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Chicago Tribune: Backpacks are custom-designed for the homeless
Posted on October 2, 2013 October 3, 2013 by Vanessa Álvarez
By Barbara Brotman
Homeless people are often marked by the way they carry around their possessions — in old suitcases, plastic garbage bags and the multiple shopping bags that gave rise to the phrase "bag lady."
Chicago businessman Ron Kaplan started the CITYPAK Project in an effort to provide a little more dignity for men and women living on the street, while also providing a possible avenue for them to get the broader assistance they need.
With High Sierra Sport Co., a Vernon Hills-based adventure travel gear manufacturer, a backpack specifically designed for the homeless was developed. It's waterproof, with ample storage space, and equipped with rain ponchos, interior zipper compartments and straps that can be fastened around wrists or ankles so the bag isn't stolen while the owner is sleeping.
A prototype was taken to a focus group of homeless people assembled by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. They suggested a few tweaks, said Ed Shurna, the coalition's executive director, including the anti-theft straps, rain ponchos and waterproof compartments.
The coalition put the CITYPAK Project in touch with local agencies for the homeless, which distributed 2,000 backpacks in Chicago last year. CITYPAK also distributed 1,000 packs in Boulder, Colo., in 2012.
The CITYPAK Project plans to give away 2,300 backpacks in Chicago this fall. The first backpack distribution is Friday at Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center, a community outreach program of Fourth Presbyterian Church.
The center will use the opportunity to encourage homeless people to avail themselves of services that could help them get off the streets, said director Dan Hula.
"When we give out the bags, we're not promoting continued homelessness," he said. "When people come in, we're actually going to set up laptops, have staff there and sign people up for the new centralized housing system."
The bag itself can provide some encouragement, Shurna said.
"It's new, it's nice, it's not a hand-me-down," he said. And a backpack does not identify the wearer as homeless.
"This gives them some dignity, some respect," Shurna said. "Getting the bag kind of gives a little encouragement that, 'Maybe I can get myself together; maybe I can get myself back into society.'
"It's a very small thing that can make a big difference."
CITYPAK hopes to give away more than 10,000 backpacks by next year, said Kaplan, including distributions planned in Maui, Hawaii; Boston; and Austin, Texas.
"We're not here to solve homelessness," he said. "We just want to make it a little easier."
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The CITYPAK Project to begin its 2nd fall giveaway of custom-designed backpacks →


It was all in the name of diversity and representation!
A Texas college student pulled off a pretty funny prank at his local McDonald's, and it was all in the name of diversity and representation.
Twenty-one-year-old University of Houston student Jevh Maravilla said he was frustrated by the lack of Asian representation in media. So he decided to take matters into his own hands by creating a poster of himself and his friend, Christian, enjoying some McDonald's. Then he sneakily hung the poster on the wall at one of the fast food chain's locations in Pearland, Texas.
Maravilla's fake poster looked so much like some of the brand's real posters in its restaurants that he managed to fool the staff and customers alike for 51 days.
Maravilla explained that they took the photo on campus, in order to emulate the natural environments in which the real McDonald's posters are staged. They found a McDonald's uniform at a thrift store and added a tie, a badge and a walkie-talkie to the ensemble for good measure.
Disguised as a McDonald's employee, Maravilla was able to blend in at the restaurant as he guided his friends in hanging the poster. No one noticed the new poster, and it continued to go unnoticed for nearly two months.
"Remember folks, all races deserve recognition, and I guess I did my part," Maravilla said in the video.
For McDonald's part, it turns out the company is lovin' it.


