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Search only speeches by Tracey Crouch Search all speeches
Results 81–100 of 2000 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Tracey Crouch
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Backbench Business — [32nd( )Allotted Day]: Procedure Committee Reports (13 Oct 2011)
Tracey Crouch: I am a user of Twitter myself. One of its advantages is that messages have to be condensed into 140 characters to communicate with the outside world. Does the hon. Lady agree that we could learn from that, and try to condense more of our contributions to 140 characters?
Anchor Housing Association (13 Oct 2011)
Tracey Crouch: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Tracey Crouch: I recently initiated an Adjournment debate on older people in Westminster Hall, during which I drew attention to the acute pressure on housing for our older generation. Given that that pressure will become a great deal worse, will the Minister consider the constructive suggestion that some flexibility should be applied to the new homes bonus? That might well give developers an incentive to...
Opposition Day — [Un-allotted Day]: National Health Service (26 Oct 2011)
Tracey Crouch: May I take this opportunity to congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his new post? He is back where he once was, but on the other side of the House. Last year, in The Guardian, the right hon. Gentleman stated that it was "irresponsible to increase NHS spending in real terms". Does he still stand by that statement?
Education and Training (Young People with Autism): New Clause 26 — Offence of squatting in a residential building (1 Nov 2011)
Tracey Crouch: I am sure the Minister will recall that a year ago tomorrow he met my constituent Steve Cross, a commercial property manager. The Government are clearly concerned about the impact of squatting in commercial property, so it is surprising that the new clause, which I entirely support, does not include greater protections for commercial properties. Will the Minister reassure my constituent that...
Tracey Crouch: Does the hon. Gentleman not consider that one of the flaws with the current legislation is section 6 of the 1977 Act, which allows squatters to claim rights to a property, thereby making it difficult for owners to get rid of them?
Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (9 Nov 2011)
Tracey Crouch: On Christmas day 1914, British and German troops put down their weapons and played a football match in no man's land. The following day, the bloody hostilities resumed. Today, we wear the poppy in remembrance of our war dead. Will the Prime Minister join me in condemning the outrageous decision by FIFA to refuse the home nations' request to wear the poppy on their shirts this weekend as a...
Business of the House (10 Nov 2011)
Tracey Crouch: By 2021, the number of people living with dementia is predicted to rise to more than 1 million. There is active interest across the House in how we will deal with this ticking time bomb. Will the Leader of the House consider holding on the Floor of the House a general debate on dementia so that we can discuss this issue in detail?
Oral Answers to Questions — Health: Topical Questions (22 Nov 2011)
Tracey Crouch: Pension reform is important to those of my constituents who work in the public sector—and, indeed, to the taxpayers who do not. With that in mind, does the Secretary of State agree that the heath service unions should work constructively with the Government on public sector pension reform rather than go on strike next week, potentially putting patients' lives at risk?
Credit Unions — [Mr Gary Streeter in the Chair] (23 Nov 2011)
Tracey Crouch: As always, Mr Streeter, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on securing the debate. The hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans) spoke passionately about financial literacy. He might be interested to learn that a young lady doing work experience with me this week is watching the debate from the Gallery....
Tracey Crouch: I agree. As many providers as exist should be entitled to teach children about the variety of sources of financial awareness. I have been to primary schools in my constituency and seen big banks supporting financial education programmes, which I think is fantastic, but we should get as many people in there as possible. I proudly declare, like many Members here, that I am a member of a credit...
Girls (Educational Development) — [Mrs Anne Main in the Chair] (29 Nov 2011)
Tracey Crouch: It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Caroline Dinenage) and other hon. Friends who have spoken thus far. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West (Esther McVey) on securing the debate. I went to an all-girls school, and I look forward to going back shortly to do its prize-giving. I have a suspicion that confidence will be a key part of any speech...
Tracey Crouch: It is interesting how in the past certain comedians have mocked women's education, to try to belittle women. Some dictatorships have banned women from being educated, which makes the point. In my short remarks I want to mention the importance of sport and physical activity in building girls' confidence. I am interested and active in sport, and am pleased to say I have just been appointed...
Tracey Crouch: I agree. Competitive sport is important as it builds team spirit and confidence in many different ways, but other sports build personal confidence. I am thinking of dance and the advent of "Strictly Come Dancing", which has inspired many more young people to get involved and interested in dance. We should try to maintain as much variety as possible in the range of sports available to...
Tracey Crouch: I completely agree with my hon. Friend, and have been careful not to talk just about sport, because physical activity is incredibly important. Getting people involved in sport or physical activity is one thing; keeping them involved as they get older is a very different problem, and all clubs or organisations involved in providing sports opportunities are finding it difficult. In my field,...
Tracey Crouch: The hon. Gentleman will be delighted to know it was Sami I was thinking of when I wrote those words earlier. I thought she was a fantastic singer and that it was an inspiration to everyone watching to see someone of a bigger size be talented, and have the confidence to go up on stage and sing well. It is a shame we do not see as much coverage of female as of male sporting heroes on our...
Backbench Business: BBC (Proposed Cuts) (1 Dec 2011)
Tracey Crouch: If the west midlands is the heart of England, Kent is the garden of England. Is the hon. Lady aware that Radio Kent, which provides many of my constituents with an excellent service, has longer listening hours throughout the week than any other BBC radio station? That is why it is vital to retain top-quality programmes and stations for our constituents.
Tracey Crouch: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that one reason people are so loyal to their local radio stations is the variety they provide: there is the heavy speech content in the morning, followed by a variety of music, plugs for local events and so on in the lunch-time and afternoon shows, followed by the interesting speech content mix in the drive-time shows. That variety means loyal listeners.
Tracey Crouch: Will the hon. Lady give way?
Tracey Crouch: I am grateful to the right hon. and learned Lady for her generosity in giving way. I support everything that she says about the BBC sports personality of the year. As a sportswoman and someone who coaches girls on a regular basis, I think that it is important that the BBC looks at its overall coverage of women sports. Rather than imposing positive discrimination so that women get on to the...
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: slf4j conflicting with GWT I'm working on a GWT project in eclipse that makes calls to Apache Hive from the webpage. The architecture is something like this.
In the GWT project. the use puts a hive query on the webpage. The webpage sends this query to the server class using GWT RPC. The server makes a call to another java class in another eclipse project. This project has the hive jdbc driver, which calls hive that is running on a VM (CDH3).
I wrote a unit test that calls the GWT server class and sends a Hive query and it executes fine, but when I run he project and try to send the query from the webpage. It throws a  runtime error. It seems to have some conflict with the slf4j classes included in the second eclipse project that has the Hive JDBC driver. I am guessing, there is some conflict between GWT server classes that are called at runtime and the slf4j classes included in the other project. By the way, the second project is included in the build path of the first one, but not the other way.
Here's the error:
[WARN] Exception while dispatching incoming RPC call
com.google.gwt.user.server.rpc.UnexpectedException: Service method 'public abstract java.lang.String com.unitest.client.GreetingService.greetServer(java.lang.String) throws java.lang.IllegalArgumentException' threw an unexpected exception: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Could not initialize class org.apache.thrift.transport.TSocket
    at com.google.gwt.user.server.rpc.RPC.encodeResponseForFailure(RPC.java:385)
    at com.google.gwt.user.server.rpc.RPC.invokeAndEncodeResponse(RPC.java:588)
    at com.google.gwt.user.server.rpc.RemoteServiceServlet.processCall(RemoteServiceServlet.java:208)
    at com.google.gwt.user.server.rpc.RemoteServiceServlet.processPost(RemoteServiceServlet.java:248)
    at com.google.gwt.user.server.rpc.AbstractRemoteServiceServlet.doPost(AbstractRemoteServiceServlet.java:62)
    at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:637)
    at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:717)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.servlet.ServletHolder.handle(ServletHolder.java:487)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.servlet.ServletHandler.handle(ServletHandler.java:362)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.security.SecurityHandler.handle(SecurityHandler.java:216)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.servlet.SessionHandler.handle(SessionHandler.java:181)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.handler.ContextHandler.handle(ContextHandler.java:729)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.webapp.WebAppContext.handle(WebAppContext.java:405)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.handler.HandlerWrapper.handle(HandlerWrapper.java:152)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.handler.RequestLogHandler.handle(RequestLogHandler.java:49)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.handler.HandlerWrapper.handle(HandlerWrapper.java:152)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.Server.handle(Server.java:324)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.HttpConnection.handleRequest(HttpConnection.java:505)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.HttpConnection$RequestHandler.content(HttpConnection.java:843)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.HttpParser.parseNext(HttpParser.java:647)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.HttpParser.parseAvailable(HttpParser.java:211)
    at org.mortbay.jetty.HttpConnection.handle(HttpConnection.java:380)
    at org.mortbay.io.nio.SelectChannelEndPoint.run(SelectChannelEndPoint.java:395)
    at org.mortbay.thread.QueuedThreadPool$PoolThread.run(QueuedThreadPool.java:488)
Caused by: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Could not initialize class org.apache.thrift.transport.TSocket
    at org.apache.hadoop.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection.<init>(HiveConnection.java:92)
    at org.apache.hadoop.hive.jdbc.HiveDriver.connect(HiveDriver.java:104)
    at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(Unknown Source)
    at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(Unknown Source)

