text:
import vtk
from vtk.test import Testing
from vtk.util.misc import vtkGetDataRoot
VTK_DATA_ROOT = vtkGetDataRoot()

# create pipeline
#
pl3d = vtk.vtkMultiBlockPLOT3DReader()
pl3d.SetXYZFileName("" + str(VTK_DATA_ROOT) + "/Data/combxyz.bin")
pl3d.SetQFileName("" + str(VTK_DATA_ROOT) + "/Data/combq.bin")
pl3d.SetScalarFunctionNumber(100)
pl3d.SetVectorFunctionNumber(202)
pl3d.Update()
output = pl3d.GetOutput().GetBlock(0)
# create three line probes
line = vtk.vtkLineSource()
line.SetResolution(30)
transL1 = vtk.vtkTransform()
transL1.Translate(3.7,0.0,28.37)
transL1.Scale(5,5,5)
transL1.RotateY(90)
tf = vtk.vtkTransformPolyDataFilter()
tf.SetInputConnection(line.GetOutputPort())
tf.SetTransform(transL1)
probe = vtk.vtkProbeFilter()
probe.SetInputConnection(tf.GetOutputPort())
probe.SetSourceData(output)
probe.Update()
transL2 = vtk.vtkTransform()
transL2.Translate(9.2,0.0,31.20)
transL2.Scale(5,5,5)
transL2.RotateY(90)
tf2 = vtk.vtkTransformPolyDataFilter()
tf2.SetInputConnection(line.GetOutputPort())
tf2.SetTransform(transL2)
probe2 = vtk.vtkProbeFilter()
probe2.SetInputConnection(tf2.GetOutputPort())
probe2.SetSourceData(output)
probe2.Update()
transL3 = vtk.vtkTransform()
transL3.Translate(13.27,0.0,33.40)
transL3.Scale(4.5,4.5,4.5)
transL3.RotateY(90)
tf3 = vtk.vtkTransformPolyDataFilter()
tf3.SetInputConnection(line.GetOutputPort())
tf3.SetTransform(transL3)
probe3 = vtk.vtkProbeFilter()
probe3.SetInputConnection(tf3.GetOutputPort())
probe3.SetSourceData(output)
probe3.Update()
appendF = vtk.vtkAppendPolyData()
appendF.AddInputConnection(probe.GetOutputPort())
appendF.AddInputConnection(probe2.GetOutputPort())
appendF.AddInputConnection(probe3.GetOutputPort())
tuber = vtk.vtkTubeFilter()
tuber.SetInputConnection(appendF.GetOutputPort())
tuber.SetRadius(0.1)
lineMapper = vtk.vtkPolyDataMapper()
lineMapper.SetInputConnection(tuber.GetOutputPort())
lineActor = vtk.vtkActor()
lineActor.SetMapper(lineMapper)
# probe the line and plot it
triangle = vtk.vtkGlyphSource2D()
triangle.SetGlyphTypeToTriangle()
triangle.Update()
cross = vtk.vtkGlyphSource2D()
cross.SetGlyphTypeToCross()
cross.Update()
xyplot = vtk.vtkXYPlotActor()
xyplot.AddDataSetInputConnection(probe.GetOutputPort())
xyplot.AddDataSetInputConnection(probe2.GetOutputPort())
xyplot.AddDataSetInputConnection(probe3.GetOutputPort())
xyplot.GetPositionCoordinate().SetValue(0.0,0.67,0)
xyplot.GetPosition2Coordinate().SetValue(1.0,0.33,0)
#relative to Position
xyplot.SetXValuesToArcLength()
xyplot.SetNumberOfXLabels(6)
xyplot.SetTitle("Pressure vs. Arc Length (Zoomed View)")
xyplot.SetXTitle("")
xyplot.SetYTitle("P")
xyplot.SetXRange(.1,.35)
xyplot.SetYRange(.2,.4)
xyplot.GetProperty().SetColor(0,0,0)
xyplot.PlotLinesOn()
xyplot.GetProperty().SetLineWidth(1)
xyplot.PlotPointsOn()
xyplot.GetProperty().SetPointSize(3)
xyplot.LegendOn()
xyplot.SetPlotSymbol(2,triangle.GetOutput())
xyplot.SetPlotColor(2,0,0,1)
xyplot.SetPlotColor(1,0,0,0)
xyplot.SetPlotColor(0,0,0,0)
xyplot.SetGlyphSize(0.025)
# Set text prop color (same color for backward compat with test)
# Assign same object to all text props
tprop = xyplot.GetTitleTextProperty()
tprop.SetColor(xyplot.GetProperty().GetColor())
xyplot.SetAxisTitleTextProperty(tprop)
xyplot.SetAxisLabelTextProperty(tprop)
xyplot.SetLabelFormat("%-#6.2f")
vertexGlyph = vtk.vtkSphereSource()
vertexGlyph.Update()
xyplot2 = vtk.vtkXYPlotActor()
xyplot2.AddDataSetInputConnection(probe.GetOutputPort())
xyplot2.AddDataSetInputConnection(probe2.GetOutputPort())
xyplot2.AddDataSetInputConnection(probe3.GetOutputPort())
xyplot2.GetPositionCoordinate().SetValue(0.00,0.33,0)
xyplot2.GetPosition2Coordinate().SetValue(1.0,0.33,0)
#relative to Position
xyplot2.SetXValuesToNormalizedArcLength()
xyplot2.SetNumberOfXLabels(6)
xyplot2.SetXRange(0.2,1.0)
xyplot2.SetTitle("VTK Quality vs. Alcohol Consumption")
xyplot2.SetXTitle("")
xyplot2.SetYTitle("A")
xyplot2.PlotPointsOn()
xyplot2.PlotLinesOff()
xyplot2.LegendOn()
xyplot2.SetLegendPosition(0.4,0.6)
xyplot2.SetLegendPosition2(0.40,0.25)
xyplot2.GetProperty().SetColor(1,0,0)
xyplot2.GetProperty().SetPointSize(2)
xyplot2.SetPlotSymbol(0,vertexGlyph.GetOutput())
xyplot2.SetPlotLabel(0,"Ken's Mudslide Consumption")
xyplot2.SetPlotColor(0,1,0,0)
xyplot2.SetPlotSymbol(1,cross.GetOutput())
xyplot2.SetPlotColor(1,1,0,1)
xyplot2.SetPlotLabel(1,"Bill's Beer Consumption")
xyplot2.SetPlotSymbol(2,triangle.GetOutput())
xyplot2.SetPlotColor(2,0,0,1)
xyplot2.SetPlotLabel(2,"VTK Quality")
# Set text prop color (same color for backward compat with test)
# Assign same object to all text props
tprop = xyplot2.GetTitleTextProperty()
tprop.SetColor(xyplot2.GetProperty().GetColor())
xyplot2.SetAxisTitleTextProperty(tprop)
xyplot2.SetAxisLabelTextProperty(tprop)
xyplot2.SetLabelFormat(xyplot.GetLabelFormat())
#Okay exercise data object stuff
ds2do = vtk.vtkDataSetToDataObjectFilter()
ds2do.SetInputConnection(probe.GetOutputPort())
ds2do2 = vtk.vtkDataSetToDataObjectFilter()
ds2do2.SetInputConnection(probe.GetOutputPort())
ds2do2.Update()
ds2do3 = vtk.vtkDataSetToDataObjectFilter()
ds2do3.SetInputConnection(probe.GetOutputPort())
ds2do3.Update()
xyplot3 = vtk.vtkXYPlotActor()
xyplot3.AddDataObjectInputConnection(ds2do.GetOutputPort())
xyplot3.SetDataObjectXComponent(0,2)
xyplot3.SetDataObjectYComponent(0,5)
xyplot3.SetPlotColor(0,1,0,0)
xyplot3.SetPlotLabel(0,"Mx")
xyplot3.AddDataObjectInput(ds2do2.GetOutput())
xyplot3.SetDataObjectXComponent(1,2)
xyplot3.SetDataObjectYComponent(1,6)
xyplot3.SetPlotColor(1,0,1,0)
xyplot3.SetPlotLabel(1,"My")
xyplot3.AddDataObjectInput(ds2do3.GetOutput())
xyplot3.SetDataObjectXComponent(2,2)
xyplot3.SetDataObjectYComponent(2,7)
xyplot3.SetPlotColor(2,0,0,1)
xyplot3.SetPlotLabel(2,"Mz")
xyplot3.GetPositionCoordinate().SetValue(0.0,0.0,0)
xyplot3.GetPosition2Coordinate().SetValue(1.0,0.33,0)
#relative to Position
xyplot3.SetXValuesToIndex()
xyplot3.SetNumberOfXLabels(6)
xyplot3.SetTitle("Momentum Component vs. Point Id")
xyplot3.SetXTitle("Point Id")
xyplot3.SetYTitle("M")
xyplot3.PlotPointsOn()
xyplot3.GetProperty().SetColor(0,0,1)
xyplot3.GetProperty().SetPointSize(3)
xyplot3.LegendOn()
xyplot3.SetLegendPosition(0.8,0.28)
xyplot3.SetLegendPosition2(0.20,0.20)
# Set text prop color (same color for backward compat with test)
# Assign same object to all text props
tprop = xyplot3.GetTitleTextProperty()
tprop.SetColor(xyplot3.GetProperty().GetColor())
xyplot3.SetAxisTitleTextProperty(tprop)
xyplot3.SetAxisLabelTextProperty(tprop)
xyplot3.SetLabelFormat("%4.f")
# draw an outline
outline = vtk.vtkStructuredGridOutlineFilter()
outline.SetInputData(output)
outlineMapper = vtk.vtkPolyDataMapper()
outlineMapper.SetInputConnection(outline.GetOutputPort())
outlineActor = vtk.vtkActor()
outlineActor.SetMapper(outlineMapper)
outlineActor.GetProperty().SetColor(0,0,0)
# Create graphics stuff
#
ren1 = vtk.vtkRenderer()
ren2 = vtk.vtkRenderer()
renWin = vtk.vtkRenderWindow()
renWin.SetMultiSamples(0)
renWin.AddRenderer(ren1)
renWin.AddRenderer(ren2)
iren = vtk.vtkRenderWindowInteractor()
iren.SetRenderWindow(renWin)
ren1.SetBackground(0.6784,0.8471,0.9020)
ren1.SetViewport(0,0,.5,1)
ren1.AddActor(outlineActor)
ren1.AddActor(lineActor)
ren2.SetBackground(1,1,1)
ren2.SetViewport(0.5,0.0,1.0,1.0)
ren2.AddActor2D(xyplot)
ren2.AddActor2D(xyplot2)
ren2.AddActor2D(xyplot3)
renWin.SetSize(790,400)
cam1 = ren1.GetActiveCamera()
cam1.SetClippingRange(3.95297,100)
cam1.SetFocalPoint(8.88908,0.595038,29.3342)
cam1.SetPosition(-12.3332,31.7479,41.2387)
cam1.SetViewUp(0.060772,-0.319905,0.945498)
iren.Initialize()
renWin.Render()
# render the image
#
# prevent the tk window from showing up then start the event loop
# --- end of script --


