text:
Q: CORs error AFTER deploying React App and separate Node API to production Unbuntu server where React static files are servered with NGINX Situation:
I have an Express\Node server using the CORs middleware module and a separate React application generated with Create-React-App. The React app makes API calls to the Node server to perform simple CRUD operations. Pretty straight forward stuff and works as expected when running locally. I even get CORs errors locally if I remove the CORs middleware. I'm running Node locally with 'nodemon src/server.js' and React with 'react-scripts start'.
Node is running on port 8000
React is running on port 3000
PROBLEM:
Once deploying both the Node server and React app to production, which is an Ubuntu server with NGINX, I get a CORs error when calling the Node API from the React app

Cross-Origin Request Blocked: The Same Origin Policy disallows reading the remote resource at http://localhost:8000/api/auth/login. (Reason: CORS request did not succeed)

The production Node server is running with PM2 and works as expected when calling it from Postman. The PM2 evosystem.config.js file looks like this
module.exports = {
  apps : [
    {
      name: "commonapi",
      script: "./src/server.js",
      env: {
        "PORT": 8000,
        "NODE_ENV": "production",
      },
    }
  ]
};

For the production React app, I've done a production build and moved the static files to an NGINX in /var/www/mysite. The NGINX config for the React app server block started like this:
server {
        listen 80;
        listen [::]:80;

        root /var/www/mysite/build;
        index index.html index.htm;

        server_name mysite.com www.mysite.com;

        location / {
                try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html;
        }
}

The login page is rendered as expected. The CORs error is thrown when the React front-end makes a call to the Node API at localhost:8000 to authenticate the user.
I tried to address this issue by adding Access Control headers to my server block in the NGINX config but unfortunately, this has not worked.
server {
        listen 80;
        listen [::]:80;

        root /var/www/mysite/build;
        index index.html index.htm;

        server_name mysite.com www.mysite.com;

        location / {

      if ($request_method = 'OPTIONS') {
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' '*';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Methods' 'GET, POST, OPTIONS';
        #
        # Custom headers and headers various browsers *should* be OK with but aren't
        #
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Headers' 'DNT,User-Agent,X-Requested-With,If-Modified-   Since,Cache-Control,Content-Type,Range';
        #
        # Tell the client that this pre-flight info is valid for 20 days
        #
        add_header 'Access-Control-Max-Age' 1728000;
        add_header 'Content-Type' 'text/plain; charset=utf-8';
        add_header 'Content-Length' 0;
        return 204;
     }
     if ($request_method = 'POST') {
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' '*';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Methods' 'GET, POST, OPTIONS';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Headers' 'DNT,User-Agent,X-Requested-With,If-Modified-Since,Cache-Control,Content-Type,Range';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Expose-Headers' 'Content-Length,Content-Range';
     }
     if ($request_method = 'GET') {
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' '*';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Methods' 'GET, POST, OPTIONS';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Headers' 'DNT,User-Agent,X-Requested-With,If-Modified-Since,Cache-Control,Content-Type,Range';
        add_header 'Access-Control-Expose-Headers' 'Content-Length,Content-Range';
     }
             try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html;
        }
}

Partial Node Server Code:
require('dotenv').config();

const express = require('express');
const morgan = require('morgan');
const cors = require('cors');
const helmet = require('helmet');
const { NODE_ENV } = require('./config');
const ResearchRouter = require('./research/research-router');
const usersRouter = require('./users/users-router');
const authRouter = require('./auth/auth-router');

const app = express();

const morganOption = (NODE_ENV === 'production')
    ? 'tiny'
    : 'common';

app.use(morgan(morganOption));
app.use(helmet());
app.use(cors({
    origin : '*',
    "methods": "GET,HEAD,PUT,PATCH,POST,DELETE",
    "preflightContinue": false,
    "optionsSuccessStatus": 204
}));

app.use('/api/auth', authRouter);
app.use('/api/register', usersRouter);
app.use('/api/research', ResearchRouter);

app.use(function errorHandler(error, req, res, next) {
    let response
    if (NODE_ENV === 'production') {
        response = {error: {message: 'server error'}}
    } else {
        console.error(error)
        response = {message: error.message, error}
    }
    res.status(500).json(response)
})

module.exports = app;

A: I was able to fix this issue and ultimately the problem was with the front-end environment variables and the NGINX config. I also added certs from LetsEncrypt, which was not part of the problem but needed to be done.
For the front-end:
The API location in the environment variable file .env.production was changed from
'REACT_APP_API_ENDPOINT=http://localhost:8000'
to
REACT_APP_API_ENDPOINT='https://example.com'
Then I rebuilt the project with react-scripts build and deployed(copyed) the static files to NGINX's /var/www/ folder.
The NGINX config was updated as follows:
server {

        ## This server block is listening on port 443 and
        ## encrypts all connection with SSL certs from LetsEncrypt
        listen [::]:443 ssl ipv6only=on; # managed by Certbot
        listen 443 ssl; # managed by Certbot
        ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/fullchain.pem; # managed by Certbot
        ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/privkey.pem; # managed by Certbot
        include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf; # managed by Certbot
        ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem; # managed by Certbot

        ## Points to Create-React-App production build static files
        root /var/www/example.com/build;
        index index.html index.htm;

        server_name example.com www.example.com;

        ## Requests from the browser for React app resources are handled here
        location / {
          try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html;
       }

       ## Api call from the React app to the Node server are handled here
       location /api {
         proxy_pass http://localhost:8000; #or whatever port your node server runs on
         proxy_http_version 1.1;
         proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
         proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
         proxy_set_header Host $host;
         proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}
server {

        ## This server block handles requests coming in on port 80
        ## and redirects them to port 443 in the server block above
        ## so the connections can be encrypted
        listen 80;
        listen [::]:80;

        if ($host = www.example.com) {
          return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
        } # managed by Certbot

        if ($host = example.com) {                                                                                return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
        } # managed by Certbot

    server_name example.com www.example.com;
    return 404; # managed by Certbot
}


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text:
Q: Graphivz does not render edge label when it's connecting two nodes with shape=point I have the following graph description:
graph G {
    {rank=same a b}
    a[shape=point]
    b[shape=point]
    a -- b [label=e];
}

However, it outputs a single edge without a label (running graphviz with dot -Tpdf -o test.pdf test.dot):

Rendering to PNG yields same result. If I render it to PDF and then look for an "e" in the document, the following are is highlighted:

So, the edge label is here but it's invisible somewhy.
Surprisingly, if I switch rank direction, everything works:
graph G {
    rankdir=LR;
    a[shape=point]
    b[shape=point]
    a -- b [label=e];
}

A: Not an answer really as I cannot provide any explanation but what I have observed is: As long as there is any other character / label rendered in the graph,
the e will also be rendered.
Interestingly enough this even applies for labels that are explicitly set to invisible, so if you compile
graph G
{
    { rank=same;  a;  b; }
    a [ shape = point ];
    b [ shape = point ];
    a -- b [ label = "e" ];
\\  add this
    c [ style = invis ];
}

you get what you want:

