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Venture Teams
Harvard i-lab
Launch Lab X GEO
Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab
Our Offerings Overview
Ingenuity Awards
President's Innovation Challenge
AR/VR Studio
Social Impact Fellowship Fund
What is the social impact fellowship fund?
Created to help recipients accelerate and advance their venture creation in social impact sectors, the Navab Fund will award $200,000 per year in grants to Harvard student-led ventures over five years, beginning in 2019.
The Social Impact Fellowship Fund at the Harvard Innovation Lab was established in 2019 through the generosity of Alexander Navab, in honor of The Harvard Business School Campaign.
It was Mr. Navab's hope that support from this fund would help recipients accelerate and advance their venture creation in social impact sectors.
How much funding is available?
Over the course of five years, the Social Impact Fellowship Fund will award $200,000 per year in grants to Harvard student-led ventures focused on social impact. The grants are distributed over three periods: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
The fund supports both for-profit and nonprofit startups, and is available to teams that include at least one matriculated, full-time and degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate Harvard student, Harvard postdoctoral fellow or clinical fellow. While we encourage collaboration with entrepreneurs, scientists, and executives from industry, we require that a Harvard student be a founder and a committed leader of the venture. Ventures are expected to have achieved material traction with their venture.
You should not include confidential information in your application. By submitting an application, you consent to the release of information contained in your application to The Social Impact Fellowship Fund.
About Alexander Navab:
To his family and his community, Alex was a role model who set the highest standards for kindness, hard work, and doing his best. Beyond his considerable professional accomplishments, his legacy will be the dual values of humanity and humility that guided his life from the moment he arrived in the U.S. at age 16, through his rise to the pinnacle of business as an investor, and his tireless efforts to give back to the country he felt had given him so much.
Alex was born in Isfahan, Iran, on November 24th, 1965, to an Iranian father, Dr. Ali Navab and a Greek-American mother, Mrs. Katina Armenakis Navab. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, his family took refuge in Greece. Two years later, they emigrated to the United States and began the process of remaking their lives, with education and family as cornerstones. Alex attended Phillips Academy at Andover and Columbia College where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He attended Harvard Business School where he graduated with High Distinction as a Baker Scholar and won the Wolfe Award, the school's top academic honor. Supporting the institutions that gave him so many opportunities, and creating those opportunities for others, would be central to Alex's life.
In 2011, Columbia College presented Alex with the John Jay Award for his distinguished professional achievements and in 2016, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, awarded to U.S. citizens whose example, work and generosity on behalf of those less fortunate has upheld the ideals and spirit of our country. Alex believed America was a beacon of opportunity. He said, "You can come with a dream and fulfill that dream." Those he inspired will feel his influence for many years to come.
Alex's integrity and strong moral core drove his personal and business decisions alike. He believed strategic philanthropy was an integral part of business where people and resources could be leveraged to address poverty and homelessness, support education, entrepreneurship and economic renewal. At both the community and national level, he galvanized others to join him in this work. Last year, Alex realized a lifelong dream of creating his own company, Navab Capital Partners, which from its inception was designed to build great businesses and to leave a lasting impact on the social causes that mattered most to him.
No less meaningful were the smaller and often quiet acts of kindness Alex performed every day. Throughout his life, he was guided by his love for his family and fellow man. His advice to the many people he mentored was: "Rely on faith, value family, cultivate long-term friendships, embrace change, and give back to those in need." Indeed, the significant gifts he made together with Mary Kathryn will have a measurable impact in the areas of education and public health for generations.
Prior to forming his own company, Alex was Head of Americas Private Equity at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), the preeminent global investment firm, where he was a respected industry leader and held a number of significant roles over several decades, including as a member of the Firm's Management Committee, Chair of the Americas Private Equity Investment Committee, and Chair of the Americas Portfolio Management Committee. Prior to KKR, he was with James D. Wolfensohn, Inc., and Goldman Sachs. Alex served as a member of the Board of Directors of Fidelity National Information Systems, Inc. ("FIS") and was a member of the Board of Directors at Cornerstone Capital Group.
Alex was a member of the Board of Trustees at New York-Presbyterian Hospital; a member of the Board of Directors at The Robin Hood Foundation; a member of the Columbia University Board of Trustees; the former Chair of the Board of Visitors at Columbia College; a member of the Board of Dean's Advisors at Harvard Business School; a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; a member of the Executive Advisory Council at the George W. Bush Presidential Center; a member of The Hamilton Project Advisory Council; former National Co-Chair of American Enterprise Institute (AEI); a member of the Board of Trustees at The Buckley School in New York; a member of the Board of Trustees at The Spence School in New York (newly elected); a member of the Executive Committee at The Hellenic Initiative; former member of the National Advisory Board at Youth, INC; and Chairman of the Board at The River House.
Alex embraced life with optimism and enthusiasm. He was a vital part of the communities he called home, including New York, Southampton, Palm Beach, and Greece, a place of respite and spirituality, where he passed from this world on July 7th, 2019, abundantly blessed and happy.
2021 REVIEW COMMITTEE DATES
March 2, 2021 | Application due January 25
June 22, 2021 | Application due May 13
November 2, 2021 | Application due September 20
PREVIOUS FUND RECIPIENTS
October 2020 Recipients
CaribEd
Labhya Foundation
GenUnity
CassVita Inc.
Shelly Xu Design
June 2020 Recipients
Loo Works
New Voters
ReadToMe
Shamiri Institute, Inc.
Shamsina
The Apprentice Project
February 2020 Recipients
GOViral
HumanID
NutriFull
Wala Digital Health
Coding it Forward
Debate Spaces
DreamworldVR
Trill Project
Copyright © 2011 - 2021 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.
Harvard School, If Applicable
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Harvard Extension School
Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Radcliffe Institute
Do you have any particular interest areas?
Consumer/Tech/IT
Biomedical/Life Science/Energy


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Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Association
The Website of the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Association
Association Constitution
Welcome to the website for the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Association. The website is intended firstly to be a way for us to communicate with the members of the association and to recruit new membership from among the former and serving members of the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry, but anybody with an interest in British military history and in particular that of the Yeomanry Regiments is welcome and we hope you find it a useful and interesting source of information.
The Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Association is a newly formed Association that is open to all serving and former members of the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry and it's successor units which is established with the intention of keeping the Yeomanry ethos and history alive in the face of significant change in our armed forces.
We intend to develop this website more over the coming months so please do check back to see the latest updates and news.
Covid -19 Update 6 September 2020
Absent Friends 18 April 2020
Association Battlefield Tour November 2018 16 December 2018
100 Year WW1 Armistice Commemoration – Menin Gate 2018 16 December 2018
677 Squadron visit to Passchendeale July 2017 13 November 2017
Subscribe to News via Email
677 Sqn AAC(V)
The Muckleburgh Museum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I was born in Coronado, California and spent my first 21 years mostly in southern California. I did attend my first 2 1/2 years of high school in Bangkok, Thailand before returning to finish school in the Los Angeles area. I moved south in 1972 and eventually settled in Mobile where I taught for 30 years. I moved north to Huntsville in 2006 where I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to teach the students of Jones Valley. I find it inspiring to see so many students and their parents lead an active and healthy lifestyle.


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Sir Bruce Forsyth - The Life and Times of a National Treasure
A celebrity without equal, Sir Bruce Forsyth graced stage and screen for more than 75 years. From his early days treading the boards to his star-studded appearances on long-running BBC TV series Strictly Come Dancing, Bruce enchanted audiences with his unique style and carved a successful career in show business which saw him elevated to entertainment icon without parallel.
This colourful, picture-packed publication pays tribute to the man, the celebrity, the star, whose quick wit and ready ripostes delighted audiences of all ages. There are photographs of Sir Bruce rubbing shoulders with actors, royalty and sporting giants, doing the things he loved - dancing, playing golf, relaxing with his family - and most importantly of all, making those around him happy, whether they were audiences in their thousands or an intimate gathering of friends and relatives. In summary, Sir Bruce has left a legacy of love and laughter - an act that will truly be hard to follow.
Additional Digital Version Features:
Three hours of video footage
Including: News reports, tributes, Palladium archive footage, game show clips and interviews.


I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1992. I started in The adult entertainment business as a barback in Phoenix, AZ at Christie's Cabaret in 1995. I then was invited to work at the grand opening of Bare Elegance (BE) in Pittsburgh by Gary Marlin later that year also as a barback. It was there at BE That DJ Joey Ruggiero approached me about DJing. Thanks Joey for my first break, I had NO idea this would turn into a career!:) Over the next 5 years I bounced around quite a bit trying to learn from as many different DJ's and managers as I could. I've had the good fortune to work and learn from John Hardin and some of the best Managers in the business including Gary Marlin & Bill Denniston (Bare Elegance, Pittsburgh), Bill Avery, Bryan Acker & Russell Benedetto (Pure Platinum AZ), Dennis DeGori (Club Paradise Las Vegas), Rob Caprio, and Randy Beasley (Pure Platinum Columbus, OH) to name a few. Of course these managers also brought with them some of the most talented DJ's in the biz as well. In June of 2001 I took a Dj position here at Kahoots in Columbus OH and have been the resident DJ At Kahoots for the last 13+ years under GM Joe Vaillancourt and owner Joe Sullo.


