text:
using std::cerr;
using std::make_pair;

ModelReader::ModelReader(const string &configFile)
  : Reader(configFile), featureStd(false), outputStd(false) {
  parseConfig();
  file.close();
}

void ModelReader::parseConfig() {
  // For each loop we read a line in the file.
  while(!file.eof()) {
    eatSpaces();

    // If it is a comment we read everything up to the end of file.
    char c;
    c = file.get();
    if(c == 'c') {
      eatLine();
    }
    else if(c == 'p') {
      // Read everything up to the first non-space
      eatSpaces();

      // Read string up to the next space
      string paramName = getString();

      // Read everything up to the first non-space
      eatSpaces();

      if(paramName == "training")
	trainingSetFilename = getString();
      else if(paramName == "part")
	fePartitions.push_back(getVector<uint>());
      else if(paramName == "feorder")
	feOrder = getUInt();
      else if(paramName == "outstd")
	outputStd = true;
      else if(paramName == "feastd")
	featureStd = true;
      else if(paramName == "la") {
	string solverName = getString();
	string laStr = getString();
	las[solverName] = RR;
	if(laStr == "RR")
	  models[solverName] = new RRModel();
	else if(laStr == "SVM")
	  models[solverName] = new SVMModel();
	else
	  cerr << "Warning: Can't recognize Learning Algorithm (la) option in model file. Ignoring.";
      }
      else if(paramName == "solvers") {
	outLabels = getVector<string>();
	const vector<string>::const_iterator end = outLabels.end();
	for(vector<string>::const_iterator it = outLabels.begin();
	    it != end;
	    ++it)
	  models[*it] = 0;
      }
      else if(paramName == "weight") {
	const string solverName = getString();
	const FeatureLabel featureName = parseFeatureLabel();
	const double value = getDouble();
	models[solverName]->addRegressor(value, featureName);
#ifndef NDEBUG
	cout << "Weight " << solverName << " " << featureName << " " << value << "\n";
#endif
      }
      else if(paramName == "freeweight") {
	const string solverName = getString();
	const double value = getDouble();
	models[solverName]->addRegressor(value);
#ifndef NDEBUG
	cout << "FreeWeight " << solverName << " " << value << "\n";
#endif
      }
      else if(paramName == "stdfactor") {
	const string solverName = getString();
	const FeatureLabel featureName = parseFeatureLabel();
	const double mean = getDouble();
	const double sdv = getDouble();
	factors[solverName].push_back(make_triple(featureName, mean, sdv));
      }
      else { // error
	cerr << "Error during parsing of model.\nExpecting one of params: training, model, fsdelta, fsinst, rrdelta, part, outstd, feastd. Got: " << paramName << "\n";
	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
      }
    } else { // error
      cerr << "Error during parsing of model.\nExpected comment or parameter declaration, got character: " << c << "\n";
      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    eatSpaces();
  }
}

Model* ModelReader::getModel(const string& sname) const {

  map<string, Model*>::const_iterator it = models.find(sname);

  if(it == models.end()) {
    cerr << "ModelReader::getModel: can't find model for solver " << sname << "\n";
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
  }

  return it->second;
}

pair<double, double> ModelReader::getStdFactors(const string& sname, const FeatureLabel& feature) const {
  const map<string, vector<Triple<FeatureLabel, double, double> > >::const_iterator it = factors.find(sname);

  if(it == factors.end()) {
    cerr << "Can't find STD factors of feature " << feature << " for solver " << sname << "\n";
    cerr << "Exiting...\n";
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
  }

  const vector<Triple<FeatureLabel, double, double> > &v = it->second;
  const vector<Triple<FeatureLabel, double, double> >::const_iterator end = v.end();

  for(vector<Triple<FeatureLabel, double, double> >::const_iterator it = v.begin();
      it != end;
      ++it) {
    if(it->first == feature)
      return make_pair(it->second, it->third);
  }

  /// \todo Solve this problem of feature computation. What to do if we are asked for features which do not exist?
  /// \todo Current solution doesn't seem good.
  //cerr << "Cannot find standardization factors in model for the requested feature: " << feature << "\n";
  //cerr << "Exiting...\n";
  //exit(EXIT_FAILURE);

  return make_pair(0.0, 0.0);
}

FeatureLabel ModelReader::parseFeatureLabel() {
  const uint nbSubLabels = getUInt();
  FeatureLabel fl;

  for(uint i = 0; i < nbSubLabels; ++i) {
    const string name = getString();
    const uint mult = getUInt();
    fl.insert(name, mult);
  }

  return fl;
}

/// @returns the learning algorithm used to generate a model for the given solver name.
/// @returns It returns NUM_LA if no solver with that name is found.
LearningAlgType ModelReader::getLearningAlgType(const string& sname) const {

  const map<string, LearningAlgType>::const_iterator it = las.find(sname);
  if(it == las.end())
    return NUM_LA;
  else
    return it->second;
}


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You are here: Home » Questions Answered About My Writing
August 29, 2014 | 1 Comment
Questions Answered About My Writing
Cooper Lee Bombardier tagged me in some author chain mail thing, and normally I'd avoid a meme but first, he's a really nice fella, and second, it's about writing, so heck, I could bloviate about that all day. Here are my answers to four questions he posed:
1) What are you working on?
I've got several projects right now; in all honestly, probably too many. But here they are—a novel about four different gender non-conforming people from different eras in the United States, who by chance come together to build a high school for queer and trans youth. I'm trying to look at LGBT generationality, invisible history, the fracture lines across our communities, as well as more general themes of redemption, struggle, the fallibility of memory, and what indebtedness we have to each other.
I'm also in the middle of revisions to my followup memoir, Bumbling into Baby, which as it sounds, is about Susanne and my attempts to start a family. It's told in the same tone as Bumbling into Body Hair, so it's a humorous story, even as it makes some criticisms of the medical system, reproductive politics, and ideas about family.
And then I'm working on a non-genre short story about a trans man with Alzheimer's who forgets he's trans. This is a story I've wanted to work on for a long time, and I'm writing it in reverse chronology (apologies to Chip Delany, who loathes structures like this). I'm not sure which market will work for it, but right now I'm just focused on the story and the writing.
2) How do you think your work differs from others in its genre?
Transgender memoirs have a bad reputation, and much of that is deserved. There were a lot of books (well, at least a dozen or so) that came out a decade or more ago, and that were rather prescriptive in the messages and themes they espoused, like trans people are only this way or that, think this thing or that, and so on, which means they're caught up in the whole unhelpful question of what makes trans people "authentic" or not. I intentionally pushed against that narrative to set up the story in a specific place and time and tried to highlight the message that worrying about authenticity is a red herring and a distraction. As for my science fiction and young adult work, I don't see a lot of books (or okay, any) that investigate gender identity, sexual orientation, and queer/trans history the way that I do. It's great to see so many wonderful stories about coming out, first relationships, and the decision to transition; I absolutely think young readers need exposure to these narratives. But I'm more interested in giving young adults some new ideas about what life could look like three, ten, thirty steps after all of the initial process. So that's how I think my work is different.
3) Why do you write what you do?
I suppose I already just mapped that out a little. I'm interested in making more visible the largely undocumented history of queer and trans people in North America. It may not be possible to relay the "real" history of AIDS or Stonewall's riot, but we don't need to consider that what the media's told us is true is correct, either. I want to see my work engage those real-world events, ask questions about how we interpret our shared experience, and how that affects our present understanding and our commitment to each other going forward. I want to offer counter-narratives to the impoverished narratives of stories like How to Survive a Plague, which whitewashed the early ACT UP movement, and Dallas Buyers' Club, which took the narrative away from the people who actually started a medication group in San Francisco. I think science fiction offers a huge opportunity to pull our reality out to its potential extensions and help readers ask about where we're headed and where they want to be. And on a basic level, I want my readers to find themselves in my stories, especially if they don't see themselves anywhere else in popular culture.
4) How does your writing process work?
It works however it has to for me to produce words. I fight against having a restrictive work environment, because I never know when I'm going to have the availability to write, what with two small children and their sleeping schedules and energy/attention needs being what they are. I keep it simple: laptop, notebook and pen, coffee drink or fizzy water, music I like. I do a lot of writing in coffee houses but I also can write at the dining room table if need be. Because I can't often luxuriate in large windows of time for writing, I have trained myself to get right back into a story, like sky diving, and now I only need 3-5 minutes to check email, Facebook, Twitter, etc., before I'm into the document and the universe I've created. It wasn't easy to pare it down from 45 minutes of screwing around, but I got there!
In general my process starts with a lot of thinking, letting my mind wander over the characters and the story idea. Picture an elephant picking up a rock with its trunk and manipulating the rock, turning it over and around and sensing if its gritty or smooth or jagged or what. I think about my characters' back story and motivation and whether they know how to play the guitar, for instance. Then I start to write the back story, with no intention of it landing in the main story itself. (But sometimes a little of it does.) Then I go on to write the first draft and I don't stop to edit or revise, I just work on getting it done. If I decide to change a character mid-stream, I go ahead and give myself permission, and keep writing. Nothing stops the laying down of words in the first draft. It's going to be horrible writing in any case, but I'll clean it up later. When I'm done with the first draft I give myself a little break and go into revisions, and those can number in the teens for me. Every revision looks at something different—did I get the tone right? how's the dialogue? is the character work believable? does the main story hold up?—and then I am ready to copy edit and get beta readers for outside feedback.
Well, those are my questions, and my answers. Authors, if you'd like to be tagged to go next, let me know!
Tags: Everett Maroon, writing, writing process, writing techniques
Categories: ev's writing, Writing
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One Comment on "Questions Answered About My Writing"
Johanna Harness
September 3, 2014 at 4:37 am #
Thanks, Ev! My replies are here: http://www.johannaharness.com/2014/09/writer-questions-answered.html

