Washington, DC (July 25, 2017)—On Sunday, July 30 the 35th Annual RAMMY Awards return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, bringing together tastemakers from across the region's foodservice industry for a black-tie gala like no other. A centerpiece of the summer season, the awards are an enduring celebration of the region's world renowned culinary scene, hosted by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) in partnership with its sponsor Events DC.
This summer, Events DC, the District's official convention and sports authority, unveiled a new promotional campaign called "We Make DC Happen" and the individuals from the local hospitality and business industry honored at RAMMYS exemplify this message. Events DC has been a pioneer in developing and driving unforgettable and innovative events and projects with organizations across the city that include the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Embassy Chef Challenge, and the future Entertainment and Sports Arena and 190-acre RFK Campus future project. Holding the region's top restaurant honors at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center connects the message of excellence to an industry that is both an impactful economic driver in the city, and is making waves globally, by putting DC at the forefront of the culinary arts.
The Player Party will be a two-level activation inside the ballroom where world class chefs and restaurateurs will mingle with renowned athletes from around the world. RAMW will also bring international flavors to the menu for the evening. In coordination with Events DC's culinary team, towering pavilions sponsored by Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the Republic of Korea will delight guests with food, wine, and spirits from around the globe.
Additional displays from Heineken, ProFish, Congressional Seafood, Pepsi 1893, Distillery 209, and Republic National Distributing Company round out the menu for the expected sold out crowd of 2,000.
Limited tickets are available through July 26, and can be purchased by visiting www.therammys.org. For more information about the RAMMYS or to join sponsors like the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME), or Open Table, email therammys@ramw.org or call 202-331-5990.


We offer Corrugated Polycarbonate Sheet.
We are manufacturer of Polycarbonate Profile sheet.
With immense market knowledge, we have been able to provide optimum quality Corrugated Polycarbonate Sheet.
We are offering Polycarbonate Corrugated Sheet to our clients.
Keeping in mind the ever-evolving needs of our clients, we are devoted towards offering an optimum quality array of Corrugated Polycarbonate Sheet.
Keeping the track of latest happening in this domain, we are engaged in manufacturing and supplying of the optimum quality of Corrugated Polycarbonate Sheet. Their high tensile strength, compact design and excellent tolerance to harsh weathering conditions, makes these corrugated polycarbonate sheets highly demanded.


text:
Log back in
Click Column Header to Sort.
View available positions below, click the position title for additional information, and apply from that page if you are interested and qualified.
Sort By Sort By... Posting Number (Ascending) Posting Number (Descending) Position Title (Ascending) Position Title (Descending) Posted Date (Ascending) Posted Date (Descending) Location (Ascending) Location (Descending) Hybrid Remote Work Classification (Ascending) Hybrid Remote Work Classification (Descending) Department (Ascending) Department (Descending) School/Division (Ascending) School/Division (Descending) Category (Ascending) Category (Descending) Union (Ascending) Union (Descending) FT/PT (Ascending) FT/PT (Descending) Position Summary (Ascending) Position Summary (Descending)
Posting Number 2022-11317
Patient Service Representative
Provide the first level of customer service to patients, from greeting and routing patients to record maintenance and cashier duties. Monitor daily clinic operations, within guidelines. Assign and review work of and train a number of student employees engaged in routine tasks. Maintain patient appointment books. Triage emergencies. Arrange for substitute patients as cancellations occur. Schedule follow-up examinations. Ensure proper processing of health-related transactions; calculate payments. Update and maintain files and records. Provide suggestions that improve existing policies and procedures. Handle inquiries requiring additional investigation and/or specialized knowledge.
US-NY-New York
Hybrid Remote Work Classification
Fully Onsite
Bluestone Center for Clinical Research (Staff)
School/Division
College of Dentistry (DN1032)
Local 3882 - Union of Clerical, Administrative and Technical Staff (UCATS)
FT/PT
Senior Career Development Coach, Graduate Student Career Development Services
NYU's Global Programs & University Life organization is committed to being a welcoming campus community that reflects and enacts the values of inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity and accessibility that inform academic excellence. Employees in this organization are expected to contribute to diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty. NYU is an institution committed to diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity, and this role will engage with our representative work on a global scale. Work with students of all identities to ensure they have access to the level of support they need to be successful. Implement a strategic plan to establish, strengthen, and maintain relationships between the institution and employers interested in recruiting graduate students. Assist one or more Associate Directors in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of career development initiatives. Liaise with senior stakeholders, including faculty, university administrators, and employers. With limited oversight from an Associate Director, supervise one or more Career Development Counselors, support staff, and graduate program assistants and interns. Provide input in determining budgetary needs and with assessing programming effectiveness. Maintain a career-counseling schedule with graduate students and alumni.
60% to 80% Onsite
Student Affairs (WS1705)
Student Services/Athletics
Senior Director, Experiential Learning
Join the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study and be part of a vibrant community of faculty, administrators, students, and alumni as Senior Director of Experiential Learning. NYU Gallatin recently celebrated its 50th anniversary as a rigorous, interdisciplinary liberal arts research and teaching institution. We seek a Senior Director who will build upon an already existing array of experiential learning opportunities at our school and turn them into a central, cross-cutting pillar of Gallatin's educational mission in its next half century. The Senior Director of Experiential Learning will provide strategic direction and leadership in the design and administration of a new co-curricular unit responsible for enhancing the School's exciting slate of experiential learning opportunities, including in the arts, civic engagement, humanistic sciences, and internships. The Senior Director will also work closely with the school's senior leadership and faculty to articulate and implement a vision of well integrated experiential learning that can serve as a national and international model in innovative higher education. This position will also entail teaching one course per year in the Senior Director's area of expertise. The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated commitment to the mission of interdisciplinary liberal arts education; extensive experience in the design and implementation of experiential learning programs; a strong teaching record; and skills in team management. Candidates should also demonstrate strong research, writing, and teaching skills, the ability to communicate with different academic constituencies, and should enjoy forging partnerships, building relationships, and amassing support from internal and external collaborators. To ensure full consideration, please apply by January 27, 2023
Gallatin Dean of Students
Gallatin School of Individualized Study (IS1014)
Per Diem Optometrist
Licensed Optometrist, OD. Part-time from 7-14 hours per week: The NYU Student Health Center (SHC) Specialty Unit is seeking a part-time Optometrist to provide eye care services 7-14 hours/wk for our population of more than 50,000 NYU undergraduates and graduate students. Working on-site in a dedicated Optometry suite, the Optometrist will perform routine eye care, diagnosis of eye diseases, treatment of diseases consistent with NYS law, including: - Comprehensive eye exams - Routine Visual Evaluation - Routine dilated fundus examination - Visual Field Testing - Spectacle Rx - Fitting of Soft and RGP contact lenses, including evaluation of existing lenses the patient is wearing - Emergency office visits - Consulting with ophthalmologist regarding patient's condition Working with a motivated and diverse student population is rewarding, and the team works well together to assure the best service in support of students' academic success
Technology Specialist, Photography & Imaging
Serve as point person supporting the Department of Photography & Imaging's (DPI) IT infrastructure, including Mac and Windows desktops, endpoints, learning spaces, and servers. Administer and support applications and databases. Provide tier-3 support for endpoints, servers, systems, and applications. Provide technical leadership for new systems, processes, and applications. Develop and support maintenance and security strategy to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operation and security of data; establish and implement backup, remote and cloud access procedures. Develop and provide technology training for staff and faculty. Research emerging technologies and make recommendations. Partner with University departments, schools to develop and implement university-wide technologies. Partner with consultants, vendors, and IT departments to resolve technical, operational and security needs.
Photography and Imaging (Administrators)
Tisch School of the Arts (TS1035)
Department Administrator
Administer department's financial accounts including special accounts, grants, contracts with vendors and student travel fund. Assist with departmental events. Collaborate with Cinema Studies leadership in developing and implementing office policies and procedures. Assist Chair with administering faculty searches, tenure reviews, planning meetings and general correspondence. Develop student alumni outreach and services. Oversee registration and matriculation of All But Dissertation (ABD) PHD students. Facilitate student examination processes;
Cinema Studies (Administrators)
General Office Administration
Provide academic advisement and related student services to prospective and current students in the undergraduate programs of Nutrition and Food Studies. Interpret applicable University policies and procedures, program requirements, acceptable electives, and alternative/ substitute courses. Plan and implement recruitment and orientation activities. Facilitate seminars and events that enhance the academic experience and professional development of undergraduate students. Interface with appropriate University offices and departments to expedite processing of online graduation tracking, transfer credit evaluations and reviews, and substitutions. Respond to inquiries concerning the school, department, and program offerings.
Nutrition & Food Studies, Advisement
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (ED1084)
Program Administrator
The Division of Programs in Business is seeking an individual to serve as a Program Administrator to manage day-to-day administrative functions of noncredit program(s), meet departmental needs including assisting with the development of office policies and procedures. Oversee adjunct faculty appointment and payment. Resolve faculty issues or concerns related to continuing education program(s). Specifically, address questions around NYUSPS policies and procedures, course scheduling, course preparation, etc. Analyze faculty and course data, produce detailed faculty and course reports, and provide recommendations for course and faculty needs across the continuing education program(s). Collect, analyze, and make recommendations based on student feedback data in order to determine student satisfaction. Advise students on issues such as curriculum requirements, course selection, registration, and career exploration. Plan and implement special student programs including prospective student outreach events and new student orientations. Attend School and University sponsored marketing events, information sessions and/or seminars to promote programs to prospective students. Develop and supervise staff, office support and student employees. Make recommendations for hiring, promotions, salary adjustments, and any other change of status. This position is located in our Midtown Center, 11 W. 42nd Street.
Finance and Taxation (Administrators)
School of Professional Studies (CP1108)
The School of Professional Studies is seeking an indivudual to serve as an Academic Advisor to advise students in the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies on academic programs, policies, and procedures and provide career counseling. This individual will interpret University and school policies and recommend exceptions to policy when appropriate and will also serve as an advisor to the DAUS student club.
Office of Student Affairs - DAUS (Administrators)
Assistant Director, Adjunct Faculty Affairs
The Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs within the School of Professional Studies is seeking an Assistant Director, Adjunct Faculty Affairs to serve as primary resource and partner on all matters involving adjunct faculty, including ensuring compliance with school, university, state, and federal policies. Serve as primary resource at the school for questions about adjunct faculty contract interpretation that arise from academic units, leadership, etc. Resolve issues related to interpretation of union contract. Serve as liaison and key resource between and adjunct faculty (approximately 1,300 instructors) and SPS Dean's Office, Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs, academic unit leadership, SPS Office of Finance and Administration, and all other SPS administrative and academic units. Evaluate existing resources and make recommendations for new support structures and models. Plan, organize, and coordinate adjunct faculty events hosted by the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs (OAFA), including, but not limited to, onboarding and orientation events for new adjunct faculty and roundtables. Together with the SPS Institutional Research Office, create and implement school-wide assessments and provide guidance to academic units on unit-level assessments of resources provided to adjunct faculty. Draft and manage school-wide communications for adjunct faculty. Collaborate with SPS HR to resolve questions on adjunct letters and appointments. Oversee administration of adjunct faculty fund for professional development activities, Investigate, analyze, and implement new initiatives related to adjunct faculty on behalf of the SPS Dean (e.g. a "Did You Know?" communications campaign). Investigate, analyze, and implement new initiatives related to adjunct faculty on behalf of the Associate Dean of OAFA (e.g. creating the equivalent of a Brightspace site for all adjunct faculty or creating a transparent networking interface so adjunct faculty can locate faculty in other units who teach or research similar academic areas).
Academic & Faculty Affairs (Administrators)
Use this form to search for other job openings
Keywords/Posting #
Category (All) Academic Program Support Business/Professional Administrative Campus/Auxilary/Transportation, Facilities, Public Safety Development/Sponsored Research/Grant Writing Engineering Finance/Real Estate/Procurement/Grant Management General Office Administration Health Services Human Resources Libraries Marketing/Advertising/Public Relations/Media/Video/Audio Other Non-Exempt Support, N.E.C. Sciences Support Student Services/Athletics Technology
School/Division (All) Abu Dhabi NY Campus (AB1001) Admissions Africa House (AS1336) Asian Pacific American Institute (WS1660) Campus Services (WS1436) Campus Services (WS1444) Capital Projects and Facilities (WS2548) Center for Data Science (CM1035) College of Dentistry (DN1032) Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CIMS) (CM1017) CUSP (US1016) Department Administration (WS1643) Development Research Institute (WS2012) Development Research Institute (WS2047) Division of Libraries (LB1082) Faculty Housing & Residential Services (WS1153) Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) (AS1111) Faculty Senate (WS1676) Financial Operations & Treasurer (WS1220) Gallatin School of Individualized Study (IS1014) Global Programs (WS1750) Globalization and Multi-Cultural Affairs (WS1759) Human Resources (WS1538) Institute for Public Knowledge (WS2278) Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (AW1016) Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) (FA1012) Internal Audit (WS1231) Investment Office (WS1296) Leadership Initiatives (WS2272) NYU - Accra (GL0001) NYU - Berlin (GL0002) NYU - Buenos Aires (GL0003) NYU - Florence (GL0005) NYU - Global Assignments (GL0019) NYU - London (GL0009) NYU - Madrid (GL0010) NYU - Paris (GL0012) NYU - Prague (GL0013) NYU - Shanghai (GL0014) NYU - Sydney (GL0016) NYU - Tel Aviv (GL0017) NYU Abu Dhabi (AD00001) NYU IT (WS1170) NYU Shanghai (SG0076) NYU Shanghai (SH1002) NYU Tandon School of Engineering (PE1001) Office of Budget and Financial Planning (WS1297) Office of Equal Opportunity (WS1051) Office of Faculty Resources (WS2058) Office of Financial Aid Office of General Counsel (WS1847) Office of the Chief of Staff (WS1042) Office of the Executive Vice President (WS1603) Office of the President (WS1029) Office of the President (WS2515) Office of the President Emeritus (WS1038) Office of the President Emeritus (WS1045) Office of the President Emeritus III (WS2513) Office of the Provost (WS1034) Office of the Provost (WS2469) Office of the Senior Associate Provost (WS2044) Office of the Senior Presidential Fellow (WS2175) Office of the SVP Finance and Budget/Chief Financial Officer (WS2704) Office of the Vice Chancellor, University Life and Global Programs (WS1024) Office of the Vice Provost for Research (WS1763) Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Faculty Affairs (WS2059) Office of Vice Chancellor for Global Programs and University Life (WS2472) Operations (WS1263) Program Services Office (WS1099) Provost Fiscal Affairs (WS1844) Provostial Centers and Institutes (WS2195) Public Safety (WS2053) Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (PS1046) Rory Meyers College of Nursing (NS1058) School of Global Public Health (WS2229) School of Law (LW1131) School of Professional Studies (CP1108) School of Social Work (SW1019) Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (ED1084) Stern School of Business (SB1071) Student Affairs (WS1705) Student Health Center Student Link (WS2319) Student Link (WS2320) Tisch School of the Arts (TS1035) University Development and Alumni Relations (WS1006) University Enrollment Management (WS1960) University Life and Global Programs (WS2472) University Relations and Public Affairs (WS1044) University Relations and Public Affairs (WS2282) Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development (WS3013) Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs (WS2993)
Location (All) Los Angeles-CA-US Brooklyn-NY-US New York-NY-US
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
Need help finding the right job?
We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Click here to get started.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Problem With IP Lookup in Android Studio Unable To resolve Host Address Java I'm having a problem with my ip lookup program in Java I've imported Inet Adress and implementd the async task and used the permission on the manifest but still shows the same problem. The Error: Unable to resolve host "[Ljava.lang.String;@f1679a5": No address associated with hostname I've been seaching all over the internet and some of them say that It's the emulator problem BUT I can access internet on my device I've done everything they've recommended but still no solutions.
Here is the code Part:
    EditText hostnumber;
TextView output;
Button submit;
ImageView back;

