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Q: How to access REST API on a unix domain socket with Akka HTTP or Alpakka? I would like to access the docker API using the /var/lib/docker.sock unix domain socket. I've seen examples where you can use (modern versions of) curl to call the API as follows:
curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock http:/containers/json

where the REST command is expressed in the /containers/json path. I was excited to see the Alpakka Unix Domain Socket adapter, but you only seem to be able to send and receive raw bytes. Is there any elegant way to do this? Or do I have to manually construct an HTTP header and manage all the difficult stuff manually?

A: Here's a working snippet (see also the rest of the discussion at akka/akka-http#2139):
build.sbt:
val scalaV = "2.12.6"
val akkaV = "2.5.14"
val akkaHttpV = "10.1.3"

libraryDependencies ++= Seq(
  "com.typesafe.akka" %% "akka-http" % akkaHttpV,
  "com.typesafe.akka" %% "akka-http-spray-json" % akkaHttpV,
  "com.typesafe.akka" %% "akka-stream" % akkaV,
  "com.lightbend.akka" %% "akka-stream-alpakka-unix-domain-socket" % "0.20",
)

DockerSockMain.scala:
import java.io.File
import java.net.InetSocketAddress

import akka.actor.ActorSystem
import akka.http.scaladsl.ClientTransport
import akka.http.scaladsl.Http
import akka.http.scaladsl.marshallers.sprayjson.SprayJsonSupport
import akka.http.scaladsl.model.HttpRequest
import akka.http.scaladsl.model.HttpResponse
import akka.http.scaladsl.settings.ClientConnectionSettings
import akka.http.scaladsl.settings.ConnectionPoolSettings
import akka.http.scaladsl.unmarshalling.Unmarshal
import akka.stream.ActorMaterializer
import akka.stream.alpakka.unixdomainsocket.scaladsl.UnixDomainSocket
import akka.stream.scaladsl.Flow
import akka.util.ByteString
import spray.json.JsValue

import scala.concurrent.Future

object DockerSockMain extends App {
  object DockerSockTransport extends ClientTransport {
    override def connectTo(host: String, port: Int, settings: ClientConnectionSettings)(implicit system: ActorSystem): Flow[ByteString, ByteString, Future[Http.OutgoingConnection]] = {
      // ignore everything for now

      UnixDomainSocket().outgoingConnection(new File("/var/run/docker.sock"))
        .mapMaterializedValue { _ =>
          // Seems that the UnixDomainSocket.OutgoingConnection is never completed? It works anyway if we just assume it is completed
          // instantly
          Future.successful(Http.OutgoingConnection(InetSocketAddress.createUnresolved(host, port), InetSocketAddress.createUnresolved(host, port)))
        }
    }
  }

  implicit val system = ActorSystem()
  implicit val mat = ActorMaterializer()
  import system.dispatcher

  val settings = ConnectionPoolSettings(system).withTransport(DockerSockTransport)

  import SprayJsonSupport._
  def handleResponse(response: HttpResponse): Future[String] =
    // TODO: create docker json model classes and directly marshal to them
    Unmarshal(response).to[JsValue].map(_.prettyPrint)

  Http().singleRequest(HttpRequest(uri = "http://localhost/images/json"), settings = settings)
    .flatMap(handleResponse)
    .onComplete { res =>
      println(s"Got result: [$res]")
      system.terminate()
    }
}

A: Interesting use-case. You should be able to use Alpakka Unix Domain socket flow and put Akka Http ClientLayer on top of it.

A: The short answer to the question is "It Can't be Done"—at least not with the existing building blocks of Akka HTTP and the Alkappa Unix Domain Sockets. You would have to handle writing the HTTP GET request by manually sending the headers, i.e. (using the Docker API as an example)
GET /v1.24/containers/json HTTP/1.1\n
Host: localhost\n
\n\n

...and then reading the TCP response manually. Additionally, the Unix Domain Socket logic can't use the Alpakka code because it only currently provides a ServerBinding, and thus is designed to create a server that handles requests to a Unix socket, not to send data to a Unix socket and handle the response.
So everything has to be done manually. There's another StackOverflow question here that points out how the AFUNIXSocket github source code could be used to help with some of the low-level Unix Domain Socket logic that might be of help to others wanting to tackle this same problem.
The most elegant solution would also involve (as suggested by dvim's comment) writing an HTTP.ClientTransport to plug in the Unix Domain Socket communication layer and allow the HTTP library to expose the low-level functionality of writing request/response headers, etc. (One interesting note on that is that the API assumes a host/port parameter pair, which is tightly bound to the TCP paradigm.)


So, the story of this pruning year has developed quite a bit in the last several weeks. I'm gaining new insights into what God has been about these last 14 months or so. And I have to tell you, it's quite a marvel to me. It reminds me once again that God always knows what he is doing, even if I don't.
This is going to take a couple installments to fully articulate, so I hope you'll bear with me as I go.
As I've shared with you a bit before, I spent a lot of time in the last 14 months kicking and fighting against what was happening. I went from a pretty strong and beautifully fruitful place inside my soul to a place of utter chaos. I blamed myself for this chaos. I blamed my circumstances, too. Other times, I blamed God. I just couldn't seem to figure out what was happening, and I couldn't seem to get away from it or make it better. I hated it so, so much. I felt so weak and poorly. I couldn't show up for others in the ways I wanted to, and I couldn't seem to get a grip on everything vying for attention in my own life.
Then, as I've also shared with you, I reached a point where it was time for a change. I needed greater spaciousness and quietness for the restoration of my soul, but it had also become quite clear that the time had come for me to reclaim a direction for my life that God has clearly marked out for me. So Kirk and I agreed on some changes, and I set out into this new chapter inside my story.
However, I didn't expect what came next: I discovered completely new places of inadequacy, this time in places that had always been known and natural and familiar to me.
Primarily, this happened when I was listening. Listening is something that has always been like second nature to me, ever since I was a child. It is something I love doing for others, and it is something that somehow God always seems to use. For the last several years, I have come to embrace that truth more and more and have been walking deeper into the ways God can use this gifting in the lives of others more intentionally.
But here, in this new chapter of my story, a chapter that was to see me embracing that listening role even more, I felt inordinately clumsy at it. I felt like an old car lurching down the road because its fuel injection mechanism isn't working quite right. There I would go, lumbering in fits and starts down the street, lurching and then stopping, lurching and then stopping, with an occasional squeal of the tires and sometimes a blast of the horn.
It was so puzzling to me. And a bit alarming. Instead of being fully present to another's sharing, an interior monologue kept going off in my mind every time I was listening to someone, and that interior monologue kept chattering about all the things I ought to be doing or saying or not saying, and then doubting every last word and gesture and action and inaction I took.
In other words, I found myself far too focused on me in moments that were meant to be fully focused on the person before me.
This was not what I was used to experiencing in my listening practice with others. And so I would cry out to God in desperation, asking him to overcome my failings and my weaknesses, asking him to be all that was needed for them, since for some reason I couldn't do this listening thing well right now.
I kept bumping up against this fact over and over again: I was needing to relearn how to listen.
This bothered me because, again, listening has always been something I've intuitively known how to do. It's not ever been hard for me to focus on the other person, and prior to this last chaos year, I had begun to inhabit the sharing of other people's stories so much that I totally forgot myself while I was listening. I somehow came to feel and know their own experience as they shared it with me.
All of this distracted inner chatter and outer clumsiness, then, confused and frustrated me. I wasn't being the kind of listener I'd always known how to be.
A few weeks into this new (un)experience of listening, I shared all this with my spiritual director, Elaine. A few days after that, I shared it with another good friend who is training to be a spiritual director as well.
And both of them, quite separate from the other, asked me the very same question: Could there be gift here?
Gift . . . in this inadequacy? At first pass, I scoffed at their question. But then my mind turned directly to this: one thing every person kept receiving from me in this new place were those desperate, pleading prayers on their behalf for God to be everything that was needed because I couldn't know or do what was needed.
Those prayers were gifts that those individuals wouldn't have received otherwise, if I'd been in my stronger, more healthy place. When I listened to people before, I felt a distinct partnership with God in those sessions, and I certainly felt aware of his presence throughout and often asked for his help. God usually showed up in those listening sessions in ways that were unexpected and needed.
But this? This was new. Never has there been such a desperate cry for God to be everything because I felt myself nothing. All of this was utterly new. And I couldn't help but think those prayers on behalf of others, those prayers as a result of my inadequacy, were indeed gift.


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Supporting The Development of International Competitiveness
About Our Sector
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MECALAC İŞ MAKİNELERİ SANAYİ VE TİCARET LTD ŞTİ.
UR-GE
Genel, Members
Construction Equipment Sector in Turkey
Materials Handling Sector
İMDER
İSDER
Together with its 5 Factories, 7 Sale Companies, 200 Independent Dealers and Sale Points, MECALAC, which started its business life in France in year 1974, presents multi-functional and innovative construction machines that are capable of being operated in limited areas and during infrastructure works. Today, it deals with its business activities by means of its 2 factories in France, 5 factories in total in Germany, England and Turkey. Being known with its compact products that can be used together with various attachments almost in every field including especially urban infrastructure works because of their capabilities of doing the work of multiple different machines at the same time due to their innovative and original designs, MECALAC holds rewards in the fields of Design and Innovations, which were granted by exclusive organizations in Europe. In Turkey, Mini Excavators with Models 6MCR, 8MCR, 10MCR weighing 6, 8 and 10 tons and Wheel-Equipped Loaders are presented to the taste of customers. 6MCR Model, which can be used for many purposes varying from Channel Excavation Works to Pipe Laying Works, from Handling Works of Sensitive Cargo to Underground Palette Piling Works, is manufactured in Turkey.
MECALAC TÜRKİYE manages TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) Operations, Turkic Republics Operations, Middle East Operations and Gulf Countries Operations in its Office in Turkey.
Today, MECALAC presents a wide range of high quality, innovative, compact construction machines and equipment that can be used in urban projects and construction fields to its customers. Together with this, MECALAC TÜRKIYE stands by its customers with its value added services and its after-sale services.
MECALAC presents flexible construction machines and high-performance compact construction machines. Accordingly, machines are designed in such a way that a single product can operate with various attachments and consequently, high fuel productivity can be provided, application processes of users can be optimized and environment can be protected from any potential hazards.
Bağlarbaşı Mh. Kumru Sk. No:18/1 Evran İş Merkezi Kat-1 34844 Maltepe / İSTANBUL
About Sector
Contact Form Membership Application UP TO Rastmobile.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


5th Annual Networking in the New Year!
Networking in the New Year! Jumpstart January by tackling your New Year's resolution to make new contacts in one session at CREW Chicago's 5th Annual Networking Event. Make at least 10 new contacts with a speed dating concept. Plan to arrive by 11:30 a.m. for a buffet lunch and informal networking. Eat first as the buffet closes at 12:00 noon and seating at networking tables begins at 12:05 p.m. SHARP!! Bring plenty of business cards to exchange.
For easier navigating during networking, a complimentary coat and bag check will be provided by the East Bank Club. Just bring yourself and your cards to the tables, and learn what you can do for CREW members, and what CREW members can do for you. We look forward to seeing you there!


