The registration program now correctly registers NCover when it is run as a non-administrative user (problem only on Vista).
Fixed the //reg switch to permit multiple copies of NCover to run in parallel.
Fixed an OutOfMemory exception that sometimes occurred when generating large HTML reports.
Fixed some tricky interop issues regarding NCover and NCoverExplorer projects.
Sped up HTML report generation in NCover.
Fixed highlight color of comments in VB.NET code.
NCoverExplorer now correctly reopens merged reports.
A status window now appears when generating a report in NCoverExplorer. Helpful for those big reports!
NCoverExplorer now correctly sends multiple exclusions to NCover.
Fixed the generation of reports through the MSBuild task.
Fixed misc. issues with displaying out of date and missing source files in NCoverExplorer.
Made some fixes to branch coverage calculations.
Greatly enhanced the speed of profiling extremely large methods (such as those created by code generators).
Download NCover 2.0.3, and please don't hesitate to contact our support team by submitting a support ticket if you run into any problems.


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Q: How to scroll to an index by its index number in flutter listview? I have a listview . I want to go to a certain widget by it's corresponding index number.
I've tried with ScrollController, but it need offset value to jumpTo the index. But I want to jumpTo a widget by using its index number.
Please, help me to fix it
Thanks in advance.

A: Unfortunately, ListView has no built-in approach to a scrollToIndex() function. You'll have to develop your own way to measure to that element's offset for animateTo() or jumpTo(), or you can search through suggested solutions/plugins from other posts such as:

*

*flutter ListView scroll to index not available

*Flutter: Scrolling to a widget in ListView
(the general scrollToIndex issue is discussed at flutter/issues/12319 since 2017, but still with no current plans)

But there is a different kind of ListView that does support scrollToIndex:

*

*ScrollablePositionedList

*

*scrollable_positioned_list

*dependency: flutter_widgets
You set it up exactly like ListView and works the same, except you now have access to a ItemScrollController that does:

*

*jumpTo({index, alignment})

*scrollTo({index, alignment, duration, curve})
Simplified example:
ItemScrollController _scrollController = ItemScrollController();

ScrollablePositionedList.builder(
  itemScrollController: _scrollController,
  itemCount: _myList.length,
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    return _myList[index];
  },
)

_scrollController.scrollTo(index: 150, duration: Duration(seconds: 1));

(note that this library is developed by Google but not by the core Flutter team.)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Anatomy of an Abduction
Among the interesting tidbits in this is the high reward for engaging in terrorist-related kidnappings this while also, like this infographic shows, there was little or no planning.
With little planning, an ill-equipped group of Islamic extremists succeeded in kidnapping 32 European citizens in the Algerian desert in 2003, holding them for up to six months and ransoming them for 5 million euros.
Released for the first time, a rare video made by the militants during the 2003 kidnapping, acquired by Swiss intelligence and recently obtained by The New York Times, shows that the kidnappers were amateurs. The ease with which they abducted the hostages, however, and the ransom they earned, shows how the militants developed the perfect crime with which to bankroll their operations.
"Kidnapping is basically low-hanging fruit," said Rudolph Atallah, who was the director of African counterterrorism policy for the Pentagon at the time of the kidnapping.
..."This video shows, No. 1, the lack of sophistication of the jihadists," said Mr. Atallah, who reviewed the video. "It also crucially shows that they were ad-libbing. They had never done this before."
Read the full article and see the videos from the New York Times [HERE].
The Surrender Ritual
Communicating Effectively for Successful Hostage N...
Job Opening at the UN
Your Stress is Contagious
In This Corner: If It's Broke, Don't Fix It

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Charles de Cazanove  est une maison de Champagne, fondée en 1811 à Avize et dont le siège est situé à Reims depuis 2003.

Histoire
La maison de Champagne Charles de Cazanove est fondée en 1811, par Charles Gabriel de Cazanove, héritier d'une lignée de maîtres verriers.
La maison est d'abord achetée par le groupe Martini & Rossi en 1958. Ensuite, elle rejoint Moët Hennessy en 1983, puis le négoce SAME en 1985.
Le , la société entre au marché libre de la Bourse de Paris.
En 2002, la maison reprend, en contrat de location-gérance, le champagne Médot à Reims, qui commercialise environ .
En , la maison intègre le groupe G.H. Martel.
En 2017, Christophe Rapeneau, à la tête de la maison, est nommé « meilleur créateur de champagne de l'année », en obtenant le prix du « Sparkling Winemaker of the Year ».

Historique des bâtiments et des caves

Les bâtiments
La maison est installée depuis 2003, 8 place de la République à Reims, dans des bâtiments construits en 1923 pour Prat-Fontaine et Longuet Frères (P.F.L.), entreprise de Vins et spiritueux. Avant Charles de Cazanove, le bâtiment était occupé par le champagne Marie Stuart, lui-même succédant à l'ancienne limonaderie de Reims. Avant 1923 et la construction des bâtiments actuels, le terrain était occupé par l'usine à gaz Houzeau-Muiron. Un monogramme aux initiales des propriétaires (PLF) figure sur le bâtiment coté rue Chaix d'Est-Ange.

Les caves
Le site de Reims, ne possède pas de cave taillée dans la craie comme c'est le cas dans les autres maisons de champagne à Reims, mais uniquement un sous-sol.

Le domaine viticole

Production
La production est environ de 3 millions de bouteilles par an.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Vin de Champagne
 Maisons de Champagne
 Négociant manipulant

Producteur de vin de Champagne
Entreprise ayant son siège à Reims

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Where do the Los Angeles Lakers play their home games?
The Los Angeles Lakers play their home games at Crypto.com Arena.


The slim leg to sport this season: Silver's five pocket capri with tonal stitch detailing.
The best loved denim label, with the iconic back pocket stitching, producing jeans of distinction since 1921.
66% Cotton, 25% Viscose, 7% Elasterell, 2% Elastane.


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Here are the media outlets most embarrassed by the Mueller report
Mueller's findings largely vindicated serious journalists' work, but outlets from The Nation to Fox News go home limping.
Casey Michel Twitter Apr 24, 2019, 8:00 am
From Glenn Greenwald to Sean Hannity, a handful of voices in the media have consistently embarrassed themselves when it comes to coverage of the Mueller investigation. CREDIT: ETHAN MILLER / GETTY
With last week's release of special counsel Robert Mueller's partially redacted report on the investigation into Russia's election interference efforts and possible obstruction of justice, American media outlets that broke the news pertaining to the investigation have been largely vindicated.
But the most telling media misses — the ones that the Mueller report's finding have blown to pieces — were stories and theories put forward by writers and outlets that exhausted their credibility by downplaying the questions addressed in the report, or who spun their own conspiracy theories in defense of the president.
There were some legitimate reporting efforts on Mueller's investigations that missed the mark. BuzzFeed wrote incorrectly that President Donald Trump told his former lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress for him, and an ABC report claimed incorrectly that former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn said Trump had directly ordered him to contact Russian officials before the election.
But those who attempted to downplay Russian interference efforts have even more egg on their face following the release of the redacted Mueller report. Some of those are individuals like Matt Taibbi, who just a few weeks ago claimed that the media's coverage of the the Mueller investigations was somehow on par with media coverage of Iraq's nonexistent weapons of mass destruction circa 2002-03.
Debunked stories can be found anywhere from The Nation to Trump's favorite propaganda outlet, Fox News.
The Nation's descent into whataboutism and conspiracy mongering has been perhaps one of the hardest stumbles in media over the past few years. Last year, one of its contributing editors began cross-posting his Nation writings in Russian propaganda outlets. A year before, its editor-in-chief appeared on RT. While The Nation obsesses over so-called "Russiagate" coverage elsewhere, the publication's leadership has opted time and again over the past few years to ignore the signs of Russian meddling in 2016.
Why is America's leading liberal magazine publishing its pieces with a Russian propaganda outlet?
Pieces from The Nation are popping up on RT.
The damage The Nation's Russia-related coverage did to the magazine's reputation became so concerning that in 2017 a group of Nation writers wrote a letter to then-Editor-in-Chief Katrina vanden Heuvel calling out the magazine's editorial decisions. As they wrote:
As longtime associates of The Nation, we are deeply concerned that by making these editorial emphases and by likening calls for investigations into the Russia connection to 'red baiting,' the magazine is not only playing into the hands of the Trump administration, but doing a dishonor to its best traditions. We have noted, too, with dismay, that Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter and other far-right adversaries have taken comfort in the writings of other Nation writers on the current crisis.
The letter came after The Nation's decision to publish one of the most notorious stories of the past few years, which pushed the conspiracy that the Russian hacking operations against the Democratic National Committee may never have happened, and that the release of the Democratic emails was actually due to an internal leak.
After criticism about the story rolled in, The Nation appended a column-length editor's note from vanden Heuvel, saying the magazine was simply extending their "long history of seeking alternative views and taking unpopular stances" by presenting the conspiracy theory as worthy of coverage. The piece, however, remains largely unchanged. In response to the release of the Mueller report on Thursday, the story's author offered no introspection on Twitter, calling for followers to "pay no attention."
"The Nation plans to continue its wide-ranging coverage and analysis of Russiagate," vanden Heuvel told ThinkProgress via email. Vanden Heuvel did not reply to questions about whether she would continue appearing on RT, as she did just a few months ago.
For much of Trump's first year in office, Fox News pushed the same notion as The Nation: that the Democratic hack had been, in reality, an internal leak. Few voices hammered the idea as hard as Sean Hannity, who implicated 27-year-old former DNC staffer Seth Rich, who was killed in 2016 in an apparent botched robbery. Hannity claimed Rich's death could have been part of a larger conspiracy — especially if Rich was part of a supposed "leak." Other Republicans, like former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), also claimed the leak was actually an "inside job," and former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich also fanned the flames of conspiracy surrounding Rich's death.
And it wasn't only politicos or pro-Trump outlets. Well-known podcaster Joe Rogan claimed in 2018 that Rich was "murdered after he leaked information to Wikileaks."
Turns out Joe Rogan is a Seth Rich truther. https://t.co/50ApKNwo2G
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) February 15, 2018
The Mueller report and years of investigations make clear that Rich had nothing to do with any kind of internal leak, and that the documents were in reality stolen by Russian hacking units who disseminated the documents to Wikileaks and others. One of the sections of the Mueller report is explicitly titled "GRU Hacking Directed at the Clinton Campaign," and the report firmly reasserts what the intelligence community and reporters have concluded: it was clearly Russia behind the hack.
Fox News eventually retracted the story, but not Hannity; as he later said, "I retracted nothing." (Rich's parents sued Fox News for emotional distress, but the lawsuit was dismissed last August.) Other outlets that pushed the narrative were also later forced to back-pedal, such as right-wing publications such as the Washington Times and conspiracy sites like InfoWars. But outlets like Breitbart have left their posts pushing the conspiracy unchanged.
Even in the midst of Russia's ongoing interference campaign, Wikileaks floated the idea that Rich may have secretly been their source for the DNC documents, rather than the Russian operatives. In one infamous tweet, Wikileaks wrote they had a $20,000 reward for "information leading to the conviction for the murder" of Rich. Julian Assange, the since-arrested founder of Wikileaks, followed the tweet in August 2016 by saying that Rich was "potentially connected to our publication." Assange even told former Rohrabacher that he had "physical proof" that Wikileaks hadn't received the stolen emails from Russian hackers.
As the Mueller report notes, Assange's statements "implied falsely that [Rich] had been the source of the stolen DNC emails."
There are, of course, any number of other outlets and individuals who've seen their reputations either ossify as partisan platforms, like The Daily Caller, or implode outright, like Glenn Greenwald, thanks to the investigations surrounding Russian interference in 2016. Greenwald has recently made a habit of appearing on, of all things, Tucker Carlson's Fox News show. Rather than criticize Carlson for his rank nativism — and for his continued inspiration of white nationalists — Greenwald's chummy appearances have centered around their mutual condemnation of the investigation into Russian interference, which Greenwald continues to downplay.
I spent today reading the Mueller report. This is not a fair summation of it. https://t.co/SzvAPgewJM
— Gabriel Snyder (@gabrielsnyder) April 18, 2019
It's unclear why Greenwald continues to align himself with xenophobes like Carlson, although Greenwald recently claimed (without any evidence) on Carlson's show that he was banned from MSNBC. Regardless, given how much came to light after the Thursday release of the Mueller report — and how much, thanks to investigative journalists across the country, we already knew about Russian interference and links between Russian officials and the Trump campaign — it's clear that much of the media should be applauded for its due diligence, and that those who missed the forest for the trees should take a step back and wonder where they went wrong.
#Donald Trump, #Fox News, #Media, #Mueller, #Politics, #Robert Mueller, #Russia, #Russia Investigation, #The Nation