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Home » MoIT proposes Prime Minister reopen secondary border gates with China
MoIT proposes Prime Minister reopen secondary border gates with China
by Sophie Dao March 25, 2020
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has proposed Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc permit customs clearance of goods through all secondary border gates in the northern province of Lạng Sơn, which is on the border with China.
The proposal aims to boost the volume of import and export goods on the border gates between the two countries, which currently reach about 50-60 per cent in comparison with months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the proposal is approved, fresh agricultural products and fruits of Việt Nam will be exported to China soon.
Lạng Sơn has ten secondary border gates, of which Tân Thanh and Cốc Nam were re-opened last month after they were closed due to impact of COVID-19 outbreak in China early this year.
The ministry said that the secondary border gates between the two countries were qualified for customs clearance of goods according to the Government's Decree 112/2014/ND-CP providing management on border gates, as well as the agreement of trade, exchange, import and export of goods signed by Việt Nam and China, in which the prevention of COVID-19 outbreak must be ensured.
According to the ministry, the current clearance capacity at Tân Thanh border gate in Lạng Sơn Province is very limited, with about 130 to 150 trucks carrying goods to China, accounting for 50 per cent of goods prepared for daily export. The remaining goods are stored at the border gate area.
Meanwhile, the volume of vehicles carrying goods from inland provinces to this border gate is increasing, leading to congestion.
In case you missed it: Vietnamese cabin crew survives quarantine
The Lạng Sơn Industry and Trade Department said the Chinese side is facing a shortage of labour, especially those loading and unloading at the border area due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the Chinese forces are strengthening control and prevention of diseases on vehicles transporting goods exported from Việt Nam because the COVID-19 outbreak is increasing in some cities of provinces of the country.
Lạng Sơn Province and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have agreed to prepare necessary conditions to soon restore customs clearance of import and export goods at this border, on the basis of ensuring strict implementation of disease prevention processes.
The ministry said China's control of the COVID-19 pandemic had been greatly improved, in which Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region had lowered the emergency response level from one to three. "These two provinces have been partially restoring trading between border residents of the two sides to meet the increasing production and consumption demands when the pandemic is almost controlled."
"This is a favourable factor to recover, promote import and export activities, and transport goods to the country's northern border gates in the future," the ministry said.
Source: VNS
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Come along and meet some of your favourite Western Sydney Wanderers W-League & A-League stars at the Australian Football Expo across the course of the two days.
Catch the team from the Sydney Street Crew showcasing their freestyle, small sided and Futsal skill across the course of the two days at the Expo. The Sydney Street Crew is rapidly expanding and always looking for skilled footballers to showcase their freestyle or Futsal skill. You don't want to miss this!
Take part in some fun football related activities throughout the course of the two days including Snookball, Kick n Darts and Foot Golf to name a few.
Check out all the events across the two days in the main arena including freestyle competitions brought to you by Sydney Street Crew, Small sided football competitions and a whole heap of other entertainment!
Do you have what it takes to make the final two? Expressions of interest will be going out shortly for entries into our jam packed FIFA tournament with prizes and giveaways for those who make the final 8 and right through to the champion. Stay tuned for information and get involved!
What better way to raise money for an important cause? Check out the main area and see an A-list group of football personalities do battle in the charity match aimed at raising much needed funds for the Heart Beat o Football Foundation! This is something you don't want to miss!


Abstract: Audio description, a form of trans-modal media translation, allows people who are blind or visually impaired access to visually-oriented, socio-cultural, or historical public discourse alike. Although audio description has gained more prominence in media policy and research lately, it rarely has been studied empirically. Yet this paper presents quantitative and qualitative survey data on its challenges and opportunities, through the analysis of responses from 483 participants in a national sample, with 334 of these respondents being blind. Our results give insight into audio description use in broadcast TV, streaming services, for physical media, such as DVDs, and in movie theaters. We further discover a multiplicity of barriers and hindrances which prevent a better adoption and larger proliferation of audio description. In our discussion, we present a possible answer to these problems - the UniDescription Project - a media ecosystem for the creation, curation, and dissemination of audio description for multiple media platforms.


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The 2003 Belarusian Premier League was the 13th season of top-tier football in Belarus. The first round was postponed from April 11–12 to later dates due to heavy snowfall. The season finally started on April 18 and ended on November 9, 2003. BATE Borisov were the defending champions.

Team changes from 2002 season
Due to Premiere League expansion from 14 to 16 teams, one lowest placed team in 2002 Lokomotiv-96 Vitebsk was replaced by three best teams from 2002 First League: Darida Minsk Raion, Naftan Novopolotsk and Lokomotiv Minsk. Torpedo-MAZ Minsk changed their name to Torpedo-SKA Minsk. Darida originally was registered in Minsk suburb Zhdanovichi, while playing their games in Kuntsevschina district in Minsk. The team was renamed to Darida-TDZh Zhdanovichi (due to sponsorship from shopping center Zhdanovichi) for a few weeks in early 2003. However, after shopping center cancelled their sponsorship, team's name was changed back to Darida and official location became Minsk Raion, while team's office and stadium locations remained the same.

Overview
Gomel won their 1st champions title and qualified for the next season's Champions League. The championship runners-up BATE Borisov and 2003–04 Cup winners Shakhtyor Soligorsk qualified for UEFA Cup. Teams finished on the last two places (Lokomotiv Minsk and Molodechno-2000) relegated to the First League.