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Publishing for DITA
Home/Training/Publishing for DITA
Publishing for DITALovonya Thomas2019-09-25T08:45:53-07:00
Three or four days in-person, or, eight 2-hour sessions online
Information architects
Information developers for both publications and training
Publications and training managers
Upcoming workshop:
Publishing for DITA — Online
An event every week that begins at 12:00 am on Thursday, happening 8 times
This workshop title is available both in-person and online. In-person workshops can be either 3 or 4 days. The 3-day version will cover only PDF or HTML output. The 4-day version will cover both PDF and HTML5.
The Publishing for DITA workshop provides attendees with a hands-on walk-through of the essential DITA fundamentals, programming skills, and DITA Open Toolkit configurations required to style and publish DITA XML source.
After a brief overview of the DITA framework, course lectures and exercises focus on the key pieces of a DITA publishing architecture, how to set it up, and how to optimize its publishing capabilities using customizations and plug-ins. Attendees learn to set up a publishing architecture using the pipeline provided by the DITA-OT and how to configure and debug the DITA-OT.
With the publishing architecture set up and configured, participants are then introduced to the programming skills required to customize and optimize the publishing architecture. Practical exercises encompass all of the programming and markup languages needed to transform and format DITA XML. Languages include XSLT, XPath, XSL-FO, HTML5, and CSS.
After mastering the basics of the critical languages required to modify a plug-in, participants learn to implement the most common customizations organizations must make to transform the out-of-the-box DITA-OT output formats into styles that conform to their corporate look and feel. The course focuses on HTML and PDF outputs and covers how to make changes to the following areas:
Page and screen layout
Body elements
Note: Although the course content can be applied to any DITA tool, participants will be asked to download the oXygen editor for use within the course.
You will learn to
Modify build files in the DITA-OT
Create custom plugins for the DITA-OT
Use XPath, XSLT, CSS, and XSL-FO to modify and enhance stylesheets
Debug DITA-OT issues using messages and log files
Customize HTML-based transformations
Customize PDF transformations
Publish in multiple languages
Prepare for new trends in publishing
Attendees must already be proficient in basic DITA, comfortable using authoring tools, but also unafraid of viewing and writing raw code as they learn the intricate details of a DITA-OT transformation. Instructors cannot take time from the class to tutor participants on standard DITA elements and attributes.


With so many different toys available to buy, you might be wondering what the perfect gift for your children will be this year. We have rounded up some of the top selling Christmas toys to help make your shopping easier. Many of these toys have featured on the Toy Retailers Association's dream toys for 2014 so are sure to be popular. But don't worry, there's still time: take advantage of these great offers and cashback amounts now so that your gifts will arrive in time for Christmas.
With over 10 real emotions, Xeno, the loveably cheeky monster is an interactive friend ideal for children over 5 years. He has 40 different eye expressions, 80 different sounds and likes to dance with music. He can be happy, sad, hungry, unwell and playful and will play 5 different mini games. You can link Xeno up with your smartphone via the free app so that he can play even more games with you.
Buy from Hamleys for £80.00 and you will also receive 5% cashback. Order before 1pm on Sunday 21st to receive in time for Christmas.
This interactive smartwatch comes in both blue and pink and is great for children that enjoy playing games on your mobile phone. They can take and edit photos, record videos and play games all on this 1.4 colour touchscreen watch. All photos, videos and audio files can be transferred from the watch onto your PC and laptop with a USB port. It comes with 128MB and is a brilliant Christmas gift for those 5 years and older.
Buy from Argos for just £34.99 and you will also receive 1.5% cashback. Order by midday on the 23rd December for same day delivery or by the 24th for click and collect.
No Christmas list will be complete without something from this year's biggest Disney movie, Frozen. This Frozen Glow Elsa doll lights up and sings including the smash hit 'Let it go'. Touching Elsa's necklace will make her dress shine and raising her arm will light her necklace and make her sing. This is the perfect gift for any Frozen-mad girl that enjoys singing along to the movie. As well as singing, Elsa also has 15 different phrases from the movie.
To get this in time for Christmas, order from Tesco before 22nd December for collection by Christmas Eve. Only £34.99 plus get up to 3% cashback.
This toy is guaranteed to be popular amongst the most boisterous of children this Christmas. Great for those aged 6-12 years old, the rapid madness blaster can fire 20 darts up to 50 feet in just a matter of seconds. This is a great gift for boys to battle against each other, it is air powered so no batteries are needed and the smart stick system allows you to know exactly where the darts have landed.
Buy from Debenhams for just £35.00 plus get 3% cashback. You have until midnight on the 21st December to order for standard delivery, or until 7pm on 23rd December for next day delivery.
This toy will not only provide your little one with hours of fun, but it will also introduce your child to animal names and the sounds that they make. It's a brilliant gift for 1 to 5 year olds to enhance their learning and development. The interactive zoo has seven locations which respond to the animals with phrases, animal and nature sounds and sing-along songs. This comes with an electric rhino that you can send in different directions around the safari park including into the press and spin alligator pool.
Buy from Boots for £40.00 plus get 4% cashback. You can get free order and collect until 23rd December.


Post your drink menu here so customers in the area can see it alongside your daily drink specials. Customers in Wichita are interested in happy hour deals and drink specials at Backstage Sports Bar and Grill. Post your drink specials above and post your drink menu here.


I hiked up the mountains today south of the village of Pestel.
With the help of a guide I passed through the tiny village of Casavon and followed water pipes that led us to the spring at La Matin.
People from all over this part of the mountain get their water from the pipes that lead from this spring. But for the water to run through the pipes it has to be pumped from a reservoir near the catchment zone as the spring water flows out of the rocks and into the catchment zone. And for the pump to work in the reservoir, the Delco generator needs to work. And the generator wasn't working today. So the people either walk to the spring at La Matin and carry water back to their village in five gallon buckets on their head or they collect water from a cistern in their yard or their neighbor's yard.
Whatever. Clean water is sacred here and extremely hard to get.
The people I talked to on the mountain paths said they have had cholera in the village of La Matin last year, but not now.
There is much pathology in the mountains and it is not all cholera.
The lady above is Madame Jean-Baptiste. She is 42 years old and has eight children.
She noticed a hard lump in her right breast two years ago. She had no means no go to a doctor. Last year the breast tissue broke down. Her breast cancer eroded through the skin of her chest wall.
She has had constant pain and infection of the open tissue ever since.
Madame Jean-Baptiste will not survive. It is way too late. And that will put her children at even more risk up here with no mom.
If clean water could be made more accessible to everyone in Haiti it would cut down on the water-borne illnesses like dysentery and vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Cholera would be endemic but not epidemic.
And I really believe one good thing would lead to another. General basic medical care would improve. And the Madame Jean-Baptiste's of Haiti would stand a much better chance at getting the care they need early on to screen them for breast cancer and obtain appropriate treatment if cancer is found.
Next Next post: Good News from Pestel…CTC Nurses Paid !!


Every Monday morning from 10:30 AM.
Move to the music, using instruments, bean bags and more. There will be book reading and free playtime. For children ages 1 and older. Adults are welcome to participate with the children.
Enjoy great stories, crafts and snacks.
It is never too early to start reading to your child. To promote reading to newborns, infants and toddlers Elbridge Free Library and Jordan Bramley Library are sponsoring this program. For each 100 books read, your child will receive a prize. When they have read and recorded 1000 books, they will receive a T-shirt. Simply stop by the library to pick up your reading record. You may read the same book several times.
One child just received a prize for their first 100 books read. Congratulations!!!
Learn how to get started making a quilt or learn how to complete a quilt.
Hoopla Download the app today and start downloading ebooks, audio books, music, videos, even TV shows today. All for free with your library card.
TECH HELP! If you need help downloading ebooks, audio books, music, or video, please call or drop by the library with your digital device and we will be happy to assist you. All are welcome to experience the new hands on STEAM activities that are now available at Elbridge Free Library. STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.


'Romantica® Roses' are Star Rose Company's English style rose.
•Bred in Provence, France by the Meilland Rose Company.
•These hybrids have old fashioned flower form with wonderful fragrance.
•Improved disease resistance, hardiness, and compact habit and size.


