Spending time with you in your living environment, keeping you company during the day.
Assistance with Daily Living Activities and One-on-One care by a home health aide.
Taking care of your health management through a personalized care plan.
To effective care for you, we must pay attention to your home setting too. It needs to be kept clean and organize.
We'll take care of you in the convenience and comfort of your own home 24/7.


text:
Roma, Gypsies and Travellers
Roma campaigners dismiss Brussels' claim on evictions and expulsions
France and Italy among member states still breaking up camps and deporting EU citizens contrary to announcement, NGOs say
French police enter a caravan belonging to a Roma family during an expulsion operation last August. Campaigners say the European commission is still failing to protect Roma EU citizens. Photograph: Xavier Leoty/AFP/Getty Images
Leigh Phillips in Brussels and Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Thu 25 Aug 2011 13.32 EDT
A year after a succession of countries in Europe began breaking up Roma encampments and expelling hundreds of EU citizens back mainly to Romania, the European commission has claimed it is winning the battle to protect citizens' right to free movement across the bloc.
But advocates of Roma rights have warned Brussels that it is not doing enough to protect Europe's largest minority ethnic group, and that evictions and deportations continue to be carried out, primarily by France and Italy.
The EU executive said it had resolved 90% of identified cases of infringement of freedom of movement since last summer.
The justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, warned that the commission would "not hesitate to speak out" if member states did not properly apply the fundamental right to freedom of movement and safeguard EU citizens "from facing arbitrary or disproportionate expulsion". She said: "Last summer's events were a wake-up call for Europe."
Last July, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was lambasted by the commission and the Vatican when he linked immigration to crime and promised to expel Roma migrants and destroy illegal camps in a bid to tighten security.
More than 70% of illegal Roma encampments were razed and families were offered a financial incentive to leave the country. A year on, French NGOs said that despite such "discriminatory targeting" by the government, there were the same number of Roma in France as before many had returned. But with camps destroyed, people were living in more poverty and worse conditions than ever, amid a climate of fear and intimidation towards them.
The commission says it has since applied pressure on member states to protect the rights of Roma EU citizens to move anywhere in the union.
"I am now satisfied that a majority of member states have fully implemented the EU free movement rules," Reding said, adding that France had now changed its laws to safeguard against arbitrary expulsions and discriminatory treatment.
But the commission announced that it had launched legal action against 10 states, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Poland and the Czech Republic, for not adopting the EU free movement directive into law.
Victoria Vasey, the legal director for the Hungary-based European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), warned: "Expulsions are still primarily occurring in France and Italy. Expulsions continue in Germany as well, but this tends to be of Kosovan Roma citizens, and as such are not covered by EU law.
"The statement from the commission today celebrating its strategies is obviously quite different from what is happening on the ground," she continued. "Contrary to their claims of combatting expulsion, this hasn't happened. There has be little effort so far."
The group's field research showed that, in France, there were fewer 'paid returns' being made compared with last year, but there was a new trend of people being placed in immigration detention centres before being removed.
"And evictions from camps remains ongoing, which was part of Sarkozy's plan of last summer. This creates a climate of extreme harassment so that people are so ground down, life is made impossible, that they leave the country without having to be deported," Vasey said.
"To save the effort for legal procedures for expulsion, the strategy is to chase them out of town. Marseille, in recent weeks, matches this pattern."
According to Médecins du Monde, between June and early August a minimum of 500 Roma were evicted from camps in the southern French port city. A large-scale eviction of around 150 people happened on 11 August.
In Italy, 154 targeted evictions took place in Rome between March and May, affecting 1,800 Roma.
"In Italy the situation is similar – harassment through repeated evictions. But unlike France, where this is part of a national policy, the strategy in Italy is more municipally organised," Vasey said.
"There continues to be a 'nomad state of emergency' in Italy, where prefects have been appointed in various regions and have fairly autonomous powers in dealing with the Roma population."
In Denmark, deportations of EU Roma citizens have often been successfully challenged in the courts. The strategy has been replaced, according to the ERRC, by continued targeting for arrest and harassment of these citizens by the Danish authorities.
"We have seen several examples when a deportation order is struck down, that person is just then arrested on the grounds that they have a banning order in place, even though it has been removed," Vasey said.
Robert Kushen, the group's executive director, said: "One year after President Sarkozy made headlines by declaring war on Roma, his campaign continues and is being replicated in Italy.
"The EU has called for Roma integration but is not enforcing European law that is supposed to protect Roma and all EU citizens against such targeted hostility."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Serious infection risk compared across different biologicals | medwirenews.com Skip to main content
10-01-2019 | Rheumatology | News | Article
Serious infection risk compared across different biologicals
medwireNews: Findings from two registry studies of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suggest that serious infection risk may differ by the type of biological agent used.
The first study, an analysis of a US claims database by Seoyoung Kim and colleagues from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, included 22,496 patients who initiated abatacept or a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor between 2006 and 2015.
They demonstrated that among the 11,248 abatacept-treated patients, 188 hospital admissions due to infection occurred over an average 168 days of follow-up on active treatment, compared with 219 among the 11,248 propensity-matched patients given TNF inhibitors over an average 150 days of follow-up, giving incidence rates of 37 versus 47 per 1000 person–years.
These findings translate into a significant 22% reduced risk for infection among patients treated with abatacept versus TNF inhibitors, which "was driven mostly by infliximab", say the study authors.
When the TNF inhibitors were considered separately, abatacept was associated with a significant 37% lower serious infection risk than infliximab, but there was no significant risk reduction associated with abatacept relative to adalimumab or etanercept.
The researchers conclude in Arthritis Care & Research that "RA patients with specific concerns about infections may benefit from use of abatacept compared to TNF [inhibitors]".
The second study, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, compared the serious infection risk associated with three non-TNF inhibitor biologicals, namely abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab, in RA patients from Denmark and Sweden.
The investigation included 6648 individuals from the DANBIO and ARTIS registries who received 8987 treatment courses – 2725 with abatacept, 3363 with rituximab and 2899 with tocilizumab – from 2010 to 2015. A total of 456 cases of infection requiring hospital admission were reported during the first year of treatment, and 639 cases occurred over 2 years.
Although not statistically significant, Kathrine Lederballe Grøn, from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and co-researchers found numerical differences in infection rates between the different treatment groups.
After adjustment for age and sex, 1-year incidence rates of serious infection in the Danish cohort were highest in patients treated with rituximab, at 8.1 per 100 person–years, followed by abatacept and tocilizumab, at 7.1 and 6.1 per 100 person–years, respectively. The corresponding 2-year rates were 7.5, 6.1 and 5.2 per 100 person–years, and a similar pattern of results was observed in the Swedish database.
While serious infection risk "seemed to vary with drug", the investigators note that "[t]he findings should be interpreted with caution due to the few events and the risk of residual confounding".
They conclude that the results "do not support that one non-TNF [inhibitor] should be recommended over the other for patients with RA at high risk of [serious infections]."
By Claire Barnard
Visit Medicine Matters rheumatology
mwn-floorboxRhum


text:
Q: Writing/reading large vectors of data to binary file in c++ I have a c++ program that computes populations within a given radius by reading gridded population data from an ascii file into a large 8640x3432-element vector of doubles. Reading the ascii data into the vector takes ~30 seconds (looping over each column and each row), while the rest of the program only takes a few seconds. I was asked to speed up this process by writing the population data to a binary file, which would supposedly read in faster.
The ascii data file has a few header rows that give some data specs like the number of columns and rows, followed by population data for each grid cell, which is formatted as 3432 rows of 8640 numbers, separated by spaces. The population data numbers are mixed formats and can be just 0, a decimal value (0.000685648), or a value in scientific notation (2.687768e-05).
I found a few examples of reading/writing structs containing vectors to binary, and tried to implement something similar, but am running into problems. When I both write and read the vector to/from the binary file in the same program, it seems to work and gives me all the correct values, but then it ends with either a "segment fault: 11" or a memory allocation error that a "pointer being freed was not allocated". And if I try to just read the data in from the previously written binary file (without re-writing it in the same program run), then it gives me the header variables just fine but gives me a segfault before giving me the vector data.
Any advice on what I might have done wrong, or on a better way to do this would be greatly appreciated! I am compiling and running on a mac, and I don't have boost or other non-standard libraries at present. (Note: I am extremely new at coding and am having to learn by jumping in the deep end, so I may be missing a lot of basic concepts and terminology -- sorry!).
Here is the code I came up with:
# include <stdio.h>
# include <stdlib.h>
# include <string.h>
# include <fstream>
# include <iostream>
# include <vector>
# include <string.h>

using namespace std;

//Define struct for population file data and initialize one struct variable for reading in ascii (A) and one for reading in binary (B)
struct popFileData
{
    int nRows, nCol;
    vector< vector<double> > popCount; //this will end up having 3432x8640 elements
} popDataA, popDataB;

int main() {

    string gridFname = "sample";

    double dum;
    vector<double> tempVector;

    //open ascii population grid file to stream
    ifstream gridFile;
    gridFile.open(gridFname + ".asc");

    int i = 0, j = 0;

    if (gridFile.is_open())
    {
        //read in header data from file
        string fileLine;
        gridFile >> fileLine >> popDataA.nCol;
        gridFile >> fileLine >> popDataA.nRows;

        popDataA.popCount.clear();

        //read in vector data, point-by-point
        for (i = 0; i < popDataA.nRows; i++)
        {
            tempVector.clear();

            for (j = 0; j<popDataA.nCol; j++)
            {
                gridFile >> dum;
                tempVector.push_back(dum);
            }
            popDataA.popCount.push_back(tempVector);
        }
        //close ascii grid file
        gridFile.close();
    }
    else
    {
        cout << "Population file read failed!" << endl;
    }

