text:
Riding My Own Train Set in Japan
By Darron Davies
Train Driver Osaka
I'll let you into a little secret; I never had a train set as a kid.
While this may be a strange and unimportant fact to relate to readers of the Seoul Times, it has some relevance when I think of a recent trip to Japan; for it is there that I discovered, or even rediscovered, an interest in trains.
Before I get to those facts, let me digress.
Some of my friends had train sets when I was a kid- and I found them pretty interesting - yet I was most interested in my 'hot wheels' set.
A friend Neil and I would spend hours immersed in that miniature pastime. I would bring a box full of toy cars to his house- my ammunition - and we would engage in a vehicular contest.
We made all sorts of modifications: I remember the sleek yet weighted sports car that would race down the track, and the fast car with its frame removed.
There were many surprises: the car that we thought would go fast but would only clunk its way down the track. Then there would be the modest car that would race off unexpectedly.
It was in these moments that we learned about expectation and surprise. We had created our own miniature world that would absorb us for hours. Our experiences were metaphors; they would later be echoed in the outside world.
As a five year I loved to visit a Melbourne toy shop called 'Tim the Toyman.' It had a functioning model railway and I enjoyed seeing the landscape in motion. Every kid, I am sure, would have looked the same - eyes wide open; the shopkeeper hoping that our interests would soon return to the toys. I loved
the tunnels and bridges.
What kid doesn't like the joy of a train entering and leaving a tunnel? What kid doesn't enjoy seeing a train go over a bridge?
There was an enjoyment in the scale - the little world- where we could see miniature houses, towns and figurines. I could project myself into that scene, into the miniature. I was in another world. I could explore those little roads, walk through those little houses.
Here I must digress to an interesting documentary I saw in the 1980s, by the French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin, a one time collaborator with the famous director Jean Luc Godard.
The film 'Routine Pleasures' (1986) explores the culture within a club of model train enthusiasts in the United States. We explore their miniature world and how it is a reflection of their desires and perceptions of society. In a memorable irony within this film, in order to gain acceptance from the group,
Gorin placed a small model of himself within the scenery: a curious and odd phenomenon.
I must admit that I didn't have this inclination during a photographic project, in New Zealand, when I created a photo project based on model railway scenery. I chose to be lost in the scenery, using the macro lens to create my own strange miniature world.
I must admit that the enthusiasts — a terrific and interesting group of guys — found it strange that I took little interest in their model trains.
I carry the childhood memory of living near a suburban railway line, in Melbourne, and sitting in the deep recesses of an old railway bridge, watching trains roll by: an exciting and sensual experience.
Then there is my experience in the Wimmera, a northern region of Victoria. A friend Jeff and I (he is a self confessed train buff) would sit on the quiet platform of the Horsham railway station waiting for huge freight trains to appear. The experience was exhilarating. The region is very flat and you can hear the trains coming. Eventually they would roar past, like massive ghosts of the night, trailing up to 80 carriages. Slowly the quiet would return: the still platform, the sound of cicadas, that fresh wind that only the country can offer.
I will never forget the sounds of midnight freight trains shunting in the nearby town of Dimboola. It was like an exotic form of industrial music. It tore into the night like the soundtrack to a science fiction movie.
Travel opens many memories: of the places one has visited as well as childhood memories. I never imagined that a recent trip to Japan would have awakened my child-like interest in trains. Travel is like a bunch of keys. It opens doors to new places, it opens doors within us.
It wasn't until sitting in the front carriage, of a train, traveling between Osaka and Kobe that I realized I could look towards the front of the train, through the driver's compartment.
Listening, on my Ipod, to the beautiful and strangely relevant Angelo Badalamenti soundtrack to the film 'The Straight Story', I discovered the beauty of rail travel in Japan. I became like those train enthusiasts I would see taking photos on railway platforms. I was like a kid within my own model
train set.
The driver's compartment cannot be viewed on Melbourne trains, and to look ahead was like a revelation. It was mesmerizing as I followed the winding of the tracks through a densely populated urban world.
Tracks wound their way beside buildings and through tunnels. Trains passed, pedestrians could be seen patiently standing at crossings. The train would slowly wind its way into stations, commuters waiting in lines, guards waiting officiously. I loved watching the drivers at work- their concentration and their professionalism.
There was a beauty in the shadows and rhythms created by power lines and bridges, shadows that would hit the train - as if entering blue worlds. The train would then emerge into a new world of yellow light.
There was the cute railway station tune, as trains departed, an electronic modification of the 1894 American folksong 'I've been working on the railroad.'
I loved winding my way through the subway of Kyoto. One snaked through subway tunnels- a turn here and you would see a station slowly emerge from the darkness: lonely and small commuters- like miniatures- standing on platforms.
Then there was the subway station, near Kyoto, with its gated platforms. I was curious, wondering why the tracks were hidden behind a wall of glass.
It is then that I started to slowly realize a harsh reality of rail commuting in Japan, a truth that wrenches one out of joy- the extensive suicide rate involving trains.
My friend Kaori had only said to me a few days before how her train was delayed because of an accident — suicide, she presumed — 'It happens all the time. It's usually the reason why trains are late. An accident on one line will soon upset everything.' Japan struggles with its high suicide rate (up to 30,000 people per year), reportedly the ninth highest in the world - and everyday there are incidents on the Japanese rail network.
I wonder what experiences drive people to suicide. Have suicides increased with the current economic crisis? I feel for the victims — their families — commuters who witness or are close to such trauma. How do drivers cope with these events?
I picture myself looking out the front of the train, like a child, lost in the journey. The harsh reality of the world rushes in. Maybe there is a reason why these seats are empty, why people don't look forward. I think of the Sarin gas bombings in the Tokyo subway — how they struck deep into the Japanese consciousness. I think of the tensions of commuting- people crammed in trains like sardines — incidents of molestation that have led to female only carriages.
I remove myself from these thoughts: there is a time to address the realities, another time to withdraw, take rest. We are lucky if we live in our own world where we can give space to the imagination - time to enjoy its beauty. My train continues on its magical journey.
I won't forget my first journey on a bullet train - the Shinkansen. I relished the wooden basket of bento sitting on my knee, how the train sped through the countryside, how the land seemed to turn on itself: what was normally in focus was out of focus, power poles were passed with such speed that there presence was sensed as pulses of light. The journey was exhilarating yet disorientating to my inexperienced senses.
I will never forget the conductor who entered the carriage: his ritual of bowing towards the passengers, the robotic movement of his arms as he did some checks, his graciousness in addressing each passenger. His ritual - a performance - went to the very heart of what I love in Japanese culture.
I recall returning from Kyoto. A fully dressed Geisha girl, probably returning from her tourist run, sat next to me in the carriage. She was in a gorgeous kimono, her face was painted white. Her surreal presence was enough to make locals stare. She immediately pulled out a cell phone and started to text.
I remember the businessman, perhaps a salary man, wheeling his suitcase through a carriage. It was covered in dozens of barcodes, all indicators of his many journeys.
I loved seeing passengers immersed in their secretive books, their covers obscured by the brown paper covers neatly attached by booksellers.
There were teenage girls, in school uniforms, their cell phones and school bags adorned with the most astonishing range of figurines: dozens of small teddy bears and novelty items.
It is amazing how train memories can figure in one's life. I am reminded of three stories that move me about trains: Bill the elderly retired train driver, in Victoria, who enjoyed recreating and driving his own railway line on his computer train simulator program.
Traveling to Melbourne, onetime by train - of all things to get an upgrade to this computer program – Bill was involved in a rare train accident. A car, owned by a group of fisherman had accidentally rolled onto the tracks. Bill was okay. He was flown around the carriage and fortunately there were no deaths or serious injuries.
Then there was my journey on the 'dynamite express' - as it was jokingly called in the 1990s- which traveled between Belfast and Dublin. This train would notoriously have to stop because of IRA bomb threats .Most of these were fortunately false and passengers would eventually climb back on board, in the countryside - once the police and their dogs had left- knowing only too well that it was wise to give oneself an extra hour of travel time : 'this happens all the time.'
Finally there is the moving story of the teenage boy with autism who I once met at an alternative secondary school.
This lad was obsessed by trains and he knew the timetable backwards. Teachers would even approach him to check train times for the afternoon.
In an extraordinary act of compassion, the train company - Vic Rail - at this time, chose to give this lad an official uniform and notebooks so that he could enjoy his role. He relished it. His fascination was seen as a positive interest rather than a medical condition.
So, here I am again sitting towards the front of a train as it is snaking its way back to Osaka. The light is beautiful. It is fading. Light is falling onto and off the driver as we make our way through a corridor of lines.
I have my camera in my hand and I am trying to capture the beauty of the journey - the light falling gently on the nape of the driver's neck (aware that the nape of the neck carries many connotations in Japanese culture) and how my lens can capture the delicacy of the light - how the driver can be seen
to entering different landscapes: landscapes that are external yet could be seen to be internal with the careful jigging of the zoom focus.
I am reminded of the beautiful photograph by Gueorgui Pinkhassov- 'Japan Tokyo 1996 The New Metro.' I also marvel at the delicacy of photos by the under-recognized and under-rated Japanese photographer and artist Imura Kazha.
Like the filmmaker Gorin, I imagine a small model of myself. I pick it up - a small model of a balding man in his mid forties ( made in Japan). I place it towards the front of a train, just behind the driver, on an imagined train track in Kansai, making inexpensive journeys between Osaka, Kobe, Nara and
Kyoto.
I have returned, winding my way past buildings, over bridges- a small figurine looking in the direction of Kobe, alive in his own train set. With a little more imagination I am driving the train, entering the blue, the warm sun creeping up the nape of my neck.
Japan Rail Network (Japan National Tourism Organization):
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/transportation/
trains.html
Rail map of Kansai Japan:
http://japanize.jp/railwaymap.html
Gueorgui Pinkhassov, Japan Tokyo 1996 The New Metro, Magnum photo website
www.magnumphotos.com (Image no: PAR93476)
Routine Pleasures: Jean-Pierre Gorin:
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/
contents/directors/03/gorin.html
Imura Kazha:
http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~kazha/index.html
My photo project: Milltown Chronicle: http://www.darrondavies.com/
Angelo Badalamenti: http://www.angelobadalamenti.com/news.html,
Straight-Story-Soundtrack-audioCD-Angelo-Badalamenti/dp/B001MBIRC4
Journey to River Seven in Worcester
The Beatles Again -- in Osaka, Japan?
The Jazz Rescuers: The Victorian Jazz Archive
The Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
A Simple Walk: Abbey Road Crossing Revisited
Smoking Manners Campaign in Japan
"The Biggest Vending Machine"
What Disasters Teach Us
New Zealand: Peaceful North
Sights and Hidden History
Jazz Cafes Japan
Mr. Darron Davies, who serves as a special correspondent for The Seoul Times, is a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He is a photographer: www.darrondavies.com and works as a specialist in education supporting creative teaching within schools : www.inclueded.net.


