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Dallas focuses on healing from traumas, growing spiritually
Dallas' parents made only rare appearances in his childhood. He grew up in Oklahoma, primarily with his grandparents, until his grandfather died of a heart attack. Dallas was just 13. "I gave him CPR, but I couldn't resuscitate him," he said. "Shortly after, my grandma overdosed. I got her to the hospital. Two to three months later she told me she had cancer."
Dallas took care of his grandmother and his three younger siblings. His mom popped in here and there. "My dad was never in my life," Dallas said. "Then I found him. He was eating at the rescue mission there in Oklahoma. I stayed with him for a couple nights. He was living in an abandoned house they sold drugs out of. There were lots of guns.
"I'm from humble beginnings. I've seen a lot of the other side of life, and I saw it at a young age. Even though I'm from the Bible Belt, a lot of things were … it was different."
Dallas took care of his dad for a bit. He had some money from his grandfather's life insurance payment. At 14, he decided to leave Oklahoma and his family behind. Dallas was realizing that he had developed drug addictions unknowingly. "My grandmother cared for us well, but she was old, and we were energetic," Dallas said. "She would give me Xanax or (opiod painkillers) when I was growing up. I was kept very well-medicated on things that weren't prescribed for me. I didn't understand that just because you were upset, it didn't mean that you take drugs or drink.
"It wasn't until I was 12 or 13 that I realized that everything that was going on wasn't what was supposed to be happening. I remember when I was 12 asking a friend if he wanted any 'sleepy time medicine.' He didn't know what I was talking about. My tolerance was growing and I was developing addictions and I didn't know it."
Dallas took off to California. He got off all the pills he had been taking for years, and got himself back into school. "It was hard," he said. "I started smoking weed. I found myself in and out of mental hospitals. I realized I had a hard time accepting my grandfather's death, and I ran away because I didn't want to see my grandmother die too."
In California for the next couple years, Dallas sometimes stayed with cousins, but was mostly homeless. His grandmother died during that time. "I kept dropping in and out of school. I avoided foster care. I shucked a lot of responsibility. I think about it a lot, how I should've helped with my grandmother. I'm trying to forgive myself."
When Dallas returned to Oklahoma, he was 17. He went back to selling drugs and continued using. "I wasn't a very successful drug dealer anymore," he said. "I eventually started robbing and hurting people to get what I wanted."
Dallas was 18 when he started using drugs intravenously. "I just roamed the streets. I stayed high, and when I started making a lot of enemies, I made my way back to California. I was trying to get clean and sober at 20. Over that year, it was hard. It's hard without rehabilitation. Then I got here."
Dallas arrived at the Mission four months ago. "My emotions were all over the place," he said. "I was paranoid. But I started meeting the other guys and keeping up the positive routines. I cut out all the negative habits I've developed over the years. I stopped smoking cigarettes and weed, and doing drugs. I'm (five) months sober."
Dallas has started seeing a therapist and his relationship with God has blossomed. "I'm really thankful for (the Mission)," he said. "I see all the opportunities it provides. I thought I was a Christian before, but my spirituality was more all over the place.
"I didn't understand what it meant to be a Christian, really. I had different personalities around different people. A lot of my attributes in the past wouldn't give God glory. I'd parrot other Christians. I thought that was the only way to get help. … I feel like I met Jesus before, but now, I know him."
Dallas, now 21, enjoys volunteering at the thrift store, and hopes to secure a job there eventually. He wants to find work, get his driver's license and embrace his new life. "Jesus is a very big part of my life and he welcomes everybody to be a part of his," Dallas added. "And if anybody needs a second chance, this is where it can happen."
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Stay connected with the good work the Mission is doing, and learn more about the people we help.
Lives Changed
Warehouse Manager- Valley Food Bank (Pacoima, CA)
Part-Time Guest Services Associate – Victor Valley Women's Shelter (Victorville, CA)
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After 15 years in and out of jail, Miguel just 'let God take over' →
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Chris Evert sets question marks on Serena Williams's future
Chris Evert believes that the "GOAT" title belongs to Serena Williams in women's tennis. The 36-year-old has won 23 Grand Slam titles and she is just one title away from equalling Margaret Court. 'Of course, Serena is the best ever,' said Evert, an 18-time Major winner, in an interview to CBS Sports.
'A case can be made, but it's really ridiculous. We were the best in our era', she said referring to herself, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf. 'Serena is the best in her era.' Evert also spoke about Serena's chances to come back at her highest level: 'It's not only that she's had a break, but she has a child now.
I'm sorry, but being a mom, she's in a different emotional place than she has ever been in her life. Can she compartmentalize all of that and be almost robotic? Will she regain that focus that she's famous for? It's understandable.
You soften your edges. That's gonna be the big challenge.' ALSO READ: Roger Federer's chances at Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic gives verdict

