It sure is good to be back in california again.
Arne and I went to my old High School, Sierra High in Tollhouse and met some old teachers of mine. One of them I had not seen for 11 years and yet he remembered me right away. We had some great chats, walked around the grounds and enjoyed the beautifull weather.
On frieday we went to Yosemite with my host mother and a friend of her's.
It was a lovely day. We biked around a bit, hiked a little and stared at huge trees with branches thicker than I am tall.
We had some rest on saturday, a little shopping in Fresno and a nice dinner at my host mother's parents. Afterwards we went to an indoor football game.
We took off for the coast this morning and went to Monterey to the aquarium, walked on the beach and drove the 17 mile drive. Another great day of our journey with lot's to see, great weather and great people.


Five little monkeys jumping on the bed plus lots more nursery. Five little monkeys jumping on the bed more nursery rhymes! 5. Nursery rhymes : five little monkeys jumping on the bed by simsam. Five little monkeys jumping on the bed mother goose club nursery.


Tech stack just lists os. Any specific languages in mind?
@bcye Maybe take a look at flutter.io? I don't have experience with it but looks promising and it's cross platform.
Are you gonna publish this to the store?
I can help you with the whole native Android Java or kotlin app but after 11/6?
use kotlin or java in your case. flutter is harder to set up than native development and harder to learn imo.
@WingedDestinyX I am learning Swift. Have tried to make an firebase app for two months. Couldn't figure out async. Gave up. Am much better yet though. I hope so.
@bcye you could check out RxSwift if you want to go async when fetching data. It will make life more simple :p RayWenderlich has a good book for that too that I just learned ;) But the docs on their Git is also good.
@WingedDestinyX I Took the right course on treehouse by now. The project was before 1 year or so. But I though async == closures and therefore hadn't a clue what to search for.
@calmyourtities won't you need a mac to compile it for iOS?
if it is such a simple UI you could just do a PWA so it'd work on all devices via browser.


There are many articles out there that illustrate how to competently photograph an aquarium using a film base single lens reflex camera, but not so many on how to do it with a digital camera. Quality digital aquarium photographs are important as by far the best research tool in this field are internet forums and in which it is a necessity to post clear and useful photographs. Aside from the personal satisfaction atained from the production of an interesting image, good photos are important for competition entries as well.
Lighting is the single most important issue in photography in general, and aquarium photography is no exception. All cameras will use their metering system to judge how much light is available to enter a lens in any given scene, and then decide on the amount of time to open the shutter and expose the sensor (shutter speed) and how much light to expose it with (aperture). Different combinations of aperture and shutter speed will give you different effects, for example, a slower shutter speed, of say 1/2 second will render movement in a blurred fashion, whereas 1/500 second will usually render a moving fish sharply. So: no matter what camera you use, more light gives the ability to use faster shutter speed and therefore sharply rendered images. The problem is that in aquariums with standard lighting fixtures, there is not always enough light to be able to use these fast shutter speeds.
Although simply finding a way to increase the lighting in your aquarium temporarily is obviously the best solution (and will render the best results) there are actually some ways you can improve your shots without doing this. The first is to increase the sensitivity of the sensor, or in other words, increase the ISO setting. An ISO setting of 200 is twice as sensitive as ISO 100, and an ISO setting of 400 is twice as sensitive as ISO 200. This means that the higher the ISO setting, the more sensitive the camera's sensor is, and therefore the faster shutter speed can be used. Which is what you want for that fast moving fish. The drawback is that as you increase ISO, image noise increases, in other words the picture will have more grain and not look as smooth.
Another way to use a faster shutter speed is to provide more light in the form of a camera flash. Ordinarily, if you set the flash on your camera to auto, it will fire the flash in low light situations in order to illuminate the area, and correctly expose the scene. If you try to use the on-camera flash when photographing aquarium fish, firstly, the image will look washed out as on-camera flashes are usually too powerful to use at distances closer than 30 cm, and secondly you will probably get the reflection of the glowing flash on the glass, obscuring some, if not all of the fish. The way to overcome this is to use an off-camera flash, attached to the camera via a cable. If you place the flash on top of the aquarium, you will get a similar effect to your aquarium lights but much more powerful, allowing the use of fast shutter speeds. The drawback here is that not all compact cameras can accept external flash units.
The other way to obtain a faster shutter speed is to use a lens that lets in more light at once, or in other words a wider aperture. This won't be an option for those using compact digital cameras, but for those using interchangeable lens type cameras, you can get more light to your sensor with a lens using, say an F2.8 aperture, as opposed to an F4.5-5.6 lens, which is what most single-lens-reflex (SLR) type cameras come with as standard. More on equipment later.
Another issue that is important is focus. The focal point, in photographic terms, is the area of the image that is sharp, which occurs at a specific distance from the lens. Automatic focus cameras alter distances between critical lens elements to hunt for areas of contrast, or focus, in a shot. This takes time and is not always reliable. And when a fish is darting wildly about, is ineffective. The best option is to manually focus (or auto focus and focus lock, if available) on an area and wait for the fish to swim into it. Also, when possible, position your camera perpendicular to the aquarium glass, to minimise any distortion in the shot.
As opposed to photographing individual fish, full aquarium shots are quite easy. All one needs is a basic digital compact with the flash disengaged, on a stable surface (preferably a tripod). Set the ISO rating to low, for example 100, as this will give photographs with the least possible image noise. Turn the room lights off and shoot. It can sometimes help to use a self timer or a remote release to minimise and camera shake.
Whether you're photographing individual fish or the whole aquarium, it is possible that your camera's light meter may be confused by the bright colours and tones in the aquarium and inadvertently over or under expose your image. Look at the shot you just took and decide whether it's too light or too dark or just right. If the exposure was incorrect, you can adjust the 'exposure compensation' on your camera and shoot again.
Another thing to be mindful of is 'white balance.' This term refers to what the camera considers to be white, there for affecting the rest of the colour range. Obviously white will take on a different hue under different types of light (tungsten, fluorescent, daylight). For example, if you set your cameras white balance on 'daylight,' then photograph a fluorescently lit aquarium, the shots will most likely have a green tinge. Your camera should be able to automatically judge what white balance settings to use but as with all automated systems, it can make the wrong decision. Most cameras seem to struggle to identify incandescent light mostly, but errors under other lighting conditions are possible. If you are finding that your colours are not perfect, adjust your white balance settings and re-shoot.
There are many advantages in considering a digital single-lens-reflex (SLR) as opposed to a compact digital, but the cost of a digital SLR is still prohibiting for many. In years to come, as digital technology improves, the prices of digital SLR's will drop, meaning the numerous advantages will soon be accessible to many more photographers.
The first and most obvious advantage in a digital SLR is the fact the lens is interchangeable. This means that you will be able to use different lenses for different applications, giving you greater creative freedom. Specifically, macro (close-focusing) lenses are available in most brands in a number of different focal lengths, allowing you to vary your working distance with the subject, as compared with digital compacts, where their close focusing ability is usually limited to their wide angle, meaning your subject must be very close. The optical quality of a macro lens designed for an SLR will be far superior to the lenses on compacts in regard to general sharpness, corner sharpness and give lower levels of chromatic aberrations. Of course the price of these lenses reflect their ability.
The quality of the imager (the sensor) also is superior in an SLR to that of a compact, mostly because it's physical size is much larger in an SLR. This means that, for various reasons, there is less image noise initially, so ISO ratings of 3200 and above are possible with acceptable noise levels. In other words, the sensor on a digital SLR can be eight times as sensitive as that of a compact.
Another issue to be aware of is that, although some compacts allow the use of an external flash unit, generally it is not a feature that is common. All Digital SLR's can accept external flash units.
In terms of specific products, I am hesitant to go into too much detail, because the technology is advancing so fast that my recommendations today will be irrelevant tomorrow. That said, at the time of writing, Canon and Nikon are two manufacturers that are making very good choice compact cameras, accessories for each being easily obtainable (flash guns, etc). They are also making very capable and high quality digital SLR's each with over 40 different lenses to choose from. More info can be found on digital camera dedicated websites.
Digital photography is here to stay. The advantages of digital capture over film are so numerous that it's astounding. To use your digital camera to its full potential, however, a little bit more know-how is required. Hopefully this article has been informative and helpful, and will assist you in taking strong aquarium photographs. Essentially, although it is very possible to take great photos on a budget using a compact digital camera and external flash, an SLR will in no uncertain terms, outperform digital compacts in every respect. The drawback at the moment is the cost, which, I believe will become less and less of a problem in years to come.
Two points made in your article on photographing aquariums are a bit misleading. First, a camera with an interchangeable lens is not necessary in order to be able to change the aperture. Many cameras with built-in lenses have that capability. Secondly, an off-camera flash can be used by having a remote slave that is triggered by the flash from the on-camera flash. The on-camera flash can be screened with filter material to keep that flash from adding light. In this way, a camera that doesn't have an attachment for an off-camera flash can be used.


