text:
Q: Converting a SQL query to SEQUELIZE I am trying to wrap my head around creating this sequelize query.
SELECT
    dayofweek(datum) AS DOW,
    concat(DAY(datum), '-', MONTH(datum)) AS datum,
    ochtend,
    middag,
    avond
FROM dbt.menus
    ORDER BY datum ASC LIMIT 5 OFFSET (variable in sequelize code);

I have been able to create 2 separate queries where the 'order by filter' works and 'aliases' work, but not combined.
This is what i currenty have in sequelize
const amount = await Menu.count();
const listOfMenu = await Menu.findAll({
    order: [['datum', 'ASC']],
    offset: amount - 5,
    limit: 5,
    attributes: {
        include: [
            [
              Menu.sequelize.fn
              (
                "DATE_FORMAT",
                Menu.sequelize.col("datum"),
                "%d-%m "
              ),
              "datum",
            ],
          ]
     }
});

A: You just need to use fn twice: in order and in attributes options:
const datumExpression = Menu.sequelize.fn
              (
                "DATE_FORMAT",
                Menu.sequelize.col("datum"),
                "%d-%m "
              )
const listOfMenu = await Menu.findAll({
    order: [[datumExpression, 'ASC']],
    offset: amount - 5,
    limit: 5,
    attributes: {
        include: [
            [
              datumExpression,
              "datum",
            ],
          ]
     }
});

Also you can combine findAll and count queries into one findAndCountAll and you will get the result with two props: rows and count:
const { rows: listOfMenu, count: amount } = await Menu.findAndCountAll({
    order: [[datumExpression, 'ASC']],
    offset: amount - 5,
    limit: 5,
    attributes: {
        include: [
            [
              datumExpression,
              "datum",
            ],
          ]
     }

});