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Quinns: In an age where we can fit dice on rings and hold Battlestar Galactica LARPs in decommissioned warships, team SU&SD has learned that rules can only hold us back. The only rule we have left is that before we review a game, it has to be available for our readers to buy it.
Today, we're breaking that rule!
Codenames was the smash hit of Gen Con this year. It's still perched happily atop BoardGameGeek's "Hotness" sidebar, it sold out despite having a terrible name and a terrible box, and it's the game I heard most people gossiping about. Under such crushing hype, and knowing that articles will soon be flowing in, today we're offering our review early.
Let's start with two words: Vlaada Chvatil.
Then another five: He's done it again.
Yes! The brilliant, hilarious Czech designer behind such fantastic games as Through the Ages, Bunny Bunny Moose Moose, Galaxy Trucker, Space Alert, Mage Knight and Tash-Kalar (a list that's frankly implausible in its quality and breadth) has a new design out.
Codenames is a team-based party game for 4 to 8 players. I've played it with 15 different people, and all 15 of them have come away wanting to buy it. Including me. In other words, Shut Up & Sit Down Recommends Codenames.
Here's how it works. You deal out a grid of 25 words, divide your players into two teams, and each team nominates a team leader.
How you go about this is equally simple. Each turn, the team leader says a single word (that can't be on the board) followed by a number, for example, "Desert 2". What you're saying there is that two of your team's words on this grid relate to deserts.
The other players on your team then play a kind of verbal minesweeper, discussing the clue in a way that will invariably see the team leader wanting to bang their head on the table. "Palm trees are in the desert! Aren't they? Oh! You need bottles in a desert! Or, um…" Eventually, they'll point to a word and wince.
The team leader then covers this up with the word's corresponding tile, hopefully an agent of your colour. What you don't want is for it to be an innocent bystander, because then you have to stop guessing and pass your turn over to the other team (not forgetting the clue you failed to get which is, of course, still on the board). What you REALLY don't want is for it to be an enemy agent, as you give them a point and still have to stop guessing. But what you really, really, really don't want is for it to be the assassin word, because then you instantly lose the game.
Another wonderful touch is that there's a sand timer included the box, which players are meant to flip whenever they think someone is taking too long, including themselves. Joy!
That's the entire game, so you guys probably need an explanation of exactly why Codenames stormed Gen Con. Please! Allow me.
Above you can see Lukas Litzinger, lead designer of Android: Netrunner, completely losing his mind as team leader. That's because the problems he's facing are all so clear, but any solutions are totally absent.
You need to search for clues to tell your friends, but then you need to cross-reference those clues with other words on the board to make sure you don't point them in the wrong direction. Then you'll find yourself checking where Assassin is for the fourteenth time to make absolutely sure they don't hit it. Or you'll remember it a second after uttering your clue and immediately facepalm because you forgot about the assassin word. At which point you're left watching your idiot lab rat friends nose around, praying they don't get you killed.
But it's worth the effort, because success feels fantastic. Few games offer such an incredible, immediate sense of achievement as Codenames, when you produce a fantastic clue that your friends then GET and the entire opposing team moans aloud as you drop one, two, THREE blue agents on the board. POW!
But this doesn't mean the other team is out of the running. It just means their team leader has to put together an even more elaborate clue. "Heist 4", they might say, "Hollywood 5", or "Women Unlimited".
Yes. Team leaders can also append "Unlimited" to a word to grant their team the power to guess until they get too scared to proceed (or reveal an enemy agent). That's a powerful ability, but of course, then your team has no idea how many agents relate to the word you just said.
Whoever wins or loses, though, Codenames enjoys the same outburst of talking after it finishes that Mysterium does. Although here, the game takes 30 seconds to set up and 15 minutes to play, so it's the work of an instant to break it all down, set it up again and swap the leaders around and play again.
Am I missing anything? Oh, yes- Codenames is funny. The team leader has all the power but can't speak, so any time a team makes a mistake there's incredible frustration and one-sided infighting which is going to collapse the other team into hysterics. And mistakes happen a lot in Codenames, partially because you inevitably fail to spot a word or two, but also because brains don't always work in the same way. Team members can argue about what a clue means, which is funny, or they can be unanimous and confident and still be wrong because they weren't on the same page as their leader, which is just as funny.
But as I've said, Codenames is just as good when you absolutely ace the puzzle, when an entire team works in harmony and never puts a foot wrong. And each round will have a little bit of this, just because failed clues don't go anywhere- if you fail at my "Desert 2", you still know two of the words relate to deserts, and that often leads to photo finishes as failing teams catch up at the last second.
So let's recap. Codenames is a deep game with simple rules, it's tense and silly at the same time, and it's fun when you're winning and even better when you're losing.
Maybe now you see what the fuss is about, eh?
Codenames is scheduled for a general release in October.


Power to Change has a truly exciting opportunity to transform the lives of people and communities across England. In order to fulfil our ambitions, we need outstanding partners to deliver our programmes, business development support and research projects.
Region – Power to Change wishes to appoint a service provider to undertake work to inform its future partnerships and investment into community business and support in Liverpool City Region. This work aims to inform Power to Change's future plans to ensure a co-ordinated offer to community businesses to support their growth, to make the case for community business to public and private sector stakeholders and to transform local places for the better.
Please submit your proposal by no later than 18 April 2019. Read the ITT document. Read the Clarification Questions.


