This post is part of a series of articles focusing on travel safety for the long-term traveler; however, they should be of interest to travelers of any stripe! The series, entitled 'Travelling Safely' comprises Antidotes to Fear, Before You Go,Urban Bright—City Safety Tips, Tips for a Safe Night's Sleep, and Personal Safety Products. Have any tips that didn't make the lists herein? Please contact us!
A long-term trip abroad is always an adventure—only one thing is for sure, it will be full of surprises! A little advance planning, however, will improve the chances that all those surprises are pleasant ones. To ensure your trip is as hassle-free as possible, certain precautions should be taken before departure. Some tasks, such as obtaining passports or visas, may take considerable time, so begin preparations well before your travel date. In today's article, we consider advice that pertains to enhancing your safety while abroad.
The best way to have a safe trip when traveling to unfamiliar places is to do your research first.
The best way to have a safe trip when you're traveling to unfamiliar places is to do your research first. Travelers should familiarize themselves with their destinations, both to get the most enjoyment out of the visit and to avoid known dangers.
It's a good idea to have someone at home acting as your contact. Keep this person apprised of where you are and how you can be contacted as well as any changes in your itinerary so that if something happens your steps can be traced back.
While Ms Singer's article focuses explicitly on solo travel, her advice is applicable to everyone, whether travelling with a partner or in a group. On an around-the-world trip, however, this isn't always practical. Regardless, make an effort, as maintaining contact with somebody at home that can advocate for you is an important precaution. Often, all it takes is a quick email, SMS or phone call.
You may be having a great time on your trip but neglecting to contact family and friends can often cause stress and anxiety. Each year, state department the world over field thousands of calls from worried families who have not heard from loved ones overseas and are concerned for their safety. Bottom line—don't forget to call your mom!
Before you depart, seek out the official position of state departments. But keep in mind that while a travel warning is applied to an entire country, it might pertain to a single remote region—that's why it's often a good idea to check multiple sources for varying perspectives. Doug Lansky in his book First Time Around the World writes: "The UK Foreign Office website is more likely than others to specify the volatile area when they place an entire country on warning". Lansky recommends that travelers cross-check with Canada's consular affairs department, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs or the United States' State Deparment.
Even if you're not a citizen, the state departments above provide travel conditions in more than 180 countries around the world. Their travel information reports cover general conditions, such as crime levels, types of crime, regulations, information on local embassies and emergency assistance, health conditions and entry requirements. Where appropriate, these travel reports include warnings highlighting conditions in countries deemed 'unsafe'. These warnings are important, as insurance companies generally will not cover losses that arise because you did not follow the advice of a government travel advisory—it's best to check your policy's wording to see what your insurer's underwrier will and will not allow.
Many of the state departments help keep you up-to-date on the safety and security situation abroad through daily 'travel updates', e-mails that summarize new warnings. Check out Canada's consular affairs email offering here. As a supplement to the state departments listed above, we recommend World Nomads, they offer the latest up-to-date security briefings on hundreds of countries. You can sign up for their service here. Remember, it's not a good idea to rely on guidebooks for travel advisories—even the most recent editions get out of date quickly.
You've likely come across this travel tip before. It's a very good idea to photocopy all of your important documents—passports, visas, tickets, credit cards, drug prescriptions and other critical documents. It will be easier to replace the originals in the event you lose them.
Leave a set behind (with someone you trust and can reach easily when abroad) and stash the other set somewhere separate from the originals—some backpackers like to stuff the photocopies in the bottom of their packs and forget about them. If you're traveling with a companion, it's a good idea to each take the other person's copies. Regardless, you should consider putting them in a resealable bag, such as a Ziploc, to protect them from the elements (and beer).
If you can't be bothered to carry copies around then, then at the very least, you should consider jotting down serial and identification numbers in your travel journal. However, if you'd like to avoid carrying around copies of documents, you would do well to consider storing copies online so you can retrieve them while you're on the road. If you lose your documents, a copy will always be available for printing and viewing.
The technically savvy among us will be happy to hear about a couple of programs—one from ISIC and the other from Lonely Planet. These programs are great because they allow you access to your information from any computer connected to the Internet (or in the case of ISIC—a touchtone phone). These solutions are secure because they employ encryption; therefore, you're the only person who can access your information. Both of these services are based on the eKit platform—so are essentially similar .
Telesafe. ISIConnect offers ISIC members cyber storage for their valuable documents. It's called 'Telesafe' and it's a great alternative to photocopies as it provides secure virtual storage. You can retrieve documents via e-mail or touchtone phone anywhere in the world. What's great about this service is that you do not require access to a computer should you need to retrieve your documents—you can print a copy using a touchtone phone and a fax machine.
Travel Vault. Lonely Planet offers a service similar to 'Telesafe' called the 'Travel Vault' which also allows you to store the details of your vital travel documents. What's more, you can authorize Lonely Planet's customer service to access them for you.
Alternatively, you can create your own free 'travel vault' by scanning your important documents, saving each document as a .jpg or .gif file, and then emailing those files to yourself at a freely available webmail address (we recommend Google's Gmail owing to its ease of use and storage capacity). Ensure that the documents you emailed to yourself came through properly and store them on the server (ie don't delete them—save them into a special folder). This option may not be as secure as some of the aforementioned services; however, it is free and should suit most people.
Of course, you'll only ever need the copies of your documents if something is stolen. However, you'll be glad you have them. Replacing things like rail passes, credit cards, airline tickets or a passport can be difficult when starting from scratch. Having a copy helps to substantiate your identity in the absence of the original documents. Bottom line, it helps to smooth the replacement process along.
One in five independent travellers go abroad without taking out insurance, according to Ipsos MORI, a leading market research company in the UK and Ireland. Nearly 50% of those who encountered problems while abroad admitted they should have been better prepared. The most common problems experienced were falling ill (13%), missing flights (9%), being robbed or a victim of a personal crime (both 6%). Younger travellers—those more likely to take risks—were twice as likely to get ill (27%) get hurt (14%) or become caught up in a civil disturbance (13% against a 5% average).
While an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it's still necessary to protect yourself in the event of a mishap. No amount of vigilance and common sense can protect against the unforeseen (refer to our recent article, Travelling Safely: Antidotes to Fear).
So is travel insurance really necessary? You should consider purchasing travel insurance if you can't afford to cover unexpected medical and emergency costs at your destination. So, unless you're independently wealthy, the answer is an unequivocal "yes". If travelling long-term, travel insurance is a must. If something were to go wrong while you are abroad, the costs can quickly mount—rescue and repatriation costs, surgery and ongoing medical treatment. Consider a policy that includes emergency medical evacuation coverage. If adequate treatment is not available at a local hospital, you would be transferred to the nearest adequate medical faculty. Moreover, travel insurers can help facilitate payment, and act as an advocate so that you're not overcharged.
Choosing the right of type of coverage is outside the scope of this article, but it's something that we will touch on in the future. Various types of protection are usually (but not always) included in a travel insurance policy. Be sure to consult your policy's wording—it indicates whether your travel insurance covers what you may be assuming that it does. Policies and insurance firms differ in what they cover so be sure to ask. A good place to start your research is with World Nomads.
To make things easier, you can register certain items before you depart—including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent markings. Of course, each countries customs rules differ, so check with your state department before you depart!
Yes, the wonders of travel never cease for globetrotting adventurers. Although many trips run smoothly, sometimes there are rough spots along the way. The best way to avoid surprise turbulence is to be prepared! If you have any additional safety precautions that should be undertaken before departure, please don't hesitate to share them with us in the comment stream!
First Time Around the World, A Trip Planner for the Ultimate Journey: Loaded with the very latest travel information, including all you need to know about round-the-world tickets, this pre-departure guide will help get your ultimate journey under way. This guide begins with a 16-page, full-colour, things not to miss photo section with suggested itineraries, details on what to bring, when to go, how much it will cost and which vaccinations will keep you healthy.
World Nomads: Recommended by Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, World Nomads travel insurance is available to people from over 150 countries and is designed for adventurous travelers!
US Department of State's Tips for Travelling Abroad: For detailed information about steps you can take to ensure a safe trip.
Travel Vault. LonelyPlanet offers a service similar to 'Telesafe' called the 'Travel Vault' which also allows you to store the details of your vital travel documents. What's more, you can authorize Lonely Planet's Customer Service to access them for you.
Some good recommendations here—especially like Doug Lansky's advice regarding documenting your possessions at customs.
As a public health nurse, I'd add that it's a good idea to allow a month ore two to meet with your doctor for advice about medications and immunizations.
This is especially important if you'll be travelling long-term (for example, around-the-world) and even more so if you will be in remote areas where public facilities are substandard. You'll also need to confirm that boosters or new immunizations are not needed.
To your list of important documents, you should add copies vaccination records and bring them along on your trip.
Thanks, Grace—your suggestion certainly fits as a 'safety' precaution. Appreciate it. Travel safety's not always the 'sexiest' topic, but it's certainly worth revisiting every now and then!
Great advice! I would add that whomever is your "at-home" advocate should also be clearly told when they should expect to hear from you next, and what amount of leeway is acceptable before they start alerting the authorities. If you fall into trouble, you wouldn't want someone at home waiting days – or worse, weeks – before they pick up a phone.
This is especially important for anyone traveling alone, but applies to all travelers – crime or disasters befall couples & families just as it can for solo travelers. A cell phone with international roaming (or better still global satellite service) may seem pricey but is cheap in comparison to risk depending on where your travels take you. A quick text message each day (or even morning & night) can give everyone peace of mind that if the worst happens, help can be quickly dispatched.
The cell phone is a good suggestion, Trisha. And one we hadn't considered before because it was logisitally difficult (and expensive). But with prices coming down and technology always improbing, checking in by email or SMS is cheaper and easier than ever.
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The first cosmetic line created and curated for the visually impaired community. Almost every product is designed to be applied with the fingertips. Brushes create a barrier between the products and the details of the face, so these products are absolutely incredible. The foundations are more than the usual product. They include a serum, a sheer foundation, a B.B. cream that adheres to your skin tone, a moisturizer, and a primer. Each shade is labeled with Braille.
Each palette is color coordinated and labeled with Braille, to make shade selection much easier. The formula is easiy to apply with the fingertips. Each shade is described to paint a picture for the customer. All packaging and booklet included features Braille.
Easy to use and apply, the silky like texture of the powder can be applied with the fingertips or a brush to lock in the makeup. Comes in various shades. The setting spray also helps set the makeup, and adds medicinal properties to the skin. The vitamins act as an aftershave and help relieve the feelings of a hot flash.
The concealers add a full coverage effect to our sheer foundations. Just tap the product onto the skin with the fingertips, and you have a flawless finish. Each product is features Braille to help with shade selection.
Out lipsticks and glosses are absolutely gorgeous. The glosses include a large dough foot applicator to make application seamless. Out lipsticks are easy to glide on. And, with a formula that lasts 8 hours, reapplication throughput the day is minimal. All products feature Braille to make shade selection easier. A booklet is included to describe each shade beautifully.
Our special makeup remover makes taking off a full face of makeup super easy. Just spritz your face 4 times and gently wash your face with a lukewarm washing towel.
Owner of the first cosmetic line created and curated for the visually impaired community.


