Fashion and tradition combine in an exquisite scarf by Isidoro C'cahuantico. Crafted of an alpaca blend in classic black, it adds elegance to the winter wardrobe. Lightweight alpaca wool is a luxurious fleece renowned for its warmth.
Artfully crafted by Isidoro C'cahuantico from Andes.
"I became enamored with the textile arts at first sight... My curiosity led me into the world of textiles, looms and weaves."
Isidoro C'cahuantico Mendoza was born on April 4, 1954, in a village near Cuzco. During the 1970s, he was forced to migrate when terrorist activities swept his region. Accepting various jobs, he soon found himself working as a janitor in a textile factory.
"I was completely fascinated with the work they were doing!" Isidoro recalls. "I became enamored with the textile arts at first sight.
"At night, when everyone had gone home and I was left alone to sweep and clean, I began to look at the looms and machines and to experiment with them, just out of curiosity. Some days later, one of the weavers complained to the supervisor that his machine was never the way he'd left it the night before. The owner asked who kept adjusting the loom, and was surprised beyond belief to learn that the culprit was me!
"She asked me why I was using the loom, and I replied that I wanted to learn to weave. She said that if I really wanted to learn, I should learn to assemble one of the spare looms in the warehouse.
"That was one of the most important and memorable moments in my life! My curiosity led me into the world of textiles, looms, knits and weaves.
"That was the beginning of a vocation, a great gift that I have now also passed along to my children. My two older children work with me, weaving and knitting fine alpaca textiles, and my daughter does the best crochet work I have ever seen. I hope all of my four children eventually develop my same love and passion for weaving!
"I would like to assure Novica customers that every garment we create carries with it our creativity and hard work. Your appreciation for our work motivates us to continue perfecting our skills and our art!"


text:
news, national,
A Newcastle pole dancer will perform a routine at Gregson Park on Friday night with a powerful message in mind. "If I got through a domestic violence relationship, anyone can get through it. It's hard: you fall and you fail but you've got to keep picking yourself back up," the pole dancer and dance teacher, who goes by the stage name Scarlett Lea, said. "Eventually, you will realise you are enough." The 28-year-old will be one of the performers to take to the stage at the city's annual Reclaim the Night event, to be held at the park in Hamilton. The global event highlights the rights of women and children to live without experiencing violence, intimidation, harassment and sexual abuse. It has been marked in cities around the world since 1977. Last year Newcastle's iteration of the event brought together more than 200 women. Marches will also take place in Lake Macquarie and Maitland on Friday. Scarlett said she was approached by the event's organisers to perform her routine, after she devised the dance for a competition. "I felt too strongly about it to not do it," she said. Scarlett said performing it for the first time had allowed her to gain closure on her experiences in a prior relationship. "I left everything on that stage," she said. "I had people who didn't even know me come up to me afterwards at the end who were very emotional." Scarlett said she hoped her dance, which ends with her revealing the message "enough" on her crop top, communicated that "it's never okay to make someone think they are less than you", no matter their gender. "Domestic violence is not just a male to female thing, anyone can do it to anyone," she said. Scarlett began going to pole dancing classes eight years ago with her mother, who was 52-years-old at the time. The pair are now both instructors at Pol-Arise dance studio in Newcastle. Scarlett said she "drew strength" from pole dancing. When she began learning the craft she had recently been discharged from hospital with symptoms that would later be revealed as stage one bladder cancer. She is now in remission from the disease. "Dancing helped me to start getting my body image back," she said. "It helped me see that being strong is what is important. "The girls are so supportive [at the studio] you develop belief in yourself, which transfers into your real life. "If I can hang upside down just by holding on with one leg, then I can do anything in the world." Scarlett said she will be staying after her performance on Friday to talk with attendees who may have concerns about their own relationships. "It's hard to ask for help, I really struggled with that a lot. It takes a lot of bravery to say to yourself and others, 'No, I've had enough, I want to this to stop.'" For help call: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/phoebe.moloney%40fairfaxmedia/203baa07-6121-44d1-a983-b7c8f37e1cb6.jpg/r0_200_4321_2641_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
October 23 2019 - 1:30PM
Pole dance Scarlett Lea to perform anti-domestic violence routine at Newcastle's Reclaim the Night
Phoebe Moloney
ENOUGH: Newcastle pole dancer and instructor who goes by the stage name Scarlett Lea hopes her dance highlights an important message. Picture: Simone De Peak
A Newcastle pole dancer will perform a routine at Gregson Park on Friday night with a powerful message in mind.
"If I got through a domestic violence relationship, anyone can get through it. It's hard: you fall and you fail but you've got to keep picking yourself back up," the pole dancer and dance teacher, who goes by the stage name Scarlett Lea, said.
"Eventually, you will realise you are enough."
The 28-year-old will be one of the performers to take to the stage at the city's annual Reclaim the Night event, to be held at the park in Hamilton.
The global event highlights the rights of women and children to live without experiencing violence, intimidation, harassment and sexual abuse. It has been marked in cities around the world since 1977. Last year Newcastle's iteration of the event brought together more than 200 women.
Marches will also take place in Lake Macquarie and Maitland on Friday.
Scarlett said she was approached by the event's organisers to perform her routine, after she devised the dance for a competition.
"I felt too strongly about it to not do it," she said.
Scarlett said performing it for the first time had allowed her to gain closure on her experiences in a prior relationship.
"I left everything on that stage," she said. "I had people who didn't even know me come up to me afterwards at the end who were very emotional."
Scarlett said she hoped her dance, which ends with her revealing the message "enough" on her crop top, communicated that "it's never okay to make someone think they are less than you", no matter their gender.
"Domestic violence is not just a male to female thing, anyone can do it to anyone," she said.
Scarlett began going to pole dancing classes eight years ago with her mother, who was 52-years-old at the time. The pair are now both instructors at Pol-Arise dance studio in Newcastle.
Scarlett said she "drew strength" from pole dancing.
When she began learning the craft she had recently been discharged from hospital with symptoms that would later be revealed as stage one bladder cancer. She is now in remission from the disease.
If I can hang upside down just by holding on with one leg, then I can do anything in the world.
Scarlett Lea
"Dancing helped me to start getting my body image back," she said. "It helped me see that being strong is what is important.
"The girls are so supportive [at the studio] you develop belief in yourself, which transfers into your real life.
"If I can hang upside down just by holding on with one leg, then I can do anything in the world."
Scarlett said she will be staying after her performance on Friday to talk with attendees who may have concerns about their own relationships.
"It's hard to ask for help, I really struggled with that a lot. It takes a lot of bravery to say to yourself and others, 'No, I've had enough, I want to this to stop.'"
For help call: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
This story 'You are enough': Pole dancer calls time on domestic abuse first appeared on Newcastle Herald.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Black grapes mixed with curd and a creamy drink in your hands. Pour angoori lassi over ice cubes and enjoy.
Roast cumin seeds and crush them into fine powder.
Add all ingredients along with cumin powder in a blender and blend them well to make angoori lassi.
Pour the lassi in a glass and garnish it with chopped grapes. Serve chilled.


text:
A look at three families receiving pioneering cancer treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital, including a girl taking a new targeted drug and a toddler awaiting a stem cell transplant
Sign in to play
Documentaries | First shown: Wed 9 Sep 2020 | 47 mins
Behind the scenes at The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer specialist hospital, as surgeons attempt pioneering treatments trying to save lives
Super Surgeons: A Chance at Life
The extraordinary moving story of Toni Crews, a young mum with a rare terminal cancer who charted her illness online before donating her body for medical research and public dissection
My Dead Body
People affected by cancer share their personal and moving stories
Stand Up To Cancer: Personal Stories
Journalist Jon Snow crosses the globe, visiting communities in Greece, Japan and California where residents live years longer, to find out the secrets of a long, happy and healthy life
How to Live to 100
Moving films for Stand Up To Cancer following The Wanted's Tom Parker as he and his family come to terms with Tom's brain tumour diagnosis and Tom arranges a star-studded charity concert
Tom Parker: Inside My Head
Emergency doctor Dr Ronx asks why more men than women are dying of Covid-19. Cancer and HIV too. Dr Ronx also challenges many dangerous gender assumptions in medicine that impact on women's health.
Are Women the Fitter Sex?
More children than ever are being diagnosed with mental health disorders. This series goes behind the scenes at the Tavistock and Portman, which is at the forefront of exploring young people's minds.
Kids on the Edge
Scarlett Moffatt investigates the rise of Tourette's in Britain, as she uncovers the potential causes of this explosion of tics and why it's appearing out of the blue in young people
Britain's Tourette's Mystery...