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RELATING TO THE NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the nursing facility sustainability program was established in 2012 and has served a critical role in strengthening the long-term care system in Hawaii. In the seven years since its inception, the nursing facility sustainability program has helped long-term care facilities treat the most vulnerable patients in the State, especially low-income individuals who require these services. The program has been carried out in a public-private partnership to ensure that patients in Hawaii can access quality, affordable care.
The legislature further finds that, even with this program, nursing facilities in the State face major financial challenges. These challenges are due in part to inadequate payments from the medicaid program that do not cover the actual costs of care. Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments by statutory formula; the federal government pays between fifty per cent and seventy-four per cent, with assistance levels determined by each state's per capita income. States with the lowest per capita income receive higher federal matching rates. Under federal rules, the state share must be public funds that are not federal funds. The legislature finds that public funding to help sustain Hawaii's nursing facilities financially may be accessed through a provider fee.
The legislature further finds that provider fees exist in forty-nine states and the District of Columbia as a means of drawing down federal funds to sustain their medicaid programs due to rising state budget deficits, increasing health care costs, and expanding medicaid enrollment. Provider fees, which are collected from specific categories of health care providers that agree to the fee, may be imposed on nineteen different classes of health care services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital and nursing facility services.
The legislature therefore finds that, in Hawaii, a provider fee on nursing facilities has resulted in a substantial increase in medicaid payments, without putting additional constraints on the State's budget. The additional federal funds obtained via the fee program authorized by the nursing facility sustainability program have helped to reduce the amount of losses incurred by long-term care facilities and maintain access to care for medicaid recipients. This allows nursing facilities in the state to continue to serve under- or uninsured patients in a timely, effective matter. This helps to ensure the overall sustainability of the healthcare system in the State.
The purpose of this Act is to preserve access to health care for medicaid recipients by extending the nursing facility sustainability fee program.
SECTION 2. Section 346F-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) Revenue from the nursing facility sustainability fee shall be used exclusively as follows:
(1) No less than eighty-eight per cent of the revenue from the nursing facility sustainability fee shall be used [to match] for one or more of the following:
(A) To match federal medicaid funds, with the combined total to be used to enhance capitated rates to medicaid managed care health plans for the purpose of increasing medicaid payments to private nursing facilities[;] to support the availability of services and to ensure access to care to the medicaid managed care health plan enrollees; or
(B) To match federal medicaid funds, with the combined total to enhance capitated rates for the purpose of paying quality incentives;
(2) Twelve per cent of the revenue from the nursing facility sustainability fee may be used by the department for other departmental purposes; and
(3) All moneys remaining in the special fund on December 30, [2019,] 2021, shall be distributed to nursing facilities within thirty days in the same proportions as received from the nursing facilities."
"(c) The nursing facility sustainability fee shall not exceed [four] 5.5 per cent of net patient service revenue and shall be calculated and paid on a per resident day basis, unless the facility qualifies for an exemption identified in subsection (d)(1). The per resident daily fee shall [be $13.46] not exceed $20.00 for each affected facility, except for facilities described in subsection (d)(2), which instead shall pay a per resident reduced daily fee [of $5.85.] not to exceed $9.00."
SECTION 4. Section 346F-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§346F-10 Enhanced rates to medicaid managed care health plans. In accordance with title 42 Code of Federal Regulations part 438, the department shall use revenues from the nursing facility sustainability fee and federal matching funds to enhance the capitated rates paid to medicaid managed care health plans for state fiscal years [2017-2018 and 2018-2019,] 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 consistent with the following objectives:
(1) The rate enhancement shall be used exclusively for increasing reimbursements to private nursing facilities to support the availability of services and to ensure access to care to the medicaid managed care health plan enrollees;
(2) The rate enhancement shall be made part of the monthly capitated rates by the department to medicaid managed care health plans, which shall provide documentation to the department and the nursing facility trade association located in Hawaii certifying that the revenues received under paragraph (1) are used in accordance with this section;
(3) The rate enhancement shall be actuarially sound and approved by the federal government for federal fund participation; [and]
(4) The department shall modify the fee-for-service reimbursement rates of the nursing facilities to recognize the medicaid portion of the nursing facility sustainability fee as an additional cost of serving medicaid patients, and to provide a uniform percentage increase in preexisting facility-specific rates[.]; and
(5) Payments made by the medicaid managed care health plans shall be made within thirty calendar days upon receipt of monthly capitation rates from the department."
SECTION 5. Section 346F-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Collection of the nursing facility sustainability fee under section 346F-5 shall be discontinued if:
(1) The waiver in section 346F-7 or the enhanced capitation rates in section 346F-10 have not been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services;
(2) The department reduces funding for nursing facility services below the state appropriation in effect on June 30, [2018;] 2020;
(3) The department or any other state agency uses the money in the special fund for any use other than the uses permitted pursuant to this chapter; or
(4) Federal financial participation to match the nursing facility sustainability fee becomes unavailable under federal law. In such case, the department shall terminate the collection of the fee beginning on the effective date of the federal statutory, regulatory, or interpretive change."
SECTION 6. Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, section 5, as amended by section 3 of Act 142, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, as amended by section 2 of Act 124, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, as amended by section 2 of Act 69, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, as amended by section 2 of Act 59, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, as amended by section 5 of Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, is amended by amending section 5 to read as follows:
"SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2012, and shall be repealed on June 30, [2019;] 2021; provided that section ‑4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, established by section 2 of this Act, and the amendment made to section 36-30(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, in section 3 of this Act, shall be repealed on December 31,[2019.] 2021."
SECTION 7. Act 124, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, section 7, as amended by Act 69, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, as amended by Act 59, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, and as amended by section 6 of Act 60 Session Laws of Hawaii 2017,
is amended by amending section 7 to read as follows:
"SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on June 29, 2014; provided that:
(1) Section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2014; and
(2) The amendments made to sections 36-27(a) and 36‑30(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, in sections 3 and 4 of this Act shall be repealed on December 31, [2019.] 2021."
SECTION 8. There is appropriated out of the nursing facility sustainability program special fund the sum of $21,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for uses consistent with section 346F-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on June 29, 2019; provided that sections 7 and 8 shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
INTRODUCED BY:
Nursing Facility Sustainability Program; Department of Human Services; Appropriation
Extends the nursing facility sustainability fee program to 2021. Allows the nursing facility sustainability fee to be used to enhance capitated rates for the purpose of paying quality incentives. Increases the nursing facility sustainability fee limit from four to 5.5 per cent of net patient service revenue. Increases the per resident daily maximum fee from $13.46 to $20 for each facility, and increases the per resident reduced daily maximum fee from $5.85 to $9 for facilities that meet certain exceptions. Appropriates funds.