Calapooia Brewing Blog Archive » Music at the 'Pooia – Bill Lanham Returns!
Home / Uncategorized / Music at the 'Pooia – Bill Lanham Returns!
Music at the 'Pooia – Bill Lanham Returns!
Once a regular performer at the Oregon Trader, Bill Lanham returns to the stage at Calapooia Brewing Co. this Saturday night, in what is sure to be a rocking solo performance. Music starts at 8:00, but brew and eats flow generously starting at 3:00. Come early to get a good seat!
2 Responses to Music at the 'Pooia – Bill Lanham Returns!


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text:
CalAmp's Tracker, Partners with Grove & Dean to Protect Vehicles and Reduce Motor Insurance Premiums
CalAmp Corp. Logo
(PRNewsfoto/CalAmp)
LONDON and IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP), a global technology solutions pioneer transforming the mobile connected economy, today announced its subsidiary, Tracker, has joined forces with Grove & Dean, one of the UK's leading independent chartered insurance brokers and Performance Direct, the general insurance division of Grove & Dean. The collaboration will see the launch of a series of initiatives designed to safeguard assets, reduce insurance premiums and protect loss ratios. The partnership launches with the introduction of Tracker's pioneering stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) solutions as an added-value offering to broker customers.
"Grove & Dean is a family-run business, established 50 years ago, and we have always aspired to combine the finest customer experience with policies that provide complete peace of mind," explains Matthew Collett, marketing director of Grove & Dean.
"With car thefts escalating by 52% in the past six years, it became increasingly clear that we needed to introduce new, ethical and robust solutions that protect drivers and their vehicles," Collett added. "Our partnership with Tracker achieves that mission whilst delivering a competitive edge for our underwriters. Tracker's stolen vehicle recovery rate of 95% significantly reduces the risk and cost of potential theft, allowing us to offer lower premiums and increase protection."
Critically, Tracker's solutions embrace market-leading theft recovery protocols, including a 24/7/365 emergency contact centre to handle all missing vehicles combined with a working relationship with all UK police forces and close collaboration with pan-European law enforcement agencies. These relationships deliver significant benefits including the rapid recovery of a vehicle before it can be exported, dismantled for parts or given a new vehicle identification number (VIN) and re-sold.
"Our partnership with Grove & Dean will enable even more stolen vehicles returned safely to their owners. With a Tracker solution installed, the need for insurance providers to pay recovery costs or settle costly claims will be greatly reduced," commented Mark Rose, managing director of Tracker. "Owners will also be protected from the costs incurred due to a vehicle theft, including their excess liability insurance, loss of no-claims discount and potentially higher premiums in the future. Whilst there is no way to guarantee that a vehicle will never be stolen, installing a Tracker solution will vastly improve the chances of returning a vehicle to its owner."
About Grove & Dean
Formed in 1974 and based in Romford, Essex, Grove & Dean is a leading independent insurance broker. Grove & Dean's various insurance brands cater for a broad range of specialist motoring markets with a particular emphasis on prestige, performance, motorhome, commercial vehicle, non-standard and classic vehicles. By adopting the best new technologies and systems and offering exceptional service and value to our customers, Grove & Dean combines the best of the new, with traditional service ethics. For more information visit: https://www.grove-dean-insurance.co.uk
About Tracker
Tracker, a wholly owned subsidiary of CalAmp, has been leading the way in the field of vehicle tracking and telematics since 1993. With over a million market-leading security and award winning fleet management systems fitted to vehicles including passenger cars, motorcycles, HGVs, LCVs and plant and construction equipment, Tracker is still leading the way. Tracker, together with the police has to date recovered over £550 million worth of stolen vehicles and continues to recover on average £1 million worth of stolen vehicles each month. With over a million systems installed to date, its award-winning products ensure its customers have complete peace of mind. For more information, visit www.tracker.co.uk or follow us on http://twitter.com/tracker_UK
About CalAmp
CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP) is a global technology solutions pioneer transforming the mobile connected economy. We help reinvent business and improve lives around the globe with technology solutions that streamline complex mobile IoT deployments and bring intelligence to the edge. Our software and subscription-based services, scalable cloud platform and intelligent devices collect and assess business-critical data from mobile assets and their contents. We call this The New How, facilitating efficient decision making, optimizing mobile asset utilization and improving road safety. Headquartered in Irvine, California, CalAmp has been publicly traded since 1983 and has 20 million products installed and over 1.3 million software and services subscribers worldwide. LoJack®, Tracker™ and Here Comes The Bus® are CalAmp brands. For more information, visit calamp.com, or LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or CalAmp Blog.
CalAmp, LoJack, Tracker, Here Comes The Bus and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE CalAmp
http://calamp.com
CalAmp To Present at the Needham Growth Conference on January 14, ...
CalAmp Reports Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter Financial Results...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Reader doesn't seem to be installed in TensorFlow I have installed TensorFlow through pip for python 2.7.
I am trying to run some example RNN models, one of which requires the import of reader.
from tensorflow.models.rnn.ptb import reader

-> I get a no module reader found.

After reading a bit, I tried a popular suggestions:
import reader

-> no module reader found.

I ran:
import inspect
>>> print inspect.getfile(reader)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'reader' is not defined

Isn't reader supposed to be part of tensorflow? How can I install this module?
I need it because in the code I am trying to run, it includes commands like this:
def gen_epochs(n, num_steps, batch_size):
    for i in range(n):
        yield reader.ptb_iterator(data, batch_size, num_steps)

A: *

*Download the reader from github:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tensorflow/models/master/tutorials/rnn/ptb/reader.py
and add the file path and module to your python project:
import os

import sys

scriptpath = "/My/Path/To/Module/File/"

sys.path.append(os.path.abspath(scriptpath))

import reader

*Otherwise, A file can be read using:
from tensorflow import read_file
instead of:
from tensorflow.models.rnn.ptb import reader

A: Tried installing tensorflow for python3, but same issue.
So I just put this reader.py file in my main folder: http://programtalk.com/vs2/?source=python/7331/tensorflow_with_latest_papers/reader.py and that seems to work.