Teams and venues

Table

Results

Belarusian clubs in European Cups

Top scorers

See also
2003 Belarusian First League
2002–03 Belarusian Cup
2003–04 Belarusian Cup

External links
RSSSF

Belarusian Premier League seasons
1
Belarus
Belarus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Buckeyes In the NFL
Buckeye Forums
Buckeyes Now
Ohio State Re-enters AP Poll at No. 6
The Buckeyes won't play for a month, but they're back in the national polls this week.
Brendan Gulick
The Ohio State Buckeyes won't take the field for a few weeks, but now that they have football actually on the schedule, they're back in the national polls.
Ohio State re-enters the Associated Press national poll this week at No. 6. Big Ten counterparts Penn State (No. 10), Wisconsin (No. 19) and Michigan (No. 23) were also ranked in this week's poll. Iowa was ranked No. 24 in the preseason, but they have fallen out of the poll this week.
The new poll is available here.
The Pac-12 teams have also been put back in the poll, which is perhaps the most unusual poll in AP history, considering two leagues won't kick off their seasons for a month or more. Only Oregon (No. 14) was included in this week's poll from the Pac-12.
Meanwhile, this week's poll saw Oklahoma (No. 18) and LSU (No. 20) drop significantly after their upsets losses on Saturday. Mississippi State climbed to No. 16 this week after winning in Baton Rouge.
This week's top five teams include No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish didn't play this weekend after its game was cancelled because of a CoVID outbreak, but they benefitted from the Sooners and reigning national champions losses.
No Power 5 team has played more than three games at this point, but by the time the Buckeyes take the field for the first time, there's a good chance Clemson will have played five games already.
Here is a breakdown of this week's poll as represented by conference.
Ohio State Announces 2023 Spring Game Information
Jan 19, 2023 11:30 AM EST
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud Declares For 2023 NFL Draft
Former Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard Returns Fumble 98 Yards For Touchdown
Jan 15, 2023 11:00 PM EST
SEC — 8 (Nos. 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 16, 20, 21).
ACC — 5 (Nos. 1, 5, 8, 12, 24).
Big Ten — 4 (Nos. 6, 10, 19, 23).
Big 12 — 3 (Nos. 9, 17, 18).
American — 3 (Nos. 11, 15, 25).
Pac-12 — 1 (No. 14).
Independent — 1 (No. 22).
Stay tuned to BuckeyesNow and all of our social media outlets (@BuckeyesNowSI) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for continued coverage!
Follow brendangulick22
By Brendan Gulick Jan 19, 2023 11:30 AM EST
By Andrew Lind Jan 16, 2023 11:15 AM EST
By Andrew Lind Jan 15, 2023 11:00 PM EST
Ohio State Suffers Fourth Straight Defeat With 68-64 Overtime Loss At Rutgers
By Andrew Lind Jan 15, 2023 5:02 PM EST
Former Ohio State LS Mason Arnold Transferring To Michigan State
Ohio State Promotes WRs Coach Brian Hartline To Offensive Coordinator
Former Ohio State DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste Transferring To Notre Dame
Ohio State Drops Third Straight With 70-67 Loss To Minnesota


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Judith Ward
Judith Ward was convicted of murder for a number of bombings. She confessed to the murder, and evidence forensic science evidence was introduced to support her conviction. On appeal, evidence cast doubt on the reliability of her confession – she suffered from a personality disorder and had changed the confession several times and the prosecution had selected parts of her statements to construct a plausible version. Forensic science evidence from the original trial was also discredited. It was found that scientists had failed to disclose evidence, that some of their results were valueless and that many of their conclusions were demonstrably wrong.On that basis the Court of Appeal concluded that there was a material irregularity in the first trial, and the conviction was quashed.
View Press (innocent.org.uk)
Offence: Murder
Years in prison: 18
Offence convicted of: Murder
Age when imprisoned: 25
Link to full case: http://netk.net.au/UK/Ward1.asp
Type of fresh evidence at appeal: Evidence undermining forensic science, Evidence undermining the reliability of a confession
Compensation: Yes
Link to compensation: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1998-02-05/debates/5a9b339e-469a-4002-bd4a-110ad63bb6a4/JudithWard
Crown argued case at CofA: No
Previous appeals: None


The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln was an event that shattered many lives, involving many more people than is glazed over in middle school history lessons. John Wilkes Booth is portrayed as a crazed actor who decided to murder the president in a theater while he watched a play.
Most people don't realize that Booth's actions affected many lives and lead to the ruin of his associates and family members. Fates and Traitors, by Jennifer Chiaverini, examines what if must have been like for three women who never met one another, but whose lives were changed forever that day that Booth committed his crime.
Booth's mother and siblings, who didn't even share his political sentiments, lost friends, careers, and met with serious shame and social isolation in the aftermath of the terrible event-and all knowing that their beloved but difficult family member had committed a terrible crime and met with a terrible end.
Miss Lucy Hale was a lovely debutante and daughter of a Union senator who was enchanted by John Wilkes Booth and his charms and found herself dragged into the tabloids when her youthful near-engagement to the assassin was dragged into the media. Heartbroken, she dealt with serious shock and reputation deterioration and her father's own loyalties were questioned.
Mary Surratt ran a boarding house which served Confederate sympathizers, and her establishment became a place at the center of the plots which eventually lead to the murder of the president. Fringe-involved as she was, she met the noose with the rest of the plotters, leaving her daughter motherless.
So many lives affected by the actions of one man who believed he was saving the country. Fates and Traitors is a great reading choice for American history lovers, especially if you enjoy seeing the lives of women who made history in their own way, but never made it into the textbooks.


Happy Holidays from Nandina Home & Design!
Everyone at Nandina Aiken and Nandina Atlanta would like to extend warm wishes to our readers, clients, and customers for a safe and happy holiday season. We hope your holidays are filled with great food and drinks, and time spent with your loved ones. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to working with you in 2012!
From the Nandina Family to you and yours, Happy Holidays!


Dr. Bedi is an experienced Skin Cancer Screening Doctor bringing his valuable experience to The Molescan Clinic.
Edel completed a bachelor degree in Science and nursing in Dublin City University, obtaining an honours degree. She has a keen interest in preventative care. Edel is responsible for patient care and screening. She has a keen interest in offering a patient-focused, professional service and has completed in-depth dermoscopy training. This ensures she has all the skills and experience required to provide an outstanding level of patient care.


"From that point it might have been reasonable to conclude that my future as a bona fide crate digger had been cemented, though it never quite turned out like that. My passion for music has always been equalled by my interest in technology, and so as every new gadget came along – Walkman, Discman, MiniDisc player and MP3 player – I would migrate my collection from one format to another.
Despite that, as a teenager I would often spend Saturdays at my local record store trying to build up my vinyl single collection. When a CD single was £3.99, spending the same (or often less) on a beautifully packed piece of limited edition vinyl was really a no brainer. Particular highlights from those days included Garbage's "Stupid Girl" in a lovely blue cloth case, and a glorious piece of coloured vinyl for "Dune Buggy" by The Presidents of the United States of America.
As I've spent my adult life moving around a bit, I have often leant on the convenience of digital formats. When you're living in a small room in a flat share in London, a vast collection of records isn't really an option.
Still, I do find myself returning to vinyl and other physical formats. There are some very smart websites which help you discover fantastic music, but I haven't found anything which replaces the experience of trawling record stores and second-hand shops in order to reveal new records.
My appreciation of Frankie Goes to Hollywood remixes would have never come about without visits to car boot sales. I even recently bought an old 1928 HMV gramophone which enables me to play some older discs that I've been picking up in charity shops. My latest haul brought home some 1940s Russian piano recordings, and Louis Armstrong's "New Orleans Funeral March." It's been a fascinating extra dimension to my musical education!