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NBA Playoffs Bracket
NBA playoffs bracket contests have become more popular in recent years. Though they may never rival "March Madness," NBA playoff pools are enjoyable because of all the games involved.
Running an NBA playoff pool is made easier with a free, printable bracket sheet. These sheets make it easy to input information and keep track of all the action throughout the postseason.
Note: The information published on this page is for entertainment purposes only.
History of NBA Playoffs Bracket
The NBA was originally known as the BAA until merging with the NBL in 1949. In the first season of the BAA in '47, the playoffs consisted of a three-stage tournament involving six teams.
The Philadelphia Warriors beat the Chicago Stags in the best-of-seven BAA Finals to win the title. Teams were added to and taken away from to the postseason mix several times during the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's.
After several changes and revisions, the current NBA playoff system was adopted in August 2006. Eight teams from each conference claim a spot in the postseason. There are three best-of-seven rounds in each conference, with the eventual conference winner securing a spot in the NBA Finals.
The championship round is also a best-of-seven series, with the winner hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy at the end.
Running an NBA Playoffs Bracket Pool
An NBA playoffs bracket pool can be run much like a March Madness contest. Though there are far fewer teams, a weighted system can still be instituted that awards more points for correct predictions in later rounds. Bonuses could also be awarded for properly predicting how many games a series will go.
Additional points could be given to those who successfully predict that a lower seed will eliminate a top-seeded team.
Watching the NBA postseason is a far different experience from March Madness, but the experience can be made as enjoyable by creating an NBA playoffs bracket pool or contest for the office place.
Download: nba-playoffs-bracket
MLB Playoff Bracket
MLS Playoffs
NFL Playoff Brackets
Bracket Template
NCAA Office Pool

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The BMLT is actually an amalgam of a number of semi-independent projects. This page will tell you about them, and where to get them.
NOTE: Check out our new simple downloads page.
The list below enumerates the various "official" BMLT projects, and provides links to them. We may also provide links to "derivative" projects that are not under our direct control.
Most of the projects can be downloaded in pre-packed ZIP (compressed) files, but the iOS project apps are downloaded from the Apple App Store. Since the project is 100% open-source, and 100% free, you can access the source code directly. The projects are subjected to rigorous version control, using Git and SVN. Releases are carefully tested, and a complete history of each project is available in both their individual source code repositories and their README files.
US English ('en') This is the default language.
Danish (only partial translation) ('da') This translation is incomplete. Only the satellites have been translated.
Brazilian Portuguese (only Partial Translation) ('pt') This translation is incomplete. Only the satellites have been translated.
Android BMLT Search App on the Google Play Store (NOTE: This is not maintained by the principal authors of the BMLT).
The Same App As Above, but for iPhone (NOTE: This is not maintained by the principal authors of the BMLT).
Joomla is no longer supported after 3.3.4! The Joomla Component Release Download NOTE: Only Joomla 1.X and 2.X are supported by this component.
The Joomla Component/Plugin Project (NOTE: We no longer directly support Joomla. This repository contains an old version of the plugin).
The WordPress "Tabbed" Plugin Project (Current Version -Called "Crouton") (NOTE: This is not maintained by the principal authors of the BMLT).
The Deprecated (No Longer Supported) WordPress "Tabbed" Plugin Project (NOTE: This is not maintained by the principal authors of the BMLT).
The WordPress Printed Meeting List Plugin Project Page (NOTE: This is not maintained by the principal authors of the BMLT).
The Android (and iOS) BMLT App (NOTE: This is not maintained by the principal authors of the BMLT).
These are some "under the hood" tools for working with the BMLT. They may still be under development, and there are NO GUARANTEES WHATSOEVER that they will work, or that they won't hose your installation. Caveat Emptor. This is an old (deprecated) repository.
THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE USED "AS IS." IT REQUIRES REVAMPING FOR EVERY IMPORT, AND CAN TURN YOUR DATABASE INTO MUSH.
This is the central "primary" server; usually run by a Regional Service body. This establishes a Web site where Meeting List Administrators log in and maintain their individual meeting lists. It is not meant to be used as a general meeting search engine. Its only purpose is administration.
These are the projects that will probably be used by NA Webservants. They provide the user interaction with the root server. Each of these projects installs on an independent Web site, and communicates with the main root server in the background. They integrate perfectly into independent Web sites, and do not require very much from the root server.
These are plugins for the three major CMS (Content Management System) types: WordPress, Drupal and Joomla!. These are installed into the Web sites, and are the simplest (and most powerful) way to implement the BMLT.
Joomla is no longer supported after 3.3.4!
This is a version of the satellite client that is designed to be inserted into non-CMS Web sites. It consists of a directory that you place on your site, and instructions for inserting some code into your Web pages to allow the satellite to appear in the page.
We have written an iOS (Apple iPhone/iPad) app that connects to certain root servers. Currently, there are only a few implementations, and it is not a straightforward task to create new variants. If you wish to have one done for your Service body, contact us.
There is also an administration app available.
The BMLT is comprised of a number of components. Here are links to a couple of those components (These are used in the Satellite Clients, above).
We encourage folks to develop derivative projects that utilize or extend the BMLT.
An awesome printed meeting list generator.
One of the most important things to know about the BMLT, is that it is 100% open-source. It is also 100% free. The authors of the BMLT do not solicit, nor will we accept, any renumeration for our works (We've been pre-paid simply by having been brought NA's message and getting clean).
Many of the links above lead to the source code repositories for the projects. These are the "raw materials" of the project.
All BMLT projects are licensed as GPL Version 3 (or greater).
This means that you can take all the code, and use it without modification, at absolutely no cost. You can even bundle it into packages and sell it, as long as you include the complete source code, but you will always be competing against the free original project. If you do modify the code, especially if you plan to redistribute it, you need to return your modifications to us. We may or may not choose to add your modifications to the main code base. However, your modified code must be distributed as GPL code, and you must provide all source; including your modifications.