My maternal grandmother passed away on Tuesday. She was 92—born the same day the Allies beat back German forces in the Battle of Amiens during World War I.
I had done a bad job of staying in touch with her in recent years, and I don't have any especially good reasons for that other than work and smothering adulthood. Neither is an acceptable excuse for not visiting or picking up the phone once in a while. I should have made the time. Honestly, I became a pretty bad grandson.
I know that sounds grim. But I'm writing this under the Wildlife Promise banner because of the few conversations we did have in recent years—in fact, because of the last conversation I had with her when I visited this past weekend.
Almost verbatim, that was the main thing. The conversations grew shorter and shorter, to the point that that single sentence was often the only thing of substance she said other than 'hello' or 'goodbye.' Over time, it became the main thing that she remembered about me, and eventually the main thing that I remembered about my time with her.
Maybe that was by design, how she preferred to see me in her mind's eye: not as the somewhat sullen young adult who had proven notoriously bad at sticking to routine phone calls, but as the little kid who spent a big part of every visit trying to (temporarily) capture grasshoppers and ladybugs in the lot behind her plain apartment building near Reading, PA. This memory became doubly important when she was no longer able to spend time outdoors herself. She missed that most of all.
I'm glad she pictured me that way as she grew older, on my knees with nature instead of sitting in front of a computer all day. It made her happy.
In Grandma's honor, I think I'll look for some good bugs when it gets a little warmer outside (beaucoup stink bugs to come, I hear). I'd ask that you do the same, and encourage a kid you know to do it too. Just be sure to catch and release.
Visit our outdoor activities page for more ideas.


Located next to the bank in the Lovakengj House blast mine.
Found in the northern part of the Lovakengh House blast mine.
Found next to the lovakite furnace in the Lovakengj House.
Located next to the mithril rock in the Lovakengj mine.
Located western entrance in the Lovakengj House's sulphur mine.
Located south-east of the bank in the Shayzien House.
Found on the overpass between the Lovakengj and Shayzien houses.
Located east of the ladder within Lizardman Canyon. Required: 5% favour with the Shayzien House.
Found south-east of the combat ring at Shayzien House.
Located north-west of the bank in the Shayzien House.
Found north-west of the Arceuus House library.
Located by the entrance of the Arceuus House church.
Found west of the Dark Altar.
Located by the southern entrance to the Arceuus House.
Found by the Arceuus essense mine.
Found north-east of the Arceuus essence mine.
Located south of the Piscarilius mine.
Located south of The Golden Field tavern in the northern area of Great Kourend's Hosidius House.
Found east of the mess hall.
Found south of Watson's house.
Located north ov Vannah's farm store between the chicken coop and willow trees.


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text:
Retention sought for Fannie, Freddie
Published: May 31, 2006 at 3:06 p.m. ET
Robert Schroeder
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should retain records to allow regulators an on-demand look at the books of the two big mortgage companies, a federal agency said Wednesday.
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, or Ofheo, said that Fannie FNM, +1.94% and Freddie FRE, -1.69% should keep "complete and accurate" records that are readily accessible for examination.
The proposal comes a week after Ofheo and the Securities and Exchange Commission fined Fannie Mae $400 million for breaking accounting rules to maximize executives' bonuses. Freddie Mac also has been plagued by an accounting scandal and is still getting back to regular financial reporting. Read about Freddie's latest results.
"Under the proposal, the enterprises will have an obligation to maintain and promptly produce records useful in regulatory examinations and other proceedings," said Ofheo director James Lockhart.
There is a 60-day comment period on the proposal.
Separately, a House Financial Services subcommittee said Wednesday that Lockhart is scheduled to testify June 6 on Ofheo's report about Fannie Mae's accounting missteps.
Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., said he hopes that the Ofheo report will spur legislation tightening rules on the companies, which buy mortgages and free up lending capital at banks.
"Ofheo's examination of Fannie Mae revealed breaches of propriety and judgment so deplorable in nature and pervasive in reach that it's almost as if we were barely scratching the surface," Baker commented Wednesday.
The House has passed legislation creating a new regulator for Fannie and Freddie, but the Senate has yet to agree on a bill. Some analysts believe that time is running out to pass legislation before the upcoming elections this fall.
Robert Schroeder is the Washington bureau chief for MarketWatch. Follow him on Twitter @mktwrobs.


Founders Brewing – Trigo Hoppy Wheat Lager!
Founders has released their beer commemorating Art Prize for 2018 and this time around, it's Trigo – a hoppy american lager. I know 2017's Green Zebra was a really big favorite of mine last year – it basically opened the door to the world of sours for me. Will Trigo do the same thing with lagers for you? Stay tuned to find out!


9Apps store refer to you online shop where customer can download games and software application. The application may be free or premium. It worked on cloud base so that users can access data. The main function of this application is to provide access of content wire free client platform that is web browser. 9Apps is an alternate choice of Google Play Store.
An online place where users can download applications for their work need, entertainment, education and games. when nineApps(9apps) stored in your device you can browse many applications and game for your Android mobile. Ek group the popular/trends apk at the top of the section so that you can easily find out which application are most used by mobile user.
9Apps reacts the way you search whether it's about game, software, learning, wallpaper or just finding more. You will Discover each time new apps and game which you are passionate about the simple and easy search of finding application make 9Apps one of the most accessible Store for Android user.
Are you passionate about new games in your mobile, then use 9Apps and download latest software of games for free.


Nokia recently launched its Nokia X7 mobile phone in China a few months back.
Now, the global variant has been spotted under the name Nokia 8.1. This is likely to be a successor to the Google Android One program based Nokia 7 Plus. Expected to launch on November 28, it will be priced at ₹23,999.


text:
Q: Smoothing inside the null-space of a partial differential operator Here is a fundamental question on PDEs whose answer must be known but is not easy to find:
Let $(Lu)(x) := \sum_{|\alpha|\leq m} c_\alpha(x)\partial_x^\alpha u(x)$ be a partial differential operator with boundedly smooth coefficients $c_\alpha\in C_b^\infty(\Bbb R^n)$. (Then $L:\mathcal D'(\Bbb R^n)\to\mathcal D'(\Bbb R^n)$ is well-defined and continuous.) Assume that $u\in W^{k,p}(\Bbb R^n)$ with $k\in\Bbb N$ and $1\leq p < \infty$ satisfies $Lu=0$. Does there exist for every $\epsilon>0$ such $u_\epsilon\in C^\infty(\Bbb R^n)$ that $\Vert u_\epsilon - u\Vert_{W^{k,p}(\Bbb R^n)}<\epsilon$ and $Lu_\epsilon=0$?
The constant coefficient case (at least with $p=2$) is very easy to obtain using frequency cutting, and my guess is that this idea generalizes. Thanks in advance for a reference or a proof sketch. (My knowledge of $\Psi DO$s is limited, but it would be enlightening to see if their basic theory is applicable here and if this result holds for them as well.)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


