Two major 5G events happened last week: Verizon launched their 5G network in Chicago, and on the other side of the globe, Samsung launched the world's first 5G mobile handset in Korea - the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. The Galaxy S10 5G SM-G977N is the first iteration of the phone. It is available in Korea where SK Telecom launched their 5G network last year, slightly ahead of Verizon's 5G network launch in the US. The US version of the Galaxy S10 5G is expected in the coming days for the Verizon network and is built with a Qualcomm X50 modem. Both the Korean and Verizon Galaxy phones will support sub-6GHz bands. The Shannon 5500 RF transceiver we found in this phone suggests it does not support mmWave as we had hoped.
Some of the known challenges for designing a 5G mobile phone are power consumption, antenna designs, and heat concerns, so we have patiently awaited the arrival of the Galaxy S10 5G to see with our own eyes just how 5G is designed into a smartphone form factor.
TechInsights' Daniel Yang and Stacy Wegner were among the masses at Mobile World Congress earlier this year who could view the Galaxy S10 5G mobile phone at the Samsung pavillion. The mobile phone was not only enclosed in a glass case inside another glass case, it was roped off with a perimeter of three feet, and had an-all-day security guard standing nearby.
We eventually did find a second Galaxy S10 5G at a less secure display at the Qualcomm booth. This one was 'protected' by an engineer who was pretty tight-lipped about the specific Qualcomm chipset design.
But today there are no glass cases, ropes, or security guards posing as engineers. We have our own phone, built with Samsung's 5G solution, and we are taking it apart.
Yes, it is a Substrate-like PCB (SLB). Apple used an SLB assembly design in its iPhone X back in 2017, and Huawei followed with their Huawei Mate RS Porsche high-end phone. This is the first time we have seen Samsung use an SLB design and we are speculating it has some thermal benefits as well as allowing for more component design space.
We are continuing our analysis of the Galaxy S10 5G and we don't want to leave the SLB assembly topic just yet. Since we are doing this teardown and attending the IDTechEx show in Berlin, where many industry experts are gathering for the next two days to talk about wearables, IoT, and of course, 5G NR we decided to seek out some expert opinions regarding PCB structures.
One of those expert attendees who specializes in PCB design is the Italian high-technology company Cisel, S.r.I. We approached Mr. Moreno Lanari and asked two specific questions: 1) is there an official, technical name to what we have called an SLB assembly? And 2) why is there so much empty real estate on the (smaller) RF top board?
To Mr. Lanari's knowledge, there is no 'official, technical name' to the solder stacking assembly of two PCBs, so we are okay to call it SLB assembly.
The answer to our second question took a little more time to explain. It is possible, in Mr. Lanari's opinion, that the components on the smaller RF PCB are drawing more power, and thus require more thermal dissipation. If this is indeed the case, that may very well be the reason the second side of the board has no components since it is basically the thermal sink for the components on top. He speculated even further and told us that if his (brief) analysis is correct, it would mean that it would be necessary for the components on the top to also make contact to a heat sink like, for example, a metal enclosure.
As mentioned, the Apple iPhone X and the Huawei Porsche used the same SLB strategy in their 4G phones as Samsung has now adopted for their first 5G phone.
If it was not clear, the top RF board is named as such because it has the majority of the RF components, including the Samsung Exynos RF 5500 transceivers. Even though the Galaxy S10 5G does have the Exynos Modem 5100, which supports mmWave, it is because of the Exynos RF 5500 transceiver we can confirm the phone itself does not. This is why we do what we do - which is look for the evidence and proof, and not listen to rumors or websites.
According to Samsung, its Exynos RF 5500 supports legacy networks and 5G-NR sub-6GHz networks in a single chip. The Exynos RF 5500 has 14 receiver paths for download, and supports 4×4 MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) and 256 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation).
Since we confirmed the phone has the Exynos RF 5500, and the fact Samsung themselves have listed the RF5500 as only supporting 5G NR Sub-6GHz, we will get to do a future teardown on whichever mmWave phone makes it to the market first.
You may have noticed that there is one unit of Exynos RF 5500 used in the Samsung Galaxy S10+ SM-G975F/DS phone we tore down in March. However, there are two units of Exynos RF 5500 used in this 5G phone. We think it is due to the 5G NR requirements for 1T4R (NSA) and 2T4R (SA), which has doubled the receiver channels of legacy LTE phones. So here, we have seen two Exynos RF 5500 transceivers in the Samsung S10 5G phone.
The Samsung 5G Modem 5100 is Samsung's first 5G modem. It is also the first 5G modem we have seen in an end-user product. Samsung said that the modem supports virtually all networks from 5G's sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrums to 2G GSM/CDMA, 3G WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, HSPA and 4G LTE networks in a single chip.
We have decapped the modem component and got the die photo. The die size (seal) is 6.44 mm x 8.70 mm = 56.03 mm2, built on Samsung's 10LPP FinFET process. We look forward to comparing it to Qualcomm's 5G X50 Modem.
Our costing team has prepared their initial estimates of the costs of this phone. Looking at a comparison between the costs of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G SM-G977N and the Samsung Galaxy S10 G975F.
TechInsights estimates the cost of parts included in the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G SM-G977N to be $471.00. This represents a $51 increase over the estimated cost of the Samsung Galaxy S10+ SM-G975F.
The table below provides a side by side comparison of the different cost areas examined within the phones.
*Does not include the cost of a $12.00, 128Gb memory card.
Our analysis of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G continues. Check back for updates.


Another very popular application is to mass print the static portions of the file and then personalize with VDP as appropriate, using a hybrid of screen and digital printing. Take yard signs you might produce for a high school's spirit campaign. The school's basic colors and graphics would be the static part of the sign; each individual sport, club, or other interest would be the variable-data element, customized for each student. In the old days, we would have called this a name drop and produced each variation with a separate pass on a screen-printing press.
One of the main reasons to use VDP goes beyond the graphics or the message – it has to do with relevancy. If you can personalize your graphics, you'll create a much greater connection and engagement with the viewer or audience. The more intimately you reach your target, the higher the conversion and loyalty will be for your offer. This doesn't mean you have to be selling something. Your goal could be building community loyalty, as in a school, group, or charitable organization.
Here's another, more important reason to use VDP: tracking. The old-school approach to printing was to push your message to the masses, cross your fingers, and hope you got a profitable response. There was no way to attribute a customer's specific sale to their print spend – it was all guesswork.
Digital publishing has changed that. The customer's perception of advertising has been changed from an expense to an investment. This is hugely important because it finally has created the link between the print spend and ROI. The higher the customers' return, the more you can charge them. This negates the bidding process, RFQs, and all the other nonproductive efforts that were driven by the old business model. VDP allows us to create tailored images and content that can be directly traced to the purchase.


Apprentice of everything, time obsessed, programming lover and [...] a little geek.
Dirty code to query DuckDuckGo for first page results by scraping.
Pet project based on Arduino. Consists of a network of client nodes (KA bubbles) communicated through RF modules between them and also with a central node which has direct access to Internet.


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Q: What is stored in the %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Docker\wsl\distro\ext4.vhdx file for WSL2? I am using Docker with WSL2 integration on Windows 10 Home.
While following this question to change the location of the docker images I came across this file:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Docker\wsl\distro\ext4.vhdx
and couldn't find any explanation online regarding the function of this file.

A: When you run Docker Desktop WSL2 it'll create 2 vm's, one contains volumes, images, etc., and the other is related to the actual Docker Desktop itself, which is the one you're asking about. It's much smaller.
You can see both of them with: wsl -l -v
The one you're asking about is for the docker-desktop vm.

