Comprehensive list of alternative medicine practitioners in Peoria, AZ. Unbiased reviews, ratings and recommendations on local practices.
When the spinal bones function in their normal positions, the central nervous system can properly deliver energy to the body's tissues, organs and systems. Gonstead Family Chiropractic serves all of metro Phoenix Arizona. Our DRX900 spinal decompression system aids in herniated discs, back pain.
E-mail or call for Appointment. Juniper House is situated in historic Catlin Court in downtown Glendale, Arizona. This friendly walking neighborhood provides a range of shops and services in a charming old world setting. In keeping with the historic theme, Juniper House draws on age old traditions from a range of cultures in its range of products and providing of holistic therapies.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
var Horseman = require('node-horseman');
var horseman = new Horseman();

require('dotenv').config();

horseman
  .at('confirm', function(msg) { return true; })
  .userAgent('Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_12_3) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/56.0.2924.87 Safari/537.36')
  .open('https://mokum.place/users/sign_in')
  .type('#user_email', process.env.MOKUM_ANONY_USER_EMAIL)
  .type('#user_password', process.env.MOKUM_ANONY_USER_PASS)
  .click('.btn.btn-sm.btn-primary')
  .waitForNextPage({timeout:10000})
  .open('https://mokum.place/mokum-anony/1144572')
  .waitForNextPage({timeout:10000})
  .click('a[data-params="timelines[]=user_fyeo"]')
  .then(function(){
    horseman.close();
  });


text:
Tag: Credit Suisse India
Credit Suisse India rolls out Real Returns programme
HRK News Bureau - August 4, 2022
Credit Suisse, the global financial services company, has launched the sixth edition of its global Real Returns programme in India. This initiative encourages skilled...
Dutch technology investor Prosus and it's South African parent company, Naspers, has announced that they will be cutting up to 30 per cent of...
Twitter has 2300 working employees, after mass layoffs
According to CNBC reports "Twitter's full-time headcount has dwindled to approximately 1,300 active, working employees, including fewer than 550 full-time engineers by title. Around...


text:
Everyone can feel a little Grinch-y in December. It feels like the holiday season starts earlier and earlier, the malls are packed, and slush-y streets make for wet walks to work. But even the most hard-hearted Scrooge can appreciate the magic of a holiday light display and Toronto knows how to do the holidays right. With dazzlingly bright displays twinkling across the city, it's hard to stay feeling miserly for long. Here are our favourite places to feel your heart (and someone else's hydro bill) grow three sizes this holiday season.
Weekday evenings (closed Mondays) and all day on weekends for most of December, Nathan Phillips Square hosts a Holiday Fair in the Square. The famous Toronto sign remains lit, but the arches above the skating rink, a giant tree and all the surrounding vendor tents are covered in a canopy of lights. All is free (including skating on the rink – but there is a fee for skate rentals), so you can spend your money on delicious fare like Tiny Tom's donuts, beaver tails, and yes, even wine.
Zeus Visits The Christmas Market
The Toronto Christmas Market
The Distillery District plays host to the Toronto Christmas Market, which washes the historic district in light. It's the perfect place to reflect on Toronto's history (the Gooderham & Worts building that dominates the backdrop dates back to 1832) or, in the modern parlance, "do it for the 'Gram" – Instagram opportunities abound at this popular holiday spot. Be aware that it is not free on weekends and parking can be a challenge – best to take transit if possible.
Eaton Centre
Yes, we know. It can be crowded, but maybe that's because it is home to the largest Christmas tree in Canada, a towering behemoth that stands at 100-feet. It spans the height of the whole building – three massive levels. The Eaton Centre also boasts stores not seen many other places in Toronto (or even Canada), like Uniqlo, an Apple store, and Nordstrom, for you to find that unique holiday gift.
Bloor Yorkville
The posh shops aren't the only thing to see in this tony neighbourhood. This holiday season, the park on Cumberland Street will be decked out with lights covering every surface, including the huge fountain beside the famous Yorkville rock. Grab a hot chocolate from one of the many nearby coffee shops and take a stroll through the neighbourhood – maybe the luckiest on your shopping list will get a treat from one of the ultra-luxe stores. For some goofy holiday fun, check out the Speedo Santa Run on Saturday December 15 at 1:30 p.m., which departs from Hemingway's and raises money for the Toys and Games Fund at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.
If all the Netflix Christmas specials are to be believed, there's nothing more magical at the holidays than a castle (especially when an average girl just so happens to fall in love with a real life prince!). All through December (and even a bit into January), Casa Loma will host A Nutcracker Christmas at the Castle. Though tickets must be purchased for entry, buyers will get plenty of bang for their buck, with offerings like ice skating performances, an illusionist, Santa's workshop and a 40-foot-tall tree, along with eight other trees styled by Canadian designers.
Ontario Place
It doesn't seem that appealing to visit in winter, but the bravest – and most well-layered – visitors will be treated to a spectacle of lights at this lakefront venue. Ontario Place's Winter Light Exhibition, which runs all the way into March, features work from 18 artists under the theme "Disruptive Engagement". Warm up afterwards with a skate or by roasting a s'more at one of the community bonfires. Besides, nothing says Canadian Christmas like being a little bit frozen.
Honourable Mention: The Bentway
It's not as gleaming with lights as the rest of these Toronto landmarks, but there's something so quintessentially Torontonian about making the most of winter and skating under the Gardiner Expressway, we had to include it. 2017 was the first year a stretch of road under the Gardiner opened up to public use and saw 50,000 visitors come and skate. This year, its figure 8 shaped rink is opening again, on December 21 weekend. Don't worry about the cold too much – there are also blankets and fires nearby to cozy up.
From our families to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
Jim & Chris


text:
import os
import sys
import unittest

from cookiecutter.main import cookiecutter

if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
    from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
else:
    from mock import MagicMock, patch

from shellfoundry.utilities.cookiecutter_integration import CookiecutterTemplateCompiler

class TestCookiecutterTemplateCompiler(unittest.TestCase):
    @patch("shellfoundry.utilities.cookiecutter_integration.cookiecutter")
    def test_when_in_local_dir_mode_output_folder_is_to_same_dir(
        self, cookiecutter_mock
    ):
        CookiecutterTemplateCompiler().compile_template(
            shell_name="shell",
            template_path="template",
            extra_context={},
            running_on_same_folder=True,
        )
        cookiecutter_mock.smarter_assert_called_once_with(
            cookiecutter, template="template", output_dir=os.path.pardir
        )

    @patch("shellfoundry.utilities.cookiecutter_integration.cookiecutter")
    def test_when_not_in_local_dir_mode_output_folder_is_to_sub_dir(
        self, cookiecutter_mock
    ):
        CookiecutterTemplateCompiler().compile_template(
            shell_name="shell",
            template_path="template",
            extra_context={},
            running_on_same_folder=False,
        )
        cookiecutter_mock.smarter_assert_called_once_with(
            cookiecutter, template="template", output_dir=os.path.curdir
        )

    @patch("shellfoundry.utilities.cookiecutter_integration.cookiecutter")
    @patch("shellfoundry.utilities.cookiecutter_integration.Configuration")
    def test_project_name_automatically_added_to_extra_context(
        self, configuration_class, cookiecutter_mock
    ):
        configuration = MagicMock(
            read=MagicMock(return_value=MagicMock(author="AUTHOR"))
        )
        configuration_class.return_value = configuration

        CookiecutterTemplateCompiler().compile_template(
            shell_name="shell",
            template_path="template",
            extra_context={},
            running_on_same_folder=False,
        )
        cookiecutter_mock.smarter_assert_called_once_with(
            cookiecutter,
            extra_context={"project_name": "shell", "full_name": "AUTHOR"},
            output_dir=os.path.curdir,
        )


When Cathay was having a credit card promotion 2 months back, Eric and I decided to go for an impromptu decision to spend a foodie weekend in Hong Kong. It's my 4th time here and I did blogged about it previously but sad to say during the hosting migration issue, it's all gone. Anyway, enough of the sad story. Here I am starting all over again my blog post!