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ABC Enforces Divisive Identity Politics In Leaked Document
Evan Mulholland 7 August 2020 Government services, Ideas and liberty,
An internal ABC document obtained by free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs has exposed the divisive identity politics that is being forced onto mainstream Australians by the...
Stage 4 A $3.17 Billion Hit Per Week To The Victorian Economy
John Roskam 3 August 2020 Finance and economics, Ipa today,
Free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs has estimated that Stage 4 restrictions imposed by the Victorian Government will hit Gross State Product by $3.17 billion per week. This is...
Ridd Case: IPA Welcomes Historic High Court Appeal
Gideon Rozner 29 July 2020 Climate change, Education and skills,
The Institute of Public Affairs has welcomed the announcement that Dr Peter Ridd will appeal the judgement in the case of James Cook University (JCU) v Peter Ridd to the High Court of Australia...
Poll: Mainstream Australians Support Statues Of Captain Cook
Bella d'Abrera 29 July 2020 Ipa today, Media releases,
"The stark divide between mainstream Australians and the those who seek to use identity politics as a vehicle to divide Australians has been made clear yet again with a new poll finding a...
IPA Welcomes National Cabinet Move To Cut Green Tape
Cian Hussey 24 July 2020 Dignity of work, Ipa today,
Free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs has congratulated the National Cabinet for agreeing to a single touch approvals process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity...
Young Australians Smashed By COVID Economic Hit
Kurt Wallace 23 July 2020 Finance and economics, Ipa today,
In today's Economic and Fiscal Update, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced that $270 billion in deficits will see Commonwealth gross debt grow to $850 billion by the middle of next year. "The...
Ridd Case: Federal Court Delivers Devastating Blow To Free Speech In Australia
Gideon Rozner 22 July 2020 Ipa today, Media releases,
The Institute of Public Affairs has expressed its dismay at the judgement in the case of James Cook University (JCU) v Peter Ridd, in which the Federal Court of Australia overturned the earlier...
Victoria Police Potentially Acted Unlawfully In Allowing Black Lives Matter Protest: Legal Advice
Morgan Begg 21 July 2020 Ipa today, Media releases,
Legal advice prepared by Stuart Wood AM QC on 2 July and requested by the Institute of Public Affairs about the legality of the decision of Victoria Police to refuse to issue fines, caution...
EPBC Act Review: Jobs Win Over Litigious Green Activists
Daniel Wild 20 July 2020 Dignity of work, Energy and resources,
"The recommendations of the interim report of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) puts mainstream Australians ahead of inner-city...
11.7% The Real Unemployment Rate: IPA
Kurt Wallace 16 July 2020 Dignity of work, Education and skills,
Although the official unemployment rate is 7.4%, analysis by free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs estimates that the real unemployment rate, including those who have on net left...
Australia's Future With Tony Abbott And John Roskam: New IPA Podcast Series
John Roskam 16 July 2020 Ipa today, Media releases,
The 28th Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, AC joined the Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs, John Roskam, in a new three-part podcast series to discuss the future of the...
Poll: Australians Say Footy Has Become Too Politically Correct
Morgan Begg 8 July 2020 Freedom of speech, Ipa today,
"Australians have had a gutful of their favourite past-times being dominated by the narrow obsessions of Australia's sporting elite," said Morgan Begg, research fellow at free market...


Washington (ANI): Katie Price a.k.a Jordan would be changing her name again by taking up hubby Peter Andre's surname. In an interview to Paul O'Grady on his C4 show the 29-year-old glamour model revealed that she wants to be called Katie Andre, reports The Sun.
The couple will be renewing their wedding vows later this year. Jordan switched over to her real name Katie Price while launching her writing career. She also revealed that she would be going under the knife again in June to touch up breasts reduction job done on her.


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Q: php query sort the most or largest number of words Is there any possible way or query for sorting the most word?
for example I have 300 rows and I have this in row 250

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

and the row 250 got the most/largest amount of word in the column.
how can I sort that using mysqli_query($dbcon,"SELECT * FROM wordlist")?

A: The simplest method is to sort by the length of the column in characters, rather than the number of words:
select wl.*
from wordlist wl
order by char_length(wl.col) desc;

If you actually want words, then perhaps counting spaces is sufficient:
select wl.*
from wordlist wl
order by (length(wl.col) - length(replace(wl.col, ' ', ''))) desc;

A: Gordon Linoff's answer is correct and I agree with it, however, I describe an alternative solution. You could store the number of words into the wordlist table in a new column. And you could write an insert and update trigger which would do the calculations shown in Gordon Linoff's answer and store the result into the affected record's corresponding field. In that case number of words would be calculated once per record change, or even on specific column change on the record and could read the stored value as many times you like.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Self guided tours can be taken any time during opening hours.
During July & August, a guided tour runs Thursday, 5.30pm, including a walk around the vineyard and a tutored tasting; 2.5 hours, £5.
Sells Parva Farm products, Welsh cheeses, local cider and perry – a speciality of the region – and many other Wye Valley products, plus plants and shrubs.
Believed by some to be a site with Roman links and probably the vineyard for Tintern Abbey, Parva Farm is certainly Wales' oldest vineyard of the modern era. Colin and Judith Dudley bought it in the mid-1990s and set about modernising the vineyard and the wines on offer. Currently they grow 17 varieties on their 2.5 acre site, alongside their herds of sheep, pedigree Hereford cattle and horses.
Rosé and white still and sparkling wines are produced, along with a fruit wine – Seyval with summer fruits – and a spicy Welsh mead, with the Dudley's own honey.
Visitors can take either a self-guided tour or opt for a guided tour Thursday early evening during the summer. There are also gardens and a picnic area with views over the Wye Valley.
"Parva Farm is set in a beautiful spot overlooking Tintern and the River Wye. The oldest vines – planted in 1979 – produce high quality wines which may be tasted and purchased in our farm shop."


We will be exhibiting at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition 2015 on 10th to 12th of February 2015. You will find our dedicated sales team on our Stand F25.
Haredata Electronics are delighted to be exhibiting their range of high quality AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies and battery chargers at the Southern Exhibition and are extremely excited to be able to announce the launch of new product ranges for 2015.
Included in our new range of products for 2015 are off the shelf, pre-approved Lithium Ion Battery Packs, the FRIWO One-click exchange power supply which is DoE 2016 ready and medically approved as well as other medically approved high power products with up to 450W of power.
FRIWO's range of external power supplies and dedicated battery chargers, covering all chemistries, carry worldwide safety approval and meet EUP level VI for efficiency. Many are also available with medical certification. Worldwide Interchangeable units are available from stock, including our range of USB power supplies.
With assembly facilities and stockholding in the UK and as an ISO9001:2008 approved company, we are an ideal partner to discuss your low voltage power requirements, from design concept through to production.
Southern Manufacturing & Electronics attracted a record attendance of 6524 over just two days last February, ensuring that the exhibition remains in pole position over any other manufacturing event in the UK. It is the largest and most effective annual trade exhibition devoted to engineering and manufacturing in the Southern region and is packed with initiatives and features that attract a quality audience.
Find out more about the exhibition at their web site http://www.industrysouth.co.uk/ and don't forget to come and visit us on Stand F25.
We look forward to speaking to you at the exhibition!


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Mania Articles
Arsenal consider allowing Lucas Torreira to leave following offer
Date: 24th June 2019 at 10:00am
Written by: Arsenal Mania
According to Italian outlet Sport Mediaset , AC Milan have made a two-year loan offer for Torreira worth £7m and including a £34m purchase option.
It's a condition Arsenal are seriously considering after Torreira revealed he has struggled to adapt to life in England.
The Gunners are not keen on the midfielder leaving after just one season in the Premier League, but negotiating a loan deal with an obligatory purchase at the end of it could sway them.
An impressive debut season has seen Torreira become an instant crowd favourite at the Emirates following his £26.5m move from Sampdoria.
Ex-manager Marco Giampaolo has just left to become AC Milan boss and it appears the Italian wants to reunite with his tough-tackling midfield prodigy.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is now at the forefront of their push to make the deal happen.
Thoughts, Gooners? Let us know in the comments…


