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Report: Ukraine Crisis Needs 20,000-strong UN Force
A Ukrainian soldier patrols the area around the humanitarian aid center in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Feb. 4, 2017.
BRUSSELS - The United Nations should consider a force of some 20,000 soldiers from non-NATO countries and 4,000 police to help resolve the crisis in Ukraine, according to a new report to be presented to top officials this week.
More than 10,000 people have been killed since April 2014 in a conflict that pits Ukrainian forces against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Intermittent clashes continue despite a notional ceasefire and diplomatic peace efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested a limited U.N. peacekeeping mission to eastern Ukraine, which many in the West see as an opportunity to negotiate a broader U.N. force to restore order, diplomats say.
A report commissioned by former NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen — now an adviser to Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko — will be presented to officials including the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
Russia might resist
"The operation would need a mix of some European countries, such as Sweden, countries with a track record in peacekeeping, such as Brazil, and countries that have Russia's trust, such as Belarus," said Richard Gowan, author of the report and an expert on the United Nations at Columbia University.
While numbers as high as 50,000 personnel have been mentioned by some diplomats and experts, Gowan said it was unrealistic to expect countries to put forward so many troops, while Moscow would likely resist such a large force.
Senior officials from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France will discuss the conflict on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Gowan said establishing a peacekeeping force could allow local elections to take place in eastern Ukraine — a key part of the 2015 Minsk peace accords negotiated by Kiev, Moscow, Paris and Berlin. They seek to restore Ukraine's control over its border with Russia and withdraw heavy weapons from the area.
"If you were able to get a significant presence on the ground reasonably quickly, you would want to move towards local elections within 12 months, and then keep peacekeepers there for a cooling-off period, say two years in total," Gowan said.
International police would also be crucial to establishing peace because soldiers in tanks would be ill-placed to deal with any protests that could follow such a vote, he said.
Over 700 unarmed civilian observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) currently operate monitoring missions on the conflict, but these have not reduced tensions.
Difficult obstacles remain to the approval of any U.N. force. Russia, which has a veto as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, would have to agree to the details, and it is unclear whether Sweden would agree to lead the mission.
Ukraine Opposition Leader 'Kidnapped', Deported to Poland
Ukraine opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili has been deported to Poland, officials said Monday, after he claimed to have been kidnapped by "unknown people in masks" in Kyiv. "This person was on Ukrainian territory illegally and therefore, in compliance with all legal procedures, he was returned to the country from where he arrived," Ukraine border service…
Ukraine Court Rejects Saakashvili Extradition Protection Appeal: Lawyer
Ukrainian opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday said an appeals court rejected his appeal for protection against possible extradition in a decision he said was politically motivated. The former president of Georgia entered Ukraine last September despite being stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship in a protracted standoff with the Kyev authorities, whom he accuses of corruption. He is wanted in Georgia on four charges including abuse of office, which he…
US Envoy: Lack of Political Will in Moscow Thwarting Ukraine Peace
The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine said the country's new law on reintegrating its conflict-torn regions has "regularized" the country's military operation against Russia-backed separatists, but doesn't change anything on the ground. In an interview Wednesday with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Kurt Volker also said the new law does not contradict the Minsk accords, a 2015 deal aimed at ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 10,300 people since 2014…
By RFE/RL Ukrainian Service
Russia's Foreign Minister Slams 'Aggressive' US Policies
Germany: Ugly Anti-Semitic Remnant at Center of Court Battle
Ukrainian Prime Minister Offers Resignation


SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is the foundational, XML-based application protocol used to implement Web services within a SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). SOAP is transported primarily via HTTP and middleware messaging systems (JMS, MQ Series, MSMQ, Tuxedo, TIBCO RV) but can also be transported via other protocols such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
Envelope: The SOAP envelope is the root element of a SOAP message and is required. In essence, the envelope contains the SOAP message just as a traditional envelope contains a written letter.
Header: The SOAP header is optional, and when present it contains application-specific information such as authentication, addressing, and routing details.
Body: The SOAP body is required, and it contains the actual application message being transported, including the specific remote operation being invoked as well as the data (parameters) being exchanged.
SOAP messages are often large as they must contain the information that applications and clients need to parse the data contained within them and to execute the appropriate logic. As messages increase in size, the processing required on the server increases as well, causing the consumption of resources on the server to increase while decreasing overall capacity. The increase in size can also have an adverse effect on the performance of applications built upon SOAP, as more network resources are required to transfer the messages.
Because SOAP is XML-based, it is vulnerable to a bevy of XML-focused attacks and vulnerabilities, and it is further vulnerable to the attacks associated with its transport layer protocol, most often HTTP.


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EURIreland – Higher Education Authority, National Agency for Erasmus+ Higher Education in Ireland
European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process)
The overarching aim of the Bologna Process is to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) based on international co-operation and academic exchange that is attractive to European students and staff as well as to students and staff from other parts of the world.
The envisaged European Higher Education Area will
facilitate mobility of students, graduates and higher education staff;
prepare students for their future careers and for life as active citizens in democratic societies, and support their personal development;
offer broad access to high-quality higher education, based on democratic principles and academic freedom.
The Bologna Process is named after the Bologna Declaration, which was signed in the Italian city of Bologna on 19 June 1999 by ministers in charge of higher education from 29 European countries. Today, the Process unites 48 countries – all party to the European Cultural Convention and committed to the goals of the European Higher Education Area. An important characteristic of the Bologna Process – and key to its success – is that it also involves European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO-CEPES, as well as representatives of higher education institutions, students, staff, employers and quality assurance agencies.
Bologna (2010-2013)
With the Budapest-Vienna Declaration of March, 2010 came the creation of a European Higher Education Area, designed to ensure, pre comparable, compatible and coherent systems of higher education in Europe. The creation of the EHEA meant the culmination of the main aim of the Bologna Process. Consequently, since 2010, the next decade of the Process will be aimed at consolidating the EHEA and thus the current EHEA permanent website will play a key role in this process of intense internal and external communication.
Compendium of Projects 2011-13
The compendium of National Teams of Bologna experts' projects (2011-2013) has been published on the Executive Agency.
Ireland: Progress to date
Irish Bologna Experts
The purpose of the National Teams of Bologna Experts is to provide a pool of expertise in certain areas (Bologna action lines; Lifelong learning strategy as part of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs) to promote and enhance progress toward higher education reform. The National Teams will make sure that the relevant actors involved in Higher Education on a national level will benefit from the pan-European nature of these reforms.
Irish Bologna Experts (July 2011-December 2013)
Dr. Eileen Buckley-Dhoot, Academic Director, Dublin Business School
Dr. Michael Hannon, Registrar, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Dr. Frank McMahon, former Director of Academic Affairs, Dublin Institute of Technology
Professor Sarah Moore, Dean of Teaching and Learning, University of Limerick
Colm Murphy, Deputy President, Union of Students in Ireland
Professor Bairbre Redmond, Vice-Principal for Teaching and Learning, University College Dublin
Dr. Norma Ryan, Director, Quality Promotion Unit, University College Cork
International Seminar, London 18-19 November 2010
Ireland was one of six countries to participate in a UK organised seminar on the theme of "Recognition and the Bologna Process through engagement with Employers" held in Croydon, London in November 2010.
The Seminar is one of a series of Actions funded by the European Commission to bring together Erasmus National Agencies and Bologna Experts from a number of countries to discuss, in depth, themes arising from the Bologna Process, to increase understanding and to assist dissemination, not only in the Higher Education sector but in the wider community.
This Seminar focused on 'Recognition', which is a central theme within the Bologna Process. It explored relations and interaction between Higher Education and employers in order
to develop greater mutual understanding and more effective communication;
to identify significant differences as well as shared objectives in the development of curricula
to promote a more explicit approach to the articulation of learning outcomes, skills and competences
to improve the information provided about these to a wider public.
Participants came from six countries – Estonia, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Slovenia, and the UK – and consisted of Bologna Experts, employers' organisations, students, representatives of National Agencies and NARICs. In total there were 28 participants.
The Europass Diploma Supplement is issued to graduates of higher education institutions along with their parchment and transcripts of results. The Diploma Supplement provides additional information regarding the award which is not available on the official certificate such as the skills and competences acquired, the level of the qualification and the results gained, and entry requirements and access opportunities to the next level of education etc. This makes it more easily understood, especially for employers and institutions outside the issuing country. The Europass Diploma Supplement was developed jointly by UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
EQF Newsletter
QQI
QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is a state agency established by the Quality Assurance and Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 2012 with a board appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.
Its functions are an almagamation of those previously carried out by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC); the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC); the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI).
These include, but are not limited to:
The maintainance of the ten-level NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications).
Functioning as the awarding body and set standards for awards we make in the NFQ.
Validating education and training programmes and making extensive awards in the Further Education and Training sector, including in the Education and Training Boards.
Providing advice on the recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland and on the recognition of Irish qualifications abroad.
Reviewing the effectiveness of quality assurance in further and higher education providers in Ireland.
Acting as the authorising body for the use of an International Education Mark (IEM) for providers.
Weblink: Quality and Qualifications Ireland
Qualifications Frameworks
NAIRTL
NAIRTL – the National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning is a SIF funded collaborative project between University College Cork (lead partner), Cork Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland Galway, Trinity College Dublin and Waterford Institute of Technology
The National Academy works with Irish higher education institutions to develop and implement policy and practices aimed at enhancing the student learning experience at both undergraduate and graduate level. The Academy supports institutions through investigation and dissemination of national and international examples and models of good practice.
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Erasmus+ – All Application Forms For 2017
Erasmus+ Documentation 2018 KA103 (Programme Countries)
Erasmus+ Documentation 2018 KA107 (International Credit Mobility)
Erasmus University Charter
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Higher Education Institutions in Ireland with an Erasmus Charter
EU Emergency Phone Number
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