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New car registrations in Offaly jumped over 22% in 2016 according to the latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). In 2016, there were 1883 new cars registered in the county, compared to 1538 in 2015.
Throughout Ireland, SIMI statistics show that new car registrations for the year 2016 (146,672) finished 17.5% ahead of 2015 (124,804). The month of December registrations were up 45% (499) compared with the same month in 2015 (344).
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) for 2016 recorded an increase of 18.3% (28,180) when compared to 2015 (23,829). Despite the month of December registering a decrease of -23% (179) in comparison to December 2015 (235). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations in 2016 were up 31.3% (2,873) on the previous year (2,188).
Alan Nolan, Director General, SIMI, "New car registrations for 2016 finished at 146,600 for the full year, making it the highest year for new car registrations since 2008. Despite some slowing in the second half of the year, the numbers are in line with expectations at the start of 2016 and underline the continued growth and buoyancy in the economy.
SIMI figures show that commercial vehicle registrations, which perhaps best reflect the level of activity in the economy, were also significantly up on 2015, with Light Commercial Vehicle registrations finishing 18.3% up and Heavy Commercial Vehicle Registrations 31.3% ahead of last year.


text:
Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction
Seong Mi Park, Chinami Miyazaki, Abhiram Prasad, Charles J. Bruce, Krishnaswamy Chandrasekaran, Charanjit Rihal, Malcolm R. Bell, Jae K. Oh
Background: In patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is clinically important to determine the viability of akinetic segments soon after acute reperfusion therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Doppler tissue imaging can predict myocardial viability in this clinical setting. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with the first acute anterior STEMI with akinetic apical segments were enrolled. Color-coded Doppler tissue imaging was performed. Myocardial velocity and strain values were determined from the septal and lateral walls at the normal basal and akinetic apical levels of the left ventricle on day 1 after percutaneous coronary intervention. The presence of isovolumic contraction of tissue velocity (TVivc) and strain rate (SRivc) were also determined. Results: Twenty patients (mean age 62 ± 15 years; 11 men) returned for follow-up echocardiography to assess wall motion recovery and viability. Ten patients who had recovery of akinetic segments showed lower baseline E/e′ ratios than those without recovery (13.4 ± 5.9 vs 19.1 ± 5.7; P = .04). There was no difference between 19 recovered and 21 nonrecovered apical segments in all TV, SR, and strain values except early diastolic SR (SRe; 0.64 ± 0.35 vs 0.43 ± 0.25 s-1; P = .04) at day 1. With a cutoff value of 0.32 s-1 for SRe, the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of recovery showed the highest sensitivity of 84%. The presence of TVivc had sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 33%, respectively, and for SRivc, sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 63%, respectively. With the combination of SRe and SRivc, specificity was increased to 78%. Conclusion: Patients with functional recovery from anterior STEMI showed better diastolic function, better SRe, and more isovolumic contraction. These parameters appear to be promising predictors for myocardial viability, and SR imaging was found to be a better method than TV imaging for the identification of viable myocardium in patients with STEMIs who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
Published - 2009 Feb
Diastolic function
Isovolumic contraction
Tissue Doppler
10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
Dive into the research topics of 'Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Medicine & Life Sciences 89%
Heart Ventricles Medicine & Life Sciences 13%
Reperfusion Medicine & Life Sciences 13%
ROC Curve Medicine & Life Sciences 12%
Echocardiography Medicine & Life Sciences 12%
Myocardium Medicine & Life Sciences 12%
Park, S. M., Miyazaki, C., Prasad, A., Bruce, C. J., Chandrasekaran, K., Rihal, C., Bell, M. R., & Oh, J. K. (2009). Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 22(2), 183-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction. / Park, Seong Mi; Miyazaki, Chinami; Prasad, Abhiram; Bruce, Charles J.; Chandrasekaran, Krishnaswamy; Rihal, Charanjit; Bell, Malcolm R.; Oh, Jae K.
In: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, Vol. 22, No. 2, 02.2009, p. 183-189.
Park, SM, Miyazaki, C, Prasad, A, Bruce, CJ, Chandrasekaran, K, Rihal, C, Bell, MR & Oh, JK 2009, 'Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction', Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 183-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
Park SM, Miyazaki C, Prasad A, Bruce CJ, Chandrasekaran K, Rihal C et al. Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2009 Feb;22(2):183-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
Park, Seong Mi ; Miyazaki, Chinami ; Prasad, Abhiram ; Bruce, Charles J. ; Chandrasekaran, Krishnaswamy ; Rihal, Charanjit ; Bell, Malcolm R. ; Oh, Jae K. / Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction. In: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2009 ; Vol. 22, No. 2. pp. 183-189.
@article{0b8242f624e24f84adff81ca718881b9,
title = "Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction",
abstract = "Background: In patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is clinically important to determine the viability of akinetic segments soon after acute reperfusion therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Doppler tissue imaging can predict myocardial viability in this clinical setting. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with the first acute anterior STEMI with akinetic apical segments were enrolled. Color-coded Doppler tissue imaging was performed. Myocardial velocity and strain values were determined from the septal and lateral walls at the normal basal and akinetic apical levels of the left ventricle on day 1 after percutaneous coronary intervention. The presence of isovolumic contraction of tissue velocity (TVivc) and strain rate (SRivc) were also determined. Results: Twenty patients (mean age 62 ± 15 years; 11 men) returned for follow-up echocardiography to assess wall motion recovery and viability. Ten patients who had recovery of akinetic segments showed lower baseline E/e′ ratios than those without recovery (13.4 ± 5.9 vs 19.1 ± 5.7; P = .04). There was no difference between 19 recovered and 21 nonrecovered apical segments in all TV, SR, and strain values except early diastolic SR (SRe; 0.64 ± 0.35 vs 0.43 ± 0.25 s-1; P = .04) at day 1. With a cutoff value of 0.32 s-1 for SRe, the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of recovery showed the highest sensitivity of 84%. The presence of TVivc had sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 33%, respectively, and for SRivc, sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 63%, respectively. With the combination of SRe and SRivc, specificity was increased to 78%. Conclusion: Patients with functional recovery from anterior STEMI showed better diastolic function, better SRe, and more isovolumic contraction. These parameters appear to be promising predictors for myocardial viability, and SR imaging was found to be a better method than TV imaging for the identification of viable myocardium in patients with STEMIs who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.",
keywords = "Diastolic function, Isovolumic contraction, Myocardial infarction, Tissue Doppler, Viability",
