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ArticleMay 02, 2014
Business Function: Does it still have a place in Business Architecture?
Capability modelling has become something of a de facto standard within contemporary Enterprise Architecture practice.
Capability-based planning is also a proven tool when it comes to change portfolio management and the development of strategic roadmaps. However, I wonder if we architects aren't guilty at times of being overzealous in our readiness to label anything that a business does or needs as a 'business capability', resulting in capability models that are in reality a mixture of capabilities, services, business functions and processes? Although the concept 'business function' might be considered 'old school' and only 'reinforcing siloed architectures', it becomes crucially important when we want to describe how an enterprise needs to organise itself in order to operate a given business model. Moreover, the term 'function' is highly overloaded, meaning different things to different people in different contexts adding to confusion with similar ideas and a lack of precision in its use.
Capability modelling has become something of a de facto standard within contemporary Enterprise Architecture practice. Capability-based planning is also a proven tool when it comes to change portfolio management and the development of strategic roadmaps. However, I wonder if we architects aren't guilty at times of being overzealous in our readiness to label anything that a business does or needs as a 'business capability', resulting in capability models that are in reality a mixture of capabilities, services, business functions and processes? Although the concept 'business function' might be considered 'old school' and only 'reinforcing siloed architectures', it becomes crucially important when we want to describe how an enterprise needs to organise itself in order to operate a given business model. Moreover, the term 'function' is highly overloaded, meaning different things to different people in different contexts adding to confusion with similar ideas and a lack of precision in its use.
Defining Business Function
When it comes to the concept of 'business function' it is tempting to simply transplant the concept of 'application function' to the business domain, and use it to represent a type of 'organisational functionality' (i.e., a set of instructions carried out by personnel to change the state of an object). However, not only does this view betray a certain 'software engineering' centricity, it is also difficult to distinguish this view of business function from that of process related definitions (c.f., BPMN 2.0 definition of Task )[1]. Most importantly however, this is generally not the sense in which the term 'business function' is used by business stakeholders.
The term 'business function' is more commonly used to represent the logical level structure an organisation uses to control and manage its resources and processes (e.g., human resource management function, investment portfolio management function). TOGAF 9.1 somewhat obscurely defines 'business function' as "Delivers business capabilities closely aligned to an organization, but not necessarily explicitly governed by the organization". Assuming a business function is concerned with 'governing' resources, an organisational chart might be considered the physical implementation of a business function model because it shows how, via the lines of reporting, the control and management of resources is structured and exercised within a given organisation. Indeed, the TOGAF 9.1 definition seems to call out this distinction between actual organisation structure and the more abstract concept 'business function'.
Defining Capability
By contrast TOGAF 9.1 has this to say when defining the concept 'capability': "An ability that an organisation, person, or system possesses. Capabilities are typically expressed in general and high-level terms and typically require a combination of organisation, people, processes, and technology to achieve". The TOGAF 9.1 Content MetaModel further defines 'capability' as "a business-focused outcome that is delivered by the completion of one or more work packages".
I would personally prefer to define a capability as a grouping of organisational resources or assets (i.e., people, information, tools) and processes, necessary to deliver one or more strategic objectives.
Where Business Function Fits
Both concepts; capability, and business function, represent ways to view the structure[2] and organisation of business processes and resources (i.e., people, information resources, systems and technologies). Clearly both concepts provide useful insight into the degree of organisational coherency. Furthermore, both appear in the TOGAF 9.1 Content meta-model. Unfortunately, the relationships between these concepts are not explicitly defined. However, the meta-model does describe business functions as delivering capabilities. This suggests that business functions might be thought of as sub-classes of capability.
Figure 1: Functions realise capability
Adopting this approach, a capability model (i.e. conceptual model) might be used to scope and constrain lower level (i.e. logical) business function and service models. The business function and service models might then describe how specific capabilities are realised within the operational enterprise, both in the current and future state.
The following diagram is an attempt to position the concepts Capability, Business Function, Service and Process in a way that is consistent with the TOGAF 9.1 Content Meta-Model.
Figure 2: A conceptual framework for thinking about capabilities, services, business functions and processes
Why Business Function Matters
Although capability-based planning and capability modelling are key elements of the Enterprise Architect's toolkit, the more detailed business function and service perspectives also have a role to play. Capability modelling should be used to describe 'what' is required to meet enterprise objectives. Business function and service modelling should be used when describing the structuring and management of resources and processes to deliver outcomes.
The concept of business function in particular is most relevant when we are interested in representing the control of resources, and management of process execution within an organisation. This view may be quite distinct from that of capability. For example, a capability view of Human Resource Management may include Payroll as a sub-capability. However, the functional view of the organisation may in fact have the Payroll function sitting within the Financial Management function. That is to say that it may make more sense from a resource management perspective to regulate the Payroll processes and resources together with financial management processes and resources, even though it is understood that they contribute to the organisation's overall HR capability.
Furthermore, it is the management aspect of business functions that makes them ideal candidates for representation as process model 'swimlanes'[3] , as the business function can be said to 'own' or manage the processes within a particular swimlane. One practical benefit of this approach is that process models developed in this way are likely to have greater longevity during periods of organisational transformation, as business functions unlike other swim lane alternatives (e.g., org units), are relatively stable over time and across organisations.
This post has argued for the place of 'Business Function' in contemporary Business Architecture practice, and has provided a framework to help sketch out the relationships and distinctions between it and related concepts such as Capability and Service. In the end it is not really a question of preferring one concept over another but rather understanding when and how to use each concept to achieve coherent architecture. Notably, there are currently on-going discussions in the TOGAF community forums to do with the definition of the concept of Capability. Hopefully these discussions will result in a refinement of the meta-model to better define the relationships between Capability, Function and Service as well as a revision to the TOGAF 9.1 ADM that identifies their appropriate use. In a world of ever increasing change it is equally important to understand both what resources and processes are required to realise business goals, as it is to understand the way in which these resources need to be organised and managed.
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[1] BPMN 2.0 defines Task as: An atomic activity that is included within a Process. A Task is used when the work in the Process is not broken down to a finer level of Process Model detail. Generally, an end-user, an application, or both will perform the Task.
[2] Notably, neither of these concepts directly describes behaviour, although both reference processes, and by implication, their constituent tasks. Tasks (i.e., a set of instructions executed or performed by an actor) are the only point at which an episode of behavior or 'work' can be considered to actually occur. A process is a description of the sequencing or control flow of tasks (i.e., the individual episodes of behaviour).
[3] See original concept in Improving Performance (1990) by Rummler & Brache
Chris Aitken


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package nl.stokpop.lograter.util;

import nl.stokpop.lograter.LogRaterException;
import org.junit.Test;

import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.function.Function;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;

public class InLineReplacerTest {

    private static final Function<String, String> FIXED_REPLACER = s -> s.length() == 0 ? "" : "XYZ";

    @Test
    public void replaceIPv4() {
        assertEquals("0.0.0.4",
                InLineReplacer.replaceIPv4("1.2.3.4", "0.0.0.$1"));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceRequestUrl() {
        assertEquals("GET /pah/sac/twa.html HTTP/1.1",
                InLineReplacer.replaceUrlInRequestTriplet("GET /api/service/one.html HTTP/1.1", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceAfterSlashTextWithFirstLetterOnly() {
        assertEquals("//f/b",
                InLineReplacer.replaceUrlPathAfterSlashes("//foo/bar", InLineReplacer.FIRST_LETTER));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceDomains() {
        assertEquals("01/01/2020 kue.stokpop.nl 500 hex.stokpop.nl [INFO]",
                InLineReplacer.replaceDomains("01/01/2020 server.example.com 500 foo.another.nl [INFO]", "stokpop.nl", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceAfterSlashTextThreeLetterHash() {
        assertEquals("//nil/ooh",
                InLineReplacer.replaceUrlPathAfterSlashes("//fooz/barz", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceDomainWithUrl() {
        assertEquals("12/12/12 !https://a.b.c/nil/ooh.html?nay=cee&dup! some text",
                InLineReplacer.replaceDomainWithUrl("12/12/12 !https://a.b.c/fooz/barz.html?setting=something&nofilter! some text", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceDomainWithUrlHttp() {
        assertEquals("12/12/12 !http://a.b.c/nil/ooh.html?nay=cee&dup! some text",
                InLineReplacer.replaceDomainWithUrl("12/12/12 !http://a.b.c/fooz/barz.html?setting=something&nofilter! some text", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceObfuscateWords() {
        List<String> obfuscateList = Arrays.asList("some", "text");