I'm new to the area. In addition, remember that we offer a large member base of Beaumont couples and that we also serve people of many sexualities. An attractive professional female with a great personality and sense of humor. Looking for someone to spoil and have a great time.


text:
typedef enum { false, true } bool;
#endif


text:
Celebration of Transgenderism With Drag Queen in Jewish Day School
On January 20, 2018 January 20, 2018 By Geri UngureanIn Israel's Messiah2 Comments
A reader of my articles sent a piece from the Times of Israel to me. She was very upset and even said that she believed that these are not "real" Jews. Unfortunately, they are not only real Jews, but they represent the majority of my people.
The Jewish people, as a whole, are very liberal minded. I loved my mother very much – she died in 1999. But I must be truthful with the reader about my mother's ultra liberalism.
After I was born again in 1983, my mother told me that she was less upset about me believing in Jesus than she was at my becoming a Conservative thinker. These were her words: "I can't believe that I gave birth to a Conservative!"
She was pro- abortion, pro gay rights; pro "anything" that the Lord would consider as sin. She even defended Bill Clinton after his disgusting relationship with Lewinsky was made public. She told me that powerful men need more sex. I responded to her that powerful "married" men have wives for that.
Most Jews are Secular or "Reformed"
My father was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in Boston, MA. My mother was raised in a secular Jewish home in Philadelphia. They met in D.C. at a Jewish Community Center during WWII. My dad adored my mom and he gave up his Orthodox traditions and beliefs for her. Isn't it interesting that the Lord put a hunger in my father to really know Him, but not my mother?
After my parents retired to Florida, I began to witness to my dad in letters. He wrote beautiful letters back to me. He would talk about the Ten Commandments, and how proud it made him that I cared about God. He began to watch Billy Graham Crusades on TV whenever they were on. It made my mother a little crazy!
My parents moved back to MD after my dad's health began to fail. The Lord allowed me the privilege of leading my father to Him on the night of his death in 1997.
From timesofisrael.com
Breaking down stereotypes, Jewish day school to host drag queen Shabbat ceremony
Massachusetts' Lander Grinspoon Academy will hold 'Sparkle Havdalah' event in recognition of 'all sorts of family structures in our community'
The Saturday evening event at a Jewish day school in western Massachusetts will in many ways look like a typical havdalah ceremony. There will be a musical interlude marking the end of Shabbat with a traditional braided candle, grape juice and spice bags.
But the event at the Lander Grinspoon Academy in Northampton will also feature storytelling by a less typical guest: a drag queen.
The school, together with local Jewish organizations, is hosting a Jewish version of Drag Queen Story Hour, a national program in which drag entertainers read stories to children. The goal of the program, launched in San Francisco in 2015, is to give kids "glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models."
A local drag queen, Jenayah De Rosario, will be reading "Sparkle Boy," a book by Jewish children's author Leslea Newman, about a young boy who likes to wear glittery clothing. Newman will be on hand to read two of her books: "Here Is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays," and "Heather Has Two Mommies," which when published in 1989 drew praise and controversy for portraying a family with same-sex parents.
The event will also feature plenty of glitter, including workshops to make sparkly spice bags and crowns, a photo booth with costumes and face painting.
Amy Meltzer, the school's director of family engagement, came up with the idea for Sparkle Havdalah: A Drag Queen Story Hour after a local library hosted a drag queen story hour organized by Newman. Meltzer, who serves in the same role for event co-sponsor Congregation B'nai Israel of Northampton, said hosting the havdalah event aligned with the values of the local Jewish community.
"We live in a community that is progressive, has many LGBTQ families and really celebrates people being themselves and not being stuck with really rigid ideas of what gender needs to look like, so it felt like a really natural fit for our community," Meltzer told JTA.
Lander Grinspoon Academy is a non-denominational day school that welcomes children "from all Jewish traditions and backgrounds."
The area, which includes Smith College, Mount Holyoke College and the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts, has a national reputation for being LGBTQ-friendly. The event is co-sponsored by a range of Jewish institutions in the area, including the school and Congregation B'nai Israel of Northampton along with Gan Keshet Preschool, Abundance Farm, PJ Library of Western Massachusetts and the Upper Pioneer Valley, and the Beit Ahavah synagogue . The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which runs PJ Library and is headquartered in nearby Agawam, is providing funding.
In 2014, PJ library, a non-profit organization that sends free Jewish childrens' books and CDs to families, for the first time included a book featuring LGBTQ characters: "The Purim Superhero." However, it chose to make the book about a young boy with two fathers available by request only, rather than sending it out to all who subscribe to the service. PJ Library drew both praise and criticism from the LGBTQ community and allies — praise for including the book, criticism for treating it differently than other books.
Newman said she sees the Lander event as a step forward.
"As far as I know, besides "Purim Superhero," there hasn't been a [PJ Library] book that touches on issues of LGBTQ families," she said. "I would like to think that they at some point might consider heading in that direction. I know they have a very broad constituency, and it's hard to please everybody, so I am absolutely thrilled that they are sponsoring this event."
The local PJ Library service welcomes a diverse group of families, including interfaith, interracial and LGBTQ families, said Rachel Hirsch Schneider, the coordinator for the PJ Library of Western Massachusetts and the Upper Pioneer Valley. The branch operates under the umbrella of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.
"We have all sorts of family structures in our community, and we embrace that fully," Hirsch Schneider told JTA, adding that she hoped to plan future events for LGBTQ families.
Meltzer wants to attract families who might not otherwise attend a Jewish event. She is expecting a large turnout and has bought craft materials for 100 children.
"People have certain stereotypes that a Jewish community might have a narrower approach to understanding gender, so it's a message that we're a welcoming community and an inclusive community," Meltzer said.
She noted that the event might not be a hit everywhere.
"We know this is a good fit for our community," she said. "I have no suggestion that every community ought to have a drag queen havdalah." – source
Brethren, most of the readers of this article are also readers of God's Word. I am sure that you remember that the Jewish people throughout the Word of God were called "stiff necked" and so they were and are. During the coming Time of Jacob's Trouble, God will deal with His Chosen people who are unrepentant. Did you know that Tel Aviv is known as the "Gay Capital of the World?"
But don't forget that there are more believing Jews in Israel today – more than ever before in history! About 10% of Jews in Israel are Orthodox, and most of them live in Jerusalem. Jewish people in America are predominantly secular and do not even care for Israel. Some of them are pro-Palestinian! I believe that this, along with the falling away of much of the church in America, will bring about the demise of our once great country.
Another Holocaust
Unbelieving Jews do not know that a Holocaust is coming that is more horrific than the one they remember from Nazi Germany. After Antichrist sits in the Temple, and declares that he is God – the eyes of the Jewish people will be opened. Antichrist will slaughter 2/3 of Israel. 1/3 will flee to the hills.
I pray that this article falls into the hands of many unbelieving Jews. And I pray that the Lord will use this to draw many of His people to Him – and their eyes will be opened before the Rapture.
And I do believe that we are so very close to the Rapture. Those left behind will experience the most horrific time this earth will ever know:
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21).