Now would be a good time to have a charitable thought for pundits, bloggers, opinion columnists – yes, and policy professors – for whom the last month has been incredibly challenging, harder than any time in the last decade. When the world behaves like a parody of grownup affairs, and people with positional authority are one-upping each other with insanity suited to an especially shark-jumping Simpsons episode, the spectacle is immune to both ridicule and analysis. What is there to say when Michelle Bachmann, an actual live paid professional elected US Representative, claims S&P downgraded US credit because the debt limit was increased [ht: Steve Benen] and she isn't laughed out of the room?
I'm not sure why the current lunacy is being wrapped up in Christian fundamentalist stuff; maybe it's letting out the string on the goyim, maybe it has something to do with the reactionary Christians' politics about Israel. I know, the theory needs work, not least because what the Rethugs are about is infused with an insouciant, deaf-and-dumb, cruelty to victims and the innocent that is unknown in Jewish humor. Maybe readers can help make this hang together, because I have no theory B or C that survives a straight-face test any better.


LED or OLED? We look at the pros and cons of both TV display types.
You've made the big decision to buy a new TV for your family and now comes the tough part: deciding which model to get. One of the most important considerations when narrowing down your choices is the type of display it has. You've probably heard of LED and OLED before, but there's a lot more that separates these technologies than just one letter.
To help get you up to speed on the differences between these screen options, we've identified the main features, and pros and cons of each. This article will arm you with answers when deciding whether LED or OLED is the right fit for your family. Let's get started!
LED means Light Emitting Diode, and it is the most common type of screen used in TVs today. They use LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels with an LED backlight in order to illuminate the screen. The benefits of LED TVs include a greater range of sizes, better energy efficiency, brighter luminance, and lower cost versus OLEDs.
OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. These TVs use a carbon-based organic substance that glows when activated by an electric current. The benefit is that OLEDs don't require a backlight, each pixel is self-illuminating. This results in noticeably deeper black levels, better contrast, and an overall superior picture quality compared to LED TVs.
Screen size and price are two of the most important considerations when searching for a new television.
Looking at screen size, LED TVs come in an impressive range, generally from 29″ and smaller all the way up to 70″ and larger. On the other hand, OLED TVs typically offer a smaller range of size options, with the most common sizes being 55″, 65″, and 77″. So, if you're leaning towards a 50" TV or below, your best option is an LED display.
As far as price goes, LEDs have a big advantage. Since they are available in a wide variety of sizes, the price point tends to start at just a few hundred dollars. Also, LED TVs are available in 1080p Full HD as well as 4K Ultra HD, which also means they can have a low-starting price range for that 1080p bracket. OLEDs are only available in 4K UHD and use more expensive imaging technology, so the price range is often substantially higher.
Most LED TVs display black levels that look more charcoal gray in colour than true black. This is due to the limitations of the local dimming backlighting that powers these displays. Since OLEDs don't rely on backlighting, they can produce much deeper blacks compared to LEDs. OLED TVs are best viewed in dim rooms, which allow you to truly appreciate the stunning black levels and colour contrast.
A TV's contrast is the ratio between the luminance of the brightest white and darkest black it can produce. It's better to have a larger contrast ratio as this means the overall range from bright white to deep black is greater.
LED sets give you great all-around contrast, however, OLEDs can produce near-pure black levels resulting in a noticeably wider contrast. Most TV manufacturers include contrast ratio in their lineup's tech specs, so be sure to compare when deciding the right TV for you.
LEDs have always been known to outperform OLEDs in one key area: brightness. LED TVs boast greater peak brightness, which offers a vivid visual boost to action scenes, outdoor sports, and video games.
TV brightness is measured in "nits", which measures the amount of light spread over a square metre. LEDs can range from 1,000- 2,000 nits, and in contrast, OLEDs peak brightness is around 800 nits. Without getting too caught up in the technical weeds, LED TVs offer substantially bright whites then their OLED counterparts.
If having a wide colour range is important to you, there's not much to worry about. LED and OLED TVs have near-perfect colour accuracy in most models. Most newer 4K LED TVs use wide colour gamut (WCG) technology to product an even greater range of colours. This colour gamut is close to what we see in movie theatres.
We also must mention an important technology used by many manufacturers: High Dynamic Range (HDR). HDR is used in LEDs and OLEDs for even greater variations in colour and brightness levels. If you're looking for the best picture quality possible, an LED or OLED screen with HDR is your best option.
Response time is an important part of a great viewing experience. It's often overlooked, so we'll explain how LEDs and OLEDs compare when it comes to this feature.
Simply put, response time refers to the amount of time it takes a pixel to shift from one colour to another. Response time is measured in milliseconds (ms). The faster the shift between active and inactive pixels, the less screen lag and motion blur the viewer will see.
Generally, LED TVs have slower response time because they illuminate clusters of pixels as opposed to individual pixels. The faster OLED screens can turn individual pixels on and off at a faster rate.
However, LEDs have the advantage of reduced input lag. This is the time it takes for a picture to be generated by a source (e.g. your Blu-ray player) and then appearing on screen. Input lag is measured in milliseconds, and some LED TVs offer 20ms input lag or less. In comparison, 20ms is about the lowest you'll see in OLED displays, with many models being much higher. Input lag is especially important for video games, as you want your controller inputs to be reflected onscreen immediately without lag.
Viewing angle is an important consideration when buying a new TV. With LEDs, direct viewing offers a colourful and bright picture experience. However, you may notice slight contrast, brightness, and colour distortion as you move to the sides. As such, LEDs are usually best viewed from the front.
On the flip side, OLEDs eliminate the issue of viewing angle problems due to their self-lighting pixels. When viewed at an angle, the picture and colour quality is generally just as good as when viewing the screen head-on. This makes OLEDs a great option for families that watch TV together in large rooms, where some view the TV at a sharp angle.
LED TVs have been around for many years and have proven to be reliable and durable. With an average lifespan around 100,000 hours, LEDs have been known to be long-lasting and trustworthy.
OLEDs haven't been around for as long, but most manufacturers peg them at close to the 100,000-hour threshold as well. The one thing OLEDs are more susceptible to is screen burn-in if image is left on the screen for too long. If you opt to go the OLED, it's recommended you don't leave static images on the screen for any extended period of time.
When it comes to power consumption, LEDs generally have the advantage. These sets draw less power to display images, resulting in a more energy-efficient TV that saves you on energy costs. In order to make an OLED more energy-efficient you need to reduce the bright levels, but this reduces the contrast ratio as well and isn't ideal. If energy costs are factor for you, go with an LED TV.
There are benefits and drawbacks to any electronic device, and that holds true for LED and OLED televisions. LEDs are the clear winner when it comes to screen size choice, screen brightness, cost, and energy consumption. OLEDs are more expensive, but provide superior black levels, contrast ratio, and viewing angle. Consider each feature and how important it is to you.
Choosing the right TV display technology is an important decision for you and your family. We hope this article has equipped you with the knowledge you need to make an informed choice. Be sure to browse Walmart Canada's vast selection of TVs to find the perfect set at any budget.


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The women's épée fencing competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing took place on August 13 at the Olympic Green Convention Centre.

The épée competition consisted of a five-round single-elimination bracket with a bronze medal match between the two semifinal losers. Fencing was done to 15 touches or to the completion of three three-minute rounds if neither fencer reached 15 touches by then.

At the end of time, the higher-scoring fencer was the winner; a tie resulted in an additional one-minute sudden-death time period. This sudden-death period was further modified by the selection of a draw-winner beforehand; if neither fencer scored a touch during the minute, the predetermined draw-winner won the bout.

