Named after the crater lake 'Duluti' by the local Meru people, Lake Duluti Lodge is located in an exclusive area on the outskirts of Arusha. The lodge features spacious contemporary African styled chalets ideally positioned for maximum privacy. All chalets face the coffee farm and each has a private deck with a view of the ancient indigenous trees. Each room has a comfortable bed, a mosquito net, mini bar, coffee making facilities, plasma flat screen TV with satellite channels, intercom and international telephone line, internet connection, hair dryer, digital safe, shower, bathtub and separate toilet. The main area offers complimentary internet access. Meals are provided in the main dining area, deck and swimming pool gardens. The cuisine is modern African with an international twist, using local organic and fresh products. There is a gift shop and a spa. The entire lodge is wheelchair accessible.
Set in the southern reaches of Tarangire National Park, Oliver's Camp is an echo of the early days of East African safaris; when the camp offered a warm bed and crackling fire at the end of the day, yet the real magic was out there in the wilderness. The spacious tents are beautifully appointed with camp-style wardrobes, chairs, safe, en-suite bathroom with outdoor shower and flush toilet. The private verandas have magnificent views of the horizon punctuated by the silhouettes of the ever-present baobab trees. In the main area, deep leather sofas invite you to relax and watch the restless wilderness beyond. Oliver's specializes in delicious meals, breakfasts are continental with bacon and eggs made to order, and lunches are light and fresh. Come nightfall, meals are taken communally in the dining tent. Whiskies are poured around the campfire and safari tales are told late into the night. There is a well-stocked library tent where you can escape after dinner.
Kimondo is a mobile camp which moves with the migration, splitting the year between the north and south of the Serengeti, just like the millions of wildebeest which move with it. Blending East African charm with a hint of Moroccan romance, the camp pays homage to an age when trade merchants crossed the Serengeti on camels. Handwoven rugs line the floors and burnished copper lanterns glow into the night. Entirely solar powered, the elegant safari styled tents feature cast-iron king or twin beds, en-suite bathroom with safari shower, hot and cold running water and flushing toilet. Each tent has a private veranda and is the perfect place for a siesta during the lazy afternoons. The main camp comprises two separate tents, housing the lounge in one and the dining area in the other. Meals are either taken outside, under the stars or in the dining tent. The mess tent is full of comfy places to relax and books to browse.
Namiri Plains is in the remote Eastern corner of the Serengeti, in an area that was closed for 20 years as a reserved cheetah conservation and breeding program. Today, this is big-cat territory, where cheetah roam, and lion and leopard hunt undisturbed. This small, exclusive camp only has eight tents to minimize the impact on the environment. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor safari showers with hot running water and flushing toilets. All the tents have sweeping 360° views of the surrounding plains. Watch wildlife roaming the plains from the comfortable sofas in the mess tent, or relax in the outdoor seating area under the shade of the giant acacias. In the evening, gather to recount the day's adventures beside the camp fire before dinner is served in the dining tent or under a glittering canopy of stars. The camp is solar and generator powered.
This Tanzania photographic safari focuses on prime wildlife areas and luxurious accommodations. The traditional wildlife safari activities are complimented by "out of the vehicle experiences" including a rural primary school visit, farm walk and for those who wish to stretch their legs hikes to the nearby Empakaai Crater.


August may be heading to an end, but the MUG Event Calendar is more than a little busy.
Aaron Davis of Apple will be at a Virginia group to discuss Mountain Lion, which also happens to be the topic of discussion in at Michigan and Maine groups this week. Digital photography expert Derrick Story will talk about why high-priced camera gear isn't always necessary at a California group, and groups in England and California will be enjoying outdoor social events.
Other topics set for this week include Smoke, a film festival, FileMaker Pro and more.


In celebration of the 10th anniversary of its iconic fragrance, DAISY, Marc Jacobs fragrances are giving away a luxury perfume hamper worth over R3 400, to one lucky reader. Inside the hamper? A 100ml bottle of Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence and another 100ml of the classic Marc Jacobs Daisy.
For ten years, DAISY MARC JACOBS has won hearts around the world with an effortless charm and youthful elegance. This spring, DAISY re-captures the purity of the beginning with a new campaign featuring Cindy Crawford's beautiful daughter, KAIA GERBER. The new ad stays true to DAISY'S core values of optimism, femininity, and free-spirited youth in an exciting new chapter.
The iconic scent embodies the essence of the woman who wears it: timeless, yet young-at-heart. She is a reminder to be open, loving, and playful while radiating positive energy.
Make sure to look out for a beautiful DAISY 10TH ANNIVERSARY limited edition bottle hitting shelves in Edgars & Red Square mid-October!


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Not An Awesome Mix As 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3' Production Is On Hold
Posted August 24th, 2018 by Stuart Conover
Bad news for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's galactic franchise as 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' has had its production put on hold. It has just been revealed that the crew in charge of assembling for pre-production have all been dismissed from the project and are free to look for new work as production has been delayed indefinitely.
The reasons for the delay shouldn't come as a surprise, but with the firing of James Gunn as the film's director, we know that Marvel Studios and Disney need to find a suitable replacement. Not only do they need someone who is talented, but they also need to find someone who is intimately familiar with the first two films as they will need to be working off the script Gunn had turned in while also making changes that will close out the trilogy and fit the overall narrative of the MCU.
'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' was set to go into full pre-production this Fall with principal photography set for either January or February of 2019. Without a director having been announced, there is no indication if these dates can still be hit or if the entire movie will end up getting pushed back. Of course, as Marvel Studios has only announced 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' after the release of the still untitled 'Avengers 4,' there really isn't a public timeline that has been announced.
One source states that "the timeline has been pushed out" while another has shared that this is temporary and just a "regrouping" while they figure out who will be taking the film forward. These conflicting reports aren't helping anyone make sense of the already troubled production.
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Wait..Not A Joke…Cloak & Dagger IS Coming To TV!
Anthony Daniels Advises You To Watch All The Star Wars Movies In Order To Prepare For 'The Rise Of Skywalker'
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Amy Adams Clarifies That She Hasn't "Officially" Left The Role Of Lois Lane In Warner Brothers' DC Movies

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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69% of adults stay friends with their ex after a breakup, but is it a good idea?
Half of respondents wanted to stay in touch as they were already friends before they got together, according to the study. (Getty Images)
The end of a relationship can be an emotional rollercoaster, whether you've been together for six months or 20 years. Even if you instigated the breakup, navigating the aftermath isn't easy – do you want to stay friends with your ex? Or go cold turkey?
A new survey has found that the majority of respondents (69%) have stayed friends with their ex after a breakup.
Read more: 40 biggest 'icks' revealed by people who have dumped their partner
Those aged between 45 and 54 were the most likely age group to keep their ex close, with three-quarters (74%) admitting that they had at least attempted to stay friends with an ex following a breakup.
The younger cohort of the 2,000 adults surveyed by sexual wellness brand Lovehoney were the least likely to stay friends with an ex, with 42% of 18 to 24-year-olds saying relations between them and an ex remain "hostile".
Most survey respondents said they had successfully stayed friends with an ex. (Getty Images)
Half of respondents (52%) said they wanted to stay friends with an ex because they had a friendship before becoming romantically involved.
However, three in 10 men (29%) said they wanted to stay friends with an ex because they were "sexually compatible" and wanted to try a friends-with-benefits situation.
Read more: Top bedroom turn-offs revealed, from dirty bedding to dodgy memorabilia
Of the respondents who have stayed friends with an ex, 84% said they had a successful friendship – but is staying friends with an ex ever a good idea or can it hold you back in the healing process?
"There are lots of benefits to being friends with an ex-partner. In fact, it's called de-escalating the relationship," psychotherapist Rachel Wright says.
"We tend to start any relationship as friends, even if we're dating with an intent to be in a romantic relationship: the foundation is the same – a friendship/relationship."
Psychotherapist Rachel Wright says it may be best not to stay friends after a breakup if it is causing you grief. (Getty Images)
Wright adds that de-escalating the relationship from a romantic or sexual relationship into a friendship can work well.
"In non-monogamy, and even more specifically polyamory, it's super-common for relationships to escalate and de-escalate – but in monogamous relationships, often, when the romantic and/or sexual piece 'ends', so does the entire relationship. It does not have to be this way," she continues.
"However, some people find hardship in continuing to have or grow a relationship with someone they've been romantically involved with because of grief, hurt, resentment or other uncomfortable feelings."
Read more: Carol Vorderman explains how dating five men works: 'Everyone's single – that's a critical part of it'
Wright recommends taking two months, or 60 days, after your breakup to process your feelings and to avoid speaking to each other during this time. Then, after the period of grief is over, it's easier to have a clear head and decide what it is that you want.
For those who continue to feel hurt, pain or grief about having their ex in their life, Wright says you may want to steer clear of a further relationship with them.
"Try to think about all relationships as relationships – friendships are relationships, partners are relationships, our family members we have relationships with – a relationship isn't synonymous with romance and sex. So, you get to decide what type of relationship you have with this person and if you want them in your life, to begin with," she explains.
"If you've tried and aren't sure, take the 60 days I recommend post-breakup again and re-assess."
Watch: Shailene Woodley went through 'darkest' time after Aaron Rodgers split
Ginger Zee reveals bold hair transformation – and she looks so different
Ginger Zee has unveiled a stunning new look after being bedbound with a nasty illness. The GMA meteorologist is fighting fit again and decided to switch up her appearance after taking inspiration from Lily Collins after binging her hit Netflix show, Emily In Paris while recovering from the flu. WATCH: Ginger Zee looks so different with head-turning hair transformation Ginger took to Instagram on Friday to show off her gorgeous new hairstyle after having choppy bangs cut – and she looks so differ
Lewis Capaldi breaks gig record in Scotland
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Melissa Gorga admits she believed rumour Kyle Richards took Ozempic
Melissa Gorga has weighed in on Kyle Richards's response to the rumour she took controversial diabetes drug Ozempic. While The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star admitted to having a breast reduction in May last year, Kyle has rebuffed other rumours about her appearance, including the speculation that she was taking the medication Ozempic to lose weight. After Kyle slammed the Ozempic rumour, her fellow Real Housewives star Melissa admitted she understood how the speculation came about. "I'm
Why lunges are one of the best strength moves a runner can do
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Prince Harry's next major public appearance now confirmed
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Paul Mescal has a tomato phobia
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While the Productivity Commission's proposal to extend the product design and distribution obligations to SMSFs would be effective in weeding out unscrupulous operators, the creation of documentation for these obligations may initially be challenging for advisers, says a compliance expert.
One of the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission in its final report on superannuation was to extend the proposed product and design obligations to SMSF establishment.
The design and distribution obligations were introduced into Parliament in September last year and, once passed, will require financial services companies to provide specific design requirements to ASIC that explain who the target audience for the financial product is. Under the measures, financial service providers are required to specifically determine the segment of the consumer market that they'd be targeting with their service and ensure that the product is distributed in accordance with that determination. The current measures before Parliament do not apply to SMSFs.
Sophie Grace Compliance director Sophie Gerber said that, given the way in which the exposure draft for the current measures has been drafted, if the obligations were extended to include SMSFs, this would most likely require SMSF firms to prepare an internal document which sets out the kinds of individuals it would recommend SMSFs to.
Read More on SMSF Adviser or in PDF on our Media Page.