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text:
A tale of plesiosaur tails: vertical fins or horizontal flukes?
The giant elasmosaurid Albertonectes vanderveldei forages for invertebrates and small prey deep underwater. From this posterolateral view, the vertical tail fin is unmissable - but should I have drawn it as a horizontal fluke instead? Welcome to yet another challenge for restoring the life appearance of plesiosaurs!
It's fair to assume that, when painting or sculpting plesiosaurs, most palaeoartists favour attention to their heads, necks and flippers, these being the most characteristic parts of their anatomy and the components most of our audience will focus on. Plesiosaurs are, of course, famously tricky animals to restore with any degree of certainty, their body plans being entirely unlike anything alive today, their mechanism of swimming - underwater flight with two sets of flippers - being the source of much debate and controversy, and their fossil record giving us few direct insights into their soft-tissue anatomy. So here's more good news: in recent years another part of plesiosaur anatomy has joined their flippers and necks in artistic and scientific contention, their tails.
Plesiosaur tails have traditionally been little more than afterthoughts in palaeoartworks: cone-shaped structures tapering from the body without much in the way of interesting features. In the last decade or so, however, research interest in plesiosaur caudal anatomy and the resurrection of certain historic observations (e.g. Dames 1895; Smith 2007, 2013; Wilhem 2010; Sennikov 2015, 2019; Otero et al. 2018) has seen plesiosaurs with more interesting tails making regular palaeoartistic appearances. This artistic shift initially showed plesiosaur tails having fish- or ichthyosaur-like vertical fins but, more recently, newer research has made a case for another configuration, horizontal tail flukes (note the terminological distinctions), and such reconstructions are now also appearing with regularity. These fins and flukes, it must be stressed, are not mere whimsy or speculation but based on osteological correlates for some kind of extensive skin structure around the tail tip, and we should clarify that no-one thinks these represent a hitherto unappreciated propulsive organ - plesiosaurs do not suddenly have five 'engines' for swimming. Instead, these fins or flukes surely represent devices to act as some kind of rudder or stabilising aid, perhaps helping to offset the impact of swimming around with those giant necks and heads.
Recent skeletal reconstructions of plesiosaurs (or parts thereof) showing different interpretations of caudal rudder anatomy. It is increasingly common to see these features in plesiosaur skeletals and this compilation image could be much bigger, but I've restricted it to those from papers specifically making cases for fins or flukes.
One thing is clear: the evidence for tail rudders in plesiosaurs is pretty strong in several plesiosaur clades and any credible palaeoart of these animals should show them with some kind of fin, flipper or fluke at the tail tip. But, clearly, our current conflicting interpretations of plesiosaur tail anatomy can't both be correct. I've gone back and forth on these ideas in my plesiosaur art over the last couple of years and decided that it was time I looked into this in more detail. What is the evidence for tail fins or flukes in plesiosaurs, and which is most compellingly argued for? Can we even make a call on this topic at the moment? Let's find out.
One of several plesiosaur artworks I've drawn recently showing a fluked tail, rather than (as was my previous preference) a fin. This is Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus scavenging a pterosaur carcass, because plesiosaurs are meant to eat pterosaurs in palaeoart, consarnit.
Something old is new... etc. etc.
First, let's briefly familiarise ourselves with the history of this controversy. It may seem that notions about plesiosaur caudal fins and flukes are part of the Brave New World of changing up old reconstructions of fossil reptiles for radical new ones, but that's not the case here. Actually, osteological features and soft-tissue remains evidencing caudal rudders in plesiosaurs were identified in the 19th century, and even the dichotomy of interpretation between fins vs. flukes is over 100 years old. Our modern discussions of these concepts are a revival of relatively early investigations into plesiosaur functional morphology and life appearance.
The holotype of Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris, famous for having a soft-tissue outline around its tail. This specimen was the only plesiosaur fossil on record with direct bearing on the fin vs. flipper controversy, but the tail soft-tissues have been painted over and are no longer accessible for study. Yeah, frustrating, right? From Dames (1895).
The concept of plesiosaur caudal fins was first broached by Richard Owen, who proposed that lateral compression of the terminal tail vertebrae of Archaeonectrus rostratus indicated a caudal fin (Owen 1865). Owen's observation had little impact on reconstructions of plesiosaurs at the time, but seeming confirmation of his prediction arrived a few decades later when, in 1895, a specimen of the Jurassic plesiosaur Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris was described with a soft-tissue outline around much of tail tip (Dames 1895). To date, this specimen remains the only fossil on record that provides direct confirmation of a caudal fin or fluke but, alas, it can no longer be investigated or even validated as the soft tissue component of the fossil has been painted over (BUT - see update at the end of the post). This presents a problem deeper than merely obscuring the body outline. Many marine reptile specimens were often 'improved' with forged soft-tissues and realigned bones by 19th century preparators such that anything especially amazing and interesting - like the only known plesiosaur tail fin outline, for instance - really needs verification from modern researchers to be accepted as genuine. I'm not aware of any plesiosaur experts who consider the Seeleysoaurus soft-tissues especially suspicious, but this inescapable caveat hangs around any discussion of this specimen: we can only put so much stock in any interpretation of it, modern or historic. This said, scholars of the late 1800s certainly regarded the body outline as genuine, leading to a few late 19th and 20th-century palaeoartworks in which Seeleyosaurus and other plesiosaurs sported tall, diamond-shaped tail fins. Among the most famous of these were the reconstructions published in Wilhelm Dames' 1895 Die plesiosaurier der süddeutschen Liasformation and the generic pliosaurid reconstruction published by Newman and Tarlo (1967).
Neither finned nor fluked plesiosaurs really caught on in historic palaeoart, but finned reconstructions almost did. Here's a rarely seen example: Woodward's (1896) reconstruction of "Plesiosaurus" macrocephalus, from A Guide to the fossil reptiles, amphibians, and fishes in the Department of Geology and Palaeontology of the British Museum (Natural History).
Not everyone accepted Seeleyosaurus as evidence of caudal fins in plesiosaurs, however. Both Fraas (1910) and Wegner (1914) felt that their caudal skeletons were indicative of a horizontal fluke, citing the absence of a tail bend, the dorsoventral flexibility of the vertebrae, and the size of the caudal ribs as evidence of this feature. I'm not aware of any historic reconstructions showing this configuration (this is not to say that none exist, of course) and assume that fluked plesiosaurs gained even less traction in technical literature and artwork than their finned counterparts. This left most academic and artistic consideration of plesiosaur caudal anatomy assuming featureless, tapering tails for the next century, despite the continued cataloguing of peculiar caudal anatomy in plesiosaurs - most notably, their fused terminal tail vertebrae, recalling the pygostyles of birds (see review by Smith 2013). Today, such structures are considered part of the evidence package for a caudal rudder, but this significance seems to have been mostly overlooked in older publications.
Evidence for fins, evidence for flukes
The story of plesiosaur caudal rudders is thus one of three parts: an initial set of pro-rudder proposals and observations; a period of relative disinterest in the idea; and our modern era of belated engagement with those original hypotheses. This latter stage began about 10-15 years ago when observations made by Owen and Dames were resurrected and augmented by modern plesiosaur experts to make a case for plesiosaur tail fins. Perhaps the most in-depth investigations supporting finned tails to date are those by Benjamin C. Wilhelm (2010) and Adam Stuart Smith (2007, 2013), both of whom looked at the tails of Jurassic plesiosaurs and identified features also seen in swimming animals with vertical caudal fins. Using the relatively completely known tails of the cryptoclidids Cryptoclidus and Muraenosaurus, Wilhelm (2010) catalogued a suite of anatomies correlating with vertical fin lobes, including a relatively large neural spine close to the tail tip (the 17th caudal vertebra in Cryptoclidus); several neural spines with expanded ends; a shift in the orientation of the neural spines at the tip of the tail (from posteriorly-directed to anteriorly-directed) and lateral compression of the terminal caudal vertebrae (see diagram, above). These features recall the finned tails of mosasaurs, Triassic ichthyosaurs and thalattosuchians (e.g. Lindgren et al. 2013; Renesto et al. 2020), where enlarged neural spines mark the start of a caudal fin and shifting neural spine orientations characterise the vertebrae embedded in the fin itself. As with tail-finned reptiles and fish, plesiosaur tails had increased flexion in two regions, both at the tail base and immediately anterior to the enlarged and reorientated neural spines. A slight vertical peduncle - a thinning of the tail structure to minimise its drag profile when being moved through water - was also identified anterior to the enlarged neural spine region. By analogy with the preserved soft-tissues of other marine reptiles, Wilhelm's study allowed for a prediction of the possible fin outline for cryptoclidids: a small triangular lobe with a concave posterior margin on the upper side of the tail (above). This is quite different from the diamond-shape interpreted by Dames and others from the Seeleyosaurus fossil, but Wilhem's thesis argues that a large ventral lobe is not suggested by that fossil and we can infer - if Wilhelm's reconstruction is correct - that only a small amount of material is missing from the dorsal margin (see diagram, below).
Advocates for plesiosaur tail fins highlight similarities between their tail anatomy (see illustrations, above) and those of certain finned marine reptiles, such as early ichthyosaurs and mosasaurs. There are indeed obvious similarities, although the plesiosaur fin supports are clearly far less developed than the examples shown here - a reflection, almost certainly, of tails being adapted for locomotion vs. those adapted for ruddering. Images from Renesto et al. (2020) and Lindgren et al. (2013).
Although working with more fragmentary material, Smith (2007, 2013) found similar features to those reported in Benjamin Wilhelm's thesis, as well as further evidence of finned tails. This included lateral compression at the tail tip of Rhomaeleosaurus, as well as peculiar 'node' vertebrae that might indicate a zone of flexion or even a slight downturn of the tail tip - another feature of finned tails. A wedge-shaped vertebra was noted in another rhomaleosaurid, Macroplata, which might indicate a slight tail downturn, although this taxon curiously lacks laterally compressed distal vertebrae. Agreeing with Benjamin Wilhelm's thesis, as well as Wilhelm and O'Keefe's (2010) examination of further caudal material, Adam's study concluded that the flexibility evidenced in the proximal tail region would allow the caudal fin of plesiosaurs to augment steering and stability.
A few years after these works reignited interest in plesiosaur caudal rudders, artistic and academic champions of fluked plesiosaurs also resurrected, retooled and expanded the initial observations and arguments made by Fraas and Wegner (e.g. Sennikov 2015, 2019; Otero et al. 2018). At the core of these proposals were ideas that plesiosaur tails were more convergent with those of whales and manatees than with swimming reptiles or fish, and thus suited to dorsoventral motion and sporting horizontally-aligned soft-tissues at their tips. Some researchers have endorsed this idea by including fluked reconstructions in their papers (e.g. Sachs et al. 2016).
Were plesiosaur tails reptilian variants of sirenian-like caudal anatomy? Again, there are similarities, especially in the great width of the vertebrae. In lieu of decent sirenian skeletons online, I've borrowed these Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus) skeleton replica images from Bone Clones.
Some of the evidence for plesiosaur flukes is the same as that used for finned reconstructions, such as the two zones of flexion in the plesiosaur caudal skeleton, and the recognition of a distinctive, often stiffened vertebral region at the end of the tail (Sennikov 2015, 2019). This is representative of fluked and finned tails having functional similarity, each essentially being the same thing operating in different planes. Fluke-specific evidence includes the presence of long caudal ribs along much of the tail length which, in making some vertebrae wider than tall, are suggested to create a relatively wide, flat tail with restricted lateral movement (Sennikov 2015, 2019; Otero et al. 2018). Otero et al. (2018) noted that the tips of the caudal ribs of Aristonectes are fibrous for potential attachment of extensive soft-tissue, potentially implying a much wider tail than shown by osteology alone (something seemingly confirmed by soft-tissue data of Mauriciosaurus). The absence of convincing downturned tail tips has also been flagged up, even for taxa with 'node' vertebrae (Otero et al. 2018), and has been negatively compared against the finned condition of ichthyosaurs and marine crocodylomorphs (Sennikov 2019). The small size or absence of chevrons, and the low, variable orientation of caudal neural spines, are features thought to have allowed the fluke to move vertically and independently of the rest of the tail (Otero et al. 2018; Sennikov 2019). The plesiosaur torso - a pachyostotic, relatively inflexible trunk - has also been regarded as similar to that of sirenians and thus potentially indicative of a fluked tail (Sennikov 2019). For the fluke model to be correct, of course, the traditional interpretation of Seeleyosaurus having some kind of tail fin has to be wrong. Sennikov (2019) states that this is indeed the case, and provides an alternative view where the Seeleyosaurus soft-tissues represent a horizontally-aligned structure within which the vertebrae have fallen over. The asymmetry of the fluke as preserved is explained as a result of vertebral displacement, soft-tissue decay and incomplete fossilisation.
Problematic as it is, proposals of plesiosaur rudder shape have to contend with the now-lost Seeleyosaurus data to some extent. Some fin models posit that not much has happened to the caudal region of the Seeleyosaurus holotype, whereas the fluke model requires a little more modification. While the fin model seems simplest, the fluke version hardly seems implausible.
Fins vs. flukes, head to head (er... tail to tail?)
Having briefly reviewed this evidence, can we see which of these models seems strongest? I stress my word choice in that sentence: our understanding of plesiosaur soft-tissues is not yet sufficient to make claims of absolute certainty, so any conversation on them should be peppered with appropriate caveats and considerations. This is a case where it's much easier to be a researching scientist, where "we don't yet know" is a perfectly acceptable response, than a palaeoartist, where you have to come down on one side of a debate or another. So, with the proviso that I'm not sure we can really make a definitive call yet… and with some urging of readers to check the papers mentioned above for themselves to make up their own minds... and with appropriate caution… and having now run out of ways to stall writing this sentence... I find myself... more persuaded by arguments for a tail fin at present. The fin hypothesis seems to explain more of the peculiar anatomy of plesiosaur tail tips than its rival, and it presents an overall simpler, and thus more likely correct, interpretation of our available data. The highlighted similarities between plesiosaur tails and those of certain other fin-tailed swimming reptiles are prudent observations not yet accounted for in the fluke model and, when thinking about the evolution of such features, it seems a shorter developmental distance for a plesiosaur to evolve a fin than a fluke. I'm especially thinking of the switch from primarily lateral to vertical spinal flexion, the former being ancestral to reptiles and thus common to many in swimming reptile species. Significant vertical caudal flexion has developed among diapsids of course, in birds, and some swimming birds even use their tail fans in a rudder-like fashion (Felice and O'Connor 2014), so we shouldn't rule out this capability for plesiosaurs entirely. Moreover, this is not to say that the observations from Team Fluke are redundant. Maybe the wide, potentially muscular tails of plesiosaurs were indeed capable of an unusual amount of vertical motion, even with a fin? If, indeed, plesiosaur tails operated as ruddering aids, some surely had a big job on their hands: there's no way moving those giant necks and heads didn't have a tremendous rotational impact when swimming and their tails may have had an important role in keeping their owners on course. A weedy tail with limited mobility in either plane might not have been up to that task. It would be neat to see simulations of this sort of thing.
I also agree with Wilhelm's (2010) assessment of the Seeleyosaurus tail outline, which looks - so far as can be seen in Dames' (1895) illustrations, more like a vertical structure than a horizontal one. I'm not sure how much stock we should place in interpretations of the drawings of this specimen given that the original soft tissues are now inaccessible, but, for what it's worth, the relatively neat margins and asymmetry of the tissue outline, the general position of the vertebrae and location of possible 'fin' tissues above the tallest neural spines look consistent with a small dorsal lobe (sensu Wilhelm 2010), while a fluked interpretation relies on a fair amount of distortion from decay and disarticulation. But there is certainly plenty of ambiguity around that specimen and I could be convinced otherwise. Needless to say, more plesiosaur specimens with soft-tissues preserved around the tail tip would be incredibly useful in this discussion.
Plesiosauria was a diverse group with a huge array of body proportions, sizes and lifestyles. Did the gigantic pliosaur Kronosaurus queenslandicus share the same caudal rudder shape and size as Cryptoclidus? We need more research to say either way.
Of course, this tentative endorsement of vertical fins comes with many caveats. Despite the antiquity of proposals that plesiosaurs bore a soft-tissue rudder on their tails, these discussions are still in their infancy. Very few studies have directly addressed this topic and our analyses have, thus far, been largely limited to qualitative descriptions and comparisons with other vertebrates. Our taxon sampling is also relatively limited and has not yet incorporated the most extreme examples of plesiosaur size or body plans. I can't be the only one wondering what the extremely long-necked elasmosaurids and giant pliosaurids were doing with their tails and, given the innumerable studies linking tail shape to ecology in swimming animals, it's not crazy to assume plesiosaurs of different lifestyles might have had differently shaped rudders. We may even already be finding evidence of such variation, it being observed (for example) that elasmosaurids may not have had the mobile terminal tail region identified in some cryptoclidids (Otero et al. 2018). Moreover, might plesiosaurs have done something unusual with their tails, such that the fin vs. fluke dichotomy is an oversimplification of a more complex organ befitting their unique swimming style? Could other structures - keels or projecting stabilisers - have augmented a larger fin? It will be interesting to see what further research reveals and, in particular, what quantified comparisons between the caudals of plesiosaurs and those of fluked and flippered animals have to tell us. Many of the features discussed above are relatively subtle - a taller neural spine here, a slight wedging of the centrum there. Careful, quantified comparisons of a suite of features with modern and extinct analogues may help us distinguish whether fins or flukes are the better tail rudder model, or if such analogues are useful guides at all.
And that, with one foot off the fence on this matter, but still not feeling like a conclusion has really been reached, is where we'll leave off for now. Hopefully, more definitive evidence for plesiosaur tail morphology will appear soon but, until then, the best thing artists can do is not take the comments above as gospel: check out the papers discussed here (most are open access or otherwise available online) to make up your own mind which is the better-supported model. I suspect I'm still going to remain uncertain about my plesiosaur tails for some time, but there's comfort knowing that this isn't really something we can be especially confident about until more data is gathered.
UPDATE: 28/09/2021 (the day after posting). In what is clearly good news, it turns out that the paint covering the Seeleyosaurus holotype soft-tissues has been removed and that the specimen is, at time of writing, under study by plesiosaur expert Sven Sachs. You can see a photo of the restored specimen at Sven's website, here. The paint was actually removed some years ago but this has not, to my knowledge, been mentioned in more recent papers discussing this specimen, hence the error in reporting here. Thanks to Sven and others who have pointed this out.
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Dames, W. (1895). Die plesiosaurier der Süddeutschen Liasformation. Abhandlungen der
Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1895, 1–81.
Felice, R. N., & O'connor, P. M. (2014). Ecology and caudal skeletal morphology in birds: the convergent evolution of pygostyle shape in underwater foraging taxa. PLoS One, 9(2), e89737.
Fraas, E. (1910). Plesiosaurier aus dem oberen Lias von Holzmaden, Palaeontographica, 57, 3–4, 105–140.
Lindgren, J., Kaddumi, H. F., & Polcyn, M. J. (2013). Soft tissue preservation in a fossil marine lizard with a bilobed tail fin. Nature Communications, 4(1), 1-8.
Newman, B. & Tarlo, B. (1967). A giant marine reptile from Bedfordshire. Animals, 10, 61-63
Otero, R. A., Soto-Acuña, S., & O'keefe, F. R. (2018). Osteology of Aristonectes quiriquinensis (Elasmosauridae, Aristonectinae) from the upper Maastrichtian of central Chile. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 38(1), e1408638.
Owen, R. (1865). A monograph on the fossil Reptilia of the Liassic Formations. Part 3. Sauropterygia. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society, 17, 1–40, pl. 1–16.
Renesto, S., Dal Sasso, C., Fogliazza, F., & Ragni, C. (2020). New findings reveal that the Middle Triassic ichthyosaur Mixosaurus cornalianus is the oldest amniote with a dorsal fin. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 65(3), 511-522.
Sachs, S., Hornung, J. J., & Kear, B. P. (2016). Reappraisal of Europe's most complete Early Cretaceous plesiosaurian: Brancasaurus brancai Wegner, 1914 from the "Wealden facies" of Germany. PeerJ, 4, e2813.
Sennikov, A. G. (2015). New data on the herpetofauna of the Early Triassic Donskaya Luka locality, Volgograd Region. Paleontological Journal, 49(11), 1161-1173.
Sennikov, A. G. (2019). Peculiarities of the Structure and Locomotor Function of the Tail in Sauropterygia. Biology Bulletin, 46(7), 751-762.
Smith, A. S. 2007. Anatomy and systematics of the Rhomaleosauridae (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria). Unpublished PhD thesis, School of Biology and Environmental Science, National University of Ireland, University College Dublin.
Smith, A. S. (2013). Morphology of the caudal vertebrae in Rhomaleosaurus zetlandicus and a review of the evidence for a tail fin in Plesiosauria. Paludicola, 9(3), 144-158.
Wegner, T. (1914). Brancasaurus brancai Wegner, ein elasmosauride aus dem Wealden Westfalens. Borntraeger.
Wilhelm, B. C. (2010). Novel anatomy of cryptoclidid plesiosaurs with comments on axial locomotion (Doctoral dissertation, Marshall University Libraries).
Wilhelm, B. C., & O'keefe, F. R. (2010). A new partial skeleton of a cryptocleidoid plesiosaur from the Upper Jurassic Sundance Formation of Wyoming. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 30(6), 1736-1742.
Posted by Mark Witton 4 comments:
A tale of plesiosaur tails: vertical fins or horiz...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Lufthansa Group hub airlines will be offering over 700,000 additional seats on flights in its winter flight schedule with main focus on connections within Germany.
This is a response to the greatly increased and continuously high demand after the market exit of Air Berlin, in particular on the routes they already serve most frequently. On a large number of routes, Lufthansa's hub airlines have increased their capacity between September 2017 and March 2018 by a total of 25 per cent, and by as much as 60 per cent on some routes. With this move, the airlines are re-establishing 45 per cent of the previous capacity of Air Berlin.


