Build your confidence by making others confident.
Check out what our talents have to say about our programme.
*The Employee shall perform treatments: All Forms of Waxing, Manicures, and Pedicures, Spray Tan, IPL Basic etc.
* Maintain minimum sales of 8x your basic salary.
* You shall report directly to the Singapore Shop Manager.
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High basic with personal and group bonus means that your salary can only go up as you get better. Team work is key and the more fun you have the more you will make!
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Zachary Walsh, graduated of London's esteemed Royal College of Art, is a figurative painter. Between the archaic and the modern, the real and the imagined, he creates minimalist abstract backgrounds into which he installs his carefully composed figures. As a result of this juxtaposition, his compositions radiate a rare sense of calm and mystery. London Art Blog has described Zachary Walsh 's recent work as "beguiling and beautiful, with a masterful feel for portraiture, expressions, gestures, poise and pose of the human physiology". He has had extensive exhibitions internationally with several solo shows at galleries including; 101 Exhibit - Miami, I-nkd Gallery-Brighton, Signal Gallery-London and the James Freeman Gallery in London. Discover works by Zachary Walsh right here at artrepublic.


TO ALL DEVIANTS THAT WISH TO USE THIS IMAGE: The guy in this stockart is my brother, a naval officer. My brother's image is NOT to be used for any art that negatively reflects military, political, or Christian values. I shouldn't have to mention that he volunteered his time and his likeness for YOUR sake. So please, do NOT use this image to portray anything that symbolizes or stands against his beliefs. If you have questions about what this means, please send a private note to me. If you already have art in your gallery as of Monday, May 1, 2006, please feel free to keep it up. No need (with Ryan's permission already generously given) to remove it from your galleries unless you wish. Again, thank you for your respect! Remember that these images are to be used in FUN!


text:
Why Monze ZCTU committee was disolved
I write to respond to the action taken by ZCTU National Secretariat where they have decided to dissolve the district Committee on grounds that they have been non-functional. The secretariat just did this in order to get rid of the Chairman, Mr. Foster Matakala and the Secretary, Mr. Rays Mwansa because they have been the voice of the voiceless in the district. This was necessitated by the newly appointed Regional Coordinator, a Mrs. Olga Mwanza from Choma.
Apparently, the major reasons of removing the two officials from from the District Committee are:
1. During the 2012 Labour Day Celebration, they influenced other committee members and sent away the representative ZCTU had sent to the district because he came with 12 T-shirts and K200,000 as a contribution towards the celebration. The District Committee challenged the representative that there was no logic for the Union to bring 12 T-shirts and K200,000 when the members contribute more than K40 million per month to various affiliates of ZCTU. It was also not logical to share 12 T-shirts among more than 500 members in the district.
2. The second reason is that the two have been speaking on behalf of the district committee to have ZCTU President, Hikaumba and ZCTU Secretary, Roy Mwaba [removed]. These two leaders have not done enough for the workers and the district officials felt that if these two are removed, maybe things could work out because Hikaumba and Roy Mwaba have overstayed on those positions.
On the other hand, the Regional Coordinator, Mrs Mwanza, had put in place an Interim Committee for a period of 90days and that within 90 days, elections will be held in the district. She also held a closed door meeting with the interim committee and ordered them not to associate with Mr. Matakala and Mr. Mwansa.
Fellow workers, the Union has been turned into a political arena and it is no longer representing the general members.
Just during the 2011/2012 negotiations for better conditions of service, Retention Allowance was removed for Degree holders. This will mean that workers will not be motivated to go to school beacuse they will still be getting almost the same with the Diploma holder.
Former ZCTU District Secretary – MONZE
Rays Mwansa
Letters to Editor 2703
Another PF ploy to rig Mufumbwe election uncovered
HH still camped in Mufumbwe

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
OPINION: Entrenched untouchables
HISTRIONIC, First vice president on the Assembly
The start of sessions of the new National Assembly has been the discordant note with the positive tone of President Laurentino Cortizo's speech. Although the dominant alliance in the legislative chamber, composed of the PRD and the Molirena, had plenty of votes, added those of a faction of the CD to impose a board of directors that offers hopelessness. The election of a controversial and histrionic deputy as the first vice president undermined the unanimous choice of a young politician as president of the Legislative Body. Although it could be supposed otherwise, the surprise of those appointed as secretary and deputy secretary-general of the Assembly demonstrated the real power held by the deputy president of this organization, ensuring the best possible shield to cover up their adventures. All the ingredients are used to provoke a political combustion with new conflicts with the Comptroller General of the Republic, the Public Ministry and even with the Executive Body itself. It seems that those who practice these perversions of politics seek to be untouchable, defying institutionality. -LA PRENSA, July 3
national-assenbly zulay-rodriguez
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text:
New Fortinet Channel Program Promises More Flexibility For Partners
'The existing Fortinet partner program is probably about a decade old, and it was really well structured for a resale channel,' says North American channel chief Jon Bove. 'We have evolved beyond that, and so it was time to evolve the program.'
By Michael Novinson April 10, 2019, 08:56 AM EDT
Fortinet will launch a new partner program at the start of 2020 that better aligns with the technology strategy and go-to-market motion of each solution provider.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based platform security vendor said the new program will also be customized to more fully support channel partners based on the market segment they're selling into, according to Jon Bove, Fortinet's vice president of North American channels.
"The existing Fortinet partner program is probably about a decade old, and it was really well structured for a resale channel," Bove told CRN. "We have evolved beyond that, and so it was time to evolve the program."
[Related: 6 Biggest Fortinet FortiOS Updates You Need To Know]
Fortinet publicly announced it was working on a new partner program Tuesday at Accelerate 19 in Orlando, Fla., and plans to spend the next several months working through concepts with partners and aligning where each solution provider will fit in the program, Bove said. The company intends to have the new program take effect on Jan. 1, 2020, according to Bove.
The company will start by changing the nomenclature around its tiers from precious metals—Silver, Gold and Platinum, with Platinum being the highest—to Advocate, Advanced and Expert, with Expert being the highest, Bove said. Tier assignments will still be based on revenue and certifications, Bove said.
Fortinet will also add a new global tier for partners that meet the revenue and certification requirements for Expert but also have a presence in multiple regions of the world, Bove said. This will be made possible by Fortinet fusing together the two channel programs it currently maintains—one for North America and one internationally—into a single worldwide partner program, according to Bove.
Having a single global program will allow for a better synchronization of benefits and alignment of discounts across different regions, Bove said.
"The previous program was a little bit too ambiguous as to 'What is the value of being a medal partner?'" Bove said. "And this is going to have a little bit more wood behind the arrow around some very specific go-to-markets that are very key to my continued growth in North America."
As far as go-to-market is concerned, Bove said solution providers will be classified as being either on-premises, MSSPs, cloud partners or consultants. And from a technological expertise standpoint, Bove said channel partners can be identified as experts in SD-WAN, the Security Fabric, the data center, OT (operational technology), the cloud, or SOC (the security operations center).
As for market segments, partners will be classified as serving small business, enterprise or service providers. This is similar to how Fortinet already goes to market in North America, Bove said, where the company currently has separate sales units focused on SMB, commercial, enterprise and service providers.
Bove hopes the new program will result in further development of partner competencies, Bove said, enabling solution providers to position the Fortinet Security Fabric as the leading offering in the channel. He also expects the program will drive more growth in partner-initiated revenue by rewarding the acquisition of new customers as well as the expansion of overall wallet share within existing customers.
The detailed segmentation of Fortinet's channel community will make it easier to ensure that partners are receiving relevant investments and resources as well as the proper support as they build a solution to take to market, Bove said.
"We are seeing such a shift in the market today that, if we do not talk to our partners differently about our expectations for them, we could potentially miss the mark," Bove said. "And we don't want to do that."
Dimension Data has already seen how Fortinet can reward partners for investing in high-growth areas like OT, said Warren Small, vice president of transformation for the solution provider's security business unit. Fortinet has added value around OT by providing Dimension Data with access to the right people, offering lucrative margins, and remaining open to deeper collaborations, Small said.
Small would like to see Fortinet's new partner program provide documented co-investment plans for net- new business to ensure the engagements are successful and achieve the intended goal.
"Not everything is equal," Small said. "There need to be incentives."
Meanwhile, as a smaller integrator, Innovative Integration only has the resources to take on so much, according to Larry Taylor, director of the Indianapolis-based solution provider. Having a core technology competency in the new partner program will allow Innovative Integration to hone in on the areas that are most relevant to the business, Taylor said.
And being able to tailor the program specifically to partners that are more focused on SMB like Innovation Integration will be helpful since their budgets are very different than the enterprise.
"I think it's going to be great," Taylor said.
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text:
Fee Hikes, New Spending in 2018 City Budget
Paris Schutz | October 18, 2017 6:22 pm
Mayor Rahm Emanuel says city finances are finally "back on track" after years of fiscal uncertainty and poor credit ratings. But does the mayor's claim really hold true? To balance this year's budget, Emanuel is targeting some new fees and taxes to be able to hold the line on property taxes.
The city will be spending more money than last year and will have to find ways to pay for it. Some of the highlights of the proposed budget, unveiled Wednesday, include a $114 million gap, $123.8 million in new spending, and an early end to the fiscal practice known as "scoop and toss," or borrowing to pay back debt that is about to come due.
The new spending includes completing the two-year goal to hire nearly 1,000 new police officers. That means nearly 1,000 additional officers on top of any hiring to fill vacancies and retirements.
The spending also includes $27 million in police reform, training and oversight efforts, and $80 million for Chicago Public Schools security costs.
Emanuel proposes to pay for these new initiatives by, in part, raising the amusement tax on large venues from 5 percent to 9 percent, but that will be paired with eliminating the amusement tax altogether on small theaters and venues.
He also proposes increasing the current 911 phone charge from $3.90 to $5, and a new 15-cent rideshare surcharge on Uber and Lyft. The mayor claims that ratings agencies are taking note that the fiscal house, after years of massive deficits and borrowing, is on the right track.
"The days of fiscal smoke and mirrors are behind us," Emanuel said in his budget address before the City Council on Wednesday morning. "The days of selling off assets to balance the budget and pay Chicago's bills are behind us. The days of raiding the rainy day fund to keep the city afloat are behind us. With this budget we will continue saving for Chicago's future, rather than selling it short."
The four city public worker pension systems that were the giant elephants in the room are stable for the time being, but in three years, the required payments into those systems will start to dramatically increase.
So, 2018 could be seen as a period of relative calm before yet another storm. That being said, the budget got favorable marks from fiscal watchdog Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation.
"This is a reasonable claim being put before the City Council that moves the city forward and honors the commitment to hire a lot more policemen," Msall said.
The mayor has historically had little trouble getting City Council to pass his budget. This year purports to be no different. There are some progressive aldermen who are upset that the mayor isn't considering different revenue streams, however, like a corporate head tax or a corporate lease tax.
"We should look at a graduated city income tax once we get the authority (from Springfield) for a graduated income tax," said Ald. John Arena (40th Ward).
Others say the process isn't entirely transparent.
"The gorilla in the room is, the mayor and the governor sent in an offer to Amazon. How will that impact the city's finances? Why are you not including that in this budget?" said Ald. Carlos Rosa (35th Ward).
Other aldermen felt that the tax fatigue that has cost the county beverage tax has spread to the city.
"We're not the beverage tax people," said Ald. Carrie Austin (34th Ward). "I think that the general public will be OK with the amounts we've brought forth."
The new budget doesn't institute any new property tax hikes, but property taxes will rise as a result of the hike from three years ago. Plus, there are new CPS property tax levies that will take effect, something that the Chicago Teachers Union says is an unfortunate way to fund the needs in public schools.
"Property owners out in the neighborhoods are paying almost $400 million more," said the CTU's Jesse Sharkey. "What the mayor didn't do was tap into TIF reserves, tax high net worth individuals; the corporate head tax continues to be off the table. Once again, the revenue is coming of the backs of people who can least afford to pay."
Some other elements of this budget include what the mayor believes will be tens of millions of dollars in savings on debt service payments because of a new borrowing apparatus that has been set up that is separate from the city.
And the homeowner's exemption, thanks to a bill in Springfield that passed last year, is increasing from $7,000 to $10,000. That means everyone can claim a smidge of a reduction on their property taxes next year.
Follow Paris Schutz on Twitter: @paschutz
Mayor Promises Tax Relief for Homeowners in 2018 City Budget Proposal
Oct. 16: Some fee hikes and tax relief in the upcoming city budget. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is promising tax relief for homeowners as part of his 2018 city budget proposal.
With Education Funding Reform Comes a Squeeze for Chicago Taxpayers
Aug. 30: Exactly how much more money can Chicago homeowners expect to pay to fund Chicago teacher pensions?
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July 31: Preliminary numbers released Monday show that the city's financial picture is improving. But is the news all good?
Chicago Finances
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Their Autumn campaign has a distinct 70's theme, with Francois Nars himself photographing model Daria Strokous for the campaign images.
The Fall 2014 Colour Collection introduces a mix of discrete yet daring shades accented with rich reds and bold jewel-tones for a look that's both modern and sophisticated.
Day fades to night – enter the cool, captivating scene of the NARS Fall 2014 Colour Collection – a bold, yet tender palette, dramatic enough to seduce the darkest hour. Eyes shine in amethyst and quartz shadows while intense black liners flecked with rich purple, gold, and green pearl provide intriguing depth. Lips smoulder in warm reds and cheeks are softened with a wash of glistening pink.
And lastly – Unlawful Blush in amber pink and Mauritanie Matte Multiple in strawberry red.
I love the sound of the eyeliners especially!
This is the NARS Audacious Lipstick Vault. It comes in a stunning keepsake box with a large mirror etched with a quote from François Nars. Just wow.
This collection features ten full size NARS Audacious Lipsticks and ten full size NARS Nail Polishes in a full range of colours from nudes to striking brights. The Vault will be available at Barneys New York from 01/09/14.
I have to say if I would ever manage to get my hands on this set, I don't think I'd want to use it, I wouldn't want to ruin it as it's so stunning!
Next Post Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette is Happening!


