text:
By DawnyG
Israel: Challenges and Hope pt 3
<!--StartFragment--> In November, Temple Tmunah's Israel Action Committee will present an Israel Synaplex Shabbat where special guests include Dr. Tamar Elram, Israeli Obstetrician and current Wexner Fellow, and two of JCRC's 2010 Interfaith clergy tour participants-- ...
October 28, 2010 Edit 0 0
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In November, Temple Tmunah's Israel Action Committee will present an Israel Synaplex Shabbat where special guests include Dr. Tamar Elram, Israeli Obstetrician and current Wexner Fellow, and two of JCRC's 2010 Interfaith clergy tour participants– Reverend Bryan Wilkerson, Senior Pastor of Grace Chapel, Reverend Paul Shupe Sr. Minister of Hancock Church. This sermon by Rabbi Lerner was inspired, in part, by that JCRC trip experience.
Israel: Challenges and Hope
sermon by Rabbi David Lerner
Dipping into Political Waters
Beyond the interfaith sharing and the havershaft, there were presentations from different political perspectives. We heard from a diverse group of professors, journalists, and leaders. We met everyone – Israeli Jews on the left, right and center, Israeli Arabs citizens – both Muslims and Christians – as well as Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. These people came from all backgrounds – 11th generation Jerusalemites and new immigrants from Ethiopia.
So, what did I learn? Well, now I am going to dip into the political waters – something that is not so simple in our community which has diverse perspectives on Israel, but that is what makes our community so rich….
First, as I knew, but saw again, Israel does not treat its Israeli Arab population equally. While Arab Druze and some Arab Bedouin who serve in the Israeli military get better treatment, most Israeli Arabs do not. It's clear that Israel must do a better job in this area.
We met Nadia Ismail, an Israeli Muslim, in her home in a small village in the Galilee. In a program supported by the Abraham Fund she works with Arab women to help them develop business skills. She shared the story of the way Israel has discriminated against her village – with land expropriated and few services such as police or fire. It was uncomfortable and painful to listen to her stories of ill treatment.
But history is complex. While Ms. Ismail learned that Jews entered Palestine and stole Palestinian land, it turns out that in the first half of the 20th century the JNF and other Jewish organizations often bought land from wealthy Arab landlords, land that was often squatted on by poor Arabs. So sometimes the Arab land was not taken but sold out from under the poorer Arabs by the wealthier owners. I sympathize with her plight, but understand that there are deeply complicated narratives here.
We heard all voices. One fascinating perspective was provided by Aryeh from Kibbutz Misgav Am, right on the Lebanon border; in fact, the road up to the Kibbutz was the border road; we were meters from the fence. A 70 year old Israeli Jew originally from Cleveland, he was packing a pistol and showed us the gorgeous view, as well as the enemies that surround Israel. He told us of the four wars in which he fought and how the kibbutz's children house was attacked and three children murdered.
He showed us a Hezbollah village a mile away. He asked us to look at the buildings – nothing unusual, just normal apartments in an Arab village. He told us to look closer. Then I noticed it – there were windows in these buildings, but there was no glass in any of them!
Well, because they are not only apartments, but also missile launching sites and sniper lookouts. That message was driven home to us a week later when the IDF went to cut down a tree interfering with the Border Fence right next to Misgav Am. Sure enough, a Lebanese sniper shot and killed an Israeli commander. This is the neighborhood that Israel lives in.
We also spent time with a Palestinian who lived in Gaza during the 2008/9 war and suffered as Israel attacked. He and his family had to flee their home due to the Israeli shelling and it was hard to know where to go for safety. Hearing his narrative was painful – his suffering was terrible. This was devastating for him and many Palestinians who were trapped during that time.
But as horrible as war is and it was horrible, I believe that this war was just.
When I first moved here to Emunah, there were many political discussions about the Gaza withdrawal. While I believed that an Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza strip would bring peace, a few of you told me it was a mistake, that it would bring more terrorism and missiles—not peace. But, I said, if Israel pulls out and is attacked, then it can fight a real war and the whole world will defend Israel.
Well, I have to eat my words on that one: Israel did pull out in 2005; Hamas took over in 2007, creating a terrorist state supported by Iran on Israel's front door. Thousands and thousands of rockets kept coming; Israel finally said dayeinu, enough is enough and fought back in the Gaza War. Trying to fight morally against a Hamas that was embedded in the civilian population, Israel sent leaflets, phone calls and text messages warning Palestinians to leave areas of conflict. Instead of the world defending Israel and praising them for fighting in a more moral manner than even the American army fights in Iraq and Afghanistan, they criticized Israel culminating in the infamous Goldstone report, which basically denies Israel's right to defend herself.
Now, don't get me wrong, Israel is not perfect and it makes mistakes: sending soldiers with paintball guns onto a flotilla ship filled with armed terrorist sympathizers, not smart. And just like any army, its soldiers make mistakes – and they are punished. But let's face it – the world is judged on one standard and Israel another.
Our group visited Sderot and saw a small town filled with bomb shelters – they were everywhere; a playground filled with swings and shelters, bus shelters are bomb shelters and almost every home has an extra bomb-proof room added on.
We met Laura Bialis, a young filmmaker from California who is making a documentary about Sderot. She originally came to film a piece about the phenomenal music scene – a big deal in this small town of rock bands and wonderful music groups, when she fell in love with a musician, made aliyah and married him. She talked about the sirens that go off so frequently. You have 15 seconds to get to a shelter before impact. When Israel detects a missile launch from Gaza, there is a click of the microphone over the warning system, followed by a calm woman's voice saying "Tzeva Adom, Tzeva Adom – Code Red, Code Red." It just went off two nights ago as Sderot was attacked yet again from Gaza. Last year when Laura was visiting family in California, she went to a supermarket where she heard the loudspeaker click before announcing the week's specials, she immediately hit the floor.
I cannot imagine the trauma of Code Red all the time: kids cannot sleep, the whole city suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Our group drove to a border lookout where we could see Gaza and the Mediterranean, along with the Refugee Camps that Egypt and UN built after 1948, we saw wealthier areas by the sea, we saw the area where Hamas terrorist kidnapped Gilad Shalit, who remains held in captivity with NO contact with the outside world for over four years….something that is simply incomprehensible to me…
We heard every perspective – we visited Bethlehem and met with the mayor, a Fatah elected/appointed leader. He presented the Palestinian Authority's perspective about the settlements and the separation wall. Clearly, the wall did cause his people hardship, but that was not the full story. The separation wall has stopped countless terrorists and saved many Israeli lives.
Since I was wearing a kippah, he turned to me and said: Israel should dismantle more checkpoints. I responded that Israel needs them for security. He said that there is no reason anymore, because it is now safe and the Palestinians can prevent attacks. As we saw last week, that is simply not true.
Even if you believe that Israeli Jews should not have the right to live near Hevron, they do have the right to live; last week, four were murdered on their way home. Six more orphans as Israel tries to make peace…
When we went into Bethlehem we were entering Palestinian Authority territory, so we had to switch buses and guides. Israel does not allow Israeli buses and guides there because they are afraid the bus will be stolen or the Israelis will be kidnapped and then they will have to give chase into the Palestinian area, escalating the situation. So our Israeli bus dropped us in no man's land between the two sides and we picked up a Palestinian bus and guide on the other side. On our way back, the Israeli army decided not to let our bus pick us up there, so we were stuck at one of those infamous checkpoints. We hear about them all the time, read letters to the editor about them, but rarely have these people actually experienced one.
So what was it like? Well, it was a bit scary. We were in this intimidating building without our guides. Our group found itself surrounded by Palestinians who had permits to enter Israel – they were used to this process and looked at ease. It was not fun; we waited in a line, before a large metal gate with a green and red light on top of it. The light was usually red, but every minute or so, it turned green and the gate (like a large, old subway turnstile) could be moved and three people could go through into an area with airport like security – a metal detector and metal body scanner, but there were no Israeli soldiers. Suddenly, I heard a voice giving us instructions in Hebrew from somewhere, but I set off the detector with something that then fell onto the floor. I felt embarrassed and could see how a Palestinian could feel somewhat humiliated by all this.
But then I looked behind a three inch thick glass window at two young Israeli women – they must have been about 19. I could imagine my own daughter sitting there serving at that checkpoint, or my cousins. Imagine your daughter there. Would you want her exposed to a terrorist attack at the checkpoint – something that has happened numerous times?
Why are there checkpoints? Because of terror. End the terrorism, and the checkpoints, the roadblocks can be removed.endure.
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DawnyG
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Gann Academy
test referral from Teens to JB
test referral from Teens to JB test referral from Teens to JB test referral from Teens to JB
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Flange-Changshu Dongsheng Flange Co., Ltd.
Changshu Dongsheng Flange Co., Ltd. is located in Meili town, Changshu at the center of Yangtze River Delta Economic Circle, adjacent to Zhangjiagang, China's largest inland-river import and export port of containers, 10 km away from Changshu port and 50 km away from Shanghai port, next to Yanjiang Expressway and Huining Expressway, with good geographic location and convenient traffic.
The company has complete advanced production equipment of flanges, 20-year technical management experience in production of flanges, complete quality control system of whole technological process including material purchase, forging, heat treatment, machining and packaging, certifications of TUV PED, AD2000-Wo, ISO 9001 and Manufacturing License for Special Equipment of the People's Republic of China, self-managed import and export right, and foreign trade professionals. At present, the company has an annual production capacity of 3,000T flanges.
By use of F304/1.4301, F304L/1.4307, F316/1.4401, F316L/1.4404, F321/1.4541 and F316Ti/1.4571, etc., the company produces standard flanges (JIS, ANSI, DIN, BS, EN, GB), pipe fittings, related hardware, and non-standard flanges. Our products are widely applied to many fields such as boiler pressure vessel, petrochemical, shipbuilding, food, pharmaceutical, etc., and are very popular in Japan, Korea, Singapore, U.S.A, Germany, etc.
We can provide our customers with best products and best service, and are desired to cooperate with you for common development.


