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BRIAN DICKERSON
Tsk, tsk! Reproachful but subservient, GOP senators bow to an unrepentant Trump | Opinion
It's a panic button the nation had pushed just twice before in the Constitution's 230-year history (three times, if you count Richard Nixon's resignation to pre-empt his certain removal in 1974).
Yet, in the event, the impeachment of Donald Trump packed all the novelty of a tepid Super Bowl matchup.
Long before Wednesday's anticlimactic acquittal vote, it was clear Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his caucus had no stomach for confronting a president who has displayed only contempt for their constitutional role.
The only frisson of suspense — a dispute over whether to subpoena eyewitnesses whose testimony threatened to decisively contradict the president's own account — fizzled when GOP senators closed ranks to spare Trump (and themselves) that humiliation.
But for Americans who paid little attention to the House impeachment inquiry that preceded it, the Senate trial provided incontestable evidence of Trump's fundamental unfitness.
More:Michigan's US senators vote to convict Trump, so does Mitt Romney
More:Trump celebrates impeachment acquittal by taunting Democrats
Those who sampled the three-week melodrama even sporadically witnessed the president's retreat from a defense of categorical (if unconvincing) denial to an assertion of unbounded presidential authority. In the end, defenders who initially insisted that Trump had been misquoted or misconstrued were reduced to arguing that even his most flagrant misconduct was beyond the Senate's jurisdiction.
The nadir may have come when defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz insisted that the national interest and Trump's political fortunes were so intertwined as to be indistinguishable — a claim of executive license rivaled only by Louis XIV's reputed assertion ("L'etat c'est moi!") that he and the French nation he ruled were one and the same.
Skeptical apologists
Even Republicans who voted to acquit him were loathe to excuse the president's conduct, much less embrace his expansive view of presidential authority.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the sometimes-independent-minded Alaskan who fell into line by refusing to call eyewitnesses like former National Security Advisor John Bolton and White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, nevertheless rejected the president's spurious claims of innocence.
Murkowski said the president's conduct had been "shameful and wrong" and that "his personal interests do not take precedence over those of this great nation."
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander acknowledged that House prosecutors had "proved" that Trump conditioned the release of nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine on a promise to pursue investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. But he joined his Ohio colleague Rob Portman in concluding that what was indefensible was not necessarily impeachable.
Sen. Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican Trump branded "Little Marco" when they clashed in the 2016 presidential primary, seemed even to concede that Trump's misconduct might meet the constitutional standard for impeachment. But he, too, voted to acquit, reasoning that "because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a President from office."
A teachable moment spurned
Even the incurably sycophantic Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who refused to concede that Trump had been guilty of anything, expressed confidence that he would "think twice" before pressuring another foreign leader the way he had leaned on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (The day before his acquittal, Trump dismissed that wishful conceit, repeating his assertion that his conduct throughout the Ukrainian episode had been "perfect.")
The admission of fallibility, of course, is foreign to Trump's nature. So he will spend the next 10 months portraying his acquittal as an exoneration, rather than a failure of nerve by an unprincipled Senate.
Like so many other presidential announcements, this claim is groundless; its endless repetition cannot erase his defenders' public condemnation of the conduct that repudiation acknowledgement rescuers' public condemnation of the conduct that precipitated his impeachment.
So even if they lack the courage of their convictions, give Republican senators credit for knowing right from wrong. They may have made a calculated decision to look away from Trump's malignancy, but they know the tumor they're ignoring is anything but benign.
Brian Dickerson is the Editorial Page Editor of the Free Press. Contact him at bdickerson@freepress.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


1) Put cocoa, vegan sugar, water, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add nondairy milk and stir constantly until piping hot, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract. Serve in coffee mugs. Great with a shake of ground cinnamon and/or a vegan non-dairy whipped topping.
This was really good. I used raw sugar, rice milk, added a touch of mint, and did it all in my VitaMix. As you can see from the photo above, it was a hit with the kids!!
This is so delicious and has gotten many accolades from my non-vegan friends. It's one of those recipes that really makes 'em think twice! I find it works better with soy or almond milk, making the drink more thick and rich. For a single, but generous serving decrease the measurements by a fourth (divide all measurements by a 4). This drink is more than highly recommended; it's a must!
This recipe was sooo good :) Thanks!
I had some for breakfast, literally minutes ago with my non-vegan boyfriend and we both loved it. Perfect for this increasingly cold Canadian weather we are experiencing!
I really liked the addition of a sprinkle of cinnamon. I've never done that before, and now I'm hooked for life!
for a smaller serving but still a great recipe, try the piping hot cocoa one! it makes about a cup worth.


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Is It OK to Cut Vitamins to Swallow Them More Easily?
By Amy Capetta Updated September 29, 2021
Cutting most regular vitamins is usually OK, but there are a few exceptions.
Image Credit: diego_cervo/iStock/GettyImages
A 2019 survey conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition found that 77 percent of Americans take dietary supplements — and that means plenty of us know the struggle of actually swallowing them.
When your supplement pill is a bit too big, cutting the tablets in half (or even crushing them) might seem like the simplest solution. But will the supplements still be effective? Well, the short answer is it depends on the supplement.
Which Supplements Are Safe to Cut?
Generally speaking, supplements in tablet form may be cut in half without lessening their nutritional value, Brittany Michels, RDN, LDN for The Vitamin Shoppe, tells LIVESTRONG.com.
"Supplements in capsule form may also be opened up without risk," she says. "In fact, many clients who find difficulty swallowing pills will do this."
Supplements You Shouldn't Cut
There are two types of supplements that should not be sized down. So put down the knife if the type of vitamin or mineral you're taking is a time-released formula or those with an enteric coating, like probiotic supplements.
1. Time-Release Supplements
Also referred to as extended-release, slow-release, delayed-release and sustained-release, these products are designed to slowly release vitamins or minerals throughout the body over a specific length of time (usually between 5 and 8 hours).
"For example, a popular time-release supplement is melatonin," Michels says. "Those taking higher doses without success may try an extended-release option to slow absorption of this neurotransmitter and achieve optimal sleep levels."
A time-released supplement must stay intact in order for the desired purpose to be successful, she states. "The outermost layer is designed to break down slower and/or to withstand stomach acid more so than other supplements."
2. Supplements With Enteric Coating
The other type of supplement that should be swallowed whole are capsules that are made with an enteric coating.
A tablet that is formulated with this substance helps prevent the supplement (or medicine) from being released until it reaches the small intestine, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Michels explains that probiotics (a variety of live microorganisms — mostly good bacteria — that help the body either digest food, destroy harmful cells or produce vitamins) are likely to fall under this category.
"Many probiotics cannot survive the stomach acid and are lost by the time they make it to the intestinal tract," she says. "So the enteric coating ensures they make it."
Some common medications with enteric coatings include aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen and omeprazole, per a 2012 report in the Journal of Pharmacy.
As long as a vitamin or mineral supplement does not offer a time-release function and is not made with an enteric coating, it can be crushed or cut in half, Michels says.
If swallowing tablets of any size is still troublesome, the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests lubricating the throat with water. Begin by taking a sip of H2O and then place the pill on the back of your tongue. Drink more water — up to 8 ounces — and keep swallowing.
Another option: Skip the tablets and capsules altogether. Most supplements on the market today offer powder, liquid and chewable forms, Michels adds.
How to Determine if a Vitamin or Supplement Is Actually Right for You
The Council for Responsible Nutrition: "Dietary Supplement Use Reaches All Time High"
NIH: "Probiotics: What You Need to Know"
NIH: "Enteric-Coated (EC) Definition"
University of Rochster Medical Center: "Pills: Make Them Go Down Easy"
What Are Time-Release Vitamins and How Do They Work?
Pros & Cons of Dietary Supplements
Is it Harmful to Chew Vitamins?
The Best Vitamins and Supplements That Won't Upset a Sensitive Stomach
Vitamin Soft Gels and Tablets Differences
Why Your Vitamins and Supplements Can Leave You Bloated and How to Fix It


In October 2010 we optioned 100 hectares of land at Kilkenny Farm, Carterton. This is a major growth area, especially in the context of the RAF Brize Norton 'Superbase'.
We attended the local plan examinations in public in 2015 and 2017, and we have now brought in David Wilson Homes as our delivery partner. The objective is to design a major urban extension linked with a regeneration strategy for the town centre.