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Michal Kosinski, Assistant Professor, Stanford's Graduate School of Business
Predicting psychological traits from digital footprints
ABSTRACT: A growing proportion of human activities such as social interactions, entertainment, shopping, and gathering information, are now mediated by digital devices and services. Such digitally mediated activities can be easily recorded, offering an unprecedented opportunity to study and assess psychological traits using actual―rather than self-reported―behavior. Our research shows that digital records of behavior, such as samples of text, Tweets, Facebook Likes, or web-browsing logs, can be used to accurately measure a wide range of psychological traits. Such Big Data assessment has a number of advantages: it does not require participants' active involvement; it can be easily and inexpensively applied to large populations; and it is relatively immune to cheating or misrepresentation. Essentially, if the ethical and methodological challenges could be overcome, Big Data has the potential to revolutionize psychological assessment, marketing, recruitment, insurance and many other industries.
Lauren Howe, PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology, Stanford University
Creating a demonstration of random sampling to improve trust in surveys
ABSTRACT: Lauren will present initial studies showing that people distrust polls suggesting that the American public's views conflict with theirs. Then, she will ask for feedback on a video demonstration of random sampling that she has created as an intervention to improve trust in well-conducted polls.
Adina Abeles, PhD Candidate, Department of Communication, Stanford University
Does using labels as a shorthand to describe groups of people signal bias on behalf of the communicator employing those labels?
ABSTRACT: Adina will describe a current research project focused on what signals a communicator sends simply by choosing a label to describe a group of people. She uses various labels from climate change discourse in her research and will seek advice and feedback on interpreting some interesting results.
MJ Cho, PhD Candidate, Department of Communication, Stanford University
Assessing Accuracy of Pre-Election Polls: 2008 – 2012
ABSTRACT: This study tests various hypotheses regarding the relationships among the features and accuracy of pre-election polls. Based on the literature, this study systematically collects data of polls and derives multiple measures of accuracy to test the hypotheses. The analyses in this study provide evidence in supporting the hypotheses regarding the influence of poll features on poll accuracy. In particular, this study suggests that types of elections, modes of polls, and partisanship of the polling firms are significant determinants of poll accuracy as represented by the average absolute and partisan biases.
Soohee Kim, PhD Candidate, Department of Communication, Stanford University
An Exploration of the Mechanism of the Effect of Advertising
ABSTRACT: Much research on advertising has explored the impact of advertising on people's attitudes and behavioral intentions. However, advertising's potential impact on another key construct – perception of social proof, which is known to play a crucial role in shaping people's attitudes and behaviors – has been largely overlooked in the literature. In this study, we examine the potential mediating role of perceptions of social proof in the effects of advertising on consumers. In addition, to fully understand the impact of advertising on various aspects of attitudes and purchase intentions, we propose to conceptualize the two pivotal constructs – brand attitude and purchase intention – as consisting of some potentially related sub-constructs. Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, we find that exposure to advertisements does not directly influence purchase intention but does so indirectly through individuals' own brand attitude and perceptions of social proof, even though the role of the latter appears to vary depending on the characteristics of the advertisement. The structural equation model analyses indicate that the indicators for brand attitude and purchase intention proposed in this study are effective measurements of the two constructs, suggesting that effects of advertising on attitudes and purchase intentions can be more comprehensively examined by conceptualizing the diverse aspects of advertising effectiveness. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the role of social influence in the effects of advertising as well as the importance of measurement for a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of advertising.
Jan Karen Höhne, PhD Candidate, University of Göttingen, Germany
Survey Participation, Cognitive Effort, and Data Quality: A Comparison of Agree/Dis-agree and Item-Specific Question Formats
ABSTRACT: In social research, the use of agree/disagree (A/D) questions (i.e. response categories are based on an agreement continuum) is a popular methodological technique to measure attitudes and opinions. Theoretical considerations, however, suggest that A/D questions require effortful cognitive processing. Therefore, many researchers recommend the use of item-specific (IS) questions (i.e. response categories match the content dimension directly) since they seem to be less burdensome. In this talk, I present the results of several survey experiments, conducted to investigate the performance of AD and IS questions. The first study compares both question formats regarding cognitive effort (measured by response times and answer changes) and response quality (measured by speeding, non-differentiation, and dropouts). The second study investigates the (cognitive) processing of A/D and IS questions using eye-tracking methodology. On the basis of recordings of respondents' eye movements, it is possible to draw conclusions on how respondents process survey questions and evaluate how they process information. The third study, investigates the susceptibility of A/D and IS questions regarding response order effects. Respondents were additionally asked to evaluate both question formats using different adjective pairs. The final study compares AD and IS questions over PC and smartphones (the data collection is still in progress). Considering the current results, it is to see that the IS question format performs much better than the AD question format. Although IS questions seem to be more demanding they encourage respondents to perform a more active and intensive cognitive processing than AD questions. Therefore, they also seem to be more robust against response bias such as response order effects. Given that these findings are compatible with earlier research attesting higher measurement quality to IS questions than to A/D questions (Saris, Revilla, Krosnick, & Shaeffer, 2010), survey researchers should give preference to IS over A/D questions when developing survey instruments.
Nick Allum, Professor of Research Methodology, Department of Sociology, University of Essex
Use of closed probes in a probability panel to validate cognitive pretesting: a first-cut analysis
ABSTRACT: In standard cognitive pretesting, interviewers ask respondents to 'think aloud' and to answer verbal probes. The purpose is to understand how respondents comprehend and respond to survey questions, with the aim of fixing problems and enhancing data quality. Typically, small samples of five to fifteen participants are used and questions revised (or not) in light of what is found. Although cognitive testing is well-established, quite serious questions remain as to its efficacy, which primarily have to do with the small Ns involved. Firstly, it is possible that not all important problems with a survey item will be uncovered by a small number of interviews. Recent research suggests that indeed many problems may routinely be missed when small samples are employed (Conrad and Blair 2011). Secondly, it is generally not known how significant or widespread such problems might be for the study population as a whole. Thirdly, and following on from the second, it is not known how changes made to questions affect data quality. Web surveys have begun to be used to carry out cognitive testing online, using open ended probes, in order to solve some of these issues (Behr et al), but in no case to our knowledge has a probability-based design been used. In this study, we run a randomised experiment on the NatCen online probability-based panel survey. We use closed-ended probes to evaluate revisions made to survey items after they have undergone standard cognitive pretesting. Analysis is at an early stage and we find that the results are mixed, but indicate modest success for standard cognitive testing methods, at least in the cases we examine.
David Broockman, Assistant Professor of Political Economy and Spence Faculty Scholar fro 2016-7, Stanford Graduate Business School
Taste-Based Voter Discrimination Against Nonwhite Politicians: Evidence from a Natural Experiment (co-authored with Evan Soltas)
ABSTRACT: Why are nonwhite candidates less likely to win US elections? It is widely speculated that voters engage in taste-based discrimination against nonwhite candidates, but credible evidence that voters discriminate against nonwhite candidates is limited, as is evidence that any such discrimination is tasted-based and not statistical. We exploit a unique natural experiment where voters have no incentive to engage in statistical discrimination and an incentive against engaging in tasted-based discrimination. We find that approximately 10% of voters avoid voting for nonwhite candidates in this setting, an effect large enough to change political outcomes.
Melissa R. Michelson, Professor of Political Science at Menlo College
Listen, We need to Talk: How to Change Attitudes about LGBT Rights
ABSTRACT: American public opinion tends to be sticky. Although the news cycle might temporarily affect the public zeitgeist about abortion, the death penalty, or gun control, public support or opposition on these issues has remained remarkably constant over decades. But there are notable exceptions, particularly with regard to polarizing issues that highlight identity politics. Over the past three decades, public support for same-sex marriage has risen from scarcely more than a tenth to a majority of the population. Why have people's minds changed so dramatically on this issue, and why so quickly?
Listen, We Need to Talk tests a theory that when prominent people representing particular interest groups voice support for a culturally contentious issue, they sway the opinions of others who identify with the same group, even if the interest group and the issue at hand have no obvious connection. In fact this book shows that the more the message counters prevailing beliefs or attitudes of a particular identity group, the more persuasive it is. While previous studies of political attitude change have looked at the effects of message priming (who delivers a message) on issues directly related to particular identity groups, this study is unique in that it looks at how identity priming affects attitudes and behaviors toward an issue that is not central or directly related to the targeted group. The authors prove their theory through a series of random experiments testing the positive effects of identity-based messaging regarding same-sex marriage among fans of professional sports, religious groups, and ethnoracial (Black and Latino) groups.


Weekend Update: Aerial Yoga, Acupuncture, Cryotherapy & More!
It's been a while since I last posted, and a LOT has happened! After coming back from California, I had a sinus infection that lasted over 2 weeks! Between being sick and taking the last 2 weeks off from running (WHAT?!), I found other ways to fill my time that were less stressful (I can't NOT be productive, it's just not in my blood to be ;)).
So to start off – I have peroneal tenonitis. I don't know how, and the only thing I can think that could have caused this is 1) my shoes, and 2) upping my mileage too quickly. I ran 9 miles the weekend I got back from San Francisco, and the next day I my foot started to bother me while teaching 2 yoga classes in the morning, and a 2-hour handstand workshop in the afternoon. By the end of the day, I couldn't even put weight on my foot. It literally came out of nowhere! So, with less than 1.5 months before my half marathon, I couldn't walk, and had no idea why. Cue panic.
Take me back to running in Sunny SF!
Do Cryotherapy (Basically standing in a freezer that's NEGATIVE 170 degrees for 3 minutes). Some of the benefits of cold therapy are increased muscle recovery, increased energy, and reducing inflammation.
After stripping down to my underwear and putting on 2 pairs of gloves & socks, I got to hang out in a freezer for 3 minutes. Definitely not the most enjoyable experience, but a ton of athletes use it, so I was down to try anything to help my foot!
3. Acupuncture: I've done this before, but with no results. However, I found someone who does more of dry-needling – a liiiitle more intense, where the needle goes deeper into the muscle to release myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues. Definitely painful. Definitely worth it. After just 2 sessions, I've noticed relief in the tightness of my tendon, IT band pain on my left knee gone, AND increased energy (bonus!). I go for my 3rd session tomorrow morning, and I'll be continuing this a few times a month (or at least until my race is over!). Thanks to Jess who blogged about her acupuncture… so glad I gave it another try!
4. Rolfing: Treatment is described as a "holistic system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education that organize(s) the whole body in gravity." (Wiki) I did this about 1 year ago – you can read about it here and here and here – but decided I needed a refresher. My hips have been super tight and out of whack since august, and no amount of stretching or chiropractic adjustments have been able to help. My first appointment consisted of working on the feet & lower legs – breaking up scar tissue & working with the soft tissue. Def not a pleasant experience, but I'm really hoping that these sessions will be able to bring relief for this tendinitis, as well as help my hips/lower back. More to come on this!
5. Sports Doctor – I had x-rays done, just to be sure nothing was broken. My dr gave me a brace & an anti-inflammatory, and said to just continue with cross training. I also didn't need physical therapy, and I should be fine (my foot was starting to feel better after ~ 1 week). So Good News!!
In my time off, I did cross training like cycling & surreal stride to keep up with leg strength & cardio. I also decided to try Aerial Yoga – this requires a bit of thinking, as you have to figure out what part of your body is in the hanging silks when you are moving around… but it was a lot of fun!
Upon walking into the room, there are special-cut yoga mats on the ground with silks hanging from the ceiling.
The best part was Savasana – the instructor gave you a little swing – wrapped up in your silk – and it felt like you were hanging over a lake in the mountains. It was so peaceful!
So after all this madness, and after all these different treatments for my tendinitis, I finally began running again – 2 miles this past Saturday, and 3 on Monday. I only had a bit of uncomfortable feeling the first mile or so, but after that, my foot felt fine. So fingers crossed I can finish training & run the half marathon in NYC!
What has everyone else been up to? Have you ever tried acupuncture, rolfing, or cryotherapy?
I've always wanted to try that, but haven't seen a studio near me.


