Welcome to New York's Central Park! Download Your Audio Guide. Contains no advertising.
Tour Description: See Central Park as you never have before. Whether you come to the park every weekend or are visiting New York City for the first time, you will come away from this tour with a true appreciation of why this park is among of the greatest achievements in landscaping and urban development.
On a beautiful day in any season, nothing beats a walk in the park. People think of Central Park as New York's natural parkland. Nothing could be further from the truth. Amazingly, every inch of this park is manmade.
The tour begins at Columbus Circle at the USS Maine Memorial, the only formal entrance to the park.
Tracks on This Tour: 1) Introduction to Central Park, 2) USS Maine Memorial, 3) Walk to Tavern on the Green _ Central Park History, 4) Tavern on the Green, 5) The Carouse, 6) The Dair, 7) Direx to The Mall, 8) The Mall, 9) The Bandshell, 10) The upper level of Bethesda Terrace, 11) The lower level of Bethesda Terrace, 12) Bow Bridge, 13) The Gill, 14) The Ramble, 15) Belvedere Castle, 16) Direx to Shakespeare Garden, 17) Shakespeare Garden, 18) Direx to Cleopatra's Needle, 19) Cleopatra's Needle, 20) Direx to Cedar Hill, 21) Cedar Hill, 22) Direx to Conservatory Water _ Model Boat Pond, 23) The Conservatory Water _ Model Boat Pond, 24) Direx to Rustic Shelter, 25) Rustic Shelter, 26) Statue of Balto, 27) Direx to Central Park Zoo, 28) Central Park Zoo, 29) The Arsenal.
With this tour, you always have a professional tour guide ready to share the history and secrets of great cities. No waiting for a group to form. No having to cut short your exploration of interesting areas because a bus is leaving. No having to stay at points you don't care about because a tour company thinks them special. Start whenever you want. Stop when you are ready. All information has been carefully researched for accuracy and is presented by professional narrators.
The download comes as a compressed .zip and is designed to be used with the PDF map showing all the sights listed. We strongly recommend that you print out the map and use while listing the sights covered. Please check that the files work to your satisfaction before going on your journey and contact us immediately if you have any problems.


Harlow College's assistant principal is proud that a higher proportion of young people are starting apprenticeships in the town than anywhere else in Essex.
Our Harlow District Profile, forming part of our Skills Evidence Base, outlines that in 2015/16, 820 people started a course, up from 720 the year before, which is one of the largest increases in the country.
Ann King, assistant principal of the Velizy Avenue college, said: "Demand for apprenticeships is strong and we continue to recruit apprentices providing local people with an excellent career opportunity.
"Many young people are also seeing apprenticeships as a real alternative to university, as they get a chance to earn and learn at the same time."
With Harlow College recently opening their £11million Harlow Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre and announcing their specialised STEM College with Stansted Airport, it is likely that the town will see even further increases in Apprenticeship starts. Ahead of Public Health England opening a science campus in the town, Harlow College is keen to expand in developing STEM subjects and many other districts will be following suit thanks to the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy.
Robert Halfon, town MP, has also supported development of apprenticeships and Ms King added: "Harlow College is committed to delivering high quality apprenticeships.
"We have made a significant investment to grow provision in line with Government targets."


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Glycosylated aniline polymer sensor: Amine to imine conversion on protein-carbohydrate binding
Zhe Wang, Oakland University
Chunyan Sun, Oakland University
Giri Vegesna, Michigan Technological University
Haiying Liu, Michigan Technological University
Yang Liu, Tsinghua University
Jinghong Li, Tsinghua University
Xiangqun Zeng, Oakland University
In this report, functionalized mannosylated aniline polymer (manno-PANI) was investigated as an electrochemical platform to study carbohydrate-protein interactions by exploiting the conductivity change of manno-PANI when the specific lectin binding occurs. A systematic study was performed to characterize the interconversion of polyaniline content (from amine to imine) in manno-PANI by UV-vis spectroscopy during its binding with concanavalin A (Con A). Both X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and UV-vis results suggest that Con A binding with the manno-PANI film triggers the switching of amine functionalities in the polyaniline backbone, converting them to imine forms. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to quantify the specific interactions between Con A and mannose by measuring the impedance change of manno-PANI film for the detection of Con A. A linear relationship between the impedance and Con A concentration was obtained, and the detection limit reaches to 0.12. nM Con A in a buffer solution (pH=7.4), whereas the addition of nonspecific control lectins to the same manno-PANI film gave very little impedance variations. Stability characterization of the manno-PANI film over 20 weeks shows a maximum drift of only 3% from the original signal. Thus, the uniquely constructed carbohydrate-PANI hybrid is a promising new carbohydrate recognition moiety for studying carbohydrate-protein interactions, presumably leading to a new electrochemical method for characterization of carbohydrate-protein interactions and carbohydrate-mediated intercellular recognitions. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Biosensors and Bioelectronics
Wang, Z., Sun, C., Vegesna, G., Liu, H., Liu, Y., Li, J., & Zeng, X. (2013). Glycosylated aniline polymer sensor: Amine to imine conversion on protein-carbohydrate binding. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 46, 183-189. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2013.02.030

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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2012 Emmys Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara is an Ecuadorian starlet, vocalist, television personality, and producer. She is the highest-earning starlet in American television history for 8 straight years, from 2020 to 2020. Currently, she is wed to Carlos Ortiz, the previous director of the Miami Heat. They have two children.
Sofia Vergara ended up being known to Americans through her appearances on numerous popular programs such as Modern Family, The Mind Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Roseanne. In each of these series she depicted the mom of modern-day household. She likewise acquired popularity on her roles in dramas Ordinary Family, Miami Law, and Shades of Blue. All of these resulted in important recognition, awards, and supporting roles in Best Screenplays and Leading Acting nominations. It is clear that given that Modern Family launched, Sofia Vergara has actually attained near cult status in the US. Below are a few of her more popular TV functions and honors.
On the television show, Modern Family Sofia Vergara plays Mauricio. He is the father of Mike (Dabney Coleman) and Lisa (Sandra Oh). Sofia plays the mother, Corin, who cares deeply for her boy while managing a big household of her own. In an episode, Mike and his friends were stunned when they found out that Corin was dating Sofia. As a result of this, her character decided to move into an apartment and totally leave Mike and his good friends to get familiarized.
In the movie, Bridesmaids, Sofia Vergara played Camila. She was the second highest-paid actress on Modern Family. As Camila, she is the house maid of honor to Lily (Jared Rushton), who takes place to be the better half of Mike (Coleman). As the show progresses, it becomes evident that Lily has fallen in love with Mike however wishes to wait to get married before delving into the marriage. Her pal from the program named Lauren (Annette Benning) ends up being suspicious of Lily 's other half.
Another notable function that Sofia Vergara has actually played on Modern Family is Leighton Meester. He is the honestly gay son of an affluent household. As a kid, Leighton concealed his sexuality from his parents because he felt ashamed. As an adult, he went on to wed David (David Hyde Pierce) and have a kid. As suggested by the birth of his 2nd boy, Leighton took on the role of a surrogate to help save the lives of his wife and baby by getting his pals to contribute sperm to help at the same time. After his wife brought to life a healthy baby kid, he then had the opportunity to meet his long-time lover Lauren (Adrianne Parks), and subsequently, they fell in love.
A look back at the modern-day household series ending, one can see how Sofia Vergara played a big function in illuminating the battles and sacrifices that the members of the modern household should go through in order to raise a pleased and effective household. In the final scene of the episode, it was revealed that Lauren had passed away in childbirth, having been shot by a hunter while attempting to save her mom from an upcoming bullet.
In terms of acting capability, Sofia Vergara does not have the kind of range that you would typically anticipate from an actresses. It is this kind of subtlety that makes Bialik various from many of his other co-stars on Modern Family, in that it is rare for an actor on such a mainstream program to show any range, let alone two. Her character is merely an exceptional example of what a modern-day household need to be like.
In General, Modern Family has ended up being known as one of the most politically appropriate shows on TV, which has helped it increase in popularity amongst the viewing public. Sofia Vergara provides an exceptional performance as the normal rural mom, as well as one that is entirely different than what we see on Modern Family. In general, the last episode of Modern Family is one that I would recommend anybody to view.
Sofia Vergara became known to Americans through her looks on different popular shows such as Modern Family, The Mind Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Roseanne. On the television show, Modern Family Sofia Vergara plays Mauricio. Another notable function that Sofia Vergara has played on Modern Family is Leighton Meester. An appearance back at the modern household series ending, one can see how Sofia Vergara played a big function in lighting up the struggles and sacrifices that the members of the contemporary household need to go through in order to raise a successful and happy household. Sofia Vergara delivers an outstanding performance as the typical suburban mom, as well as one that is entirely different than what we see on Modern Family. 2012 Emmys Sofia Vergara
◀Sofia Vergara Nude
1 2 3 Lyrics Sofia Vergara▶


SchoRen NMS Solutions, LLC announces it has supplied TrapServer in conjunction with Badger Alarm and Control, LLC to a County Government in Oregon. The new system includes TrapServer to provide browser (WEB) views of alarm activity accessible from any PC connected to the County's Intranet and to provide scheduled email / paging notification upon occurrence of service affecting events. This project involves monitoring alarm events from Badger's e500 Remote Monitoring Unit and Badger's 481 Remote Terminals using Badger 481 RTU protocol over an Analog communications system.
The County uses it's extensive microwave system to provide internal communications throughout the county for local agencies within the county.
SchoRen also provided full EF&I services for installation within the county.


