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Seven Development Directions for the Smart ERPs of the Future
by Sanjeev Kapoor 03 Mar 2020
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have always been at the heart of the enterprise IT infrastructure. ERP systems enable modern enterprises to create a unified and consistent view of their business processes based on a single technology platform. In this way, ERP systems contribute to integrating and optimizing business processes, while at the same time facilitating the business management in making optimal decisions. For more than twenty years, ERP systems have been evolving in terms of their architecture and functionalities. Early monolithic systems that ran on mainframe computers have been gradually replaced by client-server and later by web-based multi-tier ERP applications. Likewise, modern ERP platforms are offering opportunities for integration with other systems, such as industrial automation platforms and other business information systems like CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and SCM (Supply Chain Management) systems.
Nowadays, the landscape of ERP solutions remains dynamic and constantly evolving. ERP vendors are enhancing their products with novel features in order to keep up with evolving business requirements. Such requirements stem from the need to integrate new technologies (e.g., cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI)), to support new processes (e.g., intelligent asset management and predictive maintenance) and to keep track of trends in employment and work (e.g., mobility trends). The more one understands the main business and market trends, the better he/she can predict the future evolution of ERP systems.
Read Also: Enterprise Applications Integration: Making the right choices
1.Deploying ERPs in the Cloud
For nearly a decade, ERP vendors have been developing and releasing cloud-based products. ERP deployments in the cloud benefit from the scalability, flexibility and pay-as-go characteristics of cloud computing. Nevertheless, there are still many on-premise cloud deployments, especially in sectors (e.g., manufacturing) that are quite conservative against the adoption of new IT technologies. In the coming years, the migration of legacy systems in the cloud will be continued and future ERPs will be mostly cloud based.
2.Consumerization and Popularization of ERP Systems
Legacy ERP systems are in many cases based on obsolete technologies and offer old-fashioned interfaces to their users. As users are increasingly getting acquainted with IT technologies and applications, they ask for more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. This will give rise to the specification and implementation of a range of consumer-oriented features in future ERPs. The latter will provide "look and feel" that resembles modern web applications rather than conventional ERP platforms.
3.Mobility Support
Nowadays, most employees have their smartphone or another mobile device (e.g., tablet) in the workplace. Future ERP systems will be increasingly delivering their key functionalities through mobile apps. Such mobile apps will o provide opportunities for immediate access to ERP data and resources. As a prominent example, mobile apps will enable manufacturing workers to respond in real-time to changes in the production, as well as to cope with quality management and supply chain management issues (e.g., shortage of materials). Moreover, mobile apps will offer employees the option of accessing information (e.g., production schedules and financial information) regardless of time and location. Therefore, the next generation of ERP products will make provisions for supporting mobile workers in accessing resources and solving problems in real-time.
4.Internet-of-Things (IoT) Integration
Modern IoT platforms are collecting and processing field data, as a means of optimizing business processes based on data from the physical world. For example, the deployment of various sensors (e.g., vibration, temperature, acoustic and ultrasonic sensors) on a machine can enable the implementation of condition-based monitoring processes that can significantly improve Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) when compared to legacy preventing maintenance approaches. The implementation of such business processes requires the integration of IoT-based information with ERP data. In the coming years, IoT platforms will become integrated with legacy ERP platforms, in order to increase the accuracy, timeliness, and responsiveness of ERP processes based on real world data. Future ERP platforms will offer APIs for accessing data from sensors and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) (e.g., industrial robots). At the same time, they will offer functionalities that close the loop to the field, such as reconfiguring CPS platforms. Moreover, IoT platforms will provide real-time visibility in warehouses and the supply chain, which will enable ERP vendors to increase the accuracy and the timeliness of their inventory management and logistics processes.
Based on the integration between IoT and ERP platforms, the future ERP will become a centralized point for storing IoT data, while at the same time providing relevant reporting capabilities. The latter will make ERP platforms much more powerful, as they will enable them to provide consolidated, consistent and detailed information in real-time.
Read Also: When IoT meets Cloud
5.Voice Platforms
Users are increasingly taking advantage of speech interfaces in their everyday IT tasks, such as searching for information on the web, setting alarms and initiating phone calls in their smartphone. Products like Siri and Google Assistant are gaining popularity and users every day. Such speech interaction capabilities will be soon provided by ERP products as well i.e. future ERP products will enable their users to interact via speech. The ultimate vision will be to turn legacy ERP functionalities (e.g., reporting tools) into powerful personal assistants of the workers and of the business management of the enterprise.
6.Artificial Intelligence Integration
The advent of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) disrupts the ERP market. ERP products are enhanced with data-intensive functionalities that analyze automatically large volumes of data from the shopfloor, including data from heterogeneous sources such as sensors, machines, automation devices, and other business information systems. Such functionalities enhance ERP with a whole range of new AI-based process maps. The latter will include for example processes for machine fault detection and predictive maintenance, as well as data-driven production planning. Moreover, existing ERP processes are enhanced with AI functionalities towards automatically streamlining production with problems or abnormalities detected in other parts of the supply chain. Likewise, financial and accounting functionalities are enhanced with predictive planning features that leverage historical data to enable advanced decision making. Finally, ERP modules are gradually connected with AI functionalities at the shopfloor such as robotic cells. This connection enables robots and other AI systems to have instant access to production schedules and other master data when performing their autonomous operations.
7.Collaborative Features
Enterprises must operate in a globalized environment, which makes collaboration across geographically distributed teams increasingly important. ERP products are therefore enhanced in terms of their collaborative features, such as tools for computer-supported collaborative work and support for interactions through social media. Furthermore, the range of team management features within modern ERP is enhanced to allow managers to create and coordinate distributed teams within and across different departments of the enterprise. Collaborative features include also integration with social media accounts and messaging platforms, as a means of facilitating workers' communications. Such features are expected to be provided not only as part of the human resources management modules of modern ERPs but also as part of other modules involving production planning (e.g., shift allocation) and supply chain management operations.
Overall, legacy ERP systems will gradually evolve in the above-listed directions to help enterprises adopt and fully leverage digital functionalities empowered by technologies like IoT, AI, and cloud computing. These digital capabilities will accordingly drive significant optimizations in production, finance, accounting, materials management, and human resources management processes. The ultimate result will be a considerable increase in the productivity and competitiveness of modern enterprises. Companies must, therefore, keep an eye on the evolution of their ERPs and plan for the deployment and use of value-added features that will elevate their productivity.
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A bridge takes you from one place to another, and has an above and a below. Typically, the above is light, and the below, dark. Stories unfold. What is below the bridge? Over the Carpenter's Lock sits a disc made of rolled steel plates and coloured glass lenses. It is a temporary bridge for the London Olympics. The experience of crossing the bridge is heightened by the passage of light, colour, rain and people.
The disc is lifted up into the air in the post-Olympics Legacy Park, to reveal the historic lock below. Inside the green basin people bask in the luminous dappled light of the Olympic colours. The bridge becomes a sign and a gathering place for the local community, retaining the memory of the global community that crossed over it during the 2012 Olympic Games.