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World Energy News
Offshore Oil & Gas
Shale Oil & Gas
IMO 2020: Hydrogen's Future in Maritime
By Joseph DiRenzo, PE June 25, 2019
3D rendering of the Water-Go-Round. Photo credit Incat Crowther
Water-Go-Round keeling laying ceremony. Photo credit GGZM
Hydrogen fuel cell technology to Satisfy Future IMO Requirements
With an ongoing push by the maritime community to reduce ship emissions to satisfy IMO MARPOL Annex VI regulations and limit the sulfur content of ships from 01 January 2020 to 0.5 percent world-wide, many ship owners are starting to consider hydrogen fuel cell technology to satisfy evolving emissions regulations. To date, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on research programs to utilize hydrogen fuel cells for transportation. Several maritime powers including the European Union, the United States and Japan have initiated pilot programs to assess the feasibility of maritime hydrogen to reduce emissions while maintaining cost parity with traditional propulsion technology.
A leading voice in the field is Dr, Joseph Pratt, CEO and CTO of Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine (GGZM), who is an internationally recognized expert on maritime hydrogen. GGZM is one of several companies making the transition from feasibility study to vessel construction and operation.
First Commercial Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel in North America
After completing a keel laying ceremony for the Water-Go-Round in November last year and an anticipated launch in September of this year, GGZM is on track to become the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell vessel in North America. The Water-Go-Round will be a 70-foot catamaran built by Bay Ship & Yacht Co. capable of carrying up to 84 passengers in the Bay Area.
GGZM team at the Water-Go-Round keel laying ceremony. From left to right in the image: Captain Joe Burgard, Co-Founder); John Motlow, VP Marketing and Strategy; Charlie Walther; Tyler Foster; Rose Dawydiak-Rapagnani; Thomas Escher, Co-Founder); and Dan Johnson. Photo credit GGZM.
According to Dr. Pratt, once launched the vessel will operate in San Francisco Bay for three months while Sandia National Laboratories, a national lab at the forefront of hydrogen fuel cell technology, conducts performance testing on the vessel and gathers data. The vessel will carry a tank array of up to 242 kilograms of compressed hydrogen at 250 bar (approximately 3600 psi) which will provide enough fuel for up to 2 full days of operation. The Water-Go-Round will be propelled by two 300 kW (400 horse power) shaft motors with a 100 kilowatt hour battery to provide speeds up to 22 knots.
Some of the initial funding for the Water-Go-Round project comes from California Climate Investments, which is a cap and trade program aimed at reducing Green House Gas emissions in the state of California.
Dr. Pratt commented that the successful launch of his business and the building of the Water-Go-Round "was a long time in the making" growing organically out of a partnerships he developed while managing the SF-BREEZE and other studies at Sandia National Labs.
"The feasibility report showed that it could be done, but we wanted to prove it. When looking at the business side [of the company], we saw a really big demand for hydrogen fuel cell vessels".
Once the Water-Go-Round project is complete, GGZM will focus its efforts on taking lessons learned from the project to develop "ready to go" hydrogen fuel cell power systems which could be used for new vessel construction and retro-fits around the world.
Dr. Joseph Pratt, CEO / CTO of GGZM. Photo credit GGZM"The chicken comes first"
One of the oft-quoted challenges is the "chicken and egg" dilemma when a disruptive propulsion technology enters the maritime market. Critics will claim that ship owners are reluctant to deploy new technology in new vessel construction, like hydrogen fuel cells, until the port infrastructure is in place. They will also claim that port infrastructure will not develop until there is a strong demand from ship owners creating a "chicken and egg" dilemma.
For Dr. Pratt, the answer is "clearly the chicken needs to come first… the chicken is the proof".
Noting that the US produces more than 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually (US DOE), Dr. Pratt believes the necessary ingredients for a rapid expansion of maritime hydrogen fuel cell technology already exists in many industrialized countries across the world.
He quipped that instead of producing an endless number of feasibility studies, it was necessary to "get the boats on the water" to prove to the international maritime community that hydrogen technology could be economically feasible.
Dr. Pratt asserts the biggest factor in determining which parts of the world will adopt this technology is "whether [ship owners] can get hydrogen". At the moment, not all countries throughout the world have easy access to hydrogen. Moreover, the majority of vessels will require liquid hydrogen based on their required endurance since liquid hydrogen has a considerably higher energy density than compressed hydrogen gas. Because of the mature network of hydrogen suppliers in North America, Dr. Pratt believes that North America will continue to be a strong market for this type of maritime technology.
3D rendering of the Water-Go-Round. Photo credit Incat CrowtherWhere does hydrogen come from?
One important distinction when discussing the emissions reduction potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology is the way in which the hydrogen is produced. Methods like steam-methane reforming and partial oxidation produce hydrogen using methane as a feedstock, generally from natural gas. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), steam-methane reforming and partial oxidation produce hydrogen by combining high temperature steam (700 to 1000°C) with methane in the presence of a catalyst. A report by DNV GL titled Assessment of Selected Alternative Fuels and Technologies points out that hydrogen produced in this manner has a well to tank CO2 emissions equivalent of 90 grams per Mega Joule (MJ) which is more than both HFO and MGO. At the writing of this article, the majority of the world's hydrogen is produced using these methods.
Another method which is gaining attention is the use of electrolysis to produce hydrogen. During the electrolysis process, electricity is used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.
This is achieved by a number of different electrolyzers including Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM), Alkaline, and Solid Oxide Electrolyzers which vary in material, production temperature and how reactions take place within the process. Electrolysis is considered "green" when the electricity used to power the equipment comes from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, nuclear, or bio-gas.
Although the Water-Go-Round project is still undecided on its hydrogen supplier and associated hydrogen production method, Dr. Pratt believes that the adoption of 100% renewable hydrogen "will need to occur in steps". In order to gain widespread adoption, he believes "the solution has to be economically viable…it has to be market driven, not supported by government funding initiatives. Currently, renewable hydrogen is more expensive than conventional hydrogen".
"While renewable hydrogen is the goal, it doesn't provide an economically viable solution today". Dr. Pratt's current strategy "is to start with the vessel and conventional hydrogen, which can be economically viable, then transition to higher renewable content as that achieves a cost level making it viable as well. If we attempt to do both today, the overall effect may be a delay in acceptance of the technology in general".
Can Hydrogen Be Economical?
When discussing the economic feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the context of the Water-Go-Round project, Dr. Pratt points out that "the main value proposition for hydrogen fuel cell vessels is in the overall cost reduction for the vessel. Vessel owners will never need to do a complete 're-power' again. First you're going from a mechanical engine with hundreds of moving parts to the solid-state system of a fuel cell. Second, at end of life you do not need to swap engines; rather you just need to replace separate fuel cells once they have exceeded their life cycle. Overall this can result in maintenance reduction and down time reduction" which would ultimately reduce the overall operations and maintenance cost of the vessel.
Dr. Pratt also noted that a secondary value proposition of switching to a hydrogen fuel cell system is that the vessel is much quieter than comparable diesel engines and has no on-board pollution. This opens up many possibilities, for example ship owners can take on non-traditional charters for passenger vessels like "cooperate meetings" and "nature excursions" because of the reduced noise and air pollution.
With the Water-Go-Round project close to its first voyage and other projects like the HYSEAS III project in the United Kingdom or the HYBRIDskip project in Norway at different stages of execution, it is clear that maritime hydrogen technology is rapidly progressing from concept to creation on a global scale. Similar to the mainstream acceptance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, hydrogen will likely achieve similar widespread adoption. Dr. Pratt asserts hydrogen fuel cell vessels will initially cluster in areas with stricter emission controls, like the Emission Control Area established in Annex VI of MARPOL, among vessels with a fixed route such as ferries, tug boats, and coastal traders. As hydrogen production spreads worldwide, larger vessels with more variable routes like container ships may start to adopt this technology. Noting the economy of scale of a container ship, Dr. Pratt is quick to note that "one container ship could justify a new hydrogen production facility" in a port suggesting the global adoption of this technology may be just on the horizon.
Joseph DiRenzo is a technical project manager and professional engineer with close to 10 years of maritime experience in the US Coast Guard. His last tour was at the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, CT where, among other projects, he led a feasibility study on the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for the Coast Guard's new fleet of Inland River Tenders. With a strong interest in renewable maritime technology, he received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2012 to study maritime Natural Gas Technology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. He has written a number of articles in trade publications and academic journals on the use of LNG in the maritime sector. During his Coast Guard career, he served on two different vessels, including a department head tour as an Operations Officer, conducting a multitude of maritime missions on both coasts of the United States.
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Everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day, or so the saying goes. It's a celebration that's been going on in America since the mid 1700's. And except for the soda bread, the food of the day is anything but Irish. Irish-American cookbook author Margaret Johnson joins us to talk about the background of some of these dishes and others that have stayed true to their roots.