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Six steps to gain the competitive edge at your key retailer
This white paper contains our insider guide that shows how to maximize sales insights at a retail account level.
GfK Supply Chain Insights 3rd Webinar
Would you like to know how to optimize your supply chain management? Join our free partner webinar based on point of sales and distribution panel data and discover more about today's key tech trends.
Smart car technology and the evolution of brand loyalty
Summer is upon us and the chance to enjoy a road trip with car technology glory is here. What are today's consumers looking for when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle? Are car brands meeting their expectations?
It had been a while since I bought my last car – and, as someone who follows the auto industry closely, I was keenly aware of all the smart gadgets and services I could choose from. From self-driving capabilities to Wi-Fi to safety features, today's cars are essentially smart homes on wheels; the options are extraordinary, and every choice comes with a price.
Tech upgrades become a priority
I had a number of luxury wagon models in mind – and when it came to car technology, I also had some clear "wants." As mobile tech has grown, I have watched what were once gee-whiz gizmos and functions transform into mainstream "must haves." So, apart from all-wheel drive, a sunroof, and curb appeal, I wanted my new wagon to have Bluetooth, standard connectivity features and Apple CarPlay. It is true—the other car in my household is just fine and would serve my transit needs; but I was looking for some upgrades to my connectivity suite, so I would feel safer on the road.
But when I decided on a vehicle and looked up the trim/package that included Apple CarPlay, I was aghast to find that it would cost me nearly $10,000 to get this simple feature. The manufacturer was holding CarPlay hostage within wheel upgrades and other frivolous nonsense – on the assumption that spoiled, tech-loving folks like me would bite the bullet.
My reaction was immediate and surprising, even to myself – I decided to find another "first choice" model. Forget about heated and cooled 10+way power-adjustable front seats or any semi-conscious investment I had in the iconic badge; getting Apple CarPlay into my vehicle at a reasonable price became my top priority.
Smart car technology is the new normal
Recent research for GfK's Auto Tech study in the US shows that my decision was actually somewhat predictable. We found that 50% of auto intenders will switch brands or models if a vehicle does not have most-wanted technologies. Car purchases are no longer about the car brand that your mom or dad insisted on, but whether you can link your latest playlist to the car stereo.
Luxury intenders are most likely to choose smart tech over brand loyalty. Over one-third (35%) said they would definitely consider switching brands to get cutting-edge, in-car technology – compared to 23% of non-luxury intenders. Another 55% in the luxury crowd said they would probably think about switching – essentially the same as non-luxury (57%).
Luxury intenders are also more likely to say that specific technologies are "must haves" for them; for example, almost two-thirds feel this way about active safety technology, versus 46% of non-lux intenders. Not surprisingly, Luxury intenders overall hold significantly higher interest, demand and willingness to pay for, a range of technologies from autonomous driving to infotainment systems and continue to be a driving force in the adoption of new technologies.
In my strong but pragmatic desire for advanced car tech, I reflect the intersection of Gen X and Gen Y perspectives—drawn to tech's perceived ability to improve the driving experience (Gen Y optimism), yet keenly aware that new technologies will be leveraged to command a premium (Gen X cynicism). In this case, the democratization of iOS coupled with Bluetooth might serve my purposes just as well, and I could save the scratch and enjoy a great family vacation or look for a vehicle that doesn't extort me for this feature. A major car maker recently added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality after years as a holdout, with some backwards compatibility to shore up recent models. And other brands have built the capacity for future flash updates into their vehicles to keep them relevant.
One thing the car industry has learned – the customer always wins. Overall consumer attitudes are changing especially when it comes to mobility and independence. When auto buyers want something badly, they will not let a little thing like brand loyalty stand in their way. If one manufacturer does not build it, consumers will leave for one that will. And as smart technology becomes more mainstream in other areas of people's lives, the pressure on auto makers to provide the same devices and access at reasonable prices will only grow.
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Consumers seek health innovations from brands
The relationship between consumers and their health is transforming at an unprecedented speed. From athleisure and cannabis to plant-based burgers and in-mall fitness centers, the trend behind so many of today's breakthrough consumer movements is wellness. Consumers are seeking health innovations and depending on brands to help them achieve their goals. Regardless of industry, understanding these trends more deeply can help brands leverage this extraordinary moment.
While there are many societal shifts driving health and wellness today (e.g. rising healthcare costs, aging population), consumers are also playing a major role in the changing marketplace today as well – many shifts in people's attitudes and behaviors are worth a closer look.
Stress and anxiety are rising at an extraordinary pace. Out of the 20+ concerns that GfK Consumer Life tracks annually, more societal worries have risen than declined since 2009 – from climate change and terrorism to economic inequality and the cost of healthcare. What's more, one of the fastest-rising mindsets from just 2016 until today is the worry about personal safety and security. It's clear that consumers are on the hunt for products and services that make them feel protected.
This has manifested itself in the rising focus on self-care and mindfulness. More than half of Americans are seeking control over their unpredictable lives, and over a third are looking for opportunities to pamper themselves, a sentiment that has risen significantly in recent years. But these desires are often not material – they are much more about mental and emotional indulgences, products and services that give people the safety net they're looking for. Health innovations include meditation apps like Headspace and Calm, increasingly part of the mainstream, deliver on this need, providing a safe space that makes users feel empowered and centered.
Consumers are also telling us that safety and well-being are increasingly critical aspects of innovation. New offerings can take many shapes – from physical items that may offer new levels of comfort like weighted blankets to innovative textiles used by companies like Under Armour that convert your body heat into energy that is reflected back to you.
Pivot to prevention
The impact of the rising cost of healthcare cannot be understated. Today, this is the #2 concern among all Americans, who often have to make tough decisions about what level of healthcare they're able to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Experts believe that the traditional model of healthcare delivery is shifting to a preventative mode, where the focus is more on healthy behaviors and real-time monitoring. It follows, then, that almost 7 out of 10 (69%) Americans today are taking a more proactive approach to their health through their behaviors and the products that they choose to consume.
Many are re-examining their diets with this approach in mind and learning a lot more about the medical benefits of functional foods. For example, almost 3 out of 10 Americans today decide what to eat or drink based on whether pre- or pro-biotics are included. And in response, established brands like Tropicana now offer items that are friendly to the digestive system.
Detection will also be an important element in health innovations. GfK Consumer Life research shows that Americans share a growing strong desire for proactive identification of threats such as allergens, contaminants, polluted air, and much more. New devices and services that do better jobs of identifying these threats to our health will become more of a "must have" in the future.
Pushing for health innovations
More and more, consumers are playing the lead role in managing their own health, and the roots of this trend are in the evolution of the consumer's broader worldview. Today, freedom (#4) and self-reliance (#9) are top-10 personal values in the US. What's more, we increasingly define ourselves by more personal metrics of success (such as being true to ourselves) than our relationships with others, whether it's as a parent, spouse, or friend. Autonomy, which has in many ways been accelerated by technology, is dictating more consumer needs today – but this doesn't mean that brands can't be involved as well.
This manifests itself clearly within the health and wellness space. Americans agree that their top physical concerns, particularly as they age, are closely tied to mobility and independence – it's critical to them that they're able to do what they want, when they want, for as long as they want. Brands that support this need for both physical and mental mobility will be successful in the future, like this concept of a "smart rehab" device from Nokia.
This shift of control from brands, retailers, and advertisers to customers is apparent across many other categories. This is due to not only how attitudes and personal values are shifting, but also the vast amount of information now available from our peers via social media, review sites, and more. This is one of the reasons behind the growth of the direct-to-consumer industry in recent years. Consumers are informed and self-directed, and successful brands of the future need to accommodate them as such. Recently, we've seen established companies such as Nike take advantage of this business model, selling more products directly to individuals and creating more ways for them to find community.
As consumers increasingly take charge of their well-being, brands of every kind need to track their changing desires and concerns to stay a step ahead of demand and build close relationships with their customers seeking health innovations.
Access our latest recording on this topic
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Infographic: 6 Reasons why your sales management needs weekly POS data
Today's retail sector moves at light speed. The pressure on commercial teams is intense and the task of optimizing sales performance and winning market share and trade deals harder than ever before. To hit your targets, you need to make the most of the critical moments in a product's life cycle.
Key Account Data Reporting
Infographic: Stronger trade relationships through Key Account Data. Who benefits the most?
A common data currency allows manufacturers and retailers to speak the same language.
6 Reasons why your sales management needs weekly POS data
Today, sales management is increasingly driven by promotions, product launches and seasonal sales activities. With shortening product life cycles and volatile consumer behavior, you must maximize sales during these key "moments of truth". What does it take to succeed? Most importantly, you need to know what's happening at the point-of-sale.
Tech manufacturers have been basing their strategic decisions on GfK's POS Tracking for decades. But tactical sales management is different. To stay competitive and meet targets, sales, marketing and product teams need more frequent insights into sell-out performance to spot and act on opportunities and weaknesses. With the addition of our mobile app, weekly data will be an early warning system anywhere, anytime.
What difference can weekly POS data make for the business?
Let's take a look at weekly POS in action.
1. Deep dive into sales week by week
With our monthly reporting you know what was sold, which channels performed best, how the competition is doing, and the bestsellers. However, by detecting under- and over-performing areas across all channels on a weekly basis, sales managers can take immediate corrective action to improve the efficiency of the salesforce or distribution network and negotiate with high-potential retailers.
2. Track price developments efficiently
Monthly average prices can be helpful when creating a pricing strategy, but of course prices fluctuate during a month. Tactical pricing decisions need continuous attention. How much will consumers pay for a product? Am I selling at the right price? Is my competitor's pricing better than mine? Crucially, Pricing and Product Managers need to understand the maximum price achievable for a product depending on the stage in its lifecycle. Weekly sell-out data brings valuable insight into pricing decisions on sales performance.
3. Maximize the impact of marketing campaigns
Sales and Marketing Managers need to optimize their trade marketing spend. Regardless of the activity – price or in-store sales promotions, or advertising displays – they need granular insights on sales uplift versus budget invested. Monthly data may show a sales increase in the respective month, but weekly POS provides detailed sales data to track the promotion's impact shortly after the actual sales took place. More frequent reporting allows sales and marketing teams to maximize impact by acting fast, such as continuing promotional activity that delivers an uplift, or terminating a campaign that fails to deliver.
4. Optimize distribution during seasonal events
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Singles' Day – special events dominate the retail calendar. Today, Black Friday is the most important sales peak for retailers outside China. While our monthly POS data will show that November was a very strong month, the weekly view will allow you compare Black Friday against Cyber Monday and analyze sales performance on channel level.
5. Monitor market acceptance during launch
Launches are the ultimate "moments of truth". Whether you introduce a new product, feature or product line, you need rapid feedback on performance. Weekly POS data provides performance data to support adjustments to a launch strategy. It also provides objective sales KPIs to better negotiate with merchandising planners and buyers on the retail side.
6. Reporting based on objective insights
Headquarters expect weekly reports on sales performance across countries and regions. Country Managers need quick access to objective performance insights at product, country and category level to define and implement counter-actions. Weekly POS data provides reliable KPIs on SKU level to understand the performance.
Be in-the-know while on-the-go
You need the right insights to take informed, tactical sales decision fast – anytime, anywhere. Our Android/iOS App GfK Performance Pulse equips you with weekly sell-out data, so you are always prepared for retail sales pitches. Benefit from at-a-glance summaries of market share, sell-out performance, strongest competitor, fastest mover and best-selling models to support discussions with retailers on product listings, distribution, and trade-marketing.
Weekly POS is more than "monthly" data divided by four:
Timely answers to quickly and confidently identify where corrective action is required.
Tactical sell-out insights for your own and competing products – the full picture across all relevant channels, online and offline.
Easy access – soon via app – and simple sharing with sales teams for timely course-corrections and to maximize your product's "moments of truth".
[Infographic]
Join GfK at DISTREE Russia
Russia's leading hosted buyer event for consumer technology and B2B Channels, DISTREE RUSSIA, will take place from May 29 to 31 in Moscow.
A growing demand for ethical innovation in technology
The reckoning of the importance of ethics in tech and the need for new approaches to steer innovation in the right direction have been rapidly gathering steam, and not just among regulators.
For example, last year saw the formation of the Center for Humane Technology, a coalition of 'deeply concerned tech insiders' aiming to re-direct the course of technology away from extracting our finite attention towards a better alignment with humanity. And in April, the European Union released its guidelines for achieving "trustworthy" artificial intelligence (AI), a milestone in putting ethical guardrails around the development of technology.
Approaching ethics in tech
In March, Stanford University, the birthplace of the term 'artificial intelligence,' launched the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), a sprawling think tank whose mission is to "advance AI research, education, policy, and practice to improve the human condition." Industry behemoths have also started to take actions. Both Google and Microsoft, for instance, released ethical principles for the development and use of AI in the past year.
A re-assessment of the industry's status quo is in order, gauging from consumer sentiment as well. Consumers' attitudes towards technology seem to have reached an inflection point. As pointed out by my colleague Kathy Sheehan in her recent blog post, concerns about data privacy and tech addiction have soared amidst high-profile data misuse, privacy breach scandals and mounting evidence of the effect of technology on mental health (incl. World Health Organization's classification of gaming addiction as a mental health disorder last year). As AI grows ever more powerful and increasingly extends its reach into our lives, consumers also increasingly recognize the risks it poses to humanity: According to a survey conducted last year, the majority (59%) of Americans feel that AI has the potential to be good but comes with some inherent risks.
A shift of perception towards technology is crystalized in recent research from GfK Consumer Life. Today, just above half of Americans (53%) feel optimistic about the effect of technology on society, down 10 percentage points from the record high registered in 2008. While technology remains Americans' top source of optimism on a list of 13 aspects of life measured – from the healthcare system to the quality of the environment – the 10-point drop also makes it the fastest declining area of optimism among all.
Time for realignment
Although some question tech companies' ability to self-regulate, it's clear that inaction isn't an option. Failing to address consumers' growing concerns about technology risks falling out of touch with potential customers, and falling behind competitors who demonstrate the will to put their customers' – and humanity's – best interest in mind.
Goodwill matters to the consumer. Data from GfK Consumer Life reveals that people are increasingly socially conscious – "helpfulness" and "social responsibility" are among the fastest growing personal values globally. And a rising number (43% globally, up 10 pts from 2011) state that they only purchase products and services from brands aligned with their values and beliefs.
So how should companies re-align and consider ethics in tech innovation? A few thoughts to consider.
Put humans in the center, not technology
At the core of the tech realignment is a paradigm shift from a tech-centric to a human-centric approach. Long have tech companies been caught in the cutthroat race to churn out novel products enabled by the latest technology designed primarily to maximize usage. But an ethical approach to address some of glaring issues of technology – from tech addiction to its role in social isolation – would require companies to pause and question the long-term impact of its innovation on the wellbeing of its users and the society. Some have already started to do this.
In February, OpenAI made its step towards pushing ethics in tech with the company's rare announcement of a 'non-release.' Concerned about the powerful technology being potentially misused to create fake news, the research firm announced that it would not release a version of a text generator they developed.
It's also worth noting that, ethics aside, a tech-led approach is increasingly at odds with consumers' changing sentiment towards technology. As the excitement over technology's promise gives way to a sobering reckoning of its side effects, there are signs that consumers are growing more solution-oriented and less enticed by novel technology in their product adoption. Global research from GfK Consumer Life shows that "providing a solution to a problem" has surpassed "harnessing the very latest technology" as a top association of true innovation among consumers.
Design with inclusivity in mind