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Why Women's Voices Matter: The Importance of Speaking Up
Ronke Babajide May 5, 2022
When women's voices are missing from the conversation, humanity is only half what we could be. This is why it's so important for women to speak up and have their voices heard. We need more women voices in the media. Women experts have to be invited to panels.
4 Strategies to Accelerate Your Success
Ronke Babajide February 5, 2022
Cultural and gender norms expect women to be modest, pleasant, and empathetic. Society tells us
We want women to get their fair share in the economy. To do that, we want to make sure women's expertise is visible and accessible, and help you consciously invest your money in the women's economy. On this blog, we share our thoughts about society, business, work, and modern life.
Yes, I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy
© The Queen Bee Hive 2023
contact@thequeenbeehive.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Lecturer Positions in Bioengineering
University of California Los Angeles, Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
Lecturer Positions in Bioengineering for 19-20AY
Job #JPF05112
Henry Samueli School Engr & Ap - BIOENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Recruitment Period
Open November 7th, 2019 through Tuesday, Jun 30, 2020 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
The Department of Bioengineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science invites highly qualified applications for part-time positions as Lecturer.
Candidates with a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Bioengineering or related engineering fields and an excellent track record in teaching and research in bioengineering or related science and engineering fields are encouraged to apply. The level of appointment will be commensurate with the applicant's qualifications.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.
Document requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Statement of Research (Optional)
Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate's past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about how UCLA thinks about contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, please review our Sample Guidance for Candidates and related EDI Statement FAQ document.
Misc / Additional (Optional)
Reference requirements
3-5 required (contact information only)


Last week, several media outlets such as Syrian state-run news agency Sana claimed that Turkish warplanes destroyed the archeological site of Brad in Afrin, an area which also included the Brad Monastery and the Julianus Church.
However, no airstrike was conducted in the relevant area by the Turkish Air Force.
Additionally, Aksoy added that it can be easily proved that the relevant archeological sites had been destroyed by armed groups in 2013.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in the northwestern Afrin region of Syria on 20 January 2018, in order to eradicate the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK, from the region and ensure its border security.


Our local CoderDojo has a bunch of Makeblock mBot Arduino compatible robots, that mostly sit gathering dust. I use one of them for my own little experiments, but figured I'm can't be the only one who might like to geek out playing with small robots, so this competition was born.
Each team will receive a bluetooth MakeBlock mBot with a nodebots firmware, so all sensors and motors are exposed in nodejs over BLE. Teams have to program their bots to be able to handle the different "terrain" types. At the end of the day, each team will have to complete a track. Teams will be awarded for fastest time, but extra points can be gained for stylish robots using sound and lights.
I will create 2-3 kinds of terrain sections where the mBot's different sensors will have to be used to find the path forward. The different terrain sections can be used to train the robots, but the final track will only be assembled at the end of the day.
You can bring your own team of 3-4 people, or form an ad-hoc team on site, just make sure one of you has a modern laptop with BLE support. Having git and nodejs installed can be handy, but we can do that during the event.
This is a free event, that I'm organizing for the fun of it, so I thought I'd ask you to help out a little by contributing to the winning team's goodie-bag. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure, so I'd like to ask you to look around in your drawers to see if you have any functional, but forgotten gadgets, circuits, electronics, IoT bits and pieces that others may appreciate. Obviously not everyone has something lying around, but I'm sure we can collaborate to making a worthy prize.
Seats are limited to 18, so make sure to get a ticket! Also release your ticket please of you can't make it!