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One-China policy
The One-China policy (simplified Chinese: 一个中国政策; traditional Chinese: 一個中國政策 ; pinyin: yī gè Zhōngguó zhèngcè) refers to the policy or view that there is only one state called "China", despite the existence of two governments that claim to be "China".
As a policy, this means that countries seeking diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) must break official relations with the Republic of China (ROC) and vice versa. Hence, all the countries recognizing the ROC recognize it as the sole legitimate representative of all of China and not just the island of Taiwan and other islands which it controls.[1] Similarly, all states that recognize the PRC either recognise the PRC as the legitimate representative of Taiwan or acknowledge the PRC's views on the matter.[2]
The One China policy is also different from the "One China" principle (一個中國原則/一个中国原则), which is the principle that insists both Taiwan and mainland China are inalienable parts of a single "China".[3] A modified form of the "One China" principle known as the 1992 Consensus is the current policy of both the PRC and ROC governments. Under this consensus, both governments agree that there is only one sovereign state encompassing both mainland China and Taiwan, but disagree about which of the two governments is the legitimate government of this state.
The One-China principle faces opposition from the movement for Taiwan independence, which pushes to establish the Republic of Taiwan and cultivate a separate identity apart from China called "Taiwanization". Taiwanization's influence on the government of the ROC has caused instability: after the Communist Party of China expelled the ROC in the Chinese Civil War from most of Chinese territory in 1949 and founded the PRC, the ROC's Chinese Nationalist government, which still held Taiwan, continued to claim legitimacy as the government of all of China. Under former President Lee Teng-hui, additional articles were appended to the ROC constitution in 1991 so that it applied effectively only to the Taiwan Area prior to national unification.[4] However, current ROC President Ma Ying-jeou has re-asserted claims on mainland China as recently as October 8, 2008.[5]
Viewpoints within Taiwan 2
Legal positions 3
People's Republic of China (PRC) 3.1
Republic of China (ROC) 3.2
Evolution of the policy 4
Policy position in the PRC 4.1
Policy position in the ROC 4.2
One-China policy and diplomatic relations 5
One-China policy and cross-strait relations 6
Territory controlled by the People's Republic of China (purple) and the Republic of China (orange). The size of minor islands have been exaggerated in this map for ease of identification.
Before the early 17th century, Taiwan was inhabited mainly by Taiwanese aborigines, but the demographics began to change with successive waves of Han Chinese migration. Taiwan was first brought under the control of Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), a Ming-loyalist, in 1662, before being incorporated by the Qing Dynasty in 1683.
It was also briefly ruled by Dutch (1624–1662) and the Spanish (1626–1642, Northern Taiwan only). The Japanese ruled Taiwan for half a century (1895–1945), while France briefly held sway over Northern Taiwan in 1884-85.[6]
It was an outlying prefecture of Fujian Province under the Manchu Qing government of China from 1683 until 1887, when it was officially made a separate province. Taiwan remained a province for eight years until it was ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.[7][8]
Following the October 1945 Japanese surrender ceremonies in Taipei, the Republic of China, under the Kuomintang (KMT) became the governing polity on Taiwan during the period of military occupation.[9][10][11][12] In 1949, after losing control of mainland China following the Chinese civil war, and before the post-war peace treaties had come into effect, the ROC government under the KMT withdrew to occupied Taiwan (which was still Japanese territory[13]), thus becoming a government in exile,[14][15][16][17] and Chiang Kai-shek declared martial law. Japan formally renounced all territorial rights to Taiwan in 1952 in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, but neither in that treaty nor in the peace treaty signed between Japan and China was the territorial sovereignty of Taiwan awarded to the Republic of China.[18][19] This government still governs Taiwan, but it transformed itself into a democracy in the 1990s following decades of martial law. During this period, the legal and political status of Taiwan has become more controversial, with more public expressions of Taiwan independence sentiments, which were formerly outlawed.
Viewpoints within Taiwan
Within Taiwan, there is a distinction between the positions of the Kuomintang (KMT): the Kuomintang also believes in the "One China Principle" and maintains its claim that under the ROC Constitution (passed by the Kuomintang government in 1947 in Nanjing) the ROC has sovereignty over most of China (including by their interpretation both mainland China and Taiwan) and, according to some interpretations of that constitution, Mongolia.
The Democratic Progressive Party does not agree with the "One China principle" as defined by the KMT or Two Chinas. Instead, it has a different interpretation of this principle and believes "China" only refers to People's Republic of China and states that Taiwan and China are two separate countries, therefore there is One Country on Each Side and "one China, one Taiwan". The DPP's position is that the people of Taiwan have the right to self-determination without outside coercion.[20]
Legal positions
The official overlapping claimed area between the PRC and ROC
Neither the ROC nor the PRC government recognizes the other as a legitimate national government. The legal position in each jurisdiction is as follows.
People's Republic of China (PRC)
Preamble of the Constitution:
"Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the lofty duty of the entire Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great task of reunifying the motherland."[21]
Anti-Secession Law:
Article 2:
There is only one China in the world. Both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division. Safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity is the common obligation of all Chinese people, the Taiwan compatriots included.
Taiwan is part of China. The state shall never allow the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any name or by any means.[22]
Upholding the principle of one China is the basis of peaceful reunification of the country.
To reunify the country through peaceful means best serves the fundamental interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The state shall do its utmost with maximum sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification.
After the country is reunified peacefully, Taiwan may practice systems different from those on the mainland and enjoy a high degree of autonomy.[22]
Republic of China (ROC)
Article 4 of the Constitution:
"The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly." (Effective 1948 to 2000.)
Article 4 of the 6th Additional Articles of the Constitution:
"The territory of the Republic of China, defined by its existing national boundaries, shall not be altered unless initiated upon the proposal of one-fourth of all members of the Legislative Yuan, passed by three-fourths of the members of the Legislative Yuan present at a meeting requiring a quorum of three-fourths of all the members, and approved by three-fourths of the delegates to the National Assembly present at a meeting requiring a quorum of two-thirds of all the delegates." (Effective 2000 to 2005)
"The territory of the Republic of China, defined by its existing national boundaries, shall not be altered unless initiated upon the proposal of one-fourth of the total members of the Legislative Yuan, passed by at least three-fourths of the members present at a meeting attended by at least three-fourths of the total members of the Legislative Yuan, and sanctioned by electors in the free area of the Republic of China at a referendum held upon expiration of a six-month period of public announcement of the proposal, wherein the number of valid votes in favor exceeds one-half of the total number of electors." (Effective 2005 to present)
In accordance with this legal position, legislation passed by the Legislative Yuan is signed by the President of the ROC. Only voters residing in the free area are eligible to vote and be elected in ROC elections. The ROC's constitution still raises claims of sovereignty over Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau – territories that today constitute the PRC – but, according to some interpretations, also over Mongolia, Tuva (Russia), and other, minor areas which today are part of Afghanistan, Burma, India and Japan.
Evolution of the policy
One interpretation, which was adopted during the Cold War, is that either the PRC or the ROC is the sole rightful government of all China and that the other government is illegitimate. While much of the western bloc maintained relations with the ROC until the 1970s under this policy, much of the eastern bloc maintained relations with the PRC. While the government of the ROC considered itself the remaining holdout of the legitimate government of a country overrun by what it thought of as Communist rebels, the PRC claimed to have succeeded the ROC in the Chinese Civil War. Though the ROC no longer portrays itself as the sole legitimate government of China, the position of the PRC remained unchanged until the early 2000s, when the PRC began to soften its position on this issue to promote Chinese reunification.
The revised position of the PRC was made clear in the Anti-Secession Law of 2005, which although stating that there is one China whose sovereignty is indivisible, does not explicitly identify this China with the PRC. (Almost all PRC laws have a suffix (prefix in Chinese grammar) "of the People's Republic of China" in their official names, but the Anti-Secession Law is an exception.) Beijing has made no major statements after 2004 which identify one China with the PRC and has shifted its definition of one China slightly to encompass a concept called the '1992 Consensus': both sides of the Taiwan strait recognise there is only one China — both mainland China and Taiwan belong to the same China, but agree to differ on the definition of that one China.
One interpretation of one China is that there exist only three geographical regions of China, which were split between two Chinese governments by the Chinese Civil War. This is largely the position of current supporters of Chinese reunification in Mainland China who believe that this "one China" should eventually reunite under a single government. Starting in 2005, this position has become close enough to the positions of the PRC to allow for high-level dialogue between the Communist Party of China and the Pan-Blue Coalition of the ROC.
Policy position in the PRC
In practice, official sources and state-controlled media never refer to the "ROC government", and seldom to the "government of Taiwan". Instead, the government in Taiwan is referred to as the "Taiwan authorities". The PRC does not accept or stamp Republic of China passports. Instead, a Taiwan resident visiting Mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau must use a Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit.
Policy position in the ROC
The only official statement of the ROC on its interpretation of the One-China Principle dates back to 1 August 1992. At that time, the National Unification Council of the ROC expressed the ROC's interpretation of the principle as:[23]
The two sides of the Strait have different opinions as to the meaning of "one China." To Beijing, "one China" means "the People's Republic of China (PRC)," with Taiwan to become a "Special Administrative Region" after unification. Taipei, on the other hand, considers "one China" to mean the Republic of China (ROC), founded in 1912 and with de jure sovereignty over all of China. The ROC, however, currently has jurisdiction only over Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Taiwan is part of China, and the Chinese mainland is part of China as well.
Since 1949, China has been temporarily divided, and each side of the Taiwan Strait is administered by a separate political entity. This is an objective reality that no proposal for China's unification can overlook.
In February 1991, the government of the Republic of China, resolutely seeking to establish consensus and start the process of unification, adopted the "Guidelines for National Unification". This was done to enhance the progress and well-being of the people, and the prosperity of the nation. The ROC government sincerely hopes that the mainland authorities will adopt a pragmatic attitude, set aside prejudices, and cooperate in contributing its wisdom and energies toward the building of a free, democratic and prosperous China.
However, political consensus and public opinion in Taiwan has evolved since 1992. There is significant difference between each faction's recognition for and understanding of the One China principle. The Pan-Blue Coalition parties, consisting of the Kuomintang, the People First Party, and the New Party, accept the One China principle. In particular, the current President of the Republic of China, Ma Ying-Jeou, stated in 2006 when he was the Kuomintang chairman that "One China is the Republic of China". Until the 1990s, the government actively stated that the ROC is the only legitimate "One China" while the PRC is illegitimate.
The Pan-Green Coalition parties, consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union, are more hostile to the policy, as they view Taiwan as a country separate from China. The former ROC President, Chen Shui-bian of the DPP, regards acceptance of the "One China" principle as capitulation to the PRC, and prefers to view it as nothing more than a topic for discussion, in opposition to the PRC's insistence that the "One China" principle is a prerequisite for any negotiation.
When the Republic of China established diplomatic relations with Kiribati in 2003 the ROC officially declared that Kiribati could continue to have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Despite the declaration, however, all countries maintaining official ties with Taipei continue to recognize the ROC as the sole legitimate government of China.[1]
In accordance with the One China principle, the ROC does not recognize or stamp PRC passports. Instead, mainland Chinese residents visiting Taiwan and other territory under ROC jurisdiction must use a mainland China resident pass issued by the ROC authorities.
One-China policy and diplomatic relations
PRC embassy in Australia, in which Australia doesn't recognize the ROC
ROC embassy in Swaziland, in which Swaziland doesn't recognize the PRC
The One-China Principle is also a requirement for any political entity to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The PRC has traditionally attempted to get nations to recognize that "the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China... and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China." However, many nations are unwilling to make this particular statement and there was often a protracted effort to find language regarding one China that is acceptable to both sides. Some countries use terms like "acknowledge", "understand", "take note of", while others explicitly use the term "support" or "recognize" for Beijing's position on the status of Taiwan.
PRC government policy mandates that any country that wishes to establish diplomatic relationship with the PRC must first discontinue any formal relationship with the ROC. According to The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, "non-recognition of the Taiwanese government is a prerequisite for conducting formal diplomatic relations with the PRC —in effect forcing other governments to choose between Beijing and Taipei."[24][25] In order to compete for other countries' recognition, each Chinese government has given money to a certain few small countries. Both the PRC and ROC governments have accused each other of monetary diplomacy. Several small African and Caribbean countries have established and discontinued diplomatic relationships with both sides several times in exchange for huge financial support from each side.[26]
The name "Chinese Taipei" is used in some international arenas since "Taiwan" suggests that Taiwan is a separate country and "Republic of China" suggests that there are two Chinas, and thus both violate the One-China Principle. Taiwan could also be used as shorthand for the Customs Union between Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. For example, in Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Declaration on the March 2007 elections, issued on behalf of the European Union and with support of 37 countries, express mention is made of "Taiwan."
Most countries that recognize Beijing circumvent the diplomatic language by establishing "Trade Offices" that represent their interests on Taiwanese soil, while the ROC government represents its interests abroad with TECRO, American Institute in Taiwan or the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
In the case of the United States, the One-China Policy was first stated in the Shanghai Communiqué of 1972: "the United States acknowledges that Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States does not challenge that position." The United States has not expressed an explicitly immutable statement regarding whether it believes Taiwan is independent or not. Instead, Washington simply states that they understand the PRC's claims on Taiwan as its own. In fact, many scholars agree that US One-China Policy was not intended to please the PRC government, but as a way for Washington to conduct international relations in the region, which Beijing fails to state.
When President Jimmy Carter in 1979 broke off relations with the ROC in order to establish relations with the PRC, Congress responded by passing the Taiwan Relations Act that maintained relations, but stopped short of full recognition of the ROC. In 1982 President Ronald Reagan also saw that the Six Assurances were adopted, the fifth being that the United States would not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan. Still, United States policy has remained ambiguous. In the House International Relations Committee on April 21 of 2004, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, James A. Kelly, was asked by Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) whether America's commitment to Taiwan's democracy conflicted with the so-called One-China Policy. He admitted the difficulty of defining the U.S.'s position: "I didn't really define it, and I'm not sure I very easily could define it." He added, "I can tell you what it is not. It is not the One-China principle that Beijing suggests."[27]
The position of the United States, as clarified in the China/Taiwan: Evolution of the "One China" Policy report of the Congressional Research Service (date: July 9, 2007) is summed up in five points:
The United States did not explicitly state the sovereign status of Taiwan in the three US-PRC Joint Communiques of 1972, 1979, and 1982.
The United States "acknowledged" the "One China" position of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
US policy has not recognized the PRC's sovereignty over Taiwan;
US policy has not recognized Taiwan as a sovereign country; and
US policy has considered Taiwan's status as undetermined. U.S. policy has considered Taiwan's status as unsettled.
These positions remained unchanged in a 2013 report of the Congressional Research Service.[28]
In an interview with Chinese students on November 16, 2009, President Barack Obama reconfirmed that the United States supports the One China Policy.[29]
One-China policy and cross-strait relations
The acknowledgment of the One China Principle is also a prerequisite by the People's Republic of China government for any cross-strait dialogue be held with groups from Taiwan. The PRC's One-China policy rejects formulas which call for "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" [30] and has stated that efforts to divide the sovereignty of China could be met with military force.
The PRC has explicitly stated that it is flexible about the meaning "one China," and that "one China" may not necessarily be synonymous with the PRC, and has offered to talk with parties on Taiwan and the government on Taiwan on the basis of the Consensus of 1992 which states that there is one China, but that there are different interpretations of that one China. For example, in Premier Zhu Rongji's statements prior to the 2000 Presidential Election in Taiwan, he stated that as long as any ruling power in Taiwan accepts the One China Principle, they can negotiate and discuss anything freely. However, the One-China Principle would apparently require that Taiwan formally give up any possibility of Taiwan independence, and would preclude any "one nation, two states" formula similar to ones used in German Ostpolitik or in Korean reunification. Chen Shui-bian, president of the Republic of China between 2000 and 2008 repeatedly rejected the demands to accept the One China Principle and instead called for talks to discuss One China itself. With the January and March 2008 elections in Taiwan, and the election of Ma Ying-jeou as the President of the ROC, who was inaugurated on May 20, a new era of better relations between both sides of the Taiwan Strait was established.[31] KMT officials visited Mainland China, and the Chinese ARATS met in Beijing with its Taiwanese counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation. Direct charter flights were therefore established.
One China was the formulation held by the ROC government before the 1990s, but it was asserted that the one China was the Republic of China rather than PRC. However, in 1991, President Lee Teng-hui indicated that he would not challenge the Communist authorities to rule mainland China. This is a significant point in the history of Cross Straits relations in that a president no longer claims administrative authority over mainland China. Henceforth, Taiwan independence movement gained a political boost, and under Lee's administration the issue is no longer who rules mainland China, but who claims legitimacy over Taiwan and the surrounding islands. Over the course of the 1990s, President Lee appeared to drift away from the One-China formulation, leading many to believe that he was actually sympathetic to Taiwan independence. In 1999, Lee proposed a Special state-to-state relations for mainland China-Taiwan relations which was received angrily by Beijing, which ended semi-official dialogue until June 2008, when ARATS and SEF met, and in which President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated the 1992 Consensus and the different interpretation on "One China".
After the election of Chen Shui-bian in 2000, the policy of the ROC government was to propose negotiations without preconditions. While Chen did not explicitly reject Lee's two states theory, he did not explicitly endorse it either. Throughout 2001, there were unsuccessful attempts to find an acceptable formula for both sides, such as agreeing to "abide by the 1992 consensus." Chen, after assuming the Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship in July 2002, moved to a somewhat less ambiguous policy, and stated in early August 2002 that "it is clear that both sides of the straits are separate countries." This statement was strongly criticized by opposition Pan-Blue Coalition parties on Taiwan, which support a One-China Principle, but oppose defining this "One China" as the PRC.
The One China policy became an issue during the 2004 ROC Presidential election. Chen Shui-bian abandoned his earlier ambiguity and publicly rejected the One-China Principle claiming it would imply that Taiwan is part of the PRC. His opponent Lien Chan publicly supported a policy of "one China, different interpretations," as done in 1992. At the end of the 2004 election, Lien Chan and his running mate, James Soong, later announced that they would not put ultimate unification as the goal for their cross-strait policy and would not exclude the possibility of an independent Taiwan in the future. In an interview with Time Asia bureau prior to the 2004 presidential elections, Chen used the model of Germany and the European Union as examples of how countries may come together, and the Soviet Union as illustrating how a country may fragment.
In March 2005, the PRC passed an Anti-Secession Law which authorized the use of force to prevent a "serious incident" that breaks the One China policy, but which at the same time did not identify one China with the People's Republic and offered to pursue political solutions. At the same session of the PRC Congress, a large increase in military spending was also passed, leading blue team members to interpret those measures as forcing the ROC to adhere to the One China Policy or else the PRC would attack.
In April and May 2005, Lien Chan and James Soong made separate trips to Mainland China,[32] during which both explicitly supported the Consensus of 1992 and the concept of one China and in which both explicitly stated their parties' opposition to Taiwan independence. Although President Chen at one point supported the trips of Lien and Soong for defusing cross-strait tensions,[33] he also attacked them for working with the "enemy" PRC. On April 28, 2008, Honorary Chairman Lien Chan of the then opposition Kuomintang visited Beijing and met with Hu Jintao for the fourth time since their historic encounter on April 29, 2005 in their respective capacity as party leaders of both the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT. Lien also met Chen Yunlin, director of the PRC's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.[34]
On May 28, 2008, Kuomintang Chairman
Articles with unsourced statements from May 2009
WorldHeritage articles needing clarification from February 2009
Foreign relations of China
Taiwan Affairs Office
Mainland Affairs Council
Straits Exchange Foundation
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
Kuomintang
National Unification Council
Ma Ying-jeou
Hu Jintao
Chen Yunlin
Chiang Pin-kung
Chen Shui-bian
Wang Daohan
Koo Chen-fu
Lee Teng-hui
Lai Shin-Yuan
Wang Yi
Zhang Zhijun
Wang Yu-chi
Lin Join-sane
Chen Deming
Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895)
Retrocession of Taiwan (1945)
228 Incident (1947)
Chinese Civil War (1946–1950)
First Taiwan Strait Crisis (1954–1955)
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis (1958)
PRC entry to the United Nations (1971)
Third Taiwan Strait Crisis (1995–1996)
Anti-Secession Law (2005)
Pan-Blue visits to mainland China (2005)
Cross-strait charter (2005-2008)
Sunflower Movement (2014)
2014 Wang-Zhang Meeting
Wang-Koo summit (1993)
Chen-Chiang summit (2008-current)
Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (2010)
Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum (2006-current)
Straits Forum (2009-current)
Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (2013)
Cross-Strait Peace Forum (2013-current)
Political status of Taiwan
Legal status of Taiwan
Chinese Unification
One country, two systems
Taiwan independence
1992 Consensus
One China policy
Two Chinas
One Country on Each Side
Three Noes
Six Assurances
Special state-to-state relations
Four Noes and One Without
Zhonghua Minzu
Special non-state-to-state relations
Cross-strait Economic Zone
Free area of the Republic of China
Politics of China
Constitution of China
Central Committee
Central Politburo
Politburo Standing Committee
Discipline Inspection Commission
State organs
Central Military Commission
People's Liberation Army
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National Committee
Politics of
province-level
Politics of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Three Principles of the People
Five Races Under One Union
Defunct: National Assembly
Pan-Blue
People First Party
New Party
Pan-Green
Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan Solidarity Union
Non-Partisan Solidarity Union
Cross-Strait
Taiwan consensus
Taiwanization / Sinocentrism / Sinicization / Desinicization
Taiwanese nationalism / Chinese nationalism
Taiwan independence / Chinese reunification
Russia (Main Landmark)
Russia (Western Only)
China–Japan–South Korea
Diplomatic missions of / in China
China and the United Nations
Stadium diplomacy
Theaters built as aid
Foreign relations of Taiwan
P.R.China
Taiwan Relations Act
Political/Legal status
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office
Diplomatic missions of/in Taiwan
Visa policy/requirements
Timeline of diplomatic relations
US-PRC Joint Communique, August 17, 1982
Washington Post's Interview with Taiwan's Leader, March 13, 2006
America and Taiwan, 1943-2004
^ a b Nationalist Era Policy
^ Congressional Research Service: Evolution of the "One China" policy, http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL30341_20090817.pdf
^ Assistant Secretary James Kelly, "The Taiwan Relations Act: The Next Twenty-Five Years," testimony before the Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives, April 21, 2004, p. 32, at http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa93229.000/hfa93229_0f.htm
^ Lee Teng-hui 1999 interview with Deutsche Welle: http://www.fas.org/news/taiwan/1999/0709.htm
^ "Ma refers to China as ROC territory in magazine interview". Taipei Times. 2008-10-08.
^ Richard Bush: At Cross Purposes, US-Taiwan Relations since 1942. Published by M.E. Sharpe, Armonk, New York, 2004
^ Alan M. Wachman: Why Taiwan? Geostrategic rationales for China's territorial integrity. Published by Stanford University Press Stanford, California 2007.
^ UK Parliament, May 4, 1955, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Sino-Japanese Relations: Issues for U.S. Policy, Congressional Research Service, December 19, 2008, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Resolving Cross-Strait Relations Between China and Taiwan, American Journal of International Law, July 2000, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Foreign Relations of the United States, US Dept. of State, May 3, 1951, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Taipei Times (June 9, 2013), CIA report shows Taiwan concerns, retrieved 2013-06-10, [Quoting from a declassified CIA report on Taiwan written in March 1949] From the legal standpoint, Taiwan is not part of the Republic of China. Pending a Japanese peace treaty, the island remains occupied territory in which the US has proprietary interests.
^ One-China Policy and Taiwan, Fordham International Law Journal, December 2004, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Kerry Dumbaugh (Specialist in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division) (23 February 2006). "Taiwan's Political Status: Historical Background and Ongoing Implications". Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 2011-08-23. While on October 1, 1949, in Beijing a victorious Mao proclaimed the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Chiang Kai-shek re-established a temporary capital for his government in Taipei, Taiwan, declaring the ROC still to be the legitimate Chinese government-in-exile and vowing that he would "retake the mainland" and drive out communist forces.
^ ... of_taiwan/ "Introduction to Sovereignty: A Case Study of Taiwan". Stanford University. 2004. Retrieved 2011-08-23. Enmeshed in a civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists for control of China, Chiang's government mostly ignored Taiwan until 1949, when the Communists won control of the mainland. That year, Chiang's Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government-in-exile.
^ Republic of China government in exile, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Starr Memorandum of the Dept. of State, July 13, 1971, retrieved 2011-08-23
^ Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1963). Mandate for Change 1953-1956. Doubleday & Co., New York. Retrieved 2014-01-03. The Japanese peace treaty of 1951 ended Japanese sovereignty over the islands but did not formally cede them to "China," either Communist or Nationalist.
^ http://www.taiwandc.org/nws-9920.htm
^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA". The People's Daily — Read 3rd paragraph, 10th line-. 1982-12-04.
^ a b "Anti-Secession Law". The People's Daily. 2005-03-14.
^ National Unification Council, Resolution of August 1, 1992 on the meaning of "one China", 1 August 1992.
^ Erikson, Daniel P.; Chen, Janice (2007). "China, Taiwan, and the Battle for Latin America".
^ "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue".
^ "China and Taiwan in Africa". HiiDunia. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
^ Shirley A. Kan; Wayne M. Morrison (January 4, 2013). "U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues" (pdf). Congressional Research Service. p. 4.
^ Po, Vivian. "Chinese Media Perspectives on Obama's Visit". New American Media. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
^ "White Paper--The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue". Embassy of the PRC in the USA. 1993-08-06.
^ "Taiwan's new president makes immediate overtures to China". WSWS. 2008-06-04.
^ "People First Party leader visits China after KMT head's return". Taiwan Journal. 2005-05-13.
^ Markus, Francis (2005-04-27). "Lien's China trip highlights tensions". BBC.
^ "KMT's Lien to meet China's President Hu for fourth time". The China Post. 2008-04-27.
^ "Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung arrives in Beijing". China Daily. 2008-05-27.
^ "KMT Returns to China". Lc Backer Blog. 2008-05-31.
^ "China promises to resume cross-strait dialogue: KMT chief". Global Security. 2008-05-28.
Chinese political parties
Cross-Strait Unification
Desinicization
Exclusive Mandate
Politics of the People's Republic of China
Politics of the Republic of China
Hong Kong, Beijing, Macau, Shanghai, Taiwan
Xi Jinping, People's Liberation Army, Communism, Cold War, Politics of China