text:
// MESSAGE COMMAND PACKING

#define MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND 75

typedef struct __mavlink_command_t
{
 uint8_t target_system; /*< System which should execute the command*/
 uint8_t target_component; /*< Component which should execute the command, 0 for all components*/
 uint8_t command; /*< Command ID, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.*/
 uint8_t confirmation; /*< 0: First transmission of this command. 1-255: Confirmation transmissions (e.g. for kill command)*/
 float param1; /*< Parameter 1, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.*/
 float param2; /*< Parameter 2, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.*/
 float param3; /*< Parameter 3, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.*/
 float param4; /*< Parameter 4, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.*/
} mavlink_command_t;

#define MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN 20
#define MAVLINK_MSG_ID_75_LEN 20

#define MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC 131
#define MAVLINK_MSG_ID_75_CRC 131

#define MAVLINK_MESSAGE_INFO_COMMAND { \
	"COMMAND", \
	8, \
	{  { "target_system", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_UINT8_T, 0, 0, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, target_system) }, \
         { "target_component", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_UINT8_T, 0, 1, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, target_component) }, \
         { "command", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_UINT8_T, 0, 2, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, command) }, \
         { "confirmation", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_UINT8_T, 0, 3, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, confirmation) }, \
         { "param1", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_FLOAT, 0, 4, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, param1) }, \
         { "param2", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_FLOAT, 0, 8, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, param2) }, \
         { "param3", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_FLOAT, 0, 12, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, param3) }, \
         { "param4", NULL, MAVLINK_TYPE_FLOAT, 0, 16, offsetof(mavlink_command_t, param4) }, \
         } \
}

/**
 * @brief Pack a command message
 * @param system_id ID of this system
 * @param component_id ID of this component (e.g. 200 for IMU)
 * @param msg The MAVLink message to compress the data into
 *
 * @param target_system System which should execute the command
 * @param target_component Component which should execute the command, 0 for all components
 * @param command Command ID, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param confirmation 0: First transmission of this command. 1-255: Confirmation transmissions (e.g. for kill command)
 * @param param1 Parameter 1, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param2 Parameter 2, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param3 Parameter 3, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param4 Parameter 4, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @return length of the message in bytes (excluding serial stream start sign)
 */
static inline uint16_t mavlink_msg_command_pack(uint8_t system_id, uint8_t component_id, mavlink_message_t* msg,
						       uint8_t target_system, uint8_t target_component, uint8_t command, uint8_t confirmation, float param1, float param2, float param3, float param4)
{
#if MAVLINK_NEED_BYTE_SWAP || !MAVLINK_ALIGNED_FIELDS
	char buf[MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN];
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 0, target_system);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 1, target_component);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 2, command);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 3, confirmation);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 4, param1);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 8, param2);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 12, param3);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 16, param4);

        memcpy(_MAV_PAYLOAD_NON_CONST(msg), buf, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#else
	mavlink_command_t packet;
	packet.target_system = target_system;
	packet.target_component = target_component;
	packet.command = command;
	packet.confirmation = confirmation;
	packet.param1 = param1;
	packet.param2 = param2;
	packet.param3 = param3;
	packet.param4 = param4;

        memcpy(_MAV_PAYLOAD_NON_CONST(msg), &packet, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif

	msg->msgid = MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND;
#if MAVLINK_CRC_EXTRA
    return mavlink_finalize_message(msg, system_id, component_id, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC);
#else
    return mavlink_finalize_message(msg, system_id, component_id, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
}

/**
 * @brief Pack a command message on a channel
 * @param system_id ID of this system
 * @param component_id ID of this component (e.g. 200 for IMU)
 * @param chan The MAVLink channel this message will be sent over
 * @param msg The MAVLink message to compress the data into
 * @param target_system System which should execute the command
 * @param target_component Component which should execute the command, 0 for all components
 * @param command Command ID, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param confirmation 0: First transmission of this command. 1-255: Confirmation transmissions (e.g. for kill command)
 * @param param1 Parameter 1, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param2 Parameter 2, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param3 Parameter 3, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param4 Parameter 4, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @return length of the message in bytes (excluding serial stream start sign)
 */
static inline uint16_t mavlink_msg_command_pack_chan(uint8_t system_id, uint8_t component_id, uint8_t chan,
							   mavlink_message_t* msg,
						           uint8_t target_system,uint8_t target_component,uint8_t command,uint8_t confirmation,float param1,float param2,float param3,float param4)
{
#if MAVLINK_NEED_BYTE_SWAP || !MAVLINK_ALIGNED_FIELDS
	char buf[MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN];
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 0, target_system);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 1, target_component);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 2, command);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 3, confirmation);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 4, param1);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 8, param2);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 12, param3);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 16, param4);

        memcpy(_MAV_PAYLOAD_NON_CONST(msg), buf, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#else
	mavlink_command_t packet;
	packet.target_system = target_system;
	packet.target_component = target_component;
	packet.command = command;
	packet.confirmation = confirmation;
	packet.param1 = param1;
	packet.param2 = param2;
	packet.param3 = param3;
	packet.param4 = param4;

        memcpy(_MAV_PAYLOAD_NON_CONST(msg), &packet, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif

	msg->msgid = MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND;
#if MAVLINK_CRC_EXTRA
    return mavlink_finalize_message_chan(msg, system_id, component_id, chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC);
#else
    return mavlink_finalize_message_chan(msg, system_id, component_id, chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
}

/**
 * @brief Encode a command struct
 *
 * @param system_id ID of this system
 * @param component_id ID of this component (e.g. 200 for IMU)
 * @param msg The MAVLink message to compress the data into
 * @param command C-struct to read the message contents from
 */
static inline uint16_t mavlink_msg_command_encode(uint8_t system_id, uint8_t component_id, mavlink_message_t* msg, const mavlink_command_t* command)
{
	return mavlink_msg_command_pack(system_id, component_id, msg, command->target_system, command->target_component, command->command, command->confirmation, command->param1, command->param2, command->param3, command->param4);
}