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Guest post: Benazir's sacrifice changed little
In the bloody arc of history, is Ms. Bhutto's murder truly as seismic as is being claimed?
by Primary Red
She's been in political exile for over a decade. Her Washington influence is only of recent vintage. India has been lukewarm to her attempted return to power.
Her killing is clearly reprehensible. But it does little to change the dynamics among Pakistan's real political powerbrokers. For them, she and her party were mere pawns and her martyrdom has changed nothing. Of the key players: the military, the ISI-jihadi nexus, Saudi Arabia, US, China, and India, the first three come out ahead. What's new?
The Pakistani military remains its only modern institution. It deftly leverages geopolitical events to expand its regional influence, access to national resources, and war-fighting capabilities. By crowding out Pakistan's civil political processes, it has materially weakened the state – this, in turn, has helped its position as the bulwark against chaos. The military will clearly benefit as the global media broadcasts Pakistan's renewed descent into anarchy and Western fears grow of a jihadi takeover of nuclear assets.
The ISI-jihadi alliance is both ideological and strategic. Ideologically, both seek to leverage Pakistani assets for expanding Islamism's influence at home and far beyond. Strategically, ISI provides modern capabilities to jihadis who, in turn, provide ISI with foot soldiers and plausible deniability. Their nexus will use the murder to assert its power in Pakistan, especially versus the US and the Pakistani military. This will earn them concessions from the latter, or maybe a destabilizing war. Either way, these nihilists win.
Saudi Arabia funded Pakistani nuclear assets as well as its jihadi forces. Oil and Pakistan are its principal geo-strategic assets. In addition, it has promoted Nawaz Sharif as its own pawn in the political process. No one has more chips in Pakistan than Saudi Arabia does. It will likely cash these in now by negotiating geo-strategic concessions from the West.
The US seeks Pakistani stability to keep a lid on Al Qaeda and to prevent nuclear assets falling into wrong hands. Its long-term ally is the military. However, when it sensed a weakness in Pakistani military's resolve to do its bidding, it promoted Ms. Bhutto as a compensating pawn. The murder knocks a pawn off but the objectives remain. US will likely stand with the Pakistani military in the short-run, while searching for new options.
China has supported the Pakistani military as a check on India. However, given its own restive Muslim population, it has no interest in seeing Pakistani descent into chaos. This will, ironically, make its short-term interests coincide with those of India and the US.
As for India, M K Narayanan made clear only a couple weeks ago that our realists favor General Musharraf over Ms. Bhutto, i.e., stability over all else. This puts us in the same position as US and China, unfortunately holding a really weak hand.
None of this is news. Rest in peace, Mohatarma – but your sacrifice changed very little.
Author Nitin PaiPosted on 28th December 2007 Categories Foreign AffairsTags India, jihadis, Pakistan, politics, terrorism, United States
14 thoughts on "Guest post: Benazir's sacrifice changed little"
anuj says:
28th December 2007 at 23:40
Sacrifice? Hardly.
A true sacrifice would have been the return of billions of dollars she and her husband looted from the poor, wretched masses of pakistan.
Please, it is true that her murder, and the murder of others with her was reprehensible, and no one deserves to be killed, but do not make her a martyr. When she was alive, she was responsible for the violent deaths and murders of thousands at the hands of terrorists she gave aid and comfort to. She is no martyr, she is much more a criminal than a martyr.
Shehjar says:
Though I agree, her death hasn't changed much, but that is true only for external actors involved because for the players in Pakistan, it does change things quite a bit.
For eg., it takes a lot of pressure off Mush since she was supposed to be a check on him, and he was expected to share his leverage in Pakistani politics with her. Thats not needed anymore.
For Al-Qaeda, elections(..and coming to power of Bhutto..) would have meant some semblance of stability, resulting in more attention being given to its activities in NWFP and FATA. That might not happen anymore and it can continue increasing its influence by subverting the social structure there..(..See the articles from B. Raman about info on this..).
..oh,..also does'nt it change our expectations about the future? If we take her statements at face value, Bhutto's staying alive and coming to power would have resulted in some drastic changes in the way they have been handling islamic extremism within Pakistan.
What should we expect now?
Primary Red says:
Shehjar:
It's not clear how effective she would have been. Her past performance as PM was not that inspiring.
There is another reason why Ms Bhutto's death is really bad news for Pakistan. Although no one probably expected her to deliver on her statements, I think that her death is a nail in the coffin for Mr. Musharraf's presidency.
He is now totally isolated, and open to attack from all quarters. When she was alive, her presence provided him with room for maneouver, and sort of mitigated the threat from the Islamists who are after his blood. Now this is no longer possible and it is a question of when he loses power, not whether. In itself, such an event may not have been such a bad thing, but like her or not, Ms Bhutto did have supporters and her assassination has created a political vacuum, with no one in a likely position to take control over the PPP and its base like she did. They are now a constituency for the Islamists and whoever is left to take over and lead. I doubt, for example, that Mr Sharif is in any position to control the flow of events henceforth.
Mr. Musharraf and the military's days of total control over Pakistan are, I think, now over. It is now a question of whether this power vacuum will be peacefully filled, or whether there is going to be considerable civil strife, I also think that with Ms. Bhutto's assassination, American policy options in Pakistan are now nonexistent, and their leverage is now more limited than it ever was, and the three A's that determined Pakistan's destiny are now only two. Of course, it is not clear that this is such a bad thing.
Incidentally, here is a nice writeup and assessment of things related
to Ms Bhutto, which captures some of the conflicted feelings (that at least
I have) about the whole matter:
http://www.chapatimystery.com/archives/homistan/round_up_ix.html#more-1394
misanthrope says:
As a Pakistani, my own interpretation of events agree with Krishna's in post 6. i wouldn't go so far as to say that the military days of control are over, but if things threaten to spiral towards further chaos, the military will be willing to cut loose Musharraf and sacrifice him for political expediency.
By the way, I couldn't help raising an eyebrow at the author of this post's claim that the military is Pakistan's only modern institution. Thats a rather tall claim.
Misanthrope,
For those who remember the manner of Field Marshal Ayub Khan's exit, what Krishna and you suggest will be familiar. The forces that support this argument are (a) the institutional interests of the Army and (b) the US having built alternatives to Musharraf within the Army. The forces that oppose this are (a) Musharraf's placement of his loyalists in key positions and (b) the factional split within the military establishment between Musharraf & Co and what I call Gul & Co.
I'd agree with Primary Red in the sense that the army is the only modern institution that has capability to hold the country together. You might contend that the political party establishments, judiciary, the civil bureaucracy or even the religious organisational networks qualify: but the question is of the ability to hold together a country during simultaneous multiple crises—Balochistan, NWFP, Northern Areas while fighting off the likes of Bhutto's killers in the middle of Rawalpindi. (I'm not even sure that the MQM can run Karachi in a crisis)
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Nitin,
I agree with your analysis of the forces pushing/promoting Musharraf's continued position vis a vis the military. As of yet there is no substantial evidence that a wedge has been driven between Musharraf and the army high command, though not for the want of trying by various politicians.
I won't quibble with your characterising the army as the only institution capable of holding the country together. I would point to the term 'modern' being used to describe the army as somewhat problematic. The army in Pakistan strikes me as still being a very colonial institution in the place it occupies with respect to both state, society and economy in Pakistan – which is not really a place that armies tend to occupy in countries one usually think of as modern. You might, perhaps, argue that the army occupies this space because it is the only modern institution in the country, while other institutions are not – that view would see the army as an agent of 'modernity'. But I think Pakistani history would suggest that the army has inhibited the maturing of other institutions and placed them in positions of dependency. It is a problematic agent of modernity because as an institution it seeks to ensure its own interests first and foremost. And while the army certainly claims that its interests and the nation's are the same – on a local level this is problematic given that it competes locally with other social, economic and political groups for influence, wealth and power.
A good example would be how recently Musharraf bulldozed the judiciary of the country. You can't modernize the judicial institutions of a country by gutting it and appointing bribed Shariat Court Judges to the High Courts. Another example is how all the billions in aid from the USA were allocated to the army, navy and airforce, rather than to local law enforcement such as the Frontier Corps, Rangers or police who are the ones directly tasked with dealing with the militants in the tribal areas.
Misanthrope:
You are making a sophisticated point which — notwithstanding my use of the word "modern" to describe the Pakistani military — I largely agree with.
There is clearly a difference between the notion of "modern" in the sense of how an institution is organized, resourced, run etc. and the notion of "modernity" in the sense of how such an institution thinks and deploys its capabilities. I'd used the word in the former sense — you are pointing out the latter meaning.
Because the military has appropriated more national resources than any other Pakistani institution, it has uniquely been able to maintain a modern structure. It is this that enables it to — legitimately — claim it alone can hold the country together.
As I noted in my post, however, the military has also crowded out Pakistan's civil political processes. Given this, I agree with you, that it clearly isn't an instrument of "modernity" advancement in Pakistan.
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1st January 2008 at 05:11
misanthrope and primary red,
That is a nice analysis of the military's role. Ironically, the problem, as the military seems to be finding, is that rendering other institutions of state into a position of dependency reduces the military's ability to function and maintain its authority. I remember that on Gen. Musharraf's takeover in Pakistan, all the local governments were made subordinate to the Corps commanders and their military subordinates, including (and I think) most importantly the police organizations. With Ms. Bhutto gone, I am afraid that an important representative of civilian interests, and one of the few sufficiently powerful political organizations that could buffer the military's inability to engage and run all organs of state (especially the civilian and quasi civilian ones) is no longer in a position to engage Gen. Musharraf's govt. Between her killers and centralization of power and administrative control within the military ranks, a significant political vacuum seems to have been created with none of the traditional political formations in a position to fill it.
What is also of concern are the disquieting signs of fissures within the military organization itself. Even before the unfortunate assassination of Ms. Bhutto, there were several suicide bombings within the cantonment areas in Rawalpindi, with some of the suicide bombers suspected to be of military or ex-military origins. I think that the possibility exists that Gen. Musharraf may be cut loose by the military if such fissures continue to grow publicly, since this threatens the integrity of the military organization itself.
All told, these are very worrisome signs both for Pakistan and the general security and stability of the greater region, with the possibility of appalling bloodshed. Of course, often things appear worse than they are, and I hope this is one of them.
I think there are important differences between this situation and the forces that led Ayub Khan to his exit. At the time, power simply shifted internally, within the same general groupings. This time however, new political actors are emerging on the scene, and their interests are not neccesarily aligned with the groups that have held power previously. Also, in previous occasions, the Americans had considerable leverage (hence the 3 A's), but here the asassination of Ms. Bhutto is an unambiguous signal-that the influence of the third A-America, has significantly weakened and is probably close to non existent. In other words, there maybe a fundamental shift in the underlying *political* paradigm of Pakistan. Secondly, given that america is so weak, traditional political groups have been marginalized and weakened by the Army, which in turn is showing an inability to hold things together. I leave the remaining logical conclusions to your imagination.
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The solar system is two million years older than we thought...and that changes everything
Alasdair Wilkins
Filed to:Mad astronomy
An ancient meteorite reveals the solar system is 4.5682 billion years old, 1.9 million years older than we thought. The difference seems insignificant, but it could mean our solar system was actually born in the blast furnace of a supernova.
In order to determine the age of the solar system, scientists look for meteorites that date back to the beginnings of the solar system. Some of these meteorites have tiny mineral deposits known as calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions, or CAIs. These minerals were trapped and preserved inside the meteorites formed around them. Because CAIs are thought to be among the very first solids to condense out of the nebular gas that birthed the solar system, they provide the oldest possible measurement of the solar system's age.
New analysis of meteorite NWA 2364, which touched down in Morocco in 2004, has revealed a centimeter-wide CAI that is 4.5682 billion years old. Arizona State researchers Meenakshi Wadhwa and Audrey Bouvier arrived at this date by measuring the presence of three different lead isotopes in the CAI, two of which are the product of uranium decay. Because uranium takes billions of years to fully decay into lead, it's possible to measure the levels of decay and figure out an extremely precise age of the sample from the distribution of the isotopes.
That 4.5682 billion year figure is only a tiny fraction older than the previous measurements, but the geochemical tests are precise enough that the researchers are confident that the difference is real. And while a couple million years here or there might seem unimportant in the grand scheme of the solar system's multi-billion year history, it makes a big difference for the initial mixture of elements that made up our solar system.
Of particular interest is the iron isotope iron-60. It has a radioactive half-life of 2.6 million years, which simply means half of a given iron-60 sample decays every 2.6 million years. By extension, if the solar system is about 2 million older than we thought, that means it had nearly double the amount of iron-60 in its initial element distribution. That's a whole lot of iron-60, and there's only one place such an abundance of that isotope could have come from: a supernova explosion.
Wadwha explains how making these tiny distinctions allow us to glean such massive insights about the solar system formed:
"That's the power of geochemistry. You can make very, very precise measurements. Iron-60 is kind of a smoking gun. If present in certain abundances, it can only really be there because of a supernova injection. It gives us a better understanding of the type of environment the solar system evolved in."
[Nature Geoscience via Space]