author = "Park, {Seong Mi} and Chinami Miyazaki and Abhiram Prasad and Bruce, {Charles J.} and Krishnaswamy Chandrasekaran and Charanjit Rihal and Bell, {Malcolm R.} and Oh, {Jae K.}",
doi = "10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018",
journal = "Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography",
T1 - Feasibility of Prediction of Myocardial Viability With Doppler Tissue Imaging Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Anterior Myocardial Infarction
AU - Park, Seong Mi
AU - Miyazaki, Chinami
AU - Bruce, Charles J.
AU - Chandrasekaran, Krishnaswamy
AU - Rihal, Charanjit
AU - Bell, Malcolm R.
AU - Oh, Jae K.
N2 - Background: In patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is clinically important to determine the viability of akinetic segments soon after acute reperfusion therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Doppler tissue imaging can predict myocardial viability in this clinical setting. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with the first acute anterior STEMI with akinetic apical segments were enrolled. Color-coded Doppler tissue imaging was performed. Myocardial velocity and strain values were determined from the septal and lateral walls at the normal basal and akinetic apical levels of the left ventricle on day 1 after percutaneous coronary intervention. The presence of isovolumic contraction of tissue velocity (TVivc) and strain rate (SRivc) were also determined. Results: Twenty patients (mean age 62 ± 15 years; 11 men) returned for follow-up echocardiography to assess wall motion recovery and viability. Ten patients who had recovery of akinetic segments showed lower baseline E/e′ ratios than those without recovery (13.4 ± 5.9 vs 19.1 ± 5.7; P = .04). There was no difference between 19 recovered and 21 nonrecovered apical segments in all TV, SR, and strain values except early diastolic SR (SRe; 0.64 ± 0.35 vs 0.43 ± 0.25 s-1; P = .04) at day 1. With a cutoff value of 0.32 s-1 for SRe, the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of recovery showed the highest sensitivity of 84%. The presence of TVivc had sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 33%, respectively, and for SRivc, sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 63%, respectively. With the combination of SRe and SRivc, specificity was increased to 78%. Conclusion: Patients with functional recovery from anterior STEMI showed better diastolic function, better SRe, and more isovolumic contraction. These parameters appear to be promising predictors for myocardial viability, and SR imaging was found to be a better method than TV imaging for the identification of viable myocardium in patients with STEMIs who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.
AB - Background: In patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is clinically important to determine the viability of akinetic segments soon after acute reperfusion therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Doppler tissue imaging can predict myocardial viability in this clinical setting. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with the first acute anterior STEMI with akinetic apical segments were enrolled. Color-coded Doppler tissue imaging was performed. Myocardial velocity and strain values were determined from the septal and lateral walls at the normal basal and akinetic apical levels of the left ventricle on day 1 after percutaneous coronary intervention. The presence of isovolumic contraction of tissue velocity (TVivc) and strain rate (SRivc) were also determined. Results: Twenty patients (mean age 62 ± 15 years; 11 men) returned for follow-up echocardiography to assess wall motion recovery and viability. Ten patients who had recovery of akinetic segments showed lower baseline E/e′ ratios than those without recovery (13.4 ± 5.9 vs 19.1 ± 5.7; P = .04). There was no difference between 19 recovered and 21 nonrecovered apical segments in all TV, SR, and strain values except early diastolic SR (SRe; 0.64 ± 0.35 vs 0.43 ± 0.25 s-1; P = .04) at day 1. With a cutoff value of 0.32 s-1 for SRe, the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of recovery showed the highest sensitivity of 84%. The presence of TVivc had sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 33%, respectively, and for SRivc, sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 63%, respectively. With the combination of SRe and SRivc, specificity was increased to 78%. Conclusion: Patients with functional recovery from anterior STEMI showed better diastolic function, better SRe, and more isovolumic contraction. These parameters appear to be promising predictors for myocardial viability, and SR imaging was found to be a better method than TV imaging for the identification of viable myocardium in patients with STEMIs who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.
KW - Diastolic function
KW - Isovolumic contraction
KW - Tissue Doppler
KW - Viability
U2 - 10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
DO - 10.1016/j.echo.2008.11.018
JO - Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
JF - Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
National Tertiary Route 405, or just Route 405 (, or ) is a National Road Route of Costa Rica, located in the Cartago province.

Description
In Cartago province the route covers Cartago canton (Aguacaliente, Dulce Nombre districts), Paraíso canton (Orosi district).

References

Highways in Costa Rica

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


And we're back! This is going a lot better then I thought. I wanted to talk about my hair again in my last post and I forgot 🙄 so a few days ago I touched up the purple in my hair! I'm really debating on going to a blonde ombré after this. Let me know… Continue reading Blogmas Day 2!
Guys! I'm doing Blogmas. I'm only doing 10 days of Blogmas because I've been so busy lately. But I've never done this before so I thought it would be fun. I'm not really sure what to write but I thought I would just talk. I'm waiting to head to work in a few hours. Retail… Continue reading Blogmas Day 1!
Hi guys! I just got home from Florida about a hour ago. And I finished unpacking and I thought while I unpack my makeup bag I'll show you what's in it! Keep in mind this is just my makeup bag. I didn't take like any of my toiletries in this bag. And I didn't think… Continue reading What's in my travel makeup bag!


text:
Q: Java Unicode Variable names Devanagari I am trying to code a program where I am trying to provide the variable names in Devanagari Script of Sanskrit. EXample :
class फिल्म
{
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        String गीत = "Songs";
        System.out.println(गीत);
    }
}

When I try to execute this Java code, then it gives me the error
javac program.java

Error
display.java:1: error: illegal character: \0
 ■c l a s s   + ?       2       M       .
             ^
display.java:2: error: illegal character: \0

^
display.java:3: error: illegal character: \0
 {
^
display.java:3: error: illegal character: \0
 {
  ^
display.java:4: error: illegal character: \0

^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

        ^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

                      ^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

                                    ^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

                                              ^
display.java:5: error: class, interface, or enum expected
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

                                                       ^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
         p u b l i c   s t a t i c   v o i d   m a i n ( S t r i n g   a r g s [ ] )

                                                        ^
display.java:5: error: illegal character: \0
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How can i properly execute this code ?