A: I don't think reader.py is part of http://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow, but it's included in http://github.com/tensorflow/models. It's used in  https://github.com/tensorflow/models/tree/master/tutorials/rnn/ptb and there's a commit message 3 months ago for reader.py that says "Moving example models from github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow to github.com/tensorflow/models".
In the example code ptb_word_lm.py of the tutorials/rnn/ptb, there's a import reader and I'm able to run ptb_word_lm.py successfully.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Posted inPolitical Animal
We Need to Know Why the Intelligence Community Suspects Donald Trump
by Martin Longman January 14, 2019 January 9, 2022
Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Over the weekend, I noticed that an outfit I am unfamiliar with called The Epoch Times had apparently received a copy of a transcript of the closed-door congressional testimony of a former assistant general counsel at the FBI named Lisa Page. I couldn't find an actual copy of the transcript and The Epoch Times' article only selectively quoted from it, so I decided not to use it as a source even though it fit in perfectly with what I did write about.
Now that CNN has reported that they too have obtained a copy of this testimony, I at least know that this isn't some kind of disinformation. The Epoch Times is chasing what they perceive to be misconduct in the investigation of Hillary Clinton, so their analysis isn't of much interest to me, although I did read it carefully. Near the end of their long piece, however, there is a section titled "A Possible Obstruction Case" that touches on something that they didn't really understand at all until the story broke in the New York Times on Friday night. The Times reported that the FBI had responded to the firing of James Comey by opening a full counterintelligence investigation into the president of the United States.
As you'll see, the congressional inquisitors couldn't really imagine the seriousness of the situation and thought that the investigation was based purely on the possibility that Trump may have obstructed justice when he fired James Comey. Armed with the knowledge from the Times blockbuster, it's much easier to understand Page's testimony and also why the FBI's lawyer wouldn't allow her to say much.
To set this up, I need to explain that Lisa Page was having an extramarital affair with senior FBI counterintelligence officer Peter Strzok. The two of them exchanged a lot of text messages on their government-issued phones, and some of those messages from 2016 expressed dismissive or hostile opinions about prominent American politicians, including then-candidate Donald Trump. This is seen as evidence by many on the right that there was bias in the Russia investigation, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller seems to agree to at least the extent that (for appearance's sake, if nothing else) he removed Strzok from his team.
The day after Comey was fired, the couple exchanged a message that has drawn the interest of Republicans. It said, "And we need to open the case we've been waiting on now while Andy is acting." In her testimony, Lisa Page confirmed that "Andy" was a reference to newly-acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe.
In her testimony, Page attempts to provide context for the text. She confirms that "the case we've been waiting on" means that even prior to Comey's firing, the FBI had been considering opening an investigation into the president specifically. This is confirmation of what I've said all along, which was that the intelligence community has long considered Donald Trump as a possible Russian agent. But, as you'll see, the inquisitors didn't understand what the investigation was about and Page was not allowed to tell them.
Notably, that text was sent the day after Comey had been fired by Trump. Unfortunately, a certain level of clarity remains lacking as FBI counsel was limited to noting that "the decision to open the case was not about who was occupying the director's chair." She continued…somewhat confusingly with, "if I was able to explain in more depth why the director firing precipitated this text, I would."
One representative kept pursuing the question from multiple angles, asking, "Was that a fear that someone other than McCabe would eventually be put into that slot?" Page again consulted with counsel and noted she couldn't answer that question.
The representative made the logical observation, "Well, that leads at least some of us to conclude that it may have been an obstruction-of-justice case." Page responded, "That's a reasonable inference, sir, but I cannot, sort of, confirm that that's what we are referring to."
As she noted, it was a logical inference to assume it was an obstruction of justice case, but it was actually far more than that.
Unidentified Representative: "So the firing of Jim Comey was the precipitating event, as opposed to the occupant of the director's office?"
Page: "Yes, that's correct."
Rep.: "Well, other than obstruction, what could it have been?"
Page: "I can't answer that, sir. I'm sorry."
Rep.: "Is there anything other than obstruction that it could have been?"
Page: "I can't answer."
At another point, during her second day of testimony, this subject was explored in more detail:
Unidentified Representative: "Were there discussions about opening an obstruction-of-justice case or any other case against Donald Trump prior to the firing of Jim Comey on May 9th of 2017, as reflected in the Comey memos?"
FBI legal counsel: "Congressman, to the extent that goes into the equities of the ongoing investigation that the special counsel is now conducting, I will instruct the witness not to answer."
[The Epoch Times commentary]: Normally, this line of questioning ends with inferences having to be made, but, in this case, what appears to be an honest error on the part of Page hinted firmly at the true answer:
Rep.: "I don't want any of the details. I just want to know whether there was a discussion about the possibility of opening that prior to the firing of the director."
Page: "Obstruction of justice was not a topic of conversation during the timeframe you have described."
Rep.: "OK. Then—"
Page: "I think. One second, sir."
[Discussion off the record.]
Page: "Sir, I need to—I need to take back my prior statement."
Rep.: "Which one?"
Page: "Whatever the last thing I just said was. Sorry. That there were no discussions of obstruction, yeah. That is—I need to take that statement back."
Rep.: "So there were?"
Page: "Well, I think that I can't answer this question without getting into matters which are substantively before the special counsel at this time."
Rep.: "Well, I think you've just answered it by not answering it. Was Andy McCabe privy to those same conversations?"
Page: "I can't answer this substantively, sir. I'm sorry."
Rep.: "Well, were these related to some charges, whether obstruction or other charges, potentially against Donald Trump?"
Page: "I can't—I can't answer that question, sir, without getting into the substance of matters that are now before the special counsel."
Rep.: "Again, I think you're answering it by not answering it."
[The Epoch Times commentary]: At a later point in testimony, this issue was potentially further clarified:
Rep.: "Comey has admitted that he told the president, I think, that he wasn't under investigation during that timeframe."
Page: "That is not inconsistent, sir. … Somebody could not be under investigation, but there still could be discussions about potential criminal activity, and that is totally consistent with FBI policies and would not be unusual with respect to any investigation."
In retrospect, it's easy to see why Page needed to correct her testimony. The original question was "were there discussions about opening an obstruction-of-justice case or any other case against Donald Trump prior to the firing of Jim Comey." The fact that they had opened a counterintelligence case on the president was such a closely guarded secret that it couldn't even be hinted at, and if they hadn't been discussing an obstruction of justice case prior to Comey's firing, what else could it have been than a counterintelligence investigation? In addition to that, it simply wasn't true that they weren't concerned about obstruction. James Comey had been told to drop the investigation of Michael Flynn, and the possibility of an obstruction case had been discussed in that context.
The important thing is that "the case we've been waiting on" that needed to be launched before a permanent FBI director was appointed to replace Comey was indeed a counterintelligence investigation. There had been an understandable reluctance to take such a drastic step despite a mountain of suspicious evidence, but when Comey was fired because he was investigating Russian interference in the election, that was enough to overcome the Bureau's reservations.
This becomes crystal clear when we look at the testimony of Lisa Page's boss, then-FBI general counsel James Baker, which CNN has obtained:
In his congressional testimony, Baker said that he did not discuss with Comey the possibility that Russia had influenced his firing. But Baker met with a group of roughly a half-dozen officials, including McCabe and possibly Strzok and Page, to discuss it.
"Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security," Baker told lawmakers, according to an excerpt from the transcript first reported by the Times and confirmed by CNN.
Baker said the notion that Trump was acting at the behest of Russia was "discussed as a theoretical possibility."
"I'm speaking theoretically. If the President of the United States fired Jim Comey at the behest of the Russian government, that would be unlawful and unconstitutional," Baker said.
"Is that what happened here?" Rep. John Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican, asked Baker.
"I don't know," Baker responded, before the FBI lawyer cut off additional questions on that line of inquiry.
There have been a lot of false dichotomies in how the Russia investigation has been reported and understood, and we have three examples here. It's true that a formal counterintelligence investigation of the president was not launched until after he fired James Comey, but the FBI had been pursuing the question of the president's possible compromise by the Russians since they began their more general Crossfire Hurricane counterintelligence investigation in late-July 2016. So, the significance of the new investigation has been exaggerated even as its nature has been misunderstood.
The second false dichotomy is directly related to that misunderstanding. Over the weekend, Benjamin Wittes of Lawfare described this as the Obstruction Was the Collusion mistake. People simply weren't getting that Trump was attempting to help the Russians just as much as he was attempting to help himself when he moved to shut down the investigation. By obstructing the investigation, he was colluding with the Russians after the fact.
And that gets to the third error. Collusion has been discussed almost wholly in the context of what happened during the election, but the collusion has been ongoing throughout the transition and actual administration. In fact, it has been the behavior of Trump and his team since the election that has raised the most suspicion. Just the fact that, as president, Trump has met privately so often with Vladimir Putin while taking such extraordinary steps to hide the content of their discussions is enough to raise the highest level of alarm.
But that's only one data point. Both before and after the election, Trump has encouraged Brexit. He's talked about dismantling NATO (including disparaging new member, Montenegro), actively sought to weaken the European Union (while disparaging its leaders), said that Crimeans are happier under Russian occupation, moved to turn Syria over to Russian domination, followed Russian advice to stop military exercises with South Korea, sought to re-include Russia in the G8, slow-walked congressionally mandated sanctions of Russia, complained about reprisals that he has approved, and repeatedly accepted Putin's denials that Russia intervened in the election.
It appears to the intelligence community that Trump is pursuing policies that are much more clearly in Russia's interests than in the interest of America. They have been investigating why he's behaving this way because it is seen as potentially more than a difference over policy preferences.
It has already been amply demonstrated that Russia knew things both during the campaign and subsequently that, if revealed, could have destroyed Trump's political ambitions. They knew of the more than one hundred contacts they'd made with Trump-connected figures. They knew that Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort owed a Russian oligarch nearly $20 million and was offering to give him private briefings. They knew that Trump was negotiating with them to build a tower in Moscow at the same time he was denying any business interests in Russia. They knew about the infamous Trump Tower meeting where the president's son had eagerly sought dirt on Hillary Clinton. And that's just a partial list of things that we've discovered without the Russians having told us. Trump has survived them primarily because of the delay between when we learned these details and when they were most relevant in the news cycle or campaign. There are undoubtedly many additional things that Russia could divulge that would cause Trump severe problems. Perhaps there is even a pee tape.
Former FBI agent Asha Rangappa wrote an important essay in the Washington Post on Sunday. Here's part of what she said:
If the counterintelligence case against the president was eventually closed because it found that Trump did not pose a threat to U.S. national security, Trump should welcome Mueller's report reaching Congress. This conclusion would stop the speculation about Trump's relationship with Russia and reassure the American public that his loyalties remain with the United States. But if it wasn't, and the threat to national security is ongoing, then informing Congress of the nature of the threat is paramount. This would be the only way that Congress can determine whether it should take the ultimate step to neutralize the damage that the president could inflict on the nation — through impeachment and removal from office.
She's right on all counts. If the counterintelligence investigation wasn't closed by Robert Mueller after he took it over, then the American people need to know. And Congress can't be expected to act until they get an answer to the question of whether the Office of Special Counsel thinks the president is a threat to the nation's national security because he is compromised by, or otherwise working with, the Russians. They need that information so they can act.
It's not that I think the intelligence community prejudged this case so much as that it should not have come as a revelation that they suspect the president of the worst imaginable crimes. When they told him that Russia hacked the Democrats and interfered in our elections, and Trump called them liars and Nazis, it was pretty inevitable that they'd want to understand his bizarre hostility.
The intelligence community has long suspected Trump of being under Russian influence. Now we need them to make their case.
Larry Summers Live
In "Political Animal"
Is Roy Moore Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt?
In "Featured"
Plame Update
Tagged: Oleg Deripaska, Robert Mueller, Russian interference in 2016 election, Thomas Barrack
Martin Longman
Martin Longman is the web editor for the Washington Monthly. See all his writing at ProgressPond.com
More by Martin Longman