A: Your server-side dependencies have to live within the WEB-INF/lib of the GWT project (just like any other WAR).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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By Amelia Wong
DNA origami involves designing tiny nano-robots out of a hybrid of DNA, antibodies, and metal groups of atoms. The nano-robots then "fold" the DNA into shapes, forming cancer-fighting drugs or repairing cells.
DNA origami is based on DNA's ability to self-assemble into a double helix. The information stored in DNA is made up of four chemical bases which pair up with each other automatically: A's recognize T's and G's recognize C's. When a base, sugar, and phosphate join together, they form a nucleotide. Nucleotides are arranged in two long strands that form a double helix. However, if designed correctly, single strands of DNA can be created that will bind to each other to form unique shapes.
For example, scientists have previously used DNA to write out words, create spaceships from DNA bricks, and store all of Shakespeare's sonnets in the genetic code. Recently, Arizona State University chemistry doctoral candidate Dongran Han and his team created a wireframe structure from several strands of DNA that can fold into shapes like corkscrews, spheres, and scissors. Han believes that DNA origami can someday move towards creating self-assembling robots in the body, tiny chemical factories, or molecular electronics if a standard way of building shapes is conceived.
I was first exposed to DNA origami when discussing 3D printing with Meng Chen, a freelance designer for Francis Bitonti Studio, the studio that co-designed the first 3D printed dress. 3D printing is designing with a computer and printing out small customizable objects out of desired materials (aluminum, titanium, plastic, and more). Chen mentioned that she was inspired by Han when Han's team visited Chen's architecture class at MIT to discuss a design competition, and believed that the DNA origami concept was similar to the layering design of 3D printing.
"DNA origami is a similar idea to 3D printing at nanoscale for biomed applications, except you design a DNA sequence that can be assembled in a lab and will fold into a desired shape," said Chen.
As 3D printing has been making big splashes, garnering supporters and critics (claiming that 3D Printing is merely a hype), in the intellectual property world, DNA origami may have similar effects. The biggest question legal scholars have been asking about 3D printing is whether it has the ability to completely undermine the intellectual property system – copyrights, trademarks, and patents through infringement and counterfeiting, because 3D printing allows the user to print whatever he or she desires out of a selection of materials, and eventually aims to be accessible by all.
If DNA is a material to be customized to fit differing structures, DNA may face the same counterfeiting (creation of fake genes that may not serve any purposes, or even with negative effects) and infringement questions. But due to the complexity of the technology and development of DNA, it is unlikely DNA origami will face the problems on such a large scale as 3D printing. Unlike 3D printing, DNA origami is not meant to be completely accessible to the public, but rather a technology to be used by a specific group of researchers and scientists.
Even if DNA origami will not have large-scale problems, it still faces strong tensions raised by Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics. In Myriad, the Supreme Court decided whether DNA sequences in genes were patentable. On June 13, 2013, the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision decided that naturally occurring DNA and other biological materials are not patentable material. But, the biotechnology firm in Myriad had invested in and researched genes, some of which were isolated (allowing scientists to patent their methods, but not genes themselves) and others containing synthetic material. The Supreme Court held that genes are not patentable because genes are naturally occurring, which leads to confusion over whether the DNA origami nano-robots or compounds will be patentable, depending on method or synthetic material. Lack of patentability of DNA origami could cause problems of ownership and lack of incentive to invent.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court recently held that "naturally occurring" DNA was not patentable subject matter, but cDNA was patentable because it was not naturally occurring. Justice Scalia interestingly concurred that his knowledge of science did not allow him to completely agree with the ruling on natural DNA, but agreed with the briefs on cDNA. The decision caused some outrage among the biology and medical community, the major complaint being that the Myriad ruling would invalidate many isolated gene patents – potentially millions of dollars of research, and create confusion of patentable subject matter.
In my opinion, the Myriad ruling did not change much. Although gene isolation patents are now invalidated, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has moved towards stricter rules of subject matter and what one can claim because of the rise of patent litigation. Although some may argue that this ruling is very personal, and that the Myriad decision means that a company cannot own rights to genes in a person's body, I believe this argument is a gut emotional response, a reaction to people feeling that companies can invade and own their personal bodies. On the positive side, a company's inability to own naturally occurring gene patents will increase innovation – for scientists to create new things for the purpose of innovation.
However, Myriad also creates a problem. Because corporations are now unable to obtain patents for their naturally occurring gene inventions, corporations may instead hide these inventions. Due to the weakening of the patent system, corporations may turn to trade secrets (such as the Coca-Cola formula) to protect their research and development for the purpose of maintaining a steady revenue flow.
DNA origami brings up interesting questions of intellectual property. Due to similarities to 3D printing and the Myriad decision, DNA printing will likely be modeled after both of these topics. However, the legal system must adapt with the changing technology for both the inventors and people.
Current Events, Judicial System, Policy, Supreme Court, Uncategorized 3d printing, DNA, intellectual property, Myriad, patent permalink
Student Borrowers: The Latest Victims of the Capital Leadership Crisis