There is widespread evidence that AI has been struggling with a bias issue, from facial recognition technologies that are less effective in detecting people of darker skin to an AI-powered hiring tool that discriminates against women. The increasing spotlight shining on such issues will drive greater scrutiny over algorithms. Growing consumer social consciousness will also help drive the demand for inclusive technology free of bias—an inclusion of ethics in tech progression. "Equality" has emerged as a top tier value globally, now #15 on the list of 50 personal values that GfK Consumer Life has been tracking consistently, up from #22 in 2011. As pointed out by numerous experts, having broader representation in the design, development, and test of technology may be part of the solution.
Step up on data privacy and security
Mark Zuckerberg's announcement in March to shift the focus of Facebook to a 'privacy-focused' platform marks a drastic and telling change of course for the social media giant. It reflects the changing tide in the public's sentiment towards privacy, which will likely impact companies well beyond social networks.
According to the GfK 2018 Smart Home study, privacy has emerged as a top barrier for the adoption of smart home products, trailing only slightly after cost and ahead of worries about interoperability between devices, product knowledge and more. It is in fact the top hindrance for the adoption of digital home assistants like Amazon Echo or Google Home Assistant.
As the digital age deepens with more products becoming connected and reliant on user data to deliver optimal, personalized customer experience, digital privacy and security is set to become an ever more important front of competition for companies. With growing concerns now harder than ever to ignore, the need for ethics in tech is now.
Want more from GfK Consumer Life?
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IBM Developer
More open source at IBM
IBM and Red Hat — the next chapter of open innovation. Learn More
This content is no longer being updated or maintained. The content is provided "as is." Given the rapid evolution of technology, some content, steps, or illustrations may have changed.
How shared libraries work
Compatibility's not just for relationships
To debug, first you must know how to compile
Modifying the dynamic linker search path
Learning more about shared libraries
Dissecting shared libraries
Get to know your shared library
Peter Seebach
Shared libraries are a fundamental component for the efficient use of space and resources on a modern UNIX® system. The C library on a SUSE 9.1 system is made up of about 1.3 MB. A copy of that library for every program in /usr/bin (and I have 2,569!) would take up a couple of gigabytes of space.
Of course this number is inflated -- statically linked programs would incorporate only those parts of the library that they use. Nonetheless, the amount of space tied up by all those duplicate copies of printf() would give the system a very bloated feel.
Shared libraries can save memory, not just disk space. The kernel can keep a single copy of a shared library in memory, sharing it among multiple applications. So, not only do we only have one copy of printf() on the disk, we only have one in memory. That has a pretty noticeable effect on performance.
In this article, we'll review the underlying technology used for shared libraries and the way in which shared library versioning helps prevent the compatibility nightmares that naive shared library implementations have had in the past. First, a look at how shared libraries work.
The concept is easy enough to understand. You have a library; you share the library. But what actually happens when your program tries to call printf() -- the real way this works -- is a bit more complex.
It is a simpler process in a static linking system than in a dynamically linked system. In a static linked system, the generated code possesses a reference to a function. The linker replaces that reference with the actual address at which it had loaded the function, so that the resulting binary code has the right address in place. Then, when the code is run, it simply jumps to the relevant address. This is a simple task to administer because it lets you to link in only those objects that are actually referred to at some point in the program.
But most shared libraries are dynamically linked. That has several further implications. One is that you can't predict in advance at which address a function will really be when it's called! (There have also been statically linked shared library schemes, such as the one in BSD/OS, but they are beyond the scope of this article.)
The dynamic linker can do a fair amount of work for each function linked, so most linkers are lazy. They only actually finish that work when the function is called. With more than a thousand externally visible symbols in the C library and nearly three thousand more local ones, this idea could save a noticeable amount of time.
The magic trick here that makes it work is a chunk of data called a Procedure Linkage Table (PLT), a table in the program that lists every function that a program calls. When the program is started, the PLT contains code for each function to query the runtime linker for the address at which it has loaded a function. It then fills in that entry in the table and jumps there. As each function is called, its entry in the PLT is simplified into a direct jump to the loaded function.
However, it's important to notice that this still leaves an extra layer of indirection -- each function call is resolved through a jump into a table.
This means that the library you end up being linked to had better be compatible with the code that's calling it. With a statically linked executable, there is some guarantee that nothing will change on you. With dynamic linking, you don't have that guarantee.
What happens if a new version of the library comes out? Especially, what happens if the new version changes the calling sequence for a given function?
Version numbers to the rescue -- a shared library will have a version. When a program is linked against a library, it has the version number it's designed for stored in it. The dynamic linker can check for a matching version number. If the library has changed, the version number won't match, and the program won't be linked to the newer version of library.
One of the potential advantages of dynamic linking, however, is in fixing bugs. It'd be nice if you could fix a bug in the library and not have to recompile a thousand programs to take advantage of that fix. So sometimes, you want to link to a newer version.
Unfortunately, that creates some cases where you want to link to the newer version and some cases where you'd rather stick with an older version. There is a solution, though -- two kinds of version numbers:
A major number indicates a potential incompatibility between library versions.
A minor number indicates only bug fixes.
So under most circumstances, it is safe to load a library with the same major number and a higher minor number; consider it an unsafe practice to load a library with a higher major number.
To prevent users (and programmers) from needing to track library numbers and updates, the system comes with a large number of symbolic links. In general, the pattern is that
libexample.so
will be a link to
libexample.so.N
in which N is the highest major version number found on the system.
For every major version number supported,
will be a link in turn to
libexample.so.N.M
in which M is the largest minor version number.
Thus, if you specify -lexample to the linker, it looks for libexample.so which is a symbolic link to a symbolic link to the most recent version. On the other hand, when an existing program is loaded, it will try to load libexample.so.N in which N is the version to which it was originally linked. Everyone wins!
To debug problems with shared libraries, it's useful to know a little more about how they're compiled.
In a traditional static library, the code generated is usually bound together into a library file with a name ending in .a and then it's passed to the linker. In a dynamic library, the library file's name generally ends in .so. The file structures are somewhat different.
A normal static library is in a format created by the ar utility, which is basically a very simple-minded archive program, similar to tar but simpler. In contrast, shared libraries are generally stored in more complicated file formats.
On modern Linux systems, this generally means the ELF binary format (Executable and Linkable Format). In ELF, each file is made up of one ELF header followed by zero or some segments and zero or some sections. The segments contain information necessary for runtime execution of the file, while sections contain important data for linking and relocation. Each byte in the entire file is taken by no more than one section at a time, but there can be orphan bytes that are not covered by a section. Normally in a UNIX executable, one or more sections are enclosed in one segment.
The ELF format has specifications for applications and libraries. The library format is a lot more complicated than just a simple archive of object modules, though.
The linker sorts through references to symbols, making notes about in which libraries they were found. Symbols from static libraries are added to the final executable; symbols from shared libraries are put into the PLT, and references to the PLT are created. Once those tasks are done, the resulting executable has a list of symbols it plans to look up from libraries it will load at runtime.
At runtime, the application loads the dynamic linker. In fact, the dynamic linker itself uses the same kind of versioning as the shared libraries. On SUSE Linux 9.1, for instance, the file /lib/ld-linux.so.2 is a symbolic link to /lib/ld-linux.so.2.3.3. On the other hand, a program looking for /lib/ld-linux.so.1 won't try to use the new version.
The dynamic linker then gets to do all the fun work. It looks to see which libraries (and which versions) a program was originally linked to and then loads them. Loading a library consists of:
Finding it (and it may be in any of several directories on a system)
Mapping it into the program's address space
Allocating blocks of zero-filled memory the library may need
Attaching the library's symbol table
Debugging this process can be difficult. There are a few kinds of problems you can encounter. For example, if the dynamic linker can't find a given library, it will abort loading the program. If it finds all the libraries it wants but can't find a symbol, it can abort for that too (but it may not act until the actual attempt to reference that symbol occurs) -- this is rare case though because normally, if the symbol isn't there, it will be noticed during the initial link.
When linking a program, you can specify additional paths to search at runtime. In gcc the syntax is -Wl,-R/path. If the program is already linked, you can also change this behavior by setting the environment variable LD_LIBRARY_PATH. Usually this is needed only if your application wants to search paths that aren't part of the system-wide default, a rare case for most Linux systems. In theory, the Mozilla people could have distributed a binary compiled with that path set, but they preferred to distribute a wrapper script that sets the library path appropriately before launching the executable.
Setting the library path can provide a workaround in the rare case where two applications require incompatible versions of a library. A wrapper script can be used to have one application search in a directory using the special version of the library it requires. Hardly an elegant solution, but in some cases it's the best you can do.
If you have a compelling reason to add a path to many programs, you can also change the system's default search path. The dynamic linker is controlled through /etc/ld.so.conf, which contains a list of directories to search by default. Any paths specified in LD_LIBRARY_PATH will be searched before the paths listed in ld.so.conf, so users can override these settings.
Most users have no reason to change the system default library search paths; generally the environment variable is a better match for likely reasons to change the search path, such as linking with libraries in a toolkit or testing programs against a newer version of a library.
Using ldd
One useful tool for debugging shared library problems is ldd. The name derives from list dynamic dependencies. This program looks at a given executable or shared library and figures out what shared libraries it needs to load and which versions would be used. The output looks like this:
Listing 1. Dependencies of /bin/sh
$ ldd /bin/sh
linux-gate.so.1 =>  (0xffffe000)
libreadline.so.4 => /lib/libreadline.so.4 (0x40036000)
libhistory.so.4 => /lib/libhistory.so.4 (0x40062000)
libncurses.so.5 => /lib/libncurses.so.5 (0x40069000)
libdl.so.2 => /lib/libdl.so.2 (0x400af000)
libc.so.6 => /lib/tls/libc.so.6 (0x400b2000)
/lib/ld-linux.so.2 => /lib/ld-linux.so.2 (0x40000000)
It can be a little surprising to find out how many libraries a "simple" program uses. It's probably the case that libhistory is the one calling for libncurses. To find out, we can just run another ldd command:
Listing 2. Dependencies of libhistory
$ ldd /lib/libhistory.so.4
libc.so.6 => /lib/tls/libc.so.6 (0x4006b000)
In some cases, an application may need extra library paths specified. For instance, the first few lines of an attempt to run ldd on the Mozilla binary came out like this:
Listing 3. Result of ldd for items not in search path
$ ldd /opt/mozilla/lib/mozilla-bin
libmozjs.so => not found
libplds4.so => not found
libplc4.so => not found
libnspr4.so => not found
libpthread.so.0 => /lib/tls/libpthread.so.0 (0x40037000)
Why aren't these libraries found? Because they're not in the usual search path for libraries. In fact, they're found in /opt/mozilla/lib, so one solution would be to add that directory to LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Another option is to set the path to . and run ldd from that directory, although this is a little more dangerous -- putting the current directory in your library path is just as potentially treacherous as putting it in your executable path.
In this case, it's pretty clear that adding the directory these are in to the system-wide search path would be a bad idea. Nothing but Mozilla needs these libraries.
Linking Mozilla
And speaking of Mozilla, in case you were thinking that you'd never see more than a few lines of libraries, here's a somewhat more typical large application. Now you can see why Mozilla takes so long to launch!
Listing 4. Dependencies of mozilla-bin
libmozjs.so => ./libmozjs.so (0x40018000)
libplds4.so => ./libplds4.so (0x40099000)
libplc4.so => ./libplc4.so (0x4009d000)
libnspr4.so => ./libnspr4.so (0x400a2000)
libpthread.so.0 => /lib/tls/libpthread.so.0 (0x400f5000)
libdl.so.2 => /lib/libdl.so.2 (0x40105000)
libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0 (0x40108000)
libgdk-x11-2.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libgdk-x11-2.0.so.0 (0x40358000)
libatk-1.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libatk-1.0.so.0 (0x403c5000)
libgdk_pixbuf-2.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libgdk_pixbuf-2.0.so.0 (0x403df000)
libpangoxft-1.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libpangoxft-1.0.so.0 (0x403f1000)
libpangox-1.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libpangox-1.0.so.0 (0x40412000)
libpango-1.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libpango-1.0.so.0 (0x4041f000)
libgobject-2.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libgobject-2.0.so.0 (0x40451000)
libgmodule-2.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libgmodule-2.0.so.0 (0x40487000)
libglib-2.0.so.0 => /opt/gnome/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0 (0x4048b000)
libm.so.6 => /lib/tls/libm.so.6 (0x404f7000)
libstdc++.so.5 => /usr/lib/libstdc++.so.5 (0x40519000)
libgcc_s.so.1 => /lib/libgcc_s.so.1 (0x405d5000)
libc.so.6 => /lib/tls/libc.so.6 (0x405dd000)
libX11.so.6 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libX11.so.6 (0x406f3000)
libXrandr.so.2 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libXrandr.so.2 (0x407ef000)
libXi.so.6 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libXi.so.6 (0x407f3000)
libXext.so.6 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libXext.so.6 (0x407fb000)
libXft.so.2 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libXft.so.2 (0x4080a000)
libXrender.so.1 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libXrender.so.1 (0x4081e000)
libfontconfig.so.1 => /usr/lib/libfontconfig.so.1 (0x40826000)
libfreetype.so.6 => /usr/lib/libfreetype.so.6 (0x40850000)
libexpat.so.0 => /usr/lib/libexpat.so.0 (0x408b9000)
Users interested in learning more about dynamic linking on Linux have a broad field of options. The GNU compiler and linker tool chain documentation is excellent, although the guts of it are stored in the info format and not mentioned in the standard man pages.
The manual page for ld.so contains a fairly comprehensive list of variables that modify the behavior of the dynamic linker, as well as explanations of the different versions of the dynamic linker that have been used in the past.
Most Linux documentation assumes that all shared libraries are dynamically linked because on Linux systems, they generally are. The work needed to make statically linked shared libraries is substantial and most users don't gain any benefit from it, although the performance difference is noticeable on systems that support the feature.
If you're using a pre-packaged system off the shelf, you probably won't run into very many shared library versions -- the system probably just ships with the ones it was linked against. On the other hand, if you do a lot of updates and source builds, you can end up with many versions of a shared library since old versions get left around "just in case."
As always, if you want to know more, experiment. Remember that nearly everything on a system refers back to those same few shared libraries, so if you break one of the system's core shared libraries, you're going to get to play with some kind of system recovery tool.
PDF of this content
Linkers and Loaders by John Levine (Morgan Kauffman, October 1999) is an authoritative source devoted to compile-time and run-time processes. (Some manuscript chapters are available online.)
Read this communique if you ever wondered why a versioning scheme for shared libraries is important.
Writing DLLs for Linux apps (developerWorks, October 2001) demonstrates how dynamically linked libraries are often a great way to add functionality without writing a whole new Linux application.
Shared objects for the object disoriented! (developerWorks, April 2001) explains how to write dynamically loadable libraries and suggests tools to use in the process.
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On Friday, Technology giant Apple announced a new partnership with Alcoa Corporation and Rio Tinto Aluminium to accelerate commercialization of a patented technology that eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions from the smelting process of aluminum.
In its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products through innovation, Apple Inc. is no slouch, and the company helped accelerate the development of this new, carbon-free technology.
Aluminum represents nearly a quarter of Apple's manufacturing emissions. So the tech giant was set to find a process for producing aluminum that was environmentally friendly.
Several years ago, three of Apple's engineers went in search of a cleaner, better way of mass producing aluminum. After meeting with aluminum manufacturers, independent labs and startups around the world, the three engineers, Brian Lynch, Jim Yurko and Katie Sassaman, found their answer at Alcoa Corporation - and they have been working with Alcoa ever since.
The answer Apple found resulted in the tech company, Canada's federal government, and the government of Quebec investing in a joint venture between Alcoa Inc. and Rio Tinto Group called Elysis. Apple and the two governments have invested a combined $144 million to future research and development. Alcoa and Rio Tinto will invest $55 million in the project.
Under Elysis, they will commercialize a patented process that eliminates greenhouse gas emissions from traditional smelting by instead producing oxygen.
Apple also put forth $13 million to facilitate the collaboration between Alcoa and Rio Tinto. Elysis will have a headquarters in Montreal and a research facility in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec region. The patent-pending technology is already in use at the Alcoa Technical Center, outside Pittsburgh, and this project will invest more than $30 million in the United States.
When fully developed and in commercialization, the new process has the potential to eliminate direct greenhouse gas emissions from the smelting process around the world. Friday's news followed an announcement by Apple last month that all of its facilities are now powered with 100 percent clean energy and 23 of its suppliers have committed to do the same.
The announcement on Friday in Saguenay, Quebec was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, and Apple Senior Director Sarah Chandler.