Significant changes to Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 227.10 (a)(3)(C) were approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) on October 10, 2008. The new rule, which went into effect on December 14, 2008, allows degreed individuals who have not been enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) to take Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT) to demonstrate content proficiency for possible admission into an EPP. Taking PACT does not ensure admittance into a program. EPPs may have additional admission requirements.
You do not need EPP approval to register and take a content exam.
PACT participants cannot register to take Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) examinations without EPP approval. Your EPP must upload approval to test in the TEA approval system before you will be able to register for PPR examinations.
You must be approved by your EPP for content area and PPR examinations. Your EPP will upload approval into the TEA test approval system. EPP approval must be given prior to registering for any certification examinations.
If you are in a program seeking a certification other than classroom teacher – Educational Diagnostician, Health Science Technology, Marketing, Principal, Reading Specialist, School Counselor, School Librarian, Superintendent and all of the Master Teacher certifications – you must have test approval from your EPP.
If you hold acceptable teaching credentials in another state, U.S. territory, or country, you must have your credentials reviewed by TEA prior to registering for tests. Following a review of credentials, you will be informed of the required examinations for the certification areas you are seeking.
Select "Online Registration for New Users" and read through the explanation.
Select "no TEA ID" if you do not have an existing Educator Profile in the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) system.
Enter the requested supplemental information on the screen that follows.
Create a username and password and enter a password reminder that can be used by a customer service representative if you forget your password.
Because you are a PACT candidate, you do not need to create an Educator Profile on the SBEC website in order to register for a test. The ETS online registration system will transfer the date you enter to the SBEC system and give you a TEA ID number. Be sure to make a note of your TEA ID and Username.
Select "Register for a test" if you are ready to do so.
You must bring your admission ticket and acceptable identification documents with you to the test center. Details about acceptable identification documents are in the Registration Bulletin and on the website. NOTE: Without the required identification documents, you will not be admitted to the test center and no refund will be approved.
Scores are posted on the score reporting dates listed in the Registration Bulletins and on the website. Scores are viewable for 90 days. After that time, you can view your scores through you Educator Profile on the SBEC website at www.sbec.state.tx.us. To access your Educator Profile, log in to SBEC online as a new user. You will be prompted to create a Username and Password for this account.
Your scores will not be assigned to a program. Your scores will be uploaded into your SBEC Educator Profile so that programs can verify that you passed the content examination(s).


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Text;

namespace jaytwo.Common.Parse
{
	public static partial class ParseUtility
	{
		public static int ParseInt32(string value)
		{
			var styles = GetStyles(value);
			var formatProvider = GetFormatProvider(styles);
			return ParseInt32(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int ParseInt32(string value, NumberStyles styles)
		{
			var formatProvider = GetFormatProvider(styles);
			return ParseInt32(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int ParseInt32(string value, IFormatProvider formatProvider)
		{
			var styles = GetStyles(value);
			return ParseInt32(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int ParseInt32(string value, NumberStyles styles, IFormatProvider formatProvider)
		{
			return int.Parse(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int? TryParseInt32(string value)
		{
			var styles = GetStyles(value);
			var formatProvider = GetFormatProvider(styles);
			return TryParseInt32(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int? TryParseInt32(string value, NumberStyles styles)
		{
			var formatProvider = GetFormatProvider(styles);
			return TryParseInt32(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int? TryParseInt32(string value, IFormatProvider formatProvider)
		{
			var styles = GetStyles(value);
			return TryParseInt32(value, styles, formatProvider);
		}

		public static int? TryParseInt32(string value, NumberStyles styles, IFormatProvider formatProvider)
		{
			int parsedValue;
			return (int.TryParse(value, styles, formatProvider, out parsedValue))
				? parsedValue
				: (int?)null;
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I can't believe I'm 35 weeks pregnant! And I really can't believe that in just 5 weeks, I'm going to get to meet my baby for the first time. I'm getting super excited just thinking about October 20th! I can't imagine what it's going to be like, but every time I feel a kick or a flip, I get a tiny glimpse of how I am going to feel when I meet him for the first time.
This hasn't been an easy journey by any means. The first few weeks weren't too bad; I didn't even notice a change. Then, I got what seemed like the flu. It knocked me out for almost a week. Welcome to pregnancy. Next up, was the nausea. I was nauseated for a solid 4 months. I'm talking it never skipped a day. Every morning, I would strategize on how to avoid throwing up. I thought, maybe if I eat before I get out of bed, maybe if I eat more protein, maybe if I eat only bread, maybe if I drink ginger-ale, maybe if I eat foods with no sugar, maybe if I eat more, maybe if I eat less – nothing helped.
I did discover, towards the end of my 1st trimester, that putting peppermint essential oil on my temples was the ONLY thing that even mildly helped. So I carried that peppermint oil religiously. Everywhere I went, along came the peppermint oil. I applied it every hour or so. I really enjoyed the smell and felt refreshed when I applied it, but I don't think that everyone else was ecstatic about the strong peppermint smell that accompanied me everywhere I went. A little tip: if you try the peppermint trick, be careful of it getting in your eyes. I always made sure that it was as far from my eyes as possible and there was no excess oil to drip into my eyes. Despite my best efforts, I experience some serious eye burning. I'm laughing now because when it would get in my eyes, my eyes would start watering, and I'd have to close my eyes, which inevitably led to whoever was around to notice that I had gotten it in my eyes. I'd always say – listen, I'd rather pour this peppermint oil in both of my eyes than experience anymore of this nausea. Still true. I would most definitely recommend that to anyone experiencing pregnancy nausea.
During the first trimester I also felt extremely tired. This was quite an adjustment for me because I am not a napper, and I am not accustomed to feeling so worn out at 1pm. I would get up as late as I could with just enough time to eat something, probably throw up, and make it to the office. Luckily for me, my commute to work was basically non-existent. When I would sit at my desk, it would take me a good 30 minutes at least to wake up. I quit drinking coffee (which used to be my favorite part of the day) because it would make my nausea 400 times worse. Once I got through the morning, the middle part of my day was more normal, just with much less energy. Once 5 or 6pm rolled around, I was ready to pack up and go home (more like, straight to bed). Again, that was super weird for me because I normally wouldn't go home until 7 or 8pm. I would say that it wasn't until the end of my 1st trimester that I got used to being tired. I always felt like I needed to be doing more. It was hard to not compare myself to others. I expected things to go a certain way, but I started to learn that I couldn't be hard on myself when things didn't go as I had expected.
I really didn't take too many pictures during the 1st trimester. There were no were no weekly bump pictures in cute maternity clothes. I was either too nauseated or too tired to even think about pictures.
I'm going to take a break now. Yes, you guessed it: I'm tired again. Oh, and hungry. I eat like I'm feeding a small army. More on that, in part 2. Be back soon.
Excellent blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? I'm planning to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I'm totally overwhelmed .. Any tips? Thanks!
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Am i legitimately responsible for content on my blogs & discussion forums that others have created?
Am i legitimately in charge of content on my blogs & online forums that have composed?


text:
Discover how filmmaker Eilidh Munro captured rarely seen footage of endangered spider monkeys feeding at a mammal clay lick, and what it means for rainforest protection.
We all love those 'making-of' sections at the end of nature documentaries. You know the bits I'm talking about: where the increasingly fraught but nevertheless passionate cameraperson fights hurdle after hurdle on their quest to find and film their subject, to capture it at the very last moment, right before the production company decides to call it quits. We wonder if these are heavily edited alterations of real life, to further dramatise the story we've already so effortlessly enjoyed from the comfort of our own homes.
Well in my experience at least, that's far from true. The struggle is - as they say - very real.
But is it worthwhile?
Last week we released A Rainforest Reborn, a new film for Crees which reveals rarely-seen footage of spider monkeys feeding at a mammal clay lick.
A Rainforest Reborn follows a family of monkeys teaching their young daughter how to access this clay lick, alone, for the first time. Reaching the forest floor - far from the safety of the canopy - is a perilous voyage for any monkey, not to mention an inexperienced juvenile. After all, spider monkeys are not the only species to return to this once-destroyed forest: 89% of all biodiversity has come back here, including predators such as jaguar, ocelot and puma.
All too often, we read stories of conservation catastrophe. At times it can feel like a hopeless battle. However, with A Rainforest Reborn, we have a story of hope, resilience and change. Not far, you could say, from the story of how it was made.
I lived and worked in the Crees Reserve for 8 months. There are more commonly-sighted species than the Peruvian spider monkey (ateles chamek), but they are not entirely elusive, and occasionally (just enough to keep us interested, I guess) we are lucky enough to cross paths - us on the bottom level, them on top.
So, the thought goes, if I put in enough time and effort, it shouldn't be too hard to find and film them. Right?
First up was 'phase hide'. The task: get up early, reach the clay lick before light, sit inside a canvas hide, be quiet and try not to eat your lunch too early.
40 hours later, with enough footage for a feature film on the clumsy and clay lick obsessed Spix's Guan, and not a spider monkey to be seen. That's not to say they weren't there. You can imagine the face-palm moment after staying in camp for my once-a-week office internet slot and hearing: "Were you in the clay lick this morning? We saw your monkeys there!".
However, as the saying goes, good things come to those who… trek.
Still image of a spider monkey group member, who is observing the area above the clay lick for predators || Still © Eilidh Munro
I took to looking through data of spider monkey sightings, and following our previous research coordinator Ruth's approach to woolly monkey monitoring, tried to find their nesting sites and the routes commonly used for travelling through trees. For five weeks I then solo-trekked through the rainforest, walking slowly, listening carefully, carrying 15kg of equipment in dry bags to protect them from the humidity.
To increase my chances, I also camped in an area where the monkeys were often spotted. Miraculously, this also turned out to be a nesting site for one family who I could film settling down for the night.
However, the ground I filmed on was a steep slope in the thick of the forest undergrowth, with vines that wrap and strangle trees until they eventually fall, allowing light into the canopy and new species to grow. It was not ideal. I could barely see through the trees and my tripod legs were in a maze of vines and roots. What happened next should not be a surprise: a slip, a fall and a snapped tripod leg.
We did say this was a story of hope, resilience and change. The change for now was filming on a level lower down on my tripod. However, this story also needs resilience, and so my daily solo-treks continued.
Thankfully five weeks later, these efforts finally paid off, when I met our family of monkeys using teamwork to guard and enter the clay lick.
Still of the young monkey from A Rainforest Reborn © || Still © Eilidh Munro
To capture it, in a sheltered area, I set up my equipment as quickly as possible, so as to not miss the action or disturb the group. Our monkeys were calling to one another, entering and leaving the clay lick, and the young monkey was communicating with her family. You can therefore imagine my horror when, despite the dry bags, I could not see a thing through the lens: it had been completely attacked by humidity! Thankfully, after a frantic 5 minutes of cleaning, it cleared and I could finally film.
With camera traps inside the clay lick itself, from three different angles, I could also film the feeding without disturbing the monkeys or changing their natural behaviour.
The feeling of witnessing this feeding behaviour and capturing it on film for others to see is indescribable; the fact that it happened in a regenerating rainforest makes it even more incredible.
Still from A Rainforest Reborn, showing the young monkey entering the MLC clay lick, alone for the first time || Still © Eilidh Munro
It can be funny, retrospectively, to think of the highs and lows of creating this film; the rainforest certainly doesn't give away its secrets easily, but I really don't think it should be any other way.
The Manú Biosphere Reserve is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, however it is also under serious threat by illegal logging, hunting, mining, agriculture and the illegal construction of a new road. Striking a balance between development, improved health and better opportunities for local people with conservation has always been difficult. However, it is crucial if endangered species like these spider monkeys are going to survive.
You can help by sharing films and news, staying informed about conservation projects, supporting organisations like Crees who carry out effective projects, and visiting areas like the Manu Learning Centre that actively conserve the rainforest.
If you're interested in learning more about conservation then consider the Crees internship programme. Or, if you are passionate about conservation communications and want to learn about writing, photography and filmmaking then check out the Crees multimedia internship.