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Mithali Raj smashes her way to the record books
Achievers By Promita Mukherjee Wed, Jul 12, 2017
Mithali Raj is clearly on a roll at the ICC Women's World Cup 2017, breaking one record after another. On Wednesday, she made her way to the record books once again by becoming the leading run-scorer in women's ODIs. Before the match against Australia began in Bristol in England, the India skipper was trailing English cricketer Charlotte Edwards, who had scored 5,992 runs in 191 matches. Mithali, who was 33 runs short, is now the first ever woman cricketer to touch the 6,000 run mark in ODIs.
Just a few days back, she had effectively shut up a reporter who had asked her to name her favourite male player at the opening dinner and media round table event for the Women's Cricket World Cup. "Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer? Do you ask them who their favourite female cricketer is? I have always been asked who's your favourite cricketer but you should ask them who their favourite female cricketer is," she had retorted.
And in similar fine form, the Indian skipper had opened the ICC Women's World Cup, in England, with a score of 71, setting a world record for the most half centuries by any woman player in the ODIs. It was her seventh consecutive 50.
She's been referred to as the Sachin Tendulkar of women's cricket. We aren't surprised. A video of Mithali calmly reading a book while waiting for her turn to come out to bat before smashing a half ton had earned her the moniker 'Captain Cool'. As captain of the Indian women's side, she now has her own Twitter emoji as part of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) digital tie-up which lets all the skippers have their own Twitter emojis. The emojis can be unlocked by hashtagging the player's name.
Mithali had smashed several other records at the opening match. She not only has the highest number of consecutive fifties now (seven), but also has the highest number of half centuries (47) by any international women cricketer. Her average is the best among women cricketers who have played more than a hundred ODIs. Thanks to her 71 at the opening match of the World Cup, and a 144-run opening stand by Punam Raut (86) and Smriti Mandana (90), India amassed a score of 281/3, the second highest total to be chased down.
Way to go, Mithali! Here's hoping you keep inspiring us.
Next Story : All you need to know about ace cricketer Mithali Raj
Unstoppable Hima Das bags 3 international gold medals in 2 weeks
Vinesh Phogat wrestles her way to the top, wins gold
Anshula Kant becomes World Bank's first woman CFO
Wimbledon 2019: Simona Halep beats Serena Williams to win women's title
Meet Pratiksha Das, Mumbai's first female bus driver

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I have been playing music since age 12. I am now 34. I started with the drums then progressed to guitar because of the melody aspect of guitar. I studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA (USA). Now I create music for people to use as background music. Love hearing my work being used in projects, big or small.


The opossum is very similar to its ancestors, which roamed the giant fern forests with the dinosaurs 50 million years ago.
The ability of the opossum to eat almost anything has helped it adapt to a changing environment. It has survived for eons and is likely to be around for a long time to come.
The hind foot is hand-like with a "thumb" that lacks a claw.
The opossum is a marsupial. This means the young are born very early. After birth, up to 20 bean-size young climb into the fur-lined pouch on the female's belly. Here, they attach themselves to one of the teats for about two months. Any that do not become attached do not live. At about three months of age, they begin to leave the pouch and ride on the female's back, grasping her fur. When 100 days old, they leave the mother.
This "grinning" marsupial would rather run than fight and can climb trees easily. Even if cornered, fighting is the last resort. A cornered opossum usually will roll on its side, open its mouth, and "play dead." Still, with 50 teeth, it can inflict a severe wound.
The opossum nests in any place where it can keep dry and hide from enemies, such as in deserted animal dens, brush piles, tree holes, or openings under old buildings. The preferred habitat is a wooded area near a source of water (stream, pond, lake, or swamp).
In the past 20 years, the opossum has extended its range east to the Atlantic coast, north into Canada, and west to Colorado. It may have reached its northernmost limit; in northern areas, it is common to find opossums with frostbitten ears.
Mating: believed to be monogamous.
Breeding period: February, and again in May when the first litter is weaned.
Gestation period: 12 to 13 days.
Litters per year: usually 2; occasionally 3.
Number of young: 5 to 14 per litter; as many as 20 are born, but the number that survive is limited by the number of teats (11 to 14) in the mother's pouch.
Adult weight: 4 to 15 pounds.
Movement: random, with no fixed home range; some spend their lives within 40 acres, while others may wander more than 2 miles in one night.
Typical foods: major food is carrion; other foods include insects, fruits, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and bird eggs.


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Our Medieval City! The First Jewish Community in Vienna
We are looking forward to welcome you at our new permanent exhibition "Our Medieval City! The First Jewish Community in Vienna" from March 15, 2021. More
Little Vienna in Shanghai
Shanghai, the "City upon the Sea," represented the last hope for refuge.More
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Hans Kelsen and the Elegance of the Austrian Constitution
On the 100th anniversary of the Austrian constitution, the exhibition pays tribute to its architect and presents his life and work.More
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Yevgeny Khaldei. Photographer of liberation
The exhibition presents works by Yevgeny Khaldei, who accompanied the Red Army as an official war reporter during the liberation of Vienna.More
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This colorful art piece is across the street from the Beach in Santa Barbara, CA. I have driven past it before and wanted to photograph it, but the traffic and timing was never right. On my way up to Morro Bay last week I drove by again, and made a quick turn to get to a good spot to shoot it. Very glad I did this time!


