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Half a million yen...
...is what I spent on my trip to Japan in June/July 2007 – 500,058 yen, to be precise. At current exchange rates (121.941 yen to the dollar), that's just a hair over $4,100 US. This includes all transportation and lodging, as well as everything I spent money on in Japan. It does not include the costs of obtaining a passport, buying luggage, etc. I kept very close track of all the money I spent in a small journal, and saved most of my receipts, so it was easy to piece things together.
I've split expenses up into categories, but I won't post all the specific things I bought. A guy's got to have some privacy. ^_^
Category Yen spent Comments
Plane tickets 241,692 $1,981.08 to buy round-trip tickets online from my local airport to Boston to Chicago to Narita. In hindsight, I could have saved some money here, but I wanted to fly on Japan Air Lines and didn't want to drive to the nearest large airport.
Train tickets 65,690 I bought a two-week Japan Rail Pass for 45,100 yen, but only used it to go to Sapporo and back, and I still had to pay sleeper car fees each way. It would have been slightly cheaper to just buy the individual tickets instead. I also took the Keisei Skyliner from Narita to Ueno and back, but that wasn't covered by the rail pass because it's a different train line. Very foolish decisions on my part, and lessons learned.
Hotels 80,050 I spent five nights at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn with tatami mats and a futon) in Iriya, near Ueno, and requested a traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast there (which was added to the bill). I then spent one night at a business hotel in Sapporo. Finally, I spent five more nights at another ryokan in the Shibuya area. None of the places were exceptionally nice, but they were all definitely acceptable.
Bus tickets 2,310 While in Shibuya, I had a choice between a 15-minute walk from my ryokan to the subway station or a bus ride for 210 yen. I did so much other walking during my trip that I chose the bus every time. I took 11 bus trips... and got three rides back to my hotel from my friend Tateki.
Subway tickets 6,480 The Tokyo Metro subway system was disappointingly easy to navigate; most signs were in English as well as Japanese, and I had an English map in my shirt pocket for the rare instances where there was no English sign. I did accidentally buy one 160-yen ticket from a JR machine when I wanted to ride the Metro, but that was my own ignorance at work.
Restaurants 6,440 I had intended to eat one or two meals a day at restaurants, but I ended up falling in love with convenience-store food and barely ate in any restaurants. Plus I received two very nice meals when I was with Tateki that I didn't get to pay for. So this number covers a lunch of gyoza and ramen with Tateki in Yokohama Chinatown, three meals at MOS Burger in Sapporo and some vendor food at Senso-ji temple.
Convenience store food and beverages 11,331 As I said, I fell in love with convenience-store food. It's cheap compared to its US counterpart, but it's also exquisitely prepared and very delicious. I had a spaghetti salad topped with mentaiko (salted pollack or cod roe spiced with red pepper) that was divine. And I drank about 20 liters of Pocari Sweat. Family Mart, 7-Eleven, AMPM and Sunkus all got my business, as well as a shop with the delightful name of Consumerism Convenience Store.
Vending machine beverages 7,000 I averaged 500 yen a day in drinks bought from some of Japan's six million vending machines. I had a hard time staying hydrated due to walking so much and being out in 80+-degree heat. I drank delightful concoctions with names like Amino Supli, Calpis Fruity Café, Vitamin Guard, Kirin Nuda and Black Boss... plus the legendary, miraculous cocoa in a can. This doesn't even count the beverages I bought at convenience stores.
Vending machine food 550 I only bought food twice from vending machines. In the hotel in Sapporo, I paid 250 yen for two tiny bags of macadamia nuts. And at a huge rest area just off a major highway where Tateki took his dog for a walk and a wee, I found a vending machine that heated frozen taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries with sweet red-bean filling) and just HAD to have some, even though I'd just eaten a huge meal. I was not disappointed.
Hygiene 5,059 I didn't want to go through the hassle of bringing liquids or gels through airport security, so I just packed a toothbrush and decided I'd get all the other necessities in Japan. If only it was so easy. The only deodorant I could find turned out to be women's deodorant, as learned several days later from a TV commercial. I fought sunburn with mentholatum gel and a sunblock that cost 1,575 yen for 30 mL (1 ounce). I bought what I hoped was toothpaste (it was) and a few other items.
Admission 1,600 Senso-ji temple was free, but I made an offering of 100 yen and paid another 100 yen for an omikuji (written fortune). Admission to the Ueno Zoo was only 600 yen, and two trips to the botanical gardens in Sapporo set me back only 400 yen each.
Gifts 7,767 Along the way, I bought various gifts for my parents and one of my DeviantArt friends. I bought postcards and mailed them to friends and family, and I feel bad that I forgot so many people! And I gave Tateki a 1,000-yen note to help cover parking costs during a trip; he was so gracious and generous that I barely got the chance to pay for anything.
Shipping 12,000 Tateki also helped me ship a big box of things I'd bought back home. I had figured I'd spend $100 on shipping, and while I ended up sending less than I'd thought, it was still heavy enough that it had to be sent via EMS... so I broke even.
Console games 14,364 I bought seven video games for the DS Lite and Japanese PS2 from shops in Akihabara and Ginza, but since most of them were used or discount titles, they ended up costing less than $20 apiece. I couldn't find a few titles I was looking for, and I completely forgot to buy Itadaki Street DS even though every shop had a huge display of the game.
Trading cards 12,780 One of my favorite things to collect is trading cards related to the game Tokimeki Memorial, but they're hard to find in the US, even in online auctions. I looked all over Akihabara and couldn't find a single card in any of the shops I went to. But later, when I went to Nakano with Tateki and some of his friends, they helped me find all sorts of TokiMemo cards. Later, I actually did find some TokiMemo telephone cards in a consignment shop in Akihabara, and I bought a couple of cheap packs of other types of cards, too.
Figures 7,450 Another thing I've been collecting recently is small figures of characters from various anime and games that I like. They often come from gashapon machines, which are fancy versions of the toy capsule machines seen in US department store lobbies. It's a very expensive hobby, especially when buying them from online auctions. Miraculously, I found two sets of a dozen figures each from the game Sentimental Graffiti, in their original boxes, for 1,575 yen each. I also picked up 15 more figures, plus a plastic beetle and three miniature food items. I showed amazing restraint. (Translation: I wish I'd bought more!)
Books 2,730 I could have bought more books... but books are heavy, and I can easily order Japanese books online. So I only bought two books: volume 6 of the manga Yotsubato!, and a book/CD combo designed to teach Japanese speakers how to swear in English, which is even more bizarre than it sounds.
Toys 5,401 I spent well over an hour in Ginza's Hanuhinkan Toy Park, the largest toy store in Japan. It's eight stories tall, and the bottom four are filled with every kind of game, toy and novelty you can imagine. I bought a bunch of little puzzle toys, including a jigsaw puzzle disguised as a chocolate bar and a calendar where you arrange nine cubes to indicate the date and day of the week. I also bought some utterly useless, flashy trinkets, like tiny miniature models of Pocari Sweat bottles.
Pachinko 3,000 I lost 3,000 yen in pachinko in half an hour. The entire time, I hit one minor award, which dispensed only five balls into my bucket. That's OK, because Tateki seemed to know what he was doing, and he lost 3,000 yen, too.
Video games 350 I really wanted to visit some game centers (arcades) when I planned my trip. But every time I'd find one, I'd see a bunch of UFO catchers (crane games) inside the door and keep walking, totally neglecting the fact that the cool games are all hidden away on different floors. I played a game of Puyo Puyo 2 on a machine in horrible condition in a tiny game center in Sapporo, and I played five games of the fighting game Melty Blood: Act Cadenza in a game center in Nakano. I probably would have been a bit disappointed even if I'd gone into other game centers, as I'm a fan of older games (pre-2000), and apparently older games aren't as common in Japanese arcades.
Miscellaneous 6,014 Just a bunch of stuff barely worth listing: a tacky baseball cap (the tackiest I could find), coin lockers, coin Internet access, laundry, batteries and so on.
All site contents © 2000-2007 Quincunx -