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Arthur F. Marsh was an American politician from the state of Michigan.  Marsh was from Allegan and was Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1898 to 1900.

References
The Political Graveyard

Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
People from Allegan, Michigan
Michigan Republicans

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Arissa Cost Strategies' medical case management services (telephonic and field based) are provided by highly trained registered nurses. Our nurses are skilled at handling common work related injuries to the more severe injuries and medical conditions that can occur in a work environment. Their experience and knowledge of the local medical providers, suppliers, facilities, and community resources enable them to control costs and quickly move cases to successful resolution.
Our nurse case managers have a variety of accreditation's to include Certified Case Manager (CCM), Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurse (CRRN), Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS) and Certified Occupational Health Nurse. Arissa's nurse case managers follow URAC Case Management Standards as well as CMSA Standards of Practice.


If I have a following string after performing some operations - "this is a string" I am trying to convert back to the list - (this is a string) Using the built-in methong string->list I get (#\t #\h #\i #\s #\space #\i #\s #\space #\a #\space #\s #\t #\r #\i #\n #\g #\?). How can I convert it to a list without all the #\ symbols as well as not having a space be replaced with #\space?
If you do not have string-split, you can still implement it with basic Scheme features.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged string split scheme or ask your own question.
Convert a String representation of a Dictionary to a dictionary?
How to strip all spaces out of a string in php?


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SuperyachtNews.com – Business – Startups to watch in 2023
Yachting Ventures highlights those companies that will be making waves in the coming year…
As we approach the festive season companies begin to review their practices and look ahead to the plan for the new year. As new disruptors are introduced to the superyacht industry in the form of innovative tech and services, SuperyachtNews spoke to Gabriella Richardson, founder of Yachting Ventures about how the market is changing. Yachting Ventures offers a niche service helping startups grow within the yachting industry.
Richardson points out "There has definitely been a shift and a change in attitude over the past few years. I think the industry as a whole is starting to realise the importance of supporting startups and entrepreneurs trying to bring new products and services to the market, or iterate on existing business models to raise user and customer service standards." Richardson elaborates on how her company has been received by the industry: "Yachting Ventures as a brand has acted as a kind of magnet in the sense that people who are interested in startups in the marine space reach out to us all the time asking for information and congratulating us on what we've built." Yachting Ventures have recommended those startups that the industry should have its eye on in 2023:
Yacht Sentinel
Intelligent monitoring systems allow owners to track a vessel's metrics and remotely control any smart devices aboard. Yacht Sentinel competes in the…
‹ The Electric Silent 60 is Luxury Yachting at its Best! | Inyerself › How Boatbuilders Are Making a Splash at CES 2023 – Robb Report


"This document is a compilation of the best available scientific and commercial information and a description of past, present, and likely future threats to the insular population of Hawaiian false killer whales. It does not represent a decision by NMFS on whether this population should be proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA. That decision will be made by NMFS after reviewing this document, other relevant biological and threat information not included herein, efforts being made to protect the species, and all relevant laws, regulations, and policies. The decision will be posted on the NMFS Web site (refer to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/) and announced in the Federal Register"--Intro.
Endangered Species Research, 36, 297-313.


Brands today have the incredible opportunity of interacting with consumers on the #1 social network in the world – Facebook – and creating relationships with them that are long-lasting, personal and relevant.
Companies today no longer control their own brand, the power has shifted to the masses. It is the public's desire and feedback that will decide the brand's fate in the end. Therefore it is clearly apparent that Facebook must play a major role in every brand's social media marketing plan.
Facebook is now the 2nd most visited site in the world after Google and time spent on Facebook is higher than on any other site in most countries. It is clear that Facebook is an important component of any social media marketing plan, if not the most important.
(unlike personal profiles or groups) enable brands to view insights such as fans demographics, a number of interactions with fans, etc. Insights which are a necessary part of evaluating and assessing your brand's marketing activities.
When you're initially building your Facebook page, fill it up with interesting and relevant content. Content doesn't need to be specifically about your brand. Find insightful articles that have to do with your company's vision and perspective and post them. Add dynamic content such as screenshots of highlighted areas on your site, videos of explaining your service, stuff that people would be able to look at when they make the decision of joining your fan page or not. You want to make sure that before you start inviting people to your page, you'll have good high-quality content to show them. Make sure to continuously upload great content to your page on a daily basis so that fans will want to see your page on their news feed when they open up their Facebook in the morning.
After you've uploaded enough interesting content, suggest your page to relevant members in your network. Obviously, the more of a social networker you are and the more connections you've already managed to attain in your personal network, the easier this step will be. Keep building your network of connections for the future.
Finding the people within Facebook that will take an interest in your brand and in your campaigns and make sure they know your page exists. Are you a social network for animators? Are you offering a new, healthier product for coffee lovers? Find your relevant audience who's already on Facebook and let them know that you're there. In today's world wide web, people are getting more and more used to information finding them and not vice versa. Those brands that have understood this point and are reaching out to their target audience within Facebook and creating relationships with these individuals are already placing the competition at a huge disadvantage.
Create live discussions on your page by both utilising the status feature and also the discussions app. Get your fans involved in your discussions, ask for their feedback, show them you care about what they have to say. Enable a free flow of conversation even if you don't like to hear what is being said by some folks. Use this opportunity to listen to what people have to say and take control of the conversation. Be happy for the opportunity you've been given to win them back as customers. Always make sure to be attentive, patient and answer as quickly as possible. Remember that Facebook doesn't sleep. Utilise the information of the crowd to learn more about how to lead your brand forward in the market.
Excite people about your brand again and again – Create frequent contests and special campaigns for fans to take part in and reward them for their participation with either social or monetary incentive that have to do with your brand. In this manner, you are ensuring that those people who enter your contest are potential future clients who take a true interest in your product.
Create a Welcome tab – A Facebook page that says "Howdy" to all the new comers both welcoming and a good opportunity to let them know what they can find on your page. Utilize it to express the benefits of joining your page, promote special campaigns you've got going on at the moment, anything you like. Welcome new fans to your home on Facebook.
Promote your Facebook page on your email signature, on your homepage, in other social networks that you're a part of and in all outgoing materials to bloggers and journalists. Let your employees and customers know about your page so that they can become a part of the conversation. Building a good, solid Facebook page may look easy and it is the best Facebook pages that excel at making it look so easy, however, maintaing an online community is not at all easy. Just like any community, it has needs and thoughts and opinions and as administrators of a Facebook page, we are responsible for keeping its interest and shall I even dare say turning the members of your community to patriots of your brand.


lower uric acid levels and reduce the risk of gout attacks. However it is important to avoid fasting or 'crash' dieting, where you go without adequate food for long periods and lose weight rapidly. This type of dieting can actually increase uric acid levels and trigger a gout attack. A combination of balanced healthy eating and regular physical activity is the best way to lose weight... Uric acid precipitates in acid urine, and excessively acid urine, and not excess uric acid excretion is the primary risk factor for the formation of uric acid stones. Pak et al. compared the serum and urine chemistries of uric acid stone formers to controls and found that uric acid stone formers had a higher serum uric acid , a lower 24-hour urine uric acid excretion and a lower urinary pH  .
Watch video · A low-purine diet can help lower uric acid levels and work to prevent symptoms of gout. Foods and beverages to consume daily include: beans and lentils... The purines in these foods is converted by the body to uric acid; too much uric acid can exacerbate gout and kidney stone symptoms. You'll also need to plan your meals to include only limited amounts of foods moderately high in purines. Ask your doctor or a nutritionist for help developing a low-purine diet program that works for you.
Low levels of uric acid is a symptom by itself, accompanying the above problems. Oxidative stress can be considered as one of the signs, leading to atherosclerosis and strokes, wherein the oxidants are converted to peroxides, as the levels are low. The levels are always detected and diagnosed using uric acid tests, blood tests, and urinalysis.


