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Home Topics Faith & Ministry How We Can Worship God with Our Work
How We Can Worship God with Our Work
There is an intuitive understanding today that the work we do is not merely a means to a paycheck or compulsory effort that makes up a substantial portion of our lives, but rather constitutes a deeper aspect of our being. Part of this intuitive acknowledgement has led to a growing interest in understanding how our work, both within our careers and beyond, can play a role within our Christian callings to serve others and love God.
One of the many examples of this rising interest in the intersection of work and faith is the Princeton Faith and Work Initiative, which, according to the website, aims to "generate intellectual frameworks and practical resources for the issues and opportunities surrounding faith/religion/spirituality and work." One of its members and author of the book God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement, David W. Miller, addressed this swelling desire for many in this country — whether Christian or adherents to another religious tradition — to find deep meaning in their work. Miller writes in his book:
"What draws most people to the [Faith and Work] movement is the desire to live an integrated life, where faith teachings and workplace practices are aligned. Workers of all types, whether data entry clerks or senior executives, are no longer content to leave their souls in the parking lot … Regardless of job level or salary, today's employees want their work to be more than just a way to put bread on the table and pay the rent."
Regardless of job level or salary, today's employees want their work to be more than just a way to put bread on the table and pay the rent.
Acknowledging that our work plays an integral role in our lives and spirituality, how can we make sure the work we do each and every day draws us closer to God as Christians? How do we ensure our work doesn't instead become an obstacle to our holiness and call to love others? And how, exactly, can our very work be seen as a means of worshiping God?
Called to Work from the Very Beginning
From the beginning we see that God commanded us to not only be fruitful and to fill the earth, but to "subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" (Gen. 1:28). Therefore, even before the Fall, God desired us to labor and work for the purposes of bringing order to His creation — and working would thus be an integral part of our identity as His children. While the Fall did result in our work becoming, in part, connected with toil and suffering, as evidenced by our needing to eat our food "by the sweat of [our] brow," work had always been a part of God's divine plan for humanity. Being made in His image, we are called to work creatively as God Himself did in creating of the world, for we learn that it's on the seventh day that God rested, implying that His opus of creation was the result of Divine workmanship. As the Theology of Work Project explains, "[God] creates people in his own image, and he himself is a worker. He puts Adam in the garden for the purpose of working it."
We also read from Paul in Ephesians how members of the church are called to different forms of service, or labor, for the purposes of spreading the Kingdom of God. Some are called to teach and preach while others are called to evangelize and prophesy. Of course, Paul is speaking about explicit service to the church, but the idea of laboring — of using our natural and God-given gifts to serve others — can be applied even to our secular working lives if our labor is fundamentally centered on loving our neighbor. We notice that Paul commands all Christians to continue in their work and do it well (Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12), which further points to the deep value of work and the role it can play in our lives. In fact, Paul himself continued in his secular work as a tentmaker in addition to spreading the love of God. Thus, the living of our daily lives — much of which entails work — can be a means to live well as a Christian. As Hugh Whelchel, the Executive Director of the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, writes:
"The picture we see … is of Christians working out their holiness in the ordinary callings of their lives. They were truly salt and light in their culture. As a result, they radically changed their world in the first few centuries after the death and resurrection of Christ."
In other words, looking to both the Old and New Testament we see that not only have we been called to work from the very beginning to work, but that our work can also provide us with opportunities to grow in holiness.
Related Article: Corbyn Small participates in God's ongoing work simply by getting to know his neighbors.
PLNU theology professor, Mark Mann, Ph.D., when asked about the relationship between work and our Christian calling to love others points to the spirituality of monastic communities.
"There is a strong focus on the idea of work as a form of worship in Catholic monastic spirituality," Mann said. "It's within these monastic communities where monks are doing all kinds of things in service to God and the community. Yes, they pray and worship together. But they also live and work together for mutual benefit in fulfillment of their religious calling. Some of them work in the kitchen, others clean the bathrooms, and others sweep the grounds. The key is that everything they do is in service to God. Everything is service and worship. Some monastic traditions refer to this as 'practicing the presence of God.' Washing dishes and serving the community is as important a way of serving God as prayer. Life itself, a kind of continual prayer. It's out of this context that the idea of work as worship has developed and finds its highest ideals."
Mann also sees this as core to the Wesleyan spiritual tradition, in which worship can therefore be equated to acts of service for others or God. Although praising God in song or within a congregation might be considered more traditional forms of worship (they are direct expressions of love for God), since love of God also means love of neighbor, all acts of service done on behalf of our neighbor can also be seen as a type of authentic worship.
It's worth wondering in what ways we consider our jobs, from sending emails to writing proposals to teaching 4th-graders American history, as valid and pleasing forms of worship to God. Do we see our work not only as "secular" activity that allows us to take care of ourselves, others, and have time to do other things — be with our families and friends, attend church, pray, enjoy leisure and recreation — but as something that can be an act of worship and love in and of itself? And work doesn't only mean that which we are paid to do. All work and labor that we engage each and every day, from doing laundry to sweeping the driveway to getting our kids ready for school, can hold out for us the possibility of worship. While prayer, church worship, and other forms of explicit Christian practices remain necessary, it's perhaps by viewing our work through this lens that we can better understand Paul's exhortation to pray without ceasing.
The Pitfalls of Our Work
The United States, thanks largely to its historical commitment to industriousness, hard work, and enterprise, has always placed a lot of emphasis on work and the fostering of a career. While there are certainly virtues in such a national orientation toward labor — an admirable work ethic, the cultivation of discipline, the willingness to sacrifice leisure to support one's self and family — there is always the temptation for such a focus on work to become an idol.
Further, such an intense commitment to work can have other negative consequences. For one, many people suffer from work-related stress and anxiety, often because they are stuck in a job that is unfulfilling, overworked to the point of exhaustion, or beset with far too many expectations and responsibilities. And this extolling of work in this country, the focus on ensuring one's career is worthwhile and respectable, will inevitably prove damaging to one's spirituality.
The most obvious example of work failing to help us grow in holiness and serve as a form of worship is when our work is intrinsically evil or disordered. In other words, if one is working as a criminal for an organization that scams the elderly or a pimp engaged in the world of sex trafficking, then no matter how hard-working or disciplined one might be, the work grossly fails to serve others out of love.
However, the possibility of our failure to worship God with our work doesn't only apply to blatantly sinful types of work that most Christians would never entertain doing in the first place. There are subtle ways in which we can fail in our call to work honorably before God. Even if we're working for an admirable organization or industry, there remain temptations that can derail us. It's worth asking ourselves how honest, ethical, and Christ-minded we are at our workplace. Do we take office supplies that belong to our company and justify their personal use? Do we show up late every day and leave early, which over time accumulates to dozens of hours of stolen salary? Do we gossip about others at the workplace, refuse to do quality work when we can just as easily do mediocre work? Do we serve customers or clients with a warm exterior only to badmouth and complain about them behind their backs?
In doing our best to be honest and ethical in all of our dealings, we are then more perfectly able to offer up our workday as worship to God.
Of course, we're going to fall short at times in some or all of these areas, and the point isn't to become overscrupulous about our use of office of supplies or leaving a few minutes early, but, rather, to call attention to the opportunities that are inherent every day at work to serve God and others. By at least being aware of some of these minor temptations, we can strive to be more ethical, honest, and loving each day. In doing our best to be honest and ethical in all of our dealings, we are then more perfectly able to offer up our workday as worship to God.
Another way, according to Mann, our work can fail to be worship is by limiting the value of our work. When we only assume that a certain type of work — usually work that has a large, visible social impact like pastoring a large church or managing a successful non-profit — is worthy of us, or indicates that we're "successfully" worshiping God, then we're allowing our ego to rule.
"It's a temptation to believe that there are only particular ways that my work can be worship," Mann said. "When I was in seminary I met a man who was a successful State Farm agent, and he told me he regretted that he hadn't gone to seminary and become a preacher because he said preachers are the types of people who can make real changes in people's lives. I think back to that and wonder if helping others was his primary motivation for wishing he'd been a pastor. Why could he not see that his work as an insurance agent was a really important way to love people and serve them?"
This isn't to say that if someone feels a call to be a pastor that they should not hope to be effective or make a meaningful impact, but success in God's eyes might look very different than what it looks like to the world. Mann's point is that if you're working honestly and in service to others, your work can be deeply meaningful no matter what the external result is.
Related Article: For those of us called to the world of business, how can our work be a means of grace and service as opposed to just a career?
Mann mentioned another obstacle that can hinder our work from being a form of worship.
"The other pitfall would be a lack of humility, and by that I mean an inability to be open to letting God use us in any way possible," Mann shared. "Am I living fully consecrated so that no matter what I end up doing, I can be satisfied with that? I would hope that my joy is found in my capacity to serve God in whatever it is that I'm doing."
While we should hope and dream of doing certain things with our work that make a real impact, if we end up doing work that is somewhat "unglamorous" or "unsuccessful" it can still serve as a means to love others and worship God.
Lastly, when our work is concomitant with a measure of our worth, and therefore a tool we use to prove our value, it becomes an idol. This can also happen when we allow the work we do to detract from our other responsibilities, such as spending time with friends and family, taking sabbath, and worshipping God in a church community. It would be a mistake to call a speaker or teacher successful in his or her vocation if, though filling massive auditoriums with speaking events or selling a plethora of helpful books, they are at the same time neglecting their role as a parent, son or daughter, friend, and community member.
Work as Service
While we often think of work as what we're paid to do during the week but, as mentioned above, it encopasses much more than that. It entails the mundane that we do to get on with our daily lives: vacuuming the house, running to the grocery store, replacing a rattling doorknob. The writer Annie Dillard once wrote, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Thus, with much of our days filled with small opportunities to "work," we are invited to shape these as opportunities of grace that can allow us to grow closer to God.
Mann shared a few ways that our work can be viewed as a form of worship through our work. One type of work as worship is the labor we offer that is explicitly in line with bringing about God's Kingdom. This would include preaching at church, doing administrative work to run a ministry, or studying the Word of God. We might note that these forms of work are, by virtue of their explicit connection to serving the church, inherently "worship-filled."
Another type of work as worship is at play when we do something as Christians that is not explicitly church-related but nevertheless in line with our call to love others.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Thus, with much of our days filled with small opportunities to "work," we are invited to shape these as opportunities of grace that can allow us to grow closer to God.
"For instance, by just being a kind and loving professor to my students I'm doing a service to God, and it's therefore a form of worship, simply because love of God and love of neighbor are so deeply interwoven," Mann continued. "So, if I'm a businessman adhering to ethical business practices, I'm honoring God even if I'm not thinking about it because I'm living a moral life as a Christian."
And another way entails the work we do in good conscience in which we might inevitably fail. For example, we might provide poor counsel to someone as a mentor or encounter disaster in a business project despite our best efforts; yet, in either of these cases, God's grace will be present nevertheless and can therefore draw good from them. This also relates to the work all non-Christians do that is, although not explicitly done for the purpose of worshipping God, done in accordance with their conscience. In other words, those who do not know Christ can still offer up a form of worship by loving others via doing their work honestly, ethically, and to the best of their ability. This notion, as Mann explains, stems from the Wesleyan doctrine of "prevenient grace," which holds that "God is in all things and available to all people at all times," whether or not they are aware of it or not (this presupposes, of course, that these efforts are inherently aimed at the good and not in and of themselves evil).
"There's a sense in which all of creation participates in worship because wherever God's will is done, it glorifies the Creator," Mann said. "And by God's will being done we might think in terms of everything having its place and purpose in the created whole. Whenever we fulfill God's purposes in our lives we are giving glory to God. As the psalmist says: the heavens declare the glory of God."
With this in mind, we may seek to offer our work more perfectly as a form of worship each and every day. Can we volunteer to help a colleague finish a project as an act of compassion? Can we do the dishes without being asked in order to demonstrate a small bit of self-sacrifice? Can we show patience with an ungrateful or angry customer to honor their inherent dignity?
The Lasting Fruit of Our Labor
Much of what we do in this life, especially the unpaid work that make up our lives as parents, friends, and neighbors, may not present visible fruit in this lifetime. This is partially where humility comes in, by understanding that though our efforts may not seem meaningful or lasting — from cleaning up after our children to taking out the garbage to making our grieving neighbor a cup of tea — they are remembered by God. They become a part of that eternal heavenly storage.
And there will also be times when our work "fails" in the eyes of the world. We may be laid off after years of service or have our deeds of compassion returned with only apathy. Yet, it's in these moments where all of our labor, when done with a heart of love, can be seen as fruitful and meaningful. As Mother Theresa said, "God does not require that we be successful only that we be faithful."
"God has chosen to create men and women in His image to, among other things, work and tend this created order for His glory and for the betterment of humankind. In ways we can't fully understand, the good work we do now, done with and for Him, will survive into the New Jerusalem. Work itself has intrinsic value."
Additionally, many in the world don't have the luxury of choosing a certain type of work, instead being forced to toil to merely survive. This is the nature of a world still beset with injustice and sin. Some may be limited in their work due to financial pressure, physical and mental limitations, or ill health. However, God's grace still offers a way for our work, despite all of these shortcomings, to become a form of worship. No matter how unseen or toilsome or menial our daily work may seem, it remains infinitely valuable in God's eyes. As the co-chair of the Theology of Work Project Andy Mills, writes:
Mann looks to the many young students he is privileged to teach at PLNU, seeing within them a great reason to hope that their work and labor will produce lasting fruit in this world and beyond.
"I do see a deep desire in this generation to serve and make an impact in the world," Mann said, while then calling attention to that perpetual obstacle that many will face. "The temptation, though, is to only find their value in making a difference through their work in ways that are visible. Yet, the truth is that the smallest of acts can be meaningful and, maybe, those are even more profound acts of worship because they go unnoticed."
Related Article: Finding your life's work takes, well, a lot of work. Read this comprehensive guide to help you get started on finding a career you love!
Chris is a contributing freelance writer for Viewpoint Online.
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There's been a lot of hype about Bullet Journaling in the stationery and organisation world recently, but what exactly is it, and what are the benefits? In this article I aim to answer all your questions, and help to get you started with your own bullet journal if you'd like to give it a go.
A Bullet Journal is a flexible organisational tool you create yourself, which is entirely personalised to your needs and wants. The concept was created by Ryder Carroll, an Art Director and Interaction Designer in New York, who has shared his idea with the world via his website.
You can use any notebook for your Bullet Journal, but many people opt for Moleskine journals or something similar to them, due to their small and neat appearance, and high quality. A small notebook is a good option, so you can carry it everywhere with you, in your bag or a pocket. Good quality, thick paper is a must too, so your ink doesn't bleed through the pages. Whether the pages are lined, grid, dot or plain is your own personal preference.
How do I start Bullet Journaling?
Once you have purchased a notebook, the next step is creating a Symbols Key and making a note of this either at the front of your journal, or on a bookmark. This legend will be the basis of your new journal. Start off with the basics – you can always add more symbols when you've been using your journal for a month or so. These symbols are written before each note in your journal, to indicate what they are and what their status is.
Tasks: A straightforward bullet (•) indicates a task that needs completing on that day. This bullet can then be updated to an 'X' when the task has been completed, a '<' to indicate you've scheduled the task in, or a '>' to indicate you're carrying the task over to the next day.
Events: An 'O' signifies an event to remember.
Notes: Important notes can be jotted down with a '—'.
Sometimes you'll need to be able to glance at your journal and find an important task or note really easily. In these situations, you can use signifiers next to (and preferably before) your symbols – these can be anything you like, such as a '*' for priority tasks and a '!' for something especially important. I recommend highlighting these signifiers, to really make them pop on the page.
You can see bullet symbols and signifiers in action in the image below. You'll also see I added the date – a very important step, and also you must remember to number every page of your journal. I'll explain why shortly.
At the end of every week, check through your bullets from the past week, and migrate any incomplete tasks that still need doing to a list for your new week. This way, you'll not miss or forget anything. Mark them as '>', and cross any tasks out that are incomplete but no longer relevant or necessary.
The reason you must number your pages is so you can create an index for your journal – this way you'll easily be able to find, for example, your February bullets if you need to check for something.
The bullet journal can be whatever you want it to be. Use it to log daily tasks, upcoming events, books you've read, places you've visited… the journal is your oyster! Don't be tempted to get 'wordy' – keep your journal to a simple list, however feel free to go into more detail about events that have occurred on the next page. Explore the original Bullet Journal website for more information on this fabulous method.