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Written by Russ Pirozek, Fanbase Press Contributor
'Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay' - Blu-Ray Review
I wanted to start this review with a few caveats: I haven't seen many of the DC Animated Universe films, though the ones that have been seen are enjoyable, and I hated Suicide Squad. I hated it a lot. So, when the opportunity to review the newest DC Animated Universe film, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, came up, I really wanted to give it an opportunity. Thankfully, there was a lot to enjoy about this foray into the DC Universe.
Following Task Force X through a mission involving leaked intelligence, we see some familiar faces from the team, especially that of Deadshot. As things go awry, the team loses a few members, but under the guidance of Amanda Waller, a more recognizable team is assembled and given a new task: to retrieve a mysterious card that will allow its possessor to bypass Hell and go straight to Heaven when they pass, an object Waller desperately wants to have in her possession.
Without giving away too much, the film brings in faces that are well known and a few that casual fans might not know too well. Harley Quin, Deadshot, and Boomerang are all present, joined by Killer Frost, the modified snake-like Copperhead, and the brilliant martial artist Bronze Tiger. Together, they attempt to work off their prison sentences by completing black ops missions for Waller, given direct instructions to retrieve the card and get it back to her by any means necessary.
I want to get into the good of this film before I dole out a few criticisms. The story is well paced, giving each character their time to shine. Deadshot is the sullen and grumpy leader, Bronze Tiger gets his opportunity to show his moral compass in spite of his situation, and Harley gets a few laughs. This balance allows for a really interesting team dynamic that helps to push the story along. While not every beat is spot on, the overall result was a pretty enjoyable film.
I also think the surprisingly star-studded voice cast did an excellent job in representing their characters. Christian Slater does a terrific job stepping into the serious, but desperate, mind of Deadshot, Tara Strong continues to be basically the only choice (not named Margot Robbie) to be Harley Quinn, Vanessa Williams excels as Amanda Waller, and the entire cast feels at home in their roles within this universe.
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay also does an excellent job of bringing these characters into the DC Universe as a whole. While they're in their own world for this film, the tendrils that link them to the bigger names in DC are obviously there. All of the characters from the different franchises work well together here. Seeing Killer Frost and Professor Zoom, known as Flash villains, work with Batman staple Harley Quinn is a joy, as they all build off of one another in an interesting way.
That being said, there were a few things that I wanted to make known, especially since the animated films could be seen as an entry for children into the DC Universe to those who aren't as familiar with these films as a whole. This is not a film for young viewers, as it has a fair amount of violence, cursing, and even a small amount of nudity, some of which felt warranted, but a good amount feeling slapped on to give it an edgier feel. Curious decisions were made, especially in these regards, as the treatment of gore and foul language mostly felt tacked on to give it a bit of sharpness for die-hard fans. It's not too hard to forgive, as it's not terribly frequent, but when the out-of-place moments happen, they are very noticeable.
Overall, this is a good film. It's got a lot of entertaining action, beloved characters, and a story that will hold interest for fans of the DCU. Fans of the comics and some of the live-action films should be pleased, and even skeptics like myself are turned towards the DC Animated films for their quality. Unlike their live-action counterparts, this version of the Suicide Squad hits the mark, and for good reason.
Starring: Christian Slater, Vanessa Williams, Billy Brown, Tara Strong, C. Thomas Howell, Kristin Bauer Van Straten
Creative Team: Sam Liu (director), Alan Burnett (writer)
Publisher: DC Entertainment
Published in: Movies
Russ Pirozek, Fanbase Press Contributor
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I have been playing slots quite a lot offstream this week due to being ill, as i wanted to cheer myself up lol.
I have just made my 4th big win video (wins over 200x) and this could be the best of the lot as i FINALLY win a jackpot!!
Now this isn't the biggest win by any means but it's still over 300x, and the fact that is a Jackpot win makes it all the sweeter.


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Why I Can't Stand Traditional Writing Workshops
If I was a superhero, my arch-nemesis would be the traditional writing workshop method.
Dramatic? Perhaps.
But it was the traditional writing workshop that almost deterred me from pursuing a writing career. So I consider it the enemy.
Here's why. In my undergrad writing classes, I was assigned—like my classmates—to write a short story three times each semester. I would write a story passionately down on paper and furiously type it up, daydreaming of the awaiting praise of genius from my peers.
That is, the praise that never happened.
After printing piles of trees and distributing them around the classroom, I awaited my destiny—or doom—as my peers spent a week with red pens destroying my work of art.
And it was never pretty.
The rule was that I had to sit in silence for 45 minutes while my peers said what they liked and hated about the story. Comments normally ran like this:
"I liked this, but I really hated…"
(Those three dots represent 43 minutes.)
After a grueling interrogation session where my mouth is figuratively taped shut, my slaughtered story would crawl deep into my desk drawer or, worse, the trashcan.
The point of my story? The traditional writing workshop method doesn't work.
Writers Aren't Writing Constantly
The Problem: Writers are trained to only write when evaluated. If a writer only presents a story once a month, guess what? The writer is most likely going to write once a month. How is a writer's craft going to stay sharp when s/he only writes on command?
The Solution: Writers should be asked to write at least five new pages a week, whether or not they present. Peer support (or pressure) is a great way to keep the writer on track.
Likes & Dislikes Don't Matter
The Problem: Who cares if a peer likes your character or dislikes the plot choices? A story shouldn't be presented so that it wins a popularity contest. It's on the chopping block so that it can be polished.
The Solution: Compliment (or insult) a writer effectively so that the writer makes the editing choices. Ask questions like "why is it important for Character A to do X?" or "what is going through Character B's head during Y?" Let the writer write down your questions, then later evaluate the answers and the validity of his/her writing choices in private.
The Story Remains Raw
The Problem: After the verbal beating, the writer will most likely never return to revise the story. The traditional writing workshop method makes the writer's voice feel unvalued when the writer cannot contribute to the conversation, especially when the only ones that are heard are critical peers.
The Solution: Positive statements go a long way—but not as like statements. Point out what was effective and what really supports the story structure or character development. That way, when the writer returns to revise the story s/he will know where to start.
The Writer Becomes Self-Conscious
The Problem: It takes a lot for a writer to show his/her work. So where's the motivation to write when stories are torn to piece? The writer is less likely going to take writing risks. Playing it safe becomes the name of the game—if the writer chooses to write at all.
The Solution: Let the writer have a voice, even for two minutes. The writer should be part of the dialogue, not on the sidelines. The group must agree that this is a safe, healthy environment to discuss writing so that everyone feels comfortable voicing their thoughts maturely and productively.
What do you think of the traditional writing workshop method? Share your thoughts below.
Tags amwriting, creative writing, Creativity, K.L. Wightman, Kaitlyn Wightman, MFA, novel, novels, workshop, Writing, writing workshop
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3 thoughts on "Why I Can't Stand Traditional Writing Workshops"
ericjbaker
I dislike writing groups and workshops. Too many variables to be worthwhile, and too much out-of-context misunderstanding of the writer's intent. I've heard as many horror stories as I have praise for the concept. If it only works half the time and causes harm the other half, it's a pretty terrible concept. Finally, I haven't heard many bestselling authors talk about their writing groups, because they're not in one. Ergo, they aren't necessary for success.
I also support people's freedom to make that choice and recognize that writing groups are valuable to some writers. If it works for 'you,' go for it. I prefer a good editor who knows how to separate personal taste from professional service.
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Buttermilk pie first popped up on my radar a little over a year ago. I read about it on a few different websites and, honestly, was a little perplexed by it. I wondered if a pie that was flavored primarily by buttermilk could be all that great to eat. Sure, I love to bake with buttermilk; I love the moist, subtle tang it gives to baked goods. However, a pie wholly flavored (well, mostly flavored) by buttermilk? That was a different beast altogether. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it until I saw that the top of the custard pie is sprinkled with sugar so that it develops a burnt, crackly crust like creme brûlée. I can't ever say no to creme brûlée, so I determined that it was essential for me to try buttermilk pie.
From what I've read, buttermilk pie is a Southern food tradition in the U.S., but it originated in the United Kingdom. It's similar to chess pie, but does not include cornmeal, which is an essential component to chess pie. Buttermilk pie is made by simply whisking together a custard filling of sugar, cornstarch, eggs, buttermilk, cream, melted butter and some vanilla for flavor. It's poured into a pie crust and baked, with a higher temperature at the end to caramelize the sugar topping.
The resulting pie, after cooling and left to chill in the refrigerator, has a firm, custard-like consistency with a smooth, tangy flavor. Suffice it to say, if you love including buttermilk in your baked goods, you'll absolutely love this pie! That caramelized topping will certainly garner bonus points if you're a creme brûlée fan as well. I really enjoy discovering new-to-me regional recipes and making them come to life in my own kitchen.
Do you have any favorite recipes from your corner of the world?
Buttermilk Pie boasts a creamy, custard-like filling with a slight tang from buttermilk and a crackly sugar crust.
Make the Pie Crust: Place the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Add the chilled shortening and pulse until coarsely ground (about 5 to 6 pulses). Add the chilled butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs (about 10 pulses). Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons ice water over the flour mixture. Using rubber spatula, stir the mixture until dough forms. If dough remains crumbly, add remaining 1 tablespoon water. Form the dough into a 4-inch disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
Let the chilled dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the dough to a pie plate and fold any overhanging dough underneath itself so the edge of the dough is flush with the outer edge of the pie plate. Crimp edges as desired. Refrigerate the dough-lined pie plate for 40 minutes, then place in the freezer for 20 minutes. While the crust is in the freezer, adjust the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Line the chilled pie plate with two pieces of parchment paper, allowing the parchment edges to hang over the edges of the pie crust. Fill the lined pie crust with pie weights, place on a lined baking sheet and bake on the lower-middle oven rack until lightly golden around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the parchment and pie weights, rotate the baking sheet and continue to bake until the crust is golden brown, 5 to 7 more minutes. Brush the surface of the hot crust with the egg white and bake for an additional 1 minute.
Make the Pie Filling: While the crust is baking, prepare the pie filling. In a large bowl, whisk together ¾ cup of the sugar, the cornstarch and salt. Add the eggs and egg yolks and whisk to thoroughly combine. Add the buttermilk, heavy cream, melted butter, white vinegar and vanilla extract, and whisk until completely combined.
Once the crust is done, reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. If the pie filling has been sitting for a few minutes, give it a short whisk to recombine, then transfer to a 4-cup measuring cup (or other large bowl/cup with a spout). Leaving the pie crust in the oven (just slide the oven rack out a bit), carefully pour the filling into the hot pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes.
Again, leaving the pie crust in the oven and just sliding the oven rack out, sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar evenly over the top of the pie. Continue to bake until the center jiggles very slightly when the pie is shaken, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Once the oven comes to temperature, place the pie on the upper-middle rack and bake until the top is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove from the oven and place the pie plate on a wire rack and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Transfer the pie to the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours before serving.