Associated with RTS transmitters or Tahoma, it allows the achievement of individual control for lamps. Wall mounted unit installation.
Should you require us to program or re-program your new or existing controls. Please complete the form below in order for us to fully understand your requirements, and our representative will contact you to discuss.
A quiet and smart motorized track for all curtain types and shapes.
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A competing boat from 'Celebrity Cruises'... pfft!
Here we are after snorkling and getting ready for some last-minute bargaining!
Rock formations at Cabo San Lucas from in the Sea of Cortez. See more in the Scuba/Snorkling section of the gallery!
Cool shot of a navy boat.
Another shot of the city.
These 5 pictures in this row kinda give you a panoramic view of the Sea of Cortez - Cabo San Lucas area.


This tutorial shows the backbone for which you can create a dynamic dropdown menu from any database column. You will pull only the distinct values for an entry and autoselect the option for which the user has chosen. This is a procedure for updating entries.


text:
namespace Sitecore.Ecommerce.DomainModel.CheckOuts
{
  /// <summary>
  /// Check out interface.
  /// </summary>
  public interface ICheckOut
  {
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Jim brings nearly 17 years of experience in the electrical construction industry to the team, here at Anmar. Throughout his career, Jim has worked on projects in both, the private and public sectors. His resume of projects includes high rise condominium and apartments buildings, college and university dormitories, renovations and additions to healthcare facilities, entertainment venues, religious places of worship, K-12 education and post-secondary education buildings, financial institutions, municipal complexes, new commercial/industrial construction, and multiple tenant fit out projects. Jim's analytical nature, extensive knowledge, and education in finance and construction management are part of what make him a great asset to our customers during both, bidding and construction, phases of their projects.