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Zahra: March 14 Camp Never Assumed Power Despite Winning 2 Parliamentary Polls
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 July 2011, 18:11
Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra stated on Wednesday that the March 14 camp never assumed power in Lebanon, indirectly implying that the March 8 camp had prevented it from performing its mission.
He said during the parliament session aimed at discussing the cabinet policy statement: "The March 14 camp won two parliamentary elections, but it never held power, even if the prime minister was affiliated with the camp."
"This government has returned us to the dark ages of politics," he stressed.
"Some sides have criticized the fact that there are no female ministers in the new government, but I congratulate the Lebanese woman for not being involved in this abnormal government," the MP added.
Addressing Prime Minister Najib Miqati, he stated: "You and your camp were unable to change one word in the policy statement."
"If this cabinet is destined for a long life, then I hope that you will warn some ministers, whom we have worked with in the past, that this is a cabinet working for state institutions and not anything else," Zahra said.
"The prime minister should announce the government's policies and no one else," he stated.
"The cabinet is formed of ministers and not a master of ministers," the opposition MP declared.
"We will congratulate you on any accomplishment, but we won't remain silent over any violation and I will therefore withhold confidence from the cabinet," he concluded.
LebanonPolitics
shab 06 July 2011, 18:40 04
Strong but true words. What will it end with? There's no bright furture ahead.
Beiruti (Guest) 06 July 2011, 19:13 04
Zahra is correct. M14 won in 2005 in alliance with Hezbollah which had an input into the Policy Statement which took Hezbollah out of the operational scope of UNRES 1559. Resolution 1559 called for disbanding of all "militia" and since the 2005 policy statement referred to Hezbollah as a "resistance" 1559 was not applicable to it and M14 was saddled with the mantra: "the state, the people and the resistance," with the resistance usurping a substantial portion of the State's function with regard to security and defense.
In 2009, though the Doha formula of "1/3 +1" was to have ended, the threat of Hezbollah going to the street if Doha was not extended worked to include Hezbollah in the Hariri Cabinet under the promise that it would not withdraw and collapse the government. See how good is the word of Hezbollah? It is worthless.
Hezbollah is in effective control through its weapons. It ignored M14 PM's who were not dependent on it. Haram ya Mikati who is. HA has already started.
sikoflebanon 06 July 2011, 20:15 04
I hope you'll remember this next time you win and don't vote berri as speaker, or let jumblat, fpm, hezbollah and amal in the government you'll form.
mabboud 06 July 2011, 20:56 50
Immature and irresponsible reaction. You should assume and stop complaining like kids. Lebanon is forced to assume its corrupt and full of scumbags political class, show at least some dignity. Power is not an exercise but a responsibility and yes, you should take responsibility and stop using political rhetoric. M14 and M8 and M12 all is better than M16!!! Assuming power is a duty, if you can't and want to complain, do it at home not in parliament. Shame on all who signed to prolong Lahoud and then signed to say oh I am sorry, I didn't meant that, shame on those who voted for Berri and then said I didn't want to... ASSUME. Stop complaining, act as leaders, STL is not what will save Lebanon, true men might be and everything starts with assuming and taking responsibility. The STL is a detail and won't help build a state what will is willingness, hard work, learning from mistakes and take power as a responsibility not as a way to abuse of it and make money or for the sake of it!!! b a man
Nabil (Guest) 07 July 2011, 02:07 30
Democracy is based on popular vote. What this war criminal does not say is that M8 not M14 won popular vote both times including the Christian vote. .
Ostrakov (Guest) 07 July 2011, 11:14 20
Zahra also knows that the Syrians and not Mafioso Rafik are to blame for dumping the Lebanese in a 70 billion USD financial hole. This is why Monsieur La Fleur is in the forefront of those demanding an audit into this matter, this way Rambos will really get Syria! No? Always the wrong ideas, always the wrong timing, always wrong. Sorry losers!