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Disney Studio Division, Including Searchlight, Also Hit With Layoffs Following ESPN Cuts
Following up on the news this morning that ESPN is laying off several hundred employees, we've learned that there are also a handful of layoffs taking place at Disney's studio division – including six people at Searchlight Pictures. Other areas impacted include Disney's studio marketing group as well as its theatrical stage team in New York, which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic with all of Broadway shut down.
While the ESPN layoffs were reported at approximately 6% of its global team, we're told the studio impacts are far less and also include the elimination of several hundred open positions.
Searchlight Pictures
Similar to what's going on in the entertainment industry right now with today's 15% workforce reduction at Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Sony's layoffs last week, and NBCUniversal's TV and streaming unit cut commencing in mid-November, the impacts at Disney are from the ongoing results of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well, as the studio's strategic restructuring, which many conglomerates are going through right now. The whole town is dealing with the balance of delayed theatrical releases until 2021 and eventing once-planned tentpoles on streaming and PVOD platforms. Further impacting the immediate theatrical release landscape, even if New York City and Los Angeles reopen in the near future, is the fact that most of Western Europe is under lockdown again as COVID-19 cases have increased.
In addition, the pandemic has hit Disney's Parks and Resorts business, with its cruise ships docked and many of its theme parks affected by closures throughout part of the year, including Disneyland which remains closed.
Having already staked its claim in the streaming space with the launch of Disney+ last year and the acquisitions of Star India and a majority stake in Hulu, Disney accelerated its streaming efforts in October by reorganizing its media businesses into two separate teams – Content, and Distribution & Commercialization. This reorganization resulted in the centralization of a number of departments and roles. The Studios and ESPN are now responsible for content creation distinct from distribution.
Not impacted today is Disney's Television Content division under Peter Rice which is expected to undergo restructuring in the near future.


Our Livingstone based partners will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Zambezi waterfront lodge which is situated right in the heart of Livingstone.
After breakfast, it is time to head South Luangwa National Park`s Croc Valley Camp. You will be transferred back to Livingstone airport in order to fly to Lusaka and then on to Mfuwe.
Croc Valley Camp is set on the banks of the picturesque South Luangwa River. Set in the riverine forest the camp in deliberately inconspicuous so as to retain the natural beauty of the surroundings and encourage wildlife to roam freely. An abundance of wildlife such as elephants, monkeys, hippos and a wide variety of antelope often pass through the camp and can be seen most days from the safety of our shaded rondavels, the bar, restaurant, chalets and tents.
Full board plus park fees and game activities.
The Funky Cichlid Lodge is situated at the Cape Maclear, 500 meters from the Lake Malawi National Park. The lodge has 13 rooms and dorms with fans and mosquito nets in all its rooms. It is a great place to rest once you are done with all the leisure activities. Check out The Funky Cichlid – promotional video to see what the lodge and Cape Maclear is all about.
After breakfast, we will start driving towards Cape Maclear to the next piece of paradise on the Lake Malawi. Upon arrival you will drive straight to Kayak Africa reception before at 10:30 am, from there you will either Kayak out or boat ride to Domwe Island a 45 minutes trip.
Domwe Island is the largest unpopulated island in Lake Malawi, with a circumference of 11km and the highest point is 400m above lake level. Domwe Island Adventure Camp is basic yet exclusive. It lies behind a small beach on the island's west side. From solar lighting to dry compost toilets Domwe aims to be as eco-friendly as possible, so during your stay here you will be living authentically alongside nature.
All the good things must come to an end and today after breakfast we will drive back to Lilongwe International Airport for your flight back home.
We hope you have enjoyed the tour!
Our Livingstone based partners will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Victoria Falls Hotel which overlooks the falls.
After breakfast, it is time to head South Luangwa. Where you will be staying at Nkonzi Camp. You will be transferred back to Livingstone airport in order to fly to Lusaka and then on to Mfuwe.
Nkonzi Camp is located deep in the heart of South Luangwa National Park. From the moment you walk out of your tent, you are on safari in one of Africa's finest wildlife destinations.
Nkonzi Camp is perfectly positioned for stargazing too, with zero light pollution and panoramic views of the Milky Way that have to be seen to be believed.
Situated right on the beach in Cape Maclear, Annie's Lodge is an apart hotel with a restaurant, lounge and also has an outdoor pool free self – parking is free. Additionally, Wi-Fi in public areas, a business center, and dry cleaning are onsite.
All the 11 apartments provide conveniences like refrigerators and coffee makers, plus WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Room service and desks are among the other amenities available to guests.
At 10:30am your boat transfer will depart for the stunning Mumbo Island, which is approximately 45 minutes.
Mumbo Island is a deserted tropical island on the expansive waters of the Lake Malawi. With amazing underwater boulders, around 800 species of colorful cichlid fishes and placid, clear water, the National Park offers what many consider the best freshwater snorkeling and SCUBA diving in the world.
Welcome to Zambia! Our partners will meet you in Livingstone and transfer you to your accommodation for the next two nights.
After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport in order to catch your flight to Lusaka then onto Mfuwe. It's time to go on safari!
Kafunta is a classic Zambian safari lodge where you will find the rest and peace you need after an exciting day of game drives with their highly knowledgeable guides. At Kafunta each of the luxury private chalets and the main lounge/dining area has fantastic views of the game rich flood plain. Next to the bar you'll find the pool and the natural hot spring in the Luangwa Valley. This unique hot tub is fed from a completely natural geothermal source on Kafunta's grounds. Here you can enjoy pure relaxation while being presented with magnificent views over the floodplain and the Luangwa River.
Full board, all game activities, park fees and drinks.
After breakfast, get ready now to drive to Cape Maclear to the Kayak Africa reception offices. You will have a boat transfer to Mumbo Island, which is approximately 45 minutes.
Mumbo Island is a deserted tropical island on the expansive waters of the Lake Malawi. With amazing underwater boulders, around 800 species of colourful cichlid fishes and placid, clear water, the National Park offers what many consider the best freshwater snorkelling and SCUBA diving in the world.
Pumulani is an exclusive beach lodge within Lake Malawi National Park. The lodge has ten individually-designed villas spread out along a lush hillside overlooking the lake. Each villa boasts a large bedroom, a spacious living area and a private deck with lake view. Guests can relax on the sandy beach or at our stylish infinity pool. For those seeking activity, there is waterskiing, sailing, diving, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing and bird watching.
At sunset they offer scenic cruises on a traditional wooden dhow. It's the perfect way to experience the beauty of Lake Malawi, described by the explorer David Livingstone as The Lake of Stars.
Full board, all non-motorised activities and drinks.
All the good things must come to an end and today breakfast we will drive back to LilongweInternational Airport for your flight back home.
Welcome to Zambia! Our representatives will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation, The Royal Chundo.
Set on a private stretch of the Zambezi River in Zambia, Royal Chundu indulges both the seeker of respite and thrill. As the only lodge along the Zambezi that does not share its waterways with other Zambian operators, we hold a tranquillity not even the call of Zambia, the iconic cry of the African Fish Eagle, can disturb. Yet, some 30 kilometres upstream from the Victoria Falls, adventure abounds.
You will be transferred back to Livingstone Airport where you will catch your flight to Mfuwe via Lusaka. Once in Mfuwe you will be met by our representatives in Mfuwe and driven to South Luangwa National Park. Where you will be staying at Tena Tena.
Situated in the exclusive Nsefu Sector, Tena Tena is nestled under a magnificent thick grove of mahogany trees. On a double tiered river bank, each room enjoys its own private view onto the river.
It is now time to fly to the ever green northern part of Malawi. After today`s breakfast, your driver will transfer you to Lilongwe international airport for your flight to Kaya Mawa situated at Likoma Island. A representative will be at the airport to welcome you and transfer you to Kaya Mawa thereafter.


