. This small country made up of 1200 islets, just 200 of them inhabited, is a natural treasure. On one of the uninhabited islets, enjoy an all-inclusive package in the Maldives with just coconut palms, fine sand and whispering waves for company. From your Club Med Kani resort, visit the islets by seaplane, enjoying a bird's eye view of the colourful lagoons and coral reefs.
Dive into the discovery of a myriad of treasures
Leave the air and head for the ocean. Your stay in the Maldives continues with a trip to Ari Atoll aboard a glass-bottom boat: ideal for observing the aquatic ballet of fish dancing around the coral reefs. Then dive into the waters off North Malé Atoll at Manta Point for some unexpected encounters during your all-inclusive package in the Maldives: just opposite the atoll of your Club Med Finolhu Villas resort, you can swim with the manta rays and whale sharks. Completely harmless, they'll be happy to come up close and say hello.
The welcome and warmth are all included: that's what makes a stay in the Maldives so authentic
Much more than just an idyllic setting, the Maldives have an identity forged by a range of different influences. In Malé, which in Sanskrit means "big house", the Maldives National Museum bears witness to the Indian, Muslim, Buddhist and Portuguese civilisations that live side by side in the country. Malé is also an island of traditions, as you'll see for yourself at its picturesque market: around stalls of exotic multicoloured fish, folklore and trading rituals provide a real spectacle for you to enjoy every day. A spectacle that's tinged with the kindness of the locals who'll welcome you into this "big house" and provide some great tips on where to savour grilled bonito or help you seek out a secret islet. Everything you need to make your stay in the Maldives even more memorable.
Things to do in the Maldives
Maldives National Museum
The Maldives National Museum is one of the great cultural symbols of the Maldives. In Malé, with its modern yet understated architectural setting, the museum guards behind its doors a wealth of artefacts. Pre-Islamic antiquities, thrones and armour uncover the roots of the Maldives, in what has today become a haven for the country's rich art history.
The Maldives: Maradhoo
Witness the spine-tingling ballet of the manta ray by heading for Maradhoo. This secluded Indian Ocean paradise promises breathtaking underwater thrills. The diving clubs are on hand to offer a warm welcome and all the advice you may need. Located to the west of Addu Atoll, you can reach this magnificent natural site by boat from your Club Med Kani resort.
View the resort Kani
The Maldives: Old Friday Mosque
Located on the Medu Ziraye Magu in Malé, the Old Friday Mosque is one of the oldest monuments in the Maldives. Built in the 17th century from coral, this place of worship, also known as Hukuru Miskiy, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architectural ornaments provide a perfect example of the fusion of Maldivian and Moorish influences here. An enriching and informative destination during your all-inclusive stay in the Maldives.
The Maldives: Malé Fish Market
Strolling through the market, you'll discovery an hallmark of Malé folklore. A vast array of fish of all sizes are laid out before you on the ground, on mats, to make negotiating as simple as possible. An extraordinary experience, very typical of Malé, that is a must-see during your all-inclusive stay in the Maldives.
Big-game fishing
The height of sport fishing, big-game fishing is heaven on earth for keen anglers. That's where the Maldives really excel as the destination of choice for fishermen and seasoned seafarers. Departing from your Finolhu Villas resort, take your boat out onto the open sea and cast your line against the backdrop of the translucent atolls. Troll fishing, casting, fly fishing: do what you love best. Sail freely in the Maldivian waters, where you'll find yellowfin tuna, dolphinfish and blue marlin in abundance.
View the resort The Finolhu Villas
Fly in a seaplane
Fly free as a bird during your all-inclusive package in the Maldives by climbing on board for a seaplane excursion. Your seaplane adventure gives you the chance you fully appreciate the natural beauty of the constellation of islands and atolls that fill the waters around the Maldives. From Meeru to Malé, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a wonderful natural spectacle, high above the Indian Ocean.
All-inclusive holidays in Mauritius
All-inclusive holidays in the Dom. Rep.
All-inclusive holidays in Indonesia