/**
 * @brief Encode a command struct on a channel
 *
 * @param system_id ID of this system
 * @param component_id ID of this component (e.g. 200 for IMU)
 * @param chan The MAVLink channel this message will be sent over
 * @param msg The MAVLink message to compress the data into
 * @param command C-struct to read the message contents from
 */
static inline uint16_t mavlink_msg_command_encode_chan(uint8_t system_id, uint8_t component_id, uint8_t chan, mavlink_message_t* msg, const mavlink_command_t* command)
{
	return mavlink_msg_command_pack_chan(system_id, component_id, chan, msg, command->target_system, command->target_component, command->command, command->confirmation, command->param1, command->param2, command->param3, command->param4);
}

/**
 * @brief Send a command message
 * @param chan MAVLink channel to send the message
 *
 * @param target_system System which should execute the command
 * @param target_component Component which should execute the command, 0 for all components
 * @param command Command ID, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param confirmation 0: First transmission of this command. 1-255: Confirmation transmissions (e.g. for kill command)
 * @param param1 Parameter 1, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param2 Parameter 2, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param3 Parameter 3, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 * @param param4 Parameter 4, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 */
#ifdef MAVLINK_USE_CONVENIENCE_FUNCTIONS

static inline void mavlink_msg_command_send(mavlink_channel_t chan, uint8_t target_system, uint8_t target_component, uint8_t command, uint8_t confirmation, float param1, float param2, float param3, float param4)
{
#if MAVLINK_NEED_BYTE_SWAP || !MAVLINK_ALIGNED_FIELDS
	char buf[MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN];
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 0, target_system);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 1, target_component);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 2, command);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 3, confirmation);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 4, param1);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 8, param2);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 12, param3);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 16, param4);

#if MAVLINK_CRC_EXTRA
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, buf, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC);
#else
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, buf, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
#else
	mavlink_command_t packet;
	packet.target_system = target_system;
	packet.target_component = target_component;
	packet.command = command;
	packet.confirmation = confirmation;
	packet.param1 = param1;
	packet.param2 = param2;
	packet.param3 = param3;
	packet.param4 = param4;

#if MAVLINK_CRC_EXTRA
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, (const char *)&packet, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC);
#else
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, (const char *)&packet, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
#endif
}

#if MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN <= MAVLINK_MAX_PAYLOAD_LEN
/*
  This varient of _send() can be used to save stack space by re-using
  memory from the receive buffer.  The caller provides a
  mavlink_message_t which is the size of a full mavlink message. This
  is usually the receive buffer for the channel, and allows a reply to an
  incoming message with minimum stack space usage.
 */
static inline void mavlink_msg_command_send_buf(mavlink_message_t *msgbuf, mavlink_channel_t chan,  uint8_t target_system, uint8_t target_component, uint8_t command, uint8_t confirmation, float param1, float param2, float param3, float param4)
{
#if MAVLINK_NEED_BYTE_SWAP || !MAVLINK_ALIGNED_FIELDS
	char *buf = (char *)msgbuf;
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 0, target_system);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 1, target_component);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 2, command);
	_mav_put_uint8_t(buf, 3, confirmation);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 4, param1);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 8, param2);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 12, param3);
	_mav_put_float(buf, 16, param4);

#if MAVLINK_CRC_EXTRA
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, buf, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC);
#else
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, buf, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
#else
	mavlink_command_t *packet = (mavlink_command_t *)msgbuf;
	packet->target_system = target_system;
	packet->target_component = target_component;
	packet->command = command;
	packet->confirmation = confirmation;
	packet->param1 = param1;
	packet->param2 = param2;
	packet->param3 = param3;
	packet->param4 = param4;

#if MAVLINK_CRC_EXTRA
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, (const char *)packet, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_CRC);
#else
    _mav_finalize_message_chan_send(chan, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND, (const char *)packet, MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
#endif
}
#endif

#endif

// MESSAGE COMMAND UNPACKING

/**
 * @brief Get field target_system from command message
 *
 * @return System which should execute the command
 */
static inline uint8_t mavlink_msg_command_get_target_system(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_uint8_t(msg,  0);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field target_component from command message
 *
 * @return Component which should execute the command, 0 for all components
 */
static inline uint8_t mavlink_msg_command_get_target_component(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_uint8_t(msg,  1);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field command from command message
 *
 * @return Command ID, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 */
static inline uint8_t mavlink_msg_command_get_command(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_uint8_t(msg,  2);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field confirmation from command message
 *
 * @return 0: First transmission of this command. 1-255: Confirmation transmissions (e.g. for kill command)
 */
static inline uint8_t mavlink_msg_command_get_confirmation(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_uint8_t(msg,  3);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field param1 from command message
 *
 * @return Parameter 1, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 */
static inline float mavlink_msg_command_get_param1(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_float(msg,  4);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field param2 from command message
 *
 * @return Parameter 2, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 */
static inline float mavlink_msg_command_get_param2(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_float(msg,  8);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field param3 from command message
 *
 * @return Parameter 3, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 */
static inline float mavlink_msg_command_get_param3(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_float(msg,  12);
}

/**
 * @brief Get field param4 from command message
 *
 * @return Parameter 4, as defined by MAV_CMD enum.
 */
static inline float mavlink_msg_command_get_param4(const mavlink_message_t* msg)
{
	return _MAV_RETURN_float(msg,  16);
}

/**
 * @brief Decode a command message into a struct
 *
 * @param msg The message to decode
 * @param command C-struct to decode the message contents into
 */
static inline void mavlink_msg_command_decode(const mavlink_message_t* msg, mavlink_command_t* command)
{
#if MAVLINK_NEED_BYTE_SWAP
	command->target_system = mavlink_msg_command_get_target_system(msg);
	command->target_component = mavlink_msg_command_get_target_component(msg);
	command->command = mavlink_msg_command_get_command(msg);
	command->confirmation = mavlink_msg_command_get_confirmation(msg);
	command->param1 = mavlink_msg_command_get_param1(msg);
	command->param2 = mavlink_msg_command_get_param2(msg);
	command->param3 = mavlink_msg_command_get_param3(msg);
	command->param4 = mavlink_msg_command_get_param4(msg);
#else
	memcpy(command, _MAV_PAYLOAD(msg), MAVLINK_MSG_ID_COMMAND_LEN);
#endif
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Commentary on "The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional"
Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised November 27, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.


text:
Q: Throwing an exception from main class? In my code i surround the object instantiations in a try catch block because they throw an error, i instantiate many objects so my code looks very messy. I was wondering if it is okay to throw the exception from my main class, or is this bad practice?

A: It's fine to throw exceptions from your entry-point (in this case, your main method), unless you can think of a specific reason not to ("the user shouldn't see that", "it would be better if I tried to recover, rather than exiting").
If you can handle the exceptions where they are, you should do so. For example, you could log them, re-throw them as more understandable exceptions (such as validation exceptions), or fail out of the method by returning null. If it doesn't make sense to handle them, then don't.
What you probably need is a nicer grouping of similar exceptions. You can move all of your code that's inside those try-catch blocks into a private method (perhaps init), which throws all the relevant exceptions. Then, call init from the main method, and wrap that init call in a try-catch block that catches all those exceptions.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
\section{Introduction and Summary}
Let $G$ be an algebraic group acting on the affine space ${\mathbb A}^n$.
If $G$ is reductive it is not so easy to find an example of
such an action which is not obviously linearizable.
At a time it was even conjectured that at least over an algebraically
closed field $k$ every action of a reductive group is
linearizable (\cite{Kam}).

But then Schwarz found a non-linearizable such action
(\cite{S}). His
example is an action of the complex group $O_2({\mathbb C})$
which is a semi-direct product of ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}$ and the multiplicative
group $G_m({\mathbb C})\simeq{\mathbb C}^*$.
Related examples have been deduced, but results about
commutative reductive groups remain rare.
See \cite{K} for more about these topics.

Recently, Freudenberg and Moser-Jauslin constructed an example
of a non-linearizable real algebraic action of $S^1$ (\cite{FMJ}).
$S^1$ is a non-standard real form of the multiplicative group $G_m$.
In this note we will go through the arguments of Freudenberg
and Moser-Jauslin in order to verify that in their construction
the field of real numbers can be replaced by an arbitrary
field of characteristic zero with a non-trivial form of the
multiplicative group.
\begin{theorem}
Let $k$ be a field of characteristic zero, $\bar k$ an algebraic
closure and $H^0$ a $k$-group. We assume that $H^0$ is isomorphic
to the multiplicative group $G_m$ over $\bar k$, but not over
$k$. (Such $k$-groups are often called {\em non-split $k$-forms}
of the multiplicative group $G_m$.)

Then there is an action of $H^0$ on the affine space ${\mathbb A}^4$,
defined over $k$, which is not linearizable over $k$.
\end{theorem}

As usual, an action of a $k$-group $H^0$ on the affine space
${\mathbb A}^n$ given by a morphism $\mu:H^0\times{\mathbb A}^n\to {\mathbb A}^n$
is called {\em linearizable over $k$} if and only if there
exists an automorphism $\phi$ of  ${\mathbb A}^n$ as a $k$-variety
such that $v\mapsto \phi(\mu(g,\phi^{-1}(v)))$ is a linear map
for every $g\in H^0$.

\begin{corollary}
Let $k$ be a field of characteristic zero which contains a
non-square $\alpha\in k^*\setminus\left(k^*\right)^2$.

Then there is a one-dimensional commutative connected reductive
$k$-group $G$ with a non-linearizable action on ${\mathbb A}^4$.
\end{corollary}
\begin{proof}
As discussed in \S2 below the existence of a quadratic field extension
implies the existence of a non-split $k$-form of the multiplicative
group $G_m$.
\end{proof}
\begin{corollary}
Let $k$ be one of the following:
\begin{enumerate}
\item the field ${\mathbb R}$ of real numbers,
\item the field ${\mathbb Q}_p$ of $p$-adic numbers,
\item a number field,
\item a finitely generated extension of ${\mathbb Q}$,
\item the field of rational functions of a positive-dimensional
variety defined over some field $k_0$ of characteristic zero,
\item the field of meromorphic functions of a complex manifold
which admits a non-constant meromorphic function,
\item ${\mathbb Q}^{ab}$, i.e.~the maximal abelian field extension of ${\mathbb Q}$.
\end{enumerate}

Then there is a one-dimensional commutative connected reductive
$k$-group $G$ with a non-linearizable action on ${\mathbb A}^4$.
\end{corollary}
\begin{proof}
In view of the preceding results it suffices to show that each of these
fields admits  a non-trivial quadratic extension.