Nov 2018 — It's been an absolute blast creating the displays and show at our house on Beachview Drive. Our show ran from 2012 to 2017 getting bigger (and I hope, better every year). In the summer of 2018, we moved to Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast, BC where I get to create a new display and show. It will be pretty modest this year but hopefully still enjoyable.
While I only made the transition to light animation 6 years ago, I've always loved outdoor light decorations. My father happily gave me the go-ahead to decorate our home with Christmas lights when I was twelve and I haven't looked back since. Consequently, our house has always had a lot of lights at Christmas, and, on any other special occasion.
The current madness started a few years ago when my daughter drew some pictures of spawning salmon, which we promptly decided would look great at Christmas. We built some outlines, added lights and set them out so they looked like they were swimming up a 60-foot river of lights. A year later, I got them to "dance" to music – sort of. Since then I've added a mega-tree, arches, ground lights, and many other props. If you are in the area, come out to see the show. New additions this year are roof lights and driveway arches. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Our display features over 50 hand-built elements, 18,000 lights, and over 50,000 channels. Over 17,000 of those light are individually controlled pixels, with red, green and blue LEDs that can each be controlled to produce over 16 million different colours. The lights are connected to a network of controllers that interface with the lights. I built most of the controllers myself based on designs (and "kits") designed by Robert Jordan at DiyLightAnimation and David Pitts & MyKroFT at Falcon Christmas.
The show runs on a Raspberry Pi B+ running Falcon Player software originally written by David Pitts but now continuously updated by CaptainMurdock, which drives the controllers. The light animation sequences are created using Xlights/Nutcracker software, originally designed by Matt Brown (Xlights) Sean Meighan (Nutcracker) but now continuously updated by a team of volunteer developers. All the software and hardware I use is non-commercial.
Each song takes me about 8-10 hours per minute to synchronize to the music, so the average song that you see has taken about 25 hours to sequence, often much more. Because sequencing is so time-consuming, I have not had enough time recently to sequence all my own songs. Fortunately, there is a growing community of light animation enthusiasts and we have been able to start sharing each other's sequences. Starting with someone else's initial sequencing often reduces the sequencing time to 2-3 hours per minute, which makes it possible for me to add several new songs every year, instead of only 1 or 2.


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text:
Engaging the Moment Makes Better Leaders
by: Mary Crossan, Corey CrossanIssues: January / February 2015. Tags: Leadership. Categories: IBJ Insights.
When looking back for valuable lessons offered by the year 2014, a good place to start is the performance of Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard at Wimbledon. After all, while Bouchard didn't win her final match, she still served up lessons worth noting by everyone, especially leaders.
Leaders can learn a lot from athletes like Bouchard, who had long dreamed of stepping onto centre court at the "cathedral of tennis" for her first Grand Slam. Before the final, she said: "I just want to be able to handle the moment." When it comes to Bouchard's success as a tennis player, the ability to engage the moment is a skill every bit as important as her serve. And the same things that challenge an athlete's ability to engage the moment can subvert the focus of leaders.
As Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Victor Frankl noted, the space between stimulus and response creates an opportunity to engage the moment in a way that can be transformative. But doing this is extremely difficult because attention on the task at hand can be drawn away by past experiences, not to mention expectations for the future.
Like athletes, leaders need to reflect on the past and plan for the future, but both need to bring the best of themselves when facing the present. The ability to do this is developed over time and anchored in competence, character and commitment, which are only developed in everyday moments.
Competencies are what a person can do and commitment is the effort someone will put into doing it, while character influences the choices people make as they attempt to achieve goals (including whether they will acquire the requisite competencies and make the required commitment). All are necessary and work together to deliver short- and long-term performance, which is realized through the present and the string of present moments. Indeed, for great athletes, the ability to engage the moment isn't reserved for grand competitive occasions. It is a habit. Being fully present during everyday moments provides the foundation and focus for tackling the big moments.
Immersing yourself in the moment requires heightened awareness. It is also essential to quiet what can be a judgmental and dysfunctional mind. Stressful moments activate the fight/flight response, releasing adrenaline and distracting thoughts. To maintain focus, top athletes rely on breathing techniques to maintain control. Leaders can do the same thing to engage present moments, particularly stressful ones, in productive ways.
While having expectations to achieve, great athletes and leaders alike understand that fear of failure is a distraction that can cripple performance, which is why they learn to focus on process rather than outcome. They teach themselves to be comfortable with the unknown. Instead of fearing the feeling of not knowing, some even learn to enjoy it.
A common saying in the military is that soldiers will "rise to the lowest level of training they have achieved." The same is true of athletes and leaders. It is easy to get rattled under pressure, but trusting one's preparation helps to ensure commitment to the moment. Athletes rely on well-established routines that they can trust under pressure. The equivalent for leaders is developing the character, competencies and commitment that provide both the confidence to trust in them, and the depth to ensure that they do not crack under pressure.
It was not a fairy-tale ending for Bouchard at Wimbledon. She was dominated by Petra Kvitová in her final match, which has been called the most lopsided women's championship in 22 years. Bouchard engaged the moment and executed on all of the things that had gotten her to this point in her spectacular career. But character and commitment are not enough when facing someone with the same or superior competencies. As commentators noted, Bouchard was "outplayed, outclassed by a bigger, stronger opponent." Yet, there was nothing but praise for Bouchard, who was described as "poised beyond her years." All expectations are that her character and commitment will enable her to develop the full set of competencies to be a Wimbledon champion.
"It is a tough road to become as good as I want to be," Bouchard told reporters after the match. "It was a big moment walking out on the centre court for the final…. I hope I can walk out to many more." When asked if losing the final was a gut-wrenching experience, she simply replied, "If I try my best, it is all I can do."
Bouchard has learned to be gentle with herself while driving for excellence, which is why she still resists the temptation to be distracted from the task at hand. We can all learn from her ability to live up to the Kipling quote portrayed prominently at Wimbledon: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same."
Nanotech's Big Issue
by Shane Journeay, Walter Urban
2014 Showed Character Is as Important as Talent
by Gerard Seijts
Don't Confuse Sustainability with CSR
by Tima Bansal, Mark DesJardine
Mary Crossan
Mary Crossan is a Professor of Strategic Management at Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ontario. She can be reached at mcrossan@ivey.uwo.ca.
Corey Crossan
Corey Crossan is Assistant Coach of Women's Golf at Eastern Michigan University.


Naomi is entering her 5th month of dealing with frustrating, life-altering health issues. Many of you have been asking for updates and I am sorry that they have been so infrequent. But, the challenge is that there is so little we can say to update you. The lack of information and slow progress with test results and Dr. appointments is really wearing Naomi down and fielding questions is beginning to take a toll on her. At the same time, she is very grateful for all the concern so many are showing her.
She is still waiting for results from the GI tests that were taken on Aug 22. She should hear by this Friday if anything has shown up. Her appointment with the UW Cardiologist was very good. While her heart is situated differently than normal (which is why the folks in Wenatchee were unable to read her echocardiogram and we went on another wild goose chase), it is still a very healthy heart. Her symptoms are most likely not a result of her unique anatomy. I'm relieved it isn't her heart.
Her symptoms continue to morph and change, some getting better, some worse. Right now, I'm concerned about her spirits. She will not be going back to school this fall.
Several people have asked about Lyme's Disease. She is hopefully going to be tested for that and mono this week. She has an appointment set for mid-September at Children's, and a neurology appointment set up for mid-October.
While the doctors we've met with have been individually wonderful, it is really frustrating how challenging it has been to get her any help. Progress is incredibly slow. Communication between facilities is non-existent. We are getting lessons in advocating for ourselves.
Hoping to have real news soon. If you ask her for an update and don't hear back right away, don't take it personally. It's just hard to repeat the same non-info over and over…defeating. However, feel free to message her with encouragement.