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Resort Maldives South Malé Atoll
Part of a pioneering multi-island leisure complex offering countless activities, including diving
Part of the Maldives first fully-integrated, multi-island leisure destination
Sample diverse delicacies from a huge range of restaurants, bars, and eateries
Visit some of the best dives sites in both north and south Male
Innovative family-friendly facilities designed to educate and entertain
SAii Lagoon Maldives is a playful, family-friendly resort located within a stone's throw of Male's international airport. Together with its two neighbouring islands, SAii Lagoon forms part of a pioneering, multi-island leisure destination concept - the first of its kind in the Maldives. Sail, dream, and discover at the country's largest lifestyle hub, home to a private marina and myriad opportunities for entertainment and indulgence - from dining, shopping, and spa treatments, to some of the country's most famous and convenient scuba diving. Your unforgettable journey starts here.
About SAii Lagoon Maldives
Situated in South Male, just a 15 minute boat ride from the international airport, SAii Lagoon Maldives is an original and inspiring island resort. With picturesque sandy beaches, an inviting infinity pool, and a huge range of drinking and dining options, this resort guarantees the perfect Maldivian getaway. Yet SAii Lagoon also seeks to differentiate itself from the rest, providing guests with a wide choice of packages and accommodation options, as well as unique opportunities for personalisation and plenty of freedom to design their own experience.
While located on its own private island, SAii Lagoon is connected by a footbridge to CROSSROADS Maldives, and forms part of the country's first fully-integrated, multi-island leisure destination. Equipped with its own prestigious 30-berth yacht marina, CROSSROADS Maldives is an unparalleled hub of activity, providing freedom and excitement to guests of SAii Lagoon. At CROSSROADS Maldives, guests will discover limitless opportunities for leisure and pleasure - from casual dining and exquisite gourmet cuisine to healthy juices and the finest wines, as well as upscale shopping, spa treatments, and aquatic activities like snorkelling and scuba diving.
Miss Olive Oyl is an onsite Mediterranean restaurant serving fresh seafood and vibrant grilled dishes, as well as tropical cocktails and other refreshing drinks at the Miss Olive Oyl Pool Bar. Bean/Co offers casual food and artisanal coffee on the go while, on the other side of the island, Mr Tomyam offers a selection of original creations based on a fusion between Thai and Italian cuisines. Plus, guests can drop by Snap Snack Bar and pick out their own treats from a complimentary collection of healthy, family-friendly snacks, as well as mixing a bespoke selection of scents to complement their getaway at the M.I.Y Aroma Lab.
Across the bridge at CROSSROADS, guests will find yet more first-class dining options, including Ministry of Crab Maldives and Hard Rock Cafe, as well as Indian, Thai and Japanese cuisines. CROSSROADS also features the Maldives' first free-standing double-story Maldives spa and wellness complex. The Best Dives watersports centre provides complimentary use of snorkelling equipment, kayaks and pedal boats, as well as water sports of all kinds, and excursions such as dolphin watching, fishing, island-hopping and semi-submarine trips at an additional cost.
Aiming to deliver the ultimate family-friendly experience, CROSSROADS' Junior Beach Club and Camp is spread over three outdoor and three indoor areas and is designed to seamlessly combine education and entertainment.
Diving from SAii Lagoon Maldives
Best Dives Maldives is highly-experienced company that operates a chain of PADI 5-Star dive centres across the Maldives. Guests at SAii Lagoon have access to the Best Dives dive centre located just across the footbridge at CROSSROADS. This well-established dive operator provides a high-standard service at all times, including providing quality scuba gear from SCUBAPRO and other well-known brands, and being a proud holder of the PADI award for Outstanding Achievements in Diver Training.
Situated at the northern tip of South Male, this dive centre is well placed to explore a wide variety of dive sites spread throughout the two atolls. The stunning underwater topography in this area has abundant and diverse marine life. Colourful corals and overhangs, fascinating caves, schools of reef fish, shipwrecks, and patrolling pelagics are just a few of the interesting sights you'll come across. Iconic dive sites located within reach of this dive centre include Banana Reef, Bolifushi Wreck, and Kandooma Thila - often known as Cocoa Thila.
SAii Lagoon's Dining by Design concept offers a selection of dining experiences served in the resort's most secret locations.
The dive centre's partner company, Best Yachts Maldives, can arrange single or multi-day private yacht excursions.
This resort is affiliated with Little Guest and offers special perks dedicated to families with babies, toddlers and teens.
Best Dives Maldives and the CROSSROADS' Marine Discovery Centre have been working together on a coral regeneration project through replanting and propagation of coral fragments. The team on the island assisted in creating an artificial reef in the sandy lagoon to attract more marine life and spark curiosity among visitors. Guests are invited to be part of regular lively discussions at the Marine Discovery Centre on topics concerning the ocean environment. You can ask about the different marine conservation projects on the island or find out more about your favourite underwater creatures, such as sharks, turtles, manta rays, and more. Best Dives also conducts regular coastal and underwater debris clean-ups and adheres to Green Fins' environmental-friendly guidelines and best-practices at all times.
Diving in South Malé Atoll
April - October
Plentiful reef life
Schooling Fish
South Malé Atoll offers a tranquil experience with incredible diving, lush resorts, world-class surf breaks and gorgeous sand bars. Channel dives are the order of the day here, with much of the diving focused on the eastern reef wall's six channels with their impressive tidal flows. Combine currents with nutrient-rich waters and the result is nothing short of spectacular, and the atoll is home to prolific marine life and genuinely exhilarating diving.
Explore South Malé Atoll
PADI 5-Star
Bubble Maker, Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Specialities
South Malé Atoll
Sun Siyam Olhuveli
Velassaru Maldives
Maldives Passions
From $75 per night
South Ari Atoll
White Sand Dhigurah


