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September 22, 2010 archive
Take action for 3 important Green candidates
Dan Hamburg, LeAlan Jones, and Jill Stein are running three races that are very important to the Green Party this year. In California, Hamburg is a former Democratic Congressman hoping to be elected as a Green to Mendocino County Supervisor. In Illinois, Jones is the only African American in the Senate race and has polled as high as 14%, in a state where the Green candidate for governor got over 10% in 2006. In Massachusetts, Stein is less than $1,000 away from qualifying for the rest of the debates, and about $38,000 away from qualifying for matching funds.
I'll make this as simple as possible. Here's what each one needs from you:
california, Dan Hamburg, donation, Election, fundraising, Green Party, Illinois, Jill Stein, LeAlan Jones, Massachusetts, Meet the Press, Third Party
Dennis Spisak for Ohio Governor
By Michael Wilk
In Ohio, Green Party candidates are organizing to hold politicians in the Democrat and Republican Parties accountable for decades of right-wing misrule. For the office of governor, Dennis Spisak is running on a platform to increase revenue, pushing for single-payer health care, creating jobs through green energy policies, and boosting education.
http://www.votespisak.org/gove…
Spisak for Governor
548 Poland Ave.
Struthers,Ohio 44471
Donate the full amount and receive the full tax credit. Remember to file this donation with your 2010 Ohio Income Tax to receive the 2010 credit. Act now. Don't let these funds go unused!
Ohio law mandates that your check must have your full name and address on it – PO boxes are not allowed. Contributions over $100 must include your employer's name.
On a more local level, Green Party candidate David Ellison is running for the county executive position that was ostensibly created in response to the huge corruption scandal now plaguing Democrat Party leaders.
http://www.electdavidellison.com
The above link is to the main campaign web site. To volunteer or donate, see below.
http://www.electdavidellison.c…
The Committee to Elect David Ellison
If you want a look at Ellison's plans for Cuyahoga, here is the link to read them.
Also, Green Party candidate Alan Crossman is running for a seat on the county council in Cuyahogs.
http://alancrossman.us
For statewide office, in addition to the governor's race, Dennis Lambert is running for the position of State Representative, District 89.
http://www.newmenu.org/dennisl…
Others have dishonestly claimed that the non-Democrat left is not organized. But the fact of these and other candidacies from left-wing activists shows that, yes, we are indeed organized. One can make legitimate criticisms as to the level and quality of that organization, but it does exist.
Alan Crossman, Cuyahoga County, David Ellison, Dennis Lambert, Dennis Spisak, General Assembly, Green Party, Ohio
The Suicide Nets at Foxconn
By Jacob Freeze
Although pointy-headed liberals, progressives, and actual leftists constantly complain about our supposedly cold-hearted corporate masters, one of Apple Computer's benevolent suppliers has set a new standard for worker safety by installing suicide nets around its factories, and even around the apartment blocks where many of its workers dwell, after a wave of worker-suicides last year.
So far in the last four and a half months seven workers from the plant have committed suicide, and at least 9 have attempted suicide. According to reporter Liu Zhi Yi who infiltrated the plant, the likely reason why was that they felt taking their own life was the only option to escape the hellish working conditions of the plant.
According to Liu, the plant makes employees work around the clock, only pausing briefly to eat or sleep. Most of the time the employees are standing, seldom able to sit down and rest their weary legs. This is perfectly legal, as employees are required to sign a special overtime document that override Chinese workplace laws and essentially allows the employer to demand whatever hours they want from you, without additional compensation.
Foxconn pays the workers far too little for them to hope to buy one of the Apple products they assemble. It pays them only 900 Chinese Yuan a month -about $130 USD.
But in spite of Foxconn's anti-suicide apparatus, a few workers still manage to escape into oblivion.
A 22-year old female worker at Foxconn's Kunshan factory committed suicide early yesterday morning. She only joined Foxconn at the end of March, where she worked packaging plastics.
Miss Liu was apparently saved by the safety nets rigged up several months ago in reaction to the spate of suicide-jumpers at Foxconn's other factory in Shenzhen, however she later died from her injuries.
Welcome to your future! And don't try to die on the job!
Blatant Promotion: JUST SAY NOW … Updated
You can help California legalize pot (Proposition 19 on the November ballot) and get a groovy T-shirt or other cool stuff in the process. I told you this was blatant.
California's "Just Say Now" campaign:
We just launched the new Just Say Now online store – and Facebook already banned it.
One of the best ways to show your support for legalizing marijuana is with our Just Say Now gear. All proceeds from our store go to support our efforts to pass marijuana initiatives in 2010.
You'll spread the word about our campaign, and support our organizing at the same time. It's a win-win for legalizing marijuana – even if Facebook won't let us show you our store.
Pick up your gear now at the Just Say Now store – and stick it to Facebook's censorship.
[To see] what we have in our brand new store, go to firedoglake.
Hey! This is cool!
Update 9/23/10: Latest poll results on Cal Prop 19 to legalize marijuana:
California is ready to control and tax cannabis rather than prohibit it.
Public Policy Polling (PPP) has Prop 19 up 9 points, 47-38. Survey USA has us up 5 points, 47-42.
Of particular note, voters under the age of 45 are expected to turn out in higher numbers in California than other states. This is likely because of the excitement throughout the state over Prop 19. According to PPP, among these younger voters, we're up 20 points, 54-34.
Way Cool!
All tags, CA, Calif., california, Dianne Feinstein, Facebook Censorship, FDL, Just Say Now, Lee Baca, marijuana, No on Prop 19, Pot, Proposition 19, Public Safety First, Sheriff of Los Angeles
By libertyvalence in Politics
An empty silo fills with dust, something sets off an explosion, and the silo is destroyed. The same thing happens in sawmills and coalmines. Large empty spaces filled with hot air and atomized particles.
Sometimes people are caught in the spaces, trying to do a job. They do not necessarily agree with each other but somehow the do their work. They have an objective.
Gazing from afar, you might call it spirituality but later, there is time to think about it, paint it, write about it, sculpt and even copy it. The work comes first though, it is not found in reflecting pools, only children, narcissists and egomaniacs are found there.
12 Hump Day Headlines: Hey Chi Town, are You Fired Up ? He's Ready to Go!
By AmericanRiverCanyon
Wednesday, Sept 22, 2010 Headlines, we have headlines….
1. Rahm Emanuel Could Leave White House In October.
I've always wanted to type this, and now I can:
Anonymous White House Aide says Anonymous White House Aide might be leaving the White House.
If he chooses to go forward with the mayoral race, Emanuel intends to be sensitive to the fact that his dual role could create the appearance of using his government office to his personal advantage, say two people familiar with internal deliberations.
The aide says Emanuel will not make a decision about whether or not to run this week, but was otherwise vague about when the decision would be made – or exactly when he might step down.
2. Larry Summers, Director of National Economic Council, to Leave White House After Election
Again, the 3 anonymous Horsemen of the Impending Electionypse were quoted:
…. according to three people familiar with the matter.
His departure would leave Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner as the only member of President Barack Obama's original top-tier economic team. Summers, 55, and the president have discussed his future plans, according to one person.
Administration officials are weighing whether to put a prominent corporate executive in the NEC director's job to counter criticism that the administration is anti-business, one person familiar with White House discussions said. White House aides are also eager to name a woman to serve in a high-level position, two people said. They also are concerned about finding someone with Summers' experience and stature, one person said.
Dear White House.
About that token genderism thing.
We are not fooled by how the present is wrapped if we're still finding it still doesn't fit.
So that's Peter Orszag, Christina Romer, Larry Summers, and perhaps Rrrrahmbo Anonymous gone. That leaves Timmy Geithner. Who now has to look at Elizabeth Warren.
Anonymous, Anonymous White House Aide, Anonymous White House Spokesperson, Arkansas, Bill Clinton, Blanche Lincoln, Charter Schools, Chicago, Dixiecrats, health care reform, Larry Summers, Mark Pryor, Mayor, Mayor of Chicago, Murphy Oil, public option, Rahm Emanuel, senate, Tea Party, There Will Be No Public Option, Villain Rotation, WalMart
Recession Ends; Nobody Notices
By gjohnsit in Economy
The National Bureau of Economic Research declared this week that the Great Recession ended over a year ago. Yet, for some reason, the average American isn't ready to break out the champagne.
"Every single one of the individuals who wrote the report needs a serious reality check," said Bob Johnson of the Queens borough of New York, who is 46, had worked in communications and has been looking for a job for more than three years.
The American working class is hurting. The unemployment rate is only marginally down from the peak and the economy has been losing jobs over the last three months. Households were $1.5 Trillion poorer last quarter, and $12.3 Trillion poorer than three years ago. Most of this is reflected in the crushed dreams of retirement. The poverty rate is at a 15-year high.
Nevertheless, the economy is improving, right? That depends on who you ask.
consumer confidence, Great Recession
Open Clown
By Nightprowlkitty
What Books Aren't You Reading
By Xanthe
What books aren't you reading? I am not reading several books.
War in a Time of Peace (Bush, Clinton and the Generals) by David Halberstam
I know this is a decent book, as it is written by Halberstam. As well, perhaps there is a glimmer of our upcoming wars when this book was written which would be interesting as it is Halberstam's take.
I bought this book at my resale shop for one dollar. For awhile it sat on my nighttable, then moved to the side of the bed with other stellar intentions, then finally to the chair near the bedroom where it occasionally gives me twinges of guilt.
Lenin's Tomb (The Last Days of the Soviet Empire) by David Remnick
Actually, I read this book sometime ago. It is a great book. However, either my mind is not as sharp or I have become lazy – I can't get through it, though there are some passages/chapters I peruse occasionally.
It is now on the side of the bed.
Reader's Digest Complete Do-it-yourself Manual for Home Repair
This book was a gift from prior male companion some time ago. Please if I wanted to read it, I wouldn't have been dating a carpenter who was also a master electrician. Did he think that now he wouldn't have to do any work around here. He didn't and as I said, "prior." It's in the basement next to the washer and miscellaneous sad tools in case I ever use them. The real toolchest is in the garage should one of my friends ever feel the need to tighten a screw or something. So far, they haven't.
The Energy of Money (A Spirituial Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfillment) by Maria Nemeth, Ph.D.
I gave up on personal fulfillment when I was 10 and didn't get a dollhouse for Christmas. (Yeah, I'm shallow.) This book will prolly go to the resale store. I can't bring myself to throw books away. It's under the chair.
TuneSmith (Inside the Art of Songwriting) by Jimmy Webb. Someone told me this is a great book about music. Wichita Lineman is supposed to be a marvel of songwriting and I agree. But for some reason, I can't get into it. It is on the nightstand so maybe it has a chance.
The Iliad by Homer (Robert Fagles)
Another book I've read partially in the past. Powerful – everything you need to know about the world and writing about the world. I've studied it in several university courses but never read it completely through in a few sittings that weren't years apart. I want to, of course. But it is harrrrd. It is on the side of the bed – but I am determined before my dotage.
Friends have mentioned it glorifies war. No. It does not. It gives hard, sharp images of battles, yes. Men die in agony in battle not in glory here. But why would anyone want to go to war after reading those passages unless they were the Achilles type. Since high school I've been in love with Hector. And I always will be – even with this passage:
All this weighs on my mind too, dear woman.
But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy
and the Trojan women trailing their long robes
if I would shrink from battle now, a coward.
Yeah, he's a guy. Though perhaps he fixed something around the house before he went into battle.
procrastination, reading about politics
State Killing: Almost Disabled Enough To Live
By davidseth
Virginia plans to execute Teresa Lewis on Thursday evening at 9 pm. There's no question she was deeply involved in two murders nine years ago, that of her husband and of her son. But you have to ask why she's being killed when the two men who actually fired the weapons received life sentences. And you have to wonder what the point of killing someone with an IQ of 72 might be, even if you're not ordinarily appalled at the prospect of lethal injection.
The crime in this case is horrendous. There's no question that it merits at the very least long term imprisonment. The New York Times provides the following about the crime:
death penalty, Teresa Lewis, Virginia
feel better about yourself!
By RiaD
has the news got you feeling despondent about politics? people?
HELL!! The Whole World?
i've got a solution for you.
annnnnnD.
the more you do it the better you'll feel…
about yourself & your place in the world.
intrigued?
take the jump…….
American Lung Association, building communities, Food Bank for New York City, Habitat for Humanity, helping, Meals On Wheels, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Ronald McDonald House Charities, sharing, simple ideas, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The Humane Society, Volunteer
Stop the Gripe and Groan, Mr. President
"When I hear Democrats griping and groaning and saying … 'the health care plan didn't have a public option', and … 'the financial reform — there was a provision here that I think we should have gotten better', or, 'you know what, yes, you ended the war in Iraq, the combat mission there, but you haven't completely finished the Afghan war yet', this or that or the other, I say 'folks, wake up', " Obama told wealthy donors at a Democratic National Committee dinner.
Obama told wealthy donors at a Democratic National Committee dinner.
The problem is all those things Obama is blaming liberals for 'griping and groaning' about: no public option, no teeth in finance reform, endless wars for profit not purpose, is because Obama has always and only been talking to wealthy donors. The corporatacracy; the financial oligarchy; the great sucking sound as the rich steal from the poor and give to the rich.
Liberals don't need to be awakened Mr. President. You have woke us up.
antiwar, class war, Economics, lies, Obama, secrets