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VA Names Two New National Cemeteries in Florida
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the names of two new VA national cemeteries planned in Florida – the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Scottsmoor and the Tallahassee National Cemetery in Tallahassee.
"These two new cemeteries are a priority for the growing Veterans' community in Florida," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "As VA moves forward with these new cemeteries, Veterans, their spouses and families can have peace of mind knowing that they have a final resting place in a nearby national shrine."
The Cape Canaveral National Cemetery is planned for a 318-acre parcel located in close proximity to U. S. Route 1 in northern Brevard County in Scottsmoor, approximately two miles from Interstate 95 and 12 miles north of Titusville. The cemetery will serve more than 163,000 Veterans, spouses and their eligible dependents living in the central eastern Florida area.
The initial phase of construction will provide more than 17,000 gravesites. VA purchased the central eastern Florida property, formerly known as Acosta Groves, for $2.1 million on July 31, 2012.
The Tallahassee National Cemetery is planned for a 250-acre parcel in Leon County, with frontage along U.S. Highway 27 (Apalachee Parkway) and Old St. Augustine Road near March Road east of Tallahassee. The cemetery will serve 83,000 Veterans and their eligible dependents in the Tallahassee area, as well as southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. The initial phase of construction will provide more than 6,000 gravesites and an earlyturnover area so that the cemetery can begin burial operations soon after construction begins. VA purchased the Tallahassee property for $6.8 million on Aug. 14, 2012, from the St. Joe Company.
Veterans with a qualifying discharge, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Also eligible are military personnel who die on active duty. Other burial benefits available for eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a government headstone or marker.
In the midst of the largest expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3.8 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries. In 2013, NCA achieved a customer satisfaction index of 96, the highest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score in either the private or public sector in the history of the ACSI. The score is nearly 28 points above the 68 point average for federal government agencies.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.
To make burial arrangements at any VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.


This fancy kitty cat is ready to join your puppet troupe! He's nearly a foot tall, he's covered in a layer of thick, fluffy faux fur, and he has all of the adorable features of a real kitty cat. He has a compartment in the bottom for your hand and he's easy to control. If you need some fluffiness added to your puppet show, then you're going to love this little furball!


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Q: Magento - Create new user returns SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' Help? I'm at my wits end with this one. Everything else on this new live site works flawlessly except this one issue. I can't create new customer accounts without it returning this error. I've tried everything I can think of in my own wheelhouse. Any suggestions? Magento forums are a wash for support.

A: SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

Trace:
#0 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/lib/Zend/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php(96): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Abstract->_connect()
#1 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/lib/Varien/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php(251): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->_connect()
#2 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/lib/Zend/Db/Adapter/Abstract.php(448): Varien_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->_connect()
#3 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/lib/Zend/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Abstract.php(238): Zend_Db_Adapter_Abstract->query('SET NAMES utf8', Array)
#4 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/lib/Varien/Db/Adapter/Pdo/Mysql.php(333): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Abstract->query('SET NAMES utf8', Array)
#5 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Resource/Type/Db/Pdo/Mysql.php(45): Varien_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->query('SET NAMES utf8')
#6 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Resource.php(93): Mage_Core_Model_Resource_Type_Db_Pdo_Mysql->getConnection(Object(Mage_Core_Model_Config_Element))
#7 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Mysql4/Abstract.php(297): Mage_Core_Model_Resource->getConnection('core_read')
#8 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Mysql4/Abstract.php(312): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Abstract->_getConnection('read')
#9 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Mysql4/Abstract.php(332): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Abstract->_getReadAdapter()
#10 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Mysql4/Collection/Abstract.php(97): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Abstract->getReadConnection()
#11 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Config.php(1206): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Collection_Abstract->__construct(Object(Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Website))
#12 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Config.php(1239): Mage_Core_Model_Config->getModelInstance('core_mysql4/web...', Object(Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Website))
#13 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/Mage.php(460): Mage_Core_Model_Config->getResourceModelInstance('core/website_co...', Object(Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Website))
#14 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Abstract.php(208): Mage::getResourceModel('core/website_co...', Object(Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Website))
#15 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Abstract.php(213): Mage_Core_Model_Abstract->getResourceCollection()
#16 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/App.php(532): Mage_Core_Model_Abstract->getCollection()
#17 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/App.php(393): Mage_Core_Model_App->_initStores()
#18 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/App.php(299): Mage_Core_Model_App->_initCurrentStore('', 'store')
#19 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/app/Mage.php(596): Mage_Core_Model_App->run(Array)
#20 /home/orangeav/public_html/store/index.php(80): Mage::run('', 'store)
#21 {main}