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_lookup);
    back = findViewById(R.id.backlearn);

hostnumber = findViewById(R.id.hostnumber);
output = findViewById(R.id.outputDecimal);
submit = findViewById(R.id.submit);

back.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
    @Override
    public void onClick(View v) {
        Intent intent = new Intent(Lookup.this, MainActivity.class);
        startActivity(intent);
    }
});
submit.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
    @Override
    public void onClick(View v) {
        @SuppressLint("StaticFieldLeak") AsyncTask<String, Void, connection.Result<InetAddress>> task = new AsyncTask<String, Void, connection.Result<InetAddress>>() {
            // NOTE: this method runs in a background thread, you cannot access the View from here
            @Override
            protected connection.Result<InetAddress> doInBackground(String... hostnumber) {
                connection.Result<InetAddress> result;
                try {
                    result = new connection.Result.Success(InetAddress.getByName(String.valueOf(hostnumber)));
                } catch (UnknownHostException e) {
                    e.printStackTrace();
                    result = new connection.Result.Failure(e);
                }catch (Exception e) {
                    result = new connection.Result.Failure(e);
                }

                return result;
            }

            @Override
            protected void onPostExecute(connection.Result<InetAddress> result) {
                if (result instanceof connection.Result.Success) {
                    output.setText((CharSequence) ((connection.Result.Success<InetAddress>) result).data);
                } else if (result instanceof connection.Result.Failure) {
                   Throwable error = ((connection.Result.Failure<InetAddress>) result).error;
                    Toast.makeText(Lookup.this,"Please Check The Address!: " +error, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

                }
            }
        };

        task.execute(hostnumber.toString());
    };
})
;}

}
class connection extends Activity {
    static class Result<T> {
        static class Success<T> extends Result<T> {
            public T data;
            public Success(T data) {
                this.data = data;
            }
        }
        static class Failure<T> extends Result<T> {
            public Throwable error;
            public Failure(Throwable error) {
                this.error = error;
            }
        }
    }

And here is the error part:
W/System.err: java.net.UnknownHostException: Unable to resolve host "[androidx.appcompat.widget.AppCompatEditText{f465e26 VFED..CL. .F...... 158,160-923,275 #7f0800b1 app:id/hostnumber}]": No address associated with hostname at java.net.Inet6AddressImpl.lookupHostByName(Inet6AddressImpl.java:156) at java.net.Inet6AddressImpl.lookupAllHostAddr(Inet6AddressImpl.java:103) at java.net.InetAddress.getByName(InetAddress.java:1106) at com.modex.smartcalculator.Lookup$2$1.doInBackground(Lookup.java:50) at com.modex.smartcalculator.Lookup$2$1.doInBackground(Lookup.java:44) at android.os.AsyncTask$3.call(AsyncTask.java:378) at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:266) at android.os.AsyncTask$SerialExecutor$1.run(AsyncTask.java:289) at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1167) at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:641) at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:919) Caused by: android.system.GaiException: android_getaddrinfo failed: EAI_NODATA (No address associated with hostname) at libcore.io.Linux.android_getaddrinfo(Native Method) at libcore.io.ForwardingOs.android_getaddrinfo(ForwardingOs.java:74) at libcore.io.BlockGuardOs.android_getaddrinfo(BlockGuardOs.java:200) W/System.err:     at libcore.io.ForwardingOs.android_getaddrinfo(ForwardingOs.java:74) at java.net.Inet6AddressImpl.lookupHostByName(Inet6AddressImpl.java:135) ... 10 more

I've been driving with this problem for two weeks now and still no solution I've rebooted the device, talked with colleagues listened to all internet forums and documentations but still no clue with this I also tried with a real device and 5 virtual devices and the same problem. Please Help!