The graph area will increase, though.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
FNPL
Challenges to you
Esther Lee's Profile >
Bio and Vita
Esther Lee's Family Life
Plaques and Certificates
GOP Involvement 1980 >
GOP Involvement 1980
GOP Involvement 1988/ 1989
GOP 1990/ 1991 and Dept. of Education
ACCC
Bush/Quayle 1992 Campaign
Congressional Commission >
Esther Lee's Writings
Miscellaneous Activities Up to Present
OCA >
OCA NonGOP
OCAW
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
UHCL
Supporters writing
A Case of Asian American Political Participation.
WELCOME TO OUR RESOURCE ROOM
Welcome! Thanks for your visit and interest in the topics provided by this RESOURCE ROOM, which is committed to serve diverse readers including parents, researchers, political leaders and the general public.
Originally, we had hoped to write a book about Dr. Lee's involvement in the Republican Party at all levels, including her congressional race. However, to avoid possible bias Dr. Lee believes it is more desirable for researchers to access the scanned raw materials as evidence for their own peruse or projects.
There are many documents that need to be scanned for this section. It is an on-going process depending on the available funds. Thus, new materials will be continuously made available to researchers. Please visit this website periodically for updates that may meet your needs and interests.
The documents presented in this section consist of five components:
A) Political documents of Asian Americans' political involvement in the US from 1975 to 1992;
B) About the founder of FNPL including Dr. Lee's (姚李恕信), formerly known as Esther Lee Yao's writings, career development and personal life;
C) Supporters' link;
D) Photo Gallery; and E) Guest Room
Part A Political document
Those who are interested in searching for the facts and materials to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Asian American immigrants' political participation in this great nation should be commended for their endeavor which will be a great asset to Asian American Studies for many years to come.
This section of the Resource Room provides you with information on how the Asian-Americans—especially the Chinese-Americans—in Houston became organized and more assimilated into the mainstream politics since early '80. The materials primarily focus on Dr. Lee's public service beginning in 1978 until 1992. Today, the Asian Americans have formed a formidable political power in Texas that the Republican Party cannot afford to neglect. At the national level, many Chinese supported Dr. Lee's congressional race with fund-raising events in 14 cities. This network continued to expand when Dr. Lee was appointed as the national coordinator of Asian/Pacific American Coalition for Bush/Quayle'92. During the last five months of the presidential campaign, she was able to galvanize and inspire even more Asian Americans throughout the country to support the Bush/Quayle '92 reelection. She even mapped out the strategy to guide them becoming delegates to the National Convention held in Houston. As a result, GOP had an unprecedented number of Asian American delegates at the 1992 National Convention in Houston. Although both the congressional and presidential campaigns were defeated, the impact on Asian American's increasing interest and participation in American politics is undeniable.
Due to limited resources, the documents related to Asian Americans' involvement in Bush/Quayle '92 presidential reelection have not been scanned for this website. However, as the National Coordinator of Asian/Pacific American Coalition of the Bush/Quayle '92 campaign, Dr. Lee has donated the original files to be archived in the George H. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas. Scholars and interested citizens are invited to peruse the information at that Library.
This part of FNPL website, by all means, is not a perfectly organized collection; it evolves continuously with additional scanned materials. They are basically personal collected folders much like many people's office files. To ensure originality and authenticity, all papers were scanned without any editing or revision. They are raw materials—newspaper clippings, correspondence, programs of conferences, constitutions and by-laws of organizations and meeting minutes—for researchers to review, digest, analyze, evaluate and draw their own conclusion. All the materials of Part A are organized and categorized in folders by both topics/themes and chronological order. Within each folder researchers will be able to locate specific files. At times, it is not easy to put all the puzzle pieces together, but don't be discouraged; hopefully, Dr. Lee's brief introductions to each folder offer researchers some background and clarity. She has tried to present the materials in a direct and concise manner without any elaboration as well. This is a thick forest and researchers need to touch each tree. Please feel free to contact Dr. Lee via email: FNPL@gmail.com if she could be of any assistance in making the search more convenient and efficient.
Part B: About the Founder
Those who are interested in Dr. Lee's published books, articles and broadcasted radio programs regarding cross-cultural family life and child development deserve an applaud their concerns of our future generations, especially during this changing world and swirl of constant cultural conflicts between the East and West. Parenthood comes with both joy and blessings, but also many responsibilities. Dr. Lee is in the process of re-publishing the widely sought-after books Cool Motherhood and Cool Parenting. Meanwhile, some of her books are available in CD and audio DVD formats. They could be obtained online by contact FNPL. In addition, interested readers are able to learn more about Dr. Lee's career development and personal life including her retirement in Alabama from this part.
Part C Supporters' link
Part D Photo Gallery
This section has many historical moments experienced by Dr. Lee (李恕信) including the former FNPL Board Members' visits with US senators and congressmen on the Capitol Hill.
Part E Guest Room
Dr. Lee's political involvement began in 1978 when President Carter "suddenly" recognized People's Republic of China (PRC) and resumed the normal diplomatic relationship with them. Many pro- Republic of China (ROC) Chinese Americans began to protest and even had street demonstration in Houston. Even though Dr. Lee was disappointed like many other Chinese Americans in Houston, she started reflecting and concluded that it's not President Carter's intention to recognize PRC abruptly without consulting or foretelling the Chinese community leaders. It was Chinese Americans' own fault for not involving in American mainstream politics. Her conviction was so strong that she contacted and joined the national Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) quickly with a hope to generate more impact collectively on American policy toward China, as it related to the life of Chinese Americans. Soon she formed a Texas Chapter of OCA and became a national board member. Unfortunately, OCA was not permitted to engage in any partisan activities based on its Constitution and By-Laws. In order to be more effective, she joined the Bay Area Republican Women's Club (in Houston suburb) in 1980. Details can be found in the narrative of the 1980 file. Meanwhile, she became more involved in the Organization of Chinese American Women (OCAW) and formed a Houston Chapter. This chapter was quite active as the files show. Later she became the national vice president for communication of OCAW. This affiliation and networking benefited her significantly in her profession, and political arena. There are separate folders on OCA and OCAW.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Vicky Hepke, an active member of the Bay Area Republican Women's Club, Dr. Lee was able to participate in various campaign activities and was totally immersed in mainstream politics. Meanwhile, she tried to rally the Asian Americans and mentor them to be mainstreamed. She organized several Asian American Republican groups and many major Asian American political events and hosted numerous meetings, receptions, breakfasts, lunches and dinners for GOP volunteers, activists, candidates and public elected officials at her residence in Clear Lake City (a Houston suburb.) Her family was very supportive and helped her with all these activities. She remembered hosting a breakfast for Congressman Jack Fields at 8:00 am on one Saturday. There were more than 70 people and she prepared a full American Texas style breakfast including omelets made in advance. She informed the attendees that the breakfast had to be concluded at 10:00 am because she had to catch a flight for Puerto Rico for a congressional commission hearing. As a result, she gradually built up her GOP credentials and status in the Party. (Her political credentials are located in the folder of Bio/Vita.)
Although she did not receive a comparable appointment to her qualification in the Bush Administration in 1989 due to her support of Senator Dole during the 1988 Primary, she was appointed as the first Asian American to serve as the Deputy Director of OBEMLA, US Department of Education in 1990. She resigned from OBEMLA and returned to Houston running for Congress in 1991 at the suggestion of Mr. Ron Kauffman, the White House Political Director. Even though she lost the primary by a small margin her campaign generated great encouragement and inspiration among future Asian American office seekers. Later in June, 1992, she became the first salaried full-time staff in charge of Asian/Pacific American Coalition for Bush/Quayle '92 campaign. Unfortunately, President Bush was not reelected. Dr. Lee's political involvement gradually diminished during the Clinton era. It was difficult for her to maintain close contacts with people in Houston during her stay in Washington, DC from 1990 – 95. In spring 1998 she went back to academia and eventually retired as the dean of the Graduate School of Troy University/Montgomery in January 2006.
Dr. Lee continued her public service upon her return to higher education as an education professor at Southern Arkansas University. She was appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas to serve on the Commission of Early Childhood Education in 1998. After retiring from the deanship of the Graduate School at Troy University Montgomery she was appointed by the Honorable Al Gonzales, the US Attorney General, to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Violence against Women in 2006.
Currently, she is enjoying her retirement life on Lake Logan Martin, AL, in addition to scanning files for this Resource Room. (As of June 18, 2011)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home › Match Reviews › Groundhog Day
By Width of a Post on November 21, 2020 • ( 36 )
Salford City 3
Burgess 8+45, Henderson 21
Bradford City 0
By Tim Penfold
The last Bradford City game of 2019/20 was a dispiriting trip across the Pennines to Salford. Stuart McCall's Bantams were outplayed and slumped to a poor 2-0 defeat that left it their playoff chances hanging by a thread. It would be an understatement to say that quite a lot has happened since then, but for all the turmoil and upheaval in the world since then, today's game was very similar.
We were outclassed, again, this time by a team that is surely bound for League One.
Yes, there are injuries to contend with. There were, by my reckoning, five players unavailable – Reece Staunton, Bryce Hosannah, Callum Cooke, Billy Clarke and Lee Novak – that would've got into Stuart McCall's first-choice XI. But injuries are an inevitability, especially in this season's covid-shortened and crowded calendar.
Good squads can, to a degree, cope with these, but City's squad is not a good squad. There is quality, but no depth – no Will Atkinson, or Carl McHugh, or Ricky Ravenhill to come in and fill a gap or push their claims to play every week.
Yes, Salford are a very good team – but this season we have only beaten the teams in 21st, 23rd and 24th in the table, as well as a cup win against the team 16th, and an FA Cup hammering of a side two divisions below us. Surely we can expect a little more than this?
With Staunton missing, Ben Richards-Everton returned to the line-up. Within a minute he'd slipped over in possession, then picked up a booking. His sloppy passing almost gifted Salford a goal, and he was hooked at half time.
Also returning, and also subbed at half-time, was Gareth Evans, who gave away possession for the third goal then laboured slowly back, not even able to get close enough to his man to foul him. He looked half-fit and unsure of his role, and that leaves another question. He was a big signing this summer, but where does he fit into this side?
City's midfield did not function defensively, with runners from deep surging away whenever City gave away the ball. Salford's skill and movement were too much for them, and the wave of attacks overwhelmed the weakened defence.
There were failures from City all over – failure to close down, failure to react to a loose ball, failure to mark, failure to track – and it meant that they went into half-time three goals down with the game effectively over.
The second half saw three changes then another midway through the half, as City shifted to a 4-3-3. Some of these substitutes – particularly youngster Kian Scales – pushed themselves further up the pecking order with bright cameos. Others, such as the anonymous Dylan Mottley-Henry, did not. But the game was long since over as a contest – the closest City got was when an Elliot Watt long-ranger was almost fumbled into his own net by the Salford keeper.
This game showcased all of the problems with the club's recruitment this summer. A small squad was always going to be a risky choice considering how many two-game weeks there were going to be, but it can be done. Phil Parkinson's squads were generally fairly small, but the backup players normally had the quality to step in and do a job (with the exception of Matthew Bates).
This squad's quality drops off a cliff after the first couple of injuries. It also doesn't seem to have been put together with any one system in mind – we seem to have settled on 5-3-2 that leaves no obvious place for Gareth Evans. It reminds me of January 2019, when we ended up with no wingers but plenty of creative playmakers. That fundamentally didn't work.
This is not how smart clubs recruit. They don't just give the manager an iPad and a wyscout subscription – they give him proper support from scouts and analysts. It's unreasonable to ask the manager to do everything, and it doesn't lend itself to long-term planning either, as the manager is the first to get the sack when things go wrong.
We've got a squad recruited by Edin Rahic, David Hopkin, Gary Bowyer and Stuart McCall at the moment and it shows. Three very different types of manager, and an incompetent megalomaniac playing at being a director of football. The result is a mish-mash of players that suit very different styles, and the poor performances that follow are inevitable.
The club needs to pick a plan and stick to it. It has the security to do this – even with this team's struggles, the rest of the division is weak enough that relegation is incredibly unlikely. If that means we spend the rest of the season building towards next season, then I think the fanbase would accept this as long as it was communicated well.
But at the moment it doesn't look like we have a plan – we're just flailing about in the hope if we try every different strategy at random we'll eventually hit the right one. But how long will that take?
‹ The Width of a Post podcast #33: Are Bradford City starting to turn the corner?
The never ending story ›
Categories: Match Reviews
Tags: 2020/21, BCAFC, League Two, Salford City
Stuart R
November 21, 2020 • 7:35 pm
Yes it was disappointing today.
I thought Austin Samuals had his best game for us, reguallry picking the ball up deep and making strong runs shrugging off tackles etc. O'Donnell made some superb saves that kept us from a real hammering, and then in the second half Kian Scales showed good application and desire to be on the ball or making runs.
Ironically it was a better game to watch than Harrogate or Barrow, yet still very frsutrating. In the end I felt in Hunter and Burgess et all Salford were just a much better team man for man.
Puzzled Tim, I believe the only player still under contact signed before Rahic vanished is Anthony O'Connor, Paudie was signed afterwards and O'Donnell resigned in the summer.
I have seen most of the games and with the exception of Newport none have been impressive which is very frustrating as it would not take much to be a big player in this division.
Salford were not that good. But when you give a goal to.any side within.the opening minutes then.any team is going to struggle.
Give them two and you have little chance.
And that's us in a nutshell. We give early sloppy goals away and that's game over.
BRE should never get.anywhere near a City first team shirt again. Clumsy from the very first touch and needlessly booked within five mins.
It set the mood.
Another unfortunate goal conceded and very soon after another.
The Radio L666s commentator talked up the goals..Neither should have happened.
We.nearly score just before half time but they break.and only another superb save prevents a third.
Not to worry? Evan's losses the ball in.midfield and somehow the Salford striker squeezes a shot between O'Donnell and the post. Another soft goal and not caused by Salford creating it. Caused by ourselves.
Wasnt O'Donnel caught out by Exeter in a similar.position.last week?
So in essence cut out conceding early and cut out the annoying stupid goals and we might have a platform to build on.
Totally agree about BRE. Can't remember a player regressing as badly as he has done in 18 months…I really believe his utter incompetence and inability to read the game was a huge part in that result.. he should have been locked up by West Midlands Police for impersonating a footballer
CTID
You wasn't impressed with Harrogate Mark ?.
When is the new CEO starting??
I hope it's sooner rather than later.
I like Tim. He's a great contributor to the website and a good tweeter. A solid view.
But I cannot disagree more with many points of this article. Sorry Tim. I don't wish to offend.
When Stuart was appointed we were 8th and a point of the play offs. He did not inherit a bad squad. It was a squad that had been out of the play offs for one week only. The week that Bowyer was sacked. Bowyer left Stuart in the best position he would achieve in his latest reign. He has taken us from 8th to 19th. Bowyer got sacked for taking us from second to eighth.
Can we stop with he inherited a bad squad please. See above. Also, if you take the current fit first team, he signed the keeper, the right back, nearly the entirety of the midfield and half the strike force is he plays Clarke there or Samuels.
He inherited Wood, French and Staunton who many are lauding. And rightly so.
Salford are not certainly bound for league one. They are just 6 points ahead of us after an equal amount of games and we are having a shocker. Hardly beaten by world beaters were we?
The teams we have beaten have played a collective 36 matches and got 3 wins in those matches. It's hardly even a brag to beat them. But probably means we are slightly too good for relegation. That's something.
There's a disturbing rewriting of history that concerns me. "we have a squad recruited by Edin Rahic, David Hopkin, Gary Bowyer and Stuart McCall". It's a pub debate but our most saleable asset in Wood was signed by Edin. Stuart chose to resign others signings in the keeper and Cooke.