Zen Painting on fan shapes – The one on the left was done by Magiba, and the one on the right, by Starshine.
These are our attempts at Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. It really isn't that easy!
Moku Hanga is the art of woodblock printing. We created ours using an idea shared by Consie Sindet. She blogs at http://www.atopserenityhill.com so I hope you'll stop in at her blog. She's a wonderful artist!
We also studied a bit about hiragana.
These are the worksheets we used to work on our hiragana skills.
The above photos were taken by me and edited in either Pixlr or Instagram. They are not for sale and you do not have my permission to use them in any way.
I have been working on little art projects here and there when I can but time is scarce. The storm season is upon us and we've been out storm spotting quite a bit. This in itself could produce some interesting paintings, if I didn't mind the havoc it would reap in my spirit. I've got two current projects to share with you. One is a work-in-progress and the other is a collaboration with Magiba. I hope you enjoy them!
This is a simple line drawing base that I plan to paint and add a poem or lyric to. If you'd like to download a copy, you can do so by clicking the link to go to my deviantArt page. It's free but if you use it for any projects of your own, please link back to my deviantArt page, and give me credit in the caption. Thanks!
This is the collaboration artwork Magiba and I created. If you'd like to purchase a print or photo gift of this, please click on the picture to visit my deviantArt page. Any earnings we receive with be split down the middle.
Thanks for reading! Have a beautiful, wonderful, and whimsical day!