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$361,000 in state grants awarded to five projects in Barnstable
Denise Coffey
BARNSTABLE — Michael Kennealy, secretary of Housing and Economic Development, came to town Wednesday touting the state's Community Planning program and the ease with which towns can apply for funds, and to present a grant award, all in one fell swoop.
Five state grants totaling $361,000 were awarded to the town for the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District, the Atlantic Apartment Project and Bread and Roses.
Kennealy presided over an awards ceremony where 40 Community Planning program awards were announced. The awards, given to municipalities across the state, provide money for technical assistance for projects. The competitive grant program takes into account the connections between community planning and housing, transportation, infrastructure, economic development and community development.
Barnstable received a $75,000 grant to help develop a master plan for town-owned parcels surrounding the Adult Community Center on Falmouth Road in Hyannis.
Town Planner Elizabeth Jenkins said the money will be used to evaluate opportunities for housing and outdoor recreational plans at the 2-plus acre site. Possibilities include integrating the intermediate and high schools' recreational facilities with town services, creating a walkway at the adult center, and building small-scale, multi-unit affordable housing for seniors, teachers and families.
"We want to think comprehensively about using municipal land creatively to meet all the needs we have," Jenkins said.
A taste of Europe:Delicacies from France, Belgium offered at Chez Antoine in Hyannis
The Secretary gave a pitch for the state's One Stop for Growth application portal during the ceremony, calling it a "single front door" for towns seeking grant funds. The single portal translates into a streamlined process, he said, allowing applicants to apply for multiple funding sources at one time.
A One Stop team reviews the application in terms of the state's 12 grant programs that fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction and infrastructure.
Kennealy said this round of the One Stop is awarding more than $143 million in grant awards to 337 economic development projects in 169 communities.
New housing: 5 Cape Cod developments you may not have heard about
Barnstable received a $75,000 Housing Choice grant through One Stop that will be used for additional consulting services on the Great Streets Initiative. That initiative will examine how downtown might be transformed into a safer, more pedestrian- and business-friendly location. The grant is intended to add momentum to a project already begun with Stantec Engineering, Jenkins said.
"We know there are a wide variety of challenges to tackle downtown to make this successful," she said. "We want to stop thinking of our projects as silos and think about the entire system, including traffic, parking, and open space."
Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District received $50,000 in an Urban Agenda grant for its Local Business Boost program. The funds will be used to provide one-on-one technical assistance and support for small businesses in downtown Hyannis.
Windy with a chance of a solar:Top energy projects coming to the Cape and Islands in 2023
The Atlantic Apartment Project received $125,000 from the state's Underutilized Properties program. The project's goal is to create 11 year-round residential apartments at 171 Main St. The building, which has been vacant for more than two years, needs maintenance and complete interior renovation.
Bread and Roses Bookshop and Café received $36,000 in a Collaborative Workspace Program grant to build out a community market and commercial kitchen incubator.
Contact Denise Coffey at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.
Stay connected with Cape Cod news, sports, restaurants and breaking news. Download our free app.


Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is an advanced health assessment used to evaluate mineral imbalances and toxicities in the body. It eliminates the guessing of what your body really needs for supplements and detoxification. It includes 15 nutritional minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc and iron, as well as 14 additional elements and 8 toxic elements such as mercury, lead and aluminum.
With a true understanding of your body's chemistry, one can effectively design a nutritional and detoxification program to safely and successfully address your health issues.
Children can also benefit from hair analysis, especially those struggling with learning disabilities, behavioral disorders or emotional disturbances. HTMA is a non-invasive and inexpensive method of determining such imbalances, most of which can be easily remedied by supplementing with the appropriate nutrients in the correct amounts and eating the proper foods.
Mineral deficiencies can contribute to many metabolic disorders in the body such as acidosis, arthritis, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, low thyroid, and blood sugar imbalances. Symptoms of toxic accumulation of heavy metals in the body, such as mercury and lead can range from mild brain fog and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to severe neurological, physical, and psychological disorders.
HTMA is valuable to every individual and can be used to identify contributing factors to certain diseases or as a form of preventative medicine. Individuals who consume healthy foods and include supplements in their diet are often still deficient in many nutrients due to factors such as low stomach acid, poor digestion or interactions with other minerals or medications. Mineral imbalances can contribute to many symptoms including fatigue, stress, headaches, joint and muscle pain, digestive disturbances, menstrual irregularities, high blood pressure, weight imbalances, insomnia and skin disorders such as rashes, eczema and psoriasis.


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Jesse Williams Spills The Beans On His 'Bane Chronicles' Voice Gig
Kat Rosenfield 04/17/2013
Here's the bad news, you guys: This commentary from Jesse Williams on his experience narrating the "Bane Chronicles" audiobook does not include actual live footage of Jesse Williams' beautiful man face. BUT! It includes plenty of Jesse Williams' beautiful man voice—and a super-cute picture of him behind the scenes wearing headphones and a hoodie, so we'll take it.
Jesse is the voice behind the brand new audio release of "The Bane Chronicles: What Really Happened In Peru," and in this clip, he talks about his stint as a narrator, the challenge of trying something new, his great respect for the work of authors Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan, and what he likes best about Magnus Bane.
"Because there's just so much drama and tension on 'Grey's Anatomy,' it's refreshing to do something a little lighter, funnier, a little more varied," Jesse said of the opportunity to read "The Bane Chronicles." And while this is the actor's first foray into this type of voice work, he says that he's by no means new to the wonderful world of young-adult literature.
"Storybooks were always a big part of my imagination, and my childhood and adolescence," he explained. "It's nice to be the storyteller in a different way."
And in addition to praising the great writing in "The Bane Chronicles," Jesse also said that he got a real kick out of the book's main man: Magnus Bane, the cavalier warlock who cameos in every book from Cassanda Clare's Shadowhunter series. (Hint: For the serious actor, it's the character's "devil-may-care attitude" that won him over.) Want to hear all Jesse's thoughts on his first outing in the audiobook world? You know what to do!
Would you buy this audiobook just to hear Jesse Williams reading it?