A: Save the file in Unicode encoding, and use
javac -encoding Unicode program.java

to compile it

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Ecumen honors Pearl Anderson, who is 105.
Born: April 14, 1911, in Boyd, Minn.
Ecumen Home Care & Hospice-Litchfield has received a $2,000 grant from Operation Round Up®, the charitable arm of the Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association.
Ecumen honors Adele Strike, a resident of Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, Minn., who is 102.


Written by nangpooh. Date of post: April 15, 2019 April 26, 2018 .
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Tech Teacher Tidbits: New Job, New Blog!
Actually, it's the same blog but it's got a new URL to match my new job. I've just recently become the first elementary tech coach in my district. I'm super excited about this new adventure and I want my blog life to reflect the changes that are happening as well.
Because I wanted to keep the same look and all of my posts, Christi recommended that I edit the URL of Hopelessly Devoted. This made me very happy. It saved me money and more importantly, it saved my work. All she has to do to update my blog is change the Title and fix all of the new links. Of course, I added some new features because I had just saved quite a bit of money. Why not, right?
Then some really great people over at the New England Teacher Bloggers Facebook page helped out with my new identity. A very big thank you goes out to Sally DeCost, Sara Frampton, Jillian Starr, Vera , Bex Mawn, and Jodi Durgin. With Jodi's expert advice and all of their wonderful suggestions, I was able to come up with Tech Teacher Tidbits as my new identity. I love it and would not have gotten there without their help. If any of these ladies are unfamiliar to you, you simply MUST check them out and give them a follow. It will be worth your time, I promise you!
In the meantime, my new URL is www.TechTeacherTidbits.com. The blog still says Hopelessly Devoted because well, when you love a great designer there's a little bit of a waitlist. It's not bad and well worth the wait. I'm really excited to see the changes and updates, though.
Now, I know what your thinking. Are you crazy?! Don't you know you will lose your followers?! The simple answer is yes. The real answer is that I agonized over this for two years and all I can say is that it just feels right to do it now. But here's the thing, I still see my followers. See...?
Anyway, please leave a comment if you know the answer to my question. Are my followers still there? And please consider following me at my new address - TechTeacherTidbits.com.
I just changed my blog name too, and am wondering the same thing about my followers. I follow myself, and I have not been coming up in my daily feed so I worry I may have lost them all. I am anxious to see if someone else knows the answer to this question.
I suggest that you retain the name of your old blog, and put a link on it directing people to your new blog. I did that from my old blog, and can see on my stats that people have been following the link. All the links from Pinterest are going to the old blog, so with the link set up, bloggers can still find the pins on my new blog since all the content transferred over.
I will follow you on this new blog, and hope we can share any tips! Congrats on your new position!
I can also tell you that the number of followers has not changed with your new follow. Not sure if it's just timing or something else altogether. I'll let you know if that changes.
The only thing you'll need to do is contact Blog Lovin' support and have them update your URL for you.


text:
Simplified synopsis
Frequently Asked Questions: SynBio + BioTech Edition
28. November 2020, Virtual Exhibition
The SynBio4Flav Project may have left you with some questions about Synthetic Biology and Bio-technology click here to learn more.
What are biosynthetic pathways?
All organisms synthesize substances that they need for their survival by converting simple compounds into more complex compounds. The conversion happens in several steps, in sequences of reactions called biosynthetic or metabolic pathways. The conversion of simple compounds to more complex compounds requires energy and the presence of specific enzymes that enable the reactions.
What is a bioreactor?
A bioreactor is a vessel, in which biological processes can happen in a controlled way under favourable conditions. They are commonly used for the manufacturing of products that usually involve microorganisms. Bioreactor sizes can range from millilitres up to several cubic metres for application in industrial production. Traditional techniques that involve microbial activities such as brewing beer or the production of wine, are comparable to the bioactive processes in bioreactors.
What would be the benefits of flavonoid production in microbial bioreactor farms?
Microbial farms in bioreactors enable production under highly controlled conditions, for example under optimal temperature and with optimal feed for the microbes. It is considered a clean and efficient way of producing flavonoids instead of growing plants and extracting the small quantities of flavonoids the plants produce. The production can happen locally where flavonoids are needed, so cultivation and transport costs can be avoided. In addition, it represents an option for biological production of flavonoids by living organisms other than plants.
What is downstream processing in biotechnology?
The recovery and purification of substances from natural resources, as well as the disposal of waste and potential recycling of side products is comprised under the term downstream processing. These processes can be very cost-intensive, especially if the yieldable quantities are small, or if complex purification processes are required. The biological production performed by microorganisms in bioreactors under optimised conditions is expected to reduce downstream processing costs.
Can natural organisms actively change their own and foreign genomes?
Active genetic modification strategies have been developed by a wide range of microorganisms to complement cloning, their main way of reproduction. Cloning happens through cell division resulting in identical organisms. It is a material and energy-saving strategy that enables rapid multiplication when environmental conditions are favourable. To enable adaptivity to varying environmental conditions, other strategies for genetic variations have emerged that are independent from reproduction. Bacteria can actively uptake DNA fragments from their environment, or they can selectively transfer some of their own beneficial DNA sequences to other bacteria to enhance their capabilities, such as resistance to antibiotics. This transfer of genes is called horizontal gene transfer.
What is the CRISPR system?
CRISPR is a natural defence strategy of many bacterial species against viral attacks – as part of their immune system. Bacteria store genetic copies of viral DNA within their own DNA to be able to distinguish between beneficial and harmful DNA. When recognizing invading harmful viral DNA, they make it ineffective by cutting it up. The natural bacterial CRISPR system involves a guiding tool to identify the invading DNA and a scissor tool to perform the cut.
Who has discovered the potential of CRISPR for genetic engineering?
The role of the CRISPR system as a natural bacterial defence strategy was initially discovered by Francisco Mojica. Later Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna envisioned the potential of this system for genome editing. They developed a simple and highly precise method that can cut any DNA molecule at a predetermined position. Since their first publication on CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors in 2012 their method has contributed to multiple advancements in life sciences. They were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.
What are promising potentials of synthetic biology in the field of medical applications?
Completely new medical strategies are expected with the potential of synthetic biology. The envisioned applications comprise the treatment of inherited diseases, prevention and treatment of cancer, engineered tissues, new diagnostic methods, engineered therapeutic microbes, the development of biosensors, and many others.
What is a very successful example for medical applications of genetic engineering?
Probably one of the most prominent examples of genetic engineering for medical applications is the production of insulin for diabetics by genetically modified microorganisms since 1982. The acknowledgement of genetic engineering for this medical application lowered the costs of insulin production substantially and made it increasingly affordable worldwide.
What are promising potentials of synthetic biology regarding climate change combat?
The effects of climate change may impact the health of many living organisms. Unusual changes in the environment cause imbalances that go hand in hand with weaker immune systems, resulting in higher susceptibility for diseases. To ensure food security worldwide new types of crops are being researched that shall be more resistant to drought, pests and moulds. In addition, biosensors could help to reveal environmental contaminations at early stages enabling effective countermeasures to prevent severe damages.
What are examples for agricultural applications of genetic engineering?
The goals of genetic modification in farm plants include the improvement of resistance to diseases. Introduced resistances may also compensate for resistances lost along with selective breeding. Other goals are directed towards the enhancement of food sources with health promoting substances that are locally not available or are only available in very small quantities. 'Golden rice' represents an improved food source intended to fight lethal illnesses and blindness of humans in areas that lack sufficient Vitamin A in common food.
Why is standardisation important in synthetic biology?
Standardisation is generally intended to facilitate communication and production. Synthetic biology works with standardised genetic parts and clusters of DNA that enable specific functions when inserted in microorganisms or cells. The design and engineering-based approach of synthetic biology allows interchangeability and modularity, that shall speed up and reduce the costs of DNA synthesis.
What are debates on genetic engineering in Europe about?
In the European Union, the commercial application of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is highly regulated, which is stricter than in many other parts of the World. Nonetheless, research in the field of genetic modification is advancing worldwide, with envisioned applications for many fields. Medical applications appear to gain higher approval than agricultural applications. Whilst genetic engineering is considered too high a risk by opponents, proponents plead for easing GMO regulations and point out the economic and social costs of an anti-GMO stance.
The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no 814650.