United States forces, acting with our NATO allies, have commenced airstrikes against Serbian military targets in the former Yugoslavia. I will address the nation more fully tonight on why this action is necessary, but I wanted to say a few words now.
We and our NATO allies have taken this action only after extensive and repeated efforts to obtain a peaceful solution to the crisis in Kosovo. But President Milosevic, who over the past decade started the terrible wars against Croatia and Bosnia, has again chosen aggression over peace. He has violated the commitments that he, himself, made last fall to stop the brutal repression in Kosovo. He has rejected the balanced and fair peace accords that our allies and partners, including Russia, proposed last month, a peace agreement that Kosovo's ethnic Albanians courageously accepted. Instead, his forces have intensified their attacks, burning down Kosovar Albanian villages and murdering civilians.
As I speak, more Serb forces are moving into Kosovo, and more people are fleeing their homes -- 60,000 in just the last five weeks, a quarter of a million altogether. Many have headed toward neighboring countries. Kosovo's crisis now is full-blown. And if we do not act, clearly it will get even worse. Only firmness now can prevent greater catastrophe later.
Our strikes have three objectives. First, to demonstrate the seriousness of NATO's opposition to aggression and its support for peace. Second, to deter President Milosevic from continuing and escalating his attacks on helpless civilians by imposing a price for those attacks. And third, if necessary, to damage Serbia's capacity to wage war against Kosovo in the future by seriously diminishing its military capabilities.
As I have repeatedly said to the American people, this action is not risk-free. It carries risks. And I ask for the prayers of all Americans for our men and women in uniform in the area. However, I have concluded that the dangers of acting now are clearly outweighed by the risks of failing to act: The risks that many more innocent people will die or be driven from their homes by the tens of thousands; the risks that the conflict will involve and destabilize neighboring nations.
It will clearly be much more costly and dangerous to stop later than this effort to prevent it from going further now.
At the end of the 20th century, after two world wars and a cold war, we and our allies have a chance to leave our children a Europe that is free, peaceful and stable. But we must, we must, act now to do that because if the Balkans once again become a place of brutal killing and massive refugee flights, it will be impossible to achieve.
With our allies, we used diplomacy and force to end the war in Bosnia. Now trouble next door in Kosovo puts the region's people at risk again. Our NATO allies unanimously support this action. The United States must stand with them and stand against ethnic violence and atrocity. Our alliance is united.
And I am particularly grateful for the support we have received from members of Congress from both parties. As we go forward, I will remain in close contact with Congress -- I have spoken with all the leaders today -- and in contact with our friends and allies around the world. And I will have more to say about all of this tonight.


Why on earth is anyone shocked by the latest revelations re doping in athletics by the brilliant Sunday Times Insight team?
I'm surprised that it's only a third of medal winners in endurance races at the Olympics and World Championships who have recorded dodgy tests.
Cycling has shown that the threat of being exposed as a cheat is far outweighed by the riches and fame on offer. To far too many runners and cyclists the rewards are much greater than the risks.
Is there any risk to runners at all? Athletics chiefs are so soft they let convicted cheats like Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay back into a lucrative sport at the earliest opportunity.
Drugs convictions must lead to a life suspension. Otherwise they are meaningless.


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Q: Count number of value increases/decreases per group I have a df with entries in 10 columns grouped by unit and year. I want to calculate a) how often the values per column increased and b) how often the values per column decreased from one year to the other (e.g. from 2010 to 2011, 2011 to 2012 and so on) per group.
This is my df
df <- data.frame(unit=rep(1:250, 4),
             year=rep(c(2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), each=250),
             replicate(10,sample(0:50000,1000,rep=TRUE)))

So a solution should show information how often unit 1 in X1 had increases and decreases from one year to the other, how often unit 1 had increases/decreases in X2 and so forth
A tidyverse solution would be preferable ;)

A: One solution that produces a wide format. Each one of the Xs will get 2 new columns of counts: X_incr and X_decr:
# example data
df <- data.frame(unit=rep(1:250, 4),
                 year=rep(c(2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), each=250),
                 replicate(10,sample(0:50000,1000,rep=TRUE)))

library(dplyr)

# function to count increases and decreases
f_incr = function(x) sum(lead(x) > x, na.rm = T)
f_decr = function(x) sum(lead(x) < x, na.rm = T)

df %>%
  group_by(unit) %>%                                     # for each unit
  summarise_at(vars(matches("X")), funs(incr = f_incr,   # apply functions
                                        decr = f_decr))

# # A tibble: 250 x 21
#    unit X1_incr X2_incr X3_incr X4_incr X5_incr X6_incr X7_incr X8_incr X9_incr X10_incr X1_decr X2_decr
#   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>   <int>    <int>   <int>   <int>
# 1     1       1       0       2       1       1       1       1       1       2        2       2       3
# 2     2       1       2       1       2       0       1       1       3       2        2       2       1
# 3     3       3       1       1       1       2       1       1       2       2        2       0       2
# 4     4       1       1       2       1       1       1       1       1       2        1       2       2
# 5     5       3       2       2       1       2       2       1       2       2        2       0       1
# 6     6       1       2       1       2       2       2       1       2       2        1       2       1
# 7     7       1       2       1       1       2       0       2       3       1        1       2       1
# 8     8       2       1       1       2       2       1       1       2       1        1       1       2
# 9     9       1       2       3       1       2       2       1       1       2        2       2       1
#10    10       2       1       2       2       2       2       0       1       2        1       1       2
# # ... with 240 more rows, and 8 more variables: X3_decr <int>, X4_decr <int>, X5_decr <int>, X6_decr <int>,
# #   X7_decr <int>, X8_decr <int>, X9_decr <int>, X10_decr <int>

Or if you prefer a format where each X has 2 rows of counts (X_incr and X_decr):
library(tidyr)

df %>%
  group_by(unit) %>%
  summarise_at(vars(matches("X")), funs(incr = f_incr,
                                        decr = f_decr)) %>%
  gather(type, counts, -unit)

# # A tibble: 5,000 x 3
#    unit type    counts
#   <int> <chr>    <int>
# 1     1 X1_incr      1
# 2     2 X1_incr      1
# 3     3 X1_incr      3
# 4     4 X1_incr      1
# 5     5 X1_incr      3
# 6     6 X1_incr      1
# 7     7 X1_incr      1
# 8     8 X1_incr      2
# 9     9 X1_incr      1
#10    10 X1_incr      2
# # ... with 4,990 more rows

Or this:
df %>%
  gather(type,value,-unit,-year) %>%   # reshape data
  group_by(unit, type) %>%             # for each combination
  summarise(incr = f_incr(value),      # get increasing counts
            decr = f_decr(value)) %>%  # get decreasing counts
  arrange(type, unit) %>%              # order (just for visualisation purposes)
  ungroup()                            # forget the grouping

# # A tibble: 2,500 x 4
#    unit type   incr  decr
#   <int> <chr> <int> <int>
# 1     1 X1        1     2
# 2     2 X1        1     2
# 3     3 X1        3     0
# 4     4 X1        1     2
# 5     5 X1        3     0
# 6     6 X1        1     2
# 7     7 X1        1     2
# 8     8 X1        2     1
# 9     9 X1        1     2
#10    10 X1        2     1
# # ... with 2,490 more rows

A: I hope I understand the question (a) correctly. You are trying to see for each row how many times the value increases (first from x1 to x2, then from x2 to x3, and so on)
I am using apply to iterate over each row. Then overlay the second through last value over the first through second-to-last value and see if they if the first is bigger or smaller than the second. And add sum the boolean values to see how many times an increase or decrease occurs for that row. Note the switch from '>' to '<'
increases <- apply(df[,3:12], 1, function(x) {sum(x[2:length(x)] > x[1:(length(x)-1)])})
decreases <- apply(df[,3:12], 1, function(x) {sum(x[2:length(x)] < x[1:(length(x)-1)])})

For question (b) you can subtract the subset where year equals 2012 from the subset where year equals 2013, and test whether values are bigger than 0 for increases and smaller than 0 for decreases. Then use colSums to see for how many 'units' the increase or decrease is true.
Increase:
colSums((subset(df, year==2013) - subset(df, year==2012))>0)[3:12]