    //create/open binary file
    ofstream ofs(gridFname + ".bin", ios::trunc | ios::binary);
    if (ofs.is_open())
    {
        //write struct to binary file then close binary file
        ofs.write((char *)&popDataA, sizeof(popDataA));
        ofs.close();
    }
    else cout << "error writing to binary file" << endl;

    //read data from binary file into popDataB struct
    ifstream ifs(gridFname + ".bin", ios::binary);
    if (ifs.is_open())
    {
        ifs.read((char *)&popDataB, sizeof(popDataB));
        ifs.close();
    }
    else cout << "error reading from binary file" << endl;

    //compare results of reading in from the ascii file and reading in from the binary file
    cout << "File Header Values:\n";
    cout << "Columns (ascii vs binary): " << popDataA.nCol << " vs. " << popDataB.nCol << endl;
    cout << "Rows (ascii vs binary):" << popDataA.nRows << " vs." << popDataB.nRows << endl;

    cout << "Spot Check Vector Values: " << endl;
    cout << "Index 0,0: " << popDataA.popCount[0][0] << " vs. " << popDataB.popCount[0][0] << endl;
    cout << "Index 3431,8639: " << popDataA.popCount[3431][8639] << " vs. " << popDataB.popCount[3431][8639] << endl;
    cout << "Index 1600,4320: " << popDataA.popCount[1600][4320] << " vs. " << popDataB.popCount[1600][4320] << endl;

    return 0;
}

Here is the output when I both write and read the binary file in the same run:
File Header Values:
Columns (ascii vs binary): 8640 vs. 8640
Rows (ascii vs binary):3432 vs.3432
Spot Check Vector Values:
Index 0,0: 0 vs. 0
Index 3431,8639: 0 vs. 0
Index 1600,4320: 25.2184 vs. 25.2184
a.out(11402,0x7fff77c25310) malloc: *** error for object 0x7fde9821c000: pointer being freed was not allocated
*** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug
Abort trap: 6

And here is the output I get if I just try to read from the pre-existing binary file:
File Header Values:
Columns (binary): 8640
Rows (binary):3432
Spot Check Vector Values:
Segmentation fault: 11

Thanks in advance for any help!

A: When you write popDataA to the file, you are writing the binary representation of the vector of vectors. However this really is quite a small object, consisting of a pointer to the actual data (itself a series of vectors, in this case) and some size information.
When it's read back in to popDataB, it kinda works! But only because the raw pointer that was in popDataA is now in popDataB, and it points to the same stuff in memory. Things go crazy at the end, because when the memory for the vectors is freed, the code tries to free the data referenced by popDataA twice (once for popDataA, and once again for popDataB.)
The short version is, it's not a reasonable thing to write a vector to a file in this fashion.
So what to do? The best approach is to first decide on your data representation. It will, like the ASCII format, specify what value gets written where, and will include information about the matrix size, so that you know how large a vector you will need to allocate when reading them in.
In semi-pseudo code, writing will look something like:
int nrow=...;
int ncol=...;
ofs.write((char *)&nrow,sizeof(nrow));
ofs.write((char *)&ncol,sizeof(ncol));
for (int i=0;i<nrow;++i) {
    for (int j=0;j<ncol;++j) {
        double val=data[i][j];
        ofs.write((char *)&val,sizeof(val));
    }
}

And reading will be the reverse:
ifs.read((char *)&nrow,sizeof(nrow));
ifs.read((char *)&ncol,sizeof(ncol));
// allocate data-structure of size nrow x ncol
// ...
for (int i=0;i<nrow;++i) {
    for (int j=0;j<ncol;++j) {
        double val;
        ifs.read((char *)&val,sizeof(val));
        data[i][j]=val;
    }
}

All that said though, you should consider not writing things into a binary file like this. These sorts of ad hoc binary formats tend to live on, long past their anticipated utility, and tend to suffer from:

*

*Lack of documentation

*Lack of extensibility

*Format changes without versioning information

*Issues when using saved data across different machines, including endianness problems, different default sizes for integers, etc.

Instead, I would strongly recommend using a third-party library. For scientific data, HDF5 and netcdf4 are good choices which address all of the above issues for you, and come with tools that can inspect the data without knowing anything about your particular program.
Lighter-weight options include the Boost serialization library and Google's protocol buffers, but these address only some of the issues listed above.

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As a promotional giveaway or as an inventive way of attracting clientele, our custom made rock sweets and personalised rock bars can incorporate your name, message or logo in your corporate colours and choice of delicious flavour. All our promotional candy is made to the highest standard, with your message reproduced in unrivalled clarity. Combining the most up to date manufacturing equipment available in our industry with the artistic flair of our Confectioners, we think that our personalised candy is the best there is.


text:
All categories Board of Health Cemetery Climate Advisory Committee Conservation Division Engineering Fire Department Home - FAQs Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Parks Public Works - Rubbish & Recycling Public Works - Rubbish & Recycling - How do I get rid of... Public Works - Sewer Division Public Works - Streets Real Estate Retirement Board Storm Water Water & Sewer
Climate Advisory Committee
Home - FAQs
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
Public Works - Rubbish & Recycling
Public Works - Rubbish & Recycling - How do I get rid of...
Public Works - Sewer Division
Public Works - Streets
What are some typical storm water devices that qualify for abatements?
Drywells
Infiltration Chambers
Detention Ponds
1. What is storm water?
Storm water is rain water that runs off impervious surfaces such as streets, driveways, parking lots, rooftops, or other tightly packed surfaces. Impervious surfaces reduce the ability of storm water to be absorbed or infiltrate into the ground.
2. Why did Town Meeting and the Board of Selectmen vote to establish a Storm Water Enterprise Fund (SWEF)?
The Town of Reading is required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a stormwater management plan that reduces the discharge of pollutants to our storm water drain system and waterways. The Town is required to be in full compliance with the terms of our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit by 2008 to meet federal and state mandates. The Town established a SWEF to provide a dedicated and adequate source of funding for our stormwater management program.
3. Why is storm water management necessary?
Stormwater often contains surface pollutants including petroleum products, soaps, detergents, and lawn fertilizer which eventually empty into the Aberjona, Ipswich, and Saugus rivers. Effective storm water management also helps reduce flooding and the erosion of river banks.
4. How is the Storm Water Enterprise Fund (SWEF) fee calculated?
Single and Two-Family properties will be billed at a flat rate. All other properties will be assessed an annual storm water fee based on the total amount of impervious surface area on the lot, which will be billed quarterly. Condominium properties will be billed based on the total amount of impervious surface, at a maximum of the single and two-family rate, for each condominium unit. The amount will appear as a separate charge on your quarterly water and sewer bill. The fee will follow for the following different types of property:
Storm Water Fee
Undeveloped No Fee
Single & Two-Family Residences
Flat fee of $15.00 per quarter or ($60.00 annually)
Multi-Family, Commercial / Industrial
Fee is based on Total Impervious Surface Area
5. How is total impervious surface area determined?
Impervious surface areas were measured using the Towns mapping system (GIS). Buildings, driveways, and parking areas, were delineated from aerial photos. The surface area of these features was calculated and will be assessed at a rate of $60 per 3,210 square feet (annually) for multi-family, commercial, and industrial properties.
6. For what purposes will (SWEF) fee revenue be used?
Storm water fee revenue will be used to hire two laborers that will perform stream and detention basin maintenance activities. The SWEF will allow the Department of Public Works to address a backlog of stream and drainage maintenance issues that have not been completed due to staffing and funding limitations. Storm water fees will also fund capital expenditures for drainage system mapping (GIS layer), illicit discharge detection, and general drainage system infrastructure improvements.
7. Will residents be assessed a (SWEF) fee if their property is located on a private way or on a town accepted street that does not have catch basins or storm drains?
Yes, although a property may be located on a private way or on a town accepted street that does not have catch basins or storm drains, the owner will be assessed a storm water fee since the property still produces runoff into the Town's storm water system.
8. Are there certain types of properties that are exempt from the storm water fee?
The Board of Selectmen approved a rate structure as recommended by the Water, Sewer, and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee that does not provide any exemptions for municipal properties, schools, or properties owned by religious or registered non-profit organizations.
Undeveloped property (without impervious surfaces) is the only category of property that will not be assessed a storm water fee.
9. Has the Town made any provisions for storm water abatements?
Yes, to encourage property owners to minimize the amount of runoff from properties and to reduce the amount of pollutants entering Town waterways, the Town has instituted the following storm water abatement program:
Single and two-family residential properties that install and maintain infiltration systems or other means to reduce runoff will be eligible for an abatement of up to 50% of their total assessment.
Commercial / Industrial / Multi-Family
Commercial/ Industrial/ Multi-Family properties that install and maintain state-of-the-art stormwater treatment and infiltration systems will be eligible for an abatement up to 50% of their total assessment.
10. What are some typical storm water devices that qualify for abatements?
11. What are some typical devices that do not qualify for abatements?
Drinking water filtration systems
12. Where can I obtain more information or file for an abatement?
Property owners or condominium associations (on behalf of condominium owners) seeking additional information or would like to file for abatement should contact the Department of Public Works, Engineering Division at Phone Number: 781-942-9082. The Abatement Application Form may be obtained through the Town of Reading website or may be picked up at the Engineering Office at;
Reading Town Hall
13. Is the storm water abatement permanent?
The storm water abatement percentage will only change if the impervious surface area changes.