        assertEquals("12/12/12 !https://a.b.c/nil/ooh.html?nay=cee&dup! dib law dib other law and textcase",
                InLineReplacer.replaceObfuscateWords("12/12/12 !https://a.b.c/nil/ooh.html?nay=cee&dup! some Text some other TEXT and textcase", obfuscateList, InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceMapperUrl() {
        assertEquals("(.*)/gid/pen.*###hum $1 $12", InLineReplacer.replaceWordsMapperLine("(.*)/test/v1.*###session $1 $12", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceClassname() {
        assertEquals("las.kea.taw.pst.GutKeaLugGee", InLineReplacer.replaceClassname("nl.stokpop.lograter.util.InLineReplacerTest", InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceWords() {
        String input = "bla bla [9438567948594753943945] what; is this=23";
        String expected = "kor kor [34] why; gip tsk=601";
        assertEquals(expected, InLineReplacer.replaceWords(input, InLineReplacer.THREE_LETTER_HASH));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceUrlPathAfterSlashes() {
        assertEquals("https://XYZ.XYZ.XYZ/XYZ/XYZ.html?XYZ=XYZ&XYZ",
                InLineReplacer.replaceUrlPathAfterSlashes("https://a.b.c/nil/ooh.html?nay=cee&dup", FIXED_REPLACER));
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceTextsWithinSlashes() {
        assertEquals("/XYZ/XYZ", InLineReplacer.replaceTextsWithinSeparator("/health/ok", "/", FIXED_REPLACER));
        assertEquals("/XYZ/XYZ/", InLineReplacer.replaceTextsWithinSeparator("/health/ok/", "/", FIXED_REPLACER));
        assertEquals("/XYZ", InLineReplacer.replaceTextsWithinSeparator("/health", "/", FIXED_REPLACER));
        assertEquals("/XYZ/", InLineReplacer.replaceTextsWithinSeparator("/health/", "/", FIXED_REPLACER));
        assertEquals("&$%^asjh*^%XYZ&$%^asjh*^%XYZ&$%^asjh*^%", InLineReplacer.replaceTextsWithinSeparator("&$%^asjh*^%health&$%^asjh*^%ok&$%^asjh*^%", "&$%^asjh*^%", FIXED_REPLACER));
    }

    @Test(expected = LogRaterException.class)
    public void replaceWordsMapperLineMissingSep() {
        // separator is missing, exception expected
        InLineReplacer.replaceWordsMapperLine("/a/b/be-li", FIXED_REPLACER);
    }

    @Test
    public void replaceWordsMapperLine() {
        String line = InLineReplacer.replaceWordsMapperLine("/a/b/be-li###be-li", FIXED_REPLACER);
        assertEquals("/XYZ/XYZ/XYZ###XYZ", line);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
'The player defines what the instrument does'
By Rahman 360ºMay 27, 2012 No Comments
The Nobel Peace Prize concert and the London Philharmonic Orchestra concert in 2010, the CWG theme song and Slumdog Millionaire ? there was one man who worked with AR Rahman on all these projects. The Mozart of Madras tells SUREKHA S about his collaboration with young sitarist Asad Khan and how the sitar came to be an integral part of his compositions
Standing in the lift at DY Patil Stadium with AR Rahman, we were a little surprised and at a loss for words, when sitarist Asad Khan introduced us to him. When we asked Rahman what he thought about this young musician, he looked at us in surprise. "Young? This guy is 55," he said, his face breaking into a broad smile. Now it was our turn to look surprised.
The playfulness of Rahman — a diminutive looking man — as well as his shyness is very apparent in the first few minutes of meeting him. He is also, literally, a man of few words, as we discovered during the course of the interview. Khan, meanwhile, seemed a jovial, extroverted person.
Not the regular stuff
Rahman and Khan (who is actually 29) started working with each other about seven years ago. Their first collaborative project was for the film Jodhaa Akbar. "I needed a sitar player to do the background score. But I didn't even know who he was. Someone told me this is Ustad Siraj Khan's son and that is how it started," says Rahman. "When we started composing, Asad came in and started jamming with me. I realised he was approaching the sitar differently. He was pushing the limits," the Mozart of Madras recalls.
Khan recalls an even earlier association with the maestro. "He heard my tapes and he called me for Yuva (2004) and even for Guru (2007). I would visit whenever he would record in Mumbai, which was very rare. But the first project we officially worked was about five years back and that was on Jodhaa Akbar," he says, adding that he was initially very skeptical about working in films.
AR Rahman at a performance for Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities. Pic courtesy/ Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities
"After learning under my father's tutelage and practising for 18 hours everyday, when I began looking for work, I met composers who wanted the sitar to sound traditional and melancholic. So, I wasn't inclined towards films. When I met Rahman, I started playing the regular stuff, which every composer seemed to want. But he said he didn't want that. He asked me to play what I liked," says Khan. "Yes I asked him to play freely. There are certain set ragas in classical music but you can work around them. His innovations sounded good and I called him again for Slumdog Millionaire," shares Rahman.
It was a first for Khan, because, like he says, "Very few music composers give you that kind of freedom. For Jodhaa Akbar, he said, 'This is your baby. Look at Aishwarya (Rai Bachchan) and play.' I couldn't have been happier," he smiles.
Sitar for Latika
Talking about working on the film Slumdog Millionaire, Khan says Rahman told him he wanted the sitar to appeal to the youth. "He didn't tell me he was recording the sitar for Slumdog Millionaire. He only said it is a Hollywood film, so eat well and come," he says, breaking into a laugh. "When I entered the studio, he showed me a clip of a girl running from CST station and he told me he wanted a sitar to accompany it. I was shocked. A girl running on a crowded station with goons behind her, and Rahman wanted a sitar melody. So we used the sitar in a fast tempo. It usually starts slowly with the alaap, but Rahman uses what concerts end with — the jhaala, which is the fastest piece in classical music," explains Khan.
"I only asked him to play faster and faster. It worked great," adds Rahman. Khan interrupts to add, "When we recorded the track and got audience feedback, no one believed it was actually played live. They thought it was tweaked or worked upon in the studio. Nobody uses sitar the way Rahman does.
No one starts pieces on that tempo. Director Danny Boyle couldn't believe sitar could be used like that. He was very happy, he even said that in some interviews in UK," says Khan.
Ask Rahman if he was the only one who used the sitar extensively with the piano and made it popular in Bollywood and he says, "I don't think of it that way. But it is true that the sitar has always been associated with sadness, which is most unfortunate. It is a beautiful instrument and there are people like Khan who play it differently."
Global appeal
We asked Rahman how the sitar fits into Western music. After all, he has also used Khan in symphony orchestras and Classic Incantations, a tribute by the German Film Orchestra Bablesberg to Rahman's music in January. "I would not say specifically western music, but I think it has a big appeal. People who are passionate about their music and instrument can change the way it sounds. Look at what U Srinivasan did with the mandolin. It's the player who defines what his instrument does. Of course there are dos and don'ts of playing an instrument but the player does what he can with it by working around it," says Rahman.
The duo plans to collaborate in the future, but no one's giving any details away. Khan says he is just plain grateful to Rahman for the chance he's been given. "He gave me a chance to play at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2010 and that was one of the most memorable events of my life. I think I am the first sitarist in the world to give a tribute to Michael Jackson. I sat next to Herbie Hancock, who is considered the king of piano in the world. I was playing, Rahman was singing to my piece, and Hancock was playing for me. It felt like I was up in the stars. That felt like the most important moment of my life," Khan signs off.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Pretty soon you guys will be off to second grade and a whole new group of children will be in my class ready to tackle first grade.... Remember your first day with me? Write a letter here to my future students. Encourage them by sharing some of your favorite times we've had together. I'm sure some of my new students will read your post and it will help them become even more ready for their next great adventure!
You guys are such awesome readers and I have enjoyed reading every post you've done on our blog. This time of the year is so busy and with the end of year assessments starting this week, we're going to have to miss out on our Friday lunches.; but you can continue to share your readings here... I always like to learn about you read!
PS- Look for a post next week about first grade... I'll be asking what you liked best!