Draw

Finals

Section 1

Section 2

Final classification

References
 Competition format

Fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 in women's fencing
Women's events at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics


In order to umm…keep up with the Kardashians every single thing we want to inhale around town, there needs to be a mini compromise. For example, when overdosing on a bowl of beefy pho, counteracting this with a badass boxing class seems pretty reasonable.
With that in mind, here are the top 5 picks of the month for a serious workout. Then comes the bar of dark chocolate and the rest is history.
CityRow will make you uncover those muscles that have been lurking deep down beneath the surface since…forever. It's more than just an epic arms workout, it's a full body fat-blaster that makes you strong and lean. My abs KILLED for almost a week after…what more could you ask for?!
For boxing, it's a tie between Overthrow NYC and Gotham Boxing. Try both.
Overthrow NYC is an awesome underground boxing spot that recently opened on Bleecker and Bowery. A big screen showcasing loud music videos pump you up (throwback Missy Elliot style). Oh, and Fridays its boxing and booze. We all deserve it.
Gotham Gym has awesome classes that will disable you from walking for about 2 days. You jump up and down in the rink, squat, burpee, and die a little to burn off that babka.
Spinning is obviously not a novelty. Some prefer Soul Cycle, others head the Flywheel route. Both are excellent workouts where you sweat like a beast and let the tension go.
So…happy workout and bon appétit. All things in moderation people!


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Enough crust already -- it's time for Romney and Obama to roll out policy -- June 21, 2012 column
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney wrapped up a bus tour of rural America in Michigan, where he rolled out a crust for an Honest Abe cherry-apple pie. When it came to policy, though, the five-day trip offered only crumbs.
President Barack Obama flew to an international summit in Mexico that yielded moody photos of the president on the world stage along with reassuring words about progress – and little of substance.
To hear Romney talk, Obama is a job-killing big spender who wants to put America on the path to Europe. Obama contends that Romney wants to slash taxes for the wealthiest while cutting the jobs of teachers, firefighters and police. Fact checkers say both camps are stretching the truth.
For voters who are sick of the endless "trust me – not him" attacks -- and that's most of us, right? -- there's good news. The stars may be aligning to force Obama and Romney to show their policy hands.
The Supreme Court likely will issue blockbuster decisions this week on health care and immigration. If, as many analysts expect, the court strikes at least part of the Affordable Care Act, Obama will be called on to explain the next phase of his health reform strategy.
Publicly, the president says he believes the law will be upheld and has made no contingency plans. At fundraisers behind closed doors, however, he reportedly has said he won't give up on reform. He needs to tell the rest of us his plans.
Romney promises to repeal "Obamacare" his first day in office, but he also promises to save the most popular parts of the law, such as parents' insurance coverage for children up to age 26. Romney has been vague about whether he'll ensure that people with pre-existing conditions are covered under his plan. He will be pressed on how his plan would work, absent the linchpin of the individual mandate, which requires everyone to purchase insurance, spreading the cost.
On immigration, Obama showed the power of the incumbency last week when he announced that his administration would stop deporting young people who were brought to this country illegally as children, if they meet certain conditions. Up to 1.4 million children and adults who are in the country illegally could benefit from the change, according to an analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center. Nearly two-thirds of likely voters support the change, a Bloomberg poll found.
Romney, who took a hard line during the primaries against illegal immigration, is heading for a kinder, more bipartisan stance. The immigration plan he sketched Thursday included more favorable treatment for "the best and brightest" immigrants and a path to citizenship for military veterans. Romney needs to say whether he would repeal Obama's non-deportation rule.
Raising the stakes on immigration will be the Supreme Court's decision on Arizona's strict immigration law. The Obama administration challenged the 2010 law that requires police officers to ask for immigration papers if the officers believe individuals they've stopped are illegal immigrants. Other provisions make not carrying immigration papers and unauthorized work crimes.
Although Nov. 6 is nearly five months away, the calendar also prods Romney and Obama to focus on issues. Thirty-two states allow early voting, and the start dates vary. Voting begins in Iowa Sept. 27. That's fewer than 100 days away.
Iowa is one of the swing states Obama won last time that Romney visited on his "Every Town Counts" bus tour. The Obama administration released a 32-page report touting its help for rural areas, and the Obama campaign promises an unprecedented ground game in the battleground state.
In a close election, analysts say, rural voters in a few swing states could determine who wins the White House, or Hispanic voters could, or African American or gay voters.
One thing does unite voters as we choose the next president, and that's the need to look past clever slogans and symbols. Policy may not be as easy as pie, but it matters a lot more.
Labels: 2012 presidential campaign, Arizona, Barack Obama, health care lawsuits, immigration, Mitt Romney, ObamaCare, Supreme Court
caryberkcam June 23, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Yes, I agree that the time has come for serious policy discussions and I admire the skillful way Ms. Mercer presents a balanced side by side analysis of the positions taken by President Obama and Candidate Romney to support her plea.
This column is another example of the fine work Ms. Mercer does to help her readers understand better what is happening today in the political arena. Her writing style is bright and easy to read, but tightly organized and very effective in making her points. Bravo.
In ho-hum era, Supreme Court manages surprise -- J...
Enough crust already -- it's time for Romney and O...
Campaign summer debate: the bacon sundae -- June 1...
Good morning, Vietnam -- June 6, 2012 column


Penny Marshall, the trailblazing director of smash-hit big-screen comedies who first indelibly starred in the top-rated sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died. She was 75.
Marshall's publicist, Michelle Bega, said Tuesday that Marshall died in her Los Angeles home on Monday due to complications from diabetes."Our family is heartbroken," the Marshall family said in a statement.
In "Laverne & Shirley," among television's biggest hits for much of its seven-season 1976-1983 run, the nasal-voiced, Bronx-born Marshall starred as Laverne DeFazio alongside Cindy Williams as a pair of blue-collar roommates toiling on the assembly line of a Milwaukee brewery. A spinoff of "Happy Days," the series was the rare network hit about working-class characters, and its self-empowering opening song ("Give her any chance, she'll take it/ Give her any rule, she'll break it") foreshadowed Marshall's own path as a filmmaker in Hollywood.
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" did reasonable business, but Marshall's next film made her the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million. Her 1988 hit comedy "Big," starring Tom Hanks, was about a 12-year-old boy who wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old New York City man. The film, which earned Hanks an Oscar nomination, grossed $151 million worldwide, or about $320 million accounting for inflation.


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Today's show highlights the best way to transform your life and create your heart's desires.
When you appreciate what is, you naturally align to the vibrational frequency that you wish it to be.
Appreciation is at the heart of all your desired creations.
Embrace the moment to tune into the channel of your heart.