text:
Annual Meeting – 9 June 2011
Members of The American Club of Sweden are invited to our Club's Annual Meeting to present last year's results, elect new Officers and Board Members, and conduct other Club business. The Meeting is open to Club Members in good standing, is free of charge and will be in the meeting room adjoining the new American Diner at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm.
Members and Guests are then invited to join us thereafter for a happy hour mingle from 6:00-6:30 pm in the Embassy's courtyard (weather permitting) and a tasty barbecue buffet from approximately 6:30 pm. As dessert is served, we will be entertained by the energetic Consensus Gospel Choir. A cash bar will be available throughout the evening for purchase of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. This will be an excellent opportunity for Members to introduce friends and colleagues to The American Club of Sweden, and for those considering membership to meet our Members and newly-elected Board of Directors!
Thursday, June 9th, 2011:
– Annual Meeting from 5:00pm – 5:45pm, for Members only
– Happy hour mingle, barbecue buffet and Consensus Gospel Choir mini-concert from 6:00 – 8:00pm, for Members and Guests (food served from 6.30)
IMPORTANT: Security check-in opens at 4:30pm for the Annual Meeting and at 5:45pm for those arriving for the Happy Hour and dinner. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier than the start time of event you are attending.
U.S. Embassy in Stockholm
Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31, Stockholm
WHAT: Cash bar followed by a buffet of pork, beef, chicken and vegetable skewers, coleslaw, potato salad, corn on the cob, bread and condiments. Carrot cake and coffee will be served for dessert.
There will be no charge to Members attending the Annual Meeting from 5:00 – 5:45 pm. The happy hour mingle immediately following the Annual Meeting will feature a cash bar and will even be available to those not staying for the grill buffet.
The barbecue buffet and dessert will be served from 6.30pm for those who pre-register (sorry, no last-minute walk-ins).
SEK 260 for Members and SEK 300 for Guests and non-Members, beverages are not included except for coffee with dessert. A cash bar will be available for the purchase of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks at your own expense.
INQUIRIES: Leave a message at 08-559 21 709 or email: events@americanclub.se
RSVP:
For security reasons, reservations are required for any or all of the day's activities. The last day to register is Sunday, June 5th. Send an email with the Subject (Ämne) "Annual Meeting 2010" to events@americanclub.se, listing the names of all who are coming and whether they are attending (a) just the Annual Meeting or (b) both the Meeting and barbeque grill. Alternatively, leave a message on the Club message line at 08-559 21 709.
Invoices will be sent to those attending the barbecue grillfest. Reservations for dinner are fully binding and will be invoiced unless cancelled by day-end June 5th. Any cancellations made after this date are not refundable.
ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA (only Members may attend)
1. Election of Chairman and Secretary of the Meeting;
2. The presentation of the Annual Report of the Board;
3. Approval of balance sheet and income statement;
4. Presentation of the auditor's report;
5. Discharge from liability of Board Members for the year;
6. Election of Members of the Board;
7. Election of Officers;
8. Election of the Nominating Committee;
9. Election of up to two auditors;
10. Fixing of annual dues;
11. Other business.
5by11 Celebration !
Price: 150 SEK
Price includes two beverages (wine/beer/soda/water) and appetizers.
Please bring cash – Sorry, we cannot accept credit cards.
Third Thursday networking mingles are hosted by The American Club of Sweden the 3rd Thursday of each month except July. We welcome Members, guests and prospective Members to join us for handshakes and smiles. No reservations are required: Just drop in and don't forget your business cards! Get directions to the hotel here. You should see signs or the Club banner when you enter.
Would you like to showcase your company, product or services at an upcoming Third Thursday? Let us know! Sponsorship is affordable and reaches a broad audience in-person and online.
Questions, or wish to learn more about sponsorship opportunities? Email us at 3T@americanclub.se or leave a message at +46 8-559 21 709
Third Thursday – December 16, 2010
Third Thursday – JOIN US THIS EVENING!
Third Thursday – March 17, 2011
A Soulful Christmas at Fasching – December 9, 2010
When: Thursday, 9 December, 18.00 drinks and dinner, 20.00 performance.
Where: Fasching Jazz Club, http://www.fasching.se/
What: Following last year's successful Soulful Christmas event at Fasching, ACS returns for another celebration of Christmas featuring soul, funk and jazz versions of traditional Christmas Carols and contemporary Christmas music. The show features ANDREAS ALEMAN, whose debut album in 2009 was a major favorite of critics and listeners. The critically acclaimed vocalist, ANNA CHRISTOFFERSSON (renowned for her work with pianist, Steve Dobrogosz), is this year's special guest. Both backed up by the hottest band in Stockholm. Don't miss this chance to have a real American, soulful Christmas!
http://andreasaleman.com/
http://www.annachristoffersson.com/
http://www.eidolon.se/
How: Reservations can be made by mailing: brian@eidolon.se. Payment details will be forwarded to you by ACS member Brian Hobbs. Limited seating available. Registration deadline is 3 December. All registrations are binding. Book now!
Cost: 495 kr includes your ticket to the performance +
One glass of sparkling wine or glögg on arrival
Fasching's Skagen cocktail with Västerbotten flan
Gremolatamarinerad Lammfilé with chevré-roasted potatoes and red wine sauce
Vegetarian alternative available. Please inform Brian Hobbs upon registration at the e-mail address listed above.
Questions: Contact brian@eidolon.se.
ACS Alma Mater Exchange
Alma Maters represented by our membership
Courses of study pursued
American University of Paris BA/Western Philosophy.
BA/English
Barat College
BA/Economics
AB/Geological Sciences
California State University Fresno
BS, PHD
BS/Business Marketing and International Management.
BS/Business Administration.
California State University Sacramento BSW/MSW Social Work
M.A. and M.Phil./Deaf Education
Phd. Candidate, Deaf Education and Applied Linguistics
MIA/School of Intl Affairs
BS College of Agriculture
MBA Johnson School
BA/History of Art and Architecture
AB/Department of Government – International Relations
Grad Course in IP
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Media & Society (journalism)
Ithaca College Communications
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
MA, European Studies
BA/Mechanical Engineering
Miami University English and Sociology
Northwestern University BA/Political Science
Northwestern University School of Communication
BA/
BA/Philosophy
Rice University BA Philosophy
Rutger University
Salem State University
State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at Oswego
BBA/Accounting
Minor/Foreign Languages
St. Louis University School of Law Law
Trinity University International Studies and Political Science
University of California UCLA
BA/Political Science – International Relations
Undergrad, MBA, AB
University of Maryland UMBC
University of Michigan Public Policy
Masters in International Law
LLM – Law School
University of Nebraska Omaha
University of North Florida Business Administration
University of Oregon/Law School
BA/Political Science
University of Southern Mississippi PhD
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
English major
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
M.Ed./Education
Washington and Lee University JD
Wellesley College
BA/English Literature
Double Major/Slavic and International Studies
Above you will find a listing of US colleges and universities represented by our membership. Here you can click through to these colleges and universities to learn more about them. In the far right column you can learn about which courses of study our members pursued at each institution. If you would like to learn more about studying at any of these colleges and universities from someone who has been there, please e-mail us at exchanges@americanclub.se stating what college/university you are interested in and what course of study you would like to pursue. We will put you in touch with the appropriate member(s). This listing has been created with the generous support of the Embassy of the United States in Stockholm.
Need general information about studying in the United States? Look here: http://educationusa.state.gov/
Speaker Series at U.S. Ambassador Barzun's Residence – March 24, 2011
Amelie Silfverstolpe founded Volontärbyrån in 2002 to help people who would like to volunteer to find suitable volunteer opportunities. Today this award-winning organization, now a part of the Swedish Forum for Volontary Social Work, has become an irreplaceable backbone of the non-profit sector in Sweden and has helped more than 25 000 people channel their community engagement to more than a 1 000 non-profits across the country. In recent years, Volontärbyrån´s corporate service arm organizes employee volunteer programs and activities for companies such as Accenture, AstraZeneca and Coca-Cola.
Amelie was a guest last spring in Washington DC of the U.S. State Department's International Visitor's Leadership Program (IVLP), and will share with us her perspectives on volunteerism in the Sweden versus the US. She will be joined in the discussion following her presentation by Peter Bodor of Coca-Cola Sweden, which has successfully partnered with Volontärbyrån over several years to promote CSR and internal team-building.
When: Thursday, March 24th, 17.00-18.30. Security check-in and registration from 16.30-17.00. Note: Program to start promptly at 17.00.
Where: U.S. Ambassador's Residence, Nobelgatan 2, Stockholm
How: ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Please send an email to events@americanclub.se with the Subject "Embassy speaker event". Registration is required by day-end March 22nd, as we are required to provide a participants' list to the Embassy in advance.
Cost: This event is free for American Club Members and their guests courtesy of the U.S. Embassy.
Questions? Contact Board Member Julie Lindahl via email at julie.lindahl@americanclub.se, or call 070 661 0015.
Speaker Series at U.S. Embassy – October 28, 2010
Financial crimes are serious and growing in Sweden. For the last decade Sweden has given high priority to detecting, investigating and tackling this problem and to bringing offenders to justice. Financial investigations ultimately provide one of the tools to learn more about the activities and patterns of behaviour of organized crime groups. Hans Ihrman's presentation will focus on the operative challenges in investigations for police and judicial authorities, and provide us with up-to-date information on the work of multi-agency task forces and public and private sector alliances.
When: Thursday, October 28th 17.00-18.30. Program from approximately 17.15-18.00, followed by a short mingle
Where: U.S. Embassy, Dag Hammarskölds Väg 31, Stockholm
How: Send an email to events@americanclub.se with the Subject "Embassy speaker event". Registration is required by day-end October 26th, as we are required to provide a participants' list to the Embassy in advance for security reasons.
More on Mr. Ihrman's career and work: Mr. Hans Ihrman served as a senior public prosecutor at the International Unit of the Swedish Public Prosecution Authority, from year 1999 until year 2006. In that role, he has investigated and prosecuted complex investigations concerning trafficking in drugs, persons and money. He has also conducted other various investigations including forfeiture and money laundering, international organized crime and international legal assistance in criminal matters. Mr. Hans Ihrman has served in the Swedish Economic Crime Authority since year 2006 and currently holds the position as the Head of the Asset Recovery Office (ARO). At the ARO, Mr. Ihrman is supervising qualified reconnaissance and investigating resources and support the law enforcement, prosecutors, regulatory and intelligence communities through the sharing of operational experiences and information. As the Head of the judicial part of the Swedish ARO and a national member of the global network, Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN), Mr. Ihrman represents Sweden in the international co-operation in recovery of criminal assets and enhancing financial investigations within and outside the EU. Mr. Ihrman has been invited numerous times as a guest speaker on organized crime, trafficking in persons, money laundering and assets forfeiture both in Europe as well as the US. He has written various publications in the purpose to assist law enforcement and prosecutors personnel in their efforts to seize property for forfeiture and has been interviewed on anti-money laundering related topics for different publications.
SOLD OUT! Crayfish Party at US Embassy – September 10, 2010
It just doesn't get much more Swedish than this… !
Whether you're a longtime fan of the Swedish crayfish party or a newcomer who wants to get a REAL taste of Swedish culture, this is the event for you! While official festivities of silly songs and even sillier hats officially start at 19.00, the Marines will be on-hand from 17.00 grilling burgers and selling drinks.
When: Friday, September 10th. Crayfish party from 19.00-01.00, with burgers and drinks on sale by the Marines from 17.00.
Where: US Embassy Stockholm, Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31, Stockholm
What: Crayfish party ("kräftskiva") including food and drink starts at 19.00. Pre-party grill and mingle hosted the Marines from 17.00-19.00. Adults only.
Cost: Members and Guests, 225 SEK for the crayfish party, paid in cash at the door; Pre-party grill and drinks are cash only.
How: Advance registration is required no later than 17.00 Wednesday September 8th, due to Embassy security routines. Email events@americanclub.se marked "Crayfish party" giving the full names of all participants.
Questions? Contact Board Member Tom Kelsey at tom.kelsey@americanclub.se or call 070-549 97 87.
Note: Attendees are advised that they should leave mobile phones and cameras at home, if possible. Otherwise they will be checked at the security gate.
WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN CLUB OF SWEDEN!
ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY PICNIC, JUNE 29TH
3T Midsummer Mixer @ Hilton Slussen, June 20
Festival O/Modernt at Ulriksdals Castle, June 17
Annual General Meeting 2019 at Vasa Museum with Tour and Dinner, June 5th
About the American Club of Sweden
Charity or Community Service
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text:
Square (video game company)
This article is about the video game company. For the electronic payment service, see Square, Inc.
Japanese video game company
Square Co., Ltd.
Merged with Enix
September 1986; 33 years ago (1986-09) [a]
Masafumi Miyamoto
April 1, 2003; 16 years ago (2003-04-01)
Meguro, Tokyo, Japan [2]
Tomoyuki Takechi, Chairman
Hironobu Sakaguchi, EVP (1991-2001)
Hisashi Suzuki, President and CEO (1995-2001)
Yoichi Wada, CFO (June 2000-September 2001), President (December 2001-2003)
See complete products listing
888 (September 2002) [2]
See subsidiaries and related corporations
www.square.co.jp
Square Co., Ltd. (株式会社スクウェア, Kabushiki-gaisha Sukuwea) was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1986 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 to form Square Enix. The company also used SquareSoft as a brand name to refer to their games,[3] and the term is occasionally used to refer to the company itself. In addition, "Square Soft, Inc" was the name of the company's American arm before the merger, after which it was renamed to "Square Enix, Inc".
2 Subsidiaries and related corporations
2.1 In Japan
2.2 Abroad
2.2.1 Square Soft
2.2.2 Square USA
2.2.3 Square Electronic Arts
2.2.4 Square Pictures
3 List of games
Square originated in October 1983 as a computer game software division of Den-Yu-Sha, a power line construction company owned by the father of Masafumi Miyamoto, the eventual founder of Square Co Ltd in 1986. While at the time game development was usually conducted by only one programmer, Masafumi Miyamoto believed that it would be more efficient to have graphic designers, programmers and professional story writers working together on common projects.[4] Square's first two titles were The Death Trap and its sequel Will: The Death Trap II, both designed by part-time employee Hironobu Sakaguchi and released on the NEC PC-8801.[4] Despite an initial reluctance to develop for video game consoles, Square entered the Nintendo Famicom market in December 1985 with the porting of Thexder.[4]