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Brazil's current and future land balances: Is there residual land for bioenergy production?
Lossau, S., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7024-1075, van Velthuizen, H., Kleinschmit, B., & Schomaeker, R. (2015). Brazil's current and future land balances: Is there residual land for bioenergy production? Biomass and Bioenergy 81 452-461. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.07.024.
This study presents a new database of land use categories in Brazil at a spatial resolution of 30 arc-second (about 1 km^2). The spatial representation of current major land uses formally combines agricultural statistics from Brazil's latest census of the year 2006 at micro-region level and the Food and Agriculture Organization 2010 forest statistics with spatial land cover data sets. Spatial allocation ("downscaling") algorithms were applied to obtain a spatial distribution of seven major land use categories. Remaining shares in each grid-cell were termed residual land, and were categorized according to legal protection status, biodiversity value, and whether they belong to the territory of the Amazon biome. We found a total of 84 Mha residual land of which 37 Mha occurred outside the territory of the Amazon biome and was neither legally protected nor categorized as highly biodiverse land. The 37 Mha "available residual land" equates to 4.4% of Brazil's geographical area and to 50% of its current cultivated land area. We assessed land quality using the Agro-ecological Zones modelling framework provides land suitability and productivity estimates of the available residual land. Nearly one-third of land emerged of prime quality and is therefore promising for biofuel feedstock production. Analysis of potential food-fuel competition suggests that until 2030 productivity improvements on current pastures could accommodate land demand for Brazil's increasing cattle herd and expanding croplands. If these productivity increases could be achieved on current agricultural land, residual land could provide areas for the sustainable expansion of biofuel feedstock production.
Brazilian land balance; Residual land; Sequential downscaling; Sustainability criteria
Water (WAT)
Biomass and Bioenergy; 81:452-461 (October 2015) (Published online 11 August 2015)
https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/11404

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If there's anything cuter than a seal, it's a seal with a plush version of itself! This adorable animal at Mombetsu Land, an attraction in Japan's Hokkaido district, got a special present from the zoo staff – a plushie that looks just like the 'mini me' version of the seal.
Clearly, the seal got smitten with the toy, as he couldn't stop hugging it, riding it on the back, and squeezing the toy to its heart. We wonder if the seal thinks the toy is its baby. One thing is for sure – this is cuteness overload.
A plushie that looks just like the 'mini me' version of the seal!
So cute ! but its sad , maybe its a female in a zoo who wants to have kids ?
Yup I´m pretty sure about this. Maybe she is pseudopregnant. Of course animals dream of motherhood. It´s an instinct. Something emotional, not mental.
Do your research. Female animals in captivity have hysterical pregnancies.
Probably depends on the animal. From what we know, I don't think that seals would be mentally advanced enough, though I imagine that various dolphin and ape species in a community with mothers could feel such a thing if it's in their personality.
It looks like an animal that should be in the sea and not at a Japanese amusement park.
That and rescue facilities. I've seen rescue facilities that have tours where people can go through them, like a zoo and see the animals they are healing and/or that are kept there because they are unable to be released back into the wild.


Integrating more movement into your day can help you reap big health benefits.
Set a timer or an electronic calendar to remind you to get up every hour and move around.
Whenever you talk on the phone or have a teleconference, walk around your office or home.
Instead of e-mailing or phoning co-workers, walk over to their desks. Sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair, so you can activate your core and leg muscles and maintain better posture.
Consider buying a standing workstation that allows you to adjust the height of the desk for sitting or standing, or invest in a treadmill desk.


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--- To the Beauties of Four Seasons Opening Page ---
Artist as Psychologist?
In the mid-1790's one of Japan's leading publishers of ukiyo-e prints issued an interesting series of five images created by the well-known designer Kitagawa Utamaro.
Most ukiyo-e of that era had no pretense to be anything more than decorative items, typically illustrating courtesans in lavish kimono, kabuki actors in their costumes, or 'genre' scenes, but	this particular series purported to be something different; titled (in translation) 'Anthology of Poems: The Love Section', it showed portraits of women intended to illustrate different types of love, and the five prints carried the following captions:
Obvious Love
Reflective Love
Love that Rarely Meets
Deeply Hidden Love
Love that Meets Each Night
The women in the prints are of no obvious class or ranking and do not seem to be intended to depict courtesans; we are to see them as normal 'average' people.
But do such nuances of emotion lend themselves to ready 'illustration'? How competent was Utamaro at capturing these feelings with his brush?
The quiz offered on this web page is an attempt to try and find an answer to these questions ...
A bit of background ...
My name is David Bull, I live in Japan, and am a woodblock print 'craftsman' - that is to say, I cut blocks of wood, and print sheets of paper, making reproductions of old Japanese prints using only the original techniques. I do not usually call myself a 'printmaker', because that term has pretty much come to imply that the person also creates the imagery present on the paper.
I have been making woodblock prints professionally since the late 1980s, producing a new set of prints every year. The set I made during 2004 was the 'Beauties of Four Seasons', comprising four prints of the bijin-ga (beautiful woman picture) type.
Once the first print in the series was issued, I started to receive comments and feedback from viewers, and I realized that there were two very different ways that people were 'seeing' the prints that I was making. For one group (and I should say right up front that this includes me), prints of this type are purely decorative; the important points are colour, line, and visual effect, and the pleasure in the viewing comes from appreciation of the skill of the artist and craftsmen at creating a 'beautiful' object.
The other camp likes to look 'inside' and see more; they want to see personality, emotion, and 'meaning'.
Now I'm not such a fool as to try and claim that art cannot perform both of these functions. But I do think that by-and-large, the world has come to see much more of the second 'theme' in the Japanese prints than was actually intended by their creators. I do believe that their main purpose was decoration, pure and simple.
But what to make of this particular print series? At first glance the images are no more or less 'decorative' than any other prints of that era, but each one carries a very short descriptive caption implying that we should be looking deeper. Obviously then, these prints cannot be looked on as just decoration.
I didn't want to 'give up' quite so easily though, so I tried a little experiment with a few friends. I showed them the five images, and asked them to match the pictures with the descriptive titles. I wanted to see if there actually was enough 'feeling' visible in the finished work to enable them to be correctly matched.
The results were quite entertaining, leading me to think that a wider audience may also be interested in playing this little 'game'. I won't spoil your pleasure in the quiz by telling you at this point just how well (or poorly) viewers are able to sense the emotions that Utamaro wanted to make them feel; after your input from the entry form (below) is received, you will be shown a read-out of the correct match-ups, along with a total of the accumulated scores to date.
The small images visible on this page don't show enough detail, so enlargements have been prepared, and clicking the images at the left will 'pop' them up. If your browser cannot do that, then click on the thumbnails below instead; an enlargement will come into view, and you can return with your 'Back' button. Once you have studied them all, make your selection with the form. (You have one chance only; the quiz script will reject a second attempt!)
Decoration ... or more 'meaningful' art? You decide!
Thank you for your interest in my work!
Dave Bull, 2005
Seseragi Studio
Ome, Tokyo
(If you have already been through the quiz, but wish to visit the answer page once again, just punch in a second set of guesses; they will be disallowed, but you will be presented with a link to move to the answer page ...)
Click any image to popup a larger view
Select ... 1: Obvious Love 2: Reflective Love 3: Love that Rarely Meets 4: Deeply Hidden Love 5: Love that Meets Each Night
When you have made your five selections,
press the button ...
David's Main Web Pages | Set Viewing Preferences | Contact: David Bull


