text:
Body Building Supplement May Harm Brain Health
Neuroscience News February 7, 2019
Summary: A new study reports the popular body building protein supplement, L-norvaline, can have a negative impact on brain health. Researchers found that in low concentrations, the supplement causes damage to neurons which eventually leads to cell death.
Source: University of Technology Sydney.
People taking the protein supplement L-norvaline should be aware of its potential for harm, scientists say. L-norvaline is an ingredient widely used in body building supplements and is promoted as a compound that can boost workouts and aid recovery. Similar compounds have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and a study on human cells, by scientists from the University of Technology Sydney, suggests L-norvaline may also cause damage to brain cells.
The study, published in Toxicology in Vitro showed that even at relatively low concentrations the amino acid L-norvaline could make cells unhealthy and eventually kill them.
Proteins in our diet contain amino acids that are released in our gut and then used by our bodies to build new proteins. L-norvaline is one of hundreds of amino acids that are not normally used to make proteins in humans. In recent years the popularity of dietary supplements to enhance body strength and muscle performance has meant that many now contain lots of unusual amino acids that can do harm.
Lead author of the study Kate Samardzic said that the highest consumption of amino acids is among athletes and bodybuilders.
"Protein requirements are higher in very active individuals and proteins are considered to improve and increase performance. The demand for amino acids in supplements has expanded but in addition to the normal protein-building amino acids other 'non-protein' amino acids are being taken", the UTS School of Life Sciences PhD candidate said.
"Some non-protein amino acids are toxic because they can mimic protein amino acids and deceive the body into making faulty proteins; a property used by some plants to kill predators.
"Some plants can even release non-protein amino acids into the soil to kill other plants so that they can have access to all the nutrients. Chemical warfare among plants is a well known phenomenon. Since there was evidence that L-norvaline has antimicrobial and herbicidal activity we examined its toxicity in human cells," Samardzic said.
This is the first study that investigates the toxicity of L-norvaline in human cells, specifically testing its effect on the health of brain cells arising from its ability to mimic protein amino acids. NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
This is the first study that investigates the toxicity of L-norvaline in human cells, specifically testing its effect on the health of brain cells arising from its ability to mimic protein amino acids.
Associate Professor Ken Rodgers who led the research said the study revealed that L-norvaline while, it might initially allow cells to produce more energy, after a while the machinery of the cell that generates the energy is damaged. People are taking supplements such as this without really knowing much about what the long-term consequences might be.
Source: Marea Martlew – University of Technology Sydney
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Abstract for "Cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the dietary supplement l-norvaline" by Kate Samardzic, and Kenneth J. Rodgers in Toxicology in Vitro. Published February 72019.
doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2019.01.020
University of Technology Sydney"Body Building Supplement May Harm Brain Health." NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 7 February 2019.
<http://neurosciencenews.com/body-building-suppliment-brain-health-10712/>.
University of Technology Sydney(2019, February 7). Body Building Supplement May Harm Brain Health. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved February 7, 2019 from http://neurosciencenews.com/body-building-suppliment-brain-health-10712/
University of Technology Sydney"Body Building Supplement May Harm Brain Health." http://neurosciencenews.com/body-building-suppliment-brain-health-10712/ (accessed February 7, 2019).
Cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the dietary supplement l-norvaline
In addition to the 20 protein amino acids that are encoded for protein synthesis, hundreds of other naturally occurring amino acids, known as non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAAs) exist. It is well known that some NPAAs are toxic through their ability to mimic protein amino acids, either in protein synthesis or in other metabolic pathways, and this property is utilised by some plants to inhibit the growth of other plants or kill herbivores. L-norvaline is an NPAA readily available for purchase as a dietary supplement. In light of previous evidence of l-norvaline's antifungal, antimicrobial and herbicidal activity, we examined the toxicity of l-norvaline to mammalian cells in vitro and showed that l-norvaline decreased cell viability at concentrations as low as 125 μM, caused necrotic cell death and significant changes to mitochondrial morphology and function. Furthermore, toxicity was reduced in the presence of structurally similar 'protein' amino acids, suggesting l-norvaline's cytotoxicity could be attributed to protein amino acid mimicry.
apoptosisbody buildingbody building supplementsbrain healthl-norvalinenecrotic cell deathneurobiologyNeurosciencesuppementsUniversity of Technology Sydney


Turfgrass managers in the southern United States often overseed bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) to provide a dense, green turf during the winter months. While winter color is the only visible benefit, other potential benefits of overseeding include increased playing-surface uniformity, minimized damage from equipment and foot traffic, and reduced weed invasion during winter dormancy. Depending on the location, overseeded perennial ryegrass may last only 3 to 4 months. However, in cooler portions of the South, it may last up to 7 to 9 months.
Although the benefits of overseeding bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass are clear, the spring transition from cool-season back to warm-season grasses can be troublesome. Turfgrass managers need an effective and reliable way to transition perennial ryegrass out of overseeded bermudagrass. Recent research suggests that cultural methods that were thought to have worked in the past may not be so effective after all. Conversely, chemical methods seem to be the most reliable and effective way to promote a smooth transition in the spring and early summer.
Ideally, increasing temperatures in spring and early summer cause bermudagrass to come out of dormancy while, at the same time, the overseeded grass slowly dies out. However, weather conditions in spring and early summer vary, and natural transitions are not consistent from year to year. For example, cool, wet springs promote growth and development of perennial ryegrass while inhibiting transition to bermudagrass. This is a common problem in the Transition Zone of the United States where inconsistent spring and early summer weather makes it difficult to predict when the natural transition from perennial ryegrass to bermudagrass will take place.
In an ideal transition, the perennial ryegrass completely disappears just as the bermudagrass has fully greened up. However, when the ryegrass dies out faster than the bermudagrass fills in, the result is poor playability. Conversely, the newer heat-, disease-, and drought-tolerant varieties of perennial ryegrass used for overseeding may survive later into spring or summer than older cultivars. Thus, while these newer ryegrass varieties provide more attractive turf during winter months, they also create problems with spring transition.
* Reduce mowing height, if possible, several weeks before expected spring green-up of bermudagrass. This reduces shading, warms the soil and sets back the overseeded perennial ryegrasses. * Spike golf greens every 2 weeks during cool weather. * Aerate, and pulverize the plugs, several weeks before expected spring green-up. This promotes bermudagrass growth by warming the soil. * Avoid spring fertilization until 2 to 3 weeks after spring green-up. * Maintain good soil moisture for the new set of roots being produced by bermudagrass. * Initiate light, frequent verticutting on greens during spring green-up of bermudagrass but while the ryegrass is still actively growing.
However, proving that this is not an exact science, research at Clemson University showed that traditional cultivation practices such as aerating, topdressing and vertical mowing are not effective in promoting bermudagrass emergence on overseeded greens. Typically, the vertical mowing causes a temporary decline in turfgrass quality and playability. Ultimately, when these cultural practices are credited for a successful spring transition, it actually is due to lucky timing and environmental conditions. Greens--regardless of treatment--transition well in a hot, dry spring and early summer. In contrast, a cool wet spring and early summer will promote perennial ryegrass and inhibit the natural transition to bermudagrass.
Chemical methods for golf-course greens Pronamide (Rohm and Haas' Kerb) is a relatively slow-acting herbicide that superintendents commonly use to transition ryegrass out of bermudagrass putting greens. Pronamide works well in cool conditions. Thus, if you make applications too early, and subsequent weather conditions do not favor bermudagrass growth, a poor transition will result. Research at the University of Georgia confirmed this, showing that pronamide, applied at 0.50 or 0.75 pound active ingredient (ai) per acre, can lead to browning of the perennial ryegrass and a poor transition. These treatments effectively removed the ryegrass, but turfgrass quality was not acceptable if bermudagrass was not actively growing. These research results stress the importance of application timing.
Pronamide applied at 0.25 pound ai per acre during early bermudagrass green-up also led to unacceptable turfgrass quality. However, turfgrass quality was acceptable when applications at this rate occurred when bermudagrass green-up had reached 50 percent. This resulted in a 4 -to 6-week transition. Because the higher light intensity and increased temperatures of late spring promote bermudagrass growth activity, this seems to be the ideal time to apply pronamide to smoothly transition out the overseeded ryegrass.
Glyphosate (Monsanto's Roundup Pro), if you apply it when bermudagrass is completely dormant, removes the perennial ryegrass but does not provide a gradual transition. The turf will be brown until the bermudagrass greens up. This is unacceptable for a golf course trying to maintain the best possible playing conditions in spring and early summer.
Cultural methods for fairways, tees and athletic fields At North Carolina State University, we've conducted research over the last 2 years that indicates that the use of cultural methods to remove perennial ryegrass at higher heights of cut are not effective. The cultural methods that the we included in our study were vertical mowing, scalping (decreasing the mowing height from 0.75 to 0.5 inch), aerating, vertical mowing and scalping (combined), and applying ammonium-nitrate. We applied the ammonium nitrate (at 2.0 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet) to wet turfgrass foliage to increase the burn potential of the fertilizer, and we performed all treatments, except the ammonium nitrate, every 2 weeks until the perennial ryegrass had naturally disappeared from the untreated (control) plots. Our results show that all of the cultural treatments transitioned the perennial ryegrass out at about the same time as the untreated plots. It was, again, environmental conditions--especially temperature and relative humidity--that dictated the speed of transition.
One evident difference among treatments was the density of bermudagrass plants when all the perennial ryegrass was gone. Plots we treated with ammonium nitrate, even though they did not produce faster transition, did have significantly higher bermudagrass shoot density (see graph, page G 24). Aeration produced significantly lower bermudagrass shoot density at the end of the season and turfgrass quality that was unacceptable.
* Early application timing simulated deliberate chemical removal of the overseeding. These treatments included pronamide, glyphosate, glufosinate (AgrEvo's Finale), atrazine (Novartis' Aatrex) and metribuzin (Bayer's Sencor).
* Late application timing (mid-June) simulated a natural transition in mid-June (that is, a late green-up that might prompt a turfgrass manager that was hoping for a natural transition to use chemical methods). These treatments included pronamide, atrazine and imazaquin, which could injure the actively growing bermudagrass.
As previously mentioned, environmental conditions and overall turfgrass health are major factors in obtaining a smooth transition. Cool ambient temperatures at the time of application can decrease foliar uptake and translocation of systemic herbicides within plants. In addition, dry conditions can cause a plant to grow slowly. Thus, as with most chemical treatments, when these conditions exist, it is not the best time to apply these products.
* The early application treatment that worked best (see Table 2, page opposite page) was pronamide. Pronamide provided a good transition, and cool temperatures at the time of application did not negatively affect its activity. Nevertheless, you should carefully consider if, and when, to use pronamide. If temperatures are low and the bermudagrass has not broken dormancy, pronamide will readily remove the overseeding, leaving dormant bermudagrass that cannot fill in the spaces once occupied by the perennial ryegrass. For a smooth transition, you should make early applications of pronamide 6 to 8 weeks before full bermudagrass green-up.
Early applications of both glyphosate and glufosinate successfully removed perennial ryegrass but resulted in an unsuitable transition because the bermudagrass was still dormant. However, if you do decide to use these products, it's best to apply them before the bermudagrass breaks dormancy. An application when the bermudagrass already is breaking dormancy may not kill it--as long as the rates are low--but it will prolong green-up.
* Late application of atrazine (see Table 3, page G 22) provided a fast transition with some browning of the turf. If bermudagrass green-up is greater than 50 percent, this is an acceptable treatment. But if bermudagrass green-up is less than 50 percent, the rapid removal of the perennial ryegrass results in turfgrass quality that's unacceptable for golf-course fairways, tees or athletic fields that need consistent playing conditions. Note: Novartis considers the use of atrazine for removal of overseeded ryegrass from bermudagrass experimental and does not support or recommend such use.
A late application of pronamide yields a good transition while maintaining acceptable turfgrass quality during a 4- to 6-week transition. Even though pronamide works well under cool conditions, a late application still usually results in a shorter transition because environmental conditions favor bermudagrass over ryegrass as the spring and summer months progress.
If temperatures are warm at the time of application, imazaquin will provide a good transition with minimal discoloration. However, if cooler temperatures prevail at the time of application, a poor transition results. This is the major reason superintendents do not use imazaquin as an early treatment. If you do use it, don't apply it during the green-up phase because this herbicide can delay the green-up of bermudagrass.
Know your situation Each turfgrass manager has unique site conditions that determine the need for chemical transition products. Depending on the region, temperatures and relative humidity in a typical spring may be conducive for good natural transition. This is the case for some parts of Florida, Georgia and the Southwest. However, cooler temperatures in the northern regions of the transition zone are not conducive for a transition without additional inputs.
* For athletic fields that aren't played on in the spring, a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate or glufosinate is the best treatment for removing the perennial ryegrass.
* Pronamide, properly timed, seems to be the best chemical method for transitioning perennial ryegrass out of overseeded greens. On fairways, tees and athletic fields, an early application of pronamide provides a good transition with acceptable turf quality. The transition takes 6 to 8 weeks, and you should not make applications before bermudagrass breaks dormancy.
* Late applications of atrazine, imazaquin or pronamide also provide a good transition, although some discoloration may occur with atrazine or imazaquin.
Dr. Fred Yelverton is associate professor and Brian Horgan is a graduate research assistant, both at North Carolina State University (Raleigh).
Several chemical tools are available for removing overseeded perennial ryegrass from bermudagrass. You must find the method most suitable for your situation: * For athletic fields that aren't played on in the spring, a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate or glufosinate is the best treatment. * Pronamide seems to be the best chemical method for transitioning perennial ryegrass out of overseeded greens. An early application also works well on fairways, tees and athletic fields. The transition takes 6 to 8 weeks, and you should not make applications before bermuda-grass breaks dormancy. * Late applications of atrazine, imazaquin or pronamide also provide a good transition, although some discoloration may occur with atrazine or imazaquin.