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The Campaign Builders' Guild > Forum > Campaign Creation > Homebrews > Great Lakes Earth Map
Author Topic: Great Lakes Earth Map (Read 1487 times)
JohnWDaileyGLE
Great Lakes Earth Map
In the event anyone asks--dark brown are the mountains, light brown are the resulting uplands and black are the original extent of flood basalt lava provinces visible today and with no consideration of erosion.
Let us say that, in the future, some scientists have created satellites capable of something that seems science fiction for now — punching the walls of the universe to study an alternate reality. By that scenario, some hundreds of "alternate Earths" from hundreds of alternate universes would already have been discovered and meticulously studied. As much as half of them would still be ruled by humans, unfolded by events that turned out differently. One universe, for example, had an Earth where 9/11 never happened, or where the outcome of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars ended up differently.
One of the most interesting to note was a planet that scientists call "Alternate Earth 111", known to the public as "Great Lakes Earth".
Because at first glance, it seemed that almost every continent is dominated by lakes, even those larger than the Great Lakes that we have in North America.
The Appalachian Range used to exist, but all that remains nowadays are their metamorphic bedrocks. Since then, the Atlantic Coast is a labyrinth of islands, straits, channels and sounds, making New England the eastern equivalent of the Inside Passage, caused by five million years of being repeatedly scraped and bulldozed by ice. The terrain is not quite dramatic, the tallest above sea level being only 122.2 feet (37.25 meters.)
While our Rockies stand no taller than 14,440 feet above sea level, the tallest peak in a Great Lakes Rockies is measured to be 20,310 feet. Back home, our Rockies formed between 80 and 55 million years ago through the Laramide Orogeny, the subduction of the North American and Pacific plates at a shallow angle. Their Rockies first formed 55 million years ago as the result of a collision between eastern and western North America. They stopped becoming active as recently as nine million years ago. Since then, a series of faulting had shed off the mountains' sedimentary skin and exposed the tougher granite-and-gneiss core. No wonder, then, that transdimensional explorer Mark Greene called the Great Lakes Earth Rockies "a single, continuous spine of breathtaking Tetons." West of the Rockies stands an uplift varying in elevation above sea level between 2,000 and 13,000 feet (between 610 and 3962 meters.)
Minor differences in geological history could create major differences in geographical shape. Without the Cascades or the Alaska Range, the distinctively whiplike Alaskan Peninsula simply does not exist. The area we'd recognize as San Andreas (Baja Peninsula and southwestern California) is fused into what we'd call southeastern Alaska. Evidence in the rocks beneath the soil shows that San Andreas did indeed collide with Alaska only 24 million years ago, but the mountain-building period did not last long, and the peaks were reduced into quarter-mile-tall hills.
The Black Hills of South Dakota don't exist on Great Lakes Earth. The Ozarks, larger in area and elevation than back home, are the closest analogy. The tallest stands 7242 feet (2207 meters) above sea level. They started life as a dome of granite that, over millions of years, had been replenished with fresh supplies of magma. This allowed the crystals that made the granite dramatically larger, making the rock itself a lot harder. After 2.2 billion years under the surface, the dome popped above sea level only as recently as 20 million years ago. Even though rain and river played a part in carving the dome into numerous spires, pillars and gorges, the real player in shaping the Ozarks is lower air pressure, exfoliating the surface into pieces like layers of onions.
True to the spirit of the planet's name, North America is full of large lakes. The largest of which is Agassiz. In fact, it is the cornerstone of all of Great Lakes Earth's great lakes — enormous depressions, tectonic rifts or volcanic calderas reshaped and filled in by ice, rain and river. To have an idea on the shape, size and scope of Agassiz, we must look at the familiar faces of the Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario — and then flood off the entire basin. This is Lake Agassiz, 95,000 square miles and 5500 feet at its deepest. Agassiz started out as an impact crater 600 miles wide by an iron asteroid approximating 75 miles in diameter which slammed on that spot 230 million years ago. The crater, quickly filled up by basaltic lava, wouldn't become a lake until the ice bulldozed the flood basalt away during the Pleistocene glaciations.
West of the Rockies, there are even more lakes—Bonneville, Carson, Olympia, Hamilton and Red Deer. All of them formed separately late during the Cenozoic as tectonic weaknesses sank the land, sometimes to the point below sea level. Further shaping the lakes were the last five million years of ice ages strengthening and weakening the freeze-thaw cycles. As a result, not only do they have their distinctive shapes, they are also deep. Bonneville, the deepest, is currently over a thousand feet deep.
What we'd presume to be the Brooks Range in northern Alaska actually isn't. The Murchison Mountains, as we call them, are actually volcanic peaks standing 14,411 feet (4392 meters) above sea level at the tallest. They stand at one of the points where the Arctic Plate sinks beneath the Laurasian Plate.
The Yellowstone mantle plume is still present. Except that instead of Wyoming's northwestern corner, it can be found in northeastern California. The upland itself covers an area of 5,000 square miles and stands almost like an island between the surrounding lakes and lowlands.
Five million years ago, the oceanic Panamanian Plate had been invaded on both fronts—by the Caribbean Plate in the northeast and the Pacific Plate in the southwest. This uplifted the basaltic slab to above sea level and had volcanoes guarding the plateau. The Twins, as they are called, are still active. One twin is currently 6,684 feet above sea level, the other 9,698 feet. Curiously, the Twins make up the coastline of Central America on Great Lakes Earth, which makes sense considering their young age. What doesn't make sense is how they could be so tall in so short a time. The same problem is said of the Andes, which also make up South America's entire western coastline. But if we look at a bathymetrical map, we start to understand why—from Argentina to Guatemala, the Pacific Plate is paralleled by the younger, narrower Nazca Plate. It first formed only ten million years ago and uplifted the Andean coastline for five million years before reaching the Panamanian Plate. This double-subduction may explain why the Andes, 25,122 feet above sea level and still rising, as they have been for the last 45 million years, had such devastating eruptions in the last 10,000 years, with an average of one eruption measuring eight on the VEI every thousand years.
Andean uplift notwithstanding, there is a transition between northern and southern South America—a transition separated by 2,891 feet of elevation. That is because from 250 to 200 million years ago, South America's southern half was part of an uplifted plateau much like Tibet back home. The more recent uplift of the Andes nearly attempted to resurface that past.
Questions follow:
Are these changes enough to spare northeastern Nebraska from the onslaught of Tornado Alley without sacrificing the Midwest's prairie fertility in the process?
Will all these lakes and rivers (not pictured) turn the Wild West into a greener Eden?
How much of the Amazon Basin will be contained within South America?
What kind of landscapes should I expect to see in Argentina and Brazil?
Physically absent in the supercontinent are Turkey, Iran, and the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg and Denmark). Back home, Scandinavia is one of Earth's recognizable peninsulas. On Great Lakes Earth, the body we'd recognize as the Baltic Sea is actually known as the Baltic Plain. It is all that's left of a mountain-building process from 250 to 200 million years ago that connected Scandinavia to the rest of Europe.
Long ago, the British Isles used to be an extension of mainland Europe before splitting off 100 million years ago. Proof — the very shape of the sea that we back home would call the Low Countries.
The dominating feature of Asia is a large region of basaltic rock, the Siberian Traps. It formed as a series of eruptions spewed out lava 60 to 43 million years ago. Since most of northern Asia was a receding series of shallow seas at the time, the eruptions resulted in only two types of lava—pillow lava (underwater lava that is low in both gas and viscosity) and block lava (what could happen when lava that is high in viscosity but low on gas erupts underwater.) In time, as sea levels kept on receding, the lava eruptions shifted to columnar (like the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland back home), lava-fountain and dome-building. Each eruption could last anywhere between 10,000 and 60,000 years, with breaks varying between 30,000 and 80,000 years. When the last eruption had finished, seven million square miles of Eurasia were buried under four million cubic miles of lava.
Eurasia is subject to Great Lakes Earth's largest sea, one that we used to have back home — the Tethys. Back home, the Mediterranean has an average depth of 1500 meters and a maximum of 5267. The Tethys' depth is 1205 meters on average and 7,000 maximum. Even so, the ratio between deep and shallow water is remarkably similar to that of the Mediterranean — more or less than 45% of the sea is no deeper than 200 meters (the required maximum depth for a sea to be "shallow"). It's also connected to two oceans with two different personalities — the Indian to the east and the Atlantic to the west. What we'd recognize as the Arabian Peninsula is, on Great Lakes Earth, an extension of northeastern Africa, erasing both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden out of existence. This further widens the passage from the Indian Ocean to the Tethys.
The island of Newfoundland is the southeastern extension of Iceland. It stands at a point where a stationary mantle plume, loaded with silicon, stands at a crossroads between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the edge of the Arctic Plate. Unlike our Iceland, in which the Ridge has split it in east-west, the Iceland of Great Lakes Earth is split in a north-south division.
In Asia, what looks to us like Borneo is a big extension of eastern India, erasing the Bay of Bengal from the map. Sumatra is an extension of India's western coast. The rest of Indonesia, as well as the island chain of the Philippines and the Malay Peninsula, don't exist.
Back home, the Himalayan range in Asia is impressive enough. On Great Lakes Earth, they are even more so. The highest peak, Kailash, stands 33,500 feet (10,210.8 meters) above sea level and still rising. If the base of Mauna Kea in Hawaii were above sea level, this would have been its equal. Their Himalayas are older than ours, if the differences in height suggest anything. Ours first formed 50 million years ago. Theirs rose from the plains between 65 and 70 million years ago.
65 million years ago, sub-Himalayan Asia was subject to a series of lava eruptions lasting a total of 30,000 years. When it was all over, the lava covered a thickness exceeding one mile, an area of one-and-a-half million square miles and a volume greater than one million cubic miles.
The islands of Japan on Great Lakes Earth are the result of subductive hot spots, stationary mantle plumes standing in the intersections of colliding plates, as well as a confusing labyrinth of fault lines. Japan, consisting of six large hotspots, stands three miles southeast of the Laurasian Plate and five northwest of the Pacific Plate. The fact that the mountains make up the coastlines suggest that Japan on Great Lakes Earth formed very recently—no longer, it's been surmised, than 11 million years. Like the Andes, Japan was subject to massive, earth-destroying eruptions.
The Alps remain tall, as they are back home. However, they are formed as the result of a piece of Africa, known to us as Balk, colliding with southeastern Europe 40 million years ago. Currently, the range's highest peak, Olympus, stands 22,838 feet (6961 meters) above sea level and is still rising. Behind the Alps is a plateau that covers lands we'd recognize as Romania, Moldova, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Also, Balk's terrain on Great Lakes Earth consists of plains and hills rather than mountain ranges like back home.
The Scandes, stretching the length of the northern Scandinavian coast, are the results of ocean/continent collisions — volcanoes. They are also taller than they are back home — 18,510 feet (5642 meters) above sea level and still rising.
The Ural, Caucasus, Pyrenees and Apennine mountain chains used to exist on Great Lakes Earth, but not anymore.
With open connections to both the Indian and the Atlantic, what would the Tethys's personality be?
Will a higher Himalayas — which means a higher Tibetan Plateau — pose any noticeable differences on India's climate and precipitation, as well as Tibet's ecosystem?
Would adding Borneo and Sumatra pose any difference to the climate and landscape of the Indian subcontinent?
With the rest of Indonesia, the Philippines and the Malay Peninsula out of existence, how would this absence affect ocean currents?
How would all this added water affect the Mediterranean Basin as well as the Indian monsoon?
Concerning the Siberian Traps, 40 million years of erosion would mean an altogether different Russian landscape, no doubt, but to what extent? Would we still see vast, singular bands of boreal forests and steppes, or would we expect to see Russia hosting a wider variety of habitats?
Would a larger Deccan Traps pose any difference to the 65 million years of erosion?
How would the changes in mountain building and coastlining affect the climate and landscape of the rest of Europe?
To the naked eye, you may not see any difference between our Africa and theirs. However, like some of the other continents, Africa has its share of great lakes — Chad, Congo and Makgadikgadi. Lake Makgadikgadi, the southernmost, is also the youngest—100 feet (30 meters) at the deepest and formed as water flowing from the Aden Bahçesi inundated a series of fault lines only three million years ago.
The Atlas Mountains used to exist on Great Lakes Earth, but not anymore.
The defining mountain range of Africa is the Aden Bahçesi, which first formed 45 million years ago as the Indian Plate sank beneath the African Plate. Currently, the tallest peak stands 21,810 feet (6647.7 meters) above sea level and still rising.
Lakes Chad and Congo had a shared history. They originated less than 200 million years ago as a series of horsts and grabens that would quickly be inundated aftewards. It wasn't until 80 million years ago, when the seafloor slowed down and sea levels began to recede, that perhaps the deepest points on Great Lakes Earth during the Cretaceous period, became surrounded by dry land. In time, freshwater diluted the lakes, pushing the salinity deeper and deeper. Today, Lake Congo to the south is 5387 feet at the deepest, the bottom 150 feet being brine. Lake Chad to the north has a maximum depth of 4820 feet, with the Pharaoh's Brine taking up the bottom 67 feet.
Are any of these changes enough to turn North and South Africa from desert to more verdant habitat, like savanna?
Would having a tropical megalake be enough to pose a noticeable difference to the equatorial climate of the Congo rainforest?
First and foremost, it's not called "Australia" in Great Lakes Earth, but rather "Sahul". The first major difference is the presence of Lake Eyre, a body of fresh water over 460,000 square miles in area and 49 meters at the deepest.
The northern and eastern coasts of Sahul are worth noticing. To the northwest, it looks as though the two main islands of New Zealand are glued into the mainland. It'd also look as though someone were shoving the island of New Guinea down the throat of mainland Australia, known geographically as the Gulf of Carpentaria. The northern and eastern extremes of Sahul are defined by volcanic mountains, the tallest standing 18,500 feet above sea level.
The final difference is that Sahul is much further south than Australia. So much so, in fact, that by comparison, the distance between it and Antarctica is cut by half.
Will the Outback still be desert?
In the same scenario, Indonesia and the Philippines don't exist. What kind of ocean current(s) would one expect to see influencing Sahul?
What kind of climatic and ecological influences would we expect Lake Eyre and the continent's closer proximity to Antarctica to create?
Pole to Pole
Compared to our oceans, the Arctic Ocean of Great Lakes Earth seems to have a little elbow room. The reason — the Atlantic on Great Lakes Earth is wider than ours by over 1350 miles. Africa, Eurasia and Sahul have, compared to our Old World, moved that far eastward, creating a landbridge that connects Asia to North America, erasing the Bering Strait off the map and shrinking the Bering Sea. To that extent, it would be like turning the Russian urban locality of Egvekinot (66.3205 degrees North and 179.1184 degrees West) into the next-door neighbor of Teller, Alaska. But that is in our eyes only. On Great Lakes Earth, North America has always been a part of Laurasia for 250 million years.
The island of Greenland looks, to us, rearranged to the extent that Mont Forel, the island's highest peak, is located in 90 degrees North — the North Geographic Pole.
There is a final difference, one that applies also to the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. The ratio between average depth and maximum depth is the same as back home, but the numbers are different. Back home, the Arctic's average depth is only 1205 meters, almost 4,000 feet, whereas its deepest point is 5,625 meters, 18,456 feet. The Southern Ocean averages 4,000 meters deep and has a maximum depth of 7,235. On Great Lakes Earth, the averages for the Arctic and Antarctic oceans are 1652 and 5280 meters, respectively.
Then, of course, there is the Arctic Plate, something that doesn't exist back home. Horizontally cutting Iceland in half, we can find the border straddling the coasts of Baffin Island, Alaska, and Scandinavia, creating the Scandes and the Murchison mountains.
How would these differences affect ocean currents and polar landscapes?
Could any of these changes have influenced the global average temperature and precipitation? If so, to what extent?
Back home, the Pacific Ocean, the largest of the five, has an average depth of 4028 meters, 15,215 feet, and a maximum of 10,924 meters, 35,840 feet. On Great Lakes Earth, the Pacific's depth averages 3854 meters — 12,644 feet — and the maximum is now 7455 meters, 24,459 feet.
Back home, the Indian Ocean averages around 3963 meters deep with a maximum depth of 7258. That's 13,002 and 23,812 feet, respectively. On Great Lakes Earth, the Indian Ocean averages around 3605 meters (11,827 feet) deep and has a maximum depth of 5625 meters (18,454 feet).
The Atlantic Ocean back home has an average depth of 3926 meters, or 10,950 feet and a maximum of 8605 meters, 28,320 feet. On Great Lakes Earth, its average depth is now 4001 meters (13,126 feet), and the maximum is now 7455 meters, the same as the Pacific.
Would the changes in depth affect ocean currents, therefore the global climate?
« Last Edit: September 01, 2018, 10:00:36 PM by Hoers » Logged
Re: Great Lakes Earth Map
I've modified your post to put your map inside a spoiler, since it's too big and causes issues with viewing the thread. Anyone who wants to view the full map and still has trouble should open the spoiler button and then right click the image, followed by clicking "View Image". Please keep large images contained inside of a [ spoiler= imagename ] [/spoiler] (remove the spaces) tag combination or provide links instead of directly posting them if they won't fit the width of the post.
Bradykinetic
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The crib is an essential choice in the layout of the room, it must be welcoming, comfortable and practical. Come discover our selection of designer cots. We absolutely fell in love with the hanging crib signed by Leander, where baby can be softly cradled just like in your arms. After six months, baby needs a little more space, our selection of baby cots brings together the biggest designer brands: fall for the soft and rounded lines of Leander beds or the sleek and playful design of the Kutikai beds. All these beds are convertible to accompany baby in its growth. Check out our selection of accessories: bed canopies, cot bumpers, plaids, sleeping bags ... to make it a cozy little nest.