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Chiron In Pisces (2011-2018)
Bridge Builder
Transformer of Consciousness
Wounded Healer
Creator Weaver of Worlds
It is no accident that the glyph symbolising Chiron resembles a key-the key to the unconscious. Chiron operates behind the scenes influencing us individually and generationally at a very deep level.
Chiron was the first Centaur planet to be discovered back in 1977 and has an eliptical orbit between Saturn and Neptune, sometimes acting as an Inner planet or an Outer planet. Chiron, named after the ancient Greek healer, is now recognised as a bridge between soma and psyche, body and mind. Also refered to as "the Wounded Healer" or "The Outsider". Its place in an individual's birth chart indicates an eternal wound, an Achilles heel. Following the first Chiron return at age 51 when it has gone once round the chart and conjuncted all the natal planets, there are opportunities to integrate the wound more fully into the personality and the life, moving it from the shadow into the light of the conscious mind.
People with a prominent Chiron natally (with many aspects or aspecting the Sun,Moon or Ascendant) tend to experience pain, harshness, trauma or rejection in the earlier part of their lives and, if this is consciously transmuted, can become empathetic healers of others. Either literally as the embodiment of doctors, nurses, psychotherapists or alternative therapists or simply by the power of their presence to comfort and soothe.
The key to working through life's inevitable periods of transformation is to understand that Chironic pain is not an obstacle but the exact medicine we need for permanent healing.
deep waters
the end of all matters
CHIRON IN PISCES THEMES
the psychic innernet
without boundaries
sef-destructive
victim / saviour complex
Our use of the internet and social networking, developed exponentially while Chiron was in collective sign of Aquarius, will morph into a "psychic innernet". We used to have to accept time and distance between us and friends and family; now we don't. This need for closeness, for intricate webs of contact and leaderless groups will grow as we feel the wind of the Uranus/Pluto changes blowing through our lives. Since Pisces, like Aquarius, is all about human consciousness, this will be a generational shift. Chiron is at its perihelion in Pisces (furthest away from the Sun) so acts as an Outer planet until 2018. Our attention will be called to the necessity of seeing ourselves as part of something greater than ourselves.
Denial is going to be a way to refuse the wake up call; the shadow side of Pisces (notably present in addictions). Chiron wil pull back the veil and reveal the truth of issues we don't want to look at such as the destruction of the environment, our unwitting addiction to television, Facebook, computer games which blunt us to reality.
World media and the internet will morph into new forms. Expect the media (tv, adverts and print papers ) to use even more subliminal and hypnotic background methods to influence the collective (all of us). The world wide web will make unexpected advances whilst attracting increasing government surveillance.
Pisces is ruled by Neptune so it is worth noticing that Chiron and Neptune have been in a conjunction (joined together) since early 2009 and will continue moving together in Pisces for the next few years. When Neptune itself moves into its own sign in 2011, the "urge to merge" may become overwhelming.
The last time Chiron was in Pisces was in the 60s – remember the human potential movement and the emphasis on peace and love? Back then the desire for a better way was present but the collective Will was too weak to make radical political changes. This time, the Cardinal T-square will jumpstart progress.
Read Melanie Reinhart's new revised edition of "Chiron-the Healing Journey" for a detailed look at Chiron.
Last updated on March 5, 2017 at 3:59 am. Word Count: 647
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Home > Textbooks > Snow Crash
Snow Crash
by Neal Stephenson
2 copies are available from this seller.
Seattle,Washington
Random House Publishing Group, 1993. Mass Market Paperback. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Snow Crash is Neal Stephenson's third novel, published in 1992. Like many of Stephenson's other novels it references history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, and philosophy. Stephenson explained the title of the novel in his 1999 essay In the Beginning... was the Command Line as his term for a particular software failure mode on the early Apple Macintosh computer.
Bookseller: ThriftBooks (US)
Bookseller Inventory #: G0553562614I3N00
Title: Snow Crash
Author: Neal Stephenson
Format/binding: Mass Market Paperback
Place: New York, New York, U.s.a.
Fiction & Literature >	Science Fiction & Fantasy >	Science Fiction
On Nov 11 2019, said:
"In one of the most perceivable dystopian futures that I can imagine, Hiro is everything.
Honestly, I'm not looking for the money. I am registering an amount because your own review of this book captures the fine points so well. Neal Stevenson's writing in Snow Crash is so visceral and complex, that you have no choice but to become immersed in the world he creates. It fires your brain for weeks after the read, if not longer. It takes time to wrap one's head around his world and language, and his execution is flawless.
This book is at pleat as important as Stranger in a Strange Land.
10/10 Worth the read"
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....[more]
Mass market paperback books, or MMPBs, are printed for large audiences cheaply. This means that they are smaller, usually...[more]
Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...[more]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final of the Harry Potter novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The book was released on 21 July 2007, ending the series that began in 1997 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This book chronicles the events directly following Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005), and leads to the long-awaited final confrontation between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort....
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2) The Seven Kingdoms have fallen asunder, as the sadistic teenager, Joffrey of House Lannister, ascends the Iron Throne following the death of his "father," Robert the Usurper. The Stark family in the North rises to power to combat this ascension, and the empowered Daenerys, the exiled last heir of the former ruling family, seeks a way to return to Westeros and rule it. Meanwhile the Night's Watch, the orphans and criminals who guard Westeros from the barbarians who live beyond the Wall find their numbers dwindling in the face of fantastical forces. Nebula Award Nominee (2000) , Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1999) ...
Deadhouse Gates is the second novel in Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Deadhouse Gates follows on from the first novel, Gardens of the Moon and takes place simultaneously with events in the third novel Memories of Ice. The novel was first published in the United Kingdom as a trade paperback on 1 September 2000, with a mass-market paperback edition followed on 1 October 2001....


Serrekunda Mbolloh's wrestler Building is left exasperated after the country's wrestling association ruled against him handing his opponent, Boy Balla, victory on appeal, Foroyaa Sport can reveal.
In a battle held two weeks ago at the Serrekunda West mini-stadium, the combat wrapped up in a web of controversy with the referee giving Building the points.
Build-up to the fight has been epic with either wrestler vowing to undo the other in pre-match bouts.
But on night of the occasion and amid cacophony, Boy Balla appeared to floor Building who apparently went on all threes –an action enough to be judged on–but the referee opted for a rematch.
The two, this time went crashing together in the sands prompting furore over who won.
The referee, upon consultations with his assistants, decided to declare Building winner – a verdict that umbraged Boy Balla and his camp who lodged an appeal twenty-four hours later to the Gambia Wrestling Association (GWA).
Upon subjecting Club Jabang Mbolloh's appeal under review in it, including video evidence supporting their claims, the GWA, Foroyaa Sport understands, this week, decided to strip Building off the victory flag giving it instead to appellant Boy Balla.
The judgment understandably left Building and his camp fuming and Boy Balla's camp on the other hand delighted.


text:
Math AP® Calculus AB (2017 edition) Using derivatives to analyze functions Connecting ƒ, ƒ', and ƒ''
Connecting ƒ, ƒ', and ƒ''
The graphical relationship between a function & its derivative (part 1)
Matching functions & their derivatives graphically
Practice: Visualizing derivatives
Connecting f, f', and f'' graphically
Connecting f, f', and f'' graphically (another example)
Practice: Connecting f, f', and f'' graphically
Curve sketching with calculus: polynomial
Curve sketching with calculus: logarithm
Optional videos
Math·AP® Calculus AB (2017 edition)·Using derivatives to analyze functions·Connecting ƒ, ƒ', and ƒ''
I have a function f of x here, and I want to think about which of these curves could represent f prime of x, could represent the derivative of f of x. Well, to think about that, we just have to think about, well, what is a slope of the tangent line doing at each point of f of x and see if this corresponds to that slope, if the value of these functions correspond to that slope. So we can see when x is equal to negative 4, the slope of the tangent line is essentially vertical. So you could say it's not really defined there. But as we go slightly to the right of x equals negative 4, we just have a very, very, very positive slope. So you could kind of view it as our slope is going from infinity to very, very positive to a little bit less positive to a little bit less positive, to a little bit less positive, to a little bit less positive. So which of these graphs here have that property? Remember, this is trying to graph the slope. So which of these functions down here, which of these graphs, have a value that is essentially kind of approaching infinity when x is equal to negative 4, and then it gets less and less and less positive as x goes to 0? So this one, it looks like it's coming from negative infinity, and it's getting less and less and less negative. So that doesn't seem to meet our constraints. This one looks like it is coming from positive infinity, and it's getting less and less and less positive, so that seems to be OK. This has the same property. It's getting less and less and less positive. This one right over here starts very negative and gets less and less and less negative. So we can rule that out. Now let's think about what happens when x gets to 0. When x gets to 0, the tangent line is horizontal. We're at a maximum point of this curve right over here. The slope of a horizontal line is 0. Remember, we're trying to look for which one of these curves represent the value of that slope. So which one of these curves hit 0 when x is equal to 0? Well, this one doesn't. So the only candidate that we have left is this one, and this one does hit 0 when x equals 0. And let's see if it keeps satisfying what we need for f prime of x. So after that point, it should start getting more and more negative. The slope should get more and more and more negative, essentially approaching negative infinity as x approaches 4. And we see that here. The value of this function is getting more and more negative, and it's approaching negative infinity as x approaches 4. So we'll go with this one. This looks like a pretty good candidate for f prime of x.
Visualizing derivatives