text:
Julia Leigh Continues to Explore Definitions of Womanhood in New Adaptation of Her Memoir
Written by Camilla Nelson | 22nd Sep 2019 | Australia, Review, Sydney, Theatre and Gender
"Avalanche: A Love Story" directed by Anne-Louise Sarks at Sydney Theatre Company in Australia 2019. The Other Richard.
Review: Avalanche: A Love Story, directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, Sydney Theatre Company
Maxine Peake's character needs to find "another way to be happy," but she can't.
In Julia Leigh's play Avalanche: A Love Story, based on her 2016 memoir detailing the raw anguish of her six unsuccessful attempts at IVF, these words, though they are kindly intended by her sister (a mother of two), precipitate an angry crisis.
Peake's character – called "Woman" – cannot make her dream of a baby real and cannot give it up either. In a fury, she kicks a chair across the stage.
Like Leigh, Peake has spoken candidly about her own struggle with IVF in real life. Her solo performance is astonishing for the way it brings warmth and a kind of likeability to the pain, raw bitterness, and terrifying resentment that has been carefully written into the part she plays.
In Avalanche, Peake's character starts her clinical journey at 37. Her partner is seeking to have a vasectomy reversed. If all goes well, the doctor tells her, you should be able to conceive naturally. "But I don't want to see you here in two years' time."
Woman doesn't conceive. And then she's back at the clinic in two, three, and five years. Sex becomes a chore, under pressure of conflicting needs and work interests, the marriage disintegrates. After her divorce, she makes the tough decision to pursue her dream alone as a single parent.
The naming of this character as Woman is perhaps a gesture towards Simone de Beauvoir's famous opening line, "One is not born, but rather becomes, woman." That is, a category – a social construct.
Avalanche: A Love Story directed by Anne-Louise Sarks at Sydney Theatre Company in Australia 2019. Photo by The Other Richard.
So too, Woman calls her longed-for baby a "childling." Not just because the baby has no reality, except in her own mind, but also because her baby seems to be half magical – a creature made of longing and yearning.
There is something deeply wrong lurking beneath the surface of the action in Avalanche. It's not the just the money grasping doctors who trade in hope and prey upon an aging woman's despair (though entrepreneurial medicine is very much a focus of the play's critique). Or the callous or sensible and loving male partners, or the supportive sisters or uncomprehending mothers. It's also us – the audience – who are looking at this picture in an uncomfortable way.
It seems it is far easier for us to understand women who do not want children, or women who want careers, or women who do have children and occasionally wish that they didn't.
But there is still an extraordinary stigma – seldom spoken about, seldom discussed – that attaches itself to a woman who wants to be a mother but can't.
Scorn at the 'failed' mother
There is a peculiar kind of scorn that is heaped upon a "failed" mother. It's a sting that Peake's character undoubtedly feels, and that drives more of the action than the character would like. And, of course, men are rarely questioned about their lifestyle choices in quite the same way.
Childlessness is experienced by Peake's Woman in a deeply, profoundly personal way – as grief and loss. She attempts grief counseling at the beginning of the play, but cannot explain that the "someone" for whom she's grieving has no existence in reality. So she tells the group she's lost her mother.
But this problem has a social and cultural dimension. In cinemas and on television, in books and on the internet, being a mother is constantly evoked as a synonym for being loved, for being happy, and for being accepted.
The "happy ever after" of motherhood is offered as the plotline for every story but also posited as a "cure" for all the larger, existential worries that afflict us.
Every now and then, a space opens within the play, in which the audience is invited to ask why does Woman yearn to be a mother so much? Her ex-husband believes she is too selfish. Her mother thinks she is too consumed with her work. Peake's character says the thought of the child gives her a "reason for being."
Her performance is driven on by detailed descriptions of invasive medical procedures. The fluorescent lighting. The disposable gowns. The trolley tables. The ultrasounds. The serial injections – every night at ten o'clock. The costs of treatment, $11,000, $2,800, $265. And the demand for evidence.
The doctors assure Woman that the chances of conception are 40%. But the statistics are deceptive. By the end of the play, she finds out that the chances for women as a group may be 40%, but for a woman of her age – at this clinic – the reality is less than 3%.
The character in this play is compelling because she is never innocent. Neither agent nor a victim. There is a strong sense of knowingness – and a tremendous bitterness that is almost painful to watch.
Is she the beneficiary of decades of scientific innovation or is she the unwitting victim of a kind of predatory, medico-corporate greed? One of the doctors drives a Bentley, which Woman notices in the car park.
Suicidal thoughts aren't far away. At one moment the character stands on a clifftop – distracted, on a precipice – only to be called back to reality by a passing jogger. (One UK study found that 42% of women undergoing fertility treatment experienced suicidal feelings as a result of their fertility problems.)
At the beginning of the play, Woman's world is small, shrunken, tightly enclosed in the white space of the clinic. As her thoughts fracture, the stage walls lift to reveal the eerie landscape of a life beyond – ashen snow, a cold, dark aftermath, but endowed with a redemptive, even magical quality. The landscape glows, darkly.
There's a sense, at the very end, that this character has found a different way to love and belong and feel accepted. A different path, as the character says, from "I" to "We."
Avalanche: A Love Story, is at the Sydney Theatre Company until September 14.
This article was originally published on The Conversation on September 2, 2019. Reposted with permission. Read the original article.
This post was written by Camilla Nelson.
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Next"Chiaroscuro" at The Bush Theatre
"Churning Waters"—Muffled Voices Flow
Natak Phatak: A Bold Attempt in Adapting "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to the Bengal Stage
Tatty Hennessy's "A Hundred Words For Snow" At The Trafalgar Studios
Robert Icke's "The Doctor" At The Almeida Theatre


JKB Argent is indeed one of those brands, the gorgeous Jasbir Braich Or Jas as she is known, produced Millionaire Hair Mist with recipes handed down from her Punjabi family and tweaked with the help of her chemist husband. This beautifully fragrant lightweight hair oil is made with 99% natural organic ingredients and contains only one preservative, as such it has a shelf life of 8 months, although I very much doubt you will hang on to it for that long.
The mist can be used in three ways and although you can indeed notice an immediate effect, Jas refers to it like a healthy diet which works better over a longer period.
I have used this mist in two of the three ways and have to say I am 100% impressed, anyone that uses hair oil knows there is always a danger of ending up looking greasy, and of course this product is no different if you overdo it, you don't need to drench your hair a light misting is all that is needed.
1. It can be applied to damp hair after washing, dry as usual.
2. Apply to dry hair, for a quick perfumed shine that settles frizz.
3. Use as a treatment, wash hair apply oil and wrap in a warm towel for 10 minutes.
There is something quite luxurious about this product, in it's simple classic looking packaging it could be quite easy to overlook, until you open the box and discover what looks like a very expensive perfume in it's glass bottle, with amazing fragrance.
On a side note, I also tried this out on a day when I should really have washed my hair, I was in a rush so thought I would chance it, the result was that my hair actually looked and felt cleaner, certainly good enough to get me through the day.


Look at the performance records of some of the successful trend followers over the last 20+ years. You will see that there are plenty of losing months - as well as losing years.
These are people who have been successful over the long-term. Yet, how many individual traders do you know who are able to go through losing months or years? Some can't even stomach a losing week before they want to ditch a proven method and jump on the holy grail seeking wagon.
I've spoken to people in the past who have expressed an interest in learning more about trend following. Yet they seem to want to be able to guarantee themselves a fixed profit return over the next twelve months. Those people I simply cannot help.
As we know, markets go through different phases or 'states' - trending or non-trending, stable or volatile. Your chosen method may not be able to generate profits in all those different states. Trend followers struggle with non-trending markets. Spikes in volatility can also cause issues, whereas those types of conditions could suit shorter-term traders, or those who trade off support and resistance levels.
While we know that markets may move from one state to another, we never know (and we don't predict!) when this will happen. We can only react to what the markets and its price action are telling us. As a result, it is impossible to say whether you can make any profits in a certain period, let alone at what level.
Trend following is a reactive method - we let price 'tip its hand' as to what direction it may go and we then hop along for the ride. More often than not, we are quickly stopped out. If price is travelling in the wrong direction we jump off and wait for another signal to come along.
Trend followers can spin their wheels and get nowhere for long periods. You put the work in, follow your rules, and get little or no reward. Then, all of a sudden, you may get into a couple of position which suddenly take off. If that happens, you have to hang on for dear life until the ride is over. Those two trades can make your year. And if you mange to get into a major trending trade (such as shorting crude oil last year, or a major trend in a stock), then that can take your trading onto a different level altogether. Very occasionally, such as in the dot.com bubble, or the downtrend in 2008, trend followers can make huge returns.
It is for these reasons you can never guarantee what sort of returns you can achieve - or when. All you can do is try and limit the losses incurred when trend signals don't work out, and maximise the profits when you do get into a profitable position - in other words, cut losses short and let profits run.
Combine that with solid risk control, and the ability to follow your rules while controlling your emotions, and you are well on the way to achieve solid long-term performance.
I know the above probably won't appeal or interest many casual traders - they want to find ways to make hundreds of percent returns in a matter of days. But that is the reality of trend following.