Surfing unrelated or unofficial sites during office hours are considered illegal… coz you are abusing the company or government properties.
The live financial news about the current interest rates caught the employee at the background while his colleague, Martin Lakos, a Macquarie Private Wealth, was giving his analysis live on TV.
When I came home from Journey around Sabah on Friday, I thought one of my PC's RAM is broken because the system's message keeps on popping up telling me my PC is low with system memory! Crap… don't tell me one of my 2GB RAM is broken.
After cleaning up the temporary and history files, then cleaning the registry… then tweak here and there… at last the message is gone. Yes, my RAMs are OK. The most logical reason why the message was popping up is because of the latest Windows update related to the serious security flaw in the Internet Explorer.
Then Kota Kinabalu City is also in major traffic jam on that Friday. The next day news said, it was caused by the combination of early payday and the ongoing Badminton World Foundation Super Series Master Final which started that day until today (Sunday).
Then on Saturday, the breaks of three submarine cables which link Europe and the Middle East caused disruption to the internet and international telephone services in parts of the Middle East and South Asia.
This made the internet at crawling speed or in non-existence state but not as bad as last time, when 7 out of 8 submarine cables near Taiwan breaks after they were hit by earthquakes. The Taiwan earthquake triggers a "digital tsunami" in Asia on that time.
The designs of a website do have major effect on the viewer. It can make the viewer stay longer or come back again for more visit to the website. It also plays roles whether the viewer will spread the news about the good design of the website to their friends. Of course the contents of the website also play major roles on those issues.
But why do we really want to make our website design attractive? One reason is, we want our website to be unique or attractive so it gets more attention and at the same time drive more internet traffic to it. The more internet traffic directed to the website, the better rank position it will get in term of search engine ranking. Most of the time, search engine ranking is treated as critical since it is used to determine the popularity of the website. That is why search engine marketing services are available out there to help improve the website's search engine position.
But search engine rank sometimes doesn't tell the whole truth. When a particular website is ranked high or better, sometimes a website with the same concept which has a poorer search engine rank has a better contents or popularity in reallity. So now, it is up to you whether you want to improve your website's search engine ranking or get busy putting more better contents to your website and make its design more attractive.
I was blog hoping for the past few days and I notice some are working hard promoting their website or blog. But did they ever think of advertising their blog on the TV? So far I have not seen any blogger advertising their blog on TV. If any of them wants to advertise through Direct Response TV or DRTV service, they definitely will need a TV advertisement production team to do it.
But what exactly Direct Response TV is? DRTV is actually a commercial or infomercial shown on TV which try to convince viewers to buy the product or service they are promoting. They will urge the viewers to respond immediately to their advertisement. OK, by now you should be able to tell what Direct Response TV is all about.
If you ever receive any reminder from any of your online account like PayPal, make sure it is not a phishing email.
If it is a phishing email, and you login to your account by clicking the links provided… you are DOOM.
You are not login in to the real site but at a phishing site… they try to fish you by fishing you!.. and you eat their bait!
When the link provided clicked, it will bring you to a very long URL.
Then you will be redirected to another site….
Here, the paypal.com is the subdirectory of http:// 83.38.2.105, so it is not http:// paypal.com site.
If your business is driven by the internet traffic, then I'm sure you have tried to make its present more visible to the internet community at all time. There are many services available out there to help you to make your website appearance better. Services like pay-per-click services or ppc services can help you to drive more traffic to your site by placing your website's advertisements in the best place.
Marvist Consulting's Pay-Per-Click Campaign Management Services is an Internet Marketing Firm who is doing just that. They help you to select the most cost-effective keywords or key phrases for your website, help to select the target market or geography, write & design effective ads and many more services to generate more traffic to your website.
What type of web hosting you have?
Right now, two of my blogroll links are not working… it has been like that for more than 3 days. No, it is not my fault… and it is not my blog's coding fault either.
It's because they thought they had bought the best web hosting service provider on the planet. Their web hosting is having some kind of weird problem. I have spoken to one of them a couple of hours ago.
He said, he has contacted his web hosting service provider and they are trying to fix the problem on the server side! On the server side?!! Well, at least they admitted the fault is on their server and not blaming my friends coding!!!
Gosh, imagine a few days down caused by your 'best web hosting' service provider!
Imagine if the website is your sole income provider!
Will he get compensation for the losses? Full compensation? Half compensation? No compensation?
I'm so pity on him.
Do you all notice some of the blogging site like blogger is a bit slow today?… Maybe not all site but some… I was trying to access some but it just too slow. But when I use proxy, it's OK. I believe there is a 'flood' of access from people wanted to read about what happen in KL yesterday… massive DiGi YELLOW man. Meaning there is 'flood' of access within the country to those sites, so it slow. When I use proxy by accessing it from outside the country, it just fine.


What does πενθών mean in English? If you want to learn πενθών in English, you will find the translation here, along with other translations from Greek to English. We hope this will help you in learning languages.


Show your resolve to ending a fight before it even begins with this rail cover and quote from the Book of Matthew.
This rail cover can easily fit on both your M-LOK and Keymod handguards.
Made from a lasting laser engraved aluminum insert.
Quickly customize your AR without the need for tools by using this rail cover.
The thermoplastic border keeps your cover securely in place on your handguard.
For those who believe in a higher power beyond just their sniper support, this rail cover is the perfect way to demonstrate your connection to the Christian faith. Made from high-quality parts and materials, this rail cover will stand up to the rigorous use you subject your rifle too.