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There are many ways to give back to your community and help support your neighbors in need. Whether you want to volunteer your time or donate resources, we have a variety of opportunities throughout the year including our annual Nibbles and Sips Gala and various seasonal programs like Ready, Set, School! Check out this site and then contact us today to get started.
Puttin' For a Purpose, June 22, 2019, is a unique food drive and friendraiser combining the fun, family, friendly game of mini-golf with helping those in need.
The 2020 Nibbles and Sips gala is on February 22, 2020. Tickets, table captain, volunteering and sponsorship opportunities are available now.
Join us in honoring mothers today. Support our efforts by donating financial support and supplies.
For holiday and special closure information, click here.


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A Talk About Test Automation: An Interview with Mukesh Sharma
By Cameron Philipp-Edmonds - June 3, 2014
In this interview, Mukesh Sharma talks about the relationship between test automation and manual testing, the value of automating your testing, and why there is not a "silver bullet" when it comes to testing. Mukesh also reflects on his career as a tester and his time at QA InfoTech.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: All right. Today we have Mukesh Sharma. He's going to be speaking to us about test automation and his role at QA InfoTech and about his passions and insights as a tester. To start things off, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Mukesh Sharma: Yes. My name is Mukesh Sharma and I am the founder and chief executive officer of QA InfoTech. We are an independent software testing and quality assurance company. We've got around 20 years of experience in the software development world and I have had an opportunity to work in both development and testing across software companies before I moved back to India to start QA InfoTech around ten years back, more than ten years now.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: OK. The bio on your company website describes you as avid reader, but I also know that you're in the process of finishing up a book on crowdsource testing. What led you to go from reader to writer?
Mukesh Sharma: Yes. Test evangelism has been a special area of focus for me. I've been speaking at a lot of conferences. And, I think [a lot], for publications including TechWell, StickyMinds.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: And Better Software Magazine.
Mukesh Sharma: I have also been encouraging a lot of my employees to partake in such efforts and to this effect, we have an even which is internal to our organization, it's internal technical symposium that we organize every year with all of this work over the last two to three years, I have been selectively picking topics where I can share my experience in a broader forum to help create a more lasting knowledge base. The first book I wrote was on software testing at large called Are You Smart Enough to Be a Tester? The reason of what inspired me to write that book—so back when I graduated from my school, I did my Computer Science in '96, I was not aware of a career in software testing. All I knew was you could be a programmer to write C programs, C++, Java, or RDBMS database.
I wanted to be able to make people understand, some people who are going through the curriculum in their college or school, they deserve a career in software testing. When I formed QA InfoTech back in 2003, I had a major challenge wherein it was so difficult to find people who are willing to do software testing. So I thought of writing a book that would encourage people, those who are reading the book, go and speak in conferences take sessions and then I thought if I could write something like, "Are You Smart Enough to Be a Software Tester?" And have a clear career path specified in the book as a chapter. We have since published that book. The current one on crowdsource testing, which I am co-authoring with one of my co-workers, and I am happy to tell you that Taylor & Francis will be publishing this book which is scheduled some time, I believe, in September 2014.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: Fantastic and we're going to sit down in July and talk about that book as well, so thank you for that.
Mukesh Sharma: Yes.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: All right, and you also have some writings. If you want to check out Mukesh's writings you can check them out on TechWell.com, Stickyminds.com or the new and next issue of Better Software magazine. Now I'd like to jump into some questions about test automation. So really, when should a team look to get into test automation as either a supplement or replacement for manual testing?
Mukesh Sharma: Firstly I don't believe or see manual testing being fully replaced. That human touch is important. We are creating these softwares unlike the pharma industry wherein it takes a lot of time to research before they come up with one medicine with like 20 years of research. Here it is like quick products that are being created, that the thought of development cycle is very short. Over the years it has been shortened too much. You can't, the product itself is a piece of code, you can't have code testing the code and then completely rely on it. There is usability factor, there is accessibility factor, so I don't believe or see manual testing being fully replaced.
In fact, with the advancements in technologies such as wearable computing, etc. that are at now buzz or hot buzz coming into the mix, I believe some of these will take us back to the roots of software testing and bring in more of manual testing. That said, automation testing is a great supplement to the manual tester first, because they help you in bringing reputability and test coverage in specific areas. Now, when should a team look at test automation? Well, when you have a product with working functionality, the functionality is working fine and you know that there are multiple releases that are going to happen, there will be multiple upgrades or releases, you would want to consider automating the base functionality, to make sure that the future base do not end up breaking the working or the existing functionality.
So that is one scenario, the second scenario could be you are building a product in agile methodology. Sprint one: you created one feature. Sprint two: you added a few more. By the time you come to sprint four or sprint five, you do not want to come to a situation wherein the features in sprint one are broken due to whatever new thing is added. So it is important that you automate while you develop. That is how our test driven development is happening with a lot of continuous integration so, you can write automated test and have it integrated with continuous integration so when developers are checking in their code the test would be fired automatically.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: And then with test automation a lot of people tend to argue that they go to test automation because it kind of takes out the user error element and so a lot of people argue that test automation is infallible but when you end up creating a testing script from scratch, you know that kind of leaves just as much room for user error as manual testing would. So does test automation tend to give a false sense of security to some testers?
Mukesh Sharma: Yes, I would agree with you on that. There are times when it does give false sense of security to test engineers. It's true because sometimes teams look at test automation just as a feel good element of their testing achievements. We all know that that nothing is fool proof—even if it has been adequately tested for. There are false alarms that one needs to know. There are situations when you've created the script, you've written the script but it'll end up not working because of change in UI. I think what we can do is bring in more reliability into the test automation effort for us to buy into the research. Like I said the false positive so it is important to add reliability to it.
And testing teams have long understood the importance of testing the test script which is like, unless you do that, you might be raising false alarms. And then that is going to ensure both its consistency and reliability in the results. However, we have most often stopped with the initial round of tests that were performed on the automated test. What is now becoming more important and very common is to incorporate metrics comparing manual versus automated test when looking at the test effort metrics. These are metrics that will show what kind of bugs each of these test groups are reporting. What percentage of these are valid or invalid? For example let's say you've got thousand test cases that you automated but the bugs are, the majority of the bugs are, reported by the manual testers automated tests are always, "oh everything is passed".
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: Right.
Mukesh Sharma: These kind of analysis will give us a sense of how reliable the test automation effort whether the test team as a whole has the right test automation strategy or if it needs improvement and will also determine the amount of maintenance needed.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: Right. Speaking upon that with the human tests you can see the errors more than the computer would. Whether or not it's against automated testing is that it doesn't replicate the human experience. So with that being said, is there any room for creativity and emotion in automated testing?
Mukesh Sharma: Good question. Well automated tests are also indeed, they are like software they create. It's basically a piece of code that you are writing to test a piece of code. They do what we instruct them to do which is really pick candidates that will give us an increased return on investment on the automation cost we are incurring while today frameworks and tools are available in the tester's toolkit, to empower them to automate a very powerful and customizable, especially with the advent of open source technologies like Selenium and on. These still cannot completely replace the human touch.
For example, there are number of tools that greatly support an accessibility test effort but nothing can replace a visually challenged user evaluating a product. We can provide you real user feedback. We have a team of accessibility tester genius who are visually impaired. They work from our office and these folks have reported issues in some of the products that we test that even the product teams, they are people with six by six vision and also not being able to report. Because these guys are able to provide you with that human touch, the creativity and emotion so you cannot replace that, automation testing cannot provide that.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: Well that's very interesting. We talked about some of the drawbacks where it gives a false sense of security and you also got that human touch there, are there other drawback to automated testing that maybe someone new to testing or someone who is just learning about automated testing may not be aware of?
Mukesh Sharma: Well, understanding the value of test automation rather than just seeing it at face value is very important especially the newer ones with not much experience of doing test automation, they miss it. For example in my teams, it is still seen as a number game. In many teams, I am not sure if I got that word correct, so in many teams automation is still seen as a number game. People say "oh we are trying to have 100 percent test automated so my regression test is going to be completely automated and will achieve this" rather than seeing how that number will help them both in the current release and into the future.
There are some common risks with automation testing which I've mentioned in one of the earlier question also. Number one, have you picked out the right tool? Because if you end up choosing a tool that works with your current product but with the few enhancements or new things being added, your current tool would not support that so how does that, was that considered? Choosing the right tool is very important. Second one is, be aware of the false alarms. Just because you've automated, it is very, very much possible. You see, your automation scripts that you are writing are essentially to find defects in the product, right? To ensure that there is no functionality that was working earlier ends up breaking because of a newer release.