So far Glenn Watson has created 6 blog entries.
by LAURA BRAULINS – Summer holidays have barely come to a halt and already you're hunched over your nine-to-five desk pondering whether they were long enough. It's time to book one last getaway to catch the final rays of 30+ degree sun before we hit the three-month, sofa-ridden hibernation known as winter.
by KATE DUNCAN – At stunning Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat, we explore the "womb of Springbrook" and enjoy two days of uninterrupted mother-daughter time.
See our beautiful property as never before with host Mike Whitney as he explores what the Retreat has to offer, in an episode of Seven's 'Sydney Weekender' on the highlights of the Tweed Valley.
by MATILDA DIXON-SMITH – Here are six secluded places to stay that'll make you and your travel companions feel like the only people on the planet.
by JENNY HEWETT – An inspired natural setting is the perfect backdrop for romance – I feel a strong sense of place when I wake this morning in a luxury lodge surrounded by360 degrees of protected rainforest.
by DANIELLE READ – Imagine all the smooches you'll get when you whisk your other half away on a romantic getaway with all the trimmings. C'mon, you guys adore each other ... This time of year calls for a surprise romantic getaway and we've got just the places to check out (or check into).


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A Blog by Jonathan Low
How Modern Tech Is Affecting the Way the Human Brain Functions
The brain is far more responsive to external stimuli than may have been previously believed.
This means that the relatively new impacts of modern technology may be affecting personality, behavior, memory and other brain-related functions. So think about that - if you are able. JL
Susan Greenfield reports in The Daily Mail:
The brain goes on developing, changing and eventually deteriorating. It is also shaped by what we do to it and by the experience of daily life. Literally. The network of nerve cells that make up the the brain change in response to experiences and stimuli. Electronic devices have an impact on the micro- cellular structure and biochemistry of brains. The screen-based, two dimensional world that so many inhabit is producing changes in behavior. Attention spans are shorter, personal communication skills are reduced and there's a reduction in the ability to think abstractly.
Human identity, the idea that defines each and every one of us, could be facing an unprecedented crisis.
It is a crisis that would threaten long-held notions of who we are, what we do and how we behave.
It goes right to the heart - or the head - of us all. This crisis could reshape how we interact with each other, alter what makes us happy, and modify our capacity for reaching our full potential as individuals.
And it's caused by one simple fact: the human brain, that most sensitive of organs, is under threat from the modern world.
Unless we wake up to the damage that the gadget-filled, pharmaceutically-enhanced 21st century is doing to our brains, we could be sleepwalking towards a future in which neuro-chip technology blurs the line between living and non-living machines, and between our bodies and the outside world.
It would be a world where such devices could enhance our muscle power, or our senses, beyond the norm, and where we all take a daily cocktail of drugs to control our moods and performance.
Already, an electronic chip is being developed that could allow a paralysed patient to move a robotic limb just by thinking about it. As for drug manipulated moods, they're already with us - although so far only to a medically prescribed extent.
Increasing numbers of people already take Prozac for depression, Paxil as an antidote for shyness, and give Ritalin to children to improve their concentration. But what if there were still more pills to enhance or "correct" a range of other specific mental functions?
What would such aspirations to be "perfect" or "better" do to our notions of identity, and what would it do to those who could not get their hands on the pills? Would some finally have become more equal than others, as George Orwell always feared?
Of course, there are benefits from technical progress - but there are great dangers as well, and I believe that we are seeing some of those today.
I'm a neuroscientist and my day-to-day research at Oxford University strives for an ever greater understanding - and therefore maybe, one day, a cure - for Alzheimer's disease.
But one vital fact I have learnt is that the brain is not the unchanging organ that we might imagine. It not only goes on developing, changing and, in some tragic cases, eventually deteriorating with age, it is also substantially shaped by what we do to it and by the experience of daily life. When I say "shaped", I'm not talking figuratively or metaphorically; I'm talking literally. At a microcellular level, the infinitely complex network of nerve cells that make up the constituent parts of the brain actually change in response to certain experiences and stimuli.
The brain, in other words, is malleable - not just in early childhood but right up to early adulthood, and, in certain instances, beyond. The surrounding environment has a huge impact both on the way our brains develop and how that brain is transformed into a unique human mind.
Of course, there's nothing new about that: human brains have been changing, adapting and developing in response to outside stimuli for centuries.
What prompted me to write my book is that the pace of change in the outside environment and in the development of new technologies has increased dramatically. This will affect our brains over the next 100 years in ways we might never have imagined.
Our brains are under the influence of an ever- expanding world of new technology: multichannel television, video games, MP3 players, the internet, wireless networks, Bluetooth links - the list goes on and on.
Couple Playing Video Games
But our modern brains are also having to adapt to other 21st century intrusions, some of which, such as prescribed drugs like Ritalin and Prozac, are supposed to be of benefit, and some of which, such as widelyavailable illegal drugs like cannabis and heroin, are not.
Electronic devices and pharmaceutical drugs all have an impact on the micro- cellular structure and complex biochemistry of our brains. And that, in turn, affects our personality, our behaviour and our characteristics. In short, the modern world could well be altering our human identity.
Three hundred years ago, our notions of human identity were vastly simpler: we were defined by the family we were born into and our position within that family. Social advancement was nigh on impossible and the concept of "individuality" took a back seat.
That only arrived with the Industrial Revolution, which for the first time offered rewards for initiative, ingenuity and ambition. Suddenly, people had their own life stories - ones which could be shaped by their own thoughts and actions. For the first time, individuals had a real sense of self.
But with our brains now under such widespread attack from the modern world, there's a danger that that cherished sense of self could be diminished or even lost.
Anyone who doubts the malleability of the adult brain should consider a startling piece of research conducted at Harvard Medical School. There, a group of adult volunteers, none of whom could previously play the piano, were split into three groups.
The first group were taken into a room with a piano and given intensive piano practise for five days. The second group were taken into an identical room with an identical piano - but had nothing to do with the instrument at all.
And the third group were taken into an identical room with an identical piano and were then told that for the next five days they had to just imagine they were practising piano exercises.
The resultant brain scans were extraordinary. Not surprisingly, the brains of those who simply sat in the same room as the piano hadn't changed at all.
Equally unsurprising was the fact that those who had performed the piano exercises saw marked structural changes in the area of the brain associated with finger movement.
But what was truly astonishing was that the group who had merely imagined doing the piano exercises saw changes in brain structure that were almost as pronounced as those that had actually had lessons. "The power of imagination" is not a metaphor, it seems; it's real, and has a physical basis in your brain.
Alas, no neuroscientist can explain how the sort of changes that the Harvard experimenters reported at the micro-cellular level translate into changes in character, personality or behaviour. But we don't need to know that to realise that changes in brain structure and our higher thoughts and feelings are incontrovertibly linked.
What worries me is that if something as innocuous as imagining a piano lesson can bring about a visible physical change in brain structure, and therefore some presumably minor change in the way the aspiring player performs, what changes might long stints playing violent computer games bring about? That eternal teenage protest of 'it's only a game, Mum' certainly begins to ring alarmingly hollow.
Already, it's pretty clear that the screen-based, two dimensional world that so many teenagers - and a growing number of adults - choose to inhabit is producing changes in behaviour. Attention spans are shorter, personal communication skills are reduced and there's a marked reduction in the ability to think abstractly.
This games-driven generation interpret the world through screen-shaped eyes. It's almost as if something hasn't really happened until it's been posted on Facebook, Bebo or YouTube.
Add that to the huge amount of personal information now stored on the internet - births, marriages, telephone numbers, credit ratings, holiday pictures - and it's sometimes difficult to know where the boundaries of our individuality actually lie. Only one thing is certain: those boundaries are weakening.
And they could weaken further still if, and when, neurochip technology becomes more widely available. These tiny devices will take advantage of the discovery that nerve cells and silicon chips can happily co-exist, allowing an interface between the electronic world and the human body. One of my colleagues recently suggested that someone could be fitted with a cochlear implant (devices that convert sound waves into electronic impulses and enable the deaf to hear) and a skull-mounted micro- chip that converts brain waves into words (a prototype is under research).
Then, if both devices were connected to a wireless network, we really would have arrived at the point which science fiction writers have been getting excited about for years. Mind reading!
He was joking, but for how long the gag remains funny is far from clear.
Today's technology is already producing a marked shift in the way we think and behave, particularly among the young.
I mustn't, however, be too censorious, because what I'm talking about is pleasure. For some, pleasure means wine, women and song; for others, more recently, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll; and for millions today, endless hours at the computer console.
But whatever your particular variety of pleasure (and energetic sport needs to be added to the list), it's long been accepted that 'pure' pleasure - that is to say, activity during which you truly "let yourself go" - was part of the diverse portfolio of normal human life. Until now, that is.
Now, coinciding with the moment when technology and pharmaceutical companies are finding ever more ways to have a direct influence on the human brain, pleasure is becoming the sole be-all and end-all of many lives, especially among the young.
We could be raising a hedonistic generation who live only in the thrill of the computer-generated moment, and are in distinct danger of detaching themselves from what the rest of us would consider the real world.
This is a trend that worries me profoundly. For as any alcoholic or drug addict will tell you, nobody can be trapped in the moment of pleasure forever. Sooner or later, you have to come down.
I'm certainly not saying all video games are addictive (as yet, there is not enough research to back that up), and I genuinely welcome the new generation of "brain-training" computer games aimed at keeping the little grey cells active for longer.
As my Alzheimer's research has shown me, when it comes to higher brain function, it's clear that there is some truth in the adage "use it or lose it".
However, playing certain games can mimic addiction, and that the heaviest users of these games might soon begin to do a pretty good impersonation of an addict.
Throw in circumstantial evidence that links a sharp rise in diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the associated three-fold increase in Ritalin prescriptions over the past ten years with the boom in computer games and you have an immensely worrying scenario.
But we mustn't be too pessimistic about the future. It may sound frighteningly Orwellian, but there may be some potential advantages to be gained from our growing understanding of the human brain's tremendous plasticity. What if we could create an environment that would allow the brain to develop in a way that was seen to be of universal benefit?
I'm not convinced that scientists will ever find a way of manipulating the brain to make us all much cleverer (it would probably be cheaper and far more effective to manipulate the education system). And nor do I believe that we can somehow be made much happier - not, at least, without somehow anaesthetising ourselves against the sadness and misery that is part and parcel of the human condition.
When someone I love dies, I still want to be able to cry.
But I do, paradoxically, see potential in one particular direction. I think it possible that we might one day be able to harness outside stimuli in such a way that creativity - surely the ultimate expression of individuality - is actually boosted rather than diminished.
I am optimistic and excited by what future research will reveal into the workings of the human brain, and the extraordinary process by which it is translated into a uniquely individual mind.
But I'm also concerned that we seem to be so oblivious to the dangers that are already upon us.
Well, that debate must start now. Identity, the very essence of what it is to be human, is open to change - both good and bad. Our children, and certainly our grandchildren, will not thank us if we put off discussion much longer.
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As a Partner and Co-Founder of Predictiv and PredictivAsia, Jon specializes in management performance and organizational effectiveness for both domestic and international clients. He is an editor and author whose works include Invisible Advantage: How Intangilbles are Driving Business Performance.
jon@thelowdownblog.com
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text:
Q: Cannot convert expression type of generic where Template is MonoBehaviour I have some kind of MonoBehaviour pool:
public class MonoPool<T> where T : MonoBehaviour
{
    public List<T> PrefabPool { get; }