text:
#include "OgreStableHeaders.h"

#include "OgreParticleEmitter.h"
#include "OgreParticleEmitterFactory.h"

namespace Ogre
{
    // Define static members
    EmitterCommands::CmdAngle ParticleEmitter::msAngleCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdColour ParticleEmitter::msColourCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdColourRangeStart ParticleEmitter::msColourRangeStartCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdColourRangeEnd ParticleEmitter::msColourRangeEndCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdDirection ParticleEmitter::msDirectionCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdUp ParticleEmitter::msUpCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdEmissionRate ParticleEmitter::msEmissionRateCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMaxTTL ParticleEmitter::msMaxTTLCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMaxVelocity ParticleEmitter::msMaxVelocityCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMinTTL ParticleEmitter::msMinTTLCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMinVelocity ParticleEmitter::msMinVelocityCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdPosition ParticleEmitter::msPositionCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdTTL ParticleEmitter::msTTLCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdVelocity ParticleEmitter::msVelocityCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdDuration ParticleEmitter::msDurationCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMinDuration ParticleEmitter::msMinDurationCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMaxDuration ParticleEmitter::msMaxDurationCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdRepeatDelay ParticleEmitter::msRepeatDelayCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMinRepeatDelay ParticleEmitter::msMinRepeatDelayCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdMaxRepeatDelay ParticleEmitter::msMaxRepeatDelayCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdName ParticleEmitter::msNameCmd;
    EmitterCommands::CmdEmittedEmitter ParticleEmitter::msEmittedEmitterCmd;