President-elect Donald Trump selected Betsy DeVos as his Secretary of Education. DeVos is an establishment Republican who loves charter schools.
Donald Trump has a dope new hat.
Green Party presidential loser Jill Stein has raised millions for recount efforts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Stein believes electronic voting could have swung the election away from Clinton, but there's little evidence of that.
Clinton's camp will participate in the recount. For her efforts, she got torched by Trump on Twitter.
Trump also claimed that he won the popular vote, alleging voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire, and California. Literally none of this is true.
SHOCK NEWS: Courage, the turkey who got the annual presidential pardon in 2009, is DEAD.
Donald Trump tweeted that Americans who burn the flag should lose their citizenship.
Nancy Pelosi survived the House Minority Leader vote, but it was a doozy.
Mitt Romney is (still) a candidate for Secretary of State. And look how happy he looks!
Trump has made his picks for Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of Commerce.
1 Comment on "Hump Day Headlines 11.30.16"


text:
Bon Jovi to use stops on new tour as a research mission
By Gene Johnson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jon Bon Jovi's new tour is bringing the veteran rock star to venues he doesn't usually visit on the road.
A shelter for hardcore alcoholics in Seattle. A tour of Skid Row in Los Angeles. Perhaps a squatters village in Sacramento.
That's because this tour in support of Bon Jovi's latest release, "The Circle," is also a fact-finding mission. The singer plans on visiting as many homeless shelters and programs as time allows in hopes of getting ideas and inspiration to shape his own work with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a Philadelphia-based charity that fights homelessness by building affordable housing, establishing community kitchens and cleaning up vacant lots in blighted neighborhoods.
"I've spent the last quarter of a century touring, going from arena-stadium to hotel back to arena-stadium-hotel," he says. "This time, because of my foundation's work over the last six years building affordable housing, on my days off and when the opportunity arises ... I will go do shelters and try to learn more about the issue and how to combat it."
Among those stops: Skid Row in Los Angeles early next month with Steve Lopez, the Los Angeles Times columnist who wrote "The Soloist," about a schizophrenic, homeless and wildly talented cellist named Nathaniel Ayers. The book was later made into a movie.
"Skid Row is an eye-opener," Lopez said in an e-mail. "I don't know Jon Bon Jovi, but I suspect he may come out of this with a keener sense of how many people are suffering in this economy, and of how many people on Skid Row are dealing with a combination of financial, physical and mental health issues, many of them veterans."
Such themes dovetail with the latest album, which features "Working for the Working Man" and other songs inspired by the economic meltdown and political turmoil around the world.
Before he kicked off the tour with two shows at Seattle's KeyArena last week, Bon Jovi toured one of the city's most well-recognized homelessness programs, a building run by the Downtown Emergency Service Center that provides homeless alcoholics, many of whom have serious mental illnesses, a place to live — and drink alcohol.
The program saves taxpayers more than $4 million a year in social service and jail costs and creates a safe atmosphere where residents may be more likely to get sober, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year.
The singer didn't specify what aspects of the program he might incorporate into his future work at the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which has built more than 150 units of affordable housing in seven cities since 2006. Various problems of homelessness require different solutions, he said.
Thinking back on a quarter-century of hanging out in hotels around the world, does the 47-year-old wish he started working on the homelessness issue earlier?
"I don't think I was ready for it," he said. "When you're a boy in a rock band, you want to go out and see the world and do all the great things you're supposed to do when you join a rock band. Now there's another aspect to it. There's just more to be said and done, and the difference that can be felt on the trail that you've made."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Enicmus histrio is een keversoort uit de familie schimmelkevers (Latridiidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd in 1910 gepubliceerd door Joy & Tomlin.

Schimmelkevers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Water leaks are one of the most common maintenance issues that often go unnoticed, but require immediate attention. Since they are not so obviously visible like a burst pipe, they usually don't come to surface until significant damage is done. This is why it is recommended to put your plumbing through regular inspection by reputed service provider such as Miami Gardens Emergency Restoration. We provide the most comprehensive range of water leak detection services that helps you spot such issues long before it causes expensive damage. Just call us at 786-350-3360 and speak to our experts to know more.
Who would have thought a small fault in your house pipes could lead to costly restoration work? We may not think that a dripping roof or a leaky pipe is such a big problem until the water seeps into our walls, leads to mold formation and/or cause damage to electrical fittings. Its impact may not be quick, but slow deterioration of your property is actually much worse! To mitigate such issues and prevent expensive restorative work, it is better to hire water leak detection services that can help identify the problem long before it becomes enormous.
At the same time, don't underestimate the damaging effects of poor maintenance that are not usually covered under your insurance policy. The last thing you want is to pay the heavy premium and the restoration costs, without ever enjoying the benefits of the former. But think of all the costs you can avoid by simply detecting the leak earlier?
This is the reason we recommend to treat Miami Gardens Emergency Restoration as your one-stop-shop for leak detection services in Miami Gardens, FL area. We can setup a contract with you and perform regular inspection of your property to discover leaks in time..
We don't use any invasive techniques in detection of leaks. Our experts will never dig trenches in your home to find a leaky pipe. We believe in reducing the damage, not increasing it! This is why our clients consult us for regular water leak inspections. They know we will never recommend re-piping your property, when it is clearly not required. We don't want to make our profits at the expense of our clients; we would rather work closely with you and develop solutions that are both acceptable and feasible for you.
Miami Gardens Emergency Restoration is one and only service provider in Miami Gardens, FL area that will provide you state-of-the-art means to identify water leaks, even if it is buried under layers of flooring. We identify leakages by using snake cameras, thermal imaging, acoustic sensors and moisture detection equipment that allows our technicians to spot the exact spot of the leak.
So call our experts today at 786-350-3360 and let us help you keep your property safe!