Asthma is a disease that causes the airways to swell and get narrow.
Asthma is caused by swelling in the airways. During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding the airways tighten. The lining of the air passages swells. Less air is able to pass through as a result.
A whistling sound made when breathing (wheezing ). You may notice it more when the child breathes out.
Your child's asthma symptoms may vary. Symptoms may appear often or else develop only when triggers are present. Some children are more likely to have asthma symptoms at night.
The health care provider will to listen to the child's lungs. The health care provider may be able to hear asthma sounds. However, lung sounds are often normal when the child is not having an asthma episode.
The health care provider will have the child breathe into a device called a peak flow meter. Peak flow meters can tell how well the child can blow air out of the lungs. If the airways are narrow due to asthma, peak flow values drop.
You and your child's doctors should work together as a team to create and carry out an asthma action plan.
Quick relief or rescue asthma drugs work fast to control asthma symptoms.
If your child uses the inhaler wrong way, less medicine gets into the lungs. Have your health care provider show your child how to correctly use an inhaler.
It is important to know what things make your child's asthma worse. These are called asthma "triggers." Avoiding them is the first step toward helping your child feeling better.
Checking "peak flow" is one of the best ways to control asthma. It can help you keep your child's asthma from getting worse. Asthma attacks do NOT usually come on without warning.
Children under age 5 may not be able to use a peak flow meter well enough for it be helpful. However, a child should start using the peak flow meter at a young age to get used to it. An adult should always watch for a child's asthma symptoms.
With proper treatment, most children with asthma can live a normal life. When asthma is not well controlled, it can lead to missed school, problems playing sports, missed work for parents, and many visits to the doctor's office and emergency room.
Rarely, asthma can be a life-threatening disease. Families need to work closely with their health care professionals to develop a plan to care for a child with asthma.
Liu AH, Covar RA, Spahn JD, Leung DYM. Childhood asthma. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 138.
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.