In September 1986, Square spun off from Den-Yu-Sha and became an independent company officially named Square Co., Ltd.[5] Sakaguchi then became a full-time employee as the Director of Planning and Development of the company. After releasing several unsuccessful games for the Famicom, Square relocated to Ueno, Tokyo in 1987 and developed a role-playing video game titled Final Fantasy, inspired by Enix's success with the genre, Dragon Quest (later released in North America as Dragon Warrior).[6] With 400,000 copies sold, Final Fantasy spawned multiple sequels over the years and became Square's main franchise.[4]
Square has also made other widely known games such as Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Secret of Mana, Legend of Mana, Xenogears, Brave Fencer Musashi, Parasite Eve, Parasite Eve 2, Saga Frontier, Romancing Saga, Vagrant Story, Kingdom Hearts (done in collaboration with Disney Interactive), and Super Mario RPG (done under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto).[6] By late 1994 they had developed a reputation as a producer of high quality role-playing video games.[7]
Square was one of the many companies that had planned to develop and publish their games for the Nintendo 64, but with the cheaper costs associated with developing games on CD based consoles such as the Sega Saturn and the Sony PlayStation, Square decided to develop titles for the latter system.[8] Final Fantasy VII was one of these games, and it sold 9.8 million copies, making it the second best selling game for the PlayStation.[6]
On February 8, 2001, due to its first quarterly loss since going public, "the company implemented a restructuring plan for its Japanese corporate staff. Three key figures have been moved around in the company ranks, resigning from their current positions in order to take responsibility for the losses, and have been reassigned to different positions. Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of the Final Fantasy series, will no longer be vice president, and will instead be known as an "executive producer." Additionally, company president Tomoyuki Takeshi will become a contractual consultant for the company, with director Masahi Hiramatsu now taking the role of executive consultant.".[9]
A merger between Square and its competitor Enix was in consideration since at least 2000; however, the financial failure of their first movie, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within made Enix hesitant to join with a company which was losing money.[10] With the company in its second year of financial loss, Square approached Sony for a capital injection and on October, 8th 2001, Sony Corp purchased 18.6% stake in Square to bandage their loss.[11]
In an interview with GIA.com in 2001, when asked "Are you ever worried that Square will become too heavily dependent on the Final Fantasy name?" Hironobu Sakaguchi responded that "Avoiding that has actually been one of Square's goals for a long time. It is our aim to try and develop a few more major franchises for the company; that has always been on our minds."[12]
On November 26, it was reported that Square CEO Hisashi Suzuki was to step down as the company's President and that COO Yoichi Wada was to replace him in December with a restructuring plan for the company.[13]
On May 28, 2002 it was detailed that in Wada's restructuring of the company, that "while Square formally took a development style where teams were formed and dispersed per project, developers will now be fixed into divisions. Source codes and resources will be shared for efficiency, and employees will receive varying bonuses depending on the profit of their division. By settling developers into groups, Square also aims for the developers to re-use the titles they have developed, making game development more cost efficient. Development costs- originally 2-3 Billion yen, are expected to fall to 1 Billion yen." In addition, the company revealed plans to release two Final Fantasy X spinoffs that would later become Final Fantasy X-2.[14][15]
Following the success of both Final Fantasy X and Kingdom Hearts,[16] the company recovered its stability and recorded the highest operating margin in its history in fiscal year 2002.[17] It was announced on November 25, 2002 that Square and Enix's previous plans to merge were to officially proceed. As described by Yoichi Wada "Square has also fully recovered, meaning this merger is occurring at a time when both companies are at their height."[18] Despite this, some shareholders had doubts about the merger, notably Square's original founder and largest shareholder, Masafumi Miyamoto, who would find himself holding significantly less if the two RPG behemoths were to go ahead with the deal.[19] Other criticism came from Takashi Oya of Deutsche Securities who expressed doubts about the benefits of such a merger. "Enix outsources game development and has few in-house creators, while Square does everything by itself. The combination of the two provides no negative factors but would bring little in the way of operational synergies, he said."[20] Masafumi Miyamoto's issue was eventually resolved, by altering the exchange ratio of one Square share for 0.81 Enix shares, thus greenlighting the merger, and on April 1, 2003, Square Enix was formed. [21]
Subsidiaries and related corporations[edit]
In Japan[edit]
The Disk Original Group (DOG) was a union formed of no less than seven Japanese video game companies: Square Company, Limited, Micro Cabin, Thinking Rabbit, Carry Lab, System Sacom, XTALSOFT, and HummingBirdSoft. Founded July 14, 1986, Square took the lead in this alliance to produce games on the Famicom Disk System. Because Square headed DOG, all DOG titles were published under the name Square. In reality, however, Square only produced four of the eleven games published under the DOG label. Excluding Tobidase Daisakusen (The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner in North America) which sold 500,000 copies, the remaining games were commercial failures.
DigiCube was established in February 1996. It was formed to market and distribute games and related merchandising (toys, books, music, etc.) in Asia. It declared bankruptcy in October 2003.
Escape, Inc. was established in 1998. They developed the racing game Driving Emotion Type-S.
Square Visual Works (CG studio), Square Sounds (sound studio), Squartz (quality assurance) and Square Next were all founded in June 1999. All were subsequently absorbed into Square Co., Ltd. in 2001 and 2002. Once Square merged with Enix, Square Visual Works was renamed Visual Works and produces CG animations for Square Enix and Eidos Interactive intellectual properties.
Quest Corporation logo
Quest Corporation was an independent software development studio established in July 1988, best known for the Ogre Battle series. Several team members, including Yasumi Matsuno, Hiroshi Minagawa and Akihiko Yoshida, left Quest in 1997 to join Square, where they worked on several titles for the Sony PlayStation, including Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story. In June 2002, Quest was acquired by Square.[22]
The Game Designers Studio, Inc. (株式会社ゲームデザイナーズ・スタジオ, kabushiki gaisha Geimudezainaazu Sutajio)
Main article: The Game Designers Studio
Abroad[edit]
The logo of Square Soft, Inc.
Square Soft[edit]
Square Soft, Inc. was established as the North American subsidiary of Square in March 1989. It was responsible for both the production and distribution of North American localizations of Square titles during the 16-bit era, and continued to produce English language localizations of Square games in the 32-bit era. It has also been responsible for localizing a number of non-Square titles, including Capcom's Breath of Fire for the SNES. It developed the game Secret of Evermore for the SNES.
Unlike its Japanese parent company or other subsidiaries (such as Square USA), Square Soft was never dissolved and is currently known as Square Enix, Inc.[23][24][25] Square Soft's original headquarters were in Redmond, Washington.[26] Square Enix, Inc. is currently located in El Segundo, California.[27]
Square USA[edit]
Square USA, Inc. (originally Square L.A., Inc.) was established in August 1995. It operated as a high-end computer-generated imagery research and development studio, and was integral in the production of graphics for Square-produced games since the beginning of the 32-bit era. Its headquarters were in Los Angeles, California and Honolulu, Hawaii. Like sister company, Square Soft, Inc., Square USA was a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Co., Ltd.
Square Europe, Limited was established in December 1998 to localize and market Square-developed games in Europe and Australia. Located in London, UK, Square Europe was granted exclusive publishing rights in Europe and other PAL territories for all interactive entertainment titles developed by Square.
Square Electronic Arts[edit]
Square Electronic Arts, LLC, also known as Square EA, was a joint venture between Square and U.S. video game publisher Electronic Arts to distribute each other's games in North America and Japan respectively. Announced on April 27, 1998, Square EA was based in Costa Mesa, California and operated under the supervision of Square president and CEO Jun Iwasaki, and was responsible for publishing and marketing all games produced by Square in North America. Conversely, Electronic Arts Square, K.K., formed at the same time and based in Japan, was responsible for publishing and marketing games produced by Electronic Arts in Asia. Under the terms of the agreement, Electronic Arts owned 30 percent of Square EA, and Square owned 30 percent of EA Square.
Square EA proved to be very successful, and during its five years of existence released a higher proportion of localized Square titles to the American market than ever before. EA Square, on the other hand, was somewhat less successful, and struggled to make an impact on the Asian video game market, which has been traditionally difficult for American game developers to break into. During its five year run, EA Square handled the Japanese releases of games such as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Quake III: Team Arena, SSX and its sequel SSX Tricky, and various video games based on the Star Wars franchise. EA Square had also developed a game, X-Squad, which was released for the PlayStation 2 during its launch.
Following the announcement of the merger between Square and former competitor Enix in 2003, Square purchased back Electronic Arts' stake in Square EA, and folded it back into Square Soft, Inc., its North American subsidiary, which was subsequently renamed Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. (now Square Enix, Inc.) and continues to publish Square Enix's titles in North America. Conversely, EA did the same with Square's stake in EA Square, which was subsequently renamed Electronic Arts K.K., and continues to publish EA's titles in Japan.
Square Pictures[edit]
Square Pictures was located in Honolulu, Hawaii and specialized in computer-animated films for Square. They started in 1997,[28] with the goal to eventually "incorporate the movie division's technical advances into its games, spinning a cycle of creativity with games inspiring movies that in turn improve games."[29] In 1998 it was announced that Square was partnering with Sony/Columbia to bring a full-length Final Fantasy movie to theaters "in the ambitious goal to be the first to simulate human emotions and movements through computer graphics."[30] and in late 2000, the film was revealed as Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Sony released the film on July 11, 2001, but could only muster mixed reviews. Massive cost overruns resulted in the film's box-office failure.
They also created a short film for the Wachowskis that was a prequel to The Matrix Reloaded titled the Final Flight of the Osiris. The short featured photo realistic characters, just as The Spirits Within, performing acrobatic moves in action sequences. The film was shown in theaters alongside Dreamcatcher and was meant to set the stage for the two Matrix sequels. The short was released on DVD on June 3, 2003 as part of The Animatrix. Square Pictures is now a consolidated subsidiary of Square Enix.[31]
List of games[edit]
Main article: List of Square video games
Note[edit]
^ On April 24, 1991, Square was merged into another company that was established on July 11, 1966 which became the new Square Co., Ltd. It is that company which merged with Enix in 2003.[1]
List of Square Enix video game franchises
^ "Square Enix 2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Square Enix. 2019. p. 29. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20030410002227/http://ir.square.co.jp/index_kaisha.html
^ "Nvidia and Square Partner to Bring Final Fantasy XI to the PC". Nvidia Corporation. September 19, 2002. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012.
^ a b c d Fujii, Daiji (January 2006). "Entrepreneurial choices of strategic options in Japan's RPG development" (PDF). Faculty of Economics, Okayama University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-08. Retrieved 2008-04-26. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ "Corporate History". Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
^ a b c "Square Enix Company Timeline". Retrieved 2009-03-05.
^ "Chrono Trigger". Electronic Gaming Monthly (66): 22. January 1995.
^ IGN staff (December 11, 1996). "Sony Officially Announces Alignment With Square". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
^ "IGN > Square Does the Management Reshuffling". IGN. February 9, 2001. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
^ "RPGamer > Square-Enix Gives Chrono Break Trademark Some Playmates". Rpgamer.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
^ "IGN> Sony buys stake in Square". IGN.com. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
^ "Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi>Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi". GIA.com. October 4, 2001. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
^ "RPGamer> Square's President Bows Out". RPGamer. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
^ "Square Announces Final Fantasy X Spinoffs, Company Restructure to take place". Mad Man's Cafe.com. May 28, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
^ Bramwell, Tom (30 May 2002). "Square Announces Final Fantasy X Spinoffs, Company Restructure to take place". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
^ "Square Expects Strong Financial Results". RPG Fan. 2002. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
^ "Square Enix Financial data" (PDF). Square Enix. July 30, 2003. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
^ "Square and Enix to merge". IGN.com. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
^ "Trouble in paradise". RPGamer. January 11, 2003. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
^ "Japan Game Software Firms Square, Enix to Merge". GameCubicle.com. November 26, 2002. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
^ "Square Enix Merger gets greenlight". RPGFan. January 14, 2003. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
^ "Square Completes Acquisition of Quest". IGN. 2002-06-19. Archived from the original on 2006-02-26. Retrieved 2005-01-18.
^ http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/library/pdf/ar_2014_11corporate.pdf
^ https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=6843095
^ "Square Enix Annual Report for 2004" (PDF). Square Enix. 2004. p. 67. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
^ Gurka, John (May 1995). "A Day in the Life of Square". Electronic Gaming Monthly (70): 72–74.
^ http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/company/group.html
^ Cruz, Cathy S. (July 2001). "Finally, The Fantasy". Hawaii Business Magazine. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
^ "Wired.com". Retrieved 2014-01-02.
^ "Gamespot". Retrieved 2014-01-02.
^ "Square-Enix Co, LTD. Annual Report 2007" (PDF). pp. 29, 30, 53. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
Chun, Michelle (March 18, 2002). "SquareSoft: What's Behind the Hype? A Case History" (PDF). Stanford University. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
Square Co., Ltd Official website (archives) Wayback Machine
Square Soft Inc Official website (archives)
Square USA Official website (archives)
History of Enix and Square (Square Enix's site)
Square Enix Europe
Beautiful Game Studios
Eidos Montréal
Square Enix Montreal
Luminous Productions
Tokyo RPG Factory
Gangan Comics
PlayOnline
Visual Works
Lists of video games
Shinji Hashimoto
Akitoshi Kawazu
Hiroyuki Ito
Takashi Tokita
Yoichi Wada
DigiCube
Eidos Hungary
The Game Designers Studio
Quest Corporation
DS:Style
Localization of Square Enix video games
Luminous Studio
NESiCAxLive
NESYS
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Square_(video_game_company)&oldid=932362591"
Defunct video game companies
Video game companies of Japan
Video game development companies
Software companies based in Tokyo
Video game companies established in 1986
Video game companies disestablished in 2003
1986 establishments in Japan
2003 disestablishments in Japan
Defunct media companies of Japan
CS1 errors: missing periodical
Articles containing Japanese-language text