Acer is a Taiwanese technology manufacturer which operates worldwide. If you need assistance with an Acer product or service, contact Acer's UK customer helpline on 0843 557 4565.
Founded in Taiwan in 1976 and originally known as Multitech International, Acer was renamed in 1987. Technology and devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets, phones, projectors, and servers are all available to buy from Acer and through retail partners like Currys, PC World, and Argos.
One of the world's top 5 PC companies, Acer recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016. Researching, designing, and marketing innovative hardware and software services are all part of the company's stated mission.
Acer's 7000+ employees throughout 160 countries dedicate themselves to opening up new possibilities for the ways people use technology, both as individuals and in business.
The first port of call when you have a question or a problem is the retail customer services team. Contact Acer's customer service helpline on 0843 557 4565 and they will be able to provide further information and direct you to the specific people who can help if needed.
For stock locator or product specification enquiries, please make sure you know the product name if not the product number to give to the Acer customer services team member so they can help you!
Go direct to the top of the UK branch of Acer and call the Head Office in London on 0843 208 2213. Escalate any complaints you might feel aren't being taken seriously, or make business-related enquiries. Even if you just want to make sure your feedback is being heard by the people with the power to make changes, you can call this number.
Call 0843 178 3468 for more technical issues to get professional advice on how to fix your problem. Whether your device keeps overheating or programs aren't running properly, if you have any kind of malfunction you can receive technical support from Acer at this number.
They can walk you through downloads and installations or advise you on the best software for your device and personal needs. Before you call this number please make sure you know your Acer product SNID number! It's best to have your device to hand when you make the call.
Sometimes things do go wrong, so if you have a complaint then dial 0843 178 3469 to make your feelings known. Acer is all about bringing people and technology together, so they will do their best to resolve your issue as quickly as possible and to your satisfaction this time.
You might also want to make Acer aware of a frequent problem with one of their services, or make a complaint regarding a previous Acer alert or recall.
Got a problem with your Acer technology that unfortunately isn't a quick fix? Then you'll need to call 0843 178 3470 and organize a repair. The technicians can repair existing issues and upgrade outdated software for you. Fees will depend on the extent of the repairs and the particular parts needed.
If you are contacting Acer for an update on a current repair, please make sure that you can provide the Case ID number you were given when you booked the repair.
Whether you are interested in becoming an Acer shareholder or if you have already invested, call 0843 178 3471 to make enquiries about shares. You can also call this number if you have any questions or suggestions about Acer's corporate sustainability.
For real-time updates from Acer, follow the company's official Twitter account. To contact the Acer customer services team within the UK, try tweeting @AcerUK_Official. Reach out to Acer on the company's Facebook page. Or see if a fellow Acer customer has answers for you in the online community.
Assuming that you have the time to wait for a response via e-mail, fill out an online form with your query or issue. If you prefer to write a letter, direct it to Acer's UK Head Office. Write directly to the UK Repair Centre if you have an issue concerning a device repair.