The CyanogenMod team develops one of the world's most widely used Android custom ROMs, and the team has now started to roll out CyanogenMod 11 Android 4.4 KitKat nightly builds for a wide variety of devices. While the nightly builds will let you experience all that KitKat has to offer, there one downside. These custom ROMs are not stable and are far from finished, so its likely that users might encounter quite a few builds. It might not be a very good idea if you plan on using the nightly builds as your daily drivers.
The CyanogenMod 11 Android 4.4 nightly builds starting rolling out yesterday, Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10 all received their builds yesterday. A list of upcoming nightly builds has already been posted online by the CyanogenMod team. Dozens of devices have made it to the list, including multiple variants of the HTC One, Galaxy S3 and the LG G2. So even if the OEM of your Android smartphone hasn't released the Android 4.4 KitKat update as yet, you can get a taste of Google's latest mobile OS update through the CyanogenMod 11 custom ROMs. Before flashing a custom ROM ensure that you have created a backup of your data, and ensure that there's enough juice in the battery to last through the process of ROM flashing.
Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Android 4.4 and CyanogenMod.


Rebecca De Mornay (born August 29, 1959) is an American film and television actress. Her breakthrough film role came in 1983, when she played Lana in Risky Business. Her other notable film roles include Sara in Runaway Train in 1985, Thelma in The Trip to Bountiful, Helen McCaffrey in the thriller Backdraft in 1991 and her portrayal of the chillingly twisted nanny Peyton Flanders in the popular 1992 thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.


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Eduard Vilde ( – 26 December 1933) was an Estonian writer, a pioneer of critical realism in Estonian literature, and a diplomat. Author of classics such as The War in Mahtra and The Milkman from Mäeküla. He was one of the most revered figures in Estonian literature and is generally credited as being the country's first professional writer.

Life and career
Vilde grew on the farm where his father worked. In 1883 he began working as a journalist. He spent a great deal of his life traveling abroad and he lived for some time in Berlin in the 1890s, where he was influenced by materialism and socialism. His writings were also guided by the realism and naturalism of the French writer Émile Zola (1840–1902).  In addition to being a prolific writer, he was also an outspoken critic of Tsarist rule and of the German landowners. With the founding of the first Estonian republic in 1919, he served as an ambassador in Berlin for several years, and spent the last years of his life editing and revising an enormous volume of his collected works. After his death in 1933, he became the first person to be interred at Metsakalmistu, in the Pirita district of Tallinn.