Family Xbox title to spook stores October 21.
Grabbed by the Ghoulies, the new Xbox title from Microsoft and developer Rare, has gone gold. The scheduled ship date for the ghost-story game is October 21, with an MSRP of $39.99.
Billed as a "beat-'em-up action-adventure," the E-rated game marks Microsoft's latest attempt to expand into the kids' game market. Featuring an emphasis on humor, the game follows a grade-schooler named Cooper trying to rescue his girlfriend after she's kidnapped by a group of mischievous sprites.
grabbed by the ghoulies takes me back to banjo kazooie,it sounds like a cool game but i dont like the e rating.with ninja turtles and morrowind coming out on the same day i dont know which one to get.what i want to know is if g b t g is gonna be hard? tmnt will probably be hard , i hope.anyways all these games are under 40 bucks so thats great.
Where was the PD info at?


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The Brief Marriage Of Vivian Stack – Cody Phillips
The Brief Marriage of Vivian Stack
"Are you sure this is a wise decision, dear?," Nevell asked her daughter, fluffing out the white and flowing gown at the end of the ceremonial wedding rehearsal. How proud she was of Vivian, standing here inside the countryside's most eloquent ballroom, The Chapel of Lilith, equipped with the most proud and enduring servant's money could buy swivelling past them, half-naked and at everyone's beck and call. This was a place where red wine flowed most graciously and fragrant, blossoming Carnations and Geraniums lined the side walks leading up to the towering, ferocious castle.
The Queen's tower, Satanis Castle.
The red headed daughter had gone into business with the Queen herself, and it was this deal the two had made that her mother was profoundly disturbed by. Vivian was to marry a most handsome middle aged man, Ricket Forrester, whose father had worked for Her Majesty for the last twenty five years, doing all of the massive and most costly landscaping projects and, of course, the shrub artistry. He had arranged a meeting between Vivian and Faruka, without Nevell's knowledge, which took place in the Queen's library and was quite brief and pleasant.
Vivian begged the Queen for use of the East Lawn, and all its magnificence, for a proper and most elegant wedding. There was more than enough room on the sprawling, lush lawn for all the guests and servants, and they would like to speak their vows inside the gazebo at the end of the dock, looking out on the emerald blue waters of Lake Hunnet. They would pay, she had pleaded, whatever the cost requested, for it was worth it, every cent. It was, in reality, Ricket's father who would be doting out the finances for this most extravagant ceremony. These personal requests were few and far between to the Queen, but others had made use of the East Lawn in years past, and she did appreciate and value the work her gardener's did for her. In no way did she feel obligated, but did enjoy doting out, in small doses, tokens of appreciation to her workers that she sometimes even considered a confidant or friend. Faruka had agreed to allow Vivian use of the lawn and the young lady could barely contain the sense of enthralment and wonder that overtook her in, of all places, the Queen's Library. How awfully delightful yet apprehensible and embarrassing to turn four shades of red in front of Her Majesty!
There was, however, a catch. Call it what you will; a deal, a bargain, a swap…the bottom line was that the Queen had made it crystal clear that she would require no up front monetary payment from the girl for use of her property. She would, instead, require from Vivian a favor to be repaid back at whatever moment the Queen chose, either now or in the future. This was a debt that must be satisfied.
Do you understand me girl, she had asked, and Vivian responded with resounding agreement. There had been no hesitation, no worry or doubt, and never had she thought to entertain details. Vivian had been dreaming of this wedding all her life, and to be having it on the Queen's East Lawn was beyond any desire or fantasy she had so far felt in her seventeen years of existence inside the confines of Snarefell Hills.
"Mother," Vivian responded, "would you look around us, please? This castle is breathtaking beyond my ability to express! I would be a fool to pass up an offer such as this! Do you not agree? What do you see in this agreement that causes you to question my wedding day?"
"It's just," Nevell said softly, still messing with the bulky gown Vivian was to be married in, " you've heard, I'm quite sure, how the Queen can be at times. A bit… feisty? Overzealous and cruel?" She was whispering now, peering around to ensure the servants weren't listening.
"She isn't of the such! She's a very nice woman! I spent half the day with her personally! And yes, I have heard the rumors. I give no attention to any. They're silly."
"Yes, some may be, but not all, Vivian. Do not misunderstand my words, dear. I have so much happiness and love for you in this moment. I am so proud of you!" She was holding her daughter's face now, eye to eye. "And to be married inside the gates of Satanis Castle, well…what more could be said about that?! How exquisite! I've never wanted anything other than the best for you, Vivian, so this does make me very happy. But I must worry about you, darling, because you are my daughter and it is my job to protect you. I fear the type of favor Faruka will come up with. I have known of her longer than you, so trust me when I say she can be quite dark at times. All my life I have had contacts from inside these castle walls. As you know, your father's brother works in the kitchen. She will appear to the villagers as one thing and once back home be completely the contrary. It can be quite frightening, the change."
Vivian rolled her eyes, walked to the tall golden mirror at the other end of the room, and sat down in a pale pink chair shaped with the curves of a woman's body and stitched with green jewels. A young servant boy of no more than twelve years of age appeared at her side dressed in cloths like Jesus, with lashing scars on his back to match, and asked to be of assistance. She shooed him away and, for the first time, pondered upon the favor that she was now eternally bound to. As she powdered her already pale face and played with the iguana at her feet, she wondered what Faruka would possibly need from a seventeen-year-old girl, how on earth she could be of help to the wealthiest woman in all the land. When she looked at it from that perspective she could see where her mother was coming from, as the possibilities were endless and she had heard gruesome rumors of screams coming from the dungeon of the castle late at night. She quickly brushed the thoughts off and whistled for two servant boys to come and help remove the heavy and humid gown, as the ties in back were extensive and impressive in their zigzag, floral pattern. The boys seemed to not mind this task at all, and Nevell bit her lip watching, knowing with nervous energy what those boys had on their minds.
That night in bed Vivian shared her mother's worries with Ricket, their bodies naked and intertwined in the candlelight of his prestigious bedroom inside his father's home on the outer edges of Snarefell Hills. The man, his chest hairy and eyes dark and deep, found good humor in her mother's words.
"Vivian, those are the scares of a small child! There is no place for paranoia on our most wonderful of days. I won't have it! We have waited far too long and counted many a countless hour to wed, and to be doing it on The East Lawn! Do you have any idea what this will do for both our names?! We may even be invited inside the Queen's inner circle! Is that something you wish to waste away on petty fears and foolish garbage created by the minds of peasants and travellers?"
She offered him a kiss on the forehead to ease his passion. It had not been easy convincing his father to approach the Queen with this scenario. He had been met with laughter at first, his father considering it an unfathomable, unbelievable request. Yes, there had been others, but those had been mainly relatives in the Queen's royal bloodline, or at least close offshoots. There was no royal blood in the Forrester lineage, only many years trimming and decorating her lawn and taking care of her elaborate gardens. But in the end it had paid off and she had taken his request into consideration with humility and compassion.
"You're right," Vivian agreed, kissing his neck and holding his face against her glowing, pink bosom. "Not another word about it, I cross my heart."
They fell asleep naked but still pure, and Vivian dreamt she was walking up the winding, stone staircase in the castle. She walked for what seemed many ages, her head light and dizzy as she looked down at the spiral she had just walked up. Sweat glistened off her forehead and her white, transparent nightgown was sticking to her body as she walked up, and up, and up. Finally she could hear a voice and she knew it was The Queen. At the top of the staircase was a red door standing eight feet tall with a black knob barely visible in the darkened shadows of the hall. The Queen was laughing in hysterics on the other side of the door, but Vivian could hear no one else in the room as she put her ear against its cold surface. It felt good on her heated face.