text:
Meet the Johnson Investment Counsel Team
// Email Me
Michael C. Leisring, CFA
Chief Investment Officer-Fixed Income, Portfolio Manager, Principal
Management Team, Asset Management, Cincinnati - West
Michael joined Johnson Asset Management in 1999 and serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income. He is a shareholder of the firm and a member of the Fixed Income Strategy Team. His primary responsibilities include fixed income portfolio management, credit analysis, and leading the firm's fixed income group. Michael currently serves as member of the Finance Committee, a member of the Portfolio Strategy and Asset Allocation team, and the lead manager on the fixed income mutual fund complex. He has over 20 years of industry experience including roles in Trading, Analysis, and Research. Michael served as the Director of Fixed Income from 2013 to 2021. He received a B.S. in Finance & Accounting from Miami University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Miami University, B.S. Finance & Accounting
CFA Society Cincinnati


text:
A New Look at a Classic: Celestron C8 XLT Schmidt-Cassegrain
HomeReviewsTelescopesA New Look at a Classic: Celestron C8 XLT Schmidt-Cassegrain
BY: Larry Carlino
Larry Carlino
Credit: Celestron
The good: Versatile, light, fine optics
The bad: Needs cool-down time and near-perfect collimation
Over the past five decades, the Celestron C8 has established its reputation as a versatile, affordable, and high-quality astronomical telescope. Available in myriad configurations ranging from bare tube assembly to wi-fi computerized, the C8 delivers the rare combination of competence in a variety of visual and photo/CCD applications. Here, we review the Celestron C8 XLT Schmidt-Cassegrain.
The 203mm aperture, f/10, SCT weighs less than 13 pounds (6 kg), and it can be accommodated by many medium-duty alt-azimuth and equatorial mounts, some of which will permit "grab-and-go" capability.
Critics of the Schmidt-Cass design tend to downgrade the C8 for producing "soft" images. However, a well-collimated and properly cooled example delivers very fine images, with absolutely no false color and excellent contrast on both planetary and deep-sky objects.
While there is some variability in the quality of individual scopes, most of the recent models are more than acceptable. When compared to a top-of-the-line 5-inch apochromatic refractor, the C8 shows about the same degree of lunar detail with stark contrast and a very bright image even at powers 200 and above. The chains of tiny craterlets near Copernicus, Rima Birt, and Triesnecker rills are strikingly apparent, and the lunar south is flooded with intricate crater detail.
Jupiter shows a wealth of belt and zone detail with the C8. Coloration of the north equatorial belt (NEB) is easily seen, and the Great Red Spot is impressive at 155x. The Galilean satellites can be recognized by their individual sizes and colors when the magnification is boosted to 275x.
Saturn is bright enough at higher powers to present a memorable view. The Cassini Division stands out with clarity, and belt detail on the planet is nicely visible. Overall, the SCT renders a brighter image than the 5-inch APO, but the refractor's contrast and "etched" image quality can't be equaled.
Close, difficult double stars such as Delta Cygni, Zeta Aquarii, and Antares are nicely resolved at 200x and above, and the scope meets the theoretical criteria for resolution.
The C8 is an excellent deep-sky instrument. The StarBright XLT coatings and effective baffling provide good light throughput, and a dark sky background. The telescope resolves brighter globular clusters such as M13, M22, and M92 to the core, and the Orion Nebula shows its green tint and a great deal of fine structure. Only very large objects such as the Pleiades won't fit, but an optional f/6.3 focal reducer can expand the field-of-view.
The C8 may well be the telescope of choice for observers restricted to just one instrument.
Read Larry Carlino's complete review of the Celestron C8 XLT: Astromart
Tag List Celestron TELESCOPE
About Larry Carlino
Larry Carlino is an avid, life-long astronomy enthusiast, lunar, planetary, and deep-sky observer and the owner of more than 100 telescopes over the past several decades. He is a writer, a poet (latest work "Between") and a retired teacher of English.
/ Alan Dyer
A Premium Imaging Alternative: The SharpStar 100mm Quadruplet Astrograph
Plus: Superb optics, with flat field for imaging; excellent fittings and finish Minus: 2-inch eyepieces and diagonal will not reach focus; no filter drawer...
Alan Dyer, apo, apochromat, astrophotography, imaging, refractors, sharpstar
Astrophotography gear, Reviews, Telescopes
Premium APO, Moderate Price: SharpStar 140PH APO Triplet
A new big-aperture refractor providing top-class optical and mechanical performance to appeal to apo aficionados. Plus: Excellent optics and mechanics; suitable for both visual...
Alan Dyer, astrophotography, imaging, refractors, sharpstar, TELESCOPE
Astrophotography gear, Telescopes
/ Ed Ting
Review / Video: Orion Short Tube 120, a Classic Entry-Level Refractor
The telescope bargains just keep on coming. Take, for example, the Orion Short Tube 120, a 120 mm f/5 achromatic refractor. Due to their...
ORION, TELESCOPE


text:
Eastern Health responds to jump in St. John's-area nurses' overtime hours
Barb Sweet (barbara.sweet@thetelegram.com)
Glen Whiffen (glen.whiffen@thetelegram.com)
Published: Jul 21, 2019 at 8:42 p.m.
Updated: Jul 22, 2019 at 9:06 a.m.
Health Sciences Centre
Health authority says total OT cost for four metro region hospitals is $5.5 million
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. —
Eastern Health says there are a number of factors that contribute to overtime use in any particular program area, in any fiscal year.
That includes scenarios that require relief staff to be called in to maintain safe staffing levels — such as unanticipated absences from the workplace (due to sick leave or other reasons), vacancies created by nurses moving from one program to another, and periods of increased demand.
The health authority was responding to a story in Friday's Telegram about how overtime worked by registered nurses at St. John's four hospitals exploded in 2019, after a couple of years when
Eastern Health managed to get the numbers down, according to data obtained by The Telegram.
Through access to information legislation, The Telegram pulled the nurse overtime for four facilities: the Health Sciences Centre General Hospital, the Janeway children's hospital, which is part of Health Sciences Centre, the Waterford Hospital and St. Clare's Hospital.
Across those four hospitals, nurses worked a total of 131,836.12 overtime hours in fiscal 2018-19 - the year ends March 31.
That total is equivalent to what 67.6 extra nurses would log, based on a regular 37.5-hour work week.
The nurses' overtime was almost as high in 2014-15, but then it began to trend down — in 2015-16 to 123,331.38 hours, 102,475.90 in 2016-17 and up slightly to 105,909.40 in 2017-18.
The highest jump by far in fiscal 2019 over fiscal 2018 was at the Janeway, where nurses' overtime hours skyrocketed by 59 per cent - from 14,829.88 hours to 23,703.84.
The most frantic time this past year ended Feb. 9, 2019 - 168 Janeway nurses logged overtime that pay period.
The Health Sciences Centre, which understandably logs the most overtime every year, as it is the province's trauma centre, saw a 12 per cent increase, from 58,530.44 to 66,016.69 hours of overtime.
St. Clare's saw a 26 per cent hike in nurses' overtime hours over the two most recent years, and the Waterford, 33 per cent.
In an emailed statement to The Telegram, Eastern Health stated the total cost to Eastern Health for overtime paid to Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland and Labrador nurses at the Health Sciences Centre, St. Clare's Mercy Hospital, the Janeway and the Waterford Hospital in 2018/19 was approximately $5.5 million.
"It is important to note that instead of receiving pay, employees may choose to bank their overtime hours for future time off work. Banked hours are not included in the overtime cost," it stated.
"We recognize the ongoing challenge of overtime use for nurses and other health-care professionals who serve within our organization, and we are continuing to work to address it as effectively as possible.
"While we acknowledge that overtime use increased during fiscal year 2018-19 at the Health Sciences Centre, St. Clare's Mercy Hospital, the Janeway and the Waterford Hospital, Eastern Health assures the public that we have appropriate safeguards in place to ensure that safe staffing levels are always maintained at our facilities, even in situations where all employees available for overtime on a particular unit have been called in."
"Eastern Health assures the public that we have appropriate safeguards in place to ensure that safe staffing levels are always maintained at our facilities, even in situations where all employees available for overtime on a particular unit have been called in."
The statement further notes that Eastern Health recognizes and shares the challenge of nursing recruitment with health authorities across Canada and around the world.
"Addressing this challenge is one of our measures to address the challenge of overtime," the statement said. "We continue to hire nurses directly from local graduating classes, as well as experienced nurses seeking employment. We also offer bursaries for some of the more difficult-to-recruit nursing positions. Further, we have been working with the nurses' union on measures to more effectively make use of our casual nursing workforce.
Debbie Forward.
"We are also working closely with union representatives and individual program areas to develop other measures to meet the overtime challenge, including exploring the creation of nurse float pools in order to more effectively schedule relief coverage at regular, non-overtime rates."
Eastern Health, together with the province's other regional health authorities, has been working with the provincial government to explore the potential for a new workforce management system that will assist with optimization of staff schedules based on patient acuity and other demand factors using predictive scheduling technologies, it reads.
Debbie Forward, president of the Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador, noted the high overtime trend went down following 2015 and that reflects an effort by Eastern Health to control overtime, a plan that has since faltered with the rise in overtime again.
One example of a "band-aid" measure, she noted in the previous story, was that Eastern Health wasn't going to replace the first shift of a sick call, which worked for only a short time.
Eastern Health admitted the measure was brought in several years ago.
"It is important to note that this is always done in consultation with unit team managers and is only approved in cases where it can be confirmed that patient safety will not be compromised as a result," the statement said.
"We believe that this has had a positive impact for reducing overtime use, but we acknowledge there is still much more progress to be made."