text:
Home >> Passcodes and Self-Incrimination (Part 5)
November 15, 2020 by Fred Sisto
Passcodes and Self-Incrimination (Part 5)
Justice Solomon continued in relevant part: Here, the State correctly asserts that the lawfully issued search warrants — the sufficiency of which Andrews does not challenge — give it the right to the cellphones' purportedly incriminating contents as specified in the trial court's order. And neither those contents — which are voluntary, not compelled, communications — nor the phones themselves — which are physical objects, not testimonial communications — are protected by the privilege against self-incrimination. Therefore, production of the cellphones and their contents is not barred. But access to the cellphones' contents depends here upon entry of their passcodes. Communicating or entering a passcode requires facts contained within the holder's mind. It is a testimonial act of production.
The inquiry does not end there, however, because, if the foregone conclusion exception applies, production of the passcodes may still be compelled. To determine the exception's applicability, the Court first considers to what it might apply — the act of producing the passcodes, or the act of producing the cellphones' contents through the passcodes. The relevant Supreme Court cases explicitly predicate the applicability of the foregone conclusion doctrine on the fundamental distinction between the act of production and the documents to be produced. The documents may be entitled to no Fifth Amendment protection at all — and, indeed, they were not so entitled in Fisher — but the act of producing them may nevertheless be protected.
In light of the stark distinction the Court has drawn between the evidentiary object and its production — a division reinforced even in those cases where the foregone conclusion exception was held not to apply — it is problematic to meld the production of passcodes with the act of producing the contents of the phones, an approach that imports Fourth Amendment privacy principles into a Fifth Amendment inquiry. The compelled act of production in this case is that of producing the passcodes. Although that act of production is testimonial, passcodes are a series of characters without independent evidentiary significance and are therefore of minimal testimonial value — their value is limited to communicating the knowledge of the passcodes. Thus, although the act of producing the passcodes is presumptively protected by the Fifth Amendment, its testimonial value and constitutional protection may be overcome if the passcodes' existence, possession, and authentication are foregone conclusions.
An interesting point that the State could make concerns fundamental fairness. The execution of a valid search warrant should not turn on the cell phone manufacturer. That argument applies here since iPhones are far more difficult for law enforcement to access then phones with an android operating system.


His case has been a tough one with regards to a minor. Teenagers are children after all and they lack the proper understanding of how the world works. Think: getting arrested in front of his friends in school and taken away in a police car to a police station, to having your mom being informed by the police about what you've done. The pressure alone would be enough to crush the spirits of any growing adolescent.
What I strongly disagree with is some news sites saying that it was the refusal to be allowed to attend a school camp that triggered it off.
It seemed that Benjamin could have explained himself much more clearly when being dealt with. Placing myself in his shoes as a 14 year old boy, I too would think that my entire future was ruined. Without anyone to explain anything I would believe that judgement has already been passed and furthermore I would believe that no matter what I say or do, nobody would believe the words of a 14 year old child.


When you stay at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Racine Harbourwalk in Racine, you'll be on the waterfront, within a 10-minute walk of Reef Point Marina and Hot Shop Glass. Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. Planning an event in Racine? This hotel has 4000 square feet (372 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.


Maps Trip, Download this wallpaper for free in high resolution. Maps Trip was posted in March 2, 2018 at 12:48 pm and This Maps Trip Wallpaper has viewed by 269 users. If you wanna have it as yours, please click full size and you will go to page download in full size, so you just choose the size above the wallpaper that you want in "Download", Click it and download the Maps Trip Wallpaper.


So it seemed only natural that at this time of the year, brands should look backwards at their failings, forward to the clean slate of 2014, and set themselves some New Year's resolutions -- which I am delighted to put forward on their behalf.
1.	Resolved! Stop asking so damn much.
From Facebook to Twitter, it seems like every social media manager has been trained to generate engagement by continuing annoying people about their preferences. This McDonad's Tweet is just one example of a deluge of feeble attempts to provoke a response. It's like the entire consumer economy is chanelling the annoying parent who can't stop asking "What happened in school today." Yeah, and we know how far that gets them.
Brands need to recognize that barraging consumers for responses is eventually self-defeating.
2.	Resolved! Recognize that the sun doesn't rise and set on your brand.
Social media creates a dangerous solipsism, where your brand is the center of the universe, and the rest of the world revolves around it. The disastrous Spaghetti Os Pearl Harbor Day Tweet, one of the year's biggest Twitter fails -- featuring the corpulent little brand icon proudly holding an American flag, blissfully unaware of the death and destruction on Omaha Beach he is celebrating -- is self-centeredness in extremis. But lesser violations happen every day.
3.	Resolved! Calling it innovation doesn't make it so.
The problem with innovation inflation is that its risibility undermines consumer trust at the same time as it creates a false sense of accomplishment inside your organization, elevating mediocrity so that no one knows the difference between a quantum leap and a superficial step. Would be far more effective to say "We wouldn't call our 'Gone Nutty' Pop Tart an innovation, but if you love Pop Tarts and peanut butter, it's modestly astounding."
4.	Resolved! Stop hiding your CEO.
Why the opacity when it comes to CEOs of consumer product companies, why the remoteness? You have millions upon millions of customers who are interested in who's running the companies they support. But LinkedIn recently ranked the top 60 CEOs on social media, and there's not a single one present from the consumer world. Why should only tech CEOs, venture guys, celebs like Branson and Murdoch and the occasional straggler -- like the CEO of the engineering consultancy AMEC -- dominate? What a lost opportunity.
Whether it's P&G or Coca-Cola or Church & Dwight or Wrigley's, the invisibility of the boss is stunning. That's particularly dumb given that most CPG companies target women, and all the latest research consistently shows that the female brain is wired to connect the hemispheres that manage the interplay of logic and intuition -- which may make an emotional connection to leadership all the more valuable.
If you have questions or complaints regarding our Data Use Policy or practices, please contact us by mail. If you are located in the U.S. or Canada, our mailing address is Facebook Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
6.	Resolved! Big shouldn't pretend to be small.
The trend line is so clearly in favor of the small, the scrappy, the artisanal and the challenger brand that our giant, lumbering behemoths can feel insecure, immensely un-cool. So un-cool, in fact, that they might be tempted to cozy up to the consumer by adopting the affectations and mannerisms of products like the Best Made Company's American Felling Axe or small batch Brooklyn Gin. We see that pretend chumminess all the time.
That's a mistake. The consumer landscape is not a monoculture. Big brands have a role and they should be proud of what they can do. Who else other than Wal-Mart could have taken the responsibility of bringing water and other supplies to New Orleans after Katrina? America has big problems that only big entities can address. What GE is doing with off-the-grid energy production is just as cool as bringing back our axe industry.
7.	Resolved! I will explore in public.
Your brand doesn't have to know everything. The opposite. It should always be learning. It should have a visibly insatiable curiosity to discover more. There are social channels and blogs and other platforms to reveal how you think about your own business, about people who interest you, about subjects that have no relationship to what you offer other than the fact that they mean something to you.
This is virtually impossible for traditionally trained, claustrophic brand people to understand. If you sell socks, why should anyone care about your passion for switchel? Well, maybe because switchel is just interesting, a fascinating, richly-historical Vermont drink, and maybe because people who are care about such things are passionate people who make more interesting socks. And maybe because brands that have enough confidence in their consumers to take an excursion will create a special kind of loyalty.