text:
Chess Training - 1
Hola! This will probably be my only post tonight. I'm very tired, sorry. It's been a LONG event-filled day. Earlier today I finished up my game - by resignation - with Chessdaddy (a/k/a Kelly Atkins), who acted as my coach leading up to the Shira Chess Challenge. I was hanging in there as black - so I thought - until a few moves back I, absolutely unforgivably, hung my bishop to a pawn. OH SHIT. After that, it was curtains, and to add to my embarrassment, I'm sure I missed a move or two that may have led to me hanging on a bit longer. Sigh. In the meantime, I started a new game with Shira about a week ago - it is in early moves, given both of our schedules. And earlier this evening I challenged Chessdaddy to a rematch :) Don't know if he'll accept. In the meantime, Mr. Don has steadfastly refused (ha!) to accept any of my challenges to play another game of chess - online. He says he is too busy. Yeah, and I'm sitting around doing nothing? Trust me, darlings, Mr. Don is going to be met at the door when he arrives for Christmas with my replica Lewis chess pieces already set up on a custom-made elm and cherry board (a gift from one of my legal mentors) before the fireplace, chilled and heavily-liquored up eggnog readily at hand. He will NOT be able to refuse, unless he wishes to sleep overnight in the nearest snowbank.
Labels: learn to play chess, Shira Evans
A brief post before calling it a night - spent the entire time since arriving home from the office taking care of other Goddesschess business. I need a secretary! First story up - poor squirrels (literally!) in West Virginia suffering from severe drop off in food supply during Recession - Mother Nature style. As the humans go, so, it seems, are the squirrels. Hard times for both these days. Anyone out there remember the Bermuda Triangle hoo-ha that became popularized back in the 1970's? I read a book by Charles Berlitz way back then -- I don't remember how I found my way to it -- but it may very well have been that book that started me on a non-stop journey into the netherworlds of alternate history, so-called 'quasi-science,' etc. etc. Now, nearly 40 years later, I'm more selective in what I read - but just as curious as I was then, and always, the questions are there. These days the questions are mostly directed toward ancient board games, but not always :) Here, then, appears at the Daily Grail a story about how two Bermuda Triangle mysterious disappearances may have been solved. I thought it totally fascinating. Volkswagen will be coming out with a car that gets 240 miles per gallon! Got to love the next-generation Beetle! Nature Gone Amok! Report of bunnies attacking snakes! Ohmygoddess! And how about this report of a squirrel attacking and killing a bat? Ohmygoddess! Never-reported-before behavior that I find extremely unsettling and upsetting. Seriously, are these harbingers of Mother Nature planning a Berserker? Definitely NOT something I want to see. Huge money dumped to river to appease Goddess -- Goddess Manasha, to be exact. The article noted in its last paragraph: No devotees, mostly fishermen, ventured back to the waters to retrieve the currency notes fearing divine curse. Er, do these curses work the same way the curses that were laid upon those who violated the ancient tombs of the Pharaohs were supposed to work - that is to say, NOT AT ALL, in deterring theft and stealing from the goddess and/or deceased? I bet 1 lakh some just waited until the last lingerers and reporters were out of the area before diving in...
Labels: Bermuda Triangle, Goddess Manasha, squirrels
WGM Salome Melia's Simul at Pi Cafe
The Quebec Chess Federation (Fédération québécoise des échecs), has a report (in French, with photographs) on WGM Salome Melia's simul at the Pi Cafe, held last night, her last night in town. Final simul score: 8.5/9 Melia v. chess hommes :) I am sorry there were not more there to play. It looks like one or perhaps two tables paid but were not able to participate. As far as I can tell from the photographs (not publishable here), no chess femmes signed up for the simul. I would have - if I could have been there. Damn! Melia finished in second place at the recently concluded 89th Montreal Open Chess Championship, earning the title "Female Champion of Montreal." The 89th Championnat had the highest number of players in a long long time, including many chess femmes and scholastic players! Way to go! For the 90th Championnat, I understand the Organizing Committee is aiming for 20% chess femme participation and is looking to increase the participation of scholastic players. The combination of experienced chess hommes and younger players, with a sprinkling of chess femmes interspersed across all playing levels, from the Open to Group D, seems to have worked a great magic in the 89th Montreal Open Chess Championship, something everyone is looking to repeat in next year's Championnat. I understand that this morning WGM Melia took a bus to Toronto to catch a flight back to Europe. Au revoir, la belle WGM. Montreal fell in love with you! WGM/IM Melia will be competing on a team in the upcoming 14th Women's European Club Cup (October 3 - 11, 2009). Melia will also be on the Georgian Women's Chess Team in the upcoming European Women's Team Chess Championship. I will report on Melia's results in both of these events.
Labels: 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship, Salome Melia
Just a brief update tonight - I've got a casserole calling my name that hasn't even been started yet and it's 8:45 .m. and I'm taking the rest of the night off! From GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's blog, the following: One year ago today, she became the 12th and currently ruling Women's World Chess Champion after defeating GM Hou Yifan 2.5/1.5. Sorry - I missed this earlier (adding it now as I'm munching on my casserole at 10:28 p.m.) GM Kosteniuk is also playing on a team in the 14th Women's European Club Cup, October 3 - 11, 2009 in Ohrid, Macedonia. She is part of the Monte Carlo (Monaco) team, winner of the last two Women's title,s that boasts the following players: GM Kosteniuk (2516); GM Humpy Koneru (2595); GM Pia Cramling (2535); GM Monika Socko (2476); IM Almira Skripchenko (2448). Also, GM Kosteniuk announced yesterday, September 16, 2009, that she would be taking part in the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Moscow November 16 - 18, 2009, with a stellar cast of players (19 others, 20 in all). She's going to have her work cut out for her, despite her great record at playing blitz. She is a qualified player/invitee to the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, 20 November to 15 December 2009. Since no announcement has been made by GM Kosteniuk (yet?), does this mean she will not be playing in the World Cup? I posted at her blog tonight and asked her.
Labels: 14th Women's European Club Cup, 2009 World Blitz Chess Championship, Alexandra Kosteniuk
2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship: Hebert Talks Chess
Thanks to the webmaster of the 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship for posting this link at Facebook! It's an English translation (somewhat rough) of a September 14, 2009 column done in French by IM Jean Hebert, who took first place in the Montreal Open Championship. It provides unique insight into the Championnat. Enjoy! (Image: Photo from the Championnat of IM Jean Hebert and his son, outside the playing venue). Hébert parle échecs Volume 2, number 35 Week of september 14, 2009
Posted by Jan at 8:26 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship, Jean Hebert
I did a short update (very short) to Chess Femme News the other night. I'm way behind again and hope this weekend to catch-up and update July through September, 2009. Whew! I'm practically back to normal schedule again which means only 30 hours a week work for Goddesschess instead of the 50 I've been putting in lately. Piece of cake :) Here is more news about chess femmes from around the internet! Chessdom has the following reports:
The Serbian Women Team Championship (September 14 - 22, 2009)
"Krk Mediterranean Golden Island" (September 11 - 18, 2009) in Baška on the Croatian island of Krk
2009 European Women's Team Chess Championship (October 21-31, 2009) Novi Sad, Serbia - a line up of some (most?) of the teams. The newly-crowned Female Champion of the Montreal Open, WGM Salome Melia (GEO 2432), is playing on the Georgian team in this event. Go Salome, Go!
Speaking of Salome, I believe today is her last day in Montreal after her successful appearance at the 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship. She has been seeing the sights around town and being wined and dined. She has charmed everyone she has met and they all wish for her to return to Montreal as soon as possible. Tonight Melia is playing a simul at my favorite chess hang-out in Montreal, Cafe Pi - in fact, while I'm typing this it's already in progress, because Montreal is an hour ahead of Milwaukee time. I hope that the Montreal chess community turns out full force to support this event.
Mr. Don has added lots of new links and information about the 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship at Goddesschess under the "Public Square" column (right hand column). He's working on an article about the Championnat and what it meant to him to have a part in this traditional Montreal (his home town) event, but I believe tonight he's taking some time off to go the Melia simul at Pi :)
Info on 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship and the Melia simul at Pi tonight:
http://goddesschess.blogspot.com/2009/09/2009-montreal-open-chess-championship_5153.html
From The Week in Chess (scroll down to info):
FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, 20 November to 15 December 2009, reports a partial list of qualifiers or potential qualifiers: Current Women's World Chess Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk is ON the list. Will she play? Is this a possible reason why the final list of the Russian Women's Team for the European Women's Team Chess Championship hasn't been finalized yet - because - because? GM Judit Polgar is listed as a possible participant, by way of average 7/2008 & 1/2009 rating. Stay tuned! Lots to be determined yet.
2nd Fide Women Grand Prix The 2nd Fide Women Grand Prix is also take place in Nanjing in 27th Sept - 9th October 2009 with the top 12 players in the world. Gujuan Tzu blog in. http://blog.sina.com.cn/chessnews Soooo - who's going to play in what? Evident conflicts for several chess femmes, who will need time to prepare for whatever event they decide to play in
No report about chess femmes would be complete without the latest news on the Polgar sisters!
The Unive Tournament in Hoogeveen takes place 16th-24th October 2009 with a new sponsor. The main four player tournament has: Vassily Ivanchuk, Judit Polgar, Sergei Tiviakov and Anish Giri. There is an open alongside.
GM Susan Polgar of SPICE is busy with all of the thousand last-minutes things to take care of in putting on the SPICE Invitational, this year featuring both "A" and "B" groups of players from around the world. Of course, it's not just the Invitational, there are also Open and Scholastic Tournaments!
GM Susan Polgar will also once again be acting as judge to decide the winner of the Goddesschess Fighting Chess award (in the tradition of the fighting chess of the Polgar sisters) for the 2009 U.S. Women's Chess Championship, reprising her role from the 2008 Championship.
Labels: Judit Polgar, Salome Melia, SPICE Cup, Susan Polgar
Hidden Goddess Figurines Discovered
(Image: from original article at Live Science) Ancient Aphrodite Figures Hint at Pagan Resistance Excerpted from a Live Science story at Yahoo News Mon Sep 14, 2:07 pm ET Three figurines of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, have been found buried underground in the remains of a shop in a Roman city built in the second century B.C. The hidden figures hint at the reluctance of some denizens of the Roman Empire to give up their pagan beliefs despite the spread of Christianity. The ancient treasure, buried for more than 1,500 years, was uncovered during the tenth season of excavations that are being carried out by researchers of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa. The hidden statues were discovered when the researchers exposed a shop in the southeastern corner of the forum district of Sussita, which is the central area of the mountaintop Roman city that existed through the Roman and Byzantine periods and destroyed in the great earthquake of 749 A.D. Sussita, also known as Hippos, is located in Israel and sits on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The city was originally built by Greek colonists, but later came under Roman rule. The researchers say it was clear the followers had wished to hide the figurines, as they were found complete. "It is possible that during the fourth century A.D., when Christianity was gradually becoming the governing religion in the Roman Empire, there were still a number of inhabitants in Sussita who remained loyal to the goddess of love and therefore wished to hide and preserve these items," said Arthur Segal, one of the excavation's leaders. The clay pieces are 9 inches (23 cm) tall and represent the common model of the goddess of love known to the experts as Venus pudica, "the modest Venus." This name was given to the form due to its upright stature and the figure's covering her private parts with the palm of her hand. (Venus is the Roman name for the goddess of love. The term 'aphrodisiac' comes from the Greek name of the goddess.
Labels: Aphrodite, goddess figurines
Forced Marriage and Child Rape
Yemni girl, 12, dies in painful childbirth updated 11:31 a.m. EDT, Mon September 14, 2009 By Mohammed Jamjoom CNN AMMAN, Jordan (CNN) -- A 12-year-old Yemeni girl, who was forced into marriage, died during a painful childbirth that also killed her baby, a children's rights group said Monday. Fawziya Ammodi struggled for three days in labor, before dying of severe bleeding at a hospital on Friday, said the Seyaj Organization for the Protection of Children. "Although the cause of her death was lack of medical care, the real case was the lack of education in Yemen and the fact that child marriages keep happening," said Seyaj President Ahmed al-Qureshi. Born into an impoverished family in Hodeidah, Fawziya was forced to drop out of school and married off to a 24-year-old man last year, al-Qureshi said. Child brides are commonplace in Yemen, especially in the Red Sea Coast where tribal customs hold sway. Hodeidah is the fourth largest city in Yemen and an important port. More than half of all young Yemeni girls are married off before the age of 18 -- many times to older men, some with more than one wife, a study by Sanaa University found. While it was not immediately known why Fawziya's parents married her off, the reasons vary. Sometimes, financially-strapped parents offer up their daughters for hefty dowries. Marriage means the girls are no longer a financial or moral burden to their parents. And often, parents will extract a promise from the husband to wait until the girl is older to consummate the marriage. Children's organization UNICEF issued a statement Monday saying: "Child marriages violate the rights of children in the most deplorable way. The younger the girl is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the health risks for her and her baby. "Girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s. Child marriage denies girls of their childhood, deprives them of an education and robs them of their innocence." "More must be done to address the underlying causes in order to prevent tragic deaths like those of 12-year-old Fawziya and her baby," the statement added. The issue of Yemeni child brides came to the forefront in 2008 with 10-year-old Nujood Ali. She was pulled out of school and married to a man who beat and raped her within weeks of the ceremony. To escape, Nujood hailed a taxi -- the first time in her life -- to get across town to the central courthouse where she sat on a bench and demanded to see a judge. After a well-publicized trial, she was granted a divorce. The Yemeni parliament tried in February to pass a law, setting the minimum marriage age at 17. But the measure has not reached the president because many parliamentarians argued it violates sharia, or Islamic law, which does not stipulate a minimum age. [Very interesting. We all know the mullahs can read anything they want into the verses of the Qoran, but they can't find a principle that says you don't "marry" and rape 12 year old children?] Read more: 10-Year Old Child bride gets divorced after rape, beatings Child bride's nightmare after divorce In the United States, people are sent to prison for raping 12 year old girls. A pre-teen, let alone a teenager, is not physically ready to give birth although she may be menstruating. That doesn't mean one is a 'woman'. Bones are growing, the pelvis is usually yet too narrow to properly support a pregnancy let alone give birth. This is a horrible form of child abuse and yet it is permitted because of 'culture?' That is DISGUSTING.
Labels: child abuse, child brides, child rape, forced marriage
What's Going on Inside Your Dog's Mind?
From Time.com Image: From The Times Online.uk photo archives - this is Queenie. company of the 5th London (Press) Battalion of the Home Guard lines up in readiness for inspection in November 1943 before giving a demonstration of street fighting to members of a Kent unit of the Home Guard. 'Queenie', the Press Battalion's alsatian mascot, seems to be well drilled too. Elsewhere, the Red Army had just recaptured the city of Kiev and the RAF had begun intensive bombing of Berlin. The Secrets Inside Your Dog's Mind By Carl Zimmer Monday, Sep. 21, 2009 Brian Hare, assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, holds out a dog biscuit. "Henry!" he says. Henry is a big black schnauzer-poodle mix--a schnoodle, in the words of his owner, Tracy Kivell, another Duke anthropologist. Kivell holds on to Henry's collar so that he can only gaze at the biscuit. "You got it?" Hare asks Henry. Hare then steps back until he's standing between a pair of inverted plastic cups on the floor. He quickly puts the hand holding the biscuit under one cup, then the other, and holds up both empty hands. Hare could run a very profitable shell game. No one in the room--neither dog nor human--can tell which cup hides the biscuit. Henry could find the biscuit by sniffing the cups or knocking them over. But Hare does not plan to let him have it so easy. Instead, he simply points at the cup on the right. Henry looks at Hare's hand and follows the pointed finger. Kivell then releases the leash, and Henry walks over to the cup that Hare is pointing to. Hare lifts it to reveal the biscuit reward. Henry the schnoodle just did a remarkable thing. Understanding a pointed finger may seem easy, but consider this: while humans and canines can do it naturally, no other known species in the animal kingdom can. Consider too all the mental work that goes into figuring out what a pointed finger means: paying close attention to a person, recognizing that a gesture reflects a thought, that another animal can even have a thought. Henry, as Kivell affectionately admits, may not be "the sharpest knife in the drawer," but compared to other animals, he's a true scholar. It's no coincidence that the two species that pass Hare's pointing test also share a profound cross-species bond. Many animals have some level of social intelligence, allowing them to coexist and cooperate with other members of their species. Wolves, for example--the probable ancestors of dogs--live in packs that hunt together and have a complex hierarchy. But dogs have evolved an extraordinarily rich social intelligence as they've adapted to life with us. All the things we love about our dogs--the joy they seem to take in our presence, the many ways they integrate themselves into our lives--spring from those social skills. Hare and others are trying to figure out how the intimate coexistence of humans and dogs has shaped the animal's remarkable abilities. Rest of article (it's lengthy, but really good reading!)
Labels: dogs, dogs in war, smart dogs
2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship
Final standing tables are up at Monroi.com! Congratulations to WGM Melia on her fine performance. She is the new Female Champion of Montreal. Kudos also to the Misses Wang, Lee and Brichko for winning the Goddesschess class prizes. I hope I did not miss any of the chess femmes! Here is a photo of WGM Melia and one of the young participants outside the playing venue - sorry, I do not know who she is. The photo was sent by Bernard Ouimet, who worked tirelessly on this Championship. We'll be back, bigger and better, next year! Class A: 1 Hebert, Jean MI 2418 +32 +14 +5 +11 =2 4½ 1300,00 2 Salome, Melia GMF 2441 +22 +13 +18 =3 =1 4 235,00 3 Jiang, Louie MF 2278 +31 +15 +12 =2 =4 4 235,00 4 Gerzhoy, Leonid MI 2412 +16 =8 +10 +7 =3 4 235,00 5 Mai, Lloyd 2194 +29 +9 -1 +24 +13 4 235,00 6 Barbeau, Sylvain MF 2365 =20 +41 +8 =9 +12 4 235,00 Class B: 1 Kayembe, Doris 1943 +47 +42 +4 +3 +8 5 650,00 38 Wang, Kelly 1529 -27 -16 -46 +52 +53 2 45,00 (Goddesschess prize) 40 Yang, Marguerite 1317 -10 -34 B--- -20 +50 2 52 Wang, Yan 1620 -48 -45 -50 -38 B--- 1 Class C: 1 Ross, Samuel 1595 +50 +18 +5 +15 =2 4½ 188,33 2 Chang, Michael 1553 +54 +40 +17 +4 =1 4½ 188,33 3 De Gongre, Stephane 1575 +41 =13 +19 +27 +9 4½ 188,33 22 Lee, Mei Chen 1516 +56 +49 -4 -18 +41 3 35,00 (Goddesschess prize) 38 Trottier, Claire 1202 =10 +30 -27 -13 =52 2 48 Ma, Indy 1371 H--- =24 -39 -46 +55 2 53 Bilodeau-Savaria, Cendrina 1109 -11 -21 =45 -57 +60 1½ 56 Paquette, Esther 992 -22 -17 B--- -33 -47 1 61 Del Agua, Jesrael Noelle unr. -6 F32 U--- U--- U--- 0 Class D: 1 Saine, Zachary 1034 +30 +23 +20 +2 +5 5 170,00 18 Brichko, Kate 1054 +25 H--- -7 -10 +28 2½ 25,00 (Goddesschess prize) 21 Dormeus, Sandy 850 -12 +30 +23 -4 -16 2 22 Dubois, Lorraine 989 -20 +29 +16 -3 -14 2 27 Gao, Christine 1105 -4 =11 -14 -15 +31 1½ 29 Nazarov, Stephanie 743 -9 -22 H--- -28 +32 1½ 32 Gao, Catherine 747 -2 -16 -30 -25 -29 0
Labels: 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship
Paragua's sister to join PSC Rapid chess
abs-cbnNEWS.com 09/12/2009 8:34 PM Marlon Bernardino MANILA – The youngest sister of Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua has confirmed to play in the inaugural Pineda-Santos-Camer (PSC) Rapid Chess tournament which starts Sunday at the Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School (RMCHS) in Cubao, Quezon City. The 11 year-old Gem Hannah Callano-Paragua is fresh from an outstanding performance in the recently concluded Milo Little Olympics Chess Championships Saturday at the Marikina Sports Complex. She scored a perfect 5.0 out of five games in board 1 of elementary division. "Gagawin ko lamang po ang best ko sa PSC chess," said Gem Hannah, who plans to follow the footsteps of his older brother, the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete GM Mark Paragua. Gem and Mark learned the rudiments of the sports from their father Ric Paragua. The tournament registration starts at 9 am before the inspirational speech to be given by Asia's First GM Eugene Torre, an RMCHS batch 68 alumni. The tournament, which aimed to search for future chess stars, will have three divisions: kiddie 14 year-old and below, women's and non-master. Registration fee is P300 for the non-master category while it will be P200 each for the kiddie 14 year-old and below and women's division. Those who want to join may contact 0919-8493648 for complete details.
Labels: Gem Hannah Callano-Paragua
Making chess come to life
This is a cute story - love the costumes! Photo from article, caption: MARK ARONOFF / The Press Democrat Chess player Raahul Shah, 10, moves a white knight (Tia Romo) during a performance of "Lords of the Board" on Sunday in Santa Rosa's Courthouse Square. The event was sponsored by the Sonoma County Arts Council, Chess for Kids and 8-TrackMinds Productions. By STEVE HART THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Published: Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 3:00 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 9:33 p.m. It wasn't your typical Sunday afternoon chess match at Santa Rosa's Old Courthouse Square. The "pieces" on a giant chess board were live actors dressed as Vikings, fairies, wizards, unicorns, Goths, Grim Reapers and bat-like gargoyles. Controlling the action were a pair of pint-sized chess players, Fred Marvel, 9 and Raahul Shah, 10. After the boys made their moves on a normal-size chess board, they shifted the living proxies. The human chess pieces taunted their opponents as they knocked them out of the game. "I think you'll make a lovely slave," said Shah's queen, checking Marvel's knight. It was all part "Lords of the Board," a performance sponsored by Sonoma County Arts Council, Chess for Kids and 8-TrackMinds Productions. Onlookers said the live chess pieces added a new dimension to the game. "It makes chess exciting," said Jim Ryan, a visitor to Santa Rosa from Dublin, Ireland. "It's the first time I've seen this anywhere." Marvel pushed Shah to the limit, but lost in the end. He had fun directing his live chess pieces, he said. "It was kind of crazy," said Marvel, who attends Binkley Elementary School in Santa Rosa. "It was challenging," said Shah, who goes to Strawberry School in Santa Rosa. He learned a lesson from Sunday's match, Shah said. "Even though you might be losing, you can find a way to win," he said. The human chess event will be repeated from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at Healdsburg Plaza and Sept. 27 at Cotati's downtown square. It is free to the public. Chess for Kids also puts on a six-week after-school chess education program in Santa Rosa's elementary schools. More than 50 kids took part in the first all-district chess tournament in January. More information about the nonprofit program is available at http://www.chessclubforkids.com/.
Labels: chessclubforkids.com, human chess pieces
From Chess Talk: After winning the Quebec closed 2008, and the Canadian closed (semi-open) 2009, IM Jean Hébert added the Montreal open this past week-end (4,5/5). 191 players, 5 000$ prize fund, 2 GMs and 8 IM are the main numbers. GM Bator Sambuev fell victim to his cell phone in round 4 and quit the tournament probably demoralized by the turn of events. GM Salome Melia of the Republic of Georgia finished second as well as S. Barbeau FM, L. Gerzhoy IM and L. Jiang FM, all with 4/5. I checked Monroi.com a few seconds ago and the standings have not yet been updated. Final pairings for Round 5 here. Hebert and Melia played each other and drew their game in 12 moves - mailed it in! Here's a link where you can play it through.
Posted by Jan at 8:51 AM No comments: Links to this post
2009 U. S. Women's Open Chess Championship
The "First" U.S. Women's Open Chess Championship was part of the Okie Chess Festival held over Labor Day Weekend (September 5 – 7, 2009), in Tulsa, Oklahoma. IA Frank Berry presided. This really isn't the "first" – U.S. Women's Opens have been held in conjunction with the U.S. Open Chess Championship sporadically for many years. (information from Wikipedia). However, this year, the event was revived and held in conjunction with the U.S. Senior Chess Championship, an Masters Invitational and an Open. Whew! The four events attracted over 170 players. Coverage at Chess Life Online in an article by Tom Braunlich (scroll down the article to reach the part about the Women's Open). This is a rather piece-meal report! I haven't been able to locate a players' list or final standings. The official website, didn't provide this information as of the date of this report. All I can tell you is what is reported below – Saheli Nath won with 5.0/6 but since she is not qualified to play in the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship, NM Iryna Zenyuk, who finished in clear second place with 4.5/6, won the spot. I found this information at Oklahoma Chess Foundation's website: U.S. Women's Open The 1st U.S. Women's Open featured a strong field of 20 players, 10 rated expert or above. Saheli Nath, and Indian player attending University of Texas at Dallas, won with 5/6. NM Iryna Zenyuk (2280) was clear second with 4.5, and as the top American wins a slot in the 2010 U.S. Women's Championship. IA Frank Berry was kind enough to send me this video of some of the action, taken by Cesar Horta, of Tyler, Texas, who played in the Senior section.
Labels: 2009 U.S. Women's Open Chess Championship
The Expertise of Ancient Egyptian Astronomers
Egyptian temples followed heavenly plans 08 September 2009 Magazine issue 2724. Subscribe and get 4 free issues ANCIENT Egyptian temples were aligned so precisely with astronomical events that people could set their political, economic and religious calendars by them. So finds a study of 650 temples, some dating back to 3000 BC. For example, New Year coincided with the moment that the winter-solstice sun hit the central sanctuary of the Karnak temple in present-day Luxor, says archaeological astronomer Juan Belmonte of the Canaries Astrophysical Institute in Tenerife, Spain. Hieroglyphs on temple walls have hinted at the use of astronomy in temple architecture, including depictions of the "stretching of the cord" ceremony in which the pharaoh marked out the alignment for the temple with string. But there had been little evidence to support the drawings. Belmonte and Mosalam Shaltout of the Helwan Observatory in Cairo found that the temples are all aligned according to an astronomically significant event, such as a solstice or equinox, or the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky (Advances in Space Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2009.03.033). "Somebody would have had to go to the prospective site during a solar, stellar or lunar event - as we did - to mark out the position that the temple axis should take," Belmonte says. "For the most important temples, this may well have been the pharaoh, as the temple drawings show." *************************************************************************************** Temple drawings - propaganda for Pharaoh! The one who would have done all of the grunt work ahead of time would have been a priestess of the Goddess Seshat (Safkhet, Sesat, Seshet, Sesheta, and Seshata), who is the Goddess of Measurements, Written Word, and Memory (i.e., the very first Librarian]. She was in charge of the 12-knot cord that was used to mark a true 90-degree (right) angle (using the 3/4/5 method). As I understand the process the ancient Egyptians used, once the true-square corners were established, ropes cut to equal measure were stretched on the diagonal and along the borders of a tentative square to measure, and then adjustments were made to make sure that the marked corners were "true square." It was the priestess of Seshat who marked the foundations of a building, with Pharaoh's consent, of course :) After all of the measurements were made, Pharaoh would give a couple of hammer strikes to the first marker, driving it into the sand, and thus the building was consecrated by the God as Man on Earth. But long before that ceremony could take place, I imagine the area for building would have been cleared and leveled close down to bedrock - a massive undertaking involving hundreds of workers! So, Pharaoh would have showed up on the day of the driving of the stake ceremony and the laying the cornerstone while hundreds of workers would have been waiting around, doing perfunctory hand-clapping, impatiently for him (or her) to get on with it, already!
Labels: Egyptian astronomy, Seshat
Here are some interesting posts from Facebook about WGM Salome Melia: Championnat de Montréal The Woman Grand Master Salome Melia in visit from Georgia will give a simultaneous exhibition at Cafe Pi 4127 boul. Saint-Laurent Montreal Wednesday at 07:00 pm. $10 per person. She will make a presentation prior to the games about chess in Georgia. ...The presentation will be in English. All income will go to her. This is great news! Goddess, I wish I could be there, would love to play against Melia, even though I'm the merest patzer! I miss Cafe Pi. I haven't been to Montreal since June, 2003. Mr. Don and I visited there all the times I was in Montreal. We love the place. It's a long, narrow brick building on St. Laurent Boulevard (I still mistakenly call it St. Lawrence Avenue). They served very strong, bitter coffee at cheap prices and rented vinyl board and pieces (some missing and substituted with whatever was at hand, lol!) at - I think the last time we were there, it was less than a dollar! At that time you could buy soft drinks (soda) out of a vending machine and also snacks, but when we visited we were just looking to have coffee and play a chess game or two. I'm glad to see from visiting the current website that they've upgraded their menu and one hopes the coffee is not burnt anymore :) We drank it anyway - it woke us up. The clean white walls were lined with art for sale by local artists. For all the times I visited Cafe Pi the same clerk was behind the counter, a very attractive and personable young lady who remembered Mr. Don and I (amazingly, given the space of time between our visits), of dark, punky styled and uber-fashionable hair with unfortunate piercings all over the place. I would not want those piercings 40 years from now, eek! The most serious players sit at the very front of the building, where the smoke from their incessant cigarettes drifts out in the summer through open air, as the glass-to-ceiling-windows are opened to clear the way to the sidewalk. There were some tables squeezed together outside under the windows, too, and those were the most popular places to play during the summer despite the sidewalk traffic, particularly in the evenings it was constant. Toward the back of the space are the rest-rooms for femmes and hommes. One night while Mr. Don and I sat playing chess, I saw a homme go into the ladies' rest room! Evidently he couldn't hold it any longer and the men's restroom was occupied (why wait so long until you're hopping from foot to foot to visit the restroom?) I was very insulted! I did not want men peeing all over the women's rest room toilet seat! Invariably their aim is very bad... During the warm season the back door is open to provide cross ventilation in addition to ceiling fans. Kibitzers are welcome. As I was usually the only femme in the place when we visited, Mr. Don and I attracted some attention. It was very disconcerting. Now I see from the photo I posted above from a 2009 Blitz Tournament held at Pi that the walls are red. Were they always red? My memory isn't the best! I do remember them as white, but I may be wrong. Not sure red walls are the best color to encourage contemplation while playing chess, ha! Championnat de Montréal The Montreal Open Chess Championship and members of the chess community in Quebec would like to persuade the WGM Salome Melia to move in Quebec. Her presence on the top boards is required and would open the door to Women championship titles in our various tournaments. Although our market is small, it would be granted to her! She is also a very beautiful and attractive woman with easyness to talk to people. Perhaps someone has become infatuated with WGM Melia :) There are many promising female chessplayers in Montreal and in Canada. What they need are better conditions and encouragement to keep playing! Money would help, too! We all need to make a living at some point in our lives and trying to make a living by playing chess - ach! It is not always possible, alas.
Labels: 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship, Cafe Pi, Salome Melia, women chessplayers
More video! Here are some videos from the Tournament: Chess dudes relaxing between rounds Melia, Round 1 Sights and sounds of the Tournament - a bit choppy in parts (did Mr. Don really have the cam upside down???) but very evocative... Hey dude, you're encroaching on my space! Chess femme in contemplation... Waiting for the next move Tournament action - lots of chess dudes, not so many chess femmes Young chess femme in action - and I'm not sure what's going on in the latter part of this video - why whould they reset their pieces like that?
Posted by Jan at 11:56 AM No comments: Links to this post
Lovely ladies. Top photo: WGM Salome Melia and Lee Mei Chen outside the playing venue before the start of the Tournament. According to the Championnat's Facebook page, this is Melia's first visit to North America. I'm biased - I'm rooting for her to win the whole thing! Lee Mei Chen (I hope I have the name correctly) is a friend of WGM Subbaraman Meenakshi and had made plans to play in the Championnat this year with Meenakshi. Unfortunately, because of the slow global economy Meenakshi's corporate sponsor declined to provide money for expenses and airfare, and she had to withdraw. According to the "experts" things are bottoming out now in the US, so perhaps next year at this time we will see Meenakshi in Montreal. Bottom photo: Melia at Table 2 - this is Round 2 or 3, don't know which one.
I've got video and photos from Mr. Don! Here is a link to a short video showing some action at the top tables - don't know what Round it is - could be 1, 2 or 3. I've also included a selection of photos - these are from Rounds 1 through 3. Later on Mr. Don will label photos and put them up at Goddesschess.
Standings after Round 3 - Round 4 and 5 today, 10 AM and 3 PM. Group A (Open): Several players perfect through 3. Melia is in second place. 1 Sambuev, GM Bator 2531 2538 3 2 Salome, *Melia 2441 2451 3 3 Hebert, Jean 2418 2428 3 4 Jiang, Louie 2278 2289 3 Group B: 48 Yang, *Marguerite 1317 1310 1 54 Wang, *Yan 1620 1587 0 55 Wang, *Kelly 1529 1502 0 Group C: 13 Lee, *Mei Chen 1516 1511 2 34 Trottier, *Claire 1202 1234 1½ 39 Ma, *Indy 1371 1355 1 50 Lingyun, *Shi 1211 1201 1 52 Paquette, *Esther 992 988 1 56 Bilodeau-Savaria, Cendrina 1109 1105 ½ 62 Del Agua, *Jesrael Noelle unr. 0 Group D: 9 Dubois, *Lorraine 989 994 2 11 Dormeus, *Sandy 850 872 2 18 Brichko, *Kate 1054 1042 1½ 28 Gao, *Christine 1105 1064 ½ 31 Gao, *Catherine 747 747 0 Hope I got all the chess femmes. I have to go back and correct yesterday's post, I've got a guy in there by mistake. Who names his son Doris?
2009 Montreal Open Chess Championship: Hebert Talk...