    public MonoPool() {
        PrefabPool = new List<T>();
    }

    public void AddObject(T prefab)
    {
        PrefabPool.Add(prefab);
    }
}

And I want that all generators of ILevelGenerator interface returns MonoPool on Create()
public interface ILevelGenerator
{
    public MonoPool<MonoBehaviour> Create();
    public void Update();
    public void SetMode(int mode);
}

For example I have a BuildingsGenerator and it implements this ILevelGenerator
public class BuildingsGenerator : ILevelGenerator
{
    private readonly MonoPool<ModularBuilding> _buildingsPool;

    public BuildingsGenerator() {
        _buildingsPool = new MonoPool<ModularBuilding>();
    }

    public MonoPool<MonoBehaviour> Create()
    {
        //Logic...
        //Logic...

        return _buildingsPool;
    }
}

BuildingsGenerator implement MonoPool as MonoPool there ModularBuilding is MonoBeh
public class ModularBuilding : MonoBehaviour
{
    [SerializeField] private BuildingFloor _groundFloorElement;
    [SerializeField] private BuildingFloor _middleFloorElement;
    [SerializeField] private BuildingFloor _roofFloorElement;

    public void AssembleBuilding(ushort requiredFloors)
    {
        //Logic
    }
}

But when I want to return this generic list the compiler throws the following error:

Cannot convert expression type 'Pools.MonoPool<Actors.Buildings.ModularBuilding>' to return type 'Pools.MonoPool<UnityEngine.MonoBehaviour>'

Why? How? I'we made MonoPool but i can't return it...

A: Allright, solution founded: I've changed ILevelGenerator to this:
public interface ILevelGenerator<T> where T : MonoBehaviour
{
    public MonoPool<T> Create();
    public void Update();
    public void SetMode(int mode);
}

And chaged ILevelGenerator inheretor to this:
public class BuildingsGenerator : ILevelGenerator<ModularBuilding>
{
    private readonly MonoPool<ModularBuilding> _buildingsPool;

    public BuildingsGenerator() {
        _buildingsPool = new MonoPool<ModularBuilding>();
    }

    public MonoPool<ModularBuilding> Create()
    {
        //Logic...
        //Logic...

        return _buildingsPool;
    }
}

And chenged declaration as well
    private readonly ILevelGenerator<ModularBuilding> _buildingsGenerator;
    private readonly ILevelGenerator<Cloud> _cloudsGenerator;