Visit the world's largest online occult and craft store. The place to buy all your supplies, whatever your spiritual path.
Wyrd Auntie Sarz answers all of those questions you didn't want to ask the Vicar.
Here to raise your spirits.
X marks the spot of Scotland's oldest occult store.


May | 2016 | Where's Your Dog?
When I become a rich and famous copyeditor (stop laughing, damn it), I know exactly what I will do. Forget the posh beach vacations and the shopping sprees and the sumptuous dinners (okay, I'm keeping the dinners). When (not if) I have a million dollars at my disposal, I'm going to get … a personal assistant.
But what if I don't wanna?
That's right, I said it. What if I don't feel like calling the Edmonton Transit Service and trying to figure out which bus goes where, while dealing with fuzzy directions and confusion on both sides? What if I don't know quite what I want in the grocery store, and just want to browse? What if I don't want to wait around for a kind friend to describe that video? What if, like any sighted person, I just want to get something done–quickly, efficiently, and without fuss? What if?
Yes, you're still frowning at me, I know. Most of the time I prefer to get things done on my own, it's true, even if it's not always quite as efficient as it might otherwise be. Still, I don't think customer service workers at the local grocery store would appreciate me asking them to read every single tea they carry so I can choose just one. It would be so lovely to know that someone was being paid specifically to walk around with me and tell me what they see. If a sighted person can hire someone to wash their floors and book their plane tickets—all things they could do themselves but choose not to—surely I can pay someone to be my eyes for a while?
Then I did a little more living in this fast-paced world of ours, and I realized that this PA thing? It's damn handy.


Official repress! Comes in the original artwork! West-German Punk-band from the city of Freiburg, active from 1980 until 1983. Unfortunately the bands only release! Here's the official repress!
Our take: This record looks like it could have come from Copenhagen in the early 00s, but it's a reissue from 1982 Germany. Like the Honkas EP that Static Age has also reissued, Harnröhrer play tough and grimy punk that sounds like it's crawled out of the gutter just to knife you. Whereas the Honkas EP is left-of-center, Harnröhrer is all power with big, clear production and a beefy sound that leaps out of your speakers. The sound is still mid-paced, tough punk, but the chord progressions are dark and there's simple but haunting lead guitar that reminds me of gloomy 80s California punk like Agent Orange or early Social Distortion. That I'm still discovering things this good after listening to punk for 25 years is a signal that the well may just never run dry.


1. How many children? (Old vs. New Capacity: Reduction Factor) According to "Oral History" accounts, there were more than 300 children in the early days. However, the highest recorded number was 245 cited in the Annual Report of the Colored Orphanage dated July 1, 1929 - June 30, 1930. Other Annual Reports from the 1930's to 1970's record between 140-160 children residing on campus. During a similar period between 1925-1971, there were an additional 200 or more students from the neighborhood attending the 1st-8th grades at Angier B. Duke School, which was also located on campus. Likewise, it simply appeared as though there were several hundred students in the "Orphanage" throughout our history. However, there was a dramatic reduction in the presence of students on campus as a result of "Public School Integration." Simultaneously, governmental officials mandated downsizing of "orphanages" with dormitories to smaller family style living units called "cottages." Therefore, we are proud of our compliance by providing (5) cottages for 56 co-ed children which meet the standards of the new millennium.
3. Public vs. Private Institution? The Central Children's Home is a private not-for-profit facility. Many people probably assumed that we are a public facility because at one time the Governor of North Carolina appointed (5) citizens to serve on the Board of Directors each political election year to oversee "State Funds." Another reason may be our long standing relationship with the State Foster Care System.
4. Who are your Board of Directors? The Board of Directors consist of (30) members. They represent all major support groups such as the General Baptist State Convention and Woman's Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention (43%), Prince Hall Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star and other masonic affiliates (17%), American Legion Pilgrimage Committee and other various groups (6%), Alumni and family members (17%) and other concerned citizens (17%). Honorable mention affiliates are the Household of Ruth and Odd Fellows and the North Carolina State Law Enforcement Association. The primary functions of the Board of Directors are as follows: (a) Secure and provide adequate funding, (b) Establish and set policies and c) Provide general oversight of the Administration.
5. What are your Strategic Planning Objectives? Our primary "Strategic Planning Objective" is fund development via establishing a permanent endowment fund and launching a capital campaign drive. To provide matching funds and generate such an endowment, we are currently considering converting more than $2.5 million dollars of our land assets on the north side of I-85. A successful capital campaign drive will provide (2) new cottages (female emergency care and independent living), renovation of Shepard Cottage and Cheatham Dining Hall, Air Conditioning for Friends Memorial Gymtorium, a new multi-purpose complex, improvement of campus roadways, paving and landscaping. Likewise, the proceeds from the permanent endowment funds will generate income to maintain these initiatives.
©2007 Central Childrens Home of NC. All Rights Reserved.


Dr. Prasad Adusumilli at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center, a thoracic surgeon and scientist, believes that customized gene therapy will change the way we treat pleural mesothelioma.
Dr. Adusumilli has worked for more than a decade on developing tumor immunology for thoracic malignancies. Currently, the doctor is investigating a phase I clinical trial involving immune cells known as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The cells have shown to be promising in the treatment of mesothelioma.
The clinical trial includes both lung and breast cancer patients. Five participants with mesothelioma received CAR T-cell therapy and Keytruda as part of the treatment protocol. Two had progressive disease, one had stable disease and two had a partial response. All were still alive as of starting treatment, and none experienced serious side effects – which was the main goal of the phase I clinical trial.
CAR T-cell therapy works by helping the body's immune system recognize and destroy cancer. The target is mesothelin, a cell-surface antigen that is expressed in virtually all mesothelioma cases.
Gene therapy has been shown to be promising with blood cancers, but its effectiveness on solid tumors is still being discovered.
A new technology is also emerging that looks for genetic material from cancer cells in blood. The technology could be used to detect mesothelioma early on.
The test has already shown potential for early detection of lung cancer.
Cancer cells contain genetic mutations and alterations that contribute to the cells' abilities to grow out of control. The new blood test looks for bits of genetic information that are shed by cancer cells and released into the bloodstream.


Carbon offsets. How do they work?
Every time we turn on the central heating, cook a meal, take a trip by car or aeroplane then carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere.
Carbon offsets involves paying someone else to reduce these emissions by the same amount; thereby counterbalancing the two.
This process has become the subject of much debate. Some have argued that it is dangerous because it suggests that we can somehow buy our way out of climate change. It has also been argued that it does not encourage people to change their behaviour. Others claim that carbon offset schemes are dubious and unaccountable.
Clearly, it is an area that has caused controversy and cynicism. Our view is that true carbon reduction efforts should always come first, but that when emissions are unavoidable then they should be offset through clear, unambiguous programmes that genuinely help the environment.
One good example of a genuine scheme we came across is from Climatesure, who offer carbon offsetting with their insurance policies. One of their projects is restoring rainforests in Uganda, funding part of a forest restoration programme in the Kibale National Park in Uganda. The project aims to re-create a rainforest canopy by planting and managing 30 species of local trees. The area is an important wildlife habitat with one of the highest number of primate species in the world – and the project provides employment for local communities. Each hectare of rainforest that is restored there is expected to absorb 400 tonnes of CO2.
Always be cautious when evaluating the claims of some companies to be carbon neutral and ensure that they are firstly reducing their own emissions and secondly investing in genuine programmes to help the environment.