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It's been a little while since my last update from the Deltic Preservation S Depot at Barrow Hill. I've been away on holiday photographing trains in Southern California. The trains are bigger there, much longer, heavier and more locos. The scenery is also spectacular.
Anyway, that's enough from overseas. The office upstairs in the second floor cabin now has a new worktop without a superfluous water heater and sink. We already have one in the mess room downstairs. The double door filling cabinets are in place and two tables are coming to work at. Finance, engineering and volunteer records are going in steadily. Thanks to Ray, John, Mike, Dave and Geoff.
The cab of 'THE GREEN HOWARDS' is now looking tidy in green primer. Thanks to Nat, Beth, Nigel and James.
15 now has the couplings back in and new split cotter pins to lock the huge 4" across fixing nut in place. While they were out, the hooks were checked for wear and professionally crack tested. Everything is in good order. Thanks to Pete, Steve, Dave G and Mick.
Dave and Pete also looked at a damaged thread in the casting where the engine coolant temperature probes fit. It's going to need a replacement thread putting in or an oversized dry pocket fitting. Thanks. Yesterday was partly with Pete and Hairy Steve planning for working parties on 'TULYAR' and sorting out ready for that. It's exciting to think about increased progress and the possibility of loco completion.
Steve was busy painting buffer beams and inside jacking pockets. Thanks.
Ray's also been busy on forklift maintenance, depot electrical maintenance and lifting tackle.. All stuff that goes largely unnoticed, but is essential to the safe operation of the depot. John has also obtained new safety banners and display banners. It's a big visual improvement.
If I have missed anyone or anything, then I apologise in advance. I've not been around.