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Epic Medical Concepts & Innovations
Medical Device Innovations for the 21st Century
Commercialization Blog
Galileo Tactile Stimulus System
Flexi-Lume Multi-Light Dental LED System
About Peter B. Lucas, MBA - Chief Operating Officer
Peter B. Lucas, MBA, is a medical-device patent holder who co-founded EMCI with James Lucas in Kansas in 2006. Pete serves as EMCI's Vice President & COO. In his current role, he is responsible for both project management oversight of new product development and for all day-to-day operations. Prior to his work at EMCI, Pete spent 10 years at Herff Jones, a leader in academic recognition products, where he managed their state-of-the-art digital imaging department. Pete received both his MBA in operations management and supply chain logistics, and his undergraduate degree in business and economics from the Bloch School of Business & Public Administration at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, recently ranked the # 1 business school in the United States for entrepreneurship. He has also taught Master's level operations management courses at the Bloch School, and recently finished a four year term on the Bloch School Alumni Board.
Blog: The FDA
The regulatory environment has clamped down in the USA in recent years. The FDA is ramping up its efforts in the medical device space, and the requirements are rapidly changing, and in most cases, increasing.
Take for example the 510k process. For many years, it was common practice to use multiple predicates to show substantial equivalency. That is no longer a method the FDA is in favor of seeing. Instead, they want a single predicate, and data to mitigate risks that fall outside of equivalence with that single predicate device.
Clinical data requirements for medical devices are generally not well defined by the FDA, at least not publicly. Instead, it falls upon the filing party to present sufficient data (in its own estimation) with enough statistical significance to satisfy the requirements. Occasionally a filed 510k may get a reviewer that is willing to help guide clinical data collection, but as a corporate strategy, it isn't safe to rely on it.
Getting past the hurdles of properly filing the required documents and having your application accepted are only the minimum steps required to gain approval. If your goal is to be approved without further clarifying submissions at their request, your plan needs to be comprehensive in scope and scale. Even then, the FDA may find reason to question your claims beyond what you anticipate.
Take for example a recent 510k filing by EMCI. Our application was complete and accurate, and in line with what predicate filings for the device class had used. However, the FDA had just gotten a smattering of adverse events from a product with the same device class… thus, they required us to go back and perform additional clinical trials to mitigate this newly-discovered risk. Had we filed the identical 510k three months earlier, very likely it would have been approved without any additional data.
We have regulatory experts and ex-FDA reviewers at our disposal to use as a resource, and still, we are often surprised by the particular claim that sticks out to the FDA. The key to keep in mind is that once they request information the clock is ticking. If you can't collect the necessary data before the application expires, you'll have to refile from scratch, with no guarantee that you will get the same reviewer. A new reviewer may have completely different information requests, and the process can become a vicious circle without careful planning.
The FDA's role in keeping a lid on unsafe drugs and devices is incredibly important. Indeed, as a device company our goals are not at odds with those of the FDA. We want to provide human health advancing technologies without introducing any unexpected consequences for the patient or physician. It's a goal we share with those that regulate us.
The information provided through this blog is not a substitute for legal, regulatory or other professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. If anyone in your organization requires legal, regulatory advice or other professional assistance, they should always consult his or her own legal, regulatory, or other professional advisers and discuss the facts and circumstances that apply to their specific project.
Advisory Board Announced
EMCI has formed a new advisory board to help guide the company. The board includes notable doctors, surgeons, engineers, researchers, and business professionals from the Kansas City region. To read bios of the board, click HERE
Prometheus Solutions License
EMCI is happy to announce a new license agreement with Prometheus Solutions, a Kansas company focused on medical device development. The new license will bring an affordable, compact, portable diagnostic suite for use with Bluetooth enabled smartphones and tablets. Read the full press release.
Welcome to EMCI's Blog
The medical device industry is fraught with peril. There are a million ways to misstep, lose your shirt, or even hurt or kill an end user.
There are numerous regulatory bodies with an interest in protecting the public (and their own credibility), and by their very nature, they are extremely risk averse.
There are patents to file, fight, and defend. There are prototypes, bench trials, clinical trials, sterilization validations, packaging discussions. And even when your product is proven, ready to manufacture, and has regulatory thumbs up, there are still countless pitfalls in things as simple as the wording on the instructions for use.
One small comment in a marketing piece that makes a claim beyond the scope of the FDA approval (even if it's widely used by doctors for that purpose off label) will get you a visit from, at best, an FDA inspector, and at worst, federal marshals.
This is not an industry for the risk averse. But it's also nothing to fear if you have the right partner. EMCI has dealt with all of these pitfalls, worked with federal regulators and certifying bodies, seen patents through from start to finish, and manufactured a wide array of medical products.
You don't have to start a new company when you come up with an innovative medical device. You need a partner you can trust to walk you through the process and help you avoid all of the pitfalls. That partner is EMCI.
This Commercialization Blog will be an ongoing source of information written by the experienced members of EMCI's commercialization team. We hope that you find the information you read here helpful, informative, and practical.
EMCI Signs Partnership with ASP Medical
EMCI has signed a long-term partnership agreement with ASP Medical, LLC (a Kansas company).
The two companies are commercializing a thoracic surgery device that will help to prevent cardiac tamponade in heart surgery patients. This device is awaiting FDA approval and is expected to be approved and available in March, 2013.
EMCI Awarded $1.6M KBA Grant
EMCI was today awarded a $1.6M grant by the Kansas Bioscience Authority.
The grant will help the company to expand by nearly 140 employees over the next 5 years, and will aid in commercialization of current projects, TAC-Cell and OroSTIFF.
Read the official KBA Announcement.
EMCI Licenses OroSTIFF
EMCI (Epic Medical Concepts & Innovations, Inc.) announced today that it has licensed new technology, the OroSTIFF, developed by Dr. Steven Barlow at the University of Kansas. EMCI plans to commercialize the technology and sell the product worldwide.
"The OroSTIFF represents yet another breakthrough from KU for patients suffering from degenerative diseases," says Peter Lucas, COO of EMCI. "This technology will take much of the guesswork out of treatments."
EMCI Licenses TAC-Cell
Epic Medical Concepts & Innovations, Inc. today announced that it has licensed new technology, the TAC-Cell, developed by Dr. Steven Barlow from the University of Kansas. EMCI plans to commercialize and sell the product worldwide.
"We are pleased to license a KU technology to a regional medical device company to assist the area in building its bioscience presence" said Jim Baxendale, Executive Director of the KU Center for Technology Commercialization.
EMCI Improves Vertical Integration
EMCI today announced it has added new manufacturing capabilities to its manufacturing facility in Kansas City.
EMCI can now do type II anodizing, bright dip anodizing, Copper plating, Nickel Plating, and Reprochrome Plating as well as laser engraving. Having these processes in house will allow tighter quality controls and faster turnaround times.
The company plans to continue to expand its capabilities in this area over the next 12 months by adding additional plate options.
James R. Lucas
jlucas@emci.co
FlexiLume Receives FDA Clearance
CEO to Join Coulter Oversight Board
Blog: Are You Sure?
New Joint Venture with Cardioptimus


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Who is the best skit comedian in Nigeria?
Who is the best skit comedian in Nigeria? – Additional Questions
Who is the richest comedian?
Who is the best male comedian?
Who is the No 1 comedian in the world in 2020?
Who is the funny man in the world?
Who is the No 1 comedian in India?
Who is the most famous comedian in America?
Who is the best comedy actor?
Who is the most famous female comedian?
How do I become a comedy?
How do I open my mic stand?
How much do Indian comedians make?
How much does it cost to hire a famous comedian?
How much does Vir Das charge per show?
How long is a Vir Das show?
Does Vir Das live in India?
Where is Vir Das from?
Who is the best skit comedian in Nigeria? 1. Mr Funny. Mr Funny, otherwise known by his character name, Oga Sabinus, is the best skit maker in Nigeria right now. As established earlier in this post, he won the 2022 AMVCA prize for "Best Online Social Content Creator", outranking many other skit makers and content creators in Nigeria.
How is the richest comedian in Nigeria?
Top 10 Richest Comedians in Nigeria
1 AY Makun N3.2 Billion
2 Alibaba N3 Billion
3 Basket Mouth N2 Billion
4 I Go Dye N2 Billion
Who is the highest paid skit maker in Nigeria? Samuel Animashaun Perry popularly known as Broda Shaggi is ranked the highest followed skit maker on Instagram with over 10 Million followers.
Who is the popular comedian?
Highest-paid comedians
1 Kevin Hart United States
2 Jerry Seinfeld
3 Terry Fator
4 Amy Schumer
Top 50 Richest Comedians
Jerry Seinfeld. $950 Million. Jerry Seinfeld is an American comedian, television producer, actor and car collector.
Matt Stone. $700 Million.
Matt Groening. $600 Million.
Trey Parker. $600 Million.
Byron Allen. $500 Million.
Ellen DeGeneres. $500 Million.
Jay Leno. $450 Million.
Kevin Hart. $450 Million.
No list of popular comedians or stand up comedians list would be complete without the likes of George Carlin, Larry David, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., or Chris Rock. Recent male comedians, like Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, and Aziz Ansari also made the list.
1. Dave Chappelle: "8:46"
Malaysian stand-up comedian Harith Iskander has been crowned the "World's Funniest Person" in 2016. The BBC's Heather Chen spoke to the 50-year-old funny man by telephone after his win in Levi, Finland. At least one person is laughing as 2016 draws to a close.
With over 5 million subscribers on YouTube, Zakir Khan is the best stand-up comedian in India performed worldwide. Zakir caused waves with his appearance at AIB Day in 2016. He is the greatest stand-up comedian of India.
1. Robin Williams (1951 – 2014) With an HPI of 77.06, Robin Williams is the most famous Comedian. His biography has been translated into 129 different languages on wikipedia.
Top 10 Comedy Actors of All Time
#8: Mel Brooks. 1926-
#7: Marx Brothers. Various.
#6: Eddie Murphy. 1961-
#5: Peter Sellers. 1925-1980.
#4: Robin Williams. 1951-2014.
#3: Buster Keaton. 1895-1966.
#2: Jim Carrey. 1962-
#1: Charlie Chaplin. 1889 – 1977.
50 Most Popular Female Comedians
Jenny Slate.
Melissa McCarthy.
Amy Poehler.
Lisa Kudrow.
Aubrey Plaza.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Kate McKinnon.
Ellen DeGeneres.
Kevin Hart – US$450 million
Celebrity Net Worth estimates his share of the company alone could be valued at US$552 million before taxes.
Although, Nair did not share the details of the deal, a leading stand-up comedian said Indian artistes are paid anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh for a stand-up act at a corporate show.
Booking a famous comedian may cost more than you think
Typically, to hire a comedian that is a true household name you're looking at a price tag of $75,000-$150,000, and more. In addition to the act's fee, it's standard for the purchaser to cover the cost of first class transportation.
Vir Das live tickets typically start around the $53 range but depending on the performance and venue can exceed $129 per ticket.
How long are Vir Das comedy shows? Vir Das comedy sets are generally about 90 minutes.
Vir Das Biography: The Indian comedian, actor and comedy musician Vir Das is currently in a lot of controversy for his recent monolog 'Two Indias' which he recited on the stage of Kennedy Center in US.
Vir Das in Films.
2016 Santa Banta Banta
31st October Devender Singh
Raakh Protagonist
Shivaay Wahab
Vir Das was born in Dehradun, India. He was raised in Nigeria and studied at the Indian Language School in Lagos, Nigeria, as well as at The Lawrence School, Sanawar and in Delhi. He obtained a bachelor's degree from Knox College, Illinois, in Economics and Theatre with a concentration in performance.
Who is the highest paid comedian 2021?
Who is the number 1 comedian in the US?


