text:
I-95 Rhode Island Archive - North
This style of welcome sign for Rhode Island was phased out by 2007. Photo taken 06/25/05.
An older ground level guide sign directed motorists from I-95 north onto the loop ramp (Exit 1) for Rhode Island 3. This sign was replaced with a new overhead assembly by 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Sign changes made for Exit 2 along I-95 north by 2007 replaced Alton with Hopkinton. Photo taken 06/26/05
The quarter mile sign for the diamond interchange (Exit 2) with Woodville Alton Road was removed and a new sign added at a half mile out. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Interstate 95 north at Exit 2. This ground level sign was replaced with a new overhead assembly by 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Sign changes made for Exit 3A and Rhode Island 138 east on I-95 north replaced Newport and Kingston with South Kingstown and Wyoming. Kingston and Newport are highlighted on auxiliary signage now. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Within the cloverleaf interchange at Rhode Island 138, this ground level sign directed motorists onto Exit 3B for Wyoming. It was replaced with a new overhead by 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Interstate 95 lowers toward Moonshine Swamp on the one mile approach to Exit 4. Signs for Rhode Island 3 to Rhode Island 165 were replaced by 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05
This sign was posted one quarter mile ahead of the half diamond interchange (Exit 4) with Rhode Island 3 in the town of Richmond. A new sign for Exit 4 was erected at a half mile distance from the off-ramp by 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05.
The two mile sign on I-95 north for Exit 5 and Rhode Island 102 was no longer posted as of 2007. Photo taken 06/25/05.
One mile south of the full cloverleaf interchange (Exits 5A/B) with R.I. 102 on I-95 north. Sign changes made by 2007 switched out Foster for West Greenwich for the state route north. Photo taken 06/26/05.
The quarter mile sign for Exit 5A and R.I. 102 east at the Austin Farm Road overpass was replaced with a half mile sign listing both Exits 5A/B by 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05.
This sign bridge directed traffic to Exit 5A and North Kingstown via Rhode Island 102 east and Foster for Rhode Island 102 west. It was replaced with a new assembly in 2007. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Interstate 95 northbound skips to Exit 18 (Exit 17 serves U.S. 1 from southbound) for Thurbers Avenue and U.S. 1A (Allens Avenue). Featured in this photograph was the one-mile overhead for Exit 18 and the first sign for Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 east to East Providence and Cape Cod. Photo taken 07/28/07.
What was the original one-mile guide sign for Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 east before the Iway project relocated the freeway southward. The old Interstate 195 to the north was demolished by 2012. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Exit 20 originally served the eastbound beginning of Interstate 195 at a directional interchange north of Point Street. The interchange was removed and a new Exit 20 now connects Interstate 95 north with Point Street. Photo taken 07/28/07.
A look at the original directional interchange between Interstates 95-195 and U.S. 6. New ramps here now connect I-95 south with Rhode Island Hospital and Franklin Street north with I-95 north. All remnants of the former Interstate 195 were demolished by 2012. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Removed guide sign posted along Exit 22 ahead of the split of ramps for Memorial Boulevard east and the Huntington Expressway west. An on-ramp dropped onto Interstate 95 north from Franklin Street above. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Reassurance shield for Interstate 95 formerly posted ahead of the Exchange Street underpass at the 1964-built Providence Viaduct. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Exit 28 originally departed east of the Seekonk River on I-95 north. The 2010-13 Pawtucket River Bridge construction project added a new collector distributor roadway for R.I. 114 and School Street. The c/d roadway departs just beyond the Pine Street overpass instead of a half mile east of Exit 27. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Northbound at the Pine Street overpass at downtown Pawtucket. Exit 28 departs here now for the Old Slater Mill historic site via Rhode Island 114 (School Street) north across the Seekonk River. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Interstate 95 originally spanned the Seekonk River across bridges built in 1958 through to the off-ramp (Exit 28) to Rhode Island 114 (School Street). The new c/d roadway separates traffic to the School Street exit and on-ramp from George Street (U.S. 1 north) from the freeway mainline now. Photo taken 07/28/07.