Works

Gallery

References

External links

1865 births
1933 deaths
People from Väike-Maarja Parish
People from Kreis Wierland
Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Party politicians
Members of the Estonian Constituent Assembly
Ambassadors of Estonia to Germany
Estonian non-fiction writers
Estonian male novelists
Male non-fiction writers
19th-century Estonian novelists
20th-century Estonian novelists
19th-century male writers
20th-century male writers
Recipients of the Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle
Burials at Metsakalmistu

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Limbix Presents Data Demonstrating Treatment with SparkRx Digital Therapeutic Results in Clinically Meaningful Reductions in Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents
Use of the SparkRx program as recommended leads to a statistically significant reduction in depression symptoms compared to control (p = 0.023)
21% remission rate for SparkRx users who use program as recommended compared to 4% remission rate for control arm at end of treatment
Data to be presented at the 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition Virtual Experience
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Limbix, a prescription digital therapeutic company developing mental health treatments for adolescents, announced positive results from a virtual randomized controlled trial of SparkRx, the company's digital therapeutic for adolescents with symptoms of depression.
For participants that completed the program as recommended (n = 83), SparkRx led to a statistically significant reduction in depression symptoms compared to an active control app (p = 0.023) and a 21% remission rate compared to a 4% remission rate for control at the end of treatment. Treatment response rates were 29% and 16%, respectively, for SparkRx and control.
Across the full study sample of 121 participants with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, adolescents randomized to SparkRx showed a clinically meaningful reduction in depression symptoms. At the end of the study, 24% of SparkRx participants had a treatment response and 17% were in remission. The intention-to-treat analysis comparing SparkRx to control was not significant (p = 0.07).
No participants experienced a serious adverse event or an unanticipated adverse device effect.
The data are being presented at the 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference by Benjamin Alouf, M.D., chief medical officer of Limbix, in a poster presentation titled "A CBT-based Digital Therapeutic is Effective in Reducing Symptoms of Depression in Adolescents."
"At a time when more than one in five young people are struggling with depression, suicide attempts are rising, and we have a critical shortage of mental health specialists, SparkRx is an evidence-based solution that primary care providers can immediately offer their patients," said Dr. Alouf. "We are very encouraged by these promising results and believe that SparkRx has the potential to address the growing mental health crisis in the U.S. and the need for improved access to treatment for our youth. Supported by our positive results, we are launching SparkRx and making it available for a limited time at no cost to patients or providers."
In a separate announcement today, Limbix announced the launch of SparkRx under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Enforcement Policy for Digital Health Devices Treating Psychiatric Disorders During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Care providers interested in offering SparkRx to their patients should register at https://www.sparkrx.com/.
SparkRx has not been cleared or approved by the FDA, nor have these trial results been validated by the FDA with regard to the safety or efficacy of SparkRx by Limbix. Limbix intends to pursue full FDA regulatory review of SparkRx. The company is working with payers to establish reimbursement to ensure SparkRx is as accessible to patients as possible should it receive FDA clearance. Patient financial support programs will also be made available for those who qualify.
About the Clinical Trial
The clinical trial is phase II of a registered clinical study (NCT04524598) evaluating the clinical efficacy and safety of Limbix SparkRx in adolescents (13-21) with depressive symptoms. A total of 160 adolescents aged 13-21 with self-reported symptoms of depression were enrolled in this phase of the study, with data from 121 participants with moderate to severe depressive symptoms analyzed. The primary endpoint of the study was change in depression symptoms from baseline. Secondary endpoints included change in anxiety symptoms and change in parent report of child depressive symptoms from baseline. Study enrollment has closed and analysis of the primary endpoint has been completed.
About SparkRx
Limbix SparkRx is a cognitive behavioral therapy-based digital therapeutic program for teens and young adults experiencing symptoms of depression. SparkRx provides clinicians with an immediate, safe and private adjunct treatment option to offer their patients. SparkRx, which was made to be completed over the course of multiple weeks, aims to overcome common barriers to mental health care accessibility and meet young people in a comfortable format – their smartphone. The self-guided program teaches skills like mood tracking, behavioral activation, problem solving and mindfulness. Limbix's interdisciplinary team designed SparkRx alongside subject matter experts in adolescent psychology with the scientific rigor, clinical expertise and digital innovation needed to set it apart in the field.
For more information about SparkRx or to register to offer SparkRx to patients, please visit SparkRx.com/.
About Limbix
Limbix is a prescription digital therapeutic company passionate about creating mental health treatments for adolescents. The Limbix team is uniquely suited to develop prescription digital therapeutics, as its diverse team of clinicians, product designers, researchers, and engineers understand the value of pairing clinical expertise with technological innovation. Their first digital therapeutic, Limbix SparkRx, is now available for licensed health care professionals to offer to patients nationwide.
For more information about Limbix please visit limbix.com.
https://twitter.com/LimbixHealth
https://www.linkedin.com/company/limbix-health/
https://www.facebook.com/limbix.inc
Liz Boten
Canale Communications
Liz.boten@canalecomm.com
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Connect with Limbix on LinkedIn

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May co-ordinate crew members' activities during seismic tests.
Carry out a limited range of other technical functions in support of geology, geophysics and petroleum and mining engineering.
Geological and mineral technologists usually require completion of a two- to three-year college program in geological technology, petroleum technology, petroleum engineering technology, hydrogeology or groundwater technology, mining technology, mining engineering technology, mineralogy, metallurgical technology, or welding technology.
Geophysics technologists usually require completion of a two- to three-year college program in electronics technology.
Geological and mineral technicians usually require completion of a one- to two-year college program in a related field.
Certification in geological and mineral technology or in a related field is available through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians and may be required by employers.
There is limited mobility among occupations in this group.
Mobility may be possible between geophysical technology and electronic technology.
Mobility may be possible between some occupations in this group and related fields of civil engineering technology.


Caring for your lawn before winter arrives is an essential and necessary way to support the future of your lawn growth. Lawns need to be nourished well to last through the dormant winter season. Compost is a great option that provides natural benefits as well as plenty of energy to better support the lawn through the winter. Learn more about how to add compost to your yard before winter arrives.
Simply put, compost is decomposed organic matter. Leaves and plant scraps comprise a compost base that has broken down to become a rich soil-like consistency. Compost is frequently referred to as "Black Gold" as the dark color and nutrient levels provide an abundant energy source for other plants. Compost also includes the presence of beneficial life forms, like bacteria, that have helped break down the sources into usable energy. These little additions help aid the natural growth levels of other plants as well.
Many gardeners choose to create their compost in the backyard. Compost piles are simple to maintain but can take a long time to build the creamy consistency to use in the yard. Compost piles are usually made up of grass clippings, dead leaves, and fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen. Add in a healthy dose of worms, hot temperatures, and a little bit of luck to create rich compost for the garden.
Compost can also be purchased from local garden centers in large bags. Make sure to check the label of the bags to ensure that you are buying compost that includes items that you prefer.
How Is Compost Different from Fertilizer?
While both compost and fertilizer provide energy, they both give power to different parts of the yard. Compost adds strength to the soil while fertilizer adds energy to the grassroots. It also acts a beneficial additive to certain soil types that have trouble retaining moisture, including sand-based soil. Making sure that your yard has both energy sources for the entire yard environment is essential in providing a healthy lawn come spring. Organic fertilizers are a good choice in working with compost to treat the yard as a whole.
Most gardeners choose to apply one-half inch of compost to their yards to provide energy to the soil. Measure your yard to figure out how much space you have as well as how much compost you will need. Mulch calculators online will help in figuring out how many bags of compost you will need to purchase or how many scoops of compost to use from your pile.
Spread the compost before the first frost arrives in your area. Make sure to mow the lawn to a height of 1 inch to provide enough space for the compost to reach the soil. Shovel your compost on to the lawn or pour a line of bagged compost across the yard. Use a rake to spread the fertilizer into an even layer to provide the same amount of energy to the lawn overall.
Choosing to add compost to your yard before winter arrives is an eco-friendly lawn care solution that helps to build up the energy of the soil. Not only will adding compost support the soil of the lawn but it will also become a breeding ground for essential microorganisms that help support the grass as well. Adding compost to your yard before winter is a critical part in creating a strong and healthy lawn.


text:
Room Redux: Child abuse victims get new start with new room
UN: Over 160 migrants drown in shipwrecks off Libya
by: SAMY MAGDY, Associated Press
CAIRO (AP) — More than 160 migrants drowned in two separate shipwrecks off Libya over past week, a United Nations migration official said Tuesday. The fatalities were the latest disasters in the Mediterranean Sea involving migrants seeking a better life in Europe.
Safa Msehli, a spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration, said at least 102 migrants were reported dead after their wooden boat capsized off Libya on Friday. At least eight others were rescued and returned to shore, she said.
The second shipwreck took place Saturday. The Libyan coast guard retrieved at least 62 bodies of migrants, Msehli said. The same day, the coast guard intercepted a third wooden boat with at least 210 migrants on board, she said.
The new deaths have brought the tally in the central Mediterranean route to around 1,500 migrants drowned this year, Msehli said.
Recent months have seen a surge in crossings and attempted crossings from Libya as authorities accelerated their deadly crackdown on migrants in the capital of Tripoli.
Around 31,500 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya in 2021, compared to nearly 11,900 migrants the previous year, according to the IOM. Around 980 migrants were dead or presumed dead in 2020, the U.N. agency said.
Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. The oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
Human traffickers have benefited from the chaos in the oil-rich nation and smuggled migrants through the country's lengthy border with six nations. They pack desperate migrants into ill-equipped rubber boats, then embark on risky voyages through the perilous Mediterranean Sea.
Those returned have been taken to detention centers rife with abuses, including forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families before migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers' boats.
U.N.-commissioned investigators said in October that abuse and ill treatment of migrants in Libya could amount to crimes against humanity.
by Matthew Stephens / Jan 20, 2022
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Barksdale Air Force Base says a month-long force protection training exercise starting Friday will make some noise at various times during the day and late evening.
"The exercise will involve simulated gunfire and alarm messages through giant voice devices," base officials said in a statement released Thursday evening. "Measures will be implemented to minimize potential inconveniences to local residences."
by John Walton / Jan 20, 2022
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declined to endorse a candidate in the Louisiana U.S. Senate race Thursday but clearly indicated a preference.
During his 'Ask the Governor' radio interview Wednesday on WRKF, Jim Engster asked Edwards about the currently announced Democratic candidates in the race.
DiamondJacks owners get more time to reopen Bossier City casino
How long do omicron symptoms last?