Lyft and Euterpe has helped create this unique experience through his actions in Las Vegas.
Did you know they had cars with pink whiskers? And now screens to talk to them?
So nice are the cars that join Lyft to facilitate the lives of millions of people. The giant mustache was replaced by screens where you can open a conversation directly with the driver. Confidence, closeness and friendship are the values they want to show in all actions. And Euterpe has helped create this unique experience through his actions in Las Vegas.
Lyft "A new way to glow".
After living an adventure in Black Rock City last August, Euterpe went with his grandfather Alberto direct to Las Vegas. The giant puppet that has traveled half the world was willing to create an indelible experience in Park on Fremont / Lyft Art Park. For the thousands of people who pass through this outdoor art complex, living an experience as close to Burning Man in the heart of the city of neon lights. It has been a great adventure creating emotions together with Lyft for all the visitors who have gone through the installation. Here below you can see more. Take a look!
If you travel soon, or are thinking about doing, follow social networks to stay up to date.


text:
New York Moves To Shut Troubled Rehab Clinic
Records show state officials knew for years about problems at New York Service Network, including allegations of overbilling and violations of patients' rights exposed by a ProPublica investigation.
By Jake Bernstein
When ProPublica first wrote about the Brooklyn drug rehab program New York Service Network (NYSN) last September, the outpatient facility only six months earlier had won a fresh license renewal from the state agency that oversees
Atheist Jailed For Denying 'Higher Power' In Calif. Drug Rehab Gets $2M
Report: Homes For Indigent Addicts Have Poor Conditions, Unsavory Ties To Drug Clinics
New York City's shadowy network of residences for indigent addicts and alcoholics, or "sober homes", have been found to be unsafe, unsanitary and non-assisting to residents' needs.
Beds in closets. Vermin infestations. Drug-dealing house managers. Fire hazards hidden from building inspectors. These are just some of the conditions turned up by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice during a year-long examination of New York City's shadowy network of residences for indigent addicts and alcoholics. John Jay's
Long Breadlines Form Outside of Food Banks as America Struggles to Cope With COVID-19 Fallout
Record Deaths Amid Duerte's US-funded Crackdown on Philippines' Poor
Coalition Of States Subpoena Drug Makers In Opioid Investigation
Inside A New York Drug Clinic: Allegations Of Kickbacks And Shoddy Care
It didn't take long for Lillian Imbert to conclude that her outpatient drug treatment program wasn't helping her recovery. Fellow patients appeared to nod out in group therapy sessions that she found repetitive and shallow. They begged her to sell them her clean urine to fool the clinic's weekly drug tests. The clinic itself was […]
It didn't take long for Lillian Imbert to conclude that her outpatient drug treatment program wasn't helping her recovery. Fellow patients appeared to nod out in group therapy sessions that she found repetitive and shallow. They begged her to sell them her clean urine to fool the clinic's weekly drug tests. The clinic itself was dingy and run down,
Bolivia: New Gov't Sets to Work Undoing Damage Left by US-Backed Añez Regime
World Bank: Up to 150 Million More People Will Live in Extreme Poverty by 2021
Lee Camp: A Dozen Reasons Now is the Time for Housing as a Human Right
How An Obscure Federal Rule Could Be Shaking Up Presidential Politics
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's allies seemed to give a big old raspberry to presidential aspirant Mitt Romney on the front page of the New York Post today. Anonymous sources told the paper that Romney demanded Christie agree to resign the governorship if he was offered vice president on the GOP ticket. Christie was said to have […]
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's allies seemed to give a big old raspberry to presidential aspirant Mitt Romney on the front page of the New York Post today. Anonymous sources told the paper that Romney demanded Christie agree to resign the
US Media, Pols Rage After Venezuelans Defy US Empire to Re-elect Socialists
A "Brazen Giveaway" GOP HEALS Act is a $30 Billion Bonanza for the Pentagon
Fake Taxis Among the Latest Tools in the NYPD's Rights-Busting Crackdown on Protesters
Death Takes A Policy: How A Lawyer Exploited The Fine Print And Found Himself Facing Federal Charges
Joseph Caramadre has spent a lifetime scouring the fine print. He's hardwired to seek the angle, an overlooked clause in a contract that allows him to transform a company's carelessness into a personal windfall. He calls these insights his "creations," and he numbers them. There have been about 19 in his lifetime, he says. For […]
Joseph Caramadre has spent a lifetime scouring the fine print. He's hardwired to seek the angle, an overlooked clause in a contract that allows him to transform a company's carelessness into a personal windfall. He calls these insights his "creations," and he numbers them. There have been about 19 in his lifetime, he says. For example, there was
"An Israeli Blitzkrieg" Signs Point to Imminent Israeli Military Action in Yemen
2020 Ends as It Began: With the Looming Threat of a US War With Iran