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The government has taken a crucial step in improving the country's animal welfare laws by announcing a ban on cosmetics testing on animals as part of the new Animal Welfare Act. The ban is a huge milestone victory for cruelty free campaigners, including NZ animal advocacy charity SAFE, which has campaigned determinedly for the past two and a half years.
"We're delighted the government has accepted that cosmetics testing on animals is abhorrent and should not be allowed. New Zealand has now joined the global move towards an end to these cruel tests," says SAFE head of campaigns, Mandy Carter.
The ban is the latest in a growing global cruelty-free trend, with similar test bans already in place in Norway, Israel, India, the 28 member states of the European Union and the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Legislative measures are also under discussion in Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.
SAFE has led a high-profile campaign, including presenting a 15,500-strong petition alongside actor Michelle Langstone, running a nationwide billboard and print advertising campaign calling on PM John Key to 'Hop To It', co-ordinating support from 28 cosmetics companies and submitting a detailed legislative proposal to the Government.
Cosmetics animal testing can include force-feeding animals with chemicals and restraining them so that chemicals can be dripped in their eyes. Testing methods used can result in severe pain and distress.
SAFE does urge some caution, however. "This is only a ban on testing within New Zealand. That means that imported cosmetics are still potentially tested on animals abroad."
"With a ban on cosmetics testing in place, SAFE will now focus attention on achieving a ban on the import and sale of animal-tested cosmetics. The European Union already has such a ban in place and it is logical for New Zealand to follow," says Ms Carter.
SAFE also provides New Zealand's first free resource to help shoppers identify companies that do not test on animals, available here.