Not a far distance from our guesthouse, the driver of 4×4 jeep we rented dropped us off at the Fairy Stream where we were going to start our half-day tour of Mui Ne, Vietnam.
It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and we chose the afternoon package to tour the common places to visit. This is composed of the Fairy Stream, Fishing Village, White Sand Dunes, and Red Sand Dunes.
Basically, the difference between the Morning and Afternoon package is just the sun. We preferred sunsets over sunrises so we took the latter option. Waking up early isn't really our cup of tea; especially when we came from a 5-hour bus trip from Ho Chi Minh City, and arrived early in the morning.
We left our shoes as this was going to be a barefoot activity. Actually we saw a number of shoes at the starting point of the trek and local kids just pointed at them so we simply followed the rest of the tourists. Kids were ready to be our guides, but we figured there was no use since we only had to follow the path where other travellers were going.
We started getting familiar with the trek and at the beginning, I didn't know what to expect. We were just walking on the stream and at times our feet got buried ankle-deep in the soft clay. After we got past the rocks, bamboo plants and other bushes, we saw a clearing and it was then did I realize how much a beautiful place this was.
This was quite a surprise and I loved the color of the sand complementing the background. The sand was also very fine that we couldn't help getting dirty lying on it.
I can't stress how vivid the colors were because we visited this tourist spot while the sun was up high. The sun intensified the hue of the sand and the colors were really highlighted!
Seeing this view was already enough for me. Let me also mention that despite the hot weather, the water from the stream is quite cold.
You also have the option to climb the hill and walk from there. We were told that the view of the dry land on the other side is like a mini Grand Canyon. We weren't able to check it out though.
It's advisable that you bring a scarf or towel to cover your face from the dust when it becomes windy.
We kept walking and wondered what would happen at the end of our hike. We reached a dead end and a local kid informed us that she would take us to the waterfalls. Feeling adventurous, we followed her in a narrow path.
It was a short trek and we also passed by a farm. When she pointed the waterfalls, it was but a small one. I just laughed. It made sense that the waterfalls was small since it was only a stream that we were visiting and not a river.
We gave the kid a minimal fee for taking us there. I wonder how many tourists she was able to bring here which earned her a quick buck.
On our way back, I noticed something shiny on the ground. I thought it was a lizard, but upon closer look, it resembled some characteristics of a snake! It was a small one and it didn't look nice at all. I almost panicked and stood still for a second, but thought of continuing our walk.
At the back of my head, I wondered if it was a baby snake and the mother was just somewhere nearby. Gives me the chills just thinking about it because we hardly noticed it!
We went back to the entrance after taking a few more photos. We were to continue our next journey in this half-day tour of Mui Ne.
Walking barefoot… must be therapeutic. Pero parang di naman muddy at messy no? Awesome shots.
@The Photoblogger: Ey EJ! Just the person I needed to clarify! Haha, thanks for the clarification. Updated my blog post. haha Thanks!
Love the intense colors on surrounding the stream! Looks like it 's constantly subjected to erosion, more so after heavy rains. In which case, this will not be the same a decade from now! lucky you to experience this now.
The color of the sand and mud reminds me of Toncantins in Brazil (Survivor US). Ganyan na ganyan ang kulay!
The photos give justice to the fairy tale beauty of this fairy stream! Gandaa!
Ganda ng rustic color, Ed! Hope to visit Mui Ne this year.
This looks great! We wanted to go to Mui Ne too when we went to Vietnam but ran out of time. Maybe next time!
The baby snake – looks creepy! Haha. It also kind of looks like a snail without a shell. Strange creature. Hehe.
@Daene: Ey thanks for visiting this blog! yep, re: snake, it moved very fast so it was hard to mistake it for a snail. I was thinking of something else if it wasn't a snake.
After the eclipse event October 25, 1995, Mui Ne seems to be shined by scientists and astronomy enthusiasts around the world who flocked to here to admire the eclipse. From that romantic landmarks of Mui Ne are explored, including Mui Ne Fairy Stream.