But what also needs to be clearly kept in mind is that it relates to your earlier question, human touch, human being can see an error, what if your application encounters an error that you have never thought of? How are exceptions handled? So exception and handling is also very important. Was exception handling in automation using the right messaging is very important? And then obviously false alarms. So, it results on an ongoing business, it results from the test automation are not analyzed it can lead to increasing test failures. It will not only impact the test effort, but also pull down the test team's reputation. In this last thought, while we anyone can from reada planned test automation—effort is immense. It can be a double-edged sword, if not well-thought of. The initial planning will seem a little time-consuming but at the end of day it is an effort well-spent to build that robust test automation strategy.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: So you talked about testers coming across things that are unexpected, and having the skills to build a well-thought out, well-planned test automation so should test automation practices only be done by testers or can developers and programmers or otherwise complete the tasks of test automation just as well?
Mukesh Sharma: Developers can do and create if they were to think as a tester. But, I think the basic difference here with being a developer and a tester is that developers are aiming to build something and their test are going to essentially focus on ensuring that what they are building is working, OK? A developer could be writing a simple code and then that gets integrated with another developer's code. But the test, so this developer is only focused in testing its piece of code. As a test engineer, when we start testing we think about how is it going to be used by the end users?
We look at the over-all picture and we think of scenarios, we think of different types of customers who are going to be using the product. While a developer can be an excellent tester but in order for that to happen, the person would have to move completely into the test engineer role, so today, this whole thing evolving. I know that companies are hiring developers for testing, right? Their primary role is to go testing they are not writing code to build a product, but they are writing code to test the product that is being built.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: Right, OK. You've talked about tools too and, you know, kind of writing codes to test a product, and there is often people who will tout a prevailing theory that there is one tool to rule them all or strategy a process that is simply superior to the others. Is there an approach to test automation that you have found works really well for you in your team?
Mukesh Sharma: Very good question. There is no silver bullet. This is an area of ongoing research in an attempt to arrive at that one solution that maximizes scope of coverage, OK? In our experience so far, the test automation frameworks that we have built on top of existing open source tools have worked really well. We don't say no to share tools specifically if a client is already heavily invested in it and wants us to adopt it. We understand the reasons why they picked that tool and work with them on it but I can tell you there have been a number of instances. Very recently, one of our clients had invested heavily in a particular tool. They bought multiple licenses, but there were challenges with the tool. So my question to them was, you're using an automation tool for which you've paid significant amount, we are finding defects in the tool itself. We are working with their tech support team to get the tool and defects fixed. What are we trying to achieve here? Are we testing their product or are we testing your product?
So it is important, so again, there is no one tool to rule them all, it depends on what product you have and in the longer run, how you are going to use it? One more thought that I had was that with the way things are evolving in software engineering today, the role the tester used to have has evolved to a level that now test code is written prior to writing the code. So you are writing test cases, you are writing automated tests for your functionality that is being returned by your peer. You basically do peer programming. OK?
Mukesh Sharma: So the role of testing has evolved to a level that it's happening in parallel with the development and with continuous integration which I mentioned earlier. Your developer has returned a test development of working with a pair resource now when they're checking the code, their specific functionality, that gets tested right away the moment they are checking the code. The chances of test engineers getting a build that is dead on arrival becomes very low.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: You spoke a little bit about working with clients and all the great work you've done. And you founded QA Infotech with a vision to provide unbiased quality assurance testings and you're growing your company into a juggernaut can you speak a little bit on that vision and what led you to founding QA infoTech?
Mukesh Sharma: Absolutely. This is definitely something that I love to speak about. When I started my career back in '97, I started as a developer. I was in software development and those were days where independent testing or independent QA companies were not there at all. I am not aware of any company that was just providing independent QA. What made me think about providing or creating a company that could provide just independent QA, is my personal experience. I was seeing a lot of issues in production that were attributable to the same person handling development as well as testing.
Nothing against the team that were working on it, they were all very smart, but like I said to your earlier question, the developer's mindset is to build something. They are only going to test whether 2+2 is coming as 4 or not but what are the different scenarios that can be tested here, 'what if' situations. Those are the things that were getting missed. I can say that they were in a way biased doing their understanding of system internals. Then when I moved to QA and I was able to convince my management about the need for independent testing in our group and we were able to see measurrable results. I thought that, and there were still some situations, I was working in United States at a company wherein they had outsourced the product development to offshore vendor. Can you imagine the offshore vendor to come back and tell you that I have prepared, or I have built your product and it is buggy. That will never happen.
Nobody would come and say I have created the product based on your requirements but say its not going to work when you'll have this situation. And if they were to say that, your obvious response to them would be, go back and fix it. That is when I'll release your payment. So there is that conflict of interest also. And that I was seeing so I said why not provide the peace of mind to companies that are getting the products developed or the code developed, have an independent team do the QA and their bread and butter is simply QA. They aren't creating the product then saying, "oh it works well in all situations". So that is what worked very well in fact, I can tell you we do not have a sales team and we've grown from just a couple of members team back in 2003 to more than 750 people team that we have today.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: That's amazing. That's fantastic. You've had a lot of success in your career, what advice can you give to someone who is just starting their career or maybe has just graduated or is just transitioning into a career in software engineering and testing?
Mukesh Sharma: Well, I would just say be passionate about what you do. The opportunities are increasing by the day than in the past and specializations scope is also significant. While your course focus is on your day-to-day work or project execution, don't miss on the larger happenings in the industry. There's a lot in terms of discussions conferences, community projects, and crowdsource testing that is happening. If you're starting your career in software testing don't think that you, earlier during my days people used to say, "Oh, if you do not know programming, you can become a tester", that is not the case. If you know programming I can guarantee that you can do much better as a software test engineer or software engineer doing testing because you understand the code, you can tell people "hey, here's what you can change". So there is, I think software engineering, specifically in testing, has more potential than anything in software engineering.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: OK. And I want to kind of put you on the spot here with one final question, knowing what you know now, what advice would you go back and give to a younger Mukesh?
Mukesh Sharma: Very interesting question. What I am going to tell a younger Mukesh is that, hey remember, relationships are very important. Everything that you are doing has an impact. Times are changing, technology is changing our lives significantly. While these can be a boon, they can also soon become overwhelming, especially for you because as an individual you are wanting to run and lead an organization and you already have so much on your plate. So why do you rely on technology to a large extent? Don't miss on people relationships, enjoy your time. These relationships are indispensable and whatever role discipline or role you are in, even more when you are the CEO of an organization because, people relations and their trust they have had in me and my organization have helped us grow this far. The other advice that I would give to a younger Mukesh would be you need to learn to delegate, and you need to identify the right people to delegate. That is the key.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: All right. Well thank you so much once again this was the always insightful, and very successful Mukesh Sharma, the CEO and found of QA InfoTech. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to speak with us.
Mukesh Sharma: Thank you very much it was a pleasure speaking with you. I really appreciate your time and I look forward to speaking with you again.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: All right. And if you want to check out Mukesh's new book, it's coming out in September. We'll be talking about it in early July with him again and you can check out his writings on TechWell.com and StickyMinds.com. Thanks again Mukesh.
Mukesh Sharma: Thank you very much. Have a wonderful day.
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds: You too.
As founder and CEO of QA InfoTech Worldwide, Mukesh Sharma is responsible for the company's vision and leads the organization's worldwide operations, marketing, sales, and development efforts. Founding QA InfoTech with a vision to provide unbiased testing solutions, Mukesh has grown the organization to five Centers of Excellence with more than 650 employees. He began his technology career with DCM Data Systems, and then worked at IBM Corporation, Quark Inc., Gale Group, and Adobe Systems in software engineering and testing disciplines. Mukesh's passion for excellence, eye for detail, and customer commitment have enabled QA InfoTech to stand apart in the exceedingly competitive software testing industry.
Mukul Sharma
QA Infotech, the name itself speaks, is one of the best Software Testing organization. It's not only the best place for clients but also a best organization for starters to learn things. The way the confidence is developed in fresher, is far better than what a person with 3-5 years of experince, in other orgaization generally have. All the credit goes to the atmosphere built and the trust shown by the Management. Openness, creativity, relationships, client focus delivery are the core values of this organization.
Being the former employee of QA infotech, I witness the values of this organization. Also, the exponential growth of organization is an eye opener for other organizations. "If there is a will, there is a way" is proved in a true sense. The focus that is made on work and learning skills that are developed in an individual (at all levels of carreer) is realy appreciable. You carry your name along with the companies name and I must say that it adds to you. The feel good factor for the employee and the client grows leaps and bound with time.
Keep up the good work QA team.
Thanks Mukul. Really appreciate your inputs and your contributions to the organization!
Cameron Philipp-Edmonds
When not working on his theory of time travel, Cameron T. Philipp-Edmonds is writing for TechWell and its community sites. With a background in advertising and marketing, Cameron is partial to the ways that technology can enhance a company's brand equity. In his personal life, Cameron enjoys long walks on the beach, romantic dinners by candlelight, and playing practical jokes on his coworkers.
» The Simple Rules of Software Testing [article]
» Test Everywhere: A Journey into DevOps and Continuous Testing [article]
» Dealing with a Test Automation Bottleneck [article]
» 6 Steps for Succeeding with Test Automation in Agile [article]
» State-Transition Diagrams [article]
» 5 Things That Will Impact the Future of Software Testing [article]
» When the Code Is Too Obvious to Check [article]