text:
Q: unlist(base) command When I executed unlist(options()) and unlist(options(),use.names=FALSE) at the command prompt in r, the response given by r was difficult to understand for me.
Would any member of stack overflow explain those list of answers to me?
In the user guide of 'combinat' package of 'r', following examples are given. But I don't understand how to use them?
# A check that every element occurs the same number of times in each position
apply(t(array(unlist(permn(6)), dim = c(6, gamma(7)))), 2, tabulate,nbins = 6)

# Apply, on the fly, the diff function to every permutation
t(array(unlist(permn(6, diff)), dim = c(5, gamma(7))))

Result :


text:
Home » 2016 October 2016 In Focus
Tilt-Up Construction Specialists
Lithko Contracting
Written by Robert Hoshowsky
Lithko Contracting, LLC was formed in 1992 by skilled concrete construction professionals who found the constant travel their job required was no longer conducive to their growing families. Seeing an opportunity to create a different kind of organization, they formed a commercial concrete contracting company focused on working close to home.
In less than twenty-five years, the small commercial contracting company they started has grown to employ thousands of coworkers at fourteen locations within the United States, yet remains true to its vision of balancing work and life while maintaining an unwavering commitment to its customers.
Through this unique local service delivery model, clients receive the personal services of a local company with the resources of a large contractor. So its co-workers do not have to travel too much, it has developed a strategy of directing its work toward middle-market projects and adding locations to meet customer needs. This model allows the company to support co-worker development while keeping workers closer to their families. The company's co-workers exhibit a broad range of skill sets which include project engineering, field engineering, estimating, project management, and business unit & regional leadership.
"When we say 'unique local model,' it is exactly that," says Will Phelps, operations manager for Nashville. "We are flexible across different types of markets and keep people close enough where they can spend their evenings and weekends with their families."
The fourteen business units serve approximately thirty-five states. Every business unit is a full-service concrete contractor that utilizes detailed processes and expertise to deliver superior project results.
Lithko Contracting continues to grow at approximately fifteen percent per year. Given its existing market share, the company would eventually like to see fifty locations across the United States, a move that will likely be facilitated by the recent purchase of Lithko by The Pritzker Organization, L.L.C.
The concrete contractor has forged a reputation for its high quality work. The full-service concrete contracting company offers tilt-up walls, structural concrete, cast-in-place walls, slab-on-grade/deck, foundations, high tolerance floors, site work and pre-construction services.
Co-workers start on different kinds of projects in a variety of markets and increase their knowledge base and opportunity for advancement. This provides them with the opportunity to showcase their abilities and alignment to a subject matter expert to help facilitate learning.
Lithko Contracting utilizes its project execution process to plan, prepare and deliver each project at the highest level of expectation. Its thorough planning process includes team alignment, budgeting, design assistance, safety, collaboration, market understanding, customer plan presentation and levels of planning and preparation. Comprehensive planning means it can create projects on-budget and even ahead of the anticipated completion date.
The contractor is a member of the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) and can accept all aspects of project construction, from site work to slabs, walls, high-tolerance floors, decks and more. Tilt-up construction sees the concrete walls of a structure placed directly at the job site. These are allowed to cure, then raised into position to create exterior walls. Since the method enables the construction of buildings in a much shorter period than conventional methods such as masonry, it is increasing in popularity. Site supervisors monitor the process firsthand as the concrete wall panels are created at the building location and the method is less costly than having bricks or cinderblocks transported to the site.
"Tilt-up construction is site-cast walls," says Phelps. "We pour the foundations. We prepare the sub-base. We pour the concrete slab on grade, and we apply bond breaker, which is a chemical compound that separates two concrete surfaces. And we form up a vertical wall horizontally on the ground on the slab, pour that concrete, and – once the concrete has cured – we come back in and pick up or erect that panel off of the slab and tilt that into place for the vertical wall."
For the company and its clients, the advantages of tilt-up construction are many, ranging from cost-saving to scheduling to speed. Tilt-up is much faster than using concrete masonry units (CMUs) such as hollow blocks or concrete bricks. Because general contractors can oversee scheduling of the concrete on-site, they are better able to determine if the project is on schedule. According to Phelps, this allows the contractor to adjust the work pace to "align their other subcontractors to fit into the overall schedule of the building."
The contractor has undertaken many tilt-up projects over the years. One of the most recent was for automobile giant Nissan, which saw the completion of a massive, 1.5-million-square-foot manufacturing plant and logistics centre for the company's North American operations in Smyrna, Tennessee, on a greenfield site adjacent to the existing Nissan manufacturing factory. Lithko was initially contacted by Clayco, the general contractor for the project, late last December. The team at Lithko had a past working relationship with Clayco, having worked on large warehouses together.
"They wanted to understand our schedule and our availability and our desire to complete the project," says Lithko's Chris Dittman, Area Lead for the Nashville location. "We bid on the job and estimated the project sometime in mid-to-late February. We were awarded the job in mid-March, and we were on site late March/early April. During that time – early February to late March – several components of estimating, value engineering, scheduling, all those conversations were taking place during that timeframe."
Timelines were extremely tight, with a move in date of September 7. After being mobilized on March 28, Lithko Contracting immediately started working on a foundation near an existing Nissan facility and made its first slab pour on April 12.
"This building was split into two different parts: a one-million-square-foot warehouse with a fairly simple design with a six-inch-thick unreinforced slab," states Dittman. "The other half million square feet was a much heavier foundation and slab on grade system. It went from six-inch unreinforced to ten-inch, with a double mat of rebar slab. It has an overhead crane high bay area, so the panels actually stepped up from forty feet tall to sixty-five feet tall, where they run an overhead crane throughout the centre of the manufacturing side of the warehouse. There will be extensive pit and trench work that is going to take place inside the manufacturing side of that warehouse."
"We were given very high-level information from our customer, and then we engaged our suppliers and our close relationships – one of them being Jason Reuter with American Contractor Supply – to help us basically design the tilt-up wall panels themselves. Jason's vast knowledge of tilt-up construction and concrete chemicals was vital to this project's success," says Dittman. "And to keep it in context, with the timing that took place from the pre-construction in the planning activities to construction and how quickly this project went, it was really important for us to have close relationships with key suppliers to help us get through some of those design/build phases that took place on the front end and throughout the early portion of the project."
The team at Lithko was able to work within an incredibly tight sixteen-week deadline, which the company met due to responsible planning and a trained workforce of about seventy during the peak of the project. A concrete batch plant poured 35,000 cubic yards of concrete in a fourteen-week timeframe.
"There have been a lot of challenges on the Nissan project, and there have been a lot of people that were given the opportunity to step up and develop their careers," says Dittman. "And because it was such a large project with a condensed schedule, some co-workers were asked to step outside their comfort zones and were challenged in their careers." He notes that every one of them answered the call.
Robert Hoshowsky
Longstanding Industry Leadership


We have developed a huge respect for the Italian craftsman and his work ethic. The guys who do work for us here invariably arrive at around 8am and stop at about 6pm with a break at noon for a proper lunch at home or more often at a local trattoria. I suppose we encourage this by paying promptly but there is nevertheless a real pride and commitment in their work. Having said that they are all specialists and unlike their UK counterparts nevert cross the line into generalism.
Take our new recently installed cooker for example. One of our Italian friends thankfully supervised the exercise that involved: 3 carpenters to remove the old one and adjust and prepare the kitchen units, a stonemason to cut the granite worktop to the new measurements, 2 guys to deliver the cooker, a plumber to connect the gas, an electrician to connect the mains and finally someone to fit new valves to reduce the pressure from the gas "bombelone". 10 craftsmen in all, whereas in the UK just 2 guys from the stove shop would have probably been sufficient.
The new gates and garage doors involved the local builder, his specialist bricklaying dad, the electrician and of course the blacksmiths with dad providing quality control. With a recent boiler problem we discovered that the heating specialist and the plumber don't have the necessary knowledge to fix the boiler.
Sometimes frustrating, somehow endearing but at least they are all employed.


text:
Q: Socket IO client delays in firing connection event when assigned to a variable I'm using React on the front-end and Node.js on the back-end with Socket.io for websockets.
consider this:
I have this module here for my socket setup on the client side.
socket.js
export default () => {

 const socket = io(`${config.origin}/chat`);
  const getAllChatMessages = messages => {
    socket.on('get-chat', messages);
  };

  const updateChatHistory = lastMessage => {
    socket.on('new-message', lastMessage);
  };

  const sendNewMessage = newMessage => {
    socket.emit('new-message', newMessage);
  };

  const unregisterHandlers = () => {
    socket.off('get-chat');
    socket.off('new-messge');
  };

  return {
    getAllChatMessages,
    updateChatHistory,
    unregisterHandlers,
    sendNewMessage
  };
};