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Lessons from Polk Street, by T.C. Jones
If you are a regular, Sam knows your drink. He's the only bartender who gives a damn about the place. At least the behind the scenes sort of stuff: beer orders, liquor stocks, keeping the damn place clean. If it weren't for him the Shamrock would be the Palace Hotel for rats.
The regulars haven't arrived yet, except for Hal who practically lives here. By accident a woman sat in Hal's barstool earlier. He got pissed and told her real indignant like: "That's my seat." When she didn't get up fast enough he grumbled and moaned the way he does then said: "Move it!" She walked out without paying and said something along the lines of "Chivalry is dead." What she didn't realize was at the Shamrock chivalry had died long ago.
Sam talked to Hal about this sort of behavior, about how when Hal kicks unknowing patrons out of "his seat" it's bad for business, that the person he booted will never come back and furthermore will log on to Yelp to tell their cyber friends that the Shamrock is an unfriendly place.
"Yelp?" Hal said. "What the hell is that? Some sort of new hippy stuff?"
"Hipsters, Hal." Sam explained. "There is no such thing as hippies anymore."
"To hell with Yelp," Hal said.
"Unfriendly places serve nobody but regulars," Sam said. "And regulars are the sort of people that put bars out of business."
Hal grunted, "The Shamrock has been here for over one hundred years and will be here for one hundred more."
Tommy walks in and takes a seat at the end of the bar—his normal spot in the corner by the window. He's a loner. Sometimes the regulars coax him out by buying him a shot, but he always finds his way back to sip his beer by himself. There's a vague air about him, a jarring aloofness. Sam knows when Tommy is in a mood to sit jotting in his pocket notebook or simply to submerge into his own thoughts, and he leaves him alone then, but other times they trade stories. They are surface stories, superficial. Sam really wants to know what he's doing here; what in his past he's was running from. Sam doesn't always notice everything, but he can recognize loneliness.
For the last few weeks a young Filipina woman had been showing up with him. She's a little stick of dynamite; beautiful, witty, her mind quick as hell. And though he's only a bartender, a job like this gives Sam insight into people. The perception to realize now that Tommy has been arriving alone again something is wrong.
Walking over to greet him tonight Sam notices that a different woman is with him. He hasn't seen her around here before, but there is something about her that jars his memory. Like a fading dream after waking you try to remember. Perhaps their lives had touched briefly—a friend of a friend or something along those lines.
"The usual?" Sam asks.
"Yeah," Tommy says adjusting the baseball cap on his head, cocking it a little to the right like he always does. "And a backer of Jamison."
"Tying one on tonight?" Sam laughs and slips the shot next to his beer.
"I need it," he sighs. It was a real melodramatic sort of sigh.
"What about your friend? What can I get for her?"
Standing in front of the woman, pierced by her violent blue eyes, Sam is overcome by the ruby streaks in her hair. His heart drives toward his throat. Sam knows this woman; he is sure of it. He knows her from the Polk Gulch where he used to play shows back in the days when he liked to fancy himself as a musician. Back then there were lots of girls, and probably for her lots of boys, and somewhere along the line everything and everybody was lost in the shuffle.
"I'll have ginger ale," she says. "My name is Mira by the way. Tommy has a wonderful way with introductions doesn't he?"
Sam lets out a nervous laugh as he cracks open one of those little six-ounce bottles of ginger ale. Strange, he thinks. Summers ago on Polk Street she used to drink as hard as anyone. He remembered she had said she was from Jersey, and by all accounts did her best to make everyone know it. Loud and boisterous, she had held strong opinions about everything.
"What brings you here tonight?" Sam asks, not letting on.
"Special occasion," she says and sips the soda with a straw.
"Hey Sam," Tommy interrupts. "I need another shot."
Sam nods and pours another round.
Drinks flow. The SF State students who were monopolizing the sofas leave in a stumbling, boisterous mob and brush past a group of clean-cut flannelled hipsters from The Haight arriving to take their place. Hal keeps pounding PBR and Vince enters reeking of pot. Kelsey stops in after her waitressing shift at Park Chow and slugs back drinks at a sprinter's pace.
The regulars have arrived, but from behind the bar Sam watches only Tommy; the boy is smiling, but there is a cocktail of fear and sadness stirring in his eyes. He watches Mira too. He watches as she takes his hand.
"Another drink, Tommy?" Sam interrupts.
"Double Jamison."
"You get plastered every time we are together," Mira lectures, sort of mother-like.
This entire situation confuses Sam. He is certain she is the same girl he once knew from Polk Street, but she won't acknowledge him. Then again, that was during the point in his life when he was always on so much shit he can't remember much of anything. But this woman, the drunk of Polk Street, the girl from The Gangway, always posted up at Shanghai Kelly's, R-Bar regular, drink guzzler, the go-home-with-him, go-home-with-her, go-home-with-both-of-them, the-go-home-with-anyone-then-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-do-it-all-over-again is now preaching moderation. Life is full of contradictions.
Tommy stands up and walks toward the restroom. Sam nods at Hal to watch the bar for a moment and follows Tommy back. He catches up by the sofas near the gas fireplace—flames dancing orange and blue and hot, fighting off the chilly marine air.
"What's going on? You alright, kid?"
Tommy whirls around, with the face of a mad man, manic, a gambler all-in and out of chips. It's the look of a man who has been viewing the world through a jaundiced eye.
"Sam, I'm fucked," he says, sad as Sam ever heard him. "I swear it was an accident. I was tired and drunk and lonely. It just happened."
Sam nods. He knows about those things. He knows what loneliness can do to a man. He knows loneliness can be more dangerous than a gun.
"What are you going to do?" he asks, sincere but not overly sympathetic. Sympathy wouldn't solve anything.
"I'm gonna leave." Tommy pulls a plane ticket from his back pocket.
"You're going to run away? Tonight?"
"Outta sight, outta mind," says Tommy, carefully folding the ticket back into his pocket.
"You don't get it do you? Keep running and you'll be lost forever," Sam wanted to say more but stopped himself. Advice usually falls on deaf ears. Some things people need to learn on their own. Experiences can't be taught and they can't always be explained. Like Sam's lessons from Polk Street; they were only powerful to him.
"Maybe you're right, but tonight I'm not going to find out. I want to say goodbye to this girl I used to work with." Tommy shakes his head slowly, eyes sort of gazing down at the floor. Then he mutters: "Should have been her."
And Sam knows what he means, knows at one point everyone finds out exactly what Tommy means. The difference is that some people face things the way they are and some people run.
"But she's the one here with you tonight." Sam motions toward where Mira is seated.
"Let me out the back," Tommy pleads.
Sam stares silently for a moment then concedes. He opens the back cement patio where they store the empty kegs. Climbing ivy had taken over the chain link fence enclosing it. He watches as Tommy stacks a couple kegs, and watches as he sprawls over the top of the fence and into the wet Pacific fog.
As he makes his way back to the bar Sam wonders if he'll see Tommy again. Not for a while at least, but it's almost impossible to keep a regular away forever. Sam walks over to Mira and opens another ginger ale. He turns away and scans the familiar walls of the Shamrock, watches the dreamless drunks sitting on the old sofas drinking up all their money. The regulars have grown roots on their barstools. Hal waves him over for another Pabst. Vince covertly packs his glass pipe. Kelsey flirts with a youngish looking USF student. Sam's eyes lock on Mira, entranced by her smile and the way her hand cradles just below her stomach. He thinks about those faded years on Polk Street and wonders why she didn't keep it when it was theirs.
T.C. Jones lives and writes in Miami. He is the associate editor of fiction at Burrow Press and Gulf Stream Magazine and a fiction reader at The Indianola Review. His fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in the Atticus Review, The Monarch Review, WhiskeyPaper, Straylight Magazine, Dos Passos Review, Prairie Gold: An Anthology of the American Heartland (Ice Cube Press), and others.


text:
Dodgers claim Anthony Bemboom and Conner Greene
share-square-192456
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed catcher Anthony Bemboom from the Los Angeles Angels and right-handed pitcher Conner Greene from the Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, the Dodgers transferred left-handed pitchers Danny Duffy and Clayton Kershaw to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Bemboom, 31, was designated for assignment on August 7 by the Angels and was hitting .222 (6-for-27) with two RBI in eight games. He has spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues with Los Angeles-AL (2019-21) and Tampa Bay (2019), hitting a combined .178 (22-for-129) with four homers and 11 RBI. He will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City and has played in 542 minor league games, hitting .240 with 41 homers and 244 RBI. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 22nd round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft out of Creighton University.
Greene, 26, was designated for assignment on August 7 by the Orioles and was 0-0 with a 14.73 ERA (6 ER/3.2 IP) with five strikeouts in three games. He made his Major League debut on July 27 against the Marlins, tossing 2.0 IP with two strikeouts. In 10 minor league seasons, he is a combined 40-48 with a 4.34 ERA (352 ER/729.2 IP) and 569 strikeouts. The Santa Monica, CA native was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft out of Santa Monica High School.
Duffy, 32, was acquired on July 29 from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash consideration. He has appeared in 13 games (12 starts) this season, going 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA (17 ER/61.0 IP) and 65 strikeouts against 22 walks. He was placed on the injured list on July 20 with a left flexor strain. The Lompoc, CA native is in his 11th season with the Royals organization and is a combined 68-68 with a 3.95 ERA (514 ER/1172.1 IP) and 1,048 strikeouts. He was drafted by the Royals in the third round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft out of Cabrillo High School.
Kershaw, 33, was placed on the injured list on July 7 with left forearm inflammation. He was 9-7 with a 3.39 ERA (40 ER/106.1 IP) and 127 strikeouts against 19 walks in 18 starts this season. The three-time Cy Young award winner has been with the Dodgers since being drafted as the seventh overall selection in the 2006 First Year Player Draft out of Highland Park High School and is 184 -83 with a 2.48 ERA (671 ER/2439.1 IP) and 2,653 strikeouts.