A: You seem to use the variable name "hostnumber" to refer to a few different things. This will create confusion. You can avoid this by picking names that reflect how the variable is used and what it stands for.
On the top level, "hostnumber" is an EditText GUI component. You want to get the text it contains, instead of transforming the component itself into a string. Use:
task.execute(hostnumber.getText().toString());

In the AsyncTask.doInBackground method, hostnumber is an array of Strings. You'll want to use the first element from the array, so write hostnumber[0] instead of transforming the array itself into a string. Use:
result = new connection.Result.Success(InetAddress.getByName(hostnumber[0]));

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home » Belgium
Belgium Google Maps is a site/tool that offers a wide range of map views (topographic, satellite, street view) and navigation options, with little effort on your part, yet efficiently. If you need to plan a trip to a new place like Belgium, Google maps are available on desktop, mobile, or tablet. This Google maps and information page is dedicated to Belgium, Europe (47 countries), showing its location, country facts, details about its capital city Brussels, bordering countries like France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and plenty of other information which may be interesting when you visit this European state.
Quick links: Google maps Belgium, Brussels Google maps, Driving Directions Belgium, Printable Road Map.
About Belgium in a nutshell
Conventional short form of the name: Belgium
The conventional long form of the name: Kingdom of Belgium
Local long form: Royaume de Belgique (French) / Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch) / Koenigreich Belgien (German)
Local short form: Belgique / Belgie / Belgien
Former name(s): N/A
Etymology: the name derives from the Belgae. This ancient Celtic tribal confederation inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C.
The legal system in Belgium: civil law system based on the French Civil Code.
Climate: Maritime with Gulf Stream influences. Mild temperatures, with heavy cloud cover and rain. More rainfall and weather fluctuations at the coast.
The national symbols are a golden rampant lion, while the national colors are red, black, and yellow.
Internet TLD: .be
Belgium is a tiny country squeezed between Holland, France, and Germany. The nation is diverse because of its location at the crossroad of Europe's Germanic north and Latin south. Belgium has two major ethnic regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. Two historic cities in Belgium offer visitors a glimpse into Belgian culture and history. With tourist destinations as unique as the medieval cities of Bruges and Ghent, it would be worth your time to visit this country. Both of these Belgian cities offer collections of medieval art and architecture. These include some northern Renaissance's most outstanding paintings in their museums and churches. Though each has a distinct character, visiting them is still worth it: you can easily do so on day trips. You will want to stay overnight if you want to explore the city more thoroughly.
Belgium is bisected by the river Meuse, with the Flemish Plain to the north and the low, rounded hills of the Ardennes to the south. Its World Heritage sites are mainly linked to the country's Flemish-Walloon history. The Neolithic flint quarries near Spiennes are Europe's most significant ancient mining district. The medieval bell towers of Flanders and northern France were built between the 11th and 17th centuries. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai is one of the most beautiful churches of the French Gothic period. The religious communities of the Flemish beguinages, consisting of houses, churches, outbuildings, and green spaces, were inhabited by spinsters and widows from the 13th century onwards. The historic old town of Bruges was once the commercial gateway to the continent and the birthplace of the Flemish primitive school of painting. The public buildings and guild houses surrounding Brussels' main square, the Grand Place, were primarily built in the 17th century, while Victor Horta's Art Nouveau buildings are a relic of the 20th century. In Antwerp, the House of Plantin-Moretus was the home of Christophe Plantin, the most remarkable printer and publisher in the Low German Countries in the second half of the 16th century. The construction of the Canal du Centre, the lock system of the Canal du Centre, which bridges a difference in the level of around 90 meters, was one of the crowning achievements of European engineering in the 19th century.
Belgium holds the world record for the country with the most extended period without a government.
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830. Germany occupied it during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half-century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.
Low-lying coastal plain covers two-thirds of the country. Land becomes hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes).
Belgium lies in northwestern Europe. Its history has been marked by tensions between the majority Dutch-speaking (Flemish) and minority French-speaking (Walloon) communities.
This state is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands, under the coordinates of 50 50 N, 4 00 E, covering an area of 30 528 sq km with a coastline of 66.5 km. Belgium is About the size of Maryland.
Belgium has 1,297 km of land boundaries in total, and bordering with (4 nations): France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km.
Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in the southeast, with Botrange 694 m as the highest point of Belgium, while the North Sea 0 m as the lowest point, causing a mean elevation at 181 m throughout the country. With a total of 30 528 sq km, Belgium has 30 278 sq km of land and 250 sq km of water surface area.
The significant watersheds for Belgium are Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine 78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km).
Crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the European Union, and the NATO seat.
The climate in Belgium is as follows: Temperate, mild winters, cool summers, rainy, humid, cloudy.
When you visit Belgium, the natural hazards shall be considered: Flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes.
The following major health-threatening issues shall be considered when visiting Belgium: none.
Current environmental issues affecting the Belgian people: intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding, and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries.
Google maps Belgium
Capital city: Brussels found under the coordinates 50 50 N, 4 20 E, applying the time zone UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time), using the following daylight saving time: +1hr begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.
Brussels is a major European city and one of the three capital cities of Europe. It is located in the Brussels-Capital Region and Belgium's de facto capital. Brussels is home to many international organizations and NATO, but it is best known for two other things: its beer and chocolate.
Belgium became independent on 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne), and its's national holiday is Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831).
Administrative divisions: 3 regions (French: regions, singular – region; Dutch: gewesten, singular – gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form) note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities.
Since 1970, Flemish regions have become more prosperous than the minority Walloons, overturning traditional roles and increasing friction. Belgium moved to a federal system in 1980 to contain tensions, but recent fractious politics have raised doubts over the union's survival. The Flemish separatist N-VA heads the Flanders government and since 2010 has been the largest party at the federal level. Brussels hosts vital EU institutions.
The population in Belgium is 11,778,842 (July 2021 estimate), with an average of 0.59% (2021 estimate) change. That means Belgium is the No. 80 in the world's populated rank list. With an average of 41.6 years median age (40.4 years for males and 40.4 years for women), Belgium ranks No. 44 on the globe's median age rank list.
The people living in this country are the Belgian(s) (noun) or Belgian (adjective) and belong mainly to the following ethnic groups: Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 estimate).
They speak Dutch (official language) 60%, French (official language) 40%, German (official language) less than 1% languages and practice the following religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant and other Christian 2.5%, Muslim 5%, Jewish 0.4%, Buddhist 0.3%, atheist 9.2%, none 32.6% (2009 estimate).
We can conclude the following about the population in Belgium: Most of the population is concentrated in the northern two-thirds of the country. The southeast is more thinly populated. Considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world. Approximately 97% live in urban areas. In Belgium, we are talking about 98.1% (2021) of the total population living in cities, and most of them reside in the following municipalities: 2.096 million, Brussels (capital city), 1.048 million, Antwerp (2021).
Many industrial exports, including steel, glassware, cut diamonds, and textiles. High levels of public debt. Bureaucracy is more enormous than the European average.
Belgium's central geographic location and highly developed transport network have helped develop a well-diversified economy, with a broad mix of transport, services, manufacturing, and high tech. Service and high-tech industries are concentrated in the northern Flanders region, while the southern region of Wallonia is home to industries like coal and steel manufacturing. Belgium is utterly reliant on foreign sources of fossil fuels, and the planned closure of its seven nuclear plants by 2025 should increase its dependence on foreign energy. Its role as a regional logistical hub makes its economy vulnerable to shifts in foreign demand, particularly with EU trading partners. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries. The port of Zeebrugge conducts almost half its trade with the United Kingdom alone, leaving Belgiums economy vulnerable to the outcome of negotiations on the UK's exit from the EU. Belgium's GDP grew by 1.7% in 2017. The budget deficit was 1.5% of GDP.
Unemployment stood at 7.3%. However, the unemployment rate is lower in Flanders than in Wallonia, 4.4% compared to 9.4%, because of industrial differences between the regions. The economy largely recovered from the March 2016 terrorist attacks that mainly impacted the Brussels region tourist and hospitality industry. Prime Minister Charles Michels, the center-right government, has pledged to further reduce the deficit in response to EU pressure to decrease Belgium's high public debt of about 104% of GDP. Still, such efforts would also dampen economic growth. In addition to restrained public spending, low wage growth and higher inflation promise to curtail a more robust recovery in private consumption.
The government has pledged to pursue a reform program to improve Belgium's competitiveness, including changes to labor market rules and welfare benefits. These changes have generally made Belgian wages more competitive regionally but have raised tensions with trade unions, which have called for extended strikes. In 2017, Belgium approved a tax reform plan to ease corporate rates from 33% to 29% by 2018 and down to 25% by 2020. The tax plan also included benefits for innovation and SMEs, intended to spur competitiveness and private investment.
Belgium is rich in the following natural resources: Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land.
The main industrial sectors are typically engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum.
The country's export sectors are robust in cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, and natural gas (2019), partnering with these nations: Germany 17%, France 14%, Netherlands 13%, United Kingdom 8%, United States 6%, Italy 5% (2019). The export trade resulted in $414.79 billion. Note: Data are in current year dollars (2020 estimate). In a global rank of the export, values resulted in Belgium's position of 17.
Land use in Belgium: 22.4% (2018 estimate) forest, 33.5% (2018 estimate) other.
The arable land area is 27.2% (2018 estimate), and the agricultural land is 44.1% (2018 estimate). Land use for permanent crops 0.8% (2018 estimate), permanent pasture 16.1% (2018 estimate). The sum of the area of the irrigated land is 230 sq km (2012).
The main agro-industrial products of Belgium are sugar beet, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, poultry, maize, barley, pears.
The country typically needs to import: cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, and natural gas (2019), partnering with the following nations: Netherlands 16%, Germany 13%, France 10%, United States 8%, Ireland 5%, China 5% (2019) in a sum value of $412.85 billion. Note: data are in current year dollars (2020 estimate) $433.04 billion. Note: data are in current year dollars (2019 estimate) $452.53 billion. Note: data are in current year dollars (2018 estimate). This sum value on the global ranking list of imports resulted in Belgium 15.
Belgium Driving Directions
In this post, you learned about Belgium, Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. We published some basic information about its capital Brussels, and the Belgian nation.
Are you interested in visiting Belgium and looking for driving directions? Click here to plan your route, or see a printable road map of Belgium below for an overview of the route network.
Printable map of Belgium
Did you know about Belgium?
Belgium has been there for centuries and is known as the regional economic center for Europe. Belgium has a very diverse population and is bilingual: Flemish and French.
Due to their history with France and Netherlands, Belgians typically eat dishes comparable to French or Dutch cuisine.
After virtually visiting Belgium, you may also be interested in the neighboring countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands.
The capital city of Brussels is home to many international institutions, including NATO and the European Union. The port of Antwerp handles much of Belgium's trade with other countries in Europe.
If you liked our Google map and Belgium information page,
Categories Maps Tags Belgium, Belgium driving map, Driving Directions Belgium, Google Maps Belgium, printable map of Belgium, road map