Come in, girl! the Queen shouted from inside. Vivian jumped back in surprise and tried to compose herself, her hair, her nightgown, to be as presentable as possible. She turned the knob and walked inside. The Queen sat in a high-backed black and red chair in the center of the room, a servant on each side and two more at her feet. Vivian noticed it was considerably cooler in this room, which was a relief. The servants stared at her with rough and untrusting eyes.
What took you so long, girl? You've kept me waiting. Vivian knelt before her and asked for forgiveness, her nightgown hiking up above her thighs, not going unnoticed by the servants. One was forced to look away for fear of arousal at the Queen's side without her stimulation. Have you any idea what I do to little girls who keep me waiting? But I shall spare you because I need a favor, and it just so happens I know a little girl who owes me one! She cackled, looking to her servants to ensure they were in good humor, as well. One at her feet was not laughing so she kicked the cheek of his face with the naked heel of her foot. He quickly composed himself and regained his original position scrubbing the scales off her heels.
Anything you wish, my Majesty. She stepped closer to the Queen, admiring her patterned black dress but taken aback by her frazzled black hair, the thick curls un-kept and wild. There was also a distinct odor as she got closer, a smell that reminded her of…dead roses. It's really very simply, dear. It won't take much of your time, and I should think you should find it pleasing enough, given the…tension between Ricket's father and yourself lately.
They had been on eggshells together since the announcement of the wedding. Issues of money soiled their once near perfect relationship, as Henrick felt the budget was being stretched due to Vivian's opulent and spoiled tastes. He made a decent wage himself working for the Queen, of that there was no doubt, but had taught his son well in matters of financial responsibility for the welfare of your own being and family, not in luxuriant expenditures of material possession as Nevell had taught Vivian. It put a bitter taste in his mouth and he began harboring a quiet resentment.
Vivian had heard though Ricket of his feelings and became awkward around him, avoiding his presence like a man with chickenpox. Then, one evening as Henrick was adding up the lists of expenses – roses (so many roses), statues imported from neighboring lands, musicians from Tinfolk, a horse ride three days away – his fury over the indulgences erupted and he had warned his son that his harlot of a wife had better mind the expenses or he would refuse to pay any part of it, that the wedding would be off!
Things had gotten worse from that point forward and Nevell intervened, agreeing to assist her daughter in trimming the costs to a more agreeable figure, for the better of everyone and the wedding. She had wanted, inside her soul, to slap Mr. Forrester for his remarks regarding her daughter being a harlot, but in the dignity of being a woman she had not. For the peace of the moment she had remained silent.
I want you to murder Henrick Forrester for me, Vivvy. I want you to bash his skull with a stone until his brains fly against the wall, girl! YOU WILL DO IT! Or it will be YOU who pays with your life.
The Queen laughed at the girl, her laughter queerly transitioning into harsh screaming as she rose from the chair in fury. She had a snake in her hand now, a thick yellow snake, and was coming towards Vivian. The serpent's arrow shaped head and hissing, forked tongue was getting closer, too. And then she felt the serpent on her neck and it was starting to squeeze, and she was starting to have a harder time breathing. After it had her in its grasps, the snake pulled its neck and head back slowly and she knew it was about to strike, to bite at her neck. She screamed and woke herself up.
The preparations for the wedding took precisely two weeks. The lawn, exposed to full sun midday, was lined with white chairs that were sprinkled with gold and silver glitter which shimmered in the sunlight. Beginning in the middle of the chairs was a red runway leading to the dock and then out to the open gazebo where they would be wed. Statues of beautiful women cradling babies and of couples kissing stood valiantly outside the circle of chairs, while dozens of red roses were sprinkled at the base of each stone man or woman. White and red flowers were wrapped around the gazebo, giving it a floral camouflage of brilliant and simple beauty, and the day of the wedding hundreds of rose petals would be thrown into the lake around them.
Candles would be alight and silver chalices would be passed around and filled with sweet wine. Servants would be offering a hearty course of duck, chicken, fresh ears of corn, and plenty of homegrown potatoes. They would also be available to rent out for use inside the three guest homes. For a price, naturally. Vivian thought not even fabulous an adequate word for the ceremony or the after-party. Words such as she was thinking do not exist in the English language, sadly enough, as they are felt rather than spoken.
Nevell looked upon the preparations with immense happiness for her daughter, but also with formidable worry. She was convinced Vivian had made the wrong decision, to be in such debt to the Queen, but no longer spoke of the issue. She allowed her daughter a pure and enlightened experience without motherly ramble or duress. Henrick was pleased with the price the festivities had been agreed upon and was doing his best to mend things, offering the girl a gold chained necklace with a purple stone pendant hanging down in an oval. Vivian was in such a state of ecstasy, from not only the engagement, but now from this gorgeous piece of jewellery that it would have been very trying to keep the spitefulness up, so instead she forgave him of all wrongs and offered him her hand to kiss. He obliged, his knee-high leather boots paining his ankles as he knelt to kiss the small, innocent hand.
The Queen watched all of the action down below with intrigue and excitement from the top story castle window out looking the gazebo and the lake. She was alone now in her bedroom, cavernous and dark with candles burning in gothic, wrought iron sconces on the stone walls and a luxurious bed taking up a good portion of space in the middle of the room. There was a large, open bathroom off to the right with a deep clawfoot tub visible. She twisted the many rings on her fingers in anticipation, smiling on the workers below, knowing that word of this kind deed would travel quick and far through Snarefell Hills.
She called for Alexander, her loyal servant of more than twenty years, and picked up one of her pet iguanas and fingered its colorful, spiky mane, keeping an eye on the work below.
"How many know of this wedding, Alexander, do you imagine? How many will arrive?"
He replied that word had spread through Tinfolk and would be hitting Cyprus any day now, as he had personally sent a message boy out with a weeks worth of food and water two days ago.
"Very good, Alexander. I'm very pleased." She turned around to look at him now, still petting the lizard. "Hopefully this will serve to dispel some of the ridiculous rumors flying around."
They looked at each other and devilish smiles formed on both their faces as they burst out in fanatic laughter, like children telling naughty jokes about the village whore.
"Indeed," Alexander said, "let us hope so, Your Majesty."
On the day of the wedding Nevell cried at the sight of her only lovely daughter, so stunning and radiant on this, the most memorable day she would ever live. The gown flowed gently behind Vivian as she walked arm in arm with Ricket up the red aisle and towards the gazebo. Two hundred guests had arrived for the special event, coming in from as far as Jaden, a weeks travel time away. Some of them had connections with the family in one way or another, and others did not. The ones who did not came for the glamour of it all, and because they had been invited. The Queen had stressed to everyone the more, the merrier! Come one, come all!
Dusk was calm and serene as the couple entered the Gazebo. Ricket had to arch down in order to avoid the flowers and vines criss-crossing the ceiling and walls, and a light giggle escaped Vivian at the sight. The crowd was once again seated and silent, their hearts heavy with feelings of youthful love and new beginnings. Tears were wept and hugs given to Nevell in condolence and congratulation as she tried her best to hold it together. Two servants were on their hands and knees on either side of the entrance to the gazebo, a gold plate on their backs filled with rose petals and white feathers, a sign of love and good luck.
White feathers and red roses were frequently used in ceremony by local witches and were easy to come by.
The priest bowed and knelt once in front of the couple, then picked up and opened his thick religious book and began to read. "We, villagers of Snarefell Hills and neighboring lands, have come joyously together in kinship to greet and witness the wedding of Vivian Stack and Ricket Forrester." A servant rang a bell nine times, in hopes of clearing the air of all impurities, and lit incense and candles behind them. More servants began tossing hundreds of rose petals into the lake around the general vicinity.
"Blessed be to the happy couple!"
A gong was hit, startling many of the audience members looking upon.
"Now let us begin!"