It's been a good one and I'm sure I speak for everybody when I say we're all sad to see it go, but the 2012 NFL season has provided us with exciting finishes, triumphant record-breaking performances, comebacks, winning streaks, losing streaks and of course, replacement officials. Disappointments, pleasant surprises, rookies leading their teams to the playoffs and unspeakable tragedy have all left their marks on the past 17 weeks as well.
Here are 32 of the biggest stories – one about each team – from the 2012 regular season of NFL football.
Flew into a wall: Cardinals QB Ryan Lindley watches as Janoris Jenkins (left) scoots into the endzone, returning another Arizona pass for a touchdown.
Atlanta Falcons (13-3, 1st in NFC South): The Falcons went 13-3 in 2012 and locked up their second straight No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, but that's not really news – at least not until they actually do something in the playoffs. Matt Ryan improved his home record to 33-4 in five NFL seasons, but that wasn't even the biggest thing, in my opinion. For the sixth consecutive season, Roddy White played in all 16 games (hasn't missed a game in his eight-year career) and put up what would seem like Pro Bowl worthy numbers. He did not make it, however, but teammate Julio Jones did. White had 13 more catches and 153 more yards than Jones on the season. Interesting. In fact, White has finished out of the top 10 in receiving yards just once in the last six seasons (2009). In the last six seasons, he has ended up ninth, eighth, second, 13th, fourth and eighth in the NFL in receiving. He has gone to just three Pro Bowls, however, including one due to an injury of another player. The biggest story out of Atlanta this season may just be the fact that one of the most productive receivers in the league from year to year was snubbed from the Pro Bowl after once again bringing that consistent level of exceptional play. Should he be mad? Yes.
Baltimore Ravens (10-6, 1st in AFC North): It was kind of a tale of two seasons for the AFC North champion Ravens. They began the year 9-2 and were in the driver's seat in the division as well as in good position in the hunt for a first-round bye. Then came injuries, however. Already without Pro Bowl defensive lineman Terrell Suggs, All-Pro Ray Lewis tore his triceps in Week 6 and was out for the rest of the regular season. In Week 7 against Houston, Suggs would return. Their success in the last few seasons shows the importance of those two players to the team. As if the Lewis wasn't bad enough, cornerback Lardarius Webb tore his ACL in the same game and he, too, was lost for the year. Lewis is slated to make his return this weekend, but without these three players all on the field in the second half of the year, Baltimore went from a 9-2 team to one with an average 10-6 record. Should they face an early exit in the playoffs, these injuries will have likely given them their death sentence as the up-and-down offense can't really be counted on.
Buffalo Bills (6-10, 4th in AFC East): As one of the most disappointing teams of 2012, the Buffalo Bills were projected by some to be contenders in the AFC East and perhaps even make the playoffs. That illusion was quickly lost, however, after the team began the year with a 3-6 start, including a 48-28 loss to the Jets on Opening Day. They finished 6-10 at the bottom of the division for the fifth straight year. Buffalo has missed the playoffs in 13 consecutive seasons. Of the six teams that they did beat on the year (the Chiefs, Browns, Cardinals, Dolphins, Jaguars and Jets), not one of them had a winning record. In fact, they had a combined record of 27-69. The defense, which was supposed to be solid with the addition of Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus in his second year, gave up 45-plus points four times on the season as the Bills finished 31st in the league in rush yards against, allowing 145.8 per game. C.J. Spiller did have a solid season as he finished eighth in the league with 1,244 rushing yards, but a knee injury to Fred Jackson really ended up hurting the offense, which finished 19th in the league in total yards. Buffalo fired head coach Chan Gailey on Monday.
Rookie linebacker Luke Kuechly led the NFL in tackles this season, but the Panthers still finished below .500.
Carolina Panthers (7-9, 2nd in NFC South): For the third straight year the Panthers finished under .500, but for the second straight year they had a dynamic rookie on the field with them. As the ninth overall pick in the 2012 draft, linebacker Luke Kuechly not only led the team in tackles, but he led the entire league. He finished the season with 164 while also picking off two passes, recovering three fumbles and deflecting eight passes for the 10th-ranked defense in Carolina. He was not selected to the Pro Bowl, however. Kuechly was so impressive that he may have even slightly overshadowed the sophomore season of Cam Newton, who was just the third quarterback ever to lead his team in rushing yards in a season. With the two of them as their foundation, the future looks bright in Carolina if they can build around them. They could return to the playoffs as early as next year for the first time since 2008.
Chicago Bears (10-6, 3rd in NFC North): You can have a good beginning. And you can have a good end. But if you don't have a good middle, most of the time, success is not on the horizon. The Chicago Bears found this out the hard way in 2012 as they became just the second team since 1990 (out of 53) to miss the playoffs after starting a season 7-1. Unfortunately for them, they lost five of their next six before finishing the season with two straight wins, but by then, it was too late. Jay Cutler's injury had a bit to do with it, but ultimately the offense they put out on the field could not get it done in the second half of the year as they averaged just 17.3 points per game in the final eight weeks of the season. Chicago has now missed the playoffs in five of the last six seasons with their only playoff run ending in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual champion Packers two years ago. Head coach Lovie Smith was fired on Monday in a very surprising move that could ultimately result in more bad than good for the team.
Cincinnati Bengals (10-6, 2nd in AFC North): The Bengals are going to the playoffs for the seconds straight year behind their talented second-year playmakers Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Green really made a leap in his second year as he finished 10th in the league in receiving yards (1,350), tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns (11) and seventh in receptions (97) while making his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He even had a stretch early in the season in which he caught a touchdown pass in nine consecutive games. His 84.4 yards per game also cracked the top 10 in the league. As the team's biggest name on the offense, Green continued to put up monster numbers even when drawing the best coverage schemes from opposing defenses. His 164 targets in 2012 were tied for fifth in the league behind five of the best receivers of this generation. Green came up seven catches shy of breaking the record for the most receptions by a player in his first two NFL seasons as Cincy opted to rest most of its starters in their season finale. He has a chance to be the most productive receiver in Ohio since Chad Johnson.
Cleveland Browns (5-11, 4th in AFC North): In a backfield that featured two rookie starters in quarterback Brandon Weeden and running back Trent Richardson, the Cleveland Browns were not able to avoid a second straight last place finish in the AFC North, but did win one more game than they did last year (four) if that's any consolation. Richardson broke Jim Brown's franchise record for most rushing yards in a season by a rookie with 950 and also scored 12 total touchdowns. He started every game he appeared in and went over 100 yards three times before being forced to miss the team's final game with an ankle injury. Weeden also missed the season finale with a shoulder injury. In 15 games at quarterback, he was 297-of-517 passing for 3,385 yards and threw 14 touchdowns. If both of them can come back healthy next year and the Browns can put some other pieces of the puzzle together, they look to be able to contend in the tough AFC North in 2013. Head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert were both fired by the team on Monday.
Jaguars QB Chad Henne had a career day on Sunday, throwing for 354 yards, four TD's and no interceptions in place of Blaine Gabbert.
In the last week of football before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for first-time starters, for 59 points, for favorites holding on for their lives in overtime thrillers and for not being a Cardinals fan. I wasn't as thankful for the Thursday Night game though.
The Bills and Dolphins kicked things off in a lackluster matchup of sub-.500 teams on Thursday Night Football with the Bills getting the win, 19-14. They did so without scoring an offensive touchdown for the first time since 2007. Marcus Thigpen became the first Dolphin to ever return a kick and a punt for a touchdown in the same season. The Bills had a punt return TD and a fumble recovery in the same game for the seventh time since 2001 and improved to 6-1 in those games. Only seven points were scored in the 2nd half with Miami getting a 4th quarter touchdown.
Sunday was a much better day, which we learned early on with three of the early eight having exciting finishes in overtime. The Texans held on for their lives as the 1-9 Jaguars gave them all they could handle in a crazy 43-37 overtime game. Matt Schaub went off for 527 yards and five touchdowns in the win – both were career highs for him and the 527 passing yards were good for the 2nd-most in a game in NFL history. Andre Johnson caught 14 balls for 273 yards and a 48-yard touchdown to win the game in overtime. Seven of his catches came in the 1st half for 132 yards. His 273 total yards marked the most in a game by a wide receiver since Terrell Owens had 283 in 2000. Houston had been down by 14 in the 4th quarter before rallying to force overtime.
Though they did make it quite a game, the Jags have now lost seven in a row after blowing a chance to salvage their season in the spoiler role. Their offense was resurrected after starter Blaine Gabbert went down and backup Chad Henne replaced him. Henne ended up throwing for 354 yards and a career-high four touchdowns – the first time a quarterback has thrown for four touchdowns and no interceptions off the bench since Steve Young did it in 1987. Henne also extended the game with a conversion on 4th & 10 in overtime. He entered the day with four total TD passes in his last five starts. Rookie receiver Justin Blackmon finally had a day worthy of a top-10 draft pick, catching seven balls for 236 yards and a touchdown. His highest yards total coming into the day was 67. His 81-yard TD catch was also good for the 2nd-longest in Jacksonville history behind Troy Edwards, who caught one from 84 yards out in 2003. With another one on Sunday, Cecil Shorts became the first player this season with four touchdown catches of 35 yards or more.
The game was only the second in NFL history to feature two 200-yard receivers. Should the Jags have been able to upset the Texans, it would have been the first time since 1985 that a team with a record of 1-8 or worse had beaten a team with a record of 8-1 or better. Wow, that was a lot. And that's only just the first game.
Andre Johnson caught the winning touchdown in overtime and then jumped into the crowd following Houston's thrilling 43-37 win.
In Carolina, the Bucs came back from 21-10 down in the 2nd half to beat the Panthers 27-21 in overtime on a Josh Freeman touchdown pass to Dallas Clark. Vincent Jackson caught a touchdown pass and two-point conversion with 12 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. Rookie running back Doug Martin rushed for 138 yards and a TD and recorded his sixth straight game with 100 or more yards from scrimmage. The win was the fifth in the last six games for Tampa Bay and their fourth in a row.
In the final overtime game, the Cowboys came back from a 13-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Browns, 23-20 in overtime. A late touchdown pass from Brandon Weeden to Benjamin Watson gave the Cowboys the ball back with too much time on the clock and they kicked a field goal to send it to overtime. Cleveland hasn't won in Dallas since 1993. The comeback marked just the second time in Cowboys history that they have won a game they trailed by 13 points at the half. In a shocking twist, Tony Romo has not thrown an interception in any of his last three games (2-1). All three overtime losers blew double-digit leads.
Buccaneers' rookie running back, Doug Martin, had a day for the ages on Sunday, rushing for 251 yards and four touchdowns in Tampa Bay's 42-32 win over the Raiders.
In case anyone forgot why we love this game so much, here are a few incredible achievements, outcomes and performances to remind us all.
Tampa Bay rookie running back, Doug Martin had perhaps the performance of the year in the Bucs' 42-32 win over the Raiders on Sunday. Martin ran the ball 25 times for a franchise-record 251 yards and not one, not two, not three, but four touchdowns. He was responsible for 24 out of Tampa Bay's 42 points and 220 of those yards came in the 2nd half. The 251 yards was good fir the third-most all-time by a rookie behind Demarco Murray and Adrian Peterson. If you don't know Doug Martin, now you know.
Not surprisingly, this performance gave him the top spot in fantasy football leagues this week, as he racked up 51, yes 51, points in standard ESPN leagues. He became just the third Tampa running back to ever rush for 200 yards in a game. He also became the first Buc to rush for 130 yards in consecutive games. More importantly, the Bucs won just their fourth ever game in the state of California.
Wow. Talk about Andrew Luck or RG3 being offensive Rookie of the Year may just have to be put on hold as Martin has combined for 386 yards and five touchdowns in the past two weeks. He has a total of 794 yards on the year, is the top rookie runner in the league after nine weeks and is second overall, trailing only Peterson, who incidentally had a huge day himself on Sunday, running for 182 yards and two scores on just 17 carries.
Chicago's Brandon Marshall and Detroit's Mikel Leshoure also had huge days in wins by their respective teams. Marshall caught nine balls for 122 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears' 51-20 drubbing of the Titans and Leshoure ran 16 times for 70 yards and three scores of his own as the Lions bested the Jaguars 31-14. It was the first time since 2008 that a Lions player had scored three rushing touchdowns in a game. Matthew Stafford reached 10,000 career passing yards in his 37th career game and became the 2nd-fastest to ever do it behind Kurt Warner, who did it in 36 games.
In that Bears win, Brian Urlacher picked off a Matt Hasselbeck pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. This marked the seventh interception return for a touchdown by the Bears D this season, just two shy of the all-time NFL single-season record. The 51 points the Bears scored are their most since they scored 61 against the Packers in 1980. Titans running back, Chris Johnson, scored on an 80-yard run in the 4th quarter. Two weeks ago, Johnson ran for his fourth career score of 80 yards or more, breaking an NFL record. His fifth adds to his own record.
The Giants and Steelers played an exciting one in East Rutherford as Pittsburgh, trailing 20-10 entering the 4th quarter, scored the game's final 14 points to win 24-20. For a change, Ben Roethlisberger, and not Eli Manning, led his team to a 4th quarter comeback. Sorry, I don't have a stat that says how many 4th quarter leads Manning has blown. Steelers running back, Isaac Redman ran 26 times for 147 yards and a TD as both Rashard Mendenhall and Jonathan Dwyer were out with injuries. With their 35 rushing attempts in the game, Pittsburgh improved to 17-1 under Mike Tomlin when running the ball at least 35 times in a game. Due to Hurricane Sandy, the Steelers only got to New Jersey on Sunday morning.
Out west, maybe they are who we thought they were, as the Cardinals have lost their fifth straight game after a 4-0 start. Without Kevin Kolb, they are forced to start John Skelton, who is 0-4 in four starts since Kolb went down. They fell 31-17 to the Packers at Lambeau Field and still have never won a game there (0-6).
Elsewhere, the aforementioned Luck, has the Colts over .500. They beat the Dolphins, who had won three straight, 23-20 on Sunday for their third straight win. After reaching the 4-3 mark last week, Indy is over .500 for the first time since the end of Peyton Manning's last season in 2010. Luck became the second rookie in NFL history with four 300-yard passing games in his first year. The other? Manning. Luck finished with 433 passing yards on the day – a new rookie record. He also has four 4th quarter or overtime game-winning drives through eight games. The four other rookie QB's have combined for four among them. And if that wasn't enough, Luck's 2,404 passing yards through his first eight games are the most ever by a rookie.
Cowboys tight end, Jason Witten tied and broke the team's all-time receptions record in Sunday night's loss to the undefeated Falcons as he caught seven balls for 51 yards to bring his career total to 754. He passed Michael Irvin, who was the Cowboys' leader with 751, for the honor. The Falcons did get the win and improved to 8-0 as the last undefeated team left in the league. Six of the last 14 teams to open a season 8-0 have won the Super Bowl. Matt Ryan improved to 30-4 in his career at home, the best home win percentage (.882) by a quarterback since the merger. Tony Gonzalez became just the second player ever to register 15 50-reception seasons. The other is Jerry Rice.
The Panthers finally got their second win of the season as Cam Newton's squad got the best of Robert Griffin's, 21-13. Griffin did outperform Newton both in the air and on the ground, however as he and running back, Alfred Morris, became the first pair of rookie teammates to each rush for 500 yards in a season since 1976 and it is the first time ever that this has happened with one of the rushers being a quarterback. Interestingly, the Redskins have not won their last game before Election Day since 1992.
The Bills fell 21-9 to the Texans as defensive tackle, Mario Williams, made his return to Houston. He led Buffalo with seven tackles (two for a loss) and recorded one of their two sacks. For the first time in five weeks, the Bills allowed less than 175 rushing yards as they only surrendered 118.
The week started off with the Chargers scoring 21 4th quarter points to beat the Chiefs 31-13 in a battle of struggling AFC West teams. Kansas City has lost five in a row and still has not led at any point in their eight games this season (1-7). This is the first time since 1929 that has happened, according to Elias.
San Diego had lost three in a row after beating the Chiefs 37-20 in Week 4. Antonio Gates caught his 79th career touchdown, leaving him two behind the Chargers all-time record of 81 set by Lance Alworth. Though they only gave up a single touchdown to San Diego, the Chiefs have now been outscored 61-6 in the 1st quarter this season. Philip Rivers threw his first red-zone interception of the year, but also set a Chargers record by completing 90% of his passes (18-20).
The Broncos beat the Bengals 31-23 and improved to 5-3 atop the AFC West. The Bengals fell to 3-5. Eric Decker caught eight balls for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He now has a TD catch in five straight games, one shy of the franchise record. Trindon Holliday returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown and claimed the longest touchdown in Broncos history.
Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, threw a touchdown pass in his 51st straight game on Monday night against the Eagles. Brees extended his own record with the throw. Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, had a bye in Week 9. The pass went to Marques Colston and it was the 54th time those two have hooked up for a score, tied for the 11th most in NFL history.
Patrick Robinson picked off a Michael Vick pass in the red-zone and returned in 99 yards to give the Saints a 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter. The Eagles have scored a grand total of seven points in the 1st quarter this season after being shut out on Monday night. After a lackluster previous three games, however, LeSean McCoy broke out for 119 yards, but just 17 of those came in the 2nd half.
New Orleans has now won eight in a row on Monday night, the second longest streak all-time and the longest active. This ties the Eagles' longest losing streak under head coach, Andy Reid, and the first time that all four NFC East teams lost in the same week since Week 13 in 2011. Vick was sacked seven times for 46 yards and took many more hits as he tried to scramble to make something happen. The Saints have won 12 straight games in the month of November.
Some information taken from ESPN Stats & Info.
Follow me on Twitter @RealAndyLarmand.