text:
Council Tax referendums: power to the people?
Posted on May 20, 2016 by jamescarson2014
Since the 2012-13 financial year, council tax increases beyond the government's limit can trigger local referendums. But are they having an impact on policy?
The Council Tax: before and after localism
Local government spending in Great Britain is paid for by three main sources:
The council tax pays for about a quarter of all local services. However, cuts in funding from central government have put pressure on local authorities trying to maintain and improve services. As a result, in recent years many councils have been forced to impose council tax rises. This in turn has generated opposition from local residents and charges from central government that the increases are excessive.
Previously, if ministers believed that local authorities were increasing taxes excessively they had the power to cap council tax rises. However, in 2010, the Conservative general election manifesto promised to give residents the power to veto excessive council tax increases. The measure was included in the coalition government's programme for government and introduced in the Localism Act of 2011.
The thresholds for council tax rises
The Localism Act, which applies only in England, gives local communities the power to decide on council tax increases above a certain limit. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government determines this limit, which has to be approved by the House of Commons.
If a local authority proposes to raise taxes above the limit they must obtain approval from local voters in a referendum.
For the 2016-17 financial year, the government proposed the following thresholds:
local authorities with social care responsibilities – 4% (an extra 2% to fund social care)
district councils, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), fire and rescue authorities and the Greater London Authority (GLA): 2%
Districts and PCCs whose council tax level is in the lowest quartile of their type of authority may raise council tax by up to £5.00 on a Band D bill (which may be a greater rise than 2%).
This means, for example, that a local authority with social care responsibilities wishing to raise its council tax above 4% would have to organise a referendum on the proposed increase. In addition, the authority would have to make substitute calculations that would take effect if the proposed increase is rejected in the referendum.
Triggering a referendum
In March 2016, a survey by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) found that many councils are set to increase council tax close to the 3.99% maximum allowed under the referendum cap.
Few councils have so far set council taxes at a level that would trigger a referendum.
In 2015, the Green Party on Brighton and Hove Council failed to secure backing from the other parties for a 5.99% council tax rise. A settlement of 1.99% was eventually agreed, but the Greens said a bigger rise would have helped protect services for the elderly, adults in care, children and those living below the poverty line.
Bedfordshire says "No"
In May 2015, residents in Bedfordshire became the first in the country to vote in a referendum triggered by a decision to raise the council tax. The county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Olly Martins, increased the amount of the council tax for Bedfordshire Police by 15.84% compared to the previous year. He claimed that the increase would provide funds for more police officers.
However, the rise was rejected by almost 70% of voters, and the council had to issue new bills based on the lower increase of 1.99%.
Mr Martins said the result would mean a reduction of up to 135 uniformed officers from the existing 1,067. He also raised concerns about the rules on the wording on referendum ballot papers and awareness-raising during the campaign.
But Richard Fuller, the Conservative MP for Bedford claimed that the £350,000 spent on holding the referendum, and the £250,000 for re-billing meant that Mr Martins had shown "incredibly poor judgement".
With only one council tax referendum to consider, it's still too early to assess the impact such polls may have on policy. However, the costs and time-consuming nature of organising referendums of this kind may be acting as a deterrence to raising council tax bills above the referendum cap.
The government remains committed to the policy of council tax referendums, and has suggested that it could be extended to parish councils. In March 2014, the Labour Party confirmed that there were no plans to abolish the referendum principles. However, there is no guarantee that this will be the party's policy going into the next general election.
For the foreseeable future, council tax referendums are here to stay.
Follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date with developments in public and social policy currently interesting our research team.
This entry was posted in Government and politics and tagged Bedfordshire, Brighton and Hove Council, council tax, council tax rises, councils, local authorities, local councils, local government, localism, localism act, Police and Crime Commissioners, referenda, referendums. Bookmark the permalink.
← Performance appraisals – does the public sector need to be more innovative?
BIM: the digitisation of the built environment →


text:
La Casa consistorial d'Alcanyís, és un edifici renaixentista construït al , seguint un model de construcció estès pel territori aragonès que utilitza les estructures constructives de les cases senyorials per realitzar edificis per a ús públic.

L'edifici de la casa consistorial, igual que ocorre amb l'annexa llotja, va ser declarat Monument històric-artístic el 3 de juny de 1931, i es va publicar la declaració en la Gaseta de Madrid de 4 de juny del mateix any. A partir de 1985 va passar a considerar-se com Bé d'Interès Cultural, amb identificador autonòmic 7-INM-TER-019-013-001 i anotació ministerial RI-51-0000927. Ja entrat el , el dia 16 d'abril de 2004, el Butlletí Oficial d'Aragó publica l'Ordre de 22 de març de 2004, del Departament d'Educació, Cultura i Esport, per la qual es completa la declaració originària de Bé d'Interès Cultural de la denominada «Casa Consistorial i Llotja» a Alcanyís (Terol), conforme a la Disposició Transitòria Primera de la Llei 3/1999, de 10 de març, de Patrimoni Cultural Aragonés.

Història
La Vila d'Alcanyís inicia gestions per a la construcció d'un edifici que exerceixi les funcions de casa consistorial abans de mitjan , en concret en 1547, fins que finalment va aconseguir acabar una construcció per a tals finalitats l'any 1570. De totes maneres la datació es fa de manera aproximada, ja que no existeixen documents com el contracte o la capitulació de l'obra, que avalin els anys indicats.

L'edifici està construït formant angle de noranta graus amb la llotja, i va patir successives reformes i ampliacions (sobretot en el seu interior) amb el pas dels anys. Pot considerar-se l'últim terç del  el final definitiu d'aquest procés de reformes, que conclou amb la col·locació (amb una inscripció amb l'any 1742), en l'obertura central de la façana principal de l'edifici pel que fa a la planta noble, de l'escut de la vila, malgrat les inscripcions que es conserven al gran pati interior en el qual es rememoren d'una banda la construcció (l'any 1570) com l'ampliació barroca (1797).
En 1977 es va considerar la possibilitat de la seva restauració i es va redactar un projecte dirigit per Luis A. Moreno i Fernando Murria.
Des de 1982 a 1984 s'han dut a terme diverses fases de restauració.

Descripció
Es tracta d'un edifici de tres pisos amb dues façanes de diferent factura. La façana principal és de fàbrica de carreu, mentre que la lateral utilitza com a material constructiu el maó sobre basament de pedra.

La façana principal presenta tres altures separades per potents cornises, mentre que la façana lateral, que també té tres altures, aquestes se separen mitjançant impostes de pedra amb motllures poc ressaltades en la primera altura, mentre que s'utilitza maó en les dues últimes.

La planta baixa, en la façana principal s'obre en el seu eix central en arc de mig punt amb decoracions diverses, i flanquejat per pilastres també treballades. A banda i banda, s'obren dues finestres adovellades amb motllures. El fris de separació decorat i acabat amb una cornisa en volada. Per la seva banda, la planta baixa de la façana lateral presenta un parament llis amb una única obertura, la de la porta lateral en forma d'arc de mig punt, que presenta al seu torn sengles finestres a banda i banda d'aquesta.

La segona planta presenta dues finestres adovellades sobre sabates que al seu torn apean en pilastres rehundidas. Les obertures presenten columnes de fust cilíndric i estriat amb capitells jònics a manera de marc i aquestes suporten el fris i el frontó triangular amb el qual es remata la decoració d'aquests. Entre tots dues obertures queda espai per a una possible obertura central que estaria encegat i en lloc del qual es va col·locar en 1771 l'escut de la ciutat d'Alcanyís.

Per la seva banda, la planta segona de la façana lateral, de fàbrica de maó presenta un total de cinc balconades amb llinda i com a decoració presenta una franja de esquinillas que recorren horitzontalment la façana.
Finalment, la planta superior presenta una galeria d'arcs de mig punt en un total de cinc arcs, amb dovelaje acanalat i recolzats en columnes de fust llis. Per rematar la façana hi ha un ràfec de fusta molt volat.
Per la seva banda el més destacat del seu interior és la irregularitat de l'espai, tant per les successives reformes com per les ampliacions patides, sobretot durant el . Queda interiorment una planta rectangular entorn de tres crugies paral·leles.