text:
John Leo:
[T]he apparent wave of racist graffiti at Oberlin College was yet another campus hoax. So were the anti-Semitic and anti-gay graffiti and the reported sighting of a white-sheeted Klansman on campus. The sightings seemed unlikely at the time, yet they caused a day of class cancellations and fostered much hand-wringing about the persistence of racism and bigotry at one of the nation's left-most colleges.
The Oberlin Police Department identified Dylan Bleier, a leftist student and former head of a voter registration drive for President Obama, and his partner in the spree, Matt Alden, as two of the principal architects of the Oberlin hoax.
As we wrote back in March the staging of hoaxes can seem irresistible, "Fake rapes and fake attacks on minorities are no longer unusual on campuses. One reason is the post-modern theory that there is no truth, only voices and narratives. If the narrative is all-important, why bother with facts? Why not sell the narrative directly ?" Shortly after the graffiti appeared. Oberlin announced that two unidentified students, no longer on campus, were responsible. But the college released no details, leaving the implication that racists had written the graffiti. The administration should be asked when it knew it was a hoax and why it took so long to tell us the truth.
The Oberlin hoax is of course only one of many leftist hoaxes involving fake "hate-crimes". Here's a list of the spate of recent fake leftist "hate crime" allegations.
What amazes me is the utter immorality of the left. They lie shamelessly, and so often without adverse consequence to themselves. Our government does it regularly-- Clapper's lie to congress and Hillary's lies on Benghazi are only a few of the most obvious shameless lies. The global warming hoax is a clear example in the scientific community. The simple fact that there has been no global warming whatsoever for almost two decades is rarely even mentioned, let alone weighed, by warmist propagandists.
In the Oberlin hate-crime hoax, consider that Oberlin College administrators knew early on that the whole hate crime business was a leftist hoax, yet for a long time remained silent about that fact and about the details. The Oberlin administrators, including the president of the college, were participants in the hoax, after the fact.
Leo offers an interesting explanation for the very disturbing tendency for the left to lie without shame. In the post-modernist view, it is the narrative, not the facts, that matter.
The Trayvon Martin hoax-- that Martin was murdered by a white man for racial reasons and that such white-on-black violence is a real threat to blacks-- is a fine example of narrative eclipsing facts. It's worth pointing out that creation of fact-free narratives without shame or apology is a hallmark of totalitarians, as Orwell knew well.
So, conservatives never tell lies? Or, liberals always tell lies? Or, liberals tell lies more often than conservatives? Which is it?
A perfect case of confirmation bias. Noticing and remembering cases of liberals telling lies and ignoring or forgetting cases of conservatives telling lies.
Or assuming that someone caught telling lies has to be a liberal and not a conservative.
Egnor declares a group of people immoral simply because he disagrees with their political views. This is known as bigotry.
Egnor is full of hate.
I made no reference whatsoever to the political views of the Left in my post.
I referred to many instances of obvious fraud.
I disapprove of fraud.
You hate liberals. That about sums you up. Under a veneer of religious piety lives a man full of hate.
Pretty funny, Hoo.
I point out many examples of leftists who falsely accuse people of hate crimes, and you reply by accusing me of hate.
If you "disapprove of fraud," you should point out instances of fraud both on the left and on the right. It's not like fraud does not exist on the right. By choosing to focus on the fraud perpetuated by liberals only, you make it clear what your goals are.
I see your point. It was so hateful of me to do that.
It was indeed. You claim to be fighting against fraud. Instead, you fight against the left. By whatever means you deem necessary.
You are a small man, Dr. Egnor. Politics trumps everything for you.
Hoots: "It's not like fraud does not exist on the right."
Examples, pls.
Nurse, give admiral Saturday's New York Times!
Trump University Made False Claims, Lawsuit Says.
The New York State attorney general's office filed a civil lawsuit on Saturday accusing Trump University, Donald J. Trump's for-profit investment school, of engaging in illegal business practices.
The lawsuit, which seeks restitution of at least $40 million, accused Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization and others involved with the school of running it as an unlicensed educational institution from 2005 to 2011 and making false claims about its classes in what was described as "an elaborate bait-and-switch."
A lawsuit filed against Trump University? Is that the best you can do, Hooter?
What about this lawsuit that was filed:
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration on Tuesday over the National Security Agency's ongoing data collection.
People file lawsuits all the time Toots. Believe it or not, not all are winners.
And if he refuses to read the NYT as a liberal rag, give him Washington Times.
Virginia man pleads guilty to voter fraud in Gingrich case
A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to forging thousands of signatures in trying to get former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on the ballot in the state's 2012 presidential primary, an NBC affiliate in Charlottesville reported.
In December 2011, Adam Ward, 28, collected more than 11,000 signatures, according to prosecutors, but investigators could not verify more than 4,000 of them, WVIR reported.
Mr. Ward has pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud and perjury.
Good example! We need to fix the voting laws, don't we?
LOL, admiral, do you think Trump University is not a diploma mill? I know you are an idiot, so perhaps you do.
So there is fraud on the right, admiral? You have learned something today!
But we're not done, guys. Nooo, we're just getting started!
Jack Villamaino, Former GOP Candidate, Gets 4 Months In Jail For Felony Voter Fraud
In the midst of his 2012 GOP primary campaign for a Massachusetts state House seat, Jack Villamaino changed the party affiliation of nearly 300 people in his town of East Longmeadow. Days later, the same number of absentee ballot requests were dropped off at the town clerk's office, a list that was almost a "name-for-name match" for those whose registration information Villamaino had altered.
Earlier this week, Villamaino pleaded guilty to felony charges of stealing ballots and changing the party affiliation of 280 Democrats during his campaign for state representative. A judge sentenced him to a year in jail, only four months of which he'll be forced to serve behind bars.
Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan Navy August 26, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Prolific today, eh? But still easy.
Hoots toots: "[is] Trump University... a diploma mill?"
As far as I can tell, they did not claim to be a degree-granting institution, which means they can't have been a "diploma mill" by definition. What diplomas did they offer?
And did I say there wasn't fraud on the right? Point me to that text. Strawman.
Hoots toots: "Jack Villamaino, Former GOP Candidate, etc. etc."
That's terrible! I think we need to show ID at the voting booth and tighten down absentee and early voting. I'm sure you agree.
Short-time memory loss, admiral? Right here you questioned my assertion that fraud exists on the right.
Forgot to take your meds?
Asking for examples is questioning an assertion? Hardly. You forgot who you're communicating with. I'm not your Mom, silly boy.
Now what about those voting laws?
Oh yeah, and what diplomas did T.U. offer?
LOL, when in trouble, change the subject. Voting laws have nothing to do with this thread's subject. We're talking fraud here. Which for some reason only seems to exist on the left. At least in the small mind of our host.
So get back on topic, old fart.
Oh, now you're the comment thread police? So turn me in if your little snout is quivering.
What diplomas did T.U. offer?
What about those voting laws?
Here is a Trump University certificate, my silly old friend.
That's what you call a "diploma"? Where are you going to school? Boogaloo University?
Yes, I call that a diploma.
Here is a definition of a diploma from Merriam-Webster:
a document bearing record of graduation from or of a degree conferred by an educational institution.
All that higher education didn't do you any good, admiral.
Time to change the subject, admiral? LOL
Admiral falls silent. Let's fill the pause with some more information about Trump University.
Even though Trump University was notified by the New York State Education Department ("NYSED") as early as 2005 that these practices violated New York law, Trump University did not change its name until May 2010 and never received a license to operate in the state. As a result, many students believed they were attending a University, when they were not. This misconception was reinforced by Trump University's use of a University-like seal on much of its material and awarding diploma-like Certificates of Completion bearing Donald Trump's signature.
Egnor:
What amazes me is the utter immorality of the left. They lie shamelessly, and so often without adverse consequence to themselves.
Seriously? You lie on this blog all the time. You deny the Holocaust, you repeat the lies of the Discovery Institute, you blame all bad things on the "left", etc etc. You are a despicable liar. You're lucky Jeebus doesn't really exist or you would fry in hell.
mregnor August 26, 2013 at 7:49 PM
Deny the Holocaust?