And I use it like so in my React Component
Chat.js
class Chat extends Component {
  constructor() {
    super();
    this.client = socket();
    this.state = { chatMessage: '', chatHistory: [], today: new Date() };
  }

Note that everything works. However, there is some very weird behaviour and that is when I assign the value of socket() to this.client inside the constructor, I get a 7 second delay before the 'on-connection' event is fired on the server. But if I rewrite my constructor like so:
 class Chat extends Component {
    constructor() {
    super();
    socket();
    this.state = { chatMessage: '', chatHistory: [], today: new Date() };
  }

that is, if I just execute the socket() function and not assign it to the this.client property, then everything is instantaneous.
Why is this ?? In both cases the io(${config.origin}/chat); is firing inside socket.js


text:
Cambodian PM Makes Remarks about French Language Usage in the Country
AKP Phnom Penh, March 22, 2018 –Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, has noted the decline in the use of French language in the Kingdom, a Francophone nation.
The Premier made the remarks at the graduation ceremony of 1,630 students of the National Institute of Education after he found no teacher of French in today's list of graduates.
French has been once a major foreign language in Cambodia, but it is different now, he said, stressing that some schools, universities, and other higher education institutions now use English instead of French.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen also noticed that the number of French speaking people in Cambodia, most of them are older people, has been dropping.
Throughout the world, there are about 274 million people speaking French. It is the fifth most widely-spoken language, after Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish and according to estimations, Arabic and Hindi.
By Khan Sophirom
Outcomes of the Official Visit of H.E. Dato Lim Jo...
Joint Statement between the Kingdom of Cambodia an...


Effect of acute high-intensity interval exercise on postexercise biventricular function in mild heart failure.
We studied the acute effect of high-intensity interval exercise on biventricular function using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in nine patients [age: 49 ± 16 yr; left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF): 35.8 ± 7.2%] with nonischemic mild heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that a significant impairment in the immediate postexercise end-systolic volume (ESV) and end-diastolic volume (EDV) would contribute to a reduction in EF. We found that immediately following acute high-intensity interval exercise, LV ESV decreased by 6% and LV systolic annular velocity increased by 21% (both P < 0.05). Thirty minutes following exercise (+30 min), there was an absolute increase in LV EF of 2.4% (P < 0.05). Measures of preload, left atrial volume and LV EDV, were reduced immediately following exercise. Similar responses were observed for right ventricular volumes. Early filling velocity, filling rate, and diastolic annular velocity remained unchanged, while LV untwisting rate increased 24% immediately following exercise (P < 0.05) and remained 18% above baseline at +30 min (P < 0.05). The major novel findings of this investigation are 1) that acute high-intensity interval exercise decreases the immediate postexercise LV ESV and increases LV EF at +30 min in patients with mild HF, and this is associated with a reduction in LV afterload and maintenance of contractility, and 2) that despite a reduction in left atrial volume and LV EDV immediately postexercise, diastolic function is preserved and may be modulated by enhanced LV peak untwisting rate. Acute high-intensity interval exercise does not impair postexercise biventricular function in patients with nonischemic mild HF.


Maurizio Sarri has been angrier after Chelsea have won than he was in the wake of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Tottenham, according to David Luiz.
Chelsea produced their poorest performance of the season at Wembley, finding themselves trailing 2-0 after just 16 minutes thanks to goals from Dele Alli and Harry Kane.
Sarri labelled Chelsea's performance a "disaster", acknowledging he saw little way back after Kane's goal despite having 74 minutes left of the game.
But David Luiz revealed Sarri had an unexpected reaction, with the Italian apparently calmer than after some of Chelsea's wins this term.
"He has been, many times, angrier when we've won," the defender told reporters. "It's true. Nobody is happy, of course the coach is not happy.
"But I think it's good for us to understand – to remind us – that the Premier League is never easy. It's not easy to win any game.
"The good thing is that we have another game next week, so an opportunity to recover and gain some points. Then, soon, we have [Manchester] City, a tough team, the top club in the table, so we can try and make the gap a bit smaller then.
"It was our first loss, but even if you win you have to analyse and improve. That's the only way to success.


text:
Llista de topònims (noms propis de lloc) del municipi de Sant Vicenç de Torelló, a Osona

ANNEX: Rius que no figuren a la llista per tenir àmbit comarcal o superior
 Ter

entitat de població

església

masia

molí hidràulic

muntanya

pont

Misc

Sant Vicenç de Torelló
Sant Vicenç de Torelló

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home / Archives / Analysis / BNP's six points and the issue of Missing Persons
BNP's six points and the issue of Missing Persons
Administrator August 20, 2018	Analysis, Archives, Articles, Articles, Balochistan, Balochistan, Pakistan, Politics, Sociology Leave a comment 595 Views
The issue of missing persons in Balochistan is a long-standing humanitarian crisis that remains unresolved, it is the most nerve-racking, draconian experience that thousands of families have fallen victim to.
Qambar Malik Baloch
In order to pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Balochistan, Akhtar Mengal, the leader of Balochistan National Party (BNP), in 2012, presented a six points plan before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The concerned civil and military powers showed no interest in such a plan and from some quarters it was termed as a replica of Sheikh Mujib ur Rahman's six-point of the 1960s. Backed by overwhelming public support from the Baloch masses (although, the party has expressed its belief that its mandate has been stolen by the those ruling Balochistan by proxy), the party has this time strenuously taken up the case of Balochistan with the newly elected Government of Pakistan in order to get some kind of relief for the people of Balochistan.
The most urgent and pertaining among the six point's demands signed by the representatives of Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf (PTI) and BNP is the issue of enforced disappearances aka "Missing Persons", which has impacted the lives of people in Balochistan in various ways, damaged social and political harmony in the state and presented a dark image of Pakistan internationally.
Historically, the Baloch relationship with Pakistan's military establishment and successive Governments has not been pleasant. The state institutions' response to Baloch demands for equal rights as guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan, often resulted in bloody conflicts affecting adversely their mutual trust, harmony, and the fabric that weaves up a federation together. The establishment under various pretexts, resorted to measures outside their constitutional ambits to contain the Baloch dissent. The cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings of political opponents, patronizing of non-state actors are some startling examples of the state pursued strategies in Balochistan.
Although the Article 9, and Article 10 clause (1) & (2) of the constitution of Pakistan prohibits the unlawful detention of a person and asks of such a person to be produced before a Magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of his/her arrest, nevertheless, People from Balochistan are being whisked away in broad daylight and for years their whereabouts are not known.
One of the major drawbacks of such measures in which its institutions disrespect and violate the law with impunity is that the state itself loses the moral ground to instruct its subjects to adhere by the constitution and state laws. In Baloch case, this has damaged their trust in the state institutions including judiciary as a protector to uphold their rights and dignity, compelling them to look for remedies to their problems elsewhere. As a consequence, a general hatred took roots among the Baloch masses against the majority ethnic group forming the backbone of the establishment. Unfortunately, exploiting the genuine demands of the people of Balochistan as a threat to its national security, the security establishment has been trying to neutralize any political or peaceful opposition against its actions in Balochistan.
However, human rights as they are, transcend beyond the 'territorial integrity' or jurisdictions of a state. The situation in Balochistan has caused much damage to the country among the community of nations. UN and various other independent Human Rights bodies have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to keep its pledge of respecting the rights of its citizens and to refrain from violating the human rights instruments it is a signatory to. This has tarnished her international image and Pakistan is being seen as an abuser of human rights.
The issue of missing persons in Balochistan is a long-standing humanitarian crisis that remains unresolved and is one of the most nerve-racking experiences a family can endure. Thousands of families have fallen victim to this draconian practice. Even the most conservative of the estimates provide a count of victims in thousands. Members of these families including men, women and children have been campaigning for years for the safe and sound release of their loved ones exhausting all the available means in the state.
The psychological repercussions of this are beyond one's comprehension. A situation has developed in which all hopes are lost by the affected families and what is left in their lives is a visualizationof all incomprehensible things happening to their loved ones, a psychological state they can never recover from. Delays in resolving this issue will give rise to more hatred against the state institutions and will cause more damage to Pakistan's standing in the internationalarena. There is high time the concerned authorities in Pakistan revisit the past outcomes of such policies in Eastern Pakistan now Bangladeshand revise their attitude and policies towards Balochistan.
The issue of "Missing Persons" under the MOU signed between BNP and PTI should be given priority and be taken as an incentive by the new government of PTI to bridge the existing trust-deficit and as a way forward to a peaceful conflict-resolution. Legislations should also be charted to bring an end to such practices. Any talks of economic development remain meaningless when an individual's personal and family's right to existence is endangered. For any sort of societal development, a particular political atmosphere without fear, interference and with some sort of freedom is essential. It is now up to the leadership of PTI to demonstrate whether the dream of 'Naya Pakistan' they have been selling to the masses in Pakistan is translated into reality or will it also go "Missing" in Balochistan.
The writer is a UK based Baloch socio-political activist who hails from Panjgur, Balochistan. He was the Ex chairperson of Baloch Students Action Committee, BUITEMS and Baloch Students and Youth Association UK. He can be reached at qambermbaloch@gmail.com
Source: dailytimes.com.pk
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حق واختیار کیلئے جمہوری جدوجہد پر یقین رکھتے ہیں ، بی این پی
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کوئٹہ،بی ایس اے سی کا بی ایم سی میں ریلی و دھرنا
بی این پی مرکز میں تحریک انصاف کے نامزد وزیر اعظم اسپیکر او رڈپٹی سپیکر کی مکمل حمایت کریگی ،صوبے میں جمعیت کیساتھ معاہدہ کر چکے ہیں ،اختر مینگل