Book your next service online using our simple service booking form.
We have 17 dealerships across Victoria. Use our search tool to find the dealer closest to you.
We have a range of insurance products to suit your needs and Business Managers on-site to help you find the right options.
All new cars come with a manufacturer's warranty that generally lasts three to five years and covers mechanical, cosmetic and structural faults. An AHG Protected Warranty will help maintain your new car or used car to the highest standard and prevent potentially costly future repairs.
When buying a new car from AHG, we give you the option taking up an AHG Protected Warranty with either our standard warranty or premium warranty package to continue your coverage after the manufacturer's warranty expires.
Call or visit your local Victorian AHG dealership for a detailed list of all terms and conditions.
We give you a free 5-year warranty on your used car when you buy from an AHG dealership. Not only that, but you'll also have the option of upgrading to a 5-year premium warranty.
If the used car you buy is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty, your AHG extended cover won't start until the original warranty ends.
Call or visit your local AHG dealership for a detailed list of what is included and all warranty terms and conditions.
When you have your car repaired or serviced at one of our 17 Victorian service centres, you'll know that highly qualified service technicians are completing the work using only genuine parts and matched car accessories.
Servicing your car at an AHG service centre also guarantees that your manufacturer warranty and any AHG Protected Warranty is retained. Please note that our warranties may exclude some commercial vehicles and luxury vehicle brands. Contact your AHG Victoria dealership to check the current level and duration of cover available.


After arriving in Iceland and just having a few hours sleep, I get up early before the sunrise and venture out to find the famous Skogafoss Waterfall. What I found just blew my mind!
Check it out now on my YouTube channel. Just click the pic below to go straight to the video.


I am pleased to say I picked up my last 3 trays during my last dental visit. So, my 18-month Invisalign® ride is coming into the home stretch. It looks like I have just about 6 weeks left!
This has been an incredible ride! It has been a joy seeing my smile change with each set of trays. I'm so pleased when I look in the mirror at how straight my smile has become.
Through this journey, I've learned some valuable things about my teeth and myself. I've learned to be disciplined in my choices. No matter how much I wanted to remove my trays during the day, remembering they're not working if they're not in my mouth, made me more willing to keep them in my mouth as much as possible! AND the results show that it does work.
I've learned to make healthier, smarter choices about the foods I eat. I hardly ever snack on "junk food" during the day. The sugary beverages are gone. Did you realize that drinking a soft drink was the equivalent of giving your teeth a sugar bath?!? The Invisalign® trays fit snugly so it's very important to stay away from sugary snacks and drinks. No one wants cavities!
As I move thru these last 3 trays, I feel really good about my smile and what Invisalign® and Charlotte Dentistry® has accomplished for me. Remember, follow the instructions and you can't go wrong!


text:
Middle East News | ISIS
Clashes Continue as Iraqi Troops Push to Drive Out ISIS From Mosul
Advance pace slows as forces move from fighting in more rural areas with few civilians to the tight, narrow streets of the city itself.
Iraqi soldiers take a selfie during a fighting with ISIS fighters near the front line in the Shahrazad district of eastern Mosul, Iraq, November 4, 2016. Credit: Zohra Bensemra, Reuters
Iraqi special forces cleared buildings on Saturday in neighborhoods they entered in eastern Mosul a day earlier, after pushing out Islamic State militants in their drive to take back the city.
Iraqi Forces Push Deeper Into ISIS-held Mosul
First ISIS Leader Recording in Year: 'Confident in Mosul Victory'
Beards, Concubines and Satellites
Fighting continued in the morning, with both sides firing mortars and automatic weapons on each other's positions, while the Iraqi troops also responded with artillery. Clashes were most intense in the al-Bakr neighborhood. Sniper duels played out from rooftops in the mostly residential areas, where the majority of buildings are two stories high.
"Daesh is in the city center and we must be very careful as our forces advance," said Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces, using the Arabic acronym for the ISIS group.
With more densely packed neighborhoods ahead, his forces will be challenged to avoid both higher military and civilian casualties.
As he spoke, dozens of civilians in the Tahrir and Zahara districts emerged from their homes, some of them carrying white flags, and headed toward the troops to be evacuated from the battlefield.
The special forces launched a two-pronged assault deeper into Mosul's urban center on Friday, unleashing the most intense street battles against ISIS militants since the offensive to retake the city began nearly three weeks ago. At least seven special forces troops have been killed in the fighting.
More than 3,000 Iraqi troops took part in the assault under heavy U.S.-led coalition air support, but the pace of the fight also slowed as Iraqi forces moved from fighting in more rural areas with few civilians to the tight, narrow streets of Mosul proper. At least seven suicide attackers in explosives-laden vehicles attacked troops on Friday, five of whom were killed before nearing their targets.
The operation to retake Mosul is expected to take weeks if not months. Moving from neighborhood to neighborhood in house-to-house battles through warrens of booby-trapped buildings is time consuming and Iraq's military has repeatedly opted for slower operations in an effort to minimize casualties.
Some 1 million civilians still remain in the city, complicating the advance. ISIS militants have driven thousands of residents deeper into the city's built-up areas to be used as human shields, while hundreds of others have fled toward government-controlled territory and thousands have headed west into Syria.
Mosul is the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq, and expelling the militant group from the city would be a major blow to the survival of its self-styled "caliphate" that stretches into Syria.
Iraqi forces have made uneven progress in closing in on the city since the operation began on October 17. Advances have been slower from the south, with government troops still some 35 kilometers away. Kurdish fighters and Iraqi army units are deployed to the north, while government-sanctioned Shi'ite militias are sweeping in from the west to try to cut off any ISIS escape route.
Some advances are being made in the south, however. On Saturday, Iraqi forces assaulted ISIS positions in the town of Hamam al-Alil, which lies along the Tigris river about 15 kilometers from the southernmost parts of Mosul.
Kurdish television channel Rudaw broadcast live footage of Iraqi troops and armored vehicles amassing outside the city as an attack helicopter fired rockets into the city.
Truckloads full of as many as 1,600 civilians may have been forcibly moved from Hamam al-Alil to Tal Afar earlier this week and could be transferred onward into Syria for likely use as human shields, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned Friday. Another 150 families from the town were moved to Mosul itself, the UN said.