So now it works

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home News Cryptocurrency What is Shiba Inu (SHIB)?
What is Shiba Inu (SHIB)?
There are many cryptocurrencies, altcoins, tokens, and assets on the market today. Shiba Inu, or SHIB, is a relatively recent addition, although one that has gained a tremendous following already. In addition, meme coins are prevalent again suddenly, primarily thanks to Dogecoin noting a steep price increase throughout 2021.
More specifically, Dogecoin saw an impressive rally in early 2021, although most of that momentum has evaporated again. Such unusually high gains bring more eyeballs to the cryptocurrency industry as people start to seek out "the next DOGE΅. In addition, investors show an increasing appetite for meme coins, allowing currencies such as Shiba Inu to benefit from that frenzy.
Position das the "Dogecoin Killer," SHIB has seen tremendous price appreciation throughout 2021. Although it has yet to overtake Dogecoin in marker ap, the currency has come relatively close to doing so. More importantly, it is more than just a meme coin, as there is an entire ecosystem surrounding it.
The Shiba Inu Vision
It is crucial to understand Shiba Inu (SHIB) has no native blockchain. Instead, it is a project and token on the Ethereum blockchain using the Shiba Inu dog as its logo. Since its inception, SHIB has become an alternative to Dogecoin with the potential to overtake it in market capitalization. The token has use cases across various industry segments, including a decentralized exchange, staking support, and DeFi opportunities.
At its core, SHIB remains a meme coin with a dog theme, the Japanese Shiba Inu dog. More often than not, meme coins are launched as a joke and only serve speculative purposes. However, Shiba Inu, launched by Ryoshi, offers some utility Dogecoin has not been able to achieve. That may be because there are no developers for Dogecoin today, whereas Shiba Inu still has a successful team behind it.
Moreover, the Shiba Inu whitepaper – called woof paper – confirms this project is a social experiment. More specifically, it relies on decentralized autonomous community building and empowers the average person. That empowerment can come from price appreciation, utility, or whatever else the community decides on in the future.
Because SHIB is based on Ethereum, it is fully compatible with this broader ecosystem. In addition, the network is well-used and secured, allowing projects leveraging this technology to tap into a vast and growing network.
Three Primary Currencies
It may seem a bit confusing at first, but Shiba Inu's ecosystem consists of three primary tokens. Every token serves a different purpose, although they all entwine when looking at the bigger picture.
SHIB: As the main currency of Shiba Inu, SHIB has a total supply of 1 quadrillion. tokens. However, half of those are locked in liquidity on Uniswap, with the remainder sent to Vitalik Buterin. Vitalik sold off a portion of the tokens and donated them to charity while sending the rest to an unspendable address. However, it is far from scarce, a smart solution that reduces the token's total supply by a significant margin.
Leash (LEASH): The secondary token in the Shiba Inu ecosystem with a supply of 107,646 tokens. It served as a rebase token pegged to the value of DOGE at first, but that is no longer the case today. Its low supply can be appealing to the right investor, however.
Bone (BONE): The third token in his ecosystem is BONE, with a supply of 250,000,000 tokens. BONE offers governance rights to token holders to vote on proposals for the Shiba Inu ecosystem. BONE will play a crucial role in DeFi moving forward, although no details have been announced yet.
The Broader Shiba Inu Ecosystem
We mentioned earlier how Shiba Inu (SHIB) is not a meme project but focuses on utility. That becomes apparent when looking at the broader ecosystem and the services it encompasses.
ShibaSwap: The ecosystem's decentralized exchange, letting users swap value between various currencies and tokens.
Shiba Inu Incubator: A worthwhile tool to help artists maximize their creativity outside of traditional artforms. Ultimately, the Incubator will spawn a new generation of artists and content creators.
Shiboshi: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with a Shiba Inu theme. The Shiboshi collection resides on the Etheruem blockchain, and every NFT has different traits.
Is SHIB Money Or Speculation?
The opinions will always remain divided on that front. Although Shiba Inu provides utility, most of its value comes from speculation. However, every SHIB token has a value that can be converted to and from money, making it a rather interesting option. It is one of the best-performing crypto assets of 2021 despite facing multiple setbacks.
One has to wonder where the price excitement comes from for this currency. To date, new exchange listings and the release of Shibosdhi NFTs are the main reasons for excitement. However, neither of those bring direct value to SHIB, making these uptrends rather short-lived. Sustaining the current momentum can prove difficult moving forward unless the team and community come up with new and exciting ideas.
Finding The Right Wallet
Whether it is SHIB or any other Ethereum token, it is essential to find the right wallet. The current value of Shiba Inu requires a more security-oriented approach to storing this currency. making hardware wallets a good choice. However, there are many other options in the list below:
Lumi Wallet
Ellipal Titan
The launch and success of Shiba Inu have taken many people by surprise. While many assumed it would be another meme coin, the currency has achieved a few significant milestones. Moreover, its market capitalization is not far removed from Dogecoin's, fueling the ongoing "rally" between these two currencies.
Whether SHIB can flip DOGE remains uncertain, although the former has a lot more trading volume than the meme coin "leader".
Meme Coin
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How do you forge the strong connections that help you sustain resilience in recovery? Ana will share her experience of building networks of support to reinforce her resilience while living with Bipolar Disorder II. Exploring the lessons she is learning from her ongoing story of recovery, Ana will share what she views as the foundational elements to creating the authentic and sustainable connections that are necessary in her mental health journey. Join us for a celebratory and inspiring evening as we hear from Ana, recognize our NAMI Austin award recipients and top NAMIWalks fundraisers, and celebrate the successes of 2018!


text:
TPA offers a full range of clinical pathology that can be customized for each individual study. This support includes testing and methods development on blood, serum, urines, and tissue extracts. TPA has the capabilities for testing in hematology, clinical chemistry, micronucleus assays, esoteric testing and urinalysis and includes all tests recommended by the National Toxicology Program and the Center for Tobacco Products for studies.
By using state of the art clinical chemistry systems (Alfa Wassermann ALERA, Horiba Pentra, PerkinElmer gamma counter, and Biotek ELISA system) TPA has the adaptability and the capability of developing new tests that will meet the specific needs for the study director. TPA can provide protocol-driven request for testing on other types of samples including spinal fluid, semen, feces, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid and bile.
The clinical pathology laboratory also provides support for quarantine, routine semi-annual and as needed chemistry and hematology analyses for non-human primates housed and maintained at the NCTR. In the event an animal becomes sick during off duty hours, TPA staff is available to receive the sample and run the appropriate analyses.
At necropsy, TPA technicians collect sperm samples for automated analysis using the Hamilton Thorne Integrated Visual Optics System (IVOS) computerized sperm analyzer for sperm motility, total sperm count, and sperm morphology determinations. TPA is proficient in preparing specimens and assessing sperm morphology/motility using the IVOS automated sperm analyzer. The TPA on-site team has processed and analyzed more than 2,000 sperm samples using the IVOS in support of the previous studies at the NCTR. Semen analysis continues to be a requirement in specified approved research protocols. In support of studies with relatively large numbers of animals that require end points of fertility/reproductive system assessment, a rapid, accurate, and consistent method of sperm analysis is provided by TPA. TPA staff currently does morphologic assessment manually.


text:
from __future__ import print_function
import os
import sys

from setuptools import setup
from setuptools.command.bdist_egg import bdist_egg

pjoin = os.path.join
here = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))

# Get the current package version.
version_ns = {}
with open(pjoin(here, 'escapism.py')) as f:
    exec(f.read(), {}, version_ns)

class bdist_egg_disabled(bdist_egg):
    """Disabled version of bdist_egg

    Prevents setup.py install from performing setuptools' default easy_install,
    which it should never ever do.
    """
    def run(self):
        sys.exit("Aborting implicit building of eggs. Use `pip install .` to install from source.")