text:
You are here: Home » Commentary » The Limits of Social Spending
The Limits of Social Spending
This commentary was also published in Karyawan, A Magazine by the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), January 2018, Volume 13, Issue 1
Singapore's changing economic and demographic landscapes are contributing to the complexity of Singaporeans' social needs.
The city-state's economic transformation – from one that is dependent on foreign direct investment and capital and labour inputs to one that is driven by productivity and innovation, local enterprises and private initiatives – has caused significant shifts in the skill sets valued in the job market. Moreover, the emerging geopolitical and economic risks, and the onset of disruptive technologies are set to undermine job security.
Employability would thus be increasingly dependent on remaining relevant through skills upgrading or acquiring new skills altogether to move from a sunset industry to a sunrise one. Invariably, there will be groups who will progress slower than others as they face steeper learning curves or struggle to adapt to new labour market conditions, thus making them vulnerable socioeconomically.
The challenges of entering a new economic phase are compounded by problems that are long foreseen: Singapore's aging population and declining birth rates, and the infrastructure to accommodate immigration to make up for these, which brings with it financial and social costs.
The above are examples of developments that put upward pressure on social spending. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat revealed in March 2017 that the Government's social expenditure in areas such as housing, healthcare, education and community development almost tripled, hitting S$34 billion in financial year 2016, up from S$12.7 billion a decade earlier. The rising social spending prompted analysts to question whether it is sustainable under the current tax regime, arguing that more taxes would be needed to fund social spending.
An article published on government website, Factually, on 13 August 2015, titled "Why doesn't the Government increase social spending?" clarified that "any increase in spending will have to be funded by taxpayers. Instead, our approach targets help where it is needed, without imposing a heavy tax burden on all". It added that the lower tax burden enables Singaporeans to take home more of their paycheck every month, and save more.
During Economic Society of Singapore's SG50 Distinguished Lecture on 14 August 2015, Deputy Prime Minister and then-Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam shed more light on this, explaining that support for the low- and middle-income groups are calibrated such that it is applied in areas which help them most. This has enabled Singapore to maintain low-taxes, as opposed to Scandinavian countries – often cited as models of progressive and advanced social policies – which impose significantly higher taxes. Mr Tharman shared that Denmark's and Finland's total tax burden as a percentage of GDP are 49% and 44% respectively, compared to Singapore's 16%.
However, on 19 November 2017, speaking at the People's Action Party's annual convention, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong alluded to Mr Heng's Budget speech in February 2017, during which the latter indicated that rapidly rising spending on healthcare and infrastructure has to be supported with "new taxes" or "higher tax rates".
The position on social spending taken by the government just two years earlier left Singaporeans somewhat unprepared for the eventuality that taxes may be increased. Foreseeing disquiet among Singaporeans, Mr Lee said that, "well before that time comes, we have to plan ahead, explain to Singaporeans what the money is needed for, and how the money we earn and we spend will benefit everyone, young and old".
It is unclear, at the time this article is being written, what are the taxes that would be raised or when they would be implemented. Senior Minister of State for Finance Indranee Rajah echoed Mr Lee's concern about Singaporeans' readiness for tax hikes. According to an interview with The Sunday Times (26 November 2017), she shared that the Government will take into account factors such as setting aside enough time for people to absorb the news, and ensuring the poor and needy have enough buffer against the impact.
Speculations among economists are rife that Goods and Services Tax (GST), last raised in 2007 from 5% to 7%, is likely to be the one. The reason is that, considering the need for Singapore's economy to stay competitive, corporate tax is likely to remain untouched. Broad-based hikes in personal income tax rates are also unlikely as it is the Government's plan to keep taxes progressive.
GST accounted for 15.8% of Government's operating revenue in financial year 2016, the largest after corporate income tax (19.6%). The share of personal income tax is 15.3% of the total operating revenue.
A layperson may wonder if raising taxes is the only way to finance increasing social spending. The Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC) framework allows the Government to spend up to 50% of the expected long-term real returns (including capital gains) from the net assets invested by the Government Investment Corporation (GIC), the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Temasek Holdings. However, given the rate at which Government's expenditure is outstripping its revenue – contributed to a large extent by an aging population, growing complexity of social needs and the need to develop Singapore's infrastructure to cope with an expanding population – even this is deemed insufficient to ensure that future generations remain on a sustainable fiscal trajectory.
Singapore's tax policies have come under scrutiny in the past, with critics seeing the republic as a tax haven or being too conservative with public spending. Oxfam International's press release on 12 December 2016 ranked Singapore fifth in its list of "world's worst tax haven". The list is compiled by "assessing the extent to which countries employ the most damaging tax policies", such as the slashing of corporate taxes as countries compete for investment. The consequence is that governments then try to balance their books by reducing public spending, for instance on healthcare and education, or by raising taxes such as value-added tax (VAT) – in Singapore's case, GST – which it argues falls disproportionately on the poor. It described such an approach as "a reckless competition" and a "race to the bottom on corporate tax" as it aggravates social problems such as inequality and poverty.
On the issue of social spending, former Government Investment Corporation (GIC) chief economist Yeoh Lam Keong, in a Facebook post on 23 November 2017, highlighted the Government's focus on maintaining high levels of fiscal savings for the benefit of future generations as a problem. He pointed out that Singapore's social spending levels are much lower than OECD averages as a share of GDP for healthcare, education and social protection and questioned the need for a conservative stance on the NIRC. He argued that the 50% spending rule for NIRC is a "questionable division of investment income from official reserves and shows a strangely skewed social time preference". A more reasonable time preference, in his view, would be to use more of the investment income for the pressing problems of the present generation, such as inadequate retirement finances, lack of universal long term or primary chronic healthcare, underspending in primary and secondary education relative to OECD norms, inadequately funded industrial policy and an underperforming public transport system. Taxes, in his view, should be raised only if found to be necessary after such measures have been adopted.
The Government has disputed Oxfam's report, arguing that Singapore is able to keep the headline corporate tax rate competitive at 17% because it is fiscally prudent and have a diversified tax base. The Ministry of Finance elucidated that tax policies are designed to support substantive economic activities in order to create skilled jobs and build new and enduring capabilities in Singapore.
Local experts, like Mr Chester Wee of Ernst & Young Solutions, was quoted by The Straits Times (14 December 2016) as saying that "Singapore's tax incentive programmes come with strict substance-based conditions such as headcount requirements, local business spending and value-added activities".
On the needs of current and future generations, and NIRC, Mr Heng, in his round-up speech at the end of the Budget debate in March 2017, reiterated the Government's responsibility to ensure sustainability by striking the right balance between current and future generations. It has spent prudently to build its reserves, and tapped on their returns judiciously. Thus, it is imperative that it remains disciplined and prudent in spending the returns of its reserves so that they continue to be a stable and sustainable source of revenue over the long term.
The prospects of paying higher GST appear inevitable. There are concerns for groups that will be affected adversely by it, mainly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Budget 2017 announced a slew of support measures to help households cope with rising living expenses amid the economic slowdown. For example, 1.3 million eligible Singaporeans were then expected to benefit from a one-off GST voucher – Cash Special Payment of up to $200. It was an addition to the regular GST Voucher – Cash.
Going forward, as the government continues to make Singapore competitive and balance government spending for current and future generations, it is essential that policies remain inclusive in the face of changing demographics, slower economic growth and increasingly complex social landscape. It is hoped that Singapore Budget 2018 will announce measures the Government will undertake to cater to the financial needs of those most affected by higher taxes.
Photo source : Straits Times
Imagine Singapore with Zero Immigrants by Acmad Toquero Macarimbang
The Rise of the Educated Jobless?: A Personal Reflection
The Reserved Presidency: A Good Outcome to a Debatable System