Presenter Pierce Brosnan rehearses on stage with Academy Awards® stage manager Dencey Nelson at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Friday, Feb. 25, 2005. The 77th Academy Awards®, will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
Governors Ball Producer Cheryl Cecchetto in the Governors Ballroom Friday, February 26, 2005, as preparations continue for the post-Oscar® celebration. The 77th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
Preparations continue as the flowers arrive on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, for the Oscars®. The 77th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
Preparations continue as the flowers and foliage arrive on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, for the Oscars®. The 77th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
Governors Ball chef Wolfgang Puck (right), Sherry Yard (center), and Matthew Bencivenga (left) display examples some of the dishes for the Governors Ball on the red carpet Saturday, February 27, 2005, during preparations for the Governors Ball and 77th Academy Awards® that will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
In anticipation of blue skies, preparations continue as workers remove the tenting over the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, for the Oscars®. The 77th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
Comedian and Academy Award Presentation host, Chris Rock rehearses on stage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005. The 77th Academy Awards®, will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.
Preparations continue at the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, for the Oscars®. The 77th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2005, by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST with a half hour arrival segment.


text:
The 2004 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 4, 2004, and concluded October 3, 2005. The table illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

Table key

2004 term opinions

2004 term membership and statistics
This was the nineteenth and final term of Chief Justice Rehnquist's tenure, as he died on September 3, 2005.  It was the eleventh and final consecutive term in which the Court's membership had not changed.

Notes

References

Lists of United States Supreme Court opinions by term

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The mission of The Stouffville Academy is to provide the highest calibre of artistic education for musicians, dancers, and actors from Stouffville and the surrounding area, so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, students, and members of the community.
The Stouffville Academy will provide an educational environment that fosters the artistic, intellectual, and personal growth of its students by providing quality, relevant training in professional facilities, with educated and qualified teaching staff.
The Stouffville Academy will continue to attract and retain experienced and qualified faculty members in all disciplines, by providing a collaborative work environment and involving them fully in the artistic and educational life of the school and our community.
The Stouffville Academy will ensure that students are taught in a safe and fun environment, by ensuring that the facilities and equipment are appropriate for the activity, and further that all activities undertaken are age and skill appropriate based on the physical and intellectual needs and levels of our students.
The Stouffville Academy will take an active role in shaping the future of the performing arts in Stouffville by providing exemplary arts education programs to the community and encouraging its students to serve as advocates for the arts in society.
The Stouffville Academy will continue to elevate its educational and artistic standards, remaining responsive to changing conditions in the local performing arts community.


text:
Q: Network, moving large folder : Photo Library I want to move my Photo Library through my Synology NAS,
I know I'm gonna lose the iCloud Syncing (which is very annoying...) but anyway.
Every time I trying to move the Photo Library (quite heavy, 125.85 GB I have this error "The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)."
I've tried with SMB, AFP, and I'm not trying with a basic terminal command
which probably gonna failed too.
sudo mv /Users/Kevin/Pictures/Photos\ Library.photoslibrary  /Volumes/photo/

All this is connected through an Asus RT-68U, which is suppose to be fast, but ... you know..
I only have 11 devices connected on the network at this time, most are in idle.

Ethernet are quite ok, and wifi is may be a bit high :

Edit:
When exporting photo through the Photos.app export :

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Honour for scientist who became Manchester United's Chief Scout
The Royal Society of Chemistry has honoured a chemical scientist who made his mark in academia before transferring his analytical powers to the world of top-flight professional football and in doing so became a name known to football fans all over the world.
The President's award presented to Dr Les Kershaw by Dr Simon Campbell
Academic Dr Les Kershaw was recruited from Manchester Metropolitan University by Sir Alex Ferguson who had recognised and valued his powers of objectivity and dedication serving as a part-time scout for Arsenal under George Graham travelling around England.
From that early alliance between manager and chemist Dr Kershaw rose to become head of the Manchester United Football Academy, regarded around the world as an exemplar of good practice and a platform for the club's outstanding domestic and international success in the 1990s and beyond.
Now the Royal Society of Chemistry is paying tribute to a man who demonstrated that the observational and logical skills a scientist brings to the laboratory and lecture environment can also be employed in many other fields of endeavour including sport.
The award marks in particular work undertaken by Les Kershaw at Manchester United when the club hosted a science workshop in its indoor training facility for more than 500 local children who were able to learn about the celebrated C60 ('Buckyball') molecule that has the 60-faceted shape of a football.
Joint discoverer of the legendary buckyball Professor, Sir Harry Kroto, conducted the workshop with the support of Dr Kershaw and with the cooperation of Sir Alex Ferguson and some of his first team and academy players.
Performed en masse at the Carrington Road academy on Manchester's outskirts using gigantic plastic buckyballs and orchestrated by Professor Kroto using a microphone, the workshop stirred tremendous interest in chemistry in the north-west and is now viewed as a model method of transmitting the essence of science to the young.
Nobel Prize winner Sir Harry now works in the USA and in his absence the award was presented to Dr Kershaw by Dr Simon Campbell, his successor as RSC President. The President's award was presented to Les Kershaw at Manchester Metropolitan University's Tuesday 20 September 2005.
Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA
Email: Press Office
Royal Society of Chemistry Press Office


We decided to troll our wine expert. Patrick Cappiello, the award-winning wine director at Rebelle in New York City, had to taste test and grade five boxed wines: Vella, Bandit, Franzia, Black Box and Bota Box. Some were absolutely awful, but some, to his surprise, were actually good. Check out the video to see which wines passed and which ones failed the test miserably.


A while back, I was trying to talk an editor into letting me write for him. His answer was to put it back on me. "Give me some of your ideas," he said. And you know, I honestly didn't have anything good to give him.
Nobody wants honest aircraft evaluations, the philosophy of aviation, or editorials on controversial subjects. But, those are my things so I expected him instead to tell me what he'd like me to write and give me a shot. See if I could grin and bear it; write about things I didn't want to yet still create something people would want to read. That, of course, did not happen. So, I pretty much resigned myself to not writing for anyone and moved on to underwater basket weaving.
Everything was going fine with my new found hobby and villagers from across the world were after my thatched containers when a new job offer came in. It was something I knew I had to do. Unfortunately, it meant I would be in training before, during, and after the fly-in. How would we pull it off? That was the question. Fortunately, as always, Ginger stepped up and crushed it; knocked it out of the park. Why someone hasn't hired her away is beyond me.
Anyway, during the event I received a new cap as thanks for contributing to the very group for which I had wanted to write. My brother also received a cap. Then a letter came from one of our Lee Bottom Family Members who also happens to be a Congressman fighting the good fight for aviation. He thanked me for my efforts, said great things about the event, and took the time to write a nice hand written addition to it.
What's important about all this is that although I only showed up late on Friday (after class) and left as soon as the event was over, I received all the thanks and none of these people thought to do anything special for Ginger. I'm not knocking them. I'm merely pointing out something we all do.
To be clear, none of these folks left Ginger out intentionally. In fact, since I was the contact person for all communications with these people it probably never even crossed their minds. It seemed only logical to address everything to me. Yet, once again I couldn't help but feel horrible.
A while back Ginger asked, "I wonder if Audrey ever felt overlooked?" I have no illusions of ever being anything close to Paul but I'm sure Ginger knows a lot about being Audrey. She must have felt very unappreciated at times despite all the friends who told her otherwise. People simply do not take the time to think about who actually makes it all happen and when they forget them it hurts. It also doesn't help that the people who make things work are often the type to suffer silently and move on. Eventually though, they do get tired of it all and quit. Ginger has already done that once but came back this year because there was no other option.
So what did all this have to do with writing for somebody else? If they had asked me today to give them an idea, I would have said, "I'll write about the people who make all this s__t happen, how to find them, and make sure they get the much deserved thanks." I'm sure there's at least one at every field.
PeeEss: During the fly-in, I was standing nearby when Douwe Blumberg came over to give Ginger a compliment. He said, "Ginger this is great, you didn't miss anything; you've thought of every detail." Later than night Ginger said to me, "Douwe came over to say thanks and I wasn't sure what to make of it. Then I saw his plane and thought that may be the nicest compliment I've ever received." If you've seen Douwe's Pietenpol, you'll understand. That man created something special and for him to compliment Ginger on her attention to details is truly a kind and well thought out compliment. Thanks Douwe. We both appreciated it and we both love your plane.


Archaeology and tangible heritage (artefacts, buildings and sites) have always played key roles in identity and nation-building in the Middle East. Yet scholars have yet to provide insights into what in the Middle East has historically been deemed of value, why, and for whom. Moreover, current notions of what 'cultural heritage' is and how it should be preserved are limited. The paper will treat preservation and destruction as historical phenomena, which were rarely exclusive, but rather connected and identified in crucial ways.