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Synaptotagmin 2 is the fast Ca2+ sensor at a central inhibitory synapse
Chen C, Arai itaru, Satterield R, Young S, Jonas PM. 2017. Synaptotagmin 2 is the fast Ca2+ sensor at a central inhibitory synapse. Cell Reports. 18(3), 723–736.
IST-2017-751-v1+1_1-s2.0-S2211124716317740-main.pdf 4.43 MB
Chen, ChongISTA; Arai, itaruISTA; Satterield, Rachel; Young, Samuel; Jonas, Peter MISTA
Jonas Group
Mechanisms of transmitter release at GABAergic synapses
Nanophysiology of fast-spiking, parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons
GABAergic synapses in brain circuits generate inhibitory output signals with submillisecond latency and temporal precision. Whether the molecular identity of the release sensor contributes to these signaling properties remains unclear. Here, we examined the Ca^2+ sensor of exocytosis at GABAergic basket cell (BC) to Purkinje cell (PC) synapses in cerebellum. Immunolabeling suggested that BC terminals selectively expressed synaptotagmin 2 (Syt2), whereas synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) was enriched in excitatory terminals. Genetic elimination of Syt2 reduced action potential-evoked release to ∼10%, identifying Syt2 as the major Ca^2+ sensor at BC-PC synapses. Differential adenovirus-mediated rescue revealed that Syt2 triggered release with shorter latency and higher temporal precision and mediated faster vesicle pool replenishment than Syt1. Furthermore, deletion of Syt2 severely reduced and delayed disynaptic inhibition following parallel fiber stimulation. Thus, the selective use of Syt2 as release sensor at BC-PC synapses ensures fast and efficient feedforward inhibition in cerebellar microcircuits. #bioimagingfacility-author
Acknowledged SSUs
Imaging & Optics Facility
Pre-Clinical Facility
Chen C, Arai itaru, Satterield R, Young S, Jonas PM. Synaptotagmin 2 is the fast Ca2+ sensor at a central inhibitory synapse. Cell Reports. 2017;18(3):723-736. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.067
Chen, C., Arai, itaru, Satterield, R., Young, S., & Jonas, P. M. (2017). Synaptotagmin 2 is the fast Ca2+ sensor at a central inhibitory synapse. Cell Reports. Cell Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.067
Chen, Chong, itaru Arai, Rachel Satterield, Samuel Young, and Peter M Jonas. "Synaptotagmin 2 Is the Fast Ca2+ Sensor at a Central Inhibitory Synapse." Cell Reports. Cell Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.067.
C. Chen, itaru Arai, R. Satterield, S. Young, and P. M. Jonas, "Synaptotagmin 2 is the fast Ca2+ sensor at a central inhibitory synapse," Cell Reports, vol. 18, no. 3. Cell Press, pp. 723–736, 2017.
Chen, Chong, et al. "Synaptotagmin 2 Is the Fast Ca2+ Sensor at a Central Inhibitory Synapse." Cell Reports, vol. 18, no. 3, Cell Press, 2017, pp. 723–36, doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.067.
Synaptotagmins ensure speed and efficiency of inhibitory neurotransmitter release


What's as hot as the weather in NPE2018 host city Orlando, FL, this week? That would be the blockbuster hit Black Panther movie. As a tie-in to the movie, a very limited-edition mask can from PepsiCo (Purchase, NY)—only about 250 were manufactured—was displayed in the booth of Protolabs (Maple Plain, MN), which won a contract to provide the critical 3D-printed mask.
The Black Panther mask cans served as the centerpiece for a promotional kit for the hit movie that led to an online campaign that generated more than 10 million social media impressions.
The project was set in motion after PepsiCo reached out to Protolabs.
The mask was printed via MJF using powdered nylon, then dyed matte black.
Nils Hegland, Protolabs strategic account manager, said "Multi Jet Fusion, a new production-grade 3D printing technology developed by HP, and added to Protolabs' offerings in 2017, was selected to produce the parts because the nylon material that the MJF process utilizes provided the flexible properties desired for the part.
The masks were printed in under 3 weeks, Hegland added.
"I think the concept of using 3D printed parts for cans or bottles could take off," offered Margaria.
To see this one-of-a-kind fusion of Hollywood, technology and packaging, visit Protolabs in booth S24147.


The Twins Review K'NEX Plants Vs. Zombies Wild West Skirmish!
My twins Dylan and Riley were uber excited when they found out that I received the K'NEX Plants Vs Zombies Wild West Skirmish playset!
Defeat the zombies, save your brains…in the Wild West! Includes a 2 Cowboy Zombie figures, 1 Prospector Zombie figure and 1 Peashooter figure plus K'NEX parts to build an area of the Wild West level from Plants vs Zombies 2! Defeat the zombies use the Peashooter's shooting action – 7 peas are included with a buildable ammo stand. Slide the Peashooter back and forth along the track for target practice. Easy to follow building instructions included. For ages 5 and up.
We opened the package and found a fold-out instruction pamphlet along with a couple of bags of parts and stickers. The kids and I started out by separating all of the colors and shapes out – this is what we often do with building sets, it makes it so much easier!
Then we got to building. I put the backdrop pieces together while the kids put the figures together. The set came with 2 Cowboy Zombies, a Prospector Zombie, and a Peashooter that really shoots little green pellets.
The backdrop has cactus stickers, targets, and places for the zombies to stand – when you shoot them they pop off and can lose a limb or two (just like the app).
Dylan like to play the game with daddy, so he was having a ton of fun reenacting some of the gameplay with his K'NEX set. As a bonus he can take it apart and make something new – let his imagination run wild! Riley got in on the fun too – she loves playing with the Peashooter!
You can find the K'NEX Plants vs. Zombies Wild West Skirmish (along with other great K'NEX toys) at places like Toys'R'Us, Target, Walmart, and Amazon!
Be sure to follow K'NEX socially for NEW products, contests, and more!!
*I was supplied with the item(s) reviewed to facilitate this post. All opinions are 100% my own. Affiliate links may be present in this post.