text:
Elite Status
Reverse Bonvoyed: Marriott Once Again Offering Status Soft Landings
Stephen Pepper
Before the pandemic, Marriott offered a soft landing for members who didn't manage to earn as high a status as they'd earned the previous year. It initially looked like they'd stopped that in 2020, but COVID caused them to reverse course and they instead went one step further by offering status extensions, as did other hotel chains.
They recently posted an update on their website to advise that only formerly Ambassador members who didn't achieve that status level again during 2022 would get a soft landing. That meant Ambassador members who didn't achieve 100 nights + $20,000 spend last year would get Titanium status through February 2024. That update also stated that all other elite members would only get the status they earned – no soft landings for them:
As part of Marriott Bonvoy's annual business processing, all other Elite Members with a status expiration date of February 2023 that did not achieve a higher Elite Status or renew their existing Elite Status during 2022 will be downgraded in early March 2023.
Marriott has once again reversed course and is offering soft landings for members who didn't earn the same level of status that they'd enjoyed in 2022.
If you didn't hit 75 nights with Marriott last year, you'll still get to enjoy Platinum status through February 2024
Jonathan in our Frequent Miler Insiders Facebook group spotted this tonight. That previous page on Marriott's website stating there'd be no soft landings for non-Ambassador members is still there, but there's now an additional page stating there will be soft landings.
Each year, Marriott Bonvoy works to ensure that all Members' Elite status reflects all previous year's qualifying activity.
In January 2023, all Members will have their 2022 loyalty activity evaluated as follows:
Members who achieved their existing Elite status again in 2022 will have their current status renewed through February 2024.
Members who did not re-achieve their existing Elite status in 2022 will be offered one tier below their current status through February 2024. These members will see their new status starting in March 2023 and can enjoy their existing status through February 2023.
Members who achieved a higher Elite level during 2022 already have a status expiration date of February 2024.
That means that if you didn't achieve status that was the same or higher than before, you'll receive the following from March 2023 to February 2024:
Ambassador will become Titanium
Titanium will become Platinum
Platinum will become Gold
Gold will become Silver
That's great news for my wife's account. In 2021 I wrapped up Titanium status on my account early in the year, so we funneled future stays to her account and managed to hit 75 nights on hers too (some of which were credit card nights and others which were the free nights they gave all members based on their previous year's status level). I earned 75 nights on my account again in 2022 to retain Titanium status, but she only had one or two nights on her account beyond the elite nights from her Marriott card. That meant she was due to drop to Gold status (received courtesy of her Amex Platinum card), but this soft landing means that she'll keep Platinum status for another year. That means free breakfast, lounge access and more.
As the update on Marriott's website mentions, these soft landings won't show up on your account until March 2023 because you'll still have your existing status until then.
These soft landings weren't anything we predicted and it's particularly surprising considering they only recently advised that only Ambassador members would get them. Is this a pre-emptive softening up of members before they go full Bonvoy and have an abomination of a devaluation in March? That remains to be seen.
Previous articleMarriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits. Which to pick?
Next article65+ Ways To Earn Miles Without Flying
Stephen Pepper is on an 8 year, 50 state road trip with his wife Shae and their dog Truffles. Finding opportunities to earn miles and points is one of the ways they can afford to do this, so he'll try to help you do the same for your own travels.
[Update: Register by phone] Marriott's Surprisingly Good New Promo: Earn 1k Bonus Points Per Night + Double Elite Nights
Hilton Honors Offering Diamond, Gold & Silver Status Extension With Only 1 Stay
Marriott Chase Offer: Get 10% Back On Up To $570 Spend (Use Worldwide?)
RobN
Bullshit for people that actually earned their status. Marriott could care less about ambassador status. I called their 800# yesterday and the rep was nasty and now it had moved up to $23k
SeanR
Sure would have been nice for them to publicize this earlier! I'm a 2022 Titanium who went out of my way to reach Platinum for 2023. A bit annoying to learn I would have been given Platinum regardless!
Reply to SeanR
this is how Marriott prefers it, LOL
So this Ambassador will fall to Titanium, which it not a soft landing at all because I am LifeTit. Not so thrilling.
Reply to Lexy
I am LT Silver and was Gold in 2022. I really could care less that I am being downgraded for 2023. I usually stay at Fairfield Inn and the breakfast is included for every guest regardless of BonVoy tier level.
Reply to Richard B
Yeah, I can't say I'd notice much difference between Gold and Silver either.
I'm sure there will be some blowback from people who qualified the old fashioned way. I was Platinum in 2022 due to various promos. I had 53 nights in '22 to make me Platinum for '23. I could have done nothing (I'm Marriott Gold due to being United Gold) and gotten Platinum for '23 apparently.
2023 is my 10th year of Platinum or above which will satisfy part of the requirement for LT Platinum. I'm still way short on nights but it will happen in a few years.
SUPER: Marriott Bonvoy gibt Soft-Landing für Statusmitglieder her - You Have Been Upgraded
[…] Danke: Frequentmiler.com […]
Was hoping for lounges to be less crowded and better upgrades in 2023. Maybe in 2024.
Meanwhile, I'm Titanium and worked hard to just make 50 nights this year so I could have Platinum. All that work for nothing because I don't get rewarded for it anymore than the person who did nothing.
Reply to Brad
I'm considering letting Marriott go and going for Hyatt status instead. It's so difficult to get a suite upgrade at any Marriott property. You have to fight tooth and nail, and often I don't get credited my elite nights when I stay at a property and I have to go through a whole process to get them. Devaluation of points, it's just too much. All I really get from Elite status is a free breakfast, late checkout, and lounge access when it's available.
Same here. Got Bonvoyed yet again. It's shameful they published a blatant lie in Dec.
I did the same thing, booked several nights in December to make sure I didn't drop from Titanium to Gold and requalified for Platinum. They got some more points out of me ;(
Let's not read too much into this. This is an isolated event. A leopard doesn't change its spots.
Stvr
Fakeout. Some people wasted money in December as a result.
Reply to Stvr
Exactly, I got screwed big time
I understand your frustration, but if you were willing to spend to maintain status, then that is a calculated move on your part. Basically the same concept as a silent auction. Sure, you might have won the auction with a lower bid, but you were willing to pay more to ensure you got it, and if it was worth it to you in the end, then good for you. Would it have been nice for them to have announced it about a month sooner? Of course, but then they wouldn't have made any extra revenue from status chasers 🙂


The Christmas Singalong was a great success today.
Congratulations to all the boys and girls on their excellent performances.
A special thanks to all the parents who came and made the event so special for the children.


In case you hadn't heard... CNz launched our 2010 theme at the recently held "VICTORY" fete in Toronto.
So for 2010 CNz will be playing... "SPARROW... D'LEGEND"
A tribute to a living legend in soca, the "Calypso King of the World", in the form of costumes as only CNz can do it based off of the music catalogue of the Mighty Sparrow.
Pure madness in 2010 to the music of Slinger Francisco!!!!
See you in 2010... Saturday 1st May, 2010... CNz band launch!!!!