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If you're interested in purchasing a natural pacifier or teething toy for your child, you might want to opt for one made with all-natural materials. Learn more about your options so you can make an informed selection. Here's what you need to know about natural pacifiers and teething toys.
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However, for some parents, the concerns about what their kids are putting in their mouths do not stop there. As CBS News reported, many are concerned about the presence of the plastics chemical Bisphenol-A in teethers. Studies have connected high amounts of BPA with hormonal changes and health problems, leading to changes in how products like baby bottles and sippy cups are manufactured.
Research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology warned that even products labeled BPA-free may contain low levels of the chemical and other endocrine-disrupting compounds. It's not clear what effect the resulting combining substances might have on small children, but concerned parents may prefer to stick to products made with all-natural ingredients.
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Finding the right pacifier or teething toy for your child could make a big difference in his or her comfort and your peace of mind. If you're not sure what product to select, ask your pediatrician for advice.


text:
So - Has anyone actually heard (like in the last month) that there is going to be new content for D2?
Pinned Locked Moved So - Has anyone actually heard (like in the last month) that there is going to be new content for D2?
0 Likes/28 Replies/738 Views
Original poster The_Vig1lante 69 posts
We heard in 2020 that there wasn't going to be any new content for D2, but there will be presumably in time for Christmas 2021. Since this is Black Friday, was hoping to hear something but have heard nothing.
Adrian-11 799 posts
@the_vig1lante
We heard about Specs revamp and a "new season" and maybe an apparel "event", which are not new content in my book.
If anyone whishes for another WONY, most likely they will deeply disappointed (me included).
@adrian-11 I would have considered a new season new content, but I see your point
LateNiteDelight 531 posts
@adrian-11 your expectations were way too high for a game that was essentially EOL until Ubi pivoted this spring. Most of the original team is off working on other projects, so it's basically Trick & Yannick trying to get a bunch of new folks up to speed as quickly as they can, all while still not being back to full operation.
We are getting a new Game Mode as well.
If we are to get a new paid DLC on the level of WONY, you're probably looking at next Winter or Spring of 2023.
dagrommit 785 posts
@the_vig1lante the new content isn't expected until February: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/the-division/the-division-2/news-updates/76iviwhtPviBcgLnJWt7Uo/an-update-from-the-division-2-team
And yeah, the only way we're getting another WoNY is if it's paid DLC - and there's been no indication that's going to be the case.
echolecter 116 posts
We will get new content in the near future but it will be just that. What most people actually want is new game play, which I doubt will be added but of course I can be wrong. Technically a new weapon, gear set (as if there aren't enough already), colored skins, or clothing is new content. It will also include new seasons but this will probably be the same old manhunt stuff we've been doing last two years since WONY was released.
@echolecter we're getting some type of new game mode. This means it's more than just a season type update - more along the lines of Last Stand, Survival, Piers, or Underground/Summit - for free.
Now, this new game mode could suck, it could simply be fun for a month or two, or it could add solid replayability. We don't know yet - but I personally consider that, along with new story elements [likely via Season/Manhunt], new content - even if others only count new map/missions.
Also, we are getting Heartland later on. While not tied to TD2 or on the level of a The Division X game, it does sound like it's another DLC level project, also free. Ubisoft seems to try and space their similar updates about 2-3 months apart. So for similar, roadmap would be Motherland, TD2, Heartland, then something next fall [Avatar?]?
With Avatar almost ready for primetime, I anticipate that moves Thylander & Co to Star Wars. Then once they've built that base and tweaked Avatar they'll move to TD3. Since that puts TD3 more in line for Spring 2024 or later - I would hope that means Paid DLC 15-18 months from now. I'm thinking we also get Paid Breakpoint DLC next November/December.
V4MPiR1 116 posts
@the_vig1lante The above link is the official statement.
The salient paragraphs of what to expect in the next 3D7H leading up to the "new season" and other 'content' in February appears to be a rehashed unofficial season with a "new" (per prior statement) apparel event:
At the end of Season 7 in December, we will be organizing an in-game event, reintroducing some player-favourite global events, associated with new rewards and an apparel event. We will reveal more information about this event closer to its availability date.
Last but not least, the reveal of the new Season and its associated content, including the new game mode, will happen in January 2022. We can't wait to tell you more about the whole content of this update! To make sure we are building the best experience, we will also organise a dedicated PTS period on PC to collect your feedback and help us put the finishing touches before the release.
As1r0nimo 162 posts
@dagrommit
New content after a year of nothing - it's obviously will be Paid DLC. And I hope, that it will be paid, actually.
@as1r0nimo I'd be fine with a paid expansion, as that would imply something more substantial. But I'm not assuming it will be.
@dagrommit There will be a new game mode. Something big and for the first time in The Division overall.
So it will be paid with a lot of new content.
Otherwise, why would they bother spending a whole year on it?
@as1r0nimo It will probably be free, a sorry for the EOL, then not dance. Breakpoint did the same thing with Motherland. Don't expect anything substantial or paid until 2023.
Which makes me wonder if we're finally getting a dynamic turf war, but I don't want to get my hopes up. I'd actually love it if they reworked Kenley into something fun. Such a cool place, with such an annoying mechanic.
People don't realize how much work is involved in creating games. And while Ubi Bucharest is a large studio, we don't know how many people are working on the new content (they also worked on Far Cry 6, Riders Republic and GR:Frontlines).
@latenitedelight Sorry for what exactly?
last edited by Adrian-11
@as1r0nimo
I would like very much the same as you, but in my opinion, the signals are not very encouraging.
Yes, they talk about game mode (I hope for something dynamic like Piers West), a new season, and some other changes (i.e. Specs, maybe something else). But I don't believe it will be an expansion, with new maps and/or locations or stories.
Yet there is still hope for something good... there are so many low-hanging fruits if they would listen.
It's a shot in the dark, we don't really know... just that their latest blunders don't give good vibes at all.
DutchLMB4ever 158 posts
last edited by DutchLMB4ever
I'm hoping for a lot of Legendary missions but if we get that it's probably only Tidal Basin and National Zoo.
But I keep my hopes up for:
DARPA Research Labs
Liberty Island
Coney Island Ball Park
Camp White Oak
On top of Tidal & National Zoo.
People don't realize how much work is involved in creating games.
To expand on this - a comment from a producer @ Massive:
Metal_Greg 89 posts
Here's a couple quotes from the update on the official site in October. "We remain confident that this content will bring an exciting experience to our players and pave the way for the future of The Division 2 with future title updates coming in 2022." "This title Update will be one of our most ambitious to date."
https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/the-division/the-division-2/news-updates/76iviwhtPviBcgLnJWt7Uo/an-update-from-the-division-2-team
Noxious81 470 posts
(...) So it will be paid with a lot of new content. (...)
I'm wondering whether there are any official sources that have been speaking about the new content being free or paid? Because personally I too think that this content will be and should be paid. Just like "Last Stand", "Survival", and also "Underground" as new game modes were paid DLCs.
I would much more prefer a more refined and more ambitious update for which I have to pay over lazy and lame but free new content. And as they have already stated they seem to be aiming for the ambitious version... so why should a year's hard work be given away for free?
xcel30 410 posts
@noxious81 Well ubisoft is the one that kickstarted (and originally ended) the developtment cycle, if the studio is already being paid out based on the fact they want to revive the game then i think they will be worried about quality, you can make quality free updates and you can make horrible paid updates. Siege and Ghost recon are good examples of both paid and free content quality varying to horrible degrees, just think like this, what if originally all Year 1 content was paid and WONY was free, would you still be saying that was purely because one of them was paid the content was better?
in General Discussion by Merphee
What's one thing you want most in the new upcoming content?
feedback discussion suggestion
One could write threads about the different areas of the game. However, if there was one thing you would want most in the upcoming content, what would it be?
62 Posts 1 Likes
in General Discussion by SuspiciousPixel
New Player Feedback
suggestion feedback discussion
Hey Folks, I hope you are doing wonderful. I recently (a little over a month ago) picked up this game and decided to give it a go.
Here is my feedback and suggestions on some of the game features.
Global Directives
a) Fragile Armor - if you are playing as a healer (future initiative), it's very hard to understand whether the target is in full health or not when they have Fragile Armor stacks. It would be nice to have a visual UI effect that tells me if the target is full and can benefit from the 4 piece set.
b) Scavenged Skills. I don't understand why you would block people from using entire sets of gear. Why would you add something like this into the game? This directive benefits gunplay only and make pure tech builds rather uncomfortable. Additionally, it makes Hard Wired set disabled entirely. It seems like a weird game design when you exclude certain builds or/and make them much more challenging to play than the others. In my understanding, this is your way to control the meta. However, without additional new gear sets and guns, it feels unnecessary and forced. It would be nice to see challenging directives that make the game harder but do not exclude entire builds or make them unplayable.
Raiding.
It's hard to find active guilds that would accept newbies and take them to the raids. Why would you not have an "Advertisement Board" in the main city hubs where people can make an event for other random players to see and sign up. Something like, "Dark Hour's raid at 20:00 (Time Zone) everybody welcome, using discord - sign up". Additionally, it can be used to fill in absentees for active raids. Also, it would be cool if the Raid Leader could see how many times someone cleared the raid to understand the experience. It sounds like a good and fitting idea for the post-apocalyptic world. (I am sure you can find a way to block run sellers).
Recalibration Station
It would be cool to have an "Undo" button. Sometimes I sit at the base and Theorycraft the build. Trying to fit pieces together and see whether it would work. However, once you change Core Attribute, Attribute or Talent, essentially you are stuck with it, but then I change my mind and think that this and that could work better, but now I have to go and re-farm or stick with whatever I have. Not perfect, but can be fixed through simple "Undo". To balance such a feature, you could allow players to undo changes only within the first two hours since the first change or only undo 1-3 times. Then it becomes permanent.
New items and Season Rewards
At this point of the game. I've tried a lot (maybe even most) of the builds I could put my hands on, and learned a lot on youtube and theorycrafted myself. However, I've noticed that new seasons bring nothing new apart from some directives and new investigations. To make the game season more exciting and make people come back and try something new. Why don't you introduce two brand new four-piece sets and a few legendaries each season? You can take Future Initiative, Foundry chest and backpack, raid legendaries, fit them into the open-world and discovery raids, and add them into the Season Reward. Then re-fill the old raids with new legendaries and a four-piece chest and backpack, also add other parts into the open world. It will make people raid again and more. It will make people come back and try old or new legendaries and sets. Each season will fill like a Christmas present, and it is probably cheaper than designing an entire raid and gives people new content until bigger updates (such as new expansion or raid) arrives into the game.
in General Discussion by Rodnaz
New forum , New club , the 6K club
🇵🇹 now on to the 7K !!!