Decrease:
colSums((subset(df, year==2013) - subset(df, year==2012))<0)[3:12]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


To get the greatest journey in order to find the ancient treasures of the Aztecs, you do not need serious equipment and months of training. Open the online game The Treasures of Montezuma, and start playing for free on the principle of"three in a row." Mysterious letters, magic crystals, magical totems will help you make the next step, following the map that leads through the jungle in the valley, where the once thriving capital city, and the emperor Montezuma hidden formula of eternal life, written in gold calendar. Collect crystals, strengthen artifacts, play at a time, and find the lost knowledge.
The principle of gameplay, when it is necessary to collect the same items in a chain containing three or more elements, has gained immense popularity. It is often possible to see how quite respectable adults move multi-colored stones on the screen with excitedly glowing eyes, which also contain elation and thirst to win.
Plots such as the games The Treasures of Montezuma are offered for free to a wide audience, and are always available on our portal. This is a fascinating story with adventures and treasure hunting. You will meet a fourth year student at the University of Archeology, who works in a museum. As a novice, she was assigned the most boring job to disassemble the archives. If only the museum staff knew what treasure she would stumble upon, they would save this adventure for themselves.
Laying out the paper for periods and topics, Emily Jones read the diary of a monk who once went to the Aztec country to instill in them their religion. Among his manuscripts was a drawing of stone idols, which exactly repeats the composition that is in the same museum. The monk wrote that this is a map that will lead to the sacred valley, where Montezuma hid the golden calendar with a recipe for eternal life.
The story intrigued the girl so much that she continued her search and found a box with ancient chips. They were all different colors and had a pattern, and some even had gems enclosed. New find fascinated Emily, and she began to move them, looking for the right combination. Soon she found out that putting three, four or more elements nearby, you can make them disappear, and if a crystal is enclosed in them, he will go to the treasury on the top panel at the top of the field.
The discovery inspired a novice archaeologist, and she invites you to play the Treasures of Montezuma in order to solve puzzles, explore the treasure map, and find a golden calendar with ancient knowledge.
Totems can break all elements of the same color at the site and do much more.
Each level becomes more difficult in the sense that it is required to collect more gems, and the chips are no longer in a hurry to build into chains as successfully as they were at the beginning. But with the difficulties appear and privileges, because now you can use the magic power of artifacts.
After completing the levels you earn gold stars, which help to strengthen one of the artifacts, if you press "+". You can also take a star from one of the artifacts, and add it to another, increasing the power of its action.
During the passage of the game, the Treasures of Montezuma online after a successful combo will turn on the super mode, when all the collected chains will bring double points.
The first part opens the way to adventure, but the games of the Treasure of Montezuma invite you to play online further, trying to avoid trouble in the Egyptian pyramid, where you will be taken in the second series. Queen Zezey hired the best architects, and they built a labyrinth, equipping it with traps on the way to a cache of jewels. But this is not all, because you will find five exciting game series.