His family, based in Australia and the UK, feared he had been spirited away.
Mr Chau, 69, is an Australian citizen and retired small businessman from Sydney who fled Vietnam by boat in 1982. He once fought alongside US troops during the Vietnam War and is a long-time pro-democracy and human rights activist.
It is a devotion that led him to cross from Cambodia into Vietnamese territory in what would prove to be an ill-fated "fact-finding" mission.
"I was most worried about him disappearing," his son Dennis Chau, 29, told the ABC from the United Kingdom.
"[My mum] always tries to be strong … but I can tell how she's breaking down."
Mr Chau was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on January 15 after meeting with a civil society activist.
Now, he is under investigation for alleged activities against Vietnam's communist Government — an offence that can carry the death penalty in the most serious cases.
He is also being denied access to a lawyer.
Photo Mr Chau and his wife met in Australia after fleeing Vietnam as refugees in the 1980s.
Dennis said the news his father had been detained, however distressing, was a slight relief as at least he hadn't disappeared.
Mr Chau's family suspected he was on some kind of Government watch list for his pro-democracy activities.
In fact, it was something they used to joke about, when the concept of arrest was inconceivable.
"I just didn't imagine it would ever happen — I was shocked," Dennis said.
In a statement, Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang confirmed that "Chau Van Kham is currently detained and under investigation for violating Vietnamese laws", but declined to specify which laws had been breached.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told the ABC it was providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Vietnam, but for privacy reasons was unable to provide further details.
Photo Amnesty International estimates there are more than 100 prisoners of conscience in Vietnam's jails today.
But a DFAT report to the family following Mr Chau's sole consular visit on January 28, seen by the ABC, reveals the Australian retiree is being investigated under Article 109 — which refers to alleged operations to overthrow the Government.
Nestled between "high treason" and "espionage" in Vietnam's criminal code, Article 109 says that a person who joins an organisation that acts against the people's Government can be punished with 12 to 20 years behind bars, life imprisonment or death.
Suspected accomplices face lesser penalties, ranging from 12 months to 12 years in prison.
Mr Chau is also being investigated for allegedly breaching Article 341, which pertains to fabricating documents. Vietnamese authorities allege he used a fake Vietnamese identity card to enter the country.
As Mr Chau's alleged crimes fall under national security breaches, he will be denied legal representation until after the investigation is already complete in late May, purportedly "to protect the secrecy" of the process.
Mr Chau was videotaped during the consular visit, prompting concerns that he wouldn't be able to speak freely with Australian officials.
The family is also concerned about his ongoing health issues, including high cholesterol and prostatitis.
Photo Chau Van Kham, pictured last year with his wife, Trang Chau, has lived in Australia since 1982.
Dennis said he and his family were grappling with the reality of having their father incarcerated under a judicial system that seems so far removed from Australia's.
"It's not a law system that you're used to. You don't know what to expect … [is he] going to be mistreated in jail?" Dennis said.
"If he does eventually come home, is he going to be the same? Or is he going to be frail or broken? I just don't know."
In a YouTube clip, Mr Chau shares his experience of surviving the 1968 Tet offensive as a 19-year-old student in Hue, where thousands of civilians were killed en masse by the Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces.
Photo While it was often a struggle in their early years in Sydney, the family saw Australia as a land of opportunity.
But to his sons, Mr Chau is simply known as dad.
Arriving on Australian shores in 1982, Mr Chau became a citizen the following year. He met his wife, Trang, who came to Australia in 1983.
They married in 1986 and had two sons, Daniel, 31, and Dennis, 29.
The family lived above the Sydney laundry shop Mr Chau ran until he opened a bakery.
"When he came to Australia, he thought it was all about opportunities he wouldn't get in Vietnam," Dennis said.
"He was always working ridiculously long hours, and it was always a bit of a struggle."
But weekends were for spending time with his sons — taking them to the beach, playing tennis and going swimming.
In his retirement, Mr Chau became an active member of Viet Tan, a group branded a "terrorist force" and outlawed in Vietnam.
Photo Mr Chau's family describe him as someone who cares deeply about democracy and freedom.
But the chairman Do Hoang Diem rejected any suggestion of terrorism, saying the group aims "to promote democracy and human rights in Vietnam through non-violent civic action".
He said Vietnam had "unleashed a severe crack down on dissidents" in the past three years and Mr Chau was gathering on-the-ground information about its impact.
"When facing such a lawless regime, dissidents and activists on their black list have no choice but to resort to finding other ways to enter Vietnam," he said.
In a statement, Viet Tan said the Vietnamese Government often used arbitrary detention and "fabricated accusations to defame" the group, adding that Mr Chau had been "attacked" in a state-owned media outlet and his address had been published as "a tactic to intimidate his family".
"Chau Van Kham has undoubtedly faced emotional duress and even forced confession," it said.
Amnesty International estimates there are more than 100 prisoners of conscience in jail in Vietnam today, many of whom are slapped with lengthy prison terms after "farcical trials".
Vietnam has "a terrible record of targeting people who peacefully say what they think", an Amnesty spokesperson told the ABC in a statement.
"A simple meeting or even a Facebook post could land you years in jail."
Sentences are often pre-determined before trial for those cast as "enemies of the state" and "torture is often used by interrogators".
Photo Mr Chau's family have been told DFAT is working on his case.
Reflecting on his father's activism, Dennis said he often asked why he continued to advocate for human rights and democracy in a country where he no longer lived.
His father told him it was because people don't have basic freedoms in Vietnam.
"I think that motivates him to do it. He's always been very, very passionate about it," Dennis said.
"He's always put other people ahead of himself."


text:
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Second blood-vessel-growth protein implicated in PDR
Targeting the blood-vessel-growth protein angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) along with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy could increase the effectiveness of treatments for the prevention of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), according to researchers at The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.
Targeting the blood-vessel-growth protein angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) along with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy could increase the effectiveness of treatments for the prevention of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), according to researchers at The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. A summary of their study appeared online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in working-age adults in the United States. According to the National Eye Institute, 40 to 45% of Americans with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy.
Further reading: Glaucoma drug granted orphan status
Laser-sealing eye blood vessels can save central vision, but can also sacrifice peripheral and night vision, according to Akrit Sodhi, MD, Ph.D., an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Several recently developed drugs - bevacizumab, ranibizumab and aflibercept - work by blocking the action of VEGF, a growth factor released as part of a chain of signals in response to low oxygen levels, which stimulates the growth of new, often abnormal, blood vessels. But studies have shown that although these drugs slow progression to PDR, they do not always reliably prevent it. In addition, the anti-VEGF therapies have shown some success delaying the development of PDR, but they don't work for all patients.
Reporting on a study with lab-grown human cells, researchers say that blocking a second blood vessel growth protein - ANGPTL4 -together with VEGF could increase the effectiveness of the treatment for these patients.
The researchers tested levels of VEGF in samples of fluid from the eye taken from healthy people, people with diabetes who did not have diabetic retinopathy, and people with diabetic retinopathy of varying severity.
Next: Results
While levels of VEGF tended to be higher in those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, some of their fluid had less VEGF than did that of the healthy participants. But even the low-VEGF fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy stimulated blood vessel growth in lab-grown cells.
"The results suggested to us that although VEFG clearly plays an important role in blood vessel growth, it's not the only factor," Dr. Sodhi said.
A series of experiments in lab-grown human cells and mice revealed that when the researchers blocked the action of both VEGF and ANGPTL4 in fluid from the eyes of people with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, it markedly reduced blood vessel growth in lab-grown cells.
If a drug can be found that safely blocks the second protein's action in patients' eyes, it might be combined with the anti-VEGF drugs to prevent many cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, Dr. Sodhi suggested.
The team is now investigating whether ANGPTL4 might also play a role in other eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, which destroys the central portion of the retina.
The researchers said that although they cannot rule out a contribution from other angiogenic factors in the promotion of retinal neovascularization in patients with PDR, the results from this study suggest that targeting both ANGPTL4 and VEGF may be necessary for effective treatment or prevention of PDR. Accordingly, the next step should be the development of anti-ANGPTL4 therapies. They noted that this will require the identification of the relevant endothelial cell receptor through which ANGPTL4 mediates its pathological effects in the retina.
The researchers added that this study demonstrated that aqueous fluid levels of ANGPTL4 correlate very well with the levels of ANGPTL4 in the vitreous, which suggests that ANGPTL4 levels in the aqueous fluid could serve as a diagnostic biomarker to help predict the level of diabetic eye disease in vulnerable populations.
Next: "Relatively straightforward"
"Acquiring aqueous fluid from patients is relatively straightforward and poses limited risks on patients, and although there is considerable overlap of VEGF levels in aqueous fluid of control patients, diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy, and diabetics with no-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or PDR, ANGPTL4 levels were strongly predictive of the presence or absence of PDR," the researchers wrote.
"Although therapies targeting the potent angiogenic mediator vascular endothelial growth factor have been remarkably successful for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, this approach has not proven sufficient to prevent the development of retinal neovascularization, implicating additional angiogenic factor(s) in PDR pathogenesis," the researchers concluded. "We demonstrate here that angiopoietin-like 4 is a potent angiogenic mediator with markedly increased expression in the eyes of PDR patients. Our studies identify a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ocular neovascular disease and may have broad implications for the treatment of other diseases dependent on pathologic angiogenesis."