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Home » 2023: It Would Be Tough For APC To Defeat Makinde
2023: It Would Be Tough For APC To Defeat Makinde
The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai on Friday said it would be difficult for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Naija News gathered that El-Rufai stated this while speaking at the commemoration and send-off ceremony organised for the outgoing director-general of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nteranya Sanginga
The event was held at the IITA Conference Centre, Ibadan on Friday.
El-Rufai said the APC will try its best to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but it would be tough because Makinde has governed well.
He recounted how they argued at a sitting of the National Executive Council (NEC) on whether to lock down states during COVID-19.
El-Rufai said, "After that debate, I went back to my state and I locked it down. Seyi went back to his state and did what he called a partial lockdown, but he locked himself down because he got COVID.
"The beauty of Nigeria is its diversity. In my state, I did what I felt was the right thing and he did what was best for his state.
"We'll do our best to defeat you. But I know it will be tough because you've been a good governor.
"As Nigerians, we're very grateful to you for what you have done here because each and every state in Nigeria is a beneficiary of the groundbreaking research that you have done.
"Both of you (Sanginga and Akinwumi Adesina of AfDB) are breaking ground along with others and you give our children hope that Africa can be anything it wants to be if it works hard."
Makinde while speaking at the event said it was exciting to have worked with IITA on several projects in line with his administration's vision to expand the state's economy through agribusiness and to encourage youths to exploit the opportunities in the sector.
Makinde said, "There are so many lessons to learn from this great man because of his brilliance, passion and leadership style. We have worked together on several projects and I have no fears or worries about letting IITA lead projects such as the STEP.
"He asked me to come down to Fasola and I saw the pictures of 'before and after' and the students fried chin-chin, baked cake, which got me thinking that I used to have the same opportunity at Bishop Philips Academy but we lost it along the line.
"So, I asked him to extend the programme to all the senatorial districts in the state and we picked one school per senatorial district; and now, the programme has spread to 13 schools in Oyo state.
"This is the electioneering period, and I want to use this opportunity to tell the people of Oyo state that if I am given another opportunity to serve, we will take the Start Them Early Programme to more schools in the state."
The event also witnessed the launching of Sanginga's autobiography, 'Leadership in African Agriculture.
Other dignitaries present at the event include Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB); Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of Oyo state, and representatives of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife.
TagsAPC Defeat Makinde Tough
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5 Best Toddler Drum Sets & Toy Drum Kits
Gideon WaxmanUpdated: November 17, 2021
Bashing a set of drums can be highly beneficial for toddlers. It will give them a platform to let out their frustrations as well as introduce them to the world of rhythms and coordination. It's a fun activity that most toddlers will happily gravitate toward.
Standard drum sets are too big and overwhelming for a toddler to play on, so you should find a good toddler drum kit to get for your child. Thankfully, there are some great drum set toys out there. Here's a list of five of them.
What are the Best Toddler Drum Sets?
Toddler Drum Sets & Toy Drum Kits Reviews
Things to Consider When Buying a Toddler Drum Set
VTech KidiBeats Toy Drum Set
EMAAS Kid's Jazz Drum Set
Mendini by Cecilio Kids Drum Set
Authentic drum shells
Snare drum, tom, bass drum, and cymbal
Includes pedal, sticks, and a throne
Full 5-piece drum set
Deep shells with different tones
Large bass drum
Wolvolk Electric Big Boy Drum Set
Electronic sounds
Includes everything your child needs to play
Includes a few music tunes and beats
3 drums and a cymbal
Includes a pair of sticks
Electronic features
Tabletop Electric Drum Kit
Electronic mat with images of drums
Includes all the electronics needed to play it and plug it into a computer
Mendini by Cecilio Kids Drum Set Review
The Mendini by Cecilio Kid Set is the ultimate drum kit for toddlers. It's the most resemblant of a full acoustic set, so it's a great toy to get a child who has drumming potential. It has a proper snare drum along with a tom, bass drum, pedal, and a cymbal. It also comes with a sturdy drum throne.
It's the perfect starter drum kit for a child. It has bright colors along with authentic drum tones. The drums can even be tuned as they have lugs and authentic drumheads.
It's a good investment to make for a toddler. It's durable and it's loads of fun to play on!
Most resemblant to a full acoustic drum set
Can be tuned
Has a proper snare drum
Expensive for a toddler drum set
EMAAS Kid's Jazz Drum Set Review
This EMAAS Kid's Jazz kit has a close resemblance to a standard full drum set. It's a fantastic toddler drum kit that will get children accustomed to how drums are laid out before they jump onto a full-sized kit.
It's a bit bigger than most toddler kits as it comes with 4 drums, a bass drum, a cymbal, a chair, and a pair of sticks.
The drum shells are large enough to have tones to them, getting your toddler accustomed to how different drums sound as they play. Everything is made of plastic so that it doesn't break, even the drumsticks. The bass drum pedal also resembles a standard bass drum pedal which is great.
Overall this is an excellent value toy drum set that kids will love playing on, as it produces realistic drum sounds and it is very durable too.
Good for older toddlers
Resembles a standard acoustic drum kit
Has proper tones
The drums tend to fall off if your toddler hits them too hard
Wolvolk Electric Big Boy Drum Set Review
The Wolvolk Electric Big Boy set is a small and vibrant drum kit perfectly designed for very young children. It has two drums, a cymbal, a microphone, and a bass drum. On top of that, it comes with a pair of sticks and a drum chair.
This kit has several bright colors that light up to attract small kids to it. It's loads of fun to play on for any child from 1 to around 3-years old.
One of the coolest things about it is that it has a few music tracks on it along with a few beats. Toddlers can entertain themselves with those for hours.
The included microphone allows them to sing while playing the drums, making them feel like the next Phil Collins. You'll have to explain to them who that is!
Very interactive
Included mic is a great feature
Batteries last a long time
Not the most durable set, especially when older kids play it
VTech KidiBeats Toy Drum Set Review
The VTech KidiBeats is a fantastic little drum set for toddlers to play around with. It's very small and has your toddler sitting in front of it to play the drums. This design allows toddlers younger than 1-years-old to have a go as well. It has 3 drums and a cymbal.
It has a few onboard tunes to keep them entertained. This includes 9 melodies of different musical styles. There are also a few interactive modes that will let your toddlers play games with the kit. The follow-along feature is a personal favorite.
This isn't a kit intended to replicate a big drum set. Instead, it sits neatly in front of toddlers, allowing them to play rhythms while they're sitting on the floor.
Has wonderful interactive modes
Good for very young toddlers
Has volume settings
Tabletop Electric Drum Kit Review
This Tabletop Electric Kit is a fairly unique option on this list. It's a mat with pictures of drums that you place on a table. It's fully electronic, so all the drum pictures make the related drum noise when you hit them with a stick.
The great thing about this particular kid's drum set is that you get to hear the proper sound of drums when you hit them. Most other kids sets have a plasticky sound to them. It's not ideal for learning to play drums normally, but it's a fantastic toy for training a child to recognize how certain drums sound.
Since all the drums a clearly laid out in front of you, it's incredibly easy to play. You'll find that it will entertain a toddler for hours on end.
Extremely easy to set up and use
Has real and authentic drum sounds
Great for toddlers of all ages
Doesn't feel like playing a real acoustic kit
Drum sets come in all shapes and sizes. So do little toddlers. So, you need to choose a drum set that is small enough for your toddler to play on, but big enough for them not to break.
This choice will largely depend on their age and how tall or short they are. Bigger drum sets like the Mendini by Cecilio Kids Drum Set are typically a better option as your toddler will grow into them eventually.
The more exciting a toy looks, the better the chances are that a toddler will love it. The same is true with a drum set. If you're getting a set for a very young child, it's better to get one like the Tabletop Electric Kit, the VTech KidiBeats, or the Wolvolk Electric Big Boy Drum Set that has appealing visuals with lights and vibrancy.
Older children may not need all the lights, but they'll still want the vibrancy. So, get a kit like the EMAAS Kid's Jazz Set that is exciting to look at.
You should make sure that you get a kit that comes with everything you need to play the drums. This includes sticks, pedals, and a drum chair. If the kit doesn't come with those things, you'll need to buy them separately and that will increase the cost of what you're looking to get.
Most toddler drum sets include everything you need, though. It's the larger drum kits that you need to look out for!
Playing on a toddler drum set is something that all young kids should try out. It's incredibly fun and it will keep them occupied for hours. Thankfully, baby drum sets come in all shapes and sizes with varying levels of pricing.
There are so many good sets to choose from, so choose wisely and surprise your toddler with one of the best birthday gifts ever.


The efforts of the police officers and teams that were involved in the solving of last week's Hougang kidnap case were acknowledged on Wednesday morning when they were presented with the Minister for Home Affairs Operational Excellence Award.
A total of 39 individual police officers, two departments and four units received their awards from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean at New Phoenix Park.
Assistant Director Major Crime Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Adrian Quek attributed the operation's success to timely reporting by the victim's family, the willingness of the family to trust the police and the close collaboration among the various police units.
The kidnapping case is Singapore's first since 2003. Madam Ng Lye Poh, the 79-year-old mother of Sheng Siong chief executive officer Lim Hock Chee, was kidnapped on the morning of Jan 8 after a trip to the market in Hougang. She was found at a bus stop along Seletar Aerospace Drive at about midnight the next day after the $2 million ransom was dropped off.
The two suspects were arrested about an hour later, and the ransom recovered. They have been charged under the Kidnapping Act.