Market reports on India presents the latest report on "India E-commerce Logistics Market". This report provide the customer base for e-Tailers wasn't just restricted to the Metros.
Indian e-Commerce market has seen a rapid growth in past few years. More than 70% of the e-Commerce market is travel related. The e-Tailing market has grown from $0.64 Billion in 2013 to $4.6 Billion in 2015 growing at a CAGR of 63%.The remaining comprises e-Tailing (online retailing), online financing and classifieds. Increasing internet and mobile penetration, growing acceptability of online payments and favourable demographics has provided the e-commerce sector in India the unique opportunity to companies connect with their customers. There would be over a five to seven fold increase in revenue generated through e-commerce as compared to last year with all branded apparel, accessories, jewellery, gifts, footwear are available at a cheaper rates and delivered at the doorstep. Out of 8 e-Commerce unicorns from India, 3 are e-Tailers (Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues).
The unprecedented rise in the e-Tailing market led to rise in demand of e-Commerce Logistics. According to 'Indian e-Commerce Logistics Market Outlook 2021', the customer base for e-Tailers wasn't just restricted to the Metros. Almost half of the orders were from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Generally all the Logistics Service Providers have a great reach and give timely deliveries in metros but, with this expanding customer base, timely delivery to such regions became a necessity. Logistics isn't just an issue for bigger players but it is a bigger issue for smaller and up-coming start-ups. Finding a perfect logistics partner with a great reach across the country, COD facility and timely remittance and all this at a lesser price became one of the primary objectives for all the e-Tailers. A delay in delivery just adds to the dismay of the customer.
The big e-Tailers like Flipkart, Amazon, Jabong, and FirstCry went for developing in-house Captive Logistics arm eg. Ekart of Flipkart, Amazon's Amazon Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd., GoJavas of Jabong, XpressBees of FirstCry etc. Many start-ups have entered into the logistics market in past few years offering e-Commerce focused logistics solution, Delhivery, Ecom Express and GoJavas, to name a few. The traditional LSPs like Blue Dart, FedEx, Gati, India Post, Safexpress etc. have also come up with their e-Commerce focused logistics solutions. In coming years this market is going to rise as with the increase in the e-Tailing market aided by internet and Smartphone penetration in India, and to cease the opportunity many new players will enter the market with their offerings for e-Tailers.
• COD Scenario, Returns, Reverse Logistics etc.
• Company profiles of leading players and overview of start-ups.
• Strategic Recommendations for e-Tailers, Traditional Logistics Service Providers, Captive Arms/E-commerce Focused Companies.


I want to share with you a small piece of my project. It's about Scala programming language. If to be more precise it's about the most simple way of Scala studying. Why I said the most simple? Well, because I have a solid knowledge of mainstream problems which occur during Scala studying. So I invite you to discuss my job.
After 3 years of Scala usage, I can confidently say that it's awesome programming language. Looking back in the days when I started learn Scala, I feel myself stupid, because I didn't follow an optimal learning way. My attempts to understand Scala concepts were unsuccessful. Only through persistence, I achieved first results.
So I want to share with you my vision of Scala learning process.
Here is a well know fact: Scala allows to write the same thing in many different forms. From the one side it's nice, because you have a large variety of decisions. But from the other side, programming is not a good place for a writing thoughts in a free form.
As you see, even in so simple action, as a function declaration we have multiple choices, to do it. The further we go, the harder things become for understanding. Of course this can be easily solved by introducing a code guide. Then the only thing you need to do is to learn all basic forms for main language constructions.
Keep in mind, that I'm speaking from the Java developer perspective.
Additional complexity make a syntax and a functional programming. Furthermore you never know what topic need to be learned next. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In Scala I can ask you: which came first, a case class or a pattern matching? Or maybe an apply function?
I decided to start teaching from the most easiest topic for Java developers – object oriented programming. Scala has its own OOP implementation, and it's very similar to Java 8, including functional interfaces. So there is nothing more trivial than Scala OOP for Java developers.
As soon as I'll collect enough comments regarding this mini video course, I'm going to complete the rest of the video lecture. I invite you to join to the first group of "beta" students and leave your feedback about it. Almost 1 hour of content is waiting for you. Try the most unappreciated JVM programming language!
Get your free copy of the course via the subscription form below.


In the last Netcast I talked about M$ getting all "social" with it's new Office, well, now it is getting "cloudy" as well!
"Office 2013 is now available to download in a preview version, so its users already know that the next version of Microsoft's productivity software suite also has SkyDrive features. Today, Microsoft offered up more details on how its SkyDrive cloud-based storage service will be integrated and used in Office 2013.
Therefore, if you are working on your document from a coffee shop with a weak WiFi signal, you will be able to continue making changes to the file while uploads are in progress. This ensures that the performance and latency associated with editing Office documents is not affected by the bandwidth, latency or even availability of your network connection.
Office 2013 will also let people know if they are working on files while they are also offline and can even alert Office 2013 users of any changes that have been made to documents that are awaiting an upload to their SkyDrive account.