Group Purchasing Organization Plans (GPOs) have gained a lot of popularity lately. Most organizations have joined a GPO to combine their purchasing spend with other GPO members to get better pricing and streamline supplier spending. In many cases, GPOs deliver a valuable service. Not all GPOs are created equal and it is important to find right fit for your organization. In some cases, direct supplier negotiation is a viable alternative to GPO.
1. Membership Costs: Though some GPOs are free, most GPOs charge an annual fee to cover the cost of employees and management. Check the fees of the GPO vs. actual savings. You may find that the savings don't justify the fees, especially if you are buying limited number of items.
2. Qualitative Requirements: To provide a better price, GPOs often select a single supplier for each category. Make sure your qualitative requirements, such as product quality, delivery schedule, service etc. are met by the GPO's supplier. Lower purchasing costs may not translate into the lowest total cost.
3. Supplier Access: When irregularities in supplier invoicing occur, GPOs are often not geared to provide verification and credits. Be sure you know GPO's resolution process meets your needs in the event of poor service or delivery issues.
These considerations will help you select the right GPO. In our experience with hundreds of customers, going direct to supplier provided 10+% additional cost savings and better terms than GPO.
Are GPOs always the most cost-effective option?
In many cases, GPO members have received better pricing and contract terms than they would have on their own. However, many companies, especially with large spends, achieve better pricing & service through direct negotiation with supplier.
How could going direct deliver better results than pooled resources?
1. GPO supplier must support all its members. Members with large spends subsidize fixed costs of smaller members.
2. The suppliers who are not part of the GPO know that only way to win GPO customers, especially those with large category volumes, is to offer superior price and service.
3. GPOs have better prices and terms in certain expense categories but don't excel in all the expense categories. It is worth comparing direct supplier terms again GPO.
In summary, if you have sizable volume in certain categories, explore competitive direct options in addition to the GPO.
This is an area with diverse opinions and experiences. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this topic.


A while back I mentioned that I wanted to share some "Where Are They Now" type posts about some of the Wishers who are out there living The Good Life! My goal is to have information available at the click of a picture for people who might be considering the adoption of a Winnie's Wish cat. These stories will hopefully be testament to the fact that even though a Wisher might be halfway across the country from the adopter, those adopters say it was absolutely worth it to go the extra mile. And for those Wishers who required a little more patience (like one of the cats in today's post), their families tell me it was worth it beyond a doubt.
Today, I'm sharing about TWO Winnie's Wishers – Truly and Shiloh. This story is proof that adopting a Wisher who will need extra patience and time is STILL absolutely worth it. Here's what Melissa has to say about two of the FOUR Wishers she has adopted.
I have always loved cats, but for a long time, I had been living without a cat in my life. My ex didn't like cats, and then after the divorce was final, it took a while for things to calm down and I began to think about how much I wanted to have a cat in my life.
In my imagination, I really wanted to have a black-and-white tuxedo cat, and so that's what I began searching for. I knew that I wanted an adult cat, and I wanted one that was on the young side. Eventually, I came across the picture of Truly on Petfinder. Then I followed the link to the blog and began reading.
It wasn't long before I was convinced that I had found my kitty (with a bonus). On Easter 2014, I traveled about an hour to meet Chrystal and my kitties in a Walmart parking lot.
At first, the kitties both hid, but it wasn't too long at all before Truly was out and scouting around. And it did seem like she was "scouting" and bringing back reports, as she'd go around all of us, and then return to where her brother was. During the scouting excursions, we could pet her.
Now she just loves everyone, and everyone who knows her loves her, too. You usually can tell she's coming because you hear the purr.
Truly is honestly like a cat who has never had a difficult day in her past at all. She's affectionate (and we joke that you only have to *think* about petting her to get her to purr, the motor is already running when you actually do start petting her). She's usually the first cat that visitors get to see. She loves to play, especially with string. It's so much fun to watch her walk proudly with the string after she "kills" it. We are all very happy to have her in our lives, and can't imagine life without her.
When I had begun my search for a tuxedo cat, I wasn't at first thinking about two cats. But then I found Truly, and in reading about her, I learned about her brother. And as I read about him, I came to the conclusion that I needed both of them. So we adopted him on Easter 2014 with Truly, driving about an hour down to meet Chrystal and my kitties in the Walmart parking lot.
Now Shiloh hid a lot when he first came here. He was under the stairs or under my bed for almost an entire month. He wouldn't even come out at feeding time, so I'd put his dishes where he was. My sons would say "Mom, I thought you got two cats" because we never saw him. Finally, though, he started coming out at night and gradually decided that the place where he gets canned food (otherwise known as "gushyfood" twice a day must be all right. Even then, he was a little shy and startled easily, but we just pet him when he came out and gave him treats and I wouldn't call him a shy cat at all.
He loves my daughter most of all, as far as the people in the house go, although anyone standing in a room that he walks through will be rubbed against. He does like to be held in a somewhat unusual way, with his front paws on the shoulder, and then facing the person, kind of like the same way a human baby is held. You can hear his purr from the floor when you're standing. He spends his time playing, sleeping in sunny spots, and being loved on. When you hold this big boy (he now weighs 14.5 pounds), you just feel the love and happiness. And who doesn't need more love and happiness in life?
Aw, I'm so glad they have such a great home and that their new mommy had so much patience with them! Yay! What a great adoption story!!!
Sometimes all it takes is a little time and you have the perfect kitty! Won't you give a Winnie's Wisher that kind of chance? Won't you help them find someone who will? Won't you share them so there can be more great adoption stories like this one??
Adoptions, donations and wish list fulfillments needed always!!
Just loving these adoption updates! I'm so happy that Truly & Shiloh were able to be adopted together. It sounds like they found just the right forever family. Thank you, Melissa, for giving them a home of their own!
what a wonderful follow up!!
I really enjoyed reading about Truly and Shiloh. So happy that they are living in Melissa's home where they are adored. They look so contented and healthy. Cats need a buddy that they are familiar with to cuddle to just people. Please show more of these stories. I also love the Tuxedo colored cats. Most are loving and do not shed a lot. Until tomorrow - hug your furries.
What a wonderful story, and how lucky Truly and Shiloh are to have found their furever homes! Would that every kitty at Winnie's Wish finds his or hers!


In fact, the most surprising thing to me is its physicality and … well… vigour (though that's not quite the right word – its connotations are too positive). I commented on this before when discussing William Styron's extraordinary Darkness Visible. And this is the main reason I find the notion of 'feeling low' such an irrelevance. We all have times when we 'feel a bit down', and often all that's required is a hot bath, an early night, or taking the dog for a walk. If only that was it… But with the real dog, it's almost painful to be encouraged by a well-meaning friend to try them (as if that'll do the trick). We just know it's not as simple as that.
Sleeplessness: insomnia is a classic feature – but it's weird – despite attempting what the experts call good 'sleep hygiene' (essentially being careful what you do in the couple of hours before bedtime etc), I find I get into stupid patterns of wakefulness. It was fine when we lived in our flat – concrete floors meant that I could slip out to the sitting room to read without bothering anyone else. It's much trickier now with a house of creaking floorboards and stairs. The result of course is deeper tiredness.


Kansas Handy offers the most complete range of services that you'll find from any company in the area. We are happy to provide our customers with the best Handyman service Wichita homes and businesses can get. From painting to exterior home maintenance to plumbing services, we can do any job or a combination of several projects that you've been putting off because you didn't know where to start or you're just too busy to get them all done.
Our carpentry service is performed by master carpenters who have years of experience. They can repair or replace pieces in your home to fix broken items or to update your rooms. If you are doing the type of total room makeover Wichita residents request from time to time, our carpenters can also design and create for you a completely new project, such as mantels, bookshelves, built-in tables, cabinets, and wooden countertops!
There are some jobs that homeowners can tackle themselves, but others are best left to the professionals. Electrical issues can often be dangerous, so Kansas Handy wants to help you with all the electrical repair Wichita homes require. No job is too big or too small when it comes to wiring installation and electrical repair.
Wichita plumbing repair is one of our most requested services. We employ certified plumbers, so we can handle anything from leaky faucets to broken pipes. We'll be there in an emergency, or we can add your minor repair to a list of items you'd like us to take care of on our next visit. Our plumbers can repair or replace your pipes, fixtures, or an entire tub or sink.
If you're tired of looking at the same old paint colors and cabinets, let Kansas Handy help you reinvent that space. We can complete a room makeover Wichita homeowners will fall in love with instantly!
Maintaining the outer appearance and safety of your home is practically a full-time job! Let Kansas Handy help you make improvements and repairs that will not only make your home look amazing but that will also increase the safety for you and your family. We love knowing that we've made it a little easier for our Wichita friends and neighbors to enjoy the exterior of their homes with improvements and repairs that can usually be completed within a few hours!
One of the services we gladly provide – and one that customers are usually most grateful for – is painting Wichita homes and businesses! For some reason, most people despise painting, but for us, the attention to detail and precision needed to expertly lay on a fresh coat of paint is all in a day's work!
When you need several different handyman services, a specialized contractor can't meet all your electrical, carpentry, and painting needs the way Kansas Handy can, so call us today!