The most important thing to know about test preparation is that excelling on an exam takes more than just knowing the material, just like excelling at public speaking takes more than just knowing the right words.
Standardized tests and AP exams require test-taking skills, stamina, organization, and emotional strength as well knowledge of the material. And so our process teaches students all of these skills.
All of our tutoring is one-on-one. This approach eliminates the social pressures that often hold students back from admitting confusion or difficulty.
Each student needs something different to be totally prepared for an exam. Some need to be pushed past self-limiting beliefs while others need support and anxiety relief. Understanding these differences lets us adapt our tutoring to meet each student's best style of learning.
The tutoring process starts with a mock exam. This exam is hand-scored and analyzed by our Director of Education, who creates an assessment of strengths and weaknesses. This gives us extremely valuable feedback on where a student needs help and how they react to difficulty.
We follow this exam with a call to the parents to discuss the exam and get more feedback on the student: how do they learn best? Where have they struggled in the past, and do you know why?
From this conversation and the exam, we match your child with the tutor we feel will best connect with them.
Our tutors will thoroughly cover every topic your child needs for their exam. But that is only the beginning. Our tutors also handle the emotional and psychological sides of taking an exam. This means giving your child a system to follow when facing difficult or confusing questions, and it means exercises to build stamina and emotional strength. If there's anxiety, we help students reframe it in a way that actually helps them excel.
Along the way, students take multiple mock exams to show that they have learned and can apply their knowledge.
As test day nears, we make sure your child knows everything they need for success, including what food to eat on test day and what to wear to the test center (spoiler alert: comfortable, layered clothing).
Our students enter their exams prepared and confident, and their scores reflect it.
Standardized tests are tough on parents. There are so many crazy rumors about the test and school admissions; it's a wonder anyone stays sane. We understand these pressures, because we're parents, too. This is why we always keep parents informed as to how their child is doing and what they can do to help.
Each parent receives a copy of Test Prep Sanity at the beginning of tutoring.
Each student is also assigned a Case Manager, who is available for conversations with parents about their child, about tutoring, or about school and college admissions in general.
Contact us and learn how we can help your child get the test scores needed to stand out from his or her peers.


text:
High-Speed Rail Honolulu New York
HSR in New York Advances; Honolulu Transit Tax Under Threat
1 Comment on HSR in New York Advances; Honolulu Transit Tax Under Threat
HSR Between New York, Albany, and Buffalo Gains Support From a New Senator
New New York U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D), who was appointed by Governor David Paterson after Hillary Clinton resigned to become Secretary of State, has declared her intentions to push for high-speed rail in New York State. Ms. Gillibrand met yesterday with Ms. Clinton, Mr. Paterson, and Senator Chuck Schumer (D) to discuss their priorities for the state, and Ms. Gillibrand excitedly told the press that all four were ready to work towards better rail in the Empire State. According to the Village Voice, she said "One area that we all agree on is that we really want high-speed rail," excellent news for New Yorkers whose Upstate congressional delegation has recently been fighting to push the issue to the front burner.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D) told the Niagara Gazette that high-speed rail was the top priority for that delegation, and that they have already met with congressional and federal leadership about the issue. Considering New York's large population, relative ease of connecting its major cities (they're all aligned along a single route), and economic dynamism, high-speed rail seems perfect there. Ms. Slaughter also addressed the question of what exactly she meant by "high-speed" and answered 200 mph… eventually. This is a better response than the usual 110 mph, which is hardly fast at all.
Can New York expect a California High-Speed Rail-type project, with 220 mph trains, on its horizon? We'll have to see, but the first question that has to be answered is where the money is going to come from.
Honolulu Transit Tax May be Used for General State Needs
Honolulu passed a popular referendum for a 20-mile long light rail system, running the length of southern Oahu just last November, but the transit tax that would pay for the system's completion is already under threat. The Star-Bulletin reports that Hawai'i Senate President Colleen Hanabusa has proposed using transit tax revenues to shore up the already under-threat state budget. The 1/2-cent excise tax has been around since 2005. But she's been met with significant opposition from recently re-elected Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who has been one of Hawai'i's biggest proponents of the rail mass transit system. Mr. Hannemann argues that it would make little sense to delay the rail project, considering that its construction would in itself serve as an economic stimulus. Read more about it on the Say Yes to Honolulu Rail System Blog.
← Fight Continues on Transit Element of Stimulus → Atlanta Beltline LRT Progress in Question
One reply on "HSR in New York Advances; Honolulu Transit Tax Under Threat"
anonymousesays:
New York doesn't need a dream of 220 mph "eventually". It needs 125 mph electrified mainlines now. Heck, even a few million can go a long way. Building high platforms at Rhinecliff and Hudson would cut dwell times and eliminate the hold-out rule at Hudson. Fixing the cut under the GWB would eliminate an annoying speed restriction. A fourth track at Albany would significantly improve operations there and cut delays, and lengthening the platforms would make things easier for the Lake Shore. Maybe it would be worthwhile to re-work the track layout around the station for higher speed. Double tracking Albany-Schenectady would help cut delays, as would more passing track on Metro North. Improving reliability would actually make for faster schedules, since padding could be cut out. And all of it is probably less than $100 million all together, hardly very much in the grand scheme of transportation funding.


There's been a lot of changes in my life recently and I was kind of expecting it. I had already factored it in the equation, and I knew that the day would come when the ugly cry would knock on my door. What I hadn't foreseen though, is that it would happen in the presence of another human being who was actually not being paid to witness it.
This morning I woke up, and for the first time in a while, instead of that tight feeling in my chest, I felt like there was a chocolate fountain of joy right inside my chest. I thought: THIS is how I want to feel!
So I'm taking the leap. As I'm doing my Desire Map licensing programme, I'm ready for my first Desire Map Group Coaching programme!


Route weather dependant, finalise in car park!
Puerta Pollensa Hotel and Spa, Islas Baleares, Spain. With Jet2 holidays. Enjoy the sun, sangria and Sa Colobra!
Encompasses the Majorca 312 sportive if you want to ride that?
All inclusive isn't a bad upgrade!
A circular ride from Settle that heads into the Trough of Bowland on some really quiet lanes for about 35 miles with about 750m. of climbing.
The ride would be weather dependent and so messages will be posted on Facebook, here and by email the night before (by 8pm) if the ride is cancelled.
~90km, Dales, Langbar, Embsay, Bolton Abbey, Appletreewick and Duck street back, Gently rolling so no excuses!
Well there is a change to the planned ride this weekend. We were due to do a ride to Beningbrough and use the new ferry to Nun Monkton – however, they have not managed to get this started yet so will have to postpone that one.
By way of compensation I was going to take you to the park, Roundhay Park, cafe stop would be Lakeside Cafe (remember your bike locks J) and returning over the newly re-opened Linton Bridge. Probably about 35 miles – mostly flat on the way back after coffee.
Dry forecast so decide in car park?
We went out to Stean last week, so maybe Dales this weekend?
This week is Katies Birthday ride out to Coxwold and Byland Abbey calling in at Boroughbridge, Helperby, Easingwold and Aldwark Bridge – not necessarily in that order.
This should be about 52 miles – assuming we don't get lost! Most of it is reasonably flat, but there would be a few miles round Coxwold which would be hilly. Cafe stop at Byland Abbey or Coxwold or Easingwold – or all three!
This would at our normal Sunday speed, so we would get back later than usual – probably mid afternoon.
Bryan and Richard will be in Cumbria doing the cross border Sportive.
Route to be decided, Scar House, tea stop in Stean maybe?


The Multi Service Wall Plate (MSWP) is designed to be used in conjunction with our 4 or 8 way Loftbox. The wall plate is designed to split the signals coming down from the Loftbox and also to provide the return path back to the Loftbox.
Also incorporated is one slave telephone socket should you wish to connect a digibox or telephone to your existing phone system.
There is also space to allow a further 'Euro Module' to be inserted such as a RJ45 connector.
A UHF module which can be used to expand the multi service wall plate when two satellite feeds are required AND a UHF return for SKY.
The Quad wall plate is designed to be used in conjunction with our 4 or 8 way Loftbox. Housed in a single gang box, it splits the signals coming down from the Loftbox and also provides the return path, required for the tvLINK, back to the Loftbox.
The Triplex wall plate is designed to split out the signals from one co-axial cable into their respective frequencies i.e. Satellite, TV and FM.


I love cooking, and I love everything seasonal. I try to squeeze in as many pumpkin recipes during the fall as I can. This recipe is always a hit and it's quick to prepare. My sister gave me this recipe, but I couldn't find it when I tried to make it the other day so I googled the ingredients and found it at allrecipes.com. This recipe makes a TON. I usually end up halving it.
Mix pumpkin, pudding mix, and pumpkin pie spice together. Fold in Cool Whip. Chill until ready to serve.
I've always used cinnamon graham crackers with this dip, but I didn't have any so we used the gingersnap cookies I'd made. I'm glad I didn't have the graham crackers because I think I like the gingersnaps better. I've also seen apple slices used for dipping.
My best friend gave me this gingersnap recipe years ago and I use it constantly. They are amazing on their own, but they are also great with pumpkin ice cream, cream cheese frosting, and now pumpkin fluff dip.
Cream the first five ingredients until fluffy. Sift the dry ingredients together. Stir dry ingredients into the molasses mixture. Form into balls. Roll in sugar (I always use turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw)). Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake at 375° for 9-11 minutes.
Now I just have a few more days to get all my pumpkin cravings out of the way. I don't know about you, but once December hits I'm all about peppermint! Maybe I need to come up with a peppermint fluff dip. What are your favorite peppermint recipes?
وتقدم المؤسسة أرخص الأثمان لجميع الزبائن في مختلَف المناطق وذلك ما يبحث عنه جميع الزبائن في العديد من المناطق المتغايرة، وبصرف النظر عن أن المؤسسة تقوم بتقديم أفضل الخدمات تملك سوى أنها تقوم بتقديمها بأرخص الأثمان وعلى أيدي أفضل المهاريين المميزين والفنيين الذين يعملون مدار الساعة على خدمة جميع الزبائن.