text:
#include <gtest/gtest.h>
#include <fstream>

#include "cyber/common/log.h"
#include "modules/perception/camera/lib/calibration_service/online_calibration_service/online_calibration_service.h"  // NOLINT
#include "modules/perception/camera/lib/obstacle/postprocessor/location_refiner/location_refiner_obstacle_postprocessor.h"  // NOLINT
#include "modules/perception/common/io/io_util.h"

namespace apollo {
namespace perception {
namespace camera {

static bool load_camera_k_mat_and_ground_pitch_height(
    const std::string &fname, float k_mat[9], int *image_width,
    int *image_height, float *camera_pitch, float *camera_height) {
  if (image_width == nullptr || image_height == nullptr ||
      camera_pitch == nullptr || camera_height == nullptr) {
    AERROR << "Null pointer input for loading this file:  " << fname;
    return false;
  }
  std::fstream fin(fname);
  if (!fin.is_open()) {
    AERROR << "Fail to load the camera k matrix: " << fname;
    return false;
  }
  float wh_flt[2] = {0};
  fin >> wh_flt[0] >> wh_flt[1];
  *image_width = common::IRound(wh_flt[0]);
  *image_height = common::IRound(wh_flt[1]);
  fin >> k_mat[0] >> k_mat[1] >> k_mat[2] >> k_mat[3] >> k_mat[4] >> k_mat[5] >>
      k_mat[6] >> k_mat[7] >> k_mat[8];
  fin >> camera_pitch[0] >> camera_height[0];
  fin.close();
  AINFO << "cx: " << k_mat[2];
  AINFO << "cy: " << k_mat[5];
  AINFO << "pitch: " << camera_pitch[0];
  AINFO << "height: " << camera_height[0];
  return true;
}

struct ObjectInfo {
  std::string type = "";
  float truncated = 0.0f;
  int occluded = 0;
  float alpha = 0.0f;
  float bbox[4] = {0};
  float size_hwl[3] = {0};
  float location[3] = {0};
  float rotation_y = 0.0f;
  float score = 1.0f;
};

static bool load_label_from_file(const std::string &filename,
                                 std::vector<ObjectInfo> *labels) {
  labels->clear();
  std::fstream fin(filename);
  if (!fin.is_open()) {
    AERROR << "Fail to open the lab file: " << filename << std::endl;
    return false;
  }
  ObjectInfo label_in;
  while (fin >> label_in.type >> label_in.truncated >> label_in.occluded >>
         label_in.alpha >> label_in.bbox[0] >> label_in.bbox[1] >>
         label_in.bbox[2] >> label_in.bbox[3] >> label_in.size_hwl[0] >>
         label_in.size_hwl[1] >> label_in.size_hwl[2] >> label_in.location[0] >>
         label_in.location[1] >> label_in.location[2] >> label_in.rotation_y >>
         label_in.score) {
    labels->push_back(label_in);
  }
  fin.close();
  return true;
}