Are you a rock, wind, fire, or water sign? Click here to play!
Spin the reels of this astronomy-themed game and you might walk away with a new found knowledge of the stars and a whole lotta cash!
As you journey through the Lucky Stars to find your sign, watch out for the oracle. This pearly orb is a substitute and will replace most other symbols to help you create more wins. It will also payout up to 10000 times your line bet if you can spin two or more across an active payline. You'll also want to spin in the different sings as these will help you in your quest. The rock sign will grab up to 1500 times your line bet if you can spin two or more anywhere on the board. Win will get up to 300 times your line bet, while water and fire will get up to 250 times your line bet.
Be sure to spin in the wheel of signs. This helpful symbol will not only help you decode your astrological chart, but it will also multiply your total bet. Plus, if you can spin three or more anywhere on the board, you will trigger a bonus feature that will see you bringing in even more wins! So, read the Lucky Stars to see if a large amount of money is in your immediate future.
The Astrological wheel is a scatter. This symbol will multiply your total bet by 2, 5, 10, or 200 respectively if you can spin two or more anywhere on the board. It will also trigger a bonus feature if you can spin three of them anywhere on the board.
The pearly orb is a substitute. It will replace all others, excluding scatters, to help you bring in more wins. It will also payout 10000 times your line bet if you can spin five of them across an active payline.
If you can spin three or more Astrology wheels anywhere on the board, you will trigger a bonus feature. During this game, you will immediately be rewarded with seven free spins in which prizes are tripled. Then, you will be prompted to pick your astrological sign. If you choose correctly, you will get to choose from 15 free spins or a second bonus game in which you will choose from constellations to reveal cash prizes.


The art of giving back and volunteering forms values and strengthens our local community.
Chepenik Trushin LLP, aside from specializing in estate planning, trusts, probate, guardianship, probate litigation and trust litigation, highly focuses on giving back. In the past few years, the CTLLP team has excelled in building strong alliances and partnerships in business, which have highly strengthened the firm's abilities to connect with our clients.
In 2016, CTLLP celebrated being actively engaged in Business Network International, Miami, for 13 years, in which many estate plans and probate administrations were completed, helping many families and business owners. Our attorney team finds it important to participate in fundraisers, charities and service projects, doing the very best to educate the public on what we specialize in.
Consistently in 2016 - 2018, CTLLP assisted in donating backpacks and school supplies to local Miami and Miami Beach public school children in need. Our legal team attended the ceremonies of SARP to support the Anti-Defamation League in efforts to help stop bullying and anti-justice movements. Everyone is constantly facing challenges in life and when you can educate others and give back to the community, it is important to share your knowledge and create a change in someone's life.
In 2016, Antonio Romano, attended the Florida Bar Leadership Academy, where fundraisers donated significant dollars to local grass root charity organizations.
CTLLP celebrated seven successful years as a premier law in 2017. Brad Trushin, spoke to 75 CPA's in Miami on probate litigation, guardianship litigation, and undue influence. Brad showed these trusted advisor professionals how to identify sequestering, parroting, isolation behaviors and financial exploitation. By educating the public on these topics, people are more likely to be motivated to act on certain issues, such as preparing a will or protecting an elder.
In 2018, Bart Chepenik, spoke at the Broward Guardianship Association to 60 Professional Guardians, Geriatric Care Managers, senior care professionals and Honorable Judges of Probate court on lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence factors.
Chepenik Trushin LLP finds it of the utmost importance to be involved in local events regarding the law, it's changes and making appearances to remain cutting edge and current. Our team continues outstanding member active participation for giving back and educating our public on matters that impact their daily lives.
The team at Chepenik Trushin LLP are experienced, professional and dedicated in handling all Probate, Guardianship and Estate legal matters. I have referred them numerous clients over the years; all of which have been truly appreciative of their firm's excellence in representation. Jesse S., Esq.
to schedule your initial consultation.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following localities: Broward County including Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, and Weston; and Miami-Dade County including Aventura, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Biscayne Park, Coral Gables, El Portal, Golden Beach, Hialeah, Homestead, Indian Creek, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Shores, Miami Lakes, North Bay Village, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, and Surfside.


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Q: Why is this code for checking balanced parenthesis not working for the input '( } )'? This is the code:
How do I modify this further to make it work?
def isValid(self, s):

    stack=[]
    for i in range(len(s)):
        if(s[i]=='(' or s[i]=='{' or s[i]=='['):
            stack.append(s[i])
        else:
            if not stack:
                return False
            elif(len(stack)!=0 and (s[i]==')' and stack[-1]=='(' or s[i]=='}' and stack[-1]=='{'
                   or s[i]==']' and stack[-1]=='[')):
                stack.pop()
    if stack:
        return False
    else:
        return True

A: The quickest fix to your code is to add an
else:
    return False

after the elif block. You need this because if s[i] is one of ')', '}', or ']' AND stack[-1] is not the corresponding '(', '{', or '[', then we know that there exists a nonbalanced set of parentheses, braces, or brackets in the string.
If you are interested, below, I have modified your code to something that I find more clear and readable.
d is a dictionary where a key is one of ')', '}', ']' (closing parenthesis, brace and bracket) with associated values '(', '{', '['  (opening parenthesis, brace and bracket). stack is initially an empty list. As we iterate over characters of the string s,

*

*if the character ch is one of the values in the dictionary d (i.e. one of the opening characters), then this character is appended to stack;

*if the character ch is one of the keys in the dictionary d (i.e. one of the closing characters), then it must be the case that the last appended value to stack is the corresponding opening character; for this to be true, stack has to be nonempty and the last appended value to stack, stack[-1], has to equal d[ch], which is the corresponding matching opening character (e.g. if ch is '}' then stack[-1] has to equal d[ch] = '{'). If this is true, we remove the last element of the list. If stack is empty or d[ch] != stack[-1] is True, there exists a nonbalanced set of parentheses, braces, or brackets in the string and so we return False.