setup_args = dict(
    name                = 'escapism',
    version             = version_ns['__version__'],
    py_modules          = ['escapism'],
    description         = "Simple, generic API for escaping strings.",
    long_description    = """There is no reason to install this package on its own.""",
    author              = "Min RK",
    author_email        = "benjaminrk@gmail.com",
    url                 = "https://github.com/minrk/escapism",
    license             = "MIT",
    classifiers         = [
        'Intended Audience :: Developers',
        'License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License',
        'Programming Language :: Python',
        'Programming Language :: Python :: 2',
        'Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7',
        'Programming Language :: Python :: 3',
        'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4',
        'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5',
        'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6',
    ],
    cmdclass = {
        'bdist_egg': bdist_egg if 'bdist_egg' in sys.argv else bdist_egg_disabled,
    }
)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    setup(**setup_args)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
CES 2014 roundup: The cameras and lenses from this year's show
By Matt Golowczynski 10 January 2014
This year's International CES show in Las Vegas saw new cameras and lenses from a range of manufacturers. Here, we've rounded up all the main releases.
Canon furnished its PowerShot line with two new models, the PowerShot SX600 HS and PowerShot N100, and also added the Canon IXUS 265 HS to its popular IXUS range.
The PowerShot SX600 HS combines a 16MP High Sensitivity sensor with an 18x optical zoom, while also generously including both Wi-Fi and NFC technologies, as well as full HD video recording (and all for under £200!). The IXUS 265 HS, meanwhile, mirrors many of these specs, with a slightly shorter 12x optical zoom that starts from a 25mm wideangle, and availability in black, silver, purple and pink.
Click here for more information on the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS
Click here for more information on the Canon IXUS 265 HS
Fujifilm X100s
Fujifilm used this year's CES show to announce that its popular Fuji X100s model, which currently is available in a black/silver finish, will also be available in an all-black design. The company has also promised that all-black accessories for the new model will also be arriving shortly.
Fujifilm Finepix S1
Additionally, the company has unveiled the Fujifilm Finepix S1, said to be the world's first weather-sealed superzoom camera. As well sporting protection against the elements, the camera incorporates a lens that spans a focal range equivalent to 24-1200mm (in 35mm terms), with an articulated LCD screen, 16.4MP backlit sensor and Wi-Fi also standing out of its spec sheet.
The new Fuji Finepix S9200 and Fuji FinePix S9400W, meanwhile, each pack in the tempting combination of a 50x optical zoom lens with a 3in LCD screen and full HD video recording, while the Fuji Finepix S8600 manages to squeeze an 36x optically-stabilised zoom lens inside a small, DSLR-like body. Finally, the rugged Fuji Finepix XP70 is not only waterproof down to 10m and shockproof up to a height of 1.5m, but it can also be used safely in dusty and freezing conditions.
Finally, a new lens has also been added to the growing X-series stable, the Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2R. With its wide maximum aperture and seven-bladed rounded diaphragm, the optic looks set to be popular among portrait photographers, as well as those wanting to capture sharp images in low light.
Click here for more information on the Fuji X100s black
Click here for more information on the Fuji FinePix S1
Click here for more information on the Fuji FinePix S9200
Click here for more information on the Fuji FinePix 8600
Click here for more information on the Fuji FinePix XP70
Click here for more information on the Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2R
The Nikon D3300 is the company's latest entry-level DSLR, with a number of improvements over the previous Nikon D3200. Key upgrades include the most recent Expeed 4 processing engine (the same one that's use in the more powerful Nikon D5300 DSLR), as well as a 24.2MP sensor that lacks an anti-aliasing filter for the benefit of detail retention. Other improvements include a faster 5fps burst rate and an expanded sensitivity range, and, thanks to a revised design, the model also comes with a kit lens that's both smaller and lighter than the previous version.
Nikon also revealed that it would be releasing a Nikon D4S DSLR, with a prototype displayed behind glass at the show. Although the exact specifications of the new model have not been made available, Nikon has said that both image quality and autofocus would be improved over the existing Nikon D4, and that it would be particularly suitable for sports, nature and event photographers.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 G ED AF-S
The company also added a new 35mm f1.8 G ED AF-S optic to its Nikkor line, one that's compatible with both DX and FX camera bodies, as well a new Nikon Coolpix L830, which comes with an impressive 34x optical zoom lens that travels all the way up to 765mm. The Nikon Coolpix S6800, Nikon Coolpix S5300, Nikon Coolpix S3600 and the Nikon Coolpix L30 were also added to the Coolpix family.
Click here for more information on the Nikon D3300
Click here for more information on the 35mm f/1.8 G ED AF-S
Click here for more information on the Nikon Coolpix L830
Panasonic Lumix TZ60
Panasonic refreshed its popular Lumix TZ compact line with two new models, the Panasonic TZ55 and Panasonic TZ60. The TZ55 offers a 16MP sensor, 20x optical zoom from 28-560mm and Wi-Fi functionality, while the Panasonic TZ60 offers a more powerful 30x optical zoom from 24-720mm, in addition to NFC and Wi-Fi functionality. It also carries the honour of being the first Lumix TZ model to offer an electronic viewfinder.
Panasonic Lumix LZ40
The company also unveiled two further Lumix cameras. The Panasonic LZ40 is described as easily portable and user-friendly, with its 42x optical zoom backed by a 20MP sensor, while the Panasonic Lumix SZ8 is a pocket-friendly compact that blends a 12x optical zoom with a 24mm wideangle start together with Wi-Fi and an HDR mode.
Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2
In addition to its compacts, Panasonic also furnished the Micro Four Thirds lens range with a new member, the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2. The lens offers an effective focal length of 85mm on a Micro Four Thirds body and a wide aperture of f/1.2, while on the inside an Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) system is said to help keep images sharp when shutter speed drops.
Click here for more information on the Panasonic Lumix TZ55
Click here for more information on the Panasonic Lumix LZ40
Click here for more information on the Panasonic Lumix SZ8
Click here for more information on the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2
Samsung SMART NX30
Samsung began announcing its new models prior to the start of this year's show, with the Samsung SMART NX30 CSC, Galaxy Camera 2, 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S ED OIS and 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS all announced a week ago. At the show the company also added the Samsung WB2200F, Samsung WB350F, Samsung WB1100F, Samsung WB50F and Samsung WB35F.
Click here for more information on the Samsung SMART NX30
Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2
Click here for more information on the Samsung 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S ED OIS
Click here for more information on the Samsung 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS
Sony unveiled the Sony A5000 CSC, while also announcing that it would be dropping the NEX moniker for future models. The camera sports a 20.1MP APS-C sensor and an articulated LCD screen, in addition to Wi-Fi and NFC technologies. Compatible with all other lenses in Sony's E-mount line, the camera is bundled with the E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS kit lens and also available in a double-lens kit option with the E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS optic. It's Sony's smallest and lightest CSC to date and looks set to rival the Panasonic GF-6, Fuji X-A1 and Olympus E-PM2 for the novice user's attention.
Sony also added the Cyber-shot W830 to its compact range, which arrives with a 20.1MP sensor, 25-200mm zoom lens and a 2.7in LCD screen, and comes in a choice of black, silver, purple and pink finishes. A further Cyber-shot W810 model was also announced.
Click here for more information on the Sony A5000
Click here for more information on the Sony Cyber-shot W830


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A Pata Pata Miriam Makeba dél-afrikai énekesnő egyik maradandó dala. A dal szerzője Dorothy Masuka. Lemezen 1957-ben jelent meg, amikor Makeba még Dél-Afrikában élt. 1967-ben az Egyesült Államokban az azonos című stúdióalbumon jelent meg, és a Billboard Hot 100-on a 12. helyre sorolták. A Pata Pata volt az első afrikai szám, ami bekerült az amerikai Top 10-be.

A dal felújított változata Pata Pata 2000 címmel Makeba Homeland c. lemezén jelent meg 2000-ben a Putumayo World Music kiadásában CD-n.

A Pata Pata c. album dalai
Pata Pata
Ha Po Zamani
What Is Love
Maria Fulo
Yetentu Tizaleny
Click Song Number 1
Ring Bell, Ring Bell
Jol'inkomo
West Wind
Saduva
A Piece of Ground

További információk
Miriam Makeba, live, 1967
A Pata Pata a Playing for Change Band előadásában

Dalok
A Dél-afrikai Köztársaság kultúrája

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Press Pass with Gareth Baber
Get the latest from Skills and Assistant Attack Coach Gareth Baber as he spoke with press in the build up to Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round 10 clash with Cardiff Rugby at DAM Health Stadium.
Press Pass is brought to you by Glen Moray, the club's Official Single Malt Whisky Partner. Never rushed or forced, always in balance, steady and with care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Find out more about Glen Moray today.
On joining Edinburgh and settling into a new coaching team
"I came to Edinburgh because I wanted to be challenged differently in my coaching. I'd done something there in Fiji for five years and I also recognised there were certain strengths that I had in my coaching but there were certain things I wanted to develop and the conversations with Mike were around what I could add value to here.
"I don't mean being different for the sake of being different, I mean thinking differently. I've got to be able to think differently.
"Going from Head Coach to Assistant Coach, that's an important development for me. I also believe that a big part of leadership is understanding where you fit. I like being involved in teams, that's why I've been involved with them from a young age.
"What I cling on to is that I know there are aspects of what we're doing here that I can add value to. I know it's not going to happen overnight and I'm looking forward to the challenge of working with Mike and the other coaches and the playing staff and the staff generally on building something as special as we possibly can."
On the season so far and what Edinburgh can achieve in 2022
"That comes down a little bit to the history around the team and being able to capitalise on what we've just talked about there.
"What I have been impressed with is the quality and the culture of the group and how willing they are to take on information and push themselves and not be comfortable with being at a level where people start to talk us up in terms of being one, two or three in a league.
"It can bite you very, very quickly, this sport we're involved in and there are certainly tough games to come.
"To move on, there are going to be things off field and on field that we will have to give great focus to to ensure that we are learning from the episodes of time past but also about seeing where we're going to go in the future.
"Mike and the coaching staff have done a great job to date. The players are certainly encouraged by the way we're wanting to play the game and the way we operate off field as well.
"I think that's important for the leadership group and certainly those boys who are playing international rugby, the recognition of what it means to go in daily, weekly to ensure that keep everybody to the standard."
First up in 2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣.#URC | #EDIvCAR pic.twitter.com/qLCeBO9jsN
— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) January 3, 2022
On returning to competitive action against Cardiff Rugby
"We're not the only ones that are desperate to play - generally most teams are suffering this at the moment - but certainly having come close a couple of times to getting games on, a big part of our training has been focused on getting to game time.
"So we're looking forward to having that opportunity this weekend against Cardiff."
On sitting second in the URC and the mood in camp
"Yeah. I've only been part of one of those games in the URC - the other one was in the European competition. I think a lot of good work has been done prior to my getting here.
"The team are pretty settled in the way they want to play the game and they've shown great humility in the way they want to improve all the time.
"When you create a culture like that it starts to reflect generally in the way that you play. You don't always get it right, but what you're looking for is an objective response in being able to improve as a group of players and as a staff.
"We challenge each other all the time to move that on, and that has probably been reflected on the field.
"We've just missed two games against our local rivals, and we know that some games are coming up in the near future where we'll need to be as effective as possible to make sure that we stay in that position.
"But yeah, you're encouraged by the fact that you're doing stuff right to get in the top three in the table. We want to keep at that level and we want to keep pushing our ability to do that game after game."
On his first impressions of Blair Kinghorn and working with the stand-off
"You can't help but be struck by the intelligence of him as a player. Off the field as well, what he looks at. He's quite a relaxed character but that fits for the type of personality and character he has and his development.
"When he slots in at 10 he's got the threat with the size and pace that he has. He likes to read the opposition, he's a good and developing leader in that position as well.
"He coming from the back three into 10 and I'm quite excited about his ability to pull defences around but generally his high skill level and his intelligence around the game - he likes the high tempo stuff that we are playing.
"It's my first time working with him and it's been less than a month and only really one game [v Benetton] when he got that concussion.
"He's well thought of here and I know he's well thought of in Scotland. He's a great prospect to have and I think we're very lucky to have him in those positions and I'm looking forward to working with him and seeing how far he can develop his game."