The Birds of Prey movie just added a second, terrifying villain.
Deadline reports that Chris Messina has joined the film — which has the extravagant full title Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) — as Victor Zsasz, one of Gotham City's most frightening and deadly villains. Zsasz will be working alongside Gotham underworld boss Black Mask, played by Ewan McGregor.
Created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle, Zsasz first appeared in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 back in 1992, and remains one of the most distinct villains on the darker side of Batman's rogue's gallery. Once a rich man, Zsasz lost his fortune after the death of his parents led him down a road of depression and gambling addictions. After a chance encounter led to him murdering a homeless man, he developed an obsession with liberating people from their pointless lives and became a serial killer. He is known for leaving his victims posed in lifelike positions after death, and for adding a tally mark to his body each time he kills, giving him a distinctive and terrifying scarred appearance.
Zsasz has appeared in live-action twice before, first in a cameo appearance in 2005's Batman Begins and then again in Fox's long-running Gotham. This will be his first appearance in the DC Extended Universe.
Messina has been working steadily for two decades, and is perhaps best known recently for his starring roles on The Mindy Project and HBO's Sharp Objects, one of the most acclaimed miniseries of 2018. He's an intriguing choice for Zsasz, but his work on Sharp Objects shows he's not afraid to go dark when it's called for. It'll be interesting to see what he does with the role.
Birds of Prey, directed by Cathy Yan from a script by Christina Hodson, will star Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters Feb. 7, 2020.


text:
Meet David Adams
The Chairman of The Salvation Army Advisory Board in Petaluma, California, is also a local business owner.
David Adams is something of a fixture in Petaluma, California.
A fourth-generation resident of the Sonoma County riverside town, Adams launched a business called Quality Printing Services (QPS) 23 years ago. Through QPS, he's made a name for himself in the community. The company started off in a strip mall, but it's since expanded into a 5,400 square-foot printing plant.
"My fingers are in a lot of nonprofits in town, because they all need to print and they can't afford it, so I offer discounts to them whenever I can," he said.
His charitable work, however, extends beyond the printing plant. About 15 years ago, Adams was asked to come to a Salvation Army board meeting. His father had been serving with Adult Rehabilitation Center in nearby Santa Rosa for years, so he jumped at the opportunity to help.
"The Salvation Army, to me, meets pretty much any need the community brings to it," he said. "The way I was taught, was that The Salvation Army is there as a resource. If you see a need, you can customize programs to the community where the needs are. Which is very useful, because we've got a lot of great nonprofits in Petaluma, and we find ourselves contributing to what they do, and [vice-versa]."
Now the Chairman of the Board in Petaluma, Adams has taken on even more responsibility. Recently, he helped coordinate a project with local agencies Mentor Me and Petaluma People Services Center to broaden the scope of services for transitional age youth on the east side of Petaluma, where social services are limited. The Petaluma Corps turned an unused portion of its church building into a nonprofit center for its new Transitional Age Youth Service Alliance program. And so far, the partnership's working well.
Adams said he feels blessed to help The Salvation Army any way he can, and be a "bridge" for new officers who may be stepping in.
"When a new officer comes, and they do every four to five years or so, they're new to the community, and they're trying to pick up on what's already been accomplished, but without a board, they don't get introduced to anybody," he said. "They don't get to meet anybody, any leaders, anyone they can help. So it takes them a heck of a lot longer to fit in if they have to do all of that on their own. That's why I think it's so important to have a board."
Related ItemsDel OroJune 2019profileVol 37 No 05
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Next Story → New building brings new focus, opportunities for Chico Corps
Napa Culinary Training Program adapts, responds to COVID-19, wildfires
New Dignity Health grant allows Salvation Army street level team to expand to California
Stockton Corps begins outreach to migrant field workers


Zwart Piet and Sinterklaas. Photo Credit: www.zijnwijdat.nl.
Amidst all the merriment, mythology and gluttony, holiday traditions hold clues to a nation's temperament and personality. In Holland, those at year-end can be confusing for expats unfamiliar with Sinterklaas or Father Christmas—Sint-Nicolaas in Dutch. Based on St. Nicolaas of Myra, patron saint of children, sailors and Amsterdam, among other things, Sinterklaas is the forerunner of North America's Santa Claus. In the Netherlands and Belgium, his birth is celebrated annually on St. Nicholas Eve—December 5. Referring to both the superhero himself and his namesake holiday, Sinterklaas separates secular gift-giving from religious observance. In a departure from strict Calvinism, the holiday tolerates conspicuous consumption while saving December 25 for more respectful Christian worship.
Santa Claus. Photo Credit: HD Wallpapers Inn, www.hdwallpapersinn.com/.
Unlike children in America and other countries, little Dutchies eagerly anticipate the arrival of Sinterklaas in mid-November. On his giant steamboat, Pakjesboot 12, the beloved Sint chugs from Spain to Holland with his trusted helpers onboard. While he resembles Santa Claus with his regal red robes, animated sidekicks and magical powers, he's an entirely different holiday superhero.
A regal figure with flowing white beard, red robes, gold-trimmed bishop's cape, pointy hat stamped with a gold cross, and a hooked staff. Rotund and jolly with twinkly eyes, wire-rim glasses, white beard, red outfit trimmed with white fleece, and a droopy hat accessorized with a pompon.
Based on St. Nicholas of Myra, born in 270 A.D. No acknowledged relatives. True to his vows of celibacy stemming from his connection to St. Nicholas, a Christian bishop. Based on St. Nicholas of Myra, born in 270 A.D. Abandoned his celibacy vows when he married to Mrs. Claus, now a sweet-looking grandma type.
Probably 1,737, but claims he's too old to remember. Probably 1,737, but says he stopped counting at 550.
A castle in Spain, presumably in temperate Andalusia. A toy factory at the North Pole, shared with Mrs. Claus and a team of elves.
A steamship called Pakjesboot 12, with deck space for helpers. On land, Sint transfers to Amerigo, a magical white horse who can walk over rooftops and leap through the air. A sleigh drawn by 12 magical reindeer, including one with a red nose named Rudoph, who pull Santa and his elves through the air.
Zwarte Pieten, a lively band dressed like 17th century minstrels, with hoop earrings, frizzy hair and ruby lips. Whether their faces are black from chimney soot or makeup that makes them resemble Renaissanc-era slaves depends on which story you believe. Cute fairytale creatures called elves who work year-round at the North Pole, crafting Christmas toys.
Store-bought but wrapped by the Zwarte Pieten. Why bother with craftiness when you have so much geld? Hand-made and wrapped in Santa's toy factory by his industrious elves.
Entrusted to the Zwarte Pieten, who descend home chimneys on December 5 to replace carrots kids have placed in their shoes for Amerigo with chocolate letters and other gifts. Sint plays rooftop guard with his horse, then returns home to Spain, where there's no snow. Employs magic to come down chimneys with his elves to place presents under Christmas trees and fill stockings hanging over fireplaces with goodies on December 24.
Naughty kids receive nothing and may be beaten with twigs by the Pieten or hauled back to Spain for a warm winter. Poorly behaved children receive a lump of coal in their stockings instead of presents.
So there you have it: Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus. Who's YOUR favorite holiday superhero? And what does he reveal about your culture?
This is incredibly interesting! Do the Dutch also retain the tradition of Santa Claus for December 25 since Sinterklaas comes much earlier? I also wonder what let to the development of our modern-day Santa Claus. Certain elements such as his elves might come from Scandinavian mythology, I suppose, but it would be interesting to know how Santa evolved from a regal bishop to a fat, jolly old man. Also, in terms of favourite holiday superheros, I always enjoyed Easter egg hunting as a child. That's evidently another pagan tradition that got mixed with Christianity, some sort of fertility celebration perhaps? It would be interesting to know if Europeans celebrate Easter any differently — most likely less emphasis on the material and more emphasis on Christ's resurrection.
Oh my gosh, he DOES exist! I first heard of Sinterklaas from David Sedaris's hilarious "6-8 black men" essay and when I saw your picture of his former slaves and a man in a pope-like outfit I was thrown back into David's monologue! Other cultures can be so fascinating. When he first arrives by boat, he roams the town asking children what they want for Christmas apparently. I wonder if children sit on his lap or if he just interviews random kids on the street. Hopefully no kids were malicious this year and taken back to Spain by Sinterklaas. I can't wait to experience Holland in the winter!
i was actually introduced to this holiday for the first time this year when i visited my cousin and her husband in leuven, belgium.
since i'm jewish i never got to celebrate christmas and now i'm really falling behind because i had my first sinterklaas here, which was fun i have to say!


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HomeIndiaChinese 'untenable' claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley not acceptable: India
Jun. 20, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Chinese 'untenable' claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley not acceptable: India
7 months ago No tags
New Delhi, June 20: India on Saturday categorically rejected China's claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley, asserting that attempts by the neighbouring country to "advance exaggerated and untenable" claims are "not acceptable", even as militaries of the two countries remained locked in a bitter standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also said China's claim was not in accordance with its own position in the past, and Indian troops have been patrolling the area for a long time without any incident, dismissing Chinese allegations of transgression by Indian troops.
"The position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. Attempts by the Chinese side to advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with China's own position in the past," he said responding to a question on the issue.
India's strong rebuttal came after a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday once again claimed that the Galwan Valley is located on the Chinese side of the LAC, despite New Delhi trashing on Thursday Chinese army's claim of sovereignty on the same area.
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria said the Indian Air Force was "well prepared" and "suitably deployed" to counter any security challenge along the border with China.
The IAF was aware of the Chinese air force's capability, its airfields, operational bases and deployment of its platforms in the region, and has taken all necessary steps to handle all contingencies, the Chief of Air Staff said after reviewing the combined passing-out parade of officers at the IAF academy in Dundigal.
"We are aware of the full situation, be at the LAC, be it deployments beyond LAC. We are determined that we will not let the sacrifice of the Galwan bravehearts go in vain, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said referring to the killing of 20 Indian Army personnel in the Galwan Valley clash on Monday night.
At the same time, he said all efforts are being made to resolve the situation peacefully.
According to military sources, Indian and Chinese militaries remained locked in the bitter standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh.
Responding to a query over China's claim, Srivastava said Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley.
"They abide by it scrupulously here, as they do elsewhere. The Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC. In fact, they have been patrolling this area for a long time without any incident," he said.
Srivastava said all infrastructure built by the Indian side is naturally on its "own side of the LAC".
"Since early May 2020, the Chinese side has been hindering India's normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area. This had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols," he said.
Separately, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) issued a statement clarifying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at an all-party meeting that no one has entered Indian territory or captured any military post while referring to the eastern Ladakh standoff.
Modi's remarks triggered massive criticism from opposition parties with the Congress accusing him of surrendering Indian territory to Chinese aggression, and asked where the 20 Indian soldiers were killed if the Chinese military did not come to the Indian side of the LAC, the de-facto boundary between the two countries.
Asserting that Modi's observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces, who foiled an attempt by Chinese troops to transgress into the Galwan Valley, the PMO said,"attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the prime minister at the all-party meeting on Friday."
It further said:"As regards the transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on June 15 arose because Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such actions."
The Galwan Valley was the site of the violent clash between the two militaries on Monday evening in which a Colonel and 19 other Indian Army personnel were killed.
"We do not accept the contention that India was unilaterally changing the status quo. On the contrary, we were maintaining it," Srivastava added.
He said the Chinese side attempted to transgress the LAC in other areas of the Western Sector of the India-China border areas but the attempts were invariably met with an "appropriate response" from the Indian side.
Srivasava also referred to telephonic conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday.
"We expect that the Chinese side will sincerely follow the understanding reached between the foreign ministers to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, which is so essential for the overall development of our bilateral relations," he said.
The MEA spokesperson also referred to decisions taken at Lt General-level meeting between the two militaries on June 6 which included a process for de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC that involved reciprocal actions.
"Both sides had agreed to respect and abide by the LAC and not undertake any activity to alter the status quo. However, the Chinese side departed from these understandings in respect of the LAC in the Galwan Valley area and sought to erect structures just across the LAC," he said.
"When this attempt was foiled, Chinese troops took violent actions on June 15 that directly resulted in casualties," he added.
During the telephonic talks, Jaishankar conveyed to Wang India's protest in the "strongest terms" on the events leading up to and on the violent face-off on June 15, and "firmly rejected" the "unfounded allegations" made by the Chinese side and the "misrepresentation of the understandings" reached between the senior commanders on June 6, the MEA spokesperson said.
"The two Ministers also agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and that both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of June 6 sincerely," Srivastava said.
He said the two sides are in regular touch and early meetings of military and diplomatic mechanisms are currently being discussed.
The two armies were engaged in a standoff in Galwan and several other areas of eastern Ladakh since May 5 when the two sides clashed on the banks of the Pangong Tso.
The situation in the area deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. (PTI)
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On Covid-19 vaccines