text:
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//
// Copyright Microsoft Corporation
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

using Microsoft.Azure.Commands.ActiveDirectory.Models;
using Microsoft.Azure.Commands.Resources.Models.ActiveDirectory;
using System;
using System.Management.Automation;

namespace Microsoft.Azure.Commands.ActiveDirectory
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Creates a new service principal.
    /// </summary>
    [Cmdlet(VerbsCommon.New, "AzureRmADServicePrincipal"), OutputType(typeof(PSADServicePrincipal))]
    public class NewAzureADServicePrincipalCommand : ActiveDirectoryBaseCmdlet
    {
        [Parameter(Mandatory = true, ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName = true, HelpMessage = "The application id for which service principal is created.")]
        public Guid ApplicationId { get; set; }

        [Parameter(Mandatory = false, HelpMessage = "Create the service principal with account disabled.")]
        public SwitchParameter DisableAccount { get; set; }

        protected override void ProcessRecord()
        {
            CreatePSServicePrincipalParameters createParameters = new CreatePSServicePrincipalParameters
            {
                ApplicationId = ApplicationId,
                AccountEnabled = !DisableAccount.IsPresent
            };

            WriteObject(ActiveDirectoryClient.CreateServicePrincipal(createParameters));
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Education / Sustainability in the World
Solar Powered Classrooms Offer Rural African Children a Chance
Blogger's Note: What better way to use alternative energy technology than to brighten the future of a child. That is exactly what a collaboration of organizations is doing. They developed the Digi-Truck. Not only is it recycling old shipping containers but it is offering children in rural Africa an opportunity to peer into a world of technology that they might have never been exposed to. A recent article from offgridquest.com discusses how this technology is bringing a much brighter future to these rural communities.
Shipping container-turned-digital-classroom, this vehicle helps to educate African children in impoverished areas. The exclusively solar-powered, mobile and completely independent classroom is geared towards increasing accessibility to education and connectivity across Africa," said Shin. "It is designed specifically for use in remote areas with limited or no access to electricity.
In this digital day and age, one can only sigh in disbelief that digital literacy is inaccessible to children in Africa, particularly the remote areas where infrastructure is lacking. Close the Gap, in partnership with Arrow Electronics and Hoops for Hope, made the Digi-Truck, a solar-powered truck that serves as a digital classroom to teach students about digital literacy.
The Digi-Truck aims to combat two issues. The first is the absence of electricity and communication lines in the remote areas. The solution? Putting solar panels on top of the truck that will provide several days of power for the classroom. The other issue is being able to teach the kids how to use digital technology. Hence, the truck is equipped with 20 laptops, a LED screen, two routers and a printer that will give the kids hands-on experience. Eighteen students can be accommodated at a time.
Moreover, the beauty of the Digi-Truck is its mobility. In fact, the Digi-Truck is actually made of a 40 ft. shipping container put on top of a trailer. This way, the truck can go from one remote area to another without transferring the parts of the digital classroom piece-by-piece. It is designed with insulation, bolted window shutters, LED lighting and steel doors. Additionally, if there's no school that day, the truck can also double as a health center or a cyber café.
The Digi-Truck project was launched in January 2014 and has served different rural communities in Africa. It is currently in the Village of Rau in the Kilimanjaro Region where it provides a digital learning environment for 80 orphans from the Neema International-supported Tuleeni orphanage. By 2016, the Digi-Truck will move to a new location. However, all current equipment will be donated to the Tuleeni orphanage and the truck will be supplied anew.
Oliver Vanden Eynde, Founder of Close the Gap said:
"More than 75 percent of the population in Africa live in rural communities where infrastructure presents a huge barrier. Modern information and communication technologies, coupled with solar-powered solutions like the DigiTruck, are able to help bridge this digital divide and to bring quality training and education to remote communities."
It's hard not to admire the efforts of these organizations to bridge the gap and still deliver education to children who need it.
By Alissa Woods
Africa / Close the Gap / Digi-Truck / Green Education / Hoops for Hope / Mobile Education / Recycle / renewable energy / Reuse / solar
Biomass Gasification gets a Thumbs Up in Recent Study
The Future of Wind Power has Arrived


Welcome to PiFace Control and Display (CAD)'s documentation!
The pifacecad Python module provides functions and classes for interacting with PiFace Control and Display.
You may need to fiddle with the contrast settings in order to see characters on the screen. Turn the small screw located by the GPIO pins on PiFaceCAD.
PiFace Control and Display has eight inputs switches, and IR receiver and an HD44780 LCD.
© Copyright 2013, Thomas Preston.


The average gold fish has an attention span of 9 seconds.
Our speedy world is making it increasingly challenging to be present. For all of us. So much information. Social media. Underlying stress. So much to do, achieve. So little time.
When we are stressed our attention is naturally fragmented. But today's stress and shattered attention is making our brains work in ways it is evolutionary not trained for, resulting in difficulties in filtering, digesting, organizing and prioritizing all the inputs and information. As a consequence, many people are experiencing restlessness, distractedness, shattered-mindedness.
The good news is that our brains are plastic, it's capacity to change through life experiences, knowledge or mental training. We can rewire our brains by training new habits with mindfulness for example.
We are tremendously affected by what we pay attention to. Where your attention goes, becomes a habit, and eventually your life.
What do you pay attention to throughout the day? Problems? Regrets? Self-criticism? Threats? Mistakes? Do you have the capacity to rest in attention of what's healthy and nourishing for you?
Pause and reflect three times today, and ask: where do I focus my attention in this very moment?
Mindfulness helps focus the attention, reduces stress and calms the mind. The practice allows us to become aware of how the physical body, thoughts, emotions interact and understand how to regulate emotions – chose what you pay attention to.
An introduction course to mindfulness meditation starts on Tuesday 22 January, 19.15-20.45, Mariatorget.


As a kid, I was outside from sunup to sundown every day; I was always running and biking. I played soccer and basketball and did gymnastics through the end of middle school, and though I was never very good, I really loved it (I think more for the social aspect). I was also active in the local youth symphony, so when I won a symphony scholarship, those sports fell by the wayside. I decided to join the dance team in high school because it didn't conflict with my violin lessons. I realized I finally had a knack for something I loved, so dancing became my passion. I played on the varsity volleyball team, and I also ran regularly with one of my best friends for fun. Once I went to college, my studies and my job took priority, and I quickly grew lazy. After I got married, my husband took up running and triathlons, which rekindled my own love for running. I spent years in and out of globo gyms, but only for the treadmills and hip hop classes, and I never touched weights apart from the body pump style classes.
Several years ago, my husband fell in love with CrossFit and later decided to open Trenches with a partner. I was very intimidated and very out of shape, but I soon fell in love with it also and joined in as part owner. I lost 30 pounds and gained a part in an amazing community of people. I started coming more regularly and quickly began seeing increases in the amount of weight I could lift and improvements in skills I thought were gone forever.
I love the fact that the workouts are varied and scalable and that I get to do some olympic lifting (something I never thought I would do in my entire life). I want everyone who feels intimidated and unsure of themselves, just like I was, to come in and fall in love with CrossFit, just like I did.


text:
9 days after tornado, cat found in rubble of building
Sonny "Hoot" Gibson via AP
This photo was provided by Sonny "Hoot" Gibson on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, showing Madix the cat, who was found in the rubble of Gibson's Mayfield, Ky. office building nine days after a tornado devastated much of the town. (Sonny "Hoot" Gibson via AP)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Nine days after a tornado demolished his three-story office building in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky, Sonny "Hoot" Gibson was standing in the rubble and heard a faint meow.
It gave him hope that his office cat Madix was alive.
Gibson had tried to find the animal after the tornado hit but had given up after a few days.
Gibson was standing in the rubble Sunday afternoon when he heard the faint noise.
Gibson called over some employees who helped search.
Soon after, they found the cat unscathed in a hole beneath the rubble.
According to the Associated Press, Madix was very hungry and thirsty.
Gibson says he took Madix home, where he will live as a house cat.
A tornado was on the ground for about 200 miles as it made its way through four states, including Kentucky.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at least 76 people have died.
On Sunday, Gov. Beshear said all the people in the state that were reported missing after the storm have been accounted for.


text:
Grignard  je malý impaktní kráter nacházející se blízko severního pólu v librační oblasti Měsíce. Vzhledem k jeho poloze na něj dopadá sluneční svit pod nízkým úhlem. Má průměr 13 km a leží blízko jihovýchodního okraje valové roviny Hermite. Severo-severovýchodně od něj leží srovnatelně velký kráter Gore a jižně pak větší Sylvester.

Název
Pojmenován byl na počest francouzského chemika Victora Grignarda, držitele Nobelovy ceny za chemii. Mezinárodní astronomická unie mu přidělila jméno v roce 2009.

Odkazy

Reference

Literatura

Externí odkazy

 Kráter Grignard  , Moon-Wikispaces.com
 LAC 1, mapa 1:1 000 000 (polární stereografická projekce)

Krátery na Měsíci
Krátery nazvané po osobách
Čtyřúhelník LQ01


SRIHARIKOTA: Indian Space Research Organisation launched (ISRO) the country's newest satellite, EMISAT, from Sriharikota launch station on Monday.The EMISAT was released into its planned slot from the fourth stage or PS4, 17 minutes into the launch.
The PSLV-C45 successfully injected EMISAT into sun-synchronous polar orbit. EMISAT and the 28 other satellites were successfully placed in the orbit, the space agency said.
Speaking about the mission, former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said: "PSLV-C45 is a very imp milestone for ISRO. It's not only going to launch our own satellite but also those from other nations".
In Monday's mission, ISRO scientists would place the satellites and payloads in three different orbits, a first for the agency.In February, ISRO launched India's communication satellite GSAT-31 from the European launch service provider Ariane from French Guiana.
According to ISRO, this is the first time it has been envisaged to provide a micro-gravity environment for research organisations and academic institutes to perform experiments. For the first time, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) invited common people to view the launch.