text:
...that Olivia-G291 is one of the stealthiest SPARTAN-IIIs?
...that Earth has a surveillance grid that the government uses to monitor the actions of civilians?
...that Modular Dispersal Technology is a compartmentalized design philosophy employed on Forerunner and Covenant starships?
...that the Brute Chopper is a variation of a plow designed by an Engineer named Lighter Than Some as a peace offering to humanity?
...that Microsoft named the first of their Project Natick computers after a character from i love bees?
September 19, 2552[1]
Male[2]
UNSC UNSC Marine Corps
Corporal[2]
Corporal Wilkins was a UNSC Marine Corporal. He fought in both the Fall of Reach and the Battle of Alpha Halo.[2]
Biography[edit]
In 2552, Wilkins was stationed aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and saw action at Fall of Reach. During the Battle of Installation 04 he led a squad of five Marines to guard a Bumblebee for the Pillar of Autumn's command crew. Although three Marines were lost, Wilkins survived.[2]
During the descent and jump to Installation 04, Captain Jacob Keyes borrowed Wilkins' M6D pistol to kill Isna 'Nosolee, the Prophet's employed Ossoona. 'Nosolee had stowed aboard the pod but was noticed by Keyes even through the Active Camouflage.[2]
Once on the ground, the pod's survivors were eventually captured by the Covenant after being betrayed by Ensign Ellen Dowski. The Covenant were only interested in taking Keyes prisoner. The remainder of the bridge crew were killed. Wilkins and his marines were gunned down before any of them could react.[1]
Halo: The Flood (First appearance)
^ a b Halo: The Flood, pages 87-88 (2003 paperback); pages 98-99 (2010 paperback)
^ a b c d e Halo: The Flood, Chapter 1, pages 42-44 (2003 paperback); pages 46-49 (2010 paperback)
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/index.php?title=Wilkins&oldid=1319836"
UNSC Marine Corps enlisted personnel