If we are able to iterate over the entire string without the return False statement being executed, we need to make sure that stack is empty. stack will be nonempty at this point if the string has opening characters but no closing characters.
Code:
def isValid(s):
    d = {')': '(', '}': '{', ']': '['}
    stack = []

    for ch in s:
        if ch in d.values():
            stack.append(ch)

        if ch in d:
            if stack and d[ch] == stack[-1]:
                stack.pop()
            else:
                return False

    return False if stack else True

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Few weeks ago Google Announced Android 5.0 L ( the new Android version ) , Google also released it for Nexus 5 ( the developer preview only ) . Also many developers ported it for their devices - Like - HTC ONE , Nexus 4 and more .
Android L gives a full new and fresh look to Android devices , Google launches only the Clear and Simple version of Android versions , and we all were waiting for Samsung to launch its own Android L UI Using Touchwiz interface and Finally its Here on Samsung Galaxy S5 .
As SAMMOBILE has released a video showing Android L ( developer preview ) for Samsung Galaxy S5 and its Looking awesome , All the look has been given an Awesome White background with Smart Material Design but according to Sammobile its not perfect build yet and has some bugs and lags .
Step 1. Download the firmware package from below .
Step 2. Download Odin from below .
Step 3. Boot Samsung Galaxy S5 to Download Mode .
Step 4. Connect Samsung Galaxy S5 to Computer / Laptop via USB cable .
Step 5. Open Odin and Select The Firmware package in PDA Section .
Step 6. Start Flashing .


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Nat Geo Traveller: Umami in the Amazon
Flavour-packed, nutrient-rich ají negro, an Amazonian condiment overlooked for generations, has been given a new lease of life
Interview: Daniela Soto-Innes on immigrant culture and a happy kitchen
"Cosme is not just a restaurant, it's more of a cultural institution. We might not know everything about cooking but we all strive to do the best we can"
Interview: Garima Arora, Asia's Best Female Chef
"As Indian chefs, we need to change how people perceive Indian food"
Lara Gilmore of Osteria Francescana on Tortellante and Food for Soul
"If you don't believe in God, you can always believe in tortellini. But making tortellini isn't a solitary act; it's a communal one."
Profile and interview: Manoella Buffara, Manu
"We need to think about the amount of litter we're producing, the water we use, the quantity of food we're wasting. What will happen in the future?"
Into the Amazon: Virgilio Martínez and Pía León's most ambitious restaurant project
"The most important thing is not to arrive there and invade. It's about developing friendships so we can have a trusting work relationship."
Interview: Pía León, Kjolle
"There was always that fear that Kjolle wouldn't live up to Central. I took a risk but I decided to do it, and luckily we have a strong team."
Christina Tosi on Chef's Table, kitchen culture and Confetti Cookies at #50BestTalks
"Momofuku was magnetic, electric, it was what we'd all secretly wanted in New York City but couldn't quite put our finger on, and I just knew I needed to be a part of it."
Interview: Clare Smyth, World's Best Female Chef 2018
"I stood shoulder to shoulder with men in the toughest kitchens in the world and excelled and loved it."
Interview: Leonor Espinosa, Leo
While most global foodies can identify ceviche as a Peruvian dish and tacos as Mexican, many would be hard-pushed to name a typically Colombian bite.
Interview: Daniela Soto-Innes, Cosme
"Everyone at Cosme says serving President Obama was one of the most beautiful moments they'd ever had. When I talk about it, I get goose bumps."
Interview: May Chow, Little Bao
"As soon as I sit down, I think 'I should open another restaurant'. I love Melbourne – the food scene is amazing – and London would be awesome too."
Interview: Hélène Darroze, World's Best Female Chef 2015
"There's one day in this job when you have to choose between being a wife and mother, and being a chef. If I had been in love and had a baby in my thirties, I probably wouldn't be where I am today"
Follow Laura Price on WordPress.com


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New $199 Acer Chromebook Is Cheaper Than Samsung's
Why Google Isn't Focused on Apple and Microsoft Eating Its Android Lunch
New Version of Chrome Adds Do Not Track Privacy and Boosts Batteries
Mozilla Foundation to Pay $1.5 Million to Settle Up with the IRS
Chrome OS and Ubuntu Are Running on Nexus 7 Tablets
Signs are stil appearing that Google is aggressively pushing Chrome OS, after a somewhat lukewarm early reception for it. Recently, we covered the arrival of Samsung's new Chromebook portable computer running Google's Chrome OS and selling for the strikingly low price of $249.Now, Acer is out with a new C7 Chromebook, shown here, that sells for only $199. These devices, at these price points, along with some of the bundled deals that come with them, signal that a number of Google's expected Chrome OS strategies have finally come to fruition.
As is true with the Samsung Chromebook, Google is offering free giveaways worth more than the cost of the Acer Chromebook. If you buy the 3-pound Acer system, you get two years of 100GB of free storage through Google Drive, and 12 free Gogo Internet passes.
It's no secret that Chrome OS has not been the same striking success for Google that the Android OS has been. In the past, I've written about several possible avenues that Google could take to rectify that situation. In this post, I suggested that it would be wise for Google to subsidize some of the costs and throw in free services for Chrome OS-based portable computers to seed a market for them. In this post, I suggested that Google could offer free storage incentives to accompany new Chromebooks through its brand new Google Drive service. And in this post, I suggested that Google could successfully position Chrome OS as a secondary operating system--much as many of us run Linux alongside proprietary operating systems.
With the arrival of these very low cost Chromebooks, all of these concepts are coming together. Going forward, Chromebooks will surely come with even more valuable incentives and sell for prices that make it easy to run Chrome OS alongside other platforms.