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Q: Call an external function from SQL Server Noob here, sorry in advance if this is a dumb question.
I am working with SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2.
I need to implement an inverse beta function within SQL.  (You pass in an alpha, beta and probability and the result is an x value.)  SQL doesn't have this function built in, so I need to either:

*

*purchase an expensive math package that I won't make full use of, or

*call an external program to do the calculation for me.

My question is: how do I do (B) ? Is it possible to call a function in R from SQL? Or maybe c# or PHP? I've googled a bit and i can't seem to find any good documentation on calling external functions.

A: No, you can't call a function in another language (like R) directly from MSSQL.
Yes, you can write some managed code that you can call from MSSQL, and which should, in turn, be able to call your R function.

*

*http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms254498%28v=VS.80%29.aspx
If you were to consider this, you definitely want to look at R.Net:

*

*http://rdotnet.codeplex.com/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


And just like that, it's the last week of summer whites. We recommend squeezing in as much as possible before we blink and it's sweater weather! This means lots of al fresco dining, all of the rose, and an action-packed weekday calendar. Until next year, August..
The U.S. Open kicks off today, but you don't have to trek out to Flushing Meadows to take part in the action. Thanks to Haven Rooftop, you can watch all the matches without leaving Manhattan. The rooftop bar and restaurant will be showing all the games on big screen TVs and offering $48 pitchers of the Open's signature Grey Goose Honey Deuce cocktail. 132 W. 47th St.
Get yourself at S'well water bottle (or two!) at the brand's sample sale, going on now through Sunday. These stylish, stainless steel bottles are on sale for a great price – $12 for a 9 oz., $18 for a 17 oz., and $22 for a 25 oz. – and are perfect for keeping your water cold for a workout or your coffee hot for those upcoming chilly days. 260 Fifth Avenue, Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a unique way to celebrate Wine Wednesday, check out this wine and marshmallow pairing event, featuring build-your-own marshmallow kabobs, marshmallow roasting bars, coffee-infused wine, and much more. WeWork Chelsea, 115 W. 18th St., 6-8 p.m.
If you've got a sweet tooth, September is your month. All month long, participating NYC restaurants and sweet shops will be offering designated Sweet September desserts and donating a portion of the proceeds to Citymeals. Some participating eateries include DBGB, Jacques Torres Chocolate, Blue Marble Ice Cream, and Little Cupcake Bakeshop. Various locations, all month long.
This is your last chance to take part in Surf Yoga Beer's Summer of Surf event! This event features a morning yoga/bootcamp session and a surf lesson with skilled instructors. You also get a ride to and from the beach, tacos for lunch, happy hour drinks, prizes, and a Surf Yoga Beer tank. Rockaway Beach, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Get in one last waterfront party before summer ends at BreakFestival, a two-day event on the East River featuring the best breakfast bites and drinks in NYC, as well as amazing views. Tickets get you unlimited samples at all the food stations, unlimited beer, cider, and cocktails, live music, and much more. Whatever you do, don't forget to stop by the bacon bar! Stuyvesant Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive, 2-5 p.m.
Making plans for Labor Day weekend brunches? Check out our guide for the best way to spend your holiday weekend.


Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.
Back in the mid 1990's a movie did the rounds of the theatres called Mr Holland's Opus. It's about a high school music teacher, Mr Holland, who attempts to make music meaningful and relevant to his students. When he was nearing retirement and after many years of encouraging and helping his students to learn music and to participate in the school orchestra and musicals, the school budget suddenly curtailed the school's music program.
He had packed up his desk and was about to leave the school sad, wondering if all that he had done over the years had been worth it. As he passes the auditorium he heard a noise. It was packed with students he had taught over the years and had gone on to make successes of their lives. A young woman went to the podium and said that she owed her achievements to the encouragement that Mr Holland had given while she was at high school. While teaching her music he had built up her confidence – she changed from being timid and shy to a confident politician, in fact, the governor of the state. It's a moving moment when the whole auditorium gave Mr Holland a standing ovation and his past music students played a piece of music he had composed.
There is a sub plot in the movie. Mr. Holland and his wife had an only son who was born deaf. Mr. Holland's life was dedicated to teaching and writing music for those who could hear and didn't know how to connect with someone who didn't share his world of music. We witnessed the frustration and anger of a boy who wanted his father to love him and connect with him in his world of silence.
No doubt, every person who saw this movie came away with a realisation of the powerful impact that we have on the lives of young people - for good or bad. Like Mr. Holland, we may not realise how we are affecting the lives of others, and in most cases we will never know, but make no mistake about it, we are influencing other people, especially the young.
Today, we heard of Jesus entering the synagogue at Capernaum and beginning to teach. Now I'll admit that if you compare standing up and teaching folk in a synagogue to some of the other things Jesus did - like stilling a storm on the sea, or curing a blind man, or raising a young girl from the dead - teaching may seem rather unimpressive. But as ordinary and dull as teaching might seem, Mark tells us that all who heard his teaching "were amazed" because "he taught them as one having authority." In fact, a little later Mark repeats how amazed everyone was, saying, "The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, "What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching?"
Mark doesn't tell us what Jesus taught that day. Rather, he tells us firstly, how he taught—with authority. He spoke as someone who knew what he was on about. He explained what the Scriptures said with confidence and when asked a question he knew how to answer. There were no awkward silences as they waited for him to answer; there was no admission that he didn't know how to answer. He spoke with authority. When he challenged Satan and cast out demons, he spoke with authority. When he spoke to the wild forces of nature, he spoke with authority.
The secondly thing Mark records is what impact Jesus had on those who heard him. Without any exaggeration, those who heard him would never be the same again. In fact, this is just the beginning of what would happen throughout Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
he spoke with authority as he ascended and promised he would be with us always.
And whenever he spoke, or helped someone, the Gospel writers tell us what impact Jesus had on people's lives. Again and again we are told, how amazed people were.
We know of at least one instance when Jesus invited children into the inner circle of listeners. The disciples had tried to shoo them away because Jesus was far too busy to worry about kids. They should have known better. Jesus spent time with the children. He was keen for them to hear what he had to say. He wanted them to get to know him. No doubt, what was seen and heard left a lasting impression on those young lives.
No doubt we can think back to people who have made a lasting impression on our lives – either good or bad.
Perhaps it was a grandparent, an uncle or aunt, a parent, who loved you and cared for you in such a way that left a lasting impression on you.
Perhaps a Sunday School teacher or pastor who encouraged you in your faith and helped you to know what it meant to be a Christian. I know I am grateful for the Sunday School teachers who were agents of the Holy Spirit and had a very positive impact on my life.
Perhaps you remember the kindness along with the firm discipline that a schoolteacher gave you.
As we look back often we can't specifically remember what the person said but we remember what kind of person he/she was and the impression that was made on us. We may not even know what it was so special about the person that we recall with such fondness. All we know is that person has somehow made an impact on our life and made us what we are today.
On the other hand, there may be people in your past that you would prefer to forget. Their memory brings pain and discomfort. They had an impact on you that is lasting and negative.
"What kind of an influence am I on the younger generation. What good and positive things are children learning from my example and from the way I speak to them? Are children learning something from me that will stand them in good stead for the future?"
These are natural questions for parents and grandparents to reflect on. It's a perfectly good question for teachers, Children's Time and Sunday School leaders, youth leaders and helpers, in fact anyone who has anything to do with children, to ask.
"In what way am I helping the children I know grow in amazement at Jesus and his love for them?
A speaker at a seminar on just this topic talked about his front lawn. He said there were two ways to go about growing a lawn. One method he called "benign neglect". Why water the lawn, or fertilize it, or spread weedkiller? Why go to all that work mowing, and edging, and spreading mulch? After all, grass grows naturally in paddocks and fields all over the world. The rain waters it, and the sun warms it, and it thrives without any human help. So just let nature take its course. And what would be the result? Well, there might be some grass in your front yard but there would also be a lot of weeds as well as dead patches. Instead of looking like one of the fairways at the golf club, the front yard would look more like an overgrown vacant block.
What's grows naturally is not the kind of lawn wanted. To have thick, green, soft lawn takes a lot of hard work. Cultivation. Maintenance. Fertilising. Weeding. Watering. Mowing. And repeat all this over and over again. It's a never-ending cycle. When you decide to have a nice lawn, you're committing yourself to a lifetime of lawn care.
I don't know if it's a good idea to compare our children to the front lawn but it does illustrate the job that God has given to all of us when it comes to growing children to be loving and with a strong faith. We can't treat them with an attitude of "benign neglect", and expect them to flourish. What if we say, "Well, after all, it's a natural thing for children to grow up. As long as we provide food and clothing, and love, we can just let nature take its course. They'll pick up what they need to know. They'll learn how to get along in society. They'll turn out OK."
I'm afraid too many people in our society today have that kind of attitude and let their children's moral and spiritual life be moulded by the world. Distressed mothers and fathers have approached me with a great deal of pain in their hearts because they don't understand why their child has "run off the rails". In most cases it is clear that from a very early age they have let their child's values be moulded by society's values, which are reflected in the values of the parents. They have not taught their child about God's ways with authority and conviction. They have not led their child to see Jesus and his love for them to the point where their eyes are wide open with amazement.
In a time when Australian culture is becomingly less and less sympathetic to Christian values, when the television shows, and movies, and popular music promote a way of life that is decidedly not the way God wants us to live, we have to take seriously our God-given responsibility to teach our children. We have to work constantly to keep the weeds from taking over, we have to work constantly to nurture and strengthen their faith in a God who will help them choose what's good and right.
As parents, grandparents, uncles or aunts, God has given you the responsibility to deliberately be a powerful influence in the lives of the children in your family. As members of this congregation into which children are baptised, some who are members of your family but many who are not, through the water of baptism God has given each of us a special responsibility to ensure, either personally or through our support of those who teach children. It is our responsibility to see to it that they are able to come and see Jesus as their Saviour and friend.
I know there are times when we have regretted what we have said to our children and the way we have acted toward them. There are times when it is all too hard. We wonder if we are doing the right thing, giving the right judgements, showing the right amount of love. Realising all this is also an important lesson for our children because they then can see in you your faith in Jesus. In Jesus, there is always the chance to make things right. He loves failures. He forgives our weaknesses and failings. He encourages and supports us, and through the Holy Spirit he gives us the know-how to do a better job.
When God's Word and God's ways are taught and spoken about with authority – with conviction – our children (and others) will see with amazement God's love for them in his Son Jesus.


This baked potato recipe is one of many healthy potato recipes available for immediate download. This basic potato recipe is very simple and you can easily get great results.
Follow these five simple rules and enjoy your baked potato.
1. Selecting the best potato for baking is key to getting good results when cooking in the oven. By far the best baking potato is the Russet or Idaho potato.
2. Hand pick your potatoes from you local grocery store or farmers market. Avoid potatoes with green patches or potatoes that are shriveled, sprouting or wrinkled.
3. Don't wrap your potatoes in aluminum foil while baking. If you do your baked potatoes will taste more boiled than baked.
4. To keep your potatoes from bursting and to reduce cooking time, pierce the skin of each potato with a fork or paring knife.
5. While baking, turn the potatoes over at the halfway point to prevent over browning on one side and assist in uniform cooking.
Wash and scrub potatoes under running cold water. Then pat potatoes dry using paper towels after a good washing.
Use a fork or sharp knife to pierce the skin of each potato. Two or three pokes will due.
Place potatoes on center oven rack and bake for about 1 hour, until tender with a pierced fork. Turn the potatoes halfway through baking.
Potatoes should be served immediately or wrapped in aluminum foil for up to 10 minutes before serving.
Serve potatoes with your favorite toppings, such as: sour cream, cheese, chill, bacon bits, butter, etc.
Each fully cooked potato without any toppings has the following nutritional values: 120 calories, 25 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams protein, 4 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fat and 0 mg cholesterol. If you're watching the calories, try some healthy soul food low fat alternatives.
I'm sure you'll enjoy this recipe for baked potato for many years to come.