text:
Porsche 911 Magazine Episode 7 – SPEED – Video
How the Porsche Motorsport Team drives home spectacular record times with the 911 GT3 RS. Two Frenchmen set out in pursuit of an extraordinary record. Race car driver Christina Nelson looks forward to Le Mans in a Porsche. What's more: The 911 GT1 Evo and its extraordinary history. 9:11 Magazin dedicates this episode to "Speed."
Four laps, four sub-seven-minute times. The 911 GT3 RS masters its trial-by-fire on the Nürburgring with flying colors – the new record: 6:56.4. That's a whopping 24 seconds faster than its predecessor. The Porsche Motorsport team reveals what lies behind such power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENV34VRKIDk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCp-4z7y4jo
Chapter 2 reconstructs the history of a bold record attempt. In 1978, Jean-Claude Rude wanted to become the fastest cyclist in the world and reach 240 km/h – in the slipstream of a Porsche 935. Behind the wheel: No less a figure than Le Mans legend Henri Pescarolo …
In chapter 3, the wheels turn even faster. Race car driver Christina Nielsen was practically born with a love for speed. Today she is living out her passion on the race tracks of the world and will be in the field at the 2018 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche. 9:11 Magazin accompanied the steely Dane on a visit to her homeland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xouDXELHovM
Bringing speed to paper – a feat accomplished by former Porsche graphic designer Erich Strenger. His race posters celebrated Porsche racing triumphs around the world and played a defining role in shaping the public image of the brand. Today the signs are popular collector's objects – and document the unforgotten successes from countless races.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XqFc_ZgZcg
Episode 7 ends with an especially rare vehicle: Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution. That this race car was even allowed for road use is down to a very special rule …
CUPRA TCR & Ducati Corse – Video
2019 Skoda Kodiaq RS Nurburgring Lap – Video