    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    ParticleEmitter::ParticleEmitter(ParticleSystem* psys)
      : mParent(psys),
        mStartTime(0),
        mDurationMin(0),
        mDurationMax(0),
        mDurationRemain(0),
        mRepeatDelayMin(0),
        mRepeatDelayMax(0),
        mRepeatDelayRemain(0)
    {

        // Reasonable defaults
        mAngle = 0;
        setDirection(Vector3::UNIT_X);
        mEmissionRate = 10;
        mMaxSpeed = mMinSpeed = 1;
        mMaxTTL = mMinTTL = 5;
        mPosition = Vector3::ZERO;
        mColourRangeStart = mColourRangeEnd = ColourValue::White;
        mEnabled = true;
        mRemainder = 0;
        mName = StringUtil::BLANK;
        mEmittedEmitter = StringUtil::BLANK;
        mEmitted = false;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    ParticleEmitter::~ParticleEmitter()
    {
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setPosition(const Vector3& pos)
    {
        mPosition = pos;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const Vector3& ParticleEmitter::getPosition(void) const
    {
        return mPosition;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setDirection(const Vector3& inDirection)
    {
        mDirection = inDirection;
        mDirection.normalise();
        // Generate a default up vector.
        mUp = mDirection.perpendicular();
        mUp.normalise();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const Vector3& ParticleEmitter::getDirection(void) const
    {
        return mDirection;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setUp(const Vector3& inUp)
    {
        mUp = inUp;
        mUp.normalise();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const Vector3& ParticleEmitter::getUp(void) const
    {
        return mUp;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setAngle(const Radian& angle)
    {
        // Store as radians for efficiency
        mAngle = angle;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const Radian& ParticleEmitter::getAngle(void) const
    {
        return mAngle;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setParticleVelocity(Real speed)
    {
        mMinSpeed = mMaxSpeed = speed;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setParticleVelocity(Real min, Real max)
    {
        mMinSpeed = min;
        mMaxSpeed = max;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setEmissionRate(Real particlesPerSecond)
    {
        mEmissionRate = particlesPerSecond;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getEmissionRate(void) const
    {
        return mEmissionRate;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setTimeToLive(Real ttl)
    {
        mMinTTL = mMaxTTL = ttl;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setTimeToLive(Real minTtl, Real maxTtl)
    {
        mMinTTL = minTtl;
        mMaxTTL = maxTtl;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setColour(const ColourValue& inColour)
    {
        mColourRangeStart = mColourRangeEnd = inColour;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setColour(const ColourValue& colourStart, const ColourValue& colourEnd)
    {
        mColourRangeStart = colourStart;
        mColourRangeEnd = colourEnd;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const String& ParticleEmitter::getName(void) const
    {
        return mName;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setName(const String& newName)
    {
        mName = newName;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const String& ParticleEmitter::getEmittedEmitter(void) const
    {
        return mEmittedEmitter;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setEmittedEmitter(const String& emittedEmitter)
    {
        mEmittedEmitter = emittedEmitter;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    bool ParticleEmitter::isEmitted(void) const
    {
        return mEmitted;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setEmitted(bool emitted)
    {
        mEmitted = emitted;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::genEmissionDirection(Vector3& destVector)
    {
        if (mAngle != Radian(0))
        {
            // Randomise angle
            Radian angle = Math::UnitRandom() * mAngle;

            // Randomise direction
            destVector = mDirection.randomDeviant(angle, mUp);
        }
        else
        {
            // Constant angle
            destVector = mDirection;
        }

        // Don't normalise, we can assume that it will still be a unit vector since
        // both direction and 'up' are.

    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::genEmissionVelocity(Vector3& destVector)
    {
        Real scalar;
        if (mMinSpeed != mMaxSpeed)
        {
            scalar = mMinSpeed + (Math::UnitRandom() * (mMaxSpeed - mMinSpeed));
        }
        else
        {
            scalar = mMinSpeed;
        }

        destVector *= scalar;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::genEmissionTTL(void)
    {
        if (mMaxTTL != mMinTTL)
        {
            return mMinTTL + (Math::UnitRandom() * (mMaxTTL - mMinTTL));
        }
        else
        {
            return mMinTTL;
        }
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    unsigned short ParticleEmitter::genConstantEmissionCount(Real timeElapsed)
    {
        if (mEnabled)
        {
            // Keep fractions, otherwise a high frame rate will result in zero emissions!
            mRemainder += mEmissionRate * timeElapsed;
            unsigned short intRequest = (unsigned short)mRemainder;
            mRemainder -= intRequest;

            // Check duration
            if (mDurationMax)
            {
                mDurationRemain -= timeElapsed;
                if (mDurationRemain <= 0)
                {
                    // Disable, duration is out (takes effect next time)
                    setEnabled(false);
                }
            }
            return intRequest;
        }
        else
        {
            // Check repeat
            if (mRepeatDelayMax)
            {
                mRepeatDelayRemain -= timeElapsed;
                if (mRepeatDelayRemain <= 0)
                {
                    // Enable, repeat delay is out (takes effect next time)
                    setEnabled(true);
                }
            }
            if(mStartTime)
            {
                mStartTime -= timeElapsed;
                if(mStartTime <= 0)
                {
                    setEnabled(true);
                    mStartTime = 0;
                }
            }
            return 0;
        }

    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::genEmissionColour(ColourValue& destColour)
    {
        if (mColourRangeStart != mColourRangeEnd)
        {
            // Randomise
            //Real t = Math::UnitRandom();
            destColour.r = mColourRangeStart.r + (Math::UnitRandom() * (mColourRangeEnd.r - mColourRangeStart.r));
            destColour.g = mColourRangeStart.g + (Math::UnitRandom() * (mColourRangeEnd.g - mColourRangeStart.g));
            destColour.b = mColourRangeStart.b + (Math::UnitRandom() * (mColourRangeEnd.b - mColourRangeStart.b));
            destColour.a = mColourRangeStart.a + (Math::UnitRandom() * (mColourRangeEnd.a - mColourRangeStart.a));
        }
        else
        {
            destColour = mColourRangeStart;
        }
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::addBaseParameters(void)
    {
        ParamDictionary* dict = getParamDictionary();

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("angle",
            "The angle up to which particles may vary in their initial direction "
            "from the emitters direction, in degrees." , PT_REAL),
            &msAngleCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("colour",
            "The colour of emitted particles.", PT_COLOURVALUE),
            &msColourCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("colour_range_start",
            "The start of a range of colours to be assigned to emitted particles.", PT_COLOURVALUE),
            &msColourRangeStartCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("colour_range_end",
            "The end of a range of colours to be assigned to emitted particles.", PT_COLOURVALUE),
            &msColourRangeEndCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("direction",
            "The base direction of the emitter." , PT_VECTOR3),
            &msDirectionCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("up",
            "The up vector of the emitter." , PT_VECTOR3),
            &msUpCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("emission_rate",
            "The number of particles emitted per second." , PT_REAL),
            &msEmissionRateCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("position",
            "The position of the emitter relative to the particle system center." , PT_VECTOR3),
            &msPositionCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("velocity",
            "The initial velocity to be assigned to every particle, in world units per second." , PT_REAL),
            &msVelocityCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("velocity_min",
            "The minimum initial velocity to be assigned to each particle." , PT_REAL),
            &msMinVelocityCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("velocity_max",
            "The maximum initial velocity to be assigned to each particle." , PT_REAL),
            &msMaxVelocityCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("time_to_live",
            "The lifetime of each particle in seconds." , PT_REAL),
            &msTTLCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("time_to_live_min",
            "The minimum lifetime of each particle in seconds." , PT_REAL),
            &msMinTTLCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("time_to_live_max",
            "The maximum lifetime of each particle in seconds." , PT_REAL),
            &msMaxTTLCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("duration",
            "The length of time in seconds which an emitter stays enabled for." , PT_REAL),
            &msDurationCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("duration_min",
            "The minimum length of time in seconds which an emitter stays enabled for." , PT_REAL),
            &msMinDurationCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("duration_max",
            "The maximum length of time in seconds which an emitter stays enabled for." , PT_REAL),
            &msMaxDurationCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("repeat_delay",
            "If set, after disabling an emitter will repeat (reenable) after this many seconds." , PT_REAL),
            &msRepeatDelayCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("repeat_delay_min",
            "If set, after disabling an emitter will repeat (reenable) after this minimum number of seconds." , PT_REAL),
            &msMinRepeatDelayCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("repeat_delay_max",
            "If set, after disabling an emitter will repeat (reenable) after this maximum number of seconds." , PT_REAL),
            &msMaxRepeatDelayCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("name",
            "This is the name of the emitter" , PT_STRING),
            &msNameCmd);