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MHS|Alltold
Mishawaka High School Student News
Mishawaka High School | 1202 Lincolnway East | Mishawaka, IN, 46544
maxwell collins
Final Four Preview
Games played, brackets busted, nets cut. It's all part of the annual Madness that comes with early spring. After 64 games played, countless brackets ruined, and many dreams broken we are left with only four. Villanova, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Syracuse. Three games remain to determine this year's college basketball National Champion. The favorite going into these last three games is 1-seed North Carolina. The Tar Heels will take their 19th trip to the Final Four, this year they head to Houston. Coached by legend Roy Williams and led by Senior Forward Brice Johnson, North Carolina looks win only their fifth national title. The next team to look out for is Lon Kruger's Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have boomed their way into the national title picture with the help of Senior Guard Buddy Hield. Hield who averages 25 points per game looks to not only win the National Title, but to also win the Wooden award, college basketball's Heisman trophy. The Sooners will take on the Wildcats of Villanova. Villanova has breezed through the tournament with solid team play and above average shooting from beyond the arc. No one person stands out for the Wildcats but they are led by 6-11'' Senior Forward Daniel Ochefu. Ochefu leads the team with 8 rebounds per game. The final team in this years Final Four is everyone's bracket buster. The Cinderella story, Syracuse. The Fighting Orange look to shock the nation and win only their second national title. Led by another legendary coach in Jim Boeheim and Senior Forward Michael Gbinije, the Fighting Orange must play the role of David in trying to take down the Goliath that is UNC. As these four teams take to Reliant Stadium in Houston, this will be a Final Four like no other. This year's college basketball season has proved to us that anyone can lose. Watch for the intensity of Syracuse as they look to do what no other 10 seed has ever done. Watch for Villanova's 3-point attack as they attempt to take down the Sooners and Buddy Hield. But mostly importantly witness what will be the last three games of what has been an amazing NCAA Basketball season.
Cavemen Come Up Short
Eleven Senior Athletes Sign On
It was a big day for the Mishawaka sports family. Today was National Signing Day, were athletes declare what school they will attend and what sport they will be participating in. Mishawaka has a tota
Senior Grant Jablonski WHME Student Athlete of the Week
Get in touch // Tel: (574) 254-7397 //
mhsalltold@gmail.com
© 2018 by Mishawaka High School and the Alltold staff. No part of this website or its contents may be borrowed, copied, or otherwise used without the express written consent of Mrs. Buchmann.


All clouds in the sky seem to be unusually light and fluffy. It will surely be pleasant to relax among them, especially in this case, where we can see the snow-white clouds and equally beautiful background. You can get on one of those clouds and fly away. That's why this decoration is perfect for any room.


Women and children among civilians killed in air attack in countryside, say civil defense groups.
Twenty civilians have been killed and dozens wounded, including women and children, after the Syrian regime used vacuum bombs to attack targets in Aleppo's countryside, according to civil defense groups.
Many houses were destroyed or damaged in Aleppo when the bombs - devices which explode above ground and spray out a cloud of fuel which then ignites to create a second blast wave - detonated on Friday, civil defense groups told the Anadolu Agency.
Rescue workers and residents were continuing to recover dead bodies and attempt to rescue those still alive under debris.
With such air attacks, activists said civilians should try to leave Aleppo.


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3 Million And Counting: Where Next for PlayStation VR?
By Rebecca Hills-Duty	 Last updated Aug 16, 2018
It was back in June 2017 that the PlayStation VR passed the 1 million units sold mark. This mile stone came after the device has been on the market for less than a year, and word is now in that after less than two years, the PlayStation VR has now passed the 3 million mark. What does this mean for the future of Sony's virtual reality (VR) headset, and the wider VR market?
Sony has had a slightly odd relationship with the PlayStation VR since the start; initially not putting a lot of faith in how much demand there was for the device, and even after the 1 million units milestone, the company didn't celebrate, instead releasing a cautious statement saying it was 'A good start.'
The announcement of the 3 million sales success was met with slightly more enthusiasm by Sony, who not only released an infographic detailing the story of the PlayStation VR, but also offered discounts on several PlayStation VR titles in the US PlayStation Store, a move that has more of celebratory feel about it, comparatively.
A platform is nothing without content, and alongside the three million systems sold, 21.9 million PlayStation VR videogames and experiences have also been sold. This is a fairly respectable number, and includes a number of critically-acclaimed titles such as Resident Evil 7 biohazard and Moss, which started out with PlayStation VR support, and no doubt served to considerably raise the profile of the system.
Though official figures for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift sales are unknown, estimates put them below that of the sales numbers boasted by the PlayStation VR. This does make some sense, and the PlayStation VR doesn't require a high-end PC rig to be built and set-up in order to work, which serves to make it more attractive to the average consumer.
It's also been recognised that sales of VR devices have been declining recently. HTC Vive had something of a spat when an analysis from Digital Trends seemed to predict the decline of the VR market, causing HTC Vive to hit back, pointing out a number of details that the analysis failed to take into account.
Traditionally, add-on peripherals for consoles have usually not done particularly well. The PlayStation VR appears to something of an exception, perhaps due to the level of support it has received from developers, and the support for VR as a whole in the videogaming community.
There has yet to be any announcement of a successor to the PlayStation 4, though some analysts are predicting that the console is getting towards the end of its lifespan. Without any official confirmation, its impossible to know what Sony are planning, but considering that the PlayStation VR has been a success for the company, though a modest one by console standards, it seems likely that another VR device will be paired with the next generation of consoles.
It is impossible to know what the future holds for PlayStation VR, but this milestone seems like another good reason among many for Sony to keep riding the virtual reality train.
PlayStation VRSonySony Interactive Entertainment
Rebecca Hills-Duty 3015 posts 0 comments
Staff Writer at VRFocus who helps bring the news to your screens. Rebecca comes from a background in technology and computing and has been a gamer and console collector since the days of the Commodore 64. She also hosts a weekly gaming related radio show on RadioSEGA.
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Expenses related to business travel, conferences and seminars, training, hospitality and protocol, and business meetings for City Divisions are published semi-annually.
The individual division business expense reports are certified by the Division Heads and submitted to Accounting Services Division. Accounting Services staff review and verify the reported divisions' expenses to the City's accounting records.


Nguyen DM, El-Serag HB, Henderson L, Stein D, Bhattacharyya A, Sampliner RE. Medication usage and the risk of neoplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009 Dec;7(12):1299-304 Abstract available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19523538.