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Newsroom / Articles
4 Things You Can Do to Prevent Suicide
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Here are four ways to offer help and hope to those who are struggling.
For more ways to help: Visit SPRC's Suicide Prevention Month: Ideas for Action.
For you or someone you know who is in a suicidal crisis:
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741
For emotional support related to COVID-19:
Call the Disaster Distress Helpline (800-985-5990)
Text TalkWithUs to 66746
For those who identify as part of the LGBTQ community:
Call the TrevorLifeline (866-488-7386)
Text START to 678-678
For veterans:
Call the Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, press 1
For frontline workers:
Text FRONTLINE to 741741
There's a growing public awareness that suicide is preventable. And although most people want to help, many do not know what to do or say.
A recent survey from the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) shows that 93 percent of Americans believe suicide can be prevented, and 95 percent would do something if they knew someone in crisis. However, 7 out of 10 respondents identified barriers preventing them from discussing suicide with others—including not knowing what to say.
That's one reason why the Action Alliance has aligned with partners across the United States to promote the #BeThere campaign. This initiative provides resources to educate the public about the many ways they can take action to support a person who is struggling or in crisis.
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"People often think that mental health providers should be responsible for preventing suicides," says Kerri Nickerson, director of state and community initiatives for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) at EDC. "In fact, we all have a role to play."
In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, here are four steps everyone can take to support those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide and connect them with the care they need to get better.
1. Learn the warning signs
Suicide often does not come "out of the blue," so it's important for friends and family to know what to look out for when a loved one is struggling.
Warning signs for suicide include talking about wanting to die or kill oneself; seeking a means to kill oneself (e.g., searching for a gun online); reckless behavior; and talking about feeling trapped, being in unbearable pain, or being a burden to others. Learning to recognize the warning signs—and being willing to take action—can save lives.
If in doubt, don't hesitate. Make a call to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which provides 24/7 free confidential support.
"Lifeline counselors can walk through any concerns, either with you or the individual you are concerned about, and help you connect to needed supports," Nickerson says. "They also have specialized care for military personnel and veterans."
2. Open the door to discussion
"When you see warning signs, it's important to ask the person directly whether they have considered suicide," Nickerson says. "People are sometimes concerned that if they bring up suicide, they might put the idea in someone's head. But research shows that is not the case. Be direct and upfront. Ask, 'Are you thinking about hurting yourself?' Show them you are there to talk about what they're going through, and be there in the future if they need someone to listen."
3. Don't wait to seek help
Sadly, family and friends sometimes wait until a loved one is in crisis—and at risk of immediate suicide—before pursuing help.
"We need to educate the general public about seeking out help earlier, before the problem becomes more serious," Nickerson says. "Suicide is very complex. It doesn't have one particular cause. Instead, it's a constellation of issues that relate between the risk and protective factors in someone's life. Because of that, it is sometimes hard for people to define when someone has reached the severity that warrants more critical attention."
According to SPRC, risk factors for suicide include a previous suicide attempt, depression, substance misuse, social isolation, access to lethal means, chronic disease and disability, and lack of access to behavioral health services. Precipitating factors can include the loss of a job, the end of a marriage or a relationship, arrest, and financial troubles.
Nickerson also points to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, which offers a treatment locator. It also features tools and resources to find behavioral health support, including for adults 45 years and older, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and other at-risk populations.
4. Reach out to others in need
The COVID-19 crisis has created a new reality marked by stress, isolation, and uncertainty—making everyday life a challenge for so many. The Census Bureau has recently found that one-third of Americans are showing signs of clinical anxiety and depression during the pandemic. However, one of the protective factors for preventing suicide is social connectedness. We can make sure our friends, family members, and neighbors who may be struggling know they are not alone.
"Think of those who may be isolated, and make an extra effort to reach out to them," Nickerson says. With social distancing, this can take the form of a FaceTime or Zoom video call, an old-fashioned phone call, a "checking-in" email, or even a friendly card in the mail to say "Hello!"
"We can create these small moments where we're checking in and saying hello and letting people know that we're thinking about them," Nickerson says. "Especially now, this is really important."
| Issues & Insights
Talking to Teens about Suicide
| Announcements
Suicide Prevention More Important Than Ever as a Result of Pandemic, Study Shows


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These tight-fitting lids prevent spills during delivery and use.
These single-use tight-fitting lids offer convenient portability and sanitary drink protection.
These tight-fitting lids prevent spills during delivery and use. They include a cross slot for straws.
These single-use tight-fitting lids offer convenient portability and sanitary drink protection. This lid features a sip lid that also can be used with a straw.
These translucent lids are designed to fit 8 to 12 ounce insulated bowls.
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The heads of golf clubs are made in one of two processes - casting or forging.
The vast majority – probably 90% - of golf clubs sold are made by casting – which involves pouring molten metal into a mould to produce a golf club head.
The nature of casting allows manufacturers to be more creative in their – the process particularly lending itself to the creation of cavity back clubs and the ability to push weight to the outside of the head which helps prevent it twisting on off-centre hits.
You will hear manufacturers shouting about their use of cast 17-4 stainless steel. No, we didn't know what it meant either until we looked it up. It means that 17% of the make-up is chromium – and 4% nickel. And that, apparently, is very good news. 17-4 stainless steel is strong, durable, very hard, and doesn't corrode easily.
You'll also hear about 431 Stainless steel which is 25% softer than 17-4 – and would claim to give slightly better 'feel' . It's worth noting, however, that the harder the face, the faster the ball comes off it. So everything is a compromise.
Examples of irons with cast heads? Well, where do you start - it's most clubs that are made.
Equally, cast clubs are made which are aimed at scratch golfers. The Ping S59 irons are used by many of Ping's Tour Players – including one of Golfbidder's favourite players, Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Forging involves taking a piece of soft steel and stamping or beating it into shape. Because the steel used in forging is so much softer (due to the higher carbon content), some players claim that forged clubs offer better 'feel'.
The process of forging is more labour-intensive which is why they generally cost more.
When players talk about 'feel' in irons, they tend to be talking about knowing when a ball has been hit off-centre. Golfers want to hit the ball out of the middle of the clubface to achieve the maximum distance and desired trajectory. But some of the bigger-headed irons are so forgiving that they hit the ball pretty straight even when hit off the toe or the heel. Some better players, however, want to know immediately if they have hit the ball off the toe or the heel in order that they can attempt to make adjustments and not make the same 'error' next time.
'Feel' , however, is much more likely to be a function of the head design than the material and while 20 years ago, all the top tour players used forged bladed clubs, that is not the case anymore - and many of the world's best players now use cast clubs.
Because of the history, there has been a tendency to assume that forged clubs are more difficult to hit. If they are, it is probably because of the shape of the head – not because it is cast or forged.
The past few years has also seen the emergence of forged cavity back clubs which aim to combine the best of both the cast and forged worlds. Here is Titleist's take on the concept – the 755 Forged Irons.
Cast titanium – the same material used on the outside of the Space Shuttle – is sometimes used in golf irons heads. It is as strong as steel – but half the weight. Titanium allows club designers to build larger heads with larger sweetspots – but without the club being too heavy. (Incidentally, this is why virtually all drivers are now made of titanium rather than steel).
By combining ultra lightweight titanium faces with a very heavy metal (typically tungsten) around the outside, designers can produce iron heads which have a greater resistance to twisting on off-centre shots (because the ball is hitting the 'heavy' bit of the club on such shots, it doesn't divert the path of the head as much). But we're getting into Moment of Inertia (MOI) here – which we'll leave for another day.
Suffice to say that irons with titanium heads tend to be very light, very easy to hit, very forgiving – and very expensive. They are aimed primarily at higher handicappers with deep pockets.
They are here Monday-Friday between 8:30am and 5:30pm to offer advice should you require it.