"Because the world definitely needs a man dressed in a tutu explaining how to create video games....."
After a bit of time learning how to use Adobe Premiere again (I learn to use it every time I have to make a video - at six month intervals) I have now got the recording of the Red Nose Day lecture ready for the waiting world.
You can choose to regard it as either a "Poetic masterpiece combining rhyme and technical achievement in a single, flawless whole" or "Twenty minutes of my life I won't get back". Whatever.
We had our Three Thing Game competition over this weekend. Just in case I wasn't busy enough writing poetry and whatnot. Anyhoo, great fun was had. A team of stalwart judges, including developers from Smashed Crab Studios, went through the final 17 teams and found us 6 finalists. As is the way of the competition, we had each team present their game at the aptly named finalist presentations. And here they are in no particular order.
Team: "I hope my friends don't bail on me"
Team "I hope my Friends don't bail on me", AKA Jason Powney, showed off the mayhem he had created from "chainsaw", "penguin" and "water". "Penguin Chainsaw Massacre" had tons of bloodthirsty action, with underwater mine hazards and even a sunken wreck. A very polished production.
Team //TODO, aka Daniel Masterson, had started of with "ASCII art", "sanctuary" and "error" and built, to our amazement, a 3D rendered graphical game displayed in a console window using text graphics. Something of an awesome technical achievement we reckoned. And the game looked fun to play too.
Team "Another Bad Idea", aka Robert Chisholm and Adam Thornes had crafted a very neat top down fighting game from "Toilet Plunger", "Small Mammals" and, not surprisingly, "fighting". The game had frantic one on one action as the players acted out the eternal struggle between fox and rabbit using toilet plunger weapons.
Team "You will Lose", aka Joseph Edwards and Tomasz Kope,c had turned up the particle generators to the max and produced an atmospheric game based on "square", "random" and "shooter". Some nice coloured effects and randomly generated play areas made for good looking gameplay.
Team "Four Musketeers" was down to one musketeer by Saturday lunchtime, but that didn't stop them producing a very neat four player shooter game from "Scrapper", "Wombat" and "Hull". The action was fast and smooth, with multiple weapons and you could even use the gun to jump. Can you spot how the thing "Hull" was used?
Another technical tour-de-force from team "Bad Computer Pun, aka Nick Ross. We advise our students to use Three Thing Game as a place to test out hew game engines and Nick had certainly done that. Matlab is a serious mathematical package designed for serious mathematical stuff. Not for writing games. But the power of Three Thing Game compelled Nick to go against this and craft what is probably the first ever computer game written in Matlab. It is definitely the first ever Matlab game that involves "ostrich", "oasis" and "escape". And it looked pretty good too.
I didn't envy the judges their job as they went out to pick the winners. Thanks go to Warren Viant, Derek Wills, Lindsay West, Jon Purdy, David Parker and the Smashed Crab crew for giving up a Saturday afternoon to help out. Anyhoo, after much detailed discussion they come up with a first and second places, plus a technical achievement award.
First place went to "I hope my friends don't bail on me". The game was commended for the high quality of gameplay, completeness and the way it had stuck very well to the three things.
In second place we had"Another Bad Idea". Their game was singled out for the fun multi-player action and great looking graphics.
The award for Technical Achievement goes to //TODO. You just don't expect people to use shaders in ASCII art games. Awesome stuff.
I'm going to be chasing the teams for videos of their games and I'll update this post with more details when I get them.
Thanks to all the judges, to Lee Stott from Microsoft and Simon Jackson from MonoGame for dropping by and taking a look. And thanks to David Glover for making the Fenner Lab work so well and allowing us all in.
The next step for the teams is to get their game published. I'm going to be running some sessions about game publishing, keep an eye out for them.
At one of the sessions earlier this week we were talking about game development and I found out something really interesting. Thanks to Giles for passing me the link.
If you want to make a MonoGame solution that contains a Universal Application for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 you can find a build of MonoGame that contains templates that just work here.
You can deploy to phone or pc just by setting the start project. The distribution also contains the new content management stuff. I'm going to make an example application and a little screencast about how to use it when I get back to the UK.
This is completely wonderful. It will make it so much easier to make games which will be rady for both the Windows Phone and the Windows stores.
I've mentioned this before, but I think it is worthy of mention again (since I've just done it and it works really well). If you are running later versions of Visual Studio (2010, 2012 or 2013) you can now get XNA goodness onto your machine really easily. Download the files from here and then just follow the instructions in the readme. Once you have installed the four components, run the Visual Studio Extension file (don't do this first, that will end badly) and you can get a cornflower blue screen of your very own.
Now, those of you with long memories will recall that XNA is a C# game development framework that is a great way to teach how to program by writing silly games. It was released way back in 2006. I've used it in our teaching ever since, written three books on the platform and I even spoke at the launch event in the UK.
You could say I rather like it.
Unfortunately, not everyone at Microsoft does (or did) and it was recently "sunsetted" or whatever the trendy name is for "made not really around any more". This was sad, but it would have been even sadder if that had been the end of the story. Fortunately, because of those wonderful folks at MonoGame, the framework lives on in a form that makes it possible for programmers to take their XNA skills and use them to make iPhone, Android, Playstation Vita, Windows Phone and Windows 8 games. And that's where the story was until today.
Microsoft UK have just done something very interesting. They've put together a package of hardware, software and educational materials that makes it very easy to set up a course that teaches programming and game development using XNA on real console hardware. And the fun thing for me is that they are bundling in all the XNA teaching materials that I've written over the years.
You can find out more, and sign up, here. (although I must admit the website mystifies me at the moment, as I've no idea what a "Microsoft Volume Licence Agreement Number" actually is). However, Lee Stott will be able to help I'm sure. If you just want my XNA book you can find it here.
As a kind of celebration I've dug into my copious archives and found the first video of a set I made ages ago for a local video game webzine. It is a little bit out of date (Visual Studio 2008 anyone?), but still mostly valid. If you want to see the rest of the series (it's worth watching just for the animated titles - in XNA of course - and the catchy theme song) then let me know and I'll transcode and upload them. Enjoy.
What use is a structure?
It is exam season here in Hull. Later in the week we have our programming exam. And I'm getting quite a few questions through about C# and stuff. Today I got asked the question "What use is a struct?". I've been spending a lot of time talking about classes and references and how clever they are, and someone wants to know why, if classes are so wonderful, some objects in a program are managed by value. The answer is simple enough. It is because sometimes you really want a value which you can just copy around easily.
If a and b are both Rectangle variables the effect would be to set a to the value in b and then move the X position of a to 99. This would not affect the position of b.
If the Rectangle type was a class then we would have two references, a and b, that both refer to the same object in memory, so moving a would affect b as well. If we want to place objects in lots of different positions on the screen, and we don't want them to be linked in any way, then structures managed by value is the way to do it.
Note that things like Textures are managed by reference. This makes a lot of sense too. An image is a large thing, and it is often very useful to be able to share one image for a whole bunch of things. Think multiple sprites in a space shooter. They will have a Rectangle value to give them a unique position and then a reference to a texture that they all share, to give them an appearance.
The XNA framework is full of objects that are actually structures because they work better this way. For example Color, Point and the Vector objects are all structs so that we can manage them by value. In fact, now that you know how it works, you should be able to look at any XNA type and figure out whether it is a class or a struct, just based on how it is used.
At the moment quite a few of the first year are working on a "Space Killers" game. Above you can see my sample screenshot from the specification. You can see that my graphical design abilities are around the same as usual.
The idea is that the player (the green object) must survive in brightly coloured space while all around are trying to kill. Collision with any game object is instant death. Survive until the clock counts down to zero and you are rewarded with another level with more, and nastier, things in it.
One of the game objects is the "Master". This is the one that looks a bit like a fried egg in the above screenshot. (Note to graphics department, fix that please).
This contains stuff that we need to position and draw the sprite. The Update method for the parent sprite just uses the position vector (which I use to decide where the sprite is on the screen) to set the SpriteRectangle value (which I use to decide where to draw the sprite).
My sprite also contains another method, DistanceFrom, which is used by code in the Master sprite to decide how close it is to the player.
This is how it works. It turns out that the Rectangle class contains a Point value which gives the coordinates of the centre of the rectangle. I can use the X and Y components from this to work out the difference in x and y between the two rectangles. I can then use Pythagoras Theorem to work out the distance between the sprites. Pythagoras said "The sum of the squares of the sides of a right angled triangle is equal to the square of the hypotenuse". My code works out the sum of the squares and then takes the square root of this to work out the distance value.
Hopefully the above diagram will make it all clear. If not, just enjoy the pretty colours.
My Master sprite then contains the following statement in its Update method (Update is called on the sprite to make it update itself. It is given a reference to the game that is currently active).
MasterRadarRange is a value which controls how far the Master can "see". If a player gets closer than the radar range the flag ChaseActive is set to true, which triggers the chase behaviour in the Master sprite.
Further to the talk on XNA earlier this week, some folks have been in touch for any other XNA references that I might know of. Here are a couple.
You can find a complete course which teaches programming using XNA at Microsoft Faculty Connection here. There are slides, labs and all kinds of good bits and bobs that you an asset strip and use as the basis of your teaching.
My Microsoft Press XNA 3.0 book (not the most recent, but still good for getting started) can be found as a free download from here.
All of the stuff will work on MonoGame too.
A great audience. I kind of have to say that because I've not left Birmingham yet. Although they actually were a great audience.
Just done a talk at the Windows Gaming Awareness event about XNA and MonoGame.Great fun. Well worth getting up at 5:45 am to catch a train to Birmingham to deliver. You can find all the content here.
It has also been very interesting to see what other gaming tools and techniques there are out there. I'm going to have a play with quite a few of the things that have been discussed.
I've been trying to make sense of how Windows 8 and MonoGame interact when the application changes state. I think I've figured it out.
There seem to be broadly two things that can happen to your game when it is running. It can get deactivated (the user finds something better to do) or it can get "snapped" to the side of the screen. If you are going to sell the program in the marketplace it needs to handle both these situations.
To handle the activation issues you override the event methods above. I've just put some logging code in so that I can work out what is going on. The events are fired when you would expect them to be. When the game starts you get an "onActivated" message and when anything happens to interrupt your game (for example the user minimises it or switches to another application) you get a "onDeactivated" message. At the very end, when the user quits your game you get the "onExiting" message. The activated and deactivated message come in matched pairs. The only slight trickiness is that a game will get an activated message at when it starts and when someone returns to it, but you can use a variable to keep track of this.
When your game is deactivated it should probably pause the game (because the user will not be able to interact with it). When your game is reactivated you can either resume the game or stay in pause mode and give the player a few seconds to compose themselves before continuing. When the game is exited your game should store any persistent game state and the first time it is activated your game should load the state.
Your event handler will have to deal with changes in orientation and also "snapping" to the edge of the screen.
This is my test method. It just sends a message out for the different states.
When you get snapped your game could display a "Mini-screen" in the snapped area. Above you can see what a snapped game looks like. The cornflower blue area on the right is the snapped area. When the game is unsnapped it will get a message to indicate the orientation of the screen. My games just pause when they are snapped.
One thing to remember is that when you get snapped the size of the screen changes.You need to change the size of the screen so that things are still drawn correctly in the snap panel area. You can grab the new values of the viewport size to do this.
The above snippet resizes a cheese drawing rectangle to fit the whole screen. I could use this to make sure that my cheese is always displayed full size (although when the program is snapped this will make for a rather long and thin display).
You never get the view changed messages in isolation. This even the case when you use the Windows + . command to snap the game from the keyboard.
I got this email from TripIt today. It doesn't seem to understand that I'm changing trains in Doncaster to go on to Birmingham for the Windows Gaming Awareness event. Not that there is anything wrong with spending time in Doncaster.
I'm doing a session tomorrow in Birmingham about XNA and MonoGame in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. If you want to come along too, I think there may be a few places left if you are quick.
I really like MonoGame. I also like physics. Particularly the Farseer engine, which works very well with XNA and lets you make things bounce around very nicely. I've had some success putting Farseer on Windows Phone, so today I thought I'd see if I could get Farseer to work with MonoGame. So I opened up my venerable old Destruction Golf demo from ages ago and just copied across the Farseer library and the code.
And it worked. Pretty much first time. Took me fifteen minutes in total. Amazing. The only problem was with the sound effect that plays when the ball hits the house. This wouldn't play for some reason. But everything else seemed to move very realistically. If you want to add a bit of physics to your XNA then it is well worth a look. It is the older version of Farseer, but I kind of prefer that.
You can find the sample code for MonoGame Windows 8 here. You can find my video presentation about how the code works here.
Things you might not know about me. I'm fluent in Algol 68. I know the George III Operating System (and its amazing editor) really well. If you ever need a VMS System Manager, I'm your man. I can write Modular II and Coral 66 programs, use Forth and Turbo Pascal with aplomb and and perform low level programming of the 6522 PIA (Programmable Interface Adapter chip) in 6502 machine code, should you ever need someone to do that.
Of course these skills are pretty much useless these days, as the above technologies are well past their sell by date. The good news, for me at least, is that all of these skills translate into useful ones using today's technology. I know about operating systems, programming languages and low level interfacing. And although the relentless march of change has forced me to pick up new skills over the years, I've never lost sight of the fact that working with computers is just taking a machine that can do stuff and making it useful.
Today Microsoft formally started to pull the shutters on XNA. I was there at the start and I've followed the technology ever since. I've loved making games with it, and loved what other people have made with it. When Version 4.0 came out I remember thinking that they had put so much into it that the only way was down. My big concern was that they would keep on adding things until it became too complex and cumbersome to be useful.
XNA has done great things for programming and we've used it to good effect at Hull for many years. In reality it is not going away, it will still be possible to make XNA programs and distribute them, and the folks at MonoGame will take the XNA torch and carry it on to great things. However XNA will no longer have the seal of Microsoft support. It's sad that Microsoft have moved on, but I think it was kind of inevitable. From a business point of view I never really understood how it could make a profit for the company, and in these tough times that probably spelt the end for the technology as a Microsoft product.
However, I don't think that anyone who has built up a skill set in XNA has wasted their time. All games work in fundamentally the same way and all game developers need to address the same problems irrespective of the platform they are using. You just need to take a leaf out of my book (which I've had a while) and move the things you have learnt into a shiny new context. Take a look at Unity for some very interesting new directions. And find out more about MonoGame, which I think is wonderful.
I spent some time today (lunchtime actually) playing with the latest version of MonoGame 3.0. This is the awesome framework that lets you take XNA games and run them on a growing number of platforms. I was interested in seeing if I could get a game to run on my Microsoft Surface. And I did. Behold, above you can see the venerable Cheese Lander actually running on my machine. Works a treat, and you can remote debug over WiFi. I'll be talking more about this in my Rather Useful Seminar tomorrow.
We did our Rather Useful Seminar today about presentation skills. You can find out more here. Then I went over to a student presented seminar about game development. This was run by the Video Game Society. It was excellent. I had to leave early as I had to go off to a meeting, but what I saw set out very well what we had been talking about earlier. There were some nerves, but one of my rules is that the day I don't get a bit nervous before I go out before an audience is the day that I retire from this job. If you don't worry about doing it right, then you might not do it right.
Great work guys, looking forward to the next one. You can find the slides and sample code here.
Last week I discovered how MonoGame is making it possible to write XNA games for the Windows 8 Metro environment. And I managed to draw a blue screen, which was nice enough, but not much of a basis for a game. So today I thought I'd make a sample project that had all the bits that you need to make your own game, including art assets, using the touch panel, using the accelerometer, drawing text and making sounds.
I've made a single, one-stop, demo that does all these things. It also includes the source of the MonoGame code as part of the project. I've found this to be quite useful when working out how the XNA implementation works. If you download the zip archive you should have everything you need. Here is how to get started.
To get started just download the file from here. This is around 22MB. Before you unzip the file it is a good idea to Unblock it. This will stop Visual Studio from giving you warnings when you open any of the projects. To unblock the file you just have to right click on the file where you have download it, select Properties from the context menu and then click Unblock and then OK as shown in the badly highlighted screenshot below.
Then unzip the files. There are quite a lot of them. Once you have completed the download you will have the whole MonoGame framework and my little test project. Open the folder and find the Visual Studio Solution "MonoGame.Framework.Windows8" and open it. Make sure you open it with Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate. If you double click the solution you will probably start up the wrong version of Visual Studio (I do) which doesn't end well.
The solution contains a project called Test Project which runs a port of a Windows Phone demo I wrote that lets you draw lines of dots on the screen using your finger. The dots that you draw will also fall down the screen in a way that is controlled by the accelerometer. You can clear the dots by double tapping on the screen, the game will make a "Ding" sound when you do this. The game also writes some text on the screen.
The MonoGame XNA part of things works very well, apart from content. At the moment there is no way of getting Visual Studio 2012 to pre-process XNA content for use in a game. We get around this by creating a Visual Studio 2010 XNA project and using it to produce the xmb files that are read by the content manager when the game runs. The content in the sample program came from existing XNA projects that I had around the place. If you are migrating an XNA game onto Metro you can do the same. The tricksy bit is where you put the xmb files for the game to use. I had no success adding them to the Visual Studio project, instead I had to put the xmb files in the specific directory read by the game when it runs.
You should be able to use my TestProject as the basis of anything that you fancy making.
One of the sad things about the move to the new Windows 8 Metro platform is the way that XNA seems to have been left by the wayside, with no way forward for the platform and no workable alternative from Microsoft. I see this as a bit of an own goal really, just when people like Sony are releasing a suite that makes it easy for C# developers to create and deploy applications, and when Microsoft are looking for a way to get developers on board with the Windows 8 way of doing things, they seem to have pulled the plug on the best way to do this.
However, it is not all bad news. The people at MonoGame are beavering away on a solution that will let you leverage your XNA experience and make games for Windows 8 Metro. Following the instructions in this blog post I managed to get a screen full of Cornflower Blue on my Windows 8 system. The familiar Update and Draw methods are present and correct, along with all the XNA types that you know and love. At the moment getting content (fonts, textures and sounds) into your game is a bit of a faff, in that you have to make a Visual Studio 2010 project and use that to prepare the content for use in your Metro program. Having said that, it does work and, thanks to the dedication of the Mono team it looks like we will have an XNA trajectory on Windows 8 Metro. It is just a shame that it is not coming from Microsoft.