The model has entered the third round with the 2017 version of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (SM-J730F) Duos. It has had a full overhaul in the area of design. All smartphones of the Galaxy J series look almost identical with only the size differing among the various models.
It was slightly surprising to find that Samsung has chosen not to upgrade the processor and has stuck to the Exynos 7870 SoC, which was used in the 2016 version. The manufacturer has increased the device's working memory by 50% to a good 3 GB; internal storage remains unchanged at 16 GB. The communication modules have also been improved, and so have camera features. The J7 (2017) now has 3600 mAh (+ 300 mAh) and promises a significant increase in battery runtime. There was another surprise concerning the display: it now offers Full-HD resolution rather than simple HD.
We are testing the Duos version, which means that the Galaxy J7 (2017) has two fully-fledged Nano-SIM slots as well as a microSD slot. The device is available for about £340 (~$440).
We have chosen the Lenovo Moto Z Play, Asus Zenfone 3, Lenovo P2 and the Huawei Nova Plus as our comparison devices. They all have the same display size and are in the same price range.
Update 11/07/2017: Samsung has released a new firmware. Details can be found in the software section.
Compared to last year's model, Samsung has done a complete design overhaul of the Galaxy J7 (2017) and has equipped the device with an aluminum unibody case. Unlike the J5, our test unit's dimensions have not increased drastically, despite it having a larger battery. We like the fact that the camera is slightly recessed into the case, which protects the glass from scratches. Samsung has given no information regarding the glass at the front of the device, but the transition to the aluminum is clearly visible. The gaps for antennas fit nicely to the whole design.
The Galaxy J7 seems very stable and does not warp even under high pressure. We noticed hardly any creaking. Transitions between materials are clearly visible, but nicely done with even and small gap dimensions. Unfortunately, the card trays and their covers are made entirely of plastic, which might lead to a change of color compared to the aluminum case after some time. The colors are identical at purchase.
The smaller card slot is meant for the first Nano-SIM, while the wider slot contains both the second Nano-SIM and the microSD card. While the Galaxy J7 (2016) still had a removable battery, it is fully integrated in the current generation and can only be exchanged by authorized professionals. The Galaxy J7 (2017) is available in black, gold and blue.
The bottom edge of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) still has a Micro USB port, the manufacturer has not yet changed to the newer Type-C build for these entry-level phones. The port does not support video output, but it does support OTG, which means that peripheral devices can be connected as well as external storage devices. Unfortunately, the audio jack is also located on the bottom edge - we would have wished for it to be at the top.
Our test unit is a so-called Duos version. This means that the smartphone can use two Nano-SIM cards simultaneously. It is a fully-fledged dual SIM version, which allows additional use of a microSD card. The microSD slot supports the SDXC standard and therefore all usual storage mediums. Storage can be expanded up to 256 GB. It is not possible to format it as internal storage, but you can save larger apps on the optional microSD card.
The Galaxy J7 supports Bluetooth 4.1, Ant+, and Wi-Fi Direct and has both an NFC chip and an FM radio receiver.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is supplied with Google Android 7.0 Nougat combined with Samsung's own TouchWiz 8.1 interface. Apart from multitasking, the Game Launcher and Game Tools, it also offers other software features, which are described in detail in our review of the Galaxy J5. Apart from some Samsung apps and its own app-store, the device also comes with preinstalled apps from Microsoft and Facebook, which can only be deactivated, but not removed completely.
Android's security patches are up-to-date at the time of testing with the last update being from June 1st 2017.
Update 11/07/2017: Samsung has released firmware build NRD90M.J730FFXXU1AQI5 (396 MB). In addition to stability and bug fixes it is also supposed to contain new and enhanced features. However, we were unable to discover what exactly these were supposed to be. Google's security patches have been updated to 08/01/2017.
The communication features are the same as in the smaller Galaxy J5 sibling. The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) connects via fast LTE Cat. 6 (max. 300 MBit/s download and 50 MBit/s Upload) on-the-move. The frequency range is also entirely sufficient within Europe. In addition, the phone supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi telephony if this is also offered by the provider. The reception performance was normal in the cellular network of a city.
While we complained about the slow Wi-Fi module in the predecessor, Samsung has improved this. The Galaxy J7 (2017) supports the IEEE-802.11 standards a/b/g/n/ac now and uses the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz frequency bands. The Wi-Fi range is very good. The Wi-Fi signal was even strong in about 12 m distance to the router and through a wall and we could stream HD videos without problem. When connected to our Linksys EA8500 reference router, the transfer rates are also fast. The competitors in our comparison group cannot keep up with our test model in this respect.
Geolocation is done by means of the GPS, Glonass, and BeiDou satellite networks. The satellite fix is quite fast. At first, it is not particularly accurate however. It takes a while until it reaches a good accuracy of about 13 meters in buildings. It is done significantly faster and more accurate outdoor.
We checked the accuracy of the Galaxy J7's geolocation with a small bike ride and compared the performance to the Garmin Edge 500 bike computer. The total deviation of the about 12 km long route is just 30 meters - a very good result. A closer look at single segments reveals that the Garmin navigation system records the route slightly more accurate. However, you cannot complain about the minimal deviations of the smartphone.
The design of the phone app ist simple and clear. Hence, everybody should be able to find his way around quickly. The tab places is a nice features and searches the area for amenities in order to directly show their contact data. This way, you can for example find the closest restaurant and book a table.
The call quality of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is not quite satisfactory; something which we have already criticized in the predecessor. Voices sound quite dull on both sides. In addition, the voice of the J7 user is occasionally interrupted by short dropouts. Ambient noise suppression is not available. The situation gets even worse with active speaker. Those who plan a longer phone call, should not use it. The included headset also does not use noise cancelling, but it performs quite well.
The cameras are identical to those of the Galaxy J5 (2017). At the front of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) there is a 13 MP camera with an LED flash. It has an aperture of f/1.9, which is supposed to support its low-light ambitions. Unfortunately, the camera only has fixed focus. The recordings are quite good under good light conditions as long as the subject does not move to quickly. In the dark, the LED flash can make images brighter.
The main camera on the back also has 13 MP with an aperture of f/1.7. Samsung has equipped the camera with a Sony IMX258 sensor with 1.12-µm pixels. This sensor is also present in the LG G6, for example. However, the relatively small pixels sized at 1.12 put this into perspective; even more so as the light sensitivity already reaches its maximum at ISO 1.250 (in manual mode ISO 800). LG has done a significantly better job in its flagship, but this belongs to an entirely different price category.
The shots of the Samsung Galaxy J7 are quite homogeneous in day light and deliver good results. In comparison to more expensive competitors, its dynamic range is quite limited. Thus bright parts could quickly get too bright. The smartphone compensates this by making the subject slightly darker, which shows in the comparison below. While the Galaxy collects much light and suppresses noise well under bad light conditions, contours and details get very blurry. As a result, shots already appear muddy at low magnification.
The J7 can record videos in Full HD (30 fps) at best. Due to the lack of image stabilization, the recordings blur quite easily and fast panning results in visible blurring.
We took a closer look at the main camera under controlled light conditions. The X-Rite ColorChecker Passport shows a good result. While many colors have a slightly higher saturation, they are definitely not over-saturated. The white balance is quite accurate. Skin color and blue colors are slightly too bright, light-orange is too faint.
The Galaxy J7 performs well in reproducing our test charts. At the center of the image all details are represented sharp and rich in detail. However, the sharpness falls relatively sharply towards the edges. Moreover, fonts slightly fray on dark backgrounds.
Samsung has given the Galaxy J7 (2017) a 24-month warranty, while the battery has twelve months and the accessories six. The warranty cannot be extended. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
The smartphone comes together with a modular power supply with a nominal output of 7.75 watts (5 volts, 1.55 ampere), a USB cable, a headset as well as a small tool to open the card slots. You will also receive a short, printed QuickStart guide and a couple of leaflets regarding warranty, security information and regional restrictions.
The capacitive touchscreen of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) does not perform worse than the Galaxy J5 in terms of gliding traits. It supports 10 instead of 5 point input however. Inputs are recognized quickly and reliably. Moreover, the display can be easily cleaned.