Vivian's hands were warm and moist as she squeezed Ricket's, who she felt were also moist with nervous energy and excitement. I'm about to be wed, she thought to herself, tingling with thrill. I am about to be Mrs. Vivian Forrester! Even saying that name in her head felt odd and unnatural. She looked into Ricket's eyes and it was then that she heard the Queen shout from atop the castle down at her, her voice loud and powerful, even from such a great distance.
"VIVIAN! VIVIAN STACK! THIS IS THE QUEEN!"
The wedding guests looked up with shock and fright, knowing that this was an unintended interruption in the proceedings. The Queen had never revealed herself at any other prior public events held on the estate, and not only was Faruka shouting at the bride, she also sounded very angry and quite crazed. Vivian and Ricket had a similar reaction while Nevell sunk in her seat, becoming ill and fevered, knowing. She knew with her gut what this spectacle was all about and thought, I should have tried harder to talk her out of this. She stared up to see the Queen but Faruka was so high that she was but a speck of a shadow flailing her arms out of an opening in the castle above.
"IF YOU RECALL, MY GOOD DEAR, YOU OWE ME A FAVOR!"
Vivian's heart sunk as she turned to Ricket, hoping for him to give her an explanation for what was occurring, a compassionate look, anything to help her from feeling as vulnerable and scared as she was now. He could offer nothing but a curious glance of suppressed fear masked with a firm embrace of masculine love. Vivian then looked towards her mother and saw that she was sobbing in her seat, quietly and with grace, but it made her feel horrible and even more afraid.
"I'M SENDING ALEXANDER DOWN TO GET YOU NOW."
She retreated back into the window and slammed the wooden shutters closed. The guests were alive with whispers and gasps, looking around at each other in dismay and disbelief at what had just happened. Many of them had heard the rumors of this place, but never in their years did they believe they would witness the Queen behave in such an unusual and jaded manner. And what business did she have with this young girl here? And could it not wait until after the ceremony, perhaps tomorrow sometime? Some guests got up to leave; others didn't know what to do.
Moments later Alexander and three other servants came down and grabbed hold of Vivian, threatening Ricket with a knife to silence and calm him. Two more servants held back Henrick and Nevell each, keeping them from following Vivian into the castle. They drug the new bride through the East Lawn and into the castle, taking her all the way to the top, many levels higher than the library had been. She felt something amiss, something wrong with this, and screamed for the servants to release her, but to no avail. They knocked on the Queen's bedroom door and entered to see Faruka pacing and biting at her long and yellow nails. She stopped at the sight of the girl and demanded Alexander to release her upon the floor. He pushed Vivian forward and she landed at Faruka's feet.
"I don't understand, my Queen," she said, looking up with fearful eyes and quivering, pink lips. Faruka grabbed Vivian by the thick curls of her red hair and brought her to eye level. "When you agree to owe The Queen a favor, my dear Vivian, you had best be apt to attend to that favor whenever she calls on you for it. And I am calling on you now."
"What is it?" she asked, grimacing in tight pain on top her head and loosing her calm demeanor. She was truly afraid now, and knew for certain that something was, indeed, incredibly off here. She was in quite a bit of trouble, she believed, yet didn't know why, or what she would be made to do. Visions of that horrible dream swam back into her mind now as the yellow snake curled itself around her neck and then into her mouth and down her throat, getting cozy inside her intestinal track.
"You are the favor, my dear," the Queen whispered to Vivian, smiling gently now.
The two servants were still standing at the entrance to the bedroom and Faruka ordered Alexander to stay and the other to keep guard at the door.
"What do you mean, I am the favor?" Vivian asked, confused, "what shall you have me do?!"
The Queen laughed and pushed her back onto the floor and Vivian landed on her back, hitting her head on the stone. "You are the favor," she repeated.
Vivian went pale then as her head felt as if it were daydreaming, and she screamed for her mother but the Queen only laughed. She had already sent an army of servants to surround the guests and the perimeter of the castle. No one would be leaving just yet, that was for certain.
She took hold of Vivian's hair again and dragged her into the open bathroom, her white gown now tainted with dirt and tearing against jagged pebbles on the rough floor. She was crying as the Queen picked her up and bent her over the large white tub. Vivian screamed at what she saw.
The tub was nearing half full of cold, maroon blood and she could almost see her reflection as she screamed for release. Faruka ordered Alexander to hold the crying child in position as she turned around and picked up a dagger off the elegant, mirrored dresser. She took two steps back to the girl and, without hesitation or thought, stabbed the blade of the knife forcefully into Vivian's throat, tearing a long and wide hole that blood immediately began gushing out of. Vivian's eyes were huge with shock as her whole body convulsed in drowning, liquid gasps of air, like a dying animal. The stream of blood poured out into the tub and some splashed back up into Vivian's face as it mixed with the rest. Faruka bent over to look Vivian in the eyes.
"I needed one last child to fill my tub, and you're it."
Her laughter echoed through the cold room, as did Vivian's moaning. And then, eventually, Vivian stopped moaning and her eyes closed. Her head relaxed, drooped, and then fell into the filling tub. Alexander went into the bathroom closet and pulled out a large, upright, wooden contraption in which he then tied Vivian upside down to by her ankles. The Queen tore the dagger into Vivian's stomach and ripped down the length of her entire body, as if she were gutting a pig or dressing a deer. Intestines and other organs plopped into the now lukewarm bath water as it filled to the brim while the Queen got undressed.
When the tub had reached capacity, Vivian's feet were untied and she fell onto the bathroom floor. Faruka again picked her up with relative ease and took her lifeless body to the window.
"PEASANTS, HEAR ME NOW! EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HEARD IS TRUE! AND HERE IS YOUR PROOF!" She showed them the body, cradled in her arms, and many guests screamed at the sight of the dead bride. Nevell dropped to her knees and began sobbing uncontrollably while Ricket fell beside her and yelled, screaming threats of death up to the Queen. She laughed back at him.
"HERE, HAVE YOUR WHORE WIFE, FORRESTER!" she shouted, and then threw Vivian's body from the top of the castle to the East Lawn below. She landed on her back, her arms and legs twisted, throat cut, and stomach hanging open. Panic ensued as the guests scattered to pick up their children and other belongings in an attempt to escape. Muscled servants met them at all exit routes. They would never again leave the property of Satanis Castle.
The Queen, naked and brimming with pleasure, stuck one leg in the tub and moaned in ecstasy. The red overtook her pale legs as she slipped further in, her lower half now submerged, then her breasts, and then up to her neck. She quivered with intense pleasure, very much on the path to orgasm as she rubbed her breasts and then moved her hand downward in the blood. She closed her eyes and moaned, thinking back on all the deaths leading up to this moment, all the virgins it had taken to make this happen.
This was her moment, and it would be everlasting in its glory.
She submerged completely now, laughing as she went under.
From below came the wails of a grieving mother and widowed husband as they knelt next to the mutilated body of their once beautiful Vivian, now cut like a cow in a slaughterhouse, her eyes staring at them, blank and wild.
Nevell reached down and gently closed them.
"I love you my child," she said, sobbing.
"Cody Phillips is an eBook author, freelance writer, and poet. He grew up in the farmlands of central Illinois but has lived in Chattanooga, TN for many years. You may follow him on twitter using @CodyEPhillips"
Posted on July 26, 2013 Author Shawn LachanceCategories Archives, Short Stories
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Cobham Hall student selected for Team GB during her GCSE exams
Olivia Gantzer
Lilly was selected for Team GB during her GCSE exams. Picture: Karl Reid
A Cobham Hall student who was selected for Team GB during her GCSE exams will be representing her country at the European Championships in Glasgow.
As the school in Brewers Road celebrated at their annual sports day, Year 11 pupil Lilly Gibbs was presented with her Team GB kit.
A triathlete, Lilly recently competed at events in Nottingham and Thorpe Park in the midst of her exams.
She said: "The events were a great distraction and the perfect way for me to relax during my GCSEs!"
After a fantastic performance in Nottingham, Lilly was selected, and followed this with a second place finish in Thorpe Park, earning her qualification for next year as well.
Her new kit was presented to her by the school's head of PE Kelli Hooper, who said: "I'm so thrilled for Lilly.
"She's worked so hard and recent performances have shown she's going from strength to strength. I can't wait to watch her compete in Glasgow!"