I expect lots of down thumbs for this, but our better players of late were signed by Edin and Bowyer. They all flourish elsewhere whilst we flounder.
People clamour now for a director of football, yet we had two and signed better than we do now. I knew Edin well. He was a head case. A mentalist. But did he try to implement, in a nuclear wrong way, what we all want now?
All food for thought. I'd love to know your counters and not just thumbs down.
Ben Richards Everton signed by Bowyer….that should be enough to blow that argument out of the water…
Austin Samuels signed by McCall. We could go on. Sutton, resigning DMH.
bantamtim
I'm not sure at any point I say "Stuart inherited a bad squad" – my point on this is not "Stuart can't be expected to do better with the rubbish that he was left", it's "when you have four very different people with very different priorities recruit a squad you end up with a disjointed mess". It's really an argument for a Director of Football – the issue with Rahic wasn't so much that a Director of Football system was a bad idea, it's that he was fundamentally unsuited to that role. Hence our 2018-19 squad of decent (albeit expensive) individuals no thought on how they fit together as a team.
I have Salford down as clear favourites for promotion tbh – they've got a great manager in Wellens and a large amount of money, so even if they make errors they can just throw more money at the issue to fix them. As long as the owner keeps the funding in and isn't a complete idiot they will eventually reach League One, and as they are one of the few teams spending this season due to Covid I think this will be their year.
I think I make the same point on you about the teams we've beaten this season – they aren't exactly world-beaters and we should expect better than what we've got so far.
Honestly, I'd take a reasonable amount of Edin's plan – signing young players to sell for a profit, a Director of Football/head coach system where we have some level of continuity in recruitment rather than resetting to zero when a new manager takes over, developing our own youngsters. It all sounded good until you realised that the person running it was an idiot.
The reasoned response I would expect from you. One questions if I may. How can they just throw money at it? There's a wage cap. And if you could flout it before it came in, then surely they can't now?
What this wage cap shows is that recruitment, managers and clubs are laid bare. If you're good then you'll prosper. If your found wanting then it's brutal.
Is it an argument for a director of football or just an argument to stick with a manager for several seasons to allow him to recruit and implement a strategy?
I'm fairly sure that the biggest part of Salford squad were already signed before the salary cap which meant they didn't count towards it giving them an invaluable head start against other clubs….and the comments about French , Wood and Staunton being inherited by Stuart? French was nowhere near the first team until Stuart took over, Staunton the same and Wood has flourished under Stuart. What the wage cap has done is exposed passengers like Richards Everton, passengers that can be ill afforded against a decent, and expensive team as we saw today. O'Connor, another contracted player when Stuart took over, looks half the player at the side of Richards Everton. Takes more than 6 months for a manager to make it work…Phil Parkinson anyone?
French wasn't signed by McCall. He's therefore benefited from him being at the club. He's only had to play him as he was very lazy in recruitment until Brice who's far superior. Wood has positively lost 80% of his powers in this team. He's awful compared to last year. But, still a good manger would want him. Thanks to Edin for that. Staunton has been brilliant. Well done to that young man. The fact we rely upon him says far too much.
A wage camp doesn't out players. It outs mangers.
Luke Lockwood
I have to disagree I'm afraid, as you point out Bowyer had a team that were slipping down the table. I think we slipped to 8th after winning 2 games in the next 2 months. In my opinion that was a side that wouldn't have made the top half under either manager. I think we were getting a truer reflection of this team's abilities.
In that team Bowyer also had one of the best strikers in the division to call upon (another 2 goals today). Momentum is a funny thing in football we had it at the beginning of that season. Just like Hopkin's brilliant December where we looked like fantastic didn't represent a good squad, Parkinson's 1 win in 21 games run didn't represent a bad squad but a squad struggling to replace a goalscorer that the team was built around.
I'm not saying Stuart is doing well, he is not. However, I think there are many reasons for this – Vaughan leaving which I think was right (could we have even got a decent replacement), an inept defence, and bad luck with injuries and suspensions. I don't think we get a different result with Cooke and Staunton today but I think we get a different performance. (An unfit) Evans gave away 1 goal and BRE was BRE. I'm not writing Evans off on 1 performance where he was rushed back but I'm writing off BRE after watching him for 18 months.
My point is I don't think Stuart is the best manager ever to have taken charge of City but I don't think we will end up with someone much / if any better. I don't think great managers are available at this level, but more lots of mediocre managers who either get time and a bit of luck (or momentum) or don't. I do think there are also bad managers – I don't think Stuart is one of those.
When Parkinson took over we gave him time to build his squad and he had a season like we are having now to begin with – after Crawley I remember thinking we were going to be relegated from the football league. He then brought in a spine of the team that turned us around. That team was built on a solid defence – today we had BRE and the O'Connors.
Gary S
November 21, 2020 • 10:34 pm
Plenty food for thought Ben but what do you propose happens next?
I'm not sure. I think first things first is to announce the new CEO. We then have some clarity moving forward in that role. When results are so bad there's a temptation to sack the manager to try and stop the rot. Many will advocate this action. I've recently been swayed by arguments on here that we need stability. Also the argument that no one probably cares more than Stuart. So I have no hesitation in admitting I'm stuck between the two camps.
We are saving a hefty amount of cash with the wage cap so maybe there is now money available for. DOF at the club. Maybe taking a bit of the stress from that process may free him up to deal with just first team matters.
With a new CEO in place and a DOF, we may have a successful January window. The last decent player we signed in one was probably Charlie Wyke.
I aren't going to pretend I have all the answers but I think we all agree we have to stop the rot, and fast.
November 22, 2020 • 10:52 am
Bowyer had Doyle and Vaugahn. Left us with Guthre and Novak Wasn't something like 11 of Bowyers players released? iStuart was left with 3 left backs and no right back. Sorry but yo are way way off with this one.
A Real Fan
What a mess we are ,the Salford manager pre match comments that he had been to the Exeter game and they should have been out of sight before halftime,today his comments post match where the only disappointment was the score it should have bee 6 or 7 ,I hope those of you with any hope for a promotion run now realise it's a relegation battle ,and I didn't expect much from this lot ,as I have been saying all season but I expected to see Stuart to get the best out of them ,and if this is the best we are in real trouble ,I would like Stuart to come out and tell us not how much the Budget is ,he would not do that but as a guide to the other clubs in league two where we are ,it could take s lot of pressure of him and lay the blame where it should be with the owner ,there's a old saying you get what you pay for ,you pay peanuts I will leave it there.
Jon F
Groundhog Day indeed. Another season, yet another poor recruitment period, another set of players we can't wait to get rid of, another manager failing and fans calling for a change.
Well the change needs to be above. Said it before and have been shot down by some on this site, but will say it again until a new CEO comes in modernises the club from top to bottom, recruitment and infrastructure etc. nothing will change. The next manager will fail and the next and the next.
We can't use the 'It's all Edin's fault' excuse forever. How about the club moves forward instead of blaming the past. Julian Rhodes had 13 years of blaming Geoffrey Richmond. It's time he took responsibility for his failure. It's not the fault of toxic Twitter.
Season Ticket sales for 2021/22 will be tough. People are tired of Bradford City failure & in a tough 2020 have found other things to do with their time & money.
The relegation battle starts Tuesday.
Cyprus Bantam
The question is January is fast approaching. Based on recruitment leading up to the start of this season can we trust a better recruitment strategy going forward. You could argue injury to key players has not helped. However, question marks over team selection has been evident even with so many injuries. Defensively we are very poor. Forward and midfield players have a duty to defend but it's evident they contribute little.
I still believe in McCall but time is running out. He needs help especially in January. He needs to recruit the best that's available and avoid those players with past glories and have lacked game time. We need hunger and ability. I know these are few and far between. We do not need players like Sutton. The new director (if we recruit one), need to recruit someone with a knowledge and contacts to help Stuart with recruitment.
Go back to 2000 and there was criticism of BFG for the lack of investment in infrastructure and resource. This didn't start with JR, there has been chronic under-investment at VP in living memory. The same frustrations expressed about Simpson and before him Stafford/Jack who ran the club on a shoestring. No comment about Bob Martin.
Your frustrations and those of others come down to the fact that there hasn't been the generous benefactor willing to throw money at BCAFC and not ask for it back. We will soon have a new CEO but how can she/he modernise the club without a massive injection of money? Who is going to fund it all? More to the point who in their right mind would want to be CEO of BCAFC to do an impossible task with unforgiving critics and the rants on the toxic twitter you refer to.
GR re-developed VP. The last investment in VP was paid for by fans (Changing Rooms & Scoreboard) I still remember the club complaining that fans didn't back an internet based competition to get the toilets refurbished in one of the stands as they couldn't afford to update them. Think we were up against York City, Welling Utd & another non league club I forget. But yep, let's let them off as it has always been bad. In 10 years when Steeton FC have overtaken us, McCall is on his 5th term at City, Rhodes continues to look for a new CEO while we prepare for a local derby vs Ossett, buy me a pint and tell me how bad it could have been if we had changed.
November 22, 2020 • 5:36 am
GR redeveloped VP with other peoples money but didn't invest in the infrastructure that you bemoan the lack off. Besides he probably had his own incentives to build stands we were unlikely to need. The constant change of managers has led to a revolving door of backroom staff etc al. You seem to expect a magic wand that everything can change overnight and we get a reset in a close season just like that. It's not Football League Manager or whatever other PC game you play.
Gary, the lack of money should not be a drag on City operating successfully in League 1/2. The salary cap will result in a significant six figure savings due to a reduced payroll. These savings should be used to restructure recruitment and scouting. Plus improve youth development programs. That's assuming our benevolent owner doesn't decide to pay himself by reducing his "loan."
The problem with you commenting on financial matters all the time Woody is that you don't ever use facts to support it. Then you end up contradicting yourself. You have said that City are in a good financial position and even made a profit last season but also on here said that Rupp has lost on average 400,000 every season he has been with us. This contradicts each other. Why would someone losing money and with no interest in the CLUB not want to recoup as much has he can? Its hard for me and other city fans to hear/acknowledge but the evidence since last January's transfer window is that the squad is not going to be financed, at least in the short term, to what we'd like or probably need. Its why i wish in many ways Stuart had not returned at this time as whomever was in charge was inheriting a squad and situation that was not geared to promotion. An owner who would sell if he could. A CEO who wants out. Communication has stopped altogether it seems. All leaving Stuart out to dry. Your constant criticism on here and elsewhere and supposed knowledge of the clubs internal financial matters have very little factual content but leads to toxicity and negativism.
Things are not that bad at Valley Parade. All we need is a new manager, a DOF, a new owner and above all else, a new CEO and we will be back cooking on gas. With a new stadium the transformation would be complete. Poor Geoffrey Richmond was misunderstood and maybe we have got it wrong about Edin too. Julian Rhodes has so much to answer for! What is even more encouraging is that we have the experts with the 20/20 hindsight and insight to fix things. All it would take is for City fans to pay their wages whilst they take a break from their day jobs to fix the club (although with all the savings from the salary cap the club could afford it anyway). It's that simple it would take five days at the most. We could even make it a reality TV programme as the cameras follow the members of the panel of wisdom around Valley Parade watching them in their search for levers to pull to make the changes. It won't take long before the good ship BCAFC is leaving behind the Dead Sea of history and cruising in the sunshine. Clap harder everyone, salvation is in our midst and our horrible owner can even get his "loan" repaid. Let's Make City Great Again!!!
Paul Westcott
Lot off talk about spending on scouting and analytics without an appreciation of where it might be funded. I suspect we are no worse off in this department than most of the rest of the division (apart from those clubs who can run a deficit budget covered from outside) and there are plenty of clubs run on a shoestring at the top of the division just now. Any additional spend will come at the expense of a haircut to other areas. Accrington are pushing onto to play off territory in L1 operating a very traditional operation.At this level it is about getting outstanding individuals in key positions. Sadly that is easier said than done.
The present position is gutting but slaughtering the club now is the surest way to National League.
You suspect we are waiting on DB for the CEO ? That appointment cannot come soon enough now
I watched the Cup game sat 3 rows behind Stuart (I played the Last Post). Before that night I thought the manager was causing many of the problems, I quickly changed my opinion
The players lack composure at the start of the game, just like yesterday. The ball is a hot potato & they don't want it. Everything is rushed, Stuart was trying to get them to compose. In the Cup game they did settle after 20 mins but why are they so nervous? I've never seen a worse start of a City player than BRE yesterday,
There's no leader. BRE was captain on the (Cup game) night but nothing from anyone. You could hear the players word for word, and was absolutely no leader on the pitch. OK it was a Cup game but Levi, French, BRE, P'OC & DMH all played.
Tracking runners – it didn't happen, and it didn't happen yesterday. No fans & to me they are coasting, because the whole team is coasting so where do you start? Evans typified that at the end of the 1st half yesterday.
Finally, Stuart was giving them instructors, not too many, 2 mins later they had forgot. It was like telling a goldfish. Who to mark, or who to close down. The manager said 'how many times do I have to tell them'… real simple instructions & they couldn't do it esp DMH.
Going forward, sign a big, phat hard as nails captain in January. Doesn't matter about skill, we need a leader. Really hope we can turn this mess around.
Many will be derisive but Big Kev scored the 90 plus six winner for Newport yesterday. Exactly the sort of character for a scrap we lack now.
We all knew the centre half's weren't good enough and that we had glaring weaknesses elsewhere but for one reason or another McCall chose not to address them. It leaves us wherw we are now, a ship lacking a Captain and the navvies around that Captain to get the job done. That job now being fire fighting a relegation battle as opposed to a promotion challenge. We aren't very proactive in January but this one could be pivotal depending on how the next half a dozen games go. I think a few were hoping we could scrape through this season and start afresh in the summer, it might well be that stop gap buys have to brought in just to steady the ship.
Those fundamental problems we've had for years won't write themselves by being ignored.
Tim W
Rory McArdle.
His 'Hello Billy' tackle on Clarke was exactly what this squad lacks. I can't believe he sees his future at Exeter and I am sure he would invigorate the defence (or maybe pick them up and throw them off the pitch)
Did the same to Stephen Fletcher in the first minutes of the Sunderland FA Cup tie. Set the tone for the match. Sadly he has settled his family there now
Colin M
Bradford City are in this position because there are no leaders on or of the pitch.We have people who don't want to be here,and people we don't want here.We have people who just mull along till their contract are up,and get a decent wage doing it.Theres no Stafford Higinbottoms. No Jack Tordoffs any more, people who used to fight for the club.All we have now is hangers on and if we aren't carefull they will take us down.Whick when you think of it may be a blessing in disguise.
Nicky b
Dear me im worried with 1 win in 16 league games away from home ! That is not just relegation form its bottom of the league and set adrift form if we don't change things soon I don't think we will get out of the bottom 2.if we lose on Tuesday I would sack Stuart no one is bigger than the club .I would try and get Lee Johnson former Bristol City manger or the Cowley brothers.
Rick H
Lots of good discussion above – thanks everyone.
Anyone know SMcC's record when in a relegation battle? I'm not yet in the sack him camp but I have a very big question about his and Black's capability in such a situation – and, when we look at the performances thus far, that's exactly where we are. Stuart says himself that he prefers attacking, positive football and so do we as fans. But when needs must we need to grind out 0-0's, 1-1's and, if by a stroke of luck, we go ahead then show steel, determination and nouse to defend what we have. Won't be pretty but surely it's better than relegation. Maybe wing backs have to go and surely there is someone in the squad who could play as a 'tough as nails' defensive midfielder….and perhaps be captain. If we can stop the rot then last third / quarter of season could see a move back to a more adventurous style of play, preparing the ground for next season. But McCall and Black have to lead such an approach. Will they ? Can they ?