Clubs need to be updated.
Is getting into league worth it?
This year's spring split finals in major regions (except LCS) were all anticlimactic.
99 LP is so wack, make it so if you win, that extra LP goes into a deposit where that extra +15 comes in if you fail your promos. Instead of going to 65 lp you'd go to 80 lp.
Was a couple of RP off of getting Snow Man Yi and I was told to draw my favourite character.
In two hours, the First ever ranked Split will be finished. What were your favorite moments of your ranked climb these past few months?
Here is my new, beginner-friendly champion fusion, Morgannie! Who's next?
Is there any user of Spear of Shojin that uses it in a fair way?
Is there even a single person that likes current Scuttle meta?
Low Skill Ceiling vs High Skill Ceiling, Which is better to Learn?
People going afk intentionally (clicking around in base or fountain) aren't getting the punishment they deserve.
How many games to give to a role before giving up?
Those MSI are the most stacked ever.
Which is more powerful, 1 Baron buff or 3 infernal dragons?
Remember when Jhin came out and everyone played him mid?
Azael on Twitter: The amount of people using finals series scores to justify strength of a region is insane. Dominance in a region is only as impressive as your competition in it - otherwise Flash Wolves would've been the greatest team ever. This has to be the dumbest criteria I've ever seen!
Known Draven interaction with Illaoi?
Ranked rewards for split 1 season 9??
LoL website that was like the game 6 degrees of kevin bacon?
Why do riot drip-feed us skins instead of just releasing everything on patch day?
The true Love Story of Kkoma and how power of love motivated a silver player to hit Rank 7 in KR.
Did you know? - Lesser known facts about champions.
All MSI teams are locked in!
Kills, assists, and CS are becoming increasingly inaccurate as a measure of how much gold someone has.
TheShy: "G2 wants revenge against us so we are slightly worried about facing them."
[Spoilers] Hilarious Poppy ult in EU Masters.
Pray has officially retired as a professional LoL player.
Why cant i deactivate the chat?
JDG's secret weapon in game 2 of the LPL finals - last pick Fiddlesticks support. Clip of clutch play from JDG LvMao.
Draw your favorite champion with your normal build drawn onto him/her.
Any Update on Fantasy LCS?
(Tested with numbers) The PBE change to celerity is actually a nerf in most cases while only being 1-2 MS higher with NO boosts active.


text:
Q: Different result using Criteria and NearQuery using the same point and distance - Spring Data MongoDB I use POJO with lombok to represent the geometry collection.
@Document(collection = "geometries")
@TypeAlias(value = "geometry")
@Data
@Builder
public class GeometryObject {

    final static String COORDINATE_FIELD_NAME = "coordinates";
    private @Id ObjectId id;
    private GeoJsonObjectType geometryType;
    private Map<String, String> properties;
    @GeoSpatialIndexed(type=GeoSpatialIndexType.GEO_2DSPHERE , name=COORDINATE_FIELD_NAME+"_index")
    @Field(COORDINATE_FIELD_NAME)
    private GeoJson geometry;

}

To have control over repository queries I am using the MongoTemple. I've implemented two variation for querying near-point with max distance.
The first;
@Override
public List<GeometryObject> nearPointMaxDistance(GeoJsonPoint geojsonPoint, Distance maxDistance) {
    Point point = new Point(geojsonPoint.getX(), geojsonPoint.getY());
    Criteria criteria = Criteria.where(COORDINATE_FIELD_NAME).nearSphere(point).maxDistance(maxDistance.getValue());
    final Query query = new Query();
    query.addCriteria(criteria);
    return template.find(query, GeometryObject.class);
}

The second;
@Override
    public GeoResults<GeometryObject> geoNearPointMaxDistance(GeoJsonPoint geojsonPoint, Distance maxDistance) {
        final NearQuery nearQuery = NearQuery.near(geojsonPoint).maxDistance(maxDistance).spherical(true);
        return template.geoNear(nearQuery, GeometryObject.class);
    }

The test case the two different near queries.
@BeforeEach
    void setup() {
        geometryRepo.clearGeometryCollection();
        GeoJsonPoint gbgStnPoint = new GeoJsonPoint(11.972973346710205, 57.7090537698375);
        GeometryObject gbgStnGeoObj = GeometryObject.builder().geometry(gbgStnPoint).geometryType(GeoJsonObjectType.POINT).build();
        geometryRepo.save(gbgStnGeoObj);
        GeoJsonPoint molndalStnPoint = new GeoJsonPoint(12.016907930374146, 57.65644872952383);
        molndalStnGeoObj = GeometryObject.builder().geometry(molndalStnPoint).geometryType(GeoJsonObjectType.POINT).build();
        //distFromStn = new Distance(6.42, Metrics.KILOMETERS); //The distance between the two trainstations are 6.41 km, anything greater would result in valid result.
        distFromStn = new Distance(0.01, Metrics.KILOMETERS); // The nearPointTest will be valid even when distance set to 10 meters but not 1 meter.
    }

    @Test
    void nearPointTest() {
        List<GeometryObject> result = geometryRepo.nearPointMaxDistance((GeoJsonPoint)molndalStnGeoObj.getGeometry(), distFromStn);
        assertThat(result).isNotEmpty();
        result.forEach(geo -> log.debug("Geometry result: {}", geo.toString()));
    }

    @Test
    void geoNearPointTest() {
       GeoResults<GeometryObject> result = geometryRepo.geoNearPointMaxDistance((GeoJsonPoint)molndalStnGeoObj.getGeometry(), distFromStn);
       assertThat(result).isNotEmpty();
       result.forEach(geo -> log.debug("Point {} - distance from source {}", geo.getContent().toString(),geo.getDistance()));
    }

The distance between the points in a straight line is 6.41 km. If I run the test with distance set to 2 km, the first (nearPointTest) function still return a result. If I set distance to 6.42 km both functions passes as expected. Only when setting the distance to 0.001 km both functions fails.
I use MongoDB 4.4.4 and Spring Data MongoDB 3.0.4.
What am I missing, why do I get different result when using The Criteria opposed to NearQuery. They should both work with the versions (MongoDB and Spring) that i use?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Torvhög is een plaats in de gemeente Göteborg in het landschap Västergötland en de provincie Västra Götalands län in Zweden. De plaats heeft 168 inwoners (2005) en een oppervlakte van 13 hectare. De plaats wordt omsloten door landbouwgrond, maar deze landbouwgrond gaat vrij snel over in bos. Langs Torvhög loopt de rivier de Lärjeån. De stad Göteborg ligt ongeveer tien kilometer ten westen van het dorp.

Verkeer en vervoer
Bij de plaats loopt de Länsväg 190.

Plaats in Göteborg


New annual figures on the British fashion market show that its decline in 2016 continued with a two per cent drop in sales compared with the year before.
This is the deepest decline the market since August 2009, according to Kantar Worldpanel, wiping almost £750 million off its total value in the 52 weeks ending December 18.
Kantar Worldpanel consumer insight director Glen Tooke said the two per cent drop was a "serious cause for concern" and fashion retailers – including clothing, footwear and accessories – continue to struggle with the same issues that have plagued the market for several years.
"Particularly when you consider that the lowest point the market reached in the wake of recession was a 3.1 per cent slump in May 2009," he said.
Tooke said many fashion retailers needed to be more flexible with their seasonal buying cycle and re-consider their discounting.
"These companies are stuck in a rigid, seasonal buying cycle which no longer reflects how consumers shop," he said.
"Gone are the days of buying a new winter coat come rain or shine: consumers are far more flexible in their approach to shopping and many retailers have been left behind.
Tooke added that while the collapse of BHS could have had a "highly symbolic blow to morale for the high street", its overall impact on the market was actually less significant as it was "never a top 10 retailer".