Watch out for scam emails that appear to be from TV Licensing, claiming new Direct Debit details need to be provided. The link in the email goes to a bogus website run by fraudsters. See here for advice from TV Licensing.


text:
Home Newswire The Same Ol' Afghan War Fallacies
The Same Ol' Afghan War Fallacies
Aug 31, 2017: 5:54 am
Unless President Trump can pull off a peace deal with the Taliban, his Afghan War policy is following the same bloody and futile path that his predecessors took, as ex-CIA analyst Paul R. Pillar describes.
By Paul R. Pillar
President Trump's statement on Afghanistan has numerous shortcomings. It portrays as a "new strategy" what is instead a familiar kicking of a can down the road. It combines Trump's habit of heaping blame on his predecessors with a warmed-over version of what those predecessors did in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump describing his policy toward the Afghan War, at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, on Aug. 21, 2017. (Screenshot from Whitehouse.gov)
It declares a determination to "win" while leaving one guessing as to exactly what a win would mean in Afghanistan. It fails to address underlying problems of governance in that country. It gives no basis for expecting or even hoping that the U.S. military expedition there will not go on forever.
Added to these features is a further notion that Trump shares with many others, including observers who in other respects are critical of his policy. This is the idea that there is a direct connection between extremists having a physical presence in a distant land and the United States facing a terrorist threat at home.
Trump used the term safe haven four times in his speech. He declared that the basic purpose of the military expedition in Afghanistan was, "We must stop the resurgence of safe havens that enable terrorists to threaten America."
One hears this same idea over and over. The current U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, General John W. Nicholson, Jr., says, "The requirement to keep pressure on these terror groups to prevent another attack on our homeland .?.?. fundamentally, that is why we are here." Such statements — and not only about Afghanistan — are minor rephrasing of the old notion of "fight them over there or else we'll have to fight them at home."
That notion is not valid, and never has been. The very physical distance involved works against the relevance of foreign havens to terrorist threats against the homeland. One cannot drive a…


text:
Q: Retrieve the latest data by using API link Goal:
Every time when I press the Button 'Test' you always need to fetch fresh data from backend by using API link. Then it should be displayed on the modalform.
Problem:
When I change the text in the input box or delete all text and then closing the modal and then click on the button Test again. The latest changes of what I have done would display. It shouldn't be happening because you always should get the latest data from backend by using API link.
Question:
How should the code always retrieve the data by using api link when you always press on the button 'test'?
Stackblitz:
https://stackblitz.com/edit/react-ts-byxk6x?file=index.tsx
Thank you!

index.tsx
import React, { FC, useState } from 'react';
import { render } from 'react-dom';
import './style.css';
import { TestModalForm } from './TestModalForm';

interface AppProps {}
interface AppState {
  name: string;
}

const App: FC<AppProps> = () => {
  return (

      <button data-bs-toggle="modal" data-bs-target="#myModal">
        Test
      </button>

      <TestModalForm />

  );
};

render(<App />, document.getElementById('root'));

TestModalForm.tsx
import React, { useState } from 'react';

export const TestModalForm = () => {
  const [inputid, setInputid] = useState('');
  const [inputTitle, setInputTitle] = useState('');

  React.useEffect(() => {
    async function FetchData() {
      var data = await fetch(
        'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1'
      ).then((res) => {
        return res.json();
      });
      setInputid(data.id);
      setInputTitle(data.title);
    }

    FetchData();
  }, []);

  const handleIdInput = (e: any) => {
    setInputid(e.target.value);
  };

  const handleTitleInput = (e: any) => {
    setInputTitle(e.target.value);
  };

  // Reset Input Field handler
  const resetInputField = () => {
    setInputid('');
    setInputTitle('');
  };

  return (

TEST

              <button
                type="button"
                className="btn-close btn-close-white"
                data-bs-dismiss="modal"
              ></button>

              <input
                type="text"
                className="form-control"
                placeholder="Id"
                value={inputid}
                onChange={handleIdInput}
              />

              <input
                type="text"
                className="form-control"
                placeholder="Title"
                value={inputTitle}
                onChange={handleTitleInput}
              />

              <button className="form-control" onClick={resetInputField}>
                Reset
              </button>

  );
};

A: A simple solution would be to introduce some state to the App component, updated by the test button being clicked, that could be passed to the TestMOdalForm to be used as an useEffect dependency.
It's also anti-pattern to mix async/await with Promise-chains. Pick one or the other.
Example:
const App: FC<AppProps> = () => {
  const [id, setId] = useState(0);

  return (

      <button
        data-bs-toggle="modal"
        data-bs-target="#myModal"
        onClick={() => setId((c) => c + 1)} // <-- update state upon click
      >
        Test
      </button>

      <TestModalForm id={id} /> // <-- pass state as prop

  );
};

...
const TestModalForm = ({ id }) => { // <-- destructure prop
  ...

  React.useEffect(() => {
    async function fetchData() {
      try {
        const response = await fetch(
          'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1'
        );
        const data = await response.json();

        setInputid(data.id);
        setInputTitle(data.title);
      } catch(error) {
        // handle any fetch rejections or other thrown errors
      }
    }

    fetchData();
  }, [id]); // <-- pass prop as dependency

  ...

  return (
    ...
  );
};


text:
Chen's party wins Taiwan poll
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party has won an election, securing a fresh mandate to pursue an independence-leaning policy towards rival China.
Relations with China dominated the election agenda
Although the National Assembly poll was held for the sole purpose of ratifying constitutional reforms already approved by parliament, relations with China dominated the agenda as the vote followed bridge-building visits by opposition leaders to the mainland.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won 42.52% of votes to affirm its standing as Taiwan's largest political party, figures from the Central Election Commission showed. The main opposition Kuomintang (Nationalist Party, KMT) finished with 38.92%.
"It helps ease pressure on Chen to improve relations with China," said Philip Yang, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University. "Chen can breathe a sign of relief."
China relations
However, he said the record low turnout - estimated at 23% - showed many people did not care about the poll.
China has sought to engage the
anti-independence KMT
With his political adversaries seeking to build relationships with rival China, Chen had been under rising pressure to find ways to break the ice with Beijing, which refuses to deal with him or his government because of their independence stance.
China claims the democratic island of 23 million as its own, and enacted an anti-secession law in March sanctioning war if Taiwan pushes for formal statehood.
China had sought to marginalise Chen by engaging the opposition KMT and People First Party (PFP), which both oppose Taiwan independence.
Demands toned down
In meetings with KMT leader Lien Chan and PFP leader James Soong, Beijing offered Taiwan a slew of economic incentives, aiming to win the hearts of the island's people.
Put on the defensive, Chen has toned down his independence views in recent months - angering some of his core supporters - but still rejects Beijing's cherished one China principle.
The poll had a record low turnout
of just 23% of the electorate
"With the DPP shrinking from its position on Taiwan independence and the KMT leader shaking hands with Hu Jintao in China, we need smaller parties to counter the China mania," said 82-year-old retiree Cheng Ah-lai.
Cheng braved heavy rain lashing most of Taiwan on Saturday to vote for the small Taiwan Solidarity Union, which advocates the creation of the Republic of Taiwan, but ended up with only 7.05% of votes. The PFP came fourth with 6.11%.
'Victory for Taiwan'
Analysts say the election has focused on China rather than the constitutional reforms because the two biggest parties, the DPP and KMT, support the changes. With 81% of the Assembly's 300 seats between them, the reforms are set to be approved.
The constitutional amendments will halve the size of the legislature, revamp the electoral system and introduce referendums to approve future changes to the constitution.
"It helps ease pressure on Chen to improve relations with China"
Philip Yang, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University
China fears Taiwan could use a referendum to assert independence.
"With more than half of the votes cast in favour of constitutional reform, this is a victory for democracy, a victory for reform and a victory for Taiwan," Chen said in a statement.
"Taiwan's 23 million people have once again overcome difficulties and written new history to deepen Taiwan democracy."
Independence boost
At the last national election in December, the legislative polls, the DPP had won 35.7% of votes compared to the KMT's 32%.
Chen's pro-independence policies got another boost earlier on Saturday when isolated Taiwan re-established ties with the
tiny Pacific island of Nauru, scoring a modest victory in the diplomatic tug of war with China.
The National Assembly, a legacy from Taiwan's former dual parliament system, is being formed only for the purpose of voting on the constitutional amendments, and will be dismantled by the end of the year.