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More shark nets for NSW: why haven't we learned from WA's cull?
Written by Leah Gibbs, Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Wollongong
New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has this week announced a plan for a six-month trial of shark nets off the beaches of northern NSW. This would extend the state's shark net program from the 51 beaches currently netted between Wollongong and Newcastle.
The announcement was triggered by Wednesday's shark accident, in which a surfer received minor injuries from a shark bite at Sharpes Beach, Ballina.
The decision marks a turn-around in Premier Baird's position on sharks. For over a year he has acknowledged the importance of addressing the issue, and has adopted a measured, long-term, non-lethal approach to managing shark hazards. Specifically, the NSW government has, in the last year, allocated funding and resources to non-lethal strategies including surveillance, research and education.
Killing sharks has been highly controversial in Australia in recent years, and in NSW shark nets have been a focus of ongoing, highly polarising debate.
Three common misunderstandings about shark nets
The decision to introduce shark nets in the state's north invites us to revisit some common misunderstandings about this strategy.
First, there is wide misunderstanding about what shark nets are and what they do. The nets used in the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program do not create an enclosed area within which beach goers are protected from sharks.
They are fishing nets, which function by catching and killing sharks in the area. Nets are 150 m long, 6 m deep, and are suspended in water 10-12 m deep, within 500 m of the shore.
Bondi Beach's shark net in 2009. NSW Department of Primary Industries, 2009
Second, whether shark nets work is still up for debate. Shark nets have been used in NSW since 1937. Since then, the number of netted beaches, methods for deploying nets, and data collection and record-keeping methods have changed, and data sets are incomplete.
Our use of the beach and ocean has also changed dramatically. There are more people in the water, in new areas, and we're using the ocean for different activities. At the same time, our observation of sharks and emergency response have improved dramatically.
The suggestion that nets prevent shark accidents is an oversimplification of a complex story, a misrepresentation of both technology and data, and it misinforms the public.
And finally, shark nets cannot be a long-term solution. They are out-dated technology based on outdated thinking, developed 80 years ago.
They go directly against our international responsibility to protect threatened species (under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and our own Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act), and our national priorities for protecting marine environments and species, including several shark species.
We know that shark nets in NSW kill on average at least 275 animals per year (measured between 1950 and 2008), and that the majority of animals killed pose no threat to people. We can do better than this.
Learning from the (very) recent past
Right now we have an opportunity in NSW to learn from recent experiences in Western Australia. In 2012, the WA government, under Premier Colin Barnett, introduced hooked "drumlines" to kill sharks in an attempt to reduce the risk of shark bites. Like this week's announcement by Premier Baird, that policy change was stimulated by a spike in shark accidents.
The response to the new policy was a highly-polarised debate and extraordinary public outcry, including two public protests at Perth's Cottesloe Beach attracting 4,000 and 6,000 people, and protests in eleven other cities around the country, including 2,000 at Sydney's Manly Beach.
The state's Environmental Protection Authority received a record number of 12,000 submissions from scientific and other experts presenting reasons to cease the cull. The WA government heeded the EPA's recommendation and cancelled the policy.
Our research with ocean users conducted during this period showed that perspectives are diverse (we surveyed 557 WA-based ocean-users using quantitative and qualitative research methods).
Among people who use the ocean regularly, some strongly oppose killing sharks; others are ambivalent; and a smaller number of people are in favour. People's views and understandings are nuanced and carefully thought through.
However, within this group, the strategies for managing shark hazards that were most strongly supported were improving public education about sharks, and encouraging ocean users to understand and accept the risks associated with using the ocean. Other widely supported strategies included developing shark deterrents and increasing surveillance and patrols.
The most strongly opposed approaches were those that killed sharks including culling, proactive catch-and-destroy measures, baited drumlines, and shark nets.
In recent years we have been making good progress in Australia on public discussion and investment in more effective and ethical approaches for reducing shark bites. This week's move to introduce an outmoded technology to the north coast promises to further divide the community.
We should continue to invest in developing new strategies that better reflect our contemporary understanding of marine ecosystems. Perhaps we also need to consider (temporarily) altering the way we use the ocean, avoiding areas of higher-than-usual shark sightings.
Authors: Leah Gibbs, Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Wollongong
Read more http://theconversation.com/more-shark-nets-for-nsw-why-havent-we-learned-from-was-cull-66985
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Dan Friel
Tonight's NYC-area shows include Screaming Females, Spoon, The Mountain Goats, Spellling, Meek Mill, Infant Island, and more
What's Going on Thursday?
Today's NYC-area show options include King Crimson, Gruff Rhys, Kelly Lee Owens, Mdou Moctar, Andy Shauf, Dr. Dog, Sleigh Bells and more
Artists pay tribute to Unwound's Vern Rumsey (Thursday, Speedy Ortiz, Cave In, more)
Calvin Johnson, Kimya Dawson, The Van Pelt, Dan Friel, and others have paid tribute as well...
What's going on Sunday?
Tonight's NYC-area shows include Kadhja Bonet, Summer Walker/Melii, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Kenan Thompson, The Spits, Landlady Holiday Spectacular, Stander, and more.
2019 NYC Halloween shows: A Scarily Selective Guide (Flatbush Zombies, Dead & Co, World/Inferno, more)
From Witches and Zombies to cover bands and parades, here are our picks for best Halloween shows, events and parties in NYC this week.
stream Gold Dime's new album 'My House'
Their tour begins with a Brooklyn release show this week.
Listen to new songs by Queen of Jeans, Alex Cameron, Migos, Snoop Dogg, Young Nudy/Girl Talk, Girl Band, Robbie Robertson, and more
Psychic Ills, Simon Boswell & more playing NYC's Psychedelic Film & Music Festival
The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival will take place October 1-7 at various venues in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens...
What's going on Friday?
Tonight's NYC-area shows include Pere Ubu (back with "classic lineup" bassist), Sparta, Alkaline Trio, Ted Leo/Frankie Rose, Gaslight Anthem, Cake/Ben Folds, Ra Ra Riot ('Rhumb Line' anniversary), and more.
The War on Drugs, Superchunk, Tim Kinsella, Broken Social Scene, Burn, Air Waves, Glasser, and more Sunday show options.


The article is devoted to Ukrainian experience of chidlren's book publishing in the context of the economic, social, cultural and linguistic conditions in modern independent Ukraine. The analysis of the children's book market (1991–2015) presents some important quantitative and qualitative trends of the repertoire forming. With an increasing annual number of children's book titles the print run has dropped in hundreds of times. Among significant characteristics of forming of the repertoire are the prevalence rates of editions of fiction (especially tales), editions of applied developing character, different encyclopedia; the imbalance in the ratio of books for different age groups of readers; the growing percentage of religious editions, editions of modern translations of world children's literature; coexistence of high quality book-artifact and low quality mass production, etc. The special attention is payed to publishing houses which formed national repertoire of children's book.