Existeix un pati en la planta baixa, amb set columnes, que ocupa les crugies davantera i central. Des d'aquest pati, i a través d'unes escales, es pot accedir a la planta noble, la qual queda determinada per la disposició del Saló de Sessions (amb una coberta realitzada en fusta arquitrabada) en la crugia davantera. Al costat d'aquesta estada hi ha un "quarto" per als oficials del concejo, en la crugia central, en la crugia posterior es pot observar la ubicació de l'arxiu i l'escrivania.

Per la seva banda la planta superior es distribueix de manera idèntica a la planta noble ocupant la crugia principal el Saló de Recepcions.

Referències

Bibliografia
 Borrás Gualis, Gonzalo M. Enciclopèdia temàtica d'Aragó, tom 3, Zaragoza, 1986.
 Lomba Serrano, Concepción. La casa consistorial a Aragó: segles  i , Zaragoza, 1989.
 Micolau Adell, José Ignacio i Thomson Llisterri, Teresa (coord.). Comarca del Baix Aragó, Col·lecció Territori núm. 18, Departament de Presidència i Relacions Institucionals del Govern d'Aragó, Zaragoza, 2005.
 VV.AA. Sota Aragó, Col·lecció RUTASCAI per Aragó núm. 23, CAI- Prames, Zaragoza, 2005.
 Zubiri Vidal, Fernando. Alcanyís i la seva comarca, notes històriques, Zaragoza, 1985.

Béns d'Interès Cultural d'Aragó
Edificis d'Alcanyís
Cases consistorials de la província de Terol
Edificis renaixentistes
Monuments d'interés cultural d'Espanya

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Gays And Lesbians Seeking Asylum In U.S. May Find A Hard Road
By Richard Gonzales
Published February 26, 2014 at 2:37 AM CST
Activists protest Uganda's anti-gay legislation in Nairobi, Kenya, this month. LGBT status has been grounds for asylum in the U.S. since 1994, but winning refugee status can be difficult, particularly for people who are unable to obtain visas to the U.S. before applying.
Even through a long-distance line from Uganda, you can hear the fear and anxiety in the young man's voice. Nathan, 19, is gay. NPR is not using his surname because he fears arrest.
"Right now we are not safe," he says. "Because we are hearing some people say ... 'If we get you, we will kill you. If we get you, we'll do something bad to you.' "
More than 70 countries have laws on the books criminalizing homosexuality, including Nigeria, Russia and India. And on Monday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a measure that greatly expands the penalties for being gay in that country.
These laws also raise the likelihood of a tide of LGBT immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. But advocates say there is no smooth path for those claiming a fear of persecution.
In Uganda, the new law means a first-time offender can be sentenced to 14 years in prison. A lifetime sentence can be imposed for so-called "aggravated homosexuality," defined as sex with a minor or while HIV-positive.
Those sanctions are already driving gays and lesbians underground. Nathan and his partner fled Uganda's capital, Kampala, for a village where they hoped to find refuge. In the city, he says, he was threatened by neighbors for being gay.
"They take us as criminals. That's what I can say. They say we have evil in us," he says.
Even before Museveni signed the anti-gay bill, Ugandan activists were warning that the law would give license to more violence against gays.
Frank Mugisha, director of the group Sexual Minorities Uganda, says, "We're going to see people getting beaten on the streets, we're going to see people thrown out by their families, we're going to see people being evicted by their landlords, we're going to see people losing jobs, we're going to see people thrown out of school, because they are perceived or not as homosexuals. Even the suspicion will get someone in trouble."
And Mugisha has another prediction: "There's definitely going to be many people seeking asylum in different countries."
'A Lot Of People Are In Panic Mode'
But winning asylum in the United States is no easy feat. Granted, the U.S. has recognized LGBT status as grounds for asylum since 1994, but the government keeps no records on how many claims it grants.
"It's an unconscionably hard process to seek asylum in the United States of America," says Melanie Nathan, a California-based lawyer who works on behalf of LGBT asylum seekers. She says it's virtually impossible for someone to knock on the door of a U.S. embassy abroad and ask for and receive asylum.
"So what happens is, they come to America on other types of visas. They come to America on workshop conference visas, on visitor's visas," she says. "And once they are here, people have a year to apply for asylum. The average person — especially younger people in Uganda, for example — will never get that initial visa and don't have money even to fly here."
Still, based on her social media contacts in Uganda, Nathan estimates anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 gay Ugandans will seek asylum in the U.S. or other countries.
Nathan says she has what she calls her "Schindler's List" — "people that have been trying to escape." Since the signing of the new law in Uganda, "my phone has been going crazy, my messages have been crazy," she says. "A lot of people are in panic mode right now."
For its part, the Obama administration calls the new Ugandan law "more than an affront and a danger to the gay community" there. And in a statement, Secretary of State John Kerry has called for a repeal of the law.
"We are beginning an internal review with the Government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values," the statement says.
But if the U.S. were to make it easier for Ugandans to get asylum, it's not likely to happen soon, if at all. That's what Nathan, the young man in Uganda, found out when a group of gay activists talked with U.S. Embassy officials there.
"They say they don't have asylum," he says. "So people, we have to fight for [our rights] ourselves."
But that's a difficult proposition in the East African country, where advocating for gay rights is also a criminal offense.
Richard Gonzales is NPR's National Desk Correspondent based in San Francisco. Along with covering the daily news of region, Gonzales' reporting has included medical marijuana, gay marriage, drive-by shootings, Jerry Brown, Willie Brown, the U.S. Ninth Circuit, the California State Supreme Court and any other legal, political, or social development occurring in Northern California relevant to the rest of the country.
See stories by Richard Gonzales


If you're like most online webmasters, then you have probably read one article after the other about search engine optimization. Most of them rehash the same old information and you end up wading through tons of fluff. However, this isn't one of those articles. Listed below are 7 advanced SEO tips that you won't find on every digital corner.
As you probably know, syndicating articles is one of the best methods for obtaining one-way backlinks.
They are also valuable pieces of search engine bait because search engine crawlers are frequent visitors to many high-profile article directories. If you want to get the spiders quickly crawling your site, simply submit an informative article to a site like EzineArticles, GoArticles, or ArticleCity.
However, there's another article marketing strategy that isn't mentioned much in marketing circles. This tactic can get the crawlers searching deeper into your site and indexing more of your pages. Simply link to your sitemap within the resource box. This will send the spiders straight to a content buffet where they can quickly slurp up all of your pages.
One of the best ways to attract worldwide traffíc is to translate your site and register it with both English and foreign-language search engines and directories. If you are a seasoned SEO, you'll be happy to hear that the competition in foreign search engines is much less than in those of the United States.
In addition, online foreign language markets are currently growing at a much faster rate than English speaking markets.
You have the opportuníty to tap into this market while it's in an exponential growth phase.
As you probably know, sitemaps are important for making sure your site can be completely spidered and indexed by the search engines. Unfortunately, many of these sitemaps are specific to one search engine or another. For this reason, there have been a number of Google and Yahoo site map generators produced in recent years.
However, there is an alternative that is even more exciting. These are ROR sitemaps and they are readable by all search engines, not just by Google or Yahoo.
ROR is an exciting new sitemap tool that uses XML feeds to describe your website. These sitemaps are structured feeds that enable search engines to complement text search with structured information to better interpret the meaning of your site. With a ROR sitemap, search engines can better understand your products, services, images, newsletters, articles, podcasts, and anything else that you want to describe.
relevant information. Search engine crawlers like the Googlebot have an enormous job to do. It's time we start helping them to better understand our content.
Selecting the right keyword phrases is the single most important aspect of any SEO campaign. Unfortunately, many webmasters target the wrong keywords. Too many of us target very general keywords like "real estate" or "internet marketing". Although these terms get lots of visitors, it is unlikely that you will be able to rank highly for them. Then, even if you do, this type of traffíc produces very low conversion rates because it does not target prospects.
You will be much more successful, if you target keyword phrases that are 3-4 words long. These terms are much less competitive and have been proven to convert much better than keywords that are 1 to 2 words long.
Who do you think is more likely to buy; someone who goes to Google and searches for "ipod" or someone who searches for "4gb black ipod nano"? Obviously, the person who searches for a more specific phrase is much closer to making a buying decision.
Would you like to get an in-depth view of how your competitors run their business? Well, you can do exactly that with an online service known as GoogSpy. GoogSpy is a free research tool that will tell you what keywords your competitors are bidding on.
This tool tracks over 500,000 keywords every day from Google and then loads this goldmine of information into the GoogSpy.com database. Using this tool, you can browse by company or by search term.
This tool is extremely powerful. Unfortunately, many people take it for granted. This service basically hands you a business strategy on a silver platter. Maybe we should just keep this one to ourselves and enjoy the benefits of being one step ahead of our competition.
For example, let's say you wanted to do some in-depth research on Overstock.com, one of the largest companies online. You would simply go to googspy.com and type in overstock.com. You will then be shown thousands of words that this company bids on. These keywords are proven profít generators. Research like this would normally cost thousands of dollars, but they are providing it free of charge.
If you want to find keywords with high conversion rates, simply type in words such as buy and purchase. You will be shown keyword phrases that are bid on that include the words buy or purchase. These are very lucrative keyword phrases because the person who types in "buy sony playstation 2" knows exactly what they want. They're not just looking around, they are in buying mode. These are the type of keywords you want to bid on. Using GoogSpy, you can uncover these hidden gems in seconds.
Other high-converting keyword phrases include brand names and product names. Type in the keyword "camera" and you will find thousands of different brands and product names for cameras. These keywords are some of the best keywords because of their high conversion rate.
The navigation of your site is a crucial element of your search engine optimization campaign. Each link within your navigational structure should correlate with a keyphrase that you are trying to rank for.
However, you can also include internal links within your content. For example, let's say you have written an article about online marketing. Within the article are a number of keyword phrases. Some of these phrases include "link popularity" and "web site traffíc". If you have other articles within your site that pertain to these topics, then you should definitely link those keyword phrases to those articles. By doing this, you can increase the link popularity of other pages within the same site.
There are very few sites that take advantage of this optimization technique. By doing this, you enable the search engines to find and index much more of your site. These internal links also contribute to a higher ranking because of the anchor text that is used.
Many people only think of inbound links from outside websites when trying to raise their link popularity. However, the internal link structure is also a major ranking factor.
Your server logs reveal very important information about your site. If you learn to use them properly, they can quickly help to maximize your site's traffíc and conversion rates.
One of the most valuable pieces of information found in your log files are search phrases. The log files will tell you exactly which keywords people are using to find your website.
Once you have optimized a page, the log files will tell you how people are finding that page and what keywords they are searching for to get there. If you find that people are using keywords that you hadn't thought of to get to a certain page, it would probably be in your best interest to further optimize that page for those keywords.
You might also want to create a new page optimized for that particular term. This is especially true if a new page would enable you to serve better information on the phrase being searched for.
In addition, by looking at how your site is found organically, you can determine whether the same keyword phrases belong in your paid search campaigns. Only choose the ones that are highly relevant. You will find that these keyword phrases have the best conversion rate.