Got a short training week?
It happens to us all the time.
Work, kids, unexpected emergencies. But you can't let life keep you from reaching your training goals!
How do you manage shorter training weeks then?
The secret is High Volume Workouts.
This is a workout that includes several body parts in a superset format. It also takes longer to get done.
But if you know the week is short, you have to commit to spending more time training on the days you can yo!
How to do the workout: All are in a superset/circuit format. Take minimal rest between sets, shoot for moderate weight, moderate to high rep range (muscle failure zone).
Finisher: 30 minutes elliptical or other cardio machine with upper body movement.
Get my complete training program that is so flexible, you can create your own High Volume Workouts anytime you are in a time crunch.


"Yesterday I know you heard from the Attorney General about the next steps from the Justice Department [George Zimmerman verdict] and the need for a national dialogue," she said.
Thanks to Moonbattery for the hoodie graphic.
Linked at The Lonely Conservative who asks why Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have not called the victim survivors of the Ft. Hood killings.
Linked at Grumpy Opinions – along with Rubio Shifts Focus on Immigration. Read it here.
Linked at My Daily Musings along with other headlines. Read them here.
If only the media, Obummer and Clinton had exhibited the interest and sympathy for Chris Stevens and Benghazi Four as they have for Trayvon Martin. After all, O and C were partially responsible for the deaths in Benghazi – least we forget.
Same goes for fast and furious and all that died with U.S guns. Great snarky post.
Great pic! Sad that we have to try to shame the MSM and our elected officials into doing their duty.


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Preparations had been ongoing for months for our EPIC cross-country trip. Never mind that three weeks prior to leaving I broke my right ankle, or that a few days before leaving Erin came down with a nasty stomach virus, or that the SUV we are using to pull the camper needed a new water pump the day before we left. All that is now behind us — well, I'm still in a boot and Erin is still in pain, but never mind — we are off! First stop, New Orleans!
After 12 hours of stopping, I mean, driving, we arrived at the RV park where we would be staying on the coast of Lake Pontchartrain. We were a bit nervous driving down the road leading to the park as it was very industrial with rusted out buildings along the waterfront. In fact, the resort turned out to be newly built and really quite nice with palm trees and hibiscus in abundance.
Setup of the camp site was quick and easy, but Erin had suffered along the ride, so as soon as the bed was down she went right to sleep. Nancy, Sean, and I headed over to check out the pool and Jacuzzi. After a couple of drinks and some late night Taco Bell, we all settled down to a good night's sleep.
This entry was posted in TRAVEL and tagged landscapes, sunrise.


text:
from common import messages
from common import profile
from common import util
from common.tests import ViewTestCase

class SmokeTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_popular_channel_public(self):
    l = profile.label('channel_get_public')
    r = self.login_and_get(None, '/channel/popular')
    l.stop()
    self.assertContains(r, "Posts in #popular")
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_wrong_case(self):
    r = self.login_and_get(None, '/channel/POPular')
    self.assertContains(r, "Posts in #popular")
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_popular_channel_logged_in(self):
    l = profile.label('channel_get_logged_in')
    r = self.login_and_get('popular', '/channel/popular')
    l.stop()
    self.assertContains(r, "Posts in #popular")
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_rss_and_atom_feeds(self):
    r = self.client.get('/channel/popular')
    self.assertContains(r, 'href="/channel/popular/rss"')
    self.assertContains(r, 'href="/channel/popular/atom"')

class NonExistentTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_nonexist_channel_logged_out(self):
    r = self.client.get('/channel/doesntexist')
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/create', target_status_code=302)
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/login?')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_nonexist_channel_logged_in(self):
    r = self.login_and_get('popular', '/channel/doesntexist')
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/create')
    self.assertTemplateUsed(r, 'create.html')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class IndexTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_channel_index(self):
    self.login('unpopular')
    r = self.client.get('/channel')
    self.assertTemplateUsed(r, 'index.html')
    self.assertContains(r, 'Create a New Channel')
    self.assertContains(r, 'No channels')  # nothing administered
    self.assertContains(r, '#popular')     # one followed
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_channel_index_logged_out(self):
    r = self.client.get('/channel')
    self.assertTemplateUsed(r, 'index_signedout.html')

    # Public / recent channels not currently displayed
    self.assertContains(r, 'Want your own')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class CreationTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_create_new_channel_logged_out(self):
    r = self.client.post('/channel/create', {'channel_name': 'broken'})
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/login')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_create_new_channel(self):
    # 'Create a new channel' post doesn't really create a channel, but
    # shows a page that allows you to create a channel by posting a first message
    # to it.
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/create',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel': 'broken',
                          'channel_create': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_create'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/broken')
    self.assertTemplateUsed(r, 'history.html')
    self.assertTemplateUsed(r, 'message_form.html')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_create_channel_already_exists(self):
    # 'Create a new channel' post doesn't really create a channel, but
    # shows a page that allows you to create a channel by posting a first message
    # to it.
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/create',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel': 'popular',
                          'channel_create': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_create'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'Name of the channel is already in use')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_first_post_to_create_channel_logged_out(self):
    r = self.client.post('/channel/fastfingers', {'message': 'First post!'})
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/create', target_status_code=302)
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/login')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_first_post_to_create_channel(self):
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/fastfingers',
                         {'channel': '#fastfingers@example.com',
                          'message': 'First post!',
                          '_nonce':
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'set_presence'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/create')
    self.assertTemplateUsed(r, 'create.html')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_recreate_deleted_channel(self):
    self.login('popular')

    # First, delete a channel.
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/settings/delete',
                         {
                           'actor_remove' : '',
                           'nick' : '#popular@example.com',
                           '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'actor_remove'),
                         })
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel')
    self.assertContains(r, 'Deleted')  # Pre-condition

    r = self.client.post('/channel/create',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel': 'popular',
                          'channel_create': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_create'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'Name of the channel is already in use')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_create_new_channel_with_trailing_whitespace(self):
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/create',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel': 'whitespace ',
                          'channel_create': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_create'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/whitespace')
    self.assertContains(r, 'Channel created')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_create_new_channel_with_funny_chars(self):
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/create',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel': 'weird_',
                          'channel_create': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_create'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'Invalid channel')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_create_new_channel_short(self):
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/create',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel': '2',
                          'channel_create': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_create'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'Invalid channel')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class ChannelJoinTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_join_channel(self):
    self.login('annoying')  # pick a user that is NOT a member
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular',
                         {'nick': 'annoying@example.com',
                          'channel_join': '',
                          'channel' : '#popular@example.com',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('annoying', 'channel_join'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/popular')
    self.assertContains(r, 'You have joined')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_join_channel_already_member(self):
    self.login('popular')  # pick a user that is a member
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular',
                         {'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'channel_join': '',
                          'channel' : '#popular@example.com',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'channel_join'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'already a member')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class ChannelDeleteTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_delete_channel_as_admin(self):
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/settings/delete',
                         {'nick': '#popular@example.com',
                          'actor_remove': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'actor_remove'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel')
    self.assertContains(r, messages.flash('actor_remove'))
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_delete_channel_as_member(self):
    self.login('unpopular')

    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/settings/delete',
                         {'nick': '#popular@example.com',
                          'actor_remove': '',
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('unpopular', 'actor_remove'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'not allowed')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class ChannelLeaveTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_leave_channel(self):
    self.login('unpopular')
    # TODO(tyler): Figure out why get doesn't work (since the request is
    #              generally issued as a get).
#    r = self.client.get('/channel/popular?part=%23popular%40example.com')

    # TODO(tyler): Figure out why escaping the url, while *required* for users
    #              does *not* work here!
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular',
                         {'nick': 'unpopular@example.com',
                          'channel_part': '',
                          'channel' : '#popular@example.com',
                           '_nonce' :
                               util.create_nonce('unpopular', 'channel_part'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/popular')
    self.assertContains(r, 'left the channel')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_leave_channel_not_member(self):
    self.login('annoying')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular',
                         {'nick': 'annoying@example.com',
                          'channel_part': '',
                          'channel' : '#popular@example.com',
                           '_nonce' :
                               util.create_nonce('annoying', 'channel_part'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'not a member')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class SettingsTest(ViewTestCase):
  page_to_template_extension = {
    '' : 'index',
    '/details' : 'details',
    '/photo' : 'photo',
    '/design' : 'design',
    '/delete' : 'delete',
  }

  def test_settings_all_pages_logged_out(self):
    for page in self.page_to_template_extension:
      r = self.client.get('/channel/popular/settings' + page)
      r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/login')

  def test_settings_all_pages_logged_in(self):
    self.login('popular')
    for page, template_extention in self.page_to_template_extension.iteritems():
      r = self.client.get('/channel/popular/settings' + page)
      self.assertTemplateUsed(
          r,
          'settings_%s.html' % template_extention)
      self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_settings_channel_not_exist(self):
    self.login('popular')
    for page, template_extention in self.page_to_template_extension.iteritems():
      if page == '/delete':
        # See note in views.py for the issue with the delete page.
        continue
      r = self.client.get('/channel/nonexist/settings' + page)
      # TODO(termie): it redirects twice and this function doesn't handle that
      #r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/nonexist')
      #self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_settings_delete_channel(self):
    self.login('popular')
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/settings/delete',
                         {
                           'actor_remove' : '',
                           'nick' : '#popular@example.com',
                           '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'actor_remove'),
                         })
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel')
    self.assertContains(r, 'Deleted')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_settings_details(self):
    self.login('popular')
    external_url = 'http://example.com'
    description = 'test desc'
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/settings/details',
                         {'channel_update': '',
                          'channel': '#popular@example.com',
                          'description': description,
                          'external_url': external_url,
                          '_nonce': util.create_nonce('popular',
                                                       'channel_update'),
                          }
                         )
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/popular/settings/details')
    self.assertContains(r, description)
    self.assertContains(r, external_url)
    self.assertWellformed(r)

  def test_settings_details_bad_url(self):
    self.login('popular')
    external_url = 'javascript:alert(1);'
    description = 'test desc'
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/settings/details',
                         {'channel_update': '',
                          'channel': '#popular@example.com',
                          'description': description,
                          'external_url': external_url,
                          '_nonce': util.create_nonce('popular',
                                                       'channel_update'),
                          }
                         )
    self.assertContains(r, 'Invalid url')
    self.assertWellformed(r)

class CommentTest(ViewTestCase):
  def test_post_and_delete_comment_logged_in(self):
    self.login('popular')