text:
Online bullying, depression & K-pop: Singer Sulli dies at 25
By Amlan Jyoti Das	 October 15, 2019
Yet another death in the K-pop industry is sending one of its biggest shockwaves. Leading South Korean K-pop singer, actress Choi Jin-ri aka Sulli was found dead in her home on Monday. She was just 25.
Sulli was found dead on Monday at her residence in Seongnam, South Korea. Since there was no evidence of foul play found on the scene, the authorities have also considered it to be a case of suicide. "So far, it seems she killed herself, but we will leave all possibilities open and investigate," a police official told reporters.
However, many fans were devastated by the news and took to social media to express their shock. One fan wrote on her Twitter page, "Sulli's death shouldn't be reported as a suicide but murder she was attacked constantly by ppl's words she survived every day without crumbling down but there's only so much a person can take may angels lead her & take her to the stars where she can stay forever shining and happy."
The Goblin album maker was known for being outspoken and controversial in the usually glossed conformity rewarded industry. Sulli has been battling severe depression and has also spoken out against online bullying. She became a host of The Night of Hate Comments, a Korean television show in which celebrity guests discuss their reactions to malicious rumours, cyber-bullying and hateful comments.
She was a part of the all-girl K-pop band f(x) but left in 2015 to focus on her solo singing career and her acting. In an interview with Grazia in 2017, Sulli told that acting allows her to gain confidence and feel a sense of achievement for her work.
The life of a K-pop artist is surely hard. It takes years of training in singing and perfectly choreographed dance moves. With tight schedules and notoriously strict clauses in the contracts by the management, the glamour fiasco and the title of "idol" many artists usually give up. Be it due to some health-related issues or death straight up. Yes, death, which seems quite like a common terminology in the K-pop industry.
Kim Jong-hyun from the hugely popular band SHINee, took his own life as he was suffering from severe depression and self-loathing. Incidentally, he was a close friend of Sulli. Ahn So Jin jumped from the 10th floor of her apartment as she was unable to handle the constant pressure that she was exposed to.
Strict routines, constant tiring practice sessions, and a persona to maintain in front of their fans which at times is also dictated by the management company is a tough act. Teens or post-teens who are moulded in this highly competitive environment of K-pop usually finds no time for themselves. Add on to the fame which comes almost instantaneously, bringing in a plethora of haters with their opinions and comments, these artists usually find death to be the easy way out. To top that of their perfect facade of an "idol" makes it near impossible for anyone to know the hardships that they might be going through.
Choi Jin-riDeathDepressionk-popMental HealthOnline hateSulli
Amlan Jyoti Das


text:
Upstart DePaul snaps No. 8 Xavier's 11-game win streak
Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Umoja Gibson scored 22 points and Javan Johnson had 16 as host DePaul edged No. 8 Xavier 73-72 on Wednesday night in Chicago to end the Musketeers' 11-game winning streak.
The Blue Demons (9-10, 3-5 Big East) shot 42.6 percent overall and 45 percent from long range (9-for-20) to hand the Musketeers their first league loss of the season.
DePaul defeated a Top 10 team for just the second time in 40 tries since 2007. Da'Sean Nelson's layup with 28 seconds to go put the Blue Demons ahead by the final margin.
A Jack Nunge desperation shot at the buzzer fell short for the Musketeers.
Xavier (15-4, 7-1) lost for the first time since Nov. 27 despite producing four scorers in double figures. Zach Freemantle (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Nunge (16 points, 13 rebounds) both notched double-doubles.
The Musketeers struggled to a 4-for-20 effort from 3-point range and had just 13 assists, more than eight below their nation-leading season average of 21.1 entering the game.
Adam Kunkel chipped in 14 points for Xavier while Jerome Hunter had 10.
DePaul weathered much of the second half without Johnson and Yor Anei, who had four and three fouls, respectively, before the first media timeout of the second half. A 7-0 Musketeers run tied the game at 64 with 5:32 to go, but Johnson put the hosts ahead again with a floater less than a minute later, setting up a see-saw finish.
Nelson scored 10 points for DePaul, and Eral Penn had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Xavier's Souley Boum, who entered the game as the leading scorer in the Big East at 17.6 points per game, scored only four points on 1-for-12 shooting. Boum had a game-best six assists, one more than Gibson, who hit 5 of 10 from deep.
Xavier raced to a 13-5 lead after three-plus minutes, but DePaul settled down, relying on effective ball movement and efficient shooting after a shaky start.
The Blue Demons shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half, including 8-for-13 from deep, to take a 45-40 lead into the break. Gibson (17 points) and Johnson (14) sparked DePaul on 11-for-18 combined shooting.


text:
package com.easy.json;

import java.util.ArrayList;

public class ParentBean {

    private String name;
    private String sex;
    private int age;
    private ArrayList<ChildBean> childList;

    // 必须要有个默认构造方法,否则会抛出以下异常:
    // com.alibaba.fastjson.JSONException: default constructor not found.
    public ParentBean() {
    }

    public ParentBean(String name, String sex, int age, ArrayList<ChildBean> childList) {
        this.name = name;
        this.sex = sex;
        this.age = age;
        this.childList = childList;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public String getSex() {
        return sex;
    }

    public void setSex(String sex) {
        this.sex = sex;
    }

    public int getAge() {
        return age;
    }

    public void setAge(int age) {
        this.age = age;
    }

    public ArrayList<ChildBean> getChildList() {
        return childList;
    }

    public void setChildList(ArrayList<ChildBean> childList) {
        this.childList = childList;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
        builder.append("【[name=" + name + ",sex=" + sex + ",age=" + age + "]");
        if (childList != null && !childList.isEmpty()) {
            for (ChildBean child : childList) {
                builder.append("(name=" + child.getName()
                        + ",sex=" + child.getSex()
                        + ",age=" + child.getAge() + ")");
            }
        }
        builder.append("】");
        return builder.toString();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Xbox exclusive Crossfire X delayed to 2021
November 20, 2020 2 min read Alexa Nik
Surprise! Crossfire X is not actually coming out this year.
Crossfire X, the Xbox-exclusive shooter, was always intended for release this year. It never really had a solid date, of course, so you may not be surprised to learn that it has been pushed back to 2021.
The game's official Twitter account broke the news today, citing challenges of developing the game amidst a global pandemic.
"After much deliberation, and in consideration of the challenges faced by the Smilegate development team due to COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to delay the release of Crossfire X to 2021.
"Moving our release will allow us to deliver the Crossfire experience on console our team set out to create. We'll have more to share in the future," reads the statement posted on Twitter.
The game being referred to here is both the single-player campaign, developed by Remedy, as well as the multiplayer mode. Both are exclusive to Xbox, for now at least, but players only managed to get their hands on the multiplayer portion thanks to a beta held in the summer.
Though many of us trust in Remedy's ability to create a compelling campaign, our recent impressions weren't positive. Hopefully things will be better for launch.
The post Xbox exclusive Crossfire X delayed to 2021 appeared first on VG247.
PlayStation boss doesn't know if Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 are coming to PS5
We now know what's behind the mysterious door in the Demon's Souls PS5 remake


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Every spring, my students complete a nine week research project. Multiply nine weeks by eight classes and I need to be SUPER organized during this project! The goal of the project is that students choose a real world problem and synthesize their learning to find a possible solution in the form of an iMovie.
They begin by choosing a topic. I read the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind when we begin and brainstorm the real world problems in William's story. We talk about the difference between Small, but Everyday Problems and BIG Problems. Students then brainstorm an idea and write it both on their paper and a class Padlet. By cross-referencing the two, I come up with a list of topics for each student. I create a color coded table for students to view.
The second day, students choose a partner from list (someone who has the same or a similar topic as them). They also write their wonders about their topics.
On the third lesson, students begin their research. I create a list of possible websites to use in the bookmarks bar and students have to decide which websites they think will have information answering their questions, and navigate the websites to find information. Example websites include PebbleGo, Brain Pop, World Book Kids, and Wonderopolis.
In lesson four, students complete their book research, searching in the library catalog, writing down the call number, then finding the book in the library. Students then take notes from their books.
Do they have any new wonders? Yes/No. If yes, what?
This offers them a chance to reflect of their topic and wonders and to revisit their research if they need to.
Once they are satisfied with their research, they begin their storyboard. This is lesson five. I introduce the storyboard by asking about the students favorite movies and explain how all great movies must be planned first. Then I show using Educreations how to complete their storyboard (you could also use Explain Everything). The students have to introduce their topic, write down 3-4 facts, then wrap it up. At the end they lost their sources and at the top, draw a quick sketch for an image they'd like to use.
Once students finish the storyboard, they then search for their images (in lesson six) using the QR codes I post. Read more about using QR codes and student appropriate safe search engines here.
Students then create their iMovies (in lesson 7) with their partners - for a "movie" project, there is a lot of prep work! Students follow the 11 step process, which breaks down the process to bite sized chunks.
After finishing their movie - adding images, recording audio, adding background music and sounds - I evaluate their iMovie and provide feedback. Students make adjustments as needed and then score themselves.
Throughout this unit, students are at different parts of the project - some students whiz through the research, other students are great at saying images, and some are great at creating the video. Because of this, I let students self pace their learning. I manage this by using a color coded sticky note system - each colored sticky note means they are on a different part of the project. For example, yellow means storyboard, green means finding images and blue means creating their iMovie. This system helps me - as I prep for the lesson, it lets me see more clearly where the class is as a whole; and it helps the students know what area of the project they are working on that day, as well as reminds them what step they are working towards next. Because of this Lesson 7 is where I introduce the iMovie, but I give the students two days to wrap everything up. Students who finish early can become iMovie experts, brainstorm a solution to their real world problem, or ask another question they have as a result of their completed project.
The last lesson of this unit is where students share their movies, classmates provide positive and constructive feedback, then students reflect on the whole project taking a Google Survey. The survey asks them to rate how they did on each section of the project and then reflect on what they would change or what they might do differently.
As a specials teacher, this unit takes about 9 days. For me that means 9 weeks. For a classroom teacher, it would easily be put into a two week, 40 minutes a day project. It's a great way to have students learn a wide variety of skills and apply these skills in a hands on way.
If you are interested in any of the resources I mentioned in my post, you can grab my Movie Making Kit on TpT.


text:
Contains many simple and useful methods over that should have been
included in Linq.

I'll try to present them to you in an organized way... somehow. Also,
they are really simple so we won't get into the details if necessary:

### Basic Methods

```C#
//Returns true if the collection is empty
public static bool Empty<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)

//Removes all null elements in the sequence: Where(a => a != null)
public static IEnumerable<T> NotNull<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source) where T : class
public static IEnumerable<T> NotNull<T>(this IEnumerable<T?> source) where T : struct

//As in List<T> but for any IEnumerable
public static int IndexOf<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, T item)

//Same but using a condition, not an element
public static int IndexOf<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, bool> condition)

//Uses your own errorMessage when a InvalidOperationException is thrown.
public static T Single<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string errorMessage)
public static T SingleOrDefault<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string errorMessage)
public static T First<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string errorMessage)

//Different custom errorMessages for zero and more than one elements. NEW in SF 2.0
public static T Single<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string errorZero, string errorMoreThanOne)
```

### SingleOrMany and Only

**SingleOrMany:** The opposite of SingleOrDefault. Throws an exception
if the collection has no elements, and returns null when there are more
than one.