William Russell Birch was a miniaturist, enamel painter, engraver, and etcher. Born in Warwickshire, England, in 1755, he emigrated to Philadelphia in 1794, and there he died in 1834. His sons Thomas and George were also artists. William and Thomas worked together for a short while and printed a series of engravings entitled Views of Philadelphia. William later published another series entitled Country Seats of America. A typescript of an autobiography of William Russell Birch, along with information about enamel painting and a list of enamel paintings which he had executed.


I like to smile at people who do not like me.
Sometimes you have to let things go so there's room for better things to come into your life.
Let go of what's gone, be grateful for what remains and look forward to what is coming.
Imagine meeting someone who wanted to learn your past not to punish you, but to understand how you needed to be loved.
Marriage doesn't guarantee that you will be together forever, it's only paper. It takes trust, respect, commitment, understanding, friendship and faith in your relationship to make it last.
Never apologize for how much love you have to give. Just feel sorry for those who didn't want any of it.
If you have a family that loves you, a few good friends, food on your table and a roof over your head. You are richer than you think.
Sometimes you just have to erase the messages, delete the numbers and move on. You dont have to forget who that person was to you but you just have to accept that they arent the same person anymore.
You ever notice people would rather stop speaking to you instead of apologizing when they're wrong.
It's okay to dislike someone, or even dislike someone for no reason. But it's not okay to disrespect, degrade, and humiliate that person.
I'm a strong person and there is a limit to how much I will take. If you lie to me, disrespect me or treat me like I don't matter….I'm done.
Depression is when you don't really care about anything. Anxiety is when you care too much about everything. And having both is just like hell.
I want to go on a road trip, listen to good music and discover beautiful places.
People who stay in the car a little longer to listen to music are my kind of people.
Remember, most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust your attitude, and all that extra stress is gone.
We don't always have to agree with one another but it's important that we learn to respect each other. -Rubyanne.
Some people create their own storms & then get mad when it rains.
What Defines us is how Well we Rise after we fall ~Zig ziglar.
Be selective with your battles because peace is often better than being right.
Mom, thank you for always being there for me. Not just when I needed you, but for when I needed you most.
I do not want someone who stands next to me because they are lonely. I want someone who stands next to me because they cannot imagine standing next to anyone else.
It's not that we find more patience as we grow older, it's that we get too tired to care aboutall the pointless drama.
Remember that no amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of worrying can change the future.
Since then, the story spread that Regina is actually 90 years old. She is really only in her '50s, but nonetheless, this Pulitzer Prize finalist has a wealth of knowledge and life lessons that you would think she truly was in her 90's.
Before you read this page, make sure you save it and always look at it, just to remind yourself not to regret these things. Here are the 37 things you'll regret when you're old.
3. Staying in yes those bad relationship(s).
4. Not using any sunscreen or enough sunscreen.
Don't close the book when bad things happen in your life, just turn the page and begin a new chapter.
When a woman tells you her problems, it doesn't mean she's complaining, it means she trusts you.
You can meet somebody tomorrow who has better intentions for you than someone you've known forever. Time means nothing. Character does.
The lesson; not everyone you love will stay, not everyone you trust will be loyal. Some people only exist as examples of what to avoid.
4 things you can't get back: The stone after it is thrown. The word after it is said. The occasion after it is missed. The time after it's gone.
Sometimes the person who has been there for everyone else, needs someone to be there for them.
If you want to change the world, go home and love your family. -Mother Theresa.
Whatever it is you want to do, do it. You only have so many tomorrows.
Sometimes you need to cancel your subscription to people's issues.
If you live your life as if everything is about you, you will be left with just that. Just you.
Saying sorry is important but not doing the very same thing again is more important.


text:
20+ Things You Should Know Before Visiting Singapore
Last month prior to coming to Singapore, my brother asked me and Rael, "Are you guys already familiar with the laws in Singapore?"
Rael and I shared a dumbfounded look.
Turns out, Singapore is dubbed as "The Fine City" for two reasons: 1) Singapore is an impeccable epitome of a fine state — clean, green, advanced and endowed with an array of attractions; 2) the country imposes a hodgepodge of fines.
Here are some of the things you need to know before coming to Singapore:
#1 Liquor control
Consumption of alcohol is banned in all public places from 10:30 PM to 7 AM. Retail shops are also not allowed to sell takeaway alcohol during these hours. You can, however, drink at licensed establishments like pubs and restaurants as long as you don't create any public disturbance especially when you're buzzed.
In Geylang and Little India, their liquor control law is more strict. Alcohol takeaway, as well as public drinking, are also banned from 7 AM on Saturdays until 7 AM on Mondays, and 7 PM on the eve of a public holiday to 7 AM after the holiday.
Tiger: Singapore's local beer
#2 Free city tours
This is not a law but this is something you might be very well interested in. If you are transiting through Singapore, Changi Airport offers 2 free city tours:
◉ City Sights Tour: Takes you around Merlion Park, Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, the Esplanade, etc. and a short stopover at Gardens by the Bay.
◉ Heritage Tour: Brings you to Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam and a short stopover at the Merlion Park. Registration booths are at Terminals 2 and 3.
#3 Gum-free zone
Gums have been banned in Singapore since 1992. In 2004, however, an exception was made for gums with health benefits (therapeutic, dental or nicotine chewing gum). These types of gums can be obtained from doctors and pharmacies. Carrying gums in your bag, though, doesn't mean you will be prosecuted or something unless you're bringing large quantities. Improper disposal of gum can cost up to S$1000 of fine. Spitting it out on the street is the worst crime of all.
#4 No spitting
Let's face it. Some people are "spitters". If you're one of them, hold it in. Spitting in public places can issue you a fine of up to S$1,000.
#5 Keep left
Singapore is a "left lane country". It is an unspoken rule but is considered an act of courtesy. Vehicle drivers drive on the left lane, pedestrian walk on the left, and people on escalators stand on the left and walk on the right. It's not really a crime to stand or walk on the right side but it's always good to follow their flow of traffic and not cause some sort of nonconformity.
#6 No littering
Singapore is impeccably clean. Not only on their "focal areas" but even on tiny alleys and non-touristy streets. It is not surprising that "no littering" is something they strictly enforce. Trash bins can be found in many corners and if you don't see one, just keep it in your pocket or bag until you find one.
An alleyway in Chinatown
First-time offenders who throw small items like candy wrappers or cigarette butts are fined $300. Those who throw out bigger items like drink cans or bottles are considered defiant and are required to appear before the court which usually gives them Corrective Work Order (CWO). Think green vests and public cleaning.
Here's a personal observation though: I saw 2 or 3 people litter. 1 is a taxi driver who threw something out of his car and 2 others were pedestrians, assumably locals. They were not fined at all. So I guess it really depends if someone will rat you out or if a law enforcer caught you redhanded. Still, littering should be a no-no not only when traveling in Singapore but anytime, anywhere.
#7 No jaywalking
Do not cross the street in non-designated areas. Meaning, you have to look for marked pedestrian lanes. This, however, is similar to #5. I've seen some people jaywalk in Little India and no one seemed bothered.
#8 Quiet after 10
Loud parties and group gatherings that cause noise after 10 PM in Singapore is considered illegal. If someone calls the police because of the noise and you have no reasonable excuse, you could be issued a fine of up to S$2,000. As of 2015, parties after 10:30 PM can be allowed given the host will secure a permit from the government.
#9 Be aware of the "bad Singaporean season"
There are times when Singapore is smothered in smog especially when there are forest fires in Sumatra. As a result, the city will experience an awful haze which is not only detrimental to one's health but also not ideal for photographing among other things. So, always check weather forecasts for haze days and avoid traveling during these times.
#10 999
Just in case you want to know, you can contact their police by dialing 999.
#11 Smoking Act
Smoking is prohibited in many places in Singapore: indoor public places, children's playgrounds, outdoor public facilities, overhead bridges, bus shelters, public transportation vehicles, covered walkways, common areas in residential buildings, etc. Punishment can range from a fine of S$150 to S$1,000. Thankfully, signboards are available almost everywhere to make locals and tourists well informed.
#12 Display of same-sex relations is considered a crime
It's time to discreet in the Lion City. Singapore has a legislation called "Outrages on Decency." This law criminalizes homosexual relations and can slap offenders up to two years in prison.
#13 Always clothe yourself at home
Do you know that walking around naked even in the premise of your own house is prohibited? Apparently, the Singaporean government considers this act a form f pornography. So if you're taking your clothes off at home, always always close your curtains or drape yourself with a towel.
#14 Vandalism is a serious crime
The crime of vandalism covers painting, drawing, writing, inscribing and putting any marks to any private or public property without proper consent. Damaging, destroying and stealing public property is also included as well as putting on posters, banners, flags, and placards. Offenders of this crime do not only get issued a fine but also jail time and 3 to 8 strokes of caning.
#15 Keep your pee off the elevators
I know this is something people already know. Urinating in elevators is prohibited. We don't even need a law for that, right? While it's frowned upon and considered a breach of property in most countries, in Singapore, it is highly unlawful. Their elevators are equipped with Urine Detection Devices (UDD), which set off an alarm when urine is detected. This alarm locks down the elevator doors until police arrive. Fine for offenders can range from S$150 to S$500.
#16 Connecting to Unsecured WiFi is illegal
I know, I know. Sometimes we get so desperate to harbor free wifi that we sometimes get tempted to connect to someone's unprotected wifi. But HEY, if you start thinking about it, STOP. Doing so is considered a type of hacking in Singapore. In fact, there was a case of a teenager being sentenced to 3 years in prison for connecting to their neighbor's wifi.
In Singapore, WiFi is ample almost everywhere. If you have a Singaporean SIM card or local number (or even if you're just using your own international number but you have to be on roaming because a code will be sent to that number for verification), you can use it to register on free wifi connections. Also, some train stations and malls offer free WiFi.
Here are some of the train stations with free WiFi in Singapore:
◉ Changi Airport
◉ Bayfront
◉ Bugis
◉ Clark Quay
◉ City Hall
◉ Esplanade
◉ Promenade
◉ Raffles Place
◉ Farrer Park
◉ Harbourfront
◉ Fort Canning
◉ Marina Bay
◉ Outram Park
◉ Orchard
◉ Tanjong Pagar
◉ Woodlands
#17 Feeding pigeons
If in some parts of Europe and US people are allowed to share their crumbs to pigeons, this is totally not allowed in Singapore. Offenders will be fined S$500. Ohmy.
#18 No snacking on the MRT, and definitely no durian!
Yes, many countries allow passengers to nibble on something or drink some water while on board the train. In Singapore, however, this is a no-no. In fact, a woman in 2009 was fined S$30 just for popping a candy into her mouth. Durians are also not allowed in public transportation vehicles, even if you're not going to eat it.
#19 Strictly no to drugs
Obviously.
In Singapore, the police is authorized to run random drug testing on anyone — both locals and tourists. Punishment can range from S$20,000 fines up to 10 years in prison or worse, death penalty.
#20 Annoying music?
I've read about this that one should never cause annoyance to anyone in Singapore by singing (especially with explicit content) or playing a musical instrument. Doing so is punishable by law of up to 3 months in prison. Yikes!
at Satay by the Bay
#21 No tissue, not taken
If you go to hawker centers and you'd like to reserve a seat or table, just leave packets of tissues on it and people will know it's taken. If you go around and see tables/chairs with these tissues, do not attempt to snag the seat/table as it means it is currently reserved. Sometimes, tissue is not used but instead, they leave umbrellas, shopping bags, etc.
#22 Tipping is not necessary
It's not customary to tip in Singapore. But if you feel like giving some, it's not really illegal so go ahead.
#23 Flying a kite should not interfere with traffic
It makes a lot of sense because messing with traffic can cause many fatal things. Offenders of this law will be fined at least S$5,000.
Truly, Singapore is a fine city. Pun intended. Just knowing these basics and you're all set!
asiaeverything you need to knowsingaporesingapore lawssingapore rulessingapore travelthings to knowthings to know before traveling to singaporetraveltrip to singapore
2019 Salagdoong Beach Resort, Siquijor Guide (With Complete List of Rates!)
The Ultimate Kilimanjaro Guide for Trekkers From All Over the World
We Got Scammed in Bangkok!