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Seth Rollins: The Wrestler Who Owns Monday Night Raw
On May 2, 2018 By David Levin
It was vintage Seth Rollins. The man who has made Monday nights his personal playground has found his place at the top of WWE's mountain top. Regardless of where the current Intercontinental Champion stands in the company's pecking order, the speech the former Shield member gave will go down as one of the best promos of 2018.
"This got me thinking about what kind of a champion I wanna be. And what kind of a champion I don't wanna be. I don't want to be anything like Brock Lesnar. I don't wanna be a champion like Brock that only fights when it's convenient, that only fights when the price is right. I wanna be a fighting champion! I wanna be here every Monday night!"
It's not often a professional wrestler connects with a crowd on a personal level, however that is exactly what Rollins did on Monday night in Montreal. The crowd absorbed everything "Mr. Monday Night" said and were more than appreciative of his effort. As I have said before, when performer and fan base reach a happy medium, that's when this business is at its best.
On Monday night, Seth Rollins became another Shawn Michaels-type of figure in WWE lore.
WWE is in a position it has wanted for years. Dominant superstars that capture the audience with their actions both in and out of the ring. Seth Rollins has taken the brass ring and run with it, using the last two months to show why he is the best the red team has to offer. Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura have done the same thing on SmackDown Live.
The rise of Shelton Benjamin, the addition of Jinder Mahal to the red brand, Asuka's value to the women on Tuesday nights and the sudden additions of Ember Moon, The Authors of Pain and the Bludgeon Brothers have given new life to baseline programming.
If this was how Vince McMahon planned it out, it was spot on. The Universal Title doesn't seem to mean that much to the WWE fan base, but those who are part of the main event picture – Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman make the battle a bit more interesting.
I can only speak for myself, but based on what fans have seen leading up to WrestleMania 34, the show in New Orleans and the Greatest Royal Rumble event this past Friday, it is say to say WWE hasn't been this hot in years. A little reorganization and a few chances taken and voila, we have something special here.
WWE has been waiting for the stars of today to take the baton from the heroes of the past. It was once thought Dolph Ziggler would take the Michaels' spot. Chris Jericho would become Roddy Piper. The same could be said for The Miz. CM Punk had Randy Savage's spot. John Cena has been the Hulk Hogan of this generation for some time. It was once thought Bray Wyatt would become the next Undertaker.
Funny how things change.
Seth Rollins has battled the best – Reigns, The Miz, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe and others. He has proven to be every bit as good as his WWE colleagues and more. Now as Intercontinental Champion, fans and company hope he will continue to live up to the words he spoke on Monday night.
It took a while for Rollins to embrace the baby face role he has now been anointed. His heel persona was so spot on when he was WWE champion. Now, with a calmness and acceptance, Seth Rollins could become the best performer WWE has to offer its fans.
The fans would be fine with that. So would this writer and fan of what Rollins is doing to change the scenery on Monday nights.
Posted in Sports, Wrestling, WWETagged , Monday Night Raw Seth RollinsWWE
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Fraser Valley Focus
The Podcast For The People and Businesses of the Communities from Delta to Hope, BC!
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Local Music Scene in the Fraser Valley: A Story of Persistence and Adaptability
Published on : 1 December 2020 1 March 2021 by Fraser Valley Focus
If you love live music, and are often impressed by the variety, quality, and generosity of musicians in the Fraser Valley, you're going to love today's episode. Today I talk with a local blues musician who has not only struck out on his own to make his music dream his profession, but has successfully adapted to many bumps in the road. While in the last 9 months, he has completely pivoted his live music business to a streaming model during the pandemic, he has also overcome a theft to his studio, and various other obstacles that might make some of us give up prematurely.
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
It's important that we acknowledge that we are gathering on and that this podcast is being created on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – Kwantlen, Tsawwassen, Katzie (pronounced Kay-tzie), and Semiahmoo.
If you love live music, and are often impressed by the variety, quality, and generosity of musicians in the Fraser Valley, you're going to love today's episode. Today I talk with a local blues musician who has not only struck out on his own to make his music dream his profession, but has successfully adapted to many bumps in the road. While in the last 9 months, he has completely pivoted his live music business to a streaming model during the pandemic, he has also overcome a theft to his studio, and various other obstacles that might make some of us give up prematurely.
My guest today is outfitted with a string of foot percussion, a road worn Stratocaster, and a contemporary drum machine, and he brings a whole new meaning to the phrase one-man-band. His distinct, soulful take on everything from rock to reggae over the last six decades has put him in front of crowds across the country. Whether he's crooning John Mayer at a wedding or bringing clubs to life with Bruno Mars, this guy leaves it all out on the stage with his raw, energetic live performances.
Raised on the classics like Hendrix and Zeppelin, then influenced by the world of contemporary music, he has created his own blues drenched stamp for each of the 150+ songs in his arsenal.
Friends, please welcome Johnny Bootleg!
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← Thankful Thursday – I just booked a beach getaway!
It's Monday again and while I'm thankful for a brand new day, it can be any day, but Monday, but I digress. I feel like the weekend was a blur! It came and went!
A very short while ago I spent my Friday evenings at a real Happy Hour with Cocktails in the Club, but I can truly say getting a workout in on Friday is my new high! No one is in the gym! It's so peaceful! It's my happy place! This is 42 y'all! GOD is good! #growth — feeling awesome.
Friday night after checking into the club of Chipotle, because that's what I'm convinced it is, the line man! I settled in for the night and at almost 11:30 PM, we experienced a power outage! Black Dark! And the power did not come back on until after I left to open up the gym Saturday morning! Hell, I went early, so I could eat a light snack before class lol.
After the gym and stopping to get my husband and I breakfast, I settled in to watch POWER, and OMG! I was not ready again! That show takes me through it every week.
I was late for my eyebrow appointment because I just couldn't stop watching!
Saturday night, I went out to celebrate my friends' 40th birthday. They're twins, a guy and girl and were my neighbors growing up. It was so much fun! It was like a neighborhood reunion!
It was great seeing people from the neighborhood!
My sister wanted in on the action!
Our sweet friend! Our Grandparents were neighbors!
Sunday, I had to get up early to take my husband to the airport, he's visiting his family for a few days and the timing is great since he's getting to spend his Mother's Birthday with her! He also had a mini-reunion with his drumline from highschool.
Since I was out early and not far from my Mom's house, I went and had breakfast with her. I had intentions of going to the gym when they opened, even dressed in my clothes, but I ended up doing a lil shopping, grabbing lunch and I went home to take a nap. I did get a workout in, but it was 5 hours later than intended! Better late than never right?!
I LOVE Dark Chocolate, but not sure about this!
I journeyed on home to get settled in for my Sunday night shows!
That was my weekend! How was yours?
This entry was posted in Birthday, Gym, Husband, Weekend Fun, Work Out. Bookmark the permalink.


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No more Namibia: China blocks search results for entire country
By: Rebekah Heacock on 22 July 2009
Posted in China, Asia, Take-down, Search result removal, Political filtering
According to the Chinese government, Namibia — a southern African country with a population of 2 million — does not exist.
Government censors ordered Chinese search engines to show no search results for the country's name this week, following a corruption scandal involving a Chinese tech company's dealings with Namibia's government.
The company, Nutech, was formerly run by the son of Chinese president Hu Jintao. It is under two separate investigations by Namibian and European Union officials for allegedly using illegal methods, including bribery and unfair trade practices, to secure a USD55.3 million contract to sell cargo scanners to the Namibian government.
Though Jintao's son is not a suspect in the case, government censors have reacted swiftly to the investigation, shutting down two Chinese tech news sites and blocking a list of keywords including "Hu Haifeng, Namibia, Namibia bribery investigation, Yang Fan bribery investigation, Nuctech bribery investigation, [and] southern Africa bribery investigation." Searching for these words on Chinese search engine Baidu.com produces an error message [ZH] that can be translated as, "Search results may not be in line with the relevant laws and regulations and policies, not shown."
The past two months have been busy ones for Chinese censors. In early June the government blocked access to Twitter, Hotmail and Flickr in preparation for the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Less than a week later, the news broke that the government would begin requiring all PCs sold in the country to come equipped with Internet filtering software. And in July, Internet access was completely shut down in the capital of the Xinjiang region after ethnic riots that left nearly 200 people dead.
For more information on China's Internet filtering practices, check out our recently released China country profile.
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Volunteers are at the heart of what FRP does and we value those who offer us their time and talent. Over the past year we have hosted a total 72 volunteers.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of skills and life experiences. Some are keen to build skills after a period away from the workplace, others may be newly arrived migrants who want to improve their English and some are retired and keen to expand their network of friends.
At the cessation of a placement we aim to offer a reference and where requested certificates to show proficiency in areas such as Health and Safety, Manual Handling and PAT testing.
Alternatively, call us on 01452 524 333 and we will be happy to discuss volunteering opportunities.