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GIS Toolkit Overview Part I: Remote Sensing
This post is one of a series of posts on Remote Sensing.
By Trevor Olexy
Tags: GIS • Imagery Analysis • Remote Sensing Series
Geographic information systems (GIS) are often misunderstood, or unknown to many. Even in the development community, we often have a shallow understanding of the technology once we delve into methodologies or use cases—particularly with satellite imagery, or more aptly, remotely sensed data. GIS and remote sensing are not synonymous, but scientifically and inextricably linked. When choosing a GIS/remote sensing methodology or technical analysis component for a project, it is important to understand the strengths and shortcomings of the available tools.
GIS image developed by the author when he was working for the Amazon Conservation Association.
For this article, GIS and remote sensing are, respectively (and respectfully), over-simplified such that the former tends to focus more on spatial analysis and cartography, while the latter on the realm of collecting data about the environment from remote vehicles. In Part 1, I will focus on the remote sensing of Earth (which we can feed into a GIS and analyze later).
Remote sensing can be used to support research in far too many fields to list here (but to name a few—satellites allow scientists and analysts to track deforestation or illegal mining on a near daily basis, analyze dissolved solids in lakes and oceans, discern atmospheric particulate matter, identify soil composition, estimate crop health and yield, track global temperatures and sea ice extent, and allow for more complex statistical analysis of the coincidence of seemingly unrelated datasets, including economic and demographic, with these geographic data.)
A quick internet search will quickly show you how this list barely scratches the surface, but it also provides an overview of the breadth of areas where remote sensing plays a major and fundamental role.
One Size Never Fits All
At this point you may think remote sensing is only spaced-based, but before we had space-borne vehicles, we had airplanes, and before we had airplanes we had drones. Wait. Or is it the other way around?
Image from Aerial Services Inc.
Drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles) are the newest entrant into remote sensing our environment. With the increase in quality of drone and camera technology, we can not only achieve fantastic cinematic flyover scenes, but we can also capture incredibly high-resolution imagery of agricultural fields or flooded areas inaccessible by larger manned vehicles. Using drones allows for hyper-specific, high-resolution analysis of a small area, but they can be be expensive.
Aerial photography can cover wider areas at a comparative high resolution, but it is also expensive to hire a crew and fly a plane over areas of interest, especially remote areas. Regardless, this data can be very useful in tandem with other lower spatially but higher temporally resolute image capture methods. For tracking expansion of plantations for example, this data could be used to highlight a particular point in time to verify the edges of tree lines as compared to satellite imagery.
Images captured from the multitude of satellites (multispectral or photographic) orbiting our planet are currently the most ubiquitous data sources for remote sensing of our environment. Resolution runs from ~30 centimeters to multi-kilometer. But with higher resolutions often come fewer overpasses, so data may not be as frequently available as with lower resolution data.
Radar imagery is much more difficult to process, but is immune to cloud cover. This enables the more immediate comparison of daily or weekly images as the satellites passes over the area of interest. For example, I have used radar imagery from NASA to track the rapid expansion of logging roads in the Amazon rainforest. This would have been much more difficult or impossible to track at a high rate due to cloud cover preventing capture of visual spectrum information.
Using Remote Sensing to Help Answer Other Questions
Demographics, socioeconomic indicators, and other satellite-unrelated data are oft forgotten when it comes to answering research questions with spatial technologies. Subnational data can be further rasterized (creating a grid or cell-based dataset from continuous data). Think digitization of analog signals. For instance, an analyst can spatially overlay a grid on several datasets that have a spatial component and combine them such that each grid cell aggregates all data that falls within its bounds. This new dataset could include data for number of conflict events, population, economic output, elevation, average temperature, ethnicity percentages, crop health, or nighttime light brightness. When appropriately aggregated, these data can be statistically analyzed and offer new insights.
Remote sensing has such wide-ranging applications that most likely there is a spatial component that can be addressed by using remote sensed data across international development initiatives. For example, if you're working on an agriculture project and asking: "Where should I plant more trees or focus forest conservation efforts?" Remote sensed data can help provide insights into where forest loss is occurring.
Remote sensing and GIS are not the hammer for all nails, but it is good practice to consider if using spatial methodologies can add value to your project before getting too far into implementation. You want to avoid thinking, "Oops, I wish I had collected and mapped this data!"
Stay tuned for Part 2 that will discuss basic GIS tools used to answer your spatial questions.
DAI works on the frontlines of international development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.
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Visualizing Remotely Sensed Data: True Color and False Color
The Americas' Effort to Integrate, Distribute, and Use Open Data to Make Decisions
[email protected] Year in Review: Top 10 Posts of 2017
Open Source Series Part 3: Spatial Analysis with QGIS (Article 2/2)
DAI Shaping a more livable world.


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Two million Euros for Munich dementia researcher
The causes and symptoms of these diseases overlap. They may manifest with dementia, personality changes and also with impaired speech and movement. Patients often die within just a few years.
The molecular biologist is focusing on extremely unusual proteins, which form clumps in the brains of patients. It is just a few months since Edbauer and his colleagues deciphered the composition and formation of these proteins.
"The studied proteins consist of a chain of identical elements. We call them dipeptide-repeat proteins, DPRs for short. They normally do not occur in the body, which means they are very unusual," explains Edbauer, who leads a research group at the DZNE's Munich site.
Translation errors in the brain
The researchers were able to trace these proteins back to a genetic peculiarity. "The DNA of these patients contains a particular section, which repeats itself hundreds or even thousands of times. In healthy people, this sequence occurs less than 30 times. The formation of a protein product is highly unexpected, because these repetitive sequences are located in an area of the genome which normally is not translated into proteins," says the molecular biologist.
The function of these proteins has not yet been determined. "We know very little about their effects and properties. Our project is breaking new scientific ground," says Edbauer. "It seems that the DPRs are of no use whatsoever to the organism and that they damage nerve cells. We want to investigate this in depth. We also want to find out how these proteins are formed, because it is absolutely unclear why this particular area of the genome is translated at all."
Besides investigating tissue samples from patients, Edbauer's team will also examine cell cultures and genetically modified mice to find new targets for treatments. "We want to test substances which prevent the creation of these proteins or slow down the aggregation process," is how he describes the research plan.
Currently available treatments for ALS and FTD can at best alleviate the symptoms. At present, there would be no way of stopping the progression of these diseases, explains Edbauer: "The DPRs could be ideal targets for a specific treatment, because they do not occur in healthy people. If we devise a treatment, which specifically tackles these proteins, we should be able to avoid the disruption of vital metabolic processes. This minimises the risk of side-effects."
The Munich-based researcher sees the grant of the ERC as a great opportunity: "I hope we can take a major step towards developing a causative treatment against these catastrophic diseases."
Second grant for the DZNE
The ERC awards "Consolidator Grants" to young researchers working at the cutting edge of science. The funds are awarded after a highly competitive selection procedure and are spread over a period of five years. Dieter Edbauer is the second DZNE scientist to receive an award from the ERC: Prof. Thomas Wolbers from the DZNE site in Magdeburg was previously awarded a "Starting Grant".
Dieter Edbauer (b. 1976) studied medicine in Munich and obtained his doctorate for studies at the Gene Center of the University of Munich (LMU) in 2001. From 2001 to 2004, he worked at the LMU's Adolf Butenandt Institute. This was followed by five years of research at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA. Since 2009, he leads a Helmholtz Young Investigators Group at the Munich site of the German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE).


Major projects from the past decade include Take 6, a searchable database of manuscript archives from several of the most prominent folk song collectors, and The Full English, a learning programme involving the world's biggest digital archive of English folklore, song and dance manuscripts. Both projects were supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund Heritage Lottery Funding.
The Audio Visual Archive is closed 12–2pm, daily. Advanced booking is essential for access to the Audio Visual Archive.


If you are interested in Renting of the Fire Hall or Community Building, please contact Cathy Schuett at 402-750-6200. Some have been concerned about the use of the Community Building once the new Fire/EMS Hall has been built, the Community Building WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR RENT for all your family gatherings, graduations, or get together.
The Village Board also meets on the Second Monday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to join us for the meetings. If you would like information on how to have your item added to the agenda, please contact the Village Clerk at 402-371-1720, please leave a message and someone will get back to you.


Please excuse me for writing in English. I am looking for the older version of ForecastFox (Fix). I use Basilisk and Pale Moon as my browsers and your Extensions are no longer available.
Киев в гугле показывает +2, а в программе +6, кому верить?
Уже не первую неделю врёт.