[PATCH] D43254: Use LLVM's DenseSet insteead of unordered_set.
Previous message: [PATCH] D43254: Use LLVM's DenseSet insteead of unordered_set.
Next message: [PATCH] D43254: Use LLVM's DenseSet insteead of unordered_set.
> > Don't you need a SetVector here?
> Forgive my ignorance, but what's the difference between DenseSet and SetVector?
Iterating over a SetVector produces values in the order they were inserted; iterating over a DenseSet uses an arbitrary ordering.  See http://llvm.org/docs/ProgrammersManual.html#llvm-adt-setvector-h .


Martin speaks to the 6th fastest British male marathoner ever and Tom speaks to Professor Andy Shennan about running in pregnancy. Yuki smashes yet another marathon record, Facebook inspires us and Twitter makes us laugh, Tony's here with his Trials and you Rate Your Run and climb aboard the Listener Podium.
Tom speaks to Paralympic legend Bob Matthews, the website is back, along with Rate Your Run, the Listener Podium and the Launch Pad. Boy on the Run is in the house, 400 runners run 70 minutes or faster at the Ageo Half Marathon and Martin's on a Jantastic mission.


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ConnectWise Moves Its Global Headquarters to Downtown Tampa
Written by Allison Francis
The new HQ features a multi-purpose showcase and exhibition space. The move is set to take place in early 2022.
ConnectWise is planning to move its global headquarters to Tampa's Park Tower building at 400 N. Tampa Street in early 2022. ConnectWise will occupy 65,500 square feet of the building with plenty of space and options for future growth. ConnectWise has partnered with local architecture and building firms to create the ideal space. The company also plans to reduce its environmental footprint by implementing recycling programs and using reusable fixtures and furniture.
The new global headquarters office is located in the heart of the Tampa technology scene. The first floor will house the ConnectWise Center of Excellence, a multi-purpose showcase and exhibition space. This will allow for local prospects and visitors to get firsthand experience and demonstrations of the company's end-to-end platform. With a nod to the local art scene, ConnectWise aims to partner with local artists to display their unique artwork.
ConnectWise's Jason Magee
"As our company continues to grow and have a positive impact on small and medium sized businesses around the globe, we are excited to have a presence in the vibrant, revitalized downtown area, and we look forward to our logo being featured prominently atop the building," said ConnectWise CEO Jason Magee. "This move is designed to help build brand awareness and solidify ConnectWise as a beacon in the Tampa business and technology scene. We also believe it's important to prioritize working with local businesses to help build out the new space and support the Tampa economy."
Workplace Flexibility Options
ConnectWise employees demonstrated extraordinary performance and adaptability during the height of the pandemic. As a result, new HQ offers Tampa and other global colleagues the option to maintain a flexible work environment. This building also offers a fresh start for all ConnectWise's combined Tampa teams in a new streamlined and more flexible hybrid work environment post-COVID.
Want to contact the author directly about this story? Have ideas for a follow-up article? Email Allison Francis or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Tags: MSPs VARs/SIs Best Practices Business Models Strategy
Lumen Tops Latest Omdia SIP Trunking Service Scorecard, Bandwidth Biggest Standout
Cautious but Continued Optimism for MSPs in Channel Futures' Exclusive Quarterly Survey
The Customer Experience Advantage in a Managed Services World
CompTIA Top 10 Emerging Technologies List Highlights AI, IoT Use Cases


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David Sayed's Posts
Seattle December Video Tech Meetup
November 20, 2017 By David Sayed | TechTalk
A very quick note to let you know about the upcoming Seattle Video Tech Meetup in December... Do you develop with video technologies, or just interested in networking with video techies? If you're in Seattle on December 6th at 6.30pm, please join us for the Seattle Video Tech Meetup.
New Calculated Fields in Video Cloud Analytics API
December 16, 2016 By David Sayed | TechTalk
Just a quick post to let Video Cloud customers know that we've added a cool new feature in our Analytics API: calculated fields. Now you can create your own custom fields out of existing metrics.
How to Get Started with UHD in Zencoder
May 02, 2016 By David Sayed | Media
We recently announced Ultra High Definition (UHD) in Zencoder. UHD is not only about higher resolutions (up to 4K), but it is also about support for new video codecs (HEVC and VP9), and enabling workflows for high dynamic range (HDR) content through support for 10-bit color processing and the BT.2020 color space.
Get Ready for Ultra High Definition
April 14, 2016 By David Sayed | Media
Are you ready to buy a new TV? After seeing the latest 4K and high dynamic range (HDR) video, you just might be. Known as ultra high definition (UHD), not only are images four times the resolution of 1080p HD, but they are more colorful and lifelike.


Vacature Job Retail - Account Manager Home, Pet & Plant Products - Match Recruitment B.V.
Let op: Deze vacature reeds ingevuld! Niet meer op solliciteren s.v.p.
Edialux is the leading consumer brand in the Benelux region for home, garden and pet pest products.
Distributed through the garden and retail market in Benelux, the Edialux consumer range provides a range of consumer friendly solutions. The pest control range helps solve problems in the home, tackling common household pests such as mice, rats and insects, whilst the garden range includes products to tackle weeds and plant diseases & fungi, including a wide range of organic garden products ideal for the eco-friendly gardener. The brand also offers a comprehensive range of pet protection products to prevent and treat common pest issues.
Edialux belongs to the Pelsis Group, a brand led organisation, developing brands which offer their customers solutions to pest control problems. The Group's retail brands currently include Edialux HPP, Luxan, Insect-O-Cutor, A Green Way, and Pest-Stop, alongside exclusive distribution arrangements in Benelux on Birchmeier and Aeroxon.
What can you expect from EDIALUX?
More information or interested in this Job Retail - Account Manager Home, Pet & Plant Products?
There is an exclusivity agreement between EDIALUX and AFL Executive Search GmbH for this search. We therefore kindly request you to contact us if you have questions and/or you want to apply for this job.


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John C Abell
Google's Schmidt: China Negotiations Should End 'Soon'
Google CEO Eric Schmidt said Wednesday that the search and advertising giant was actively negotiating with China over censorship that would end soon. His remarks came two months after the company revealed in-country attempts to hack into the GMail accounts of human rights activists and declared that it would stop censoring results on google.cn — […]
Google CEO Eric Schmidt said Wednesday that the search and advertising giant was actively negotiating with China over censorship that would end soon. His remarks came two months after the company revealed in-country attempts to hack into the GMail accounts of human rights activists and declared that it would stop censoring results on google.cn — something it has yet to do.
"We are in active negotiations with the Chinese government," Eric Schmidt told reporters at a media summit in Abu Dhabi, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
"I'm going to use the word 'soon', which I will not define otherwise," Schmidt said, according to Reuters. "There is no specific timetable. Something will happen soon."
Schmidt's remarks were the first confirmation by Google that it was even talking to China, though Bejing said as much last week. But the remarks did nothing to clarify what Google's intentions are after its stunning statement 60 days ago that it was prepared to abandon the market if things did not change.
The GMail attack, which targeted 20 tech companies including Adobe, Yahoo and Intel, also sought source code, and resulted in Google losing some intellectual property. But Google co-founder Sergey Brin was reportedly the driving force behind the decision to publicly repudiate its Chinese censorship.
Schmidt did not say what the two parties were negotiating about -- or even what there was to negotiate about, given Google's seemingly unequivocal Jan. 12 statement decrying the status quo. The company did not at the time say it when it would leave if things did not change, but made clear it knew the stakes were that high, given the Chinese government's intransigence in such matters.
"We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all," David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer and senior vice president for corporate development, wrote on the company blog. "We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China."
Google has been reticent say much of anything in public. Only eight days ago Google vice president and deputy general counsel Nicole Wong told the Senate Judiciary committee no more than "We are still weighing our options" during a hearing on internet freedom. Google's .cn address, and possibly its other operations, could be shut down by the Chinese government if the company declines to adhere to censorship rules.
One insider has told wired.com that Google is willing totrade off stricter limits on sexually explicit and gambling-related search results for complete freedom for political topics. China has shown equal aversion to all such topics.
Google Spells Censorship in China
Google's China Exit Strategy: Watch This Space
China Widens Net Censorship; Google Exile Looms
Timeline: Google's Rocky Road Into China
Google Feud: China Says U.S. Internet Accusations Are 'Baseless ...
China Stands Firm in Response to Google Threat
Google to Stop Censoring Search Results in China After Hack Attack ...
TED 2010: Google Optimistic It Can Remain in China
Only Google Could Leave China
Even If Google Leaves China, There'll Still Be 'Goojje ...
Google Fights China; Will Yahoo and Microsoft Follow?
Google's China Rift Hints At Challenges Ahead
TopicsChinaEric SchmidtgoogleInternetSearch


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Q: Qt Build Error: g++-4.2: No such file or directory I'm currently using qt 4.7.4 on Mac OSX 10.7.2 with XCode 4.2 installed and whenever I try to build and run a project I'm getting this error: g++-4.2: No such file or directory. Any idea what I can do to fix this?