text:
import datetime
import os
import time
from collections import defaultdict, deque

import torch
import torch.distributed as dist
import torch.nn.functional as F

class SmoothedValue:
    """Track a series of values and provide access to smoothed values over a
    window or the global series average.
    """

    def __init__(self, window_size=20, fmt="{median:.4f} ({global_avg:.4f})"):
        self.deque = deque(maxlen=window_size)
        self.total = 0.0
        self.count = 0
        self.fmt = fmt

    def update(self, value, n=1):
        self.deque.append(value)
        self.count += n
        self.total += value * n

    def synchronize_between_processes(self):
        """
        Warning: does not synchronize the deque!
        """
        t = reduce_across_processes([self.count, self.total])
        t = t.tolist()
        self.count = int(t[0])
        self.total = t[1]

    @property
    def median(self):
        d = torch.tensor(list(self.deque))
        return d.median().item()

    @property
    def avg(self):
        d = torch.tensor(list(self.deque), dtype=torch.float32)
        return d.mean().item()

    @property
    def global_avg(self):
        return self.total / self.count

    @property
    def max(self):
        return max(self.deque)

    @property
    def value(self):
        return self.deque[-1]

    def __str__(self):
        return self.fmt.format(
            median=self.median, avg=self.avg, global_avg=self.global_avg, max=self.max, value=self.value
        )

class MetricLogger:
    def __init__(self, delimiter="\t"):
        self.meters = defaultdict(SmoothedValue)
        self.delimiter = delimiter

    def update(self, **kwargs):
        for k, v in kwargs.items():
            if isinstance(v, torch.Tensor):
                v = v.item()
            if not isinstance(v, (float, int)):
                raise TypeError(
                    f"This method expects the value of the input arguments to be of type float or int, instead  got {type(v)}"
                )
            self.meters[k].update(v)

    def __getattr__(self, attr):
        if attr in self.meters:
            return self.meters[attr]
        if attr in self.__dict__:
            return self.__dict__[attr]
        raise AttributeError(f"'{type(self).__name__}' object has no attribute '{attr}'")

    def __str__(self):
        loss_str = []
        for name, meter in self.meters.items():
            loss_str.append(f"{name}: {str(meter)}")
        return self.delimiter.join(loss_str)

    def synchronize_between_processes(self):
        for meter in self.meters.values():
            meter.synchronize_between_processes()

    def add_meter(self, name, **kwargs):
        self.meters[name] = SmoothedValue(**kwargs)

    def log_every(self, iterable, print_freq=5, header=None):
        i = 0
        if not header:
            header = ""
        start_time = time.time()
        end = time.time()
        iter_time = SmoothedValue(fmt="{avg:.4f}")
        data_time = SmoothedValue(fmt="{avg:.4f}")
        space_fmt = ":" + str(len(str(len(iterable)))) + "d"
        if torch.cuda.is_available():
            log_msg = self.delimiter.join(
                [
                    header,
                    "[{0" + space_fmt + "}/{1}]",
                    "eta: {eta}",
                    "{meters}",
                    "time: {time}",
                    "data: {data}",
                    "max mem: {memory:.0f}",
                ]
            )
        else:
            log_msg = self.delimiter.join(
                [header, "[{0" + space_fmt + "}/{1}]", "eta: {eta}", "{meters}", "time: {time}", "data: {data}"]
            )
        MB = 1024.0 * 1024.0
        for obj in iterable:
            data_time.update(time.time() - end)
            yield obj
            iter_time.update(time.time() - end)
            if print_freq is not None and i % print_freq == 0:
                eta_seconds = iter_time.global_avg * (len(iterable) - i)
                eta_string = str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=int(eta_seconds)))
                if torch.cuda.is_available():
                    print(
                        log_msg.format(
                            i,
                            len(iterable),
                            eta=eta_string,
                            meters=str(self),
                            time=str(iter_time),
                            data=str(data_time),
                            memory=torch.cuda.max_memory_allocated() / MB,
                        )
                    )
                else:
                    print(
                        log_msg.format(
                            i, len(iterable), eta=eta_string, meters=str(self), time=str(iter_time), data=str(data_time)
                        )
                    )
            i += 1
            end = time.time()
        total_time = time.time() - start_time
        total_time_str = str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=int(total_time)))
        print(f"{header} Total time: {total_time_str}")

def compute_metrics(flow_pred, flow_gt, valid_flow_mask=None):

    epe = ((flow_pred - flow_gt) ** 2).sum(dim=1).sqrt()
    flow_norm = (flow_gt**2).sum(dim=1).sqrt()

    if valid_flow_mask is not None:
        epe = epe[valid_flow_mask]
        flow_norm = flow_norm[valid_flow_mask]

    relative_epe = epe / flow_norm

    metrics = {
        "epe": epe.mean().item(),
        "1px": (epe < 1).float().mean().item(),
        "3px": (epe < 3).float().mean().item(),
        "5px": (epe < 5).float().mean().item(),
        "f1": ((epe > 3) & (relative_epe > 0.05)).float().mean().item() * 100,
    }
    return metrics, epe.numel()

def sequence_loss(flow_preds, flow_gt, valid_flow_mask, gamma=0.8, max_flow=400):
    """Loss function defined over sequence of flow predictions"""

    if gamma > 1:
        raise ValueError(f"Gamma should be < 1, got {gamma}.")