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You can opt in for the beta at the official site. When the beta launches on May 15, players who've gotten in will be able to play all the way from from level one to 30. WoW game director Ion Hazzikostas tells us that the beta will be "uncharacteristically small compared to our expansions," in part to ensure that the focus is on the proper launch this August.
Good question. Me personally, when I use a new strat from somebody else, I always read thru the strat, and in the case I really need to level some pet, I then (likely) exclude strats that are mentioning things like "RNG", "risk", etc. But: I'm always happy (when using a new strat) when I see some detailed infos, so that I can estimate what is going to happen. But YMMV.
They seem to have expected some things, though, see adding pets with aquatic damage (gun and ooze) aswell as a resistant cockroach to stop us from cheesing everything with elementals. Yet, a fact their damage output is low combined with shields not checking for racial damage means this mechanic prevents a lot as you mentioned. The last boss has got an ability to remove basic shields so perhaps that was not in oblivion either… unlike the reactive damage. Also, an ability that forces swap altogether with an ability which prevents from being swapped, including critters? I can't say I like it.
When it comes to Classic, Blizzard's goal is to provide an authentic Vanilla experience, but they also needed to come up with technology to handle many players at launch, which is similar to sharding. While the use of this technology will be limited to the first month following launch, many players are questioning this decision and wouldn't like to see layering in the game at all.
WoW Classic seeks to recreate the "vanilla WoW" experience—that is, WoW as it existed before a series of seven game-altering major expansion packs from 2007's The Burning Crusade to 2018's Battle for Azeroth. To achieve this, Blizzard has rebuilt the game based on archived data from back in 2005 and 2006 (patch 1.12 is the goalpost—the current game is on patch 8.1.5). The company has committed to meticulously presenting the experience exactly as it was back then—warts and all—with only a small number of unavoidable or critical changes.
World of Warcraft, BlizzCon, and BfA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment in the United States and/or other countries. These terms and all related materials, logos, images, video images, gameplay footage, music, sounds, or speech are copyright © Blizzard Entertainment. Unless otherwise indicated, all material on this website is copyright © Skill Capped LLC. This site is in no way associated with or endorsed by Blizzard Entertainment.
If you just want the short version of this review, Zygor Guides are the best WoW leveling guides. Period. They've been around since 2007, and are always kept up to date and improved, and they have tons of features that set them apart from the competition, not to mention a streamlined leveling path and slick user interface. It's no wonder that they're the #1 best-selling WoW guides, because they're simply the highest quality. Updates are typically released in advance of major patches and expansions.
I am currently working full time on my Vanilla WoW leveling guides. Soon there will be a 1-60 speed leveling guide for Alliance, along with in-game guide versions available for my members area. As of right now, there is no members area, but if you would like to show support for my efforts into this project, you can simply donate to me via Patreon if you like (you will get some cool rewards in return). Or you can donate directly with PayPal if you like. All donations are highly appreciated and they will only motivate me more to continue making the best vanilla WoW leveling guides on the web.
Different qualities aren't limited only to wild pets—many rare World drops and special non-wild companions have had their stats boosted. For example, the world-drop dragon whelps (Azure Whelpling, Crimson Whelpling, Dark Whelpling, and Emerald Whelpling) are of [rare] quality. Check your Pet Journal to see the color-coded rarity of your non-wild pets.
Step-by-step class guides are on the way! The 1-12 Mulgore Guide is the first guide to get all the individual class steps. At the top of the guide, simply select which class you are playing and the page will dynamically update all the steps in the guide for that class (both text and images). The rest of the guides will be slowly updated overtime to include all the class steps, but you can see how it's going to work with the 1-12 Mulgore. I want to thank crazyK and his Placeholderguild for helping me out with the individual class content. They are allowing me to get the 1-60 Alliance guide done while also getting all the class steps done at the same time, so everything can be ready for Classic launch (hopefully).
It's time to do this again! I am bringing this back for nostalgic value along with a way for you guys to support me! Now keep in mind I am sending the very first original version of my leveling guide for Horde (I did not make an Alliance guide back then). This is not really meant to be used to level through WoW, even though you could use it for that purpose. My website JoanasWorld.com contains the latest up-to-date version of my leveling guides which have changed a lot over the years.
The quality of captured wild pets is random. As of patch 5.1, upon entering a battle the Pet Battle UI shows the quality of a wild pet (idicated by a color-coded border around its icon). If you're farming a specific quality, if you forfeit the match your team will incur a small damage penalty (roughly 10%). There is no accurate way to determine a pet's quality prior to the start of a battle.
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Description: When man chooses to deny the truth of God's existence, it's only natural that man to then deny the truth of a creator who created this world. Tonight's message looks at the beliefs of some favorite "celebrities" that help remind us...we're not alone in our belief that we were created by a creator; and we will one day stand before Him.
When man chooses to deny the truth of God's existence, it's only natural that man to then deny the truth of a creator who created this world. Tonight's message looks at the beliefs of some favorite "celebrities" that help remind us...we're not alone in our belief that we were created by a creator; and we will one day stand before Him.


Most businesses fail miserably…face first. Not because the product or service wasn't any good…they failed because not enough people around the world knew about it. In other words, the marketing sucked.
Research is crucial. "Do your homework" thoroughly and you'll be so much better off. In fact, it's a necessary first step to determine the viability of your business idea. So much can be learned and taken from just a few hours of Googling and surfing the Internet. If it seems your idea has already been done, can you do it better or offer it cheaper than the competition? Ask yourself the hard questions and get feedback from mentors. Anyone who is serious about their startup must write a business plan. Only after thoroughly going through this exercise can you properly price your product or service; understand who your customer is; and how you can communicate with your target audience.
Get your ideas written out. Don't worry about brilliant prose. Just make notes on your product or service. Describe the product; how you're planning to market and sell it; what is your pricing model; who is your competition; and what is your expertise. Even a service is made up of something. What are the benefits? Understand everything there is to know about your service as it relates to your target audience. How do you deliver it? Is your price competitive? How is it packaged? What makes your product unique?
List bullet points describing who your ideal clients would be and also a set of points explaining how you will let them know about your business. Next, explain how you'll create leads and ultimately sales from your target demographics. After you've done this, the Marketing Plan should flow more easily.
A small business can range in size from one person working from their basement to a company of 50-100 people. Since you're reading this, you're probably on the smaller end of the scale, or maybe still brainstorming startup ideas. Can't I just start selling my product? Maybe. Do I really need Financial Projections? The short answer is yes. If you plan to raise funds they need to be more detailed. If you are bootstrapping the startup yourself or with a partner you might be able to get away with a simpler set of Projections. Once you've got your business name selected and your domain name secured it's time to work on your branding strategy. Brand is all about building credibility with your target audience. It takes time and is important for you to be consistent across the board with your messaging. Your logo is the fun part of branding but don't spend too much time and money on it at first.
Don't underestimate the power of word-of-mouth marketing which comes from an exceptional product or service and brand.
Passion for what you are going to do every day is of the highest importance. It gives you the energy to hit the ground running. But it's no use without expertise – a critical second ingredient.
Does your business lend itself to virality?
Everybody wants their product or brand to go viral. Who wouldn't want exposure that spreads like wildfire? But most companies' strategy is to build a product first and then try to come up with a campaign that will make that product go viral. This couldn't be more backwards.
Of all the products and campaigns in the world, only a small number are actually successful in going viral. And since virality is priceless, it could be worth organizing your entire business around.
If you want your product to go viral you've got to first think about what types of things make an idea spread in your target market, and then pick a product/business that has those qualities.