text:
Great Energy Challenge
Hurricane Sandy Is Ushering in a Smarter Power System
Written with Craig Lewis
It's ironic that a storm whose widespread blackouts left millions of Americans in the dark is finally helping us see the light.
Hurricane Sandy brought devastation and loss to the Eastern seaboard. The storm exposed the severe vulnerability of our electricity infrastructure and made global headlines as a harbinger of nature's impacts in a climate changed world.
Beyond the shock, New Yorkers found a silver lining in the destruction. The storm made crystal clear that the existing electricity system is not suited to address the challenges of the 21st century. In response, New York State recently released a powerful report illuminating how it plans to create a more affordable, efficient and more reliable grid.
Titled Reforming the Energy Vision, this game-changing document calls for a new approach to generating, managing, and delivering electricity throughout New York. The state proposes to replace aging infrastructure by investing nearly $30 billion over the next decade to develop a smarter electricity system. State officials, seeing the performance and cost benefits, are moving quickly to put this vision into action.
Central to the new strategy is replacing two obsolete paradigms: that the model of centralized generation combined with long-distance transmission is the most cost-effective option, and that utility customers should only consume – not produce – grid services.
When it comes to the electricity system, Sandy helped to make clear that bigger isn't always better. To expand grid services, we have historically incentivized utilities to build large power plants and big transmission infrastructure. This has led to an inefficient and overly expensive electricity system.
States across the country have built significantly bigger systems than necessary. For example, New York's electricity system uses just 60 percent of the electricity it is capable of generating, on average, because many power plants operate only a small number of hours each year when demand for electricity is highest. Additionally, roughly 10 percent of transmission-dependent power is lost because of inefficiencies associated with power traveling long distances. New Yorkers, as a result, pay more for electricity than they should.
Now, smart information systems, energy efficiency, and local renewables are challenging this centralized paradigm in terms of performance and costs. These distributed energy resources can provide resilient, affordable electricity services driven by private investment and innovation. Universities are often ideal demonstration sites for these new power systems: The 38 megawatt Cornell University microgrid and the 12 megawatt facility for New York University are both examples that are performing well and changing perceptions of the historical divide between producer and consumer of energy.
To unleash distributed energy resources in New York, officials are redefining the relationship between utilities, their customers, and the power grid. Rather than simply providing energy as a commodity, New York now sees its utilities as businesses that can be incentivized to provide electricity as a service. Moving forward utilities will manage the grid as a platform where innovative businesses compete to provide grid services. The result can be drastically improved performance of the electricity system and reduced costs for everyone.
New York is on the right track and leading the nation towards a clean, efficient and reliable electricity system. Yet, even more should be done. Smart, 'two-way' meters in every home allow effective demand management, while competitive rates of payment to all licensed grid service providers can drive competition and innovation, which benefits consumers.
Greater support for distributed generation will power economic growth – producing more jobs per dollar invested than traditional power plants. And deployment of local renewables can be accomplished at remarkable speed enabling a transition to a zero-carbon electricity system in as little as two decades, according to our studies.
Nationally, our electricity system is outdated – and so are the policies that continue to determine its development. Although it's not easy to change century-old paradigms and infrastructure, New York is embracing this challenge head on. Hurricane Sandy was a devastating storm, but it is spurring a shift towards a cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable power. Hopefully, these winds of change reach well beyond New York's borders.


Starts blooming very early and will bloom all summer in our cool summer gardens, even at 1,700 feet elevation.
All parts of plant are poisonous to varmints; leave this one alone. Combine with Epimedium, Cornus canadensis, hosta, Festuca 'Elija Blue'.
Height x Width: 12-18" x 10-14"


Worm Gear Motor, WG3929 φ43mm - KING RIGHT MOTOR CO., LTD.
KING RIGHT MOTOR CO., LTD is one of the leading company in DC Motor industry with its high quality and competitive price. We provide 12V DC Motor and Brushless DC Motor. Our goal is to provide customers products of high quality, competitive price and superior services.


text:
#region Using

using System;

#endregion

namespace Emotion.Platform.Implementation.Win32.Wgl
{
    [Flags]
    public enum WglContextFlags
    {
        DebugBitArb = 0x00000001,
        ForwardCompatibleBitArb = 0x00000002,
        CoreProfileBitArb = 0x00000001,
        CompatibilityProfileBitArb = 0x00000002
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Titles similar to Biodiversity
Biodiversity Eco Facts
Planet Ark
Ecosystems at Risk
Top 10 Books on the Environment & Sustainability for Youth: 2020
Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth with Environmental Science Activities for Kids
By Laura Perdew.
Illus. by Tom Casteel.
Mar. 2019. 122p. Nomad, $22.95 (9781619307483); Nomad, paper, $17.95 (9781619307513). Grades 4-8. 333.95.
REVIEW. First published April 1, 2019 (Booklist).
Nomad applies its dependable activity-book format to the new Build It Environmental Science series (4 titles). Here biodiversity is placed under the microscope—sometimes literally—in a text that makes daunting concepts, such as evolution, levels of biodiversity (genetic, species, or ecosystem), and why biodiversity matters, easy to understand without sacrificing scientific precision. The book is divided into six chapters, and readers will explore different aspects of the topic through accessible writing, photo illustrations and diagrams, sidebar vocabulary definitions, and primary-source videos linked by QR code. An "Essential Question" is also posed at the beginning and end of each chapter to aid reading comprehension and critical thinking; additionally, four to five thoughtfully designed activities utilizing scientific methods conclude every chapter and, in some cases, offer learners an arts-based activity. Activities include making your own microscope, collecting soil samples, and dissecting a candy bar, to name a few. By book's end, readers will truly understand what biodiversity is, its importance to the health of the planet, and humans' impact on the complex natural systems where it thrives.
Find more titles by Laura Perdew
Find more titles by Tom Casteel
Books For Youth - Nonfiction - Science