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Kerry Joel Lynch, född 31 juli 1957 i Denver, var en amerikansk nordisk kombinationsåkare som tävlade internationellt åren 1979-1987. Han diskvalificerades för dopning vid världsmästerskapen 1987. Lynch slutade på andra plats på 15 kilometer individuellt före Norges Torbjørn Løkken, men diskvalificerades sedan han och tränaren Jim Page erkänt skandalen, och Lynch stängdes av på två år USA kom senare inte att ta medalj i nordisk kombination igen förrän Johnny Spillane tog guld på 7.5 kilometer sprint i Val di Fiemme 2003.

Han tävlade också i två olympiska vinterspel, där bästa resultatet var 13:e-platsen i Sarajevo 1984. Han blev 1983 också andra amerikan att vinna en tävling vid Holmenkollen skifestival, 15 år efter John Bower. 1983 vann hann också en världscupdeltävling, 15 kilometer individuellt i Österrike.

Han blev också trefaldig amerikansk mästare i nordisk kombination (1981, 1983, 1986).

Källor

Christine Aschwaden's September 10, 2000 Washington Post om dopning inom idrotten, inklusive Kerry Lynchs skandal.

Vinanre i Holmenkollen sedan 1892 - Klicka på Vinnere för nedladdningsbar PDF-fil
Olympic nordic combined individual results: 1968-84
Review of the 1987 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships for the 2005 event.
Sports-reference.com profile
US Nordic combined national champions: 1932-2007

Födda 1957
Amerikanska utövare av nordisk kombination
Amerikanska dopningsfall
Tävlande vid olympiska vinterspelen 1980 från USA
Tävlande i nordisk kombination vid olympiska vinterspelen 1980
Tävlande vid olympiska vinterspelen 1984 från USA
Tävlande i nordisk kombination vid olympiska vinterspelen 1984
Levande personer
Män
Idrottare från Denver
Personer i USA under 1900-talet


In Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, J.D. Vance recounts the travails of his family in the years after they migrated from the hills of eastern Kentucky to burgeoning middle Ohio during the height of American industrialization. But Hillbilly Elegy is not only a book about Vance's family but rather a broader discussion of the plight of all the thousands of Scots-Irish families who emigrated from Appalachia to the Midwest on promises of better lives for themselves and their families.
These families saw their lots improve compared to their counterparts who stayed behind, but they became alienated from extended family networks and lost the structural support that had been so essential to raising children and grandchildren. While the immigrating generation generally found financial success, their children were victims of the decline of American industrialization. They watched plants and factories close down around them and had little in the way of prospects for maintaining a steady income.
Hillbilly Elegy describes a situation in which substance abuse went from being prevalent to an outright crisis. Without the ability to financially support their families, fathers lost their sense of identity and purpose, and began to prey on their wives and children.
Yet Vance himself escaped the spiral toward self and cultural destruction. His path was littered with more potholes and detours than opportunities. Hillbilly Elegy can and should serve as a streetlamp for those who would follow the same path. Those working poor in the Rust Belt who are ignorant to the realities of financial aid or other resources that could help them realize a brighter future.
J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy isn't all grim. He tells countless entertaining stories about his own family of hillbillies, who bring their hill-folk ways to suburban Ohio. Vance's memoir is both enlightening and entertaining. I consider it a must read for anyone who appreciates tales of tragedy and triumph. Or who just wants to better grasp the plight of a significant percentage of America's displaced and discouraged working poor. You can find Hillbilly Elegy on Amazon (affiliate link).


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Type-moon Launches Character Poll for 10th Anniversary
by Crosse | Jun 8, 2012 | Anime, News
Type-Moon recently announced the opening of a poll that allows fans to pick or vote for their top favourite three characters across all Type-Moon titles: Mahou Tsukai no Yoru (魔法使いの夜), Fate/Series, Melty Blood, and more. All voting results will be published in the...
LiSA, Kalafina, Aoi Eir, Haruna Luna & LR Harmony to perform at TYPE-MOON Fes 2012
by Althaea | May 10, 2012 | Anime, Events, Music 11
TYPE-MOON Fes 2012 is a two-day event that will take place in Japan this coming summer. This year is quite special, as TYPE-MOON is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary in the visual novel/anime industry. Many TM aficionados look forward to this event, since many,...
Eir Aoi Fanpage
by Crosse | Oct 23, 2011 | Anime
Thought I should just mention this. Eir Aoi, the artist who sang the ED song of Fate/Zero, just opened up a fanpage in Facebook. I found out about the page when I saw the advertisement on the sidebar. Looks like that her maxi-single came out a few days back, October...
Fate Zero Starts
by Crosse | Oct 5, 2011 | Anime
This Episode reminds you of the way Unlimited Blade Works was presented; high tensions, high quality in high definition; which in turn gives us a high expectation to things to come. The multiple prologues gives us a feel of the converging wills of the seven mages,...
Fall Anime Guide 2011
by Crosse | Oct 3, 2011 | Anime, Guides
So it's that time of the year. This season brings us a lineup of anime that actually looks promising; titles like Persona 4 Animation, Fate / Zero, Guilty Crown and Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon, which are all season originals (titles that make a debut this season)...


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Foo Fighters, A$AP Rocky And Dua Lipa To Bring Star Power Back To Osheaga Festival
Corey Atad ETCanada.com
Organizers say Osheaga is coming back ``stronger than ever'' with the Foo Fighters set to headline the first night of the event on July 29, 2022.
Foo Fighters, A$AP Rocky and Dua Lipa are set to turn the volume back up on the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival after the pandemic postponed the 15th edition of the summer bash by two years.
Organizers announced on Wednesday that the chart-topping artists have been booked to headline the three-day Montreal festival.
The lineup marks the return of Osheaga's star power after the 2020 and 2021 summer events were cancelled because of the COVID-19 crisis.
Osheaga returning in the fall with all-Canadian headliners
A scaled-down "Osheaga Get Together" took place in October, with mostly homegrown artists performing for a fraction of the event's usual turnout.
Organizers say Osheaga is coming back "stronger than ever" with the Foo Fighters set to headline the first night of the event on July 29.
A$AP Rocky will take the spotlight on July 30, while Dua Lipa is slated to close out the festival on July 31.
Weekend passes are on sale, and single-day tickets will be available at a later date.
Osheaga says on its website that the full lineup will be revealed early next year.
'See you in 2022': Osheaga cancelled for 2nd year in a row due to COVID-19
The festival notes that all scheduled performances, including those of the headliners, may be cancelled, and no refunds will be given in the event of such changes.
Osheaga says all the passes bought for its cancelled 2020 and 2021 events will be honoured in 2022.
© The Canadian Press


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Home > PC > Oh God, it's actually happening... Baldur's Gate III!
Oh God, it's actually happening... Baldur's Gate III!
If you ask anyone to list out the top three western-developed RPGs ever made, Baldur's Gate would easily make it in the list... if not top it. A true classic in every way, it's easy to forget today, looking at the humble presentation of the game, just what the impact of it really was. It was the game that launched BioWare into the stratosphere, and comparing it to Anthem just shows how badly EA has ruined that company.
After BioWare also developed a (every bit as good) sequel, the company moved on to other things before being acquired by EA, and Baldur's Gate looked like it was done as a property. But miracles can happen, and Larian Studios, the immensely talented team behind the Divinity titles, has somehow wrangled itself the license to produce Baldur's Gate 3. Given that there are only two studios that I thought had the talent to recapture the magic of Baldur's Gate, and Larian was one of those two, I'm pretty damn happy about this.
That the YouTube trailer features a mind flayer - one of the iconic Dungeons & Dragons baddies - fills me with yet more confidence. Ohhhhh yes, this is going to be the classic Dungeons & Dragons experience, and I'm going to be able to live my childhood all over again.
At this stage the game is in development exclusively for PC and Stadia. No doubt we'll be hearing a lot more about this project soon.
Please help keep DDNet running: Running an online publication isn't cheap, and it's highly time consuming. Please help me keep the site running and providing interviews, reviews, and features like this by supporting me on Patreon. Even $1/ month would be a hugely appreciated vote of confidence in the kind of work we're doing. Please click here to be taken to my Patreon, and thank you for reading and your support!


Well hello there. Long time no chat. I've been busy having my picture taken with quilted toilet paper backgrounds.
The BlogHer whirlwind ended yesterday. It was two days of waking up earlier than I go to work, listening to sessions all day and then going out for long dinners with friends every night. Worth it, but exhausting.
I went into BlogHer being not completely sure of what to expect, other than massive amounts of swag and lots of people. Not being sure of what to expect–and researching the conference–has worked out just fine for other conferences I've gone to, but for BlogHer, you really need some kind of strategy. Ridiculous, I know.
Before BlogHer, I wish I'd realized you need to sign up for parties on EventBrite. I realized this on the "I'm Going to BlogHer" Facebook group a few days ago, but all of the parties were full. Really, this didn't end up being a make-or-break thing–and I really enjoyed catching up with people I knew instead–but I wish I'd realized that earlier. I also wish I'd known about the Writing Lab beforehand, although I'm grateful to Caitlin for telling me about it.
As a social media professional working at a PR firm with a journalism background, I have a good background in most of the things discussed at blogging conferences, so it's sometimes difficult for me to find sessions where I can learn something truly new.
I found myself gravitating to the writing-focused sessions: how to turn blog posts into publishable essays; the Writing Lab. I didn't learn any new tactics or strategies in these sessions, but I learned about myself in these sessions. I reawakened my love for writing. Although my job has me coming up with social media strategy (and content) for brands, I still identify myself as a writer.
A theme in a lot of the panels was "if you don't take yourself seriously, nobody else will." Just because my day job isn't being a journalist doesn't mean I can't still call myself a writer. A triple negative in a sentence might mean that, though.
The "this is what I did today, and it was awesome" posts aren't fulfilling for me to write any more. (Although, were they ever?) I blog a little less these days not just because I'm busier, but because I want to make sure now that when I blog, I have something to say–that I'm not just throwing some more content into the Internet abyss just for the sake of it.
So what does this mean? Maybe not much for this blog, other than trying to take myself a little more seriously as a writer. But as a person? Never.
I want to slow down a bit and carve out some more time for myself for writing. And it's time to get over the fear of rejection and finish my damn book proposal.
As for BlogHer, is there anything you especially do or don't want to hear about? This won't be the last post.
What have you learned about yourself lately? I have also learned that I'm ridiculously clumsy and that I can't dart across the street as the walking man is turning from blinking to solid red without falling.
August 5th 2012 Posted under NYC. Tagged: blogher by Theodora Blanchfield.
I also wish that I knew about the parties in advance. While we had a blast some free parties would have been nice too since we paid for the tickets.
I did want to point out that BlogHer' has official evening parties (3-4 per night) were free and did not require RSVPs. Most of what you're probably talking about were not actually part of the conference, they just take advantage of the fact we (and the community) are there.
@Elisa Camahort Page: Hi Elisa! Thanks so much for all of your work and for caring so much about feedback from the community.
I LOVE that this is what you took away from BlogHer. To re-awaken that inner-writer in you is awesome…and I can't wait to read more of your posts that feel as 'you' as ever, never forced, always with intention. That's my style of blogging as well, I dig it!
Thanks for your honest point of view about your first BlogHer experience. Because BlogHer is so HUGE, I have always been intimidated to attend but I think I am putting it on my MUST ATTEND list for 2013.
When I first started bloggin, I wrote everyday because I felt like that was what I was supposed to do. Now I realize that my content is better when I put more thought and feeling into my posts. Thanks for reminding me that writing is what it is really about and I am glad that BlogHer brought you back to your love of writing too.
I cant do the whole boring content for the sake of content thing.. It's not fulfilling at. All.