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"Finally Home" is a song by contemporary Christian music band MercyMe. Co-written by Bart Millard, Barry Graul, and Mike Scheuchzer, the song has lyrical themes revolving around heaven, with the music written around an acoustic guitar riff. It also contains musical influences from country and pop music, and features harmony vocals from Millard.

"Finally Home" was released as the third single from MercyMe's 2007 album All That Is Within Me and peaked at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Soft AC/INSPO and Christian AC charts, No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and No. 16 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The song ranked at No. 9 on Billboard's 2009 year-end Hot Christian AC chart, and No. 12 on the year-end Hot Christian Songs chart.

Background
"Finally Home" was written after lead singer Bart Millard heard guitarists Mike Scheuchzer and Barry Graul improvising with an acoustic guitar riff. According to Millard, he "wrote the first line and just started bawling. Then we played it for our producer, and he started bawling". Millard was not sure the song would fit on the record, but Brown Bannister (the group's producer) told him "You just made a grown man cry. It's going on the record".

Composition
"Finally Home" is a Contemporary Christian song with influences from country and pop, and has a length of three minutes and 30 seconds.

The song is set in the key of E major and has a moderate tempo of 64 beats per minute, and with a vocal range spanning from B3–A5. "Finally Home" is similar to MercyMe's previous songs "I Can Only Imagine" and "Homesick" in theme, with the lyrics revolving around heaven. The instrumentation of the song is based around an acoustic guitar riff, and features harmony vocals from lead singer Bart Millard.

Reception

Critical reception
"Finally Home" received generally positive to mixed critical reception. Jared Johnson of Allmusic opined in his review of All That Is Within Me that "The album's crowning moment is "Finally Home," a mesmerizing acoustic journey that takes listeners to a place where they are reunited with loved ones". Russ Breimeier of The Fish commented that "With "Finally Home," we get another heaven song from the same guys responsible for "I Can Only Imagine," "Homesick," and others. The flowing acoustic pop style sets it apart from others, but seriously, can we expect a heaven medley from MercyMe in concert someday?"

Chuck Taylor of Billboard commented that "Finally Home"... is a midtempo guitar-driven ode to meeting the maker. Christian AC has already offered its approval and though thematically it's genre-specific, lead singer Bart Millard's beautiful harmonies accompanying a singalong chorus and country radio's wholesome persona open the doors to acceptance there. Overall, a fine contender to further this established band's brand". Lauren Summerford of Jesus Freak Hideout was more apathetic about the song, commenting that "The acoustic guitar based "Finally Home" fills the void of the "ballad about getting to heaven" spot we've come to expect from MercyMe".

Chart performance
"Finally Home" debuted at No. 21 on the Hot Christian Songs chart for the chart week of January 17, 2009. The song moved to No. 19 in its second chart week, and to No. 16 in its third week. "Finally Home" jumped to No. 8 in its sixth chart week, and advanced to No. 5 in its thirteenth chart week, a spot it held for two weeks. After advancing and spending a further three weeks at No. 4, "Finally Home" reached its peak of No. 3 for the chart week of May 16, 2009, a position it held for two weeks. The song spent a further eight weeks on the chart before dropping out after the chart week of July 18, 2009. "Finally Home" also peaked at No. 1 on the Christian AC and Soft AC/INSPO charts.

On the Adult Contemporary chart, "Finally Home" debuted at No. 27 for the chart week of April 4, 2009, a spot it held for two weeks. The song advanced to No. 27 in its third chart week, and reached its peak position of No. 16 on its tenth chart week. The song spent ten more weeks on the chart before dropping out, spending twenty weeks on the chart in total.

Music video
A music video was released for "Finally Home". The video features the band performing the song live, with heavy uses of special effects in between and during shots.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

External links
The

References
Notes

Footnotes

2007 songs
2009 singles
MercyMe songs
Songs written by Bart Millard
Song recordings produced by Brown Bannister


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Geographic Information Systems (GIS), mapping and analysis software employed by the U.S. government, NASA, and other agencies, now is helping students locate and document hazards in their communities. Included: Tips on how to use GIS in the classroom.
Technology used for analyzing and mapping states, countries, and continents also can help youngsters clean up their communities and find safe routes to school.
Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and handheld computers, eighth graders at Spain Elementary/Middle School in Detroit, Michigan, located, identified, and mapped hazards and dangerous conditions in their neighborhoods thanks to a project funded by Detroit's Central Subzone Community Policing Program.
The students participated in a program called Mapping Out A Safer Community, conducted by the Urban Safety Program of the former Wayne State University College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs, Center for Urban Studies, in Detroit. College faculty members trained middle schoolers to use GIS software and handheld computers to map their neighborhoods, and to use the information to lobby for remedies. GIS integrates data and uses it to draw maps of specific areas and provide other analyses.
"This [kind of project] gives students an awareness of their community and their surroundings and how they can improve it and be involved," said Debra Blocker, the computer technology teacher at Spain.
Students worked in classrooms and in the field with staff members from Wayne State, who visited Spain students twice a week. Besides teaching students to use handheld computers and sophisticated software, the program offered lessons in civics, geography, and local government.
In the community, pupils used pocket PCs to map locations of abandoned property and cars and other community hazards and took digital pictures of blighted areas. A Global Positioning Receiver attached to the handheld computers showed students their locations, which helped when they didn't have an address for a property. "When we identify a property, we can assign it to an owner," said David Martin, research professor at the Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State University, who worked with the students.
The students compiled their material into Power Point presentations for Detroit city council members, highlighting areas that had been neglected and needed improvement. They were able to show, for example, that the number of abandoned homes in one neighborhood had increased by more than 50 percent. The Wayne County prosecutors' office began targeting the area.
"The kids saw results; like blighted homes being boarded up and cars towed away," Martin said.
While Martin focused on the technology side, Roy Wilds, the program director for the Urban Safety Program, talked to students about civic literacy and civic responsibility. "I also looked for outcomes; how to take information and deliver it in presentations," Wilds told Education World. "We talked about the local government, how decisions are made, the mayor and city council, who they are and what they do and why it is important to be involved and supportive and vote."
In some cases, after one or two years, students saw positive trends in the areas they surveyed. "If our project can help stabilize neighborhoods, that would be very important," Martin added.
Equally important was building students' sense of social responsibility, which can mean creating a pool of active, community advocates.
"I enjoyed learning more about how young people think," said Wilds, explaining why he is involved with the program. "We don't always express to them the need to participate. The earlier we do that, the better chance we have of developing solid citizens."
Working in their own neighborhoods and seeing how their findings can lead to change are among the reasons Mapping Out A Safer Community was so popular with students, said Blocker, who, along with counselor Monicel Crossley, worked with the students. "They loved it; they loved the hands-on work," Blocker told Education World. "They got excited when they saw their streets on the Internet, and could identify different landmarks. It gave them a different way to address problems. We had full attendance on those days."
Spurred by a concern for student safety, the Detroit Public Schools have used GIS in the district since 1999. That fall, a number of female students were assaulted while walking to school, and school officials asked residents to set up neighborhood patrols to supervise students in the morning, according to Dr. Randall E. Raymond, geographic information specialist for the Detroit schools' office of student transportation. Raymond used the GIS system to divide the city into a number of patrol sectors.
"Each patrol sector was further subdivided into actual block area assignments, so every area of the city had individuals on patrol when students were walking to school," Raymond told Education World. "We used those sectors to work with the City of Detroit to provide a variety of analyses that described safe routes to school for the students."
That effort led to the district working with the United Way of Detroit on programs that involved students walking through the neighborhoods with teachers and volunteer leaders to assess the walking conditions from the students' viewpoint.
About 20,000 schools in the United States use GIS technology, Raymond said. GIS dates back to the 1960s, when it was used to computerize and store maps. Now it is used for everything from determining the best location for businesses to student geography lessons.
The software is changing the way geography is taught in schools -- and has infinite other educational applications. "Any interactivity using maps should be using GIS technology," Raymond said. "It can be used to teach chemistry, biology, and environmental science. GIS data also can help analyze where kids are and where schools should be. You can map community resources for particular schools and kids."
A former teacher, Raymond purchased a computer and GIS software 11 years ago, with $25,000 he received as a reward for excellence in teaching. He underwent GIS training, and now uses it to lay out the most efficient bus routes for the district, as well as other applications.
Michigan state officials were so convinced of GIS's value that they planned to offer training in using the software and its classroom applications to every educational institution in the state. The federal Office of Homeland Security uses GIS extensively, and has been offering incentives for school districts to purchase it, according to Raymond.
Districts like Detroit, meanwhile, continue to find ways to expand GIS uses. Wayne State assisted the Detroit Community Initiative, Inc. with an after school component and a summer session called "Future Leaders." One summer, high-school students joined middle-school students in the program to help inventory a two square-mile area, Martin said.
"I enjoyed working with the kids; I saw the impact on them," Martin said. "When kids are armed with technology and can put [the results] together in a Power Point presentation, it's pretty impressive, and they saw some immediate results."