text:
A Visit with Medium Writer and "No Crime in Rhymin'" Curator Joe Varadi
In June 2007 I stuck my big toe in the water as regards blogging. I wanted to understood what it was, and no better way than by doing. From that first June entry to the present I have been sharing here almost daily for 13 years. In June 2018, after spending a year being a top writer on Quora, I stuck my toe in the water on Medium, an ad-free platform for writers who could not only have a soapbox, but get paid for their blogging and self-expression efforts. It's been an interesting experience.
One thing I liked was how easy it was to recycle your other online writing. Ev Williams, founder of Medium, had also been the co-creator of Blogger and Twitter, thus he understood how to do the backstage magic that permitted writers to re-publish their work without being penalized by Google's search algorithms.
It's been a rewarding experience meeting so many interesting writers from all over the world. One of these is Joe Varadi, whom you can get to know here.
EN: How long have you been writing?
Joe Varadi: Since childhood, on and off. I didn't speak a word of English until the age of 10, when my family moved to the United States. I would write long descriptive letters, in my native tongue, to my relatives back in the old country. With five years of English under my belt, I wrote a review of the movie Harlem Nights, as a high school assignment. It turned out well enough that my English teacher pulled me aside and accused me of plagiarism. That's when I knew I had a knack for it. I am a regular -- almost daily -- writer since July of 2017, when I established my Medium account. Let's face it, the social engagement aspect of that platform is wonderfully and deeply addictive.
EN: Are you a writer for a living, or is writing something you do as an avocation or side gig?
JV: I work in banking and technology, and I write 50 emails or more a day, and contribute to documents and slide presentations of all sorts, so writing is an essential work tool. But my creative writing is strictly a hobby, a labor of love.
EN: Is your interest in poetry whimsical or serious?
JV: Is there a clearly delineated difference? I hover on the border of these two realms, my poems tend to be humor-infused, playful and satirical, as a quick way of making a connection with my reader, and when they think the coast is clear, I ambush them with a thought-provoking insight or revealing confessional.
Another major driving force in my poetry is the love of my native language, Hungarian, and its incredibly rich poetic tradition. I began to rediscover this tradition, ironically, when my kids were born, and I began to sing to them children's songs from my childhood to get Hungarian into their ears. It turns out that many popular children's songs are drawn from folk art, or from well-known poets of the Romantic period and the Modern era. They are beautiful, vivid works with charming rhyme and meter. I began making attempts to translate them, challenging my self to come up with works that retained musical, rhythmic qualities.
The year 2018 so far has been my most productive period for translations. I published 33 pieces that year, many of them children's songs which can still be enjoyed by all age groups, and a few more adult-oriented, introspective, lyrical poems: https://medium.com/the-junction/translating-poetry-2018-aac849f28718
EN: How long have you been blogging? What motivated you to start?
JV: I've already mentioned Medium -- as my writing, my state of mind, my imagination is deeply intertwined with that site. It has become my second home, my refuge, my choice destination for a happy hour, since I joined two and a half years ago. As for my initial motivation, I was looking for a digital home for an essay I wrote inspired by Pride Week 2017. I published it on Medium, and the next day it got picked up by an obscure publication out of the U.K., before I ever knew what Medium publications were.
As a side note, I really dislike the term blogging. To me it implies a kind of casual, self-indulgent practice of flooding your audience with half-baked ideas, something I termed "word pollution" in my rant below: https://writingcooperative.com/no-do-not-publish-every-day-44ccd39173c9
EN: Who are your favorite writers of the past 40 years?
JV: This question strikes a nerve -- it threatens to reveal how little "traditional" reading I do nowadays, what with digital channels of information and my ever-growing addiction to producing rather than consuming content. I now read online news and investigative journalism, and my daily dose of essays and poems from fellow Medium authors, but don't remember the last time I finished a novel. When I pick up a book, it is mostly historical, scientific and technical non-fiction.
EN: What are you reading now?
JV: The books on my night stand, which I may never finish, are: Prediction Machines, by a cabal of business and Artificial Intelligence professors at the University of Toronto, and John Stauffer's Giants, about the intersecting lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
EN: Do you have a big project you're working on for 2020?
JV: Last year a translation of mine was picked up for an anthology by a British publisher, The Emma Press. I proudly display this little booklet in my home and office, and plan to write more for them. Another children's verse translation I did was accepted into CRICKET Magazine. I am working on securing the rights from the author's estate, and it is proving to be a difficult uphill battle. Stay tuned.
My loftier ambition in the world of writing is to find an agent and eventually a publisher for my original poetry. Call me old fashioned -- I'll continue to pursue that route rather than the rabbit hole of self-publishing.
Follow Joe Varadi on Medium @ https://medium.com/@joevaradi
You can also follow me on Medium @ https://medium.com/@ennyman
Labels: blogging, Cricket, ennyman, Giants, interview, Joe Varadi, Lincoln, Medium, writer, writing
Throwback Thursday: Bob Dylan's Tarantula, Revisited
So, I decided to give Tarantula another chance this week. What prompted me was that marvelous scene in I'm Not There in which Cate Blanchett, as Dylan, is in in the middle of a hotel room with white walls upon which a giant tarantula in silhouette is crawling. It's an unforgettable scene. The book itself less so. And yet, it remains in circulation, in spite of itself.
Tarantula has been compared to Kerouac, Burroughs and Ginsberg (The Beats) and Rimbaud, but my first impressions upon re-reading it were James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake and Andy Warhol's proclamation, "Art is whatever you can get away with."
If I were asked when I first picked up a copy of this book I would have said it was when I was in high school in the 60s. The reality is that the book was never "officially" in print till 1971, proof that memory is a faulty and unreliable creature. So I must have been in college at the time. The cover was cool, and the title was cool. But the content? It depends on what lens you assess it through.
It wasn't till later that I became acquainted with Finnegan's Wake, Joyce's 14-years-to-produce language game that made little sense to anyone and struck most common folk as a massive inside joke. Was it a joke on the readers or on his publisher?
So it is that Dylan produced a bit of prose here that was supposed to be something important. Was it also an inside joke? A joke on readers or on McMillan, his publisher?
What probably happened, no doubt, was that in 1966 Dylan had become such a hot commodity that anyone who published anything he wrote would be guaranteed a profit. A pitch was made, contract signed and the deal set in motion.
"Something's happening but you don't know what it is, eh?"
It's a book of historic significance only for the fact that Dylan wrote it, and it has an iconic photo on the cover (I already said that, I know). The back cover (of my copy) says this book "captures the tone and spirit of the turbulent times in which it was written."
Straight up, that's McMillan's marketing copy. His songs did, but nothing in this book really does that.
To capture the times I would suggest Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice, Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five or Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Reading James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time is a bracing read as well, and no joke. Michener's Kent State is on point at the end of the decade.
Dylan's Tarantula was an insignificant blip on the period's literary scene and even less in retrospect. It's easy to imagine him saying, "I was funnin' you." Something akin to his 115th dream, though even there there's serious satire taking place. The rambling tripe on most of these pages seems to have no real aim other than to fill pages with ink.
Perhaps it could be said that this was a foreshadowing of Seinfeld, which was essentially about meaninglessness.
Here are the book's opening lines, after the initial chapter heading Guns, the Falcon's Mouthbook & Gashcap Unpunished.
aretha/ crystal jukebox queen of hymn & him diffused and drunk transfusion round wound heed sweet soundwave crippled & cry salute to oh great particular el dorado real and ye battered personal god but she cannot she the leader of whom when ye follow, she cannot she has no back she cannot ... beneath black flowery railroad fans etc.
Alas. I'm sure there is some backstory on all this, of which I've forgotten or am unfamiliar. It doesn't really matter. Here are a few of the more critical reviews of this book on Amazon.
Three Star Review
If you need to read a review of this before you buy it , you must have no idea about Bob Dylan and this particular book. Investigate thoroughly before you commit. All Dylan fans will want to have it , whether they read it or not is up to them. I tried and couldn't really do it - but I had to "own" it.
Two Star Review
Dylan is by far the greatest songwriter of all-time and perfectly deserving of a noble [sic] prize in literature if ever one is bestowed upon him. However this stream of consciousness book is pure crap. It will be a highly collectible book if you have the first edition, first printing in good condition in about 50 years. Till then read Lyrics 1961-2001 or Chronicles vol.1 instead.
One Star Review
Is Bob Dylan now the pen name of a machine learning software fed hastily written assignments from a one hundred level poetry class? Tarantula is what the software produced.
I really couldn't make sense of this book. I am old enough to blame myself when this happens. I like his lyrics, but this book is unreadable. I wonder if he wrote it deliberately to mock those who say they get it. It is as if you hold up a toddler's doodle to art critic, who compliments it as some work of genius.
On the flip side there are many like these five star reviews:
A Masterpiece
Spontaneous bebop prose poem. As with Naked Lunch, I can only absorb 10 pages at a time and then my head hurts gloriously. If you love Dylan, buy it, dog ear it, highlight, and rave.
Good book by Dylan when he was 23
I enjoy reading this as much as I did when I got my first copy in the early '70s. As dazzling as Bob's music.
It's probably significant that when you go to Bob Dylan Wikiquote, itself an exceptionally long Wikiquote entry, there are no quotes from Tarantula.
But that's OK. I own it, read it again and am happy to have it on my bookshelf. Do you have it on yours?
Labels: #ThrowbackThursday, Bob Dylan, books, Chronicles, McMilan, Tarantula
Gravedigger Dave's Halfway House to premiere this Sunday at Zeitgeist
It's Time to Check In at Gravedigger Dave's Halfway House
Matt Rasmussen as Gravedigger Dave
A couple years back (2? 3?) I saw a film short at the DuSu Film Festival here in the Twin Ports. One of the films was titled Boots, a ghost story of sorts involving a haunted house and a contractor. Little did I know that this was a small slice from what would become a much larger film featuring haunted spaces and places here in the Northland.
This Sunday, March 1, will be the opening premiere of that larger film, Gravedigger Dave's Halfway House.
Producer/director Keith Hopkins had this to say about the film.
"In total I've been working on this project for 5 years. One of the segments, Boots, screened as a short film at DSFF several years ago. The filming of the documentary segments began in 2019. While I've been making videos and working in TV since 2005, I really started working towards being a film director in 2015.
"My premise for Gravedigger Dave's Halfway House was to present a series of ghost stories, most of which I believe to be true, but some of which are fiction. The audience's task is to separate fact from fiction as they're watching the film. My motivation stems from my father, who loved telling ghost stories around the fire. It's been my goal to channel his storytelling style and put it on the screen."
The GDHH ghost stories all take place in St. Louis County. Many of the stories are semi-familiar but Gravedigger Dave attempts to reconstruct their eeriest features on film.
When I was young the notion of haunted houses and ghost stories was always intriguing. My grandmother had books like Stranger Than Science and questions about what's real and what is not always manage to take root in fertile, open minds. Rod Serling's Twilight Zone fed the hunger for thrills, and today we have Ghosts on Netflix.