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12.10.04 -- Probiotics Prove Just As Effective As a Popular Prescription Drug for Ulcerative Colitis
By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, October 21, 2004, abstracted from "Maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis with the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 is as effective as with standard mesalazine" in the November 2004 issue of Gut
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes a number of chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract. It is estimated that more than 600,000 people in the United States have some form of inflammatory bowel disease.1 Classically, inflammatory bowel disease includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) presents as inflammation extending throughout the entire colon. Research increasingly suggests that the inflammation associated with UC and IBD is related to an overabundance of "bad" bacteria and a deficiency of "good bacteria" known as probiotics.(2, 3) Now a new study4 has found probiotics act just as well as prescription drugs in helping relapses in UC.
Researchers studied 327 IBD patients, with 162 receiving 200 mg Escherichia Coli Nissle once daily while 165 received 500 mg mesalazine, a prescription drug regarded as the "gold standard" for treating IBD, three times daily for one year. Patients were assessed were regularly assessed for signs of relapse using the Rachmilewitz clinical and endoscopic activity indices, and according to histology at the end of the study.
Compared to the relapses of patients on mesalazine (38/112 = 33.9 percent), the probiotic group had a similar percentage of relapse (40/110 = 36.4 percent). "The probiotic drug E. coli Nissle 1917 shows efficacy and safety in maintaining remission equivalent to the gold standard mesalazine in patients with UC" and that these results re-emphasize "the pathogenetic significance of the enteric flora."
Although both groups tolerated their treatment well with no reported adverse side effects, a note of caution should be raised about mesalazine, since it has been the subject of research regarding dangerous side effects that include pancreas and kidney damage,5 making probiotics all the more reasonable as an effective option for UC.
1 Botoman VA. Management of inflammatory bowel disease. Am Fam Physician. 1998 Jan 1;57(1):57-68, 71-2
2 Kanauchi, O. Modification of intestinal flora in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Curr Pharm Des. 2003;9(4):333-46
3 Linskins, RK. The bacterial flora in inflammatory bowel disease: current insights in pathogenesis and the influence of antibiotics and probiotics. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 2001(234):29-40
4 Kruis S. Maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis with the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 is as effective as with standard mesalazine. Gut 2004 Nov; 53(11): 1617-23
5 Sulphasalazine and mesalazine: serious adverse reactions re-evaluated on the basis of suspected adverse reaction reports to the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Gut 2002 Oct; 51(4): 536-9
http://www.nowfoods.com/?action=itemdetail&item_id=42683


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Baker Withholds Funds for Outer Cape Broadband
'We're ready to rock and roll,' says OpenCape director
By Linda Culhane Oct 15, 2020
PROVINCETOWN — Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill in August authorizing up to $1.8 billion in infrastructure investment, including $1.7 million to expand broadband coverage in Provincetown via the OpenCape fiber-optic network. But OpenCape is still waiting for the funds to be released by the governor.
"We're ready to rock and roll," said Steven Johnston, the nonprofit corporation's executive director. "If I got a text or a call from the governor right now saying we're going to release that money, we would have crews start working on that immediately, because our goal would be to have that up and running in the spring or before."
The Provincetown plans include expanding coverage down Bradford Street Extension to the West End rotary and back up Commercial Street to create a loop reconnecting to Bradford Street in the East End.
"It wouldn't allow us to connect everyone, but it allows us to do some amazing stuff," said Johnston.
Truro, Wellfleet, and Eastham are also in line to receive strategic extensions of the OpenCape network. Johnston said he would be meeting with local officials in those towns to work on strategy.
"One of the places I'd love to get connected is Outer Cape Health Services," he said.
OpenCape, founded in 2006, maintains a fiber "backbone" along Route 6 all the way to Provincetown. Its broadband service has a higher bandwidth than the cable internet offered by Comcast, said Johnston.
OpenCape currently serves municipal buildings and a few businesses. Aside from a residential experiment launched this year, however, Cape residents cannot link their homes to the fiber network. If the so-called last miles of fiber service on residential streets were constructed throughout the Cape, Comcast, with its spotty service, would need to compete.
OpenCape has been advocating for release of the funds through a grassroots campaign of letters and phone calls from Cape residents and visitors. The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates added its support last month with a letter urging the governor to release the funds.
"Advocacy for the funds to be released is just a typical strategy," said Wellfleet's delegate, Lilli-Ann Green, at the assembly's Sept. 16 meeting.
"Even before the pandemic, we all knew that our cellular service and particularly our internet service on the Cape had been inadequate," said Provincetown Delegate Brian O'Malley. "The impact of so many more people working from home, holding meetings like this all the time, clearly has been that the need for improved internet service throughout the Cape is so very much more apparent."
"It's not just nice to have, it's a must have, because the way we're going to work going forward has changed forever," said Johnston.
Installing "last-mile" fiber-optic connections to the OpenCape backbone costs approximately $70,000 per mile. Some people are reportedly paying the price on their own.
"Every time I connect a business or some rich person's house that is four miles from my backbone," said Johnston, "I have to build to them, and that allows me to extend fiber, that they pay for, out into the community. That's a win-win."
While Johnston said that he is "always out talking to those seven- and eight-figure individuals," encouraging them to follow Andrew Carnegie's example of charitable giving, he said, realistically, the way forward to connect every home to the network would be for the towns to use their bonding authority.
"It's something where the towns really need to get behind it," Johnston said. "The town invests in the infrastructure. They own the fiber that connects the homes together. They can buy fiber connectivity from OpenCape or from Comcast or both."
He noted that towns are now faced with a number of costly issues. "It's just about where is this in the list of priorities," said Johnston.
Tagged With: broadband internet connection, OpenCape, technology Filed Under: Civics, Featured, News, Provincetown, Towns