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The JT was compiled some 150-200 years before the Bavli (WIKI), so the most of the disputes in the Bavli took place when the JT was already finished.
The Rabbis (Tannayim and Amorayim) traveled all the time from Israel to Babylon and back.
I don't recall any mentioning of the JT as the book in the Bavli (not the single rulings of R' Yochanan or other Israeli Rabbis).
Why is it so (or am I mistaken)?
The premise of your question may be inaccurate. The Mishnah was also a 'book', however, it is basically just quoted as teachings. So too the Yerushalmi, there are countless examples of parallel teachings and stories etc. in the Bavli from the Yerushalmi.
Additionally, as @kouty said the phrase אמרי במערבא may denote how they referenced the Jerusalem Talmud. Perhaps it is not meant to be taken literally.
אמר רב כיון שיוצא אדם מדבר הלכה לדבר מקרא שוב אין לו שלום. ושמואל אמר זה הפורש מתלמוד למשנה. ורבי יוחנן אמר אפילו מתלמוד לתלמוד.
רש״י - אפילו מתלמוד לתלמוד – מתלמוד ירושלמי לתלמוד בבלי שהוא עמוק, כדאמרינן בסנהדרין (כד, א) במחשכים הושיבני כמתי עולם זו התלמוד של בבל.
§ The mishna states: And when a component of any of these categories causes damage, the owner or generator of the component that caused damage is obligated [ḥav] to pay restitution with best-quality land. The Gemara asks: Why does the tanna of the mishna use the unusual expression: The one liable for the damage is ḥav to pay? He should have used the more standard expression for liability: The one liable for the damage is ḥayyav to pay. The Gemara explains: Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: This tanna is a Jerusalemite, who teaches using a light and concise formulation, as ḥav is more concise than ḥayyav.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged history talmud-bavli talmud-yerushalmi .
Why is Shekalim in the Bavli?


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Gazprom Neft subsidiary Gazpromneft-Badra has now produced 13.5 million tonnes — or 100 million barrels — of oil.
Badra field. Wasit Province, Eastern Iraq.
Cumulative production at the Badra field in the five years since this asset went into commercial operation has reached 100 million barrels — the first shipment of liquid hydrocarbons having taken place in 2014. Oil production at the field stands at more than 1.8 million tonnes (13.5 million barrels) since the start of 2019.
Twenty-two operating wells, each running to an average depth of 4,500 metres, have been drilled by Gazpromneft-Badra since discovering this asset. The business has also built a production complex which has since become one of the main — and one of the most modern — elements in Central Iraq's oil and gas infrastructure. A full production complex, including an integrated oil and gas processing facility, with capacity to handle 5.4 million tonnes of oil and 1.6 billion cubic metres of gas per year, and sulphur granulation and production units, has been commissioned at the Badra field.
Field infrastructure includes a 123.5 MW independent gas-turbine power plant (GTPP), producing energy for all field equipment as well as more than 25,000 residents in the city of Badra and its suburbs.
The Badra field is one of the most important elements in Iraq's energy system. Dry commercial gas produced by Gazprom Neft is transported through a 100-kilometre pipeline to the Az-Zubaidiya electricity station, from where it is used to supply energy to several Iraqi provinces, including the country's capital, Baghdad.
Sergei Karavaev, Executive Director, Gazpromneft-Badra, commented:
"The 100-millionth barrel of oil produced at the Badra field is a major landmark in this asset's development. The gas plant we have built here is unique worldwide — not only is it a major industrial complex, but it also forms an important part of the country's energy system. This cutting-edge industrial infrastructure reflects the plant's technological leadership and is the key to its effective development in the future."
The Badra oilfield is located in the Wasit Province, Eastern Iraq. Preliminary estimates indicate reserves in place at the Badra field to be in the order of three billion barrels of oil. Development of the field is expected to run for 20 years, with potential for extension by a further five. The contract was signed with the Government of Iraq in January 2010, on behalf of a consortium comprising Gazprom Neft (operator), KOGAS (Korea), PETRONAS (Malaysia), and TPAO (Turkey). Gazprom Neft's share in the project is 30 percent, KOGAS' 22.5 percent, PETRONAS' 15 percent and TPAO's 7.5 percent. The share held by the Iraqi government, represented by the Iraqi Oil Exploration Company (OEC), is 25 percent.
Hide Expand
Press-center «Gazpromneft Badra»:
pr@gazpromneft-badra.com


PARENTS: it is YOUR responsibility to assure that your child is dressed appropriately.
TWO ISSUES WE STRUGGLE WITH EVERY YEAR: no shorts and no uncovered shoulders - no matter the age.
ANOTHER ISSUE WE STRUGGLE WITH: we have skirts and shawls to share if needed. But these are not items to be used as weapons in the attack of a visitor, but to be offered lovingly if it is clear that someone feels out of place because they innocently came to church dressed inappropriately.
Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or concerns.


If you are looking for a reputable and quality flooring company in Dallas, you've come to the right place. CMA Flooring has established itself as one of the top flooring companies in Dallas TX. We are committed to providing our customers with a wide selection of the best flooring products at unbeatable prices. From carpeting and hardwood to tile and laminate, we offer every type of flooring for your home or office. Our close relationship with the industry's top flooring brands enables us to provide our customers with flooring options that have a reputation for quality, beauty and durability.
Anderson. Anderson Hardwood is one of the nation's leading hardwood manufacturers. Their products offer superior craftsmanship, quality and innovative design that is unmatched in beauty and durability.The American made products come in a variety of sizes, patterns and finishes to add elegance to any room.
Armstrong. By carrying Armstrong products, we are able to offer a variety of quality Dallas floors including hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and linoleum. Their many products allow our customers to find the exact material, color and finish of flooring that meets their needs. In addition, their rage of price points ensures that the customer will find the product that fits their budget.
Mohawk. Mohawk is a customer favorite and offers flooring for all rooms of the home as well as commercial applications. Flooring types include hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, and stone and marble flooring. For families and pet owners, ask our CMA experts about their stain resistant carpeting options.
Shaw. Shaw Floors began crafting beautiful and durable carpets in 1967. Today, the company creates floorings of all kinds from tile to laminate. We enjoy carrying their brand because of their customer warranties and advantages that promise beauty in your floors for years to come.
At CMA Flooring in Dallas, we work with all of the above brands, as well as other top brands including Beaulieu, Daltile, Laura Ashley and more, ensuring our customers have ample options when making a flooring selection. We are a premier Dallas flooring store that offers our customers a superior customer service experience from the moment they arrive at our showroom to the final installation of their flooring. For customers who are unsure of how to choose flooring for their home, our flooring experts offer free in-home and in-store consultations. After learning about your personal needs and style preferences, they will be able to provide you with recommended flooring options that best fit your lifestyle. Visit our Dallas showroom or contact us at 972-418-6606 to schedule a free in-home consultation.


text:
Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing
Newspapermen
The Faithful Tribe
The best of Bagehot
The Pursuit of Reason
Victor Gollancz
James Connolly
Patric Pearse
Atlas of Irish History
Killing the Emperors
Murdering Americans
Carnage on the Committee
The Anglo-Irish Murders
Publish and be murdered
Ten Lords A-Leaping
Matricide at St Martha's
Clubbed to Death
The English School of Murder
The Saint Valentine's Day Murders
Corridors of Death
Journalism 2018
Varadkar and Coveney have made a huge miscalculation by putting their faith in Brussels
by RuthDE | Jul 30, 2018 | 2018, Belfast Telegraph, Journalism
The pair would do well to remember what happened when Celtic Tiger died, writes Ruth Dudley Edwards
Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar have bought into EU belief UK will cave in over Brexit
Simon Coveney, the Republic of Ireland's Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, has been making his presence felt of late in the UK. Fair enough. There's nothing more important to the Irish Republic at the moment than a good outcome to the Brexit negotiations.
My problem with Mr Coveney is that that so much of what he does is counter-productive, which is why he often has to back off – as for instance last week over the significance of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference he had been absurdly talking up.
As Eilis O'Hanlon pointed out the other day, he seems to specialise in winding up unionists, and, like Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is rather alarmingly prone to wrap himself in the green flag.
Messers Coveney and Varadkar are bitter rivals who are both arrogant, intensely ambitious and feel a need to compensate for aspects of their background by emphasising their nationalist credentials.
The Coveneys are one of what are known as Cork's merchant prince families, and Simon was only 26 in 1998 when, after the death of his father Hugh, a Fine Gael Cabinet minister, he inherited his Cork South-Central seat.
He tries to play down his considerable privilege, but in a tightly-foughtfour-seat constituency, not only is he looking over his shoulder at Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who tops the poll and is an Irish-speaking ex-history teacher, but he sees Sinn Fein progressing by leaps and bounds.
Mr Martin is a consistent enemy of Sinn Fein, who refuses to countenance any idea of going into coalition with it, so it's no wonder Mr Coveney shows it more sympathy.
Mr Varadkar is half-Indian and gay, which fits in brilliantly with the new cosmopolitan and politically correct Republic, but nonetheless – as with half-Irish Patrick Pearse and half-Spanish Eamon de Valera – he seems to feel the need to emphasise his Irishness.
In June 2017 Mr Coveney lost the Fine Gael leadership election to 38-year-old Mr Varadkar, for although he was much better at cultivating the rank-and-file and had the support of 65% of party members, they had only 25% of the vote in Fine Gael's electoral college.
Mr Varadkar is under no illusions about what are the ultimate hopes of his deputy, who has form in trying to topple party leaders.
However, they have been as one in refusing to resolve the mostly bogus border problems by working out technical solutions with the UK.
Indeed, the Taoiseach suspended the useful work his predecessor had initiated on just that.
Instead, both men enthusiastically do the bidding of the key Brussels strategists Jean-Claude Juncker, the commission president, and the two men he appointed to make a good deal for Britain impossible, naysayer Michel Barnier and German lawyer Martin Selmayr, whom in March Juncker elevated without warning into the top civil service job in the European Commission.
Messrs Coveney and Varadkar have bought into Mr Juncker's vision that if all roads to a decent deal for Brexit have been blocked off, Theresa May's Government will cave in and stay in the customs union and the single market.
And so they obligingly call for such impossible solutions as an internal border in the Irish Sea that would threaten the integrity of the Union.
Mr Varadkar absurdly threatens to bar British planes from Irish air space, while forgetting that in the event of a terrorist attack the whole island will depend on the RAF.
Mr Coveney offensively denounces British planning for no deal as "bluff and bravado".
They also seem to think that Ireland will be rewarded by its Brussels masters by being given some kind of get-out clause from the proposed tax harmonisation that would ruin its economy.
They seem to have forgotten that after the Celtic Tiger collapsed Irish taxpayers were sacrificed to German bondholders.
Mrs May made a ghastly mistake in allowing Monsieur Barnier to insist on settling the border issues before sorting out a trade arrangement.
She will not survive if she makes any more concessions.
The present mood of the British public suggests that no deal will be much more popular than selling out.
It won't be great in the short-term for the UK, but it will be a lot worse for the Irish Republic.
Recent journalism
Why Northern Ireland won't be leaving the Union any time soon
The truth about haters is they are projecting on to others the guilt which they repress
Why extremists on republican side only hurt cause they hold dear with their intolerant ways
Matchmakers didn't do the dutiful duke any favours
Unionists can relax, for the reality is very few in Republic support calls for Irish unity
With so much to be cheerful about in recent elections, my deportations list is very short
Like the Omagh victims, Hyde Park bereaved defied the odds to get justice for loved ones
My euphoria at seeing the UK rescued from extremists who would have destroyed it
Dissent against the 'accepted' norms crucial to free speech, yet Left always shouts it down
Kevin Myers has been vindicated
Categories Select Category 2018 (96) 2019 (82) 2020 (5) Belfast News Letter (1) Belfast Telegraph (117) Daily Mail (7) Daily Telegraph (15) December (3) January (5) Journalism (180) Libel (1) November (9) October (6) Reaction (6) September (5) Sunday Independent (31) The Spectator (2) The Times (2) UnHerd (1)
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Latest journalism
Ruth reviews:
In the Name of the Son: The Gerry Conlon Story by Richard O'Rawe
Wounds: A Memoir of Love and War by Fergal Keane
The Memoirs of Walter Bagehot by Frank Prochaska
Getting Down to the Bare Bones
I'm on the train! by Wendy Perriam
Truths Stranger Than Fiction
The Real Global Warming Disaster by Christopher Booker
The Life and After-Life of PH Pearse
The Long March by Martyn Frampton
The Gathering by Anne Enright
God Save Ulster by Steve Bruce
The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black
© Ruth Dudley Edwards 2003-2020 | All rights reserved