text:
Q: Migrate multiple Access DB (with same function but different data) to single SQL Server DB Situation
I have 5 Access DB files, each one has 10 tables, 40 queries and 8 macros. All 5 Access DB files have same table name, table structure, same queries and same macros. The only different is the data contain in the table. If it matters, some tables on each database has rows between few hundreds to 100K+.
What I am trying to achieve
I am migrating these 5 Access DB files to single SQL Server (2008) database. Edit: After migrating, I do need to know which tables belong to which database since each original Access DB is associated with company's department so I need to keep track of this.
My Solutions or Options
Tables will be imported to SQL Server as tables. Queries will be imported as Stored Procedures. Macro will be imported as new Stored Procedures.

*

*Import each Access DB's tables and queries to SQL Server DB and rename each tables and queries by giving them prefix to identify which tables belong to which database.

*Same as #1, however, only import tables. As for the queries, only import one set of queries (40 queries) and modify them to dynamically select, insert, update or delete from the tables.

*Import table A from 1st Access DB, table A from 2nd Access DB, table A from 3rd Access DB and so on, to one new table in SQL Server and give them unique identifier to identify which row of data belong to which database.

What do you think is the best approach? Please tell me if there is better way to do this than what I have listed. Thanks!

A: I would say number 3. You would get no duplication code and much easier maintenance.
One example of easier maintenance is performance tuning. You say the queries are the same in the 5 access DBs: say you detect one of the queries runs too slow and you decide that you need to create an index on an underlying table. In option #1 and #2 this would mean recreating the same index on 5 "twin" tables.

A: I would migrate them to MS SQL like so:

*

*Import all tables from database 1 into corresponding tables from SQL Server, but add a new primary key with the name of the old one, rename the old pk and identifier for the database.

*Update all foreign keys to the new pk field using the old pk and the identifier.

*Repeat for databases 2-5

*Either delete the identifier or keep it, depending if you need to know where the rows came from (same for old primary keys)

*Only import queries/macros once, as they are the same.

When doing it this way, you keep the pk-fk relations and the queries intact and still know where the rows came from.

A: In access for each of these databases, you could assign each of the department field id (new field) with it's on identifier in a new table (each department has different value), and then add this value to each of the tables that is to be imported. Create a new table that has the department information in it, then create join table that connect these tables. Thus, each department is differentiated between each other.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Getting the content of Joomla page into Rails page I have a web page created in Joomla. How do I get the content of that page into my Rails app's page ?

A: If you used joomla, then you can just grab the rss feed from the page and parse the xml with Nokogiri.
https://github.com/tenderlove/nokogiri

A: If you're using the same db for both, simply create a rails model to read that db table, and bring the content in.
OTOH, if you're wanting Joomla to assemble and create the entire page, then pass it to rails to view unmodified, why force Rails into the mix at all and just let some pages be rendered by Joomla and some by Rails? You'll need some creativity in the routing and positioning, but then you'll need that to do the RSS read mentioned above, anyway.

A: Thanks for your hint @chrisBarretto. There wasn't any rss feed associated with the joomla page. However, I managed to grab the content from Joomla page with just using Nokogiri.
Here's what I did in the controller :
 @page = Nokogiri::HTML(open(" ... <joomla page url>..."))

Then in the view,
<%=raw @page.css("body table").first.to_s :%>

This worked perfectly as I wanted to be.


Black Bandanna sleeve for the Limitless Mod. *Mod not included ..
Blue Bandanna sleeve for the Limitless Mod. *Mod not included ..
Neon Green Bandanna sleeve for the Limitless Mod. *Mod not included ..
White Bandanna sleeve for the Limitless Mod. *Mod not included ..
Wooden Bandanna sleeve for the Limitless Mod. *Mod not included ..


They followed about 21,500 women health professionals between the ages of 60 and 84. They considered any woman sleeping at least two hours more during the weekend than on weekdays as someone who wasn't getting enough sleep.
What they found was that quality of sleep was an important factor for good overall cardiovascular health. They also found that women who weren't getting enough sleep were also more likely to be obese and have hypertension.


text:
What Does 2021 Look Like For Craft Beer?
Toronto Blue Jays Tilt AL East Balance Of Power By Signing George Springer AND Michael Brantley
The Year Of The Big Pivot For Supply Chains!
Leaders And Pop Stars Rub Shoulders At Biden Inauguration (Photos)
Sports Event After Covid-19 Might Be Better Than Ever Thanks To The Virus
Joe Biggs — Prominent Proud Boys Organizer — Among Those Arrested After Capitol Riot
Amanda Gorman's Inauguration Poem Was Partly Inspired By The Capitol Riots
Liz Cheney Already Has A 2022 Primary Challenger After Voting For Trump Impeachment
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins: Connecting The Dots From The Human Genome Project To The COVID-19 Vaccine
China Sanctions Top Trump Officials, Including Pompeo, Navarro And Azar
Breaking| Aug 24, 2020, 05:47pm EDT |
Some Americans Are Tragically Still Drinking Bleach As A Coronavirus 'Cure'
Nicholas ReimannForbes Staff
I'm a news reporter for Forbes, primarily covering the U.S. South.
Despite months of warnings that it's unsafe, some Americans are still attempting to self-treat for coronavirus by drinking bleach products, prompting Georgia officials to send out a warning that doing so could be fatal.
cleaning products. housework. spring cleaning.
The Georgia Department of Public Health has sent out an alert warning against consuming chlorine dioxide, a bleaching product.
Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has been informed that the department is receiving reports about residents using chlorine dioxide to "treat" coronavirus.
The FDA has warned since April about the dangers of using chlorine dioxide products as a treatment for Covid-19.
Chlorine dioxide can lead to respiratory failure, liver failure and abnormal heart rhythms, among other potentially life-threatening conditions.
CRITICAL QUOTE
"Chlorine dioxide products have not been shown to be safe and effective for any use, including treatment of COVID-19," the Georgia Department of Public Health said, adding, "Chlorine dioxide are the active ingredients in disinfectants and have additional industrial uses. They are not meant to be swallowed by people."
KEY BACKGROUND
Using household disinfectants to treat Covid-19 has become a troubling issue during the coronavirus pandemic, which hasn't been helped by President Donald Trump suggesting unproven remedies. At an April news conference, Trump wrongly suggested injecting disinfectant as a potential treatment, leading the makers of Lysol to release a statement saying "under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)." Trump also took a regimen of hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against coronavirus, which was later shown to be ineffective against Covid-19.
BIG NUMBER
30. That's how many calls about consuming household disinfectants reportedly went to the New York City poison control center in the hours after Trump made his comments. That's more than twice the number of calls the poison control center handled on disinfectant consumption a year earlier.
A Florida family faces federal charges after prosecutors say they sold tens of thousands of bottles of "Miracle Mineral Solution," a toxic bleach that was marketed as a cure for Covid-19.
Officials say some Georgians treat COVID with bleach-like cleaner (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Dettol And Lysol Maker Warns Against Drinking And Injecting Disinfectant After Trump Suggestion (Forbes)
Florida Family Charged With Marketing 'Miracle' Coronavirus Cure That Was Textile Bleach (Forbes)
Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
Follow me on Twitter. Send me a secure tip.
Nicholas Reimann
I'm a New Orleans-based news reporter for Forbes covering the U.S. South and breaking news. Previously, I wrote for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate covering
I'm a New Orleans-based news reporter for Forbes covering the U.S. South and breaking news. Previously, I wrote for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate covering local government.