    # exlude invalid pixels and extremely large diplacements
    flow_norm = torch.sum(flow_gt**2, dim=1).sqrt()
    valid_flow_mask = valid_flow_mask & (flow_norm < max_flow)

    valid_flow_mask = valid_flow_mask[:, None, :, :]

    flow_preds = torch.stack(flow_preds)  # shape = (num_flow_updates, batch_size, 2, H, W)

    abs_diff = (flow_preds - flow_gt).abs()
    abs_diff = (abs_diff * valid_flow_mask).mean(axis=(1, 2, 3, 4))

    num_predictions = flow_preds.shape[0]
    weights = gamma ** torch.arange(num_predictions - 1, -1, -1).to(flow_gt.device)
    flow_loss = (abs_diff * weights).sum()

    return flow_loss

class InputPadder:
    """Pads images such that dimensions are divisible by 8"""

    # TODO: Ideally, this should be part of the eval transforms preset, instead
    # of being part of the validation code. It's not obvious what a good
    # solution would be, because we need to unpad the predicted flows according
    # to the input images' size, and in some datasets (Kitti) images can have
    # variable sizes.

    def __init__(self, dims, mode="sintel"):
        self.ht, self.wd = dims[-2:]
        pad_ht = (((self.ht // 8) + 1) * 8 - self.ht) % 8
        pad_wd = (((self.wd // 8) + 1) * 8 - self.wd) % 8
        if mode == "sintel":
            self._pad = [pad_wd // 2, pad_wd - pad_wd // 2, pad_ht // 2, pad_ht - pad_ht // 2]
        else:
            self._pad = [pad_wd // 2, pad_wd - pad_wd // 2, 0, pad_ht]

    def pad(self, *inputs):
        return [F.pad(x, self._pad, mode="replicate") for x in inputs]

    def unpad(self, x):
        ht, wd = x.shape[-2:]
        c = [self._pad[2], ht - self._pad[3], self._pad[0], wd - self._pad[1]]
        return x[..., c[0] : c[1], c[2] : c[3]]

def _redefine_print(is_main):
    """disables printing when not in main process"""
    import builtins as __builtin__

    builtin_print = __builtin__.print

    def print(*args, **kwargs):
        force = kwargs.pop("force", False)
        if is_main or force:
            builtin_print(*args, **kwargs)

    __builtin__.print = print

def setup_ddp(args):
    # Set the local_rank, rank, and world_size values as args fields
    # This is done differently depending on how we're running the script. We
    # currently support either torchrun or the custom run_with_submitit.py
    # If you're confused (like I was), this might help a bit
    # https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-rank-and-local-rank/61940/2

    if all(key in os.environ for key in ("LOCAL_RANK", "RANK", "WORLD_SIZE")):
        # if we're here, the script was called with torchrun. Otherwise
        # these args will be set already by the run_with_submitit script
        args.local_rank = int(os.environ["LOCAL_RANK"])
        args.rank = int(os.environ["RANK"])
        args.world_size = int(os.environ["WORLD_SIZE"])

    elif "gpu" in args:
        # if we're here, the script was called by run_with_submitit.py
        args.local_rank = args.gpu
    else:
        print("Not using distributed mode!")
        args.distributed = False
        args.world_size = 1
        return

    args.distributed = True

    _redefine_print(is_main=(args.rank == 0))

    torch.cuda.set_device(args.local_rank)
    dist.init_process_group(
        backend="nccl",
        rank=args.rank,
        world_size=args.world_size,
        init_method=args.dist_url,
    )
    torch.distributed.barrier()

def reduce_across_processes(val):
    t = torch.tensor(val, device="cuda")
    dist.barrier()
    dist.all_reduce(t)
    return t

def freeze_batch_norm(model):
    for m in model.modules():
        if isinstance(m, torch.nn.BatchNorm2d):
            m.eval()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Bruins conclude quiet draft weekend with four picks on Day 2
Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger
The Bruins were open to making trades during the NHL Draft in Vancouver, but instead used all five selections they brought with them. The B's chose four forwards -- including first-round pick John Beecher -- and one defenseman.
No dealing. Just drafting.
That was part of the story for the Bruins this weekend in Vancouver, where they made they made five selections in the NHL Draft.
The day after selecting center John Beecher of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program with their first-round choice (No. 30 overall) on Friday night, the B's picked up three more forwards and a defenseman on Day 2.
In Round 3, at No. 92 overall, the Bruins added Quinn Olson, a winger from Calgary who has spent the past two seasons with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He's scheduled to attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2020-21.
Roman Bychkov, a Russian defenseman, was the Bruins' fifth-round pick, at No. 154 overall. Finnish winger Matias Mantykivi was selected in Round 6 (No. 185), and the B's closed the draft by making Jake Schmaltz, a winger from Wisconsin who played with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, their seventh-round selection at No. 192.
Because of previous trades, the B's didn't have selections in the second and fourth rounds. Beecher was their first first-rounder in two years; they traded their 2018 first-rounder to the Rangers to obtain Rick Nash, who has since retired.
Despite persistent rumors that the draft would be highlighted by trade activity, relatively few deals involving current NHL players were executed, and the Bruins weren't in the mix. General manager Don Sweeney said before the draft that he was open to including the Bruins' first-round choice in a trade, either to improve the team's draft prospects or as part of a deal that would involve roster players, but after some last-second haggling on Friday night, the B's went ahead and made their pick.
"We were making some calls," said Sweeney, who entertained the thought of moving back later in the draft, feeling the B's could still select a targeted player after No. 30. "Prior to going in … we felt there'd be a range of (prospects), and we felt comfortable there.
"But when the time comes, you still have some debate."
In the end, the Bruins selected Beecher, a big (6-feet, 3 inches; 212 pounds), fast center who played behind first-round picks Jack Hughes (No. 1 overall, Devils) and Alex Turcotte (No. 5, Kings) with the USA Under-18 team. After using their first selection to draft defensemen in the four previous drafts (Jakub Zboril, Charlie McAvoy, Urho Vaakanainen and Axel Andersson), the Bruins hoped to address the center position, with Patrice Bergeron (34 next month) and David Krejci (33) getting closer to the end of their careers. The selection of Beecher also puts a left-hand shot in their pipeline at a position currently dominated by right-handers.
"We're looking at our center ice position from a future standpoint," Sweeney said. "Where we sit right now, we're comfortable, but we have to be able to fill in behind (Bergeron and Krejci)."
Beecher, a native of Elmira, New York, is scheduled to attend the University of Michigan starting next season. He and other members of the Bruins' recent draft classes are expected to attend the team's annual Development Camp, which is scheduled to run this Wednesday through Friday, June 26-28, at Warrior Ice Arena.


Cheap flights to Thailand: Bangkok for only €379!
Royal Jordanian now offers cheap flights to Thailand for amazing price.
Multicity tickets Barcelona – Bangkok – Berlin are available for only €379!
You can also return to Munich for the same price.
23 kg luggage is included and there is one stopover in Amman.
Travel dates are in May and June with departures until 20th June.
Book via BudgetAir for the best price (click on Show extra search options on homepage).
« Cheap flights to Ireland: Prague-Dublin for €76!


Rod has 1 job listed on their profile. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Rod's connections and jobs at similar companies. View Rod Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community.
View Rod Gardner's full profile. It's free! Your colleagues, classmates, and 500 million other professionals are on LinkedIn. View Rod's Full Profile. Rod Gardner's Posts & Activity.
Bekijk het profiel van Rod Gardner op LinkedIn, de grootste professionele community ter wereld. Rod Gardner heeft 3 functies op zijn of haar profiel. Bekijk het volledige profiel op LinkedIn om de connecties van Rod Gardner en vacatures bij vergelijkbare bedrijven te zien.
View Rod Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Rod has 1 job listed on their profile. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Rod's connections and jobs at similar companies.
Rod has 3 jobs listed on their profile. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Rod's connections and jobs at similar companies. View Rod Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community.
Digital Growth expert Rod Gardner is a digital marketing consultant focused on delivering results through SEO, Inbound Marketing, Data-Driven Design & Content Marketing.
View the profiles of professionals named Rod Gardner on LinkedIn. There are 99 professionals named Rod Gardner, who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities.
View Rod Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Rod has 2 jobs listed on their profile. ... See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Rod's connections and jobs at similar companies. LinkedIn. Sign in; Join now Main content starts below. Rod Gardner. Service Manager at Century Lighting Oregon.
Rod Gardner ma 7 pozycji w swoim profilu. Zobacz pełny profil użytkownika Rod Gardner i odkryj jego(jej) kontakty oraz pozycje w podobnych firmach. Wyświetl profil użytkownika Rod Gardner na LinkedIn, największej sieci zawodowej na świecie.
View Rod Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Rod has 3 jobs listed on their profile. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Rod's connections and jobs at similar companies.
View Rod Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Rod has 4 jobs listed on their profile. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Rod's connections and jobs at similar companies.


Kaz Deva just wants to be normal. But when she discovers she's part of a long legacy of Warriors stretching all the way back to the goddess Kali, 'normal' is not an option. Five-star reviews: "Fast-paced, sometimes gritty, demon-slaying fun" and "Page-turningly good." See price on Kindle.
Family secrets. A murdered mother. An estranged aunt. A diary. A vandalized high school. For the young and the young at heart. If you loved Nancy Drew, you don't want to miss the debut novel in the Holly Lewis series by two-time USA Today Bestselling Author, Dianne Harman. $3.99 on Kindle.
Do you love stories that touch your heart? Then you will love all 8 romance novels in this box set. Enjoy these gripping love stories with enough twists to keep you turning the pages. These stories of hope, fear, romance, suspense, and true love will warm your heart and your soul. Free on Kindle.
From USA Today bestselling author Maureen A. Miller comes this young adult adventure that will plunge you deep into the Atlantic Ocean. $0.99 on Kindle.
Charlie has it all figured out that is until life sends her a curveball in the form of a seemingly self-sufficient star athlete, which forces her to re-evaluate everything, even herself. $2.57 on Kindle.
Fatherless is a heartbreaking tale of a young man dealing with the pain of abandonment, finding true love and meeting the tragedy of his ultimate fate. Abandoned by his father, Danny Braverman struggles to find his way through the confusion of adolescence and developing sexuality. Free on Kindle.