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Donate to Win
Bond Arms Nickel Boron Special Edition .45LC/.410 Derringer
Retail Value: $704.00
Donated By: Bond Arms
**** Chosen by Winner: Donald L.
NOTE: Firearm will not be shipped directly to winner, but rather to Federal Firearms Licensee ("FFL") specified by winner (or selected by Knife Rights in Knife Rights' sole discretion). Winner can only take possession of firearm from the FFL. Winner must comply with all applicable legal requirements prior to taking possession of firearm. Winner is responsible for a shipping charge ($40 Pistol Caliber Pistols/$70 Rifle Caliber Pistols and Long Guns) and any fees charged by receiving FFL. Optics and Accessories will ship separately, not via the FFL. Click for complete rules.
The Bond Arms Nickel Boron gun is a very special edition! This Nickel Boron gun may look elegant to the eye, but it is a beast of a gun. With this nickel boron coating makes it more scratch resistant and more durable than a normal stainless steel model. It comes with a 3.5" barrel in a .45/.410 caliber, black accents and extended black ash grips with a star in star design on each side. A tank of a gun to get you through just about any situation!
Stainless steel double-barrel and frame
Compatible with all standard Bond Arms barrels
Automatic spent casing extractor
Patented rebounding hammer
Retracting firing pins
Cross-bolt safety
Spring-loaded, cammed locking lever
Caliber: .45LC/.410
Barrel: 3.5"
Grip: Extended Black Ash
Sights: Front Blade, Fixed Rear
About Bond Arms
BOND ARMS, INC. is located in Granbury, Texas and manufactures the award-winning Bond Arms derringer – the finest in double barrel protection.
Originally organized under the name Texas Armory, the company became incorporated as Bond Arms in 1995 with the idea that the Remington Model 95 over-under, single-action derringer could be converted from an Old West anachronism into a modern defensive handgun. The barrel and frame were redesigned to safely fire modern calibers. The beefed-up double barrels and frames are constructed completely from stainless steel, and shaped with modern manufacturing processes. This makes for a pistol that's both strong and durable.
This 17-time SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) world champion derringer has become the premier derringer of choice. With such praise from competition and conceal carry users a like, it's no wonder the Bond Arms Derringer has the reputation as a serious piece of firearm hardware.
Single Action Shooting SocietyBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and FirearmsBond Arms is the leader in the derringer industry in new product development. They have developed an exciting stocking dealer program (SDP). In the online store you'll find a line of customized products as well as a line of accessory products such as holsters, extended grips, and additional caliber offerings.
It is our firm commitment to designing and manufacturing superior "derringer style" guns that has given us the outstanding reputation with the industry and our valued customers .
We're also one of a few manufacturers that still builds exclusively in the U.S. and uses American-made parts for all our handguns. Even our grips and holsters are made in the U.S.A.
Return to Donation Form
Prize winners must be U.S. residents at least 18 years of age who have made one or more qualifying contribution of at least $20 each to Knife Rights, Inc. ("KR") during the eligibility period or who have submitted an entry in accordance with the published rules. Winners of firearms, suppressors or knives must not be prohibited from owning or possessing them under applicable laws.
Offer void where prohibited. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded to any one person in each of the Early Bird Bonus Drawing and Main Drawing. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded to any one person in the Tail End Drawing, if held. A Tail End Drawing is not guaranteed to be held. You can donate as often as you like, but each donation is separate and independent from previous donations and will only entitle you to the number of entries specified at the donation level you have selected at the time of each donation.
Each donation must include full name, donation amount, shipping address and phone number to be valid. Winners need not be physically present at the drawing to win.
Firearms and suppressors will not be shipped directly to winners, but rather to Federal Firearms Licensees ("FFLs") specified by winners (or selected by KR or Hill Country Class 3 LLC d.b.a. Silencer Shop (Silencer Shop), in KR's and Silencer Shop's sole discretion). Winners can only take possession of firearms and suppressors from the FFLs. Optional suppressor included with some firearms prizes can be excluded if the winner is ineligible for any reason or prefers not to become subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA). Current wait times for NFA transfers conducted by the BATFE are nine to twelve months and could be longer. KR is not responsible for tracking such wait times. Winner is responsible for compliance with the NFA and all state and local laws governing the possession of NFA items in the winner's jurisdiction. Neither KR, nor KR Affiliates (as defined below), nor their successors or assigns, nor the supplier of the suppressor prize, are responsible for failure to complete delivery of such prize for any reason, including without limitation the prize winner's failure to comply with any legal requirements. Declining to accept a suppressor prize, or failure to satisfy the legal requirements for a firearms or suppressor prize selected, forfeits any claim to that firearm or suppressor prize and no replacement, alternative prize, or cash equivalent will be provided. Automatic knives will not be shipped directly to winners unless a legal recipient under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1241-1245 and 18 U.S.C. § 1716(g), but rather to an authorized dealer in eligible winner's state from which winner can claim prize.
Some prizes are subject to additional limitation(s) that is/are included in prize description and by selection of such a prize the winner automatically accepts and is bound by the stated limitation(s) and rules regarding selection and delivery as if the limitation(s) was/were included herein. Claim to prizes is not transferable with the exception that delivery of a suppressor prize can be received by a trust of which the winner is a responsible person qualified to receive an NFA item.
The odds of winning vary based on the number of donations and amounts donated. Winners will be drawn on or after August 31, 2020 September 30, 2020, for the Main Drawing. Early Bird winners will be drawn on or after May 15, 2020. If held, Tail End Drawing winners will be drawn on or after August 31, 2020 September 30, 2020, immediately prior to the Main Drawing. The closing date of the Main and Tail End Drawings may be extended up to 90 days due to exigencies resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic as necessary. A minimum of the first 75 winners drawn in both the Early Bird and Main Drawings, and the first 5 winners in the Tail End Drawing, if held, will have first choice of prizes available after any prior winner(s) have selected, in the order in which such winners were drawn ("Winner's Choice"). At KR's option, additional Winner's Choice prizes may be awarded. Accordingly, the final posting of winners may take up to 180 days post drawing.
Winners must comply with all applicable legal requirements prior to taking possession of firearms, suppressors or knives. Winners are solely responsible for determination of legality. If for any reason winners cannot comply, prizes will be held for 30 days and then will be forfeited and returned to KR. Winners of firearms are responsible for shipping charges ($25 Pistol Caliber/$50 Rifle Caliber and Long Gun), transfer fees to FFLs and any other applicable fees and may be required to prepay such expenses by valid credit card or other method to be determined in KR's sole discretion. NFA prizes will be transferred via the "Powered By Silencer Shop" dealer network. Winner will not incur any additional charges unless exceptions are made. Exceptions include but are not limited to: changing SOT dealers after paperwork is filed, changing registration type, facilitating a dealer outside of the "Powered By Silencer Shop" dealer network. In most cases, Silencer Shop will handle the transfer from start to user receipt and will require contact with the winner to insure registration information is valid and complete. If communication cannot be facilitated between Silencer Shop and the winner, NFA Prizes will be held for 30 days before return transfer to the manufacturer is initiated.
All prizes other than firearms will be shipped at KR's expense via a shipping method of KR's choice, signature required at KR's option, to the addresses provided by winners, insured. If winner declines KR's signature required delivery, they accept all risk for non-delivery regardless of cause. If delivery is not completed on original shipment, regardless of fault, winner is responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners are hereby warned not to sign for delivery without the package in hand and undamaged. Winners who do not respond to a delivery notice, regardless of reason, are responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners of prizes after the Winner's Choice prizes are selected will be sent their prizes without prior notification to the address provided. It is donor's responsibility to notify KR of any change in address.
KR is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen or undelivered prizes, regardless of cause, and winners agree to look solely to insurance carried by KR or included by shipper with regard to same. KR is not responsible for reimbursement of any insurance deductible, which may be in an amount of up to $500. Risk of loss or damage is solely with winners.
KR will attempt to notify all Winner's Choice winners using the contact information supplied. It is donor's responsibility to notify KR of any change in contact information. Any prize not claimed by a Winner's Choice winner within 48 hours from KR's first attempt to notify the winner will be forfeited and all other winners drawn will move up one place in priority. If a Winner's Choice winner that does not respond within the 48 hours later contacts KR, they will be offered the choice of prizes then currently available if within the Winner's Choice draws, if any, after the current notified winner selects a prize. Otherwise, prize will be forfeit. All entries and donations are non-refundable and will become the sole property of KR once submitted. Acceptance of a prize constitutes winners' permission for KR to use winner's name and likeness for KR promotional purposes without additional consideration.
If payment of any donation is rejected, denied, returned for insufficient funds, refunded for any reason or otherwise not made, and the responsible party does not subsequently make full payment plus processing fees of $25.00 that clears no later than 7 (seven) days prior to drawing, the entries related to that donation will be removed from the drawing. Winners of "Early Bird" prizes are eligible for (and their winning entry will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. If held, winners of "Tail End" prizes are eligible for (and their winning entry will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. Once an individual winner has been selected as a prize winner in the Main Drawing, that winning entry is removed. There is no cash substitution for any prizes.
Winners Choice winners will be notified using the contact information supplied and informed how to claim prizes. Only those named as the entrant on a valid winning entry form are eligible to claim a prize, and such persons may be required to provide proof of identification acceptable to KR in KR's sole discretion. KR shall not be liable for failure of notification arising from incorrect or illegible contact information supplied, or email or voice mail induced failures, or failure of entrants to respond to communications (or failure of KR to actually receive such responses regardless of cause) within 48 hours of KR's first attempt to notify the winners. KR's obligation is limited to making good faith efforts to notify winners. Once all winners are drawn and notified, names of winners (given name and surname initial.) will be posted at the Knife Rights Ultimate Steel web site: www.KnifeRights.org/UltimateSteel.
All prize winners are subject to applicable drawing procedures, restrictions, rules, directives, applicable laws and regulations, and are solely responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, assessments and charges relating to the prizes. Your participation in this fundraiser (including without limitation the act of submitting a donation and/or winning a prize) signifies and is conditioned upon your acknowledgement, agreement, covenant, representation and warranty to KR, based on good and valuable consideration, receipt of which you acknowledge, that (i) KR, its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel, representatives and members, together with Silencer Shop and its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel and representatives together with prize donors (collectively, "KR Affiliates") shall have no liability whatsoever in connection with this fundraiser, the prizes (or their acceptance, possession, use, or misuse), or anything arising out of or relating thereto; (ii) you waive and release any and all claims you may now or ever have against KR Affiliates; and (iii) you will not make any claims against KR affiliates and shall be estopped from so doing.
KR makes no claim regarding the actual value of any prize and is not responsible for the accuracy of any value estimate provided by prize donors or anyone else listed as "Retail Value" and may not realize the Retail Value listed if sold. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price are listed for production items which may be purchasable for a lower price. KR does not guarantee the accuracy of the prize descriptions published. Prizes are in as-is condition. KR makes no warranty as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, suitability or condition of the prizes. Prizes donated by individuals may have been previously used. Prize may have been exhibited and may have been cosmetically damaged as a result. Firearm prizes may have been converted to non-firing condition for exhibition and back to firing condition and Winner should have a competent gunsmith inspect firearm to ensure it is safe for use upon receipt. Any repair required is the responsibility of the Winner. Firearms prize package accessories may have been mounted for display and then dismounted from the firearm and may have been cosmetically damaged as a result. Notice is hereby given that prizes incorporating Mammoth, Mastodon, or Fossil Walrus ivory, tooth or tusk (and/or other materials that may become prohibited or regulated) are prohibited by state law from being claimed by residents of some states, including but not limited to California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York and New Jersey.
Prizes subject to change without notice. Production prizes may be substituted with prizes of equal or greater value prior to prize selection. Some prizes were not received by KR prior to the start of the fundraiser and KR is not responsible for the failure of any prize donor to fulfill the obligation to deliver the prize by the drawing date.
A donation is not required to be entered in the drawing. To enter without making a financial donation, send a postcard with your name, phone number, email and shipping address to: Knife Rights 2020 Ultimate Steel, PO Box 657, Gilbert, AZ 85299. Your postcard must be received no later than May 15,2020 for the Early Bird Drawing and August 31, 2020 September 30, 2020 for the Main Drawing to be considered a valid entry. Only one postcard per person is allowed. KR is not responsible for undelivered or illegible postcards.
Knife Rights, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) exempt organization. Donations to Knife Rights, Inc. are not tax deductible charitable contributions. Check with your tax professional for additional information.
Click here to review the 2019 Ultimate Steel™ Spectacular