Endless stretches of seashore bordered in frothy lace, inlets and islands of exotic beauty and sandy beaches tucked away at the foot of forbidding mountains. Impenetrable but yet such majestic gorges, holy caves, blessed rivers and lush, green plains thickly covered with olive and citrus trees. It is a self-sufficient land in every way that is rich in endemic and rare flora and fauna.
The works of art produced by man will also not leave any visitor indifferent. He will bow with awe in respect for the intimidating remains of past civilizations which still stand proud, examples of creative spirit and signs of human futility, vigorous warriors of bitter and ravenous time. He will relive moments of legend, history and glory since memories of the past will awaken and resurrect themselves in his passing. Here he will satiate his hunger for colour and aroma, he will savour original and unique tastes, he will overhear stories about experiences taken from the passion and wisdom of a people whose roots and endurance are embedded deep in history. He will live intense contrasts and feelings, he will juxtapose the old with the new and he will respect modern life through the eyes of wisdom gained from tradition. Perhaps most importantly, the visitor will encounter a people who recognize life's gifts and value. The Cretan soul will infuse him with the feeling of true hospitality and will leave him mesmerized and forever partial to its beauty. Welcome to beautiful Chania.


It starts with a desire to love God and His word. To know about Him and to really know Him. To be obedient to Him. To live your life for Him.
It flows to our love for others. Being patient, kind, truthful and gracious. Caring about others and their lives now and their eternity.
It results in making disciples. Following Jesus and helping others to follow Jesus.
Join us this Sunday for Fellowship and Bible Study at 9:45 and then for our Worship Service at 10:45 a.m.


The purpose of Math club is to raise awareness of Math by providing opportunities for all Wexford students to have fun with Math by creating school wide events where students participate in math activities that are engaging and interesting.
Club Supervisors: Marieta Angjeli, Peter Ioannou, Vanita Jashnani, Sanaa Warwar.
Enjoy the Picture Gallery from our events Mathematical Egg Hunt, "Movie Night "The Imitation Game" and "21", "Spooky Math!", "Visual Math" (Wexford students' Art work), "The Wheel of Math", "Fight for the Candy" and "Are You Smarter Than a 9th Grader?"


text:
https://www.fairplanet.org/editors-pick/how-europes-cocaine-habit-funds-islamic-terrorism/
first·01020304050607080910·last
26.Nov
How Europe's cocaine habit funds Islamic terrorism
EDITOR: Neelo Aysha Scholz
In the 70's when drug traffickers found the US market for cocaine saturated, they targeted Europe, through a string of weakly- governed, unstable and smaller countries in Africa.
By 2010, the author writes, "West Africa was rotten with drugs, its governments corrupt, unstable and unpopular, and much of this shaky edifice was supported by western aid- a perfect environment for a purifying Islamist revolution."
AQIM (a branch of Al- Qaeda) terrorized Northern Mali and almost took over the entire country in 2012. Sustaining their activities through kidnapping and ransom of Westerners, the Islamists earned between $40m to $65m from tourists in Mali and Niger. When tourists no longer came, escorting cocaine convoys across the Sahara became the answer. By then, the lucrative business had lured local soldiers, diplomats and even a couple of heads of state into cooperation.
When Muammar Gaddafi fell in 2011, tens of thousands of his men fled south with trucks full of cash and arsenal, including armoured vehicles, surface to air missiles, grenade launchers and thousands of AK-47s. AQIM was able to buy this arsenal using the money they had earned through cocaine smuggling and ransoms. With it, they expelled the local forces and temporarily created a terrorist state in northern Mali.
Mali, a favourite destination for Western aid in Africa, was most recently pledged $4b, the irony still lost on its donors. Whilst Mali's soldiers train with US counter-terrorism experts, and the government receives aid, it continues to do business with an Al-Qaeda group that kidnapped Westerners and smuggled billions of dollars of cocaine into Europe.
Using this crime money they had created a terrorist state an hour's flight from Europe, until France intervened with force.
Read the full background to this story on Newsweek
What to do after Ferguson's Grand Jury Decision?
EDITOR: Murat Suner
Reflecting Ferguson's Grand Jury Decision The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) points out that police departments act like occupying forces, [...]
Migrant worker rights discussed at Asia/Gulf conference
EDITOR: Vanessa Ellingham
Later this week labour ministers from Gulf and Asian countries will meet to discuss labour law protection and immigration policies across the [...]
Five million shielded from deportation by immigration reforms
EDITOR: FairPlanet Editorial Team
US President Obama has announced an executive action, enacting huge immigration reforms which will see almost five million undocumented migrants [...]
There's always room for refugees
One can consider José Mujica a radical person in many ways. He turned from a guerrilla to a peace driven statesman, preferred a modest farm to the presidential palace, donates 90% of his salary equivalent to 12,000 U.S. [...]
Jerusalem attacks were presaged
"If no one steps in to intervene, then the protesters in East Jerusalem will have no alternative to defending their dignity, and their holy places, by themselves," was [...]
2,483,539 children homeless in the USA
In the light of the results of a nationwide social study on child homelessness the USA appear like a Third World country. Last year, approximately [...]
35 million suffer as modern day slaves
More than 35 million people are trapped in some form of modern day slavery, with 61% of those coming from just five countries. Human trafficking, [...]
Shell's false claims on Nigeria oil spills
Court documents revealed by Amnesty International today expose the fact that Shell has repeatedly made false claims about the size and impact of two [...]
US/China climate deal sends Republicans into a spin
Following on from our commentary on Tuesday which explained the big loss for climate change action brought on by US Republicans now ruling both [...]


text:
Q: Evaluating a hard integral related to the two-fluid model The following definite integral describing the density of the normal part of a superfluid equals to
$$
\int_0^\infty dx\, x^4\, \frac{e^{x^2+a}}{\left(e^{x^2+a}-1\right)^2} = \frac{3\sqrt{\pi}}{8}Li_{3/2}(e^{-a})\quad , \qquad a>0\, .
$$
However, if one types the above expression into Mathematica
Integrate[ x^4 Exp[x^2+a]/(Exp[x^2 + a] - 1)^2, {x, 0, ∞}, Assumptions -> a > 0]

then it simply returns the input.
Why is that and how can one solve these kind of problems?
I've been thinking for quite a while now, that the above integral does not have a closed form solution because Mathematica couldn't solve it.