For ${\mathbb R}$ one takes ${\mathbb C}={\mathbb R}[i]$. For $k={\mathbb Q}^{ab}$ we recall that there
exists a number field $E$ with the quaternion group $\Gamma$ as Galois group
(e.g.~${\mathbb Q}\left[\sqrt{(\sqrt 2+2)(\sqrt 3+3)}\right]$, see \cite{Mil}).
The quaternion group $\Gamma$ is two-step nilpotent. Hence its
commutator group is a non-trivial commutative subgroup $\Gamma'$.
Let $L$ denote the intermediate field corresponding to $\Gamma'$.
Then $E/L$ is a quadratic extension. Furthermore,
$L\subset {\mathbb Q}^{ab}$ (because $\mathop{Gal}(L/{\mathbb Q})\simeq \Gamma'$ is abelian)
and $E\not\subset{\mathbb Q}^{ab}$
(because $\mathop{Gal}(E/{\mathbb Q})\simeq\Gamma$ is not abelian).
Thus we obtain a
quadratic extension $E{\mathbb Q}^{ab}/{\mathbb Q}^{ab}$.

For all the other fields $k$ listed above there is a discrete
valuation. A discrete valuation gives in particular a group
homomorphism $v$ from the multiplicative group $k^*$ to the additive
group $({\mathbb Z},+)$. Evidently an element $x\in k^*$ can not be
a square unless $v(x)$ is even. Therefore the existence of a discrete
valuation implies that there exists a non-trivial quadratic extension.
\end{proof}
Thus most well-known fields are either algebraically closed
or admit a quadratic extension.
But of course there are also fields which are neither algebraically
closed nor admit a quadratic extension. For instance, let
$\Gamma$ be the absolute Galois group of ${\mathbb Q}$ and
consider all group homomorphisms $\rho$ from $\Gamma$ to
$2$-groups (=finite groups whose order is a power of $2$).
Then the intersection of the kernels $\cap_\rho\ker\rho$ defines
a closed subgroup $H\subset\Gamma$ such that the corresponding
(infinite) extension field $L$ of ${\mathbb Q}$ is neither algebraically
closed nor admits any quadratic extension.

\section{$k$-forms}
Here we recall some basic facts about {$k$-forms}, see \cite{Se}, Ch.~3, \S1.

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic zero,
$K/k$ be a Galois extension and $G$ a $k$-group.
One is interested in classifying all $k$-groups $H$ which are
$K$-isomorphic to $G$. It is a standard result that these ``$k$-forms
of $G$''
are classified by the Galois cohomology set
\[
H^1(\mathop{Gal}(K/k),\mathop{Aut}{}_k(G)).
\]
Here we are interested in the special case where $G=G_m$ is the multiplicative
group. Then $\mathop{Aut}_k(G)\simeq{\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}$, because $G_m$ admits only two
automorphisms: the identity and $z\mapsto\frac{1}{z}$.
Thus the action of $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)$ on $\mathop{Aut}_k(G_m)$ is necessarily trivial
and consequently
\[
H^1(\mathop{Gal}(K/k),\mathop{Aut}{}_k(G_m)) \ \simeq \ \mathop{Hom}(\mathop{Gal}(K/k),{\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}).
\]
Hence $k$-forms of $G_m$ are in one-to-one correspondence with
group homomorphisms from $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)$ to ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}$ and therefore
in one-to-one correspondence to quadratic field extensions of $k$
which are contained in $K$.

In concrete terms these $k$-forms of $G_m$
can be described as follows:

Let $K/k$ be a quadratic extension of fields in characteristic zero.
Then there is a non-square $\alpha\in k$ such that $K=k[X]/(X^2-\alpha)$.
Each element $z\in K$ can be written in unique way as $z=x+ty$ where
$t$ is a fixed element with $t^2=\alpha$ and $x,y\in k$.
A quadratic extension is necessarily Galois and the non-trivial
element of $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)$ acts by $z=x+ty\mapsto x-ty$.
Therefore the {\em Norm homomorphism} $N_{K/k}:K^*\to k^*$ is
given by $N_{K/k}(x+ty)=(x+ty)(x-ty)=x^2-\alpha y^2$.
The group of all elements $z\in K^*$ with $N_{K/k}(z)=1$
can now be identified with the $k$-rational points of the
following $k$-group:
\[
H=\left\{
\begin{pmatrix} x & \alpha y \\ y & x \\
\end{pmatrix}
: x^2-\alpha y^2 = 1
\right\}.
\]
In the special case ${\mathbb C}/{\mathbb R}$ this yields the real one-dimensional
compact torus $S^1$.

Let us explain the connection with Galois cohomology.
Let $K/k$ be a quadratic extension and let $\sigma$ be the non-trivial
element of $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)$. Then the $k$-form described above corresponds
to the cocycle mapping $\sigma$ to the automorphism $z\mapsto z^{-1}$
of $G_m$.

More generally, if $X$ is a variety defined over $K$ with an
involution
$\tau$ defined over $k$, there is a $k$-form $Y$ of $X$ associated
to the cocycle $\sigma\mapsto\tau$ and there is a bijection
$Y(k)\simeq\{p\in X(K):{}^\sigma p=\tau(p)\}$.

\section{The criterion of Masuda-Petrie}
Let $G$ be a $k$-group and let $V,W$ be $G$-modules and
let $\Vec_G(V,W)$ be the set of $G$-vector bundles over
the $G$-variety $V$ such that
the fiber over $0_V$ is isomorphic to $W$.

Let us assume that there exists a subgroup $I\subset G$
such that $(V\oplus W)^I=V\oplus\{0\}$ where $(V\oplus W)^I$ denotes
the set of fixed points for the $I$-action on $W\oplus V$.

Let $E\in \Vec_G(V,W)$. Apriori, triviality of $E$ as $G$-vector bundle
is a stronger condition than linearizability of the $G$-action on
the total space: In the second condition all isomorphisms from $E$
to $V\oplus W$
as variety may be used to linearize the $G$-action on $E$ while
in the first condition only those isomorphisms are admitted which
preserve the vector bundle structure, i.e., are compatible with
the projection on $V$ and linear on each fiber.
However,
Masuda and Petrie showed in \cite{MP}
that under the above mentioned additional
assumption both conditions are equivalent.

Let us recall their arguments, for the convenience of the reader
as well as in order to convince us that this works over any base
field in characteristic zero.
Assume that there is a $G$-isomorphism of varieties $\phi:E\to V\oplus W$.
Then $E^I$ is mapped onto $V\oplus\{0\}$. It follows easily that
the zero-section of $E\to V$ equals
 the fixed point set $E^I$.
Moreover it follows that $\phi$ induces an isomorphism between
the respective normal bundles. But the normal bundle for the zero-section
in a vector bundle is isomorphic to the given vector  bundle itself.
In this way we obtain a trivialization of $E$ as a $G$-vector bundle.

\section{The Schwarz action}
Let $G$ be the non-trivial semi-direct product of ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}=\{e,\tau\}$ with
the multiplicative group $G_m$.
Then $G$ is an algebraic group defined over ${\mathbb Q}$ (and therefore
defined
over every field $K$ of characteristic zero).

Schwarz introduced in \cite{S}
an action of $G$ on ${\mathbb A}_4$ which is defined over ${\mathbb Q}$
and is not linearizable over ${\mathbb C}$ (and therefore a fortiori not
linearizable over any field $k$ of characteristic zero).
In concrete terms it is given as follows:

We write ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}=\{e,\tau\}$
and define the action on $E={\mathbb A}^4={\mathbb A}^2\times{\mathbb A}^2$ by
\[
\lambda:\left( \begin{pmatrix}a \\ b \\
  \end{pmatrix},
  \begin{pmatrix}x \\ y \\
  \end{pmatrix}\right)
\ \longrightarrow\
\left( \begin{pmatrix}
\lambda^2a \\ \lambda^{-2}b \\
  \end{pmatrix},
  \begin{pmatrix}\lambda^{3}x \\ \lambda^{-3}y \\
  \end{pmatrix}\right)
\]
for $\lambda\in G_m({\mathbb C})={\mathbb C}^*$
and
\[
\left( \begin{pmatrix}a \\ b \\
  \end{pmatrix},
  \begin{pmatrix}x \\ y \\
  \end{pmatrix}\right)
\in {\mathbb A}^2\times {\mathbb A}^2\simeq{\mathbb A}^4.
\]
We let $\tau $ act by
\[
\tau:\left( \begin{pmatrix}a \\ b \\
  \end{pmatrix},
  \begin{pmatrix}x \\ y \\
  \end{pmatrix}\right)
\ \longrightarrow\
\left( \begin{pmatrix}b \\ a \\
  \end{pmatrix},
\begin{pmatrix}
1 + ab + (ab)^2 & -b^3 &  \\
 a ^3 & 1-ab  \\
\end{pmatrix}
\cdot\begin{pmatrix}y \\ x \\
  \end{pmatrix}\right).
\]

Moser-Jauslin showed that the action of ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}=\{e,\tau\}$
can be linearized over ${\mathbb Q}$ (see \cite{MJ}). In concrete terms
this linearization as obtained in \cite{MJ} can be described
as follows:
$\phi\circ\tau\circ \phi^{-1}$ is a diagonal linear endomorphism
where $\phi$
is the automorphism given as:
\[
\phi:
\left(
\begin{pmatrix}
a \\ b\\
\end{pmatrix}
,
\begin{pmatrix}
x \\ y\\
\end{pmatrix}
\right)
\longrightarrow
\left(
\begin{pmatrix}
a \\ b\\
\end{pmatrix}
,
\begin{pmatrix}
c_{11} & c_{12} \\
c_{21} & c_{22} \\
\end{pmatrix}
\cdot
\begin{pmatrix}
x\\
y\\
\end{pmatrix}
\right)
\]
with
\begin{align*}
c_{11}&= 2(1+a-2b-a^2b+2ab^2-b^3)\\
c_{12}&=2(1-2a+b+ab+a^4-2a^3b+a^2b^2)\\
c_{21}&= -2 -a -b +ab -b^2 +a^2b -b^3 \\
c_{22}&= 2+b+a +a^2 +ab-a^3 +a^2b-a^4+a^2b^2.
\end{align*}
Note that $\phi$ is defined over ${\mathbb Q}$.