This is the code I get after trying to create a customer account, as a normal customer would when visiting the site. This is the latest version of Magento (1.4.1.1) without any updates applied. There are no extensions installed and all my styling and themes are being done semantically and using the correct theme structure. If it matters, I can bypass this error by requiring customers to validate accounts through email -- it's as if being redirected to the dashboard is causing the issue, as bypassing that step means you miss the page where this error is displayed.
I sincerely apologize for not being more descriptive in my original question. For now, the problem isn't much of an issue, as customers aren't seeing the screen, but it's inconvenient that they should require account confirmation before being able to log in and place an order, so I would love to fix this if possible.
Thank you for any assistance. I appreciate the time and effort.

A: The mysql socket layer was lost,you can recreate it.
ln -s /tmp/mysql.sock /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock


The animated Beauty and the Beast is basically a perfect movie, so the live-action film has a lot to live up to. With its latest trailer, it does just that, showcasing some truly magical music and visuals.
The trailer debuted during The Bachelor, which is kind of funny. Check it out.
I'm surprised, after the success of recent musicals like La La Land, this trailer doesn't lean heavier in the fact it's a full-blown musical. Still, the visuals are incredible and the teases we do get of those numbers are exciting. I can't wait to see how Be Our Guest comes together. You get a few teases of it here.
Along with the trailer comes the announcement that tickets are now on sale.
Directed by Bill Condon, Beauty and the Beast opens March 17. It features one of the best casts of the year in Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast along with Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson.


Know someone loving their party make-up this Christmas? This is the gift for them. This much-loved Camomile 123 Kit is specially formulated to gently remove even waterproof make-up. Our bestselling Camomile duo is made with calming Camomile, and is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens-wearers. Simply remove, cleanse and wipe away last night's party, just like that!
Sweep the eye make-up remover over eyes with a cotton pad to gently remove all eye make-up. Apply the cleansing butter to dry skin and massage in. Remove with the muslin cloth and warm water.


Discussion in 'Food & Cooking' started by cardinalgill, Jul 24, 2011.
In an event for Alice Water's Edible Schoolyard foundation, Top Chef All-Stars Champ Chef Richard Blais (@RichardBlais) cooked an incredible meal for 150 fans tonight at at Frog Hollow Farms in Brentwood, CA.
First and foremost, the champ leaked to his fans (about 150 in attendance) that he very recently signed a book deal with Random House for a book to come out in the fall of 2012 (!!!). He stressed that it wouldn't be all sous vide and liquid nitrogen, but something that would tell his story and make the professional touches accessible to the at home chef. Sounds like a winner - it'll be exciting to see.
We got there early enough to catch the chef before he put his chef coat on. Tending to dual 600 lbs. tanks of liquid nitrogen, he was having a great time.
Set in the stunning peach orchards, Richard was an incredibly gracious host to all guests including my wife and me (she's a big Top Chef fan.) Throughout the night, he delighted folks with tales from the show, lessons on the techniques he was employing, and just general charm.
The menus were elegantly mounted on balsa wood...maybe hard to read in the pictures, but we started with Hog Island Oysters, Pimento/Cheese sandwiches, and Beet tartare as passed hors d'ourves. We then had a wonderful combination of Chilled Hiramasa fish with fried chicken and smoked aioli, a Cutlet of fried Petrale Sole, followed by a succulent pork belly (sous vide for 48 hrs then finished on the grill), and last, a wonderful cherry ice cream made with liquid nitrogen - you'd expect nothing different from Chef Blais.
The delicious fish/fried chicken course.
Slow cooked Pork Belly with cauliflower several ways - pureed, in a "foam", and grilled.
And finally delicious ice cream in some of the most amazing cones ever tasted.
It was a wonderful event and Chef Blais was a gracious host. The people from Frog Hollow were a pleasure - I'll hope to go back again ASAP.
ctlurker, kuan and john dt like this.
Thanks for these fantastic photos!