text:
entertainment / Movies
'Uncharted' big screen adaptation slated for late 2020 release
AFP Relaxnews / 10:41 PM June 09, 2019
The big-screen adaptation of the "Uncharted" video game is scheduled to open Dec. 18, 2020, in the United States. Image: Naughty Dog via AFP Relaxnews
Sony Pictures has announced a Dec. 18, 2020, United States theatrical release date for the movie adaptation of the "Uncharted" video game. Tom Holland ("Spider-Man: Homecoming", "Avengers: Infinity War") will take the lead role.
Sony has signed up American filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg, who directed "10 Cloverfield Lane", to helm the big-screen adaptation of the "Uncharted" video game, developed by the American games studio Naughty Dog and first released in 2007. He replaced Shawn Levy, who stepped away from the project due to scheduling issues.
Tom Holland will play treasure-hunter Nathan Drake. The screenplay, written by Jonathan Rosenberg and Mark Walker, is set to portray Drake's meeting with his future mentor, Victor Sullivan.
"Uncharted" will face tough competition at the box office, with the "West Side Story" remake, produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and distributed by Fox, due in theaters the same day. HM/JB
WATCH: Tom Holland teaches Spider-Man costar Jacob Batalon some ballet moves
WATCH: Tom Holland 'leaks' 'Spider-Man 2' title
Spidey's 2nd solo adventure feels closer to 'Home'
'Spider-Man' Tom Holland surprises sick kids at Seoul hospital
Tom Holland comforts panicking fan, scolds pushy mob
Peter Dinklage in talks to join Rosamund Pike in 'I Care a Lot'
TAGS: Dan Trachtenberg, Jonathan Rosenberg, Mark Walker, movie adaptation, Tom Holland, Uncharted


text:
using Kooboo.CMS.Common.Persistence.Non_Relational;
using Kooboo.CMS.Modules.Publishing.Models;
using Kooboo.CMS.Modules.Publishing.Persistence;
using Kooboo.CMS.Sites.Models;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace Kooboo.CMS.Modules.Publishing.Services
{
    public class RemoteTextFolderMappingManager : ManagerBase<Kooboo.CMS.Modules.Publishing.Models.RemoteTextFolderMapping>
    {
        IRemoteTextFolderMappingProvider _remotePublishingMappingProvider;
        public RemoteTextFolderMappingManager(IRemoteTextFolderMappingProvider remotePublishingMappingProvider)
            : base(remotePublishingMappingProvider)
        {
            this._remotePublishingMappingProvider = remotePublishingMappingProvider;
        }

        public virtual RemoteTextFolderMapping Get(Site site, string uuid)
        {
            return new RemoteTextFolderMapping(site, uuid).AsActual();
        }

        public virtual void Delete(Site site, string[] uuids)
        {
            foreach (string uuid in uuids)
            {
                var model = new RemoteTextFolderMapping(site,uuid).AsActual();
                if (model!=null)
                {
                    this._remotePublishingMappingProvider.Remove(model);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