text:
Incumbent Duda extends narrow lead in Polish election cliffhanger
Sunday, 12 July 2020 22:53 GMT
(Adds late poll result)
By Anna Koper and Joanna Plucinska
WARSAW, July 13 (Reuters) - Incumbent Andrzej Duda's marginal lead in Poland's presidential election was widening, a late poll showed on Sunday, a result, which while still uncertain, could have profound implications for Warsaw's relations with the European Union.
The late poll combines exit-poll data with partial official results.
The re-election of Duda, an ally of the ruling nationalists Law and Justice (PiS), is crucial if the government is to implement in full its conservative agenda, including judicial reforms that the European Union says are undemocratic.
Duda's challenger, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, has pledged to repair Poland's relations with Europe and use the presidential veto power to hold back any legislation that would subvert the rule of law.
The late poll by Ipsos showed Duda winning 50.8% of the vote, while Trzaskowski, the candidate of the main opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), had 49.2%.
The late poll showed Duda's lead widening from the 50.4% he had in an exit poll.
"All we need is to count the votes. The night will be tense but I am certain that when the votes are counted, we will win," Trzaskowski told supporters in a park just outside Warsaw's historic Old Town after the exit poll.
Opinion polls before the election had shown the candidates, both 48, neck and neck, with Trzaskowski having closed the gap on Duda, who initially looked like a clear favourite.
Backed by the government, Duda ran an acrimonious campaign, laced with homophobic language, attacks on independent media and accusations levied against Trzaskowski that he would serve foreign interests instead of Poland's.
Duda, a devout believer, had painted himself as a defender of Catholic values and of the government's generous social benefit programmes that have transformed life for many, especially in the poorer rural regions of the country.
He appeared conciliatory on Sunday. "If anyone was offended by anything I did or said in the last five years, not just during the campaign, please accept my apology," he told supporters in Pultusk, a small town north of the capital.
Vote-counting was expected to continue through the night, but the electoral commission said it would not announce partial results as it has done in the past, but only the final result, possibly on Monday.
Borys Budka, the head of Trzaskowski's PO party, said it was "a scandal" that some voters abroad did not receive their mail-in ballots on time. "This a great failure of the state, regardless of who wins," Budka told private broadcaster TVN24.
The election was the first time all voters had a choice to cast ballots by mail, a change in rules necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.
'LETHAL DANGER'
For many religious conservatives in Poland, Trzaskowski came to represent the threats facing traditional values when he pledged to introduce education about LGBT rights in the city's schools.
The archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jedraszewski, told worshippers in the southern city of Czestochowa on Saturday that Poland faced a "lethal danger" from ideologies that seek to undermine the traditional family structure and corrupt children.
Trzaskowski says he seeks a more tolerant Poland and has criticised PiS' rhetoric, vowing to abolish state news channel TVP Info, which critics say gave overt support to Duda in its programming.
"In politics, you should have opponents, not enemies," Trzaskowski said on Sunday. "They thought they had full power, but today they have fear in their eyes."
Duda' re-election to a second five-year term would open up the prospect of three years of uninterrupted rule by PiS, which has controlled the powerful lower house of parliament since 2015, with the next national election scheduled for 2023.
Observers say his defeat could undermine the fragile parliamentary majority that supports the PiS government, raising the spectre of political instability as Poland is coping with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's the first time since 2015 when we are not discussing the scale of a PiS victory but whether it will win at all," said Rafal Chwedoruk, a political analyst.
The election is being closely watched in Brussels.
Before PiS and Duda came to power in 2015, Poland had one of the most pro-European administrations in the bloc's ex-communist east. But it has grown increasingly isolated, with divisions focusing on climate change and migration, in addition to democratic norms.
(Additional reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Marcin Goclowski and Alicja Ptak; Writing by Alan Charlish and Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Frances Kerry, Louise Heavens and Peter Cooney)
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