Asiaha Butler bought a city-owned vacant lot near her Englewood home for $1.
It wasn't just the $1 purchase price that has Butler smiling. It's the "bodacious" ideas, as her husband calls them, that she has for the deep lot that is also next door to a three-flat she owns. Now home to a fire hydrant, dead weeds and garbage, she envisions turning the property into a communal space for her tenants, with concrete benches, grills, and a small dog park.
"One thing my husband said was out of the question was a pond," Butler said. "I know I can't trick it out in one summer. First I want to get it gated up and cleaned and get some people to test the soil. Hopefully, I'm a pioneer."
Since last year, the city of Chicago has been on the hunt for community-minded property owners like Butler who like a bargain and want to improve their decayed neighborhoods, as the city tries to rid itself of the maintenance costs of almost 13,500 vacant, city-owned lots. More than 9,000 of these are zoned for residential use, and the city would like to get them back on the property tax rolls.
The large lots program started with just over 4,000 lots offered in the Englewood area. The city received 416 applications. Up to two lots are available per application. In late 2014, 298 lots were sold.
In East Garfield Park, the city is sifting through 319 applications for 417 lots. Applications are being accepted until Jan. 30 for 248 lots in Austin. There is no fee to apply, and the application can be completed online.
"I think we can declare it successful now," said Andrew Mooney, the city's commissioner of planning and development. "The reaction we got to it in several neighborhoods where we started has been greater than we expected."
For the time being, those interests largely involve fencing the lots, if required, and making them into green space or community gardens. The initiative is considered part of the city's five-year housing plan to create, improve and preserve more than 41,000 units of housing, but Mooney acknowledges that the idea of adding housing to those lots is a long-term goal.
The large lots program is open to property owners and nonprofits, including block clubs, that own property on the same block as the city-owned vacant lots zoned for residential use. The program was born of community planning meetings in Englewood.
Neighborhood groups in selected communities are eager to work with buyers to improve blocks for both current and future residents.
"There are a lot of residents who have maintained lots for decades," said Mike Tomas, executive director of the Garfield Park Community Council. "I would just hope this program would help people who are already in the neighborhood stay in the neighborhood and attract other people to the neighborhood. A house that has an adjacent lot may be a selling point."
At some point the program will reach North Lawndale, where the city owns many vacant lots. But Mooney said it hasn't been decided which neighborhoods will be included this year.
The $1 price tag is a good marketing pitch, but aldermen and community groups are making sure prospective buyers understand they must fence the lot if it is not adjacent to their own, maintain it and pay property taxes, which will run several hundred dollars annually. Buyers are allowed to sell the lots after five years.
In some cases, lotteries were held after residents submitted applications for the same lot. In other cases, applications were turned down because an alderman has a different vision for it, Mooney said.
Butler, president of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, isn't aware of other lot buyers on her block.
She likes that her purchase gives her more control in a neighborhood her family has called home for generations. Her grandparents lived a few blocks away, and Butler met her husband in Englewood. When the couple were searching for a house to buy, they considered the suburbs but bought in Englewood.
This winter, she can look out her picture window and make her plans. She acknowledged that some people may build on their lots. But Butler has other ideas. "I'm into art so I'd like some sculptures and installations there."


After 15 years in the Majors, Jayson Werth is calling it quits.
The veteran outfielder told MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman on Wednesday, "I'm done ... whatever you want to call it."
Werth -- who signed a Minor League deal with the Mariners in April -- had been on the shelf with a hamstring injury with Triple-A Tacoma since June 8. He told Heyman that he knew he'd never play professional baseball again after stepping off the field that day.
Werth told Heyman he has "no regrets," and the 39-year-old will finish his career with a .267 average, .816 OPS, 229 homers, 799 RBIs and 132 stolen bags through 15 years.
Werth was drafted by the Orioles in the first round of the 1997 Draft, fresh out of Glenwood High School in Springfield, Ill. But he was traded to Toronto in 2000, and his debut came as a 23-year-old outfielder with the Blue Jays in '02. Werth spent two seasons with Toronto and two with the Dodgers. He suffered an injury with the Dodgers in Spring Training '05 after an A.J. Burnett fastball caused two left wrist surgeries. Philadelphia signed Werth as a free agent in '06.
Werth blossomed in four memorable years with the Phillies, helping Philadelphia to a World Series championship in 2008, in addition to a National League pennant in '09. He received his sole All-Star nod in '09, slugging a career-high 36 home runs with 20 stolen bases on the season.
Following the 2010 season, Werth signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with the rebuilding Nationals. While many criticized the magnitude of the deal at the time, he became a key cog for a club that made four postseason appearances in six years while earning MVP votes in 2013-14.
After an injury-plagued 2017 season that limited him to just 70 games, Werth signed the Minor League pact with the Mariners this spring but hit just .206 in 145 plate appearances at Tacoma before his hamstring injury.
Werth told Heyman he's now looking forward to a summer spending time with his sons (who also play baseball) and concentrating on family life, in addition to organic farming.
Deesha Thosar is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York City. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.


text:
Q: Dictionary to Sparse Vector Python please help me on this homework:
makeA({0: 1, 2: 1, 4: 2, 6: 1, 9: 1})
the output should be like this:
[1, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1]

A: Try a list comprehension:
def makeA(d, default=0):
    """Converts a dictionary to a list. Pads with a default element

    Examples:

    >>> makeA({0: 1, 2: 1, 4: 2, 6: 1, 9: 1})
    [1, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1]

    >>> makeA({3: 'kos'},'')
    ['', '', '', 'kos']

    """
    maxElem = max(d)
    return [d.get(x, default) for x in range(maxElem+1)]

The first line of the function body finds the maximum key in the dict (because dict objects yield their keys when iterated over). If the maximum key is 5, you'd need an array of 6 elements [0..6].
The last line uses a list comprehension over a sequence 0 .. maxElem, and for each value of this sequence, assigns either d's value for this key or 0 if not present.

A: Yes, you could do the default value in list comprehension. But I think it's nicer style to let the defaultdict class do it for you. And you get more readable code to boot!! :-)
from collections import defaultdict

def makeA(d):
    dd = defaultdict(int, d)
    return [dd[n] for n in range(10)]

print makeA({0: 1, 2: 1, 4: 2, 6: 1, 9: 1})

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to detect rounded rectangle using C#? I need to detect the rounded rectangle in the image in order to obtain the readings inside it. If anyone could guide me to detect the rounded rectangle it would be a great help.
I tried it with the emgu cv example but I couldn't detect the rectangles.

A: If you are using EmguCV try using something like the Hough Transform to detect lines if it can't detect the rectangle and use the intersections to calculate the rectangle position.
This question shows some tips using OpenCV - the library EmguCV is a wrapper for.
Detect corner point from rectangle with rounded corners


text:
Behavioural Public Policy Blog
Behaviour Change through Choice Architecture: Where do we stand?
Tony Hockley (LSE)
Mario Herberz, Stephanie Mertens, Ulf J. J. Hahnel, & Tobias Brosch
It's been over a decade since Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein introduced the notion of choice architecture, referring to subtle changes in the decision environment that can influence behaviour while preserving individual freedom of choice. This idea has attracted considerable attention from researchers and practitioners alike, who have since been exploring the effects of choice architecture interventions in the form of framings, defaults, or reminders (to name but a few) across behavioural domains as diverse as health, environment, and finance. At the same time, policy makers across the globe have been using insights from research on choice architecture to improve public policy making.
In light of the increasing popularity of choice architecture, we felt that a summary of the current state of the literature in the form of a meta-analysis was needed. Systematically taking stock of the existing research is a way to provide practitioners with guidance for the application of choice architecture interventions and to identify gaps and challenges in the literature. With this in mind, we aimed to address the following questions:
What does the evidence gathered over more than 10 years of research tell us about the effectiveness of choice architecture interventions?
Are some types of interventions generally more effective than others?
Are choice architecture interventions more effective in some behavioural domains than others?
Our analysis revealed a consistently positive effect of choice architecture interventions on behavior across varying types of interventions and behavioral domains. But we also observed substantial variation in the effectiveness of the different interventions. For instance, interventions that change the way decision contexts are structured (e.g., defaults) were generally more effective than interventions that target the way information is presented (e.g., framing) or that help decision makers follow through on their behavioural intentions (e.g., reminders). Moreover, interventions were generally more effective in the food domain than for other domains such as health behaviour or behaviour related to the environment.
These findings may guide practitioners who seek to encourage behaviour change through the use of choice architecture and who look for assistance in selecting an appropriate intervention. At the same time, our findings reveal substantial gaps in our understanding of the processes that drive the behavioural effects of choice architecture interventions. Even when accounting for differences across types of choice architecture techniques and behavioural domains, large parts of the heterogeneity among effect sizes remain unexplained. This means that we are still very much at the beginning of understanding when and why choice architecture interventions work. As previously argued by other authors, research on choice architecture needs to be able to account for the heterogeneity in intervention effects in order to have a real impact and to enable a thorough evaluation of heterogeneity at the meta-analytic level.
Another problematic issue that was highlighted by our analyses and by subsequent re-analyses of our data (Maier et al., 2022; Szaszi et al., 2022; Bakdash & Marusich, 2022) was the identification of a publication bias in the choice architecture literature. The distribution of effect sizes showed an overrepresentation of successful relative to unsuccessful implementations of choice architecture interventions, indicating that the average intervention effect computed from our data likely overestimates the actual effectiveness of interventions. Though not unique to the field of choice architecture, this publication bias is highly problematic for a field that has the potential to positively impact people's lives through its implementation in public policy making. It is therefore important to address this publication bias in the choice architecture literature by more rigorous research practices such as pre-registrations and pre-registered reports as well as a more systematic publication of null findings. In this context, we would argue that a stronger focus on heterogeneity in intervention effects may help to provide a more fine-grained answer to the question when and where choice architecture interventions work by accounting for variations in effect sizes, including null effects or backfiring effects.
Now, what can we conclude from this mix of insights and challenges revealed by our meta-analysis?
In our view, our meta-analysis provides a useful overview of the current state of choice architecture research that, despite highlighting important gaps in the understanding of when and why choice architecture interventions work, may serve as a guide for practitioners and policy makers. Our findings may moreover be an adequate evidence base to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different choice architecture interventions, while the absolute effect sizes identified by our analysis should be interpreted with caution due to the publication bias affecting the overall effect sizes.
When aiming to change a specific behavior, it remains critically important to empirically test the effects of a choice architecture intervention in a given policy context using field trials (DellaVigna & Linos, 2022), for instance in the form of megastudies which allow for the integrated test of multiple choice architecture interventions developed by different teams of experts (Milkman et al., 2022).
Tags: behavioral economics, Behavioural science, Choice Architecture, Nudge, public policy