[INFOGRAPHIC] What Is Cloud Computing ?
Cloud computing is changing the way that we do business. The cloud makes many new business applications possible including VOIP and data backup. Furthermore there are also a variety of benefits to your business of using cloud computing. Take a look at this Infographic below explaining what cloud computing is and the benefits to your business.


text:
HomeAboutTopicsSubscribeContact
Home » New Complaint – Whitmore v. Horwitz
New Complaint – Whitmore v. Horwitz
By Alec Covington on June 24, 2021
Posted in New Complaints
Whitmore v. Horwitz was filed in the Central District of California on April 20, 2021, seeking class certification and unspecified civil damages. The complaint alleges fraud by omission, aiding and abetting fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty.
Plaintiffs are a group of investors seeking to represent a class of those who invested in Horwitz's company, 1inMM Capital, LLC ("1inMM"). The defendants are Zachary Horwitz, 1inMM, and City National Bank ("City National"), the bank that Horwitz and 1inMM used.
According to the Complaint, 1inMM, by and through Horwitz, marketed and sold promissory notes as high-yield investments backed by purported content distribution contracts with Netflix and HBO. Unbeknownst to investors, those contracts never existed. 1inMM had no revenue and no expectation of ever receiving revenue. Horwitz instead paid investor returns using new investor money, raising more than $690 million before his Ponzi scheme collapsed. He used investor funds in the City National accounts to pay for personal luxuries, a house, and his extravagant lifestyle. The unlawful nature of Horwitz's enterprise was revealed on April 5, 2021, when the SEC filed a criminal complaint based on Horwitz's wrongful conduct. Horwitz now owes investors more than $230,000,000.
The claims against Horwitz and 1inMM are for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, based on the fact that Horwitz made misrepresentations to investors and falsified records to substantiate his lies. The claims against City National are for aiding and abetting the fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, based on City National's alleged failure to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act, 12 C.F.R. § 21.21, and other banking regulations.
Tags: Aiding and Abetting, bank, Bank Deposit Relationship, Class Action, Fraud, Investment Institution, Investors, Schemer
Alec Covington
Alec has a diverse litigation and regulatory practice spanning a wide range of industries, including work on behalf of clients in the financial services, telecommunications, energy, real estate, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. He has handled disputes at the trial and/or appellate level involving…
Alec has a diverse litigation and regulatory practice spanning a wide range of industries, including work on behalf of clients in the financial services, telecommunications, energy, real estate, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. He has handled disputes at the trial and/or appellate level involving banking litigation and regulation, mergers and acquisitions, insurance coverage, business tort and trade secret disputes, shareholder derivative and class action suits, real property and construction litigation, and media and First Amendment litigation.
Read more about Alec Covington
New Complaint - Eckfeldt v. Barber
New Complaint - Winkler v. Roshak, et al.
New Complaint - SEC v. Rege, et al.
New Complaint - Fiene v. Schweinzger
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This time, their righteous crusade is against Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and the depiction of the Panzerhunds utilised by Nazi forces.
"It's barbaric how makers of video games think it's okay to shoot guns at beautiful creatures, even ones more machine that animal." said PETA's spokesperson.
There is also concern about the way the player can pick up Panzerhund scraps for armour, with PETA claiming it was "basically the same thing as wearing fur".
The animal rights organisation also expressed outrage at players riding on a Panzerhund to "murder its owners," fearing that it could lead to worldwide copycat assaults.
When we asked PETA if shooting Nazi's was preferable to shooting giant robotic dogs, they were quick to respond.
Daughter Accidentally Deletes 5000 Hour Skyrim Save. Father Contemplates Adoption.


text:
using namespace lldb;
using namespace lldb_private;

UnwindLLDB::UnwindLLDB (Thread &thread) :
    Unwind (thread),
    m_frames(),
    m_unwind_complete(false)
{
}

uint32_t
UnwindLLDB::DoGetFrameCount()
{
    if (!m_unwind_complete)
    {
//#define DEBUG_FRAME_SPEED 1
#if DEBUG_FRAME_SPEED
#define FRAME_COUNT 10000
        TimeValue time_value (TimeValue::Now());
#endif
        if (!AddFirstFrame ())
            return 0;

        ProcessSP process_sp (m_thread.GetProcess());
        ABI *abi = process_sp ? process_sp->GetABI().get() : NULL;

        while (AddOneMoreFrame (abi))
        {
#if DEBUG_FRAME_SPEED
            if ((m_frames.size() % FRAME_COUNT) == 0)
            {
                TimeValue now(TimeValue::Now());
                uint64_t delta_t = now - time_value;
                printf ("%u frames in %" PRIu64 ".%09llu ms (%g frames/sec)\n",
                        FRAME_COUNT,
                        delta_t / TimeValue::NanoSecPerSec,
                        delta_t % TimeValue::NanoSecPerSec,
                        (float)FRAME_COUNT / ((float)delta_t / (float)TimeValue::NanoSecPerSec));
                time_value = now;
            }
#endif
        }
    }
    return m_frames.size ();
}

bool
UnwindLLDB::AddFirstFrame ()
{
    if (m_frames.size() > 0)
        return true;

    // First, set up the 0th (initial) frame
    CursorSP first_cursor_sp(new Cursor ());
    RegisterContextLLDBSP reg_ctx_sp (new RegisterContextLLDB (m_thread,
                                                               RegisterContextLLDBSP(),
                                                               first_cursor_sp->sctx,
                                                               0, *this));
    if (reg_ctx_sp.get() == NULL)
        goto unwind_done;

    if (!reg_ctx_sp->IsValid())
        goto unwind_done;

    if (!reg_ctx_sp->GetCFA (first_cursor_sp->cfa))
        goto unwind_done;

    if (!reg_ctx_sp->ReadPC (first_cursor_sp->start_pc))
        goto unwind_done;

    // Everything checks out, so release the auto pointer value and let the
    // cursor own it in its shared pointer
    first_cursor_sp->reg_ctx_lldb_sp = reg_ctx_sp;
    m_frames.push_back (first_cursor_sp);
    return true;
unwind_done:
    m_unwind_complete = true;
    return false;
}

// For adding a non-zero stack frame to m_frames.
bool
UnwindLLDB::AddOneMoreFrame (ABI *abi)
{
    // If we've already gotten to the end of the stack, don't bother to try again...
    if (m_unwind_complete)
        return false;

    Log *log(GetLogIfAllCategoriesSet (LIBLLDB_LOG_UNWIND));
    CursorSP cursor_sp(new Cursor ());

    // Frame zero is a little different
    if (m_frames.size() == 0)
        return false;

    uint32_t cur_idx = m_frames.size ();
    RegisterContextLLDBSP reg_ctx_sp(new RegisterContextLLDB (m_thread,
                                                              m_frames[cur_idx - 1]->reg_ctx_lldb_sp,
                                                              cursor_sp->sctx,
                                                              cur_idx,
                                                              *this));

    // We want to detect an unwind that cycles erronously and stop backtracing.
    // Don't want this maximum unwind limit to be too low -- if you have a backtrace
    // with an "infinitely recursing" bug, it will crash when the stack blows out
    // and the first 35,000 frames are uninteresting - it's the top most 5 frames that
    // you actually care about.  So you can't just cap the unwind at 10,000 or something.
    // Realistically anything over around 200,000 is going to blow out the stack space.
    // If we're still unwinding at that point, we're probably never going to finish.
    if (cur_idx > 300000)
    {
        if (log)
            log->Printf ("%*sFrame %d unwound too many frames, assuming unwind has gone astray, stopping.",
                         cur_idx < 100 ? cur_idx : 100, "", cur_idx);
        goto unwind_done;
    }

    if (reg_ctx_sp.get() == NULL)
        goto unwind_done;

    if (!reg_ctx_sp->IsValid())
    {
        if (log)
        {
            log->Printf("%*sFrame %d invalid RegisterContext for this frame, stopping stack walk",
                        cur_idx < 100 ? cur_idx : 100, "", cur_idx);
        }
        goto unwind_done;
    }
    if (!reg_ctx_sp->GetCFA (cursor_sp->cfa))
    {
        if (log)
        {
            log->Printf("%*sFrame %d did not get CFA for this frame, stopping stack walk",
                        cur_idx < 100 ? cur_idx : 100, "", cur_idx);
        }
        goto unwind_done;
    }
    if (abi && !abi->CallFrameAddressIsValid(cursor_sp->cfa))
    {
        if (log)
        {
            log->Printf("%*sFrame %d did not get a valid CFA for this frame, stopping stack walk",
                        cur_idx < 100 ? cur_idx : 100, "", cur_idx);
        }
        goto unwind_done;
    }
    if (!reg_ctx_sp->ReadPC (cursor_sp->start_pc))
    {
        if (log)
        {
            log->Printf("%*sFrame %d did not get PC for this frame, stopping stack walk",
                        cur_idx < 100 ? cur_idx : 100, "", cur_idx);
        }
        goto unwind_done;
    }
    if (abi && !abi->CodeAddressIsValid (cursor_sp->start_pc))
    {
        if (log)
        {
            log->Printf("%*sFrame %d did not get a valid PC, stopping stack walk",
                        cur_idx < 100 ? cur_idx : 100, "", cur_idx);
        }
        goto unwind_done;
    }
    if (!m_frames.empty())
    {
        if (m_frames.back()->start_pc == cursor_sp->start_pc)
        {
            if (m_frames.back()->cfa == cursor_sp->cfa)
                goto unwind_done; // Infinite loop where the current cursor is the same as the previous one...
            else if (abi && abi->StackUsesFrames())
            {
                // We might have a CFA that is not using the frame pointer and
                // we want to validate that the frame pointer is valid.
                if (reg_ctx_sp->GetFP() == 0)
                    goto unwind_done;
            }
        }
    }
    cursor_sp->reg_ctx_lldb_sp = reg_ctx_sp;
    m_frames.push_back (cursor_sp);
    return true;

unwind_done:
    m_unwind_complete = true;
    return false;
}

bool
UnwindLLDB::DoGetFrameInfoAtIndex (uint32_t idx, addr_t& cfa, addr_t& pc)
{
    if (m_frames.size() == 0)
    {
        if (!AddFirstFrame())
            return false;
    }