This 3 bedroom 2 bath home needs lots of TLC, but has just as much potential. The home is on a .945 acre lot with an additional 24.44 acres located behind the home with approximately 20 tillable acres. Sold as is.


The Report recommends significant changes to the way that TSOs approach the harmonisation of rules relating to long-term transmission rights and the identification of the need for hedging instruments, as well as the process of conducting a structured bidding zone configuration review, among other things.
ACER published its first monitoring Report on the implementation of the Regulation containing Guidelines on Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM Regulation) and the Regulation containing Guidelines on Forward Capacity Allocation (FCA Regulation), which set binding guidelines for the implementation and operation of single market coupling in the day-ahead and intraday timeframes, and the rules on cross-zonal capacity calculation and allocation in the forward timeframe, respectively. The CACM Regulation came into force on 14 August 2015 while the FCA Regulation has been applicable since 17 October 2016.
The Report finds that the implementation of the Regulations can generally be considered successful and a decisive milestone in the development of fully integrated electricity markets across the EU. Single day-ahead coupling is almost complete, mainly as a result of early and voluntary initiatives. These initiatives still need to be transformed into single day-ahead coupling as formally established by the CACM Regulation.
The Report further concludes that many new detailed terms and conditions or methodologies have been adopted either at EU- or regional-level, although most of them still need to be implemented. This process, though legally and organisationally complex, can be considered a successful approach to developing and defining all the necessary design elements for an integrated electricity market.
There are, however, a number of challenges that need to be addressed in the coming years. For the FCA Regulation, there are a few instances where rules relating to long-term transmission rights have been applied at regional-level in ways that deviate from harmonised allocation rules or even from the FCA Regulation itself. ACER recommends that national regulatory authorities (NRAs) jointly develop harmonised criteria and metrics based on which the need for hedging instruments issued by TSOs may be objectively identified.
For the CACM Regulation, ACER has identified undue discrimination between internal and cross-zonal exchanges, which is not appropriately addressed by TSO proposals. This applies, in particular, to the methodologies related to capacity calculation, re-dispatching and countertrading. Furthermore, ACER recommends improvements in the governance and the methodology applied to the periodic review of bidding zone configuration, given that the first bidding zone review failed to deliver its objectives according to CACM.
ACER also notes that the Market Coupling Operator (MCO) Function, for which the legal framework is complex and suboptimal, should be revised, including with regard to the governance of algorithms and of associated cost recovery. Furthermore, ACER considers that the CACM Regulation does not clearly define the design for intraday coupling. This has resulted in a risk that the single intraday market may become fragmented in terms of timeframe, design and geography. TSOs and NRAs should bear this in mind when designing intra-day coupling mechanisms.
In addition to technical issues, ACER recommends possible improvements to the Network Code implementation process, so as to avoid unnecessary delays in the adoption and implementation of coupling frameworks.