The fingerprint sensor sits in the home button and appears to be very good. It proved to be responsive and reliable and upon unlocking the user gets direct access to the system without pressing the button even if the smartphone is in standby. The two sensor buttons beside the home button also react reliably. However, unfortunately, they are not lit. One-hand mode is kept simple, yet effective. However, the thumb has to be slightly stretched in order to reach the opposite corner.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) has a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. This results in an increased pixel density of 401 PPI; content is therefore displayed with razor-sharp definition. It also finally has an ambient light sensor that can regulate screen brightness. The maximum brightness can only be reached when the sensor is activated. Otherwise, the Galaxy J7 (2017) reaches only 302 cd/m² in the center of the screen. If the sensor is allowed to do its work, it can increase the display's brightness to up to 454 cd/m² (at the same spot). During a measurement with evenly distributed light and dark surfaces (APL50), the brightness went up to almost 600 cd/m².
Because of the display's Super AMOLED technology, every single pixel is illuminated separately, which leads to a perfect black value. This, in theory, means good contrast that tends towards infinity. Clouding does not exist with this display technology. It has a blue light filter for the evenings, which is supposed to protect your eyes in the dark. The J7 also has an Always On display, which allows notifications, time and the calendar to be visible on the display even when this is turned off. The smaller J5 does not offer this feature.
The display backlight flickers at 257.7 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) .
The frequency of 257.7 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware.
As expected, the Super-AMOLED screen of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) uses PWM for dimming the panel. Since the amplitude variation is very small, only very sensitive persons might feel its effects. A slightly higher frequency is first used from about 92 % brightness. Beyond that, the display even only works at 60 Hz, but shows longer lighting periods.
Samsung's Super AMOLED displays shine with intensive colors and crisp contrasts. This also conforms to our subjective impression of the Galaxy J7 (2017). Nevertheless, we have examined the panel more closely with the photo spectrometer and the CalMAN analysis software. We measured the manually selected color profiles. Each profile is optimized for a different color space. None of the color spaces is fully covered, albeit to a large extent. The white balance is exemplary in all profiles. Apart from a few exceptions, almost all color deviations remain below a DeltaE of 3. Hence, they are invisible to the naked eye.
Outdoor use profits from the OLED display's high maximum brightness and strong contrast ratio. Moreover, the J7 finally has an ambient light sensor, which reacts quickly to changing light and adjusts the brightness of the display accordingly. Thus, the smartphone even remains relatively well legible in direct sun. Reflections on the surface glass are disturbing however.
The viewing angle stability of the Super AMOLED panel in the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is good. Color inversions can never be observed and brightness loss is even limited at very flat angles. The light color haze that is typical for AMOLED panels appears starting at about 30 degrees. It does not overly disturb, but it is already visible to the naked eye, when the smartphone lies next to you on the table.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is equipped with the same processor as last year's model: the manufacturer's own Exynos 7870 SoC. This SoC is also present in other models such as the Galaxy J5 or the Galaxy A3. The chipset has a processor with eight Cortex-A53 cores that clock at up to 1.6 GHz and are manufactured in the 14 nm process. It has 3 GB of LPDDR2 RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. Graphics are taken care of by an ARM Mali-T830 MP1.
The CPU performance is similarly high as the Snapdragon 625's, which is used in most competitors. However, the GPU reaches its limits with the Full HD panel as shown by the graphics benchmarks. Depending on the benchmark, models from competitors perform between 80 and 164 better. The differences get most apparent when using the OpenGL-ES-3.0 API.
In regards of system performance, especially the Asus Zenfone 3 and the Moto Z Play deliver significantly better values. In everyday life, the Galaxy J7 delivers a good subjective performance however. This small weakness gets noticeable in short delays when switching between apps. In particular upday stutters.
The Samsung Browser 5.4 is pre-installed for web surfing. Subjectively it works quite fast. Only more complex web sites occasionally need slightly longer to load.The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) performs slightly worse than the competitors in the comparison group and ranks at lower places in most cases. It is only faster in Mozilla Kraken 1.1.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) features 16 GB internal eMMC flash memory. After the first start of the phone, 10 GB are free. The memory performance is decent, but the competitors are equipped with faster components.
The test model belongs to the first products of which we test the microSD card slot with our new Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 (UHS-II, class 3, writing: max. 270 MB/s, reading: max. 150 MB/s) reference card. The recorded values are relatively good, but they cannot not reach the potential of the mircoSD card by far.
We could only recommend the Galaxy J5 for games to some extent. This is especially due to the weak ARM Mali-T830 MP1 GPU. The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) uses the same SoC, but it features 1 GB more RAM. However, this cannot compensate the extra performance required by the higher resolution Full HD panel. The Asphalt 8 race game can show this well. While the J5 reaches 22 fps with high details, the test model only achieves 18 fps. We recommend reducing the detail level in this game. Other performance-hungry titles such as Iron Blade (14 fps) are a real pain on the Galaxy J7 and cannot be enjoyed. Less demanding games such as Angry Birds 2 (51 fps) run without problems.
It is great that the Galaxy J7 also comes with software features such as the Game Tools or the Game Launcher now, which have first been introduced in the Galaxy S7. Thanks to the location of the speaker on a side, it can not be covered. You cannot complain about the sensors.
The surface temperatures of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) are comfortably low. The smartphone does not even get lukewarm under permanent load.
We checked the performance stability of the SoC with the battery test of GFXBench. The device shows constant performance in the lighter T-Rex test (OpenGL ES 2.0) as well as in the demanding Manhattan test (OpenGL ES 3.1). We could not detect throttling. However, the frame rates are significantly lower as in the Galaxy J5. This is caused by the higher resolution display of the J7.
The small mono speaker on the right edge of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is surprisingly loud and significantly better positioned as in the last-year's model, which had the speaker on the rear side. Hence, it is possible to place the smartphone on a table without affecting the sound now.
The size alone already limits the potential of the speaker. However, Samsung got still much out of it. While you should not expect wonders, the sound is quite ok for on-the-move. In particular mid-tones are well represented. However, high tones around 4 kHz are very present at maximum volume. As a result, for example, sibilants appear very hard and sharp to the listener.
The power consumption of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is extremely low. While running idle, the smartphone only exceeds the 1 Watt level by a small margin if all loads are active and the display is set to maximum brightness. However, the energy demand might be higher, wenn the ambient light sensor is active, since the display can get brighter in this case. If the sensor increases the brightness to the panel's maximum, the power consumption increases by 0.73 Watt, which is closer to the level of the competitors.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy J7 neither supports wireless charging nor fast charging. Hence, a full load needs above 2.5 hours.
With 3600 mAh, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is larger than the model's from 2016 by 300 mAh. Unfortunately, the test model cannot profit from this, but surprisingly delivers worse battery runtimes than its predecessor. In the comparison field, the J7 can also not take a top place, but ranks in mid range. Nevertheless, the battery runtimes are still very good as such. The Lenovo P2 offers a significantly longer battery life, but it is also equipped with a significantly more powerful battery.
The battery runtimes in our tests with adjusted display brightness (150 cd/m²) can be compared best. Only the P2 lasts longer when surfing the web via Wi-Fi. In our video loop, the Moto Z Play also proves to have more stamina. Various energy saving modes allow extended the battery life. These can also be found in the Galaxy J5.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is a well-made smartphone. However, it cannot dominate its competitors as much as the Galaxy J5. This gets especially apparent in terms of battery life. However, this is complaining on a high level, since they are still very good. Despite larger battery, they are unfortunately worse than last year's J7. Samsung might be able to improve this with an update.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) did not improve in all respects. Nevertheless, it is a great smartphone.
The Galaxy J7 (2017) can shine with its great Super-AMOLED display, which is finally controlled by an ambient light sensor - which was long overdue. Moreover, it features Full HD resolution now. Unfortunately, Samsung did not equip the phone with a slightly more powerful SoC in order to cope with the higher pixel density. This is noticeable in weak gaming performance, but might also be a reason for shorter battery runtimes. The cameras are not reference models, but they deliver good results if the environment is bright enough. The Wi-Fi module does not only support all current standards, but finally also delivers good transfer rates. The internal storage of 16 GB is also rather standard fare. However, the storage capacity can be expanded with a microSD without forgoing the dual SIM feature.
What remains is a visually improved smartphone. However, its battery is unremovable now. In return, it comes with a fingerprint sensor and 3 GB of RAM. It might be worth to buy last year's model for some.