    ProcessSP process_sp (m_thread.GetProcess());
    ABI *abi = process_sp ? process_sp->GetABI().get() : NULL;

    while (idx >= m_frames.size() && AddOneMoreFrame (abi))
        ;

    if (idx < m_frames.size ())
    {
        cfa = m_frames[idx]->cfa;
        pc = m_frames[idx]->start_pc;
        return true;
    }
    return false;
}

lldb::RegisterContextSP
UnwindLLDB::DoCreateRegisterContextForFrame (StackFrame *frame)
{
    lldb::RegisterContextSP reg_ctx_sp;
    uint32_t idx = frame->GetConcreteFrameIndex ();

    if (idx == 0)
    {
        return m_thread.GetRegisterContext();
    }

    if (m_frames.size() == 0)
    {
        if (!AddFirstFrame())
            return reg_ctx_sp;
    }

    ProcessSP process_sp (m_thread.GetProcess());
    ABI *abi = process_sp ? process_sp->GetABI().get() : NULL;

    while (idx >= m_frames.size())
    {
        if (!AddOneMoreFrame (abi))
            break;
    }

    const uint32_t num_frames = m_frames.size();
    if (idx < num_frames)
    {
        Cursor *frame_cursor = m_frames[idx].get();
        reg_ctx_sp = frame_cursor->reg_ctx_lldb_sp;
    }
    return reg_ctx_sp;
}

UnwindLLDB::RegisterContextLLDBSP
UnwindLLDB::GetRegisterContextForFrameNum (uint32_t frame_num)
{
    RegisterContextLLDBSP reg_ctx_sp;
    if (frame_num < m_frames.size())
        reg_ctx_sp = m_frames[frame_num]->reg_ctx_lldb_sp;
    return reg_ctx_sp;
}

bool
UnwindLLDB::SearchForSavedLocationForRegister (uint32_t lldb_regnum, lldb_private::UnwindLLDB::RegisterLocation &regloc, uint32_t starting_frame_num, bool pc_reg)
{
    int64_t frame_num = starting_frame_num;
    if (frame_num >= m_frames.size())
        return false;

    // Never interrogate more than one level while looking for the saved pc value.  If the value
    // isn't saved by frame_num, none of the frames lower on the stack will have a useful value.
    if (pc_reg)
    {
        UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult result;
        result = m_frames[frame_num]->reg_ctx_lldb_sp->SavedLocationForRegister (lldb_regnum, regloc);
        if (result == UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult::eRegisterFound)
          return true;
        else
          return false;
    }
    while (frame_num >= 0)
    {
        UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult result;
        result = m_frames[frame_num]->reg_ctx_lldb_sp->SavedLocationForRegister (lldb_regnum, regloc);

        // If we have unwind instructions saying that register N is saved in register M in the middle of
        // the stack (and N can equal M here, meaning the register was not used in this function), then
        // change the register number we're looking for to M and keep looking for a concrete  location
        // down the stack, or an actual value from a live RegisterContext at frame 0.
        if (result == UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult::eRegisterFound
            && regloc.type == UnwindLLDB::RegisterLocation::eRegisterInRegister
            && frame_num > 0)
        {
            result = UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult::eRegisterNotFound;
            lldb_regnum = regloc.location.register_number;
        }

        if (result == UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult::eRegisterFound)
            return true;
        if (result == UnwindLLDB::RegisterSearchResult::eRegisterIsVolatile)
            return false;
        frame_num--;
    }
    return false;
}


text:
Elodina hypatia is een vlindersoort uit de familie van de Pieridae (witjes), onderfamilie Pierinae.

Elodina hypatia werd in 1865 beschreven door C. & R. Felder.

Witjes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
What's changed, or what was fixed?

- item 1
- item 2

**Fixes:** #issue

- [ ] I have run all the tests locally and they all pass.
- [ ] I have followed the relevant style guide for my changes.


The fab finish for output topic was a visit from farmer Dan and his tractor! This children really enjoyed climbing up into the tractor and hearing about the wheat that he was sowing just this morning. They also had a chance to grind some wheat seeds to make flour. Many thanks to LEAF Education who organised the whole experience for the children.


text:
The official Waters site
Virginia Water FC
The Timbers
Crown Road
GU25 4HS
Youth Teams Seasons Kick Off
Virginia Water FC's youth and junior teams kicked off their seasons on Sunday 18th September. With the number of junior teams having grown since last season, the club will be looking to all teams to enjoy their football and develop further - in particular the two under 16's teams, where the club aims to retain the majority of the players for the mens' teams next season.
The U16's, newly promoted into the top tier of the SPL, began their season with a credible 2-2 draw away to Elm Grove Colts Tornadoes. New signings Josh Richards and Alex Robins were on the scoresheet for Pete Stevens' side, who will be hoping to challenge for honours this season.
The U16 Reds began their season with a home victory, also against Elm Grove Colts, winning 3-1 with goals from Shane Smith (2) and Charlie Barnett. Manager Steve Fuidge and his team are new to the club and will be delighted with their start in the SPL Premier Dvision.
Water's new U14 Reds team unfortunately had their game against Guildford postponed due to some players being away on a school trip, so they will begin their campaign away to Windlesham on the 25th September. The management team of Scott Markham and Tom Dawson will be hoping to make a good impression, having recently joined the club with their team in the summer.
Andy Ingram's returning U14's began life in Division 1 with a comprehensive victory away to Hersham Harriers. Last seaon's top scorer Liam Vass continued his fine form with a hat trick, and additional goals from George Doran and new signing Dan Fewster added up to a 5-2 victory for the young Waters' side.
The U12's team, despite only having 8 players available on the day, produced a gutsy display to draw away to Goldsworth Park Rangers Titans. Leo Johnson, Jaiden Hilliard and Tommy Kirkhope grabbed the goals for Matt Jones' side in a 3-3 thriller!
There was also a debut game for the newly created U10's side, Waters' youngest age group this season. The team played their first ever game away to Staines Town Juniors, and the players will be looking forward to developing and learning more about the game. Milan Bartram and Laith Freeman were able to score a goal each in the game, although the matches are non-competitive and scores are not recorded.
All teams are in action again this coming weekend, with 4 home games at The Timbers!
The clubhouse at Virginia Water FC is available for hire, and is suitable for parties for all occasions
Sky TV, pool table (free of charge), stage area, dance floor, kitchen area, bar, toilets and changing facilities
Please contact Graham Poulter or Dave McBride for more info, via the club's contact page