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Aaron Colen
UPDATE: Cuomo changes stance, announces indoor dining in NYC for end of September
He and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio were being sued over the restrictions
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speak during a news conference. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Update: Gov. Cuomo announced Wednesday that restaurants in New York City would be allowed to open for indoor dining at 25% capacity beginning on Sept. 30. Customers will be subject to temperature checks at the door and will have to leave contact information for the purpose of contact tracing. There will be no bar service and no service after midnight. The original story is below.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he doesn't want to allow New York City restaurants to have indoor dining services until Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) establishes a social distancing enforcement task force, according to WNBC-TV.
Restaurant owners are suing Cuomo and de Blasio over the continued restrictions, which remain in place despite the number of daily COVID-19 deaths sitting in the single digits and the infection rate staying below 1%. Even though restaurants in other parts of New York and New Jersey can serve customers indoors, Cuomo isn't budging on New York City.
"If we have the enforcement mechanism in place, then we can talk about opening restaurants," Cuomo said Tuesday, WNBC reported. "It would be negligent and reckless to open indoor dining, knowing that you have issues in Upstate New York, knowing that compliance is going to be a problem, and knowing that you have no enforcement mechanism. And we're still working through that because I believe local governments could help us accomplish this goal if they wanted to."
The State Liquor Authority and a State Police Task Force monitor restaurants for compliance with COVID-19 regulations in areas outside New York City.
De Blasio, meanwhile, said he doesn't even plan to have a timeline for indoor dining until the end of September, which means there is no relief in sight for restaurant owners even as the impact of COVID-19 is nearly nonexistent relative to the number of people in the city.
"We've been patient, the numbers are fantastic, the COVID statistics, we don't know what more we could do," said Robert Hanley, general manager of NYC restaurant Bocelli. "This is a lawsuit. We don't wanna do this. This is not us, we are workers. We work 100 hours a week. It's not a luxurious lifestyle. I have waiters; none of them drove here in a Ferrari today."
Malls in New York City are open with 50% capacity and casinos are open with 25% capacity, although food and beverage service is unavailable to people who go to those places.
New York has travel restrictions on people from 35 states that require them to quarantine for 14 days if they travel to New York. The COVID-19 statistics can't get much better than they are right now for the state that in April was experiencing nearly 1,000 deaths per day. From WNBC:
Meanwhile, New York went from the epicenter of the national crisis to celebrating a full month of daily COVID positivity test rates below 1 percent, which is what allowed establishments like malls, gyms and museums to reopen in the first place. Total hospitalizations are also at six-month lows and daily deaths are in the single digits.


The German-language successful musical celebrates its 25th stage anniversary!
"The Beauty and the Beast - the Musical" is a mixture of romance and drama, of a dark atmosphere and the absolute joy of life. The Musical is a mix of soulful ballads and rock songs in German, as well as unique stage sets and a spectacular light show.


They say that what goes around comes around. It was just 15 years ago when yet another death knell had sounded for Apple.
The company was on the brink of destruction and perhaps oblivion when co-founder Steve Jobs began his historic resuscitation effort. It was Jobs himself who said Microsoft won, so it was time to move on to the next great thing (paraphrasing, of course).
How would one describe Microsoft today?
Seasons change. So do a company's fortunes. Apple went through and survived a near death experience but carried the beleaguered monicker well into the 21st century.
Apple vs. Microsoft is as much a story of cultural differences, as it is with the tortoise and the hare.
Apple as the tortoise does what it does, continually moving forward, sometimes in leaps, often in inexorable increments.
Microsoft plays the role of the hare, full of bravado and hubris, with plenty of resources, content to rely on speed (money) over wiles. Look what has happened to the computing landscape since Steve Jobs helped to rescue Apple after it was beaten down by Microsoft and self inflicted wounds.
iTunes, iPod, iTunes Store, Intel Macs, iPhone, iTunes App Store, Apple TV, iPad, Mac App Store, and more cash than can be safely counted in the U.S.
What of Microsoft during the same period?
Windows XP, Windows Mobile, Zune, Windows Vista, and, in response to Apple's success with the iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Stores, a new Windows Phone OS, Windows 8, and Surface tablets.
While Apple cannot keep iPhone and iPad in stock and struggles to meet demand, Microsoft's latest ventures have met with a collective yawn from tech pundits and customers.
Yes, friends, despite the Windows and Office cash cow, Microsoft is indeed beleaguered. The trend has already begun. Personnel layoffs, executive exodus, anemic sales of new products, and a flatlined stock price.
Microsoft has been losing money in venture after venture for years, losses which have been disguised by the high profits of Windows and Office. Xbox. Bing. Zune. Windows Phone. Surface. Hundreds of millions of computer users have figured out they don't need Windows or Office to use a computer.
Apple has shown them a better way with computers that are friendly and secure, easier to use, and actually fun. Indeed, it is Apple that has heralded the mobile era as the post-PC era. In this era it is the tortoise that is winning the future, while the beleaguered hare remains asleep.