    # Is there a better way to get the correct url?
    comment = 'This is the comment'
    r = self.client.post('/channel/popular/presence/13345',
                         {'stream': 'stream/#popular@example.com/presence',
                          'entry': 'stream/#popular@example.com/presence/13345',
                          'nick': 'popular@example.com',
                          'entry_add_comment' : '',
                          'content' : comment,
                          '_nonce' :
                              util.create_nonce('popular', 'entry_add_comment'),
                          }
                         )

    self.exhaust_queue_any()

    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/popular/presence/13345?flash')
    self.assertContains(r, comment)
    self.assertContains(r, 'Comment added')

    # Now delete what we just added
    r = self.assertGetLink(r, 'confirm-delete', link_no=1, of_count=2)
    r = self.assertRedirectsPrefix(r, '/channel/popular/presence/13345?flash')
    self.assertContains(r, 'Comment deleted')


text:
Double-Dip La Niña Emerges in Pacific Ocean
Science World News
A La Niña has developed and will extend through the second winter in a row, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, a division of NOAA's National Weather Service.
La Niña is a natural ocean-atmospheric phenomenon marked by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator and is translated from Spanish as "little girl."
La Nina is one part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which is characterized by opposing warm and cool phases of oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Consecutive La Ninas, or "double-dip" La Niñas, follow a transition through ENSO neutral conditions and are not uncommon. In 2020, La Niña developed during the month of August and then dissipated in April 2021 as ENSO-neutral conditions returned.
Typical influence of La Niña on Pacific and Atlantic seasonal hurricane activity.
Map by NOAA Climate.gov, based on originals by Gerry Bell.
During La Niña, cold waters in the Pacific push the jet stream northward, which tends to lead to drought in the southern U.S. and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. La Niña can also lead to a more severe Atlantic hurricane season, but typically suppresses hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific basins due to stronger vertical wind shear.
"Our scientists have been tracking the potential development of a La Niña since this summer, and it was a factor in the above-normal hurricane season forecast, which we have seen unfold," said Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. "La Niña also influences weather across the country during the winter, and it will influence our upcoming temperature and precipitation outlooks."
This latest La Niña is expected to last through the early spring 2022. For the upcoming winter season, which extends from December 2021 through February 2022, there is an 87% chance of La Niña.
Previous La Niñas occurred during the winter of 2020-2021 and 2017-2018, and an El Nino developed in 2018-2019. When neither climate pattern is present, ENSO is neutral and does not influence global climate patterns.
Related Topics:Double-DipEmergesinlaNiñaOceanPacific
Western Australia Logs Fifth Snowfall of the Year (Second-Highest on Record), A Foot of Spring Snow Hits New Zealand, Record Cold Sweeps Seattle, + Half of Kashmir is Currently 'White'
WHO honours Henrietta Lacks, whose cells changed medicine


The hallmarks of the Jan Kalyan Eye Hospital Research And Educational Institute are quality care and productivity at prices that everyone can afford. A core principle of the Jan Kalyan Eye Hospital Research And Educational Institute is that the hospital must provide services to the rich and poor alike, yet be financially self-supporting. This principle is achieved through high quality, and a well-organized system.
Jan Kalyan Eye Hospital Research And Educational Institute began in 1978 under the leadership OF Dr. J. P Gupta under agesis of Jan Kalyan AAnkh Ka Aspatal Samiti . At Jan Kalyan Eye Hospital Research And Educational Institute great stress is placed on maximum utilisation of resources.
With average OPd of 220 patients per day and total ocular and extraocular patients of 50 per day, JAN KALYAN EYE HOSPITAL EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE care system caters to 80, 324 and total ophathalmic surgery of 18460 .


text:
John Currie Finally Breaks His Silence
by Nathanael Rutherford - Oct 30, 2017
Vol fans have been clamoring for Tennessee athletic director John Currie to speak out about Butch Jones' job status and the state of the Vols. And on Monday night, he finally did.
Currie appeared on the Big Orange Hotline radio show on Monday night, and he was asked about Jones' future and the health of Tennessee football. And according to the quotes gathered by the Knoxville News Sentinel, Currie is carefully considering his decision.
"With any particular decision…you've got to make decisions that you truly believe are best for your program," Currie stated on his radio appearance. "I believe that supporting our staff and supporting our players, getting ready for the Southern Miss game, is the best I can do for our football program right now."
Currie didn't offer any specifics about Jones' future with Tennessee other than confirming that the two meet weekly. "We see each other about every Sunday," Currie added. "That's been one of my practices the whole time. The nine years I've been an athletics director now, I always try to go into the building on Sunday, win or lose."
Despite his silence over the last few weeks, Currie hasn't been tapped out. He claims he's heard what Vol fans have to say, and he knows they're upset with the state of affairs right now.
"I know folks are frustrated with the won-loss record," Currie said. "I am too. Coach Jones is. We all are. I believe, right now, the most important thing to do is support our players."
He also said that his feelings about Tennessee's loss to Kentucky "are the same as everybody else in Volunteer Nation, including Coach Jones." The Vols lost to the Wildcats for the first time since 2011 and only the second time in the last three decades on Saturday.
"It was disappointing," Currie stated. "Our players played so hard, though, the whole game. They never let up."
Currie would go on to say that Tennessee's passionate fan base was one of the reasons he took the AD job at Tennessee.
"The bottom line is, one of the reasons I came back here to the University of Tennessee is that this is a national program with a national following and incredibly passionate and fevered fans," Currie added. "That knife cuts both ways, right? You're excited when you win, and you're disappointed and angry when you lose.
"It's the same for the staff and the AD and the players, too."
Vol fans have been very vocal this season with their displeasure about Tennessee's losses. "Fire Butch Jones" signs have appeared all over the country, and now there's a #EmptyNeyland movement on social media to protest Jones and the constant losing of the team.
But Currie says that passion is twofold, and if Tennessee is winning, then that energy gets directed in a positive way.
Tennessee will host Southern Miss on Saturday, November 4th for homecoming. The Vols are currently favored by less than a touchdown over the Golden Eagles.
Podcast: The RTI Recap & React Show 10-30-17
Former Vol Adds More Fuel to Grumors


MAYBE you can relate to my story. July was an emotional and sad month for me with my dad passing away whilst I was in Cambodia doing some fundraising and helping others and after taking some extra time off I was back to work (my JOB) and back to reality with a bang. LIFE just goes on the same unless we make the change.
Since I started my coach training my goal was that I would continue to learn as much as I could and do my business PART TIME until my next lot of long service leave was available. This means I always had a safety net as I put my JOB first. This means that I played small, doubted and second guessed myself because I thought the risk of leaving my steady income was too great. Being a single parent, having a mortgage and being responsible for all the bills played on my mind daily. I would have little wins here and there, but not consistently. That was because I wasn't being consistent.
From October to November of this year, I actually will be on Long Service Leave at half pay. This will then enable me to take a further three months at half pay the following year.
The aim of this is to be able to finally be able to put my BUSINESS and my DREAM first and I want to be able to do this with each of you. These years of study, long hours, programs from many mentors. some bright shiny objects and things I thought I needed to learn JUST IN CASE. In the words of one of my mentors Denise Duffield-Thomas "IT IS MY TIME AND I AM READY FOR THE NEXT STEP".
Now it is TIME to be VERY STRATEGIC. The first thing is to ensure that each of us has a solid foundation in place. If not (which I haven't) then let's spend the next couple of months making it so - BUILDING up our tribes and nurturing them, BUILDING our marketing roadmaps so we have a clear pathway and BUILDING our value ladders so we can repurpose and create content at different levels to gain that know, like and trust factor from our ideal clients.
Now it is TIME to make sure we have a system in place that allows us to automate and/or delegate the bits that take up our time, which then can lead to frustration and overwhelm.
Now it is TIME to ensure that our website is working for us and is not just a glorified business card.
Now it is TIME to ensure we have a precise CUSTOMER pathway to confidently take them through each step to the OUTCOME they want to achieve (from the BEFORE state to the AFTER state) of our product, program or service.
IF IT IS YOUR TIME and you are READY to take ACTION, schedule a call with me so we can start mapping out your CUSTOMER pathway. Let's do this together!!!
Your time is now - schedule a call to map out your customer pathway. Click on the Calendar pic below!!!


Chaga Soap - Chaga Mushroom Soap - Natural Bar Soap – The RAD Soap Co.
A best selling Rad body bar 6oz infused with a Chaga Mushroom extraction.
This Rad body bar scented with an earthy citrus blend, is created using our Rad proprietary process and crafted with the finest all-natural ingredients for a moisturizing and smooth-lathering bar of soap to gently cleanse the skin. Additonally, this bar contains Wild Harvested Chaga Mushroom extractions. Known as the strongest antioxidant in the world, it's anti-aging properties and high levels of melanin, this mega mushroom makes this Chaga bar ideal for all ages and skin types.
-Recommended to follow with Chaga Body or Face Cream for best results.
Chaga Mushroom Extract, *Sodium Hydroxide, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Unrefined Hempseed Oil, Shea Butter, Safflower Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Rice bran Oil, **Natural Fragrance Oil Orange, Essential Oil Dark Patchouli.