        dict->addParameter(ParameterDef("emit_emitter",
            "If set, this emitter will emit other emitters instead of visual particles" , PT_STRING),
            &msEmittedEmitterCmd);
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getParticleVelocity(void) const
    {
        return mMinSpeed;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMinParticleVelocity(void) const
    {
        return mMinSpeed;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMaxParticleVelocity(void) const
    {
        return mMaxSpeed;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMinParticleVelocity(Real min)
    {
        mMinSpeed = min;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMaxParticleVelocity(Real max)
    {
        mMaxSpeed = max;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getTimeToLive(void) const
    {
        return mMinTTL;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMinTimeToLive(void) const
    {
        return mMinTTL;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMaxTimeToLive(void) const
    {
        return mMaxTTL;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMinTimeToLive(Real min)
    {
        mMinTTL = min;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMaxTimeToLive(Real max)
    {
        mMaxTTL = max;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const ColourValue& ParticleEmitter::getColour(void) const
    {
        return mColourRangeStart;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const ColourValue& ParticleEmitter::getColourRangeStart(void) const
    {
        return mColourRangeStart;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    const ColourValue& ParticleEmitter::getColourRangeEnd(void) const
    {
        return mColourRangeEnd;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setColourRangeStart(const ColourValue& val)
    {
        mColourRangeStart = val;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setColourRangeEnd(const ColourValue& val )
    {
        mColourRangeEnd = val;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setEnabled(bool enabled)
    {
        mEnabled = enabled;
        // Reset duration & repeat
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    bool ParticleEmitter::getEnabled(void) const
    {
        return mEnabled;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setStartTime(Real startTime)
    {
        setEnabled(false);
        mStartTime = startTime;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getStartTime(void) const
    {
        return mStartTime;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setDuration(Real duration)
    {
        setDuration(duration, duration);
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getDuration(void) const
    {
        return mDurationMin;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setDuration(Real min, Real max)
    {
        mDurationMin = min;
        mDurationMax = max;
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMinDuration(Real min)
    {
        mDurationMin = min;
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMaxDuration(Real max)
    {
        mDurationMax = max;
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::initDurationRepeat(void)
    {
        if (mEnabled)
        {
            if (mDurationMin == mDurationMax)
            {
                mDurationRemain = mDurationMin;
            }
            else
            {
                mDurationRemain = Math::RangeRandom(mDurationMin, mDurationMax);
            }
        }
        else
        {
            // Reset repeat
            if (mRepeatDelayMin == mRepeatDelayMax)
            {
                mRepeatDelayRemain = mRepeatDelayMin;
            }
            else
            {
                mRepeatDelayRemain = Math::RangeRandom(mRepeatDelayMax, mRepeatDelayMin);
            }

        }
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setRepeatDelay(Real delay)
    {
        setRepeatDelay(delay, delay);
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getRepeatDelay(void) const
    {
        return mRepeatDelayMin;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setRepeatDelay(Real min, Real max)
    {
        mRepeatDelayMin = min;
        mRepeatDelayMax = max;
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMinRepeatDelay(Real min)
    {
        mRepeatDelayMin = min;
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitter::setMaxRepeatDelay(Real max)
    {
        mRepeatDelayMax = max;
        initDurationRepeat();
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMinDuration(void) const
    {
        return mDurationMin;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMaxDuration(void) const
    {
        return mDurationMax;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMinRepeatDelay(void) const
    {
        return mRepeatDelayMin;
    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real ParticleEmitter::getMaxRepeatDelay(void) const
    {
        return mRepeatDelayMax;
    }

    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    ParticleEmitterFactory::~ParticleEmitterFactory()
    {
        // Destroy all emitters
        vector<ParticleEmitter*>::type::iterator i;
        for (i = mEmitters.begin(); i != mEmitters.end(); ++i)
        {
            OGRE_DELETE (*i);
        }

        mEmitters.clear();

    }
    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    void ParticleEmitterFactory::destroyEmitter(ParticleEmitter* e)
    {
        vector<ParticleEmitter*>::type::iterator i;
        for (i = mEmitters.begin(); i != mEmitters.end(); ++i)
        {
            if ((*i) == e)
            {
                mEmitters.erase(i);
                OGRE_DELETE e;
                break;
            }
        }
    }

    //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Watch this instructional poi video tutorial to learn how to spin the Three Beat Weave Part. This is an great next step for those who have mastered the Two Beat Weave. The three beat weave is an essential component of your poi twirling move-base. It'll be used a lot, so you should learn how to do it well. Here is a very comprehensive tutorial on how to do so.


This free program for existing after-school groups teaches students the mechanics of riding a bike, the rules of the road, best practices for riding in a group and on the streets, and–of course–the joy and freedom of biking.
This program is only available to established after-school programs. Individuals unaffiliated with an after-school program may not request or join a session.
Is this program right for your students?
Whether or not your students know how to ride, our After-School Program is a guaranteed hit. Once we get everyone on the saddle and rolling along smoothly, we'll empower them with the confidence and know-how to safely navigate New York City's parks, greenways, and bustling streets. They'll gain a skill they'll never forget, and a gift that keeps on giving.
We ask for at least 24 hours notice if your group must cancel for any reason. In the event of inclement weather, we will cancel the session and notify group leaders at least 2 hours before the beginning of class.


Lake Kayangan pockmarked a fortresslike jungle-clad rocky escarpments of a primary tourist destination, that is, Coron Island. It is dubbed as the cleanest lake in the Philippines, and I would have to say that such title fits Kayangan Lake to a "T". Approaching the lake, we were mesmerized by the view of limestone cliffs surrounded by lush foliage of small trees and greens between and among its crevices. And looking at the clear lake, you could see fishes and rock formations even if these were about twenty-feet below.
1. Cliff jumping - there is a spot there where you could jump for about 30 feet into the deep lake below. Our guide together with some tourist from Korea,Japan and Belgium gamely jumped at the cliff while hollering their country's name.
2. Caving - there is a small cave at the left side of the cave that fits around ten people. Nothing much to see there but a good photo-op for those who like souvenir shots.
3. Snorkling - the lake has several colorful fishes and rock formations and interestingly enough, lots of black and brown snails.
4. Chow Time - although eating is strictly prohibited in the lake's vicinity, lunch can be had on the docking area where a couple of hut is built. The food photos above pretty much summed-up what we had for lunch.
What a gorgeous place, Oman, and your captures are superb as always -- they are the next best thing to being there myself!! Love the water and the rich green! Thanks for sharing the beauty!! I hope you have a great weekend!!
Truly a God's creation!His love for humankind is revealed on all His works!!!
Such a beautiful place with delectable treats.


text:
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text:
Brownfield Mountain Bike Trails: From Environmental Disaster to Pristine Singletrack
By Jeff Barber
The Fort Whyte trails were built on the site of a former concrete plant. photo: Alex Man
Mountain bike trail builders tend to get a bad, though undeserved, rap among certain groups for damaging the environment. But there's one form of trail development where mountain bikers are surely working to improve the environment: brownfield trails.
Fort Whyte brownfield (before). Photo: Alex Man
A brownfield is defined as "a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination." Brownfields include everything from former mines and quarries to landfills and illegal dumping sites. I recently asked Singletracks readers for examples of trails built on reclaimed land and got a list that spans the nation, including the popular and well-known Cuyuna Lakes trail system in Minnesota, a former open pit iron mine.
Mine tailings, like those at Cuyuna Lakes, often make entertaining terrain for mountain biking. photo: RoadWarrior
Brownfield trail development can be attractive to mountain bike trail builders because the land is often inexpensive despite often being located close to population centers. Alex Man, a geological engineer and co-owner at Staran Cycles, says "low land value helps. Otherwise [the land] just gets turned into a mall or housing developments if in or near a city." As more and more people move back into cities, the desire for urban recreation opportunities increases, and brownfields offer a convenient solution.
Not only is brownfield land inexpensive compared to raw land, but it can also offer terrain that is uniquely interesting to mountain bikers. Seth from Seth's Bike Hacks notes that Virginia Key Park in Florida was built on top of a former landfill in an otherwise pancake-flat location. Former mines and quarries make for interesting terrain as well, as seen at trails like Five Points in Georgia and Red Rock Canyon in Colorado.
Alex has been involved in a large project at Fort Whyte, a former concrete plant, where an incredible bike park has been built using reclaimed concrete and limestone in the construction. The trail is such a success that the 2017 Canada Summer Games mountain bike event will be held at Fort Whyte in July of 2017.
Fort Whyte brownfield (after). Photo: Alex Man
Alex says, "the interesting part of a brownfield site is taking the disturbed ground and trying to turn that into something that is interesting and fun to ride and pleasant to look at." While Alex notes the approval process for brownfield trail development generally involves similar permitting, funding, and maintenance concerns as more typical sites, the upshot is environmental groups can be more amenable to allowing mountain bike trails since there's little risk of further environmental damage.
Of course there are some downsides to brownfield trail development. Site work can be expensive, depending on the type of remediation that's necessary. "Some sites can cost millions of dollars to clean up if risk of exposure to any contaminants to human health or the environment is high. This of course adds time to the project," says Alex. Here in the USA, additional funding may be available from the Environmental Protection Agency, which can help make certain projects more viable.
Stunning views of downtown Miami, FL thanks to a very large pile of trash. photo: foxrider71
While the word "contaminant" might turn off potential trail users, Alex assures me these projects are always done with environmental safety in mind. "For example, if there is a thick, low permeability cap placed above a contaminated area, the risk of exposure to someone walking or riding on the surface can be quite low. An example of this would be a properly capped and closed landfill."
In the end, building mountain bike trails in brownfields is a win-win: contaminated sites get new stewards and mountain bikers get a new place to play. Alex says, "I have been fortunate enough to work on [everything from] amazing abandoned mine sites to small urban contaminated sites with trail potential. Whenever I work on one of these sites I can't stop myself from looking for potential lines to ride!"
It turns out that while cleaning up the environment, visionary trail builders and engineers like Alex are also cleaning up mountain bikers' reputation as environmental foes.
If you'd like to get in touch with Alex to discuss brownfield project consulting, contact Singletracks and we'll pass your message along.
Cuyuna Lakes
Virginia Key North Point
Jeff Barber
Jeff co-founded Singletracks.com with his wife Leah (mudhunny) in 1999. Today he works out of Singletracks World HQ in Decatur, GA as the Editor in Chief.
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NBBurtt
I'm sorry I missed your initial callout for examples. Here in New Brunswick (Canada), we have one notable example of Brownfield trails. Minto, NB is famous for the failed Bricklin sports car and the site of a former large-scale surface coal mine. The 8200 dredge (affectionately known as the Maid Marian-check it out on Google) would surface-dredge the coal, dumping out the tailings in parallel rows which now cover the landscape, and make for pretty sweet singletrack! Mountain Bike Minto has built about 45 km of impressive singletrack out of this and plans on expanding the trail system annually. Check out Mountain Bike Minto on Facebook for more info, and stop by on your next swing through the east coast!
Tags: Trails | advocacy, brownfield, conservation, environment, trail building
First published November 1, 2016 @ 4:01:33
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Rainbow Chimes Early Education and Care Center is a high-quality education-centered daycare in Huntington L.I. We cherish the opportunity to work with children and take it very seriously. We use High Scope Curriculum that we feel gives children a headstart in life. We also care about what the parents of the children we care for. Recently we've gotten some great feedback and want to share it with you!
One thing we've been praised for is our low teacher: child ratios.
For infants, this ratio is 2:8.
For toddlers, we keep it at 2:10 or 3:12.
For preschoolers, it is 1:6 or 1:7 for teaching time.
For the pre-k classes the ratio is 1:7, and for our all day kindergarten it is 1:7 or 1:9.
Our schedule is built around the needs of real working families.
Our kindergarten is closed only 9 days between September and June.
We open at 6AM and close at 7PM and you can have your child attend for the hours for which you need coverage.
We also have before and after school care.
We have agreements with a number of area employers to provide emergency care for children.
To learn more about our quality daycare, contact our office and schedule a tour of our great facility! We'd love to meet you!


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Redundancy - implied term of enhanced redundancy payment
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
United Kingdom June 13 2011
Garratt v Mirror Group Newspapers 2011 EWCA Civ 425
Mr Garratt worked with Mirror Group Newspapers from January 1989 to February 2006 when he was made redundant. He claimed an enhanced redundancy entitlement of two weeks' pay for each year of service. He contended he was entitled to this payment as a consequence of a collective agreement of 2002 reached between the British Association of Journalists being the union to which he belonged as a member and MGM which was incorporated to his current individual contract of employment. MGM was prepared to give Mr Garratt an enhanced redundancy but only on the basis that he signed on termination a compromise agreement to the effect that he accepted the payment in full and final settlement of all claims against MGM and its employees.
Because of issues outstanding between Mr Garratt and MGM he was not prepared to sign that agreement with the result that MGM was only prepared to pay him his statutory entitlement. As this was less than he would have received under the collective agreement, he started proceedings to recover the difference by way of damages for breach of contract. The Court held that he was only entitled to an enhanced redundancy payment on receipt of a signed compromise agreement and his claim was dismissed, even though the collective agreement contained the provisions as to redundancy without reference to the need to sign a compromise agreement. The BAJ had never queried the use of compromise agreements and those who were made redundant were aware of the mechanics of the redundancy process. The signing of a compromise agreement was a matter of standard practice and of universal application.
The fact that the collective agreement did not cover this aspect did not alter the conditionality of the payment. There was no intention to create a freestanding right for individuals to be entitled to a payment without a compromise agreement. The agreement simply related to the level of payment that would be made when a redundancy was made and a compromise agreement signed.
Mr Garratt was offered a termination payment of £80,343. He did not accept this and he was paid a total of £49,965. He was unsuccessful in his claim. The case turned on whether MGM could establish the existence of an implied term that an enhanced redundancy payment was payable only on receipt of a compromise agreement. The Court's attention was drawn to the case of Albion Automatic Limited v Walker 2002 EWCA Civ 946 which also concerned a dispute as to whether a contractual right to an enhanced redundancy payment was established by employees. The judge there considered the factors to be taken into account when considering whether a policy had acquired contractual status. These factors included:
whether the policy was drawn to the attention of the employees;
whether it was followed without exception for a substantial period;
the number of occasions on which it was followed;
whether payments were made automatically;
whether the nature of communication of the policy supported the inference that the employers intended to be contractually bound;
whether the policy was adopted by agreement;
whether employees had a reasonable expectation that the enhanced payment would be made;
whether terms were incorporated in a written agreement;
whether the terms were consistently applied.
The Court held that if Mr Garratt wanted to obtain a payment in excess of the statutory redundancy terms he had to enter into a compromise agreement. He retained total freedom of choice. What he could not do was to obtain the enhanced redundancy pay without entering into a compromise agreement. The Court held that the term could be implied because no employee had been paid an enhanced redundancy payment without signing a compromise agreement for 15 years or more. The requirement to sign a compromise was expressly notified to all employees identified as redundant and the signing of such an agreement was an automatic consequence of being dismissed for redundancy.
Key point: Employers should make the basis of any enhanced redundancy or severance terms clear to the employees so that any consequential discussions and negotiations are open and transparent.
Contractual term
Concession (contract)
Severance package
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Mitsubishi Imaging (MPM), Inc. is headquartered in Rye, New York with sales and technical personnel located throughout the United States. The MPM in our name reflects the fact that we are a U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills and Mitsubishi Corporation, internationally renowned Japanese based companies. Mitsubishi Imaging serves the imaging needs of the photographic, inkjet and graphic arts industries in North and South America. We provide commercial and in-plant printers with offset and digital solutions, high performance imaging products and we support all of our products with R&D and technical expertise. Our customers can choose exactly the right products to grow their business from innovative and ecological CTP and workflow solutions, to premium inkjet media for high resolution imaging and proofing, to commercial, high-speed specialty inkjet media for a wide range of production printing needs and more.
In 1979 our SilverMaster® direct-to-plate system was introduced in North America and has been the industry standard ever since.
In 1985, we launched Silver DigiPlate™, a groundbreaking polyester computer-to-plate system that helped spark the CTP revolution.
In 1995 our two corporate parents, Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation came together to form one company, Mitsubishi Imaging (MPM), Inc. Headquartered in Rye, NY.
In 1997 we began distributing Diamond Jet inkjet papers, produced by our parent Mitsubishi Paper Mills, for proofing and poster printing applications.
In 2006, Pictorico inkjet was acquired by our parent Mitsubishi Paper Mills from Asahi Glass and Mitsubishi Imaging became the exclusive distributors of the Pictorico high-end inkjet brand in North and South America.
In 2007, we launched the Mitsubishi Center for Education. This facility allows customers to test-drive our products and equally important allows us to help plan for the future so we can support and maximize your investment in your people and technology.
In 2009, we introduced our Thermal DigiPlate processless CTP system, a breakthrough in printing plate technology. Our patented, unique thermal fusing technology generates printing plates that are completely processless and create a high-contrast image on the plate without any chemical development, wash-off or ablation needed.
In 2010, Mitsubishi continued its innovations in inkjet media with the introduction of its Grace Pearlescent Photo Paper, the first of its kind metallic inkjet photo media. We also introduced another Grace product, Grace Drylab photo papers, designed for use in the latest inkjet drylab photo printing equipment.
In that same year, Mitsubishi introduced specialty inkjet media specifically designed for the commercial inkjet market and its fast growing array of high speed, continuous inkjet presses. Available in a variety of weights and surface finishes, our high-quality commercial inkjet media for industrial inkjet printing delivers a broad color space, allowing magnificently brilliant colors, faithful detail and pinpoint precision.
In 2011, we introduced DP Series Specialty Media for HP Indigo Digital Offset Presses. Designated as an HP Certified Substrate, this media is ideal for the production of high quality printed materials, including professional photo books, wedding albums, fine art prints and more.
To achieve excellence in the quality of our products and services and to uphold our prominent position in the imaging industry, Mitsubishi Imaging believes in maintaining a talented, highly motivated workforce within a supportive team environment. To join our winning team, email your resume and salary requirements to hr@mitsubishiimaging.com. Due to the volume of resumes received, qualified candidates will be contacted only if an appropriate position is currently available.


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Eight Killed As Gunman Attacks US Synagogue
Pittsburgh Synagogue. Photo credit: VOA.
No fewer than eight people have been killed and an undisclosed number injured after a gunman launched an attack on members of The Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh, United States.
The gunman reportedly walked into the synagogue building and yelled, "All Jews must die," before opening fire.
The shooting happened during the weekly Shabbat services when the building would have been full of people.
It was learned that the suspect, a white male, surrendered to police after shooting three officers.
The past president of the Tree of Life Synagogue, Michael Eisenberg, said about 95 people would have been in the building as at the time the shooting occurred.
Local police say they had received several calls from people trapped inside the Synagogue.
A spokesman for the Pittsburgh police department Jason Lando, said officers were still carrying out searches in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood.
Reacting to the incident, US President Donald Trump tweeted: "Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All!"
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SIM Swapper Kidnapped, Crushed, Held for $200k Ransom – Krebs on Safety
A Florida teenager who served as a lackey for a cybercriminal group that makes a speciality of cryptocurrency thefts was overwhelmed and kidnapped final week by a rival cybercrime gang. The teenager's captives held weapons to his head whereas forcing him to document a video message pleading together with his crew to fork over a $200,000 ransom in alternate for his life. The youth is now reportedly cooperating with U.S. federal investigators, who're responding to an alarming variety of stories of bodily violence tied to sure on-line crime communities.
The SIM-swapper often called "Foreshadow" pleading for his life.
The grisly kidnapping video has been circulating on various Telegram chat channels devoted to SIM-swapping — the apply of tricking or bribing cell phone retailer workers into diverting a goal's cellphone quantity, textual content messages and calls to a tool the attackers management.
The teenager, identified to the SIM-swapping neighborhood by the deal with "Foreshadow," seems to have served as a "holder" — a time period used to explain a low-level member of any SIM-swapping group who agrees to hold out the riskiest and least rewarding position of the crime: Bodily holding and managing the varied cell units and SIM playing cards which can be utilized in SIM-swapping scams.
"Yo, Dan, please bro ship the 200k," Foreshadow mentioned within the video, which was shot on Sept. 15 within the backseat of a transferring automotive. Bleeding from a swollen mouth with two handguns pointed at his head, Foreshadow pleaded for his life.
"They're going to kill me in the event you don't," Foreshadow continued, providing to get a job as a complicit cell retailer worker or "plug" to assist with future SIM-swaps. "I'll pay you again. Simply let me know what you want. I bought you, for actual. Any work without spending a dime. No matter. Nevertheless lengthy you want me, too. I'll apply to any retailer you want me to use to. I is usually a plug. I don't care if I get caught by the cops or something. I'll get that cash again for you. I used to do this work."
It's not clear the place on the earth the hostage video was recorded. However at one level within the video, the automobile's radio may be heard within the background mentioning WMIB, which is a hip-hop station in South Florida that serves each Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.
As Foreshadow's hostage video started making the rounds on SIM-swapping Telegram channels, a rumor surfaced that Foreshadow had died after being shot within the leg. It quickly emerged that Foreshadow had not died, and that he was cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Members of the SIM-swapping neighborhood had been then warned to delete any messages to or from Foreshadow. A type of messages learn:
JUST IN: FORESHADOW IS NOT DEAD!!!!
HES CURRENTLY CO-OPERATING WITH THE FBI DUE TO HIM BEING KIDNAPPED AND AN ATTEMPT TO EXTORT HIM FOR 200K
IF YOU HAVE CHATS WITH HIM CLEAR THEM
Foreshadow seems to be a youngster from Florida whose first title is Justin. Foreshadow's important Telegram account was transformed from a person profile right into a channel on Sept. 15 — the identical day he was assaulted and kidnapped — and it isn't at present responding to messages.
Foreshadow's erstwhile boss Jarik instructed KrebsOnSecurity that the youth was certainly shot by his captors, and blamed the kidnapping on a rival SIM-swapper from Australia who was offended over getting shortchanged of the earnings from a earlier SIM-swapping escapade.
The FBI didn't instantly reply to requests for remark.
Foreshadow's expertise is the most recent instance of a quickly escalating cycle of bodily violence that's taking maintain of legal SIM-swapping communities on-line. Earlier this month, KrebsOnSecurity detailed how a number of SIM-swapping Telegram channels are actually replete with "violence-as-a-service" choices, whereby denizens of the underground rent themselves out to carry out varied types of bodily violence — from slashing tires and throwing a brick via somebody's window, to conducting drive-by shootings, firebombings and residential invasions.
On Aug. 12, 2022, 21-year-old Patrick McGovern-Allen of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. was arrested by the FBI and charged with stalking in reference to a number of of those violence-as-a-service jobs. Prosecutors say the defendant fired a handgun right into a Pennsylvania dwelling, and helped to torch one other residence within the state with a Molotov Cocktail — all allegedly in service of a beef over stolen cryptocurrency.
Earlier this month, three males in the UK had been arrested for making an attempt to assault an area man and steal his digital currencies. The native man's neighbor known as the cops and mentioned the three males had been appearing suspiciously and that one among them was carrying a police uniform. U.Okay. police stopped the three males allegedly fleeing the scene, and located a police uniform and weapons within the trunk of the automotive. All three defendants in that case had been charged with "intent to trigger loss to a different to make an unwarranted demand of Crypto Forex from an individual."
Dina Temple-Raston and Sean Powers over at The File not too long ago interviewed a number of members of the SIM-swapping neighborhood about this escalation in violence. That story can also be out there on the Click on Right here podcast — Throwing Bricks for $$$: Violence-as-a-Service Comes of Age.
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Give MITA as a gift and help those special someones foster their passion for music with MITA's joyful, efficient, sound-drenched approach. Gift subscriptions differ from regular subscriptions in that they are valid for one subscription period only (they don't renew).
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Club Penguin Wiki:Party Ratings/2013/Operation: Puffle - Club Penguin Wiki - the free, editable encyclopedia about Club Penguin's games, rooms, items and parties!
You are on the reviews page for the Operation: Puffle. Review submissions for this event are now closed.
1st part was crap, 2nd part is ok i guess. So my rating is 2.5. Why was 1st part crap? Nothing to do for non members. Why was 2nd part ok? Nice decorations, however a bit boring. Golden puffle rumour is still ruined, so this is another reason.
10/5 for the Epic music, lots for both members like me and non members to do. In fact it is a good apology for last years Operation:Blackout (I hated that party). it is just the best party since 2011's parties (2012 was a wasted year in the party sense (At least we had good parties this year)). I hope more parties like this will come in 2014 and that this years holiday party is fantastic.
The EPF music is so cool!
The new rooms are awesome!
The members items are amazing!
The new minigame is cool.
Everyday is the same minigame.
There aren't many decorated rooms (only new rooms).
I think the end is not going to be so EPIC like Operation: Blackout.
I'm not so sure about this one. The rooms aren't really decorated. The quests are okay. This could be better.
Nice special rooms but poor decorations in other places. There's nothing to do. Just rescue some puffles and it's over. No fun with friends. :/ Operation: Blackout was much better.
This party is pretty cool. Not the caliber of Operation: Blackout, but still awesome. Herbert returns, we get night rooms, and we can explore the wilderness! The Puffle Chase minigame is fun. I just wish there were more non-member items, and that some of the regular rooms were more decorated. Nice job Club Penguin. Looking forward to more parties like this.
The same old Herbert stuff, eh? Well how does it compare to Operation Blackout?
Decorations - 1/5 - Meh... does night count as a decoration? I am counting it, and that scored a point. Other than that, a HUGE disappointment! At least for Operation Blackout they put snow, Herbert statues and other things like that. This party was PURE lazy with decorations.
Storyline - 4/5 - The story was pretty good, but had some flaws. Like WHY IS IT NIGHT? And it was unclear why Herbert was actually capturing the gold, but from what I understand, it was to stay warm. Geez Herbert, sail away on an Iceberg to Hawaii, or throw a Winter Luau!
Transformations and Party Games - 4/5 - Puffle Chase is honestly soooo fun! The only thing is it is super repetitive... also is there a quicker way to climb up the hills?
Music - 3/5 - Its good, but not great. That's all I gotta say about that.
Free Items and Catalogs - 2.5/5 - Meh. Nothing super awesome, since most of the catalog items are a return from last year. I don't like the catalog a lot. I think they should have at LEAST have brought a Gold Puffle Costume, and an I Heart My Gold Puffle Tee. The free items, however, are pretty cool, but why give away vehicles for free? SHouldn't those be in the catalog? I am giving free items and catalogs 2.5/5 for confusingness.
Quest - 4/5 - The quest is fun... nuff said.
Other (More Minor) Details - 5/5 - Party Emotes are everywhere! Herbert and PH dont' care! River Rafting is so much fun now... blah blah blah!
I am rating this party 28.5/40, which rounds to 3.5/5! I think it was OK, and I am hoping the reason they are making it kinda dumb is so they can focus on Christmas.
Honestly, Operation: Puffle seemed a little boring, and I wasn't as excited for it as Operation: Blackout. It's nighttime all over which looks pretty cool, there was a fun mini-game to play that fed you a TON of coins but it lacked a cool plot like Operation: Blackout. It also didn't make much sense that Herbert would kidnap puffles to dig up coins for him, it was also never explained why he did it. Okay so he gets rich? What good does that do him? He's not going to go to the Penguin Style and go on a shopping spree, if he got all those coins he was probably buying parts for something but the question remains is what. I guess we'll never know since all those coins are going to Coins For Change 2013. It's really not the best and it lacked the epic excitement Operation: Blackout gave to me.
I like the puffle chasing game.
Liked the new rooms except for the river one. So annoying!
Why is Herbert playing Solitaire when he could be taking over the island of Club Penguin (just saying)?
Did NOT like the room full of rivers! Boo!
This page was last modified on 23 January 2014, at 09:13.