Note furthermore that the map
\[
\left(
\begin{pmatrix}
a \\ b\\
\end{pmatrix}
,
\begin{pmatrix}
x \\ y\\
\end{pmatrix}
\right)
\longrightarrow
\begin{pmatrix}
a \\ b\\
\end{pmatrix}
\]
realizes $E$ as $G$-vector bundle of rank $2$ over ${\mathbb A}^2$.

\section{A non split form of the Schwarz action}

The algebraic group $G$ and the space $E={\mathbb A}^4$ both admit an involution:
On $G$ we take conjugation by $\tau$ and on $E$ we take $\tau$ acting as
described in the preceding section.
If $\mu:G\times E\to E$ denotes the morphism defining the Schwarz action,
then
\[
\mu(g^\tau,\tau v)=\tau\cdot g\cdot \tau^{-1}\cdot \tau v=\tau\mu(g,v).
\]
Thus this pair of involutions on $G$ and $E$ is compatible with the
Schwarz action. Furthermore, both involutions are defined over ${\mathbb Q}$.

We fix  a quadratic extension $K/k$ of fields of characteristic zero
and let $\sigma$ denote
the non-trivial element of $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)$.
We fix an element $j\in K$ such that ${}^\sigma j=-j$.
Then $K=k\oplus jk$ and $K=k[j]\simeq k[X]/(X^2-\alpha)$
where $\alpha=j^2$.
Now we can obtain $k$-forms of $G$, $E$ and the action $\mu$
associated to the Galois cocycle which maps the non-trivial element
$\sigma$ of $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)$ to the respective involution chosen above.
We call these $k$-forms $H$, $E_0$ and $\mu_0$ respectively.

In concrete terms this works as follows:

\[
H(k)=\left\{g\in G(K):{}^\sigma g=\tau g \tau^{-1}\right\}.
\]

Since the involution $\tau$ is defined over ${\mathbb Q}$, it commutes
with the Galois action of any Galois group for any Galois extension
$K/k$.
We define
\[
E_0(k)=\{v\in E(K)\simeq K^4:
{}^{\sigma} v=\tau(v)\}
\]
Using the linearization $\phi$ of the involution $\tau$,
we see that
a vector $(z_1,\ldots,z_4)\in K^4\simeq\phi(E)(K)$
is contained in $\phi(E_0(k))$ iff
$jz_1,z_2,z_3,z_4\in k$.
Therefore $E_0(k)\simeq k^4$ and $E_0\otimes_kK=E$.
Now $H(k)$ is generated by $\tau$ and those $\lambda\in G_m(K)=K^*$
for which ${}^{\sigma}\lambda\lambda=1$.
Since $\tau$ commutes with $\sigma\circ\tau$ and $E_0(k)$ is the
fixed point set of $\sigma\circ\tau$, the set $E_0(k)$ is stabilized
by $\tau$. Next consider $\lambda\in (H(k))^0$ and $v\in E_0(k)$. Then
${}^{\sigma}\lambda\lambda=1$ and
\[
\sigma\circ\tau(\lambda v)=
\tau\circ\sigma(\lambda v)=
\tau({}^{\sigma}\lambda {}^{\sigma} v)=
\tau(\lambda^{-1}\tau v)=
\lambda v.
\]
Hence $\lambda v\in E_0(k)$. Thus $H(k)$ stabilizes $E_0(k)$.

We underline that for the Schwarz action of $G$ on ${\mathbb A}^4$ there
is one set of coordinates for which the connected component
$G^0$ containing the neutral element acts linearly and a second,
different set of coordinates for which $\tau$ acts linearly,
but no coordinate set for which the whole group $G$ acts linearly.

The $k$-form $E_0$ of $E={\mathbb A}^4$ is isomorphic to ${\mathbb A}^4$ as a $k$-variety.
We deduced this using the set of coordinates in which $\tau$ is
linear. In these coordinates the $G^0$-action is not linear.
Therefore the $H^0$-action on $E_0$ need not be linearizable
(over $k$)
although the $G^0$-action on $E$ is.

We also remark that there is a unique fixed point $0$
for $H^0$ on $E_0$.
It follows that the $H^0$-action in $E_0$ is either not linearizable
at all or is isomorphic to the induced $H^0$-action on the tangent space
$T_0E_0$ of this fixed point.

Furthermore, the involution $\tau$ as well as the automorphism of $E$
linearizing $\tau$ are compatible with the structure of $E$ as a
$G$-vector bundle, which implies that $E_0$ inherits this structure,
i.e. is an $H$-vector bundle of rank $2$ over ${\mathbb A}^2$.

\section{Reduction from $H$ to $H^0$}
\newcommand{\,{}^{\sigma}\!}{\,{}^{\sigma}\!}
\begin{proposition}\label{prop1}
Let $K/k$ be a quadratic extension of fields of characteristic zero,
$\mathop{Gal}(K/k)=\{id_K,\sigma\}$,
 $S=\{x\in
K^*:N_{K/k}(x)=x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x=1\}$
and $j\in K\setminus k$.
For $\lambda\in S$ define
a morphism $\mu_\lambda:{\mathbb A}^2\to{\mathbb A}^2$ by
\[
\mu_\lambda(x,y)=\left(\lambda^2x,\lambda^3y\right)
\]
and let $\tau:K^2\to K^2$ be a map with the following
properties:
\begin{enumerate}
\item[(i)]
$\tau(x,y)=\left(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x,\phi(x,y)\right)\ \forall x\in K$
for some map $\phi:K^2\to K$.
\item[(ii)]
The map $y\mapsto\phi(x,y)$ is $k$-linear in $y$ for every fixed
$x\in K$.
\item[(iii)]
There is a $k$-morphism $\tau_0:{\mathbb A}^4\to{\mathbb A}^4$ such that
\[
\tau_0(z,w,u,v)=(a,b,c,d)
\]
whenever
\[
\tau(z+jw,u+jv) = (a+jb, c+jd)\quad (z,w,u,v,a,b,c,d\in k)
\]
\item[(iv)]
$\tau\circ\tau=id_{K^2}$.
\item[(v)]
$\tau\circ\mu_\lambda=\mu_{\frac{1}{\lambda}}\circ\tau$
for all $\lambda\in S$.
\end{enumerate}

\smallskip

Then there exists an element $\alpha\in S$
such that $\tau(x,y)=(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x,\alpha\,{}^{\sigma}\! y)$ for all $x,y\in K$.

In particular, the map $\tau:K^2\to K^2$ is $k$-linear.
\end{proposition}
\begin{remark}
In the formulation of the above proposition $S$ is a group
acting by $k$-linear transformations on $K^2\simeq k^4$. The group
$S$ and the map $\tau$ give a semi-direct product of ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}$ and $S$
acting on $K^2\simeq k^4$
and the proposition says that under certain assumptions the action of
this semi-direct product on $K^2\simeq k^4$ is necessarily also
by $k$-linear transformations.
\end{remark}

\begin{proof}
Condition $(iv)$ implies that $\tau$ is bijective.

Any $k$-linear map between $K$ vector spaces can be written as a
sum
of a $K$-linear and a $K$-antilinear map. Therefore condition $(ii)$
implies that there are maps $\phi',\phi'':K\to K$ such that
\[
\phi(x,y)=\phi'(x)y+\phi''(x)\,{}^{\sigma}\! y
\]
 for all $x,y\in K$.

Then
\[
\tau(x,y)=\left(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x,\phi'(x)y +\phi''(x)\,{}^{\sigma}\! y\right)
\quad\forall x,y\in K.
\]

The condition $\tau\circ\tau=id_{K^2}$ translates into:
\begin{gather}
\phi'(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\phi'(x)+\phi''(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\,{}^{\sigma}\!\phi''(x) = 1\ \ \forall x\in K \\
\phi'(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\phi''(x)+\phi''(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\,{}^{\sigma}\!\phi'(x) = 0 \ \ \forall x\in K
\end{gather}

Condition $(v)$ yields:
It follows that
\begin{gather}
\phi'(x)=\lambda^6\phi'(\lambda^2x)\ \ \forall x\in K, \lambda\in S\\
\phi''(x)= \phi''(\lambda^2x)\ \ \forall x\in K, \lambda\in S
\end{gather}

Condition $(iii)$ implies that $\phi'$ can be written as a finite
sum
\[
\phi'(x) = \sum_{k,l} a_{k,l} x^k\left(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x\right)^l \ \ (a_{k,l}\in K)
\]
Then
\[
\lambda^6\phi'(\lambda^2x) =
\sum_{k,l} a_{k,l}\lambda^{6+2k-2l} x^k\left(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x\right)^l \ \
\forall x\in, \lambda\in S
\]
because $\,{}^{\sigma}\!\lambda=\lambda^{-1}$ for $\lambda\in S$.
Hence equation $(3)$ implies that $a_{k,l}=0$ unless $3+k=l$.
It follows that
\[
\phi'(x)=\left(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x\right)^3R(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\ \forall x\in K
\]
for some polynomial $R\in K[T]$.

Similarily the equation $(4)$ implies that
\[
\phi''(x)=Q(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\ \forall x\in K
\]
for some polynomial $Q\in K[T]$.

It follows that
\[
\phi''(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)=\phi''(x)=Q(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)
\]
and
\[
\phi'(\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)=x^3R(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)
\]
for all $x\in K$.

Using these identities, equation $(1)$ transforms into
\begin{equation}
\left(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x\right)^3\left(R(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\right)^2
+Q(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)\,{}^{\sigma}\! Q(x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x)=1
\end{equation}

If
\[
Q(z)=\sum_{k=0}^d c_kz^k
\]
with $c_d\ne 0$, then
the map
\[
z\mapsto Q(z)\,{}^{\sigma}\! Q(z)\quad (z\in k)
\]
is given by a polynomial $P\in k[T]$ of degree
$2d$ with top coefficient $c_d\,{}^{\sigma}\! c_d\ne 0$.