In fact, the purpose of my first novel was to create a story that would interest teenaged boys so they would become readers, hence I created a haunted house story, The Red Scorpion.
So Keith Hopkins isn't far from the mark to make an attempt to capture area ghost stories on the silver screen. You can read here the interview we did with Hopkins in November.
Ramona Marozas, who plays the Ghost Woman, said, "Keith Hopkins is sharing fiction and non-fiction ghost stories, and leaving it up the audience to interpret. That's genius. I've never seen anything like it and love it. It creeps me out. It also creeps me out that I myself could be so creepy. It took director Keith Hopkins to pull that out of me acting wise. I come off as someone who needs an exorcism who is stalking real life people."
The lead storyteller Gravedigger Dave is played by Matt Rasmussen a co-worker of Hopkins at KBJR. "I enjoyed every single second of it. It was the experience of a lifetime. I hope the character lives on for generations to come."
When Hopkins and Rasmussen became friends they found out that they both love horror movies and anthology films. "He showed me what he was working on, and we put together a five minute piece (with Rasmussen as Gravedigger Dave) that became huge, one of his best shorts. We did a second which led to this full length movie."
Again, the Premiere is this Sunday at the Zinema / Zeitgeist. Details here:
Duluth Armory Becomes Stage for the CW Duluth Television Program
A Visit with Local TV Producer Keith Hopkins About His Upcoming Film Gravedigger Dave's Halfway House
For more Scary Stuff Visit with The Bleeding Critic
Labels: ennyman, fact?, Fiction, ghost stories, Gravedigger Dave, horror story, Keith Hopkins, Ramona Marozas
Important Dates in Major League Baseball for the Month of April
These notes were assembled by the late Robert Lookup, a street person whom my wife and I befriended for the last 10 years of his life. We'd nicknamed him Train Man because of his passion for trains. At the time I was introduced to him he had watched every movie in the Duluth Public Library and rated each on the basis of their train scenes, for accuracy and interest value. All his notes were collected on 4x6 index cards, written in a crimped handwriting style similar to the handwritten lyrics of Bob Dylan's Desolation Row.
Robert was a man quite passionate about his obsessions. One of these was birthdays. He knew everyone by their birthday. He was a savant in that way, not dissimilar from Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. He was also passionate about baseball. He loved the stats, and baseball has them in abundance. But, like his other passion, every player has a birthday, and I'm willing to guess that he knew the birthday of every famous player as well as many of the lesser known. (He loved underdogs and the world's nobodies.)
Hence he loved learning as much as he could about the forgotten parts of baseball. He once had me do research to identify how many minor league baseball stadiums there were in the 1930s and how many were still active.
All this is backstory for where these lists come from: Important Dates in Major League Baseball. In sharing them here I have added a date or detail a couple of times, but overall the decisions regarding what to include or leave out are all Robert's.
Tim Gouw courtesy Unsplash
IMPORTANT DATES -- APRIL
First official National League baseball game. Boston 6, Philadelphia 5
I have two copies of this 1964 Topps card. Will sell one to
highest bidder if interested.
Hank Aaron hits Home Run # 715
Frank Robinson of Cleveland debuts as first black manager in Major League Baseball
First Federal League game played in Baltimore. Baltimore 3, Buffalo 2
Jackie Robinson becomes first black Major League ballplayer in 20th century.
Bob Feller beats the White Sox 1-0 in Chicago. Only opening day no-hitter in Major League history.
Mike Schmidt hits four consecutive home runs for the Phillies to erase a 15-2 deficit to the Cubs of Chicago. Phillies go on to win 18-16 in ten innings.
Cubs played their first game at Weedhman Park, beating Cincinnati 7-6. Re-named Wrigley Field in 1926.
Fernando Tatis hits 2 Grand Slam Home Runs in one inning, first player ever to do this. His eight RBIs in one inning is a Major League record.
Jack McCarthy of the Cubs becomes the only outfielder in Major League history to throw out three at the plate in a single game. Final score: Pittsburgh 2, Cubs 1.
Joe Oeschgen of the Phillies and Brooklyn's Burleigh Grimes pitch a 9-9 tie in 20 innings.
(Burleigh Grimes was the last player permitted to legally throw a spitball. He ended his career with 270 wins and was selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame.)
Top MLB Offseason Storylines
Remembering the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues
A Day in the Life of Robert Lookup
Labels: baseball, baseball history, baseball trivia, ennyman, minor leagues, MLB, Negro Leagues, spitball
Robert Service and the Battle of the Bulge
Last week Medium writer and playwright Steve Newman (no relation) published a brief account of the life of Robert Service. A contemporary of Jack London, though from different sides of the Atlantic, both men had experiences in the Yukon during the gold rush heyday, thereby providing fodder for stories as well as insights about human nature.
It brought to mind a book of poems by Robert Service that I'd read several decades ago, and birthed the notion that it might be interesting to share a poem by the man.
The Poetry Foundation has a wonderful website for fans of poetry, by the way. Nearly every poet of significance is catalogued here, with a brief bio and selections from their works. Robert Burns, Robert Browning, Henry Timrod, Thoreau, Keats, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Langston Hughes, etc. etc. etc.
If you're familiar with Robert Service even just a little you will know he has a comic side that is witty. To be honest, however, I'd pretty much forgotten him other than I associated his name with good feelings. That is, the memories (specifics) were washed into the sea but the feeling of having enjoyed reading him was left behind like seashells on a beach.
So, I found his page at The Poetry Foundation site and read the titles of his poems, looking for somewhere to begin. One of the first my eye spied was The Battle of the Bulge. My grandfather's younger brother Jesse was wounded in that battle during WWII. A piece of shrapnel sliced his face. He was only 20 and a long way from home.
Because of this memory (actually a fond one because when I knew him he was a cheerful, good-hearted older man) I decided to read first the Robert Service poem The Battle of the Bulge, which wasn't about WWII at all.
The Battle of the Bulge
This year an ocean trip I took, and as I am a Scot
And like to get my money's worth I never missed a meal.
In spite of Neptune's nastiness I ate an awful lot,
Yet felt as fit as if we sailed upon an even keel.
But now that I am home again I'm stricken with disgust;
How many pounds of fat I've gained I'd rather not divulge:
Well, anyway, I mean to take this tummy down or bust,
So here I'm suet-strafing in the
Battle of the Bulge.
No more will sausage, bacon, eggs provide my breakfast fare;
On lobster I will never lunch, with mounds of mayonnaise.
At tea I'll Spartanly eschew the chocolate éclair;
Roast duckling and pêche melba shall not consummate my days.
No more nocturnal ice-box raids, midnight spaghetti feeds;
On slabs of pâté de foie gras I vow I won't indulge:
Let bran and cottage cheese suffice my gastronomic needs,
And lettuce be my ally in the
To hell with you, ignoble paunch, abhorrent in my sight!
I gaze at your rotundity, and savage is my frown.
I'll rub you and I'll scrub you and I'll drub you day and night,
But by the gods of symmetry I swear I'll get you down.
Your smooth and smug convexity, by heck! I will subdue,
And when you tucker in again with joy will I refulge;
No longer of my toes will you obstruct my downward view ...
With might and main I'll fight to gain the
More poems by Robert Service, courtesy The Poetry Foundation.
Pullman Porter
It's Later Than You Think
The Cremation of Sam McGee
Labels: Battle of the Bulge, ennyman, Monday Motivation, poems, poetry, Robert Service
Democracy's Achilles Heel: Was Madison Right?
Henrik Ibsen, 1870.
In the summer of 2018 I watched a film dramatization of Ibsen's powerful play An Enemy of the People. Like many influential works, most people have heard of them but never read or experienced them first-hand, and in this case I numbered myself among the majority. Until then.
I'd just finished reading a biography of James Madison, who authored the Federalist Papers and was instrumental in creating the founding documents that formed the foundations of the United States, a beacon for Democracy. Our leaders and representatives are chosen. The people have power in the process of electing a representative government, via the voting booth and caucuses.
Though Madison accepted giving power to the people, he was uncomfortable with this notion. At the time, his belief was that this was only going to work as long as we had an elite (educated) voting public. Once derelicts figured out they could vote for reps who would serve their more base interests, democracy would be in trouble. The elite "knew what was best" and power should reside in "their capable hands."
You can read the rest of this essay here.
Why James Madison Hated Democracy
Why Democracy Doesn't Deliver
Excerpt: Voters generally favor policies that enhance their own well-being with little consideration for that of future generations or for long-term outcomes. Politicians are rewarded for pandering to voters' immediate demands and desires, to the detriment of growth over the long term.Politicians are rewarded for pandering to voters' immediate demands and desires, to the detriment of growth over the long term.
Posted by Ed Newman at 7:23 AM 3 comments:
Labels: democracy, Enemy of the People, ennyman, Henrik Ibsen, James Madison, Modern Times
Testing 1 2 3: Duluth and Canosia to Test New Voting Technology
I don't know how many days this has been running in the Duluth News Tribune, but it's a pretty tiny announcement, so in case you missed it, I am sharing it here. This appeared in yesterday's paper in that section of fine print where foreclosures and such are announced.
They are testing some new technology that will be used during a township election in Canosia and in the March 3 Presidential Nominating Primary.
Here are a few articles pertaining to the Iowa disaster:
It's Time to End Computerized Elections
Iowa App Fiasco Shows Need for Open Source Transparency
Iowa App Fiasco Worries Mobile Voting Advocates
Finger pointing continues over Iowa app fiasco
I may attend one of these meetings to see what's happening.
We already know that many elections have been won by fraud. Illinois has a notorious history in this regard. (eg. The Making of a President, 1960 by Theodore White) And the incidence of fraudulent outcomes is extensive when you look globally.
For years in the Deep South those in power undercut Black voters by making it difficult to near impossible to cast a vote in the first place.
Anyways, this is just a heads up regarding a couple meeting announcements.
Labels: accuracy, Canosia tabulating votes, duluth, ennyman, Testing, voting technology
Glen Campbell and Stevie Wonder Sing "Blowin' in the Wind"
In the years leading up to his election, Ronald Reagan would do a daily radio talk, much like people today do daily blog posts or daily podcasts. Wherever he went he carried with him a cigar box which contained clippings of newspaper articles which served as starter material -- kindling -- when he had a daily talk to give but lacked an idea or theme.
There's a sense in which I do the same thing, except I don't store my ideas in a cigar box. Instead, I use a virtual holding tank here on Blogger. It's called Drafts. That is, I begin more blog posts than I have time to complete. I tell myself I will get back to it one day, like unfinished business. As of this morning I have 945 drafts. This one was intended to be a memorial for Glen Campbell, who passed away in August 2017.
As I searched for something special to accompany my memories of Glen Campbell, I found this video of Campbell performing Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind with Stevie Wonder. Which derailed my blog post because as I read a little about Wonder a new story emerged. Then I set this unfinished idea aside, till this morning.
Glen Campbell's career exemplifies being in the right place at the right time. Stevie Wonder's story is about defying the odds.
Campbell, 1967. Public domain.
The cherub-faced Campbell was much older than we thought when he moved from studio musician with the Wrecking Crew to becoming a performer in his own right in the late 60s. Those studio musicians did an amazing amount of uncredited work. According to the Times piece cited above Campbell played or sang on nearly 600 recorded songs in 1963 alone.