TEST(LocationRefinedObstaclePostProcessorTestOnlineCalibration,
     location_refiner_obstacle_postprocessor_test_onlinecalibration) {
  std::string fname_k_mat =
      "/apollo/modules/perception/testdata/"
      "camera/lib/obstacle/postprocessor/location_refiner/"
      "params/k_mat.txt";
  std::string fname_detection =
      "/apollo/modules/perception/testdata/"
      "camera/lib/obstacle/postprocessor/location_refiner/"
      "data/detection.txt";
  float k_mat[9] = {0};
  std::vector<ObjectInfo> detections = {};
  int width = 0;
  int height = 0;
  float camera_pitch = 0.0f;
  float camera_height = 0.0f;
  load_camera_k_mat_and_ground_pitch_height(fname_k_mat, k_mat, &width, &height,
                                            &camera_pitch, &camera_height);
  load_label_from_file(fname_detection, &detections);

  CameraFrame frame;
  DataProvider data_provider;
  frame.data_provider = &data_provider;
  if (frame.track_feature_blob == nullptr) {
    frame.track_feature_blob.reset(new base::Blob<float>());
  }
  DataProvider::InitOptions dp_init_options;
  dp_init_options.sensor_name = "front_12mm";
  dp_init_options.image_height = height;
  dp_init_options.image_width = width;
  dp_init_options.device_id = 0;
  frame.data_provider->Init(dp_init_options);
  for (size_t i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    size_t i3 = i * 3;
    for (size_t j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
      frame.camera_k_matrix(i, j) = k_mat[i3 + j];
    }
  }

  ObstaclePostprocessorOptions postprocessor_options;
  ObstaclePostprocessorInitOptions postprocessor_init_options;

  // postprocessor
  BaseObstaclePostprocessor *postprocessor =
      BaseObstaclePostprocessorRegisterer::GetInstanceByName(
          "LocationRefinerObstaclePostprocessor");
  EXPECT_FALSE(postprocessor->Init(postprocessor_init_options));
  postprocessor_init_options.root_dir =
      "/apollo/modules/perception/testdata/"
      "camera/lib/obstacle/postprocessor/location_refiner/";
  postprocessor_init_options.conf_file = "config.pt";
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Init(postprocessor_init_options));
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));
  //  frame.detected_objects.push_back(nullptr);
  //  EXPECT_FALSE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));
  //  frame.detected_objects.clear();

  std::vector<std::string> candidate_type_list = {"car", "van", "truck", "bus"};
  for (auto &obj : detections) {
    if (std::find(candidate_type_list.begin(), candidate_type_list.end(),
                  obj.type) == candidate_type_list.end()) {
      continue;
    } else if (obj.size_hwl[0] < 1.0f || obj.bbox[2] < obj.bbox[0] + 1.0f ||
               obj.bbox[3] < obj.bbox[1] + 1.0f) {
      continue;
    }

    base::ObjectPtr detected_obj(new base::Object);
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.box.xmin = obj.bbox[0];
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.box.ymin = obj.bbox[1];
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.box.xmax = obj.bbox[2];
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.box.ymax = obj.bbox[3];

    detected_obj->size(2) = obj.size_hwl[0];
    detected_obj->size(1) = obj.size_hwl[1];
    detected_obj->size(0) = obj.size_hwl[2];

    detected_obj->camera_supplement.local_center(0) = obj.location[0];
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.local_center(1) = obj.location[1];
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.local_center(2) = obj.location[2];
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.local_center(1) -= obj.size_hwl[0] / 2;

    float box_cent_x = (obj.bbox[0] + obj.bbox[2]) / 2;
    Eigen::Vector3f image_point_low_center(box_cent_x, obj.bbox[3], 1);
    Eigen::Vector3f point_in_camera =
        static_cast<Eigen::Matrix<float, 3, 1, 0, 3, 1>>(
            frame.camera_k_matrix.inverse() * image_point_low_center);
    float theta_ray =
        static_cast<float>(atan2(point_in_camera.x(), point_in_camera.z()));
    detected_obj->camera_supplement.alpha = theta_ray - obj.rotation_y;
    frame.detected_objects.push_back(detected_obj);
  }

  AINFO << camera_pitch << ", " << camera_height;
  OnlineCalibrationService online_calib_service;
  CalibrationServiceInitOptions options;
  Eigen::Matrix3f intrinsic;
  intrinsic << k_mat[0], k_mat[1], k_mat[2], k_mat[3], k_mat[4], k_mat[5],
      k_mat[6], k_mat[7], k_mat[8];
  std::map<std::string, Eigen::Matrix3f> name_intrinsic_map;
  name_intrinsic_map.insert(
      std::pair<std::string, Eigen::Matrix3f>("front_12mm", intrinsic));
  CalibrationServiceInitOptions calibration_service_init_options;
  calibration_service_init_options.calibrator_working_sensor_name =
      "front_12mm";
  calibration_service_init_options.name_intrinsic_map = name_intrinsic_map;
  calibration_service_init_options.calibrator_method = "LaneLineCalibrator";
  calibration_service_init_options.image_height = 1080;
  calibration_service_init_options.image_width = 1920;
  online_calib_service.Init(calibration_service_init_options);
  std::map<std::string, float> name_camera_ground_height_map;
  std::map<std::string, float> name_camera_pitch_angle_diff_map;
  name_camera_ground_height_map["front_12mm"] = camera_height;
  name_camera_pitch_angle_diff_map["front_12mm"] = 0;
  online_calib_service.SetCameraHeightAndPitch(name_camera_ground_height_map,
                                               name_camera_pitch_angle_diff_map,
                                               camera_pitch);
  frame.calibration_service =
      dynamic_cast<BaseCalibrationService *>(&online_calib_service);
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));

  frame.calibration_service->BuildIndex();
  AINFO << "number of objects: " << frame.detected_objects.size();
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));

  // corner cases
  postprocessor_options.do_refinement_with_calibration_service = false;
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));
  postprocessor_options.do_refinement_with_calibration_service = true;
  frame.calibration_service = nullptr;
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));
  postprocessor_options.do_refinement_with_calibration_service = false;
  EXPECT_TRUE(postprocessor->Process(postprocessor_options, &frame));

  delete postprocessor;
}

}  // namespace camera
}  // namespace perception
}  // namespace apollo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


India Women Network of CII, Coimbatore, conducted a session on self-defence techniques for women, at the CII office. Sonika Vickraman, international karate judge and national karate champion, demonstrated various seld-defence techniques to the women. She said women have been facing eve-teasing for many years in different forms and urged parents to teach their girl children to face challenges bravely.


2019-04-18 11:26 Avia Jet and Uzbek Connect have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-04-07 21:22 Uzbek Connect and Elite Airline have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-04-05 17:06 The Far East Line has opened a new station at Tashkent.
2019-04-04 08:34 Aero Sovjet and Uzbek Wings have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-30 21:10 Uzbek Connect and FlySmart have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-27 17:53 The alliance Unity Skies accepted Uzbek Connect as a new member.
2019-03-27 14:53 Uzbek Connect and yAir Turkey have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-27 06:24 Uzbek Connect and Jasmine Express have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-27 06:24 Uzbek Connect and Sky Jazz have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-26 22:13 Uzbek Connect has opened a new station at Moscow.
2019-03-26 12:18 Carnivora Moldova and Uzbek Wings have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-25 10:27 Aero Russia and Uzbek Wings have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-23 15:32 Uzbek Connect and Homa Airlines have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-23 15:31 Uzbek Connect and Iran Skies have signed a new interlining agreement.
2019-03-19 19:37 Uzbek Connect and Russia Airways have signed a new interlining agreement.


Mix Great Food, Wine, Family & Friends-Top it all off with Leisure.
Decision Making Makes Me Hungry!
A mishap yesterday left 5 million of us in Southern California with no electricity for about 7 hours. The lunch guests stayed for dinner and more BFs joined us for night time grilling, salad prepping by candle light, home brew drinking and a late night swim in the pool beneath a gorgeous moon.
We currently live about a 15 minutes drive from San Diego city center. I suppose it is the suburbs-although this neighborhood offers a lot more character than the image that springs to my mind when I utter the word suburb. We moved out here because as our family grew we yearned for more space. And I always wanted chickens. Here we are 3 years later and yearning for a more walkable living situation. We decided in Costa Rica we would sell our red house in the suburbs and renovate the 700 square foot home in the city.
Super fun, planning is well under way, the red house is on the market... then yesterday.Yesterday has ruined everything.
A sunny day and all 3 kids make their exit after breakfast into the backyard and do not come in until dinner.
REALLY? Can I REALLY move into a house with no yard and these 3 kids that love the outside so?


text:
Piera är en kommun i Spanien.   Den ligger i provinsen Província de Barcelona och regionen Katalonien, i den östra delen av landet,  km öster om huvudstaden Madrid. Antalet invånare är . Arean är  kvadratkilometer. Piera gränsar till Castellolí, El Bruc, Els Hostalets de Pierola, Masquefa, Sant Llorenç d'Hortons, Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Torrelavit, Cabrera d'Anoia, Vallbona d'Anoia och La Pobla de Claramunt.