text:
Q: What does "NP-hard to distinguish ... between ... and ..." mean? I am reading paper Hardness Results for Weaver's Discrepancy Problem. In the abstract, the paper reads

it is NP-hard to distinguish such a list of vectors for which there is a signed sum that equals the zero matrix from those in which every signed sum has operator norm at least $\kappa \sqrt{\alpha}$, for some absolute constant $\kappa >0 $.

How to define 'to distinguish A from B'? What kind of the problem  that does that belongs to? I searched that in Google, but I did't find definitions like that. Problems like decision problems or optimization problems have precise definitions and can be stated in the mathematical language. But what is 'to distinguish sth. from sth.'?

A: This is a promise problem.
In this case, we promise that  either every sum has operator norm at least $\kappa\sqrt\alpha$, or there will be a sum of $0$. (That is, the input is restricted to be chosen from the set of lists of vectors that satisfy this either-or condition.) We do not require the algorithm to do anything in particular if the input does not satisfy this condition.
Aside from restricting the input, the promise problem works as an ordinary decision problem. (We can phrase the decision problem in multiple ways, but one way is "is there a signed sum of the input equal to $0$?")
We consider promise problems for a variety of reasons, such as:

*

*Sometimes, the promise is a natural subclass of inputs. (E.g. searching for shortest paths in directed graphs without negative cycles.)

*Sometimes, in complexity theory, even the promise problem is hard, which sheds light on why the decision problem is hard.

*Sometimes, we want to explore the boundary of what kind of promise will make the problem easy.

A: "Distinguish from" is like a search problem, but allows for non-constructive answers for whether the search would be successful.
In other words, "find a signed sum over the outer products of these vectors that is equal to 0" is a search or combinatorial or integer optimization problem, which may have no solution.
"Distinguish from" allows for algorithms that determine if a solution exists without actually finding one.
A very different example might be "distinguish those Mersenne numbers that can be factored from those that can't". The Lucas-Lehmer test will tell you when you have a Mersenne prime, but actually factoring is much harder.


Is Dad OK? What is clinical depression?
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it can feel as though you are very much alone. Alcohol and drug abuse can begin to take over most areas of a person's life, affecting work and home in major ways. The addicted person's life can begin to feel out of control and family members may feel at a loss about how to help their loved one. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in four children grows up in a home where someone drinks too much.
Addiction is a disease that has both physical and psychological aspects.
Physical dependence, tolerance and withdrawal can keep the person engaged in addictive behaviors. The addicted individual and family members often experience intense feelings of isolation, denial, shame and loss of control.
Fortunately, effective treatment is available. There are many different levels of treatment including outpatient psychotherapy, intensive outpatient programs and inpatient programs depending on the needs and resources available to the person struggling with substance abuse and their family.
It is best to begin with an evaluation with a trained mental health professional with a specialty in substance abuse treatment. Also, it is highly recommended that the individual's physician be contacted, because medical supervision is an integral part of treatment planning.
Through the Marin County Psychological Association web-site (www.marincountypsych.org), you can find several psychologists with a specialty in treating substance abuse disorders. By setting up an appointment for an evaluation , the psychologist can determine the next steps for treatment.
Have you ever wondered if you or a loved one or friend is struggling with alcohol or drug abuse?
Tolerance – The need to drink or use greater amounts of alcohol or drugs to get high.
"At risk" or heavy drinking is considered to be more than 4 drinks on any given day for men, and for a women, more than 3 drinks on any day.
Many people struggling with alcoholism or substance abuse are struggling with an underlying psychiatric disorder. These individuals are considered to be "dual –diagnosis" clients, which means that they have both a chemical dependency diagnosis and one or more psychological diagnoses. Many people need help to identify these underlying disorders which may need to be treated both with psychological treatment as well as medication.
Alcohol and drug abuse are treatable disorders. With the appropriate evaluation and recommendations, individuals can begin to move forward and live healthy and productive lives.
Demetry Apostle PhD Ann Bernhardt Ph.D.
Laura Cabanski Dunning Ph.D. Sharon Cushman Ph. D.
Diane Harnish PhD Annette Holloway Psy.D.
A. Raja Hornstein Psy.D. Haleh Kashani Ph.D.
Rick Pomfret Psy.D. Art Raisman Ph.D.
Derek Rubinstein PsyD Diana Sanborn Ph.D.
Shelly Stolesen Ph.D. Mark Zaslav Ph.D.
Marin County Psychology Association (MCPA) provides this listing service for licensed psychologists who are current association members. The people on the list have entered and have direct control over what is posted. MCPA does not verify this information. We hope this service helps you find an appropriate psychologist to fit your needs.