A: Not sure about OSX, but I had that problem on windows and it might happen that you have whitespace character somewhere in your path (either where you installed qt or where your project is)...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Hawaiian locals and visitors always enjoy spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals, but Honey Girl is an extra special case. She has raised seven pups, and scientists call her Super Mom. After Honey Girl is injured by a fishhook, she gets very sick. Scientists and veterinarians work to save Honey Girl until she can be released back to her beach. This true story will have readers captivated to learn more about this endangered species.
Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal is a sweet children's picture book that tells a heartwarming story while educating the reader about the animal. One of the best qualities of the book is the fact that the story is true. I think it helps the reader to realize that the problems Honey Girl faces in the book are happening to seals in real life too. That goes hand in hand with the educational aspects of the story, which comes across as interesting and fun - not dry and boring. The book contains full illustration that coincides with the story as it unfolds and helps to bring Honey Girl and her tale to life for the reader. This is a great book and the fact that it is true and educational on top of being a sweet story gives it a whole new level that usually isn't present in picture books. I definitely recommend this one for young kids who can't read, beginning readers who are learning to read as well as those who enjoy a nice story with learning built in.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, and have partnered with The Children's Book Review and Jeanne Walker Harvey for this tour.


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Next: 3.8 Optimal Value Functions Up: 3. The Reinforcement Learning Previous: 3.6 Markov Decision Processes Contents
3.7 Value Functions
Almost all reinforcement learning algorithms are based on estimating value functions--functions of states (or of state-action pairs) that estimate how good it is for the agent to be in a given state (or how good it is to perform a given action in a given state). The notion of "how good" here is defined in terms of future rewards that can be expected, or, to be precise, in terms of expected return. Of course the rewards the agent can expect to receive in the future depend on what actions it will take. Accordingly, value functions are defined with respect to particular policies.
Recall that a policy, , is a mapping from each state, , and action, , to the probability of taking action when in state . Informally, the value of a state under a policy , denoted , is the expected return when starting in and following thereafter. For MDPs, we can define formally as
where denotes the expected value given that the agent follows policy , and is any time step. Note that the value of the terminal state, if any, is always zero. We call the function the state-value function for policy .
Similarly, we define the value of taking action in state under a policy , denoted , as the expected return starting from , taking the action , and thereafter following policy :
We call the action-value function for policy .
The value functions and can be estimated from experience. For example, if an agent follows policy and maintains an average, for each state encountered, of the actual returns that have followed that state, then the average will converge to the state's value, , as the number of times that state is encountered approaches infinity. If separate averages are kept for each action taken in a state, then these averages will similarly converge to the action values, . We call estimation methods of this kind Monte Carlo methods because they involve averaging over many random samples of actual returns. These kinds of methods are presented in Chapter 5. Of course, if there are very many states, then it may not be practical to keep separate averages for each state individually. Instead, the agent would have to maintain and as parameterized functions and adjust the parameters to better match the observed returns. This can also produce accurate estimates, although much depends on the nature of the parameterized function approximator (Chapter 8).
A fundamental property of value functions used throughout reinforcement learning and dynamic programming is that they satisfy particular recursive relationships. For any policy and any state , the following consistency condition holds between the value of and the value of its possible successor states:
where it is implicit that the actions, , are taken from the set , and the next states, , are taken from the set , or from in the case of an episodic problem. Equation (3.10) is the Bellman equation for . It expresses a relationship between the value of a state and the values of its successor states. Think of looking ahead from one state to its possible successor states, as suggested by Figure 3.4a. Each open circle represents a state and each solid circle represents a state-action pair. Starting from state , the root node at the top, the agent could take any of some set of actions--three are shown in Figure 3.4a. From each of these, the environment could respond with one of several next states, , along with a reward, . The Bellman equation (3.10) averages over all the possibilities, weighting each by its probability of occurring. It states that the value of the start state must equal the (discounted) value of the expected next state, plus the reward expected along the way.
The value function is the unique solution to its Bellman equation. We show in subsequent chapters how this Bellman equation forms the basis of a number of ways to compute, approximate, and learn . We call diagrams like those shown in Figure 3.4 backup diagrams because they diagram relationships that form the basis of the update or backup operations that are at the heart of reinforcement learning methods. These operations transfer value information back to a state (or a state-action pair) from its successor states (or state-action pairs). We use backup diagrams throughout the book to provide graphical summaries of the algorithms we discuss. (Note that unlike transition graphs, the state nodes of backup diagrams do not necessarily represent distinct states; for example, a state might be its own successor. We also omit explicit arrowheads because time always flows downward in a backup diagram.)
Figure 3.4: Backup diagrams for (a) and (b) .
Example 3.8: Gridworld Figure 3.5a uses a rectangular grid to illustrate value functions for a simple finite MDP. The cells of the grid correspond to the states of the environment. At each cell, four actions are possible: north, south, east, and west, which deterministically cause the agent to move one cell in the respective direction on the grid. Actions that would take the agent off the grid leave its location unchanged, but also result in a reward of . Other actions result in a reward of 0, except those that move the agent out of the special states A and B. From state A, all four actions yield a reward of and take the agent to . From state B, all actions yield a reward of and take the agent to .
Figure 3.5: Grid example: (a) exceptional reward dynamics; (b) state-value function for the equiprobable random policy.
Suppose the agent selects all four actions with equal probability in all states. Figure 3.5b shows the value function, , for this policy, for the discounted reward case with . This value function was computed by solving the system of equations (3.10). Notice the negative values near the lower edge; these are the result of the high probability of hitting the edge of the grid there under the random policy. State A is the best state to be in under this policy, but its expected return is less than 10, its immediate reward, because from A the agent is taken to , from which it is likely to run into the edge of the grid. State B, on the other hand, is valued more than 5, its immediate reward, because from B the agent is taken to , which has a positive value. From the expected penalty (negative reward) for possibly running into an edge is more than compensated for by the expected gain for possibly stumbling onto A or B.
Figure 3.6: A golf example: the state-value function for putting (above) and the optimal action-value function for using the driver (below).
Example 3.9: Golf To formulate playing a hole of golf as a reinforcement learning task, we count a penalty (negative reward) of for each stroke until we hit the ball into the hole. The state is the location of the ball. The value of a state is the negative of the number of strokes to the hole from that location. Our actions are how we aim and swing at the ball, of course, and which club we select. Let us take the former as given and consider just the choice of club, which we assume is either a putter or a driver. The upper part of Figure 3.6 shows a possible state-value function, , for the policy that always uses the putter. The terminal state in-the-hole has a value of . From anywhere on the green we assume we can make a putt; these states have value . Off the green we cannot reach the hole by putting, and the value is greater. If we can reach the green from a state by putting, then that state must have value one less than the green's value, that is, . For simplicity, let us assume we can putt very precisely and deterministically, but with a limited range. This gives us the sharp contour line labeled in the figure; all locations between that line and the green require exactly two strokes to complete the hole. Similarly, any location within putting range of the contour line must have a value of , and so on to get all the contour lines shown in the figure. Putting doesn't get us out of sand traps, so they have a value of . Overall, it takes us six strokes to get from the tee to the hole by putting.
Exercise 3.8 What is the Bellman equation for action values, that is, for ? It must give the action value in terms of the action values, , of possible successors to the state-action pair . As a hint, the backup diagram corresponding to this equation is given in Figure 3.4b. Show the sequence of equations analogous to (3.10), but for action values.
Exercise 3.9 The Bellman equation (3.10) must hold for each state for the value function shown in Figure 3.5b. As an example, show numerically that this equation holds for the center state, valued at , with respect to its four neighboring states, valued at , , , and . (These numbers are accurate only to one decimal place.)
Exercise 3.10 In the gridworld example, rewards are positive for goals, negative for running into the edge of the world, and zero the rest of the time. Are the signs of these rewards important, or only the intervals between them? Prove, using (3.2), that adding a constant to all the rewards adds a constant, , to the values of all states, and thus does not affect the relative values of any states under any policies. What is in terms of and ?
Exercise 3.11 Now consider adding a constant to all the rewards in an episodic task, such as maze running. Would this have any effect, or would it leave the task unchanged as in the continuing task above? Why or why not? Give an example.
Exercise 3.12 The value of a state depends on the the values of the actions possible in that state and on how likely each action is to be taken under the current policy. We can think of this in terms of a small backup diagram rooted at the state and considering each possible action:
Give the equation corresponding to this intuition and diagram for the value at the root node, , in terms of the value at the expected leaf node, , given . This expectation depends on the policy, . Then give a second equation in which the expected value is written out explicitly in terms of such that no expected value notation appears in the equation.
Exercise 3.13 The value of an action, , can be divided into two parts, the expected next reward, which does not depend on the policy , and the expected sum of the remaining rewards, which depends on the next state and the policy. Again we can think of this in terms of a small backup diagram, this one rooted at an action (state-action pair) and branching to the possible next states:
Give the equation corresponding to this intuition and diagram for the action value, , in terms of the expected next reward, , and the expected next state value, , given that and . Then give a second equation, writing out the expected value explicitly in terms of and , defined respectively by (3.6) and (3.7), such that no expected value notation appears in the equation.