BOSS 2020 determined that the chief impediment to economic growth in the business district was heavy vehicle traffic congestion caused by two major misaligned crossroad intersections in the borough's core.
The Committee developed an 'Official Map' that realigns these intersections into traditional right-angle configuration. Additionally, the Official Map creates a new through street parallel to and south of the main east-west corridor, U.S. Route 422, Penn Avenue. This new through street will serve two purposes, 1) to connect the eastern and western north-south routes on either side of the central business district and 2) act as the Borough's new downtown 'Main Street' that allows access to over 20 acres of under-developed commercial land in the district.
In 2009, BOSS 2020 conducted a professional traffic study which confirmed that the Official Map infrastructure plan would significantly reduce traffic congestion. In 2010, the Committee contracted with a professional architectural firm to envision a preliminary plan for the redevelopment of the 20 acres into a New Town Center development using the principles of 'new urbanism' and 'smart growth'.
The four-phased plan for revitalization is well underway. Phase 1 on the eastern edge of the central business district was redeveloped in 2010 as a 10-acre modern shopping destination known as Spring Market Center which now serves the community and generates tens of thousands of dollars in business tax revenue for the Borough. In the near future, the center will expand to include new and popular businesses.
Phase 2 of the Revitalization Plan will realign the western CBD intersection of Penn, Columbia and Cacoosing Avenues allowing for improvements in semi and tanker truck traffic maneuverability from nearby refineries while relieving much of the business district's traffic congestion. This Phase is fully funded and is scheduled for construction in 2017-2018.
Phase 3, constructing the new downtown Main Street and through street connector is in engineering. This new thoroughfare is the lynch pin of the BOSS 2020 revitalization plan and will create economic sustainability for the Borough. Phase 3 will be constructed beginning in 2017 using two awarded grants from the State's Multimodal Transportation Fund Program; $784,000 from PennDOT and $1.1 million from DCED. Additional funding will come from the Borough, the Berks County Redevelopment Authority and private developers. This phase is expected to be completed by 2019.
Finally, Phase 4 of the infrastructure plan realigns the eastern CBD intersection of Penn, Shillington and Mull Avenues thereby completing the traffic circulation and alleviating the remaining cause of congestion. BOSS 2020 is working with private enterprise and other County and State agencies in a cooperative effort to begin engineering and design as soon as possible. The current estimate is to complete Phase 4 by 2020.
The BOSS 2020 Revitalization Committee meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in Sinking Spring Borough Hall at 3940 Penn Avenue. Meetings are public and Committee membership is open to all.


text:
Police officers involved in mass invasion of Asian family's Cambuslang home cleared of wrongdoing
Forty cops turned up at the home of the Khan family in Cambuslang on December 8, 2015 after a dog bit another dog in the street.
Connor Gordon
Julie Dunnett
Two police officers involved in a huge police operation at a Scottish family home - slammed for being over the top - have been cleared of falsifying evidence.
John Donaldson, 38 and Tyne McClymont, 23, were accused by Mohammed Yusaf Khan, 37, of "making up lies" about his family.
They were among 40 police officers who turned up at the home of the Khan family in Cambuslang on December 8, 2015.
The Khan family claim a male constable pressed an alarm for unnecessary back-up prompting the heavy response
Shocking footage shows moment more than 40 police officers swarm Asian family home in Glasgow after minor complaint
CCTV footage showed an officer arriving to ask about a dog biting another dog in the street.
However, within minutes, dozens more officers are seen running into the house.
Three members of the family were handcuffed and arrested during the incident.
All charges were later dropped and the family lodged a complaint with Police Scotland.
At the time of the incident, lawyer Aamer Anwar said the police handling of the situation was 'over the top' .
John Donaldson at Glasgow Sheriff Court Glasgow (Image: Iain McLellan/Spindrift)
Neighbour says scene of East Kilbride shooting was 'like a war zone'
Donaldson and McClymont were cleared of falsifying evidence at Glasgow Sheriff Court today after the sheriff said that Khan's evidence was rehearsed and unreliable.
It was claimed the officers provided information to Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) that was "false or materially misleading" about members of the Khan family.
Donaldson was also cleared of acting in a in a racially aggravated manner at the Khan house.
Khan told the sheriff that he felt "threatened" by Donaldson.
Khan claimed: "He said 'I could arrest you and take the kids to social services'."
Khan also claimed his other brother Imran was dragged out the house by the two officers.
He called the police during the incident and the call was played to the court.
Khan confirmed he said "They are actually beating my brother" and when asked who, said "the police".
The court heard he was asked by the operator what all the screaming and shouting is, and said that it was the police.
The family home in upmarket Cambuslang
This was denied by the officers who claimed it was Khan who was aggressive towards them.
Donaldson was later taken to hospital with an injury to his groin and reported he had been kneed.
The court heard Khan's other brother Sheban tried to pull McClymont into his house shouting "we need to keep her."
Khan was then arrested himself for his behaviour.
But, today Sheriff Gerard Bonnar cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.
He said he believed that Khan's evidence was rehearsed and unreliable.
Clapping was heard in the public gallery when the not guilty verdict was read out by Sheriff Bonnar.
Both officers cried as they left the court room surrounded by friends and family.
A statement from the Police Federation read: Following the conclusion of the trial against PC Donaldson and PC Tyne McClymont at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 11 September 2019, Professor Peter Watson, the solicitor who represented PC John Donaldson, said: "It is clear from the sheriff's remarks that he disbelieved the whole of the Khan family who gave evidence, which means that lies have been told.
It is now for the Crown Office to investigate whether perjury has been committed and whether there has been an attempt to pervert the course of justice. Indeed, the sheriff remarked that the evidence of Mohammed Imran Khan seemed to be rehearsed.
There is also a question over missing evidence in the case including a hard drive which contained CCTV. Myself and Robert Vaughan, who represented PC McClymont, will now consider what actions can be taken to address the suffering of both officers who have gone through this trial where the evidence against them was universally dismissed as incredible and unreliable."