text:
The Tale of Shikanoko series
Lian Hearn's The Tale of Shikanoko series is an epic four-volume adventure in mythical medieval Japan, a world of warriors and assassins, demons and spirits.
In a rich tapestry of compelling drama and intrigue, the fate of a ravaged nation is being manipulated by those craving power and wealth who have deposed the heir to the emperor. Only Shika can end the madness by returning the Lotus Throne to its rightful ruler.
"[Emperor of the Eight Islands is] a thrilling, fast-paced fantasy with plot twists, political intrigue, romance, and a richly detailed setting that will appeal to a variety of readers, especially those with an interest in Japanese mythology and otherworldly influences."—Library Journal
Books in the Series
Books in this Series
The Tengu's Game of Go
The Tale of Shikanoko series (Volume 4)
Lian Hearn
An epic four-volume adventure in mythical medieval Japan: a world of warriors and assassins, demons and spirits
In The Tengu's Game of Go, the final book of Lian Hearn's epic...
Lord of the Darkwood
Shikanoko, at what should be a warrior's hour of greatest triumph, turns his back on those around him, in mourning for a secret love . . .
The Spider Tribe, spurned by their guardian, explore...
Autumn Princess, Dragon Child
Shikanoko has been humbled by failure, and his once clear destiny has become clouded . . .
The Autumn Princess and the boy who is the true emperor are fugitives in the forest, alone and unprotected...
Emperor of the Eight Islands
In the opening pages of the action-packed Book One of Lian Hearn's epic Tale of Shikanoko series, a future lord is dispossessed of his birthright by a scheming uncle, a mountain sorcerer imbues a...
Lian Hearn is the pseudonym of a writer--born in England, educated at Oxford, currently living in Australia--who has a lifelong interest in Japan, has lived there, and studies Japanese. She is the author of the bestselling series Tales of the Otori and the Tale of Shikanoko series, which begins with Emperor of the Eight Islands.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


- The immune system "Sends in the troops" to fight infection, toss out toxins and repair damage - it has trained its "workforce"to recognize, tag and destroy invaders (antigens) and to also recognize that body tissue is not the enemy; sometimes however, some of the "troops disobey orders", targeting, attacking and destroying the body's own cells . Why this happens is still not well understood.
- The I.S. mostly "deals with"rebellious immune cells targeting the body's own cells - in some cases, the body-targeting immune cells are removed or deleted. In other cases, they are "silenced"by immune cells called regulatory or suppressor cells. Unfortunately, some escape to roam the body. If the body is later exposed to a microbe that carries antigens resembling those on a particular organ (immunologists call this molecular mimicry), then the escapee body-targeting cells take aim at the body, damaging the very tissue that they are supposed to be defending.
Circadian rhythms tend to flatten out - instead of a normal series of peaks and troughs that are modulated throughout the day; this reflects as a decreased life span.


What, you thought I was done recapping our mountain vacation? No way, we did far too much for one week's worth of posting. However, I have reached the post chronicling our last adventure: Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Vikki suggested this activity as being incredibly fun, so we decided to take her word for it and try something that was (for us) a little different. We drove about an hour to Damascus, Virginia, which is right over the Tennessee/Virginia border. We headed to The Bike Station and they quickly got us fit onto our bikes (if you have to know they put me on the 14-inch framer, which is–aside from their child-sized bikes–the smallest size I have such stumpy legs sigh). We then all piled into a van and The Bike Station people took us on a 45-ish minute ride up to the top of Whitetop Mountain. This is one of the starting points of the Virginia Creeper Trail–the end point is 34 miles away in Abingdon, Virginia. Damascus is right in the middle, a leisurely 17 mile downhill bike ride from the top of Whitetop Mountain.
Jon, excited to be on a bike.
The Virginia Creeper Trail used to be a railroad that "crept" its way through the woods and mountains and valleys between Whitetop and Abingdon. After the railroad closed in the 1970s some nature-y folks ripped up the tracks and created a bike and horse trail that went through the gorgeous woods and mountains of Southwest Virginia. The trail also goes through some national forest, some private property (backyards, really) and it intersects with the Appalachian Trail several times.
Me, excited to be on a bike.
Since the trail used to be a railroad there are a few stops along the way, some of which feature converted railway stations–most of the stops have bathrooms and places to get food and water.
Our first stop was the Green Cove station, which is now a museum and snack/gift shop. It is only a few miles down from Whitetop. I was relieved to stop because I hadn't been on a bike in ten years, and the first leg of the trail has the steepest decline and the most "serious" bike-riders shouting "ON YOUR LEFT" and whizzing right by you. I was a little terrified at first, but luckily you never forget how to ride a bike. I soon got the hang of it!
Green Cove was an old telegraph station!
The outside of Green Cove, with the old tracks.
We continued on from Green Cove and soon found that we were passing (or being passed by) fewer "serious" bikers on the trail. Sometimes a biker would whizz by us and sometimes we'd see a poor soul huffing and puffing up the trail toward Whitetop (ungh) but mostly we had the trail to ourself. And it was beautiful! The trail is primarily cool and green forest and much of it follows a cold mountain stream.
Since much of the leg of the trail we were on was downhill it was really a leisurely ride. The top of the mountain was cool and the stream brought the temperature down even further. We stopped fairly frequently for pictures so it was all extremely relaxing! At one point we crossed the Appalachian Trail and stopped for pictures and also to walk along it, so I can now say I've been on the Appalachian Trail.
The trail also crosses many bridges and through various backyards of farms–all very picturesque. About two-thirds of the way down the trail you arrive in Taylor's Valley, home of the Creeper Trail Cafe. They are famous for their chocolate cake, which was featured in Southern Living, so we stopped in for lunch and cake. Their power had just gone out, but we were able to get sandwiches and some cake anyways.
The cake was really good–especially the icing! Fudge-y without being heavy!
We took a few more pictures and then continued along the trail.
A nice, older, "serious" biker from Asheville took this picture for us. I'd passed him earlier on the trailer and he'd made fun of Jon for riding with "no hands." He said he couldn't wait to see Jon wipe out. Luckily Jon did not wipe out, but it was funny to run into the gentleman further down the trail!
The trail looked like this most of the time.
Horses also ride the trail. We didn't see any but we did see their leavings. We also passed a pair of bikers who had ridden through the horse remains, one of them splashing the other. Disaster.
After about three hours we returned to Damascus. Luckily there is an ice cream shop right off the trail, so we stopped to rest and to reward ourselves for a 17 mile bike ride before we returned our bikes to The Bike Station and headed back to Butler.
On our way back to the Inn we passed a number of Vikki's neighbors on horses or in wagons. Evidently one of the nearby farms was having a covered wagon round up and a pig-pickin'! That's a rambunctious Saturday night.
The bike ride along the Virginia Creeper Trail was a great way to wrap up our mountain weekend! We had a really great time in the Butler area and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick getaway with a variety of fun, but relaxing, things to do!
One last view from the Iron Mountain Inn for good measure.