In the world of business class high-performance coupes, this trio rules the roost. Audi has the newest car and Benz the oldest (but most powerful) and BMW has added a Competition Pack to bolster the M4's credentials. Which is best? We find out, on road and track.
With each generation of these coupes, their engines develop more power, their suspensions become more adaptable and the electronics that allow these performance machines to corner at ever-loftier limits evolve further. The only thing that seems to go backwards is steering feel. Oh, how we miss a simple rack-and-pinion steering setup with hydraulic – as opposed to electronic – assistance.
Nevertheless, what we're left with are 3 cars capable of dispatching 0-100 kph sprints in 4.0 seconds or less, achieving top speeds limited to 250 kph (or 280 kph, in the BMW's case) and endowed with an endless array of settings and buttons so that their drivers can dial in the perfect driving experience for every circumstance.
We start with the Audi. Why? Well, because A is the first letter of the alphabet. The RS5 is brand new, having been launched in South Africa at the end of 2017. It's underlying chassis, from the A4, has improved its handling prowess and reduced some of that notorious understeer that front- and all-wheel-drive Audis seem to be perennially saddled with. Under the bonnet is a Porsche-developed 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbopetrol with peak outputs of 331 kW and 600 Nm of torque, and thanks to its quattro drivetrain, the RS5 is claimed to get from standstill to 100 kph in 3.9 seconds (which matches the Benz's stated time). Now with its smaller engine (previously it was a V8), the Audi is 60 kg lighter than before (most of the heft has been reduced at the front end), which should make it a little more pointy and agile on turn-in.
Each with over 300 kW and nothing slower than 4.0 sec to 100 kph.
Audi has also selected an 8-speed torque converter transmission for the RS5; no dual-clutch gearbox here (as fitted to smaller RS cars)... just a good old-fashioned auto. Torque converters have come a long way in terms of 'shift responsiveness' and, besides, they deal with higher loads of torque better than dual-clutch 'boxes.
Next up is the BMW. The Competition Pack adds R135 000 to the standard M4 Coupe in order to tailor its handling and performance characteristics for track use. Power is increased from 317 kW to 331 kW and torque remains unchanged at 550 Nm. 0-100 kph is clocked in approximately 4.0 sec and the top speed's upped to 280 kph. The Competition Pack includes firmer suspension, thicker anti-roll bars, adaptive damping, a front splitter tuned for downforce and a rather grumpy performance exhaust.
The M4 Competition Pack uses a 7-speed M-DCT gearbox, which is a dual-clutch unit equipped with launch control and 3 selectable settings: for the speed at which the gearbox selects the next gear (up or down), throttle response/engine performance and suspension firmness.
The Benz's coupe lines and shouty exhaust attract the most attention, whereas the Audi goes about its business in a subtle way.
Finally the Mercedes-AMG. The C-Class chassis isn't holding up in its old age (at least as well as we had hoped), but in true Mercedes-AMG fashion, the Affalterbach-based firm has lopped in a thumping 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which is the most powerful unit in this comparison. Lofy outputs of 375 kW and 700 Nm are directed to the C63 S' mechanical limited-slip rear differential and, conditions permitting, the Benz will do its utmost to catapult from 0 to 100 kph in 3.9 seconds, going on to a limited top speed of 250 kph. It's the heaviest car here (by around 75 kg), so that may drown out its power advantage somewhat.
Doing the shifting is a 7-speed dual-clutch box with a race start mode and a traction control deactivation button that should only be pressed by either foolishly brave... or especially talented/experienced drivers.
Judging by the claimed numbers and previous history of our drag races, we expected the Audi to walk it and the BMW and Mercedes-AMG to be relatively close with possibly the Benz's stronger engine helping it towards the end of the strip.
Ambient temperature was around 20ºC and, as usual, the Killarney surface was slippery around the start area of the quarter mile run. Yet more of a headstart for the Audi and its quattro system, right?
When lining up the Audi against the BMW, in a theoretical fastest vs slowest match-up on a slippery surface, which, in theory, should favour the all-wheel-drive coupe from Neckarsulm, things became confusing. The BMW has a very specific launch control system that's extremely finicky, but if you get it right, you can adjust the rpm at which it launches with the cruise control switch. This wasn't working, so we had to launch the Bimmer at a crazy 4 000 rpm.
In a drag race, we suspected the Audi would win followed by a tough duel between the M4 and the C63 S.
Go! The BMW immediately fights for traction, laying down rubber from its 20-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. It squirrels its way down the strip hunting for grip before firing off a gear change that only upsets the balance, further loosening the rear end and introducing some sideways momentum. The Audi, despite cleanly launching off the line and not having to fight for traction, is only a half a car length ahead... This could be a close one. Finally, the BMW gains full traction midway through second gear and the fight is on for the finish line. Whatever BMW uses to measure the power on this M4 Competition Pack, it's inaccurate and it should probably be tossed in the bin. The M4 mercilessly reels in the Audi as if the latter's a family hatchback, and dispenses with it by over a car length by the time the 400 metres is done.
It's no fluke either, the BMW consistently beats the Audi and then decimates the Mercedes-AMG in the same fashion. The more rubber that goes down, the bigger the gap at the end of the quarter mile!
The V8 lurking under the bonnet of the C63 S. Still abides by the 1 man 1 engine rule at AMG.
The C63 S, by comparison, is a pain to launch off the line. Despite launch control, you still have to fiddle with the traction control settings to find out which setting is best for the current conditions. With traction control fully off and launch control engaged, the AMG performed the perfect burnout – it didn't move for 5 or 6 seconds as the competition made a break for it. The Benz is wild, untamed and an utter handful. When it eventually made a decent launch, the C63 S ran the RS5 close right up to the finish line; it clawed its way back to draw level with its rival, before ultimately passing it with a few metres to spare.
A proper upset for the books: The BMW romped to an easy win, with the Benz second and the Audi last. We were beginning to think someone had sent us a dud RS5.
With the drag race results upsetting the order of things, the track results seemed a foregone conclusion. The BMW was sure to use its Competition Pack's handling benefits to extend its margin over its countrymen.
With the temperature starting to creep up to the high 20s, the Audi was first to set its lap. The lightened front end of the RS5 has definitely improved turn in and front end responsiveness; the Audi feels quick to head into an apex and there's even a hint of lift-off oversteer as you feather the brakes into an apex. Once into the apex, the RS5 is typically controllable. It's all about spotting the exit and nailing the throttle; there's no need to worry about traction – the quattro system keeps the 600 Nm in line.
The RS5 is surprisingly agile on track with a nimble front end. There's a lot of body roll however when you throw some lateral G its way.
The RS5 does have a substantial amount of body roll as it tips into a corner, you can see this from the sidelines or as you follow it around a bend, the gap between the wheel and the arch is huge, it's almost comical how much the RS5 leans, but it manages the yaw well. This is one of Audi's most dynamic-feeling cars in a long time.
BMW's M4 Competition Pack barks to life by virtue of its louder and tinnier exhaust pipes. Set traction control all the way off, gearbox ferocity to maximum, engine into sport plus mode, along with the suspension and steering in comfort. Any more than comfort on the steering and it just feels too darn heavy and artificial.
Competition Package of the M4 turns the wick up on the engine. It ups power from 317 kW to 331 kW - the equal of the Audi.
On anything but sticky new rubber the Competition Pack M4 is difficult to keep under control... it constantly wants to break away at the hint of a sharp throttle application. You sit much lower in the M4 than the other 2, the weight of the car is also lower, so it's easier to feel what's going on and it rolls less in the bends because of that. The lower centre of gravity makes it steady under hard braking and turn-in is precise and balanced. When exiting bends, things get tricky. You have to introduce the throttle carefully, cleanly and with small flexes of your big toe. You're under constant threat that the rear is going to swing out and ruin a clean, precise lap. If you just want to have a wild time and slide the M4 about then it's easy to hold a slide. What's more, excellent chassis feedback allows you to control long, drifty slides with the throttle.
As expected, the M4 Competition Pack dominated on the track. It has a twitchy rear but with a bit of throttle finesse, you can get a stellar lap out of it.
The AMG is the final car to complete a hot lap of Killarney. The engine needs to be given sufficient time to cool down as Mercedes-AMGs do tend to get hot and bothered on balmy track days, when they're prone to default into limp mode midway through a lap.
If ever there was a car that resembled a blunt weapon, it's the Benz. It's a sledgehammer in a straight line, but point it towards a corner and it has all the finesse of a burly front-row prop trying his hand at dancing in Swan Lake for the very first time! The centre of gravity is higher than in the BMW and you feel that when applying the power; the C63 S rocks from side to side as it scrabbles for grip and requires constant corrections through the wheel. Traction is hard to come by even when feathering the throttle in higher gears. This experience feels very old-school AMG and, unfortunately, galaxies removed from piloting that precision track tool that is the AMG GT-R. The C63 S was made to eat tyres, bellow white smoke and shout as loudly as possible. Do not apply within if you're looking for a precise driving machine.
The brakes on the Merc were extremely good, considering it had to stop the most weight.
It's no wonder that the BMW beats the Audi by nearly 2 seconds and the Benz by 2.1 seconds. Both the M4 CP and C63 S use their raw speed advantage down the straights to pull away from the Audi, which makes time up at the exit of corners because it's able to get its power down easier than the rear-wheel-drive, tail-happy duo.
Track driving shows up every car's limitations; it highlights aspects that everyday driving never would, but, then again, probably 99% of driving is done on the road at legal speeds and within a car's limits. It's here where the Audi is a class above the others: its suspension is more adaptable to a wider range of conditions, making the RS5 more comfortable for everyday use and, for quick spurts out of corners, there's plenty of speed. Where it lacks a little, is in terms of the other 2's aural drama.
The BMW M4 in Competition Pack spec, with its firmer suspension and lower ride height, is much harsher during everyday use. It struggles on abrasive tarmac and when it traverses cat eyes at speed, it can feel like a wheel has fallen off. It's not unbearable, but a long drive would test your patience in terms of road noise and bumpiness.
The Audi and Merc are more comfortable in an everyday road situation.
Meanwhile, the Benz's chassis is starting to feel a little dated. We praised the C-Class when it first arrived for its adaptable ride and classy cabin, but the game has moved on so much that neither its relatively pliant damping nor luxurious interior can be considered class-leading anymore. The interior creaks as you push and prod the panels and now feels a trifle plasticky compared to what's on offer in the Audi. The ride is firm – admittedly not as much as the M4's, but doesn't quite match the RS5 for ultimate adaptability. The C63 S does have the most presence out on the road, it gets the most looks and its soundtrack, thanks to that sonorous V8, is most provocative.
Judging by what you've read above, it would be easy to say the BMW is the winner. After all, it won the drag race and annihilated the others on track. It can be used every day, but there are some notable drawbacks, such as excessive road noise and discomfort on bumpy roads. The Mercedes-AMG is crazy; it seems it was let out of the looney bin so that it can bludgeon its way from 'light to 'light in a blaze of smoke, thunder and crackles from the exhaust pipe. It's not a track car and it lacks the refinement for everyday use that the Audi has, but if it's entertainment you're after, it's certainly the one to have, just make sure you have a tyre sponsor signed up.
Each car has something different to offer, but the BMW remains the driving enthusiast's weapon of choice.
The track enthusiast's choice is obviously the BMW, but where does that leave the Audi? It's hardly slow, but it is solidly beaten by the Mercedes-AMG and BMW in a straight line. It's not an awful handler on track, in fact, by virtue of a pointy front end and plenty of traction, it put in a track time that matched that of the Mercedes.
Ultimately, the Audi is the car you want to drive every day. It's comfortable on long drives, in traffic and even when things get bumpy. Compared with ordinary business class cars, it's stupendously fast, yet doesn't sacrifice everyday driving comfort... In fact, it feels like a grand tourer more than a performance coupe. Even if it lacks the visual and aural appeal of the other 2, it brushes them aside on build quality and interior appeal. If you can live without having the fastest track car, the Audi's the winner.