text:
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The initial training of judges and prosecutors is carried out by the National Institute of Magistracy (NIM) and it is compulsory for the judicial trainees. The number of available places is decided annually by the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM), based on the needs of the judiciary. In 2021 there were 300 positions open, of which 175 of judges and 125 of prosecutors and the competition is currently ongoing.
Initial training lasts for two years, according to the law, but it is only at the end of the first year of studies that judicial trainees opt for their profession – that of a judge or prosecutor. In the first-year initial training is therefore generalized, as all judicial trainees follow the same curricula and are submitted to the same evaluation process, regardless of their future profession. During their second year of studies judicial trainees are being provided specialized training, mainly in courts and prosecutors' offices, according to their option.
The National Institute of Magistracy is a professional school and not an extension of the university studies. Therefore, the initial training within the NIM concerns mainly the applied skills and not only the acknowledgement of law provisions/texts.
The judicial trainees are therefore trained in order to know, for example, how to conduct a court/criminal prosecution stage hearing, to examine the evidence brought by the parties to the court, to understand the psychology of different types of litigants, to easily analyse a file and to draft a decision or any other jurisdictional act.
The access to the initial training is granted exclusively through NIM admission competition, organized by SCM, through NIM, and it is based on professional competence, skills and good reputation.
NIM admission contest is addressed to law graduates holding a bachelor's degree, regardless of age or previous professional experience, and includes 4 stages:
an exam verifying the legal knowledge through a multiple-choice test, in order to make an objective and efficient first selection;
a written exam aiming to assess the ability to process and correlate information, to interpret and apply the law, to argue in writing, proving a logical and correct reasoning;
a psychological exam, comprising a written test and an interview, in order to determine whether the candidates are psychologically able to exercise the profession;
an oral exam, consisting of an interview that verifies not only the knowledge but also the skills, abilities, motivation and human qualities of the candidates for such a profession.
The accepted candidates acquire the quality of judicial trainees and follow the NIM initial training program, completed with the NIM graduation exam.
There are no alternative routes of access to the initial training. However, one can also join the ranks of magistracy by the following means:
by competition for admission to the magistracy, organized by SCM, through NIM – addressed to persons holding a degree in law and at least 5 years of experience in certain legal positions provided by the law. The accepted candidates acquire the quality of judge or prosecutor and they have the obligation to attend a professional training course within NIM, for 6 months;
without competition or exam, within a procedure carried out by SCM - for persons having held before the position of a judge, a prosecutor or an assistant magistrate for at least 10 years, who have ceased their activity for reasons not attributable to them, in order to fill vacant positions in courts or prosecutor's offices.
The initial training of judicial trainees takes place over a period of two years, the first year being dedicated to theoretical and practical training through courses and seminars held at the Institute, and the second year mainly to internships in courts and prosecutor's offices.
The initial training program is approved annually by the Plenary of the Superior Council of Magistracy, at the proposal of the National Institute of Magistracy which elaborates this program and submits it for the analysis of the Pedagogical Council and of the Scientific Council.
The curricula for the first year includes the fields of study, the number of courses and seminars related to each field, as well as the assessment methodology. The curricula for the second year provides the practical training internships.
The training of judicial trainees is being performed by the training staff of the Institute usually selected from among the acting judges and prosecutors. Full-time trainers, seconded to the National Institute of Magistracy, and collaborating trainers are organized in departments according to the training fields they are specialized in.
The trainers develop the curriculum related to each field that include the topics and sub-topics, the number of hours allocated to each of them, the training methodology as well as the details regarding the assessment of the judicial trainees.
The practice coordinators are judges and prosecutors from courts and prosecutor's offices who guide the activity specific to the practical training during the second year.
First year of studies
The activity of judicial trainees, organized in groups of 15 – 17, is carried out mainly at the NIM headquarters, where they attend courses and seminars provided by the initial training program, in order to extend their legal knowledge and to develop skills specific to the profession of judge and prosecutor. At the NIM, the study of law is mainly practical, reproducing, as much as possible, the real conditions in which a magistrate carries out his/her activity. It comprises case studies, carried out in small groups, under the guidance of the practitioners who have drawn up the documents. The seminars also include practical activities, such as record study, drafting of procedural documents and mock sequences.
The study of the fundamental fields (Civil Law and Civil Procedure Law, respectively, Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law) has a substantial importance in the curricula of the first year of studies, considering that the activity of a judge/prosecutor is based to a significant extent on knowledge specific to these fields.
In addition to the fundamental legal fields, judicial trainees also study Administrative Law, Litigation with Professionals, Family Law, Forensics, Constitutional Law, EU Law, Human Rights
The training program includes both legal and non-legal skills, grouped in a pole of disciplines dedicated to socio-human sciences, which addresses topics related to psychology, communication and personal development, sociology, critical thinking. The study of foreign languages also aims at the acquisition of knowledge and the development of non-legal skills relevant to the exercise of the profession. A significant component of the initial training program is the study of professional ethics and deontology, the purpose of this subject being to establish and acquire the behavioral and moral standards specific to the position of judge/prosecutor, both in the exercise of the profession and in relation with society, according to internal and international rules.
After graduating the first year of study, judicial trainees opt for the position of a judge or a prosecutor, according to their ranking and according to the number of available positions established by the Superior Council of Magistracy.
Second year of studies
In order to develop the necessary skills specific to the profession, acquired in the first year of studies, but also to get acquainted with the future professional environment, judicial trainees carry out their activities mainly in courts and prosecutor's offices. They are being guided by tutors/practice coordinators (judges and prosecutors), who are required to ensure that they take part in all relevant activities within a court and prosecutor's office. The tutors/practice coordinators are part of the NIM training personnel/staff.
In addition, judicial trainees undergo internships in law firms, notary offices, bailiffs' offices. They also carry out practical activity within probation departments, police stations and penitentiaries. The purpose of these internships is to provide an overview of the judiciary, as well as to get acquainted to the realities of other legal professions in order to being able to establish an effective and fruitful collaboration in their future professional life.
Throughout their initial training, judicial trainees have the opportunity to become familiar with the common European legal space, by participating in exchanges organized within the AIAKOS component of the exchange program, in the THEMIS competition of judicial schools, as well as by participating in summer schools, aimed at developing and improving the skills and competencies specific to the magistrate profession, linguistics etc.
After completing the initial training program provided by NIM, judicial trainees take a graduation exam which assesses the acquired knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the function of judge or prosecutor.
It consists of written tests in the subjects of civil law and civil procedural law, criminal law and criminal procedural law, ethics and judicial organization.
Passing this exam ensures the NIM graduates the quality of junior judges and junior prosecutors and according to their ranking they opt for the courts and prosecutors' offices where they start their professional career.
After a probation period of one-year junior judges and prosecutors must pass a capacity exam in order to become senior/in-service judges and prosecutors. This exam assesses theoretical and practical knowledge by means of written and oral examinations. Successful junior judges and prosecutors are appointed by the President of the State as senior judges and prosecutors.
One of the major objectives of the entry level training at the NIM, is to provide the future magistrates with a comprehensive entry-level training and help them enrich their knowledge in as many as possible branches of law. The objective regarding the European and international openness of law is constantly achieved by training sessions on EU law, ECHR and European legal concepts, by inserting in the curriculum new elements of comparative law, as well as by drafting cooperation programmes with European institutions responsible with the training of judges and prosecutors and with other European judicial institutions.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
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Brexit notice


Doug Oliver serves as Founder and Chairman of Regenerative Outcomes Foundation. He is a writer, editorial contributor, and patient advocate from Nashville, Tennessee. He holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of New England and has specialized in work on health care policy, compliance, and clinical case advocacy.
After years suffering from legal blindness caused by macular degeneration, Doug's vision was restored in 2015, when he received stem cell treatments for his damaged retinas. He received his driver's license 5 months later. Doug's story has reached millions through international broadcasts, interviews with the national press, and countless affiliate television and news media outlets. The news of his story has been featured by People Magazine, Forbes, Fox News, and has also been shared with Pope Francis.
Mr. Oliver has continued to inspire, not only through sharing his experiences but by expanding his work beyond Capitol Hill. He has contributed regularly to publications such as The Hill as well as many opinion editorials for national news media. His current policy work has broadened further, being recently appointed by Senator Alexander to the Foundation of State Medical Boards' stem cell policy and ethics workgroup, undertaking academic efforts in informed consent, patient engagement, and a framework for stem cell counseling.
In September 2016, Mr. Oliver established the Regenerative Outcomes Foundation, a non-profit project that hopes to soon provide direct grants to stem cell patients participating in FDA-approved clinical trials, train patients as ambassadors between interests represented in the Regenerative Medicine field, inspire the public with his Pioneers of Hope interview series, educate and guide companies and biotechnology companies seeking to sponsor clinical trials, advance a national cell registry, and forming collaborative alliances with both private and non-private parties to conduct patient outcomes.