Coaches, horses and victory to the Seagulls over the Redback Spiders.
Rumour has it that this scoreboard was once at Punt Road, Richmond. If so, it has some history. I didn't have much time to follow-up the rumour, let alone take some photographs. I managed a quick squizz inside in-between the two FIDA games there on Sunday 17 May.
For a match report of the senior FIDA game see our partner site, australianrules, founded and edited by the esteemed Les Everett.
Scoreboard Pressure first reported on Ringwood in 2013, via a dedicated FIDA executive. It was a treat to visit the ground myself. Especially on a sunny late autumn day.
FIDA is the Football Integration Development Association, a league for players with intellectual disabilities.
For Punt Road scoreboards (and much more about the Tigers' home ground), take a few minutes to look at The Holy Boot's letter of love to the Punt Road ground.
Hey Vin, the more I look the more i am sure it's the same scoreboard which was I believe only used for cricket at the ground for a fairly short time. Looking at two images of an old scoreboard in my punt road post, you can see the set out is the same (box where people sit etc.) yet it was clad with ads.
However also looking at the innards of the Jubilee board looks very similar to that lying on the hill at punt road, also in my blog. Not 100% conclusive but I'd say it's in the 90s! And cheers again for the plug!
Methinks The Holy Boot and other Richmond faithful may need to make a pilgrimage to Ringwood, before the scoreboard is replaced/converted to an electronic thingamajig.


text:
Q: Solving the inequality $-1<\frac{2}{x}$
What is the range of $x$ for inequality $-1<\frac{2}{x}$ ?

My attempt is as follows:
$$-1<\frac{2}{x}$$
$$-1\cdot{x}<2$$
Multiplying by $-1$ on both sides, which changes sign, we get:
$$x>-2$$
So according to this resultant equation lets put some value of x into the first equation.
Let's take $x=-1$
$$-1<\frac{2}{-1}$$
$$-1<-2$$
I am not able to understand what is wrong here, why am I getting contradictory result when I put values of $x$ in the original question.

A: For $x>0$ we get $$-x<2$$ so $$x>-2$$
For $$x<0$$ we get $$-x>2$$ so $$x<-2$$

A: The following step
$$-1<\frac{2}{x} \implies -1\cdot{x}<\frac{2}{x}\cdot{x}=2$$
is correct ony for $x>0$.
Otherwise we need to reverse the inequality sign.

A: $$-1<\dfrac2x\iff\dfrac{x+2}x>0$$
$\iff x(x+2)>0$
$\implies x>$max$(0,-2)$
Or $x<$min$(0,-2)$

A: We can multiply both sides by $x^2$ since $x^2 \geq 0$, so the sign won't change after multiplying both sides by $x^2$.
$$\begin{aligned}
-1 &< \frac{2}{x}\\
-x^2 &< 2x\\
x^2 + 2x &> 0\\
x(x+2) &> 0\\
x > 0, &\quad x < -2
\end{aligned}$$
Therefore, the range of solutions is $x \in (-\infty, -2) \cup (0, \infty)$.

A: The simplest way: $$\frac{2}{x} >-1 \Rightarrow \frac{2}{x}+1>0 \Rightarrow \frac{x+2}{x} >0 \Rightarrow x(x+2)>0 \Rightarrow x<-2~or~x>0$$

A: When you go from
$-1 < \frac{2}{x}$
to
$-x < 2$,
you're assuming that $x$ is positive since multiplication by a negative number flips the inequality sign. So when you have $x = -1$(or simply $x < 0$), you will have
 $-x > 2$ instead of $-x < 2$.

A: THE GIVEN INEQUALITY HAS GOT RANGE AS X<-2 AND X>=0.
Reason for it is
                          2/X >-1.
                         Implies two cases 1) if 2/X >0.
                                                               Implies X>=0
                                                           2)if -1<2/X<0.
                                                               Implies X<-2.


text:
Study: To fix economy, invest in roads and schools, not tax breaks
by Keith M. Phaneuf
While a new academic study finds that New England states can best grow their economies by choosing infrastructure and education investments over business tax breaks, Connecticut's gubernatorial candidates say it could take a mix to revitalize the state.
The report, written by a research professor at the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute, concluded state and local infrastructure projects are particularly effective at creating jobs, both in the short- and long-term, while the bulk of jobs reportedly produced by tax incentives would have been created regardless of these policy changes.
"Instead of trying to lure firms with deals and lower corporate taxes, an approach to economic development that builds the skills of the current and future workforce, improves the physical infrastructure of regions and makes communities more attractive places for families and firms represents a more effective use of a state's scarce resources," Professor Jeffrey Thompson, a specialist in labor economics and public finance, wrote in his report.
Infrastructure investments are particularly beneficial for New England, where the roads, bridges, ports, water treatment facilities and energy production and transmission networks businesses rely on have suffered from state and local investments below the national average for nearly a decade and a half.
The state Department of Transportation projected earlier this year that a $926.4 million gap exists between the cost of planned highway, bridge and transit projects for the next five years, and the level of projected available funding needed to upgrade an aging, overcrowded network.
State and local infrastructure projects are particularly effective in the short-term, Thompson wrote, because the leverage additional federal aid and often private dollars, and rely heavily on local workers, equipment and raw materials.
On average, state infrastructure investments alone in Connecticut will produce 11.6 new jobs per $1 million invested, and a 20 percent match in federal spending would boost the number to 14.1 jobs, the report estimates.
The return on education and other worker skills-related programs aren't as immediate as those tied to infrastructure, but they still offer more guaranteed results that those sought through tax incentives, the report states.
A 2003 study of community college students in occupational and vocational training programs in Connecticut and 11 other states showed their average earnings were $400 more per quarter than students who didn't receive that training or go on to a higher level of education, Thompson noted.
Another study found training grants in Massachusetts launched just over a decade ago helped community colleges and private employers to create thousands of export-related jobs at a cost of less than $9,000 per job, he added.
By comparison, Connecticut and its neighbors shell out huge dollars annually for tax breaks, with a large portion at least partially directed toward businesses.
Connecticut has nearly $350 million in corporate tax breaks on its books, according to the legislature's Office of Fiscal Analysis. Just over two decades ago, it had $3 million worth of corporate tax credits and exemptions.
Massachusetts has seen similar growth, jumping from $1.25 billion in economic development tax incentives in 2002 to $1.7 billion now, the Thompson report states.
But Thompson argues that the net benefit of these state credits is limited by its very nature.
"If one region lures jobs through tax incentives at a neighbor's expense, there is no net benefit to the region or the county," he wrote.
A 2008 study by a San Francisco Federal Reserve bank economist found that nearly all of the resulting increase comes at the expense of reduced spending in other states, and typically leads to a pattern of competing, reciprocating incentive programs between neighboring states.
Both of the major-party candidates in Connecticut's governor said they largely agree with Thompson that tax incentives should not be a primary tool, but added they aren't ready to leave it out of the tool box entirely.
"Generally these ideas for offering tax incentives for companies to come here or stay here too many times turn out to be not such a good investment." Republican Tom Foley said. "We already have a lot of assets here.
Foley carved out one important exception, and that was to offer no credits to small businesses, a group he has argued is both struggling and crucial to the state's economic recovery.
Democrat Dan Malloy expressed similar reservations, adding that tax incentives could drain crucial resolves needed to bolster other programs such as transportation enhancements.
But Malloy said Connecticut still has to make some strategic investments, such as offering both incentives and developing "first class research facilities" at locations like the University of Connecticut Health Center, to promote stem cell research and other cutting-edge bioscience technologies.
Third-party candidate Tom Marsh, is reluctant to back any tax incentives. "I'm not a big believer in offering special incentives to businesses," he said. "It kind of creates a fake economy."
But Marsh found common ground with both Foley and Malloy in agreeing Connecticut's next governor must review all of the existing business tax breaks, including more than $3 billion in sales tax exemptions.
Those that are not protecting jobs and providing necessary relief to a broad base of consumers need to be repealed, Marsh said.
Connecticut Business and Industry Association economist Peter Gioia, and UConn economist Fred V. Carstensen, who heads the Connecticut Center of Economic Analysis, also cautioned against any blanket ban on tax incentives.
"You need to create an aura of certainty and confidence in the business community," Gioia said, adding that doesn't necessarily require adding new tax breaks, but it does involve controlling government spending and avoiding tax hikes, adding that cancelation of a wide array of existing breaks would be viewed as a tax increase by another name.
Carstensen said that while investments in transportation and education are crucial to Connecticut's economic future, poor decisions can be made in these areas as well.
State government has invested billions of dollars since the mid-1990s on capital projects at state colleges and universities but Carstensen said it has allowed spending on academic programs to dwindle over the same period.
"We have fewer faculty (at UConn) now than we did in 1995," he said. "We have an engineering school that is woefully inadequate compared to the needs of the sector. It's all about making smart investments."
Keith M. Phaneuf
Connecticut's $90M lobbying industry has a new player: former Speaker Joe Aresimowicz
Former House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz is becoming a lobbyist, but a revolving-door law limits him for a year.
Spiking tax revenue will wipe out state budget deficit, analysts say
Projected state revenues skyrocketed by $1.7 billion Friday, positioning officials to balance the next state budget without tax hikes.
Judge approves shorter sentence for convicted murderer turned prison mentor
by Kelan Lyons
The DOC could start screening Clyde Meikle in July for discharge to a halfway house.
Without vocal dissent, Senate confirms Justice Andrew McDonald
The state Senate acted quickly Friday to confirm Andrew J. McDonald to a second term on the Supreme Court.
Funding to fix CT's roads and bridges is drying up, and officials don't have a solution
by Keith M. Phaneuf and Kasturi Pananjady
Connecticut's transportation building program is on a financial diet after a five-year ramp-up after lawmakers rejected tolls.
Opinion Last votes of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others
by Gary A. Franks
Finally, the election season is over. The historic elections we saw in this cycle were intriguing. The runoff elections for the U.S. Senate in Georgia put a cap on the campaign season. For many people this could be described as a COVID-19 election. I would argue that this was an election influenced by a pandemic but determined by the killing of unarmed Black people with no adequate justice for the Black community.
Opinion Not just environmental problem; Killingly plant is a great target
by Joel Gordes
In 1990, I was one of five legislators to introduce the first climate change legislation that became PA 90-219, An Act Considering Climate Change, the most popular bill of that session. Back then I considered climate change a national security issue… and I still do.