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John Bardinelli - Contributor
John started playing games back in the dark days before the internet. You know, Game Boy link cables, multitaps and all of that. Now, with portable devices dwarfing the power of his first few gaming consoles, John mostly sticks to the PC and mobile worlds and has a particular fondness for retro-themed indie games. That, and Borderlands! Over the past decade John has written for more than a dozen gaming sites, covering everything from browser to mainstream games. Once the day's work has been done, he can usually be found with his nose in some ancient history or philosophy book. Next stop: publishing another game script, or maybe a regular old work of fiction!
When not writing or gaming, John has a summer home on Arrakis where he spends his leisure time wrestling sandworms.
4/6/2017 at 2:14 PM by John Bardinelli 0
It's like a demo, but not.
Upcoming First Person Sci-Fi RPG Inviolate Getting Teaser Prequel
You know how you hear about a game before release and you just can't contain your excitement? The agony of waiting, it can be unbearable. Gvoid aims to take the edge off of that with Inviolate: Prologue, a teaser of sorts for the upcoming sci-fi RPG that includes our favorite feature of all, co-op.
3/24/2017 at 2:00 PM by John Bardinelli 0
My name is ToeJam... and I'm Big Earl.
Funky 16-bit Duo Returning in ToeJam and Earl: Back In The Groove
Remember the good old days when Sega and Nintendo were well-sporting rivals? While Sonic vs. Mario might have gotten all the attention, a little duo known as ToeJam and Earl provided another reason to give Sega consoles a second look. After more than a decade's absence, we finally get our chance to enjoy the aliens' funky platform stylings again in ToeJam and Earl: Back In The Groove.
3/24/2017 at 10:00 AM by John Bardinelli 0
We're gonna need a new hat.
Victor Vran Fractures Some Worlds in Upcoming Expansion
Loved Victor Vran but wanted more, more, more? Never fear, Fractured Worlds is almost here! The recently announced expansion to the game is set to launch on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 by the end of the year, and it'll keep you crafting and exploring and dying for hours on end.
3/24/2017 at 9:00 AM by John Bardinelli 0
All co-op combat, all the time.
Arcade Series Knights of Valour Coming to PS4
Knights of Valour isn't a newcomer to the gaming scene. The sidescrolling action series saw its first release in arcades back in 1999 and has thrived in China and Japan ever since, spawning nine sequels/remixes in the last 15 years. Now, Knights of Valour is getting ready to make its console debut on PlayStation 4, complete with online co-op.
2/2/2017 at 9:00 AM by John Bardinelli 0
Survive together, die alone.
The Wild Eight Hitting Steam Early Access on February 8
After a bit of silence regarding release details, developer 8 Points (now known as Fntastic) has finally put a date on our first taste of The Wild Eight: February 8 on Steam Early Access. It may not be a final release, but the game has built up enough hype that any sampling is a welcomed event.
2/1/2017 at 12:00 PM by John Bardinelli 0
Pasta and guns, a match made in heaven.
Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 Bringing a Second Helping of Co-Op Shooting
In 2015 Guns, Gore & Cannoli manages to get the world of 1920s mobsters and Metal Slug arcade games to sit down at the same table. The result was an awesome sidescrolling shooter with all the classic guns we could handle. But the ballad of Vinnie Cannoli is far from over.
Local co-op is ready to roll.
Yooka-Laylee Multiplayer Modes Unveiled
After a lengthy wait, we finally have some co-op information. Yooka-Laylee won plenty of attention and a sizeable crowdfunding purse back in 2015 thanks to its promise of reviving Banjo-Kazooie style 3D platforming. Multiplayer was mentioned, and now we know what to expect.
Xbox One release set for February
Co-Op Twin Stick Shooter Circuit Breakers Teases New Screens
Circuit Breakers is a classic twin stick shooter that belongs in an upright cabinet with a ring of snot-nosed kids yelling at the screen. (That's a compliment.) Since we no longer live in the age of big hair, we get to experience the same arcade awesomeness at home. Where it's quiet. And joysticks aren't covered in unidentified sticky substances.
Joy-Cons for everyone!
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition Announced for Nintendo Switch
Just a meager handful of games were shown off at the Nintendo Switch unveiling this January. Disappointing, but some publishers have stepped up to show their support for the portable/console system. Days after the presentation, Ubisoft announced three games for Switch, one of which is a definitive edition of our favorite armless co-op experience, Rayman Legends.
1/12/2017 at 12:00 PM by John Bardinelli 0
Cooperation taken to a new level.
Allegorical Co-Op Game Red Rope Gets Another Update
Nothing like a little allegory in your daily dose of gaming. Red Rope: Don't Fall Behind is a unique adventure style game released in 2016 that plays with the idea of unity being both a strength and a restriction. Developer Yonder has quietly released a few updates since last summer, refining the experience by balancing puzzles and fixing small bugs that crop up here and there.
Partners in puzzle solving 'til the end.
Grave Danger Lands on PC, Console Versions Coming Soon
Hardly a week goes by that I don't wax nostalgic about the puzzle platforming co-op perfection that was The Lost Vikings. The game was phenomenal for its level design, simple but powerful cooperative aspects, and it's musical score that gave the vikings a serious '90s attitude. A few games have taken inspiration from The Lost Vikings over the years, but none so elegantly as Grave Danger.
20,000 leagues of procedurally generated abyss.
New Trailer for Co-Op Undersea Explorer We Need to Go Deeper
Exploring the depths of the sea is about to get a lot easier. The insanely stylish co-op exploration game We Need to Go Deeper has a brand new trailer showing off some of the basics of cooperative deep sea life. Even better, the Early Access release date has been set for February 8th, which is practically right now!
632 stories found