Terrängen i Piera är platt åt sydost, men åt nordväst är den kuperad.

Medelhavsklimat råder i trakten. Årsmedeltemperaturen i trakten är  °C. Den varmaste månaden är juli, då medeltemperaturen är  °C, och den kallaste är januari, med  °C. Genomsnittlig årsnederbörd är  millimeter. Den regnigaste månaden är november, med i genomsnitt  mm nederbörd, och den torraste är december, med  mm nederbörd.

Kommentarer

Källor

Externa länkar

Indelningar i Katalonien

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
+Links
Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
National Association of Social Workers Joins Opportunity Starts at Home Steering Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is pleased to announce it is joining the steering committee of Opportunity Starts at Home, an unprecedented multi-sector campaign to advance federal policies that expand affordable housing for low-income people.
Through Opportunity Starts at Home, a broad array of leading national organizations is raising awareness about the housing affordability crisis and pushing for solutions.
Research has increasingly shown that housing is a critical driver of positive outcomes in many areas of life, including education, health, civil rights, food security and poverty reduction.
NASW joins the Steering Committee alongside the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Catholic Charities USA, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Children's Defense Fund, Children's HealthWatch, Community Catalyst, Food Research & Action Center, Make Room, the NAACP, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Education Association, National League of Cities, and UnidosUS.
"NASW is honored to join these esteemed organizations on the steering committee of Opportunity Starts at Home because this organization's mission strongly reflects the values of the social work profession," said Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, executive director of NASW. "Social workers for generations have joined forces with others to address this nation's challenges, including providing good, affordable housing for all. This issue is particularly crucial now as housing costs soar and millions of American families struggle to pay rent and mortgages."
As a Steering Committee member, NASW will provide on-going strategic and tactical advice to the campaign, and work to mobilize its own network of social workers around federal policy actions that will expand housing affordability.
The ability for social workers to help their clients overcome life's challenges is often inextricably linked to whether people have access to stable affordable homes in neighborhoods where they can grow, learn, and thrive.
"We are extremely pleased to have the National Association of Social Workers join the Steering Committee," said Mike Koprowski, National Director of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. "Our nation's lack of affordable housing is a crisis. When people lack access to homes they can afford, it negatively impacts their health outcomes, educational attainment, and ability to climb the income ladder. That's why influential national organizations from different fields are joining forces to make this issue a top national priority."
To learn more about the campaign, please see www.opportunityhome.org
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.
All News Releases | Search News Releases

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Mindfulness and Stress Management
Buddhist Philosophy
Community and Sangha
Meditation and Practice
Dorothea Nett
Psychological psychotherapist
Dorothea Nett has been working as a psychological psychotherapist in her own practice since 1982. In 1982 she began her Buddhist path and participated in a three-year retreat under the guidance of Bokar Rinpoche in Canada from 1991 to 1995. Since May 1995 she has been living again in the meditation center in Heidelberg, which she co-founded. She gives courses introducing Buddhism and is the DBU's contact person for people who have experienced abuse in a Buddhist context.
Support Kamalashila
With your donation you can support the Online Campus. Your contribution helps us to expand our offerings.
Sign up and receive information and updates on new courses, online content, and general information about Kamalashila. You can cancel this at any time.
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Sq. Ft.:2,449 to 6,615Sq. Ft.
This neighborhood is perfect for those seeking single-family homes. The homes in Sweetwater Cove represent a wide range of time periods and styles. In general, homes in Sweetwater Cove are about $285,000 – $550,000 and sit on one-acre lots with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The most common types of parking are garage, driveway and 3-car garage.
How would you rate Sweetwater Cove?
Homes in Sweetwater Cove are on the market for an average of 191 days and are typically purchased at close to asking price. Property taxes hover around $3,873 per year, and homeowners' association fees are approximately $45. On average, homes here are $115 per square foot and typically list for around $415,000.


text:
Q: How can I add some clickable points in VR panorama image view in Android? If I insert a 360 degree image in VrPanoramaView then the image is showing and rotating successfully but and in this library only one click event which is panoramaView.setEventListener(new VrPanoramaEventListener()).
I want to add some points in that image.
So I want to know how I can give some selected points in Google VR View in android?

A: UPDATE:
VrPanoramaView is deprecated:
These components were removed in v1.190 of the GVR SDK for Android. The Video360 sample should be used as a basis for creating 360 photo and video viewers. If you still want to use these widgets, you will need to use SDK v1.180 or earlier.

There's a new open source Cardboard SDK that offers a streamlined API, improved device compatibility, and built-in viewer profile QR code scanning. It's recommend that all developers actively building for Google Cardboard migrate to the new Cardboard SDK: iOS, Android NDK, Unity XR Plugin (SDK)

This might not be the answer how to handle 2 points in Google VR View but as it's deprecated you should go with the new open source Cardboard SDK. There are plenty tutorials how to handle such events and more. Cheers! :)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


An original mod dress in a fun, playful print. Super soft, with an extra touch of flair in a contrasting pink belted accent. Includes belt loops on waist, bellows in the body of the dress, and invisible stitch on the hem.


text:
Installing solar panels is an effective way to provide electricity to your home. It also has a lower cost than traditional energy, and you won't worry about a utility bill. Follow our guides and you could also be using this renewable resource to power your home in no time!
January 3, 2023 January 2, 2023 by Kathleen Miller
Do you find it strange to construct solar panels out of CDs? Well, many of us probably wonder if it is really possible to make one. Interestingly, creating a solar panel built with a CD …
How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
How long do solar panels last? This is one of the most frequently asked questions I hear from people who consider installing solar panels. However, it's difficult to assess the affordability of solar panels without …
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Run an Air Conditioner?
During summer, air conditioners serve a vital role in cooling our homes and workplaces; however, we should expect increased electric bills. This is why you can't help but question, how many solar panels do I …
How to Connect Solar Panels to the Grid in 7 Simple Steps
January 3, 2023 January 2, 2023 by Fussell Jesusr
Grid-tied solar power systems are indeed economical and excellent means of producing alternative energy. But, do you know how to connect solar panels to the grid? You'll need to prepare solar panels and an inverter …
How Long Do Harbor Freight Solar Panels Last?
Many consumers are searching for reasonably priced off-grid systems, and Harbor Freight solar panels are one of the top options. Are you wondering how long do Harbor Freight solar panels last? A lot of buyers …
What Size Solar Panel for Fridge?
Haven't we all burdened ourselves with how to save on electricity bills without giving up using home appliances that make our lives better? Refrigerators are one of the most useful appliances we have in our …
How to Connect Solar Panel to Battery and Inverter?
Are you contemplating installing solar panels and inverters on your home by yourself? Well, you have come to the right place! There is nothing frustrating like experiencing a power outage when you need it most. …
How to Install Solar Panels on RV in 5 Easy Steps?
Are you wondering how to install solar panels on RV? Note that RV solar panels are typically designed to provide sufficient energy to recharge a few larger kitchen appliances or small gadgets. Installing one or …
How to Make a Homemade Solar Panel with Household Items?
In the face of industrialization comes the arising need for resolutions that are sustainable and have less impact on the environment. A list of renewable energy solutions includes harnessing solar, wind, hydro powers as well …
What is Active Solar Energy?
Have you decided to utilize solar energy to power your home? If yes, you should consider an active solar system. I love heating my home in winter using this kind of solar energy because I …


text:
HomekdramaMilitary Prosecutor Doberman (Complete) [Korean Drama]
Military Prosecutor Doberman (Complete) [Korean Drama]
Military Prosecutor Doberman is the story of Do Bae-man (Ahn Bo-hyun), who becomes a military prosecutor for money, and Cha Woo-in (Jo Bo-ah), who becomes a military prosecutor for revenge, defeats the black and rotten evil in the army and grows into a real military swordsman.
Ahn Bo-hyun takes on the role of Do Bae-man, a military prosecutor who looks forward to the day he will take off his military uniform. Do Bae-man, who is tall and has clear features, can be said to be a living proof of 'Pawan-eol', who becomes a pictorial just by walking in a military uniform.
Jo Bo-ah takes on the role of Cha Woo-in, a new military prosecutor from the only daughter of a conglomerate. Cha Woo-in, who has strong eyes, a dignified attitude, and boldness that has no fear of the strong in her outspoken language, has a seasoned and skillful investigative power that is not trustworthy.
Oh Yeon-soo's role as Noh Noh-yeong, the first female division commander since the founding of the army, is a person with overwhelming charisma that makes people obey with her extraordinary hair and poker face.
The role of Yong Moon-gu, a lawyer who used to be a prosecutor in the special division, is played by Kim Young-min.
Kim Woo-seok plays the role of Roh Tae-nam, a third-generation chaebol who became the chairman of a leading conglomerate in his late 20s.
kdrama Movie


text:
"""
This is a simple proxy-minion designed to connect to and communicate with
the bottle-based web service contained in https://github.com/saltstack/salt-contrib/tree/master/proxyminion_rest_example
"""

import logging

import salt.utils.http

HAS_REST_EXAMPLE = True

# This must be present or the Salt loader won't load this module
__proxyenabled__ = ["rest_sample"]

# Variables are scoped to this module so we can have persistent data
# across calls to fns in here.
GRAINS_CACHE = {}

# Want logging!
log = logging.getLogger(__file__)

# This does nothing, it's here just as an example and to provide a log
# entry when the module is loaded.
def __virtual__():
    """
    Only return if all the modules are available
    """
    log.debug("rest_sample proxy __virtual__() called...")
    return True