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Saint-Martin-d'Ollières is een gemeente in het Franse departement Puy-de-Dôme (regio Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) en telt 154 inwoners (2004). De plaats maakt deel uit van het arrondissement Issoire.

Geografie
De oppervlakte van Saint-Martin-d'Ollières bedraagt 14,1 km², de bevolkingsdichtheid is 10,9 inwoners per km².

Demografie
Onderstaande figuur toont het verloop van het inwonertal (bron: INSEE-tellingen).

Externe links

Gemeente in Puy-de-Dôme

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Coffee Break Read – Pungent
"This is an intrusion into my dear friend Octavia's privacy," the woman said imperiously. "It is intolerable."
Dai lifted his head to see her eyes flash with anger and felt the sudden insignificance of a being a mere non-citizen, provincial Briton in the presence of over a hundred generations of pure Roman patrician breeding.
"I – I apologise, domina," he said quickly, eyes downcast.
"I should think so. And if you wish to keep your job you will be certain this does not make it into any official report – or unofficial one. If a single word gets out, I promise you that I will ensure you have no job and no licence to live in Londinium ever again either. Do you understand?"
Dai felt his throat dry up. She more than had the power to do precisely that if she chose.
"I understand you, Domina Lydia."
There was a slight flush of colour then in her face and for a moment Dai wondered at it, then he realised that she had not thought he recognised her.
"I am glad you do," she said quietly. "You can leave now. I will look after poor Octavia. But remember what I said."
Dai bowed again and moved towards the front door, as Octavia detached herself from Bryn and was scooped up into the arms of Domina Lydia who made soothing noises and stroked her hair whilst glaring over her head with cold command at Dai and Bryn.
They left the apartment block in stunned silence and it was only once they were walking back to their vehicle Bryn broke it.
"You handled that well, Bard, your poet's charm worked a treat."
Dai shook his head.
"I'm out of practice, is all."
Bryn stopped by a street stall.
"Two portions of garum and chips, not wrapped."
They stood waiting as the chips were thrust into paper cones and the pungent sauce poured all over them. Bryn paid with his wrist phone and they continued walking, eating the chips as they went.
"Did you notice something odd?"
"I noticed a lot. Like the way you buried your head in her tits for example."
"More like she did the burying bit."
"You weren't exactly fighting her off. Can't say I blame you though. Not every day you get to put your face in the perfumed cleavage of a Roman matron. Or not without having your balls sliced off for it. Must have made it almost worth the threats from that pompous bitch at the end. Like we give a cracked cack whether some Roman lives in the lap of luxury or not."
"It wasn't that," Dai said quietly.
Bryn looked at him.
"No. She was just terrified we'd seen her there. She didn't ask what had happened to Rufus or even who we were, which means she must have known us. And I don't know if you have a celebrity job on the side, Bryn, but I'm really not that famous."
From Dying to be Roman by Jane Jago and E.M. Swift-Hook, a whodunit set in a modern day Britain where the Roman Empire still rules. You can listen to this on YouTube.
It's A Writer's Life – Words
Drabbling – Dreamcatcher

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Since this shield only uses the I2C pins and the I2C bus is sharable, you can stack multiple shields on top of each other. You will need to have installed stacking headers & right angle 3x4 connections for it to physically connect. Multiple shields (up to 62!) can be stacked to control still more servos.
This guide was first published on Jun 20, 2013. It was last updated on Jun 20, 2013. This page (Stacking Shields) was last updated on Apr 24, 2019.


text:
IP Practices
IP News
Trademark Bulletin
Copyright refers to a bundle of exclusive rights vested in the owner of the Copyright. These rights can be exercised only by the owner of the Copyright, or any person who has been duly authorized by the owner of the Copyright.The length of copyright protection may vary from country to country.
Apart from the Economic Rights that accrue from this, the Moral Rights which are vested in the Copyright owner are inalienable; and, even when the Copyright has been duly assigned to someone else, he can exercise these rights thereafter.The general term of Copyrights is 50 years.
The Nepalese Copyright Act protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematography films, sound recordings and much more besides. Copyright registration is not mandatory for protection, but is recommended for better enforcement. Nepal is a signatory to several international treaties including the Berne Convention; copyright protections are thus equally available to works created by foreign nationals in Convention countries.
Helping to ensure clients' compliance in the ever-changing regulatory landscape in marketing. We provide strategic advice regarding licensing copyrighted works, entertainment properties and software, including counseling clients on open source issues. We also counsel clients on enforcing copyrights and defending copyright claims in litigation and appeals throughout the country and coordinate with foreign attorneys to enforce rights and defend claims internationally.
IP Contracts
Apex Law Chamber is domestically and internationally recognized as Nepal's leading and premier IP law firm with over 20 years of specialist legal experience.
apexlaw.com.nptrademark@apexlaw.com.npTelephone: +977-1-5111154
8th Floor Trade Tower, ThapathaliG.P. O. Box: 24668Kathmandu, Nepal
IP Bulletin Published on June 13
Trademark Bulletin 2021
Test marketing by foreign investors in Nepal
Protection of Copyright in Nepal
Designed & Developed by Lone Tree Nepal
Apex Law Chamber © 2021 | All Rights Reserved


Kentucky has 98 homebuilders working in the 323 communities with new homes available for sale. These hardworking builders include Clayton Homes, Freedom Homes, International Homes, Fischer Homes, Paragon Homes, and Elite Built Homes LLC, some of the largest builders in the state. Explore all the builders in Kentucky by searching for the ideal Kentucky metropolitan area, and browse the Builder Directory.
Kentucky has a huge real estate market with 2,785 new homes for sale in 323 neighborhoods. Kentucky has affordable new homes, starting at just $28,900. These houses have up to 7 bedrooms in 7,581 square feet of space.