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Whether 457 Plan Accounts of a Savings Association which a Bank has Acquired are Subject to the Separate Insurance Provision of 12 C.F.R. §330.3 or the Grandfather Provision of 12 C.F.R. §330.16
Douglas H. Jones, Deputy General Counsel
This is in response to your letter, dated August 24, 1990, concerning the deposit insurance that would be afforded to certain deposit accounts maintained with your institution. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.
In your letter, you indicate that *** Savings and Loan Association (hereinafter "[*** S&L]") has accounts maintained by one or more deferred compensation plans which are qualified plans under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. §457 (hereinafter "457 Plans"). You indicate that [*** S&L] may be acquired by a commercial bank and inquire whether section 330.16(e) of the FDIC's uniform deposit insurance regulations (which is the "grandfather" provision for 457 Plan accounts) or section 330.3(g) of the FDIC's uniform deposit insurance regulations (which provides separate insurance for a limited period whenever two institutions merge) would apply if [*** S&L] is acquired by a commercial bank. It is my understanding that subsequent to our receipt of your letter, [*** S&L] was, in fact, acquired by [*** Bank].
Section 330.12(e) of the FDIC's new uniform deposit insurance regulations (to be codified at 12 C.F.R. §330.12(e)) provides as follows:
Funds representing the interests of employees under a deferred compensation plan of a state or local government, or a tax-exempt organization, which plan qualifies under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. §457), shall be added together and insured up to $100,000 in the aggregate.
With respect to any deposit account in a savings association which is maintained by a deferred compensation plan in existence on July 29, 1990, which qualifies under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. §457 (a "457 Plan"), the provisions of section 330.12(e) shall not be applicable until January 29, 1992 or, in the case of any time deposit, the first maturity date thereafter. With respect to such deposit accounts, the insurance coverage provided as of April 30, 1990 shall continue until January 29, 1992.
Section 330.16(e) delays the effective date of section 330.12(e) with respect to certain 457 Plan deposits. The issue your letter raises is whether the delayed effective date applies to 457 Plan deposits in a savings association that becomes insolvent and is subsequently acquired by a commercial bank.
The plain language of section 330.16(e) does not seem to address the issue of whether deposits in an S&L subsequently acquired by a commercial bank would be "grandfathered."
The purpose of section 330.16(e) was, however, to continue to insure 457 Plan funds for 18 months from the effective date of the regulations so as to (1) provide 457 Plan sponsors with an opportunity to make alternative arrangements for the investment of 457 Plan funds (e.g. to obtain collateral for the uninsured portion of the deposits or make alternative investments); (2) permit 457 Plan participants to make alternative investments if they so desired; (3) provide Congress with an opportunity to change the law so that 457 Plan deposits would be insured on a per-participant basis if Congress so desired; (4) prevent the immediate outflow of funds from insured institutions that would have resulted had there not been a "grandfather" provision.
These objectives would not be well served if the "grandfather" provision were deemed to be inapplicable whenever a bank acquires a failing thrift. If, upon such an acquisition, the per-participant insurance coverage were suddenly to disappear, it is quite likely that the 457 Plan funds would be withdrawn from the acquiring institution and a liquidity problem could result. This is precisely the kind of result that the "grandfather" provision was designed to prevent.
Moreover, limiting the application of the "grandfather" provision so that it applies only to deposits which remain in S&L would give an unfair advantage to S&L in the failed thrift acquisition process. If the "grandfather" provision were deemed applicable only to accounts in S&Ls, then when an S&L acquired a failing S&L that had 457 Plan deposits, the per-participant insurance coverage would continue to be available but if a commercial bank acquired the same S&L such insurance coverage would not be available. In enacting section 330.16(e) of the recently amended regulations, the FDIC certainly did not intend to give S&Ls such an advantage in acquiring failed thrifts. We simply intended to maintain the status quo with regard to the deposit insurance provided for 457 Plan accounts.
In enacting the "grandfather" provision, the FDIC was addressing the mandate of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA") that, in promulgating the uniform deposit insurance regulations, we consider all relevant factors necessary to promote safety and soundness, depositor confidence and the stability of deposits in insured institutions. These factors were indeed considered in the process of formulating the rules applicable to 457 Plan deposits but the consideration of those factors did not cause us to be concerned about 457 Plan deposits in commercial banks. The only reason we were not concerned is because the overwhelming majority of 457 Plan accounts were in S&Ls as opposed to commercial banks.
For the aforementioned reasons, it is my opinion that section 330.16(e) of the FDIC's uniform deposit insurance regulations which "grandfathers" the insurance provided for 457 Plan deposits would be applicable to any deposits acquired by [*** Bank] from [*** S&L]. This is to say that the per-participant insurance coverage will continue to apply to the 457 Plan deposits acquired by [*** Bank] from [*** S&L] until January 29, 1992 or the first maturity date of any CD thereafter.
The second question raised in your letter is whether section 330.3(g) of the FDIC's recently amended regulations would provide any continued coverage when a bank acquires 457 Plan deposits from a failing S&L.
Section 330.3(g) of the FDIC's Uniform deposit insurance regulations (to be codified at 12 C.F.R. §330.3(g)) provides, in relevant part, as follows:
Whenever the liabilities of one or more insured depository institutions for deposits shall have been assumed by another insured depository institution, whether by merger, consolidation, other statutory assumption, or contract.... the separate insurance of deposits so assumed continues for six months from the date such assumption takes effect or, in the case of a time deposit, the earliest maturity date after the six-month period.
This provision provides for the continuation of the separate insurance that was provided for deposits in two or more separately insured financial institutions prior to a merger of the institutions. It is intended to protect depositors from suddenly finding themselves in an uninsured position because two deposits in previously separate institutions are combined for insurance purposes.
For instance, if a depositor has a $75,000 deposit in Bank A and a $75,000 deposit in Bank B and the two banks merge, the depositor would have $150,000 in the merged entity which, absent section 330.3(g) of the uniform deposit insurance regulations and the underlying statutory provision, would be uninsured for $50,000. Under section 330.3(g), the separate insurance of the two deposits continues for six months or, if they are time deposits, the earliest maturity date of the deposits.
In my opinion, section 330.3(g) would not be applicable given the facts in this situation. Section 330.3(g) applies only when a depositor has deposits in two or more separately insured institutions that merge.
I trust that this has been responsive to your inquiry. If you have any further questions, please contact me or Mr. Claude Rollin of my staff at (202) 898-3985.


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Back to Building Data Visualization Tools
Learner Reviews & Feedback for Building Data Visualization Tools by Johns Hopkins University
The data science revolution has produced reams of new data from a wide variety of new sources. These new datasets are being used to answer new questions in way never before conceived. Visualization remains one of the most powerful ways draw conclusions from data, but the influx of new data types requires the development of new visualization techniques and building blocks. This course provides you with the skills for creating those new visualization building blocks. We focus on the ggplot2 framework and describe how to use and extend the system to suit the specific needs of your organization or team. Upon completing this course, learners will be able to build the tools needed to visualize a wide variety of data types and will have the fundamentals needed to address new data types as they come about....
1 - 25 of 39 Reviews for Building Data Visualization Tools
By Shawn M
I have been progressing through all the courses in this specialization and, overall, the courses have been of tremendous value to me. However, it's really not the courses themselves but the book that goes along with the courses that deserves the four and five star ratings I have previously given (these courses are really nothing more than "read the book" and "take the assignments"). Nevertheless, the knowledge gained is not easily available elsewhere. 80% of this visualization course (i.e. the book) was excellent and I give it top marks. The other 20%, starting with the grid system section to the end of the book, was terrible. These sections need a complete rewrite as they are barely comprehensible and certainly not comprehensive. The final assignment does not test you on how much you learned in the course, rather it tests you on how much time you spend on your own finding other relevant sources of information on the internet to figure it out. Also, I don't understand why creating a custom geom would be a more important software development skill than R Shiny for example, given that having the ability to develop interactive apps is critical to visualization. I will give this course 3 1/2 stars, rounded down to 3 since coursera won't allow a half star. I hope the authors take what I have to say as an opportunity for improvement since I have benefited tremendously from this specialization so far and I would like to see it improved in certain areas.
Thumbs UpThis is helpful (1)
Filled StarStarStarStarStar
By Rebecca G
This course was not good at all. Almost all of the information is a screen scrape from a book and peer-evaluated, so you may be better off just getting the book and going through it. Neither the mentors nor the authors ever participated. The assignments are poorly written and missing too much detail. Ending up bailing on the course and the final capstone as I'm simply not learning anything and the projects are too frustrating to work on.
By João G C
The course is just a dump of the recommended reading book. There are zero videos, zero walkthroughs and zero interaction with the instructors. The final project is over-demanding for the level of the content provided. I don't recommend this course to anyone.
By Maurizio C
Great gap between teaching and what is required to pass the course. Unnecessarily difficult.
The didactic material is not compelling.
By Conner M
I could plot in R before and many of the topics discussed in this course I already had a working grasp on. Still, the course helped me really gave me a whole new depth of knowledge on the packages that plotting is build around in R. Highly recommended!
By Susan M
Great course - learned a lot. Excellent instruction
One downside.. Peer review can be a blocking issue to moving forward. If no one is around to peer review, you wait, and pay while you wait.
By José E L
Good material. Thanks a lot for this course.
By Andreas P
Thank you very much for that lesson.
By Kunasekaran N
Last assignment is hard but enjoyed.
By José A G R
the last task is very challenging
By Gopal S
Excellent course.
By Yaakov M
good challenges
By Oswaldo N C
A nice course
By JEEWESH K J
By Ganapathi N K
By Prakhar P
This course introduced to me the advanced capabilities of data visualization in R, especially using GGPLOT. It was bit of a struggle in the course project as the examples in the Mastering Software development e-book were little simplistic in nature. Overall, very satisfied that I can create my own geom. The key learning was on creating visualization using spatial data.
By Daniel F
Like other courses in this mastering, it is a little bit outdated and the practical tests proposed are way harder than examples presented before, but still worth doing because of book, "getting hands dirty" and forum.
By Antonio G
Great course! You'll learn a lot about the graphic capabilities of R. However, I think there are some things that need to be explained before one goes on to complete the final project.
By Mridul M
It is a good course. The only downside is that if you are a beginner level R programmer and want to upskill, you will need to do an extensive search to complete this course.
By Sandjaja B
It is a very good course, but feels a bit more hands-off than the other 3 preceding courses in the Mastering Software Development in R certificate.
By Francesco D Z
very useful, especially the final practical exam.
not 5 score because I think more time should have been spent in more modern interactive charts
By Ruoding W
the course content is just copy from the book
By Kevin A
By Sam H
I will put it like this, you will learn the ggplot2 package to a decent extent if you go all out reading the materials and learning the in betweens for the inner workings of the package (without cheating). You will learn a thing or two about the ggproto classes used to build all of the little geometries used to make those cool plots you've read about and how to use the stats, geometries, and grid layers to make your own graphics. This part of the R ecosystem (ggplot2 and grid) has a lot of missing parts that should be documented. For example, you'd think you could add ggproto classes together since that's how the ggplot2 syntax works, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. And this is just one of many little edge cases you learn through trial and error. You will lose your head trying to understand how ggplot2::layer and ggplot2::ggproto behave in the edge cases, but you'll learn a lot in the process.
I learned ggplot2 more than I think I ever wanted to. The book does a decent introduction to the graphics ecosystem for ggplot2, but it's not enough. Use browseVignettes("ggplot2") to assist you because the book is simply not enough to finish the last assignment. You'll get proficient at this graphics language, but this has less use than the other courses in this specialization. And grading is peer based, just to warn you, post your shareable link in the forums if you want a timely response for your certificate.
By Zdenek K
So first of all, the material for this course in the bookdown document are very good - well structured, with good sources. My concern is that the Coursera course does not go a lot beyond, basically just referring to the document and adding quizzes + graded assignment in the last week. The assignment, however, is nice and challenging and requires people to understand the materials.
Also, the course covers other great packages than ggplot2, e.g. plotly and leaflet and methods for handling spatial data. I think it would be very nice if the students were challenged in these topics as well and evaluate them in a better way than just a quiz (programming assignment for instance).
I liked the course though and I believe it can be prepared even better.