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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNTHETICALLY GENERATED SPEECH DESCRIBING MEDIA CONTENT
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the method comprising receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content, selecting at least one piece of metadata for output, and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content. Other aspects of the invention involve alternative output, output speech simultaneously with the primary media content, output speech during gaps in the primary media content, translate metadata in foreign language, tailor voice, accent, and language to match the metadata and/or primary media content. A user may control output via a user interface or output may be customized based on preferences in a user profile.
Roberts, Linda (Decatur, GA, US)
Nguyen, Hong Thi (Atlanta, GA, US)
Schroeter, Horst J. (New Providence, NJ, US)
AT&T Labs (Austin, TX, US)
704/E13.001
G10L13/00
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20040121812 Method of performing speech recognition in a mobile title line communication device June, 2004 Doran et al.
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PULLIAS, JESSE SCOTT
AT&T LEGAL DEPARTMENT - Polsinelli PC (One AT&T Way Room 2A212, BEDMINSTER, NJ, 07921, US)
1. A method of providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the method comprising: receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content; selecting at least one piece of metadata for output; and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of metadata is output alternatively.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the synthetically generated speech is output simultaneously with the primary media content.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synthetically generated speech is output during gaps in the primary media content.
5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: determining whether the metadata is in a foreign language; and translating the metadata to another language before output.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein accent, voice, language, and/or lexicon of the synthetically generated speech are based on at least one piece of metadata and/or the primary media content.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein a user controls output of the at least one piece of metadata through a user interface.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein a user requests output on demand, during, immediately preceding, immediately following playback of primary media content, or at a regular interval.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein user preferences for output are stored in a user profile.
10. A system for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the system comprising: a module configured to receive one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content; a module configured to select at least one piece of metadata for output; and a module configured to output the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one piece of metadata is output alternatively.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the synthetically generated speech is output simultaneously with the primary media content.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the synthetically generated speech is output during gaps in the primary media content.
14. The system of claim 10, the system further comprising: a module configured to determine whether the metadata is in a foreign language; and a module configured to translate the metadata to another language before output.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein accent, voice, language, and/or lexicon of the synthetically generated speech are based on at least one piece of metadata and/or the primary media content.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein a user controls output of the at least one piece of metadata through a user interface.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein a user requests output on demand, during, immediately preceding, immediately following playback of primary media content, or at a regular interval.
18. The system of claim 10, wherein user preferences for output are stored in a user profile.
19. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program having instructions for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the instructions comprising: receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content; selecting at least one piece of metadata for output; and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one piece of metadata is output alternatively.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the synthetically generated speech is output simultaneously with the primary media content.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the synthetically generated speech is output during gaps in the primary media content.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further comprising: determining whether the metadata is in a foreign language; and translating the metadata to another language before output.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein accent, voice, language, and/or lexicon of the synthetically generated speech are based on at least one piece of metadata and/or the primary media content.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein a user controls output of the at least one piece of metadata through a user interface.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein a user requests output on demand, during, immediately preceding, immediately following playback of primary media content, or at a regular interval.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein user preferences for output are stored in a user profile.
The present invention relates to outputting metadata and more specifically to speech synthesis acting to introduce or identify media selections.
Media is pervasive in our society. People encounter media broadcast over traditional AM and FM formats as well as satellite radio and internet radio streams. Digital audio players, such as the Apple iPod™, allow people to bring their entire music library with them and listen to it virtually anywhere. Other electronic devices allow for songs, movies, audio books, and other media to be consumed in any format and any location. Consuming media in new locations brings new problems. For example, a person driving while listening to an mp3 player connected via Bluetooth to a car stereo is unable to view the display of the mp3 player while driving, at least not safely, to see who is performing the song or the name of the song. Similarly, music streamed to an XM satellite receiver can be brought out in the yard while gardening so the person listening cannot see the display. Bringing media to new locations means that often a listener is unable to quickly or safely determine information about a particular song that is playing.
The problem of not knowing what song or video clip is playing is addressed partially by live Disk Jockeys, or DJs. A live DJ announces selected information about one or more songs before or after playback. One of the problems with live DJs is that listeners never know when the next DJ announcement will be, so it is unsuitable for listeners who have a short attention span or are unable to focus their memory and wait until the next DJ announcement; that is, live DJs cannot provide on-demand information about a particular song to a user. Another problem with live DJs is that not every song is announced or not all available data about the song is announced. Often a live DJ will simply state the artist and song name, neglecting to mention other information, such as the album, the release date, chart ranking, to say nothing of individual user rankings which are completely beyond the scope of a live DJ to provide for each, individual listener.
These problems also exist to some extent for blind or visually impaired listeners. A blind listener has no way to read the metadata on a screen even if it were displayed.
Radio stations often have contractual obligations to announce song information a certain, minimum number of times. Live DJs are imperfect people and may forget or refuse to announce at the contractually designated level, exposing their employers to contractual liability.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a way to identify information about media content without distracting the listener's attention unnecessarily.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth herein.
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the method comprising receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content, selecting at least one piece of metadata for output, and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content. Other aspects of the invention use alternative output, output speech simultaneously with the primary media content, output speech during gaps in the primary media content, translate metadata in foreign language, tailor voice, accent, and language to match the metadata and/or primary media content. A user may control output via a user interface or output may be customized based on preferences in a user profile.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an example system embodiment;
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method embodiment;
FIG. 3 illustrates a simple flow chart of how a user might interface with an example system;
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary system including user profiles; and
FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary system including alternative embodiments.
Various embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.
With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system includes a general-purpose computing device 100, including a processing unit (CPU) 120 and a system bus 110 that couples various system components including the system memory such as read only memory (ROM) 140 and random access memory (RAM) 150 to the processing unit 120. Other system memory 130 may be available for use as well. It can be appreciated that the invention may operate on a computing device with more than one CPU 120 or on a group or cluster of computing devices networked together to provide greater processing capability. The system bus 110 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. A basic input/output (BIOS) stored in ROM 140 or the like, may provide the basic routine that helps to transfer information between elements within the computing device 100, such as during start-up. The computing device 100 further includes storage devices such as a hard disk drive 160, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, tape drive or the like. The storage device 160 is connected to the system bus 110 by a drive interface. The drives and the associated computer readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computing device 100. In one aspect, a hardware module that performs a particular function includes the software component stored in a tangible computer-readable medium in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as the CPU, bus, display, and so forth, to carry out the function. The basic components are known to those of skill in the art and appropriate variations are contemplated depending on the type of device, such as whether the device is a small, handheld computing device, a desktop computer, or a computer server.
Although the exemplary environment described herein employs the hard disk, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media which can store data that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only memory (ROM), a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment.
To enable user interaction with the computing device 100, an input device 190 represents any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. The input may be used by the presenter to indicate the beginning of a speech search query. The device output 170 can also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device 100. The communications interface 180 generally governs and manages the user input and system output. There is no restriction on the invention operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.
For clarity of explanation, the illustrative system embodiment is presented as comprising individual functional blocks (including functional blocks labeled as a "processor"). The functions these blocks represent may be provided through the use of either shared or dedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software. For example the functions of one or more processors presented in FIG. 1 may be provided by a single shared processor or multiple processors. (Use of the term "processor" should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software.) Illustrative embodiments may comprise microprocessor and/or digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) for storing software performing the operations discussed below, and random access memory (RAM) for storing results. Very large scale integration (VLSI) hardware embodiments, as well as custom VLSI circuitry in combination with a general purpose DSP circuit, may also be provided.
The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented as: (1) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a programmable circuit within a general use computer, (2) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a specific-use programmable circuit; and/or (3) interconnected machine modules or program engines within the programmable circuits.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method embodiment. First, the method receives one or more pieces of metadata for media content (202). Media includes audio, video, and multimedia content. The method may be applied to internet radio, digital terrestrial radio, a digital audio player, streaming internet radio, or any other way to serially play media where metadata describing the media is available. Metadata may be stored or streamed with the media itself or as a companion file or metadata may be retrieved from an external source, such as CDDB or freedb.