text:
Categories: Section stubs | French wars | German wars | Wars of Prussia
Military history of France
Military History of Germany
Conflict Franco-Prussian War
Place France and Germany
Result German victory
Battles of the Franco-Prussian War
France Prussia allied with German states
(later German Empire)
500,000 Soldiers 550,000 Soldiers
150,000 KIA & WIA
284,000 POW's 100,000 KIA & WIA
The Franco-Prussian War (July 19, 1870 – May 10, 1871) was fought between France and Prussia (backed by the North German Confederation) allied with the south German states of Baden, Bavaria and Württemberg. The conflict marked the culmination of tension between the two powers following Prussia's rise to dominance in Germany, still a loose federation of quasi-independent territories.
The war began over the possible ascension of a German candidate to the Spanish throne, which was opposed by France. The French issued an ultimatum to the king of Prussia, who refused. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck then published his famous Ems Dispatch, basically a propagandized account of the negotiations between France and the king of Prussia. Outraged, the French declared war on Prussia. Over a six-month campaign, the German armies defeated the French in a series of battles fought across northern France, ending in a prolonged siege of the French capital, Paris. The French emperor was captured in battle, resulting in a bloodless revolution and France becoming the only republican Great Power in Europe. During the final stages of the war, the German states proclaimed their union under the Prussian King, uniting Germany as a nation-state (the German Empire).
The Prussian 7th Cuirassiers charge the French guns at the Battle of Mars-la-Tour , August 16, 1870
In France and Germany the war is known as the Franco-German War, in French as La guerre franco-allemande de 1870 (French-German War of 1870) and in German as Deutsch-Französischer Krieg (German-French War), which perhaps more accurately describes the combatants rather than simply France and Prussia alone.
1 Causes of the war
1.1 Diplomacy
3 French incursions
3.1 Occupation of Saarbrücken
3.2 Battle of Spicheren
4 German invasion
4.1 Battle of Worth/Fröschweiler
Causes of the war
Tensions had long been running high between Prussia and France following the Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War and its subsequent annexation of almost all Northern Germany. The humbling of Austria and Prussia's new territorial gains had shattered the European balance of power that had existed since the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
France's position in Europe was now in danger of being overshadowed by the emergence of a powerful German state led by Prussia. In addition, France's ruler Napoleon III was on increasingly shaky ground in domestic politics. Having successfully overthrown the Second Republic and established the Bonapartist Second Empire, Napoleon III was confronted with increasingly virulent demands for democratic reform from leading republicans such as Jules Favre along with constant rumors of impending revolution. In addition, French aspirations in Mexico had suffered a final defeat with the execution of the French puppet Emperor of Mexico Maximillian. The only force uniting the French was the universal desire to punish Prussia for its "arrogance". A war with Prussia would unite the French nation behind Napoleon III, quash any republican or revolutionary sentiment behind reactionary nationalism, re-establish France as the paramount power in Europe, and gain France the Rhineland and later Luxembourg and Belgium.
See also: Second French Empire
Prussia in turn was also beset with problems. While revolutionary fervour was far more muted than in France, Prussia had recently acquired millions of new suspicious citizens as a result of the Austro-Prussian War. The remaining German kingdoms maintained a steadfastly parochial attitude towards Prussia and German unification, their suspicions only heightened following Austria's defeat. A complicated set of 3 national parliaments (the Reichstag, Landtag and Zollparlament ) made legislative reform into a nightmare. Nationalism was also at a fever pitch throughout Germany following the unification of Italy and the North German Confederation. The Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck was nonetheless determined to realise his dream of a united Germany, if necessary with "blood and iron". Given all Germany's recent experience of French aggression, pillage and subjugation at the hands of the first Napoleon, Bismarck viewed a war with France as a method to enlist the support of nationalists throughout Germany and unite all of the squabbling factions into one nation led by the Prussian king.
Napoleon III and Bismarck independently sought a suitable crisis to ferment, and in 1870 one arose. The Spanish throne had been vacant since the revolution of September 1868. The Spanish offered the throne to the German prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (cousin of King Wilhelm of Prussia). Napoleon III was determined this time to stand up to the expansion of Prussian influence and successfully forced the prince's father to withdraw his son's candidacy. Disappointed that the Prussians had backed down so easily, the French government tried to prolong the crisis. The French ambassador in Prussia issued a further demand to the Prussian King Wilhelm I — to guarantee that no Hohenzollern would ever be a candidate for the Spanish throne. The king coldly listened to the demand, then left without giving a response and cancelling a later appointment with the French ambassador. His telegram (the Ems Dispatch) reporting this interview with the French ambassador was edited by chancellor Bismarck of Prussia in such a way as to provoke French indignation. France officially declared war on July 19, 1870.
Diplomatically and militarily, Napoleon III looked for support from Austria, Denmark, Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg as all had recently lost wars against Prussia and the North German Confederation. However, Napoleon III inexplicably failed to conduct any diplomacy to secure revanchist alliances from these states. Denmark had twice fought and lost to Prussia during the First and Second Wars of Schleswig and was unwilling to confront Prussia again. Austria also refused to risk confronting Prussia again so soon after the near disaster of the Austro-Prussian War.
To make matters worse, acts by Napoleon III and his governments had isolated France from the other European powers. Russia remained neutral, unwilling to aid the France after French participation in Russia's humiliation during the Crimean War. Italy was also disinclined to assist France, having been forced to surrender claims to Savoy to France as the price for assistance against Austria during the Italian wars for unification. In addition, Napoleon III had made himself protector of the Papal States, infuriating Italian nationalists who wanted Rome united with Italy as the Italian capital.
Bismarck had also worked assiduously to diplomatically isolate France from the other European powers. As part of the settlement of the Austro-Prussian War, secret treaties of mutual defense were signed between Prussia and Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg. Bismarck also added the threat that should the south German monarchs refuse to honour their treaty commitments, he would personally appeal to pan-German nationalists in southern Germany to overthrow the royal houses. Bismarck then made public French correspondence demanding Belgium and Luxembourg as the price for remaining neutral during the Austro-Prussian War - Britain in particular took a decidedly cool attitude to these French demands and showed no inclination to aid France.
According to the secret treaties signed with Prussia and in response to popular opinion, Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg mobilized their armies and joined the war against France. While not prepared to join a German united state, the south German monarchs could not ignore public opinion which would not stand for another Bonapartist invasion of Germany.
Opposing forces
The French Army comprised approximately 400,000 regular soldiers, some veterans of previous French campaigns in the Crimean War, Algeria, Franco-Austrian War in Italy, and in Mexico supporting the Second Mexican Empire. The infantry were equipped with the breech-loading Chassepot rifle, one of the most modern firearms in the world at the time. With a rubber ring seal and a smaller bullet, the Chassepot had a maximum effective range of some 1,500 meters with a rapid reload time. The artillery was equipped with somewhat less modern muzzle-loading bronze 4 pounder (2 kg) cannons little changed from Napoleonic times. In addition, the army was equipped with the precursor to the machine-gun — the mitrailleuse, which was mounted on an artillery gun carriage and grouped in batteries in a similar fashion to cannon. The army was nominally led by Napoleon III with Marshals François Achille Bazaine, Patrice MacMahon and Jules Trochu among others.
The Prussian Army was composed not of regulars but a conscript army. Service was compulsory for all men of military age, but Prussia and its North and South German allies could mobilize and field some 1.2 million soldiers in time of war. The sheer number of soldiers available made mass-encirclement and destruction of enemy formations advantageous. The army was still equipped with the "needle-gun" Dreyse rifle of fame from the Battle of Königgrätz but by this time was showing the age of its 25 year old design. The deficiencies of the needle-gun were more than compensated for by the famous Krupp 6 pounder (3 kg) breech-loading cannons being issued to Prussian artillery batteries. Firing a contact-detonated shell filled with zinc balls and explosive, the Krupp gun had a range of 4,500 meters and blistering rate of fire compared to muzzle loading cannon. The Prussian army was commanded by Field-Marshal Helmuth von Moltke and the Prussian General Staff. The Prussian army was unique in Europe for having the only General Staff in existence, whose sole purpose was to direct operational movement, organise logistics and communications and develop the overall war strategy.
Given that France maintained a strong standing army, and that Prussia and the other German states would need weeks to mobilize their conscript armies, the French held the initial advantage of troop numbers and experience. French tactics emphasised the defensive use of the Chassepot rifle in trench-warfare style fighting, however German tactics emphasised encirclement battles and using artillery offensively whenever possible.
French incursions
On 28 July 1870, Napoleon III left Paris for Metz and assumed command of the newly titled Army of the Rhine , some 100,000 strong and expected to grow as the French mobilization progressed. Marshal MacMahon took command of I Corps (4 divisions) near Wissembourg, Marshal François Canrobert brought VI Corps (4 divisions) to Châlons-sur-Marne in northern France as a reserve and to guard against a Prussian advance through Belgium. A pre-war plan laid out by the late Marshal Adolphe Niel called for a strong French offensive from Thionville towards Trier and into the Prussian Rhineland. This plan was discarded in favour of a defensive plan by Generals Charles Frossard and Bartélemy Lebrun , which called for the Army of the Rhine to remain in a defensive posture near the German border and repel any Prussian offensive. As Austria along with Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden were expected to join in a revenge war against Prussia, I Corps would invade the Bavarian Palatinate and proceed to "liberate" the south German states in concert with Austro-Hungarian forces. VI Corps would reinforce either army as needed.
Unfortunately for General Frossard's plan, the Prussian army was mobilizing far more rapidly than expected. Against all expectations, the south German states had come to Prussia's aid and were mobilizing their armies against France. The Austro-Hungarians, still smarting after their defeat by Prussia, seemed content to wait until a clear victor emerged before committing to France's cause.
Already, by August 3 1870 some 320,000 German soldiers were now massed near the French border. A 40,000 strong French offensive into southern Germany would run into superior numbers and be rapidly cut off and destroyed. Napoleon III, however, was under immense domestic pressure to launch an offensive before the full might of Moltke's forces were mobilized and deployed. Reconaissance by General Frossard had identified only one Prussian division guarding the border town of Saarbrücken, right before the entire Army of the Rhine. Accordingly, on July 31 Napoleon III ordered the Army forward across the Saar River to seize Saarbrücken.
Occupation of Saarbrücken
General Frossard's II Corps and Marshal Bazaine's III Corps crossed the German border on August 2 1870 and evicted the Prussian 40th Regiment of the 16th Division from the town of Saarbrücken. The Chassepot rifle proved its worth against the Dreyse rifle, French riflemen regularly outdistancing their Prussian counterparts in the skirmishing around Saarbrücken. However the French suffered 86 casualties to the Prussian 83 casualties. Saarbrücken also proved to be a dead-end in terms of logistics - only one single railway there led from the border to the German hinterland which could be easily defended by a single force, and the only river systems in the region ran along the border instead of inland.
While the French hailed the invasion as the first step towards the Rhineland and later Berlin, General Frossard was receiving alarming reports from foreign news sources of Prussian and Bavarian armies massing to the south-east in addition to the forces to the north and north-east.
Moltke had indeed massed three armies in the area - the Prussian First Army commanded by General Karl von Steinmetz (50,000 soldiers) opposite Saarlouis, the Prussian Second Army commanded by Prince Friedrich Karl (134,000 soldiers) opposite the line Forbach - Spicheren , and the Prussian Third Army commanded by Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (125,000 soldiers) poised to cross the border at Wissembourg. Cavalry reconnaissance had identified a French division of MacMahon's corps at Wissembourg, the Third Army moved forward to engage this divison. The Second Army moved forward towards the border and Forbach and Spicheren beyond. The First Army marched to Saarlouis, to catch in the flank and rear any French forces moving to re-inforce Spicheren. Moltke planned for the First Army in concert later with the Third Army to envelope the entire French army against the Second Army and destroy the entire force.
On learning that the Second Army was just 30 miles from Saarbrücken and was moving towards the border, General Frossard hastily withdrew the elements of Army of the Rhine in Saarbrücken back to Spicheren and Forbach. Marshal MacMahon however was unaware of Prussian movements beyond vague rumors from newspapers, and left his 4 divisions spread 20 miles apart in depth to react to any Prussian invasion. At Wissembourg on August 4, MacMahon's 2nd Divsion commanded by General Abel Douay was the first to make contact with leading elements of the Prussian Third Army, beginning the Battle of Wissembourg.
4th August 1870, the first action of the Franco-Prussian War (excluding the push into Saarbrucken by elements of Frossard's French II Corps on 2nd August). This bloody little battle saw the unsupported division of Genl Douay of I Corps, with some attached cavalry, which was posted to watch the border, attacked in overwhelming but poorly co-ordinated strength by German 3rd Army. As the day wore on elements of one Bavarian and two Prussian Corps became embroiled in the fight which was notable by the complete lack of higher direction by the Prussians and blind offensive haste by their low level officers.
Douay held a very strong position but his force was too thinly stretched to hold it and his division was driven south by way of Riedseltz at dusk. Douay himself was killed in the early afternoon when a caisson of the divisional mitrailleuse battery exploded near him. Genl Pelle took up command and withdrew the remnants of the division.
Although Failly's V Corps was just a few miles away at Bitsche and the other three divisions of MacMahon's I Corps were a similar distance away to the south at Worth, neither moved to assist, despite the clear rumble of guns.
Battle of Spicheren
The Battle of Spicheren, on August 5, was the second of three critical French defeats. Together with the Battle of Worth, on the following day, the Prussians succeeded in separating the northern and southern flanks of the French army.
German invasion
Battle of Worth/Fröschweiler
Main article: Battle of Worth
The French are unable to hold their position along the French-Prussian border and begin the retreat from Alsace
This section is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by