text:
Q: Can we do anything about a TransientError or does it indicate a server side issue? We see occasional (~100 per day) TransientError errors when adding tasks to a queue in appengine. Is there anything we can do to handle these or code more defensively to avoid them?
An exampe of the error we receive is shown below:
  File "/python27_runtime/python27_lib/versions/1/google/appengine/ext/deferred/deferred.py", line 268, in defer
    return task.add(queue, transactional=transactional)
  File "/python27_runtime/python27_lib/versions/1/google/appengine/api/taskqueue/taskqueue.py", line 1132, in add
    return self.add_async(queue_name, transactional).get_result()
  File "/python27_runtime/python27_lib/versions/1/google/appengine/api/apiproxy_stub_map.py", line 604, in get_result
    return self.__get_result_hook(self)
  File "/python27_runtime/python27_lib/versions/1/google/appengine/api/taskqueue/taskqueue.py", line 1927, in ResultHook
    raise _TranslateError(e.application_error, e.error_detail)
TransientError

A: TransientError indicates a server-side error (for example an overloaded and unresponsive BigTable). The only thing you can do is try again with back-off.


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1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pf series Ii Cabriolet
Azzurro Chiaro with Tan leather interior, Tan carpeting and Black convertible top, Recently restored in its original color Azzuro Chiaro, The 46th of just 202 examples constructed, Original factory fitted hardtop, Documented and well known history, Documented by Massini, Seven time veteran of the Colorado Grand.
The chassis of this car was delivered on May 4, 1960 at the Carrozzeria Pininfarina plant in Torino and was completed on June 8, 1960. The car was painted in Azzurro Chiaro coachwork with Blue vinyl and leather interior and was supplied with a factory hardtop.
The 46th of 200 250 GT PF Series 11 Cabriolets constructed, in July 1960 it was sold to its first owner R.A.S.I.O.M, a chemical company domiciled in Milan, Italy. Subsequently sold to Mr. Stot, believed to be the president of R.A.S.I.O.M, who kept the car until 1965, at which point it was exported to the USA and under the new ownership of Mr. Arnold Crane, Chicago.
Mr. Crane kept the 250 GT until 1967 at which point he sold to Luigi Chinetti Motors, Greenwich CT. The next owner was a Mr. Terry Herndon of Carlisle, MA, who is understood to have later sold the car to Mr. John Greenup of Worcester, MA, who kept the car until 1990, by which time it was painted red with a black interior and had been restored.
In 1993, John and Missy Warner of Colorado acquired the 250 GT from Ferrari of San Francisco and successfully participated in both the 1995 and 1996 'Colorado Grand road rallies, a perfect car for this event.
In 1998 Mr. Robert Young of Aspen purchased the 250 GT and it was kept in his ownership for a further 13 years. Mr. Young was the principal owner of Ferrari of Denver and a keen vintage racing enthusiast. During his tenure, he participated in the Colorado Grand four times from 2006-2010 with co-driver Geny Sanchez, he clearly enjoyed driving it. His dealership maintained the car along with marque specialist 'Scuderia Rampante in nearby Boulder throughout his ownership.
In mid-2011 the current owner purchased the 250 GT, a noted West Coast collector who has since enjoyed participating in a number of road rallies with it. The decision was made later to return the car back to its original and extremely attractive exterior color of Azzurro Chiaro and re-trim the interior in Tan leather.
The convertible top was also replaced at this time, the paintwork was entrusted to Genaro Alvarado of Palmdale, California and the re-trim was completed by Howard McKee of Lakeside, California. Mechanical work required was completed by DeWayne Samuels of Phoenix, AZ, responsible for a number of significant restorations of Pebble Beach winning entries over the years.
The 250 Cabriolet was recently shown at San Marino concours where it was awarded a highly credible 2nd in class of about 25 vintage Ferraris, 1st in class was also awarded best in show, this demonstrates the quality of the 250 GT PF Cabriolet. In early July 2016 the PF was sent to noted Ferrari experts GTO Engineering, Los Angeles, where it received a further $12,000 expenditure, rebuild of the brake calipers, attention to the overdrive unit and other various small service items. In addition, Ferrari Classiche Certification has been applied for, approved and we are currently awaiting its Ferrari Classiche Red Book.
This 250 GT Cabriolet is an exciting opportunity for a collector seeking a very well restored example in a highly desirable original color, with a clear and known history and extremely rare original factory hardtop. A well known car in vintage rally circles, having participated with great success for many years and with recent restoration work substantiated by invoices and photographs on file, magnificent!
1960 Ferrari
250 GT Pf series Ii Cabriolet


New Orleans style, in music, the first method of group jazz improvisation. Developed near the turn of the century, it was not recorded first in New Orleans but rather in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Richmond, Indiana. Divided by many experts into white (the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, which first recorded in 1917 and 1922, respectively) and black (cornetist Joe "King" Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and Kid Ory's Spike's Seven Pods of Pepper Orchestra, which first recorded in 1923 and 1922, respectively), it is traditionally said to have placed great emphasis on collective improvisation, all musicians simultaneously playing mutual embellishments. This was the case in the first recordings, but a portion was also given to solos and accompaniment in which a single instrument, such as cornet, occupied the foreground while others, such as clarinet and trombone, played obbligato with combinations of guitar and/or banjo and/or piano chording insistently on almost every beat. Many journalists use the term New Orleans style to designate those black musicians who performed in Chicago between 1915 and the early 1930s after having left their native New Orleans. Aside from Oliver and Ory, the strongest of these players were trumpeter Louis Armstrong, clarinetist–soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, clarinetist Jimmie Noone, drummer Warren "Baby" Dodds, and his brother, clarinetist Johnny Dodds. Armstrong and Bechet, in particular, helped to move the emphasis away from ensemble improvisation to a focus on solo improvisation, anticipating the later Dixieland (q.v.) style.
Revivals of the pre-1920s style included one with trumpeter Bunk Johnson, a black New Orleans native who was rediscovered by two jazz historians in 1939 and who reactivated his career in the 1940s; and another at Preservation Hall, an organization in New Orleans that into the 1990s continued to present improvised combo music by men who had lived in New Orleans during the music's formative period. Samuel Charters' Jazz: New Orleans 1885–1963 (1963) is a historical study. See also Chicago style.