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Ubuntu touch app
Delta11 September 13, 2022, 7:10pm #1
there will be an app in ubports?
Simon September 14, 2022, 6:11am #2
I'd love to see that, but we currently don't have the resources to make that.
You could try running the android app somehow, though I don't know the current state of running android apps on ubuntu touch, maybe you'd have to install anbox or waydroid?
Also generally I like the approach of bringing linux apps to mobile form factor (plasma mobile, phosh shell, postmarketOS and so on) more than ubuntu's "make new apps" approach.
An option to make such a version more quickly would be forking UBports / Development / Core Apps / TELEports · GitLab, to use their UI.
Also this was requested/discussed on the forum before:
Native Client for Linux based mobile OS
Are there any native linux desktop apps in the works?
PS: I removed the russian category, because you asked you question in englisch. the russian category is a special place for writing russian, because the mayority of the forum is english.
lk108 January 15, 2023, 12:41pm #3
Hi, I'm currently working on an app for Ubuntu Touch. I have some questions, for example regarding app name and icon. Is it possible to use the name "Delta Chat" and the official icon? Who would be the correct contact for such questions?
Simon January 16, 2023, 2:26pm #4
If it's an open source project and your goal is to make it an official release that some point and merge it into our GitHub organisation, then it's ok to use the trademark, but you could also invent some other name like @adbenitez did with his android fork "DeltaLab" whose icon is a remixed version of the deltachat icon. And once your ubuntu touch app becomes "official", we can change it to the official name and icon.
We don't have strict trademark rules yet, I tried to start a list back sometime at FAQ entry on releasing a fork of deltachat · Issue #359 · deltachat/deltachat-pages · GitHub
But as you are not an asset flipping publisher that wants to sell delta chat for money without putting in any own work, there shouldn't be any problems using the trademark in this case.
What tech stack are you using? is there already a repo and/or some screenshots to share?
lk108 January 16, 2023, 9:36pm #5
Yes, it's open source (GPLv3). I plan to publish it in the OpenStore and won't make any money with it, i.e. I won't even put a donate link (maybe a note directing those that want to donate to the UBports and DeltaChat donation pages). Your suggestion to use some other name and a remixed logo in the beginning sounds good, though. I thought of "DeltaTouch" before, so looking at "DeltaLab", this name would be fine for now? Making it an official release may be a goal, but it's a long way to go until then.
The app is based on C++/Qt/QML. No repo yet, mainly because I am not sure how to deal with certain license topics. The layout is heavily inspired by the Ubuntu Touch version of FluffyChat. I also took some (GPL'ed) code snippets from here and there. And libdeltachat.so would be lying around pre-compiled for armhf, x86_64 and aarch64. The aim is to fulfil legal requirements and give credit where credit's due (any help here would be greatly appreciated).
Some screenshots:
screenshot20230116_2203118171080×1920 132 KB
Simon January 17, 2023, 12:40pm #6
lk108:
I thought of "DeltaTouch" before, so looking at "DeltaLab", this name would be fine for now?
sure I think that name is fine.
No repo yet, mainly because I am not sure how to deal with certain license topics
delta chat core is licensed MPL2, the android and the desktop client are licensed GPL3. Depending on what libraries you are using you could just also use GPL3.
r10s January 17, 2023, 12:56pm #7
wow, that looks very nice - and it looks already quite usable
Ok, thank you. I'll see to push it to a repo soon.
adbenitez January 18, 2023, 10:09am #10
@lk108 great! that looks nice and promising!
tip: for the "Unknown message type" you can actually use the message summary, Delta Chat always have a text representation for messages so if your app doesn't support image attachments yet, the message will look like "Image - hey, look at this flower" which is good enough for an start instead of a "unsupported message type" placeholder
lk108 January 18, 2023, 8:08pm #11
Thank you for the tip! Looks much better with it. But it's really time to implement the image viewer
adbenitez January 18, 2023, 8:31pm #12
you could also just check for the filename property for unknown messages types and provide link/button to open path externally + message text
Sounds good. I'll implement this once I've learned how to deal with the "content hub" of Ubuntu Touch.
link2xt January 22, 2023, 7:07pm #14
@lk108
I don't have Ubuntu Touch, but would like to look into the source code, especially since it is written in QML. I made a Kirigami2 client ~link2xt/kdeltachat - sourcehut git, it is functional and I use it sometimes, but it is not actively developed at the moment. Maybe at least some C++ parts can be shared or we can make a single convergent QML app for all kinds of mobile Linux. There is a related thread at Native Client for Linux based mobile OS - #19 by link2xt
Wrt. licensing if you intend to publish as GPLv3, see how it is done in ~link2xt/kdeltachat - sourcehut git. I think it's a good idea to have an explicit OpenSSL exception because its compatibility to GPLv3 is sometimes questioned and boils down to whether you can consider OpenSSL a "System Library". The "GPL-3+ with OpenSSL exception" is also what Kaidan application does in LICENSE · master · Network / Kaidan · GitLab
Thanks for the hint regarding the OpenSSL exception. I hesitated to upload because although Simon told me that it's ok to use GPLv3, I came across this gnu.org page which states that I would have to use AGPLv3 instead of a pure GPLv3 when linking to MPL2. So it seems to me that the GNU people think that the exception would have to include deltachat-core, too, or am I misunderstanding something?
I am wondering about the consequences if i just put these exceptions into the license - would it block re-using pure GPLv3 code from other projects?
Once I'm clear about the license issue, I am ready to upload. It's still under heavy development, though, so the app is not really functional yet. And I have to admit that I'm a little bit afraid that the quality of my code will disappoint as I am just a hobby programmer and very inexperienced.
That said, your suggestion to share C++ parts or even make a single convergent app sounds good! The latter might require quite some effort, but why not work in this direction.
link2xt January 22, 2023, 10:23pm #16
I came across this gnu.org page which states that I would have to use AGPLv3 instead of a pure GPLv3 when linking to MPL2.
The page says "This is a free software license. Section 3.3 provides indirect compatibility between this license and the GNU GPL version 2.0, the GNU LGPL version 2.1, the GNU AGPL version 3, and all later versions of those licenses." This means you can use GPLv2, GPLv2+, GPLv3, GPLv3+ etc. You can just license with GPLv3+ as a license, it is compatible according to the page.
I decided to use GPLv3+ with an explicit OpenSSL exception, because Delta Chat core has an option to be linked to OpenSSL and OpenSSL has a GPL-incompatible license. GPL explicitly allows to link even to proprietary "system libraries" (e.g. linking to proprietary Windows API is fine for a GPL program), but whether to consider OpenSSL a system library is not obvious. Most Linux distributions, e.g. Debian, consider it to be acceptable, but adding an explicit exception avoids such questions.
No, it would not block anything. If you combine GPLv3+ code that you wrote with some GPLv3+ code from the other project, you can only provide OpenSSL exception for the code you wrote, but it is still arguably better than not providing such an exception at all. If someone is concerned about whether OpenSSL is a "system library", they can remove/rewrite GPLv3+ code that does not have OpenSSL exception.
See license compatibility - GPL V3 with OpenSSL Exception - Open Source Stack Exchange, OpenSSL exception is a fairly standard thing to do.
It's also fine to upload without a license at all until you decide, in this case it's effectively a proprietary software until you allow others to use it
lk108 January 23, 2023, 11:56am #17
Alright then, here we go:
deltatouch


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From Concept to Construction
Email: bds@portlandoregon.gov
1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
1900 SW 4th Ave
Applications/Handouts
Codes, Rules & Guides
Info Center News & Publications Plans Examiner Plans Examiner 2018 Plans Examiner - September/October Issue
BDS Budget Update
DRAC Happenings
Coming Soon: A More Efficient Plan Review Process
Design Commission presents State of the City to City Council
Rainy Season Construction Site and Erosion Control Measures
POPS Customer Advisory Committee reconvenes
City Council passes URM Placarding Ordinance
Tiny House Regulations
Lunch & Learn - Basics of Erosion and Sediment Control in Residential Development - Oct. 19, 2018
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) Updates
Follow Us Online to Receive Information on BDS Service Levels, News and Events
Portland Design Commission Chair Julie Livingston presented the Commission's annual State of the City report to Portland City Council on October 17, 2018. Five representatives of the development industry testified on behalf of the Commission. Corey Martin (Hacker Architects), Anyeley Hallova (project^), Bert Gregory (Mithun), Tom DiChiara (Cairn Pacific), and Dave Otte (AIA Urban Design Panel, HOLST Architecture) shared their experiences collaborating with the Design Commission as developers and architects.
The Portland Design Commission sees Design Review as a mechanism to strengthen Portland as a city designed for people. In the last year, the Portland Design Commission has faced a steady increase in workload, and the number of Type III approvals they've issued has increased (see graphs below).
The State of the City presentation highlighted projects from 2017 and the first half of 2018 that demonstrated design excellence in the built environment.
Mayor Ted Wheeler, who recently became the Commissioner-in-Charge of the Bureau of Development Services, joined a tour of developments in northwest Portland in October. Led by the BDS Design and Historic Resources Review staff, the tour included a comparison of development that went through design review and some that applied the prescribed standard.
"It is obvious to me that Portland is rapidly walking towards being a globally recognized city and certainly the integrity of our architecture is a huge part of that," Mayor Wheeler said.
"I look forward to working with the Design Commission to talk about how we unfold the Central City Plan in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan, how we actually continue to uphold these values to make what pragmatic changes we can to improve the process but not lose sight of the core goals of what make this city a really great place to be," Mayor Wheeler said. "(The Design Commission) has made a huge investment in time and energy. You bring a lot of talent to the table. And by doing so you're benefiting all of us. I'm not just saying that as Mayor, I'm saying that as someone who lives in the city, loves the city, and appreciates the way we come together to address our mutual needs."
Commissioner Nick Fish shared both his concern for protecting design review and his gratitude for the Commission's continued efforts. "Portlanders are very proud of their city, but they also take the long-term view and they want to build something that we can be proud of not just today, but tomorrow," Fish said. "We have something unique and special here."
During the presentation, the Design Commission awarded the 2017 Design Excellence Award to Hacker Architects for their District Office Building project. Located across the street from the Grand Avenue Historic District, the site presented opportunities to express historic themes in a contemporary manner. This project is a great example of collaboration during Design Review. The cross-laminated timber structure is clad with a creative mortar-washed white brick, has large operable window walls at upper stories, and a full-height storefront with historic details.
Improvements to Administrative Processes
The Design Commission has recently implemented administrative improvements in response to the Design Overlay Zone Assessment (DOZA). The DOZA Assessment evaluated the design review process and provided recommendations to improve its process and tools. The assessment was a City-led effort alongside a team of consultants.
Many administrative efforts by the Bureau of Development Services staff and the Commission focus on process improvements, including:
Improved public outreach tools
Hearings efficiencies
Improved agendas
Renters included in mailed notifications
Neighborhood Association trainings
Design Advice Request (DAR) improvements
Courtesy DARs for 100% affordable housing cases
Increased staffing and professional development
Commission trainings and regular retreats
Developed Design Commission bylaws
You can find a full list of improvements here.
Additionally, BDS staff are currently proposing a revision of the Purpose statement of the Design Overlay Zone. The proposal (below) recognizes the expanded role of the design overlay zone as it applies to areas of growth and change and updates the focus to consider the three tenets of design.
33.420.010 Purpose (Proposed Revision)
The Design overlay zone strengthens Portland as a city designed for people and supports the city's evolution within current and emerging centers of civic life. It promotes design excellence in the built environment through the application of additional design guidelines and standards that:
Build on context by enhancing the distinctive physical, natural, historic and cultural qualities of the location while accommodating growth and change;
Contribute to a public realm that encourages social interaction and fosters inclusivity in people's daily experience; and
Promotes quality and long-term resilience in the face of changing demographics, climate and economy.
You can see video of the State of the City Design Commission presentation here.