Second, the method selects at least one piece of metadata for output (204). In one aspect, a user controls output of the at least one piece of metadata through a user interface. The user selects one or more pieces of metadata at the time of the request or can establish preferences and/or settings in a user profile for which pieces of metadata are output and the frequency of output. For example, a user can set a preference for just the song title and artist or for artist, album, and year. One variation allows the user to request output of the metadata immediately (i.e. on demand), during the media playback, immediately preceding the media playback, immediately following the media playback, or at a regular interval. One example of a regular interval in the context of an mp3 player is to set a preference for announcing the artist and song title every 5 songs. So after every five songs, the mp3 player pauses and announces the songs audibly, much like a DJ would. Where an mp3 player knows the next song to be played, it may also be announced. An example speech output in a scenario where announcing is set for every five songs is "You just heard Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow, High on the Mountain Top performed by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Katamari on the Rocks by Yu Miyake, Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus, and Say You'll Be There by the Spice Girls. Up next is Poezd v Ogne by Boris Grebenshnikov". A user may alternatively request immediate output. The immediate output is useful for scenarios where a user hears a song on satellite radio and wants to know who sings it without waiting for the end of the song where the DJ may or may not announce the artist. In that case a user simply pushes a button, makes an oral requests, gestures, or performs some other kind of user input action to request immediate output.
In some business scenarios, contractual or licensing obligations require a floor or minimum required level of announcing the song titles and artists. For example, the RIAA may require a radio station to announce song and artist information at least once every 5 songs. When a user pushes the button to hear the current song title and artist, that announcement counts toward the radio station's contractual obligation and may reset the count of songs since the last announcement. Alternatively, an automatic setting to announce the songs periodically may be used to ensure automatic compliance with a minimum announcement frequency agreement.
Third, the method outputs the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content (206). In one aspect, the synthetically generated speech is output simultaneously with the primary media content. The speech may be output loudly over the existing media playback, or the existing media playback may be muted or set at a reduced volume while the speech is played back. In cases where cache or other storage is available or where the media is stored locally (not streamed), the content may be paused while the speech is played back. The speech may also be played back during gaps in the media content, such as between songs, where a live DJ would interject and announce the songs just played and/or the upcoming songs.
In one aspect, the method includes additional steps of determining whether the metadata is in a foreign language and translating the metadata to another language before output. This is useful where Unicode metadata is available which may store metadata in foreign languages. A user profile may store information such as native or preferred languages for translation or a user profile may store a preference to never translate metadata recorded in foreign languages.
In another aspect of speech output the quality, tone, speed, pitch, prosody, accent, type of voice, language, lexicon, and/or other qualities of the speech may be varied based on some or all of the metadata and/or the primary media content. For example, in the sample text above, a song like Katamari on the Rocks by Yu Miyake is announced by an adult female voice in Japanese with a Tokyo accent, Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus is announced by a young adult male voice in English with a Texas drawl, and Say You'll Be There by the Spice Girls is announced by a teenaged female voice in English with a British accent. In one aspect, the media is also analyzed to determine tone and/or prosody characteristics which indicate a language, accent, speaker gender, etc.
One aspect involves alternative output. In situations where a user is driving, the user may not be able to look at the screen of the mp3 player connected via Bluetooth to the car stereo, but may desire to view the artist and song title. In that case, one alternative output is displaying it on the car stereo screen or projecting the information onto the windshield or other heads-up display. In the case of a user working in the yard and listening to satellite radio, the only nearby display may be a cellular phone. Another alternative output involves the system sending data to a cellular phone screen or sending a text message to the cellular phone.
FIG. 3 illustrates a simple flow chart of how a user might interface with an example system embodiment as an mp3 player. First, the user selects content to play 302. The content may include a playlist, a randomly selected song, etc. When the user desires to hear metadata about the song, the user pushes a button to activate the features 304. The button push is exemplary and may be replaced by any other suitable activation user interaction such as a switch, an oral command, a gesture, a mouse click, other tactile input, etc. When the user presses the button, the example embodiment outputs the aural instance of the metadata or descriptors. This may be done without embellishment, one example of which is "Let It Be, Beatles". It may be done with embellishment and/or exposition. An extreme example of embellishment and/or exposition is "You are listening to Let It Be, the title track of the album Let It Be. It is performed by the Beatles and written by Paul McCartney. Let It Be was released in 1970 and was a number 1 hit in five countries." Embellishment does not necessarily relate to the current media. In one aspect, embellishment includes small talk about recent events or weather or announcements about traffic or other hazards. Embellishment information may be obtained through a purpose-built database stored locally or in a network or may be gleaned from external network sources, such as RSS feeds. Governmental announcements such as Amber Alerts or a change in the Homeland Security Threat Level may be interspersed with embellishments regarding media and may be prerecorded or generated.
Much like a live DJ, embellishment may be provided during the beginning and/or ending portions of a song. Analysis may be performed on the song to determine which portions of a song or other media are introductory or do not contain vocals. In one aspect, embellishments and/or exposition are added during all or part of the introductory portion of the song or where the singer has not yet started singing. The next song may be announced starting during the ending portion of the current song after the vocals have concluded and continuing on into the beginning of the next song.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary system including user profiles. First, the user selects content to consume 402. This may be selecting a playlist on an iPod, choosing a channel on XM satellite radio, or starting an audio stream on the Internet. As the content is selected, persistent storage 404 is accessed to retrieve profiles, preferences, and/or playlists governing playback and the automatic DJ-like features. Next, the content is played back 406. As the content is playing, the content stream is parsed for descriptors 408 such as metadata. Other metadata information may be pulled from persistent storage or other storage locations, across a network or local. An alternative output is selected for descriptors 410 such as speech, display on a cellular phone, or other output devices. This step may access the persistent storage for personalized metadata, such as a favorite ranking (similar to how iTunes allows users to rate a song from 1 to 5 stars), playlist information, or any other custom metadata the user stores that is connected to the media content. Last, the primary content is played back with the alternative secondary content. The two may be played over one another simultaneously or one may be paused while the other plays, etc. Preferences and settings governing playback of the two and how they interact may be stored in a profile in the persistent storage. The persistent storage and profile may be stored locally, in one or more servers, or both.
Speech may be generated, prerecorded, or some combination. For example, commonly used artists or song names may be prerecorded and used in conjunction with text-to-speech (TTS) systems to synthesize speech to provide embellishments and/or exposition on the fly. TTS systems are known in the art and are continually being improved through research such as the research conducted in AT&T Labs. Any currently known or yet-to-be-developed way to generate speech may be adapted for use with this invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary system including alternative embodiments. Portions A 502 and B 504 are illustrated separately but may be combined or may be partially combined. They may be combined physically while remaining conceptually separate or may be implemented as a monolithic "black box" which simply receives inputs and transmits outputs. First, a user selects media to play from the source content 506. The user may not actually select each individual song or movie clip, but may choose to tune into a broadcast or stream. The source content retrieves descriptors 508 including metadata embedded in the media, metadata associated with the media in a database, or metadata retrieved from storage sources across a wired or wireless network. The source content and descriptors are sent via a transmission medium 510 to the rendering engine 512. The rendering engine may be stand-alone or distributed over multiple locations. The transmission medium can be wired or wireless. The rendering engine interacts with the user interface 514 to determine how to assemble the output based on the metadata and the source content. The user interface interacts with a storage database containing selections, profiles, preferences, cached alternative outputs (for descriptors for media that are frequently requested), etc. The user interface hands information and control signals to the rendering engine, which sends its results to the output 518 device. The rendering engine may include a speech synthesis module or other modules to convert the descriptors to alternative output. The output is coordinated and sent to the proper device such as a speaker 520 (standalone or integrated into another device), television or other display 522, or cellular phone 524 including any associated wireless headsets.
Embodiments within the scope of the present invention may also include computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or combination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media.
Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. For example, the processes described herein may have application in satellite radio, internet radio, digital terrestrial radio, dedicated digital audio players, digital audio players integrated with other devices, etc. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Background: This prospective study explores the incidence of preoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in a group of patients with hip and femur fracture who for various reasons experienced a delay of >24 hours from the time of injury until time of surgery. We also evaluated the results of preoperative treatment with inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.
Methods: There were 101 consecutive patients with a mean age of 75.8 years. The mean time to surgery from injury was 3.5 days. All patients were evaluated for signs and symptoms of DVT and underwent Doppler ultrasound before surgery. All patients received preoperative prophylactic anticoagulation. Those patients with DVT underwent IVC filter insertion before surgical intervention.
Results: No patient exhibited signs or symptoms of DVT; however, preoperative ultrasound detected DVT in 10 patients. Despite negative ultrasound, two additional patients developed pulmonary embolus preoperatively for an overall incidence of thromboembolic disease of 11.9%. The average delay in surgery was 5.7 days for patients with DVT versus 3.2 days for those without (p = 0.021). The incidence increased each day from 14.5% if surgery was delayed >1 day to 33.3% if surgery was delayed >7 days. Relative risk increased from 2.32 to 3.71 over the same period. There were no postoperative thromboembolic complications or complications related to IVC filter placement in these patients.
Discussion: In this prospective study, we observed that patients experiencing a delay in surgical care for an acute hip or femur fracture are at a relatively high risk for development of thromboembolic disease despite prophylactic anticoagulation. There was a direct correlation between the period of delay and the incidence of thromboembolism. Clinical examination in this setting is unreliable as none of these patients had signs or symptoms suggestive of DVT. We suggest that all patients with delayed (>24 hours) surgical intervention undergo preoperative Doppler ultrasound to rule out DVT. Appropriate measures such as placement of an IVC filter and aggressive postoperative anticoagulation should then be implemented for those with DVT and/or pulmonary embolus.
From the Department of Orthopaedics, Rothman Institute of Orthopaedics at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Submitted for publication September 25, 2006.
Address for reprints: James J. Purtill, MD, Rothman Institute of Orthopaedics at Thomas Jefferson Hospital, 925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; email: jamespurtill@msn.com.
Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery70(6):E113-E116, June 2011.