text:
<?php

namespace dv\SSW2014Bundle\Controller;

use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request;
use Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Controller\Controller;

use dv\SSW2014Bundle\Entity\EntityCategory;
use dv\SSW2014Bundle\Form\EntityCategoryType;

/**
 * EntityCategory controller.
 *
 */
class EntityCategoryController extends Controller
{

    /**
     * Lists all EntityCategory entities.
     *
     */
    public function indexAction()
    {
        $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();

        $entities = $em->getRepository('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory')->findAll();

        return $this->render('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory:index.html.twig', array(
            'entities' => $entities,
        ));
    }
    /**
     * Creates a new EntityCategory entity.
     *
     */
    public function createAction(Request $request)
    {
        $entity = new EntityCategory();
        $form = $this->createCreateForm($entity);
        $form->handleRequest($request);

        if ($form->isValid()) {
            $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
            $em->persist($entity);
            $em->flush();

            return $this->redirect($this->generateUrl('entity_category_show', array('id' => $entity->getId())));
        }

        return $this->render('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory:new.html.twig', array(
            'entity' => $entity,
            'form'   => $form->createView(),
        ));
    }

    /**
    * Creates a form to create a EntityCategory entity.
    *
    * @param EntityCategory $entity The entity
    *
    * @return \Symfony\Component\Form\Form The form
    */
    private function createCreateForm(EntityCategory $entity)
    {
        $form = $this->createForm(new EntityCategoryType(), $entity, array(
            'action' => $this->generateUrl('entity_category_create'),
            'method' => 'POST',
        ));

        $form->add('submit', 'submit', array('label' => 'Create'));

        return $form;
    }

    /**
     * Displays a form to create a new EntityCategory entity.
     *
     */
    public function newAction()
    {
        $entity = new EntityCategory();
        $form   = $this->createCreateForm($entity);

        return $this->render('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory:new.html.twig', array(
            'entity' => $entity,
            'form'   => $form->createView(),
        ));
    }

    /**
     * Finds and displays a EntityCategory entity.
     *
     */
    public function showAction($id)
    {
        $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();

        $entity = $em->getRepository('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory')->find($id);

        if (!$entity) {
            throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find EntityCategory entity.');
        }

        $deleteForm = $this->createDeleteForm($id);

        return $this->render('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory:show.html.twig', array(
            'entity'      => $entity,
            'delete_form' => $deleteForm->createView(),        ));
    }

    /**
     * Displays a form to edit an existing EntityCategory entity.
     *
     */
    public function editAction($id)
    {
        $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();

        $entity = $em->getRepository('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory')->find($id);

        if (!$entity) {
            throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find EntityCategory entity.');
        }

        $editForm = $this->createEditForm($entity);
        $deleteForm = $this->createDeleteForm($id);

        return $this->render('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory:edit.html.twig', array(
            'entity'      => $entity,
            'edit_form'   => $editForm->createView(),
            'delete_form' => $deleteForm->createView(),
        ));
    }

    /**
    * Creates a form to edit a EntityCategory entity.
    *
    * @param EntityCategory $entity The entity
    *
    * @return \Symfony\Component\Form\Form The form
    */
    private function createEditForm(EntityCategory $entity)
    {
        $form = $this->createForm(new EntityCategoryType(), $entity, array(
            'action' => $this->generateUrl('entity_category_update', array('id' => $entity->getId())),
            'method' => 'PUT',
        ));

        $form->add('submit', 'submit', array('label' => 'Update'));

        return $form;
    }
    /**
     * Edits an existing EntityCategory entity.
     *
     */
    public function updateAction(Request $request, $id)
    {
        $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();

        $entity = $em->getRepository('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory')->find($id);

        if (!$entity) {
            throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find EntityCategory entity.');
        }

        $deleteForm = $this->createDeleteForm($id);
        $editForm = $this->createEditForm($entity);
        $editForm->handleRequest($request);

        if ($editForm->isValid()) {
            $em->flush();

            return $this->redirect($this->generateUrl('entity_category_edit', array('id' => $id)));
        }

        return $this->render('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory:edit.html.twig', array(
            'entity'      => $entity,
            'edit_form'   => $editForm->createView(),
            'delete_form' => $deleteForm->createView(),
        ));
    }
    /**
     * Deletes a EntityCategory entity.
     *
     */
    public function deleteAction(Request $request, $id)
    {
        $form = $this->createDeleteForm($id);
        $form->handleRequest($request);

        if ($form->isValid()) {
            $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
            $entity = $em->getRepository('dvSSW2014Bundle:EntityCategory')->find($id);

            if (!$entity) {
                throw $this->createNotFoundException('Unable to find EntityCategory entity.');
            }

            $em->remove($entity);
            $em->flush();
        }

        return $this->redirect($this->generateUrl('entity_category'));
    }

    /**
     * Creates a form to delete a EntityCategory entity by id.
     *
     * @param mixed $id The entity id
     *
     * @return \Symfony\Component\Form\Form The form
     */
    private function createDeleteForm($id)
    {
        return $this->createFormBuilder()
            ->setAction($this->generateUrl('entity_category_delete', array('id' => $id)))
            ->setMethod('DELETE')
            ->add('submit', 'submit', array('label' => 'Delete'))
            ->getForm()
        ;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Diet, exercise, natural light, and fresh air can all have a positive effect on mood and energy levels. So whether you start eating more oily fish, take up yoga or install home skylights to get more sunlight, there are various ways you can lift your mood, the natural way.
Research has shown that a workout can boost your mood for up to 12 hours. This happens because exercise boosts levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain and it is even shown to be as effective as antidepressants. Even doing just 15 minutes of exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and cortisol levels, so make sure to work this into your routine.
Yoga is a great form of exercise as it combines meditation and relaxation techniques. This has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, which can both contribute to depression.
Sticking to a regular sleep schedule is important, even on the weekends. Not enough sleep can make depression worse, so if you know you need to get more sleep, it's time to start making changes to your lifestyle.
The amount of hours of sleep needed each night to function optimally varies from person to person, but most adults need between 7 and 9 hours. Make sure you go to bed and get up at the same time every day and avoid taking naps to improve your sleep routine.
Exposing yourself to sunlight increases vitamin D levels and can help to boost your mood. Make sure you open up your curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun in. Morning sunlight offers the most benefits, so be sure to brighten up your bedroom as soon as you wake up.
Do not get much sunlight through your windows? Try installing office or home skylights to receive maximum natural light and ventilation to the room. Tubular skylights are the most cost effective way of bringing natural lighting into any room, as well as much needed ventilation.
A great way of giving yourself a natural mood boost is to step outside and breathe in some fresh air. It will give you a chance to refresh your mind and feel more awake.
If you don't have much time during the day to step outside, make sure you keep your home and office well ventilated. Tubelights are an ideal solution for boosting your mood as they let the sunshine in and keep your space well ventilated.
Certain foods have been shown to help easy anxiety, reduce stress, and even fight depression. Dark chocolate is known to reduce stress hormones, carbs promote the production of feel-good chemical serotonin, and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help lower the risk of depression.
For a mood-boosting nutrient that our body doesn't produce, try eating oily fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna, which give you omega-3s. Not only has it been shown to lift mood, but it is also thought to alleviate depression. If you are not a big fan of fish, try having canola and olive oils, walnuts and flaxseeds instead.
Take a huge step in making your home a place of good vibes with the tips above. Check out our wide range of home skylights that will let in all the good natural light that you need to improve your mood throughout the day.