Hence equation $(5)$ implies
\[
z^3\left(R(z)\right)^2 + P(z)=1
\]
for all $z\in k$ which can be written in the form $z=x\,{}^{\sigma}\! x=N_{K/k}(x)$.
The above equation thus holds for infinitely many $z\in k$ and therefore
implies an identity of polynomials.

However, the first term ($z^3\left(R(z)\right)^2$) is a polynomial
in $z$ of odd degree (unless $R\equiv 0$)
while the second term ($P(z)$) is a polynomial
of even degree.

From this it follows that this identity can hold only in the degenerate
case where $R\equiv 0$ and $P\equiv 1$.

Then $Q$ is a constant polynomial
taking an element of $S$ as value.
\end{proof}

\section{Proof of the theorem}
\begin{proof}
Due to the classification of $k$-forms of $G_m$ it follows that there
is a quadratic extension of fields $K/k$ with $\mathop{Gal}(K/k)=\{id_K,\sigma\}$
such that $H^0$ arises
as described above in \S5.
We consider $G$ and $H$ and their actions $\mu$ resp.~$\mu_0$ on
${\mathbb A}^4$
as defined in \S5 above.
We claim that the $H^0$-action $\mu_0$ on $E_0\simeq{\mathbb A}^4$ is not linearizable.
To see this, assume the contrary.
Recall that $E_0$ is a $H$-vector bundle over ${\mathbb A}^2$. Observe that
$(-1)\,{}^{\sigma}\!(-1)=1$ and that therefore $I=\{1,-1\}\subset S
=\{z\in K^*:z\,{}^{\sigma}\! z=1\}$. Regarded as subgroup of $H^0(K)\simeq S$,
the group $I$ acts on $E_0$ fixing precisely the zero-section.
Therefore we can employ the criterion of Masuda-Petrie (\S3)
 and deduce that
$E_0$ must be trivial as $H^0$-vector bundle over ${\mathbb A}^2$.
Hence, after applying a suitable $k$-automorphism of $E_0$, the
$H^0$-action on $E_0$ becomes linear.
Now
$H$ is the semi-direct product of ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}=\{e,\tau\}$
and $H_0$ with
\begin{align*}
H_0(k)&=\{g\in G(K):\,{}^{\sigma}\! g=\left(g\right)^{-1}\}^0\\
&=S=\{\lambda\in G_m(K)=K^*: N_{K/k}(\lambda)=1\}.
\end{align*}
Linearity of the $H^0$-action on $E_0=k^4$ implies that there
is $H^0$-equivariant $k$-isomorphism between $E_0$ and the
tangent space at the fixed point $0\in E_0$.
Therefore we can identify $E_0=k^4$ with $K^2$ in such a way that
the $H^0$-action takes the form
\[
\lambda: (x,y)\mapsto (\lambda^2x,\lambda^3y)\ \ \forall \lambda\in S.
\]
Because $E_0$ is a $H$-vector bundle over $k^2$, conditions $(i)-(iii)$
of the proposition in \S6 are fulfilled. The group structure of
$H=\{e,\tau\}\ltimes H^0$ implies that conditions $(iv)$ and $(v)$
are fulfilled as well.

Hence we may invoke this proposition and deduce
that the action of $\tau$ on $E_0$ is already be given by
a $k$-linear map.
Since $H$ is generated by $\tau$ and $H^0$. it follows that
the $H$-action on $E_0$ is necessarily $k$-linear as soon as
the $H^0$-action is $k$-linear.
However, the action of $H$ is a $k$-form of the $G$-action on
$E$. It follows that the $G$-action on $E$ must be linearizable.
This is a contradiction, because the latter action is not linearizable
over ${\mathbb C}$.
\end{proof}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
package org.umich.asbarber.fm.gui.filters;

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileReader;
import java.io.FileWriter;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JList;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import org.umich.asbarber.fm.file.Directory;
import org.umich.asbarber.fm.file.IndexedFile;
import org.umich.asbarber.fm.file.filters.CustomFilter;

/**
 *
 * @author Aaron
 */
public class FilterOperations {

    public final static String filterDir = "resources\\filters";
    private final static String filterPath = filterDir + "\\";
    public final static String filterExt = ".flr";

    public static List<CustomFilter> getSavedFilters() {
        List<CustomFilter> stored = new ArrayList<CustomFilter>();

        Directory mainDir = new Directory(filterDir);

        for (IndexedFile file : mainDir.getFiles()) {
            stored.add(readFilter(file.getFile()));
        }

        return stored;
    }

    public static void viewFilter(CustomFilter filter) {
        JPanel tmp = new JPanel();
        tmp.setLayout(new BorderLayout());

        JLabel name = new JLabel("Filter Name:    " + filter.getName());
        JList list = new JList(filter.getExtensions().toArray());

        tmp.add(name, BorderLayout.NORTH);
        tmp.add(list, BorderLayout.CENTER);

        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, tmp, filter.getName(), JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
    }

    public static CustomFilter readFilter(File filterFile) {
        try {
            //Streams
            FileReader r = new FileReader(filterFile);
            BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(r);

            //Reads
            String text = (reader.readLine());

            String name;
            List<String> extensions = new ArrayList<String>();

            //Name Component
            int iName = text.indexOf(CustomFilter.FILE_NAME_DELIM);
            if (iName == -1) {
                return null;
            }
            name = text.substring(0, iName);
            text = text.substring(iName + CustomFilter.FILE_NAME_DELIM.length());

            //Extensions Component
            StringTokenizer conch = new StringTokenizer(text, CustomFilter.FILE_EXT_DELIM);
            while (conch.hasMoreElements()) {
                extensions.add((String) conch.nextElement());
            }

            //Closes
            r.close();

            //Returns
            return new CustomFilter(name, extensions);
            //Catchs File Error
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "There was a file operation error in reading "
                    + filterFile.getName(), "File Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            return null;
        }
    }

    public static void deleteFilter(CustomFilter filter) {
        File toDelete = new File(filterPath + filter.getName() + filterExt);
        toDelete.delete();
    }

    public static CustomFilter createFilter() {
        CreatorPanel panel = new CreatorPanel();
        int i = JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, panel, "Filter Builder", JOptionPane.DEFAULT_OPTION);

        if (i == JOptionPane.OK_OPTION) {
            CustomFilter newFilter = new CustomFilter(panel.getFilterName(), panel.getObjects());
            saveFilter(newFilter);
            return newFilter;
        }

        return null;
    }

    private static class CreatorPanel extends JPanel {

        private JLabel lblName;
        private JTextField name;
        private JButton instructions, add, remove;
        private JTextField input;
        private JComboBox listDisplay;

        public CreatorPanel() {
            super();
            initPanel();
            initComponents();
            addComponents();
        }

        private void initPanel() {
            super.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
        }

        private void initComponents() {
            lblName = new JLabel("Filter Name: ");
            name = new JTextField(8);

            instructions = new JButton("Instructions");
            instructions.setBackground(Color.lightGray);

            add = new JButton("Add");
            input = new JTextField(4);
            remove = new JButton("Remove");

            listDisplay = new JComboBox();
            listDisplay.setSize(listDisplay.getWidth() + 50, listDisplay.getHeight());
            listDisplay.setEditable(false);

            ActionListener listener = new ButtonListener();
            instructions.addActionListener(listener);
            add.addActionListener(listener);
            remove.addActionListener(listener);
        }

        private void addComponents() {
            JPanel tmp = new JPanel();
            tmp.add(instructions);
            tmp.add(lblName);
            tmp.add(name);
            this.add(tmp, BorderLayout.NORTH);
            this.add(add, BorderLayout.WEST);
            this.add(input, BorderLayout.CENTER);
            this.add(remove, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
            this.add(listDisplay, BorderLayout.EAST);
        }

        private List<String> getObjects() {
            List<String> objects = new ArrayList<String>();

            for (int i = 0; i < listDisplay.getItemCount(); i++) {
                objects.add((String) listDisplay.getItemAt(i));
            }

            return objects;
        }

        private String getFilterName() {
            return name.getText();
        }

        private class ButtonListener implements ActionListener {

            @Override
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
                if (ae.getActionCommand().equals("Add")) {
                    addAction();
                } else if (ae.getActionCommand().equals("Remove")) {
                    removeAction();
                } else if (ae.getActionCommand().equals("Instructions")) {
                    showInstructions();
                }
            }

            private void showInstructions() {
                String msg = "Input and 'Add' the extensions of this filter.\nOr 'Remove' the currently selected item.";
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, msg, "Instructions", JOptionPane.DEFAULT_OPTION);
            }

            private void addAction() {
                String i = input.getText();

                if (isExtension(i)) {
                    listDisplay.addItem(i);
                    listDisplay.setSelectedIndex(listDisplay.getItemCount() - 1);
                } else {
                    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Please Enter a Unique and Valid Extension!", "Error", JOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
                }

                input.setText("");
            }

            private boolean isExtension(String i) {
                return !(i == null || i.trim().equals("") || i.charAt(0) != '.' || listboxContains(i));
            }

            private boolean listboxContains(String item) {
                for (int i = 0; i < listDisplay.getItemCount(); i++) {
                    if (item.equals(listDisplay.getItemAt(i))) {
                        return true;
                    }
                }

                return false;
            }

            private void removeAction() {
                if (listDisplay.getSelectedIndex() == -1) {
                    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "There are no extensions to remove!", "Error", JOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
                    return;
                }

                listDisplay.removeItemAt(listDisplay.getSelectedIndex());
            }
        }
    }

    public static CustomFilter saveFilter(CustomFilter filter) {
        //Validates Name
        String name = filter.getName();
        name = SaveOperations.validateName(name);
        filter.setName(name);

        //Creates File
        File output = new File(filterPath + name + filterExt);

        //Already Exists
        if (output.exists()) {
            //Don't Overwrite
            if (!SaveOperations.isOverwrite(output)) {
                //EXIT
                return null;
            }
        }