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Alamy
The World's Safest Airline Is...
by Katherine LaGrave
Since 2013, AirlineRatings.com has compiled an annual list of some of the best—and worst—airlines in operation.
Despite the relative safety of air travel today, fliers nevertheless experience a number of fears taking off, touching down, and cruising at 30,000 feet. Something that might help to assuage those fears? Knowing that the airline you're flying has an incredible record of safety (and maybe even in-flight snacks). Snacks aside, AirlineRatings.com, a safety and product rating website, recently announced their top 20 safest airlines and their 10 safest low-cost airlines after evaluating 407 carriers on a variety of factors including an airline's fatality record, operational history, incident and inspection reports from aviation governing bodies, independent organizations, and the government. Topping the list for the third year in a row is Qantas, the Australian national carrier that boasts an astonishing fatality-free record in its "jet set" era. In addition to its safety record, the 95-year-old airline has been a pioneer in more ways than one: think the implementation of flight data recorders to help monitor plane, cabin, and crew; automatic landings; and engine monitoring using satellite communications.
Of the 407 airlines surveyed, 148 have the top seven-star safety ranking. Rounding out the top 20, in alphabetical order, are American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand; Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airline System (SAS), Singapore Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia.
Corrigan notes that any flight traveling over the Great Australian Bight is scenic, but flying from Adelaide to Perth provides a particularly good angle. "There's the contrast of blue water, the silica sand, and then you're into the red. The terrain just gets redder and redder and redder." This route is operated by Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar.
Corrigan notes the specific rarity of a stopover on this route. "Gove is an Aboriginal community and a part of Australia no one really sees. You fly in the Gulf of Carpentaria within Arnhem Land, which is in the Australian tropics, but in the remotepart, where the desert has its estuaries with all the crocodiles. It's real frontier country." This route is operated by Airnorth, with 76-seat Embraer E170s.
"Qantas flies from Sydney to Lord Howe, but Port Macquarie is a nicer alternative; it's a country town and physically the closest point on the Australian continent to Lord Howe Island, which only allows 400 tourists at any one time," notes Corrigan. This volcanic, crescent-shaped island has an airstrip (and a tiny passenger terminal), with flights arriving over the reef--the world's southernmost barrier coral reef--and a view to the imposing Mount Gower. The entire island is an UNESCO World Heritage site, with 70 percent of the land protected park preserve and the surrounding waters a marine preserve. This route is operated seasonally by QantasLink.
Joe Corrigan
According to Corrigan, flying into Uluru (Ayers Rock) is all about the approach. "The flight from Melbourne is especially good since the Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport is north of the rock and you fly in particularly close to Uluru." Both Jetstar and Virgin Australia operate this route, flying Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s, respectively.
"This route passes over the world's longest straight stretches of railway and road. The Eyre Highway is 147 kilometers (91 miles) of sealed road without a bend, with a railway line—the Trans-Australian railway--that runs near it. It's the only thing out there—in a region called the 'Nullarbor Plain,' a treeless country with desert to the north and the Great Australian Bight to the south." (Corrigan clearly has a thing for the Bight.)
Almost 45 percent of the island of Tasmania is national park reserve, with the largest chunk being the 2,387 square miles of the Southwest National Park, a wilderness of jagged mountains, deep lakes, swathes of sand beach, and dense forest. There are only two ways in: a grueling walk of more than a week, or an hour-long trip over all that majesty of nature in a small plane. The flight, from Hobart's Cambridge Aerodrome, heads out to the single airstrip in all that wild, at Melaleuca near Bathurst Harbour. This route is operated by Par Avion, most frequently with a 9-passenger plane that guarantees everyone a decent view.
Cynthia Drescher
It may be one of the shortest flights in Australia, but the less than 20-minute flight from Hervey Bay, north of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, to the world's largest sand island is also one of the most spectacular. Small aircraft arrive to Fraser Island directly onto 75-Mile Beach, utilizing the island's famous stretch of sand as an alternative airstrip. From August through October, the humpback whale migration provides in-flight entertainment. This route is operated by Air Fraser Island.
The Most Spectacularly Scenic Flights Across Asia
The Most Spectacularly Scenic Flights in North America
And while low-cost carriers can sometimes get a bad reputation as being less safe—and certainly less comfortable—than major airlines, the site also ranked low-cost options that have excellent safety records and passed the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). In alphabetical order, they are Aer Lingus, Flybe, HK Express, JetBlue, Jetstar Australia, Thomas Cook, TUI Fly, Virgin America, Volaris, and Westjet.
On the other end of the spectrum, nearly 50 of the airlines surveyed have three stars or less. 10 airlines have just one star, and all of the lowest-ranking group are based in Indonesia, Nepal, and Suriname: In alphabetical order, they are Batik Air, Blue Wing Airlines, Citilink, Kalstar, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, TransNusa, Trigana Air Service, Wings Air, and Xpress Air.
Though high-profile incidents like the intentional Germanwings crash in March of 2015 and the August disintegration of a Russian passenger plane in-flight were big news, 2015 was an improvement over 2014's record of air safety: Data from Aviation-Safety.net shows 16 air accidents with 560 fatalities; well below the 10-year average and an improvement on 2014, when there were 21 fatal accidents and 986 fatalities.
With S.A.L.T, Silversea Is Completely Rewriting How Cruises Do Food
How to Deal With Flight Cancellations Due to Strikes
10 Things You Should Never Do On a Cruise


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UI Claims point to a healthy labor market
From Mark Perry:
The chart above shows the number of new claims for unemployment benefits in the first month of the last four official recessions using data from the Department of Labor (claims) and the National Bureau of Economic Research (recession dates).
At the onset of each of the last four recessions (1980, 1981, 1990 and 2001), initial claims for unemployment benefits were above the average of 353,000 (from 1967), and in most cases, way above average. The two most recent reports of 301,000 claims (week ending January 19) and 302,000 claims (week ending January 12) suggest that the labor market is healthy and resilient, not weak and anemic.
Jan 31 Update: Bad news today: "In the week ending Jan. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 375,000, an increase of 69,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 306,000. The 4-week moving average was 325,750."
McCain on Tax Reform
Proposed Fiscal Stimulus: My View
Taxes don't stay where you put them
Lags in Fiscal Policy
Eyes on the Fed
The Modern Lighthouse
"a strategy of desperation"
The Clinton Plan


The Worm Ladies of Charlestown, Inc.
to work on improving your soil for this spring's plantings...no more chemicals...try using worm castings and/or aerated compost tea!
herb gardening, and DECODE the truth about garden remedies.
Mark your calendar! The 19th Annual Vermiculture Conference will be on November 10-11, 2018. It's on Saturday and Sunday, which is more convenient for many folks. Parking is free on campus on the weekend, so it's an added bonus.
It's far too early to have an agenda, so this is just a Hold the Date email. However, I updated the website, so the first page has 2018 information. We'll be in the awesome Hunt Library again. I left the 2017 information on speakers and agenda on the website so you can see what we did last year.
Worms and castings and bins are available in North Kingstown and in Charlestown; however, it is best to call first--401-742-5915 or 401-322-7675.
VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME TO WORK WITH US AT THE FARM!


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Buying or Selling a Rolls Royce Phantom IV
Half a decade after the end of the Second World War Rolls Royce Limited would see the Phantom revived. In the Rolls Royce Phantom IV they would again display the more intrepid side of their nature. It was the only Rolls Royce motorcar to utilize a straight-8 F-head engine in the B-80 and later B81. Its wheelbase at 229 inches was 13 inches longer than the largest Silver Wraith chassis allowing for likely the most magnificent coachwork of any Rolls Royce. A 7-seat Limousine variant of the Phantom IV with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner was to become an official state car of the United Kingdom accompanying Princess Elizabeth II to her coronation, and more recently appearing at the wedding of Prince William of Wales to Kate Middleton. It would in fact become something of a monarchal accessory being sold exclusively to royalty and heads of state from Spain to Iran. This small range of custom production would make it the rarest model Roll Royce ever produced with only 18 chassis being built.
Looking to purchase a classic Rolls Royce?
Rolls Royce Phantom IV Buyers Guide
While ownership of a Rolls Royce Phantom IV is a somewhat exclusory club, rarity is still an important factor in making any valuations of a classic car. The Phantom IVs massive chassis might distinguish it from the Silver Wraith or other concurrent models. But youll want to take all steps necessary to ensure a vehicle is genuinefrom checking the VIN on the engine, transmission, and rear axle to opening it up and making sure that all parts and replacement parts are Rolls Royce original and not knock-offs. Youll also need to make a thorough sweep for rust and other imperfections. This can be a tiresome process when you just want to hop in and take it home, but caution and care always pays off in the long run.
At the Beverly Hills Car Club youll find a team of experts who dedicated years to classic cars and developed the knowledge and well-honed skills to secure your satisfaction. If you want a business you can trust to earnestly aid you in your search for the classic car of your choice, consider talking to a member and getting on the road to paradise.
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The Dutch municipality of Baarle-Nassau has, like most Dutch municipalities, it's own flag: red/white (from the old arms) and blue/yellow (from the new arms). This flag was adopted 20 August 1965, and was designed by the well-known Dutch (Frisian) vexillologist Klaes Sierksma.
Left Azure, Right Gules. Billet of Gold. Three fesses coupe of Silver.
The proportions between azure and gules is 2:3. The silver fesses run to about one third of the azure. The golden billet is hanging in the middle between the upper fess and the hoist.
There is an enclave of Belgium in the south-central Netherlands. This enclave is called Baarle-Hertog. But, in fact, there isn't just one enclave in this tiny area. There are lots of them here. There are Dutch enclaves in Belgian enclaves which are themselves in the Dutch territory -- a Macedonian salad, as we say in French. Consider that there are two main enclaves: Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau, of Belgium and Netherlands, respectively. If you want to have more information, I suggest you have a look in the Winkler Prins Encyclopedia, at the articles Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau. I have copied a little map of the town, where there are very tiny enclaves -- just the place to put a flag. This encyclopedia is in Dutch.
Because some enclaves are very tiny (there are boundaries across houses!) they found a way to identify where the Belgian and Dutch parts are. Next to every front door there is painted a little.... (yes).... flag! If the front door is on Belgian territory the flag is a Belgian tricolour, and if the front door is on Dutch territory the flag is the Dutch tricolour.


text:
Q: Combinations of multisets - the theory? I've read over the theory countless times, and I still have no idea how to think of it.
The formula for the combinations of multisets is $C(k + r - 1, r)$, where $k$ = the number of distinct elements, and $r$ is the $r$-combinations required.
Let's use an example.
If I have the set $S = \{2 \text{ of } 1, 1 \text{ of } 2, 1 \text{ of } 3\}$.
The possible combinations would simply be
1123, 1132, 1231, 1213, 1321, 1312, 2113, 2131, 2311, 3112, 3121, 3211
Which would equal to $12$.
But according to the formula, this should be $C(3 + 4 - 1, 4)$, or $C(6,4)$, or $15$.
Did I do something wrong here?
How do I fix this?
Can someone explain how this formula is derived?
Thanks!
Baggio.

A: Henry and joriki have explained what calculations you should have used; I'll give some examples of problems for which $\binom{k+r-1}r$ is the answer.
$\binom{k+r-1}r$ is the number of ways of distributing $r$ indistinguishable objects amongst $k$ distinguishable containers. Here are some problems that can be reformulated in such terms.

*

*How many solutions in non-negative integers are there to the equation $x_1+\ldots+x_k=r$?

*There are $k$ types of doughnuts on sale, and at least $r$ of each type are available. You ask for $r$ doughnuts, but you don't specify how many of each type you want. In how many different ways can the baker fill your order? (Two ways are different if they differ in the number of doughnuts of some type.)

*

*To reduce (2) to (1), let $x_i$ be the number of doughnuts of type $i$ that the baker uses to fill the order.

*How many non-decreasing sequences $\langle a_1,\dots,a_k\rangle$ of non-negative integers are there such that $a_k=r$?

*

*To reduce (3) to (1), let $x_1=a_1$, and let $x_i=a_i-a_{i-1}$ for $i=2,\dots,k$.

*How many non-decreasing sequences $\langle a_1,\dots,a_{k-1}\rangle$ of non-negative integers are there such that $a_{k-1}\le r$?