In 1969 he got his own show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Like Johnny Cash and the Smothers Brothers, it became a venue for showcasing up and coming musicians. One of these megastars was Stevie Wonder, with whom he performed "Blowin' in the Wind" which aired on February 19, 1969.
Did you know that Campbell was 33 years old at the time? The Rhinestone Cowboy singer star was born in 1936, a few years younger than my parents. The boy wonder, Stevie Wonder, was born in 1950, and just two years older than myself.
Wonder's story is striking. Born a premie, he was put on oxygen the first weeks of his life. Unfortunately, medical science has since learned that you can damage an infant with too much oxygen as easily as not enough. The result for this little one was detached retinas. In other words, he was not born blind but ended up that way in the first weeks of life.
1973. Public domain.
His hardships didn't end there. At age four his parents were divorced. His mother moved to Detroit, Motor City. Broken homes don't automatically lead to juvenile delinquency and it's apparent his mother's nurturing did him good.
I neglected to mention that his mother was a songwriter, which factors into this story. At an early age he sang in church (age 4) and learned to play piano, harmonica and drums. He formed a group with a friend and performed on street corners and at parties when he was 11. He sang one of his own compositions to one of the Miracles, and soon was connected to Motown.
His stage name, Stevie Wonder, is not his real name, of course. His actual last name is Morris. (Dylan did officially change his stage name to become his real name.) Stevie Wonder was just 19 when he performed Blowing in the Wind with Glen Campbell on the latter's show.
Bob Dylan first conceived this song when he was 19, performing a two verse version at Gerde's Folk City a month before his 20th birthday. The full version was recorded in July and became one of the iconic songs of his iconic second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which was released the following Spring.
Here's Bob, not yet 22, performing this song on television, March 1963.
Meantime, life goes on. Make the most of it.
Mucho thanks to Bob, Stevie and Glen for all the Great Music
that has so enriched our lives over the years.
Labels: Blowin' in the Wind, Bob Dylan, ennyman, Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, sixties, Stevie Wonder
More Toastmasters Testimonials: Katy, Wulfgar and Yana
When Aeschines spoke, they said, 'How well he speaks', but when Demosthenes spoke, they said 'Let us march against Philip.'
Last week I mentioned that I've been attending Toastmasters the past few months, an organization design to help people improve in their public speaking and leadership skills. In that post I introduced two of the members of our Duluth, Dave Boe and Randine LePage. Here are three more members of our tribe, Duluth Toastmaster Club 1523.
Katy Hursh is currently an administrative assistant for a company here in Duluth.
EN: How long have you been with Toastmasters?
Katy Hursh: I have been in Toastmasters since September 2018. I had been asked to be the main speaker at two separate events and was looking for a way to beef up my public speaking skills. I had never heard of Toastmasters but happened upon it after looking for public speaking on line. I joined Toastmasters for practice and getting some feedback in preparation to speak.
I have gained a great deal of confidence, and how to read an audience and deliver a speech with impact. It's been very rewarding. I appreciate all the roles members are encouraged to be involved in from giving speeches, keeping time, evaluating grammar. All skills add to being a better speaker.
Wulf Gar works for St. Louis county in the 911 area, as an administrative person, mainly responsible for time cards and training documents for the 911 dispatchers.
Wulf Gar: I started in May of 2019. So it's been 9 months now. Yikes, that doesn't seem like a lot. I think it might seem longer because we pack a bunch of information into every meeting.
EN: What prompted you to join?
WG: A friend of mine kept remarking on my "accidental leadership urges." She pointed out that I can't just participate in something, I have to organize and recruit and lead. And it is accidental. Or at least I'm not intending to do it. She wanted me to explore where this comes from. She wondered if I could hone it and harness it for good. So, she suggested Toastmasters as they advertised Leadership education. The rest is history, as they say.
EN: What have you learned?
WG: Quite a bit. I was the captain of my speech team in high school, so I already had a basic grounding. But in Toastmasters I'm learning timing, tone, and audience engagement. I'm learning how to construct a speech, how to motivate and inspire people, and give and receive proper feedback.
EN: Anything else you would like to add?
WG: I'm having a great time in Toastmasters. The people are awesome, the education is top-notch, and I honestly can't wait to see what happens next.
Yana Stockman, a Transition Life Coach whom I interviewed just before Christmas, was born in Ukraine. English is her third language. She is currently club president for Club 1523.
EN: How long have you been with Toastmasters and what prompted you to join?
Yana Stockman: 1 year and 3 months. I joined because of a desire for self-improvement and challenge of being out of my comfort zone. Also, the desire to inspire and empower the audience in order to promote personal development and self-awareness. I believe in consistency and if putting the focus on improvement is the only way to become the best version of ourselves.
YS: Public speaking is a powerful tool, it could lift you up and bring you down. I am continuously learning and evolving as a speaker meeting after meeting. So far by preparing and delivering speeches, I've learned:
• How powerful it is to deliver the story and how everyone's story is unique.
• Ability in my leadership skills.
• Confidence in public speaking appearance.
• Consistency in improving my speeches.
• Being persuasive as a speaker and team member.
• Not to apologize for my accent. Everyone has an accent when they speak a foreign language, and that is an integral part of who we are.
EN: Tell us more about your career.
YS: I am Transition Life Coach and Motivational Public Speaker. I help people to navigate through life transitions and one of my intentions in joining Toastmasters was to enhance my message with confidence, empower with persuasiveness and share my story.
YS: It is very important to explore goals and know how Toastmasters could help you meet them. It starts with the vision of what you want and what is your "why" when it comes to public speaking. The real prize is what we learn and who we become in the process.
To quote the early 19th century newspaper editor and poet David Everett:
"Tall oaks from little acorns grow."
Duluth Toastmasters Club 1523 meets on Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 PM. Guests are always welcome, and tonight we're having a special guest. Come a little early and find out what we are about.
https://1523.toastmastersclubs.org/
Labels: Duluth Toastmasters, ennyman, leadership, public speaking, Toastmasters
Almost Wordless Wednesday: Butter Pecan Ice Cream Showdown
This had been my favorite for the past couple years.
For the longest time Dean's has been my favorite butter pecan ice cream brand. The flavor of the ice cream and the pecans all worked well together. When you've found something you like, something that always satisfies, you know what to expect. I like routines. No surprises.
Then one day while looking for my Dean's I noticed some of the other brands that touted a butter pecan ice cream. As a result, I broke my routine, caved in to that curiosity that nudges us into a new experience. I purchased a little tub of Breyers.
Breyer's has a good name and a good reputation. The picture on the container is accurate.
The pecans are large. And though it is a good butter pecan ice cream, I felt it wasn't strong
enough to displace Dean's.
The next time I went to purchase ice cream I intended to buy Dean's.
But then I became curious. My eye fell on the Stone Ridge brand
and next thing I knew I was curious again. Wow! I love it.
Both the flavor and texture are sweet.
Kemp's will be next. I'll keep you posted.
Do you have a favorite?
Labels: Almost Wordless Wednesday, Butter Pecan, ennyman, ice cream, showdown
Wendy's Magic Carpet Ride: My First Experience with the SolTec™ Lounge.
I can't remember when I first met Wendy Ruhnke, other than it was through one of the events associated with Dylan Fest a few years back. The first time we talked at length was at one of the annual Winter Dance Party events in support of the Duluth Armory. It was probably then that I learned about her business, selling SolTec™ Lounge systems.
When she described it to me I could only envision a vibrating chair with music. I felt unable to write a blog post unless I actually had a chance to get in the chair. The experience itself was nothing like what I imagined at all. Comparing it to a vibrating chair would be like comparing a 2 x 2 inch Polaroid photo of the Grand Canyon that's been through the wash to the Grand Canyon itself.
A view of the speakers beneath the mattress.
Seven years ago Wendy was asked by Dr. Dan Cohen to try his latest invention, the SolTec™ Lounge. Using cutting edge technology it was designed to produce a profound state of relaxation/stress reduction and induce a meditative state.
All I can tell you is that it was quite effective at transporting me places and putting me in the zone.
At SoundVibration, Wendy facilitates sessions with the SolTec™ Lounge and also sells them for personal use in your home. She also assists others in becoming distributor partners or practitioners.
I pulled this portion of Wendy's testimony off her website.
Having used the SolTec™ Lounge now for over six years, I often get asked the question, "What changes have you noticed in yourself?" So I thought I would answer with this post. The first change I noticed was that I was happier. I nicknamed the chair the happy chair. That feeling has grown tremendously. I am contented, growing spiritually, and just more fun to be with in general. I smile most of the time and laugh a lot.
This feature of the machine produces magnetic
stimulation beneath your lower back.
I didn't know Wendy till the last few years, so I can't say whether her happiness level was elevated by the chairs, but I can certainly tell you she's an exceedingly upbeat woman and I don't doubt her story. I would love to have one of these chairs in my home.
She has four chairs in hers. They're located in a near octagon-shaped room that reminds me of a home I painted in Minneapolis years ago. It's actually a wonderful house with a rich history, hardwood floors, built in 1891. But you don't have to have a historic home to own a chair though.
The chair's S-shaped design is not unlike my own easy chair at home when in recliner mode. Before lying down she pulled back the four-inch cushion to show me the speakers and magnetic resonance system so that I might understand the technical aspects of this SolTec Lounge
As I situated myself in the Lounge she said, "The more you surrender, the better it will be. Be with the music, don't listen to it"
I couldn't help listen, of course, because I'd been planning to write this description of my experience. Even so, I couldn't help but think of John Lennon singing Tomorrow Never Knows.
Turn off your mind relax and float down stream
It is not dying, it is not dying
The space has a relaxing vibe.
A tapestry from Ecuador.
Wendy herself slid into the comfort of another chair, instructing me to take three deep breaths and shift my awareness to my body. What follows is my weak attempt to describe my experience.
The sound track was more like several layers of translucence, with different things happening on each layer, but that which was beneath would slowly rise as other layers receded. The sounds were multi-cultural. I recognized one layer at the beginning as something akin to atonal African music. Some of the music was New Age-like but infused with colors--mauve and polyphonous patterns of sound. Then there were thunderclaps at times, with that fractal type of sound, a-rhythmic rather than a regular beat, accompanied by a-rhythmic pulses from the chair. The variety and intensity was quite striking.
I was instructed not to listen to the music but to be carried away by it all. In doing so I had all kinds of images and memories float through my mind. I thought of relationships I'd ruined, and peaceful places I'd been. At one point I had the strange sensation that my socks had wriggled off, which wasn't the case at all.
During the entire experience it seemed as if the sounds were interlaced with colors and vibes, and frequently I had thoughts that I wished to write down but chose to let go of.
At the very end, as everything else receded, there was a plinking piano melody--if I remember correctly--that reminded me of Randy Newman, who has done soundtracks for ever so many Hollywood films including Toy Story. And I felt myself luxuriously at rest in a waking dream.
Start Doing More Things You Love