Aug. 30, 2018 7:15 p.m.
Alberta's Opposition Leader says the federal judges who overturned approval for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion are out of touch with the real world.
"They keep moving the goalposts on what is required," Jason Kenney, leader of the United Conservatives, said in Calgary Thursday. "This is what is creating massive investor uncertainty.
The Federal Court of Appeal overturned Ottawa's approval of the pipeline, which would have doubled the line from Edmonton to the B.C. coast and tripled the amount of oil shipped to fetch a better price on overseas markets.
The panel of three judges cited lack of consultation with Indigenous groups and a failure to address the impact on marine traffic.
Kenney said the National Energy Board made it clear it did not have regulatory responsibility over marine traffic in its review of Trans Mountain.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley was to comment later Thursday.
Kenney said Notley has not helped matters by prematurely celebrating the construction of the pipeline while imposing a carbon tax in the mistaken belief it would provide so-called "social licence" that would persuade environmental opponents to stand down.
Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel also said Notley was guilty of premature celebration after Trudeau's government announced in May that it would buy Trans Mountain to ensure it got built.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and his Calgary counterpart Naheed Nenshi said they were disappointed with the court's decision.
"This pipeline is a critical piece of infrastructure for our nation and it will provide important benefits from coast to coast," Nenshi said in a statement.
The Trans Mountain line has dominated Alberta politics in the last year and it, along with everything it represents — including Alberta's carbon tax — is expected to overshadow all other issues in the spring election.
Notley has said Alberta's commitment to environmental stewardship — expressed through its carbon tax, commitment to phase out coal-fired electricity along with other green initiatives — allowed Trudeau's government to follow through on its commitment to get the line built.
To that end, the federal government bought the line for $4.5 billion when owner Kinder Morgan Canada wavered this spring.
The pipeline is also a financial lifeline for Notley's government, which has been running multibillion-dollar deficits while avoiding introducing a sales tax or making significant cuts to the budget.
The province has budgeted for increased pipeline access to drive non-renewable resource revenue to more than double to $10.4 billion by 2024 to balance the budget.
Political scientist Chaldeans Mensah said the ruling is a setback for the political fortunes of the NDP, which has been trailing the United Conservatives in opinion polls.
"This will certainly build into the narrative from the Conservatives that the idea of social licence, which was part of the NDP push on the issue, has not borne fruit," said Mensah of MacEwan University in Edmonton.
Political scientist Duane Bratt said that while Notley cannot be faulted for the court decision, it's still a political victory for Kenney.
"This is a major blow for Notley," said Bratt, with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
He said Notley not only needs the pipeline, but needs substantial progress on it in time for the election campaign — something that now appears unlikely.
"Whether (the federal government) appeals to the Supreme Court or whether they simply do the modifications recommended by the Federal Court of Appeal, both of those take time," said Bratt.


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Q: Vulkan - How to know what is current image layout? After rendering or some other actions, I want to read the target image into cpu.
For this, there is need first to do layout transition and change the image's current layout (old layout ) to a new one that allows transferring its data into stage image - VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_SRC_OPTIMAL.
For transition operation, I need to give both, the current layout and the new layout.
But how do I know what is the current layout ? - each render pass may set the finalLayout to a different value, it also may that some transitions where done by the time.
A solution I think is to store per image its current layout and set it after each render pass , and after each transition operation.
Is this correct?

A:
But how do I know what is the current layout ? - each render pass may set the finalLayout to a different value, it also may that some transitions where done by the time.

Yes, but you created those render passes. You issued commands to use those render passes on that image. Therefore, at any point in the command stream, you know what layout the image is in.
Vulkan expects you to be aware of what you've done. How you pull that off is up to you. Maybe you always leave the image in color-attachment optimal. Maybe you explicitly keep track of it with some higher-level layer. It could be any number of things.
But at the end of the day, it's up to you. With great power, comes great responsibility.


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To Promote Health Exchanges to the Public, States Get Creative
As many as 20 million Americans are supposed to enroll in the online marketplaces and purchase health insurance this year. But many people still aren't aware that the exchanges even exist.
by Dylan Scott | March 2013
The next time you tune in to watch "Modern Family," the plot may involve members of the Pritchett-Dunphy clan signing up to purchase insurance coverage on the California health exchange.
OK, maybe not. But that's one of the many ideas that have been floated as a way to educate the public about the upcoming changes to the health insurance market. State-run online insurance marketplaces are crucial to the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) goal of universal health coverage, but those exchanges can only function well if people know to sign up.
This October, as many as 20 million Americans are supposed to enroll in the exchanges and purchase health insurance -- often with the help of federal tax subsidies -- for 2014. But many people still aren't aware that the exchanges even exist. Getting all those people to the virtual market will be a monumental challenge. If fewer people enroll, insurers will have fewer people to make up their coverage pools, and that drives up premium rates for everyone.
California Health Exchange to Collect More Health Data on Patients Libraries Serving as Obamacare Information Hubs How Washington State Made the Health Exchange Work Obamacare Health Exchanges Open with Glitches in Some States 3 States Link Health Exchanges to Voter Registration
Read the March issue of Governing magazine.
"Beyond the Beltway, nobody knows anything about the [ACA]," says Kim Holland, executive director of state affairs for the BlueCross/BlueShield Association. "We cannot underestimate the amount of effort it will take to get people to the system."
So states are getting creative. California has signed a $900,000 contract with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide to market its exchange. Some of the ideas the group has explored are rather nontraditional: How about a reality show chronicling the struggles of people living without health insurance, with the occasional plug for the exchange? What about writing the exchange into plotlines for primetime shows like "Modern Family" or "Grey's Anatomy"?
Washington state is reportedly considering airing health exchange ads on Pandora Internet radio stations. Oregon might print notices on coffee cup sleeves so residents could get a public service announcement along with their Starbucks fix. More traditional avenues like newspaper and radio advertisements are also on the table.
"The uninsured population is an extremely difficult population to reach," Michael Marchand, director of communications for the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange, recently told Politico. "They're uninsured for a reason. How much will it actually take to get people both understanding the value [of the exchange] as well as taking action to enroll?"
Determining just what to call an exchange can also be a big marketing decision. States hope the right name can help spur public awareness. The concept of a "health exchange" doesn't mean anything to the average person. California, for instance, toyed with some esoteric names like "Avocado" and "Europa" before settling on something much more mundane: Covered California.
Even the federal Department of Health and Human Services, faced with the prospect of running exchanges in as many as 30 states in 2014, is working to make things easier to understand. In mid-January, the department announced that it would stop referring to "exchanges" (a decidedly wonky term) and instead call them "health insurance marketplaces." "We felt simpler was better," a spokesman told USA Today.
Dylan Scott | Staff Writer | dscott@governing.com | @dylanlscott