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Home » Sustainability increasingly a focus in emerging ingredient technologies
Sustainability increasingly a focus in emerging ingredient technologies
Photo: Calyxt, Inc.
By Keith Nunes
KANSAS CITY — An exciting array of novel ingredients are in development that may one day deliver benefits that allow food manufacturers to further improve their environmental footprint as well as the functional and sensory benefits of products. The potential advancements align with consumer concern about climate change and interest in sustainability.
Consumer research conducted by the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business found consumers view sustainability as encompassing both environmental and social factors. Issues consumers listed as most important include minimizing environmental impact, renewable energy, reducing waste, minimizing exploitation of natural resources, reducing carbon footprint, coming together as a community for the greater good, working in ways that benefit society at large, protecting human rights and reducing poverty.
Companies are investing in technologies that address some of the concerns. Unilever PLC, for example, is partnering with Algenuity, a startup, to research the viability of microalgae as an ingredient in food and beverages. Microalgae are microscopic plants, and Algenuity believes its ingredients could serve as a source for plant-based protein in the marketplace. If successful, the endeavor may have a positive environmental impact through reduced use of fertilizers, water and energy.
Calyxt, Inc. plans to license its Talen gene-editing technology. Gene editing gives developers the ability to make precise changes in the DNA of living organisms by removing, introducing or substituting nucleotides at specific sites within the genome. The company is in discussions on the development of wellness and sustainability traits for a variety of plants, including high-fiber wheat, low THC hemp for fiber, food and CBD, and cold tolerant oats and pulses with improved flavor and protein profile.
"Discussions with potential partners have focused on our development of plant-based input solutions for specific downstream issues, including regulatory compliance, sustainability goals, consumer preferences, cost and quality," said James A. Blome, chief executive officer.
Motif FoodWorks uses biotechnology to replicate proteins from dairy products, eggs and meat for use in the formulation of plant-based meat alternatives. Supported by over $100 million in funding, the startup, among other initiatives, is creating a plant-based fat that performs in a similar fashion to animal-based fat. Success has the potential to improve product quality and accelerate the development of plant-based meat alternatives.
Then there is the potential of cultured animal proteins generated from animal cells to displace meat production. After years of research and development, product has not yet reached the market. But cultured animal protein companies continue to attract investment funding — more than $77 million in 2019, 63% more than what was raised in 2018. In the first quarter of 2020, the companies raised $189 million, more than the amount invested in the category's prior history. At scale, the technology could cut into the market share of the animal agriculture industry and reduce meat's impact on the environment.
Each one of these ingredient technologies stands out for its potential as an innovative and entrepreneurial achievement. As with all startups, success is not assured, but the fact such technologies are advancing with a sustainability component built into their mission highlights how the issue has grown from a topic of consumer interest to a promising market ingredient suppliers appear determined to satisfy.
Sustainability in ingredient sourcing becoming a critical issue
Ingredient suppliers investing in free-from technologies
Saturated fat reduction a focus in the U.K.
Premium becoming more of a focus in private label
Mintel identifies emerging trends in North America


Thorhall is grateful when he hears the ferocious Glam is willing to be his shepherd. But when a fight with a monster leaves Glam dead, his ghost begins to haunt Shadow Vale. Who will be brave enough to confront the wicked spectre? The hero Grettir thinks he may be in with a chance. Will he manage to defeat Glam?
"This thrilling Icelandic myth . . . introduces readers to new lands and cultures in an accessible way [and] features some terrific characters that will bring to life a world of myth and legend."
"Stroud narrates this classic monster smackdown with gusto. Give it a wallop."


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1 Contributi su Rivista
Investigation of the effects of mechanochemical treatment on NaAlH4 based anode materials for Li-ion batteries
Sodium alanate has proven to be a feasible candidate for electrochemical applications. Within a lithium cell, NaAlH4 closely approaches its theoretical capacity of 1985 mAhg-1 upon the first discharge. Despite its high specific capacity, NaAlH4 suffers from poor cycle efficiency, mostly due to the severe volume expansion following the conversion reaction and resulting in damage to electrode mechanical integrity with loss of electrical contact. Synthesis of an appropriate composite alanate/carbon by high energy ball milling demonstrates an ability to mitigate these deleterious effects, whereby large improvements in terms of electrochemical reversibility can be achieved. In order to highlight the effects of mechanochemical treatment on the electrochemical properties of NaAlH4, new insights on such NaAlH4/C composites are reported. Solid state NMR has been used to study the impact of ball milling on the NaAlH4 crystal structure, while, the hydrogen content and associated desorption properties have been evaluated by thermal programmed desorption measurements. Also, electrochemical features have been analyzed via the combined application of potentiodynamic cycling with galvanostatic acceleration and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. Finally, new evidence concerning the reversibility of the conversion processes has been obtained by ex-situ NMR measurements on cycled electrodes. © 2016 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Titolo: Investigation of the effects of mechanochemical treatment on NaAlH4 based anode materials for Li-ion batteries
REALE, PRISCILLA
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY


Pokemon figure Takara Tomy Monster Collection M series Victini ビクティニ.
Same pose in 2011 Victini & Zekrom movie set.
Same pose in Moncolle World Connectable Tuning Base play set.
Metallic version in 2011 Seven Eleven asort.
Clear version in 2011 movie promotion.
Fighting pose in 2011 Victini & Reshiram movie set.
Fighting pose in Moncolle Victini Panorama Bag play set.
Fighting pose clear with sparks version by 2011 Takara Tomy summer promotion.
Fighting pose pearly version by 2011 Seven Eleven BW figures set present.
Same as M series with matte paint in MONCOLLE MC series.
Victini in YJ Auction ?


Bob Zeidman is the founder of Zeidman Technologies and is considered a pioneer in the fields of software synthesis and software analysis. He is also the president and founder of Software Analysis and Forensic Engineering Corporation, the leading provider of software intellectual property analysis tools, having pioneered the field. He is also the president and founder of Zeidman Consulting, a premier contract research and development firm in Silicon Valley that provides engineering consulting to law firms about intellectual property disputes. Bob holds 22 patents, has written five textbooks, and was named the 2010 and 2015 Outstanding Engineer in a Specialized Field for Pioneering Contributions to the Field of Forensic Software Analysis in IEEE Region 6 Central Area. He has a Master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and two Bachelor's degrees, one in physics and one in electrical engineering, from Cornell University.


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Q: How to log out of the instagram API? The instagram API authentication page does not have any information on how to log out a user:
On an iOS app using the API, how am I supposed to allow users to log out?

A: To logout the user you should only delete the token. If the user doesn't want your app to access their data they will cancel your app access.
If you want to provide a way for the user to logout from your app, you can do it on your login implementation (if you have a backend, of course), otherwise just send the user back to the login screen and delete the token.

A: Im making android app using html5, I did the following:
Redirect the user to a html5 page containing following code:

Logging Out...

Then call setTimeout() in which im calling my index.html the homepage after 2seconds.