Thanks to the internet, the indiscretion of some local government officials and the work of France's regional newspapers and radio stations, much of the 2009 Tour de France jigsaw puzzle had already been assembled before the route was officially unveiled in Paris on Wednesday.
We all knew that Mont Ventoux would be hosting a stage on the final Saturday, that the team time trial would return for the first time since 2005, and that it would be in Montpellier.
We knew that the race would visit Barcelona, that there would be summit finishes at Arcalis in Andorra and Verbier in Switzerland, and that the lake at Annecy would provide a stunning backdrop for a time trial towards the end of the final week.
There were very few surprises, which must have frustrated the organisers. Yet the Palais des Congres was packed, although the actual route of the Tour was not really the hot topic of conversation.
Instead, there was less a sense of excitement and anticipation. The towns, cities and mountains which will provide the battleground for next July's race are just names on a map at the moment. The visual picture of what the Tour de France has in store for us is incomplete.
We cannot say for certain who will be riding. We cannot be sure that the heroes of July 2009 will still be worthy of respect and admiration when the 2010 route is launched in October.
And that's because, for the third year in a row the video review Tour de France shown to the audience was not able tell the full story. Instead there had been some judicious editing to remove the less palatable moments from the story.
Riders who had brought the sport and the race into disrepute were removed, as if their contributions to the race had never happened. Two years ago the video ended with an image of Floyd Landis fracturing into a hundred pieces. Last year Michael Rasmussen, a double stage winner and yellow jersey wearer was simply cut out of the film.
The dramatic video that preceded the launch of the 2009 Tour de France route, concentrated on the exploits of Mark Cavendish, Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre and the others whose achievements are untainted.
There was no image of Stefan Schumacher winning either time trial stage. Nothing of him wearing the yellow jersey. Ricardo Ricco's victory at Super-Besse and his Pantani-esque attack on the Col d'Aspin were left out. The film concluded with a sequence of shots from the final podium in Paris cleverly cut together so that Bernhard Kohl, third place finisher and king of the mountains winner, did not appear.
This was the Director's Cut by Christian Prudhomme. "It is true that not every rider is featured in our film, but that's because we don't need to include these people," he said, explaining the necessity to simply cut the dopers out of the story again.
Schumacher, Kohl and Ricco certainly should not have been included, but the problem remains that we end up with a Pravda-style view of history that is recent enough for us to all remember accurately.
And so by acknowledging that Ricco and Schumacher and Kohl's achievements are effectively worthless, it becomes harder to look at the map and assess the climbs with any sense of excitement.
Super Saturday on Mont Ventoux should be an utterly mouth-watering prospect. It should offer a chance for the current generation of cycling fans to dream of a close finish to rival that of the epic LeMond-Fignon duel 20 years before.
The time trial in Monaco is bold and different, the return of the team time trial should suit the Garmin-Chipotle team. There are enough sprinting opportunities for British fans to get excited about Mark Cavendish's chances.
But the overall feeling is that we have had so much fake drama in the past three years that it is difficult to look ahead with much relish unless cycling can demonstrably prove that the drama is real.
Amaury Sport Organisation had not managed to airbrush its former president Patrice Clerc out of the picture. His name still featured on the official invitations, although his place on the stage was taken by his successor Jean-Etienne Amaury, son of Marie-Odile, who owns ASO.
Amaury touched on the theme of ethics. He said that the Tour's values would continue to be those of courage and honesty.
When the route was revealed, stage by stage, the overall impression was that this was an interesting route, gambling on the possibility of the race still being up for grabs when it reaches Mont Ventoux.
The route is very different to recent years and is about as far from the Jean-Marie Leblanc template as you can get. The opening time trial in Monaco is anything but a standard prologue as it climbs significantly during the first half before plummeting back down into Monte Carlo.
It will be good to see the team time trial back, particularly as it will count properly towards the general classification, doing away with the daft rule developed in 2004 and 2005.
There are three days in the Pyrenees, none of which really stands out as a classic. The Arcalis stage will be tentative, but it will be interesting to see how the riders cope with entering the big mountains as early as the first Friday. The next two stages are difficult in their own way, but long descents to the finish mean they may not play a huge part in the race for the yellow jersey.
The middle week looks lacklustre, so British fans will be relieved there are a few sprinting opportunities for Mark Cavendish. The general classification will relax into a state of suspended animation as they wait for the Alps.
Before that, an awkward day in the Vosges will keep everyone on their toes. No one can afford to relax, as Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel team found a few years ago.
Like the Pyrenees, the Alpine stages lack the wow-factor. Verbier hosts the only summit finish. The hidden gem is the monstrous 17th stage from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand Bornand, which takes in five mountains.
The time trial at Annecy will provide the penultimate battleground. It's only 40 kilometres long, which is a welcome change from the usual 55-kilometre marathon.
And then it's to Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. This is the headline stage, the crescendo the entire race will build to. It will be eagerly anticipated, but there is a danger the race could be done and dusted by then, negating its interest and impact.
It's easy to sympathise with the riders and managers who assemble for the route presentation as they answer the same questions with the same answers. What is there to say, really? The mountains are time trials are always key. It is never possible to look at the route in October, when everyone is looking forward to their holiday, and predict how the following July's race may turn out.
Instead, the hot topics of conversation were doping, Armstrong, Astana and doping again.
Germany's two broadcasters, ARD and ZDF, had key representatives in the auditorium. Both explained that a final decision over whether to show the 2009 Tour would be made in November, but that they were encouraged by ASO's continued willingness to take on the dopers.
Johan Bruyneel, who said he was confident of Astana's place in the 2009 race, and Alberto Contador were there. Lance Armstrong was not. Armstrong may, or may not, decide to ride, Bruyneel added but the real mission was to increase awareness of cancer.
The Tour route is what it is. The towns and villages it will visit on its three-week journey from Monaco to Paris can now wait eagerly for its arrival.
Only when the riders take to the roads on July 4 will the route come alive and we will see what impact it has on shaping the race.
It is great to study the route, consider the possible effect it could have on the race, and look forward with anticipation to the great mountain stages. But the reality of the modern Tour is that its aftermath is far more important than the build-up.
Let's hope ASO is not forced to blot out any of the 2009 Tour's key achievers when they come to present the 2010 route.


Airy interiors at London Plane. All photos by Anna Petrow.
Gentedimontagna contributing foodie photographer Anna Petrow ate her way through Seattle and sent us her shots and tasting notes.
What's great about Seattle is that it's a food town, has a nearby wine country, and is nestled in a beautiful outdoor landscape. Upscale or down-home, it's all very good. And when you take a detour — to the winery towns or the small islands off the coast – it becomes downright magical. Here's a quick list to help you get around.
We normally roll our eyes at tourists in line for any kind of food, but this Polish pastry stand has been serving handcrafted Russian pastries since 1992. Time does tell just how good they are. The poppy seed cinnamon roll with raisins and a touch of lemon is heavenly.
You could go for the views alone (the entire Seattle skyline lit up across the bay), but the Hawaiian-Korean fusion here is killer. Spam sandwiches and fresh fish tacos are a few highlights that pair well with their Hawaiian beer list or a Mai Kai Mai Tai.
Treat yourself to a shamelessly bougie lunch of oysters and steak tartare at this Capitol Hill hot spot. Take in the impossibly perfect interior design – hello, stunning mint tile floors – and sip on a glass of sparkling rosé champagne. Afterwards, explore the crazy hip neighborhood. Craft cocktail and wine bars are everywhere, and you won't be short on macaron ice cream sandwiches, either. Pop into Totokaelo for ultra-minimalist shopping and high-quality ceramics before you leave.
A Instagram lover's dream, the bright and airy restaurant serves the best brunch in Seattle. House-made bread is the star of many of their main dishes. Don't sleep on the toast options, like the spicy tahini, creamed greens, and fried egg. But you'll definitely want to save room for dessert from their impressive pastry case. They also have a darling flower stand and a curated selection of gifts for sale.
Stunning marble bar and mint tiled floors in Bar Melusin.
The most photogenic toast at London Plane.
Rarely do I find myself making repeat visits on a short trip, but E. Smith Mercantile was an outstanding exception to my rule. Nestled in the back of a hip local goods store, the bar feels intimate, local and a touch otherworldly, thanks to its dim lighting and saloon-like ambiance. The craft cocktail list is great, but quirky touches like artisanal jello shots really turn on the charm.
You don't have to leave the city to experience Washington wines. Hunker down and enjoy a guided tasting experience complete with seasonal small bites catered to each wine. You'll leave with a vast appreciation for the region and a bit of know-how on Walla Walla funk – the wildly bold and matchless flavors of grapes in the region.
Nestled near some of the quaint homes in the Fremont district, it's the perfect place to sample local brews. Take in the laid-back nature on the pleasantly crowded patio, which also welcomes dogs.
Great for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine on scenic Pioneer Square. The moody lighting, modern design, and on-point playlists make it a great place to hang for a while and people-watch out the windows.
Cherry Street Public House bar.
Edgy interiors at the W Seattle.
For the more minimalist crowd – a respite in the city with spacious rooms, massive fluffy white beds, and beautiful views of the fog over the sound in the morning. Have a bottle of Walla Walla Valley pinot noir waiting for you upstairs, and you might not leave the room. If you do, head to the rooftop bar with roaring fireplaces.
Homages to the Seattle music industry are everywhere. Wallpaper is made from an enlarged photograph of a Seattle-bred vinyl collection, and an on-site recording studio, the Sound Suite, is the ultimate party place for the musically inclined. If you make it to the Sound Suite, request the Queen Bey to get a bottle of Dom Perignon, champagne truffles, oysters, an eye mask, and fresh white florals delivered to the room. The appreciation for fine local cuisine extends all the way up to the room service menu, so order the charcuterie platter of the day.
Wake up early and head to the market around 8 a.m. before the tourists arrive, when the farmers, fish hawkers, and butchers will still be setting up. You'll have the chance to sample fruit and gawk at the insane collection of flowers. While you won't get the effect of Pike Place in full swing, we reckon you'll be fine with that.
The legacy of glass sculptor Dale Chihuly is truly impressive, and his process from sketch to finish is on display at the Gardens. Understanding the thought behind his craft is riveting, and viewing his work integrated into the garden is a perfect respite from the city.
Just 45 minutes outside the city lies the winery town of Woodinville, which you may find you enjoy more than Sonoma. The vibes are low-key, the views of lush farmland and rolling hills are breathtaking, and the wine is rich and earthy. In town, don't miss the , where you can sample the curated wines of the Schafer family, whose critically acclaimed wines spare no detail. Even the labels are thoughtfully designed, featuring artworks by Northwest masters. Watercolors on the estate wines are inspired by life on the vineyard and are hand-painted by the winemaker, Anna Schafer.
On the outskirts of Woodinville is the most ideal wine tasting venue you could possibly dream up, with a farm, insane views, and a beautiful yard chock-full of Adirondack chairs and string lights and live music. Swaddle yourself in a flannel blanket (the winery provides them) and get to work on their extensive wine selection. Be sure to pad your stomach with the excellent local charcuterie options – Glando's Sausage Co. dry cured salami and the exquisitely creamy Samish Bay Vache pair beautifully.
Drive three beautiful hours up north and find yourself on a remote island with orca whales, impressive hiking, and famed farm-to-table fare at Willows Inn.
Willows Inn tucked in to lush greenery.
Dale Chihuly's breathtaking glass sculptures.
Mathew's Winery on a classically foggy day.