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James Ray
Press Release, Events
Top 10 Finalists Named for 2018 Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence Award
The "Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence" award campaign, first launched in the spring of 2016, is part of an overall effort to inspire the hiring of more veterans, national guard members, and reservists into the trucking industry. As the main part of the initiative, deserving veteran drivers who have made a successful transition from military service to the trucking industry were nominated by their carriers for the chance to win a fully-loaded Kenworth T680 truck to accelerate their newfound careers.
Since nominations closed on June 30th for this year's hopefuls, the exceptional pool of candidates has been narrowed to the elite Top 10.
The Top 10 finalists include (listed in alphabetical order of first name):
Brian "Kelley" Ward
Veriha Trucking (trained at Veriha Driving Academy)
US Navy, E4, Hull Technician (HT3)
Brian "Kelley" Ward is a father, husband, and U.S. Navy Veteran. To know him is to also know that an American Flag is displayed somewhere nearby but that being father to his daughter Hannah is what brings him the most pride. He joined the Navy in 1994 and was stationed aboard the USS Rushmore LSD-47. In 1999, he moved to the Midwest to start a life in Kenosha, WI with his soon-to-be wife Curren whom he also met while aboard the Rushmore. Today, he is employed by Veriha Trucking based out of Marinette, WI.
Stevens Transport (trained at Central Texas College/Ft. Hood)
US Army (Active Duty and current Reservist), E5, Petroleum Supply Specialist
Christopher W. Young was born at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL and raised in the beautiful Puget Sound region of Washington state. In February 2002, after doing a little world traveling, Christopher enlisted in the United States Army where he attended basic training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, VA. Christopher is proud to have served his country and continues to do so as an Army Reservist.
Jeremiah King
PAM Transport (trained at Del Mar College)
US Navy, E6, Hospital Corpsman
After graduating high school in 1998, Jeremiah enlisted in the US Navy, spending 20 years serving in many different capacities in the medical field. His first duty station was in Puerto Rico where he was selected as the Radiation Technician of the year. Following that, Jeremiah was transferred to the USS Eisenhower then the USS Enterprise. After his time at sea, he was transferred to the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB). While assigned to the NMCB, Jeremiah was deployed twice, once to Kuwait and then to Iraq. He was then transferred to the USS Kentucky and was the sole medical provider and advisor to the submarine commander. Jeremiah spent his final years as an instructor training others in pre-hospital trauma and combat casualty care. After retiring, he and his wife and three children settled down in San Antonio, TX.
Mordaunt "Platt" Brabner
TMC Transportation (trained at Roadmaster Drivers School)
US Marines and Navy, O5, Advanced Electronic Technician
Mordaunt "Platt" Brabner enlisted in the United States Marine Corps graduating Boot Camp with honors. Assigned as an Air Traffic Control Navigational Aids Technician. Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with Bachelor Degrees in Professional Aeronautics and Electronic Engineering. Commissioned as a Naval Flight Officer flying in EA-6B carrier aircraft. Honorably retired from the US Navy. University of Nebraska, EMBA. Pursuing a career as a professional flatbed truck driver with TMC Transportation. Always looking for another opportunity to excel.
Phillip "Tom" Vargo
Roehl Transport (trained at Roehl Transport, Get Your CDL Program)
US Navy, E5, Operations Specialist
Service to our nation and helping others are in Tom's blood. He served in the U.S. Navy as an Operations Specialist, Petty Officer Second Class. After that, Tom served as a corrections officer and a police officer as he raised his two sons. Tom is proud to continue his service to our nation as a safe, Class-A professional driver. In that role, he is also proud to train inexperienced drivers, helping them, their families and our industry. In addition, Tom volunteers with groups helping law enforcement and veterans, in particular talking and listening one-on-one with veterans to help prevent suicide.
Quinton Ward
Werner Enterprises (trained at US Truck Driving School)
US Army, E5, Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Trainer, Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer, and BCC Battalion Career Counselor
Born at Fort Polk Louisiana to a military family, the military has been in Quinton Ward's blood from birth. After graduating high school, Quinton enlisted in the Army, completing Basic and AIT at Fort Knox, Kentucky. During his military career, he worked as a Mechanic, Instructor and Career Counselor and was medically retired in 2010. After six years of undergoing medical treatment, with his service dog Kirra by my side, he began to seek a new career. Utilizing the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Quinton graduated with a CDL-A in Fountain, Colorado and joined Werner Enterprises.
Ricardo Sumrall
Melton Truck Lines (trained at Advanced Technology Institute)
US Navy, E6, Culinary Specialist, Submarine Qualified CS1
Ricardo Sumrall is from Norfolk, Virginia and served in the U.S. Navy for over 20 years. Ricardo's service began as a Culinary Specialist then continued to First Class Petty Officer, Submarine Qualified, and CS1 (SS) ranking. After earning his Class-A CDL license from Advanced Technology Institute, Ricardo joined the Melton Truck Lines family in August of 2017. When deciding on a career after the military, Ricardo found trucking to be highly suitable to the values and skills he acquired during his tenure in the Navy.
Summar Hanks
US Xpress (trained at Diesel Driving Academy)
US Air Force and Air National Guard, E6, Information Management Specialist
Born and raised in Crowley, LA, Staff Sergeant Summar N. Hanks began her military career on July 2008 as an active duty member of the United States Air Force where she served as an Information Management Specialist. On November 2016, Summar switched to the Louisiana Air National Guard to start her trucking career. Preparation for the career change included five months of school at Diesel Driving Academy in Baton Rouge, and she started her trucking journey in May 2017. Summar is about to graduate with a degree in business management from Trident University. She holds an Associates degree in Applied Science, Information Management. Her assignments since 2008 have taken her from Kuwait to Seoul and throughout the continental United States.
Tilford Sereal
TMC Transportation (trained at Coastal Truck Driving School)
US Navy, E6, Culinary Specialist First Class, Galley and Wardroom Supervisor, and Military Police
Tilford Sereal resides in Carencro, LA and is a 20-year Navy Veteran. He joined the TMC team in September 2017 as a professional truck driver. Due to his dedication and work ethic, Tilford also recently became a driver trainer where he takes pride in producing safe, educated drivers for America's highways. In his free time, Tilford's hobbies include carpentry and handyman services. He also enjoys restoring his home and classic vehicles.
Toby Hunt
Prime, Inc. (trained at Tampa Truck Driving School)
US and Army, Petty Officer 2nd Class (Navy) and E5 Sergeant (Army), Damage Controlman DC2 (Navy) and 88M (Army)
Toby Hunt is a 13-year Navy and Army Veteran who has enjoyed serving his country honorably and feels privileged to have served with the best men and women of our Armed Forces. Toby served as a Damage Controlman DC2, being honorably discharged at the rank of Petty Officer Second Class. He also served in the U.S. Army at the Rank of Sergeant as an 88M (truck driver). Toby earned his Class-A CDL through the Tampa Truck Driving School and started driving for Prime in January 2018.
"Each of these candidates is an incredible ambassador to display what military talent brings to the trucking industry," said FASTPORT President Brad Bentley. "They represent a wide variety of military branches and occupations, showing once again that a professional driving career is open and beneficial to all service members, regardless of what their specific job was in the military. Culling the list of nominees to the Top 10 was a difficult task, one not taken lightly. These finalists are outstanding and truly show the best of the best."
The Top 10 Finalists will be recognized at the George W. Bush Library and Museum during a reception where they will be honored for their contributions to the military and civilian sectors by trucking and transportation leaders as well as government and association representatives. On that night, the Final 3 will be revealed and will enter into a popular vote to help determine who will be the ultimate recipient of the Kenworth T680 truck donated by Kenworth, a PACCAR company.
In addition to the Driver Recognition Dinner and Announcement, FASTPORT will also host an Apprenticeship Accelerator meeting at the George W. Bush Library and Museum to help companies and organizations begin DOL-approved Registered Apprenticeship programs. Multiple drivers in the Top 10 of Transition Trucking (as well as the award program's first winner Troy Davidson and last year's second runner-up Daniel Shonebarger) started their careers as apprentices. Leading companies helped them bridge their skills gaps with this program, and FASTPORT is ready to help other companies attract and retain this kind of incredible talent with similar training models.
To register to attend these events, please visit https://www.fastport.com/dallas-events. To learn more about the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award, please visit transitiontrucking.org.
About Kenworth Truck Company
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth is a PACCAR company.
About Hiring Our Heroes
Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with a vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Hiring Our Heroes has helped hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. In March 2012, Hiring Our Heroes and Capital One launched Hiring 500,000 Heroes, a national campaign to engage the business community in committing to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014. This milestone was achieved in June 2015 when 500,000 veteran and military spouse hires were confirmed.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America's long-term competitiveness and educating the public on how the free enterprise system improves society and the economy.
About FASTPORT
FASTPORT, Inc. is an employment software development company that builds products to help Veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment. Using its proprietary technology, FASTPORT is committed to matching job seekers to employers actively hiring from the military community.
FASTPORT, Inc. is a Department of Labor Industry Intermediary to increase apprenticeship programs for civilian and Veteran talent and has a commercial co-venture with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes Program to develop the preeminent employment marketplace to connect employers and military candidates. For more information, visit fastport.com.
Tagged: Apprenticeships, DOL, Transition Trucking
Empowering Change with Employment: A Collaboration
"It's a patchwork. There's no one organization that's going to suit the needs of all veterans."
— Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts, Medal of Honor Recipient
Collaboration was the word of the day at the Hiring Our Heroes "Empowering Change with Employment"—for good reason. A glance around the Northeastern Ballroom where the conference was held, anyone could see the variety of organizations that joined together in the mission to help veterans each holds a piece to the puzzle to solve veteran unemployment and underemployment.
David Gualin, Director of Military and Veterans Affairs from Comcast NBCUniversal, kicked off the meeting with the overarching notion that this organizational teamwork is about "moving beyond hiring, it's also supporting beyond just a hiring number. We need to move to something more, more dedication, more understanding of what the military community brings to our companies and how we can better engage them."
Organizations are answering that call. The day was filled with information on how Veterans offer incredible assets and potential to civilian employers, regardless of their service branch and military occupation. There was also a special emphasis on the benefits of (and need to) hire and support military spouses as they find their way into a new civilian society. Those in the military community offer invaluable technical and non-technical skills such as leadership, rapid decision-making, emphasis on safety, teamwork and dependability. These skills, along with many others, create an incredible potential employee in any industry.
Left: Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts, Medal of Honor recipient, Right: Secretary Francisco Ureña
Massachusetts Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Francisco Ureña echoed the idea of moving beyond the standard level of care for veterans since we can do even better for these incredible candidates. Secretary Ureña had enlisted in the Marines the day after he graduated from high school.
After leaving the Marines, he had a variety of volunteer positions that led him to civil service and to his ultimate position where he now leads MA VA where he has seen the collaborative effort to support veterans first hand: "There are so many practices happening here in the Commonwealth and specifically here in Boston with the focus of what we can do for our Veterans…In Massachusetts, we are leaders of helping our veterans, and that practice has gone back to the French and Indian War. We date back to those roots and continue to set a standard as a platform of support. That sense of network…[allows organizations] to make connections that will enable you to help veterans."
However, FASTPORT CEO Bill McLennan emphasized that the work doesn't always begin with traditional employment. Because of skills gaps, many service members, veterans and spouses will need training to ensure they find the best career path. One of the most powerful ways to bridge these skills gaps are Registered Apprenticeships.
Left to right: Patrick Murphy, former Under Secretary of the Army; Marjorie Morrison, Founder and CEO of PsychArmor; Matt Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy Department of Labor - VETS; Brendan McCaffrey, Military Recruiter of Wayfair; Bill McLennan, CEO of FASTPORT
Facilitated by Former Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy, McLennan added his perspective to the panel "Good to Great: Veteran Friendly vs Veteran Ready" as the Project Director of National Apprenticeship at FASTPORT in addition to his knowledge as the company's CEO. As one of the U.S. Department of Labor's Industry Intermediaries to increase apprenticeship accessibility in the United States, FASTPORT developed a National Standard of Registered Apprenticeship to allow employers from across the country to set up a DOL-approved apprenticeship program. That development has helped 21 companies build and expand apprenticeship programs under McLennan's leadership. In just over 18 months, 4,000 candidates have enrolled into these paid training programs. A nearly 100% employment rate after completing their apprenticeship training means vast opportunity for both companies and the next generation of employees.
McLennan summed up the success of both the apprenticeship National Standard and the projected success of veteran-ready organizations like those that attended today's conference: "These results just go to show the work that can be done when a coalition of employers and entire industries can make together."
Tagged: Veteran Hiring
Partnership, Events
Reflecting on the Importance of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Game
Members of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team surveying the field before the charity football game begins where they defended their undefeated record.
While Eagles fans still celebrate their victory over the Patriots in the 2018 Super Bowl, many remember another incredible football game—one that happened the night before those two famous team stepped on the field. On the eve of the Super Bowl, military heroes showed us their athletic grit and inspired all those who watched.
On that Wednesday, FASTPORT had the opportunity to sponsor the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team as it defended its 7-year strong undefeated record against NFL alumni at Concordia University's Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota. FASTPORT was honored to witness the game as well as get to know the incredible players who make up the team, including its captain and Marine Veteran BJ Ganem.
"This game is a tremendous opportunity to show just what wounded warriors can do - that the human spirit is powerful as we explore endless possibilities in our professional and personal lives," said Ganem, who lost a leg below the knee in Iraq in 2004. "To play against some of the NFL's most iconic players, whom many of us grew up watching on television, is also incredible. And we appreciate the support we receive from Americans of all walks of life who come out to watch us play in support of this endeavor."
Ganem had joined FASTPORT earlier in 2017 to help honor finalists in the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award program at the George W. Bush Library and Museum where his painted portraits done by former President Bush hung within the museum's larger collection. Ganem's continued support of the Veteran community matched well with FASTPORT's dedication to provide the military community with economic opportunity through career matching, so they committed to work together in that shared foundation.
With the game now past and their record still undefeated, the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football team stands as a remembrance for all that these wounded warriors are truly that—warriors. We thank them for the service they performed in their military careers, how they inspire those with their charity football games, and how their partnership is directly helping their fellow Veterans.
Press Release, Events, Partnership
FASTPORT's Gulf Coast Military Hiring Fair Receives Support from La Quinta Inns & Suites by Offering Discounted Hotel Rates for Transitioning Service Members and Veterans
Transitioning service members and veterans traveling to FASTPORT's Gulf Coast Military Hiring Fair on January 26, 2018 can receive discounted rates at La Quinta hotels in the Mobile, AL area. The event will take place from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm CST at the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, just steps away from the USS Alabama battleship and the day before the Reese's Senior Bowl. The hiring event is co-sponsored by the Reese's Senior Bowl, The South Alabama Veterans Council, Centurion Military Alliance and Kaplan University.
With La Quinta's military discount, current and former service members will save money as they seek to travel to this unique venue and event. There are several La Quinta Inns & Suites close to the Mobile area so the attending military community will have multiple lodging options that will honor the military discount, including:
La Quinta Inn – Mobile
La Quinta Inns & Suites – Tillman's Corner
La Quinta Inns & Suites – Satsuma / Saraland
La Quinta Inn Inns & Suites – Daphne
Inbound travelers simply need to call the hotel direct and ask for the Military Rate Discount or book online at www.lq.com using the military rate discount code (Military). The guestrooms and military rate discount at each participating location is based on availability at time of the reservation.
"La Quinta recognizes that no one understands service like the military and that's why we want to serve them," said Liesl Vargas, La Quinta's Vice President of Talent Acquisition. "We are honored the military community can use our discount to explore new career path opportunities at the upcoming Gulf Coast Hiring Fair."
"As a military friendly employer, La Quinta has a long history of supporting service members, and this is a strong statement of how it will continue to serve our nation's heroes in the future," said Brad Bentley, FASTPORT President. "We are thrilled out-of-town service members will be able to travel with less cost as they seek new career paths from national, regional, and local employers in Mobile, and we look forward to helping them find great jobs at companies like La Quinta that value military service and training."
La Quinta also offers a rewards program for all active duty service members, veterans or military spouses. It's called La Quinta Returns Military Rewards and is the company's way of saying "thank you" for your service. To join, visit: www.LQ.com/militaryrewards and for career opportunities at La Quinta, visit: www.LQ.com/careers.
FASTPORT Organizes Military Hiring Fair to Benefit Job Seekers and Employers in the Gulf Coast Region
FASTPORT announces a military hiring event to take place at the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, adjacent to the USS Alabama Battleship in Mobile, Alabama. The event will occur on Friday, January 26th from 11:00am – 2:30pm in a partnership with the Reese's Senior Bowl that will take place the following day.
Local, regional and national employers are anticipated to attend from ten different industries in the mission to hire an estimated 200 job seekers into careers. Veteran-owned, local and small businesses as well as educator booths are available at a discounted rate. Due to venue's size and in an effort to ensure each employer can engage with each job seekers, the hiring fair will be limited to the first 30 who register at fastport.com/hiring-fair-registration.
Each purchase of an employer booth includes a catered brunch for two representatives along with two tickets to the Senior Bowl and VIP access to both the Coca-Cola Meet the Players event and to the Piggly Wiggly Tailgate Party. Proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team.
"Employers who understand the benefits of hiring from the military talent pool have a strategic advantage over their competition because they source the best talent. Veterans are well trained with the knowledge, skills and abilities that make them highly valued assets for teams in a variety of industries," said Brad Bentley, FASTPORT President. "We are honored to help connect these industry leaders within eyesight of the historic USS Alabama with our nation's heroes who are poised for incredible success in the civilian workforce."
Employers interested in registering for this unique hiring event can visit fastport.com/hiring-fair-registration.