*

*To reduce (4) to (1), let $x_1=a_1$, $x_i=a_i-a_{i-1}$ for $i=2,\dots,k-1$, and $x_k=r-a_{k-1}$.

*How many strictly increasing sequences $\langle a_1,\dots,a_{k-1}\rangle$ of positive integers are there such that $a_{k-1}<r+k$?

*

*To reduce (5) to (1), let $x_1=a_1-1$, $x_i=a_i-a_{i-1}-1$ for $i=2,\dots,k-1$, and $x_k=r+k-a_{k-1}-1$.

*How many strings of $k-1$ $0$'s and $r+k-2$ $1$'s are there in which the substring $00$ does not occur?

*

*To reduce (6) to (1), let $x_1$ be the number of $1$'s before the first $0$, $x_i+1$ the number of $1$'s between the $(i-1)$-st and $i$-th $0$'s for $i=2,\dots,k-1$, and $x_k$ the number of $1$'s after the last $0$.

Finally, to see that (1) reduces to the original description, let $x_i$ be the number of objects in container $i$.

A: That's not the formula for what you're counting. You want the multinomial coefficient
$$
\pmatrix{r\\r_1,\dotsc,r_k}=\frac{r!}{r_1!\cdots r_k!}=\frac{4!}{2!1!1!}=12\;.
$$
For explanations, see the "Interpretations" section of the article.

A: Suppose you have some set S made up of k = 3 distinct objects: {1, 2, 3}. (Note that |S| might be strictly greater than k.)
Then the formula you mentioned, C(k + r - 1, r), comes in when you want to know the number of ways of choosing r objects from S, but only if your set S includes at least r duplicates of each of your distinct objects. That is, if r = 2, then the set {1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3} must be a subset of S.
So for your original set, S = {1, 1, 2, 3}, the formula C(k + r - 1, r) only applies for counting the ways of choosing r objects from S if r = 1.
(Just to be clear, your list of {1123, 1132, 1231, 1213, 1321, 1312, 2113, 2131, 2311, 3112, 3121, 3211} is the set of all possible permutations of S, not the number of combinations.)
Hope this helps!

A: If you want to use binomial coefficients then your calculations should be
$${r \choose r_1}{r-r_1 \choose r_2}\cdots{r-r_1-r_2-\cdots-r_{k-1} \choose r_{k}}$$ which in your example is $${4 \choose 2}{4-2 \choose 1}{4-2-1 \choose 1} = 6 \times 2 \times 1 =12$$ i.e. with six choices over where to put the $1$s, then two choices where to put the $2$ and then one choice where to put the $3$.
Cancellation of factorials gives the same general multinomial result as joriki: $\dfrac{r!}{r_1!\cdots r_k!}$.

A: Here's a simpler answer using stars and bars method. You have a set S = {1,2,3} and you can choose 4 digits from S with duplicates as shown from your example. For example, the outcome can be 1112 or 1233 ...etc
Go through eat element in S and add a star to it if you would like to pick that digit. To have the output 1122, you do this:
1(star) (star) 2 (star) (star) 3
(you go through #1 and say you want to pick that digit 2 times, so put 2 stars next to it, and then at #2 you want to pick it, so you put 2 stars next to number 2).
To have an output 2233, you do this: 1 2 (star) (star) 3 (star) (star).
To have an output 1223, you do this: 1 (star) 2 (star) (star) 3 (star).
This is equivalent to C(6,4) = 15.
6 placements and you choose 4 placements for the stars (remove the number 1 to get 6 placements)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


HTML and text sizes are used in the main page of www.golden-goalz.com like the graph.
- HTML size is 177KB, compressed HTML and Text Size are 168KB and 29KB.
www.golden-goalz.com for the first time taken on 5/16/2011. Last domain update time is 5/8/2015. Also expiry date is 5/16/2016. If you don't renewal on 05/16/2016 somebody can take it.
Your site is on 103.246.16.134 IP server and working speed is below average with 2812 ms. If you want to make your site better, you must make your work better. With a site running faster than you can be a better case.


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Jumia Kenya is adding Haier's 'half-priced MOOKA TV to its portfolio so everyone owns a smart TV
Kenya's top online store Jumia is adding Haier's half-priced MOOKA TVs' to its portfolio, a move that's expected to see more households in Kenya own TVs and access top educational and inspirational content.
According to Jumia, "Mooka TV is an exclusive customized TV product for Haier. It is created for the needs of users in the internet age and has a distinct internet attribute. This product not only declares that Haier TV is actively creating a two line pattern, but also opens up new ideas for the network transformation of the TV enterprise internet era."
Haier aims to launch its 32″ and 55″ at Ksh 13,999 and Ksh 45,999 respectively beating its competition by over 50 percent. By signing an exclusive deal with Jumia, Kenyans are expected to even see a much higher price drop than these introductory prices. The TV sets support all basic TV functions such as receiving ground-wave DTV, HDMI, MHL and others. Mooka TVs have received first-class ratings in energy efficiency and cost just half competitors models with similar performance.
MOOKA was first introduced in China in 2014 to meet China's huge domestic TV demands and quickly became popular due to price, their thinner bezels and durability and have since been sold as a product for young digital savvy consumers.
Founded in 1984, Haier has transformed from a traditional manufacturing enterprise into a win-win IoT community ecology, leading global companies to take the lead in detonating the Internet of Things economy. In the late 1990s, Haier Group entered "Internationalization Strategy Stage", in an effort to tap into overseas markets.
READ Sony Refuses To Bow To Loeb's Proposal
It came up with the "three-step strategy" of "going out, going in and going up". That is, first gain ground in the traditional major household appliance markets like Europe, USA and Japan by making into the niche markets, then with the advantageous positions obtained in these major markets, rapidly expand the market presence in the developing countries. Next, take to the main channels of local markets with localized products that meet mainstream local user needs, and ultimately become the market leader of high-end and innovative products. Currently, Haier has entered the top ten chain channels in Europe and USA with its markets across over 100 countries and regions. Every minute on average 125 overseas consumers are becoming Haier customers.
In October 2011, Haier announced the acquisition of Sanyo's white goods business in Japan and Southeast Asia. This multinational acquisition is a milestone event for Haier. It not only intensified Haier's presence in Southeast Asia, but more importantly, via differentiated cultural integration and mechanism innovation, instilled Haier's doctrine of "Entrepreneurship and Innovation" to the acquired companies and employees, allowing the integration and development of Haier and Aqua brands in Japanese and Southeast Asian markets. Just one year later, Haier acquired Fisher&Paykel, a New Zealand household appliance leader, and strengthened its competency in R&D and manufacture of high-end household appliances. On June 7th, 2016, Haier Group acquired GE Appliances, making GE Appliances a formal member of Haier.
The Fool-Proof Strategy For Business Owners To Find The Perfect Office Space
UAP Old Mutual launches digital last expense cover for as low as Ksh 50
How to Use Podcasts and Online Information to Enhance Ventures
The firm is present in South Africa and this entry into Kenya will help it make inroads across Africa!
Readers 16,968
Equity Group crosses the trillion-shilling balance sheet milestone
Econet Group's Strive Masiyiwa Appointed to Netflix Board of Directors
Is Kenya Becoming a Retail Deathplace?
Australian Buy now, pay later provider Openpay launches in the US


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Q: function not displaying an output in R I know the header sounds confusing but thats what I have now:
ticker<-c("AAPL","TSLA")
quantmod::getQuote(ticker)$'Trade Time'

[1] "2022-12-21 16:00:04 EST" "2022-12-21 16:00:04 EST"

The above line works normally, however, when I turn this line to a function like below:
trade_time<-function(ticker){
  quantmod::getQuote(ticker)$'Trade Time'
  trade_time
}

The output is as follows:
> trade_time(ticker)
function(ticker){
  quantmod::getQuote(ticker)$'Trade Time'
  trade_time
}

May I know what is the function missing in order to show the output? Many thanks.

A: trade_time is the function created.  We need to return the value i.e.
trade_time<-function(ticker){
   quantmod::getQuote(ticker)$'Trade Time'
}

-testing
trade_time(ticker)
[1] "2022-12-21 16:00:04 EST" "2022-12-21 16:00:04 EST"

Just to show an example how the return works i.e. in R, the last statement output is returned even if we don't explicitly mention return.  But, we can use return before the last line as well e.g. to print or do something else
f1 <- function(x)
   {
     if(x > 10)
         {
          return("Yes")
         "hello"
       }
  return("Not TRUE")
}

In this function, we only have an if case and a default return if the expression is not satisfied.  Also, note that the "hello" is the last statement within the if block, but it is not returned as there is an explicit return before that line
> f1(5)
[1] "Not TRUE"
> f1(11)
[1] "Yes"


Incident 387 04/02/2019 refers to a burglary of a residential property on Station Road Waddington, near the junction with Manor Lane.
At about 1900hrs on 04/02/19, unknown person(s) have used a paving slab to smash a wooden framed double glazed kitchen door to gain entry to the property. It is believed that the offender made off when the occupier was alerted by the sound of breaking glass.


Current Provincial MNU Board Members are Cheryl Lange and Kim Fraser.
HSC/Local 10 currently has two (2) Board members that are elected on alternate years, each for a two year term. Their role is to be a voice for Local 10 but also be a liaison for Local 10 to the Provincial MNU. They attend the Board meetings and bring the work of the Province back to Local 10. Generally speaking the MNU Board carry out the Unions' objectives. The structure assures accountability to general membership both Locally and Provincially. There are twenty three (23) members on the MNU Board plus our President Sandi Mowat, Vice President Donna McKenzie and Secretary/Treasurer Holly Cadieux. Board activities can be found on the Provincial website.


We have land available and great advice from the University of Missouri Extension office in town. Let the Chamber know if you'd like to get the community garden going again, teaching friends how to raise food for their families.
You are currently browsing the Galena Area Chamber of Commerce weblog archives for May, 2012.


Part of a three-part series taking a closer look at homeless encampments and interim measures for addressing the homeless crisis, the panel examines show policing and social service outreach plays out on the streets of San Francisco on a day-to-day basis and what impact this has both on those experiencing homelessness and on the rest of the city. It will also provide a historical and national context for the roles and impacts of "quality of life" laws aimed at homelessness, similar to those initiatives on the November ballot and currently operating in San Francisco. Collectively this night will provide the necessary context to understand the opportunities and limits of the interim solutions discussed on the other two panels.