TRACK MAKER / COMPOSER ..
Avec Avec is the solo project from Osaka.
In 2007,released some remixes and mashups on the net.
He made his first mark on the Japanese underground music scene as a member of the duo Sugar's Campaign, and in 2011 began producing solo tracks under the name Avec Avec.
Mixing all aspects of electronic music into his productions, but focusing on the electro-bass found in some of the best 80's synth-pop, Avec Avec released a number of bootleg, compilation, and remix tracks throughout his first year to universal acclaim.
His remixes for bands like Golf, Seiho, and Brothertiger, livetune, Baffalo Daughter, as well as bootlegs of Japanese game show and Anime themes earned him a loyal online.
He throws glitch, dubstep, house, hip-hop, and even pop into the mix to create songs that simultaneously sound cutting edge and retro and are almost impossible to not groove to.


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Finally the the collar and front bands are worked in rib pattern back and forth in rows.
76 (82: 86: 92: 96: 102: 108: 112: 118: 122) cm / 30 (32¼: 33¾: 36¼: 37¾: 40¼: 42½: 44: 46½: 48) inches bust circumference at underarm.
Intended to fit with approx. 5-6 cm/2-2½" positive ease at bust.
Sample shown is size S2 with approx. 6 cm/2¼" positive ease at bust using The Plucky Knitter Plucky Sweater (90% merino, 10% Nylon; 247 m/270 y per skein) in colourway Good Ole Days.


Troupe Golden Lion was actually descended from Song Jiang. It comprises 38 people performing Song Jiang formation, plus another 2 persons disguised as lion playing in between. In Chinese tradition, people tended to use different creatures to symbolize something particular. For instance, dragon symbolizes "emperor", phoenix symbolizes "eternity", Grus or turtle symbolizes "longevity" and lion symbolizes "power". So the presence of lion would make the troupe look more dynamic and spirited.
The "Lion" which was played in Xigang was different from those in China、HongKong or north part of Taiwan. Firstly, it's not that furry as compared to China's or HongKong's lions; secondly its face was red with a look more like wrathful Buddha; thirdly its motion was fast and furious, mostly engaged in combat or interaction with their Song Jiang troupers.


text:
Seeking New Sounds t...
Seeking New Sounds to Say YES to
Performances and Artists
When former core members of mythic rock band YES reunited for a 2016 tour, it wasn't exactly for the sake of their art, confesses guitarist Trevor Rabin.
"To be frank, it was completely business inspired," Rabin says of initially regrouping with iconic frontman Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman. "It wasn't an idea from the band. The managers thought this would be a big business opportunity."
Fortunately – "the tour turned out to be good," he says with a laugh. "We found new ways of playing the old music, so it felt very fresh, very new."
This unexpected musical gelling, on top of the wild popularity of the 2016 tour, ended up sparking an all-new national tour in 2017 that hits The Smith Center stage on August 31.
This time, the tour comes all from the heart, with Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin embarking on the creation of all-new sounds.
"It's glorious," Rabin says. "There hasn't been one night we haven't gotten off stage and hugged each other and thought, 'This is like stealing, we're having so much fun.'"
Music for the Big Screen
As they discovered on their initial reunion, each artist's hiatus from the band had given them time to unearth new musical interests that lent to fresh sounds, Rabin says.
He in particular has explored an entirely different career composing more than 40 movie scores, including "National Treasure," "Remember the Titans," "Gone in 60 Seconds" and "Bad Boys II."
Rabin's early musical training is in orchestration, he explains, and film scores provided an ideal outlet for him.
"Every one has good moments and bad moments," he says of his movie scores. "When the bad moments happen, I hope the sound effects are really loud."
Rebuilding Musical Muscles
The driving purpose behind the artists' current collaboration is pursuing new music, Rabin says.
"I had no desire to go back on the road and be doing old stuff again," he says. "We are very involved in getting new stuff together."
He was thrilled to discover this was possible during the initial reunion tour, he says, especially working with Wakeman, who hadn't performed with the original band at the same time as Rabin.
"What made the reunion extremely worthwhile was Rick and I got on really well both musically and personally," Rabin says. "That's part of the reason this new tour came together."
With a focus on starting fresh, the band plans to release new songs one at a time that showcase a new conceptual style, he says.
Not using any set formulas, which Rabin has "never liked," the band hopes audiences will be open to a break from their classic hits.
"We have no business aspirations this time," Rabin says. "It really is all about the music."
"YES Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman" was a part of the 2017-2018 season.


We have the pleasure of attending and supporting the Student Nationals in Nottingham, 22nd to 23rd April, after a great weekend last year in Manchester.
We'll be around the whole weekend with all the usual All Rolled Ups, dice trays and gaming accessories – as well as whatever else we can manage to squeeze into the car!
We're really excited about supporting this event. It proved a very exciting weekend last year and we had the chance to display our product to a lot of new customers – as well as meeting a couple of long-time supporters with their First Generation bags.
The demands of preparing for the event mean that any Made to Order items will likely be delayed – and if you order any item not In Stock fulfilment will be delayed until the end of April.
You can expect the standard period of turnaround for In Stock items.