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Osteocephalus leprieurii es una especie de anfibios de la familia Hylidae.
Habita en Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Guayana Francesa, Guayana, Perú, Surinam y Venezuela.
Sus hábitats naturales incluyen bosques tropicales o subtropicales secos y a baja altitud y marismas intermitentes de agua dulce. Está amenazada de extinción por la destrucción de su hábitat natural.

Referencias
 La Marca, E., Reynolds, R., Azevedo-Ramos, C., Mijares, A. & Señaris, C. 2004.  Osteocephalus leprieurii.   2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.   Consultado el 21 de julio de 2007.

Enlaces externos

leprieurii

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: Is there a standard function signature for the digital signature "verify" function? Is one of these (or something else) more standard than the alternatives?
verify(message, signature, publicKey)

vs
verify(signature, message, publicKey)

A: I would go for:
verify(publicKey, message, signature)

and there is objective reasoning behind it. Normally you first have to provide the public key (e.g. in an init method in the case of Java, then the data itself (e.g. in an update method) and finally you verify the actual signature. Note that the publicKey is often static; I personally prefer those at the start of the method.
Likewise, the signature generation would be:
sign(privateKey, message): signature

as you can see, nicely symmetric.

And since you are asking for a standard:
RSASSA-PSS-VERIFY ((n, e), M, S)