A: We can see that the integrand is a derivative with respect to $a$ (the integral is absolutely convergent and continuously differentiable so integration and differentiation is commutative) of a bit simpler function which can be integrated, i.e we can see that $$\frac{d}{da}\; \frac{x^k}{\exp(x^2+a)-1}=-\frac{x^k \exp(x^2+a)}{(\exp(x^2+a)-1)^2}$$
and now we can evaluate even a more general integral of the form
$$
\int_0^\infty dx\,  \frac{x^k e^{x^2+a}}{\left(e^{x^2+a}-1\right)^2}
$$
int[k_,a_] = Integrate[ -x^k/(Exp[x^2 + a] - 1), {x, 0, Infinity},
                        Assumptions -> a > 0 && k > 0]

-(Gamma[(1 + k)/2] PolyLog[(1 + k)/2, E^(-a)])/2

i.e. the more general integral takes  form:
D[ int[k,a], a]

 (Gamma[(1 + k)/2] PolyLog[-1 + (1 + k)/2, E^(-a)])/2

so it is in case of the original question
 % /. k -> 4 // TraditionalForm

In any case one can also compare the integral with its numerical counterpart, e.g.
nint[k_, a_]:= NIntegrate[ x^k Exp[x^2 + a]/(Exp[x^2 + a] - 1)^2,{x, 0, Infinity}]

 Plot[{3/8 Sqrt[Pi] PolyLog[3/2, Exp[-a]], nint[4,a]}, {a, 0, 3},
   PlotStyle -> {Dashed, Dashing[{0.02, 0.05}]}]


A while back, when I was thinking of what odd topic I could explore the science of next, a status update had appeared on my Facebook newsfeed. OK, I realise that this is sufficiently vague: many status updates regularly appear on my Facebook newsfeed. This particular one intrigued me as it was about a seal. Now, I bet you're thinking I thought it mighty weird that it wasn't about cats or dogs, possibly accompanied by hilarious pictures with endearing captions. And you'd, of course, be right.
This beaming lady singlehandedly created, and actively bolstered the ranks of, the Facebook group called, 'Keith the Worcestershire Seal'. I was lucky enough to meet Lisa through Nick (a.k.a. Mr. Nick, a.k.a. check out the older blog posts!) and was instantly wowed by her limitless enthusiasm and energy to do any task she believed in without pausing. With an impressive track record and expertise of PR, and currently the Director of her own company, Venture, Lisa was undoubtedly the best person to raise awareness of this wandering seal. Liaising with the press pretty much from day one, Lisa has managed to gain media coverage for Keith in several notable publications, including the Daily Mail. As Lisa puts it, "The irony is I've never seen her, I would love to though, and she's really captured my heart". Thanks to Lisa's hard work and efforts, Keith has captured more hearts than would have otherwise been possible! And believe me, reading about an animal that amazingly ended up in a river in Worcestershire is a lot more appealing than reading about which celebrity is getting a tattoo next.
Sadly, Keith's story is in danger of having a tragic ending. The downside of having Keith in the River Severn is that, true to her biology, she is eating the native fish there. Personally, I haven't got the data in front of me to analyse how detrimental her presence is. Actually, I'm doubtful that anyone has really attempted to quantify it. If they have, I would gladly stand to be proven wrong and be able to analyse the data. Regardless, it is apparently enough of an issue for the Angling Trust to complain about Keith eating all of their fish stocks and are now trying to gain a license for a qualified marksman to 'get rid of' Keith. This comes because of apparently fruitless attempts to appeal to organisations, such as the Environment Agency, to relocate the animal.
So that seems to be the Angling Trust's ultimatum: either cease the pointless bureaucracy and relocate Keith back to her environment or she will pay the price for making a mistake and ending up somewhere where she shouldn't be. Makes sense. After all, if any one of us ever makes a wrong turn into a neighbourhood we're unfamiliar with, the Neighbourhood Watch either gets a permit to forcibly remove us or shoots us. Well, of course that doesn't happen. I hope it doesn't, anyway. We realise we've made a mistake, ask for help if need be, and then move on as we do. Unfortunately for Keith, she doesn't speak human (probably put off by what she's witnessed from some people, to be fair). She needs our help – the help of people with the power to actually protect her and return her to her natural environment.
How did Keith even get there? According to the Daily Mail, expert opinion is that she got lost, eventually swimming inland from the Irish Sea via the British Channel. Still, pretty impressive for an animal that has been swimming about purely because she is lost. Of course, Keith's appearance in Worcestershire may have been due to a pure accident, but the much, much larger picture of animals appearing in places they don't belong is, much of the time, anything but accidental. I feel a bit mischievous in that I am using Keith's example to highlight a wider issue: that of animals now ending up in places that they shouldn't be. Well, the phenomena isn't even a recent thing: it has been happening for a good, long historical while now. And the unequivocal, leading cause? Humans. Our direct interference with nature causes animals to end up in places they don't belong. And then we complain about it. Makes sense…not.
I end this post appealing for Keith's safety and wellbeing. Of course, I agree she should be relocated. But not for the whinging of a group of people who hunt fish for sport and then have the audacity to complain that they are being threatened by a majestic animal who hunts them for sustenance. She should be relocated because it is her right as an animal who accidentally took a wrong turn (a bit like Bugs Bunny taking that left at Albuquerque) and is just trying to get by. I staunchly believe that we have a duty to protect animals, not just from the mistakes they may make that can have impacts like this (which, actually, are relatively few and far between), but from us and the dangers we subject them to.
To Keith, and the other animals out there: we are terribly sorry that there are those of us out there without the common sense to treat you like you deserve, instead of trying to lord our superiority over you as 'lesser beings'. We hope you realise that there are those of us with an actual conscience trying to do something about it all! I sincerely wish Lisa, and the rest of the Keith fanclub, the best of luck in securing the safety and relocation of this beloved sea dweller.
~ by tazjagdev on January 18, 2013.
"what if God were one of us. Just a stranger on a bus…. Trying to find his way Home..". Keith is far from home too! She deserves our empathy and help not hostility and violence!


text:
Q: PHP Preg_replace and Call of Duty Colour Issue Call of Duty and Quake Games uses Codes form ^0 to ^1 to define colour in Names (Strings). I'm working on a custom Web RCON Script and having issues replacing the ^0 ~ ^9 with HTML Colors for output
Im Trying to Replace e.g the following in PHP
the string is generated and looks similar to Lets Say eg.

^3THE^7::^5MODERNWARFARE^7::^3Server

Im using 2 arrays for this
$find = array(
    '/\^0(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^1(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^2(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^3(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^4(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^5(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^6(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^7(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^8(.*?)\^/',
    '/\^9(.*?)\^/',
    );
    $replace = array(
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    '$1^',
    );

    // Just a Random Test String
    $aDemoString = "^3THE^7::^5MODERNWARFARE^7::^3Server^7";

    $namefix     = preg_replace($find, $replace, $aDemoString);

    echo $namefix;

The Output only partially works, and i get
THE::MODERNWARFARE^7::Server^7

and it breaks the closing  tag
if i remove a ^7 to the end of the string i get
THE::MODERNWARFARE^7::^2Server

It doesnt appear to replace the ^7 in the string correctly and for some reason messes up the html  end tag also if i remove the last ^7 then it breaks the last "^2" replacement
My Question is How Do I get PHP Preg_replace to do this correctly, any Help ?

A: The patern is ^0STRING^ so you should remove the number at the end, to make all of the parts 'work' (and have the same patern).
So first you should do this:
$aDemoString = "^3THE^7::^5MODERNWARFARE^7::^3Server^";

That is part one, then you should make sure that the ^-character isn't included in the replacing:
$find = array(
    '/\^0([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^1([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^2([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^3([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^4([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^5([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^6([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^7([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^8([^\^]+)\^/',
    '/\^9([^\^]+)\^/'
);

A: instead of ^ you can replace like this
$find = array('/\^3(.*?).\d+/',.........);

$replace = array(
    '$1',........);

A: <?php
$find = array(
    '/\^0([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^1([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^2([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^3([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^4([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^5([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^6([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^7([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^8([^^\d]*)/',
    '/\^9([^^\d]*)/',
    );
    $replace = array(
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    '',
    );

    // Just a Random Test String
    $aDemoString = "^3THE^7::^5MODERNWARFARE^7::^3Server^7";
    preg_match_all('/\^(\d)([^^\d]*)/', $aDemoString, $out);

    print_r($out);
    foreach($out[0] as $key => $val){
      $aDemoString = str_replace($val, $replace[$out[1][$key]].$out[2][$key].'', $aDemoString);
    }

    echo ($aDemoString);
    //THE::MODERNWARFARE::Server
?>

A: Try this:
$colors = array(
    "#000000",
    "#F65A5A",
    "#00F100",
    "#EFEE04",
    "#0F04E8",
    "#04E8E7",
    "#F75AF6",
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#7E7E7E",
    "#6E3C3C",
);
$find = array(
    '/\^(\d)([^\^]*)/e',
);
$replace = array(
    '"$2"',
);

// Just a Random Test String
$aDemoString = "^3THE^7::^5MODERN^2WARFARE^7::^3Server^7";

$namefix     = preg_replace($find, $replace, $aDemoString);
echo $namefix."\n";


text:
Q: Migrate FreeBSD jail I need to create a freebsd jail for web hosting, that will be frequently migrated between hosts.
How feasible is it? Can I use domains instead of IPs? can I use wildcard IPs?
I need this to benchmark different hw/sw configuration against a known resource hogger.

A: For what you're describing, "jail migration" is almost certainly the Wrong Solution -- you really want to apply DDoS protection across your whole network, not just a specific host/set of IPs.
More generally, as I said in my comment, Jails don't "migrate" in the way you're describing.  Some folks have done creative things with geom_mirror and ggated, but this is more failover than at-will migration, and I would describe the process as "cumbersome" at best.
Live migrations of running virtual machines (either at-will or automatic for resource balancing) is really better left to true hypervisor systems like VMWare and Hyper-V (Linux KVM may be getting there, and one day it might be a project that the FreeBSD Jail folks take on, but Jails are really designed to be process/system isolation -- a chroot on steroids -- rather than a VM you can pick up and move from host to host.  Migration is one of those things that takes a lot of programming effort).
Some things I know you can't do are use a "wildcard IP" -- IP addresses are assigned to both the underlying host system and the jail, so migrating requires you to move the IP addresses around.  You could use DNS to make the switchover (running both a protected and unprotected copy of the jail and using techniques similar to those in the link I described), but that's guaranteed to have some crossover time (at least the TTL of the record), and is basically asking you to double your hardware & IP space commitment -- probably not feasible unless you charge a lot more for the privilege of having this service (and if you're going to do that and can only give DDoS protection to a portion of your infrastructure you may as well just charge people a lot more to be on the DDoS-protected systems full-time -- it's a much smaller administrative headache).

A: I'm also looking for a jail migration tools. I am using the ezjail and rsync for jail management/moving between hosts and I need to have more complex solution. Google found something interesting on http://bsdstore.ru but the project is very poorly documented