Wendy noted that many of the people who come in to use the beds do it as a group. She has a few local bands that come in together and drift into their individual spaces communally. Some come in once a week Some have liked it so much they bought their own chairs. One couple that did this is part of our Duluth Dylan Fest circle.
The price is $40 for a session, though you get a discount the first time. You also get a discount each time you bring someone new. Whether as an aid for meditation or a tool for. finding a much needed "state of rest" in the midst of a hectic, busy life, this may be just what you are looking for.
SolTec Lounge
http://www.toolstoawakenduluth.com/about.html
Wendy's Website
www.ToolsToAwakenDuluth.com
Wendy Ruhnke, SoundVibration, LLC
This was not a vibrating chair, it was something far more complex and actually quite effective. This blog post has been my weak attempt to describe the experience.
Labels: duluth, ennyman, Lounge, Magic, Meditation, SolTec, SoundVibration, Wendy Ruhnke
New Painting by Frank Baker Holmes Echoes Classic Themes
'Still Life with Vermeer Postcard'
16"x20", o/c
The Narrowsburg art scene is not my usual beat, but having just seen Frank Holmes' latest painting, it seemed noteworthy enough to draw attention to it. The 16"x 20" piece bears the straightforward title "Still Life with Vermeer Postcard," though it's anything but straightforward. You can find this painting at the River Gallery on Main Street in Narrowsburg, New York.
For those unfamiliar with Holmes, the story begin at the Pratt Institute where he received his Bachelor's degree in Brooklyn. Seven years later he came to Athens to work on his Masters at Ohio University. I was an art student there and, like many, impressed with what he was doing.
Vermeer detail.
In the early 70's the art scene was in a swirl because of the power of all these surging forces: the New York school, Pop Art, minimalism, conceptual art, and Happenings. It was an invigorating time for young artists, though simultaneously confusing, especially students looking for a clear path into the future.
In truth, there's never been a clear path. You have to draw or write or paint what feels authentic to you, and this is what Frank Holmes was doing, following his own inner muse.
The end result was his being honored with a Prix de Rome in 1973. You can read details of this experience here: Veteran Painter Frank Holmes Discusses His Prix de Rome and Life as an Artist
(detail)
Detail. Hardwood floor, carpet, pedestal obelisk.
Some of the elements in this painting have been recurring in Holmes' paintings for half a century, most significantly the the patterned wallpaper designs, the hardwood floor and the references to classical art history, in this case Vermeer's "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" which I had the privilege of seeing when it was at the National Gallery circa 1995. It's one of the most famous paintings of history, comparable to DaVinci's Mona Lisa in stature.
Like Salvador Dali before him, Holmes is acknowledging or paying tribute to the Dutch artist whose technical expertise is widely revered and nearly unequaled.
Another common denominator in Frank Holmes' paintings is the originality of the composition. To produce a painting is an investment of time, and the subject matter must be of sufficient interest to maintain interest. In addition to engaging the viewer, it must of necessity engage the artist as well. The visual effects--the play of light, the illusion of depth, shape, substance--are all in play here.
Priced at $3,000 this painting is a steal.
A Most Unusual Portrait: The Sarcophagus by Frank B. Holmes
Frank Holmes' Agony and Ecstasy: 20 Images from the Ohio Theater Project
Frank Holmes Studio Tour, 2018
21 Frank Holmes Paintings On Pinterest
Labels: artist, Classic Themes, ennyman, Frank Baker Holmes, Girl with Pearl Earring, painter, Prix De Rome, Vermeer
Black History Month: 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues
When I was born, my baby crib included--besides me--four Teddy bears. The unique feature of these bears was not their looks, since they varied in color and size, but rather their names. My parents named my Teddy bears after the Cleveland Indians starting rotation, which include three pitchers who would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
One of these pitchers was fireballer Bob Feller. (The other three were Bob Lemon, Early Wynn and Mike Garcia.) Feller, who was my favorite, had a white torso with black arms, legs and head. I can still picture myself carrying him around by that skinny, black arm.
Feller was one of many great ballplayers who had their careers interrupted by doing service in the U.S. military in World War II. Despite three years lost during his prime, he was the winningest pitcher in Cleveland Indians history.
I mention all this because of his role in becoming a bridge toward the integration of Major League baseball.
After the war, Feller came up with the idea of assembling a team of players for a barnstorming road tour in the off-season. Perhaps he was in it for the money, but the hunger for baseball was strong and if he could deliver an all-star show people would fill the stands to watch their heroes.
For opponents, he contacted the well-connected star pitcher of the Negro Leagues, Satchel Paige. Feller had seen Paige pitch back in the Thirties and knew he could muster up a team that would be competitive against the white pros of Major League Baseball. Feller chartered DC-3 planes to ferry the players to the 34 games he arranged. He also hired a doctor, a trainer, a lawyer and a publicity man.
Pittsburgh Crawfords. Satchell Paige third from left, back row. (Public domain)
While segregation was a shameful period in baseball history, the Negro Leagues were a resounding success and an immense source of pride for black America. Though Jackie Robinson is famous for having been first to cross the color barrier, I thought Satchel Paige was the coolest of the cool, and the Cleveland Indians became among the first to be peppered with black players from the Negro League.
I've not seen a lot written about it, but this year happens to be 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues. According to this story by Rob Ruck in the Chicago Reporter, on February 13, 1920, "teams from eight cities formally created the Negro National League. Three decades of stellar play followed, as the league affirmed black competence and grace on the field, while forging a collective identity that brought together Northern-born blacks and their Southern brethren. And though Major League Baseball was segregated from the 1890s until 1947, these teams played countless interracial games in communities across the nation."
Ken Burns' fabulous documentary series on baseball was profoundly important because of the respect he showed for the Negro League and that other side of baseball history, some of it shameful, lest it be forgotten.
Larry Tye's 2010 story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted how those exhibitions featuring Bob Feller and Satchel Paige helped advance integration in baseball. No doubt this contributed to the Indians becoming leaders in welcoming people of color into the locker room.
Everyone remembers the name of Jackie Robinson, the first player to cross the color barrier, just as everyone remember Neil Armstrong, the first to walk on the moon, and George Washington, the first president. The second Negro League player to wear a Major League Baseball uniform was Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians. The year I was born he led the majors in runs scored and home runs.
Interestingly, my observation above (about being second means being forgotten) was first stated by Bob Feller himself.
Second black player to play in the Majors.
Of Doby, Bob Feller later said, "He was a great American, served the country in World War II, and he was a great ballplayer. He was kind of like Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, because he was the second African-American in the majors behind Jackie Robinson. He was just as good of a ballplayer, an exciting player, and a very good teammate."
The years after Larry Doby joined the team the Indians added more Black stars, Satchel Paige and Minnie Minoso. I remember seeing Minnie Minoso when I was a kid. Sometimes I liked players just because they had cool names. My grandfather used to take his grandsons (my brother Ron and I) to numerous Indians games in the 50s. There are baskets of memorable moments stored in our craniums.
I feel a measure of pride knowing that of the first 20 Negro League players to cross over into the Majors from 1947-1951, six were recruited by the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees did not recruit a black ballplayer until 1955, Elston Howard being their first.
I don't recall how old I was when I saw Elston Howard for the first time, but I remember him. I saw numerous Yankees-Indians double headers in the 1950s when the Indians were perennial also rans. (They did win the pennant in 1954,) What I remember was a game in which we had box seats directly behind home plate. Elston Howard was the Yankees catcher that day, and I remember observing how big he seemed.
He was also a powerful hitter, and in each game of that doubleheader he slammed a game-winning home run over the center field fence. They were impressive blasts, Cleveland having one of the longer center field fences.
These memories were all stirred when I saw the book at the top of this page on a shelf a Zenith Books last week. If you live here in Duluth, check it out.
The Short Story of Satchel Paige
by Roman Mikhail on Medium
Satchel Paige Quotes
Major League Baseball: Some Things Have Changed, Some Haven't
More Memories of the Great American Pastime
Bob Feller dreamed up the idea of barnstorming with the Negro team during his long shifts manning anti-aircraft guns on the USS Alabama during World War II. He knew that getting other major-leaguers to join him would be easy, and he signed up the best. It was a unique time in baseball history, just before the color barrier came tumbling down. It would still be years before African Americans could live where they wanted. The Civil Rights Act outlawing discrimination wasn't passed until 1964.
Labels: baseball, Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Elston Howard, ennyman, Larry Doby, Negro Leagues, Satchel Paige, Teddy bears
So Many Books, So Little Time: New Acquisitions at the Duluth Public Library
Reports of the death of reading are greatly exaggerated.
One of my favorite pasttimes at the library is perusing the shelves where New Acquisitions are displayed. At our Duluth Public Library the non-fiction new arrivals are upstairs on the shelves located just beyond the help desk and before the magazines.
The new books are organized by categories, much like the library itself. Biographies, of which there are always an ample supply of new volumes, are on the right side, near the 921 section where all the rest of the biographies reside.
Today as I walked past this set of shelves I decided to take photos of books that I would like to take out and read, except that I have all kinds of other books already in progress. The variety of subject matter is quite compelling. Maybe something here will catch your eye and it will lure you in to fetch it.
Considering the size of our city, I'm somewhat surprised the library isn't busier. There are seldom lines at the checkout desk. The staff are exceedingly friendly and perpetually helpful. And you can't beat the price. It's all free. They've even eliminated the fines now.
Podcasts have become a major thing these days. Are you interested in podcasting?
Whatever new skill you want to learn, there are books for you. Starting a business? Investing? Coaching? Marketing? Running? Parenting? Learning how to live a better life?
Here are some of the new books that caught my eye.
It's never too late to start, some people say. This book will give you the lay of the land.
I hear this is an epidemic.
I was an adrenaline junky to some extent. Sooner or later you learn that
dying for a rush isn't really worth the price.
There are quite a few books addressing contemporary issues. This is one of them.
This book is especially directed to women.
Life isn't just about money. Unfortunately you can't get far without it,
so we need to find balance.
It's Black History Month. This looks like a good place to play catch-up.
Applewhite is a TED speaker, as are a couple of the others. Evidently being a TED speaker
gives one cred in the publishing world these days. I need to polish up my speaking a bit.
This book is a manifesto against age discrimination and the degree to which
our culture is youth-obsessed. You can find reviews here on Amazon.
This book is about the damage that has been done throughout our history
due to our excessive xenophobia.
For just one example, see my article on the interment of
Japanese Americans during WW2:
Executive Order 9066: Just One More Cause for Shame
This looks scary and all too real.
I lived in Puerto Rico in 1979. Things have changed.
As I'm oft fond of saying, "Too many books, too little time."
That's a better problem than the reverse.
Labels: books, Duluth Public Library, ennyman, Library, New Acquisitions
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text:
This is a list of rivers in Sierra Leone. This list is arranged  by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.