        //Attempts To Save File
        try {
            output.createNewFile();
            BufferedWriter writer = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(output));
            writer.write(filter.toString());
            writer.close();
            return readFilter(output);
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            SaveOperations.displayMessage(SaveOperations.IO_WRITER_ERROR, output);
            return null;
        }
    }

    private static class SaveOperations {

        public final static int INVALID_NAME = 1,
                OVERRIDE_WARNING = 2,
                IO_WRITER_ERROR = 3;

        public static boolean isValidFileName(String name) {
            return !name.contains("\\")
                    && !name.trim().equals("")
                    && !name.contains(filterExt)
                    && !name.contains("/")
                    && !name.contains(CustomFilter.FILE_NAME_DELIM)
                    && !name.contains(CustomFilter.FILE_EXT_DELIM);
        }

        public static boolean isFileExists(File toSave) {
            return toSave.exists();
        }

        public static boolean isOverwrite(File toSave) {
            return ((Integer) displayMessage(OVERRIDE_WARNING, toSave)).equals(JOptionPane.YES_OPTION);
        }

        public static Object displayMessage(int command) {
            return displayMessage(command, null);
        }

        public static Object displayMessage(int command, File optional) {
            if (command == INVALID_NAME) {
                return JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "The file name is not valid. Please enter a valid name.",
                        "File Name Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            } else if (command == OVERRIDE_WARNING) {
                return JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, optional.getName() + " already exists, "
                        + "are you sure you want to overwrite this file?",
                        "Override Warning", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION);

            } else if (command == IO_WRITER_ERROR) {
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "There was a file operation error in writing "
                        + optional.getName(), "File Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            }

            return -1;
        }

        public static String validateName(String name) {
            while (!isValidFileName(name)) {
                Object o = displayMessage(INVALID_NAME);

                if (o instanceof String) {
                    name = (String) o;
                }
            }

            return name;
        }
    }
}


• On balance, the Solicitor General makes a persuasive case that the Court should grant certiorari. The Second Circuit's decision in EM Ltd. v. Republic of Argentina, 695 F.3d 201 (2d Cir. 2012), is in conflict with Rubin v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 637 F.3d 783 (7th Cir. 2011), on an issue of considerable importance – namely the scope of discovery permissible in post-judgment proceedings under the FSIA. Moreover, for reasons cogently set forth by the Seventh Circuit in Rubin, there is no doubt that – contrary to the Second Circuit's view – a general asset discovery order violates the FSIA. See Rubin, 637 F.3d at 794-99.
• "The presumptive immunity in the FSIA protects foreign sovereigns not only from liability or seizure of their property, but also from the costs, in time and expense, and other disruptions attendant to litigation." Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae ("Amicus Brf.") at 10.
• "To permit burdensome and intrusive discovery . . . would be inconsistent with both the FSIA's protections and the comity principles the statute implements." Id.
• Discovery "should be conducted in a manner that respects the comity and reciprocity principles that the FSIA was enacted to implement and safeguard." Id. at 11.
• If allowed, discovery should only "be ordered circumspectly and only to verify allegations of specific facts crucial to an immunity determination." Id. at 12.
American courts, in supervising pretrial proceedings, should exercise special vigilance to protect foreign litigants from the danger that unnecessary, or unduly burdensome, discovery may place them in a disadvantageous position. Judicial supervision of discovery should always seek to minimize its costs and inconvenience and to prevent improper uses of discovery requests. When it is necessary to seek evidence abroad, . . . the district court must supervise pretrial proceedings particularly closely to prevent discovery abuses. . . . Objections to "abusive" discovery that foreign litigants advance should therefore receive the most careful consideration. In addition, we have long recognized the demands of comity in suits involving foreign states, either as parties or as sovereigns with a coordinate interest in the litigation. American courts should therefore take care to demonstrate due respect for any special problem confronted by the foreign litigant on account of its nationality or the location of its operations, and for any sovereign interest expressed by a foreign state.
Société Nationale, 482 U.S. at 546. Since Société Nationale addressed any case involving "foreign litigants," its cautionary language should apply with particular force with respect to foreign sovereigns. In other words, Société Nationale should be considered the floor, and not the ceiling, of discovery protections afforded foreign states under the FSIA – and it is therefore a powerful tool to use on behalf of foreign sovereigns in discovery proceedings.
• The Solicitor General recognizes that "discovery requests directed at third parties may burden the foreign state itself, as it may have to participate in litigation over the scope and manner of discovery." Amicus Brf. at 17. If accepted by the Supreme Court, this view could have a significant practical impact in FSIA cases involving attempts at discovery against third parties to obtain jurisdiction against foreign states.
• Although not mentioned in the Solicitor General's brief, the circuit split created by EM Ltd. was long in the making. The Second Circuit has always been the circuit that is the least sensitive to the concerns of foreign sovereigns relating to discovery under the FSIA. See, e.g., Reiss v. Société Centrale Du Groupe Des Assurances Nationales, 235 F.3d 738, 748 (2d Cir. 2000). Given the importance of uniformity under the FSIA, NML Capital provides the opportunity to resolve significant differences in circuit law with respect to discovery involving foreign states.
• The Supreme Court has never before spoken to the issue of discovery under the FSIA. If certiorari is granted in NML Capital, the resulting decision could be the most important Supreme Court FSIA precedent since Nelson – particularly with respect to the practical aspects of litigation against foreign states in federal court.
• Sachs affirms the principle that circuit courts should be reluctant to create circuit splits under the FSIA in light of the principle of uniformity. See Sachs, 2013 WL 6333439, at *5 (stating that "Congress passed the FSIA to promote uniformity in the treatment of foreign sovereign immunity" and that the court "see[s] no compelling reason to create a split with our sister circuits."). That is an important guiding principle in FSIA cases, and can be used with respect to issues such as apparent authority and the standard of compliance required under section 1608(a).
• The Sachs court describes the burden-shifting regimen under the FSIA as follows: "we must determine (1) whether [plaintiff] has carried her burden to prove, by offering evidence, that the commercial-activity exception to foreign sovereign immunities applies and (2) whether [the foreign sovereign defendant] has carried its burden to prove, by showing a preponderance of evidence, that the exception is not applicable." Sachs, 2013 WL 6333439, at *3. That means that Sachs avoided the "public act" error that the Ninth Circuit made in Terenkian, which is a positive development for reasons I describe more fully here.
There are many other issues raised by the Sachs opinion, but I will address those in future posts.
The relevance of profit motive under the FSIA's commercial activity exception is the subject of continued confusion. The Second Circuit claims that the Seventh Circuit mischaracterizes its "profit" precedent (see, e.g., NML Capital, Ltd. v. Republic of Argentina, 680 F.3d 254, 259 (2d Cir. 2012)), and circuit courts have abrogated district court opinions addressing profit motive. See Intercontinental Dictionary Series v. De Gruyter, 822 F. Supp. 662 (C.D. Cal. 1993), abrogated by Sun v. Taiwan, 201 F.3d 1105 (9th Cir. 2000); see also Malewicz v. City of Amsterdam, 362 F. Supp. 2d 298, 314 n.5 (D.D.C. 2005). As one commentator recently stated, "insofar as 'profit' is concerned, the legislative instructions are ambiguous and misleading, while the case law appears unsettled at best." Yang, State Immunity in International Law 92 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2012). There is, in short, a distinct need for clarity, and this post seeks to explain the proper use of profit motive under section 1605(a)(2).
The FSIA Forecloses Subjective Profit Inquiries. Although some litigants continue to argue that a foreign sovereign's subjective profit motive remains relevant under the commercial activity exception, there is no doubt that the FSIA precludes such an inquiry. Section 1603(d) specifically commands that "[t]he commercial character of an activity shall be determined by reference to the nature of the course of conduct or particular transaction or act, rather than by reference to its purpose." 28 U.S.C. § 1603(d). Consistent with the statute's plain language, the Supreme Court has unambiguously held that the "question is not whether the foreign government is acting with a profit motive." Republic of Argentina v. Weltover, Inc., 504 U.S. 607, 614 (1992). Notwithstanding litigants' occasional attempts to invoke a sovereign's motive, any argument based upon a sovereign's subjective profit motive (or lack thereof) has long been rejected by the courts. See, e.g., NML Capital, Ltd., 680 F.3d at 260 ("The [sovereign's] lack of a profit motive is simply irrelevant."); Beg v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 353 F.3d 1323, 1327 n.1 (11th Cir. 2003) ("We decline to examine the government's motives in determining what is commercial activity."); see also, e.g., Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Med. Ctr. v. Hellenic Republic, 877 F.2d 574, 581 (7th Cir. 1989); Joseph v. Office of Consulate Gen. of Nigeria, 830 F.2d 1018, 1024 (9th Cir. 1987).
An Objective Profit Inquiry Can be Used to Determine if an Activity is Commercial. In the section-by-section analysis addressing section 1603(d), the FSIA's legislative history stated that "if an activity is customarily carried on for profit, its commercial nature could readily be assumed." H.R. Rep. No. 94-1487, at 16 (1976) (emphasis added). As stated by the Second Circuit, "where a private party would customarily engage in an activity for profit, there can be little question that that private party is engaging in commercial activity. When a foreign sovereign engages in the same conduct, that activity retains its commercial nature, even though the foreign sovereign acts without a profit motive." Weltover, Inc. v. Republic of Argentina, 941 F.2d 145, 150 (2d Cir. 1991); see also NML Capital, Ltd., 680 F.3d at 259-60; EM Ltd. v. Republic of Argentina, 389 F. App'x 38, 44 (2d Cir. 2010); Sun, 201 F.3d at 1108; MCI Telecommunications Corp. v. Alhadhood, 82 F.3d 658, 663 (5th Cir. 1996); United States v. Moats, 961 F.2d 1198, 1205 (5th Cir. 1992); Gould, Inc. v. Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann, 853 F.2d 445, 452 (6th Cir. 1988). The inquiry is not a subjective one directed at the foreign sovereign defendant, but instead an objective one based upon a theoretical "private person" engaged in the same conduct.
Although trafficking in persons and property captured by sovereign entities solely for profit is certainly not unknown within the international community, this Court is of the opinion that state-supported kidnapping, hostage-taking, and similar universally criminal ventures were simply not the sorts of proprietary enterprises within the contemplation of Congress when it enacted the "commercial activity" exception to FSIA in conferring jurisdiction upon federal courts to entertain cases against foreign sovereigns.
Cicippio v. Islamic Republic of Iran, CIV. A. 92-2300, 1993 WL 730748, at *2 (D.D.C. Mar. 13, 1993) aff'd, 30 F.3d 164 (D.C. Cir. 1994); see also Mwani v. bin Laden, 417 F.3d 1, 16-17 (D.C. Cir. 2005). The scenarios set forth in the Cicippio opinion – and other conceivable situations where the nature of a profitable activity demonstrates that it is not "commercial" – suggest potential limits of any objective profit inquiry.
[S]aying that all for-profit activities are commercial is not the same thing as saying that all commercial activities are for profit. The premise that all A is B does not logically compel the conclusion that all B is A, unless A and B are the same thing. There is no reason in the FSIA to believe that commercial activity means the same thing, and no more than, for-profit activity.
In fact, when private individuals purchase goods and services, they rarely do so with the intent to profit from their purchase. (Think of consumers at grocery stores and gas stations.) Peru's [proposed] test would exclude most cases in which the government acts as a purchaser, rather than a vendor, of goods and services because most purchases made by private persons are not made with the intent to resell for profit. Nothing in the restrictive theory of sovereign immunity turns on whether the government is a buyer or a seller.
Guevara v. Republic of Peru, 468 F.3d 1289, 1303 (11th Cir. 2006).
Based upon such reasoning, courts have declined to use an objective profit test to determine that a particular activity is not commercial.
1. The foreign sovereign's subjective profit motive is off limits, and will continue to be unless and until Congress amends section 1603(d).
2. The FSIA does not define commercial activity in terms of profit, instead requiring an examination of the "nature" of the conduct in question. 28 U.S.C. § 1603(d). In light of section 1603(d), the Supreme Court has specifically held that "the issue is whether the particular actions that the foreign state performs (whatever the motive behind them) are the type of actions by which a private party engages in trade and traffic or commerce." Weltover, 504 U.S. at 614. In addition, the rationale of the Cicippio decision demonstrates that there are limits to an objective profit inquiry. As a result, any determination of whether an activity is commercial cannot turn solely on an objective profit inquiry. Courts cannot, in other words, replace the statutory inquiry with a strict objective "profit" test. At best, under section 1603(d) and Weltover, the objective profit inquiry can be a factor in determining that an activity is commercial in nature.
3. The fact that an activity is customarily not undertaken for profit should be considered as a factor in determining that the activity is noncommercial. Such an inquiry is not foreclosed by the Guevara court's reasoning; the problems identified by the Eleventh Circuit and other courts only appear under a strict objective "no profit = noncommercial" test. If courts can consider a profit motive from the perspective of an objective private person to determine that conduct is commercial, they should be able to consider the objective lack of a profit motive as a factor in determining that activity is noncommercial as well.
In the final analysis, much of the confusion relating to profit inquiries under section 1605(a)(2) stems from loose language in court opinions and in the legislative history. If courts make clear that they are undertaking an objective inquiry that considers profit motive solely as a factor, a profit inquiry could become a useful tool in commercial activity jurisprudence.