text:
Раббан Саума ( сир. бар саума — «сын поста», сир. раббан — «учитель») (ок. 1220, Ханбалык — 1294, Марага) — несторианский монах, посол на службе ильханов Ирана; единственный уроженец средневекового Китая, оставивший описание своих путешествий по Европе. Его называют уйгурским Марко Поло.

Паломничество на Запад

Раббан Саума родился в монгольской столице Ханбалык (ныне — Пекин) в семье несторианского клирика Шебана. По всей видимости, он был уйгуром. Уже к 20 годам Саума принял постриг. Около 1278 года Раббан Саума со своим учеником Марком отправился в паломничество в Иерусалим. Они пересекли страну тангутов, посетили оазисы Кашгар и Хотан, проехали через Талас и Хорасан, побывали в Ани в Грузию и Мосуле. Узнав о боевых действиях в Сирии и об опасностях, подстерегающих их на пути в Святую землю, они отклонились от предписанного маршрута в сторону Персии, находившейся тогда под владычеством монгольских ильханов из династии Хулагуидов.

Патриарх Ассирийской церкви Востока Мар-Дынха радушно принял посланцев Хубилая, но просил их ходатайствовать перед Абака-ханом о подтверждении его сана. В 1281 году патриарх скончался, и спутник Саумы Марк был избран патриархом под именем Мар Ябалаха III. Путешественники отправились в Тебриз для подтверждения избрания со стороны ильхана, но тот умер до их приезда. Аргун-хан, вступивший на престол в 1284 году, подумывал о заключении союза с папой римским и христианскими правителями Европы с целью совместных действий против мамлюков в Сирии. Для посольства в Европу ему были нужны христиане, и по совету новоизбранного патриарха он выбрал престарелого уйгура своим посланцем в Рим.

Дипломатическая миссия в Европу
В 1287 году Раббан Саума, сопровождаемый генуэзцем Фомой и толмачом Угето, на 30 верблюдах двинулся на запад в сторону Трапезунда. Аргун-хан снабдил его письмами к византийскому императору, папе римскому и ряду европейских монархов. По достижении Трапезунда посольство село на корабль и добралось морем до Константинополя, где Раббан Саума был удостоен аудиенции у императора Андроника II Палеолога. Судя по его запискам, неизгладимое впечатление на выходца из Китая произвела красота Собора Св. Софии.

После Константинополя Раббан Саума вновь поднялся на палубу корабля и отплыл в сторону Италии. Проплывая мимо Сицилии, он стал очевидцем извержения вулкана Этна (18 июня 1287 года) и морского сражения между Карлом II Анжуйским и Хайме Арагонским (см. Сицилийская вечерня). По прибытии в Рим он узнал о кончине папы Гонория IV и после кратких переговоров с кардиналами и посещения Собора Св. Петра направился через Флоренцию и Геную в Париж. Перезимовав в Генуе, он провёл целый месяц при дворе короля Филиппа Красивого, пытаясь расположить его в пользу союза с ильханом.