This expertly crafted 8-piece set is the ideal al fresco entertainment piece. Made entirely from acacia wood, it is durable and easy to maintain. With its traditional style, it easily elevates any patio into the perfect place to relax.


text:
/* combine_program.c - demonstration of cgCombinePrograms to combine
   vertex and fragment programs; based on 24_bump_map_torus example */

/* Requires the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) and Cg runtime (version
   1.5 or higher). */

#include <stdio.h>    /* for printf and NULL */
#include <string.h>   /* for strcmp */
#include <stdlib.h>   /* for exit */
#include <math.h>     /* for sqrt, sin, and cos */
#include <assert.h>   /* for assert */
#if __APPLE__
#include <GLUT/glut.h>
#else
#include <GL/glut.h>
#endif
#include <Cg/cg.h>    /* Can't include this?  Is Cg Toolkit installed! */
#include <Cg/cgGL.h>

/* An OpenGL 1.2 define */
#define GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE                    0x812F

/* A few OpenGL 1.3 defines */
#define GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP                 0x8513
#define GL_TEXTURE_BINDING_CUBE_MAP         0x8514
#define GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP_POSITIVE_X      0x8515

static CGcontext   myCgContext;
static CGprofile   myCgVertexProfile,
                   myCgFragmentProfile;
static CGprogram   myCgComboProgram;  // Just one program handle!
static CGparameter myCgVertexParam_lightPosition,
                   myCgVertexParam_eyePosition,
                   myCgVertexParam_modelViewProj,
                   myCgVertexParam_torusInfo,
                   myCgFragmentParam_ambient,
                   myCgFragmentParam_LMd,
                   myCgFragmentParam_LMs,
                   myCgFragmentParam_normalMap,
                   myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube,
                   myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube2;

static const char *myProgramName = "combine_program",
                  *myVertexProgramFileName = "C8E6v_torus.cg",
/* page 223 */    *myVertexProgramName = "C8E6v_torus",
                  *myFragmentProgramFileName = "C8E4f_specSurf.cg",
/* page 209 */    *myFragmentProgramName = "C8E4f_specSurf";

static float myEyeAngle = 0,
             myAmbient[4] = { 0.3f, 0.3f, 0.3f, 0.3f }, /* Dull white */
             myLMd[4] = { 0.9f, 0.6f, 0.3f, 1.0f },     /* Gold */
             myLMs[4] = { 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f };     /* Bright white */

/* OpenGL texture object (TO) handles. */
enum {
  TO_NORMALIZE_VECTOR_CUBE_MAP = 1,
  TO_NORMAL_MAP = 2,
};

static const GLubyte
myBrickNormalMapImage[3*(128*128+64*64+32*32+16*16+8*8+4*4+2*2+1*1)] = {
/* RGB8 image data for a mipmapped 128x128 normal map for a brick pattern */
#include "brick_image.h"
};

static const GLubyte
myNormalizeVectorCubeMapImage[6*3*32*32] = {
/* RGB8 image data for a normalization vector cube map with 32x32 faces */
#include "normcm_image.h"
};

static void checkForCgError(const char *situation)
{
  CGerror error;
  const char *string = cgGetLastErrorString(&error);

  if (error != CG_NO_ERROR) {
    printf("%s: %s: %s\n",
      myProgramName, situation, string);
    if (error == CG_COMPILER_ERROR) {
      printf("%s\n", cgGetLastListing(myCgContext));
    }
    exit(1);
  }
}

/* Forward declared GLUT callbacks registered by main. */
static void display(void);
static void keyboard(unsigned char c, int x, int y);
static void menu(int item);

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
  int useGLSL = 0;
  const GLubyte *image;
  unsigned int size, level;
  int face;
  CGprogram programList[2];

  glutInitWindowSize(400, 400);
  glutInitDisplayMode(GLUT_RGB | GLUT_DOUBLE | GLUT_DEPTH);
  glutInit(&argc, argv);

  for (argv++; *argv; argv++) {
    if (!strcmp(*argv, "-glsl")) {
      useGLSL = 1;
      printf("%s: GLSL profiles requested\n", myProgramName);
    }
  }

  glutCreateWindow(myProgramName);
  glutDisplayFunc(display);
  glutKeyboardFunc(keyboard);

  glClearColor(0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.0);  /* Blue background */
  glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTION);
  glLoadIdentity();
  gluPerspective(
    60.0,   /* Field of view in degree */
    1.0,    /* Aspect ratio */
    0.1,    /* Z near */
    100.0); /* Z far */
  glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
  glEnable(GL_DEPTH_TEST);

  glPixelStorei(GL_UNPACK_ALIGNMENT, 1); /* Tightly packed texture data. */

  glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, TO_NORMAL_MAP);
  /* Load each mipmap level of range-compressed 128x128 brick normal
     map texture. */
  for (size = 128, level = 0, image = myBrickNormalMapImage;
       size > 0;
       image += 3*size*size, size /= 2, level++) {
    glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, level,
      GL_RGB8, size, size, 0, GL_RGB, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, image);
  }
  glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER,
    GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR);

  glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP, TO_NORMALIZE_VECTOR_CUBE_MAP);
  /* Load each 32x32 face (without mipmaps) of range-compressed "normalize
     vector" cube map. */
  for (face = 0, image = myNormalizeVectorCubeMapImage;
       face < 6;
       face++, image += 3*32*32) {
    glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP_POSITIVE_X + face, 0,
      GL_RGB8, 32, 32, 0, GL_RGB, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, image);
  }
  glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
  glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S, GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
  glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_CUBE_MAP, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T, GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);

  myCgContext = cgCreateContext();
  cgGLSetDebugMode( CG_FALSE );
  cgSetParameterSettingMode(myCgContext, CG_DEFERRED_PARAMETER_SETTING);
  checkForCgError("creating context");

  if (useGLSL) {
    myCgVertexProfile = CG_PROFILE_GLSLV;
  } else {
    myCgVertexProfile = cgGLGetLatestProfile(CG_GL_VERTEX);
  }
  cgGLSetOptimalOptions(myCgVertexProfile);
  checkForCgError("selecting vertex profile");

  programList[0] =
    cgCreateProgramFromFile(
      myCgContext,              /* Cg runtime context */
      CG_SOURCE,                /* Program in human-readable form */
      myVertexProgramFileName,  /* Name of file containing program */
      myCgVertexProfile,        /* Profile: OpenGL ARB vertex program */
      myVertexProgramName,      /* Entry function name */
      NULL);                    /* No extra compiler options */
  checkForCgError("creating vertex program from file");

  if (useGLSL) {
    myCgFragmentProfile = CG_PROFILE_GLSLF;
  } else {
    myCgFragmentProfile = cgGLGetLatestProfile(CG_GL_FRAGMENT);
  }
  cgGLSetOptimalOptions(myCgFragmentProfile);
  checkForCgError("selecting fragment profile");

  programList[1] =
    cgCreateProgramFromFile(
      myCgContext,                /* Cg runtime context */
      CG_SOURCE,                  /* Program in human-readable form */
      myFragmentProgramFileName,  /* Name of file containing program */
      myCgFragmentProfile,        /* Profile: OpenGL ARB fragment program */
      myFragmentProgramName,      /* Entry function name */
      NULL);                      /* No extra compiler options */
  checkForCgError("creating fragment program from file");

  /* Combine vertex and fragment programs */
  myCgComboProgram = cgCombinePrograms(2, programList);
  checkForCgError("combining programs");
  assert(2 == cgGetNumProgramDomains(myCgComboProgram));

  cgDestroyProgram(programList[0]);
  cgDestroyProgram(programList[1]);
  checkForCgError("destroying original programs after combining");

  cgGLLoadProgram(myCgComboProgram);
  checkForCgError("loading combo program");

  myCgVertexParam_lightPosition =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "lightPosition");
  checkForCgError("could not get lightPosition parameter");

  myCgVertexParam_eyePosition =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "eyePosition");
  checkForCgError("could not get eyePosition parameter");

  myCgVertexParam_modelViewProj =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "modelViewProj");
  checkForCgError("could not get modelViewProj parameter");

  myCgVertexParam_torusInfo =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "torusInfo");
  checkForCgError("could not get torusInfo parameter");

  myCgFragmentParam_ambient =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "ambient");
  checkForCgError("getting ambient parameter");

  myCgFragmentParam_LMd =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "LMd");
  checkForCgError("getting LMd parameter");

  myCgFragmentParam_LMs =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "LMs");
  checkForCgError("getting LMs parameter");

  myCgFragmentParam_normalMap =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "normalMap");
  checkForCgError("getting normalMap parameter");

  myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "normalizeCube");
  checkForCgError("getting normalizeCube parameter");

  myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube2 =
    cgGetNamedParameter(myCgComboProgram, "normalizeCube2");
  checkForCgError("getting normalizeCube2 parameter");

  cgGLSetTextureParameter(myCgFragmentParam_normalMap,
    TO_NORMAL_MAP);
  checkForCgError("setting normal map 2D texture");

  cgGLSetTextureParameter(myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube,
    TO_NORMALIZE_VECTOR_CUBE_MAP);
  checkForCgError("setting 1st normalize vector cube map");

  cgGLSetTextureParameter(myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube2,
    TO_NORMALIZE_VECTOR_CUBE_MAP);
  checkForCgError("setting 2nd normalize vector cube map");

  glutCreateMenu(menu);
  glutAddMenuEntry("[ ] Animate", ' ');
  glutAttachMenu(GLUT_RIGHT_BUTTON);

  glutMainLoop();
  return 0;
}

/* Draw a flat 2D patch that can be "rolled & bent" into a 3D torus by
   a vertex program. */
void
drawFlatPatch(float rows, float columns)
{
  const float m = 1.0f/columns;
  const float n = 1.0f/rows;
  int i, j;

  for (i=0; i<columns; i++) {
    glBegin(GL_QUAD_STRIP);
    for (j=0; j<=rows; j++) {
      glVertex2f(i*m, j*n);
      glVertex2f((i+1)*m, j*n);
    }
    glVertex2f(i*m, 0);
    glVertex2f((i+1)*m, 0);
    glEnd();
  }
}

static void display(void)
{
  const float outerRadius = 6, innerRadius = 2;
  const int sides = 20, rings = 40;
  const float eyeRadius = 18.0;
  const float eyeElevationRange = 8.0;
  float eyePosition[3];

  glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);

  eyePosition[0] = eyeRadius * sin(myEyeAngle);
  eyePosition[1] = eyeElevationRange * sin(myEyeAngle);
  eyePosition[2] = eyeRadius * cos(myEyeAngle);

  glLoadIdentity();
  gluLookAt(
    eyePosition[0], eyePosition[1], eyePosition[2],
    0.0 ,0.0,  0.0,   /* XYZ view center */
    0.0, 1.0,  0.0);  /* Up is in positive Y direction */