Richard at Cadline has been most helpful but as yet no resolution.
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Chanaka Bandara 202 Aufrufe 0:41 Weitere Vorschläge werden geladen… Mehr anzeigen Wird geladen... Publish Related resources Google Desktop cannot access gmail - Port 995 problem Forum More resources Ask the community Tags Example: Notebook, Android, SSD hard drive Publish a b D Top Experts Error 1606 Could Not Access Network Location Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList 2. Error 1606 Could Not Access Network Location Windows 7 Support Apple Support Communities Shop the Apple Online Store (1-800-MY-APPLE), visit an Apple Retail Store, or find a reseller.
Wird verarbeitet... rename it from New Value #1 to Public, as per the following screenshot:(10) Right-click on the name Public and select "Modify ...", as per the following screenshot:(11) In the "Edit String" Apple Info Site Map Hot News RSS Feeds Contact Us Copyright © Apple Inc. http://ajdesignsoftware.com/could-not/error-could-not-access-network-location-no-key.php Been at it for days.
Post 5 of 20 Share Report Re: Error 1606:Could not access network location Autodesk\Autocad 2014\R19.1 Options Mark as New Bookmark Subscribe But after doing the fixit wizard thing nothing really happened .
Post 11 of 20 Share Report Re: Error 1606:Could not access network location Autodesk\Autocad 2014\R19.1 Options Mark as New Du kannst diese Einstellung unten ändern. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information. Could Not Access Network Location Userprofile See resolution in this topic: http://forum.bitdefender.com/index.php?showtopic=28429 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites This topic is now closed to further replies.
Anmelden 1 Wird geladen... Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Value name Value data ============================= Common AppData %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data Common Desktop %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop Common Documents %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents Common Favorites %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Favorites Common Programs %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs Common Start Menu Incoming Links Re: "Check for Updates" vs Download iTunes from web 3 years ago Re: iTunes install errors: MSVCR80.dll and Error 7 (windows error 126) 3 years ago Re: I get Switched the UAC (user access control) to OFF !!!3.
Navigate to Start > Run, type 'regedit.exe', and then click OK.Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders.On the right hand side, verify that the values are the same as the values in the Best Regards, Niki Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" on the post that helps you, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if a marked post does not actually answer This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. Replacing the registry key value allows the installation to go through properly.Note that the following procedure involves a registry edit.
Is This Content Helpful? I get an error saying: "Could not access network location %PUBLIC%\Desktop.. Everyother thing i tried falied. Wenn du bei YouTube angemeldet bist, kannst du dieses Video zu einer Playlist hinzufügen.


text:
Q: Undefined offset Error checking php Im getting an undefined offset error. I know why i am getting the error and where it is. What i am trying to work out is how to implement the appropriate error checking to prevent this from happening. The method is currently being called via ajax and thus the error cause's issues with the return of any strings etc.
Following is the class's method being called, its variables are being set vie $_GET.
        $id = $_GET['id'];
        $product = $_GET['name'];
        $price = $_GET['price'];

        //check for existing product
        for($i = 0; $i <= count($_SESSION['BASKET']); $i++) {
                //if product exsits incrent by 1
                if($_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['id'] == $id){
                    $_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['amount'] = $_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['amount'] + 1;
                    break;
                //if doesnt exsist creat product array
                } else {
                    $item = array('id' => $id,'amount' => 1,'product' => $product,'price' => $price);
                }
        }

        if(isset($item)){
            //push product to session array
            array_push($_SESSION['BASKET'], $item);
        }

As you can see the method checks to see if the basket currently contains a product and updates by incrementing the quantity ('amount'). I have a constructer that creates the basket array in the class. The issue occurs when the $_SESSION['BASKET'] is called and is empty but still exists as in :
array (
)

this creates and undefined offset error when checking the id in the if statement as the array technically exists but the offset 0 does not. Any ideas how i can handle this?.
Code changes i a have made that cause the same error
if(isset($_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]) && $_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['id'] == $id){

A: I have moved the logic outside the loop and added a bool variable, i can then query this to check if a item was found in the array. This allowed me to create another if statement to check if the sessions values were set rather than checking if the array was created.
        $id = $_GET['id'];
        $product = $_GET['name'];
        $price = $_GET['price'];
        $exsist = false;

        //check for existing product
        for($i = 0; $i <= count($_SESSION['BASKET']); $i++) {
            if(isset($_SESSION['BASKET'][$i])){
                //if product exsits incrent by 1
                if(isset($_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]) && $_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['id'] == $id){
                    $_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['amount'] = $_SESSION['BASKET'][$i]['amount'] + 1;
                    $exsist = true;
                    break;
                }
            }
        }

        if($exsist != true){
            $item = array('id' => $id,'amount' => 1,'product' => $product,'price' => $price);
            array_push($_SESSION['BASKET'], $item);
        }


text:
Q: Is there a way to use res.redirect in a forEach loop? I have created a mongoose database of different categories as shown. The names of each of these categories are displayed through a separate ejs file. However, I wish that whenever any of these categories are clicked, a separate ejs file should be rendered. This is what I have tried so far.
Category schema:
const categorySchema = {
  name: String,
  projects: [{ type: mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: "Project" }],
};

const Category = mongoose.model("Category", categorySchema);

const category1 = new Category({
  name: "household",
  projects: [project1, project2],
});

const category2 = new Category({
  name: "phones & accessories",
  projects: [project3, project4],
});

const category3 = new Category({
  name: "travel & outdoors",
  projects: [project5, project6],
});

const category4 = new Category({
  name: "health & fitness",
  projects: [project7, project8],
});

const category5 = new Category({
  name: "audio",
  projects: [project9, project10],
});

const category6 = new Category({
  name: "film",
  projects: [project11, project12],
});

const defaultCategories = [
  category1,
  category2,
  category3,
  category4,
  category5,
  category6,
];

For rendering category pages I tried this approach
app.get("/:categoryName", function (req, res) {
  Category.find({}, function (err, foundCategories) {
    if (err) {
      console.log(err);
    } else {
      foundCategories.forEach(function (category) {
        const categoryName = category.name;
        res.redirect("/" + categoryName);
        //   console.log(categoryName);
      });
    }
  });
});


text:
A.P. Green Chapel is a nondenominational chapel serving the University of Missouri in Columbia.  Today it is available for wedding ceremonies, initiation ceremonies and other such events through the Missouri Student Union.

History

Attached to the University's Memorial Union, it was constructed in 1961 as a gift from prominent manufacturer Allen Percival Green (1875–1956).  The Chapel was one of many gifts given across Missouri by the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation.  The Chapel was designed by architect O. W. Stiegmeyer of St. Louis and built by the B. D. Simon Construction Company of Columbia.  It was  dedicated by the Greens on October 11, 1959, with four goals in mind.

For  meditation and prayer by individuals
For programs during Religion-in-Life Week
For devotional services of a special and occasional nature by any group with University affiliations, with the understanding that such services by any one group may not be regularly recurring
For memorial services, funerals, or weddings of persons with University affiliations

A small detail of the chapel that often goes unnoticed can be seen on the back pew. A small crest is engraved underneath the left side of the pew bearing the symbol of Mr. Green's manufacturing company.  The symbol is composed of two mirroring letter V's, resembling an X.