text:
> samtrans.com > About SamTrans > Media Relations > News > Caltrain, SamTrans Recognized for Achievements in Sustainability
Caltrain, SamTrans Recognized for Achievements in Sustainability
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognized SamTrans and Caltrain with Silver-Level status in the APTA Sustainability Commitment Program for the agencies' continued achievements in sustainability.
As signatories to the program, SamTrans and Caltrain have pledged to implement processes and actions that create continuous improvements in environmental, social and economic sustainability.
"It is incumbent on all of us to do more to protect our environment," said Joint Powers Board Chair Jeannie Bruins. "Caltrain is proud of its role in getting cars off the road and reducing our carbon footprint, and we thank APTA for recognizing our efforts."
Highlights from Caltrain's sustainability program include:
Caltrain has the most extensive bicycle access program among passenger railroads in the U.S., accommodating approximately 6,000 bicyclists every weekday. In 2017, Caltrain committed to a new bicycle parking management plan to increase use of wayside bike parking facilities.
Since the summer of 2017, Caltrain's electricity has been 65 percent renewable and 79 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) free through participating in local Community Choice Energy programs. Through this effort, Caltrain will reduce its carbon footprint from electricity use by about 20 percent, which is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of 150 cars.
Caltrain prepared its first ever Sustainability Report in 2017, which summarizes and highlights the agency's sustainability achievements from FY 2010 to FY 2016. For the past several years, Caltrain has experienced unprecedented ridership growth, greatly reducing the number of cars on Highway 101.In FY 2016, the average Caltrain passenger helped eliminate 3.2 pounds of GHG emissions with each train trip. In response to California's historic drought, Caltrain implemented a number of water-saving conservation measures, and decreased water consumption by more than a third between FY 2014 and FY 2016.
When the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP) is complete, Caltrain's GHG emissions and criteria air pollutants will decrease drastically. The increased ridership resulting from the increase in capacity will lead to additional air quality benefits.
"As the realities of climate change become increasingly apparent, agencies like SamTrans must lead the way in pushing for greener technology and responsible practices," said SamTrans Board Chair Charles Stone. "By using Peninsula Clean Energy for our power and purchasing new electric buses, we are doing more than ever before to safeguard our world."
SamTrans was recognized for many notable sustainability achievements, including:
Since 2017, SamTrans has purchased 100 percent renewable and GHG free electricity from Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County's Community Choice Energy Program.Through this effort, SamTrans will reduce its carbon footprint from electricity use by about 40 percent, which is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of 200 cars.
SamTrans recently approved the purchase of 10 battery electric buses, which will replace some of SamTrans' oldest diesel vehicles. These new buses, along with the 25 hybrid buses already in service, are part of SamTrans' effort to reduce its fleet emissions. SamTrans is working on a long-term plan to fully electrify the bus fleet by 2032 ahead of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) state-wide goal of transforming all transit fleets to zero-emission bus technology by 2040.
SamTrans prepared its first ever Sustainability Report in 2017, which summarizes and highlights the District's sustainability achievements between FY 2010 and FY 2016. In response to California's historic drought, SamTrans implemented a number of water-saving conservation measures, and decreased water consumption by more than a third between FY2010 and FY2016. Overall, SamTrans facility energy use declined by more than 26 percent between FY 2010 and FY 2016, and SamTrans is currently replacing High-intensity discharge lighting in its two maintenance and operations facilities with LED lights, which are 80 percent more efficient.
"Integrating environmental stewardship and sustainability into an organization's core business practices is the foundation of APTA's Sustainability Recognition Awards," said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. "We congratulate the San Mateo County Transit District and Caltrain for gaining Silver Level recognition in 2018 for their commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Their blueprint of implementing sustainable practices makes their communities better and greener places to live."
About SamTrans: SamTrans operates 77 routes throughout San Mateo County. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the San Mateo County Transit District also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. SamTrans has provided bus service to San Mateo County customers since 1976.
Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/samtrans or and follow us on Twitter @SamTrans.
Media Contact: Dan Lieberman, 650-508-6385
Tweets by @SamTrans


text:
"Waze of Parking" app SpotAngels raises $2.3 million
Posted by Kirsten Korosec | Jul 24, 2018 | BUSINESS / TECHNOLOGY | 0 |
SpotAngels, an app that uses crowdsourced data to help drivers find parking and avoid tickets, has raised $2.3 million from a group of investors that includes Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen.
Luc Vincent, the former head of Google Street View and vice president of engineering at Lyft, as well as Y Combinator, Streamlined Ventures, and Via-ID also invested in the round.
The startup plans to use the funding to expand to other U.S. cities and improve its free mobile app, including a new "predicted availability" feature that it hopes to launch later this year. The new feature allows drivers to know what the odds are of finding a spot in any given area before heading there.
The existing app works like a network—the more users, the better the intel. Once a user installs the app, it can provide real-time data to the greater SpotAngels community. The app, which uses the car's bluetooth connection or phone motion sensors, knows when the user's vehicle is parking or leaving a spot.
The app also displays the location of all street parking spots and garages with detailed rules and prices that is kept current through its users. Drivers use it to find free street parking, the cheapest parking meter or garage.
The startup's newest "predicted availability" feature, which is expected to launch in San Francisco by the end of year, takes historical parking data from dashcam videos that SpotAngels collects through members of its community.
SpotAngels uses computer vision technology to count parked cars on these videos to determine how occupied streets are at a given time.
The app is available 20 U.S. cities, including San Francisco and New York City.
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Kirsten Korosec


This weekend, I finally took the plunge. I sat in my hair dresser's seat and let her chop and dye my locks for a new summer look! I'm loving the shorter and lighter do and it is so much easier to style. Dress it up or down, the lob is always low maintenance and effortless and that is a hairstyle I can get behind.


I have had two metastatic brain tumors. Surgery for the second one was in January. Due to extreme vertigo, I have not been able to resume much of my normal life. My neurosurgeon says eventually this may correct itself but meanwhile I have to live with it. This is getting harder the longer it goes on. I would like to hear from others with similar issues and know how you are coping with it.
Welcome to Connect, Mdotsie! I'd like to connect you with fellow Connect members, so I'd like better understand they type of cancer you have.
Are the 2 brain tumors a result of cancer spreading (metastasizing) from a cancer elsewhere? If yes, which type of cancer?
Do you have brain cancer that has metastasized elsewhere? If yes, which type of brain cancer?
@mdotsie, Trying to resume normal life with vertigo is challenging, I'm sure.
I wonder if it would be worth while to ask your Neurosurgeon about consulting in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation? or ask if Vestibular rehabilitation is something that you would possibly benefit from?
As Colleen commented above, more information about your brain cancer will help us put you in touch with other members that have experienced similar situations.
I've talked with my neurosurgeon. The type of vertigo I have is not vestibular, It is directly a result of cerebellar cancer. I had radiation both before and after the actual brain surgery and she thinks the necrosis from that is causing irritation that leads to vertigo. As the scar tissue is being reabsorbed into my system the vertigo is improving very slowly. I've been to physical therapy to learn techniques for balance but the fact is that every day when I get up I am immediately feeling as if I'm on a ship in a storm at sea. It is exhausting to live with. It may continue to improve but right now I find myself unable to live a "normal" life and do the things I'm used to. My hope is that there are others with a similar experience to share my feelings with. Maybe I can learn something about coping with this that I haven't thought of before.
@mdotsie I am going to connect you with memebers @claudia11 @msfrank04 @humminbird1963 and @overcomer11. Can any of you enlighten mdotsie as to how one can cope with vertigo symptoms?
Can you tell me if the physical therapy techniques taught were helpful throughout the day? Is it in the morning when you wake that you feel the worst?
@mdotsie, I send you warm wishes that you are able to find some relief or something that will help you cope with this debilitating effect from the necrosis.
Thanks. My vertigo symptoms start as soon as I get up and never let up all day. I can get around with a cane or a walker but I haven't found a way to do much that requires even sitting up for very long. I'm an artist and I don't have the stamina to deal with constant vertigo and produce artwork. I guess what I'm hoping to find is how to do any kind of work while coping with constant vertigo, if anyone has found a way to do that. I also have a vision problem where my eyes don't"track" as the ophthalmologist put it, but I am learning to cope with that even though I read more slowly and really have to concentrate to avoid slipping into double vision. Most days, if I am too active, I get nausea and often vomit, just like seasickness. I've tried medications and bracelets and they are somewhat helpful but some days even brushing my teeth causes so much head movement that I have nausea from it. If anyone else has these symptoms and is coping better than I am, I would like to hear about how you do it.
I just wanted to check in today to see how you are doing. How is the vertigo?
My wife just had a endometrial tumor removed that me Metastasize to the brain. Looking for some direction and advice and referrals as this is extremely rare. I hope someone can help.
Welcome to Connect, @stayinghopeful. I'm glad you found us. I @kate123 and @mdotsie will return to share their personal experiences with endometrial cancer with you. You mention that you are looking for referrals. Do you mean referral for a second opinion? If yes, I'd like to invite @vsinn2000 to share about her experience at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center where she is being treated for a gynecological cancer.
StayingHopeful, will your wife be getting treatment for the brain metastasis? Has she been referred to a palliative care team?
She's had the tumor removed and is scheduled for stereotactic radiation surgery on 1/12. She has no cancer anywhere else. We are looking for some direction as this is very rare. 2nd opinion or any suggestions as to treatment is what we are after. Have heard her cancer might respond to keytruda but the chemo oncologist says chemo and keytruda are not shown to be beneficial at this time as there is not evidence of any active tumor right now.
I wish you and your wife all the best with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). A fellow Connect member, @mrser52, just completed SRS treatment for tentorial menigioma. While it was not for metastasis as in your wife's situation, perhaps you'd like to ask Mrser52 questions about what SRS treatment was like and what you might expect tomorrow.
I will answer any question that you and your wife might have. Happy to help.
I understand you had menengioma. What can you tell me about the Mayo Clinic and it's treatment of your cancer? Thanks.
I have a tentorial meningioma brain tumor, I didn't go to the Mayo Clinic I use this site for support. But I did have the SRS treatments. I had 5 of them here in Grand Rapids, MI During my SRS treatments during 3 of them I had to take Xanax. For this treatment they make a mask to form the shape of your face and the back of your head to use during these SRS treatments. My treatments lasted 15 minutes each. The making of the mask takes around 30 to 40 minutes. then the SRS treatments begin. I wish you well and good luck to you, If there is any thing else you would like to know please ask, I will try to answer your questions the best that I can.
Welcome. If you you truly want a second chance, a second choice, and a second family of the the most supportive virtual friends, medical care beyond compare and a compassion you will see no where else then you are in the right place. My story was a nightmare. I had no where to turn for experienced care provider for my tumor. Please, please take time to read back through the threads of our crazy conversations. I will answer any and all questions you need to ask. Pm me and I will even answer your phone call. Your wife would be in the best hands, and my husband can tell you first hand that your wife will be in the right place. Please, don't hesitate to reach out. It will be the best, most comforting choice you will make.