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About IAGA
International Association of
Geomagnetism and Aeronomy
Value for the gyromagnetic constant
The International Council for Science: Committee on Data for Science and Technology adopted a new value for the gyromagnetic constant in 2006 (CODATA 2006). The new value is γp′=2.675153362 ⋅ 108 T-1 s-11 (Rev. Mod. Phys. Vol 80, 2008). In order to comply with international standards IAGA adopts the new value to replace the value adopted in 1991 for geomagnetic measurements from 2010 on. Observatories and instrument manufacturers should implement the new value as soon as possible. The difference between the old and new constants, however, amounts to only 15pT in 50,000nT and thus is within the noise level of most of the present day observatory measurements, therefore it can be safely adopted without problem even if immediate implementation by all observatories at the same time cannot be guaranteed.
Published on April 28th, 2016
IAGA News
USGS geomagnetic observatories threatened by cuts
IAGA and INTERMAGNET express concern about cuts to the United States Geological Survey geomagnetic observatory network in this letter.
Swedish space pioneer Bengt Hultqvist has passed away
It is with great sorrow that we report that Professor Emeritus Bengt Hultqvist, the founder of the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, has passed away at the age of 91.
IAGA Newsletter No.55 available.
IAGA newsletter No. 55 and all previous newsletters are available on our newsletter site.
Next Assembly
IUGG General Assembly in Montreal (Canada), July 8-19, 2019
IAGA School 2019
The 4th IAGA School will be held before the IUGG General Assembly at the University of Montreal's Station de Biologie des Laurentides near Montreal, Quebec, Canada. See page Young Scientists for details. The application deadline has passed.
IAGA 2019 AWARDS
IAGA Shen Kuo Award for Interdisciplinary Achievements - Prof. Catherine Johnson for contributions intrinsically interdisciplinary, and targeted at holistic understanding of bodies throughout the solar system, especially with respect to the magnetic field of the planet Mercury, and the Earth's magnetic field within the past five million years.
IAGA Long Service Medal - Martin Berg recognise his efforts continuously dedicated to produce the highest quality geomagnetic field data and your devoted work at the Dombås observatory for more than 35 years and to the full satisfaction of the science.
IAGA Young Scientist Award - Thomas Gonet, Deepak Kumar Karan, Kseniia Tlatova, Evgenii Shirokov
2019 IAGA