Wollongong and the Illawarra boast beautiful beaches and a coastal lifestyle only 70 kilometres from the Sydney CBD and 20 kilometres to the Sutherland Shire. Wollongong has a great tradition of leading in education with modern tertiary facilities and internationally renowned university that is the University of Wollongong. The Illawarra is also well known for its steel works and other coal operations. The topography of Wollongong is quite unique with a huge stretch of sandy beaches leading up to escarpments and mountains to the west.
Residential properties in in Wollongong are varied in size and geometry with challenging considerations for granny flat development. This particular property was well suited for granny flat development and it's close proximity to schools, TAFE and hospital made it an excellent candidate for a granny flat. Our local builder was able to meet all of the client's needs with a timely completion of the build in preparation for the new calendar year.
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GAY ATHLETES, AS THE TEBOW TURNS & DRAFT LEFTOVERS
I'm not one to mix politics and sports. That's the beauty of sports—its a release from everyday problems which often include politics.
Duke or Carolina, Boston or New York—sports debates can be fun unlike political battles which tend to get personal and heated. No doubt the mass of media has cranked up the volume in political debates where several outlets misplaced their objectivity long ago and have fueled the fire of the left and the right.
In sports there isn't just a left or a right—we have north, south, east and west, not to mention more well rounded and often more enjoyable debates of big issues. Issues where we can find much more common ground. For example, many of us agree there should be a college playoff, the NCAA is out of its mind, Dwight Howard is a petulant child and the designated hitter is absurd. OK you may not bite on the DH, but I hope you get my point. This edition of the Naborhood touches on a few polarizing opinions for sure—just remember I may not agree with a differing view but I certainly respect it—-I hope you can do the same.
GAY ATHLETES: Wizards Center Jason Collins did what many before him were scared to do—he came out to the sporting world and proclaimed he was gay. I am hardly surprised and I'm confident none of his teammates are either. Collins isn't alone in the NBA and for any other major sport for that matter. Gay athletes are everywhere but due to the social structure we live in, you couldn't blame them for keeping it a secret.
I have no problem with a Celtic being gay not to mention a Yankee, a Flyer or even a Nascar driver–which would make for an interesting presser down the road. I don't care if a teacher is gay , my postman or even my next door neighbor. I don't judge those different than me and I wish we lived in a world where this was the case but we don't. Critics like ESPNs basketball analyst Chris Broussard said upon hearing Collins' announcement on ESPN's Outside the Lines, "I think it's a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is…. If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be … that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ." Broussard has every right to his opinion and I have every right to disagree with it.
Its ironic that in the same year that Jackie Robinson's story is released and reenforced on the big screen, just a few weeks later we get news of the first openly gay NBA player. This is different then Robinson though. I would like to think our country and our society has come a few steps in the last 66 years. Sure Collins will get idiots and twitter hacks calling him names from the stands and behind their lap tops but it will be nothing close to what Robinson faced. Robinson also had his critics from Day 1, Collins has been in the league for 12 years.
I remember when Clinton was in office and the "don't ask, don't tell" debate was in full swing for the military. Back then I asked my Dad what my grandfather, who served in WWII thought? My father without hesitation said his dad didn't think it was a big deal as he knew gays have been a part of the military for years. Its the same in sports, its just people either don't talk about it or don't think its that big a deal?
One day my daughters who are now 11 and 8 will be 21 and 18 and will ask me "Why did people make such a big deal when an athlete said he was gay?" I will look forward to that day—-unfortunately that day hasn't come yet, hopefully we are getting closer .
END OF TEBOW TIME? : Did I say sports topics can't be heated? I must have forgotten about one Timothy Tebow. Its amazing the passion, the anger, not to mention the fatal attraction ESPN has for this former Gator. The latest has Tebow leaving his second NFL home. No one should be shocked Tebow time has left the Jets, the only surprise was the fact that New York wanted him in the first place given Tebow played about as much in a Jet uniform as I did last fall.
To continue his NFL career, Tebow may have to be willing to play fullback or tight end. I haven't given up on him as a QB but his case is surely unique. It must be frustrating for him to watch the likes of Matt Leinart, David Carr and Seneca Wallace carry around clipboards when he is picked apart and always has to defend his game and ponder his future.
Let's face it unlike many backups–if Tebow is gonna play and play well– his team will have to change its whole offense. That's why it worked in Denver and why it didn't in New York. Its crazy to think a little over a year ago he won a playoff game and now may have to seriously think about refining his game in the CFL or heaven forbid the Arena league?? I never thought Tebow would be an elite NFL QB but still believe he can be a serviceable one, but its gonna take a special team to give him that chance.
DRAFT DAY LEFTOVERS: Very sad the Draft is over—love watching all the coverage each year but think its silly to offer up a grade. C'mon every team loves its draft class now and while the grades are being dished out by many outlets, I offer up my own for every team—how about a big fat Incomplete. Nobody knows how these guys will adjust to the next level, so its crazy to gauge it until at least three years down the road. So no grades but we do have a few winners and losers:
THE SEC: This year's draft stated the obvious once again—the SEC reigns surpreme. According to my SEC insider Brent Beaird—no conference has ever dominated a draft like the SEC did this year as they represented an amazing 25% percent of the players. It gets better—the SEC saw 32 of the first 97 picks—that's 33% of what the league considers the best talent available! It was so dominant that four schools (Alabama, LSU, Florida & Georgia) combined for 34 picks —MORE than any other single conference! Here is the conference breakdown:
SEC (63)
ACC (31)
PAC-12 (28)
BIG 12 (22)
BIG TEN (22)
EJ MANUEL: It was hardly the year of the Quarterback but if you were gonna pick one QB to have been picked up in round one many didn't have the former Seminole. I really like EJ from the time I've spent around him—-he is mature beyond his years and brings a great skill set to the next level. I think he's better than Christian Ponder who was picked even higher. The people I know at FSU say Manuel has to work on getting the ball out on time as well as his ball security but are optimistic he will succeed.
TYRANN MATHIEU: The "Honey Badger" couldn't have asked for a better situation. The third round selection of the Cardinals was hoping to go higher but going to Arizona reunites him with college teammate and more importantly mentor Patrick Peterson. That is a plus but another positive is moving far far away from his hometown of New Orleans which was long overdue. The Cards are gonna give Mathieu a weekly drug test and won't throw any guaranteed money his way—smart move, let's home Mathieu plays it smart too, I'm pulling for him.
SAM BRADFORD: The Rams quarterback is still believed to have vast potential but after this draft has gathered plenty of help in meeting it. Bradford received the most dangerous offensive weapon in Tavon Austin who should more than open up a Rams offense which has been searching for weapons since the former Sooner arrived in the huddle. Along with Austin, Bradford is enjoying an offseason where he has a new left tackle in Jake Long and arguably the best free agent Tight End in Jared Cook who comes over from Tennessee.
LOSERS:
RUNNING BACKS: Its amazing to think about—this draft saw no running backs taken in the 1st round for the first time in 50 years. The first taken wasn't Eddie Lacy who was the highest rated, no North Carolina's Giovani Bernard was taken with the 37th pick. Many say running backs are no longer as important and I couldn't disagree more. Covering the Saints the past 8 years, I know the high octane passing attack isn't even close to being as effective when the running game is struggling. I will say its easier to get a good running back late and that has caused the slide but getting that marquee, difference making back to me still merits a 1st round selection.
JETS: They have certainly replaced the Raiders as the most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL. Under Rex Ryan, not one Jets draft pick has reached Pro Bowl status and this draft is full of question marks. The Rams outsmart them to get Tavon Austin who would have been a huge help in an offense looking for playmakers. They say goodbye to its best player in Darrelle Revis and take a huge risk by drafting Geno Smith albiet in the second round. It seems to be a franchise digging a deeper hole and I wouldn't be surprised if they have the number one overall pick next season.
MEL KIPER JR: Not a good 2013 Draft for the Drafting Expert. First of all he cut his hair—Mel never do that again?! Secondly, he tried forecasting the most unpredictable draft in years. The results weren't pretty making Meteorologists around the country rejoice that they weren't the only guys and gals missing their targets. If that wasn't enough, Kiper was mocked not only by the mock drafts but by his own company as Frank Caliendo delivered this masterpiece: http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/frank-caliendo-does-us-all-a-huge-favor-and-mocks-nfl-draft-gurudisagreement-enthusiast-mel-kiper-jr/
That was outstanding quite the opposite of Kiper's weekend but we still love our Draft Expert.
Speaking of the draft and Tebow—my friends at Salorix.com did an interesting study on the effect of Twitter on all the big NFL topics of the past few days. Very interesting findings—check out their results:
Insights From NFL Report:
918,777 Tweets are contributed by only 413,564 Tweeters, 73% of overall Tweeters have only Tweeted once
83% of the Tweets have neutral sentiment followed by 11% positive and 6% negative sentiment
Three consecutive first-round picks from Alabama dominated the conversations among the college mentions on Twitter
Manti Te'o pick by San Diego Chargers generated good volumes
Patriots players selection is being appreciated well by Tweeters
Jerry Jones upsetting, Team and Player updates dominated the Tweets related to Cowboys
Miami and Buffalo picks surprised the Tweeters
Tavon Austin trade to Rams is the most talked about by Bills fans on Twitter
Eric Fisher being the first overall pick in 2013 NFL Draft by Kansas City Chiefs contributed to good Tweet Volumes
NOBODY ASKED ME BUT: I can't get enough of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentaries and its latest Elway to Marino was not only outstanding but the perfect example of how the Draft process is perfectly flawed. The agent for both quarterbacks Marvin Demoff took meticulous notes and it paid off for a great profile on the process of the 1983 draft in which Elway went 1st and Marino slipped to the 27th overall pick. Amazing looking back at what is regarded as the best QB draft ever, Elway certainly lived up to the hype and it was interesting how Marino could and should have gone to his hometown Steelers where he would have replaced Terry Bradshaw right when he was injured. Other interesting tidbits, Jim Kelly hated all things Buffalo entering Draft Day and the Jets Ken O'Brien was 8-7 lifetime against Marino. I'd still have taken Dan the Man though….
EXTRA POINT: We leave you with one last draft day nugget. In the last 25 years, there have been 16 Heisman Trophy quarterbacks but only one of those has a playoff win? You guessed it Tebow.
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Next post: RONDE RETIRES,NBA FATIGUE, BASEBILLS, UNBROKEN & WAWA FEVER