Atlantic Ocean

Great Scarcies River (Kolenté River)
Little Scarcies River (Kaba River)
Mabole River
Mongo River
Lolo River
Sierra Leone River
Rokel River (Seli River)
Bankasoka River (called Port Loko Creek in the tidal part)
Ribi River
Bumpe River
Kagboro Creek
Sherbro River
Bagru River
Jong River (Taia River)
Pampana River
Teye River
Kittam River
Sewa River
Bagbe River
Bafi River
Waanje River
Moa River
Meli River
Mano River
Mahoi River
Moro River

References
Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.
 GEOnet Names Server
United Nations, Department for Peacekeeping Operations Cartographic Section, 2004

Sierra Leone
Rivers


This year's Gamification World Conference happened in Madrid. A beautiful lively city with loads to see and do. One of those things was the GWC at the theater Goya, a renovated cinema that is mostly used for conferences now.
We met with Pete at 8 in the morning to check out the layout of the room that he was scheduled to deliver his workshop named Games For Effective On The Job Learning. I have to admit, a cinema room is not the perfect layout for a workshop, as it makes collaborating in teams difficult, but I think we made it work just fine.
The workshop was a success and everyone enjoyed what Pete had to teach them about games and on the job learning. All the teams came up with really creative ideas for the role playing part of the workshop which made it very fun and interesting.
Next up was the Gamification Nation workshop delivered by An Coppens and Andrzej Marczewski. They talked about different types of players and how we should think more broadly when designing a gamification solution. For example one think to take into account is the players age and lifestyle.
Very interesting workshop that made us think about different aspects of the people we design gamification solutions for and how we might approach brainstorming for projects in the future. Teamwork was also fun as we had to examine one application that uses gamification and discuss what works and what doesn't for different personas.
Third workshop was run by Melinda Jacobs focusing on the user experience. She compared the user experience with the hero's journey and made us think what we want our player to experience and feel as people play our games. A lot of great examples from companies that offer a unique experience to their customers always having the player experience in mind.
Last workshop for the day was run by Stephen Erin Dinehart IV, a very successful game designer from the US, talking about the importance of play testing. We had the chance to split into teams and make our own game and play test it which was a lot of fun. It also made you go back to the roots and remember that a game needs to be tested over and over again to make sure you are going the right way about it.
Some food and drinks were the best choice for the evening to relax and have some fun after a very hectic first day!
The second day of the GWC had a very different vibe to it. The venue was full of people, everyone was a bit more stressed and people everywhere were getting ready for their presentations. Presentations run at parallel sessions in two different rooms so it was not possible to watch all of them.
I got to see Yu Kai Chou open the main stage with a great speech about Gamification and the stage the industry is at the moment. The main stage was quite impressive, filled with people from all over the world that came to learn about gamification.
One of the presentations that stood out for us was from Altug Yilmaz where he talked about a gamification solution they designed and implemented at KFC Turkey. Nice and simple solution with a lot of statistics and a system that can be easily modified and further used in the future.
Also nice presentation that stood out because of the different subject was Joshua's Wong presentation about gamification in the public sector. We would all love to see the public sector become a bit more playful instead of bureaucratic in the future!
Back to the main stage as Pete was getting ready to talk about small gamification!
We have been researching and talking about this presentation for quite sometime now so I was excited to see if it would go well. I think people liked the list of affordable gamification tools we gave them and kept asking for more during the breaks.
Of course a highlight for everyone that works in the gamification industry was Kevin Werbach! He is the mentor of us all either with his Coursera course or his book For The Win. His talk was inspiring and motivating as he basically said, it still is early to celebrate, get back to work, work more closely with researchers and improve. The man that started gamification still cares about his child's future.
Andrzej Marczewski closed GWC 16 with a great speech on play and how we should not forget about how important it is when designing a safe place to fail on the job. People should feel safe to fail sometimes and companies need to create that culture of play and learning through trial and error.
Last but not least are the Awards of GWC 16!
Pete Jenkins was nominated for Best Contribution To Industry which was a big honor for us. Not winning didn't feel disappointing at all. Andrzej Marczewski more than deserved the title.
Overall GWC 16 was a great experience, with loads of information about gamification and games, great presenters, great workshops and an excited crowd. One of the best things to watch during breaks was the networking that was going on and meeting people from all over the world that came to Madrid for the GWC.
We are definitely looking forward to the next GWC and seeing old friends again and meeting new ones!


Underberg is a soothing herbal speciality made from a selection of the finest aromatic herbs from 43 countries. The unique blend of valuable herbal ingredients and premium-quality alcohol makes Underberg a perfect natural herbal digestive.
Taste: Colour: Clear, natural colour - like light amber. Nose: Spicy, harmonious herb aroma - not sugary at all, but deep, compact and rounded, like a walk through a herb garden. Taste: Full, aromatic herb flavour, slightly sweet at the beginning the harmonious blend of herb flavours.


Five weeks left, and Sunday saw a flurry of activity on a number of areas by FIRST FRC Team 443. In one corner the team worked on the controller and programming toolchain. We had another team building a mockup trailer while learning about basic woodworking. Another group was designing the moon rock collection systems.
Our prototype robot, Gwen-a-gear needed a controller transplant so several students learned how to use an end mill while working on a lexan controller mounting platform to bolt onto the chassis which already has the moon wheels installed.
A couple of the students worked on decomposing the work into a work breakdown structure (WBS), plan, and rough schedule to help the entire team stay focused.


text:
Q: What could be causing such a high commit charge in XP? I was getting out of memory errors running virtual machines in VirtualBox so I checked my commit charge and lo and behold, it's 1913 MB!
I only have 2GB physical RAM.
After closing all "applications" I have 1800 or so MB still in commit charge.  That's the majority of my RAM.  Opening process explorer shows no processes that seem out of order, the biggest memory hog being process explorer itself at about 26MB and everything else quite a bit smaller.
Can windows "leak" memory?  Should I suspect a driver or something like the Symantec antivirus?  Would their memory use even show up in process explorer somehow?
After further investigation I believe this is a VirtualBox related issue.  For some reason after terminating some virtual machines, even after terminating VirtualBox, it was not freeing the memory allocated to them.  For another reason I can't figure out, the task manager / process explorer cannot see the memory allocated to virtual machines in VirtualBox.  It is does not show up on any process or task list.  The only sign that it is happening is that the commit charge rises.

A: Commit charge is basically the maximum potential pagefile usage. It is not related to the RAM.
Windows basically addresses memory into the pagefile before any applications uses it based on current pagefile usage. The commit charge doesn't reflect current memory usage, but reflects how much memory Windows is current addressing in the pagefile.
The Windows Task Manager utility, in its Performance tab, shows three counters related to commit charge:

*

*Total is the amount of pagefile-backed virtual address space in use, i.e., the current commit charge. The corresponding performance counter is called "Committed Bytes".

*Limit is the maximum possible value for Total; it is the sum of the current pagefile size plus the physical memory available for paging (this excludes RAM that is assigned to non-pageable areas). The corresponding performance counter is called "Commit Limit".

*Peak is the highest amount that the total commit charge has reached since the computer was last rebooted.

The commit charge increases when any program is opened and used, and goes down when a program is closed. It will also change when already-running programs allocate or free private virtual memory; for example, with the VirtualAlloc and VirtualFree APIs.
The commit limit may be increased by either creating additional pagefiles or, if pagefile expansion is enabled, by expanding an existing one. The operating system will expand the pagefile automatically, if possible, when the total commit charge approaches the limit. In such an event a popup window will be displayed stating that "The system is running low on virtual memory."
Some more information is available in Windows XP's documentation.

A: Seems it is an issue with VirtualBox.
I have turned off Intel Virtualization Technology in Virtualbox as suggested in another forum and haven't had problems so far.