Whenever the leaves start changing colors, and the temperature drops just slightly, I am reminded of my mother. This may well be because her birthday is in September. It could also be my vivid memories of waking up early to go with her to the International Balloon Fiesta every October. Perhaps it's because of our autumn hikes up the La Luz trail to Sandia Peak amongst a thick sea of bright yellow aspen leaves. It could be her infamous pumpkin bread, or her annual Pumpkin Parties (which I plan to bring to Brooklyn this year). For me, fall is synonymous with Mom and all of the wonderful lessons I have learned from her. It is because of this that I have chosen to honor my mother with a series of blog posts where I impart some of her wisdom.
As a kid, I spooked easily. It's a wonder how a little kid who cried at the sight of our Halloween decorations turned into a grown woman whose favorite podcast discusses true crime and ghost stories, and who gets more of a pick-me-up from horror movies than even the best rom com. I was blessed to have a mother who spoke to me openly about my fears, and did her best to help me quell them with logic and reasoning. She taught me that while bad things do happen, that most of Halloween is make-believe.
Regardless of tradition and history, modern Halloween is a celebration of autumn and childhood. Trick-or-treating is an active, physical activity that allows you and your kids a chance to interact with other families in the neighborhood. A deeper importance of Halloween is that it teaches us not to fear death, but to celebrate it as a natural part of life and to find joy in the mysteries of the world. Halloween doesn't discriminate, it's for everyone.
While it's true that I love all of the holidays, Halloween is by and large my favorite. I love scary movies, I love trick-or-treating, I love dressing up… I won't be caught dead in a haunted house, but I am one of those people who lives Halloween all year long and I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's talk about my favorite holiday and I'll throw out some tips from my momma in there too.
Costumes are arguably the most fun part about Halloween. Even now, I start cooking up ideas for my Halloween costumes months in advance. I got lucky two years ago when shopping for a bathing suit in June, my Halloween costume found me in the form of a pair of Super Girl pajamas. Come October, I found a red pleather skirt and some red socks and I was ready to roll. I went as Supergirl for Halloween last year, too.
While I'm not the biggest fan of doing the same thing twice in a row, I'm certainly no stranger to it. Halloween costumes are… wasteful and expensive. Pre made Halloween costumes are cheaply made, and can cost anywhere from $40 to over $100, for something you can really only wear once a year.
The most use my family ever got out of a costume was in the early 90's. My sister was the adorable bunny, Thumper, from the Disney movie Bambi for two years in a row. The following two years, I was Thumper. We got a solid four years out of that costume. We completed our bunny look with pink lipstick noses and eyeliner whiskers. There's absolutely no shame in reusing old costumes, especially if your kids are too young to remember what they were for Halloween last year! You could also make slight alterations. One example would be, if you went as… let's say Thumper, one year but the following year your costume looks a little beat up: you can intentionally trash it, rub some dirt in it, splatter some red food dye on it and go as "Dead Thumper".
You can save a buck sometimes by making your own DIY costumes, so long as you keep it simple. One year, my sister and I both went as candy. My sister was a sheet of candy dots. My mom made her costume out of white posterboard and styrofoam ball halves spray painted different colors and glued on. She wore it like a sandwich board with a hot pink baseball cap. That same year, I insisted that I go as a Hersey's kiss. My brave mother, who is not a seamstress, begrudgingly bought a pattern and fabric and spent weeks building what turned out to be quite an elaborate costume. I'm not sure if in the end she wound up saving much money. My sister and I did win a few costume contests though.
Lessons Learned: There's no shame is reusing old costumes, and if you go the DIY route, simple is best!
Sure, you could go the standard route and buy a bag of fun size whatever from the corner store to please the trick-or-treaters. Or- you could go the extra mile to surprise and delight the kiddos by dressing up your Halloween treats! Why should the kids have all the fun? Your candy deserves a costume too. I'm speaking of course about lollipop ghosts.
Now, I know my mother didn't come up with this idea. This image was borrowed from one of the many arts & crafts mommy blogs I found when researching. But I have fond memories from nearly every Halloween, of turning regular old tootsie pops into spooky spirits with my mom. It's so easy. All you need is a bag of lollipops, a box of tissues, rubber bands, string, or ribbon, and a black marker.
Drape the tissue over the top of the sucker and secure around the base with a rubber band. Use the black marker to draw a little face and ta-dah! They're cute, and you don't have to tamper with the actual candy or remove the wrapper, so they're perfectly acceptable to hand out to trick-or-treaters.
Feel no shame when reusing old Halloween costumes. You can alter, add, or change something to make it feel different if you wish- or else just say "To heck with it- if Jenni's family can get four years out of a ratty old Thumper costume than I can certainly do this lady Ghostbuster thing one more time".
Spice up your tired treat bag by putting little costumes on your candy. Lollipop ghosts are clearly the best (no bias here, guys) but feel free to mess around with other craft tricks. Maybe glue some googly eyes to your fun-size Snickers bars, or little cardstock bat wings to a Milky Way?
Intentionally scaring your kids isn't funny, it's mean. If you have an easily spooked kid, it's up to you to help them feel safe this Halloween season. Ask them what scares them and why. Reassure them that you will keep them safe. Halloween is about joy and light and celebrating life!
...and candy. It's about candy.