Покинув пределы Французского королевства, Раббан Саума проехал в Аквитанию, где (вероятно, в Бордо) ему удалось встретиться с английским королём Эдуардом I. Когда он вернулся в Рим, папой был избран Николай IV, принявший его весьма благосклонно и дозволивший причаститься святых тайн. Он вручил путешественнику драгоценную тиару, которую тот по возвращении в Багдад в 1288 году преподнёс патриарху Марку.

Заключение
По-видимому, по возвращении в Багдад Раббан Саума составил описание своих путешествий. Аргун-хан между тем направил в Европу новое дипломатическое посольство во главе с генуэзцем Бускарелло де Гизольфи, на что папа ответил направлением в Китай знаменитого посольства Иоанна Монтекорвинского. На исходе жизни Саума обосновался в городе Мараге, где и скончался в 1294 году.

Примечания

Литература

 Montgomery, James A. History of Yaballaha III. New York: Columbia University Press, 1927.
 Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Monks of Kublai Khan. London: Religious Tract Society, 1928. Online

Персоналии:Уйгуры
Персоналии эпохи Юань
Дипломаты Китая
Дипломаты XIII века
Путешественники по алфавиту
Путешественники XIII века
Путешественники Китая
Персоналии:Государство Хулагуидов
Несторианство в Китае

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Vega plot not displaying within a holoviz panel in jupyter notebook I find the holoviz panel a very interesting solution to building data visualisation dashboards. Unfortunately, I have some issues getting a vega plot of a node-link diagram to work within a panel in a jupyter notebook.
The relevant imports etc:

*

*import panel

*pn.extension()

*from vega import Vega
My findings:

*

*The vega import works nicely when used outside of a panel: the Vega specification copy/pasted from https://vega.github.io/editor/#/examples/vega/force-directed-layout is visualised as it should be using Vega(spec) (see screenshot 1).

*When using pn.pane.Vega(spec) I get an empty space. Running the visualisation externally using pn.pane.Vega(spec).show() and looking at the source code, I see that the div is empty (see screenshot 2).

Any help with getting this working much appreciated...
Thank you,
jan.

*

*screenshot 1:screenshot1

*screenshot 2:screenshot2
Here is a minimal script to show the issue:
#!/usr/bin/env python
import panel as pn
from bokeh.plotting import output_notebook
from vega import Vega
pn.extension('vega')
output_notebook()

spec = {
  "$schema": "https://vega.github.io/schema/vega/v5.json",
  "width": 400,
  "height": 200,

  "data": [
    {
      "name": "table",
      "values": [
        {"category": "A", "amount": 28},
        {"category": "B", "amount": 55},
        {"category": "C", "amount": 43}
      ]
    }
  ],

  "scales": [
    {
      "name": "xscale",
      "type": "band",
      "domain": {"data": "table", "field": "category"},
      "range": "width"
    },
    {
      "name": "yscale",
      "domain": {"data": "table", "field": "amount"},
      "range": "height"
    }
  ],

  "marks": [
    {
      "type": "rect",
      "from": {"data":"table"},
      "encode": {
        "enter": {
          "x": {"scale": "xscale", "field": "category"},
          "width": {"scale": "xscale", "band": 1},
          "y": {"scale": "yscale", "field": "amount"},
          "y2": {"scale": "yscale", "value": 0}
        },
        "update": {
          "fill": {"value": "steelblue"}
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Vega(spec) # => shows barchart => OK

pn.Column(pn.panel("## Vega test"),
          pn.pane.Vega(spec),
          pn.panel("_end of test_"))
# => shows "Vega test", then empty space, the "end of test"

pn.Column(pn.panel("## Vega test"),
          pn.panel(spec),
          pn.panel("_end of test_"))
# => shows "Vega test", then empty space, the "end of test"

A: So the conclusion is that this was a bug in panel and quickly fixed by @philippjfr:
https://github.com/holoviz/panel/issues/872
To make this work you need panel 0.7.1 for this.
Since this version is not available yet, you can install the latest version of panel with:

pip install git+https://github.com/holoviz/panel.git

The vega plot can be shown with the latest version of panel as follows:
pn.Column(pn.pane.Vega(spec))

See also this discussion on discourse.holoviz.org:
https://discourse.holoviz.org/t/vega-plot-not-displaying-within-a-holoviz-panel-in-jupyter-notebook/49/5

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange