text:
Archbishop Chaput: Enforce immigration laws, don't separate families
As Archbishop Charles Chaput preaches during the liturgy for immigrants and refugees March 19 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Father Thomas Viviano translates the homily for Spanish-speaking participants. (Sarah Webb)
Jose Marroquin and his son Jose Jr. traveled to the cathedral from St. Rocco Parish in rural Avondale, Chester County, to attend the March 19 prayer service. (Sarah Webb)
By Lou Baldwin • Posted March 21, 2017
Karol Diaz, in fifth grade at Assumption B.V.M. School in West Grove, was among the youngest of those attending the Liturgy of the Word for justice for immigrants and refugees led by Archbishop Charles Chaput at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Sunday, March 19.
(Read the full text of the archbishop's homily here, see a photo gallery of the prayer service here, and listen to the recorded homily here. Watch the video below.)
In very few words, Diaz got to the heart of the matter.
"I'm here for my parents. They are immigrants and they don't have papers," he said.
This too was addressed by Archbishop Chaput in his homily when he spoke of the fear and anxiety in the immigrant community.
"Parents are afraid of being separated from one another and their children," he said. "Children are afraid that when they come home from school their parents will be gone."
The purpose of the liturgy, the archbishop said, was to gather as a church to pray and reflect on the immigration issue that is a source of great division and polarization in the United States today.
"Since we are Christians we have a serious obligation, a vocation, to be concerned about justice, charity and mercy," he said.
He acknowledged there are good people on both sides of the issue and "as followers of Jesus Christ we need to resist the temptation to demonize those with whom we disagree," he said.
The archbishop made very clear on which side the Catholic Church and the American Catholic bishops stand.
"We believe that good government should welcome foreigners out of charity and respect for the human person," he said in his homily. With the help of Father Thomas Viviano, it was simultaneously translated into Spanish, the language of many of the approximately 200 people who were in attendance.
"We believe that people have a right to immigrate when they need to find work and ways of making the lives of their families better," he told the congregation. "This is a matter of basic human rights."
Justice for Immigrants and Refugees from Kearns Media Consulting LLC on Vimeo.
At the same time, the bishops believe "a country has a right to an ordered immigration process," he said, adding "enforcement of the laws of our country (is) important."
Immigrants who are guilty of such crimes as smuggling, drug trafficking and human trafficking should be deported, Archbishop Chaput acknowledged, but when it comes to enforcement of immigration laws the family should be respected above all.
"We can't separate families from one another or parents from their children. Enforcement should be humane and proportional," he said.
At the beginning of his homily Archbishop Chaput quoted from the Office of Readings for the day from the Book of Exodus, which for the occasion was spot on: "You shall not molest or oppress an alien for you were once aliens yourself in the Land of Egypt."
As a matter of fact, many of those attending the service were not immigrants or aliens but descended from forebears who were.
"My parents came from Germany, from Bavaria," said Trinitarian Sister Bernadine Schmalhoffer, who attended in solidarity with the immigrants. "It was rough and they had to struggle to make a living, and I'm sure these poor people will make it."
Father John Newns brought a busload of about 25 of his parishioners from St. Ann Parish in Phoenixville, and most were indeed immigrants although the little children were born here. "Many of our people are from Mexico and Guatemala," he said.
Whatever their place of birth, they appreciated the service. "Everything was wonderful," said Angel Julian, who attended with the St. Ann group. "I'm American but many people here are not. But as the archbishop said, we are all brothers and sisters, we are all the same."
Juan Diaz and his son Karol from St. Rocco Parish, Avondale, pray at the prayer service for immigration. (Sarah Webb)
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Most of those who say that they are the descendants of immigrants forgot that their ancestors probably came here legally.
There is a world of difference between coming to the US legally or illegally. As the child of immigrants I completely understand that there is no free ride. The gates of our Sovereign Nations do not, in good conscience and common sense, do not have to be open to anyone who chooses to come here.
My ancestors wanted to come here and were happy to enjoy the freedom and knew that they had to work for a living. They never expected something for nothing.
Gabor says:
I am a Catholic , immigrant, and a former refugee. If the Church wants to stop seperating families, they should be complaining about birthright citizenship. We waited in line years to be vetted, entered the USA legally, obeyed laws, and learned English. We were always treated well by Americans because we followed the rules. The Catholic Church knows about rules
Helen McDevitt-Smith says:
I attended the Prayer Service and was impressed by the homily given by Archbishop Chaput. He was fair, balanced and stressed the Church's teaching on welcoming the stranger.
However, I think that the headline here, "Archbishop Chaput: Enforce immigration laws, don't separate families" is misleading. While the Archbishop was emphatic about how wrong it is that the recent DHS poliy can lead to separation of parents from children, he also said : "… the American Bishops oppose, strenuously oppose, an "enforcement only" immigration policy… ." This is important for people to hear.
Brian Davis says:
If America has the obligation to admit every immigrant seeking a better life we cannot have an orderly process. If we have an orderly process we cannot allow every person who enters the country in search of a better life to stay. There are at least two billion people on this planet who have lives as bad or worse than the average Central American. For instance, 800,000,000 innocent humans are drinking contaminated water, which is just as dangerous as living in a war zone. Do they all have the right to come here?
The Catholic bishops are not being honest about what can and cannot be done. A real solution to this problem starts with facing the facts, not quoting Bible verses and playing to the crowd.
Well said. The United States of America is a country. It is not a marketplace where people around the world come to find work. Sounds like the Archbishop is advocating for open borders. Perhaps he voted for Hillary.
Dr. Don says:
Illegal immigration is wrong . Sanctuary cities must not cover up for criminal behavior . I agree that we should show compassion when dealing with the immigration issue.


Description Car accident on East Main Street and 56th Street where the vehicle is on its side, the trunk popped open with items spilling out. A large crowd has gathered, standing in various clusters of people infront of a house. One police officer is visible apparently taking statements.


text:
India v England keeps delivering
Humiliated in the first test, India have bounced back at Chennai.
The pitch was called all sorts of names by a variety of pundits, but India managed to get 329 on it, with Rohit Sharma slamming 161 in an innings that made many people think he was going to get a triple century.
That England fell away for 134 in their first innings is perhaps more indicative of their failings against high quality spin bowling than anything else. And that was what we saw in Chennai, England, who had reigned supreme in the first test when the pitch seemed to be relatively flat, ended up being bamboozled by spin here.
India had found some fight, as epitomised first by Rohit Sharma during their first innings, then Ashwin with the ball in England's first innings. England were left trying to find some residue to fight on with. And when they had India 106-6, you got the sense that they were finally getting their heads up.
Then Ashwin walked in.
Ashwin who had struggled for runs before this test match and was increasingly being seen as a liability. He walked in and he didn't leave again until India had scored 286. Along the way he hit his fifth test match hundred, achieving a rare feat of scoring a hundred and taking a five-for for the third time. He got to his century with a boundary, though the ball flew off the outside edge.
From there, there was only really one way this game was going to end.
Victory when it came must have been sweet for India, but for the fans watching at home or in the stands-and the seating arrangement really was strange-the entire series has now been opened up.
With the series level at 1-1, one has to wonder what strategies both teams will take going into Ahmedabad. India will be happy that they've managed to win here, though their batting experienced frailties in both innings once again, and had it not been for Ashwin they might well have been on the ropes.
For England, their bowling has been in fine form, and if their batting can adapt to the conditions as it did in Sri Lanka they will be able to compete.
All in all, it does seem as though we are in for a real fun ride for the remaining tests of this series.
England, India, Pautadi Trophpy
England outclass India
Facebook blocks news for Australian users

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"Purchasing Power Profile: Zipcode 53217" by John Pawasarat, Lois M. Quinn et al.
While central city residents often have much lower family incomes than suburban residents, they typically spend much of their income on consumer purchases, providing a strong base of retail purchasing. To help identify the economic assets of central city neighborhoods and to further employment opportunities for city residents the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Employment and Training Institute prepared state-of-the-art purchasing power estimates of consumer expenditures and retail sales leakage/surplus by neighborhood. The ETI drill downs were designed to help determine the diversity of the workforce and to further economic development for underserved communities and for neighborhoods with concentrations of residents of color. This presentation compares the purchasing power of a suburban zipcode (53217) with nearby central city neighborhoods.
Pawasarat, John; Quinn, Lois M.; and Stetzer, Frank, "Purchasing Power Profile: Zipcode 53217" (2001). ETI Publications. 200.


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Tag: single
What's it we talk about today? You! All we ever talk about is You. Always. And I don't mind. Let's be clear about this. Narcissism is very good for your own EGO. Right? So let's write a song about!
The video was created using royalty free stockvideo and edited using FlowBlade (Linux video editing). The song was written together with my friend James and features Judith S. (not the lady in the video) on vocals.
Prefer online streaming instead of YouTube? Try Drooble. Want to be kind to us? Buy the song or even the album! It's available at CDBaby and BandCamp.
This is the new single from our latest release, "The End Of The Street". Please see this post for detailed information about the release.
drooble
The End Of The Street (free single)
Today we're releasing another (free) brand new track! The End Of The Street, a sad, bluesy, song about a love affair that went wrong. You can listen for free (streaming) at Drooble or BandCamp. The free download is available at BandCamp.
Download from Bandcamp:
https://barkingaunts.bandcamp.com/track/the-end-of-the-street
The track was recorded at our home recording studio, the ZolderStudio (LoftStudio).It's the first new release recorded at the new studio!
It took about a year to finish this song. After writing the initial first verse and chorus and recording it on a smartphone we've been working on it off and on. The first acoustic versions were recorded but we didn't like them. Rewrote part of the lyrics and rerecorded it in a 'full band setting'.
Recording details:
Drums, Bass – Digitech Trio
Guitars, Vocals, Keyboard – Rudy
DAW: Ardour
There are only 200 free downloads/month available at BandCamp. If you'd like to, however, you can support us by paying a small fee! We'd really appreciate that!
Little Girl (You're Making Me Cry) now charting at Drooble
Shortly after it's release our latest single, "Little Girl", made it to the folkcharts at Drooble. The song is ranking at #13 at the moment but even made it to #12 yesterday.
Listen to Little Girl at SoundCloud
The song was also selected by the Drooble Team for the weekly playlist (Week 46) by the Drooble Team. We're very honored the Drooble Team picked the song for their Weekly Playlist (click here).
SECOND CHARTING SINGLE
This is the second single from the album "Radio Rejects" that made it to the Drooble Charts. The first single, "No Limit (On Love)", reached #7 on the blues charts.
RADIO REJECTS
The album "Radio Rejects" was released on November 14,2018. Click here to read more about the album. The album, including three bonus tracks, is available for free(!) at BandCamp and for free streaming at many other websites.
BANDCAMP [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Includes three, exclusive, bonus tracks!
https://barkingaunts.bandcamp.com/album/radio-rejects
At Reverbnation, you will get 6 tracks for US$ 5.00
https://www.reverbnation.com/5458791/album/214245
AUDIOMACK
https://audiomack.com/album/solid-rock-blues-band/radio-rejects
https://soundcloud.com/barkingaunts/sets/srbb-radio-rejects-pre-release
No Limit (On Love) Hit The Charts!
Limit On Love Hits the Charts at Drooble
Only 2 days after it's release, "No Limit (On Love)" reached #12 on the Drooble Blues Charts! Highest position for the track was at #7 and it stayed in the Top10 Blues charts for over a week.
If not on Drooble, you can find the new track at SoundCloud. And no, we didn't pay anything for this. At Drooble, you get free radioplay. Yes, you read correct: Free.
https://soundcloud.com/barkingaunts/no-limit-on-love
Or listen for free at BandCamp, where it's also available for download for only US$0.70.
https://barkingaunts.bandcamp.com/track/no-limit-on-love
No Limit (On Love) is the new single by the Solid Rock Blues Band project. A lovesong, but not the standard lovesong. Fast and up-tempo power chords blues-rock.
There ain't No Limit On Love. You can't get no speeding ticket for loving someone so much it's almost illegal, right? All right! So here's our new track "No Limit (On Love)". You can listen for free on SoundCloud, AudioMack and BandCamp.
iTUNES and SPOTIFY
The single is also available on iTunes and Spotify.
Are you a musician or band? Sign up with Drooble and earn KARMA (and get radioplays). Click here to join Drooble.
No Limit On Love – New Single
No Limit (On Love) is the new single by the Solid Rock Blues Band home recording project. A lovesong, but not the standard lovesong. Fast and up-tempo power chords blues-rock.
The song was written and recorded in high speed, just as the song itself is in high speed. It took only two days to write the lyrics and music and record and mix it(!) that doesn't make it a substandard songs. Some awesome songs were written in studio's "on the spot". Remember the story about U2's album "October"? The lyrics (for some songs) were lost (stolen), so Bono had to write some lyrics while they were in the studio!
It's a fast song, power-chords based and recorded at the Zolderstudio Homerecording Studio. It probably would fit the Bluesrock bag or Rock and Roll. Anyway – it's about the favorite theme of most people: Love. And this is a love-song that isn't about Red Roses and fast heartbeats.
No Limit (On Love) by Solid Rock Blues Band
Like it? You can download a HQ Audio version from BandCamp for only US$ 0.70.
New (first) single release Solid Rock Blues Band!
Today we've released our first, official, single at BandCamp, Audiomack and SoundCloud. The single, an original song written bij Rudy & James, is available for download for only US$ 0.70. You can stream it for free on all sites mentioned of course.
The song is a more-or-less acoustic folk-rock song, recorded at the ZolderStudio. The song was written and composed originally by Rudy, and after the first rough demo was recorded it was send to his friend James (aka "Le Jaz"). James wrote the bridge and came up wih some advice and suggestions for the chord progression. Yesterday the final version was recorded and mixed. Today we did the 'mastering' and here it is!
Miserable by Solid Rock Blues Band
At the moment we're still working on songs, new original recordings and covers. We expect to have enough good tracks for a debut album for the spring of 2018. We hope to be able to publish a 12 track album but it will be at least containing eight songs, including some cover songs.
Music & Words ©2017 R. Brinkman/J. Zheutlin
Recorded and mixed at the ZolderStudio, Noordhorn (NL)
I feel so miserable today
'cus my girl has gone away
I'm so lonely and miserableThere's no way she's coming back
she said to me
There's no way I'm coming back
I'm miserableIt used to be my smile
Never wandered from my face.
Now I feel like
the loneliest saddest guy
In the whole human race.
I'm miserable….
I'm so lonely and miserable


The good folks at MemoryCardZoo sent us out a Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SD card, figuring we might quite like to put some of its bold claims to the test.
Reviewing a Micro SD card would normally be the kind of chore that'd drive a sober chap to booze, or a drunken chap to even more booze, but this Samsung effort reckons it can laugh off a fairly brutal beat-down. Fun times.
Claim the first: the Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card is waterproof and dust-resistant, thanks to its EMC (Epoxy Molding Compound) coating. Bit hard to test the dust stuff (though, having said that, my flat could probably use a good spring clean), but the water stuff; that we can do.
I left the Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card in a mug of water overnight, and it was completely fine the next day. Indeed, some of the marketing blurb claims the card can live in seawater for up to 24 hours.
Claim the second: the Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card is shock proof. The Samsung website suggests it's ok to step on the card, but I gave it a good kick around the flat too. Again: the Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card was unfazed.
Claim the third: the Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card is "safe amid x-rays and magnets". Er, I don't have my x-ray machine to hand, but I did introduce the card to a few of my favourite fridge magnets. They got along just fine, and the Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card walked away unscathed.
I joke about x-rays, in the sense that it's not exactly easy to test out, but the practical example Samsung gives is x-ray machines in airports.
With write speeds, you're looking at 6-7MB/s, so just over 20 minutes to fill her up.
The Samsung 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card goes for £10.50 with free delivery from MemoryCardZoo and comes with an SD adaptor and five-year warranty.
Summary: You can pick up a less durable 8GB class 4 Micro SDHC card for a good few quid less, but this might be what you're after if you happen to be particularly clumsy.
It's pretty amazing to think that this tiny little thing can store so much yet be so durable. In fact, the first thing I do when I finish building my time machine is go back to the 80s and go "Hey look at this super-awesome technology guys!".
My micro SD cards tend to be quite safe as they're usually tucked inside my phones (where they dont come out)!
Do yuou know, ive never thought about the xray machine at an airport messing up the data on my iPhone/Camera? Its not had any problems so far and its been through a fair few so I wonder if thats so much of an issue and more marketing jargon?


text: export * from './aurelia-testing';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
U.S. Envoy: N. Korea Reactor Restart Bad
TOKYO | A U.S. special envoy said Thursday that any move by North Korea to restart a nuclear reactor would be a "very serious matter" and violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
A U.S. research institute said Wednesday that a recent satellite image appears to show that North Korea is restarting its plutonium reactor at the Nyongbyon nuclear facility, which was shuttered in 2007 under the terms of a six-nation disarmament agreement.
U.S. special envoy for North Korea Glyn Davies told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday that if the report is true, it would be a violation of North Korea's past commitments.
"This would be a very serious matter — we think a misstep on the part of North Korea — because, of course, it would violate a series of U.N. Security Council resolutions," Davies said after meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Junichi Ihara.
"It flies in the face of North Korea's own commitments and promises they've made over the years," he said. "So this would be a step that we would regard very seriously."
North Korea threatened in April to restart the reactor but has since toned down its inflammatory rhetoric and stepped up diplomacy with rival South Korea.
The U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said an Aug. 31 satellite image shows white steam rising from a building next to the North Korean reactor and that it appears to indicate that it is being restarted.
South Korea has yet to respond to the report. Its National Intelligence Service said it could not confirm it.


HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean gold miner RioZim said on Friday it had suspended production at its three mines for the second time in four months because the central bank had failed to pay it in U.S. dollars for part of its gold deliveries.
Gold producers in the southern African country sell their output to central bank subsidiary Fidelity Printers and Refiners and are supposed to be paid 55 percent of their earnings in U.S. dollars. The remainder is paid via electronic dollars into their bank accounts.
RioZim, which is 95-percent owned by local shareholders, is Zimbabwe's second biggest gold producer and last October threatened legal action to force the Reserve Bank to pay it more dollars for part of its output.
The gold miner said since December, it had experienced "significant and persistent" delays in dollar payments, affecting its viability.
"Consequently, the company has recently been forced, once again, to involuntarily suspend production across all its three gold mines pending full payment of its foreign exchange proceeds," RioZim said in a statement.
The company said it continued to engage the Reserve Bank but if negotiations failed, it would shut its mines indefinitely.
Central bank Governor John Mangudya did not respond to calls for a comment.
Zibmabwe adopted the U.S. dollar in 2009 to tame hyperinflation, but is facing acute dollar shortages and that has sent prices of basic goods spiralling and inflation rising to double digits.
Mines Minister Winston Chitando said on Monday Mangudya would soon introduce a monetary policy tool to alleviate the foreign currency shortages that have affected miners.
Gold is the country's single largest export earner and production reached an all time high of 33 tonnes in 2018 from 27 tonnes the year before, official data shows, driven by record output from small scale producers.


Durham Constabulary are currently dealing with a serious road traffic incident, which happened at approximately 10.35 this morning on the Geneva Road and Falmer Road junction in Darlington where a vehicle has collided with a child pedestrian.
There is currently a road closure in place on Neasham Road from Matalan towards Geneva Road. A 100m cordon is in place around the scene of the collision and is expected to remain in place for several hours.
The driver of the vehicle is still outstanding and police are appealing for them to come forward.
We are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to call the police on 101.


text:
Emma Codd comments on the gender pay gap has been saved
Emma Codd comments on the gender pay gap has been removed
An Article Titled Emma Codd comments on the gender pay gap already exists in Saved items
Emma Codd comments on the gender pay gap
In response to the gender pay gap reporting deadline, Emma Codd, managing partner for talent at Deloitte UK, said:
"I remain firmly of the view that mandatory gender pay gap reporting is a means through which we can drive positive change in the UK when it comes to gender balance. However, I also believe that publishing the numbers alone doesn't give the whole picture to stakeholders – firms that are serious about reducing their gap should have a plan in place to make this happen and therefore able and willing to publish this in their narrative".
Given that the cause of the gender pay gap in many organisations – including my own - is a lack of women in senior positions, understanding the steps these firms are taking to ensure they have more women in leadership roles is critical. In my own firm we have worked hard over the past few years to improve gender balance at all levels of our firm – and these steps are working. However, we also know that it will take more than one year to play through to seeing them significantly reduce our gender pay gap."
In this press release references to "Deloitte" are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ("DTTL") a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity.
Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.
Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NWE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK's leading professional services firms.
The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.
For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk
Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
Laura Parsons
Senior Public Relations Manager
lauparsons@deloitte.co.uk
Consulting and HR.... More


text:
Q: Understanding d-separation theory in causal Bayesian networks I am trying to understand the d-Separation logic in Causal Bayesian Networks. I know how the algorithm works, but I don't exactly understand why the "flow of information" works as stated in the algorithm.

For example in the graph above, lets think that we are only given X and no other variable has been observed. Then according to the rules of d-separation, the information flow from X to D:

*

*X influences A, which is $P(A)\neq P(A|X)$. This is OK, since A causes X and if we know about the effect X, this affects our belief about the cause A. Information flows.

*X influences B,which is $P(B)\neq P(B|X)$. This is OK, since A has been changed by our knowledge about X, the change at A can influence our beliefs about its cause, B, as well.

*X influences C,which is $P(C)\neq P(C|X)$. This is OK because we know that B is biased by our knowledge about its indirect effect, X, and since B is biased by X, this will influence B's all direct and indirect effects. C is a direct effect of B and it is influenced by our knowledge about X.
Well, up to this point, everything is OK for me since the flow of the information occurs according to intuitive cause-effect relationships. But I don't get the special behavior of so called "V-structures" or "Colliders" in this scheme. According to the d-Separation theory, B and D are the common causes of C in the graph above and it says that if we did not observe C or any of its descendants, the flow information from X is blocked at C. Well, OK, but my question is why?
From the three steps above, started from X, we saw that C is influenced by our knowledge about X and the information flow occurred according to the cause-effect relationship. The d-Separation theory says that we cannot go from C to D since C is not observed. But I think that since we know that C is biased and D is a cause of C, D should be affected as well while the theory says the opposite. I am clearly missing something in my thinking pattern but can't see what it is.
So I need an explanation of why the flow of information blocked at C, if C is not observed.

A: Is it not intuitive that you cannot reason from cause to unobserved effect to another cause?  If the rain (B) and the sprinkler (D) are causes of the wet ground (C), then can you argue that seeing rain implies that the ground is probably wet, and continue to reason that the sprinkler must be on since the ground is wet?!  Of course not.  You argued that the ground was wet because of the rain — you can't look for additional causes!
If you observe the wet ground, of course the situation changes.  Now you may be able to reason from one cause to the other as Frank explains.

A: Let's forget about X for a moment and consider just the collider of B, C and D. The reason that the v-structure can block the path between B and D is that, in general, if you have two independent random variables (B and D) that affect the same outcome (C), then knowing the outcome can allow you to draw conclusions about the relationship between the random variables, thus allowing for information flow.
Using an example from Pearl's book on causality, let C be the observation that the lawn is wet, D the event that it rained, and B the event that the sprinkler was on. Then if you don't know whether the lawn is wet or not, C and D are clearly independent (no information flows). But if you do know that the lawn is wet, then if it rained, it's less likely that the sprinkler was on ($P(B|D) \neq P(B)$) and if the sprinkler was on, it's less likely that the wet grass was caused by the rain ($P(D|B) \neq P(D)$). Hence, knowing that the lawn is wet unblocks the path and makes B and D dependent.
To understand this better, it might be useful to have a look at Berkson's Paradox, which describes the same situation.

A:
Well, up to this point, everything is OK for me since the flow of the
  information occurs according to intuitive cause-effect relationships.
  But I don't get the special behavior of so called "V-structures" or
  "Colliders" in this scheme.

Then the hard nut to crack here is the v-structure. I'd like to illustrate the difference between the probability of a variable S conditioned only on the observation of the effect and the influence of the observation of another variable D which is independent of S in the same situation using a fictitious example.
Let's say that someone is taking a course, say linear algebra. If he can pass it mainly dependens on the difficulty of the exam. Let's denote the event of passing the course by P, passing as 1 and 0 otherwise; and the difficulty of the exam as D, difficult as 1 and easy as 0. And something nonsense may also exert an influence on his performance or the result, let's say the singularity happens and he would be brainwashed by a machine and then decides not to take the exam. We denote that event by S, and its probability is 0.0001. That seems impossible but by definition its chance should not be zero.
Hence we have a graph of the v-structure form now:
 D   S
  | |
 \| |/
   P

If we know that if sigularity comes the student doesn't take the exam: $P(\neg P|S) = 0.999999$ and $P(P|S)=0.000001$, no matter how easy the exam would be. And the prior probabilities are as follows:
| d0   | d1      |
|:-----|--------:|
| 0.5  | 0.5     |

| s0     | s1      |
|:-------|--------:|
| 0.9999 | 0.0001  |

| S     | D    | P(p0|S,D) | P(p1|S,D) |
|:------|-----:|----------:|----------:|
|s0     | d0   |   0.20    |   0.80    |
|s0     | d1   |   0.90    |   0.10    |
|s1     | d0   |   0.999999|   0.000001|
|s1     | d1   |   0.999999|   0.000001|

To check if S and D are independent or not given P we should work out two distributions(see the first two equations in wikipedia: Conditional Independence): $P(S|P)$ and $P(S|P, D)$. If they are equal we can say that the conditional independence hold, otherwise it doesn't.
1) If we don't know the result we can calculate the probability of the singularity happenning given the course is easy.
\begin{align}
P(S|\neg D) & = P(S, P|\neg D)+P(S, \neg P| \neg D) \\
& = \frac{P(S=1, P=1, D=0)}{P(D=0)} + \frac{P(S=1, P=0, D=0)}{P(D=0)} \\
& = \frac{P(S=1)P(D=0|S=1)P(P=1|D=0,S=1)}{P(D=0)} + \frac{P(S=1)P(D=0|S=1)P(P=0|D=0,S=1)}{P(D=0)} \\
& = \frac{P(S=1)P(D=0|S=1)}{P(D=0)} \\
& = \frac{P(S=1)P(D=0)}{P(D=0)} \\
& = P(S=1) \\
& = 0.0001
\end{align}
As you can see above that doesn't matter if the exam is passed or not. What comes as it should come. It can be seen as a marginal probability over P.
And we can also work out the probability the the singularity happens given that the student doesn't pass the exam:
\begin{align}
P(S, |\neg P) &= \frac{P(S,\neg P)}{P(\neg P)} \\
&= \frac{P(S,\neg p, D) + P(S,\neg P, \neg D)}{P(\neg P)}\\
&= \frac{P(\neg P|S, D) P(S) P(D)+P(\neg P|S, \neg D)P(S)P(\neg D)}{\sum_{S,D}P(\neg P |S,D)P(S)P(D) }\\
&= 0.0001818
\end{align}
Knowing that the guy doesn't pass the exam we can guess that he may be brainwashed by a machine is 0.0001818 which is a little bigger than when we don't know it.
2) But what if we know that the guy failed the exam and the exam is easy?
\begin{align}
P(S, |\neg P, \neg D) &= \frac{P(S=1, P=0, D=0)}{P(P=0, D=0)} \\
& = \frac{P(P=0|S=1, D=0)P(S=1)P(D=0)}{P(P=0|S=1, D=0)P(S=1)P(D=0)+P(P=0|S=0, D=0)P(S=0)P(D=0)} \\
& = \frac{0.999999 \times 0.0001 \times 0.5}{0.2 \times 0.9999 \times 0.5+0.999999 \times 0.0001 \times 0.5} \\
& =  0.0004998
\end{align}
Lo and behold, the change is much bigger than we just know he doesn't plass the exam. Then we see that $P(S|P) \neq P(S|P, D)$ we can infer that $S \perp D | P \notin I(P(P, S, D))$ which means D can influence S via P.
May this detailed derivation be of hlep.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
UK Strain, 13 more test positive, number tallied to 71
Bird Flu outbreak, Centre Sends Teams To Kerala, Haryana
Discrepancies in Arjun Rampal's Statement, NCB finds the actor arranged for a backdated prescription
Trump claims the democrats won the...
Moderna Claims its Vaccine is 94.5% effective
Top StoriesMissing Toll Crosses 600 in California Wildfire, Trump Will Visit the Victims
Missing Toll Crosses 600 in California Wildfire, Trump Will Visit the Victims
by Haimantee Ghosh November 16, 2018
The number of missing people has crossed 600 in deadliest wildfire devastated California. On 8th November while Campfire exploded in Northern California, the rescue authorities got back to back emergency calls and after reviewing those calls the authorities said that the count of missing people had jumped from 300 and reached up to 631.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told journalists, while the devastating fire spread " I want you to understand that the chaos we were dealing with was extraordinary" describing the distressing new count of missing.
The total death toll reached 63 in the ravaging campfire of Northern California. Seven additional victims were discovered by the rescue team. Minimum three people have lost their lives in Southern California in another conflagration entitled as the Woolsey Fire which inflamed the parts of Malibu, wrecking the apartments of a number of celebrities.
To review the entire distressing circumstances by one of the most devastating and deadliest calamities in the history of the state, US President Donald Trump will visit the victims of the ravaging California wildfire on Saturday.
Most of the victims and the missing individuals belong from the Paradise town of Butte County which is located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is reported that the victims of that region were rapidly trapped in their cars while they were trying to flee from the fast-spreading blaze and their attempt to escape from the conflagration had been failed.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea described that the number of the missing individuals was fluctuating as people randomly called to report about their loved ones from their concern of safety.
He also said, "If you look at that list and see your name, or the name of a friend or loved one, please call to let us know ".
The rescue personnel collected the DNA samples from the relatives to assist in recognition of the victims as hundreds of rescue operators worked along with sniffer dogs to discovered more victims.
Warning Us Over Seized Ship North...
Deadly Arctic Boom Push US Midwest...
Russia registered the world's First COVID...
President Trump's Administration Re-Authorized "Cyanide Bombs"...
Kate Spade Dead at 55: Celebrities...
Terrorist strike near Srinagar, two soldiers...
China Undergoing With Difficulties , Will...
British Health Minister Tests Positive for...


One interesting story that was conveyed to me while I was visiting the federal prison was the apparent freedom of religion and the encouragement of religion.
Yes, the great irony is that federally supported schools scoff and discourage religion, but federally supported prisons encourage and support religion.
Well leave it to some enterprising inmates with zero freedoms to find the best religious ceremony on earth, which allows fellowship, team work, hours away from the usual routine, a campfire, and smoking of tobacco.
It seems that the Native American religious rites are seeing a wave of converts in prisons by attending weekly sweat lodge ceremonies.
The guy who starts the fire for the sweat lodge at this prison camp is from Vietnam, and claims to be the best pyromaniac alive.
There are white folks, black folks and Puerto Ricans who worship Native American ancestors, and have a legal smoke without fear of going to the box.
Sounds fair - wonder if they will take up living as nomads and hunting buffalo when they get out?


1 This is a conversion chart for mile per British gallon (British system). To switch the unit simply find the one you want on the page and click it.
2 Enter the value you want to convert (mile per British gallon). Then click the Convert Me button.
Enter the value of your unit (mile per British gallon).


text:
Cemex Building Award: Mexico
Published by Joseph Green, Editor
World Cement, Friday, 11 September 2015 15:00
The Cemex Building Award is an initiative created and organised by Cemex for the purpose of distinguishing the best in architecture and construction around the world.
Each year, Cemex has distinguished the best construction projects and all the people who have made them possible.
The Sombrerete Park Community Centre, located in the capital of the state of Querétaro, Mexico, is the type of project whose collective and individual social impact far transcends its architectural simplicity.
This is the rationale of Juan Alfonso Garduño, the architect responsible for the project awarded first place in the Public Services and Community Well-being Category of the 23rd Mexico edition of the CEMEX Building Award Competition.
The initiative came to fruition through in-kind donations including materials and voluntary labour. Among those working on the project were a group of students from Cambridge University who, over the course of two summers, helped out in the construction. Moreover, the background of the Centre features a wall made of concrete test cylinders—donated by Cemex—where users have a place to gather and store materials, including PET, glass, and cardboard, that are recycled to finance the centre.
With a limited budget, the team worked with whatever resources they had at hand—from useless curbing to straw and earth—to create slabs. "Many of these materials are useful because we can use cement as a binder in different ways," explained the architect.
Edited from source by Joseph Green. Source: Cemex
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/11092015/cemex-building-award-mexico-532/
Cemex and BirdLife support EU Nature Conservation Policy
Cemex and BirdLife, who formed a global biodiversity conservation partnership in 2007, held a ceremony endorsing the European Union's Nature Conservation Policy.
Cemex and GM Motors make effective use of non-recyclable waste
Wednesday, 09 April 2014 09:30
As part of a new co-processing agreement, Cemex uses the non-recyclable waste produced at GM Motors' San Luis Potosi complex in Mexico as a form of alternative fuel in its cement plants.
Cemex announces 3Q12 results
Cemex 3Q12 results reveal an increase in net sales and operating EBITDA.
Cemex and Penna Cement Unable to Agree Terms
Cemex's bid to take over Hyderabad-based Penna Cement hangs in the balance as both companies have been unable to arrive at an acceptable valuation.


How to help reduce the appearance of scars without surgery using non-invasive techniques?
Whether it'd be because of surgery or an injury, scarring occurs when the skin is cut or damaged. As a primary part of skin recuperation, the healing phenomenon is common to each and everyone but does not affect all skin types in the same way. While some people heal quickly and without leaving apparent markings, others might end up with what they'd consider to be inelegant scars on their bodies following a more difficult healing process.
Scars are caused by a skin lesion. These injuries can occur as a result of an injury or after surgery. While some scars can disappear almost completely, most scars will remain visible. For those scar tissues that remain visible, it is possible to reduce their appearance and stiffness in a non-invasive, painless manner.


 Swiss Pass: Discover Switzerland with this all-in-one pass for the rail, the road and the waterways.
Enter age of traveler 7. Use digits only.
Discover Switzerland with this all-in-one pass for the rail, the road and the waterways. Ride trains to popular cities such as Zurich, Lucerne, Lausanne, Geneva, Zermatt, St. Moritz and Davos. Buses and boats will also take you to the lesser known towns & regions, as well as, across lakes such as Lake Neuchatel and Lake Geneva. The Swiss Travel Pass is valid for travel from 3 to 15 consecutive days of travel. You can also select a Swiss Travel Pass Flexi, valid for travel on 3, 4, 8 or 15 days within a period of 30 days.
Up to 15% off for youth aged between 16 and 27.
Up to 50% off for children aged between 6 and 15. Children under 6 travel for free.
Anyone can purchase a Swiss Travel Pass except permanent residents of Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
Border and airport stations include: Basel Main station, Basel Airport, Bern Main Station (SBB/BLS), Bern Belp, Burchs (St Gallen), Chiasso, Geneva Main Station, Geneva Airport, Koblenz (Switzerland), Konstanz (Germany), Lausanne, Lugano Main Station, Lugano Airport, Schaffhausen, St Margrethen, Tirano (Italy), Visp/Brig, Zurich Main Station and Zurich Airport.
By selecting the first day of use at the time of booking, this pass is pre-validated.
For Flexible passes, you must enter the date of travel in the corresponding box on the pass before boarding the first train of the day.
For the purpose of determining the period of validity, the first day of validity counts as an entire day. The Swiss Travel Pass is valid from 12:00 a.m. of the first day of validity until 5:00 a.m. of the day following the last day of validity.
A seat reservation and/or supplement is required to travel on some trains/buses/boats such as the Glacier Express, Gotthard Panorama Express and Palm Express.
A valid Swiss Travel Pass is also valid as a Swiss Museum Pass, providing free access to more than 490 museums in Switzerland (for more details visit http://www.museumspass.ch/en/where-to-use-my-museum-pass/).
Includes mountain excursions to: Pilatus, Rigi and Schynige Platte.
Swiss Pass: Discover Switzerland with this all-in-one pass for the rail, the road and the waterways.
Purchased Swiss Rail Pass direct from ACP Rail. Passes were mailed by return post in good time for our Swiss trip. Excellent experience, easiest way to travel, remember to validate with your passport number before travelling. Friendly ticket inspector reminded us so it wasn't a problem.


Formed in 1982, The Montgomery Symphony League works in partnership with the Montgomery Symphony Association to foster, promote and increase the public's appreciation and knowledge of music by providing educational activities for youth and adults of the River Region.
The League provides volunteer support for projects and activities that make the MSO's season possible. The League sponsors and administers the Montgomery Youth Orchestra, administers the Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition, and raises and administers scholarship funds for area youth and for members of the MSO. The League also plays a leadership role in the MSO's annual concerts for all Montgomery-area sixth graders and provides hospitality for orchestra members throughout the year.
With approximately 200 members, the League is an enthusiastic, congenial group. During the concert season, members meet four times for luncheon meetings, which feature outstanding musical programs and informative presentations on upcoming concerts by MSO Maestro Thomas Hinds.
Annual dues are $30 (each), payable to the Montgomery Symphony League.
Questions? Contact the MSO office.


text:
Hjem / Nyheder / Ronaldo protests his innocence
The Portuguese winger is currently serving a three-match ban following his dismissal for an apparent headbutt on Pompey's Richard Hughes in the Fratton Park clash. The champions have picked up just two points from their opening two games, and will now be stripped of their star man's talents for the games against City, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland. But while Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to condemn any reaction from his players, Ronaldo refused accept the red card he was given was justified. "The replays show there was nothing," Ronaldo told the Sun. "But I don't need to look at the pictures, because I know exactly what I did - and that's nothing to justify a red card." Ronaldo was eager to point out he did not headbutt Hughes in their coming together. "I was pushed in the area. He came straight to me, put his hand on my neck and I opened my arms in a 'that's enough' way. We pushed each other but nothing serious," he added. "We leaned heads against each other but that was all. Absolutely nothing else happened. "When I saw the red card, I couldn't believe it, the situation was so surreal. "And it's absurd because I'm aware that now I'll sit out a ban for something I didn't do. I feel dejected and very sad."


The Google Pack is a free collection of essential software from Google and other companies. The software in the Google Pack helps you browse the web faster, remove spyware and viruses, organize your photos, and more. All the software has been verified free of unwanted extra programs or excessive notifications.
File [exe] terinfeksi virus, bisakah diselamatkan ?
sngat membantu saya..karena banyak yg saya temukan di sini…thank's….,thank's and terimakasih….!
Mas. Utk mendunlud sopwer2 dr gugel pack hrs online,ya?
You are really nice and smart!


RapidText is targeted at the creation of large textual sections of maintenance documentation where 3D graphics is not needed. RapidText's screen layout and interface elements are arranged to facilitate the text editing process.
RapidText requires specification components of a special type – TEXT. Two specification components of this type are included in RapidAuhor suite – S1000D 4.1 Text and DITA Topic.
The document editor uses the XMetaL® XMAX as an embedded ActiveX component.


Image courtesy of FTL Design Engineering Studio An aerial view rendering of the proposed Music Pavilion at the Sun Valley Resort shows the permanent horn-like acoustic shell. A tent-like cover will shield the seating area. Teflon is the intended material, but that could change before the project is completed.


"A Christian's hope is not a frivolous optimism, but it is grounded in our prayerful relationship with the Risen Lord. When we live in hope, we accept the new spirit from the work of God in our world. Living with Hope will, help us to live with Love, in a culture of dialogue. We freely offer ourselves, making wise and courageous choices, unhindered by fear, pessimism, and mistrust."


Please check out the rest of the pages of books and information they provide as it is my hope that you will find exactly what you need to make life better.
Please take the time to check out the following pages that share about each of my books.
Many people want to know "what to feed my son with behavior disorder?" and I do my best to share that information.
For a more detailed look at what my books have to offer there are free previews of pages at both Amazon, Audibles, Itunes, and Barnes & Nobles. Just place Michelle Bever in the search on either site or the title.
is a book that simplifies sources of food to eat that go with each Vitamin, Mineral, etc.; functions of the body, and then Deficiencies are symptoms of how the body expresses itself when it's not happy.
filled with ADD, ADHD, Autism, tests available, and so much more. It's a wealth of information that you can start applying and making decisions today.
ADD, Autism, More - Buy Now!


text:
Redlands Coast – a brand new identity
The Redlands is set to emerge with an exciting new identity after Council today agreed to endorse a place brand for the city, following consultation with almost 5,000 locals, business owners and visitors.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the place brand and positioning statement, 'Redlands Coast – Naturally Wonderful' was the clear choice among participants in the research and engagement.
"While Redlands rivals any South East Queensland city for natural beauty and tourism attractions, Council, tourism operators and the Redlands Economic Development Advisory Board have all recognised that as a city we need a clear and recognisable identity," she said.
"We are excited to be embarking on a new journey to deliver a Redlands story that will support business, attract trade and investment, open up tourism opportunities and build on our already strong community pride.
"Establishing a place brand for the Redlands is an investment in the city's future prosperity and growth.
"This step in fostering economic development and tourism as Redlands Coast is especially important given our close proximity to the Brisbane and Gold Coast airports and Port of Brisbane and the opportunities that come with that, as well as with North Stradbroke Island transitioning from sand mining to tourism by 2019.
"Our reputation as a place is closely aligned with our ability to attract visitors, new business, investment and skilled people.
"We've carried out robust qualitative and quantitative research and stakeholder consultation, specifically to test the appetite and attitudes to a place brand among a range of stakeholders, both in and outside Redlands."
Cr Williams said the name 'Redlands Coast' reflected Redlands approximately 335km of coastline and was built from the community up.
"We have more coastline than other places, including the Sunshine Coast. While it might not be all white beaches, our rich and diverse coastline is its own kind of 'naturally wonderful' along every twist and turn from Thorneside to Redland Bay and fringing our seven magnificent islands," Cr Williams said.
"Our water lifestyle is what residents told us was the best part of our city, what differentiated us from other places, what attracted them to the area and what grounded them. They said that no matter how long they have lived here, there was always something new to discover."
The term 'Redlands Coast' was coined by community focus group participant Lucas Bolton, of Birkdale, and subsequently garnered significant approval from community and visitors.
Cr Williams said positioning the city geographically was important because a lot of people just didn't know where Redlands was.
"It's time we were out loud and proud as a vibrant coastal region of mainland coastline and island communities, and put Redlands on the map properly," she said.
"'Redlands Coast' is a name that defines us, and 'Naturally Wonderful' is a tagline that not only defines our landscape but also our 'naturally wonderful' people.
Cr Williams said 'Naturally Wonderful' was a tagline that several focus groups came up with themselves, independent of each other.
Redlands Economic Development Advisory Board Chair Sam Kennedy said that with the prediction of one in four jobs being created worldwide related to tourism, destination marketing was critical to helping us capture a larger share of visitors to Queensland each year.
"There is huge potential for the new and authentic place brand – 'Redlands Coast' – to support both continued growth in tourism and business investment and development in other sectors such as education and healthcare," Ms Kennedy said.
Redlands Tourism Subcommittee member and Straddie Chamber of Commerce President Col Battersby said it was an amazing time and opportunity for the city.
"The opportunities are endless and I look forward to the new brand and to the future of tourism as a key driver of growth for our city," Mr Battersby said.
Redlands Tourism Subcommittee member and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation CEO Cameron Costello said he was excited about the launch of the new Redlands Coast brand, which was developed in consultation with Quandamooka Elders and artists.
"It provides a platform to promote all the city has to offer, including Quandamooka culture, which has the potential to become an international tourism drawcard," Mr Costello said.
"Quandamooka people walk softly on the Redlands Coast and recognise the 'rc' shape of the mainland and islands logo as footprints walking softly."
Renowned artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, whose family belongs to Quandamooka Country and who designed the 2018 Commonwealth Games medals, contributed to the Redlands Coast logo design.
"The symbols in the middle of both the 'r' and the 'c' of the logo subtly represent the physical elements of the land and sea, including the shells on the coastline and the landscape within the Redlands," Ms Cockatoo-Collins said.
"The essence of the beaches and coastline, the patterns of the shells, the rhythm of the waves and their impact on the soft sand lines which shift with every tide, and are forever marked within the shells that are brought with the tideline, inspire a lot of what I produce."
Place branding has long been an accepted and critical component for destination marketing used by many regions and Councils globally. It delivers on a Council priority project, is an action of the Redland City Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2020 and a recommendation to Council by the Redlands Economic Development Advisory Board.
The new place brand does not replace the Redland City Council logo and does not change the official name of the city. It is a promotional brand for the city.
Cr Williams said formal promotion of Redlands Coast would start soon.
Posted in Tourism and tagged .
← Council to pick up Weinam Creek Development Council notes canal and lake community engagement reports →


RE/MAX Ultimate is not afraid of change, it's afraid of not changing. The entire Leadership Team thinks like a REALTOR® first. We demonstrate leadership through constant innovation and incorporating the most advanced Technology and Professional Marketing Techniques that will set our REALTORS® apart. We support a team environment while allowing each associate the autonomy to fulfill and achieve the career they envision.
We have a passion for excellence and amazing attention to detail. We challenge our associates in the pursuit of being the very best. We place highest priority on our associate's growth by providing unparalleled opportunities for development through ongoing coaching, training, accountability and performance-based recognition. RE/MAX Ultimate is always committed to establishing a successful partnership with associates and employees; a partnership that respects the interest and goals of each party.
Professionalism and Ethics are not just words to us. It's a practice we signed up for because more than anything, reputation matters. We value respectful and cooperative relationships with all fellow REALTORS®. Our clients are our priority. We respect and protect our client's privacy and handle all dealings with the strictest of confidence. We may not always do things right, however we always do the right thing and never compromise our values.
We acknowledge that we are very fortunate and are dedicated to helping people in need. We are personally involved in the communities in which we live and work. We are committed to 100% enrollment in the Children's Miracle Network, in civic and in community affairs that improve the quality of life for people in our neighborhoods.
Building Relationships…Exceeding Expectations…Working for You!


Sometimes you have to wonder why the West Coast is ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to innovations in housing. Backyard cottages being one of them.
ADU's (Auxiliary Dwelling Units) are becoming an everyday sight in the Seattle area where vacant land is hard to find. These ADU's can be used for In-Laws, grown children, ADA 'Granny Pods' and even as rentals.
Greenfab, a modular builder located in Seattle has been at the forefront of ADU movement and one of their latest 'Backyard Cottage' is a great example of their custom design.
I noticed a few things on this house that are different from modulars in other areas of the country. The flipped front and rear porch roofs were quite clever.
When working there ..as opposed to here..ie back East, found that many CA SMAs do in fact specifically allow a second building on a sfd lot!
Dont try it anywhere else.. unless it specifically proved for in property deeds protective covenants and/or zoning.....good luck..


As technology becomes increasingly interoperable, electric connectors play a vital role in advancing device capabilities. Medical Device Developments explores how manufacturers can select the right connector while ensuring a new product meets the necessary safety standards.
In the previous issue of Medical Device Developments, we looked into power supplies for medical devices and, specifically, the options open to OEMs that are building a new device and want to power up. This could be either via a medical-grade battery or, less commonly, via the mains.
While this part of the process is often left to the last minute, it's difficult to overstate its importance. When you're operating in a high-stakes medical situation, any outage really can mean the difference between life and death, so finding a reliable electricity supply is crucial. As we explored, this may entail adding a back-up power source and looking into custom-designed solutions.
For the purposes of that article, we treated each medical device as a stand-alone piece of equipment. However, healthcare environments do not consist of dozens of simple, discrete pieces of kit – interoperability is becoming more important, and different devices may form part of a larger system.
Similarly, many devices boast a high level of internal complexity. They need to be able to transfer data, signal and power between their various systems and peripherals.
"Manufacturers should also consider human factors, such as whether the connector will be gripped with a gloved, and therefore slippery, hand."
This means that electrical connectors are just as critical as the ultimate power source. When developing or updating a product, manufacturers need to keep a keen eye on their cabling and connectors, and consider these elements when determining its overall risk profile. Here we run through some important considerations for OEMs looking to connect the dots.
There are many different options available, which can make it hard to select the right connector for the job. Depending on the function, these can be hidden connectors, which transmit power internally between the circuit boards of a single device; conventional connectors, which tie together systems and peripherals; or critical connectors, which link systems with functional devices. They can also be reusable or disposable.
Perhaps the first question to ask is whether you need something bespoke or if you would be happy with a commercial off-the-shelf solution. While custom connectors are more expensive than your typical design, they may be necessary if you have very specific application requirements. They can also tie into product branding – introduce an aesthetically striking and cleverly designed connector, and you have an additional opportunity to differentiate your device.
Where this isn't an option, some OEMs settle for a modified off-the-shelf solution, which can be a kind of halfway house. This is far cheaper than designing the whole connector from scratch but allows the introduction of some custom elements when necessary.
Generally speaking, as the med-tech sector evolves, so too do connectors. Designers are finding themselves under pressure to make their connectors as sleek and long-lasting as possible.
Miniaturisation: medical devices are shrinking, with a steady shift towards portable, handheld applications. This means that connectors also must downsize, without losing any functionality in the process. In effect, designers are required to cram far more pins into a smaller space so as to retain the same signal density. The main way they are approaching this task is by reducing the spaces between the pins. With pins spaced less than 1mm apart, newer connectors can be more than 60% smaller than their predecessors. Since this trend is relatively new, it is important to closely check the specifics and maintain a dialogue with your supplier. While it is always tempting to opt for something small, sleek and easy to integrate, it's important to ensure your fun-sized connector can, in fact, carry the necessary levels of signal and power.
in material science. The latest generation of connectors, with rugged nickel-plated aluminium housing, can last for at least 20,000 mating cycles without any performance drop.
While many of the points raised so far could apply across any sector, healthcare environments pose specific challenges that do not apply to, say, consumer goods. Manufacturers need to remain vigilant against electromagnetic interference and poorly sterilised equipment, as well as ensuring their connectors are highly durable. They should also consider human factors, such as whether the connector will be gripped with a gloved, and therefore slippery, hand.
Sterilisation: as healthcare systems work hard to reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), sterilisation is a critical concern. Connectors are no exception – they either need to be sterilisable or hermetically sealed. And because sterilisation methods are so multifarious, a connector in this setting needs to be able to withstand the likes of wipes, gamma radiation and autoclave to name a few.
Durability: within a medical setting, it is particularly crucial that connectors are not torn off equipment or out of walls. To minimise these dangers, some connectors use breakaway features that impart an extra level of durability and reliability. They might feature a spring probe pin and pad contacts, which ensure individual pins remain electrically connected even when misaligned, as well as improving ease of cleaning.
Signal noise: especially when it comes to devices such as patient monitors and pacemakers, it's important to shield against signal noise. This means using materials such as stainless steel and brass, as these have low magnetic fields and therefore do not affect signal clarity. Designers can also overmould the connector cable, which absorbs some of the disturbance as well as adding tensile strength. Shield-locking mechanisms and filter connections fulfil a similar function. Whatever you decide, medical devices are critical applications, and any problems with signal fidelity must be addressed.
By far the most crucial concern is safety. Medical device manufacturers need to have strategies in place to determine and manage their risk, which these days means following formal methodologies as part of the regulatory process.
When it comes to connectors, they need to mitigate the risks of electric shock and power failure. This is a nuanced task, and the specifics will depend on the job the connector is serving. Portable medical devices, for instance, will require finger protection and touch-proof connectors that keep the live parts out of harm's reach.
"Despite the staggering array of possibilities on offer, the task for medical device OEMs is clear: pick a reputable vendor you trust and with whom you can instigate a dialogue."
It also means thinking hard about cable selection – for instance, reducing silicone-jacket damage by adding a low-friction coating. Many OEMs choose to outsource this part of the process to a dedicated cable house that can manage their cable assembly from termination right through to overmoulding, sealing and testing.
Regulation: as discussed in our previous article, FDA recently implemented new safety standards. Any medical device seeking approval in the US must now comply with the third edition of IEC 60601-1. This provides a safety benchmark for medical electrical equipment and requires manufacturers to have a documented risk management system in place. Designers can use design failure modes effects analysis (DFMEA) and also process failure mode effects analysis (PFMEA) to explore their risks and investigate whether their manufacturing process is up to scratch. They also need to engage with all the possible hazards right from the prototype or 3D modelling stage.
It seems probable that as medical devices become more sophisticated, their electrical connectors will follow suit. Two possibilities that hold promise for the future are hybrid and contactless connectors.
Hybrid connectors: today's devices have more functionality than ever before, which means more connectors are needed. This, however, takes up valuable space. A new breed of integrated hybrid connectors has arisen, which can, for instance, combine electrical connectors with optical connectors for data transmission. These allow multiple functions within a single interface.
Contactless connectors: we have heard it time and time again – devices are going wireless. As contactless technology continues to advance, intricate systems of cables and wires could soon be a thing of the past. Contactless connectors, currently in development, could transfer power via inductive coupling and would have no exposed electrical parts. This means they could be sterilised using intensive, high-temperature methods, making them ideal for use in a hospital setting. Connectors of this kind have already been developed for other industries, and it seems that the med-tech sector may not be too far behind.
Despite the staggering array of possibilities on offer, the task for medical device OEMs is clear: pick a reputable vendor you trust and with whom you can instigate a dialogue. With so many factors at stake, you need your chosen partner to be a jack of all trades, that takes risk management seriously while meeting your needs for sterilisation, durability and miniaturisation. As devices become more interdependent, it is more important than ever to make that connection.


In April Eureka Brands, Distributor of Nutcase in Australia, was approached to support Kate Peck and her new adventure.
Kate is an MTV Presenter and MYER Ambassador and was embarking on her first National Geographic (NATGEO) Channel adventure called: A Model Adventure.
The program airs in July every Tuesday night at 9.30pm on the NatGeo channel - don't miss it!
Kate loves her Nutcase and you'll be able to see her kayaking, mountain biking, canyoning and ocean racing!


Our spiritual journey, like The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, begins with a cold dip.
It starts with falling into water.
On December 10, the next film in the popular "Chronicles of Narnia" series will be released. Called The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the story begins with two children, Lucy and Edmund, spending a dreary holiday with their cousin Eustace, a sour and unfriendly little boy. Lucy and Edmund have been to Narnia before, but Eustace hasn't, and he mocks them for their belief in this magical land.
Suddenly, a painting of a ship on Lucy's wall comes to life, and the three children are drawn into Narnia. They fall into the ocean and are rescued by the sailing ship called the Dawn Treader.
You might say that the film begins with a splash.


This stunning oceanfront has been immaculately renovated and is sure to please. Everything in this house is new this year. Pleasant coastal d'cor and sweeping views of the ocean from the great room and master bedroom. Bright, open floor plan is ideal for entertaining. 4 master bedrooms in all. Sun decks on the oceanside and soundside of the home offer lots of outdoor spaces. This one is a true gem and comes with all the fantastic amenities of Sanderling. Take a look at this gorgeous home today!


text:
The five SIP Trunking trends to watch out for in 2021
Our experts take a look at the big trends in SIP Trunking that will drive the evolution of communications platforms in 2021.
Guylaine Bergé
The transformation of digital communications accelerated tremendously over the last year as businesses around the world were forced to enable home working at an unprecedented scale. Face-to-face interaction ceased and adoption of cloud communication solutions such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other Unified Communications and Cloud Contact Center solutions generated a huge increase in digital communication volumes, including SIP Trunking. After some impressive scaling of the backbone infrastructure, SIP Trunking providers around the world demonstrated the importance of redundancy and reliability for business continuity and growth.
The key takeaway here is scalability at speed, which will continue to be fundamental. As we move into 2021, a number of new and emerging trends will drive the further evolution and maturity of SIP Trunking services.
Stijn Coppieters (Product Portfolio Manager) and Sven van Gurp (Sales Manager) - two of CM.com's SIP Trunking experts - share their thoughts on the top five trends to expect this year.
1. Speech-driven chatbots
We're sure everyone reading this has had some good and some frustrating interactions with chatbots, and more of us are using the technology. Juniper Research estimates that 8.2 billion devices with voice assistants will be shipped by 2024, around double those estimated to have shipped in 2020.
Speech recognition and synthesis is maturing quickly. Text-to-speech in various languages is advancing fast and sounds increasingly natural. This technology can be integrated easily via API from the likes of Google or Amazon, allowing it to be rolled out internationally in non-English speaking countries, without the need for pre-recorded audio files. In short, you get more flexibility at a lower cost.
The operational efficiency benefits that are now possible for repetitive voice calls could be a game-changer for businesses, particularly in industries with heavy volumes of customer interaction, such as retail, energy, and travel. Companies have already recognized this and many are writing RFPs for voice and chatbot capability (often using a combination of the two to better manage customer contact).
It's not hard to see why: bots can handle thousands of calls at the same time before channeling enquiries to expert operators and can scale up or down extremely quickly. Traditional IVRs (Interactive Voice Responses) built on hardware will be replaced by state-of-the-art IVRs based on speech recognition software and AI, handling a huge share of calls fully automatically, but handing complex questions over to live agents.
In 2021 we expect greater adoption of voice-driven chatbots, with their AI function driving huge efficiencies across industries.
2. Combining portals with intelligent APIs
CM.com has invested heavily in its self-service customer portal over the past couple of years. This portal is greatly valued by customers and prospects, and is also required for initial registration with CM.com and for account creation.
However, recurring tasks such as number requests, SIP Trunk creation and configuration, and downloading Call Detail Records can be more practical when managed via an API. For customers maintaining their own software – such as SaaS providers – directly integrating such recurring tasks within their own software via API results in significant operational efficiency and customer satisfaction for end-users.
This is a trend we will continue to embrace in 2021 as we work towards our goal of providing each and every feature in our software portal via API as well.
3. BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier)
Bring Your Own Carrier (BYOC) SIP Trunking is an increasingly popular way for businesses of all sizes to reduce costs, gain greater control of their inbound and outbound call traffic, and better manage their numbers.
It gives you the ability to select specific or multiple SIP vendors, helping you increase your redundancy and resilience while simplifying compliance and saving money. Perhaps the biggest win from SIP Trunking comes with scalability. BYOC is the perfect way to scale – up or down – both domestically and internationally. Instead of being dependent on one provider, you can work with as many as you need, keeping the numbers you have and adding more if required.
CM.com has integrations with multiple software platforms, which typically enables us to connect end-customers with different carriers or other SIP Trunk providers within a day.
4. Regulation, regulation, regulation
In 2021, regulation will have a larger impact on traffic than it will on the transition from legacy systems. The main takeaway from these regulatory changes is that they will challenge how companies can access certain countries without having an entity on the ground. This is designed to protect local markets, as well as to reduce abuse of remote call centers abroad.
In the past few years, for example, mobile operators have introduced origin-based charges to protect local telecoms markets from international VoIP fraud. In France, the body responsible for regulating the telecoms industry, ARCEP, has introduced additional regulation that prohibits international dialer-based traffic, as well as increasing the requirements for French number usage for Calling Line Identification (CLI) by international companies. Meanwhile, the pandemic has forced organizations in South Africa to further adapt how they make compliance with RICA (Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, 2002) and make it more manageable for individuals and businesses.
One thing is clear, there will be big shifts in the regulatory landscape again this year. As part of the fight against fraud and spam (and to shore up legacy carrier's businesses from more agile, digital competitors) we'll see surcharges and government rulings that forbid certain traffic, such as dialer-based call center traffic and automated calls, especially when originating internationally. This stricter legislation makes it more difficult to be a wholesale carrier facilitating such traffic, as it becomes more expensive, the quality of service is harder to guarantee, or you end up being blocked downstream by national operators.
But this is a good thing: it drives the need for localized, partnership-led services. And not just routing of SIP traffic.
There is still a continuous migration from legacy ISDN/TDM based voice services to SIP/VoIP. For enterprises that used to be connected directly with a native PSTN carrier/operator, services such as emergency calls and access to numbers were packaged in as standard. This is not necessarily the case for SIP Trunking carriers, especially when focused on wholesale.
For enterprises switching to SIP Trunking, it is essential that they partner with SIP Trunking providers that can provide them with these PSTN services in each country where necessary. CM.com can provide these services currently in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France, and later this year it will expand to countries such as Italy, Spain, and the UK.
5. Anti-Fraud and counter-spam
Around 20%-40% of all global VoIP traffic is spam or fraud-related. Unfortunately, as Computer Weekly put it last year: "Scam levels were much lower when the cost of making calls was higher. Now an all-you-can-eat tariff reduces the cost of making malicious calls to zero." But fraudsters still hack customer PBX systems to call very expensive destinations/numbers, taking advantage of revenue sharing models. Communications providers are constantly working to fight back against rising fraud attempts and counter spam calls to consumers. In addition to regulation, verified calls – where the number and location of a call is checked and verified against a database – will become more widespread in 2021.
We expect to see particularly strong growth among business-critical services like banks, helping to provide value-added secure services for their customers. The technology could become commoditized with widespread rollout over the next decade once costs begin to come down. Either way, expect to see phone and SMS ultimately discarded by certain industry sectors (such as banks, where number spoofing threatens to kill their reputation) if fraud is not properly countered, either legally or technically.
Be ready for another unpredictable year
2020 showed the world that we cannot always predict what is coming. For our part, in the Netherlands, CM.com was challenged by the government to provide the core connectivity needed to offer testing to the public. With just two weeks to establish a platform that could handle thousands of calls concurrently, our dedicated team of experts was able to help meet the demands of the Dutch healthcare initiatives.
2020 also showed the value in operating an agile business, utilizing flexible technology that can work from any location and that can scale to demand. These lessons will bear out in 2021 as businesses navigate regulatory changes and shifts in customer behaviors by employing the right, modern communications tools that give them full control of their traffic.
Click here to find out more about our Voice and Sip Trunking offer.
Is Product Marketer for CPaaS (SMS, Voice and OTT Channels). Guylaine likes to bring the right information at the right time and empower people to make things happen. Bringing the right insights to product, sales and marketing to allow succesfull product to go to market is what drives her everyday. She enjoys to keep up to date to the last CPaaS trends and loves to hear and share our last customer success stories.
Oct 05, 2022 • Conversational AI
Voicebot vs IVR in Today's Call Centre
Wouldn't it be a fascinating study to put a Rand value on service speed? How much do you think it would be worth to your company to route customers as quickly as possible to the right place where their problems can be solved in record time?
Sep 02, 2022 • Mobile Marketing Cloud
9 Top Marketing Use Cases for Voice Campaigns
What's more impactful than a personal, spoken message? The human voice is one of the most powerful ways to convey information to your customers, supporters, and employees. But how can you do it at scale? Voice campaigns enable you to reach people effectively, boosting engagement and reach while controlling costs.
Jan 25, 2022 • Mobile Service Cloud
The Strategy of Customer Service Channels for eCommerce
The next time you walk into your favorite brick-and-mortar clothing store, try noting the number of service interactions you encounter in a single visit. You won't get a similar experience online. It's time for multichannel retailers to reimagine the customer experience in a digital setting. Think — immersive, personalised experiences that grab shoppers' attention.
Dec 09, 2021 • Voice
Why Microsoft Teams Direct Routing Is The Must-Have Solution For Your Business
Microsoft Teams has become a staple of the business world. Part of its boost in popularity has been thanks to working from home becoming the norm in recent times. The fact it is currently one of the fastest growing products in the world should come as no surprise. Microsoft Teams handles internal communications, meetings and offers options for document management and app integrations. But did you know you can also use it as a platform to make business calls?
Jul 08, 2021 • Voice
The Benefits of VoIP for Business
If a business process or a system can be done better, faster, and cheaper, then it makes sense to embrace it wholeheartedly. That said, what do you know about VoIP?
Apr 05, 2021 • Messaging
What is OTP?
OTP is a string of characters or numbers automatically generated to be used for one single login attempt. OTP, One Time Passwords in full, can be sent to the user's phone via SMS, Voice or Push message and is used to protect web-based services, private credentials, and data. OTP's will minimize the risk of fraudulent login attempts and thus the risk of stolen data. OTPs come in all shapes and sizes, but always add an extra layer of authentication. Which type of OTP best suits you?
Mar 25, 2021 • Platform
Platform Updates: March 2021
Every day, over a hundred developers are working on improving the CM.com platform. In this update, we want to inform you about the latest changes made to improve your platform experience.
The power of combination: PortingXS combines SMS and Voice
How do you ensure a better customer experience with SMS and Voice? PortingXS facilitates number retention for every type of phone number when a customer switches from one telecom operator to another. We spoke with Tim Leliveld, Area Manager at PortingXS, about their smart application of SMS and Voice for an optimal customer journey.


text:
from concurrent import futures
import sys
import requests
import countryflags as cf
import time

from getsequential import fetch

DEFAULT_NUM_THREADS = 100
GLOBAL_TIMEOUT = 300  # seconds

times = {}

def main(source, num_threads):
    pool = futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(num_threads)
    pending = {}
    t0 = time.time()
    # submit all jobs
    for iso_cc in sorted(cf.cc2name):
        print('get:', iso_cc)
        times[iso_cc] = [time.time() - t0]
        job = pool.submit(fetch, iso_cc, source)
        pending[job] = iso_cc
    to_download = len(pending)
    downloaded = 0
    # get results as jobs are done
    for job in futures.as_completed(pending, timeout=GLOBAL_TIMEOUT):
        try:
            octets, file_name = job.result()
            times[pending[job]].append(time.time() - t0)
            downloaded += 1
            print('\t--> {}: {:5d} bytes'.format(file_name, octets))
        except Exception as exc:
            print('\t***', pending[job], 'generated an exception:', exc)
    ratio = downloaded / to_download
    print('{} of {} downloaded ({:.1%})'.format(downloaded, to_download, ratio))
    for iso_cc in sorted(times):
        start, end = times[iso_cc]
        print('{}\t{:.6g}\t{:.6g}'.format(iso_cc, start, end))

if __name__ == '__main__':
    import argparse

    source_names = ', '.join(sorted(cf.SOURCE_URLS))
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Download flag images.')
    parser.add_argument('source', help='one of: ' + source_names)
    parser.add_argument('-t', '--threads', type=int, default=DEFAULT_NUM_THREADS,
                   help='number of threads (default: %s)' % DEFAULT_NUM_THREADS)

    args = parser.parse_args()
    main(args.source, args.threads)

"""
From CIA, 1 thread:
real    2m0.832s
user    0m4.685s
sys     0m0.366s

"""


text:
P&O Cruises Western Europe
P&O Cruises Western Europe Cruises from Southampton
Travel with P&O Cruises to the best Western Europe destinations from Southampton. Explore the rich culture, grandeur history and the picturesque towns and ports in Western Europe. Guide to the P&O Cruises cruise ports in Western Europe from Southmapton. It shows where the ships dock and some of the cruise ships that dock there.
Discover more about Western Europe cruises available from Southampton with P&O Cruises
Easily find and compare all P&O Cruises itineraries from Southampton to Western Europe.
P&O Ventura, Spain, Portugal & France from Southampton, October 8, 2022
October 8, 2021 southacruise Cruises 2022, Iberian Peninsula cruises, P&O cruise ship Ventura, P&O Cruises, Western Europe Cruises
10-day cruise to Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto & Cherbourg with P&O Cruises Cruising from: Southampton, UK; Departure Date: October 8, 2022; Cruise Line: P&O Cruises; Cruise Ship: Ventura; Duration: 10-day cruise; Cruise number: N227; Ports of Call: Southampton, Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto,[…]
P&O Ventura, Spain & Portugal from Southampton, September 3, 2022
September 3, 2021 southacruise Cruises 2022, Iberian Peninsula cruises, P&O cruise ship Ventura, P&O Cruises, Western Europe Cruises
10-day cruise to Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto & St. Peter Port with P&O Cruises Cruising from: Southampton, UK; Departure Date: September 3, 2022; Cruise Line: P&O Cruises; Cruise Ship: Ventura; Duration: 10-day cruise; Cruise number: N223; Ports of Call: Southampton, Santander, Vigo,[…]
P&O Ventura, France & Spain from Southampton, August 10, 2022
August 10, 2021 southacruise Cruises 2022, Iberian Peninsula cruises, P&O cruise ship Ventura, P&O Cruises, Western Europe Cruises
10-day cruise to Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto & St. Peter Port with P&O Cruises Cruising from: Southampton, UK; Departure Date: August 10, 2022; Cruise Line: P&O Cruises; Cruise Ship: Ventura; Duration: 10-day cruise; Cruise number: N221; Ports of Call: Southampton, Santander, Vigo,[…]
P&O Ventura, Spain & Portugal from Southampton, June 25, 2022
June 25, 2021 southacruise Cruises 2022, Iberian Peninsula cruises, P&O cruise ship Ventura, P&O Cruises, Western Europe Cruises
10-day cruise to Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto & St. Peter Port with P&O Cruises Cruising from: Southampton, UK; Departure Date: June 25, 2022; Cruise Line: P&O Cruises; Cruise Ship: Ventura; Duration: 10-day cruise; Cruise number: N215; Ports of Call: Southampton, Santander, Vigo,[…]
P&O Ventura, Spain & Portugal from Southampton, May 21, 2022
May 21, 2021 southacruise Cruises 2022, Iberian Peninsula cruises, P&O cruise ship Ventura, P&O Cruises, Western Europe Cruises
10-day cruise to Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto & St. Peter Port with P&O Cruises Cruising from: Southampton, UK; Departure Date: May 21, 2022; Cruise Line: P&O Cruises; Cruise Ship: Ventura; Duration: 10-day cruise; Cruise number: N211; Ports of Call: Southampton, Santander, Vigo,[…]


text:
Washington County Cases Continue To Rise
Covid Update: Washington County Health Department Reporting 19 Deaths
IDPH Reports 3 New Covid-19 Deaths in Washington County
COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Given to Clinical Colleagues at HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital Breese
Covid Update: Washington County Up Two Cases, At Ten Deaths
Washington County Reporting 8 COVID-Related Deaths
29 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Reporting, Health Dept. Pleas For Cooperation
Health Department: 23 More Cases Reporting, Up to 449 Total
IHSA Board Decides To Defy Orders, Plans Go Ahead For Basketball Season
Mitigation To Resume In Washington County, Metro East
Archived Stories
Additional News
St Louis News
This Week's School News
Counselor's Report
Classified Form
Sports Entry
Cyclist David Weber Killed By Teen Driver On IL-15
By Editor | September 8, 2017 | 0
By Alex Haglund
David Weber, 63, of Venedy, was killed after being struck by a car while he was riding his bicycle on IL-15 on the evening of Thursday, September 7.
According to the Illinois State Police, the collision took place at approximately 5:19 p.m., when Weber was riding his Specialized Roubaix road bike eastbound on IL-15 just west of Little Prairie Road.
Weber was struck from behind by a 1997 Ford F150 driven by a juvenile female, who was charged after the crash for improper cell phone usage. Weber, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was knocked from the bicycle, and came to rest south of IL-15.
The driver of the F-150 continued on after the collision, not stopping for more than a half mile past the site of the accident.
Weber was evacuated from the scene and taken to Washington County Hospital for emergency medical treatment. At approximately 6:24 p.m., the doctor on call at the WCH Emergency Room declared Weber dead from the trauma of his injuries.
The office of Washington County Coroner Mark Styninger was dispatched to the WCH emergency room at 6:35 p.m., and Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Fletcher responded to the hospital and was later joined by Styninger.
According to the Coroner's release, the cause of death appeared to be internal bleeding from blunt force trauma. Toxicology samples were taken and will be submitted for routine testing.
Following the crash, the juvenile driver was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and improper passing of bicycle, as well as improper cell phone usage.
The crash remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit, Illinois State Police District 13, and the Washington County Coroner's Office. Area fire departments and the Washington County Sheriff's Department provided assistance at the scene.
Posted in Front Page, News
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Pritzker Announces $275 Million Provided to Small Businesses – Largest Grant Recovery Program in the Nation
Nashville Community High School Library Awarded $4,900 Grant
December 22, 2020 | No Comments »
The Nashville News


text:
Q: Change chart color I tested this css code to change chart color but I get NPE when I run the code:
public class MainApp extends Application {

    @Override public void start(Stage stage) {
        stage.setTitle("Line Chart Sample");
        //defining the axes
        final NumberAxis xAxis = new NumberAxis();
        final NumberAxis yAxis = new NumberAxis();
        xAxis.setLabel("Number of Month");
        //creating the chart
        final LineChart<Number,Number> lineChart = new LineChart<>(xAxis,yAxis);

        // Look up first series fill
        Node node = lineChart.lookup(".default-color0.chart-series-area-fill");
        // Set the first series fill to translucent pale green
        node.setStyle("-fx-fill: linear-gradient(#f2f2f2, #d4d4d4);"
            + "  -fx-background-insets: 0 0 -1 0, 0, 1, 2;"
            + "  -fx-background-radius: 3px, 3px, 2px, 1px;");

        Node nodew = lineChart.lookup(".chart-series-area-line");
        // Set the first series fill to translucent pale green
        nodew.setStyle("-fx-stroke: #989898; -fx-stroke-width: 1px; ");

        lineChart.setTitle("Stock Monitoring, 2010");
        //defining a series
        XYChart.Series series = new XYChart.Series();
        series.setName("My portfolio");
        //populating the series with data
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(1, 23));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(2, 14));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(3, 15));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(4, 24));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(5, 34));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(6, 36));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(7, 22));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(8, 45));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(9, 43));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(10, 17));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(11, 29));
        series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(12, 25));

        Scene scene  = new Scene(lineChart,800,600);
        lineChart.getData().add(series);

        stage.setScene(scene);
        stage.show();
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }

}

This line is the problem:
node.setStyle("-fx-fill: linear-gradient(#f2f2f2, #d4d4d4);".........);

Can you tell me how I can fix this? This css code was used in AreaChart. Now I want to use it in LineChart.
P.S
I also tried this css from the example:
http://docs.oracle.com/javafx/2/charts/css-styles.htm
Node node = lineChart.lookup(".default-color0.chart-series-line");
        // Set the first series fill to translucent pale green
        node.setStyle("-fx-stroke: #e9967a;");

But again I get NPE.

A: *

*Make sure you refer to the css documentation for the type of node you are using to see which style classes it supports.

*Lookups are generally not available until css styling has been applied to the node. This means, at the very least, that it must have been rendered to the screen, but it seems that on occasion it takes another frame or two. So, if you want to use a lookup, you must call it after you have called stage.show();, sometimes you need to take further steps to call it later.

*A much better approach is to use an external style sheet. See the tutorial: there's also a specific page for styling charts.

Update (additional idea):
In Java 8 (and maybe in JavaFX 2.2: I don't have a copy of caspian.css convenient), all the data-related colors are defined in terms of the lookup colors CHART_COLOR_1 through CHART_COLOR_8. This gives a nice one-liner to set the colors, at least:
lineChart.setStyle("CHART_COLOR_1: #e9967a;");

A: You have to lookup the nodes after the stage has been shown.

public class MainApp extends Application
{

    @Override public void start(Stage stage)
    {
         stage.setTitle("Line Chart Sample");

         //defining the axes
         final NumberAxis xAxis = new NumberAxis();
         final NumberAxis yAxis = new NumberAxis();
         xAxis.setLabel("Number of Month");

         //creating the chart
         final LineChart<Number,Number> lineChart = new LineChart<>(xAxis,yAxis);
         lineChart.setTitle("Stock Monitoring, 2010");

         //defining a series
         XYChart.Series series = new XYChart.Series();
         series.setName("My portfolio");

         //populating the series with data
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(1, 23));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(2, 14));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(3, 15));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(4, 24));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(5, 34));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(6, 36));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(7, 22));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(8, 45));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(9, 43));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(10, 17));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(11, 29));
         series.getData().add(new XYChart.Data(12, 25));

         Scene scene  = new Scene(lineChart,800,600);
         lineChart.getData().add(series);

         stage.setScene(scene);
         stage.show();

         // Look up first series fill
         Node node = lineChart.lookup(".default-color0.chart-series-area-fill");
         // Set the first series fill to translucent pale green
         node.setStyle("-fx-fill: linear-gradient(#f2f2f2, #d4d4d4);"
             + "  -fx-background-insets: 0 0 -1 0, 0, 1, 2;"
             + "  -fx-background-radius: 3px, 3px, 2px, 1px;");

         Node nodew = lineChart.lookup(".chart-series-area-line");
         // Set the first series fill to translucent pale green
         nodew.setStyle("-fx-stroke: #989898; -fx-stroke-width: 1px; ");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
         launch(args);
    }

}