Home / Politics / Rs 100 Cr For Jana Sena Tickets?
It is very common for political parties to collect funds from various sources. Starting with Bharatiya Janata Party, all the other parties including the Congress, the Communist parties, Telugu Desam Party, Jana Sena have to invariably depending on donations during the elections and regular party activities. In the past and for that matter, even now, political parties depend on the funding from contractors and big business and industrial houses.
According to a latest information, a senior party leader who had recently joined Jana Sena Party of actor Pawan Kalyan along with his wife has offered to donate Rs 100 crore to the party, provided he and his wife are given the party tickets in key constituencies of East Godavari district. He has also agreed to bear the expenditure not only for his election, but also for other candidates in the district fielded by the party.
Interestingly, this leader had not worked in the ruling TDP but from its rival party. So, naturally, the Jana Sena Party leaders were surprised at the financial stamina of this gentleman who had offered Rs 100 crore. May be he is certain that Jana Sena would bag good number of seats in East Godavari district, where there is a huge fan following for Pawan Kalyan!


They have fought wars with drones, with atom bombs and now, advertisers have invented an even more deadly weapon — Post-it notes.
Canal Street in New York City is home to some of the city's best advertising agencies and most mediocre Chinese food. In the past week, agencies on the street have staged an elaborate Post-it war on their company windows, hoping to "out Post-it" their competitors. The art produced defies all office supply expectations.
The war started after one agency aggressively post-it(ed) the word: "Hi." Shortly after, an office supply war was started.


The first stage in the CCS process is the capture of CO2 released during the burning of fossil fuels, or as a result of industrial processes such as making cement, steel or in the chemical industry.
Capture technologies separate carbon dioxide from gases in electricity generation and may be done in at least three different ways: pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion. Similar methods are also used for industrial processes.
Fossil Fuel power plants can be built with the carbon capture technology integrated, or can be built 'carbon capture ready', which allows the plant to have carbon capture capabilities in the future.


Dualog Connection Suite consists of a standard package plus optional extensions. This document describes requirements of different configurations of Dualog Connection Suite, as well as software requirements/support. This document is valid from Dualog Connection Suite version 2.28 and onwards.
Please note that these requirements are a minimum.
IMPORTANT: If other applications are running on the same computer as Dualog Connection Suite, higher CPU, memory and disk capacity apply.
DISK SPACE The installation itself take approx. 50 GB. In addition data storage (e-mail, log files, File Transfer, database etc) must be added. See 2.2.1 for email estimates. HQ graded server disks are highly recommended.
I/O Serial Ports, Network Adapters according to communication equipment requirements.
When using the email services (Business Mail and Crew Mail), no further requirements apply to CPU and RAM, while disk requirements will increase.
In average the email services generates approx. 20 GB per year, while backup will add up this space multiplied by 4.
I/O A minimum two network interfaces: one connecting the ship's LAN and the other the communications equipment.
The user interface in Connection Suite is mainly a Flash based webpage, and can be accessed via any computer connected to the ships LAN. The following browsers are tested.
Most likely other browsers can also be used.
Adobe Flash player must be installed to be able to access the user interface. If not installed on the client computer, installation can be found on the computer/server running the Connection Suite services. Trying to access the user interface will direct to a link containing this installation.
Important note: For user log-in and usage of Internet, Quota Management and CrewMail (Webmail), HTML5 is supported. Therefore, tablets and smartphones may be used by ship staff to access Connection Suite Services.