To protect your car and your other belongings, you need the most experienced Cedar Hill garage door service professionals. The good news is that the best in Cedar Hill garage door repair can be found right here at Action Garage Doors. When you want the best in garage door repair and other services, you have to turn to the best. For years, we have been providing residents all over Cedar Hill with the garage door service they need to have their garages in the best working order.
As a garage door repair company that is committed to customer satisfaction, nobody beats Action Garage Door. Our family-owned business has been satisfying customers for 30 years and we are waiting to help you find the services you need for your garage door in Cedar Hill. Our work complies with all local codes and our products can withstand the elements. Contact us for garage door repair in Cedar Hill.
At Action Garage Door, we understand you have many needs when it comes to garage door service. For this reason, our garage door service goes way beyond simple repairs. We can fix your garage door springs, for example, as well as its rollers. In addition, we perform installations for residences and businesses.
To get started with your garage door repair, installation, or replacement, contact Action Garage Door in Cedar Hill today and let's talk about the options available from the garage door repair company that has been caring for customers since 1984.
If you need garage door service in Cedar Hill, your best bet is to call Action Garage Door Repair. No matter what the problem, our team will respond quickly to your request, whether you need a replacement part or a quote to replace the door. No job is too small — or too big — for our trained professionals.
Cedar Hill is home to transmission towers for local broadcast stations as well as the Doppler Radar Tracking equipment used to forecast storms and tornadoes. The field of towers is situated at an elevation of 800 feet, the highest point of land in a line that runs from the Red River separating Texas from Oklahoma to the north to the Gulf Coast at the southern tip of the state. The towers are not Cedar Hill's only claim to fame however.
In its early history, the city was all but destroyed by an 1856 tornado that killed at least nine people and area livestock, as well as destroying most of the property. It is said that there were only two buildings left standing. Victims were buried in a cemetery that itself was lost for almost 100 years, until it was "found" and reconsecrated in 2011. It is one of the city's two old cemeteries to bear state historic markers.
Historic Cedar Hill was situated on a branch of the Chisholm Trail and, for a time, was the largest settlement in the area. It served as county seat for Dallas County prior to the destructive tornado. Today, five early homes are on the National Park Service's Register of Historic Places. Old-time residents may also tell tales of the local bank that was held up twice by the same robber. Robert Hamilton was captured and jailed, but his "friends" Bonnie and Clyde broke him out of jail. He was eventually recaptured, and the bank failed as well, but the story lives on. The bank building is now occupied by a barber, and bears historical designation, along with three other buildings on the historical register.
Among Cedar Hill's more natural attractions are Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park, both of which attract visitors from throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The city is home to just over 45,000 residents who are avid Longhorn fans, the name of Cedar Hill High School's award-winning football team. Cedar Hill Independent School District serves more than 8,100 students in grades K-12 at 14 campuses. Students score at the state average level on test scores, and class sizes average a student-teacher ratio of 17:1.
Household income in owner-occupied homes is $79, 598, and the median home price in the city is $130,700, just under the statewide median. The local unemployment rate is two percent lower than the national rate, and the poverty rate is 36 percent lower than the national.
Cedar Hill has enjoyed steady growth and development since the 1990s, and today it is a center of economic development, with retail and restaurants leading the way. In 2003, the innovative Cedar Village was begun; it is a 70-acre planned development that links city hall and the historic Main Street district to newer retail, residential, entertainment and office areas in the city. Hillside Village is another example of forward-thinking development and is the city's upscale lifestyle shopping area, with three major anchor stores and a host of specialty retail outlets.
Now in the works is economic development of the city center into a walkable destination attraction with three separate zones: Uptown, Midtown and Historic Downtown. Also new on the scene is a planned $26 million apartment development project. All in all, this is a great time to think about "coming home" to the hill!
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Q: AWS Lambda Stop EC2 but exclude two instances We are looking for AWS Lambda Script to Stop all EC2 instances in a particular region expect two instances

A: First you need to add tags for the instances that you want to stop, for example, AutoStop tag and assign them with value True, and then run this code:
import boto3
import logging

#setup simple logging for INFO
logger = logging.getLogger()
logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)

#define the connection
ec2 = boto3.resource('ec2')

def lambda_handler(event, context):
    # Use the filter() method of the instances collection to retrieve
    # all running EC2 instances.
    filters = [{
            'Name': 'tag:AutoOff',
            'Values': ['True']
        },
        {
            'Name': 'instance-state-name',
            'Values': ['running']
        },
        {
            'Name': 'region',
            'Values': ['us-east-1'] #replace it with your region
        }
    ]

    #filter the instances
    instances = ec2.instances.filter(Filters=filters)

    #locate all running instances
    RunningInstances = [instance.id for instance in instances]

    #print the instances for logging purposes
    #print RunningInstances

    #make sure there are actually instances to shut down.
    if len(RunningInstances) > 0:
        #perform the shutdown
        shuttingDown = ec2.instances.filter(InstanceIds=RunningInstances).stop()
        print shuttingDown
    else:
        print "Nothing to see here"


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