Camp Mack is perfectly situated on a beautiful peninsula surrounded by the clean, clear water of Long Island Lake. We offer exciting summer camps in July and August that include water sports, nature skills, adventure games and team building experiences. The camp is also available to rent for families, schools and youth groups and organizations. A wide variety of groups have enjoyed our beautiful site and excellent facilities for outdoor recreation, family reunions and retreats. If you are interested in a unique experience at Camp Mackinicholea, email us at longislandlakesociety@gmail.com and see what we can offer.
Click on the Calendar link at the top of this page to register your child for our summer camps!


Looking to get involved in existing homes? Explore the ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation (ESVI) program.
HVAC performance is critical to delivering efficiency, comfort, and durability. That's why HVAC systems in ENERGY STAR certified homes are designed and installed according to industry best-practice standards by expert contractors.
HVAC designers are crucial to the process of delivering a right-sized HVAC system that both saves energy and delivers comfort.
And only contractors who hold EPA-recognized credentials can complete parts of the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes HVAC requirements. HVAC credentialing makes it easy for builders to identify contractors with the capabilities to help them build ENERGY STAR certified homes, for contractors to market best-practice services, and for consumers to be confident in the comfort and performance of their new ENERGY STAR certified homes.
Looking for HVAC Resources to Get Started with ENERGY STAR Certified Homes?
Visit one of the links below to learn about the basics of the credentialing process, how to find a credentialed HVAC contractor, and the requirements and resources for HVAC designers and HVAC contractors working on ENERGY STAR certified homes.
Looking for HVAC Resources to Get Started with ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction?
HVAC Design and Commissioning is equally critical in multifamily projects. While not currently available, as additional resources associated with the verification of HVAC requirements and completion of Functional Testing Checklists in the Multifamily New Construction program are developed, they will be posted here.


The .NU country-code extension was initially assigned to the Pacific island of Niue. Thanks to the phonetic resemblance with the word 'new', .NU is used by lots of site owners all over the globe. It is open for registration to everybody. Furthermore, considering the fact that .NU is still not so popular, you've got a greater chance of registering a really interesting .NU domain name for your own personal or business site.At CyberCityNet, you can order a low-priced .NU domain name for only $28.00 per year.
Take care of your .NU domain names, as well as any other domain names that you may have, from a single location comfortably, taking advantage of our straightforward Domain Manager interface. Available without cost with each new domain registration, it features each of the instruments that you need to effectively take care of your domain names, and even more. You can easily access all the essential DNS controls, to conveniently assign URL redirections, to get unlimited parked domain names and also to take care of multiple domains at the same time. Frankly, you'll be hard-pressed to discover a better home for your domains.
And, in case you also have a hosting account here, it is possible to control your domain names and your web sites from one and the same Control Panel - no extra domain or billing management interfaces will be required.


Miss the last #AgBookClub chat? No worries, we've compiled a summary of the chat to prepare you for next week!
This week, we continued discussing our March book, The Man Who Fed the World, by Leon Hesser. Week 2 covered pages 67 – 104 (chapters 5 – 7).
Below are several responses that we thought summed up the Week 2 chat well, covered themes, or contained thought-provoking questions or comments.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments section of this post or on Twitter (clicking the date at the bottom of each tweet will take you directly to that tweet on Twitter's website). You can see the full conversation by searching "#AgBookClub" on Twitter.
Q1: What's one thing that's jumped out at you in this book so far? Likes or dislikes?
Q2: As scientists introduced Borlaug's wheat varieties in new countries, what stood in their way, and what did they do to overcome?
Q3: Do you agree with Borlaug's advice? How did it play out for his students?
Q4: Do you think a widespread agricultural shift similar to what Borlaug brought about would work better or worse today than it did in the 60s? What's different now?
Q5: Is feeding the ever-growing population still the top concern in agriculture today? What, if any, issues take higher priority in your book?
Q6: Borlaug's wheat required much more in the way of inputs than most farmers were used to. With today's emphasis on sustainability, would his solution still be considered a huge success in 2018?
Join us for Week 3 of our March read, The Man Who Fed the World, on Wednesday, March 21st. We'll be discussing pages 105 – 169 (chapters 8 – 13). See the reading schedule here. If you're never participated in AgBookClub before, please jump right in! We'd love to have you join us!
The #AgBookClub Twitter chat takes place Wednesdays at 8pm CST.
Check out what's coming up on #AgBookClub in 2018. Have a book-lover friend? Invite them to join!


Ever wondered how Kim Kardashian maintains her glowy, seemingly-flawless skin? Well, as it turns out, her secret isn't really so secret. She just does something we do every single night: take off our makeup! But the surprising part of this story is that her product doesn't come with an absurd price tag—in fact, it's probably less expensive than your daily order at Starbucks. So you might be wondering: What is it and where can we get it? Luckily, we're here to spill the deets.
If you're strapped for cash, but need Kardashian-level, no-filter-necessary, I-woke-up-like-this skin, head over to your local drugstore to pick up a pack for yourself. "Taking off your makeup is so crucial if you want flawless skin," Kim said. Tight on time, too? Click here to shop the product online.


Cast a cheerful glow with this charming, antique-styled, white-washed pedestal candle lamp. This exquisitely crafted piece includes a classic-styled base with a flat platform top to hold your own LED candle. A metal shade artfully and precisionally cut in a geometric floral pattern lets all the bright illumination shine through. Both pieces have been white-washed over a neutral gray base and given an antiqued finish to highlight your country home decor. Set on a counter, tabletop or a desk for an elegant and sophisticated ambiance. This candle holder looks stunning on its own or in a combined cluster with other lighting options. - 8" x 8" x 20" - Imported Please note your order will be shipped directly from the brand. Orders cannot be shipped to Australia, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or P.O. Boxes.


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Q: How to animate sprites on the tileMap in cocos2d I created an animated sprite, but I am not understanding how to add the animated sprite on the tilemap. My animated sprite(player) walks without tiles, but when I add the animated sprite on tile that does not work(the walking).

A: It is easier to start with a tutorial or sample project when you need to get multiple things working. I started with KnightFight project for my own tile map game. This project has a very good skeleton for animating characters on tile map.


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V1104 Геркулеса () — кратная звезда в созвездии Геркулеса на расстоянии приблизительно 604 световых лет (около 185 парсек) от Солнца. Видимая звёздная величина звезды — от +14,19m до +13,23m.

Пара первого и второго компонентов — двойная затменная переменная звезда типа W Большой Медведицы (EW). Орбитальный период — около 0,2279 суток (5,469 часа).

Открыта Лю Н.-П. в 2015 году*.

Характеристики
Первый компонент — оранжевый карлик спектрального класса K7. Масса — около 0,824 солнечной, радиус — около 0,764 солнечного, светимость — около 0,141 солнечной. Эффективная температура — около 4050 K.

Второй компонент — оранжевый карлик спектрального класса K. Масса — около 0,797 солнечной, радиус — около 0,701 солнечного, светимость — около 0,095 солнечной. Эффективная температура — около 3833 K.

Третий компонент — красный карлик спектрального класса M. Масса — не менее 0,11 солнечной. Орбитальный период — около 8,35 года.

Четвёртый компонент — красный или коричневый карлик. Масса — не менее 0,062 солнечной*.