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Guidelines on Conflict of Interest
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Conflict of interest (COI) is generally recognized as a situation where there is risk that a professional judgment or decision could be influenced by some secondary interest. In the context of ACM award committees, COI derives from a committee member's relationship with a nominee and/or affiliation with a nominee's institution. Members of ACM award subcommittees avoid the appearance of any impropriety by adhering to the following guidelines.
ACM officers and executives do not serve as nominator or endorser for any nomination submitted for an ACM award, including awards sponsored by ACM's Special Interest Groups. This restriction includes the ACM President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President, CEO, and COO.
Members of an ACM award committee do not serve as nominator or endorser for any nomination submitted to that committee. If you have nominated/endorsed a candidate, inform the committee chair1 immediately so that one of two actions may be taken: (a) the nomination will be set aside for the year, or (b) you will step down from the committee for the year.
Members of an ACM award committee are not eligible for that award during their term of committee service. When agreeing to serve on a committee, you should understand that if you were to be nominated, the nomination would be disqualified. Persons preparing nominations should be advised that committee members are not eligible.
Members of an ACM award committee should not be directly involved in nominations prior to their submittal. You can answer general questions about what a nomination should include, but you should not pre-review or comment on draft nominations.
It is normal for the committee as a group to develop a list of potential candidates and a committee member may be asked to contact a potential nominator, but such communications should be kept general in nature so that they cannot be construed as assistance or raise expectations about the outcome.
Members of an ACM award committee maintain confidentiality about the internal discussions of the committee. Information about committee deliberations should not be shared with anyone outside the committee, nor should the winner be discussed until ACM has issued the formal press release.
Members of an ACM award committee do not provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates. If a member is asked for feedback, this policy should be cited.
On rare occasions, and with the approval of the committee, the chair may contact a nominator to encourage/discourage future re-nomination of a particular candidate. In such cases, feedback should be limited to general information about elements of the package that made the case weak (e.g., over-reliance on endorsements from the same institution as the candidate/nominator, endorsements that just reiterate the nomination without providing new insight, or candidates whose accomplishments are not a good fit for the award). Note that it is not appropriate to offer evaluative comments on the candidate's qualifications or specific endorsements. The committee is under no obligation to provide feedback for any candidate, and it must be made clear that responding to the suggestions will not necessarily result in future success.
Members of an ACM award committee self-identify any relationships/affiliations that might be perceived as a source of potential bias, and inform the committee chair of the COIs before any candidates have been discussed. Identify any candidates with whom you have had close personal or working relationships within the past 4 years, anyone for whom you were thesis advisor/advisee, or any other case where your judgment could be affected. Also identify any candidates from your current institution or one where you worked within the past 4 years. In the case of the Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee, also identify all candidates on whose PhD committees you served in any capacity, or whose dissertations contain work that was done jointly with you.
If COIs are identified, the normal practice is for conflicted committee members to recuse themselves from discussions related to the corresponding nominations. In this sense, recusal means that the committee member will refrain from any commentary/input before or during the decision-making process, and will absent him/herself during committee discussions of the nomination.
When it is the chair who is conflicted, recusal suffices only in the case of membership grade decisions and the Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee. For other awards, it is not acceptable for the chair to have any type of conflict with an awardee. Potential conflict should be identified in advance, and the chair should contact the Awards Chair immediately to determine whether the nomination might be deferred a year (in consultation with the nominator) or whether the chair should be replaced.
1For all guidelines, if it is the committee chair who has the conflict, s/he should notify the Awards Chair first, then the subcommittee.
The DevOps Phenomenon
ACM Queue's "Research for Practice" consistently serves up expert-curated guides to the best of computing research, and relates these breakthroughs to the challenges that software engineers face every day. This installment of RfP is by Anna Wiedemann, Nicole Forsgren, Manuel Wiesche, Heiko Gewald, and Helmut Krcmar. Titled "The DevOps Phenomenon," this RfP gives an overview of stories from across the industry about software organizations overcoming the early hurdles of adopting DevOps practices, and coming out on the other side with tighter integration between their software and operations teams, faster delivery times for new software features, and achieving a higher level of stability.
Why I Belong to ACM
Hear from Bryan Cantrill, vice president of engineering at Joyent, Ben Fried chief information officer at Google, and Theo Schlossnagle, OmniTI founder on why they are members of ACM.
ACM Case Studies
Written by leading domain experts for software engineers, ACM Case Studies provide an in-depth look at how software teams overcome specific challenges by implementing new technologies, adopting new practices, or a combination of both. Often through first-hand accounts, these pieces explore what the challenges were, the tools and techniques that were used to combat them, and the solution that was achieved.


The Aurora stencil is laser-cut in 10 mil Mylar and measures 31" x 47" with the image size 25.2" x 41.5". These are the same stencils that we use in our studio and are extremely durable and long lasting.
This stencil artwork measures 25.2" x 41.5". The PDF includes a full-scale version that can be printed at a local copy shop and a tiled version that will print on both letter and A4 paper. The file also includes instructions for how to make the stencil. Upon purchase, you will receive an email with the download link.


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UT Board Approves Purchase of 500-Acre Blount Farm
View all the posts from June 22, 2000
KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee trustees approved Thursday the purchase of a 500-acre Blount County farm to relocate and expand dairy research and teaching programs.
The new property, located off Highway 321 between Maryville and Townsend, will cost about $4 million. Funding will be provided by the payment received from University Health Systems as part of the spin-off of UT Medical Center in July 1999.
Dr. Thomas H. Klindt, associate dean of UT's Agriculture Experiment Station, said moving UT dairy operations from the current 220-acre site at Cherokee Farms on Alcoa Highway will improve teaching and research, clear space for new facilities, and provide other benefits.
"The Cherokee site does not provide necessary acreage and modern facilities required for today's dairy programs," Klindt said. "Relocation will help us achieve these improvements. We believe the new tract of land will serve the university well as a dairy research and teaching facility."
UT dairy operations at the Cherokee location began about 1915. Research conducted there includes forage improvement, dairy production, dairy cattle breeding and genetics, dairy reproduction studies, mastitis and udder health, and water quality and dairy waste. The facilities also are used for teaching in veterinary medicine, animal science, and other UT programs.
The university's long-term plans include using the Cherokee space for future research facilities, intramural activities, and athletic fields.
The proposal to purchase the Blount County tract now goes before the State Building Commission for final approval.


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Customers line up outside Earls Kitchen and Bar in Yaletown Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Niko Bell.
Earls Reopened Today in Vancouver. But Some Smaller Restaurants Won't Follow Suit
Story: Fiona Morrow
Owners of restaurants across B.C. are grappling with a very difficult decision: whether to reopen under the Phase 2 COVID-19 restart plan. The factors at play are myriad, with safety (of staff and customers) and financial viability topping the list.
Having prepared to be ready the moment the province switched into Phase 2, Earls restaurants will be among those opening their doors to customers today. They, at least, have some recent experience of providing hospitality in the midst of a pandemic, having already reopened in Texas, Manitoba, and Florida.
"We are getting multiple experiences in multiple jurisdictions with multiple restrictions and rules in play," explains Mark Hladik, the company's chief restaurant officer, by phone from Toronto.
"Our general philosophy has been that we are going to be the safest place for our guests and for our staff as a brand in North America," he says. "Rules, safety measures, and operating procedures we are putting in place so far have been over and above anything we've come across as required by a jurisdiction."
A server pours a pint at Earls, Yaletown. Photo by Niko Bell.
Such procedures include reducing the number of "high touch points" for customers—having a staff member greet guests outside the property and open the door for them; using single-use menus, and sanitizing PIN pads after each use. The restaurants will also deploy plexiglass barriers, use floor signage to create and maintain traffic flow through the space, and clean their washrooms every 15 minutes. More staff on the floor will make sure guests follow protocols, and all staff will be given a health check before they enter the premises for their shift, wear masks, and be required to wash hands and sanitize following each interaction.
"We plan on keeping our people very safe," Hladik insists. "So that they feel safe coming into work, because there are a lot of people out there unsure about that."
Earls has worked out its own internal modelling based on a partial opening state for 18 months, he says. Buoyed by a swift pivot to takeout and online groceries, the business—though greatly reduced—has been able to retain staff and make some profit. "We know now that we will make it to the finish line—however long that takes—so that gives us some sense of security."
For now, at least, the financials include keeping prices pre-COVID levels, despite the increased costs of implementing safety protocols and operating with a 50 per cent occupancy cap. "This is a high labour-cost business, so with limited capacity, labour becomes a pressing issue combined with paying rent at a reduced capacity," he notes. "And we have a lot of high-value locations where we pay a lot of rent."
The numbers add up differently, of course, for Vancouver's smaller, independent restaurants, that can't rely on the same economies of scale as the big chains. As Earls readied to open its doors today, many independent restaurateurs—including Main Street's popular vegetarian eatery, the Acorn—took to social media to announce they would be biding their time a little longer, waiting to see what will happen, and encouraging their customers to continue to support their takeout service.
Delivering food at Earls. Photo by Niko Bell.
"Takeout seems to be predictable right now," says the chef/owner of Maenam restaurant in Kitsilano, Angus An. "I just think it's unwise to jump back into the unknown, and we want to monitor and make sure there isn't another spike.
"It's hard for our sector—which has narrow margins—to survive normally. Under these circumstances, and without customer confidence, it will be impossible. I'd rather wait."
Another Vancouver favourite that won't be opening its doors for full service is Burdock & Co. For chef/owner Andrea Carlson, keeping her staff safe is paramount. "We just don't think it's the right choice for us," she explains. "We are a very small team, and we want to keep our interactions very low."
The financials, for her 36-seat restaurant, also make no sense, she says. "By my calculations, to have the required physical distancing, our capacity would be 12. We would need to be able to expand on that significantly."
The one silver lining during a stressful time has been the increased sales of the CSA organic vegetable boxes from Burdock's sister restaurant, Harvest Community Foods. "We used to sell 50 every two weeks, and now that's up to 400 each week."
Carlson is hopeful that this new-found commitment to local, organic produce to cook at home will continue once this crisis is over. The flip side, though, is her belief that COVID will also shift the culture around food and how we share it.
"I see the small group backyard gathering taking over," she says. "Why would you want to be in an empty restaurant, sitting behind plexiglass?"
Creating a welcoming and enjoyable ambiance is something St. Lawrence chef/owner J-C Poirier is very concerned about. He plans to reopen May 29 with a capacity of 24 to 28, "depending on how creative we get." He says he won't be installing plexiglass but will adhere to the distance requirements, and all staff will wear gloves and masks.
"Some of the regulations—like guests having to pour their own water—takes away from the fine dining experience," he says, "but we'll get used to it."
The extension of the federal wage subsidy until August has, he says, proved a lifeline. "I think we will definitely be able to ride the wave."
One innovation he is introducing will also help with cash flow and reduce waste, he says. Customers will reserve and pay online for a three-course meal upfront. They will still choose from a daily menu on arrival, but Poirier at least knows how many plates a night he will serve. "It will also get rid of the no-shows," he adds, which he considers "unacceptably high" in Vancouver.
"We really hope that customers can be confident that we are a restaurant that operates to the highest standards, and that we are taking their safety and the safety of our staff very seriously. We hope they will support the independent restaurants through this crisis, as so many of them will be forced to close for good."
For Earls, Mark Hladik says, finances are not the most pressing issue right now. "The biggest concern would be that the demand overwhelms us," he admits. "We're encouraging reservations more so than we ever have. We will allow walk-ins, and we will be queuing people outside, but the biggest risk is that we have all these safety measures in place, we staff accordingly, and then demand surges to a point that it's difficult to manage. We are going to be watching that extremely closely.
"The second-biggest concern is that people don't feel it's safe, and don't come out," he adds. "Both of those scenarios are terrible, and hopefully we'll land somewhere in the middle."
Read more Food and Drink stories here.
Burdock & Co.
St Lawrence Restaurant