There are so many sisters, and families, which are blissfully close in books that this story came in different, and got my attention.
Through the Glass by Erica Kiefer (The Window Series, #2) published today in the Romance, Suspense, Young Adult Genre.What Erica tells me about the book, too, is very interesting. Here's her words for the Series.
One of the themes explored in Through the Glass is how very grey relationships can be. Now, it's difficult to use the phrase "shades of grey" without misleading an audience towards a discussion on the popular yet controversial romance trilogy. Let me be clear that I write contemporary YA romance—very clean romance at that—so there'll be nothing saucy about the content of this post or overly heated between the young love interests in my book. (Did I just lose about half of you? If not, stay with me.) What I do explore, though, with different intensity is how difficult relationships can be when emotions and circumstances do not fit neatly into categorized black and white boxes.
We grow up exposed to structure. Order. We see it all over our nation in government, politics, school, religion. We judge and box things into categories all over the place. Right or wrong? Guilty or not guilty? But what about when it comes to people? How are you meant to feel about someone who is woven so deeply into your life but still hurts you—or someone you love—with a betrayal worth writing about?
My heart will find its way into writing, a heart that is not pink nor red, nor black nor white. In truth, my heart is grey, worn into shades that blur the rigid lines of love and hate. Of loyalty and scorn. Of truth and lies and all that must be seemingly so defined.
Readers get to feel some of this conflict multiple times with Olivia Cole, the main character in the series as she faces hurt and confusion, love and betrayal. What seems so clear to outsiders remains a muddled mess of indecision, pain, and knowledge she doesn't want to face. When there are secrets or uncomfortable truths just beyond our immediate sight, psychology refers to them as blind spots—pockets of potentially emotional trauma just waiting to peak our awareness. However, once we cross that path, consequences will ultimately follow. Decisions need to be made. Relationships permanently altered. Is that a step worth taking?
If you're not yet ready to expose your own blind spots, walk instead beside Olivia Cole as she peers Through the Glass and grapples with her new world of grey.
Still reeling from the discovery of her twin sister, Olivia struggles to face her mother's betrayal. As Olivia and her friends seek to unravel the dark mystery of how and why the twins were separated, tensions escalate when Emma runs into her sister's ex—who assumes she's Olivia. When honesty is abandoned for more secrets and lies, the fallout between the sisters only intensifies. As they sift between truth and deception, it becomes clear that matters of the heart are not as transparent as they may seem.
A page-turning mystery laced with romance and emotional drama, Through the Glass is the satisfying conclusion to the Window Series duology by Erica Kiefer.
I never cared to be an actress. Waltzing across the stage with all eyes on me wasn't my style, nor was feigning confidence as a different character. I admired them really, the performers who could fool an audience into feeling and believing their words. The very best could pull people into their world within minutes, tugging on heart strings and wrapping the crowd around their little finger.
Turns out my mother was the true actress around here.
I lifted my eyes from my bowl of stew, a fleeting glance landing on Mom as she sipped wine from a goblet. Without even meeting my gaze, her words found me from across the table.
"I'll take it as a compliment that you haven't spoken since we sat down for dinner." She positioned her goblet beside her placemat, careful and precise. Regardless, the red liquid sloshed from side to side, taking a minute to settle.
I tried to hide how my eyes widened. Like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, I bowed mine over my dinner, slipping the spoon into my mouth and forcing myself to swallow another bite. Tasteless, it hit my empty stomach like a punch to the gut. I would never pull this off.
"Are you feeling okay?" Mom asked. She cocked her head to the side, studying me. Her eyes bore into me like a magnifying glass, reading beyond the obvious signs of my discomfort. She could always see right through me.
I scrambled for some line of truth, knowing it was the only way I'd be able to disguise my lie. Stalling, I ran my napkin across my lips, still focusing on the carrots and potatoes inside my bowl. How could I talk to her when I could barely maintain eye contact?
"Does this have anything to do with Andre Steele?" Dad asked. Grateful for the interruption, I found comfort responding to my ally, though he had no idea how deceived he truly was. Until just hours ago, I hadn't either.
"Um, sort of," I said, my fingers clenching the napkin in my lap. I couldn't picture Andre without seeing him with Emma, harboring my twin in his backyard pool house. I'd only just met her after our entire childhood apart, and now we were separated again with more secrets and lies. There would be a time for truth, but that time was not now. Not until we solidified a plan.
Mentioning Andre seemed to fit my unsteady behavior, though. Dad cleared his throat and exchanged a knowing look with Mom, who gave a tight-lipped smile in return. I needed to play along as truthfully as I could, which, considering Andre and I were still unsure about our relationship status, shouldn't prove too difficult. So, out with the truth.
"Well, we did kiss the other day—" I paused with an exaggerated sigh. "Come on, Dad. Don't make this more awkward with that face. You're the one who asked," I reminded him, not actually wanting to talk about Andre and me either. However, it seemed easier than explaining, "Oh, and by the way, the woman you married separated me from my identical twin and has been using us to run a social experiment." I wasn't sure I'd ever be equipped to navigate that conversation about the woman he loved and the mother I trusted.
Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box (Intl winner would get eBook prizes.


text:
Uber pulls the covers off of its new AI lab
By Matthew Griffin Intelligence and the Senses 8th December 2016
As the capability of new artificial intelligence systems improve more organisations are leveraging AI products and tools to help them maintain and extend their competitive edge
Uber have announced that they've launched an artificial intelligence (AI) lab and acquired Geometric Intelligence, an AI startup, as the company looks to use the technology to improve the performance and efficiency of its driverless vehicles and products.
Kim and Zuck get DeepFaked and go viral
The effort marks Uber's biggest step yet into AI, which has become a key competitive battleground for the technology companies dotted along the west coast, and its use in the transportation space is hotting up substantially as companies, such as Tesla, who have their own AI lab, along with many others begin to use AI in anger to improve the performance of their autonomous vehicles and optimise their services – which, in Ubers case will likely include their using AI to improve routing, matching passengers to rides, and one day using it to underpin their future flying taxi service.
"With all of its complexity and uncertainty, negotiating the real world is a high order intelligence problem," said Jeff Holden, Uber's Chief Product Officer, and he pointed to cars, planes and robotics as all needing better navigational intelligence.
As tech companies increase their focus on AI, buying AI start ups in oder to get into the space has become more common.
Terms of Uber's acquisition were not disclosed, but its new AI lab will be formed from the staff at Geometric Intelligence and led by Gary Marcus, a cognitive scientist at New York University. Formed in 2014, Geometric Intelligence focuses on an area known as "sparse data", which allows computers to make inferences using relatively small data sets.
AI fighter pilot obliterates human USAF pilot in simulated dogfights
The company is known for taking an interdisciplinary approach to AI – its founders include Mr Marcus, a professor of psychology; Zoubin Ghahramani, a professor of machine learning at the University of Cambridge; and Kenneth Stanley, a computer scientist at the University of Central Florida.
As Uber has grown, it is by far Silicon Valley's most valuable private company, with a recent valuation of $68.5bn from investors, it has also become more acquisitive. Earlier this year, the company acquired Otto, an autonomous driving truck company that recently showed off Americas first driverless truck delivery with Budweiser, in a deal that included more than $600m worth of equity in Uber, and a share of future trucking business profits.
Artificial IntelligenceAutonomous DronesAutonomous VehiclesDriverless CarsDronesGeometric IntelligenceNew York UniversityOttoRobotsUberUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of Central FloridaUSA
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