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Is coconut a superfood?
A GROWING band of supporters – including some scientists - are singing the healing and restorative praises of coconut.
They cite research and evidence to back their arguments and claim this humble, hairy fruit contains properties that can prevent, or even cure, a wide range of ailments from heart disease to Alzheimer's.
They haven't convinced everyone: the Heart Foundation strongly disputes their claims and says coconut oil in particular is an unhealthy saturated fat and should be avoided. But retired CSIRO scientist and honorary research fellow at the University of Queensland, Mike Foale, says the Heart Foundation has got it wrong. Foale has been studying the coconut palm for more than four decades and believes coconut is a superfood.
"There is both scientific and abundant anecdotal evidence of great health benefits, including increased energy, weight loss, natural antibiotic activity, cholesterol reduction and insulin stabilisation," Foale says.
While the popularity of bottled coconut water could be described as a fad, Foale is a devotee of the oil. "Coconut oil is a staple for millions of tropical coastal people worldwide and those people do not suffer from heart disease while on their traditional diet," he says.
The case for coconut
"Coconut oil is the healthiest oil on earth," says Dr Bruce Fife, who runs the Coconut Research Centre in the US. While he doesn't dispute that the oil, extracted from the meat of mature coconuts, is mostly made up of saturated fat, Fife says scientific evidence shows it is a healthier version.
"Coconut oil is unique because it is composed predominately of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)," he says. "The size of the fatty acid is extremely important because physiological effects of medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are distinctly different from the long-chain fatty acids more commonly found in our diet.
"It's the MCTs in coconut oil that make it different from all other fats and, for the most part, gives it its unique character and healing properties. Few foods nowadays contain MCT. By adding coconut oil to your diet you can literally eat your way to better health."
He cites a long list of ways coconut oil has been found to benefit human bodies. He says it:
•Protects against heart disease by increasing good cholesterol and lowering the ratio of bad and good cholesterol.
•Helps treat malnutrition because it is easy to digest and absorb.
•Kills disease-causing bacteria, fungi, yeasts and viruses because of the antimicrobial effects of its fatty acids.
•Helps diabetics by slowing sugar release into the bloodstream.
•Prevents strokes and brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
•Boosts metabolism and increases energy because it is more likely to be burned as fuel than stored as body fat.
However, these claims are hotly contested by major organisations such as the Heart Foundation and the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). Fife dismisses such bodies' lack of support for coconut oil as "prejudiced and outdated".
"Saturated fats do not cause or even promote heart disease," he says, citing a 2010 research survey that looked at 21 different studies. "There was no evidence saturated fats were harmful."
The case against
While protection against heart disease is one of the claimed benefits of coconut oil, the Heart Foundation ironically strongly recommends avoiding it.
"Coconut oil, milk and cream are all high in unhealthy saturated fat, which raises bad cholesterol levels, clogs the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease," says Barbara Eden, the Heart Foundation's senior manager of food supply.
"Our recommendations are based on good-quality scientific evidence and don't recommend eating foods high in saturated fat. There are many healthier oils that don't raise cholesterol levels or increase the risk of heart disease."
DAA spokeswoman Tania Ferraretto agrees and says the evidence of any health benefits from coconut oil is inconclusive.
She believes it is a dietary fad and consumers should beware of any product that makes broad-sweeping health claims.
"It has a high saturated fat content – 85 to 90 per cent – which should be avoided," Ferraretto says. "A product like coconut oil is not ever going to provide a miracle cure. If you want to be healthy, eat a healthy diet and exercise."
Perhaps the last word should go to the findings of a 2010 research conference that concluded the effect of a particular food on heart disease should not be judged solely by how much saturated fat it contains, because different saturated fatty acids may have different cardiovascular effects.
More research is needed, but in the meantime, there's one thing we can all agree on: coconut products taste great.
Coconut oil prevents tooth decay
Coconut oil fights bacteria responsible for tooth decay and could be a healthy, non-chemical additive in toothpaste and mouthwash, Irish research suggests. Scientists found that when the oil was treated with digestive enzymes it became a powerful killer of mouth bugs that can lead to dental caries.
How much coconut oil?
The Coconut Research Centre's Dr Bruce Fife recommends one to three tablespoons of coconut oil a day for health maintenance. It can be used for frying and baking or it can be added to foods such as popcorn instead of butter.
Source:http://www.news.com.au


At last week's Wabash County Commissioners meeting, it was also reported that local government taxing entities must file their tax levies by 5 p.m. Dec. 22 this year.
Potential candidates for spring primary elections can file petitions of candidacy during regular office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the Wabash County Clerk from Nov. 27 through Dec. 4.
A story in Wednesday's paper contained incorrect dates for the tax payment, tax levy and filing deadlines.