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[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] Book 9
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Encyclopedia 1
[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] History 10
Medieval History 8
Intellectual History 2
[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] Jewish Studies 7
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[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] Middle East and Islamic Studies 10
History & Culture 1
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Medieval Philosophy 10
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[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] Religious Studies 1
[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] Biology 7
Medical Sciences 7
Brill 10
Major Reference Work
Reference Work x
Medieval Philosophy x
Paperback x
Middle East and Islamic Studies x
Philosophy, Theology & Science x
Primary Language: English x
Maimonides, Medical Aphorisms, Hebrew Translation by Nathan ha-Meʾati
Series: The Medical Works of Moses Maimonides, Volume: 15
Author: Gerrit Bos
The original Arabic text of Maimonides' major medical work, Medical Aphorisms, was critically edited and translated into English by Gerrit Bos in the years 2004-2017, and published in earlier volumes of the book series The Medical Works of Moses Maimonides. The present work is a new critical edition of the medieval Hebrew translation by Nathan ha-Meʾati, who was active as a translator of scientific texts in Rome in the late thirteenth century, where his colleague Zeraḥyah Ḥen had completed a translation of the same Maimonidean text in 1277, only a few years earlier. Nathan aimed to provide the general reader with a translation that was easier to understand than Zeraḥyah's translation. The present critical edition of Nathan's translation is primarily based on MS Paris, BN, héb. 1174, and not on MS Paris, BN, héb. 1173, used by Suessmann Muntner for his edition in 1959, as this copy suffers from many mistakes and corruptions.
EUR €77.00USD $89.00
EUR €99.00USD $115.00
Maimonides, Medical Aphorisms, Hebrew Translation by R. Zeraḥyah ben Isaac ben Sheʾaltiel Ḥen
The original Arabic text of Maimonides' major medical work, Medical Aphorisms, was critically edited and translated into English by Gerrit Bos in the years 2004-2017, and published in earlier volumes of the book series The Medical Works of Moses Maimonides. The present work is the first critical edition of the medieval Hebrew translation by R. Zeraḥyah ben Isaac ben Sheʾaltiel Ḥen. Zeraḥyah, active as a translator in Rome from 1277 to 1291, was not only known for his translations of Maimonides' medical works, but also for his translations of medical works by Galen and Ibn Sīnā, and for his philosophical works by Aristotle and Averroes. Zeraḥyah's unique Hebrew translation adheres closely to Maimonides' Arabic text and contains many Italian and Latin loanwords.
Philosophical Theology in Islam
Later Ashʿarism East and West
Series: Islamicate Intellectual History, Volume: 5
Editors: Ayman Shihadeh and Jan Thiele
Philosophical Theology in Islam studies the later history of the Ashʿarī school of theology through in-depth probings of its thought, sources, scholarly networks and contexts. Starting with a review of al-Ghazālī's role in the emergence of post-Avicennan philosophical theology, the book offers a series of case studies on hitherto unstudied texts by the towering thinker Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī as well as specific philosophical and theological topics treated in his works. Studies furthermore shed light on the transmission and reception of later Ashʿarī doctrines in periods and regions that have so far received little scholarly attention. This book is the first exploration of the later Ashʿarī tradition across the medieval and early-modern period through a trans-regional perspective.
Contributors: Peter Adamson, Asad Q. Ahmed, Fedor Benevich, Xavier Casassas Canals, Jon Hoover, Bilal Ibrahim, Andreas Lammer, Reza Pourjavady, Harith Ramli, Ulrich Rudolph, Meryem Sebti, Delfina Serrano-Ruano, Ayman Shihadeh, Aaron Spevack, and Jan Thiele.
Maimonides, Commentary on Hippocrates' Aphorisms Volume 1
A New Parallel Arabic-English Edition and Translation, with Critical Editions of the Medieval Hebrew Translations
Series: The Medical Works of Moses Maimonides, Volume: 14.1
Editor: Gerrit Bos
Hippocrates' Aphorisms enjoyed great popularity in the ancient and medieval world and, according to Maimonides, it was Hippocrates' most useful work as it contained aphorisms, which every physician should know by heart. They were translated into Hebrew several times, but it was Maimonides' Commentary on Hippocrates' Aphorisms that made the work influential in Jewish circles. For the composition of his commentary, Maimonides consulted the Aphorisms through the commentary by Galen, translated by Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq. This edition of Maimonides' Arabic commentary and its Hebrew translations, the first with an English translation based on the Arabic text, is part of a project undertaken by Gerrit Bos to critically edit Maimonides' medical works.
Ibn Ṭumlūs (Alhagiag Bin Thalmus d. 620/1223), Compendium on Logic al-Muḫtaṣar fī al-manṭiq
أبو الحجاج يوسف بن محمد بن طملوس الشقري (ت. 620هـ/ 1223م)، المختصر في المنطق
Series: Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science. Texts and Studies, Volume: 110
Author: Fouad Ben Ahmed
Abū al-Ḥajjāj Yūsuf b. Muḥammad Ibn Ṭumlūs (Alhagiag Bin Thalmus, d. 620/1223) was a philosopher, physician and direct disciple of Ibn Rushd (Averroes, d. 595/1198), who lived and practiced rational sciences in Alzira and Marrakesh, a quarter of a century after the demise of his teacher. Ibn Ṭumlūs was not Ibn Rushd's only student who engaged in work on logic, but one of dozens of disciples, suggesting that the supposed simultaneous death of the latter's philosophy is "grossly exaggerated". As a valuable window into the practice of logic in 13th century al-Andalus and the Maghreb, Ibn Ṭumlūs' Compendium on Logic ( Al-Mukhtaṣar fī al-manṭiq) covers all the parts of "the expanded Organon", as it was known since al-Fārābī (d. 339/951). The present volume offers a complete critical Arabic edition of this work, with an English and Arabic introduction, notes and indices.
Maimonides, On the Elucidation of Some Symptoms and the Response to Them (Formerly Known as On the Causes of Symptoms)
The present consilium, commonly known as De causis accidentium, after the Latin translation by John de Capua, was, like the earlier consilium On the Regimen of Health, composed by Maimonides at the request of al-Malik al-Afḍal Nūr al-Dīn Alī, Saladin's eldest son. As a result of not adopting the lifestyle and dietary recommendations in On the Regimen of Health, al-Afḍal may have continued to suffer from a number of afflictions, amongst them hemorrhoids, depression, constipation, and, possibly, a heart condition. The consilium was written after 1200, the year in which al-Afḍal was deposed and banished from Egypt permanently, but probably not long before 1204, the year in which Maimonides died.
Maimonides, On the Regimen of Health
A New Parallel Arabic-English Translation
Maimonides' On the Regimen of Health was composed at an unknown date at the request of al-Malik al-Afḍal Nūr al-Dīn Alī, Saladin's eldest son who complained of constipation, indigestion, and depression. The treatise must have enjoyed great popularity in Jewish circles, as it was translated three times into Hebrew as far as we know; by Moses ben Samuel ibn Tibbon in the year 1244, by an anonymous translator, and by Zeraḥyah ben Isaac ben She'altiel Ḥen who was active as a translator in Rome between 1277 and 1291. The present edition by Gerrit Bos contains the original Arabic text, the medieval Hebrew translations and the Latin translations, the latter edited by Michael McVaugh.
Maimonides On Coitus
A New Parallel Arabic-English Edition and Translation
Moses Maimonides' On Coitus was composed at the request of an unknown high-ranking official who asked for a regimen that would be easy to adhere to, and that would increase his sexual potency, as he had a large number of slave girls. It is safe to assume that it was popular in Jewish and non-Jewish circles, as it survives in several manuscripts, both in Arabic and Judaeo-Arabic. The present edition by Gerrit Bos contains the original Arabic text, three medieval Hebrew translations, two Latin versions from the same translation (edited by Charles Burnett), and a Slavonic translation (edited by Will Ryan and Moshe Taube).
Philosophy in the Islamic World Online: 8th-10th Centuries
Philosophy in the Islamic World Online: 8th - 10th Centuries is a comprehensive and unprecedented reference work devoted to the history of philosophy in the realms of Islam in its formative period: from its beginnings in the eighth century up to the tenth century AD. Both major and minor figures are covered, giving details of biography and doctrine, as well as detailed lists and summaries of each author's works. It covers the period when philosophy began to blossom thanks to the translation of Greek scientific works into Arabic and the emergence of autochthonous intellectual traditions within Islam. Philosophy in the Islamic World Online: 8th - 10th Centuries is of unparalleled significance to anyone doing serious research on philosophy in the Islamic world: a unique source for both for specialists and graduate students. Philosophy in the Islamic World is also available in print, starting with Volume 1 (the eighth to tenth centuries) as the first part of a projected 4 Volume-set. This is the English version of the relevant volume of the Ueberweg, the most authoritative German reference work on the history of philosophy ( Philosophie in der Islamischen Welt Band I: 8.–10. Jahrhundert., Basel: Schwabe, 2012).
Institutional outright purchase price