# Every proxy module needs an 'init', though you can
# just put DETAILS['initialized'] = True here if nothing
# else needs to be done.

def init(opts):
    log.debug("rest_sample proxy init() called...")
    __context__["rest_sample"] = {"initialized": True, "url": opts["proxy"]["url"]}
    # Make sure the REST URL ends with a '/'
    if not __context__["rest_sample"]["url"].endswith("/"):
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] += "/"

def initialized():
    """
    Since grains are loaded in many different places and some of those
    places occur before the proxy can be initialized, return whether
    our init() function has been called
    """
    return __context__["rest_sample"].get("initialized", False)

def alive(opts):
    log.debug("=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-")
    log.debug("proxys alive() fn called")
    log.debug("=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-")
    return ping()

def id(opts):
    """
    Return a unique ID for this proxy minion.  This ID MUST NOT CHANGE.
    If it changes while the proxy is running the salt-master will get
    really confused and may stop talking to this minion
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        opts["proxy"]["url"] + "id", decode_type="json", decode=True
    )
    return r["dict"]["id"].encode("ascii", "ignore")

def grains():
    """
    Get the grains from the proxied device
    """
    if not __context__["rest_sample"].get("grains_cache", {}):
        r = salt.utils.http.query(
            __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "info", decode_type="json", decode=True
        )
        __context__["rest_sample"]["grains_cache"] = r["dict"]
    return __context__["rest_sample"]["grains_cache"]

def grains_refresh():
    """
    Refresh the grains from the proxied device
    """
    __context__["rest_sample"]["grains_cache"] = None
    return grains()

def fns():
    return {
        "details": (
            "This key is here because a function in "
            "grains/rest_sample.py called fns() here in the proxymodule."
        )
    }

def service_start(name):
    """
    Start a "service" on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "service/start/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def service_stop(name):
    """
    Stop a "service" on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "service/stop/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def service_restart(name):
    """
    Restart a "service" on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "service/restart/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def service_list():
    """
    List "services" on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "service/list",
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def service_status(name):
    """
    Check if a service is running on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "service/status/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def package_list():
    """
    List "packages" installed on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "package/list",
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def package_install(name, **kwargs):
    """
    Install a "package" on the REST server
    """
    cmd = __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "package/install/" + name
    if kwargs.get("version", False):
        cmd += "/" + kwargs["version"]
    else:
        cmd += "/1.0"
    r = salt.utils.http.query(cmd, decode_type="json", decode=True)
    return r["dict"]

def fix_outage():
    r = salt.utils.http.query(__context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "fix_outage")
    return r

def uptodate(name):

    """
    Call the REST endpoint to see if the packages on the "server" are up to date.
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "package/remove/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def package_remove(name):

    """
    Remove a "package" on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "package/remove/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def package_status(name):
    """
    Check the installation status of a package on the REST server
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "package/status/" + name,
        decode_type="json",
        decode=True,
    )
    return r["dict"]

def ping():
    """
    Is the REST server up?
    """
    r = salt.utils.http.query(
        __context__["rest_sample"]["url"] + "ping", decode_type="json", decode=True
    )
    try:
        return r["dict"].get("ret", False)
    except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
        return False

def shutdown(opts):
    """
    For this proxy shutdown is a no-op
    """
    log.debug("rest_sample proxy shutdown() called...")

def test_from_state():
    """
    Test function so we have something to call from a state
    :return:
    """
    log.debug("test_from_state called")
    return "testvalue"


text:
Nation Bites: Steven Joyce, Andrew Little, Shaw & Seymore
By: TV3's 'The Nation'
Published: Mon 21 Sep 2015 11:57 AM
Nation Bites: Steven Joyce, Andrew Little, James Shaw, David Seymore
The Nation: Sat 9.30am/Sun 10am TV3 & Sat 7pm RadioLive.
Or see us online at thenation.co.nz
Is Steven Joyce eating his words on Lochinver station?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSfCxXwdOU
Last year on The Nation Steven Joyce said Labour's opposition to the sale of Lochinver station to Chinese interests was "beating the anti-foreigners drum". Today he says he was talking about Chinese investment generally.
A year on from the election is the economy where National promised?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9QiLetfJZs
As economists revise down projections, National's Steve Joyce admits the government is missing targets, but New Zealand is showing resilience across a range of industries.
Andrew little on Labour gaining the centre ground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1vCzfnNtCQ
Labour's Andrew Little says New Zealanders are tiring of focus group-driven politics and are looking for moral leadership.
What's a practical thing Labour is doing to win swing voters?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdW3qJESaz0
Labour leader Andrew Little says 2015 is not a year for finalising the 2017 election manifesto, "this was a year for getting out and about and listening to New Zealanders".
Should the Greens and Labour be working more closely?
https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=7MpwHE0XbcE_referrer=watch
Greens co-leader James Shaw says his party and Labour are talking about how they work together and need to "set out the table in advance" of the 2017 election.
What does David Seymour see as National's weakness?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF0j9F16gcw
ACT's David Seymour says his party can push National to drop company taxes, build more infrastructure and reform RMA.
Next in Comment
By: Binoy Kampmark
Julian Assange has now been in the maximum-security facilities of Belmarsh prison for over 1,000 days. On the occasion of his 1,000th day of imprisonment, campaigners, supporters and kindred spirits gathered to show their support, indignation and solidarity ...
Rarely can the treatment of a grand sporting figure by officialdom have caused such consternation. Novak Djokovic, the tennis World Number One, has always had a tendency to get under skin and constitution, creating a large following of admirers and detractors. ...
Voices Of Concern: Aussies For Assange's Return
With Julian Assange now fighting the next stage of efforts to extradite him to the United States to face 18 charges, 17 of which are based on the brutal, archaic Espionage Act, some Australian politicians have found their voice. It might be said that a ...
It was meant to be time to reflect. The eager arms of a new pandemic were enfolding a society with asphyxiating, lethal effect. Public health authorities advocated various measures: social distancing, limited contact between family and friends, limited ...
By: Peter Dunne
The focus placed on the first couple of Question Time exchanges between the new leader of the National Party and the Prime Minister will have seemed excessive to many but the most seasoned Parliamentary observers. Most people, especially those ...
Words can provide sharp traps, fettering language and caging definitions. They can also speak to freedom of action and permissiveness. At COP26, that permissiveness was all the more present in the haggling ahead of what would become the Glasgow Climate ...


text:
Apes Not Happy: AMC Shares Plummet 25% After Company Announces Equity Raise, Preferred-To-Common Swap
AMC's equity is getting torched this morning in the pre-market session after the company revealed a $110 million equity capital raise and a $100 million debt for equity exchange and a proposed vote to convert the company's "APE" preferred shares into common shares – before undertaking a reverse split.
The market seemed…unamused at the announcement. AMC common shares were down as much as 25% in the premarket session.
In a press release this morning, the company announced it would "raise $110 million of new equity capital through the sale of APE units to Antara Capital, LP ("Antara") in two tranches at a weighted average price of $0.660 per share".
The company is going to use the raise to retire some of its debt: "Antara, a current AMC debt holder, will also exchange $100 million principal amount of 2nd Lien Notes due 2026 for approximately 91.0 million APE units thereby reducing AMC's outstanding debt by $100 million. As a result of the $100 million principal debt reduction, future annual interest expense will be reduced by approximately $10 million."
The company then said it will have to "increase the authorized number of AMC common shares to permit the conversion of APE units into AMC common shares" and then it seeks permission to perform a 1:10 reverse split.
Heading on the express train to $0, it appears…
Adam Aron told the company's shareholders in the press release:
"Clearly, the existence of APEs has been achieving exactly their intended purposes. They have let AMC raise much welcomed cash, reduce debt and in so doing deleverage our balance sheet and allow us to explore possible M&A activity. However, given the consistent trading discount that we are routinely seeing in the price of APE units compared to AMC common shares, we believe it is in the best interests of our shareholders for us to simplify our capital structure, thereby eliminating the discount that has been applied to the APE units in the market."
In other words, they've been another great tool to help dilute common shareholders without making it obvious…
Aron concluded: "All should know that our liquidity position is now significantly enhanced, and our balance sheet is strengthened. We look forward to a growing industry box office in 2023 and beyond and also look forward to AMC continuing to benefit from our unique leadership position in the movie theatre industry."