Примечания


text:
Премія «Золотий глобус» за найкращий сценарій до художнього фільму — престижна нагорода Голлівудської асоціації іноземної преси, що присуджується щорічно з 1948 року.

Нижче наведений повний список переможців і номінантів.

1948—1949

1950—1959

1960—1969

1970—1979

1980—1989

1990—1999

2000—2009

2010—2019

2020—2029

Посилання

 Офіційний вебсайт премії «Золотий Глобус» — Переможці та номінанти

Премія «Золотий глобус»
1948 у США


text:
Q: How to keep a log of user activity in an Android App? I'm working on an Android App that needs to be tested to a select audience. During this testing period, we need to keep track of each session and store the user interactions somewhere to view later. Examples would be, the time at which a button was pushed or the touchscreen interactions. How would you guys suggest going about this?

A: You should try Google Analytics for Android:
https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/android/v2/
I use it on all my apps and games and I'm able to see which buttons are pressed, which screens are most visited, average score, where most people die during a level, etc...


Zinc finger protein 471 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZNF471 gene.
↑ Nagase T, Kikuno R, Ishikawa KI, Hirosawa M, Ohara O (Feb 2000). "Prediction of the coding sequences of unidentified human genes. XVI. The complete sequences of 150 new cDNA clones from brain which code for large proteins in vitro". DNA Research. 7 (1): 65–73. doi:10.1093/dnares/7.1.65. PMID 10718198.
↑ "Entrez Gene: ZNF471 zinc finger protein 471".


Chikodili Emelumadu (Nigeria) for 'Bush Baby' published in African Monsters, edited by Margaret Helgadottir and Jo Thomas (Fox Spirit Books, UK. 2015). Chikodili's work has appeared in One Throne, Omenana, Apex, Eclectica, Luna Station Quarterly and the interactive fiction magazine, Sub-Q. In 2014, Chikodili was nominated for a Shirley Jackson award and is working on her novel.
This conversation took place in a green bedroom in the cold, sweetspot of Gaborone, Botswana and Cambridge heat (Massachusetts), a cozy loft in Hither Green, UK, and later the middle of the Southbank Centre in London by Email.
Gaamangwe: Congratulations Chikodili! how does it feel to be shortlisted for the biggest award for short story writers?
Chikodili: Surreal, to be honest. Now I'm in London, I reckon I'll have no choice but to feel quite real once all the events begin.
Gaamangwe: I can imagine! On the surreal and feeling real, your story is a mixture of the surreal and realism, what drew you to the other-worldliness in your story?
Chikodili: I've always been drawn to things like that – horror, fantasy, sci-fi. I'm drawn to stories, period. Reading them, listening to them, plotting and writing them. How are we sure that in the grand scheme of things, WE aren't the otherworldly ones? Perhaps our lives and petty dramas seen 'out there' by beings on other planes, the Gwei-gweis and Mami watas and such.
Gaamangwe: Oh, that is such an interesting thought! It reminds of the story that perhaps the sky is merely the eye of creature beyond our ether, snooping in on us, enthralled by this "otherworldliness" that we are to him/her/it. I love these stories too. I got the feeling that "Bush Baby" was an urban legend story from your country, no? When you go back to the time you wrote the story, do you recall what your intention/interest with this particular urban legend was?
It was easy to believe. I was little, five or six years old, we were literally in the middle of nowhere with streams full of fish and trees for miles. The story probably left a scar on my psyche. And I'm not one to leave a scar alone.
Gaamangwe: I love how we carry our early imprints and how they often come through later in some way especially as art. I often wonder about the origin of urban myths and legends. I get the feeling that sometimes some myths originate from simply the elders trying to discourage some behaviors, you know. Do you know the origin story of this urban legend story? What interests you about using myths and legends ideas in your writing?
Chikodili: I don't quite know the origin of the cries of the Bush Baby, whether it's recent urban legend or goes way back. I have tried to imagine though that if it did go back to an earlier time, it might have been a certain kidnapping tactic? My father used to tell stories of slavers and the cunning ways they used to steal people away. It's not farfetched then that the cry of a baby in the bush could be used to lure prey – mostly women, I suppose. The Gwei-Gwei or Gwai-Gwai part is Hausa myth.
I think I enjoy telling stories this way because it appeals to something in all of us. It's universal. In all cultures of the world there are stories of monsters and beasts, spirits and supernatural beings told in every household, around fires and under the moonlight. Even 'western' films and animation that we so thoroughly – Cinderella, Rapunzel – enjoy are based on old Germanic folktales (they are a lot scarier in their original form. Hollywood tends to sanitize them). Stories like mine appeal to the primitive, basic part in all of us: beyond logic. I like to think they are more effective this way. Folktales have survived this long for a reason.
Gaamangwe: This is true. The whole time reading your stops my heart was beating fast, every part of me aware. You had taken me to our most powerful primitive emotion: fear. But beyond this, I think what intensified this was I cared for your characters, because it was familial. I could see myself and this happening to my sister for example, how will that be like I wondered. What attracted you to telling this story from this point of view, of two siblings who are grieving in their own way the loss of their parents?
Chikodili: I too am always interested in familial relationships, especially the ways in which societal expectations of gender affects it. So in this story, we see the responsible daughter, the first born who does everything right with her life, playing second fiddle to a younger, more reckless brother. By all accounts after their father dies, she should get a bigger share by virtue of her position, or at least have their father's assets shared equally but the bulk of it gets passed down to her brother because he is male. She clearly resents this but perhaps she resents society more for coming between she and her brother in this way. She loves her brother.
Gaamangwe: This is an important story that reflects such an important narrative. Beyond this, what other narratives/ stories are you interested in exploring?
Chikodili: I'm interested in my ancestry, the supernatural, Igbo culture and womanhood, all themes contained in my upcoming novel.
Gaamangwe: Thank you Chikodili for joining me here. I wish you all the best of luck with your writings and the Caine Prize award.


Used some reclaimed cedar shiplap for accent wall. Stuff was really nice full 9" exposure. couple coats of water base poly. Also took the popcorn of the ceiling and put knock down texture on.
Made a beautiful wall .


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Q: To copy values from one form to another form I have two forms, FORM1 and  FORM2.
I have to display some of the fields of the form1 in the form2 ( with the values selected)when going through the flow.
Can u pls help me to write a plsql procedure for performing the above action.
Thanks in advance.

A: Use globl variables
Global variables are used even when the 2 forms are not related. To define a global variable, you use:
copy(my_value, 'global.my_variable_name');

on the second form to retrieve the value use:
default_value('', 'global.variable_name');
v_variable_value := name_in('global.variable_name');

Note: default_value is used to set global.variable_name to a default value in the case is not previously set. Otherwise name_in will raise an exception!
Note2: ALL global variables are varchars.
global variables can be read and writen by any form in the same forms session.

A: If you wanna use a PL/SQL procedure to pass the values, first you should save he values in the database. If Form1 calls Form2, you can pass PARAMETERs between forms.