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Toyota bids farewell to Dr. Johan van Zyl
Posted By: TractionVaughn 6th Sep 2021
Toyota South Africa bids farewell to one of Africa's business giants, Dr Johan van Zyl, during a touching celebration of his life and legacy. Due to the pandemic restrictions, physical attendance at the company's Sales and Marketing head office was limited to close family, friends and Toyota colleagues, but thanks to technology, close to 7000 from around the globe were able to watch the livestream and playback of the proceedings.
It was a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable captain of industry as all 14 speakers attested to. Andrew Kirby, Dr van Zyl's successor and current President and CEO of Toyota South Africa, was personally appointed by the Doc: "I owe my career and many opportunities that I have been given to Johan. He helped me develop and lead me to where I am today. He was without a doubt my mentor and confidante and I'm going to miss bouncing ideas off him."
Brand Pretorius recalled that the last time he stood at the podium in the Toyota Auditorium was 26 years ago when he was still at the helm of Toyota; then it was for his own farewell, and now it was for farewell of another kind, but a far sadder one – saying goodbye to his lifelong friend. Interestingly, it was Brand that set Johan on the automotive path, having poached him from academia: "From the first moment I met him I could sense his formidable intellect and integrity. I was also impressed with this sense of attitude, energy, passion and saw some definitive leadership qualities that would lead to greater things. I knew we needed him to be part of the Toyota team. In 1993, we had a vacancy for the Director of Sales and Dealer Network. I recruited him and got him to join Toyota… He did a brilliant job and I was immensely proud of him."
And true to that prophecy he did scale the heights of automotive excellence, landing the top spot as President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe (TME) in 2015. His successor, Matthew Harrison recounts that he "will forever remember his leadership and humour. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of his six years in Europe. Under his leadership, we grew the business to over 1 million sales and Toyota became the Number-two passenger car brand for the first time in our history. We also led the market in terms of our electrification mix and environmental performance. At the same time, we increased our profitability… We will also never forget his personal engagement in the Brexit negotiations to ensure the best possible outcome for Toyota."
The Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, Ebrahim Patel echoed Matt's sentiments, highlighting how Johan was instrumental in helping to shape the new fit-for-purpose APDP: "He saw the opportunities to partner with government and to grow local component manufacturing. He just had passion for industrialisation. By 2019, before the pandemic hit, the industry in South Africa had reached record local production and export levels – a tribute to his leadership and his work."
What was noteworthy is that despite the fact that each speaker touched on a different aspect of their time with the Doc, there was one golden thread – and that was sheer quality of his humanity. Roelf Meyer, summed it up the most appropriately: "Johan had the most unassuming nature – his interactions with people from grass-roots level to presidents was the same. It was a model on how all people should conduct themselves."
It's therefore fitting that Andrew Kirby closed off the event with the announcement that in recognition of Dr Van Zyl's significant contribution to the SA motor industry, the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) is going to set up a memorial education initiative in his name – the proceeds from the members will be bequeathed to TWIMS (Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies) and will be used as bursaries for deserving students.
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There is no such thing as a boring project. There are only boring executions.
Great design is a multi-layered relationship between human life and its environment.
As we decrease uncertainty, we give ourselves permission to increase fidelity.
Put hot triggers in the path of motivated people.
I'd have loved to provide commentary on each one but they self elaborate. What are some great quotes about design and making that you've encountered?


As a cosmologist, I'm interested in how the Universe works on the largest scales. The current dominant component in our Universe is dark energy, and this is the main focus of my research.
Dark energy is the name given to the substance that drives the late-time accelerating expansion of the Universe. There are many theories and models that try to describe dark energy in a way that fits with observational data. The standard model of cosmology is called the ΛCDM model, where dark energy is represented by the cosmological constant, Λ, and the other dark component of the Universe is CDM, or Cold Dark Matter.
The cosmological constant is the simplest explanation for dark energy, but the model has a number of flaws that drive theorists to look for alternative explanations for the late-time acceleration. A large competing class of models are called dynamical dark energy models, where, unlike in the cosmological constant model, the dark energy does not have a constant value.
At the moment, my research is focused on studying interacting vacuum dark energy models, where dark energy is modelled by a dynamical vacuum energy and dark matter can decay into the vacuum. I'm using the numerical codes CAMB, CosmoMC and Cobaya to analyse these models and make predictions that can be tested against observational data.
You can see an up-to-date list of my publications by clicking here.


The analysis and simulation of spiral growth in plants integrates algebra and trigonometry in a botanical setting. When the ideas presented here are used in a mathematics classroom/computer lab, students can better understand how basic assumptions about plant growth lead to the golden ratio and how the use of circular functions leads to accurate spiral growth simulations. Using Mathematica, students can experiment, explore and discover how varying a small number of parameters leads to a wide variety of simulated plant forms. The Mathematica code presented here can be easily modified for experimentation and easily rewritten for use with other maths software packages such as Maple and Matlab.
Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP UK. Tel: +44 1865-353907; Fax: +44 1865-353485; e-mail: jnls.cust.serv@oxfordjournals.org; Web site: http://teamat.oxfordjournals.org/.


This four star cool modern hotel next to Vondelpark, offers superb accommodation for your trip to the city. On-site services are extensive, including Wi-Fi access, safety deposit and airport transfers. The guest rooms, which are comfortable and modern, come fitted with an en-suite bathroom, cable television and a refrigerator; you'll have no trouble settling in at the end of the day. For those seeking leisure, there is also a leisure centre available for use. Should you require anything else during your stay, the friendly staff are always on hand and will be happy to help.
During the day, you'll find a whole host of attractions to keep you occupied. If you're visiting with children, the Amsterdam dungeon provides a great day out. Set within an old church, this horror attraction features live actors and state of the art light effects – prepare to be scared! Alternatively, why not visit one of the many museums and galleries the city has to offer? The National Maritime museum is filled with multimedia displays and a collection of 17th century paintings and relics. It's a fascinating place that gives a deep insight into the history of the Netherlands. The Van Gogh museum is another option if you're seeking a cultural day out. With over 200 of the artist's finest paintings on display, this museum is worth visiting even if you're not an art enthusiast.
For those seeking a first rate shopping experience, Amsterdam has much to offer. Leidsestraat is the place to go for high-end fashion. Here you'll find a number of clothing boutiques and shoe shops, as well as the chic department store, Metz & Co. Alternatively, the bohemian area of De Jordaan offers second hand stores and artist's galleries. You can spend hours exploring the maze of tiny streets around here, and there are many hidden treasures to be discovered – it's the perfect place to purchase souvenirs and gifts for loved ones.
Amsterdam is home to a large number of critically acclaimed restaurants, so you'll be spoilt for choice when choosing somewhere to dine. Vis aan de Schelde serves a range of delicious seafood, from fresh oysters to turbot and monkfish. The atmosphere here is one of sophistication, so it's a great place to spend a romantic evening. After dinner, why not pay a visit to one of the city's many bars? 't Smalle was originally built as a hop distillery in 1780 and it still retains its original charm. Here, you can choose from a number of delicious Dutch beers while engaging in conversation with the locals.


Nick Wenger has the Midas Touch!
Wow what a beauty this is. It is only the second item I've purchased from $link(nd=wenger,Nick Wenger), but boy is it special. Everything he touches certainly turns to gold!
I love $link(4024,Terry Lunceford's Viper Pro). But Shake 'n' Snake is so much better in entertainment, look, and, of course, manufacture. When it comes to modern day electronics it is hard to find anyone who does a better job than Mr. Wenger (although Soren Harbo at $link(nd=labco,Labco Magic) does spring to mind).
The addition of the shake feature is a brilliant idea and really increases the suspense. Imagine Jaws without the music, the film would be nowhere near as scary. The Shake feature is kind of like that. Not only do they suspect something is about to happen they get a preview too and each time it shakes it builds up the tension and surprise factor. When the snake finally leaps the surprise is that much more intense.
The jar Mr. Wenger uses is much more substantial than the Viper Pro and looks more realistic and professional. The electronics in the Viper Pro II and III are good, and I've never had a problem with them (the first Viper Pro was another story), but they are clearly inferior when compared to Mr. Wenger's work. Don't get me wrong I would still perform the Viper Pro II if I didn't have Shake 'n' Snake, it is still a great, reliable trick. But Shake 'n' Snake is the best without a question, and I cannot imagine ever using my Viper Pro II again.
I must admit however, that I prefer the snake that comes with the Viper Pro II – the one supplied by Mr. Wenger looks a bit more unrealistic. It probably makes no difference whatsoever to the audience, but I certainly prefer the look of the Viper Pro snake. I think this is probably a personal choice thing and has nothing to do with the manufacturing of the snake, just the final look.
Highly Recommended for magical entertainers and collectors everywhere!


I once had a long conversation with a director of child protective services. I will never forget his comment when we were speaking of people who abused others (children and adults). He said he sometimes understood (please know he did NOT say 'excuse') how human beings snap. I have never forgotten that.
People had to get to that point somehow, right? Nobody starts out with evil intentions.
A horrible event, but I like the unexpected turn about the mother. Thanks for stimulating thoughts.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Frank.