English may have originated in England but its impact can be felt well beyond that European island. Today the language of Shakespeare is spoken natively by more than 500 million people in countries as far from the British Isles as Australia, Canada, and South Africa and as a second language in places as diverse as São Paulo and Seoul by fully another half a billion more. If you are interested in studying English, you are not alone.
Still more people – some estimates place the exact figure at fully a quarter of the world's population – use English occasionally for business or pleasure. Indeed, boardrooms from Belgium to Burundi are dominated not by French or Swahili but by English making English proficiency a highly-demanded professional skill. In addition to the direct business advantages such proficiency imparts, many of the world's best colleges and universities are located in English-speaking countries and, to be eligible to attend them, international students must demonstrate their English proficiency by completing an English exam. As a result, at the dawn of the 21st century English exams have become a big business around the world.
Making sense of the various English exam options, however, can be confusing to say the least. Between the TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, and MELAB – just to name a few – the sheer variety of English language exams on the market can be bewildering to the uninitiated. Making sense of this alphabet soup, however, is exactly our goal. In the coming weeks our multi-part series on English language exams will give aspiring students the inside track on which exam is right for them and why. Along the way we will, of course, discuss the big names we have already mentioned as well as some of the lesser-known exams that may better suit the unique needs of would-be test takers. After all, as is befitting its prominent place in international affairs, people need to prove their English proficiency for many reasons and, as we will see, there is an English exam out there to meet almost any need.
New York City and Boston are proudly distinct despite their closeness. In fact, as two of the greatest cities in the United States they are in competition with one another in many regards. From art to business and beyond, one need only consider baseball's most famous rivalry – the seemingly timeless conflict between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox – to find ample proof of this good-natured feud. Thus it makes sense in this, the second in our multi-part series on English Language Programs in the United States and around the globe, that we at ESL Directory head north from New York to and examine, in its namesake jewel of New England, The Boston Academy of English.
Who should attend The Boston Academy of English?
The Boston Academy of English – or BAE for short – has a variety of English immersion programs for students of all ages. The school primarily works to provide a high quality English as a Second Language instructional service to adults by focusing on a variety of English language needs and skills. With programs of study that range from English immersion to business English – and classes that are divided into as many as eight levels – students with a variety of needs can benefit from their emphasis on building language proficiency, communicative competence, and American cultural awareness. Moreover, thanks to its Youth Summer Program even children study at BAE.
BAE recently redesigned its downtown Boston facilities meaning that students not only have a variety of world class attractions at their doorstep but also easy access to all major subway lines and public transportation. At the same time, students enrolled in any of BAE's English immersion programs can take advantage of its resources find a homestays, apartments, or even a spot in BAE's own student residence hall.
The BAE's Intensive 20, 25, and 30 programs allow full-time students to choose the number of lessons they receive each week for as little as two weeks while its part time and weekend permit working professions to pursue their studies on Monday and Wednesday evenings and/or Saturday mornings for six weeks. New sessions begin year-round.
Finally, what makes the Boston Academy of English unique?
In addition to all of the above, BAE also offers two month TOEFL preparation courses, specialized au pair program, and even the option to develop a customized, 1-on-1 program of study. As a result, students really can accomplish anything with BAE!
Commonly Mistaken Words: What do you advise?
Though advice and advise are related in meaning, they are used (and pronounced) quite differently. First and foremost, remember that "advice" with a c rhymes with nice. That will help you remember that, because it is nice, it is also a noun and because it is a noun – a thing – it is something you can give. Thus, as a noun, advice means a suggestion or tip we can"give advice" (a thing) but, by contrast, would never "give advise" (a verb that rhymes with wise) because we can only give things not actions. Of course, if you want to "advise" someone feel free – because to "advise" is to suggest or propose.
Affect and effect is another commonly confused pair. Affect is always a verb which means to alter or change. By contrast, while effect can be either a noun or a verb, it is most commonly used as a noun which means consequences or result. For the sake of clarity then, it makes sense to start with effect because, as a noun (and therefore a thing), we can have one or many. This is the key to keeping it separated from its cousin. After all, you can have "many effects" – just like you can have many cups – but you could never have "many affects" in much the same way you could never have many reads.
In the end, though, we hope our advice will have a great effect on you – and your job prospects!
Leave a comment on Commonly Mistaken Words: What do you advise?
It should come as no surprise that English is the lingua franca – that is, unifying language – of the 21st century. It is, after all, one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and many other organizations around the world, as well as the common language of exchange in boardrooms and classrooms in places as varied as Brussels, Burundi, and Brunei.
Still, though it may be the most widely spoken second language in the world, it falls squarely behind Mandarin and Spanish as the third most common native language in the world. As a result, then, though English speakers are common (and English learners commoner still), there are relatively few places where students can learn English as it is used by native speakers. This is unfortunate because, while there may be relatively few places immerse oneself in English, such immersion remains the best way to learn the language. After all, even if the best language classes must eventually end, living in English immersion destinations can present a unique form of "extracurricular homework" – and, indeed, invaluable practice.
It is with this in mind, then, that we begin this series on English immersion destinations. In the weeks and months ahead we will try to explore some of the more useful (and interesting) English immersion destinations that are equipped to meet the needs of aspiring English speakers. Through the course of this series we hope to shed new light into even the most obvious immersion venues – English, after all, started in England, and so too will our tour – as well as some of the more off-the-beaten path – South Africa, anyone? – opportunities. In so doing we hope to show that the English immersion destinations that exist are every bit as rich and varied as the language itself!


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Television20
John Amos
Early life Amos was born John Amos, Jr. in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Annabelle P. and John A. Amos, Sr., who was an auto mechanic.[1] He graduated from East Orange (NJ) High School in 1958. He enrolled at Long Beach City College and graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in sociology.[2] Amos also played on the Colorado State Rams football team.[3] Amos was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.[2] In 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos. He was released before the season and played with Joliet Explorers of the United Football League. In 1965 he played with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League. In 1966 he played with the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits of the Atlantic Coast Football League. In 1967, he had signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. He was released in training camp and played that year with the Victoria Steelers of the Continental Football League.[citation needed]
Good Times - Complete Series (11-DVD)
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Good Times - Season 3 (2-DVD)
Die Hard 2: Die Harder (DVD)
Disappearing Acts (DVD)
Good Times - Season 1 (DVD)
The World's Greatest Athlete (DVD)
Coming to America (Blu-ray)
Ricochet (DVD)
Madea's Witness Protection (DVD)
Lock Up (Blu-ray)
American Lowrider (DVD)
Mary Tyler Moore - Complete Season 3 (3-DVD)
Two Evil Eyes (2-DVD)
American Flyers (DVD)
The West Wing - Complete 1st Season (4-DVD)
Roots (30th Anniversary Ed.) (7-DVD)
Good Times - Seasons 1 & 2 (3-DVD)
TV Guide Spotlight: Groundbreaking Sitcoms of the '70s (20-Episode Collection) (2-DVD)
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration (DVD)
The West Wing - Complete Series (45-DVD)
Bad Asses on the Bayou (DVD)
Die Hard 2: Die Harder (Blu-ray)
Roots (40th Anniversary Ed.) (Blu-ray)
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (Blu-ray + DVD)
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Die Hard 2: Die Harder (Blu-ray + DVD)
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We caught up with Marco Boer again and got an answer to a question I've been wondering about for a while "What's in that 'Other' category in all of your print volume forecasts?" I've been following I.T. Strategies for a long time, and periodically we see a category in their research emerge from "other" as its own inkjet segment with enough volume to warrant research. For example, most commercial print and graphic arts applications were incubating in the 'other' category until recently. Today Marco shares some of the other "nichey" applications he is tracking and explains why they matter for inkjet expansion.
We love hearing what Marco has to say about inkjet and market segments. We hope you do to. Here are a few of his other recent contributions to our growing catalog of inkjet knowledge.