text:
Jane Goodall on the Meaning of Wisdom and the Deepest Wellspring of Hope – The Marginalian
Two and a half millennia ago, while devising the world's first algorithm and using it to revolutionize music—a hallmark of our humanity—Pythagoras considered life's purpose, concluding that we must "love wisdom as the key to nature's mysteries."
Through the abyss of ages and civilizations, Jane Goodall Another sage of the ages, revolutionized our understanding of nature by discovering the paradigmatic variable, and deconstructing arrogance, that toolmaking is not the hallmark of humanity alone—taking account of the meaning of wisdom in The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times (a public library), a record of her long conversation with writer Douglas Abrams.
Jane Goodall with a young chimpanzee flint in Gombe Stream National Park, 1960s. (Photo: Hugo van Loewek. Jane Goodall Institute.)
After deconstructing our broad misunderstanding of what hope really means and defining it not as negative optimism but as the driving force for legitimate action—the "human survival trait" without which we would "perish"—I have turned to the essence of wisdom as a tool that calibrates our hope and directs it to the right action.
From the far-sighted podium of her eighty-seventh year, she noted:
Wisdom involves using our strong mind to learn about the consequences of our actions and to think about the well-being of the whole. Unfortunately… we have lost the long-term perspective, and suffer from the absurd and highly unwise belief that there can be unlimited economic development on a planet of finite natural resources, focusing on short-term outcomes or profits at the expense of long-term interests.
A double rainbow from a 19th century French textbook on the science of how nature works. (Available as a print and face mask, benefitting The Nature Conservancy.)
This loss of telescopic perspective is a betrayal of our nature — "certainly not 'wise ape' behaviour," she says. More than half a century of progress and plunder after Rachel Carson issued her emotional deathbed plea for posterity to rise to the fact that humanity is "challenged, as never It is challenged by, to demonstrate its maturity and mastery – not by nature, but by itself," Goodall says:
The hallmark of wisdom is the question, "What are the effects of the decision I make today on future generations? On the health of the planet?"
Much of our attack on Mother Nature is not really a lack of intelligence but a lack of empathy for future generations and the health of the planet: sheer selfish greed for the short-term benefits of increasing the wealth and power of individuals, corporations, and governments. The rest is due to lack of thought, lack of education and poverty. In other words, there seems to be a disconnect between our intelligent brain and our compassionate heart. True wisdom requires thinking with our heads and understanding with our hearts.
She points out that an essential part of this required human wisdom is humility in recognizing nature's own wisdom, whose exceptional resilience governs—"blind intelligence," in the poet Jane Hirschfield's beautiful phrase, which gave us "turtles, rivers, mitochondria, figs"—the deepest optimism we know.
We humans have nothing to add to this wisdom, for we are its products – but we can and detract from it and jeopardize the resilience of nature through our unwise actions. Against this background, the greatest wisdom may be money and the desire to get out of the way.
art of What is a river? Written by Monika Vaicenavičienė, one of the most beautiful children's books of the year
Noting that "whenever I give her a chance, nature returns," Goodall reflects on why she makes the annual pilgrimage to a friend's cabin on the banks of the Platte River in Nebraska to watch the migration of ridge cranes, snow geese, and other waterfowl species:
Because it's a dramatic reminder of the resilience we've been discussing. Because despite the fact that we have polluted the river, despite the fact that the prairie has been diverted to grow genetically modified corn, despite the fact that irrigation drains the great Ugallala Aquifer, despite the fact that most of the wetlands have been drained – still Birds come in in the millions each year to fatten the grain left after harvest. I just love sitting on the river bank and watching the cranes fly, wave after wave against the gorgeous sunset, to hear their old wild calls – it's something so special. It reminds me of the power of nature. And when the red sun sinks under the trees on the opposite bank, a gray blanket of feathers gradually spreads over the entire surface of the shallow river as the birds descend at night, their ancient sounds being silenced. And we return to the cabin in the dark.
I hear in Goodall the echoes of Emily Dickinson's horror – here's the 'Thing with the Feather,' descending to the riverbank in its old grandeur – hope not as a metaphor but as an ecological reality of this living world, so old and so bright with self-renewal: the original poetry of nature.
I hear the echoes of the great nature writer Henry Beston's century-old meditation on human belonging and the web of life, in which he bowed before the ancient wisdom of non-human animals and the primal forces that animate them with an easy life. He wrote: "In a world older and more complete than ours, they move more fully and completely, endowed with extensions of senses we have either lost or never fulfilled, living with sounds we will never hear."
I hear a deep harmony with contemporary ecologist David Abrams's soulful meditation on world wisdom more than human, in which he remarked that "we are only human beings in contact, and coexistence, with that which is not human."
art of blue hour by Isabel Semler
This harmony enlivens the spirit in which Jane Goodall moves through the world, the way she sees the wisdom of nature across the entire spectrum of existence, from creature to cosmic – wisdom always greater than our own, of which our greatest contribution is the humility of his vision and the ability to let him inspire acts of reverence. that fills our human life with beauty and meaning, whether it is in the form of a poem or an observatory.
They reflect:
Shakespeare says it beautifully when he talks about seeing "books in running streams, sermons with stones, and good in all things." I feel it all when I stand stunned, full of amazement and awe at a wonderful sunset, or the sun shining through the forest canopy while the bird sings, or when I lie on my back somewhere quiet and look up and up into the sky where the stars gradually appear from the fading daylight.
Complete this section of Inspiration completely book please With Rachel Carson on the ocean and the meaning of life, Alfred Russell Wallace's prophetic prescription for environmental wisdom, and this century-old field guide to question by Anna Postford Comstock – the forgotten woman who laid the foundation for the climate youth movement – then revisit Jane Goodall's fascinating letter to children On how books shape life, including her own.
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Djelloul Marbrook, also known as Del Mabrouk (born 1934) is an American contemporary poet, writer, and photographer.

Biography
Djelloul Marbrook was born in 1934 in Algiers, Algeria, to parents Juanita Guccione (née Rice) and Ben Aissa ben Mabrouk. Marbook's father was Algerian and he moved with only his mother to New York City when he was a young child. He was raised by his extended family, primarily by his grandmother and aunts. Marbook grew up in Brooklyn, West Islip, and Manhattan. He attended Dwight Preparatory School, and Columbia University.

Marbook worked as a soda jerk, newspaper vendor, messenger, theater and nightclub concessionaire, and served in the United States Navy and as a Merchant Marine before beginning his newspaper career. Marbrook learned photography in the United States Navy and became a reporter-photographer. Marbrook was married to Wanda Ratliff from 1955 to 1963, which ended in divorce. He is married to Marilyn Hackett Marbrook.

Career
He was a reporter for The Providence Journal and an editor for the Elmira Star-Gazette, The Baltimore Sun, Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel, The Washington Star, and Media News newspapers in northeast Ohio, and Passaic and Paterson, New Jersey. His poems, essays, and short stories have appeared in a number of journals.

Published works

Books
 winner of the 2007 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize, and the 2010 International Book Award in poetry, explores the poet's feelings of not belonging to family or country.

Brash Ice (2014, Leaky Boot Press)
Mean Bastards Making Nice (2014, Leaky Book Press)
Riding Thermals to Winter Grounds (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
A Warding Circle: New York stories (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
Air Tea with Dolores (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
Making Room: Baltimore stories (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
Nothing True Has a Name (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
Even Now the Embers (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
Other Risks Include  (2017, Leaky Boot Press)
The Seas Are Dolphin's Tears, (2018 Leaky Boot Press)
Light Piercing Water trilogy (2018, Leaky Boot Press)
Book 1, Guest Boy
Book 2, Crowds of One
Book 3, The Gold Factory

Songs in the O of Not (2019, Leaky Boot Press)
The Loneliness of Shape (2019, Leaky Boot Press)
Suffer the Children: Sailing Her Navel (poems) & Ludilon (novella) (2019, Leaky Boot Press)
Lying Like Presidents, New & Selected Poems, 2001–2019 (2020, Leaky Boot Press)

Awards
Far from Algiers (2008, Kent State University Press) won the 2007 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize and the 2010 International Book Award in poetry.
"Artists Hill", an excerpt from Crowds of One, Book 2 in the Guest Boy trilogy, won the 2008 Literal Latté fiction prize.

References

External links
Marbrook's website
Marbrook's Book website
Marbrook video #1
Marbrook video #2

1934 births
Algerian editors
Algerian emigrants to the United States
Algerian essayists
American people of Algerian descent
American male poets
American essayists
American short story writers
Living people
People from West Islip, New York
Writers from Manhattan
People from Bou Saâda
American male essayists
American male short story writers
Writers from Brooklyn


Abstract. According to UNESCO "Earthen architecture is one of the most original and powerful expressions of our ability to create a built environment with readily available resources. It includes a great variety of structures, ranging from mosques, palaces and granaries, to historic city centres, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites" (WHEAP, 2007). This contribution looks at developing effective methods for recording earthen historic structures for their rehabilitation and preservation using the Kuño Tambo church in Peru, which is a Peruvian national historic site that requires serious rehabilitation work, as a case study. This project describes the compilation of an effective metric record of the "state-of-conservation" – "as found" of wall paintings in this important and remote building using a toolbox of different "off-the-shelf" heritage recording techniques. This approach was applied by Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS), as part of the Earthen Architecture Initiative of the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI).
How to cite: Percy, K., Hanley, C., Santana Quintero, M., Fai, S., Ouimet, C., Cancino, C., Rainer, L., and Villacorta-Santamato, L.: RECORDING EARTHEN ARCHITECTURE AT THE PERUVIAN ANDES: THE CASE OF KUÑO TAMBO CHURCH'S HISTORIC WALL PAINTINGS, ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., II-5/W1, 235-240, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsannals-II-5-W1-235-2013, 2013.