where (n, e) is the public key. This is straight out of RFC 3447 describing the RSA Cryptography Specifications.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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info@alifinstitute.org
Our Role & Impact
Role & impact
People of Alif
Our Cultural Partners
Alif & the World
Spotlight/Success Stories
About Alif
Atlanta Arab Festival
Adult Arabic Courses
Children's Arabic Classes
Contact Alif
One world, connecting humanity through the power of arts and culture.
To foster the understanding and appreciation of Arab cultures.
Alif Institute was established in 2004 by the Arab-American Fund of Georgia, Inc. (AAFG) in Atlanta, Georgia.
AAFG is a non-profit organization that promotes awareness about the Arab Middle East. It has been exempted from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code since 1986.
Outdoor Facility
Alif Institute plans to develop the 9 acres of wooded land adjacent to the building. The new plan will include an outdoor educational exhibit, an Arab- style garden, and an Arab- style fountain. In addition, the plan calls for additional parking space
Expanding the Cultural and Educational Programs
Alif Institute plans to grow on-site programs, while enhancing and developing programs with other educational institutions.
Creating a Permanent Exhibit
In addition to the current space that hosts art exhibits, Alif plans to develop a permanent art and educational exhibit.
We invite you to invest in the success of Alif Institute by donating funds, in-kind contributions, or your services to help us proceed with our future plans.
Keep Arab Culture Alive
Support Alif Institute by becoming a member or by making a tax-deductible donation
Please contact us at 770-936-8770 or at info@alifinstitute.org
For many years as a nonprofit educational organization, the Arab-American Fund of Georgia (AAFG) provided financial and material support to organized groups, schools, institutions and similar educational and cultural bodies to promote the history and culture of the Arab Middle East.
The concept of establishing a comprehensive educational center focused on Arab culture was presented to AAFG. The board supported this unique concept, and in 1999, it established the Committee for the Alif Institute to raise awareness and funding for the Alif Institute project under the tax-exempt status of AAFG. The committee held three successful fundraising events and worked actively on promoting the project.
On June 2001, the Alif Institute was established in Georgia as a non-profit organization. By the end of 2002, a commercial property suitable for the Alif Institute was identified.
In March 2003, the two organizations, Alif Institute and AAFG, agreed to join their efforts and purchase the identified property as the site of the future Alif Institute. Consequently, Alif Institute, inc. was dissolved, and AAFG, Inc. completely adopted the Alif Institute project.
The unequivocal and generous support from the local Arab American community was crucial in purchasing a property with an existing building and an adjacent wooded area for future expansion. Extensive remodeling work was completed by the end of 2003.
On January 17, 2004, the Alif Institute officially opened its doors to the public as a nonprofit education, culture, arts, and enrichment center with a focus on the Arab culture and Arab- Americans.
A three- year strategic plan was completed in October 2009. It included the expanding and improving of programming and for expansion of the facility. Some of the most recent developments include:
Expansion of the Arabic language program
Addition of the Enrichment Program that includes classes in oud, music, art, cooking, Knit & Stitch, and calligraphy
Addition of monthly cultural programs such as the Intercultural Movie & Dinner, the Documentary & Discussion, and the Books & Bites series
The Alif Annual Gala event featuring the Arab- American High Achievers Awards (AAHA)
The addition of a new classroom
Completion of the Event Room
The hiring of permanent staff
3288 Marjan Drive, Atlanta, GA 30340
Tuesday* 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM*
Tuesday - Friday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
*When Arabic Classes are NOT in session we close at 5:30 PM.
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Morning Report: Issa's Out
by Kinsee Morlan January 11, 2018 March 15, 2022
Demonstrators celebrate Congressman Darrell Issa's retirement announcement. / Photo courtesy of Ellen Montanari
Congressman Darrell Issa won't be seeking reelection.
The unexpected retirement announcement Wednesday caused San Diego County Republicans to scramble to save the seat. Assemblyman Rocky Chavez quickly announced he'd be making a run to represent the 49th Congressional District, which includes parts of northern coastal cities in San Diego County and stretches up to coastal Orange County. (Union-Tribune)
Our Jesse Marx talked to sources inside the local Republican party who said there were several other Republicans well-positioned to run. The list includes County Supervisor Bill Horn, former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio and San Diego County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar. The conservative website San Diego Rostra also put together a list of candidates who might be geographically positioned for the seat.
[newsletter_badge]
The group of demonstrators who've been holding weekly protests outside of Issa's office in an attempt to flip the district from Republican to a Democratic leadership celebrated Issa's retirement Wednesday by dancing in the streets and baking a goodbye cake, which they left outside Issa's district office door.
Ellen Montanari, one of the demonstration's main organizers, told us in a past VOSD Podcast that she and others are waiting to see which Democratic candidate emerges with the most votes in the primary before backing someone. Four high-profile Democrats are in the race for the 49th, which was once a Republican stronghold but is now seen as one of the most vulnerable GOP seats in the country.
• The Washington Post digs into how close California could get this year to an all-Democratic House delegation. "Should things go the Democrats' way this November, they could emerge with 47 of the state's 53 House seats — enough by itself to reduce the Republicans' 46-seat majority to a 30-seat one," writes the Post's Philip Bump.
• San Diego County's other Republican congressmen, Duncan Hunter, has a political future that's in doubt because he's under federal investigation. The Union-Tribune has the latest scoop on the investigation. The paper obtained documents revealing that a federal grand jury is slated to hear evidence soon regarding questionable campaign transactions.
• Jessica Hayes is the chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party. She talked to KPBS about Issa's retirement news ("I think that he did the wise thing"), plus discusses other races in the upcoming 2018 elections that local Democratic leaders are focusing on.
• The Times of San Diego reports that Tony Krvaric, the longtime chairman of the San Diego County Republican Party, told a La Mesa group that he may step down at the end of the year.
The Differences Between the Old and New Pitch to Bankroll an Expanded Convention Center
The push to expand the Convention Center sure is persistent, eh?
The newest hotel-tax initiative backed by business and labor leaders is a lot like Mayor Kevin's Faulconer's pitch last year, but differs in a few key ways. Our Lisa Halverstadt breaks down the biggest differences in her latest.
The new measure promises to invest more money in homeless services and opens up the possibilities for a Convention Center expansion that isn't on the waterfront. It would also raise the hotel tax higher than has been proposed in the past.
North County Report: A Republican Rift on Weed
This week's North County Report leads off with the big Issa news, but also includes highlights from a debate between Republican candidates for the District 5 supervisor seat.
At the debate, San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond said he could be counted on to carry his opposition to marijuana to the Board of Supervisors. Meanwhile, Oceanside City Councilman Jerry Kern said he would work to regulate marijuana operations.
And on housing, Desmond said building new housing needs to be balanced against an increase in traffic. Kern said building more homes for the middle-class should be the focus.
Also in the North County Report: the mayor's seats in Oceanside and Carlsbad are up for grabs, rebuilding the Rancho Monserate Country Club one month after it was ravaged by the Lilac Fire and more.
Made in San Diego
Brian Beevers organizes several farmers markets in the region. He also owns Simply Local, the store in North Park that only sells goods made by San Diegans.
In a new episode of I Made it in San Diego, VOSD's podcast about the region's businesses and the people powering them, Lisa Halverstadt talks to Beevers about the challenges inherit in building a farmers market business, mainly that its success is so heavily reliant on finding the right locations.
Today in Toking
One day after San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate called on law enforcement to crack down on online marijuana marketplace Weedmaps, the Irvine-based company responded with charts and graphs.
In a letter Wednesday, Vice President of Government Relations Dustin McDonald said he'd be happy to provide the city with research and analysis for policy purposes. But "it seems the real issue is that the City had enacted a licensing and zoning system so limited that it ensures a robust unlicensed market that will drain taxpayer dollars and rob the city of jobs and tax revenue."
Earlier this week, VOSD's Jesse Marx wrote that many independent marijuana deliverers had found themselves in the New Year without work, because the city only allows drivers who work for one of the 17 legal outlets. Some have decided to keep delivering illegally.
Cate was unimpressed with the Weedmaps response. "Good to know they didn't want to address the main point of our letter. Evaded it altogether," he wrote.
• Opponents of legalized recreational marijuana still think weed is bad. The Union-Tribune checks in with some of the most vocal critics of California's Proposition 64.
• The folks behind the Del Mar Fairgrounds hope to have a clear cannabis policy in place soon. Other fairgrounds in the state have benefited from hosting massive, multi-day weed festivals. (Del Mar Times)
• Meanwhile in Santee, there's a proposal in the works to ban smoking – of cigarettes or anything else – in public parks. (NBC 7)
• The president of United Way of San Diego County, Rabbi Laurie Coskey, is out after just 18 months. (Union-Tribune)
• In a blistering new op-ed for CityBeat, outspoken homeless advocate Michael McConnell railed on Mayor Kevin Faulconer's work to house the homeless last year, calling the mayor's policies "Band-Aid approaches to addressing homelessness" and calling for more effective policies and actions in 2018.
• Writers are usually quite good at telling other people how to run things. We rarely are handed the reins. But a baseball analyst for the statistics-heavy website FanGraphs just got called up to the Padres to help the team set up a research department. Read the writer's take on how it all happened.
• A day after she got blasted on social media, Jen Campbell, a San Diego City Council candidate, walked back some of her comments about how people begging for money on the street were likely faking their poverty.
• No surprises here: A new study out of San Diego State found that men still dominate the film industry.
• East County Magazine has a list of San Diego State stories to watch this year.
• The city of San Diego wants to know how satisfied you are with its public services. (Times of San Diego)
• San Diegans are still moving to Tijuana for cheaper rent (and good food). (WBFO)
Kinsee Morlan
Kinsee Morlan was formerly the Engagement Editor at Voice of San Diego and author of the Culture... More by Kinsee Morlan


Since a nationwide antismoking campaign began in North Korea in 2016, Kim Jong Un has less frequently been seen with a cigarette in his hand. But this week, as the young North Korean leader made his way to Vietnam to meet with President Trump, we got confirmation that he has not quite given up the habit yet.
Just hours before his arrival in Hanoi on Tuesday, Japan's TBS-JNN caught footage of Kim pacing up on the platform at Nanning Station in China – apparently taking a smoke break during his 65-hour train journey from Pyongyang. His sister, Kim Yo Jong, held a crystal ashtray for him.
This kind of footage of Kim's unguarded moments is rare. Since becoming North Korean leader in 2011, Kim has remained largely confined to his home country. Media coverage of Kim from North Korea is extremely flattering, with outlets digitally altering his image in some photographs.
His visit to Vietnam will open him up to the kind of international media scrutiny he has seen only a handful of times. Scores of media organizations from around the world are already in Vietnam, watching his every move; Japanese and South Korean media outlets even sent reporters out to Chinese railways in a bid to catch a glimpse of Kim's armored green train passing.
If Kim's smoke break was a moment of vulnerability, others showed Kim's power in a way that his carefully controlled image in North Korean state media might not allow. When he completed its 2,000-mile train journey in Dong Dang, a city on the Vietnamese border with China, the train initially stopped slightly too early for his door to line up to the red carpet, prompting a delay as the train shifted back into place.
And as Kim left the train to meet his Vietnamese hosts, an aide who appeared to be acting as an interpreter and was seemingly behind his cue, sprinted down to join him.
The North Korean leader then entered a Mercedes limousine, and bodyguards jogged by the vehicle's side as he waved to crowds, before driving on to Hanoi. But when the limousine arrived in the Vietnamese capital after a drive of several hours, some observers noticed that his vehicle had become grubby on the countryside roads.
The Trump-Kim summit is a diplomatic event, but it will also be a media spectacle. Kim's voyage by train appeared to be designed to invoke his grandfather's visits to the country, the most recent of which took place in 1964.
After he met with Trump in Singapore in June last year, North Korean state media released footage that showed off the lavish attention that Kim received from state signatories – but also featured lingering shots of the megacity's skyline, suggesting an ambition for North Korea's own economic reforms.
But media coverage of Kim from the outside world also places him under scrutiny. After Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korea's conservative Chosun Ilbo newspaper asked experts to look at photographs of Kim's shoes – ultimately concluding that a strange slope in the North Korean leaders heel suggested he was wearing custom heels and that he stood 5-foot-4, rather than 5-foot-6.
For Kim, it's possible that the international media attention is already a bit of a drag – and indeed, the Vietnamese government may be keen to limit press access, too. After it turned out that Kim was staying in the same hotel as the traveling press corps' media center, the journalists were kicked out: The Post's David Nakamura reported that a witness saw a North Korean official yell at the Vietnamese security staff, ordering them to stop journalists from photographing or even looking at Kim's entourage.