Oh, baby. Super Bowl Sunday. So many delicious foods to feast on. I just polished off some nachos, what are you munching on?
It's estimated that over 100 million people are watching and I would assume eating something :) Curious what people around the country are eating? I found a pretty sweet food map that breaks down what the most popular foods are by state. Based off of Naches I kick it with Alaska and I can dig it! Let me know where you are from based off your choice and add your own if you don't see it!


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Church Road, Christian Malford, Chippenham, SN15
The property was built in 2011 and forms a superb detached family house with practical and well laid out accommodation over three floors, positioned in a quiet edge of village location.
The property was built in 2011 and forms a superb detached family house with practical and well laid out accommodation over three floors, positioned in a quiet village location. Throughout the property the rooms are large, light and flow brilliantly whilst offering a pleasant and well balanced mix of traditional styles and features with the benefit of modern fixtures and fittings.
With sliding sash windows, wooden and tiled flooring and range of contemporary bathroom sanitary ware, the property is presented to the highest standard throughout.
A superbly fitted kitchen and breakfast room really does feel like the hub of the house, with ample space for a farmhouse style table and comfy sofas within the deep bay window. There are bi folding doors which open up to the outside entertaining/seating area. To one side of the main entrance hall is a lovely sitting room with triple aspect, wooden flooring and a large stone fireplace with wood burning stove as its centre piece. Back across the hall is the dining room, study and utility room.
Off the spacious first floor landing is access to three bedrooms, all having en suite bath or shower rooms, and the master bedroom also having a dressing area.
On the second floor are two further bedrooms and an additional family bathroom.
Grounds & Gardens
Outside, a large driveway to the front of the house provides ample parking in front of the garage. The gardens wrap around three sides of the property including vegetable garden, with the main garden to the rear facing south. The boundaries are either fenced or walled and there are various borders brimming with mature shrubs and plants. The seating areas are positioned to make the most of the sun as it moves around the property.
Christian Malford is one of the few villages in the area retaining the facilities and amenities villages used to have. With a primary school, church, village shop/post office, pub and village hall, where there are many social events and activities arranged on a regular basis. The village is just four miles N.E. of Chippenham, which has easy access to a wide range of shops, providing an excellent range of shopping facilities and amenities including mainline rail services (Paddington about 75 minutes) and modern sports/leisure centre; excellent road communications provide easy access to the major employment centres of Bath, Bristol and Swindon via the M4 together with London and the West Country. Those with an interest in country and leisure pursuits are well catered for in the area and there is a good choice of both state and private schooling in the region.
Perry Bishop and Chambers - Cirencester
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It turns out there is a quick fix when it comes to exercise. That's right — a short jolt of exercise is great for regaining focus and sharpening attention.
So what kind of exercise are we talking about here? Kids' stuff — a handful of jumping jacks!
According to Dr. Edward Hallowell, world-renowned psychiatrist, educator, and author of Crazy Busy, when your mind starts to wander or you get drained mid-day at work, doing 25 jumping jacks can provide a short boost to the brain to help you get back on track and refocused (not to mention, the silly-fun factor).
A few less conspicuous "quick focus boosters" include: doing a set of push-ups, walking up and down 3 flights of stairs, or taking a 5-minute walk outside. (As with all exercise, make sure your doctor gives the okay first).
While exercise is great for our hearts and our waistlines, it's equally good for our brains. And, we're not just talking the familiar mood-boosting endorphins that come with lengthier and more intense exercise. Chemical changes in the brain, which result from even fairly quick exercises, have a profound effect on our executive functions — our abilities to focus, prioritize, memorize, and maintain alertness.
…And, heck, if you're caught doing jumping jacks by co-workers who look at you funny, tell 'em this crazy coach you know suggested it.
P.S. There are so many more great tricks for boosting focus, attention, and memory! One of my areas of specialty as a personal coach is working with adults who have symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) — helping them to make their lives easier and more fulfilling. If you'd like to learn more, please don't hesitate to reach out. It would be a delight to talk with you…and it could make a real difference in your life or the life of someone you love.