text:
Al-Qaeda and Affiliates Remain Determined to Bleed America Dry
by Brian Beyer Posted on August 9, 2011
One of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda's goals was to destroy America economically by waging a "War of a thousand cuts." The goal was to cause as much economic pain as was possible. No attack better exemplified this than the 9/11 attacks which struck right at the heart of New York City, the financial capital of the world. Not only was the attack symbolic, but the markets tanked, exacerbating the recession that plagued America. Additionally, the US began to engage in a global effort to fight terrorism, much like a bull in a China shop. Afghanistan, initially fought to find those responsible for the 9/11 attacks, slowly morphed into a nation building effort in a fruitless attempt to make the country hostile to al-Qaeda and a beacon of democracy. Iraq was invaded because terrorists, along with former US ally Saddam Hussein, were said to be the proud owners of Weapons of Mass Destruction that posed an existential threat to the American way of life (of course, the WMD's never came to fruition). Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia also quickly became theaters in America's never ending war on terrorism.
The American "anti-terrorism" apparatus became gargantuan with its tentacles extending to every state and country in the world. Dana Priest and William Arkin, in their much underreported Top Secret America report for the Washington Post, said of Uncle Sam's KGB:
The top-secret world the government created in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has become so large, so unwieldy and so secretive that no one knows how much money it costs, how many people it employs, how many programs exist within it or exactly how many agencies do the same work.
Who would've thought that in an age where everything is quantifiable and downloadable, not even the almighty federal government could keep track of this burgeoning monster. Perhaps more dizzying and enraging are the cold hard facts that they present:
* Some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies work on programs related to counterterrorism, homeland security and intelligence in about 10,000 locations across the United States.
* An estimated 854,000 people, nearly 1.5 times as many people as live in Washington, D.C., hold top-secret security clearances.
* In Washington and the surrounding area, 33 building complexes for top-secret intelligence work are under construction or have been built since September 2001. Together they occupy the equivalent of almost three Pentagons or 22 U.S. Capitol buildings – about 17 million square feet of space.
* Many security and intelligence agencies do the same work, creating redundancy and waste. For example, 51 federal organizations and military commands, operating in 15 U.S. cities, track the flow of money to and from terrorist networks.
* Analysts who make sense of documents and conversations obtained by foreign and domestic spying share their judgment by publishing 50,000 intelligence reports each year – a volume so large that many are routinely ignored.
America quickly turned into a police state with airports becoming the symbol of the horribly, anti-American War on Terror. Freedom was promptly traded away for security. Human dignity and privacy went to the wayside as TSA agents were free to touch and harass grandmothers, cancer patients, and 3 year old girls. The immense cost is probably incalculable, although some have tried. What cannot be denied is that Osama bin Laden's strategy has worked. America traded its values for a false sense of security, and by doing so, sold their souls and economic futures away.
In a new development in the war in Iraq, the Islamic state in Iraq, is yet again trying to bleed America to death both physically and economically. As America will remain in Iraq well past the 2011 non-deadline, ISIQ is asking for former members to come back and reengage the Shi'ite government. The statement read,
"As for you, satanic Awakenings, we strive to guide you more than you strive to kill us. If you come to us in repentance, we will accept your repentance even if you killed a million people."
"Do not stand in the way between us and the (Shi'ites) … We will not get bored or tired; rather, we will continue until the Day of Judgment, and we will kill from amongst you only those who we see will never return."
It almost sounds as if ISIQ is desperate and in need of numbers, but their threats ought to be taken seriously. ISIQ has proven themselves to be more than capable of launching deadly assaults against Iraqi and American officials and government forces. Coupled with the threat, which may or may not be a bluff, from Moqtada al-Sadr to attack American "hard targets" if the United States does not withdraw by the end of 2011, a renewed assault on American targets is becoming a much more real possibility.
America remains vulnerable to being dragged into yet another quagmire in Iraq. If Obama does not have the resolve to say enough is enough, the blood and money will continue to flow, and al-Qaeda will continue to celebrate despite the death of its leader.
8 thoughts on "Al-Qaeda and Affiliates Remain Determined to Bleed America Dry"
NavyVietnamWarVet says:
As the spider said to the fly – 'come into my web' – and the stupid fly entered and was trapped in the web – and the spider just laughed at how stupid the fly was.
Lear K says:
You would think that people writing here ,ant-war, to be more astute than to keep repeating or continue to believing that the US government's goals are "nation building" by invading Afghanistan ,Iraq, and so on.It is not about nation buliding at all.
A. G. Phillbin says:
Yes and no. "Nation building" is not the goal of the US occupation, but it is undoubtedly one of it's key methods.
The US has many nations destroyed than bulit with countless lives lost.
John_Muhammad says:
"" so unwieldy and so secretive that no one knows how much money it costs, how many people it employs, how many programs exist within it or exactly how many agencies do the same work.. ""
Funny, that EXACTLY how Hitler managed many of his departments- setting them to the same task and letting them fight it out for resources and results. We think of the Nazi machine as being some monolithic single-minded monstrosity when in reality it was a overfilled shark tank full of hungry predators- and that's EXACTLY what our "Intelligence Community" has become.
Curious says:
Al Qaeda in Iraq would be attacking the Shia Government regardless if Americans are there. There are Sunnis that fear what they call the Shia Crescent. I think they hate each other more than they hate other people.
What happened to all those foreign fighters coming in from across the Middle East to fight in Iraq?
Walter Cole says:
Does al-Qaeda even exist? Did bin Laden actually have something to do with 9-11? Whether he did or didn't, we have created the largest super hero in the history of civilization. Living and operating from his secret caves on the other side of the world, Super-bin Laden decided to take on the only super power with his merry band of under 200 terrorists. He drove the empire into doing all of those things listed in the article, and more. Whether you like him or not, his success is that of the hero of all heroes of all times? And an evil one at that!
Of course the US can take some credit in claiming that he successfully used President Reagan's tactics against the Soviet Union to bring down the economy of the US Empire – he forced us to spend ourselves out of existence. How he got our government to overreact against the rights of its citizens is still a mystery. Although he has been declared deceased, bin-Laden continues to drive our country into the ground.
However, his most despicable and unforgiveable feat was that of getting Superman to renounce his US citizenship. What have we become as a nation for Superman to make such a decision?
JoshFair says:
The war in Afghanistan is not, and has never been, under control. The Helicopter crash that occurred a couple of days ago proves that we are fighting a losing battle, no pun intended. As well as this it also adds 38 lives to the ever growing death toll and marks the ten year anniversary of the Afghanistan war, which is only a month away. Remember that when the allied forces first invaded Afghanistan it was meant to be over by Christmas, and Labour cabinet minister John Reid hoped 'without a shot being fired'.
At ten years, we have to say enough is enough. We have to send the government a message, if you want to make a difference click the link below.
http://www.antiwarassembly.org
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Lyrical vulnerability meshes with silky beats in the recordings of Fruut, the latest moniker of Dani Mullen. There's a graceful, anti-gravity quality to these electropop sounds. With the new album All About You, Mullen explores emotive-laced circumstances in songs whose experiences feel as though they're being processed/lived through in real time. Intimately hypnotic, these tracks capture an endearing closeness.