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Blackberry Honey – Visual Novel Review [Revised to Include 18+ Patch]
Blackberry Honey, Visual Novel Reviews, Visual Novels, Yuri
ebi-hime's newest visual novel was released last week. Does her latest work live up to the hype?
Length: Medium (7 – 10 hours – I took 8)
Lewdness: 2/3 (Somewhat Lewd – Infrequent Bouts of Nudity, Passionate Kisses, No On-Screen Explicit Scenes) 3/3 (Lewd – Passionate Kisses, Several Explicit Scenes) [with the 18+ patch installed – you can download that here]
Summary: A lesbian love story set in Victorian England, featuring maids, music, and finding love in unexpected places (Steam store page description).
Review: Just like blackberries, this kinetic visual novel is both sweet and tart. A few aspects are left to the audience's imagination and interpretation due to the game's sharp focus on the main couple at the side characters' expense, but Blackberry Honey remains a pleasant game that provides closure as well as warm and fuzzy feelings.
The aforementioned main characters are Lorina Waugh, the newest maid to be employed at Bly, and Taohua, the mysterious parlor maid who's quite a few years older than Lorina and who is commonly thought of as a witch due to her unusual complexion, eye color, and name.
I suspect some players may initially dislike the main characters. Personally, I wasn't a fan of Lorina's initially snappish behavior towards Taohua at first since Taohua hadn't really meant Lorina any harm. Taohua's conduct towards Lorina later in the story may prove to be off-putting for some, as well. But players need to keep in mind that the best sort of characters are usually the ones who are flawed. A sense of realism is imbued when they struggle and make mistakes and regret their actions.
And eventually, the girls' pasts are revealed and their earlier actions and thoughts are thusly justified, if not excused. It's easy to see why Lorina is distrustful of a stranger's kindness and it's easy to infer why Lorina values freedom and dislikes being told what to do. Lorina and Taohua may not be perfect, but I do like how the two ladies are able to gradually develop as individuals through their bond (which also evolves throughout the story). Love shouldn't immediately solve everything, but having someone to depend on certainly makes things easier. Ah, I said something similar about the main couple in Octave.
Nevertheless, what I've said about their relationship applies because Blackberry Honey portrays a realistic love, which is much appreciated. In other words, they don't fall in love at first sight. In fact, Taohua and Lorina are off to a rocky start at the beginning of the visual novel since Lorina is convinced Taohua is scheming around her while Taohua does sort of toys with Lorina out of morbid curiosity. But eventually both girls realize each other's strong points, which leads to them getting closer, Lorina feeling confused about her sexuality as well as being worried about the sincerity and depths of Taohua's affection, and so on. It's a tumultuous time for both women and it mirrors a more realistic relationship where two lovers are a bit uncertain about the specifics of their situation instead of a more idealistic scenario.
The fact that Blackberry Honey takes place during the Victorian era also helps when it comes to the homophobic lines (that are uttered by side characters) which typically accompanies yuri visual novels. Such developments can seem overdone or orchestrated to inject some easy drama into a story, but such sentiments were probably incredibly widespread at the time. In fact, some of that nonsensical "traditionalism" is alive today, unfortunately. Essentially, the setting of Blackberry Honey makes the scenarios seem more authentic and an actual obstacle the girls have to worry about considering that Lorina is just a lowly maid who could be fired for any sort of petty reason. The same goes for the religious guilt Lorina feels over her "sinful" behavior when it comes to her interaction with Taohua as well as the blatant racism poor Taohua experiences from others.
While Taohua and Lorina really grew on me as the story progressed despite my initial misgivings, the same can't be said about a few specific characters who got me infuriated with their conduct. They provide a considerable amount of conflict within the story since that's their role, but they (being the two older maids Pauline and Isobel) surely were wicked beyond belief. The other spiteful character would be Constance, the 12 year-old daughter of the Lennard family, who is probably the biggest brat I've ever come across in fiction. That being said, we're given some insight as to why she behaves the way she does and I'm left wondering if she was merely lonely and depressed over how the one person she loved was forced out. Perhaps she also held feelings for Lorina considering how she specifically picks on Lorina. A few key moments sprinkled throughout the story gives me that impression, as well. If that's the case, then she really is a pitiable and complex girl.
As for the other characters, there are two governess with minor roles (one was kind yet meek while the other was overly straight-laced) as well as three other maids (Ada, Effie, and Liselotte), two specialists who repair instruments (Theodora and Emilie), and a cook (who plays a relatively minor role outside of doting on Liselotte). They're all charming and layered characters, but I'll leave it at that to avoid excessive spoilers. As a yuri shipper who's beyond saving, however, I'm very suspicious of (and pleased with) Effie's closeness with Liselotte.
There's an Extras menu option after you complete the game and Blackberry Honey doesn't disappoint. You can check out the Gallery option to admire the CG, enjoy the lovely original soundtrack in the Music option, replay entire scenes by accessing the Memories option, and read ebi-hime's thoughts on the game as a whole.
I feel obligated to point out that the OST contains 18 unique songs and includes yuzuki's thoughts (the composer) on each individual piece, which is very enlightening. ebi-hime also chimes in with her reasoning behind using specific classical songs. I wish more visual novels followed suit!! I was also caught off-guard by the beautiful opening song, "Blackberry Honey" (Saki nailed it with the vocals). Needless to say, I'm in love with the OST and I happily purchased the DLC so I can repeatedly listen to the OST while I'm away from my laptop. I really enjoyed how the scenes had such cute and catchy names, too. While I'm at it, can we take some time to appreciate how fancy and detailed and cute the UI is with the swirls and flowers and patterns?
Something that's kept mostly off-screen is the intimate activities that happen between Taohua and Lorina. As for the racy relations between Taohua and Lorina, the audience gets a front-row seat to a handful. According to ebi-hime in her Notes option located in the Extras menu option, said scenes detracted from the story and were originally less than sexy since the euphemisms Victorians used were rather ridiculous – "thatched cottage and "mossy treasure," anyone? (By the way, I highly recommend fans of the game to look through the Notes option after completing the game. Again, very insightful and educational). Some may be disappointed that there's a lack of H scenes, but I'm of the opinion that the series manages to find a good balance between showing and letting the players fill in the blanks. Since the narrative doesn't outline everything they do, the player is free to imagine the specifics regarding the erotic bonding moments the two share, which is rather inclusive! Fanfic writers would be pleased. Therefore, the scenes were more like icing on a cake – a player can throughly enjoy the game even without the 18+ patch installed due to the wonderful writing. That being said, I do believe that ebi-hime did a good job making said moments tastefully sensual. The desperateness, the strong character dynamics, the feeling of giving in to pleasure and a beautiful woman – all of that is captured and then some! Thankfully she didn't opt to include over-the-top metaphors unlike some writers. Well done!
As I mentioned earlier, Blackberry Honey is a kinetic novel. Some players may consider this to not truly count as a visual novel since you don't get to make any choices. However, the story is already full enough as is (although some bits are left unsaid) so I do believe such concerns are immaterial. However, apparently there were supposed to be multiple love interests (such as Ada, the portly, meek, loyal maid) at first! Still, I'm very content with the final product as a whole.
I only have two grips. Firstly, the length of the transitions between scenes seems an instant too long if kept on. However, turning them off sort of makes scene changes seem slightly too abrupt. I also think that some of the CG has Lorina and Taohua looking slightly different compared to other CG or how they're portrayed as sprites. Both of these (very minor) complaints are definitely subjective, however.
All in all, Blackberry Honey is a character-driven narrative featuring a blossoming love between two maids. The two girls have to overcome a considerable age difference, prejudice, as well as homophobia in order to remain together. The visual novel is a solid example of a well-written kinetic novel that will leave you emotionally drained yet satisfied. Some characters may initially come across as being overbearing, but keep an open mind and try to understand them as they're flawed just like actual humans. There's a lack of on-screen erotic moments, but they're very, uh, passionate behind-the-scenes a handful of well-written adult scenes, but the story is definitely strong enough to stand on its own without such engaging content. I really can't recommend the OST enough!!
I know that the summary mentioned how the tale between these two girls featured music, but I'll won't elaborate on how that ties into the story due to spoilers.
In short, the answer to the first question I posed in the review is a resounding Y E S. Pick this one up if you're up for stories set in a Victorian era and if you're a yuri fan. Frilly dresses are hard to turn down, after all, as with quality yuri visual novels.
November 3, 2017 November 3, 2017 Remy FoolBlackberry Honey, visual novel, Yuri
6 thoughts on "Blackberry Honey – Visual Novel Review [Revised to Include 18+ Patch]"
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TwoHappyCats says:
Wow the art for this is super adorable!
Oh, I missed this somehow, sorry!
I really liked the art, too! ebi-hime does good work.
Xolf (@xolf) says:
Would I be right in guessing you played without the free H-patch (available from https://ebihime.itch.io/blackberry-honey – works with the Steam version)?
Ah you're right. I didn't bothered to check this time around. I rather liked how the scenes were left out but I'll have to add the patch, see the scenes, and edit the review. Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!
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P-values have been an issue for statistician for an extremely long time. I've seen situations where entire narratives are written without p-values and only provide the effects. It can also be used as a data reduction tool but ultimately it reduces the world into a binary system: yes/no, accept/reject. Not only that but the binary threshold is determined on a roughly subjective criterion. It reminds me of Jon Stewart's recent discussion "good thing/bad thing". Taking the most complex of issues and reducing them down to two outcomes.
Below is a simple graph (nothing elaborate) that shows how p-values alone don't tell the whole story. Sometimes, data is reduced so much that solid decisions are difficult to make. The graph on the left shows a simulated situation where there are identical p-values but very different effects. The graph on the right shows where the p-values are very different, and one is quite low, but the simulated effects are the same.
P-values and confidence intervals have quite a bit in common and when interpreted incorrectly can be misleading. Simply put a p-value is the probability of the observed data (e.g. ), or more extreme data, given the null hypothesis is true[1, 2, 3, see also Moore's book The Basic Practice of Statistics, 2nd ed. p 321-322].
In conclusion, P-values are useful and can be useful. But we sometimes need to look beyond the test statistic and p-value to understand the data. Below is some code to simulate some extreme datasets.
set.seed(1234) # fix the one sample. However, replicate is randomized. So exact replication of these data not possible. Need a lot and sometimes it doesn't always work so it may need to be rerun.
set.seed(1234) # same as previous seed.
### Find data with the greatest difference in effect but yet the same p-value.
## No real reason for this approach it just helps finding extreme sets of data.
## Need a very high number of simulations to ensure the constraints on effect.match are meet.


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The diamonds in this piece are graded G-H in color (near colorless) and SI1 clarity (slightly included; inclusions noticeable to an experienced grader under 10X magnification).


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Print these four adorable Sloth Valentines with this free download! A cute printable Valentine for friends and classmates—who wouldn't want to get a sloth in their mailbox on Valentine's Day?
Last year it was koalas, this year it's sloths! These sloth valentines are absolutely too cute! Everyone loves a good pun valentine, so let friends and classmates know that you love them "slow" much. And tell that special someone you love them "more than naps." These sloth valentines are sure to bring a smile to anyone's face!
Quick sloth side-story. The other day, I was teaching my boys (age 3.5) about sloths. We watched a few YouTube videos. I then asked them, "Is a sloth fast or slow?" Cal thought for a minute and said, "dey are slow, mama." Then Sebastian chimed in with, "But if you put a sloff on a airplane, it will be fast!" Point goes to Sebastian.
Anyway! Your kiddos will love handing these sloth valentines out to their classmates—so much cuter than store-bought valentines, but so easy to make with your home printer!
For the best quality, print your valentines on your home printer using sturdy cardstock, or take them to your local print shop to be printed on a laser printer (I always find this is the best option as far as vibrancy goes!).
Kids are going to love these printable sloth valentines!
Hi! I was wondering if you had a higher resolution file for the sloths? I was wanting to make a pillow out of it and when I enlarge it it doesn't look good.