This is to inform you that the period for requesting a review of the determination regarding the PDD for "0246. Processing of waste heaps at Monolith-Ukraine" has ended.
In accordance with paragraph 35 of the annex to decision 9/CMP.1 (JI guidelines), a determination regarding a PDD shall be deemed final 45 days after the date on which the determination is made public, unless a Party involved in the project or three JISC members request a review by the JISC.
Since neither a Party involved in the project nor three members of the JISC have requested a review within this period, the determination is deemed final.
0231. Implementation of energy efficient measures at "Donetsksteel"
The period for requesting a review will end on 29 December 2011 (17:00 GMT).
Paragraph 34 of the annex to decision 9/CMP.1 (JI guidelines) stipulates that, under the verification procedure under the JISC, the AIE shall make its determination regarding a PDD publicly available through the secretariat, together with an explanation of its reasons, including a summary of comments received and a report of how due account was taken of these. In accordance with paragraph 35 of the JI guidelines, a determination regarding a PDD shall be deemed final 45 days after the date on which the determination is made public, unless a Party involved in the project or three JISC members request a review.


This blog previously demonstrated conflicting research views on gamification and a limited knowledge of the phenomenon. Granic et al. (2014) suggests that playing video games is beneficial to teaching new forms of thought and behavior. However, many studies suggest a negative link between video games and behaviors including addition, aggression, and depression (Anderson et al., 2010; Ferguson & Olson, 2013; Lemola et al., 2011).
Attempts have been made to create an empirical body of knowledge on the use of gamification in education. Hanus and Fox (2015) found that gamification decreases motivation and negatively impacts academic performance. In contrast, Barata et al. (2013) found that gamification of an engineering course increased participation levels and students reported the course to be more motivating, interesting, and easier to learn. Further, Barata et al. (2014) attempted to identify clusters of students in relation to their participation and academic achievement to create student types, similar to player types. Such types as Achievers, Disheartened, and Underachievers were identified. The study suggested that even in a gamified environment, various individuals or even groups respond in different ways.
There are studies that suggest that grades are not improved through gamification (Dominquez et al., 2013). Instead, student affective domain can be influenced in a positive way and social behavior. This is a significant finding, especially for application of gamification in introductory courses. While grades are generally important to students, the organization may hope for a positive first-year experience in terms of emotional response as well as creating mentorship relationships or group study relationships across introductory courses. The current literature on gamification in education tends to measure grades as the success-determining factor.
However, the reported problems in STEM college introductory courses go far beyond academic performance. Such problems as low achievement, student boredom, and alienation, along with high dropout rates are linked to engagement (Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004; Swap & Walter, 2015). Especially in the STEM fields those problems are escalated by high attrition rates. Between 2003 and 2009, 48% of bachelor's degree students left the STEM fields according to a report by the U.S. Department of Education. (Chen & Soldner, 2013). A White House report shows that students leave STEM for many reasons including experiencing an uninviting atmosphere, having to weed-out classes, and having discovered courses demonstrated no relevancy (Lander & Gates, 2010). Student engagement is shown to be linked statistically to the rate of student graduation (Price & Tovar, 2014).
Therefore, a gap in research of gamification in education is in the application of gameful design to introductory courses with a goal of increasing engagement of students and faculty. As suggested by Skinner & Belmont (1993), the reciprocal nature of engagement is also affected by the level of engagement on the part of the instructor. The expression engaged professor was developed to signal a positive change in the class, which led to increased student engagement (Gasiewski, Eagan, Garcia, Hurtado, & Chang, 2012). Gamification studies should focus on the affective domain of students and creation of gamification tools to engage instructors as well as students during the course.
A gap in existing research of classroom engagement and games for learning is expressed as "dearth of studies that investigate the relationship between immersion and learning in game-based learning environments," especially as it involves fantasy or storification in a course (Hamari et al, 2016). Also, Consalvo & Dutton (2006) mention that "more qualitative studies have been less forthcoming about how games were studied." Researchers call for more qualitative studies to "extend our understanding of the nature of engagement in games" (Connolly, Boyle, MacArthur, Hainey, & Boyle, 2012). A gap emerges in qualitative studies of sufficiently complex practical solutions to address both faculty motivational needs and student needs to produce engagement without deep modifications to the academic structure of the introductory course.
Shape the Future of Education at hackGVSU!


The Toro 51621 UltraPlus steps in to make your life easier. The best part about this unit? Easy. It works as a blower, but it also has a vacuuming function. You got two tools in one. Despite most expectations, the sophisticated model is quite easy to use and it does not put too much strain on your arms. It is lightweight and can complete its job in no time. What else can you ask for?
Clearing leaves is piece of cake with that oscillating nozzle. You got a wider blowing surface, so you can cover large areas in less time. Adjusting the speed is not such a big deal either. With up to 250MPH, the results are exquisite. There is a small knob that allows customizing the speed though, so you should not face any problems. Another good news is that converting from the blower to the vacuum does not require any tools. It is only a matter of choosing the right setting and the air goes in a different direction.
No product is perfect for everyone. This one may not raise to everyone's expectations either. For example, Toro's blower weighs around 9 pounds. It does not seem too much. However, when you use it over and over again, chances are it will feel a bit heavy, especially if you are not used to such things. Other than that, the extension cord is not included, but still, using an extension cord will limit your movements. Make sure that you do not plan to blow dead leaves off the sidewalk if the sidewalk is 300 feet from your house.
As a short final conclusion, Toro 51621 UltraPlus Blower/Vac has been specifically developed for a particular segment of consumers. First, it makes a great choice for homeowners who want their homes to be tidy, especially during the fall season. It is also great for indoor vacuuming. Second, it is great for small businesses. It is imperative to maintain a tidy entrance or customers will inevitably be chased away. On the other hand, it is not so good for large businesses or industries. While it does provide a continuous use, the cord limits its movement.
As for the actual features, there is not much to complain about. Toro is a solid name in this industry and this product does raise to the expectations. It has the required features for a top-notch operation around any household, while durability is exquisite. Sure, just like for any other appliance, a little maintenance is needed every once in a while.
A leaf blower becomes the quick and convenient alternative to a broom or a rake. Forget about cleaning dead leaves at every few days with a broom. It kills your back, but you also have to do it over and over again. If you run a small business, it feels like working out. At this point, a leaf blower is a great choice. You basically invest in your own comfort, but also in the overall efficiency of your cleaning operations.