In modern cars, it is essential to maintain constant clearance between adjacent parts. As small a clearance as possible and low tolerance are indicative of high quality and improved vehicles. An easily recognisable quality feature that is subject to increasingly stringent requirements. We see dimensional management (tolerance management) as a way of permitting the greatest possible component tolerances during the development phase while at the same time complying with geometrical target specifications. The advantage to you is obvious - the high, reproducible geometrical quality of your products. And therefore better vehicles for your customers.
Components today must be more effective than ever before. Every single material must do its best. Not just once, but for the vehicle's entire life cycle. We have the experience and a wide range of test equipment and facilities to guarantee functionality and durability. Our laboratories will analyse and test components, modules, and even complete vehicles for you. Our key focus here is on components made of polymeric materials, ageing and weathering simulation, acoustics, thermal properties, material cards, electrical and electronic components.
When it comes to vehicle safety, it is no longer enough to concentrate on the passengers alone. In order to guarantee the safety of both the driver and other road users, it is necessary to keep an eye on everything that is going on around the vehicle. This means that, for us, pedestrian protection is a key element of vehicle development. Our expert knowledge, which begins with project management and simulation, covers all areas through to testing on our fully equipped test stands. At many sites, and also close to you.


text:
Our View: Simone Biles proves she is an American hero without an Olympic stand
The Dispatch Editorial Board
Simone Biles deserves a gold medal.
This should come as no surprise.
The Columbus native raised in Texas has so many of them.
She won four gold and one bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, setting the USA record for most medals in a single Olympics by a female gymnast.
The 24-year-old G.O.A.T. has a remarkable 25 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and earned a record seven U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
More than that, the powerhouse has won the hearts of girls – especially Black and brown ones, in that they can see themselves in her 4-foot 8-inch frame – here and around the world with her undeniable grit, skill, and authentic personality.
Biles is Superwoman on the mat, but that does not mean she is bulletproof.
Withdrawing from the individual all-around and team final events to focus on her mental well-being was the most heroic and human things Biles has ever done publicly for herself and those who admire her in this nation of nearly 330 million.
That kind of strength takes courage.
That kind of strength should be rewarded.
That kind of strength will save lives by enabling and encouraging others to advocate for their own mental health.
By shining the light on mental illness, Biles had to know that it would feed the trolls who have criticized everything from the kinks in her hair when she sweats to the size of her powerful calves.
She clearly knows her strengths despite criticism from those who want to paint them as weaknesses.
"They focused on my hair. They focused on how big my legs were. But God made me this way, and I feel like if I didn't have these legs or these calves, I wouldn't be able to tumble as high as I can and have all of these moves named after me," she told fans in 2020, according to Vogue.
Biles no doubt knew that withdrawing from the competition would disappoint those who want to see her succeed.
She did the right thing anyway.
In taking care of herself, Biles has nothing to regret. She does not owe us an explanation of why she does what she does, but she shared her reality nonetheless.
Biles has described the pain in her ankles as "unreal" which illustrates how most of us will never fully understand the physical torture that comes with being an elite athlete.
The unnatural leaps, twists and turns can take an unimaginable toll on the body.
The unnatural leaps, twist and turns that sometimes come with being human also can take a toll on the mind.
Born in Columbus to a mother struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, and raised in foster care before being taken in and adopted by her grandparents, Biles has been open about the trauma and depression she suffered due to sexual abuse by longtime USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.
More:How Simone Biles went from foster care to Olympic great
"I remember telling my mom and my agent that I slept all the time, and it's because sleeping was basically better than offing myself. It was my way to escape reality," Biles said on "Simone VS. Herself," her Facebook Watch show. "It's OK to say, 'I need help.' There's nothing wrong with that. Athletes are coming out of the woodworks and telling people it's OK 'cause at the end of the day, we're just like you."
In June, tennis sensation Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open saying she needed to preserve her mental health.
We can't know the mental pain Biles, Osaka and other Olympians face while achieving greatness.
It is undoubtedly compounded by the stress of competing during a pandemic and without supportive fans and family members cheering in the audience.
Biles has bravely shared that struggle, and we hope it helps others.
"Therapy has helped a lot, as well as medicine. That's all been going really well," she said after competing Tuesday. "Whenever you get in high-stress situations, you kind of freak out and don't really know how to handle all of those emotions especially at the Olympic Games."
Putting her mental wellness first was a move worthy of an Olympic medal stand, but that doesn't mean we won't see Simone Biles in Tokyo.
USA Gymnastics has said that her mental health will be evaluated to determine whether she could compete in event finals next week.
We'd love to see Simone Biles win more medals, but she already has proved her heroics.
Shining a light on mental health is worth more than gold.
Editorials are The Dispatch Editorial Board's fact-based assessment of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.


None of the four founders of DJ union Longturn Music are from Pittsburgh. To find their niche in a new city, they started attending electronic music shows and found that the environments weren't that welcoming to newcomers. They felt like interlopers in the local house and techno music scene.
The idea for Longturn Music was born. The intention was to create a music collective that would link people that might not have otherwise met and to make the underground techno and house scene feel more like a community, rather than a one-off party every few months.
"We wanted to create more of a feel of getting to know each other and building more of a deeper relationship with the people that come so they could be like, 'Hey, every month I know these guys are throwing a party, and I know there will be people I know there,'" says Barstow.
A passion project rather than a source of income, the three Longturn officers – Barstow, Liam Regan, who's head of business, and head of booking, Elias Menninger– have 9-to-5 jobs. They plan events, book acts, and run the collective during their free time.
In addition to working a second shift to make the DJ union possible, they wanted to bring Pittsburgh ties and the blue-collar work ethic into their creation. During the manufacturing boom, factory workers would work 12-hour day or night shifts. In order to switch shifts after two weeks, one of the groups would work 24-hours straight. That all-day labor was called the "longturn." While learning about Pittsburgh history, Menninger and his dad came across that information and felt the name was perfect for the collective.
Unlike the factory workers, Barstow, Regan, and Menninger don't make any money from Longturn Music. All the income goes right back into the business, giving them more freedom when planning events.
Since creating Longturn a little over a year ago, the attendance at shows has unexpectedly grown. The first show the collective held had a decent turnout, but it was mainly friends and friends of friends who came to support, but weren't necessarily into the genre of music.
The first Saturday of every month, one of Longturn's resident DJs plays at Brillobox, the collective's home base. The group also brings in acts from out of town, mainly DJs from Europe and the U.K. because house and techno music is significantly bigger overseas than in America.


An attractive and detailed early 19th century plan of Oxford -- with heraldic shields and a vignette view of the City from Henley -- which was drawn and engraved by G. Cole and John Roper, respectively, (vignette by J. Storer) and published in The British Atlas* (London: 1807-1810 Vernor, Hood & Sharpe).
*The British Atlas, comprising of county maps and town plans, was published as a compendium to Britton and Brayley's renowned Beauties of England & Wales.
Printed area is approximately 23.2cms by 18.4cms (including imprint).
The map is in very good condition with excellent margins. Click on image for a better view.
The item comes displayed in a ready to frame museum quality mount.
Guaranteed to be over 200 years old.


Same day return transfer up and back from Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort starting in Moe. Save yourself all the hassle of driving up one of the most dangerous Alpine roads in Australia and let Mountain Top Experience take you to the snow.
One way transfer up to Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort. Save yourself all the hassle of driving up one of the most dangerous Alpine roads in Australia and let Mountain Top Experience take you to the snow.
One way transfer from Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort to Moe. Save yourself all the hassle of driving down one of the most dangerous Alpine roads in Australia and let Mountain Top Experience take you home from the snow.


Wellbeing simply means feeling good and functioning well. It is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction, health and prosperity.
There are few aspects of life that we can control, but we can do a lot about our own contribution to our general state of wellness. It is part of a constellation of factors that include meaning and purpose. When these are brought together we are more likely to experience personal satisfaction, a sense of fulfilment, even happiness.
Wellbeing is as much about outlook as it is about objective health or money in the bank. We have unfettered control over our outlook, our take on life, and how we navigate its tragedies and triumphs.
Making conscious choices about wellbeing generates satisfaction, it's not the other way round.
Martin Seligman on Authentic Happiness.
Don't Wait, Train YourselfCluttered office, cluttered mind?


I just can't seem to get myself together. One day it's cold. Another it's not. One day it rains. Another it doesn't. Kind of like me. A Pisces kind of day. Back and forth. Back and forth.
The only thing to do is sleep. Zzzz…zzzzZZZZZZ….ZZZZZZ.
This entry was posted in The Scottie Chronicles and tagged dogs, Scotties, The Scottie Chronicles. Bookmark the permalink.
As a fellow Pisces (and someone who deals with Oklahoma's bipolar weather), I feel your pain! Hang in there!!
You forgot to the snow one day and one day not. We had snow flakes today.
I'm wide awake and ready to go. I'll keep watch today.
We had that last Friday…now we gots good weather and just cool enough to run around like Mad till we are worn out……..Sleep some off for us!
Yup, there are days like that! Don't fight it, just give in to it and sleep… soundly…Zzzz…Zzzz…zzzzz.
Thats the way it is here too and yep best thing to do is SLEEP!!
Looking very comfy there Stu.