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10 reasons why you'll love the Canadian Rockies in summer
From hiking amongst the clouds and spotting grizzlies in the wild to relaxing in hot springs, there is something truly special about the Rockies in summer
Canoeing on Lake Louise
At the heart of Banff National Park, surrounded by snowy peaks and famous for its turquoise coloured-water, lies Lake Louise, the so-called Jewel of the Rockies. It's a stunning location all year-round, with endless activities for all ages, but visiting in summer allows you to get out on the lake (which thaws between mid-June and October) for a paddle in one of Canada's most mind-blowingly beautiful locations. Rent a canoe from the Fairmont Chateau Hotel's boathouse – first thing in the morning or early evening is best – and head towards the majestic Victoria Glacier for an experience that will stay with you forever.
Tourists enjoy canoeing on Lake Louise with the view of Mount Victoria glacier.
Whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River
Whether you're an experienced rafter or not, the Rockies are home to some of the wildest and most spectacular whitewater rafting in the world, and there are few better spots to hurl yourself downstream than Kicking Horse River in British Columbia. Named after a Scottish explorer who was kicked in the chest by his not-so-trusty steed in the 1850s, the route drops 350 metres over a 6 km stretch of river in Yoho National Park with seemingly endless twists, turns and dips along the way.
Adventurous tourists on a white water rafting tour in the Kicking Horse River.
Hike to Abbot Pass
For some real solitude, set off from Lake Louise and follow the signs to the stunning Plain of Six Glaciers – arguably one of the most jaw-dropping hikes in the world. This steady, picturesque trek will take you through the lush forest until you are high among the snow-capped mountains with views that are to die for. At 2,925 m, Abbot Pass is high, so you'll need to go prepared, but you'll be rewarded with some of the best scenery in the world, not to mention tea and scones at the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse along the way.
A hiker enjoys the view on the edge of Abbot Pass, overlooking Mount Lefroy.
Go underground in Canmore
Don't be put off by the name – a tour of Rat's Nest Cave will be a highlight of any visit to the Rockies. Located east of the town of Banff in Alberta, the cave – the longest in Canada – is a protected landmark that is only accessible with a guide or special permission. The cave is home to a seemingly endless assortment of ancient formations, including stalagmites, stalactites and fossils. It's also not for the faint-hearted; once you're in the cave the only light will be generated by your headlamp and at several points along the way, you'll have to climb, crawl and wriggle your way through some seriously tight spots.
A picturesque small waterfall in the Rats Nest Cave in Canmore, Canada.
Have a cuppa at Canada's Oldest Teahouse
This is not your typical teashop, that's for sure. For one thing, you'll have to work for that brew – the trail from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes takes you up to 2,135 m. But the views and the scenery along the way is worth it. Built in 1901 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Lake Agnes Teahouse has since been rebuilt, but it hasn't lost any of its charm, iconic red door or period furniture. All supplies are hiked up to the teahouse by its staff and occasionally by horse and even helicopter. So doff your hat to them as you sit back and relax with your piping-hot tea and a slice of cake in one of the most spectacularly located teashops in the world. Starbucks this ain't.
The quaint Lake Agnes Tea House during summer in Banff National Park.
Unwind with a soak in a natural hot spring
While there are more than a few hot springs to soak your weary muscles after a long day on the trail, Miette's is often hailed as one of the finest in the Rockies. For one thing, its all-natural waters are the warmest (a relatively balmy 40C). For a 'pleasurable' shock to the system, plunge into one of the two cold pools nearby. Your body will thank you for it – the spring waters here are packed with natural minerals.
Against the background of the Canadian Rockies, the Miette Hot-Springs are a well loved tourist spot.
Ride a gondola to Sulphur Mountain
Looking for a less strenuous way to access some of the Rockies' most famous viewpoints? Look no further, the Banff Gondola has you covered. The ride to the top of the 2,281 m Sulphur Mountain offers breathtaking views in every direction. Once you're up there, take a walk along the ridgetop boardwalk to the newly rebuilt observation deck and meteorological station. And if all that beauty gives you an appetite, there's even a top-class restaurant to welcome you.
Visitors are treated to aerial views of the Sulphur Mountain in the Banff Natural Park.
Spot a grizzly at Mount Robson
What trip to the Canadian wilderness would be complete without an encounter with a bear – from a safe distance, of course! Mount Robson Provincial Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a utopia for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is home to 42 species of mammals and 182 species of birds, including bears, elk, mountain goats and the iconic golden eagles. To catch a glimpse of the grizzly or black bear, your best bet is to go in mid-April as they wake from their annual hibernation and head to the south-facing slopes to fill their bellies.
The attractive entrance of the Mount Robson Park sees hundreds of visitors each year.
Saddle up in Banff
There's really no better way to explore the trails of Banff National Park than by horseback. With tours from local ranches to suit all levels of experience, you can spend anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days living the cowboy life and riding high above the waters of Lake Louise and its surrounding backcountry. If horseback riding isn't quite your style, you can even take in the views from a horse-drawn carriage instead.
Visitors enjoy stunning views while horseback riding on the Lake Afnes Trail in Banff National Park.
Stand on Spirit Island
This tiny island in the middle of Maligne Lake is one of the most photographed spots in Canada, not just the Rockies. Once you see it for yourself, you'll know why. The Stoney Nakoda First Nation believe the spirits of their ancestors are reflected in the surrounding mountains, thus the island's moniker. To make the most of your visit to this difficult-to-get-to island, take a boat tour from Home Bay. If the setting wasn't picturesque enough already, the closer you get to the island the more emerald the water becomes thanks to the nearby glaciers.
Tourists and locals alike enjoy the views of Beautiful Spirit Island at the boardwalk in Maligne Lake.
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Home » Travel » A Space-like Immersive Art Experience Is Opening in Las Vegas
A Space-like Immersive Art Experience Is Opening in Las Vegas
You're going to want to take a break from gambling for this new, immersive experience in Las Vegas this fall.
AREA15, a world's first purpose-built experiential art and entertainment complex, has been highly anticipated for some time now, but the new complex has announced that it will be opening its doors at 6 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2020.
The official opening of the 40,000 square feet indoor and outdoor event space will be happening on a rolling basis, with new exhibitions opening at different times over the fall of 2020 through early 2021. Over this period of time, AREA15 will be home to many intriguing art installations, socially-distanced events, extraordinary design elements, unique retail, ground-breaking technology, bars, and eateries for Las Vegas residents and visitors alike to explore.
Experiences opening on Sept. 17 include the first-ever permanent art gallery, an avian virtual reality experience that lets you see the world from a birds-eye view, a 360-degree immersive audio and visual experience, a tranquil sanctuary and gathering place inside a dome made of all-natural materials, an interactive, 12-foot tall skull covered in 3D projection mapping and synched to music.
Eateries and food experiences include Boston-based Emack & Bolios, which will serve up ice cream, yogurt, homemade fudge and chocolate, micro-brewed sodas, vegan selections, and more. Visitors can also enjoy premium beers and cocktails at Oddwood, a space with a nearly 23-foot-high Japanese maple tree built by Color + Light and 17-feet-wide canopy with more than 5,000 twinkling LED lights. Or, they can go to AREA15's outdoor event space, the Beast Pop-up Food Experience, where they can eat and drink under the desert stars surrounded by monumental art sculptures and art cars.
In addition, AREA15 will also be opening a unique retail boutique with handcrafted, sustainable apparel, accessories, art, and eco-friendly health and wellness products from both local and global creators. And if you're just looking for a bit of a thrill, the complex also house a ride called Haley's Comet, the United States' first indoor, electric dual-track suspension ride.
"We set out to design something that has never been built before: a vast bunker to house the burgeoning experience economy," said Michael Beneville, Founding Partner and Chief Creative Officer, AREA15, in a statement. "By creating and curating best-in-class experiences and partnering with immersive artists and makers at the vanguard of this movement, we have witnessed our vision come to life. This project embodies unbound innovation and creativity, and this opening will be the first step towards something truly magical. Come curious and leave different!"
AREA15 will, of course, be following health and safety guidelines put forth by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including using an AI-driven thermal scanning platform that screens temperature accurately and non-invasively, detects the absence of a mask, and alerts staff when social distancing thresholds are not being met. While AREA15 is free to enter, pre-registration and masks are required at this time in order to manage capacities and ensure a safe environment for all who enter. Time slots are now available to reserve online for the complex's opening weekend.
Over the course of the next few months, AREA15 will also be opening new experiences, including a distillery, ax-throwing, an arcade, candy shop, and many other spaces to explore, eat, drink, and shop. In early 2021, the complex will open Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, a strange and fascinating grocery store art installation experience.
For more information about upcoming exhibitions and experiences, or to reserve a time slot, visit the AREA15 website.
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This year I will visit Nepal for fourth time and spend there whole November.
I'd like to trek as independently as possible, but realize that hiring the guide for this area is necessary .
I'm also looking at doing the Kanchenjunga trek in November. My plans are to fly into KTM on the 3rd November and I was only planning to do the North Base camp due to time restraints but I could possibly stretch that. Is your estimation of $1100-1200 based on using tea houses for food and accommodation or camping and stoves etc?
I have a Nepali friend who is a licensed guide. We would like to carry our own camping gear. We are looking for enthousiastic people to join our expedition. We leave on the 3rd to Taplejung. Let me know if you're interested!
Hi Jarek, i have very same plan. This will be my 3rd trip to Nepal, but 5th big trek there. 4 weeks in November, as lite and small as possible, fast in low parts, enjoy the upper parts. Ideally fly in and out if feasible, pay guide but not a package trip. 39years, Czech.
Hi Filip, last year I planed the Kanch-trek with both base camps in detail with my partner in Nepal.
Then I decided short-term to make the Everest 3 passes trek like Jarek this year.
It's not easy to find the right partner for this long and formidable trek.
As lite and small as possible, fast in low parts, enjoy the upper parts is also my style. One porter-guide is a duty and should be enough.
I would be glad to hear from you more about your plans.
I want to start the Kanchenjunga circuit with my befriended guide on the 2nd of November, allthough we are flexible for a couple of days. we need an extra member in our party for the permit. Are you interested?
Your style sounds like the way I like to go about trekking. I have experience with unguided treks in the Tien Shan mountains.
Hi, thank you for answer, but unfortunately I have to change my plans. Instead of Kanchenjunga I will visit Everests' region.
Hey guys, are you still planning do the Kanchenjunga circuit in November? I would like to go there too in November. I have enough time to do it. Cheers.
I have a licensed guide and we are looking for extra members for our party to do the Kanchenjunga circuit on the 3rd of november.
I have a Nepalese friend that is a licensed guide. He knows the area well as his mountaineering school was in the Kanchenjunga area. I myself have experience in unguided trekking in the Tien Shan mountains in Kyrguistan.
For the permit, we need at least one more trekker. All the additions to our party are welcome!
We aim to leave on the 2nd of november, straight after Tihar. It will be a low as possible budget trek with an independant guide and no porters or cooks. Let me know if you're interested!
I have a group already but there's a chance this may not be happening now so I may be interested. I fly into KTM on the 3rd November and fly back to London on 2nd December latest. How long are you planning to be on the trek for? Are you planning to mix camping and tea houses or just camping? Keep me in the loop just in case please, I should know what's happening with my group in the next day or 2 hopefully then I can give you an answer.
Hi Mark, makes a lot of sense to join. Our start and end are fixed by intercontinental flights – 6/11 – 2/12 KTM-KTM. We have good contact for agency to manage permits promptly, but still searching for a guide without big package. We are two, both experienced.