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Code Monkey Game Review
By Cyrus | December 22, 2011 - 3:21 pm | December 22, 2011 Reviews
About 15 minutes to complete
Strategy & Tactics
Balancing life and work can be difficult, especially when all the work continues to pile up on your desk!
Gamer Geek rejected!
Parent Geek approved!
Child Geek approved!
Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate entry-level programming! Expect to be given more work than you can handle, be told how to do your job, and have your fellow programmers attempt to one-up you constantly. It's not all bad. You have an endless supply of snacks and, best of all, the pretty receptionist that works down the hall might know your name! Just another day at the office, but this time, you are going to leave feeling a winner…maybe.
For those readers who do not know what a "code monkey" is, it's a term used to describe an individual who writes computer programs. They might prefer to be called "software engineers", but code monkey has a much more interesting ring to it.
Code Money is a card game comprised of 54 cards. Within the deck are "Pretty Receptionist", "Project", "Completion Reaction", "Romance", "Romance Reaction", "Energy Snack", "Special Reaction", and "Special" cards. More on all these shortly. The cards are printed on firm cardstock and the colors and artwork are bright, vibrant, and whimsical. Throughout the game components, the game theme is further reinforced and supported with a solid art direction and clear eye for detail.
Game Set Up
Go through the deck of cards and remove the "Pretty Receptionist" card. This card is easy to find as it is has the same art on the front and back. Shuffle the remaining cards and deal each player 5 cards, face-down. The rest of the deck goes in the middle of the playing area. Place the "Pretty Receptionist" card next to the deck.
Space-wise, each player will need to have enough room in front of them to play Project cards and Romance cards. There also needs to be enough room in the playing area to place the "Pretty Receptionist" in front of the current player who has her favor.
That's it for set up! Let's play!
Code Monkey uses cards to play actions and reactions to actions. Every card has a purpose in the game, but when they are played is up to the player. The card types are as follows:
Pretty Receptionist
This card represent's one of the two objectives that must be met to win the game. The pretty receptionist's attention will be fought over by the players but not in a sinister or violent way. Romantic gifts will be the player's ammo used in this war of attention-getting.
These cards represent one of the two objectives that must be met to win the game. Projects are played out in front of the player in attempts of completing them. Time (in game actions) is necessary and some projects take longer than others to complete, but you can also get a boost by using other cards to complete projects quickly.
Completion Reaction Cards
These cards cause completed Projects to suddenly, well, not be so complete. These are reaction cards played when another player announced a completed Project.
Romance Cards
Flowers, candy, and other tokens of affection can be given to the Pretty Receptionist to break the ice and win her favor; however, the Pretty Receptionist is a classy gal and will not necessarily always want the same gift twice and will sometimes politely decline gifts from players.
Romance Reaction Cards
Even the most well intentioned and thoughtful gift can horribly backfire. These cards cause Romance cards to be rejected when they are offered.
Example of Romance Reaction card
Energy Snack Cards
The days can get very, very long in the office! A quick energy boost can cause an employee's productivity to jump 110% and then some! These cards allow players to complete Projects quickly.
These cards provide special actions that the other cards do not.
Special Reaction Cards
These cards cancel "cancel" cards and nothing else.
On a player's turn, actions are taken first and then the player draws cards to restock their hand. The player can take any of the following actions, twice.
Play a Project card in front of any player, but no more than two uncompleted projects can be out in front of a player at a time
Play a Project card with an Energy Snack card to automatically complete it
Play an Energy Snack card on an existing Project card to complete it
Play a Romance card (see "The Rules of Office Romance")
Play a Special Card
Discard cards (one or all cards, but you don't draw new cards until after your two actions)
Pass (do nothing)
After the player takes two actions, they then draw their hand back up to five cards. Play continues with the player to the left.
Projects will normally take 1 or 2 actions to complete. All Projects will remain "unfinished" until the player spends 1 or 2 actions to complete them. To complete a Project, the player need only state they are spending the actions necessary to complete it or play an Energy Snack or Special card to the discard pile. Note that Projects will not complete themselves if they are just left in front of the player (sadly). For example, a Project that takes 1 actions to complete will not magically be completed next turn. This is important as a player cannot win if they have any uncompleted Projects in front of them.
When a project is completed, it remains in front of the player and is turned 90 degrees to signify it is no longer an uncompleted project. Completed projects do not count towards the player's two uncompleted project limit.
The Rules of Office Romance
Players can attempt to attract the attention of the Pretty Receptionist during their turn by offering gifts. These gifts are offered using the Romance cards. These cards are played out in front of the player for all to see (it must be a very small work environment). Once the player has more Romance cards than any other player, the Pretty Reception card is placed in front of that player signifying that they currently have the Pretty Receptionist's favor.
Players can continue to offer gifts to the Pretty Receptionist to make it difficult for other players to steal her attention away. However, the player cannot play Romance cards that match other Romance cards already in play. This rule only applies to the player who currently has the Pretty Receptionist in front of them. For example, a player could not play another "flowers" card to their Romance pile if the Pretty Receptions is in front of them and there is already a "flowers" card in the existing Romance pile.
Note that other players can block your office romance shenanigans by playing Romance Reaction cards that cancel the Romance card, sending the player's gift to the discard pile. They can also outdo the other players by offering more Romance cards then anyone else, shifting the Pretty Receptionist's attention to them.
Interruptions and Disruptions
At any time during the game, a player can discard a Romance Reaction card to cancel another player's Romance card, but only on a Romance card about to be played. These do not count as a player's action. For example, you could cancel an opponent's attempt to offer flowers to the Pretty Receptionist, but could not cancel flowers already given.
Players can play, as an action, a Completion Reaction card to cause an opponent's previously completed Project to now be an uncompleted project.
There are exceptions, of course, like the ability to cancel an opponent's already completed project, and players do have the ability to cancel a cancel.
Winning the Game
The game ends as soon as a player completes the following:
has completed 2 Projects
has no uncompleted Projects
has the Pretty Receptionist's favor
Once the victory conditions are met, that player is crowned the winner!
To learn more about the game and read the complete rules, see the game's official web site.
While I have no doubt the romance portion of the game will go right over the heads of my little geeks, they are adept enough in games to understand how to play and win Code Monkey. My 7-year-old should have no problem playing the reaction cards as he has played other games with the instant action/reaction game mechanic in the past and has done very well with it. My 4-year-old is working on it, but is not as advanced as his older brother. Not surprising considering the age and experience difference, but enough of a gap to warrant concern and special note.
Explaining Code Monkey to my little geeks didn't take long. The game is not overly complex and the actions are very straight forward. The only part that threw them a bit was playing the Energy Snack cards to complete a project right away. They kept asking me how it was possible to not spend an additional action by doing so. Their questions were valid and all I could do is tell them "it was in the rules". That was good enough for my 4-year-old, but my 7-year-old didn't seem to accept my answer as final. In the end, we agreed to simply disagree and just follow what the rules said.
After a few rounds of practice play and answering any other additional questions, I shuffled the deck and asked them their thoughts on the game so far.
"Looks easy enough. Still not sure about the Energy Snack not being an action, but if you say it's OK, I'm fine with it." ~ Liam (age 7)
"You're a code monkey, Daddy!" ~ Nyhus (age 4)
I'm not hearing anything terribly negative nor am I hearing much excitement. Might be the game or just the way my little geeks are feeling at the moment. Let's play and find out!
My 4-year-old has set the new land speed record for quickest game started and then quit. He was dealt his cards, smiled at me, and then said he was going to go play with his Bionacles. Clearly, Code Monkey was not for him. My oldest little geek and mom stuck around and we had ourselves a game.
Our first game was pretty "blah". I was able to complete two projects and win the heart of the Pretty Receptionist quickly and won the game. My mom and little geek just blinked at me when I said the game was over. They demanded a rematch.
Our second game was a bit tighter. My oldest little geeks focused on getting his projects done, as did my mom. But whenever they did, I just put one more project in front of them. This kept them bogged down and I was able to again win the game. The reaction from the table was not pleasant. Clearly, I had somehow upset both my little geek and my mom.
Our third game was a lot of fun and very close. My little geek had learned how to play and play well after being beaten twice and watching what I was doing. My mom also stepped it up and was exceedingly aggressive in her method of play. This made the game exciting and close. We were making so much noise at the table that my 2-year-old decided to join us. He didn't play, mind you, but he did want to be where the action was. I am most pleased to say that I did not win the game and the victory went to my mom.
Our fourth and final game was another nail bitter as all the players worked fast and hard, blocking with reaction cards when they could, stealing the Pretty Receptionist's attention, and offloading work to their opponents. The game went to my little geek who won with a lucky draw of one of the few Romance cards left. In the end, we all agree the game was much fun.
If you are wondering where the inspiration of the game came from, give the song Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton a listen. Before you let your little geeks listen to it, be aware there is a little bit of "colorful language" in the lyrics.
Game four and everyone is playing strong - including my 2-year-old who is playing his own game with a deck of cards
Gamer Geeks, this is a fun and easy game, but lacks the teeth to be a "gamer's" game. Most certainly an excellent filler, but does not come close as the "main event" for your next gaming group. Do give it a try, however, and you'll enjoy the tongue-and-cheekiness of the theme and perhaps even relate a bit too much to it.
Parent Geeks, this is a mixed bag of a game. The game itself is solid and a lot of fun to play with the family. For this reason, I gave it an "approved" endorsement for the Parent Geek crowd. The theme, however, might give you slight pause. The Romance card just might make you turn up your nose to the game, but I encourage you to give it a go. There is nothing sexual or underhanded in the way the Romance cards are played or used. If it helps and you think it is necessary, tell your little geeks the player who gives the most gifts gets the Pretty Receptionist as their friend. This worked very well for us and we avoided the whole romance theme altogether without reducing the level of fun.
Child Geeks, this is a fast game that will teach you three things. First, it is very important to get your work done, but always be ready for more work to fall in your lap. Second, friendship is worth pursuing and will help you succeed. Third, being a programmer might not be what you want to do with your life, career-wise. Expect to play hard and fast to keep the lead and laugh as your opponent's groan when you dump more work on their desk!
I personally found Code Monkey to be silly and easy, which was exactly what I was hoping for. The game's theme is played out well through the narrative driven by the card play. The game mechanics itself are solid, quick to teach and to play. The rules could use some work, specifically detailing when a reaction card can or cannot be used, for example. Other than that, Code Monkey is great, entertaining, and humorous. Give it a look and see if the game is right for you.
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2 Responses to Code Monkey Game Review
Carl Salminen says:
Nice write-up! Excellent how you were able to rate the game for different age groups and different levels of gamers, from casual to geeks!
Pingback: Re: Your Brains Game Review » Father Geek