References

University of Missouri campus
University and college chapels in the United States
Towers in Missouri
Religious buildings and structures in Missouri
1961 establishments in Missouri
Buildings and structures completed in 1961
Religion in Columbia, Missouri

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: pass inherited template struct as an function argument I have a template struct MyStruct in Template.h.
I want to pass MyStruct as an argument in a function in another header file header.h. Something likes this:
 //Template.h
template <class T1, class T2>
struct MyStruct{
  int myInt;
  unordered_map<pair<T1, T1>, T2>;
};

Now I want to put this struct to one function in my class:
//header.h
#include "template.h"
class MyClass {
  public:
    MyClass();
    virtual ~MyClass();
    void myFunction(int, MyStruct myStruct);
  private:
    int myValue;
};

I also want to call myFunction in third file myCpp.cpp, its head file myCpp.h has a shared pointer named std::shared_ptr<MyClass> sharedPtr;
In myCpp.cpp, I called :
sharedPtr->myFunction(int, myStruct);

where myStruct is returned by the function above it.
So, my question is, how to make this work? I tried to add define the struct again in header.h but it showed: prototype for ... does not match any in class.

A: Make your member function myFunction a template member function:
class MyClass {
  public:
    MyClass();
    virtual ~MyClass();
    template <class T1, class T2>
    void myFunction(int, MyStruct<T1, T2> myStruct);
  private:
    int myValue;
};

A: You forgot to add template argument in the MyStruct parameter.
Do MyStruct<type1 type2> myStruct instead. You're good to go.


This book evaluates the role of international mediators in bringing civil wars to an end and makes the case for 'powerful peacemaking' – using incentives and sanctions – to leverage parties into peace.
As internal violence within countries is a hugely significant threat to international peace in the post-Cold War era, the question of how these wars end has become an urgent research and policy question. This volume explores a critical aspect of peacemaking that has yet to be sufficiently evaluated: the turbulent period beyond the onset of formal or open negotiations to end civil wars and the clinching of an initially sustainable negotiated settlement. The book argues that the transnational flow of weapons, resources, and ideas means that when civil wars today end, they are more likely to do so at the negotiating table than on the battlefield. It uses bargaining theory to develop an analytical framework to evaluate peace processes – moving from stalemate in wars to negotiated settlement – and it rigorously analyses the experiences of five cases of negotiated transitions from war and the role of international mediators: South Africa, Liberia, Burundi, Kashmir, and Sri Lanka.


A tiny flaw has caught the attention of physicists: the Standard Model (SM) predicts that the B meson mixing phase should be measured at nearly the same result using two different classes of decay modes. However, observations of the two different decay modes recently gave very different values, resulting in an unexpectedly large discrepancy in the B mixing phase.
Scientists Rahul Sinha, Basudha Misra and Wei-Shu Hou have tried to explain the discrepency, and have shown that it is not possible to reconcile the deviation between the measurements, revealing a possible glitch in the stubbornly persistent SM.
"At present, it is not possible to specify the kind of NP [New Physics] that might be implied," Sinha told PhysOrg.com. "We not only need larger data sample of B meson decays, but also more theoretical studies. It could be supersymmetry, or something else."
The two classes of B meson decay modes that Sinha and his colleagues analyzed involved decays resulting in a strange quark, along with two other particles (either a charm and anti-charm quark, or a "q" and anti-"q" quark, where q could be either an up, down or strange quark). The neutral B meson has a very special property: it can mix with its anti-particle, the anti-B meson, which results in a phase called the "B-meson mixing phase." According to the SM, B mesons decay via weak interactions, and decays that result in strange quarks receive two contributions with different weak phases.
Scientists expect some deviation to exist when measuring the mixing phase of the B meson decay from different decay modes. However, the SM predicts a deviation of only a few degrees, while the measured deviation is significantly larger--about 13 degrees. Moreover, it is in the opposite direction.
To confront the discrepancy between the SM and the observed decays, which was first observed at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Japan, and was reported by Hazumi with further evidence at a conference this summer in Moscow, Sinha and his group investigated the possibilities that might explain the results within the SM. Using a model-independent approach, they showed both numerically and geometrically that the deviation of the B mixing phase must always be less than the weak phase of one of the contributions. The only alternative SM-compliant explanation they could find was that large destructive interference resulting from fine-tuned cancellations between two large contributions--contributions that are even larger than the decay rates themselves--might cause the observed deviation. However, the scientists say that this option is "rather unlikely, given the relative successful understanding of B decays."
"Without making any hadronic assumptions, we have shown that it is impossible to explain within SM the observed discrepancy in [the B meson] mixing phase measured using the [two] modes," Sinha et al. wrote in their study.
To confirm that the large deviation is indeed NP, Sinha said that more observations are needed.
"We need to collect larger data sets of B mesons at the B factories at SLAC and KEK, and also seriously consider the future upgrades to firm up the statistical significance of the deviation," he said. "The small phase (referred to as 'beta_s' in the paper) might be measured directly in the future."
"Although supersymmetry is the most popular scenario for possible NP, it has not yet been seen," he mused. "Neutrino mass has been established, but accommodating neutrino mass with SM requires only a trivial extension beyond SM. It provides no clear evidence of the dynamics beyond SM. There has been a hint of NP seen in the muon magnetic moment measurements where there is a slight discrepancy between theory and experiment. However, due to hadronic uncertainty or strong interaction effects (akin to nuclear binding), we are unable to say with any certainty that the discrepancy is a signal of NP.
"In our approach, which works very well to study weak decays of mesons, there is no hadronic uncertainty," Sinha continued. "The only reason that this discrepancy might not be NP would be that, as more data is collected, the discrepancy might disappear. The experimentalists talk in terms of statistical significance of the data. They quote a significance of 2.6 sigma for this discrepancy (in other words, it means less than one percent chance that this discrepancy is a statistical fluctuation). Without being biased, since there is no hadronic uncertainty in our approach, I feel that this discrepancy is the strongest evidence for NP. There are some other hints of NP also being seen in B meson decays, but none are as compelling and, unlike this discrepancy, we are not sure that they are not due to hadronic contributions. These are all topics of vigorous research by several physicists."
Citation: Sinha, Rahul, Misra, Basudha and Hou, Wei-Shu. "Has New Physics Already Been Seen in Bd Meson Decays?" Physical Review Letters. 97, 131802 (2006).


Apply now for Information Technology jobs at Hays Banking Singapore. 1 positions are currently open at eFinancialCareers.
Information Technology, Hays Banking Singapore: currently 1 jobs.The latest job was posted on 23 Apr 19.