  cgGLBindProgram(myCgComboProgram);
  checkForCgError("binding combined program");

  cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter(myCgVertexParam_modelViewProj,
                              CG_GL_MODELVIEW_PROJECTION_MATRIX,
                              CG_GL_MATRIX_IDENTITY);
  checkForCgError("setting modelview-projection matrix");
  cgGLSetParameter3f(myCgVertexParam_lightPosition, -8, 0, 15);
  checkForCgError("setting light position");
  cgGLSetParameter3fv(myCgVertexParam_eyePosition, eyePosition);
  checkForCgError("setting eye position");
  cgGLSetParameter2f(myCgVertexParam_torusInfo, outerRadius, innerRadius);
  checkForCgError("setting torus information");

  cgGLEnableProfile(myCgVertexProfile);
  checkForCgError("enabling vertex profile");

  cgGLSetParameter4fv(myCgFragmentParam_ambient, myAmbient);
  checkForCgError("setting ambient");
  cgGLSetParameter4fv(myCgFragmentParam_LMd, myLMd);
  checkForCgError("setting diffuse material");
  cgGLSetParameter4fv(myCgFragmentParam_LMs, myLMs);
  checkForCgError("setting specular material");

  cgGLEnableTextureParameter(myCgFragmentParam_normalMap);
  checkForCgError("enable texture normal map");
  cgGLEnableTextureParameter(myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube);
  checkForCgError("enable 1st normalize vector cube map");
  cgGLEnableTextureParameter(myCgFragmentParam_normalizeCube2);
  checkForCgError("enable 2nd normalize vector cube map");

  cgGLEnableProfile(myCgFragmentProfile);
  checkForCgError("enabling fragment profile");

  cgUpdateProgramParameters(myCgComboProgram);
  drawFlatPatch(sides, rings);

  cgGLDisableProfile(myCgVertexProfile);
  checkForCgError("disabling vertex profile");

  cgGLDisableProfile(myCgFragmentProfile);
  checkForCgError("disabling fragment profile");

  glutSwapBuffers();
}

static int myLastElapsedTime;

static void advanceAnimation(void)
{
  const float millisecondsPerSecond = 1000.0f;
  const float radiansPerSecond = 2.5f;
  int now = glutGet(GLUT_ELAPSED_TIME);
  float deltaSeconds = (now - myLastElapsedTime) / millisecondsPerSecond;

  myLastElapsedTime = now;  /* This time become "prior time". */

  myEyeAngle += deltaSeconds * radiansPerSecond;
  if (myEyeAngle > 2*3.14159)
    myEyeAngle -= 2*3.14159f;
}

static void idle(void)
{
  advanceAnimation();
  glutPostRedisplay();
}

static void keyboard(unsigned char c, int x, int y)
{
  static int animating = 0;

  switch (c) {
  case ' ':
    animating = !animating; /* Toggle */
    if (animating) {
      myLastElapsedTime = glutGet(GLUT_ELAPSED_TIME);
      glutIdleFunc(idle);
    } else {
      glutIdleFunc(NULL);
    }
    break;
  case 27:  /* Esc key */
    /* Demonstrate proper deallocation of Cg runtime data structures.
       Not strictly necessary if we are simply going to exit. */
    cgDestroyProgram(myCgComboProgram);
    exit(0);
    break;
  }
}

static void menu(int item)
{
  /* Pass menu item character code to keyboard callback. */
  keyboard((unsigned char)item, 0, 0);
}


text:
@media print {
  .leaflet-control,
  .leaflet-popup,
  .sidebar-container {
    display: none;
  }

  .legend-container {
    display: block;
  }
}


Conscious eating often involes evaluating your body's reaction to specific foods. We use blood tests to identify food sensitivities or intolerances - referred to as a delayed IgG response, and to identify an autoimmune or stress response - referred to as an IgA reaction.
Testing for food allergies (an IgE response) is generally done by skin-prick test performed by a medical doctor who focuses on allergies.


text:
What is the Impact of the Boral and CSR Brick Merger?
by David Chandler FAIB
January 27th, 2015 21,494 Total Views
In my view, the ACCC's recent approval of the Boral and CSR brick business merger is a job half done.
The legal mumbo jumbo influencing the decision misses key issues and much of the argument is outdated opinion bowed to the powerful lobbying of the proponents.
What does the merger do for the construction industry, what's in it for Boral and CSR shareholders and, most importantly, for industry-based consumers? The ACCC played down the market power of the proponents. I wonder if the ACCC considered the indirect power of the proponents politically, through industry associations and via indebted organisations who would not wish to offend.
The ACCC claims to be Australia's competition regulator and national consumer law champion. It claims to promote competition and fair trading and regulate national infrastructure to make markets work for everyone[1]. But has that been achieved in the Boral and CSR Brick deal?
The ACCC's decision had little to say about what future there was for bricks in Australia and if any conditions might apply should Boral and CSR eventually hive of their under performing brick assets. The ACCC observed that for many residential builders, clay bricks will continue to make up approximately 80 to 90 per cent of external cladding materials used. So what's the plan?
Boral has warned that the local brick-making industry could die if the competition watchdog failed to approve the latest joint venture proposal. The merger was initiated because both companies believe brick demand in Australia is experiencing a sustained structural decline. They are right, but there are many other factors at work here, and it's not just about bricks. Some of these include:
Bricklaying skills shortages which have driven up the cost of laying bricks to nearly twice brick retail prices, compounded by diminishing brick construction quality and waste
Boral and CSR being so far down the construction food chain that they have no real value proposition that allows either company to successfully reposition
Challenges in identifying and bringing into production new raw materials sources for bricks
The ACCC eventually approved the joint venture, saying it doesn't believe the move will substantially lessen competition.
Building materials are part of national infrastructure. While the ACCC claims to be the competition regulator, the Boral and CSR decision is silent on how the benefits for shareholders and consumers will materialise. How did Boral and CSR demonstrate that the merger would improve each company's long term viability or the future for bricks, and how does this decision make the brick market work for everyone?
According to Spencer Little, a senior analyst at IBIS World, Boral and CSR would beat Brickworks to become the industry's largest player if the joint venture proceeds.
"Although small-scale manufacturers also operate in the industry, these three major players typically benefit from massive economies of scale," he said.
My own view is that it will be the small scale manufacturers that survive by making high quality bricks for the premium end of the market. The low cost producers will eventually find that the cheap manufacturing techniques now being supplied to the market will run into huge consumer push-back.
Little claims the struggling clay brick manufacturing industry is the result of a weak demand from downstream construction industries, which impact the choice to use bricks anyway.
"The rising prevalence of multi-unit apartments and townhouses has restricted demand for clay bricks, as these properties tend to use alternative cladding materials such as concrete and steel, and as a result, industry revenue is estimated to decline at an annualised 3.6 per cent over the five years through 2014-15, to reach $830.0 million," he said.
Little has not commented on the alternate – and potentially disruptive to Boral and CSR – array of cladding systems now on offer. There are some very impressive systems coming into the market today that offer great choice and quality, especially from overseas. These systems will in my view eventually redefine how construction is performed in Australia. It all seems below the radar for the ACCC.
Other commentators submitted that the proposed joint venture could result in reduced choice across brick product ranges, in terms of the variety of colours and other aesthetic characteristics offered for construction of new homes. They said that reduction in choice and variety would limit builders, architects and consumers.
The reality is that most brick consumers have their choices limited by the pre-market volume purchasing deals and rebates negotiated between developers, builders and the major materials suppliers.
The ACCC noted submissions from residential builders in NSW and Queensland that claimed a reduction from three to two major clay brick suppliers will result in increased prices for clay bricks.
"Higher prices for clay bricks would increase costs for end-consumers seeking to build new homes. For example, a new two-storey home built with 14,000 bricks could cost approximately $1,200 extra as a result of a 10% increase in clay brick prices (depending on the bricks used,)" they said.
But if these residential builders were overly concerned about these construction costs they may like to explain to the ACCC why thousands of bricks and tons of construction materials end up in urban land-fill as a bi-product of constructing each and every dwelling. The ACCC should be interested in this, just as Boral and CSR should be. The construction inefficiency, waste and costs exhibited on building sites across Australia would not be tolerated in any other industry.
Australia's construction industry sits in a precarious balance. Regulators are so focused on the ideologies of cutting red tape, bowing to powerful interest groups and focusing most reform attention on workforce wages and conditions that none can identify let alone quantify what an end game may look like. There is little energy devoted to uncovering management's contribution to poor construction productivity and unsustainable costs. If the ACCC is not asking these questions then they should at least be asked by Boral and CSR shareholders who might like to reflect on long term performance of these stocks in comparison to the performances of the ASX 200 or the DOW.
It's all of these considerations that in my view make the ACCC's role in approving this merger a job half done. The Boral and CSR brick deal has yet to demonstrate how it contributes to competition and fair trading and towards regulating national infrastructure to make markets work for everyone.
[1] See ACCC – https://www.accc.gov.au/
David Chandler OAM is the Principal of CE Advisory, offering specialist service to enterprises,.....
Dennis Calander
31/01/ 2015
Best article I have read in a long time…
Grant M Spork
The competition comes mainly from alternative construction. Low carbon concretes which don't require expensive firing processes, pre-cast concrete fiber cement board. At the end of the day a competition policy which allows for free trade with the US, Asia and India will mean consolidation of almost every industry participant. Medium size companies will need to merge to survive and remain competitive because foreign competitors have much greater economies of scale. This also goes for Architectural and consultant services. Those who can't collaborate or merge to get critical inertia, or form alliances with foreign competitors will become the thylacine's of the business landscape.
Building Industry Reforms Must be Careful About Unintended Consequences


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Sphaeromorda atterrima is a species of beetle in the genus Sphaeromorda of the family Mordellidae, which is part of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea. It was described in 1954 by Ermisch.

References

Beetles described in 1954
Mordellidae