text:
TR graduate Joseph Gillespie dies in car accident
Bob Castello
bcastell@greenvillenews.com
The whole Travelers Rest community will feel the loss of Joseph Gillespie, who was killed in an automobile accident Sunday night, baseball coach Brian McKitrick said.
Gillespie, a 2015 Travelers Rest High School graduate, had accepted a scholarship to play baseball at Erskine College.
"He played as hard as anybody on the baseball field," McKitrick said. "But he was well-liked by his community members, friends and family. It's one of those things in life that's hard to ever accept. He was just that well-liked.
"Travelers Rest is going to miss him altogether — the town, the people, the kids, the families, the school. Joseph is one that will be remembered for a long, long time. I've known him since he was a little kid. God meant it to be at this point and this time, but it's unexplainable."
Gillespie's Volkswagen Jetta collided with a four-door vehicle at 9:20 p.m. on State 11 near Talley Bridge Road in Pickens County, authorities said. Gillespie ran a stop sign, the Highway Patrol said. A helicopter transported the other driver, a Taylors resident, to Greenville Memorial Hospital with serious injuries, Lance Cpl. David Jones said.
Gillespie, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Josh Mills, Travelers Rest's boys basketball coach, remembered Gillespie as "the kind of kid who would do whatever he could to help you."
"I was trying to make some badminton things for my (physical education) class," Mills said. "So I go to Joe and tell him what I want, and three or four days later it's, 'Coach, I've got these badminton things made for you.'
Mills said he "begged" Gillespie to come out for basketball for three years, and when he finally did as a senior, he was a "huge contributor" on a Devildogs team that won a second straight Peach Blossom AAA Region championship.
"He worked hard, was a 'Yes, sir, no, sir' kind of kid, and for him to be gone just doesn't seem right," Mills said. "But I know God has a plan for each of us, and I just pray that his family has a little peace."
"We'll have to embrace the family and help them as much as possible and help them get through this grief and this time of sorrow to a point and do what we can," said McKitrick. "Remember the good things. That's the biggest thing in life. Always have the memories."
McKitrick said a candlelight vigil in Gillespie's honor is planned for 9 p.m. Monday at the school's baseball field.
Staff writer Romando Dixson contributed.


A fixed-length list of 8-bit signed integers.
Integers stored in the list are truncated to their low eight bits, interpreted as a signed 8-bit two's complement integer with values in the range -128 to +127.
Creates an Int8List of the specified length (in elements), all of whose elements are initially zero.


Sterile Processing Jobs | Find Out Why They're Awesome!
Sterile Processing Jobs: What Makes Them So Awesome?
Sterile processing jobs can lead to incredible opportunities. For example, the potential to earn a good salary, travel across the country, and advance your career as you gain experience are all benefits that you could enjoy as a sterile processing technician. By completing a short program, you can join a group of respected allied health professionals who get to carry out important work behind the scenes. And your skills will likely be in demand now and in the future since you'll be responsible for completing some of the most critical tasks within medical organizations.
People with sterile processing jobs carry out essential work that helps keep hospitals and other medical facilities running safely and efficiently. After all, a sterile processing tech's primary responsibility is to ensure that medical equipment and devices are in stock, clean, and ready to use. Just think: In less than a year from now, you could be ready to take on a job that helps keep patients safe and healthy.
So discover the other perks that make sterile processing jobs great by exploring eight of the field's top benefits below! Additionally, if you're wondering what the differences are between various sterile processing job titles, then check out the following section to help clear up any confusion!
What Is the Difference Between Sterile Processing and Central Sterile Processing Jobs?
Depending on the facilities in which they're offered, individual positions in this field may involve some duties and responsibilities that vary from each other. However, in general, the different job titles are interchangeable. Most positions will require you to clean and sterilize medical equipment as well as assemble and test equipment, order supplies, and report problems. Here's the only important difference: Positions with job titles that include certified will require you to have specific industry certification, whereas other positions may not require it. Still, regardless of the titles that come with them, most sterile processing technician jobs can provide you with the possibility of enjoying the benefits listed below!
One of the greatest benefits of sterile processing technician jobs is that you typically require only a small amount of schooling in order to pursue them. Sterile processing technician schools offer certificate or diploma programs that can be completed in as little as a few weeks. Certificate programs are usually quite short, whereas a diploma program can take up to a year to complete.
Most sterile processing tech jobs require candidates to have at least a certificate. And some require industry certification even though very few states mandate it. Along with enhancing your employment opportunities, obtaining sterile processing technician certification is a great way to demonstrate your professional competencies.
Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)—The CRCST certification—also known as IAHCSMM certification—is administered through the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM). You are required to complete an approved training program in addition to 400 hours of work experience either prior to writing the exam or within six months of completing it. You are given three hours to complete the exam.
Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT)—The CSPDT certification is administered through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD). Once you have completed an approved program, you can apply to take a two-hour exam.
So it is possible for you to earn a certificate, obtain industry certification, and be ready to fulfill a sterile processing job in less than one year.
Sterile processing technicians can expect a strong career outlook because of several factors. Due to a growing and aging population, as well as increased access to health insurance, there is a greater demand for healthcare services. These include diagnostic, laboratory, and surgical procedures. And every time that procedures are performed in a medical setting, sterile processing technicians are needed to ensure that all items are stocked, sanitary, and in working order.
Contracts tend to be about 13 weeks long, and they often pay much higher salaries than the national average (based on a search of current job postings in March 2016). Most contracts provide housing or offer live-out allowances while also covering travel expenses. Contract positions could take you just about anywhere within the country from California and Florida to Alaska and Hawaii. Pursuing travel contracts can be an excellent way to explore more of your country while performing critical work within medical establishments.
Some sterile processing technicians also choose to adjust their career tracks and become surgical technologists. It's a relatively easy transition to make since the two positions have many overlapping duties. In fact, many surgical technologist schools will consider applying credits from your sterile processing education, which could reduce the amount of training that you need in order to become a surgical tech.
Some people may think that sterile processing technicians are just cleaners. But the job is so much more important than that. As a sterile processing tech, doing your job well can mean the difference between life and death. Medical facilities cannot operate without attentive and skilled sterile processing technicians. Patients are even more susceptible to infections than the general public, so ensuring that facilities and equipment are sterile is extremely important.
Hospitals are more concerned with sterile processing than ever due to antimicrobial resistance (also known as antibiotic-resistant organisms or superbugs). Infections that used to be easy to treat are no longer so. They are resisting antibiotics and other drugs and cleaning agents that used to kill them and are, therefore, becoming increasingly fatal.
These statistics may be a little alarming, but they also highlight the absolute importance of sterile processing. Ground-level infection-control practices are critical in preventing these diseases from spreading in healthcare settings. So as a sterile processing tech, you could experience a great deal of pride and job satisfaction while knowing that the work you're doing saves lives and money.
Sterile processing departments tend to work around the clock, which means that your schedule could be quite flexible—especially as you become a more experienced sterile processing technician. Once you have established some seniority in your position, you could have the ability to choose the hours that you work. So whether you are simply not a morning person or you have family commitments to keep, you could work on a schedule that suits your lifestyle.
Along with good wages, sterile processing jobs can also come with excellent employee benefits. You may be able to obtain health and dental coverage as well as disability and life insurance. Some companies even offer retirement savings plans and paid vacation and sick leave. So if paid company benefits are important to you, then take some time to shop around the various central sterile processing jobs to find the one that best meets your needs.
Take advantage of all of the benefits that sterile processing jobs could offer you by finding a training program today. Generate a list of schools in your area by entering your zip code below. An important and beneficial career could soon be your reality!
* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, website last visited on January 16, 2018.
** Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, website last visited on August 22, 2018.
*** PayScale, website last visited on March 8, 2016.
**** Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), website last visited on December 13, 2016.