**Only:** Like Single but never throws exception. Returns null whether
is empty or contains more than one element.

You typically use this two function when you have to ask the server for
the 'default' entity using the new Navigator.FindUnique and, if it
returns null, you need to open a SearchWindow to let the user pick one
option.

```C#
public static T SingleOrMany<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
public static T Only<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
```

A table comparing .Net methods and the new SF ones.

 | Name               |Empty   |One Element  |Many Elements
 | -------------------|--------|-------------|---------------
 | Single             |Throws  |Returns      |Throws
 | SingleOrDefault    |Null    |Returns      |Throws
 | First              |Throws  |Returns      |Returns first
 | FirstOrDefault     |Null    |Returns      |Returns first
 | SingleOrMany (SF)  |Throws  |Returns      |Null
 | Only (SF)          |Null    |Returns      |Null

### SingleEx, SingleOrDefaultEx, FirstEx, SingleOrManyEx

This versions of the methods give a more meaningful error than the original version, informing of the name of the type `T` in the `IEnumerable<T>`.

### And, PreAnd

Allows you to Add one element at the end (And) or at the start (PreAnd)
of a sequence without having to convert it to a List.

```C#
public static IEnumerable<T> And<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, T newItem)
public static IEnumerable<T> PreAnd<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, T newItem)
```

Example:

```C#
new[]{ 2, 3 }.Add(4).PreAnd(1).ForeEach(a => Console.Write(a));
//Result: 1234
```

> **Note:** Use it with care! It has good performance if you're planning to
add just _ONE_ element, for more than one it's really expensive
because the [cost is quadratic with recursive iterators](http://blogs.msdn.com/grantri/archive/2004/03/24/95787.aspx).

### ToString (Very usefull!)

Allows you to concatenate the string representation of some elements
using a separator between each of them, but not at the beginning or the
end.

```C#
public static string ToString<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string separator)
public static string ToString<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, string> toString, string separator)
```

Example:

```C#
string str = new[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }.ToString(", ");

//Result: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
```

You can also use the second overload that takes a lambda to specify how
to do the ToString of each element:

```C#
string[] sortNames = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.DateTimeFormat.ShortestDayNames;

string str = new[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }.ToString(n => ((DayOfWeek)n).ToString(), ", ");

//Result: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
```

Internally, this function uses StringBuilder, so it has good performance even
with lot of elements, but using this function is _way sorter_ and
much more composable than using StringBuilder directly.

How Many times you have seen code like this?

```C#
StrinbBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
foreach(int n in new[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 })
{
   if(sb.Length > 0)
      sb.Write(", ");

   sb.Write(n);
}
return sb.ToString();
```

### Comma, CommaAnd, CommaOr

Quite similar to ToString extensions method, but using a different separator between the last two elements: ' and ' (`CommaAnd`), ' or '
(`CommaOr`) or a custom lastSeparator (`Comma`)

```C#
public static string CommaAnd<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
public static string CommaAnd<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, string> toString)

public static string CommaOr<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
public static string CommaOr<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, string> toString)

public static string Comma<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string lastSeparator)
public static string Comma<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, string> toString, string lastSeparator)
```

Example:

```C#
new[]{ 1, 2, 3 }.CommaAnd(); //Returns: "1, 2 and 3" (or "1, 2 y 3" if CurrentCulture is Spanish)
new[]{ 1, 2, 3 }.Comma(n=>n.ToString("00"), " & "); //Returns: "01, 02 & 03"
```

### ToConsole, ToFile

```C#
//Write each element in collection in a line in the console:
public static void ToConsole<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
public static void ToConsole<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, string> toString)

//Write each element in collection in a line in a text file:
public static void ToFile(this IEnumerable<string> collection, string fileName)
public static void ToFile<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, string> toString, string fileName)
```

### ToDataTable

```C#
//Creates a DataTable with a column for each public property or field on T. Cool for debugging.
public static DataTable ToDataTable<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
```

### ToStringTable, FormatTable and ToConsoleTable

```C#
//Creates a bidimensional string array with every public member (property or field) in T.
//Member names are placed in the first row (headers), and values for each element are placed in the following rows.
public static string[,] ToStringTable<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)

//Format a bidimensional string array in a big string
//Making room between columns so the longer value (or header if enabled) fits in each column.
public static string FormatTable(this string[,] table, bool longHeaders = true, string separator = " ")

//Uses WriteFormatedStringTable using Console.Out as the textWriter.
public static void ToConsoleTable<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, string title)
```

All these methods make reusable pieces and create behavior by
composition, but the most useful method from the client side is
ToConsoleTable. Let's see an example:

```C#
new DirectoryInfo(@"C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures").GetFiles()
.Select(a=>new
{
   a.Name,
   Size = a.Length.ToComputerSize(),
   a.LastWriteTime,
   a.CreationTime
})
.ToConsoleTable("..::My Images::..");

//Returning
..::My Images::..
Name          Size          LastWriteTime       CreationTime
Butterfly.jpg 303,06 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
desktop.ini   1,06 KBytes   13/12/2008 0:51:05  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Field.jpg     297,31 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Flower.jpg    298,06 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Leaves.jpg    299,62 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Rocks.jpg     304,26 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Thumbs.db     115,50 KBytes 29/01/2009 17:17:12 18/01/2009 5:10:16
Tulip.jpg     274,95 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Waterfall.jpg 306,83 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
Window.jpg    264,67 KBytes 13/12/2008 0:28:36  13/12/2008 0:28:40
```

### WithMin WithMax WithMinMaxPair

Linq already provides a way of retrieving the Min or the Max values in a
collection, but it doesn't provide any help if finding the element that
has the Min (or Max).

```C#
//Returns the element on collection with the minimum selected value
public static T WithMin<T, V>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, V> valueSelector) where V : IComparable<V>

//Returns the element on collection with the maximum selected value
public static T WithMax<T, V>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, V> valueSelector) where V : IComparable<V>

//Returns a MinMax structure with the elements on collection with the minimum an maximum selected value
public static MinMax<T> WithMinMaxPair<T, V>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, V> valueSelector) where V : IComparable<V>
```

WithMinMaxPair returns a [DataStructures-Simple|MinMax] structure.

Example:

```C#
var oldestFile = new DirectoryInfo(@"C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures").GetFiles().WithMin(a=>a.CreationTime);
```

### ToInterval

```C#
//Gets the Min and the Max values in the collection iterating over the collection just once.
public static Interval<T> ToInterval<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection) where T : struct, IComparable<T>, IEquatable<T>

//Gets the Min and the Max values selected by valueSelector in the collection iterating over the collection just once.
public static Interval<V> ToInterval<T, V>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, V> valueSelector)  V:struct, IComparable<V>, IEquatable<V>
```

Example:

```C#
new []{ 2, 10, 100, -4, -120}.ToInterval(); //Return Interval<int>(-120, 100)
```

### BiSelect

If you need to make transformation on a List that need pair of
elements instead of just one element, then Select doesn't fit your needs
and you have to use BiSelect.

```C#
public static IEnumerable<S> BiSelect<T, S>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, T, S> func)
```

Let's see an example. You have a list of 5 numbers and you want the list
of differences from one number to the next one:

```C#
new[] { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11}.BiSelect((a, b) => b - a).ToString(", ");

//Result: 1, 2, 2, 4
```

As you see, the resulting list has only 4 values because the first element (2)
and the last one (29) appear just once. There is another overload that
allows you to turn pick between many options:

```C#
public static IEnumerable<S> BiSelect<T, S>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, T, S> func, BiSelectOptions options)

public enum BiSelectOptions
{
    None, // N-1 values (first and last only once)
    Initial, // N values ( [default(T),first] is computed too)
    Final, // N values ( [last,default(T)] is computed too )
    InitialAndFinal, // N+1 values ([default(T),first] and [last,default(T)] are computed too)
    Circular, // N values ([last,first] are computed too)
}
```

Let's test all the options at once:

```C#
var nums = new[] { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11};
   EnumExtensions.GetValues<BiSelectOptions>()
   .Select(opt => new
   {
      Option = opt,
      Result = nums.BiSelect((a, b) => b - a, opt).ToString(", ")
   }).ToConsoleTable("-= Test =-");

//-= Test =-
//Option          Result
//None            ___1, 2, 2, 4
//Initial         2, 1, 2, 2, 4
//Final           ___1, 2, 2, 4, -11
//InitialAndFinal 2, 1, 2, 2, 4, -11
//Circular        ___1, 2, 2, 4, -9

//Note: __Underscores__ Added to make it easy to understand
```

### SelectAggregate

Aggregate function provided by Linq allows to collapse all the elements
in a collection using a function, returning a single element as a
result.

Often you are interested in all the intermediate aggregate values. In
this situations SelectAggregate comes to the rescue!

```C#
public static IEnumerable<S> SelectAggregate<T, S>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, S seed, Func<S, T, S> aggregate)
```

Let's see an example. Given a list of 5 ones, the intermediate values of
summing all of them:

```C#
new[] { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 }.SelectAggregate(0, (a, b) => a + b).ToString(", ");

//Result: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
```

As you see, the result has 6 values because the first value (seed) is
also returned.

As a curiosity, if you apply this function to the result of the previous
example (BiSelect) using the first value as the seed you restore the
values:

```C#
new[] { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11}.BiSelect((a, b) => b - a).SelectAggregate(2, (a, b) => a + b).ToString(", ");
//Result: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11
```

You can thing of BiSelect as the derivative, and SelectAggregate as the integral.

### Distinct
Overload of distinct taking a lambda as a comparer. Keeps only the first element that returns each different value.

```C#
public static IEnumerable<T> Distinct<T, S>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, S> func)
```

```C#
public static IEnumerable<T> Distinct<T, S>(this IEnumerable<T> collection, Func<T, S> func, IEqualityComparer<S> comparer)
```

### OrderBy

Just a parameterless overload of OrderBy that works on
`IQuerable<T>` where T is itself an `IQuerable<T>`.