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Have you heard – the U.S. is under attack by the KRA. They're out to destroy free life as we know it, and it's up to you to stop them. I know, that's a lot of work to do just to win a free tablet, but we're running out of requisites.
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Weather: The Moonsea region is located in the northern part of Faerun. While not as cold as the Silver Marches, it is much cooler than the Dalelands or Waterdeep, and people dress warmly all year round (a fur cape or cloak is a common article of clothing in the Moonsea). Anyone who walks around in light clothing during cold weather is obviously either a fool or someone who is using magic to stay warm and doesn't care if people know it (and thus a fool). Minor magic items that protect against the cold, such as rings or potions that give resistance against nonlethal damage caused by cold, are in common use among the wealthier people of the Moonsea, who enjoy not having to wear bulky clothing all the time (and these people are the ones who can afford bodyguards to protect them from robbers who would take such luxuries from them). The Moonsea itself, a large inland sea, or huge lake, to be precise, is fed by glacial meltwater and even in summer it can be cold enough to kill a swimmer. Because of this, most people who make their living on the water can't swim, since they've never had the opportunity to practice in its odd, purple-hued waters; instead, they have learned more practical skills such as fire building and how to not fall out of a boat.
In the winter months much of the sea freezes over, making travel across the ice possible but (due to the great distances involved) not very common. The larger cities sometimes use icebreaking ships, summoned monsters, or fire magic to keep their dock areas somewhat clear of ice, though this is impractical on a large scale. Ice fishing is common, with fishermen walking to their favorite spots rather than boating. The first snow usually falls in early to middle Uktar, and the land is consistently snowy from Nightal to Alturiak, with occasional snowfalls happening through Tarsakh.
The frequent cold and limited technology means that Moonsea inns usually have a small number of large rooms rather than a large number of small rooms; this reduces the number of individual fireplaces needed and the overall risk of fire. Some inns have just one large common room heated by a large hearth. This means these places have less privacy than a typical adventurer's inn but attacks are less likely because there are so many witnesses. The places with smaller rooms tend to use closed metal braziers full of hot coals to offset the chill.
Because of the natural cold, those who have the means to magically protect themselves against cold (such as adventurers, spellcasters, and other wealthy folk) often do so, and in turn are aware that their enemies might have similar protection. This means that magic-using NPCs are less likely to use cold attacks. since doing so is often a waste of time (though the followers of Auril, unpopular even in the Moonsea, would disagree). PCs who gird themselves against magical cold in anticipation of many "cold mages" in the area might be surprised that fireball and lightning bolt are just as common here as in warmer lands.
City-States: Because of the danger of bandits, monsters, and military rivals, civilized populations gather in large settlements and behind walls for protection and comfort; every town has at least a wooden palisade wall. Adventurers traveling cross-country are much less likely to stumble across a hamlet or village here than elsewhere in Faerun. Most settlements don't allow visitors after dark, and some even refuse entry to strangers during the day except under special circumstances -- even visiting merchants must make their deals outside the town wall.
Monsters: Though most parts of Faerun have at least occasional problems with marauding monsters, the Moonsea is particularly dangerous in this regard. Surrounded by old mountains and ancient forests, and divided by a mysterious deep sea, the land here has more than its fair share of strange beasts. In particular, the lake was once called the Sea of Dragons because of the many dragons that came here to mate; its forests and mountains are still riddled with dragon lairs. Moonsea folk do not scoff at rumors of monsters -- they tighten their belts, sharpen their swords, and expect the worst. Monster trophies do not impress them; such things hang in the main hall of most towns that have managed to survive for more than a few years.
Religion: The common faiths of the Moonsea reflect its dangerous nature; most of the gods worshiped here are of the "worship me or bad things will happen to you" variety, and the rest fall into the "worship me or I will do bad things to you" category. Whether overt or subtle, these faiths influence how the local people think. Visitors who worship bright and noble gods are likely to be scoffed at behind their backs, while those who worship "frivolous" deities such as Eldath, Lliira, Milil, Sharess, and Sune are often derided to their face. Adventurers who proselytize "foreign" religions quickly draw the attention of Banite loyalists and others who openly serve the evil deities favored here. Most Moonsea folk pay lip service to these deities just to keep potential threats away, not necessarily fully embracing the dark philosophies of these deities.
Suspicion: Because of their frontier situation and the many threats in the Moonsea (particularly from rival city-states), the people of the region are mistrustful of any stranger, since any unknown person could be a spy or assassin from a rival settlement. Unlike other harsh lands where a culture of hospitality to all became the norm for the sake of survival, the Moonsea folk have more of a "take care of your own" attitude. This also makes them reluctant to turn to outsiders for help except under great duress, or when they have no questions about a person's motivations (for example, even in the Moonsea a paladin of Torm is someone you can trust to help you without an ulterior motive). Strangers must prove their worth before earning even a small measure of free hospitality. While the people of the Moonsea are not inherently evil or distrustful (any more than the people of the Dales are inherently friendly and good), that is the attitude bred into them by a culture where survival is hard work and the kind-hearted are usually taken advantage of.
River Duathamper: The River Duathamper is a minor tributary of the Moonsea that flows through the forest of Cormanthor from the south. A few woodcutters cut timber from its banks and float the logs downriver to the Moonsea, but the elves of the forest quickly run the interlopers out.
River Stojanow: The swift, cold River Stojanow flows to the Moonsea from the foothills of the Dragonspine Mountains. Ships and barges carry ore from Dragonspine mines to Phlan and Melvaunt.
Elmwood (Village, 500): Elmwood is a small farming community on the southern shores of the Moonsea. The locals supplement their incomes with fishing and woodcarving, and they sell their goods to passing ships and adventurers at fair prices. Few places in the Moonsea can be called peaceful and serene, but Elmwood is one of them. Constable Thoyana Jorgadaul (NG female shield dwarf Ftr8), an adventurer who retired here years ago, oversees the community. Elmwood owes its security both to its isolation and the simple fact that no one in the town owns anything worth stealing.
The city of Melvaunt sits on the northern coast of the Moonsea, and serves as the port of entry to many travelers coming to the region. The Northern Moonsea region stretches inland from the shore all the way to the edge of The Ride, encompassing all of Thar. The River Stojanow marks the region's western border; the Galena Mountains frame the region to the east. The city of Glister at the northern edge of Thar is nominally a part of the region, but its people and customs differ significantly from those along the coastline.
The Northern Moonsea is a harsh place whose independent cities are not well connected by roads; most of the region's famed trade takes place by boat. None of the area's rulers want to spend time and money making it easier for armies to march upon them, so roads remain a low priority. The Phlan Path is perhaps the region's most proper road, but even it resembles nothing more than a rutted dirt trail in places.
Ships from Melvaunt constantly shuttle goods to Mulmaster and Hillsfar, where these items can be more efficiently distributed around the region. Legitimate trade with Zhentil Keep is dangerous and rare, but the black market is alive and well, despite the city's attempts to crack down on "traitors" that would do business with their enemies in the west.
The geography of the Northern Moonsea area can be described in three words: drab, marshy, and cold. Vast swaths of the region have little to no vegetation, and the landscape is rarely broken up by trees, hills, or rivers. Building roads through the land is expensive, time-consuming, and ultimately futile, because the stones sink farther into the marsh year after year. Structures outside the major cities encounter much the same problem, and few people have found a compelling reason to build fortifications to defend such unwelcoming terrain.
With little vegetation, frequent incursions by monsters, and a cold climate, farming is relatively unknown along the Northern Moonsea. In the western section, along the River Stojanow, a fertile belt allows for the sowing of some grains and a few hardy vegetables. Without the protection of a major city, however, no large-scale food production takes place. Few small communities pop up in the north for similar reasons, so most of the region's population is concentrated in its cities.
The Great Gray Waste of Thar occupies a large section of the north. It is a bleak and desolate region of marshlands and cold plains, with the occasional mountain or rock formation to break up the landscape. Tribes of orcs and ogres rule, making their homes wherever they can carve out a niche. Scavengers and predators roam the land, from the ubiquitous monstrous vermin to green dragons to the animated skeletons of the unfortunate dead.
The western portion of the Moonsea region, which includes the city of Zhentil Keep, stretches from the great body of water from which the territory gets its name all the way to the Border Forest in the west, and from the northern fringes of the mighty Cormanthor Forest to the tribal lands of The Ride in the north. The River Stojanow serves as the region's northeastern border, while Yulash marks its southeastern limit. Most people also consider Voonlar to be part of the region, demarking its extreme southwestern border. Good roads connect many of the communities, with major traffic flowing along the trade triangle of Voonlar, Zhentil Keep, and Teshwave. Another major route leaves Zhentil Keep and passes through Yulash on its way to Hillsfar in the east, while minor roads run to Phlan to the northeast and to the Citadel of the Raven, Zhentil Keep's companion community, to the north. Trade continues south out of the Western Moonsea region and into the Dalelands and points beyond.
Within the Western Moonsea, two geographic features dominate the landscape -- the River Tesh and the Dragonspine Mountains. The river, which flows from Dagger Falls near the northern tip of the Desertsmouth Mountains, serves as a major trade route, particularly between Teshwave and Zhentil Keep. The Dragonspine Mountains bisect the region from the southwest to the northeast and provide many valuable raw resources as an enticement to the entrepreneurs attempting to carve civilization out of the wild places. Though far from being the largest or tallest mountains in Faerun, the Dragonspines are rugged and often bitterly cold throughout the year, making them a danger to even the hardiest explorers.
In between these landmarks, the Western Moonsea region features miles of bleak grasslands and moors no one dares travel across alone. A few farms lie scattered throughout, but most people with any sense stay close to the cities and towns, where protection from marauding monsters is readily available. While the Western Moonsea has the greatest concentration of population of any part of the region, this doesn't mean there are folks packed shoulder to shoulder anywhere. Its vast reaches are filled with ancient ruins, dank tombs, remnants of civilizations old even by elven standards, and scores of bloodthirsty humanoids and even more hazardous beasts.