Do Wrong Beliefs about Jesus Hinder or Affect Salvation?
I do not think it is the absence of knowledge that damns; rather, it is the despising of knowledge that damns.
One of the things that we know for certain as we read through the Scripture is this: there is only one God. The Scripture is very plain and clear about that. Look at the Old Testament, for example. There is the Hebrew Shema, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV).
Now, if you continue reading the Bible, you recognize that the Father is God. The Bible is explicit about that (see John 17:1–3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Ephesians 1:3;1 Peter 1:3–5).
You also realize that the Holy Spirit is God. One example in the New Testament is Acts 5, wherein Peter condemns Ananias, who lied about selling a piece of property and donating all the proceeds to the church. The Apostle said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God" (vv. 3–4 NIV). In this case, lying to the Holy Spirit means lying to God.
Another example in which the Holy Spirit is equated with God is 2 Corinthians 3:17–18: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (NIV; cf. Romans 8:9–11). The Holy Spirit is omnipotent (Genesis 1:2; Luke 1:35), omnipresent (Psalm139:7–9), omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10–11), eternal (John 14:16; Hebrews 9:14), and personal (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13–14; Acts 8:29; 15:28; 16:6; Romans 5:5; 8:14–16, 26–27; 15:30; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Moreover, in Romans 10:13, Paul equates calling on Christ with calling on Yahweh (Joel 2:32). And in his letter to the Philippian Christians, Paul declares that Jesus, "being in very nature God [in the form of God], did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant [the form of a servant], being made in human likeness" (NIV). Paul goes on to conclude by equating bowing to and confessing the name of Jesus with bowing to and confessing the name of Yahweh, further demonstrating that Jesus is Himself Almighty God (see Philippians 2:6–11; Isaiah 45:22–25). I do not know how it could be any clearer.
The Bible is telling us that there is one God, that the Father is God, that the Son is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. But also the Bible tells us that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are eternally distinct (see Matthew 28:19; John 14:15–21, 26–27; 15:26–27; 16:5–15).
In other words, the Father does not become the Son, and the Son does not morph into the Holy Spirit. You have one God, subsisting in three persons, who are eternally distinct. That is what the Bible teaches.
Now, you say it is hard for your wife to get her head around that; I will tell you, it is hard for me to get my head around that, too. I oftentimes tell people, "If you can get your head around that, your God is too small." This means that the God we serve can be apprehended but cannot be comprehended. He is beyond our ability to fully comprehend, and that is not only true for this present time but also it is true for all eternity. The Bible is clear that Jesus is God, that the Holy Spirit is God, and that the Father is God, but there is one God with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being eternally distinct.
What I am talking about again is this: it is not the absence of truth that damns; rather, it is the despising of truth that damns. What I am suggesting is that there can be many professing Christians unable to communicate what I just communicated, but I am not looking at them and saying, "Those people are lost." That is not my province; rather, that is in fact the province of the Holy Spirit. However, as you read about the Lord — doing what the Lord asks us to do, getting into God's Word, and getting God's Word into you (Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119) — as you learn more and more about God, you have to follow what God says, as opposed to recreating God in your own image.
This blog is adapted from the November 8, 2017, Bible Answer Man broadcast.
Rather than admit that the only way to turn triplets into twins is to kill a baby, Politico hid behind a euphemism. And rather than react in horror at the death of a child, they printed a splashy graphic to explain "the decline of triplets" as if the procedure was the equivalent of filling a dental cavity. In short, they casually whitewashed slaughter.
I happened to write about this subject in The Complete Bible Answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised and Updated. There I put forth an acronym. The acronym A-B-O-R-T-I-O-N, so that people are equipped to annihilate A-B-O-R-T-I-O-N arguments. While I will not go through the entire acronym on the show today, I do want to highlight the "O" in A-B-O-R-T-I-O-N.
The first "O" in A-B-O-R-T-I-O-N I dubbed the "opium" effect. This is in keeping with the article I just read to you wherein clever codewords are the opium of the pro-abortion lobby. Those code words are specifically designed to dull human sensibilities to something that is absolutely horrendous: the horror of abortion. We see this all around. For example, the moniker "Planned Parenthood." That may well be the quintessential example. The positive ring of the words masks the horrific reality. To abort a preborn child is tantamount to terminating a life. As Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger famously pontificated, "The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it." Such killings again are positively repositioned as prochoice prerogatives. The preborn children terminated, well, they are indelicately rendered fetuses and prolife advocates are profanely recasts as social extremists. Again, this is the opium effect, the effect of clever code words. This has been used to great effect within this holocaust that is going on within our midst.
Abortion is the painful killing of an innocent human being, and we ought to get that squarely in our psyche. We ought to be able to communicate this because it is painful for the child, in that methods employed involve burning, smothering, dismembering, and crushing. It is killing in that, from the very beginning, that which is terminated fulfills the criteria necessary for establishing the existence of biological life. That includes metabolism, development, the ability to react to stimuli, cell reproduction, and the like. I say it is the painful killing of an innocent human being, innocent in that the preborn child deserves protection, not capital punishment. The painful killing of an innocent human being, in that the child was killed is the offspring of human parents, has a totally distinct genetic code.
Since abortion is nothing short of terminating the life of a person created in the image of God, it is important for us to get this information into our minds.
Blog adapted from the October 18, 2017, Bible Answer Man broadcast.


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Test for Bug 51240: PASS if the second box is painted as an opaque blue-to-green square.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Retronix IC test facility is not only a one stop shop for all IC testing, we can carry out in house repair too. From various electrical tests to detect counterfeit, to solderability and programming testing, we are equipped to test most ICs. However with our alloy conversion & retinning services, we can repair any repairable faults. If old ICs (QFP or BGA) have solderability issues, we can repair and verify the fix. We can also convert from lead to lead free and vice versa.