There are two overloads, one for IEnumerable and other for IQueryable:

```C#
public static IOrderedEnumerable<T> OrderBy<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection) where T : IComparable<T>
public static IOrderedEnumerable<T> OrderByDescending<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection) where T : IComparable<T>
```

Example:

```C#
new[] { 3,5,1,2 }.OrderBy().ToString("");

//Result: 1235
```

### Zip

Zip operator just mixes two sequences of elements taking an element of
each sequence in pairs. Zip operator is common operator included in C# 4.0, and we add 5 more variations

```C#
//Included in BCL: Zips two sequences using a mixer function finish on the shorter
public static IEnumerable<R> Zip<A, B>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB, Func<A, B, R> resultSelector)

//Zips two sequences using Tuples, finish on the shorter
public static IEnumerable<(A, B)> Zip<A, B>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB)

//Zips two sequences using a mixer function, finish on the longer and filling the sorter with default(T)
public static IEnumerable<R> ZipOrDefault<A, B, R>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB, Func<A, B, R> resultSelector)

//Zips two sequences using Tuples, finish on the longer and filling the sorter with default(T)
public static IEnumerable<(A, B)> ZipOrDefault<A, B>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB)

//Zips two sequences using a mixer function, throws InvalidOperationException is they are not the same size
public static IEnumerable<R> ZipStrict<A, B, R>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB, Func<A, B, R> resultSelector)

//Zips two sequences using Tuples, throws InvalidOperationException is they are not the same size
public static IEnumerable<(A, B)> ZipStrict<A, B>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB)

//Zips two sequences taking an action for each pair and returning void, finishes on the sorter
public static void ZipForeach<A, B>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB, Action<A, B> actions)

//Zips two sequences taking an action for each pair and returning void, if not the same length throws InvalidOperationException
public static void ZipForeachStrict<A, B>(this IEnumerable<A> colA, IEnumerable<B> colB, Action<A, B> actions)
```

### JoinStrict

Similar to join but whenever there's a mismatch between the two
collections throws a nice exception message. The keys shouldn't be
repeated in any of the two collections.

```C#
  public static IEnumerable<R> JoinStrict<K, O, N, R>(
           IEnumerable<O> oldCollection,
           IEnumerable<N> newCollection,
           Func<O, K> oldKeySelector,
           Func<N, K> newKeySelector,
           Func<O, N, R> resultSelector,
           string action )
```

Example:

```C#
new []{1,2,3,4,5}.JoinStrict(new[]{1,3,5,7,9}, a=>a, b=>b, (a,b)=>a, "Joining Numbers");
// Throws an InvalidOperationException with the message:
// Error Joining Numbers:
// Missing: 7, 9
// Extra: 2, 4
```

Usefully to build a 1-to-1 correspondence between elements of two
collections, asserting it in the process.

### Conversions

Just some extension methods to convert IEnumerbles to collection types
already available in .Net:

```C#
//Creates a new HashSet with the elements (repeated elements disappear)
public static HashSet<T> ToHashSet<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source)

//Converts the IEnumerable to a ReadOnlyCollection (if necessary)
public static ReadOnlyCollection<T> ToReadOnly<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)
```

AsThreadSafe returns a [Synchronization|ThreadSafeEnumerator] for the
current IEnumerable so you can consume it from different threads at the
same time safely.

```C#
public static IEnumerable<T> AsThreadSafe<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source)
```

ToProgressEnumerator creates a `ProgressEnumerator` keeps tracks of
progress as the IEnumerable gets consumed.

```C#
public static IEnumerable<T> ToProgressEnumerator<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source, out IProgressInfo pi)
```

### AddRange / PushRange / EnqueueRange

Finally, just some extension methods over HashSet, Stack, and Queue to
make them easier to be used with LINQ Queries.

```C#
public static void PushRange<T>(this Stack<T> stack, IEnumerable<T> elements)
public static void EnqueueRange<T>(this Queue<T> queue, IEnumerable<T> elements)
public static void AddRange<T>(this HashSet<T> hashset, IEnumerable<T> collection)
```

### Iterate

Returns a sequence of `Iteration<T>` and object containing, in addition to the value, usefull information for the iteration.

```C#
public static IEnumerable<Iteration<T>> Iterate<T>(this IEnumerable<T> collection)

public class Iteration<T>
{
    public T Value { get; }
    public bool IsFirst { get; } }
    public bool IsLast { get;  }
    public int Position { get; }
    public bool IsEven { get; }
    public bool IsOdd { get; }
}
```

### CartesianProduct
N-dimensional generalization of a SelectMany. Given a sequence sequences, returns all the possible combination of elements:

```C#
public static IEnumerable<IEnumerable<T>> CartesianProduct<T>(this IEnumerable<IEnumerable<T>> sequences)

new []
{
   new []{1,2},
   new []{10,20},
   new []{100,200},
}.CartesianProdut();

//returns something like:
new []
{
   new []{1,10, 100},
   new []{1,10, 200},
   new []{1,20, 100},
   new []{1,20, 200},

   new []{2,10, 100},
   new []{2,10, 200},
   new []{2,20, 100},
   new []{2,20, 200},
}
```


To print the memory card, please click here.
This week's Scripture really touches my heart and I hope it will touch yours too. How many times have you felt like throwing in the towel and walking away from something? You were certain that God led you to it, but now you are questioning if you heard Him correctly. This week we will work through our hearts in hopes of rekindling our flames.
Every single time we are in God's word and working to place it in our hearts, He sees. He will always hold our hands through the process and strengthen us. May you feel His blessings surround you this week!
To print the Scripture study worksheet for the week, please click here.


Martyn Kaymer holds the 36–hole lead on day two at the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship as he shoots another 66.
Alex Noren successfully defended his overnight lead, and managed to get over the line to win by two shots from Bernd Wiesberger.
Our friends on the European Tour have shared this with us. It's a video of two of the Tour's big hitters, Lukas Bjerregaard and Tommy Fleetwood on the Dubai practise range with Pro Tracer to see how they perfect their drives and what tips they have.
The Russian Open was the first week for tour players to score Ryder cup points. Yet if Lee Slattery, David Horsey, Pablo Martin Benavides or James Heath make the final 12 we will eat our hats and then apologise profusely to them. Here are our tips as to which rookies will make the team at Hazeltine in 2016.


text:
Kathleen Mary Baddeley1
F, #128641, b. 15 January 1895, d. 16 October 1951
Kathleen Mary Baddeley was born on 15 January 1895.1 She was the daughter of Sir John William Baddeley, 2nd Bt. and Catherine Mary Ann Shaw.1 She married David John Adams-Lewis, son of Benjamin Adams-Lewis, on 21 February 1918.1 She died on 16 October 1951 at age 56.1
From 21 February 1918, her married name became Adams-Lewis.1
David John Adams-Lewis1
David John Adams-Lewis is the son of Benjamin Adams-Lewis.1 He married Kathleen Mary Baddeley, daughter of Sir John William Baddeley, 2nd Bt. and Catherine Mary Ann Shaw, on 21 February 1918.1
He graduated with a Bachelor of Surgery (B.S.)1 He lived at Hafren Hall, Carmarthenshire, WalesG.1 He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine (M.B.)1
Benjamin Adams-Lewis1
Child of Benjamin Adams-Lewis
Betty Mary Baddeley1
F, #128644, b. 10 June 1909, d. 20 October 1996
Betty Mary Baddeley was born on 10 June 1909.1 She was the daughter of Sir John William Baddeley, 2nd Bt. and Catherine Mary Ann Shaw.1 She married Donald George Matthews Blanchard, son of Thomas George Blanchard, on 5 November 1938.1 She died on 20 October 1996 at age 87.1
From 5 November 1938, her married name became Blanchard.1 She held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Wiltshire.1
Children of Betty Mary Baddeley and Donald George Matthews Blanchard
Diana Mary Blanchard+1 b. 28 Jul 1939
Anne Catherine Blanchard+1 b. 21 Jul 1942
Peter Donald Blanchard+1 b. 12 Mar 1945
Mary Patricia Blanchard+2 b. 19 May 1950
Donald George Matthews Blanchard1
Donald George Matthews Blanchard is the son of Thomas George Blanchard.1 He married Betty Mary Baddeley, daughter of Sir John William Baddeley, 2nd Bt. and Catherine Mary Ann Shaw, on 5 November 1938.1
Children of Donald George Matthews Blanchard and Betty Mary Baddeley
Thomas George Blanchard1
Thomas George Blanchard lived at The Manor, Burbage, Wiltshire, EnglandG.1
Child of Thomas George Blanchard
Donald George Matthews Blanchard+1
Peter Donald Blanchard1
Peter Donald Blanchard was born on 12 March 1945.1 He is the son of Donald George Matthews Blanchard and Betty Mary Baddeley.1 He married Pamela Anne Constanduros, daughter of Basil Constanduros, on 10 July 1982.1
He was educated at Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire, EnglandG.1 He graduated from Wye Agricultural College, Wye, Kent, EnglandG, in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)1 He graduated with a National Diploma of Agriculture (N.D.A.)1 He lived in 2003 at Manor Farm, Burbage, Wiltshire, EnglandG.1
Child of Peter Donald Blanchard and Pamela Anne Constanduros
Thomas Peter Blanchard1 b. 1984
Pamela Anne Constanduros1
Pamela Anne Constanduros is the daughter of Basil Constanduros.1 She married Peter Donald Blanchard, son of Donald George Matthews Blanchard and Betty Mary Baddeley, on 10 July 1982.1
From 10 July 1982, her married name became Blanchard.1
Child of Pamela Anne Constanduros and Peter Donald Blanchard
Basil Constanduros1
Basil Constanduros lived at Burbage, Wiltshire, EnglandG.1
Child of Basil Constanduros
Pamela Anne Constanduros+1
Thomas Peter Blanchard1
Thomas Peter Blanchard was born in 1984.1 He is the son of Peter Donald Blanchard and Pamela Anne Constanduros.1