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Buckeye – miasto w Stanach Zjednoczonych, w stanie Iowa, w hrabstwie Hardin. W 2010 roku liczyło 108 mieszkańców.

Przypisy

Miasta w stanie Iowa

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


There's nothing quite like a fancy dress party. Lots of people getting dressed up in all sorts of weird and wonderful costumes, pretending to be someone/something else.
The process of making ourselves up in this way is actually not too dissimilar to how some of us deal with our mental health difficulties. Sometimes it's easier to put on a metaphorical mask and pretend that everything's okay.
Do we all wear masks?
If we're honest with ourselves, we all wear masks at some point in our lives.
Perhaps we wear different ones each day depending on the role we're in. Work may require us to wear a different mask to the one we might wear around friends or family.
Do we ever really take our masks off, though? And should we?
Masks are a useful way of protecting us when we're going through difficult times. We might not be able to take time off work, or we may not want to, so wearing a mask can be a way of us maintaining our role.
One would hope that we could talk to our superiors about any problems we're having, but as many of us know the fear of stigmatisation due to mental health difficulties is very real.
Even if we get support from our supervisors, some roles may be emotionally demanding (e.g., counselling). Therefore, it's important that we don't bring our personal difficulties into these roles as we're there to support others and not the other way round.
Whilst wearing a mask can help us through tough periods, it can also prevent us from addressing our problems. Wearing a mask may become quite addictive and something we're not able to stop doing for fear of the consequences of removing it.
However, in order that we can begin to address our problems we need to be brave enough to remove the mask and be vulnerable.
Allowing regular time to remove the mask can help you process your emotions and think of ways of tackling whatever difficulties you're having. By continuing to pretend that everything is okay, the problem doesn't get addressed and the emotions build up.
It's also a good opportunity to release any pent-up emotions. Whilst some people might see this as a sign of weakness, it's actually really healthy to do this. We're not robots, we're human beings, and it's perfectly normal to feel.
You may well want to put the mask back on when you're in work or with friends/family, and that's okay. If you've allowed yourself some time away from the mask to be yourself, then this will help during the times when it's more appropriate to wear the mask.
How helpful/unhelpful have masks been for you? Let us know in the comments.
A lot of what we usually write about explores logical, structured, ways of tackling anxiety and mental health, so you'd be forgiving for thinking we've gone a bit 'airy fairy' with this post!
Some people might find the concept of hope a bit 'wishy washy'. What exactly does hope mean? Can we actually use it as a way of tackling our mental health problems?
Before you get confused as to why we've started with despair, we thought it'd be good to give some perspective to the concept of 'hope' by firstly looking at its opposite.
"The complete loss or absence of hope".
"The feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation".
We're particularly drawn to the bit about "the feeling that...you can do nothing" within this definition. Despair, it seems, comes from a place where we believe we have no power to change our situation.
If we think of despair in terms of 'mindset', then someone who feels despair will have little faith that their situation will improve.
We've talked before about the importance of managing negative thinking. If we think our situation is never going to change we're less likely to do anything about our problems.
It then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; nothing ever changes because we don't do anything to change the situation.
'A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen'.
While we think this is an accurate definition, it's important not to equate it with having unrealistic expectations.
Setting expectations which are too high or unrealistic can be anxiety-inducing and may set us up to fail if they're unachievable. Rather, hope is about wanting something to happen and having a certain level of belief that it will happen.
We recognise that it can be difficult during challenging times to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
However, if we assume there'll be no end to our problems then that's exactly what will happen. Nothing will ever change; we don't expect it to change so we don't make the effort to change.
On the other hand, if we have a sense of hope that things can be different then that's a much more positive mindset to start from.
Having hope is all about balance. We need to set realistic expectations for what we want, and believe we can achieve them. Without that belief, it'd be hard to have hope.
However, having hope alone isn't enough. Hope and belief are all well and good, but they have to be coupled with action in order for changes to occur.
For example, you could have a hope that you get that promotion at work, but you're not going to get it by sitting back and just hoping it's given to you. You have to put in the work to make it happen. Of course there are still no guarantees you'll get it, but you'll have more chance if you take action than if you sit back and do nothing.
So, don't just hope that things will get better. Instead, use your hope as a motivation towards taking the steps to make change happen.
The inspiration for writing this post came after an old Tweet from Piers Morgan in 2017 re-surfaced. For those who aren't aware, Piers Morgan is a British journalist/television host/general-fly-in-the-ointment.
In his Tweet, Piers was responding to a statistic which stated that an estimated 34 million British adults have experienced mental health difficulties. Piers' response was "...man up, Britain and focus on those who REALLY need help".
Whilst I don't want to get into a debate about Piers Morgan - there are plenty of those going on - his response really highlights the ongoing stigma faced by people with mental health problems.
It also emphasises that the language people use often perpetuates the expectations placed on men when it comes to discussing mental health.
Prior to training as a Counsellor, I had real trouble talking about my feelings. I'd grown up with messages like "boys don't cry". I'd never seen my father talk about his emotions and I was worried that people would think I was "weak".
As a male, I believed that showing my emotions would mean I couldn't cope. On top of this, none of my friends talked about how they felt either. Conversations were limited to what had been on the television the night before, our hobbies, or the daft things one of us might have done.
The way that I dealt with situations was with anger. I didn't understand other feelings and I certainly didn't do sadness or crying.
Anger was a tool I'd learnt as a child. I was bullied at school and anger enabled me to keep people at a distance. It was a defence mechanism to stop me feeling hurt. I'd observed other people's ways of dealing with problems and came to believe that showing anger made problems go away and "won" arguments.
I carried this strategy with me into adulthood; however, I also came to learn that my way of coping pushed people away and affected the quality of my relationships.
When I was in my 30s, a friend of mine passed away. He was one of the few males I'd been able to talk to about my problems. He was helpful and supportive, but I'd had no idea that he had been struggling with his own difficulties.
As well as the sadness of losing a good friend, his death also brought up feelings around my father's death 12 years' earlier. For the first time in years I cried, and began to realise that the way I'd been coping with my problems wasn't working any more.
It was at this point that I decided to go for counselling.
I was able to explore my childhood experiences, the beliefs I'd developed and how I'd coped. I talked about who I wanted to be as a person and that I no longer wanted to hide behind my anger. However, this came with its own fears of becoming more open; how would people react to me, as a male, expressing my emotions?
Counselling gave me a place to talk to someone who wasn't involved in my day-to-day life. I could be upset and cry without being judged, and I no longer had to hide behind the mask of anger that I'd been wearing for so long.
It taught me that it was okay to be a male and show my emotions, and that this made me no less of a person.
From my experience of working with males, many who come to see me don't feel able to talk to other people. Some may talk to their partners, but even then they still have fears around opening up completely for fear of how they'll be perceived.
A lot of my clients have had difficulties expressing themselves. They may have been told as young boys that it wasn't right for them to do this. Some believe that they'll be perceived as "weak". I've heard many phrases along the lines of "I'm a man, I should be able to cope". They believe that, as men, they "should" be strong.
Like myself, many males I've worked with have developed defence mechanisms as children and have carried these through into adulthood. They've not been able to allow themselves to be vulnerable or open, because they fear what other people will think of them.
When I first started my counselling training, some of my male work colleagues laughed and made comments like "Why are you doing a woman's job?". However, as time went on, more of them would come to me to talk about their problems.
Conversations no longer revolved around what had been on television the night before. They started focusing more on life issues such as relationship problems. It was as though they felt they had permission to do this, because they saw that a fellow male would listen to them without judgment.
As a Counsellor, I feel that part of my job is to be a role model to my clients of how it is possible to be a male who can express their emotions. It's about changing the message from "men should be strong" to "men should be able to talk about how they feel".
Talking about emotions does not equal weakness. In fact, it takes great courage for someone to open up to others and allow themselves to risk being vulnerable.
Although there are ongoing efforts to tackle the stereotypes of males and mental health, the sticking point is society's expectations of how men deal with their emotions.
It's also worth remembering that these are just expectations and opinions; they are not laws. We as males can make a choice to move away from what society expects and express ourselves when we're finding things difficult.
Whilst this might be scary, it can definitely be beneficial for us in the long run.
I've been on both sides of the line. I've been the male seeking help for his problems and am now in the privileged position of being able to provide support to others.
If, like me, you've been wearing a mask in your everyday life for fear of opening up, the counselling room is a place where you can remove that mask. Counselling is a safe environment where you can be honest and vulnerable without being judged.
If you choose to put the mask back on when you leave then that's your choice, but I try to encourage clients to rely on the mask less and less as time goes on. Opening up is scary, but it's also very liberating.
If you want things to change then counselling can support you to become the person you want to be, as opposed to the person you think you "should be". It made a great impact on how I deal with my emotions and I'm forever grateful for it.
Please do contact me if you'd like to access counselling.
As it's World Mental Health Day, we thought it'd be good to write a post about the benefits you can get from talking about your difficulties. A "problem shared" really can be "a problem halved" and if you're finding it difficult to talk to people around you then counselling can be really helpful.
What stops people talking about their mental health?
Society tends to have different expectations on males and females when it comes to talking about mental health. If you're a woman, it's almost a given that you'll gather with other women to discuss your problems and seek mutual support. Most women have no problem doing this as it's seen as something that "women do".
On the other hand, if you're male you may find it more difficult to talk due to societal expectations that you "should" be strong and not discuss your emotions. Whilst views are starting to shift there's still a long way to go, which is highlighted in the fact that suicide rates tend to be higher in men.
You may have been through experiences which have impacted your mental health that you're worried about sharing. One such example might be going through childhood sexual abuse. This can leave people with many mixed feelings such as shame and guilt, which may prevent them from seeking support from others.
You may blame yourself for your presenting problem, no matter what that is, and this can leave you feeling as though you don't have the right to ask for help.
Whatever the problem and the reasons for not wanting to talk about it, this may leave you feeling extremely isolated.
You may believe that you're a "fraud" and that your difficulties are not serious enough to deserve support. This is something we often hear our own clients say. Some of our clients worry that we'll think they don't really need to come for counselling because their problems don't warrant it.
The fact that you've got in touch with a Counsellor to seek support for the problem means that, for you, it's important to bring it to counselling and that's a perfectly valid reason from our perspective.
As much as there's more awareness around mental health these days, there's a still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health issues.
You may be wary of sharing information with your employers for fear that you'll face discrimination. Family and friends might not quite understand your difficulties so you may rather keep quiet than risk not being understood.
As you may well have heard before, people often talk about physical health problems being easier to understand as they can be seen. However, mental health problems can be hard to comprehend if the people around you haven't experienced them.
How does talking about mental health help?
The more we talk about mental health the more we help to normalise it. EVERYBODY has 'mental health' and it doesn't fall under "good" or "bad"; it's on a spectrum.
The old cliche of "a problem shared is a problem halved" is very true. Often, just being able to talk to someone about your problems without fear of judgment can be a hugely powerful experience.
Support from family and/or friends can be beneficial, but sometimes you may not feel comfortable talking to them. This could be because your difficulties involve family and/or friends, or you might worry that they won't understand.
Having someone impartial to listen can make such a difference and this is where counselling comes in.
The Counsellor-Client relationship is really unique. It's very rare that one person talks about their difficulties while the other listens without responding with such things as "Oh, that happened to me too!" and re-focusing the conversation onto themselves.
Counsellors are not there to judge; they offer an acceptance of you and your situation. Having someone to listen in this way can be very powerful, and the safe space of the counselling room can be a welcome relief when the outside world doesn't appear to understand you.
Whilst Counsellors cannot change your situation, they can help you explore how you'd like your situation to be different. Remember that change is possible, but you have to make the change; your Counsellor cannot make changes for you and neither can other people.
Counselling can only really be effective if you're willing to accept responsibility for the changes that you want to happen. If you're ready to do this, then great work can take place.
We've talked in previous posts about how anxiety is fed by negative thinking and that our core belief about ourselves can feed into our negative thinking.
Like other mental health difficulties, it's often hard to know where to start with tackling anxiety. Seeing a Counsellor can help get clarity over the problems you want to address, as well as the ways in which your Counsellor can support you with tackling those difficulties.
Whilst there are things you can do yourself to try and tackle your anxiety, sometimes you might want some additional support in order to know where to start and which direction to take.
If you're seeking support and are thinking about accessing counselling then please do contact us.
We've already talked about how to challenge the core beliefs and negative thoughts that feed into anxiety, but what other action can we take in terms of dealing with anxiety?
Exposure Therapy is a way in which people can be supported to confront their fears. When we're fearful of something it might lead us to avoid it. However, whilst this avoidance may reduce the feelings of fear in the short term, it can make the fear worse over the long term as we're not addressing the fear.
The aim of Exposure Therapy, is to expose ourselves to the thing(s) we have fears of and/or have been avoiding. These might be situations, activities, or objects (e.g., spiders).
There are different ways we can expose ourselves to the things we fear, depending on what we're comfortable with. You might want to be exposed to the fear in real-life; so, if you have a fear of giving a presentation you may decide to do this in front of a group of people.
Another way is through imagining that you're facing your fear. You might imagine you're presenting to a group of people, and then describe the sights, sounds, and smells within that situation. You'll observe the emotions and physical sensations which come up for you, as these can often be as powerful as going through the situation in real-life.
In a previous post we talked about mastering your fears and how, sometimes, one of the most effective things to do is to take a deep breath and face our fears head on. The thing to remember is that everyone's different.
Exposure Therapy can be done at different paces, depending on how you feel. There may be times where jumping straight in at the deep end is going to feel most effective, and some people prefer to face their fears in this way.
For people that prefer a quicker and more "head on" approach to tackling their fears, Flooding may be good for them. The idea behind flooding is that anxiety is a learned fear that needs to be 'unlearned' by exposure to the object/situation/activity.
An example of flooding might be someone who has a phobia of spiders, who is given a spider to hold. During this time they'll need to use coping skills to manage their anxiety (e.g., relaxation skills) and continue holding the spider until such time as the anxiety begins to lessen.
Another example might be someone who doesn't like being around lots of people. They may go into a situation where there's a huge crowd of people (e.g., a shopping centre) and use coping skills to help them manage their anxiety until it reduces.
This method is seen as quick and effective, although it might be too intense a way of dealing with fears for some people.
For those who want a more gradual approach to facing their fears, there's the option to do this through Graded Exposure. This does exactly what it says on the tin and gradually exposes you to the situation/activity/object that's causing you anxiety.
In Graded Exposure, you identify the feared situation and then think about where you currently are in terms of tackling that situation. An example scenario might be that you want to go to the local newsagents to buy a newspaper, but you're unable to leave your front door without feeling extreme anxiety.
Going inside the newsagents, choosing a newspaper, paying for it, and then leaving.
This is a very simple example. You may have more (or less) steps than this. The most important thing is to come up with as many steps as you feel necessary to achieve your goal.
The steps in Graded Exposure Therapy are something that you can come up with yourself or your Counsellor, if you're working with one.
The idea is to repeat each step until you feel comfortable with it, and then move onto the next step. Your anxiety doesn't have to totally disappear, but it should reduce to a level which feels more comfortable.
Moving to the next step may cause an increase in anxiety, but like the step before, you repeat that step until the anxiety reduces to a more manageable level and then move onto the next...and the next.
Bear in mind that this process might take a while and you may come up against obstacles along the way. Persistence is key.
For example, if you try one of the steps and it feels too much of a leap from the previous step, then rethink that step and see if that needs breaking down further.
When doing Graded Exposure, it's important to keep a record of when you attempt each step, your anxiety levels before and after, and any notes you think are relevant. This can help you reflect on what went well and what you might do differently next time.
For example, when you look at the time of day that you're doing your steps you might reflect that trying them at a different time, when there are less people about, might be beneficial.
When you review your notes you might see that your anxiety level prior to tackling one particular step has gradually decreased, even though you might still be working on the same step. This visual record of your progress will help motivate you during the times when you might be feeling you're not making much headway.
What ways do you tackle your anxiety? Are you a "jump right in" or "step by step" sort of person? Let us know in the comments.


Much of Turkey's coastline is only accessible by boat, making sailing the ideal way to explore. You see much more and even on a tour you can stop-off for an hour or two and see something that attracts.
Turkey is considered a popular summer destination but a winter one? Yet with more than a hundred peaks at over 3000 metres, there is plenty on offer for winter adventure, with altitudes on a par with the Alps and American Rockies.
It seems almost every other day that I receive news that Turkey is doing even more to attract us to visit their country. there is a new airport in Istanbul, a tunnel under the Bosphorus, additional flights and now come a flurry of new museums.
The Turkish beach resort of Antalya has quintupled in size over the last thirty years and is now home to more than a million people. It has also become one of the most attractive diving haunts anywhere in the world.
Today at 1pm our time, the Marmaray Tunnel opens for railway traffic in Turkey linking the European and Asiatic continents relieving pressure on the two bridges which – apart from ferries – has been the only way to see all of Istanbul.
Today and over the weekend, the summer exodus begins. ABTA says that two million of us will be leaving the UK and Ireland to head for our summer holidays over the next three of four days.
The 18th London Turkish Film Festival is taking place from today (February 21) until March 3. Read on for the low-down..