Montana State Senator Keith Regier (R) has introduced a bill requiring that a pregnant woman must be given the opportunity to view an active ultrasound, see an ultrasound image, and listen to the heartbeat of her preborn child before she undergoes an abortion. The bill has passed a Judiciary Committee Hearing.
Senate Bill 100 requires that the abortionist tell women that they can view the live ultrasound, see an ultrasound image, and listen to the fetal heartbeat if it is audible. However, women do not have to do so. The requirement is waived if the abortion is occurring in an emergency situation (however, abortion is never necessary to save a woman's health or life). Any abortionist who fails to offer this choice to women in his or her facility will face a $1,000 fine.
Catherine Glenn Foster, President and CEO of Americans United for Life, submitted personal testimony to the House Committee on Human Services regarding her support of the bill. She states that had the ultrasound law, or one like it, existed in 2001 when she was a sophomore in college facing an unplanned pregnancy, she may not have had an abortion.
Assuming the abortion facility would provide her with all her options, she requested to view the ultrasound but was denied because it was against clinic policy to show women their own ultrasound images of their own children. Since research shows that about 78 percent of women who see the ultrasound image choose life, it isn't surprising that abortion businesses wouldn't want to lose clients by showing them their ultrasound.
READ: The abortion industry lies to women. That's why we need ultrasound laws.
Women like Foster are suffering the emotional and psychological harm that abortion has caused them, and if they had been given all of the information, countless women would have chosen life. Ultrasounds should be performed before abortions as standard procedure to learn the age of the preborn child and to diagnose ectopic pregnancies. This protects the woman's physical health, since the risk of injury or death from abortion increases as gestational age increases.
In addition to allowing women to view images of their child before following through with an abortion, the bill also requires that regulations are made for a "comprehensive system of reporting maternal deaths and complications within the state resulting directly or indirectly from abortion." There is no solid data on how many women die from abortion-related injuries each year since many women do not return to the abortion facility when they experience a complication. The opt for the ER instead. There is no formal system for reporting abortion-related maternal deaths.
The ultrasound bill, if approved, would be codified into the Montana Abortion Control Act. According to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, 26 states currently have abortion ultrasound laws.


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WA Government announces building reforms for new homes in bushfire areas
The Western Australian Government last week announced building reforms for new homes in bushfire areas to help save lives and protect property.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has prepared a map which identifies the bushfire-prone areas across the State. A bushfire hazard assessment will be required for new homes in areas identified as bushfire-prone on the map.
The assessment will determine the level of construction standards for bushfire resistance to be applied, as identified in the Building Code of Australia and the Australian Standards AS3959.
Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said the reforms aimed to limit the impact of bushfires on the community, wherever possible.
"Western Australia has suffered tragic losses from bushfires recently and while we will never eliminate the risk, we can all take action to reduce it and improve the chance of survival and protect property," Mr Francis said.
"If you are planning to build a new house in a bushfire-prone area, these reforms will guide you through the steps you need to take to help keep your family safe. The new bushfire-prone area map will become a critical part of emergency services' operations."
Planning Minister John Day said the assessment would identify the bushfire hazard level and the Australian Standards to be applied when the new home is constructed.
"These standards are used across Australia and already apply in some WA local government areas including Armadale, Busselton, Kalamunda, Mundaring and Cockburn," Mr Day said.
Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said construction standards could include the placement of ember screens over evaporative air-conditioner units, window screens, the use of non-combustible or reduced risk building materials, and sealing off walls, eaves and roofs.
The new reforms address key recommendations arising from the Keelty report into the 2011 Perth Hills bushfire. A four-month transition period will apply to bushfire building and planning requirements in new bushfire prone areas.
The package of reforms will be gazetted on 7 December 2015 and will apply to building permits issued from 8 April 2016. More information is available from the Department of Planning website at <http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/bushfire>.
Source: News Release, Urbanalyst, 15 December, 2015
http://www.urbanalyst.com/in-the-news/western-australia/3794-wa-government-announces-building-reforms-for-new-homes-in-bushfire-areas.html


text:
Public Release: 7-Jul-2016
NTU develops energy saving filters for wastewater treatment
New nanofilters use five times less energy than current reverse osmosis process
IMAGE: This is a close up photo of NTU's new nanofiltration hollowfibre membranes. view more
Credit: NTU Singapore
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have invented a new type of nanofilter that could reduce the energy needed to treat wastewater by up to five times.
Typically, for the last steps of water purification in a wastewater treatment process, an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane filters out small particles before a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane is used.
In reverse osmosis, water is pushed through an extremely fine membrane at high pressure to separate water molecules from any remaining contaminants which are tiny - about a thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair, such as salt, heavy metals and toxic chemicals like benzene.
This high water pressure, typically 10 bars and above, means that the water pumps need a lot of energy.
However, NTU's proprietary nanofiltration (NF) hollow fibre membrane does away with both ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, combining the two processes.
It also requires only 2 bars of water pressure, similar to the pressure found in a typical home pressure cooker, to filter out the same type of contaminants. Yet it produces water that is almost as pure as through reverse osmosis.
This breakthrough technology took NTU's Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) about two years to develop and is now being commercialised by an NTU spin-off company De.Mem.
De.Mem which owns over a dozen water treatment plants in Vietnam and Singapore, will be building a pilot production plant in Singapore to manufacture the new membranes.
NTU Professor Ng Wun Jern, the executive director of NEWRI, said the new technology marks yet another huge step forward for Singapore, as it will be the first of its kind to hit the market.
"With the increasing urbanisation of cities and fast growing global population, more cities and communities will face an unprecedented challenge to meet its growing demand for clean water and wastewater treatment," Prof Ng said.
"If we are to address the ever increasing demand for clean water, what the world needs are innovative technologies like NTU's new nanofiltration hollow fibre membrane that allow us to treat and produce extremely clean water at a low cost, yet have high reliability and are easy to maintain."
NTU Professor Wang Rong, the director of NEWRI's Singapore Membrane Technology Centre who led the team in designing the new NF membrane, said they had designed it for commercial scale-up and production.
"One of the main challenges faced by the industry is that current reverse osmosis processes are energy intensive, with down time needed for maintenance," explained Prof Wang, who is also the Chair of NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
"Our new membrane is also easy to manufacture using low-cost chemicals that are 30 times cheaper than conventional chemicals, making it suitable for mass production."
Mr Andreas Kroell, Chief Executive Officer of De.Mem said the new membrane fills a gap in the current market for water treatment solutions.
"We have seen in the labs that when we treat industrial wastewater with the new nanofiltration membranes, the quality of clean water produced is comparable to reverse osmosis but requires much lower pressure, hence lowering costs," Mr Kroell said.
"Such an effective and efficient technology has significant market potential and can be used in many of De.Mem's projects that involve the treatment of industrial wastewater."
De.Mem will test the new membrane modules in real world usage in its plants to verify its effectiveness and efficiency before scaling up to a full industrial production line.
NTU's new membrane technology will also be showcased at the upcoming Singapore International Water Week, from 10 to 14 July.
Lester Kok
Corporate Communications Office
Email: lesterkok@ntu.edu.sg
About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary Graduate School. It has a new medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.
NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes - the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering - and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI).
Ranked 13th in the world, NTU has also been ranked the world's top young university for the last two years running. The University's main campus has been named one of the Top 15 Most Beautiful in the World. NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore's medical district.
For more information, visit http://www.ntu.edu.sg
lesterkok@ntu.edu.sg
@ntusg
http://www.ntu.edu.sg/publicportal/
BIOMEDICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL/CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Researchers (IMAGE)
NTU's New Nanofiltration Hollowfibre Membranes (IMAGE)
http://media.ntu.edu.sg/NewsReleases/Pages/newsdetail.aspx?news=84aa55bb-a88e-4eb9-a12e-5dad0884ccbe


Ahly players are ready for the next Champions league test against outstanding Algerian side JS Saoura despite fatigue, according to the club's assistant coach Mohamed Youssef.
"All the players are ready for Friday's match. We have a programme to get the players ready on both the physical and technical levels amid the fatigue after the long trip to Algeria from Cairo," Youssef was quoted as saying by Ahly's official website on Wednesday.
"We don't think of the result of the opening match as we deal with every game separately," the assistant coach concluded.